Hello Dear Readers! This is a bit of a short one. I've been sitting on it 90% done for a while and finally kicked myself into gear to get it finished.
Thanks to my wonderful reviewers; Stormlight (thanks for the feedback), Akari. Wolf. Princess, SkyenhaMarisa (thanks for pointing that out. I use barely in my regular vocabulary but always spell it wrong lol, as for your second point- no need to worry, I'm on the same page), ScarletSea, Ratchel0424, ImpartingAbyss, and YumiSKRT (although you probs won't read this chap for a little while)
Chapter 47
It surprised Thundercracker how easily the landscape's organic growth caught fire. The fight with Division's humans was mostly contained within their facility, but it moved outside when Mech started firing on him and Vortex. Starscream had turned on them earlier than planned and once the word was transmitted to each target location, the humans took the initiative.
In the end, all humans were defeated, save for those who turned on Division and proceeded to battle against Mech. Before, Thundercracker hadn't realized how many Starscream's source had recruited. When they broke into the facility, the pair of Decepticons were greeted with a litany of powerful energon-based weapons. Thundercracker's apprehension at battling a weaker species faded as he realized the fight was fairer than he first thought.
The firepower easily tore through the Mech soldiers and their machinery while Vortex and Thundercracker received major armor damage. The former lost a stabilizing thruster, making him incapable of flight without repairs. Just as more Division soldiers stormed in, armed and possibly ready to overpower the attacking force, a dozen of the humans among those ranks turned and shot down their unit.
Once the main battle force was taken down, Division's traitors led Mech's humans into the subterranean bunkers where the 'cons couldn't reach. That was when the remaining Mech forces started their attack. Out in the open, Thundercracker could let loose. He and Vortex made quick work of them. Not long after, the former Division humans returned alone. Just like that, the day was won. Starscream and Mirage both reported their successful results. Thundercracker was relieved to hear none of his comrades suffered severe damage.
With the battles happening near larger human populations, the mechs had to escape before the arrival of local authorities. They didn't want the Autobots learning of their movements. Their new allies were given coordinates to meet with gathered resources. They also explained how they planned to hide the Decepticon activity in the area with Mech's trails. Vortex, seemingly incapable of following more than the most basic orders, seemed more interested in the energon leaking from his armor than an escape plan. Thundercracker managed to lead him to a safe place for repairs.
They were well within the forest, where the organics fighting the fires wouldn't find them. Vortex laid dramatically with his limbs spread out as he rested while his frame took to the patchwork Thundercracker did on his thruster. Meanwhile, the blue seeker watched as the surrounding life burned and crackled and fell. Organic creatures flew overhelm and scurried away from the fire past his pedes. Most never seemed to notice him. One paused at the sight of him, its orange optics seemed to scan him up and down as the creature coward between him and the flames. Small glowing cinders landed on its black fur but the organic was too frozen to notice. Thundercracker watched it as it glared back. Realizing it wouldn't move, even as the fire crept closer, the seeker stepped to the side, giving the creature more room to run past. It flinched but after a moment, darted forward to escape.
An odd mix of guilt and fascination settled in his tank as he watched the world around him continue to burn.
Erin was flung into consciousness as internal alert of danger made her heart beat franticly. Immediately, she felt nauseous. The smell of antiseptic was overwhelming. Forcing her eyes open, her sight met the dark grey of the ceiling and dusty white of the blanket that had been thrust down to her legs as she sat up. She could hear the drip of an iv, the beeping of a machine behind in tune to her heart, and the metallic whirring of Cybertronians moving. She was in Ratchet's med bay, feeling oddly aware and yet disoriented.
The medic himself was there, barely having turned around when Erin recognized both him and Jazz at the far end of the room. The smaller mech had to lean over to see past Ratchet's bulk.
"Specialist Brook, it's good to see you online." His tone was oddly polite. Since when did Ratchet have a bedside manner? "Can you speak?" he asked as he approached. A digit revealed a light that he passed over her eyes. His faceplates were searching.
"Yes." Erin croaked out. Her throat was dry and speaking seemed to take an exorbitant amount of effort.
"Your throat will be sore because of the feeding tube." He explained knowingly. "Do you remember what happened?" he continued, clinical but unnervingly polite.
"Feeding tube?" She questioned, feeling along her neck.
"Focus Ms. Brook. What do you remember?" The medic asked again, still sounding unnervingly gentle.
"There was a fight with Jazz…" she tried to glance past the medic but the other mech was obscured. "The twins were hurt." She remembered with another jolt of panic. "Where are they?"
"I kicked them out of the med bay after a couple of days." Ratchet waved her concern off as he continued his inspection. "Not that they haven't tried sneaking in every time my back is turned."
Her shoulders relaxed as the bulk of her worry faded away. If the twins were actively annoying Ratchet, then they were probably ok. "How long have I been out?" Erin started to become aware of a distinct lack of pain. Everything felt heavy, but besides that and her throat, she seemed fine. Her arm and leg didn't ache. She felt along her side, through a hospital gown. There were no bandages, just skin. It felt hard in some places, likely scars.
"Two weeks, now stop fidgeting." The mech pushed Erin's arm aside as he scanned her.
Ignoring the medic's command, she felt along the offending arm. "I thought it was broken." She muttered while noticing a thick and heavy metal band around her wrist. It was the base for her wrist mount weapon. The blade and cannon were both missing, a fabric bandage covered the opening for the mount and wires. She tugged at it and felt the tendons in her arm tense. Ratchet's words were lost to her as she felt along the metal, sensing the touch with both her flesh and the band. "Wh-?" her voice faltered.
A digit hooking her feeling arm away brought Erin back to the present. "Specialist Brook, look at me."
That time, Erin obeyed. Her eyes were wide as she realized there was something wrong.
"I'm not quite sure what happened to you, but answering my questions will help with your evaluation. Do you understand?" He was both eerily calm and firm.
She nodded dumbly.
"Now, tell me everything you remember." He repeated.
Erin straightened as she gave her report, "I attempted to aid in containing Jazz. He shot the ground where I was standing and I was thrown. My arm got caught and broke... I think. I received lacerations to the abdomen." But her supposed injuries were gone after only a couple of weeks. Did she hallucinate the event? "Sunstreaker and Prowl went down. Then Jazz dropped something and fell. When Sideswipe tried to touch whatever was dropped, he was fell unconscious. I thought it was some kind of weapon that was harming them, so I tried to get to it. It was hot. I was bleeding out and about to lose consciousness so I pressed it against my wound."
The light in Ratchet's optics spun wildly before he jerked back. "You used the All Spark to cauterize your injury!" His bedside manner, to Erin's relief, vanished as he sputtered colorful curses in Cybertronian.
"So, it was the All Spark." The woman said mostly to herself.
"Of all the insane things I've heard in my life, that wins the prize." The medic ran a servo down his face, seeming to take a moment to reset his thoughts. "And here I thought you were intelligent."
"I wasn't entirely lucid at the time." Erin tried to reason, too confused by her situation to know how to feel.
"Give her a break Ratch," Jazz piped in, his tone chipper, "it saved her life, didn't it?"
"Yes, but there was no way she could have known that at the time." The medic replied, exasperated, before turning his attention back to Erin. "Specialist Brook, however unlikely it seems, when you made contact with the All Spark, it infused itself into you."
Oh. Oh fuck. "How is that possible?"
"The All Spark isn't like our Cybology." Ratchet explained, shaking his helm. "We've studied it, but still don't entirely understand it."
An uncomfortable churning started in her stomach. She felt powerless and anxious. "So what's happening to me?" Erin asked, trying to focus her mind like she's on a mission to fight off the coming panic. Instead, she felt like she was on the edge of a cliff.
"It'll take time to know for sure." Ratchet's sigh sounded more like a growl of frustration. "When Sunstreaker carried you in, your wounds had already been healed. Your weapon was fused to your arm and some of its mass was reduced. Your broken bones and open wound were repaired with what seemed to be a mix of that metal and your biology. Look at your side."
Erin slowly clawed aside her hospital gown. There was a six-inch stretch of her skin spiderwebbed with grey. "So the missing pieces of the weapon are…"
"Not quite." Ratchet interrupted that thought. "We weren't sure what your mental state would be when you awoke, so I had to remove the weapons. It may seem like much, but only a couple of ounces of metal were used. The wiring in the brace is reactive the same way it would be in a Cybertronian frame, so I decided not to remove the band. Besides, part of the underside is fused to your muscle structure, it would be a major surgery to have it removed. And it even then your motor function might be affected."
"The All Spark made me some kind of Cyborg?" Erin's voice cracked as everything suddenly became too much. This wasn't the plan. Why had this happened?
"Panicking won't improve your condition Specialist Brook."
"Wait," Erin cut off any calming words the medic was about to fail at administering, "is the All Spark still in me?"
Ratchet paused, seeming to weigh his words. "It is." He admitted.
"Why haven't you gotten it out?" She rose her voice.
"It isn't in one physical location." Ratchet matched her tone. "It's distributed throughout your frame. I plan on extracting it, but I don't know how to yet."
"How did it get out of Jazz?" she asked incredulously.
"Jazz's case was different." The medic explained, his remaining calmness pissing Erin off for some unknown reason, "When we revived him, he woke violently. His frame nearly rejected the energy altogether. Before the All Spark could finish healing him, I put the dampeners on him to block the All Spark's energy. We were worried that finishing the healing process would further damage his mental state. The All Spark lodged itself in his back strut. It could have been removed, but Jazz would have offlined."
Jazz's previously worsening condition suddenly made sense. "You were treating it like life support?"
"Yes." The medic glanced at his other patient who was sitting on a berth, legs swinging in the air. "Luckily, when Jazz removed the dampeners, the All Spark exited his frame after healing him. There seems to be no lasting damage."
That was fine for Jazz but did nothing for Erin. "So, what now?"
"I continue to observe and study how the All Spark interacts with your frame." Ratchet explained clinically. "When I figure out a safe way to extract it, I do so."
"And if you can't extract it?" She pressed.
"It's possible the All Spark wouldn't reform outside of your frame." He added with a note of sadness. "It could be lost to us." Erin bit her tongue. She wasn't the only one suffering over what happened. The mechs needed the All Spark as much as she needed to be free of it. "There is little more I can do now. Jazz, you are free to leave. Specialist Brook, wait while I meet with Que. I want to keep you on observation until we learn more." He gave his orders as he headed towards the door, only stopping to give them each a look before leaving.
Erin silently watched him exit while feeling band along her arm again. It tickled. When the med bay door closed, she asked, "He doesn't know?"
"About you being a secret agent?" Jazz replied, casually, "Nah. Nobot except those you told know."
"Why?"
"Partially 'cause Prime wants to finish talking with you. Partially 'cause I asked we keep this on the down-low." He shot her a confident smile.
"So, I take it you don't want to kill me anymore?" she asked, though the answer was obvious. Anything would be a good distraction from her own internal dread.
"Sorry about that." He said, seeming genuinely apologetic. "I wasn't exactly myself back there. The facts are you outed yourself for our benefit. I'm no stranger to your way of life and I know when someone deserves a chance. You didn't have to say all you did before, on the beach. You had a clean shot but you chose to talk to me instead. That takes someone special."
Erin didn't miss Jazz's admission. No stranger? She'd have to look into that later. "I had no idea what I was even doing."
"You were giving me another chance." He explained, shifting on the berth where he sat. "I'd been struggling with that piece of junk and got just enough control to off myself when I heard you calling. You made me think of all Prowler and Ratch did to get me back online. So, I fought and got it outta me."
"I thought you were aiming for Prowl." Erin muttered, not quite sure how to handle Jazz's sudden emotional honesty.
"I was, at first." Jazz looked down at his servos. His lip plates were set in a firm line. "But I'd rather cut myself down than my friend."
His sentiment wasn't far from where Erin felt. While she wouldn't dare confide in the mech more than necessary, it appeared he could understand her better than she had imagined.
Their conversation was cut off when the med bay door was flung open with a protesting groan and clatter.
"Squishy!" Erin met Sunstreaker's wide optics. He paused in the doorway, seeming to take her in. Erin did the same, seeing his frame was free of any cracks or chips. He looked good like he had just applied a fresh layer of paint and wax. After a moment, his frame shuttered as he relaxed. "You're finally online." His optics filled with relief; the sight was enough to make the woman's heart burst. All the shit she was going through was worth that look, Erin decided.
The yellow mech was nudged over as Sideswipe pushed his way past the threshold to wheel directly to Erin. He reached for her but his servos stopped inches short. "Rin! How are you feeling?"
Erin felt the tingling sensation of the mech running a half dozen scans over her.
"Tired," she answered truthfully, "but I'll live." Sensing his caution, Erin bridged the gap between them by running a hand across his outstretched servo. Every once in a while she needed to remind them that she was not made of glass.
Carefully, Sideswipe brushed her shoulder, running his digits up and down. It felt soothing. "Do you… remember what happened?"
"Yeah." She sighed. "Ratchet and Jazz caught me up on everything else."
"And you just feel tired?" The mech asked with a mixture of confusion and concern. "You kinda have the magical space rock of destiny in you right now, it's ok not to feel alright."
"It's called the All Spark," Sunstreaker pushed his brother to give him a chastising look and open up space closer to Erin, "and Hatchet said it shouldn't affect organic lifeforms as it would us." He looked down at Erin with a soft gaze. "It's good to have you back with us, squishy."
"If you three are going to swap paint or anything, warn me so I can leave first." Jazz called from his side of the room. Erin gaped at Jazz's upfront comment. She'd grown used to the mech's depressive and allusive attitude. It seemed that part of his personality was a distant memory.
"And now would be the time to tell you everyone knows Bluestreak caught us kissing." Sideswipe muttered, appearing more amused than upset.
"Everyone?" Erin asked gravely.
"Yup. As far as I know, every mech and human has heard it." The silver mech looked far too calm for the situation.
Of course, after everything Erin did and survived, that was how she was going to lose the twins. "When's my court-martial date?" She deadpanned. The higherups in the military would want her stripped of rank, fake or not, the moment they found out there was just a chance she was in a relationship with Autobots.
"Easy now." Sunstreaker, catching her change in demeanor, knelt in front of her berth. He wrapped a servo around her shoulders in a protective gesture, one which Erin greatly appreciated. "Lennox told the upper echelon of fleshies it was just a rumor. They aren't taking it seriously."
A frown pulled down Sideswipe's lip plates as he seemed to read the room. "He's right, Rin You shouldn't worry."
"This is all my fault." Erin croaked; her throat still sore. "I wasn't thinking straight." Technically she was, but she didn't think she'd have to live through the consequences of that decision.
"Rin?" Sideswipe's voice sounded miserable. "Do you regret kissing us?"
"What?" Erin was yanked from her internal thoughts at the mech's question. "Oh, Sideswipe." She breathed, reaching forward in an invitation. He got on his knees next to Sunstreaker and rested his faceplate against Erin's palm. She stroked it, knowing the mech needed to be soothed. "No, I don't. Look, this is all really, really complicated and there's a lot going on right now."
"We can go until you're ready to talk." He replied, still looking uncertain and sad.
"No!" She answered louder than intended. Seeing Sideswipe put down like that hurt too much. She wouldn't dare send him away. "No. Please, stay. I promise I don't regret it. And I'm not worried about the three of us as much as I am about how others will perceive it. I could get shipped off if the wrong people find out."
"We wouldn't let that happen." Sunstreaker replied tensely.
"Enough about that right now." Dwelling on it wouldn't get them anywhere. "Are you two ok? Last I saw you were both unconscious."
"We're fine." Sunstreaker replied, allowing for the change of topic. "I was only offline for a few clicks. This fragger over here tried to touch an unstable the All Spark and the energy wave knocked him into stasis, but there was no damage." Sunstreaker pointed accusingly at his brother who was busy nuzzling Erin's palm, for all the world failing to look chided.
"At least I'm not the only one with a poor sense of self-preservation." Erin responded lightly, feeling comforted by the twins' presence.
"Gotta keep things interesting somehow." The silver mech answered cheekily.
"How's everyone taking what happened with the All Spark?" She continued.
Jazz took the opportunity to remind everyone he was still in the room and replied, "Prime managed to contain any information regarding the All Spark. Luckily, no other human saw me lose it. We couldn't hide the noise, but it seemed most assumed it was the twins acting up." He added without a hint of remorse, "Sorry fellas."
"It's no different than usual." Sunstreaker shrugged off the half-apology. "At least there aren't any meat bags calling for you to be dismantled."
Jazz added with a shit-eating grin, "It seems your relationship is bigger news."
"Well I'm so happy we could be the diversion you needed." Erin retorted, unamused.
"Rin… I-" Sideswipe was cut off as the med bay door slid open, far gentler than Sunstreaker had been. "Scrap. Looks like Hatchet caught us."
"Actually," Prime said as he passed the threshold, "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, could you give us the room?" He didn't leave space for argument.
Sideswipe looked like he wanted to say 'no' but Sunstreaker straightened, "Sure thing Prime." With a nudge, he got his twin moving. He gave Erin a quick look. "We'll be nearby if you need anything." He waited until Erin nodded in acknowledgment, then left, dragging his brother.
"Prime." Erin greeted tensely as he closed the door behind Prowl.
"I suppose you go by Agent 56?" He responded, tone unidentifiable.
"Just Erin." She replied, hating the sound of her label. "I don't work for Division anymore. But pleasantries aside, I'm guessing you want to finish our conversation from before." She tried her best to put on a façade of the agent in control. But they both knew Erin had little power.
"Why did you reveal yourself?" Prime demanded, cutting to the chase. "You didn't have to give us your data in person." His voice, finally revealing emotion, was a combination of frustration and perplexity.
"Betraying Division is a death sentence." She replied truthfully. "I didn't want to spend my last days on the run." She didn't add that she wanted to spend as much time with the twins as possible.
"Why tell us anything then?" He continued. "You seemed convinced Division would no longer be a threat to us."
He had a good point. That was something Erin had considered doing. "It wasn't a guarantee," she reasoned, "you need to know everything if you're to be ready for any kind of retaliation. And knowing how anal Prowl can be, I'm guessing you have already put measures in place."
Said mech tensed his door wings but said nothing. Jazz, having moved away from his berth and to his friend, snickered no so subtly.
Ever the diplomat, Optimus ignored Erin's jab. "Why betray Division in the first place?"
"Because I hate those bastards and lost my patience." She replied, voice dripping with animosity. It was freeing. How often could she openly say those things?
"And this has nothing to do with the twins?" He prompted.
Erin prickled at the mention of them. She didn't like the way Prime was bringing them up in the conversation. "Why didn't you tell them?"
"I wanted to know what your intentions are first." He reasoned; though Erin got the sense he wasn't telling her everything.
"I think it's pretty clear what my intentions with the twins are." She answered, eyes narrowed.
He nodded, seeming to gather his thoughts before quickly shifted the topic. "You have the All Spark in you right now and we can't let it simply leave." He added in a lighter tone, "I hope we can work together, especially if you have information on the Decepticons. In exchange for your aide, you would be allowed to remain here with your current alias, with a few reasonable restrictions."
That sounded too good to be true. "Hmm, a safe harbor from my would-be assassins on a militarized island." She thought out loud. "Not the worse deal. And peace here wouldn't last long if anyone else found out about my past, so I know that secret is safe." But what is the catch?
"That would stay between the four of us," he assured, "as long as you cooperate. And none of us will interfere with your relationship with the twins either."
Erin paused. So that was his angle. "I see." She shot him a steely glare. "Use my relationship with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to keep me compliant. I didn't think you had it in you, Prime."
"What?" That one sound was the most dangerous she'd ever heard from the mech. The message was clear, 'choose your next words carefully'.
But she was too emboldened to back down, so she pressed. "You know exactly what I mean. All they are to you are a pair of tools. Weapons to be pointed at an enemy or assets to manipulate. The Autobots give them nothing in return. And here you are using them as a bargaining chip."
"And how is that any better than what you're doing?" He retorted.
"I actually care about how they feel." Erin barked back.
"Why don't we all cool down here." Jazz jumped forward, planting himself between Prime and Erin. He wasn't much of a wall, considering he only stood at Prime's waist. "No one wishes any ill will against the twins. Besides, we have a good deal on the table here. Erin works as an informant and can continue the life she was living on the island. She also gets the medical care she needs while we probe the situation with the All Spark. Win-win, right?"
"Right." Erin forced a deep breath and held her hands up in a gesture of surrender. Jazz had a point, there was nothing to gain from arguing with the Autobot leader. "What are these restrictions you mentioned?"
Primed seemed to have cooled as well, though his voice was still sharp. "All activity on your datapad will be monitored by Prowl. You are also to report to him every day. You will not make any actions regarding Division or the Decepticons without my approval."
Erin pointedly ignored the subtle shift in Prowl's features. It was as close to a smug expression as the mech seemed to make. "Seems reasonable enough."
"You will also be in the presence of an Autobot at all times." Prime added.
"What?"
He continued, "You are also to recharge in the med bay."
"That is less than reasonable." She stated, adding a hint of sarcasm, "as much as I love Ratchet's riveting company, is that really necessary?"
"This is as much for your safety as it is for monitoring the All Spark." He supplied. Contrary to what Erin said, it was a reasonable demand.
Jazz, from his spot between Prime and Erin, piped up, "From the looks of it, the kiddo here might have another berthing solution," he added an entirely unnecessary smirk in her direction, "would that be a reasonable compromise?"
"Why are playing matchmaker between me and the twins?" she muttered to him.
The mech countered, "Would you rather move in with them or Ratchet?"
"Point taken." She acquiesced before turning her attention to the larger 'bot, "I'd go with that compromise."
Prime appeared to consider Jazz's counteroffer. "Very well." It seemed the mech had trouble saying 'no' to his second in command. That was something Erin would need to explore, considering it was the second time the small silver 'bot saved her ass. "You are also being removed from the active-duty roster, considering your condition, that would be expected either way."
"And it gives you a good excuse to keep me here." She stated.
Prowl finally cut in, "Do you think we'd let the All Spark off this island?"
Knowing it would bug the Second in Command, she pretended not to hear him. "Is that all?"
"Those are the basic terms." Prime said simply.
"Then it looks like we have a deal."