25: Silverstar's Journey
Chapter 25 - Project Predacon & Plus One
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers Prime or the franchise. All characters (except Riley/Silverstar) belong to Hasbro.
::Hello:: - Bumblebee Talking
"Hello" - Normal Talking
'Hello' - Thoughts
*Hello* - Cybertronian Talking
=Hello= - Over the phone or Comm
/Hello/ - Bond
(I'm skipping over the other 2 in between these episodes since they're separate missions. Similar to what I did during the relic hunt arc.)
—
(Reader's POV) (~Dreamland~)
Silverstar sat on the counter, swinging her oil covered legs. She decided it would be a good idea to jump into an oil lake, nearby their home.
"Sweetspark, don't get oil everywhere. It's bad enough your covered in it." Elita giggled softly, searching for a rag to clean the mess with.
Silverstar let her legs dangle now, looking across the room and out the window. The sky was clear, things were quiet, the complete opposite of what currently went on in other parts of Cybertron.
"Carrier, why is the outside so boring?"
"Boring? You spend so much of your time out there."
"Yeah but, nothing is happening. No action whatsoever."
Silverstar not liking her surroundings reminded Elita that the war will ruin this place someday. And whether or not Silver would witness it firsthand. What would her life would be like and when?
"Well, you'll learn to appreciate it when your older. Now lift your legs up."
Silverstar couldn't help but giggle from her mother getting the oil off, touching her protoform in a ticklish way.
"Carrier stop, it tickles!" She tried kicking her legs away but Elita decided to play a little game.
"It does now?"
Silverstar nodded, still trying to escape. Elita cleaned the rest of the oil off before tickling her little star to death.
They had a good time laughing and playing until Silver called for a break. Then something crossed the little femme's mind.
"When is sire gonna come?" She asked innocently.
"I'm not sure sweetie, work is getting real busy nowadays."
"Why can't you both be here all the time? Why can't I come with you guys? That way, we can spend more time as a family!" Silver suggested excitedly.
Elita's spark shattered at every word. She decided to distract herself away from the subject, executing a plan she had in her own mind.
"I've got something special for you." She whispered excitedly.
She helped Silverstar down, before telling her to wait there. Going to her berthroom, she grabbed what she wanted before rushing back.
"Pick a servo." She said.
Silverstar looked at her mother's arms, which hid behind her back. She pointed to Elita's left arm, who revealed an empty servo. Then she revealed her other, which had a small gift.
"For you my dear. My carrier gave it to me when I was just a bit older than you were. It's really fragile and special, so you have to keep it safe." Elita put the gift in Silverstar's servos, closing them with her own, then placing them on her youngling's chassis.
"I'll keep it very safe, I promise." Silverstar looked up smiling. Elita smiled back before giving her a hug.
"Now, I promised to call your Uncle. So I'll be back, I'll tell him you said hi."
"Ok, love you carrier! Can we play outside later?"
"Of course! And I love you too."
Silver opened her servos, looking down at the small object. In her optics, it was beautiful.
(~A Few Months After~)
She held it close to her spark, choking up occasionally. A comforting servo touched her back, a voice accompanying it, saying it was going to be alright.
(~Reality~)
And from that day, she protected the gift her mother gave her, days before Elita joined the Allspark. The crystal, sitting in Riley's hands.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Miko asked, plopping herself right next to Riley.
"N-Nothing." Riley stuttered, quickly putting the necklace back on.
Miko didn't care too much, just shrugging her shoulders. "Still digging your new style by the way." She mentioned, looking at Riley 2.0.
"Thanks. Thought it would be smart to change both forms."
The two sat awkwardly on the couch, not knowing how to carry the conversation on.
The Hanger, Hanger E to be exact, was looking more and more like the old base. Thanks to the Harbinger and the Decepticons failing to destroy it, they managed to gather its groundbridge technology and bring it there.
Now, they had a fully functioning bridge, monitors set up, a half done medbay, and a new human area!
"Riley, the Bridge-Blaster is fully charged now." Docbot called out suddenly.
"Thanks Ratchet!"
Riley and Ratchet didn't talk like they were planning, but it wasn't necessary in the end. There were no longer strains between any bot in the room, besides Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus for obvious reasons.
Besides all that, Optimus pulled something...a bit unexpected.
(~Flashback to a week ago~)
Silverstar yawned, bringing in the last part for the groundbridge.
"Let me take that." Optimus grabbed the part out of her servos, carrying it to where Ratchet stood.
Silverstar stood there for a second, tiredly processing what just happened. She had been lacking sleep for some time, so everything had to be slowed down or she wouldn't get it.
"Are you feeling ok?" Optimus asked. She didn't answer at first, her optics dropping down.
He shook her gently, calling her name.
"Huh? What?" She snapped more awake.
"Are you feeling well?" Optimus asked again.
"Yeah, I'm just tired." She replied before yawning again. She didn't know Cybertronian's could yawn, maybe it was an imitation.
Optimus smiled, unbeknownst to Silver.
"Hello Tired, I'm sire."
Silver was awake now. She stared weirdly at him but was overjoyed.
"Are you serious?" She asked.
"No, I'm sire." Optimus corrected jokefully.
Silverstar's jaw dropped but it was replaced by a growing smile. She placed a servo on his arm. "I'm proud you used a dad joke. You can now say your an official dad/sire."
(~End of Flashback~)
Riley still couldn't believe it. He popped a couple more since then, but it still had the same effect as the first one. To her, it was unbelievable.
Everyone else had caught up on missed time, explaining their own encounters with the cons.
Miko explained the whole dragon thing to Riley, who learned they weren't actually called dragons. They were named Predacons, and apparently they've been extinct for quite some time.
At least, that's the memo she got when the bots mentioned their reactions to seeing one.
"What's taking Magnus and Jackie so long?" Riley asked, looking at the groundbridge frame.
Miko shrugged, going up to where Jack was standing. He left Fowler's office, talking about who knows what.
Riley decided to finish hooking the monitors up. There was an area full of them, and they weren't doing any good sitting around and collecting dust.
Right now, Raf had to be using his own laptop. And with Ratchet appreciating the humans more, perhaps from guilt, the kids had more of a role to play. The only thing weighing them down was Ultra Magnus and his mindset of the 'indigenous species'.
As Riley did that, and Jack talked with Miko, Ultra Magnus finally called for a bridge back.
Ratchet opened it up, looking to Raf for confirmation that it was stable. Once the young boy gave the go ahead, Ratchet set the coordinates.
"Ultra Magnus, we are ready to receive you."
Ultra Magnus drove in with his recently acquired alt. As Riley called it, the copy-cat alt.
On the back part of the truck, there was a single cube of energon. Bumblebee went ahead to grab it so the commander could transform.
Once he did, he looked to the others before reporting. "We didn't find much else in the rubble of the former base."
Wheeljack came through shortly after, tossing something in his servos. "You call this-" he raised the lob ball in the air "-not much else?"
He spun around before throwing it roughly at Bulkhead, who was caught off guard and didn't catch it. Instead, the ball bounced off his chassis and towards where Jack and Miko stood.
Jack took action quickly, grabbing the girl and flinging himself with her to the ground. The ball ended up smashing into the door to Fowler's office.
Everyone who wasn't affected, stood there shocked until Ratchet angrily turned to the wrecker.
"Wheeljack! You could've cause serious damage!" He reprimanded him.
"To me!" Miko added, standing up. Jack looked at the ball, seeing the crushed and cracked walls. If he didn't save Miko, she would've gone splat.
Agent Fowler, who was knocked to the ground, started getting up from the sudden crash.
His papers were scattered, the pictures were barley hanging, his monitor was down, and his chair was flipped over, but the desk survived.
"What in the Sam Hill?"
He got up and opened the broken door, only to be greeted by the lob ball.
"A little help here?!" He called out.
Riley switched forms, going over to grab the ball. "Sorry, Fowler." She apologized, even though she wasn't the guilty one here.
"What were you thinking soldier?" Ultra Magnus asked, causing Wheeljack to immediately frown in anger.
"I was thinking, Bulk could catch that lob."
"Allow me to make myself clear..." everyone by now was used to the whole Magnus vs Wheeljack ordeal. It was almost daily, and usually entertaining or boring. "...as Optimus Prime's second in command, I have no intention of tolerating 'wrecker behaviour'."
"Some things never change."
"Jackie..." Bulkhead tried warning him.
Everyone grew curious, stating silent as Magnus responded.
"Need I remind you that it was Optimus Prime himself who assigned me to command your wreckers back on Cybertron, and get you loose canons under control." Now the kids, including Riley, were really paying attention.
"An effective combat unit begins with discipline. If you won't accept that, feel free to choose the path of least resistance...as you did before."
Wheeljack already had something to fire back at him. "If my ship weren't a twisted wreck at present, I'd do that, sir." He walked away angrily, nobody deciding to go after him.
Ultra Magnus just sighed before moving along and away from all that. "So, any word from Optimus?"
"He's investigating recent Decepticon activity, hopefully an energon mine." Ratchet answered.
"Magnus was in charge of you guys?" Silver whispered as Ratchet and Magnus said a few more things to each other.
"For a while, it was just the wreckers. No leaders, just one big family of bots. Until Ultra Magnus came. A lot of wreckers didn't stick around, including Jackie. Some bots just don't do well with a chain of command."
And with what was said earlier, it was Optimus who put the commander there. Silverstar now wanted to know why.
Bumblebee put the energon cube away as Arcee and Bulkhead engaged in a conversation with Miko, who was on the ground now.
Fowler said the catwalk might not be stable, shooing her and Jack away.
Ultra Magnus went to go do something as Ratchet sat down near the three, continuing on something he was fixing up earlier. No, it wasn't Bulkhead who broke it.
"How rad would it be if you all had jet packs like Optimus?" Miko asked, imagining it already.
Ratchet was the first to answer, unexpectedly. "Quite 'rad', Miko. But the Forge has been depleted of its power to do so."
"Are you...sad you won't get a jet pack?" Silverstar asked, stepping into the conversation.
"What? No. There are many things the Forge could do for us, but now it cannot."
"It's only good for pounding out things now." Bulkhead told Miko.
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of a familiar engine. A mostly blue with yellow paint job sports car, with a double 7 on its doors, drove in and skidded to a stop.
"Smokescreen?" Arcee questioned.
The vehicle transformed, revealing Arcee had guessed right.
"Aww, what gave me away?" Smokey asked.
"Who else has an alt and engine like yours?" Silver told rather than ask him amusingly.
Miko did the 'wink wink, nudge nudge' motion to Silver, making the femme scoff annoyed.
"Come on! Robots in disguise, right?" Smokescreen's smile faded away as Ultra Magnus came over.
"Where have you been soldier?" The commander asked.
"Scanning new war paint. Thought it'd be proactive to follow Optimus' lead...and theirs as well." He gestured to Bee and Silver.
::The look suits you, Smokey.:: Bee complimented, turning around to actually see him.
"Now you can look your best while stacking those empty cubes." Magnus gestured to the unorganized pile.
"Yes sir." Smokescreen replied sadly before ranting to himself. "I was nearly a Prime, but somehow I'm still a rookie."
Ratchet heard the word 'Prime' and perked up like a dog. "What was that about a Prime?"
"Uhhh Time." Smokescreen quickly corrected. "Time to stop acting like a rookie." He 'repeated' out loud.
Silver offered to help him with the cubes, to which he denied, but she helped anyway. "Nice save, unconvincing if you know the story however."
"You try thinking of something that rhymes with Prime, right off the spot with Ratchet staring at ya."
"Good point."
As they did that, Arcee talked with Ratchet. Saying if it weren't for Smokescreen, Optimus would've been dead. Ratchet replied, saying they were fortunate Smokescreen was inexperienced enough to not follow protocol.
A half an hour later and Optimus returned from his exploration, with something in hand/servo.
"Optimus, did you find energon?" Ratchet asked, turning around from the monitor him and Ultra Magnus were now at.
"No, but I did uncover this." He placed the object down on a low platform. Everyone gathered around it, trying to figure out what it was.
"It cannot be." Ratchet went closer than the rest, trying to confirm his suspicions.
"Be what?" Jack asked.
"The ancient remains of a Predacon." Optimus answered instead of Ratchet.
Silverstar gathered the kids in her servos, placing them next to the bone so they could see better.
"Though it remains unclear why such a skull would be found on your planet, it's presence reveals all too much about the Predacon, which Megatron recently sent in pursuit of us." Docbot explained
"You mean that dragon bot we put on ice?" Miko asked, turning to Ratchet, who stopped circling around them.
'So that's what happened.' Silver thought.
"Except the Predacons have been extinct since...well..." Ratchet couldn't put his digit on the right words.
"Since before most life began on Cybertron." Smokescreen was able to finish for him.
"They're like Earth's dinosaurs." Raf realized.
"Which means for you guys, running into one would be like us meeting a T-Rex." Jack put in simpler terms, most likely for Miko.
"So, then what were Dinobots?" She asked.
"Totally different." Bulk told her.
"Would love to meet one." Silverstar said. Miko nodded in agreement.
Ratchet picked up on the previous conversation before it was lost on this one about Dinosaurs and Dinobots.
"With Megatron seeing new interest in the excavation of prehistoric skeletons, and a certain scientist back among the Decepticon ranks..." Ratchet suspected something, which Optimus and Magnus picked up on.
"It would stand to reason, that Shockwave cloned the beast from one such find."
"And now Megatron is looking to clone another."
Wheeljack brought up a point. "What makes ya think buckethead would stop at just one?"
"We could have beast wars on our hands." Bulkhead added.
(I love the subtle reference here X3)
The conversation started diving down into more realization and points.
Ratchet added on. "And if Shockwave only requires a single strand of CNA for which to clone a beast..."
"He already possesses what he needs to engender this one." Optimus then turned to the rest of the team. "Autobots, we must become Beast Hunters."
Silverstar let out an annoyed sigh. "First soldiers, then exterminators, now Beast Hunters? What next, we're going to detain a bunch of rouge criminals?"
"Exterminators?" Arcee questioned.
"Insecticons, bugs, bug exterminators? Forget it." She knew none of the bots would get it, at least the kids would.
"But one thing doesn't follow." Smokescreen brought up. "Predacons went extinct on Cybertron, so what would their bones be doing here?"
"The most logical explanation would be that Predacons came here hundreds of years ago." Ratchet explained while going to a Cybertronian sized monitor to bring up more information on the beasts.
The kids went back to the catwalk, there were many in the new base, as the other bots stood behind Ratchet.
"Here is all the information I could gather, from our historical texts." The screen was filled with the images, similar to dragons and gryphons.
"But those are metal versions of creatures from our Greek Mythology and Medieval literature." Jack pointed out.
"Not dinosaurs." Raf added.
"I was wondering how two different species could have similar looking beasts without having known past interactions..." Silver said aloud to herself.
"It would stand to reason Predacons did indeed walk upon this Earth in ancient times. As they seem to have been the basis for much of humankind's folklore. Illustrating once again, that the pasts of Earth and Cybertron are inextricably linked." Optimus mentally added that to the growing list.
(~Hours Later~)
The kids were fast asleep in the human area, the bots conversing on the opposite side of the room as to not disturb them.
Ultra Magnus was at the monitors and Ratchet was working on something he hadn't been able to work on for quite some time.
Optimus, along with human Riley on his shoulder, approached the doc.
"Synthetic Energon?" Optimus questioned after seeing a familiar image on Ratchet's screen.
"Indeed. I am concerned that without access to any energon reserves since our base was destroyed, our ability to deal with impending crisis will be severely hampered."
"Wise decision, old friend."
"Just, don't test it on yourself." Riley told him jokingly.
"As long as you don't secretly take it." Ratchet shot the joke back.
"I won't, I'm bad at keeping secrets. You would know that, Ratch'." She winked at him, hinting at their joke. He gave a quick smile back before continuing the conversation.
"Now please, manage your expectations. I am working with even more rudimentary hardware than before."
"I can help you with that." Riley offered.
"Prime!" Agent Fowler shouted, coming out of his office. It wasn't as aggressive as it usually sounded either.
Now the bots had to deal with Fowler being around all the time as well. Seeing as his workspace was in the same building as the main spot for the team, calls wouldn't be necessary anymore.
"Satellite surveillance just picked up two signs of Decepticon activity. One near the oil field outside of El Paso, the other near the Hibbert Bluffs in Scotland. So don't forget to pack your kilts."
"We must divide our resources, Ultra Magnus, lead the wreckers to the bluffs."
"Yes, Optimus." Ultra Magnus looked at the wreckers before walking up to Optimus confused.
"Uh...what's a kilt?"
Optimus turned his helm away, darting his optics to look back at Magnus before near whispering his answer.
"Agent Fowler can at times be oblique. I find it best to simply nod and mobilize."
Riley sighed like a worn out parent. "I'll tell you both later."
Optimus helped her down as he and Magnus walked to the forge. It was decided to be put to good use in battle since all it was now, was a plain old oversized hammer.
Teams were made up from there. Ultra Magnus and the wreckers would go to Scotland. Optimus, Smokescreen, and Bumblebee would go to the oil fields. All while Ratchet, Arcee, and Silverstar alongside the kids would stay behind. The two femmes being there in case of backup or another possible signal.
Of course, Miko, with the help of Wheeljack, was able to join him, Bulk, and Magnus to Scotland.
As the two groups set off, everyone else waited around doing whatever.
Riley settled for a nap since she hadn't gotten a chance to rest yet. Jack played video games on an old console Fowler got them from a friend. Raf decided to surf the internet, see if he could find anything on there. Ratchet was busy with the Synthen. And Arcee was spectating Jack's game.
There wasn't much for anyone to do anyway.
A couple hours passed by before the remaining team got any sort of message. It ended up being a groundbridge request from Scotland.
Jack, Raf, and Arcee looked to the groundbridge portal frame, seeing Wheeljack drive out before transforming and stomping away.
"Wheeljack, what happened? Where are the others?" Arcee asked confused, following his pace.
"Having a swell time taking the long way home in Ultra Magnus' boat I'm sure. Miko included." He answered without looking at her.
As Raf mentioned Miko's excuse for bringing sodas, and Ratchet asking if they got the bone, Fowler said he found another 'hotspot'.
"Since Prime's unit isn't back from oil country..."
Arcee picked up on what Fowler was putting down. "Raf, set a bridge for Fowler's coordinates." She looked at Wheeljack. "You, roll with me."
"Not today alright?" He quickly denied, even though she didn't exactly ask.
"If you're alright with sending me out there alone." Arcee teased.
But it didn't work on Wheeljack. "Alone is how I prefer to roll."
"Wheeljack-" Ratchet stepped in. "-you do not want to make me abandon a complex equation to venture outside my comfort zone."
"What about Princess? Why can't she go?" Jackie asked.
"If you haven't noticed, she hasn't been able to sleep for the past 24 hours." Ratchet replied.
Seeing no other options left, Wheeljack rolled his optics and turned around to follow Arcee. "Ugh fine."
"But in case you haven't figured it out-" him and Arcee went through the bridge Raf just made for them.
"I don't work well...with...others." His talk slowed down as he noticed they were surrounded by Vehicons, almost like they were waiting for the two bots.
As they dealt with that, Jack went back to his video games, which ended up waking Riley. The sound from the TV was pretty loud.
Just as she did, June came by for a visit.
"Nice shooting Tex." June complimented Jack.
"Hey mom, what's up?"
Before June could answer, an overly happy Agent Fowler came in. "Nurse Darby, what brings you here?"
"The medical supplies you do graciously offered to donate? That Jack keeps forgetting to bring home? The hospital appreciates your generosity Agent Fowler."
"Please, call me Bill."
Riley sat next to Jack, who was now staring at Fowler weirdly.
"I sense romance." Riley whispered to him. He elbowed her as she started laughing. "Not funny, and it's just adults talking." He hissed back.
"Uh huh. And that smile of his alongside the 'generous' donation is just adult stuff as well?"
"Yes." Jack replied sharply.
"Guys! I found a Predacon Talon! In a museum. Scientists were totally stumped when they excavated it in 1922, so it's been in storage." Raf explained as everyone but Riley stood behind him.
"But we only got one Beast Hunter left." Jack pointed out, to which Riley groaned knowing she had to do this alone.
"I'm pulling another heist, great." She grumbled, burying her face into the couch.
Ratchet didn't seem too keen on the idea leaving himself to accompany her so Fowler took it upon himself to offer him and June's assistance.
Obviously a plan to get closer to June.
"Not sure she needs to go alone." Fowler fixed his tie, staring right at June.
"Why don't we all just wait for Optimus." June suggested nervously.
"I'll have you know Nurse Darby, I was an army ranger and federal agent for Unit E, 3 decades before I ever heard the name 'Optimus Prime'. I'm more than equipped to handle a milk run with Riley. In fact, why don't you...tag along~?" He held his hand out for her with the face of someone who wanted a date.
"Ohhh, I don't know about that." June sheepishly raised her hand to her mouth.
Jack intervened quickly. "A-A-Absolutely not! Mom, I don't want you anywhere near anything con. It's not-"
"-Safe? Is my teenage son seriously going to tell me that it's fine for him to travel all the way to Cybertron, but his mother can't be trusted to go on a...on a..." she looked to Fowler, who whispered the answer for her. Note, he's been standing behind her, smiling like an absolute goof.
"Milk run."
"-A milk run?!"
Riley didn't care who was coming at this point, just whistling before walking down the steps so she could switch forms and go.
"No- I- its just- your...lactose and tolerant and I..." Jack couldn't think of anything, just smiling awkwardly near the end.
"Come on Agent Fowler." June walked away, leaving Jack defeated and Fowler one happy guy.
"Hop in you two." Silverstar called out, opening the doors for them.
Raf opened the groundbridge, taking them directly to the same museum they pulled a heist on months back.
"You two go ahead, I'll wait out here."
June and Fowler nodded, leaving her alt. Except she didn't unlock Fowler's side yet.
"I know what your doing, and I wish you the best of luck." If Silver could wink, she would've at this moment.
Fowler smiled before she finally let him out and catch up with June.
Silverstar sat in silence for a little bit before realizing something aloud. "Am I a third wheel to two adults right now?!"
As Fowler worked his government magic to get a hold of the Talon, Knockout was sent to collect said bone.
When he arrived, he noticed Silver's alt and drove up next to it, whistling with amazement.
"Nice look, really sells the edgy teen."
"Why are you here? Planning to destroy another building?" She asked coldly.
Knockout dodged the question but wasn't surprised by her behaviour. "Star child, where's this hatred coming from?"
"I don't know, but maybe your 'lord and master' knows."
"Well, if your gonna be that way, I suppose this makes my job easier."
Blasters came out from Knockout's side door, charging up and firing. Silver quickly transformed, rolling to the side before kicking Knockout's alt like a soccer ball.
He tumbled a few times before transforming. Looking at his paint job, gasping and growling, he charged straight at her.
"How dare you scratch my paint! Now, I'm going to scratch yours!" Knocking her down, he took his saw out and thrusted it down at full speed to her helm.
Just barley moving her noggin to the side, she equipped her blade and slashed Knockout's side weakly. All it managed to do was scratch his paint more, but it got him up and off, fretting over the damage.
As she got up, Knockout stopped his fake act and pulled his electric prod out. With a quick zap, she was down and out.
As Knockout put the weapon back, he got weirded out and shivered. "Talk about Déjà Vu, Father-Daughter edition."
Wanting to make a grand appearance, he transformed and hid around the corner, waiting for the two lovebirds to come out.
Once they did, and had a small chat about their previous love lives, Knockout came out of his spot while shining his headlights on them. Just in time as well, since they would've seen Silver knocked out on the ground.
"I have a bone to pick with both of you." Using his blaster, he activated a different kind of blast. It knocked both humans out, letting the crate with the bone inside drop to the ground.
Knockout transformed, taking the crate between his digits. "Why take only the bone, when I can have two pets to trade in?"
Knockout grabbed Agent Fowler and June as well, transforming and putting them in the trunk while the bone got shotgun.
He sped off just as Silver was gaining consciousness. She grabbed her helm, shaking it as she watched the flashy Aston Martin drive off into the night.
Becoming fully awake, she transformed and chased after them. But since Knockout's alt was known for speed, she could never quite catch up with them.
It went on for a while, eventually ending up in the desert lands of wherever they were.
'Why hasn't the cons given him a groundbridge yet?' She wondered.
"Knockout! You can have the bone, just give me back June and Fowler!"
"Where's the fun in that?" He asked tauntingly before driving even faster.
"Knockout to Lord Megatron, I have secured 1 vintage Predacon Talon. Plus, 2 of the Autobot's pets for you to employ as hostages, lab experiments, well anyway you see fit. So go on Big M, tell me you love me more than Starscream." Knockout got nothing but static back.
"My liege?" He tried again.
"Hello?" Still no use. All because of a certain returning Predacon, who destroyed the communications dish since Starscream kicked his tail.
"Give it up Knockout!" Silver shouted, gaining some speed now. "I can do this all day! Say, why aren't your guys picking you up? Too busy for you perhaps? Maybe they forgot alllll about you~."
"Any day now, my lord." Knockout was beyond frustrated at this point.
(~Meanwhile, in Knockout's Trunk~) (Not like that people!)
"I told you we should've waited for Optimus." June hissed at Fowler angrily.
"There it is, the I told you so. Well no sail sister, the con was at the museum. If we had waited, he would've snagged the Talon before Prime got there."
June sighed. "And given our current situation, WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT HAVE MADE?!"
"Hellooo, how long have you two been dating? Because you bicker like an old married couple." Knockout interrupted.
"What?"
"We're not dating." June denied, putting a sad face on Fowler.
"Silverstar! Is the lady and agent man dating?" Knockout asked the femme who was still hot on his tailpipe. It felt more like a joined ride than a chase at this point.
"Knockout! Will you just stop already? This chase can end if you just hand them over!" Silverstar shouted, more annoyed than anything now.
Her voice was muffled but still audible to Fowler and June.
"Hmph, well frankly, I find it repulsive. The whole idea of you fleshies...interfacing." His alt shook a bit from disgust as he didn't even bother finishing the conversation.
There were images in his processor that could never be erased.
"Knockout to base, requesting backup...again." Still static.
"Alright, IS ANYONE UP THERE RECEIVING ME?! I have an Autobot chasing me and I don't plan on burning my treads all night!"
"That might be the case, kool aid man!" Silver insulted, even though Knockout didn't even know what kool aid was.
"Nurse Darby...June, if this con gets us to Megatron's Warship, the chances of the bots ever finding us decreases to a thousand." Fowler whispered to her.
"Never let a Decepticon take you to a second location." June recalled from something Jack told her in the past.
"We need to help Silver out there reach us. Knockout disarmed me back at the museum, do you have anything we could use as a weapon?"
June thought for a second before pulling something out her pocket. Thanks to the tight fit, it was hard to get at first but she managed.
"Pepper spray?" She asked.
Fowler looked at it, then at her in disbelief. "On a bot?"
She nodded, feeling confident in this working. The two made a plan and put it to action right away.
The chase kept going, eventually the two Cybertronians neared a train yard full of cars. Knockout tried contacting base again, for "the umpteenth time".
Getting overly frustrated, he took his blaster out and started shooting behind him at Silver. She couldn't dodge every single one and eventually went skidding off the road and into a lamp pole.
Thankfully being made of alien metal, the damage wasn't as bad as what it normally would've been. But it did make her awfully dizzy and immobile temporarily.
Suddenly, Fowler crawled from out of the trunk to the backseat in Knockout's alt. Climbing from the back to the front, Fowler grabbed the steering wheel and swerved Knockout into the yard.
"WATCH THE RIMS!" Knockout yelled. June started making her way to the back seat now, grabbing the crate with the Talon.
The two guys fought for control until eventually Fowler got in the driver's seat and slammed on the breaks.
"NOW!" Fowler yelled at June.
She ran out of the car, going towards the empty train cars to hide. Fowler began running as well.
"Well, isn't that just grand?!" Knockout commented sarcastically.
Fowler didn't make it far before Knockout transformed and quickly scooped him back up.
"Did I say grand? I meant totally rude."
Fowler took the pepper spray out and shielded his own eyes before spraying a lot in Knockout's optics.
"AGH, MY OPTICS!" Knockout cried out, his optics flashing red and purple as he went temporarily blind.
In the process, he dropped Fowler, who managed to land on the ground before running off.
Knockout rubbed his optics before trying to look around. His vision stayed blurry but slowly came back as they adjusted from the sudden spray.
Silverstar, who had now recovered, saw the action from afar. She laughed a bit to herself before running over, only to stop midway.
If she were to just go in there and get Fowler and June, another chase would ensue. And she wouldn't be able to drive away easily. So changing forms, she quietly snuck into the train yard and whisper yelled for the two adults.
"Ooo, are we playing a human game now?" Knockout looked back to the road, only to see Silver wasn't there or anywhere in his sights.
"Didn't you teach me this one, Riley? I haven't showed you or them the Decepticon version! I would be happy to teach you, it's called Hide-And-Go-Shriek!"
Riley kept ducking between cars, hiding in them or under them whenever Knockout was close. In all honesty, all three humans were terrified out of their minds.
They kept trying to find each other, whispering out loud their names or constantly checking train cars, all while avoiding Knocky and his heavy pedsteps.
Even though he had the advantage of looking over the cars, Knockout still couldn't find a single one.
June happened to find an open topped car, filled to the brim with gravel. She came up with a plan and decided to go with it.
Fowler and Riley bumped into each other seconds later, shushing each other after the sudden scare.
"Have you found June?" He asked.
"No, have you?"
"No."
"When we find her, we book it out of here and-"
Riley was cut off by her cellphone ringing. "Fowler run!" She hissed, pushing him the opposite direction she planned on running to.
When she looked at the contact, it was Jack. She answered it, not before ducking underneath a train car.
"What is it Jack?!"
=Is everything ok? Mom and Fowler haven't picked up their phones.=
"We're kinda busy hiding from Knockout right now! Send backup immediately!"
"AH HA!" Knockout's voice was heard on the other side of the yard.
"Scrap." Riley hissed, pounding her fist on to the ground.
=What? What happened?=
"Gotta go." Riley hung up, stuffing her cell in her back pocket before peering out. She was super happy her hair was cut above her shoulders now, it didn't get her face like it has in the past.
Down the track, Knockout stood there holding Fowler in his claws.
"Alright little ladies, show yourselves! Or I turn the snappy dresser here into a sloppy stain on the tarmac!"
Riley quickly came out, seeing as she didn't have the Talon, and tried distracting Knockout.
"Hey, let's not get rash here." Riley called out, slowly walking forward with her hands up.
"Get your friend to come out or he goes squish!" To prove his point, Knockout's grip on Fowler tightened.
"Put him down first." She negotiated.
Knockout ignored her and looked around but saw nothing. "If you don't come out here, your boyfriend-"
A train started departing from the yard, going down the tracks to reveal June holding the crate.
'Did the train conductor not notice the giant metal alien or were they in there this entire time?' Riley thought before June speaking snapped her out of it.
"Ok, first off, not my boyfriend."
Knockout gave the 'really?' look, staring at Fowler who was trying to escape.
"And second, you're not laying a metal digit on him." She threw the crate down, revealing it was empty. "Not if you ever want to see your precious Talon again."
With two quick strides, Knockout scooped June up as well, staring her down.
Riley panicked, changing forms and aiming her blasters at him. "Put them down."
"Not happening." Knockout turned around, holding the two humans near his spark. That way, Silver couldn't just shoot him up.
"Put. Them. Down." She repeated.
"I hid it on a train car." June spoke up. "Let us go and I'll tell you which one." Her negotiation skills were definitely better.
Knockout didn't like the deal at hand so he tried looking around himself. He kept grunting in frustration, not succeeding at all.
Until his optics landed on the departing train.
"Try as you might, but you can't con a con. Up for a second round of chasing?"
"Wha-"
"Too slow! I guess that means yes!" Knockout transformed, placing June and Fowler in the backseat this time. With seatbelts on of course.
"Mother fragger!" Silver got into her alt mode and began the annoying chase, again.
It didn't take long for Knockout to catch up to the train however. And he finally got a hold of the Nemesis.
But luck was on the Autobot's side as well. Wheeljack and Arcee groundbridged and joined in with the chase.
"Fowler and June are trapped inside Knockout's alt!" Silver told the two bots.
"Got it." Arcee sped up since she was the fastest here now.
A groundbridge appeared above them all has 4 insecticons flew out and tried stopping the bots.
Wheeljack was able to take 2 of them out, transforming and jumping up into the air before slashing them both with his katanas. He landed back on the ground, going back into his alt and speeding to catch up with the gang.
Silverstar drove ahead before going into bipedal mode, turning around, and shooting an insecticon. It ended up crashing into the side of the rocky mountains, which sat on both sides of the railroad tracks.
The chase continued as Knockout tried to figure out which train car the bone was on.
"My money is on the convertible." He said as he equaled the speed of the train.
Just as Arcee got close, the last insecticon crashed into her, forcing her to transform. Wheeljack and Silver whizzed by as she yelled at them to get Fowler and June.
She took out the final one out using a weapon she currently had on her. It took a single blast from that to finish off the bug.
"Here's where you get out!" Knockout told the two humans. Before they could question it, Knockout transformed. Both Fowler and June now free falling to the ground.
Wheeljack quickly transformed, grabbed them, and then went back into his alt, skidding to a stop.
While that happened, Knockout had leaped and grabbed the Talon resting on top of the gravel. He landed back on the ground with his wheels, contacting the warlord.
"Lord Megatron, if a groundbridge doesn't open toot sweet, your specimen will belong to the Autobots!"
The groundbridge Knockout had long awaited for appeared and closed right as he went through. The two femmes skidded to a stop as Wheeljack rolled up behind them.
"Scrap." Arcee sweared as she transformed. Her next priority went to June and Fowler.
She looked inside at Wheeljack's driver and passenger seat but found them empty.
"Where are they?"
"In back." He replied, opening the trunk up as the two humans sat up. They were shaken from the events but found some amusement in it.
"Can we go back? I'm tired of driving everywhere." Silverstar transformed and stretched her limbs out. Fowler and June got out of Wheeljack's alt, allowing him to transform.
Arcee called for a bridge and once it appeared, they all walked through it.
Jack rushed up to his mother, giving her the biggest hug he could.
"Are you alright?" He asked her.
"The milk run turned a little sour, but Bill and I are just fine. Thanks to them."
"Come on June, sit down." Fowler guided her to the human area, as the two locked eyes and smiled.
Jack got grossed out immediately. "Bill?!" He repeated what his mom said in disbelief.
Silver switched to Riley, patting him on the back. "What did I tell ya?"
Miko came walking up to them and started teasing Jack on something else. "Looks like you've been jacked, Jack." She pointed at Arcee and Wheeljack, who seemed to be a lot closer now. "By another Jack." She finished.
Wheeljack and Arcee parted, as the wrecker went to Bulkhead for their handshake. Miko got in between Riley and Jack, resting her arms on their shoulders.
"Bromance trumps Romance." Jack managed to shoot her joke down.
"Nothing trumps Bromance." Riley said in a 'matter of fact' way.
"Glad to be your bro, bros." Miko looked at Jack, then Riley. The friend zone, the place Riley constantly got put in to.
It brought up a sudden flame in her, giving the motivation she needed for a while. With all this romance stuff being talked and thrown around, it was a perfect opportunity to pull something off.
Tonight, she was going to take a chance and get out of that friend zone. She just needed to know how.
—
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