TFP: Youngling
Ch.36~ Caved In
"So, how long until that concert?" I asked.
"It's not till later but we need to make sure we get the best spot." She informed; I narrowed my optics.
"Not really answering the question," I muttered, she pulled out her phone looking at it.
"It's not till seven, so only six hours." She stated, I groaned.
"So boring!" I whined, I heard a chuckled from behind me.
"You could have helped scout the cave." Bulk teased, I turned back to see him exiting the cavern.
"That device is busted, this is a Con mine, no way there is actually any energon left," I argued, he sighed.
"Would you like to be the one to tell Ratch our energon scanner's broken?" he huffed, yeah like he would take that well.
"Wait that's a Decepticon mine?" Miko quizzed excitedly.
"Yeah, don't get too excited, they strip their mines bare and leave nothing behind. Nothing interesting in there." I informed I could hear her moving behind me. "Didn't you just hear me?"
"Let's go!" Miko cheered racing into the cave.
"Miko!" Bulk yelled, I sighed and followed him into the cave.
"Well, at least this will waste a bit of time," I muttered putting my servos behind my helm as I walked.
"Hey, they left something behind!" Miko called, we entered a big cavern and I saw her by a drill, but not big enough for us.
"That must be left by humans, too small for us," I stated, she jumped into the seat of the thing.
"Guess you're right, I wonder if that means there's gold here!" she cheered.
"Gold? Is that a big deal?" I quizzed, she nodded.
"Yep, gold is worth a lot of money." She answered as she looked around the walls.
"Maybe the Con's scared the original miners out." Bulk mused, more likely killed them.
I heard something, my audials twitched as I tuned into the sound, that sounded like an engine. I turned to Bulk; he was looking around with Miko. Stepping toward the exit I heard talking, I quietly snuck back to Bulk and Miko tapping Bulk's shoulderplate. He picked up Miko and I led us down a tunnel off this main cavern. I could hear the voices enter the main cavern as we entered another smaller cavern.
"Hold Miko," Bulk ordered in a hushed tone; I carefully took Miko from him.
He snuck back trying to see who had entered, I heard the voices a bit clearer now. It sounded like a one-sided argument, the one yelling voice was familiar but it wasn't clear enough to distinguish.
I heard the sound of a shot then I heard cracks from above us. Frag! I dove down hiding Miko under me as the ceiling collapsed on me. I barely was able to keep myself up enough to make sure Miko wasn't crushed. Below me I could hear her coughing. I strained to look seeing her below me coughing from the dust in the air.
"What happened?" Miko questioned as her coughs died down.
"Someone must have shot the ceiling, not too sure who though," I answered, she looked around.
"Oh shit." She stated, she began to speak in another language.
"Miko, calm down." I insisted, she sat down pulling out her phone.
"I've got no signal, how about you?" she quizzed, I turned on my comm but it was full of static.
"Comm's out," I added, she crawled closer to my helm.
"Are you okay?"
"For now, but I can't stay like this forever."
"I won't last forever here either, I'll run out of oxygen."
"Oh right, you need that… I'll try to get Sunny's attention."
"But aren't your comms out?"
"Me and Sunny can talk without comms, too far for words but I can send emotions."
"Send emotions?"
"Me and Sunny have parts of each other's sparks in our own."
"Wow."
I began to push out the bond sending Sunny my pain and need for him. I hope this will get his attention. Worry flooded the bond, he got it. Now it's just a matter of them finding my energy signature and coming to the rescue. Looking down I saw Miko laying down looking worried.
"Sunny will get help to us soon."
"Think Bulk is okay?"
I saw tears filling her optics, she really was like his creation. I wanted to pat her head but if I shift, I could crush us. No, I need to think positive. Come on Sides you got this!
"He's fine, this is Bulk you're talking about. He just may be a bit stuck right now. Once Sunny brings the others you'll see him all fine. Bet he's worried about you." I soothed, she smiled.
"Yeah, he's going to baby me for like a week." She joked.
"Yeah, Bulk really adores you," I admitted.
"Bulk is like a Dad to me, I mean I do have a Dad back in Japan but…"
"I get it."
"So, are twins rare on Cybertron?"
"Oh yeah. There are only four other sets of twins alive, two sets are Decepticons and two sets are Autobots."
"Are you really different from the others?"
"I mean not entirely; the biggest difference is that twins are born sharing parts of the others spark. It's basically akin to being bonded, because of it we end of being closer than most siblings. Some twins even die when their twin dies."
"Why?"
"All twins have different amounts of spark sharing, me and Sunny are the same as a typical bonded couple. But some literally have half their spark shared. You can't really live with so little of your own spark or without being close to the rest of it. So, they die when their twin with the rest of their spark dies."
"So does that mean you two can't bond?"
"Yeah, well unless we both bonded with the same bot."
"Bulk told me that he's bonded to Wheeljack and that it's similar to being married here."
I felt the weight over me shift and I was forced lower, frag this is getting bad. Sunny you better get your aft her soon with back-up, I felt Miko touch my servo. Looking down I saw her trying to be strong but I could see the fear in her face. Reminded me of our first times on the battlefield…
(Flashback)
I stared out at the chaos in shock, turning my helm I saw Sunny and Bee both frozen too. We were really meant to go out into this? I felt a servo grasp my helm, pushing it down. Then it began to rub my helm, were they trying to comfort us.
"First-time jitters I see." Ironhide huffed, I turned to see him standing behind us. "Now ya three listen ta me, ya'll been trainin' hard for this. But trainin' ain't nothin' compared to what's out there. Stick together, ya three lookout fer each other out there."
He pulled back I gave us all a pat on the backstruts before rushing out into the chaotic battlefield. Turning to Sunny and Bee, I saw them both looking back at me. I raced and grabbed their servos and we all pushed our helms together.
"We got this." I insisted.
"Of course we do." Sunny added.
"I got your backs." Bee chimed.
"And we got yours now let's go," I replied, we pulled apart and activated our blasters. "Let's frag 'em up!"
(End Flashback)
"Miko stay a bit further back." I insisted, she pulled back to stand under my chestplates.
"I'm scared…" she admitted sitting down burying her face in her legs.
" I know, but don't worry I won't let you get hurt. Wreckers always have each other's backs." I stated.
"I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't have run in here." She apologized.
"It's alright, I've done far more stupid things when I was your age. One time me and Sunny tried to raid a Decepticon base alone. Ended up getting captured, lucky Old Mech Ironhide came with the rest of the Wreckers and saved us taking the base down while they were at it." I soothed, she snickered.
"You must have gotten in so much trouble."
"Oh yeah, he put us on cleaning duty for like a month and trust me the guys decided to be a messy as they could that month."
"Even Bulk."
"He wasn't the worst offender, that went to crazy Whirl. I swear he just threw energon on the ceiling at night."
"So you two had nicknames too right?"
"Twin Terrors, Sunny was called Sunshine and I was called Night."
"Night, why?"
"Wreckers nicknames are almost insults or the very least opposite of what you are. Night, was basically them calling me dark or negative."
"What about Old Mech, was he not old?"
"Oh no, he's even older than Ratch. His came from the fact he used to hate being called old."
"Why did you all get nicknames?"
"Old Mech liked nicknames, he rarely used actually designations for bots."
"Even non-wreckers had them?"
"Yep, he called Optimus Fancy-pedes, Ratchet was Hatchet, Carrier was Goldy, Sire was Mono."
"Why was Optimus called Fancy Pedes?"
"Apparently it was his nickname from before he was Prime, not really sure where it came from."
"Think he'd tell me if I ask him?"
"Get Star to and I'm sure he will."
I heard her let out an odd sound covering her mouth, was something caught in her vents? I could feel the rocks above me shift, one fell right onto one of my audio horns. I cringed as the sensitive plating was put under pressure. Please Sunny, you need to get her faster. I don't know how much longer I can keep us safe…
(Sunstreaker's POV)
I stared into the rock-filled entrance, Sides was inside I can feel it. Before I could take a step forward, I felt a servo on my shoulder plating, turning I saw Optimus looking at me. He shook his helm and I turned away in anger. We need to find Sides; I can feel him bleeding worry and pain through our bond.
"We'll get them out, but we must be cautious." Optimus soothed.
"Optimus it looks like only part of the caverns collapsed fully, if we're careful we should be able to dig them out. Sideswipe and Bulkhead's energy signatures aren't too far in." Arcee explained, I shook of Optimus servo.
"Let's get digging." I huffed, don't worry Sides I'm coming.
(Sideswipe's POV)
I could hear sounds in the distance, I let out a vent of relief. Thank Primus it seems they were on their way. Looking down I saw Miko curled up below me. Her breathing sounded laboured, just hold on Miko they're almost her. I saw light breakthrough, soon more and more light poured in.
"Sides!" Sunny exclaimed, I turned to see him looking down at me.
"Hey, Miko's under me, get her out first," I explained.
He threw aside more rocks and reached under, he pulled her out keeping her in his servo. I began to crawl out as I did I felt the rocks fall under me until I was finally free. My everything ached, that was not a pleasant experience… I felt Sunny's relief over our bond.
"You're an idiot." He huffed helping me stand.
"Miko okay?" I asked, looking at the girl in his servo.
"I think she's asleep." Sunny stated I guess she'd been through a lot.
"Have you found Bulk?" I asked.
"Arcee and Optimus went for him, but there was another energy signature near him."
"Must be the Decepticon who fired their blaster, fragging glitch buried us all."
"Let's get you two outside."
I leaned into him as he helped me out of the cavern, looks like not everything caved in. Soon we were outside and he sat me down on a rock outside. Carefully he placed Miko on a smaller rock, she groaned a bit. Primus, I hope she isn't hurt; Bulk will freak out.
"Your plating's all dented and scuffed," Sunny commented, cupping my cheekplate.
"Pretty good considering." I joked, he pulled me to face him.
"You had me worried sick." He stated I could see it in his faceplates.
"I know, not really planned on getting buried alive."
"Don't tell me you ran in there…"
"After Miko, Bulk went to check out a noise then that Con must have shot his blaster burying us."
"No wonder you two get along so much."
"She's still a kid ya know."
"Fair point, but don't go worrying me like that."
"I'll try my best."
"Cheeky."
"You mean cute."
"Idiot."
He leaned down and kissed me, seems he still didn't handle being separated well. Pulling away I kissed his cheekplate, I could hear that sound again. Turning I saw Miko's body shaking as she let out loud breaths, something was still caught in her vents. I gently pet her back with a finger, soon she settled and turned to look at me.
"We're out?" she muttered, her voice sounded rough.
"Yeah, you must have dust in your vents," I stated, had another fit before calming again.
"I'm going to comm Ratchet, Miko should be seen by a human medic." Sunny stated, I nodded as I continued to put the young girls back.
"Bulk should be free soon, so you just rest up." I hushed, she nodded weakly.
"Ratchet said to take her back to base immediately." Sunny stated, I heard the sound of a portal. "Let's get you too back."
"Thanks, Sunny."
(Optimus' POV)
I sent Arcee and Bulkhead back to base as I continued to dig, I can't in right conscious leave a mecha buried like this. Picking up another rock I stared at the familiar red optic glaring at me. Megatron… I had half a mind to shoot him as he lay trapped.
"Well if it isn't Optimus Prime, going to kill me? Perfect chance, I can't even fight back." He taunted, I activated my blaster and pointing it at him. "Are you done playing games now?"
"I have every reason to shoot you and this all," I stated, he smirked. "But something tells me that is what you want."
"On the contrary, I am just jealous you get this opportunity and not myself."
I looked at him with disdain, of course, he would see it like that. Sometimes I wonder how this could even be the same mech I befriended all those millennia ago. I aimed my blaster at his exposed helm, it's time I stop holding onto the past. Before I could fire I heard the sound of rocks falling. I stared in shock as his arm shot forward, I sidestepped but his blade sunk into my side. He pulled it out quickly and I stumbled back holding my wound, he let out a laugh.
"If you didn't hesitate so much, perhaps you'd have won this." He taunted, I turned to leave. "Perhaps you won't hesitate next time."
I stumbled out of the cave I aimed back and shot the entrance sealing it off with rubble. Why do I always hesitate?! Why can't I just end this?! I shook off the forming tears as I heard the sound of a portal. Looking up I saw my bondmate race through, his optics landed on me and widened in shock.
I took a stumbling step forward but he raced over, hauling my free servo over his shoulderplates. I let him help me through the portal, I could feel energon leak through my fingers as he helped me over to the medical berth. Setting me down he raced to turn off the bridge before quickly grabbing his tools.
"Let me see." He stated I pulled back my servo so he could examine my wound. "Primus, what happened?"
"Megatron," I stated, He pressed my servo back to my wound.
"I'll need to weld that shut; I'll dampen your pain receptors."
"Do not bother."
"I refuse to weld you without dampening them."
"I had the chance to end him… I hesitated…"
"I'm letting you turn my medical treatments into a form of self-punishment."
"Do as you must…"
I felt him plug into my medical port and my pain receptors dampened, I felt him kiss my cheekplate. I looked down at him as he began to weld my wound shut. He was right, I had no right to turn his practice into a form of self-punishment. Still, I should haven't hesitated. I let a perfect opportunity to end this all slip out of my grasp…
"I can practically hear your self-deprecating thoughts. Out with it."
"I'm sorry for my earlier suggestion…"
"Do not ask something like that of me again. Now what else."
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I keep hesitating. I have so many reasons to end him… Yet, I always end up letting the opportunities slip by… How many more times will I hesitate?"
"Orion, ending a life has never been something you've taken lightly. Even or those who don't deserve that kindness. You try to see the good in others, even when there is none… It's one of the reasons I fell for you all those stellar-cycles ago… Never see your kindness as a weakness."
I felt tears fill my optics again but this time I didn't fight them, I cried silently as my wounds were treated. Then as I felt strong arms wrap around me. As I buried my faceplates into the crook of my bondmates neckcables. I cried and cried as I let out my woes and frustrations.
Primus please, let me never hesitate again.