AN: I don't own Transformers, only my OC. And any songs I used go to their respected owner/owners.
Cybertronian Time-Frame (From /wiki/Talk:Units_of_time)
A nano-klik - approximately 1 Earth second
A klik - about 1.2 Earth minutes
A cycle - about 1 hour 15 mins
A mega-cycle - about 93 hours
A deca-cycle - approx 3 weeks
A stellar-cycle - 7.5 months (there or thereabouts)
A Meta-cycle - about 13 months
A Vorn – about 86 years
An Orn – about 2 weeks
Chapter 16;
'Thoughts or talking to inner voice(Storm)'
Dream
'Flashback'
Inner voice
^Radio^
[Com. Link]
Language of the Primes
~Cybertron common~
/Predator/
While Hide and I drive back to the temporary base, my mind is whirling with thoughts. Both old and new. I know that the risk of Hide being hurt is low, but I can't help but worry that something will. My mind travels back to my time in the Arena and what happened there. Watching my brother being tortured and murdered in front of me left its mark. Quite drastically actually. Being used to hiding doesn't help at all. Hiding my emotions from the naked eye.
"Are you alright youngling?" I turn to the steering wheel and send what I hope is a comforting smile.
"Fine. Just thinking. That's all."
"About?"
"*Sigh* My life in the Arena. What happened? Sorry. I must be boring company right now. But letting my emotions out like I did to you worries me. Enemies can use that against me."
"Don't worry. I can look after myself. Try to stop worrying. Ratchet will have both our heads if you don't try to relax."
"Relax? I don't think I've ever relaxed. Too much danger to. Force of habit to stay ready for a fight. To keep myself in a defensive position. Safer that way." the seatbelt tightens around me in response and I smile lightly at the steering wheel.
The rest of the journey was in silence. Hide was processing what I said, while I was thinking about the new bot coming. Hope they can either fight or help with repairs. We need the extra hands.'I agree. I hope that they can help Ratchet and I in the med bay. We'll need it with the fighting there is bound to be.' Hmmm.After another 20 minutes of driving we pull up to a stop just inside an abandoned warehouse. I hop out of Hide and walk over to Jazz as he has Slash.
"Hey, how has he been?" I ask with a tilt of my head.
"Fine. Want's 'is mama tho." Jay answers with a small smile.
"Aww, come here buba. Did you get lonely and want your momma?" A series of clicks and chirps are my answer.
"Hey, what's up with Hide?" I glance in the direction Jazz is looking and see and frown on Hide's face plates.
"Probably what I said on the drive back."
"What did ya say?"
"Only that I've never relaxed and I am always ready for a fight."
"You would get on well with the Terror Twins." I feel the ground shake and hear the stomp of peds.
"Don't say that! We don't need the Terror Twins here." I turn to Ratchet and tilt my head in confusion.
"Wouldn't you want the extra help? I mean with the war; wouldn't it be better to have all the help you can get?" I furrow my brows in confusion. I watch as a black servo attached to a blue and red arm clasp onto Ratchets shoulder.
"It would be better but Ratchet has an aversion to my front liners. They enjoy to pull pranks on Autobots and cause trouble. Sideswipe is the main prankster, but Sunstreaker helps unless it suits him otherwise. They are very skilled fighters and with them being twins, they know each other's moves and work in sync." Ahhh, now that makes sense. They must send some Bots to the med bay.
"Yes, and Ironhide and myself are main targets of theirs." Amusement runs through me when I hear that, and Slash starts to click and chirp excitedly with a small smile across his face. I feel a grin spread across my face at the mental picture of Ratchet wearing a tutu.
"Great she even has the same grin." I blink and watch as Ratchet walks away mumbling something about "Fragging twins… Gladiators…" I watch his back in shock before I smooth out my features. 'He used the plural for gladiator.' He did. 'These Terror Twins were – are – gladiators too.' You're probably right. 'Hmmm.'
I feel movement behind me and turn around to Jazz leaning down.
"Yes?"
"We've detected two more bots' signals headin' 'ere." I look at J's grinning face and nod slowly.
"Okay. Your point?"
"Was hopin' ya would help with alt-modes." I gin and nod.
"Sure. Let me meet the bots' and get a judgement on their personality before I choose." Jazz copies my grin and nod.
'Why do I get the feeling that these Terror Twins are the two other bots'? I get that feeling to. 'Well, why don't we try to befriend them?' Why? So they can stab us in the back? 'They won't, I have the feeling we can trust them.' Fine, but if they hurt you I won't help. I need to keep my energy for the threat from the Arena. 'Alright. But after that?' You won't need me anymore. 'You'll go? I'll lose my instincts?' No, you'll still have your instincts. I'll just be gone. Your instincts will be integrated into you. 'So I won't lose them? Good.' I look around myself as I watch the bots' feely move, which they don't do when the soldiers are around. I walk off to the side and sit thinking about the different cars that the three new bots could be.
~Hey Ratchet, can you teach me about your biology? Only a little bit.~ Ratchet looks at me in surprise before a small smile spread across his face-plates.
~Of course youngling. I'll teach you about our neural net.~ I nod with a smile and curl up while Ratchet talks. ~Now, our neural nets are similar to your nervous system. We feel pain, pleasure, heat through it. Just like you humans do. Our neural nets are made up of neural fibers.~ Ratchet pulls a glowing blue tentacle moving thing from his wrist. ~Our neural fibers.~ I nod in understanding an watch the neural fiber curl around Ratchet's wrist.
/Wicked./ I freeze as soon as I finish talking as I notice the change in tone. I look towards Ratchet and see his optics are wide.
"Did I just change language?" I keep my eyes looked with Ratchet's optics.
"Yes you did. Wait here." I watch Ratchet walk off and sit and think. 'Why can I talk and understand Cybertronian?' You shall be the new hop for our children. To be this you need to learn. 'And that explains that.' I still don't like this. 'You don't have to. At least we now know why we know this stuff.' Better than being left in the dark at least. 'Precisely.' I feel two sets of footsteps behind and focus on the vibrations. I see the outlines of both Ratchet and Optimus. I relax slightly knowing its them rather than an enemy.
"Is everything okay?" I watch them share a glance and look at them suspiciously.
"Yes, we are just trying to understand how you can understand and speak two frequencies of ours."
"Okay. But it doesn't and, to be honest, I like it."
"As long as it doesn't hurt and the voices don't become too much for you, there is no need to worry." With that Optimus smiles as me and walks off with Ratchet in tow after a stern glare from him.
I walk outside to be in the shade the temporary base provides and sit down concealed by the shadows with my eyes closed. My mind takes me back to my time in the Arena.
'The floor was cold causing an invisible shiver to run through me. The ground I was laying on was soaked in a liquid hard to see through the dark. A breeze runs through the supposed room I was in, allowing the scent of rust to flow through my nose. A bright light came on overhead illuminating the room. The walls were stone and covered in slashes from a range of sharp knife like weapons. Blood was coating the floor and bottom half of the walls showing that someone put up a struggle is the hand and dragged finger marks were anything to go by.
Taking in an inventory of my body, I notice that I am covered in both deep and shallow cuts, large and small. The blood in this room was mine. I feel someone behind me and jump to my feet and turn around only needing to move my footing slightly after practice of this kind. The man behind me had his upper face masked in a fire red mask while a sadistic grin was spread across his lips.
"I'll never understand how you can still stand after this Lightning." He looks me up and down before locking eyes with me.
"Show respect," I hiss, "I'm still stronger than you. I could kill you and no one will go against me." He laughs at me before a sneer claims his lips.
"Yet you're still on the floor covered in blood. You are nothing but a pathetic mutt," a grin returns to his lips making me wary of him, "You couldn't even protect that weakling brother of yours." Before he can blink, he finds himself pinned against the wall by his throat with his breathing being disrupted by the tight grip I have on him.
"I had nothing to do with that," I growl and tighten my grip, "Your beloved ring master went against a promise. A promise that I would do whatever he wants as long as he left my brother alone!" my grip got so tight his lower face is noticeably going blue, and I sneer he word beloved. I look at him in disgust and throw him across the room. I dare him with my eyes to stand up and say something, but like a good little boy he stays there and silent. I throw one last glare his way before I walk out of that torture cell.'
When I come out of my flashback, I feel the air above me shift. I flip backwards and land in a crouch with a dagger in my left hand glaring at the roof… only to see Jazz come to the edge. I sigh and get out of the crouch and put my dagger away.
"Please don't do that Jazz, I could have really harmed you." I give a wary sigh and watch as Jazz jumps down in front of me before he responds.
"Sorry Storm. Ya alright? Ya were out of it fora while." I flinch slightly at the worry and concern before I answer.
"I'm fine. Just remembering a time in the Arena again."
"Hmm, alrigh' if ya say so. But you did flinch."
"Sorry J, I'm still getting used to people worrying about me."
"Alrigh' ya wanna go fora drive?" I smile lightly at Jazz and nod.
"Sure, let me go and tell Ratchet so he doesn't have a fit. I'm gonna grab Slash to." I walk back inside of the temporary base and see Ratchet doing a check up on Slash. "Hey Ratchet, Jazz and I are going for a drive, and I want slash to come with me."
"Alright then. Just be careful." I give a nod before I walk over to Jazz's alt-mode with Slash on my shoulder.
"Let's go J, I want to see Mik quickly. She'll be at the shop." The seatbelt tightens around me before J pulls out.
"Sure. Any reason or just a general visit?
"Just general at the moment. But there's bound to be something she want's help with." Jazz hums in response sending vibrations through the cab. "Any ideas of who the three bots could be?"
"Na. Not really sure, could be anyone. Sorry S." I smile lightly at that.
"Well, I have a feeling…" I feel Jazz perk up at that.
"Ya do? What s it?" a grin threatens to split across my face.
"Oh, nothing really. Just that I think that the last two bots are these 'Terror Twins' I've heard about."
"Really?!" the pure excitement and joy in Jazz's voice causes me to chuckle.
"Yeah, it's just a feeling though."
"Aw yeah, this is gonna be fun! Ya'll get along great with 'em." I raise an eyebrow at that and just shrug, getting the feeling I won't get questions answered.
"Hey, Jazz, can you put on some music for me please?
"Sure. Anythin' ya want?"
"Hmm. Let's go with Bon Jovi 'Livin' on a Prayer'."
[Beginning of song lyrics]
Once upon a time not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck...
It's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man,
She brings home her pay
For love, for love
She says, "We've gotta hold on to what we've got.
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
We've got each other and that's a lot.
For love we'll give it a shot."
Whoa, we're half way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
[End of song lyrics]
"Thanks J."
"Ya welcome S. Ya ma sis. What do ya expect, I care 'bout ya."
"I know. It's still strange for me. I'm getting better though. I'm letting you and Bumble in, as well as Slash."
"We know. Ya also let Hide in as well. You 'ave made progress." I smile and close my eyes while Slash sleeps curled up on my shoulder. The purr of J's engine lulls me into a state of somewhat relaxation. I must have been like that for 20 minutes before J stops outside the garage. "We're 'ere S."
"Thanks J. I'll be back in a minute." Jazz lightly revs his engine in response. I place Slash on J's seat, grab my bad and get out to make my way inside.
Mikaela's POV
I hope Storm gets here soon. I need her advice on what to do. I mean, sure Sam's great and everything, but I just… don't have feelings for him anymore. I like someone else…
"Oh God. What do I do?" I put my head in my arms and release a heavy sigh.
"You wait and ask someone." I freeze and spin around to face the speaker.
"What the? How did you?" he smiles lightly before his face goes neutral.
"I'm from the Arena. Boss isn't the only one light on their feet. I'm here because I need to talk to her." I nod as I remember that Storm's in trouble somehow.
"Alright. But warn me next time. You nearly gave me a heart attack." Dan, or Reaper, raises an eyebrow in question.
"Boss didn't teach you?"
"No, she did, I'm just not as good as you both clearly." He nods in understanding before I perk up at the sound of Jazz's engine. "She's here." I walk towards the door of the garage and hear a door close. I reach the door the same time Storm does. "Storm! I need your help!" she nods and enters the garage only to stop when she notices Dan.
"Mikaela. Why is he here?"
"He said he wanted to see you." She nods and walk over to Dan, and crosses her arms over her chest.
"What. This better be good."
"They're not coming after you for a while. They need to train people to be able to fight you." Storm nods throughout, but rolls her eyes at the last part. "Not that they're ever going to beat you. I need to go Boss. I'll contact you when I have more information."
"*Sigh* Alright Dan. And don't call me 'Boss'. I'm Storm now." Dan nods in agreement before leaving with a wave. I turn to Storm to catch her rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"Storm? Are you alright?" she sighs and turns to me.
"I'll be fine Mik. I'll concentrate on the arena when I feel too big a threat." She closes her eyes briefly before she smiles. "Enough about me. You wanted my help? What do you need?" I sigh slightly before I explain.
"I don't have feelings for Sam anymore." I watch for any signs of anger from Storm, only to watch a grin spread across her face. "You're not mad at me?"
"No Mik. I've been waiting for you to say that. Let's go out and chat over a coffee." I smile in relief but confusion runs through me as well.
"Alright. Let's go."
Storm's POV
I don't try to hide the pleased grin on my face as we walk to Jazz's alt-mode. I pick up Slash and place him in my bag while sitting in the driver's seat.
"Hey Jazz, can you take us to the nearest Costa please? Mik and I need to have a chat over coffee."
"'Corse S. Ah won't pay attention to ya convo. Ah promise."
"It's alright Jazz. We trust you."
When we get to Costa, I get a large vanilla latte and lemon muffin, while Mik gets a medium cappuccino and a millionaire shortbread. We walk to a back corner table to talk.
"Now, you don't like Sam but someone else. Right? What's he like?" I watch as Mikaela sighs and a dreamy look enters her eyes.
"He's strong, has a deep voice that causes me to shiver, he's handsome and has leader qualities." I smile in happiness when a look of love and longing appears in her eyes.
"Tell him. Tell him you have feelings for him."
"I can't do that! People will think that it's weird." My temper flares at that.
"Who cares what others think? If you love him go for it. You deserve to be happy."
"I don't know…"
"You wanted my opinion and this is it. You need someone like Optimus to be there for you. Just like he need you. He is a lot more serious than you, while you're more playful. You balance each other out." I wait for her response as surprise mixed with horror and relief bloom on her face.
"How did you know?" I smile lightly at her question.
"The way you act around him. And your choice of prom dress. Just tell him."
"What if he doesn't feel that same? What if I make a fool of myself?
"*Sigh* I'll do some digging and let you know alright? We should be moving to the new base after the new bots get here."
"You sure?"
"Yes I'm sure, I wouldn't have offered otherwise. I won't make it obvious either." Mikaela smiles at me as we finish out coffee and snacks before we leave to take Mik back to the garage.
AN: Hey. Finished typing up what I lost of chapter 16. I'm sorry that it took so long, but hit a bad depressive state and just wanted to give up on everything. I've also been under a lot of stress with my A-Levels. I'm sorry and hope you can understand.