Chapter 28 ~ "The Crushing Blow"
Scavenger had opened the hatch to the crippled generator room, having felt the explosions he and Prime decided to check it out. They stumbled upon the sight of the femme bounty head being cradled by a silent VolFogg. Scavenger looked sadly on the ninja bot, walking over with heavy steps and stopping behind him; he placed a gentle hand on the ninja bot's shoulder.
VolFogg remained still for a long moment, and then moved, slowly raising his head. Dulled pink optics looked up into Scavenger's, and the light gleamed off the wet streaks running down the ninja's face. For a long moment, he said nothing. "You knew," he finally spoke, his voice hitching and raspy. "You knew it was her..."
Scavenger looked painfully down at the ninja bot, and nodded. Prime had took a step forward, "We all knew VolFogg, but we-" Scavenger held up a hand to silence the bot behind him, Prime nodded to the order. The older mech sighed, staring down at VolFogg with sympathy, his pipe smoking in his mouth.
VolFogg looked up at them for a long moment, and then looked back down at the shell in his arms. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he finally let go, rising to his feet and stepping back, turning away. GunDober and GunGlue eased over to him, making soft sounds. GunGlue placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. The purple mech didn't react to the touch at all.
"VolFogg..." Scavenger called out flatly, taking a puff of his pipe. He turned towards the purple ninja bot, "Even if we had told you... would you really had believed us?"
"I doubt it," was the soft response. "I would have denied it. But now... having seen with my own two eyes..." His entire body trembled, and he looked on the verge of collapse.
Scavenger didn't need to hesitate, before he could fall Scavenger caught VolFogg quickly, he looked down at the purple ninja bot and sighed. Scavenger didn't turn away from the bot in his arms. "Prime..." he called. "Get the femme, make sure she's covered up or something... and take her to the Solstice Law Enforcers Station. You can pick up the pay there..." He heaved the ninja bot, motioning the twins to follow him. "Taking him back to the ship..." And without another word he was gone.
GunGlue and GunDober followed without a sound. VolFogg had gone completely limp, optics dark, but the tears were still coming, and shudders still ran through him. Clearly he wasn't going to be of much use for at least a few days.
Optimus could feel the pain, the sorrow as he went to pick up the lifeless body of Mosa. His optics saddened, turning around to walk out the generator room, a trail of energon following his every step.
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Scavenger had settled VolFogg in the medical bay after arriving to the ship, he was damaged but not to the extreme. Without saying a word he began to repair the bot, limb by ever so motionless limb; when he was finished he sat back on the chair and looked out the window, still nightfall. He lit up another smoke with his pipe and leaned against the chair looking down at the bot. "The next few days… are not going to be easy..."
"Not at all," GunDober agreed. The bike-mech's entire frame shook as he let out a sigh. "He loved her. She loved him. That pipe that killed her... would have gone right through him had she not pushed him out of the way and taken the blow." The Gun Robot looked at his team leader. VolFogg's purple paint looked faded. "He's in shock... never has he been in this kind of situation before."
Optimus came back to the ship covered, walking in looking tired. He handed Scavenger the chip and headed for the washroom to wash away the last traces of energon.
Scavenger narrowed his optics, connecting an energon feed to VolFogg's arm to make sure he gets the energy he needed when he awakes. The older mech leaned his head back, smoked on his pipe, blowing out a puff, how messed up life can be. The next few days went by, and there was the feeling of death through the halls of the ship; Scavenger had been checking up on VolFogg on and off each day.
VolFogg remained unresponsive for almost a week, despite the twins' attempts to get him to wake up. GunDober and GunGlue were rarely seen away from his side, staying with him and keeping him company. Between the two of them, they washed and polished his armor, though his color remained dull for days. Then, finally, it darkened back to its usual shade, and his optics came online.
Scavenger's arms were crossed firmly, his pipe smoking lightly this time when VolFogg finally came around. He smiled, "Nice to see you among the living..." he patted the bot's arm. "How do you feel?"
"Like scrap," was the response as VolFogg sat up. His shoulders drooped for a moment, then slowly straightened. The twins were immediately right there, letting him lean on them.
Scavenger had smiled a small smile, "You sure about that Ninja bot?" He handed VolFogg a glass of regular energon. "Oh and don't drink so quickly, could get sick."
VolFogg took the glass, sipping at it. He was quite aware of two pairs of worried green optics watching every move he made, and he could feel GunDober's practically inaudible purring. Looking from one to the other, he smiled weakly at them, letting them know he was grateful for their support.
Scavenger patted the ninja bots shoulder, "You think you can sleep on your own tonight without me having to check to see if you died or not?" he snickered.
VolFogg smiled slightly, looking pointedly at the twins flanking him. "I'm never on my own, Scavenger... and I highly doubt they're going to be straying more than a few meters away from me for the next couple of months."
GunDober snorted while GunGlue nodded. "Got that right," the heli-mech agreed.
Scavenger smirked, taking a puff of his pipe and then leaning over to help VolFogg up, "Let's get you to a more comfortable surrounding..." He led the purple bot out of the medbay and down the hall, all the while staring back at him every few minutes. I know this is just your cover up to hide your true feelings ninja bot...
"I feel like a part of me has been ripped out," was the soft response. "It hurts a great deal... it will take time for this pain to fade." GunDober purred softly, rubbing his shoulder.
Scavenger had arrived at the ninja bots' shared quarters, setting him down on the berth and allowing the twins to sit on either side. The older mech smiled, his old face showing a glint of softness, "Make sure...to cherish the times you had with her VolFogg..." he said.
The purple mech nodded, settling onto the berth and laying on his side. GunGlue leaned against his back while GunDober sidled closer to lean against his side. VolFogg lay still for a moment, and then pulled the tiger-helmed mech closer, needing the contact. GunDober leaned against him, purring softly. Both of the twins wrapped their arms around their team leader and just held him.
Scavenger had closed the door to the ninja bots room, he sighed with his pipe hanging from the side of his mouth.
