As time flew by and I could feel myself deteriorating. I hadn't had food or water in so long that my stomach stopped growling and my throat quit aching, it just remained dry. I couldn't squirm or fight anymore, so the men just had their fun while I lay there. Everything was so cold; I felt like I was in a vacuum, I couldn't breath, and couldn't move. Darkness was falling outside; the moon's light could barely filter through the grimy window. Coughing weakly I stared up at the ceiling, exhaustion making my thoughts fuzzy and yet I still couldn't sleep.
Car lights dimly lit up the window. The rumbling engines were practically shaking the windows. A knock sounded on the door downstairs, my father's voice snarling as he answered. A calm voice said something back, but my father's raised in crescendo until I could make out what he was saying.
"-Don't know who the fuck you are, but you'd better leave the premises right fucking now!" That calm voice echoed again, soft, but stern.
"We are looking for a young female by the name of Autumn Mondschein." The voice sounded as if he comanded respect, and I knew my father wasn't giving it.
"Yeah? Who wants ta know?" I turned my head and rested it against the bloody pole. Fire lanced up my side with my every breath, making it hard to concentrate on what was going on down stairs. I could hear a sound of a voice, they were worried. My father's screemed at them to get out, but I could hear foot falls clomping up the stairs. The door to the room I was in reverberated with the force of the being behind it. Fear raced through my heart, adrenaline coursed through my veins like ice, but I knew I couldn't do anything against these people. I was to weak.
The door reverberated again before something slamed it off the hinges. The tall brute from the hospital stomped in, his heavy boots clomping on the floor, thick dark charcoal black hair standing up in spikes. Those rolling muscles clenched in anger, his neon blue eyes locked on me. I flinched at the look, quickly averting my gaze and shaking in terror because of what I just knew was to come. I could hear my father yell out in agony as he crashed into something.
Those heavy duty boots clomped towards me, my heart beat faster, terror racing through me. Oh no, please, have mercy! I wanted to scream, but it wouldn't come out. I knew that terror was written all over my face, but there was nothing I could do about it. He reached toward me and suddenly I could hear the sound of clanking chains snapping in half. The shackles from my wrists fell to the floor uselessly. He moved behind me and broke the ones on my ankles. Strong burly arms slid under my body, lifting me easily. I flinched at the close contact, blood rushing in my ears. A familiar mop of blue gray hair entered my view. Blue stood on the stairs, his wide neon blue eyes filled with anger and disgust. I could feel my heart clench and suddenly shatter within my chest. As the brute took me down the stairs and toward the others I could hear a very creative cursing to my left.
"Slagging glitched out mother board! Frag it all to the pit and back!" Looking towards the source of the cursing, I found Ryan storming toward me.
"Iro-Jason, put her in the back of my hummer." He snarled. For a second I didn't comprehend the slip up, my eyes narrowed weakly as I was carried away. The beating heart under all the muscle was surprisingly calming to my nerves, as I rested my head against the thick corded chest of 'Jason'. I didn't know this man, but I somehow got the feeling that he would protect me.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the beating heart of the gruff man that carried me. I felt myself being placed down on a cot, before being covered with a soft and very warm blanket. Looking around I found myself in the back of an ambulance. I looked up into the man's neon blue eyes, they held a hardened look to them and yet when I stared into them I could see a kind of hidden kindness. He turned probably intending to leave, but I lashed out and grabbed his wrist. It was a weak hold, one he could no doubt break easily. He glanced back at me and slowly sat down beside me, I lessened my grip and let my head fall back with a thump.
My breaths were shallow and painful. A large hand brushed my bangs from my face, a gruff voice I didn't recognise spoke up. Opening my eyes I looked at the man feeling comforted for some strange reason.
"We'll get ya back to base youngling. You'll be safe there." I closed my eyes and let myself succumb to the dark void.
XXX
When I awoke again I found myself on a medical bed in an isolated room. Of course. I despised hospitals, but I couldn't blame the man for taking me to one. They did save me, so I would try not to be too spiteful. The man, Ryan, entered the room suddenly. His deep blue eyes were intense.
"I've got good news and bad news for you Miss. Mondschein." I grimaced wanting to tell him to call me just 'Autumn', but... well I couldn't, so I just nodded for him to continue.
"The good news is that a majority of your injuries will heal. I also have discerned the exact problem to your vocal processor. Fortunately for you, I can repair that damage." My deep brown eyes widened. I would be able to speak! Wait he said bad news too... please don't tell me there's a draw back! I want to sing, to speak again; to hear my own voice after so many years. The sound of a heavy sigh had me looking up at his irridescent blue eyes. I swallowed nervously as he grabbed a rolling chair from the desk in the room. Straddeling it, he folded his arms on the back and drilled his eyes into mine.
"The trauma you have sustened was substantial... I am very sorry to say that you will probably never be able to bear children." I could feel my heart grow heavy at the thought. Nodding to Ryan I looked down and closed my eyes. A soft sigh filtered from my nostrils as I tried to forget the men's faces. Their laughter, and the pain. At least I will never be able to bring a child into this world. I don't want them to suffer the same things that I have. I'll be sparing another soul. It would be one less innocent person who would endure what I had suffered. The door clicked softly, and when I looked up I found myself alone in the room.
XXX
Ryan was off getting his supplies ready as I sat on the opperation table. After this opperation and the two week healing period, I would finally be able to speak! At least that's what Dr. Achet told me. I swallowed nervously as Ryan entered the room. He was silent as he placed his tools down with a clang, a flinch wracked my body. A pole holdng two different bags of fluids were placed beside my bed. He grabbed my arm and gently pushed the IV into the vien in my hand after swabbing it with an alcohol pad. Taping it down he hooked the two bags to a single tube and connected them to the IV in hand.
"This drip contains H2O to keep you hidrated along with a narcotic to knock you out." I nodded, already feeling the drowsiness from the drug. The world around spun in a sea of colors, a vortex of light. Hands grabbed me as I toppeled off the bed, weightlessness settled over me and then everything went dark.
Ratchet's POV
The drug worked surprisingly well. It was one of my own concoctions. The femmeling had fallen off of the bed. Her muscles no longer responding as the drug paralyzed her and began to put her under. Picking her up before she could hit the floor, I placed her on the bed and got her settled into a comfortable position.
My holoform's optics narrowed at the thin scar on her neck. My scans have told me that at one point in her life cycle someone had slit her throat. They had failed to offline her, but they managed to slice an important part of her vocal processor. This had effectitively rendered her mute. The door opened and Optimus walked in, his holoform's optics filled with concern.
"How is she?" He rumbled. Glancing at him I picked up a scalpal and gently made an incision in the femme's throat.
"She's fine. Stable physically, but emotionally..." Optimus nodded in understanding. It was left unsaid, but he understood what was being said. "Emotionally, she is exceedingly fragile." I forced my focus off of Optimus and onto the femme as I gently opened her throat, the old slice in her vocal processor was quite obvious. Taking the split ends of the vocal cords, I gently pulled them back together and held them in that position. Reaching over towards the table I grabbed a small vial of nanites.
"Here, make yourself useful and open this." Optimus took the vial from my servo and opened it. Taking it back from him I tilted it and poured the transparent buit still silvery liquid over her vocal cords. My keen optics could see the microscopic nanites immediately getting to work. The vocal cords beneath my fingers slowly reatached themselves together, only when they were held together enough did I retract my hand. Tilting the nanites again, poured them over the open flesh of her throat, her skin immediately began to pull back together. Strands of it flicking out and reaching to the other side, inching the sliced flesh closer together. Within a few moments a red line remained where the open flesh had once been.
"You are sure this will work Ratchet?" Optimus questioned from my side. I heaved a sigh and nodded.
"Yes, I am quite certain. Within a week she will be speaking again." Optimus left my side and walked out of the make shift human med bay. I scanned her once more to make sure she was stable, nodding to myself I attached a small little device to her index finger. The device would send me results of her vitals every thirty minutes or so, and if there was a drastic change it would let me know immediatly. I cleaned up my supplies and took the narcotic out of the IV, although I made sure that the H2O remained, and left her to rest.
Bluestreak POV
I couldn't help but to notice how fragile she was, her frame was so tiny and frail. Ratchet said she was suffering from malnourishment, dehydration, and severe signs of both neglect and abuse. Anger swelled up in my spark at that. I usually try to refrain from being aggressive, but something about this small human femme brought out my protective side. If only my brothers Smokescreen and Prowl were here, they would be able to give me advice. I curled my holoform's digits gently around her small fleshy servo; making sure to mind the IV in her energon line.
It disgusted me to remember what that mech, who dared to have the neuro receptors to call himself her creator, had done to her. The image of her tied up once again flashed through my processor, the whole scene as vivid as if I were still there.
Driving up to the run down house I had passed earlier I pulled to a stop at the curb. The others drove up behind me and parked along the street strategically. All of us activated our holoform's and had them step out. Optimus walked to stand by my shoulder and look at the beige run down home unit.
"And you are sure, Bluestreak, that this is where you picked up young Autumn's bio signature?" I simply nodded to my leader.
"Yeah, I'm sure this is where I picked it up. Although when I drove past I heard odd noises and could pick up on odd chemical substances. I wonder what's going on." I said quietly, trying not to ramble. Stepping over the curb my holoform walked up to the door. Brushing my gray-blue hair from my optics I rapped on the door. A mech answered, and let me tell you he was not what I was expecting. I thought caretakers were supposed to take better care of their home... and themselves. The mech before me was haggard; with unkempt facial fur, oily fur a top his head, and a rancid smell that coated his frame. It was the scent of high grade, unmistakable no matter from where it was made. Before I could speak Optimus moved to my side and spoke calmly to the mech.
"Good afternoon. May we come in?" The mech's lips curled toward Optimus and he snarled loudly.
"I don't know who the fuck you are, but you better leave the premises now!" Despite the mech's tone and words, Prime remained calm.
"We are looking for a young female by the name of Autumn Mondschein," The mech turned silent, almost contemplative.
"Yeah, who wants ta know?" The man bit out in a growl. Ironhide suddenly leaned foward, his optics narrowing.
"You reek of fresh energon." Suddenly he slammed past the man, who shreiked shrilly at us to get out. Ironhide's heavy boots thumped across the rotting wood of the floor boards as he made his way quickly to the stairs. I wondered how he knew where to go, but when I looked down I realized why. Human energon coated the floor in crusted trails. Nausea swept through my real form, my holoform no doubt turning a greenish tone.
We walked down a hall, the mech down stairs yelling and screaming at Optimus and Jazz. Ratchet and I walked side by side as we followed behind Ironhide. I had no idea why he wasn't with Optimus seeing as he was his body guard, but I had a pretty good idea. Ironhide was a caretaker, guardian, and a protector to those that needed protecting and help. So no doubt the blood and stench of fear in the air trigured his protocols. I halted in the middle of the hall, there at the end of the coridor stood a locked door. At the foot of the chained door was the end of the energon trail.
Anger burned through me when I scanned the fresh energon there and found the bio signals to match exatly to Autumn's. Ironhide walked forward and silently broke the chains on the door, grabbing the handle he jiggled it. The whole door frame shook, but didn't open. I saw his neon blue eyes narrow dangerously; pressing his huge shoulder to the door and shoving, the door still didn't budge. A snarl left his lips, an animalistic look appeared on his holform's face. Backing up, he lifted his left leg and thrust it forward. The whole entire door flew inward, splinters of wood flying everywhere, the hinges coming loose and shattering.
When I looked into the room I felt myself go numb with the shear disgust and anger in my gaze. There in the middle of that room sat Autumn, wearing absolutely nothing; with her shredded under garments lying on the floor nearby. Blood caked her legs, whip marks lashing deeply into her flesh. Bruises covered her from helm to pede, but the worst part was the broken, listless, and forlorn look in her optics. It made my spark clench. I kept my gaze on her as Ironhide stormed in and snapped all of the chains, sliding his arms under her he picked her up and moved out the door.
"Slagging glitched out mother board! Frag it all to the pit and back!" I looked towards the source of the yelling to see Ratchet stalking over.
"Iro-Jason, put her in the back of my hummer." His voice was a low snarl. I winced at the tones of it, but looking upon my femme I could sympethise with Ratchet. Wait... my femme? As Ironhide clommped down the stairs with her I was left with Ratchet. We were both silent, anger seeping in the air around us. Glancing at each other we nodded. That mech would pay.
Walking down the stairs I moved ahead of Ratchet and before either Optimus or Jazz could grab me I back handed the human mech. His whole frame spun and slammed into the glass cabinets. Storming over to him I grabbed his shirt and pulled him up, bringing back my holoform's arm I slugged him right across the face. I dropped him to the floor and kicked him in the ribs, a sickening crack could be heard. Suddenly iron arms locked around mine and when I looked up I found Optimus looking at me with a dissapointed expression, Jazz drug me out the door. I could hear Ratchet snort disdainfully to the mech before following us out into the late afternoon sunshine.
I shook myself from the memory loop and looked down upon the fragile sleeping frame. Reaching forward, I hesitantly shifted her soft black bangs away from her face. I couldn't resist running my holoform's hands through her silky charcoal fur, it was just so soft. A sleepy sigh left her frame making me go still. Looking down at her I waited a couple of seconds, when she didn't wake I gently contiued the stroking of her cranial fur. My eyes were drawn to her features and for the first time I took in the full lips, pale skin, thick full lashes, and overly thin frame. The sound of her sparkbeat was like music to my sensitive holoform's audio receptors. Why does she make my spark jump like that? I was confused as to why my spark sputtered and raced around her. I had known her for only a short time span, and yet there was something about her that drew me in.
Sighing, I leaned forward and tentively touched her cheek. Tracing my digits down her slim jaw I touched her throat. My eyes narrowed at the faint slash there, that wasn't from Ratchet. A growl made its way up through my chassis unbiden. Primus... this femme is making me tempermental. Suddenly her optics flashed open. I couldn't avert my gaze from her own, her brown orbs held my own fast.
XXX
I was startled awake to the feeling of gentle hands running through my hair. A soft sigh escaped my lips sleepily at the sensation. It was a feeling that I missed greatly. A soft touch gently stroked my cheek, I stayed perfectly still, content to be petted and touched. It was a feeling of gentleness, and love. It was something I had craved and missed for many a year. The soft touch moved to my throat, a growl permeated the air. I couldn't take it anymore. That growl... it brought back a lot of memories I didn't want, and couldn't stand having.
My eyes flashed open and I stared into the startled iridescent blue eyes of the man who had found me twice now. Found me and saved me. His gray-blue hair hung in his face, so silky and with the faintest glimmer of silver in it. I suddenly wanted to touch his hair, but I held myself back. The spell was broken once I blinked. Looking up at him, I watched him lean back and smile softly to me.
"I'm glad you finally woke up. I was beginninng to think you never would." Slowly I tried to sit up, my arms shook and gave out. Strong slipped under my arm pits, before lifting me carefully. Suddenly I was sitting up, propped against a lot of very soft pillows. Blue was still hovering over me, lurking like some cat who had spotted a feeble but fat and juicy mouse. I couldn't help but cring away from him, and my taped up, but still broken ribs shot a lot of fresh pain through my torso.
"Hey careful, careful. You have to be careful. You're awake now, but you still have a lot of damage to deal with. Don't try to move around a whole lot. I can see that you're scared of me for some reason, but you don't need to be. I would never hurt you. You've been hurt more than enough already, and I really wish it hadn't happened. Are you feeling any better?" He asked me while sounding worried.
I nodded my head as a soft blush swept across my features, I wasn't used to being touched... not by friendly or loving touches anyways. I was sure that he had good intentions, but I couldn't help but to be tense and wary.
"I'm so sorry you got stuck with that mech, is he the reason I found you in the woods? Cause if it is, I'll go back and personally offline him for you! I slagged him up pretty good for you too!" I blinked in confusion, his word usuage was odd, but I got the basic meaning. I nodded to tell him it was. I knew I probably couldn't talk yet, but my throat was very itchy. I only got itchy when I was healing. A faint smile pulled at my lips as I leaned back into Bluestreak.
"Oh! while you were in recharge, we got some legal stuff worked out! So now you can stay here on base! Isn't that great!" Wow!I can see that he's easily excitable. I found though, that as he continued to talk I actually relaxed a bit. His idle chatter was surprisingly quite soothing. I closed my eyes and leaned close to him. I was close enough that I could hear his heart thumping calmly despite his excited tones. A soft humming permeated the air around us as those gentle hands siftedstarted sifting through my hair. Sighing contentedly, I fell alseep.