This chapter ends abruptly, but it's just because I had to rewrite the ending and that extended how many words were in the chapter. Don't worry, next chapter is already written and will be uploaded tomorrow.
I'm sooooooo sorry if you guys hate me for this, but as I've said before, I'm new to the fanfiction scene. I'm kinda still experimenting with different writing styles so I apologise if I got the whole 'cliffhanger' thing wrong.
Have you seen my new profile picture? I took the energy to put more effort into it this time. That's what I imagine Silver Sun to have looked like. I'm not pretending to be an artist, but I am proud of that drawing :-)
Also, another thing that you should expect pretty soon in future chapters. In the story, I've been hinting for a while now that Silver Sun and Bumblebee like each other. And as a frequent Fanfic Reader, I realise that pairings gotta happen at some point in the story.
One more thing: I'm gonna put the rating for this thing up to T.
Enjoy
"The warrior, for us, is the one who sacrifices themself for the good of others."
- Sitting Bull.
Chapter Eleven: Arachnophobia, Rescue
"Silver!" Arcee yelled desperately into the monitor, "Please, answer me!"
Meanwhile, everyone else just stood around in silence, not really sure what they could do to help. They'd heard the exchange between Airachnid and Silver Sun and had all been stood in anticipation.
Bumblebee prayed that she was at the coordinates to be bridged back. Everyone waited in stony quiet, awaiting a reply from the other side.
But the mech's optics widened as he recieved another telepathic thought from Silver Sun.
I'm sorry.
Sil? He thought hastily, Wh-What are you talking-?
He was cut short as a booming noise erupted from the other line. There's no telling how long the group would've been frozen like that if a familiar voice hadn't reminded them they could fight too.
"Uh, HELLO!" Miko yelled at the Autobots, pointing clearly at the portal, "That's your cue to roll out!"
Optimus nodded, "Ratchet, activate the ground bridge to the coordinates."
The medic didn't need to be told twice.
In seconds, the bridge swirled open. Expectedly, Arcee was first to transform and drive through. The femme was a blur of blue and pink as she disappeared into the green sparks.
"Arcee, wait!" The Autobot leader tried to call after the femme, but she was already through the bridge.
Silver's POV . . .
The cavern . . .
It was just meant to be recon.
I never meant to make such a huge mess of everything. But here I was, lying on the ground in the burning rubble from the explosion of energon, struggling to convince myself that I could still escape. All I felt that I could do was count down the seconds until Airachnid came to finish me off for ruining her plan.
Unable to turn my helm due to the searing pain, I just stared solemnly at the slowly-crumbling ceiling, wondering whether the cave-in, the bleeding out or ruthless Decepticon would kill me first.
I wanted to just let myself fade there and then. My vision began to blur, a sign of my optics offlining. Maybe all that had happened was just Primus' way of saying I wasn't built for the war.
A sigh escaped me as I closed my optics, "Mom, Dad, I'm ready."
But then something...weird happened, even by my standards. I felt an uneasy, sensation around my spark chamber. Like it was forcing me to stay conscious. In my mind's optic, I got an image of what was going on.
The pain in my stomach area began to ease, not properly mend itself yet, but managed to numb the hurting so I wouldn't feel it as much. Realising I probably had little time to even have a chance of getting out, I steadily began to sit myself upright.
I covered the gash to stop the energon from leaking and looked around, trying to remember the direction the exit was in.
But as expected, I wasn't given enough time to think.
Airachnid's spider-like talon reached out from the darkness as a hiss came from the same direction. Instinctively, I shielded myself with my arm and looked away, but oddly enough nothing came afterward.
An irritated grunt came as the spider-con struggled against whichever piece of rubble that was restraining her. Glancing ahead, I saw Airachnid's purple optics glare in the darkness.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" She snarled, continuing to try and wriggle free of the fallen stone.
"Well, I'm still stuck in here with you so no, not really," I replied sharply.
Airachnid hissed, "You'd better hope I don't get out of here in enough time to tear out your spark chamber!"
Her yelling the last part caused me to edge away from her even more. But I didn't have time for a conversation.
Without saying another word, I slowly stood up, energon still bleeding from the wound. I looked at the now totally-demolished computer, then tried to remember where the exit was in relation. It would've been fine except for the fact that Airachnid was right next to it. And going there would've meant I was within her range.
I exhaled, "Scrap..."
The taunting voice came from the darkness yet again, "What's wrong, Silver Sun? I thought you wanted to leave."
I could picture Airachnid smirking in the darkness at my situation.
It was one thing to suddenly be killed, but another if you were made to wait. To stare into the malevolent optics of the one who was about to end you and know there wasn't any way to avoid it.
You know, aside from the shooting a Decepticon and that incident back at school, I believed I was good-sparked. Or at least I was on the right side of the war.
A mocking laugh echoed from the darkness, "You know I'll find a way out sooner or later. Why don't you just be a real Autobot and end me now? You have your weapons."
There it was again. That 'You gotta fight if you wanna qualify'. I knew I'd never overcome it, but it was still annoying anytime someone brought it up.
I glanced down at my servos, balling them into fists and transforming them into blaster-rifles. Staring at them for about a minute, I really considered doing it. I actually wanted to offline Airachnid in that moment then.
She'd hurt my sister.
She'd tried to kill my sister.
She'd succeeded in murdering Tailgate and countless other Autobots.
Didn't it make sense to stop her in her tracks there and then?
Looking back, I so wished that I was braver back then so I could've had the courage to offline her while I had the chance. If I had, it would've caused everyone a lot less pain. But I knew that Optimus wouldn't approve; Blatantly offlining a defenceless being was the Decepticon way, not the Autobot's.
A second laugh came, "Well, Sunny? What're you waiting for?"
Remember how I mentioned a few times about being bullied back at the academy? Well, calling me 'Sunny' was one of Firestar's favourite taunts while she'd shove me into a locker.
Instead of getting even more infuriated, I just sighed and transformed my servos back. I glared ahead at the purple optics.
"I'd send a prayer to the Autobot cause if I were you," I said, with a lot more solemness than I thought myself capable.
"And why's that?"
"Their values are the only reason you're still here."
No One's POV . . .
Further away from the dead end of the cavern.
Optimus, Bulkhead and Bumblebee continued on after Arcee, attempting to move as quickly as possible while avoiding any traps that the spider-con had set. Miraculously, none of them had been activated by the motorbike tyre marks clearly heading into the cave.
The scout looked directly ahead, vigilant blue optics scanning the path, "Optimus, look."
The Autobot leader followed where Bumblebee pointed to see that the cavern veered off in two directions, one left and one right. The tyre tracks seemed to disappear in evidence that Arcee had continued on foot.
"You and Bulkhead go to the right," Optimus stated, "I will scout the left path."
Nodding in understanding, the two mechs went right while the Autobot leader took to the other path. Bulkhead and Bumblebee moved with caution, but a slight awkwardness as both recalled what had been said earlier. The green mech was the first to speak up.
"Bumblebee," He began sternly, "Have you thought about what I said earlier?"
The scout ignored his friend, continuing a little way ahead of him, "The track's getting a little rocky. Careful where you're walking."
"Bee, I'm serious."
"So am I."
The Wrecker sighed, "You can ignore me all you want, but you gotta talk to Silver-"
"If she's ALIVE, Bulkhead!" The scout suddenly stopped in his tracks, turning back to his teammate and balling his fists, "Right now, making sure she's okay - that's the most important to me."
Bumblebee then span back around and continued along the path. His friend derisively exhaled behind him and followed. The tunnel led a little way further. Bulkhead accidentally bumped into the yellow mech as he stopped in front of him.
He didn't realise why until Bee pointed above them, where green acid dripped from the ceiling. In the puddle where it fell traces of energon were visible too.
"Arcee's?" Bulkhead stage-whispered to Bumblebee.
The yellow mech shrugged and shook his helm, hoping it wasn't who he'd thought. They were careful to manoeuvre around the acid and continued along the trail, which was now dotted with energon droplets. It led through from the narrow tunnel to a larger cavern, more of a mining operation, or at least the ruins of one.
Above them the ceiling appeared to have been broken away, bringing a little daylight to the otherwise twilight darkness. Both mechs were suddenly on guard as a strained groan came from further ahead. But they soon stopped in realisation of a blue form further ahead.
"Arcee," Bumblebee immediately ran over to the blue 'bot, catching her before she hit the ground, "Arcee, are you okay?"
She shook her helm, clutching her shoulder in agony and forcing her optics shut in response. Acid-green decorated a persistent wound in her arm. Still (being the stubborn 'bot she was) refused to admit the pain.
"I'm...fine, Bee," The Autobot said through clenched teeth.
"'Cee?" Bulkhead came alongside the yellow mech and followed in suite, "You alright?"
She nodded in denial, "Sil...she's in danger... we have to get to her."
Bumblebee carefully passed Arcee's form along to the Wrecker beside him. It was clear the acid had done something that the fighter wasn't thinking straight.
"Get her back to base. That wound's only gonna get worse if she stays."
"What about you?" Bulkhead asked, though he was half-scared to hear the answer.
As a reply, the yellow mech transformed his arm into a blaster rifle, scanning over the four splitting trails for any signs that might narrow down the search. He found one: some broken shards of energon from a crumbled cavern entrance.
Bee inhaled, trying to appear somewhat confident, "I'm going to rescue Silver."
The green mech's optics widened as he stood up, still holding an outcold Arcee, "You're not serious, are you?"
"Do you have a better plan?" Bee sighed, "I have to try."
Without another word, the scout began running towards the debris-littered tunnel. He couldn't just leave Silver there, not when he knew he could help her.
"Bumblebee! Wait!" Bulkhead called after the scout as he disappeared into the darkness, but sighed in frustration as it was made clear the scout wasn't stopping.
Instead, he activated his comm-link, "Optimus, Arcee is down. Bee's gone after Silver...alone."
"Understood," The Autobot leader responded comprehensively, "Get Arcee back to base. I will rendevous at his coordinates."
On the other side, Bulkhead could hear the revving of a truck engine. It was only a matter of arriving in time that concerned them both.
Silver's POV . . .
Again, I shifted in discomfort as I sat on the floor, trying to figure a way out. I stayed at a safe distance from Airachnid, but could still hear her attempt to break free from the stones.
The silence should've scared me. Actually, a lot should've scared me. But I was more disappointed in myself.
After all, I'd tried so hard to escape, only to lie in wait for my own end because I didn't have the spark to shoot an evil Decepticon.
"You know," Airachnid suddenly spoke up while I was thinking, "I never wanted to hurt Arcee."
I unintentionally scoffed, "So you're telling me you tortured her by accident?"
"No. But Lord Megatron gave the order to extract information. Had she told me what I wanted to know, her partner would've lived to see another day and she'd have been spared a great deal of pain."
What happened to Tailgate - in front of Arcee's own optics - had torn apart the sister I knew. Who she was now was different. She'd wanted to keep everyone at arms length, including me.
"What you did..." My servos balled into fists, "...it destroyed her."
"Good," Airachnid snapped bitterly, "Then she knows what it feels like."
I tilted my helm, "What do you mean?"
"I mean Autobots aren't innocent in this war. They've taken loved ones from Decepticons just as Decepticons have from Autobots."
"Well, I'm sorry if you got hurt, but Arcee never did anything like that."
"Are you always this naive?"
I shrugged, "Apparently."
She continued anyway, "Solstice. Next time you're thinking of how bad I am and how perfect Arcee is, look up Solstice."
I looked ahead of me in confusion, "You say that like I'm gonna get out of here."
"I say that because snuffing one Autobot spark today is good enough. Even if it isn't yours."
"What do you-? Wait..."
In the near distance, I could hear the stomping of metal feet against the rocky ground. Too heavy to be Arcee's, Bulkhead or Ratchet wouldn't run that fast and they weren't heavy enough to belong to Optimus. So it had to be-
"Bumblebee," I whispered, before leaping to my feet, "Bumblebee! Stop!"
"Silver? Hang on!" He replied, his steps growing even faster.
"No! Bee, don't come in here!"
I froze as I saw his silhouette at the entrance to the cave. It was a weird feeling: overjoyed to see Bee again, but at the same time scared for his life.
"Sil," He exhaled in relief, "Are you okay?"
"Bee, listen," I began, "Airachnid's near the-"
I couldn't finish the sentence as I felt myself once again become trapped by the strength of the spider web, pinning my arms against the wall behind me and covering my mouth so I couldn't talk.
"Silver!" He exclaimed, running towards me.
Through the webbing, I tried to call for him to stop, but he didn't understand. The sharp sound of blades drawn came from where Airachnid was. For a split second, I saw the reflection of a talon pierce through Bumblebee's chassis.
He stopped abruptly, optics enlarging in shock. Another talon sliced at Bee's arm as he grabbed it in pain. His servo transformed into a gun as he span around and blurrily shot towards where he thought Airachnid once. Once he stopped, the voice came again.
"Very good effort," She commended, "But you don't stand a chance."
I couldn't bear to see Bumblebee in pain. Not after he'd already been through so much in this war.
He tried to stay standing but quickly collapsed against the wall as my optics started to water. Airachnid laughed. There was Bumblebee - by that point my closest friend - struggling to stand, energon flooding from his chassis like a river. And she just laughed at what she'd done to him.
I felt that feeling again. The gnawing, impending, powerful sensation in my gut, rippling through my frame. This time, stronger than it had been before. Much stronger. My servos balled into fists as I forced my optics shut, trying to regain my self-control, but all I felt was anger...Pain.
A laugh echoed from in front of me, closer by this time, "Like I said: one is enough for today."
She'd found a way out. Another flinch came as I sensed her clawed servo roughly grab my chin, forcing me to look up. But I kept my optics closed for fear of what I knew would happen next.
"Look at me, Silver Sun," She scowled through gritted teeth, "I want you to remember this moment, right now."
The hissing of acid came, finding its way closer to me. It ebbed onto my cheek. I should've been in pain, but...I didn't care anymore. She could hurt me all she wanted, but now Bee had been dragged into this?
"Come now, Silver," She tightened her grip, "Let's see those white optics again."
She really did ask for it.
I couldn't contain the surge anymore. My optics shot open. As soon as they did, I felt the force sear from my frame. It'd been building itself up. All those years of repressing it further and further down had only increased its strength, like a sealed volcano building up the pressure of magma within itself.
Airachnid got the brunt of it.
I could only make out silhouettes through all the tiredness, pain and teary optics, but I clearly saw her fly across to the wall opposite. My frame could finally breathe again as the release of energy caused the spider webbing to tear away.
So much swam through my processor as it simultaneously ached from the movement.
But I couldn't rest for long.
Sprinting over to Bumblebee, I knelt beside him, "Bee? Please, please, please, stay online..."
He looked...actually, I don't think there's any one word that could describe what'd happened to him. His frame had darkened in colour, appearing more grey than yellow. His optics, though still online, were dimmer. Energon gathered as a pool around him.
Bumblebee's dulling optics found their way to me as I exhaled in relief that he was online, "S-Silver...You're okay..."
I nodded, "You need to stay with me, okay? Do not go into recharge."
"If y-you're alright...I'm alright," He stuttered, half-smiling under his battle mask, "Y...You need to...get o-out of here."
I shook my helm determinedly, "I'm not leaving you, Bee. You hear me? I...I can't leave you."
Bee shakily took his servo in mine, looking straight into my tear-stung optics, "You're...an a-amazing Autobot, Sil. I wish...I wish we had more time..."
"Don't say that, Bee," I told him, "W-We have time."
Did we?
No reply came. Bumblebee's optics began to dim, fading to a darker shade. My spark began to pound as the panic sunk in.
"Bumblebee! Please, wake up!" I called frantically to him, shaking his shoulder lightly.
No reply came.
Bumblebee, I tried reaching out to him, Please say something.
His spark beated. Faintly. Weakly.
I'd seen wounded Autobots before, in worse shape than this. But they were strangers. Of course I'd still felt sympathy for them, but it didn't come close to what I was feeling then.
Anger, Fear, Regret, Guilt. So many emotions boiled within me that I couldn't get my thoughts straight. There was no way for me to contact the team for help, or Ratchet for a Ground Bridge so the only thing I felt that I could do was pray to Primus that Bee would be okay.
"Bumblebee?" A familiar voice called from around the hallways: Optimus.
Glancing up, I saw the Autobot leader appear from the same direction Bee had, pistols out and ready to fight. His optics widened in terror as he saw the scout laying on the floor. Without hesitation, he rushed over to us.
"Silver Sun, are you alright?" He asked, all the while surveying Bumblebee's state.
I shakily nodded, unable to stop my tears. I tried to speak to tell him what had happened, but must've been too much in shock.
Without hesitation, Optimus sheathed his weapons and carefully lifted up Bumblebee's broken frame. I slowly stood up with him as he preceded to call for a ground bridge at the coordinates outside.
Both of us were praying that Bee could hold on until we got back.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
I silently followed Optimus through the Ground Bridge, staring at the floor all the while. The brightness of the base lights were a lot different to the dark and dingy cavern I'd spent a good portion of the day in.
The kids stood in shock, along with Arcee and Bulkhead as they surveyed Bumblebee's unconscious frame. I didn't want to look at him, not knowing that it was my fault that he was injured.
Raf ran down the steps near the kids' hangout as Optimus carried the scout past them.
"B-Bee?" The boy stopped as the Autobot leader reached the med-bay.
"Silver? Are you okay?" Arcee began, but I couldn't exactly process that at the moment.
For Ratchet, he immediately snapped into Medic-mode, swiftly going past the others and getting to work. I wanted to help, but honestly just couldn't think straight. And I knew Ratchet would tell me to get out of his work station before I could do anything.
"Quickly, set him down on the table," Ratchet ordered, getting his equipment, "By the looks of things, he has sustained massive energon loss, maybe spark failure."
Optimus listened, carefully laying Bumblebee down across the medical berth. Bee was still unconscious, his spark chamber continuing to leak energon.
He turned to the rest of us, "Bulkhead, take Rafael, Jack and Miko home. Arcee, tend to Silver Sun." He looked back at Bumblebee, "I will do what I can to help Ratchet."
Jack placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder, "C'mon, Raf."
Raf shook his head, "But, I-I wanna stay with Bee."
"He'll be okay," Miko added, but in a calmer tone than usual, "Ratchet's the best medic there is, remember?"
I knew she was right; Everything I'd learnt, I'd learnt from Ratchet. But even that knowledge didn't bring much comfort. My sister cautiously approached me. I continued to watch Optimus and Ratchet try to save Bumblebee's life. As she place a comforting servo on my shoulder I noticed she had a metal cast around one of her arms.
"Come on, Silver," She said softly, "Let's give them some space."
I didn't say anything. Just bowed my head and followed Arcee to the hallway. The revving sound behind us told me that Bulkhead had just left with the kids. My sister led me to the study, staying as silent as I was.
She didn't look at me as we walked into the near empty room. I knew I was being cold towards her, but a lot had happened that day and I was still working out how to process it.
"The back-up med kit should be somewhere around here," Arcee stated, looking through the shelves, "Where'd Ratchet put it?"
Taking a seat in the corner, I stared at the ground in front of me, where a stack of datapads remained - the same stack I'd been sorting that morning when Bee came in and asked if I needed any help.
My sister finally turned back to me, med kit in servo, "Okay. I'm not sure if it's been refilled since the last mission, but-"
She stopped as she looked up at me, optics widening. The kit she'd been holding moments before dropped to the floor. I gave her a questioning expression. Realising how she was acting, Arcee swiftly picked up the kit.
"Uh...sorry," She apologised quickly placing it down next to me, "I'm...gonna go get you some energon..."
I didn't even get a chance to ask her what happened before she sped out of the room, the door slamming loudly behind her. Then it dawned on me that I hadn't properly seen what I looked like since what'd happened. Carefully, I searched through the medical kit, finally locating a small mirror.
A wave of worry hit before I looked into it - half of me scared of what could've caused Arcee to be so shocked. I got my answer; A scar, running from just below my optic across part of my cheek. That wasn't a random injury. It brought back a memory...one that I'd rather would forget.
And Arcee recognised it too.
With confirmation that Bee and Sil should be together, I had to rewrite this whole chapter, which made it longer than it originally was, but it's at least finished. The next chapter should be up tomorrow (figured you guys probably didn't want to binge-read all of it in one day), so enjoy!