Hey everyone. No I haven't died. Not yet anyway. Sorry I'm taking so long to update but when I say I have a lot of work that is something of an understatement. So Loopy please don't kill me…I did get there eventually.
Thank you to Princess Selina who helped me through my small bit of writers block. I am officially in your dept.
Well people's I hope you like this chapter. It's not too depressing, nah I've got more of that stuff a bit later. Heeheeheehee!
I reached out to pat his knee joint when I saw something move behind him…
Immediately I opened my mouth in warning, but I couldn't even get out a syllable before talons locked around Optimus's shoulder. On instinct Optimus began to turn but he never made it.
The attack from behind was so fast and brutal I didn't even have time to scream before Megatron forced his blade straight through Optimus's chassis, right through his spark case. Sparks and energon almost spurted from the wound as the blade tore through essential circuitry and armour. Several drops of blue energon dripped to the ground at my feet, the slight acidic nature of it making the grass shrivel and die. I was so stunned in horror that I could only watch as Optimus gave an agonised cry and tried to recoil from the blade which was completely impaling him. His hands grabbed at the blade, in a vain attempt to pull it from his chest, body stiffening in pain as the blade twisted savagely, tearing more circuitry and even exposing a small part of the sensitive inner protoform. Megatron gave a long, cruel chuckle, using the blade to pull Optimus to his feet, tearing into the shattered armour even more.
"You're so weak" the Decepticon leader drawled, slowly raising his cannon so the barrel was placed at the wound. Optimus's soft, agonised moan was drowned out by the click of the trigger and the explosion that tore through what remained of his chest. A shower of sparks erupted from the wound as Optimus convulsed before going completely limp, only held up by the blade in his chest. Energon flowed freely from the injury, occasionally spurting as another energon line ruptured, staining the armour a slight shimmering blue. Megatron was silent, which was in a way worse than any evil laughter, as he twisted the blade before wrenching it out. The sickening sound of metal grinding against metal would no doubt haunt me for the rest of my life.
Optimus, no longer supported by the blade, crumpled to the ground almost like a ragdoll. A slight tremor ran through the ground as he fell, the crash of metal nearly deafening. I stumbled back a few steps in stone cold horror, unable to believe what I had just witnessed. I was semi aware of Abbie's screams behind me and the dull thud of Megatron advancing but most of my concentration was on Optimus. There was a dull whine of dying systems as his body began to shut down slowly, taking out systems that it deemed unimportant. Optimus struggled for a few minutes to move, to roll onto his side, to do anything but the most he could do was raise his hand and turn his head towards me. Sparks flew and energon streaked down his twisted armour, almost like rain running down a window. I was paralysed with a mix of shock and fear as his fading optics settled on me, the expressive blue displaying agony, exhaustion and sadness.
"Al…" he couldn't even manage to fully speak my name "get…out…of…here…"
His optics flickered a few times before completely fading to a dull metal grey. His systems gave one last pitiful whine as they shut down into deaths embrace. His body went limp, head flopping to the ground, one hand gripping the grass tightly, the other resting just below his torn open chest.
"O-Optimus?" I wavered, refusing to believe, to even consider that he was dead. He couldn't be, he just couldn't. He was Optimus Prime, he didn't die, no matter what he just kept on getting back up. I simply stood there, shocked and confused until a huge foot slammed down in front of me. I raised my eyes to meet Megatrons, trying to ignore the sadistic smile.
"Well, All Spark. Time to join him" he raised his cannon and pointed it at me. I was so out of it that I couldn't find the drive to even attempt a shield. I simply stared blankly at the glowing barrel of his cannon then at his energon stained sword before raising my eyes slowly to meet his.
In fact if it wasn't for the talons that suddenly snatched me up I was sure to have perished right then and there. Starscream scooped up Abbie and Hamish before shooting into the sky once again, ignoring Megatrons enraged roar. The sudden rush of cool air jolted me back to my senses once more. I glanced down at the retreating ground, at the still body of Optimus.
"Wait" I called up to Starscream "what about Optimus?"
"Ally…" Starscream started
"He's dead" Abbie finished. I looked at her as she was crazy. Of course I knew he was but some part of me was refusing to believe the facts.
"No" I shook my head
Abbie said nothing as she met my eyes steadily, the truth reflected in them. For a few seconds I stared back, before bursting into tears.
oOo
Megatron watched the retreating figure of Starscream, rage coursing through him. Beside him Blitzwing was fidgeting, as if ready to fly after him. Megatron held out an arm to prevent the smaller mech from taking off.
"Enough Blitzwing. Let them go" he snarled, cannon shutting down. Enraged he turned to look down at Optimus's still form, lying on the grass at his feet. The mech's optics were dark and energon still leaked slowly from multiple wounds. A smile twisted its way onto his face plates and his scarlet optics shone in sadistic glee. Oh this had to be the best day of his life. He had longed for this day for so many years. To finally have conquered his mortal enemy was something he had only dreamed about. And now it was a reality. Of course the All Spark had gotten away but that was but a small problem. Her time would come soon enough and when it did he would be sure that the tiny human girl would be screaming and begging for mercy. His claws itched to rip the flesh from her body, to snap her pathetic limbs. He longed to hear her cry and shriek as he got his revenge for when she had killed him. And when he was done he would relish watching the light go from her wretched blue eyes.
But that would have to wait for another day. Because the rest of the Autobots had arrived, guns blazing, firing at the two remaining 'cons. Megatron turned to Blitzwing and nodded once. The small flyer sprang up into the air, followed closely by Megatron, who transformed mid-leap and shot up into the clouds.
oOo
Ironhide pushed his lumbering frame forward as fast as he could. Practically the moment he had gotten the distress call he had transformed and sped off, leaving the others behind. Of course the Triplets, Sideswipe and Jazz had over taken him a bit later on but that was beside the point. The main point was he was nearly there now, nearly at the point of origin of Prime's distress beacon.
"Just hang on younglin' nearly there now" he grumbled. His engine roared and rubber burned as he swerved around the corner at top speed, transforming in the process. His cannons flared to life, aiming straight at the hulking form of…Megatron?
There was a moment of hesitation from all the Autobots who were there as Megatron turned to them, red optics glinting. Energon was spattered across the silver plating and dripping from his blade. There were rust patches and barnacles clinging to his body but the Decepticon leader looked as powerful and menacing as ever. He smirked, baring sharp teeth. The hesitation ended then as Ironhide let out a feral growl and fired. The others followed suit, firing at the two Decepticons. The smaller one, a seeker took to the sky first. Megatron shot at the Autobots a few times before leaping up after him and transforming into the threatening, grotesque alien plane.
Ironhide fired at them until they were out of range and even then he kept his cannons trained on them. No one relaxed until the 'cons were gone. Both from sight and scanners.
"Whoa" Everyone looked at Chromia, who was the first to speak. The purple motorbike rolled forward on her single wheel "looks like someone had a battle royal here. And they didn't invite me" Arcee and Moonracer followed their sister forward.
Arcee rested her hands on her slender hips, pink head swivelling as she surveyed the ruined forest. Several trees were alight, even more were knocked over and there were large furrows in the dirt. Ironhide stomped forward, his large black frame dwarfing the smaller triplets. Sideswipe skated up beside him as Jazz pranced forward, visor retreating so his optics could be seen.
"Ya reckon Boss Bots alrigh'?" he asked, just as Ratchet transformed. The green medic had been slower in arrival than the others as he had set off later. He held a scanner in his hand, studying it and the world around him.
"Watcha got Hatchet?" Ironhide asked, getting straight to the point. For once Ratchet ignored the nickname, face plates morphing into a look of horror.
"No…" he breathed. That got everyone's attention and soon all the Autobots were crowding around Ratchet desperate to hear what had made him so distressed "Optimus's life signal…just went off line"
The feeling of shock was like being hit by a freight train. Everyone just stared at Ratchet in disbelief, searching his face for a joke.
Ironhide lumbered off, deeper into the forest following the path of destruction, not giving a slag about stealth or safety. It wasn't hard to find Optimus; he was lying in plain sight, not much further into the woods. His armour was dented and scrapped, covered in gouges and large gashes. But the wound that had caused his death was the huge gaping hole in his chest. The armour around the wound was twisted and blackened and stained with energon which was still dribbling slowly from the wound. The once pulsating, glowing spark was cold and shattered, destroyed by whatever weapon Megatron had used. Ironhide remembered the energon on his sword and repelled the feeling of disgust in his tanks as he realised that had been Optimus's. The mechs optics were cold and dark, not the usual bright, expressive blue, his face twisted in death. He had obviously put up a fight, judging from the remains of another Decepticon lying several meters away but he had lost in the end.
Letting out an enraged roar Ironhide spun and fired his cannons into the ground, sending a blue shockwave rippling out through the forest. Ratchet, who had been approaching slowly was knocked over in the process and Jazz was sent flying, crashing into Sideswipe with a loud clang. They both fell to the ground in a tangle of metal, wheels and limbs. Ironhide didn't notice though, he didn't notice anything as he stood and fired again into the trees, igniting more of them. There was a loud thunk as something hit the back of his helm, and he turned slowly to face Ratchet who had regained his feet.
"Ironhide stop it. Stop it right now or I swear to Primus I will lock you in stasis. None of this will help Optimus" Ratchet waved his weapon threateningly before turning and dropping into a crouch beside Optimus's fallen form. But there was nothing that even Ratchet could do…Optimus was too far gone by now and the wound was too severe. Sideswipe and Jazz, who had managed to disentangle themselves, came to stand beside Ironhide who remained silent, servos clenching and unclenching into fists, cannons whirring, refusing to shut down.
Far more gently than anyone would have deemed possible for a mech his size, he reached out two blunt servos and slid shut the protective shutters on Optimus's optics, hiding the empty gaze. It would be hard to miss the waver in Ratchet's voice as he declared Optimus permanently offline. Ironhide wanted nothing more than to rage and scream and shout. He wanted to fire his cannon at any living thing. More than anything he wanted to destroy Megatron. But all he could do was collapse to his knees with a dull thud, systems letting off plaintive whines as he bowed his helm.
oOo
Safe in Starscreams sharp talons Abbie watched as the ground flashed beneath her. Hamish was freaking out but he was the least of her worries. No, her attention was mostly on Ally who was no longer crying. Instead she was staring blankly into the distance as if the rest of the world simply didn't exist. Never in her wildest dreams did Abbie think that the death of a robot would affect her friend so badly. She would almost have preferred it if Ally was in hysterics, because at least she knew how to deal with that. She had no idea what to do for shell shock.
Starscream landed on the tarmac outside the base and gently deposited them on the ground. Abbie slowly approached Ally who simply stood there, eyes wide, skin pale, arms wrapped around herself.
"Al, you okay?" stupid question but that may have been the only way to get through to her. There was no reply from the stunned teenager, who didn't even bat an eyelid as Abbie waved her hand in her face, "Earth to Ally. Hello"
Starscream crouched slowly, red optics concerned as Ally simply stared aimlessly into the distance, frame trembling ever so slightly.
"I think she's in… what do you humans call it again?"
"Shock?"
"Yeah" Starscream nodded. Abbie looked up at him, dark eyes huge, glistening with tears, which she refused to shed, "I'll get her inside. There's a human doctor on base who can look after her"
His talons curled around Ally once again and he picked her up, holding her to his chassis. He had walked about three steps before he turned.
"Might I suggest that you take care of him, before he has a heart attack?" Abbie twisted to look back at Hamish who was standing behind her, pointing wordlessly at Starscream. The seeker turned back and walked into the base leaving Abbie alone with her boyfriend. She turned back to him and sighed deeply.
"What the hell is going on?" he gasped, "What just happened?"
"We were just saved by another one of Ally's friends that's what" Abbie said calmly, "We're safe now" that was obviously the wrong choice of words.
"Safe. Safe?" Hamish demanded, straightening up "I don't think that hanging around with those things could be classified as safe"
"Oh trust me, they are"
"I don't think I do trust you" Hamish suddenly snapped, taking Abbie by surprise "You say you knew about all this and you never told me? When I first met you, you acted as if you would never get involved in anything dangerous, you acted like you were the safest girl in the world…and now I find out you have this shit going on in your life"
"I was trying to leave it behind" Abbie growled, trying to keep a hold on her temper.
"What about your car, is he…?"
"Okay yes, Bee is one of them. He can't stand leaving me by myself, that's why he followed me to college"
"And you were trying to leave it behind?"
"As a matter of fact I was…but now that Megatron is back I have to stay. I have to help Ally and the others"
"I don't believe this. This morning when I came with you to meet your friend I never imagined this would happen…"
"Don't act like you're the only one who's suffering. Ally just watched one of her best friends die right before her eyes. She's already lost her mum and her dad and she doesn't need this. And I didn't think that this would happen this morning either. I was trying to live a normal life but then these guys show up and dash that hope right out of the water" Abbie's voice was rising to a shout as she spoke. Hamish and her were now standing nose to nose, "And besides you wouldn't have believed me if I did tell you"
Hamish let out an angry huff as Abbie glared at him menacingly. Her hands were clenched into tight fists as she spoke, lips pressed together in a bloodless line.
"What else haven't you told me huh? What other crazy shit do you get up to?" Hamish snapped, sounding more than a little pissed off.
"I can't believe you're acting like this…it's not like I cheated on you or anything" Abbie sounded so infuriated that a soldier, who had just walked out of the building, turned and walked straight back inside. Not that the pair noticed; they were too busy yelling at each other, "And for your information I do not 'get up to crazy shit'. Not now anyway. So stop acting like a five year old and get your act together"
"How am I supposed to react when I find out my girlfriend is in league with freaking aliens? Am I supposed to be happy?"
"No. But you don't have to act like a baby, whining and whinging and freaking out. You know what, Ally was right, you are a wimp"
"Maybe I am…but at least I'm a sensible wimp"
"Oh and what's that supposed to mean?"
"I didn't see you running out to help earlier. You were just as scared as me!" For some reason that hit home. Abbie let out a feral sounding snarl, before slapping him hard across the face. He yelped and spun, a red mark forming on his cheek.
"I may have been scared. There's nothing wrong with that. But unlike Ally I don't have super cool magical powers. And I would have just gotten in the way" Abbie was shouting now, struggling to keep tears at bay, "I would have helped if I could. And you know what…if you don't like it here. Then leave. No one's forcing you to stay"
Hamish glared at her, eyes practically blazing. Abbie met his gaze with the same raw fury. The two simply scowled at each other for a while before Hamish spoke again.
"Fine then, I will leave"
"Fine. We don't need you anyway" Abbie folded her arms and turned her back
"Fine"
"Fine"
Without another word Hamish turned and stormed off into the building, obviously to find someone who was willing to take him home. Abbie waited until she was sure he was gone before turning back around to face the place where he had stood. There was someone else there now though. She hadn't noticed that Bumblebee had arrived and was crouching before her, blue optics even wider than usual.
"Hey Bee" she choked, tears finally running down her cheeks. Bumblebee gave a concerned coo and reached out to her. Abbie crawled into his hand gratefully as she began to cry. Not only because of Hamish, but because of what she had just witnessed, because of how scared she was, and how she had no idea what the future would hold.
So, waddya think? Please let me know if anyone was acting to OOCish. And yes I already know about Starscream acting weird. I'm writing him like this on purpose. But Ironhide and the others, if you think that they're acting a bit off don't hesitate to let me know. I'm always open to advice.
But anyway please review because I am still writing and I don't plan to stop anytime soon.
Now if you will all excuse me, I need to hide from 'Little Bit Loopy' who will surely kill me for a certain event in this chapter. *runs off to hide*
TTFN
