Optimus shook his helm as he informed the others of Sideswipes 'demise' at the humans' hands. He was still puzzling over the humorous undertones in the silver frontliner's short missive as Ratchet responded, a touch of worry in his otherwise calm voice and demeanor.
"Sideswipe is one of our toughest front line warriors."
Ironhide shook his helm, looking around with new alertness. "We cannot stay here. We must go to them."
Optimus shook his head, holding up a staying hand. "No. They seem to have an advantage, even though I cannot determine what that might be."
Ratchet gestured around them. "This dense undergrowth does help mask their biologic signatures from our scanners."
Optimus nodded as he considered this. Then he pointed to a ridge a few kilometers away where downloaded maps of the island indicated sparse vegetation and sheer rock faces. Terrain that was not nearly as friendly to their human opponents.
"There is an area not to far from here that should be exactly what we need. We will plant our flag there."
The other two nodded, not because they blindly believed it would work, Optimus knew, but because they had no better plan at the moment.
As they made their way to their newly chosen base of operations, Optimus verbalized something he had been thinking since the humans had managed to take out Jolt. "Perhaps their defeat of Blackout was not the fluke we believed it to be."
Ironhide harrumphed. "The idiot twins, Sideswipe and Jolt are not Blackout. They managed to take you or me down Optimus, then I'll believe it."
Optimus quirked an eye ridge at his old friend in slight amusement but said nothing as they spread out so that just in case the humans managed to lay a trap for them they would not all spring it at once. As they walked in silence, Optimus could not help but wonder what it would look like when the humans did manage to take him down: what his defeat at the hands of Lennox's team might look like. It was an interesting thing to consider; unprecedented and a little disconcerting, but also intriguing. Time would tell.
Ratchet had taken up his customary position as rear guard, letting the larger hitters take the brunt of any frontal attack, while at the same time utilizing his superior scanners to sweep the area all around them. Optimus took the middle position, both an area of relative protection but also one that provided ready availability if either of the other two required backup. Ironhide unquestioningly took the front, his solid frame able to take more abuse should they run into a trap and his cannons primed to take on any foe.
Optimus looked again over the treetops at their destination when Ratchet's urgent comm. interrupted his musings. /Prime, I believe the humans are near./
Optimus' focus was instantly back on the task at hand. /Very well. Ironhide, guard the flag. Proceed carefully./
They had not even gone ten more steps when Optimus' sensors picked up an increase in movement from behind him just before a loud crash tore through the air and reverberated through the ground under his pedes.
Ratchet!
Glancing at Ironhide, they both turned and sprinted back to the medic. Only to slide to a stunned halt at what they found. Ratchet was lying on the ground, his frame covered in splotches of pink paint. Including several over key energon lines.
Quickly focusing on the retreating humans, Optimus opened fire with his own weapons. Two humans, who were tagged by the low powered blast, slowed to a stop. But only two, as the others were soon hidden by the foliage and were beyond reach.
The two 'killed' humans came back towards them, grinning widely. Their expressions reminded Optimus of how his own troops enjoyed the thrill of practice combat, even when they lost the match. Of course, these two humans knew they had just helped take down Ratchet. They had reason enough to smile.
Ratchet stood slowly and looked down at the humans, a new glint of respect – a deeper respect than he already held – in his optics. "That was impressive."
The two humans just grinned wider.
"Thanks big guy." Sanders said lightly.
Optimus wanted, with every ounce of his spark, to ask what had happened. But he did not allow himself to do so as it was not allowed in the exercise since Ratchet was now 'dead.'
Instead, he looked at his CMO. "I'm sure you fought bravely, my friend."
For some reason the humans just laughed, as if that was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Then, to Optimus' further consternation, Ratchet's own deep rumbling chuckle joined theirs, though with a self-depreciating quality.
It was a little disconcerting to see the bright splotches of paint, knowing what they truly represented.
Still chuckling, Ratchet lowered a hand before the two humans. "Would you like a ride to the staging area?"
The humans looked surprised at the offer, mirroring Optimus' own reaction. Then they both shrugged.
Blake, the youngest nodded eagerly as he moved forward. "Much appreciated. Thanks, Ratch."
Sanders nodded. "Yes, thank you."
Ironhide and Optimus could do nothing else but watch the three of them disappear back through the undergrowth.
… … …
Ratchet and the two humans reached the staging area quickly. Once there, Ratchet shuttered his optics in surprise, then looked down at the humans riding in his hand. "You managed to take out five of us and have only lost four of your own in the process?"
Sanders shrugged. "We are trained soldiers. Just because we don't have a lot of experience fighting you guys, doesn't mean we don't watch and learn."
Huffing with respect for the evident truth of that statement, Ratchet lowered his hand to allow them to join the other two humans in the shade of Sideswipe's pede.
Remembering his own redecorated paint scheme, Ratchet started looking over the other Autobots waiting in the clearing. Then his optics landed on Sideswipe.
He could not stop the smirk that made it to his faceplates and into his voice. "You look good in pink."
Sideswipe groaned theatrically as the two humans who had been there cracked up laughing.
Ratchet reached over to thwack his neck where the paint ball round would have severed vital support struts and energon lines had it been a sabot. "Especially right here. That would have severed your main energon line to your processor."
"Don't I know." Sideswipe pointed proudly to his right shoulder before nodding, almost boastfully, to one of the humans who had been resting against his pede. "That was after Jonas here woulda taken off my right arm. Hahahaha."
… … …
Optimus and Ironhide moved away from the direction the humans had taken, as quickly as they could. The thick underbrush continued to cause a problem in their ability to detect any possible human presence. That reality lead Optimus to wonder, at least to himself, if it was truly an accident that Ratchet – with the most precise sensors – was taken out?
Doubtful.
Unfortunately, it was a simple fact of reality that they could not move as stealthily in this environment as the humans apparently could. Several tons of metal crashing through dense foliage at best could only sound like… well, several tons of metal crashing through dense foliage.
/We need to get to ground where we will have the upper hand in sensing the humans approach. Quickly./ Optimus chose to use his comm. No point in further announcing their presence than they had to.
/We are on an organic planet!/ Ironhide needlessly pointed out.
/You know what I mean. I believe the humans are depending on this vegetation to shield their signals. They may not be able to adapt to a more rocky environment./ Optimus postulated.
/Eh. It's better than nothing. It's what we were going to do anyway. Better than staying here./
Optimus gave his weapons specialist a sardonic look, one that was lost on the other bot. /I'm pleased you approve. Lets go./
Thankfully, they were already close to just such terrain, as they had already been heading toward an area of more rocky, canyon-like elevation. They proceeded carefully, but as quickly as they could.
Sure enough, once they had moved well into the more rocky environs, a number of easily identifiable signals registered on Optimus' scanners.
"We are being followed." Ironhide pointed out, obviously having noticed the same thing.
"I know. Do you think they suspect we can track them now?"
They kept moving, deeper into the maze of ravines and canyons as Ironhide contemplated the question. He answered via the comm. /We have to assume they can… wait. Some are breaking off while only a few are continuing to follow. What are they doing?/
Optimus shook his helm, /I am unsure. But this canyon ends only seventy meters from here. Let us make our stand./
Ironhide nodded, looking around briefly before planting their flag on a scraggly, woody plant somehow managing to cling to the otherwise barren rock face. It was about the same height as the black mech's helm and reaching it would prove to be quite a daunting challenge for the humans.
The two Autobots looked at each other then turned to face the oncoming humans.
It looked like only three were approaching. Ironhide grinned and Optimus understood. They had the advantage of terrain here. The Weapons Specialist was confident the squishies were going to get their soft, pulpy afts handed to them.
To their credit, the humans slowed with caution as they came closer. Annoyingly, they stayed behind cover, not giving either mech a clear shot, even as they continued to steadily close the distance. Organic though they might be, they were not stupid.
"Come out and face us!" Ironhide bellowed.
Unlike a mech, who would have risen to the challenge – or at least have yelled an insult or two back at them – the humans simply continued to move forward. Carefully. Silently.
Though neither Autobot would admit it, the humans' ability to move and fight in silence was… unnerving.
Otimus tensed, his fingers tightening on his training weapon as they waited.
The next thing either Autobot knew, they were under fire. But, a part of Optimus' processor warned, something was not right. The shots appeared random and un-aimed. No vital areas were hit. It did not match with the clean efficiency they had witnessed in the attack that had downed Ratchet. It did not make sense. Unless… perhaps they were simply tired. It was the only possibility Optimus could think of.
"Is that the best you've got?" Ironhide shouted again, opening fire.
Ironhide was much more precise in his aim than the humans were and one 'went down.' As per protocol, said soldier immediately stopped fighting and hastily got out of the way.
As if on cue, the other two started running back up the canyon, away from the two Cybertronians.
The sudden retreat stunned the two mechs and Optimus and Ironhide glanced at each other. But their immobility only lasted for a brief moment before they followed after the humans, Optimus leading the charge, eager to press this unexpected advantage.
Had they bothered to look, the lone human who was now officially out of the game, slowly smiled victoriously.
So focused was he on the fleeing humans, Optimus' processors did not register the presence of the larger group they had left behind. Not until he was almost on top of them. Then, before he could respond, his legs were hobbled together by some type of cable. He was crashing to the ground so fast it made his systems hitch. Actually, the fact that he was crashing to the ground took a while to register in its absurdity.
By the time he was able to make sense of that fact, the humans were swarming over his frame. He noted that their shots were now carefully targeted and realized that his initial concern about the three humans who had approached them earlier was accurate. It was a ruse. Systematically, each limb was 'incapacitated,' before he could defend himself. It happened so quickly it left him stunned once more, though none of the humans had delivered a blow that could be considered a 'death' blow. Not for a mech of his size.
Highly impressed and slightly amused to be so easily 'debilitated' by their tiny, fragile allies, Optimus lay quiescent under the humans still standing on his frame.
"Optimus?" Ironhide's incredulous baritone voice came from further back down the canyon.
"Ironhide." Major Lennox stepped up to Optimus' chest casually, aiming his weapon at the armor covering his spark.
It was an interesting sensation for Optimus as he realized that, had the weapons been real, had the humans really been enemies rather than allies, his life would be in danger. Optimus looked at the human leader standing with remarkable composure upon his chassis and took in the deadly serious expression and realized he had truly underestimated the warriors of earth.
Lennox was continuing, not sparing Optimus so much as a glance as he kept his eyes focused on Ironhide. "How about you give us that flag?"
Optimus blinked, realizing the humans were trying to use him as a bargaining chip to try and negotiate an end to this contest without being forced to take out every single opponent. The sentiment pleased Optimus, he would not have thought a species as prone to petty violence would think in such a manner.
"I'm not letting you win that easily." Ironhide groused and Optimus heard his weapons whirl back to life.
Ironhide reached for Lennox who, almost casually, fired his weapon at Optimus before diving under Ironhide's grip. As if the movement itself was a command, the other humans resumed their own attack.
Optimus followed Lennox with his optics as the human major rolled, scrabbling back to his feet, all the while still on his chassis armor. Then, to the Prime's utter astonishment, Lennox launched himself at Ironhide.
Ironhide recoiled with surprise as Optimus watched, amused, as Lennox scaled his frame with seeming effortlessness.
"Now!" Lennox bellowed at his men even as he climbed.
Responding with alacrity, the humans converged on Ironhide. As they did so, Lennox continued to move till he found a vulnerable spot and fired two shots in quick succession. With real weapons, the first shot would have severely weakened the armor and the second would have severed vital lines and wires.
Shocked to stillness, Ironhide stopped fighting. He looked at the human still clinging to his armor. "Little fragger."
Simultaneously, Ironhide and Optimus glanced at the canyon wall where they had planted their flag – supposedly where the humans could not get it – only to see three of them scaling the rock face with little difficulty.
With a chuckle, Optimus waited till the other humans cleared his frame before carefully standing. Then he knelt before Lennox, who had lowered himself to the ground. "Congratulations, Major Lennox, to you and your men. Very impressive."
Lennox just smiled up at him with a well-deserved smugness. "Not what you were expecting, Prime?"
"To be frank: no. How many men did you loose?"
Lennox looked over the men around them then tapped his radio and passed the inquiry to whoever was on the other end. Optimus politely refrained from tapping into the conversation. Then Lennox looked back at him. "Six."
Optimus blinked. That was less than a one-to-one ratio. Amazing considering the disparity in size and strength. He offered a hand. "Would you and your men like a lift?"
Once all the humans were comfortable on various shoulders or hands, Optimus led them to the staging area.
I know; it seems like this is the end. It's not. There is one more chapter coming. Please review.