Void-verse. Where Scourge is. Looking for a hand.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet looks around as he appears in the new reality, feeling the mech that he's searching for, but not seeing him yet. The free spark's usually cheerful face shows deep concern today. He knows this is a long shot gamble, but he can't shake the hunch that Scourge might be able to help him.

He tilts his head and listens. Where is Scourge?

Comments

[random_xtras]

Ratchet nods and vanishes, then returns with a slightly larger and fancier PINpoint. This one sports several buttons, and he points to three of them as he offers it to Scourge. "Home. Auspex's. And the Nexus."

[corruptedhope]

Scourge's hands move as if to reach for it before he forces them back to his sides again. Cyclonus takes the device gingerly, deciding that he can at least trust it not to be some sort of bomb. His thumb comes up and rests on the 'Nexus' button.

"Now?"

[random_xtras]

"Ready when you are," responds the free spark.

[corruptedhope]

Push the button, Frank Cyclonus.

Scourge steps up to his wingmate and gently puts a hand on his arm as the PINPoint activates.

[random_xtras]

"Don't scare her away," says Ratchet softly, trying to pinpoint the source of the feeling and wincing as he starts to feel confusion, pain, and sadness that aren't his own.

He looks at Scourge, "Can you see anything?"

[corruptedhope]

"Not see, it's...it's something else. Something I feel. Something's here but I can't see it." Scourge is starting to curl his arms inward and he's trying not to show how scared he is. He's shared emotions before, albeit either with Primus or by force, and the pain strikes him as hard as his own would.

Cyclonus reluctantly lowers his gun, but doesn't put it away. "If it harms Scourge..."

[random_xtras]

"She won't." Ratchet frowns with concern as he watches the tracker.

"Decepticons." The voice is so faint that most would miss it, it sounds like some far away echo of a memory.

[corruptedhope]

"Yes," Scourge whispers in reply, almost as if in a trance. He turns towards the voice, nervously holding out a hand. "We're Decepticons. We're here."

Cyclonus is now completely confused. But he won't interrupt Scourge, not now.

[random_xtras]

The other free spark turns around quickly. "She can. It will probably help her... ground her and ease her pain."

There's a start that Scourge can feel, Starscream has noticed Ratchet now and is afraid and wary. She can't die! She's not allowed! She won't go with him to answer the song!

And then she realizes what Scourge is asking, and the tracker is suddenly no longer alone in his own shell.

-Safe,- she thinks wearily, her pain and fear fading somewhat, though the static in his circuits continues as she curls in on herself and trembles. -Thank you....-

[corruptedhope]

"No problem," Scourge murmurs, patting his own shoulder comfortingly. "Won't let him take you."

Cyclonus feels as if he should be doing some sort of leader thing right now, but by some miracle Scourge actually seems to have it under control.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet sidles over and elbows the Decepticon leader.

"Good job, Scourge," he prompts, knowing hearing it from Cyclonus will mean more than hearing it from him.

Starscream perks just a little. -My master forbid me to die.- She shivers. -He was angry.- A snuggling feeling and a sense of grateful relief at no longer being alone and naked, though she still feels lost and confused.

[corruptedhope]

"Go play in a vacuum," Cyclonus hisses back, waving his gun in Ratchet's general vicinity. He doesn't need some half-dead Autobot telling him what to do with his wingmate, it's bad enough that Auspex does it.

"Don't think he's angry," Scourge mutters to his new roommmate. "He was worried. Looking for you, that's why we were sent to bring you home."

[random_xtras]

Ratchet solidifies, causing Cyclonus' knuckles to hit him with a dull 'clank'. "Stop that, I can hear your slagging thoughts when you do it."

-I... don't know.- She looks at the purpled opticked image, and he'll be able to see her remembering times when the optics are blue and the voice is female. Megatron doesn't shout at those times.

And then the trace of another memory rises: anguish and fear and pain to her very spark core....

Starscream shouts and flails free of Scourge's shell, bumping into Cyclonus in the process as she radiates her terror and her sense of utter helplessness before whatever had attacked her in the memory.

"Slag!" Ratchet stumbles to a knee as she brushes against him, and then reaches for Primus, asking for the power to comfort her and strengthen her.

[corruptedhope]

"Good. I'm quite eager to give them to you," Cyclonus snarls, right before Starscream bursts out again.

Scourge makes a grab for her, falling and hitting the ground before he can get a proper grip. But his hand falls through her and he can give her at least one memory--trembling against Cyclonus' chest, letting himself be held without being touched, finding solace from the storm of his own mind.

[random_xtras]

She leans against Cyclonus herself, only because of her immaterial state she sinks into him, still transmitting the weakness and terror and helplessness even as she tries to grasp at the comforting memory from Scourge.

And it's Cyclonus who suddenly feels the slight touch of a presence much larger than himself, nonthreatening, non-invasive, but full of concern for the shivering spark who's hiding partially inside the warrior's shell. Starscream herself is unaware of anything but her struggle to hold onto what Scourge has given her. She doesn't even realize yet that she's left his shell.

Ratchet's sitting on the ground, just silently watching everything and waiting.

[corruptedhope]

Scourge stumbles to his feet, setting his hand on Cyclonus' shoulder for balance and continues, giving her a memory of a delicate, nervous kiss that made his circuits sing like angels. "I came back, you can come back too. Come with us," he murmurs again, trying to show her how safe it is.

It takes all of Cyclonus' willpower not to flinch, both from Starscream and this new alien force inside him. He stands firm, one arm across his chest protectively, the other still hanging on to his gun.

[random_xtras]

"No. I have to program in the coordinates to this one." Ratchet's voice holds relief. It looks like this is going to turn out well after all.

-She offered to help me, I think....- Starscream searches for the rest of the memory and draws a blank.

[corruptedhope]

Cyclonus hands it over and waits impatiently, still feeling angry about the invading presence. His body, none other's!

"She helps me too. Helped me through some of the hardest parts of my...existence. You can see her, once you're better."

[random_xtras]

The free spark takes it and sticks his finger into it, optics intent as he gives it the required data and organizes it properly.

-See her....- Starscream hasn't got an opinion on that yet. She just wants to go home.

Ratchet suddenly starts and looks up, the PINpoint forgotten in his hand as he listens intently. "Slagging... I have to go."

[corruptedhope]

Seeing people go through things is never going to stop freaking Cyclonus out, but he has enough Decepticonly stoicism not to let it show. "What? Go where? Don't you dare leave us here!"