Chapter 28 ~ The Storm
"English Speech."
"Cybertronian Speech."
Thoughts.
*Com link*
*Radio Clips.*
"Bonds."
Hey there peoples of the Interwebs! So, I'm late again. Oops. I'm just going to swap to Sundays officially since apparently I'm incapable of posting on Saturday. Also, I'm really sorry about how late this is. I've made it as long as I could to start making up for it, and once I'm done with High School I'll have more time to write and do something special for all of you. XD As cliché as the name of this chapter is, we all know how well it fits…
Now if you'll let me, I need to rant about Revenge of the Fallen. So, I'm kinda crazy when it comes to getting story details just right. Like… I now know it takes 19 hours to fly in a C-17 from Diego Garcia to Pennsylvania… stuff like that. When I was watching the movie, I had a hard time lining things up, and believe it or not, I think I did a pretty good job all things considered… however… When I looked at the screen that they had the Autobot… locator… things on, the map was nowhere near Philadelphia and New York. Seriously, they're on the coast of North Carolina. Wtf. It's not that hard to make little dots appear in the right place and move a little bit, I could do it in about a minute. Le sigh.
GUEST REVIEW TIME!~
Wildstrike: Hello again! Well… it is my job XD Yeah, the twins are the best, I can't wait for Sunny to FINALY make it into my present day chapters. Thanks, I will!
Shaniese: I'm glad you like. Yeah, hopefully we won't have to wait too long for him. ;)
Now that that's done, today's chapter is… kinda choppy. I might fix it later… I'll let you know. Honestly I wanna get to the good bits, and we all know what happens. Also, I need to thank Moonlightdeer for the first scene in this chapter. Idea credit goes to her… though I changed a bit of it… I realized it would be hilarious to put here and I figured we could all use some more fluff before the storm.
Welp that's all from me. I hope you like!
(The Next Morning)
The scene before me was amusing to say the least. Worrying, yes… but pretty freaking funny. Maybe worrying isn't entirely the right word... probably horrifying would fit better if I didn't know everything was fine.
Silverwing had done it again.
On Sideswipe this time.
I'm happy to say he's an excellent creator, he noticed her absence in record time and proceeded to have a full-fledged daddy-panic-attack. Did he question why I was so calm about our daughter missing when he commed me? Nope. Did he practically tear the base apart searching for her? Yup.
I was in the rec room when this happened. Sides had left with Silver to get something for her to play with. I was also the one who found her… or… well actually the soldiers in the room next door found her.
My conversation with Chromia was cut short when an Energon curdling scream tore from the direction of the cafeteria. I transformed and sprinted over only to find a burly man flat on his back. If my memory serves me right, I'm pretty sure it's the same guy who pissed himself the day NEST was made.
I couldn't blame him today though.
He was the one to find my daughter… taking a nap in the pudding. Poor man probably thought she was dead in the covered tray.
Silverwing was just confused. After waking up to a screaming man and having pudding get stuck in her joints she wasn't all that happy. Of course that was the moment Sideswipe stormed into the room. I'm surprised he had enough of his processor to transform and activate his holoform. With how white his artificial eyes were, I would have expected the wall to be missing.
"Sides it's okay!" I was quick to wrap my arms around his holoform. "She's fine!" For a moment he looked like he was going to fight against my hold but a tired whir from Silverwing captured his attention. I let him pull away from me and scoop her into his hands.
"Primus…" he practically breathed as he held her against his chest. Vanilla pudding smeared across his shirt as he did so. The tension in his body drained and I could easily see the fear fade with it. Maybe I should have given him a proper warning about her disappearing acts and stuff…
Chromia walked forwards as I pulled Sides away from the downed soldier. She checked him over before sighing and hauling him over her holoform's shoulder.
"I'll bring him to Ratchet." Chromia left without another word. The small crowd that had formed was quick to disperse since not many were currently awake for the start of dinner.
"C'mon, let's get her cleaned up." I tugged Sideswipe's holoform out of the mess hall and towards the cleaning racks. His alt-mode silently following along. Silver was slowly waking up, as she did so, she fully noticed the fear that still tinged Sides' end of the bond.
She looked up at him with her bright blue optics, easily recognizing her father even in this form.
"Daddy?"
He looked down at her.
"Yeah princess?"
"What wrong?"
"It's nothing sweetspark, you just scared me is all."
"Me?"
"I didn't know where you went, I was worried you might've gotten hurt."
"Oh…" Silver's wings drooped as she hugged as much of her sire as she could, much more considering his currently smaller size. "I'm sorry Daddy."
Guilt swirled across the bond causing both of us to stop just before the wash racks.
"Oh, sweetspark. It's okay… just… please don't go anywhere without telling me or Danni first."
"I try. I forget sometimes."
"Just do your best for me, okay?"
"Okay Daddy."
A shrill alarm dragged me from my recharge. The ringing tone screeching in my audio receptors, pulling me to my pedes on instinct. I scooped Silverwing into my hold in a swift and fluid movement so as not to wake her, before skating out of the room with Sideswipe. The com link buzzed with activity, information flying back and forth across the communications line.
Motion sensors had been triggered without anything else going off. AllSpark case compromised. The team investigating it had stopped responding.
Frag.
*Is it a Decepticon?* ~Starlight
*I'll tell you in an astrosecond.* ~Arcee
We sped out of the hanger and flew across the tarmac. I could see Ironhide barreling around the corner in his alt, followed closely by Chromia. Behind us the other Autobots were quick to follow but Sides and I had a head start and speed on our side.
*I's Ravage! He's takin' pot shots!* ~Jazz
Double frag. Sideswipe and I practically few down the pavement, ducking close to the ground in an effort to gain speed. Ravage plus the building the AllSpark was kept in. Frag, frag, frag, frag.
*Son of a glitch! Reedman just left the containment unit! He has the AllSpark shard!* ~Arcee
*Stop them!* ~Ratchet
*Wha'd ya think we're tryin' ta do?! Frag they're too fragging fast!* ~Jazz
We were almost there. Fire, smoke, and gunfire lit up the bunker buried in the hill. Ravage, the fragger, took a shot at us causing us to break apart, and lose a lot of our momentum. I looked up just in time to see a flash of silver, Reedman, and Ravage sprint to the water. They disappeared below the waves before I could get a proper shot at them. Jazz came jogging up swearing the whole way.
"Those fraggers! How'd they even get here, past our sensor net?"
"Soundwave," I muttered, letting my pedes return to normal. "It's his damn cassette and he's the only one who could've hacked the communications array to learn the cube shard's location as well." Jolt and Ratchet sped past us, towards the burning bunker. Soldiers were yelling and even from this distance I could see wounded. I ran a servo across my faceplates before moving towards the bunker to help. Silverwing stirred in my hold but I calmed her over the bond, lulling her back into recharge.
It was going to be a long day.
Galloway was having a fit. He refused to take any responsibility for his carelessness, and instead tried pointing it at us. Even with his earlier argument having more holes then Swiss cheese, he was still repeating the same thing. It's our fault, they're after us, and we need to leave because we're a danger…
It hurt my processor… especially since it's barely 2:40… AM
Silverwing knew something bad was going on, but luckily she didn't ask. I don't know how I'd explain what's happening to her. It didn't end there though.
Opiluk had met up with Sam and Bumblebee… only for Sam to refuse to help us. I'm kicking his ass next time I see it. Sire wasn't doing to good either. The stress of the last 48 hours was taking its toll on him, especially since he'd only gotten an hour of recharge during that time.
Silverwing chirped up at me as she finished her Energon. Only a tiny bit had managed to escape her, and I wiped it up before it could get under a plate.
*Attention all Autobots. Prepare to mobilize.* ~Optimus Prime
I stiffened at my father's voice causing Sil' to whir at me.
"It's alright sweetspark. Come here." I scooped her into my servos before placing her into my hold. As soon as she was situated I stood and moved towards Hangar 1.
The moment I stepped into the hangar, Sideswipe glided up alongside me.
"I'll take her," he said as he extended a servo. I nodded and pulled Silver out for him. She disappeared into his hold a second later. "Do you know what's going on?"
"I was hoping you knew something… C'mon." I moved forwards, grabbing his servo as I did so. Jazz was talking to some of the C-17 pilots. Apparently ordering them to prep their planes.
"'Right evreh bot. Load up! We're headin' out!" Jazz gave us all a look that basically meant shit was hitting the fan somewhere, and we all moved to follow his order.
Sides and I ended up in a plane with Ratchet, Arcee, and Flareup. It wasn't until we were in the air, and had the planes close enough for short range communications that Jazz finally accepted the public com I was bugging him with.
*Wait, so what's going on?* ~Starlight
*The Laurentian Abyssal just had five contacts dive… and they came up with six.* ~Jazz
The com link was silent after Jazz's accent-less reply.
*You don't think…* ~Starlight
*We all know it's him.* ~Jazz
Dread sunk into my spark, threatening to spill into my bonds. Primus no… not him. He's been offline for two years!
*Megatron is back. We're meeting up with Optimus once we hit stateside.* ~Jazz
*Did anyone tell Lennox* ~Ironhide
*Not yet, we'll worry about it when we get there. I don't even think Lennox knows Megs is kicking again. Either way, Optimus said to just get to the States as fast as possible.* ~Jazz
*Do you think they'll go after Samuel?* ~Jolt
*Do you think Megatron will let his death go unpunished?* ~Starlight
A grim atmosphere overtook the link. I just prayed we'd get there in time.
After 19 long hours cooped up in a C-17, we finally unloaded onto the tarmac in New Jersey. The closest state with a large enough landing strip.
Right now it's noon here, which means it's 10 PM back in the Indian Ocean… I managed to get some recharge on the plane, hopefully enough to last me through whatever happens.
My sire is going to intercept us as we try to determine what the Decepticon's plan is. Bee too. Jazz lead us away from the planes, speeding down the roads towards our rendezvous point.
It didn't take long for my Opiluk and Bumblebee to join us on the roads. The only real reason for officially meeting up was to use the short range communications… You couldn't trust anything with Soundwave around.
*Bumblebee and I shall collect Samuel from his college. One of the human's largest population centers, New York is also nearby. Megatron would likely see it as a target for revenge as well.* ~Optimus Prime
Acknowledgements sounded across the line as we spit and took different paths along the highway. New York was the largest city near Sam, Megatron could easily attack both.
Horns blared after us as we sped down the black paved road. I swerved around a pickup earning myself a rude gesture and pulled behind Jazz.
We were almost to the New York boarder when my bond with Opi flared to life.
"Starlight! Samuel's college has been attacked. Alert the Autobots to converge on my position."
"Got it!"
*Jazz, we got a change in plan. Opi need us with him. Sam's college just got hit.* ~Starlight
Several curses flew across the line before Jazz pulled off and found us a new route. As soon as our wheels hit the new highway we gunned it towards our new destination.
"The Decepticons have captured Samuel. Bumblebee and I are moving to intercept."
I pushed my engine harder, speeding in front of Jazz. He questioned my actions and I quickly relayed what my sire had said. We were driving parallel to the border with Pennsylvania when the bond opened again.
"They've taken Samuel into a building. Megatron is there."
He closed the bond before I could reply. Please be okay, please be okay. They'd crossed the river into Delaware. I took the lead, trying to follow what little of the bond I could.
"Engaging."
"Opi!"
The bond slammed shut again, I could feel his regret in doing so. The silent apology being accepted even though I hated the fact he needed to. He was moving, I could feel it. I pulled up my GPS, and the only thing straight towards where I felt him was a heavily forested area. Opi would have lead the Decepticons there, away from civilian casualties. A flash of yellow suddenly pulled up alongside us. Bumblebee pulled ahead slightly, all of us rushing to reach the battle we all could hear by now.
I could see two humans in his seats. Mikaela being one, the other a guy I've never met. 'Kaela glanced out the window at me, a small smile appearing before being replaced by worry as she looked forwards.
I almost swerved as pain flashed across the bond before it shut again. My engine whined painfully at me as I tried increasing speed further. For a second, I regretted not upgrading my alt mode to something with better aerodynamics before I pushed the thought away. Bee and Sides followed my lead, the three of us being faster than the other bots behind us.
More pain flashed across the bond, my sire doing the best to shield me from it. I tried reaching for him, the only thing I could do until I got there…
His presence brushed mine, determination bubbling over the pain before he blocked me again. Fragging stupid twisty roads! C'mon!
Everything stopped.
For an instant, the smallest of moments, the wall dropped…
Worry and exhaustion were the first things across…
Then the pain…
I swerved, almost hitting Sideswipe and smashing into a tree. My tires locked for a second almost causing me to spin out.
His spark… his spark had been hit.
I forced myself back into driving. I had to get there. I had to. I wasn't too late. I couldn't be too late.
Pain ripped across the bond but I wouldn't let it slow me.
"Opi! Opiluk!"
"Star…"
We veered into a dirt road. I could see him…
"OPILUCK!" I screamed, transforming and running forwards.
Somewhere in my processor I noted the facts that Ironhide had yelled for everyone to attack… that Sam was sprinting down the hill… that Megatron was standing there with an Energon soaked sword…
But all I could see… really see…
"I'm sorry… my Starlight…"
"Opi!"
The links that held my spark and my father's together snapped. Ripped. Faded.
He was gone.
My Opiluk… my daddy…
Optimus Prime is dead.
There you have it folks. Holy crap… I can't even. Hopefully next chapter won't be late, though I'm not going to make any promises with how my schedule has been going. Anyways, real life update, my high school has this thing called senior assassins. (I know other schools have it too but I don't think it's everywhere…) Seniors who participate get assigned someone to take out with a water gun. You hit your target within the week and you go onto the next round. Get hit yourself, and you're out. I took out my target and successfully evaded the guy after me so I've made it to round two! Woot! Wish me luck! I've also got prom this weekend. I'm just going with friends but I bet it'll be awesome all the same. :D I was also almost attacked to day. The girl after me was waiting for me to come home from Computer Club. We kinda realized how suspicious a black car, with the door slightly cracked open, on the side of the street that never has people parked on it was. Especially when, as we opened the garage door, the car door opened a bit more and I caught a glimpse of the girls head. So my dad, the awesome man that he is, shut the garage door, pulled out of the drive way and started going somewhere else. Seeing that the assassin was after me, he practically floored it after a turn down another street (Yes he was being careful) went around the block, (She was still following us) pulled into the driveway, and let me bail out to sprint into my house. :3
REMEMBER, IF FOR ANY REASON I'M LATE WITH A CHAPTER. LOOK TO MY PROFILE TO SEE WHY… and how sorry I am…
Please, please, please leave a review for at least this chapter if not all. Let me know what you think so far, if I made any mistakes in catching my mistakes, any ideas as to what you think will happen to Star, funny shit you want me to make her do, prank ideas… cause I need those, or just say hi! Alrighty then, I'll talk to you later Interwebs! Bye! o/
