Author's Notes: I know this update came kind of quickly, but I was feeling super inspired to write this chapter. This chapter focuses on the ICN couple mostly. It's not very often I write pure beautiful romantic love. In fact, I'm pretty sure the last time I did was with Cosmos and Q-Boom in "Custody Battle". I might like this couple just as much or even better though. At one point when writing this chapter I did something I don't normally do when writing...I teared up a little. Don't put too much stock into that though. Maybe I just don't feel well. I dunno why, but I almost cried. Anyway, enough rambling. I hope you enjoy this chapter of "My Spark Still Shines" :)
Chapter 20
Tunnel of Love
Ratchet wasted no time after learning how to break the code of the processor blocks. He used computer simulations to replicate the process just to make sure it would work, and word spread quickly to the other Vehicons that soon they would get their old memories back and find out who they really were. Some looked forward to the revelations of their past, while others feared what the future might bring. VS-5000 was the most enthusiastic about getting his memories back, but ICN-994 thought it was all a waste of time. SS-PLX-04 and ICN-995 fell somewhere in the middle.
The main part of the base was filled with the familiar sound of guitar music that day as Miko played for an adoring audience of 3. Bulkhead was there grooving out as usual, and joining him was VS-5000 as well as 4. Miko ended on a crescendo of echoing chords, and all the mechs all cheered for the little rocker.
"What did you call that last song again?" 4 asked.
"It's a song from Slash Monkey called 'I Wanna Break Stuff'," Miko replied enthusiastically, "I don't know why, but it really speaks to me."
"Me too," Bulkhead agreed, "You get the recording, 4?"
"Sure did," 4 nodded contentedly, "This'll go great in my off-world playlist."
"You got some really cool tunes in that list," Miko commented approvingly, "I like the one that sounds like shrieking birds mixed with cow bells and tambourines."
"Oh yeah, the harvest dance music from Nebulon," 4 replied fondly, "It's good music, if you can stand the people. Those organics were a real pain in the struts."
"Didn't we kill them all?" VS-5000 asked casually.
"Yep," 4 replied nonchalantly, "Of course they would've killed each other eventually anyway. They knew how to wage war as well as any Cybertronian."
Bulkhead growled at the way they talked about organic life like it didn't matter. He didn't know who these Vehicons used to be, but at the moment all he could see was their Decepticon mindsets. He said nothing however, hoping that once they were back to themselves they wouldn't be so casual about death.
"Say Miko, can we do that thing again?" VS-5000 asked eagerly.
"What thing?" Miko replied obliviously.
"You know, the thing! The thing where we go in the ocean and attack the water?" VS-5000 elaborated.
"Oh, you mean swimming! Yeah, let's see if Raf can ground bridge us to the ocean!" Miko exclaimed excitedly, "Hey Bulk, you should invite Ironhide too. It can count as part of your therapy."
"I don't know, Miko," Bulkhead hesitated, "Do we have to bring them?"
"What's wrong with us?" 4 asked offendedly, "You don't wanna hang out with us just because we're Vehicons? Just remember that if you'd been captured this would be you right now."
"No, I mean, I was just thinking...Miko is so small. One of you might accidentally drown her or something," Bulkhead reasoned feebly.
"Like you wouldn't, boulder butt?" VS-5000 quipped, "Face it, you don't want us and our vile Vehicon ways to corrupt your precious human! Well you're not the only one that thinks Miko is awesome, and you need to get used to that!"
"Hey, come on! There's no reason to fight!" Miko tried to break up the argument between the Vehicons and Bulkhead, "We don't have to leave the base to have fun. We can play video games, or a card game. You guys like cards, right?"
"Well..." Bulkhead mulled it over, on the verge of concession.
"I like cards," VS-5000 muttered noncommittally.
"I guess we shouldn't drag Miko in on this," 4 added, "Look kid, I'm sorry we got all fired up. You gotta understand though that this bad energon goes back a long way. We've killed Autobots, and Autobots have killed us. Finding out there's no difference between us sounds great at first, but it can be a hard capsule to swallow after so many vorns of hate. Eh, enough depressing talk. Let me show you noobs how to play Kaon's Crossing."
The mechs all sat down and 4 dealt the cards. Miko had never played with cards the size of flat screen TVs before. She decided to think of it as playing with novelty cards. Of course hiding them from a cheater like VS-5000 wasn't going to be easy, so she sat close to Bulkhead and 4. After a few minutes of playing the tension was forgotten, and Miko silently hoped that it stayed that way.
Ratchet wanted ICN-995 to be the first Vehicon volunteer for the new procedure. Ratchet thought the miners' tough armor would make them better candidates for the operation since if something went wrong there would be less chance of physical damage. He was surprised however when ICN-995 showed up with his mate, INC-994.
"I only need one of you for the moment," Ratchet tried to explain.
"I'm not going without her," ICN-995 stated calmly.
"Yeah, you can do us both, right Doc?" ICN-994 asked, though it sounded more like an order.
"That is an unsafe idea," Ratchet replied firmly, "Trying to retrieve two memories at once could result in failure."
"Please try, Doctor," ICN-995 beseeched the old medic, "If I can't feel her spark when I'm under, I don't know if I'll be able to take it. PR-35 says that some of the memories will most likely be traumatic."
"And I certainly don't want to go through this without him," ICN-994 added resolutely.
Ratchet sighed in frustration. This was a complication he didn't count on and didn't need. Neither Vehicon seemed willing to budge on the issue however, and they were pretty much ganging up on him at this point.
"Fine, I'll try my best, but if something goes wrong you have only yourselves to blame," Ratchet relented.
ICN-994 and ICN-995 walked into the medbay together as Ratchet set up the work station. INC-995 pushed two berths together so that they could be close to one another during the operation. Ratchet watched as the two Vehicons climbed onto the berths and layed there holding onto each other's servos as a gesture of solidarity. He had never seen two beings so committed to each other, yet he was no longer surprised that such love came from two drones that had survived the pit together. He didn't know how they found each other, or even if they were mates before the change, but there was only one way to find out.
...Saline was brought forth by the Allspark for one purpose, to mine energon from tiny inaccessible crevices. Klunker was built from the Allspark for one purpose, to hack away and drill away at the rocks until they brought forth energon crystals.
They had known each other since they were sparklings. From the moment they could walk on their own and feed themselves they had been expected to work, and they would often work together since Saline's drill mode fit perfectly into Klunker's vehicle mode. Klunker was a big green mountain of a mech that loved to enjoy the simple pleasures of life such as refueling and chatting with friends. Saline was a dark grey and blue femme that dealt with scrap every day because she was short and looked nonthreatening even in her adult frame. This made her bitter toward most and hard to work with.
Klunker saw past her temper, though. He saw that Saline was a very nurturing femme that would nurse injured animals back to health in her spare time and loved to make her living space beautiful, even if it had no real reason to be. She was a perfectionist and a bossy nag, but she was also passionate and strong-willed. Klunker had always considered her a friend, but then one orn he realized that he considered her much more than that. The feeling was sudden, but it stayed rooted to his spark like a stalagmite. He was in love.
One orn Saline was drilling out a deposit of copper from the mountain. It wasn't their main source of income, but she would pull out any mineral she could get. Klunker approached her and she smiled up at him, assuming he was there for work as well. When he just stood there awkwardly though, she realized something was on his processor.
"Hey Klunker, you're gonna rust just standing there like that!" Saline shouted up at him, "The formech gave us a new quota. We need to mine 60 more tons if we're gonna make enough to stay on the payroll for this mine. Don't wanna have to transfer to another mine. Most of the ones outside Iacon have terrible safety regulations."
"Saline, I've been thinking about something for a while," Klunker said with the confidence of a mech that had been preparing for a long time, "We should get bonded."
Saline suddenly stopped drilling and inched her helm around to stare at Klunker in shock and befuddlement.
"Bonded? Where did that come from?" Saline asked in surprise, "We've never even been on a date before, you lugnut!"
"I know, but I love you," Klunker shrugged as if they were discussing which area to dig instead of their entire future, "We're good together, I love you, and I think you love me too. Why shouldn't we get bonded?"
"Klunker, that is the craziest thing you have ever said in your entire life," Saline stated slowly and flatly, but then with a growing smile she said, "I love it."
...Bulkhead was leaving. It was a moment of joy and a moment of sadness. Klunker and Saline prepared a small package of energon and tools for their son that he could use at his job working construction within the city limits of Iacon.
"Do you think he would notice if I hid in the box with his stuff?" Saline joked as Klunker added the last item before closing the lid.
"Now sweet spark, he's getting too old for you to watch his every move," Klunker laughed as he held out his hand for his mate to climb onto.
Saline hopped onto her spark mate's awaiting servo, and he lifted her up to his shoulder so she could ride there like she always did. She hugged his neck cables and picked away some of the rust that was falling into the crevices so he wouldn't get an infection. She was always doting on Klunker and Bulkhead, whereas Klunker had a more laid back style to life that allowed Bulkhead to explore and Saline to fuss about unimpeded.
"I'm going to miss him," Saline said in a rare moment of subdued sincerity, "But I know this is for the best. He did it, Klunk. He made it out of the mines and now he's going to spend his life in the sunshine."
"I know. He made it," Klunker smiled fondly, "I just hope our boy doesn't forget us when he's erecting mighty golden towers and hobnobbing with the beautiful people. It's a great orn to be alive, I tell you what."
"Do you think we packed enough energon?" Saline asked worriedly, "Maybe I should grab that other cube in our cupboard."
"That's our last cube, sweet spark," Klunker reminded her, "We need something for ourselves until payday. The mines have been pretty barren lately, you know."
"I know, but I worry about him," Saline lamented as she leaned into her bonded's face plate.
"Don't worry, Saline. He's going to do better than we ever did," Klunker reminded her, "You know laborers get paid a guaranteed wage. Not to mention living so close to the city means he doesn't spend as much fuel going to the store."
"Yeah, you're right," Saline nodded, "Thanks, Klunk."
...Everything in the city was burning. Iacon's inner city was burning, and soon the entire city-state would be consumed in flames. Klunker couldn't believe what he was seeing. Soon the Decepticons would be coming for them.
Many of the miners celebrated the arrival of the Decepticons. They believed Megatron's forces to be their saviors; their chance to join the cause of liberation. Klunker knew better though. He was old and completely covered in rust. His bond mate was old and ridiculously short. They would be considered useless to the Decepticons because they believed the strong should dominate the weak. He and his beloved were going to die for the unforgivable sin of being too imperfect.
He ran deep into the cavern where he remembered Saline was working that orn. There wasn't much time, and he had to find her before it was too late. He found her leaning next to the rock wall with her servo over her helm. It was clear she was still trying to comm Bulkhead. She stopped trying a moment later and looked up at her bonded with weary optics.
"Anything?" Klunker asked worriedly.
"No, Klunker. It's still just static," Saline bemoaned, "What if he was trapped in the fire? What if he tried to fight the Decepticons and was killed? What if he tries to come here? Our mechling is in danger!"
"We're in danger," Klunker reminded her, "Bulkhead is a tough mech. He will survive. He has your fighting spirit and my muscle, so what can possibly go wrong?"
"How long until they get here?" Saline asked in dread; speaking of the Decepticons.
"Another joor, tops," Klunker delivered the grim report, "Seekers are already flying over Iacon. They travel much faster than ground based mechs. They will probably claim the mine and use their drones to excavate it instead of us."
"I hate those drones," Saline spat, "They're so creepy with their unmoving visors and identical frames. Automation is killing us! Isn't this what that blowhard Megatron fought against in the first place? Talk about hypocrisy!"
They suddenly heard a quaking noise from off in the distance, and Klunker knew it was the first wave of troops landing outside the mine's entrance.
"Saline, there's no hope for me, but you can still get away," Klunker told her desperately, "Just drill a tiny pathway in the ground, and they'll never find you. Even if they find you they'll never be able to get to you. Go on now, dear! While there's still time!"
Saline stared up at Klunker with firm resolute optics, and then she walked up to him and hugged his leg.
"You think I'll really abandon you now, Klunk?" Saline asked softly, "I'm not going anywhere."
"You have to!" Klunker shouted, "You can still save yourself!"
"No, I can't," Saline replied ruefully, "Why save only half of me? Face it love, we're in the crossfire. The Decepticons will destroy everything until there is nothing left, and we're stuck in the middle. If we're going to die, then we should die together. Nothing will separate me from you, Klunker. Nothing."
When Saline looked back up at him with her bright blue optics, he saw something he thought he would never see from her; cleaning fluid. She was crying. She never cried. That was when Klunker knew it really was over.
He held out his servo for her to climb on, and she stepped onto his servo and then onto his shoulder like always. She held onto his neck cables and picked away the rust that had accumulated in the crevices. If Klunker closed his optics he could almost pretend it was just another orn, but he knew it wasn't.
"You shouldn't be comforting me, Saline," Klunker lamented, "I should be comforting you."
"You already are," Saline whispered as she layed down on his shoulder guard and stroked his frame lovingly.
He placed a servo gently on her back and sat down. They knew the Decepticons would find them soon and then they would probably be executed. He wished he could save her, but he knew she was too stubborn to leave his side. Nothing could separate them...not even death.
...The pain was intense through their spark bond. The Decepticons had taken Saline first, and Klunker could feel the pain she was experiencing through their bond. Whatever was in the room beyond him, it was killing her.
"Open this door you slag heaps!" Klunker roared as he banged on the door he had come through, "Stop it! You're killing her! I'll scrap every one of you if you don't get her out of there right now! Saline!"
The pain stopped after a few moments, and Klunker felt for her spark. Just then the conveyor belt thrust him into the room where Saline had been taken, and it was filled with mechanical arms and no space for a big mech like him to move around in. Worse yet, she wasn't in here. He kept searching for Saline's spark signature, and then the floor abruptly stopped.
Acid fell from the ceiling onto his frame, and he cried out in pain. Still he searched, and then he found it. The signature was faint, but he could still feel the spark of his bonded. His frame fell apart piece by piece, but even as his jaw melted away he smiled. They hadn't gotten to Saline. She still lived, and that was all that mattered to Klunker in that moment. He could still find comfort in their bond.
Then the arms came for his plating, and they grabbed for his processor and spark. Then the world went dark.
Ratchet revived ICN-995 from sedation first. He just hoped the procedure worked and that nothing had been damaged. He brought the Vehicon online, and the visor blinked briefly. Ratchet was worried, because last time that happened Bluestreak passed out. He hoped he hadn't damaged the drones in any way.
"ICN-995, are you functional?" Ratchet asked, "Do you think you can transform?"
"Uh...Saline..." ICN-995 groaned drowsily; barely online.
"Saline? Is that someone you knew on Cybertron?" Ratchet asked hopefully.
"My mate. Her," ICN-995 explained as he held his mate's servo tighter, "Her name is Saline, and my name is Klunker. We were mine workers...outside of Iacon."
"Klunker, do you remember if you have any other relatives?" Ratchet asked, "Maybe we can find them."
"No need, sir," Klunker replied knowingly, "My son is already here. Bulkhead is our only creation, and he is already here."
Ratchet's optics went wide as saucers upon hearing that. Bulkhead's parents? First they find his son and then they find Bulkhead's parents? It seemed too good to be true.
ICN-994 woke up with a start, and ICN-995 held onto her to keep her calm.
"Holy pit! Was that real?" ICN-994 asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it was real...Saline," Klunker told her lovingly, "We know our names now. We're real again, my love."
"Oh, Klunker!" Saline exclaimed emotionally as she grabbed onto her bond mate's chassis and wrapped him in a tight hug, "We did it. We stayed together. Oh pit, I remember what it felt like to interface now! These Vehicon bodies suck."
Klunker and Ratchet both laughed, Ratchet laughing mostly out of relief for saving his patients and Klunker laughing because he understood her pain. Once again the operation to save Vehicons' minds was successful, and Ratchet couldn't wait to reintroduce Bulkhead to his parents.
When Ratchet and the ICN couple made it to the main room they saw Bulkhead playing cards with Miko, Jack, Raf, VS-5000, 4, and Ironhide. They appeared to be playing for candy, and Raf appeared to be winning most of the pot.
"Those are some tiny cards," Klunker commented.
"We're playing Uno," VS-5000 explained, "Raf is really good at this game, and I'm pretty sure he's cheating."
"I'm not cheating!" Ran replied defensively for what sounded like the hundredth time, "I told you, I just know when to play wild cards and when not to. You always play them right away, and there's no strategy in that."
"But wild cards are the fun part!" VS-5000 whined, "I mean, if you had Megatron's fusion cannon would you not fire it?"
"Um, I'm going to go with yes," Raf replied hesitantly.
"Enough with the card game!" Ratchet shouted; no longer able to take the suspense, "Bulkhead, there's something really important I need to tell you."
"Oh for pit's sake, I'm doing my exercises, Ratchet!" Bulkhead groaned impatiently, "I don't even see how those are supposed to help anyway."
"Yeah, and what's with the reduced energon rations?" Ironhide added grumpily, "We got injured by touchin' tox-en, not by eatin' it!"
Ratchet huffed in annoyance at the two overgrown sparklings complaining about their physical therapy. He wondered how two mechs that were so old could be so immature.
"No, Bulkhead. I wasn't going to talk about that," Ratchet tried again, his voice strained from irritation, "We found out who these two Vehicons are, and I think you might be interested."
"Oh yeah? Anyone we know?" Bulkhead asked, his curiosity piqued now.
"Oh I don't know, do you happen to know...your parents?" Ratchet asked cheekily, now grinning from audial to audial.
Bulkhead's jaw dropped and his optics widened in temporary shock.
"My...My what now?" Bulkhead asked; not quite believing what he was hearing.
"You mean Bulk's parents are alive?" Miko asked more coherently than her big green friend, "Woohoo! Bulkhead, they're alive! They're alive! Well say something, Bulk!"
"I like this one," Saline commented quietly to Klunker, "She's lively."
"Carrier? Sire? Is Ratchet telling the truth? Is it really you?" Bulkhead asked uncertainly.
"When you were 6 vorns old you were bitten by a scraplet," Saline told him to prove she was his carrier, "Your sire killed it with an industrial drill and I used the plating from it to make a laser proof casing for your chassis."
"I remember, it itched like the pit," Bulkhead muttered as he subconsciously scratched his chest, "Wait, Carrier! It is you!"
Bulkhead struggled to stand up and then slowly shuffled over to where his Vehicon parents were standing. He embraced them both in a hug, and they both hugged him back. None of them knew what the future held, but for that moment life was good and it seemed like it was going to keep getting even better.