Hey guys, I'm back! I know it's been a while, school and work have been rough. But I've been writing whenever there was time- I'm actually working on a couple of one-shots right now. I also went to Disneyland! I've been planning that trip for years and had an absolute blast! Practically blew all my pocket money for the next few months in a day and a half, but I'm not complaining. It was a lot of fun!
So anyways, it seems like there's been some anxiety over my unreliable updating schedule (I'm looking at you, foxwolf101 and Nodi), so I'd just like to say that no matter how long it takes, I have absolutely no plans to stop writing for this fic! I'm a slow writer, but the only story I've ever abandoned on this profile (my 'serious writing profile') is the one I'm rewriting right now.
So please stop PM-ing me.
Honestly, the reason this took my so long is because I'm having some issues transitioning to the next arc. I have a conflict all set up, but these in-betweens are killer since I always want to keep the story moving somewhere (which is why this ended up so massive). I think I did an okay job, there's even some action in this one!
And of course, I also wanted to say that I love your responses! They're brighten up my day by a crazy amount and are so inspiring to continue writing this fic- you guys are the best!
Alright, enough chatter- on with the chapter!
Megatron stood above the wretched, primitive dam, his decacycles-long prison. It was smoking and crumbled, the entire quarter that dared hold him now lay in irreparable waste.
He could hear humans scurrying about underneath his peds even now, swarming like an upturned ant hill. It wasn't worth the effort of blasting the rest away, though.
Instead he stood, planted on the northern roof with optics steady on the horizon. Finally he was free and powerful in all the ways that were his right by conquest.
He'd dreamed of this moment, ached for it with every wire of his being. The fluid flow of thought and logic that made up his processors should've been euphoric in and of itself, never mind the ability to rip foes apart with his clawed servos. What power he had, it was enough to revel in after so many years without.
But he could hardly bring himself to care, even the delicious screams of the humans had barely registered over the pulsating rage that his spark personified.
That fragger had taken his sparkling.
The roar of jets alerted him to Starscream's approach, the only Decepticon willing to address him before he allowed them too. His insufferable disrespect was still in working order even a millennium later, how pathetic.
Megatron didn't bother to glance at his assumptious second-in-command, still watching the glinting city on the other side of the winding road.
"I live to serve you, my Lord." Starscream grovelled in way of greeting. Megatron smashed his theatrically bowed helm into the dam a moment later.
"Where is the Cube?" Megatron snarled impatiently, finally turning to see his subordinate wobble back upright. Starscream was slower than he remembered, and covered in dull scratches. That didn't bode well for the rest of his army if even a slacker suffered from the endless search for the Allspark.
"The humans have taken it!" He spat back, ages old hatred rekindling in those narrowed red optics.
Megatron turned away, back to his original position. He watched a long stretch of human road trail away from the dam and to the human establishment on the horizon, the only location of note for miles.
He had been staring for a while now, a ridiculous part of him watching for even a glimpse of Haeree, for he was sure that's where it was taken.
Megatron felt his rage slip a little, dipping into a hatred that held far more resentment than he was accustomed to. So that slimy Autobot had not only stolen Haeree, but the Allspark as well. In just scant clicks, Megatron had gone from being frozen and holding all the cards, to being thawed and fragging empty-handed. It was nearly as maddening as the ice.
"My Lord? The humans were seen going to that city. We should-"
Megatron silenced him with a merciless kick, almost sending him careening off the dam. "You think I don't know that?" He shouted, his blaster aching to fire into Starscream's useless faceplate.
"O-of course, my Lord. I was just- just merely suggesting that perhaps we could attack them?" The seeker stammered.
Megatron's optics were suddenly filled with the illusion of clutching that Autobot scout's decapitated head, low grade energon spilled across his greaves. His idiotic false wings ripped clean off, and his barbaric vocal processor crushed to fine dust. He could almost smell the shorting circuits in the oxygen soaked air.
There was nothing he wouldn't give to get that vermin under his ped, nothing he wouldn't give save for Haeree's safety.
"No. We regroup." He ground out, focusing back on that city. Haeree was there, trapped in yet another prison and waiting for his rescue. That faith would never be in vain, Megatron failed at nothing.
"Regroup?" Starscream squawked. "But the Autobots are all in one place, this is the perfect time to retrieve the-"
This time, he did send Starscream off the dam, already turning around before the seeker remembered he had blasted wings and caught himself.
"Do not question me! Gather the others and follow me. The Autobots won't live to see Cybertron, but their demise will be another cycle."
Megatron may not be able to send the full frontal assault he craved without putting Haeree in the center of a warzone, but he would make the Autobots regret the day they took from Megatron. They would remember the day they made Haeree cry as the beginning of the end.
He swore by his very spark that when he was through, he would have everything. It was only what he deserved.
Harry watched the world whip past him from the cab of the yellow car Bumblebee transformed into, expansive desert roads shifted to crowded city streets before his optics.
Further and further away from the underground lab and horrible scientists. Further away from Lord Megatron.
Harry didn't think he would mourn that distance in all his fantasies of escape, but now it felt like every inch was dragging him deeper underwater, downward into a cold darkness that hadn't been present in the lab.
He had only known Lord Megatron for a short amount of time, and he could freely admit the other was very scary, but Harry already missed him fiercely. He missed Lord Megatron's kindness, the only one Harry had ever known to be specifically for him.
He wasn't kind in the traditional sense of course, no gentle smiles or easy compliments. But in a bizarre way, the machine of danger and death felt so safe because it was for Harry. He'd never experienced anything like it before.
He wondered if this was why Dudley hardly ever looked concerned when Uncle Vernon was in a rage. Harry was flatly terrified of the way his uncle's face turned red and his fists clenched, he'd honestly thought his cousin very stupid for not feeling the same way. But if it was because of this, this strange confidence that the monster was meant for everyone but him, Harry could almost understand the lack of alarm.
Almost. Lord Megatron was nothing like Uncle Vernon, so much smarter and sharper it wasn't even worth the comparison. If Dudley held a certainty that his father would never turn his fists on him, then Harry had a growing belief that he would only ever truly be protected in Lord Megatron's presence.
"Um, Bee I think Major Lennox wants us to follow them." The older boy sitting in the front seat said loudly, head craned to watch a half-dozen military trucks turn onto a different street.
Harry went back to his window, optics turned toward the sky. Maybe he could fly away? Lord Megatron told him not to try, but it seemed so much nicer up there than in the cab of the horrible Autobot who took him. He tuned out whatever Bumblebee said through his weird radio-speak, he didn't want to know. He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to hear or see anything that was related to his newest captor.
Harry crushed himself against the glass of the window, too close to Bumblebee, but not far enough from the cube one of the human passengers buckled into place right next to him. It wasn't incomprehensibly huge anymore, nor as grand. The hot pulse of conscious power that had turned Harry into a robot wasn't there either, in fact Harry was pretty sure it was somewhere inside him now.
But he wasn't going to think about that right then. He was going to face the sky and pretend he was anywhere else, anyone else.
Time passed in a jumbled slide of raised voices, radio static, and revving engines. The sun was beginning its descent by the time Bumblebee slowed to a halt.
They were on the other side of the city, on the outskirts of the desert again, but the roads and buildings were deserted. The military was also parked around the edges, barking into walkie-talkies and constantly casting glances across the perimeter like they were expecting to be attacked.
But that didn't catch Harry's attention immediately, the four vehicles conspicuously missing drivers rolling right up to Bumblebee stole his focus. The insignias decorating each vehicle matched Bumblebee's perfectly. Without a doubt, these were the members of Bumblebee's Autobot unit.
Lord Megatron has said Cybertronians held the capability to mimic things, but it was still utterly bizarre to see a fancy silver car twist into a giant alien robot with the ease of shrugging off a coat. The two trucks and semi followed suit, until a blue and red robot the same size as the hulking Lord Megatron and a silver robot the same height as Bumblebee- whom Harry was beginning to realize was short- stood imposingly before him, with a black robot with glinting guns and a yellow, boxier looking robot taking up the rear.
"Glad to see those humans didn't mess you up too badly." The black Cybertronian noted in a gravelly British accent. Harry fought off the flicker of grudging happiness at the soothing nostalgia of Surrey, he didn't like these robots.
"Bumblebee, what was so important that you couldn't tell us over the comm? We need to be preparing for Megatron's attack, where's the cube?" The big blue and red one said quickly, bright electric blue optics heavy on Bumblebee and by proxy, his cab's occupants.
The two American teenagers climbed out of Bumblebee as if on cue and quietly greeted all the Autobots.
It was confusing, so humans liked Cybertronians? Why was the American military helping anyways? Was it only that scientists that hated them all so much?
"Brace yourselves!/-unlike anything you've ever seen before!" Bumblebee blared, and transformed with Harry and the cube still inside.
Harry curled into a ball, but he wasn't pinched or crushed. With the roll of a trillion clicking components, he was deposited into the palm of one giant hand while the cube landed in the other.
All the Autobots shifted, straightening and leaning forward as if gravitated by the cube. The largest reached out a slow servo and Bumblebee quietly handed it over.
They only had half a second to inspect the cube on their own before Bumblebee brought Harry forward too, toward the strange robots.
"You're gonna want to see this." He alerted the red and blue one, who glanced up distractedly only for piercing blue optics to zero in on Harry with pinpoint accuracy.
Harry felt his wings shiver as he tucked himself even tighter, there was nowhere to hide from that gaze on Bumblebee's servo and one quick peek over the edge told him jumping wasn't an option either.
"...What is this?"
"Bee found him next to Megatron at the dam." The teenaged boy explained, and Harry twitched anxiously. He had forgotten the humans were there.
"I think he's broken though, he can't speak." The girl followed up, and now all the Autobots had peeled themselves away from the cube to stare at Harry.
The biggest one reached forward again in the same careful movement he'd used to receive the cube. His servo was even bigger than Bumblebee's, Harry was barely the size of a single digit, and its ginormous shadow bathed him in darkness away from the afternoon sun.
Harry gave a shriek, fear bubbling up in his throat as he scrambled away, almost falling right off Bumblebee's palm if it weren't for his captor's quick reflexes, closing his hand around Harry and tucking him to his chest, away from the giant strangers.
There was absolute silence in the wide circle of military escorts, Harry hid away, tucking himself against Bumblebee. He hated Bumblebee, he was so mean and took Harry away from Lord Megatron. But he was also the smallest and probably wouldn't hurt him, and Harry had to take what he could get.
"What. The. Frag." One of them deadpanned, and Harry slammed his optics off.
"Is it some sort of protoform?" Another asked quietly.
"Protoforms can't make those frequencies." It sounded like it was the blue and red one who answered. His deep voice seemed uneasy.
"Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop!" Bumblebee sang, and Harry was pulled away from him and back out toward the largest Cybertronian. He couldn't wriggle free either, Bumblebee kept his fist closed around him. Fear throbbed at a painful beat inside him, as he was suspended over a dozen feet in the air, held out in offering to a towering Cybertronian.
"Impossible." The other yellow one said flatly, eyeing Harry with what might have been distrust. "Bumblebee, give the...protoform over to Prime so I can scan you over, the humans must have damaged one of your processors."
Bumblebee shook his head and lifted Harry higher into the air, at optic-level with the red and blue Cybertronian.
-I'm fine, Ratchet! I swear, I'm telling the truth. This is Harry. I found it in the lab next to where the humans kept Megatron. It's the real fragging deal.- Bumblebee transmitted, it was a broad signal that Harry suspected encompassed all Cybertronians there.
Harry remained silent, he didn't dare make a sound as he watched the red and blue one, far too close for comfort.
"How would you even know? You haven't even seen one besides yourself!" The English-accented one scoffed aloud.
"Seen what? Is that Autobot special?" The teenaged boy down below asked.
"This isn't an Autobot." The red and blue one corrected absently, still staring at Harry with unnerving focus. "It's not a Decepticon either."
"Just because it's not marked as a Decepticon doesn't mean it isn't one. This could be a trap." The English one cautioned, but the red and blue one pulled his facial plates into a confused frown.
"No, I don't think so...Look closely. It hardly has any armor and barely any of it is scratched. It looks too young to…" Suddenly, that huge servo came back out and plucked Harry from Bumblebee's grip.
"Ratchet, can you scan-"
Harry keened in fright, lurching with the momentum of the Cybertronian's movement. In a blind panic, he lashed out. Harry dug his claws in and hunkered low to avoid being thrown clean off. He wanted Lord Megatron so badly, he was so scared. What were they going to do to him?
-Harry, calm down. Optimus won't hurt you.- Bumblebee urged, but Harry couldn't bite back his shuddering whines. They were so much bigger than him, and they kept grabbing him and somewhere in the fray he'd lost his blanket. He was cold and aching and tired and there was nowhere to hide.
All throughout his panic attack, every Autobot besides Bumblebee had frozen so abruptly they looked like off-balance statues.
Then, the English one let out a deep croon. A rumble that buzzed in Harry's chest plate and held a soothing promise of safety. Harry felt his servos unclench seemingly on their own as he shifted to glance at the black robot.
"Ironhide, what the hell are you-" The small silver one began.
"Shut up, it's gonna crash if it doesn't calm down soon." The English one -Ironhide?- snapped back before returning to the purring note that sounded a bit like something Lord Megatron did when Harry started to cry. Was this one like Lord Megatron, then? Even the reminder quieted his whimpers.
"Ratchet," The red and blue one that still clutched him high in the air said quietly. "Scan it now."
"P-Prime, this is ridiculous." The boxy yellow one stammered. "There aren't any left. T-there's no way. No way." He sounded upset.
Harry deactivated his optics and returned back to curling into a ball. He couldn't get away from them and they could hurt him with the easiest touch, he wanted to go back to Lord Megatron. The cold and stress made him feel like he weighed a thousand pounds, it was a terrible sort of exhaustion. Ironhide racketed up the noise until it sounded like the gentlest, warmest motor hum he'd ever heard.
"That wasn't a request." The red and blue one's pointer digit began to run down Harry's helm, stroking down to the center of his wings before running back up to apply soft pressure to the back of his neck.
Harry flinched under the initial contact, shriek bubbling behind his mouth plate, but it didn't last. Though the finger was metallic, it was warm. It felt like the other was rubbing a special sequence into Harry, one that loosened his joints and made his wings droop.
The boxy one, maybe named Ratchet, hesitated for a moment longer. Harry activated his optics to find him staring, servos clenched and faceplate furrowed with pain. Harry would've shrunk back from the expression, but the red and blue one's administrations kept him pressed against his palm.
Finally, Ratchet's right servo clicked and switched until it had become some sort of cylinder with a point in the center, and he aimed it at Harry.
Before Harry could jerk away, a beam of light shot out from the point and struck him square in the chest plate. It wasn't solid, but it felt heavy and hot and climbed inside him with an alien physicality. He squirmed, wishing with all his spark that they would leave him alone soon.
The beam stayed steady as it reached his head, and he could feel it rifling through things with terrifying power. Harry wrenched away from the blue and red one's petting and gave a frustratingly futile kick. It didn't even leave a scratch.
"Steady." The red and blue one hushed, as if he were some dangerous animal that needed penning. Harry gave another kick, hiding a wince as his ped crashed against the nigh-indestructible Autobot.
The beam cut off and Ratchet typed furiously at a series of screens and buttons decorating a plate on his greaves. Not once did he look in Harry's direction, hunched over his arm as he was.
"So, is he like, sick?" The human girl guessed quietly, the only noise besides Ratchet's tapping. It remained unanswered, no one even glanced in her direction, everyone boring holes into Ratchet instead.
"What's the verdict, man?" The silver one prompted after another long pause.
Ratchet still hadn't looked up, clicking away on the device on his wrist.
"What's taking so long?" Ironhide sighed, hum dropping off. Harry shivered at the loss.
Ratchet still didn't react, completely focused on the thousand moving symbols flicking in and out of the screen.
"Ratchet." The blue and red one rumbled.
"N-No, this is wrong- give me more time- I need to-" He mumbled feverishly, hunching further over his screen. Harry blinked, Ratchet's servos were trembling. What was making him so upset?
"It's okay, just tell us what you found." The other coaxed.
"No! Something's not- this is wrong. It c-can't-" Ratchet was shaking his head now too, his digits were almost missing his gauntlet with each swipe, he was so out of sorts. Harry pulled his knees up to his chest plate, his only form of protection in case Ratchet tried to attack him.
"Ratch-" The silver one began, arm outstretched toward the yellow Autobot.
"No!" Ratchet shouted, launched away. "They're dead! I-I saw them and- and they were destroyed! This is a trick! There's no way. I tried but- they're gone!"
The rise in volume set more than a few people on edge, many of the military escorts were tensing and leaning a little closer, both human teenagers had retreated to behind Bumblebee for protection. Harry barely noticed the others, though, he was too busy scrambling to get away.
Ratchet was getting louder and wilder and Harry knew these signs from Uncle Vernon. He needed to run away, put any distance at all between the volatile robot and himself.
The red and blue one shifted, placing a thumb against his chest plate and effectively pinning him to the Autobot's hand. Harry hadn't even managed to get out of his palm.
He didn't realize he was shaking until the rattle of metal against metal hit his audio receptors, and even then there was nothing to quell his terror when the red and blue one actually extended Harry toward Ratchet.
Harry broke into near hysterical whimpers, scratching to get away before he was killed or crushed or whatever Ratchet planned on doing. He wanted Lord Megatron like a physical pain, why were these robots going to hurt him? Didn't Bumblebee say his team would like him? Was this another lie? Harry could hardly think straight, staring in horror as Ratchet's boxy form lurched much closer into view.
"Ratchet, look."
Ratchet stumbled, swinging his face forward, optics wild and darting right up until they made contact with Harry's. Then, Ratchet jerked as if electrocuted, straightening almost too fast to track.
Harry stilled as well, cries lodged in his throat. From his horrible proximity and height, he had a clear view of the other's faceplates. And up close, Ratchet didn't look angry at all- no furrowed brow or sneering denta.
Instead, he looked devastatingly sad.
If Harry wasn't so petrified by the Autobot, he might've asked what was wrong, he looked like he could cry at any second. But slowly, optics never leaving Harry, the faceplates shifted. Something close to wonder and fear cleared the sorrow away, still confusing, but not nearly as awful as anger.
In a dizzying rush of movement, Ratchet surged forward with feline precision. Harry blinked, and from one second to the next he had been captured and reeled in at sickening speeds.
Harry barely had time to squeal before warm, blessedly warm digits began running up his spine and rubbing down his abdominal plating.
Despite himself, Harry uncurled and allowed Ratchet's heated hand to massage his entire body in smooth circular motions that sharply contrasted his earlier shakiness. Harry's own panicky quivering died a quick death under firm hands.
Harry had never felt so pliable before, forcefully melted by heat but unwilling to protest the handling. His wings twitched and shivered with each brush against Ratchet's servo, feeling more sensitive than before, but not to the point of discomfort. Instead, he felt like he was being washed away by the soothing ministrations. His fear hadn't disappeared, but it was harder to reach the further he fell away.
Harry peered up at Ratchet, whose face had come even closer now that he was in the Autobot's grasp.
Ratchet was still watching him, though his expression had changed again. Harry couldn't place the look, but it seemed darker somehow than the simple fear from before. More intense and twisted, and yet completely devoid of ill intent as far as Harry could see.
His mouth was moving, shaping into precise, humming frequencies and growly murmurs. It didn't have any rhythm that Harry could identify, but it felt like a lullaby.
"F-frag...so it's true? This is…" The silver one whispered, leaning in just close enough to peek out from the edge of Harry's vision. Harry leaned away, but Ratchet somehow made his wonderful servos grow even warmer and promptly turned his pistons to jello.
"Yes." Ratchet ground out, part sob part prayer. "He's a sparkling."
Bumblebee let out a wordless cheer, but it was barely audible over the grating chokes of the others. It sounded as though they'd been struck.
"H-he doesn't look that shiny to me…" The teenaged boy mumbled from the ground.
Just as they had with the Allspark, but much slower, the Autobots huddled around Harry. None reached out to touch, but he could see their fisted servos and wide optics and knew what they wanted.
"Sam, a sparkling is a cybertronian in its earliest stage. Something so fragile we were unable to protect more than a handful across the entire war." The red and blue one spoke gravely.
"You said he is a mech?"
Ratchet, whether consciously or not, leaned away from his comrades, pulling Harry to rest against his chest plate. Harry didn't mind, for the yellow bot's chest was nearly as warm as his hand. "Yes. I did a complete scan. He's only a few deca-cycles old, ten at most. There's also-"
"How in the glitching hell, did a sparkling remain completely undetected for ten deca-cycles? How did it get on this planet of all places? Where are his parental units? Why is a Primus-damned sparkling alone?" Ironhide burst forth, breaking the circle of Autobots to stand in front of Ratchet as though he could know any of those things.
-I found him in the human lab I was taken to. Megatron said- Bumblebee began.
-What do you mean you spoke to Megatron?- The silver one's voice cut in.
-that Harry's parental units were offlined. Harry can tell you himself, he has access to his comm unit.-
The blue and red one had been looking at Harry this entire time, optics ancient and sad. He bowed a bit to maintain optic contact with Harry. -Little one, would you tell us your story?- His voice was much softer through the transmission.
Harry looked away, clutching a little closer to one of Ratchet's digits. In response, the yellow bot curled his servos further in, partially blocking him from view. Despite being so terrifying earlier, Ratchet was quickly becoming Harry's favorite Autobot.
-M-my parents are dead.- He admitted, cringing away as Bumblebee's unit surged even closer. -B-but I'm not alone.-
Harry, he's not what you think he is.- Bumblebee protested, but Harry only gave him his best glare from the safety of Ratchet's hands.
-Lord Megatron was caring for me. I wanted to stay! Y-you took me away but I didn't want to go!-
-'Lord' Megatron?- The red and blue one echoed slowly.
-I guess Megatron looked out for him while they were in the lab together, he doesn't understand what a fracking psychopath that monster is.- Bumblebee shrugged with aggravating dismissal.
-T-take that back! He's not a monster! Those scientists- they're the monsters! Lord Megatron never hurt me like they did!- Harry was rattling again, he could hear it distantly.
"Settle down now, hush." Ratchet cooed into Harry's audible receptors thumbing over his wings and applying the slightest pressure on his back. Harry felt himself still again, much to the other's pleasure. "There you go. That's it, little one, you're fine." Little one, Harry blinked sadly, Lord Megatron called him that too.
"What does he mean by that? What scientists?" Ironhide growled, guns clicking ominously. "You said you found him in a lab but surely they didn't…"
Bumblebee's engines revved angrily and he clenched and unclenched his servos. -They did. The humans at the lab they took me to were dissecting any Cybertronian they could get their hands on. Megatron was frozen in there, and Harry was being experimented on-
He didn't finish his transmission before Ironhide let out an enraged roar and spun to face the red and blue one.
"Well, Prime? Are we to protect the humans now? To harm a sparkling was once a crime punishable by termination, and I will gladly revive that law right now."
The red and blue one looked away from Harry for the first time, scanning the ground in long scopes, taking in both the teenagers and the circle of military escorts shuffling around. He looked unspeakably sad, the Autobots overall seemed like a melancholy bunch to Harry.
"Though the ones responsible will be brought to justice, we cannot punish an entire race for the sins of a few individuals." The red and blue one, whose name was Prime it seemed, spoke as though every word hurt.
"Perhaps not punish, but why in Cybertron's name would we ever protect these creatures! Their species is capable of experimenting on a sparkling! Humanity's ignorance doesn't go far enough to miss sentience when they see it, they damaged a sparkling and that proves their race's unworthiness further than any test I could think up." Ironhide spat, cannons whirling madly.
Prime was silent again, only watching Ironhide for a moment. Then, he spoke with the reluctant misery of a doctor pronouncing a failed resuscitation. "Then by your measure, how much more damnable is the race that killed every other sparkling in existence?"
His words shot out like a bullet, physically tearing through the surrounding Autobots with visceral accuracy.
The silver one choked, crowding closer to Ratchet as though sheer proximity to Harry could heal his hurts. Ironhide let his cannons drop and turned his gaze away from Prime, facial plates slack. Even Ratchet gave a shaky exhale. Harry didn't know exactly what Prime meant, but it was clear they cut deep.
There was a long pause after that, somber and awkward in spades.
"S-sparkling," Ironhide finally rasped, turning his optics down to Harry's curled form. "Are you in need of medical attention? Does anything still hurt?"
Harry shook his head, his scrapes had stopped aching and the warmth soothed his tired limbs. "From my scans, I know he has minor damage to his outer plating and a damaged wire, but the most pressing matter is the strain in his pistons and low energy levels. It's clear he was pushed to the point of collapse recently." Ratchet reported, delicately smoothing a digit over Harry's kinked wire, it sort of tickled.
"What about his talkin' with Megatron? He didn't do nothing to the sparkling's processors, did he?" The silver one prompted.
-They were talking for a while through comm transmissions. Megatron was frozen solid this entire time, only started getting out while I was leaving.- Bumblebee supplied.
Harry bristled, but Ratchet was already shaking his helm. "It would be impossible without direct access, it was the sparkling's own coding that made him so attached to Megatron."
"An emergency guardian protocol?" Prime murmured, and Ratchet blinked affirmatively.
"This little one must've been isolated for a while beforehand, the bond is rushed but deep in his programming."
-How long were you in the lab, little one?- Prime transmitted.
Harry shrugged, he was suspected it had been a few days but he was unwilling to share.
"I still don't under- how? How in the hell did a sparkling make it this long on Earth? What were the humans feedin' him all this time?" The silver one asked Bumblebee.
Harry could actually see the pulse of terror strike through the Autobots like a lightning bolt. Ratchet let out a pained noise. -What were you eating before now, little one? Tell me.- He nearly begged.
Harry squirmed uncomfortably, he didn't want to make them any more upset. He shrugged again, denta grit.
-T-they never fed me. I wasn't hungry ever.-
"That's impossible," The silver one hissed out, still looking terrified. "Is he glitched? Sparklings c-can't survive without sparkling-grade energon."
"What they need is an ultra-refined, low-intensity energy source." Ratchet corrected.
"There weren't any alternatives anywhere on Cybertron, but perhaps this sparkling was administered a human resource that does not require oral consumption." Prime said.
Ratchet pulled Harry away from his chest plate and flexed his servo in a way that him lightly petting Harry's front. For all that the digits were capable of plucking his head from his shoulders, the touch was soft and gentle.
"Stay still, little spark. I'm going to scan you to look for any abnormalities." He murmured softly, treating Harry like a sick kitten.
Harry stiffened at the thought of being scanned again. But Ratchet was so careful when he handled Harry, he didn't think he would be purposefully harmed by the boxy yellow Autobot.
The beam of light was no less terrifying the second time around, striking him with an alarmingly corporeal thump and creeping into his circuits moments later.
Blessedly, the session was much quicker. Ratchet cut the connection off almost immediately, a sharp intake of air his only reaction.
"What is it?" The English one asked fearfully. Harry hadn't thought to be afraid of the results until right then. If Ratchet had been looking for something weird inside him, did that mean something was wrong with him?
"His energy readings are as bright as a star- he's emitting! Almost like-"
Whatever conclusion Ratchet reached, Prime was quickly catching up. Without a word, the red and blue Autobot used his own scanning device and looked over the ancient relic reverently.
"Somethin' wrong with the Allspark too?" The silver one demanded, looking rapidly between Harry and the cube as though either might explode any second.
"The Allspark isn't in the cube anymore. It's empty."
"The Allspark...was destroyed?" Ironhide stumbled.
Bumblebee beeped loudly and pointed at Harry, a wordless ta-da sound coming from his speakers.
Harry was following the conversation. He shrank away from both Bumblebee and the cube, a shudder running through his wings. He knew exactly what they were talking about.
The cube, whatever was inside it that commanded so much power- a thousand voices, each a thousand years old, thundering as one- wasn't there anymore. It was inside Harry, silent and heavy somewhere at his very core. If he focused very hard he could almost feel their thrum still, the heartbeat tremor that had caught his attention in the first place.
"No, it's only moved. The Allspark is inside the sparkling." Ratchet curled both hands around Harry again, applying a slight pressure from all sides that made him feel a little safer. With Ratchet holding him, neither Bumblebee or the cube could get close, and he seemed affectionate enough that Harry might be able to depend on him if the other Autobots become angry or try to hurt him later.
"Inside? How the hell is he still online?" The silver one spluttered.
"Some Cybertronians could carry the Allspark without it merging with their spark, most of the higher-ranked priests could if you remember. It's rare but the Prime before me could carry it too, he was never hungry when he did it." Prime mused.
Harry looked down at himself, at the glowing light at the center of his chest. He traced the circle of light with a clawed servo, pondering what he'd learned. So the Allspark inside him was feeding him too?
He hadn't really thought about food up to this point, mostly because he wasn't sure if Cybertronians ate anything and if they ate as frequently as humans. But it seemed they ate frequently enough that he should be dead by day four without sustenance, so he supposed holding whatever was in the cube wasn't completely bad.
Harry looked up at Ratchet. -So as long as the er- Allspark is inside of me, I'll never be hungry?-
Ratchet nodded, smoothing a hand over his head. "It's pure power, housing that much in a Cybertronian frame is usually too much to handle. But because you have a quirk in your spark chamber that allows you to house the Allspark without it interacting with your spark, you're projecting enough energy to sustain yourself without drawing on reserves."
Harry took that as a yes, and settled back down.
"What- was the little guy speakin' to you? What did he say?" The silver one leaned in eagerly.
"He was just asking for clarification. He doesn't need to eat so long as the Allspark isn't removed from his spark chamber."
The silver Autobot blinked blue optics down on Harry. "If ya have any more questions, I can answer a few of em too, cool? The name's Jazz, by the way."
Harry stared silently at the very strange Cybertronian.
"Prime, we haven't introduced ourselves to the sparkling yet." Ironhide muttered to Prime, but whatever discretion he was hoping for was utterly lost in the booming volume of his voice.
Prime straightened, and with a tilt of his head made Ratchet hold Harry up a little higher and closer to the other Autobots.
Harry didn't want this at all, but was becoming resigned to the handling. Instead of protesting or scratching uselessly at Ratchet's hand, he lowered himself and held on tight.
"Apologies, little sparkling. This solar cycle has been extremely eventful, you must be very confused." Prime began softly, looking a little too close to reaching out and petting him. Harry felt his wings flatten against his back.
"My designation is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots."
Harry knew for certain that he had a mouth under his mouth plate then, for he could feel his jaw drop in shock at the illustrious title. If Lord Megatron was the leader of the Decepticons, and Autobots were the enemies of the Decepticons, then he was face-to-face with Lord Megatron's greatest opposition.
Sour fear crept up his throat, leaving him a degree colder in the warmth of Ratchet's heated servos. He had already revealed his connection to his Decepticon guardian and he had no intention of joining the Autobots, would they punish him for it? Was Optimus Prime angry? He didn't seem so, maybe he had forgotten?
"This is my first lieutenant, designation Jazz." Optimus continued, oblivious to Harry's growing distress.
The silver one gave a lazy salute, so Harry supposed he was Jazz.
"My weapons specialist, Ironhide." Optimus gestured over to the English one, who nodded.
"It is an honor, sparkling."
Harry nodded back hesitantly.
"You've already been acquainted with my medical officer, Ratchet." Optimus continued.
Ratchet gave him a minute squeeze, electric blue optics dark and warm all at once. "Hello, little one."
"And then, of course, you also know my scout, designation Bumblebee."
"Hello, it's me.../I can tell that we are going to be friends~" Bumblebee waved happily at him, as if he hadn't torn him away from Lord Megatron a few hours prior.
Harry glared for all he was worth, before turning back to Optimus. Harnessing the heat in his chest, he leveled the Autobot leader with a determined gaze.
-I want to be put back. Bumblebee took me from Lord Megatron and I didn't want to go, please let me leave.- He tried to sound as confident as possible, but even he could hear the tiny quiver in his transmission.
"Holy frag, he really thinks he's Megatron's sparkling." Jazz whispered in horror to Ironhide, far too loud for Harry not to hear. He resolutely didn't look in the silver Autobot's direction, though it stung to hear the disbelief. Harry was Lord Megatron's!
Optimus glanced briefly at Bumblebee before looking back to Harry, still sitting in Ratchet's outstretched palm. "I know you're scared, little one. But whatever Megatron might have said, no harm will come to you here. I swear on my spark that you will be cared for." He soothed solemnly.
Whatever bravery Harry had mustered shattered under Optimus' compassion, a choked sob welled in his throat and he crumpled in on himself.
Ratchet let out a croon and Harry was immediately sequestered to the safety of Ratchet's chest. But he wasn't hysterical or panicky, there was nothing to calm. There was just a heavy stone of sorrow sitting in his chassis, and a crushing need for Lord Megatron.
He remembered how Lord Megatron comforted instantaneously whenever he made such noises of distress and demanded to know the cause with a strangely wondrous lethality. Harry wished with all his hear- spark, that Lord Megatron would somehow hear his cries and rescue him right at that instant.
"Shh...it's okay, little spark." Ratchet rocked him ever so slightly. "You're going to be just fine."
"What's wrong with him?" Ironhide snapped. "Is he malfunctioning? Is he hurt? What happened?"
"It's just an emergency guardian protocol" Optimus explained. "Little one, your caretaker isn't your parental unit, he's not capable of caring for you. He's not-"
"Leave him be! He's a sparkling not a soldier, you can't just tell him to stop being sad." Ratchet snapped at his defense, turning his back to Prime and blocking him from Harry's view.
Harry curled tighter and fought to ignore Optimus' horrible words. It wasn't just a stupid program, or whatever. Lord Megatron was the only one who had ever really cared about him, who was strong and mean enough to protect him from anything. Lord Megatron promised that they would stay together, and Harry would not break that promise, especially not for people like Bumblebee.
"Don't cry, little guy." Jazz sounded distraught. "There's nothin' for ya to be afraid of. We're gonna do way better by ya than any bitch-ass Decepticon could."
"Language." Ironhide chided, and Jazz actually looked more guilty.
-I-I want to go b-back to the lab. Please don't keep me here...I want Lord Megatron.- Harry cried into Ratchet's servos. His pleas were babble at that point, for all that the Autobots listened.
"No, no, no. Don't ask for that, you'll never see those Primus-damned labs so long as I'm functioning." Ratchet fretted, and began to stroke Harry again.
Though the grief didn't lessen, Harry did quiet under the medic's attention. How could he not? He had never been soothed like that before, so patient and gentle. Even Lord Megatron, whom Harry would choose over any Autobot in a second, was much more commanding even in comfort.
-That's it, just rest.- Ratchet transmitted encouragingly, warm, warm servos cupping his entire body like a winter quilt.
Abruptly, a new group of humans in military uniform, escorted by two tanks, pulled up to the circle of men. They spoke for a period of time with the American military already positioned in a wide circle, before the teenaged boy trot up to them. Harry hadn't seen him leave, but a quick scan of the area told him the two teenagers had made themselves comfortable in the shade by a truck while the Autobots had dealt with him.
"They're getting kinda antsy over there, Optimus." The teenaged boy warned nervously. "They told me to tell you that they're willing to put you in a military warehouse while they, like, sort through things. So long as you let them watch you, I mean."
Optimus turned toward his unit, a silent question in the air.
"I'm down. Might be good cover from the Decepticons." Jazz shrugged.
"I don't think we should trust the humans, they shouldn't even be on the same planet as a sparkling." Ironhide didn't look murderous when he stared down at the teenaged boy, but there wasn't a hint of thaw to the ice in his optics.
The teenager skirted closer to Bumblebee.
"We'll need to make contact with Earth's governments eventually, so long as we don't compromise safety this might be a good move." Ratchet advised neutrally, giving Harry another rock.
"It's a yes from me! Congratulations, you're going to-/to hide away, hide away?~" Bumblebee agreed, the bubbly playback offsetting his sad glances toward Harry.
Harry steeled himself and looked away. He wasn't being a bully, he wasn't. Bumblebee hurt him first. He wouldn't listen to Harry and now he was stuck with the Autobots and Megatron was all alone, perhaps still struggling to get out of the ice.
"Alright, then. Sam, tell your commander that we will acquiesce for now." Optimus instructed.
"Ratchet, keep Harry and the cube with you during transport. Stay in the center of our formation."
"Wait, his designation is Harry? Who named him?" Ironhide interrupted.
"What's wrong with that? It's hella unique compared to something like 'Ironhide'." Jazz defended.
"We'll discuss redesignating the sparkling later. Right now we need to roll ou-"
A blast slammed straight into Optimus' chest plate, sending him sprawling on the ground in a deafening crash.
Harry shrieked, burrowing into Ratchet as one of the tanks transformed into a beige, angular Cybertronian.
Ironhide was already firing back, Jazz shoved Ratchet behind him as if his short stature could cover the medical officer. Harry screamed again as he was violently lurched along with the rough movement, dizzy and trembling with the ferocity of his grip on Ratchet. The human soldiers were scattering like insects, the taptaptaptap of their guns rattled uselessly off the haywire tank.
"Give me the cube!" The tank robot bellowed, lunging into the fray and grappling with Ironhide head-on.
"Ratchet, get behind me!" Optimus commanded, on his feet and sprinting toward the grappling twist of robots.
Ratchet bent to scoop up the fallen cube and backed up even further. Harry didn't know why he wasn't helping Jazz fire at the tank whenever the wrestling pair paused long enough make a steady target, but he definitely wasn't going to ask.
For all that the tank Cybetronian was dense and armed to the teeth, he was badly outnumbered and Harry doubted he even had a chance at victory.
But victory wasn't the goal, it seemed. For the tank spent far less time defending himself from Ironhide's heavy artillery, Jazz and Bumblebee's rapid-fire, or even the sword Optimus swung out to slice through armor like butter.
Instead, he was firing madly at the lot of them. Blasting Ironhide right off his back with a tank missile and headed on a berserker rampage right for Ratchet. His burning red optics never left the cube, even as Optimus tore his left servo off at the shoulder and sizzling energon hit the pavement.
Bumblebee leapt at the tank next, but the enemy rolled at the last second and rode Bumblebee into the ground. Using the space he created, the tank leveled his sights right on Ratchet, long scope glinting off the dying sunset.
Ratchet transformed into a Hummer to take evasive action, Harry landed heavily on his side in the cab and immediately threw himself to the floor in an effort to wedge himself and avoid smacking into the windows during a hairpin turn. The cube rattled across the interior, colliding into his wings at one point and yanking a cry from his vocal processor.
"Don't touch him!" Ironhide screamed above the din, sending cannonfire after the tank. It was an incredible testament to the enemy's armor that it was only denting horribly under the attack.
The battle was chaotic, only a handful of seconds had reduced the calm circle of Autobots into roaring, burning giants on a warpath. The pandemonium outside Ratchet's cab, a mix of howling cries of pain from the tank, and spark-jolting thuds of incredibly large projectiles slamming into the ground far too close either Harry or Ratchet.
Then, a single shot rang out. And with it, a blanket of silence descended.
Harry cautiously peered outside Ratchet's window,for even the medical officer had come to a braking halt upon the lone fire. The tank was in a bubbling heap on the ground, clearly and brutally dead. Harry averted his eyes, nausea welling as he searched for the one who killed him. None of the Autobots had their weapons pointed at the right angle, but there was a new figure a distance away. Gunmetal silver and bigger than a house, it could only be one person.
Gunmetal silver and bigger than a house, it could only be one person.
Megatron lowered his servo, blaster still smoking from the execution of his soldier. The slimy fragger deserved a much worse fate that the quick shot to the spark Megatron delivered, given the chance he would've made a messy example of what happens when a fool chooses to doubt the leader of the Decepticons.
Brawl had always been impulsive, and that impulsiveness had devolved into sheer blinding aggression very quickly after the fall of Cybertron. Megatron knew he'd eventually have to put the berserker down, but that Brawl had come so close to injuring his sparkling...the rage left him speechless.
For Brawl to believe there was a being smart enough to fool Megatron with a false-sparkling, to believe that he wouldn't be killed for disobeying orders, to believe he could get to the Allspark alone- the arrogance was borderline insanity. He hadn't suspected for a moment that Megatron would realize he was missing a soldier, or predict Brawl's actions and seek out the Autobot unit for himself.
Prime and his pathetic band of rejects scrambled to their peds, weapons level at Megatron. It was laughable that they believed he was here to fight them, as if he would stand so still in a battle when he was once renowned for making his initial attack irreparably fatal.
Starscream landed beside Megatron, red optics darting from Autobot to Autobot with ill-hidden anxiety. It was appalling, Megatron was tempted to rip the seeker's optics out for displaying such weakness in front of the enemy.
Megatron knew his other troops were milling about nearby, under direct order not to interfere or attack the Autobots during this exchange. He had just killed their comrade for doing something similar, he doubted the command was needed. But he'd learned not to overestimate the intelligence of others, very few Cybertronians were worth the energon they ran on.
The two factions stared at each other for a moment, Megatron knew Prime's pathetic self-righteousness would never allow him to fire first, especially after it appeared as though he had assisted them. So he felt no apprehension of his own, merely searching the Autobots for the sparkling they didn't deserve to have- should never have even seen.
It was hard to tear his gaze from the yellow scout, even after he'd determined Haeree was not in his possession. Every minuscule circuit within him bayed for destruction and he was reluctant to reign it in when the scout so badly needed to be dismantled for his crimes against Megatron.
"Where's my sparkling, Prime?" Megatron growled finally, his voice echoing. Even the filth squirming about in uniform remained still, no doubt sensing the apex predator among them.
"He's not your sparkling." The large black mech barked back.
"The sparkling is mine." Megatron asserted, but kept his stare squared solely on Prime. He already had an idea of where Haeree was, only one of Prime's troops was in their alt form, and the distance from Brawl's cooling corpse suggested he had been retreating during the battle.
"With us," Prime finally answered, "safe."
Megatron bared his denta in a snarl. "Give it to me."
-Lord Megatron! L-Lord M- You came back!- Haeree's joyous lisp transmitted directly into his comm unit.
Megatron grinned. -Of course I did, you're mine. Status report.-
"Or what?" Prime's puny second-in-command spat.
-I'm fine. They haven't hurt me- but I want to go with you! Please, get me out of here!- Haeree pleaded, and the grin melted right off Megatron's facial plates.
They were distressing his sparkling, the pathetic fools were holding it captive and making it cry right in front of him.
"Or I'll yank the spark out of every last one of you with my bare servos." He didn't fire any of his weapons, but it was a close thing. Even cowardly Starscream was fidgeting under their sheer gall.
Prime was still watching him, not making any move to attack. But the rest of his unit bristled and fell into formation, weapons whining for battle. The lone mech in alt form remained behind, however, further convincing Megatron that his sparkling resided in the cab.
"You wouldn't fight us now, not after offlining one of your own just to keep the peace." Prime decided.
"Make no mistake, Prime, I have no interest in peace." Megatron sneered. "I just don't trust your weak-willed, second-rate glitches to keep my sparkling undamaged while I finally take you down."
-Lord Megatron? Can you hear me? I'm in the yellow car! P-please help me! Please! I want to be with you!- Haeree sounded panicked now.
-Hush, little one.- Megatron shushed. -I won't leave you, never doubt me. But I won't return you to your rightful place this solar cycle-
"Any one of my troops would gladly lay down their sparks for a sparkling. That's precisely why you will never touch this one again, he is where he belongs." Prime declared, practically begging for Megatron to take his head off with his denta.
-W-what? Why? Is it something I did? I'm sorry! I'm sorry if I-
-Calm yourself, this is not a punishment. If you displease me I will make it known, understood?-
-Yes, I guess. But-
Megatron interrupted again. -It is not safe to retrieve you at this time, any potential for damage is unacceptable. I will gather my army and lay siege upon this entire galaxy to return you to me, but only when I deem the risk factor of such a mission negligible.
Haeree let out a low, mournful whine that was audible even from Megatron's place several hundred feet away. Optimus narrowed his optics, but was the only mech smart enough not to lurch in alarm toward the yellow mech in the back, keeping his attention fixed in the deadliest being for light-years.
"This is my only warning, Prime. Keep my sparkling safe while I offline every wretched mech glitched enough to make their optics blue, because if it even gains a scratch during your downfall, you'll be begging for a death I will never grant."
If the Autobot unit had been lead by any other soft-helmed malfunction, Megatron would not have made that threat. The solution was too obvious, just use the sparkling as a living shield. But Megatron knew Prime, Prime formed his faction out of a failing logistics system instead of desperate fear of being melted down for spare parts, unlike his miserable band of inferiors. It was that same flawed moral code Megatron was relying on right then.
Just as Megatron knew Prime would protect the human germs, he knew that Prime would never put Haeree in the way of Megatron's onslaught.
"Unlike your own mechs," Prime began, purposefully glancing at the wreck of Brawl. "Not a single Autobot would ever put a sparkling in peril on purpose. You have my word that the sparkling will be cared for until his final frame of growth under my command."
-I don't care! I've been beat up before, I can take it! D-don't worry about me, please. Just let me go with you! I- I miss you.- Haeree keened, and it was borderline painful to ignore the caretaker protocols flickering to full power in response to his sparkling's distress.
Though the urge was so strong, all Megatron would have to do to rush forward and reclaim his sparkling was stop resisting- the programming would take over from there, the risk was still far too high. With just Brawl's attack, Haeree had almost been hit by a tank missile, the Autobots would fail immediately at protecting the sparkling from even the tiniest secondary fire if he were to attack.
"However," Prime continued unexpectedly. Megatron stiffened, was this a rare miscalculation? Had Prime toughened up while Megatron had been encased in ice? "I cannot guarantee the sparkling's safety should you ambush our base of operations, where the sparkling will be kept."
Did Prime already have a base? The humans had put one of his scouts in a lab for torture, could he have negotiated so quickly? Perhaps he found a deserted place? No matter.
"One base." Megatron rumbled warningly. "No offense system."
"One base." Prime echoed in agreement.
"M-My lord, will you seriously allow them to make demands-" Megatron flipped Starscream flat on his back, on top of his wings. The wheeze of pain was music to his auditory sensors as Megatron stomped on him for good measure.
"Cherish your final moments, Prime. I won't allow you to survive this theft." Megatron warned over his shoulder, and then transformed into an air-based alt form and blasted off before any mech could get off a shot. Starscream chased after him, an undignified screech of fear announcing his escape.
-Negative. Your safety will not be compromised. Remain with the Autobots for now, do not go to any human. If you see a Cybertronian with the Decepticon insignia on it, approach slowly. I will get you back, Haeree, make no mistake….And I am also greatly displeased by our distance. Farewell for now.-
-Lord Megatron, wait!-
Megatron's hatred for the Autobot unit only doubled as he left Haeree's proximity, losing his grief-soaked transmission halfway through.
He would do whatever it took to get Haeree back, their separation was unacceptable.
First he would gather his army, impress upon them the torment they faced should a single servo ever touch his sparkling without permission, and then lay waste to his enemies until only the scout remained.
The scout would lose his wings first and his life a very distant last.
Then he would have Haeree again, his most prized possession. And finally, he would raise the tiny sparkling in the reclaimed halls of Cybertron, a prince and shining beacon of a dawning new age. Haeree would laugh and sing as sparklings once did, though Megatron could scarcely remember. And most importantly, never cry again.
This, he etched into his spark.
And let the games being :)
Finally! The 'what is Harry eating' question has been answered! (it's life-juice, kids) Makes for some fun foreshadowing too.
Harry didn't have a lot to do this chapter, but this thing only spans like two hours. I did like getting a jump start on his relationship with some of the Autobots, though, that was nice. A lot of you were expecting more answers in this one, so sorry- we've got to set the scene before getting into more Decepticon/Autobot interaction.
The Autobots were so hard! I had to send Sam and Mikaela to the time-out corner- too many characters who all want to talk at once! Hopefully I got in all the reactions you wanted? There's gonna be a lot of hovering and fluff (with luck) in the next one, but this is the initial stuff that's always fun to read.
Did you guys get Ratchet's reaction? I wanted to make each one a little unique and I think if anyone one of them would have some serious PTSD over sparklings, it would be a medic who probably had to care for a lot of them while they were dying. Hope it didn't come off too weird.
Speaking of confusion, everyone got what happened to Brawl right? It was a little hard to squeeze into the narrative, but basically Brawl thought Megatron had been duped and went on a psychotic warpath (like you do), and Megs sniped him off.
And honestly, I think some rules of engagement set up because of that execution make great baby steps toward peace, wouldn't you say?
I think that's all I wanted to say...so onto questions!
Some people have been asking for clarification on the Allspark situation. I'll just say it. You know how Sam sort of had the Allspark in his head? So we know it can get transferred from object to object. Obviously it screwed Sam up, but I think a Cybertronian who also already has a wedge in his 'soul' can hold it a lot better. So did the Allspark- and so sparkling Harry was born! The Autobots think it's something a little different- no mixing and the result of dumb luck during an experiment, but Allspark is being housed directly in Harry's spark right now. What the difference with that actually means story-wise is a spoiler. He also no longer has magic, that would kill him.
WhovianDOTBowties had a couple of technical questions- I won't deny that some of these choices were just based on plot convenience (why hasn't Megatron picked up on Harry being a human? I can say it's because that idea is so weird it literally hadn't crossed his mind, but it's mostly because it would be waaayyy harder to set up their relationship if Megs didn't like Harry from the getgo).
And in my defense, we know that transformers have been hiding on Earth for a weirdly long time, why wouldn't some neutral hippies rename themselves and make peace with their new home?
Why doesn't Harry communicate to the scientists and Sam and Mikaela through shakes and nods? Harry can communicate that way, but none of the scientists ever spoke to him. He can't answer when no one asks him a question. He also straight-up didn't want to deal with Sam or Mikaela, he was being traumatized while they were introduced so he wasn't interested in communicating with them.
Don't worry about offending me with criticism, you guys. This based far more on emotion than logic, but I don't mind admitting that I made some dumb decisions along the way.
Please a review before you go!