Anxiety: Chapter 2, a Transformers fanfic

Anxiety, Chapter 2. In which Cyclonus meets someone new.

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When Cyclonus opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was that his surroundings were very unfamiliar. Perhaps he had hoped that the tornado had given him up to outer space and that he would be able to find his way back to Chaar or that he would have been saved by Scourge or Astrotrain, but looking around, he saw neither the cold blackness of the universe nor a familiar room within the Decepticon headquarters. The room seemed like a personal space, like the inside of someone's home.

He sat up, trying to glean exactly where he was and exactly what had happened. He noticed he was sitting on a bed-like surface akin to the operating tables they used back on Chaar. Rising up, he flexed his arms, fingers, legs and neck to check that his basic movements were functioning correctly. Seeing that he was, he limped to the only exit he could see.

Opening the door, he saw the dull grey sky above. He wondered if he was strong enough to transform and fly through the atmosphere, hopefully fast enough to not be seen by any inhabitants. After all, how long had it been since his fall? He wondered if Galvatron had pressed on with his attempt to secure more energon and whether he had sent a squad out to look for him. It didn't really matter if he had not; ultimately, he trusted Galvatron's decision.

He attempted to transform, but was only able to struggle to the point where his arms had retracted into his body. He couldn't bear to do any more, reverting hurriedly to his robot form and panting harshly, his form racked with sudden pain. It was obvious to him that his full strength had not returned. He supposed he would have to settle for second best, that is, try and make it into space in his robot form. However, he failed at this too, falling as quickly as he had jumped. His body made a loud, crumpling sound as he landed painfully on his back, squirming slightly to stop his anguish.

Then he heard footsteps. He scrambled to his feet and groped at his waist for his blaster, but it seemed to have been taken from him...

“Ah, you're awake.” A metallic being slightly larger than himself appeared, its voice gentle. Cyclonus scanned the creature in front of him, noting its large, rounded torso and skinny, poorly proportioned limbs. Its head was round but tapered at the top, at which several brightly-coloured spikes jutted. “I wouldn't try that again if I were you. You could really mess up your circuitry.”

Cyclonus tightened his jaw. “Who are you? And where am I?”

The being smiled, perhaps in an effort to calm the tense Decepticon. “My name is Foll. I'm the one who took you in when you were unconcious. I found you over by those hills.” He gestured with his head, drawing Cyclonus's attention to mountainous landscape that seemed to surround them. “You're on the planet Enk.”

“Enk?” Of course... he had heard of the planet previously. It was never considered by Galvatron as a worthy target; indeed, it was known throughout the universe that the planet was barren, with very few resources to be found. It was renowned, however, for producing some of the finest scientists in the galaxy. He had never seen an Enkian before, and thought, naturally, that they looked rather odd. “This is Enk?”

“Sure. Not as lively as you thought it would be?”

Cyclonus ignored this question, folding his arms. “I've got to get back to my leader. Give me my weapons and let me leave.”

“Whoa, wait, I can't do that.” The Enkian's slit of a mouth curved into a frown. “It really wouldn't be right if I didn't get you some proper treatment. I don't want a... well, a death on my hands.”

Cyclonus knew Foll was right. It would cause Galvatron far more trouble than he was willing to make. And this was assuming he wouldn't be disassembled for spare parts. He sighed, staring up at the Enkian. “How long will this treatment take?”

“Well, it depends.” Foll walked over to a large, steel chest beside the door to his home and lifted the lid, examining its contents. “It seems I have the proper equipment, but... your components are very different from ours. I can't promise anything.”

“Just do it.” Cyclonus brushed impatiently past him and entered the Enkian's home.

*

Astrotrain's cargo hold was filled to the last bare inch with glimmering energon cubes, a fact that Galvatron was more than pleased with. What he was not so pleased with was Cyclonus's sudden disappearance. Nevertheless, he possessed a strong amount of faith in his right-hand man's abilities, saying (quite calmly, Scourge thought) “Cyclonus will be back.”

Naturally, Scourge wished so as well. He certainly didn't want to be the one to bear Galvatron's full abuse. And even though he believed that Cyclonus could pull himself out of danger, he worried, more than he would have liked, about whether he had escaped the planet. The expression on his face as he was sucked down was disturbing to recall. It was as though the vacuum had not just claimed Cyclonus, but had sapped the energy from his very body. Scourge wondered if that tornado was a freak occurance or a weapon of some sort. He didn't want to face either.

Return soon, Cyclonus. Otherwise, who knows what Galvatron will short-circuit next?

*

After what seemed like an eternity, Foll pulled away from Cyclonus's body, clearly frustrated.

“Your circuitry is far too complex...” the Enkian removed his crude eyeglasses, made out of brown metal. “I'm sorry, Cyclonus.”

Cyclonus growled but found he was unable to berate him any further. Remembering that he was merely an unskilled youth, asked: “What about the city?”

“Pardon?”

“Aren't there scientists in the city?”

“Well, yes, but...” Foll thumbed his eyeglasses nervously.

“But what?” Cyclonus made a threatening gesture.

“But, well... they may not accept you. And I don't really want your presence known, y'know?” Foll finished lamely, which caused Cyclonus to fold his arms.

“I don't care, Enkian. Get me fixed no matter what. I have to get back to Chaar.”

Foll sighed, defeated. “I'll get the craft set up, then.”