Complex Robotics

Count The Saints

"We split up," Sunstreaker said again, after a long period of silence, "The detonation device was planted somewhere in the heart of the city and Optimus ordered us to split up and look for it, we didn't have long until the city would be blown sky high. I was tracking an irregular energy signal when I stumbled upon you in that Con's hand. At first I looked away, I didn't even wanted to save you. I thought if you perished, then maybe Sideswipe would realize how futile and senseless you humans really were. But then I knew how much it would affect Sides. As much as I hated it, you meant a lot to him. Your death would leave him agonized, and it would plague him forever, knowing that he should've been a better guardian to you. So I saved you, for Sideswipe's sake. I killed the Con, and I hid you in this warehouse. It was far enough away from the battle that you'd be safe from discovery.

When I returned, it was in the midst of battle. Sideswipe and Jazz had found the bomb, and needed help disarming it. I knew how to make one, that would short the bomb out and disarm it, and in the momentary lapse of awareness, Dead End snuck up on me. I barely managed to move out of the way, and the fragger got me in the hip plate. We were running out of time, and they knew it. I killed that spawn of a glitch, but he did manage to get a couple of wounds on me. I gotten to the location, most of the Autobots were holding Con's back while Jazz and Sides tried to work the thing. It was one pit of a bomb, but we managed to disarm it just in time. We thought we'd won, we thought it was over, but that slagging Seeker wouldn't go down without a fight.

Sides and I were getting him good too, taking shots at his wings and slicing through his armor, when all of a sudden, the slaggin' ground splits. It split right between Sides and I, leaving me on the other side with that glitched Seeker. Sideswipe tried to get over, but the crevasse was too wide, and it was too risky to jump it. I told him I'd take care of him and what you humans call an earthquake happened next, taking us all off balance, and the Seeker suddenly had the upper hand. He transformed into the air, and dropped a bomb before jetting out of there. Lucky for us the glitch had a terrible aim and it landed in the abyss the split ground had created. But it wasn't a normal bomb, it was an electronic countermeasure. Not only does it disrupt communication transmissions on any frequency within a three mile-radius, but it feels like your helm is about to slaggin' blow up when you're a Cybertronian. The abyss took the worst of it, but I was close enough to get blown back into a building, my systems shorted out and left me in stasis."

Sunstreaker paused for a moment, "I onlined in rubble. About a third of the city was destroyed, and my comms were slag. What's worst was I couldn't even feel Sideswipe anymore. It was gone, shattered, and my frame was so numb from the explosion that it couldn't feel the burning pain in my spark. Your government and military was already on the scene, and I dragged myself out of the rubble, going to the only place I could think of."

"The warehouse." I muttered somberly.

"Yes," Sunstreaker answered a moment later, "And I stayed there, welding most of my wounds, and tended to your wounds. It wasn't until approximately three Earth days later that you had woken up."

My eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "I don't understand. After the explosion...they just left you?"

"I was buried seven feet deep in rubble. I doubt that they would've found me in time, especially since most of their systems were shorted out, and they needed to leave before the military came in."

"Oh." I said softly. But it still didn't exactly click for me; how could Sides, of all people just willingly separate from his twin? Or was it...unwillingly?

"I'm telling you this to prepare yourself." Sunstreaker said a moment later.

I nodded slowly in confusion, but carefully crawling into the passenger's seat.

"I'm ready." No, I wasn't.

Quickshift hopped out of the Lamborghini and pulled the lever. The screeching sounds of the metal warehouse filled the air, but I wasn't as excited as earlier to finally leave the warehouse. My stomach rolled at the dread waiting to come. I already witnessed deaths of innocents, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take. Once the doors fully opened, Quickshift hopped into my lap, and Sunstreaker's holoform appeared in the driver's seat.

He looked almost identical to Sideswipe's, the only differences being his golden, almost yellow hair that was extremely curly and fell to his neck, and the deeper, cobalt eyes. The engine revved loudly, and we were off. It was sometime in the middle of the day, because the sun was gleaming brightly in the sky. Dark spots clouded my vision, and I blinked several times before they cleared. Absolute horror washed over me as I stared at my surroundings.

Buildings were crumpled and charred, the glass shattered and in the streets. Trees were in the roads, and smashed into other buildings as well. Large, unusual cracks ran through the streets and sidewalks. Cars were strewn all over the place, flipped over, inside of buildings, and some manged to get stuck in the large cracks. There was a bookstore up ahead, I remembered it because it was the one my parents took me to all of the time. Half of the roof was missing, the windows were all shattered, and a large Semi was in the center of the building, laying on its side. I couldn't take it anymore, I squeezed my eyes shut. If I stared at the horror any longer I would throw up.

This place, this city...it used to be so beautiful and filled with life. But now, it was horrendous.

So many emotions swirled inside me; fear, horror, sadness, agony, and anger. I didn't register myself crying until tears began to slip down my cheeks, and I didn't wipe them. It was the boy in the school uniform all over again, and all I wanted to do was break down into a sobbing mess. Quickshift squeezed my hand in a comforting way, but I couldn't find any comfort in it, not when I was in the wake of death and destruction.

I choked on a sob, and Quickshift just squeezed harder. His wide silver eyes filled with sadness as he shook his helm. The tears didn't go away, even when we were out of the destruction and back on regular roads again. I understood why Sunstreaker said to prepare myself, and the tears only came harder.

My eyes snapped open, and I jolted up, looking around my surroundings frantically. I relaxed when I found myself still in Sunstreaker's Lambo, but frowned when I realized I was laying in the backseat again. The fluorescent lights had me wincing again, and I rubbed my eyes, letting out a soft groan. Quickshift appeared from the passenger's seat, and he crawled over to the back with me.

"Hey Charlie, you alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah," And then I looked out the window, "Why are we stopping? It's still daylight."

"Sunstreaker went ta get some gas and food for ya." Quickshift answered.

Oh. I shifted uncomfortably in the backseats, before rolling my shoulders, "I'm gonna go use the restroom."

The radio crackled on, and I knew Sunstreaker was about to protest, but I was already opening the door, "Do you want me to pee on myself?"

"What does that-"

"Icky, human lubrication." I interrupted him, before he could finish his question.

He gave a displeased grunt, "You have five minutes. And then you will meet me at the register."

"Okay." I mumbled, getting out and shutting the door. I felt lightheaded, but pushed it aside as I continued to walk to the convenience store. The wind picked up, and I rubbed at my bare arms and ignored the slight wobble to my walk.

"Charlotte?!" A soft voice uttered in shock.

I froze, my heart nearly jumped into my throat.

It couldn't be.

I turned on my heel, and was engulfed in a warm hug. All present thoughts left my mind as I hugged her back, my legs gave out and we fell to our knees, still hugging each other tightly. Without warning, tears rolled down my cheeks as the familiar lilac scent swarmed my senses. I knew she was crying too, by the way her shoulders were shaking and her grip was tight around my waist.

"Oh, my baby. My sweet girl!" She wailed.

"Mom." I said softly, my voice wavering.