Shelter
3
Mess.
Master's .
Two other mechs following Master, same frame type, individual sparks, some sort of a quantum bond between them.
Terror and disdain on their faces as they see him. One of them coming closer.
Warmth.
Some sort of liquid that melts the ice on and around his frozen hip joints. Still very cold, but movable.
Master is angry! Angrier than he could remember seeing him!
Sounds of disgust from the strangers; the frozen metal of his damaged frame shrieking its protest as he crawls to Master's feet. Master's hand coming!
Confusion.
Master?
Another Master! One of the strangers is now a Master!
Master leaves with the other one!
Master!
Master?
4
"Mech, you are in a mess," the marauder murmured. "Can you talk?"
The half-frozen robot just stared at him with frightened blue optics. He kept his gaze on his new master ever since his ownership had been transferred, only wasting a blink at the campsite dug under the snow dunes. But he didn't fight when they dragged him down there, which both white and chrome marauders approved of.
"Can you at least answer yes or no? Do you hear me?"
He nodded.
"Good. Stay here, and don't touch anything for the next joor. We will either be back by then, or we will be dead, in which case Click or Cog will pick you up tomorrow. Wish us luck, we really need that ship."
Again, he nodded.
"Good."
He waited, staring at the organic-looking matter on the walls, listening to the distant howls of the coming storm. He wished he could at least rub his own broken frame, but he didn't dare to go against the prohibition. So he just waited quietly. Whatever would happen to him, he had nothing to do but let it happen.
From somewhere in the back of his mind, the word 'hope' was echoing, although he had long ago forgotten what it meant.
The two chrome mechs returned just before the joor was over. Both looked cold and tired, but also cheerful. They both consumed energon, then the other mech (not the one to whom his ownership code was transferred) sat down next to him, and helped him lift up his head so that he could also refuel.
"Mech, Leader was right. You're in a mess. Worry not, most wounds heal quite well without a doctor. Just refuel."
He blinked at his new master (so, Leader was his name?) - and since the master didn't seem to oppose him being fed by a stranger, he opened his mouth and hungrily gulped down the good-quality fuel.
"Shh, not so fast. You'll choke on it."
He tried to restrain himself, but the sight of an entire cube so close to his intakes was too tempting for any threat to suppress. He took a second, even bigger gulp, then a third – and then, indeed, he started choking, and the chrome stranger took the cube away.
"I told you. How long has he been keeping you? Since the Final Peace was officially declared, more or less?"
A slightly more reassured nod.
"Okay. No need to try and catch up on all those three vorns in this one klik. Ready for a second try?"
A hungry nod.
"Good. I'm Shine, by the way. Leader is my older brother. We're co-molded. Both of us have been more or less where you are now. So… yes, expect we have an idea of what's going on in your mind, even when you think you're alone in it. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?
The chrome one had to forcibly remove the cube from the mouth of the slowly thawing mech.
"I repeat. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
That gesture could be taken as 'partially'.
"Just relax, then. We're safe here. Arduria sucks energy out of anything, but azergo fur keeps us safe from this effect. Not as good directly against the cold, however. If you want, you can curl up next to me. Leader is not much of a cuddle-lover," Shine laughed. "This cube is half empty. Do you think your servos are strong enough to hold it? All right, all right! No need to make it lighter by drinking all of it so quickly. I'll help you hold it. When have you last fueled properly?"
Only the loud drinking was the reply, interrupted by occasional coughing.
"Why do you ask when you know the answer?" Leader asked his co-molded. "Three vorns and two quartexes ago."
The mech looked his new master in the optics, and nodded. The empty cube then fell from his hand, and soon he dropped his frame onto the strange material on the floor.
Shine curled up around him so that he could keep the mech warm and safe.