From Within The Sand (Sunstreaker and Sideswipe Bayverse)

Chapter 20

Sunstreaker whips around and I look around to see where the painfilled voice came from. The door to my room is wide open and a now very distraught looking Sideswipe in holoform stood. I don't think I will ever be able to unsee the hurt radiating from his eyes. His hand still holds the doorknob and his shoulders slumped forward. Words are lost in my throat. This is not how I wanted him to find out. Sunstreaker seems at a loss as well. After a moment, Sideswipe straightens up and an angered look crosses over his face.

"Are you two just going to stare at me or say something? Why would you say she's already dead?" Sideswipe demands, shooting daggers at the both of us.

"Please close the door." I barely recognize the timid voice that leaves me.

He takes a step forward and slams the door shut behind him. The hurt in his eyes is replaced with anger and the need to know.

"Explain cause as far as I know, Hart is alive and well." He crosses his arms and stares at us.

"How much did you hear?" I ask after clearing my throat.

"Sunstreaker said maybe you're here to save us." He glowered.

I take a second to gather my thoughts. Not sure how I want to approach this conversation.

"She's a ghost. She died over a year ago." Sunstreaker blurts out, not giving me a chance.

"Sunstreaker!" I scold, sending him a quick glare before looking back at Sideswipe. Who seems to be at a loss for words.

"No." Sideswipe whispers. He looks to the ground thinking his brothers' words over. "That's not true."

"Sideswipe." I start, taking a step forward.

"No, why would you lie about something like that?" He stares in disbelief at Sunstreaker.

"He's not lying. Believe me. I wish he was." It's times like these I'm glad I can't cry. I'd be bawling like a baby.

"How can I believe that. You're standing right in front of me. I can touch you." He steps forward and tries to put his hand on my shoulder, but it goes right through me. "What?"

He brings his hand up to his face and stares at it. His eyes wide, jaw dropped. He steps back, almost losing his footing. Then his eyes go back and forth from his hand to me. I'm positive none of this makes sense to him. I wanted to break this to him gently. Though, I probably would have gotten the same reaction.

"It's an illusion. A magic trick. Something humans enjoy doing or watching. You're making this all up. This is a really sick prank, and you guys know how much I love pranks, but this is crossing a line." He rants, his eyes turning angry again.

"I wish it was, but I am dead. I fell off the cliff last year. My body is still there." I explain.

"But we can see you, talk to you. Your alive." He cries out.

"I've made everyone believe that I am. I've done a good job convincing people that I am still alive. I don't know how or why, but I'm still here. There are things I can do that no human alive can do." I feel as though I am getting nowhere.

"She is the reason you and Prime woke up." Sunstreaker steps in.

"The mark on my finger? The mark on Optimus's torso?" Sideswipe looks at me for confirmation.

"You noticed that?" I almost shy away.

"Ratchet thought maybe it was from the blast, but how did you wake us?" Confusion more so than before, fills his face.