Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, I have just borrowed them.
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We're dead. The grim thought filled Sam's cloudy mind with a resounding certainty - but it wasn't his own death that scared him, it was the fact that Bumblebee was going to die because of him. He'd already died once - he knew that there was something more out there, therefore he felt no real fear as he gazed up at Megatron - remembering the sudden searing pain and the all-encompassing darkness that had occurred last time.
"Run and don't look back," the sound byte that rumbled out of Bee's radio made him start - causing him to hiss at the pain that the sudden movement had caused. Before he had time to react the Autobot began to transform, and Sam found himself ejected out of the door before he could be crushed.
Dazed and in pain he scrambled away... turning to watch in horror as Bumblebee staggered for a moment before placing himself firmly between Sam and Megatron - not seeming to care that the Decepticon towered over him. For Sam the scene was eerily reminiscent of the battle that had killed Optimius - however, the fear he felt for Bumblebee made that which he'd felt for the Autobot leader pale in comparison.
"Give me the boy and I will kill you quickly," Megatron snarled - his red optics seeking out Sam as he pulled himself away from the two combatants.
"Not going to happen," Bumblebee responded as he suddenly charged at the Decepticon - hoping with all his spark that his human would heed his words and run.
Sam had no intention of leaving Bee. If the yellow Autobot fell then it would only be a matter of time before the Decepticons found him. Besides the pain spiking through his side and ankle made any thoughts of running obsolete. He wasn't going anywhere fast. He was in it for good or bad. And as Megatron sent his loyal guardian tumbling with a vicious blow, he couldn't help but think the bad was going to come out on top this time. After all his luck had already seen him through two major battles and several other confrontations...it was too much to hope that his luck would hold much longer.
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On-board the C-17's Lennox started as Ratchet suddenly transformed in the holding bay, using the sides of the plane to steady himself as the Autobot's movement shook the large plane.
"What is it?"
"Bumblebee's signal has come back online," the Medic said, his head tilted to one side as though listening to something. "But he's not answering his radio."
"Where is he?" Sergeant Epps demanded coming to stand beside Lennox, his face grim as he gazed up at the large Bot.
"About six clicks to the East - the signal's jumping about a bit."
"Okay - signal the other plane tell them to drop Jolt. Tell him to locate Arcee and Mikaela - and the twins if possible," Lennox snapped efficiently to Epps. "I'll alert the pilot." He added nodding to the Autobot before heading towards the fore of the plane at a quick pace.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Epps muttered to himself.
"You and I both," Ratchet agreed grimly, startling the soldier whom had forgotten how sensitive the Medic's auditory receptors were. Shaking his head at his own folly he headed off to carry out his orders.
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"Twins located," Arcee reported suddenly - startling Mikaela out of her anxious thoughts and bringing her attention back to the present.
"Head their way," She ordered and the Autobot clicked in response, speeding up as though sensing her rider's anxiety.
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"Whup his ass Skids," Mudflap yelled as he dodged around Barricade, smirking as the irate Decepticon swung for him and missed -nearly overbalancing himself as he tried to whirl around to fire at Skids.
"WHAT DO YA THINK I'M DOING?!" Skids bellowed as he was knocked off his feet by the Decepticon's flailing hand caught him in the chest, denting his metal plates and causing him to fly backwards several yards.
"Getting your ass whupped," Mudflap grumbled back as he launched himself onto the Decepticon's back, his guns blazing as he aimed them into the cracks in Barricade's armour.
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"Optimus - Ratchet says they've picked up Bee's signal and are closing fast," Ironhide reported as the two Autobots sped downwards towards Philadelphia.
"Tell him we're on our way," Optimus rumbled grimly.
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"Jolt is away, repeat, Jolt is away," Lennox nodded as the voice came across the radio - relieved that something was going to plan today.
"Okay men, air drop in five minute - Ratchet and Sideswipe are going first then our teams. Be prepared for trouble - as in Non biological trouble," He ordered levelly, flashing a slightly apologetic look at Ratchet and Sideswipe whom merely shrugged before turning to check their own parachutes and their weapons.
"How many?" One soldier asked not even bothering to look up as he secured his own parachute.
"Our scanners are picking up one Decepticon signal at the moment - identity unknown. But there may be more," Lennox responded and his men groaned - and he grimaced in sympathy; he knew they were still tired and battered from the battle in Egypt. But even as they grumbled they finalised their preparations - there was no hesitation whatsoever in his NEST team and he made a mental note to talk to the General about some serious downtime for his men once they'd got the current situation under control.
"Three minutes till Air drop," the pilot's voice echoed through the belly of the giant plane - and NEST operatives and Autobots exchanged grim looks.
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Sam yelled in fear as a large tree flew over his head - torn from the earth by Megatron's enraged attack on Bee. Even after all he'd been through- he was still shocked by the sheer force and violence of the battles between the two races. Wincing with pain he pressed himself back against the tree stump he was currently using for shelter, one hand reaching up to wipe away the still oozing blood that was falling into his eyes as he locked his gaze on his loyal guardian. The Yellow Autobot was severely dented - with several deep breaks in his metal casing from the violent blows from Megatron's claws - in addition to that he was losing energon from the injuries caused from their original collision.
"Come on Bee," Sam whispered desperately as the smaller Bot was tossed aside yet again, ducking down as the Decepticon began to move towards him.
"Come out boy, I can smell you," Megatron snarled and Sam couldn't stop the shivers running through his body as he saw the red optics were fixed on him once more. Oh God this is it. He thought as the Decepticon towered above him once more. A giant clawed hand shot towards him and he closed his eyes - bracing himself for the inevitable pain...
However, the pain never came. Instead a loud roar of fury made his eyes fly open, just in time to see the battered yet plucky Bot throw himself upon Megatron forcing him away from Sam. However, Sam had little time to be relived as his sharp eyes caught sight of the F-16 jet bearing down on them - his gut wrenching as he recognised the strange markings that set the approaching Decepticon apart from the Human planes he mimicked.
"Bee!" he yelled in alarm. "It's Starscream!"
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"Second Decepticon signal picked up Sir!" Lennox growled under his breath as the pilot reported the presence of another Decepticon, this was not shaping up to be a good day.
"In position men. Ratchet, Sideswipe prepare to jump," he ordered calmly and the two Autobots saluted as they moved towards the opening doors, their optics whirling as they caught sight of smoke and fallen trees...
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The twins were on a losing streak and they knew it. Barricade was a whirling mass of fury and firepower- and it didn't help matters that he was twice the size of both of them combined, or that he had a reputation for being one of the most violent warriors in the Decepticon forces. However, neither twin was about to back down - the brief radio reports they'd tuned in showed that something big was going down - and this fight was there contribution. Besides which, running away from a battle would make them 'pussies' and neither twin was willing to be labelled as such.
So involved were they with dodging Barricades violent attacks and returning fire that they failed to see the help arriving from two separate directions. Their first knowledge of the new arrivals came from the sight of Arcee skidding between Barricade's legs as she fired upwards - falling into battle readiness as her scanners showed Mikaela taking shelter off the road. The huge Decepticon whirled trying to maintain fire against all three of the small Autobots - he was so focused on them that he failed to notice the blue car speeding towards him.
Jolt roared as he transformed, carefully stepping over Arcee as he flung himself at the unprepared Decepticon - his cannons blazing as he sent Barricade tumbling over.
"Arcee get the girl out of here," the larger Autobot rumbled briefly before throwing himself after Barricade, the Twins following at his heels with whoops of triumph. Arcee nodded and transformed back into her motorcycle form and speeding off towards Mikaela - content to leave the bigger Bot to deal with this conflict.
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Bumblebee's body screeched in protest as it was forcefully rammed into the ground once more - the weight of Megatron's body slowly crushing him. The small Autobot knew...had always known that he'd didn't stand much of a chance against the massive Decepticon, but defending Sam was his number one priority no matter what the chances. He knew his human was still nearby - and it was that awareness that kept his spark from dimming, because he knew if he went offline or was killed then Sam would be helpless and that was not acceptable. It was that feeling that made struggle frantically against the gigantic feet holding him down,
However, his fear rocketed up several notches as his damaged scanners suddenly picked up a second Decepticon signal - his blue optics widening with horror as Starscream dove into view. SAM!
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Sam was torn - he knew that Starscream was diving towards them...knew with grim certainty that this was it. The 'gift' from the Primes burned in his pocket and he slowly drew it out - his gaze flicking from it, to the approaching jet, to the struggling Bumblebee. If he used it - he would be safe...his life would somehow go to hell, but at least he'd be alive... but there was no guarantee that Bee would make it. His gaze returned to his guardian - Megatron was slowly closing in for the kill, the red optics fastened on the Yellow Autobot's spark casing. Bee had kept him safe, fought for him, nearly died for him...was nearly dying for him now; there was no way he could choose his own survival over that of the loyal Autobot.
A sudden thought flashed through his mind. The Matrix had, had enough energy to bring a dead spark back to life - it had resurrected Optimus. If he could get the shard to Bee - the Yellow Autobot could perhaps harness that same energy to enable him to get out of this battle alive.
"Bee!" He yelled as he painfully staggered to his feet, grimacing as lightning bolts of pain shot up his leg from his ankle. He knew there was very little time...he could see the large Decepticon trembling with eagerness as he moved towards Bee's spark and that forced his wounded body forward. Keenly aware of the hovering Starscream he forced himself in to a run...biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed as he suppressed his desire to scream. Every fibre of his being was focused on reaching Bumblebee. In fact he was so intent on that purpose that he failed to notice the rumble of the approaching C-17... or the more distant, but rapidly approaching figures of Optimus Prime and Ironhide.
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Bumblebee twisted his head as he caught side of movement - and his optics nearly blew as he saw Sam running...or rather staggering towards him, seemingly ignorant of the fact he was also coming towards Megatron.
"SAM NO!" He managed to force through his still-damaged vocaliser, the pain going ignored as the Decepticon put more weight on him.
"That's it boy, come and meet your doom," the Decepticon growled having spotted the pitiful human racing towards him -wondering if the boy had taken leave of his mind. Both robots so focused on the crazy antics of the boy that they too failed to notice the incoming reinforcements.
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Sam was in agony but he knew that he couldn't stop - the same faith that had propelled him through the battle Egypt drove him forward now. This tiny fragment of the matrix could save Bumblebee, he knew it. He ignored Megatron's words and Bee's frantic cry, stumbling as he dodged the Decepticon's flailing hand... hitting the ground hard he skidded across the grass, until he rolled to a halt against Bumblebee's outstretched arm. Ignoring the fresh pain he scrambled back to his feet, flinching as Megatron's guns raked the ground behind him as he flung himself onto Bee's chest.
"Bee you've got to get up," he yelled, meeting Bee's terrified blue optics. Without hesitation he reached out and drove the shard into his Guardian's spark, gripping it so hard that it sliced into his palms and drew blood before he released it. "Now get up!" He yelled desperately.
Bumblebee jerked as he felt a fierce electronic energy sear its way through his circuits - recharging his body in a way he'd never experienced before. However, the thrill of power vanished in a single instance as Sam was thrown from his chest by a mighty blow from Megatron's hand.
"Sam!" He bellowed as he forced the Decepticon's foot off his chest, surging to his feet with furious energy - not even acknowledging the lack of pain in his vocaliser. He allowed himself a quick glance at where Sam lay in a crumpled heap - his spark jumping in his chest as he scanned the boy, feeling unbelievable relief when they picked up life signs. A second later he turned- catching the giant hand that was coming towards him and throwing himself at the Decepticon with wild abandon - knowing that he had to stop the 'Con getting near his human again.
"STARSCREAM GET DOWN HERE!" Megatron bellowed as he realised that something had shifted in the battle - unsure of what the boy had done, but noticing a difference in the Yellow Autobot's attack as it attacked with a fury and desperation that he could never hope to match.
"Stay away from my human," Bumblebee growled - his cannon crackling with fresh energy as he pressed his attack...knowing that Sam needed medical help soon, and also knowing that he was Sam's only line of defence.
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