Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything connected with Beast Wars.
Author's note: Thank you for your reviews past and future. They are very helpful things. I remind you that I work for you. Complaints and suggestions are very much welcome. BTW this is no ordinary chapter ;P. It will all (probably) start to make sense later.
Silver Dawn's author's note:
To my readers,
I realized yesterday that I am so self-centered! I have written two chapters of this story already and there was hardly anything but what I did in them. I'm sure the dear reader doesn't want to hear about insignificant little me, especially when there are so many more important bots in this story. I just wanted you to get to know me, to know what kind of bot was narrating for you. But please DO forgive my absent-mindedness! I'm still young and learning. And I'll try to focus more on the story itself.
Faithfully yours,
Silver Dawn
Chapter three
The edge of insanity
There's something strange about my spark. No, there are quite a few strange things about my spark but one of them is that it somehow… influences others. In peculiar ways. How exactly and why, I'm unable to explain because I have always refused to be "observed". But it is one more thing that has helped me during my professional career. I don't believe it's a coincidence that people are always so cooperative around me.
In fact, after I read all the information from Dr. Clearcut's computer I couldn't help but hope that the "doctors" would get really cooperative and self-strangle themselves until all their wires were severed. Because I knew I could not bring myself to do that to them and it somehow felt appropriate. It took all of my self-control not to rush directly to three particular cells and unlock them. But I knew I had to wait for the next night to fall before I could do anything. Meanwhile though…
"Rampage!"
The quiet voice carried trough the silence of both cells.
"Rampage!"
A moment's silence.
Then Depth Charge almost backed away and pretended he hadn't spoken at all. So cold was the voice that answered him.
"What do you want?"
What do I want?
Depth Charge must have smirked desperately at that question, though I can't be sure and it would be impossible to tell in the dark anyway.
What did he want? Current situation aside, it was a rather universal question.
I want to be selling oil in a bar light years away from here. As for now…
"Tell me." He said simply. "Tell me everything you want. How do you think I should have…"
He stopped.
Wait. Wait. Reality check. This is ridiculous. Why am I talking to him? What does it matter? Nothing will change now! None of us will change! So what if he wasn't always a monster? That didn't justify all the lives he took… Took?
"How do you think I should have protected you?" he quickly finished the question in order to silence a rather disturbing thought that was beginning to form.
In the other cell Rampage rolled his optics tiredly. He hadn't even realized he had said that out loud.
"Stuff it up your garbage disposal unit, Fish Face." he growled. "I'm not your counselor."
Rampage's feelings towards the Guardian were bitter to say the least by that time. But he was happy to have a conversation. And if Depth Charge gave up now…
But the former ray actually felt encouraged. The silence, which had lasted almost two weeks, had started to wear on his nerves.
"I'm just giving you an opportunity to speak! You're the one who claims to be the victim."
"Nothing of the sort! I…"
Rampage growled again. He wasn't sure he wanted to get dragged into this. Not a word between them for so much time and now this. He didn't have the energy for an argument but the damned Guardian was provoking him. He certainly didn't want to be viewed as a "victim" but in the end that was what he had meant.
"I'm too tired for this conversation right now and I get very little sleep as it is. I'll answer your question tomorrow." He said finally.
Depth Charge frowned.
"You'll answer tomorrow?"
"Well, yes, if I feel like it! Will you leave me alone now?"
Depth Charge didn't appreciate being cut off like that. Especially since it had taken him a while to make up his mind to begin the conversation in the first place.
Reluctant silence. Then suddenly…
"Erm... What time tomorrow?"
WHAT IN THE MATRIX POSESSED ME TO ASK THAT? Calm down, there's a logical explanation. I've been deprived from company for too long.
Rampage simply stared at the dark ceiling for about a minute. Then he shook his head.
"Same time tomorrow. Now bugger off."
"You'll have to alert me. My clock's malfunctioning."
"WHAT? You're insane. Let. Me. Sleep."
Depth Charge suddenly found himself in fits of silent hysterical laughter.
So I'm insane? Ha, I probably am. I certainly am already! I didn't know it felt like that.
"Goodnight." He blurted out.
"Goodnight?"
"Eh, err…"
So Fins has finally gone crazy.
"Why the slag would you say 'Goodnight'?"
"I didn't mean it! I wouldn't say 'Goodnight' to you!"
Rampage sighed and banged his head lightly on the floor he was lying on. Whatever was going on he was far too tired to deal with it now.
"It slipped out of my mouth!" the Guardian protested from the other side of the wall.
"Fine. Goodnight then."
"Good… Grrr, whatever!"
Stupid habit!
Rampage smirked absently, feeling a flicker of the old amusement return at the former ray's irritation. Then he went back to trying to go to sleep.
