Hello one and all, thanks for checking in and giving Origins another go! I won't be leaving a yaoi warning in this one, but towards the end there is mentioning of interfacing and the action behind it as well. Just a heads up if anyone has an issue with me leaving it out.
As for the summary, Peter and Casper have found one of Shockwave's hidden labs somewhere in the depths of the Sea of Rust. Will they arrive in time to save their precious Caspian? And if so, will they have enough to trade for his care? But what are they willing to give up for the little sparklings life?
Remember, don't be afraid to comment and ask questions. I love to hear form my readers and fellow fan writers. X3
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.
MERCY
ORIGINS
Part 3
In the very center of a storm ridden Sea of Rust, two drones were struggling to face the forceful winds. A rust filled storm had engulfed the area earlier that afternoon, and if either of the duo had any sense they would have turned back and sought out any nearby shelter. Caution to their own safety was tossed to the high winds that threatened to shut down their respiratory systems, because it was a necessary risk for the benefit of their loved one.
"How's he doing?" The flyer of the small group asked his grounder counterpart; raising his vocals so he could be heard through the tarp wrapped around his helm. The Vehicon he had addressed was wearing a tarp similar to his but was also holding a bundle of rags and mesh which he clung to the front of his armor with delicate might.
"He's still shivering." The grounder answered with the same volume in his voice but spoke louder when the wind strengthened in front of them. "The sooner we find the lab the better! Caspian can't last much longer out here!"
"Get down!" The other drone gasped as he covered his friend with the length of his cape like tarp. Gently, he guided himself and their ward to kneel on the ground when a gale blundered around them. The sound of granulated rust clicked and hissed off any exposed armor and occasionally burned their wires as the toxic sand seeped through transformation seams. Quiet whining beneath their arms alerted them that the whirlwind had dissipated, followed by a collection of weak dry coughs. The Vehicon swaddled his little ward closer to his chassis and restrained himself from crying as well.
"Hang in there Casper…" The Eradicon cradled his arm over his distraught friend and nuzzled their helms together. "We will get Caspian to the lab, and he will get better."
"Primus willing… I pray so Peter." There was no time to dwell longer on the collective pool of dread in their sparks. Casper pushed through his emotions with the same amount of force he used to push through the rust storm. The strong voice of his friend lingered in his helm, and it helped encourage his pedes to move. We will be there soon, Casper repeated over and over again, we will be there soon, we will be there soon.
"Master Shockwave? Do you have a moment?" A Miner drone approached the large scientist with his usual amount of caution. When Shockwave was occupied with one of his long term experiments, he rarely appreciated being disturbed. But the news his servant had to deliver appeared to require his leader's attention.
"Your timing is appropriate. I have finished my greatest task just now." The giant cyclops lowered himself from his rigging set around a large gate. It was a large round frame constructed for his latest Ground Bridge project, so his descent was slow. The speed of his appearance only added to his intimidating advance. Somehow, he shifted with an unusual amount of grace. Almost like a slithering snake that had just finished feeding but was still famished for more prey to consume. Eerie luminescent lighting beamed off his dark purple armor and as always, his threatening red optic leered over his underlings like an inevitable curse.
"What do you require of me, Miner?" Shockwave's grainy, deep voice boomed in correspondence to his thudding ped steps. Thud. Thud. Thud. The vibrations from his stride made the poor drone shiver, but he remembered his station, and so far, it was a decent one compared to most drone-like occupations.
"The Eradicons in the east wing have discovered two bogies on the radar outside of the lab." The Miner bowed before his Master in his practiced profession and spoke clearly for his own comfort. "Upon inspection, it appears to be two random mid-digits. One looks like he is cradling a package, but it is not clear if he poses a threat. We request your guidance on what should be done."
"If you are searching for my permission to handle the problem yourself, then so be it." His master was acting rather casually towards him, but since he was still in the purple behemoth's good graces the Miner wouldn't push his luck and question Shockwave's odd undertone. "See to it that they are greeted at a distance and make the decision on whether they are worthy of entry. Otherwise… Adhere to the standard protocol."
"As you wish, Master." The drone bowed and slowly backed away. He was so close to the door he actually believed he would escape without any additional orders. Sadly, the shorter mech was corrected on his wishful thinking. It was almost cruel how Shockwave waited until the last minute to give him extra orders to follow.
"When you are finished drone, I will need your assistance cleaning my berth chambers." The scientist didn't even turn to look his servant in the optics as he relayed his additional instructions. Not that a lower leveled mech would be brave enough to face his overlord anyway. "When that task is complete, wait for me there to inspect the quality of your work. Then we can discuss the quality of your reward."
"I… Understand master Shockwave." The Miner shivered from withholding his protest. Drones were not allowed to say no to their high officials, much less to their creator, and this veteran servant to the scientist knew better than to argue. So he kept his dermas locked tight. "I shall now take my leave. Until tonight, master."
Quickly, the violet mech bowed one last time and briskly bounded for the exit. There was no time to dwell on his future with the giant cyclops, but there was hope the circumstances of his fate may change. The Miner would bring the two strangers in and sift through whatever they posed. If he could bring something useful to Shockwave, then perhaps he may be able to swindle his way out of his late night chore… But if not, there was always scrap metal to salvage from the deactivated.
"Halt!" Tall drones emerged from heavily rust covered bunkers with their arms drawn in advance. The whirling of their built-in weapons signifying they were able and willing to fire. Their target also positioned themselves, but for both surrender and defense. Two smaller drones lined themselves single file before their hostile brethren. A flyer flashed his arms up but wide to cover his Vehicon companion behind him, and the mysterious bundle huddled in his embrace. "Tread no further brothers. This is a classified area reserved only for immediate invitation. If you have no clearance to be here, then disperse immediately. You will not receive a second warning."
"We come here at our own accord. Unarmed and unprotected for the sake of another." Peter spoke clearly but was obviously scared. Not for his safety, he knew there was a high chance he would die today, and he was prepared for it. At least his sacrifice would give some lead way for Casper and Caspian to get inside and find help. Fortunately, the two Mid-digits found themselves in the company of brothers with empathy. The first battle drone nodded in understanding, but kept his arms taught and charged.
"Make your claim quick brother, or you will be disposed of in the proper manner under Shockwave's instructions."
Slowly, the short mech stepped to the side to reveal Casper curling behind him. With a tinge of his shoulder, he signaled to his partner to proceed. Naturally, the Vehicon was hesitant to move forward with plasma blasters trained on him, but with caution he tip-toed over the thicket of rust below his pedes. He gasped at the sudden movement of the taller mech closest to him and he cringed around the bundle in his arms. The battle drones understood their orders, but as they glanced at each other for answers, they came to a silent agreement that at least one of them should lower their weapons.
"Slowly short one. Show us what you have to barter for clemency."
"It is not for my benefit that I seek an audience with the Decepticon master… But for his." Casper's words stammered as he gently removed the covering around the ill young one's helm. Caspian's optics were shut tight as he coughed quietly through his unknown aliment. The flush tone on his check plating had thickened, indicating his fever had deepened and his condition was worsening. Sick or not, the Sparkling's presence was enough to elicit a collective gasp.
"Primus in the well…" The battle drone bent closer on curiosity but jolted away when the little bundle sneezed. He recovered quickly because he still wanted to see the youngling. "I… I've never seen one alive. A Sparkling… A real Sparkling."
"Impossible." The other battle drone disengaged his weapons to also wander closer. "This has to be a trick of some kind. Drones can't conceive, and breeding in the Decepticon ranks has been prohibited for years now."
"We don't fully understand his origins." Peter finally made his move to the collective group, his arms still aligned with his helm as a precaution. "I was charged with his… Care by Shockwave himself. But I have come to a pass, and don't know what to do. I need an audience with the master… I will trade and divulge anything necessary for a chance to speak with Shockwave."
"Anything?" A new drone appeared from behind a dune. A small Miner emerged from the red sand and appeared to also be a Mid-digit at first glance. But when he stepped up onto the same plateau as the others, he was revealed to be a younger generation; regular sized as most would unfairly say. He ignored Casper and the other fighters but B-lined straight to Peter. The glow in his optical visor tilted over his shorter counterpart's helm and he studied the Eradicon on intrigue. "I do have a proposition… But it is a great one. I shall quietly instruct it to you, and you shall have the freedom to refuse. But it is your only option, and if your answer is no, then you will be requested to turn around and face the next haboob. The storms here are unpredictable, but very frequent so I doubt you and your companion will survive another trek out into the sea."
"Your threat is clear my friend, so the fanfare is unnecessary." Peter sighed and clung to the tarp around his shoulders when the wind picked up. "Present the ultimatum and be done with it, because for Caspian's sake… The answer will be yes."
The Miner also sighed and guided his servo over the nape of Peter's shoulder and neck-cables. He leaned in closer and whispered softly to a rust stained audio, and Peter's sensitivity revealed itself through a sudden but soft shudder. The flyer stilled himself, but as the instructions grew more and more elaborate, it became difficult for him to control the tension in his armor.
"You want me… To take your place…?" Peter would have acted more surprised if he hadn't seen such a request being offered to him. He just didn't expect to hear from another drone, but directly from Shockwave. In the end he just closed his optics and nodded. "That shouldn't be a problem. In fact, as soon as Shockwave gets wind that I have arrived, he will more than likely dismiss you and ask me to step in anyway."
"How are you sure of that?" The earth mover raised an optical ridge below his mask. He was expecting more of a fight considering the task.
"Trust me… My designation is P3-T3R, or as most prefer—."
"Peter." The Miner interrupted on a wavering vocalizer. "You're his favorite…"
"Shh!" Peter tilted his helm to the side frantically, making sure his partner didn't hear them. Caspian was well at work charming the aft plating off of the battle drones. The little mech was suddenly more alert than he had been in days, perhaps happy to see new visors. He was still shivering and lightly wheezing, but when one of the taller mech's curiously pointed at him, little Cass clasped his tiny hand around the digit with a smile. The sight of such warmth gave Peter the strength he needed to push forward, and he glanced back at the Miner with a flare in his optical slit. "Take us to Shockwave safely and I will sweeten this deal. I will put your file in for an off planet transfer for two. You and any potential friend or mate will have access to anywhere in the quadrant."
"Make it the third quadrant in the outer charts and you've got a deal." The game was now set because the short flyer took no argument from the proposal. They shook on the deal quickly and Peter rushed over to his partner and held him close to his frame. With one arm he gently cradled Caspian over the Vehicon's strut, and the other curling around Casper's back.
"They're letting us in… Hang in there a little longer." He nuzzled the side of the worried grounder's helm, giving him a kiss through his mask. "We're almost there, Casper."
"Wait…" Casper whispered and paused in their embrace. Caspian was gently wedged between them, and slowly slipping into a brief recharge. "Whatever happens… We make sure we stay together... And…"
The Vehicon shivered in his thoughts. The stress of everything crippling his ability to speak clearly, but he pushed through it because there was no time to dawdle. His free servo found its way around the back of Peter's neck-cables and carefully squeezed them in his passion. "Peter… I have fallen in love with you. I just want it to be said before anything else happens… I love you."
"I love you too…" His Eradicon lover replied and placed his helm against Casper's cheek to cheek. "And I love our Caspian… No matter what happens… Don't forget that. I love you both."
"Hurry!" The Miner called further up the sand dune he first appeared from. He waved at the quirky trio in an eager manor and raised his voice over the rust filled wind hail. "Come quickly, before I change my mind!"
"Like that will happen with the deal we made." Peter whispered quietly enough that his mate couldn't hear him and ushered them both to the laboratory entrance.
The dark halls and wide chasms that lead to Shockwave's laboratory were abundantly hollow. The whole place was cold because that was how Shockwave liked it. It kept his experiments, in his words, fresh for longer periods of time. Walking along the edge of the below ground, cavern walls gave Casper an immediate sense of insecurity. As he and his partner followed the trio of drones escorting them inside, he fiddled with Caspian's cloth wraps. He tucked tightly around the little sparkling, making sure he was snug and warm. But above all else, he wanted to make him feel safe, which didn't appear to be a problem since Caspian was again sleeping off a coughing fit. Peter was just as anxious, but he did his best to put on a brave front. He limited the emission of his EM field as best he could, but it was still easy to let some of it slip from his hold. To comfort himself, he took hold of his mate's free servo and locked their arms together. The Vehicon sighed and pulled himself closer to Peter's frame.
"We're almost there…" The flyer whispered with the side of his helm leaning over Casper's helm. His vocals somehow sounding sweet and steady despite his own rise in angst. "Stay close… We're almost there…"
"Best to keep silent." The Miner ahead of them also whispered, but with an edge of aggression. "These walls have ears, and whatever they hear… Anything they hear can be used against you if it shows some benefit."
Not that Peter was unaware of the spying that occurred here in the depths of Shockwave's accommodations. Places like these where the higher officials can breathe down their neck cables are not as freeing as working in the mines, as crazy as that might sound to most. In a top security facility there is almost no room for privacy, and if a drone let slip something that Shockwave would disapprove of, their function would be at indefinite risk. But if they managed to obtain a bigger rumor than their original sin against their master, then they had a better chance of escaping deactivation. In the belly of the beast that is known as Shockwave's labs, it is always every mech for themselves.
"Speaking of which, when we enter our master's domain, my partner and I wish to speak to him without an audience." Casper commented, and Peter didn't disagree. Facing the giant scientist head on might give them some respect in the eye of the logic drawn mech. Cowardice was not something Shockwave admired, and he expressed it in abundance through his comments about Starscream. Both behind the seeker's back and to his face.
"That will not be a problem. Our shift is nearly done anyway, and all three of us will be adjourning to our bunkers." A pause emerged in the edge of the earth mover's voice, but it was followed with a grey lining of sternness. "I expect to see Peter in the morning to smooth out the details of our agreement."
"Agreement?" Casper stopped to face his partner. He glanced at him with his optical slit bristling in disquiet. "What agreement?"
"Nothing to worry about." The short Eradicon didn't want to lie to his lover, but he didn't want to make this experience any worse for him. The less the grounder worried about Peter the better. "Just some subpar negotiations to get in. Ration exchanges and the like."
"Quit dawdling!" The Miner was now losing his patience, and surprisingly, the Eradicons walking with him expressed disapproval through their body language. They flexed in front of him, and their engines growled in a low tone. The message was received, and their Miner counterpart retracted his candor. "Master Shockwave is currently in his recreation area. It is his ration time."
"If he takes his ration time." One of the taller flyers admitted as they all started walking again. "He usually works himself into near starvation. Always so busy finishing and starting any and all projects. But we will get him for you. You two can rest and even clean up in the washrack next to the room. Shockwave unexpectedly allows most drones to use the facilities when it is considered dire."
The other Eradicon lifted his chin up and down, looking the Mid-digits over and taking note of their tattered tarps, and heavily rust drenched armor. "We would categorize you as dire."
"My shower can wait… I am not leaving Caspian's side." Casper growled and hugged his little bundle defensively.
"He will need a wash too." Peter encouraged the grounder to keep marching forward by tenderly squeezing his digits. "You go with him to the racks, and I will start our negotiations with Shockwave."
"I will bring Shockwave to you if he is not there already, and the soldiers will guard the washrack entrance." The Miner said quietly, then silently spoke under his breath. "Luck for you two, they are the very few that keep their servos to themselves."
Peter wasn't sure if it was fortunate that Shockwave was actually there in his recreation area or if it was dumb luck. Either way, it meant Caspian would potentially get the help that he needs much quicker. The small flyer felt confident that he had enough to bargain with, since he was one of his master's favorites anyway.
Casper left for the washracks without a fuss this time. The rust in his undercarriage was beginning to get unbearable, and the itching in his mesh was on the rise to burning him. He could only imagine how Peter felt since he would need to wait for his turn to wash, but he was also right about Caspian. He was in desperate need of washing even if he wasn't as fully covered in rust as his caretakers.
The Miner that brought him there didn't bother staying to witness the consultation unfold. He was gone before the doors closed behind Peter, and the short flyer was alone with Shockwave.
The scientist hardly acknowledged the short drone was standing at the entrance. He had brought a data pad with him to look over while he slowly prepared to inject himself with a large glass vial of Energon. Not having an oral cavity had a few disadvantages, but the violet tank never really complained about it. However, judging by the size of the vial, Peter knew this meant Shockwave was on the verge of recharge after his meal, and he would be able to use this to his advantage in the most unforgiving way.
"Good evening master." He bowed a few steps away from the door. "Have you been having difficulty finding time to feed yourself again?"
The single optic mech leered his odd-shaped helm towards his servant with the familiar tone towards him. When he realized who was addressing him, Shockwave immediately let the informalities slide.
"Hello Peter. I did not expect to see you until the end of the quarterly quota."
"I have arrived upon an urgent matter that requires your expertise." Peter stood stationary, too nervous to move closer to his superior without an order. "And to also negotiate extra… Services for your generosity."
"I see…" Shockwave understood the drones subtlety very clearly and didn't waste time deliberating the exchange. He knew what Peter was proposing and it was an offer the scientist rarely passed up from his favorite servant. "What is the emergency you wish for me to examine?"
It was the moment of truth. Peter now needed to confess he had defied his master's orders. "It is about the sparkling… You asked me to take care of."
"Hm…" The logic minded mech groaned. He stood from his table and began to prep his injection device as he pondered how to continue this conversation. "I take it from your lack of vocal volume, you didn't understand my orders, and the sparkling is still functioning."
"Yes, and he is in the sparks of all your servants that have graced his presence." It was a lengthy confession, but so far Shockwave didn't give the impression that he was cross, so Peter continued. "We have named him Caspian, and he is… He is amazing and deserves a chance to live."
"So why have you brought him here?" The question wasn't expressed as a threat, but Mid-digit still took it as one and he hitched on his intakes.
"He is ill, master. And despite everyone's best efforts, we could not find a way to break his fever." Slowly, Peter descended to his knees and bowed his helm over his arms that he stretched over the floor. He knew he would need to beg, but Shockwave would not concede to blubbering, so his words were selected with caution. "I implore you Master Shockwave, help us save the young model. He deserves to live, even above my own function."
He could feel the ground shake beneath his palms, and he could hear the scientist inject his rations and then carelessly toss his device to the side. Peter flinched a little when heard the large frame of the giant cyclops take a knee in front of him. A servo found its way to the base of Peter's chin and gently lifted his helm to face the giant red optic that sent terror filled shivers down his spinal struts. But he swallowed his angst filled air vents and closed his optics behind his visor.
"And your trade?" The giant growled. The canon attached to his left arm vibrated over his elevated leg strut, and Peter's focus went straight to it. "What are you willing to sacrifice for this child?"
"Everything you desire." The small flyer whispered while removing the base of his mask. "All of me… If you will have me."
"Show me…" A click echoed beneath Peter's line of sight. He knew what it was, and he was glad he locked the doors behind him. He hiked himself up on all fours and inched his way closer to Shockwave's waistline, with lip-plates agape. They found their target without struggle, and Peter went straight to fulfilling his duties. "Slowly Peter…"
-END-