I only own my OC's!
Blades
SHORELINE
"Dani? I need to talk with Blades."
"He's with Dad. They went into town to investigate the damage from last night…and Cody wanted to see the boat-bat you mentioned."
"It's a matter of life and death, Dani."
"What do you mean? Is something wrong with Blades?"
I look at my feet. "I should have pushed harder with my questions when I thought of it before." I sigh softly before leading Dani to a nearby bench. "Ratchet just asked me if Blades was the same one he knew from the Protectobots." I sigh softly. "They were a team of five—a gestalt—brothers. Hot Spot, Groove, Blades, Streetwise, and Ratchet's assistant First Aid—the bot I replaced when I started training."
"What's a gestalt?"
"The easiest way to explain that is to call them a combiner team. Each one had two modes alone, and they could form a larger robot together. Hot Spot was a fire engine, like 'Wave, just light blue, First Aid an ambulance, Groove and Streetwise both police vehicles—one was a motorcycle and the other a car like Chase. They formed Defensor. Their main goal was to defend during the war, as well as acting as a rescue force during severe natural disasters when here on earth. I was fourteen when we lost them."
"And… you think Blades may have been one?"
"They had one, Dani—I just don't know if my timid best friend is him." I sigh. "Theirs was a brawler, Dani, the "Bad Boy" of the team. He loved fighting. First Aid was the one with Blades' personality." I lean on my knees. "But, Dani, if he is that Blades, Ratchet needs to see him. Without those bonds—a gestalt can never only have one survivor. Remember what I'd say before, back when I'd go with the two of you, in the early days? How I felt like I'd lost a piece of myself?" She nods. "Ratchet and I have a guardian bond. I did lose a piece of myself with him. Heatwave's temperament helped me piece the rest of me back together, but I could still feel the pain, sense the hole." I sigh softly. "Blades has an iron will, that's been evident to me, and some bots with spark-break can survive because they have an iron will, but it takes a lot of strength, and there's never one of a gestalt. I wouldn't doubt a bot would… By the All Spark."
"What?"
"Change. I've been telling you all this, and I never thought about how the Protectobot Blades would have changed if he lost everyone."
SUITES, HALF AN HOUR LATER
"Sheyenne, Blades is back."
"I'm on my way." I stand and start for the door, walking past where Graham is working on some kind of plan on his tablet. "Oh, Ratch wants to see you in the medical bay before the end of the day."
"Oh. Okay." He stands. "Where are you going?"
"To talk with Blades. Ratchet's worried about something."
"Should I worry about Boulder?"
I shake my head. "It could only affect Blades."
BAYS
I shift into my Cybertronian form as I walk into the room. "Blades?"
He turns to me. "Dani said you needed to see me."
I nod. "Come on. Let's walk."
SHORELINE
We stop near a small cliff—just tall enough for us to sit on. "Anyway, so the Protectobots came up when I was telling Ratch about your team, and why Optimus put you all on Griffin Rock. Now Ratchet's worried that you may be the same Blades."
"He's worried about spark-break."
I nod slightly. "And I am too. I've already lost too much, Blades. I don't need to lose my best friend too—especially not to spark-break." A sob catches in my throat. "I mean, I had to revive my guardian today, Blades. I can't lose you too."
He sighs heavily before turning to me. "You won't. You said it yourself. I'm determined. I proved my mettle."
I nod. "But spark-break is a killer, Blades. Ratchet needs to know. You know I replaced Aid as Ratchet's assistant." I sigh. "And you remember what I was like when I first met you."
"You couldn't even find enough energy to stay awake on my patrols with Dani, let alone to act interested in the missions you were asked to help on." He sighs. "But now you're like a whole new person."
"That's because I am. I'm stronger now, Blades. Braver. More willing than ever to do whatever it takes to save a race. I used to be terrified about my being the Star Healer, but now it's just another thing I can use to help people of any race." I sigh. "Losing Ratchet changed me. It made me into who I am today. And today, I saved him—brought him back to life—with Doc's and Graham's help."
"I've changed too."
'I do too…' I look at him in shock. "Wait…" I smile gently and put an arm around him. While he'd told me that before, he's never been this…willing, to talk about it. "It's all right. Take all the time you need."
"I was at the helm of the ship while the others were finishing a mission. Aid was working in the medical bay like he'd trained with Ratchet. The engines stalled. I was helpless to save them." He sighs. "That's when I went back to Cybertron and trained as an emergency medic and joined Heatwave's team."
"So that's why you're afraid of heights." I sigh softly. "And why almost all Ratchet's best Protectobot stories happened on Cybertron." I hug him gently. "You couldn't have changed anything, Blades. Trust me, I still wish I had been able to stop Lockdown from killing Ratchet. Heck, it's even in my dreams—but I—He wouldn't have wanted me too… I was damn lucky to get his frame from KSI while they were busy dealing with Optimus and his team, and even luckier to find a way to store the Cybertronium here." I sigh. "I know it's nothing like losing your brothers in a fiery crash, but…" I sigh. "I wish Optimus had let me slag that heap of scrap instead of doing it himself."
"What?"
"Lockdown, Blades. Lockdown. I don't blame you for what happened. I know how you feel about that. Redheads have fiery tempers, and I wanted to get Lockdown back for what he did." I cross my arms. "I still wanna slag that jerk."
Blades shakes his head. "You remind me of Heatwave sometimes."
"Ratchet's charge, remember? He helped me piece myself back together."
"Dani helped me—Dani and Heatwave."
I sigh softly before laying my hand on his knee. "Whenever you need anything—even just someone to listen—come to me." I smile. "And Ratchet has to know, but no one else will. I'll make sure of it." I sigh. "Though you might want to tell Dani. She's a little worried."
MEDICAL BAY
I walk up to the door in my Cybertronian form. "Ratchet?"
He turns to me. "I thought you were going to comm me." He sighs. "Did you talk with Blades?"
I sigh softly. "You were right, but he's nothing like he used to be."
"I've noticed you aren't either."
I shrug. "I've been broken far too many times. There's a lot of cracks." I sigh. "But I've learned to live through them, and I'm better for it."
"I still don't know how you survived."
"Heatwave, Blades, and a very understanding family of heroes." I shrug. "Besides, you know I'm a survivor." I sigh. "And I had something to live for. I carried your spark with my own for four years. I had to bring you back. We needed you too much. Optimus had a mortal wound, and I barely kept him here long enough to use the inferno. Then, when the Rescue Bots drained their energon for the island… What I wouldn't have given to have you by my side that day. Kade looked like he wanted to cry, and I could hear it in his voice—and he's tough. When someone like him is about to cry…" I shake my head. "Losing 'Wave, after losing you… I couldn't even handle the thought, and I was the only one there to save him." I sigh. "Needless to say, I stayed in the bunker with them for a week after that."
"I taught you well."
I nod. "But, no offence, I don't ever want to fill your shoes again."
"With any luck, you won't have to." He sighs. "But I would be happy if you would still maintain your position as my assistant."
"Gladly. I've formed a bond with everyone we have left. I couldn't lose them—can't lose them."
Ratchet nods before changing the subject. "Did you know Graham's been sick for the last—"
"Two weeks. We talked about it earlier today. He stayed at Doc Greene's during the day because we don't want this getting out to the humans yet—even then we're still keeping it between the family and bots." I sigh. "The Rescue Bots know, and you, but as far as I know, Optimus and Bumblebee still don't."
"I'll remember that when I head back."
I look up at him. "Has anyone showed you the way back yet?"
He sighs. "No. I still have too much to do."
I shake my head. "No. I just revived you. You need to take it easy for a couple days."
SUITES
"We'll have a meeting in the room across from the Autobots' shared suite once a week. We just had one last night, so we have a few days before the next one. Newt told me the kaiju attacks are happening about every two weeks, and we had one this morning. Thankfully, no one got hurt." I point to a door. "That's the Autobots suite. The Burns are to the left, Graham and I to the right. Cade and Tessa Yeager are across from the Graham and I."
"I understand."
"Energon stores are in the first space after you walk inside. You need to refuel, then get some rest. Morning may come earlier than you expect."
"If I want to see you?"
"The rooms are big enough for you to come in. The doors are small, for us, but the ones in this hall have been rebuilt to be big enough for you bots to use, and button-operated for the humans. Boulder had to bring Graham his tablet last night."
"And you'll get me if anything happens?"
"Anything I can't handle." I sigh. "I've become pretty good at caring for most injuries."
Ratchet kneels to me. "You don't have to carry that weight on your own anymore."
"Thanks, Ratch." I sigh. "I'm gonna go get my supper, and bring Graham's back for him."
"He needs to leave the room sometimes. It won't be long until he'll have to stay put."
I nod. "I know. He's been all over the Shatterdome today." I sigh softly. "But he's been so tired by this time that I usually bring him his food so he doesn't have to get up—even did that in the firehouse after we first started this."
"Just make sure he gets some exercise."
I nod. "Trust me, I do. It'll be easier once the nausea goes away." I rub the back of my neck. "Oh, I have the medication you were giving carriers for the nausea. Previous testing—with Doc, using the few you sent with me—proved that it wasn't dangerous to humans, and I can honestly tell you that they do help humans."
"I take it Graham needed it?"
I nod. "But I can return it to you if you need it for anything. We're hoping this will bring some hope back to the Autobots we still have."
"Finding you brought most of us enough hope for the future."
I cross my arms. "Until Que was killed." I look down. "I should have done something."
"Now, you know no one blames you for that."
Blades, who had been watching since we stopped in front of their door, finally speaks up. "Blames her for what?"
"For watching Que die instead of jumping in."
Ratchet sighs. "We were in the middle of a battle, Blades. It wasn't safe for Starlight to revive him." He sighs. "But she still blames herself for it."
"Because I just stood by and watched. Isn't that why Simmons was beating himself up? I'm a medic, damn it! I'm supposed to help, and I just… stood there."
Ratchet sighs, and glances at the door before turning to me. "Would you like to stay with us tonight?"
I blink before nodding. "Thanks, Daddy."
"You are welcome, Sweetspark." He smiles. "I'll get you the code as soon as I can."
