Horror
Terra had been silent.
She sat in her room, head hanging low. Her features were as cold as granite.
Sam entered the room and Terra barely even looked up at him.
"Terra..." he began. He didn't even know where to start.
She didn't respond. She just continued to sit at the edge of her bed, staring down at her hands. Sam shifted anxiously, his mind going to Carly. He had to go and find her, but Terra had not spoken to anyone since Ironhide's death. She had simply been sitting there the whole time, he gathered.
"Terra. I need to find Carly." he said.
Terra again, answered with silence.
"Terra, come on. Let's get our of here," Sam encouraged. "You need some time to breathe a little."
Terra suddenly laughed. It was soft, gentle, but it startled him.
"Sam..." she sighed. "I don't want to breathe."
Sam looked confused. "What?"
Terra then looked up at him, her eyes reddened from evidence of tears. Sam had never actually seen her cry in this way. It was almost an unnerving sight, but even she was human, despite all the change to her DNA. He was stunned by the sight. However, she was smiling.
"What if all I want to do is sit here?" she asked. "What if I want to die to ease this horrible agony I feel?"
Sam shook his head. "Do you think Ironhide would have wanted that?"
"No."
"Then you can't sit here and do nothing. We can find Carly and get our hands on Sentinel for what he did." He looked concerned now. "Or what he might still do."
"Why shouldn't I?" Terra suddenly snapped, glaring at him. "Why shouldn't I just remain? I have worked hard, a slave to the needs of this weak, dying world and I am called in to serve once again, ignoring my own pain?"
Sam didn't know how to answer. Truthfully, he was never too good with comforting people in their time of need. Also, he had no real experience with the death of a loved one to really offer her. Terra didn't expect an answer, though she continued on and stood up from her spot.
"That isn't what I meant..." Sam said quietly. He was cautious now. "You know that."
"I did not know what it meant to love someone," she said, softly. "I did not understand. But now that Sentinel Prime has killed him, I feel as though my world is without meaning, color and promise. My regret is never knowing enough of what love meant until Ironhide perished. I simply feel...dead."
Sam was silent for a moment. "I don't know what else to say. I can't say 'I'm sorry' because it wouldn't do any good."
Terra looked at him, her features filled with coldness. "No. It will not. We will find Sentinel Prime," she promised, in a soft voice that dripped with venom. "And whatever he has planned for this world. He will understand what brutality feels like. He may have the chance to watch his plans unfold before I place his head on a stick."
Sam nodded his head. "Don't worry. We will get payback for what he did."
"Revenge is something of a personal emotion I was never allowed to feel." Terra whispered.
Sam walked out of the room with Terra following.
"Well, I think you're allowed to feel that plenty enough." he told her.
"I will help you, Sam." Terra continued, still just as quiet. "But I will do no more."
oOo
Sam and Terra arrived at Dylan's home, unfortunately on foot given the fact that Bumblebee had traveled with Optimus to find Sentinel.
"Terra, stay outside," Sam told her. "I can handle this."
Terra looked a little uncertain.
"Really, I can." Sam assured her.
Terra let out a sigh through her nose.
I will find your killer, Ironhide, she thought, her mind bubbling with the loathing and agony of Ironhide's death, I will find him. Sentinel will know the pain and suffering of every last victim. I will bring about his death as I have so many others. Soon, Ironhide, you shall be avenged.
Suddenly, Sam and Carly were rushing from Dylan's home, their faces filled with fright. Terra looked confused and turned to them.
"We need to go!" Sam cried.
"Sam?" Terra questioned, as they made their way to Carly's vehicle.
But then, Terra straightened, just as they climbed into the vehicle. "Wait!" she cried.
The vehicle suddenly folded back, transforming and ejecting the three into the grass. Terra winced and stood, only to find herself watching as the vehicle took the shape of Soundwave. Her goggles displayed his statistics and she scrambled to reach Sam and Carly, just as the Decepticon snatched her.
"Your mine!" Soundwave roared.
Soundwave transformed with Carly still in his grip, trapping her within him in his alt mode. Terra scrambled to her feet and rushed Soundwave, but a metallic screech filled the air and she was knocked off of her feet. Sam looked up in horror as a metallic bird swooped in and began to wrestle through the grass with Terra.
"Terra!" he shouted.
"Sam! I can't get out!" Carly shrieked.
Sam looked from Terra to Carly, watching as the two women struggled from their captors; Terra was being slashed by the metal bird's claws, though she struggled to inflict damage on her own. Carly was trapped inside her own car - which ended up being a Decepticon anyway - and he was feeling more helpless than ever now.
"Someone get help!" he shouted, hoping to God someone would hear him, "Help! Get help!"
Dylan was calmly bidding his party guests farewell before he approached the chaotic scene. "You really think you're the first man ever asked to join the noble alien cause?" he sneered, directed to Sam.
"Who are you?" Sam demanded.
"Do you know why we've not been back to the moon since 1972?" Dylan asked. "Because these two-" He gestured to Laserbeak and Soundwave. "They came to my dad and they told him to do some creative accounting. Make it way too expensive to ever go back. So he and the others shut down the American and Russian space programs. And they've been our clients ever since."
Laserbeak disengaged from Terra and left her bleeding in the grass. She snarled with effort to stand.
"You helped them kill people?" Sam couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Terra's eyes widened.
"You think they'd give you a choice?" Dylan quipped, glaring at him. "Besides, it's not like I personally participated. I am a liaison. I liaise."
Sam grunted as he was forced to his feet by two of Dylan's large, muscular associates.
"It's hostile takeover time, Sam." Dylan said, smiling. "I've had my eye on you for years, Sam. You're the one spy I've never been able to provide as someone close to the Autobots."
Terra started forward, despite her vicious inflictions but Dylan turned to her. "Ah-ah-ah," he warned, patting a gun at his side, concealed beneath the coat he wore. "Sam? I think you should keep that dog of yours on a tighter leash. Unless she wants to spend her time cleaning up Carly's brains all over this grass."
Terra froze and watched in horror as Soundwave deployed numerous tentacles from his alt mode.
"Sam! Don't do what he wants!" she wailed.
Dylan sighed with regal boredom. "Yes, he will. They all do."
Terra stood there, watching as Dylan grabbed Sam's wrist. She could see a small Decepticon move about on his arm and attach itself to Sam's wrist. "You are to track down Optimus Prime, because you're the one human he trusts, and you will ask one question. How does he intend to fight back? Strategies, tactics, everything!" he commanded.
Sam suddenly cried out in agony and fell to the ground, gripping his wrist.
"Has a nasty little bite, doesn't it? It's very high-tech," Dylan explained, smirking. "It lets us see what you see, hear what you hear and it taps your nervous system. So, if you so much as try and signal-"
Sam suddenly shrieked and his body jerked.
"Mm. I don't know what to tell you, Sam. Relationships have consequences," Dylan said, with mock pity. "I am here because of my father. She is here because of you."
He gestured to Soundwave, who deposited Carly to the ground.
"Sam, do your job. She'll be safe. I give you my word." Dylan assured him.
"Sam!" Terra called. When he looked over at her, she nodded her head. "I'll remain with her."
When Sam departed, Carly rushed to Terra's side. "She needs help!" she told Dylan.
The man sighed. "Fine. Get her cleaned up." he snapped, waving a hand. "I don't want her bleeding all over everything."
Carly helped Terra back toward the house.
"I'm sorry this happened." she said.
Terra sighed. "So am I."
