I had a mad case of writer's block when I was working on this chapter. I hate it when I get stuck.
CHAPTER 7
Sari glared up at the robots leering at her. What they were implying they'd do to her was disgusting and she wasn't going to let it happen. Not with these morons. "Don't you dare!" she yelled, exposing the circuitry in her hands. "Make one wrong move and I'll blast your ugly face plates off!"
"I think the little freak is telling us what to do." Scourge said, looking at his comrades.
None of them liked that idea. Octane tried to make a grab for her but she shot him in the hand. "Ow!" he yelled, jerking his hand away and shaking it. "Holy slag! That hurt!"
"There's more where that came from if you jerks try anything," she snapped, her hands going back to normal. "Now let me out of here before I get real angry!"
Scourge wasn't about to be intimidated by such a puny being. He reached down and grabbed her arm, yanking her off her feet. She struggled, feeling pain shoot through her entire body. "Let me go!" she screamed, exposing her wires and shooting blasts of blue energy at his hand. "Let go or I'll-"
"Or you'll what?" Scourge demanded, shoving her in his face.
"Or she'll call for me," said a voice behind them.
The three Decepticon's jumped at the sound of the new voice and turned toward the door. A figure stood there, a figure Sari recognized. "Prowl?" she said, sounding like she couldn't believe it. He came back for me after all?
"Prowl?" the three Decepticons looked at one another. They looked like they couldn't believe what they were seeing. "I thought that annoying cyber ninja was supposed to be dead."
"Do you think it's his ghost?" Octane asked, somewhat nervously.
"Of course not, you idiot," Astrotrain said, giving him a look. "There's no such thing as ghosts."
"Well ghost or no ghost," Scourge said, raising his hand and retracting his claws. "I'm gonna shred that annoying cyber ninja to scrap iron! YARRGH!" he charged toward Prowl and slashed at him.
The minute his claws made contact with the Autobot, he flickered and disappeared as if he hadn't even been there. Scourges optics bugged out in disbelief. "What is this!?"
"Maybe he really is a ghost!" Octane exclaimed.
Astrotrain smacked him upside the head. "That's not a ghost," he told him. "It's a hologram!" he raised his weapon. "he's trying to trick us."
"No, you think?" Scourge shot back. "But where's the real one?"
"Right here."
They all looked up. Prowl stood in the window. He had his hands on his hips and a grin plastered on his face. "Picking on such a small femme. You should be ashamed of yourself."
"GET HIM!" Astrotrain ordered, already running toward the Cyber ninja.
Prowl didn't hang around. He went into vehicle mode and roared around the other side of the building. The Decepticons weren't far behind. Sari found herself alone in the room. She started for the door but heard footsteps behind her. She jerked around, opening her hands to shoot at whoever it was. Prowl was behind her.
"Come on," he said, grabbing her. "Let's get out of here."
He changed into vehicle mode and roared out of the building with Sari holding onto the handlebars in a death grip. "But I thought you-" she began.
"That was a hologram," he explained. "I needed a distraction. But I think my projector had a malfunction.."
"Yeah," she said, laughing. "It wasn't exactly in character." She looked back toward the building. They were making good time. "Why didn't you come back for me sooner?" she demanded.
"I didn't realized you had fallen off," he replied, sounding annoyed.. "When I did I came right back."
He did? He didn't even consider leaving me behind to teach me a lesson?
You have to put more faith in him. the Voice spoke up. He might be angry at you but he'll never leave a comrade behind.
If you say so.
"Hey!"
Sari looked over her shoulder at the sound of an angry voice. She spotted the three Decepticons. They had come back around the front after realizing that the Prowl they'd been chasing had been nothing but another hologram. Now they were yelling and pointing at the fleeing figures. "Don't look now but I think we've got company," she said.
"Perfect. Just perfect." he sped up. "Hang on."
She had no other choice. She gripped the handle bars as if her life depended on it, knowing if she fell off at this speed she'd probably get killed.
Suddenly she heard what sounded like a train whistle. She glanced over her shoulder. The purple and gray robot had transformed into one of his two vehicle modes. A giant futuristic train. It was bearing down on them. "Umm... Prowl," she said, her voice nervous. "Don't look now but we've got a bullet train ready to squash us into robot pancakes!!"
Prowl took the news without comment. He could feel as well as hear the rumble of the trains wheels on the street. It sounded like it was gaining speed. He knew he wouldn't be able to out run that thing. "We're going to have to take care of it the old fashioned way."
He transformed, grabbing Sari into his hands and jumping into the air. He twisted around and pulled out a throwing star, throwing it with all his might. The star lodged itself between two of the train's wheels, not only jamming them up and exploding. All the wheels on the left side broke off, causing the weight from the train to crash onto the street on that side. It kept g going forward, moved by momentum, throwing off sparks until it crashed into a building. The Decepticon transformed into standard mode and stumbled away from the building, holding his head. He hadn't gotten more than two steps before he collapsed to the pavement and didn't get back up.
"Yes!" Sari cheered.
"One down," Prowl said, landing on the street. He heard the sound of thrusters and turned his head. 'Two more to go." He set Sari on some boxes. "Stay here." he ordered, before turning and rushing back down the street to take care of the rest.
"Hey!" she shouted, after him. "I want to help!"
Prowl either didn't hear her or he was ignoring her. He stopped when he was close enough and pulled out two more stars, watching the progress of the two Decepticons. Both had vehicle modes that could fly. All he had to do was knock them both down and that would be it.
Turns out he didn't have to. Two bolts of blue energy came flying out of nowhere and smashed into them. The Decepticons screamed in pain, losing control of themselves and slamming into each other before they crashed to the street. Prowl stared down at them a moment in shock, then looked over his shoulder when he heard giggling. Sari stood behind him with her hands open and a confident smile plastered on her face.
"Sari?"
"See, I told you I could help," she said grinning.
He frowned. She let her hands turned back to normal when she realized he wasn't exactly happy about what she'd done. "Sorry," she said, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean to steal your thunder."
Forget it," he said. "Let's just go before they wake up."
I can't do anything right in front of you, can I?
"Where in the All Spark is she?!"
Bumblebee, who'd been dozing on the couch, nearly had a spark attack from the loud voice that woke him."What in Cybertron was that?!" he gasped, sitting straight up. He looked around the living area and spotted Optimus in the doorway looking totally frazzled, as if he was having the worst day in history. "Prime?"
Optimus looked right at him. "Where is Sari?" he asked him. "Have you seen her?"
Bumblebee shook his head. "Not since yesterday afternoon," the yellow mecha replied. "Why?"
"Because I can't find her." Optimus said , smashing his fist against the wall in frustration. Then he yawned hugely. "I was up half the night searching all her regular places, even the Burger Bot though it's not open yet, and I can't find her." he hid his face behind his hand and shook his head. "And I really need to talk to her."
"What about?"
"Her key."
"Her key?"
"Yes."
"What for?" Bee wanted to know. "I thought that key didn't even work anymore."
Optimus decided it couldn't hurt to tell Bumblebee what he needed to speak with her about. "The Elite Guard have her key and tried to use it to repair Ultra Magnus." he explained.
Bee stared at him. "Ultra Magnus?"
"Yes," he said, nodding. "But when they tried it it didn't do anything."
"Of course not, it's dead."
"Hey, remember that Sari used the key to revive Prowl," Optimus reminded him.
"Oh yeah." Bee remembered Sari had told him that. "So what does that have to do with Sari?"
"They think she might be able to activate the key," Optimus replied. "Since she was able to do it with Prowl they figure she would be able to do with with Ultra Magnus as well."
"Oh."
"But since I can't find her, there's no way I can do anything about it," Optimus sighed. "Plus I'm needed back on Cybertron again because some old cyber ninja needs my help in finding out why empty shells have been moved."
Bumblebee looked confused. "What?" He had no idea what Priem was talking about.
"Never-mind," the older robot said, waving him off. "It's too complicated to explain. It's best if you don't know."
"So when are you going back this time?"
Optimus yawned again. "After I recharge," he replied, heading out of the room. "I'm too tired now. Devcon can wait a few more hours."
"Are you telling me that you can't give me any authorization to enter that crypt?!" Devcon stared at Alpha Trion and Perceptor in astonishment. When he'd first brought this issue to their attention they'd told him he would have the authorization to enter any establishment he wanted. But that was before he was proven right. When they though it was merely a theory. Maybe they'd allowed him to do it then because they wnated to humor him. Now it seemed they had their own self interest to worry about more than the Problem.
"We are sorry," Trion said. "But we can't have anymore trouble with shells. The last thing we need is for them to be moved again."
"But that's why I'm trying to gain access!" the tall robot protested, slamming his fists on the table. "I want to find out who is responsible for them being moved in the first place and I can't do that until I'm given authorization to enter that crypt!"
"Authorization denied," Perceptor said flatly. "We are sorry."
"I am too," Devcon said, turning and stalking out of the Conferance room. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot." he entered the hall and stalked toward the elevator. "If you're not going to give me permission I'll just have to do things my own way."
Prowl and Sari finally made their way out of the slums and into a more barren part of the planet. The girl noticed that this place didn't have any buildings constructed. It was all rocks and dust. "I thought the whole planet was a city." she said. "This place looks like a wasteland."
"No," he said a little impatiently. "Only part of it. The rest was totalled during the great war so it is a wasteland."
"Oh." she looked around. "It's lonely out here."
"Yes... can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Please don't say anything until we get to our destination."
So he was still sore at her. I guess the Voice was right. He might still protect his comrades but that doesn't mean he's forgiven them. she sighed. I hope he doesn't stay mad at me for much longer.
She looked up at the sky, noticing that the stars stood out more on this part of the planet. Just like on Earth. You can always see more stars in the country than the city because they don't have to compete with all those lights. Sure is peaceful.
It looked real nice. What an insightful thought.
Yes, I guess. But it is nice.
She could have stared at it forever. Prowl had other plans.
"Sari," he said, slowing down to a more conservative speed.
"Yes?" she asked, reluctantly tearing her gaze away from the sky. I thought he didn't want me to say anything.
"I need to ask you something."
"What?."
"Why exactly did you bring me back to life?"
She stared down at him. He was actually curious? Was he feeling better? Was he no longer mad at her? "I think I told you already," she answered. "I missed you. I couldn't stand the fact that you were dead." she sighed. "Things just weren't the same without you there."
He was silent, digesting that. Finally he said. "Nothing can stay the same forever, you know. Everything changes eventually. You're an example of that."
"My body might be more grown up now but I'm still me," she told him. "I'm not going to change."
"But you must change," he said, somewhat sharply. "Everyone has to change."That's a part of living. Just like dying."
"But it's the way you died," she argued. "It wasn't fair. You could have done things differently and it never would have happened."
"You really believe that, don't you?" Now his voice sounded similar to how it did when she'd first resurrected him and he'd asked her what she'd done. Cold. He was still angry with her. "You don't know how wrong you are."
"I am not wrong!" she shouted, starting to lose her temper. "I know it for a fact."
"How do you know?"
That gave her pause. How did she know? Had the AllSpark told her? No, it hadn't. But everything else in me tells me I'm not wrong, she thought. There was another way.
"See you don't know," he pointed out after a long moment's silence. "If you did, you would have spoken right up."
"Well how do you know there wasn't?" she snapped, not about to admit that he was right. "How do you know that you couldn't have done things differently? Did the All Spark tell you that?"
"No..." he said.
"Then how can you tell me that I'm wrong?!"
"You wouldn't understand."
There you go with that excuse again. It's not going to work forever. "Then make me understand," she spit out. "You're always being so hesitant with me. You're always holding things back. I want to know. If you don't tell me I can't see things your way and I can't even be sure that you are right. If you're right I want you to explain to me how you are right."
"You will find out soon enough." and all conversation stopped from there.
"OPTIMUS PRIME!" Optimus was woken out of a sound stasis by a loud voice coming from his comlink.
"YIKES!" he yelped, sitting bolt upright and looking around himself, searching for the speaker. "Who's there? Who?" The room was empty, save for himself.
"Optimus Prime, can you read me?" there was that voice again. Coming from his comlink. It sounded familiar. "If you can read me? Answer."
Optimus put his fingers to the side of his head. "Hello?"
"It's about time," came Devcon's impatient voice.
"How are you able to contact me?" Optimus wanted to know. "We're on different sides of the galaxy."
"My comlink is set for advance communication," came the flat reply. "I can contact anyone anywhere in the galaxy."
"Oh. Well what is it?" You'd better have a good excuse for waking me up from a good recharge.
"I need you to come back to Cybertron. Now."
Now what? Did he get permission? He'd find out soon enough. "I'll be right there." he shut off his comlink and slid off his recharge berth, standing up and stretching. His servos whined in protest. They didn't want to get up yet. He turned his head and looked out the window. The sun was just beginning to rise, marking the beginning of a new day.
Sighing, he stepped out of his room. The plant was quiet, nobody else was up yet. Good, that meant he could just leave without any trouble. .Like Bumblebee making a fuss about him leaving. Bee was acting like a little brother lately, constantly trying to keep Optimus around. Maybe it was because of what had happened to Prowl. He needed to look up to somebody? Prime didn't know. Heading to the exit door he transformed and headed back to Sumdac Tower. I hope this isn't going to be another waste of my time.
When he reached the tower he went straight to the top floor and took the space bridge. Somebody had changed the coordinates and he wound up exiting in a part of the city he'd never been before. What in the name of the All Spark? Where in Cybertron am I?
"Prime!"
He put his hand to the side of his head. "Devcon?"
"Where are you?"
"Cybertron."
"You are not! I am at the space bridge right now and you're not here."
"I came out somewhere else," Optimus replied, looking around himself. "Somebody must have been fooling around with the coordinates. I think I'm in the Slums."
"The Slums?"
"That's what it looks like."
"Well stay where you are," the older robot commanded. "I'll come to you."
Optimus cut the connection. He looked around himself again, taking in the run down buildings and the pot holed road. This place looked even worse than the part of the city where the crypt had been. I wonder if anyone lives here anymore?
"Hey, an Autobot!" a voice shouted.
Priem turned around just in time to see a blue and white robot that looked like a cross between an old man and a gargoyle come flying at him, his red optics bright with incense. He didn't even have time to let out a yelp before the thing slammed into him, knocking him to the cracked and broken road.
"Sari. Wake up."
Sari jerked awake with a start. She'd been dozing. "Huh?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"We're here," he said. "You can get off now."
"Huh?" She looked up. Prowl had parked in front of a run down building that looked similar to the dojo's she'd seen on those kung fu movies. Only this place was much bigger and seemed to be falling down, as if it hadn't been used in awhile.
"Where are we?" she asked, climbing off, her eyes locked on the building.
Prowl transformed and walked forward, touching a broken statue. "I was trained here," he replied, running his hand over the smooth metal of the statue. "This is where my master lived... and died."
Sari looked up at the ruined building. She wondered why he had brought her here. Was it just to tell her his master had died there? "Why are we here?" she asked him.
He looked back at her, his expression softening to one he hadn't used in days. "I want to show you something." he started up the large metal steps. "Come on."
She hesitated. He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. "It's all right," he replied. "Let's go."
She followed, a little reluctantly, not sure where this was leading.
A/N
HAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAA! I TOTALLY ROT! I GOT A SERIOUS BRAIN FRY. Go away Lockdown it isn't your cue!
I apologize for the weirdness that happened in chapter six. It won't happen again. I hope you're not mad or anything. I hope I didn't scare you off.
