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A white mech sat on the bare metal stool inside his cell; his blue ankles were angled so that his peds comfortably lay flat on the barren concrete. His back was hunched over with his kibble packed in tightly, and his equally blue forearms were planted on the metal table in front of him. A feline head looked down at the dull gray datapad in front of him with an apprehensive grimace, and his half opened yellow optics darted from paragraph to paragraph shown on the display. Despite the content in front of him, the main header stuck out to him the most.
= DEGENERATE MEDIC GLIT OF STANIX EUKARIS ARRESTED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING RACE TRAITORS TO EUKARIS AND CYBERTRON =
‘ Degenerate’? Aiding and abetting ‘race traitors’… I follow the Doctor’s Oath and I get a court martial for that?
The table, Glit of Stanix Eukaris, and the stool were placed in the far left corner of the cell, with a barren metal cot welded directly to the far right corner of the cell. Opposite of those objects was a white steel door with only a square pane of clear plastic in the upper middle of the door. In the middle of the entire room was one flat and wide cylinder mounted on the roof of the cell. Its dull yellow light showered the room with its glow, illuminating it enough for him to read the datapad out of morbid curiosity, wondering how the article would tell his story at the moment. The fact that the news website was titled “EUKARIS’S LAST DEFENSE” didn’t raise his hopes in the slightest. He looked more at the text in front of him, and his grimace became more and more pronounced.
=… his commanding officer Sledgespinner of Archa Nine Eukaris has refused to mince words, calling the traitorous combat medic a “disgrace not only to the RoC, but to Eukarians and Cybertronians across the galaxy”.
“I won’t bat around the bush - he’s not only a traitor but an s******* idiot as well. It’s one thing to treat Autobot terrorists, those same guys who want our government completely overthrown - but healing these monos and funcs and pacifist cowards and other freaks without limit is just baffling, especially coming from one of our own. I know that these degenerates are threats to our people, his sisters know that as well, the normal majority does too - so why does he not get it? I personally blame-”=
Glit moved his right forearm, letting his right pointer digit on his right servo tap the button on the top right corner of the datapad. The screen went black as he shoved the tablet towards the far right corner of his table, and he placed his head in his servos while planting his elbows firmly onto the tabletop; the latter impact made a dull thud that was quickly absorbed by the walls. His cell was now as quiet when he was reading, with not a single sound disrupting his attempt to lay his head and forearms on the table. A series of dull rapid thuds outside stopped that attempt.
“You got a visitor. Ravage of Stanix Eukaris is here,” The guard spoke in a deep and booming voice, keeping himself out of view of the door wall.
“I don’t need to go to the visitation area?” Glit looked at the door window out of force and habit. His words came out light and he shifted his position so he didn’t strain his neck.
“Nope. Deal with the warden. She’ll be in your cell soon.”
He heard several light footsteps; they started soft but eventually grew louder as they echoed through the empty concrete and metal hallway. The door swung outwards stiffly as a femme walked into the cell. She looked exactly like Glit, but with a black and gray color scheme with minor red highlights strewn on her forearms and shins. Red optics darted around the room, taking in the bare interior, before eventually stopping at her brother.
“Hey, what’s up Glit, how have you been?” Ravage stretched out her right arm and extended her servo; her words came out deep, hoarse, and gravelly. Glit grabbed the open servo with his right one in response. “The guards been treating you well?”
“No beatings or anything similar - they’re sympathetic at least.” He let go of his sister’s servo, and he watched her walk towards the cot to sit on it. “The Predacons still want my head on a pike - but they’re kept in line, so I should be safe.”
“Yeah… kept in line.” Ravage grimaced slightly at that remark, before shifting into an inquisitive glance. Yeah, if by kept in line you mean whacking even the tamer beastformer supremacists and every other slagger in their way - then yeah, they’re in line. “Any idea when the court martial takes place?”
“4 - 68, so 10 solar cycles from now.” He looked to his right to see the now closed door, before looking back at Ravage. An uneasy grimace began to slowly form on his faceplate, and his optics slightly widened, Is she going to do this again? First those peace activists, then Ratbat - what’s next? “You’re not going to whack anybody are you?”
The prosecutor, your CO, the judge, the witnesses who want you in prison or worse… Airachnid, Soundwave or Megatron will cover me. “No,” She lied, “But I could get something arranged, if this goes-”
“I- uh, no. ” Glit immediately raised his servos, holding them up for a few nano-kliks before quickly bringing them down on his lap. “No way. We’re not adding more corpses to this situation.”
“It worked out with those monos, the Functionist slaggers, and the chimera brain-deads back in Stanix, it worked for every enemy going against the ‘Cons then and now, and it’ll certainly work for that prosecutor and any uncooperative jurors out for your energon.” Ravage spoke again, this time more sternly than before.
“And I’ll keep myself protected. Don’t worry about it” Ravage began to scoot forward more, now leaning forward so that her and her brother’s optics were at the same level. “Besides, I’m a Fateweaver going against some random soldiers; who do you think is gonna win-”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Haven’t we already killed enough now?” He raised his right servo, palm facing his sister, and it stayed that way while he talked. Occasionally he would flick his servo with the thins side pointed towards her, “Just because they pose a threat doesn’t mean we have to instantly murder them and every loved one they have. Primus - I think this Fateweaver stuff made you even more bloodthirsty.”
“Maybe.” Her tone became slightly softer, while she refused to budge her stance, “But that Fateweaver training is the reason why you, Howlback and I have all these positions, and it's the reason why Stanix is no longer a slagheap. Hell, if it weren’t for the Decepticons we’d be domesticated and enslaved by those mono degenerates you keep healing.”
Not this rant again… “Hey, they’re still our own people. Just ‘cause they refuse to transform doesn’t mean they’re not Cybertronians.”
“ Sure. they may be our own species-wise. ” She kept her neutral gaze while her wide open optics stared straight at her brother. Fragging Primus, you need to get your head out of your slaggin’ tailpipe. “But take one look at their actions and then you’ll see all along that they are our greatest threat, even more so than the Autobot traitors. They have no sense of self preservation, no loyalty to Eukaris or the Republic, and if you can imagine what they’re doing to corrupt and eradicate our-”
“Primus, you still believe in that bullslag! ” Glit put his servos on the table behind him, and shoved down firmly. He now stood up, looking down at his sister with an equally disgusted grimace to match his tone, one which felt routine after it veered into these topics, “Not all of them are these - ‘conniving diabolical subverters’ you and the others like to claim!”
“You may think it’s bullslag but there’s infinite amounts of evidence to show these slaggers want us exterminated like the squids! We need to ex-” Ravage stood up briskly without putting her servos on the bed. She prepared to continue her rant but let out a sharp exhale instead, raising her head to look at the barren ceiling before looking at him.
“Look, we can keep arguing about this until we’re gunmetal gray - and I didn’t come here to do that. I just want to make sure you’re safe, that’s all.”
“So you want to see if I’m OK with this murder spree against my ‘enemies’. The answer is still no.” He sat back down on the seat and leaned back; his kibble pressed against the rim of the table, just enough so that he could feel the sensation. “I don’t want anybody getting hurt because of this. Not me, or any of us, but especially not anyone involved in this case. They don’t need to die just so I stay safe. And a lot of people like me as well, odds are any trial is gonna be in my favor.”
“That’s true, practically everyone loves you. Even the funcs and the beastformer supremacists respect your work ethic. But,” Ravage leaned forward slightly, bracing her servos on her kneecaps while she looked down. Her tone became far less harsh than before, “You’ve got some enemies. The Predacons that want your head on a pike? They’ll try something, and they’ll keep doing so until you stop or you’re dead. So I suggest you stop helping the ones that got you into this mess. Let the monos and the other genetic rejects take care of their own, and you’ll be able to treat the others without issue.”
“Like that’s any better. You know how many medics were willing to treat the monoformers and techno-organics in my division? About 100 - and nearly all were hesitant to work on them until I took the plunge. If I get punished for this, do you think they’ll keep healing the other bots? When they know that even The Good Medic was punished for this slag?”
“They don’t think you’re unsalvageable like the Ambus brothers. Most believe you’re misguided.” To be frank, they’ve got a point. She continued to speak, “I’m telling you, Glit, if you stop now they’ll let you live. Do whatever with your life or your military career, just don’t treat these freaks anymore - and they’ll let you live.”
Ravage squatted on the floor, heels hovering a few inches off the ground as she firmly planted her forearms on her kneecaps. She was now looking up at her brother
“I didn’t do all of that slag with the ‘Cons and the ‘Weavers just to see you potentially rust away in Garrus-19 or worse. All because of that bleeding spark of yours.” Ravage let out a small laugh, and a brief smile formed on her faceplate before it was replaced with a more muted grin, “It’s been very helpful, but it’s been getting you into trouble. And I’m not gonna let some Pred lunatics give you the Knockoff Empurata because you think monos and chimeras are people.”
“Look, I understand Rav, I totally get it.” Glit raised his right servo and rubbed his brow ridge for a nano klik, “But please don’t kill innocents just so I survive this trial. You’re still the sister I know and love - but you’re turning into a monster with these antics. I don’t want to see you become like those ‘Weavers, or Primus forbid the DJD. And if I knew innocents were murdered by you so I’d live a good life - I don’t know if I’d forgive you or myself. Can you do that for me, at least?”
“They’re not inno-” She began to speak, but let out a groan instead, “Ok, I’ll do it.” She got up from her squat and stood up. By then her previous tone had given way to a much softer but still raspy voice, “For you and Howlback. And promise me you’ll be smart with your medical work.”
“Thanks,” Glit looked up, his disappointed gaze replaced with a neutral stare, “I’ll do my best. Maybe I’ll heal them in secret - they can’t punish me for something I’m not doing right?”
“You have 30 nano kliks left!” Another voice rang out, this time from the guard outside the room.
“That's a start.” Ravage looked at the door before looking back at her brother, “And I’ll see what I can do to help - without killing any of those court officials. It’s the least I can do for you. We’ll get out of this mess, I promise you that.”
She turned to walk towards the door, only stopping once she reached the door frame, where she then turned to face him. He still had a neutral gaze, but she could’ve sworn there was the faintest glimmer of a smile on his faceplate.
“I’ll see you at the trial.”
“Yeah Rav, you too.” He nodded.
The door swung outwards as Glit watched his sister walk out of his cell, and saw her disappear behind the wall as the door slammed shut. He took in the conversation, hopeful that he made progress.
It’ll get better. She’ll work up something and I’ll be back to where I was. And maybe she’ll reign in that trademark Fateweaver ruthlessness. All this trouble should be over soon.
Unfortunately for him, his troubles were just beginning. It wouldn’t be until much later, when his legs and arms were broken, and his jaw and optic shot out, that he’d learn just how much worse his situation could get.