Chapter Text
Sleep was seeping away, eyes closing again to chase it, close to catching it until…
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
The blaring phone alarm jolted you awake completely.
Completely pissed.
Reaching over cursing, intent on slamming it into silence. Instead of the expected plastic screen, hand colliding with metal. Cold, harsh metal. Again, you cursed.
Confused and shocked, any sleep left, was swept away by the smell of burning rubber. Sparks of loose wire, angrily spritzing by the dozen. Pounding heart, at the sight of white metal now burned smouldering black. Cracked windows juxtaposed the soft sunlight trailing through. Even the screeching alarm that awoke you, was itself slowly being robbed of its screams. At your awakening, the pod was falling asleep. For good.
This was not your room.
Something flashed by, lights reflecting from your body, or rather, from the shimmering obsidian suit you wore. Similar to the vessel, said outfit was littered with holes and scraps, you hoped the damage was more external, than internal. Gaze turning left to the window, thankfully still in tact, where the lights had come from. Pain bolted through your neck.
Nope. The damage was just as bad internally.
Jagged shadows covered the crash completely, but not your sight. Glimpsing the surroundings, a sky filled with several moons, far away stars and a sun three times the size of Earth, perhaps bigger. The pod appeared to have landed in, an ocean or canyon of some kind.
From what could be perceived, the less clear it all became. Waves, while ocean like, moved quicker than any kind of liquid. Cliff edges and structures shifted in the distance, changing faster than the blink of an eye.
This was not your planet.
More streaks of light, blue and gold this time, racing violently across the sky. Their landing just as brutal, tremors shaking the pod, nearly loosening it from position. Several mechanical sounds erupted in quick succession, one after another. It sounded like they were lining up. Hope surged in your chest.
Help had come.
“Spread out and be quick about it. I hate being stuck out here, especially if I have to deal with any other disgusting organics.”
Arrogant and demanding, all flew out in different directions and forms. Crimson lights glaring swiftly around, intent on finding whatever had called them here. Doubt dashed any hope in your heart. Anxiously staying hidden, straining to hear for any more information. Rapid metal clanging against stone, heart thundering in your chest. A shadowed figure with multiple limps followed by a winged stature, began speaking again.
“Anything?” Exasperated this time.
“None, that was the last signal we were able to trace.” The other spoke.
“Better be, can’t believe they reached out that far for-“ A tremor silenced both of them. Everything rattled, loose pieces of pod threatened to fall. Breathe held, wishing for nothing more, than these things to leave.
“Primus.”
The shadows leapt upward. You exhaled, relieved.
Wish granted.
“Fall back all of you. Any chance something survived the crash, won’t survive that.”
Wait, what?
Engines flared into motion, taking the duo and crew far away, faster than when they had arrived. Reaching back to see only a trail of vapour, quickly fading from sight. Something else was racing into view.
A Wave.
A colossal Wave.
Shifting into spiking tides, colliding fiercely with its own creation.
Was it getting, bigger, or closer?
Crashing crystal and thrashing tremors, louder than thunder claps, dashed toward the pod like bolts of thunder.
Both.
IT WAS DEFINITELY BOTH!
Not having the chance to even brace, the pod lurched forward into a nose dive, weightless as it fell. Stomach flipping with the pace, you felt that familiar lurch of gravity, like a roller coaster. It almost felt fun, until the whole vessel spun downward dizzyingly, crystals illuminating the entire scene. A scream came faster then the thought to do so, echoing through the pods plummeting. Buildings, trains and flying vehicle's, whizzed past like a typhoon of colour. A city of metal and machinery.
For a second, it looked like Earth.
Like Home.
*THUD*
—
*TAP*
…
*TAP* *TAP*
“Ori— stop i—, we need t-”
“Not yet, D, lets g— closer loo-”
Eyes opened slowly to smudged silhouettes, in the window still covered in cracks. Shapes were changing to quickly register, even getting… brighter? Bright blue and warm yellow illuminated your sight, the pod was far more crushed and cracked than before. Surrounded by remnants of tech and engine parts, more holes and light seeped in. Though, that may help in escaping more easily.
Trying to yell for help resulted in barely a whisper. Throat feeling full of knives and needles, you pulled your body up. Only to be pulled straight back down, pressure against the left arm. While there was no pain, several pipes kept it sealed tightly, trying to lift and shift didn't work. Looking around you spotted another loose piece of pipe, you slid its broken end underneath and pushed.
*Snap*
The end had completely broken off. Too short to fit under and too fragile to help. No matter what was attempted, the arm was trapped. Fear clutched your chest tightly, tears threatening to spill.
You were trapped.
“You've looked enough already Orion. Come on, we need to notify Elita-One.”
“Well you can still do that. I’ll just guard it till-”
“No way Pax, your coming too. Or are you just scared she might actually make you, what was it again?”
“Don't say it.”
“Clean the entire mines equipment. Alone.”
“Deeee.”
“For 10 cycles.”
The lights dimmed, they were leaving. Trying to yell again, mind screaming for help, throat barely able to form a yelp. A hacking painful coughing, that ended in a pathetic whimper was all that came out.
“Wait, you hear that, Dee?”
“Really, changing the subject again Ori-“
“No listen.”
Mouth opening again, only laboured breathing came out. Soreness silencing your voice. First the crash, then the wave and now this. Hot tears fell, pitter pattering against the pipe still in hand.
Wait!
“See nothing now lets go.”
Gripping and swinging the pipe, as hard as possible against the wall.
*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*
Loose parts fell off creating more scattered noises. Yes, please come back. Please let it be loud enough to get their attention, stopping finally feeling confident enough to yell, despite the soreness.
“PLEASE!! *Gasp* Help me. I’m stuck.” You choked out, still pained.
Silence.
Sobs and hiccuping came, the current posture starting to hurt, hopelessness now engulfing. Footsteps came, louder and closer this time. The window, displayed veiled shapes again. Desperate and hopeful, you swung the pipe out against its metal prison, calling out.
“Please, my arm, its *cough cough*, trapped, *gasp*, please get me out.”
Lights returned.
“That can’t be. No. No, no, no. No transformers that small.” Yellow lights shifted away, the blue remained.
“Maybe, its not a transformer.” Something tapped the window once more.
“All the more reason to get Elita-“
“Please,” you begged, “please get me out.”
Nothing.
Cheeks soaked, tears leaving streams as they fell.
The hell were you supposed to do now?!?
Fumbling, crumbling and cracking rattled your thoughts and ears. Terrified another wave had come again, you braced. But no, the sound was completely different. Robotic machines had began to crack open the pod. Still bracing from any more deadly debris, lights shone through, like hope into your body. Then pain and pressure on the caught arm.
It was going to break at this rate.
“Wait wait. Try from the other side my arms getting crushed.” There was a quick shift and a reprimand from one of them. The side of the wall the stuck arm was on, began to breach in two. Harsh crack and snapping, pipes and walls falling away.
Your arm was free. A large grey bruise covered it now, still better than loosing the whole thing. Relieved and exhausted, letting gravity take you downward to a giant… hand?
All you could feel was thankful, that help and sleep had found you. At last.
—