Metal Coyote
The ominous sound of a snarling canine filled the tunnel.
"Sounds like they'd sent Ravage in, be careful!" Optimus cautioned John.
Hunkering down on the other side of Prime's cab, the man laid the rifle across his hood aiming it toward the entrance to the tunnel. "Sounds like a damned coyote!"
"Similar. It's a Decepticon whose robot mode is that of a canine."
"Crap, worse than a coyote! Bastard's a metal coyote huh?"
"Affirmative."
Glowing red optics could be seen darting towards them. John tried to get a good shot, but Ravage was just too fast! In the blink of an eye, the man felt a weight hit him full on. Crashing against the side of the tunnel he desperately tried to pry the metal jaws locked onto his forearm. Hearing the crunch of bones, he cursed as the pain shot through him.
"John, are you ok?"
Kicking futilely at Ravage's body, John could merely grunt in reply.
--
Suddenly, the sounds of high performance engines roared through the tunnel. Headlights coming from the opposite entrance headed towards them at high speed. Screeching tires and the smell of burnt rubber filled John's senses as the four smaller Autobots slammed on their brakes when they saw Prime.
Ravage released his grip on the prone man as Jazz transformed and went for him. The Decepticon made for the entrance, as Sideswipe, Prowl and Sunstreaker pursued him.
"The Calvary has arrived!" Jazz told them in his cherry voice.
More headlights approached from the far entrance. Jazz dashed towards the sounds of battle; Ratchet and Bumblebee transformed and came up to Prime and John.
"How bad did you get hit?" Ratchet said. His optics were scanning over Prime even as he asked.
"Don't worry about me, the human's hurt badly."
"Human?" Ratchet asked, having not seen John lying unconscious on the other side of Prime.
Bumblebee ran around to that side and spotted him. Kneeling, he noticed the man's torn arm. "He's over here, and it looks like he's hurt pretty bad!"
"Load him in; we'll get him to the nearest ER!" Ratchet ordered as he turned around and transformed.
Gently, Bumblebee picked the man up and laid him on the gurney. Climbing in, he began to try and stop the bleeding as Ratchet closed the back doors and began to drive away from the battle. Prime following close on his tailpipes.
Critical
"So how is he?" Optimus asked Spike when he came out of the hospital.
Spike looked up sadly at the Autobot. "Doctors say he's lost a lot of blood, and with his already weakened state due to the cancer, they don't know if he'll pull through."
Ratchet frowned as he continued the repairs on Optimus in the hospital's parking lot. "Damned Decepticons!" he grumbled.
A heavy sadness fell over the big mech, for no matter what John had said about dying for his 'brother-in-arms' – the man still didn't deserve to die like this! He hadn't had the flight that Optimus had promised him!
Bumblebee hugged Spike, for even though the teen didn't know John, he still felt sadden by what the Decepticons had done to the brave man.
"Um Prime, maybe we could use that same gizmo of Wheeljack's that took Spike's spark out while the doctors worked on him?" the little yellow mech asked.
Ratchet and Spike looked in amazement at the little mech. "We are in the process of building those new Autobots; we could use one of those chassis," Ratchet's optics got a hopeful gleam in them.
Prime looked from one to the other, "Do you think we'd have similar problems that we had with Spike?"
Ratchet shrugged, "Wheeljack's tweaked the machine a little more, but we don't really know."
"But it may be John's only chance," Optimus said glumly.
"Well, you said he wanted to fly again. Aren't some of those new bots going to be jets?" Spike asked Ratchet, an eagerness filling his voice.
The medic nodded.
Optimus made his decision, for even if it didn't work out; at least John could possibly have his 'last flight'. Even though he hadn't known the man very long, he was sure that he'd approve. "If his brothers agree, then we'll do it. Contact Wheeljack and have him bring what he needs."
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