Gaslight_Dreamer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wyntir_knight) wrote2007-11-17 01:46 pm
wyntir_knight) wrote2007-11-17 01:46 pm
Entry tags:
The Devil You Know, Chapter 11
Title: 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 17. After a decent night's sleep, I'm back and running. I caught up with my lapsed word count from yesterday and I'm flying along today. At least so far I am. It seems that that little blockage disappeared with sleep, so it's all upwards from here :)
27030 / 50000 words. 54% done!
Chapter 11
“He can’t be dead,” Updraft whispered. “He just can’t.”
“I wish he wasn’t,” Arclight said sadly, brushing some dirt off Cobalt’s face as she looked down at him.
“What happened?” Windsaber demanded.
“I don’t know,” Arclight replied as she slowly closed Cobalt’s chest. “I’m not a surgeon, but if I had to guess I’d say that he was tortured. The damage is far a too extensive to just be battle damage.”
“Tortured by whom?” Windsaber growled.
“I don’t know,” Arclight replied, looking up at the Decepticon. “I have no way of known that.”
“Whoever it was that did this is probably still out there,” Waverunner said. “We have to get away from here.”
“No!” Updraft cried out, turning on Waverunner. “No! We need to find out what happened to him. We need to find out who did this to him!”
“Sir,” Circuit said, approaching Windsaber quietly. “I’m sure that he saw his attacker. The memory of it will still be in his processor. With your permission, I can go in and look.”
“The answer was no before and that hasn’t changed any. Do not make this request again,” Windsaber replied, never looking at the programmer.
Circuit’s mouth opened and closed as if he was about to protest, but then he turned away without voicing his concerns. He closed his mouth quickly, his jaw hinge bunching tightly as if he was fighting back angry words. He rejoined the other Neutrals, shooting dark glares at the group who had inadvertently and unexpectedly become their leaders.
“We need to get away from here now!” Waverunner said. “What happened to that Decepticon is completely irrelevant to the fact that we need to get away from here!”
“That Decepticon had a name,” Windsaber growled. “And what killed him is most certainly relevant. ... However, I do agree with you that this location has been compromised.”
“So what do you suggest?” Cobalt asked. “That we trek these people through the woods to a city that may or may not exist?”
“You have no say in this matter,” Windsaber replied.
“Well then let me be the voice of reason here,” Arclight said. “I can still fly. Let me go up and see what I can see.”
“Yes, and have you fly away,” Waverunner sneered.
“What? How dare you accuse me of that?” Arclight cried. “I will not leave these people without a medic! Besides, I can only go up and down. I can’t go anywhere.”
“And are we to believe the information you provide?” Windsaber asked.
“I have not given you any reason to doubt me!” Arclight said tightly.
“Except work with this Autobot,” Windsaber said smugly. “Or did you think that helping him to attack me was not reason enough? You have given me no reason to trust you and every reason not to.”
Arclight looked like she had been slapped.
“I … I have done everything I have for these people. Not for Cobalt and not for you,” she said, quietly.
“Sir, what if she took someone with her?” Updraft said. “She’s our only flyer who still has the capacity and we need to get our bearings.”
“Let me guess,” Cobalt said. “You think you should go.”
“Well ... I, uhm, I transform pretty small. She should be able to carry me up there. I can take a look and report back.”
“And we’re going to believe you?” Cobalt asked.
“Are you questioning the integrity of my crew?” Windsaber demanded.
“Of course! What was I thinking?!” Cobalt said dramatically. “Of course I would never question the integrity of a Decepticon!”
Windsaber closed the distance between himself and the Autobot.
“Say that again,” he growled. “Question my troops again.”
“You Decepticons are vermin,” Cobalt replied. “I wouldn’t trust your kind any more than I would trust the Chaos Bringer.”
“We are not the ignoble ones,” Windsaber said as he shoved Cobalt back, bringing his weapons to bear on him.
“You are a pestilence on the face of the universe and you need to be eradicated like the pests you are,” Cobalt replied as his guns came forward on his arms and shoulders.
“Stop it!” Arclight cried, moving between the two mechs. “Just stop it! We do not need this right now.”
The two mechs didn’t back down, but they did hold their fire.
“Cobalt. Do you trust me?” she asked.
“More than I trust any of these others. What does it matter?” Cobalt asked.
“And Windsaber,” Arclight said, ignoring the Autobot. “You trust Updraft, right?”
“Of course!” Windsaber replied indignantly.
“Then what’s the problem?” she asked. “Updraft transforms, we both go up and take a look and then come back and tell you what we see. There’s absolutely no need to fight over it!”
Both mechs glared at each other for along time, neither willing to lower their weapons.
“Oh, for Primus’ sake!” Arclight cried, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Fine, be that way. Updraft, do you still want to come with me?”
Updraft looked at his leader nervously, as if seeking approval, then, without a word, he transformed and landed in Arclight’s waiting hands.
For a moment, she just looked at him. He had become a strange, blocky looking device. Not a weapon, but also not a piece of communications equipment.
“I’m a tracking pad,” he said through an open communications channel. To Arclight, it sounded like he was almost apologizing.
“It’s an odd form for a Decepticon,” she replied softly as she took to the air.
“Well, I’m not a warrior. I’m a pilot. And the alt mode is just so I can-”
“I don’t need to know,” Arclight interrupted. “It doesn’t really matter here, after all. Does it?”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t,” Updraft replied with a sigh.
After a few moments, they were above the tops of the trees and were able to look around.
“Do you have visual sensors in that mode?” Arclight asked.
“They’re not visual sensors per se, but they’ll suit the purpose,” Updraft replied.
Arclight looked around and spotted the piece of the ship she had seen earlier.
“There’s the ship,” she said. “But I don’t see a city.”
“Look at the ship, then turn point three eight seven degrees to starboard,” Updraft instructed.
Arclight did as she was told but still saw only woods.
“There’s no city there, Updraft,” she said.
“Do you have heat sensors?” Updraft asked.
“I do,” Arclight replied.
“Good, then turn them on and look at the area I pointed out,” Updraft said patiently. “Do you see the cooler area, the dip in the temperature? That’s the city. It’s just been overgrown by the forest.”
“Oh … okay,” Arclight said. “Well, we may as well tell the others.”
“Actually, I was thinking of bringing us on a bit of a detour,” Updraft said conspiratorially. “Going to the ship won’t take us that far off course and you might be able to find some more medical supplies there.”
“I – Thank you, Updraft,” Arclight said, surprised at the offer.
“You welcome,” Updraft replied. “It really is the only logical thing to do, and it’s for the beat of all the survivors.”
When Arclight landed Windsaber and Cobalt were no longer trying to kill each other and were instead each making a point of completely ignoring the other’s existence.
“What did you see?” Cobalt asked as he approached.
“Where is the city?” Windsaber demanded.
Updraft transformed and landed in front of his commander.
“It’s approximately five hundred breems to the south south west of our present location,” he said. “I estimate that it should take us approximately forty eight orns to get there if we run a forced march and have no further set backs.”
Arclight nodded her agreement of this assessment to Cobalt.
“Fine, then we go now,” Windsaber ordered. “Everyone prepare, I want us moving in half an orn.”
The Neutrals gathered their meagre belongings and put out the fire and were ready to go with time to spare. Arclight in the meantime, closed Strobe’s chest, shuttering his optics and tried to make him look as peaceful as possible.
“We’re taking him with us,” Windsaber said as he came to stand behind her.
“I’m sorry?” she asked, as she turned around in her crouch but did not stand.
“I said that he is coming with us,” Windsaber repeated.
“But he’s dead,” Arclight protested. “We need to think of the living and we can’t have an added weight slowing us down. Not when there’s an unknown enemy out there.”
Suddenly and before Arclight could roll out of the way, Windsaber’s foot connected with her midriff, sending her flying backwards.
“We. Do. Not. Leave. Mechs. Behind!” he screamed, each word punctuated by a kick or a punch.
Arclight tried to roll to her feet and defend herself, but every time she managed to get a foothold Windsaber kicked her down again. The beating became more frenzied and brutal until all she could do was curl into a ball and try desperately to minimize the damage. She became vaguely aware of Updraft yelling for Windsaber to stop, but the beating continued. She felt something crack and bend in her side and a sharp pain in her shoulders as one of her wing blades was snapped off. Suddenly, the beating stopped as quickly as it had begun, leaving Arclight curled in a pathetic, shivering ball.
“Everyone will follow in silence,” Windsaber ordered. “You! Take Strobe. You two will bind the Autobot and that one. I want them guarded at all times.”
Arclight felt a hand on her shoulder and she flinched away weakly.
“I’m sorry,” Updraft said. “Can you stand?”
“I ... I think so,” Arclight whispered.
She slowly got her feet under herself with Updraft’s help and stood unsteadily. All around her the Neutrals were preparing to leave, lining up silently, as Waverunner put binders on Cobalt. The Autobot didn’t fight the Neutral leader, but he did glare angrily at Waverunner. It was a look that did not promise anything good.
“I have to bind your hands,” Updraft whispered.
Without a word, Arclight brought her hands forward, wincing as she felt two parts grate painfully together in her arm.
“You haven’t rerouted your pain receptors?” Updraft asked, concern filling his voice.
“I ... I can’t,” Arclight replied. “That system was damaged, but my internal repairs will kick in soon.”
“Oh. Okay,” Updraft replied awkwardly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him sooner. Are ... are you going to be okay?”
“I will be,” she said softly, allowing a small smile to pull at her lips.
“Updraft!” Windsaber snapped. “Get her moving or put her down. Now! We are wasting no more time here!”
Updraft gave Arclight an apologetic look before moving behind her and guiding her forward as the line of Neutrals followed Windsaber out of the clearing.
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 17. After a decent night's sleep, I'm back and running. I caught up with my lapsed word count from yesterday and I'm flying along today. At least so far I am. It seems that that little blockage disappeared with sleep, so it's all upwards from here :)
“He can’t be dead,” Updraft whispered. “He just can’t.”
“I wish he wasn’t,” Arclight said sadly, brushing some dirt off Cobalt’s face as she looked down at him.
“What happened?” Windsaber demanded.
“I don’t know,” Arclight replied as she slowly closed Cobalt’s chest. “I’m not a surgeon, but if I had to guess I’d say that he was tortured. The damage is far a too extensive to just be battle damage.”
“Tortured by whom?” Windsaber growled.
“I don’t know,” Arclight replied, looking up at the Decepticon. “I have no way of known that.”
“Whoever it was that did this is probably still out there,” Waverunner said. “We have to get away from here.”
“No!” Updraft cried out, turning on Waverunner. “No! We need to find out what happened to him. We need to find out who did this to him!”
“Sir,” Circuit said, approaching Windsaber quietly. “I’m sure that he saw his attacker. The memory of it will still be in his processor. With your permission, I can go in and look.”
“The answer was no before and that hasn’t changed any. Do not make this request again,” Windsaber replied, never looking at the programmer.
Circuit’s mouth opened and closed as if he was about to protest, but then he turned away without voicing his concerns. He closed his mouth quickly, his jaw hinge bunching tightly as if he was fighting back angry words. He rejoined the other Neutrals, shooting dark glares at the group who had inadvertently and unexpectedly become their leaders.
“We need to get away from here now!” Waverunner said. “What happened to that Decepticon is completely irrelevant to the fact that we need to get away from here!”
“That Decepticon had a name,” Windsaber growled. “And what killed him is most certainly relevant. ... However, I do agree with you that this location has been compromised.”
“So what do you suggest?” Cobalt asked. “That we trek these people through the woods to a city that may or may not exist?”
“You have no say in this matter,” Windsaber replied.
“Well then let me be the voice of reason here,” Arclight said. “I can still fly. Let me go up and see what I can see.”
“Yes, and have you fly away,” Waverunner sneered.
“What? How dare you accuse me of that?” Arclight cried. “I will not leave these people without a medic! Besides, I can only go up and down. I can’t go anywhere.”
“And are we to believe the information you provide?” Windsaber asked.
“I have not given you any reason to doubt me!” Arclight said tightly.
“Except work with this Autobot,” Windsaber said smugly. “Or did you think that helping him to attack me was not reason enough? You have given me no reason to trust you and every reason not to.”
Arclight looked like she had been slapped.
“I … I have done everything I have for these people. Not for Cobalt and not for you,” she said, quietly.
“Sir, what if she took someone with her?” Updraft said. “She’s our only flyer who still has the capacity and we need to get our bearings.”
“Let me guess,” Cobalt said. “You think you should go.”
“Well ... I, uhm, I transform pretty small. She should be able to carry me up there. I can take a look and report back.”
“And we’re going to believe you?” Cobalt asked.
“Are you questioning the integrity of my crew?” Windsaber demanded.
“Of course! What was I thinking?!” Cobalt said dramatically. “Of course I would never question the integrity of a Decepticon!”
Windsaber closed the distance between himself and the Autobot.
“Say that again,” he growled. “Question my troops again.”
“You Decepticons are vermin,” Cobalt replied. “I wouldn’t trust your kind any more than I would trust the Chaos Bringer.”
“We are not the ignoble ones,” Windsaber said as he shoved Cobalt back, bringing his weapons to bear on him.
“You are a pestilence on the face of the universe and you need to be eradicated like the pests you are,” Cobalt replied as his guns came forward on his arms and shoulders.
“Stop it!” Arclight cried, moving between the two mechs. “Just stop it! We do not need this right now.”
The two mechs didn’t back down, but they did hold their fire.
“Cobalt. Do you trust me?” she asked.
“More than I trust any of these others. What does it matter?” Cobalt asked.
“And Windsaber,” Arclight said, ignoring the Autobot. “You trust Updraft, right?”
“Of course!” Windsaber replied indignantly.
“Then what’s the problem?” she asked. “Updraft transforms, we both go up and take a look and then come back and tell you what we see. There’s absolutely no need to fight over it!”
Both mechs glared at each other for along time, neither willing to lower their weapons.
“Oh, for Primus’ sake!” Arclight cried, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Fine, be that way. Updraft, do you still want to come with me?”
Updraft looked at his leader nervously, as if seeking approval, then, without a word, he transformed and landed in Arclight’s waiting hands.
For a moment, she just looked at him. He had become a strange, blocky looking device. Not a weapon, but also not a piece of communications equipment.
“I’m a tracking pad,” he said through an open communications channel. To Arclight, it sounded like he was almost apologizing.
“It’s an odd form for a Decepticon,” she replied softly as she took to the air.
“Well, I’m not a warrior. I’m a pilot. And the alt mode is just so I can-”
“I don’t need to know,” Arclight interrupted. “It doesn’t really matter here, after all. Does it?”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t,” Updraft replied with a sigh.
After a few moments, they were above the tops of the trees and were able to look around.
“Do you have visual sensors in that mode?” Arclight asked.
“They’re not visual sensors per se, but they’ll suit the purpose,” Updraft replied.
Arclight looked around and spotted the piece of the ship she had seen earlier.
“There’s the ship,” she said. “But I don’t see a city.”
“Look at the ship, then turn point three eight seven degrees to starboard,” Updraft instructed.
Arclight did as she was told but still saw only woods.
“There’s no city there, Updraft,” she said.
“Do you have heat sensors?” Updraft asked.
“I do,” Arclight replied.
“Good, then turn them on and look at the area I pointed out,” Updraft said patiently. “Do you see the cooler area, the dip in the temperature? That’s the city. It’s just been overgrown by the forest.”
“Oh … okay,” Arclight said. “Well, we may as well tell the others.”
“Actually, I was thinking of bringing us on a bit of a detour,” Updraft said conspiratorially. “Going to the ship won’t take us that far off course and you might be able to find some more medical supplies there.”
“I – Thank you, Updraft,” Arclight said, surprised at the offer.
“You welcome,” Updraft replied. “It really is the only logical thing to do, and it’s for the beat of all the survivors.”
When Arclight landed Windsaber and Cobalt were no longer trying to kill each other and were instead each making a point of completely ignoring the other’s existence.
“What did you see?” Cobalt asked as he approached.
“Where is the city?” Windsaber demanded.
Updraft transformed and landed in front of his commander.
“It’s approximately five hundred breems to the south south west of our present location,” he said. “I estimate that it should take us approximately forty eight orns to get there if we run a forced march and have no further set backs.”
Arclight nodded her agreement of this assessment to Cobalt.
“Fine, then we go now,” Windsaber ordered. “Everyone prepare, I want us moving in half an orn.”
The Neutrals gathered their meagre belongings and put out the fire and were ready to go with time to spare. Arclight in the meantime, closed Strobe’s chest, shuttering his optics and tried to make him look as peaceful as possible.
“We’re taking him with us,” Windsaber said as he came to stand behind her.
“I’m sorry?” she asked, as she turned around in her crouch but did not stand.
“I said that he is coming with us,” Windsaber repeated.
“But he’s dead,” Arclight protested. “We need to think of the living and we can’t have an added weight slowing us down. Not when there’s an unknown enemy out there.”
Suddenly and before Arclight could roll out of the way, Windsaber’s foot connected with her midriff, sending her flying backwards.
“We. Do. Not. Leave. Mechs. Behind!” he screamed, each word punctuated by a kick or a punch.
Arclight tried to roll to her feet and defend herself, but every time she managed to get a foothold Windsaber kicked her down again. The beating became more frenzied and brutal until all she could do was curl into a ball and try desperately to minimize the damage. She became vaguely aware of Updraft yelling for Windsaber to stop, but the beating continued. She felt something crack and bend in her side and a sharp pain in her shoulders as one of her wing blades was snapped off. Suddenly, the beating stopped as quickly as it had begun, leaving Arclight curled in a pathetic, shivering ball.
“Everyone will follow in silence,” Windsaber ordered. “You! Take Strobe. You two will bind the Autobot and that one. I want them guarded at all times.”
Arclight felt a hand on her shoulder and she flinched away weakly.
“I’m sorry,” Updraft said. “Can you stand?”
“I ... I think so,” Arclight whispered.
She slowly got her feet under herself with Updraft’s help and stood unsteadily. All around her the Neutrals were preparing to leave, lining up silently, as Waverunner put binders on Cobalt. The Autobot didn’t fight the Neutral leader, but he did glare angrily at Waverunner. It was a look that did not promise anything good.
“I have to bind your hands,” Updraft whispered.
Without a word, Arclight brought her hands forward, wincing as she felt two parts grate painfully together in her arm.
“You haven’t rerouted your pain receptors?” Updraft asked, concern filling his voice.
“I ... I can’t,” Arclight replied. “That system was damaged, but my internal repairs will kick in soon.”
“Oh. Okay,” Updraft replied awkwardly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him sooner. Are ... are you going to be okay?”
“I will be,” she said softly, allowing a small smile to pull at her lips.
“Updraft!” Windsaber snapped. “Get her moving or put her down. Now! We are wasting no more time here!”
Updraft gave Arclight an apologetic look before moving behind her and guiding her forward as the line of Neutrals followed Windsaber out of the clearing.