No Longer in the Dark
Red Alert and Starscream entered the church and quickly found their way to their seats. They weren't seating long when music began to play. The two male Transformers weren't sure what to do. They were ordered to stay at the church and basically pretend nothing was wrong until the fight started, if it would start. They both were dreading what the outcome was going to be. In their condition they were useless to the rest of the Autobots. Starscream looked at Alexis and saw the worried expression on her face. He looked at Sandy and June and saw similar looks as well. That meant Alexis told them what was going on.
Shortly after the music started, both Starscream and Red Alert followed everyone's eyes to the back where a little flower girl and ring bearer walked down the aisle. Starscream could here a few 'awes' as they walked. He did not understand what the reaction was all about. He would hope to ask Alexis about it later. He looked over to Alexis. From her reaction he deduced that one of the children was her younger sibling and since she had a brother, he guessed it was the little boy carrying a pillow with two rings on it. Alexis wasn't the only who noted the little boy. June also assumed that the boy was her ex-husband's son.
Sandy thought the two were cute. When the two were at the front a lovely lady, the maid of honor walked down. Starscream watched in amazement, sort of forgetting what was about to happen outside, Red Alert on the other hand did no lose focus. When the maid of honor was at the alter, the music tempo changed and everyone stood. Starscream and Red Alert gave a confused look but followed suit.
Soon the bride and her father walked down the aisle. The bride in her nice blue dress, clearly showing she was pregnant, had a radiant smile on her face. As she walked past the human Transformers, Starscream was able to get a clear vision of how big she really was. He had never seen pregnant women before. He gave Alexis a sideways glance and realized that if she wasn't a transformer, she probably could have look a like that one day. Pregnant.
The minister began his speech about the couple when the bride had her hands in her husband to be. At the moment he said to take a moment of silence, a loud sound of a jet flew by the church, causing the building to shake somewhat. The Transformers looked at each other. They knew what that meant. Thrust was attacking.
"Guys get ready," Red Alert whispered. "Our job is to protect these people."
June, Alexis and Sandy nodded.
Outside of the church, where the real action was going to happen, Thrust had decided to do a low flyby trying to get Starscream's attention but the moment he made his flyby, Sonic reported the Autobots were coming. Thrust had laughed evilly.
"Be ready," Thrust instructed. "Let's make the Autobots make the first move shall we."
"The Autobots won't fire while in town," Blackfly said.
"I don't want them to fire," Thrust said. In his voice one could hear he was really enjoying this. "But the Autobots will fall for what I'm about to get them to do."
"And what is that?" Sonic asked.
"Fool!" Thrust barked. "I want them to transform!"
"An excellent idea," Blackfly said.
Thrust watched as Optimus was taking up the lead with Hotshot closely behind. There was a few other Autobots too, but he didn't care about them. He had the one he wanted in his sights.
"Attack!" Thrust yelled.
Sonic and Blackfly suddenly started to fire at the Autobots as they were driving through the town.
"Optimus!" Hotshot yelled.
"I know!" Optimus yelled back.
"We're sitting ducks!" Hoist commented.
"But we can't transform," Blurr added.
"We may have no choice," Optimus said. "Find a way out of town."
Thrust watched as the Autobots started to split up. "Oh no you don't," he said to himself. "Second wave, attack!"
Three more jets came out of nowhere firing upon the Autobots.
In the church the Minister was trying to word out the vows to be said when small explosions started. People began to get really nervous, including the bride. The little boy and girl started to get really scared. Suddenly there was an explosion just outside the church. Everyone screamed and went to the floor.
"They are attacking," Starscream hissed.
"Our top priority is the protection of these people," Red Alert commanded.
"But how?" Sandy asked.
"Is there a basement?" Red Alert asked.
"Yes there is," Sandy answered. "It was built last year."
"Good," Red Alert stated. "June. Sandy. Get the guests to the basement. Alexis you'll be sure that everyone follows. Starscream. You and I will bard the doors so no one will be able to see what is going on."
Sandy nodded and then jumped. "Everyone to the basement!"
People soon started to scramble towards the basement. June jumped up as well and started to help out. Alexis was about to help when she heard a painful moan. She looked up to see her father huddling over his wife to be. She knew something was wrong, from the way the woman had her face contorted into pain.
"Red Alert!" Alexis blurted. "Something's wrong."
Red Alert looked over to where Alexis was pointing and he saw the scene. He knew that wasn't good. Since being on Earth, he had read up on many human medical procedures as possible. He felt it was necessary since the Autobots were sometimes being human. What if one of them got hurt, he was the only one able to assist them.
"Starscream, bard the door to prevent people from getting out, I'm going to check to see what is wrong."
Starscream nodded and continued at his job at barding the door. Red Alert rushed over to the bride and groom and immediately went to doctor mode.
"What happened?" he asked with rush concerned.
"I don't know," Alexis' father panicked. "We fell to the floor and she suddenly started to feel pain."
Alexis ran over to see if she could help. She watched as Red Alert started to feel around the woman to see where she was in pain. She gave a quick whimper when he pushed a little against her belly. Alexis knew exactly what was going on. She didn't have to be completely smart to know.
"My baby," she hissed out.
"Irene," Alexis said as she got closer and took the woman's hand. "I think you've just gone into labor. Red Alert is a doctor."
"No, I can't have it now."
Red Alert looked at Alexis. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Red Alert, I know the signs when I see them. When she fell, she fell right on her unborn child. The trauma of that fall has probably caused her to go into premature labor."
"Alexis, are you serious?" her father asked.
"Father, right now is not the time to ask questions. Get the little ones to the basement," Alexis commanded.
Irene moaned in pain again. Red Alert removed his sport coat and with Alexis' help got the bride to lay down on her back. He took the sport coat and folded it under the bride's head.
"I don't want to leave Irene," Alexis father protested.
Alexis glared at her father. "Listen, this is serious. Get the children below. Do you think the little boy should be here seeing his mother in pain?"
Alexis' father looked at the children and saw them scared out of their minds. His little son was ready about to burst into tears. A sudden hand laid on his shoulder.
"You should listen to her."
He looked up to the voice. To his shocking surprise, it was someone he didn't think he would see again. "June?"
"It's me," she answered. "Now allow our daughter and her friends do what they need to do."
Alexis' father nodded. He walked over to the small children and took them to the basement. Alexis and Red Alert both breathed a sigh of relief. Neither one liked the idea of her father right there. Things were going to get tough for them and they all knew it. With a fight happening outside, Optimus was going to have no choice but to transform to protect the town.
-
Optimus watched as a gray jet suddenly attacked by the church his daughter was in, blowing up some of the cars that were there. He knew the measures were now desperate. Would he sit there and continue to allow the town his daughter and friends grew up in, be destroyed or will he swallow his pride and fight back for the protection of humanity.
"Optimus!" Hotshot yelled over his comlink. "We have to do something. My sister is in that church."
Optimus thought for a moment longer. And he seen there was only one course of action. "Autobots! Transform and attack!"
Thrust laughed as he watched six of the Autobots transform. "Third wave, attack!"
Another set of jets and ground vehicles suddenly came out of nowhere and transformed.
"The missing Autobots!" Optimus blurted out.
"What?!" Optimus heard over his comlink from Jetfire. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," Optimus said. "Thrust made his own team."
"A team of renegades," Thrust answered as he landed in front of Optimus. "You will pay for what you have done."
People in the town began to scream and run when the saw vehicles and jets turn into fifty-foot robots. News media were suddenly swinging their cameras at the robots.
"You see, Optimus," Thrust continued, ignoring the screams. "These renegades are angry with you for signing that treaty. They worked too hard for the fight on Cybertron and you allowed their fighting to go to waist. Poor leadership."
Hotshot growled at Thrust and took a step forward.
"Not another step!" Blackfly yelled. "Or that structure is gone!" Blackfly aimed his weapons at the church.
"What will it be, Optimus?" Thrust laughed. "The protection of this town, saving of your precious humanized daughter or the safety of the Transformers secret? Oh wait that one is scratched out…I guess you only have two choices left."
Back at the base, Jetfire, Blaster, Springer, Powerglide and Scavenger watched the scene unfold. Jetfire couldn't believe what he was hearing or seeing. Members of the Autobot team on Cybertron betrayed the Autobots and are now siding with Thrust.
"We have to do something," Powerglide said.
"Well we are backup," Springer answered. "And the cover is now blown as you can see on TV them reporting what is happening."
"Perhaps we can make our own plan of attack," Blaster offered.
Jetfire turned to the stereo. "Explain."
"Well Thrust planned this attack with three waves," Blaster said. "Perhaps we can do the same. Powerglide, yourself and Springer go out and do some damage control while me and Scavenger bring up the rear."
"That's an idea," Scavenger agreed. "Blaster, you don't normally come up with ideas."
"Well Alexis is in that church. And I'm sure she's not the only one as no one has come out of there," Blaster explained.
"Let's go," Jetfire said. "Blaster, you and Scavenger try and get around the others and see if you can scramble their comlink so they can't coordinate the attacks."
Rest of the Autobots soon scrambled to get to the battle as quick as possible.
Meanwhile Optimus and the others were pinned down by Thrust as one of Thrust's renegades was threatening to fire at the church and while they were dealing with that Red Alert and Alexis were dealing with their own crisis.
"You still haven't given me your answer," Thrust insisted. "You have five seconds to decide."
Optimus growled deeply and clenched his fist. Thrust was such a weasel. The traitoring Decepticon knew Optimus couldn't make a choice.
Hotshot hissed. "You know Optimus can't make that decision!" he yelled.
Thrust gave an evil laugh. "I know that's the beauty of it."
"You…" Sideswipe gasped in anger.
"Thrust!" Optimus yelled. "You're problem is with me. Leave the humans out of this."
"Oh I so wish I could, Optimus Prime," Thrust started, not paying attention that there was a camera crew filming what he was saying and it was being played live on television. "But you see your compassion for an alien race who are nothing compared to the Transformers is sickening. You would risk your life on the protection of this miserable planet and the other Decepticons agreed. I will not stand by and allow Megatron's conquest to rule the universe to completely fall apart. The Decepticons will rule the Universe and the Autobots will be completely destroyed."
A couple of humans were frightened out of their minds were crouched not too far from where Optimus was standing. When the Autobots were forced to transform, they weren't able to move fast enough before coming petrified on the spot. Though they were scared out of their minds, they listened as well.
"Mommy…" a little girl with blond hair said. "What's going on?"
"I don't know," the mother answered quite frightened, holding her daughter quite closely.
Thrust looked down to the noise. "Impertinent pests!" He soon aimed his weapons toward the mother and her young daughter ready to blast them.
Optimus looked to where Thrust was pointing. He gasped in horror. He had to save them. He dove to the ground, just as Thrust fired. Hotshot heard a scream as Optimus dove to the ground.
"Optimus!" he yelled.
Thrust growled as his laser hit Optimus' backside instead. The Autobot leader was able to get to the ground just in time to save the two humans.
"Yes!" Sideswipe whispered as he saw Optimus was able to get to the humans in time.
Optimus looked at the two humans who were now shaking like leaves. "Please," he whispered in pain. "Please, get to safety."
He said in his best, gentlest voice as he could muster through the pain he was feeling in his back. He had a feeling the injury would prevent him from transforming.
The woman trembled, visibly but nodded and slowly backed away. When she was far enough away, she turned and ran as fast as she could. Optimus watched and when she was a good distance away he got back to his feet and faced Thrust, ignoring the pain.
"How dare you go after innocent people," Optimus growled.
"Innocent?" Thrust gave said innocently. "They don't look innocent to me. They look like an infestation to this planet, which I shall purge and name Earth for the value of the Decepticons."
"The Decepticons are now under a peace treaty," Sideswipe yelled.
"They are not true Decepticons," Blackfly snapped.
Out of the corner of Optimus' optic, he could see Scavenger coming up the street from behind the renegades. Of course he wasn't the only one. One of the jets in the air saw Scavenger too.
"Thrust. Watch your back!" The jet yelled in his communicator. But there was nothing and he saw Thrust did not move. "Thrust! Move out of the way!" Again Thrust did not move. "Something is jamming the transmission but what."
No sooner said a small orange and red object came flying out of Scavenger and transformed. Blaster! He was jamming the transmission of the renegades. That meant no renegade could communicate with the other. Scavenger also transformed and slammed himself into Blackfly before the black jet could react.
Optimus sighed in relief as the church was now safe. "Autobots protect the towns people as best are you!" Optimus ordered.
-
Alexis could hear another crash and screams from outside, but she couldn't worry about that. Her current situation was dealing with her father's fiancée who was now in full bloom labor. Once Starscream had the door barded up, he rushed over to Alexis and Red Alert. He gave a worried expression as Red Alert did his best to remain calm and help the woman through her pain. Alexis also did her best to help out as well.
Sandy had offered to remain in the basement to help keep the guests calmed down. June opt to help in the church. Sandy had the two little children huddling against her, nervous and scared. June wanted to remain in the basement but she had a feeling Red Alert was going to need help. When June got back up the stairs he saw the full situation. Of course she wasn't the only one who went back up.
June's arm was grabbed suddenly. She turned to her scared ex-husband.
"What is going on? You know something," he said.
"Now is not the time to ask questions. Your fiancée is just about to have a child and you're standing here wondering what is going on." June retorted back.
He looked over to the small crowd to see his ex-wife was speaking the truth. "Who are they?" he asked as he looked Red Alert, instructing her to breath.
"Very good friends I assure you. I am currently living with them as I lost my home to an attack a few months ago. Now are you going to help me with getting things prepared or are you going to be a jerk about this?"
He glared. "She's going to give birth?"
"Yes and things can go very wrong if something goes wrong," June stated. "Red Alert is a doctor, but he's never delivered a baby before but he's going to have to." June yanked her arm back and rushed to Red Alert and soon started to instruct him on what he was going to have to do.
Alexis watched as Red Alert's face paled at the thought of giving birth. "Red Alert," she said as she placed a hand of him. "We have no choice. If we don't, the baby and her could die and you are a medic. Mom and I will help you. Remember Mom has been in labor before."
"What can I do?" Alexis' father asked as he came up to them.
"Dad. You and Starscream go below and see what you guys can find for blankets, scissors and any other cleaning supplies."
"Cleaning supplies?" Starscream asked.
June looked at Starscream. "It's so we can clean the baby when he or she comes out. Make sure there's a basin of warm water and towels."
"I'm scared," Irene moaned.
Alexis held Irene's hand. Alexis' other hand gently rested against Irene's forehead giving it a gentle caress. "Irene, you are going to have to your best to remain calm. Please trust me. We won't let anything happen to you, I promise. But it would do good to remain calm."
Irene looked at Alexis and saw the truth to her words. She squeezed Alexis' hand and nodded.
Starscream and Alexis' father went to the basement to find what they were going to need. Luckily for them, they had help from some of the other people who had babies before. The two men returned several minutes later with the supplies.
June then instructed where to place it. She then told Alexis to brace Irene up and then instructed for Starscream to stand by with the blanket to give to Red Alert when the baby would come out. June was taking note how close Irene's contractions were coming and she knew the baby was going to be born very soon.
-
Outside the church, the tables had turned slightly. Blackfly had found himself in an arm lock from Scavenger and the green Transformer wasn't going to let go. Blaster was jamming all renegade frequencies so they couldn't communicate with each other, there for they couldn't plan an attack.
Once Blackfly had his body slammed, Thrust turned himself to see what was going on. To his surprise there were more Autobots on the scene and were now taking out his men. Thrust tried to communicate with his men but with no luck. He watched helplessly as the Autobot air traffic injured his men forcing them to leave the scene.
"I think it's for you to leave!" Optimus snapped.
Thrust turned a bit to see three sets of weapons pointing in his direction. "Not until I get what I came for! I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
"You're outnumbered," Ironhide stated. "And you can't communicate with your men either."
"A minor set back, but I can sure as well take the one thing away from Optimus Prime that is precious to him." Thrust quickly aimed his canons at the church.
"Optimus I will fire at that structure before you can fire yours to disable me. By then my revenge will have been complete. Your precious human daughter is in that building along with her boyfriend and I'm sure her mother is there too."
"How do you know that?" Hotshot snapped as he was one of them aiming his gun at Thrust.
Thrust laughed. "That farm was so an easy target."
Optimus gasped. "You were behind the attack!"
"And all the other attacks. Including the burning school where your daughter's friend made a daring rescue. She's quite the brave young girl. Perhaps she would like to be a Decepticon."
"You leave her out of this!" Optimus roared. Optimus knew Thrust was talking about Sandy.
Blaster saw Thrust was aiming at the church and he had to act fast. Seeing the jet Decepticons were now disposed of with the Ariel bots, Powerglide and Jetfire. Blaster disengaged his jamming frequency. He then focused his power to send out a musical shock wave to knock Thrust off his feet, which worked.
The cone head traitor was knocked off guard and began to fall. Optimus saw that the Decepticon was about to fall on a large structure so he fired a shot at Thrust to blast him in another direction. Thrust felt the pain of the blast and knew he was in trouble. Needing to react quickly, he teleported himself from the spot and reappeared in the air.
"Renegades Retreat!" The renegade jets quickly all warped out of there, Thrust being the last.
Optimus sighed in relief as he allowed the pain of his wound to take over. He faltered to one knee.
"Optimus!" Hotshot yelled.
"I will be alright," Optimus breathed.
Jetfire seeing that his leader was wounded quickly instructed for the other Autobot jets to head back to the base. He was going to go as well. The public already saw some of the Autobots transformed, no need to see any more jets and a shuttle do the same.
Optimus was relieved to know the town was now safe. After several moments, the Autobots noticed no one was coming out of the church as other people of the town began to make their way out of their homes. Optimus knew something was wrong and he had a feeling it had something to do with that explosion that was in the parking lot of the church. But what was wrong inside the church?