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Chapter 8: Hopes and Fears
this page added by Silverwynde
silverwynd1@yahoo.com
"Repair cycle finished."
The computerized voice shocked Sandstrike out of his reverie. Grimlock was restored. One more warrior to help them. But, he was standing next to a Predacon...
In the distance, he could hear shouting. Sandstrike pulled out his neuron blaster. Dinobot gave a low snarl, expecting the worst. Dimly, Sandstrike could make out a figure, obviously female. "Friend or foe?" asked Dinobot. Sandstrike shook his head. "I don't know," he said tensely. There was good reason to fear, for the figure was running straight towards them!
"SANDSTRIKE!!" It was Abyss. She had been crying.
"Abyss?! What in the pit are you doing?" Sandstrike demanded, as the terrified femme threw herself in his arms. "We thought you were... I don't know WHAT we thought you were!" Abyss buried her head into the relieved Maximal's shoulder. She was trembling and her voice quivered with sobs as she spoke.
"I had to find you," she whispered. "The Hall is totally destroyed and three of the Elders are dead. The Galaxy Rangers, they.... they're dead." Too overwhelmed, Abyss couldn't speak for several clicks. Sandstrike could hear her weeping softly. Before he could speak any comfort to the grieving Maximal, she continued.
"I thought I could do something, so I ran towards the stage. I tripped and nearly fell, over a weapon, I thought. It wasn't. It was an arm. From one of the humans." Again, she paused, in a state of shock and grief. Then, she continued, "They looked as if they had been torn apart. There was blood everywhere. The Elders," she gasped out, "looked almost the same way. It was like an animal ripped them to shreds! I started screaming your name, but you never answered." Abyss squeezed Sandstrike tightly. "I thought you were dead."
"I'm all right, Abyss," he murmurred. "And Grimlock's fine. That's two strikes in our favor."
"We may have a third," replied the femme, calmly looking at Dinobot. Pulling herself away from her friend, she strode towards the Predacon warrior. "You are Predacon, yet joined the Maximals, correct?"
"Yes," said Dinobot. He wasn't sure he liked where this conversation might be going. And he did not like the fact that Abyss was moving closer towards him.
Abyss placed her hand upon his forehead. Dinobot wanted to jerk away, but didn't. He didn't like to be touched. "I won't hurt you," she murmurred peacefully. For a reason he could not explain, he trusted the female. Her hands, he thought, are so warm and gentle. He felt totally at peace.
"You're a warrior, one of deep honor," she whispered, as she used her power of empathy. "Yet you do feel some regret betraying. And you know of THEM... You've seen THEM... THEY.." Her face suddenly distorted as she screamed, "Oh, Primus no! THEY have been sent by the VOK!!" Moments later, Abyss collapsed into the Predacon's arms.
Sandstrike stared at Dinobot. "What exactly are the Vok?"
"Aliens," replied Dinobot as he gently handed the unconscience Abyss to the jealous Maximal. "Ones who are bent on punishing whoever may have interupted the flow of time. And that includes Maximals."
What do you do now?
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