Chapter Nine:
Hehehe, I'm evil, aren't I?
Note: Screw waiting until chapter twelve for some action, hehehe. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Nightshade.
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The next few hours were spent drinking, talking, and partying. Pausing to catch her breath after a particularly raunchy song, Nightshade decided that she needed to cool herself down. Therefore, the cool foggy outside air would be most beneficial.
She pushed the hangar door open and slipped outside. She welcomed the cool air on her heated frame. Nightshade wandered out into the long grass. The moonlight was bright, casting a blue glow about everything. Silver danced across the blades of grasses. The wind sighed in the trees and died down quickly, leaving only the sound of chirping crickets and the occasional sleepy chirp from a bird.
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A pair of optics watched curiously. It clicked softly, its antennae wiggling slightly. It could pick up the strangest noises coming from the autobot base. It could hear loud bass thumping and general party type noise. It jumped in surprise when the door suddenly opened.
It peered from between the trees once its fear had subsided. It clicked again, questioningly when it saw the femme. Its vision started going dark and it scuttled out into the open before it went into stasis lock.
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Nightshade was blissfully unaware that she was being watched. She was far too busy soaking in the moonlight. Then she heard the noise of grass rustling. The breeze died down. The rustling noise continued. She gulped quietly and peered back at the base. She had wandered a good half-mile away from the base. She could see a dark shape, about six feet tall at the forest's edge. Then it started moving toward her, and she could see that the creature had a tail that arched forwards over its body. Even from here she could see the jagged remains of the creature's tail, the shards twisting and glinting in the moonlight.
It chirped softly, letting out a soft, electronic whine.
"Hello," she said cautiously, edging back toward the base. It chirped pitifully and its optics flickered once, then twice, before dimming.
She gasped softly and hurried to its side, just as it collapsed onto its stomach. Running a diagnostic scan, she was horrified to discover that the creature was on its last energon reserves. She picked it up the best she could (the thing was longer than she was tall) and started back toward the base.
"Nightshade to Ratchet, medical emergency."
He did not answer.
"Nightshade to Red Alert."
"Red Alert here."
"Meet me in the medical bay. Incoming injuries."
"I'll be there in five minutes."
Nightshade went in through a side door (so she wouldn't alarm the humans and bots), panting as the weight in her arms began to feel much heavier.
"Nightshade to Mirage," she gasped out.
"What's up, Nightshade?"
"I'm in the main hallway now. I need your help transporting."
"Uh…okay."
Mirage appeared at her side in less than a minute, concern etched into his features.
"Whoa-what is that thing?!"
"I have no idea, but it's seriously injured. Help me carry it," she said. They carried the scorpion-like creature to the med bay.
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Red Alert was running diagnostics on the creature before they even got through the door.
"It's a symbiote," he finally stated, after a few seconds. He hooked the creature up to an energon IV line. He ran a few more scans, and then set it up on continual scans from the med bay computers. Nightshade repaired the singed circuitry in the creature's tail and patched up a few minor gashes. However, the rest of it would was left to Ratchet.
"Red Alert to Ratchet."
"Go ahead." Nightshade growled softly. At Mirage's questioning look, she explained in hushed tones.
"He wouldn't answer my call, even though I said it was an emergency," she said, her optics narrowing.
"Calm down."
"Calm down? You want me to calm down? Red Alert is more than capable of dealing with singed circuitry, or sliced armor, or penetration wounds, but do you think he's as well versed in neuro-circuitry? This poor creature could die there unless he's operated on! That isn't fair to the creature that the chief medical officer isn't even willing to answer someone's distress call, just because he's pissed off at someone-"
The doors hissed open and in came Ratchet, looking confused. His optics narrowed to slits as he saw what was lying on the table.
"Scorponok," he hissed, drawing his weapon, "Who's slaggin' bright idea was it to bring a decepticon into the base?!"
Red Alert and Mirage soundlessly pointed at Nightshade in perfect unison.
"You brought it in here? Do you know just how dangerous this decepticon is? You have just caused a major security breach! You should have-"
"Don't tell me what I 'should have done'! YOU should have answered your com! That way, I wouldn't have brought him in here! I would have treated him outside!"
"You think you can treat his wounds? Please, you can hardly hold your temper in check!"
"What does that have to do with anything?!"
Mirage and Red Alert had taken seats on one of the operating tables. Of course, Red Alert was still scanning Scorponok to make sure he didn't go into stasis shock. So far, things were going well for the scorpion-like creature. His energon reserves were starting to fill up slowly, and his major wounds had been taken care of. He could wait a little bit longer. Besides, Red Alert did not want to miss the fight of the century.
"You are the most stubborn and irrational femme that I have ever met!"
"Oh, yes, but of course, Ratchet. I probably will be the only femme that you'll ever meet, because you're an aft-headed jerk that doesn't even know when to quit being rude!"
"Unfortunately for you, that isn't the case, Nightshade," he spat out, a glint in his optic.
"Oh, I don't think Moon Racer counts as a sane femme," Nightshade shot back, her intake systems starting to heave.
"She's not my girlfriend!"
"Oh, so you've gone and dumped her? What happened? Did you lead her on, too?"
"What the slag? I didn't lead anyone on, much less Moon Racer!"
"So says you."
"What the slag are you going on about?!"
"I cannot believe you! You-you are so-" Here she let out a cry of frustration.
"I'm what," he asked quietly, egging her on. Mirage snickered quietly. Ratchet didn't know what he was doing. It was only a matter of time before Nightshade absolutely lost it with him…
"You are the most irritating, stubborn, rude, ANNOYING mech that I have ever met!" She was almost yelling at him, emphasizing each word with a jab to his chest plates. He winced as she poked a sensitive wire and his optics narrowed.
"And you're one to talk! At least I'm not going on and on about NOTHING."
"That brings us back to my point."
"What point? You've been screaming for the past fifteen minutes," Ratchet said sourly, glaring down at the femme. Red Alert snickered. Ironhide would have withered underneath a glare so intense…but Nightshade was only growing more irritated. Mirage elbowed Red Alert gently and whispered, "Wait til she blows up at him."
"Hasn't she lost it already?"
"Nope, that's just the start."
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Jazz dropped his mixing cup at the explosion that erupted from just outside the hangar. The music stopped suddenly, the humans and bots looking around in surprise. They could hear two voices, yelling at one another.
"-the slag you mean? I didn't lead ANYONE on-"
"You're a pit-spawned liar, you know that?!-"
"You're the one accusing me of doing something that I haven't done-"
"You're unbelievable!"
"How am I unbelievable?! At least I didn't cause a major breach of security-"
There was silence for exactly 3.5 seconds.
"You expect me to have left him outside to die?! What kind of doctor are you?! You're supposed to treat your patients without prejudice! Are your processors addled or what?! Are you really that-"
Jazz winced and disabled his audio receptors. Hah hah, Ratchet was getting his aft chewed…there was nothing like Autobot drama. The females that were sitting in the corner (Maggie, Mikaela, Elita, Chromia, and Firestar) all started snickering about something. Jazz took a second to turn his audios back on.
"-and you have the nerve to blame ME for that?! I didn't do a thing! This is your fault, I'll have you know!"
"How the slag is it my fault?!?!"
"You wouldn't answer your damn com!"
"This is what this is all about?!"
"YES!"
A few seconds of silence passed.
"Don't you dare start laughing at me!-"
Jazz grinned.
"Aw, Ratchet's gonna get his aft kicked if he started laughing at her," he said, remixing the martini he had dropped. The music was turned back on and the occupants of the room resumed their prior activities…except this time, they wore giant grins on their faces.
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Ratchet was flabbergasted by where the argument had gone. First, the breach of security. Then came the whole 'you're-leading-her-on' bit, which stirred her up even more! Nightshade was so angry that she had actually backed him into a corner. Then she had berated him for not being a proper medic, and then it had gone back to square one: he hadn't answered the blasted com. How could he have heard her over the slaggin' music?!!
Then he started chuckling at her anger. He couldn't help it. It was just too amusing! Here was a tiny femme verbally abusing him! The chuckles became a roar of laughter and cleaning fluid tears rolled down his face.
"Don't you dare start laughing at me!"
"I can't- ha ha-help it!"
WHAM.
Her fist had met his arm, leaving a small dent. However, instead of wincing in pain, his laughter only became more pronounced. Nightshade growled. Ratchet suddenly stopped laughing as Nightshade's optics became watery and she started sniffling. Damn his "aw-slag-she's-crying" subroutines.
"Oh, Primus, I'm sorry, Nightshade," he said, managing to hide the giggles waiting to escape his vocal processors. He wrapped his arms around her gingerly, tucking her head into the hollow under his chin.
"Shh, shh. I didn't mean to hurt you," he soothed quietly, biting his lip to keep from laughing. Her sobs became even louder as he started shaking from the effort to keep from bursting out into laughter. She pushed against him weakly, trying to get free.
"You're s-so meeeean," she wailed, pushing against his chest to get away from him. How dare he make fun of her!
"Oh, shush. Come here," he said, ignoring her attempts to free herself. Nightshade let out an angry noise as she realized that she was squashed up against his massive chest (not that she minded or anything).
He sat on one of the operating tables and hauled her up onto his lap, ignoring her squeals of protest and surprise.
"Now, tell me, without raising your voice, what's got you on the fritz," he began gently, his hand absently tracing little circles on her hip. Nightshade sniffled and hiccupped as her intake fans tried to realign themselves (she had thrown one Pit of a tantrum!). Red Alert and Mirage then decided that it would be best if they left at that moment.
Nightshade sniffled once more and sagged against him, cuddling into the heat of his frame. Perhaps this was one of the few things a mech was good for – staying warm, she mused.
"Nightshade?"
"Oh. I…uhm…"
He only sighed absently and let his hand rest on her hip joint.
"I was upset," she said, wiping a 'tear' from her cheek.
"About what?" He prodded gently, flicking away a rogue tear that had been sliding down her cheek.
"You."
He chuckled gently.
"I think I knew that already."
She 'hmphed' and grumbled quietly under her breath. He tilted her head up so that their optics met.
"Why are you so upset, Nightshade?"
Nightshade steeled herself. She could do this…she could do this…she was made of sterner stuff! She was going to do her family proud!
"Do you like me or not?"
"What-of course, Nightshade. What makes you ask that?"
Ignoring his question, she continued.
"Do you like me or not? Should I just give up now?"
"Huh? Of course I like you. Give up on what? Your medical training?"
Nightshade made an impatient noise. Sure, he may have been a doctor but slag it if he wasn't processing-retarded in some way. Nightshade grumbled softly and then sighed.
"Are you romantically attracted to me or not?"
"Wh-er…eh…"
Nightshade looked up at him expectantly. However, after a minute or so, he didn't answer. She sighed once more.
"I guess not. I'll see you later," she said, shifting to hop down from the table.
"Wait just a second, Nightshade," he said, grabbing her around the waist once more and pulling her back to where she had been. She huffed.
"What? Are you or are you not?"
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Moon Racer and Mirage were huddled by the door, listening through a busted seal on one of the windows. Mirage was standing, his audio pressed up against it while his chest was pushed up against Moon Racer's back, listening intently.
"Come on, Ratchet, tell her how you feel," Mirage urged quietly. Moon Racer blushed as she felt the warmth from his body radiate. His hand shifted on her back a little. Moon Racer blushed even harder. Shaking her head, she cleared her thoughts out. Since when did she blush like a youngling with her first crush?!
"Are you okay?" She nodded and went back to her spot, trying not to giggle.
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"Ratchet. If you aren't going to answer my question, I should be going," she said, making motions to leave once more. His arms, however, remained firmly wrapped around her waist.
"I am romantically interested in you. However, there is one issue we must discuss before we pursue a relationship," he said carefully, and they both stood up. Nightshade pouted. She had been comfortable right where she had been, thankyouverymuch.
"And that is…?"
"I am merely curious as to why you have been avoiding me this whole time," Ratchet said, crossing his arms over his chest. Nightshade blushed and looked away, suddenly shy and sheepish under his scrutinizing look.
"I haven't been avoiding you…I've been busy."
"Too busy to drop by the medical bay to say hello? Too busy to respond to any of my messages? Tell me, Nightshade, what has you so busy that you can't stop and say hello in the hallway?" He was asking quietly and gently, but he was advancing on her slowly, pushing her up against the cabinets softly.
"I…" She felt the cabinet up against her and gulped quietly. If this had been any other situation, it would have been strangely erotic, but…it wasn't right now.
"I what?" His voice was soft and dangerous, reminding her to choose her next few words carefully.
"Uhm…" His hands were casually planted on either side of her, effectively trapping her.
His only response was a raised optic ridge.
"I didn't want to interfere with you and Moon Racer's reunion," she finally admitted, a bitter look on her face plates. Jealousy was starting to rear its ugly head…and now they were at the root of the whole problem.
"Reunion? What, did you think that she was my mate?"
Nightshade nodded.
"Don't assume anything about me," he said quietly. She nodded once more, trying to escape. He wouldn't have any of that and he gently moved her back to where she had been before.
"We aren't finished here, Nightshade," he said, using the fingers of one hand to trace the contours of her cheek plate.
"What else do you want?"
"I also noticed that you've started showing interested in Leo," Ratchet murmured. "Were you trying to make me jealous?"
"Not really," Nightshade responded, getting over her initial shock and then squirming a little under his intense gaze.
"What, then? Why would you pursue him when you knew that I'd already marked you as mine," Ratchet growled.
"Wh-what?!"
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Ooh, what happens next: )