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wyntir_knightTitle: The Devil You Know
Series: G1 universe, focusing on Original characters
Rating: R
Summary: In the early days of the civil war on Cybertron, Sentinel Prime authorized several refugee vessels to take Neutrals away from the planet in hopes that they could start peaceful colonies where they would be safe. Many of these refugees were never heard from again; lost to us through time and distance. But history does record the fate of one of the vessels. The Stormchaser was three orns away from its destination when it was shot down by Decepticons in an act of cowardice and deceit. There were no survivors. That is what history tells us. But in this case, history is wrong.
Author's Note: Day six. I just got past the 10K mark so I am doing better than last year at this point. I've been taking my laptop to work with me and writing on the bus. It amounts to about a 45 minute comute each way, so an hour and a half of writing - give or take. I'm trying to escape the office at lunch for another 45 minutes of writing as well. So far I've been having to eat at my desk (no rest for the wicked and all that), but tomorrow the administrators are pretty much alone for the day, so I should be able to escape. We'll see.
10769 / 50000 words. 22% done!
Chapter 3
“All right, femmes and mechs! You are all going to listen to me and do exactly what I tell you to do. If you can do that, then we’ll all get along just fine,” the green mech said conversationally.
“Get fragged!” Cobalt spat as he strained at his bonds.
“Oh, now that’s not nice,” the brown and tan mech said. He pulled back his leg and kicked Cobalt in the midriff. “That’s not … nice … at all!” He punctuated each word with a vicious kick.
“Stop it!” Arclight yelled as she forced her way forward.
Twostrike grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back against him, holding her tight to his chest.
The green mech raised one hand.
“That’s enough Strobe,” he said. “We don’t need him dead. Not yet anyways.”
The green mech turned and approached Arclight.
“Well, well, what have we here?” he asked. “I never would have figured that you’d survived. You’re tougher than you look. … or luckier.”
“Were you with Killzone?” a black and red Decepticon asked. “Did he survive?”
“Do you see him here, Updraft?” Strobe sneered.
“Oh, right …,” Updraft said softly. “I guess that he’d be here if he had.”
“What did happen to him, by the way?” the green mech asked. “You were the last with him.”
Arclight stared defiantly at the Decepticon, refusing to answer.
“Fine, keep it to yourself. It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “And not at all pertinent to the matter at hand.”
“Of course it’s pertinent, Windsaber!” Updraft cried. “He’s our brother!”
“And now he’s dead. We have more important things to worry about right now,” Windsaber replied, a dangerous tone edging into his voice.
“I … yes sir,” Updraft replied, looking down.
“Good,” Windsaber replied. “Now, as I said, all of you will do exactly as you are told. You will follow single file. In silence.”
Gently, Twostrike let Arclight go and moved to join the other Neutrals who were lining up without protest.
“What is this?” Cobalt demanded. “You outnumber them five to one!”
“Silence, Autobot,” Windsaber said. “You’re opinion is not wanted. These people, unlike yours, know their place.”
“Know their place?” Arclight asked, completely flabbergasted. “These people left Cybertron to get away from your petty squabbles! And you’re leaders agreed to let them go. Peacefully! And yet, here you are imposing your will on them! How dare you?!”
Windsaber stopped and approached Arclight slowly. When he was a foot away he hauled back and slapped her hard enough to send her sprawling to the forest floor.
“You have quite a mouth on you,” he said as he looked down at her. “You should learn to keep it shut before it gets you into further trouble.”
With that, Windsaber turned and motioned for the neutrals to follow him through the woods. As soon as he and Strobe were out of sight, Updraft knelt beside her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re not hurt too badly?”
“Like you care,” Arclight snapped.
“You may not believe it, but I am genuinely sorry,” Updraft replied. “I’m sorry for all of this.”
Arclight’s resolve faltered and her righteous anger fell.
“Your brother’s … His death was quick and probably painless,” she said. “His remains are back that way in a clearing. I’m not sure how far though.”
“Thank you,” Updraft whispered. He held out his hand to help her stand.
“Updraft!” the green mech barked. “She can get up on her own or we leave her corpse behind.”
Arclight stood and followed the rest of the group, Updraft taking up the rear. They moved through the woods steadily, following Windsaber to an unknown destination. The trees seemed to move in on them as the wood became older and wilder. Finally, Arclight was completely turned around. She no longer had any idea if they were still moving in a straight line, if they were headed to the rest of the ship or some other destination, or even if their leaders knew where they were going. Several times Windsaber and Strobe motioned for the group to stop. They looked around, chose a new direction and continued on. None of the breaks were long enough to allow the refugees any type of respite, and their exhaustion was beginning to show in their faces and slumped posture. Only Cobalt remained defiant.
He walked proudly through the woods, and had it not been for his bonds, he could have been the one who was free. He walked with the majestic bearing and attitude of a Prime surveying his troops. Arclight watched him with a certain amount of grudging respect. While she did condone fighting, she did agree that when push comes to shove you have to be willing to fight for your life. This was something the Neutrals were obviously completely unwilling to do.
The forced march continued until finally Windsaber called a halt.
“All right, we rest here. You,” he said pointing at a small silver-grey mech, “I want you to go collect greenery. You’ll each get one small cube of fuel then I’ll allow a short recharge. I want us out of here before sunrise.”
“You, Medic!” he said, turning to Arclight. “You’ll check the assembled for any injuries. Anyone who can’t travel will be left behind. And I will not be leaving enemies at my back. Remember that before you get any ideas.”
“Yes, sir,” Arclight replied quietly.
“I did not hear your reply, Medic,” Windsaber snapped.
“Yes. Sir,” she said more forcefully, putting as much contempt into her voice as she dared.
She started to move among the neutrals, checking them each for any form of damage. As she worked she could feel someone watching her, and every time she looked up, she found Strobe staring at her intently. It was disconcerting to say the least. The brown and tan mech’s optics seemed to burn a hole right through her. There was a hatred there that she didn’t understand, but she knew that she would have to stay as far from him as she possible could. And Primus help her if he ever got her alone.
Trying her best to ignore Strobe, she continued through the ranks of mechs until she got to Cobalt. The Autobot sat ramrod straight in the dirt, his arms bound behind his back at a painful looking angle. He side was banged in quite badly where Strobe had kicked him, and there was a break in the armour at the seam. She examined the damage with her fingertips gently, trying not to hurt him.
Cobalt grunted at the touch, but other than that did not acknowledge her at all. Instead he was examining the camp, Optics flicking from mech to mech, pausing only on the Decepticons. Judging by the look on his face, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was planning on taking all three single handed. It was a fight he would lose, but he would likely take at least one of them with him. But looking at his size, and the smouldering anger in his optics, remembering the force his had used against her, Arclight thought that he might actually have a chance. Not that he wanted either side to be in charge. Neither seemed to have much love for her, and she counted her chances about equal with either Cobalt or Windsaber.
“The damage looks pretty much cosmetic,” she said to him in a low voice, trying to distract herself from her morbit train of thought. “Your self-healing systems should be able to deal with most of it, but this crack has me a bit concerned. In this environment you’ll rust quickly if I don’t close it.”
“Do what you need to then leave me be,” he said, never turning to look at her.
Shaking her head, she reached into her pack and pulled out a tube of sealant. It wasn’t and ideal solution, but it would do for the moment. Just as she was about to apply the clear gel she was interrupted by a harsh voice.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Strobe yelled as he ran up to her. He grabbed her shoulder and threw her away from the prisoner. “We didn’t give you permission to do anything to him!”
“I assumed that Windsaber meant everyone, not just the Neutrals,” Arclight replied as she picked herself off the ground, trying to keep her voice level.
“You assumed wrong!” Strobe yelled as he approached her slowly, moving like a hunter-bot keen on it’s prey. “How do we know that you weren’t trying to help him escape?”
“I don’t need her help to escape,” Cobalt said.
Arclight saw the Autobot stand, his hands released from their bonds. He approached Strobe from behind, hands flexing in preparation of tearing the Decepticon limb from limb.
“Behind you!” Waverunner cried, pointing at Cobalt.
Cobalt’s head snapped up as he levelled a vicious look at the Neutral, he then coiled and launched himself at Strobe, allowing his greater mass to carry them both down. Cobalt rained blows down on the Decepticon, fiercely beating him, but Strobe was faster than the Autobot and he used his size to his advantage. He dodged and parried the blows expertly, giving far better than he got. Soon it was the Autobot who was at the disadvantage, defending rather than attacking and losing ground quickly.
Arclight moved back, trying to get out of the way, but at the same time desperate for a way to help. She looked at the assembled and was shocked by what she saw. The Neutrals made no move to help. Some appeared scandalized while others were afraid or ashamed, but some looked eager. Eager for the violence, eager for the bloodshed, eager for a death. As she watched the crowd she saw the other two Decepticons come into the clearing. They made no move to help their brother, choosing instead to simply watch. Windsaber had a look of pride and amusement on his face while Updraft seemed deeply worried and ashamed. But worst of all, there was Waverunner, most respected Elder of the Neutrals. He stood near the Decepticons looking smug and satisfied. It was obvious where his allegiance now lay.
“All right, that’s enough of that,” Windsaber said as he entered the circle.
Strobe turned to acknowledge the order, giving Cobalt the opportunity he was waiting for. He threw himself at the Decepticon, knocking him to the ground. With a sudden movement he grabbed Strobe’s head between his hands and began to press. Now that he was trapped by the big Autobot there was nothing he would do. He clawed and kicked, but made no impression on Cobalt’s arms.
“Drop your weapons or he dies!” Cobalt yelled at Windsaber.
“I think I’ll take the second choice,” Windsaber said calmly.
Strobe made a strangled noise of indignation as he glared at the Seeker.
“Fine,” Cobalt spat. And he flexed, pressing in on Strobe’s head.
“But we can’t always get what we want,” Windsaber added.
With that he fired a shot into Cobalt, sending him flying back against a tree. Electricity danced across his body as he twitched and shuddered violently, and finally lay still.
Windsaber walked up to Cobalt casually and crouched beside him.
“I admire your determination, but I can’t have you killing my troops,” he said.
With that he reached out and grabbed the break in Cobalt’s armour. With vicious fingers he dug in, wrenching an agonized scream out of the Autobot. With his other hand he grabbed Cobalt by a ring on his chest and lifted him off the ground, pressing him against a tree. Cobalt struck out at Windsaber weakly, dropping his hands with another shriek as the Decepticon pressed further into the wound.
“I need you to learn your place,” Windsaber said. “I’m not done with you, and until I am, I can’t have you pulling these stunts.”
He pulled his hand out of Cobalt’s side and moved it to the gap between his neck and shoulder.
“Now I need you to learn to behave,” he added.
He stroked the wires in Cobalt’s neck gently before carefully pulling them out one by one eliciting a cry of pain with each one.
“Stop it!” Arclight screamed as she ran forward.
She grabbed at Windsaber’s arm desperately trying to pull him away from Cobalt.
With a snarl Windsaber backhanded Arclight sending her tumbling away. She landed in Strobe’s waiting arms. He threw her to the ground and drove a fist into her side. Arclight curled away from attack, desperately trying to protect herself, knowing that no one was going to come to her aid. Again and again Strobe rained blows down on her.
“Windsaber! We need her alive! She’s a medic! We need her!” Updraft cried out. “Please! Make him stop!”
More punches landed on her back and side, then, suddenly they stopped.
“That’s enough, Strobe,” Windsaber said. “I think they’ve both learned their lesson.”
He reached down and grabbed Arclight by the arm, hauling her to her feet.
“You will fix the Autobot and get him ready to move out,” he said. “You will do so quickly and in silence. And if you ever try something like that again-”
“What? You’ll kill me?” Arclight asked defiantly.
“No. I will kill one of them,” Windsaber said, motioning to the Neutrals.
Arclight’s optics widened in shock.
“I understand,” she whispered.
“I thought that you would,” Windsaber said as he let her go.
Arclight gathered herself and moved to repair Cobalt’s damage, working as quickly as she could. All around the world took on a red tone as the sun began to set.
Series: G1 universe, focusing on Original characters
Rating: R
Summary: In the early days of the civil war on Cybertron, Sentinel Prime authorized several refugee vessels to take Neutrals away from the planet in hopes that they could start peaceful colonies where they would be safe. Many of these refugees were never heard from again; lost to us through time and distance. But history does record the fate of one of the vessels. The Stormchaser was three orns away from its destination when it was shot down by Decepticons in an act of cowardice and deceit. There were no survivors. That is what history tells us. But in this case, history is wrong.
Author's Note: Day six. I just got past the 10K mark so I am doing better than last year at this point. I've been taking my laptop to work with me and writing on the bus. It amounts to about a 45 minute comute each way, so an hour and a half of writing - give or take. I'm trying to escape the office at lunch for another 45 minutes of writing as well. So far I've been having to eat at my desk (no rest for the wicked and all that), but tomorrow the administrators are pretty much alone for the day, so I should be able to escape. We'll see.
“All right, femmes and mechs! You are all going to listen to me and do exactly what I tell you to do. If you can do that, then we’ll all get along just fine,” the green mech said conversationally.
“Get fragged!” Cobalt spat as he strained at his bonds.
“Oh, now that’s not nice,” the brown and tan mech said. He pulled back his leg and kicked Cobalt in the midriff. “That’s not … nice … at all!” He punctuated each word with a vicious kick.
“Stop it!” Arclight yelled as she forced her way forward.
Twostrike grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back against him, holding her tight to his chest.
The green mech raised one hand.
“That’s enough Strobe,” he said. “We don’t need him dead. Not yet anyways.”
The green mech turned and approached Arclight.
“Well, well, what have we here?” he asked. “I never would have figured that you’d survived. You’re tougher than you look. … or luckier.”
“Were you with Killzone?” a black and red Decepticon asked. “Did he survive?”
“Do you see him here, Updraft?” Strobe sneered.
“Oh, right …,” Updraft said softly. “I guess that he’d be here if he had.”
“What did happen to him, by the way?” the green mech asked. “You were the last with him.”
Arclight stared defiantly at the Decepticon, refusing to answer.
“Fine, keep it to yourself. It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “And not at all pertinent to the matter at hand.”
“Of course it’s pertinent, Windsaber!” Updraft cried. “He’s our brother!”
“And now he’s dead. We have more important things to worry about right now,” Windsaber replied, a dangerous tone edging into his voice.
“I … yes sir,” Updraft replied, looking down.
“Good,” Windsaber replied. “Now, as I said, all of you will do exactly as you are told. You will follow single file. In silence.”
Gently, Twostrike let Arclight go and moved to join the other Neutrals who were lining up without protest.
“What is this?” Cobalt demanded. “You outnumber them five to one!”
“Silence, Autobot,” Windsaber said. “You’re opinion is not wanted. These people, unlike yours, know their place.”
“Know their place?” Arclight asked, completely flabbergasted. “These people left Cybertron to get away from your petty squabbles! And you’re leaders agreed to let them go. Peacefully! And yet, here you are imposing your will on them! How dare you?!”
Windsaber stopped and approached Arclight slowly. When he was a foot away he hauled back and slapped her hard enough to send her sprawling to the forest floor.
“You have quite a mouth on you,” he said as he looked down at her. “You should learn to keep it shut before it gets you into further trouble.”
With that, Windsaber turned and motioned for the neutrals to follow him through the woods. As soon as he and Strobe were out of sight, Updraft knelt beside her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re not hurt too badly?”
“Like you care,” Arclight snapped.
“You may not believe it, but I am genuinely sorry,” Updraft replied. “I’m sorry for all of this.”
Arclight’s resolve faltered and her righteous anger fell.
“Your brother’s … His death was quick and probably painless,” she said. “His remains are back that way in a clearing. I’m not sure how far though.”
“Thank you,” Updraft whispered. He held out his hand to help her stand.
“Updraft!” the green mech barked. “She can get up on her own or we leave her corpse behind.”
Arclight stood and followed the rest of the group, Updraft taking up the rear. They moved through the woods steadily, following Windsaber to an unknown destination. The trees seemed to move in on them as the wood became older and wilder. Finally, Arclight was completely turned around. She no longer had any idea if they were still moving in a straight line, if they were headed to the rest of the ship or some other destination, or even if their leaders knew where they were going. Several times Windsaber and Strobe motioned for the group to stop. They looked around, chose a new direction and continued on. None of the breaks were long enough to allow the refugees any type of respite, and their exhaustion was beginning to show in their faces and slumped posture. Only Cobalt remained defiant.
He walked proudly through the woods, and had it not been for his bonds, he could have been the one who was free. He walked with the majestic bearing and attitude of a Prime surveying his troops. Arclight watched him with a certain amount of grudging respect. While she did condone fighting, she did agree that when push comes to shove you have to be willing to fight for your life. This was something the Neutrals were obviously completely unwilling to do.
The forced march continued until finally Windsaber called a halt.
“All right, we rest here. You,” he said pointing at a small silver-grey mech, “I want you to go collect greenery. You’ll each get one small cube of fuel then I’ll allow a short recharge. I want us out of here before sunrise.”
“You, Medic!” he said, turning to Arclight. “You’ll check the assembled for any injuries. Anyone who can’t travel will be left behind. And I will not be leaving enemies at my back. Remember that before you get any ideas.”
“Yes, sir,” Arclight replied quietly.
“I did not hear your reply, Medic,” Windsaber snapped.
“Yes. Sir,” she said more forcefully, putting as much contempt into her voice as she dared.
She started to move among the neutrals, checking them each for any form of damage. As she worked she could feel someone watching her, and every time she looked up, she found Strobe staring at her intently. It was disconcerting to say the least. The brown and tan mech’s optics seemed to burn a hole right through her. There was a hatred there that she didn’t understand, but she knew that she would have to stay as far from him as she possible could. And Primus help her if he ever got her alone.
Trying her best to ignore Strobe, she continued through the ranks of mechs until she got to Cobalt. The Autobot sat ramrod straight in the dirt, his arms bound behind his back at a painful looking angle. He side was banged in quite badly where Strobe had kicked him, and there was a break in the armour at the seam. She examined the damage with her fingertips gently, trying not to hurt him.
Cobalt grunted at the touch, but other than that did not acknowledge her at all. Instead he was examining the camp, Optics flicking from mech to mech, pausing only on the Decepticons. Judging by the look on his face, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was planning on taking all three single handed. It was a fight he would lose, but he would likely take at least one of them with him. But looking at his size, and the smouldering anger in his optics, remembering the force his had used against her, Arclight thought that he might actually have a chance. Not that he wanted either side to be in charge. Neither seemed to have much love for her, and she counted her chances about equal with either Cobalt or Windsaber.
“The damage looks pretty much cosmetic,” she said to him in a low voice, trying to distract herself from her morbit train of thought. “Your self-healing systems should be able to deal with most of it, but this crack has me a bit concerned. In this environment you’ll rust quickly if I don’t close it.”
“Do what you need to then leave me be,” he said, never turning to look at her.
Shaking her head, she reached into her pack and pulled out a tube of sealant. It wasn’t and ideal solution, but it would do for the moment. Just as she was about to apply the clear gel she was interrupted by a harsh voice.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Strobe yelled as he ran up to her. He grabbed her shoulder and threw her away from the prisoner. “We didn’t give you permission to do anything to him!”
“I assumed that Windsaber meant everyone, not just the Neutrals,” Arclight replied as she picked herself off the ground, trying to keep her voice level.
“You assumed wrong!” Strobe yelled as he approached her slowly, moving like a hunter-bot keen on it’s prey. “How do we know that you weren’t trying to help him escape?”
“I don’t need her help to escape,” Cobalt said.
Arclight saw the Autobot stand, his hands released from their bonds. He approached Strobe from behind, hands flexing in preparation of tearing the Decepticon limb from limb.
“Behind you!” Waverunner cried, pointing at Cobalt.
Cobalt’s head snapped up as he levelled a vicious look at the Neutral, he then coiled and launched himself at Strobe, allowing his greater mass to carry them both down. Cobalt rained blows down on the Decepticon, fiercely beating him, but Strobe was faster than the Autobot and he used his size to his advantage. He dodged and parried the blows expertly, giving far better than he got. Soon it was the Autobot who was at the disadvantage, defending rather than attacking and losing ground quickly.
Arclight moved back, trying to get out of the way, but at the same time desperate for a way to help. She looked at the assembled and was shocked by what she saw. The Neutrals made no move to help. Some appeared scandalized while others were afraid or ashamed, but some looked eager. Eager for the violence, eager for the bloodshed, eager for a death. As she watched the crowd she saw the other two Decepticons come into the clearing. They made no move to help their brother, choosing instead to simply watch. Windsaber had a look of pride and amusement on his face while Updraft seemed deeply worried and ashamed. But worst of all, there was Waverunner, most respected Elder of the Neutrals. He stood near the Decepticons looking smug and satisfied. It was obvious where his allegiance now lay.
“All right, that’s enough of that,” Windsaber said as he entered the circle.
Strobe turned to acknowledge the order, giving Cobalt the opportunity he was waiting for. He threw himself at the Decepticon, knocking him to the ground. With a sudden movement he grabbed Strobe’s head between his hands and began to press. Now that he was trapped by the big Autobot there was nothing he would do. He clawed and kicked, but made no impression on Cobalt’s arms.
“Drop your weapons or he dies!” Cobalt yelled at Windsaber.
“I think I’ll take the second choice,” Windsaber said calmly.
Strobe made a strangled noise of indignation as he glared at the Seeker.
“Fine,” Cobalt spat. And he flexed, pressing in on Strobe’s head.
“But we can’t always get what we want,” Windsaber added.
With that he fired a shot into Cobalt, sending him flying back against a tree. Electricity danced across his body as he twitched and shuddered violently, and finally lay still.
Windsaber walked up to Cobalt casually and crouched beside him.
“I admire your determination, but I can’t have you killing my troops,” he said.
With that he reached out and grabbed the break in Cobalt’s armour. With vicious fingers he dug in, wrenching an agonized scream out of the Autobot. With his other hand he grabbed Cobalt by a ring on his chest and lifted him off the ground, pressing him against a tree. Cobalt struck out at Windsaber weakly, dropping his hands with another shriek as the Decepticon pressed further into the wound.
“I need you to learn your place,” Windsaber said. “I’m not done with you, and until I am, I can’t have you pulling these stunts.”
He pulled his hand out of Cobalt’s side and moved it to the gap between his neck and shoulder.
“Now I need you to learn to behave,” he added.
He stroked the wires in Cobalt’s neck gently before carefully pulling them out one by one eliciting a cry of pain with each one.
“Stop it!” Arclight screamed as she ran forward.
She grabbed at Windsaber’s arm desperately trying to pull him away from Cobalt.
With a snarl Windsaber backhanded Arclight sending her tumbling away. She landed in Strobe’s waiting arms. He threw her to the ground and drove a fist into her side. Arclight curled away from attack, desperately trying to protect herself, knowing that no one was going to come to her aid. Again and again Strobe rained blows down on her.
“Windsaber! We need her alive! She’s a medic! We need her!” Updraft cried out. “Please! Make him stop!”
More punches landed on her back and side, then, suddenly they stopped.
“That’s enough, Strobe,” Windsaber said. “I think they’ve both learned their lesson.”
He reached down and grabbed Arclight by the arm, hauling her to her feet.
“You will fix the Autobot and get him ready to move out,” he said. “You will do so quickly and in silence. And if you ever try something like that again-”
“What? You’ll kill me?” Arclight asked defiantly.
“No. I will kill one of them,” Windsaber said, motioning to the Neutrals.
Arclight’s optics widened in shock.
“I understand,” she whispered.
“I thought that you would,” Windsaber said as he let her go.
Arclight gathered herself and moved to repair Cobalt’s damage, working as quickly as she could. All around the world took on a red tone as the sun began to set.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 7 Nov 2007 15:06 (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 Nov 2007 15:21 (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 Nov 2007 15:22 (UTC)By the way, love the icon :D
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Date: 7 Nov 2007 15:33 (UTC)And feel free to nab the idon if you want. Just credit