We once again return to you with another installment of our version of Transformers 3! :D
Kibble Beast and I worked hard these past few days to churn out this part. We felt you waited too long.
Hopefully the wait didn't kill you. That would be bad; yeas. Thank you all for your patience, we really appreciate it. And your reviews!! So many reviews already! We are forever in your debt, readers.
As the last chapter had character development, this one has PLOT DEVELOPMENT. Oh yeas. PREPARE YOURSELVES.
USELESS DISCLAIMER: We do not own the Transformers, nor Bumblebee's radio bursts. We borrowed them, yeas.
Megatron was furious. No, that was an understatement. He was positively livid. The giant mech stood outside the wreckage of the Nemesis, reflecting on the past events that brought him into such a degrading position.
"So many mistakes made...each one the reason the mighty Decepticons fell to those miserable Autobots!" The silver colossal mused heatedly. "I cannot allow this to happen again!" He snarled at nothing particular, unable to contain his blistering scorn. "Autobots..." Megatron seethed. "I hate Autobots. They are weak and have survived on luck alone! They do not deserve to live, much less have the title of Prime...it should have been me. The title should have been given to me! 'Lord High Protector'...hah. They made up that title to try to placate me. Not that it didn't have its benefits," he mused, referring to his control over the military, "but it is nothing compared to the title of Prime."
Almost no memory could be called forth from his processor more easily than the one which had begun his descent- rather, Megatron corrected himself, his rising.
He threw himself once more into its depths, as if thistime- unlike all the other times- he would be able to find something- a moment he could have grasped that would have changed Cybertronian history, that would have secured his future as a figurehead.
Cybertron:
"You see that, Optimus? That's Tyger Pax," Megatron said, holding his sparkling brother. Optimus was glued to the window of their ship as it began its descent into the city.
"Big!" Optimus gasped, pointing out the window. "Like you," he added, looking up at Megatron adoringly.
"You got that right, Optimus," his older brother said with a laugh. "What do you say? Do you want to go explore with me?" Megatron added once the ship landed.
Optimus nodded furiously and crawled up to sit on Megatron's shoulder. The two exited the ship, only to be met with an entourage of important figures.
Megatron narrowed his optics at them, knowing exactly what they wanted. He had taken Optimus away from Iacon City in hopes of delaying this, but it seemed like a futile effort now.
The silver mech picked up his small brother off of his shoulder, then held the other as if he was trying to shield him from something.
Confused and slightly frightened of them, Optimus hid his helm into Megatron's chassis with a quiet whimper.
"You need to give him to us," Nova Prime said abruptly. "The sparkling must begin training immediately."
"But we've only just gotten here! Surely you can give him at least a few cycles-" Megatron started, controlling his anger for his brother's sake.
"Absolutely not. He must come with us now. Step aside," Sentinel Prime said.
"No. I'm not entrusting him to a bunch of lunatics!"
"It's not your decision."
"I never had this!"
"You were never Prime," Nova replied coldly.
"What's the difference between us? We're brothers!" Megatron spat, starting to lose control over his anger.
"He is a-"
Nova interjected, cutting over Sentinel. "He's going to be."
"Not my point! One little marking? You can't just-" The young mech searched for words desperately. "-put so much pressure on him! He doesn't even know what's going on! He's a sparkling, for Primus's sake! At least let him live a normal life until he can understand all of this!"
"There is no time. The training to become a Prime must start immediately," Sentinel Prime stated. "There is much to be done, and you have delayed this enough already."
"Consider yourself lucky we aren't pressing kidnapping charges on you when you removed Optimus from Iacon City, after receiving specific orders to keep him there," Nova Prime added shortly.
"What if he doesn't want to be Prime? What if he doesn't want any of this? It should be someone who chooses to be Prime, not someone who was born with one small marking!" the young silver mech exclaimed. "We both are descended from the Dynasty of Primes! Why can't it be me, so Optimus can lead a normal life?"
"Megatron," a third mech started.
"What?" he replied, turning to glare at him.
Alpha Trion looked at him, almost sadly. "We all know you are older, stronger, wiser, and much more powerfully built."
Megatron frowned slightly, but otherwise remained silent.
"We wanted you to be the next Prime as well. You seem like a much better candidate than your brother. It isn't your fault," he quickly added. "It's just that he was born with the marking of a Prime, meaning it is his destiny, not yours. Maybe Optimus will grow into it. Maybe he'll surprise us."
"If you love Optimus, you will let him go through with his destiny. Please, let him come with us peacefully," Sentinel Prime said, stepping forward.
Megatron's narrowed optics took them all in turn- pausing on each, meeting their gazes with ease. Was he searching for clemency? Was he ensuring they knew how unreasonable this was? Truthfully, he didn't know.
A low growl escaped his vocaliser, and the others bristled, Ultra Magnus stepping forwards.
"I don't want to hurt you."
Megatron's growl deepened, warping into a snarl as he tensed. "You-"
Optimus whimpered, clinging to his chassis fearfully- the tiny sound snapped through the air, and Megatron blinked before remembering the sparkling was present.
Nova had the gall to leer. "Now, Megatron."
Conceding- reluctantly, disgusting himself- Megatron looked down at his terrified brother. "You're going to be leaving with them, okay?"
"Will you come too?"
"I'm sorry, Optimus, but I can't. These mechs will help you grow big and strong, like me. You'll be fine," he added, seeing the sparkling's distraught face and struggling to control his festering rage, "I promise. Now be brave for me, and go with them."
"Megsy!" Optimus cried desperately. "Don't want to!"
Steeling himself, Megatron hesitantly placed his brother in Sentinel's waiting arms. He tried to ignore the squeak of protest Optimus gave him, but there was no way to deny the sorrow in his Spark.
"We will take good care of him, Megatron," Alpha Trion assured. And with that, the four mechs turned to leave. With wide optics, Optimus shifted in Sentinel's arms to look back at his brother and reached a small arm out to him. Noticing this behavior, Sentinel turned the sparkling back. "You're in for a new adventure, Optimus. No time to dwell on the past."
Megatron watched his brother go through the training to become Prime. Oh, he watched. Anxiously at first- hoping the younger mech could succeed- no, not succeed. Triumph- prove all those who dared to doubt him wrong. He watched as Optimus continually performed worse than he should have done- whether on purpose or because the younger truly didn't understand, he didn't know. But inside, Megatron could not deny that he did know- knew with all his being; body and Spark- that it should have been his title. He just knew he'd be better than his sparkling brother, but that knowledge didn't help him become Prime. Over time he convinced himself that it was because Optimus was born that he didn't get the title. He believed it was his brother's very existence that caused him to be turned down for Prime. Eventually this resentment overtook the love he had for his brother, hardening his Spark and eventually intensifying, spreading until it overtook his entire being as well. The silver mech had done everything- anything- possible to show the elders he was more fit for being Prime than his smaller sibling. But no matter what he did, he was sent away. "Only one Prime was foreseen in this time," they told him. "That one is Optimus, not you. Even if he hadn't been born, you are still without the marking. I'm sorry, Megatron. You can never be Prime. It is something that you cannot change."
Megatron did not end his efforts so easily. Could not. He thought that if he could prove he was better than his brother in every way, they would give him the title. How could they not? To do so would be failing their entire race. The silver mech quickly became one of the strongest Cybertronians of the age and had done everything just short of killing his brother to show his superiority- and still the title of Prime was withheld from him. What more was there to do? Almost as if sensing his sheer outrage, Alpha Trion presented him with the title of "Lord High Protector," and even gave him control of the military in hopes of placating the obsessed mech. But that was probably their biggest mistake. It gave Megatron no little pleasure to recall how easy it had been to recruit to his cause; there had been mechs baying for the Dynasty's corrupt energon beneath their very olfactory processors- and the blind fools had not even noticed. Of course, he had, and he was still of the dynasty- maybe some would call him a traitor for turning against his family. Megatron would have named them traitors for denying him his rightful place.
He still remembered the battle of Tyger Pax- and despite losing the AllSpark, a contented smile instantaneously formed on his face. The satisfaction- no. More. The pure, righteous elation that had consumed him from destroying two of the remaining Primes would never fade. Could never fade. Their faces did not haunt him; no-! He welcomed them. He vividly remembered the anger on Nova's face when he attacked, remembered how easy it was to overtake the aging Prime. And then there was the shock on Sentinel's face, the sheer horror bringing overwhelming joy to Megatron even now, even after so much time had passed. He too was easily dispatched, leaving only one Prime in his way--Optimus.
The Decepticon leader's smile quickly twisted into a scowl. Optimus...the weakest and smallest of all Primes. The least-worthy of carrying the title and yet the only one to survive. His survival was due only to sheer luck and the insufferable incompetence of Megatron's own followers. This, he swore, would end. Now.
"Starscream, get out here!" he growled.
There was a brief pause before the Seeker appeared from the wreckage. Starscream, Megatron mused, was always either right by his side or keeping a cautiously and decidedly safe distance.
"Yes, Lord Megatron?" Starscream asked. He made to bow--
"Spare me the theatrics, cretin," Megatron snapped impatiently, turning to face his subordinate. However flattering, such actions were not of urgency. "Do you know what brought us to this position of complete humiliation?"
Starscream stepped back slightly at the sight of his commander... more accurately, his commander's face. He had left himself in disrepair, not deigning to disclose any reason to the Seeker- but nonetheless it was extremely intimidating.
"No, master, I do not," Starscream answered.
"Incompetence, Starscream!" Megatron shouted. "We are here, hiding like cowards, barely surviving while Prime and his Autobots are living in luxury on that giant mudball, because of incompetence!" He paused slightly before continuing his rant. "And do you know who is to blame for this incompetence?" the mech asked, the one optic he had left narrowing.
"N-no, master..."
"YOU!" Megatron roared, whacking the Seeker across the face. "You are completely USELESS to the Decepticon cause, to me! You did nothing in the two years I was incapacitated! What army did you manage to spawn? None; they all perished! You did not gather the Decepticons to rally together and rise against the Autobots, you did nothing to find me after the battle was over- you did nothing, Starscream!"
Starscream hissed softly at both the blow and the words, turning back to face his leader with something different smouldering within his spark. It was not new to him at all, true-! but the feeling rose, bitter and unbidden as he contemplated how long these failures had continued; rising until he could stand it no longer. With a bearing dangerously akin to that of audacity- and fairly secure in the thought that Megatron could not kill him- after all, there were limited assets available- he dared to confront the other. "And what did you do? We rushed in as ever, no plans made!"
"Would you like to continue," Megatron asked icily after a purposefully elongated silence, "or would you care to realise that you should have been making those strategies-?"
It almost wasn't a question; the commander clearly did not expect an unfavourable response-and why should he? Yes, the Seeker had never been known for being well-behaved, but he usually knew when to yield.
"You cannot blame me alone for the defeat," Starscream retorted, a fist clenching. "Surely you are culpable-! ...You are the leader, are you not?"
"If that was your feeble interpretation of a challenge," the larger mech responded, his own fury swelling, "you had better retract it immediately and thus receive a considerably lighter punishment."
"Where," Starscream demanded- knowing he had passed his boundaries, but caring little for it- "where is the Megatron I swore fealty to-? All I see now is a coward; a coward who blames others for his mistakes and takes orders from a- a decrepit old psychopath!"
The lonely optic of the tyrant narrowed hatefully, holding him captive for several moments; long enough to allow fear to rise. Starscream, growing more uneasy, tensed almost invisibly.
Megatron was very still- too still. He was never so motionless, and this was unnerving enough. Abruptly enough to startle the Seeker, he began to laugh- slow, deliberate, contemptuous.
Starscream bared his fangs with a growl, temper mounting at the derision; the rumbling, powerful sound mocked and unsettled him.
The smooth barkings of laughter continued as Megatron turned away.
Roused, bewilderment now adding to his fury, Starscream's talons clenched tightly. "You owe me that answer at least!"
No response; no action, no vitriolic words.
"You are the most pathetic excuse of a leader I have ever had the misfortune to encounter!" The Seeker raged, fury near-on choking him.
Again, nothing. This was not normal.
"Will you listen?!" Starscream shrieked desperately, considering blasting him.
Megatron continued to gaze in the opposite direction, and Starscream knew his ruined face would be almost undecipherable- and probably would be to anybody else. But after so long in his presence, Starscream knew Megatron. There were only the rarest of occasions on which he had no idea what the silver mech was thinking.
"Do not ignore me!" The smaller Decepticon demanded irately, verging on his self-control snapping. Then, with a sudden snort, he shook his helm. "What should I care? I may as well be an Autobot for all the work that's going on around here. Just waiting, waiting- and for what? I'm going insane-!"
No comments were even made on said insanity, which further unnerved and confused him. The only thing left to do, Starscream realised with trepidation, was to challenge the other for leadership. This, as so far, was an unfailing way to attract attention- not that he did it often at all. That would be very unwise. On the very rare and distant occasions this had occurred, Megatron had made certain he had not been terminated- but ensured his desires had not gone unpunished. "I would have succeeded," he hissed venomously, slashing an arm through the air for emphasis. "I would not be mooching around with half of a face, defeated and humiliated by my sparkling brother and his pet!"
Utter silence descended- yet no sign of even mild anger from the commander. Rage slowly dissipated; useless in the face of such unusual behaviour, and no satisfaction could be gained from such impassivity.
Starscream finally fell silent, proud wings sinking down from their usual position. Considering the downright spiteful things he had said, it might be that Megatron was waiting for an apology. Nervously, he crept closer. "...Lord Megatron?"
Yet again, there was utterly nothing. It was as if the tyrant had died and just remained standing without noticing.
Hand originally reaching out to touch the mech's arm, the Seeker retracted it with a soft whine.
"Starscream," Megatron began quietly.
Quietly was never good. Megatron quietly had a different meaning to any other being. Megatron quietly was more like saying Megatron is thoughtfully considering how best to rip you apart and inflict maximum agony.
Starscream began to inconspicuously move backwards- but the tyrant firmly took hold of his arm with a speed that, quite frankly, was alarming. Feeling the pressure on the limb, he unwillingly returned to his former place.
"Why did you move?" Megatron asked, composed and unruffled.
"The calm comes before the storm," the Seeker replied after a beat, deciding on the truth. This new mood would not last long.
The commander laughed briefly, then continued darkly. "How very true. Humans have such apt phrases, don't you think? ...I don't think you're pulling your weight, and you do rub me up quite the wrong way. Remind me why you're here."
"I could go?" Starscream tried desperately.
"I did not say that!" Megatron snarled, temper cracking through and tightening his grip on the other's arm. "What good are you if you insist on cowardice-!"
"I can change," the Seeker begged, knowing pain would be shortly forthcoming. "I can, my lord-!"
"You have said that many times before and still you are nothing but a coward. Why should I believe you this time, Starscream?" Megatron growled, glaring at the cowering mech before him.
"Because I...I can..."
"Silence!" The Decepticon commander shouted, throwing a well-placed backhand to the Seeker's face. The force of the blow thrust the subordinate backwards- he hit and sprawled on the ground several meters away. "This is your final chance to show me some courage, Starscream," he continued, one clawed hand clenching. "Our faction is synonymous with power, mercilessness and dread-! Fear is not instilled by such pathetic beings as your current self. Confidence. Get it, or face the eternal consequence."
"Yes, my liege," Starscream replied, exerting all the self-control he could rally and managing not to stutter. The Seeker regarded his master once more, and decided if he were to show any courage at all, it would be to continue his questioning. Would he be in for more pain? Without doubt- but if nothing else, it would demonstrate his immediate endeavours to fulfil Megatron's requirements. "Lord Megatron, you never answered me before. At what point did you commence not answering to yourself? At what point," Starscream spat, fury rekindling, "did you, an icon-! cower away from your- your very nature? When did the Decepticons unknowingly start respecting the orders forced upon them by some hidden being? We only followed such direction because of you! If you believed in the Fallen, so did we! How could you have done it? You- you betrayed your own cause!"
"You are truly naive," Megatron sneered, "if you think that I would kneel to anyone. Especially, especially that delusional, ancient scrap heap."
"You did-!" Starscream began, confusion irking him further.
"It is of no surprise to me that you are oblivious if the Fallen himself was deceived. Do you really think I, Megatron, could be content under someone?"
The Seeker blinked, realisation slowly beginning to dawn. "But you did nothing a-"
Megatron snorted. "You think I would just allow Optimus to come back from the dead?"
Wide-opticed, Starscream regarded him in hushed awe. "...Only a Prime could defeat the Fallen-!" The Seeker thought for a moment, and his optics narrowed slightly, spotting an inconsistency. "But why, oh wise master, did you try so hard to stop the boy from reaching Prime?"
"If I had let him go freely even that decrepit fool would have noticed. I had to keep up that facade just long enough for the Fallen to...fall," the larger Decepticon sneered, an evil grin curling on his face.
It finally hit Starscream, and he gazed upon his master as if seeing him for the first time. "So this was all..."
With a snap of his fangs, the commander both acknowledged and dismissed the truth. "And now I am released from my servitude." The last word was mocking, scornful. "I do suppose I owe Optimus something. A relatively quick termination, perhaps."
Starscream regarded him suspiciously- hopefully. "Then we are not undone?"
"Undone?" Megatron repeated incredulously. "This is but a fraction of the price I had expected to pay. This is simply the beginning of a new era."
"You have a plan?"
"There has only ever been one," the bigger mech snapped. "And for the first time, Optimus and Optimus alone attempts to stand in the way."
"And the rest of his Autobots," Starscream disagreed.
Megatron's snarl rippled out from his vocal processor. "They are of little consequence."
"That's alright for you to say," the Seeker refuted daringly. "It isn't you who has to hold them off when you're fighting with Prime."
"I had no idea holding off such weak Autobots was a problem for you, Starscream," Megatron replied dangerously, a malicious grin forming on his face. "Perhaps you'd like to take Prime on instead while I deal with the others?"
Starscream was stuck. If he said yes, then Megatron would definitely have him fight Prime on his own, and he really didn't want to do that. For reasons he could not fathom, the already formidable Prime had recently become infinitely more of a threat- especially when the survival of the fleshlings was concerned. But if he said no, it would present itself as cowardice to Megatron- and that was the last thing the Seeker wanted. Thinking quickly, he came up with a response that he hoped wouldn't bring much pain.
"Thank you, my liege, but I think the honor of defeating a Prime resides with you and you alone," Starscream formulated carefully, alert for any abuse headed his way.
"Indeed, Starscream, it is," Megatron mused, lost in thought. Starscream could hardly believe his luck.
"If one defeats a Prime, one is clearly more powerful than them- and deserving of the title," the commander continued. "Their line is as much a part of me as it is of Optimus- could anyone else have such a righteous claim? And I, the elder, was denied! ...Yet even after defeating three Primes, I still have not earned the title. Perhaps there is more to be done than just sheer dominance."
"What do you mean, Lord Megatron?"
The stronger Decepticon didn't answer, only stared angrily -almost longingly- at the planet where his brother resided.
Megatron had another unspoken reason for allowing Optimus to return to life; one other than defeating the Fallen- and after all, who was there to admit it to?
He did not understand. He did not understand why Optimus was irrevocably Prime. It seemed that there was something else to it; something he had looked over, had missed. Perhaps something subtle, or merely unthought of- and either way there was only one thing left to do. One thing Megatron had never let himself even consider, the one boundary he- murderer, traitor, merciless tyrant- had never overstepped.
Yes: if the solution did not lie in defeating Optimus, perhaps the answer lay in his brother's very Spark.
"If we are to defeat the Autobots, we must take away their source of strength--we must take Optimus away from them. Without their precious leader-their core, their inspiration-! they will crumble, leaving us an easy conquest," Megatron finally stated, his lonely optic burning with desire.
"And how will we accomplish such a feat?" Starscream asked before he could stop himself.
"Have faith in me, Starscream," Megatron growled, turning on his subordinate. "Did I not tell you that all this- all that has happened- is part of the plan?"
"Yes, my liege. Of course," the Seeker replied quietly, bowing. "Forgive my moment of insolence."
"You must first show me you are worthy of being forgiven."
A short silence hung heavily over the motionless scene, preceding Megatron's final threat.
"You will not question me again," Megatron thundered lowly, each word heavily laden with menace. He did not need to say any more.
Starscream inclined his helm slightly, optics fiercely blazing.
"Contact Soundwave. There will be no mistakes this time."
Diego Garcia
The powerful purr of a Camaro in the distance presented itself to the keen audio receptors of Sideswipe, who was definitely not planning a prank with his brother. "Sunny-! Hear that?"
The golden Corvette listened. "...Bumblebee!"
"And Bumblebee means Sam!"
"Finally," Sunstreaker crowed, diving smoothly into a transformation and speeding in the direction of the runway.
Just as Sideswipe started to follow, Prowl's voice suddenly made itself very clear over the communications channel. //Autobots, Bumblebee and his charge have arrived. Do not- I repeat- do not all thrust yourselves upon them. Sam in particular needs time to adjust, and being surrounded by imposing and colossal aliens is not what I would describe as normal for a human.//
//Couldn't have put it better myself,// came Prime's instantly recognisable tones. //Do not stare at him and make him uncomfortable. In fact, leave him be until he himself decides he is ready.//
//No problem, Prowlie, Prime,// Sunstreaker replied, amusement clear as he continued driving without even the faintest hesitation whatsoever.
//Oh no, what's this?// Sideswipe gasped.
//You have the same problem as me, Sides?//
//I guess so, if your problem is that you just can't decelerate and you have no control over your steering,// the silver Corvette replied as he expertly wove between some stunned yet unsurprised NEST soldiers.
//Where could we possibly be headed?//
//Boys,// Prowl began ominously. //Did you hear what I said?//
//For sure, Prowlie.// Sideswipe responded as he took a corner sharply. //But we simply can't do anything about this malfunction.//
//Guess we should all be lucky that it's only us with this problem.// Sunstreaker added as he swiftly headed for the last obstacle preceding the runway. //I guess Sam won't be too overwhelmed. Horror-! There's a building in the way!//
//I guess we'll have to drive through the corridors, Sunny.//
The golden Autobot shot through the wide doorway and rocketed down the relatively narrow space.//Good thing we've had a lot of practice at this sort of thing, or somebody could get hurt.//
Ratchet's voice suddenly cut in. //I can guarantee somebody's going to get hurt. Two obnoxious somebodies.//
//Don't be so harsh towards Mudflap and Skids,// Sideswipe reprimanded, the joyous feeling in his systems overwhelming any sinister portents.
//Oh, haha, very funny,// Ratchet commented. //Too bad we sent those two imbeciles off on a special 'mission', leaving only one pair of obnoxious somebodies behind- who are they again? Ah, yes. You two.//
//Ratchet, be sure to give Sunstreaker and Sideswipe a thorough examination due to this..."malfunction,"// Prowl said in a private link to the medic. //You are free to use any method you deem necessary.//
//Understood, Prowl, understood,// Ratchet replied, taking off after the Twins. This was going to be fun.
The familiar sight of Bumblebee's Camaro form was waiting at the front of the plane by the stairs, where a slight and lone human figure was descending.
Both brothers transformed, losing no speed as they skated right at them. "Is it him?"
"Yes," Sideswipe joyfully replied, skidding niftily to a halt just beside Bumblebee. "That is Sam!"
"SAM!" Sunstreaker roared, going for a slightly more personal greeting and flipping over the stairs, waving manically as he did so.
Sam ducked down with a strangled cry and ended up rolling down the stairs, the sharp edges digging into his body.
Enraged, Bumblebee halted his fall with a gentle hand and glared accusingly at the twins. "Why'd you have to make us so uptight?"
Sideswipe winced remorsefully. "Don't look at me. That was all Sunny."
Bumblebee's look clearly informed him that Ratchet would hear of this.
Almost as if he were psychic, Ratchet sent a private message to the yellow scout. //Sunstreaker and Sideswipe will be taken care of, Bumblebee. You can count on it.//
Satisfied with this information, Bumblebee turned towards the task of shielding Sam as much as possible from the Terrible Two.
"'bee? Am I safe?" Sam peeped over the Autobot's hand, deducing that they weren't under attack. "I mean, seriously, please cut down on the... whatever that was? It's just not that pleasant- I haven't even technically gotten off the plane yet and I'm being jumped at- who was that golden one-"
"I'm sure you've heard so much about me," Sunstreaker declared, presenting himself formally and flamboyantly to the human. "Try not to feel subdued by my general beauty; I know it gets nearly everybody down."
Bumblebee's optics flicked to the side in a definite sigh.
"What do you think? Tell me," the golden twin commanded, shifting rapidly into his alternate form and revving loudly.
Sam eyed the Autobot with trepidation. "...Very shiny?"
"Damn straight I'm shiny." The voice unexpectedly glided out from the Corvette's speakers, and Sam jumped, ducking back behind Bumblebee's hand. "Hear that, Sides? Sam said that I'm shiny. He hasn't called you shiny."
"I've also known him for an entire earth year longer, so I've gotten that many more compliments than you," Sideswipe retorted.
"Not for long, brother!" Sunny replied smugly. "Sam will soon see that I am the better of us!"
The silver twin was about to counter- in a naturally ingenious and cunning manner- when movement caught his optic. Sideswipe stared at the fast-approaching Hummer with anxiety. Meanwhile, an oblivious Sunstreaker- now in bipedal form- continued expressing his superiority, ignorant to the danger.
"Sunny..."
"No use trying to argue with me, the truth always wins--"
"Sunny..." Sideswipe repeated, more urgently this time.
"...What?" the golden twin asked, noticing that his brother was not paying attention to him.
"I think we should go."
"Huh? But we just got here! Why should we leave so soon?"
"Ratchet."
"What about him--oooh," Sunny replied, finally catching sight of the Hummer. "Um, nice to meet you, Sam! But I really must be going, I have a full day and all--"
He was dragged away from the stunned teenager by Sideswipe, who took off at a run and smoothly transformed into his alt mode. His golden brother was not far behind him.
Sam watched them disappear possibly faster than they had come. "'bee, what's happening?"
"Flee, flee for your lives!" Bumblebee responded, removing his hand from around Sam and straightening. "Oh creator of us all, the Doctor is coming!"
The teenager hadn't caught sight of Ratchet and exhaled forcefully through his nose in reply. "You lot are just so weird sometimes." Rising to his feet, Sam continued down the stairs, pausing momentarily once he reached the ground. "Do you know where my suitcase we-"
Bumblebee chirped, indicated with yellow digit the base of the stairs where some luggage sat, and then pointed at his aft before transforming.
"What-? Oh, in you?" Deciding manual labour could be more beneficial, Sam grabbed his suitcase- it had wheels on it anyway- and started trundling away. "It's fine, 'bee, I'll walk to where-"
The Camaro hooted in disagreement, tires spinning as he accelerated forwards to cut the human off.
"No, I want to walk!" Sam insisted, jerking his suitcase in the adjacent direction. "You are not taking me anywhere. If I had a choice between staying on that plane any longer and going up against Megatron with a screwdriver, the latter would be seriously tempting. I would like to walk."
To his credit, Bumblebee didn't even flinch and simply followed him centimetre by centimetre. "I could bake a chocolate cake for you with tiers up to the moon," his speakers cried softly.
"No, you couldn't," the teenager replied shortly. "That would be impossible."
"You should be the one I'll always love," the Autobot persisted, pulling up alongside him.
"Bumblebee!" Sam sighed, exasperated. The door popped open, and he was about to give in when the unmistakable outline of Optimus Prime appeared from around a building. "Hey, look; check out our welcoming committee."
The Autobot Commander crossed to them, then bent down on one knee. "Greetings, Sam. It is a pleasure to see you again."
"Hey, big guy! How's it going? You know, being alive, it suits you," Sam rushed awkwardly, still slightly awed by the colossal being.
I hope your flight was untroubled."
"No, no crazy aliens," Sam replied mindlessly. "Not that I saw- but mind you, didn't some Decepticon actually hack into Air Force One? I mean, surely that has the best security?"
"That was a considerable while ago in terms of human and Autobot alliances. Superior measures are now in place, and your safety is one of our top priorities. No harm will come to you." His optics fixed for a moment at something in the distance. "I trust Sunstreaker and Sideswipe did not give you too much strife?"
"They were friendly enough," Sam mumbled.
"Friendly enough- in this scenario serving as 'scarily and hyperactively entering your personal space'," Optimus somehow uncannily concluded, full attentions now on him. "Do not worry; Ratchet will have words with them."
Bumblebee's engine purred in a tone that Sam had come to recognise as satisfied.
"I fear that we have no time for further pleasantries," Prime continued. "A matter of great importance awaits us."
Sam groaned. "Not another save the world thing, right? I mean, I've had two of those, and I'm really starting to feel pressure. You could find somebody else?"
"No, Sam. This isn't about saving the world: this time, we need to save the Universe," Optimus revealed solemnly.
The human's eyes expanded. "Noooooo-"
"I wasn't being serious," Prime hurriedly amended, hands waving once in apology.
"You- you need to work on your jokes," Sam managed to choke out.
"Why so serious?" Bumblebee asked.
"That's not funny!" Sam raged, flinging his suitcase to the ground in a manner pathetically immature. "What, you think it's funny? Maybe you do save the world every day, but I don't!"
"I am sorry," Optimus firmly assured. "...We must go to the meeting. Bumblebee, Sam; if you would."
With an exasperated growl-sigh, Sam re-picked up his luggage and- after catching it once on the exterior- thrust it into the Camaro's interior before climbing in himself, grumbling.
"Hello, boys," Ratchet said, grinning manically while pacing before them. "As you may have noticed, you're here to get that...glitch of yours figured out, since it obviously interfered with your steering so badly..."
The Twins were cornered. They couldn't leave the medbay -and they sorely wanted to- not just because they were frozen in fear, or because Ratchet was in their escape path- but because the medic had actually gone through with just one of his threats to weld their afts to a berth. It hadn't been an easy feat, catching the two of the fastest mechs in the faction, but with some strategic planning from Prowl and backup from Ironhide, the silver and gold Corvettes found themselves utterly trapped.
"Now, seeing as this glitch is so severe, it must reside in your core processors, which means a rather complicated and painful surgery is needed...oh no-! It seems like I'm out of sedative and painkillers, so you'll be awake for the whole thing and feel every single incision! That's just too bad, isn't it?"
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were unable to keep from shaking at the sight of the crazed CMO. "We really screwed up this time, Sunny," Sideswipe whispered to his brother, keeping one optic on Ratchet. He didn't trust the medic at all.
"Uh huh..." the golden Corvette replied, also keeping Ratchet in his sight. The medic was known for having a temper, but this, this was something the two had never encountered before--Pure, unadulterated Ratchet Wrath.
"Uh, Ratchet, I really think that glitch is gone now...you see, I feel much better..." the silver twin started.
"Yeah, me too, Ratch. We feel fine..." Sunstreaker continued.
"So...if you could just unweld us from this berth, we'll be on our way..."
"Oh no, I can't do that, boys! As a medic I must not only discover the source of this glitch, but also make sure it never happens again!" Ratchet's optics gleamed with a very unnerving glint. "You're both getting that surgery, unless you can offer me proof that it did not, in fact, originate from your core processors."
The look Ratchet gave the Twins told them all they had to know: They were busted.
"I'll- I'll tell you what it did originate from!" Sunstreaker blurted suddenly. "Alright, there was no glitch- surprise! We were just- just so full of concern for Sam- he just has such bad luck- we wanted to ensure that nothing happened to him, so we defied orders in a- frankly, in a iconic Autobot manner- for the greater good, endeavouring to get to his side as quickly as possible! We- we lied, but it was to aid Sam, so surely we can just be unwelded now?"
"Keep talking," Ratchet responded after a pause, flipping a wrench skilfully without even looking at it. The Twins' horrified optics were fixed on it. Ratchet's- if it was possible- glowed even brighter.
"Ratchet, please?" The golden twin pleaded quietly. "We're very sorry-"
"You know that I am the best medic the Autobots could possibly have," the CMO reminded suddenly. "In fact, I am easily the best medic out of either faction."
"Yes, you are!" Sunstreaker instantly agreed, his brother nodding frantically.
"And you know why I am the best medic?"
"Because- because you're amazing!" Sideswipe answered quickly. "We're so lucky!"
"You're incredible! A genius!" Sunstreaker added hastily.
"Hm. Thank you. But no, boys." The wrench flipped once, twice. "It is because I am thorough. I do not leave anything unfinished, and nothing escapes my notice." The medic began inspecting them visually. "Where shall I begin?"
"Say, Ratchet-!" Sideswipe tried desperately, squirming under the hungry and threatening scrutiny. "Shouldn't you be at that meeting? Providing professional evidence and records of things? Your opinion is so- so highly valued!"
The wrench paused. "A valid point. Perhaps I will leave you here, welded to the berth and to the humiliation of any individual who happens to cross you." The medic turned and walked to a different part of the medbay. "Unfortunately there is still work that must be done before I can head off to that meeting." Ratchet looked over his shoulder. "Stay," he added with a short laugh.
Oh, the humiliation was all over their faces. Ratchet loved his job.
Everybody needed to be notified.
Soooo...What do you all think?? :3 Feel free to ask questions; we will answer them to the best of our ability.
A few notes on this chapter...Sentinel Prime is actually not an aft like his Animated counterpart. Nova Prime is the aft, see. :D
And Kibble Beast and I were feeling exceptionally nice towards Ratchy. Couldn't you tell? :3