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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 27. 45,311 words written, three days left and 4,569 words to go. There is no way in hell that this story will be completed in the remaining time, not unless I pull a "rocks fall; everybody dies". But I will hit the needed wordcount.
All joking aside, I will avoid the gatuitous gaming reboot method of dealing with the lack of completion, and just post my notes for the remaining chapters and the epilogue for those folks who are reading here, sort of like a sneak preview. Also, it will mean that I can have my last two words be "The" and "End", just like I wanted. Okay, so it's cheating a bit, but it means that I will have my notes posted somewhere, just in case something happens to my saved copies.
And the normal wordcounter will be replaced as soon as languageisavirus.com is back up again. I can't say that I particularly care for the one's provided by NaNo. Since their "live" they're constantly updating, but somehow, the wordcount doesn't seem to keep up to date (hence why it says I've only written 44,152 words at the time of this posting).
Edit: And the site is back up. Yeah for a normal word counter!
45311 / 50000 words. 91% done!
Chapter 18
Arclight sat back from Strobe ad reached out to gently help him sit up. It took all she had to suppress a shudder at the sight of him. His boxy brown and tan body obviously did not belong with Zenith’s strange multi jointed black and white limbs. The systems were barely compatible and it had taken some creative wiring to get Strobe’s processor to acknowledge the alien hardware. She would have preferred not to partake in this act of cannibalism, but Windsaber wouldn’t take no for an answer. And with the lives of the remaining Neutrals hanging over her head, she had very little choice in the matter.
As soon as WIndsaber saw Strobe sit up he rushed over, and pushing Arclight out of the way, he helped the Communicator to stand. Strobe was wobbly on his feet, but after a moment to become accustomed to the new hardware, he was able to stand on his own. He looked down at Windsaber and laughed.
“This is the first time that I’m taller than you!” he laughed as he stretched to his new full height of forty feet.
“Careful,” Arclight admonished as Cobalt jumped about on his new legs. “I had to make a few adjustments and I’m not sure how much wear the legs can take.”
“So he’s not fully functional?” Windsaber growled, closing in on her.
“No!” she said quickly, looking nervously at the Neutrals and raising her hands to ward off a blow. “No, he’s fully functional. He just has to be careful.”
“Now, now, Saber! Leave her alone,” Strobe said, coming up to stand beside Arclight. “She did a good job. Fantastic, actually, considering the circumstances.”
“Well, I guess so,” Windsaber muttered.
“Thank you, doctor,” Strobe said, bowing slightly at the waist.
“Uhm … you’re welcome?” Arclight stammered, trying to hide her confusion and failing. This was not the Strobe she had met on the first day on this strange world.
“Now, where are we?” Strobe asked as he looked around the building.
“We’re in the city proper,” Windsaber replied. “We’re going to hold up here until Updraft returns with word on the city. I sent him out to find a comm center.”
“You sent him out alone?” Strobe asked, concern filling his voice.
“Oh course not!” Windsaber replied, offended. “I sent the programmer and the linguist with him.”
“Good,” Strobe replied. “He’s a good kid, but he wouldn’t know a comm system from his own aft.”
“That is far too true, my friend,” Windsaber replied with a chuckle. “But I didn’t have much of a choice. I couldn’t send the Neutrals on their own and I certainly couldn’t send those two,” he said, motioning toward Arclight and Cobalt.
“Well, I suppose not,” Strobe replied.
He began to move about the space, taking in the doors and windows, stretching up to examine every crack and crevice, occasionally nodding in apparent agreement with the job done.
“This is good. This is really good,” he said thoughtfully.
“But?” Windsaber asked.
“What but?” Strobe asked.
“I’ve known you for twenty seven vorn, Strobe,” Windsaber said. “And I know that tone. Now what problem do you have with my plan?”
“Oh, no problem,” Strobe said with a grin. “This place is great. Assuming that you have no problem staying in a place that’s … well, let’s face it, a place that’s mediocre.”
“Mediocre?” Windsaber asked dangerously.
“Yes, mediocre,” Strobe replied, that knowing grin still plastered on his faceplate. “Look, I would have chosen the same place, had I been in you place. But I’m not. And I have information that you didn’t.”
“Go on,” Windsaber prompted, doubtfully.
“Well, while I was … well, out there,” Strobe began with a shudder, “I overheard a lot of what I’m sure they didn’t want me to.”
He paused dramatically, then hurried forward at Windsaber’s less than pleased look.
“Basically, I overheard them talking about the Governor’s palace. Apparently they don’t want us there because it’s far too easily defendable. Plus, I’m pretty sure that I heard them mention a spaceport.”
“Good. That’s very good news,” Windsaber said, nodding thoughtfully. “If they, whoever they are, don’t want us at the palace, then that’s precisely where we need to go. As soon as everyone is recharged and Updraft returns, we’ll head out.”
“Why wait?” Strobe asked quickly. “Why not just contact him by radio and get him to meet us halfway. Or even better, at the spaceport!”
Windsaber paused and looked at Strobe intently, as if seeing him for the first time.
“You’re the one with the working long distance communicator,” he said slowly.
“I am? Oh, yeah, right. Sorry, I’m still a bit fuddled,” Strobe replied quickly. “Well, you know, more than likely the comm center will be in the Governor’s Palace. I’m sure we’ll run into Updraft on the way.”
Arclight and Cobalt sat in the corner taking in this conversation with apprehension.
“Does that seem right to you?” Cobalt asked Arclight in a low voice.
“No. It doesn’t,” she replied. “But none of this does anyway.”
“How is he even alive?” Cobalt asked.
“I have no idea,” Arclight whispered back. “By all rights he shouldn’t be. It could be something on this world that’s enabling it. Maybe the virus?”
“I just wish this had happened before Windsaber sent Circuit off,” Cobalt grumbled. “He might have been able to tell us something more.”
Arclight nodded her head in agreement and was about to reply, but was suddenly cut off by Strobe.
“Right!” he said sharply. “So it’s decided then. We’ll all head off to the Governor’s Palace and settle in there until we can find a way off this rock.”
“Shouldn’t we wait?” Waverunner asked. “At least until my people are recharged? What if we’re attacked again?”
“Nonsense!” Strobe said dismissively. “Whatever attacked us came upon us at night. We have no reason to believe that they’ll attack during the day.”
“Are you sure?” Twostrike asked, tentatively.
“Are you questioning my Lieutenant?” Windsaber asked, a dangerous growl in his voice.
“Uh, no, of course not!” Twostrike stammered. “I’m sure that Strobe is right … uh … about us being safe during the day.”
“Exactly!” Strobe said. “And that’s why we need to move out now. We want to be nice and settled by moon rise.”
The Neutrals all stood reluctantly and got into a line. It was a pathetic sight. Of the original fifteen survivors, only five remained. Cobalt and Arclight stayed near the back of the line, guarded by the last remaining member of the crew, an engineer by the name of Turbine. He was quiet and seemed determined to protect his people no matter what. Even if it meant keeping the status quo.
Slowly they removed the barriers and made their way out of the building, following Strobe and Windsaber toward the heart of the city in silence.
“Wait, hold on a moment,” Strobe called. “Where’s our good Doctor?”
“She’s at the back with the other prisoner,” Waverunner replied. “Why do you need her?”
“What?” Strobe said, obviously surprised. “Oh come on! She’s more than proven herself. I mean, look at me! If it wasn’t for her, I’d still be being carried! Bring her up here. She deserves better than to be lumped in with that Autobot,” he sneered, managing to turn the simple word into the foulest of curses.
Arclight hesitated, then, at a nod of support from Cobalt, she moved forward to stand beside Strobe.
“There! That’s better,” the Decepticon said, draping a long arm over her shoulder companionably. Arclight tried to suppress a shudder at his touch. If he noticed it, he didn’t acknowledge it, or Arclight’s nervous glance.
“All right, then,” Windsaber said. “Can we go now?”
“Of course, my brother. Of course,” Strobe replied.
Together the small group walked up what appeared to be a main thoroughfare of the city. The forest was slowly overtaking the place, breaking up the stone walkways, growing into the once proud buildings, and, in some areas, growing so dense that they blocked out the sunlight.
It was obvious that the city had once been breathtaking. Gleaming white stone and shining metal made up most of the buildings. The metal was wrought elaborately and the stone carved into beautiful images, some natural, others purely fantastic. None of the buildings were taller than sixty feet, but their grandness more than made up for their lack of height. Long dead fountains and crumbling statuary stood in the middle of every intersection, and though decrepit, they still managed to add to the grandeur of the city as a whole.
“I think we’re almost there,” Strobe said, pointing to a bend in the road ahead that lead to a gently sloping hill. “I’m pretty sure that what we want is just up there.”
Arclight looked up the hill and saw only a barren and empty field, but when she focused more tightly it became obvious that the area had once been manicured and cared for. And just beyond the rise of the hill she saw what appeared to be the top of a tower of some sort. It was obvious from the murmurs that the other Neutrals had come to the same conclusion.
As they continued toward the hill, something caught Arclight’s attention. She turned her head toward one of the nearby buildings, slowing slightly, but there was nothing there. Something continued to nag at her processor, however, even as Strobe encouraged her to continue. After a few more paces whatever it was was back again, and this time, she noticed that Cobalt’s attention had also been caught. And this time, she did not allow Strobe to lead her away.
“Wait a moment,” she said. “I think I saw something.”
“Saw what?” Strobe asked, looking around. “There’s nothing to see.”
“I think I saw it too,” Cobalt replied.
“Oh, yes, of course. And we should believe the word of an Autobot,” Windsaber sneered.
“It’s not the Autobots who lie, Decepticon,” Cobalt shot back.
“Oh yes, because you are such pillars of virtue,” Waverunner said, rolling his optics derisively.
“Said the Decepticon in training,” Cobalt snapped.
“Stop it, all of you,” Arclight cried. “I’m sure I saw something. In that building over there.”
She pointed toward a darkened doorway. For a long moment no one moved and no one spoke. Then, suddenly, a shape loomed out of the doorway and a mech shuffled out of the building.
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 27. 45,311 words written, three days left and 4,569 words to go. There is no way in hell that this story will be completed in the remaining time, not unless I pull a "rocks fall; everybody dies". But I will hit the needed wordcount.
All joking aside, I will avoid the gatuitous gaming reboot method of dealing with the lack of completion, and just post my notes for the remaining chapters and the epilogue for those folks who are reading here, sort of like a sneak preview. Also, it will mean that I can have my last two words be "The" and "End", just like I wanted. Okay, so it's cheating a bit, but it means that I will have my notes posted somewhere, just in case something happens to my saved copies.
And the normal wordcounter will be replaced as soon as languageisavirus.com is back up again. I can't say that I particularly care for the one's provided by NaNo. Since their "live" they're constantly updating, but somehow, the wordcount doesn't seem to keep up to date (hence why it says I've only written 44,152 words at the time of this posting).
Edit: And the site is back up. Yeah for a normal word counter!
Arclight sat back from Strobe ad reached out to gently help him sit up. It took all she had to suppress a shudder at the sight of him. His boxy brown and tan body obviously did not belong with Zenith’s strange multi jointed black and white limbs. The systems were barely compatible and it had taken some creative wiring to get Strobe’s processor to acknowledge the alien hardware. She would have preferred not to partake in this act of cannibalism, but Windsaber wouldn’t take no for an answer. And with the lives of the remaining Neutrals hanging over her head, she had very little choice in the matter.
As soon as WIndsaber saw Strobe sit up he rushed over, and pushing Arclight out of the way, he helped the Communicator to stand. Strobe was wobbly on his feet, but after a moment to become accustomed to the new hardware, he was able to stand on his own. He looked down at Windsaber and laughed.
“This is the first time that I’m taller than you!” he laughed as he stretched to his new full height of forty feet.
“Careful,” Arclight admonished as Cobalt jumped about on his new legs. “I had to make a few adjustments and I’m not sure how much wear the legs can take.”
“So he’s not fully functional?” Windsaber growled, closing in on her.
“No!” she said quickly, looking nervously at the Neutrals and raising her hands to ward off a blow. “No, he’s fully functional. He just has to be careful.”
“Now, now, Saber! Leave her alone,” Strobe said, coming up to stand beside Arclight. “She did a good job. Fantastic, actually, considering the circumstances.”
“Well, I guess so,” Windsaber muttered.
“Thank you, doctor,” Strobe said, bowing slightly at the waist.
“Uhm … you’re welcome?” Arclight stammered, trying to hide her confusion and failing. This was not the Strobe she had met on the first day on this strange world.
“Now, where are we?” Strobe asked as he looked around the building.
“We’re in the city proper,” Windsaber replied. “We’re going to hold up here until Updraft returns with word on the city. I sent him out to find a comm center.”
“You sent him out alone?” Strobe asked, concern filling his voice.
“Oh course not!” Windsaber replied, offended. “I sent the programmer and the linguist with him.”
“Good,” Strobe replied. “He’s a good kid, but he wouldn’t know a comm system from his own aft.”
“That is far too true, my friend,” Windsaber replied with a chuckle. “But I didn’t have much of a choice. I couldn’t send the Neutrals on their own and I certainly couldn’t send those two,” he said, motioning toward Arclight and Cobalt.
“Well, I suppose not,” Strobe replied.
He began to move about the space, taking in the doors and windows, stretching up to examine every crack and crevice, occasionally nodding in apparent agreement with the job done.
“This is good. This is really good,” he said thoughtfully.
“But?” Windsaber asked.
“What but?” Strobe asked.
“I’ve known you for twenty seven vorn, Strobe,” Windsaber said. “And I know that tone. Now what problem do you have with my plan?”
“Oh, no problem,” Strobe said with a grin. “This place is great. Assuming that you have no problem staying in a place that’s … well, let’s face it, a place that’s mediocre.”
“Mediocre?” Windsaber asked dangerously.
“Yes, mediocre,” Strobe replied, that knowing grin still plastered on his faceplate. “Look, I would have chosen the same place, had I been in you place. But I’m not. And I have information that you didn’t.”
“Go on,” Windsaber prompted, doubtfully.
“Well, while I was … well, out there,” Strobe began with a shudder, “I overheard a lot of what I’m sure they didn’t want me to.”
He paused dramatically, then hurried forward at Windsaber’s less than pleased look.
“Basically, I overheard them talking about the Governor’s palace. Apparently they don’t want us there because it’s far too easily defendable. Plus, I’m pretty sure that I heard them mention a spaceport.”
“Good. That’s very good news,” Windsaber said, nodding thoughtfully. “If they, whoever they are, don’t want us at the palace, then that’s precisely where we need to go. As soon as everyone is recharged and Updraft returns, we’ll head out.”
“Why wait?” Strobe asked quickly. “Why not just contact him by radio and get him to meet us halfway. Or even better, at the spaceport!”
Windsaber paused and looked at Strobe intently, as if seeing him for the first time.
“You’re the one with the working long distance communicator,” he said slowly.
“I am? Oh, yeah, right. Sorry, I’m still a bit fuddled,” Strobe replied quickly. “Well, you know, more than likely the comm center will be in the Governor’s Palace. I’m sure we’ll run into Updraft on the way.”
Arclight and Cobalt sat in the corner taking in this conversation with apprehension.
“Does that seem right to you?” Cobalt asked Arclight in a low voice.
“No. It doesn’t,” she replied. “But none of this does anyway.”
“How is he even alive?” Cobalt asked.
“I have no idea,” Arclight whispered back. “By all rights he shouldn’t be. It could be something on this world that’s enabling it. Maybe the virus?”
“I just wish this had happened before Windsaber sent Circuit off,” Cobalt grumbled. “He might have been able to tell us something more.”
Arclight nodded her head in agreement and was about to reply, but was suddenly cut off by Strobe.
“Right!” he said sharply. “So it’s decided then. We’ll all head off to the Governor’s Palace and settle in there until we can find a way off this rock.”
“Shouldn’t we wait?” Waverunner asked. “At least until my people are recharged? What if we’re attacked again?”
“Nonsense!” Strobe said dismissively. “Whatever attacked us came upon us at night. We have no reason to believe that they’ll attack during the day.”
“Are you sure?” Twostrike asked, tentatively.
“Are you questioning my Lieutenant?” Windsaber asked, a dangerous growl in his voice.
“Uh, no, of course not!” Twostrike stammered. “I’m sure that Strobe is right … uh … about us being safe during the day.”
“Exactly!” Strobe said. “And that’s why we need to move out now. We want to be nice and settled by moon rise.”
The Neutrals all stood reluctantly and got into a line. It was a pathetic sight. Of the original fifteen survivors, only five remained. Cobalt and Arclight stayed near the back of the line, guarded by the last remaining member of the crew, an engineer by the name of Turbine. He was quiet and seemed determined to protect his people no matter what. Even if it meant keeping the status quo.
Slowly they removed the barriers and made their way out of the building, following Strobe and Windsaber toward the heart of the city in silence.
“Wait, hold on a moment,” Strobe called. “Where’s our good Doctor?”
“She’s at the back with the other prisoner,” Waverunner replied. “Why do you need her?”
“What?” Strobe said, obviously surprised. “Oh come on! She’s more than proven herself. I mean, look at me! If it wasn’t for her, I’d still be being carried! Bring her up here. She deserves better than to be lumped in with that Autobot,” he sneered, managing to turn the simple word into the foulest of curses.
Arclight hesitated, then, at a nod of support from Cobalt, she moved forward to stand beside Strobe.
“There! That’s better,” the Decepticon said, draping a long arm over her shoulder companionably. Arclight tried to suppress a shudder at his touch. If he noticed it, he didn’t acknowledge it, or Arclight’s nervous glance.
“All right, then,” Windsaber said. “Can we go now?”
“Of course, my brother. Of course,” Strobe replied.
Together the small group walked up what appeared to be a main thoroughfare of the city. The forest was slowly overtaking the place, breaking up the stone walkways, growing into the once proud buildings, and, in some areas, growing so dense that they blocked out the sunlight.
It was obvious that the city had once been breathtaking. Gleaming white stone and shining metal made up most of the buildings. The metal was wrought elaborately and the stone carved into beautiful images, some natural, others purely fantastic. None of the buildings were taller than sixty feet, but their grandness more than made up for their lack of height. Long dead fountains and crumbling statuary stood in the middle of every intersection, and though decrepit, they still managed to add to the grandeur of the city as a whole.
“I think we’re almost there,” Strobe said, pointing to a bend in the road ahead that lead to a gently sloping hill. “I’m pretty sure that what we want is just up there.”
Arclight looked up the hill and saw only a barren and empty field, but when she focused more tightly it became obvious that the area had once been manicured and cared for. And just beyond the rise of the hill she saw what appeared to be the top of a tower of some sort. It was obvious from the murmurs that the other Neutrals had come to the same conclusion.
As they continued toward the hill, something caught Arclight’s attention. She turned her head toward one of the nearby buildings, slowing slightly, but there was nothing there. Something continued to nag at her processor, however, even as Strobe encouraged her to continue. After a few more paces whatever it was was back again, and this time, she noticed that Cobalt’s attention had also been caught. And this time, she did not allow Strobe to lead her away.
“Wait a moment,” she said. “I think I saw something.”
“Saw what?” Strobe asked, looking around. “There’s nothing to see.”
“I think I saw it too,” Cobalt replied.
“Oh, yes, of course. And we should believe the word of an Autobot,” Windsaber sneered.
“It’s not the Autobots who lie, Decepticon,” Cobalt shot back.
“Oh yes, because you are such pillars of virtue,” Waverunner said, rolling his optics derisively.
“Said the Decepticon in training,” Cobalt snapped.
“Stop it, all of you,” Arclight cried. “I’m sure I saw something. In that building over there.”
She pointed toward a darkened doorway. For a long moment no one moved and no one spoke. Then, suddenly, a shape loomed out of the doorway and a mech shuffled out of the building.
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Date: 28 Nov 2007 13:27 (UTC)