Chapter 35: The Siege

"WHAT!" Bumblebee cried. He practically fell backwards in shock. "Look buddy, I just came here to ask Vector Prime something! I didn't come to enlist in-" "You have battle-grade stingers don't you?" Kup grunted. Bumblebee bit his lip as his optics trailed to his arms. The older Autobot tapped his foot. "Yeah..." Bumblebee gulped. "Then you're used to the military," Kup assumed. "No, that's not-" "Then what's the story?" the veteran demanded, "You some bootleggin' punk or something?" Bumblebee stood there with his mouth hung open. No words would come. He couldn't possibly tell him about how Ratchet had illegally upgraded him, but if he didn't give the right answer...

"And you always thought you were fit for the Elite Guard," he heard Bulkhead chuckle to himself from the sidelines. That made something click in Bumblebee's processor. "Slag no," Bumblebee said, his Spark now overflowing with confidence, "The thing is, I was up for the Elite Guard but got rejected!" Bulkhead's jaw nearly fell off. "Really?" Kup asked. He seemed impressed. "Alright kiddo," he said as he typed a sequence of keys into the terminal he was next to. A hissing noise dragged the younger bot's attention towards the wall about twenty yards away from them. A bullseye had been dragged onto it. "Hit that," Kup ordered. Bumblebee blinked. "T-that?" he stuttered. Kup nodded.

Bumblebee looked at the target in disbelief. There was no way he could hit it, at least not in the center! He turned his head to Bulkhead for some reassurance. The big Autobot was just grinning at the situation. Huffing, Bumblebee popped out his stingers. As they began to charge he bent his arms back and took a step forward for a good start. Unfortunately, the mixture of his self-confidence with the nervousness of displaying such abilities in front of the professional veteran got the better of him. He forgot to put his foot back down and instead fell flat on his face, his stingers going off upon impact. The shock did nothing but make a singed mark on the wall next to the target.

"Well, I can see why you didn't get in..." Kup muttered. He rubbed his chin as his optics scanned the young bot. "Still," he said, "Gotta have some skill to have gotten those stingers." Bumblebee flashed his own grin at Bulkhead as he got back to his feet. The more level-headed Autobot just rolled his eyes. "Well, whether or not I think otherwise, you have defended this planet for longer than anyone outside of your team," Kup stated, "And you've also been to where this mission'll take place with only two other bots, so your comin'." "Wait," Bulkhead said, "Where's this mission going to be exactly?" "What you kids call the moon."

"And how are we feeling?" the double-agent's amused voice asked. Oil Slick glared at the intruder. But it wasn't like he could do much about it though. He was, after all, chained to the wall of the holding cell of the Decepticon flagship, the Nemesis. "I'd feel a lot better if you weren't here," the scientist muttered. He could sense the pleasure emanating from the Decepticon's faceless head unit upon hearing the response. "Can't I'd say the same if you weren't here," Shockblast told him. Oil Slick allowed his shoulders to sag a bit. If he was going to be having a conversation he might as well be as comfortable as possible he figured.

"And why would that be?" Oil Slick asked sarcastically, "Because you love torturing your victims." "While that is true, the answer is no," Shockblast replied. Oil Slick looked into his eye. "Then why are you happy I'm here?" "Simple," the intelligent Decepticon stated, "Because you have provided a better means to defending against Unicron." Oil Slick's eyes narrowed. He felt his hand twitch. A force raced through his system as it had done when he'd realized he'd been found out. "As much as I pity my old leader for his situation, this wasn't for the Decepticons." "Oh that's obvious," Shockblast laughed. Oil Slick scowled at the purple Transformer in front of him. "Yes..."

"So you just came to gloat that you found out what I was up to," Oil Slick muttered. Again Shockblast laughed. "No no no," he said cooly as his hand patted the prisoner's shoulder, "I came to thank you. Because of you, I-er-we're one step closer to ridding reality of a rather troublesome pest." Oil Slick looked at Shockblast suspiciously. He was certainly acting more boastful and casual than usual. "What are you up to?" he asked quietly. If Shockblast had brows he guessed they would have bent in a questionable manner. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Shockblast confessed. "Like slag!" Oil Slick yelled, "What'd you do to me? Ever since I dug around in the Grand Mal systems something's been surging through me!"

Shockblast shrugged and took a step back. "Whatever happened is your own fault," the Decepticon told him as he turned to the door, "You knew it'd be dangerous coming here in the first place. Whatever fate you've doomed yourself to is of your own accord." "Fate?" Oil Slick said. He definitely wasn't talking like the normal Shockblast. "Fate? What the slag do you mean? Get back here!" As the door shut behind the trusted second-in-command, Oil Slick could feel the prideful and arrogant atmosphere evaporate from the room. After a moment of straining he sighed and slunk back against the wall.

Rattletrap sighed. "Wasn't I in this situation four hundred and thirty four pages ago?..." Hearing a somewhat disturbing sound, the Transformer turned his head. Behind him was Thundercracker who had somehow found and taken to playing a harmonica atop the jail cell's metal cot. "Grimlock want noise-maker!" the Dinobot hollered. As he launched himself onto the blue Decepticon chaos ensued once more. "Yeah, except back then I wasn't with idiots that were liable to kill any witnesses!" Rattletrap said through the bars that he'd been slammed up against from a toss of Grimlock's opponent, "Dear Primus...why me?"

"HEY!" Cliffjumper yelled, "Keep it down in there!" "Never did I think I'd be so happy to see a security guard..." Rattletrap muttered. Though they didn't need prompting, Grimlock and Thundercracker had stopped their quarreling. But Rattletrap was still mashed up against the bars from the two bots. Instead of fighting they were attempting to communicate with their jail-keeper. "How dare you keep such a great and powerful Transformer in such inadequete environments!" the Starscream clone yelled. Cliffjumper rolled his optics. He'd been warned about him. "Look buddy, you of all them probably deserve to be in here the most," the red Autobot informed, "Now get away-"

"Grimlock not mean!" the Dinobot cried. Rattletrap's expression flattened in disbelief. "Pathetic..." he said to himself. "Grimlock be innocent bystander!" Cliffjumper too was in disbelief. "You were one of the bots that started the fight!" he reminded, "Not only that but we found you intoxicated!" "Grimlock mistake," the Dinobot attempted to correct, "Grimlock innocent front-stander." Cliffjumper's view drifted to Rattletrap. "Don't look at me buddy," the brown Autobot waved, "I'm used to this kind of environment. These two bozos just happened to be in the same place as me when ya found me. Now, would it be so much to ask for a proper cell with maybe two less roomates and-"

"You're the one that instigated them," Cliffjumper muttered holding up a warped sewer lid. Rattletrap grinned in embarrassment. "Grimlock's crown!" the Dinobot exclaimed in joy, "Give Grimlock now!" Cliffjumper's mouth went into a circle. Uneasily he looked at the "crown" and then at Grimlock. He had his hands together as if he was praying. Rattletrap shrugged as the guard's optics looked at him again. Shrugging as well, the Autobot tossed the object into the cell. A second later he wished he hadn't. The instant it passed through the bars the cell became a battlefield. Desperately, Rattletrap reached as far as he could out of the imprisonment with his arms.

After giving a sympathetic look to the crook, Cliffjumper walked back towards the door he'd come from. "Slagging bastard," Rattletrap almost cried as it shut. Looking back at the two bickering figures the rat-like bot realized something. He needed out. Now. "Well, given the alternative, someone has to get this door open!" he complained. Hastily, he reached up into his shoulder-padding and began fishing around. Eventually, his face lit up. He grabbed the object that his hand had touched and he pulled. Out of the shoulder-pad came what appeared to be a modified energon dagger.

It only took a couple of minutes of digging for a clicking noise to sound from the door. Grinning, Rattletrap pressed against it. It moved. Hesitantly, the bot looked behind him. The two other Transformers were still in their war over the sewer lid. Tossing caution to the wind, Rattletrap opened the cell door. The moment he did though, the battling stopped. "DOOR OPEN!" he heard Grimlock cry and gulped. "Hold it!" Rattletrap yelled as he whipped around and held his hand out. Thundercracker and Grimlock had been just centimeters from trampling him. "Let's get one thing straight!" he uttered, "I'm getting out of here! If you two feel the need to tag along, you are not getting in my way, got it!"

A bit fearful of the smaller figure's sudden ferocity, Grimlock and Thundercracker looked at each other. They nodded to Rattletrap. "Good," Rattletrap sighed, "And you are morons. That is a sewer-lid. Not a crown." Grimlock looked at the object in his hands and dropped it. "Rat-bot say it was a crown." Rattletrap bit his lip. "You didn't hear me right, you were drunk," he lied automatically. He'd dealt with this kind of situation all too much in the past to not be prepared for any...unwanted side-effects, "Now let's get moving!" Now Rattletrap was trampled. "Grimlock shall lead!" "None is more fit than I to orchestrate this escapade!" Rattletrap groaned. "By the Allspark..."

"Hey there," a familiar voice sounded. A bit strained, Arcee opened her optics. Ratchet was what filled her vision. "Finally coming too eh?" Exhausted, the pink Autobot shook her head. The static cleared her processor a bit. "Ugh..." she moaned, "What happened? The...the Sparkling!" The medic had to struggle a bit to keep his patient in the bed. "Relax, that thing's not gonna hurt ya anymore," Ratchet told her as his hand pressed her arm to the padding of the medical table. "No, but it needs help!" she tried to reason. Ratchet's grip loosened causing her to look at him again. Her vision was more clearer than when she'd awoken. He was looking towards the ground.

"The Sparkling?..." she said as calmly as possible. "There was nothing anyone could do," he sighed. Arcee's optics too drifted downwards now. "It couldn't help it..." she muttered. Ratchet hoped a pat on the back would suffice. Though he knew it was vain he did so anyhow. "Either way," he said, "You're safe and a crisis is over. Plus, we got a new ally out of the whole ordeal." "Doesn't change what happened," she sighed. Ratchet sighed too. That is until he looked at the clock on the wall. His optics nearly popped off his head. "You should probably rest," he suggested, "Besides, I got other things to do, no offense."

Inquisitively, Arcee looked at the red and white Autobot. "It's not like you to just abandon someone," Arcee stated. Bashfully, Ratchet rubbed his arm. "Well, it's also not like me to skip out on doing what I'm supposed to," he replied. Arcee scratched her head. "A mission I take it?" she smiled sympathetically. Ratchet nodded. "And where may I ask is my savior off to this time?" "The place we rescued you from." Arcee's optics expanded. "The Nemesis?" she yelped. Again the medic gave a nod. "But...why?" "Oil Slick's taken off to there and from his notes that's where Galvatron's set up base," he told her, "We're going to finish him off."

Arcee opened her mouth to object but Ratchet wasn't done. "Now I know you may be concerned," he said almost as reading what she was thinking, "But you gotta remember, other than you, the three bots you saw me with are the only ones that have been to the moon. And since one of them has our creator's soul in them, only three of us are going. They need all the help they can get if we're going for the big prize this time." Arcee stared into his optics. "And in case you've forgotten I'm just a medic," he shrugged. "Just don't go acting all hero this time," she asked with a smile. "When have I ever?" he jested. Arcee rolled her eyes as he headed towards the door.

Cyclonus looked up at Earth. The image of the bluish sphere filled him with emotions. It gave him an uneasy peace. The glow of its form was unlike any other he could fathom. The oceans working their way around the pieces of land that littered its surface. It was alive. Everything co-existing in harmony. No matter what trivial political problems or battles were going on, the setting accepted all. It adaptable, even on the most molecular level to whatever event occurred. Rarely were the planets that the old Decepticon had discovered with such an atmosphere. Through all the differences of the inhabitants of the lively spectacle, none could tame it. It wasn't something they could use. They were its people and they were its caretakers.

For a moment, Cyclonus shut down his optics. He had never had that kind of responsibility. He hadn't been birthed of a home. As far back as he could remember, his only will had been to Galvatron. That's what he'd been orchestrated to view as his responsibility. Whatever the dark leader willed, he submitted to. To others he may have been a monster, but to Cyclonus he was what Earth was to its people. It didn't matter how long he had to wait. Cyclonus had anticipated the rise of Galvatron the very day he had arrived at Kaon. It was his leader that he'd seen the brief time he had before he'd fallen. Cyclonus could still remember the shocks that filled him as he drifted through the storm once the setting had flashed away.

Whom others knew as Megatron, Cyclonus could feel the presence he had felt while staring into the face of the leader that he'd witnessed countless ages ago, that minuscule time-frame of which he was brought into existence. That was his leader. That was the type of Transformer that he'd remembered fighting off on the moon to reveal Unicron's existence to him. The one that had faced off with him even after death, after his servitude as a ghost of his former self. Those times had been strange, and the memories distant, but Galvatron had been in them. And in his new life he had waited for him. Regretful of his past actions. But the past could not be changed. Now all that remained was the final curtain call. The Darkest Hour.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Sari almost screamed. All Bumblebee could do was laugh nervously. Furiously, the girl was pacing about in front of him. "Do you have any idea what you've just done!" "Uh...agreed to go to the moon?" the yellow bot suggested. He knew it was the wrong answer, but then he had no idea what the answer was. Instantly, Sari leapt up onto his arm and looked him in the optics. "You've just signed your death warrant!" Bumblebee just looked back confused. "You realize where you're going right?" she asked, "The moon, the big rock in the sky where Megatron's ship was! Where Oil Slick's reports say that Galvatron's now probably operating! The Decepticon that killed Optimus Prime!"

Silence followed. Though they were looking at each other, neither were focused on the being before them. Their minds had drifted back to their red and blue leader. A simpler time with simpler prices. But all of that was gone now. It left with Optimus. He had given his life for Sari. It hadn't been Galvatron's fault, and it hadn't been her's. It was simply fate. It was as though he was meant to die. And yet...something still flickered. The spark of life still echoed from his hollow corpse every moment since his passing. It were as though he was still there...somewhere.

"Bumblebee!" Sari yelled. With a gasp the Autobot blinked and fell backwards. "Sorry," he muttered shaking his head, "just...Optimus." "Yeah..." Sari sighed. "Hard to think about...well...everything," Bumblebee gave his own breath of air, "But either way, guess I just wasn't thinking was all...why don't you come along?" Sari rolled her eyes, "Yeah, Vector Prime totally didn't give me an order to stay here during the mission because I now house Primus." Bumblebee would've blushed if he was still capable of doing so. "Things have really fallen apart since Optimus left," she muttered. Bumblebee nodded. "Primus feels it too," she continued, "it's of great concern to him."

Delicately, Bumblebee rubbed the smaller figure's head. "Well, nothing we can do about it now," he told her. "Maybe not," she said as she looked up at him, "But maybe Primus..." Bumblebee gave the girl a doubtful smile. "I'm sure he has more important things to do." "Yeah," she sighed, "Like keep you here." "Sari..." Bumblebee said quietly. Desperately, Sari flung her arms around Bumblebee. "Bumblebee, you're the best friend I've ever had," she reminded, "Whether or not we're together I...I just don't wanna chance losing you again." "Sari when have you ever come close to-" he stopped talking. Sari's stern expression was the only response he needed.

"Look," he told her as he wrapped his own arms around her body, "I gotta do this. What would the other bots think?" He felt Sari's cheek rub against him. "What do I think?" she asked, "Or am I not what matters anymore?" Bumblebee's brows furrowed at the suggestion. "Sari, you know what you mean to me..." Sadly, the girl looked at her companion's optic out of the corner of her eye. "I hope so..." she whispered. "I'll be alright," Bumblebee assured her as he rubbed her back, "Besides, what's the worst that could happen? It's not like the time we went to rescue Arcee after all." Sari didn't respond. She just clung to Bumblebee's neck.

"Alright, I...got it!" Rattletrap exclaimed. Almost instantly he was shoved through the previously locked door by the two bots behind him. "Grimlock open door first!" the Dinobot declared. "You couldn't even open a can in my glorious presence!" Thundercracker jeered. Rattletrap just grumbled and crawled out from beneath the two larger figures. "At least with three-face I actually had some humor to keep me entertained," he muttered, "This is just painful." Seeing that the two self-righteous Transformers were still bickering over who had opened that door first, Rattletrap shook his head and looked down the hall they'd stumbled into. His optics nearly short-circuited.

"This has to be some sort of cosmic joke..." he said in disbelief. Before him was spread out a laser-lined corridor. Looking back at the two Transformers his jaw dropped. There was no way they'd get through the openings in the laser-grid! Rattletrap however guessed he was just small enough. He needed to ditch his company, plain and simple. "Sorry guys, but you're on your own," he said under his breath. Biting his lower lip, Rattletrap took a step into the corridor and inched over the first laser. One false move and he'd probably end up with a sliced servo. And he knew just how long it took to get a new one.

Luckily for the sly Autobot, most of the patterns were spread out evenly enough for him to just simply limbo through the web of beams. It wasn't until the final stretch that he actually had to maneuver with caution. But he had made it. With a well-placed leap and a roll, the brown Autobot slipped between the final two lasers that were set in the air parallel to the ground. Before he touched the door though, he looked back. His companions were still arguing! If they weren't distracted, they'd probably do so till they rusted. Unfortunately, the distraction came from Rattletrap.

As he undid the clamp holding the door at the end of the room shut, it made a loud clang. Rattletrap cringed. He didn't need to turn around to know that the two other Transformers had been snapped out of their tempers. He especially didn't need to when he heard the alarms going off from the unbelievable amount of lasers they had failed to avoid in their rush to reach the new goal. The only saving grace Rattletrap could think of was that he'd been with the bots long enough to know to roll out of the way when they finally reached him leaving them to slam face-first into the metal door. It didn't budge though.

"Grimlock hit door first..." the Dinobot moaned as he and Thundercracker slid to the floor. "You aren't worthy to hit the same door as I," the clone's pained voice added. If the alarms weren't keeping Rattletrap preoccupied...well he probably would've just dismissed them like any other time. But either way, what appeared to be modified versions of Detroit's flying police-bots had begun swarming the chamber. "We're all gonna die," Rattletrap sighed. Then his face lit up. He had an idea. "Hey, blue Starscream thingy, these things say you're the worst leader ever." Before Rattletrap was even finished talking, Thundercracker had leapt to his feet and taken to destroying the hordes.

"Grimlock destroy buzz-bots better!" the Dinobot roared as he morphed into dinosaur-mode and began spewing fire down the hall. "That should keep em busy..." Rattletrap muttered, though he didn't necessarily know which party he was referring to. Cautiously, the smaller Autobot crawled over to the door and began inspecting it. It was just as he'd thought, the lockdown panel behind it had sealed the place up! That's why Thundercracker and Grimlock's impact did nothing! "Come on, think man...think..." Rattletrap urged himself as his optics drifted to the ceiling, "Bingo. The classic." Eagerly, he hopped onto Grimlock's back and hoisted himself up to the ventilation shaft above. It didn't take long for the panel to come loose. "Rattletrap, you've outdone yourself again," he complimented himself.

"Troops, what we are about to do may be the most important thing you've ever done in your Spark-filled lives!" Rodimus Prime's voice echoed throughout the room. "Not likely," Bumblebee yawned, "And why's fire-plate leading us? I thought that Vector Prime was watchin' over things now." "He's watching over everything," Ratchet muttered back, "But he can't be everywhere at once. Rodimus was put in charge of the military. He's been known to be good at at least that in the past. Now keep your trap shut kid." Bumblebee did his own imitation of Ratchet's stern commanding until he caught the older bot glaring at him.

His grin faded once Ratchet had turned his attention back to Rodimus. Bumblebee wished that they'd just get on with it already. If there was one thing he didn't like it was standing around doing nothing. He lived for excitement and thrills, not for boring lectures. He had enough of that when Optimus made his slagging "Everyone's A Small Part In The Big Picture" speech over and over again each time one of them had caused trouble. With that as the alternative, the yellow bot never turned down the tedious Space Bridge maintenance that they'd been forced to do. Slag, if he'd not stuck up for Bulkhead he knew he woulda made the grade for the Elite Guard. There was no way he was going to pass up this latest chance to be recognized.

But...wasn't Sari the only one that needed to recognize him? Hadn't they agreed upon how important their friendship was? Bumblebee shook his head to clear the thought. No matter what they'd done, he was still Bumblebee and she was still Sari. They both strove to impress others. They always had and probably always would. And Bumblebee needed to show that he wasn't just another bot in the crowd. He was better than average. That he knew. He'd just never been given the proper chance to prove himself. "Sorry Sari..." he said quietly, "You'd probably do the same thing."

"What the slag are you complaining about now?" Ratchet grunted. "Nothing you old coot." Bumblebee's face shivered with nervousness once he'd realized what he'd said. "Hehe..." he chuckled, "uh...old chum?" Ratchet's glare fled back to Rodimus Prime. "You better watch it kid," the medic muttered. Bumblebee just rolled his optics. "And since we don't have enough ships, we can't fly all of us there," Rodimus concluded, "But we have one thing that that traitor Oil Slick didn't. A Space Bridge expert!" Upon receiving the nod from the military leader, Bulkhead brought the Space Bridge behind him online and a portal formed. "Hope you've said your goodbyes," Rodimus Prime said as he leapt into it. The other Autobots followed.

Eventually Bumblebee was the only one left. "Bye Sari..." he sighed. "Bye Bumblebee," her voice replied. Surprised, the yellow bot looked down. At his leg was the red-haired girl. She was looking up at him. "Sari I...um...look ya gotta understand-" "Just don't die," she said. Unsuccessfully, Bumblebee searched for something to say. After a few seconds he nodded and Sari hugged his waist. Giving his own embrace, the yellow Autobot approached the portal and looked back. Sari was still watching him. "You do mean everything to me you know," he told her. She didn't respond. With a sigh, Bumblebee hopped into the portal. A tear slid down the girl's cheek.

Oil Slick fell back against the wall once more. He was weak. He simply didn't have the energy to break free. His vials of Cosmic Rust had been taken away and any chemicals he could work with in the room had been removed. There was no way to escape. Just as the thought of giving up crossed his mind he felt something. That surge. The dark energy. Once more it pulsated through him. He could feel his hand twitching, his servos acting on their own against his will. It was as though he was going insane. He knew something though. They too wanted to be free. Whatever conscience they had, they hated being constrained just as much as he did, if not more. He could feel it.

They fell limp however once the door to the prison had opened. Oil Slick glared at the intruder. "Yes?" "Oh don't mind me," Shockblast shrugged, "Just checking up on our most "beloved" guest." Oil Slick gritted his teeth trying to break free again. Even if his servos didn't want others knowing what they desired, Oil Slick didn't care. If he got out of shackles then he'd take the opportunity, no matter who was around. "Shockblast," a voice said over the ship's intercom causing the prisoner to shrink back. Galvatron's voice was a different matter than just a simple other bot. "Here sir," Shockblast replied. "We need everyone we can get at the front of the ship," the leader told him, "Now."

"So..." Shockblast chuckled darkly, "It seems as though your cavalry has arrived. That is, if they still think you're even with them." Oil Slick muttered something unintelligible at Shockblast as the purple Decepticon left the field of vision. Alone once more, Oil Slick took to pulling at the restraints. They wouldn't budge. "Come on..." he moaned. After about five minutes, he just sighed and hung on them once more. If nothing else, he'd die of boredom if he wasn't freed soon. That or his insane servos would probably get him killed in their own attempts to free him. Oil Slick shook his head as he watched the limbs spasm chaotically.

Bumblebee let out a yelp as he hit the ground. It took him a while to remember the weightlessness of the moon after having spent so much time on the planet it orbited. If it had been the same the impact he felt would've been a lot harder and more painful. Instead, he simply bounced further across the surface of the planetoid and rolled to a halt behind a large rock that Bulkhead and Ironhide had taken shelter in the shadow of. "Why're we hiding?" the younger bot complained. "Cause," the orange Autobot replied jabbing his thumb towards a larger formation that Rodimus was next to, "Ol' boss bot hasn't given the orders yet."

Rodimus Prime continued to hold his hand parallel to the ground in the air. Its motionlessness gave a strict order or stillness. Something Bumblebee hated. But he had to go along with it. After all, he was supposed to be the best of his team. And he would be slagged before he'd let the chance to prove it slip by. "Hey big guy," Bumblebee whispered to Bulkhead, "How's the scene look?" The green giant heard his smaller buddy but didn't budge. He was busy using his binocular enhanced optical units to get a better view of the setting. "Looks like two guards..." he said quietly. "I'm supposing there's a downside to the small amount?" "They're the remaining members of Team Chaar. Well, if Oil Slick hasn't rejoined."

"Well that's just amazing," Bumblebee huffed. Disgruntled, the young bot folded his arms across each other and kicked a rock. Hesitantly, Ironhide made a grab for it but stopped. It'd floated out from behind the shadow of the formation. A moment later, Bulkhead ducked down. "Something wrong big guy?" Bumblebee asked. "C-cyclonus looked in our direction..." "Gee, I wonder why that is," Ironhide muttered. "Eh, relax. If he does come over here he'd be going up against, what, all of Earth's best bots?" Bumblebee laughed and pointed at himself, "And emphasis on best." Ironhide gave a questioning look to Bulkhead. "He's still the same bot you remember from Camp." "Great," Ironhide sighed.

"Open fire!" Startled, the trio looked towards Rodimus' group. Out of nowhere it seemed, laserfire began raining down on them, their rock chiseling away with each new blast. It wouldn't be long before it was all gone. Fortunately, Rodimus had apparently planned for the assault and lead a division of the group towards the source of the projectiles while a few stayed behind for what Bulkhead simply assumed to be backup or a distraction. "You were saying?" Ironhide muttered. Bumblebee's expression waned. "No prob. Besides, it's not like they know where we are." "Not until now," a darker voice added. In shock, the bots looked up. Soaring towards them was the sleek form of Cyclonus's vehicle-mode. "Leave him to me!" Ironhide suggested, "You guys head on with the others! We got a little score to settle!"

"Good luck!" Bumblebee exclaimed as he sped off in his own vehicle-mode. Bracing for impact, the orange Autobot cloaked himself in a sheet of metal. As he did though, a green round object launched through the air and hit the vessel straight in its nose causing Cyclonus to hurtle into robot-mode to the ground. "Like Bumblebee said," Bulkhead reiterated as his wrecking-ball rejoined his arm, "Good luck." After receiving a nod from their old colleague, Bulkhead too morphed into vehicle-mode and took off after Bumblebee. "It's just me and you now Decepticreep," Ironhide muttered taking a step forward. Darkly, Cyclonus looked up at him, his blades slipping into his hands unnoticed. "No, it's just me," he corrected as he leapt into the air.

"Those idiots are going to get me killed..." Rattletrap muttered. It hadn't been twenty seconds since the last security level was torn to shreds by the two larger Transformers. No matter how secretive or silent he tried to be, Grimlock and Thundercracker were constantly at his back attempting to outdo the other in whatever needed to be done to progress. It was a miracle that they hadn't been caught yet. It seemed as though the only thing, unfortunately for Rattletrap, that those two arrogant brutes had remembered was that he was the one that was getting them out and so they stuck to him like oil to a newborn seal.

He didn't have watch his back to know that another vicious thrashing had started. "Grimlock be best breaker-outer! Grimlock king!" "You aren't even worthy to touch the door that I knock off its hinges." Rattletrap's optic twitched. He didn't know how much longer he would last, especially in such a cramped environment. If he had had things his way, his two "companions" would still be behind bars. Primus knows that he does better on his own. But nope. He just had to be cursed. Damned to a life of misery and torment from all those that he tried to help. Granted, in the end he did desire things from them for his acts, but either way, he was always punished for his efforts.

Rattletrap wasn't surprised when he heard a creaking noise and felt the floor cave in beneath him. "At least I won't have to crawl anymore," he murmured. As he neared the end of his sentence, the ground gave way. With ease he stretched out his legs and landed on the floor beneath the ventilation shaft. Grimlock and Thundercracker were much less lucky. Not noticing the unstableness of the shaft, probably due to their incessant arguing, they toppled to the ground below and rolled across the ground in a daze. "Wow," Rattletrap said with relief, "They can be quiet."

Shaking off the dizziness of the impact, Grimlock looked around. The room they had entered was dim and barren. Its walls were lined with nothing but what seemed to be rocky organic-looking structures. "Grimlock wonder where we are..." the king of the Dinobots said quietly. "You would be in prison," a robotic voice answered. Surprised, the bots turned around. Sitting behind them was none other than the figure of the once-mighty Council Member, Perceptor. "You're that leader guy!" Rattletrap exclaimed, "I thought you were locked up!" "I am," Perceptor replied emotionless, "This is my cell. A constant vain reminder of the actions that have lead to this point."

Curiously, the intruders scanned over the setting. "All I see is ugly looking rocks," Rattletrap mumbled, "How's this a reminder of anything?" Perceptor's head dipped a little. "In a time long ago, before your creation. Before any of this generation came to be there existed a place on Cybertron known as the Oracle Chamber." "Great, a story," the brown Autobot grumbled, "Anyone got energon goodies?" "It was this chamber that our creator's vast wisdom could exit through," Perceptor explained, "And which many despised. As you now know, the Council evicted the Allspark from Cybertron, but when the war broke out, the other members sought an answer. But the chamber was lifeless, too far disconnected from the Allspark."

"And Cybertron's gone," Rattletrap pointed out as he put his hands on his hips, "What's your point jug-head?" Perceptor looked up for a second. "The recording is not done," Perceptor informed. Rattletrap rolled his eyes and plopped himself down between his two comrades. "Well finish up then chrome-dome," the brown bot grumbled, "Unlike you, some of us wanna do things with the rest of our lives." Perceptor nodded. "After the Allspark had been brought back to Cybertron the chamber was active once more," the intelligent Autobot continued, "That was when we figured out the connection with the Allspark.

"However, as you know, Cybertron was devoured by that which it was put in place to protect against. Therefore, when I arrived on Earth, I had it designed so that the Oracle Chamber would be recreated within the heart of Autobot City to begin the recreation of our world. It became active once more. But once the Allspark was placed within Primus's new form the chamber became inactive once more. And I was deemed to dangerous to be left active in the outside world. Thus I was placed in what the Council once turned to when all else failed." "Ah I get it, so the old "fate is a cruel mistress" or "Oh the irony" situation," Rattletrap laughed. "Hardly," Perceptor corrected, "This cell holds no meaning to me. It was the other members that sought the Oracle Chamber. I had no concern for it. The other bots simply think I do."

Rattletrap lifted a brow and looked to the ceiling. The hole they'd dripped through was still there. It was high, but it was there. Seeing how brittle the environment was compared to the other parts of the city it was no wonder it collapsed under their weight. "If this place is like this, then why don't you just escape?" the crook asked. "Because I'm following orders," Perceptor told him, "In the past I have been one of the ones in charge due to my intellect and...actions from before I got rid of my emotional unit. Now I no longer am, and as such my robotic state instructs that I should do as I am told."

"Well this wind-pipe is certainly not as fit to lead as I," Thundercracker boasted. "Grimlock would be better king," the Dinobot declared, "Not confusing chrome-dome." Rattletrap shook his head as he got back to his feet. "Well you can sit here being your emotionless self," he said, "We're bustin' out of here. Or at least I am. And just for the record. I don't know how you can operate without emotions." Rattletrap thought that for a second he saw a small flicker behind the ancient Autobot Council Member's spectacles. Ignoring the idea, he walked towards the wall opposite of where they had dropped into the room from. "Alright boys," he exclaimed as his hand pointed to the rocky structure before them, "Break it down!" Perceptor remained seated in the scarred chamber.

The smell of burning metal filled Rodimus Prime's olfactory sensors. It wasn't unfamiliar to him. Every major battle he'd been in had had some semblance of the experience. Whether it be from Decepticons or Autobots, the atmosphere of war always drenched the participants in darkly unique components. It was, at most, a natural thing to the standard combatant. Though a bit shaky the first few times, one got used to it. Video downloads and history logs didn't do such events justice. There was simply too much to capture, no matter how advanced recording techniques got. The smells, the sights, the feel. It all became part of the setting. It was only something that could be known by those that were there. They could try to share their experiences, but its full potential would be wasted. The only way to realize what it was was to have gone through it yourself.

That was why Rodimus Prime wasn't surprised when a an Autotrooper fell lifeless next to him. It was just a normal thing. As a bolt of energy came towards his face, he moved swiftly to the side and returned with his own shot ripping through the Decepticon's Spark Chamber. As the adversary fell, Rodimus spotted another out of the corner of his optic. Quickly he whipped around and fired. It missed. By instinct, he rolled along the ground to avoid the counteract and somersaulted into a kneeling position in front of the Decepticon. With his bow pointed between the con's optics he fired. The opponent dropped and he turned around. He had another job.

"Advance!" Rodimus Prime ordered. Unlike the other troops, he was a leader. He may not have been fit to lead the entire race, but handling a platoon he could do without even seeing the battlefield probably. But this time wasn't like any other battlefield. "Vell look who it is..." a thick feminine voice uttered. Before he could make a move, Strika had leapt down in front of Rodimus and sent a kick straight to his chest. He clutched it as he got back to his feet. "I knew we should have finished things off back at the Space Bridge..." she hissed. "Well how's about we get that out of the way now?" Rodimus jested with a bow. Strika's face darkened at the humor.

It wasn't much of a challenge to avoid the giant Decepticon's foot as it smashed down where Rodimus Prime had been seconds prior. "Hold still coward!" Strika yelled. "If you insist," Rodimus replied getting his bow ready, "But gotta do something to pass my time." "YOW!" the female's voice exclaimed. The Autobot's arrows had driven straight into the underside of her breast-plating and had caused her to fall over. "Why you little piece of slag!" she yelled. Hastily she made a grab for Rodimus. Though it was a simple dodge, the other hand was what caught him. "Game over," she muttered lifting him to eye-level. "For you maybe," Rodimus pointed out. Strika looked at him in confusion and then looked at the ground. It was darkening. She looked up. "Blackout!" she cried as he fell down next to her, his stabilizers' shockwave approaching.

Helplessly the large fembot was flung across the surface of the moon, Rodimus taking the opportunity to leave his captor's servo. "What the slag do you think you're doing..." the pinkish Decepticon grumbled as she pulled herself back to her legs. It didn't take long for another shockwave to press her back down again. "Galvatron no good leader," the dull voice replied. Blackout had begun walking towards her, vibrations heralding him with each step. "Why you traitor..." she uttered. "Blackout find friend," the behemoth of a Transformer informed, "But Galvatron not allow that. Galvatron want to hurt friend." Eagerly, Blackout leapt at his former comrade, "Now Blackout take revenge!" "Not on me you don't!" Strika yelled thrusting her fist forward.

Scrapper dove into a pile of rocks and wrapped his hands over his head. He was scared and his circuits were shot. If he hadn't had the faster reflexes of the two original Constructicons, Scrapper would've had a face full of plasma. "Geeze!" he coughed as he crawled out of the pile. Working his jaw around a bit, he spat out one of the rocks. "What's with that red guy! He's insane!" "I hears ya man!" Mix yelped, "Tell me, how come we's always getting the short end of the stick? I mean we get duped into this moon gig and now we have this lunatic!" "KABLAM!" Warpath's voice echoed joyously as a new avalanche of rocks erupted from behind the Constructicons. "And this bozo's wrecking our masterpiece of a defense-wall!"

Though they had been instructed to build such a perimeter around the Nemesis, neither Scrapper nor Mixmaster had comprehended that they'd be met with the Autobot's entire army! With another shot from Warpath's cannon, the bulge it caused in the wall smashed Mix to the ground beside Scrapper from the fountain of debris it knocked up. "We ain't gonna last much longer..." Scrapper said as quietly as possible. Mix bit his lip. The unwanted explosion that barged in was quite a clear indicator of that. "Yo, Scrap, I gots me an idea," Mix gulped, "It's crazy, but I think it'll work." Scrapper gave him a hopeful look. "The old med-bot ever tell you what playing possum is?"

Sari sighed as she looked up at the sky. It didn't matter if she were seeing it from the Earth or through the glass that she was now in the main control room of Autobot City. Either way, it gave her the same disappointing feeling. Bumblebee had abandoned her. Just like that he'd upped and left to go off and impress the others. He didn't give a damn how she felt or what might happen. He just wanted to show off. But...he had been right. She would have done the same. But not without him. At times they may be apart on missions and stuff, but never would she want to be absent from his side in such a dangerous situation.

"My apologies," an older voice said calmly. Curiously, Sari looked to her side. Her eyes widened. Standing next to her was Vector Prime. "You," she said, "You're the reason that Bumblebee came here in the first place." The elderly Autobot gave her a curious glance. "Even if it was, fate had it for him to depart." "Don't say it like that," Sari muttered turning her face to her feet. Vector Prime rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry," he said, "It's just that I'm used to talking in older forms of communication than you younger bots. But despite that, why did he wish to come talk to me? It must have been important to him."

"He just wanted to know something about me," Sari told him. "Then why did you not tell him?" Vector Prime reasoned. Now Sari gave him a glance. "You think I wouldn't if I knew?" she asked. "I figured that Primus would answer all of your questions," Vector Prime replied. Sari almost laughed. "Right," the girl sighed, "I think you know just as well as I do that god boy's saving up his energy for something in the near future." "Do you know what that is?" Vector Prime asked. Sari scoffed. "Like I give a damn. If it wasn't for him being me I'd be on the moon right now-" "Getting killed with your friend?"

Sari's eyebrows leapt at the remark. "They're-" "My apologies again," Vector Prime chuckled, "it's just that that's what you thought would happen up there." Sari's eyes narrowed. "Well see if I care!" she huffed folding her arms over her breasts, "They're just a bunch of gear-heads anyway!" The ancient Autobot's jaw lowered a bit in confusion. "They're your friends." "Yeah," Sari laughed, "Some friends! None of them even stay with the best friend they ever had on Earth! The one that helped them adjust. The one that gave them a place to stay. The one that he loves! Th-" Sari stopped. Her cheeks turned a shade of red upon realizing what she'd just said.

Vector Prime smiled and lowered down next to her. "It will be alright child," Vector Prime assured her, "And what does happen will be fate. Nothing you can do but accept it." "Says someone that manipulates time," Sari muttered. "Even I have my boundaries," the old Transformer confessed as he patted her back. "I...I just don't know what to think of him anymore," Sari said quietly. Desiringly, she leaned back into the larger comforting hand. "He just leaves me here." "He's who he's supposed to be," Vector Prime stated, "And you're who you're supposed to be. Neither of you are fully mature yet, but you do care about each other."

"Mature," Sari repeated. She looked down at her breasts. "That's one of the things we wanted to ask about." Vector Prime lifted a brow. "Why did I get older when I used the Key on myself?" she asked. Vector Prime's hand went to his chin. "You were not like this before?" he asked. Sari shook her head. "My eyes were also a duller hazel color. "Well..." he muttered, "If I had to guess it's because you were activated." "Huh?..." "You remember all that talk Primus made about you being a Vector Sigma Node?" the Transformer asked. Sari nodded. How could she forget? Never had she heard such confusing things in her life.

"Well, a Vector Sigma Node is essentially the brain of Primus," Vector Prime told her, "It's a vast network that together form the original mind of the Cybertronian god. Apart though, a node simply acts as the mind of that individual universe's Primus. The Key to Vector Sigma is the only way that a Transformer has access to its nigh unlimited information." "That's great and all," Sari said and pointed to her breasts, "But it still doesn't explain why I have these." Vector Prime looked at her oddly. "What are-" "Why it made me older," Sari grumbled. "Oh, well, a node needs to be in an extremely advanced state once it's been activated. The Key modified your body to its highest form of advancement so that it could operate as easily as possible. Basically, you turned yourself on."

Sari stared back into the sky. "Dear lord am I confused," she muttered, "But at least there's an explanation." Vector Prime looked to the sky as well. "It will be okay," he told her. "Vector Prime sir," a cold voice interrupted from behind them, "Ve has ze subjects on ze monitor. Ze have progressed amazingly so far." "Keep an eye on him Blitzwing," Vector Prime ordered. The ancient Transformer left Sari's side. She was alone again. Though now she looked to the sky in hope.

"Yeah, that's right! You better run!" Mix yelled in a triumphant manner. Filled with courage, Scrapper threw one of the remains of the wall that the red Autobot had demolished in the direction he was walking. Warpath didn't even notice the taunting as he continued the attack against the remaining forces of the Decepticons. "Told ya," Mix laughed. "Man, that possum thing worked like a charm!" Scrapper complimented dusting himself off, "The guy didn't even check to see if we were alive! Got some rocks in a few uncomfortable places from where I was laying down though." Mix didn't hear him. He just stretched and sat back in the rubble of what had been their construction-site.

"Anything on your mind?" Scrapper asked. Mix sighed in response as the taller bot sat down too. "Yeah," he chuckled, "I say we's just kick it and enjoy the show. After all, anyone that's left all the way back here we can take care of if they decide to attack." Unfortunately, those someones came sooner than the squatter Constructicon thought. Directly after he'd finished talking, he felt a piercing pain rip into his back and drag him into the ground. "What the?" Scrapper exclaimed. Contrary to his partner, the lankier Constructicon was hoisted into the sky of the moon. He looked up just in time to recognize the form of what had taken him captive before it let go.

With a cry, Scrapper hit the surface of the moon. He'd forgotten how much less painful and slower the gravity on the planetoid made the impact. His senses weren't even mixed up from the landing. "Guys!" he hollered upon realizing the danger he'd been in was more of in his mind than reality. "GUYS!" Scrapper yelled again. Mixmaster sighed with relief as he saw his partner approach his attacker. Forcefully, he lifted the assailant into the air. "Alright, let's slag this chumps!" Mix yelled finally free to get back to his feet. What he saw Scrapper doing though shocked him. He had wrapped his arms around the attacker. He was hugging it.

"Oh Snarly I knew we'd see each other again!" the tall Constructicon cried. Relieved, Mix smiled. "Well what a coincidence," he laughed lightly. All the triceratops could do was helplessly squirm around in his old friend's embrace. Realizing just who the bots were as well, Swoop morphed into robot-mode and landed beside them. "Hey, weren't there three of you?" Mix asked. "There's gonna be none of em!" a new voice declared. All optics turned towards the small figure. Dirt Boss. "Hey hey, we got done what needed to," Scrapper retorted, "We can't help it if our defense didn't hold up." "But we can make sure the employer's happy. Can't we Devastator?" Scrapper dropped Snarl as the Cerebro-Shells planted themselves into the two Constructicons' heads.

"Uh, th-thank you," Skywarp gulped. Frantically, he ducked through the doorway. The frail Starscream clone hoped he hadn't upset the nurse too badly in his quest to find the room that he was after. The bot hadn't been frustrated enough though to hurt him, and Skywarp could only assume that that was a good thing. At least...not a bad thing...Either way, he'd found the room that he was looking for. Sighing, Skywarp put his hand forward to open it. He was worried. He constantly was, about anything and everything. Just how devastating had the incident been? What kind of damage had occurred? These questions constantly swirled through the pitiful Transformer's processor no matter what happened.

"Hello," a quiet and calm voice greeted. Skywarp's face blossomed into a smile. The Autobot was still online. That was a good thing. "H...hi," he replied meekly. Silently, he shut the door behind him and walked over to the bed side. Laying in front of him was the pink female Autobot, Arcee. She smiled back at him weakly. Parts of her body were in healing restraints. But she had responded and she was online. That was more than enough to keep the worried sack of circuits happy. "I..heard about the um...Protoform." Arcee nodded slowly. Her smile faded. Skywarp's did also. He'd made her upset! The Starscream clone could practically suffocate on the amount of guilt that was pouring around him.

"Yes," Arcee sighed as her mind recollected the events, "But...it didn't mean it. Besides, there's nothing we can do now." Skywarp's face lightened as he felt the crushing offensive mentality do the same. He had not been the problem. Still...if he had... "Nice to see you again," Arcee told him. Skywarp laughed nervously and nodded. "Y-you too." Arcee's mouth thinned. "Still a bit on edge are we?" The purple Decepticon's mouth drooped, "What do you-" "You're scared." Skywarp's eyes dropped. He felt Arcee's hand as it caressed along his armored cheek. The mere touch brought comfort to his unstable workings.

"I...wish I wasn't...about everything..." Skywarp confessed. His vision drew back to Arcee. She was smiling again. "Right now I have a friend on the moon," she told him. Skywarp bit his lip. "Isn't he afrai-" "Ratchet isn't afraid of things," Arcee told him, "Not like that. He used to be though. Any bot starts out scared. But over time they mature, and it is through their youth that their paths are built." Skywarp looked at the pink Autobot curiously. "You're still young," Arcee informed, "but from my experience with Sparklings...well I can say that I'm sure that your...caring will allow you to make the decisions that you need to make in the future." Skywarp smiled. For the first time he felt something alien to him. He felt confidence.

"Where the slag did all these bots come from!" Bumblebee cried. As effectively as he could, the yellow Autobot spun around. He'd just barely missed getting his processor blasted out. "Thought you said there were only two guards!" "That was outside!" Bulkhead yelled while fending off his own company, "If ya can't tell there were obviously more hiding in the ship!" "Will you kids pipe down?" Ratchet hollered, "I'm trying to work here!" "You got your job, I got bots to impress!" Bumblebee retorted morphing into vehicle-mode. Uncaringly, he sped past the old medic and his wounded patient. "Slaggin' kid..." Ratchet muttered, "Bulkhead! Keep an optic on Bumblebee will ya?"

"What about you guys? If I go you'll be unprotected!" Bulkhead stated. Ratchet flashed a smile at him. "I may have a servo in the scrapheap, but that doesn't mean I have forgotten how to hold my own on the battlefield. Now get moving!" "Uh-sir yes sir!" Bulkhead hesitated. After whipping the rest of his opponents into the sub-gravity atmosphere of the moon, the green Autobot morphed into vehicle-mode and took off after the yellow compact. He was headed towards the front of the Nemesis! "What the Pit is he doing!" Bulkhead wondered aloud, "There's no way he'll get in! Not if Oil Slick got the thing operational!"

Bulkhead didn't need to stop Bumblebee though, for a second later, both vehicles had been launched into the air from what felt like a low frequency. "None are to get past Soundwave!" the mellotronic voice declared as the Autobots hit the ground and morphed back into robot-mode. "What the slag?..." Bumblebee moaned rubbing his head. "Soundwave..." Bulkhead muttered. Though a bit pained, the green bot got to his feet and began whirling his wrecking-ball. "Believe me when I tell ya, outer space does no improvement for your music!" he yelled. With no air to hold it back, the wrecking-ball's launch hit the musical Decepticon with a deathly speed.

"Well, since you got him busy, I'll just-" "Stay where you are?" a calm voice finished. The voice was too calm. Familiar. Bumblebee gulped as he felt the extendible arm hover around his throat, like a snake constricting around its prey. He knew who it was. He wished he didn't. "Lo-Long Arm?..." "Are you really so dumb that you can't even remember a simple name?" the voice asked, its tone darkening slightly. Bumblebee gagged as the appendage clamped at his throat and spun him around. Once he'd steadied himself again, Bumblebee could see the face of his former Boot Camp colleague morphing into the dreaded purple cyclop's.

"It's Shockblast now!" the high ranking Decepticon declared, "And you're in for some long overdue payback." "What're you talking about?" Bumblebee laughed warily, "We're buds remember?...we caught Wasp together?..." "I caught Wasp," Shockblast muttered extending his cannon, "I set it up for that pathetic egomaniac to take the fall for me. You were just what I used to do that. And so you have outlived your usefulness." Bumblebee gritted his teeth. The cannon had begun to glow and Shockblast had started walking towards him. "For that one simple act I thank you, but otherwise goodbye. You have no one to help you. Not a puny techno-organic, an expiring medic, or a green block-head. And oh how I've longed to shut that unbearable mouth of yours!"

As the cannon fired, Bumblebee tried to run. The blast's perimeter however threw him against a nearby rock. He could feel the impact jumbling up his internal workings. His armor had begun to crack and his vision became fuzzy. But he could see Shockblast. He was walking towards him. The cannon was glowing again. With what little energy he had left, Bumblebee lifted a stinger and fired. Ineffectively, it trailed off into the distance. "If Sentinel Prime ever did anything right it was naming you," Shockblast muttered. The cannon was now pointed at Bumblebee's face. "Nothing but a bumbler. Bumblebee." Though the shot was fired, a wrecking-ball knocked Shockblast to the side. Bumblebee felt his vision fade as a piercing heat washed over him.

Rodimus Prime heard crying. Everyone around him. Autobots and Decepticons. All were tossed about slowly through the moon's low gravitational pull from the vicious new opponent. Squinting, he attempted to look through the clouds of dust and debris that drifted amidst the sea of Transformers. Through it he could just barely make out the large silhouette. Rodimus knew that no matter what title he held, he wasn't a match for the enormous monster. Not even Blackout would stand much of a chance against the complexly designed brute. But he had something that the slaughterer didn't. Experience and skill. And by Primus, he was going to do what he could to slow the beast.

Steadying his arm, Rodimus Prime waited. The cloud had begun to clear, but another came fuming up from beneath. In a matter of seconds it would encompass him and his visual sensors would be blinded once more. It was a small window of opportunity. But that was all he needed. The moment that he spotted the greenish yellowish plating of the large adversary, Rodimus Prime sent an arrow whizzing at its red optic. The newer cloud obstructed his view just as it was about to hit. The agonizing scream of the combined Transformer alerted him though.

"Why when I get my hands on whoever's bright idea this was!" Devastator's voice boomed, "I'll do this to them!" All that Rodimus had done was instigated the giant's wrath. Even more injured and frightened voice erupted across the battlefield than before! Not to mention the already troubling situation of the Nemesis's shields that he'd taken to defending. It didn't matter who he struck it seemed. Devastator was on a rampage that wouldn't be quenched till all were offline. They needed reinforcements if they even hoped to quiet the raging Constructicon. No attacks from any ordinary bots would do slag to its armor. There was only one answer that came to Rodimus' processor.

"This is Rodimus Prime," the flame-painted commander said into his com-link, "You ready Matrix?" A few seconds passed. He could see the glow of Devastator's remaining optic shining down on him as the dust began to settle. "Alright, then initiate counterattack Omega!" Rodimus Prime braced himself. The reflection of the sun had left his armor. All that remained was the darkness of his opponent's massive shadow. Dreading so, he looked up. Rodimus stared into the angered face of Devastator, seemingly miles above his from the angle he was situated in. But he'd burn in the Pit before he'd submit. Even if a plan had been set in motion, it might not occur in time for him to see it.

"You're the wise guy aren't ya?" Devastator's voice echoed through the vacant atmosphere. Rodimus formed two more arrows and pointed them up. "Ah yeah, I remember," the figure chuckled evilly, "Yous is the leader that sent that red bozo on me last time." "And I'm the one that'll keep up the fight," Rodimus muttered. Devastator grinned and lifted his foot. "Can't fight if yous is dead." Rodimus never closed his optics. Though he hadn't expected the event, he wouldn't cower in the face of nonexistence. There was no room for fear on the battlefield. Not for him. There never was. Rodimus needed to keep steady for all those that couldn't.

A loud boom rang out across the moon. Devastator's scream could hardly be heard over the roar of Omega Supreme's engine as he morphed into robot-mode upon the impact the Constructicon's face. Rodimus Prime stared in disbelief. Never had he seen the enormous Autobot hero up close before, and definitely hadn't expected such an entrance. "Autobots in danger," Omega Supreme's deep voice bellowed making his way to the shields as Devastator fell apart around him. With his massive fist he proceeded to punch the defensive field, ripples ushering across it from each strike. "Thank Primus," Rodimus sighed.

"Kid..." a distant voice echoed through desolate conscience of the young Autobot. "Kid come on...don't do this to me..." though far away, it felt close. As if it were right next to him. The pain was familiar. Right below his Autobot symbol, his Spark Chamber nearly damaged from the accident. "You don't need the key," another voice said, "You can do this." Even if he wasn't aware, he knew what was going on. He could sense the tension in the air and the modifications being made to his circuitry. And the second voice. It too was familiar. It was...dead. The Autobot it belonged to no longer was online. But the situation was the same.

"Kid?" the first voice said, now clear. Bumblebee's optics opened wide. He was staring into the face of a much older Autobot. Ratchet. "Prowl," Bumblebee suddenly said. Ratchet looked at him in confusion. "Prowl! Where is he?" Ratchet's mouth went into a small circle. Then it hit him. Not needing words, he simply pointed to the lower torso of the younger bot. Looking down, Bumblebee could see that he'd been wrapped up in bandages. "It's not much," Ratchet apologized, "but you know how I make do with what I have. And with the casualties we're taking I don't got much left." Bumblebee just continued staring at the bandages.

"You should be alright," Ratchet told him standing up. He looked out across the horizon of the orbiting rock that the siege had been taking place on. The medic didn't know how long the battle had lasted, but it seemed as though hours had flown by. He had enough experience still scarred into him to know what all can happen in such a time period. "You should be thankful," Ratchet muttered, "Without your best buddy there to back you up you would have been a pile of scraps. And no matter how bad you've had yourself banged up in the past, well, let's be honest. I can't work with a bot that's had their processor blown out...even if it does shut you up for a few cycles."

"Sari," Bumblebee interrupted. Ratchet's brows furrowed as he looked down at Bumblebee. "What?" he inquired, "she's back on Earth kid." "Yeah..." Bumblebee sighed, "It's just...this bandage is where..." Ratchet shook his head. Slowly he knelt back down beside Bumblebee and put a hand on his shoulder. Bumblebee looked into the older veteran's optics. "Kid, you survived that and you two got on with your lives. Either way you were still friends afterwards. Not that I'd exactly stick with you myself, but that girl's got a few screws loose. Just like you." Bumblebee smiled at the jibe. Ratchet did too.

"But if Shockblast had done what he was going to to me..." Bumblebee remembered, his smile deteriorating, "What would Sari..." Just then Bumblebee felt a pang from the right side of his head. Cringing he looked at the medic. "What the slag was that for!" "For Sari," Ratchet told him as he nursed the hand he'd used to slap Bumblebee's helmet, "For being the stupid arrogant exhaust-port you always are!" Bumblebee blinked. "What'd I do?" "You nearly got yourself slagged!" Ratchet yelled, "Just to try and put on a show! To impress the older bots! Kid, your Spark's in the right place, but your ego is one of the biggest I've ever had the displeasure of coming into contact with! It's alright to show off, but when it gets you killed...just...believe me kid. There's more to life than proving your worth. And it isn't easy getting over a friend you've lost."

Bumblebee looked down at the bandage. It was more as a reminder than out of shame. "Kid, look," Ratchet sighed, "Sorry if I got a little worked up, but you have got to improve. Especially with what's going on between you and our techno-organic pal. Just ask yourself. What's more important? Your reputation or your friend?" Bumblebee knew the answer. He always knew the answer. Though he never liked to admit it he always knew, and it always shone through when it needed to. When Bulkhead was threatened by Sentinel, he stood up to take the blame. The yellow Autobot couldn't just abandon those that he cared about, no matter what kind of a name he wanted to make for himself.

"Just stay put," Ratchet ordered as he stood back up, "We'll take care of the rest. Besides, I got a bot I need to find." Bumblebee looked behind him. There lay the shattered remains of the Nemesis. Though its cannons had fended off Omega Supreme, the shields were down. "You're not actually thinking of going in that thing are you?" Bumblebee asked. Ratchet smiled at him. "You wouldn't?" he asked. Bumblebee smiled in embarrassment. "But...you're gonna try and save that Chaar guy aren't you?" "Well, unlike some bots, I think Oil Slick's actually worth going after," Ratchet replied. "Even if he's betrayed us and gone back to Galvatron?" Bumblebee persisted. "Though I don't think that's the case," Ratchet muttered, "That's a chance I'm willing to take." Before Bumblebee could save anything else, the ambulance had rattled off towards the mighty war ship. "Guess I'm not the only reckless one," Bumblebee laughed to himself.

"Orders sir?" the turquoise wheel-bound vehicle asked. "Fan out through the halls in packs of five," Rodimus replied after a few seconds of thought, "If any severe danger is encountered double-back to the entrance of the ship and request for assistance." "Roger," Kup grunted and sped off, "You heard the bot!" Looking at three Autotroopers behind him, Rodimus Prime nodded. They didn't need any spoken orders to understand what he wanted. They would be following him to the bridge of the Nemesis. The hallowed command center from which the vile leader of the Decepticons orchestrated his workings throughout the cosmos.

It didn't take much time at all for them to traverse the needed ground. Often had the heads of Autobot intelligence theorized just what the schematics of the ship must have been, but never did they believe it to be as simple as it always turned out to be in the schematics. Well, with their rubber rolling through the halls, Rodimus and his team could now confirm the suspicions. It was pretty much the straight path that it had been anticipated to be over the past millenias. Purple décor patterened the walls and floors with only the dim lighting of the ceiling providing the notability of the coloring. It was ghostly and nightmarish.

But it paled in comparison to what lay ahead. Rodimus Prime could see the imposing figure of the Decepticon leader just a few more yards away. As quietly as possible, he morphed into robot-mode and pressed himself flat on the ground. The Autotroopers did the same. It was a long-shot, but the lack of lighting might just be enough to not be able to tell the contrast between them and the ship's interior. But Galvatron wasn't even turning around. His optics seemed to be fixed on the window in front of him. From there he had a clearly analyze every little movement that took place across the surface of the moon.

Cautiously, Rodimus Prime began crawling forward. As he progressed he found something odd. There weren't any other Decepticons in the room with Galvatron. It wasn't until he was nearly at the war leader's feet that he felt the observational presence on him. Steadily, he flipped up and pointed his arrows at the back of the purple Transformer's helmet. Rodimus Prime opened his mouth, but Galvatron was the one that spoke. "I can hardly believe the length of time that it took you to approach me Autobot," he muttered. Swiftly, Galvatron sent a kick to the younger bot's stomach and held his cannon out to the forces that had entered his chamber.

"It's over Galvatron," Rodimus Prime spat as he regained his composure and aimed his own projectile-launcher, "You're under arrest." "Fool," the purple figure muttered, "You think that even if you capture me it's over? Have you forgotten what is near its arrival?" Rodimus' optics narrowed. Lightly, he bobbed his head towards Galvatron. One of the Autotroopers began to approach. It took only a second for the Decepticon leader to dispose of the newcomer's life. The two remaining operatives charged as their comrade's oil and mech fluid splattered across their shells. Galvatron aimed to take another shot, but an arrow from the flame-patterned leader knocked the arm cannon back.

Shrugging the counterattack off, Galvatron wrapped his hand around one of the Autotrooper's throats once he came within reach and threw him at the other. Rodimus Prime rolled out of the way of the hurtling bodies and made another shot. Expecting the reaction, Galvatron ducked and leapt at the smaller figure. Rodimus could feel the soul of war taking hold. Instinctively, he morphed into his vehicle-mode and sped under the lethal opponent. By the time Galvatron had turned around to readjust his attack, Rodimus had already transformed back into robot-mode and fired two more arrows, one hitting him in the chest-plate and the other in a wing.

"You have learned some tricks since last time Autobot," Galvatron muttered pulling the projectiles from his body, "Unfortunately for you however, I have already had the experience of witnessing such improvements with your predecessor. And I must say, you really do need him." Angrily, Rodimus morphed into vehicle-mode and sped at the Emperor of Destruction. Galvatron grinned. He loved the feeling that came with taking advantage of others. In one movement, Galvatron bent down and his hands clamped on the sides of the car. It only rolled him a few feet backwards before it slowed to a stop, its wheels still spinning.

No matter how much effort he gave, Rodimus would not budge another inch. So he did the only other thing he could think of. As he proceeded to transform once more, he could feel his adversary's weight press against his. Galvatron was pinning him to the floor. Rodimus could see his hand coming towards his face while the other grasped his throat. "I'll tear out your optics!" Galvatron hissed. Rodimus felt his teeth grinding to a fine paste from his body's reaction to the stress. "Die Autobot..." the dark lord muttered. "Not..before...you!" Rodimus Prime choked. With his last bit of energy, the red-coated Transformer lifted his legs and bent backwards. The action was enough to roll Galvatron clean over his head!

With his enemy's hand now absent, Rodimus felt calmness return to his vocal cords. The two remaining Autotroopers helped him to his feet. Exhausted, Rodimus Prime walked over to the edge of the railing and looked down. Galvatron was staring back up at him from the floor below. He pressed his finger to the side of his helmet. "All forces...retreat..." Rodimus heard the Decepticon order quietly. Even if he had had the energy, Rodimus doubted he would have taken chase after Galvatron. It's not like they had anywhere left to go. At least no place other than that which damned them all. A smile crossed Rodimus Prime's face as he looked out the front of the bridge. Ships of all shapes and sizes had begun to evacuate from the battlefield.

Ratchet morphed into robot-mode and hugged up against a wall upon entering the dreadful Decepticon warship. Thankfully, the premise had essentially been evacuated due to how many troops were needed on the field. There was no way Galvatron's remaining forces could have predicted such a massive attack. Especially not the inclusion of Omega Supreme. Though the enormous Autobot warrior had been brought down, the shields he'd been attacking somehow had also. The defense systems to the Nemesis were offline. At least for the moment. And a moment was all that the medic had needed to slip into the vessel.

Ratchet was now near completing his objective. Finding Oil Slick. Though the other bots thought otherwise, he knew deep down in his Spark that the former Team Chaar member was still with them. For simple reasoning if nothing else. Even the most evil Decepticon wouldn't join willingly with Unicron. Perhaps the most insane, but not the most evil. And Oil Slick was definitely far the most insane. Somewhere beneath that protective outer shell, Ratchet knew there was a Spark worth saving, even if it had been warped throughout the millenias. He'd known it since the moment they met on the battlefield. As long as Oil Slick still had free will and a mind there was hope.

But what hope there was was fading fast. No matter where Ratchet looked on the seemingly desolate wrecked ship he could find no trace of a Transformer...anywhere. Surely Galvatron hadn't offlined him. Galvatron may have been the epitome of the Decepticon cause, but he wasn't stupid. If a bot was useful, he'd find a way to use them. That was evident enough when he had attempted to get Bulkhead to work for him back when they rescued Sari's father. And with Oil Slick's Cyber-Ninja skills and background in science there was no way Galvatron would dispose of such an important asset so quickly. So where was he?

Hastily, Ratchet increased the speed of his search. Room after room of emptiness waded past him. Eventually out of annoyance, he morphed into vehicle-mode and whizzed through the hollow corridors with his sirens blaring. He didn't care if an enemy heard him. If they did he'd take em out. What he was worried about was Oil Slick. If he even got a simple vibration from one of the rooms he'd be satisfied. But still there was nothing. No response from anywhere. From anyone. The ship was a ghost ship. And then suddenly he heard it. It was faint at first, but as he drew nearer, the grunts and strained voice became clearer.

"Oil Slick!" Ratchet exclaimed jumping into robot-mode and skidding to a halt in front of a bolted door. Peering through the bars he could see the Cybertronian scientist, battered and worn. In what he assumed was fortune, Oil Slick spotted him too and his expression changed to shock. "Hold on," Ratchet said lifting his foot, "I'll have you out in a sec!" "Wait, Ratchet stop!" WHAM! The kick sent the door to the ground with a thud in front of Oil Slick and Ratchet stepped in. "Need some help?" the red and white Autobot asked with a smile. "You idiot..." Oil Slick muttered. The moment that Ratchet had set foot in the cell a wall of energy replaced the door.

"What the?" Ratchet exclaimed. Oil Slick shook his head. "It was a trap dumbass." "Indeed," Shockblast's voice uttered over the intercom, "I knew that a bot of your caliber would be coming to the aide of even the slightest ally. And since you helped repair my prey out there I have no problems with finalizing the trap. It doesn't matter what the orders are right now. I should have made sure you were offline back on Cybertron!" Ratchet whirled around hesitantly as gas began to his into the chamber around them. "Don't worry," Shockblast laughed lightly, "I'll come clean you up once the cosmic rust has done you in." Ratchet gritted his teeth together as the communication cut off. There was nothing to stop the lethal substance from worming its way towards him.

"Well, nice knowing you...I guess," Oil Slick sighed. Ratchet's optics turned to his waist. "I plan to know you a lot longer," he replied as he pulled a vial out from a built-in pouch. "Here!" Oil Slick blinked. "What's this?" he asked once the vial had been forced into his exhausted hand. "You remember how the Autobots found a way to counteract this stuff?" Ratchet asked. Oil Slick smiled upon realization. "I really didn't give you enough credit when we first met." Ratchet smiled back and looked at his feet. It was already beginning to crack and wear to a copper coloring.

"You're lucky you have that suit," Ratchet told Oil Slick. He could feel the fumes slithering through his circuitry. His very layout being aged beyond comprehension from the substance. His joints began to grind, his body freezing into an agonizingly fixed position. The indescribable pain was beyond anything he'd felt before. At least anything since the first time he'd encountered Cosmic Rust. All that time ago, when he'd saved the Decepticon that now hung in shackles before him. Back then it'd been war. But the battlefield had shifted. What were once enemies were now joined towards a common goal. And for all it was worth, the pain Ratchet now felt was a small price to pay.

And then it passed. Ratchet blinked and sat up. He assumed that in his rusted state he must have fallen over. But fortune had been smiling upon him that day. Oil Slick had rescued him from his deadly chemical with the now-smashed vial that lay between them. Ratchet flashed him another smile as the last of the rust faded. "That stuff really does make you feel good as new," Ratchet told him, "you should try it some time oh bot of a good Spark." "Shut the Pit up and hide," Oil Slick muttered. There was no time to argue. Ratchet could hear footsteps coming towards the chamber.

"No matter how tough a model you were Ratchet, every bot needs to go sooner or...where the slag is he!" Shockblast screamed as he entered. "My, you really are the observant one aren't you?" the veteran's voice answered from behind him, "Now, how's about we discuss what all you have to account for. Starting with Arcee!" Before he could fire, Ratchet grabbed the Decepticon's cannon and aimed it away as it spun around. The ensuing energy beam tore through the walls of the chamber, the support for it beginning to crumble from the intense power. Such energy however, was far more than enough to shatter through Oil Slick's restraints and allow him to drop to the ground. "This is the last time you interfere with my designs!" Shockblast yelled. Viciously, he yanked the cannon out of Ratchet's grip and slammed his free fist into his stomach.

"Then I guess you better start uploading your will," Oil Slick muttered. In hesitation, Shockblast extended his arm towards the greenish Transformer only to meet with the wall. Oil Slick had managed to twirl out of the way and began charging at the other intellectual. "You know I got patent pending on Cosmic Rust right?" Oil Slick asked as his foot met with the purple bot's pelvis, "I'm pretty sure your life will suffice as payment." Shockblast coughed as he hit the ground. With the now altered situation he wasn't going to win. "How's about an I.O.U.?" Shockblast muttered. Quickly, the Decepticon transformed into a satellite-like vessel and zoomed back through the corridors of the Nemesis. As the explosions outside began dissipate the two Transformers sighed. They'd taken the Nemesis.

"So, is there some reason you noobs decided to have a little party up here?" Henry Masterson grumbled as he folded his arms over his chest, "In case you haven't noticed, my leet mind is getting this enormous headmaster unit built..." Sari rolled her eyes and looked towards the sky. She knew that somewhere up there was her best friend. "Come on! We got work to get done!" the annoyed young man yelled. "Patience human," Vector Prime said calmly, "We shall be done here soon." "You better be," he muttered and walked back towards the construction site grumbling, "Hey! You noobs! That optical sensor doesn't go in the olfactory cavity!" "I can squish him if you want," Blitzwing suggested as Flareup's voice began hollering in the background. "Um...Blitzwing was it?" Sari said uneasily, "Part of being an Autobot is protecting people." "I'm not an Autobot!" the red face seethed before switching to the black one, "I'm just the local counselor for dance lessons!"

Vector Prime gave the girl an odd look. Sari just swirled a finger around her temple in an attempt to inform the old bot of his insanity. "I'm afraid I don't understand your earthly actions," Vector Prime apologized. Sari smacked her forehead. "It means I'm insane," the blue face informed. "Ah," Vector Prime said in realization, thrilled to have learned something new. Sari smiled innocently at the large robot's glare. "But seriously though," the girl laughed nervously, trying to change the subject, "What are we doing up here? I mean yeah, I get a better view of the sky and all, but why do you want three-face?" "Techno-Organic, I am here because an experiment is reaching its climax."

At that moment a loud thud sounded causing the three characters to look towards the elbow of the enormous city. A bubble had pushed upward from the surface of it...and it was growing. With each dulled sound of impact, the mound pressed upwards and expanded, the center of it beginning to chip away. There seemed to be voices inside. Then it exploded. Grimlock fell forward. "Grimlock break ceiling first..." "Thundercracker is not worthy to break ceiling...wait what?..." the blue Starscream clone wheezed before passing out next to the king of the Dinobots. Then another face appeared. Cautiously, Rattletrap poked his head out.

"Oh great..." he muttered at the sight of the other Transformers, "And here I thought the nice blue sky meant I was getting away Spark-free." Before he could lift himself out, he felt another being's arms wrap around his body and yank him up. "Ver have you been?" Blitzwing's black face exclaimed, "You have had me vorried sick young bot!" "I should pound you into micro-chips!" the red face yelled angrily. "Nice to see you're just as cookoo as ever..." Rattletrap sighed. He grunted as he fell on the ground. "Regardless, I designed zat maze you just navigated," Blitzwing boasted. Rattletrap's optics widened. "Maze?..." Blitzwing backed up a bit as the smaller figure got to its feet. "MAZE!"

Vector Prime watched surprised as the Autobot began chasing the Decepticon around the elbow of the city. "It's your fault that I was trapped with these two incompetent Protoforms for the past day! I don't care who you are! When I get my servos on you I'm ripping out your processor and shoving it up your exhaust-port you freak!" "I feel now I should take my leave," Blitzwing deduced in panic. Just as Rattletrap had his hands at the crazed bot's throat, it morphed into a jet and flew downwards towards the safer parts of the city's exterior. "Why that slagging..." Rattletrap coughed. After a few seconds of panting, he turned around and saw the other two Transformers.

"Oh...Vector Prime...and Primus..." Rattletrap chuckled uneasily, "...guess it's back to the clink for me eh?" "It's just Sari right now," the red-head corrected. Vector Prime shook his head. "No, as Blitzwing explained, you passed the test." Rattletrap's expression changed to curiosity. "Test?" The ancient Transformer gave him a nod. "This course was simply training for a potential future for you." Huffing, Rattletrap stood up again. "Look bud, cryptic talking is never any good, and I don't like things that aren't good. So you can just take your little war here and blow it out your actuator cause I ain't getting involved."

Sari gave an odd look to Vector Prime about the bot that had folded his arms over his chest. "This is the bozo you wanted?" she asked in disbelief, "I've always seen him around, but he's never struck me as the type to actually do something." "Hey hey hey!" Rattletrap retorted angrily, "I'm the best salesman Cybertron ever had to offer!" "What kind of salesman?" Sari asked cocking a brow. Rattletrap tapped his pointer fingers together. "Um...that's confidential..." he mumbled. Sari smirked. "Well, what if I told you there'd be a reward for doing what this old tin can wants?" Rattletrap's optics lit up. "Reward?" "Well, don't you think people would owe you if you saved the universe?" A grin crossed the sly bot's face. "Alright alright, you talked me into it," he laughed. Happily he began to walk back towards his unconscious comrades while Vector Prime turned to Sari. "How'd you do that?" he wondered. "Simple," the girl shrugged, "Dangle something in front of someone's face that they want and they'll break their back for it. Any kid can tell ya that." "Interesting..." Vector Prime commented stroking his chin. He was learning so much. "But I believe you have an appointment in the infirmary."

"We'll continue again soon," Sideways muttered darkly. The sad mangled form of Starscream sunk into the floor of the abominable eldric chamber as the purple Transformer turned to the monitor behind him. "Sorry, you now have my full attention," Sideways apologized sarcastically, "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to try and reprogram a bot with the essence of your opposing god in him. But that's not of your concern. Your concern is your stupid little warship." Galvatron tried to look away. He couldn't. "You're lucky we're so near Earth now or you'd have nowhere to hide out at, would you?" Sideways noted. Robotically, Galvatron nodded.

"Whether or not you have the Nemesis is not all that big of a deal," the avatar told him, "But, your leadership is...disturbing. I mean you lost your last item of value. Not to add to the already staggering list of failures under your title. And don't think we've forgotten about your little mishap of offing that freak we sent to take care of the anomaly." "You didn't even inform me that Lugnut was still alive-" "SILENCE!" Unicron's sinister voice ordered from the manipulator's mouth. Galvatron bit back his vocals, his face contorted by anger and fear. The hatred for the dark entity only grew everytime he was forced to come into contact with its unholy presence.

"It matters not what your reputation is," the dark essence hissed, "The fact remains that you still lead the Decepticons, what little is left of those rejecting the light anyways. And as long as you hold that position you are of use. Forget not oh fearless leader. You are mine." Galvatron hadn't realized he'd been frozen in his throne before the screen faded. No matter his spite for his master, he could do nothing to him. There was no escape. He laughed inwardly at the irnoy. He'd become taken Starscream's spot. Nothing could phase Unicron. Nothing other than the life of his brother. That which Galvatron had sparked the war for in the first place. Never did he predict that he'd lose his path from such trivial aspects as power.

"Well, perhaps it is for the best," Shockblast's voice uttered. Galvatron's vision shifted to his lieutenant. "After all, we'd just simply be fueling the dark one's ambition by-ack!" Shockblast choked in Galvatron's grip. "Though I realize the ordeal, you need to keep in mind who is in charge," Galvatron warned, his voice threatening. "It was not Omega Supreme. I did not give the order to dispose of the shields. The next time you go against my command, I assure you. It will be your last." The concept seemed impossible, but Galvatron could have sworn that he saw the cyclop's optic narrow. "And who is in charge?" Shockblast asked. Galvatron squinted suspiciously. The manner was unlike him. "That is the question isn't it?" the purple right-hand bot asked, his voice a pitch more cunning, "Yesss..."

Sari's eyes widened. She ran forward and flung her arms around a yellow Transformer's torso. "Gah!" Bumblebee yelped. Beneath the bandages the pain remained. "Easy there! It hurts like sl-" "I can't believe how stupid you were!" Sari yelled angrily. Bumblebee gulped as he spotted the female's face. "You go to the moon knowing what was up there and you come back almost a mummy!" "Sari, I'm hardly wrapped up enough to-" "You probably didn't even make it to the ship!" she cried. Bumblebee bit his lip. "You just went cavorting into the battlefield like "Oh, look at me, I'm the fastest thing alive! Doo doo doo! Can't touch this! Hey, check out my mad skills!" and what happens? You get torn up like this!"

"You expected anything else?" Bumblebee laughed lightly. He had to admit, Sari's impersonation of him was pretty amusing. Not that it was at all like how he actual was. He'd be far more boastful. Bumblebee wished he hadn't asked. Tears had begun forming along the rims of the girl's eyelids. "What did you have to prove?" she sobbed. The male's expression became rather solemn. "I had to prove what I wanted. Even if it was just to myself," he told her, his hand stroking her hair, "What I cared about more." "And that was?" she muttered sadly. Bumblebee smiled. "You." Sari's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean? You went there!" "But I came back," he reminded pointing at the bandages, "I didn't continue. I'd rather have my friends than die for my rep." Tears trickled down Sari's face, her expression lifted. Gently, she pressed her body against his and nuzzled into his battle-chipped chest-plating.

"See?" Ratchet said. Oil Slick rolled his optics. "Swell, two kids reunited," he muttered, "Both complete idiots. How joyful." Ratchet smiled and shook his head. "You'll get used to the small rewards sometime," he assured wrapping an arm around the lankier bot's collar. Looking at it made Oil Slick's optic twitch. "You're lucky Vector Prime's so reasonable," Ratchet told him, "Otherwise I probably couldn't have kept you out of prison. No one else seemed to believe you were still with us." Oil Slick scoffed, "Am I?" The medic grinned, "You did go after the Nemesis." "To stay safe from Unicron," Oil Slick reminded, "To save our race. Not the Autobots." "And in turn the Autobots, which apparently those names don't even matter anymore, would be saved." Oil Slick grumbled. His hand quivered.

-end of chapter-

Sorry this has taken me so long to update. I actually got this chapter done in a week, and was just busy making art for it...pretty crappy art, but I felt it needed a picture of some sort. I personally loved Rattletrap and anyone that interacted with his part of the story this chapter. Especially at the end with Blitzy and...well, you've read it. But what could be happening to Oil Slick? How come Shockblast is acting unusual? Can Sari's boobs really not get any bigger? Find out the answers to everything...besides that final question as we continue towards the end of The Worth of Life!

...hopefully Sari and BBB haven't become too boring.

Art time:

Title Card: warahi(dot)deviantart(dot)com/art/The-Siege-Title-Card-181421241