This chapter takes place simultaneously with chapter 6.
10. Turned On
Backwards Time Skip - Altihex, Cybertron
Sunstreaker feels like he's going to die.
It's too late to make a hasty exit. He'd have to slide through the mass of bodies just to get to the door and he's not sure that he could make it down the hallway to his quarters even if he got that far. Besides, he's unable to move without an electric shock racing through his frame that makes him want to slam his face against the table and scream. So he sits as still as he can and stares at a point on the far wall.
He knows exactly what is happening, knows exactly who to blame. But the responsible party is not within throttling range.
It's taking everything in him not to moan. The bond strain is neither painful nor pleasant but somewhere in between. Mostly, it's just intense.
Someone brushes by; the small contact lights up his epidural sensors and he sputters. But the rec. room is loud and the 'con doesn't even notice. Sunstreaker cuts power to his optics and wonders if anyone would stop him if he were to open his own energon lines right there.
Probably. No one wants to take time out of a raging party to scrape a dying mech up off the floor.
It's getting worse. He can almost feel phantom sensations ghosting down his chest. Can almost hear a voice; light, melodic. Dusty blue armor. A quiet scrape and the dim sensation of a small limb sliding up his leg and without knowing it, he sits up just a little straighter.
The boisterous noise of the room is a physical entity, dipping into seams and caressing his face. His spark burns. He wants nothing more than to reach in and rip it out.
Someone stumbles; he hears the noise just moments before an elbow grazes his helm. There's no damage, not even a scrape, but he yelps anyway and optics snap on. He whirls and snarls, "Don't touch me!"
The 'con, Breakdown, straightens and chuffs at him. "Aw, don't worry about it Sunshine! No harm done!"
Sunstreaker wants to say, "Don't call me that, slag-sucker," but before he can open his mouth he's hit by a wall of sensation. Two minds, one familiar and one not, slam into his own. Electricity crackles along is frame. He barks something, but there are no words, it comes out as noise. Images, memories, an unfamiliar name—Starburst? Someone is screaming. And someone is crying out. It's wrong. It shouldn't… this should be… and an overwhelming sense of guilt and astonishment.
"What the slag is the matter with you?"
A hand on his shoulder, pushing back. He lifts his head. Breakdown is still standing there and he's not alone. The closest 'cons have frozen and are staring at him, looking a little weirded out. The image blurs for a moment and he's beneath an unfamiliar ceiling. Warm metal beneath him, warm metal above him only that one is moving. The rec. room comes back into focus.
His hands are shaking. His whole frame is shaking. Everyone is staring at him and he feels the panic starting to kick in. They're going to figure it out. They'll know about Sideswipe. No one spontaneously overloads in the middle of a crowded room. He has to do something and fast.
Another jolt of sensation and with it comes voices, though it's a confused babble to Sunstreaker. Breakdown's hand is still on his shoulder. Sunstreaker can feel the light thrum of the other 'con's electrical field. His intakes are catching, pump irregular. The energy crackle is building, nearing its peak. And everyone is staring. Breakdown starts to back away, his hand starts to lift. Sunstreaker realizes what he needs to do.
"I said don't touch me!" he shouts, hoping no one hears the hysterical note in his vocalizer. He lunges forward, fingers curled, and nails the other 'con right in the face. Even before he can fall back Sunstreaker is whirling around to aim a vicious kick to the closest 'con. He catches him right above the knee and the mech starts to go down.
Building static. His entire frame is becoming sensitized; he can feel the air around him. The familiar presence sputters and writhes and Sunstreaker almost loses his ability to stand.
He feels the shift in the air right before a fist connects with the side of his face. He stumbles, reaches around, but another set of hands grabs him from behind and when he looks up it's to see a foot heading towards his face.
The energy field around him snaps. His vision goes white as his world explodes around him and he thinks he screams. And then there's a terrible pain and—
Again, thank you all for your reviews. They're very helpful. If there's anything that you guys spot that could make this one not suck, please let me know.
blood shifter: Yeah. I think own more books than anything else. By a lot.
Okami-chan: Again with the time line. Hrm. Well, there are a few key chapters coming up and I've modified the order of some of them to make it clearer. I hope it isn't too confusing. All the other 28's that I read were chronologically wonky. But I'm trying to remedy that. Thanks for the review!
Trapped in Reality: I thought so. I laughed when I wrote it (but that's just because I'm the biggest dork I know).
Thing With No Talent: You know, you're like the staple of my reviews. Glad you got it (he probably was). And thank you so much for reviewing!
I send you all internet cake!