Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Okay one last time, explain to me how exactly you can't work on him?" Denny was trying his best to figure out the works of Cybertronian virology and it was just not sticking in his brain.

"Well Danny clay, the malware itself does not affect me or any other species of mini corn the same as it would affect buzz saw minicons." Fixit explained for the third time, he was practically getting tired of watching Denny wrap his tiny human brain on something like Dislivarites. It was truly a confusing disease and because of that not much research has gone into it, despite it having a high mortality rate.

So far any doctor or cybertronian medic that even attempted to research on the disease be it a minicon or any other normal bot they would all end up being sick but not as sick as a buzzsaw would be. The disease is fatal for buzzsaws, as the disease causes their systems nanites to start attacking the body leading to symptoms like severe rusting and various forms of mental degradation.

The symptoms were milder for others, slight cranial ache and on rare cases joint pain sometimes that be out for weeks on end. Perhaps it really depends on the variation of the malware as well as they type of bot or minicon.

"Okay so you can't work on slipstream because you might also get ill from the malware. And said illness will not typically kill you but might make you feel a bit off, understandable." Danny finally admitted grasping the somewhat complexities of the disease. "Now that we're past that, I just want to know... if jetstorm and slipstream are twins, then how is it possible that only one of them is immune."

Now this part really perplexed him even more, " When I went over their individual CNA, they both have the small 'mutation' that causes the fight back to the disease. And this 'mutation' is what causes their nanites to respond to the disease in a different way, such that they are able to detect the disease and neutralise it."

"Indeed Denny, this mutation causes a deformity in the system allowing for the early detection and wording off of the malware."

"But why wasn't Slipstream systems able to fight off the malware?" Denny finally confessed, the topic of Cybertronian sibling hood was one that could really make a guy question the ways of the society and their methods of reproduction, which are even more confusing!

"It's quite simple, they're most definitely protoformic twins, given their near identical genetic makeup but different sparks."

Denny's face contorted into a look of severe confusion. Hand was placed on his forehead, as he looked up in disbelief, " you're not answering my question..." He sighed to himself. Fixit couldn't understand what was confusing him, there were different kinds of twins on Cybertron similar to how they are different kinds of twins for humans, like identical and fraternal twins.

Jetstorm and Slipstream were a much less rarity of twins. They were protoformic twins, which ment a single protoform was infused with two different sparks resulting in the protoform splitting to accommodate the two separate sparks, and thus giving birth to two separate being.

The second variation was the split spark twins a single protoform with a single spark that splits and thus leads to the protoform to split resultsing and two separate bodies with a split spark. Split spark twins are much rare than protoformic twins as the chances of a spark splitting is very low. Even the connection between the two variations of twins is different, split spark twins often share deeper bonds with each other that are not understood by others, such as sensing the other twin's distress, both mentally and emotionally.

But one thing both variations have in common is genetic similarities as they are both a product of one protoform.

In Jetstorm and Slipstreams case, the only logical explanation for slipstream being susceptible to the disease and not Jetstorm is because when analyzing their CNA it was noted that the slight mutation or deformity in Jetstorm was much more developed or severe then in Slipstream. This severity or development is what's causing their aggressive and active immune response against the malware. The only way such developments can occur within the deformity is if Jetstorm was constantly prematurely exposed to the disease in small and weak various.

"I. Under. Stand. The. Twin. Thing." Denny said in between claps, "I know Jet and Slip are twins. Everyone knows that. What I was trying to understand is how the malware works and I think I got it."

"Really?" Fixit sounded doubtful. Judgemental almost at the fact that Denny finally grasped the whole thing.

"Yeah, Dislivarites to buzzsaws and other bots is like... Chocolate to dogs and humans."

Fixit looked absolutely distraught hearing Denny compare a lethal disease to a sweet treat. "...Denny...", his voice shook, laced with udder disappointment and bewilderment. "What are you saying? Do you hear yourself right now?"

"Yes! Chocolate is deadly to dog but only bad for humans if they eat it too much. That's the only way I can explain this without causing my brain to explode."

Russell just watched the two argue in the kitchen. They did it so often, it was basically his routine. Scruffy just stood outside bellowing and scratching the door wanting to be let in. Which was impossible given her size. To think she was a small furball a week or so ago. She was basically Clifford the big red dog except more metallic and was an apex predator that imprinted on him. When Fixit said their growth was exponential when consuming large amounts of energon, it wasn't an understatement. It was a good thing their growth was limited or capped as Fixit described it. His dad would go bonkers having to watch over something as big as a normal bot.
There wasn't much to look after though. Behemoths are Cybernetic, so they don't poop or pee. They're really smart such that Scruffy basically understands Russell without any complaints. Which is why training was going so well.

Russell finished the last bite of his breakfast and went to clean his plate. Seeing this, Denny decided bickering was over and it's best him and Fixit get back to working on Jet and Slip.
Jetstorm was doing extremely well his repairs were complete —thanks to Fixits speedy work— and all that was left was the healing of the welding. His face plate was a different story, hard to repair or replace and so the best that could be done was a minor repair which ment Jet could only have half an upper face. His mandible would be visible and his denta would be too. In general he just looked like a skull with eyebrows.

Slipstream was the same, his mandible rusted off and had to be completely replaced. They modelled it off of Jetstorm's and if they didn't look similar then, they sure did now.
All that work was tiring Denny, who unlike Fixit needed sleep or he would lose his everlasting mind from sleep deprivation.

At some point Denny was so tired, he swore he could hear the angels calling him. This distressed Russell so much, that he had to beg his father to stop and take a break.
And since then for the rest of the week Fixit handled Jetstorm's repairs and did so rather speedy. He didn't need sleep or breaks and he practically had the tools embedded in him. So it was no wonder when Denny went to go check up on Jetstorm's and Slipstream's condition, he found Fixit nearly done with the repairs.

But his absence lead to a small draw back in Slipstreams recovery as Fixit couldn't administer the particles from Jetstorm without him getting sick himself. But with Denny rested and energised, all focus can be shifted back to Slipstream, to allow Jetstorm to rest.
________________
He walked into the ward, suited up in his blue overalls and saw Bumblebee and Drift discussing something. Drift was angry and confused, but was extremely good at hiding it. Only displaying a stoic look —often seen as apathic by most— while jetstorm was awake, delirious and feisty(for some reason).

A procedure involving the replacement of a bots entire body of armour, done in the short span of a week or so was extremely painful. Thus Jetstorm was flying high on pain medication, leaving him in a state a human would be in if they were on anesthesia —or weed.
As if Jetstorm wasn't an uncontrollable chatter box then, now he was uncontrollable AND unhinged. So it wasn't a suprise to Denny when Jetstorm yelled "SUP BITCH!" In a slurred way.

Drift was on the floor next to Jetstorm. So immediately when he heard such profanities leave his former student's mouth he instantly covered it like he would when jetstorm was still under his tutelage. He was used to Jetstorm randomly running his mouth and saying unnecessary things, but swearing is something he has never heard him do.

Jetstorm frustrated by the sudden silencing, began pulling away from Drifts hand with no luck and then started biting him. His bites were weak and felt like he was just resting his denta against Drift digit.

"Woah tiger, your feisty today aren't ya." Denny walked over next to Jetstorm.

"You seem accustomed to such behaviour from him." Drift was suspicious, he had a feeling that Denny was somewhat a bad influence to his student, but couldn't prove it...

"Well, I'm not really surprised that Jet knows such phrases. I mean he does listen to 'Snoop Dogg' and 'Gorrilaz' so... Kinda expected for such 'profanities' to leave his lips... mouth.... Denta? Whatever" Denny helped Jetstorm sit up. Checked his scars and fixed his hat.

"I don't know what that is..." Drift admitted looking at Bumblebee as if he had the answer.

"Don't know either... But apart from the obscenities," Bumblebee sighed, "he seems a lot better."

"FUCK YEAH!" Jetstorm yelled loudly, much to Drift's dismay. Denny only snickered. If Jetstorm could smirk he would be doing just that. He had no lower face plating and therefore a smile or any other expressions involving his mouth would be impossible. So every time he tries to smile, he ends up squinting his eyes, hard. A hilarious sight to see.

"Well I'm glad hes okay, the team can't be at a hundred percent if it's members aren't at a hundred percent." Bumblebee smiled looking at Jetstorm.
He wasn't the same anymore. His injuries must've been excruciatingly painful. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for him. And what about Slipstream, they hadn't seen him the longest. And then there was Steeljaw, he was definitely planning something, but what. Not knowing made Bumblebee go insane. There's been an increase in activity and half of Steeljaws pack is with him. Every time they send him away he always comes back. Either by Soundwave, or Megatronous Prime... he always bounces back meaner than ever
And with the minis sick, Fixit or Denny can't manage the comand center and as a cherry on top Optimus isn't answering his calls.

Bumblebee sighed and snapped out of his thought and from the corner of his optic saw Jetstorm staring at him. His pupils were constricted and his face neutral. He looked... Manic. Like he was a second away from snapping someones neck. It made Bumblebee shudder. He had never seen Jetstorm this ... angry before.
He couldn't help but look him in the optic and it's as if he could see the pain and the angry cry for help.

"...cur dii nostri nos deseruerunt?" (why have our gods forsaken us?) Jetstorm tilted his head slowly, not breaking his gaze on Bumblebee. His words were soft but laced with distain and malice. And in his optics the pain and devastation could be seen, once he got past the mania that flashed first.

"Well that was weird..." Denny said with his hands in his pockets, was just about to leave when he saw the change in demeanor from Jetstorm and then the odd display of what he could only describe as some sort of psychosis.

Drift clenched his jaw and fist. He believed in honour. In second chances. He too was a low life, a thief that took away the lively hoods of others, but he was given a second chance to be better than good, to change and he helped others change. Others like his students that now lay broken and disgruntled because of the hands OF A PERPETRATOR THATS OUT THERE DOING THE SAME UNTHINKABLE .... UNSPEAKABLE.... ATROCIOUS ACTS TO HUNDREDS MORE MINICONS
JUST
LIKE
HIS
STUDENTS.....

Murder and malice rang in his head, he could think of a reason some to spare this... This absolutely nightmare to light, a disgrace to the word of primus.
"May suffering be your life, may the pain you cause be the only thing you feel and death be the escape."
These are the only words that finally rang in Drift head.