Disclaimer: …do I really need to say it anymore?
Chapter 8: Unstable Ground
"Blue!! Go long!!"
It had been another two years since Bass had been returned to the Autobots and the youngling had finally stopped growing. Since he was created as a 'Con, the top of Bass' helm reached the middle of Optimus' chest plates, making him officially the second tallest Autobot currently living in the base.
At the current moment Bass, Bumblebee, Jazz, Bluestreak, and the twins were playing football, custom made of course, outside of the base.
The black and silver youngling leapt into the air and snatched the ball before the grey Autobot gunner could and ran for it.
"You're going down Bass!" Sideswipe growled playfully before chasing off after the black and silver youngling. Just as the red warrior was about to tackle him to the ground, Bass activated the rocket boosters on the bottom of his peds and launched himself into the touchdown zone.
"Eat that Sides!" Bass danced around.
"You cheated! Using those boosters is cheating!"
Bass playfully stuck his glossa out at the older but shorter mech. "Is not. We never made any rules!"
"So?"
"So, you can't cheat if there's no rules you glitch-head." Sunstreaker, the appointed QB of the Twin/Bluestreak team growled.
"Well maybe if 'someone' could throw-"
"What's that suppose to mean!?"
"Would you two knock it off and just play the game?" Bumblebee mumbled softly, rolling his optics at the twin's antics.
"Yeah. You two act like bigger sparklings then I do." Bass stated.
The Autobot scout glanced at the taller bot, "You realize that you just insulted yourself, right?"
"Yeah, I know. But they're still bigger ones."
Before either twin could protest to Bass' statement, Ironhide charged out of the base. "Come on, you lazy lumps of scrap metal. We got some 'Con aft to kick!"
"Alright," The lambo twins exclaimed, previous argument completely forgotten.
"It was getting boring around here!" Sunstreaker growled out softly.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep your aft plate on Sunstreaker," Bumblebee mumbled, "No use in getting over excited."
"Yeah Sunny. Knowing how cowardly the 'Cons are, it'll be a short fight." Bass mumbled.
"So? A short fight is better than no fight at all." Sideswipe grinned.
The young 'Con raised Autobot rolled his bright red optics at the twin's antics. "Whatever you say Sides." He growled out before transforming into his vehicle mode and speeding off, leaving the twins in his dust.
------------------------------------------With The 'Cons----------------------------------------------
"Starscream! Are you really that incompetent or are you just trying to make me angry!?"
Starscream cringed as Megatron's voice tore through the canyon. "Now, why would I EVER do something to make you angry with me, Oh Mighty Megatron?"
His question was answered by sharp claws digging into his wings. "Watch your vocal processor, you traitorous seeker!"
Starscream kept his vocalizer silent, he was smart enough to know that he had already pushed the larger Decepticon to far, and it wasn't even noon yet.
Megatron grumbled loudly as he reluctantly let go of the "foolish" SIC, "You do one more thing wrong around me, Starscream, and I'll make sure that you never fly again! Do you understand me!?"
"Of course my Lord." Starscream mumbled as he bowed as low as he wings would allow.
"Lord Megatron," Soundwave's deep rumble sounded next to the large mech's audio, "Scans indicate that there are Autobots incoming," There was a slight pause as the communications officer locked optics onto Megaton's face plates, gadging his reaction, "Bass is with them."
Megatron smiled, fangs flashing in the midday sun. "Excellent. All is going as planned."
Soundwave nodded once before stepping back from his egotistical leader. "They should be arriving here in approximately five minutes."
"Why would it matter if that brat is with them or not? That slagged medic probably upgraded his systems, making it impossible for us to be able to force him to join our side again." Starscream mumbled.
"You are a fool Starscream," Megatron chuckled as Starscream hissed at him. "He could still be useful to us. The Autobots absolutely ADORE him. Think about it Starscream. What do you think the Autobots would be willing to give up in order to get him back safely?"
The Decepticon's optics brightened as the caught on to what the larger mech was saying, "Ah, we'll use him to trade for the All Spark."
"Yes, you dim witted fool."
Starscream's reply was cut off by Soundwave's growl. "They have arrived, Lord Megatron."
"Excellent work Soundwave. Set the plan in motion."
-----------------------------------------With the Autobots---------------------------------------------
"Bass! Slow down! Just because the twins annoyed you doesn't meant that you can drive out of formation like that! It's dangerous!"
The young 'Con ignored his "mother's" plea and speed up even more. He didn't care that his actions were putting him in danger. The lambo twins had royally fragged him off and the more room he put between them and himself the better.
Jazz chuckled softly at his angered bondmate. "Relax Prowler. I'm sure if ya ask 'im why he's so mad he'll tell ya an' calm down a bit."
"I've already tried that. He completely ignored me, just like he's doing now."
"I think I know what's wrong." Bumblebee murmured softly as he speed up to be even with the Pontiac and Mustang. "He's confused and hurt.
"Bout what, Lil' Bee?"
"Well. He's confused because deep down he knows that he was born as a Decepticon. Heck one of his creators is the LEADER of them. But his 'family' are Autobots. He's stuck in-between two worlds. He feels like he'll never truly belong to either fraction. And he's hurt because the twins were bragging about defeating the 'Cons today and, despite us raising him, Bass still has a connection with the Decepticons. As a result when he thinks of them in pain, he gets angry."
Jazz cycled a puff of air through his vents. "I never knew tha', so how did ya Bee?
"He talks to me. He's really become my best friend and it's easier to talk to a friend then it is to talk to 'parents'. so in all honestly, I don't really blame him for reacting in his way."
"Now tha' ya told meh tha' I don' either."
"Yes. It does seem logical that a mech his age would react in this way to that situation."
The three mech's at the front of the group were far too preoccupied with their conversation to notice that Bass was no longer in front of them. It wasn't until Grindor laughed that they noticed the form of their black, silver, and red charge in the claws of the sadistic chopper.
"Let him go now!" Prowl roared as he swiftly transformed.
"I don't think I will. Lord Megatron has plans for this little waste of bolts."
Bass struggled in the stronger mech's hold. "Let me go! I want nothing to do with any of HIS plans!"
"Aw, but I created you from my own spark." Megatron faked a hurt expression as he slowly stepped up behind Grindor.
"I don't care! You left me to be experimented on! You didn't care if I lived or died! You just wanted an undefeatable army!" Bass screeched as energon tears ran down his silver face plates.
"You're half right, half wrong. I only wanted you to live if the experiment had been a success. You have greatly disappointed me, my son."
Red optics flashed dangerously as Bass cycled air through his vents rapidly. "DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME THAT!!"
To say that Megatron was surprised when the young 'Con broke his way free of Grindor and leapt at him, energon blade drawn, would have been an understatement. Red and blue optics widened in surprise as Bass slashed at the larger mech, severing the connector cables of Megatron's fusion cannon. The Decepticon Leader roared as the stumbled back. "You little brat!"
Soundwave, the ever loyal Decepticon officer, leapt in and grabbed the young 'Con by the throat before he could harm his 'beloved' leader again.
Megatron snarled as he quickly took Bass into his cold grasp. "You may have stripped me of my cannon for now, Auto-brat, but I can still crush your spark out of existence!"
Bass yelped loudly as the Decepticon Leader slowly began to squeeze him in his powerful arms, causing his young body to creak and spark wildly.
"Bass!" Both of his frantic 'parents' cried out.
"Stop hurting him Mega-head!" The lambo twins snarled.
"I know how you work, Megatron! What do you want in return for his safety!?" Optimus glared coldly at his brother.
"Oh I think you know exactly what I want, Optimus." Megatron smirked evilly, even as his arms continued to contract, causing Bass to cry out in pain.
Optimus ground his dental plating together. Trust Megatron to come up with something like this. If he agreed he would give the Decepticon Leader the power to win the war. If he refused Bass would likely be killed. In truth it wasn't that difficult of a choice. "Very well Megatron. We will hand over the All Spark, so long as you return Bass to us. Unharmed."
"Of course, Dear Brother. Now, why don't you and your men go and get it. All of your men, Optimus."
The Autobots growled loudly before transforming and driving off.
"Oh," Megatron's voice spoke up over a private com-link with Optimus, "Did I fail to mention that you only have 30 minutes? If you fail, I will crush the brat, Optimus."
"Why you-"
"Tick, tock Autobot. The clock is ticking and your time is running out."
