Last One Standing pt 20
Title: Last One Standing
Universe: G1 (Avalon AU)
Rating: M
Characters: Soundwave, Jazz, Shockwave, assorted other Decepticons, multiple original characters
Content Advisory: mentions of past rape, mentions of child abuse, Plug and Play intimacy
Summary: as one mech travels the road of life, he is touched and changed by many others along the way. but in the end, he finishes as alone as he began.
Notes: chapter 20 is more of the material i managed to finish writing during NaNo this year. i'm sure it needs more tweaks than i gave it before posting, but i have a cotton candy bingo card to finish, so that'll happen when i'm ready to archive to AO3.
Quake woke them two metacycles later as Cybertron drifted out of the gravitational pull of a small yellow star to give them a bit of good news, for the first time in longer than any of them could remember. He smiled at them as he sat six cubes of sweet energon on their table and gestured for them to sit down.
“If you’re brave enough to go to Kalis and for a couple of you to work the refinery,” the Guardsmech said as they sat down, “Then I have a friend who has some real apartments for you to live in.”
“The refinery? Isn’t that dangerous?” Stockpile immediately reached out to take Symphony’s hand. None of them could escape the memory of what had happened to Requiem.
“Less dangerous than it was, at least at this plant. My friend, a mech named Flashfire, hired a troop of guards when he took over the plant. They’re trained, too.” Quake took a drink from his own energon cube. “Most of ‘em are mechs and femmes that Fire and I served in the Guard with. Best of the best, they are. You lot would be safer in his apartments than you are be here.”
“Flashfire?” Jazz said. “He’s the one who was downstairs recruiting workers last cycle, right?”
“One and the same. He got lots of strong backs that day, but not many suited for the non-labor positions.”
“We would not be required to work the refinery proper?” Symphony asked softly, not quite looking up from the table.
“Nope. He wants bots who can run errands and messages or handle clerical tasks.” The tavern owner gave them an encompassing look. “Your little family unit here is perfect, honestly. Even if you couldn’t run, you’re capable of watching monitors or processing data.”
“Look, Jazz may not of told you,” Bluenote broke in angrily, “But his brother died in a refinery. We’re not exactly inclined to believe they’re safe anymore.”
“I know about Requiem,” Quake said softly. “I thought long and hard before offering you this chance. But I thought that you would also like a chance to go back to a real life, instead of hiding in here and doing whatever it is that you and Jazz do to get parts and fuel.”
“We don’t do anything illegal!” Blue’s plating flared out in anger.
“Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe,” Jazz said softly. “We gotta face reality, Blue. What we’re doing isn’t safe and will get one of hurt eventually. And you gotta admit that a real apartment, with real showers and maybe our own vid screen sounds nicer than living in an inn for another metacycle.”
“If Jazz is willing,” Woodwind added softly, “Then I am too. We would have access to better medics at the refinery, even if nothing else was better.”
Soundwave rubbed his throat unconsciously. Even after Bluenote’s last trip for parts and the assistance of the cheerful nurse who lived across the hall, his voice was getting scratchy again. “Agreed.”
“If the younglings agree,” Symphony said, curling into Stockpile’s comforting embrace, “Then I believe we should try. There will be memories wherever we go, after all.”
“Then should I tell him you accept? He’ll send a transport for you and your things if you do.” The Guardsmech looked at each mech carefully. “And it’s not permanent if you don’t want it to be. You’ll all always be welcome here.”
“Yes,” Stockpile said after Symphony whispered a few words into his audio receptor. “Tell him we accept.”
Bluenote huffed and crossed his arms, but didn’t argue.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Their new apartments were Spartan, but Soundwave had expected that. Fully furnished apartments were a luxury of the past now, something to be spoken of in wistful tones while remembering a different time. Right now, he was very grateful that the new apartments had functional recharge berths and not just rest slats. Their systems would all run better thanks the devices.
Bluenote seemed the most disappointed, though Soundwave had no idea what the red mech had expected. The company had been recruiting at bars and hostels; they clearly didn’t have the resources for anything fancy.
“This place is solid,” Jazz said with admiration. “Nothing’s getting through these walls without some serious effort.”
Both Stockpile and Symphony looked relieved at the proclamation. Woodwind went to the small window on the far side of the sitting room to look outside and hummed thoughtfully.
“The view isn’t anything special, but I can see the back gate clearly from here. If things get bad, we’ve got an escape route.” It was an uncomfortable testament to their life on the run that the most peaceful of them was looking for ways out before they had even moved in.
“Good.” Stockpile nodded. “We don’t want to be trapped inside the compound if there are riots or an attack.”
Soundwave nodded, as he moved to the window to look at the gate Wind had found. He knew they were all remembering the riot that had resulted in Stockpile and Symphony losing their home. The gate would be easily accessible, even if they had to climb out the window and down the side of the building to get to it.
It was enough additional security to allow them all to recharge during the night cycle.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The refinery had positions for all of them, if they were willing, and only Symphony turned down a job. He was even weaker after yet another move and his processor didn’t move as rapidly as it had before. The refinery medic, a mech called Fixit, shook his head sadly and told them there was nothing to be done for systems that were simply wearing out.
The knowledge that they would be able to do nothing to extend Symphony’s life struck them all like a punch in the face and Bluenote retreated to his room in grief-stricken silence for several cycles. Soundwave felt like doing the same, but he knew that it would do nothing to help the situation. Instead, he followed Jazz and Woodwind’s examples and simply spent as much time with the composer as possible, making sure he felt all the love and care they had for him.
When Symphony went to recharge for the night cycle, the younger mechs huddled together and shared their grief.
Universe: G1 (Avalon AU)
Rating: M
Characters: Soundwave, Jazz, Shockwave, assorted other Decepticons, multiple original characters
Content Advisory: mentions of past rape, mentions of child abuse, Plug and Play intimacy
Summary: as one mech travels the road of life, he is touched and changed by many others along the way. but in the end, he finishes as alone as he began.
Notes: chapter 20 is more of the material i managed to finish writing during NaNo this year. i'm sure it needs more tweaks than i gave it before posting, but i have a cotton candy bingo card to finish, so that'll happen when i'm ready to archive to AO3.
Quake woke them two metacycles later as Cybertron drifted out of the gravitational pull of a small yellow star to give them a bit of good news, for the first time in longer than any of them could remember. He smiled at them as he sat six cubes of sweet energon on their table and gestured for them to sit down.
“If you’re brave enough to go to Kalis and for a couple of you to work the refinery,” the Guardsmech said as they sat down, “Then I have a friend who has some real apartments for you to live in.”
“The refinery? Isn’t that dangerous?” Stockpile immediately reached out to take Symphony’s hand. None of them could escape the memory of what had happened to Requiem.
“Less dangerous than it was, at least at this plant. My friend, a mech named Flashfire, hired a troop of guards when he took over the plant. They’re trained, too.” Quake took a drink from his own energon cube. “Most of ‘em are mechs and femmes that Fire and I served in the Guard with. Best of the best, they are. You lot would be safer in his apartments than you are be here.”
“Flashfire?” Jazz said. “He’s the one who was downstairs recruiting workers last cycle, right?”
“One and the same. He got lots of strong backs that day, but not many suited for the non-labor positions.”
“We would not be required to work the refinery proper?” Symphony asked softly, not quite looking up from the table.
“Nope. He wants bots who can run errands and messages or handle clerical tasks.” The tavern owner gave them an encompassing look. “Your little family unit here is perfect, honestly. Even if you couldn’t run, you’re capable of watching monitors or processing data.”
“Look, Jazz may not of told you,” Bluenote broke in angrily, “But his brother died in a refinery. We’re not exactly inclined to believe they’re safe anymore.”
“I know about Requiem,” Quake said softly. “I thought long and hard before offering you this chance. But I thought that you would also like a chance to go back to a real life, instead of hiding in here and doing whatever it is that you and Jazz do to get parts and fuel.”
“We don’t do anything illegal!” Blue’s plating flared out in anger.
“Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe,” Jazz said softly. “We gotta face reality, Blue. What we’re doing isn’t safe and will get one of hurt eventually. And you gotta admit that a real apartment, with real showers and maybe our own vid screen sounds nicer than living in an inn for another metacycle.”
“If Jazz is willing,” Woodwind added softly, “Then I am too. We would have access to better medics at the refinery, even if nothing else was better.”
Soundwave rubbed his throat unconsciously. Even after Bluenote’s last trip for parts and the assistance of the cheerful nurse who lived across the hall, his voice was getting scratchy again. “Agreed.”
“If the younglings agree,” Symphony said, curling into Stockpile’s comforting embrace, “Then I believe we should try. There will be memories wherever we go, after all.”
“Then should I tell him you accept? He’ll send a transport for you and your things if you do.” The Guardsmech looked at each mech carefully. “And it’s not permanent if you don’t want it to be. You’ll all always be welcome here.”
“Yes,” Stockpile said after Symphony whispered a few words into his audio receptor. “Tell him we accept.”
Bluenote huffed and crossed his arms, but didn’t argue.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Their new apartments were Spartan, but Soundwave had expected that. Fully furnished apartments were a luxury of the past now, something to be spoken of in wistful tones while remembering a different time. Right now, he was very grateful that the new apartments had functional recharge berths and not just rest slats. Their systems would all run better thanks the devices.
Bluenote seemed the most disappointed, though Soundwave had no idea what the red mech had expected. The company had been recruiting at bars and hostels; they clearly didn’t have the resources for anything fancy.
“This place is solid,” Jazz said with admiration. “Nothing’s getting through these walls without some serious effort.”
Both Stockpile and Symphony looked relieved at the proclamation. Woodwind went to the small window on the far side of the sitting room to look outside and hummed thoughtfully.
“The view isn’t anything special, but I can see the back gate clearly from here. If things get bad, we’ve got an escape route.” It was an uncomfortable testament to their life on the run that the most peaceful of them was looking for ways out before they had even moved in.
“Good.” Stockpile nodded. “We don’t want to be trapped inside the compound if there are riots or an attack.”
Soundwave nodded, as he moved to the window to look at the gate Wind had found. He knew they were all remembering the riot that had resulted in Stockpile and Symphony losing their home. The gate would be easily accessible, even if they had to climb out the window and down the side of the building to get to it.
It was enough additional security to allow them all to recharge during the night cycle.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The refinery had positions for all of them, if they were willing, and only Symphony turned down a job. He was even weaker after yet another move and his processor didn’t move as rapidly as it had before. The refinery medic, a mech called Fixit, shook his head sadly and told them there was nothing to be done for systems that were simply wearing out.
The knowledge that they would be able to do nothing to extend Symphony’s life struck them all like a punch in the face and Bluenote retreated to his room in grief-stricken silence for several cycles. Soundwave felt like doing the same, but he knew that it would do nothing to help the situation. Instead, he followed Jazz and Woodwind’s examples and simply spent as much time with the composer as possible, making sure he felt all the love and care they had for him.
When Symphony went to recharge for the night cycle, the younger mechs huddled together and shared their grief.