CH25: Blinded

Time seemed to have slowed down from the unexpected shot. All optics were directed at the organic form, pushed back from the fatal blast and would soon make contact with the ground. Vents hitched, optics shuttered, gasps were heard as joints stiffened.

The flow of time then went back to normal as an ear-splitting sonic boom assaulted the mechs below with its force as Thundercracker swooped dangerously low not minding the trees and received their charge onto his servos in mid transformation into his root mode in a quick and smooth transition. His pedes dragged across dirt and foliage as dust formed until he skidded to a halt.

Every mech stood by and waited in anticipation to the grave news they needed to be confirmed. The small bundle of organic which laid on the blue Seeker's servos moved. That in turn shocked every mech present, jaws open at the illogical and unexpected sight.

"Atsui! (Hot!)" I exclaimed, taking off the melted metal covering my eyes which still sizzled from the shot.

My hands automatically rubbed at my eyes, still unaware of the damage. Rubbing it a couple more times I blinked to gain back my vision as light caused images to form before me as I stared down at my open palms before me. They were there but it was all too blurry and smudged up to properly portray a firm and solid form.

My heart thumped faster, afraid of finding out that I have lost my sight and prayed that it would simply be temporary. I raised my head to confirm what I dreaded and found blurry images before me. Splash of colors from the mechs that stood staring back at me was registered by my sight, their crimson and blue optics shining like lights stretched into sparkle-like forms.

My hair smelled like that of a burnt feather, curled from the energy that ruined its tips. My face shown with ashes from the blast as it was partly covered by metal that painfully stuck, being melted from the heat of the blaster and cooled from the ocean's winds that blew into the island.

Fear shot through me as I resumed rubbing at my visual organ in an attempt to get rid of any foreign material that affected my sights. Such attempt proved to be futile for the result remained. Shoulders down, I calmed myself and thought.

'At least it couldn't get worst as it is'

I focused on the matter at hand wanting to at least stop the A.I.s rebellion from harming the mechs that I call my brothers.

"Are you okay?" The voice of Thundercracker pulled my attention more into focus on the here and now.

"Never been better. Thanks for the save back there. I owe you one" I glanced back at the flier with a nod of gratitude.

"Now let's see…" I dropped down from Thundercracker's servo, slowing my descent by hovering before stepping on ground level, I searched around for something.

With my impaired sight, it took me a while to spot my bladed weapon which I dropped earlier. Eventually finding it, I pointed my weapon on the mechs with blue optics.

"Alright you glitched A.I.s"

Sunstreaker growled and attempted to attack me when Ironhide prevented him with a head lock.

"Especially you!" I moved the sword to regard the gold Lambo.

"You've gone haywire against your creators"

Every mech seemed to look bewildered with what I was saying except for some Cons such as Starscream, Rumble and Frenzy.

"You friggin' Autobots need to be reprogrammed. Your rebellious acts are making this activity turn into a war" Flailing my sword as I pointed out that very outcome.

Some snorted at my comment but others were still confused at where this was going.

"Okay… Your programming would react differently to what nonsense I'm saying and all but don't. You. Fraggin' assault my brothers or you'll feel my wrath!" I turned to walk away, dragging my sword behind me, imprinting a line on the ground from the tip of the blade.

"Stupid training…" I muttered in annoyance and called out the cassette twins. "Hey Rumble and Frenzy. Guide me to the nearest water source if you don't mind…"

The aforementioned bots followed me after getting an approval from their SIC and we left the rest of the group. Glancing at the three retreating forms, Starscream snapped back his attention to regard the Autobots, specifically their leader.

"Well there you have it Prime. She made her choice" The Air Commander sneered and Ironhide answered back for their Prime.

"Whatevah did ya do ta her, we ain't backin' down"

"Clearly you lot lied to her with her claims of us being A.I.s" Jazz added.

The flier smugly looked at them and spoke.

"You're in Decepticon territory. With your battered frames and damaged underlings, clearly you're at a disadvantage what with that blade of hers. Who knows what more damage it could cause the afflicted as I'm pretty sure there's an after effect"

"You're bluffing" Huffer claimed which was returned with a smirk from the Decepticon SIC.

Optimus then turned in concern to where Skyfire hovered and found Jazz as well as Seaspray look in worry at Powerglide who was acting weirdly and was in extreme pain. The Autobot flier was grabbing at his chest plate, clawing at it just to take out and relieve the awful pain as a dark mass floated from his chest, endangering his spark as a tattoo like tentacle formed imprinting on the metal.

Sideswipe looked in horror as he too was feeling the same pain on his servoless arm. Sunstreaker felt the pain his twin was going through and opted to board Skyfire to bring him some comfort.

Ramjet flinched from where they observed, subconsciously placing a servo on his chasis for suffering the same fate before.

It was after the female organic's first training where he got slashed across his chasis in jet mode. He was taken to Hook after the exercise ended and was repaired. After some peace and quiet of usual duties did he fell into an unspeakable pain and was brought back to the med bay once again by his trine mates.

To the surprise of the medic, the damage affected the spark so bad that he had to induce the distressed Conehead seeker into stasis for almost a week to perform a delicate procedure in separating the dark energy for the seeker's own dwindling spark. The medic has never seen anything like it. The dark mass consuming light as if going against its usual nature.

This was then informed to the commanders through the medical reports and soon had the twin cassettes question their charge about this matter in a subtle manner.

The two argued as to who would ask and eventually it was ruled out by their master.

"So J. May we see your sword?" Rumble asked, Frenzy by his side.

"Hm? Oh. Sure. Knock yourselves out" I withdrew the item out of nowhere and handed it to the blue twin, blade covered by the scabbar.

Rumble with Frenzy just behind him examined the sheathed weapon, unsheathed it and didn't dare to feel its sharpness with a digit, fearing about what happened to Ramjet after getting inflicted with it.

"What else does it do?" Rumble then queried after sheathing the sword again.

"Other than cut, stab, slash it's used for certain spells and whatnot" I simply answered as I typed away that day's event on my personal journal slash data pad.

"Why are you both so interested?" Looking up momentarily from the device's screen, I regarded the two, quirking a brow.

"Uhh… Does it create a dark mass?" Frenzy who was merely listening to the conversation the whole time spoke.

"What do you mean?" I paused to think about it. " Well… If you really think about it, I think it does"

"You think?" Rumble interjected to which I simply ignored.

"Although it's more of a presentation to make things look more awesome"

"Do you mean like a fog machine?" Frenzy guessed.

"Something like that" I shrugged.

"How about what happens after succumbing to this blade?" Rumble passed the weapon back to me which I received and shoved it away to nowhere.

"Thinking back to all my victims, I really am not sure. Other than cuts and stabs I give them, it would be pain. Most of them die anyway so I'm not sure if there are other effects. Seeing that you're both interested, perhaps I'll create your own bladed weapons. After all you both need some extension for close combats when you're unable to use your blasters and simply stab your opponents with it. It would be an advantage if you're not going for a bare fist to attack"

Ramjet snapped out from his unexpected dive into staring into space to turn his attention to the Prime ordering his troops to withdraw.

"Autobots! Abort mission and board Skyfire" The red and blue mech ordered as Starscream cackled then put up his null rays before the Autobots.

"You think we could let you off that easy?"

The Prime's team automatically pointed their blasters at the Decepticon SIC which was also returned by the Cons drawing theirs as well until Starscream received a comm from their leader to which he scowled when threatened to be reverted back into that humiliating form.

Starscream placed his servos down and crossed it on his chest plates with disgust, his underlings putting down their blasters as well.

"You're lucky Prime to leave without much trouble. Although I'd rather shoot you all down and it would be victory for us Decepticons…" Starscream muttered the last statement in gritted denta, annoyed that his leader once again refuse such opportunity.

Optimus simply nodded as his fellow Autobots boarded the shuttle and set their course back to the Ark. Starscream huffed and strutted back to base with the others.

While headed back, the Decepticon SIC found a data pad lying on the ground. He picked it up and turned it on to find an armor designed by their human ally. A wide grin plastered on his faceplates.

.

I bent forward on my knees to a flowing river to wash my face and with the intention of cleaning out what's impeding my eye sight. I hissed at the pain whilst muttering in anger for my lack of abilities to even heal myself.

"Stupid limitations. Just cause I'm able to perform miracles doesn't mean I have to be friggin' exempted. Stupid powers. I wish mi nakamas (my friends) were here to rid of this. I don't want to be visually impaired. What would I use to watch and read then?!" My rants and rambling turned into panic when the blurred images turned into nothing but darkness which made me scramble to my feet and call out to the twins.

"Rumble! Frenzy! I… I can't see!" Fear seeped through me like a blind prey in the middle of the wilderness, away from home.

I was then taken to the med bay.

I sat at the edge of one of the berths with a frown as Hook examined my eyes, flashing a light in front of me. With little knowledge of how to treat and cure fleshlings, he did whatever crossed his brain module as long as it doesn't kill his organic patient.

"I could see the light but no visuals…" I relayed unhappily.

"You would need surgery to get those metal residue off but I'm no surgeon for organics plus it's dangerous to perform so with you being small" Hook said but with my pleading look he sighed.

"Perhaps I may be able to do something…" He recalls of the gift that was bestowed upon him during the war at Cybertron.

That gave me the hope to at least smile but barely.

Edit: (Could have done this earlier but...nyeh xP) I added the part where Starscream found J's data pad and showing his signature move – Starscream-iest grin. XP

1/21, 22/18
Posted 3/8/18
Transformers © Hasbro