Rub those eyes all you want, I can assure you this is not a dream! The 19th installment of 'Surviving the Beast Wars' is here and ready for reading...two new stories and many days of re-editing other stories later...XD
To those of you who have waited for this, you're patience is godly. Thank You and Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Transformers/Beast Wars.
Chapter 19: Master Blaster
"This is odd" an unearthly voice echoed softly. The tone itself was soothing, but the realization that I was having another one of those dreams flung me into great unease, especially since I still hadn't the vaguest clue as to the meaning of it. So, being a good little lucid dreamer, I paid close attention and silently prayed that I didn't wake up before any vital hints were dropped.
"What is it Elder?" the youngest of the trio (from what I gathered the last time I was in the pitch black dreamscape, he was addressed as 'Enforcer') asked eagerly.
"I have run her soul through a few more thorough scans, to ensure her purity for the upcoming fusion…"
"And…?"
"She's…pure, with some faults, but the overall frequency radiating from her seems in sync with our own"
Insert baffled face here.
"But that makes her even more of a worthy candidate, right?"
There was a deep, pensive hum. I could almost sense the Elder's anxiousness. "Perhaps, but for caution's sake, I will also take samples from the other two subjects"
Things were surely getting interesting, as if I was getting close to just why I was ever brought into the Beast Wars. However, my subconscious -and perhaps the universe- decided that it had unveiled enough touchy details, and so, I slipped away…
Pouting, I continued to work on repairing a hover-sled's ignition circuit, the memory of that dream making me work with frustrated vigor.
It had been three days since me and Dinobot were captured. And Trailblazer left for scrap, any hope I had for my poor 'older brother' was balancing precariously on what I had heard from Transmutate, and the cold-hard reality that he was no longer part of the land of the living…but I digress. Back on topic, Megatron was still keeping Dinobot in that cage above the lava pits. Seemingly not keeping to his word on having Dinobots' allegiance code reprogrammed, Megatron would instead have me escorted to see the raptor-bot.
And as much as I loved to see my good friend still with independent functioning, I really hated how Megsy would gloat for the allowed duration of the visit (that being only a few minutes), and then it was straight back to work, me and the raptor-bot not really having the chance of a decent chat.
Speaking of good ol' labor, aside from their regular assigned duties, the Predacons also occupied their time with a fairly interesting project. I was uncertain as to what it was at the time, but it was a demanding one. Anytime I wanted to help, either because of nosiness or because I really wanted to expand my knowledge on machines, they would ignore me, or chase me off with meager threats (with the exception of a soft-sparked Waspinator, and an alarmingly quiet Rampage). Not that they intimidated me, I just tried to get my answers from another source. Unfortunately, they would chase away Transmutate too. The both of us assigned either clean-up duty or light maintenance projects while they were busy, such as the one we were doing at the moment.
"If your leer gets any stronger, you'll fry the circuit even more" Transmutate chuckled while she watched me work, and despite my foul mood (that hadn't changed since being captured), I managed a smile.
"If I start melting things just by staring at them, do me a favor, find me a pair of sunglasses and call Charles Xavier"
Even knowing that she very (very) likely wouldn't get the reference, I couldn't help myself. I snickered when she cocked her head like a bemused dog. "Who?"
"I'll uh…I'll tell you once I'm done"
It had reached that time of day where the Predacons had earned themselves a reprieve from the strenuous project they had been pouring their energon, coolant, and sparks into. Apparently, from what I heard from a cackling Tarantulas, he just needed two bots to help him perform some of the more grueling finishing touches (torque some bolts, add some plating, yada yada). And since my temporary compatriots wanted to make the most of their free time before they got back to work, I had to take extra care of walking through the hallways of an over-sized oven they called a ship, careful to not collide with any of the smaller bots as they zipped about, going about at their leisure, or run into the knees of the much taller Cybertronians as they did the same.
SMACK.
"Owie!" yet, my caution was in vain, because I was just that accident prone. Holding my nose, I looked up into the amused twinkle of green optics. Seriously, how can someone so big be so quiet! Or maybe I'm just daftly clumsy…
"You should be more careful, you might break that pretty nose of yours" Rampages' silver horn-fins twitched on both sides of his head, a clear indication of his 'smirk' –provided if he had a proper mouth. A big red hand extended toward me, because yes, I fell on my butt.
Gracious, but wary, I grasped his hand. And with no effort poured in whatsoever, the crustacean Predacon pulled me to my feet, my balance catching just in time to NOT smack my face into his knee…again. "Considering how careful I am now, a broken nose is the least of my worries"
"It could be worse, you could be Waspinator" he drawled, each word progressively emphasized with the same chuckle, the sound proving contagious as I began to snicker myself.
"No argument here, say, how is the bug?"
Emerald optics regarded me indifferently "Why would you like to know –oh…are you getting attached?" he scoffed with faux surprise. I narrowed my eyes, but kept my smile.
"What? The more friends I have in this fluster-cuck of a war, the better"
"…'fluster-cuck'…?". I gave him a moment to process it. Rampage was no dummy. Green optics dimmed slightly, and optic ridges dropped, "Oh".
"Hey, when I got a crabby friend that threatens to wring my neck every time I cuss, well, I gotta get creative"
"I only get upset when you run that foul mouth of yours near Transmutate" he crossed his arms smugly, "but…I appreciate the sentiment, language like that shouldn't come from such a lovely little thing such as yourself". My expression went flat as I spun on my heel, muttering incoherent nothings as I walked away, intent on finding Transmutate again before I fainted from the notion that Rampage may have possibly flirted with me. Sure, it wasn't so different from all the other times we've interacted over the course of the Beast Wars, but that still didn't stop my face from going flush.
Damn Crab-Cakes always ruffling my feathers, to my horror, tiny silver-grey feather stumps emerged from my forearm, disappearing as fast as they came as I willed them away. I shivered, so glad no one was around to see that…
As I wandered the ship, I found that I couldn't address my girl problems with Transmutate in time before my ankle-bracelet sent a small shock in conjunction with my comm. unit going off. Megatrons' voice resonated out from the device.
:"Cassandra, report to the command center immediately":
"Wh-"
:"Immediately":
Once the transmission ended, I grimaced, my feet on auto-pilot as I headed to the command center. Could've been worse…he could've been angry…
It was entertaining really, to hear a good chunk of the Predacons whine about who was the best candidate to pilot what looked like a miniature, cheap knock-off of Optimus, minus the head. After a few minutes of bickering between Inferno, Quickstrike, and Waspinator, it was ultimately decided by Megatron and Tarantulas that Quickstrike was the better option. And once they did so, a bad feeling situated itself into my gut. Probably to do with the fact that the machine's purpose was not known to me or Transmutate, and also since it was soon revealed that it was actually of Tarantulas' design, the spider looking very smug as he examined his handiwork, content that it wasn't sabotaged early in its development by a certain bat-girl.
Said bat-girl looked incredibly distraught at the idea that Megatron, and all the other Predacons (save for Rampage) somehow had the mind to specifically keep her from it, her thoughts very likely echoed my own:
Do they know?
I was feeling faint, the heat from the hostile environment around me encouraging my drowsiness as we all traversed the charred landscape together. No one was permitted to stay at the base, Megatron placing a questionable amount of trust into his own ships defense system as he ordered us to accompany him to Mount St. Hilary. The apparent 'End of the Maximals' so near to him that he could, quote on quote, 'Taste it', the mega-maniacal t-rex's bellowing laughter mirrored by the support of his lackeys. The only ones not laughing being myself and Transmutate, though Rampage's laugh could be best described as a depraved snicker. Oh yeah, if there was one thing the crab Predacon and Megatron could agree upon, it would be making the Maximals suffer.
Much, much later, while we were within a mile of the Maximal base, and I had an infernal headache, consciousness itself hard to maintain as I constantly found myself swaying, struggling to keep up with everyone else. Dinobot-II was, of course, the first one to be on my case. "What's the matter girl? Do you not wish to witness the imminent doom of your friends?" the transmetal raptor jeered, backtracking so he was on my left. Must…shove…foot…up…ass… I groaned, too…drowsy…though…, with that final, sluggish thought, I stumbled and fell onto my hands and knees. The sound of turbines and the drone of insects' wings then closed in on me. I sensed a scolding was imminent, but, I didn't care as I began to fade...
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the Darksyde, my footsteps quiet and precise as I seemed to be covertly traveling through the hallways, my movements not my own as my steady (red-hued?) gaze landed on every door, every nook and cranny as I was obviously searching for something. I was also aware that my breathing was…odd. It seemed perfectly quiet save for the occasional grunt of frustration every time I stumbled upon an empty room. And…that it was a male grunt. My thoughts becoming more jumbled as I reached a hover-sled, the one I was working on earlier in the day, a satisfied "ah-ha" leaving, but not leaving my lips as I started the vehicle. With more perusing of the base, I eventually reached one of the many sectors of the ship that were flooded with magma. Nothing spectacular about it…except maybe perhaps for the collection of cages above the molten rivers. Skillfully piloting the tricky vehicle, I reached a cage with a particularly sullen raptor-bot sharpening his sword, something he did every day since his capture. I couldn't form any words as I watched Dinobot stop his sulking and perk up, his red optics bulging dramatically as it took him a moment or two to recognize me, anything that came after that however, was cut off by a violent shaking-
"-up you stupid girl!"
With a shake of the head, and blink of the eyes, I was fully conscious again. My glassy gaze becoming fully focused as I looked up into the pink optics of an irate Megatron, the tyrannosaurus snorting as his snout was mere inches from my face. "Care to tell me what the Pit that was?"
"I, uh…" don't tell him, even if it was just a dream "had a faint spell, that's all"
Megatron sneered, feigning concern "Perhaps this is all too much for you? I'll gladly leave you outside if you can't handle it"
Oh wow, Megsy's ass-clown rating just jumped dramatically, frowning, I realized Rampage had me slung across his vehicle mode, and that everyone had already gathered around the blast doors of the Maximal base. An incapacitated Cheetor beside a smirking Optimus, that I had the dreadful feeling wasn't Optimus. Okaaay…Monkey-Boy cannot possess a grin that devilish…it's just nigh impossible
Wing beats fluttered above as Transmutate perched herself right next to me, her bat snout nudging my shoulder. Noticing her working attempt of comforting me, Megatron reverted to bipedal mode, grasped Transmutate by her bat wing and pulled her toward the base entrance. Rampage went rigid as his 'leader' did so, growling with feral aggression but otherwise still, not wishing to get his spark compressed. I, on the other hand, didn't have that kind of restraint. So with a snarl, I morphed my arm into a sword and lunged, slicing at the metallic flesh of Megatrons' arm.
"You little-" he hissed, but alarmingly composed himself. He chuckled darkly, "I was going to have Transmutate enter first, have her distract the Maximals…but, I realize now that you would be a better choice". I didn't struggle as the tyrant tossed me through the ajar door, however, I did wince when he leaned down to whisper "If you so much as act guilty, I won't hesitate to send one of my men to eliminate Dinobot".
Funny thing, I was all too aware that he wouldn't hesitate to have Dinobots' spark snuffed, his potential allegiance be damned. The little voice at the back of my head telling me that the Utah-raptors' capture and imprisonment was no less a bargaining chip for me to cooperate. Which I had an inkling that if I did so anyway, Megatron would still have him dumped into the lava. Man, I hated gut-feelings. Such as the one that grew worse as I sighed and wandered toward the Maximals' command deck. "Hello?" I shuffled miserably into the room, not paying any mind to the rushed metallic clangs of someone happy to see me.
"By the All-Spark!" Rattraps' arms nearly constricted me into an early grave, pitiful gurgling escaping my throat. "Rhinox get yer hide in 'ere and see who's back!" on cue, a set of heavy stomping entered the room, the rhinoceros-formers' red optics bulging as soon as they landed on me.
"How…-?" he shook his head, the 'miracle' before his eyes replacing all rational thought as he jogged over to form a group hug. Oh man, I felt like I died on the inside right then and there. My face was neutral, but my eyes were screaming guilty. Something that was easily noticed as Rhinox dropped me and Rattrap. "What's wrong?" the Maximal engineer/medic frowned.
"I'll tell ya what's wrong! She-" Rattrap pointed accusingly (but playfully), and then crossed his arms "keeps pullin' these lil' stunts where she gets 'erself captured and makin' us worry so much to da point our sparks nearly implode, and just when we can't take it no'more –BOOM!" he threw his hands into the air, I flinched "She turns out just fine!". Although he was being his usual self, I still found I couldn't crack a smile, not when I could hear Megatron and all the other Predacons advancing in the hallway. My guilt increased twenty-fold as Silverbolt entered the room, his relieved smile dropping into a horrified glare (in sync with Rattrap and Rhinox) as they saw their unwelcome guests stroll into the command center, dumping an unconscious Cheetor at their feet.
"I'm sorry guys"
I grimaced upon seeing Rhinox tossed into the cage, the rhino Maximal groaning as he joined Cheetor, Rattrap, and Silverbolt, all of which had put up a fight, despite the odds not being their favor. But that's what I expected from my friends…my family. I know, I was such a Mary Sue at the time, allowing all that to happen. Well, not so much allowing, than it was being restrained by Inferno as he, his comrades, and Megatron all dealt with the Maximals (even Transmutate needed to participate, poor girl). And, I didn't wish to aggravate Megatron any further in fear that he would keep his promise earlier. Useless…
"Now…all we need to do is wait for the remainder of the Maximals to come home, yeesss" Grape-Face sneered evilly as he peered into the cage holding the Maximals, tapping on it mockingly as he eyed Rhinox. "Any idea on when that may be, hmmm?"
"When you eat slag and die" Rhinox retorted, coughing up some energon.
With a huff, Megatron sent his fist through the cage, knocking out Rhinox. "How rude"
I scowled.
I shuddered upon hearing someone enter the base; the acoustics of the volcanic cavern doing wonders to have the arrival of the Maximal reverberate across the walls. I mentally noted who was left on the team, Blackarachnia, Depth Charge, technically Optimus but he's brainwashed… I shivered suddenly with the last thought.
Trailblazer…
Regardless of their efforts earlier, the Predacons could not locate Trailblazer, whether it was the physical body…or a report on the recycling manifest. To say I was anxious would be an understatement.
"Hello?" a female voice called out, it belonged to Blackarachnia. Megatron's plan be damned, I tried to call out, but Dinobot-II clamped his claw over my mouth. Megatron wagged his index finger at me as if to say 'naughty naughty'. I hissed at him, my eyes watching from the dark with dread as BA strutted onto the platform, "If this is a surprise party…" my ears picked up on her muttering "Somebody's eating cyber-venom". My panicked eyes darted over to see 'Optimus' (really a Quickstrike controlled Optimus) lumber over toward Blackarachnia, my self-control slipping from me as I began to thrash against Dinobot-II. Megatron glared at me in exasperation as if to say 'and now you fight back?" and with a flick of his wrist, Dinobot-II wrapped his other arm around my whole body.
A bad move on his part as I let out an indignant high-pitched squeak and caught BA's attention almost instantly "What the-" the transmetal she-spider gasped as she noted the dark figures trying to cloak themselves with shadow. Quickstrike took that as his chance to try and grab her via a controlled Optimus, but she proved to be too swift as she slipped out of his grip and aimed her weapon at him, firing off a round. Not an anticipated move, I can tell you. Spider-Lady looked mixed parts confused, shocked, and pissed off. "Optimus, what the slag was that for?! And why are the Predacons here!" yes! You see us! Now run! I held my breath as she quickly back-tracked toward the rooms exit. But that breath came out as an irritated, depressed sigh as Quickstrike blocked her path with the knock-off machine and proceeded to grab her. Right, I forgot about that –doh!
"Blackarachnia! So good of you to join us" Megatron shot me a look, and then returned his leer to BA, "It's not really a party without all the Maximals here! Ahem-" he suddenly coughed, seeing no one else enter the room. I relished in his disappointed look. "Where is Depth Charge? Trailblazer?" he was almost unsure whether to include Trailblazer, probably was still under the assumption he was dead, or dying.
"Like I'm gonna tell you-" BA released a pained cry as Quickstrike squeezed her, "Grape-Face" but she soldiered on. Despite sporting a new look, her sassiness stayed the same. Megatron vented an irked sigh, shooting his focus onto Rampage. "Rampage, tend to the prisoner".
Quickstrike squawked, "B-but boss! You said-!"
"Silence!"
Quickstrike cowered, or as much as he could while sitting. I almost felt bad for the guy. "You are to accompany me and Tarantulas to the Ark, understood?!"
The Ark –oh Primus no…!
"Yes, boss" Quickstrikes' voice echoed from its original source and from Optimus as he shuffled morosely over toward the tyrant, ever so briefly handing a protesting BA to Rampage. I shot the Predacon crustacean a look promising 'if you kill her, I will give you the coldest cold shoulder you will ever know', not that he could read it like that specifically, but I'm sure my point got across. Even Transmutate appeared to show extreme worry for the female ex-Predacon.
"Dinobot"
Said bot snarled.
"You are to hunt down Depth Charge, and if possible, Trailblazer"
Looking a little confused at the second half of that order, Dinobot-II merely nodded and dropped me, transforming as he hastily left the room. Although I was relieved that I could stand on my own two feet again, I was less than pleased to realize that my legs were wobbly and I was feeling light-headed…again. I collapsed noiselessly.
This time I was running –wait, no, galloping across a plain, Mount St Hilary looming over in the distance, it was odd, I couldn't feel them, but I knew something was off about my legs. When I say I was galloping, I mean it. I was absolutely sure it was a dream; a whacked out dream, but something, someone whispered back that it wasn't. And as if to confirm this, I found my gaze, which still had a strange red hue to it suddenly glance behind me to see a figure slung over my…back? The fleshy texture with stripes covering the blue metal made me (mentally) gasp at just who I saw.
It was Dinobot, he appeared to have sustained some damage but was otherwise fine, though why he was slung over like the bags on a pack mule, I didn't know. Before I could view anymore of the dream, the voice that sounded so very familiar suddenly echoed…
"Give them hell"
The dream ended-
I awoke with a small cry before a hand on my shoulder snapped me out of it. "Cassie! By the Matrix are you okay?!" Transmutate gave me a hug, helping me to my feet as she did so. My drowsiness quickly dissipated, and in its stead, came unadulterated dread (hehe rhymes).
"How long was I out?!"
"Ten minutes"
Ten minutes…well that's significantly better than last time –but we need to get our asses in gear! I gave a gracious smile, gently easing out of the hug in favor of sprinting out of the room, dead-set on reaching the Ark. But just barely over the threshold of the room, I had the nagging feeling I was forgetting something (or someone, sensing a pattern?) before Transmutate cleared her throat, looking very sheepish as she suggested: "We should go find your spider friend…-" whatever was going to come after that was cut off as I gasped, stormed back into the room, grasped her hand, and then pulled her out with me.
It would have been easier for her to lead the way, but because I was a stubborn woman-child, I made due with just following the directions she provided while I tugged her along. The both of us not wanting to get into a silly argument as we were in too much of a hurry to save BA from our 'friend' which, as much as we loved him, knew very well how vicious he was.
"Last I saw them, they went down this corridor"
I stopped for a moment, pointing to our assumed destination with a raised brow.
"Yes, that one"
Nodding, I sprinted down the corridor, now relying on my hearing as I thought I heard a struggle from the room on the far end, not needing to bother with checking if the door was unlocked or locked (because the door was ripped off its hinges, if the giant crab-claw marks were any indication) as I reached one of the storage rooms. As I entered, I saw that Rampages' back was to me, the crab Predacon leaning to apply more pressure on his foot as he kept BA pinned. With a huff, I picked up a conveniently located wrench and whipped it as hard as I could toward its' intended destination, i.e. Rampages' head.
With an inhuman snarl, Rampage whipped around with his rocket launcher at the ready, but paused upon seeing me and Transmutate –whom had appeared behind me, timing just impeccable. Though, even with his hesitation and my -our- dear friend behind me, I was stone-still, still poised in the throwing position.
"Why did I do that?" it was adrenaline of course. I just didn't register it, well, not until it seemed to have drained away once I threw the wrench. Doh.
Green optics narrowed childishly at us, Rampage indubitably ready to either argue, scold, mock, or perhaps all of the above. However, before he could, a levitating frickin' I-beam surrounded by green energy plowed right into him, sending him crashing into a vast collection of spare lift-hatches. No sooner did he disappear in the mess did BA join us.
"As cute as it would have been seeing you guys and Rampage bicker, I think we should really get going" the she-spider gently pushed us out of the room, clearly in a hurry.
At some point, we branched off, BA went to go deal with any of the remaining Preds still lingering in HQ, while Transmutate rushed to go free the Maximals from the confines of the cage. Thus leaving little ol' me to continue on to the Ark. Mind you, I knew they were going to catch up to me sooner than later, but the temporary absence of the two ladies surely made me a tad nervous. Particularly when I was confronted with a very unnerving sight.
"Well, shit"
I stayed in the shadows as I trailed Optimus, unsure if the Big-Man was himself as he lumbered toward through the natural arch that led toward the famed Autobot ship. I paused as I heard him gasp in shock. But it wasn't because he was made aware of my arrival. Oh no, all of his absolute attention was on a giant red dragon as it descended from above the opening.
I repeat: Giant. Red. Dragon.
First BA gets telekinesis, and now this, what the actual f-! I jumped, but stuck close to the wall as the beast of myths roared/shrieked. My mind in overdrive as I tried to recollect how it came to be. Alas, I couldn't, any details pertaining to it -or him- were lost on me from the time and stresses of being in the Beast Wars. Fortunately, I didn't need to strain too much, not when an all too familiar voice roared out.
"Enter the Dragon!"
Megatron…a dragon…I'm so done… I sighed, tilting my head slightly as I heard jogging behind me, BA and Transmutate not aiming for a stealthy entry as their feet made metallic scraping noises as they halted in their tracks. Two sets of optics landing on them as they did so. And by default, because I was no stealth master myself, I was also seen. Feeling the gig was up, I joined the two ladies as they snapped out of their stupor and ran toward Optimus, clearly not intimidated (or if they were intimidated, they sure did a fabulous job of not showing it) as they were now in much closer proximity to the winged tyrant. Optimus, recovered from Quickstrike's control from what I could officially tell, was clearly the sane one as he hurriedly nudged us behind him, his optics never leaving Megatron as his bulk protected us. "Cassandra, Blackarachnia, at least one of you needs to get to the Ark…" he didn't bother whisper, probably knowing Megatron would hear it anyway, "but for safety's sake, you should go together". His green optics settled on Transmutate with skepticism, unsure of why a Predacon was so at ease in the presence of myself and BA. I smiled and patted his arm.
"You can trust her; I'll tell you everything when this is all over"
"Oh, I don't think so young lady" Megatron encroached on our conversation. His dragon eyes narrowing with a sneer, "You will get no such chance, not when your beloved leader is reduced to a pile of molten slag-!" with seemingly enhanced speed, he was already on Optimus. Biting, clawing, breathing fire, all of the dragon tyrant's attacks effectively prevented from reaching us as Optimus held him off.
"Go…now…!" the towering ape grunted. And being the only one to listen, BA rushed off to foil whatever Megsy and (a strangely absent) Tarantulas were planning. Whereas me and Transmutate refused to budge, the both of us had the means, and opportunity, to kick -or at least help kick- Megatron's sorry lizard ass, and we weren't too keen on passing it up. So as Optimus shoved the crazed winged lizard off of him, to recuperate from the all the slashing, Transmutate let loose. The bat-girl released her own little battle-cry as a beam of concentrated energy shot out her mouth and scored a direct hit on Megatrons' hip. It did wonders to send him reeling back, but damage wise, it seemed to only singe his armor, which only served to piss him off.
"You…" he hissed menacingly, making us tense up. I readied my blaster. "You will pay dearly for that" with a swoop of the wings, Megatron was already on us, somehow bypassing Optimus as his claws stretched maliciously toward Transmutate. Out of reflex, I pushed Transmutate out of the way, much like how Trailblazer pushed Dinobot out of his deranged clones' line of fire that fateful night. No sound of struggle left me as massive claws plucked me off the ground, those same massive claws pinning me to the cavern wall, a Transmetal-II dragon snout a mere inch from my face. Dizziness again rearing its obnoxious head as fumes from Megatron's nostrils made me gag. "I really am growing tired of you as well, even with Vok technology in your system, I still find you expendable. And your constant meddling just makes it all the more difficult to put up with you" blazing yellow reptilian eyes (yes, eyes) sunk even deeper into their sockets as Megatron's expression darkened. I refused to be scared.
"Seriously man, you want me, you want me dead. It's like you keep a daisy and you pluck petals for Primus' sake…just make up your mind!"
The room went deathly silent.
"If you wish…" Megatron beamed maniacally, all too happy for his final decision as he raised his other clawed appendage, "any last words?".
I looked over his shoulder to see Optimus inching forward, Transmutate behind him with a scared, but determined look on her face. I smirked. My vision swiftly clouding, "Yeah, two of 'em…" my eyes glassed over, "Breath. Mint".
I heard a roar.
Whatever was happening to me that day, I learned very quickly to embrace it, the experience proving to be strangely satisfying as I approached the blast doors. My eyes darted toward Dinobot every twenty seconds or so, despite his condition not changing much every time I did so. I was no longer carrying him on my 'back', but rather I was supporting him much like a crutch, a crutch that was his height, perhaps even slightly taller. As we progressed through the base, we saw the tell-tale signs of battle –a struggle that left it quite trashed. A displeased growl left me as I ushered Dinobot into the nearest functioning CR chamber, and from there, I stormed off…
I was more subtle waking up than I was last time, not wishing to draw attention as I heard an intense showdown happening behind me, my eye cracking open just enough to see Optimus and Transmutate in an aerial battle with Megatron. I don't know how they did it, but am I forever in their debt for being saved from Megatron's breath… I grunted as I stood, careful not to get roasted by Megsy as he tried to fry Transmutate but missed. I assured myself that just because the tyrant had a new fancy mode, didn't particularly mean his aim was any better. Even so, I did not wish to get caught in his crosshairs. And with cautious steps away from the bowels of the volcano, that I somehow was closer too than where I was pinned, I sat down in the shade. Debating whether or not to sneak some shots in because I really did want to help, I ultimately decided that dealing with fire-breathing dragons was not my area of expertise...as in at all. Someday, just not now –by the Matrix, I really am soft, I gently prodded my right rib, only to hiss in pain, owowowowowow happy thoughts, happy thoughts! As I was inwardly cursing and still poking various areas of my body, I failed to notice someone tall (to me anyway) stealthily invade my space. Only becoming aware of their presence as a hot metal hand grabbed my shoulder.
"The Pit-" I whipped around, blaster at the ready. My trigger finger actually hesitating once I saw who was behind me. What am I doing?! Shoot the bugger already! Tarantulas looked absolutely pitiful, but any pity that I tried to have was immediately smothered upon getting a good look at the ill-intent in his optical visor.
"So many disappointments today…at least I won't walk away empty handed" he pulled out a syringe. I kicked him away, not wanting that needle anywhere near me as all the rage from that day and the few days prior fueled me. I was not going to get captured. No siree, I was tired of the humiliation and complete hopelessness, the pain brought onto my friends…I was positively sick of it.
To reiterate: Sick. Of. It.
"Tarantulas…" I warned, dead-serious "Walk away". Something ugly was going to come out, and my humanity was trying so hard to rein it in.
Tarantulas chuckled, "Oh my, I've never seen you like this before, is this perhaps your dark half coming out?" he stalked closer, syringe still in hand. My eye twitched.
"Tarantulas, this is your last warning…" he's about to be on the receiving end of Primus-knows-what, the broiling within me only doubled. "Walk. Away"
"No" he lunged. That was all 'it' needed.
My whole body changed as something cool and metallic encased it. My limbs no stranger to the morphing as they contorted into whatever my subconscious wanted, my spine extending to form a tail to compliment the change (and ripping my skirt, sigh). My sight became tinted with brilliant lavender as my brain was flooded with new information regarding my surroundings. Hypersensitivity, one would call it. And thus, I was all too aware of Tarantulas' beating spark as it tripled its' pulse as he stopped dead in his tracks, all too quickly backpedaling with a gasp, leaving the perfect opening for me to strike.
With an inhuman snarl, I then pounced.
As my claws were but a hair's width away from the scared-stiff transmetal tarantula, someone had grabbed me from behind. In seeing this, Tarantulas wasted no time in retreating, dropping the sedative-filled syringe as he transformed and revved off as if a pack of starving Scraplets were in pursuit. As I watched him leave, all my pent-up anger evaporated, but I still hadn't changed back upon reaching levelheadedness.
Who…? Exhausted, I turned to face a complete stranger, yet, NOT a complete stranger. Ruby optics beamed at the sight of me, although there was a tad of sadness in them. He was very tall, roughly Dinobots' height perhaps slightly taller, with pitch black armor that made it almost impossible to find any grooves or chinks in it, his protoform also sporting the same color. The armor itself was sleek and smooth, almost as if he didn't have any, the only hints of whatever he transformed into were these funky-looking protrusions sticking out of his back along with some bulk on his chest and arms. On top of that, he had a visor and a mouth-guard, his overall shape and features resembling closely to that of…
"Trailblazer?" there was some distortion to my voice, but he seemed to recognize it.
So I got a wink. "Heya Sis. Keeping true to that whole 'Give them Hell' thing aren't ya?"
I could only stare in dumb silence before I passed out from the stress of the day.
Out of all the chapters in this story, this is the only one that I bothered to use the horizontal lines. Mainly because there's so much going on. I'll maybe, eventually, go back and add lines to my other chapters. As for the story itself, how are y'all liking it so far? I surely had FUN with this chapter *grins devilishly*. And because of a reference I made, I'll say this now: I do NOT own Marvel or any of their characters! If there are any more references I made without knowing, let me know!
Trailblazer FTW :)
Reviews, Faves, and Follows are always appreciated!
Stay beautiful :)