When the blast wave hit, There was a moment in time when everything seemed to stop. Bright light consumed all in its wake. There was violence in that pure white light as it reached out in all directions, leaving a scarlet afterglow and flung outwards, consuming everything but curiously, leaving no damage. Every Cybertronian it passed through dropped with abrupt finality. In seconds, it was all over.

Twitch opened her optics; she couldn't focus on anything at first. Nearby, behind a large rock, Thrash stirred.

"Thrash? Thrash! Are you ok?"

Twitch cried squeakily, dragging herself over to where he lay. Only one of her optics worked; she couldn't see the other. Thrash pushed himself up, looking around. Despite the violence that had just occurred, the waning crescent moon hung peacefully overhead, like a distant sentinel, in the night sky.

Nearby, the Malto family had awoken, too, climbing up to look for their Cybertronian family members. The broken weapon remained eerily crimson as its glow began ebbing away. It was like a giant scar rising from the earth, a death spire that touched the sky, piercing into the heart of darkness.

No one spoke; there were no words to describe what had happened. Nor were there any words to describe the sight before them. Alex was the first to approach; Dot stayed a distance away, Robbie and Mo behind her, too scared to look out as their dad came, his dying former friend... A man whose body was so unrecognizable as human in his quest to become like his enemy: Machine-like.

Alex said nothing as he closed the distance between himself and the collapsed, broken form of Mandroid. It was clear that he was still alive, albeit barely. Dot was worried; she moved closer, scared of what could happen to Alex.

"... Meridian..."

It was tragic to see what had become of the brilliant scientist. Alex recalled his friend and could barely associate his memory with the wretched, mechanical creature he had become. Mandroid's viewing window was shattered and broken; his life-giving Energon was so depleted that he no longer glowed. He couldn't move much but was in terrible agony. Alex felt his eyes stinging; tears fell, although his face was set. He knelt to be at eye level with the only part of Mandroid he recognized. Curiously, Mandroid seemed to be purring but was as far from contented as was possible. He was dying. He was in so much shock that his purring was probably happening autonomously. Alex heard a constant dripping from the destroyed mechanical part of Mandroid's body. He was bleeding out Energon, hydraulic fluid, and whatever corrupt form of blood was keeping his organic elements alive.

Mandroid's face was barely human anymore. His once stunningly handsome features and long, dark, thick hair were almost nearly gone, wasted away in an unnatural state. Alex was not so quickly put off. He looked at his friend and remembered him as he was. Alex reached out as Mandroid weakly looked at him. He was almost afraid to touch him but too consumed with emotion not to. Reaching through the broken window of the mech, Alex placed his hand on his friend's face, but Mandroid barely responded. His neck was mechanical and organic, but he had lost too much hydraulic pressure to retain the ability to move. Alex wasn't expecting Mandroid to be like a human anymore, yet his skin was warm. Alex was glad he couldn't see inside much; it was pretty dark. Alex didn't want to imagine what sort of twisted form lurked within in place of a body.

"Meridian, it's me...Alex. I'm here."

Alex was startled when he felt Meridian try to move. He jumped back, but it was apparent that the fallen, crippled creature before him was not going anywhere. Alex saw one of his organic hands moving; it looked like it was reaching toward him, but it was too weak to raise itself off the ground. Both Mandroid's organic arms were completely covered in tumors, probably from the heat they had been rapidly exposed to.

Alex felt a knot form in his stomach when he heard Mandroid struggling to stop himself from reacting to the pain. Even in all the years he'd known him, he'd never known the man ever to cry, not once, except for now. This was difficult for him to see.

"It didn't have to be this way. I wish you'd reached out to me, man. You bastard... Why.. Why didn't you just fucking reach out to me."

Alex felt his anger surfacing at the helplessness of the situation. He wanted Mandroid's suffering to end as he watched those huge claws weakly raking at the ground. His mechanical arms and hands did not move at all.

Twitch and Thrash approached, along with Dottie and the kids. The feeling of remorse was palpable. Even Meridian was questioning himself as he lay there in his blood, paralyzed and in agony.

"Alex... I'm sorry.." Mandroid announced flatly, resignation permeating his every word, his voice wracked with strain.

Alex's gaze met Meridian'. The two of them just looked at each other. Alex was more frightened of seeing him die than Mandroid was of letting it happen.

"You're still my best friend, Alex. Please stay...Everything hurts."

Mandroid whined imploringly. Gone was the confidence and snide. He sounded more like his former self. His voice echoed eerily in the now relatively empty cavity where his head and spine were fused. Alex was so distressed by the state of him. It was upsetting to see what had become of the man.

"I'm not going anywhere. It's. It's just like a bad hangover, remember? We had so many of those... You'll be fine. You'll be alright, man.."

Mandroid laughed; even as much pain as he was in, Alex always made him laugh.

Alex was stammering, often leaning away so Mandroid couldn't see him crying. He grabbed at the organic arm by its wrist. He wasn't expecting it to be as heavy as it was, nor was he expecting the skin to feel warm, human-like, and smooth. Mandroid's clawed hands were massive and spider-like. His wrist looked undamaged, so Alex gripped him there, squeezing reassuringly. He wasn't expecting to feel a pulse. Could this monstrous thing have a heart? Alex broke down as he felt how strong it was, how human.

Twitch and Thrash could barely watch... As they contemplated what had become of their kind, they now had to watch even more of the same misery within their family. Twitch rubbed at her arm, feeling helpless. She recalled the first time she had met Mandroid, how almost harmless he had once appeared to be. She remembered how she tried to reach out to him. The whole situation was just so sad to her. Despite what he'd done, she had no room for hatred. All she felt was pity.

"Heh..Hhhhh...Alex..."

Alex forced himself not to react in a panic, but his body heaved from the strain of his trying to stifle his sobbing. He heard the sound of Mandroid's intakes shutting down and felt the giant organic arm stiffen. The clawed fingers curled inwards for the last time before relaxing completely. Mandroid's head still lay against what remained of the window, he looked like he could be sleeping. His pulse rapidly sped up for several moments before weakening and stopping. Alex heard the last of Mandroid's mechanics whirring down to silence. Alex scrambled to his feet, looking at his former friend's twisted and broken body.

He felt Dot's hand slip into his, feeling her squeeze. Robbie and Mo stood with Twitch and Thrash, looking away after a long moment. Dot looked at what Mandroid had become, recalling the last time she'd spoken to him. He seemed even likable once. He was better off dead than enduring this tortuous existence he'd made for himself.

Alex felt the weight of loss heaving upon him, heavier than the silence. He turned to Dot, hugging her hard. He grieved for the friend he'd lost but felt relief that at least this way, he was no longer suffering. Finally, he could know some actual peace.