Lennox looked up to Optimus, somehow looking much older than his years. It was true, he WAS getting older, even his little girl was growing up, but there was a silent dread among all the troops for what they might find in the recording.
"All right, Optimus," he said, but really spoke for all the Autobots assembled behind them, Kim watching with wide eyes. "This was the closest recording we could get of them, but it was from all the way across the street. It's impossible to hear anything they could have been saying, but we can at least get a look at what happened."
Optimus nodded gravely, a silent unrest trying to stir within him. "Play the clip, Major, and we will see what we can infer from the situation."
Lennox raised an eyebrow, eyes dark with worry, but he turned and activated the button. Optimus steeled his nerves for what they would find.
At first, there were just cars passing by. Then, he located the fuzzy image of Rochelle stomping down the street before she turned into said alley. She was fuming, Optimus could tell from her body language—she threw up her hands, her mouth seemed to be moving from the far vantage point, and she finally settled with leaning against a wall and crossing her arms. Hardly a minute later, Optimus's spark clenched in terror and fury at the dark purple Charger that rolled its way into the alley with her.
Rochelle immediately ran, and Optimus felt his spark jump when the Charger cut her off. There was a lag where Rochelle said something to the Decepticon. There was sound, but it couldn't pick up their voices, and Optimus found growing frustration inside him. If they could just hear—!
Rochelle suddenly reached up to her head, and Optimus recognized it as the movement that she would make when reaching for her communicator. Then, she fished fast in her pockets, and that gesture suddenly registered for Optimus as well—she was trying to find a phone. She was trying to contact them! Optimus even caught the slight movement of Shockwave's rearview mirror twitch.
How he wished he could at least see her face clearly! The camera was made for watching traffic, and it wasn't the best of its kind either. Her face was fuzzed some from the distance the camera recorded things, and Optimus had to narrow his eyes, enhancing his vision to catch that her mouth really DID move in the image. Rochelle crossed her arms again stubbornly, and Optimus wished desperately to know what they could possibly be saying.
Then, Shockwave's door popped open.
It was a clear invitation. Optimus's spark stopped beating as there was a long pause where Rochelle didn't move, didn't say anything. She was simply frozen. Then, she leapt to action, jumping in the passenger seat. The Dodge peeled off, taking them from view of the camera.
The video paused there, useless to them beyond that point. Optimus's spark pounded hard inside his chest. A frenzied voice broke the silence.
"See? She's a dirty traitor! That video proves it all—"
"Cliffjumper!"
Optimus nearly jumped at how hard his own voice was. His sudden and vehement outburst scared the words from Cliffjumper's throat, and the red Porsche shrank.
He passed a hand over his face, calming himself before he turned to his fellow Autobots with level eyes. "Yes. It is true, Rochelle voluntarily entered Shockwave's alternate form—" Cliffjumper made the barest hints of exasperation, and Optimus pinned him down with a look that would make Megatron squirm. "However," Optimus stressed, "this video tells us little to nothing about what transpired between Rochelle and Shockwave. We do not know if she truly went with them for . . . her own gain, or if Shockwave merely threatened her and forced her to accompany him."
Optimus's serious eyes swept over the silent group, and his optics collided with Kim who sat on Sideswipe's shoulder. His spark softened in compassion for the young human whose eyes were wide as planets, trembling slightly on Sideswipe.
"I see no need to believe that Rochelle is a traitor," Optimus said. "You all know of her response, the first thing Shockwave did with her—he threatened her life. And Rochelle persisted in that we destroy him regardless of her safety." Optimus's optics dulled some as he let his chin rest to his chest. "However . . . Shockwave's words cannot go unheeded."
His spark sat heavy within his chest. To even fathom the thought . . . It tore him apart, but he had to keep an open mind as a leader. He could not be biased in his thinking.
"As of current, Rochelle is still an unwilling prisoner of the Decepticons."
It was interesting to watch the other Decepticon babies form. The sparklings didn't all look so much like a bipedal form just like Nitrostreak. There were some that looked just like him as they grew, but some had two little pieces of fragile metal on their backs. When asked, Flatline eagerly informed her that it boded for wings on their backs or doors, just like "that Autobot Bumblebee".
Some of them already had little claws naturally, sporting the classic Decepticon look. Some backs hunched more than others—actually, only two—but they were clear to prowl around on four hands all the time. She wondered if they'd turn out like Hatchet. The thought made her wrinkle her nose.
They were all adorable to watch though, and two week old Nitrostreak liked to watch them just as much as he liked to play. All Shockwave ever did was either sit and watch Rochelle and Nitrostreak or he would be fiddling with his gun that was always attached to his right arm. Most Decepticons had never seen him without it and assumed that he just had a gun for an arm. Periodically, Rochelle would see Octane when he came in with either energon to drop off or load up for the massing followers of Shockwave. There was even one time Shockwave had let the Decepticon warriors keep the spoils of an energon raid for themselves as a morale booster.
And then, Rochelle nearly exploded with excitement when Shockwave announced that they were going for a drive.
Pausing in a serious wrestling match with Nitrostreak, Rochelle disentangled herself from the tiny Decepticon. "Really? We are?"
He was in his bipedal form, and he looked up. Rochelle heard the top open, but it closed before she saw a Decepticon come down. Instead, she watched Shockwave pluck something of a dark color from the air before turning to her. His hand moved forward, and she found a deep blue, floppy hat put on her head.
She couldn't stop her grin. "Talk about a fashion statement." First, her leather jacket just REALLY complimented the pretty sun dress hat so well, of course! Not to mention her skinny jeans and leather lace up boots were still utterly splashed with energon so it looked like she had dumped blue paint all over herself. And then this pretty hat to top it off. It was an off-color blue, not even dark enough to pass for black like her sports bra. Unfortunately, Rochelle suddenly wished that she had had the insight to wear a real shirt.
Nitrostreak looked up at her questioningly, chirping cutely as he leaned up close, using her for balance on his two legs. He almost came up to her waist now.
"Cute, huh?" she said with a tease to the little sparkling. She hefted up the metal baby in her arms, feeling them burn from the workout. "Shockwave, if we're going out, will Nitrostreak be all right?"
He extended his hand down for the sparkling, and Rochelle sat Nitrostreak in his hand, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss the sparkling on the nose. "You be good, hear me?"
Nitrostreak just chirped happily before Shockwave stood and handed him off to Flatline. "Play," was all he said before he transformed down into a Charger.
Rochelle barely heard Flatline's protests as she all but skipped over to Shockwave. She was going to see the fresh air again! The sun! The grass! The sky! Maybe she could convince Shockwave to get her something hot and fresh to eat while they were out. Strict peanut butter and jelly was starting to wean her weight down, and if she wasn't careful she was going to need a belt to keep her pants up.
"Rochelle, wait." She paused, surprised Flatline had stopped her, but her eyes widened more when she saw the syringe in his hand. "Let me take a blood sample."
"Blood?" she echoed in shock. "What do you need my blood for?"
Surprisingly enough, it was Shockwave that answered her with, "We have a bargain to uphold. In return for your free stay, I promised to turn you into an Autobot again."
Rochelle pressed her lips together, swallowing. So he had . . . He was serious? That was still on? She had thought . . . she was just their prisoner . . . "You're really going to do that?" she asked softly, really wanting this promise.
"I said it."
Obviously, that was good enough for him. Instead, Rochelle just held out her arm while Flatline took the blood sample.
"This will help see how the serum will react with your blood," Flatline muttered, tucking the precious vial away in his arm.
Instead, Rochelle got in Shockwave's driver seat with a wave to them. "See ya, Nitrostreak. I'll be back soon."
The sparkling looked back with wide red eyes, mimicking the wave uncertainly. She blew him another kiss for good measure before Shockwave pulled out into the black tunnel. For some reason, she felt worried for Nitrostreak even though he was perfectly safe with Flatline.
Rochelle slipped on her designated shades before squeezing her eyes shut as the heavy darkness engulfed them both. After some time of silence, Rochelle asked, "So when will the other sparklings hatch?"
"Within another two weeks," Shockwave told her. Rochelle felt the sun burning her eyelids, so she carefully squinted as her eyes learned to dilate to the bright light. "They may vary from day to day, but Flatline predicts September 29th, 30th, and October 1st for the births."
Rochelle raised an eyebrow. "Really? You can pin-point the dates?"
"Transformer births are not the same as humans," Shockwave answered. "When the first stage of the growing process is complete, the sparklings will hatch and begin to grow in earnest."
Rochelle glanced up to the sky, seeing a jet high up. Humans, or was it a Decepticon? She really suspected the latter. "So . . . When do they get their alternate mode?"
There was a thoughtful pause. "They may already scan an alternate mode," he said carefully. "However, they are too small for a vehicle yet, even a motorcycle. Within a few months, Nitrostreak will be large enough to scan the motorcycle of his choice."
"Oh." Rochelle was surprised. She didn't know they would function that well already on birth. It was . . . startling how fast they grew up. "Okay, then how about weapons?"
"Born with them," Shockwave replied without hesitation. Rochelle nearly cringed. "It varies for when they learn how to use them. The earliest has been the span of a human month, the latest, a year."
Rochelle stayed silent for some time, trying to wrap her head around this one. She couldn't even begin to picture a baby in her mind's eye holding a gun. It was just too ridiculous.
"Where are we going?"
There was a palpable pause. "Where would you like to go?"
Rochelle's eyes widened. "What?"
The rearview mirrors twitched. "To eat," he specified. "Before you clean up."
Rochelle sat bolt-upright in her seat. "Holy shit—Holy shit—I want—I want—Primus, what DO I want?" Flopping back down in the seat, Rochelle's eyes searched the ceiling. What in the world did she want? Savory images of fettuccine, lobster, grilled chicken, steak, and every assortments of heated food flashed through her mind, and her stomach almost grumbled immediately. Saliva began to form in her mouth. Suddenly, she wasn't just hungry—she was RAVENOUS.
However, her mind settled on a hot, juicy, greasy hamburger, loaded with all the condiments and accessories.
"Let's go to Hardee's," Rochelle finally said with a rakish grin. "I want a burger!" Exhilarated easily with the mention of cooked food, Rochelle rolled down Shockwave's window to let the pleasant fall air blow in. "How about some music?" she asked boldly for once. "Some classic rock. Some Van Halen! Some good ol' Jump!"
Rochelle let out a long whoop when Shockwave actually turned the song on for her, and she thought, "To hell with it!" Rolling down all his windows so that the wind threatened to take her hat from her head, Rochelle yipped happily, feet stamping and physically restraining herself from drumming on the steering wheel.
"I get up!" Rochelle sang out with the music, feeling absolutely giddy. "And nothing gets me down!" She banged her head to the music. "You got it tough! I've seen the toughest around! And I know! Baby, just how you feel!"
When a random car came down the interstate from the opposite side, Rochelle flipped them the bird before throwing in a random, "Ow!" to the music, laughing at the car that passed. "You got to ro-o-o-oll with the punches, to get what's real! Oh can't you see me standing here I got my back against the record machine! I ain't the worst that you've seen! Oh can't you see what I mean! Aw, I might as well JUMP!"
Rochelle was in hog heaven. It had been so long since she had listened to music, and she indulged in it to its fullest as they drove down the road. She had Shockwave playing a variety of songs ranging from Van Halen, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Eagles, ACDC, and the Rolling Stones. She flipped birds to every car that passed, played air guitar, and sang out the lyrics at the top of her lungs. She almost thought to wonder how Shockwave could put up with her, but since he didn't make a fuss of it she wasn't going to bring it up.
It was later on, Rochelle singing out, "Take it easy! Take it easy! Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy!" that Shockwave turned the blaring music down. A second later, Rochelle realized that they were in a small town and he was pulling into a Hardee's.
After ordering a Thickburger, French Fries, Onion Rings, and a large coke, Rochelle guided Shockwave away into a parking space. Before she had a chance to ask for the next song, Shockwave played "I Was Made for Loving You" by Kiss, and Rochelle nearly imploded on herself in excitement.
Mouth full most of the time, Rochelle couldn't do much but hum when she could and bop around in her seat. Floppy hat and sun shades protecting her face, no one would recognize her. Moving through songs, "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Back in Black" and "Highway to Hell", Rochelle eventually got herself out of the car and sitting on the grassy curb to enjoy the beautiful day. Shockwave didn't protest, letting her enjoy her freedom before she was cooped up in the base again.
However . . . she took one look at Shockwave and old habits die hard.
Putting the last of her French Fries in her mouth, Rochelle tapped her foot to the sound of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer". "Shockwave," she said, "you need cleaned up yourself. I saw one of those do-it-yourself car wash places back down the road." Bundling up her trash before he could stop her, Rochelle chugged the last of her drink and tossed the remains in the trash. Then, getting in, she said, "Come on, let's go."
The key was already in ignition, so Rochelle took charge and pulled out, driving extra careful even though there was no way he could possibly get hurt. Instead, when the chorus kicked in, her favorite part, Rochelle belted out, "O-o-o-h we're halfway there! O-o-oh! Livin' on a prayer! Take my hand! We'll make it I swear! O-oh! Livin' on a prayer!" Sometimes, Rochelle would swear she was born in the wrong generation—at least, the wrong generation of music.
In luck as she even found a nice old rag in the rarely used hand wash, Rochelle parked Shockwave and cranked the music so she could hear it even with the windows shut. Then, rinsing Shockwave down without peremptory, Rochelle began to wash him.
When the song ended, Rochelle requested "Lick It Up" and Kiss immediately began to blare in the speakers. Rochelle pursed her lips and sang along, wiping the cloth along Shockwave's body as she removed the grime from him.
"Don't wanna wait until you know me better," she sang out. "Let's just be glad for the time together! Life's such a treat and it's time you taste it! There ain't no reason on earth to waste it! It ain't a crime to be good to yourself!"
Rochelle banged her head, doing some kind of weird dance while she twisted her hips. "LICK IT UP! LICK IT UP! O-O-OH!" She could care less at how suggestive the song was, Rochelle was jamming, nearly losing the floppy hat in the progress.
Rubbing all over Shockwave's bumper, Rochelle snapped the wet rag to his rear playfully. The car jumped instantly, and Rochelle could have sworn she heard him gasp out loud. Rochelle just laughed saucily, winking at the rearview mirror that twitched her way, and she grinned. When the song ended, she asked for another Kiss song, "You Make Me Rock Hard" and immediately fell back into the rhythm of head banging and an air guitar on the solo.
"You make me rock hard! Baby all night! Love's like a glove and it fits just right!" Rochelle squatted down and carefully cleaned a rim to leave it sparkling. "You make me rock hard! So baby hold tight! Come on baby, let's rock hard! Baby all night!" Several pelvic thrusts came instinctively before she launched into another furious air guitar.
Rubbing her hand across his grill, Rochelle leaned low over his hood as she stretched to the back of his hood. Unceremoniously, she felt that the car was hot, and she put her bare hand on the top of the hood. Correction—the engine was hot.
"Shockwave, "Let's Put the X in Sex" by Kiss. And once I finish here I'll figure out why your engine is overheating." The song started, and Rochelle finished up on Shockwave, rinsing him down once and for all. He was left shining, and Rochelle had to applaud her own skills.
Popping open his hood, Rochelle let a soft whistle at the sight of the engine. She was always impressed by their advanced engines, and she quirked a smile. Leaning down, she frowned. Rochelle double-checked the coolant for Shockwave, but it turned up just fine. Double checking through all she knew about cars, Rochelle was a bit put off that she found nothing wrong. Yet, he was STILL hot even with the hood popped open, and it really bothered Rochelle. Even with Autobots and Decepticons, she knew it wasn't normal.
Finally, Shockwave protested. "Just leave it," he barked. "I'm fine."
"Not overheating you're not," Rochelle muttered. Reaching in again, she jiggled the radiator cap to make sure it was screwed on tight, but even that wasn't the problem. She was literally stumped. Giving a sigh, Rochelle said, "Then let me just make sure of oil . . ."
The song still sang jauntily in the background, "Let's put the X in sex! Love's like a muscle and you make me want to flex!" Rochelle tuned it out for once she was so focused on Shockwave. Trailing her fingers over, Rochelle found the dipstick and pulled it out. Using her cloth to wipe it clean of oil, Rochelle inserted the slim rod back in and the slight gesture caused the car to shudder and shriek slightly, something catching in Shockwave's voice. A rapid roar of fans started up, and Rochelle jumped.
"Shockwave!" she hissed, glancing furiously over her shoulders. Luckily, no one was there to hear the loud fans. "Stop that! What if someone comes up?" Still, she pulled the dip stick back out to check the oil. Of course, that was fine too.
"I said I was fine!" Shockwave snapped suddenly, making Rochelle jump slightly. "The fans cool me off like you are so intent on doing."
Rochelle rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Fine," she said, gripping the edge of the hood since the engine would burn her it was so hot. "Calm the fuck down, I was trying to help." Sliding the dipstick back in its place, Shockwave's gasp was noticeable the second time and the entire car locked up, the hood nearly slapping down on her fingers.
Rochelle jumped back in shock. "Damn! What the hell, Shockwave! At least warn me when you're going to do that!"
The fans just continued for a long moment before the windows rolled down simultaneously. "Just get in," he finally said in a hard voice. "You'll clean up and we'll head back."
Seems the fun was over—maybe she had annoyed him more than she had thought. Rochelle got back inside the Charger whose fans were on high, the roaring in her ears all she heard as they drove away from civilization again. Eventually, the fans shut off as Rochelle absently held her hat to her head. Then, Rochelle shrieked when Shockwave slammed on his breaks, seatbelt locking tight around her. An explosion shook the ground in front of them.
Rochelle felt herself jostled in the seat before the ride evened out. Heart leaping to her throat, Rochelle twisted in the seat to suddenly see a flash of red and a blade slice down.
The sickening sound of metal screeching against metal shrieked out, and with a loud rev of his engine, Shockwave lurched forward. Staring in shock, Rochelle saw Shockwave's bumper dangle from Mirage's blade, impaled through.
She shivered. A little closer, and that would have been straight through his—
Mirage!
Her heart did a contradictory singing of joy and clenching of terror.
Immediately, Rochelle saw the same plane from above shoot down and she realized that it was indeed a Decepticon. Mirage crouched, taking several hits at the plane descended upon him, and Shockwave pulled away at blinding speed.
Then, Rochelle would never forget the sight of Optimus in the distance throwing Cliffjumper (who looked TINY compared to the great leader), and they way Cliffjumper grabbed a hold of the Decepticon ship, taking it down in less than a second.
Rochelle gave a breathless gasp when the seatbelt tightened around her, and Shockwave braked sharply and swerved. A flash of yellow skidded across his side, taking out Shockwave's rearview mirror. That made four Autobots already and only Shockwave since their own Decepticon had been taken out in less than a second.
Shockwave's engine revved loudly, and Rochelle shouted, "Aren't you going to call for reinforcements?"
There was no answer from the concentrated car though as he slipped past Sunstreaker, and Cliffjumper who was dismantling the fallen Decepticon warrior. He made a break for it, but Rochelle screamed when two curved edges impaled through either side of Shockwave, making the newly cleaned car groan in pain. Rochelle recognized the edges of Mirage's grappling hooks holding the car in place before Shockwave transformed.
Rochelle squeaked when the entire car shifted and changed around her, and then, she felt the steel of Shockwave's hand curl around her. Looking up with shallow breaths, between his fingers, Rochelle could see Mirage's grappling hooks embedded in his shoulders.
With his blade, Shockwave slashed through the cables and Mirage lost his hold, staggering back. That was when Rochelle saw Optimus bearing down upon them, energon blades drawn high—
Rochelle was whipped between the oncoming Autobot. Optimus skidded to a halt. "I can snap her like a twig, Optimus."
"You wouldn't dare," Optimus growled back, pacing forward when Shockwave moving back, keeping a set distance between them.
"Oh, but I might," Shockwave hissed back malevolently. Rochelle felt herself pale.
"Prime!" Rochelle jerked her head over to Sunstreaker who was setting up with Cliffjumper and Mirage. "Seekers incoming! Engaged!"
Rochelle's eyes jumped back to Optimus when he said, "You wouldn't honestly throw away your finest bargaining chip, would you?"
"On the contrary," Shockwave said smoothly, steadily moving backwards towards the far trees. "She's a liability to my cause now." Rochelle bit her lip, paling. That was true. She could blab. Not to mention, she still wasn't sure if Shockwave's motives towards her were true or not. "She knows too much, Prime. I'm afraid I might end up killing her anyways."
Optimus couldn't hide the way his eyes brightened in alarm to Rochelle, but she was sure he had hidden it from Shockwave. "Don't be a fool, Shockwave. You know as well as I do that you have me on the edge of your puppet strings with her in your evil grasp."
Shockwave gave one barking laugh. "Is that so? You are a Prime. No Prime will ever bend to a Decepticon's will unless it has his own interest bound with. Megatron failed to see that with Sentinel, unlike myself."
Optimus's gaze flattened. "She's of no use to you dead."
"Is that so?" Shockwave said with a fluid, snake-like flow of words. "I hear losing a spark mate is quite traumatic." Against his own will, Optimus flinched. "How could it affect you, I wonder?" Rochelle took a quick breath, straining her head away when one of the sharp, cutting edges of Shockwave's fingers stroked against her cheek. "I'd hate to break said spark. It would be such a shame to crush such a formidable opponent."
Rochelle swallowed. Her gaze slipped past Optimus to the determined fighting of the Autobots and Decepticons behind him, each fighting to fuel their own cause.
Optimus spoke carefully. "While I would grieve the loss of Rochelle, I would not let the Decepticons have their way with this planet and its inhabitants. I owe them much more than that. There are many other humans whom I care about, those who are my family and close comrades." Rochelle felt her eyes widen. That was . . . the first time she had referred to her family as his family. It . . . was touching.
Shockwave kept his gun trained on Optimus while Optimus kept his energon blades ready for the attack. "Let's not tempt fate, shall we, Optimus?" Shockwave chuckled darkly, and Rochelle scowled, kicking his finger. "She's such a handy, driven little human. Such blood is not meant to be spilled out of stubbornness." Optimus's eyes brightened in anger.
"Now!"
Shockwave didn't get any time to react, but a grappling hook wrapped around his hand and yanked him to the left. Rochelle cried out when he nearly lost his grip on her, and the world spun sickeningly fast when she hear the sound of metal smashing against metal. Rochelle shrieked, popping from Shockwave's grip. Jets screamed across the sky. Rochelle tumbled in the dirt and grass, dust stinging her eyes and making her cough.
Metal screeched against metal, and gunfire erupted above her. Feeling a type of helplessness she hadn't felt since the battle in the desert before Optimus had been resurrected, Rochelle scrambled to her feet, running for the cover of the nearby trees.
Rochelle stared in horror as Optimus and Shockwave engaged in a deadly duel. This time, however, Shockwave was a bit more fearless with his attacking skills—he parried Optimus perfectly with the flat of his blade. Bile rose in the back of Rochelle's throat—SHE had taught him that.
His gun suddenly transformed in the middle of the combat, and Rochelle's eyes widened at the sight of a shield fabricating. So THAT was what he had spent all his efforts on his gun with that upgrade! He had been designing a shield to help protect himself from Optimus's blades! The thought that Shockwave planned so accordingly with his enemy both impressed and sickened Rochelle.
The other, however, that had taken Shockwave by surprise in the first place was Grapple. He was currently engaged with a two skilled Decepticons that had him dancing, the quiet Autobot using only a left-handed gun and his fist. The Autobot was stocky, however, and managed against them both for such an architect, his durable body managing to ward off the harder hits.
Then, Thundercracker screamed in from the west, pelting Optimus from above with bullets.
Optimus cried out when he was hit directly, and Shockwave slammed his shield against the Autobot leader's face. Optimus collapsed to the side, and Rochelle felt the ground shake and leaves fall from the trees.
"Rochelle!"
She jumped, looking towards Grapple who had called her name. One Decepticon was down, the other struggling to get back up, and Grapple had his hand extended to her. Rochelle's eyes widened as he reached for her.
Uncertain, Rochelle stepped back.
"Rochelle—!"
The Decepticon grabbed Grapple from behind, hoisting him to his feet and pressing his gun to his side. With the simple pull of a trigger, Grapple's waist was blown to smithereens. Rochelle's hands clamped to her face to stifle her screams when his parts rained from above like deadly rain.
Grapple engaged with his enemy again with a cry of agony through the pain. Sunstreaker, Mirage, and Cliffjumper were all still far in the distance battling with the Decepticon seekers who still had them outnumbered. Rochelle couldn't tell if and how badly each of the Autobots were wounded, but she could for sure see several still Decepticons on the ground. However, Optimus's cry of anguish ripped past her senses and sent her heart aching in dread.
With the element of surprise, Thundercracker's bullets had left the Autobot leader dotted through with taxing wounds. Between the two of them, Thundercracker and Shockwave both wore Optimus down. The blow of Shockwave's shield to his face left Optimus stunned, and Thundercracker landed on top of him, gun pointed to his head. Optimus grabbed his arm, pushing away with all of his might so that the dead-dealing bullet exploded on the ground next to his head. Throwing the offending Decepticon from him, Optimus started to get to his feet when Shockwave's foot slammed into his gut; Optimus grunted in pain, bright energon leaking from his mouth.
Shockwave gouged his blade straight through Optimus's leading shoulder. He screamed in pain, bucking from the sheer amount of pain and terrifying memory of Sentinel ripping out his entire arm. Optimus got a leg beneath him and tried to rise, slicing at Shockwave, but his blade collided with that shield. Thundercracker then gave several shots that keeled Optimus off-balance before Shockwave grabbed his face, throwing the worn Autobot leader to the side without mercy. Shockwave lifted his gun, shooting a round of bullets that dug deep into Optimus. The beating leaf him smoking, metal parts dangling, chunks blown away, optics frizzing dim and bright as he struggled to focus his vision, on his hands and knees.
"Optimus!"
Rochelle felt the shriek tear from deep within her, terror mounting for her spark mate. She felt so helpless, so helpless—!
Optimus lifted his weary head, and his crystal blue optics collided with Rochelle.
Author's Note:
Heh, I'm starting to like this story the more and more I go with it. Since it's a cliff hanger, I'll try to get the next chapter up as swift as possible.
And . . . Hm. I had something more to say, but now I can't remember. Oh, this wasn't it, but I guess it'd still be good to know, I think Knockout will make his appearance in the next chapter . . . Maybe. ^^