Okay, new story! And I have been WAITING to post this. I have quite a few chapters for this new fic ready, so it shouldn't be too difficult to finish. :P
ALSO: Please note that not every chapter is going to be super long. Some are less than 1000 words.
I hope you all enjoy!
"You're not gonna believe this," Will Lennox groaned, nearly running side by side with Optimus' massive bipedal mode in order to keep up. "NASA just contacted us. They said that we've got two un-identified Cybertronian signatures coming in hot. They'll be arriving at.. approximately," he checked his papers. "five hours. Give or take a few."
"What is the possibility of them landing close to base?" Optimus stopped and leaned down on a knee to hear the Colonel better.
Will raised both of his eyebrows in a shrug of disbelief, holding the papers up to Prime's face so he could see. "NASA says they'll land pretty damn close. Approximately a mile or two away. Almost as if they were shooting to land close by."
Optimus blinked before nodding. He stood tall once again. "Inform the others. Keep in contact with NASA. We will not attack unless I command it. They could be unexpected Autobot alliances."
Lennox nodded, "Alright. Got it."
"Wow, that was such a low blow," Demonator snorted, shaking her head as she stared at the disintegrated target in disbelief. "Now I know why you're so damn good at weaponry, you cheater!"
"You call that cheating?" Ironhide asked her, raising an optic-ridge. "I call that skill. Why don't you put them cannons away and take some notes, femme?"
"Hey, who got the most kills last mission?" She asked, waving her cannons in his face. "Besides," she smirked. "You'll be retiring soon, anyway."
"Over my dead body," Ironhide grunted, turning his back to focus on the targets before him.
"Sooner or later that'll be arranged," she grinned, readying her own cannon again. "Watch and learn. You might remember doing this kinda stuff back when every single joint of yours didn't squeak, you old fragger."
Without another word, Demonator jumped into action, barrel-rolling, flipping, jumping and crawling over and under obstacles, all while managing to down five of the ten targets that remained. Each destroyed into a puff of smoke. She growled, her cannons spinning for a split second before she put both of them by her sides, turning around in ninety degree angles while firing at the same time. One target; two; three; four; five targets destroyed in rapid succession.
She stood there, raising both her weapons to her mouthplates. Releasing a puff of air, she blew away the smoke that erupted from both their barrels.
The weapons specialist looked just a little impressed. "So, why are you bonded to Ratchet and not me, again?" Ironhide shook his head and chuckled as Demonator smirked. "I'll admit that the 'Cons taught you some decent maneuvers," he said. "But, like I said; there'll only be one Ironhide."
She rolled her optics and transformed her cannons back into her arms. Placing her hands on her hips, she shook her head. "Yeah, yeah." Then, her optics dimmed abruptly and a hand shot up to the side of her face. Ironhide watched intently as her hand dropped back down to her side and her optics brightened considerably. "Ratchet told me that Optimus is requesting us all down to the Autobot hangar. Something important, or some slag like that."
"We best be goin' then," Ironhide nodded.
With a final nod, Demonator took the liberty of leading the way towards the hangar.
"Alright, let me get this straight," Demonator began, earning an embarrassed look from Ratchet as she marched a few steps forward. "You're telling me that we've got two, unidentified Cybertronians about to make contact and we're stocking up on more supplies because you think there's even the slightest chance they can over-power us?" She waited for a reply from Prime, but got nothing. She snorted, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but Primus didn't make me twenty-six feet tall, give me a bad attitude and allow me to earn the title as third greatest 'Con once in my lifetime for nothing."
"Demonator, this could be a little more serious than you are making it to be," Optimus replied, folding his arms. "It's been years since we've received foreign contact from any other Cybertronian being. If I recall, we made a big deal about your arrival approximately fifteen years ago and look at the mess you ended up bringing with you."
"Would both of you knock it off?" Ratchet suddenly growled. "Prime, just get back to what you were saying before. Demonator, keep your mouthplates shut."
"Anyway," Optimus began, wasting no more time. "A few hours from now, we will be met with two new mechs, femmes, or perhaps both. Keep a lookout. You'll all be informed when they touch Earth's soil." He nodded, "As you were."
Everybody scattered apart slowly. Demonator rolled her optics. "Same slag, different day."
Ratchet frowned, "You should be more serious about this, you know." He turned around. "Could save your life one day."
At that, she smirked and followed him. "Yeah? First of all, sweetspark, I'm about twelve feet taller than your average femme, about two feet shorter than Prime and almost got twice the weapons skills as Ironhide and currently training in the medical field alongside you. I don't think I'm keeling over just yet."
He laughed and shook his head, continuing his journey to the med bay. "I hope you're joking."
"I am," she snorted. "Sideswipe's sarcasm rubs off on me."
"Hmph," Ratchet grunted.
At that, Demonator's face lit up. "Are you jealous of our brotherly/sisterly relationship?"
"As if," Ratchet rolled his eyes sarcastically, but the grin he flashed told her he was only kidding.
She shoved him playfully and smirked down at him. "Get back to work."
Ironhide, unlike the others, hadn't moved from his position. He was one of the few who actually seemed to be taking an interest to the new arrivals. Would he have to help defend the base from them? Or would they be allies, just looking for a place to stay? He sat down, his back against one of the outside hangar walls. The shade helped protect him from the Sun's intense heat that morning and he leaned his head back so it rested gently against the wall. He shut his optics and cycled his vents every so often.
As much as he hated to admit it, Demonator was right. There would be a time when the Autobots would fight without him and he had to admit it was wise of him to decide to train with her. She would need to know all there is, even if she insisted that she was already good enough. He knew there would never be anybody who is 'good enough'. Hell, half the time he ever battled, it was mostly out of luck that he survived, not all skill.
His optics opened and he jerked from shock when he saw Will standing in front of him, arms folded. "You okay?"
Ironhide nodded. "Yes. I'm fine."
"You looked really deep in thought," Lennox replied, walking next to Ironhide and sitting against the wall as well. "What's up?"
"I'm having a midlife crisis, Lennox," Ironhide admitted. Will snorted into his hand and Ironhide looked down at him; glaring. "What's funny about that?"
Will caught his breath, "Are you serious? Why the hell do you say that?"
The black-painted mech shrugged. "I've just been thinking.. There will be a time when I am no longer here. A time where I will no longer be with all the soldiers, you and your family.. Annabelle," his optics dropped to the ground. "And I've done many things in my life that I've grown to regret."
Will couldn't help but smile at his friend, despite the dark words that were pouring from Ironhide's mouth. He sighed deeply and rested his head back against the wall.
"There's a saying that some of us Humans say around here," Will began and Ironhide did look up at him, giving the Colonel his full attention. Will stood up before speaking, "You shouldn't regret things, because at one point, it's exactly what you wanted."
Without a final word, Ironhide could only watch his friend walk away, his optics just a little wider than usual.