Here are your usual beginning of story notifications: I, nor roudyredd own any of the Transformers characters (though we may have various objects or animals that may hold their names). All of that belong to Hasbro and all the buyers of the names and rights and all that rot. Definitely not us.
This story revolves around OC's. If you don't care for OC's, this is probably not a fic for you.
Scatterblade,Charlie and Nate: belong to roudyredd
Illusory and Marc "Tibs" Tiegan: belong to me
Others to come.
Warning; spark stuff.
Event Twenty-Six
The end of something is merely an illusion scattering across the beginning of what is new.
When Scatterblade and the pretender returned to the med bay, the pretender didn't appear as down anymore. It was eager to get started.
Ratchet considered the mech and the pretender when they returned, the fact that the pretender seemed a little more upbeat eased his spark a little. Hopefully everything went well and all of this would be behind them all soon. "Ready?"
With a nod from both mech and pretender, Ratchet led the way just as before.
Wheeljack took the pretender so Scatterblade could get comfortable on the berth. "This won't take too long," he promised.
"Don't lie," Ratchet grouched as he started setting things where he wanted them. "At best we will be done before the end of the orn."
"Just tryin' ta lighten th' mood a bit," Wheeljack protested.
"I'll be fine," the mech smirked, "if it takes long, it takes long," he shrugged.
The pretender laughed. "Yeah, it'll take long."
As expected, the process took the better part of an orn and then some. Ratchet worked tirelessly with Wheeljack right beside him the whole time.
Illusory tried to stay away, but she simply couldn't stand the waiting and would go check up on things from time to time. Jolt was always there to keep her updated, but would never let her past the entry way of the med bay. He told her she had no reason to be there and that she would be contacted if there was any need to. It was the only kindness he could give her; no one truly knew how things were going and they wouldn't until Scatterblade came out of stasis and was back online.
When Ratchet was done, he and Wheeljack dragged their weary frames from the med bay only to be greeted by an overly anxious femme and her human companion. Charlie had been Illusory's shadow, the femme's nervousness wearing on her and raising her own anxiety. She looked up at the emerged mechs expectantly after being roused from an unexpected nap. Illusory clung to the human, her constant presence had become her sanity and she had come to need Charlie there.
Ratchet looked over the pair; the human looking slightly bedraggled, but otherwise healthy and eager. Illusory was the very image of under-charged and high strung, but didn't seem unhealthy either. "We just need him to come back online. I took him out of stasis a few breems ago, so it shouldn't be long. I feel very confident everything went well and with a little recovery time, he should be just fine."
"Can we go in?" Illusory asked hopefully.
"If you promise not to disturb him until he comes online on his own, yes."
Illusory didn't even speak her agreement as she rushed past the two weary 'bots in front of them. Charlie hung on tight to the femme as she hurried into the room. Her eyes locked on the black mech's still form the instant she could see him. Illusory stood there, just inside the room Scatterblade had been put in to recover. She wanted to rush in and wake him, but Ratchet had said not to. She wanted to tell him she was happy he was alright, but he was such a light recharger that she knew that would wake him too. So, she was stuck with taking slow, careful steps into the room until she stood beside the still frame. Fresh marks showed where Ratchet and Wheeljack had made some alterations to accommodate the procedure, but a little paint and buffing and those marks would be all but invisible again.
Charlie glanced several times between the two 'bots. She wanted to reach out to touch him, to make sure he was still there. Some part of her felt like she was still dreaming, that maybe this wasn't true, but it was. It had to be.
Being as careful as she could, Illusory slid onto the berth beside him, sitting so she could watch him. She set Charlie beside her, making sure the human was in a safe place, then just waited.
Charlie had fallen back to sleep leaning against the femme waiting for the mech to stir. Scatterblade's optics didn't online at first. He felt like he was out of focus, that the world wasn't real around him. When the swaying settled, his optics flared to life.
"Welcome back to the world of the functioning," Illusory offered quietly, not wanting to disturb Charlie or to startle Scatterblade.
The mech turned his head to the femme, a grin graced his face plates. "Lu." The sound was of pure relief and exhaustion.
Illusory could barely contain herself, a smile breaking across her face with joy and relief. "Thank Primus for small favors," she breathed as she squirmed around to hug the mech while not crushing Charlie.
The movement roused the human. She squealed when she spotted the light in the mech's optics. "'Blade!" She jumped at his face to hug him.
The mech laughed. "Hi, Charlie. I...um...can't really see."
"Sorry," she laughed pulling away and wiping overjoyed tears from her eyes. "You remember!"
"Yeah," he laughed, relief filling his voice. "I remember."
Illusory laughed, almost sobbing with relief. "Ah was so scared! Ah thought ya were gone from me..." she pressed her face into his chestplates. "Worse than that...ya were still there but...Ah'm so happy yer back."
He wrapped his arms around her, sobs of his own threatened to surface. "I'm so glad it worked. I missed you," he held her, bending his head to hers, "I missed you so much." He vented deeply. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. Not again."
"Promise?" She didn't even know why she asked the question; it was impossible to make such promises in the midst of a war, but she needed to hear it anyway. Her spark needed to hear it.
Scatterblade chuckled to hide a sudden sob that overwhelmed him. "Yeah, I promise."
Venting as quietly as she could, Illusory raised her head to look at Scatterblade. There was a touch of fear in her optics, but not that he didn't mean what he said, instead of the knowledge that the war could break that promise at any given moment. However, greater than that, there was happiness, relief, and need. "I believe you."
He smiled tenderly, that need reflected right back to her. "I'm so glad," he chuckled, teasing her lightly. "It's about time."
"Haha..." the femme mock laughed. "Don't think this means ah'm gonna go around trustin' everyone, yer special."
Scatterblade's grin grew. "I know, I know."
"And this is the part where you say, 'You're special too,'" Charlie teased, the biggest grin yet nearly splitting his face.
Illusory laughed again, feeling so much relief in the laughter that she was nearly overcharged with it. "How are you feeling?" She asked finally once she was able to calm herself.
"I'm tired," he vented, his smile still firmly in place, "but otherwise, fantastic." He beamed at the two femmes watching him. It was so good to remember.
"Good!" Illusory pulled herself up, starting to slide off the berth. "We should let you rest, Ratchet will have my plating if he thinks we disturbed you." She lingered, obviously not wanting to leave, but comfortable knowing that Scatterblade was once again the mech she knew, the mech that knew her, and was able to relax at last.
Scatterblade reached for her hand, stopping her from leaving him. "I'll pretend to be recharging," he offered with a sly grin.
Illusory smiled and slid back onto the berth beside the mech, more than willing to remain beside him. "I think that will work," she agreed.
"Should I give you guys a moment?" Charlie teased, nibbling on her tongue. She wanted so badly for them to just admit their feelings for each other already, but she knew she had to let them come to it on their own.
Illusory laughed again. "I do not think that is necessary, unless you wish to go."
Charlie shook her head. "I'm good. No complaining here."
Making herself comfortable, Illusory rested so that one hand stayed with Scatterblade's, the other tracing the lines in his armor absently. She talked of everything that had been going on around the base that she had seen, but avoided anything that involved just how out of sorts she had been over Scatterblade's whole ordeal; though the truth was impossible to hide.
The mech let his optics go offline as he listened to her, immensely enjoying her presence there. He had been so scared before, he truly thought he had lost his chance to be with her. When he would find himself drifting he would make a conscious effort to focus on her voice.
The longer Illusory rambled on, the more relaxed she became and all the lack of proper recharge caught up with her. Before long she was resting against Scatterblade, sound in her own light recharge cycle.
Charlie found herself drifting in and out of sleep, the femme's voice was amazingly soothing. When she realized that Illusory had stopped talking she raised her head and grinned at the sight. Both 'bots were recharging and it took all of the red head's control not to squeal with delight. They were simply adorable. Oh, if only she had a camera.
Ratchet entered the room quietly. Looking over the two recharging 'bots he vented with his own relief. Spotting Charlie he approached and retrieved her from between the two frames gently. Taking her from the room before he said anything, the medic made sure to scan all three beings currently under his care – whether they knew it or not – and found them all to be in good condition. "How long did they talk?"
Charlie shrugged rubbing her eyes. "I'm not sure. Maybe a good hour...longer...I fell asleep at some point."
"I take it all went well then? He remembers?"
"Yup," she beamed. "He remembers everything."
"Excellent, that is far better than what I could have hoped for." With a large smile, and an excited rev of his engines, Ratchet set the woman on the floor. "You should go rest and relax properly. Now that all is said and done, you will be returning home soon. You should be in your best condition for the trip."
Charlie nodded, not really registering what he said. Then it clicked in her head and she frowned slightly. "Okay, yeah," she sighed finally remembering. "Home..."
"Do you not wish to return home?"
"Of course I do. It's just...everything that's happened...I can never really have a normal life. Not that I'm complaining! I wouldn't change a thing. Just don't expect me to try to forget," she grinned.
"That is not something I could ever ask anyone to do. Though I wish you didn't have the bad memories to carry around with you."
Charlie shrugged, rubbing her upper arm. "It's not fantastic, but...I still wouldn't trade them."
"That's good to hear," the medic nodded. "Go, rest. Scatterblade should be up and around before too long, assuming he uses this time to recharge."
She nodded twisting her two fingers. "Got 'em crossed. See you around," she said heading to her room.
"Hey, Charlie!" A familiar voice called as Charlie crossed the court yard toward her barracks. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Tibs trotted in her direction, several books tucked under his arm and a bag slung over his shoulder.
Her face lit up as she spotted the man. "Yeah, what's up?"
"Well, seeings how your prosthetic has been such a success, several of the scientists on sight – myself included – were wanting to do a more long term study..." he cleared his throat before asking what he intended. "The thing is that you're the first recipient and would be the best candidate for a long term study...would you be interested?"
Charlie's brow furrowed slightly. "What entails 'long term'?"
"Oh, nothing that would really interrupt your normal life; just a daily functions report, weekly checkup to see what normal wear and tear will do to the equipment, satisfaction reports...okay, when I say it out loud it sounds like a lot, but it's really not I promise!" He scratched the back of his head. "I mean, the daily stuff would be transmitted through a micro reader direct from the equipment to a recorder..."
Charlie chuckled at the long description. "Yeah. Okay. So I could still be at home and help with it?"
"Yeah! Of course! We want you to return to a normal life – well, as normal as possible of course – and let us see how the equipment holds up."
"Yeah," Charlie nodded, "yeah, I can do that."
"Good!" He patted her firmly on the shoulder before turning to run back to the science wing of the base. "I'll get the transmitter ready for you!"
The woman shook her head giggling at the geek side that had shown through like a neon sign.
XXX
Two more days passed before Ratchet cleared Scatterblade to leave the med bay and released him to resume duty. With a final check up on Illusory and Charlie; he gave the group the go ahead to return Charlie home. "Do not forget to check in regularly," he demanded sternly.
Illusory simply nodded, not willing to verbally commit to anything of the sort.
Scatterblade nodded, noting the look on Illusory's face. "Will do, Ratchet."
As they prepared to depart, the rumbling of a heavy vehicle drew everyone's attention. The large, white semi-truck hauling a rather sleek looking trailer pulled up to where they intended to leave from, Tibs hanging out of the passenger side window waving like a complete moron. "Ready?" He asked cheerfully.
Charlie glanced at her two companions. "You're coming too?" She asked trying not to laugh at how silly he looked.
"Of course, how else did you expect us to conduct proper research?"
Charlie shrugged to her friends. "That'll be interesting to explain to Mom and Dad," she chuckled.
"But I thought you couldn't tell," Scatterblade asked confused.
"I know," she assured him, "it's just going to be a creative answer."
"Oh, don't worry! We're set up with the local university. You won't have to tell them anything if you don't want to, but I suggest mentioning that you are involved in a research project."
Charlie nodded with a smile. "Alrighty then." She crawled into the cab of the semi.
The inside of the truck was anything but standard. The sleeper section had been renovated into some mix of a mobile communications center and a mad-scientist's kitchen. The entire dash was lit with a giant computer who's readouts lay over the windshield.
"Welcome aboard!" Tibs greeted as he moved further into the comm center/kitchen area and made himself comfortable.
"Holly CIA!" Charlie quipped with a laugh. "What's all this for?"
"What? Work with alien robots, you get a few perks." The man smiled largely, obviously thrilled with Charlie's reaction. "Top of the line research equipment and it all fits right here," he waved his hand around the cab as if to display it.
"Dare I ask if there's more in the back?"
"Well, when we get there...I'll give you a tour if you like."
"Yeah," Charlie smiled. "Let's get going. I'm eager to be home."
"You heard the girl!" Tibs yelled loud enough that those outside could hear him. The driver of the semi, a small, unobtrusive man with dark hair, eyes and skin, kicked the rig into gear and pointed it down the road.
Illusory was shocked by the appearance of the large vehicle and glanced around to see if there were any others that would be 'tagging along'. When no other seemed to make a move, the femme shifted into her alt mode and raced to catch up to, then pass the rig. Scatterblade quick to follow.
"I do not know whether to be amused," the femme spoke softly to the mech, "Or annoyed that this assignment detail seems to be growing."
The mech chuckled. "Let's reserve judgment for now. I'm kinda excited."
"How so?" The femme slowed her pace to be sure she remained within sight of the truck; Charlie was inside it after all.
"It's nice having Charlie to talk to but it'll be fun to have a guy to talk to," he explained.
"I see...the whole mech-bonding thing..." she laughed. "I suppose I understand."
He laughed with her. "Yeah, I'm also excited to see where Charlie lived," he added.
"I agree with you there." The femme's engine revved slightly with excitement. "though I have to admit, a large part of that is my own relief to be away from the base..." she sounded a little ashamed of herself by that, but she was firm in her relief to be away from the steady reminder that there was still a war going on.
The mech understood the feeling of relief, though his was much more for not being so cooped up. "It's good to be moving again. I've spent so much time recharging, I doubt I'll do it for a few orns."
"I am sure there will be a lot to explore," the femme noted.
"Oh, yeah. California is a huge state."
The trip was long; having to pace for the semi dragging their travel out by a good amount, but Illusory eased back and enjoyed the trip. She liked being in motion and she liked having Scatterblade beside her. She wanted it to always be like this.
Scatterblade's thoughts were similar, but he was warring with internal anger. It wasn't for Illusory, never for her, just that he had hurt her. Unintentionally of course, but he still hurt her. He hated that it had happened at all. He promised himself he would never hurt her again. He didn't know if he could handle a next time...or if she would still be there if there was.
When they got close to their destination, Tibs turned to Charlie. "Did you want us to drop you off at your house, or were one of the 'bots going to take you?"
Charlie thought on this for a moment. "I think it'd be best if Lu went with me. Family would like to meet her and not showing up in a giant mobile lab would probably be less traumatic."
"Alright; we'll stop here at the rest stop and you can hop over. We're going on to the University to get set up. Here," he scribbled a number on a paper and handed it to Charlie. "If you need anything, get a hold of me. I'll check up on you in a day or so, sound good?"
"Sounds great." Charlie gathered her things and prepared to leave the cab. When they stopped she hopped down from the cab and waved to Illusory.
The femme opened her door for the girl without even thinking about it. "Where to from here/" she asked pleasantly.
"My house," she quickly offered directions. "Huh. I haven't been home in so long," she said distractedly.
"Then let us get you there," the femme said happily, her engine purring to life again.
Charlie snapped from her revery and nodded excitedly.
It took some time to reach Charlie's home. Illusory found a comfortable place along the curb to park before letting her engine settle.
Charlie stared at the house for a while. She had started to feel anxious. She hadn't called or written to her family since the accident. She had told them about the chance for a prosthetic but further information about being home at a particular time wasn't mentioned. She was worried her family would be angry with her.
Twiddling with her phone she hit speed dile two. The phone rang twice. "Charlie?" Came a surprised and anxious voice.
She was about to answer her little sister but another voice came on the line. "Charlie?"
Her voice tightened and tears stung at her eyes. "Mom. I'm home," she said her voice quavering. The door flew open and three younger kids and two older ones ran out of the house. Charlie dropped the phone and stumbled out of the car. She barely got three steps before her siblings collided with her. The oldest of the group, a girl about eighteen with reddish blonde hair, hugged her on one side with a bright blonde girl around fifteen on the other. The younger three were two boys and a girl. The taller boy was crying very hard while the younger shorter kid was babbling questions. The youngest, a golden haired seven year old, clung to her shirt crying.
Charlie looked up and saw her mom hurrying to her children and her father standing in the yard frozen still as if he were seeing a ghost.
Illusory generated her holoform and stepped out on the drivers side, but went no further. She was more than a little shocked by the number of young humans rushing to Charlie. Their reactions stuck at her spark violently.
Charlie gave each of her siblings her attention until her mother joined the group. All the kids split like the red sea and the red head immediately latched onto her mother. The resemblance between the two was uncanny. Charlie's red hair was only slightly darker than her mother's. Her father had blond hair when he had been young, but had since turned black. The older boy's hair was darkening already and would only continue to do so as he got older.
Charlie just sat there on the grass and clung to her mom. All of the kids had been asking questions up until their mother came between them. Charlie's mom pulled away to look at her oldest. "Let's go inside," she suggested wiping the tears from her face.
Charlie nodded, then paused after standing. "Mom, Dad, guys. I want you to meet a friend of mine," she looked back at the femme. "This is Lu. She gave me a ride home. Can she stay with us?"
Both parents looked over the girl and the car she seemed to be hiding behind. A flash of knowing appeared in her father's eyes instantly recognizing the vehicle he had been told about.
Her mother nodded with a huge smile. "Come on inside, Lu."
Illusory offered an almost shy 'hello' as she joined the family. She cringed under the elder male's look. She could only imagine how Charlie's creators would respond to the knowledge that she was the one to harm their youngling.
Upon Illusory's introduction, the youngest two children ran and hugged her. They jabbered on and seemingly dragged her to the door. The group walked inside and settled down in a large sitting area. Charlie sat down on one of the couches and all four of the younger kids piled on with her. Before she knew it, questions filled the air from all who were with her on the couch. She answered as many as she could until the questions came about the accident.
"Were you scared?" Thirteen year old, Joshua, asked. "When the car hit you guys?"
Charlie sighed. "I don't know. I fell asleep on the way back to Logan."
The question then turned to Illusory but from the youngest boy, Mark. "Where you scared?"
The blonde sister, Mary, shoved the little boy's arm, an embarrassed look on her face.
Illusory looked over the curious faces, stunned that they were so very interested. "Of course I was scared. Charlie was hurt and I was not sure what to do."
"I'm glad you could help her," Joshua said with a grateful smile.
The rest of the kids nodded. Except for the strawberry blonde, Sarah. Her lips had formed a tight line when they had all been reminded of the accident. She didn't look at the femme, though there was an indifference in her posture and gaze.
"Thank you for taking care of her," their mother, Lisa, said with fresh tears filling her eyes. "Thank you so much!"
Illusory dipped her head slightly in acceptance. "I did what I could, though it was not much. It does not repay the fact that I should have paid more attention. Charlie should not have been hurt at all." She offered an apologetic look to those around her.
"But what matters is that I am okay," Charlie said sending Illusory a caring smile.
"I thought you lost your arm?" Mark pointed out, poking Charlie's closest arm.
"I did," Charlie said, lifting her right arm, "prosthesis are an amazing thing."
"That's your pretend arm?" The youngest asked.
Charlie nodded with a chuckle.
"But it looks so real," her father, Travis, commented. "You sure the insurance will cover that?"
"It is fully covered," Illusory assured them all with confidence. "That was part of the concessions to Charlie..." she paused realizing that maybe Charlie didn't want her family to know that her prosthetic was experimental technology. "It was part of the settlement," she finished.
All the family was speechless. "That's cool!" Mark gushed. He paused and whispered to Charlie. "What does that mean?"
The red head giggled. "It means it's free," she whispered back.
"Cool!" He exclaimed eagerly.
The others laughed at the exchange.
Lisa spoke up, quieting the noise quickly enough. "You guys must be hungry. We've got lunch in the dining room."
The kids immediately dispersed and Charlie stood to join them. "You hungry?" She asked Illusory, knowing full well what her answer would be.
"No, thank you very much. I should go check up on Sca...uh...Jag. I will return soon."
Charlie nodded and headed to the kitchen and her family.
Illusory offered a quick good-bye to her hosts before slipping from the house. She allowed her holoform to dissipate the moment she closed the door behind her. Her engine roared to life and she took off, immediately seeking out the front-liner.
XXX
Scatterblade had been so busy looking at the scenery to notice when they had separated from Illusory and Charlie until Tibs had arrived at the hotel in which the research company would be staying. He let the human know he was going to drive around before he set back out. He made sure his holoform did most of the 'driving' as he drove up and down the hills of the Californian neighborhoods surrounding the area.
There wasn't as much greenery here as there was in Logan, but it had a look all its own and it was just as nice to look at. It was a mixture all its own and a great change of pace from the vast deserts surrounding the base in Nevada and the lush canyon life near Logan. Earth had so much variety, he was sure he would never get used to seeing it.
The mech found himself a nice spot on a hill that overlooked much of the area just to sit low on his tires and relax for a bit. It felt so good to be moving around after being restricted to the base for so long. Still, this feeling, just sitting and watching everyone race by him felt oddly peaceful. So vastly different from the life of fighting, or hiding, or prepping for the next battle that he had lived for so long. It was almost too different. It was...uncomfortable.
An uneasy thought came to him while he sat there looking over life untouched by the war that had ruled his for so long. What if he couldn't adjust to living as a civilian? The entire concept of civilian life seemed silly to even think about, something that was so long ago, so far in the past it wasn't for him to touch any longer, much like his younglinghood.
His thoughts continued to spiral out of control, leaving him looking blankly out over the landscape instead of actually watching it.
XXX
When Illusory reached the place she knew the research team was to set up, a rather decent business hotel adjacent to the University sponsoring their stay, she noticed the lack of a certain black Bonneville with great disappointment. She generated her holoform and found Tibs, who was all too wrapped up in his current work to truly register anything around him.
"Mr. Tiegan? Do you know where Scatterblade has gone?"
"He went for a drive...not really...sure..." the man waved in a vague direction he thought he remembered the mech heading off in.
With an annoyed sigh, Illusory dispersed her holoform once more. ::Scatterblade?:: She decided going directly to the source might be more progressive than attempting to search for the mech with no clear information to use.
Scatterblade was rather abruptly pulled from his thought by the comm. His focus snapping back quicker than he thought was possible. ::Lu? What's wrong?::
::Nothing is wrong. I just left Charlie with her family and thought I should come find you. I asked Mr. Tiegan where you were, but he was unhelpful.:: The femme was driving casually through the streets as she spoke with the mech. ::You have been exploring?::
::Yeah, I found a great scenic point above the city. I'll send you the coordinates,:: he offered happily. ::It's pretty secluded,:: he said confidently as he transformed and stretched out a little more comfortably.
::That would be pleasant,:: the femme agreed. Once she had the location she made little time in getting there. Pulling up beside the mech, she transformed to her root mode settled happily. "This is beautiful," she said softly as she took in the scene.
"It is," he agreed with a warm smile.
"I met Charlie's family...there are many younglings." She still couldn't keep the awe from her voice at the number of young humans she had seen that were apparently the offspring of Charlie's creators.
"Yeah? How many?"
"Five," the femme stated with amazement. "Can you believe that? Five younglings in one family! Well, six counting Charlie."
"Six?" The mech laughed with amazement. "Oh, Primus. I'd like to see that! I can't believe how humans can do that."
"It is amazing. I wonder how their creators keep track of them all! Could you imagine trying to chase after six sparklings all at once?"
Scatterblade laughed, shaking his head. "No, but I'm sure it would be a blast!"
"I do not know about that, I think my processor would fry," the femme laughed at the mere thought of it.
"Probably," Scatterblade agreed, "but it would be worth it."
The femme vented softly. "Yeah, Ah suppose it would..."
Scatterblade grinned, glancing at the femme out of the corner of his optics. "Wouldn't it be amazing? To have sparklings again?" He immediately clammed up and stumbled over a hasty amendment. "Not us! I mean...maybe...no! I...that's not what it sounded like! I was just..." he vented, clearly embarrassed.
"It's okay," the femme purred softly. "Yeah, Ah'd like sparklin's someday...it would be nice ta have lil ones runnin' around again. Things could feel uh little more 'normal'."
The mech vented shortly in relief. "That would be so amazing," he nodded.
"An who's ta say it couldn't be us?" The femme teased lightly, her engine revving slightly in challenge.
Scatterblade jumped within himself a little, his spark fluttering almost violently. "Would you...want to?" He asked softly trying to keep his hope from sounding too desperate as he turned to face her.
"Why wouldn't Ah?" Illusory asked timidly, her internal temperature raising several degrees as she came to terms with exactly what she was implying. "Ah..." she backed away from him slightly as she tried to get her thoughts together. "When...when Ah thought ya had fergotten meh..." her whole frame trembled slightly at the memory. "Ah've never been so hurt ta think Ah'd lost someone in my life, an' you weren't even gone! I do not ever want to feel that way again, Scatterblade." Her thoughts started coming together with her feelings and she suddenly knew what she wanted. "I would, with you. I never want to lose you again, for any reason."
The mech's optics were wide as he laid his hand on hers, a smile tenderly taking over his features. He cycled air quickly to cool his racing processor and his heated frame. "I won't ever leave you. When I thought I was...stuck in that piece of work," he huffed dryly at the memory...at being memories, "I thought you'd hate me. I thought I'd lost you too. 'Lu, I love you."
A rush of excitement thrummed through the femme, freezing her frame for a second before she practically leaped on the mech beside her. "I love you too, 'Blade," she confessed with every bit of her spark.
Scatterblade caught her in his arms, falling backward onto the ground, laughing and holding her tightly. His spark was singing with a joy he had never known before, that he had never known he could feel, yet he wanted more.
Illusory lay there for a long time, simply enjoying the closeness and the revelation of their feelings toward each other before it all settled in. "Is this...smart?" She asked nervously.
The front-liner thought on her words for a moment. It was the same argument he had held within his own processor time and again. Was it smart? Was it right? "No," he said with confidence, "but we have a chance that no one has had in eons. Do we let this opportunity pass? Do we let this chance of being far away from battle fade away because it's not the smart thing to do?"
She thought on that for a moment; her processor going over the facts – the war was not over, but it was in a lull, would they ever have a better chance? And with Scatterblade assigned to her, she could run as far from the war as she wanted and he was duty bound to follow her; they would both be safe. "No," she stated firmly. "No, we do not let this chance pass us by. I want to be with you forever, Primus damn the war and everything it has done to us. We can have each other."
Scatterblade's smile spread wide. "Damn the war," he agreed enthusiastically, pulling her tight to him again.
Illusory melted into his embrace willingly and easily. Her spark pounding inside its casing as if it would break free on its own.
With an awe and absolutely no understanding as to how, Scatterblade could feel his spark reach out to the one above him and find a near perfect synchronization to it. It was wonderful, it was painful, it was almost everything he wanted. They just had to let go...
"Now?" The femme asked breathlessly, barely keeping control of her frame as her spark demanded it be allowed to find the one it wanted most.
"Now?" The mech returned the question, surprise pulling him from the near blind search for the spark his was calling for.
"When?" Illusory sounded almost desperate as she trembled against him. "If not now, when?"
"Now's good," he said quickly. "If that's what you want, it's what I want too. You just surprised me," he rubbed his hands against her too-hot back plates. "You never stop amazing me."
The femme shivered with eagerness. "Hopefully, Ah never do," she purred as her chest plates began sliding, exposing her overheated systems and her very life essence.
Scatterblade hardly even noticed as his own frame responded in kind, so absorbed in just looking at that spark – one he hadn't even realized how badly he wanted – and the way it reached to him. "Primus," he whispered, his hands trembling as he stroked Illusory's sides.
Hardly able to hold herself up Illusory stared down into the spark she was about to make a part of her. She tried to tell herself that she could still change her processor if she wanted to, this didn't have to happen, but the way her spark twisted and stabbed at her for even thinking that reminded her that this wasn't something she was forced to do. She wanted this. She wanted Scatterblade to be her's forever and to be his forever. With that thought clear in her processor she allowed herself to sink into the embrace of the mech holding her and the spark pulling hers in.
The first thing they noticed individually was a sharp spike in heat, their frames reaching a point just below dangerous levels, then there was fire, then a soft warm buzzing, then they no longer knew 'they' and only 'we'. They ceased being Illusory and Scatterblade and became one being that knew everything about both halves no matter how deeply hidden or scarred. There was nothing the being they had become didn't know and understand completely. Entirely accepted, taken in, and made a part of the whole. Voices and memories came together in a loud clash of emotion and longing, love and hope. The most recent words the loudest.
"Ah've never been so hurt ta think Ah'd lost someone in my life, an' you weren't even gone! I do not ever want to feel that way again, Scatterblade."
"I thought you'd hate me. I thought I'd lost you too. 'Lu, I love you."
"I love you too, 'Blade!"
"Wouldn't it be amazing? To have sparklings again?"
"Why wouldn't Ah?"
"Damn the war..."
"Now?"
"Now?"
"If not now, when?"
"Now's good."
The being grew, it bloomed and became all consuming. It grew until it had invaded both frames entirely and continued beyond, touching everything within range before snapping back into itself; to themselves. Two sparks pulsing in unison.
Scatterblade lay gazing up at the sky, small clouds drifting across the late day sky casting cooling shadows across their overheated frames. In his spark he sensed Illusory, he could feel her, not just laying on top of him, but in his spark he could feel her. "We..."
Illusory simply lay where she was, optics open, pressed against her mate's frame. Her mate. Her processor spinning wildly. They had just...
"Bonded..." Scatterblade continued with great awe. His arms were still wrapped around the warm frame resting atop him. Her engines were running smoothly, quietly, her frame was cooling from their bonding, everything was as it should have been and it felt perfect. Except, she was so quiet. "'Lu?"
"'Blade," her voice trembled softly, barely a whisper to his audios.
"Are you alright?" Concern thrummed through him and he shifted so he could look at his mate. His mate. She looked okay and his spark told him that her spark was okay...a little hyper maybe, but okay.
"'Blade," she whispered again, "we have..."
He laughed, thinking that his femme was just now booting her processors to the fact that they were forever together. "We've bonded, I'm aware."
"A newspark," she continued, her voice still trembling. "We created a newspark."
Scatterblade's spark stuttered for a klik. "A newspark? How?"
"Listen..." her voice was so soft, like the breeze blowing past them.
He did as he was told and he listened. He listened with his audios and with his spark. He could feel his spark pulsing slightly off kilter now and Illusory's spark thrumming away with excitement...and a third pulse beating out the rhythm of a new life. "We created a newspark!" He laughed in amazed disbelief. "First try and look! We created life!"
Illusory started to laugh, just as much disbelief washing through her as through her mech, and they laughed together until they could laugh no more. Then they lay in silence for a long while after that. The sun had set and the earth below them cooling and still they lay as they had, simply holding, and being, and wanting nothing more than to be where they were that moment.
"I'm tired," Illusory finally spoke as the moon began its decent.
"Then recharge my love."
The femme vented a heavy, comfortable exhale before letting her systems start to power down. "We're creators."
"Yes, we are," the mech agreed joyfully, his own systems beginning to shut down. "We'll be good creators too."
"The best," the femme murmured as exhaustion took over and dragged her deep into recharge, Scatterblade not long behind.