In silent unison the three Autobots turned their heads, each one equally confused by the strange force field. Just behind Windgust stood a tall mech, only a foot or two shorter than Stealthblade. The first thing the stealth soldier noticed were his crimson red optics, that had a strange deep black line beneath them, reminding the black mech of eye liner for some reason. His light face plate was covered by a soft gray mask, which curved up wickedly near his jaw. Connected to this mask was a deep purple crest that rose up above his optics, and shaped similarly to a very broad dagger. Spikes trailed the bottom of his helm, pointing straight down. His armor was mostly soft gray, but dark purple stripes were painted over it. His purple hand was outstretched over the group, and from his palm streamed the source of the red force field. No symbol of his allegiance was present on him though.
A...neutral? Stealthblade weakly thought.
If that was true, than this was the most intimidating neutral the stealth soldier had ever seen. The mystery mech suddenly deteriorated his force field, and then placed his palms together, building up a ball of super condensed red energy. With a skillful throw he whizzed it at the Decepticons, and as it flew, it began expanding, colliding with every 'con.
They flew back in the air, landing a good hundred meters away. Stealthblade flared up his helm spikes, mildly impressed.
"Get off my property." He spoke to the 'cons, his voice void of all emotion, but at the same time not monotone.
Shadowshifter was the first to spring back to his feet, and quickly sized up this new opponent. The neutral reactivated the force field, surrounding both himself and the Autobots once more.
Shadowshifter let out a low growl, and glanced at Backlash as he approached his side. The red visored stealth soldier straightened into a far more relaxed position, his second in command obviously having told him something he liked.
"Decepticons, withdraw." Shadowshifter's visor glowed, and they hastily obeyed.
Stealthblade strained to watch them go, until finally relaxing and placing his full weight against Dawncatcher. She quickly placed her hand back over his damaged neck, temporarily blocking the energon flow. Windgust morphed a hand into something that looked medical, but Stealthblade couldn't focus on what she was doing. His body was too wracked with pain to even feel her touch.
"I shall retrieve your comrades." The red opticed neutral spoke, his voice now sounding depressed.
He took off into the air, and flew down into the canyon.
*****
Stormstrike's signature sensor went off as an unfamiliar energy approached from above.
Stealthblade, what' happening? Stormstrike quickly asked, shoving aside his brother's mental block, which was now surprisingly weak. Pain radiated through Stormstrike's body, but he knew it was not his own.
The 'cons are...gone. Stealthblade replied faintly.
You sound horrible. Stormstrike fidgeted worriedly, glancing at his own damaged companions. Who's the new signature?
Don't know, just some neutral. Stealthblade sounded confused. Whoever he is, he saved us.
Stormstrike straightened up to his one good leg as the neutral's signature began to approach rapidly. Doubleedge threw him a confused look, wondering why he had stood up.
"Don't worry, a neutral's coming down." Stormstrike tried to ease the suddenly tense team leader.
"A neutral?" He asked confused.
"Yeah, apparently he saved Stealth and the girls." Stormstrike shrugged, and peered up out of the overhang, and saw the gray and purple mech descending.
"Ya mean ta say that a neutral besides Windgust engaged?" Jazz sounded very impressed.
"Yep." Stormstrike quickly ducked back under as the mysterious neutral touched down.
Stormstrike was startled to see his deep crimson optics, that looked so Decepticon. The thick black lines beneath the optics only increased their dark intensity.
"Uh, hi." The elite waved uncertainly.
The mech didn't respond, but instead generated a large flat force field at his feet, large enough for each soldier to sit comfortably on.
"Get on." He instructed simply, and took Stormstrike aback. His voice sounded so dull and sad, it just wasn't natural.
Stormstrike turned to the others, all of whom were hesitating.
"Come on, you heard the mech. Move Plasmagrade onto the uh...force field thingy, and Torrent to." Stormstrike snapped them back to their senses.
After they had done so, Jazz helped the elite limp onto the platform like field of energy, and suddenly it rose into the air, carrying them all the way back up the canyon. Upon touching down, Stormstrike spotted Stealthblade in Dawncatcher's arms, with Windgust frantically working on him.
"Bro!" Stormstrike exclaimed, and quickly sprang to his side, ignoring the flash of pain his leg suddenly gave him.
Why didn't you tell me you were so banged up! I can only feel so much. Stormstrike carefully put a hand over his shoulder, which was completely bare of armor and sizzling fiercely.
Because you worry too much. Stealthblade breathed a sigh, but suddenly coughed, sputtering energon up out of his intakes.
"No offense, but ewe." Stormstrike flinched.
Gee thanks. Stealthblade groaned.
"Stormstrike, hold this." Windgust suddenly ordered, shoving an object into the elite's free hand.
"Uh...do I want to know what this is?" Stormstrike cringed at the energon coated object.
"It's just Stealthblade's left intake. I've got to seal off the internal damage before I can fix that." She explained simply.
"What!?!" Stormstrike exclaimed. The only thing that kept him from dropping the internal component was the fact that it was his brother's.
"I believe the human phrase is, man up." Windgust growled, and resumed her work.
Stormstrike, though terrified of surgery, couldn't take his optics off of what Windgust was doing. She had pulled off the thicker protective armor wrapping around Stealthblade's abdomen, exposing the thinner, more flimsy plating beneath, that was strangely shaped like muscles. There was a deep gash running through it, and the field medic was using this to access his internal structure. She was frantically sealing up holes in his energon tubes, as well as straightening out twisted circuitry. Stealthblade amazingly appeared to be completely oblivious to her touch, not even twitch when she had to tug out a component and replace it with a new one in her subspace.
I can't believe you can't feel that. Stormstrike cringed when Windgust took the intake tank back from him and after sealing the hole in it, placed it back inside.
Everything that doesn't hurt feels numb. Stealthblade admitted tiredly.
Stormstrike could feel his older brother's yearning to slip into recharge.
"Downpower touched you, didn't he?" Stormstrike asked, though he was already sure of the answer.
"Yeah..." Stealthblade suddenly coughed as Windgust cranked his intake into place.
Okay, that I felt. Stealthblade winced mentally.
The femme then replaced his armor and moved onto his neck, carefully moving Dawncatcher's hands aside. The energon immediately began streaming out, completely eliminating the flow on that side to his processor. Despite the pain streaming through Stealthblade, he went completely slack, his dizziness slipping into Stormstrike.
"Whoa." Stormstrike gasped, holding his head as his own world suddenly swayed. "That's another new one."
Windgust morphed her finger into a torch, and began melting the tube together, completely stopping the flow.
"There, that should stabilize him until I get some proper materials." Windgust sighed, and leaned back to look at the rest of the soldiers. "Oh dear." She had a lot of work to do.
"You can continue repairs at my home." The neutral suddenly offered, still sounding sullen. "I've already contacted a nearby medic to help." He continued.
"Wow, thanks." Stormstrike voiced when all the others seemed too startled to do so.
The deep red force field suddenly emerged from beneath his feet again, lifting everyone straight off the ground.
Dawncatcher let out a surprised gasp, and Windgust rocked forward, but used Stormstrike to catch herself. He carefully helped steady her, despite her suddenly alarmed face. Apparently she still didn't care for him that much.
She's just adjusting. She still hates 'cons after all. Stealthblade reassured from where he lay.
That's awfully positive of you. Stormstrike blinked down at the stealth soldier.
What, are you saying I'm morbid? Stealthblade lowered his helm spikes.
Uh...yes. Stormstrike's optics grinned.
The neutral carried them back into the canyon, but stopped about half of the way down, and then eased them onto a ledge underneath a large overhang. From the air, it was completely invisible. A perfect spot for someone to hide.
The red opticed neutral canceled his force field, and then strode forward, scanning his hand over the back wall. Suddenly a loud hiss rang out, and a door slid open into a large home.
"Cool." Stormstrike commented, getting a chuckle out of Jazz.
The neutral then activated a flat force field from one of his palms, and slid it under Stealthblade. He then used it to carry the black mech inside, and repeated this with every mech that couldn't walk.
Jazz and Dawncatcher helped Stormstrike limp inside, but he made them pause on the way in, making direct optic contact with the neutral, who was waiting to seal the door behind them.
"Thanks for saving my bro and friends. But, I'm afraid I don't know your name." Stormstrike let his optics grin.
The mech hesitated, and then answered. "Rawspark."
And so, the most depressed character I have ever created has been introduced!