Ch 36. The pain that heals

The five of

us have to join the Ranger academy,

we can become experts quickly,

and I'm sure the opportunity to become a Ranger is right before our eyes.

That's what little Signy said.

Nervous, Adist, Timon, Cylob, and Signy. They weren't strangers; they already knew each other and were very close friends.

On a stretch of purple grass, on a patch of grass, sitting, sheltered by a large tree, at the top of a flat incline, a view of the simple city of Destinius.

Nervous, his cheek was swollen, and he was rubbing it because it hurt.

"Hey, Nervous, what's wrong with you?" asked Signy.

"It wasn't my fault, but they hit me instead!" said Nervous.

Tears flowed in Nervous's sobs.

****

Adist woke up, not realizing she had fallen asleep on the bench, even though she was welding some steel.

Feeling a bit dizzy. Her chest and eyes felt heavy. She got up from her seat, and put the machine and tools into the box.

But then Nervous came in.

"Adist... can you help me a little?"

....

"Are you back from practice?" asked Adist.

In Nervous' lower abdomen area, there was a slash wound that had cut through the rubber layer of his body.

He immediately sat on the chair, Adist took back the welding machine and also the first aid kit.

Carefully, Adist slowly sprayed the mineral to relieve the pain of the wound.

"You better lie down," said Adist.

Slowly, Nervous lay down on the nearby sofa.

"Ouch!" Nervous felt pain.

Adist took a piece of rubber, took a paste which was an adhesive glue.

A puff blew from Adist's mouth, allowing the glue to clump together a bit. 

She took a piece of rubber, slowly pressing it down—covering the open wound.

"ARGGH!!" Nervous's hand reflexively grabbed Adist's arm in a growl of pain.

"Breathe normally, if you hold it in it will hurt more," said Adist.

Nervous took a deep breath and exhaled, inhaling and exhaling, even though his breath was shaky.

After it was attached, Adist took a laser beam. She directed the red, square-shaped laser beam at the piece of rubber she had attached for a few seconds.

The nerves began to ease, the pain had subsided. The rubber pieces had fused together and appeared intact in the wound.

Adist took several pieces of iron, welding them to the exposed part of Nervous's body.

"Yup, it's done!" said Adist.

Nervous sat down and he didn't feel the pain anymore.

"You're the best, Adist. Thanks again," said Nervous.

Adist smiled at Nervous. She continued packing her belongings and equipment into chests and cupboards.

Nervous sitting waiting.

"What are you waiting for?" asked Adist.

Nervous got up, slowly walking closer to Adist.

...

"You... ck. uh..." Nervous hesitated.

Adist then turned to Nervous.

"What?" asked Adist.

Nervous then focused his feelings.

"We... have known each other for a long time. I hope you accept this gift of mine." Nervous then took something from his pocket.

A small, rectangular cardboard box about the size of a fist. He handed it to Adist, asking him to take it and open it now.

Adist slowly opened it.

"Wow!" Adist was amazed.

A ring, beautiful in shape and sparkling like a diamond.

"Where did you get this?" asked Adist.

Nervous replied, "Actually it's from ahh... the layer on my back, I didn't expect it yesterday, some of my sweat hardened and that's how it ended up."

"What?" Adist's eyes widened and she looked at Nervous.

"Ah, hihihi. I hope you like it, I carved it to size and I hope you like it.

"This is so beautiful," Adist couldn't stop looking at the ring.

Nervous, this is the time to say it. "Adist... ...will you... marry me?"

Adist froze. Staring at Nervous.

He then covered his face with his hands, because it didn't seem to meet his expectations.

Adist then smiled sincerely. Adist then held Nervous's hand.

***

CRASH!!!

"NERVOUS!!"

It was when Brown was inside the Voidecay Laboratory, fighting with Nervous.

"Brown, what did you do? He didn't know where Voidecay was and you killed him!" Mirage's shout echoed through the room.

"He challenged me!" Brown said.

"Tch, we have to get out of here!" said Mirage.

Mirage immediately pulled Arcee and Brown running out of the room.

Adist just arrived, but it was too late. 

Upon arrival, his hands tightly hugged Nervous's cold body, his tears flowing freely in a scream of broken hearts.

....

"Adist... Timon and Signy, do you miss Nervous?" asked Voidecay.

Voidecay was working on a project in his laboratory. Sparks were flying, and the electricity was even flickering.

"I think it's only right that Nervous can find peace in the afterlife," Signy said.

But something strange suddenly Voidecay's body emitted black sand grains that continued to fall every time he moved.

Voidecay then put on his gloves to continue his project.

"You are just a shadow, you will disappear too," said Adist.

Adist hugged Voidecay from behind. Signy and Timon left Voidecay's room, leaving Adist alone to hug Voidecay.

"Don't leave us..." said Adist.

"I'm doing this for you guys too," Voidecay said.

Voidecay then showed Adist his project. Voidecay transformed Mirage into Nervous.

"No way!" Adist touched Nervous's face, who was still lying down.

"I combined their DNA, and it was a stable match. Maybe Nervous just looks a little different," Voidecay said.

"When are you going to finish it?" Adist asked, staring intently at Voidecay. A gaze filled with desire and hope.

Voidecay froze, he was now pressed for time. He replied, "Tomorrow, trust me... he will wake up and come see you!"

"What about you, are you just going to leave?" Adist asked. His eyes were glassy with anxiety.

Voidecay said in a soft voice, "It's okay. I've already prepared the last clone, but it might take a while for it to awaken. I hope you guys don't miss me too much!" 

Voidecay smiled at Adist. As he did, his body was swept away by the dust. He vanished as if he had never been there.

After that, Adist fell silent, her gaze lowered. She walked over, sat down next to Nervous, and held his hand.

Looking at the dumbbell monitor, Nervous's heart was beating normally. Waiting, impatiently waiting for Nervous's ghost.

Out there, on a bench near the room, Signy sat, hearing everything. But she paid no attention. Her eyes were cast down, deep in thought.

***

The radioactive energy was concentrated in Nemesis's grasp. It slipped from his grasp—on purpose. 

Giant tentacles appeared in a row, lined up straight in front of Nervous, all the tentacles there were and only one tentacle remained.

The last tentacle slashes Nervous, Adist and Timon.

The radioactive ball was shooting very, very fast.

Crush!!!

One tentacle was destroyed, another was destroyed, one by one the tentacles were destroyed, even though the tentacles were not organic.

The last tentacle swept out—wanting Nervous and his friends to safety. Voidecay immediately rose towards Nervous.

BUSH!!

...

But time moved faster than the tentacle slash.

Adist was thrown along with Timon, rolling on the ground.

Her eyes were still unfocused, blurry. But slowly, they began to clear. Hier vision wavered, and Adist quickly sat up.

The energy ball rolled rapidly behind him. It slowly extinguished and shrank after leaving a trail on the ground.

Voidecay stood in front, Nervous hugging him.

As soon as his closed eyes opened, he saw a few drops of green liquid hitting his feet, but when he looked up, he saw a hole that revealed Nemesis behind it.

Voidecay, he protected Nemesis.

He lost his balance, fell, without a word, and was greeted only by the ground.

....

Nervous froze, eyes bulging—screaming.

"Hughh!!"

Nervous vomited green liquid. His tears flowed unstoppably.

He fell, it turned out that right in his upper chest there was the same hole.

They didn't survive, Voidecay wanted to save Nervous, but it turned out he couldn't. 

....

From a distance, Adist's gaze met hers. Her eyes welled with tears, until finally, tears of devastation streamed down her face.

....

"OPTIMUS!!"

A woman's voice called out, shattering the silence. It was a familiar voice, coming from the right, not far from the battle area.

Nemesis, turned around. Her eyes widened, shocked by what she saw.

"S-Signy?" 

...

Nemesis, steps slowly, but backs away.

"Are you really still alive?" Nemesis's voice was barely a whisper in the silent breeze.

Signy's face, slowly crumbled in helplessness. 

"Who is that woman?" asked Bulkhead.

"No way, that's Signy! she still alive?" Ultra Magnus said.

Signy then looked up. Her face was scrunched up. Her eyebrows were drawn together, forming a sharp expression, and angry eyes were flaring up. Tears were streaming down her face.

Adist and Timon immediately got up, running towards Nervous and Voidecay who were lying on the ground.

Adist immediately sat down and looked at his lover, who would soon be leaving.

Signy then walked closer to them.

"Nervous..." called Adist.

Before long, Adist caressed Nervous's face in despair. His blue eyes dimmed, until they finally vanished.

The tears are unstoppable. 

Adist closed Nervous's open eyes, resigned to his departure.

Signy then sat down and hugged Adist. Unable to contain her inner misery, Adist sobbed in Signy's arms.

"We have lost everything!" said Adist.

Timon sat staring at Nemesis from a distance, his eyes glaring at Nemesis in a vengeful rage.

Voidecay he still persisted, he took the time to say, "Revenge, nothing is avenged. Timon... if you force time before karma arrives, it is torture, not a solution."

Voidecay then closed his eyes. '... So this is what death feels like?'

Slowly Voidecay's body shrank to dust, as he was also just a clone.

The Autobots stood frozen, their gossips mute. Before them, they witnessed the results of their revenge firsthand.

"Look at what you've done, do you understand now?"

Optimus had regained consciousness, slowly getting up to lift his body.

"We ourselves are the cause of the deaths of Cylob, Elita, Megatron, and Justice."

Nemesis's lips trembled. "...Stop your babbling, don't bring up Megatron and Justice."

"Nemesis...." Optimus stood next to Nemesis.

"When will you understand yourself?"

Optimus walked closer to Signy and Adist. 

He sat down.

Silent and lowered his eyes in a feeling full of regret.

"It's my fault." Optimus's thin voice whispered.

...

Signy wiped away her tears, her gaze sharp with anger.

"I don't know why Cylob ended up with you. You Autobots are the cause of all this."

Signy then smiled, "That's delicious, isn't it?"

Signy turned and looked at Optimus. "Sensing our position!"

...

"I'm Cylob's closest friend!"

Wheeljack, Ironhide and several Autobots appear.

Signy immediately turned to Wheeljack. Wheeljack raised both hands, looking into Signy's sharp eyes.

Wheeljack's right hand held a photo. It showed Cylob, Bumblebee, and himself eating together, and the photo was a bit off due to poor timing.

Signy saw it, she stood up from her seat, approached Wheeljack and took a piece of the photo.

She looked at Cylob. Tears welled up in her eyes again. She saw him, finally realizing what Cylob had looked like the day before he died.

The wind blew hard, and drops of water began to fall from the sky, as if accompanying the screams.

"Look, you're really handsome!" said Signy, moved.

Wheeljack lowered his hand and said, "We've been together for a long time, since we were little. Even during the war, we fought together."

Wheeljack pondered for a moment. "My other friend in that picture frame..."

"What's wrong with Bumblebee?" Optimus asked.

Wheeljack said with a trembling voice. "Those Decepticons lost control, they threw Bumblebee into space with a rocket. The rocket will soon die and..."

"..." Optimus clutched his head.

"Oh Primus..." he said.

Ultra Magnus then approached, "Bumblebee must still be alive. We have to catch up with him!"

Ironhide then replied, "That's impossible, he's already too far away. We don't even have a spaceship capable of going there. We might end up dying along with him."

Hotrod then said, "I agree. If we leave now. The problem here is still unresolved. If we just leave like this. Then everything will be destroyed!"

Ultra Magnus walked around. "Arhh!! Fuck!! Problems everywhere are annoying!"

Signy then said, "We have a ship!" 

Everyone was silent,

Signy looked at Adist, signaling her agreement.

Adist nodded, agreeing.

Signy looked at Timon, and Timon nodded too.

"Sturdy and capable of traveling any distance," said Signy.

Ironhide was relieved, "This is a chance!" he said.

Optimus then opened his voice, "Wait a minute."

A deep and graceful voice came from Optimus. 

Optimus then stood up and walked towards the group of Autobots in the distance. He found Elita-1's body, which Ratchet had wrapped in a makeshift cloth.

"Miss Elita?!!" Wheeljack just saw her.

Optimus then said, "Bumblebee is still alive, he won't die."

Optimus then turned to everyone there. "Everyone... we're going to the Decepticons headquarters, right now."

Optimus then started walking and he first changed form to vehicle.

Several Autobots then carried Elita-1's body. They also helped carry Nervous's body.

All the Autobots then simultaneously transformed into vehicles. The Autobot soldier was at the front. Behind him, Optimus rode, guarding the Autobots' safety.

Signy, Adist, and Timon agreed. They had no other choice. They transformed together and left with the Autobots.

Now they have to quickly save Bumblebee and they have to quickly solve the problem at the Decepticons base.

****

Voidecay, in another world, the twilight sky is red, someone in front of him sits on a steep cliff, below him is the ocean.

Voidecay approached the man.

"You're finally awake," Scoruge said.

"...Now I understand, Scourge. No matter how much you try, ego is the cause of all this," said Voidecay.

Voidecay then sat down next to Scourge.

"That's one of the answers, Vecay. But do you know what the other answer is?" asked Scourge.

"... it is indeed painful... ... Every mistake and pain teaches them..." said Voidecay.

"Hehehe, that's the beauty of Voidecay." Scourge then stood up. "So, choose your wish. If you want to accompany me, that's fine too."

"Void, That's why Mr. Taken praised you so much. You are truly special."

"Huhh... I thought I was stupid all this time!" said Voidecay smiling.

Scourge grabbed Voidecay's shoulder and stood up walking back.

"I'm sleepy, let's sleep in the house I built over there. It'll be late tonight, and we'll have guests!" Scourge said.

Voidecay pondered for a moment. Gazing out at the endless ocean. The sight was so refreshing, his lips widened unnoticeably at the sight.

***

Elsewhere, in a sunflower-filled landscape, the sun's rays are still shining brightly. Its light is beginning to be obscured by the distant hills.

Thousands of blooming sunflowers are now closing one by one. One sunflower, its yellow color turning brown, with the tip of the flower curling towards the ground.

Bumblebee looked at the sunflowers and plucked a wilted one.

Beside him was his father who was still accompanying him.

"Please, tell me... what actually caused Optimus and Megatron to fight?" asked Bumblebee.

Bumblebee's father then said, "... It was my fault back then... being tempted by wealth. I was also one of the reasons why they went to war, destroyed this world, and made you an orphan."

Bumblebee's father walked to a large tree that was alone in the sunflower garden.

Bumblebee followed him.

Bumblebee's father sat on his roots, leaning against the tree trunk.

Bumblebee then sat next to him, waiting for an answer to his question.

Bumblebee's father, still silent, a bit hesitant. Until finally he took a deep breath.

"I'll tell you the real story, Bee. The history of where it all began," said Bumblebee's father.

***

To be continued...