Chapter 14 ~ "Nighttime"

Once walking through the door, Megatron heard the sounds of pain-filled screams and ran down the corridor. He knew where they were coming from and soon found himself looking over Prime cradling a shuttering RaiRyu; Prime looked up at him, "He's having flashbacks..."

VolFogg appeared beside the yellow mech, reaching out to take RaiRyu's hand and holding it tightly. He murmured softly to the larger mech, trying to help calm the dragon of lightning down.

Prime was grateful, as was FuuRyu when RaiRyu's sobs had died down and the yellow bot looked up to the three bots. He blinked tiredly and curled up into Prime's lap, "They won't stop... I can still see him... feel him..." His body shuttered and Prime placed a hand on RaiRyu's shoulder, his golden optics saddened, "I know..."

The purple mech hugged RaiRyu as best he could. "Only time and your own strength, plus the strength of those who are here to help you, can overcome the nightmares, Rai. He is going to regret doing this to you, I promise you that."

Optimus listened to what VolFogg said. He mulled over it then looked at RaiRyu... he reminded him of another little yellow bot that had an attitude much like VolFogg's. He would do anything to avenge a friend... or brother. He looked at Sideswipe as he played with the GunMachines. The little ones were so young and didn't deserve this misery. Most of then were infants and one youngling.

Megatron had smiled over his mask, noting that fatherly look in Prime's optic, 'Typical Prime...' he thought, leaning against the doorframe. He suddenly became aware of a presence behind him, he blinked and turned around finding HyoRyu and EnRyu trying to peek inside.

"How's Rai...?" En's voice held that of concern, his blue brother nodded in agreement wanting to know the answer.

"Having flashbacks, bad ones." VolFogg didn't look up from the yellow mech, rubbing the younger mech's back gently. "This is just my opinion, but I don't think he should be left alone... no offense, FuuRyu. The more people he knows and trusts, the better, I think."

Optimus nodded in agreement with VolFogg. "I'll stay with him tonight." He looked back down to the smaller yellow bot, which seemed to flash him a familiar grin.

EnRyu grinned and laughed as HyoRyu rolled his optics, "Even when put through complete hell he's still somewhat able to be himself..."

Megatron smirked under his mask, seeing FuuRyu wrap an arm around his brother's shoulder and hug him close. The former Decepticon warlord blinked, having noticed that Scavenger wasn't around.

VolFogg smiled, still stroking RaiRyu's back. "That's a good sign... it means he hasn't been broken. He can recover, in time. With help and support." He nodded to Prime, then slowly pulled away. "I'm heading back to my room... I need some recharge."

Prime nodded to VolFogg, and held RaiRyu closer. The little yellow mech snuggled into his chest and let a smile spread across his face... this felt safe... warm... like when Fuu and him curled up at night, but much more stronger. He pulled Fuu on to Prime's lap and made him snuggle the way he did. He saw the look on his big brother's face realizing why RaiRyu was clinging… this felt good.

Optimus was a bit surprised by the brother's actions, his golden optics blinking. Yet he couldn't help but smile, his powerful arms embracing them both.

Megatron smiled for a moment at the pair, suddenly stopping VolFogg by the shoulder, "You mind finding Scavenger?" he asked, "Didn't see him when I came on board..." Megatron's red optics narrowed, "He better not be guzzling down the high grade... that's MY high grade!"

VolFogg looked up at the larger mech, and then nodded. Once Megatron let go of his shoulder, the ninja mech went in search of Scavenger, checking in a few other spots before entering the common room.

Scavenger stumbled out on the floor; his steps were uneven as he made his way to couch. He stumbled again, this time tripping over the small table that sat in front of the couch and he landed on his knees, luckily he didn't spill his bottle of high grade. He cursed as he got up, his old face was red from the warmth of the drink and he snorted while trying to make it to the comfy couch.

VolFogg blinked several times. "There he is..." He walked over to the old mech, wondering just why Scavenger had gotten so drunk.

Scavenger sat on the couch; plopping down and making it move a few centimeters. He took a swig at the large bottle of high grade, letting out a breath followed by a hiccup; he growled and rubbed his sore knee, "Damn the joints...."

VolFogg looked at him, puzzled. "So this is where you disappeared to." He edged closer, not sure what kind of drunk Scavenger was. He'd seen all types on Earth; there were times being a police car had its downsides.

Scavenger hiccupped and looked towards the smaller bot, "III... didn't disappear..." he took another swig, "I've always *hic* been here..." Scavenger's face turned into a smirk, "Over... 100 million years..." he suddenly frowned, "100 million years and... *hic* I'm still here... Why the hell am I...?"

VolFogg eased closer. "Age-related depression..." It wasn't something he had a lot of experience with. Of all the people he'd known, most were relatively young, and the oldest person he knew, the chief scientist of GGG, had disregarded his age.

Scavenger blinked his yellow optics, looking over at the ninja bot, "What are... you *hic* doing here anyway...?" he took a much smaller sip of his high grade this time.

"Megatron asked me to find you." The purple mech stopped next to the couch, frowning at the bottle. "Somehow I doubt you'll find the answer to your problems in that bottle..."

Scavenger grinned, chuckling, "When you've witnessed countless friends *hic* and family die... before your eyes..." he tried to sit up on the couch, "You really... got nothing else to do..." He took another drink at the bottle, finishing the last of it, "I've watched them die, I've watched enemies dies at my... *hic* hand... and why haven't I died?" Scavenger grinned again, giggling, "Simple..."

"Because it's not your time," the purple mech said thoughtfully. "What does an elder have that no one else does? Experience, knowledge, and skills to be passed on to the younger generations; memories of important events, to record and keep for future generations. Have you ever thought of that?"

"Countless times kid..." the old mech breathed, "But when you watch your own knowledge being wasted on a soldier dying in your own arms... you really... gotta rethink things over..." Scavenger growled, "My old age is getting to me..." He was somehow able to sober up. "Today with Darius... I couldn't move like I use to, fight like I use to..."

"Then leave the fighting to the younger generation, and concentrate on passing on what you know. Train the younger mechs. Perhaps the skills you have, that you learned throughout your life, could help save other lives." VolFogg touched his shoulder gently. "My team and I are strong, but even we still have much to learn. Teach us."

Scavenger blinked, looking up at the smaller mech with a stern expression in his yellow optics. He saw the determination in VolFogg's optics, trust, and honor; something that's hard to come by these days... Scavenger sighed then smirked, rubbing his temple, "I can't believe... *hic* I'm doing this..." he stood up, his legs a bit unbalanced, "All righty ninja bot, you got yourself a mentor..." He staggered towards the kitchen.

VolFogg smiled. "Thank you, Scavenger. You might find us more attentive than some other students you've had... We have a lot to learn and we know it." He watched the old mech head for the kitchen, a frown crossing his face. "You don't need any more of that stuff..."

Scavenger grinned, "Yooouuuu may think so..." he chuckled, pulling out a can of low-priced high grade and tossed another one at Vol, "But III beeg *hic* to differ..." he opened the can and headed back for the couch. "Plluuus... the EIGHT of you are gonna have to get used to me..."

VolFogg caught the can, looking at it dubiously. He had seen the effect it had on his teammates, and had no desire to get that overcharged. The strongest stuff he'd ever had was some high-octane fuel EnRyu had managed to slip him, and he wasn't eager to repeat the experience.

Scavenger grinned, "You mention your team... *hic* as the three of you..." He drank a sip of the can. "First rule of Cybertronian warfare: Bigger team *hic* bigger force..." he chuckled, "Heh... I remember back in the day... I trained an Autobot army by the thousand..." He slumped in the couch, putting the can on the small table. He swayed back and forth, laying against the soft fabric.

"The twins and I are a small team inside a larger team," VolFogg explained, holding his own can. "The Ryu brothers, the dragons of fire and ice, wind and thunder... they are the Mobile Unit, the real fighters. GunDober, GunGlue, and I were meant as spies, more or less. To gather intelligence, we made the transition to fighter when I was assigned to protect someone..." His optics dimmed as he thought of his young charge, then shook himself. "We worked with the Ryu brothers a great deal, though we were still Intelligence Division."

Scavenger looked up at VolFogg, "And what about Mic?" he said with a straight face, "He deeessseerrves... *hic* to be part of this as well..." he yawned loudly, canines baring. "Damn... the room is spinning..." Scavenger's body swayed back and forth once more as his optics flashed...

"Mic is different yet again; he has different abilities. His weapon, believe it or not, is a keytar and that funny-looking ship of his. He's a sound robot. Since he was built by someone else, I'm not sure which division he falls into." VolFogg thought for a moment, and then dismissed the thought with a shrug. "And I do believe you've had enough to drink."

Scavenger smirked, optics dimming, "Sound huh? ...Sounds like SoundWave..." he leaned forward suddenly, feeling his stomach twist and growl...

Finding an empty container, VolFogg slid it discreetly over to the old mech; he'd had plenty of experience with drunks. "That name doesn't ring any bells. Mic attacks with targeted sound waves. He has special disks that produce different effects, from microwave blasts to shut down mecha functions, to energy waves that power up the GS-Rides, our power source. With a properly-calibrated wave, he can shatter pretty much anything in his way."

Scavenger had vomited the contents of his stomach, heaving energon from the night before. He wiped his mouth when he finished, "Fuuck..." he muttered, lying back on the couch. His optics were dimming, "Heh, Primus knows that Optimus is gonna give me an ass load of lectures..." he slumped to the side, laying on the couch while still looking up at the ceiling.

"You probably deserve it, for getting this messily overcharged," VolFogg commented under his breath, curling up in a chair. He watched the older mech, pink-red optics calm.

"heh.... maybe..." He looked over at VolFogg, the old mech's face was somewhat blushed from the effects of the highgrade. He smirked, "Hey kid... promise me something..."

VolFogg tilted his head. "What would that be?"

Scavenger took a breath, "Promise me... that you won't end up dead like the others... those kids that thought they could take it but just ended up dead due to their own overconfidence..." The old mech blinked his optics, "'Cause I really don't feel like carrying your dead ass home..." Scavenger grinned.

VolFogg chuckled. "I know better than to bite off more than I can chew, as do the others. We have been in more than a few battles already, and we're still here. None of us has any intention of dying anytime soon. That promise I can make. "

Scavenger nodded, "Good..." he yawned once more, "That's good..." And with one more long breath, the old mech slipped into a long awaited recharge...

The ninja mech watched the old mech slip into recharge, and then discovered, to his amusement, that yawning actually was contagious. Putting the unopened can of high-grade aside, he adjusted his position in the chair, put his head down, and was out like a light almost instantly.