Long wait - sorry for that. And all I can give you is a sucky chapter... Don't kill me. :(
X.
The first thing Starscream felt was a horrible itch in his throat. His worn-out body struggled to cough and his head was pushed to the side when burning liquid entered his oral cavity, he winced as he tasted energon. Gentle hands wiped his face clean and then returned to work on his throat, a slight tugging, then he felt a strange, though not too uncomfortable sensation, as if there was something that didn't belong there. He onlined his optics and while he waited for his vision to clear, he raised up a hand weakly to feel what was in his throat when the other hand stopped him mid-air.
"You Starscream not touch that." said a new voice, not overly familiar, but that grammatical glitch and the tone itself Starscream managed to recognize and when his optics found the mech standing above him, his suspicion was proven right. It was the flyer Dinobot, Starscream couldn't even remember his name - and what in the pit of Unicron was he doing there?
Was he hallucinating...?
The Seeker tried to say something, but found that he could not produce any sounds, any words at all, not even in a hushed whisper. When he ran a diagnostic, he found that he no longer had his connection to his vocoder, which was impossible, no matter how rusted it became. However, before he could have dwelled into this newfound problem, the Dinobot continued speaking.
"Me Swoop insert drain to lead energon and coolant out from rusty lines. They leaking, can't patch them up because of rust." he was talking in a tone as soft as his gruff voice would allow, which was still uncharacteristic for Starscream from a Dinobot, from a creature they all deemed inferior and imbecile. And what he was saying, did he actually... treat him? How could he have the knowledge to do so?
Starscream just starred at him for a long moment, trying to decide whether it was just a flux when another Autobot, that mechanic Hoist walked up into his view with a small smile. "You did well, Swoop. Go over to Ratchet, he would like your assistance."
Swoop gave a nod and turned away, now it was Hoist who filled up Starscream's horizon and the gentle mechanic started talking again, "I'm afraid you won't be able to speak for a while, Starscream. You had been just wheeled out of surgery when we arrived and your vocoder was removed, as well as your waste tank and some feeding tubes. The tank was cracked and leaked in your abdominal cavity, probably had been slowly during the night and a rusted energon line tore because of the added pressure, that caused an inner leakage. You have been catheterized and cleaned out, but I advise you remain lying for the rest of your treatment."
By the end of his monologue, it slowly started to dawn on Starscream that the Autobots were really there. Glancing around, he saw the Autobots' chief medic, Ratchet standing over Rumble while by Scavenger's side, First Aid was examining Megatron who looked more dazed than angry. By the far off table, their scientist, Perceptor was looking over his cultures and datapads and when his gaze finally travelled to the glass wall that separated them from the outside world and saw the three other Autobots standing behind Soundwave, Starscream's sluggish processor put the pieces together.
Soundwave called them. They came to help them.
Skyfire was there.
Skyfire...
Starscream couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. He just starred dumbfounded at the space shuttle who looked back at him with glistening optics that fought to restrain his sadness shining through - Skyfire didn't want to burden him with his own worry, just like old times. Coolant filled Starscream's optics before he could have willed his body to obey and he extended a shaking hand in his direction in a mute gesture for the white flyer to come closer.
The shuttle's optics widened, but before he could have said anything, Thundercracker's voice almost made him jump as the Seeker walked up behind them with Skywarp by his side, "Go in." he said calmly, "He wants you."
Skyfire looked back at Starscream and couldn't help be locked in those bright red optics, "Even if I wanted to, I'm afraid neither of us has a coverall as big as I would need."
"Oh, yes, we have." they heard Ratchet from the other side of the bay and the old medic looked up at them, "I packed one in your subspace before we left. Just in case."
Swoop also turned to them with an amused grin on his face, "Creator Ratchet think of everything."
"Don't hesitate then." Skywarp patted the shuttle's arm playfully, "He's getting impatient."
Skyfire shook his head with a small smile and searched in his subspace, he soon found the coverall and mask designed for his size and a moment later he stepped inside the repair bay. The two Decepticons watched as he headed straight to their leader's berth, Thundercracker allowed a small smile to his lips watching Starscream's dark face, his expression contained so many emotions that the older Seeker didn't even try to determine what his sick trine mate was feeling at the moment. Even what he felt from him through their trine bond was a turmoil, but a positive one, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Shockwave?" he turned to Soundwave when the communication's officer asked about the other's presence.
"You don't have to worry about him." Thundercracker answered, "He'll be back soon, but he won't be in your medics' way." he looked up at Optimus as he said that, and the Prime nodded. His usually tranquil expression carried concern that Thundercracker would have never thought would be towards any of them, but he couldn't help lean into the soothing sensation and almost fatherly support that radiated from the Autobot leader's EM field.
"Strange," the eldest Seeker murmured quietly, "that I feel calmer now that you are all here."
Skywarp nodded eagerly and Optimus looked down at the younger mech with tender sea-blue optics. "Thank Soundwave. He was the one who called us."
"And you agreed. We are enemies, yet... you came."
Optimus put a hand on the Decepticon's shoulder without a word. There was no need. It was clear to him how dedicated and worried these mechs were for their loved ones, and who was he to deny help from the helpless when they could give it?
"According to Ratchet, in the surgery room, it doesn't matter whether one is an Autobot or a Decepticon. They are all patients he had sworn to help to the best of his abilities."
"Soundwave," it was Blaster who spoke up, "I think you should go in."
He pointed to the last berth where Rumble lay, Ratchet and Swoop stood above him by the berth's sides and the older medic was looking up at them. He had just comm.-ed Blaster to tell him the Cassetticon asked for his creator - and would probably be much calmer if he were there with him. Soundwave grabbed the other tape deck's hand and pulled him to the door to enter together. His creations had known Blaster from long before the war, maybe his presence would distract Rumble enough to let the medics work on him...
"Rumble, try to focus on me." Ratchet put a hand on the mini-con's burning hot helm, "Can you recognise me?"
The cassette had just come out of recharge when they arrived; he still seemed dazed, and his optics' colour was so light they seemed to be white by then. His vents and fans were working hard to cool him down, and by their sounds, Ratchet assumed it wouldn't be long before they ceased functioning. He made a quick scan over the small frame, analyzing all the problems that came out of the results. The first thing he did was disconnecting the IV of energon that ran to the line normally delivering freshly processed energon from the tank to the pump, seeing all the cracks. Even without a scan, from the monitors' display he could tell the pump was giving up.
Now Rumble slowly turned his head to the direction of the old medic's voice, frowning hard as he still tried to see with his blind optics, "You sound... familiar." he finally whispered.
"I'm Ratchet, the Autobots' medic. Your creator called us to help. Now I need you to stay awake for a few breems and stay with me, then you can go back to recharge."
"Autobot...?" Rumble asked back, his optics widening a little, "W-why... I d-don't... where's Soundwave...?"
"He's out with the others." Ratchet looked up and when he saw Swoop was almost finished inserting the drain to Starscream's throat, he told Hoist to take his place and let the Dinobot come to help him, "Swoop, bring me the medical kit, please."
The young 'bot did as he was told and brought the kit over to the Cassetticon's berth. The mini-mech was venting unevenly and groaned, Ratchet could imagine how much pain he must have been experiencing. He again took a moment to put a hand on the small Decepticon's head and stroked it lightly to offer some comfort, even if it could not help his current condition.
"Should give suppressants?" Swoop asked with a worried frown as he opened the kit for Ratchet.
"He had already recieved a dose of nanites." the medic murmured, "And anyway, his energon lines are getting clogged, some close to bursting, it would be better to stop giving him energon altogether. Maybe that's why... frag, his energon tank is cracked and full, it's stretched to its limits. We'll suction him out properly as well as the energon from those lines. His pump is struggling to get energon to them and increases pressure, which in turn makes the cracks wider."
"But what we do then? Without energon, him Rumble enter stasis lock like Astrotrain. Cause processor damage."
"That's why I brought those batteries." Ratchet pointed into the kit just as Rumble groaned again, though it sounded more like a strained sob of pain.
"N-no..." the cassette mumbled, optics darting from one direction to the other rapidly, "don't do... I don't want to... Why can't I m-move...?"
"Because your energon reserves had been reverted to your vital systems." Ratchet answered him gently and sighed, "Would you be calmer if Soundwave were here with you?"
Ratchet didn't know Rumble well, didn't know what could have eased his distress, but that seemed to do the trick. The mini-con's tense frame relaxed a little and he nodded slowly, Ratchet looked up to see if the other mechs were still by the glass wall before he comm.-ed Blaster to send Soundwave in, just after telling Skyfire it was safe for him to come in to Starscream. Ratchet was a little surprised Blaster was coming as well, but shrugged it off - he was a dual spark, too, after all, and he wouldn't be in the way.
Ratchet gestured to Soundwave to stand next to him so he could explain what he was about to do while Blaster went to the other side where Swoop stood. He tried to hide the look of horror that, for a moment, crossed his face upon seeing the other tape decker's creation, the gruesome condition he was in. He bit his lips - he understood now why Soundwave was so desperate in calling them.
"Rumble," the cassette tried to turn his head in the direction of his creator's voice, "someone came to see you."
Blaster stepped closer and grabbed the little hand gently, startling the mini-mech, "Hey, little guy. It's me, Blaster."
Rumble's optics widened, and the Autobot could have sworn the smallest of smiles shone up on his lips, but it faded almost immediately. The Cassetticon's intakes hitched and he tried to squeeze Blaster's larger hand, but could hardly get his digits to move. Blaster watched with a sad smile as Soundwave extended a hand to wipe away a tiny droplet of coolant from the white optics and heard Ratchet heave a great sigh.
"You should have called us much sooner." he grumbled to Soundwave, "We are doctors, Soundwave. Enemies or not, we would have come. The medical oath is above any war."
Soundwave turned to him, "I appreciate it, but I'm afraid our situation was not that simple."
"I'm not here to argue with you." Ratchet murmured and reached into the medical kit, "Rumble's pump is about to fail, we will insert two batteries like this to his circuits to maintain proper charge. One we'll put next to the spark chamber, the other to his cortical tract within the dorsal neck cables for his processor, in order to replace the use of energon. It is not a long-term solution, but it will keep him online without having to use spark support. When we're ready, we'll suction out all excess fluids from leakages, and he should gain some of his sight back. I do believe it is a clog that prevents-"
A gurgled groan interrupted him, and Ratchet gestured to Blaster to pull out the curtain by the berth's side to separate them from the others as Rumble's back arched slightly, brownish liquid trickling down the side of his chin.
"Hold him, Swoop." the Dinobot did as he was told and Ratchet held up a bucket for the small mech, he cursed when Rumble started purging the rust-filled fluids from his now useless tank, "That's what I've been talking about. You should not have let their conditions worsen this far-"
"Ratchet," it was Blaster's voice, softer than usual this time, that interrupted him. He hurried to Soundwave's side when he saw the Decepticon freeze, "you're not helping."
He grabbed Soundwave's arm and pulled him away a little, turning him around so that he would not have to see what was happening to his creation. Blaster felt him tremble and the other tape decker was taking deep vents, Blaster could very well picture his expression behind the mask and visor. The Autobot sighed and folded his arms around his friend-turned-enemy, Soundwave buried his face into Blaster's shoulder, no longer caring who saw; his intakes hitched softly and his trembling refused to cease.
"He's right." he whispered and from hearing his tone, Blaster knew he had retracted his mask, allowing his emotions to reach through his voice. "I f-failed them."
Blaster's optics met Ratchet's, the old medic looked back at him with slight guilt and sympathy, but quickly turned back to tend to Rumble. "It's not your fault, 'Wave." the musician told his long-ago partner, "You did what you could. What more could you have done? I know you think yourself a bad creator right now, but you're certainly not one. You're just overwhelmed with worry, which is natural. But none of this - is - your - fault."
Soundwave straightened up when he heard Rumble's choked whimper and turned around. Swoop still hadn't let go of the mini-mech, his intakes wheezed as Ratchet wiped his face with tender hands. "His pump is about to stop." he murmured, "Unhook him, Swoop, and we'll insert the batteries right away."
"W-why?..." Rumble managed whisper, "Why don't you jus'... let us die?"
"I did not come here to watch you perish." Ratchet replied and opened a small panel on the back of the Cassetticon's neck, "I'm putting you to recharge now." with a last stroke on his helm and in a gentle voice, he added, "You're going to feel better."
"Come on, Soundwave." Blaster pushed him away from the berth as Rumble's optics went offline. Perceptor just walked up to Starscream's berth where Skyfire sat, Hoist was preparing the Seeker for an energon drip, the scientist held a Petri dish in one hand and a data pad in the other, his expression full of fascination until he saw the two tape decks. He offered Soundwave a small smile which the communication's officer did not return - he instead locked his optics with Starscream's whose feverishly glowing eyes held a quiestioning look.
Soundwave opened his mouth, but then pressed his lips together. He did not covered his face with his mask, tracks of coolant glistened on the silvery faceplates, and Blaster thought it better to speak instead, "Ratchet and Swoop are doing their best."
That seemed to have been the answer Starscream was waiting for, for his shoulder slumped and he gave a curt nod. Blaster felt Soundwave lean more into his arm that he still kept around his shoulders, and saw he forced himself to listen to the Autobots' conversation;
"What is it, Perceptor?" Skyfire asked quietly, and the excited look returned to the scientist's features.
"I just looked over your findings, Starscream." Perceptor turned to the Seeker, "Though we knew about the progress you made thanks to Soundwave, but I still find it fantastic. You even managed to extract endonuclease to digest genomic DNA and analyze their genes. They look like fungal cells, eukaryotic in nature, but behave like prokaryote bacteria. And you did this all alone despite being sick... it's amazing. Let me ask you, this last record, with the restriction of radiation stopping this rapid mutation... would you confirm this is the cause?"
Skyfire, meanwhile, extended a hand to ask for the datapad Perceptor was holding to study its contents - Blaster noted his other hand never left Starscream's - and the Decepticon air commander turned towards Scavenger by Megatron's berth. The Constructicon almost jumped when his comm. link sprang to life with his officer's voice and he looked at Perceptor with wide optics.
"Um... he says it is for sure extreme radiation is the cause." Scavenger replied.
"Wait..." they all turned hearing Megatron's hoarse voice. He pushed First Aid out of the way and looked like he had just woken from a daze, eroded chest rising and falling as the support machine continued pumping air instead of his vents, "you're saying... we have a solution?"
"Well," it was Skyfire who replied, looking up with a small smile, "not yet a solution, but Starscream found out why they mutate so fast, and if we can stop it, then we can finally work on a cure. Now... if we only knew what causes this extreme radiation-"
He felt Starscream tug at his hand and looked down to see the Seeker pointing weakly towards the other side of the bay where the huge Lightning Bug stood still, untouched since their arrival from Antilla. Everyone turned in its direction, a frown appearing on Skyfire's face. "Perceptor, could you please examine it for us?"
"Of course."
With that, the Autobot scientist walked away and Megatron let himself back down on the berth with a grunt, closing his optics. He felt someone lift his head and onlined his optics to see the young medic, First Aid slip an ice pack under his neck. The leader of the Decepticons starred at him for a moment, then looked out to the glass to Optimus before turning back to his third-in-command.
He frowned when his optics met Soundwave's. He noted his digits were clenched in a fist and he was pressing his lips together so hard they shook, clearly trying to force back tears - his whole frame was trembling and the Autobot tape decker held him as if he would fall apart without his support. Megatron did not even remember the last time he saw his loyal servant and friend in such state, but, if he thought about it, it made sense. Even the strongest of robots reached their limits sometimes.
"You called them?" the Gunformer asked, though there was no real anger in his tone.
Soundwave nodded and finally opened his mouth to take a shaky vent, "I apologize, my lord." his voice broke and he turned his head away, a drop of fresh coolant escaping from under his visor.
Megatron watched him for a klick. Something must have happened to Rumble, he theorized and was proven right when he saw the curtain hiding away his berth. "Get some rest." he finally said and saw Soundwave bow slightly before Blaster led him out of the repair bay just as Perceptor returned.
"It is right." he announced with a smile, "That device is a concentrated energy source and lets off high levels of radiation. We need to dispose of it and then clear the bay of the radiation."
"I'm sure Wheeljack has an invention for that." Skyfire added.
"Did you hear that, TC?" Skywarp grabbed his trine mate's arm after listening to their conversation, "Screamer did it!"
After watching Soundwave stride away, broken in Blaster's arms, Thundercracker felt as if monstrous claws were strangling his spark - but now he breathed a sigh of relief and allowed a tiny smile to his lips when he saw the relaxed expression of Starscream's face.
"Yes." he murmured, "He really did it."
"I am sure a cure will be found as well." Optimus spoke up, and the two Seekers could almost see his smile through the mask, "With such brilliant minds working together, even the impossible can become reality."
There was nothing more Thundercracker hoped for with all his spark.
"I guess..." Megatron spoke up with a faint voice after Perceptor's confirmation, either too tired or too sick to care about his pride and previous orders, "thanks are in order."
"I believe Starscream deserves the credits." Skyfire turned back down to his long-lost partner, "If it wasn't for his discoveries that cleared the way to finding a cure, we would still be just guessing... and would run out of time."
Starscream's optics met the shuttle's and slowly, a weak smile crept its way onto his lips just as they started forming words, muted words that looked suspiciously like he was saying,
I won.
I know it's sucky, but a review would be lovely. ^^