warning: non-graphic death. And Jazz doesn't always play nice when he's angry.
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Mirage did not fit comfortably into the ventilation shaft.
To be fair, it wasn't as small as some tunnels he'd crawled through and the spy was on the taller but lanky side. The only reason he could get through at all was due to flexibility. Ahead, Jazz paused in the dark to frown as Mirage almost got stuck again. Putting aside his frustration, the black and white mech scooted forward to peer through vent slats into the space below.
Another storage room. Turning his helm and giving a shake, the TIC gestured that they would continue. In the middle of their small parade, Bumblebee made a face. It would have been much quicker if they'd had schematics of this underground lab but the specials ops hadn't been that lucky. So far they'd found some personal quarters, several storage rooms, and the wash racks. And they were definitely not going in that last one.
Crawling quietly ahead on knee joints and servos, the three Autobots paused as loud voices carried up from below before fading. They waited for a moment, their own vents letting out tiny puffs of warm air. Finally Jazz inched forward. At the next intersection they halted.
'Raj, you want left or right?' Jazz crouched and studied both paths. They were identical.
Mirage shrugged, 'The left I suppose.'
Quietly wishing each other luck, the team split. Taking the right passage, Bumblebee and Jazz went only a few feet more before stopping. The visored mech tilted his visor at some sludge off on one side. With disgusted expressions and very careful movements, the bots managed to get around the suspicious substance without physically touching it. Considering this appeared to be the Constructicon's lab, it stood to reason that Mixmaster was around. That was the con who liked to toss together funky chemicals to make some 'Highly Dangerous and Strange Creepy Stuff', according to Jazz. And the fact that the partial solid was glowing florescent green? Yeah, if it started moving, then they were going to get out of there quickly.
Turning to watch the gunk warily, Bee followed Jazz as they turned another corner and found more vents.
'Heeeeelllooo, What we got here?' The bigger bot grinned at the mini as they looked through and down. A huge room sprawled out below. It was big enough that a combiner could stand up in it. Maybe ducking his helm a bit, but still stand.
The yellow Volkswagen pointed to the tables and workstations, 'Do you think it's the main lab?'
Jazz studied the room, mapping out exits and noting obstructions. Lets see: Shelving with parts, tables full of junk and creepy looking projects, weird giant thing in the middle of the room, Autobot prisoners strapped to examination tables in need of rescuing... Okay, so maybe the last one was missing but it still looked like a laboratory. And no prisoners to rescue was good. It mean they had more time to mess with the Con's things to make them miserable. The porsche nodded and hooked his digits into the grill.
He pouted when it wouldn't come off. Stupid construction oriented cons had to make his job hard. Oh well, easy was boring. Using a small laser, the spy cut the seams and carefully pulled the vent in. Slowly, he climbed out to balance on a ceiling support. Jazz held out a servo to help Bumblebee when Mirage commed.
'I have found the communications room with several terminals.'
'If ya got the time, don't forget ta leave'em a present while ya searchin'.' An affirmative ping and the transmission ended. Balancing on the steel beams, the bots had just settled and replaced the grill when down below the doors whooshed open. Starscream stalked in.
'Awww,' Bumblebee silently groaned, 'Screamer has terrible timing.' He lowered himself so that he was resting on his chest plates with all four limbs hooked around the beam. Jazz mimicked his position.
The visored mech loved it when people forgot to look up. Especially fliers in underground places who did not want to be reminded that they couldn't see the sky. 'Ah duhno Bee. We got intah the room a'fore he got here didn' we? Besides, maybe he'll monologue.'
A quick grin was tossed his way as the shorter yellow and black spy turned to watch the seeker strut around. Tinkering with the large cylindrical machine, Starscream gave a loud "Hrumph!" and smirked with satisfaction. He tapped a few keystrokes into a console on one side and the device powered on. Within the structured framework a turbine groaned and started to spin, ozone scenting the air. Violet and burgundy light lit up either side while red electrical streaks crackled about to dance inside the glass separating the spinning metal from the outside world. The energy zipped up and down piping to condense into holding containers on the top.
Sharp denta flashed under the eerie lights as Starscream smile gleefully, "Perfect..."
"It has to be. We built it after all." Irritation laced the snobbish voice of Hook.
The jet lurched, not having heard the Constructicons enter over the whirling and thumping of the machine. Wings twitching in agitation, the air commander lowered his half-raised null rays and sneered, "Yes well, the generator seems to be working well. Obviously it has to be tested before I can take this to Megatron."
Hook huffed, still unhappy about the slight. Scrapper tipped his helm to silently order the mech to back off. Then he gestured at their worktables, "Mixmaster is working on something. He won't be in the way. The rest of us are just here to watch."
"Oh?" A single optical ridge raised as the cement mixer moved off to the other side of the room.
"Just to make sure our generator works properly, of course. We wouldn't want your experiment to fail because our design was flawed." The leader explained while Bonecrusher gave a shit-eating grin while Onslaught stood seeming bored. Scavenger's sniggers didn't help.
Starscream's voice dripped acid, "Of course."
'I love Decepticon power plays.' Jazz murmured over the communication line. Bee's mouth quirked up in amusement before they both returned their attention to the mech's below. The huffy flier whirled and fiddled with a control panel set in the floor. Stained grill work and sheet metal retracted to allow crystal panes to rise up, shifting into a three dimensional cube that covered a good twenty feet of space. Every good lab had a test area.
Wings still tilted at an irritated but proud angle, Starscream hauled a cable off of the generator and fed it into a power box attached to one wall of the enclosed cube. Stomping around to the front, he opened one of the clear panels and stepped inside. The flier pulled a smaller cable out of the other side of the power box. From his subspace came a rectangular bronze device as long as the Seeker's forearm.
He hooked the power box cables up to the new device and set it down.
A switch on the power box flicked on and energy from the generator started to feed into the small unknown contraption. Retreating out of the test area, Starscream pulled out something else and set it just inside the enclosed space before pushing the panel shut. The cube was sealed.
'Blaster radio base!' Do we got any bots missin' or word a' neutrals disappearin'?!' Jazz yelled through the comm.
Bumblebee stared downward in horror before looking as his comrade with wide blue optics. Blaster's voice cut through the comm links, 'We don't know if Soundwave's here man! If I radio out he could pick it up and it'll blow your cover-'
'DO IT NOW!'
'Jazz...' Bee's tone edged into apprehension.
On one side of the test space was a device connected to the Constructicon's generator. On the other was a spark container. A small glowing spark spun around inside.
The Autobot's gripped the metal framework tightly and watched as Starscream pressed a button
on his wrist. The bronze rectangular device opened on top, tiny vents popping up. A silvery dark mist slid out to coalesce on the ground. Every movement in the lab stopped.
The hidden spies above froze, engines running silent and faces affixed in fear. Having been shifting impatiently until now, the Constructicons stilled. Even Mixmaster at the other side of the colossal lab looked up from his chemicals to watch with apt fascination. Starscream's optics were locked upon the growing gray cloud, rising expectations aglow in his expression.
It seemed the sort of moment where things should have been dead silent. If the generator had not been running it would have been. Everyone tracked the slow movement of the wisps.
The device continued to give off the shimmery light substance until the mist covered several feet. Slowly, it seemed to reach out and test the area around it. Jazz really hoped it wasn't actually alive.
'Word from base. No missing, ours or neutrals. No interference from Wave either.' Blaster's voice caused the minibot to twitch in surprise. Bumblebee turned to his officer again.
'Jazz.'
No response, as the spy was rapidly thinking of options. Two bots versus a seeker and six heavy duty ground frames. Not to mention they were in a room that was tall enough for them to combine. Two special operations mechs were no match for Devastator. It was suicide. He would pound them flat in seconds.
But Jazz was used to playing the long odds.
Making his decision, he sat up and pulled out a handgun, 'Move toward the combiners. We each take out one so they can't combine an-'
Too late. Whatever the foggy substance was had gotten close to the spark. In a blur of movement the entire cloud rushed to cover the fragile cylinder. It wiggled into tiny spaces in the metal and slipped inside.
They could hardly see a glow within the dark vapor.
A strangled noise creaked out of Bumblebee's throat cables, lost beneath the whirling fan of the generator and unnoticed by the Decepticons. A brief pulse of faint light emitted from underneath the mist and disappeared. Pulling back, the gray cloud continued to scour it's enclosed space, leaving an empty spark container behind.
It had been over within five seconds. Even if they'd moved, the Autobots hadn't stood a chance at saving the poor spark.
Frozen in the rafters, Jazz rasped over the comm, 'Hold position.'
Still in shock, Bumblebee followed his commander's words and slowly lay back down from where he'd partially raised himself. Arms crossed, Starscream's optics narrowed while he studied the lethal fog. He checked his internal clock. Another minute passed. Another.
Finally he smirked, "Well, it seems your generator did the trick. My toxin has yet to dissipate."
"I suppose we'll go contact Megatron then." Scrapper supplied. Bonecrusher seemed bored now too and stomped out with Onslaught as the flier turned off the generator, turbine slowing to a standstill. The toxin faded out within the cube. Starscream turned toward the others with a snarl and superior tone.
"You will not! This is my project and I will prove it's worth."
Scrapper tilted his helm, amusement in his body language even if they couldn't see it under the face mask, "As you order Air Commander."
Hook sniffed in disdain and stalked out too, followed by the head Constructicon and Scavenger. Starscream stepped into the test area, now free of toxin, to grab his device and rushed after the other cons in case they tried to contact Megatron first. He was a very proud scientist and if anyone got to prove his project's worth it would be him.
Jazz jerked his helm and Bumblebee got up into a crouch. They stalked along the beams until they were just overhead of Mixmaster, the only person left in the lab besides them. He was cheerfully filling flasks with colored liquids and suspicious powders, unaware of the looming threat. The bots just couldn't very well wait until he decided to leave. They had information to steal after all. Jazz aimed his weapon.
"Mixmaster!" Bonecrusher's voice rumbled over the laboratory intercom system, "Your crates of junk are blocking storage room D-9! Move 'em!"
The cement mixer sighed and got up, a finger to his audio as he answered, "Those bottles of hydrazoic acid are unstable. I wouldn't touch them." He walked out, leaving the Autobots alone.
Jazz bared his denta in an angry grin and tucked away his gun. Too bad, the con got to live another day. "Hack dat terminal fer project data." He ordered the scout.
They jumped down, landing on quite feet and moving about cautiously. Bumblebee clicked on the computer and plugged in a data strip, "Do you really think Starscream has the info here?"
"Maybeh. Maybeh not." Jazz replied grimly, looking at the empty spark container that had been left inside the cube. This mission wasn't fun anymore and now the saboteur was angry. Which meant he got to practice his specialty: sabotage.
Going over to the generator, he opened the paneling to display rows of circuit boards and wiring. Letting a vicious grin show, Jazz started to yank things out of place and put them back in all the wrong spots. A few cuts along tubing to make things unsafe, gears disconnected, and tada! A very nicely complicated mess that wouldn't be noticed with a cursory glance. Maybe he could put in an explosive that would go off the next time they turned the slagging thing on.
Sirens wailed through the underground building, startling both mechs. Bumblebee jumped and swore as a small curved helm horn cracked against one of the Con's projects on his right. Emergency lights turned on to flash yellow as the high-pitched noise increased in volume.
"I didn't trip any firewalls! I don't think..." The minibot shouted to be heard above the alarm.
Mirage's alert but collected voice rang over the comm, 'I've been compromised. They got into a brawl and knocked into me.'
'Try tah retreat tah dah exit Raj. Blastah move t' cavern entrance as back up.' That was all the porsche got out before an enraged shriek reached their audios.
Starscream burst into the lab, furious that Autobots where in the base and rightfully worried that they were out to destroy the generator. Bumblebee lunged away from the console to take cover behind a workbench as the con opened fire. Using the big machine in the middle of the room as a shield, Jazz squeezed off a few shots that peppered the walls and floor while Starscream dodged.
"Die Autoscum!"
The seeker couldn't risk shooting the generator but that wouldn't stop him from destroying the Autobots. Snarling his engines, he revved them faster and faster until a high-pitched whine started up. The shrieking sound gained a new frequency that had the Autobots covering their audios. Faces scrunched in agony, the bots crouched and tried to stay conscious. Bee's mouth fell open in a silent howl.
He wasn't called Starscream just because of his scratchy voice. The seeker's engines could reach a pitch that literally sounded like the stars themselves were crying out in torment. It was painful to the point that people had a hard time thinking straight through the dissonance.
Desperate, Jazz pulled his speakers out of his hip compartments and blared them as loud as they could go. Heavy drumming mixed with desolate and shrill guitar wails sent the floor into vibrations. The flier's engine stalled for a split second in surprise.
That was all the time they needed.
As his minibot friend managed to turn off his hearing, Jazz stood and let loose another audio-shattering cacophony that had the room shaking. Tools rattled and fell to the floor, while walls quivered at the deep bass and rampant chords. Starscream flinched and now he was the one to try and cover his audios.
'Move!' The black and white bot fired shots and hit the seeker dead on, scorching his chest plates and knocking him over.
Lunging into his altmode, Bumblebee zoomed out of the lab with Jazz on his tailpipe. Infuriated screeching told them the con was coming after. Pouring on speed, the duo raced through the halls with alarms still blaring overhead. Mirage contacted them with the slightest catch in his tone as if he too were driving.
'By the concussive noise, I would say you are somewhere on my left.' The race car sent a data pack with his general location, 'I believe I saw the exit but was waylaid by pursuers.'
Smashing around a curve, Jazz took the lead, 'Meet us there in'a minute.'
They turned another corner and nearly crashed into Bonecrusher. With a roar, the bulldozer pulled a small cannon from his subspace. The bot's swerved and drew up skid marks as they avoided the heavy blast and rocketed into another hall.
"Hey Mirage!" Bumblebee yelled as their comrade came from another direction and skidded into line behind them. Ironically enough, they were in the same position they'd been in when crawling through vents not half an hour ago. Ahead was a familiar set of doors. Transforming at the last second, the trio lunged past the threshold to find themselves in the entrance with the pulse cannons. The oversized guns were still pointed at the exit. Jazz swiftly turned them off before they could swivel around.
Rapidly closing the inner entrance, Mirage messed with the control panel. The main group of wires was then ripped out. It sparked a few times and pounding came from the other side but the doors stayed shut.
Smiling, Jazz tapped a button on his wrist. Every light, emergency ones included, went out. In the black with only their optic light to see by, the alarm somehow seemed louder. The porsche chuckled darkly. Hacking the light systems earlier had payed off. "Dat oughta slow down da ones not raht outside da door."
Noting the thicker accent, Mirage and Bumblebee pulled out their weapons to flank the entrance as the saboteur ripped open the lower compartments of the cannons. A bundled package the size of his fist was left inside each. The banging of fists stopped as someone on the other side started to use a welder to cut open a hole.
They weren't gonna let him slag up their generator for good, huh? That was cool. He'd just take their fun toys. Glaring beneath the visor but still smiling, Jazz brightened the crystal shades on his face so his team could see him easier. With a swirled gesture of his servo, the mech waltzed over to the outer entrance and opened it without a problem.
"Aftah yah. Drive fast mah mechs. We gotta go."
They didn't waste anytime roaring down the cavern. Over the comm link, the black and white radioed Blaster, 'Still outside da entrance?'
'Yes. Do you want me to come in...?'
'Na nah, not yet. Aftah tah make sure we don' got tails.' The Porsche nudged Bee to go faster, Mirage's alt mode easily outpacing the both of them. Confusion threaded through Blaster's tone.
'After-?'
A boom detonated deeper within, coming from the entrance with the cannons to be exact. The doors blew, metal cracking and melting. Flames seared down the hall like hungry beasts, licking at stone pillars. Only halfway down the tunnel, the trio was lifted off their wheels as the blast carried out of it's confined space. Flying forward, Bumblebee transformed and crashed against one wall. The uncomfortable heat startled Mirage and he skidded before transforming as well.
Hissing at the dents, the blue and white bot tapped his audios. They hadn't been blown out but the sudden quiet was startling. An engine rev caught his attention. Jazz was still in his altmode and wedged between to stalagmites.
Mirage carefully eased him out as Bumblebee stumbled over to slump on the floor. Metal groaned as Jazz changed back to root mode. A particularly nasty looking hole showed itself on his front. Quiet footsteps had them raising their weapons. A knife in either hand from Jazz, handguns for Bee, and Mirage held up a sleek looking rifle. A friendly voice sounded.
"Autobot."
Sighing with relief and tucking away the blades, Jazz let his helm roll back against the now warm stone, "Hey. Dunno if that stopped 'em. Prolly only slowed 'em down."
Blaster came closer, speakers out and at the ready with a two-handed gun in his servos. The red and yellow cassette carrier took in their battered appearance. All three had char marks streaking their armor along with dents, scrapes, and energon starting to leak. Drops of pink slowly fell to splatter against the floor. A few torn wires poked out of plating. "I thought x-ops snuck out quietly. That was going out with a bang man."
"Sometimes we have to make a quick and loud escape." Mirage snarked as the bot helped pull their exhausted bodies up to standing.
"And now they don't got pulse cannons." Jazz supplied with an edgy cheerfulness, "Let's get goin' a'fore they catch up." Heading out at a brisk trot, the group left the cavern. Frowning, Bumblebee tried to ignore the aches making themselves known. He looked over at Jazz and sent a private link.
'It's not your fault.'
Jazz almost snorted but refrained, focusing instead on the grass and stone terrain as they got outside and started to climb down the mountain slope. Going by the access road left them too easy a target. 'If ah'd given dah word sooner...'
'We couldn't have opened that door. Or gone in there. It would have let out that...toxin.' The minibot scrambled over sheet rock while Blaster and Mirage found a flatter area below. 'We couldn't have stopped it.'
He paused to stare at Jazz, face serious. The black and white mech did snort this time. It really sucked being an officer. Special privileges didn't make up for all the responsibility and weight of lives that came with the position. Ignoring the looks from the other two at the unexplained sound, Jazz flashed his visor and showed a sad smile. 'Ah know Bee. Doesn' make it aneh easier when ah can' do nothin'. Come on. Let's go home.'
The woman glared at the mirror but it didn't change her reflection.
Shay really did not want to leave her room. Technically it was a human guest room aboard the Ark, but regardless. For now it was hers and she would have much preferred to stay in it. Yes, this meeting was important. But the acidic feeling in her gut said it wasn't going to go well.
Feeling like she was heading into a fight, the woman had pulled on worn jeans and a cream sleeveless top. She couldn't wear armor like the Cybertronians and warpaint was generally frowned upon while others questioned the wearer's sanity, so Shay had settled for a shell necklace. It was a string of jagged shell chips that looked like claws, and that choker was the only jewelry she ever wore. Everything else was from her mother and tucked away in the tool box under the bed a couple feet to her right.
It was ridiculous and not helpful in the least but it made Shay feel taller, wearing something with sharp edges.
Knock tap tap
Wary eyes flickered to the door before returning to her reflection. A scowling wild-haired woman glared back. Composing her features into something calmer, Shay moved to leave her room. Prowl stood straight and formal across the way.
It was almost comical, the size difference between the huge hall and the few human guest rooms. At least the kitchen two doors down was large enough for some of the smaller bots to stand up in.
"Are you ready?" The tactician questioned mildly.
Shay nodded and started walking before Prowl made a noise similar to a human cough and held out a servo, "If I may, it would be faster if you were to allow me to aid you."
"Alright." The woman sighed after rubbing the bridge of her nose. She really was not comfortable with being carried around by anyone other than the Twins but then again she'd hardly been here five days.
Carefully lifting her so she could sit on a shoulder pad, Prowl let go and stayed still until she wrapped her hands around the edges of metal plating. With her now situated, the Praxian set off down the hall at a steady pace. Shay really hadn't wanted to do this in the medbay or the conference room because nothing good ever came of being in the latter. And she was tired of having to be in the medbay three or four times a day. So they'd settled for Ratchet's office. It was private enough and the human hadn't been in there before.
Only halfway there and they were accosted by carnelian and gold devils. The red one grinned impishly, "Is that...? Yes! I do believe it is a wild Shay, along with the reclusive but dangerous Datsun!"
Sideswipe laughed at their petulant expressions while his twin fell into step on their other side as if the lambos were escorting them. Giving a wing flick at show, Prowl inclined his helm,
"I am glad to see you do not have the intentions of being late, like you usually do."
Sunstreaker gave a very dry response, "Wouldn't miss it."
"Soooooo... Shay." Sideswipe started to walk backwards so he could face them, much to Prowl's chagrin, "Would you like a present?"
Mischief. Amusement. Hope.
The red lambo was the one asking, but half of those mirthful little feelings were coming from his twin. The corner of her mouth quirked up, worry easing away a little as Shay decided to play along, "I am not sure. If it is seeker wings or a Decepticon's arm then I'm afraid I'll have to ask Prowl to put you in the brig."
A snicker slipped from the yellow bot although he managed to keep a straight face. Sideswipe puffed up in mock indignation, an exaggerated pout on his lips, "I can't go to the brig for giving presents!"
"A show of unwanted affection can easily get you four hours worth of brig time." Prowl stated blithely as Shay flashed an evil smile at them. The tactician couldn't see her expression since she was on his shoulder. They turned the corner and found themselves in the main corridor leading to the medbay. Optimus was leaning against the wall tiredly but he straightened when they appeared. He opened the door for them and held it, appearing mildly amused by the conversation. Sides objected hotly.
"There is not a single rule that says I can't give one present!"
"I wasn't aware you even knew the rules." The Prime chuckled as they stepped inside. The Twins grinned rakishly. Their shoulders lifted and strutting with pride, Sideswipe answered first.
"I memorized them all so I know which ones I'm breaking." Sunstreaker jumped in, "And so we don't get punished for bogus rules."
Shay rolled her eyes as Prowl gave the frontliners a long look, "I will be sure to remember that the next time you are in my office for any offense." Even that didn't take the wind from their sails, dark smirks on the lambo's faceplates.
Ratchet chose that moment to stick his chevroned head out of a door near the back of the repair center. Unlike the privacy rooms, this one had a keypad to keep it locked. The entrance was not quite as small as the quarantine room but was still barely noticeable in the corner. The ambulance glowered at them. "Well? Are you going to stand out there gossiping all day? I do have work to do."
With that grumbled and good-natured complaint, the medic pulled back into the office. The Twins sauntered in like they owned the place with Prowl and Shay at their heels, and the tall red and blue mech last. Optimus muttered something like, 'I do not gossip.' under his breath.
"Sometimes." Prowl contradicted while the semi huffed in protest. Shay ignored the banter and slid forward into the Praxian's palm so he could set her on the desk.
It looked like any office, very formal and little in the way of personal affects. The desk she stood upon with her boots was covered in a couple neat stacks of datapads, a few tools in need of repair, and an empty energon cube with a few sunflowers and a bit of water inside. Shay wondered where the improvised vase had come from, seeing as Ratchet did not seem the type to go pick flowers, let alone use an energon cube to hold them. It was the only thing to catch one's attention in the small room as the only other objects were some shelves full of more datapads, some odd machines of unknown use and several chairs.
The Twins dragged two over to the corner of the slightly cluttered desk where she was standing. Everyone glared at the obnoxious scraping noises. The medic growled from his seat.
"Are you done yet? You can pick it up you know."
Sideswipe went for an innocent and repentant grin, "Sorry?" His brother just shrugged and made sure they were right behind the human as Ratchet cleared desk space. Optimus and Prowl quietly drew their chairs up so that they were all now in a loose semi-circle and facing Ratchet.
This was all of them. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe would have preferred if it was just them, Shay, and the medic, but there was no question that the leader of the Autobots would be there. And Prime had requested that Prowl be aware as well. Shay had thought it a good idea even though the frontliner's had been wary at first.
Ratchet sighed before starting, "Now then. First, I have a way to break the empathy link, I think." He held up a servo for silence as the Twins started talking. "Wheeljack and I built an apparatus that should slowly weaken the link to the point where it can be broken without throwing Shay's systems into shock."
"Would it not be more logical to tell us what you have found and then the plan to deal with it?" Prowl questioned.
"No." The white and red mech snapped flatly, "How to fix the problem and then the problem itself." the others all exchanged looks, not sure why Ratchet wanted to do this the roundabout way. Huffily, the mech started again.
"Anyways, we have a device for Shay to keep on her person for several days. Again, that should break the link. How this began is actually pretty easy to understand. The spark chamber in a bot's chest is usually sealed. That holds in ninety-nine percent of the energy waves the spark gives off. A spark container does not."
Sideswipe interrupted, leaning forward as realization dawned, "So when we were in the spark container..."
"There was nothing to hide your energy signatures," The medic nodded gravely, "And nothing to block spark energy radiation. There has never been a need for it because other bots have armor and a sealed spark chamber. They wouldn't be affected. But a human-"
"Has none of those." A grim statement from the woman.
"Correct. The Twins reaching out and reacting to you sped up the process, but either way the empathy link would most likely still have formed."
Optimus rubbed his forehead, "I still don't understand. A human does not have a spark, so shouldn't the occurrence of a link be impossible?"
Ratchet grimaced, splaying his hands on the desk, "No. A spark isn't needed, energy is. All living things give off energy in one form or another. Even plant life, although that energy is incredibly low. Organic energy waves are vastly different depending on species and size. Cybertronian energy is complex but condensed into the spark. That is what a spark is, living energy. Their energy reacted to Shay's low level energy and altered it."
"Um... wow." Sideswipe muttered, trying to make sense of all that. The human and Sunstreaker glanced at each other, worry stretching between them as Ratchet continued.
"The device we made substitutes the Twin's energy, giving off high energy waves that match what Shay's are supposed to be like. That will hopefully change it back. There are some side affects from the empathy link that can't be changed however, and others that I am not sure about." He gestured at the woman's face, "At a cellular level, your eyes have become more efficient and turn pale at extreme emotions just like a Cybertronians. We discussed that before."
Prowl shifted a little in his chair, "You are saying that Shay's body is trying to mimic a Cybertronians?"
"In a way, yes." Ratchet explained, "And the nervous system in her brain seems to have expanded far past what is normal. Those new nerve fibers and synapses are connected to the emotion cortexes and muscular systems. I suspect they are what is allowing her to enter that berserker state."
"Because she's connected to us." Sunstreaker stated lowly, instead of making it a question even though the medbot treated it as such.
"Yes."
"Wait," Shay held up a hand, "What?"
Prowl calmly turned to her and explained, "Those with bonds are ferociously protective of the others in that bond. A berserker state is expected if one of those bonded were to be hurt or in danger."
"Although yours seems much more active than what is considered normal." An exasperated huff from the ambulance as he tapped a servo on the desk, "I don't know it it's because this is a link and not a bond, or if it's because you're human. Pit, it could just be your temperament! Either way, I'm unsure if that will stay or go after the link is broken. Your eyes will remain the way they are but that is something you can live with."
"And what about the things I can't live with?" She asked with trepidation as soon as a niggling doubt made itself present in her mind. Something was very very wrong. She could tell, the unease gathered beneath her skin. A wince that flickered and disappeared confirmed it.
Worry. Fear.
Was that the Twins or her? Maybe it was all of them. Sideswipe leaned forward again but this time lay his arms in front of Shay, just barely refraining from hugging her. "Ratch...?"
Sunstreaker shifted uneasily, cold blue optics narrowed. Holding up a servo, Optimus pinned the brothers with a look that told them to stay seated. Everyone silently turned to the medic.
Thousands of years worth of time seemed to press down on Ratchet's shoulders, weighing heavily and leaving a bitter grief to peak out from beneath the normal caustic and grouchy behavior. Wearily, the mech studied the desk instead of looking them in the optics. "You got sick several months ago because your body finished changing itself."
"However, the reason you continue to get sick when away from the twins is your body has become reliant on their energy. It takes less and less time for you to react to their loss because the link is strengthening. You were away for months and surviving. Badly, but coping. Then you and the twins continued to visit each other. The time between when they left and when you started to hurt shortened."
Shay didn't move, knowing he was right. She'd already noted the pattern but hadn't known what to make of it. Ratchet continued.
"From the scans yesterday, it was only seven and a half hours before pain signals and temperature fluctuations started."
"What does that mean?" Prowl questioned as the medic shuttered his optics before replying quietly. A deep vent.
"It means her body is reacting as if a bond mate or gestalt sibling were suddenly offline. Shay's body believes that the twin's energy is a part of her and when they are out of range it seems like that part is dead." He opened his optics to see the blood drain out of the woman's face.
"It's getting progressively worse as the link strengthens. But every time you get sick... your body is trying to shut itself down."
A roaring devoured the silence and filled her ears.
Shay didn't hear them calling her name, couldn't see the colored shapes of those around her as black spots danced in her vision and tried to swarm everything around. A cold sweat prickled the too warm skin at the nape of her neck. Numbness slithered up to paralyze her limbs. Everything felt distant all of a sudden. The woman's breathing was so loud in her ears. She couldn't hear anything else.
A servo wrapped around her, holding her close to a warm metal chest. Ratchet's office seemed to blur behind dark blotches. Too much movement.
Calm. Pleading. It's alright. Worry worry worry worry worry worry-
Blink.
Her vision cleared, still fuzzy around the edges as she felt her heart hammering away in her chest. They were in the Twin's room. Shay knew it like the back of her hand because half the time she fell asleep in here after playing video games with them instead of going back to her room. Shay didn't remember coming in here. When had that happened? Without the lights on it was quite dim.
"-ay? Shay, come on. It's okay, I promise." A begging tone.
The female blinked twice rapidly and looked up at Sideswipe. His face was hovering just above her, trying to get her attention by calling her name. Sunstreaker..., Shay twisted a little to see the tawny bot was holding her. He was seated on the floor of his room, keeping her in his lap with two servos. He stared down at her with barely hidden concern. And she couldn't seem to stop shaking, even though the human was pressed against the metal plates. When had they gotten to the Twin's quarters?
"What...?" She rasped, meaning to ask what had happened but unable as a soreness pervaded her throat. Bouts of relief flowed from the Twins as she spoke.
Sideswipe bit his bottom lip and explained, "You freaked out a little and, uh..we couldn't get you to calm down, so we came back here."
Struggling to get her hyperventilations under control, Shay pulled her knees up and wrapped quivery arms around them. Internally, the woman frantically searched to remember the time between Ratchet's office and here. Nothing. It had seemed like merely seconds between the two but even running, it took several minutes to get from one part of the Ark to the other. Had she really panicked so much that her mind had shut down? The blank space in her memories testified that yes, she had.
A whisper, as Shay was still a little out of it, "Don't... I don't remember that."
With slow movement, Sunstreaker's arms wrapped tighter and pinned her close. Dimly, the human wondered if it was so she didn't panic again and run. Not that she was in any state to do so or had any place to run too. The Twin's room was good. It felt safe. The human shivered as her breathing slowed to heavy gasps and the trembling stopped altogether. It seemed too hot and too cold, but she'd blame that on the adrenaline. Sideswipe gave a sad smile before messing up her hair with a careful finger. "Freaked us out a bit there. But it'll be okay! I promise-"
Knock knock
Anger. Protect.
Both frontliners hissed angrily at the door, armor immediately flaring wide. Whoever it was ignored their apparent dismissal and tried again. A heavier fist banged on the metal.
Pound pound pound
"I need to talk to you." Oh, it was Ratchet. That mech got points for being stubborn.
The Twins looked at each other, before Sunstreaker nodded. Sideswipe got up from where he knelt and palmed open the door. Instead of letting the medic in though, the red and black bot stood in the way and leaned on the door frame. Out in the hall, Ratchet sighed.
"Sides..."
Shay couldn't see the medic, or Sideswipe's face because his back was to her. But after a long moment the red warrior moved aside. Ratchet slowly walked in, leveling Sunstreaker and Shay with a tired look. Kneeling in Sideswipe's spot, the white and red mech pursed his lips before thinning them.
"Shay? May I speak with you for a moment? Alone that is." Identical rumbles disagreed. The woman could feel the vibration through Sunstreaker's chest. A glance upward to notice the gold mech was showing his denta. His twin wasn't much better, standing on their right with a tense and hard face.
Taking a deep breath, and shivering slightly as she let it out, Shay croaked, "Guys? I'm okay... just... just a little shocked. I wasn't expecting that."
Sunstreaker growled in objection and didn't loosen his hold on her at all. In fact, she was fairly certain her servos drew tighter, although his brother shifted uneasily. "You sure?"
"Let me talk to Ratchet."
"Five minutes." Finally agreeing, the bot holding her gently lifted the human to set her on her feet. Shay wobbled for a second before deciding to sit down cross-legged in front of Ratchet. The Twins traded looks with the human before turning to go wait in the hall. She winced at the loud stomps Sunstreaker let loose. Sideswipe gave one more worried glance. With an uneasy soft smile, he closed the door and left Shay and the medic in the room.
Shifting to sit on his aft instead of his knee plates, Ratchet admitted, "I'm honestly glad you understand how serious this is. I'd be extremely worried if you weren't scared."
A bitter chuckle as she rubbed her arms, "That really doesn't help. And... they won't be hurt by this, right?"
"Barely. I'm pretty sure they're only getting echoes, but nothing that will actually hurt them." He prodded her with a finger and rebuked gruffly, "Will you please stop worrying about them and pay more attention to your own health. They're fine."
"Alright." Her breath quivered, lungs shuddering at the reminder.
"Hey hey!" The medbot drew her closer, the warm air flowing from beneath his plating warming Shay's cold form, "Stop that right now woman. You've got a lot of audacity if you think you can just keel over on me. I do not give up on patients. Do you really think I'm going to let you just die?"
"N-no." The human mumbled, drawing her knees up again and ignoring the distressed expression sent her way. Shay's volume rose from a whisper, "But... I... Ratchet, I can't fight this!"
"If it's a con, I run. If it's a human threat, I fight. I can't do anything about this!" She gestured at her thin body, "I can't fight death!"
"Hrmph! That's my job." Ratchet leaned close and gave her a somber look, "And I will always admit that sometimes I lose, but this is not a losing battle. As long as you are around the Twins, you're fine. And Wheeljack and I are going to break the link so your body won't shut down any more, okay?"
She rubbed her eyes to find they were damp. When had she started crying? "Alright."
"Good." He straightened. Then spoke an afterthought, "That means I'm denying you the right to get a job in town. Prowl spoke to me about that earlier."
The woman laughed, "That's fine. I really don't feel like doing that now."
The door opened before they could get any farther. Sunstreaker stalked in first, immediately picking her up despite the light protests Shay made that she was fine. The frontliner stated flatly, "It's been five minutes."
Ratchet raised an optic ridge, unaware they'd had a time limit. Giving the wiggling human a cursory glance, Sideswipe walked in and left the door open. An invitation to leave. The ambulance stood, plating and gears creaking slightly. The medic was tired and his day wasn't even half over yet.
"Obviously she needs to stay close for now. 'Jack and I only have to do some finishing touches and we'll try to start this tomorrow if there's no objections." Silence as he sighed, "Prime canceled the rest of our meeting. There really wasn't much else to discuss anyways."
Sideswipe nodded a thank you and peered into his twin's arms where Shay was nestled. The woman hated crying in front of people. She wiped her face before crossing her own arms, "I did not cry." She scowled, eyes still puffy and slightly pink, "You tell anyone I did and I'll deny it and kill you later."
Relief.
A smile slipped across the yellow warrior's face, glad their human was back to her normal growly self. The red hellion laughed and clapped his servos together in exclamation.
"There's the love I was looking for!"
The medic snorted at the display before waving a stern hand at the human. "You. Go do something fun. Relax. Stress is not good for your systems."
Mouth gaping in surprise, Sides stared at the bot with glee, "Are you ordering us to have fun?!"
"NO! Her!" Ratchet flicked the frontliner's black helm as he passed by on the way to the door, "Not you two. Primus knows you both have enough fun as it is."
Sunstreaker gave a dark chuckle and suggested quietly, "Someone started a game of Calvin ball outside. Want to go watch?" He looked down at Shay.
The woman nodded and showed a shy smile. The Twins knew she needed a good distraction and giant metal aliens playing Calvin ball was extremely amusing. 'Don't think about the future,' She thought to herself as Ratchet left and Sideswipe started to drag them outside. 'Stay in the present and walk on like always.'
A quiet part inside lamented how things had changed. When did things stop making sense? It seemed like that tenuous hold on control she's gripped through everything was starting to slip farther and farther away.
.
.
Music: Ripple – Hundred Days Music
Sometimes I want nothing more than to meet my characters,... and then I realize most of them would try to kill me because of all the shit I put them through.
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