Chapter 7

I stared blankly ahead as Rodimus spoke from his podium. His words floated over my helm but didn't process in my audio receptors and were just noise.

First Aid had woken me up for the funeral so here I sat, in between Chromedome and Fortress Maximus. I was absolutely silent, not moving a muscle or saying a word despite the few whispers around me. A caught a few mechs glance at me but I ignored them.

Instead, I just stared at the coffin representing Rewind, whose body was not found or recovered.

'And in this way we are connected.' Everyone said around me as Rodimus finished his speech. My intake moved with the words but no sound came out. 

The red mech continued with a stony face as he talked about Rewind, also paying Max, Domey and I some respect for getting rid of Overlord. He called Chromedome up to say a few words so he did.

'I don't have a huge amount to say.' He said blankly, 'I'm sorry he's gone. We're all sorry he's gone. Thank you.' 

I watched him as he walked and sat back down next to me. Rodimus looked in my direction questioningly but I shook my helm. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't.

I couldn't say anything to, for or about Rewind.

He was gone.

Just like everyone else.

And his screams were still echoing in my helm.

Max put his servo on my shoulder but I turned my helm down, paying him no attention. I could feel his gaze on me but I just gripped the chair and waited for the funeral to finish before the coffins were ejected into space.

I was out of the room before anyone else, wanting to get as far away as possible. I heard a few mechs calling my name but I kept my helm down. I'd expected them to come sooner, but wasn't surprised when I finally felt tears slipping down my face and tickling my cheek as they went.

I went into my room, shutting the door immediately and letting my mask slid up. Having no strength to walk to my berth, I leaned back against the door and slid down, pulling my knees up and burying my face in my arms. I felt them dampen as I cried into them.

I'd read enough of CD's memories to see that Overlord hadn't been lying. Domey had gone down there to poke around in his memories and with that, the phycopath had escaped.

But I'd also seen the orange mech blamed himself more than anyone. Maybe even more than I blamed myself right now. The two of them had a whole future together.

I screamed in silent agony, letting the pain of my digits scraping on my arms bring me back to reality. I clenched the fins of my helm and sobbed, probably leaving marks on them.

My helm however, shot up as someone walked past my room. I don't know who it was but I caught fragments of their thoughts. My optics widened when I heard them.

I took deep breaths, forcing myself to calm down. The tears soon stopped and I was breathing normally again. I let out a shaky exhale and dropped my arms, letting my servos sit next to me. I then stood up and turned, put my mask back on and opened the door.

I hurried out and in the direction of the shuttle bay. Mechs were lined along the halls there, clearing a path for one to walk through. I ran forward to him, trying to catch up.

As I was about to put my servo on his shoulder, someone in the crowd yelled out and on instinct, I whipped around and my arm shot up. The mech in front of me turned as I caught the pipe that had been aimed at his helm.

Ratchet ran over to Drift to check if he was alright, but he looked at me, his optics filled with sorrow. 'Radiowave...' He started, reaching for me. I dropped the pipe and took his servos in mine, 'I'm so sorry.' He whispered, 'It's my fault Overlord was on board. It's my fault he's gone.'

I looked at the white mech, thinking back to all the times he'd made me smile or taught me to fight. I put one servo over my spark and looked at him, concentrating with all my might.

'Not...your...fault. Don't...blame...you.' I thought and sent the words at him, using everything I had. He straight up a bit and looked at me in surprise. I smiled under my visor and then threw his servos aside before darting forward and hugging him tightly.

He hesitated for a bit before I felt his arms go around my frame and hug back. He released me and held me by the shoulders at arms length. 'Good luck Radio.' He said with a sad smile, 'We'll hopefully meet again.' I nodded, saying definitely.

I then raised my servo and reached behind me, unsheathing the small sword out from in between my wings and presenting it to him. He looked from my face to it before smiling and pushing it back so it was closer to me.

'You keep it.' He said, 'You need it more than I do and personally, I think it suits you.' I gazed down at the short sword before holding it close to my chassis and looking up at him. 'Thank...you.' I thought.

He smiled and nodded, exchanging a few words with Ratchet before he boarded the small vessel and took of. The two of us went over to the glass, watching him fly away. Ratchet put his servo on my shoulder, 'I'll miss him.' He said, making me nod in agreement.

He left after a few minutes along with all the other bots in the hall, leaving me alone. I pressed my servo against the window and started out at the abyss of space, watching the speck that was Drift get further away and eventually, fade from my sight altogether.

I sighed but didn't move, instead walking a few feet and sitting on box that was pressed up against the wall and door. I pulled my knees up and hugged them closed, leaning my helm against the door and still looking out.

What felt like hours passed before the scenery changed, shifting from black pricked with stars to a large, orange and yellow planet, the setting sun hitting the dust-filled atmosphere and giving it the effect of glowing.

I watched as the ship drew closer and details become more clear. Mechanical whirling echoed down the halls as the landing gear came down and the Lost Light settled on the ground. I sat up slightly, looking out at the city on the horizon.

I turned when footsteps sounded down the hall behind me. Skids rounded the corner, looking around before he spotted me and his face lit up slightly. He walked over and sat next to me.

'Hey there.' He said, 'Still sad?' I nodded and looked back out. He sighed and moved closer, 'The rest of the crew's going out to see the city.' He said, 'There's a event they have every year where people from all over the galaxy gather in this huge market.'

I looked at him, tilting my helm. 'I came to ask if you wanted to come.' He continued, 'Thought it would be a nice distraction after...recent events.' I turned and gazed out before nodding and getting up, following the blue mech down the hall.

I sensed there was more to this trip but still went along with him.

We both hopped on one of the hoverbikes and flew off, following the line of scattered bots from our ship as they made their way to the festival. I looked out at the landscape as we rode. Ironic that it seemed barren and bare, like all the planets we visited.

We arrived as the sky grew dark, stopping in a section that was filled with modes of transport and parked the bike before getting off and walking in the direction of twinkling lights.

I turned my helm up to look at the buildings in front of us. They seemed to be made mostly of different stalls and small buildings, each containing a variety of products. Mechs and femmes bustled through the already crowded streets, shopping and going about their business.

Skids quickly stopped and bought a few energon treats at a small sweet shop. He gave me the small bag and took my hand, leading me through. I lowered my helm and a small hatch popped open on my mask, allowing me to slip one of the sweets through and eat it.

My optics wandered around as we walked. I felt like a sparkling with him guiding me around like this but eh? What the heck? I needed some time to be a kid again and I had to admit, it did help take my mind off Overlord.

We walked through the crowd, occasionally stopping to look at the stalls or ask about the products. Skids kept chatting excitedly with me, talking about the different things we saw and explaining how a few were made. I just nodded and followed him, being unable to answer.

He soon stopped at one of the bigger shops, looking at it with interest as a crowd was gathering around it. The vendor inside was showing off some kind of flashy gun, yelling out all the things it could do and all the attachments it came with.

I paid no attention to him and instead ate another sweet. I gently let go of Skid's servo and pointed away signaling I wanted to check out one of the other shops. 'Ok.' He nodded, 'Just say within my sight.' I gave him a thumbs-up and walked away.

I squeezed through the crowd and out into the open, relief coming over me. I was never one for loud events and all the people here just made me feel claustrophobic. I shuddered and and made my way to the opposite side of the street.

I was looking at some odd trinkets a blue and black mech was selling, wondering how he made them and who would buy them when words started drifting into my processor.

I perked up and looked around. The voice was strange and almost rough, the words broken and not forming complete sentences. This confused me quite a lot as I racked my mind for who I knew who sounded like that but I drew up a blank.

Instead, my optics strayed down to the stall next to me. The guy working there was a buff and cruel-looking bot, currently discussing something with a equally rude-looking customer. I grimaced when I saw his stock, consisting of what looked like crude animal trap, snares, and some lethal-looking daggers.

Movement next to the shop caught my attention so I walked over and looked down. Cages upon cages were stacked next to it, varying from all different sizes and shapes. They were all empty...

Except for two

I blinked and took a few steps forward, approaching the cage carefully and looking at its contents with awe.

The largest one was on the floor. A chain was tied to the grate on the front and it went back further into the small prison. I kneeled down and peered into the darkness crated by the tarp draped over half of it.

Blue optics stared back it me.

'Bot, hurt, small, sparkling, pain, scared, blue, child, sore, trapped.' A mixture of words went on, entering my mind. I realized they must have been coming from the animal in front of me. Maybe their minds were just easier to read?

I shuffled forward and put my servo against the bars, looking at it curiously. Immediately, more words formed, 'Child, scared, small, dangerous, pain, starved, bad, blue, good? who?' The voice went on. It fell silent before one word was heard.

'Help.'

I looked at the animal sadly, my gaze drifting down to what looked like a collar tied around its next. Dried energon trailed down its front where it was cutting in. Not breaking eye contact, I slowly pulled up the bag and reached in.

A growl came from the cage as I did but stopped when I brought the energon treat out. I carefully stuck my servo through a larger section of the bars and held it out, the small cube sitting flat on my palm.

The optics looked at it for a bit and was soon followed by sniffing. The dark mass then moved inside the cage and carefully came forward, the chain loosening as it did. I gasped as the creature stepped into the light, amazed at it's beautiful frame.

It was a cyber wolf, an animal that was thought to be extinct after they were wiped out during the war. I looked at the buff mech, still deep in his conversation. Did he even realise what he was selling?!

I turned my helm back to the cage when something tickled my servo. I watched as the wolf moved its nose along my digits, gingerlg smelling me. It looked at me carefully before slowly opening it's mouth and taking the treat which it then devoured.

I smiled and took a few more out and giving it to him, watching as he ate them up hastily. I bought my servo up and gradually set it on its helm, petting it. The animal paid me no attention as it continued eating.

It was a stunning silver, highlighted with deep blue and green bio lights that ran all along its body.

Some more words floated into my helm except the voice was different, this time lighter and slightly screechy. A cry then made me look up to a cage balanced on three others, much smaller than this one.

I went over to it and looked in. This one contained a bird, some kind of falcon probably. I sighed, recognizing it as another rare species. 'I swear if this ends up being a poaching stall.' I thought, looking at it.

The raptor's color scheme was mainly black, white and light turquoise. I pushed a few cubes through the bars and watched as he quickly dropped to the floor and gobbled them up. I noticed the bird also had one of those collars on.

I watched the two continue eating before, 'HEY!' Someone yelled. I jumped as I was roughly grabbed by the neck and pulled to my pedes. Both the wolf and bird backed away, growling and screeching.

I was dragged away from the cages and forced to look at my captor. It was the guy who ran the shop, his face full of fury. The buyer came up next to him and stared at me in what looked like disgust.

'And what the frag do you think you're doing?' The crimson mech growled, bringing me close to him. I glared at him under my visor and jabbed a digit at the cages. 'So what?' He snarled, 'They're my stock, I decide what to do with them.'

I made gestures to my neck and then pointed again. 'Not much of a talker are you?' He laughed, 'Well guess what? The collars keep them in line. One misstep and,' He pulled out some kind of device and hit a button. Immediately the two cried out in pain and went wild, banging at the bars.

I stared in horror, watching them convulse violently. My servos balled and I whipped around, kicking upwards and making the device fall out his fist. He looked down at it before back up at me. The servo on my neck tightened.

'You shouldn't have done that.' He said, raising his servo which curled into a fist. I desperately tried to get away but the hold kept me in place.

I was preparing for the worst when the sound of metal tapping was heard and I felt him freeze. I looked and there behind him, with a gun held to the mech's helm, was Fortress Maximus, Skids, and a few more bots by his side.

'And pop goes the poacher.' Max grinned, 'Drop the kid.' He let me fall to the ground and Skids grabbed my arm, stabilizing me. The other law enforcement bots grabbed stasis cuffs and apprehended the two mechs.

I looked at them and then at Skids, pointing questioningly. 'Yeah,' He said smiling, 'This may or may not have been the reason why we were here.' 'We have a guy undercover in the illegal trafficking business.' A bright red and yellow bot said as he came over, 'Gave us a tip-off that there'd be an exchange here tonight.'

I glanced over my shoulder and jabbed at the cages. 'We'll get these two out of here.' The bot, Striker, said, 'We'll then need to find someone willing to look after them.'

'Actually,' Maximus said, looking at me, 'We think we have someone who'd be willing.' Striker looked down at me to which I nodded vigorously. He sighed, 'Alright then, but we'll have to transport them.'

Two bots, who looked like brothers, attempted to get close to the cages and carry them. The occupants had other ideas though. The raptor squawked and pecked at their digits while the wolf backed up far against the back mesh, his hackles raised threateningly and making the bots back away. All they managed to do was get the smaller one down so it sat next to the other.

Their thoughts plagued my mind in a flurry of words, mainly consisting of things like, 'Bad, hurt, pain, cage, attack, help, bite, hurt, help, bad, die, stop, back, help, help, help, help, help.'

I ran over and knelt in front of the cage. They yelled at me to back away but I shushed them and directed my attention at the wolf in front of me. I stared it in the optics, 'Calm.' I thought pushed it to them, 'You...are...safe. I...am...friend. Will...help.' 

They slowly started calming down, neither's optics straying from my face. They slowly inched forward until they were both much more relaxed.

'Amazing.' I heard someone murmur behind me. 'That's why she's the one.' Max said, the grin clear as day in his voice.

So that's why 5 minutes later, I found myself sitting behind Skids, riding back to the LL with the smaller cage on my lap and Fortress Maximus on a bike next to us, the bigger cage behind him.

We pulled up the ramp and to a stop. The few mechs that were there looked at us and the cages with much confusion. I just waved and walked behind Max down the halls, Skids comming Ratchet as we went.

We soon reached the medbay where the white and red mech was waiting, an unamused look on his face. 'Why was I hoping you were joking?' He said, looking at the animals. 'Oh come on.' Max grinned, 'It's for the kid.' 

He turned his helm and looked at me, 'Why do I get the feeling you're grinning under that mask.' He asked. I giggled and nodded. He sighed and waved us over, 'Well come on in then.'

While Ratchet, accompanied by Brainstorm, worked on fixing them up and getting the collars off, I went down to Swerve's and got two bowls of energon. The bartender looked down at me curiously.

'When'd you get a pet?' He asked. I pointed down and took them. 'Huh.' He said, 'Wonder if I could get them to buy me one if they're still in a spending mood.' I rolled my optics but smiled as I walked back out.

I arrived back in the medbay to find the two dozing in a corner, still a bit sedated from the stuff Ratchet gave them. Their frames were still stained slightly but the neckbands were gone. What concerned me were deep gauge marks where they were.

I walked over to the table and gasped as I saw them. 'Yeah,' Brainstorm grimaced, looking at them as well, 'Not pretty are they?' 

The collars were lying on the table, their original color gone thanks to the thick coating of purple. What made my spark stop though, were the spikes that lined at inside. I looked at the two bots in disbelief.

'They're just as bad as they look.' Ratchet said grimly, 'Each one is electric and the pain is doubled as they're embedded into the metal.' I shook my helm sadly. How the frag could someone do that?

'I heard something about animals?' We looked to see Chromedome walking in. I noticed his arm was still gone. That's probably why he was here. 'Yup, got them from the market.' Skids said.

There was suddenly growling in the corner and we turned to see them both awake and backed into the corner, snarling and baring claws at us. 'What market did you get them from?' CD asked, looking at him.

I shrugged and walked forward. This time, the two were cautious. They eyed me as I came closer, the bird flapping its wings agitatedly and the wolf growling threateningly at me. I lowered myself so I was level with them and held my servo out.

The action caused it to lung forward and attack, sinking its sharp dentas into my palm. I winced but didn't move, instead used my free servo to gently stroke it's helm, 'You're...safe.' I said to it, 'Danger...gone.'

He looked up at me and released my servo, his optics starting to soften and his posture relaxed. 'Sparkling, friend?' He asked to which I nodded as the bird hopped forward. 'All...friends.' I said, moving so they could see the others.

All danger gone and threats nonexistent here, the two settled down and came up to me. The raptor waddled forward and jumped onto my knee while the wolf nudged my arm so I could stroke him more.

CD and the others came over and stared down in amazement. I looked at and gave them a thumbs up. The orange mech rubbed where the bridge of his nose would've been, 'Please don't tell me you developed another ability.' He sighed.

I let out a silent laugh before, 'Maybe.' I thought, making them jump. 'Ok.' Brainstorm said, 'That's cool.' I grinned and looked back down at my two companions.

I began to notice they both positioned themselves in the same place under my servos. A tugging the started in my spark, making my helm whip around in confusion. 'What's happening?' Max asked, seeing my bewilderment.

Ratchet knelt next to me, 'Is there a kind of pull?' He asked, pointing at my spark. I nodded. A rare smile broke across his face and he put a reassuring servo on my shoulder, 'They're asking to bond.' He said.

Indeed, both of them were watching me expectedly. I looked back at Ratchet. 'Its your choice.' He said, 'You just accept it.'

I turned to them and smiled, feeling my spark open and bond with them. I closed my optics as two sets of emotions mixed with mine and a bind formed between the three of us, filling the void that had settled in my spark.

I opened them when it was done and the two animals were immediately all over me, nuzzling and licking. I laughed and hugged them both. It seemed the bond had somewhat freed them from something, their thoughts, which were now clearer, were also less fragmented and now almost full sentences.

'Well look who's got herself two symbiotes.' Max said as he sat next to me. I would've responded if the wolf wasn't making me laugh so much. 'So any ideas for names?' Brainstorm asked, grinning as he watched us.

I finally sat up as Ratchet handed me a data pad. I took it and my digits hovered over the keyboard. I wanted them to be special. My first thought was to use my carriers name but that felt a little to personal so I went with the next best thing.

They took the data pad from me and read the names, 'Good choice.' Domey said, recognizing them. 'What?' Skids asked. CD looked at them, 'Thise were her two closest friends as a child.' I nodded and hugged them again. 'Welcome to the team,' I thought,

'Remix and Skyraid.'