A/N: Sorry the last chapter was so short. I was tired and my muse was trying to escape. So, I had to stop. I will make this chapter as long as possible. Can any of you guess who the stranger is? I will probably reveal the identity next chapter or so, so you have time.
Will Lennox POV:
Three weeks had passed since the skirmish. Everyone at the NEST base was working overtime to find the 'Cons. It seems the day we left, they fled. Now we had to find their signatures again.
I punched the code for my private quarters in and walked in. I sat on the berth and sluggishly pulled my combats off. Epps just switched with me for our shifts and forced me to go to bed. Not that I minded.
I threw the combats in a corner and ripped the jacket of the uniform off. I then laid down and closed my eyes, allowing my body to relax and fall into the clutches of sleep.
The group landed after I briefed them. We had to keep this one under wraps. I jumped out of the helicopter after Epps and walked towards my guardian, whose black form blended into the chilly night. Outdoor lights from the warehouse and a few search lights were our only source of light.
I patted my guardians hood.
"Alright Ironhide. We got echoes." As he transformed I felt a strange pang in my heart but brushed it off. 'Hide finished transforming with a grunt.
"He's here." He then sniffed the air. "I smell him." I ran with Epps towards a group of construction supplies and waited as he pulled out a thermal camera.
"There. The thermal ripple." I sighed as I saw how huge it was. I then commed the group.
"Alright steady. We're right on top of him." Five seconds later it transformed and hit the ground. The thing caused cement tubes to go flying and I got up and ran. That thing was huge. It had two large wheels that it used to move and a head in between the two. Arms came from the outside of the joint keeping the head in place. Then more news came over the comm.
"We got another 'Con!" I found the car racing away and knew who was closest.
"RC twins, the target's coming your way!" I then fought with my soldiers to damage the huge 'Con. I heard Epps request for back-up and JCS' order for all the gunships to fire. The huge 'Con turned and started towards the highway as I let out a string of profanities. I turned my attention to the other 'Con, Sideways. He was headed towards us.
"Bring in Sideswipe!" I orded. No later did the 'Bot transform and chase after Sideways. A minute later the 'Con was in two pieces. I jumped into one of the waiting copters to chase after the larger 'Con. We saw it rolling down the highway and knew we needed help. I nodded to Epps who made the order.
"Make the drop, bring in the big boy." I saw Optimus falling from the plane and call out to the group. We chased the two as Optimus shot the 'Cons wheel joint making it crash. A strange sense of Deja vu hit me and my vision darkened. I heard a voice from what I now knew was the future from that time.
"After the Shanghai op, the president is hard pressed to say the job's getting done."
I whipped my eyes open and jumped from the berth. I scrambled to throw the jacket and combats on before I raced from my room and into the main hangar. All heads turned towards my racing form but I just ran up the steps towards the nearest computer.
"What the heck man?" Epps asked my panting figure. I only held up a finger then took a breath.
"I think you're right about me being psychic." I then activated the energon signature detection program and typed in Shanghai. Sure enough, there were signatures at the abandoned warehouse we fought Sideways and his partner at.
Epps looked at the larger screen in the middle of the hangar along with everyone and bot else. Then the base burst into action.
Ani POV:
I shivered as the strangers warmth suddenly disappeared. Opening my eyes I noticed the time. 1:00 am. I groaned as I threw the covers off and sat up, letting blood rush from my head to the rest of my body. My ribs no longer hurt and I was glad for that. A strange sense of urgency rushed over me making me jump up and rushed to get my clothes on.
When that was finished I threw my hair into a ponytail and walked from my room. As soon as I turned I ran into a leg.
"Oof! Ow, my nose," I said as I clutched my now bleeding nose. I looked up and saw 'Spin.
"Sorry. You alright?" I nodded.
"Fine. Why are you by my room?" I asked as he picked me up and started towards the hangar.
"I just got a comm from Optimus. We're going to Shanghai."
"In the middle of December? Can you guys handle the cold or will you whine like old people about aching joints?" "Spin shot me a look that said 'shut up' but I could still see that his 'sun glasses' were a bit brighter indicating his amusement. I smiled and chuckled as we reached the hangar. I looked down at the sound of grunts and saw Dan and Henry fighting. Again.
"What's it about this time?" I asked Roadbuster and Leadfoot. They just shrugged. I got an idea and shook a drop of blood off my hand towards the two. It hit Henry in the face causing him to back away and wipe it off in surprise.
"Did I do that? Sorry man."
"I don't think you did." They both looked up and saw me smile and wave my bloody hand. Dan noticed my nose.
"You run into 'Spin?" I nodded and caught the tissue box Henry threw towards me.
"Thanks." I wiped off my hand then pinched my nose with another tissue. 'Spin looked like he was about to apologize profusely but I held up a hand.
"I'm fine. You don' need 'o apologize." 'Spin still looked like he was going to protest but just then Charlotte walked in.
"Alright, humans that are going, get into the plane. You're headed to Shanghai. Wreckers you're getting snow tires because I've just been informed this is one of the rare years of snow." 'Spin set me down then transformed as I walked into the plane. I saw a three duffle bags, each with our names on them. Walking to mine I opened it with my one hand and saw a uniform that would keep us warm in the snow along with snow goggles, gloves, boots, and a hat.
"Must be a lot of snow," Dan commented. I blew my nose and threw the tissue away.
"I bet we're going to ride on snowmobiles or something." Henry and Dan shot me a 'what makes you think that' look.
"The goggles?" I said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What goggles?" I looked into their bags and sure enough, no goggles.
"Hm. Weird, because I have some." I then proceeded to grab mine and show them. Just then the Wreckers drove in and we sat down, waiting for takeoff. As soon as we were in the air I unbuckled and walked up to 'Spin. He was still in his car form so I just leaned against him and looked towards Dan and Henry.
"Y'know I've alway wanted to go to China," Dan said.
"Under these circumstances?" Henry asked.
"Well, no. But it's still China."
"Just wait until something blows up in front of your face," I said.
"You say that like its inevitable."
"Because it is." Henry laughed at that causing the two to get into another scuffle. I rolled my eyes.
"Seriously, its like having two toddlers as my best fighters." I felt 'Spin chuckle at that and smiled. After the initial shock of having a Cybertronian charge I was worried that he would hate me or something. Instead we seemed to have grown closer, though I don't know why.
Looking towards Dan and Henry and seeing the two starting to move their fight towards me I pushed up and sat on 'Spins hood. Laying down on his windshield I stared at the dark ceiling and listened to the two fight.
I was just about to close my eyes when something flew over my head and hit the opposite wall. I bolted up and leaned back just in time to dodge another metal object. I looked towards the origin and saw pieces of scrap metal floating midair with a blue glow around them.
"Dan!" I called out.
"It's not me. I have no idea who's doing it!" he called back. I dodged yet another piece and switched my vision. I finally saw a very impatient looking Primus. I sighed and stood up.
"You don't have to throw stuff to get my attention, you know." I said out loud. The figure just huffed and pointed towards the hatch. Dan was looking at me strange but I ignored him.
"Uh-uh. No way. I am not jumping." Now Dan had his mouth open and 'Spin was talking.
"Jump? Who's telling you to jump?"
"You don't wanna know." Primus was giving me a glare. I gave him one right back.
"I'm a little busy. Next time I go to sleep we can have this conversation. Not now." I thought I saw a flash of defeat go through the large 'Bot's eyes but he finally relented and disappeared. The flash of defeat threw me off guard. If he felt defeated it must've been important to him to get me out. Or...
"Wait!" The 'Bot froze and looked. "All of us?" His eyes lit up and he nodded, pointing to the hatch. I spun around and ran to the cockpit. I noticed we were over Shanghai and were going to land soon, but something made me freeze. A slight energon signature headed our way. I hit the autopilot and the hatch button before ripping the pilots out of their seats. I grabbed parachutes and threw them towards each human and threw one on myself.
"Jump!" Dan and Henry heard the urgency in my voice and grabbed the pilots before jumping. I pushed against 'Spin but he wouldn't move. I looked outside the cockpit window that was visible from my position and saw the little light.
"Sorry guys." My eyes then glowed and Primus helped me push the stubborn Wreckers out of the plane. Just before I jumped I nodded towards Primus. He smiled then disappeared. I jumped, then heard the explosion. I looked towards the falling Wreckers and towards the warehouse right beneath us.
"Get ready for a fight!" I yelled. My eyes glowed their brightest before the three Wreckers disappeared. They reappeared on the ground just outside of the warehouse. I smiled, but felt it fade away as the darkness creeped up in my vision. Dan and Henry along with the pilots deployed their parachutes. Just as I was about to do the same something hit my head. I noticed the group of Autobot signatures less then a half mile away while I was spinning before blacking out.
Will POV:
"What the heck was that!" Epps yelled. We were sitting in Optimus' nearing the warehouse when we saw the huge fireball. Dread filled my body and froze my heart.
"The other plane," I whispered. Epps looked towards me before realizing that I was right. It must've been the other plane. Silence filled the cabin before Optimus spoke.
"I just commed Topspin. It seems that Colonel Black was speaking with someone before she ran to the cockpit and told everyone to jump." Epps and I sighed in unison, releasing a breath that we didn't know we were holding. Then we saw the figure. A spinning person who didn't have their parachute deployed. Optimus sped up so he could try and catch the person.
Topspin transformed and looked towards the figure before running towards a the only cement wall and jumping, pushing off the wall. He caught the figure and landed on his feet. I would have applauded if this wasn't life or death at the moment. Optimus stopped and allowed us to get out before transforming. The cold immediately tried to seep through our clothes but luckily we were wearing proper uniforms.
I looked towards Topspin who was staring at the figure in his hands. Ratchet transformed and Topspin gave him the figure with a dazed look. Then four others landed on the ground. Dan, Henry, and the two pilots. My eyes widened and I looked towards Ratchet who was scanning the figure.
"Is she alright?" I asked.
"I can't tell how much brain damage she has until she awakens. It might be a concussion, might be worse." Ratchet set the girl on a field cot before looking towards Optimus. Dan and Henry were helping the stunned pilots towards the medics that came along. As they helped them sit I noticed the stunned look in their eyes also. They sat down on a cot when a medic yelled at them after trying to say they were fine.
"We need to be ready. The Decepticons are probably waiting for the right moment to strike." Seconds after I spoke three Decepticons burst from different parts of the warehouse, more following. The Autobots immediately got into defensive stances and started fighting. My men and I started helping, but I noticed Dan and Henry seemed to be fighting an internal battle. They looked like they wanted to help, but something about Ani was holding them back.
Optimus' energon blade cut through a Decepticon, making him fall to the ground in two pieces. Something started glowing before the 'Con stood back up, perfectly fine and in one piece.
"What?!" I exclaimed. Optimus turned around and faltered only the slightest in surprise. Looking around I saw all the defeated 'Cons standing back up. Dan and Henry just seemed frozen in fear. How we need them right now.
Ani POV:
I opened my eyes in a room. Standing in the corner and waiting was Primus. I sat upright and looked around. The room was filled with dead Autobots, not just him. The few that stood next to him caught my attention. Q, Sentinel Prime, Elita-1, Arcee, Jazz, and Ironhide. There was also a mech that looked a lot like Topspin. The only differences were he was silver, actually had optics, and seemed to have a helmet like Optimus and I. I looked towards Primus.
"I was only hit in the head. Why am I here?" He looked towards me with his one of a kind gold optics.
"My child, I need you to take on a heavy burden. The other to have had this burden just had his spark ripped out, and sadly his broth will keep dying painfully until someone takes over his job."
"Who?" Primus looked towards the strange mech I didn't know. "Who's his brother?" When I asked that Primus stiffened ever so slightly, but I still caught it.
"Topspin," I whispered. Primus nodded. I immediately wanted to help.
"What's the job?" Primus sighed and looked towards the ground before looking back up.
"Being Death's doorkeeper." My mind pieced together what it meant.
"So someone dies and I either invite them to the Pit or Well of All-sparks or slam the door in their face?" The strange mech chuckled and spoke.
"Yeah, pretty much." I thought about this. I knew it would be hard, having to probably let people I love die, but I felt I could do it. I nodded.
"Alright. I'll do it." Primus smiled and I felt I ad a choice about the people near him. I wondered what would happen in the future if they lived and saw. Deciding it was best if they lived, I let them return with me to the land of the living. Including the strange mech. Well, except for Sentinel. I would take a little more time to decide that. I was about to thank Primus when I felt like I was falling again. Black filled my vision before I gasped in freezing cold air.
"Holy mother of God it's cold." I saw Dan and Henry stare wide eyed at me. I just smiled and pointed with my eyes towards the battle. Decepticons were falling out of nowhere and I was throwing them one by one into the Pit.
"Have fun in the Pit, boys," I whispered. Dan heard me and chuckled. Then seven outlines of Cybertronians appeared before becoming the people I welcomed back. The strange mech ignored the stares from the now resting Autobots before they landed on an unmoving figure. His optics widened and he ran forward. I jumped off the berth and followed. While passing Optimus I skidded to a halt and tapped his leg. He looked down at my smiling form.
"Merry Christmas Autobots." I then ran towards 'Spin who I knew was alive. He was laying on the ground and clutching at his spark chamber. He was already looking at the strange mech and smiling. When he saw me he smiled brighter and held out his hand. I hopped on and was brought towards his chest.
"You alright?" he asked in an airy voice.
"I'm fine. You're the one who needs to be looked at." He chuckled and shook his head before looking towards the strange mech. He pushed himself up and hugged him. The strange mech spoke first.
"I missed you Topspin."
"I'm just glad my brother's not dead."
A/N: Who knows the strange mech? Anyone?
