Chapter 14

My optics flickered as I slowly came online. I groaned when I shifted positions, feeling the stiffness in my neck. Maybe I could ask Nickel to get it ou-

Wait

I wasn't on the Peaceful Tyranny.

My help shot up and optics flew open, remembering yesterday's events and my choice. They finally adjusted to a bright room, currently absent of any people. I clicked at one of the medical drones going past but it just readjusted the blanket I was in and moved on.

But I didn't want to go back to sleep, I wanted to meet everyone, I wanted to explore this place! And...a part of me wanted to know who that kid was that died.

I wiggled out from the fluffy nest, stepped onto the berth, and stress my wings. But as soon as I launched into the air, pain sprung up around my pede and I squawked as I was pulled back down to the berth.

I shook my helm and looked back to see a chain connecting from the berth to around my leg. 'What the actual frag?' I thought, trying not to panic as I waddled over to it, 'Did they actually chain me up after I willingly joined sides?'

I frowned and stepped back, yanking my leg and the chain in an attempt to get it off but it was stubborn and just rubbed against my pede. Instead, it just made me do it more frantically as panic built in my mind, clouding my processor.

I flew into the air and pulled with all my might. The strain caused the bar the chain was attached to to bend a little but at the same time, it was also digging into my pede. In fact so much that I felt as though I was going to rip it off.

But I didn't care at this point. Pedes can be reattached and all I wanted was to get out of this! I squawked and gave another pull, clamping my beak together as pain sprouted up and the wiring in my joints started to tear and snap.

I didn't even hear the door opening behind me in my flurried attempt to get free. 'Woah now!' Someone said and strong servos clasped my wings together, stopping me from flying as he brought me closer to the berth, making the chain go slack.

I screeched in protest and tried to peck at the digits but instead, I heard a faint click and the metal clattered to the berth. I stopped as he ran his digits along my wing, 'See?' Megatron asked, 'You're alright now.'

He put me down while Ratchet hurried up behind him. He immediately crouched next to the berth and started working on my pede. 'I told you restraining her was a bad idea.' The gray mech said, 'Any pet coming from the DJD was bound to have reacted similarly.'

'Yeah well, I didn't want to take a chance with her.' The medic grumbled, welding my pede back into place, 'There was no way to know how she would have reacted.' 'I did,' Megatron said, 'I know how Tarn treats his crew.'

Ratchet finished and stood up, placing his servos on his hips and looking at me expectedly as to see what I would do next. I looked down and flexed my pede for a bit before looking at him and chirping in thanks and hopping over to Megatron who picked me up.

I perched on his arm as I watched the medic tilt his helm curiously, 'Interesting,' He said, 'She seems quite docile, especially around you.' Megatron smiled and rubbed my beak, 'I think you just need to give her a chance.' He said.

I clicked in agreement, ruffling my wings. The captain chuckled and waved goodbye to the red mech before walking out. 'Come on,' He said, lifting me up to eye level, 'You must be hungry.' I nodded vigorously.

He smiled as he walked to what I presumed was a refuel room or at least a bar. I looked up at the big yellow mech standing by the door, like a guard almost. 'Ten?' He said, holding his servo out to stop us.

'We don't have any weapons Ten.' Megatron simply said, 'You know that.' 'Ten.' Ten said and stepped aside. 'Thank you.' Megs said and walked in.

I noticed some bots cast us a place as we came in but I kept my helm down until we reached a booth. One-half of it was already occupied. 'Mind if we join you?' Megatron asked. 'Sure thing Captain.' A yellow and blue one grinned.

'Everyone, this is Aceblade,' He said, putting me on the table, 'Ace, that's Nightbeat, Riptide, Rung, and those two down there are Skyraid and Remix.' I tilted my helm at the two shapes. One was a wolf and the other a bird, not too distant looking from me. They gave me a look before settling back down.

I looked back at Megatron inquisitively but he just sighed and stroked my back, 'Don't expect much from them.' He said, 'They were both bonded to Radiowave and neither took her death well.'

Remix growled in agreement, his blue optics watching me closely. I tried to ignore him but I felt his gaze boring into me. Megatron either didn't see or this was normal because he retrieved a bowl for, the counter and filled it with energon before setting it down in front of me.

My tanks rumbled at the realization of how empty they were and I immediately dipped my beak in, drinking it up.

'That's my bowl.' A voice hissed in my processor, making me jump. I spun around to see Skyraid glaring at me from the seat, only his optics visible over the table. I was too stunned by the fact he was telepathic to reply.

His glare sharped and he jumped up on the table, stalking over to me. I backed away as the slightly bigger bird grabbed the bowl and pulled it away. 'Skyraid!' Megatron said. 'But it's mine.' He said again.

'I know it's yours but we only have your two so you'll have to share for now.' The gray mech said. 'Don't want to.' The bird said, crouching down defensively. Megatron sighed and rubbed his nose, 'I liked you better before you figured out how to talk telepathically.' He groaned.

I just watched them argue when my tanks rumbled again. I whined and shifted uncomfortably until someone cleared their throat quietly behind me. I turned to see Rung looking at me. He smiled and tapped the table under his servo.

I hopped over and looked up to see what he wanted. He pulled a box out from a space in his frame (how the frag did it fit in there?) and took a blue stick out. I stared at it like it was my true love and basically attacked it as he gave it to me, the sweet taste of the treat making me sigh.

When was the last time I'd had one of these?

Rung laughed and gave me another as the first disappeared in an instant, 'I can see she has quite the appetite.' He said. I just gave a muffled chirp.

Skyraid hopped over, giving a hopeful look up at him. 'No,' Rung said sternly, 'You chose that so she gets this.' 'Ok,' Remix said to the bird, 'Even I saw that one coming.' Sky just grumbled and returned to his energon.

Rung handed me a third stick before putting them away. I clicked and went over to him, rubbing my helm against his arm in thanks. 'You're welcome.' He said, 'I'm always happy to help anyone out.'

'Careful.' Someone said. I turned to see Chromedome standing in front of the table. 'She may just be faking it.' 'I highly doubt that,' Rung said, adjusting his glasses, 'She has in no way, shape or form shown any violent tendencies towards us.'

'Yeah, for now.' He said. I clicked up at him. 'She said she's sorry for whatever she did,' Remix translated, 'But she just wants to be friends.' 'Yeah right.' The orange mech said, 'Like I'd be friends with someone who probably helped murder a kid.'

'Alright that's enough,' Megatron said standing up, 'Listen, I know we're all upset about what happened to her but we don't know if Ace was even online when...it happened.' I felt his optics narrow behind his visor, 'That still gives me no reason to trust her.' He sneered and walked away.

Megatron sighed deeply into his servos, 'It's like I'm speaking to sparklings.' He grumbled, 'Once again, you'll have to excuse him. As if losing his Conjunx Endura wasn't enough, this was just another bullet to his spark. He's gotten bitter in the few days you were out.'

I looked at his retreating form sadly. 'Poor guy.' I thought, 'Loosing two people close to you must be tough.' 'You have no idea.' Remix said, 'I think the only reason he and boss made it through his death was because they had each other.'

'Well, frag.' I thought, 'That just makes me want to help him even more.' The wolf snorted, 'Good luck with that.' He said, 'He's basically closed himself off to everyone.'

The group went quiet for a bit until two more bots came over. One was a dark blue mech while the other was a purple femme. Megatron got up so they could move in. I noticed she seemed adamant about sitting next to Remix.

'Where's my good boy?' She cooed, scratching him behind the ears. The wolf who'd previously glared at me purred and melted beneath her servos. Skyraid cawed and hopped over, nuzzling her servo with his helm. 'Come here you little rascal!' She said, scooping him up and cuddling him.

I looked at the three longingly, feeling left out. I wanted to be hugged as well. I wanted someone to cuddle and love me but I felt like I'd be intruding on their happy mommet so I stayed quiet and looked away. 

She would probably just ignore me anyways. After all, I'm still considered DJD right? For some reason, tears came to my optics but I blinked them away hurriedly.

'And how can we forget about you?!' She then said. My helm whipped around a little too quickly and I looked over to see her grinning at me. I looked back but it seemed unlikely she was talking to Rung.

'Yeah, I'm talking to you.' The femme said, holding her servo out. I hesitated before shuffling forward to her. She immediately started petting my wings, making me shiver in delight and stretch them out.

The femme laughed and pulled me closer. I squawked in surprise at first and froze when she hugged me. She was hugging me! It took a few seconds to sink in before I chirped and snuggled into her chassis.

'Woah!' She grinned, 'Look who's cuddly all of a sudden.' 'She really seems to like you.' The dark blue mech said, smiling as he looked at us. I clicked happily nestled on her lap, purring as she stoked my back.

'So much for a ruthless killer.' Riptide said. 'Yeah, I think this one's gonna be fine.' Nightbeat agreed. I looked up at him and tilted my helm. The yellow and blue mech grinned at me, 'Nautica's usually our best way of telling what a bot like you is like.' He explained, 'She loves anything small enough and cuddles them right away. You can usually tell someone's personality from how they react to that.'

I nodded, only half understanding as I felt my optic lids start to droop. 'Uh oh,' Nautica said, 'Looks like someone's tired.' I chirped in protest but that was given away as I immediately yawned halfway through.

'Alright then.' Megatron said, 'Bedtime for you.' I squirmed a bit when I was taken from the comfort of Nauticas lap but soon settled in his arms. Remix and Skyraid hopped down next to him but I don't know why. Did they have to come along?

'Considering you'll be staying with us, yes, we do.' The wolf said. Damn, forgot he can read minds. 'Please refrain from poking around my processor.' I asked. 'Yeah right,' Skyraid said, 'Even if we wanted to, you have no more than a few weeks' worths of memories.'

'Haha,' I thought, 'Mock my memory loss, why don't ya?' They were about to reply when Megatron finally stopped walking. We'd reached a less crowded part of the ship and stood in front of a door. I looked back to see one directly opposite it.

'That's Rung's room,' Megatron said, 'So you can go there if these two give you any hassles.' I nodded as he punched in the code and the door swung open.

The room inside was fairly small, containing a single berth, desk, and a small window that looked outside. I also looked at a weird object that stood in one corner.

'You'll be staying here for now.' Megatron said, putting me on the berth. He then turned to Remix and Skyraid as they hopped up as well, 'Now I want no-nonsense from either of you.' He said sternly, 'One word that you've mistreated or hurt her and you'll both be in for it. I know Radio's no longer here but that's no reason to go off the rails. Ace is as much of an Autobot now as I am.'

I gave him the best smile and could, happy he trusted me. 'Get some sleep you three.' He said, 'We've got a long day ahead tomorrow.' With that he walked out, leaving me with the other mini-cons.

'So, ground rules,' Remix said, looking at me, 'There's only one, and it should be fairly easy to obey.' I nodded and waited. 'Until we know for sure we can trust you,' Sky said, 'Don't touch anything.'

'Is it because they belonged to Radiowave?' I asked, looking at the stuff on the desk. 'Yes,' Remix said and lay down, 'They're special.' 

I looked at the various objects that littered it. A photo, a book, a necklace, some toys, a tape recorder and some kind of music thing. Frag, of course, I now want to see what they all are.

I turned back to find the two snuggled together, fast asleep. I sighed and settled down on my end of the berth. Like before, I felt left out again. I wanted to join but I could tell they were still skeptical of me.

Didn't have to be a mind reader to see that.

I positioned myself so I could look out the window as I lay there. The stars slowly scraping across the sky seemed to calm me. Maybe it helped Radiowave as well. Maybe that's why she liked this room.

'If only I'd gotten here sooner.' I thought, closing my optics. What was everyone like before her death? Was Chromedome cheerful? Were Remix and Skyraid not as cold and sarcastic as they are now?

I sighed again and forced my processor to stop. 'Well,' I accepted, 'Guess that's just one of the many things I'll never know.'