Chapter 25: The Breaking point.

'Hammershot!'

Nothing else seemed to exist as Holly ran towards the Decepticon, she didn't care that there were other robots around,nor that she might get hurt rushing ahead without thinking. She didn't notice that her feet had left the ground until she crashed into the side of Hammershot,slipping slightly but holding onto him and sobbing loudly-she was scared,she didn't want to lose Hammershot,even though she knew he wanted to destroy the human race. Holly just wanted everyone to go away,and to leave both her and Hammershot alone,she didn't losen her grip as a loud groan eminated from Hammershot.

'Damn Autobots,that's the last time I trust one of you'

Slowly he moved into a sitting position,inspecting his wound, it was between his shoulder and arm-whoever had shot him had known exactly where to aim,an Autobot sniper no doubt...It spewed several sparks and he knew that it would slow him down,but not much,at least he didn't have to worry about fighting someone like Optimus-just a few rag tag Autobots who had nothing better to do with their lives. He then brought his attention to the girl sobbing at his side,he frowned-cursing the others for upsetting Holly even more then she needed to be.He lowered his head to speak under his breath to Holly,pushing himself into a more comfortable position,while keeping his attention on the still confused Autobots.

'Holly,don't cry over me...'

'I'm sorry...I can't help it...'

She blubbered, desperatly trying to calm herself and force herself into action given the sudden change in the situation-she knew that Hammershot was going to fight the Autobots and she would have to hide with the notion of perhaps even running. Sighing heavily, and deciding to not press the subject any further,Hammershot stood up-he would have to deal with the enemy first before he could tend to the girl.

'Stay Behind me'

He warned as he turned his dark look upon the others, directly mostly towards Prowl as he didn't find the female a real threat and she was dealing with Amber-Who was muttering something and obviously trying to find out what was going on.

'You Autobots have some nerve...and you call us the evil ones? Poor girl...All she needs is to be left alone and you show up and cause her to cry. Now I remember why I left...'

'Like this has happened before,Hammershot...'

but Prowl's words went unnoticed as Hammershot brought down his cannon so that it was now ready to be used in combat,moving foreward a few feet to put distance between him and wherever Holly had disappeared.

Freeway moved quickly towards Amber, knowing that things were going to get dangerous for the human, she had lost track of where Holly had gone but assumed she had moved a safe distance away.

'Amber, we need to get out of here'

'You haven't told me what's going on?'

'A fight'

'Who'

'That doesn't matter, we need to move'

'Where's Holly'

'I don't know'

'What...'

Freeway didn't give Amber the option to continue as she grabbed the human by the arm and pulled her down a sandy slop that would give them cover from most deflected or misplaced attacks.

Prowl no longer restrained his mannerisms as he had a cannon shoved in his face, he stepped back and muttered darkly as he tried to put distance infront of him.

'Hammershot-you will regret the day you betrayed us'

'Oh No...Whatever am I going to do...ask for forgiveness? Pa-lease a little police car isn't going to scare me.'

Hammershot mocks moments before lunging towards Prowl, unfortunatly the tactician had anticipated the move and managed to easily avaidthe attack, causing the Hummer to expose his side and most of his back to the entrance to the parkinglot.

'Hey-You forgot us,Hammershot'

Came the gruff voice of Ironhide as he appeared and sent several rounds from his own cannons at the Decepticon,not giving Hammershot a chance to attack him first. Stumbling back as the attack half hit him, catching his first injury, he strained to stay standing.

'Don't scrap him yet! we want in on this!'

From behind Ironhide,appeared two sleeker bots, also as they were already transformed, they looked near identical. Both shooting Hammershot squarly in the chest with their attacks, pushing him to the point where he fell onto his knee's,he grunted and struggled to try and get back onto his feet. With his injury,he knew that fighting Ironhide was going to take alot of his concintration but he also had the others. He didn't know where Holly was, but hoped that she had hidden so that none of the others would see her and then he wouldn't have to worry about them trying to drag her off.

'I'll show you junk heads how a REAL party's done'

Hammershot laughed, digging his feet into the ground moments before he sent out a charged round from his cannon,though it wasn't as strong as it could have been but it was enough for him to get his point across and give him a momentary reprieve. The sound that eminated after was deffening,loud enough that it unbalanced the Autobots sensors and if they didn't fall over they were very disoriented. His attack,though heading towards Ironhide, was aimed for the building behind him-which exploded in a firey ball upon impact. Those who were left standing were knocked down from the shockway of the explosion-Even this sent Hammershot off his feet. However,he managed to recover quicker then the others-movement in the sky caused him to look skyward-Starscream and Thundercracker looked as if they might decide to join the fight.

'Hammershot,stop causing us trouble!'

Starscream growled in a slight taunting manner as if he really didn't care what happened to his comrade who seemed out numbered by the enemy. Thundercracker,moved away and began to find an oppertunity to attack-Starscream on the other hand wasn't going to get involved,why would he have to? He'd been the one who instergated it by being the one who shot Hammershot,causing the Hummer to think that it had been the Autobots.

'At least I'm no coward!'

Hammershot shot back moments before recieving a kick in the head from a silver form-joining the fight late was Pomperpous Maximus.

'I may be late but I can still kick your tailpipe!'

Pomperous sneered darkly as he sent eight rounds of his gun into Hammershot before Ironhide shoved him back in an 'This' MY fight' manner. Hammershot was on his back, and given his options he hadn't much of a chance, nor would he be able to get another shot off with his cannon now unless lady luck smiled in his favor.

Thundercracker body slammed Pomperous as he came in for a landing,skidding to a stop as the silver subaru was sent back several feet, his attention was quickly brought to Prowl who shot at the jet to chase him away from the downed car. So preoccupied by the tactician,Thundercracker hadn't even noticed the brothers and it was only when the air was shattered by their united voices yelling 'Jet Judo!' followed by being thrown foreward that he realized what was going on. Pinned beneath the two, he couldn't move,even if he wanted to.

'Stupid Cars!'

He yelled frusteratedly-the pair were ignoring both the jet and Prowl who was trying to explain the gravity of the battle involving Hammershot and playing with Thundercracker could be done another time.

Hammershot glared up at Ironhide and Pomperous as he reappered by the hummer's side. He gave them no satisfaction in showing his pain,but remained defiant,he knew that they both understood that he could easily take the advantage in this battle if he had the oppertunity,even with his injuries and all. which is why they weren't going to give him that chance, they would rather see him suffer.

'Any last words,traitor?'

Ironhide growled, watching and knowing now that Hammershot wouldn't be able to speak or move for much longer, the damage he had sustained was enough to capacitate him if not more. Making sure to speak as if not staring into the face of twin barrel cannons,Hammershot glared hatefully at the older Autobot,no longer even paying attention to the nuesance that was Pompeous.

'Go ahead and finish me. I have no sappy words to try and gain some last minute sympathy. Just the knowledge and proof that I made the right decision by joining the Decepticons'

'Hammershot,you're a fool'

Ironhide grumbled as he raised his arms slightly,ready to finish the Decepticon off but jolted to a stop as he saw there was a small problem in his plan.

'STOP IT!'

The strangled scream from the girl caused even Prowl and the others to stop their arguement,wondering what a human was doing and thinking that even that they had been hurt.

Standing on shaky legs atop Hammershot's chest, now stood Holly,arms out as if shielding the Decepticon from the certain death he was about to have brought upon him. Ironhide frowned and released a long growl as he shook his head,assuming the girl was just being foolish,that she didn't fully understand what she was doing.

'Move aside'

'No'

'Move away from that scum or you'll die along side him'

Pomperous muttered,with a tone that sounded like he didn't care either way if the girl was there or not when Ironhide finished the traitor. Prowl,decided to turn his attention away from the pair ontop of Thundercracker and walked foreward a few feet,he didn't know what the girl was up to either but knew this was a delicate situation they were in now.

'We can't just kill the girl'

'Sure we can-watch-'

Pomperous moved as if he were about to kick the girl when suddenly he was hit in the head by a rock followed by the weight of someone pulling back on him.

'Get away from that girl,Pomperous'

Freeway growled,she had reamurged with Amber who had been lucky and hit the subaru in the head-though she was aiming for his face. Pomperous growled in protest as he was pulled back.

'Bad car! you should be stepped on!'

Amber muttered,now facing the opposite direction of where the group was,though none found it that amusing given the mood.

Ironhide shook his head again and turned his attention back to Holly,who still stood where she did giving no sign of leaving but she was obviously upset as tears rolled down her eyes.

'Foolish girl, just because you risk your life for a Decepticon,does not mean they will do the same for you'

'I know.'

'Then why are you doing so?'

'Because she's stupid'

'And you're Brian's-Ugly-Car-who-lives in a junk yard-jerk!'

Holly retorted back, she really didn't like the Subaru,though at the moment she didn't like anyone-to her they all needed to go away,but she knew that wasn't going to happen.

'I'm willing to die because...'

She began,returning her attention to Ironhide,she looked down not sure how she would explain the feelings swelling so close to the surface of her mind,or how she could make it make sense to robots.

'Because I won't let another person I care about die. I may be powerless to actually do something to you but even you can't stop me from dying if I so wish so. Then you will have a bigger problem on your hands.'

There was confusion spreading across the Autobots,even Hammershot was giving Holly an 'What are you doing' look, but she didn't notice it, instead she tried to fight back what she really wanted to say,no one other then Amber would understand what she ment anyways she was sure.

'I am only human,I have no powers,not even weapons to protect myself-but that doesn't matter to me. All I can do is stand by and support those I care about...and that is what I will do. As long as I stand here, you can't kill Hammershot'

A long pause fell upon the group,Amber now had righted herself and began to blindly walk foreward with her hands out infront of her, she wanted to give her friend a hug, she had caught what Holly ment,but had the others,probably not.

'You...'

Sighing,Holly lowered her head and side glanced towards Thundercracker,then her head snapped up and she glared at the Autobots once more with a firey defiance.

'Better yet, lets strike a deal...If you spare the lives of Hammershot and Thundercracker, then I'll come with you without problem and give you the code to win this war'

'WHAT!?'

A united shout of surprise rose from the group, even Amber seemed taken aback by this-but then she quickly caught herself and frowned,she knew that something was not right with this.Luckily Prowl was also onto the same conclusion and vocalized what Amber only thought.

'You've sided with the Decepticons but are willing to give us the way to end this war and destroy them all only to save two who would end up dying in the battle anyways? Even those two knuckle heads over there can see your lie.'

'Holly, you suck at lying!'

Amber threw in there as she gave a small giggle and wished that she could see Holly's face. Holly frowned but made no comment after Prowl's words, though she gave the impression that she was hurt that they had missed her underlining point. She opened her mouth to say more but felt a shudder run from her feet and to her neck, at first she thought it was coming from her, then realized that it was Hammershot. Worried,she looked down at him,and he knew what she was thinking. He wasn't doing well, and it was becoming quite apparent now-if he didn't get some help then the damage that had been done could become unrepairable...

'Hammer-'

'Holly,you have to go. leave this to me,I'll be alright'

'No! you wont! They'll kill you!'

"Holly...'

'I won't leave you! I won't let them-'

'You have no choice,you have to go to Megatron...'

'No...Not without you...'

Tears were rolling off of her face and lightly splattering onto the cool metalic chest of Hammershot,he sighed and gave a jerkish nod which looked more like a spasim-it was time for Holly to go,with or without him.

'You have to,we still need you..'

'No...'

'If death is my fate then so be it'

'But...Hammershot...'

He glared at her,his voice was sharp and harsh as he spoke to Holly,he knew that she would be going one way or another and this was better for her or so he thought.

'Stop crying over me, I won't miss you, after all you are only good to us for the code, other then that you are nothing to me.Now...Leave me to my fate'

Holly fell silent,arms dropping to her side-a call from Sideswipe went unnoticed until Thundercracker broke past the Autobots,he was getting out of there while he still could and he would be taking Holly with him. Without looking as if he cared much,Hammershot grabbed Holly in one hand before tossing her in the air. Thundercracker flew past just in time to catch the stunned girl in his cockpit-he then took off following the river away from the scene. The girl was quiet as she sat stooped over in the seat,for a few moments the Seeker thought that she had passed out but then she leaned back and looked out the window-her eyes puffy and face red. He needed to get her to calm down, he didn't know why Hammershot had said what he had, maybe he knew something the others didn't. In any case, it was now up to Thundercracker to take the girl to Megatron who was surely waiting by this point-and that was probably where Starscream was as well,the coward.

Once Thundercracker was out of sight,everyone looked at Hammershot,who let his arm flop back onto the ground and groaned darkly as if he thought all this was just annoying. Ironhide heaved his shoulders,raising his guns once more at the Decepticon he wasn't amused by that little act of drama and was glad that it was over.

'Where were we?'

'keh'

Hammershot couldn't form words any more,he had used too much energy in that last toss and now he really felt the effects of his wounds,cursing whoever had been the one to hit him first.

'Ironhide,stop!'

'grr...Now what'

Growling,clearly frusterated at all the interruptions that kept him from finishing Hammershot,Ironhide turned to see Optimus just transforming. How long had he been there? It would have been nearly easy for him to arrive and not be noticed during the whole human in the way scene. Optimus walked towards the group and sighed, Hammershot was barely concious but somehow managed to give a sound of resentment-he was aware enough to know that he wasn't going to die now though in his opinion that might be a bad thing.

'We won't kill Hammershot'

'Why not!'

Pomperous jumped infront of their leader,he wanted more then anything to see the end of Hammershot,and that girl had she remained there. Freeway and Amber moved aside,Amber was now as silent as Holly had been, she was trying to understand what she had heard-the meaning behind what had been said and why Hammershot had said those cruel words to Holly. Sideswipe,Sunstreaker and Prowl all stood back and watched as their leader was paying more attention to the wounded Decepticon then to them.

'Because despite his actions,he is still one of us and hasn't done anything that he deserves to die for'

'Other then nearly kill Scout!'

Pomperous objected but quickly shut up when he received a rather dark look from Optimus.

'A prisoner Prime? but, what-'

'I've seen all that I need to'

'All this because of the girl?'

'No,Pomperous. because Hammershot is going to help us'

The others weren't quite sure what Optimus ment by this, but none of them wanted to question their leader. Freeway nudged Amber to let her know that they were going,but Amber didn't move-she bowed her head and bit the side of her mouth as she let all the thoughts run through her mind. She knew what she had to do, and that the others weren't going to understand it either, but that wouldn't stop her. She dashed foreward,nearly running straight into Pomperous' leg, who didn't even bother to move as the human ran by,nor did he warn her about the curb and Amber fell foreward.

'Amber!?'

Freeway jumped foreward to help the girl but Amber didn't hear her.

'I'm staying with Hammershot.'