Please, please, please don't hate me! I promise this loooonnnnggg fart is going to end soon, trust me. Have patience children :D
Of the Spark and Heart
Part 1
Chapter 10
Fera grasped her mother's hand in her own, holding her close as Sol's form shifted. The hard metal plating across his chest hit her and her mother repeatedly over and over, forcing both of them to cower close to keep from hurting themselves. Sarah shook in her daughter's hold, obviously frightened. Fera held her closer, keeping one hand to steady herself on Sol's chest. He was definitely running, the constant jerking and thudding of his body giving away the movement. One would think that the mother would be the one comforting her daughter, but this was William Lennox's daughter, no doubt taking her fearless nature from her father. This was the young child who had laughed on the roller coasters; who had been the one held onto by her first date as they watched the scariest movie in the theater.
Riding in the hands of a giant alien robot seemed more like a kiddy ride.
Fera was in a squatting position, a concentrated expression on her face. She lifted up slightly and peered through a slit in Sol's fingers. They were moving towards the door, at a rapid pace no less. Sol paused for a moment and Fera looked before them. The door was only partly open, the sliver it did posses twitching and sparking. Motors and gears inside of it protested as it was clearly malfunctioning. But then, two long, powerful arms dressed in blue and red paint moved into view and shoved their fingers through the fraction. With a low grunt of effort, Optimus forced open the doors, allowing a wider exit. Sol turned to the side, allowing Fera to see behind him to the Autobot commander. The metallic features making up his face appeared blanketed in a grim calmness. It sent a chill down her spine.
Sol passed through the doors and then immediately headed down the hallway. Fera's view jarred as her body knocked around. Only her mother kept her grounded enough so that she could stay in one place. She grabbed ahold of one of Sol's plates and ducked beneath the safety of his fingers again. "Fera, are you alright?" her mother asked with a voice masked in fear. "Yeah, are you?" she questioned, getting low to see her mother's face. She nodded and held her daughter close, as if she suddenly realized she was the one supposed to be doing the comforting.
"Just stay low ok?" Fera ordered softly. Her mother seemed about to argue, but Fera silenced her before she could speak. "Sol will protect us both." Fera assured her, giving a small grin as she patted the sheet of metal by her hand.
Seeming to think something was wrong, Sol cracked open his fingers and peered down at them. "We're almost to the central building. I'll get you both to the southern wing were it's safe." he said, too caught up in his moment to even attempt a considerate tone. He closed the gap again and Fera squeezed her mother's hand. "See? Everything's going to be fine as long as we're with this idiot." she thought about slamming her fist into his chest, but she stopped herself, grinning larger instead. Her mother chuckled nervously, "Alright. As long as you're safe Fera, I don't care how we get there." she stated, nearly being thrown through the air as Sol either jumped over something or stumbled.
Their moving slowed and Fera lifted herself to look between her Guardian's fingers. Where was Bumblebee? Wasn't he her temporary Guardian?
"Frag!" Sol exclaimed. Fera's mother raised her eyebrows and Fera rolled her bright blue eyes. "They fried the grid. I can't get the door to unlock." he explained, the door backing away as Sol moved from it. Fera put a hand against his finger as she fell forward, steadying herself. "Did you try the override code?" Optimus' voice rumbled. It was so different than when he had talked with her before, so dark and serious. So this was what he appeared in emergencies: Hard and focused. "Yes I did. I maybe new here, but I'm not an imbecile." Solas snapped, his voice dripping in irritation. Fera, appalled by the warrior's tone to his leader, promptly went back to his chest and lifted a fist, striking it as hard as she could.
She bit back a cry as her hand burst into pain and just cupped it close while she breathed deep breaths. Sol opened their small enclosure and looked inside, confused. "What was that for?" he demanded. Fera threw down her arm and glared up at him. "For being an ass! That is your superior Sol, show more respect!" she shouted back, just as irritated. Sol blinked at her his expression twisted to surprise. Fera glanced over at Optimus, standing off to Sol's side. He also seemed stunned by the ferocity of the small human. Fera crossed her arms and returned her venomous eyes back to Sol as Optimus seemed to try to hide a smirk.
"Just keep quiet Fera! We need to focus, and your pouting isn't going to help!" Sol remarked sharply, closing his hands before she could retaliate.
Fera huffed and, if not for her pulsing hand, would have hit him again. But she instead pushed back her annoyance and returned to her mother. "Fera, sometimes I think you are fear itself." she said, shaking her head in disbelief. Fera gave a short laugh and went back to his fingers, peering through. She was far from fear itself; not even close. There were plenty of times, just in the past week and a half for instance, that she'd felt such an emotion. "If only that were true." she whispered sadly to herself. She was as afraid as her mother; she just knew how to hide it. That's what fearless was right? Hiding what you truly felt.
"Stand back." Optimus spoke, his voice muffled by Sol's fingers. She felt him move back and red and blue appeared across her vision. Pressing herself closer, Fera could see the Autobot's body from his torso up, including the back of his head as he stood right before the door. He planted his body and lifted his arm, holding in his grasp the same gigantic pistol Fera had seen him with when he ended that drone back in the warehouse yard. The same orange appeared from between the crevices of the metal and heat seemed to rise from the mouth of the gun. It truly brought Fera's body to a frozen state, entrancing her in awe. The pistol's bright flash went off and the bullet met the door, creating an ear-shattering explosion.
Air pulsed through the crack Fera was staring from and she ducked behind Sol's fingers, hiding her head in her arms as the smokey wind attacked the small space. Metal hit metal and the groaning of the heavy door could be heard. Fera removed her arms as the wind settled and she looked through Sol's fingers again, seeing nothing but smoke at first. It quickly cleared however, showcasing a jagged hole, dripping at the edges with bright orange steel. Optimus lowered his weapon and he waved Sol forward, the larger, taller 'Bot leading the way. Optimus shoved the door open once again for Sol and the mech slipped through.
Fera hobbled over back to her mother as Sol ran through another hall. Almost there, almost there...she kept repeating to herself silently. She grabbed Sarah's hands and knelt low. It seemed that her mother notice the outfit she was wearing for the first time and she laughed softly. "You're not going to leave me for these guys, are you?" she wondered in forced humor. Fera glanced down at her uniform and she grinned, lifting one of the sleeves to wipe away the dirty sweat from her mother's face.
"Of course not. I couldn't deal with this big lug all the-" her and her mother were suddenly in the air, thrashing all over and tumbling in Sol's hands. Fera felt herself airborne, and she instinctively got into a ball. Her body crashed into some wall of metal and she cried out, her arms tightening. She could hear screaming, but was it her own? Or her mother's?
Fera struck another sharp piece, her leg hitting hard on the surface. She gasped as she felt the impact and she grimaced with the scar on her side. The scab was by no doubt in her mind broken. As the flailing and roughness stopped as sudden as it had started, Fera gasped and laid on her stomach, choking and trying desperately to calm her scorching lungs. She was laying on a flat sheet of metal, the surface warm. Fera willed herself to lift her head, seeing over her torn sleeves to find herself on one of Sol's chest plates. Her mother was off a little way's away, laying disturbingly still on her back. Her head faced away from Fera and her arms were close to her.
"Mom!" Fera choked out, scrambling to her feet.
The spot where her leg had been hit pulsed with new pain, her side returning its own share with renewed vigor. She cried out in both pain and frustration, feeling her body fall to her knees. She pressed a hand to her side, bringing it back to see a faint red tinge to the skin. Her leg wasn't broken, she could still move it. So, she let her hand fall back on Sol's chest and she just crawled, moving as quickly as she could to get to her mother. Smoke hung heavily in the air, dirt and dust caking the very fog. Bits of rubble from the walls sit scattered over Sol's body, biting into Fera's hands and knees as she moved towards Sarah. Upon reaching her, Fera immediately checked for wounds and found nothing serious. Relieve, she check her mother's pulse: Fine. She was just knocked unconscious.
Fera turned her attentions to her Guardian, finding his one arm flung to his side with the other lay limp on his chest. His face was hidden in the blurry air and Fera couldn't clearly see if he was ok or not. She became extremely worried and she hurried to crawl over him, finding that the lower height not only reduced her pain, but gave her a slightly better view around her. "Sol!" she called. He didn't answer. Nearly on the edge of full-out fear, Fera pulled herself over his armoring to where she could clearly see his face. His eyes were dimming, their teal blue light flickering. The slips of metal that made up his eyelids also settled on the edge of closing. He has a new slit across his face from his chin to the height of his cheek. One of his spoiler halves on his shoulder was nearly broken off, a few of his chest plates missing. But that wasn't concerned her the most.
No, what really caught her attention was the large, painful-looking gaping hole by Sol's left arm. It was located right on the lower levels, beneath his armor, right on the clean, silver sheets of metal Fera could only guess as their skin. She bit back a gasp and instead turned back to his head, letting herself lean forward so that her hand met his chin. His mouth was lightly parted, a new slit on his lip. It bled a bright blue, oozing with the queer liquid like a human shed blood.
"Sol! Sol, wake up!" she called, searching his features. He just groaned, allowing Fera to see inside his mouth. There was a sort of slime-covered cable that she guessed was the tongue, and gears and an intricate contraption towards the throat.
"Open your eyes, you mother-loving bucket of bolts!" she yelled louder.
Sol seemed to knot his face in concentration, his layered lids moving open. His eyes weren't as bright as before, but they were staying on longer. "Fera?" he asked through a rough, broken voice. "That's it, get up. I won't let you leave us yet." she patted his face with hard slaps, a grin stretching across her face. There was a small cut across her nose and dirt-filled sweat covering her usually pale skin. Her hair was drawn back behind her, yet a few strands found their way to stick to her face. Blinking against the dust that collecting in her eyes, Fera searched his. "Come on." she urged. His eyes began to get brighter, a low, painful moan coming from him as he regained some consciousness.
"Solas?! Fera?! Where are you?" Optimus could be heard calling for them, his steps thudding the hall. Fera squinted through the dark of the flicking lights above them and she spied a dark shadow against the cloud. "Optimus!" she called, waving her hands. "We're over here!"
"Get down!" Sol suddenly ordered, flipping over. Fera squeaked and tensed up, feeling Sol's hand holding her close to him and his body shifting to the side. Fera clutched at his armoring instinctively, holding her head close to him. There was a few loud shouts and then the exchange of explosive firearms. Fera softly cried out and got closer to Sol. Her side was pulsing and tensing, seizing suddenly and making her breath freeze at the pain.
There was a shift of Sol's hand and she looked up at him. "Are you alright?" he murmured. Fera nodded and looked for her mother, who was safely in Sol's other hand. "Arrgg!" there was a growling fit of pain and a giant form smashed into the wall. Sol clutched the two humans close and Fera squeezed her eyes shut. "Sol! Get Fera and her mother out of here!" Optimus bellowed, obviously the one in the fight. Sol and Fera both looked over his head, seeing Optimus' shadowy movements as he skillfully twisted and turned in the small space of the hallway, the glow of his gun flashing along with another weapon Fera didn't recognize. Sol began to move, but he fell back down again.
"I can't! My leg's busted!" he shouted back. Optimus shoved an unfamiliar robot through the smoke and it swirled apart, bursting open.
The Prime stood on the other side of the hole in the smoke, one hand occupied with his pistol while the other held a very large and very dangerous-looking sword. The bright blue eyes of the Autobot leader looked down and he found his injured comrade laying amongst the rubble. Fera relaxed against Sol and laid her head on his chest, watching as Optimus rushed to Sol's side and began to lift a large slab of concrete from on top of him. The towering mech then reached down and pulled Sol to his feet, wrapping the hand holding her mother over his neck. He took Sarah into his own grasp and shifted Sol's weight on his shoulders better. "We need to move. Quickly." Optimus noted, moving without wait.
Loud, ringing calls could be heard from the other side of the massive and missing pieces of the walls. They were either pained or triumphant, and Fera didn't want to know who owned which. She was held firmly against Sol's chest, her body nearly having the breath pushed from her. But she didn't care, taking refuge in the safe feeling she got from Sol's warm hands. Optimus said something to Sol, who curtly refused. Fera looked up from her spot and saw Sol's face gripped in pain, Optimus' own bathed in worry. "Sol, you cannot do this, your body won't hold up." Optimus insisted, continuing on. There was yet another explosion and Fera gasped, curling close and shutting her eyes until the hot wind stopped and the dust covered the air.
"You appointed me Guardian, remember? And as a Guardian, it is my duty to make sure I keep her safe." he growled through clenched, metal-sheeted teeth. Optimus blinked and looked forward, making sure to watch the hall. The building itself was shaking, bits of earth and concrete showering from above. "You are correct Sol, but as Prime, I cannot just leave you and the humans here to fend for yourselves-"
"As Prime, you are to lead and protect! They will be safe with me, but you need to get your aft into battle!" he argued hotly. Fera drew her eyebrows down in concern and she lifted a hand, laying on Sol's chest.
Optimus seemed at a lost for words, but he didn't lose his patience either. Fera glanced nervously between the two mech's faces and blinked.
"I trust him." she input suddenly, causing both Cybertronians to look down on her. She started from the sudden attention, but held her chin high as they came to a slow stop. They were at the end of the hall, just a few short paths away from the southern wing's entrance. She could see Sol looking at her from the corner of her eye, but she only aimed her attention at Optimus, who was once again silent.
Whatever it was Sol wished to do, she would go along with it. Her mother's life was in his hands, and she'd be burned to ash if she not make sure she was safe with him. As her words stood, she actually did trust him. It was a surprising realization, but having a thirty-foot tall alein as a Guardian, plus his being, quote: "a warrior" also helped to aid that feeling. But then again, he was limping against his leader in a notion to help him walk. "We only need to get to the southern wing, and it is just across the floor." Sol said, urging his leader to change his mind. Optimus paused once again, uncertainty clear on his features. But then there was a loud, bellowing cry from the direction of the eastern wing and both mechs' faces turned. Fera didn't even want to know the owner of that noise.
Finally deciding, Optimus removed Sol's arm from his neck and he stood fully, standing at least 5 feet over Sol. He lifted a massive hand and Sol opened his palm flat. And using a touch so gentle that he no longer seemed robotic, he placed Sarah into Sol's care. Sol brought her close to his chest, right beside Fera, who took in a shaking breath at seeing her mother's still unconscious body. She reached over and touched her face, relieved at the warmth still there. There was a low, humming whirr and Fera looked up to see the elevated position of Optimus' rifle.
"Sol, report back immediately after your rendezvous in the south wing. Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Ratchet, and I will be holding off the Decepticons in the eastern wing while Wheeljack tries to hack the security systems and cut them off. Human soldiers will be dealing with the drones and the seekers outside." he explained, glancing over Sol towards the destroyed walls.
Sol nodded and Fera looked back down at her mother. She was breathing of course, but she was pale and limp, covered in dirt, and her hair was a tangled mess of concrete particles and pebbles. "Hound will meet you in the southern medbay and will hold off the end of the hall. After we shut out the Decepticons, everyone will proceed to hold ground out front while we evacuate the innocent. When that happens, I want you to take Fera and her mother to Washington where everyone will regroup." he said, Fera looked up just as he nodded, her stomach knotted up and she tucked her arm beside her body.
"What if that fails?" she called up. Optimus slightly lowered his weapon and looked to her.
"If I and my peers fail at aiding you and the others, I want Sol to still evacuate yourself at any cost." he looked back to Sol, who had gotten a seemingly nerved aura about him.
Optimus placed a heavy hand on his comrade's shoulder, nodding encouragingly. "If this be my last order as Prime, so be it. But Sol, you must keep her safe. She is the key to our future, and so help us Primus, make sure my sparkmate leaves with you." this last part sounded on the edge of a plea and it squeezed the courage from Fera as she ducked close to Sol. She couldn't see him again, if she did, she would break down. Another explosion. Another cry.
"Optimus Prime, we will see one another again, this be my word as an Autobot." Fera felt Sol's body shift and then there was a brief second of silence. Then the Autobot commander's large form swept himself away, blowing Fera a soft wind as he passed.
"So help me Sol, if you get us killed..." Fera threatened weakly.
Sol just chuckled, beginning to move despite the obvious pain it caused him. "That's my girl." he rumbled. Fera felt herself tensing up against his body, her fear overwhelming as more and more the violence increased. But it wasn't even fear for herself, no, she wasn't that selfish. It was fear for her mother and for Sol and for Optimus. There were so many people to be worried for that it seemed that was all she could feel at that moment. She lifted her hand and grabbed her necklace with a shaking fist, feeling its warmth and revelling in its comforting presence. It was as if her father were here, comforting her and telling her everything would be ok. But right now, in reality, she was meant to stand in her father's place; to be strong and stand as her mother's pillar of reassurance. Fera moved her gaze to before them and she squinted through the blurry air.
Sol was limping, moving dangerously slow. They had been moving faster with Optimus, and this fact sent another wave of concern over Fera. "Pit-slaggin' leg..." grumbled Sol as he almost drug the appendage across the floor. Over and over they raised, and then fell, moving closer to the end of the hallway. Her vision was assaulted with a dull headache and a slightly light-headed feeling. It was definitely from her reopened wound on her side. It pulsed as if knowing her thoughts.
They came closer to the corner and Fera nearly jumped from Sol's hands, wanting to run ahead and somehow push him faster. Get my mother to safety! she wanted to yell. But that would do no good. This wasn't lala-land.
A bright yellow blob of something flew right before Sol and the vents hidden in his armoring took in a sharp breath, his body coming up. Fera cringed against Sol's form, hiding her face and closing her eyes as the blast exploded. He shielded her and her mother from the blast by leaning away from it, a low grunt coming from him as a result. He returned forward and continued without hesitating, trying desperately to get to the corner.
It came within a few feet, allowing Fera to sigh in relief. They came around it and started down the short expanse from the hall to the connection doors, heading for the southern wing. Fera looked up at Sol and saw the effort in his features; saw the determination he wielded. It was truly interesting seeing as all they had done over their short knowings of each other was poke each other's irritation and make empty threats. But when it came down to things, Fera felt she could trust the warrior, knowing that if Prime gave him his trust, so could she. She fastened herself close to his chest and allowed herself to relax.
Yet again, they were attacked from behind, causing Sol to stumble. His back arched and his entire body jerked violently, pitching him forward. Fera gasped and held tight, peering over at her mother in worry. But Sol flipped just in time, throwing out his arms and holding Fera and her mother high in the air as he slammed down, jostling his plating and causing groans and complaints to come from his body. Fera winced as her body shook roughly, Sol's firm grasp causing a painful wave to emit from her reopened wound. Their movement stopped and Sol looked up at her, lowering both her and her mother carefully. "Are you alright?" he wondered in concern. Dazed out of speaking, Fera just nodded with wide eyes.
"So this is the new "Guardian" of the Autobots." came a high-pitched and fairly malicious voice.
Sol flipped on to his back and Fera looked up from her spot beside him. He set her on the ground, bringing her mother to lay beside her. Fera ran to her mother's body, kneeling down to touch her.
"Skywarp." Sol growled. Fera looked up to see the tall, slim mech as he drew closer, a long pistol in his hand. He was thinner than a lot of the other mechs, but he was tall, with two wings like that on a jet attached to his back and two halves of a cone mounted on his shoulders. There was a horrible smile on his lips and his eyes shone a bright ruby-red. Fera got close to her mother, as if she could protect her. Sol hovered a hand over them, trying to keep them out of sight.
Skywarp gave a ridiculing laugh and waved his pistol towards Sol, who was laying with grim seriousness on his face. "How pitiful. Solas Kaon right? The infamous new rookie named after the only other fembot Prime, Solus Prime. How fitting for a weakling- a mech named after a fembot." he chuckled darkly again and Fera started, seeing Sol's angered glare.
"Where is Rethalia by the way? I heard she landed nearby. Oh, but such shame, her crew couldn't join her." he sneered.
Sol snarled, flashing his teeth and jumping to sit, only to fall back again. Skywarp came forward and laid a heavy square foot over Sol's chest, pinning him to the floor. "Such a pity. I thought you were going to be one of us; you spoke of it as if you were, but here you are. What stupidity." he taunted, pressing down. Sol moaned in pain and a few of his plates popped. Fera drew in a sharp breath, throwing her hand up to cover her mouth.
Skywarp suddenly stopped his actions, glancing down at the gasping female. The wickedness in his expression intensified and his awful red eyes flashed. "There you are. Arachnid's been looking for you." he hissed, lifting his free hand to curl it into a fist. Sol's free hand suddenly flew up, clutching Skywarp's leg with surprising strength.
"Don't you dare." he seared threateningly. Skywarp wretched his leg free and he lifted it, slamming it down on to Sol's chest and getting another long groan of pain. Sol was now grabbing hold of the Decepticon's leg with both hands. "If you touch her-" Sol was interrupted as Skywarp gathered something in his mouth and spat in the mech's face. "Or what? You'll kill me? Keep pray Solas." Skywarp mocked, swiftly kicking him.
Fera had lost her breath, now struggling to remember to take in the air. "She's the key remember? You were a fool to have thought you could protect her." and then Skywarp was off of Sol, backing up a good few feet and sliding his arm into aim, the pistol's muzzle glowing. Sol lifted his head and stared down the nose, defiance heavy in his voice, "Rust in Pit 'Con-" he spat, his words cut off as the gun went off.
Fera couldn't help the cry that escaped her throat. She placed both hands over her mouth and she jumped, throwing herself against the wall and sliding down her back.
Sol was struck directly in the chest, his body jerking in recoil. He fell back on his back as a gaping, orange-ringed hole sat open in his chest. Bits of melted metal slipped inside of it and created small heat waves around the site. His hands fell limp and his head fell still. His body shifted once and then didn't move, laying disturbingly still. A few jagged pieces of Sol's plating lay scattered around her and she felt tears springing in her eyes in seeing them. Her head whipped back to her Guardian and she wheezed painfully, gasping for breath. Her body was shaking and she felt nauseous. Sol's head slowly turned to the side as Skywarp lowered his gun, looking almost disgusted at what lay before him.
Sol's teal gaze was dimmer, flicking on and off as he fought to stay alive. Fera shook her head in horror, staring at him in pure disbelief. Not like this, oh God, not like this, she prayed silently.
"Fera...go." he whispered, his voice falling and then finally stopping completely, his eyes fading to black. Fera sucked in a sharp intake of air and she relinquished to her blurring tears.
"Sol..." she murmured in grief. She heard Skywarp moving and she whipped her head towards the mech as he started towards her. "Come here pathetic human." he commanded, leaning down. Fera stumbled to her feet and dodged his grasp, running along her fallen friend's body to her mother.
"For the love of- run Fera!" Sarah had settled herself on her elbows, most likely seeing everything concerning their lifeless Guardian.
Fera stopped dead in her tracks, her anxiety taking over. Her mother was staring up at her, hard and serious. "Solas' sacrafice can't be in vain! Leave! Now!" she yelled. Fera stood a moment longer, shaking her head.
"No...no, I won't leave you." she defied. Sarah's eyes grew wide and frightened. "Fera, behind you!"
Fera instinctively ducked and a set of large, rectangular fingers swept over her. "Fleshling!" Skywarp protested. Fera ran to her mother and dropped by her side, looking up to see their adversary before them. He stood over them, anger emanating heavily. Fera clutched her mother close, and she did the same, both sharing frightened trembles as Skywarp reached for them.
But then, from nowhere, a flash of yellow leapt into view and swiftly tackled Skywarp, getting a shocked cry for their efforts. Once the Decepticon was on the ground, Bumblebee stood, whipping around to see the both of them on the floor. He whirred and clicked, hurrying closer. He reached down and aimed to grab them both, his fingers stretched. Fera began to stand, but was yanked back down by her mother as Bumblebee was grabbed from behind and launched over Sol's motionless body.
"Bee!" Fera called out, starting once again. "Stay down!" her mother commanded, bringing her lower again.
Skywarp snarled and stalked up to the mech, attempting to kick him. But Bee was quicker, spinning around to catch the mech's feet and sweep them from under him. Skywarp hit the ground hard, his vents pulsing a short burst of air like a human having the breath knocked from them. Bee jumped up, hopping up to stand over Skywarp, landing a hard punch to his face. The 'Con roared and drew back, kicking Bumblebee from over him. Fera shrank back with her mother, but her eyes were wide and mystified. "Stupid cyberling!" Skywarp bellowed, kicking Bumblebee.
The smaller yellow mech flew and hit the wall, falling to the floor. He lifted on his elbows, and Skywarp had a gun to the back of his head before he could react. Fera's heart sank, her nails digging into her mom's skin. Her stomach turned and she felt a tremor of horror. Sol was her friend, and her friend was dead. Gone. And Bee was also a friend, now he was edging on death.
No. Not again.
Fear was insignificant in the eyes of anger.
Fera shook herself once and then stood before her mother could act, running past Sol's body and cupping her hands over her mouth. "Coward! There's no honor in shooting a man in the back of the head!" she voiced as loud as she could. Maybe while she was at it, she'd catch the attention of a fellow Autobot. Or Decepticon.
Skywarp foolishlyly looked back at her and Bee's head flicked up. The 'Bot abruptly went from her to Skywarp's gun, quickly shifting low on his hunches and jumped like a cat. He brought back his arm and smashed his fist into the side of Skywarp's head. The 'Con's eyes widened and then immediately faded to black, his arm going limp and his body falling forward. The loud crash of him hitting concrete was closely followed by Bee's landing body.
Without hesitation, Bumblebee quickly started forward, scooping up Fera. She squeaked at the sudden grab and she felt her stomach drop. Bee ran around his fallen comrade's body and he gently lifted Fera's mother. Looking back, he hummed low and sad at the sight of Sol. Fera nearly choked on her tears, and she was forced to hide her face in fear she would start crying.
Bee moved his hands high and angled Fera so she would slip from his hands. She fell on random bolts and wires and pipes, surrounding her body in mechanical shield. After lifting herself up to her hands, she saw she was on his shoulder. Bee leaned down and slipped his hands beneath Sol's body, situating him so Bee could reach the other side of the larger mech. A grunt of effort came from Bumblebee and he bounced Sol, allowing the smaller Autobot to hold his peer.
"Bumblebee...is he dead?" Fera asked in distressed worry. Bee gave a click and didn't answer, instead pivoting on his heels and swinging them around to start down the hall. He overrode the security code of the door and ran through, shutting it behind him.
They moved quick and light, flying far faster over the ground than Sol had. Fera bounced uncomfortably on Bumblebee's many random parts and pieces, but she held her mouth shut, not trusting her own words. Bumblebee ran down the hall and straight back through a towering doorway, other highly built doorways lining the walls on both side of him. Fera once again looked down on Sol's emotionless face, feeling a chill run down her spine. His wounds were still there; one cut on his lower left cheek and another over his lip. She looked back up as Bee began to slow, approaching a hulking figure in the hallway.
It was Hound, his familiar forest-green paint soothing Fera. Bee lifted Sol and Hound's face fell. He took the mech from Bee and had a much easier time supporting his weight.
"Th' idiot." he murmured in more sadness than anger.
Fera's heart skipped a beat and she leaned forward, throwing herself between Bee's head and his arm. "He's going to be ok, right? Please tell me he will." she pleaded, glancing down at the motionless figure. Hound's face turned to a grim expression and Fera went numb. "Ah don't know missy, ah just don't know." he admitted. Fera slacked against Bumblebee's armoring and she let the air in her lungs slide out.
"Let's get 'im to the bay." Hound directed, jerking his head back. Bee promptly shook his head, surprising Fera by reaching up and grabbing her and her mother. His arms lengthened and he placed them on Hound's broad shoulders. Fera placed a hand on the stationary gun on his shoulder, staring after the smaller 'Bot.
"I'm...going to...help." he explained, stepping back. Hound just gave a short nod. "Well then, good luck kid. Make us proud." he said understandingly. Bee nodded and glanced over at Fera once and she leaned forward as the he sprinted back down the hall where he came. "Come on, let's get movin'." Hound suggested, turning away.
They walked down the hall and entered a room on the very end of the passage. It apparently was the same room Rethalia lodged in, Fera starting when she saw the graceful fembot sitting up quickly from her spot on the table. She looked surprised, then worried. Hound moved forward and she leapt from her table, offering it without word as Hound set Sol down across the berth. "What happened to him?" she asked, beginning to hover over him. Fera had Hound put her and her mother down besides the Guardian and Fera came close to Sol, refusing to move.
"He was protecting us. And then Skywarp..." she trailed off, biting back the hot, black rage she contained. The very name would bathe her in anger every time she would hear it.
Rethalia nodded and turned back to Hound. "I want you to find me a welder, quick. He's loosing a lot of energon and if I don't close off the main circulatory cables, he will leak out." she stated grimly. Fera watched as the large mech quickly went off to find what she asked for. Rethalia went to work on Sol, seeming to use some random tool to start peeling back and completely removing his armor. Thick blue liquid was pouring from the wound at his chest, seeming to intensify with the removal of his plating. Fera jerked at the sight and she held on to the small, broken plate still clinging to his body by his side. "Is this it?" Hound questioned, coming up from behind Rethalia.
Taking one quick look at the tool, Rethalia shook her head. "No, it looks like this." she held up a hose-like object and then set it down, continuing with her work. Hound nodded and threw the tool aside, running off again. He came back a short time later with the right equipment. Rethalia thanked him and sent him off for something else. She reached directly inside of Sol's wound and started up the welder, switched a small nozzle at the nose of the tool and then leaning forward. Sparks flew and Fera took a step back. Hound came back with the right materials and once again, Rethalia ordered he find something else.
"He's leaking out! Hound, I need you!" she called suddenly. The mech came rushing over, standing beside the fembot as she took his hand and shoved it through Sol's wound. "Hold this, and for the love of all Primus, don't let go." she instructed. Hound said nothing and she leaned back in. "Now pinch that line; good. Keep the pressure on." she went on and switched the head of the welder again, focusing the blast. "Where is the clamp?" she asked, looking up. Hound reached beside him and grabbed the tool, giving it to Rethalia and then returning his hands back to Sol. Rethalia reached back in and squeezed the clamp over the designated area, immediately moving somewhere new.
Rethalia flitted over Sol carefully and she skillfully shut off his lines and cables and spoke of a bunch of foreign gibberish.
"No, no, no!" she cried suddenly. "His spark's fading! I need a transfusion."
"Hound, I have the clamp down, I need you to find a pouch of energon and a transfusion pump. We don't have time for the IV, we'll put that in later." she commanded. Hound went off to find the objects and Rethalia softly mumbled something like, "I'm not Ratchet-" and then she began talking in a strange series of noises, clicks, and whirrs. Fera snorted in frustration and leaned against Sol, placing both hands on his body. "Don't leave us yet." she begged softly. "You're still my Guardian. I can't be brave without...without..." what was he to her? He was more than her Guardian, that was for sure. He was someone she enjoyed hanging out with, spending time with. He was a friend.
"Rethalia, I'm no alien biologist, but if you try pumping blood through him as he's slowly bleeding out, won't he bleed out that as well? I suggest you cut off any damaged circulatory veins and replace the damaged parts. Afterwards, you can connect the lines back." Fera's mother suggested. Rethalia nodded, but didn't look at them or verbally respond. Hound cam back with another clamp and Rethalia took it, placing it deep inside Sol's wound. "I'll need a saw." she noted next, reaching beside her.
Hound hovered close, but Sarah suggested he step back and he did. Rethalia worked quickly, her silence interrupted every so often by the muffled blasting of the base and the shaking of the room. "Hound, take stand outside. Make sure no one other than an Autobot gets through." she ordered, not even looking up. Hound nodded and backed away. "Yes ma'am." and he turned, hurrying out of the door. Rethalia made a few sparking cuts of Sol's insides and she removed pieces, murmuring to herself every once in awhile.
"He needs more energon before he goes into restoration; his conversion shaft is snapped, and he's got so many broken internal pipes and clipped circuits...Primus it's a miracle he's not through the Matrix."
Fera's stomach dropped and she slid to her rear, sitting with horror like a heavy wet blanket over her shoulders. Her hand clenched tightly on the plate she was touching and she let her gaze travel down to before her. The silver was all she saw, her mind flurrying in worry and fear. Sol was a friend, someone she had grown closer to than any of her fake comrades in the school she went to. She could be snappy with him and he would be snappy right back, then he would have the bravery to apologize. He was what a lot of humans weren't: real.
"Rethalia, will he be ok?" she forced out, looking up. The fembot blinked and looked down at Fera sadly, seeming to know the small female had overheard her.
"Fera, I'm doing all I can, but..." she trailed off.
No air entered her lungs and her mouth felt dry as she bit her chapped bottom lip. "I'm no Ratchet." she finished, returning to her work. She removed the damaged line and drew it away, turning. It was a completely shredded form of a vein, more like a hose full of black, charred holes. Fera took her hand away and leaned against his cold frame. More than ever, she wished she could feel the usual warmth emanating from him. She wanted to take every scolding, hot-tongued insult and shove it back down her throat. It hurt, thinking of him as dead. It couldn't be, or else he would already have died right? This couldn't happen again, it just couldn't. She'd watched her father slowly die in silent suffering. Now her Guardian had been shot before her.
Not again.
"He'll be ok Fera." Sarah said, reaching down to gently squeeze her daughter's shoulder. For a person who had just woken from fainting, she was quite awake. It would have surprised Fera if she wasn't so engrossed in her crushing concern. "Just wait, he'll wake up and you'll go back to annoying each other again. Watch." she went on. Fera couldn't help the small grin playing at the corner at her mouth, and she moved her head so that her cheek pressed up against Sol's armoring. Or whatever was left of it.
Fera's mother left her and she took her time instead watching Rethalia. Her movements weren't as hurried, but her expression wasn't any better either. She connected the new line and removed the clamps, but she only began taking away most of his armoring before setting each destroyed piece to the side.
"I'm only informed in the basic cares of medical aid. I can't restart his spark in fear that it may over-exert his wounds further. However, I can provide a small, slow transfusion, just to get his energy levels up." Rethalia informed them, placing aside another set of his armor. Fera made no move to speak or even nod, for she only just watched. Rethalia left her view and Fera sighed, letting her body relax against Sol.
He was alive. For now.
She came back with a large plastic IV bag full of glowing azure liquid. Fera guessed this was the "energon" Rethalia had mentioned earlier and she sat up to see the fembot as she moved around the table. She hung the bag on a tall silver pole and connected the IV line. She then turned back to Sol and leaned over, her hands disappearing to slip the needle inside a vein. With his armoring removed, Sol seemed...smaller. All that was removed was from his chest while the more solid pieces further from the wound were left alone. Rethalia had taken the plates by his injury on his arm and the affliction on his lower leg, by his knee. Fera could see the flat, smooth steel that made up his lower 'skin' she called it, and she scanned over the sleek surface.
Wires poked out from underneath the removed sheets and they sported differing colors like red, blue, green, and even black. Thicker joints and suspension shock systems made up the most of his exposed arm, hydraulics and other support and mobility pumps adding to the bulk. The edges of the jagged hole in his arm stained black, a few of the inner parts of the limb also scorched. "All we can achieve at the moment is causing more harm than good." Rethalia murmured softly, walking around the table and sitting up against a tool cart. She leaned down on her knees, her elbows set on her legs. One of her hands held up her face, her fingers shading her expression.
"We must hope and pray Ratchet gets here in time." she continued. Fera sunk closer to Sol and took her eyes from the tired Prime, too fatigued herself to say anything. She felt her mother sit behind her and shift closer to lay a hand on Fera's back. She then rubbed circles on her spine.
"Remember that song I used to sing to you before you went to bed every night when you were little?" she asked gently, stalling her hand. "The one that you'd sing after dad was deployed?" Fera wondered. She knew that her mother was just trying to change the conversation; attempting a distraction to get Fera's mind off her worries. It wasn't a really solid start, but anything was welcomed than allowing this weakening feeling.
Fera shifted herself so she was sitting up and she looked back at her mother over her shoulder. "Yes, that one. The Lamb and the Moon. Do you remember the words?" she continued, catching Fera's attention so that she completely turned. "A little. Most of it. But it's been a few years." Fera agreed, crossing her legs and letting her back sit against Sol's body. Sarah grinned gently and she looked to Rethalia. "I know." she nearly sighed, looking back at Fera. "Remember when we sang it to your father, before he...?" she trailed off, but Fera nodded anyway. And taking her hint, Fera gathered her memory and she tried holding off her nerves, blocking the noises from outside as she took a long breath.
"The lamb I did see, the lamb, the lamb;
Where has the lamb gone? Over the moon, over the moon;
Can I join you? Little lamb, little lamb;
'Yes you can, yes you can';
And we played and we played;
Until the sun came and ruined our fun;"
Fera's mother reached over and took her hand, joining her:
"The lamb, the lamb, it jumped and so did I;
until we meet again, meet again;
the lamb, the lamb and I;
it laughed and so did I;
and we played, and we played;
until the moon returned and our fun began again."
The song continued on to parts Fera couldn't possibly remember. Her mother's notes swayed and varied smoothly over her own, soft and long. They were soothing, yet they brought back memories; memories of her father and his sickness and their incapability to do anything. She sighed against Sol and let her head rest against her support, her eyes closing. If she spoke now, she may break down. Her softness only furthered her belief that she was no braver than a rabbit. No, not even that. More like a bird. Her mother continued murmuring the words of The Lamb and the Moon. Rethalia hadn't said anything in these minutes and Fera cracked open her eyes to make sure the fembot hadn't left. She was still there.
Her regal head was facing to the side of them, her expression unreadable as she locked her hands between her knees.
"Until we meet again, meet again..." Sarah nearly cooed.
Fera took in a long breath, unable to ignore the racket outside. Vibrations shook the table and Fera tensed, her chin raising and her lips held tight, her eyes squeezed close. One after the other, she could just see them now...
"And we played, and we played..." it was almost eerie, just a soft singing voice in a room of deathly silence while a battle wages outside a metal door. Hound's voice suddenly started up and Fera jumped when his gun went off. Sarah tightened her grip on her hand, her song never faltering.
"Come to me my little darling;
Out of danger's grasp to my waiting hands;
You are safe;
Now do not cry, for it saddens me so;
Do not watch the fires in their eyes my little darling;
You are safe;"
Her mother had moved to a different song- a fairly older one. She had found it once while Fera was young and had asked her to scan the poems in one of her books. How she remembered it, Fera couldn't understand. But the meaning was clear: here, you are safe.
"Through raging blaze and stinging wind;
You are safe;
Take heed of the trees as they sway so;
Do not mind the war, innocence is upon you;
You are safe;
Could war take you my little darling?
Note the love, not the hatred;
You are safe;
In my awaiting arms, you are safe."
It had been some time since Fera had heard that one too. Back then it was a jumble of pretty words and nice sounds from her mother's honey-like voice. Now, it was just too close to home. Her Guardian came to mind at this song and she let a single, hot tear overflow from her aching eyes. When Sarah began the song again, Fera joined her. From song to song they moved, trying to mask the hate and the war outside the door. When Fera jumped or started at a dangerous sound and her words would stumble, her mother just urged her on, comforting her by squeezing her hand.
Rethalia eventually moved, but it was to cross the room, placing her hands on a small ledge protruding from the wall. Her back was to them, hiding anything she must have felt. She seemed so calm, but so nervous at the same time. It was confusing and it hurt to try figuring her emotion out with the rest of everything going on. Her black painting dimmed through the shadows and if not for her pink, she could have been nearly out of sight.
Fera sang lowly with her mother, her throat growing raw. She was so thirsty that it almost pained her to sing. So she stopped, and so did her mother. The fighting outside seemed to forever continue, never ceasing and never stopping.
"They never stop, do they?" her mother whispered beside her, sitting with her shoulder against Fera's.
Rolling in her lips and releasing a shaky sigh, Fera shook her head. "I don't know." she tightened her already vice grip on her mother's hand, who didn't protest. Her father gone, her Guardian almost as well, a fembot unable to assist him, a mother unable to comfort her daughter, and her only reassurance being a necklace hanging around her neck.
What a lovely, cherry life she lived.
Well...That happened. 0~0