(A/N) One chapter left after this. Got a serious question for my readers, because as you can see I'm still fairly new around here. While this story arc ends in the next scene, the larger story continues. (In fact, I'm just about finished writing the sequel oh lucky lucky you). Here's the issue: To follow the events in the sequel, you really have to know what's gone on in this story—as a 'standalone' it would be really hard to follow. So: should I post it as a separate story or should I 'hijack' this one, change the title to reflect the overarching story arc, and post Fallout (sequel's title) as additions to this one? Please let me know what you think is best! I really really need your input! (Oh, and yes, things actually get worse for our 'bots).
XXI.
Barricade carried Flareup to RB Beta himself, awkwardly carrying the stripped-off armor plates under one arm. She had offlined at some point. She didn't regain consciousness until he'd laid her in a repair cradle. She moaned, twitching her hands feebly. Repair bots pounced on her, hooking up auxiliary power lines, running a sensor block. Two scuttled off with the armor plates, and began working on undenting them. The bots clicked worriedly over the attachment points where the armor had been stripped away—the fine cilia of sensor attachments shivered without contact points.
"Barricade," she said, "What happened? What did I do?"
"You did nothing."
"But why did that…?"
"You did nothing wrong," he repeated. Deflection. "I am sorry I could not stop it sooner." Truth. Half-truth.
She reached out for him with her uninjured hand. He flinched from her touch. She wrapped her hand around his. "Don't leave me alone."
He made a noise in his throat that she took as assent.
She looked dully at the repair bots—the sensor block was dulling her reflexes. Her voice sounded…watery. "To think I used to be afraid of these things."
"They will not harm you."
"I know." She rolled her head, her eyes turning toward Barricade again. One eye was dim, the other streaked with optical lens lubricant. "I—I saw Ironhide."
"Yes."
A repair bot scampered down Flareup's arm and up Barricade's, its optics set on Barricade's own injuries. "Override," Barricade said, flatly. "Priority repair cradle," he looked up at the identifying tag, "delta." The bot hesitated, rubbing two of its forelimbs in agitation, before turning back to Flareup.
"You are—you are injured?"
"Unimportant."
"Barricade--?" Her hand clutched his. He patted it awkwardly. "He didn't do anything. He was just watching!" Optical lens lubricant overflowed from ducts. A repair bot tore itself away from the mass clustered along her body, and extended a small suction hose, making soft clicking sounds. Damn repair bot knew better how to comfort the cycle bot than Barricade. "He just stood there and watched it happen."
"I know." I know.