CHAPTER 38
The Great Escape

It was hard to tell between the two mechs who was more angry: Optimus or Ironhide. Though if one were to look at Ironhide they would say it was him, given the rage in his optics and gritted metal teeth. Optimus glanced at Ironhide as they made their way down the hallway, keeping his own optics open for any Vehicons nearby. Optimus himself didn't look too happy either, though he attempted to mask it as best he could, his optics were without a doubt livid with anger. "I will take care of Airachnid." He stated quietly "Being you are faster than I am. I believe you're better suited getting to either Breakdown or Riley." He noted quietly.

"Better not be both." Ironhide grunted "Even if he is on our side now I don't trust him for a second."

Optimus nodded his head slowly, turning the corner quickly to avoid the rest of the conversation. The hallway was long, and wide, but in the dim lighting, it was hard to see even what was right in front of him. Inside, he inwardly feared for Riley, with no means of contacting the boy, he could only hope that he was still breathing and Airachnid had kept to her word. The latter of which, he knew was close to impossible. Moving behind a wall as a group of Vehicons rushed by him, Optimus leveled his breathing calmly.

The sound of rustling nearby sent chills up his systems, leveling his gun slowly, he heard a quiet chuckle. "I was beginning to get bored, it seemed as though you'd never show." He heard Airachnid's chilling voice at last "Tell me Optimus, what possessed you to actually come? Don't tell me you'd actually give your own spark for a human." She chuckled.

"Show yourself, Airachnid."

In the dark, the sound of her legs hitting the floor was almost as eerie as the prospect of what she had planned for him. Yet nothing prepared him as she lunged out of the darkness, throwing Optimus onto the ground as he attempted to fight her off. "LOCKDOWN!" She hissed "NOW!"

Before Optimus had even quite realized what she meant, she was off of him. The attack had almost seemed useless for several moments, key word: ALMOST. Before he felt the hot sting of a cannon blast send him flying through the air and into a nearby wall. "You idiot! I said to aim for his HEAD!" Airachnid stated in complete and utter annoyance "That was the chest!" She added.

"Should have been aiming behind."

Lockdown had spun around only a moment before he had stasis cuffs slapped onto him violently. The shock to his system was quick, without warning. And as he dropped, Breakdown only grinned down at Airachnid slowly, shaking his head, and then up at Optimus. "Back-up should be here any time." He noted, noticing her grimace "Be careful who ye trust, what can I say?" He noted.

Riley only peered over the mech's foot, not bothering to move even an inch out of fear. Though he was surprised by how quickly everything had gone down, he definitely wasn't complaining. "Now, now. Let's not be hasty, you wouldn't hurt a helpless, unarmed femme, would you?" Airachnid questioned.

Riley was the first to notice that she had used all of her legs to leap into the air. But it took him several seconds to process the fact that she had snatched him into her claws. The squeeze was tight, barely allowing him to breathe, but he still struggled for air. "Riley!" Optimus shouted, bringing out his gun "He has no part in this, Airachnid." He snapped.

"Oh, but I think he does. After all, if I can't fight my way out." She grinned, squeezing harder onto Riley's body "I'll buy my way out. Either you lower your weapon, or I'll paint the room in his organic blood." She noted, grinning wickedly "Now be a good mech, and do what I say. BOTH OF YOU." She noted.

Riley could only watch in horror as Optimus and Breakdown did as she said. But it was no question as to why in this case, he knew himself to be the trump card in this. Airachnid did too, after all, Breakdown had already proven once he wouldn't take the chance of harming Riley. And there was no chance in hell that Optimus would open fire on her for the same reason. "Good boys." Airachnid chided "Now, if you don't mind, I'll just take the boy and be on my way." She taunted slightly "Far be it from me to come to my superiors without something." She chided, turning to Optimus "After all, he's not your head, but he is your son." She noted.

"Maybe we can send him your head as a parting gift."

The force at which Riley was thrown was so violent that he was sure he was going to die. Falling to the ground, Riley groaned quietly, pulling himself up with every bone in his body pained. He threw his head up to see Ironhide rushing up to him and Airachnid off to the side. "Riley, hey, easy." He crouched low, the old mech's soft features looking him over "Come on, kid. Talk to me."

Riley's eyes shot up to see Airachnid leaping into the air, his eyes widening. "Ironhide, behind you!"

Ironhide was already a step ahead of him as he spun around, grabbing onto two of her legs. Riley's jaw dropped as with sheer brute force, he ripped the two legs off, without even a second of hesitation. "You're never touching him again." Ironhide snapped quietly "Get those cuffs on her, Breakdown. Before I'm temped to actually rip her head off." She snapped.

Riley slowly dragged himself to his feet, turning to peer up at Optimus. He felt the world spinning as the mech quickly ran to his side, his holoform appearing quickly. "Dad...?" He muttered.

"It's okay, Riley, I'm right here."

It was the last thing Riley remembered before the pain of the fall blacked him out.

...

When he finally came to, Riley found himself jolting up in bed, drenched in sweat. He took a few deep breaths in slowly, relieved to be in the same bedroom he had stayed in while staying in Ironhide and Chromia's home. If nothing else, it was a sign that he was safe. Some time must have passed, he figured, as rays of sunlight peeked through the blinds slightly. "Ironhide? Chromia?" Riley paused a moment, confused "Dad?" He questioned.

The sound of footsteps making their way down the hallway almost made him tense. Yet he soon found Chromia in his doorway, looking as though she must have run there the moment she had heard him. "Primus almighty, you're awake!" She sighed in relief "We've been worried." She muttered.

"H-How long was I out?"

Riley slowly pulled himself into a seated position as Chromia's holoform appeared by his side. "A few days." Riley's eyes widened, stunned "Don't freak out, Riley. You suffered some bad damage both from your abduction and from her." Riley nodded his head slowly "How are you feeling, hon?" She questioned.

Riley shook his head slowly, groaning out in pain as Chromia ran a hand through his hair. He knew that she didn't need a verbal answer, somehow, looking in her eyes, he could tell she knew the answer already. Wincing as she traced her fingers along her bruised cheek, she sighed quietly. "Ouch, that hurts, Chromia." He flinched, she retracted her fingers slightly "Where's everyone else...?" He questioned.

"Ironhide is in the den, Optimus and... Your Uncle-"

"My Uncle?" Riley felt his heart pounding in straight-up fear "What the hell is he-?"

Again, Chromia's soothing touch calmed him at least slightly. He wasn't sure how it was that she could even do it, but she did. "We have our optics on him, Riley. He's not going to try anything." She told him firmly "Are you okay, Riley? You seem shaky." Riley nodded his head slowly as she peered up "You can come in, y'know." She called out.

Riley peered over as Ironhide's holoform entered the room as well. To say the mech looked relieved would have been an understatement. "Prime's on his way back. He went into town for ice packs for ye." Ironhide nodded to Riley, taking a few deep breaths "I'm glad to see ye awake. Had us all worried you'd slip into a coma or somethin'." He explained.

"And the crazy spider chick...?"

"Locked up. We're not sure about the groups leader, but she's not coming back." Ironhide grunted, taking a deep breath "After the damage you took, she should be thankful I just didn't rip her apart limb-by-limb..." He caught Chromia's glare at that, and groaned "Just sayin'... That glitch could've killed him. Ye can't tell me yer not just as mad." He added.

Riley smirked a bit, taking in how he had said it. Riley had seen it before, from Optimus, though between the two of them, they were on a totally different level. Perhaps it was because Ironhide had more of a temper, but it still surprised Riley to see the mech so angry. "Thanks for protecting me." He nodded his head slowly "If you and Dad hadn't shown up..." He paused, listening as the door opened "Crap." He muttered.

Ironhide turned his head slowly, and Riley could tell his real form was speaking to Optimus and Mason. There was silence for a moment, and then Ironhide turned to him, slowly. "They want to see you." Ironhide stated quietly, Riley avoided eye contact "Mason won't try a thing, Riley, and if he does. I swear to you, I will throw him out myself." He told him calmly.

Riley took a moment, fear underlying everything else. What would Mason be doing there? He'd abandoned him, disowned him even. "Yeah, send him in, whatever..." Riley muttered, taking a deep breath "Just send them in..."

There was a silence between the Autobot couple for a moment before they both disappeared. Riley leaned back slowly, without Airachnid as the main issue, he realized he still had another again. His decision: He'd made it, staying there if they wanted him. But now he had to face not only Optimus, but Mason with it. And deep down, that was a scarier position to be in than anything he'd have faced on that base.

As the door slowly, but surely, creaked open again, Riley closed his eyes, and prepared for the confrontation.

...

A/N: Just a few more chapters before the end. :( Not my best action scene, but I tried, hope it wasn't too bad.