"Attention! Attention! Optimus Prime, please come to the control room!"
Optimus rushed to the control room, Prowl following close to his heels. Both Autobots had heard Teletraan-I's transmission and, by the sound of things, it wasn't good news.
"Report, Teletraan-I. What is it?" the Autobot leader asked.
"Decepticons are attacking the city of Portland," Teletraan-I replied, the screen changing to an image of Megatron flying over the city, signalling the Decepticons to charge. "The mayor has already sent a distress signal."
"What is their target, Teletraan-I?" Prowl asked.
"Unknown, as of yet," Teletraan-I answered.
That had the tactician frowning. "This isn't right. It's not like the Decepticons to attack so randomly."
"Nevertheless, we can't let them get away with that," Optimus pointed out. "Is Ebon with them, Teletraan-I?"
"No silicon-based life form detected."
"That doesn't mean anything. He could be in his animal form," Prowl pointed out.
"Indeed," Optimus agreed. "Prowl, contact Ironhide and Faera and tell them to head towards the city so we can meet them there. See if you can contact Hot Spot as well; we'll need the Protectobots' help in this."
"Understood," Prowl said, opening the communication frequencies. Optimus hurried towards the common room, where he knew several of his subordinates were already there.
"Grapple, Hoist, Inferno, you're coming with me to Portland. Situation: Code Red. Is that clear?"
Grapple and Hoist nodded their understanding and stood up too.
"Good! I've been itchin' for some good fightin'!" Inferno remarked with a grin, a bit more enthusiastic about things as he stood up.
"You will have your chance, Inferno," Optimus promised. "Now, Autobots… Transform and roll for it!"
With that, all four of them changed into their vehicle modes and drove out of the Ark on top speed.
Debris tumbled down as Decepticon laserfire hit another building. The people screamed in terror, running away as fast as their feet could carry them before they would get injured. Such was their panic that no one noticed a young woman falling down, spraining her ankle. Worse, no one saw the large chunk of concrete that was about to fall on her, ready to end her life. All she could do was bury her face in her arms, waiting for the inevitable to happen.
It never did. There was a great clunking sound and then a gigantic blue robot towered over her, catching the boulder as if it was a mere ball.
"Hey, First Aid, get over here! A human is hurt!" he called out.
"Coming!" Another metallic voice answered, and then there was the familiar wailing of an ambulance approaching. But when the woman sat up and saw the ambulance itself, she was shocked to see there was no driver. Granted, she had just been saved by a giant alien robot, but she was shocked nonetheless.
"Help her inside, Hot spot," the ambulance said, opening the back doors. "I'll take her to safety."
"Okay, but don't take too long," Hot Spot said, picking up the injured woman gently in his hands. "The Decepticons are really at it!"
"I'll come back as fast as I can," First Aid promised. Once the woman was on the stretcher, he drove off on top speed, his sirens wailing all the way. Hot Spot watched him go, and then he opened his communication frequencies.
"Blades, how does the situation look from up there?"
"You want a frank answer to that?" Blades asked, still circling the area in his helicopter mode.
Hot Spot couldn't help but wince inwardly. "That bad?"
"Worse," Blades replied. "Where in the Pit are those reinforcements anyway?"
"They're coming, Blades," Hot Spot said. "We just have to hold the fort till then."
"If there's anything left, that is!" Blades retorted. An explosion sounded from the other side of the link, and Hot Spot heard the helicopter cursing loudly.
"Blades, talk to me!" Hot Spot ordered, hoping that his brother would be able to answer.
"I'm hit!" Blades said, audibly in pain. "I'm falling down!"
"Hold on, Blades. I'm coming," Hot Spot said, transforming at once to his vehicle mode. "Groove, Streetwise, Blades has been hit. Clear the area before he crashes!"
"Way ahead of you," Groove replied. Indeed, the motorcycle was already helping several civilians to evacuate the buildings that had been hit by the laserfire, while Streetwise controlled the traffic so that drivers would reach to safety as well.
In that moment, Blades appeared, trying to steady himself as he kept falling amid flames. The blades of his helicopter mode bent out of shape, and the Protectobot could no longer break his fall. He landed on the ground with the sickening crash.
"Blades!" Groove exclaimed, kneeling at his brother's side. "Can you hear me?"
"Sure… above the ringing of my audios," Blades said dryly. His cogwheels whirred loudly and the entire chassis trembled as he tried to transform back to his robot mode. "Blast it!"
"I think you should wait for First Aid," Groove said worriedly. "That Seeker got you real bad."
"Yeah…" Blades admitted. "I'll make sure to pay the favour in kind once I'm fixed!"
"I don't doubt that," Groove replied with a shake of his head.
Hot Spot finally appeared and he put out the flames on Blades' engine. Blades sighed with relief as the cool water fell on his overheated plating.
"Thanks, Hot Spot. I needed that."
"You'll need more than that by the looks of it," Hot Spot commented and he opened his communication frequencies. "First Aid, where are you?"
First Aid took another full-throttled turn, avoiding any fallen debris that were scattered about his way. The Decepticons had gone really far this time, attacking so viciously… and with no apparent reason. Just what were they up to?
First Aid's train of thought was interrupted, however, as he received an incoming transmission from Hot Spot.
"First Aid, where are you? Blades is hit and he can't transform!"
"I'll be right there," First Aid answered. "Are there any more humans hurt?"
"No, we've evacuated just about everybody," Hot Spot said.
The young medic welcomed the news. "Okay, I'm just two blocks away from you. Make sure Blades-"
It was then that a large black form lunged at the ambulance, digging its sharp claws on the tyres. First Aid found himself spinning out of control and then, next thing he knew, he crashed against a glass window. Thankfully, he was still able to transform in spite of his damages, so he quickly changed to his robot mode and faced his attacker.
"First Aid, what's going on?"
First Aid couldn't answer. He didn't want to make any sudden movements as the panther-like creature growled at him, baring his teeth, and First Aid instantly froze. Ratchet had already told him about the Sadjens, and he had also warned his protégé about the one whose name was Ebon. Although, truth be told, First Aid hadn't thought that he would actually come across him.
"Okay, you're mad, I can tell that," the young medic said, raising his hand in a gesture of peace. "But I've done you no wrong. I just want to go to my friend."
Ebon let out another growl, his fangs gleaming and eager to sink in the red and white plating. First Aid's hand reached slowly for an iron beam, hoping that he would be able to defend himself with if it came down to that. When Ebon noticed what the Protectobot was about to do, however, he instantly leapt at him, an angry sound coming out of his throat. With a yelp, First Aid held up the beam so that the male Sadjen would bite that instead, but there was nothing he could do to protect himself from the alien's claws. He winced as they tore at the plating in his arms.
"Hot Spot, I need help!" he transmitted, although he doubted any of his brothers would make it on time. And Ebon's jaws only got closer to his throat…
Or did. Suddenly, another black form hit Ebon at full speed, knocking him away from First Aid. The medic stared at the scene, trying to comprehend what had just happened, and it finally made sense as his visor locked on the second Sadjen. Unlike Ebon, though, there were no mechanical devices attached on his back.
Faera, he thought, making the connection.
"You should go," a computerised voice said, and First Aid was surprised to realise that it came from the female Sadjen. She swayed her tail once, sparing only a brief look at the Protectobot. "I'll handle him."
First Aid tried to say something, but a hand clasped on his shoulder.
"Don't argue with the lady, kid," Ironhide said. "Besides, there's someone who needs your skills."
The veteran had a point. Even so, First Aid didn't want to leave just like that.
"Thanks."
She merely let out a small rumbling sound in acknowledgement, and then both Sadjens locked themselves in ferocious combat. Their blood-curdling snarls sent a chill in First Aid's heart, but Ironhide managed to snap him out of it. They both transformed and drove to where the rest of the Protectobots were gathered.
Hot Spot was the first to run up to the young medic. "First Aid! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a couple of dents," First Aid said and he turned to Ironhide. "Thanks."
"No problem, kid. Faera and I just happened to arrive at the right place and at the right time."
"And we need all the help we can get," Hot Spot said. "The Decepticons are giving us a really hard time."
"Well, it's time to return the favour," Ironhide said as he transformed back into his robot mode, taking his gun out of subspace. "You coming?"
Hot Spot nodded and then turned to his brothers. "Groove, stay with First Aid and Blades and cover them. Streetwise, you're coming with me."
"Bad idea," Streetwise said. "If we separate now, we won't be able to form Defensor."
"It's a chance we have to take," Hot Spot argued. "Protecting the city is our first priority."
"You'll be three against ten!" Blades said, but First Aid silenced him so he could continue with his work.
"Believe it or not, kid, reinforcements are well on their way," Ironhide corrected in a hissing tone. He looked up, seeing a familiar truck approaching them. "And here they are."
Sure enough, Optimus Prime transformed into his robot mode. "Ironhide, Hot Spot. What's the situation so far?"
"Megatron is on the top of a building, handing out orders," Hot Spot answered. "All six seekers are flying about, firing everything in sight, and Blitzwing is on the ground, along with Rumble and Frenzy."
"Those three won't be much of a problem," Ironhide said, holding up his weapon in a meaningful manner. "But we'll need the Aerialbots to bring down the Seekers."
"Not necessarily," Optimus said, and he transformed in his truck mode once again. "Autobots, follow me!"
Ironhide, Streetwise and Hot Spot nodded their understanding and transformed too, driving close behind the Autobot leader.
Megatron scanned the area below him, watching the destruction with a smile of satisfaction on his lip components.
"Dirge, any sign of our Autobot friends yet?" he transmitted, noticing the Seeker flying over him.
"Negative, Megatron. The city looks evacuated."
"Then keep demolishing. Do not stop until Optimus Prime appears."
"Yes, Megatron." In that very moment, though, a couple of loud blasts filled the air and two shots of light hit Dirge on his wing. "Stabilizer's hit. Permission to retire from battle!"
"Permission granted, Dirge. Our guests of honour have arrived," Megatron said with a smirk, looking downwards once more. Indeed, he could clearly see Optimus Prime standing next to his trailer, which was open; the barrels of the anti-air turret were still smoking too. "I'm disappointed at you, Optimus. I expected you here at least ten minutes earlier."
"While you have just outstayed your welcome, Megatron," Optimus said, holding up his rifle. "Leave the city at once."
"Never," Megatron said, raising his fusion cannon. "This city is now Decepticon territory."
"Over my sparkless body, Megatron!"
"That can be arranged!" the Decepticon leader declared, and he jumped down onto the ground. It didn't take long for the two Cybertronians to start their so familiar dance once more. But little did Optimus know that Megatron's scheme was far from over.
- Soundwave, prepare for Phase Two. -
In the heat of battle, no one cared to look at the broken window of a small shop that sold electronic gear. No one even took a glimpse at the plethora of VCRs, TVs and stereos in it, ready to be grabbed at the first opportunity. If they had, they would have noticed that a certain tape deck had a strange purple insignia on it; one that didn't belong to any known human brand.
- Soundwave, time for Phase Two. Get to it."
- Yes, Megatron,- Soundwave replied, transforming into his robot mode. "Rumble, Frenzy, commence Phase Two. Operation: Bait."
Soundwave was sure that his cassetticons grinned as they said, "Sure thing, Boss."
Hot Spot and Ironhide made sure Blitzwing wouldn't cause any more trouble and then they turned around the corner. They had detected two more Decepticon energy signatures and they meant to check it out.
"Well, well, what have we got here?" Ironhide said, as soon as he spotted two familiar forms. "Didn't your creator teach you to play nicely?"
Neither Rumble nor Frenzy stuck around to answer. They ran as fast as their feet could carry them.
"Aw, come back here!" Ironhide said in mock dismay. "I haven't started my lesson in manners yet!"
"Ironhide!"
But the veteran Autobot didn't heed Hot Spot. He simply gave chase, wanting to make sure that the two cassetticons wouldn't cause any more trouble. Just when he thought that he had them cornered at a dead end, however, he was surprised not to find any sign of them. He ought to have detected them…
"Where did they go?"
Ironhide barely had enough time to utter the question. Rumble and Frenzy jumped out of a large garbage tank, both of them managing a straight kick on the veteran's chest plate. Ironhide crashed on the ground, aware that a couple of circuitries had got knocked out of their place. It didn't stop him. He tried to get back on his feet, ready to give both cassetticons a lesson; but then a blast from behind made his optics black out and there was nothing more.
"That was a good one, Boss!" Frenzy said, grinning.
"Yeah, what are we waiting for? We should finish him off!" Rumble said, activating his pile-drivers. He would enjoy this.
"No. Cease at once," Soundwave commanded. Though his voice was the usual monotone, it was clear he shouldn't be denied.
Both Frenzy and Rumble stared at Soundwave incredulously.
"Why not?" the red casseticon asked finally, not really believing his audios.
"Megatron's orders," the spy answered. "He has better plans for this Autobot."
"What is better than one Auto-buffoon less?" Rumble argued.
"No Autobots at all." With that, Soundwave used his mind probe and started working, hacking into Ironhide's databanks.
TBC...
