Darkest Days

Chapter 8: Rising tide

"Suffering teaches joy." ― Sonia Rumzi

I am sorry it has been so long...I have had a terrible time getting back into the SWING of things.

He purged twice, he was grateful he'd made it back to his quarters unseen by anyone; generals or vehicons. His communication had been swift, and only held two words on a private comm channel; so that the only the vehicon he chose to contact would understand it. "GET HERE."

T1m had not been prepared to see the sight before him as he walked into the room. Placing a hand over his mouth. He had to turn around for a beat to compose his emotions. "Oh Dreadwing." He frowned as he turned coming to kneel at the seeker's side.

Dreadwing was laid out on the floor at the foot of his berth; his wings were bent and dented horribly, his torso was battered.

"I …" Dreadwing shook his helm as if trying to form the words.

"You need medical attention." T1m gave a low nod trying to make a general assessment. "Allow me to take you to medical."

"No." Dreadwing rasped out. Dreadwomg turned to lean against the wall putting his pedes against the berth. One of his wings merely hung by adjacent nerve lines. His upper body dented and his interface panel was gone entirely. "I'mmm fine." Though by his tone, he was struggling to believe it himself.

T1m shook his helm. "You are not fine." T1m lifted him up and helped move him to the wash racks. "You're a mess, you're damaged and you need medical attention." T1m reached up grabbing the sprayer hose. Lowering it across the larger mech's body in an attempt to wash some of the energon away from exposed panels and out of cracks in the seeker's armor to save him trouble in the medical bay later.

Dreadwing coughed twice and turned purging into the wash-rack drain. "He … he…" He just kept looking at the drain as the water sprayed over him.

"I know I need to get you to medical so I can ensure you're not …going to start manufacture of the warlord's next heir." T1m frowned down at him. "Please do not make me do this."

"No." Dreadwing insisted. "I cannot be seen like this." He pushed the vehicon off though there was no malice in the shove, or strength.

As T1m stood he removed his mask. His soft features pierced the larger mech as Dreadwing looked up into the other mech's optics. "I will not take No, for an answer." He stated with utmost certainty his thin mouth enunciating every word. Holding out his hand he continued. "If you love me, like I am certain you do." He began slowly with no hint of anger or hurt. "You will take my hand and come with me."

Dreadwing eyed that hand for a long time, this decision was extremely hard to make. He pushed up slowly before slipping back again to weak. "I'm …I cannot." He shook his helm. "My strength." He muttered and tried to press up again only to fall back on his aft.

"I shall call for St3v3 he will assist me." T1m began to pull his hand back when it was grasped tightly.

"T1m." He murmured. "I never meant…I didn't." it was almost an apology.

T1m smiled down as he cupped the larger mech's face. "He didn't give you a choice. I know that, and know this Dreadwing; I do not blame you at all." T1m leaned in without fear. He kissed the mech's splintered face and smiled at him before looking into his optics once more. With another assuring smile he stood and moved to the communications console.

Wheeljack stood at the bridge in site. "Where is the scout?" Megatron asked with a hint of anger.

"Look he had an accident back at base, he was not able to return. Doctors orders." Wheeljack said opening the large case. "I got your prize right here." He said softly showing the device to the warlord for his approval.

Megatron nodded his approval as Wheeljack sealed the case back up. "Where's Prime?"

Megatron ignored Wheeljack's query. "Soundwave escort our guest to medical." Megatron said. "I'll be along shortly. I have a few things I need to check on first." He insisted.

Wheeljack couldn't help but notice the scratches all over the warlord's torso, before he turned moving away. There was a large gash in Megatron's armor just above the shoulder. He could tell this had ether been a close quarter fight, or an interface that had gone terribly wrong.

Soundwave held out his hand for the wrecker who, drawn out of his thoughts, strode forward. "So this is the Nemesis…" He looked around. "I've been here before of course, but didn't get this good of a tour." At an intersection Soundwave pointed left and the wrecker walked on. "Don't say much do ya?" they came to a stop in front of a door that was opened.

Soundwave waited until Wheeljack was inside and sealed the door. "Who're you?" St3v3 asked turning to the other mech.

"Wheeljack?" Prime stood up from beside the berth answering for the Wrecker. "Is everything alright?"

Wheeljack shrugged. "Peachy." He said offering the case to the Prime who took it. "Ratchet sends his love." Wheeljack opened a panel on his arm and pulled out a data-pad. "Some of the Doc's reports since you've been out." Wheeljack turned to Knockout. "How's the helm?"

Knockout was sitting up as he nodded. "Bearable." He admitted weakly his fingers holding a sort of shield over his face.

Wheeljack watched Prime read, when Optimus looked up Wheeljack met his optics with a nod. Prime seemed to understand the situation and put the data pad into his forearm compartment.

"Something I am missing?" Knockout coughed.

"Nothing to worry yourself over at present Doctor." Wheeljack touched his helm with a smile. "Ratch says to get better or he'll kill you; personally."

Knockout rolled his optics. "Well there's that to look forward to." He coughed again and turned rubbing the rag over his lips. Wheeljack hated the rash all over the alabaster face of the medic but said nothing.

Prime stood and looked at Wheeljack. "Is she ok?"

"Yeah…she's fine, Ratch had to put Moonracer in stasis for repairs." He waggled his eye plates.

"I see…and Perceptor?"

"Isn't leaving her side." Wheeljack said calmly. "You know how bonded mates are." He shrugged. "Ratch doesn't know if she'll live or not, but um Bulkhead is taking care of kickback."

Optimus gave a low understanding nod. "Megatron has found something to abate most of the symptoms, that said however, he is not cured."

Wheeljack sighed. "Okay." He shook his helm. "That's not good. He needs a cure…he's going to just deteriorate despite how he feels."

Optimus shook his helm almost desperately as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "What's the matter?" Knockout rasped.

Turning Optimus looked at him and smiled. "It is nothing."

"Don't tell me you regret it." Knockout muttered. "Bonding."

Optimus stepped to his side. "No." He touched the medic's rash covered face. "Do not ever speak such things."

Knockout could see the seriousness in the Prime's optics, almost the sad disbelief at the statement. "I .." Knockout touched Prime's face. "I never mean to be a burden."

"It is I who should be saying such to you, as I am the one responsible for transferring this virus in code to your body." Optimus gave a quiet side, his torso heaving with the large vent.

Knockout rolled his optics and lolled his head to one side. "Why do you always have to be the martyr?"

Wheeljack laughed out loud as the communications console in medical pinged. "Who would that be?"

St3v3 moved from where he'd been standing quietly watching the exchange. Stepping up he pressed a few buttons on the console and sighed. "It's T1m, it appears lord Megatron may have forced Dreadwing into something unpleasant. He's got considerable damage. I will be heading to assist T1m to move him to medical, please remain here and I shall return shortly." He said calmly.

Optimus nodded. "of course."

After the drone had made his leave; Prime bored his optics into his lover. "Megatron like's seekers… he may not have given Dreadwing a choice." He frowned and coughed as Wheeljack came around to his opposite side. Knockout groaned. "He almost killed Starscream on more than one occasion." He murmured. "that mech, is lucky to even still be alive, where ever he is."

"I hope to try to reason with Dreadwing's good nature." Optimus said as his own hand slid down into Knockout's. The medic laced their hands together.

"What if you cannot?" Wheeljack asked.

"I am hoping that will not be an issue; but if I cannot reason with Dreadwing, I believe can reason with T1m." Optimus insisted.

"Who's that?" Wheeljack muttered.

"One of the other drones." Knockout stated and closed his optics just listening. "Who was always close to Dreadwing."

Optimus nodded his assent. "However that said, we need to figure out what we are going to do."

The doors slid open without warning. "You're going to pass me that relic." Megatron stated coldly. "that's what you're going to do."

"Says the mech who looks like he went two rounds with a sharkticon." Wheeljack laughed; though his laugh was silenced by a glare of warning from Optimus. What Wheeljack said hadn't been far from the truth. Megatron's grey form was littered with blue and gold scratches and scuffs, deep gashes on his back indicated the other mech had struggled and fought.

"How is the patient this morning?" He glowered at the end of the berth.

Knockout opened his optics and glared weakly at the warlord. "Ah still impertinent I see." Megatron responded, because Knockout refused to.

Optimus let that go and squeezed Knockout's hand even tighter, once the warlord had turned to his console. "These are the findings from Shockwave and the re-examination of these findings by myself, you are free to look them over and send them to your medic." He stated as he prepared a second dose of the energon that was helping keep the symptoms of the plague at bay.

"We will examine your findings and discuss our arrangement further." Optimus stated.

"Ah good." Megatron sneered. "Energon in my quarters later?" He asked and could see the medic bristle as he weakly tried to sit up to protest.

Megatron took the opportunity to push past Wheeljack and inject the dose into Knockout's energon drip, and moved back. "I'll see you at final ration Optimus…I will send Soundwave to retrieve you." Megatron put the dosing device on the console and exited out the medical bay as swift as he had come.

Before Optimus could turn to speak Knockout was already pulling at his arm to turn to him. "I must."

"You cannot he'll kill you." Knockout muttered.

"I have to agree with the doc boss…that is not a good idea." He stated.

"In order to facilitate this …to expedite this so we can go home I must." He touched Knockout's face. "We are bonded he cannot forcibly do anything to me." He stated. "The matrix would kill him-"

"If I didn't get to him first." Knockout suggested before hacking a vent into his palm. Wheeljack turned away walking over to observe a medical table to give them a moment's peace.

Optimus' glare held disappointment in that statement that Knockout had made; he slowly shook his helm. "No." He said calmly leaning down to press his helm to Knockout's as the hacking abated. "No." He repeated again.

Knockout's hands cupped around the Prime's face tightly holding him there. "Don't leave me; you said you wouldn't leave me." It sounded desperate, and it was on very, very, rare occasion that Optimus would hear this tone from his lover. "You promised." It was so desperate.

"I am never leaving you." Optimus stated. "I will just be physically away." He stated. "Besides I want to get to the bottom of what's happening with Dreadwing." He offered quietly.

The medial bay doors opened again, and St3v3 and T1m were carrying, more like dragging, Dreadwing behind them. "Speak of Unicron himself." Wheeljack didn't move, but Prime did as he went to the drones waving them back as he lifted Dreadwing up with far more ease than the smaller mechs could.

"Please take him to the back room, where Knockout's quarters were, I don't want Megatron to see him here." T1m stated. "St3v3 please gather my tool kit." He stated. "We'll be working late." Optimus shifted into the next room and lowered the larger mech to the berth.

Dreadwing didn't look him in the optics, but Optimus knew he was conscious. "Tim will be back soon." He reminded the seeker.

Optimus was soon standing back in the main room. Where Wheeljack's optics flashed in his direction. "Megatron." Wheeljack muttered. "He is the one that did that?"

Optimus nodded. "Yes, and I intend to put a stop to it." T1m moved nearer to them with St3v3 on his heels once more gathering a few more tools.

T1m, while struggling with tools nodded as he checked St3v3's tools. "I want to leave with you Prime, and bring Dreadwing with me and St3v3 if he wishes." He stated. "I cannot in good conscience leave my..." He stalled. "My consort here."

Wheeljack shook his helm in disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I intend to bond to Dreadwing." T1m stated. "I'm tried of this." He grabbed his kit with such fury that he nearly broke the handle. "This insanity; I will not spend another moment hoping that Megatron will be merciful."

"But you a re…" Wheeljack mutted.

"A what?" St3v3 challenged. "A drone?" He responded darkly. "Come on T1m lets go take care of Dreadwing."

Wheeljack shook his helm. "Look I didn't mean it like that…" He tried to cover up.

T1m surveyed Wheeljack evenly and shook his helm. "You wouldn't know my fury from Megatron's if that's all you saw." It made Wheeljack still. "I will avenge what is precious to me." He stated. "Now if you will excuse me I need to ensure that the mech I love isn't creating the next Megatron." He pushed past Wheeljack and walked around Optimus moving with St3v3 into the next room.

Optimus drew back from knockout. "Stay with Knockout." He said to Wheeljack as he made his way into the rear quarters.

Bumblebee walked up and handed Ratchet a datapad. "This is fine Bumblebee thank you." He smiled. "You're free to go on Patrol now."

Preceptor entered behind Bumblebee and walked up to the table. "Is the stasis still necessary?" he asked stepping up beside Moonracer.

"Yes." Ratchet nodded and set the datapad aside. "I've got to get her fuel pump replaced." Ratchet nodded. "Better if she's out, but it's a pretty routine procedure." He said. "I'll let you know when I'm finished." He tried to look honest.

"Alright." Preceptor ran his hand over her helm a moment and nodded moving to the exit. "Please let me know if I can be of any help." He sighed.

"Of course." Ratchet stated and prepared his tools, yes he was replacing her fuel pump, but he was also implanting a small tracker; courtesy of Wheeljack.

To be continued...

Soon I hope