Optimus Prime paced up and down outside the Ark, keeping his arms crossed and lost in thought. So far, he hadn't heard any news from Jazz or Faera, so he was practically in the dark as to how things stood. Were the Decepticons on their way here? How many of them? And what of Prowl? Was it possible that Jazz's team had failed, in spite of their skills? One such thought after another crossed his mind, making his spark grow heavy, and he realised what kind of responsibility was in his own hands. If he failed to hold the fort, then all would be lost.
Perhaps he ought to have taken Jazz's advice and call the Protectobots and the other Autobots who remained in the city of Portland. Now, however, it was too late; they'd have to make do, and hope it would be enough.
"Alert, Optimus Prime," Faera transmitted, her intonation still very much like Teletraan-I's. "Decepticons detected."
Optimus stopped pacing. "Understood, Faera, You know what to do."
"Affirmative."
"Then do it. It's time to make things difficult for them."
"Order acknowledged. Initialising defence protocols."
In the next moment, Optimus Prime heard the whirring sound of gears turning and several turrets cropped up from the mountainside. Their iron plating glistened under the sun as the barrels took aim upwards, waiting for the Autobot leader's command.
"Fire," Optimus ordered.
"We're approaching the Autobot base, Megatron," Soundwave said, flying next to the Decepticon leader. "Estimated time of arrival: Ten Earth minutes."
"How many operational Autobots do you detect, Soundwave?" Megatron asked.
"Five Autobots and one Sadjen."
"Excellent. The virus worked even better than I expected," Megatron said, grinning malevolently.
"There's a chance that the medic reached the Autobot base and started with the repairs, oh wise leader," Starscream pointed out.
"And by the time he does, it will be too late for them," Megatron said.
"Megatron, evasive manoeuvres suggested. Sensors indicate Autobot defence systems activated."
"What?"
A great laser beam flaring in their direction confirmed what Soundwave had detected. It didn't hit any of the Decepticons; they had managed to avoid the blast on time. It was enough to anger Megatron, nonetheless.
"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "Teletraan-I shouldn't be functioning."
"Apparently, he is," Starscream said, not sounding all that sorry for Megatron's miscalculation. "Or somebody else is doing the work for him."
"Hmm, yes…" Megatron admitted thoughtfully. "Soundwave, where's the Sadjen located?"
"There's a massive energy flow in the control room. Source is the female Sadjen."
Megatron pursed his lips momentarily. "Very well, if that's how the Autobots want to play, then it's time to return the favour in kind. Astrotrain, find a back door. The rest of you… follow me!"
"Looks like we got their attention," Optimus said, focusing his optics in the direction of the Decepticons. Though still not quite visible, he could guess their position as the sun hit their platings, making them glint. Not wasting any time, the Autobot leader opened his communication frequencies. "Red Alert, can you zoom in on them?"
"Yes," Red Alert said. "And it doesn't look good. It appears Megatron has his entire entourage with him."
"Are they all coming this way?" Optimus asked, loading his rifle.
"Yes," Red Alert replied.
"Wait, not anymore," Bumblebee said in that moment. "Astrotrain has separated from the rest of the group."
"Are you sure, Bumblebee?" the Autobot leader asked.
"I can confirm it," Red Alert answered. "He's flying away."
"That can't be good," Optimus said thoughtfully. "Red Alert, Bumblebee, keep an eye on him and see what he's up to. If he tries anything against the Ark, deal with him."
"What about you?" Bumblebee said.
"I'll be busy," Optimus answered. The words barely flowed out of his lip components when a blast from a familiar fusion cannon barely missed him.
That, the Autobot leader decided, marked the beginning of the battle. Gripping his rifle tightly, he fell onto the ground and started firing as well.
"That's not a way to end a transmission. Not by far," Red Alert declared, wincing. He had heard the blast of Megatron's fusion cannon and, of course, he didn't like it one bit.
"Can't do anything about it, now," Bumblebee said. "We'll just have to make sure that Astrotrain doesn't cause any trouble." Indeed, the yellow minibot could see the triple changer flying away, almost as if he was fleeing from the battle.
"Oh, he'll regret it if he tries anything funny," Red Alert replied, taking his place in front of the monitors. "Teletraan…" he stopped at once, remembering himself, "Faera, switch visual feed from camera 14 to camera 3."
"Order acknowledged."
"It had better be," Red Alert said under his breath.
"Red…" Bumblebee sighed, shaking his head.
Red Alert didn't bother with an answer though. The images had switched, providing both Autobots with a better view on Astrotrain.
"Give me a simulation of Astrotrain's flight pattern," he said, his optics all but glued on the screen.
Faera did, and the main screen changed to a map of the entire Ark area. Both Red Alert and Bumblebee could see Astrotrain's position as a small flashing purple dot which followed a curved flight pattern, going around the volcano.
"He wants to catch us by surprise," Bumblebee said.
"Not on my watch," Red Alert declared, pressing several buttons. "Faera, hand over control of turret 7 to Security Chief Red Alert. Emergency code 135."
"Initialising," Faera said, yet the monitors started flashing red. "Warning. Corrupted programming detected. Commencing rerouting."
"Oh no… How long is this gonna take?" Bumblebee asked.
"Estimated time: two minutes."
"We don't have two minutes!" Red Alert exclaimed.
"Estimated time of Astrotrain's attack: two minutes and thirty seconds," Faera replied.
Red Alert blinked. Bumblebee, on the other hand, allowed himself the luxury of a chuckle.
"Guess we do have two minutes," he said with a grin.
Red Alert wasn't all that pleased.
"Teletraan-I never answered back," he muttered. Nevertheless, he remained staring at the yellow bar that appeared on the computer screen, signifying the progress of the rerouting. "Bumblebee, keep watching Astrotrain."
Bumblebee nodded, locking his optics on the small monitor in front of him. Astrotrain was manoeuvring once again, this time setting course for the crater of the volcano.
The bar flashed again. "Rerouting complete in one minute." Faera's voice said, the inflection eerily neutral and passive considering the situation.
Bumblebee watched on as Astrotrain kept flying upwards, getting closer to the crater. Even from the monitor he could see the Decepticon's laser cannons sticking out from underneath the hull. The minibot's optics widened as worry started filling his spark. Astrotrain intended to fire inside the crater and, if he managed it, it could mean that more than half of the Ark would be buried further inside the volcano. They would be powerless.
"Rerouting complete in twenty seconds."
Astrotrain took position, opening his hatch to reveal a cannon. Bumblebee's hands clenched into fists, tension coursing through every relay in his body.
"Rerouting complete."
"Finally," Red Alert said, more than just welcoming the news. He instantly started typing one more command on the keyboard. "Bumblebee, have I got him?"
Bumblebee looked at the monitor as the words 'Target lock' appeared on screen.
"Yeah! Take him down, Red!"
Red didn't need to be told twice. He all but punched the enter button and, a few moments later, the bright laser blast hit Astrotrain on the wing. Flames burst out, engulfing the Decepticon, and though Astrotrain tried to keep himself stable, it was in vain. He had no choice but to retreat, hoping he'd manage to crashland somewhere safe.
"Phew," Bumblebee said, letting out a breath he didn't register he had been holding. "Now that's what I call a close shave."
"One that won't be repeated, hopefully," Red Alert agreed.
Neither Autobot realised that they had been too focused on Astrotrain, though. Otherwise, they would have probably kept an eye out for the panther-like form that currently moved stealthily towards the crater.
Ebon's claws gripped the ground tightly, keeping his step sure and steady. He was moving in a crouched manner, staying hidden at all times as he made his way to the crater. He wasn't placed in his glass-cage inside Astrotrain this time; the Decepticons had decided that he would behave in the prospect of victory. And, of course, they were right. Ebon was willing to do whatever it took if it meant finding her and settle their score once and for all. Astrotrain had been the perfect distraction after dropping the Sadjen out of camera range; the rest, however, was up to the Sadjen himself.
Growling softly, he hoisted himself over the rim of the crater and then climbed down onto a ledge across the steely structure of the base. His nostrils twitched as he picked up her scent, that familiar smell of ashes that could only be from her exoskeleton. His insides boiling, eager for the confrontation and almost blinding him to everything else, made him move through the corridors without error in search of his prey. And as her smell became even stronger, Ebon knew now beyond any doubt that he was onto her at last.
Sideswipe stood next to Faera, resting his back against the wall. He tried not to think about the sounds of battle as they reverberated through the base, making him from than just a little uncomfortable. Not because he was scared or nervous, though.
"How's Optimus holding up, Faera?" Sideswipe asked.
"No damages inflicted on him presently," Faera answered.
"That's good, I guess," Sideswipe admitted, and he fell silent again. He really didn't want to utter his thoughts, but a part of him desperately wanted to go out and fight alongside Optimus. Two Autobots had better chances of fighting off the Decepticons and, moreover, it would give Sideswipe the chance to pay them back for putting Sunstreaker – and almost every other Autobot with him – in the infirmary. Except he also knew that he couldn't disobey orders at a time like this.
His gaze drifted again in the direction of Faera. The Sadjen was standing in front of Teletraan-I, her hands resting on the control board and her body quite rigid. She still kept speaking via Teletraan-I's speakers, and her eyes shone bright green as she kept pouring her energy on the super-computer, controlling him. The red Lamborghini also noticed that she was quite vulnerable, however, for her back was to the door. Sideswipe doubted she would be able to react to danger on time, since she was so deeply fused with Teletraan-I; she was practically a sitting turbo-duck.
The monitors flashing yellow cut Sideswipe off his thoughts.
"What's going on?" he asked, growing tense at once and holding up his gun.
"Motion detectors picked up an intruder on the southern section of the Ark," Faera answered.
"Slag!" Sideswiped exclaimed. "Who is it?"
"Ebon," Faera said. "Visual footage acquired."
"Well, show me," the Lamborghini said, growing impatient.
The Sadjen complied, and Sideswipe was dismayed to see Ebon moving through the corridors.
"Swell," Sideswipe muttered under his breath, and he immediately opened his communication frequencies. "First Aid, Red Alert, you'd better lock the doors of the medbay and the control room. Ebon is inside the Ark."
"Understood," First Aid said.
"But what about Ebon?" Red Alert said.
"One thing at a time," Sideswipe said. "First Aid, how are the repairs coming up?"
"Nearly there. Perceptor and I are working as fast as we can."
"If Ebon tries to hack in the systems too, we'll be in trouble," Red Alert pointed out.
"We'll be in trouble if he tries to get to Faera too," Bumblebee reminded everyone.
Sideswipe clenched his hands around his gun. There was nothing for it then. He'd have to buy them all some time.
"Everyone stay inside. First Aid, keep working on the repairs. Faera… seal the door as soon as I'm out."
"No way! If you're meeting him head on, so am I!" Bumblebee said.
"It's not up for discussion, Bumblebee. You'd only get in my way," Sideswipe said, heading to the door. "Besides, you need to stay with Red Alert to protect him."
"Faera needs protection too!"
"Maybe not if I slow him down enough. Red, lock the door."
There was a small pause, and then Red Alert spoke. "Good luck, soldier."
"Thanks," Sideswipe said.
"But-"
Sideswipe closed the communication frequencies before he could hear Bumblebee's objections.
"Direct confrontation with Ebon is ill-advised," Faera's voice sounded through the speakers again.
Sideswipe stopped at the threshold and huffed. "I'm still open to suggestions!"
"Strike quickly. Don't give him time to fight back."
The red Lamborghini turned around, frowning. The Sadjen was facing him, hands on the console and green eyes as bright as ever, but… he could also detect concern in those features.
His annoyance ebbed away, and he nodded his understanding. "Got it. Thanks."
With that, he walked out, keeping Faera's advice in mind. Just then, his optics caught sight of a fire-extinguisher up against the wall, and an idea started taking shape in his optic's eye. And, to his good fortune, Perceptor's lab wasn't too far away.