Common Ground (Ongoing)

[draikade]

Never ending, the maze of tunnels seemed. Using the base schematics, allowed Ronin to select the route to the best exit for escape, while permitting deviations in case of possible patrol units. With little thought to how or why, Ronin maneuvered around guards with ease evasion. Not all the time, as the two previous encounters proved. The decepticon had proved competent in watching his back, but currently remained silent since the endeavor.

At one point, the corridor widen into a small cavern partially lit and empty for the time being. Ronin’s banged up frame ex-vented and whined in protest to the overuse of hydraulics and forced the ex-soldier to involuntary stop to rest. Reluctantly, he knelt behind a row of consoles to hide his bulk and passenger in the darkest corner. His left leg suddenly gave out on him, a half-healed busted primary strut, and catching himself with his good arm before falling flat on his face.

He choked on a painful grunted through sheer will alone. Unbidden, unfamiliar and vague names, images, and places passed through his processor. The flier shook his helm to clear the confusion, chalking it up to fatigued and exhaustion. A light pressure on his back plates drew his attention over to the femme stirring and muttering too softly for him to hear.

Frowning painfully and disturbed by bizarre memories, Ronin reluctantly shuttered his optics and drew himself inward to an empty place. An empty place he detested horribly, where he had little direct control over his actions, except for those actions needed for the objective, but it would block out the physical pain and distractions temporarily.

A moment passed and the ex-soldier rose rigidly, readjusting his grip on the slight form. Forward was the target. Their exit from this nightmare.

The black-and-silver-flier dashed away from the small cavern and into the final complex network of caves. Two lefts, a right, straight ahead, over crushed bodies and fallen debris, nothing stopped his momentum.

...two alien guards...next room over...will meet...

Prepared instinctively, Ronin beamed the taller alien with a forearm, dropping it stunned. The smaller companions smartly dodged back, putting space between the two, and spoke incessantly into a communicator alerting the slave base to their presence finally. Before the smaller alien finished the transmission completely, Ronin rushed forward, gripping it melon head, and squeezed.

Fluids dripped from the flier’s hand as he exited the side security room, leaving two corpses behind. Ronin hustled further down the tunnel and hooked a quick left. The base was full alert to its intruders now and any moment they would be organized.

Barreling through a set of closed doors, he stumbled into a enormous cavern littered with crates, small passenger vehicles and transport tows, rocks, and flurries of moving bodies. High over head shown smoke creeping out an unevenly shaped hole with debris and tarmac pieces dangling below the lip. Ronin’s optics zoomed on the open wound in the ceiling, cogs turning in deliberations while glancing around.

A cargo carrier remained park two-thirds across the cavern from him and away from the opening. Alien glyphs decorated the cargo sides which Ronin quickly translated as “flammable”. Without missing a beat, he scooped up a dropped weapon from the ground aiming accordingly. Before hitting the trigger, his optics met the direct knowing gaze of a cryptic figure standing behind a shatter-proof pane of glass on the far end.

The laser fire shot across the cave, blasting into the side of the flammable fuel rods. A rumbling explosion erupted, sending a shock wave of heat and sound, catching all occupants unawares.
Ronin immediately transformed, gears and plating screeching in protest, precariously shuffling the limp femme into his cockpit seat with haste and rocketed out to the dark sky above.

His afterburners and rear thrusters ignited to maximum velocity to put distance between them and any pursuit. The thin atmosphere howled around him. His frame shook forcibly, threatening to fall apart at the g’s generated. Warnings flicked across his view screen.

::Navigational control protocols failing, flight path crash imminent, fuel reserves near deletion::


Barely holding it together, Ronin grimaced aloud, “Ne..ed to find... ship...can’t -turbine sputtering- ke...ep... up..”

[draikade]

An explosion yanked Schayth out of her light stasis just in time to feel an overwhelming amount of heat surround her. Just as sudden, she was encased in a cool frame. Activating vermilion optics, she saw the inside of an unfamiliar passenger seat. She didn’t have any time to think further than her immediate new settings when gravity forced her whole chassis back into the seat. Her attention finally found something to focus on when something blipped up onto the view in front of her in a language she did not recognize. However the message remained clear. She struggled to sit herself up against the twinging and pain that protested every movement.

“Ne..ed to find.. ship...can’t -turbine sputtering- ke...ep...this up..”

Ship.. location.. safety.. Schayth pushed her processors to remember. Like a lightbulb in a dark room she could clearly recall the Vicins words.
Retrieving the nearly forgotten datapad from subspace, Schayth clicked a number of buttons to reach the address her employer had given her. Once it lit up the small screen, she flipped it to the front view.

“Here..”

“Trust...ed?” his strained voice asked.

The dark femme stole a moment to pull in more air and attempt to cool her over heated systems and smooth out her cracking, static ridden voice.

“Affirmative.. Brelnix.. a Vicin.. will have a ship ready.” Schayths voice faded along with her optics. The pad slipped from her black fingers as her head lulled to the side.

[draikade]

Scanning the coordinates from the datapad, he pinned point the location from his navigational chart of Monacus to a nearby asteroid city, just to the western outskirts. He altered his flight path, slowly and painfully. It took the space fighter several attempts to make the course correction. His fighter mode quivered from the physical strain, several small panels warped from the rapidly rising heat on his plating. At times his wings dipped, throwing off his stability and nearly sending him and his passengers plummeting.

More warning bleeped across the view screen. Energon levels standing at 30% and dropping. Shut down of none essential systems mandatory.

Altitude dropping rapidly. Ronin devoted much of his nanonite protocol to reinforced the compartment Cha’delk was snugged away in.

Finally, the destination he was searching for appeared in his cockpit port side window. Moving his decaying flight path, he aimed for the opened tarmac beside the main building and primary hanger. Raising his front end, he prepared for a control crash landing and threw open his wing flaps to gradually decrease his speed on approach.

Moments later, he met flat pavement. An audio-piercing screech and rendering metal whine deafened those on the ground. Smoke and licks of flame whipped out from underneath Ronin as he skidded a long distance before finally coming to a halt.

The burn of agonizing pain left the ex-soldier without thought for several long moments, unable to scream.

[draikade]

A dark maroon plated Vicin lounged his entire sixteen length self on the small grey couch on the east side of his own personal office. The room had no windows, however this did not bother the reptilian alien at all. His choice of decorating had been more nostalgic driven than anything else. As much as he had hated the social and government system at the time he had left, he did long to return to his home of Vesdomus, the city ship.
Setting down a datapad of profit reports, he tapped a button on a holopad. A screen half the size of the north wall lit up. Flipping through a few channels, something caught his attention.

“-advised that all residence avoid the Sheol district. Again there has been two reports of explosions, the Space Port of that area has been totally obliterated, however no one has taken responsibility at this time nor have we received a definite causality report. “

By the end of the news report, Brelnix had got to his feet, standing rigid in front of the screen. He recognized the images they displayed, only the added flame and rubble made it look foreign. He felt a heavy weight settle on his chest and his throat felt constricted.

“That bashka did it anyway, regardless of risk!” The Vicin felt a strong mix of anger and sorrow as he raced to his desk and hit the comm channel.

“Yes sir?” A pleasant voice immediately responded. Brelnix typed his command and sent it to his secretary.

“I’m sorry sir, but Lieve is not available. Would you like to leave a message?” The Vicin mentally growled and cut the connection.
Now he wished he had given the elusive femme some type of way to communicate with him. Though judging by what he saw on the news stream, reason told him her chances of survival were slim to none

No longer hesitating, Brelnix took off in a brisk walk to the hanger next door.
Though he didn’t visit too often, his employees did not find his presence in the hanger bay too strange. However, his demeanor and behavior caused them all to turn heads as he marched in and around the idling ships without even a greeting.

On his part, Brelnix had far too many possible scenarios running through his mind to notice his lack of manners.
He stopped at the open doors of his hanger to stare at the ever present stars. His fiery eyes squinted when he saw a shine in the distance gradually move down. He twisted his long head around to call for a spotter.
A rather gangly creature ambled over to his boss and lifted what looked like binoculars. The Vicin waited impatiently, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. He didn’t have to wait long. Suddenly the light skinned creature whipped his head around and shouted to everyone in the hanger bay.

“INCOMING! We got a 6-52 coming in hot! Clear the bay!” The alien swung his long arm out to emphasize his point. Beside him, Brelnix reeled from the volume.

“Come on move it or get roasted!” He turned his green eyes to the frozen Vicin who continued to stare at the closing object
“Boss we need to get out of here.” The spotter grabbed a hold of his clothes and half dragged him out of the danger zone.

Seconds later, all the dock workers and ships crew watched as the unidentified ship hit the tarmac. Anyone with ears slapped their hands over them as metal screeched across the ground. One of the more bulky workers had stepped in front of Brelnix, shielding him from the flames and flying metal.

Once the craft had come to a halt, ship crew members and dock workers alike rushed to put the flames out.
Brelnix gazed at the black and silver armor, something familiar but faint tugged at his mind.

[draikade]

Dimly Ronin struggled to consciousness. He couldn’t feel much of his smouldering frame. His remaining external sensors read multiple heat signatures around him. Cooling waves washed over his aching wings. In his scans, he found a organic physiology matching the known match up of the Vicin race.

In a croaked slurring voice to the outside, “Brelnix..?”

---

Everyone jumped back at the sudden voice that came from the craft. Many turned to look at their employer who stood at the side of the ship with an equally dumbfounded expression.

“Er.. boss?” One of the workers chipped in, as they all were hoping for an explanation. Brelnix waved them off and stepped forward.

“Present..” His response was broad-casted to everyone there. He only hoped that the mental defenses he felt their newcomer had would not interfere with his weak communication link.

---

The flier jolted from the mental contact, which translated as a violent shutter in his frame. Ronin reeled in paranoia momentarily before reigning it in. Still in shock from the escape, he could only released the latches on his cockpit for the time being, allowing it to rise with a jerk to reveal the Decepticon within.

“Get her out, quickly.” he wheezed weakly, sparks flying from within his housing, puddles of energon starting to leak through the warped panels. “and then give me room.”

---

The Vicin saw the reaction to his reply, felt the distrust that bled through the temporary link. Everyone in the bay took yet another step back when airtight latches were released and the passenger inside became visible. Brelnix on the other hand, rushed forward and orders those around to do as the flier had said.
The dark Vicin watched as a good dozen carried the battered femme away. He cringed at what damaged he glimpsed.
Turning his attention away, he worried for the bleeding rescuer on his tarmac.
Barely a klik later, there now was a good couple of feet between the dock workers and the strange craft that had crashed into their bay. Brelnix himself, had only taken a few steps back, the ever present need to do more than stand by and watch.

---

The thumping of small feet and limbs sent unending ripples of pain through his neuro-linkage. His diagnostic center was down and unable to deactivate the pain receptors in the afflicted regions. Embracing himself the onslaught of pain waiting to come, he started the transformation sequence.

His arms and legs unfolded, wings shifting upward and outward, and plates reorganized forcibly not cooperating in their damaged state. A sharp snap echoed from his left shoulder joint, the main hydraulic tension cable finally giving, leaving his arm limp to his side in his now evident root mode. He uttered a distorted static cry.
Falling flat on his front, his functional arm supporting his weight, Ronin flopped over onto his back. Too much. He darkened his optics, overwhelmed, and denta gritted tightly in a stark grimace. Ronin laid there frozen still until the worst of the pain passed.

---

As soon as the form in front of him began to shift, the Vicin realized what the newcomer was. Brelnix couldn’t help but recoil from the sounds that assaulted his sensitive hearing.

Tearing his eyes away, he turned to speak to one of his workers. “Need top engineers to assist. First Aid. Energon in my personal storage. Retrieve it. Quickly!” The worker nodded and quickly ran off to complete his given tasks.

Keeping the line of workers back, the vermilion reptile walked away from the group. Fiery eyes glanced down, metallic blue fluid had started to puddle on the rough metal under foot.
The Vicin did not flinch away even when the towering mechanoid above let out a strained cry. Determination tightened the reptiles long features.

Brelnix inched closer to large transformer just as he fell forward. By the time he was on his back, the Vicin could have reached out and touched his arm. And that is exactly what he did. A cool leathery hand met burning metal.
Doing what he could, Brelnix sent a wave of reassurance to the suffering mech, hoping to give him something to focus on other than the onslaught of agony. He only wished his latent empathy could do more than simply allow him to feel the pain that radiated from the being before him.

---

Rushes of air circulated through his battered frame trying to calm his stressed systems. His optics remain dark obvious to the activity around him. In a part of his mind, Ronin knew they had made it to safety, but a sense of urgency lingered. Bits of audio filtered through his sensors, piecing together words and meaning, but the broadcasted voice cut through any pain-filled confusion on his part. He clung to it, despite his embedded reservations, in order to weather the agony.

Ronin shook his helm implying a denial to any aid for himself, rather he reached to his chest plates carefully with a trembling hand. Gently as the flier could muster, he opened the compartment and lifted out the unmoving, but uninjured, Cha’delk and set the small trader top the ground beside him.

Illuminating an white optic dimly, Ronin focused on the Vicin standing there.

“S..ee to..him...” Ronin whispered tightly, rare desperation leaking into his words, “...please...”

---

Brelnix remained persistent and steadfast, even as the hot metal under hand ebbed away at his thick skin. A shake of the mechs head drew his attention up in time to see a massive hand move to open another hatch. As he watched the small form being lifted up and set down, he recognized the species immediately. Pulling his hand away, the Vicin rushed to the Saphorans side.

By now the small crowd had started to murmur and fidget. All heads turned when they heard a shout from behind them.
“Brel, I have what you asked for!” Like the red sea, the group parted to let the other alien through, with a large red bag in hand and two engineers in tow. A few seconds later a lift truck pulled up and halted with a large crate.

Brelnix had already scooped the small Saphoran up and had started heading towards the office building.

“Good, need thermal blanket and hydration tablet. Prepare stay-room” The Vicin ordered away as he directed one of the larger workers to take the injured alien. Having passed him off and assured medical attention, Brelnix turned back around.

“Davek, Tul. Do what you can to stop fluid loss. I will see to the other.” Brelnix looked to the rest of his employees. “Rest return to work. Clean the tarmac of evidence”
Both engineers nodded and took off. The group dispersed and did as their employer had told them without question.

Heavy plates stretched under loose clothe as Brelnix tried to ease the tension that threatened to make his muscles ache for the next week. Turning his gaze to the prone femme, he felt his insides sink. It had not been four cycles since their meeting and he could not believe the state he saw her in now.
Coming closer, he could feel the heat that seemed to rolled off her chassis. Glancing around, he did not see the amount of mech fluid on the floor like with the other transformer. The thought that she had already offlined crossed his mind. Shaking his head madly to rid himself of it, the Vicin marched the rest of the way to the Decepticon.

“How is she?”

The dark skinned alien who had been kneeling at the femmes side, jumped at the sudden contact.
“I ah.. She’s over heat’en real bad so ah hooked up some coolant.” The ship engineer stammered with his words, still shaken from the adrenaline of the whole event. “It might make her feel a little woozy because of the different in systems it supposed to be use in, but it’ll keep her from burst’en intah flames.”
Brelnix nodded. He didn’t have anything really to say. His eyes swept over her laid out form, taking note of every little ding and puncture. Reaching above her shoulders, he noticed her head had been left at an odd angle. Patting the shoulder of the volunteer engineer, he left his side to correct this. Only taking a moment to consider personal space and deciding it had little meaning now, he knelt down.
He slid his hands under her helm, moving to reposition her head to be more comfortable. He froze, his eyes staring straight forward. He moved a finger around a particular indent on her otherwise smooth neck.
Snapping out of his daze, Brelnix repositioned her head and pulled back, though his fiery eyes never left what he could see of her face, under the dented metal and a broken visor.

---

The injuried flier’s gaze followed the Vicin carrying Cha’delk away to be cared for, he relaxed marginally with relief. However, it was short lived when the merchant was handed off to another alien and proceeded to head inside. Snapping to high alert, Ronin rolled onto his side, right arm supporting his upper body.

“Where...is he being... taken..?” He snapped coldly, an edge of his usual distrust coming through.

Tul, one of the few females in the hanger, threw up her pale blue hands and shouted at the mech. “Hey, stop the moving! You’re banged up enough as it is.”
The other engineer, Davek, stopped a short distance from the fliers chest and dropped his tool bag.

“Answer me!” He barked stranglely, glaring and hitting the pavement with a clenched fist, though lacking much of the intended force.

Tul jumped from the sudden impact and took a step back. Davek did not even flinch.
“You’re friend will be fine. Brelnix has had him taken to have his wounds treated.” The male engineer’s smooth voice remained calm but strong. Raising scaled arms, he gazed right at the mech blazing optics.
“May I. . ?”

They stared off for several minutes until Ronin doubled over from a hitch disrupting the cycling through his air filtration components. The fit drained much of his remaining energy and the anger fueling his mood, leaving Ronin reluctantly lay back down. He hissed as his left arm shifted and got pinned underneath his backside sending a shooting surge through his scorched frame.

His optics shuttered shut and motioned with his helm for the engineer to proceed with the intended repairs.

The pale blue engineer shook off her earlier surprise and trudged towards the mech. “Finally using some sense are ya, ya scrapheap.”

“For all the good it’ll do,” he muttered quietly, turbines spurring in irritation at the nickname. “Even Tri-Star’s best engineers have a hard time keeping me together.” He groaned with a grimace, “ My arm...”

Davek tossed a disapproving glare at his partner before picking his bag up.

“Tul, please don’t insult the injured guest.” He glanced towards the open sky before heading to the damaged arm. “Stop his fluid loss right away, while I’ll patch up his arm..”

He grunted as he carefully climbed onto the large mech. Taking a quick survey, he knelt down and started fishing through his bag. “We need to get you under a roof before we have anymore visitors.”

Tul popped up from the other side and yelled over the flier. “What was that last part?”

Davek waved her off, “Nothing, get to work!”

Shrugging, she did just that. As Tul moved into position top the downed flier, his chest hatched flung open without warning and smacked the pale-blue engineer. She tumbled back down onto the tarmac with a clatter. Tul leveled a hard look at the mech, but Ronin pretended to be fully engaged with the other engineer.

Ronin rumbled in response to the male engineer’s last comment, “As soon as possible, I have no way of knowing if we were followed in our escape..I don’t like being exposed as we are.”

“I figured..” The before slapping a face shield over his eyes. “Tri-Star, huh? I’ve heard they’ve been declining trade negotiations lately.” He left the comment to hang to see if the larger transformer would say more.

Rather, Ronin merely stared skyward refusing to answer the unsaid question. Davek clicked his flinter shooting a short shower of sparks for the flame of his welder. He settled in front of the perforated forearm and proceed sealing the breaches.

The engineer gave a sigh as he worked, “So, if Tri-Star can’t even patch ya up, how are ya going to get into ship shape?” Secretly intrigued by the complexities of transformers, Davek hoped for some insight.

“I have other connections..if absolutely necessary,” Ronin grounded cryptically, not budging with any more information.
The camo-colored engineer chose not to pry any further.

[draikade]

Once Brelnix had been assured more than once that the assassin would live, the Vicin had decided to check on the Sephoran.
Closing the door to the hanger behind him, the sounds of work were muffled. Giving his body a good shake, the Vicin set off to the Stay-room, designed for workers who stayed for long stretches of time instead of taking multiple trips from home. Before he arrived, he ran into his Secretary in one of the many hallways. A feathered creature, Zlea had such a cheery demeanor that even the most optimistic would not be able to be around him. Brelnix always enjoyed his company.

Startled by the Vicin’s sudden appearance, his black, lavender freckled feathers flared.
“Oh sir!” He pulled his datapad away from his lean chest. “I have a message from Lieve.”
Brelnix took the pad to see, “Yes, Thank you. Take call in my office.”
Returning it, the reptile glanced down the hall to where he had intended to go. Zlea watched with a tilted head as the Vicin’s tail moved from one side to the next. He knew from experience it was simply a sign of weighing a decision.

“Was there something else?” Dual eye lids blinked over a yellow iris. The question jolted Brelnix out of thought and made him focus on the person in front of him.

“Yes, hot food for Saphoran. When awake of course.”

“Of course.” Zlea bowed his head and walked past the Vicin, concluding their exchange.
Brelnix set off at a fast walk, he looked forward to having someone to talk to.

Arriving at his office, he hit his control for an open channel. Seconds later, the familiar broad white face appeared in his view screen. Blue eyes moved back and forth, watching the now pacing Vicin.

“Brel.. what has you so worked up?” Lieve spoke with concern. When his partner did not respond right away, he called his name a second time.

Finally the Vicin stopped his repetitive motion and gazed at the screen.

“Schayth-”

“The Decepticon you hired?”

“-is currently laid out in my hanger, torn to shreds and hooked to a coolant line.”

“I see..” The aliens pale features became grim.

It was times like these that Brelnix remained thankful for the strong link Lieve and he had developed over the years. Trying to express his distress through written word would have simply been impossible.

“What of you? Are you alright?”

Brelnix turned and swished his tail dismissively.
“Unharmed..” He spoke as he slumped into the closest chair. The other alien watched him intently.

“I thought you told me it was finished.. Our miners safe from capture.”

The Vicin nodded his head, “Yes, safe, but criminal intent goes beyond Nycroni. Much more.” Not being able to sit still any longer, Brelnix stood up and went straight for a cabinet behind his desk.

“Femme did not walk here. Transformer flier crashed on tarmac, severely injured as well. Had second passenger, a Saphoran. Also injured.” Pulling out a glass and squarish bottle, he set them on the desk and proceeded to pour himself a drink. His partner had remained a silent listener. Both watched thick red liquid spill into the cup.
Lieve let out a harsh breath and looked down as if reading something off screen.
“I will be there in a hour.” Brelnix heard the sound of a datapad being tossed onto a metal desk.

“Looking forward to your arrival, stay safe.” The Vicin tipped his glass to the screen before taking a drink.

“You also, my friend.” Lieve put an arm across his chest and cut the channel. Brelnix finished his drink shortly after and decided to return to the hanger.

[draikade]

The two alien engineers worked swiftly in repairing what energon lines they could find and welding the shatter remains of the left arm. Ronin often twitched in reflex when Davek hit an active nerve bundle with his welder. Consequently, Tul kept getting smacked, jostled, and shocked while reaching into the chassis cavity below the torso plates. The female engineer muttered in her native tongue disgruntled, which Ronin ignored completely ever since she left a bad taste in his energon.

“Are you nearly finished?” Ronin griped, exhaustion seeping through his voice. His functional hand clenching and unclenching on the ground for the simple distraction from the pain and his body’s growing demand for recharge.

“Hold on.” Davek shouted from behind his welding mask, sparks bouncing off the flier’s armor. “Fixing damages on a transformer isn’t the same as repairing a defective maintenance drone.”

He adjusted his tool further down the arm, ” I can only weld the breaks here, but I can rig a brace to support the limb with supplies from our maintenance bay.”

The flier merely nodded, too preoccupied in blocking out the pain. An evident grimace on his face plates and dimmed optics. The male engineer looked up, a hidden look of sympathy behind the mask.

Davek finished the last noticeable seam, shutting off the welder, and removing his mask. Calling over to Tul, “Progress on your section?”

“I’ve sealed all of the burst lines. It won’t leak to death,” she huffed crossly, glad to be done with it.

“Tul...” Davek warned, but Ronin interrupted to snagged the female off his chest, squawking furiously, just as ready to be done with her as well. He dropped her in a pile beside him. Tul rudely yapped at him and took off with her tools.

“Done, now lets see about getting you moved,” Davek waved for other workers nearby to maneuver the waiting flat-bed carrier beside the crashed transformer.

“Where?” A deep chested rumble.

“Our hangar bay,” Gesturing towards the rising bay doors on the building to the right of them.

Ronin studied the open doors for a klick, judging the distance. Flinching, he pulled his protesting body into a sitting position, holding the impaired arm close to his chest plates and ex-venting hard. The carrier transport backed up behind him in position. Rather then shuffle onto the flatbed, Ronin shifted his weight, kneeling.

“I’m injured, not incapacitated.” The flier vaulted forward, shakily, to his pedes and proceeded with a heavy limp into the hanger. Joints cracked and hissed from use. Booming thuds vibrated the tarmac. The carrier driver gaped baffled.

Davek stood in place, watching the mech. Rubbing the back of his neck, he shook his head.
“Tul was right... you are stubborn.” Shrugging, he tossed the rest of his tools in the bag, swung it over his shoulder and headed into the hanger.

[draikade]

Like some one had dropped her in a vat of liquid nitrogen, Schayth felt an unbelievable cold rush through her body. Pain and bliss washed over her even as seized up systems slowly struggled with the sudden temperature change. As the minutes clicked away, inflamed joints and the small metal components that had expanded from the heat returned to normal. The pressure slowly faded leaving the femme comfortably numb.

With her insides no longer burning, her focus moved to the outside. Gradually, she let her mental blockade melt away, letting her feel presence and surface thought. Her audio sensors picked up the dozens of voices around her. The familiar sounds of a ship dock made her oddly relaxed.

Experimentally, she curled her stiff fingers in and spread them out. Doing this a number of times, she finally pulled her whole right arm up.

“Ehtsa! Ehtsa! Kems dev Decepticon shachok.”

Schayth activated her optics at the sudden out burst of foreign dialect. Her helm scraped the hard floor as she turned to see the source.
The ship engineer who had volunteered to stay and help, stood back and stared at the femme. Schayth vaguely remembered seeing a similar alien working as a bartender at a Monacus bar. His small scales shifted to a pale green the same time his expression turned cautious, not sure the intent of the Decepticon before him. The two broke eye contact when they both heard a familiar voice in their heads.
“Schayth, alive. Awake!” Brelnix quickly made his way to the assassins side, his relief flooded the link he shared with the dark femme.
Schayth did not give much of a response. Pushing her back off the floor, she finally saw the tubes that ran from her damaged side to a large barrel.
“Oh, don’t ah touch those.. Only thing keeping you up and runn’en at this point.” The engineer quickly put in just as she had put a hand on one of the lines. Pulling her hand away, Schayth glanced from the alien to the Vicin. Brelnix nodded his head, enforcing the engineers warning.
The silence stretched on, the scaled alien hopped from one foot to the other, feeling as though he had somewhere else to be. Noticing this, Vicin turned to the engineer.

“Give us moment to speak?”

The alien didn’t need any more encouragement and swiftly took off back to his own ship. Though they could communicate easily without his knowledge at all, Brelnix felt it might help the Decepticon open up if it were only the two of them.

Schayth watched the Vicin pace from one side to the next before finding a sizable crate to sit on.
Once again all that could be heard was the dock workers bustling about and ships being loaded.
The assassin scanned her surroundings.
“The-” She cut short to deactivate her malfunctioning voice filter so she could be heard clearly.
“Condition of the Saphoran.. Cha’delk?”

“Is in stay room, warm, and wounds taken care of.” Brelnix assured, pointing to the office building behind him. “Did not know his name til now.” He mused.

“Your other friend very injured. Will be in hanger soon though.”

Schayth tilted her head, unsure of who he meant. He tossed his head towards the wide open doors where a large form laid out on the tarmac.
Her blurred vision could only make out the sparks that flew out from one of his shoulder joints. Returning her gaze to the Vicin, she could feel his impatience. A question hung between them.
Without warning, Brelnix jumped to his feet and glared at the femme.
“Why did you go? I said there was no need!”

“Regardless of what you said, I went back for those who had already been taken.” Schayth countered without an ounce of fluctuation in her voice.

“Foolish. Risky..” Belnrix took two deliberate steps right to the femme’s side and matched her crimson gaze without fear. “Suicidal.”

“My well being should not be your conce-” “Is my concern. I am employer. My job!” The Vicin pounded a flat hand onto his chest, his nose a mere two inches from the Decepticons face.

Pulling back, Brelnix returned to sit on the crate. His plates shifted from his shark-like skin sliding over muscle as he forced himself to relax.

Anger, frustration.. Worry. Schayth felt all these emotions tenfold from the distraught Vicin before her because of the mental connection. She could have shut them out. Cut off every outside sense and turn inward, but she could not be that cruel. While the Vicin sat silent with his head lowered, Schayth carefully pulled her legs in. Arching forward, she pulled on the damaged flexi-metal of her back.

“I know of your mark.” The assassins optics flared. The declaration had been said to her in a soft voice. Sympathy bled through, making her already strained insides, churn.
Feeling no hostilities yet, the Vicin grew more confident.

“You obviously were not broken.. you still have a conscience. Why do you not care for yourself? Do you not have someone to return to?” The Vicins tone had become stressed. His intent honest.

"Brelnix.." Schayth started, having pulled her gaze away from the floor to stare right at him. The weight of it made his tail twitch and his muscles tense up for the second time.
"I have lived a very long time.. I have no worth nor will and no one will miss me.”

Twisting herself around, the femme turned her back to him, effectively ending her side of the discussion. Released from crimson optics, Brelnix stood, ready to argue his point. Only he did not say a word, having heard his name called from the direction of the office building. He did not bother to look, he already knew who it was.

[draikade]

He leaned loudly against the bay door jamb, weary. The short distance taxing him worst then he cared to admit. Gathering himself, he moved deeper in the hanger bay. A thundering footfall and a drawn-out grating limb dragged behind piercing the open air. Ronin spotted the femme and Vicin clustered to one side and headed over their way.

Without a word to either, he shuffled to a nearby wall to slide down to rest on the floor, the wall supporting his back against it. The femme’s back faced both him and the Vicin. Ronin stretched out his left leg with a soft grunt and drew his right closer, resting an arm on it. The deactivated energy laid comfortably in his lap. Ronin refused to lessen his guard, not till they were off Monacus. Warning bleeped across his HUD.

::Mandatory Shut Down Imminent: 3 klicks::

Shaking his helm, the flier overrided the subroutines, silencing the caution messages. Finally, directing dim optics to their current host. “His condition?” A low hoarse mutter.

[draikade]

If one was to describe Vekshaw Lieve in one word, it would be broad. Even after he had shed his formal wear down to the basic flexible body armor underneath, the Iekuans stature towered. Though the majority of the employees that worked in the hangers and office were used to his presence, many still veered away when he wandered in.
With a long coat draped over one arm, he moved among and around the parked ships in search of his business partner.

Hearing something unfamiliar echo through the atmosphere of the hanger, Lieve stopped momentarily. Sterling blue eyes found the source leaning heavily one of the hangers door frames. He immediately matched the large stranger to the flier that Brelnix had described earlier.
Patiently, the Iekuan stood by and waited to see if the transformer needed assistance. Not a minute past before he saw the dark mech continue his trek. Predicting his path of travel he spotted his friend by the second unexpected visitor.

Coming up to the Vicin, Lieve called his name to grab his attention. Instead of his customary smile, Brelnix simply slouched back onto the crate.

When the Vicin failed to greet him, Lieve knelt down beside where he sat.
“Brelnix?” He called again, his tone much softer than before. “You seem even more distressed than when we last spoke.”

The dark reptile brushed him off. “Is not of import.”

Lieve drew a breath to confront his stubborn friend, but held his tongue when he heard the mech speak. Looking up he met white optics. Intrigue and curiosity flashed over his features before returning to a neutral expression.

“The Saphoran is doing well. He was not conscious when I visited his room, but he may be now.” Leive shifted his gaze from the mech to the femme then back.
“We have not been introduced.”, he stated bluntly. Standing up to his full height, he crossed his free arm across his chest and bowed his head respectfully.
“Vekshaw Lieve. I am partner and good friend to Brelnix.”

Ronin’s optics narrowed briefly at the sudden (and imposing) new arrival, optics dancing between both the Vicin and the newcomer. He relaxed marginally after he spoke concerning Cha’delk’s health. Returning the courtesy of a name, Ronin replied stiffly, “Ronin, from Tri-Star.”

“Ah yes, Brelnix did mention your company was involved some how.” The Iekuan nodded thoughtfully. While he spoke, Lieve began looking around for something appropriate to sit on. “They must have sent you to investigate, I would assume.”
Finally finding a sizable storage box, he dragged it over, laid his long coat down and planted himself next to the Vicin.

“Cha’delk was taken, while on a new world. In open view, very bold. I-” Ronin invented air harshly from a sudden jolt of pain, optics dimming till it passed, “-failed to prevent his capture.”

Continuing with renewed effort, “Chased immediately, but lost the trail, injured. I...was delayed for joors. Finally came to Monacus. I found Dykians were the ones responsible.”

Leaning in, Lieve listened intently. Beside him, Brelnix seemed to be paying more attention to the dock workers. Schayth remained motionless.
The large alien felt a sinking feeling at the mention of Dykians. “So the assassin was right. Our missing miners was much more than simply slavers looking for easy targets..”
Taking in a deep breath, he sat back and laced his fingers together. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. “Your Cha’delk wouldn’t happen to be the same Cha’delk who owns the Tri-Star company.. would it?”

“Yes, my employer,” the flier nodded, rubbing faceplates gently in distraction.

Leive spoke slightly surprised,”Oh I never knew he was a Saphoran.” He shifted in his seat. “We are relieved that you found him alive then. Regardless of the fact that his death would have terrible repercussions to many businesses.”
His wide face turned thoughtful again “Perhaps that is why they targeted him specifically...”



“Likely...” Ronin confirmed, considering the fuller impacts and motivation for the little merchant’s capture and his mad flight out to Monacus, “he was expanding the trade routes to several new worlds.”

Leive hummed in agreement, connecting the dots, as it were.

Suddenly, many of Ronin’s many secondary systems offlined. His optics darkened and frame slumped further into the wall.

The Iekuan immediately jumped from his seat to check on the incapacitated mech. Brelnix had jerked his head in that direction, however remained in place. He trusted his partner to know what to do.

Merely seconds passed till Ronin startled back to awareness with a small gasp.
Leive had knelt to one knee a few feet from the transformer. He was just about to lift a hand to check for life signs when blazing white optics lit his startled features.

Regaining his composure, he pulled back, but did not leave the mech’s side.
“When was the last time you refueled?”

The flier gazed into empty space, his words a bare echo, “... joor before coming to Monacus...” Barely summoning the strength, his rested his helm against the bay wall. “...systems near shut down...”

Leive muttered, “Far too long.. especially after what you have endured.” He jerked his head to Brelnix. “Where is the stash you bought for your assassin friend?”
The vicin pointed to one of the largest storage boxes in the hanger. “Is in there. Had Jahdet bring it in when they arrived”

Nodding, Leive took off at a jog. Ripping the top of the crate off, he pulled out one glowing cube. On his way back he gently tossed it at Ronin’s lap.
“I realize you are not Cybertronian, but this should help you regardless of its grade.”

The flier’s head shot up at the comment surprised. “How?” He carefully raised the cube to his denta in the meantime.

Brelnix stared at the Iekuan as well, his fiery eyes wide. “What do you mean, Lieve?”
Lieve calming took his seat once more. “My dear friend, no Cybertronian transformer that I have seen has white optics. And there are a number of other small differences. The most obvious being his sigil.”

The Vicin still seemed rather surprised, but accepted the explanation without argument.
“The grade is sufficient,” he rumbled more alertly, the rich energy already replenishing his starving tanks and fuel lines. Ronin adjusted his position to sit more upright. “Little difference in energy requirements. Energon is one of the few energy sources that can support our necessary life functions.”

[draikade]

During the entirety of the exchange, Schayth had not moved. Between the ache of her chassis and the reaction the foreign coolant had on her mental state, her whole world seemed to be tipping from one side to the other.
“Schayth...”
Brelnix had turned his eyes on the femme’s back. “I am sure you need energon too.”
The Vicin was met with silence. A tilt of her black helm, however told him she had heard.
Leive watched as his friend left to retrieve another cube.
Losing sight of him, the large alien turned his attention to the flier.
“Ronin.. was there anything more you needed?”

“A ship. Not safe to remain here for long,” he sent his empty cube down, a grim smile crossed his lip components, “ Left a mess in our departure.”

Returning with a cube in his arms, Brelnix spoke, “Yes, is on local news networks. Not hard to hide after that.”
Leive returned his gaze to his friend, relieved he had broken his silence. Meanwhile, the Vicin walked around the femme to hand her the energon. After a long moment she relented and took it even though her fuel tank felt like it would upchuck anything she tried to consume.
Satisfied, Brelnix returned to his seat.

“We can provide a ship. As long as you are not looking for anything luxurious...” Lieve continued.

“No, needs to look routine. Not wise for Tri-Star Transport to appear here. Too suspicious,” Ronin explained, “Would endanger you even more so and confirm Cha’delk’s rescue to the slavers.”

“May not yet know he’s gone. I never reached his cell. Met them in route during the confusion.” He nodded in the femme’s direction. The flier leaned forward ever so carefully and nudged her on the shoulder.

The assassin did not immediately react to the physical contact. After a beat, she twisted around to find where it had come from. Vermilion optics found white.

Ronin not normally accustomed to such outward expression gave a small nod of gratitude when their optics met. At the same time, the words echoed through his thoughts absently. ...thank you...

The gesture felt odd to her, like so many other things for the past cycle.
The words that flowed through her mottled thoughts were clear as crystal. The energon she had been fidgeting with fell to the floor.
Not even the Vicin sounded so clear to her and she knew the mech could not be a telepath. She would have sensed it before.
Schayth’s alarm showed through her damaged faceplate and visor. She promptly turned away.
Deciding that the first possibility was dementia, she picked the cube back up. Just as she was about to take a drink, she remember her damaged plate. Pulling one back, she fought with the other. Finally fed up with it she released the internal lock and pulled it out by hand. Tossing it to the floor, her attention returned to the energon. The metal hitting concrete melded with all the other sounds that surrounded them.

While Brelnix had watched the whole scene with some concerns, Lieve had been much to busy mentally sorting out the more serious situation.

“What of Cha’delk? After all he is in no condition to travel..”

“Do you have means of contacting Tri-Star headquarters on Deltiac IV securely?” Ronin quickly asked, scratching an idly finger along his energy sword in contemplation.

Brelnix piped in,”Of course, deal in many quadrants.”

“Ask for Solan, the ship master there. Given him this message,” He took a moment to compose the correct phrasing , “Package safe and sound, though damaged. In the keeping of the Kel’ra. A passover occurring in the Orion.”

The Vicin’s head tilted while Lieve searched his memory for any thing similar, but came up with none.

Ronin met Lieve’s puzzled gaze, “Tell to Solan. He’ll know what it means and that you are to be trusted. He’ll send a medical ship and escort to the Orion system near here to meet your ship. Transfer Cha’delk and myself for rest of the journey.”

Lieve smacked his hands together and got to his feet, ”Sounds like a plan. I will start the preparations immediately.”

Ronin nodded and let his left arm drop down without thinking, clanking into the wall. A sharp pain shooting through him. “Quickly,” he said back wearily, grabbing his damage shoulder in a tight grip.

Picking up his long coat, Lieve headed for the office building. “Brelnix, your company?”
The Vicin stood but did not move to follow. “Go. Will join soon.”
Saying nothing else, the Iekuan nodded and continued on his way.
Brelnix turned to check on the dark femme, only to find she had stretched out on the cold floor with her optics dim. With her cube nearly half empty, Schayth could no longer fight the need to recharge.
A sad smile curved the Vicin’s lips as he left her in peace to join his friend in the office.

The extent of Ronin’s own injuries were beyond the capabilities of the trading company’s engineers. He would have to leave Tri-Star for sometime in order to complete the necessary repairs. Once back on Deltiac IV, he would make the arrangements to depart.

Lieve walked at a leisure pace, allowing his business partner to catch up quickly. Once they were side by side, he glanced over occasionally. Brelnix kept his eyes forward. The sudden change in atmosphere from the loud hanger to a quiet office made the Vicins ears ring.

“What did the Decepticon say to you?” The Iekuans voice sounded more rich with in the muffling hallway.

“Asked about Saphoran. That is all” Lieves expression stiffened.

“You know what I meant, Trevon.” The use of his last name caused Brelnix to feel his chest tighten and his tail jerk. His head fell and with it, his guard. He never could keep anything from the Iekuan.
“When we met last, she knew my opinion. Did not want her to investigate any further. Ignored this and went even with the high probability of death.”
Lieve hummed in response, now understanding what had his friend so frustrated and confused.
“Why choose death when there is still potential to have purpose.” Brelnix’s tone became stressed. “Is illogical, self destructive. You should understand.”

The larger alien nodded while they turned a corner, heading for the Vicin’s main office. “I do.. but I can not argue with it.”
Brelnix shot him a shocked expression. “What? Explain!”
Lieve sighed deeply, searching for the right words. “Once you have lived and lost enough, there comes a point when you have no will to start over.”
The Vicin did not accept the explanation and continued to fume.
Lieve continued, “She is a Decepticon femme, Brel. Untainted.. I have not seen one in eons, and that was before ninety-nine percent of them were wiped out by one of their own. She could have lived before I was born.”

Lieve smiled a little at the disbelief he felt through their mutual link. He placed a large gentle hand on the Vicins back.
“Not even Iekuan want to live forever, my friend. Many do not return to the home world to replenish their life. They would rather fade away like those around us... ‘Life is treasured by those without immortality.’.. Something I was told at a young age.”
Coming up on the door to the office room, they both halted. Lieve turned to catch the Vicin’s gaze.
“Please do not stress yourself over the assassin’s choice. Do not feel guilty.”
Brelnix stared at him, still not satisfied with it, but Lieve could tell he had relaxed to some extant. “Fine.. Does not mean I like it, however.”
The Iekuan smiled warmly, relieved. “Now, I will contact Tri-Star. Would you ready one of our ore ships and perhaps check on Cha’delk?”
Brelnix nodded and pulled away to leave. Lieve entered the office and opened a channel to the other company.

The viewscreen flickered white before the vague image of another Sephoran sharpened in existence. The bright teal lizard, minus the neck sail, perked her head back to Lieve on the other head.

“Tri-Star Trading, Inc., please state your name and purpose for calling.” A rather musical trill punctuated at the end. Small pliable claws adjusted her headpiece.

Lieve deposited his coat onto the chair behind the desk before stepping into view. Clasping his hands behind his back, he fell easily into his businessman demeanor.
“Vekshaw of the Lieve & Trevon Mining Co. I need to speak to a Solan. This is very urgent.”

“Is he expecting your correspondence?” The female Sephoran asked straight away, not batting a eye at him. Every caller said their message was important. The company was only expecting the necessary calls with the current state of things.

“No, but I have a message from one of your employees.” Not missing a beat, having dealt with company protocol for many years, he understood the usual run around.

“If that’s the case, then I will take the message and pass it on to Solan when he is soonest available.” She chirped.

“Not acceptable.” He quickly countered. “I must speak to Solan directly. I’m calling on behalf of Ronin.”

The receptionist’s professional face faltered in surprise, dropping her stylus. “Ri-right away-sir-..” fumbling claws clattered across the board in front of her. “Transferring call directly to Ship Master Solan.”

Leive tilted his head forward, “Thank you, Miss.”

The image swiftly changed over to a hulking shag-rug. Broad shoulders and a fur covered body filled most of the screen. A massive mound of long tan hair strands that was a head stood on its shoulders obscuring any eyes, limiting readable expressions. Only a set of sharp teeth were seen with elongated tusks on either side. Long mobile ears swiveled and flexed on the back portion of the head, being the most expressive part of an Embrek. The ship master’s ear laid back at the sight of the lekuan, “Well, out with it.” A deep base bellowed bluntly.

Lieve let a faint smile grace his wide features, always glad when he met someone who got to the point. “Ronin requested I send a message to you.. Package safe and sound, though damaged. In the keeping of the Kel’ra. A passover occurring in the Orion.” He waited, curious what the Embreks reaction would be.

Solan’s face betrayed no emotion, except for a slight upward twitch of the ears. A hum-hum emitted from his barrel chest. “So...the big guy finally came through for us.” His voice like gravel. “We weren’t exactly sure how else to proceed, except to hold down the fort to keep up appearances.”

“I am relieved you understand the situation. Please be sure to send the appropriate transport. One of our own ships will rendezvous. Coordinates will be sent when package is ready to travel.”

“Aiy, I’ll do,” Hairy ears dipped up and down rapidly, “No more no less, I do what Ronin wishes. He knows this stuff better then anyone else.”

“The ships be near there in four days travel minimal.”

Lieve gave a respective bow of his head, ”Our gratitude, Solan... Did you have a message of any kind for me to relay?”

“Yar...,” the Embrek’s bass voice turned into a throaty guttural, “tell that afthead he’d better be coming back alive as well. He’d throw away his own life to protect him. Chirpy don’t like his employees putting him before themselves.”

The comment made the Iekuan chuckle softly. “I know someone who feels very much the same.”

“It’s been good doin’ business with yar, Vekshaw,” Solan gave in farewell.

“And you, Solan. Stay well.” With that, Lieve ended the transmission.

---

By the time he arrived at the right stay room, Brelnix had returned to his usual calm mood. No need to be in a foul temperament when meeting new people.
Knocking lightly on the door, he waited to see if their guest had woke up.

A soft rustling sounded from within the room, a moment later a croaking voice uttered, “please...come.in..”

Opening the door, the Vicin peeked in. “Ah good, awake.” He proceeded inside. Finding a chair, he dragged it next to the small bed and sat down. “Did Zlea send you hot food yet?”

“ye.. yes.., he did,” the Sephoran whispered, his small head craned upward to the larger reptilian from his curl position, “though...please pardon...my matters. I-I could only stomach some.”

Cha’delk stopped throughout his speech, an obvious shortness of breath preventing his usual continuous chatter. He inhaled shallowly and rapidly to collect himself. “Where..am I?” he mumbled scratchy. “I don’t recall much.”

The Vicin waved his scaled hand, "No problem, Ronin told us. Been through a great deal of stress. Likely malnourished. Dehydrated. Healing needs time."
Brelnix listened patiently. “This is Office building of my mining operation. Lieve & Trevon co... Transformer friend met someone under my employment. Must have given location.“
“Both safe in hanger.” He added quickly.

“oh, Oh, Schayth!” The small trader dull eyes suddenly widen in remembrance, “She was injured...when guards brought her...to the cell block, I think. Is-is she well?” Cha’delk mustered some strength to sit more upright, his sharp mind starting to come around, his concern for the femme evident. “I might not be here..if not for her...”

The dark reptile nodded, “Is alive. Will need many repairs.” A thoughtful expression passed over his face. “Her foolish actions did conclude to have a good out come, I suppose.” He seemed to mumble.
Returning his attention to the Saphoran, “Ronin also in need of repairs. How would you like to handle?”

Cha’delk let out a long hissing sigh, “Depends...on the damage. My engineers are able to perform basic maintenance and repairs for Ronin.” He scratched his neck with broken claws, scales flaked off. “Also able to complete most cosmetic damages and burst fuel lines, but his critical internal mechanisms...”

“Too complicated.” Cha’delk smiled sadly, unable to fulfill the needs of his most trusted friend. “We’re been unable to fully replicate the quality of components for his frame.”

“Yes, is rather unique.. Will speak to Ronin.” He took a moment to reposition himself before switching subjects. “Tri-Star will send ship. When you feel well enough to travel of course.” He glanced around the rather bare room. “Anything you need?”

Cha’delk blinked wearily, “A heating lamp...if one were...available...the light and warmth would be...a nice change from the damp caves...for so long...” He listed off drowsy. A restful sleep taking him once again after many nerve-racking nights disturbed.

Brelnix stood from his seat, “Yes, will have someone bring mine to you.”
Noticing that the Saphoran needed sleep, the Vicin readied to leave.
“Will check up on later.” He spoke quietly as he slipped out the door.

---

Thirty minutes of asking around for a materials and two hours of jerry-rigging later, Davek strolled up to where the dark mech sat. A lift with some metal contraption in tow came up behind him.
“Hey big guy, ready to get that arm strapped up?”

Ronin’s white optics brighten from their dim state. He had drifted off into a standby rest cycle. The flier looked down to the engineer and the brace. He eyed the contraption skeptically. “Looks like a torture device.”

The engineer planted his fists on his hips and huffed. “So what if it was. You want to have a go at it?”

He ex-vented, muttering foreign words under his vocalizer about wise-cracking organic engineers. Ronin slowly let the damaged limb slip from his lap to hang loosely for the engineer to access. “Just get it on and be done with it.” His restlessness and pain making him openly irritable.

“You got it.” Davek yelled over their loud surroundings. Walking up beside the mech, he motioned the vehicle to come closer. Looking up he spoke again, “Could you lift it up into place?”

Nodding, he reached over and grasped the metal contraption and awkwardly slid over into position over the limb. Biting back a grunt, Ronin maneuvered the brace to hook over his left wing to stabilize the top section into place. The initial plasma burn wound on his back shoulder got jarred from the shifting, resulting in him stiffing from a sharp pain. Taking the lower portion, the ex-soldier wrapped it around the weld-scarred forearm and held it in place. The brace locked the shoulder and arm into a bent formation to rest comfortable against his chest plates.

“Make sure ya get it comfortable ’cause its not moving when we’re done.”
Once he was sure Ronin had finished, Davek called out, “Hey, you’re up guys. Ked, help him hold it in place.”
Barely a second later, half a dozen various aliens came jogging with their equipment in hand.
“All right, let’s get this done right and quick. Shuy, I need you and Brekin to work on the top since you’re light. Me, Pili an’ Tekven will work on the sides.”

Like a well oiled machine, they all took up their respective places and started working. Somewhere in the hanger, someone had smacked the play on a radio. Soon the whole place was filled with something oddly similar to earth’s .38 Special, Rockin' into the Night. Sparks flew and metal clanged together as they secured the brace into place.

As Ronin held onto his section of the brace, he valiantly ignored the clammer of warm bodies up and down his frame. The flying sparks hitting his plates harmlessly. It was the pin pricks from the welders sending needle point jolts into the neuro-circuit. He could tell when engineers had never worked on transformer anatomy, they didn’t have the finer touch of avoiding sensor nodes while patching. Ronin gritted his denta and endured the procedure till they were done.

As the minutes ticked by, all the aliens worked methodically without a break. They treated it like an over night wing repair. Which in a sense, it was. Night shift had started an hour ago, but none of them stopped to go home.
As those from the earlier shift left, a new set of workers bustled in. Some stared at the odd guests, but everyone held any questions or complaints.

Time wore on, the endless chatter and blaring music began to drone on his audios, building a numbing ache in his circuits. The passing dock workers held little interest for the ex-soldier and he couldn’t exactly shift back into the standby cycle. Rather, he narrowed on the obvious assassin snoozing away. A rare glint of spite rattle in his processor. If he had to suffer the madness, he might as well share it.

Unable to lean forward this time, he reached out a pede and prodded the resting femme’s back. None too gently.

Shifting from one memory to the next, Schayth remained in that vague start of defrag. She could feel the ever present sense of people moving about. The familiar sound of a ships dock made her calm. It reminded her of when her old home needed the occasional tune up or body work. Her fuzzy state was suddenly and rudely interrupted by a jab to her back.
Activating her optics, she saw her arms outstretched. She must have moved to her side in her sleep without realizing it. Pulling herself inward, Schayth pushed her frame up into a sitting position. Twisting around, she flashed a knowing look at the mech sitting behind her.

A pained smirk flashed crossed his lip components briefly. Activating his surprisingly intact comm. line, he beamed the femme on an open channel. ::Fall off any ledges lately?::

::So it was you... I was not sure.:: She replied. The assassin turned the rest of her chassis to face him. Crossing her legs easily, she rested her empty hands in her lap.
::I still owe you.::

Ronin waved it off, shaking his helm ever so slightly carefully so as not to knock the dock workers off his shoulder. He wish he could though, they were starting to become a permanent fixture.
::Even. You saved Cha’delk...when I failed to protect him. Might not have found in time.::

Schayth looked down at the floor, not sure how to respond.

::Ronin:: He met her dodging optics. ::It’s Ronin::
The very edge of her lips curved, ::Nice name.::
::It’s not often when I have to thank someone else for saving my life. Been even longer since I’ve seen another transformer.:: She mused as she tugged at the coolant lines absently.

Davek glanced up from the weld he had been working on to see what all the movement had been. Not hearing either of them speak, he squinted through his tinted face mask. Shrugging it off as some weird transformer thing, he returned to his work.

Ronin hissed deeply when a welder shot over another sensor node. He narrowed his blazing white optics at the obvious worker. ::I wish they would be done soon:: He whined plaintively.

The assassin sympathised, ::Dock workers... Not the gentle type.::
Having grown bored of the tubes running from her side, she picked up the half finished cube.
::Were we followed?::

::I don’t know. I could only fly out of there as fast as I could. That’s why I wish to leave soon. The blown up space port would only occupy them for so long.::

Schayth nodded, understanding what the situation had been. ::You probably shouldn’t blow stuff up so much.:: She coughed half laughed at her own poor crack at a joke.

Ronin quirked an optic ridge of slight curiosity at the assassin. ::Wouldn’t be the first time, I demolished half of Sheol or created complete mayhem there. They’ll get over it.::

The mechs words triggered a memory of exploding an entire smuggling outpost. It made her smile without realizing it.

Ronin stretched his other leg out, the servos stiff from overuse and being still to long. ::I never caught your designation.:: He asked idly.

A flash of an exploding structure blitzed through his processor, sending a lancing pain through his circuits. Ronin groaned softly as his optics unfocused and gripped his head in a hand. The disoriention blossomed worst then last time.

The Decepticon glanced up, returning to the present. ::Schayth.::
Her head tilted to the side when the mech held his helm. Assuming it had been from the pain, she waited for it to pass.

“Hey, don’t be movin’ so much!”
The shout drew Schayths gaze to the mottle brown-green, scaled alien that hanged from Ronin’s side.
“You try dealing with a process ache cleaving your head in half,” snarled Ronin, optics narrowed dangerously. Davek shot him a look he couldn’t even see under the mask. Snapping it up, he shut off his welder. “The brace is on. So you’re done.”
“K people, go home. We’re finished.” He called off the rest of the workers he had help.

“Thank you,” he muttered softly, off lining his optics and resting against the wall again, greatly for the peace finally.

The engineer jerked his head to the side, “Welcome, just don’t be trying to climb buildings or get into a fist fight. I ain’t getting paid for this you know.”

Ronin snorted, “Don't’ quit your day job to become a transformer repair specialist.” He was really out of it if he was cracking lousy jokes with an organic.

“Hahah.. I don’t think so.. ships are my forte sir, not robots.”

“Mechs,” he corrected.

“Whatever you say..” Swerving around, he waved behind him. “I’m off for home, haven’t slept for two days.”
Just as the engineer was about to open the office door, it swung open revealing a familiar Vicin.
“Boss.”
Brelnix focused on Davek, ”Ah, how did repairs go?”
“Well enough, brace worked.. to my surprise.”
The Vicin nodded and patted the engineers shoulder. ”Good work, go home. rest.”
“With pleasure, boss” He replied enthusiastically and headed through the door.
Once the engineer had left, Brelnix turned his attention to the two transformers who sat not too far away.
Walking up, he sat on the same crate he had before. He smiled at Schayth, glad she was up and... somewhat around.
Glancing back to the mech, “Any better?”

Ronin still blenched at the mental contact, but stifled the thought immediately, “As well as can be expected for the time being. Full repairs will be pending to be fully functional.” He ex-vented frustrated. The processor ache ebbing away finally. “After Cha’delk is safely returned. Will see to own needs.”

“Yes..” Brelnix shifted his gaze to the silent femme than back. “Would you be taking Schayth with you?”
Said femme jerked her helm in his direction, slightly surprised at the question.

A frown crossed Ronin’s face plates and did not answer for several moments. “Have you no other means for your damages?” He directed this to Schayth.

The assassin slowly shook her head, “From what I’ve learned, Decepticon’s are a hunted race now.” She took a moment to think of any other past connection she had, but concluded they had all probably died from old age after so long. Schayth turned to the Vicin.
“Give me a small ship. I leave to ensure that they will not trace anything back to you.”
“No. Unless you have a means of repair and safety.”
Not being able to bring herself to lie to him, she stayed silent.

Ronin nodded, optics fading out and back, “Autobots repair me, despite not being Cybertronian.” He openly acknowledged his different origins willingly. “Perhaps, a medic from my own people can do the same. Should you come.”

The femme stayed quiet for several seconds, thinking over the offer. “As long as I am away from here, I do not have any objections.”
“Could not be that terrible here.” Brelnix replied in mock hurt. Schayth tilted her head, crimson optics revealing a hidden smile.
“I’ll try to visit after this blows over.” She said, hoping to satisfy the Vicin.
“Will be expecting you.”

Ronin slumped against the wall, his systems finally caving into a deep recharge, “Settled. Revise departure come new cycle.” His optics offlined for a final time that night.

Brelnix nodded and stood to leave. “Rest well.”
Schayth returned the gesture and watched the Vicin til he disappeared behind the office door.
Now left to her own devices, the assassin looked around for something to lean her tired frame on. Finding nothing strong enough, she decided to start scooting herself in the direction of the wall. After a number of minutes struggling over such a short distance, she relaxed against the cool wall. The familiar hum of the fellow transformer to her right made her slightly slide in that direction. Offlining her optics, she sighed, feeling safe for the first time in what seemed like forever.

---

By the time Brelnix had reached his office door, he felt like was about to collapse. Half stumbling in, he almost had to drag himself the last few steps to the closet chair.

“Past your bed time, my friend.” The statement came from the hulking figure the sat across the room. Blue eyes shifted in the dark. The Vicin had always wondered how they seemed to glow even when his small desk lamp remained the only light course in the room.

“Wanted to check on them before I retired.” The response sounded faint, his fatigue evident.

Lieve stood up from the cushioned couch he had lounged himself on. Moving behind the desk, he took out the same bottle that the Vicin had earlier that day.
Brelnix could now see the Iekuan more clearly. He had shed the light armor in favor of more comfortable clothes. The hair like strips that ran from the back of his smooth head down to the small of his back, hung loose. The usual tension that held them tightly together and in place, gone once he had relaxed.
Pouring his partner a drink, he breathed in the scent.
“Eel... with a little something else.” Giving it one last look, he put the bottle away and past the glass to the Vicin. “Must have been expensive.”
“Thank you. Yes. Keishdain’ksa Eel.. The price is high because of Hyena from Earth. Gives it unique flavor.” Brelnix explained easily while sipping the thick liquid.
The larger alien hummed in response, the diet of his friend never bothered him much. Could always be worse, he supposed.
“Only for special occasions... or intended so.”
Falling back into the couch, Lieve splayed his pale arms out across the top. “I think the confirmed safety of our employees and the rescue of Tri-Stars owner rather special.”
Brelnix bobbed his head, agreeing completely. The Iekuan bent his arms to rest his hands behind his head.
“The message Ronin gave me worked perfectly. Everything has been set with Tri-Star. Just have to send them the coordinates when the Saphoran is ready to go.”
“Good.”

Both shared company in the quiet dark. A little while later, Brelnix expressed his lack of sleep, he headed for his bedroom. All long-staying residence of the company had one of their own.
Setting his empty cup on the table, with his tail dragging behind him, the Vicin shuffled off to bed.
Lieve said his good nights, but did not bother to get up. After all, Iekuan did not sleep.

---

As she fell deeper into her sleep-cycle, Schayth could feel the world around her warp. It was a common occurrence, dreams brought on by old memories. She had long grown accustom to the roller coaster of emotions it would bring. But in the end, the void remained.

As the usual darkness faded away, the Decepticon found herself in a familiar place. The first thing to become clear was the feel of slate blue armor under her fingertips. The lack of luster in the metal skin told her what time the memory came from. Near the end of the Cybertronion rebellion.
With low reserves of energon and on the constant move, many of them dulled in color. No one seemed to notice, far too focused on reaching their destination.
She traced a long cut from a shoulder joint to midsection. The mech shuddered and turned his curved helm around.
She vaguely heard him speak. Something about damaged neural sensors and it being one of the last things a fellow gladiator had given him. She could never remember his name.
He turned away and she continued her mapping. They passed the time like this, waiting to hear from their leader.

The atmosphere shifted.

An old dark beige face filled her vision. Tight features, ravaged by disease and harsh work, studied her blank expression. 'Sul'Vark'
Lifting a rag damp with some cleaning solution, he rubbed the dirt and grit from her scratched up chassis. Moving to her helm, his pale lavender eyes narrowed.
"Whad we have here?" He did not seem at all surprised as a long forgotten insignia revealed itself from under the rag. Once all the old cheap black paint that had covered it for so long had been wiped away, he sat back.
"Not seen that symbol since some scum tried to sell me some scrap.. Was wee young then." He mused even as the femme sitting before him continued to stare into space.
He jabbed a thick finger at her head, "At least that means you might have some brains. If they haven't all been fried." Getting no response, he got up and left.
"Better come outah that shell you've created or I'll just sell you for junk. What use is an assistant that does not speak?" The rough voice faded as he disappeared from view.

Again her surroundings changed.

Dark. Smoke. Alone. Something black came rushing at her like a demon from hell.

"LoCaTiOn oF cArGo."

Unseen hands grasped her throat, tore at her midsection, spilling her life blood all over the invisible floor.

"GIvE iT To mE!"

Teeth sank into the plate protecting her face underneath.

"MINE."




As the cycle on Monacus changed from night to day, the early morning shift replaced those who had worked all night. A few stationed near the still transformers had stared at the unusual guests just as the last shift had, but once again they kept their silence.
As time past, a number of them noticed movement.
Schayths entire body had convulsed, her head jerking up, smacking the wall. The twisting caused one of the two coolant tubes to be pulled out, soaking the concrete in a cyan liquid.
Burning red optics flashed, finally having torn her way back to consciousness.

Spark pulse erratic. His fuel pump increased function, turning into overdrive condition far too high for recharge protocols. Battle programming jump started Ronin into full alertness, preparing to jump into a defensive position. However, his frame failed to completely react to the program impulse. He immediately stiffen, halting any further jerk response, and reminded rigid until the jolts of pain ceased. He finally ex-vented as the tense neuro-linkage relax.

Confused as to the abrupt awaking, Ronin dismissed any other thoughts as he realized Schayth struggled beside him, one of the coolant tubes flailing everywhere. Swiftly, he used his mobile arm to wrap around the Decepticon’s waist. Pulling her towards him, he braced her against his side, till she could settle down and collect herself.

“Schayth?” he barked uncertain.

Rapidly pulling in air, the dark femme tried to calm herself. The sudden uncontrollable spasms sent waves of pain through her frame. Fractured internal plating and taunt muscle cables ached, making her curl in as much as the arm around her would allow.
As it began to fade away and she regained her sense of awareness, Schayth registered a strong voice emanating from above and behind her. Still not paying much mind to the arm that snaked around her midsection, she tilted her head back to look up at who the voice belonged to. On any normal given day, the Decepticon would have immediately removed herself, but now she really did not care.

“What happened?” The arm released her, reaching over to the lose coolant line to reattach it to her midsection.

For a moment she did not know. As the second clicked by, it slowly came back to her making her grimace.
“Dreams. Certain memories.. cause neural-circuitry blow back from damaged datatrax.” Taking in another long breath, she inched away and pulled herself up against the wall.
“Manifests into physical..” Shuttering her optics, she forced herself to relax. “Physical reaction.”

“Operating in another mind state,” he whispered quietly, remembering his own moments of losing himself in a soldier trance and acting without independent thinking. His faceplates turned into a hard expression.

“Can not be normal.” More of a statement, than question.

“No, but I’ve grown used to it.” She replied flatly. Glancing over, she noticed the mess that her fit had caused. Sighing at the impending questions she will most likely be bombarded with by the Vicin, she pulled her legs in and rested her chin on her knees.

“Perhaps repairable,” Ronin stated with much thought a klick later, offered. “The medic I know, quite skilled.”

_{To Be Continued. . .}