And now for the first update for 2014! I had so much fun writing this one with Rapid. Hope you all like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime or Another Type of Alien
Chapter 7
I Need A Hero
Jack POV
I heard booming above us…seems like the others noticed I was gone. Kal sat with his head in his hands, like he was trying to shut the sound out.
I wanted to reassure him, to let him know we were going to be rescued…but more than likely he would either start screaming for me to leave him alone or he'd ignore me. I'd rather have him screaming at me than ignoring me.
I tried to stand again…but I fell, this wasn't going to work. I'd have to have Ratchet take a look at me when we got back…if we got back.
"I know you guys are out there," I thought, "C'mon…where are you?"
The ceiling shook and bits of rubble started to fall. Kal didn't even look up. I knocked him out of the way as a chunk came down on him.
"Stop it!" I shrieked, "You're going to kill us! Stop!"
But the room still shook.
They couldn't hear me…and I didn't know what to do.
Another chunk came down on us. I shifted my arm to blaster form and shot it until was in tiny rubble. Kal whimpered and held his head even tighter.
"It's ok," I tried to reassure him, "It's ok, we're going to make it out alive, I promise!"
Another boom rocked the room and we both yelled in fear.
That was the problem…how could I reassure him when I didn't feel it?
"Hurry!" I begged over bond, "Help us! Stop trying to get us killed! Your fighting is bringing down the roof!"
Michael POV
We stared each other down, neither side making a move to attack. Kara was still struggling to her feet getting ready to fight while my family had our weapons drawn. Krypto snarled angrily at Metallo, his fangs bared fearsomely.
Metallo chuckled at us and raised his fists in a boxer position.
"So you want to fight huh? Even with the girl out of the fight?" he grinned, "Oh this is gonna be fun."
We spread out around Metallo, while Krypto stayed with Kara, standing over her protectively.
We held our swords at the ready, and fire flickered around mine and Dusk's knuckles.
She looked angry, really angry that is. I smiled to myself, she's certainly our daughter. Make no mistake.
Metallo's acid green optics watched us with disinterest. He looked very bored all things considered.
"Well, are you gonna fight, or just stand there all day? Come on, I wanna challenge!"
There was a roar of anger and Dusk charged in, fire sparking along her wings.
"DUSK NO!" I yelled, trying to grab her but she dodged.
She brought her blade down to lop off Metallo's arm, only to be met with a metallic clang, her sword coming to an abrupt halt. Metallo smirked, holding her blade tightly in one hand, the flames around it having no effect on his hand.
"Honey, do you know why I'm called Metallo?" he asked, ignoring the fire.
"That's it," Silver growled calmly.
The two of us charged in and struck at different parts of his body. I went for the neck and Silver the legs. We both dug in about an inch into his flesh before halting. Metallo grinned widely.
"It's because my skeleton is made of the stuff. Your dinky little blades ain't gonna do nothin' against me. Only the brat and his dog could hurt me," he said, before twisting on his heel and knocking Silver and I away with our daughter's body.
Silver got back up, hissing darkly, her eyes going from silver-blue to electric-blue.
"Sil, no," I murmured, grabbing her arm.
"I'll rip him to shreds," she promised, "There will be absolutely nothing left of him to call Metallo,"
I held her closer as she started kicking and struggling to get loose.
Metallo casually strolled towards us as if he had all the time in the world. He cracked his knuckles as he walked forward.
"You know, beating the utter crap out of the brat just for the heck of it was fun and all," he said, standing over us.
Silver snarled darkly and I used all my strength to keep her back.
"But killing you?" he scoffed, "Oh that's going to be a time to remember, won't-"
There was a scream of rage followed by a rustle of wind and Metallo was knocked backwards, slicing through some of the metal tables before hitting the stone wall with a resounding crack! Bits of the masonry broke off and fell to the floor, and the man peeled himself off the wall, leaving the remains of his shirt behind. Bits of his flesh were scraped away, revealing the metal skeleton underneath.
"Owwww," I grinned, "That's gonna leave a mark,"
Metallo rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, before looking at Kara standing there, hunched over and exhausted, but standing. She reminded me of Silver and Dusk together…Her friends and her family were endanger. Nothing would stop her.
"You want to fight!?" she screamed, "Then fight me you twisted piece of scrap!"
Kara slammed her foot into the ground and the earth shook, knocking Metallo back and forth before the girl took off and slammed into him again. This time he was ready for it though, and caught her. Still, the force of the impact was enough to push him back several feet. Metallo didn't let that affect him though, instead choosing to deliver a mean right hook to Kara's face.
The Kryptonian's head whipped to the side and she stumbled away before steadying herself and glaring at the machine. Her hand tightened and she proceeded to hit Metallo as hard as she could. There was an earth shaking explosion, and the man nearly went down. But like one of those sparring dummies, he got right back up, the flesh on the left side of his face completely torn away, revealing what looked like a metal skeleton with a glowing green eyes.
"Now can I kill him," Silver snarled, "I'm not asking,"
Metallo had practically shrugged the blow off. He grabbed the low hanging jaw and with a single distinct crack, moved it back into place, I winced and shuddered.
"You've got a mean right hook darlin." he worked his jaw while talking, "Now let me show you mine."
Metallo punched at her face, Kara barely managing to grab the fist, her arms shaking trying to hold it back. The machine man laughed manically.
"What's the matter Kryptonian!?" he roared, the Kryptonite in his chest flaring brighter, "You look a little green in the gills."
I looked at Silver and then at Metallo.
And I released her.
"Have fun," I said calmly.
She shot off like a bullet from a gun.
Out came Excalibur and Andúril…and Excalibur bit deep into Metallo's side.
Silver snarled angrily and flung Metallo off the girl with her sword, before sparks arched up her arms down the Air Starsaber and into Metallo. The android yelled in pain, the electricity engulfing his body which began to violently convulse. A grim smiled played along Silver's lips and Dusk got up, rubbing her head.
"Mom?" she asked as Silver twisted the blade.
"Yep," I nodded, "This is why everyone avoids hurting her kids,"
Metallo's acid optics focused on Silver, and he grabbed Prima's blade with his hand, the flesh starting to smoke in that area.
With an angered roar, he ripped it out of him, and out of her grasp, before tossing the blade away and proceeding to head butt her head with his own head. There was a loud clang and she stumbled back, the sparks dying for the time being.
Silver's eyes flickered as they reset and she shook her head…she didn't look harmed, just dazed.
Metallo didn't exactly escape unharmed either, his skin was covered in burn marks, bits of his metal skeleton poking through his flesh. Metallo looked at his burned upper body and scowled.
"You know, I hate it when people do this." he growled, before gripping his skin, "I prefer to keep my skin, but hey, guys gotta do what a guys gotta do."
The group looked in horror at Metallo. With a single flick of his wrist, his skin tore off like cloth, revealing what he really looked like. I shuddered, this was what Damien had planned for me…I gripped my arm, feeling the phantom pain of having it removed without anesthetic…
Metallo's entire body was nothing more than a metal skeleton with large plates of armor covering his more delicate circuits and the muscles strands that gave him his strength. The kryptonite shard was fully exposed now, and Kara fell on her rear, backing away slowly, looking sick.
Dusk helped her friend up.
"Come on, we've got this Kara." she said.
"No," Silver corrected, "Michael and I have this. You, Kara, and Krypto go and find the Jacks." she ordered.
"But Mom!" Dusk protested, only for Silver to cut her off.
"We can handle him, there are too many of us here to take him on, that's why he's winning. Smaller numbers gives us an advantage." she reasoned, "And the longer both Darbys are left in Slade's care, the worse condition they'll be in."
Dusk hesistated.
"You know where Darby is because you have a familiar bond with him," Silver continued, "You find him, you find Kal since he knows where Kal is,"
Dusk gave a slight nod.
Metallo started in on Silver, I threw a ball of fire at him.
"Hey! Tin Can! Over here!" I shouted, waving Requiem in the air, "Why don't you pick on someone who isn't feeling like they've been through a trash compactor!"
He turned towards me and stalked forwards right as Silver shocked him hard.
"No, over here Junkyard Scrap!" she jeered, "You and I have unfinished business!"
"GO!" I shouted, giving Dusk a shove, "We'll keep him off your tail!"
Dusk looked at us with a forlorn expression.
"Go, we'll be fine. We can handle one overgrown tin can." Silver and I told her.
Krypto, to my shock padded up next to us, snarling at Metallo. The metal man looked at the dog nervously, apparently remembering what the dog did to him last time. And the message his stance was sending was quiet clear. Krypto wanted a chance to rip Metallo apart too.
I rubbed the dog's ears as Dusk and Kara started off…well, Kara near dragging Dusk off.
"Good boy," I grinned, "Now…where were we?"
"I remember," Silver growled, "We were just getting ready to tear this freak to pieces of scrap,"
"Please," I said, gesturing, "After you,"
Dusk POV
I looked at my parents and Krypto. I hoped and prayed they'd be alright.
"It's…fine." Kara told me, "Krypto has immunity to Kryptonite…he'll be okay."
I looked at them one more time before letting out a sigh and closing my eyes.
"Alright, let's go save our brothers."
Bumblebee POV
Mom was freaking out. Just plain and simple. She had heard that Jack got captured and it brought back a whole bunch of memories for her. Dad, Arcee and I all tried to consol her…but she wasn't hearing any of it. It was bad enough that I couldn't talk with any of my family out loud, seeing as it would upset my counterpart…even if it was my decision to keep my silence. Now…
"You don't understand!" Mom yelled as Dad tried again, and failed, to get her to stay behind, "That's my son in there, OUR SON!"
Arcee and I looked at each other. This was not going to end well.
"And if you think I'm going to stay here and wait until someone comes and rescues him for us…" she growled, onlining her blaster and glaring at the establishment, "Think. Again,"
Dad wisely didn't stop her once she charged out.
"I've said it once and I'll say it again," I whispered to Arcee, "Your family is scary when mad,"
She gave a grim smile.
"C'mon, 'Bee, let's go,"
Elita POV
I dodged another bolt as a version of Arcee shot at me. We had snuck in this far…and gotten cornered by a version of Team Prime that was…let's just put it this way…they weren't friendly.
Optimus…both of them…ordered us to split up so that they would have to work to hunt us.
And the Arcee double took after me and Arcee.
I heard someone let out a yell andwatched as Arcee II brought her arm blades out, decapitating one of them before rolling behind some cover. She looked shocked to see my sister and I there as well.
"Huh, small world." Arcee said, firing at the clones.
I winced as a shot pinged off my cover.
"I see this one's aim takes off of you," I said, looking at my sister and her counterpart.
They glared at me.
"My aim is pretty good," they both huffed.
"Not compared to mine and Chromia's," I teased.
"Where did these guys come from anyway?" Arcee asked, shooting from around her corner at the double.
"MECH probably. They made a whole batch of clones of us before. We took them out, but they got away. Wouldn't surprise me if MECH and Slade were in kahoots," Arcee II suggested.
I frowned. If they were with Slade…that wasn't good. I remembered them kidnapping me, nearly dissecting Arcee, taking Bumblebee's transforming from him, framing Jack and Optimus both, and nearly killing the kids as well as Smokescreen, Jolt, and Bulkhead. I shook it off, taking a shot and nicking the knockoff in the shoulder, spinning it around.
Both Arcee's flipped over one counterpart and lopped its head and midsection off. I blasted the other to bits, leaving nothing but steaming scrap metal in their wake.
"Well they're dead," Arcee shrugged, retracting her blades, "Now what?"
I looked around the large alleyway.
"I think we're lost," I said.
"Then let's find our way back." Arcee II growled, before shuddering, gripping at her spark.
I frowned, that's not norm…
I was in a dark, dimly lit room. The ceiling shook and bits of rubble started to fall. I saw my son and Kal huddled in a corner. Kal didn't even look up. Jack knocked him out of the way as a chunk came down on him.
"Stop it!" Jack shrieked, looking up at the ceiling, eyes glowing in fear, voice spiked with static, "You're going to kill us! Stop!"
But the room still shook.
Another chunk came down on the boys. Jack's arm changed from human to armored and shot it until was in tiny rubble. Kal whimpered and held his head even tighter.
"It's ok," Jack tried to reassure him, "It's ok, we're going to make it out alive, I promise!"
Another boom rocked the room and they both yelled in fear.
"It's not me." Arcee II said as I returned to now and she rubbed her spark, "It's Jack, I can feel him. He's terrified, scared of something."
A deep seductive laugh echoed from above, causing the three of us to look up.
"Oh, is poor Jack a little scared?" the voice asked.
Arcee gave a low growl, blade flicking out. I unsheathed my blades. Arcee II's optics widened than narrowed. We all knew that voice. There was no mistaking it..
"Airachnid," Arcee II hissed.
My sister and I exchanged looks.
"Looks like we're going to relive the past again, huh 'Lita," she growled bitterly over bond.
I didn't say anything and we both looked up the wall. The sound of tinkling was heard and the spider bot slowly emerged from the shadows, her fanged denta bared in a sadistic smile.
"Arcee, how lovely to see you again," the spider bot said happily before her purple optics noticed my sister and I.
A slow smile played upon that face…I clenched my fists.
"Two Arcee's, and a femme. Ooh this will be fun. What's the human phrase? Three birds with one stone? Whatever," she held her hands up, her blasters warming up, "Either way, this will be fun."
The spider femme opened fire and the three scattered, rolling behind cover, Airachnid's blasts doing little to break it. Arcee II scowled and fired wildly over the cover, trying to get Airachnid out of her position. It was to no avail, she had very little in the way of luck.
She looked at Arcee and me.
"Any plans?"
I grinned, "I've got one,"
After a quick explanation of my plans, I ran off while both Arcee's continued to fire on Airachnid.
Arcee POV
Firing at the Spider while 'Lita snuck behind her…and we get to shoot.
Not a bad idea. Not a bad idea at all.
My counterpart thought the same.
"Why come here anyway Airachnid!?" she demanded while firing, "Your last alliance with humans didn't work so well."
Airachnid chuckled, "Very true Arcee, very true. But see, this time I get something much better out of this deal."
A grin split her faceplate.
"I get your precious Jack. What better way to destroy you then to not only take your partner from you," she stalked forward to the cover, "But to take him as my lover too."
What!? Ok, that…I shuddered and looked towards my counterpart.
"Airachnid has had a crush on him ever since MECH captured June." she explained, trying not to vomit.
Ok, gross. I know that it's Kal and not Jack but still! That's my nephew…
"You know he'd never want you!" Arcee yelled over the rubble.
Airachnid laughed, "That might have been true before Arcee, but things have changed. Little Jack is utterly broken, tortured to near death by Slade. The one he loved never came to save him, so how do you think he'll react when I'm the only comfort he has?"
She trembled angrily, her servo's clenching repeatedly. Oh boy…I better stop this now…
"Arcee, she's baiting you, it's what she does, we both know that." I pleaded, "Stick with the plan!"
And of course she had to ruin it.
"And in the end, when you die Arcee, he won't even care. Because he'll be all. Mine!"
That did it.
Arcee roared furiously and leapt over the rubble, charging at Airachnid, blades extended.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING!?" Elita demanded, "SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY THERE!"
"Well you didn't count on the Spider baiting her did you!?" I snapped.
"ARCEE!" we both yelled, "STOP!"
She didn't listen…
Elita leaped back to the ground and stood next to me.
"She's about as good a listener as you when you're mad," I pointed out.
She didn't even respond.
Airachnid barely had time to turn and block Arcee's assault. She used her long extra legs to block the initial blows, but was almost immediately overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity of the attacks. I don't think she was expecting this…at all.
"He will never be yours!" Arcee screamed, slicing the legs away for the moment, "You don't love him, you don't care about him! You know nothing about him!"
Airachnid let out a pained yelled as one of her extra limbs was lopped off.
"You're a monster, no one will ever love you! Least of all Jack!"
She kicked Airachnid in the midsection, knocking her away.
"Die!" the femme screamed, and knocked her blade against Airachnids helm.
There was a loud crack, and the spider-bots helm went flying off, the femme collapsing to the ground while Arcee stood over her panting hard. Elita and I looked at each other.
"We need to stop this," she said, "Now,"
Elita POV
"Get up you piece of scrap," Arcee II hissed, barely noticing us coming up behind her, "Get up so I can tear your twisted spark out."
Slowly, the spider bot got up, her arms wrapped around her head. She faced Arcee II unsteadily.
"I don't appreciate you breaking my helm, Arcee." she snapped, and lowered her arms, exposing her faceplate and helm.
I stumbled, shaking my helm.
"No…" I whispered as Arcee grabbed my shoulders, "No…She…"
The armor under her normal horned helm was a pale red, from lack of sun exposure and care more than likely, and her faceplate lay in a shattered remains in her servos, exposing blue optics and normal denta. Her face…
It was mine.
Dusk POV
Kara and I made our way through the halls of Slade's base, the fight between Metallo and the others echoing through the entire base. The occasional tremor ran through the structure too, causing dirt and debris to rain on us.
I ignored it, instead following the bond between Jack and me through the halls, looking for the cell were mine and Kara's brothers were being held.
It was surprisingly easier than I thought. No guard, no nothing…and that got me worried. What if it was a trap? What if the reason they weren't guarding our brothers was because they were too badly hurt to do anything?!
If Jack was hurt…he was hiding it surprisingly well. I was only getting a few flickers of pain from him…I was getting more pain from the other members of my family.
X's wing getting shot, Optimus getting gouged in the arm, Elita getting brushed by a shot, my parents getting thrown into a wall…
But only a few dull throbs from Jack.
I shook it off as we came to the cell door within five minutes after leaving my parents and Krypto to fight Metallo.
Kara scowled as the door came into view, her eyes focused on the El family crest carved above the doorway.
"That is my family symbol, a symbol for hope. And these monsters would put it above a prison!" she snarled, hands clenching tightly.
I put a hand on her shoulder and looked at the cell with a mix of anger and disgust.
"The sooner we get them out of there Kara, the better, okay?" I reassured her.
I was surprised they kept them both in the same cell. Jack would be able to tear his way out if something happened to Kal and vice versa…
Unless…they were both hurt?
Nodding, Kara strode over to the door and took in a deep breath. She reached her fingers along the seams of the door and dug them in, the metal door bending and screaming under the pressure.
Once she had a secure grip on the door, she heaved on it, listening to metal twist and tear as she pulled.
With a single final heave, she flung the door away, and red light spilled out of the room. Kara stepped out of the way, eyes wide.
"Red sun rays." she murmured.
Scowling, Kara used her heat vision to extinguish light from which the rays were emanating from. The room fell into darkness, the only light coming in from the hallway. With that little problem solved, Kara and I entered the room to see a familiar figure, pinned under a rock, energon everywhere, throwing off a faint blue glow in the room…I gasped as I recognized who was under the rock.
It was Jack.
"Jack!" I screeched and shot to his side, kneeling next to him and trying to see what I could do…
It wasn't much.
Jack POV
I heard voices and saw a shaft of white light. Was I dead?
No…there was so much pain in my legs…the Well couldn't have this much pain. Speaking of legs…I couldn't move them…
"Jack!" I heard a familiar voice screech and a light blonde blur shot into the room.
I opened my eyes wider.
"Dusk?" I croaked, "That you?"
A warm, happy feeling passed through our bond…tinged with bitterness and rage.
"It is you," I whispered, reaching shakily up to her cheek, "You came…I…I thought you gave up on us,"
"Now why would I ever leave you in this Pithole?" she asked, "Where's Kal?"
I shifted my other arm, groaning in pain as I did to reveal Kal, shaking and whimpering in fear, his head in his hands. It made my spark hurt to see him like that…but it was better than seeing him dead.
"I…I shoved him out of…the way…" I answered, struggling to get the words out, "M-My legs…I can't feel them,"
Dusk's face turned grim.
"Don't look," she ordered as I strained to see what happened.
That made me want to look even more.
I finally managed to catch a glimpse…
There was energon everywhere, the bleeding might have stopped on my head…but my legs were pinned by a huge slab of rock. I could see a little bit of my right leg poking out of the rock…and I saw a thin, silver metal bar sticking out of it.
I nearly purged as I recognized it as one of my bones.
"Jack…" Dusk started worriedly, "Jack stay with me, don't fall asleep,"
She shook my shoulders…I hadn't realized I had started nodding off.
"He's going to go into shock if we don't do anything," Dusk said to someone behind her, "I'm afraid to move anything because I might damage him further,"
"If you lift the rock straight up I think you won't hurt him," a voice I recognized as Kara said.
"Kara?" I heard Kal whisper, his head poking up a bit.
Kara gave a smile…I think…then again, I was having a hard time seeing past Dusk, who was only a few inches from me.
"It's me," she answered, "I'm here,"
Kal's eyes lit up in hope…but then extinguished again.
"No…another trick…why can't they stop tricking me?"
Kara looked like someone slapped her.
"He…he's been like that for a…while…" I groaned, "Thinks…everything is a…trick…Slade…Slade tortured him,"
Dusk's fists clenched.
"All the more reason to make sure that…" she racked her brain for a word that wouldn't make Amber yell at her, "Gormless Cretin never sees the light of day,"
"Get in line," Kara growled, "You can have what molecules I leave,"
"I'll hold you to that,"
"That's nice…that you want to off him…" I growled, "But…can't move…and he doesn't believe us…"
Kara's face hardened and she moved to the rock.
"Hold onto something, this is going to hurt." she warned.
Dusk POV
Jack nodded and I offered my hand. He gripped it 'til his knuckles turned white, I could barely feel said hand…but I knew it would be nothing compared to what we were going to do next. Getting into a good lifting position, Kara wrapped her fingers around the large piece of rubble. A low growl of pain slipped past Jack's teeth and I gripped his hand as Kara heaved the rock off him with ease. Once it was off Jack, she tossed it to the side, letting it land with a heavy boom in the corner.
"Huh, your legs don't seem to be in that bad of shape," Kara said, referring to his left leg.
It was twisted awkwardly to the side, but there was no bone piercing it, thank God. Kara knelt down next to him, eyes narrowed.
"A few hairline fractures along your thigh, and it's been dislocated. You won't be able to stand, but… we're going to need to pop it into place." she warned.
Jack tightened his grip on my hand.
"Just…get it over with…" he hissed over the pain.
Nodding, Kara gently took the limb, and with a flick of her wrist, popped it back into place.
Jack screamed, nearly breaking my hand. I leaned my head on his shoulder.
"Its ok, it's ok," I reassured him over bond, "It should feel better now…"
He heaved for breath, perspiration beading on his forehead as he grit his teeth.
"Remind…remind me never to…stand under falling rubble," he ground out.
I gave a soft smile. Some things…will never change.
"I'm just glad you're ok," I said.
He shot me a 'really!?' look and his gaze flicked down to his legs.
"Other than your legs," I amended.
"No, stay away!" I heard Kal screech, and Jack and I looked to see Kara kneel in front of him, trying to talk with her brother.
Well…trying and failing.
"You're just a t-trick! Another trick!" he screamed, huddling against the corner.
A few tears spilled from Kara's eyes.
"Kal… please," she pleaded.
Kal covered his face with his arms, trembling and muttering to himself about how it was all just another trick. Kara held back a sob before her face hardened. Faster than I thought she could go…Kara wrapped her arms around Kal.
And he went ballistic!
The tortured boy screamed and thrashed against her, trying to break free, but while his strength was gone, Kara's was not. And she held him like that, against his thrashing, and stroked his head, singing something softly in a language neither I nor Jack knew. The words were lost on all those present, but I could feel the strength and emotion behind them.
Sadness, hope, concern, and love…I felt them in her song that she sang while crying and holding her brother tight. And eventually, the singing stopped and Kara and Kal sat there, the latter had stopped thrashing.
"K-Kara? Is it really you?" he whimpered into her chest.
Kara smiled, "Yes, it is Kal."
And he returned her hug, sobbing heavily into her shoulder. He sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, all the while holding his sister tightly. For a moment the base was silent, and Kal's sobs were the only sound.
"I'm so sorry…" he sobbed, earning a confused look from Kara.
"Sorry? For what?"
"F-for everything I said." he sniffed "I didn't mean it, I-I never meant it. I never want to lose you. I'm so sorry Kara."
My heart warmed at the notion. Everyone is fixed.
I looked at Jack who was smiling amidst the pain.
Well…not everyone. I looked at my baby brother and bit my lip. I hope Voidwalker sees what he's done. I hope she gets why he was named Prime. He could have let Kal get crushed but he didn't.
I closed my eyes. The damage to him was really bad, I don't know if Ratchet will be able to fix it. I've never seen Mom heal a full cybernetic before. Organic and half cybernetic yes…But Jack was fully Cybertronian…
What were we going to do?
"Kal?" Jack asked softly, afraid of breaking up the tearful reunion, but needing to so we could get out of here, "You feeling better?"
The Kryptonian looked up.
"You're not screaming it's a trick anymore…" Jack said awkwardly, "I…"
He looked away, a fiery blush heating his cheeks.
I rubbed his shoulder.
"You sure know how to break up a fluffy moment, don't you, little brother?" I teased.
"You have your legs crushed, see how you like it," he growled softly.
"Had my wing crushed…'bout the same if not worse amount of pain," I countered, "Now sit still. I'm going to try to get you so we can move you, ok?"
Jack nodded and took in a shaky breath. I slipped an arm around him and tried putting another under his injured legs. He howled in pain and I stopped.
"O-okay, t-that won't wo-work," he stuttered, sweat trickling down his face.
"We need to get out of here though, and if we aren't leaving you," I frowned, "We'd need a healer, a medic or something."
"Well why didn't ya'll ask?" Cyborg said, he and the Titans, minus Beastboy, entering the room.
I looked up at them, relief flooding me. Jack gripped my hand and I rubbed his with my thumb.
"Jack's hurt," I said, "Please…I can't move him without causing him pain,"
"Raven can help," Cyborg suggested.
I looked at the cloaked Titan.
"Please," I breathed.
She gave a nod and came towards Jack. He tensed as she put her hands on his leg, his eyes flickering to bright, pain-filled electric blue.
"We've got to set the bone first," I said, "Jack…this is really going to hurt…but once I get it fixed it won't hurt as bad, I promise,"
"Do it…quickly," he ground out.
I grit my teeth and carefully gripped the slick bone and shifting it back into place, Jack whimpering and gasping in pain.
"Easy," I breathed, "Easy,"
"Hold him down," Raven instructed.
I pinned his arms to the ground.
Raven murmured something under her breath and her hands flickered with black energy. Jack jerked under my arms and screamed, his eyes flaring brightly, turning almost optic-like in pain. I bit my tongue as he screamed, the sound was like someone tearing a piece of sheet metal in two and scraping nails down a chalkboard. An inhuman shriek that reminded me of the Nazgûl from Lord of the Rings.
"MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOOOOP!" he shrieked in Cybertronian, tears of brilliant blue energon streaming down his face.
"Almost there," I heard one of the Titans say.
They were right, I saw the skin healing over.
"Its ok," I whispered, "Just a little longer,"
Raven brought her hands back to her sides as Jack gave a strangled moan, looking like he'd pass out. He breathed heavily, like he had sprinted twenty miles full speed, sweat covering his face.
I brushed his hair out of his eyes and looked up at Raven.
"I was only able to reduce it to a fracture," she said, bowing her head, "He'll still need help getting out of here. And when the times comes, he'll need a few days rest, maybe a brace,"
Hopefully we wouldn't be fighting for a while after this.
Jack gave a shaky nod and I helped him stand. He gave a low hiss of protest.
"Shut it you big baby," I chastised, "It's better than it could be,"
He gave me a halfhearted glare but didn't say anything. Primus he was so pale…we'd have to get him some energon after this. That was for sure.
"Can you stand?" Kara asked Kal.
"I-I don't…I don't know," he admitted, taking Kara's hand and struggling to gain his footing, he nearly fell and would have if Kara hadn't caught him.
"We need to get him to some sunlight," she told us, holding onto his limp frame, "He'll start to heal once that's done,"
We all nodded and the Titans helped Kara and I get our brothers out. Jack gave a low hiss of pain every time he put his weight on his right leg, I shifted my arm so that it looked like we were doing a three legged race. He bit his lip to keep from letting out a pained cry, he bit it so hard that I saw energon.
"Don't do that," I said softly, "You're nearly crashing from low reserves…I don't want you losing any more,"
He gave a mute nod, but still gave a low whimper of pain as his right foot hit the ground.
Kal wasn't much better. He kept mumbling to himself, and I could barely hear what he was saying.
"He won't let me leave…always watching…punished…"he muttered, Jack bowed his head.
"He's been like that since I found him," he whispered softly, "He's not screaming anymore…but it's sad…and I…"
He closed his eyes and continued his thought over bond.
"I almost broke Dad's rule," he said, "Don't harm humans,"
"Why?"
"I promised myself that if one of Slade's goons or if the Unicron Spawn himself showed their face in that cell…there'd be nothing left to identify themselves as human,"
"You were protecting Kal," I reasoned.
"An Autobot wouldn't think that," he growled softly, "Much less a Prime,"
"Jack…don't go back to that," I ordered as we went down the hall, "You're a good Prime, look what you did for Kal! You could have let him get crushed but you didn't. You pushed him out of the way and you let your legs get crushed. Stupid, but Primelike. You care for other's wellbeing before your own,"
His royal and storm blue eyes lit up just a fraction.
"You've changed since Kal was last with us," I said, "Not just in looks and sound…but in attitude as well. Yes, you've got a hot temper, yes, you can be judgmental…but your spark is in the right place. You love your family and are very protective of them. What sets you off is if someone hurts your family,"
I felt a sharp stabbing pain slash across the top of my eye and a burning, raking pain across my chest. I gave a soft yelp of pain.
I looked up.
"Mom…Dad…" I breathed, starting to go faster, ignoring Jack's yelps of protest.
Michael POV
Silver stumbled back, blinking furiously to get the energa out of her eyes. That Tin Can slashed her not long after she bashed his head in with the hilts of Andúril and Excalibur.
Metallo grabbed her wing and Silver jerked it out of his grasp, slicing his wrist joints deep with the razor sharp edges. He yelled in anger as he was cut and pretty much lost the function of that hand…that had a bunch of Silver's feathers in it.
I charged, cutting deep into the creature's side with Requiem, severing a bunch of fuel lines.
Metallo retaliated by raking his clawed servos across my chest and down my wing. I roared in pain and flared my wounded wing, throwing burning drops of energa in Metallo's optics, causing the monster to scream in frustration as he was blinded. Take that creep!
Out of the four of us, Krypto seemed the least damaged…his snowy fur spattered with energa and leaking fluids.
"You basta…!" Metallo shrieked…but Silver knocked him flat on his rear with a bolt of lightning.
He flipped upwards to his feet and glared murderously at Silver…sporting a new dent in his chest.
Silver hissed darkly, wings flickering with lighting as she circled.
"Ego, nestago lam gîn min nîf orch," * she growled.
I turned to her.
"Now that was not courteous…even if it was elvish," I snickered.
She smirked as Metallo cocked his head, apparently trying to decipher what she said.
"Iston gin eithad be edhellen, a nin ú- cheniathog!" ** she howled happily.
He started in on her again and I whipped Requiem in an arc, flames flaring from the blade. I coupled that with a few well aimed blasts of my own…
Unfortunately, I also set the room on fire.
I felt Dusk behind us and I turned to Silver.
"We've got company," I said, looking over at the group.
Silver looked back, watching Dusk's worried face.
"Good," Silver smirked, turning back to me, "I love to put on a show…let's show Dusk that her parents aren't the ones to worry about,"
We both nodded and looked back at Metallo.
"Well!?" he snarled, spreading his arms out, "I'm waiting!?"
I readied my sword, Silver twirled her blades and we charged forwards, giving out war cries. Silver leaped upwards, her wings blocking out the light, I went down on my side and slid across the floor. We both slashed Metallo across the chest, sending sparks flying everywhere.
I twisted on my back and got to my feet, charging forwards and slashing at every bit of the machine I could find, making the monster twist around trying to decide which of us to hit. Silver and I both cut him down slowly and surely. I would have been perfectly fine…
If he didn't backhand Silver.
She hit the wall hard, one of her wings getting behind her back and bending painfully. I stopped and ran to her side, picking her up off her wing.
"THAT'S IT! BOTH OF YOU DIE!" Metallo roared.
"NO!" Dusk shrieked.
Krypto snarled and grabbed Metallo by the ankle dragging him backwards. Metallo started kicking the dog.
"You stupid. Little. Mutt!" he shrieked, slamming his food on Krypto's muzzle and causing the poor dog to yelp in pain, releasing him while Silver and I attacked him again.
He didn't stand a chance. The metal plating on his body was tough for our blades to penetrate…but the joints…
Not so much.
Silver slashed the inside of his knee, making him yell and go down. She slashed the other side, sending fluid everywhere. He backhanded Silver again and her breath whooshed out.
I got up, seeing red. No one hurts my Silver. No one hurts my family.
Flames danced along Requiem's blade and I gave a loud war-cry…
Before burying Requiem in its new scabbard…
Metallo's chassis.
More specifically, the Kryptonite shard powering him.
Metallo looked at the silver, gold and bronze blade piercing his chest and then up at me.
"You son of a…!"
I heard the singing of twin blades slashing through the air. I looked up and saw Silver smirking, twirling her blades back to her sides…right as Metallo's head hit the floor.
"That's for my daughter, glitch," Silver growled.
The body slid off Requiem and I stood, smiling at my wife.
"Excellent timing…as usual honey," I chuckled, giving her a swift kiss on the cheek.
"Oh shove it!" Metallo's head snarled.
Oh right…forgot the head.
Everyone, myself included, found it hard not to laugh. I looked over at the Titans, Kara, Darby…and I assumed the other Darby in the hospital dress was Kal. They were all having trouble keeping a smile off their faces. Even Kal.
Krypto made it worse. The warhound picked up the head and started trotting to an exposed section of dirt.
"Oh no," I started.
"Oh yes," Silver grinned, "Sweet justice,"
I had seen Silver's Newfoundlands, Shadow and Thunder, and Eclipt's Saluki, Anubis, act this way with Healer's wrenches.
Krypto finished digging the hole and dangled Metallo's head over it.
"Hey, wait! What are you doing!?" Metallo demanded as Krypto dropped it in the hole with a clatter.
The head let out a blue-streak of curses.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" Metallo screamed as Krypto started filling the hole back up.
"I'd love to help," Silver smirked.
"I know you would," I answered.
"YOU MUTT!" Metallo shrieked, "WHEN I GET MY BODY BACK I'LL MMM MM M M!"
He fell silent as Krypto finished burying him, patting the dirt down with his tail to smooth it over.
Darby gasped, laughing and nearly crying at the same time.
"M-My ribs…they hurt!" he gasped.
I walked up to him, taking in how Dusk was holding him…like he couldn't stand on his own. That, coupled with the faint stream of blue that bled down his neck…
"What in the universe happened to you?" I asked.
"Don't ask," he sighed, "I…I need to get to Ratchet…that's all I can say,"
I looked at Kal.
"So this is Kal-El," I mused, "The one you…"
"Yes," Darby cut me off hurriedly.
I smirked.
"He does dwarf you…but he's still got a ways to go before he tops me," I teased before looking back at Darby and adding softer, "They know about us being counterparts yet?"
"No,"
"Good," I smirked, "Let's see how many people we can make glitch at once,"
"You're joking…right?" Darby asked.
I didn't answer.
"Right?"
I gave him a smile and turned back to my wife.
"You're evil," she hummed.
"I know," I chuckled, kissing her head.
Dusk POV
I grinned as Jack groaned, shaking his head as Dad smirked. This…this was going to be fun.
I heard Kal give a yelp as a wall of white fur nearly tackled him, bathing him with his tongue. Krypto almost seemed to be crying as he happily licked his master, and nuzzled against him, his whimpering cries were almost heartbreaking.
Kal held onto the dogs massive neck and managed to get out a weak smile.
"Hey boy," he rasped, scratching the dog behind his ears, "I missed you too."
Krypto sat on his haunches and whimpered sadly. The look on his face was pretty simple, 'Why did you leave me?'
My spark almost broke. It was like Sirius after I came back from the dead. He wouldn't let me up for five minutes and growled at anyone who tried to pull him off. He wouldn't leave my side after that.
"I'm sorry Krypto, I didn't mean to leave you," he whispered, hugging his dog.
A slow clap emanated from the exit, and all heads turned to the exit. Kal's face went white and he gripped Krypto tighter, the dog snarling at the offending clapper.
"My my, what an impressive display," Slade praised, looking at Metallo's unmoving body, "You managed to defeat a former criminal with a metal body. Impressive."
The Criminal mastermind stood in front of the entrance with Adoritar strapped to his side. Jack bowed his head and I growled. That was Jack's sword, not that Primus slagged cretin's!
"Dusk…" Jack growled softly, knocking me out of my silent ranting.
"What," I hissed.
He gave a weak point at the man standing next to Slade and my spark leapt into my throat.
"Silas!" Kara hissed, her eyes flashing red, "What are you doing here!?"
The last time we'd seen that creep…it was as an energon sucking zombiecon that nearly got Jack and I both. Well…actually, we found the body on the warship.
We were looking around the warship trying to find other relics and such to help aid with Cybertron's rebuilding…
Let's just say this…
Ultra Magnus and Smokey scream like femmes…just like Bulkhead does.
The head of MECH smirked.
"Young lady, Slade is the man responsible for our funding and intel. Without him, MECH would be nothing more than a lost dream. Breaking him out of prison was simply MECH's way or repaying him."
"That's how he got out!?" Robin growled, he and the Titans surrounding the two men.
"Ah Titans, how wonderful to see you again," Slade sneered, before focusing solely on Kal and Jack.
"Jack, Jack, Jack, you know you shouldn't be out of your cell. Remember what happened last time you left your cell without permission?"
Kal whimpered and shrank away, a few tears starting to streak down his face.
Jack trembled under my hands, not from fear but from pure rage. I knew that if his leg wasn't broke then he'd be fulfilling his promise to himself.
Kara clenched her fists and stepped forward.
"Out of our way human! You aren't hurting my brother anymore!"
Slade chuckled, "And who's going to stop me? You? The mutt? The Titans? Or the Halflings? You have a laundry list of allies, yet not one of them could beat me Kara. Your guardians learned the hard way that Jack was the only one who could beat me."
Ok creep, let's see you survive this.
Time to make good on my promise!
I snarled angrily and stepped forward, fire flickering along my hands and wings.
"Make sure to add me to that list when you're burning in the Pit Slade!" I threatened.
Fire shot forth from her fingers in a brilliant blaze of light and smoke, engulfing both men leaving not so much as an outline as the fire seemed to incinerate them.
I let my hands drop to the side, heaving heavily and head spinning…I had never let out that big a blast before, Dad looked mildly impressed.
But I was so happy to reduce that pitiful excuse for a man to ash…
The smoke cleared revealing Slade and Silas standing there unharmed. Slade had a single hand extended, and a tongue of fire flickered against his palm.
HOW THE PIT DID HE SURVIVE!?
He made a tsking noise.
"Didn't anyone teach you Greyman? When you play with fire…" the flames in the room turned a sickly purple, and the fire in his hand shifted in color too.
We all looked up around the room as the walls were engulfed in purple fire, the man himself radiating the stuff. His one eye was bright purple, and spread wide open.
"You get burned!" and like that, violet tendrils of fire shot towards us.
Well, I wasn't lying when I said they'd all be together...I didn't say they'd all make it out though. :P It's so much fun leaving on cliffhangers...well, fun for us, not so much fun for you guys right?
Translation for Silver's insults
*Go french-kiss an orc.
**I can insult you in elvish and you can't understand me!
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please R&R! :)
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.
