JML Ranch: Howdy! SO SO SO SO SO SORRY for the long delay! I got really busy in the last few months, and things are finally settling down a bit. Here's Chapter 4!
Ironhide: Finally! It's about slagging time ya updated!
JML Ranch: Oh, can it ya overgrown rust bucket!
Ironhide: *onlines both cannons, charging them and pointing at me* Don't tell me what to do!
JML Ranch: *growls at Ironhide, left arm transforms into a cannon*
Ironhide: O.o meep...
Optimus: *walks into room* All right, what's going on in here? *sees my cannon* *passes out*
CLANG!*Optimus collapses onto floor*
JML Ranch: Scrap! Ratchet?
Ratchet: What the frag happened here?! *sees my arm* Oh... O.O
JML Ranch: Yea... I'm actually one of y'all now... Heh. *blushes*
Ironhide: That cannon is bigger than mine... No fair.
JML Ranch: Life's not always fair. Get over it. *transforms arm back to normal* Jazz-man, would you do the disclaimer and warnings?
Jazz: Sure! JML Ranch does not own Transformers, and the warning is for Cybertronian cursing. Awesome cannon, by the way.
JML Ranch: Thanks Jazz-man! Gonna have fun scaring the living daylights out of Sunny Sides Up. *grins maliciously*
Bond
"Primus speaking"
"Normal Speaking"
:Comm link:
I woke up after what felt like a few minutes, and looked around. I was in a desert, and I could see sand for what seemed like miles around. I knew instantly that I was not in my normal world, but a parallel universe. I kept looking around me, and finally spotted what looked like a small group of Cybertronians in the distance. I started walking towards them.
I had been walking for about 30 minutes when I heard someone approaching me from behind.
"Hello Hera," a voice called out and I recognized the voice as Primus. I turned and saw him approaching.
"Hello Primus," I answered, pausing so he could catch up to me.
"How are things going on Earth?"
"Pretty well. We discovered that there was another team of Autobots a few miles away from the old base, and we decided to move to the new base. Right now, I am currently in surgery."
"May I ask why?"
"Bad knees. They were weak to begin with, and there was no telling when they would have gone out on me. I did not want that to happen on the battlefield."
"Smart choice. Do you know why you are here?"
"No sir, I do not."
"I want you to meet the Original 13 Primes. They would like to meet you."
I was stunned. They want to meet me? I do not feel like I am worthy of such honor, I thought to myself.
"Cat got your tongue?" Primus chuckled.
"I honestly don't know what to say… I'm at a loss for words."
We came to a small circle of Cybertronians, and each one was standing on a pedestal. I saw that there were three empty ones- two next to each other, and one off to the side.
"Come, young Prime," Primus stepped up on one pedestal. He gestured to the pedestal next to him. I walked up to the pedestal, and then stepped up onto it. I looked around, slightly nervous.
"Where is he?" one of the mechs asked.
"He is almost here. Have a little bit of patience," Primus chastened the mech. I heard someone step up onto the remaining pedestal. I looked, and my eyes widened in shock and surprise. It was Orion!
He looked around the circle, seeing who all was here. He looked at me for a fraction of a second, and then kept going on around the circle. He did a double take.
"Hera?" He asked, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Optimus," I replied.
"You two already know each other?" A femme asked.
"Yes," Orion answered.
"For those who do not know who she is, this is Hera Prime," Primus introduced me. One by one, the other Primes introduced themselves.
"Hera, is it true that you have a horse as your Guardian?" Solus Prime asked me.
"Yes. Not only is he my Guardian, he is also my brother."
"How is that possible?"
"We were turned into Cybertronians at the same time, so I suspect a sibling bond may have formed then."
"Wow. I never thought it would be possible, yet you are living proof that it is possible."
"Can you tell us more about your brother?" Megatronous Prime spoke up.
"Certainly. He is one of the most loyal horses you will ever find. In the few battles I have fought, he comes running if I request his aid. Doesn't matter where I am on the battlefield. He is becoming one of the most feared warriors the Decepticons have ever seen."
"How so?"
"He's undefeatable. Not even Megatron could scratch his armor. In fact, Megatron's blade broke the first time he attacked my brother. His name, Aniketos, means unconquerable."
"That's an interesting name. Wait a second, Megatron tried to attack Aniketos and his blade broke?" Nexus Prime sputtered, surprised at what I just said. I merely nodded my helm. "That's pretty unusual."
"There is a legend I must bring up. It involves Unicron, the Chaos Bringer. When the 47 spheres align, a darkness will awaken," Primus said grimly. "I do not know when it will happen, but it is approaching."
"I thought he was supposed to be in permanent stasis?" Megatronous questioned.
"So did I. But it appears to not be that way," Primus replied, voice filled with regret. "We will continue this the next time we meet. Hera, Optimus, your time is running short. Soon you will have to return."
"Until all are one," Optimus intoned, then he left the meeting.
"It was really nice meeting everyone. See y'all next time," I waved as I walked back in the direction I had come from. Everyone waved and called their good-byes. I felt myself fall back into a deep sleep again.
All I saw was darkness. Then I saw a bright light right in front of me. I groaned softly, raising my servo to shield my eyes from the bright light. As my eyes adjusted, I looked around. I saw that I was back in the Med Bay. Checking my internal clock, it was now 10:30 AM. I became aware of the throbbing pain in my knees.
"Ah, you're awake now," Ratchet commented. "How are you feeling?"
I scoffed. "Like someone shot my knees out then knocked me down and ran me over with a slagging bulldozer."
This made Ratchet chuckle a little bit. "Would you like some painkillers?" he asked as he picked up a shot.
"Yes please," I replied as I held out my servo for him. He quickly administered the painkillers. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Suddenly he pulled out one of his many Wrenches O' Doom and threw it. "GET THE FRAG OUT OF MY MED BAY!" he roared.
"The Terror Twins again?" I asked, slightly amused.
"Nope. It was the other set."
"Ah, Dumb and Dumber."
"More like the Pit-Spawned. They never know when to quit fighting each other. I have to repair them almost daily."
"Doesn't Jolt and First Aid help you with them?"
"They're afraid of both sets of Twins. Anytime one of the Twins set foot in the Med Bay, Jolt and First Aid leave with no trace that they were ever in here."
"Wow. Didn't know both sets of Twins had that kind of reputation. All I know is that they both keep trying to flirt with me."
"Really?"
"Really. Last time either one of them tried to flirt with me, I just let Ketos use them for target practice."
"You're evil. I like that," Ratchet grinned at me, shaking his helm. "What are you going to do if they try again in the future?"
"Hmmm… I think I'll ask Ketos and Ironhide if they want to join me for a little hunting trip," I smirked evilly.
"Oh ha-ha-ha, that's one of the best ideas I've heard in many vorns. I think Ironhide will like that."
"I will like what?" Ironhide asked as he walked in, having heard the last bit Ratchet said.
"Oh, we were talking about what happened the last time either set of Twins tried to charm me and what I was planning on doing the next time they try," I replied.
"Ohh… I remember you let Ketos use them for target practice the last time, correct?" Ironhide smirked at me.
"Yep," I smirked back.
"And what are you planning for the next time?"
"Five words: You, me, Ketos, hunting trip." I grinned maliciously.
"The Twins going to be the 'prey'?"
"Oh yes…"
"Sounds like fun… Com me when they start messing with ya, and I'll gladly join in on the hunt." Ironhide grinned. Ironhide, Chromia, Ketos, and I are like brothers and sisters. We all love weapons, and I had discovered I had several spots for more weapons a few days after I arrived at the new base. I had heard that Ironhide was the main Weapons Specialist, so I decided to go pay him a visit. He helped me pick out and modify the weapons so they would pack more punch. Once, I was down on the range, shooting targets with my new weapons when Ketos came down to the range. He almost had to do a double take on me, shocked that I was now armed to the teeth with firepower. He asked me where I had gotten them from, then I pointed to Ironhide and Chromia, who just happened to be at the range too. Ketos chatted with them for a while, and then they left the range. The next day, I saw Ketos down at the range, and grinned when I saw all the new weapons he had. Ever since then, Ironhide and I have become really close friends.
"See ya later, lil sis!" Ironhide called out as he walked towards the doors.
"See ya later big bro!" I called back as he left the Med Bay.
"You two are something else. I feel so much better with four trigger-happy Cybertronians running amok on base," Ratchet commented, words laced heavily with sarcasm.
"At least I'm not as trigger-happy as Ironhide. Ketos is almost as bad, however…"
"Really? Ketos is nearly as bad as Ironhide?"
"Oh yes. I never thought my little brother would be one of those who prefer to 'shoot now, ask questions later'. It's a good thing when it comes to dealing with Decepticreeps, though."
"That's true. You're the only one out of the four that actually thinks before they start shooting slag up."
"That's because my dad taught me how to be safe with guns. I grew up around guns all my life. My dad would take me on many hunting trips," I smiled as I recalled the memories.
"Sounds like your father was really good to you."
"He was. Miss him a lot though."
We were silent for a while. That is, until Jazz burst into the Med bay dragging Dumb and Dumber along. I raised an eyebrow as I watched Jazz dump them unceremoniously onto a table next to me.
"What did they do now?" I asked Jazz.
"'Ah caught 'em fightin' again. 'Dey never learn. How are ya doin', lil lady?"
"Seen better days. How about ya?"
"Eh, been better m'self. Wha' did ya do now?"
"Bum knees. Just got new ones."
"Ow. Tha' gotta hurt."
"They don't hurt that bad right now. But yesterday, they were hurting me like the Pit."
"Well, 'ah gotta git goin' now. Hope ya feel better soon, lil lady," Jazz grinned as he started to leave.
"Thanks Jazz-man," I replied.
"'Ey there!" Dumb and Dumber cried. I looked at them and gave them the evilest glare I had in my arsenel.
"If either one of you glitches have any common sense in those slagged-up processors," I snarled as I onlined my cannon, the cannon whirring loudly as it charged up. "You will leave me the frag alone while you're in here. If you try to make any, and I mean any, moves on me, I will personally blast your arms and legs off and leave you like that for a long time."
"And I won't put you two back together after she does that," Ratchet adds, shaking a wrench at them. They both whimper and nod their helms rapidly.
"Good," I grunted as I powered down my cannon. I decided to leave it out on purpose to remind the twins to leave me alone. Just then, I get a ping on my private comm link from Orion.
:Are you awake?: Orion asked.
:Yes I am.:
:Are Mudflap and Skidz in the Med Bay? Jazz told me they just got into a fight with each other.:
:Yep, they are.:
:Good. Are they causing you any trouble?:
:I don't think they will. I scared them pretty good.: I said rather smugly.
:Hmm. What did you say to them?: He asked, slightly amused.
:Let's just say it involved the evilest glare I have in my arsenel, my cannon, something about losing limbs, and Ratchet not putting them back together.:
He laughed out loud over the comm link. :You and your cannons. If that ever happens, I want a video of it.:
I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. :I'll make sure to get you that video if that ever happens. Oh dear, Ratchet's looking at me like I'm half crazy or something. Uh… scrap.: I ducked as a wrench zoomed over my helm, barely grazing the top.
:Ratchet throw a Wrench O' Doom at you?:
:You got that right. He missed though. Either I'm too fast for him, or he's starting to peter out from old age.: I quipped.
:Oh Primus! That was hilarous!: Orion howled with laughter. :I'll come by and visit in a little bit, so see ya in a few minutes.:
:See ya in a few.: I cut the comm link. Ratchet was looking at me, eyes narrowed.
"Um…" I trailed off.
"What was so slagging funny?" he sneered.
"Nothing. I was having a private conversation on my comm link," I replied innocently.
"Ooooo… Me think she waz chattin' with somebot she likes!" Mudflap taunted me rudely. I snap my helm around and charged my cannon, glaring at him. He yipped and cowered behind Skidz.
"Don't. Say. A. Slagging. Thing. To. Me." I growled in the deepest, menancing voice I had in my vocal processors. Ratchet backed up, eyes wide with fear. Orion had walked in just as I started talking. He froze on the spot, not moving a single inch. His hand started to shake ever so slightly, the only indicator that he was scared. Ketos walked into the Med Bay and nearly ran into the back of Orion. Ketos looked at the scene before him, and realized that I was on the verge of going ballistics.
Hey! Take a chill pill, dude. What did they do? Ketos asked through the bond. I told those two Pit-Spawned motherfraggers to leave me alone while they were here, and they decided to tease me, I replied curtly through the bond, sending anger back. Calm down, I'm pretty sure they won't be messing with ya now, he sent back along with a big wave of calmness and relaxation. I took a deep vent and deactivated my cannon.
Now, what did they tease you about? Ketos asked, sending more calmness and relaxation.
I was talking to Optimus on the comlink earlier, and we were both laughing about something really funny. Ratchet threw a wrench at me, and I managed to barely dodge it. I said that either I am too fast for him, or he's starting to peter out from old age, I reply, sending humor and amusement through the bond.
Oh my goodness! That's pretty funny, Ketos laughed out loud, and I felt his amusement fill the bond. I just grinned at him.
"You're crazy! How can you go from near-rage to grinning in so short of time?" Ratchet exclaimed.
"I have a programming that I call the Red Zone. What happens is if I get hurt on purpose by someone, I get very, very, very enraged. I don't really know what happens or what I do while the program is running, but I see the aftermath. The program has never activated fully, but it has come very close once or twice. I do get partial activation, which is what you just witnessed. Ketos is the only one who can get through to me and help me deactivate the programming," I explained quietly. "Normally, the Red Zone shouldn't have activated at all, but I guess one or two procotols got activated on accident when Ratchet threw his wrench at me, and the wrench barely grazed the top of my helm. Plus, the twins teasing me did not help things at all."
Ratchet looked at me with a somber expression. He hadn't known about the Red Zone. I sighed and just stared at the foot of the hospital bed.
"I had no idea you had that kind of programming. I'm sorry for throwing the wrench at you. Oh, and when you glared at the twins, I could see that there were dark maroon rings around your optics," he said.
I just nodded my helm, indicating that I had heard him. I felt so bad for what happened. I hadn't meant for that to happen at all. A hand rested on my shoulder, and I could see that it was Orion's from the edge of my vision.
"It wasn't your fault. The twins shouldn't have aggravated things further," he spoke softly.
"But what if Ketos didn't walk in when he did? What would have happened? That's what I'm scared about. I don't want to hurt anyone on accident," I replied softly, looking up at him. Ratchet saw that Orion and I seemed to want some time alone, so he wheeled the twins into another wing of the Med Bay, asking Ketos to come along with him.
"Shh. Don't think of what would have happened. It's over," Orion murmured as he hugged me. I hugged him back, glad for the contact. We just stayed like that for a few minutes, not wanting to let go of each other. Reculantly, we let go of each other.
"How long will you have to stay in Med Bay?" he asked as he took my hand into his.
"About two more days. Then I'll be in a wheelchair for two weeks. Not sure how long it will be before I'm cleared for duty again."
"All right. I have to go back to work, okay?"
"Okay," I nodded my helm. Before I could realize what he was doing, he leaned over and kissed me gently on my cheek.
"I'll stop by later," he murmured. I let go of his hand, and watched him as he walked out of the Med Bay. I blinked my eyes a few times, and then put my hand over where he had kissed me and smiled softly.
Well, that's Chapter 4, folks! Again, I'm SO SORRY about the delay. Going to try to update more often. Oh, and I now have a Deviant Art account. Check it out: Just copy and paste the link into your browser.
Until next time, this is JML Ranch transforming and rolling out!