Well, I'm consistent in one way in regards to updates.. The consistent thing is simply that I post sporadically and there's a long time between updates..
As always, thanks so much to everyone who reads this story, even if it's rarely updated.
In this chapter, we'll go back to who's left of Team Scatterstrike. The characters introduced in the last chapter will pop up again eventually.
Hope you enjoy.
Chapter Nineteen - Repercussions
"So thirsty."
The young frontliner felt like his energon reserves must be almost drained dry. It seemed like a long time ago that he received an alert that he was low on fuel.
Bolt turned his helm, letting it fall limply to the side onto the table. His remaining, dull, blue optic looked towards his friend.
Or what was left of her.
Skyshadow lay motionless on the table beside him, optics closed. She hadn't said a word in over a decacycle.
Whether it was she was unable to or she was too broken to say anything, Bolt didn't know.
All he knew, was that looking at the broken, battered husk of his friend hurt him.
Hurt him more than he could express.
"I caused this. If it weren't for me- "
Bolt shoved the thoughts from his processor. He couldn't think like that. Not now.
Not when he had the opportunity to make an escape plan.
If it wasn't too late.
Yes, Shockwave wasn't bothering to restrain them anymore. Which would make it that much easier to find a way out of here.
But the reason the scientist was allowing them full motion of their limbs?
They were too weak to properly use them.
You couldn't fight or get away if your frame no longer had the strength to do as you asked it to.
And if Bolt was suffering from exhaustion and trauma, how much more was Skyshadow?
To begin with, Bolt was much stronger than the lithe flier.
Their circumstances had taken a toll on both.
"I don't know how long Sky can hang on."
His vents hitched, something pricking the corner of his optic.
"I can't watch someone else offline. I can't watch her offline.
"I don't want to be alone."
His best friend, who might as well have been his brother, was gone. Starfrost and Scatterstrike were gone. Cloudbreaker must be too.
They were the only ones left.
And now Bolt was losing Sky.
"Sky-" he said, voice raspy from disuse and the emotion bubbling within him. "You have to hold on. Please.
"I know you're hurt. Hurt more than I can imagine. That monster took everything from you. I don't know how twin bonds work, but you're still here. Maybe your twin is too. You have to stay online for him."
Bolt choked on a sob, tears streaming down his faceplate.
"Sky- He needs you still. You have to find him and tell him you're alright. Find your sire and tell him.
"You just have to make it, Skyshadow. It can't end like this. You're so strong, stronger and better than me. You always were."
The frontliner shook his helm. "You were always there for us, no matter what it might have cost you. I don't deserve someone like you. After what I've done to get us all in this mess. What I did to you- "
The frame beside him lay motionless and unresponsive.
Not even a wing twitched. Not even a digit moved. Not even any facial movements whatsoever.
Nothing to tell Bolt that Skyshadow could hear him.
Bolt stared, tears streaming down his faceplate. Willing her to move, willing her to say something.
Anything that would give him a sign that she was online. That she would be alright.
It wasn't alright. It wasn't alright at all.
Bolt knew that Skyshadow was slowly offlining.
They both were.
But she would likely be first.
And he would have to watch.
Just like he watched almost everyone else on their team offline.
And he was still helpless to stop it.
Bolt broke.
Sobs wracked his broken, battered, exhausted frame.
"Skyshadow, please. You're a fighter," he said desperately between sobs. "You can beat this. You can't give up!"
But he didn't know if she could this time.
It might be, no, was, too late.
"I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"
Bolt lowered his voice to a whisper, squeezing his optic shut. "Please don't leave me."
Tears continued to run down his faceplate as he cried. Tears of mourning, of frustration. Tears of fear and pain.
Something touched his hand, so light he thought he was feeling things.
Opening his optic, the young mech glanced down at his hand on the table.
His vents caught, noting the slim digit touching his own thicker ones.
Carefully and gently, Bolt slid his hand under Skyshadow's. He held his vents, looking earnestly to her faceplate.
Skyshadow's angular, yet delicate features didn't move, but the hand in his did.
Intertwining their digits together, she squeezed his hand gently.
As if she was saying, "I hear you. I forgive you. It will be okay."
"Sky-" Bolt said, half in relief, half in despair.
But he didn't finish, just held her hand.
The pair of young Autobots laid there in silence for a long time.
Bolt hoping and praying that this wasn't the end for them.
When he finally drifted off into restless recharge, it was with Skyshadow's hand in his. And a sliver of hope and resolve in his spark.
He would fix this.
He would get them out.
If it was the last thing he did.
"You have to hold on. Please."
Skyshadow dimly heard Bolt talking.
She was too weak to answer him.
But she could hear him.
Her spark felt like it had been shattered and ripped in half.
In reality, it sort of had.
All the bonds with her family were gone.
Her carrier had offlined a while ago, it hadn't hurt as much as the bond with her sire being gone.
She never was very close with her carrier. She had been with her sire. It hurt.
Worst of all, was the separation she felt from her brother.
Her bond with her twin was gone. Her other half, ripped away from her. His comforting presence that was always a constant in a sort of subconscious was gone, her spark numb and cold from the hole that had been left.
Skyshadow had no idea whether Bumblebee was still online or not.
After all, when one twin died, it was said the other did too, not being able to survive being separated from the other.
But she was still alive.
Maybe Bolt was right, Bee might be too.
She had to hope he was. She didn't have anything left.
Her audios told her that Bolt was upset. Hoping to comfort him, she reached for where she guessed his hand would be with her optics closed.
Taking her hand in his, Bolt went silent. She squeezed his hand, interlocking their digits. He said her name, in a strange tone, but that was all.
After that, mechling went silent.
And Skyshadow drifted back into unconsciousness.
Elsewhere, Shockwave reviewed the data he'd collected.
The frontliner had reacted as was expected.
The half-seeker however, had been a complete unknown.
It was well known that twins often couldn't survive if their bond was broken, the figurative half spark being not enough to sustain them.
However, the fledgling was not a splitspark twin.
That was likely the only reason she was still online.
Again, Shockwave thought it was a pity he didn't have the other one.
Not that it mattered now. This experiment was finished since there wasn't really anything else he wanted to or could test. He had other purposes for the test subjects, and he still had both of them.
It was better to figure out whether the half-seekerling would have survived now rather than after he'd begun his project. It would be a waste of resources if she'd offlined mid project.
It wasn't as if the subjects could keep their family bonds with what he had planned for them after all. Shockwave was, in reality, saving them both grief by splitting them from their families earlier. They should be grateful.
But of course, his test subjects never saw it that way.
Having family bonds would only complicate things in the end for the subjects. Eliminating them was the only logical course of reaction.
Same as the eventual removal of their memories.
But that would come at the end. The scientist wanted to see how they reacted to each step of the process. With their memories, they also were individuals that reacted differently. Without them, they were mere mouldable tools.
Like the mecha of Crystal City were now.
If things went well with the two younger, healthier subjects, then Shockwave would put the still online Crystal City mecha in the project with them.
Otherwise, he'd find alternative uses for them. Shadowplay was always an option after all.
It was unfortunate, that his other test subject had escaped. Shockwave had no idea how he got out without his notice, seeing as the young mech was no longer in his right mind.
It was very unfortunate indeed. Cloudbreaker would have potentially been a valuable weapon for the Decepticons if the scientist had found a way to control him.
But it was pointless to continue looking for that now. The young seeker was long gone.
At least he still wore the insignia of his former faction. The Decepticons wouldn't think to blame the scientist for his madness and Shockwave doubted the Autobots would willingly accept him back if by chance he made it to them.
Especially, if Cloudbreaker, like the seeker called Wingnut, had similar...
Unstableness that often resulted in energon split.
The Autobot rescue team landed their ship, the mecha stepping outside to stretch their pedes before settling in for the offcycle. There was still some light left, but they'd found a good place to land, so the captain had ordered an early stop.
They'd decided to halt their search for the offcycles, knowing it may be impossible to find what must be a very well-hidden base in the dark. And to conserve energon that was dwindling every orn they were out here looking for the missing squad members.
Soon, they would have to turn back.
Something none of them wanted to do.
As the rookie climbed up on top of the ship to take sentry duty, something caught his optic.
"Hey!" he called down to the group of mecha down on the ground. "We got something approaching from the sky. Fast."
The mecha all looked to where the mechling was pointing, some shielding their optics against the setting sun.
"See that speck?" the weapons specialist asked. "Sheesh, it is coming in fast."
"Looks like a seeker, maybe," the captain said with a frown. He glanced up to the rookie. "I'd come back down here for now, mechling."
Sliding down the side, the rookie joined the rest on the ground.
Hearing the commotion from inside, the pilot poked his helm out the door. "What's going on out here?"
"Incoming seeker," one of the techs said, gesturing with her helm towards the swiftly approaching speck in the sky. "We're guessing it's not a friendly."
"Most of them aren't," agreed the pilot. "Hey, where'd our spyglass get to? Someone could take a closer look."
The scout pulled the spyglass out of subspace. Closing one optic, he looked through it with the other.
The rest waited expectantly.
After a few kliks, he lowered it, handing it over to the leader. "I think it's one of ours. But their flight path is erratic. Wounded I'm guessing."
Taking a look himself, the leader agreed. "I see what you mean. Why do you think he's ours?"
"Colour scheme matches Scatterstrike's seeker, boss."
The mech's statement made everyone take another good look at the approaching jet. Who by at this point, was close enough you didn't need the telescope to see what colour his paint was.
The seeker must have spotted the ship as it banked and changed direction, flying towards them.
"Hey, he's seen us!" the rookie said excitedly, taking his optics off the seeker as he grinned at his team. "I bet he'll know where the others are!"
The rest returned the grin and began talking amongst themselves, happy to have another solid lead finally.
Suddenly, the weapons specialist noted the worried expression on the faceplates of the leader and the pilot.
"What's wrong?"
All happy chatter was immediately silenced.
The pilot's frown deepened. "If that seeker had others with him, we'd be calling it an attack formation."
"What? I thought this guy was a friendly!"
"Everybody take cover," the captain said briskly, not taking his optics off the seeker. "Just in case."
Everyone obeyed immediately, moving behind rocks and the ship, out of sight.
They didn't have to wait long.
The sky-blue and black seeker roared over them in a flyby, low and fast. The noise was loud enough to make the Autobots cover their audios.
"Stay where you are!" the captain yelled. "Maybe he's just checking to see who we are."
The pilot gave him a look from his nearby hiding spot. "You and I both know that seekers don't ask questions first."
"Most seekers. And most Decepticon ones don't fly alone."
The pilot didn't reply, only moving his attention back to the sky, mouth in a grim line.
He knew this wasn't an ordinary seeker, and no ordinary flyby out of curiosity. If it was, it wouldn't have been that low. Or fast and loud.
He'd been in battles with seekers before. He'd lived in the city-state that was Vos' eastern border. He knew seekers.
This seeker was not a curious one. He was aggressive and trying to intimidate.
Which was bad if it was Scatterstrike's seeker. That meant something was really wrong.
The seeker came back and buzzed them again, closer this time.
"Are we sure it's a friendly?" yelled the femme.
"He hasn't shot us yet!" answered the mech who was their field medic. "But he don't seem friendly."
"He's got an Autobot brand on his wings," the rookie added nervously.
As the seeker came back a third time, he slowed, transformed, and dropped the rest of the way. Landing on the top of the ship with a loud bang, he crouched their, eyeing the Autobots that were visible from his perch.
No one moved for several kliks.
The ones who could see the leader from their position without moving looked to him for guidance.
This was not in anyone's training.
Carefully, the captain stood up, hands raised above his helm. Speaking softly, he stepped towards the ship and seeker slowly.
"Hello there, would you be Cloudbreaker by any chance?"
The young seeker watched him with wary optics, then nodded.
"Can you come down? We won't harm you," the captain continued, noting the sorry state the seeker was in. "We'll take a look at your injuries and I'm sure you would not be opposed to some energon."
At the word energon, any calmness in the seeker vanished. He launched himself off the top of the ship.
And was promptly shot at by two of the mecha on the ground, the weapons specialist and the scout.
Fortunately, they missed him. Unfortunately, their concern and immediate fire, while understandable considering the circumstances and the behaviour of the seeker, was not at all appreciated.
Landing on the ground, the young seeker, whirled to face the mecha who'd shot at him. A very off glint was in his optics as his mouth curled in a snarl.
Quickly rushing to intervene, the captain stepped in between them.
"Hold your fire!" he ordered. "Calm down, mechling, they didn't mean it."
An even darker look came over the seeker's faceplate and a dark laugh rumbled up from his voice box. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he took several menacing steps forward until he was leaning over the shorter mech in front of him.
"Of course not," Cloudbreaker growled. "Just like my team didn't mean to desert me."
The rookie, who'd been hiding the farthest away from the ship, didn't see what happened next exactly. All he knew, was that suddenly, the seeker snapped.
With a screech, he lunged at the captain, tackling him to the ground as shots flew towards him, which hit the ship behind him instead.
Then, he ran towards the two mechs who'd tried to shoot him again with a snarl, ripping one of their guns from them and beating him over the helm several times with it.
By that time, almost everyone else on the team had gotten up out of their hiding places and ran towards the seeker.
Which ended up being a really bad move.
The rookie covered his audios, frozen in fear as awful screams and gunfire came from behind his rock. He didn't dare look over or around it.
As much as he felt like a coward, he couldn't move.
There was something, wrong, about that mech.
Soon, the noise of the fight died down and the rookie heard the door of their ship open. He stayed where he was, audios straining to hear something, anything.
After what seemed like an eternity, the seeker leapt into the sky, transformed, and roared off, signalling to the rookie that he could emerge from hiding safely.
What he saw when he stood and turned towards the ship almost knocked him over again.
Almost everyone was sprawled out on the grounds, their field medic hurrying between them.
Numbly walking over to the only other standing mecha, the rookie stared at the rest in horror.
"Mechling, there you are!" the field medic said in relief upon seeing him. "I was beginning to think he carried you off with his energon he took. Are you alright?"
The mechling nodded, optics wide and staring.
Several of his team members were groaning in pain, one of their servos or pedes twisted the wrong way. A few more were unconscious, sporting no visible wounds. But the ones that caught the mechling's attention the most were the few that were laying on the ground, their neck cables at odd, horrible angles. And the one who was missing his servo completely.
"I might need your help," the medic said, voice quiet. "Run and get my medical tools please. I'll triage them."
Wordless, the rookie nodded, then stumbled into a run, heading inside the ship. He noted the mess the seeker had made when he was inside, ransacking the place. Luckily, the toolbox was untouched and the mechling grabbed it before hurrying back outside.
He didn't know why that seeker had done what he did. But he did know, he'd never trust another one again.
Bumblebee came to, blinking at the ceiling in confusion for several kliks. It looked like the medbay ceiling.
"What happened?" he thought internally, mentally going over his frame for injuries. Nothing felt injured.
At first.
The pain and emptiness in his spark suddenly came back in a wave.
Rolling to his side, the young scout curled in on himself with a stifled whimper.
"Sky..."
His twin was offline. He was alone.
As if sensing his awakening from stasis, the mecha he shared a last, remaining bond, tentatively spoke.
"Bumblebee?"
"Sire?" the youngling replied with a sniff.
The mech sent feeling of comfort and shared grief. "Are you alright, young one?"
"No."
Bee heard someone enter the medbay, but didn't pay any attention as they approached his berth.
"Sky's gone, Sire."
There was a pause.
"I know, Son," the mech replied, tone sparkbroken. "The Autobots have you in good hands. I will try and find her still. To... Give her a proper burial.
"I will try and come to you as soon as I can. Okay?"
Bumblebee sniffed again. "Okay."
What his sire had suggested made sense.
Skyshadow needed to be buried with honour. Not messed with by that horrid mad scientist.
The mech had already done too much.
Far too much.
If only Bumblebee had been able to save her. If only he'd reached out and found her location from their bond, he could have directed someone to where she was.
Now it was too late.
"I love you, Bumblebee," Ironshadow said, sending the emotion over the bond. "I can't imagine what you must be feeling... I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
Bumblebee wiped away a tear as the conversation ended and a medic came to crouch in front of him.
"Bumblebee, it is good to see you awake," the red and white said gently. "I'm going to take your vitals and then get you some energon, alright?"
"Okay," muttered the scout, barely above a whisper.
It wasn't alright.
His sister, his twin, one of his best friends, was offline.
Thanks for reading! I'd love to read any comments you may have.
Credit Song: Drown - Bring Me the Horizon
Notes
1. As usual, I own nobody and nothing besides my oc's and the story.
2. If you are interested, I've started a story that tells how the team started and how they all met. And some of their earlier adventures.
3. More of a question, would you readers rather one, big, long story, or a story split into a couple parts? I'm getting close to being finished Survival of the Fittest's first section, and was wondering what people would rather read.
Thanks!