TF: Happenstance 17 [Collab]

Part 17: Enlightening Development

Unlike Sidetrack, Heavy Hauler bounded down the stairs, nodding at his order and slamming her way through the fighting. Mechs dared to turn and try to stop her only to find a fist slammed into their faceplate or a knee driven into their abdominal vents. A path of downed mechs trailed behind her, many screaming in pain. Some of the combatants were smart enough to take the que and allow her to pass unmolested. By the time she reached the front doors, the fighting had resumed to its climax. She shut down her audios as she stepped to the door's threshold, only allowing those who were fleeing from the fighting to pass. Including the femme that had been on stage at the urging of her friends. She gave her a grateful look as she slipped through, a dainty servo pressed over a wound in her upper arm.

Her gaze swept the mass of mechs and femmes, watching as they suddenly started to squirm, soundless screams reaching up from their vocodors as many collapsed. Servos were pressed firmly over audio receptors and Heavy Hauler had to smirk. Sidetrack had found a way to subdue the fighters without shedding further energon.

She saw the expression on Sidetrack's faceplate. It was dark, dangerous, and utterly in control. He was not teasing or being charming. Instead he was a mech protecting that which he cared deeply for. And Heavy Hauler had to admit, that made him far more appealing. She had a sense that she was seeing the real Sidetrack, the one that hid behind the masks. 
 
Whatever tone he had used stopped and Heavy Hauler was rushed as several of the combatants ran to escape. Slamming her servo into the wall to the side of the door, she blocked them and glowered down at the shorter mechs. One was brave and tried to shove his way through, finding out that she was heavier than she appeared. He slammed into her midsection only to fall to his aft from the impact. She didn't even shift. Suddenly the others collapsed again, their servos over their audios. Lowering her servo from the wall, she bent and gripping them by their arms and dragged them back into the club proper, turning to find a bouncer locking the door down. A nod told her that he had completed the task.

Turninng back, she looked up at Sidetrack, her optics going to the controller in his servo. When no one collapsed again she turned her audios back on and listened to the muttered conversations, whimpers of pain, and cries of fear. Walking through the crowd as they started cleaning up the mess they had caused, she watched as several flinched back. Approaching Sidetrack, she set her servos to her hips.

"Neat trick," Heavy Hauler commented, her optics shifting to a movement behind the curtains. Stepping up onto the stage, she moved past him and swept the curtain aside.

Sitting behind the curtain, their frames shaking badly enough that they were rattling, were three young bots. A femme and two mechs. The mechs were dented and covered in energon, the femme was holding a servo over an optic that would need the lense replaced. Kneeling down, Heavy Hauler offered the three her servos. Shaking, they took the assistance and got to their pedes, hiding behind her as she approached Sidetrack.

"Are there medics on the way as well?" Heavy Hauler asked grimly. There would be a lot of wounded. Many of whom had nothing to do with the fight.

***

Upswing stood at the window, watching everything that was going on below. The fight was over, the bots subdued. But, for once, she didn't want to go against Sidetrack's orders and leave the VIP area. Instead she slid down to the floor and leaned against the glass wall, wrapping her arms around her knees. She looked around the room, it's lavish treatments and the massive U-shaped couch. There was an indentation where he sat all the time. She wondered if he even realized it.

Turning back toward the window, she looked down at Sidetrack and Heavy Hauler curiously. The big femme had willingly followed Sidetrack into the melee, she had done everything he commanded. Yet, she didn't really know him and seemed impervious to that charm he gave off. There was something about the two that fascinated Upswing, and she knew she was going to have to have a conversation with Heavy Hauler about it.