Never Again

43

Funny story, I got pink eye this weekend and got to stay home all the time trapped in my bedroom to study for midterms, and now I'm using what little freedom I have until work and class to write another chapter. The end. 

~Enjoy

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"You have to help him! Please, you have to!" 

The frantic voice was beginning to make Arcee's helm hurt. She wanted to say Soundwave was nothing more than a manipulative Decepticon, but it was obvious this child was brainwashed in some way. The way this femme cried every time his name was brought up was strange. She wouldn't even cry at the pain from her injuries.

According to June, this sparkling had multiple broken bones and fractures around her body. There were bruises everywhere- all black and purple and nowhere near healing. They would be there, evidence of the abuse she'd gone through, for several weeks- possibly months.

Even now, as the nurse was trying to force a boot onto the girl's foot, she would not budge. Instead, she looked at Optimus pleadingly as he stood quietly to the side. Lynlee, as she said her name was, had a strange connection with the Autobot leader despite never meeting him beforehand. 

The other Autobots stood next to the children, making sure none would attempt to talk to Lynlee or overwhelm her in this frantic state. Raph looked scared, and Miko annoyed. Jake knew better than to say anything, but Arcee could tell he was saddened by Lynlee's current state. 

"You have to believe me! Please you have-"

"Would you lower  your voice box?!" Ratchet huffed. His holoform reached out and gently held one large hand over Lynlee's leg in attempts to keep her still, and one over her mouth to keep her silent.

Lynlee immediately flinched backward with a sudden fear in her eyes when his hand grew closer. Ratchet frowned and hesitated before pulling his hand away slowly.  "I apologize, but would you just quiet down for a few moments? This is not simply a matter we can come to an agreement on right away."

"Right. Soundwave is con." Bulkhead pounded his fists together. 

Bumblebee hummed in agreement, while Arcee silently stared at the human femme. She looked so torn, as if she'd known this would happen. 

"I get it! I understand enough about the war to know which side is good and bad." Lynlee changed tactic, trying to calm herself down and make the Autobots see reason. 

"You're not wrong," Arcee grumbled.

"Which is why I completely disagree with a Decepticon coming here! And Soundwave of all bots! He's practically their eyes and ears-" Ratchet stopped, noticing the young girl's distress. 

"Aww come on Ratchet! It would be cool to have a Decepticon around." Miko pumped her fists, "I say we keep him!" 

"He's tried to kill us." Raph panned out, looking at the punk rock girl.

"several, several times," Jack added on.

Lynlee looked around, suddenly realizing that the entire group was against her. She looked pleadingly towards their leader.  "You don't understand. He saved me." She sniffled quietly. "He could have killed me when he had the chance. When Megatron told him to get rid of me. But he didn't. And he protected me when Megatron tried to-" 

Her voice caught in her through and she stopped. Silent tears fell down her face at the memories, but she wiped them away. She would be strong. For Soundwave. He wasn't going to be let in with open arms, especially by his enemies, and Lynlee wasn't going to sit around crying.