Thankfully, I had only bruised a rib. Still hurt like the dickens though. Ratchet had ordered me to bed for some rest. I heeded his request without question.
I groaned a little as I sat on the bed, my injuries protesting the action.
"Standing hurts, now sitting hurts. I bet laying down won't be much better." I muttered under my breath.
[Siege:What's wrong?_]
"Just sore," I gradually laid back.
[Siege:Understandable. We hit that wall at more than 20 miles per hour. You more than likely would have been killed if you had hit your head_] His message popped up as his tail tip flicked calmly. I scratched behind his ear, earning a look of satisfaction.
"And I will always be grateful for what you did," I paused, and Siege released a sound akin to a sigh.
[Siege:What is your question?_]
"What, exactly did you do? It all happened so fast."
[Siege:I can manipulate my form more so than other Cybertronians. I used that to form a protective suit around you_]
"Wow. So what made you chose this form?" I asked, patting his shoulder.
[It was simple, yet useful. I can change any time I wish. But, I have grown to like it_]
"Fair enough. But," I paused, "If you can chose any form, why just a box?"
[Siege:Who would assume a plain old box was anything but what it was?_] I nodded my head back and forth a little.
"Okay, I can see that." I scratched the back of my neck before stretching as far as my injuries would allow.
[Siege:And you call me a cat_] He rolled over and curled up.
"'Kay, I'm not the one with a tail. Also I don't purr." I leaned forward and was about to poke him right between his spinal plating.
[Siege:I wouldn't, if I were you_] I pulled back a little, scowling at the fact that he caught me before still poking him. He jumped and yowled in annoyance while spinning around.
"Pesky cat." I snarked. His eyes were narrowed to slits as he glared at me.
[Siege:Touch me again. See how pesky I can be_] I raised an eye brow.
"You wouldn't hurt me."
…
*Crash bang*
"AH!" Renegade shot up from where he was laying, looking down at my room as muffled shouting came from it. "Get away you crazy cat!" A short pause, followed up by a yelp and another crash. "Then why do you look li-OOF!" The door to my room slammed open and I skidded out on my back, Siege's paws planted firmly on my chest as he tackled me to the ground. A low growl rumbled from his throat as I held my hands up. Renegade reached down and plucked the relatively smaller bot off of me, allowing me to breathe again.
[Siege:Put me down! I'm not done tearing into him_]
"Calm yourself." Came Renegade's simple response. We all knew Siege wouldn't actually hurt me, so he was rather casual about it.
[Siege:He called me a weak human pet! I'll show him who's weak!_] I stood up, straightening my shirt. Thankfully, he hadn't put his full weight on me, so he hadn't hurt me anymore. Renegade lifted Siege up to eye level.
"He is under my protection. No harm will come to him while I have a say in it." Siege growled, his tail lashing wildly with a sharp whistle as his ears nearly melded into his skull.
[Siege:I'll make sure you can still recognize him when I'm done. Just need to teach him a lesson…_]
'Okay, so he wouldn't kill me. Maim me? Up for question.'
"You done, Siege?" He shot a glare at me before nodding. "Good, you can let him go now Renegade." Renegade nodded and set the other bot down. That's when I grimaced and my hand went to my chest.
"Neal? Did he aggravate your injuries?"
"Ratchet gave me some pain meds. I'll take some and be fine." He gave me a look like he didn't believe me. "Renegade, seriously, I'll be okay. I may not be 40 feet tall and made of steel, but us humans are surprisingly durable. Our 'squishiness' actually saves us from more severe injuries. Plus, we're a lot lighter than you would be if you were our size. It helps keep us mobile." I bounced on my toes lightly.
"Alright. Just be careful."
"You know I can't promise that."
««{{2 Days Later}}»»
"Hey, Renegade, have you seen my mom? She's not in her room."
"Your mother has already left, Neal. She said she wanted some time to herself to explore the base." I pondered on that for a second before shrugging.
"No surprise there. She's probably trying to adjust to all of this still. All of the bots on the base are aware of her, right?" Renegade nodded.
"Of course. I sent a databurst to the entire base. She will be okay on her own and no one should bother her too much."
"That's good. Shall we?" Renegade set his hand down, allowing Siege and I to hop on. He stepped out of the room before walking out of the building. He allowed us to hop off his hand before he transformed and we stepped inside. I sat down on the bench behind his driver seat, and Siege curled up next to me. Renegade rolled out of base with a short honk at the guard. Only a minute of driving later, and I felt Renegade shift lower on his axels.
"Renegade, you okay?" I asked.
"I am. There is…a lot riding on my pauldrons right now. I requested to leave the base because I needed some time to think. Away from the Autobots." I straightened up a little more when he hesitated in continuing.
"Wwwhy, what's going on?"
"There were the expected hostilities with my switch from the Decepticons to the Autobots. But I feel that they may try and abuse what I am. What I can do." I sat back as I looked down in thought.
"Ratchet doesn't trust you as far as he could throw you. Optimus has a little doubt, but he's giving you a chance. I'm unsure about anyone else." I looked at his dash, the closest thing I had to looking him in the eye. "Renegade, if we need to leave, if you don't feel comfortable being here, I have no objections."
"I couldn't ask you to do that." I scoffed openly. He was more concerned about me and my family than his own wellbeing. The stubborn Bot.
"Well we can't go home. My dad is on his way to the base because the Cons are probably keeping an eye on our house. We have nothing tying us to the base, or the Autobots. We are here because you needed help." There was silence, except for his engine.
"I have put your family in grave danger." There was an undertone of horror in his voice, and I dashed it immediately.
"My father is in the military. It comes with the territory." I said flatly, unwilling to move on the point, "Besides, Soundwave already knew everything about me. He was going to find you sooner or later. I just…sped up the process."
"I still don't like you being in that Decepticon's radar." I glanced out the window, only to do a double take.
"LOOK OUT!" I ducked away from the window as a fighter jet, flying low to the ground, transformed and smashed into us. Renegade let out an animalistic snarl as his bus form exploded into shifting parts. Siege latched his four legs around me, shielding me as our world spun wildly. We landed roughly on the ground as the two titans scrambled for purchase on the desert sand. Siege planted himself between me and the fighting, nudging me.
[Siege:Are you hurt?_]
"No worse than the last scuffle." He nosed me to my feet.
[Siege:Come on we need to hide_]
"Right." There was no getting in a firefight for me. Not with Ratchet still venting. Siege and I ran towards a rocky outcropping, only to freeze when another bot slammed down in front of us.
"Soundwave will enjoy meeting you in person," It rasped. I took a few steps back as Siege's back plates rose. "What's this? A Minicon? How cute."
[Siege:Show you cute, you pompous rusted-Move!_] Siege and I barely dove out of the way of a bullet the size of my head planting itself deep into the earth. Siege roared before charging, guns popping out of his shoulder blades and pelting the Con.
"Ah! Annoying pest!" The Con swung at Siege, who nimbly leaped out of the way. The Con opened fire on him, but Siege was simply too small and quick. I took off in the opposite direction, trying to gain even a little distance. A shout came from the Con, and when I looked over my shoulder, Siege was blurring across the desert towards me.
[Siege:Hop on!_] He stopped next to me and I scrambled up his back.
[Siege:Grab these and pull your legs up_] The guns on his shoulders changed to simple handles. I snagged them and held on for all I was worth.
[Siege:Hold on!_] We were off like a shot, accelerating so fast I nearly lost my grip. I tightened my hold on the handles and tried to press closer to his body, ducking my head against the wind. The whirring of Siege's hydraulics and motors kicked into high gear as he tore across the desert. I looked back to see the Con behind us, now in its jet mode.
"There's no way we can outrun that!" I shouted over the wind. Siege's ears angled back to catch my voice.
[Siege:I'm buying Renegade time! Lean left!_] We both leaned in the same direction, his claws digging deep trenches in the sand as we curved away from the jet's path. I heard the Con scream a swear before looping around. Thankfully, we could turn far faster than it could.
"If we head into that canyon, they'll have to change back! I don't think it's wide enough for their jet form!" I called out, pointing to the rocks that Renegade had been driving towards. It was the same canyon Renegade and I had first met the bots in. Siege turned towards it.
[Siege:We won't make it like this! Hold on!_] He leaped high into the air before his legs shifted, forming into a set of four wheels. His body shifted a little to accommodate the change, which made his back form into more of a seat. I tucked in as we hit the ground once more, sand flying high.His body screamed as he pressed forward, pushing himself till it sounded like he was at his limit. We had to have doubled our speed from just a second ago, and I had to keep my eyes closed to avoid win and sand burn. The sounds around me only grew louder as we entered the canyon, Siege's body roaring along.
He found a small alcove and rolled into it. I shakily slid off his back, watching as he lifted one wheel and changed it back to its original paw form, only to repeat it for the other three. The last one took him a few tries to change it fully back. Then he collapsed against the sandstone floor, his body hissing and wheezing. I dropped to my knees next to him.
"Are you okay?!"
[Siege:Body overheating. I'll be fine_]
"You pushed yourself way too hard." I said, even as I saw steam or smoke coming from his upper spine area.
[Siege:Had to keep you sa-LOOK OUT!_] Siege lunged for me, knocking me out of the way of a giant hand. Siege smacked into the wall with a loud crash and a cry of pain.
"SIEGE!" I started to run over to him, only for a foot to plant itself on his back legs.
"Ah-ah-ah, little fleshling." I froze as Siege's claws dug into the ground, trying to free himself. "We wouldn't want your little pet to get hurt, would we?" My face paled as I held my hands up.
"No! Don't!" The Con laughed, throwing his head back.
"It feels so good to have someone under foot! No wonder Megatron keeps Screamer around like a Minicon himself!" He leaned forward, and I flinched at the pained sounds coming from Siege. "Now, be a good little fleshy and come quietly."
"Okay! Okay, I-I will! But you have to promise that you won't hurt him!" Siege's eyes widened, the purple lights glowing brightly.
[Siege:Neal! No!_]
"Well," The Con started, only for a cannon to go off behind him, clipping his shoulder and making both of us look. Renegade was charging his way down the canyon, firing from his arm cannon that I didn't even know he had.
"Decepticon!" He roared.
"Eh?! Hold it right there, traitor!" The Con shouted, "Unless you want to see the Minicon get flattened!" Renegade slowed to a stop, assessing the situation.
"Release them, at once." Renegade's growl rolled through the canyon.
"And surely be killed? Ha! Nice try! I'm taking the human and leaving with my Spark intact. Try anything, this one gets it."
"Renegade, stand down!" I called out, ready to panic.
"I can't do that Neal," His gaze unwavering from the Con.
"Yes, you can! I can't let either of you get hurt because of me! Not like that!" Renegade's eyes widened and he looked at me, catching my meaning. His gun shifted lower, before falling to his side. The Con laughed again.
"Oh, this is going to be a databurst to the entire Con army! Deserter and traitor is stopped by the threat of harm to a Minicon and fleshy! Hahaha!"
"Shut up! At least someone cares about him!" I shouted, only to flinch when the Con's red eyes snapped down to me.
"Bold of you to assume such, worm," He turned back to Renegade, who had a hand partially out stretched towards me, as if trying to grab me from where he stood. "I'll be taking the fleshy now. Don't follow me or I squash him. Like this!"
He stomped down, flattening Siege's back legs. The Minicon let out a cry that matched the wails of the damned as it echoed throughout the canyon. Energon leaked out from under the foot, the bright blue standing out against the tan sandstone.
"NO!" I could only stare in horror before the Con roughly scooped me up, holding me in a tight grip.
"Goodbye, traitor!" The Con laughed. I threw my arm out towards Siege, calling his name. He lifted his head, as painful as it must have been, and looked at me. The Con jumped in the air, collapsing around me and throwing me into his pilot seat. A five point strap lashed around me, locking me in place. The engine behind me powered up and we shot into the sky. I felt the G-forces, and black spots formed in my vision as the Con carelessly rocketed towards the horizon.
"Siege…" I could only stare out the window as Renegade ran over to the damaged bot. Tears fell down me cheek, seeing my newest friend injured, possibly killed, brought my nightmares to reality.
Darkness slammed down as I lost consciousness.
*Peaks around corner*
…I had to. Sorry. No story has a real sense of danger unless someone close to the protag is injured or killed. I'm just glad I like Siege too much.
But I've killed off characters I've liked before…hmm…
Stay tuned I guess! XD
~Silverleone