Aw man, it's almost August. I know you guys are so ready for the much-awaited reunion, trust me I am too, but it won't happen quite yet. I swear, it's soon though! Like in the next chapter soon!
A million thanks to m reviewers; Starlit Storyteller, Lunarburst23, jgoss, AlloraStar217, nadillaandlaprasthefireandice, The Silvernote, SapphireSpark, DarkshadowsXsunny-sides, Bee4ever, Storygirl747, CastieLunaWinchester, xVentressx (lol), 99luftballonsx.o.x, SeaKissed140, Xarine, Royal Dragoness, and CrimsonGallade (cool username), shaddowdarkcloud, Egdes05, fnafwritings, SapphireStarz17, and wheelieandblur!
I'm not that great at writing action scenes, but I tried.
Chapter Thirty-One: Eye of the Storm
Two days had passed since we left Washington, and the memories behind. We were somewhere in Oregon on a lonely road. It was a very rainy day today, and I couldn't help but think about the day I first met the golden twin. A wry smile appeared in the corners of my lips, and I squeezed the cross on the necklace between my thumb and index finger. I was lounging in the driver's seat, trying to at least pretend like I was looking at the road. But once you've basically gotten used to driving in a car that drives itself, it was hard to remember. I almost gave a man a heart attack when we pulled up to a gas station the other night.
Unfortunately, I was running low on supplies.
Sunstreaker sighed, speaking through the radio, "Just how much resources do humans use up on a daily bases?"
I crossed my arms, "Hey, I've went two days without a proper shower. I probably smell like a skunk's worst nightmare, but you don't see me complaining." I sighed, circling my thumb over the steering wheel softly, "Trust me Sunstreaker, I want to see Sideswipe as badly as you. It's going to take a while to get back to Diego Garcia. Speaking of which, how do you plan to get there? Last time I checked cars can't float, unless you can take the form of a boat."
"No Charlie," I imagined an eye-roll that came with it, "There is a base in southern Nevada. We are going there, so that they can transport us."
"Oh," I nodded, "That makes more sense."
"What's that little pesk of yours doing in the back?"
I turned around in the driver's seat, and I couldn't help the smile that came to my lips. Quickshift was fast asleep, upside-down on the backseat. "Aww, he looks so adorable when he's recharging."
"Much better then when he's talking." Sunstreaker quipped.
I rolled my eyes, "Anyway, back to the pit stop thing."
He sighed, loudly and dramatically in a way that reminded me of Sideswipe.
"I promise, I won't be long."
He gave an unconvinced grunt.
"Hey, I already seen my family. That was my main reason for coming back to Washington. Now that I've seen them and said my goodbyes, I've got no other reason to stay." I said, with a shrug.
Sunstreaker was quiet for a moment, before he sighed, "Alright fine. The next pit stop is in twenty miles. We will stop there."
I nodded, and lounged back into my seat again, staring at the world through the windows as it passed by in a blur. The rain for some reason, always comforted me. It was life, and revival for the Earth. I always felt the most at peace with myself when I was in the rain, it felt like it could wash away all the bad things, and bring a new sense of hope. Sunstreaker on the other hand, was not as fond of rain, and constantly complained about it messing up his paint job. Sideswipe was right when he said he was the vainest fragger in the world.
I had closed my eyes, and shifted on my side, preparing to take a quick nap while listening to the rain patter against his hood when something stirred in my stomach. That feeling of dread that I kept getting so often. It felt like it was pumping ice through my veins, and I shivered. Warm air blasted through air conditioner, and I murmured a soft "thank you" before trying to go back to sleep.
The stupid feeling wouldn't leave.
The cold, iciness only spread, and suddenly, I heard the familiar sounds of a transformation sequence. But that wouldn't make any sense, because Sunstreaker was driving, and I'd be squished by now. My eyes shot open, and I jolted up from the passenger's seat.
"Did you guys hear that?" I asked, looking around. The storm clouds seemed to gather more, making everything dimmer and gloomy.
"Hear what?" Sunstreaker asked, a hint of wariness in his voice.
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to remember the sound, "It sounded like someone was transforming, someone big." I frowned, looking at the backseat, "But, that wouldn't make sense...because you're still a Lamborghini, and Quickshift is still asleep in the back. So what would-"
Sunstreaker suddenly came to a screeching stop, and I nearly slammed my forehead into the dashboard if I hadn't caught myself at the last minute. Quickshift toppled from his seat to the floor, and he awoke with a squawk of protest.
"Hey!" He shouted, "What the frag was that for?"
"There's a Decepticon here. It's approaching our location quickly." Sunstreaker swore quickly.
My eyes widened, "What?!"
"Now is not the time to panic. Charlie, there is a small barn house a few miles from here. I want you and Quickshift to hide there until I return."
It was like when I was with Sideswipe, and had to hide in the trees. My heart lurched in panic, but I trusted Sunstreaker without a doubt. The Lambo's door swung upward, and I pulled Quickshift out with me. Not long, the rain had completely drenched me, and I had to constantly wipe it out of my eyes as it drenched my clothes and plastered my hair to my forehead and neck. Sunstreaker had swiftly transformed, his blue eyes shining bright in the dim darkness made by the clouds.
"He's coming quick, go hurry!" Sunstreaker growled, unsheathing his twin blades.
The dread was only increasing, and I didn't want to leave him to deal with what could be a deadly Decepticon. But there was nothing I could do, I felt powerless.
"Please be careful!" I shouted up to him, looking him right in the optics. He nodded.
Quickshift was suddenly the one pulling me, farther and farther away from the golden twin as we ran on the slippery street. I felt torn inside, and I kept glancing back to make sure he was okay, until he disappeared from out sight. The barn house, as Sunstreaker said, was only a few miles off, and we had made it to the large red doors. I knocked on the door, before trying to pull it open.
Quickshift activated what looked like a cannon, but it shout out a thin, orange line. The wood sizzled underneath the laser as he made a hole in the door big enough for both of us to walk through. I didn't even have the time to be amazed as he ushered me inside, before replacing the chunk of the door again. The barn was dark, and eerily quiet, except for the steady drip of water from a small opening in the ceiling. It dripped a small puddle of water on to the ground.
My mind kept going between Sunstreaker and the dread pooling inside me. Something bad was about to happen, I could feel it, and it terrified me. I shivered, part from fear and the other cold as I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around myself. I flinched when a small, warm hand placed itself on my knee, and turned to see Quickshift's wide silver optics, illuminating like two moons in the darkness.
"It's okay Charlie," He said softly, "We're going to be fine."
I shook my head, "It's not us I'm worried about."
(Sunstreaker's POV)
The trees in front of me cracked and crumbled until they fell, and out of them appeared a set of crimson optics. A growl worked its way through my chassis, and my servo's clenched around my blades.
"Barricade." I snarled.
The Decepticon sneered, "Well, if it isn't the yellow one. Where's your obnoxious brother?"
My spark squeezed tightly in my chamber at the mention of Sideswipe, and the bond that I could not feel. I growled again, raising my swords, and charging for him. Barricade dodged the thrust to the right, and then a kick to the abdomen. I snarled, sweeping him off his pedes with my long blade, but he used his servos to spring right back on to his pede. I was only thrown off for a nanokilk, before I drove my clenched servo to his face. He blocked it with his forearm, twisting my arm painfully behind my back, and I hissed.
"Too slow." He sneered, slamming me into the ground harshly
My vision blurred for a moment as it restored itself, hearing Barricade's arms transforming into a plasma cannon. He mumbled something about it being too easy, and I growled lowly as my servos subspaced a short dagger. I drove it into his thigh and he howled in pain from above me. Smirking, I pushed him off me, and tackled him back on the ground. I kept one of my blades pressed against his throat to tightly that even the slightest shift would tear into an important cable.
"Why are you following us?" I spat, glaring down at him.
He mad an uncomfortable choking sound, and I loosened the blade on his throat fractionally, "Speak, Decepticon."
"Orders," He said, a wicked glint burning in his optics, "I'm here to deliver the girl."
I balked for a moment, before glaring at him again, "You mean Charlie?"
"You have a pet name for it?"
I snarled, pushing the blade at his throat again, "She's not an it!"
Barricade only chuckled, the sound deep and raspy from his throat, "Oh Sunstreaker. I thought you of all bots wouldn't care if the she lived or died. She's just another pathetic squishy on this pitiful Earth."
"Then why do you want her?" I rumbled lowly.
Barricade shrugged, "I don't want her personally. Starscream does."
I reeled at the news, and a low, menacing rumble worked its way up my engine, "Neither of you will ever lay a servo on her."
"Oh?" Barricade raised an optic ridge, a leering smirk stretched out on his face-plates, "And why is that?"
"I will end you if you try."
"Wrong." Barricade sneered, and then a burst of white-hot pain exploded in my lower abdomen.
My optics widened, and I took in a sharp gasp as pain flooded everywhere. My servos clutched the wound created from Barricade's smaller cannon, and it was stained a bright blue with energon. Warnings flashed in my helm vehemently and I coughed up more energon. Everything seemed to slow, as Barricade shoved me off of him. My helm slammed on to the hard concrete, and my dimmed vision stared up at the dark storm clouds.
I could feel my wound sparking and fritzing underneath my servo as more energon gushed out.
More warnings of immediate stasis.
No...
(Charlie's POV)
Quickshift and I waited in silence as the storm raged on. Thunder rumbled lowly in the sky, and through the small cracks in the wood, I could see the bright white flashes of lightning. I froze, as the ground shook beneath us, as steady footsteps approached us. The small light bulb hanging from the ceiling jerked violently, and chipped paint fell from the top of the roof. My heart felt like it dropped into my stomach when the footsteps stopped, and it was suddenly silent.
Too silent.
Whoever was on the other side, was not Sunstreaker.
A hand plunged into the roof, and tore half of it off in it's haste. I screamed ducking out of the way, while Quickshift transformed his arm into another cannon, this one shooting out plasma. It scorched the large black claws, and the Decepticon hissed for a moment as the plasma burned through his black armor, before he growled and backhanded Quickshift. I gasped as the little robot went flying to the other side of the wall, breaking through it with the force of how hard the Decepticon had hit him.
"Quickshift!" I screeched, and tried running for the opening, but the claws stopped me. Immediately, I pivoted and ran back towards the part of the barnt hat was still covered by the roof.
The claws whistled through the air as they moved, fast with deadly precision. That was the first thing I heard, before I felt a flash of white-hot pain flare on my upper back. I staggered, tripping over my feet and fell on my stomach. The claws had just missed me, only skimming my back, and I was lucky it was only a shallow wound. But the rain had beat down on my exposed wound, making me hiss with pain, and I flipped over on my back as quickly as I could.
The Decepticon's red eyes gleamed throughout the gloomy weather, and it sent a cold shiver down my back. If he managed to get this far, then that meant that Sunstreaker...
I couldn't even finish my thought, as his claw shout out and slammed my back hard on to the ground. I moaned as the pain in my back only flared, and the claws tightened around my sides, as if I was a toy being lifted from a mechanical crane. My heart was pounding so hard that I could feel it in my ears, and all I could do was stare up at those frightening eyes, because my arms were pinned to my sides.
His grip suddenly slackened and his red eyes widened in shock, before a blood-curling scream came out of his mouth. I was confused as to why he was screaming, until I saw the tip of a blade pierce through his arm. It gleamed in the gloomy rain, and his grip was lost completely as the blade cleaved through his entire arm. His howl of pain was so loud, and it bounced inside my head, causing an immediate headache. Once the arm was severed, it fell to the ground, and the Decepticon's red optics faded as his body crippled to the ground.
I snapped out of my shocked stupor, and pushed open the claws that still trapped my body. Once I got out, I shakily rose to my feet, gritting my teeth as more pain flared in my back.
"Charlie!" Sunstreaker's voice rang out, "Charlie! Where are you?!"
Relief washed over me, temporarily soothing the pain as I pushed open the barely-intact barn doors and ran out into the rain. Sunstreaker was leaning over to barn, still looking for me frantically.
"Sunstreaker!" I shouted, trying to project my voice over the thunderstorm.
His head snapped up, and navy blue eyes landed on me. I smiled as he stood up, but the smile faded as I watched him grip his lower abdomen, which was steadily leaking Energon. He was barely limping as he slowly walked over to my, the hand that wasn't clutching his wound had his sword. He retracted it as he came to lean down in front of me, and scooped me off the ground before I could protest.
"Are you okay?" He asked, sounding breathless and tired.
"Forget about me," I shook my head as I stared at him in horror, "Look at you! You're bleeding! And-" I froze for a second, "Quickshift! He's hurt too! That Con hit him hard, we need to get to him! Put me down, I know where he is!"
Sunstreaker looked reluctant to move, but he dropped his hand to the ground. As soon as my feet hit the wet earth, I ran towards the back of the barn, and dropped at Quickshift's still body. His optics were dark, and for a terrifying moment, I wondered if he was dead. The Decepticon had hit him hard, but was it enough to be deadly?
"Quickshift," I whispered softly, "Are you okay?"
He didn't respond. His optics were still dark.
I bit my lip, as tears swelled in my eyes. I just had to deal with losing my father, I didn't want to do it again.
"He's alive," Sunstreaker said, and I looked up to see him leaning heavily on the barn, "He is just in stasis."
"When will he wake up?" I asked, trying to keep my lips from shivering.
"A few hours," Sunstreaker answered, his eyes suddenly narrowed, "We need to get out of here. It isn't safe." The familiar sounds of transformation filled the air as Sunstreaker folded down into a very beat-up Lamborghini. His once flawless gleaming, gold paint chipped and scorched, and his engine rumbled weakly to life. I quickly pulled Quickshift into my arms, and laid him in the backseat carefully. The door had shut behind me, and he revved the engine before flying off, kicking up wet chunks of grass in the process.
It had been hours until Sunstreaker had finally stopped speeding down the street. We had agreed to stop for the night near an abandoned factory. Quickshift had woken up thankfully, but had fallen back into recharge only a few minutes later. As soon as he was out, I instructed Sunstreaker to transform so I could inspect the damage. His repair system had thankfully gotten to work, and closed off lines so he wasn't gushing anymore energon. He had fallen back into stasis shortly, and I had sent Quickshift to scour for anything I could use to at least weld a patch on him.
I had watched him, he had cycled air softly through his vents as he kept his hand around the wound. Frustration at being utterly helpless started to seep through me, and I had to look away just to not scream in annoyance. Quickshift had came back, with a few things, but none of them were really helpful.
I ran my fingers through my hair, "Are you sure that's all they had?"
He nodded, "I double checked. This is all they got."
"Great," I muttered lamentably, "How are we going to fix him?"
"You're not..." I turned around to look back at Sunstreaker, who was moving slightly.
"Stop it," I snapped, running over to him, "You're trying to heal, don't make it worse!"
"I know," He muttered, "I don't want you trying to fix me."
I put my hands on my hips, "And why not?"
"You might get poisoned again."
He had a point, but that wasn't enough. "Sunstreaker, you were shot. If you don't get help, you could die."
"I will get help when we arrive at the base." Sunstreaker said firmly, and I had the sudden urge to punch him for being so stubborn. Instead I glared at him, opening my mouth to protest, when Quickshift interjected.
"What happened to ya back?" He asked.
"He snagged me," I said offhandedly, my hand reaching to press against the wound. Only thing was, when my hand touched the skin, it was perfectly fine. My eyes widened, and I strained my neck as far as I could to see. There was the slash in my clothing where the Con had got me, but other than that, it looked as if nothing had even happened.
"I don't see anything." He muttered, staring intently at the torn piece.
"It's...it's gone?" I stuttered, completely dumbfounded.
Quickshift pressed a finger to my skin, and other than the odd tingle it gave me from the surprise contact, nothing else happened. No agonizing, throbbing pain.
Nothing.
"I could've sworn he cut me." I said, still surprised.
"I didn't see anything. Or detect any blood." Sunstreaker said, and I looked over at him in worry.
Was it possible that I had just imagined it? I shook my head. The sensations of pain were all too real to be make believe. I could see the event playing clearly in my mind. I was running, and when his claws swiped by, they cut me. I fell, and then his claws trapped me. How could I imagine a wound like that?
And then another thought came to me. The Decepticon clearly didn't finish his fight with Sunstreaker, he only injured him to a degree, and then tracked us down to the barn. Instead of simply blowing it up, he ripped off half the roof, and searched for me. I could pass it off that maybe he wanted to kill me with his own hands, but when I was in the grip of his claws, he didn't squeeze to a degree that would suffocate me. Instead, he squeezed just hard enough to secure me. And then realization had hit me.
That Decepticon was specifically after me.
But... why?
Hehe. I bet you're wondering why they're after her. And the wound thing. Please review, I'd love to hear your theory! Things are definitely going to get more interesting.
