The first flashback started a chain reaction.
Everything hurt. My limbs refused to move, unless… they were unable to. Something internally struck my heart painfully. A scream escaped my lips in reaction. Where was I? What was happening? Who was hurting me?
A sharp instrument dug deep into the soft flesh of my thigh. Another scream ripped at my somehow already sore throat. Two sets of familiar eyes appeared in the inky blackness surrounding me. I couldn't help the pure terror ripping through me at the sight.
None of my limps would move to fight against the two who did this to me. Cyrus drew back the blade and both of them watched blood dripped to the floor off of the blade.
The darkness around me was replaced by an all too familiar room. Cold concrete walls lined the walls, ceiling, and floor, not allowing any space for escape. Dirty, disgusting blankets were piled off in one corner, acting as bed for the only occupant in the cell. Just like a prison cell, a metal toilet and sink sat in the opposite corner.
Everywhere in the cell was dirty, nothing was new, causing come sicknesses to kill off a few of the soldiers kept in them.
Pain ripped through my arm as Cyrus dragged the knife along the appendage. Tears poured down my cheeks. I couldn't move, I felt frozen in place and couldn't stop Cyrus from continuing his torture.
This wasn't a memory though. That was for sure. Yes, the cell was how I remembered it but him stabbing me while I was in my 'room'. No, he wouldn't do that. If he wanted to teach me a lesson, he would take me to the arena and easily defeat me. No one could beat him at his own game, that's why it was more like a beating than training.
His and Rue's image morphed into something worse. Four clearly dead bodies lied out in front of me. A strangled gasp escaped me as my eyes observed the deceased humans. I knew exactly who they were.
On the other side of the horrible sight stood… me, present me too. Blood coated my claws, a sadist grin etched into my face, eyes staring deeply into mine: the real me. I ignored them though and focused on the bodies.
Zayden, Jeremy, Mia, and Jacob lied there, their eyes still open and looking blankly up at me. I sobbed, unable to handle the thought of them dead. Those four were all I had left in life. My friends and family from before only knew that I was gone, never to be found, changed into something I'm not.
I dropped to my knees, the only action that I could do. Everything hurt. Mentally, physically, emotionally. When will all this fighting end?! It's pointless! Why take innocent lives and turn them into monsters? Another sob racked my body, eyes clenched shut, and claws digging into the dirt.
"You're all but good, Azar. A monster, just to be used as a weapon for death, destruction, and chaos," my own voice wavered into the air but it wasn't me saying the truth. My eyes darted up to the origin, it was the double saying those words. "We all know it's true. You do as well."
"Shut it," I grounded out and dug my claws into the dirt. The double only chuckled and smiled sweetly at me. Anger rose up in me, burning energy warmed the tips of my fingers. "I said, shut it."
An invisible force pushed me back. I was unable to steady my balance and fell roughly onto my back. Pain sprung up from where my wings connected to my back. The air was knocked out of me as I gasped for oxygen.
The double leaned over me, talons on her feet wrapped securely around my waist. Her hand rested on my sternum, coincidentally where the weird feeling had settled. Not a word from her as her claws began to slow dig into the thin scales.
For the third time, none of my limbs wanted to move to retaliate against her attack. The fiery energy turned stone cold in fright as I could do nothing but lie there. I had an urge to protect the feeling but no limb would listen. I tried to fight, nothing worked and all it created was fear, pure fright.
My talons scraped against something metal as I fought to get to my feet. Energy expelled from my hands, releasing a huge amount of power. The sound of crashing waves then crackling of ice caught me off guard.
Everything hurt, worse this time. The thawing of my scales; the fresh memory of a nightmare; the confusing clash of emotions. I fell to my knees in agony and claws stabbed at my scalp. "Make it stop!" I begged and felt tears drip. "Please." Is someone even in the room with me? Did Ratchet get back? I internally prayed he did so he could do something to help me.
I heard a semi-familiar noise of a robotic being to my left but couldn't focus on it. A wave of pain passed over me, ever-so slowly, drawing a scream out of me. "Stop it!" Bile crawled up my throat. Tears continued to pour down my cheeks as degrading words were shouted and spat at me. All said by the same two people who tortured me.
Outside of the shouting going on in my head, I barely heard the muffled words of another speaking. A male and… robotic sounding. Was it Ratchet? Was it my way out? I tried to push away the yelling and wanted his voice to draw me out from this state.
As if the shouting voices were attached to me, they continued on, calling me the same damn things: a monster, a murder, a killing machine. I sobbed harder and tightened my grip. The energy returned, luckily not in the same amount force it had. Nevertheless, it was building up again.
The shouting match going on inside of my head marched forward with no sign of stopping. Ratchet's voice could no longer be heard, drowned out. Now, no hope for calm in this raging sea.
My chest tightened, the muscles contracting and made it hard to breathe. I force open my eyes and search for something to focus on. Ratchet stood close, seeming unsure of what to do. His mouth was moving, reminding me that he was trying to talking to me. "H-help," I begged and reached out with my hand.
Tears prickled the corner of my eyes. A cry escaped my lips and I curled back into a ball. Ratchet finally acted and scooped me off of the table. At first, I freaked out, scared of being forced into a small place then calmed down.
His voice began to filter through the shouting, helping me through this episode. I latched onto any metal plating in reach and held onto him for dear life. "You're… Midnight… fine." His words were broken up but I understood the message.
Time seemed irrelevant as the two of us sat/stood there in the Med. Bay for however long it took for the voices to fade away. The tightness in my chest went away with the shouting but left behind sore muscles and the tingling running through my arms.
"How are you feeling, Midnight?" Ratchet voice was now clear and the only noise I could hear in the hangar. The prickling in my fingers was still there since I haven't released the built up energy. I was also tired, again. Other than those two things, I was feeling much better.
I timidly stood up on shaky legs and gazed up at him. "Better. I just… Thank you for… helping me." After leaving Aztec, I was alone, no one to help me during any of those episodes.
A kind smile its way to his face. The bot took me over to where he usually worked and set me down next to a few of his tools. His work area seemed a little disturbed and it reminded me of what happened early, possibly yesterday. "Of course. If you need anything from me, just ask." I smiled in returned, showing him a sign of vulnerability.
Our conversation ended there. The bot went to work on a few things and muttered to himself about it. I glanced over to the huge icicle spikes sticking from the ground. It was also in Ratchet's way, causing guilt to grow inside of me. The same energy from before prickled painfully at my finger tips, wanting to be released.
The ice glistened from the sunlight filtering through the hangar door's. I forced the ice to disappear and took in the energy once more. Some of the original energy that was used was lost which aided in lessening the pressure. Ratchet smiled at me again in appreciation. I sat there next to him, observing what he was doing. Well, until I got bored and flew to the rafters. Being high above everything was relaxing to me and gave me pride to be this high. Ha, I'm higher than any of the bots.
My wings lazily hung unfurled below, a gently breeze moving them. I sighed content and relaxed at the moment after what happened early this morning. A stutter racked my body at the thought of early. I was beyond thankful for Ratchet being there because things would have definitely turned for the worse.
Later on in the day, the familiar form of William enters the hangar with his buddy in tow. His eyes scanned over the hangar but he seemed to come up empty handed. "Where's Azar?" he questioned to Ratchet. How did he not see the two twelve foot long wings hanging from the rafters?
Said bot turned to face the two and furrowed his brows. "Who's Azar?" Right, Ratchet wasn't there to listen to my integration.
"Oh, right. Um, Midnight. Midnight isn't her real name, Azar is. During our meeting, she explained a few things and told us about that," William explained. Ratchet nodded his and motioned towards me up in the rafters, observing their conversation. "Oh, didn't see you there. Anyway, we need your help. We possibly found a Jasper base."
I perked up at his statement and glided down to land in front of him. Robert took a step back in shock and a smirk graced my lips. "Happy to help." I stood tall, shoulders back, and ready to take on any Jasper or Decepticon soldiers.
"I don't think so, Midnight. Your hip isn't fully healed yet," Ratchet interjected. Yes, he was correct about my hip but it was healed enough to fight if need be. "You won't be going out to fight until it's healed."
"But Ratchet, I'm fine. It won't take much, just a little slash-slash and pew-pew of my powers," I countered and needed to get off of this base and use my abilities.
"We aren't in any hurry to go and charge the base. We were planning that in a week once we get a plan of attack, we'll attack then," William explained.
"I'll be ready by then." It's been less than a week and my hip was almost completely healed, it would be healed.
"Alright, see you around, Azar." With that, the two left to go do their own thing. I gazed back at Ratchet as he stared at me with interest and confusion.
"Azar?" And that's when I began to tell the same story Ratchet to catch him up. I felt safe enough to do so with him. He hasn't shown any sign of evil intent, quite the opposite.