Silence was all I had. I came from me, from them, from inside. It made my muteness more profound. Ratchet had said my voice could return once the blood clot was gone; I still couldn't speak and it had been nearly two weeks. It wasn't so bad, I reasoned. The only really bad part of being mute is being unable to sing. I mean, sure I could show Flee and Skye, but it wasn't the same as singing aloud. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if they'd stop ignoring each other.
I directed that last bit towards both of them. I got no reply.
I've ben having weird dreams lately. About this girl who looks like me, except she has blue streaks in her hair and a scar over her eye. I remeber holding her in my dream and it all felt so real. I was silent for a moment. It scared me when she died.
And then suddenly the bond was completely open.
What do you mean 'she died'? Dream people can't really die. Fleeta asked, wary. She shifted in place and the moniter started to beep.
"Stop fidgeting and the moniter wouldn't beep like this." Ratchet scowled.
She glared back.
I mean she died. It felt like she was there, like I was holding her and then she wasn't. My mind was lonely and empty and she was dead. To be honest, it felt more like a...a memory.
The bond shut down again. I could feel Fleeta talking to Skye, but it was blurry, as if a veil was between us. Still it was thinner than the usual block, which felt more like a brick wall.
"When do you think we'll see our families Flee? I miss…" I paused, unsure of who I missed. "I miss someone. I think." I finished typing.
"You don't remember tha-" Fleeta pinched Skye. She instantly silenced herself.
Don't remember what?
Nothing. I was alone. Alone.
Don't remember what? Remeber what?
The words drifted to me like petals on the wind.
That they have to go through a background check first. Because the Decepticons want us still, remember?
I relaxed slightly at Fleeta's response. For some reason the answer felt...wrong. For now I let it go.
"The drip's done. You can go." Ratchet waved us away. I slid down the ladder, purposely leaving the datapad behind. I was almost out the door when I was called back.
"Don't you dare leave this room without that. You're not always going to be with Fleeta or Skye and others are going to have to talk to you." He dropped the pad into my hands. I rolled my eyes but took it. It wasn't worth arguing with The Hatchet.
"Fine. I don't need it though." It said for me. The voice was already tuned to a copy of my own. I paused with my finger on the send button, weighing the next question in my mind. Fleeta and Skye had left already and I had privacy. I didn't know why I was hesitant; I mean, it wasn't asking an offensive or intruding question. "Why hasn't my voice come back?" It blurted. He froze at the question, dropping the tool in his hand. "You said it was because of trauma or a blood clot or something. Isn't that resolved yet?"
He picked it up and tried his best to resume his work. "I don't know for sure what's wrong, but I think it's trauma." His voice was the same but, his demeanor seemed to have change somehow. The rhythmic pulsing of his spark was slightly off beat, more chaotic. I concentrated and heard the softer, higher pitched hum of data flowing and of energon flowing faster. He was lying.
"Har, come on. Jazz wants ya ta meet the others." Skye called from the hall. Her voice wavered slightly. Was she lying too?
I shook my head; I was being stupid. Why would they lie?
Before I could reply, a bot I had seen before crashed in. Only this time he was covered in ash and his optics weren't glowing. His head fins were pulsing dimly. He stumbled making Fleeta fall back from the doorway where she was waiting.
"Hey, watch it!" She cried as she got up. He didn't even bother to look down.
For the second time that day Ratchet dropped something. "Primus, Wheeljack! What now?" He crossed the room in two long strides and guided him to a berth.
"My exponential reality disrupter deconstructed. It was really bright." Though he was damaged, he grinned goofily like he was telling a funny tale. "And then it caused some smaller disrupter grenades to go off...which may or may not have blinded me."
A blue light projected from Ratchet's optics, running the length of his frame. "Just be glad it's only superficial injuries. Your optics can be repaired -just barely. But next time-" A wrench bounced off Wheeljack's helm. " Wear explosion protection." He returned the wrench to the table.
I snickered. Ratchet dug around in Wheeljack's optics with some lit up tool.
"What did you need those exponential reality things for?" I asked, only the machine made it come out as more of a statement.
"Do you know what an exponential reality disrupter is?" He corrected gently. As he spoke his head turned torwards me causing Ratchet to jerk it back to him.
"No. What is it?" I walked closer, careful not to jostle the datapad too much.
His hands moved along with his words, as if to explain better. "It's a state of the art phycological warfare weapon that makes outside stimuli indistinguishable from internal stimuli. Basically, it makes them blind, deaf and unable to feel anyting but their own nightmares." He beamed.
"There. You can get rid of the scorch marks yourself." Again the doc bot turned away. Wheeljack slid off the berth, pausing as he walked by me.
"I guess it's a good thing it didn't work on you." It said, slightly muffled.
"Actually, it would have affected the entire base if it was working corrrectly, and that would have included your trine. So, yes it's a good thing." He smiled. "Come visit me sometime. I'm in the building farthest away from the main building." He looked down at his schorched finish. "For obvious reasons."
OoOo
For some reason, Skye had found a friend in Jazz. I had automatically, I liked him as well. It made sense though; we both liked music. Skye didn't have much in common besides accents. Fleeta didn't mind him either, though it was more obligatory. I was pretty sure she wuldn't have been friends if she had a choice and now that the bond was reopened, she didn't.
I dropped the datapad again as he turned the corner sharply. My hand grazed the concrete wall and I quickly snatched it in. A delicate melody hung in the air as he drove somehow louder than his driving.
I tried my best to ignore his driving as I concentrated on the song. The hypnotic sighs, chitters and schreeches melted away to words.
The sky can fall as fast as it wants
nothing can break us apart
One spark, one love can never be split
with you I can be alive and be living
The words melted away again. Except they didn't. The sounds had never changed, I realised. The only thing that changed was that I had understood.
Did you hear that?
Fleeta slid to the other side of the car as we turned again.
What? His tires burning?
It was only me then. I shook my head.
Nevermind.
"What song is this?" I typed, trying my best not to let my fingers slide. He speeded up as the door came into view. Fleeta stiffled a shriek. Jazz stiffled a snicker.
"It translates best to 'Clarity'. Basic'ly, it's 'bout the bond between twins and lovers. An' it's one of the best too. From the Golden age." He stopped suddenly, inches from the hangar door. He opened his door and Fleeta jumped out first.
Fleeta shrieked. "Remind me not to ride with you again. You drive crazy." She steadied herself against his frame as Skye moved.
He laughed. "Naw, I drive fun."
"You're just a scaredy cat Flee. This is like the best rollar coater ever." Emphasis on the ever. Skye punched the air.
I said nothing. The speed itself was enjoyable, but the sharp turns were scary. She was right about this being like a roller coaster. I wanted to ride again, though technically didn't need to. The base was a walkable distance.
I sighed to myself as I realized what had happened; I forgot what I was going to ask earlier. Something about my voice, I think. I didn't dwell on it much longer as he pushed open the door.
"Hello again. Fleeta. Skye. Harmony." Optimus said. He was much taller than I remembered, almost touching the celing. Ratchet was not there I noticed, but I did see a few familiar faces. I remebered Cliffjumper and Sunstreaker from the race, as well as Bee. Of course, we knew Jazz and Optimus Prime.
My eyes instnatly drifted to the slender pink, purple and silver bots in the back. Their shape reminded me of girls. No, women. Skye elbowed me and I blushed, realizing that I hadn't replied yet.
I typed as quick as possible. "Sorry I zoned out. Hello." The machine broke 'hello' into two distinct words. Sunstreaker snickered.
Just call 'im Sunny. It annoys 'im. I could hear the smirk in her voice.
Shh. You're distracting me.
From what? You weren't paying attention.
What was distracting me.
"You've already met some of our team, but I feel it is important for you to meet everyone. It is important that you are able to distinguish between Autobot and Decepticon not only by insignia, but by face." Optimus said. His shape cast a strange and huge shadow across us, making the oil spills and other marks on the ground more visible. As I looked around I noticed a silver bot step forward. Or rather, skate forward on his wheels.
"I'm Sideswipe, Sunny's other half. But you know, the cooler version." He did a slight bow, somehow still balancing on his wheels.
"Don't call me that." Sunny growled as he went back to his place. Fleeta smirked.
"Be sure to make this quick. Decepticons are on the move." Ironhide called.
"Jolt. Ratchet's apprentice." He nodded before simply stepping forward then disappearing back into the ranks.
"Red alert. I'm..."
I don't remeber when I started to zone out, only that I did. I only remembered coming to when Fleeta gently pulled me along out the doors back to the main building. There were so many of them, I realized. They actually had a chance against the Decepticons. I looked up at Jazz, who was walking behind us like in a funeral prosession. Or as a gaurd would. I saw a flicker of movement behind his shoulder.
My eye started swimming becuase of the dust, and that was when I realised: The movement was a laser sight. Before I could call out, they shot and he tok a step back.
"Run back ta the base now. Get ta Ratchet." He said, keeping his low as to not be overheard. I ran faster than I ever ran, never letting go of Flee or Skye.
We didn't get far. I didn't want to look back, but my head was on a puppet string when I heard a familiar footstep behind us. I fell, suddenly unsteady by his presence.
Soundwave. I thought and thought only that. Only his name. I was his charge. Why was I running from him?
No, Har. Move. We need to go.
My mind grew foggy and my steps faltered. Why were Fleeta and Skye trying to pull me away? I was only alive for Soundwave. My Master.
"What're ya doin? Move!" Somebot yelled. The voice was familiar. Ironhide's. Yeah, it was Ironhide's voice. My legs unfroze a little but I didn't get far. He was getting closer.
The ashpalt glimmered in the sunlight, slowly getting consumed by a flood of blueish purple. How pretty. I should just stay here and…
"Sounwave's here. He's Influcining her." Fleeta's voice sounded so far away. The thing, no, the spark inside started to thrash.
It hurt with him so close. But he was good. Soundwave was Master.
"Aw frag! The phsychopath is here." Sides yelled. And then Soundwave was here and I could hear him calling.
Come home. Come home. .Comehome. Comehome.
Initiative: Return home.
I had to follow orders. Aruptly my legs began to work again and they brought me closer.
"Stop it!" Fleeta said through gritted teeth. I paid her no attention as she ran after me and raised an arm. I paid no attention as my eyes closed involuntarily and his signal echoed in my mind, unanswered.
Thank you for reading. I'm on spring break so I should have one out faster than usual and other stories updated too. Sorry for the cliff. In exchage, it's long. :)