A/N: Okay, I know I haven't posted in a while. School, and I got a job that takes up my Saturdays (literally all day. Last week I was there until almost one in the morning). So I am still working out when to post Chapters and everything. Speaking of Chapters, "Strangers Like Me" is officially my longest story! Yay. And we're only maybe...idk like, halfway through it? Anyways, this Chapter is about...two months after the last one. Delta is still grounded and...yeah. Oh, if there's any events happening out o chronological order from the show, it's because that's how I made it work for my story. Not because I don't know what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers in any shape or form. I only own the story and any and all OCs in said story. If there's someone you're not familiar with, it's probably an OC.
:Blah: = Comm. Link
PLEASE COMMENT! I NEED CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM TO MAKE MY STORIES (PRESENT, FUTURE, OR OTHERWISE) BETTER!
Delta groans, lying on the mats in the Training Room. Dreadwing had been pushing him to the max lately, but he couldn't really blame the jet. After all, he'd just gotten back into the Decepticons after aiming a weapon at their leader. He just wished that Dreadwing would let him talk, and explain why he did what he did.
And that he regretted it.
Instead, the cobalt Mech seemed to be using training—which used to be fun—as a punishment for what he did. They used to talk as they practiced sparring. Pit, they would even play little games while training. It was a time when he could just…spend time with his Guardian. Now, the jet wouldn't speak except to correct his stance, or scold him for letting his guard down.
Delta sits up with a wince as his body protests. Might as well go back to his room and hit the showers. That was one of two places he could go. The other place was the MedBay, but after coming back, Knockout was almost cold towards him. And it's been nearly two months. He sighs. Room it was.
He walks out of the Training Room, gingerly stretching. His whole body ached from the excessive training. He spots Breakdown, and Dreadwing in the hall, Airachnid with them. He holds back a shiver as the Femme's purple optics meet his visor and she smiles in that fake way of hers. Ever since meeting the Femme a few weeks ago after an incident with a Cybertronian relic involving Breakdown, Delta had been sure he wasn't alone in the same room as her. There was just…something about her. Something that screamed crazy.
He passes them, catching a snippet of their conversation. Realizing they were going on a mission, he sends a quick Comm to the two Mechs.
:Good luck, you guys.:
There's no acknowledgement to the Comm, but he knows they heard it. Airachnid on the other hand, follows his movement with her optics. They narrow slightly.
:Did you wish the boys good luck?:
He ignores the Comm, merely glancing at her. She gives him a hidden smile.
:Because they're going to need it.:
He hold back another shiver at the comment. That Femme was all kinds of freaky. He watches as they disappear into the room that held the GroundBridge, a flash of light signaling the appearance and disappearance of the portal. He finishes the slow trek to his room and manages to make it in before collapsing onto his berth. He groans, sinking into the soft metal. Looks like he won't be getting that shower done. He didn't think he'd even be able to grab some Energon and-
His optics snap open. Airachnid's remark comes to the forefront of his mind. It wasn't going to just be a mission, would it? The way the Femme had said it…he had to get out there! They were going to get killed!
He lunges off of his berth, racing out of his room. Once in the hall, he transforms, tires squealing as he flies down the halls, blaring his horn at everyone in his way.
After what felt like hours, he finally screeches to a stop outside of the room that held the GroundBridge. He runs in, spotting Soundwave, the Mech the only one in the room. He rushes over to the dark shadow.
"Soundwave! You need to open the Bridge again! Dreadwing and Breakdown, they're in danger! Airachnid's gonna do something awful and they don't know!"
The black visor faces him. Soundwave merely stares at him, before going back to the screens he faced. Delta becomes frantic. He reaches out, grabbing the thin arm.
"Please, Soundwave! I have to get down to the surface and warn them!"
The dark Cybertronian doesn't stop in his monitoring. He doesn't even falter—merely pulls his arm out of the grip and continues. Delta closes his optics. He was going to lose them both. He couldn't lose them…
"I'm sorry, Soundwave…" he whispers.
He rushes forward, slamming into the lithe form. Soundwave stumbles back in surprise. He slams his fist into the visor, the glass cracking. Soundwave drops. He moves to the computer, the coordinates still on the screen. Glancing down at the prone form at his peds, Delta presses the button to reactivate the GroundBridge. The portal roars open and, sparing one last glance at the Mech he dared to call a friend, he runs through.
The portal disappears, leaving the room dark.
He appears in the forest, the dark trees towering over him. He looks around, frantic. Which way would they have gone? Picking a direction, he transforms, blasting through the trees. He knows he's going in the right direction when he hears a familiar voice shouting.
He races past a tree with a familiar figure stuck to it. He vaguely hears the form call out to it, but he ignores it. He had to find Breakdown. So, he speeds off, leaving the familiar form struggling to get out of its trap.
Breakdown struggles against the thin, but sturdy strand of webbing. Fraggin' Pit this Femme had some crazy programming! He couldn't get out of this webbing stuff—it was like static clinging to him! And he couldn't get his Comm to work—there was some kind of interference going on. He was starting to regret going after the crazy Femme by himself. He looks down at the dark form rising up. Airachnid grins wickedly. She lifts a leg. She swings.
"NO!"
There's the screech of metal on metal, Energon splattering onto his front. But he didn't feel any pain. What he did feel, was a heavy weight slam into him. The webbing snaps from the sudden force, throwing him away from the psycho Femme. He hits the ground hard. A golden optic opens.
It widens.
"Kid?"
Delta curls in on himself as he gasps. He feels the Energon pouring out of the deep gash in his side and torso. He holds his stomach plating, the metal jagged. It felt like his whole body was on fire. It hurt so much…
"Kid?"
He tries to move, to lift his helm. But he was so tired. The blurry form of Breakdown appears above him, golden optic wide. He feels another pair of servos press against his torso. He whimpers as pain erupts across his body.
Breakdown presses his servos against the deep gash. Delta whimpers, the sound quiet. But he ignores it, trying to stop the bleeding. There was so much Energon…
:Breakdown-:
…
:Breakdown, respond!:
He lifts his helm.
:Dreadwing! You gotta get over to my coordinates now! Delta…h-he's here! Airachnid tried to skewer me and he jumped in front of her!:
:WHAT?!:
There's the distant sound of a jet, the sound getting closer and louder as the cobalt Seeker breaks the sound barrier. He transforms, hitting the ground at a run. He races over to the two, skidding to a stop. He drops to his knees.
"Delta…"
Delta's visor flickers, his entire body shaking. His vents stutter as Energon begins to slowly fill them. The GroundBridge that Dreadwing called for during his super-sonic flight appears in a swirl of green, lighting the forest up around them. Scooping Delta up, Dreadwing races through the portal. Knockout is standing there in the MedBay, his optics widening at the sight of Delta.
"Bring him over here, now!"
Dreadwing takes Delta over to the berth, setting him down. Delta whimpers at the movement, his shaking increasing. Dreadwing backs up as Knockout and Breakdown start working to stabilize the younger Mech. He could feel his servos begin to shake. There was so much Energon…
A servo is placed on his shoulder. Dreadwing meets the red optics of Megatron, the silver Warlord watching the chaos with an unreadable expression.
"Get cleaned up, Dreadwing. I will stay here."
Dreadwing hesitates. He needed to be here.
"I need to-"
"You need to trust that Knockout will do everything in his power as Medic of this ship to make sure that Delta will live. Go get cleaned up—I will make it an order if I have to."
Dreadwing sighs, nodding. He moves out of the MedBay, walking down the hall. Troopers plaster themselves onto the walls as he passes, but he pays them no mind. He makes it to the Washracks, the lights flickering on as he steps through the door.
He blinks. The mirror on the far wall gave him the perfect view. Now he knew why the troopers were almost avoiding him like the plague.
His paint was scratched from his super-sonic flight through the forest. Energon covered his chestplating, arms, and stomach, dripping down his legs and drying in tiny rivers on his armor.
Delta's Energon.
He moves over to the Washracks, dropping to his knees and feeling his tanks rebel. He coughs when finished, wiping his mouth on the back of his servo. Sighing, he turns on the tap, feeling the cool water stream down his back, washing the Energon down the drain. Not bothering to even get to his peds, he reaches up, switching the dial to hot. Soon, thick steam fills the room, and he sighs once more at the feeling of the scalding water burn the dried Energon off of his body. He begins to slowly scrub, watching the solvent go from clear to filled with Energon, the two mixing and swirling down the drain. The scrubbing becomes faster, almost frantic, his vents stuttering as he shakes. He's soon finished, and simply kneels there, optics closed and wings lowered.
Then, the tears begin to fall.
