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Shadows of Tomorrow	By : Breech_Loader Category: Transformers > Transformers: Animated > Het - M/F Views: 1756 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
~~~

Shadows of Tomorrow

Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651

~~~

Harley: Don’t fret, apart from anything else, I think I already said that I’ve completed all the chapters. I just hope that I’m not writing a Mary Sue in Hotwire.

Froggy: Don’t you worry. I’m sure-

Harley: I think I should worry. Remember the last OC I wrote? She was Shadow’s sister. That’s pretty bad. I’m relying on reviews to make sure Hotwire isn’t a Mary Sue. I’d hate to think I was writing selfishly.

~~~

Chapter Sixteen: The Crisis With Craziness

Almost a whole day had passed since Hotwire's entry into the Autobot camp, and word had spread fast about her harsh judgement of both their side and the humans. Bumblebee had seen to that. Since then, most of the Autobots had made a habit of avoiding their ‘guest’. However, upon his return, Optimus Prime made his way directly towards her, "Hotwire, we need to speak."

Hotwire was sitting in one of Ratchet's side-labs, fine-tuning her own power tools. Ratchet was the one who had volunteered to keep an eye on her, since he knew her better than any of the other Autobots, and somebody had to do so. She didn't look very happy at the moment, "What do you want?" she asked him, and then almost as an afterthought added, "Sir?"

Optimus' shoulders seemed to slump as he looked down at her, "My meeting with the humans did not go very well,” he told her.

Hotwire straightened up at that, "What did they say about Barricade?" she asked him expectantly.

Prime shook his head, "They are unwilling to release an enemy, even into our custody. I doubt that I will be able to convince them otherwise,” he answered.

Hotwire's hands clenched into fists, "So you're just going to let them torture Barricade?" she asked him, anger flashing in her blue optics behind her visor, "You're not going to do anything?"

Optimus held her angry gaze unflinchingly, "What I cannot accomplish with words, I will with carefully applied force. I cannot allow the humans to do this, even to an enemy, but I will need your help."

Hotwire's readiness to dissolve into a furious tirade snapped to an abrupt halt, and she looked slightly confused, "You need my help?" she asked him, "Twenty-two hours ago you were insisting that I needed your help."

Optimus almost smiled, "In this case we need each other's help. Frenzy's help in the matter would also be appreciated. I just have one thing I must ask of you."

"Let me guess," Hotwire snapped back into her cynical frame of mind, her voice imitating a high, petulant whine, "Don't kill any humans, they're so squishy and helpless and sweeeeeet!"

Prime sighed, giving her that look he had when she was trying his patience, "I must ask you to not seek revenge,” he replied, "There will be losses, but if you seek to cause them suffering, that makes you no better than them, and all you do is perpetuate the cycle of hatred."

"I don't do revenge," Hotwire replied sourly, "It's-" she was about to say ‘A waste of time’ but hastily corrected herself, "Wrong." This was to some extent true - Hotwire did hold grudges, but lacked the imagination and drive to dedicate her life to seeking vengeance. Besides, Prime would like the word ‘wrong’ better.

"That's all I wanted,” Prime spoke with a nod, pleased by Hotwire's response, "We will begin preparations at once. Frenzy should hack into their computer network and disable their defences as best as he can. That will lower casualties... for both sides. Your medical talents would also be appreciated. We're certain to have wounded; the humans have learned what weapons will do us the most harm."

Hotwire's hands flexed, agitated, and she raised her visor, the expression behind it somewhat concerned, "If it's not too much to ask, Optimus Prime," she said, "I'd appreciate it if you permitted me to treat Barricade when he's brought back to base. He's going to need somebody he can trust by his side."

Optimus nodded, "I understand. Barricade will be left in your care,” he agreed. Barricade still was technically an enemy, but perhaps hostilities could be avoided if he left his care to Hotwire. Or so he hoped.

Hotwire absorbed and analyzed Prime's plan, "Right," she said, "So your plan is going to be carried out as soon as possible then?"

"Yes,” he assured her, "I need you to speak with Frenzy and ensure his cooperation with the plan, and I need to assemble the Autobots for their own preparations."

"Absolutely," Hotwire said crisply, "I'll go to the cells right now." She lowered her visor again, turned and left the lab smartly, not even looking back.

Seconds after she had left, Ratchet entered from a side room, holding a datapad in one hand. He had probably been waiting, "Prime, I'd like to speak with you for a moment," he said calmly, "It's about Hotwire.”

Optimus calmly turned to his chief medical officer. Considering what he just planned to do, he was welcome to hear anything Ratchet could tell him about their new, temporary ally, "What is it?" he asked.

"Well..." Ratchet said, "I'm concerned about her. You see, I've been looking up her data files, and I've discovered that she was incarcerated in an open asylum on Cybertron for two Cybertronian months - before it was destroyed by the war. Of course most of the files on inmates are classified or damaged now, but the fact that she was held there is disturbing enough."

Optimus frowned, fixing Ratchet with a stern stare, contemplating this new piece of information about their visitor, "We both know that she has had a troubled past, Ratchet, and she does not seem... fully stable. War does strange and horrible things to people. This shouldn't be a surprise."

"That's true," Ratchet admitted, "But it doesn't excuse her transgressions. It merely explains them..." he gave a metallic sigh, "I understand that you are not asking for anything from her. But perhaps you are expecting something. Gratitude, perhaps. And why shouldn't you? Any normal person would be grateful for your help."

"You don't think she will give it,” Optimus Prime spoke, turning slightly away from the medic to look in the direction Hotwire had left.

"No," Ratchet said, "It would explain her interaction with Bumblebee yesterday. Which is why I'm trying to get into her files. All I've got so far is her tech-specs and base profile. Not the full evaluation. The most confusing thing so far, is her interaction with Barricade. It doesn't seem to be self-centered or serve any goal of hers, which concerns me."

"No one ever said she could only commit self-centered acts,” Optimus reminded the medic, "Despite her self-imposed exile and distain for either side of this war, Hotwire seems capable of caring for others. That's a good sign."

"Yes," Ratchet said, "I don't think I ever told you that what Hotwire sides with is not good or evil, but stability and routine," he shook his head, "She doesn't side with us because she thinks we'll lose. She doesn't side with the Decepticons because she's clever enough to tell that Megatron is hardly the most stable of individuals. At least, that was when Megatron was in charge. Things are changing now."

"And she doesn't react well to change,” Prime concluded, starting to understand Hotwire's trouble with the war in general. An apathetic medic who cared mostly for stability was out of her element in the civil war that had laid waste to Cybertron, "That will cause her a great deal of suffering,” he said, "Nothing stays the same forever. This war is proof of that."

Ratchet nodded at Optimus' understanding, "It seems that Hotwire deals with change by retreating. For millennia on Cybertron she lived in a world that revolved around her head. She treated both sides because that way she could pretend that there was no war. Now she can't pretend anymore. And she's stopped retreating."

Optimus nodded, "She's finding something new to anchor herself to, something certain in the world. Barricade had become that to her." The leader of the Autobots looked at the ground, "She will refuse to join us."

Ratchet nodded, "It's too late for that. Perhaps it would never have been soon enough. But," the CMO looked up at his leader and friend, "You have made the best choices you could in the circumstances. This is something that Hotwire will remember. Only time will tell how it will play out."

~~~

Hotwire descended the steps into the rather small cell block. Today it was Ironhide who was guarding Frenzy. Her optics watched his from behind her visor for a few seconds, before she spoke, “Optimus Prime said I should talk to Frenzy,” she said calmly.

“Yeah, I know,” Ironhide said. He’d received the message from Prime minutes ago, and even knew what it was about, “And I’ve got to watch you.”

Hotwire cursed mentally, then winced. Barricade was being tortured again... and while she was getting better at not reacting, she still felt his rage and fear. And she’d been intending to talk with Frenzy without any of the Autobots here, so that she could tell him all about all the lying she was doing. Oh well, she’d just have to omit certain truths.

She stepped into the cell, and it closed behind her, reminding her of other cells that had closed on her. She dismissed the ugly memories and sat down opposite Frenzy, who looked agitated.

“Hotwire! You said you’d come back!” Frenzy said, almost accusingly.

“I always come back,” Hotwire said crisply, “Look, I’ve convinced Optimus Prime to help Barricade. But he’s going to need your help too.”

“Frenzy will never help Optimus Prime!” Frenzy replied furiously.

Hotwire’s lips pressed into a perfectly straight line. A spirit level would have been put to shame, “This isn’t about Prime, this is about Barricade,” she said, “We’re going to need some of the brainless pistons in this base to get him out, but also, you’ll need to find where he’s being held and disable their defences. Optimus Prime is very keen on hurting as few humans as possible.”

“And then what? What happens after Barricade is out?” Frenzy asked, “He won’t join Autobots!”

“He won’t need to,” Hotwire returned, “Look, I’ll deal with it. All of it. Prime is even letting me treat him for any injuries he’ll have. And he already does have them.”

“What about Frenzy?” Frenzy asked.

“I told you,” Hotwire repeated, “I’ll deal with it. You don’t think I’d leave you behind, do you?”

Outside the cell, Ironhide stared at Hotwire. She seemed to have completely forgotten his very existence. He was standing right there while she effectively told Frenzy that she was going to break him out of the cell he was in, and she didn’t seem concerned. Hotwire had serious issues with multi-tasking.

Frenzy shrugged, “You don’t like Frenzy. You probably don’t care Frenzy is locked up.”

Hotwire scowled, “You’re an annoying little slag Frenzy, but Barricade is your friend, you matter to him, therefore you matter to me. Anything that matters to Barricade matters to me. Now get some recharge, because in a matter of hours you’re going to be hacking into a human database. Don’t you enjoy doing that?”

Frenzy appeared to cheer up a little.

And with those words, Hotwire stepped out of the cell, stepping carefully around Ironhide. The weapons specialist grabbed her arm, firmly if not painfully, keeping her from leaving.

Hotwire scowled at him – even though most of her face was hidden he could see the scowl, “What do you want now?” she asked him.

"You think I didn't overhear your little plan to undermine our leader?" he asked her, holding her arm tightly, "If you think I'm not going to report that to him, you are mistaken."

Hotwire blinked, as if only now realising that she'd said it all in his hearing, "I really have no idea what you mean," she lied, "I'm extremely grateful to Prime. I just don't want to be here."

"You intend to break out your Decepticon friend when it's most convenient for you,” Ironhide growled, "I will let Optimus know. What he does about it is up to him, but we Autobots don't appreciate the likes of treacherous scum."

Hotwire attempted to pull her wrist out of Ironhide's grip, "You don't even want me around," she replied, "I'll be leaving, just as soon as I'm ready. Tell Optimus that and he'll pay no attention. Unless you actually intend to hold me prisoner?"

"That is not my decision to make,” Ironhide told her, "But I will let you know that I do not approve of the course of action you intend to take, and I will not let you harm my comrades."

"I won't if I don't need to," Hotwire answered, and this time twisted her wrist firmly, removing it from Ironhide's grip, then sneered, "You're not scared of me, are you?" she asked him.

A distinctly metallic clicking noise accompanied the priming of Ironhide's cannons, his two preferred tools for dealing with aggressive problems, "Does it look like I'm scared of you?" he taunted.

Hotwire didn't even twitch, "Then shoot me," she taunted him back, "Right here, right now. Do it."

Ironhide snorted and holstered the oversized weapons, "I'm not stupid,” he told her, "I am loyal. And I am required to tell you to get out! I'll release Frenzy shortly for your little plan."

"It wasn't my plan," Hotwire replied, almost smugly, "It was Prime's." But she left anyway, smirking most unpleasantly.

~~~

Harley: Next chapter we skip the breakout. Not because of anything, but because I’m not sure I could write that sort of action scene. But don’t worry. Barricade will be fine.
- 15
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- 17
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Shadows of Tomorrow