Author's Note: I'm sorry for these being so short, but I'm having a writer's block right now. In fact I'm writing so many stories at the same time (a G1-based oneshot as well), that I'm having some trouble.
Chapter 6: A Bird Flies Once More
The medbay was quiet. Only Mediclarion's tools were buzzing softly. Red Alert was on the other side of the room, making sure that Mediclarion wasn't messing anything up. Mediclarion put one tool down and took another, moving to the other side to work on the half-Maximal's left arm.
"Don't worry, old friend... you'll be on your feet in no time." the medibot said quietly. He jumped a little when the door shifted. He turned around to look at Ironhide, who had just stepped in. The young Autobot walked up to him and looked at the body being reconstructed.
"What happened to him?" he asked. Mediclarion looked at him for a while and frowned. He put the tool down.
"Well, I think I know... do you see those burns in his left side? Only one weapon can do that kind of damage... it's the Energon Rifle, the third model. They're not made anymore, because it was too powerful and dangerous gun to possess. Only three Transformers are known to have it. A Decepticon called Dangerzone, but last time I heard about him he was dead. An Autobot called Wayfarer, but he hasn't done that... he's a Neutral nowadays. Then there's a Transformer, a mysterious creature. I've never seen him and everyone thinks he's only a legend. Nobody knows his name, either. Sigh... I suppose it was him." Mediclarion said and shook his head. Then he turned back to the Autobot-Maximal's body and got back to work. Ironhide decided to leave at that point and started towards the command center. He had quite a spook when Delta materialized in front of him. He told Delta what Mediclarion had said.
"So... the mysterious creature... NO! It can't be him!" Delta said with a tense voice.
"Who? What are you talking about?" Ironhide asked worriedly. Delta grumbled.
"We must go to the command center and tell Rodimus about this." he said and led the young Autobot around the base. Rodimus was in the room as he had expected.
"What? Quetzal was attacked by a Transformer you know? Who is it?" the present Prime asked. Delta drew a breath.
"As you probably know, a legend has been going on about a Transformer who has been appearing around the universe, randomly killing everyone he meets. I know that creature... he's an Autobot-Maximal as well. His name is Draco Primarius." he said. Rodimus' face had grown deadly serious.
"If that's the case, we're doomed. I've heard about him. He was an Autobot at first, but then he turned cruel. No one who has confronted him has survived, except Quetzal Grinder." he sighed. Then he shivered, grimaced and looked at Delta.
"I know him because he taught me during his Autobot times. He was a good being in those times... then, all of a sudden, his screws loosened to the breaking point. I haven't seen him after that. When we confront him, I'd like you to stay out of it. I will deal with him, and kill him if needed." he replied gravely.
"Now I'm going to tell you something."
Ironhide happened to look at him just then, and he startled when he saw that Delta was opening the locks of his face plate. When the plate was removed, Delta smiled wearily. He didn't look old, though he apparently was older than most of the Autobots there, and his face was shaped between round and angular. The features that caught Rodimus and Ironhide's attention were the odd markings on his cheeks. They reminded them of Hot Shot.
"Yes... he is my son. Please make sure he stays out of the battle, if I and Primarius start to fight. And don't bother telling him. He already knows who he is." he said quietly and placed the face plate back. Ironhide and Delta walked out of the command center and as soon as they were out, Ironhide realized a funny fact.
"Hey... if Hot Shot's your son and Blurr's your brother, doesn't that mean Blurr is Hot Shot's uncle?" he asked. A quiet chuckle proved that he was right. They both started chuckling, and after a while they were laughing out loud.
Medbay, Autobot HQ/Cliff City
Mediclarion and Red Alert had finished repairing Quetzal Grinder, and were about to bring him online.
"Everything ready there?" Red called. Mediclarion nodded and pushed a button.
"Processing... loading information... bringing online..." Mediclarion said monotonously. "Ready!"
A small flash occurred in the room as Quetzal's crimson optics activated. He stared at the ceiling for a while, and then lifted his left hand and touched his right arm. He lifted his gaze to look at the two medibots standing beside him.
"Red? Clar? What happened? All I remember is a black figure... How long have I been offline ?" the Autobot-Maximal asked, sitting up.
"Well, Delta just told us you were attacked by another of your kind, Draco Primarius. And to answer the other question: you've been offline for about two years." Red Alert answered. The Autobot-Maximal nodded and stepped on the floor. As soon as he did that, he fell on his right knee. Red Alert put quickly his hand against Quetzal's chest and with the help from Mediclarion, put him back on the recharge bed.
"It seems you have to stay here for a while. Mediclarion, you stay here. I will inform Rodimus that the bird's flying once more." Red Alert said and walked out of the door.
Chapter 7: Meeting Old Friends And A Visit
Delta was standing there, in the blazing light of the setting sun that made his white, silver and azure armor shine like it was on fire. Suddenly he saw a group of cars speeding towards the base. In the group there were three of them, and the leading one was red. The three got to the gate and three shouts of "Transform" were heard. Hot Shot, Prowl and Landquake were there.
"Well, what has happened back there? Wait... Blizzard City has been destroyed, hasn't it?" Delta asked from the red leader of the group.
"Yes. It was destroyed by a psychic Transformer. Only we survived." Hot Shot told him, looking around carefully.
"Calm down. The psychic's not here. I'm sure of that. Now, come in." when they were about to walk in, a shrill shout was heard from behind. Delta turned around to look at Prowl, who had almost been driven over by a black car. The car transformed, revealing a rather big Autobot who had a smile on his face.
"Volley! I thought you'd never get here! Well, your driving could've gotten you into serious trouble..." Delta said suddenly, taking the Autobot's hand.
"I did bump into a cliff on the way here. That's why I'm late. Grrr... I didn't notice that damn cliff because it was black and the background was white..." the black Autobot growled, his optics shifting between colors. Prowl looked at the Autobot curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked. Volley turned to look at him.
"I'm color-blind. I can't tell black and white apart." he replied with a serious tone. Prowl started grinning. Suddenly Landquake burst out laughing. Volley looked at the two with a frown. Then he just threw his arms up and puffed while shaking his head, turned around and walked through the doorway.
"That guy's pretty sensitive, isn't he?" Prowl asked, still grinning. Delta nodded and a faint flicker of his optics proved that he considered the situation funny, and that was pretty much. Delta wasn't usually amused by some funny things, but sometimes he let himself 'lighten up', as the humans say.
Later that day Quetzal Grinder was seen in the lounge room, talking with Volley. Both of them were grinning broadly. Hot Shot walked up to Delta.
"What's that all about?" he asked quietly. Delta frowned a little and his optics dimmed. After a while they lit up again, now with a merry overtone.
"They're discussing about the newest events. Heh... Volley just told Quetzal that Blitzkrieg's gone even more paranoid. Just a few days ago he had accused Odyssey Convoy of burning his quarters." Delta answered with a voice that was on the brink of going into fits of laughter.
"What?" Hot Shot asked incredulously. He had known those two long enough, but even if Odyssey's sense of humor was strange, he would never have gone that far.
"Yeah, that's what I heard. Ultimus himself had to interfere to keep old Blitz' off Odyssey. Neophoenix had apparently laughed so hard that he passed out."
"Oh brother... I would have loved to see that!" Hot Shot laughed. He left Delta to join two recruits in the target range. He had been given the order of teaching those two... who were none else but Grapnel and Roadster. Delta stood there with his gaze straying, thinking about his eventual confrontation with Primarius.
"If I go, I hope someone can be able to stop that terror. If I can't do it... our only hope lies within you, my sons." he shifted his gaze and looked straight at Bluejolt. Then he looked at his other son, the Seeker known as Nightfire. He shrugged and went to the corridor. There he suddenly collapsed next to the right wall, his senses suddenly blazing with... something. He had felt that before...
"Delta Silver, you must go The Fields. There are some people you have to get back." a voice said, beginning to explain everything. Delta passed out after the voice had left.
He woke up in the medbay. He looked to his side to see Red Alert talking with Mediclarion. He started to get up, and the noise alerted both medibots.
"How are you feeling?" Mediclarion asked.
"Well, except for a slight buzz in my head, I'm feeling just fine, Clar." Delta answered with his optics flickering.
"You gave us quite a scare when we found you lying there like a heap of scrap metal." Red Alert said with a smile. Delta nodded and got up, walking with determination towards the common room. He had some business in The Fields, where he had been two times before.