Megatron's twin

26:A Blue Flame

Heads up, it's a bit more down-beat this chapter.

Everything was sore. I moved and I froze in pain. I opened my optics and all I saw was black.

Where was I?

I searched my memories, the walls were crumbling... Had Darkmount collapsed? I felt the material near my servos, bits of metal. So yes, it had. Goodie (Note sarcasm).

I suddenly became more aware of were I was, under a massive tower, in a closed space, in pain and surrounded by darkness.

My venting quickened, panic was an old friend of mine but never had I gotten used to it. I curled up, ignoring the pain as I shook in fear. I was in a small room, I think, it was dark. I could barely see, the only thing visible was the dim blue light my optics cast.

It was dark.

Tears began to fall as once again I was reminded...

I sat in a dim room, the only light coming from a lone lamp that was slowly fading. I knew what was to come, I made a mistake.

A door opened and in stepped my carrier. A long whip hanging down to her peds. I closed my optics at the pain that was to come.

"Turn around." She snarled, as if I was the fault for the downfall of her life. I did so, knowing if I did not I'll get more than what I needed. She begun. A lash of pain seared across my backstruts.

Ten is what I was to receive.

Three extra for every sound of weakness.

Five for every tear that trails down my face plate.

I sobbed as another tear fell. I felt as if all I did was to numb the pain. I trembled in fear as I peeked around.

It's just the dark.

It can't hurt me.

A soft sound came from across the small room I was given, instantly my spark seized up. I closed the bond to my brother, not wanting him to feel my weakness.

My venting shallowed as two blue optics onlined, the only thing visible in the dark. I let off a fearfully whimper as I closed my optics agian, waiting for my fate.

"Ratchet?" The bot tried their com, most likely to receive only static. I stiffened, they seemed more functional than I.

I heard movement, they were getting closer. I pulled my limbs close as I tried to comfort my damaged spark.

"Quillux?" A servo gently shook my shoulder. I let out a whimper, "it's alright. It's me, Optimus." His words gave me little relief as my spark pulsed in pain.

"Even your venting." He instructed.

It took time for the suggestion to sink in but soon I calmed myself to the occasional shiver. I realaxed my frame and loosely lay there. I kept my optics closed, lubricant slowly trailing down my faceplate.

My spark kept pulsing, so shakily I reached into my subspace and felt for the flask. I found it and took a small sip. Slowly the pain began to fade.

"Better?" Optimus' voice came from beside me. I nodded as I let out a shaky sigh. "I can't reach the others, can you?"

I opened my com, only to receive static even before I spoke. I closed it and tried the sparkbond to my twin. Hello? I got no response, had the spark failure harmed the bond? Of course it did, our sparks tie us together.

I shook my helm, "n-no." I croaked out.

He put a servo on my shoulder plate, "I trust they will assume we are stuck here." He said. "Do you have some energon?"

I reached in my subspace and took out some high grade I had stashed. "W-why?" I asked.

"For some light. We can safely set a small bit aflame." He explained.

Huh... Clever. I opened my optics as I felt him lean forward only to close them quickly as if the dark burned them.

I heard him transform something and a small blast echoed around the room. I opened my optics to see a small flame dance before them. It gave the room a blue tint, I looked over to Optimus and saw his form larger than I remembered.

He sat back as I visualily explored his new frame. I was tempted to say something inappropriate but realised this may not be the time. "What happened?" I asked, this can't have happened by itself.

He looked over to me, his expression unreadable. "The forge repaired me."

I blinked, this conversation calming me. "The one the Smokescreen stole?" He looked surprised at that. "I saw him through a window." I explained. He nodded. "What do you mean with 'repaired'?"

"I was in the base when it was destroyed, Smokescreen got me to safety." He explained.

This hit me like a brick. He was gravely damaged and I was off getting drunk, a great bot I am.

"I have a jetpack too." He sounded as if he was trying to hide his excitement.

"I bet I'm faster." I challenged.

"Perhaps I could take you up on that offer." I swear a smirk was threatening to rise to his faceplate.

I snorted, "Megatron doesn't stand a chance now."

Suddenly the mood changed. It dawned on me that we were at war, one of them not there to see after it. I could barely image both there views. Both knowing that one could die and all they fought for, all they did to win, may be in vain.

"How do you still stand?" I looked down to the fire.

"Pardon?"

"With all that pressure sitting on you, it must be hard to go on. With all the pain which has been and what is to come. All the strife and destruction seen though your optics." I paused, "the deaths you witnessed and how you must move on knowing you will see more."

I looked up at him. "How do you find the courage to see another day?"

He stared blankly at the floor before looking up. "Those around me keep me afloat. They repair the damage within me."

"Damage?"

"I crumbled within long ago."

"Then you are strongest of us all."

If you have any suggestions as to how I may improve or make the story more interesting, please feel free to comment.🙂