Thunder Snow (GOTP AU)

4. Speak, and They Will Hear... Hopefully.

"V-Vi...Virus...! C-Cody...!"

Chase was running, he was running towards Heatwave, towards his brother's cry. The halls seemed to grow longer and longer, the sounds duller and weaker by the moment. "Heatwave! Heatwave, I'm coming! Just hold on! Hold on...!"

The corridors split open, and he rushed into the room. His optics fell on his brother lying on the floor, his optics flickering a vibrant green and energon pooled under him like oil from Woodrow's vehicle.

"Heatwave! Please, please! You have to stay awake...!" Chase bent down to him, "Heatwave...!"

"C-Chase..."
Heatwave's head slid across the floor, seeming to change shape as he did so. His form seemed to be changing... becoming more pliable, more... fluid. It was as if he was melting."...Chase... C-Cody... Where's- "

Chase's eyes flew open, a gasp leaving his throat. The corridors and his brother both vanished as he lifted his head. He was back in the stall of Dr. Parathos' ranch... It had been only another nightmare.

"You're alright..."
Periphery's soft voice grounded the officer a bit, her wing brushing his shoulder in a gentle motion. "It was just a nightmare, you're safe."

Chase's optics searched the stall for Cody- he'd been here when he'd fallen asleep, hadn't he? Where was he now?

"Cody? Cody!"

"Easy, Chase... It's okay... He just went outside to help clear away some of the snow."

Chase nodded, getting up onto aching legs that begged him to lie back down. "I will go check on him, then-"

"Aiya."
Chase paused as the forest dragon put her paw down on his tail, "Wait."

"You have more information for me?"

"Chase... Cody is fine. You need to relax."

"I...Cannot. I promised Cody and his father that I would protect him."

"Which does not mean he has to be in your line of sight every waking moment... He is what, fifteen years old?"

"Correct."

"And he seems like a capable kid. I'm sure he'll be fine for a little while without your constant watch... Sit here with me, I want to talk to you for a minute."

Chase sighed, walking over and lying down beside the other dragon. "Very well... What are we talking about?"

"I know we said we wouldn't share our story until Arson was back, but... I think I can at least give you some backstory..."

Chase's ears pricked a bit, "Very well."

"As I'm sure you were aware... Cybertron was going through some strife around the time you all vanished. The followers of Megatron's ambitious rallies and way of thinking were on the rise, and the public could feel the tension lingering all around... At the time, Arson and I were both still relatively new to Sigma Twelve, but Arson was already... 'stirring the pot,' as the humans say."

"He always was a discrete rebel in his spark."

"Yes... But after you all vanished on assignment- in the Quintessa Quadrant of all places- Arson was furious. He told off a number of the higher-ups, enough that I was surprised he was not temporarily expelled from the Force for insubordination. He wanted nothing more than to find you and make sure you were safe... Every waking moment that he wasn't doing a rescue or other work, he was skimming the signals, searching the scans for you four... He never stopped looking."

"Sounds much like him... I am sorry we put him through such turmoil."

"It is not your fault... I have no doubt he will be overjoyed to hear from you when we are able to get him back."