Untouchable

Chapter 10

Smokescreen stared as Steve fell.

No. 

He had barely known him. Yet, his death felt like a thousand bullets hitting him at one time, destroying him and knocking him over. He felt the corner of his optics well up, and the tears against faceplate as they fell down, one by one.

He felt sadness and grief and shock over rising in him, as he tried to control himself. He felt fragile. Broken. Cracked. Fragmented. Like one word, one movement could break him into a million pieces, never to be found or put together again.

Knockout stared too but was quicker than him to react. He ran toward Steve fast as he could, but too Smokescreen it seemed slow. All of it too slow, too late.

Too late for Steve.

Steve lied there, without his servo which was shot off, Energon pouring out of his body. Too quick. Too much. Knockout started doing some medic procedure trying to save Steve. Smokescreen was no medic, but he knew he would not survive.

He turned back to face Shadowchaser, meeting his pale green optics. Shadowchaser smirked, and laughed again, the sound echoing off the walls of the cave. Smokescreen felt the rage inside him rise as he saw him laugh. 

Charging toward him, Smokescreen turned the Phase Shifter on. Raising his blaster, he shot at Shadowchaser, who sensed that he was in trouble. Aiming carefully, Smokescreen shot his hand clean off.

"That was for Steve", Smokescreen said, feeling a new sense and form of determination and bravery mixed with anger rising up in him.

Shadowchaser did not respond and instead transformed, speeding away.

Smokescreen went to chase after him, except he then remembered. Steve. Looking back, he looked at the mess. Silently questioning with his eyes on the situation, he looked at Knockout, who shook his head.

"He might make it. But he's probably-", Knockout didn't finish. He didn't need too. Probably couldn't anyways. He saw the mech's red optics fog with tears.

He might make it.

Smokescreen prayed that Steve would. Hoped, that somehow, Steve would be alright. Hope. Smokescreen almost laughed. It was all so stupid. That he could somehow, after all this time could still do it. After all, he's seen before, he somehow still hoped for a better after.

But hope was all he had left. All he had to fight for, live for. And without, he was nothing. Just nothing.

Hope.

Smokescreen helped Knockout lift up Steve, careful, trying not to look at him or accidentally harm him. Strapping him to Knockout who was in car mode, Smokescreen realized that it wasn't true.

He did have something else left to fight for. Something besides hope and his feelings.

Looking at Knockout and Steve, picturing everyone back at Team Prime, Smokescreen whispered the word. 

Family.

He still had a family, related or not. He still had someone. And when he lost hope, Knockout would be there to help him. Support him. And it'll be hard, but he'll make it. He'll be okay.

_________________

He looked at his reflection smiling. 

"That's awesome!"

"Seriously Smokescreen? Steve doesn't need color-changing optics! Just change them to blue and get it over with!"

Steve laughed and watched his optics change colors, from red to green to blue to yellow. He felt awed. Smokescreen was supposed to change his optics to blue, but while borrowing some things from the nearby hospital he somehow figured out how to do multi-color.

"Hey, it reminds me of those light up shoes the humans made!", Smokescreen commented.

"What if his optics fall out! There are many risks with th-"

"You're just jealous that it makes Steve look better than you. You might have the best paint job, but Stev-"

"Whatever! Did you at least upgrade his armor correctly?"

"Yeah about that....... I added some improvements".

Steve listened to Knockout and Smokescreen argue, not really bothering to join in. It didn't matter much to him. All that mattered to him was that he was happy. For once he wasn't confused or scared. He was happy.

Happy he was still alive.

Happy he didn't have to be scared or listen to other bots.

Happy that he had friends.

__________________

Knockout sighed. No use arguing with Smokescreen. He had to admit though, legal or not, (not), the upgrades were cool.

He still felt nervous. Mainly with Steve. He had spent a week unconscious. Knockout was still exhausted from being worried and taking care of him.

At first, there was no sign that Steve was still online. It was nearly impossible too. But the impact from Shadowchaser's blast had only blown his arm off, and Smokescreen had stolen some extra Energon cubes with his Phase Shifter to hopefully help him regain his strength.

On the third day, a signal popped up. Steve was in a dangerous condition, but he was online. With the new sense of hope, Smokescreen and Knockout worked. The next four days were even more tiresome as they tried to save him and keep him online, but they'd done it. 

Knockout and Smokescreen were discussing whether or not to try to give him a new arm yet when Steve sat straight up and mumbled, "Steve".

It was kinda creepy to hear it, but Knockout was relieved. And happy.

He also felt better about himself, remembering his promise not to lose anyone as he did with Breakdown. He kept it. Somehow, somehow, he did it.

He did it.

________________

Shadowchaser walked into the dark room, lit only by a small light. He turned to Darkrun, who nodded.

"I have it", Shadowchaser said, handing the small bottle over. "I wasn't able to get a lot, but surely I can later figure out how it is made".

"You've done well, Shadowchaser", Darkrun said, smiling as he inspected the small item.

"The Auto-"

"Yes, I know. However the traitor won't survive, so they won't get any more information. Although we need to figure out a way to get rid of the Phase Shifter if we are to succeed. And to improve your combat skills. Like you didn't even try!", Darkrun replied.

"They had complete advanta-", Shadowchaser began defensively only to be interrupted by Darkrun.

"Don't even try. But hopefully, Raindrowner would cheer up with our progress," Darkrun said, not really even talking to him, more to himself.

As Darkrun exited, Shadowchaser smiled. He had not only completed the mission but proven his suspicions correct.

Darkrun and Raindrowner, just you wait.

_________________

Raindrowner couldn't stop thinking about the past.

She tried not too. To focus only on the future, where what happened would never happen again. But she couldn't. Memories haunted her, as she remembered.

I had no choice, she tried to tell herself.

But she did. And she chose to ignore it.

It's my fault. It's my fault.

The images of her past played inside her, a never stopping wave of memories. The fights and the yells. The beatings. And what she never knew what she had. How she didn't know. How she never knew, never knew, until the end. 

Until it was too late.

I'm sorry.

I'm so, so sorry.