Last time in Strifes Revenge...
"I'LL KILL HIM!"
"You won't be able to with one leg!"
The two stopped and looked round as Skartplug shuddered, his optics onlining dimly as he looked around. His tanks groaned as his Emergency reserves followed his original flow of energon, causing him to turn around and cough out his load. Both Syndrome and Napalm cringed, looking at one another.
"Guess we're on our own..."
"Yep"
"Got an escape plan?"
"Nope. You?"
"Nope."
Syndrome shrugged "Guess we're screwed then..."
To Be Continued...
...Right Here And Now
"Skartplug! Report! Syndrome!"
Bullet ran into the room, Airstrike right behind him.
"Storm! Flash and Napalm are missing too!"
Firestorm stood up "What?! Who else is missing?"
The door opened again, Diode and Diablos rushing through at the same time "Yo! Grindz ain't nowhere ta be seen!"
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Firestorm took the datapads from Bullet and Diode, quickly scanning over their notes. He sighed, reading almost the same on both.
No sign of struggle.
No trace around the ship.
Negative on energy signature readouts and scans.
"It's obvious that Strife would take Syndrome... but Flash and Napalm? And Grindz?! a-and Skartplug? He doesn't seem to be the type that would take THAT many hostages..."
Diode coughed, making his presence noticed "Does tha dude do experiments?"
"I don't know Diode! I don't know him that well! All I know is that he's twisted."
"Hey. Look on the bright side Storm!" Bullet shrugged "Least it ain't your fault this time!"
Firestorm scowled, slumping back down in his chair "Yeah! You're helpful Bullet!"
"I was only trying to help!"
"If you want to help" Firestorm stared up at the four mechs standing in front of him "Get out and leave me alone!"
"Whoa! Chill out Storm!" Diablos stepped forwards, backing Bullet up. Firestorm rose to his feet once more, anger radiating off of him.
"Get out! All of you! Out!"
"Bu-"
"OUT!" The red mech was fuming, forcefully pushing the younger mechs one at a time out of the room. After they'd all vanished into the hallway he shut the door, sealing himself in the room. He breathed out heavily, sliding down the door frame, his hands clutching his helm. He shivered, talking quietly to himself.
"N-now Storm... stop worrying... Y... you know what it does to you..."
But he couldn't help it. His best friend had been taken by a psychopath along with most of the crew, and he was stuck with no clue on where they could be and a pack of morons to find them with. He wasn't the type to snap under pressure, but the fact that Sam and Cannonball weren't around to guide him was making the problem bigger on his back. The others were looking at him for guidance in this situation, guidance he couldn't give.
"Oww... Storm stop it... come on you'll find a way..."
Nothing was working. The pulsing in his cranial circuits increased as he started panicking, his body temperature flaring up. Tears streamed down his face, but they quickly evaporated into steam from the heat he was exhausting. Firestorm curled up on his side, clutching his helm tighter and tighter as the pain doubled, causing his body to jerk occasionally. He needed Syndrome to calm him down. He needed Skartplug to give him a sedative to send him into recharge, forcing his circuitry to calm down. Him and Syndrome were always there for each other, and now he was gone, Firestorm couldn't cope. An old memory rose in his head. He forced himself to concentrate on it, shutting his optics tightly.
"Wakey wakey Syndrome"
A grey sparkling squeaked, curling up tighter in his protective ball. He whined, shutting his optic lids a little more so the light penetrating the room couldn't hit them.
"Nuuuuu... don't wanna get up yet Storm..."
"Come on now Drome... Its up time"
"Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."
"Alright then... you leave me no choice..."
The red mech smiled, tickling the smaller with his spare hand. Syndrome yelped, then slowly uncurled as he laughed and spazzed around uncontrollably on the large berth. Firestorm laughed, watching the youngers reaction as his small green optics onlined. He sat up, giggling and smiling as he took the cube of low grade Storm handed him. Syndrome sipped his cube as Firestorm watched on.
Syndrome tilted his head curiously as the red mech shivered a little, shuttering his optics before looking back up and forcing a smile. Putting his cube down, Syndrome crawled over to the edge of the berth.
"Are you ok Storm?"
Firestorm gulped, letting out a shaky sigh "Yeah... I'm fine Syndrome"
But the sparkling wasn't convinced. Sitting up on his knees, the grey child put a hand on the olders forehead. He was cold, not a usual thing with him. Syndrome was used to feeling the warmth radiating off of him, but right now he couldn't feel any heat at all from the red mechs body.
"You're cold..."
"I'm just feeling a little under the weather Drome... nothing to worry about"
"But you're never cold... a-and you don't look very well" Syndrome mentally cursed himself for making such a crude comment. He cringed slightly.
"N-no offence"
Firestorm just smiled, pushing himself from his chair and standing up. He wobbled, his vision falling blurry for a few seconds. Syndrome stood up on his berth, his optics clouded with worry.
"You should rest Storm... I-I can look after myself for a few cycles..."
"No no... I can't leave you on your own. That would be rude..."
"But you can hardly stand! I-I don't mind! You gotta rest or you could get seriously sick... Y-you've been helping me s-so I wanna return the favour..."
Firestorm sighed, looking down at the youngling. He couldn't resist the look in his optics. It was so full of worry... so full of innocence...
"Perhaps I could rest for a few breems..."
"I helped you when you was sick, hurt and alone... and throughout your life you've returned the favour... S-Syndrome... help... me..."
Firestorm whimpered, smoke rising from his burning body. The ground below him started to heat up as well as he slowly moved away from the door to the corner of the room. The SIC desperately tried to keep his noise down as the pain escalated to an unbearable state, but eventually it got the best of him and he screamed at the top of his vocaliser. Lying on his side, Firestorms body shook as he cried out, rattling against the walls and ground. He rolled around, the pain causing his frame to emit uncontrollable spasms and movements.
"Sheesh what's gettin him!? Stubborn glitch!"
"Chill Blos! He's under a lot o pressure!"
"Yeah but still!"
Airstrike, Bullet, Diode and Diablos walked together towards the common room. The jet and Subaru looked at each other as the twins spoke amongst themselves. Diode jumped as a loud, high pitched scream caused all four of them to stop dead in their tracks. They all looked at each other, thinking the same thing and shouting it at the same time.
"Firestorm!"
They all took off, Bullet leading the pack as they shot back to the red mechs office, the screams and shouts getting louder and louder as they approached. Diode slowed down, eventually having to stop and clutch his sensitive audios. The noise rattled through them, causing the circuitry to vibrate at an alarming rate. The white mech gritted his teeth as he was reduced to one knee, his head shaking from side to side as he tried to push the pain away. Diablos turned, seeing his brother stop and running over to him.
"Keep goin guys! I'll catch ya up!"
Airstrike looked back and nodded, catching up with Bullet as the two of them continued to head towards Firestorms room. They reached it, pressing the code into the keypad as they listened to the continuous screaming from the inside.
'ACCESS DENIED'
He typed it again, more carefully this time.
'ACCESS DENIED'
"Frag! He's sealed it!"
"Try the override code!"
"Strike! There is no override!"
Airstrike took a few steps back, rearing up. Bullet looked at him confused.
"Stand back"
Bullet complied, moving out of the way of the door. Airstrike lined himself up, then charged at the closed metal, bringing his shoulder in front of him as he collided with it. The doors squealed and dented, but held firm. Bullet got the idea, charging for them as well as they both attempted to break down the door. They were soon joined by Diode and Diablos who immediately rushed to help.
"Guys jus so ya kno ya can't talk ta Dode! He's offlined his audios ta help!"
Airstrike rammed the door again, grimacing as his shoulder metal started bending.
"How we supposed to speak to him then?"
"Tell me an I'll tell him thru da bond we got! Duh!"
"Guys this isn't working!" Bullet stopped, clutching his shoulder. The door was bent and dented, but it showed no sign of breaking in.
Airstrike bit his lip, quickly thinking of an idea and taking his blaster out of his subspace. The others caught the brain wave instantly, bringing their own weapons out. Diode and Diablos held their blasters sideways, targeting for the unlocking mechanism located just above the doors hinges. The screams inside increased, causing Bullet to cringe slightly as he trained his weapons on the centre of the door. Airstrike aimed in the same place, praying to Primus in his head that the idea would work.
"FIRE!"
They all shot at the separate areas of the door. The noise drowned out Firestorms screams, the loud shriek of the weapons' bullets connecting with the door causing Airstrike to offline his own audios until they all stopped. Everyone stopped shooting, then with one more ram from all four of them the door burst open, sending them all sprawling to the ground. Diode was the first to spot the screaming SIC as they all scrambled to their feet.
"What's wrong with him?!"
"I dunno man! I can't see no damage!"
Diode looked at his brother, his optics glazed as he spoke through their link.
-Bruv! Send someone ta get a needle from da medbay! Knock him out an he should be alright!-
Diablos nodded, looking at the Subaru and jet. He decided on Airstrike seeing as he had been in there enough times to know where the anaesthetic was.
"Strike! Get a needle man! Drug him up an it'll send him ta sleep init!"
Airstrike nodded, jumping up and running out of the room. Bullet touched Firestorm, only to recoil from the heat his metal was exhausting.
"Firestorm! Come on dude calm down!"
Firestorm looked up upon hearing his name. He stopped screaming, but bit his lip so hard that it started bleeding energon. His hands refused to leave his helm and his body wouldn't co-operate with him. Forcing his strained vocaliser back online, the red mech breathed quickly as Diode and Diablos joined him.
"Guys! I ah! I'm sorry I shouted at you!"
Airstrike came running back in. He threw Bullet a needle, which thankfully he caught the right way up. Scrambling with it, Diode removed the plating in Firestorms neck, Diablos holding him still as Bullet slowly inserted the syringe. Firestorm suddenly screamed again, another rush of pain hitting him. He jerked and moved, pushing Bullet back and the needle out before he had finished inserting it. Diode and Diablos let out a small cry of their own, holding the red mech down, their hands burning. They both released him, Diablos muttering a sting of curses whilst Diode just hissed, gritting his teeth together.
"He won't go out cold without the rest of it Bullet!" Airstrike lent down, but the needle had smashed against the floor, its contents spewing everywhere. Diode had a think, then without warning he grabbed his gun, holding it by the barrel end. Diablos blinked. He forgot for a few seconds that his brother couldn't hear him.
"Dode!? What tha fuck are ya doin man!?"
Diode didn't reply. Instead, he lent up to his knees, bringing the back end of the blaster down. It hit Firestorm directly on the head, knocking him out cold. Firestorm stopped, frozen to the spot as the weapon connected, his optics offlining quickly as he slipped into stasis. Diode breathed a sigh of relief, onlining his audios again. He subspaced his weapon and turned to the others, only to be greeted by three gobsmacked mechs. He looked at each of them, moving back slightly, nervous from the gazes.
"What?"
"Just rest Skarts... I can't do anything for you I'm afraid"
Skartplug nodded wearily, his optics offlining as he slipped back into recharge. Syndrome looked over to the other side of the cell where Napalm sat, shifting uncomfortably as he awaited Flash's return. Syndrome sighed, standing and walking over to sit beside him. He didn't know Napalm as much as Flash or Skartplug did, but he knew that when Flash was away, he was restless. Especially when he knew he was in trouble.
"He could be doing anything to him you know"
Syndrome turned "I know... but there ain't much we can do about it"
"I'm gonna kill him..."
Syndrome gulped "So am I..."
"Syndrome... why are you so afraid of him?"
The grey mech froze. How could he explain it? The guy had botnapped him, almost killed him, and now he'd taken three of his friends along with himself to an unknown location! Skartplug was ill for reasons unknown, Flash couldn't speak, Napalm was shackled down in the cell he stayed in with him... He knew how strong... and crazy he was. He shivered, old memories of the first time he'd met him arising in his memory banks...
"Ack!" Syndrome wasn't able to say anything when someone suddenly grabbed him from behind. An arm snaked around his neck, holding him tightly in a headlock.
"Well well well... what do we have here?"
'It's me Strife...'
"You brought a nice one back this time Stormcrow! Now lets get you out of there..." The mech pushed a weapon into Syndromes back using his spare hand. Syndrome gasped.
"Get offa me ya drongo!"
Strife laughed "Wow! An Australian I see! You picked a nice one this time Crow!"
'That isn't all... this one can turn invisible, change his optic and body colour, and morph his insignia... My guess is he's a programme genius...'
Strife snarled evilly "Well... quite talented aren't you? Plus I don't see an insignia on you so I'm guessing you're a neutral..."
"Let me go right now!"
"Oh I don't think so...now march" The figure marched Syndrome forwards towards the prone form. The grey mech tried his best to resist, but the weapon in his back kept being shoved in dangerously near his major wiring. Panicking, Syndrome asked the only person he could for answers.
"C-Crow? What's going on?"
'Just shut up and hold out your hand'
"Why?"
"Just do as the Crow says and I might let you go" Strife snarled, pushing the weapon in further. Syndrome complied and held out his shaking hand slowly.
'Good... Now extend your scan circuits...'
Syndrome did so. The wires found their way into a hole in the empty shells side, then connected automatically. There was a sudden jolt, then Syndrome felt his energy being drained slowly through the wires.
"Wha... What's going on Crow?" Syndrome gasped for breath as his energon levels dropped rapidly.
'I'm transferring back into my own body and taking most of your energy with me... Now how about you shut up and leave it to go...'
"Why... w-why are you doing this?..."
'I said shut up.'
Syndrome gasped, his breathing slowing. The still form in front of him powered up its dark purple optics just as his own vision blacked out...
"S-sssstormcrow..."
"Syndrome? You alright? Oit Aussy!"
Syndrome jumped, shaking his head. He'd been so focused on his memory he hadn't realised he'd curled up on his side. Napalm was still sitting beside him, shaking his now white frame roughly. After a few seconds of remembering where he was, the saboteur groaned, uncurling from his protective state. Sitting up, Syndrome noticed a small red bundle shaking in the corner behind him.
"He brought Flash back then..."
"Yeah..." Napalm looked at the youngling, his optics covered in worry. On closer inspection, Syndrome noticed the child looked different...
"Where tha slag are his wings?"
"That's what I wanted to know..." Napalm shifted, moving closer to Flash as he started thrashing about weakly in his dream. His presence alone seemed to calm the little red mech, his movements slowing as he registered he was there. Napalm smirked slightly as the child rolled over, nuzzling into his side and sighing happily.
Syndrome froze again as he heard the cell bars opening. He listened to the footsteps approaching, a shiver running through his frame. He desperately tried to hold back his fear as a shadow towered over him, stopping directly behind the grey saboteur. Napalm scowled, shifting slightly in front of Flash. Flash didn't register the movement, too tired from the countless times he'd been taken from his guardian and friends.
"You..." Syndrome shivered as a hand snaked over his shoulder plates
"You're coming with me... And don't try anything funny. I can see through your camouflage thanks to my other two captives..."
The white mech gritted his teeth as Strife pulled him up roughly, shunting him towards the exit of the cell. Biting his bottom lip, Syndrome looked back at Napalm, then at Skartplug. He gulped quietly, almost falling over when the brown mech behind him pushed him further.
"Hurry up! I don't have all day..."
To Be Continued...
