Title: Flames 2: Flint and Steel
Pairing BeexSam, Barricade/ProwlxJazz, RatchetxIronhide, TwinsxMiles,
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. Hasbro does and some others, but that's not the point. All characters are 18 or older with the exception of Annabelle. Comments and Critiques welcome
((Well it has been a really long time since i've been here. I don't care much for the formatting, but it feels a little like coming home. Life has been insane since I last posted.
I finished college, got a job, lost 2 laptops, got addicted to a podcast and started writing for other fandoms. But I knew I would always come back. So without much whining, I'll simply apologize for being gone so long and give you this chapter. Fair warning it's going to take me a little bit to get back into the swing of things, but I won't leave you guys so long. Promise.
Thanks for sticking it out with me and reading my work.))
Flames: 2 Firestarter
The remains of Renaissance King Motel smoked and splintered, half of the building was gone by the time Barricade pulled into the parking lot. The drive took longer than he liked, but there was the minor hang up of his passengers need to avoid speeds excess of 200 mph.
Vaguely green and clutching at the Interceptor's dash Sam lifted his heavy lids and stared blearily at the scene of destruction before them.
"Oh shit" the teen whimpered, shoving a hand to the door handle. Barricade released him without prompting he transformed low to the ground, watching and waiting.
When nothing leapt out at them, both teen and car moved forward into the ruined building. Heavy pedes crunched over broken walls, and a man screamed in horror and surprise.
Whirling towards the sound Barricade fired, the blast taking out single room leaving a pale figure huddled in the bathtub.
"What the fuck is going on?"
"Training exercise." Sam barked back, bringing himself up to his full but rather unimpressive height.
Having encountered such situations before Barricade activated a holographic blind around them both. Forming the shape of another human being and changing Witwicky's apparel to the uniform of a Nevada State trooper. Unnecessarily the decals on the bot's chassis changed to match.
"What the hell for?" Another figure shrieked from above, trembling in the remnants of a double bedroom.
"Alien invasion." Barricade dead-paned adjusting his sunglasses.
The nervous laughter that came in response was easily pushed aside as Sam stalked forward. He touched his ear meaningfully and Barricade nodded.
"There are seven civilians including the managing and housekeeping staff on site." The hologram tipped his head and folded his arms. "We'll have the building surrounded in ten."
"That's not good enough." Sam hissed exaggeratedly, waving a hand for emphasis. He was being watched, so he made each movement count.
Turning to stare at the man peering from above Barricade's holographic image glared over the top of his glasses.
"In five then." He corrected the teen.
"Detain those who refuse to cooperate."
The massive Cybertronian stepped forward and brandishing heavy weapons towards their watchers.
The patrons scattered back in to the nooks and crannies of the motel. The mech scanned boredly as they snatched their belongings and snapped grainy little pictures on their phones.
A concentrated pulse of energy, eradicated anything too incriminating and the mech turned his attention back to Sam.
The teen descended into the area before them, what was left of the motel's indoor pool. His sneakers skidded on warped we tile.
"Most of them have already evacuated. There are no humans down there."
Acknowledging the information, Sam stared into the soggy crater, stretching his power to his sight.
Bluish trails lay before him leading down into the ripped earth and flooring.
There as obvious as the mech stalking forward was another Cybertronian lying in the mud.
Startled by not having seen it before Sam blinked and tried to step back.
Ignoring his apprehension Barricade addressed the newcomer with a short burst of Cybertronian as he temporary charge tried to find purchase on the broken floor.
The prone bot didn't respond and the Interceptor studied it with a scowl. The longer they stood around waiting for it to fully respond, the longer they stood around waiting to be attacked.
The Decepticons would come with the advantage of speed and violence and Barricade was under no misconceptions about the treatment he would receive at the servos of his former allies.
He'd sooner submit himself Prime's particular brand of mercy, which was why he was standing over a unfamiliar mech rather than preparing for an attack.
"There's some damage from the landing. Might have scrambled a few processes, a medic would know better I" he admitted to no one in particular.
Witwicky could see almost as much as the mech could, but he was beginning to abhor the silence. Compared to his slightly less than willing bondmates, Barricade was becoming the talkative one.
One sided conversations and averted optics characterized the extent of their interactions for the last weeks. Barred from occasional missions and set to the most menial duties on the roster all for what he was, all for what he'd become.
Former Decepticon, bondmate by force; sometimes he wasn't sure which Prowl deemed worse. He would have killed for another shot at that frame, another shot at the mech whose very spark burned against his and Jazz's.
It was as obvious as his own inner light, pulsing as bright and as beautifully as the moment he touched them. It galled him that he might not get another chance to see or feel them. It wasn't for lack of trying, but Autobots weren't renowned for their vigor in the berth. Atleast he'd always thought so, before-
The thought went unprocessed as Barricade observed the mech finally beginning to move. It crawled forward and climbed one servo at a time cracking fixtures and splashing filthy water everywhere.
The Interceptor charged his weapon and took aim, but Samuel was smaller and quicker. The tiny fleshling was so pink and disgusting as it stood hands stretched towards the Cybertronian moving closer. He addressed the mech this time, his words in English and guttural Cybertronian, his voice achingly soft.
The large silver form craned its head to inspect them both. It's upper chest cavity sparked and then Barricade realized the reason for the bot's silence. He swore expressively and lowered his rifle, turning his scans toward their surroundings.
"Autobot" he confirmed as Witwicky stared.
Sam was about to ask, but the mech vented noisily.
"A Decepticon would have started shooting already."
The interceptor's statement was proved startlingly prophetic as a sudden stream of wind knocked debris about the trio. Swinging around, a seeker high above brought his weapons to bear.
"Transform!" Snarled Barricade and the newcomer moved to obey. He leaned and twisted, parts rearranging in the manner which Saws was familiar. This time the form that emerged was the alien shape of a Cybertronian root mode.
Surprised the Autobot barely managed to deflect the approaching projectiles away from the mech and his charge. Bits of broken wreckage exploded from the impact and Sam dived for cover as Barricade roared.
"How about something a little more inconspicuous?"
Tucking himself against the silent mech Sam pressed himself flush to the extraterrestrial frame. It granted him reassurance, despite the unfamiliarity. Between the pair of Cybertronians was the safety place he could possibly be.
Barricade was already facing the returning seeker, ignoring the screams of still fleeing humans. Activating his screeching sirens for the second time that afternoon, the mech drowned out nearly all other noise and took aim.
Leaning upon the cooling surface of the Autobot chassis Samuel turned his eyes away from the fight above. Cybertronians were a safe haven to him now, familiar or not. It wasn't safe to think like that, but he couldn't help it, the All Spark readily accepted all of its children
This Autobot, his temporary shield was investigating Sam, Barricade and the area around them, his unfamiliarity with planet breeding curiosity. Sam shivered as the bot progressed to a deeper scan. This mech had to be a scientist or medical officer or so he assumed. Sam couldn't tell by frame type, but the invasiveness of the bot study was a decent indicator. He was probably unsure of the readings the teen was giving off, but that was to be expected.
The holo-blind dropped away as Barricade concentrated his power elsewhere and Sam offered his wrist to the newcomer.
It was an invitation and the Autobot took it readily, a whip thin cable curling about Sam's hand before he accepted it and pressed it home.
The click of the jack into Sam's wrist was loud to his ears, but the connection to his neural paths was becoming second nature. He no longer twitched or winced but merely processed the exchange of data and shared his own, as Bumblebee and Ratchet had taught him.
This mech was indeed an Autobot, an engineer by the name of-
Sam's mind stuttered over the glyphs he was still learning to read and he found himself explaining Barricade's command instead.
"Try blending in."
"Blending?" broadcast his new compatriot. "Now that is something I understand."
Sam wasn't so sure he did, so he attempted again, patting his hand to the frame.
"Let's try this again," Sam prompted gently. "Welcome to Earth, it's a great planet and as long as you're not a threat you're welcome on it. There are, however, a few ground rules."
Behind them Barricade was turning his attention to the seeker dipping down to engage him in combat.
"Terrestrial directions? Fascinating."
Giving up on vocal communication Sam focused on the thoughts he wanted to share and explain, focusing on the things allowed and accepted by the Autobots on Earth.
Accepting the flow of information, the mech skimmed the basics and regulations set forth. He seemed to understand and was satisfied. Pleased Sam reached to pull the cable free, but then the mech pressed further into his mind easily surpassing the please don't cross signs present in Sam's neural network. This unfamiliar probing was more focused and uncomfortable than Bumblebee or Ratchet's lessons. This mech was inspecting in sheer scientific exploration. He was there diving in and drawing on Sam's own experiences and memories before the teen had a chance to compose himself or protest.
He tried anyway, struggling with his voice until he stuttered out "Slow down Jack."
His needy vocalizations didn't seem to have an effect so Witwicky turned inward, turning to his mental barriers taking it a step at a time as Bee had advised. Focusing upon the most private and unpleasant things he sealed them behind walls, taking his fears and secrets piece by piece locking away from the still non wheeled Cybertronian.
The mech murmured in his native tongue and tried to respond the curious remark, but no words came. His mind was filled with streaking glimpses of stars, planets and other celestial forms. Sam's mind was flooded with the memories of his new friend, and he tried to pull out, to regain himself.
He needed to decompile.
It was hard to think of himself as a computer as Ratchet had claimed, but his shields seemed to work provided he restricted access to anything too potentially sensitive. It wouldn't do to break down in tears or a screaming fit every time someone brushed against the reminders of Jazz's death or Starscream's claws.
Even so, this was still not something he was prepared to handle. If he wasn't careful he'd be getting another reprimand from Ratchet on the methods data management.
Witwicky's mental intruder focused on the trail of information, tracking it to the source. The invasion went deep, and Sam fell along with it. The flood of memories and events of the teen's life were distance and cold. Anger and regret crawled up out of his chest and he coughed, the sickly taste of bile nearly making him vomit.
"Wait" he coughed again, but the sounds of blood and weapons drowned him out, static obscuring his hearing and sight.
Fliers streaked overhead the tips of their wings blurring into gold and purple.
Mission City.
Pain, pain
He curled in on himself, attempting to splinter the connection with a vicious tug on the cable still connected to his wrist.
Fire, sky and red optics filled with hate had him reeling from the contact and the last shreds of connection tying Sam to consciousness.
Cybertronian filtered through the processor.
Firewalls breached.
System Failure.
Upgrade necessary.
Coding Installation request.
Denied.
Sharp nails clawed at silvered flesh, but nothing changed, the message scrolled faster each glyph offset by the flash of red light.
Installation request.
Denied.
Denied.
Processor failure imminent.
Shut down in-
Denied
Denied
Denied
Denied
De-
System upgrade approved.
Upload in progress.