CHAPTER 2: AN ACTUAL SPACE ODYSSEY

Now certain they were truly on their own and that no one was coming after them, the femme pressed a button on the console, engaging the autopilot with an easy flick of her finger. Jeopardy blinked in surprise. "So that's what that button does," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he watched her leave the cockpit and sit at the viewport, staring into the vastness of space.

Sensing an opportunity to finally break the tension, Jeopardy approached her with a diplomatic air. "Hey, thanks for flying us out of there. We'd never have gotten off the ground if you hadn't shown up."

To his surprise, she jolted at the sound of his voice, as if snapped out of a deep daydream. Her wide optics blinked rapidly before slowly returning to normal as she processed his words. "Uh, um… you're welcome," she stammered, her tone uncertain.

Jeopardy tilted his head slightly, confused by her reaction. "Are you alright?"

She nodded quickly, though her movements were tense. "Just… having trouble adjusting. It's been a while since I've left Cybertron." He wasn't sure if that was the full truth

Jeopardy nodded, understanding. "I've never left the planet myself, let alone Kalis. Feels... strange." Strange didn't even begin to describe it. Kalis was the only place he'd ever known, but it was also a city that had rejected him for who he was. It was the only home he'd ever known, but he'd watched it slowly crumble into a warzone. It felt like finally leaving that crummy first apartment.

There was an awkward pause before she broke the silence, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "So, uh… do you know where to go?"

Jeopardy sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Nope, Prime's message was simple: leave the planet. So for now, no clear direction, no backup." He glanced at her, offering a faint smile. "Looks like it's gonna be just us for the time being."

She seemed to tense at his words, her optics darting around the cabin as if seeing it in a new light. "Right… just us… just me and… you, and him… me and the two of you… oh..."

Jeopardy frowned, noticing her growing discomfort. "Is something wrong?"

Her response was abrupt. "I'm gonna go look for somewhere to get some rest, preferably that way," she said quickly, pointing down a hallway that led away from the common area.

Before she left, Jeopardy spoke up again. "Oh, before you go, I'm Jeopardy. The one with the mangled leg is Hermit Crab."

She paused, briefly glancing back over her shoulder. "Stormsurge," she said curtly before hurrying down the hall and out of sight.

Jeopardy watched her go, his optics narrowing in thought. Something about Stormsurge felt… off. But for now, they had bigger problems to deal with, starting with Hermit Crab's still broken leg.

Jeopardy moved over to Hermit Crab, who was still adjusting to the reality of his damaged leg. "Let's see about getting your leg fixed up," Jeopardy said, gently helping him over to a nearby table and helped with laying him down. "I'm gonna check if there's any other medical equipment on board. Something tells me what I packed in a rush won't cut it."

Hermit sighed, nodding as he settled back on the table. "I'd appreciate that. And... I think we both know something's off with her."

Jeopardy glanced down the hallway, knowing exactly who he meant. "She just escaped the Doormat of Hell, Hermit. I don't blame her for needing to reboot mentally."

"Sure, but isn't it odd she doesn't have an insignia?" Hermit replied, his voice lowering into a conspiratorial tone. "As in, no faction? At all?"

Jeopardy raised an optic ridge. "Could've just fallen off during the fighting."

"Or," Hermit continued, his latent paranoia showing through, "maybe she pulled it off to make us think she's friendly, but she's really a Decepticon in disguise."

"You are so paranoid," Jeopardy said with a half-smile, shaking his head.

"Just keep it in mind," Hermit pressed. "Six thousand stellar cycles of nonstop war, and somehow she's neutral? I doubt it."

"Oh yeah, definitely," Jeopardy sarcastically replied, rolling his optics as he turned to search for supplies.

He walked down the hall, the ship eerily quiet save for the hum of its engines. As he approached a junction, he noticed Stormsurge standing in a doorway, staring into an empty room, unmoving.

Jeopardy slowed, deciding to give her space, though he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling growing in his spark. He soon found the storage closet, grabbing some spare medical equipment and turning to head back. But before leaving, he hesitated. Stormsurge hadn't moved. He cleared his throat, deciding to speak.

"Hey, I noticed you were injured. I can patch you up once I'm done with Hermit," he offered, keeping his tone gentle.

Stormsurge flinched at his voice, as if startled by his presence. She turned toward him, her expression momentarily confused before she seemed to snap back to reality. "Oh... yeah, that would be nice," she murmured, her voice distant. "Uh, thank you."

Jeopardy nodded and left her alone, returning to Hermit. As he set up his tools and began the delicate work of repairing Hermit's damaged leg, Hermit spoke again.

"So, how does someone from Kalis's warrior class get into medicine?" Hermit asked, trying to distract himself from the discomfort and genuinely curious about the seeming paradox.

Jeopardy smirked slightly as he worked, adjusting some wiring. "Guess I was spawned with a different spark," he said, his hands steady. "Plus, I got lucky with a good teacher along the way. Why do you ask?"

Hermit tilted his head, curious. "The commander kept calling you a 'warrior,' and none of them ever seemed the type to trade their rifle for a scalpel."

Jeopardy chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'm certainly an anomaly." He focused back on the leg, carefully aligning the servos. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, I was thinking," Hermit said after a pause, "I might've been too quick to judge Stormsurge as a spy. After all, we've literally JUST met her."

Jeopardy nodded, though he kept his eyes on the task. "I think she's just recovering from something... serious."

"Yeah," Hermit said thoughtfully, "I don't know what happened to her, but whatever it was must've been messed up."

"Primus willing," Jeopardy said, finishing a delicate weld on the leg's frame, "by the time we land, she'll be more proactive in conversation. Maybe we'll get to know the real her."

Jeopardy continued working on Hermit Crab's leg, losing track of time in the void of space. After what felt like megacycles of nonstop effort, he managed to get the leg into a state of basic functionality. "I can't replace the casing yet," he said, wiping some residue off his tools, "but it should work for standing and walking. Try it out."

Hermit swung his leg over the edge of the table, slowly placing his foot on the floor. He hesitated, testing the weight on the newly repaired limb. He pushed down cautiously and then stood up fully, taking a small step. He stumbled slightly as he reacclimated to walking after so long in one position, but overall, the leg held firm.

"Everything feel good?" Jeopardy asked, watching Hermit's balance carefully.

"Yeah, all good, doc," Hermit said, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he took another step, more confident this time.

"Great," Jeopardy said, standing up. "Then I'll go check on Stormsurge." He turned and left the room, heading back down the corridor to find the femme.

He found her where he'd last seen her, now sitting inside the room rather than standing in the doorway. Jeopardy tapped the doorframe lightly to announce his presence. "Hey, Stormsurge, I'm done with Hermit Crab. You want me to do those repairs now?"

Stormsurge seemed to jolt slightly at his voice, her response timid. "Uh, sure."

Jeopardy stepped into the room, sitting down nearby on the bench she was on as he inspected the cuts along her arms and lower abdomen. "How are you feeling?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

"It's getting better," she responded, her tone distant.

"What's getting better?" Jeopardy pressed gently.

"The... you know," she mumbled, clearly uncomfortable. "Just... a lot to process. I'd rather not get into it right now."

"Completely understandable," Jeopardy nodded, respecting her boundaries. He moved a little closer to begin assessing her injuries, but as soon as he did, she moved slightly away from him, her body tense. He paused. "I think I can just weld the skin back into place," he explained, pulling out his welding tool. "These cuts are superficial. As for the dents, I don't have the right tools for those. But hopefully they should go away over time." He activated the welding device, the soft hum filling the space.

Stormsurge recoiled at the sight of the tool, her optics widening.

"It's just a bit of heat," Jeopardy assured her. "Enough to fuse the skin back together, but it won't hurt." He reached out for her arm, but she pulled back instinctively.

"Stormsurge, is something wrong?" Jeopardy asked, his tone gentle.

"Uh..."

"Are you scared of medics?"

"No."

"Are you scared of me?" Jeopardy pressed, noting the hesitation in her body language.

"A... a bit," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I-I'm sorry."

Jeopardy's optics softened. "Is it because I'm from Kalis's warrior caste?"

"N-no, uh, maybe," she stammered, avoiding eye contact. It was then Jeopardy noticed the Kalisian caste rune on her neck: Artist class.

"Why are you scared of me, then?" he asked, carefully keeping his tone neutral.

Stormsurge shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not scared of you specifically, but... um... uh..."

Jeopardy paused, thinking of how best to ease her discomfort. "What would make you more comfortable with me repairing you?"

She looked uncertain, glancing around the room. "Less optic contact?" she suggested hesitantly.

Jeopardy thought for a moment and then offered, "How about this: you reach out your arm, and you can look away. There's a viewport over there. Just look out at the stars and let me work."

Stormsurge hesitated, clearly torn between her fear and the need for the repairs. "I don't know..." she said quietly, her optics still fixed on him.

"It's okay," Jeopardy reassured her. "I only want to help. Just look away. Out of sight, out of mind, right?"

"Right. Out of sight, out of mind," she murmured, slowly turning her head toward the viewport. Her body gradually relaxed as she extended her arm toward Jeopardy.

Jeopardy took her arm gently and began his work, "you're doing great, by the way," he applauded, the welding tool emitting soft sparks as he fused her cuts closed. Even though Stormsurge had turned away, she kept glancing at him from the corner of her optic, warily watching to ensure he was doing what he said he would.

Jeopardy noticed but didn't comment, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. "Just a few more cycles and I should be done," he said quietly, focusing on the last of her superficial wounds.

Stormsurge nodded but said nothing, her gaze locked on the distant stars outside the viewport.

The atmosphere was still tense, but he hoped to break through that with some conversation. "So... artist class, huh? That's pretty lucky," he said, trying to create a connection.

Stormsurge let out a small sigh. "Right now, it doesn't feel like it. You seem like you had it easier."

Jeopardy snorted softly as he worked. "Everyone in Kalis got messed up by the war, some of us are just better at pushing it down." He finished welding the last of her cuts. "Can I tell you something crazy?"

Stormsurge glanced at him, curious. "Sure."

"You're the first femme I've talked to in 5,000 stellar cycles."

Her optics widened in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

"No, I'm serious."

"What happened to the other femmes in Kalis?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Jeopardy's expression darkened slightly. "A shorter list would be what didn't kill them. And even before the war, I didn't exactly have much luck, you know?" Jeopardy finished his work on Stormsurge's arm, then moved on to the wounds on her lower abdomen.

"Why's… oh," Stormsurge paused, understanding dawning on her. "Cause you're a medic and you aren't suppo… oh."

"Yep," Jeopardy said, his tone resigned. "Being an outcast sucks."

Stormsurge's face softened, guilt creeping into her voice. "I feel like such a hypocrite. I've never liked Kalis's caste system, yet here I am judging you based on something you had no control over."

Jeopardy smiled faintly, appreciating her reflection. "Apology accepted. I appreciate your open-mindedness."

"I never thought it made sense," Stormsurge continued, her voice becoming more animated. "A caste system is like the antithesis of artistic expression and freedom."

Jeopardy nodded, respecting her passion. "Yeah, it crushes a lot of potential."

Stormsurge looked down, realizing she'd gotten lost in their conversation. "How long are these repairs going to take?"

Jeopardy chuckled, leaning back slightly. "Oh, I finished a while ago."

Her optics widened again. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were opening up," Jeopardy said with a soft smile. "Why would I stop that?"

Stormsurge blinked, then smiled back. "That... I guess that makes sense." She looked over her newly repaired arm, flexing it experimentally.

"You can just wash off the burns. Did I do good?" Jeopardy asked, watching her reaction closely.

"I like it," Stormsurge said, a genuine warmth in her voice. "Thank you."

Jeopardy shrugged, a small grin forming. "Just doing my job."

"Hey, guys, you're going to want to come see this!" Hermit yelled from the cockpit, his voice carrying a note of urgency. Jeopardy and Stormsurge exchanged a glance before hurrying into the common area.

"What is it, Hermit?" Jeopardy asked as they entered.

"See for yourself," Hermit said, pointing to the view through the cockpit's front window.

Jeopardy and Stormsurge stepped forward, their optics widening at the sight. Outside, far in the distance but unmistakable, was a massive, metallic object: a planet-sized donut. It was an enormous ring, suspended in the void of space, shimmering faintly with a strange, otherworldly glow.

"Is that... a planet?" Jeopardy asked, bewildered.

"Looks the right size," Hermit responded, though even he sounded unsure.

"I've seen a lot of planets," Stormsurge chimed in, her optics fixed on the ring. "None of them are that shape."

"Truly a one-in-a-quadrillion phenomenon, a stable toroidal planet. You only ever read about this at the Academy." Hermit added, his voice carrying a mix of awe and curiosity.

Jeopardy's gaze lingered on the bizarre structure. "Should we try landing on it?"

Stormsurge's hand twitched toward the controls. "I would like to get outside," she admitted, her tone uncharacteristically eager. "It feels cramped in here."

"How is it cramped? There's only three of us," Hermit said, raising a brow.

Jeopardy smirked. "I'm with Stormsurge on this one. You can take us down," he said, nodding toward the cockpit's controls. "If we're lucky, we might find someone who's friendly."

Stormsurge didn't need any more convincing. She slid into the pilot's seat, her fingers brushing over the console as she guided the ship toward the massive ring-shaped planet. The strange object grew larger and more defined as they approached, its surface a maze of intricate metallic patterns, vast expanses of silvery plains, and towering structures that formed part of the ring's colossal circumference.

As they descended, the ship trembled slightly, adjusting to the gravitational pull of the planet. Stormsurge's hands were steady as she maneuvered the ship into position, bringing them closer to a landing point.

Stormsurge was the first out of the ship the moment they landed, eager to get out of the ship as she put distance between herself and the others. She gazed at the strange landscape around her, thoroughly confused. The ground was metallic like Cybertron, but instead of sleek buildings or mechanical cities, it was littered with mounds, walls, and even towering mountains of trash and discarded junk.

"What the hell is this place?" she muttered, her optics sweeping over the horizon.

Hermit Crab stepped cautiously out of the ship, joining her and squinting at the terrain. "I think I remember hearing about this place in university: Junkion, the galaxy's trashbin."

"Still doesn't explain why it's shaped like a donut," Jeopardy said as he came up behind them, his optics scanning the bizarre landscape.

Hermit fiddled with a handheld radar device, only for it to flicker and malfunction. "Agh, something here is messing with my radar, everything's scrambled."

Jeopardy glanced over. "So we do this the old-fashioned way. Let's all stick together and make sure we can find our way back to the ship," he asserted, though his gaze lingered on the ominous piles of junk in the distance.

Hermit backed away slightly, shaking his head. "Woah, I am not going out there. For all we know, there could be hostile actors on this ring."

"I mean, it looks pretty barren." Jeopardy tried to rationalize.
"Still, I'm staying on the ship." Hermit insisted, not even getting on the exit ramp.

Jeopardy shrugged, turning to Stormsurge. "Guess it's just me and you then."

Stormsurge hesitated, maintaining a bit of distance from Jeopardy but nodding reluctantly. "I suppose walking with you wouldn't be the worst thing I could do."

Jeopardy smirked and started forward, casting a glance back at Hermit. "Do you know if something lives here?"

Hermit paused, thinking for a moment. "Junkion was part of the Cybertronian Federation last I recall, so yeah, there should be people here… theoretically."

"Theoretically?" Jeopardy asked, perplexed by the choice of words.
"Have you ever seen a Junkian? Me neither, so either they don't exist or they're too underdeveloped to maintain contact with Cybertron."

Jeopardy nodded, intrigued by the idea. "Come on, Stormsurge, let's see if we can find these Junkians." He began walking toward the nearest rise of scrap, his frame tense but focused.

Stormsurge followed behind, her optics shifting warily as she scanned the horizon for any sign of life, or danger. She reasoned that traveling with Jeopardy wouldn't be entirely dangerous, at least not for now. Besides, if something went wrong, she had a whole planet of junk and debris to disappear into. For now, though, sticking together seemed like the safest course of action.

They moved cautiously through the heaps of scrap, the atmosphere thick with the hum of unknown machinery and the distant creaking of rusted metal.

As they walked through the maze of scrap, Jeopardy decided to bring up something that had confused him. "Did you lose your insignia?"

Stormsurge looked at him, equally confused. "What?"

"You don't have an insignia. Did you lose it, or…?"

"I never had one," she replied flatly.

Jeopardy furrowed his brow. "How is that possible?"

Stormsurge glanced away, her tone evasive. "I never really engaged with the War. I mostly just hid."

Jeopardy's optics widened in surprise. "How did you manage that?"

"It's... uh... a long story," she said, clearly unwilling to elaborate.

Jeopardy let out a low, thoughtful hum. "Well, I still envy you. I wish I could've sidestepped 6,000 stellar cycles of watching my home slowly die."

Stormsurge cast a sidelong glance at him, her curiosity piqued by the weight in his voice.

"When it all started," Jeopardy continued, his voice growing more distant, "I was with my mentor, First Aid. We tried to turn his hospital into a neutral zone. A place where neither side had to fight. It worked for a while... until the aristocracy dragged Kalis into the Autobot cause out of pragmatism. The hospital became an army hospital, and we got drafted." His tone grew bitter, the memories clearly still fresh.

Stormsurge's voice softened. "What happened to First Aid?"

Jeopardy stopped walking, his frame stiffening as he stared down at the ground. For a long moment, he said nothing, the silence stretching between them. Then, in a voice that barely carried over the wind, he muttered, "...he didn't last long."

Stormsurge's optics flickered, unsure how to respond. She could feel the weight of his grief, even though he kept his tone even. "I'm sorry," she said, and she meant it.

Jeopardy gave a small nod but didn't look up. "Yeah... but with wounds like that there wasn't anything I could have done anyways, right?" He tried to convince himself of it, but his voice betrayed the pain and regret he couldn't fully suppress.

Stormsurge walked beside him in silence, sensing that there were no words that could fully address the depth of loss he carried. The sound of their footsteps crunching over scrap was the only thing that filled the void between them.

As they crested the ridge of junk, Jeopardy and Stormsurge heard a high-pitched PING, followed by a blinding flash from the top of a nearby garbage mound. Then came a bloodcurdling scream of pain, echoing through the junk-strewn landscape. The sound instantly drew their attention, pulling them toward the source.

Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath their feet, and from over the trash heap appeared a large, green, bulky Cybertronian, bolting away from whatever chaos had just erupted. "RUN, FRAGGING RUN!" he screamed, his optics wide with terror. Without breaking stride, he transformed into a bulky armored vehicle and sped off in the opposite direction.

Jeopardy and Stormsurge barely had time to react before a massive horde of angry Junkians stormed over the ridge, charging toward them with fierce intent. Without a word, both Jeopardy and Stormsurge exchanged a quick glance and transformed, their alt-modes roaring to life as they raced after the green stranger. The three of them sped across the metallic wasteland, weaving through piles of discarded junk and avoiding the enraged mob hot on their trail.

They reached the ship just in time. The three bots transformed back into their normal modes, rushing onboard with only moments to spare. The green stranger slammed the door shut manually, sealing them inside as the angry Junkians pounded on the exterior.

Hermit, who had been waiting near the entryway, looked completely bewildered. "What's going on? What did you do? And who is THAT?!"

Stormsurge didn't wait for an answer. She sprinted to the cockpit, pulling the ship up and away from Junkion as fast as possible, engines flaring as the vessel ascended. They cleared the atmosphere in seconds, leaving the chaos behind.

"Woo, that was a rush!" the green Cybertronian exclaimed, clearly exhilarated. "Hey, thanks for the ride, guys! Been a while since I got into a ship that actually worked."

Hermit stared at him, still processing the whirlwind of events. "What the hell was that?"

The stranger grinned, completely unfazed. "Junkians."

Hermit groaned, rolling his optics. "We know that, but what did you do to make them so angry?"

The green bot shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I was hanging out with their leader, Wreck-Gar, and we found this flash grenade in a pile of garbage. So we started playing catch with it, y'know, for fun. Totally unexpected, but the thing just went off when I tossed it to Wreck-Gar. Next thing I know, his crew thinks I'm attacking him, and they chased me straight into your ship."

Hermit's optics narrowed in disbelief. "You were playing catch... with a flash grenade?"

The stranger nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! We thought it was a dud." He stuck out a hand, smiling. "Name's Impulse, by the way."

Hermit stared at the hand for a moment before sighing. "Of course it is…"

Impulse's optics widened with excitement as he noticed Jeopardy's caste rune. "Hey, another soldier! Bring it in, bro!" Without warning, Impulse pulled Jeopardy into a bear hug, his massive arms squeezing tightly.

"Ugh, you're crushing my spinal column," Jeopardy groaned, trying to free himself from Impulse's iron grip.

Impulse quickly let him go, grinning sheepishly. "Oh, sorry, dude. Guess not everyone's ready for a Praxan Grapple." He stepped back, giving Jeopardy some space. "You ever been to Praxus?"

"No," Jeopardy replied, straightening his posture and rubbing his neck.

Impulse's smile widened. "Oh, you should. Party capital of Cybertron! I'll take you on a tour after the War. I was born there so I know it like the back of my hand. Hey speaking of going somewhere, where's this rig going?"

Jeopardy exchanged a look with Stormsurge and Hermit. "We didn't really have a plan."

Impulse clapped his hands together. "Alright, I'm down for whatever. So what's going on with you guys? You probably got some great stories being out here all by yourselves."

The trio exchanged awkward glances but didn't say anything. The truth was, they hadn't really done anything worth telling.

Impulse, seemingly oblivious to their silence, continued with his boundless energy. "Well, now we've got the chance to make some stories! Hey, where's the energon tap? I'm so thirsty I could drink a whole reservoir."

Hermit, still somewhat dazed by the whirlwind that was Impulse, pointed toward a compartment on the right. "Over there."

"Thanks, bro!" Impulse shot off toward the tap, eagerly refueling.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Stormsurge broke the silence. "So… he's a bit much."

Jeopardy sighed. "Well, we can't just get rid of him."

"I'd prefer if he wasn't talking a megaklik a cycle," Hermit grumbled, shaking his head.

Jeopardy shrugged. "It's probably just the excitement talking. Once we've been flying for a while, I'm sure he'll calm down."

Hermit Crab gave him a skeptical look. "Primus, I hope so."

True to Jeopardy's assumption, after a while longer floating through space, Impulse began to wind down. His boundless energy gradually tapered off, and he fell into a pattern of staring out the window, fiddling with a datapad, and repeatedly transforming his hand into a flat-tipped jackhammer and back again. His fidgeting seemed almost meditative, as if his overactive mind was trying to settle.

After a stretch of silence, Impulse broke the quiet. "Hey, what do you guys do when you're bored?" he asked, glancing around the room. He noticed Hermit at a nearby table, focused on welding something. Intrigued, Impulse wandered over. "What'cha making?"

Hermit didn't look up. "Casing for my leg."

Impulse's optics widened as if just remembering. "Ooh yeah, you got a busted leg."

Hermit let out an irritated sigh. "I didn't need a reminder."

Impulse raised his hands defensively. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that. Besides, I think it's kinda sick, like a battle scar. I myself have several." He turned to show off his own frame, pointing to the various healed-over dents and marks that covered his torso. "See this one?" He tapped a sharp dent in his shoulder. "Got shot by a Vehicon sniper. Then Bluestreak knocked his head off!"

Hermit raised an optic ridge, glancing at the damage. "Good for you," he muttered, clearly more focused on his project than on swapping war stories.

Impulse was undeterred. "So, how'd you get your battle mark?" he asked, nodding toward Hermit's leg.

"Insecticon," Hermit replied, not really wanting to revisit the memory.

Impulse grinned, clearly impressed. "That is sick as hell. I remember my squad was fighting with the Elite Guard around Tesarus. I saw Ultra Magnus rip an Insecticon Lieutenant clean in half!"

Hermit paused his welding, giving Impulse a look. "Sounds... very graphic."

"Oh, it was," Impulse said with relish, "but SO cool. Hey, you ever make guns? I need a new one."

Hermit sighed, his patience thinning. "Perhaps if you let me work, I can start that side project quicker."

Impulse chuckled, backing off with his hands raised in surrender. "Oh alright, I get it. Science types need their space and all that. I'll leave you to it."

With that, Impulse wandered off again, leaving Hermit to focus on his work in peace, though the sound of him humming to himself could still be heard in the background.

Wandering through the ship, Impulse eventually made his way into the cockpit, where Stormsurge was trying to find some solitude as she piloted. She barely acknowledged him as he entered, clearly hoping to be left alone.

"Hey," Impulse said, his usual energy slightly more subdued.

"Hey," Stormsurge replied, her voice neutral.

"Didn't catch your name," Impulse continued.

"Stormsurge," she answered, her hands steady on the controls.

"That is a cool name."

"Thanks?" she said, not sure how to respond.

A long silence stretched between them, the hum of the ship's engines the only sound. Then, as if he couldn't take the quiet anymore, Impulse broke it. "Hey, I don't want you thinking I'm one of those bots who'll hit on anyone with soft lips. I just wanna be friends. I ain't looking for a relationship."

Stormsurge blinked, clearly caught off guard by the comment. "Uh... thanks?"

"So, what's your story?" Impulse asked, his tone genuinely curious.

Stormsurge stiffened slightly. "I'd rather not get into it."

Impulse paused for a moment. "Ok..." The silence returned, but it didn't last long. "Wanna play a game?"

"Um…"

"I'll go first," he said, ignoring her hesitation. "Ok, I spy with my little optic something white." He stared out the viewport, clearly eyeing the stars.

Stormsurge closed her optics for a brief second, trying to rein in herself and stave off the anxiety Impulse was producing in her. "Impulse."

"Yeah?"

"Please leave me alone."

Impulse blinked, then nodded slowly, a rare moment of self-awareness crossing his face. "Alright," he said softly before retreating from the cockpit, finally giving Stormsurge the solitude she had been craving.

Impulse found Jeopardy lingering in the common area and pulled him aside, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration. "Is it just me, or is everyone here really cranky?" he asked, his usual energy subdued.

Jeopardy raised an optic ridge. "We're all just on a different wavelength."

Impulse frowned. "So how do I get them to like me? If I'm gonna be traveling with you guys, I at least wanna be friends."

Jeopardy sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Well, first, you need to go slower with them. You can't just go up to Stormsurge and start asking personal questions."

"Why not?" Impulse asked, genuinely confused.

"Because she's been through hell. We all have," Jeopardy explained. "She and Hermit have trouble opening up, so small talk isn't going to get you anywhere. You gotta be patient."

Impulse, confused, asked, "So what? I just leave them alone? That doesn't sound right."

"It's not about leaving them alone," Jeopardy clarified. "It's about giving them space. If Stormsurge wants to talk, she'll do it on her own terms. And Hermit, he'll be more open once he's done with his project. For now, just back off a bit. They'll come around."

Impulse mulled it over before nodding. "Alright, I get it... kinda. What about you? You look like you're free."

Jeopardy chuckled. "Yeah, I've got nothing to do for now."

Impulse's face brightened. "Some soldier-on-soldier bonding time, I'm in!"

Jeopardy shook his head with a small smile. "I'm not really a warrior anymore, but we can figure something out."

Impulse grinned, already rifling through a compartment. "I think I got something we can do." He pulled out a large, solid ball of metal, its surface scuffed and dented from use. "You ever done lobbing?"

Jeopardy looked at the ball, unfamiliar. "No…"

Impulse beamed. "Favorite pastime of the Autobot Army! Well, at least MY favorite pastime. Me and Warpath used to do this any chance we got. Oh man I miss Warpath, you gotta meet him someday." Without warning, he lobbed the ball at Jeopardy.

Jeopardy caught it with a heavy thud, groaning slightly under the weight. "Ugh, that is heavy."

Impulse laughed. "You'll get used to it. Come on, throw it back!"

Jeopardy, adjusting his stance, tossed the ball back with all the effort he could muster. The ball landed firmly in Impulse's arms.

"There you go!" Impulse cheered, tossing the ball back to Jeopardy, continuing the game with renewed energy.

As they lobbed the ball back and forth, Jeopardy couldn't help but chuckle at the simplicity of it, the activity giving them a rare moment of lightness in the vast, heavy silence of space.

After a while of lobbing the heavy metal ball between them, Jeopardy started to feel the strain in his arms, while Impulse showed no signs of slowing down. Jeopardy caught the ball one last time and sat down, fatigue setting in.

"Oh, come on, man! I'm having fun!" Impulse protested, bouncing on his feet.

"Dude, you've got way too much energy," Jeopardy groaned. "I need a nap."

Impulse's optics lit up as if he'd just had an epiphany. "I know what to do for that!" He rushed off, and after a bit of rummaging around, he returned with an excited grin. "Hey, this ship has stasis pods!"

Jeopardy raised an optic ridge. "It's been a long time since I've had proper sleep."

"Exactly!" Impulse said, then poked his head into another room. "Hey, Hermit! Me and Jeopardy are gonna go into stasis. You wanna join us?!"

Hermit glanced up from his work, almost finished with the casing for his leg. "Almost done here, then I will."

"Alright!" Impulse nodded eagerly. "I'll go ask Storm." He began moving toward the cockpit, but Jeopardy stood up, waving him off.

"I'll do it. She's more comfortable around me."

Impulse gave him a teasing look. "Ooo, I get what you're saying, wink wink," he said, giving an exaggerated wink.

Jeopardy groaned. "It's not like that," he insisted, brushing off Impulse's playful insinuation.

Making his way to the cockpit, Jeopardy found Stormsurge at the controls. "Hey, me and the others are going to pass some time in stasis. You coming?"

Stormsurge glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening. "Just let me put the ship into autopilot. I'll be there in a minute."

"Alright," Jeopardy nodded, walking off. He found the stasis pods, with Impulse already inside one, looking completely at ease.

Hermit, adjusting the final pieces on his leg, glanced at the pods with some hesitation. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Jeopardy leaned against his pod, shrugging. "Better than getting bored floating through space for Primus knows how long."

Hermit nodded slowly, his apprehension fading. "Guess that makes sense. See you on the other side." He stepped into his stasis pod, the door sealing shut with a hiss.

Jeopardy followed suit, settling into his own pod. As the door closed, he let out a sigh, hoping that when he woke up, they'd be somewhere, anywhere, they could finally land.

Stormsurge finished setting the ship on autopilot in the cockpit, then made her way into the ship's stasis pod chambers. There were two rooms, each equipped with three pods. As she entered one of the rooms, she found Jeopardy, Hermit Crab, and Impulse already inside their pods, peacefully in stasis. She paused, stepping closer and peeking into the transparent capsules. It felt strange to observe her quiet, sleeping companions.

Her optics drifted to Impulse first. Of course, even in stasis, he wore that dumb grin, looking carefree as always. Hermit's expression was neutral, revealing nothing. Then, she glanced into Jeopardy's pod. He was smiling softly. Not the forced grin of someone trying to brush off pain, but a genuine, hopeful smile, one that seemed to carry warmth and quiet resolve beneath the surface. Something about it stirred an unexpected feeling in her, making her want to smile as well.

Stormsurge opened the transparent capsule across the room and lay down inside. The fit was snug, just enough space for one bot, a design clearly meant for efficiency and functionality, not comfort. The longer she lay in the pod, staring at the interior, the more she became acutely aware of the confined space. At first, she tried to reason with herself, it was just a pod, and she'd only be in stasis for a short while. It wouldn't even feel like she'd been there for long. But as she activated the pod, the capsule began to seal shut, enclosing her.

Her chest tightened. A sudden, heavy thudding echoed in her spark, beating faster. Her breathing quickened, optics darting around in the cramped space. Her legs twitched, her arms felt pinned down, and the air around her seemed to press in, suffocating her. The anxiety that had been simmering beneath the surface boiled into full-fledged terror.

She gasped, pressing her hands against the pod's door. "No, I don't want this. I want to get out!" she yelled, her voice strained as panic gripped her. Her pulse raced, thoughts spiraling as she became overwhelmed by the sense that the walls of the pod were closing in, trapping her in a tiny, airless coffin.

"LET ME OUT!" she shrieked, slamming her hands against the glass. With a final burst of adrenaline, she managed to force the pod open, stumbling out and collapsing onto the floor. Gasping for air, she gripped her chest, scrambling to her feet before bolting down the hall, rushing into the common area.

Stormsurge slumped against a wall, her body shaking as she struggled to catch her breath. Every part of her trembled with fear, the tightness in her chest refusing to relent.

"Stormsurge, what happened?" a voice called, snapping her from her spiraling thoughts. She looked up, her optics wide with panic, and saw Jeopardy standing over her.

Instinctively, she crawled back, a small scream escaping her. Her mind was still racing, still seeing the walls of the pod closing in.

"Stormsurge, it's just me. What happened?" Jeopardy asked again, kneeling to her level. His tone was calm, gentle.

She couldn't respond. Words failed her as she clutched her chest, trying to regulate her breathing.

"Storm, it's just me," Jeopardy reassured her, his voice steady. "You're not in danger. Deep breaths, okay? Breathe with me."

Jeopardy took slow, deep breaths, setting a pace for her to follow. Gradually, Stormsurge began to mimic his breathing, her rapid gasps slowing. The fear that had clung to her started to fade, and her racing spark finally began to steady. Little by little, the weight of panic lifted, replaced by exhaustion and relief.

"How do you feel now?" Jeopardy asked, his tone still calm and soothing.

"Better..." Stormsurge replied, her voice shaky but more controlled.

Jeopardy nodded, thinking for a moment. "How about I ask you some questions, and you can just answer yes or no? We'll keep it simple, alright?"

"Alright..."

"Okay," Jeopardy began gently, keeping his voice steady. "Is the stasis pod what caused this?"

Stormsurge nodded.

"Are you claustrophobic?"

Another nod.

"Did you know this would happen?"

She shook her head.

"Has this type of thing happened before?"

Stormsurge paused, thinking for a moment, then shook her head again.

"Alright, so it's a recent development. Is this because of something that happened to you recently?"

This time, Stormsurge didn't respond. She didn't shake her head or nod, just stared at the floor, clearly uncomfortable with the question.

"Is this a difficult subject?" Jeopardy asked softly.

She nodded, her optics still downcast.

"Then I won't prod anymore." Jeopardy gave her a small smile. "Let's move on. You wanna try sleeping in the common area?"

"Yeah," she said quietly, sounding more sure of herself now.

"Alright, we can set something up for you. Trust me, I know from personal experience, sleeping on the ground is horrible." Jeopardy stood and walked over to one of the chairs in the common area, looking it over. "Maybe these chairs can go flat," he theorized, fiddling with the buttons on the armrest.

He pressed one button, and to his surprise, the chair suddenly folded forward, awkwardly shoving his upper body down. "AGH, OH PRIMUS!" Jeopardy groaned, quickly hitting another button in a panic. This time, the chair jerked backward and went flat, causing him to slam awkwardly down onto it, sprawled out.

Stormsurge, watching the whole spectacle, couldn't help but giggle.

"Oh, you like that? That funny to you?" Jeopardy said, looking up at her from the chair, feigning annoyance but unable to suppress a smirk.

"Hehehe, yeah," Stormsurge giggled, the tension from earlier fading as she covered her mouth, trying to contain her laughter.

"Oh yeah, very funny," Jeopardy said sarcastically, sitting up and getting off the chair, but there was a lightness in his voice. He was glad to see her smile finally.

Shadows crept into the common area from the viewport, as if something outside had blocked the light of the stars. Before Jeopardy or Stormsurge could investigate, the ship suddenly jolted, throwing Jeopardy off balance and causing him to fall right onto Stormsurge. They stared at each other for a tense, awkward moment, caught in a close proximity neither of them had anticipated.

"Sorry about that," Jeopardy mumbled, quickly pulling himself off her and helping her to her feet.

Stormsurge brushed herself off as Jeopardy moved toward the viewport. His optics widened when he saw the looming silhouette of a massive battleship, its form casting a long, ominous shadow over their ship. A tractor beam held their vessel in its grip, slowly dragging it into the larger ship's hangar. Beyond the viewport, Jeopardy saw them, Vehicon drones. Decepticons were preparing to board.

"Scrap," Jeopardy muttered under his breath. He darted toward the exit hatch, his mind racing. He turned to Stormsurge, urgency in his voice. "Go wake Impulse, get him to come here, and find somewhere to hide. I'll try to hold them off as long as I can."

Stormsurge hesitated. "Are you sure about this?"

Jeopardy gave a quick, shaky smile. "No, but if you've got a better idea, I'm all ears."

Without another word, Stormsurge nodded and ran off down the hallway, leaving Jeopardy standing alone by the exit. He pressed himself against the wall, his spark racing as he prepared for the inevitable. The ship rocked again as the tractor beam pulled them into the Decepticon hangar. Any second now, the hatch would open, and the fight would begin.

"Alright, alright, you can do this, you can do this," Jeopardy whispered to himself, trying to hype himself up. "You can do this. I can't do this… no, you have to. This is what you were meant to do. Let's go. First time actually fighting anything."

Through the metal walls, he heard a voice, cold, commanding, and feminine, speaking from outside. "Set blasters to stun. They may have information we can use."

Jeopardy swallowed hard. "Alright," he muttered under his breath, his nerves on edge. "You got this, you got this. You probably got this."

The exit hatch flew open with a hiss. Two Vehicon drones immediately stepped inside. With all the strength he could muster, Jeopardy lunged from his hiding spot, throwing a punch at one of the Vehicons, catching it off-guard. The first blow connected, followed by a second punch aimed at the other drone.

But before he could register whether his attacks had landed, he heard the distinct sound of a blaster going off. A sharp jolt hit him, and for a split second, it felt like every neuron in his system had shorted out. His body went limp, and darkness quickly swallowed him as he collapsed onto the floor.

Everything faded to black.