I only own my OC's!
Nightfall
Aerialbot Quarters, Third POV
Silverbolt steps into his room, trying to be silent. They'd actually given him the time to talk with Hot Spot, which usually doesn't happen, so he's hoping he won't be greeted by a full-out fight. When he steps inside, he finds Skydive reading, Air Raid and Slingshot arguing about something completely random, and Fireflight looking over a few new rocks.
Flight pops his head up moments after the door shuts. "Hey, Silver!"
"You're back!"
"How's Mari?"
Silver blinks. "You guys stayed quiet, because Mari needed to talk to me?"
Skydive shakes his head. "We could tell you were dealing with something important…"
"I was dealing with something important when I first got to talk with Hot Spot, and you guys interrupted us then." Silverbolt shakes his head. "Guys, they're going to be dealing with a lot, so I don't want you picking any fights with Blades—or any of them—for the next several weeks, all right?"
"Got it."
"All right…"
"Good. Spot's talking with Aid about something we may have discovered about their little sister."
"What's wrong with Mari?"
"She's fine, Dive. Just worried about her minicon." Silver sighs heavily. "Except we've learned a few things about her past, and now we're suspecting that her human body is a disguise… You know, that she was originally one of us, and was put here to be safe from the Decepticons…"
Skydive puts his book down, catching the slight excitement through their bond. "Which would mean she never really was human…"
Air Raid and Slingshot immediately turn from their argument, curious as well. "And?"
"And what?"
"What's got you so excited?"
"We still have to observe the two together, and we can't do that for a month at the very least… But if Spot and I are right… The ten of us aren't going to stay the only Autobot combiners."
"But she's part of Defensor!"
"She is, but that doesn't mean she can't have her own siblings besides them… She was added on, Slings. She's not part of the original Defensor, and obviously they didn't know where she'd come from before now, so…"
"This must have come as a total surprise to all of them…"
"I'm sure it was, Dive…because it came as one to me for sure. I can only imagine what they're thinking right now…"
med-Bay, closing
"Aid?"
"What's wrong, Spot?" He sighs. "Ratchet's in his office, if you're looking for him."
Spot shakes his head. "Silver and I were talking with Mari earlier…"
"I know. Did she get the advice she was needing?"
"Sort of…" Spot sighs. "And…Silver's suspicious."
Aid pauses in his work and turns to his brother quickly. "Of Mari? Why?"
"She was acting like she usually does—you know, like she's a good leader but doesn't realize it herself—but Silver… He started interrogating her about her human family and friends, and how she'd lived before she got here… Aid… She's got to be gestalt."
"Of course she is! She's our sister!"
"Aid… If we're right… She was gestalt before she came to us."
"But…she… She never said anything to us…"
"She probably didn't know about it herself. Needed a lot of blankets…cuddled a wall or a stuffed sleeping bag when she felt alone…kept her room cluttered…"
"Climbed in bed with her parents…"
"She mentioned that she felt like she had to protect an underage friend—the same way she feels about Fixit… The same way Silver feels about his brothers… The same way I feel…about you…and the rest of our family… That she misses her badly because of their separation… She even said they had a twin connection…"
"Was that after Silver started grilling her?"
Spot nods. "She told us about a fight they had a few years ago, and how they overcame it… Aid, they were both sick because of Mari's stress."
"Oh, Primus… What if she goes through that again because they're apart now?" Hot Spot shrugs. "Ratchet!"
"Aid, please. I've had a helm-ache all after—" Ratchet freezes in his tracks when he sees Aid's worried look, and Hot Spot all but bouncing in place. "What is going on in here?"
"Mari's gestalt."
"She is—"
"Before she got to us."
Ratchet's eyes widen in shock. "What?"
"Really. She is." Hot Spot practically beams. "Silver was suspicious, after he found out she'd planned our mission this morning. He kept grilling her, and a gestalt-level connection with her best friend came out. She's scared we'll turn her away because of this… We won't, of course. It's just means another sister for us…"
Aid nods. "But the girl's still underage, and… There's no way we can get her out here for more than a visit until she's old enough to leave her family…and that'll be over a year at the very earliest…"
"She had a severe reaction to the stress of being separated back when she was eighteen… Nausea and headaches…made her asthma worse…"
"You are worried about her."
Hot Spot nods, starting to tear up. "I don't want to see her go through that, Ratchet. She already barely eats anything… And if she's doing that because of this…I-I need to know, Ratchet… I need to know if our baby sister's sick because she's been separated from her…well, her sister. We can be almost everything she needs, but…we can't be this girl… We can't be her other half…"
Normal POV
~Don't cry for me, Spot. I'll be okay…~
~MARI! How's Fixit?~
~I managed to get some energon into him, now we can only hope it will stay down…~
~He'll be okay, Mari.~
~And Spot?~
~Excited about learning that you may be half of combiner twins… Scared that you're not eating much because of your stress reaction… Upset that he won't be able to get her here for good until next summer…~
~I'm kind of scared about the first, because I've had problems with the whole "keep them safe/answer the call" thing before…I almost lost her because of that, Aid… And I have no problem with the length of time before the third can happen, as long as I'll get to talk with her. Spot…~
~Have you been eating less than you should be because of stress?~
~Yes and no. Yes, I've been a little queasy since I got completely off the Lyrica, so I haven't been eating as much as I probably should, but I'm making sure I get my 'gon, so don't worry. No, I don't think it's just because of Claire. I've been going through a lot, with Ratchet's revival, becoming a Protectobot, meeting Optimus and the Aerials, and finding Fixit… And I'm still dealing with the stress of having to leave home the way I did… So it's not just that I'm away from her, okay? And I'll be fine. I'm strong enough to get through this… I've done it before, after all…~
~We need to get you on the phone with her after supper, then… I'd rather do it before, but…but I think Blades' has ours ready and waiting in there, so…~
~Yeah, and he's already at the table with Streets and Groove, so… I came to the Med-bay earlier for some medical grade for Fix, so he's already done, and sitting in his new chair with one of the blankets Groove picked up, watching an episode of Battle Bots I found on TV.~
~Aid and I'll be in soon, so just hang in there… It'll be all right.~
~I'll bring some more medical grade in when I come in, but we only have so much, and we'll need it just in case of emergencies, so we'll have to see if his tanks can tolerate low grade tomorrow, but for now…~
~Thanks, Aid…~
The four of us look up as Spot and Aid step in the back door. "Hey, guys…"
"Hey…" Spot turns to glance at the place we put Fixit's chair, even though we can't see it over the bot-sized blue couch. "How's he doing?"
"He's all right so far. I think he might be trying to recharge again, so…"
"Good. He needs his rest."
"Blades has been quite a big help since he woke up. Fix purged a little, but he said it wasn't too bad this time…"
"He…he probably had it a lot worse than this on the ship." Aid sighs. "I'm sure a ship like that only served medium grade, and he needs at least low grade while he's carrying, if not medical grade."
"Medium or high grade…"
The five of us look toward the floor for a moment before Spot leans down to boost Fixit up into some kind of booster the others must have had someone make while I was talking with Spot and Silver. "Want anything?"
"D-do you have any g-gummies?"
"Gummies?"
"Ratchet had recipes for energon-and-metal-based candies and cookies. I took over making them after we lost him. We keep some in the med-bay, but most we stored in the pantry for when someone wanted them." Spot stands before Aid has the chance, pulls down a large container filled with blue shaped treats, and sets it in front of me. I pull out one shaped like a butterfly before giving Aid a confused look. "I bought some new pans the day after you got here, so you wouldn't just find unappealing, off-cut cubes…"
"Why he can make a perfect cut in the med-bay, but can't in the kitchen, is beside the point…"
"Blades…"
"That was rude, Bro. Really, really rude." I take a few more before setting the handful in front of Fixit before giving him a smile. "Eat up, Little One." I take one for myself before putting the lid on the container. I really want to try these…
"Thanks…"
Hot Spot puts the container back and returns to his seat. "Now, then. I think we need to discuss something."
Groove's head pops up from where he was leaning on the table. "Spot, what's—"
Streetwise stares at Spot in surprise. "What do you mean—"
Blades holds his hands up placatingly. "I didn't do anything!"
Hot Spot chuckles. "Guys, calm down. It's nothing bad, just…a little surprising."
Blades relaxes and lays his hands back on the table. "All right. Shoot."
"Mari came to Silver and I about something today… She's kind of nervous about hovering over Fixit too much…"
"I don't want to be a burden…"
I smile across the table at the minicon. "Fix, you're fine. If anything, I'm worried I'll be the problem with you, because I'm scared I'll hover over you and make you feel like I'm babying you… Because I want to protect you…"
"Oh…"
"Anyway…something came up while we were talking." Spot shifts slightly. "And Silver started questioning her… We think she might be part of a combiner herself."
"But she's—"
"Her own, Blades."
"So we took someone else's sister?"
"Not exactly…" Hot Spot glances over to me.
"Guys… I was in the dark about this, okay? I didn't know…that needing heavy blankets was more than just an Autism thing…that…that needing clutter to feel secure, or cuddling with walls or stuffed sleeping bags to sleep…was a sign of being gestalt… I didn't realize that being able to accidently match my best friend constantly was a sign of a gestalt connection… or that…when she told me she'd been queasy while I was nauseated from stress…that it was us having the same symptoms…or that our ability to all but read each other's minds…could be…a gestalt connection…"
"So there's another…femme?"
"Yes, her friend—and maybe sibling—is a femme, Groove. I'm hoping she'll be able to visit us over her spring break. Silver wants to observe them together, so we can see just how alike they really are. Until then…" Hot Spot sighs and steps over to the sink with his cube. It's still at least a quarter of the way full, but I think I'm the only one who noticed… "Mari's got to call and see if she can talk with her, and I want someone to keep an optic on her, and let me know how she reacts."
"I'll do it."
"Thanks, Street." Hot Spot sighs. "I think I'm going to put one of Mari's movies in…if any of you want to watch." He turns to me. "Mari… Which one was—"
"Chicago?" He nods. "Dark of the Moon."
I look up the number on my phone before dialing using the house phone. I fiddle with the phone cord—they'd installed an old-fashioned corded phone just for me to use in human form—while I wait for someone to pick up. "Hello?"
"H-Hi, Mr. Wilson. It's Sheyenne. Could I talk with Claire, please?"
"Hold on…" I hear him call for her, then smile as she takes the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Claire…"
"Where are you? Your Dad said you'd left home…"
"Um…" I rub the back of my neck, even though she can't see me. "I'm in Chicago…"
"Why?"
"Originally, to get away from the abuse I was getting… But then I found something I never could have imagined was real…not even in my wildest dreams…" I smile, my eyes lighting up. "I found the Cybertronians, Claire. Defensor…and Fixit… Ratchet… Optimus…"
"Really? Were they like you'd imagined?"
"Better than I ever could have. I guess all we dreamed in dreams really does come true…"
"Sounds like it…" Her tone brightens, and she sounds like she's smiling. "I've missed seeing you in church… Are you going anywhere there, or…did you stop going?"
"I haven't been able to find a good one, and I've been way busy with the bots, so…"
She steps away from the phone for a moment when she's called, then comes back quickly. "Mom wants to know how you're doing."
"I'm fine—better than fine. I finally have a family that loves me, and they're doing everything to help me." I sigh softly. "How's Dad been doing?"
"He's been all right, from what I can tell. He's been sitting with the Grahams in church, so…"
"He'd been talking about them a lot at home too."
"Why did you leave, anyway?"
"The abuse…and I felt like a burden, Claire. I couldn't burden anyone like that anymore…not with Briar and Aaron forcing Dad to take care of them, and me always drawing the short straw…" I sigh heavily. "Claire… When I got here, I wanted one of the gangs to just put me out of my misery, but…but I found a new future instead…and… I told them about how close we were…before I left Indiana. Well… Clairina…" I'm starting to shake like a leaf, nervous about what she might think, and desperate to be in the same room as she is. "They think we're gestalt."
"They think we're what?"
"They think we're a combiner, like them… Our twin connection…the telepathy-like mental connection we have…the fact that we both thought we were going to puke when we found that mutilated chipmunk a few years ago…"
"I felt sick after eating back then too…"
I can't stop the smirk from forming. "That was my main problem because of the stress then… I wanted to protect you, and your mom wanted you around Faith, and…" I shake my head. "All my energy was going toward fighting for you… I had almost none for day-to-day life…"
"You were pretty good at acting, then… I never noticed…"
"You were chasing after Faith for the worst part of it, Goofball!" I shake my head. "Silver was asking if your back is sensitive…or your hands…"
"My back is…I don't know about my hands, though…"
I pause and think about my bad foot. "If you can tickle your own hands, they're probably sensitive. That's how my foot is…"
"I can…"
"Pacifist, or warrior?"
"Huh?"
"If you were in the middle of a war, and you had to be a warrior, or work behind the scenes as a medic or something…"
"I'd have to fight, if they're right about us…but…I don't really want to… I'd want to be a medic, though…"
"I wouldn't want to either… But I've got promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep…" I look up to Streetwise and cover the mouthpiece. "Did you hear what she said?"
He nods. "She even sounds close to you… Not the same vocal tone or pattern, but that could be because you were raised in different families…" He sighs. "I think we've got our confirmation, and Fixit's trying to get your attention, so…"
I sigh heavily, and uncover the mouthpiece. "I've got to go, Claire. It's movie night… And my new minicon wants me to join them, so…"
"Goo—"
"Hold on. Ask your mom if you can visit over spring break. If you can, call me back."
"Hold on, let me write down the number… Okay, I got it!"
"Good. Spot and Silver want to observe the two of us together…I guess they want an official confirmation…"
"And…If it's confirmed?"
"Then we'd invite you to move in with us after you graduate from high school… Claire, they're really great people, and they can't wait to meet you." I sigh softly. "One more question. What did you wear to school today?"
"Striped sweater and jeans…"
I laugh softly. "We did it again, girl…even this far away…" I sigh heavily and dab at my eyes with my sweater sleeve. I hate goodbyes. "But I do have to go now, so…"
"Bye…"
"Bye…" I hear the click on the other end, and stare at the phone for a minute before returning it to the cradle, then look up to Streetwise sadly.
"You okay, Mari?"
I return to my bot form and shake my head, causing him to reach over and pull me in for a hug. "I miss her, Streets…"
"I know, Mari. It'll be all right…" He leads me over to the couch before letting me sit between Spot and Aid, then settles in the armchair Spot had used the day they decided to choose me.
"How did she react?"
"Claire, or me?"
"Claire. I can tell you didn't handle the end of it well…"
"I don't know… She doesn't show much verbally…" I sigh softly. "But she was sick when I was, her back is sensitive, and she proved her hands were too while we were talking…" I smile up at Spot. "And she'd be like Aid and Groove if we had to fight… Like I am…"
"And you did it again…whatever that means…"
"Blades…" I laugh softly. "We both wore a stripy sweater and jeans today, and we're a state apart!"
The copter laughs with me for a moment before looking down to me. "You used to do that a lot, didn't you?"
"Except for the fight…yes."
"Fight?"
"Four months of heartache as I fought to protect her, and she ran off to hang out with a girl her age—a controlling, cliquey, brat of a girl named Faith. I could love the worst person on the street corner, or in the jail…I could love someone who killed or forced someone…I love those who no one else would care about, like the homeless or addicts…frag it, Guys, I love inanimate objects, just like Aid does! I have a soft spot for the Con gestalts…but… I can't bring myself to love that bitch." The other Protectobots tense at my language. "There's no better term for her, guys. She's a bitch—a friend-controlling, friend-stealing bitch." I shake my head. "The stress made me sick, my nausea made her sick… It was a fiasco and a half…"
"Mari…no one can take your sister from you. Remember that for me, okay?"
"Okay, Aid…"
"Will she be allowed to come?"
"We don't know yet, Spot…" I turn to the screen at the worst possible moment, and watch the Xanthium get blown to pieces, supposedly with all the Autobots inside. It's all I can do to whisper "No…" I bury my face into Spot's shoulder while clinging to my minicon in desperation.
"You okay?" I shake my head. "Shutdown?" I shake my head again.
Aid lays a hand on my back. "Is that the worst part?"
I shake my head. "Next, Chicago's gonna look like a half-destroyed Praxus—done by the cons of course—then the main battle happens, and…" I stop and simply hug Spot as tight as I can. "And 'Jack gets killed…"
"Wheeljack?" I nod, causing Blades to turn to me. "Who does—"
I turn to the street brawler with a sigh. "Did."
Blades growls, his voice dark. "Who did it?"
"Soundwave…and Barricade."
Blades clenches his hand into a fist. "I'll kill them."
I turn to him, my hands up in a placating gesture. "They're already dead, Blades! They already paid the ultimate price for their crime! They don't need to pay anymore!"
"Primus…" Aid leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and burying his face in his hands. Since the scene of them sealing the city off just came on, I don't know if it's over the senseless deaths, or about the two Cons who died five years ago. "Will it ever stop?"
"Aid?" I lay a hand on his back. "Hey, it's okay…"
"Will we ever see a planet not consumed by war and death?"
"Oh, Aid…" I turn him toward me and hug him gently. "It's all right. We're all here, and 'Jack'll be back before we know it. We're almost done fixing the others, and I'll be bringing them all back in a few days' time, okay? It's going to be okay…"
About half an hour later, while we're starting to get things together so we can head up to berth, I glance into Fixit's chair and find the little guy recharging soundly, curled on his side under the new white plush blanket. I crouch and pick him up carefully, leaving the white blanket in the chair. "Spot… What are we going to do about Fixit? He needs a blanket, and we don't have one big enough in our room…"
"Aid got a gestalt-sized blanket from Silverbolt. They had spares on the ship. We got one each, and another for all of us to use. They're not very soft, but they are very warm. Fixit will be fine."
"Thanks, guys…"
