Chapter Two: Buddies with a 'Con

There was a specific part of the cave wall, full of dents, scrapes, and chipped rock. And that was courtesy of me. I didn't used to be the fighting type. But being out on my own, combined with all that happened the previous year, made me want to try harder. If I ever did return to the Autobot base, I wanted to be stronger than the confused, shy femme I'd left as.

So I kept punching at the wall. It wasn't load-bearing, so we were safe. 'We' being myself and Bulkhead's arch-enemy who had tried to kill us both on multiple occasions. But I believed in second chances.

I glanced over at the blue and orange mech. It'd been about three days, and he was barely conscious. His optics flickered on occasionally and he'd start mumbling something. But he was yet to regain his full strength. And then there was his arm…

The night I 'saved' him, I went to retrieve his arm, but it was nowhere to be found. Maybe I'd forgotten the spot I'd found him, but…I could've sworn it was there when I first brought him up to the cave.

Great job, Silver, I thought to myself as I punched the wall, You just had to save a random Decepticon. Y'know, the faction that's trying to kill us.

Just when I thought I couldn't be a worse Autobot, I had to go and save a 'Con.

I sighed, "It's official. I'm the biggest idiot on this side of the Solar System."

"Aw, don't be so tough on yourself, Sweetspark," A familiar voice spoke from behind me, causing me to instinctively shudder.

Every encounter we'd had previously had been…awkward, to say the least. I slowly turned my helm to see him struggling to stand already. Medic-mode seemed to overpower any fear I had.

I rushed over to him, "Whoa, whoa! You can't stand yet. You just woke up."

Breakdown shook his helm, "Megatron doesn't appreciate medical breaks." He glanced at me with his one good optic, "Something tells me I won't appreciate being turned into scrap metal." He paused, then taking a glance down at his arm - or where his arm should've been. "...That's different."

I froze, "I-I'm sorry. I couldn't find it, a-and you were losing energon fast, and-"

He cut me off, placing his one good arm on my shoulder.

"War is war, Sweetspark." He comforted me. "You did the best you could."

Backing up a little, I looked down, "Right. I'm sorry."

He tilted his helm, seemingly picking up on my tone. I quickly averted his gaze.

"So where's your angry sister and bug-boy?" He asked. It was obviously a dig, but surprisingly, it sounded like there was some genuine concern behind it.

I turned away and knelt down, starting to gather up my medical tools, "Arcee and Bumblebee are back at base."

Breakdown stepped closer, "Aaaaand you're not with them, because…?"

I paused. Could I tell him? Could I even bring myself to admit what I'd done to drive myself out of the team? It's not like he'd judge it. As a Decepticon, he'd probably even respect it. And like I kept reminding myself, I didn't have much to lose.

Standing up, I turned to the blue and orange Decepticon. He raised his optic ridge at me, tilting his head. Inhaling deeply, I tried to stop myself from shaking.

"I killed a teammate."

—

Meanwhile . . .

"You guys really couldn't find her?" Miko asked, taking a break from her guitar session.

Arcee didn't say anything. She simply shrugged. The disappointment of being so close, yet so far, was obviously getting to her.

Optimus took note of the blue femme's demeanour. He knew what it was like to face loss, more so than he let on to the team. But it'd be a lie to say he didn't still feel some guilt. Over the months, Silver Sun had become his responsibility. His opportunity for a second chance. If she died on the battlefield, it would be yet another death of an Enhanced that he'd caused.

"Arcee," He began in a soft tone, causing the femme to glance up, "Take some time to rest. Silver Sun may simply return to base when she's ready."

Arcee chuckled in disbelief, "Right. I'll just rest and pretend there isn't a huge chance that she's been captured, killed, or is running low on energon." She stood up straight to meet the Prime's optics "Our parents trusted me to look after her. And until I know she's safe, I'm not resting." She turned to walk towards the training room "But thanks for the concern."

The tired Prime watched and sighed as she walked away. He turned to Ratchet.

Optimus rose an optic ridge, "Is Bumblebee out again? What could he possibly be doing?"

Ratchet shook his helm "Primus knows."

"Probably pining for his missing girlfriend," Miko chimed in again. Optimus looked at her strangely, "...What's tripping ya up? 'Pining' or 'girlfriend'?"

"I say good riddance." An unwanted voice spoke from the medical bay.

They all turned to the bay to see Trailblaze groggily waking up. He looked pretty much the same as he had months ago. Though a deep slash mark now donned his chassis, causing the metal to pry open like a can of soda.

Miko rolled her eyes, "Oh great. You're up."

Trailblaze glared at her, "Why are you all so eager to find that freak after what she did to us?" He growled, "Lunova's still out cold, and Firestar is only leaving her room for energon. Silver Sun endangered all of us!"

"No." Optimus snapped, turning the annoying mech with a glare Ratchet had only seen a few times "You, Trailblaze, endangered the lives of yourself and your teammates through your actions. If even now, you're struggling to see that Silver Sun was pushed to her breaking point, clearly you have much more learning to do before calling yourself an Autobot again."

Optimus calmly strode away towards the hall. Miko and Ratchet were just thankful he was sedated.

—

Silver Sun's POV . . .

"So Airachnid did this to you?" I asked, taking a sip of energon as Breakdown explained the story. "I thought she was on your side."

Breakdown shrugged. "Megatron wanted a 'staff re-evaluation'. She didn't take it well."

I nodded along, but it seemed so strange to me. The Decepticons were 'deceptive', sure. But betraying one of their own… I chuckled, realising the irony of my own thoughts, given how I'd left the team.

The orange and blue mech tilted his helm, "What's funny?"

"Just…" I shrugged. "Thought of something ironic." I glanced up at him, raising an optic ridge. "It's weird seeing this side of you."

He looked shocked for a second. I could've sworn I saw a glimpse of blue in his yellow optics.

He smiled. "Well, there's not much time for polite conversation in battle. Given that this is the second time you've saved me, killing or capturing you would be kinda mean." He suddenly lit up "Hey, why don't you join the Decepticons?"

I froze. "...eh?"

"You're here alone and without an alliance." He began. "All you need is a new paint job, and they won't even recognise you."

Really? Was it that simple? It sounded like an insane idea, but…then again, what if I did? I would be on the side of the enemy, trusted by them, given access to information that could help Team Prime.

If I could help my friends…would being a Decepticon really be that bad?

I nervously shrugged. "Well…what would I need to do as a Decepticon?"

—

End of Chapter

Well that was fun to write! So we're getting the vibes that Trailblaze might not be as great as he originally seemed. But what could he have done that resorted in Silver going 'Enhanced mode' on him?

Find out (maybe) in the next chapter…or whenever I decide to write it in.

Oh, and Silver becoming a 'Con? That's gonna be a wild ride.

Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for the next chapter!

Til All Are One,

Greyrose Legacy