Chapter Text
• For a moment, you can’t breathe, can’t move. Staring at the portal as it crackles with energy and the siren screams. And somehow you’re not even surprised, a fatalistic part of you just knowing things would go sideways somehow. Can feel the portal pulling at you, your booted feet sliding. See a team mate struggling, falling and they go sliding through, just gone. Heart racing when their steel tether just snaps like a string and recoils. See it coming, but still can’t move as it cracks against your helmet and then you’re down. Sliding through the gate, too.
• “We can’t afford to be so short sighted, Proteus.” Spreading his hands, Shockwave frowns as the other Senator vents tiredly. Dismissing him again. “I’ve run multiple scenarios based on the current population growth and it’s a matter of when, not if. Cybertron doesn’t have the resources to sustain the population.” How many times has he tried to warn them all? Knows they think he’s too emotional, not serious enough for his station, but this matters. Even if no one will listen.
• “You worry too much,” Proteus says, shaking his head at him. Like he pities him. “You’re a Senator. Act like one, not some fanatical rabble rouser.” Watches the other bot sedately lift a hand to greet another senator in passing. “Trust in the Prime and stop looking for problems that don’t exist.” This problem does exist, though and it’s coming for all of them. He’s heard rumblings and rumors. About rations being cut to the lower castes. About a fringe group called the functionists starting to gain traction, that they have a Senator backing them.
• Hitting the ground and bouncing, you slide before thumping against a wall. And everything hurts, brain a muddled mess as you just stare at the crack in your helmet and try to figure out what happened. Where you are. Arms shaking and weak when you push yourself up, you stagger upright. Turning in an unsteady circle realizing the gate is gone. That you’re stuck wherever this is as your heart begins to race. Moving slowly as the frantic sound of your own breathing feels your ears, you’re aware of the scale of the place you’re in. A building when you’re almost sure you remembered the scientists saying the portal opened up on some jungle. Rounding a corner, you freeze when you spot the two giant metal monsters. And they turn suddenly to make you realize the sound you hear is your own hysterical screaming.
• ‘What is that?’ Proteus growls, backing away as the tiny creature screeches at them, the sound abruptly cutting off, before it just turns and runs back the way it came. And Shockwave is chasing after it without even thinking. Scientific curiosity mingling with the excitement of something new, because whatever you are, he’s never seen your like before. Some new species waiting to be discovered? You’re quick, darting around a corner and he can hear Proteus yelling to crush you, but he ignores that. Sliding around a corner, hip hitting the floor as he leans and his servos brush you. Sending you staggering and letting him roll to cage you between his hands. And several other Senators are staring when he looks up, their expressions scandalized. “Got it,” he says, awkwardly shifting to his knees and holding up his cupped hands as they recoil from him, whispering. Well, it’s not like they didn’t think he was a little off before. Shifting one hand to peek at you, he smiles.