Next chapter, here it is! Enjoy.
Chapter 14
"Violet! Violetwind!" Ratchet yelled, violently shaking the femme.
She groaned, slowly opening her optics. "What is it, Ratchet? Can't you let me sleep?"
The femme started to close her optics again when he gave her another shake. "No. We don't have much time. Megatron is preparing to cyberform Earth. He must be stopped."
Her optics snapped open. "My family!"
"Yes, they're in danger. Along every other living thing on the planet."
"Ok, help me up..."
Helping her to her pedes, Ratchet slung her arm over his shoulder and wrapped his other arm around her to help her stand. They started to shuffle off together. "We must find a way to contact the others."
Nodding Violetwind gritted her denta in an effort to ignore the pain. She knew Ratchet was just as injured and would be hurting as much as she did but the whole Earth was in danger and much more important than a bit of pain.
Wandering into the Nemesis they saw the scattered and crushed remains of vehicons, evidence of Predaking's rampage.
With any luck, he'll finish of Megatron for us.
I donno Windy. I mean, Megatron's pretty tricky.
Doesn't mean a gal can't dream.
The pair stopped by a console, the two troopers that had been at the post were lying lifeless on the floor beside it.
Carefully letting go of Violetwind, the medic made sure she could stand on her own before turning to the computer. Tapping a few keys he opened up a comm link with the Autobot's base.
"Autobot base, do you read? This is Ratchet, can anyone hear me?"
A joy filled response came from Optimus himself, ::Loud and clear, old friend.::
They could also hear the rest of the Bots and humans cheering, earning a small smile from Violetwind as she leaned against the wall.
However, Ratchet did not have time for pleasantries, "Listen to me. Megatron has managed to rebuild the Omega Lock on board his warship. I've deactivated the Decepticon shielding system. You should be able to get a fix on my coordinates."
Blaster fire around the corner momentarily grabbed their attention. Turning from it, Violetwind glanced at the mech with worry.
Frowning Ratchet continued, "Optimus, you must hurry. Megatron is preparing to cyberform Earth as we speak."
::Ratchet we have reason to believe Violetwind has also been taken prisoner by the Decepticons. Have you had any contact?:: Optimus questioned.
"I'm here," she called out, "I'm safe."
"Optimus, you must hurry," Ratchet implored a final time and ended the call. He quickly grabbed Violetwind and they hurried off, not about to get caught in a fight with some vehicon troopers if they could avoid it.
"Can your transform?"
The femme grimaced but nodded, "I should be able to."
He nodded and transformed, waiting for her to do the same. Transforming down into her alternate mode, Violetwind followed as Ratchet took off.
Suddenly the air on board the warship tensed, like the quiet before the storm. It filled the pair with hope. They knew exactly what that storm was: the Autobots arrival.
Opening a comm link to the team, Ratchet reported, "The Omega Lock's control station is located on the lower deck. Violetwind and I, are making our way there now."
::Copy, Ratchet.:: Optimus took command, ::We will rendezvous at the objective. Arcee, lead the Stealth Team to secure the Omega Lock. Ultra Magnus, you and the Wreckers, storm the bridge. Prevent the Decepticons from targeting the device if Stealth Team is delayed.::
Arcee showed some concern, ::Optimus, if we fail to secure the Omega Lock before it's ready to deploy, do we destroy it?::
::I do not intend to squander a second chance to restore Cybertron.::
I sure hope we can do this... Violetwind thought with worry.
We have to have hope. We can fraggin' do this.
"Violetwind?" The medic interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"What happened to you back there, when we were being attacked by the Predacon?"
The femme softly whimpered, not really wanting to talk about the strange occurrence. It was difficult to understand. Yet, she knew she would have to tell Ratchet sooner or later. She guessed the present moment was as good as any.
"I... I don't really know for sure... It was like a rage that came over me when I saw you getting hurt. A similar thing happened when we fought Predaking back in the cave and then when Soundwave took you prisoner. I- I changed... Just became angry and attacked."
The mech stalled briefly. "How could you not have told me sooner?!"
"Well, it wasn't really like I had much time..." she whined, "Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack came back injured and you had the commander's new hand to make... And- and I didn't understand what happened to me!"
"Calm down," he barked, silencing her before she could start babbling. With a soft vent he replied in a calmer tone, "It must be something to do with the mind transfer. Something in your processor is not reacting well."
"What can we do?"
"I am not certain. If we had the time I would perform some tests but as it is, we do not..."
"Forget about me, Ratchet. Earth's more important than one little femme."
The medic grunted. She was right, but he had trouble not thinking about her broken mind. However, they were almost at the Omega Lock and had a job to do.
Slowing down, Ratchet transformed. He quietly signalled for the femme to remain silent. Peering around the corner, he saw two vehicon guards at the door.
Moving back from the edge, he whispered, "Do you have any immobilising bombs on you?"
Transforming she held a questioning look on her face, "Yeah."
"Good. There's two guards on the door."
Picking up on what he wanted, she grinned. "Sure thing."
Sneaking over to the corner, she slipped a bomb from her subspace. She rolled it around her fingers taking a peak at the guards, making sure they hadn't been noticed, which they hadn't. Inhaling a deep breath, she flung the small bomb at the ground between their pedes. Hitting the ground it exploded with a plume of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the troopers were frozen in place.
Oh look, two nice new statues. Don't you just love the way the Decepticons do their interior decorating.
The femme giggled lightly at Windy's sly humour.
Ratchet gave her an odd look as he passed, not saying anything, yet wondering if crazy had struck her again.
Biting back her laughter she uttered, "Windy."
He still frowned but nodded. "Be careful. Shockwave is likely to be inside. I'll keep him busy, you see what you can do about shutting down the Omega Lock."
"Ok," she muttered in acknowledgement. "Ratchet..."
"Yes?"
"Please try not to get too hurt." Her fearful optics looked up into his.
"I'll be fine," he assured her. "Just pay attention to your task and not to me."
She nodded, doing her best to put her worry to the side.
You can do this. I'll help guide you where I can.
After sharing a final look, Ratchet turned and flicked down his hands to bring out his swords. Moving forward he headed through the door to the Omega Lock.
The Omega Lock control station was housed in a large room. Along the walls huge containers were filling with cybermatter made from CNA and completed Synthetic Energon. Off to one side, Shockwave stood at a console, focused on monitoring the Omega Lock's status.
"Shut it down, Shockwave," yelled Ratchet. "I cannot allow you to harm Earth."
Turning to look at the medic, the Con with a single optic replied in his monotoned voice, "The planet will not be harmed, only its indigenous life forms."
Ratchet's optics narrowed, "Over my sparkless husk."
The medic let out an angry shout and charged for the scientist. Shockwave, however, was unfazed by the attack. With ease he toss the mech over his shoulder and against one of the cybermatter containers. He crashed to the ground, his swords retracting involuntarily.
While Shockwave was distracted, Violetwind took the opportunity and rushed over to the console. Looking over the cybertronian symbols, her optics danced about trying trying to make sense of the controls. "Alright, so what do I do?"
We need to find the one that will stop the process.
"And which one might that be?"
Slag it, I don't know.
"Maybe if I just tried pushing buttons..." she moved her hand towards it.
No! Don't! You might fire it! Then we could all be in trouble.
The femme froze. "Ah, yeah, that might not be so good..." Retracting her hand, she glanced over the controls again. "Ok, so, which one looks most like an off switch?"
Before Windy could respond Arcee' s voice came through the comm link. ::Ratchet, Violetwind, we're approaching your position.::
Glancing over at Ratchet, the femme cringed; he was having his aft handed to him. Feeling the anger begin to rise up again, she looked away. "Arcee, just get here quick."
::Scrap.::
"What's wrong?"
::Cons.::
The blue femme dropped the link and Violetwind groaned. That is just what what they needed right then, more trouble.
Another crash sounded in the background, which the femme did her best to ignore. Knowing that she could not just keep standing there and despite the risk, she reached over and pressed a key. And nothing happened. Breathing a sigh of relief she tried another one. This one brought up the schematics of the Omega Lock.
"That doesn't really help me..."
Looking down she picked a different button. "Maybe..." she reached out her hand again but before she could try yet another it started beeping. Jumping back she cried, "It wasn't me, I didn't do anything!"
Shockwave looked over at her and the console. His single optic and lack of a face made it hard for her to tell of he was surprised or angry or if he even felt anything. All he did was start walking over, aiming his gun at her.
Door wings quivering, she was unable to move until Windy barked, Vi, duck!
Obeying, she did just that, the shot flying over her head.
Picking himself up from his last knock back, Ratchet swung his sword at the Con. Shockwave countered the attack with his gun, giving him a punch to the stomach plates and watched as he slumped to the ground.
Leaving him there, the mech walked over to the console. Assessing the monitor he reported, "Lord Megatron, the Omega Lock is fuelled and ready."
Slag, Vi do something!
Nodding she stepped forward, bringing out her blade and aiming for the mech's helm. He saw it coming and side stepped. Quickly he pressed the holographic button and the floor in the centre of the room opened up.
Violetwind froze in surprise. Underneath the Nemesis hung a reconstructed Omega Lock in all its glory. A more welcome sight, however, was the form of Optimus Prime. He stood just under the rim off the floor, his machine gun pointed up at Shockwave.
A wide grin lit up the femme's face. "Optimus!"
"Violetwind, move."
Only to happy to obey the Prime, she started to back off, but the Decepticon grabbed her wrist. Pulling her in front of him, Shockwave wrapped an arm around her neck, his gun hand pointed at her side. "It would be illogical for you to fire and risk the femme's safety."
The femme whimpered, not liking the way things were going. She had had enough of being the scapegoat, of being tossed about and used as somebody's punching bag.
Optimus narrowed his optics, yet did not lower his weapon. The leader was weighing his options. He could not risk her safety but still had to stop Shockwave.
Windy, what do I do? she asked, knowing she couldn't just stand there and be used as a hostage. Ratchet still lay crumpled on the floor with his wounds and Optimus was at a stalemate. It was up to her.
Jab your elbow into his stomach plates.
With a grunt of understanding, she clenched her hand and made a quick jab with her elbow into his lower stomach plates. Surprised by the attack the mech let go of her. Free from his hold Violetwind purposely dropped to the floor and shouted, "Optimus, now!"
Shots from his machine gun rang out at the Decepticon, forcing him to seek cover. Unfortunately before Optimus could do more Megatron fired at his gun, knocking it from his hand. The silver mech flew towards the Autobot in his alternate mode, transforming to grab him and knocking them both off the ledge with the momentum. Together they crashed onto the rim of the Omega Lock.
No longer having his hand occupied or being threatened, Shockwave pressed a button on the control panel. Looking up, Violetwind watched with wide optics as the large containers around them that had been filling up as they came in now started to drain. Her gaze followed the cybermatter as it flowed down into the Omega Lock, the power surging through the device and lighting up energon lines, the pillars sparking. At the rim it filled with the cybermatter, creating a pool with ripples along its surface, much like the first time they saw it back on Cybertron.
Getting up, Optimus and Megatron continued to fight, throwing punches at their opponent's helm. Getting knocked back, Megatron pulled out the Dark Star Sabre. The glowing purple sword ebbed with power. He swung it around but the energy wave flew over his opponent's head. About to take another try, Optimus hit the hilt of the sword, knocking it out of the Decepticon's grip. The Dark Star Sabre landed behind the him, far out of reach.
The silver mech growled, continuing the fight. As he did so, Megatron called to his scientist through a comm, "Shockwave, prepare to fire the-"
He was cut off as the entire ship began to tilt.
Violetwind was glad she had not risen, as those who were standing wobbled unsteadily on their pedes. However, it did not make her any less scared or confused about their situation. "Ratchet?"
Picking himself up, the medic glanced over at her before looking about the room. He took in the empty containers and the tilting of the ship as it changed direction, shifting to the other side. Lastly he took in Shockwave standing at the Omega Lock controls.
With a pained grunt, he lifted himself to his pedes. One hand clutched his side while the other transformed into a sword. Using what strength he had left, Ratchet raced forward, slashing at the Decepticon.
While Ratchet fought with Shockwave again, Violetwind got to her hands and knees. With the Con occupied again it was her best chance to do something about the Omega Lock.
Don't fret about the floor,Vi. That's what equilibrium sensors are for.
"Right," she muttered. Heaving herself to her pedes, pain flared up across her body again, earning a whimper. Doing her best to ignore it, she walked back over to the console, sounds of the fighting around her filling her audios. Taking a worried glance at Ratchet she hoped that he could hold out.
Before she could turn her attention back to the Omega Lock controls, none other than Smokescreen phased through the door. A wide grin broke out onto the femme's face as she let out a breath of relief. Not only was she happy to see him, but what he carried could turn the battle in their favour: the Star Sabre.
Switching off his phase shifter, Smokescreen glanced around. His optics found hers and he smiled and she could see the relief in them. However, they didn't have time for a reunion, "Optimus?"
Violetwind pointed to where their leader was fighting with Megatron below them.
With a nod, Smokescreen rushed forward preparing to throw the Star Sabre. "Optimus, catch!"
At that moment Bumblebee shoved two of Starscream's seekers through the door in an effort to get in. Arcee followed with Starscream.
Breaking away from his fight with Ratchet, Shockwave pointed his gun arm at Smokescreen. Looking up from where he fell, the medic's optics widened, "Smokescreen!"
Without hesitation Shockwave fired, the shot hitting the young mech in the shoulder and knocking him into one of the empty jars. The Star Sabre fell from his grip, flung away by the motion of his fall.
A shrill scream erupted from Violetwind, "Smokescreen!"
While everyone else's gaze locked on the weapon, the femme's was focused on the rookie. Her spark felt like it had stopped cold, a fright taking hold of it unlike anything else.
Starscream was the first to move. He shoved a trooper out of the way and ran for the relic. Kicking away the vehicons, Bumblebee gave chase. Following closely behind were Arcee and the only seeker that had remained standing.
Even Shockwave ran for the Star Sabre. His logic circuits dictated the importance of the artifact and not letting it fall back into the Prime's hands.
Ignoring their chase, Violetwind rushed over to Smokescreen's side as he got up. "Smoke, are you alright?"
He grimaced as he had a look at the burnt metal but nodded, "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Optimus needs the Star Sabre."
The mech looked her over, his optics widening in concern. He took in the crumpled metal, and energon staining her armour. A sick feeling swelled up in his tanks. He should have been there to protect her.
Before Smokescreen could say anything, Ratchet called out as he leant over the rim of the lower deck, "Optimus, you must use the sabre to destroy the Omega Lock! It is the only way to save Earth!"
Wrapping an arm around Violetwind, the blue mech rushed them over to the edge. They watched – along with ever other Bot and Con – as Bumblebee climbed down to Optimus with the Star Sabre over his shoulder.
The scout trilled to his leader, 'Optimus! Here!'
"The Star Sabre!" Megatron eyed the weapon with worry. Turning back to Optimus he shoved the mech to the ground. At that moment Bumblebee jumped, sabre raised above his head to throw it. Quickly lifting his fusion cannon, Megatron fired three successive shots for the Autobot.
Seeing him do so, Optimus lunged at the Decepticon, but it was too late. The shots had been fired and each one hit its mark.
The Star Sabre fell from Bumblebee's grip as he was hit time after time in the chest plates. Each one burying deeper into his armour and destroying the precious spark chamber underneath. He fell, sinking into the cybermatter, his once cheery bright blue optics dimmed before going dark. The light blue liquid lapped at the opening in his chest as the Autobots looked on in shock. Their comrade had died in front of them and they had been helpless to stop it. In contrast, the Decepticons were overjoyed to have eliminated one of their enemies.
Bumblebee, the beloved Autobot scout, was dead.
Bee! Nooo! ;)
Oh, hey, I've got a poll going on my profile at the moment about the colours of the Transformers in the Shattered Glass universe. I've been reading a few Shattered Glass fics lately and I'm really curious as to whether people like the colours being changed or not. So it'd be great if you could go vote :D