Hey y'all! I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. I caught the flu on Monday, and then decided to take a break from writing for this week. I promise, there will be a new chapter up this Tuesday and Thursday.
Hope you like the chapter, and the reviews are truly appreciated. Thank you everyone who commented, I love to hear your thoughts on the story!
(A-POV)
No, no, no. This cannot be happening. I thought. The burning sensation started up a little bit, and I started to panic. He's hurt. Oh, no, no, no. Bee beeped and chirped, trying to calm me. I focused on the sounds and attempted to control my racing heart.
"He'll… be… okay…" Bee played.
I closed my eyes. Alright Alestia, calm yourself. This is not the time to lose control. Optimus will be fine. While I focused on controlling my emotions, I didn't notice we had entered Mission City until I heard the roaring of a jet engine above us.
I blinked my eyes open and looked outside the window, trying to see what flew over our heads. All the Autobots screeched to a halt, and all three of us climbed out of Bee. The army men got out as well, and we all watched as more aircraft soared above.
Green smoke was all around us, and suddenly Ironhide transformed and yelled, "It's Starscream!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ratchet, Bee and Jazz transformed and started lifting a Furby truck.
"No, no, no, no, no! Move!" A man with short chestnut brown hair shouted. He was dressed in army greens and covered with guns and grenades. I guessed that this was the Captain in charge of the unit.
Bumblebee and Ironhide lifted the Furby truck even higher, providing some sort of cover. A gray jet shot out a missile, aimed right for us. It directly hit the truck, and the two mechs were thrown backward from the blast, and so were the rest of us.
Lifting my head, the burning sensation flooded my chest and I looked around for the injured person. I got to my feet, and searched the area.
"Anybody hurt? Everyone okay?" I heard echo down the street. "Clear the area!"
It wasn't a person injured at all. It was Bumblebee. I spotted him, and heard his voice. The pain was evidently present. I rushed over to where Sam and Mikaela were standing, and I saw that Bee's lower half was crushed under a vehicle.
He crawled out, and all three of us saw the problem right away. His legs were blown right off his body.
"Bumblebee? No, your legs!" Sam gasped. "Your legs. Here. Here, back, back, back, back! You all right?"
"Please get up, Bumblebee. Get up!" He whispered. "Ratchet!" You gotta get up, you're okay, you're okay. Come on!"
Bee proceeded to crawl on the ground towards Sam. "Sam." I said. "He isn't okay. His legs are missing for god's sake. You need to give it a rest."
Tears fell down his face as I addressed the problem he didn't want to accept. Then, the sound of huge gunshot was heard, and I turned toward the sound. I saw that a tank had started to drive down the street, and was shooting at us. A flipping tank. Was rolling. Down the street.
Sam rushed back to Bee, and Mikaela ran to an abandoned tow-truck.
"I'm not gonna leave you." Sam said. Bee was still trying to crawl closer to us. He handed Sam the Cube, and I damn near burst into tears at the sight.
Should I try? Should I expose my secret in order to help Bumblebee? I didn't get to make a decision. The sound of war began, and I was able to get a glimpse of another jet flying towards us. It transformed, and my eyes widened.
"Sam, is that who I think it is?"
"Ugh, yup. That's Megatron."
Mikaela drove the tow-truck I had seen her run to, and slammed on the brakes when she was next to us. "Sam, Alestia, help me with this."
I looked at what she was trying to do, and saw that she was trying to hook Bee up to the back of the truck. Another sensation came over me, but this time it originated from my midsection. I screamed and hunched over in pain, feeling like something ripped me in half. As soon as it appeared, it was gone again.
Mikaela rushed over to me. "Alestia? Are you okay? What happened?"
"Sorry Mik, can't tell you here." I muttered. Just pray that it wasn't Optimus. Whichever Autobot it was, I wish you a peaceful rest in the afterlife. I stood up, and strode to the tow-truck and Bumblebee.
I glanced behind me, and the man who I guessed was the Captain ran over to us. "Okay." He said.
"What?" Sam questioned.
"All right, I can't leave my guys back there, so here," He handed Sam something. "Take this flare. Okay, there's a tall white building with statues on top. Go to the roof-"
"No." Sam interrupted.
"Signal the chopper and set the flare." He continued.
"No, no, no! I can't do this!"
The army man grabbed Sam's collar and pulled him closer to his face. "Listen to me! You're a soldier now! All right? I need you to take this Cube. Get it into military hands while we hold them off." Handing Sam the Cube, he let go of the boy "Or a lot of people are gonna die." I quickly read his nametag, and saw that his name was Lennox. I also spotted the patches he wore, and they confirmed my suspicions of him being the Captain.
"Sam." I said, turning to him. "I'll go with you."
He gave me a little nod of his head, but I could tell that he was shaken up and shocked after the events that just took place. Oh, I feel you dude.
Lennox then focused his attention on Mikaela, but I didn't hear what he had to say because I was tugging on Sam's arm; ushering him to run to the building. "Sam and Alestia, we will protect you." Ironhide stated, standing next to Ratchet. We finally started to run, when Mikaela called Sam's name.
"Sam, we don't have time. Give me the Cube!" I yelled. He handed me the cargo and the flare, and had a conversation with Mik. But I was already gone to hear what they were saying.
Decepticons were shooting at me right, left, and center. Just as Ironhide promised, him and Ratchet were cover firing for me. I sprinted as hard as my legs would move. I ducked out of the way as one of the 'bots ran in front of me and held up a car to block the missile aimed for my head.
"Keep moving, Alestia!" 'Hide shouted. I weaved in between cars and trucks, hoping that I would make it in time. A Decepticon chose to appear at that moment, and split one of the cars in half. He then aimed it for me, but I ran out of the way and it hit a window instead. Come on Alestia, run faster.
Against my luck, Starscream landed and transformed right in front of me, pushing vehicles high into the air. As he fought both mechs, I stayed low to the ground. Hopefully he wouldn't spot my anytime soon and I would be able to continue the task given to me.
"Give me the Cube, girl!" An angry and hate-filled voice roared from behind me. I didn't even have to look in order for me to know it was Megatron. Since I was running head on into oncoming traffic, I attempted to avoid the cars driving at me. I dodged one car, but I got hit by another black van. Ignoring the pain, I stood up and carried on sprinting.
In the process, the Cube sent out a pulse of energy and I heard the mechanical whirring of multiple transformations. Don't look back, don't look back. There is no time.
After what felt like years, I finally made it into the white building. I looked around, desperately trying to find a staircase I could ascend. As I took off, Megatron broke through one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and shouted, "I smell you, girl!"
"Oh, Lord. Oh my God." I whispered over and over, heart pounding in my ribcage. I quickly found the staircase and ran up to the second floor.
"HOLY SHIT!" I screamed as Megatron burst through to floor and swung at me with his large, metallic arms. I went up the first few stairs, and looked up. Oh my goodness gracious. There are literally 500 flights up steps. This is where I die. Death by stair, and not by the Decepticon on my ass.
I ran up flight after flight, feeling my legs groan in pain. Pushing myself even harder, and held the Cube close to me and I finally made it to the roof. Hurdling over pipes and anything else in my way, I heard the sound of the chopper heading to pick up the Cube. I peeled the flare from my back pocket, and ignited it by banging the bottom against the side of something.
I ran to the edge of the building and to the chopper awaiting my arrival. A man reached out for the Cube, and I tried to hand it to him. I inched closer, and would have been successful if it wasn't for the missile Starscream shot at the helicopter. "Watch out!" I yelled, rolling backwards and out of the way of any shrapnel.
"Hang on Alestia!" A familiar voice shouted. Optimus. I got up and ran away from Megatron, who had exploded out of the roof and climbed his way onto the top of the building. I raced around, trying to find a hiding spot, and jumped onto one of the statues.
"Is it fear or courage that compels you, fleshling?" Megatron sneered. I tried to get a better hold on the statue, and almost slipped right off the edge of the building. "Oh, no." I muttered. "Oh hell no."
"Give me the AllSpark and you may live to be my pet."
Gathering up the courage, I shouted right back to him. "I'm never giving you this AllSpark!"
"Oh, so unwise."
In retaliation, Megatron swung his weapon down onto the roof. Everything exploded around me as I was thrown off the edge of the building from the force of the hit. Before I even knew what was happening, a giant metal hand caught me and I looked up to see that it was Optimus. "I got you girl. Hold onto the Cube!" His battle mask slid into place over his mouth, and Optimus turned and started jumping from wall to wall of the buildings he was in between.
A roar sounded from above us, and I glanced up to see a flash of silver metal and a huge body barrel into us. I gripped onto both the Cube and Optimus' metal as I felt us falling. Megatron, Optimus and I hit the ground hard.
Clearing my head from the shock of the fall, I shook it lightly. I looked at Megatron, and saw that he flicked a human away from him, muttering, "Disgusting."
My head whipped back to Optimus as a groan sounded from him. "Optimus, are you injured?"
He looked at me and slid his battle mask out of the way. "Alestia, do not worry about me. You risked your life to protect the Cube."
"I promised that I would help you revive your planet, no matter the cost. Even if I were to lose my life in the process."
"If I cannot defeat Megatron, you must push the Cube into my chest. I will sacrifice myself to destroy it. Get behind me."
I narrowed my eyes at his words, but did what he asked anyway. Running and ducking for cover nearby, and frantically eyed everything around me. I saw a crack in the ground with water covering the bottom, and I jumped in, trying to stay as close to the two Cybertronians as I dared.
"It's you and me Megatron." I heard Optimus say.
"No, it's just me Prime." Megatron taunted.
"At the end of this day, one shall stand, one shall fall."
Optimus was thrown into the side of a building. "You still fight for the weak! That is why you lose!"
As the red and blue mech was tossed to the side once more, I pulled out my handy dandy gun from my pocket and decided to try and help. I was just about to fire, when I caught the sound of a helicopter transforming behind the fight. I put my gun back, and glanced at it. I saw that it was one of the Decepticons. He was trudging toward the battle. I looked behind him and spotted the army men on the ground. I forgot about Optimus and Megatron and worked my way to them.
Moving in between rocks and pavement, I finally made it to them. An African American man was talking into a walkie-talkie when he spotted me. I rushed to his side and waited for him to finish giving instructions to the Air Force.
"Girl, what are you thinking running towards us? You have the Cube for God sake!"
"I know, but I need to cover Optimus. The Decepticon cannot reach him. I won't allow it."
He started to interrupt me, but I cut him off. "Soldier, what is your name?"
"Sergeant Robert Epps, but you can call me Epps. Why?"
"Epps, I have military training and my skills will be able to aid you."
He looked at me skeptically. "How many years?"
"Twelve years Sir. I cannot tell you who I trained under, but trust me. He was pretty bad-ass."
"Alright," He sighed. "You can help. But you need to follow orders. Do you understand that?"
"Yes." I nodded.
The man that I saw with Sam earlier poked Epps in the shoulder and said, "Bring the rain, alright?" I remembered that his name was Lennox, and I walked over to him. "Hello Sir, I have clearance to help you in the fight. Sergeant Epps allowed me. If you are wondering why, I have twelve years of military training."
"Alright then, what's your name?"
"Agent Alestia Barone, at your service." I replied.
"Barone, just follow the lead of my men, and you should be able to get the gist of the plan."
He handed me one of his guns and I trailed behind one of the men. Getting into a similar position as him, I waited for the command of fire. "Armor is weak under the chest!" Lennox said.
Epps shone a green laser onto the target as the Decepticon loaded his cannons. All of a sudden, he spotted the laser and turned in our direction.
"Move out!" Epps shouted. Everyone got up and ran as the mech aimed and shot at us. I rolled out of the way and started to shoot for his eyes and under his armor. The planes that flew overhead must have been friendlies, because they shot missiles at the Decepticon and he soon fell. Gripping the Cube in my hand, I ran for Optimus and Megatron.
Ducking underneath an overturned car, Optimus and I met each other's gaze.
Seeing the same planes shoot at Megatron, I got out and slid over to where Optimus was laying. Spotting me, Megatron ran after me, but he was tripped.
"I'll kill you!" He bellowed. I inched away from him as he tried to reach out and grab me. "Mine! AllSpark!"
"Alestia!" Optimus called. "Put the Cube in my chest, now! Alestia!"
You will not be the one to die.
I stood up, and instead of putting the Cube in Optimus' chest, I stuck it in Megatron's.
His chest-plates opened, and the Cube started to rip apart and transfer into him. He choked on the raw power and he fell onto his knees and then collapsed.
Trying to catch my breath, I stepped over to Optimus and eyed his body for any injuries. He walked over to the dead Cybertronian, and I watched as he murmured, "You left me no choice, brother."
Optimus then bent down to my size. "Alestia, I owe you my life. We are in your debt."
Speechless, I turned around and saw Sam and Mikaela pull up in the tow truck. Mik climbed out of the truck and raced to me. When she reached me, she wrapped her arms around me. "'Lest! Thank God you're okay!"
I laughed. "I'm fine Mikaela."
"Prime," I heard Ironhide say. "We couldn't save him." Who was the Autobot that died?
I turned, and saw that it was Jazz. As I spotted the body, tears filled my eyes at the loss of a friend. I didn't bother to wipe them away this time.
"Jazz." The Autobot Commander said. Holding the ripped-in-half silver Autobot, he addressed everyone around him. "We lost a great comrade, but gained new ones. Thank you, all of you. You honor us with your bravery."
Bumblebee decided to speak up, in his real voice. "Permission to speak, sir?"
"Permission granted, old friend."
"You speak now?" Sam shouted.
"I wish to stay with the boy."
"If that is his choice." Optimus affirmed.
We all looked at Sam. "Yes!" He said with a grin on his face. Looking at Optimus, I watched as he handed Jazz's body to Ratchet. He bent down, pulled a shard of the Cube out of Megatron's chest, and gripped it in his hand. Not wanting to intrude on the moment, I called softly, "Optimus?"
He turned to me with regret in his eyes. "I do not mean to intrude, but you are injured. I know I seem like I cannot help, but I might be able to." He bent closer to me, and I pressed a hand to his cheek. I closed my eyes and willed my powers to work. After a moment, I finally felt the familiar burning feeling move from my chest, down my arm, into my hand, and into Optimus.
He cycled in a breath. I opened my eyes, and looked at where his wounds were. Seeing that they were healed, a contented hum slipped from my mouth.
He looked at me with questions in his eyes, but I quickly cut them off before he could ask them.
"I will explain everything later. There are way too many people around for me to say anything right now."
Just then, I gripped my side at the agonizing pain present there. I fell to my knees, groaning in pain. Seeing black spots in my vision, I tried to get up, but failed. I quickly lifted my shirt to see that my side was bruised and bloody. There was a deep gash that was gushing blood, and I almost passed out as I lightly touched it. "Alestia!" I heard Optimus shout.
I started to fall forward, but I was unconscious before my head hit the pavement.
And there we have it! The last chapter from the first movie! Hope I didn't get you guys to upset with the cliffhanger! There's way more to Alestia's power, so look forward to that in the upcoming chapters!
