Mercy (Part 2)

I was stunned by what he said. No?

No?

"I am not going to kill you." He refused.

I couldn't believe it. Shocked, I stared up at him.

"You have to!" I begged, "Please!"

"No." He answered again, firmly, but not harshly. "I have no right to take your life."

"You have every right! You're a Prime! Don't you fight for justice? My life has been lies and betrayal!"

"Nonetheless."

His replies were simple and short, yet made a point. He wasn't going to kill me. I was too weak to kill myself.

But I still had to die.

I couldn't speak anymore. It was too much. A fate worse than the death I had begged for. I would have let them do anything to me. Insult, judge, condemn me multiple times. I would gladly face torture. And then, at the end, they would give me what I deserved.

This was not it.

And for some reason, it was more painful than the most gruesome death they could have offered.

"You must come back inside." The Prime told me, doubling my sentence.

"Please, no…" I whimpered. I was a miserable, pathetic mess.

How had I gotten myself into this?

Suddenly, I was being lifted off the ground. I was too startled to struggle. I tensed, and hid my face.

He was carrying me back into the base.

xxx

"Optimus -" Ratchet's sentence cut off as he turned. The Prime stepped off the platform, not making eye contact.

He was carrying Mantra in his arms.

Ratchet started to ask, but couldn't find the words. So he didn't.

xxx

The Prime took me to my room, finally setting me down on the makeshift berth. I kept my servos over my face. There was silence for a moment, before I heard the Prime walk away without a word.

I was so shaken, so utterly confused and hurt,

… that for once in the time I had been on this planet, I slept soundly.

xxx

The next morning came all too quickly, and I knew I would have to face the Autobots. I was sure that the Prime had told them about me.

Despite wanting to stay in my room all day, I decided that it would be better just to get it over with. After all, Ratchet would probably come looking for me after missing my daily exam.

I walked slowly and quietly into the main room, surprised to find it almost empty. It was a weekend, I knew. Saturday, I think. The human children were nowhere in sight. Ratchet stood at the computer, as usual, and didn't notice me walk in. The Prime had to be somewhere around here, I knew. He would show up suddenly, and startle me.

Ratchet finally turned from the screen, seeing me.

"You're early." He commented.

I nodded, keeping my gaze averted. I was exposed without my visor. Even if the Prime hadn't told him about me already, it felt like he could see into my processor.

"Oh, by the way, Mantra… "

I looked up. Was this some kind of a joke? Was he pretending not to know?

"...You left your visor outside. Optimus found it. The outer shell was cracked, but I was able to fix it. It's over there." He pointed, and I saw my visor on the counter.

"Um… Thank you," I replied dumbly, picking it up. For some reason, I decided not to put it on.

xxx

Throughout the day, I was left wondering. None of the other Autobots seemed to be aware of my confession. I didn't see the Prime all day.

I decided not to wear my visor. Again, for reasons even I do not know. Miko was thrilled to see that I had taken off the visor, saying it looked creepy. I personally didn't think it looked creepy, but it did feel kind of good to go without it for a day.

It all came to a strange close. Where I was still left wondering. Had the Prime not told any of them? If so, why?

One word came to mind, placed there by some unseen hand.

Mercy.