Chapter 10: Heart to Heart
"Link talk"
"Comm link"
'Thoughts'
Okays squishies, here be the next chapter! I know that the previous chapter was a bit grey, and this one will be too. But, I hope that the next one will be filled with cows and happy rainbows! Or maybe some action. Does anyone even read the author's note? If you did, begin your reviews with "Dear Sir Potato of Banana" Read on!
Me: I has been given a great responsibility! *runs around in circles*
Shadow: …
Crystal: Really? What is it?
Me: I'll never tell you~ Mwahahaha~
Nightstar: Nova...
Me: *mockingly* Nightstar...
Swift: Both of you...
Icewhip: *sighs* Why...
Goku: *pops up* GOKU! :D
Note: Red optics: Decepticons/Angry Autobot Blue optics: Default Autobot Black optics: Extremely angry/Murderous Bright optics: Distressed Dark optics: Mood darkening Purple/Violet optics: Um… That will be explained later.
Nova onlined her optics and gazed at the familiar ceiling of her room. Sighing, she locked her servos behind her helm; thinking back to what had happened earlier before she had blacked out.
"Ultranova?"
Nova winced as Nightstar came to her side, gently smiling down at the lavender femme.
"Hey." Nova's defeated reply caused Nightstar to vent softly. Opening a private comm link, Nightstar decided to talk some sense into her commander.
"Nova, what's wrong?"
"…Nothing."
Nightstar twitched, knowing that what had happened earlier had hurt her deeply. However, her leader could be extremely stubborn at times, bottling up her true emotions from others. Nova heard a soft chuckle from Nightstar's end of the comm link. Touching her newly patched up injury gently, Nova winced at the slight sting from the new weld over the wound on her neck.
"C'mon, it can't be nothing if you're not willing to talk about it. Remember? Before we were sent here? No secrets between us."
"No secrets." Nova repeated, as if tasting the phrase for the first time.
"Well?" Nightstar gently prompted her leader to begin speaking.
"How long was I out?"
Nightstar scowled, knowing that Nova was stalling for time.
"You were out for about three cycles."
"WHAT? I… I… The reports!" Nova shot out of the berth and was halfway to the door when a wrench connected with her helm.
"Don't you remember that I never miss? You've clearly got something weighing on your spark; and under no circumstances will I allow my friends to suffer alone. Off with the mask and visor. Both of us need an honest conversation." Nightstar ordered sternly as she dragged Nova back to the berth. Sitting down, she patted the empty spot next to her, signalling Nova to sit. Nova did so, retracting her visor and mask obediently. Fear flashed in her optics once before it was replaced with a meek vulnerability.
"Yes, Hannah."
Nightstar recoiled like she was struck before she fully understood the reason why her commander called her by her old name. "Katrina…" She cooed gently, feeling her old friend shudder so hard that the berth was shaking.
Nova sobbed; curling her knees close to her frame as soon as she heard the motherly tone in Nightstar's voice. Nightstar murmured gentle words to her friend, gently hugging the trembling femme.
"Hannah?" she whimpered in a simply pitiful voice, causing Nightstar's spark to squeeze with empathy.
"What's wrong, Kat?" She was using Nova's old nickname as she consoled her as best she could.
Inwardly cursing herself for being so weak, she managed to whimper out something that made Nightstar freeze. "I'm scared," she sniffled, gently tracing unseen patterns on her thigh armor. Nightstar drew back, shocked.
Nova was afraid.
She was afraid that she would lose Optimus; and the friendship that she held with every bot she knew. If it had succeeded, they would never be able to see the real bots ever again. Everyone would have just been an empty shell; self-absorbed and overly dramatic, like the Sue itself.
'Slag it. It's worse than I thought. She never admits that she's scared; no matter what.' Nightstar swore as she tilted Nova's chin so that their optics were level. Steeling herself for the lecture that was on the tip of her glossa, she cycled a deep intake and began to speak.
"Kat, this is not like you." Nova refused to meet her gaze, optics jumping from side to side. "Katrina, look at me." Nova stubbornly disobeyed her. "Katrina Burns, LOOK at me!" Nova flinched, slowly but gradually looking into Nightstar's optics that were smouldering with unspoken anger. "Is this what's going to take you down? A simple Mary Sue? Of all things, a plain old fictional demon defeats you." Nightstar let a harsh, barking laugh get through to her fallen leader, disdain in her gaze. "You! The one that faced down bullies twice your size and knocked the headmaster's lights out! If one little witch was all it took, I'd say you're not fit to be Prime." Nightstar's spark clenched at the words she was speaking, but she knew it was for Nova's own good. "You don't deserve Optimus. Pit, you don't deserve anyone!"
Nova's head bowed in shame as she quietly apologized.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault."
"Oh yeah? Sorry doesn't cut it!"
Nova's servos curled into fists at Nightstar's harsh words, biting back the insults that she wanted to spew at her SIC, however justified the medic's wise words may have been. However, her weakling demeanour vanished and was replaced with a vengeance that bordered on murderous as soon as she heard Nightstar's next utterance.
"The Sue would have been better for him."
With a loud roar, she launched herself at the medic. Nightstar was fully prepared for her outburst and sidestepped easily before letting out a shrill whistle. Nova crashed into the wall, the wind knocked out of her. Just as she was about to dive at the door-winged femme again, all of a sudden the twins burst into the room. They had been posted outside the room and had been awaiting Nightstar's signal for the past few breems or so. Each taking one of Nova's arms, they nodded at the medic, managing to restrain the livid femme despite having some difficulty.
With a sharp battle cry Nightstar sprinted out of Nova's room, soon hearing the footsteps of her livid commander behind her.
Optimus was walking along the corridor with Elita, the former still apologizing for yelling at the latter during that incident a few cycles ago. "Jeez Optimus, how many times have I told you it's alright?" Elita vented, grinning slightly. True, she had been taken aback when he had yelled at her, but no harm was done because he couldn't control his actions. Neither could she, actually. That was why she had run out of the main lounge sobbing like a little sparkling.
"Still, I apologize. I should have been able to…" Optimus was cut off by Elita waving her servo nonchalantly.
"Optimus, you're not perfect. No bot is. How many times have you seen me run off crying like that?" At Optimus's quiet, Elita grinned. She knew that she had won this argument. "None right? So, it was because of that monstrosity. You don't need to blame yourself."
"But I-" Any words Optimus wanted to say were immediately cut off by a loud yell of fury and a clash of metal against metal.
"Nightstar? Nova?" Elita's optics brightened in alarm. Darting towards the room the noises were coming from, Elita hurriedly opened the door and ran in. Optimus soon followed behind her, determined to find out what was going on as soon as Elita mentioned Nova's name.
As soon as he stepped in, the first thing he noticed was the sword that whistled past his audio receptor before burying itself into the doorframe. He winced inwardly as he thought of what would happen if it had sliced one of the most sensitive components of his frame. Optimus noticed that Elita was busy walking towards to bloodthirsty femmes, the look on her face beyond livid. The last time he saw that look… well… Actually, he couldn't even remember the last time she was that angry. Maybe it was a few millennia ago-
"ULTRANOVA AND NIGHTSTAR! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Elita roared.
The two femmes who looked about ready to offline each other snapped to attention and slapped their servos over their audio receptors, cringing at what was to come. "Danniluk! I can explain!" Both of them squeaked simultaneously.
"Both of you had better." Both femmes yelped at the same time when Elita placed a none-too-gentle servo on the back of their necks, applying enough pressure to get her point across.
"Um… NovawasactingreallydepressedsoIwantedtogetheroutof herfunk. Iwasreallytryingtohelpher. I'mreallyreallysorrypleasedon'tofflineusplease!" Nightstar talked at a speed that even Blurr was incapable of as she tried to convince Elita to NOT send them to the brig.
"IreallylostmytemperwithNightstarafewbreemsagoandI wasn'tthinkingstraight. IdecidedtoanswerherwithviolencebutI'mreallyreallys orrypleasedon'tkillusIknowwhatIdidwaswrong!" Nova's speech pace matched Nightstar's as both femmes pleaded for their lives, secretly praying that Elita would not give them a punishment that was too humiliating or devastating.
Glaring harshly at the femmes who were desperately wishing that they could just sink into the floor and disappear for all eternity, Elita slowly lightened the pressure on both necks. "Very well," She noticed that both femmes' stances relaxed, and they barely managed to hold in their sighs of relief.
"HOWEVER," Elita's next ominous statement caused Nova and Nightstar to tense up once more, knowing that the next thing that their adoptive danniluk said would spell their dooms. "You are not to go unpunished for this unacceptable behaviour. Nightstar, you will pass all your art datapads over to me for half an orbital cycle." Nightstar's doorwings drooped at the thought of being separated from her beloved art. "Ultranova, the same goes to you. Place all your writing datapads on my desk. You are also not allowed to access your datapads for half an orbital cycle." Nova lowered her helm, humbled. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Danni," Both of them chorused at the same time. They knew that Elita knew how much their hobbies meant to them, and forbidding them these would be enough a punishment for them to not repeat this act.
"Good. Now, when both of you were sparring, your techniques were rather sloppy." Elita used the word 'sparring' lightly, refusing to call their childish spat 'fighting'. "I think that both of you need a little recap on the basics. How's about we perfect them moves? Can't have y'all being beaten by Crystal again, can we?" As Elita spoke her tone became lighter and she got into a ready position, trying to lift the black cloud that was stifling the atmosphere, despite being one of the ones to contribute to it.
"I blame le High-Grade!" Nightstar perked up, pouncing on the opportunity of having a light conversation once more. "LOOK AT ME I'M ON A POSTER WHEEEEE!" Nightstar squealed loudly as she ran around in circles.
All of a sudden, Nightstar dove.
"Nice try, Star." Elita jumped to the side, all too familiar with Nightstar's style of attacking. A blur of lavender caught her attention as she hurriedly leant to the left and right, barely missing the fists that flashed past her helm. She spun, using a low kick to sweep Nova off her feet. The purple femme crashed to the ground, and before she could recover Elita grabbed her pede and began to spin. Nightstar was already charging head-on as Elita swung her commander around.
At the right moment, Elita let go of Nova's pede. Navy blue and lavender collided in a slight shower of sparks as both femmes flew towards one of the training room walls. Both of them recovered just before crashing into the wall and they backflipped in tandem, using their servos to push off the wall and land on the ground, in a crouching position. Sharing a look, they nodded and leapt at Elita together.
Ratchet and Ironhide burst into the training room, having heard the loud clash of metal when Elita swung Nova into Nightstar. The femmes did not appear to have heard their rather loud entrance. Ratchet nudged Ironhide, pointing to Optimus with the servo that was wielding a wrench. Ironhide nearly let out a low whistle but stopped himself in time. Optimus's optics leapt around the room, constantly following the femme with the visor. Both newcomers decided to watch the show.
Nova aimed high as she executed a spinning kick towards Elita's helm. Nightstar kept the pink femme busy as both of them locked servos, each trying to best the other in a competition of strength and endurance. Elita's optics flashed once and a grin lit up her features. Before Nightstar could begin to wonder what she meant, Elita pulled her forwards. Knocked off balance, Nightstar was only able to freeze up as Elita flipped her over her body and flung the doorwinged femme into Nova.
Both femmes grunted at the unexpected move and Nova braced herself against the impact. They somersaulted forwards and launched themselves up into the air, aiming for Elita once more. The pink femme readied herself to grab both their pedes and stop them from executing their moves.
However, just as they were about to reach the prepared femme, they broke formation and cartwheeled to the sides before launching themselves frontwards and bringing Elita down using their combined body weight.
"You lose." Both of them said triumphantly.
"Very well, I concede defeat." Elita spoke as she offlined her optics calmly. Nova and Nightstar got off and high-fived, but were brought down roughly and tied up.
"Actually, I think the tides have turned." Elita's optics twinkled as she casually twirled one end of the rope in her servos.
"Great. You're right, we're sloppy and we need more combat training. Now can you let us go?" Nova vented in slight frustration as she eyed their danniluk. Nightstar just looked at the situation both of them were in and began laughing. Nova would have facepalmed were her servos were not tied up. "Gutter processor." Nova sent over their bond accusingly.
"Do we feel the need to know?" Shadow's emotionless tone responded.
"B-But bonda-" Nightstar spluttered with laughter.
"Complete that sentence Nightstar and I will ask Ratchet to deactivate your vocalizer." Icewhip threatened.
"She meant to say bondage, right?" Swiftstreak said brightly from her end of the bond.
"Swiftstreak, I am coming for you as I speak." Icewhip growled lowly.
"Oh slag! Ruuuuuunnn!" The femme in question snorted before her end of the bond went silent.
Elita released them from temporary captivity and helped them up. "Anyway, I think both of you are trained well enough. You gave me quite the workout back there!"
"Daww… Thanks Elita!" Nova and Nightstar chirped happily. The femmes soon noticed the three mechs that were busy gawking. Ironhide at the skill of which the femmes were sparring, Ratchet at how close the three of them had come to needing major repairs, while Optimus…
"Aww… Optimus is staring at Nova! How cute!" Elita teased Nova.
"OMP! Blackmail! More blackmail! Muahahaha!" Nightstar cackled evilly and snapped a picture of the both of them.
"Ah… I just remembered! We have to put our datapads on Elita's desk! Let's go go go!" Nova shoved Nightstar out of the door, stopping for a while to try and grab her sword which was stuck in the doorframe. After jumping up and down and failing to grab the sword hilt which was conveniently above her reach, Optimus decided to take action and helped her take it out.
Handing it over to her, he barely heard her stutter out her thanks before bolting out of the room, Nightstar hot on her heels and cackling at her misery.
"Optimus~" Elita chirped in a teasing sing-song tone. "I hear your spark beat fast, don't you want it to last?"
Just as Optimus was about to reply her, Nightstar popped her helm into the room. "Hey Hatchet, I'm gonna call you Wrenchie Claus from now on 'kay? Buh bye y'all!" She shut the door just as Ratchet's wrench collided with the exact same spot where her helm was a few nanokliks ago.
"What am I going to do with her…?" Ratchet placed his helm in his servos as he vented in exasperation. Taking advantage of the situation, Optimus slipped off before Elita or the others could tease him again.
And this is how Nightstar came to address the Hatchet as Wrenchie Claus.
Wrenchie Claus: DON'T CALL ME THAT!
Pfft… Whatever you say… Candy Cane.
Ratchet: WHY YOU LITTLE- (The following words have been deleted due to the sheer vulgarity of them)
*tsk* Temper, temper.
Wrenchie Cl-: I… FOR PIT'S SAKE STOP CHANGING MY DESIGNATION!