Time Scale: Nano-click: second ; Cycle: Minute ; Groon: an hour ; Mega-cycle: days ; Orn: 13 days ; Steller Cycle: year ; Vorn: 83 years.

= Comm Link =

:: Bond Speak ::

Chapter 10: Never a Good Day

Ravage's footsteps were soft and nearly silent as she made her way through the shadows. She had decided that she would kill the scorpion-bot in his recharge if she was forced to be Blackout's cassette. Not that she was worried about herself. She had a full spark. She could leave and wander the universe where she may, but her siblings … They would have no choice. True, they probably could carry on as they were for a few short orns as long as she was around, but what then? They were living on borrowed time.

Her optics dimmed at the thought.

She already could tell that she had lost Rumble. He had been terrified and then there was a jump, a sizzling in her spark … then he was gone. Part of her mind told her he was not deactivated, merely misplaced, but she knew … she knew that the bond was gone and he was with their Master now. He was part of the light.

Frenzy probably wasn't far behind though he might have a while with the Buzzsaw and Laserbeak.

She dared not dwell on the youngest.

Optics so dim that she almost blended into the darkness, the cat-former barely had time to dodge a heavy foot coming around the corner. The cassette did an elegant flip and landed a few feet to the left, shadows hiding her entire form for a moment. The owner of the heavy ped stood there, his rotors twitching in surprise before he got down on one knee and made a clicking noise, his voice sarcastic.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Almost didn't see you there."

Glowering at the metallic titan, she couldn't decide who she initially hated more: the master or his cassette. Though if he kept this up, Blackout was going to get his vocalizer ripped out.

Smiling down at the cat-former, almost wickedly, his taunting words finally ended as he spoke to the cat-former like a regular bot. "So? You are one of the orphans that I might be getting, hey? You don't look to be struggling or depressed … You must be near a full spark, an old cassette."

The cat-former merely blinked her optics in the darkness, offering no reply.

Blackout chuckled darkly and reached a hand out so he could pick Ravage up and get a good look at her to see what he was getting. He acted like he already owned her. The cat-former, caring little about Scorponok's warning, growled and lashed out at the large grabbing servo. Claws digging into metal and wiring, the large mech pulled back with a grunt, bringing his hand up to his mouth to taste his own energon. Still kneeling there, a small drip of processed energon dribbling down his armor, the mech laughed darkly in his throat as he pulled away.

"Well … you seem promising. Spirited." Then standing up, he chuckled, "You'll be fun to break."

Optics glowing dully, the cat-former gave no reply as she remained in the shadows, the large flier's rotors twitching as he made his way down the hall. Growling, hating the copter already, Ravage continued her journey to the room the large mech had undoubtedly come from. Standing in the doorway for a moment, part of her hating the dome over the room which allowed in the star-light, she slowly prowled into the light. Silently picking her destination, she headed towards a large chair, buttons clicking away as several hovering screens presented information to the chair's occupant.

Walking all the way to the side of the large research chair, she sat there a moment watching fingers dance over holographic screens. It was a rare opportunity to see both of Shockwave's hands as the other one was decked out in sensitive equipment which made it partially translucent, sensors blinking away inside. To crush or even man-handle that hand would be more debilitating than probably ripping off a seeker's wings or a mech's door wings. It was an extreme safety hazard and something few mechs knew about. The femme was sure that even Megatron didn't know about the elegant hand. Watching the delicate device dance over computer screens a moment more, the purple Con seeming to look over Blackout's diagnostics and build, she yawned, gathering the other's Decepticon's attention.

The clear hand with all of its sensory and blinking equipment stalled as if caught. Then, before she could even blink, there was the sound of a transformation, a cannon now in the hand's place. The large mech turned his single eye towards the cassette, silent and waiting.

She finished her yawn, knowing all too well that it was a human social disease which was unnecessary and yet somehow it had jumped species, she glanced up expectantly.

Titling his own head as if in question, the ex-Senator stated, "Yawning is unnecessary for a Cybertronian and a human trait, yet you perform the act?"

Binging the other's comm. link, which was promptly accepted, she replied, =Yes, but it is quite contagious, none the less.=

Remaining silent for a moment, the purple mech continued, "I did not know it was contagious. What is the severity of the condition?"

Staring at the purple figure for a nano-klick, not at all surprised, she murmured, =No more deadly than boredom, but that's not what I want to talk to you about.=

If a mouth-less mech could frown, she was sure that Shockwave would have as she jumped up on the main computer, carefully minding buttons as she sat down on her haunches. If she could frown, she would be sharing the same imaginary expression but thankfully (or unthankfully) it seemed Primus wished to leave them both incapable of expressing emotions easily so things had to be said instead of guessed. Shockwave didn't even have an EM-field for even that had been taken from him along with his hands and face.

Personally, emotions were messy. She preferred things that way. Fewer ways to confuse and misinterpret each other.

=I presume you already know what I am going to ask?= she stated over the comm.

The purple mech, using his other hand, started typing away at a screen. She didn't know if it was a coping mechanism for Shockwave since he was no longer had emotions in the normal context, but she quickly forgave his multitasking. In some ways, she envied his cold view of the world.

=I don't think it needs to be said, but I will ask none the less. Soundwave is deactivated. We have no cassette rack to take us in and the younger ones … I fear that Ratbat is already offline. His half spark could not withstand the strain,= she stated.

Shockwave stalled and looked directly at her with his lone optic. "You should have informed Lord Megatron of the time constraints. He would have worked faster to try and save the surviving cassettes. You are an asset to him and to whoever will be chosen to be the new Communication Officer."

If she had a full-length tail it would have been swishing in irritation as she recalled Frenzy's last interaction with the warlord, his optics busted out as if he was a traitor. =He seemed not to care about Frenzy's welfare earlier, so I find it unlikely that he cares now. He would have just though the young ones were weak and good riddance to them.=

Shockwave was still for a moment as if he was thinking and trying to comprehend the emotions that were being presented to him. His hand then continued its work as he emotionlessly added, "Then I will inform him of the importance of the cassettes and the need for a new cassette rack. I was going to allow Lord Megatron to choose his new officer and then upgrade them if he wished, but perhaps it will be far more strategic if I just recommend Blackout instead of even considering the remodeling of Thundercracker."

The cat was a bit taken back about the Thundercracker bit. The mech was generally rather quiet and kept to himself. Truthfully, if he didn't have any connections to Starscream he might make a great cassette rack even though he was probably younger than her. She had no plans of becoming one of Starscream's pawns, though, like the blue mech was himself.

Pushing off the thoughts of Thundercracker, she growled as she replied, =I don't think you understand. No one else will do. Blackout will have us all dead in less than a vorn and Thundercracker is unpredictable because he is Starscream's pawn! I am searching out a new cassette rack so my siblings can live … not so I can see how quickly they can deactivate!=

The lone optic dimmed for a moment and then the scientist emotionlessly, "The only other cassette rack is Barricade and no one has heard from him in vorns. He is considered deactivated."

Metallic ears folding back, she finally growled over the comm., =Were you not the closest thing to a companion that Soundwave had? I think that I would trust my siblings' lives in your hands then any others! I will not accept anything less then you!=

Hand coming down and placing itself on his lap, the purple Con's optic dimmed and he was silent for a moment before he softly replied, "Then your siblings will deactivate. I cannot accept you."

Ravage sat up straight, surprised by the other's bluntness. =But … they will not survive with anyone else! Soundwave would have wanted you to have us.=

The mech was cold as he replied, "No, Soundwave would have wanted you all to deactivate with him. He trusted no one else with your care."

And with that, the mech stood up and walked away, leaving a flabbergasted and surprisingly heartbroken cassette behind as the chair slowly went dark, its holographic screens dropping away into nothingness. Yet, despite her want to beg and plea with the purple scientist to rethink what he had just proclaimed, she knew it would do no good.

Because it was true.

Soundwave would have wanted all of them to deactivate with him. He would have wanted all of his cassettes to fade with him before being left alone in this cruel existence because no one would ever care for them the way he had. In fact, no one cared about their unit but them.

Her head hung and she tried to stop what was coming, tried to bide it away with false assurances and promises, but she couldn't lie to herself. They were better off dead. Shockwave was right and he knew Soundwave almost as well as she did. There was no argument against it as far as Soundwave's point of view would have been concerned.

And so, clenser tears dripping down her bowed face, running against her nose, Ravage allowed herself a silent moment of sorrow. All of her siblings were going to die and she didn't know if she should drag it out with a new cassette rack or allow it to end as quickly as possible.

Either way, she would be left alone.

…

Eject kicked a pine cone and watched it fly through the shrubbery. He had spent most of the night out in the forest on his own and, surprisingly, no one had come to chastise him for his behavior. He had been left alone. Unexpectedly, that was both comforting and disheartening. On one servo he was allowed to be alone with his thoughts. After all, Blaster hadn't even bothered to inquire about his feelings which either meant Rumble hadn't made it back to base yet or the decision was still being made. On the other servo, it could also mean that Blaster was upset with him for not holding the Cassette Rack Laws in high regard and he didn't want Eject's opinion.

Sighing at the thought of his caretaker being mad, the young cassette plopped down on a log and picked up a stick. He started picking at some of the moss on the ground entirely at a loss and unsure of what to do with himself. He was sure he could stay here for the rest of the day and maybe even tomorrow and no one would care.

His Master cared more about a bloody Con then him.

Picking a little bit more at the moss, the cassette cursed and finally threw the stick as far as he could, dully noting that the sun was rising and he hadn't even recharged. Not that it was important, he could go for Earth-days without recharge, but because of the sleeping habits of humans, Prime encouraged everyone to follow the Earthlings' sleep cycle. Not that Eject cared about recharge right now. In fact, he would give up on recharge completely and risk glitching like Red Alert if it got rid of Rumble. Frag, he should have remained at the base. If he had stayed home and watched the sports channel like a good cassette this would have never happened. Even if Spike and the others had found Rumble at the dock, they would not have known he was dying.

Not until it was too late.

Despite himself, Eject ducked his helm, ashamed of his inner thoughts.

"I'm a terrible Autobot."

A snap and tripping noise filled the area as Sparkplug stumbled into the clearing, stating, "Oh, I don't know about that, Eject. You've always seemed like a good Autobot to me."

Eject wilted as the human walked over to the fallen tree, taking off his bag pack before he sat on the fallen tree next to the cassette with a heavy sigh. Then, grabbing a water bottle, he took a swig and dabbed some sweat off of his brow … and then the silence returned. The human made no further inquiries nor demanded answers about Eject's actions.

He was silent, the bugs in the forest making more noise than the man.

It was a bit unnerving and reminded him of being alone with Optimus Prime. He admired his leader, he really did, but the mech's attention was unnerving like any nano-klick the powerful mech would tell Eject that he was a disappointment and would promptly send Eject to the brig for some unknown crime.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, the silence far more deafening then any sound, the youth asked, "Well?!"

Sparkplug, who seemed content just sitting there enjoying the silence, turned his head. "Well, what?"

"Aren't you going to say something? Tell me what a poor sport I am for yelling at the others like that? For saying I basically wanted Rumble dead! How did you even find me?" questioned the cassette, his tone trembling. The youngling finally noticed just how upset he still was even though he had had a night all to himself and his thoughts.

Sparkplug was silent for a moment before he clapped his hands on his knees and leaned back somewhat as if getting more comfortable. Then, sighing, the man gave the young-bot a tired look. "Just a morning walk through the woods. I was looking for some wild mushrooms. Spike loves those fried in butter. I'm just takin' a break."

Eject waited for the man to say more, but he was silent once again, unnerving the frustrated youth. Eject practically begged, "Aren't you mad or upset or disappointed or something?! Aren't you going to say my attitude was way out of bounds and an extreme sports fail?"

Sparkplug chuckled at the youth's sports-speak and shook his head. "No, I'm not mad, but then again it's not my place to be so. It sounds like a personal issue to me, Eject, more than a political one. Not that I'm very good with politics either."

The cassette sighed and nodded his helm. He had a feeling Sparkplug was not here to judge, just to listen, and Eject quickly found his glossa loosening, "Yeah … Well, it is kind of personal. I don't think the others really understand what will happen if Rumble is saved. What it will mean."

Sparkplug nodded, asking, "Then why don't you tell me."

Sighing, feeling young around the man though he was certainly vorns older then the human, the cassette started ringing his hands together in stress as he stared at the ground. "You see… Rumble will deactivate, major game over, regardless of Ratchet's help. Unless … Blaster saves him."

"… Go on."

"Well, his spark needs another's spark to survive. A spark like Blaster's. A cassette rack. Taking Rumble in won't mean that once in a while Rumble has to take a nap in the cassette rack or anything … it means that Blaster will open a bond with Rumble … and accept him as one of his own," said Eject, crestfallen.

"I see," said the older man, feeling it was some type of sibling rivalry.

"No, you don't!" snapped the youth, turning his helm to the human. "It means that we have to accept him as well. All of us cassettes have to accept that dark monster into our family and feel his pain, worry, and hate. He will be able to hurt us in a way he couldn't as a Con. He will destroy my family!"

Sparkplug sighed and reached an arm out to pat the youngling's metallic shoulder. "So, you are worried that your family will fall apart. You are concerned that you will no longer have a place."

Nodding his helm, the drone choked, "I can't imagine being alone. It's not in my rule book!"

"No one ever does… but I don't think Blaster likes being alone in this type of issue either. So, don't feel bad about the fight. Families fight. Just don't stop talking. Perhaps, you need to tell Blaster how you feel about Rumble instead of just yelling that you would rather have him dead. It might not change Blaster's choice, but it will at least let him know about your doubts," said the aging man, giving a sad smile.

Suddenly hating the old man for being so wise even though he really wasn't that old, Eject was about to reluctantly agree. It was frightening to be alone and thought he might not like Rumble … he didn't want Blaster to feel ostracized either.

Shifting his peds, Eject decided to look at the situation with a different perspective.

But, then it happened. A snap. A tug at his spark and his bond with his creator and siblings. If Eject hadn't just been getting up, Sparkplug might have worried about the cassette's sudden collapse back onto the log. Instead, it merely looked like Eject had stumbled.

Gasping, the sensation more of a surprise then painful, Eject placed a hand on his chassis as he felt something invade his family's bond. And for a nano-klick, almost out of instinct, he almost accepted it as it was. A new bond. He had almost accepted that twisted, hurt and angry thing without a second because it was now attached to Blaster's bond. Somehow, Eject stalled, rage pushing away instinct.

Blaster had just accepted and finished creating a cassette bond with Rumble. There was no doubt about it. And … Blaster hadn't even asked him how he felt about it.

Anger renewed, betrayal feeding the emotion, the youth slowly stood up even though the bond pinched and pressed for acceptance again. He merely ignored it, Sparkplug's words being fed to the hurt feeling swelling in his spark.

Yet, as angry as he was, Eject refused to let Blaster know and certainly not Sparkplug. He liked Sparkplug and right now he felt as if the human had listened far more than his own creator had.

Pressing on a smiling, struggling to ignore the bond and his spark's withering complaint, he asked, "S-so, what kind of mushrooms are you looking for? How about this white one?"

Sparkplug's face gained a horrified expression. "Only if you want to poison Spike."

Eject merely shared a hollow laugh with the older man, abandoning his emotions as his mind started a new game. It was as if he had walked off the field … leaving all the bases loaded without no one up to bat.

XXX

Paw07: Well, it's been a while, has it not? Well, I regained my plot bunny for this one so hopefully, it won't be so dead again. Ugh… those previous chapters need a good proofreading though. I'll work on that for the next update. Anyway, the next chapter is half done so the wait shouldn't be so long. Later.

(Revisions October 2017)