TFP: Alone

Chapter 20: The Search Part 1

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.

I raced through the streets to the Leaning Center. I had felt Sides fear and saw through his eyes what was happening. The entire building was crumbling and my twin was stuck inside.

I transform, pushing past several Bots, eventually making it to the front of the line of Autobots. There were flames raising high in the air, I could hear the muffled voices through the rubble. They had already managed to pull some Bots from the wreckage and I made my way toward where all the medics were.

"Is there anybot here names Sideswipe?" I spoke up. No one even noticed me with all the commotion going on. I looked for Sideswipe's red armor, but my spark told me that he was still inside the wreckage.

The Enforcers had set up boundaries and were keeping civilians out of the building. There were crying sires and carriers begging them to let them through, but they were ignoring their cries.

I made my way around them, sneaking behind the Enforcers. I see a way in and make a dash to it. I ducked under some rubble, which collapsed behind me after I bumped into it with my aft. I left out a cough when the smoked my vents.

"Sideswipe!" I  call. I hear nothing but the groans of some of the Bots around me, which I paid no mind to.

I step over what used to be the walls of the Learning Center and outstretched arms of Bots, crushed under the debris. One of the servos latched onto my foot and I shook it off, continuing to search for Sides.

::Sunny....:: I hear him. I could feel that he was barely conscious.

::Sides! Where are you?:: I question.

::Galley...:: He answered, before his side of the bond faded out, but didn't disappear.

Now with a destination in mind, I head toward the galley, often having to take a detour to avoid blocked hallways.

The galley is the center of the Learning Center. It was the biggest room by far with tall ceilings to accommodate any student. It could fit hundreds of Bots. And that's just what I found. Hundreds of Bots.

Most were dead, or dying. There was no way to help them. My top priority was Sideswipe. I spotted red armor poking out from beneath piles of rubble, but I knew that none were my brother. He was here. I could feel him.

I heard whimpering from beside me and I look to see the femme. I let out a disgusted snort. Her helm was tossed to the side and atop her head was the stuff that organics grow in weird places. Hair. It was messy and knotted. It hung in her optics. She caught sight of me and her optics widen.

"Sunstreaker?" She was surprised.

"Yes. Do you know where Sideswipe is?" I ask. She shook her head. I turn to leave but she stopped me.

"Wait! I'll help you find him if we look for my cousins too. And the other twins."  She said. I consider her offer. It would be good to have two Bots searching, covering more ground.

"Fine." I agree.

"Maverick has blue armor, blue optics, and he'll probably be nervous if you come up to him." The femme explained. I knew the mech she spoke of. I never talked to him, but we are in the same age group as him.

"Coda has gray armor, blue optics, and he'll probably be talking to himself." The second I didn't know and didn't care for. I didn't care for either of them. I'd only be looking for Sideswipe.

Legacy's P.O.V.

I cant't believe Sunstreaker was here. I know he cared for his brother and that's why he came, but I wondered as to how he got in here with all this destruction...

That didn't really matter though. He was here to help. But, if he's here, then why not Enforcers too? It was complicated. I scourged the wreckage for any signs of the Bots we were searching for, but came up with nothing. I eventually stumbled upon the dead body of the Offical though. Perceptor.

Sunstreaker noticed me staring and merely scoffed at the shell that was once one of our leaders.

"Keep searching!" He ordered. And I did. I searched high and low. I checked under piles of rubble, under tables, in corners. Nothing.

"Have you found any sign of him?!" I hear from across the room. I call back 'no' and I hear a growl in response. It was awful. The wreckage. There were children, no older than Coda, laying on the floor, optics dim.

The thought of losing any more of my family brought tears to my eyes, but I blinked them away, nervously playing with my hair.

I hear a groan and I whip my head around, seeing a Bot with green armor, trapped beneath fallen rubble. I cautiously make my way over to him, analyzing his predicament.

"Please... Help..." He gasps.

"Help is coming. I can't get you out of here though." I say apologetically. There was no way I was going to be able to get him out. I wasn't strong enough to move the pieces of the ceiling that had fallen on top of him.

I left him there and continued my search for Sideswipe, Maverick, and Coda. It seemed like hours. Then, I finally saw him. Sideswipe was trapped in a doorway. He had obviously been trying to get out. All I could see were his pedes. I knew that they belonged to him because of the distinctive shine. He told me he polished his pedes every day and I believed it considering the condition they were in.

"Sunstreaker! I found him." As soon as I called for him, the yellow twin was beside me within seconds.

He wasted no time, getting to work. He shifted rubble off of him, occasionally muttering things to his twin. Then, Sideswipe was free. He was however unconscious. He scooped his brother up in his arms, carrying him toward the exit.

"You're coming back to help me find my cousins right?!" I call after him.

"My first priority is my brother." He growled. I gape at him as he left.

"Bastard." I mutter to myself, moving to continue my search. I move through the doorway that had trapped Sideswipe, now looking for my cousins.

This doorway led to the hall. At the end of the hall, I saw familiar green armor. I rush forward and when I see the Rack and Ruin, I let out a sob. A supporting beam had fallen in between them and separated them.

Rack's optics were offlined and his armor faded to dull gray. I felt tears roll down my cheeks and I look to Ruin. His optics were flickering and I rush over to him. He was choking on his own energon and you could see he was in a lot of pain.

"Ruin?" I whisper. He looked at me, his eyes full of fear, then, he offlines. It was quick. He was here one second and gone the next.

I craddled him in my lap and I cried. My best friends were gone. Just like Orion and just like Mom.