38: The Adventures of Little Riley!
Chapter 38 - Rock Bottom
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers Prime or the franchise. All characters (except Riley) belong to Hasbro.
::Hello:: - Bumblebee Talking
"Hello" - Normal Talking
'Hello' - Thoughts
*Hello* - Cybertronian Talking
=Hello= - Over the phone or Comm
—
(Riley's POV)
"Silverstar?" I questioned. Where have I heard that name...my dreams! Right...Wait.
"You look exactly like her. Older but..." he just kept staring at me, which was awkward.
"Would it help if I told you during my dreams, I saw the days of her youth for 7 years?" I asked nervously.
"You...you have? Why haven't you told us?" Ratchet was slowly regaining himself now.
"Cause I thought they were only dreams till Primus said otherwise and-" "Hold on. Primus?" Ratchet interrupted.
"Yeah. The crystal said it was him, sounded pretty convincing. Didn't Bulkhead mention crystals being some sort of gift or extension of Primus but never proven so it was only a myth?"
"That's correct, but I guess there's proof now. You sure he was talking to you?"
"Positive."
Ratchet hummed at that, looking down in thought. His eyes darted around, like they were connecting things.
"Was the faint energon signal from you?" He suddenly asked.
"What?" That was random.
"The next day, after you left, there was a faint energon signature coming near your location. Was that you?" He clarified.
"I think so, though I didn't know I was leaking." I sheepishly rubbed the back of my helm.
Then Ratchet grabbed my arm that was currently behind my head, and pulled it forward. My servo has a bit of energon on it. He spun me around and went 'huh'.
"What?" I asked.
"When you changed forms, the stitches must've broke, making you bleed. Or in this case, leak." He said.
"This'll be easier to repair. Not much healing to it. Just a simple patch up and done." Ratchet started mumbling, turning me back around.
"Stay put, I'll be back." But before he left, he took one of his digits and smeared some of the energon off my servo.
I just stood there awkwardly as he left the room. My hand still being held out as I stared at the doorway, absolutely confused. He says he's not old but he rambles and acts like a mad man.
My hand finally went limp to my side as he came back. Again, he spun me around and started doing something. Funny thing is, with your frame, you don't feel as much. Mostly because it's armour and not actual sensitive stuff.
"Aaand done." I looked behind me at him, still confused.
"That cut is finally fixed up." He stated.
I felt the spot and it seemingly disappeared. What did he do...
"Thanks." I just let out, turning around for a final time.
"Now, I'm going to run a test on something, I just need another part of your CNA." Then he looked at me from helm to ped.
Then, with no warning, grabbed the same arm from before, took off some armour plating, and plucked some of my protoform.
"Ow! Hey! What are you doing Ratchet?"
"You'll know soon. I just want to see something." And then he left again.
I fixed my armour before changing forms and running after him. This mech just came up to me, fixed my cut, then plucked at my sensitive protoform! And he told me I'll know soon, meanie beanie.
He stopped at medbay, doing his science, medical, scrap.
"Can you at least say what you're doing?" I asked, waving my arms out.
"Seeing if my suspicions are correct." He answered.
"How long will it take?" I asked.
"Tomorrow, hopefully. Things take time to process and deliver results."
Of course they did. I sighed and went to the human area, flicking on the television.
"Hey Riley, you doing ok?" Arcee asked as she and the two other mechs walked up.
Right, I had been so confused by Ratchet's behaviour, I forgot we even had a fight less than 2 hours ago. Then the things I said came back and the things I heard them say before apologizing to Ratchet.
"Yeah. Ratchet and I made up. We didn't mean our words. I heard you guys earlier. Arcee, I didn't mean anything I said, Bulkhead was right. I love you guys more than anything, because we're family. And that's what family is for."
Wait, didn't Arcee say that to me in one of my dreams? She did! Wonder if she remembered saying that, Bee too.
"Yep. One crazy family." Bulkhead agreed, laughing.
"Where's Optimus?" I asked, scanning the room. He still was there.
"Energon signal. He wanted to go alone, for some reason." Arcee replied.
::He should be back soon:: Bee looked towards the groundbridge.
I looked at the time from my cell, it was already 12?! There's nothing else to do so might as well get sleep.
"I'm going to bed, see you all tomorrow." I stretched my arms out before turning to leave.
They all said their good nights and just before I left, I said one more thing.
"Tell Optimus to come by my room when he comes back. If I'm not sleeping. If so, tell him to swing by first thing in the morning." They nodded their helms. I smiled and finally left to my area, my cocoon, my room.
I did the nightly routine, put down my phone, then sat on my bed with the lights on. Just daydreaming until Optimus came to snap me out. I looked at the clock on the wall after what felt like a few mins, turns out it was now 2am. That was some magical scrap. And yet, Optimus wasn't back.
I told myself it was probably nothing, maybe got caught in a fight? That could've ended horribly...no no, he's fine. Right?
I heard other pedsteps, recognized as the others as they went to their berths to recharge. I sighed and decided to just get sleep before it got any later.
I got up, about to turn off the lights until I heard the familiar sound of more pedsteps. Heavier and perfectly paced ones. That's him. And they made their way to my own room so I went back to my bed and the door opened.
"Hi dad." I greeted him. It kinda felt weird to call him that, even after a few days of being here.
"There's something you wanted to talk about?" He stood patiently in front of me, but I could tell he was thinking something different.
"I'm not going to say what your thinking." I reassured him.
"How do you know what I'm thinking?" He asked slightly smirking.
"I can just tell. Anyhow, it's about the argument. I want you to know I meant nothing of what I said, I had a feeling you got a little convinced like the others did so I wanted to make sure."
He smiled after, yeah it's exactly what he was thinking. I walked up to the railings and he got down on his knees to keep eye level with me. I was able to reach out and give his faceplates a hug. Which he returned.
"I'm sorry I even thought of saying those things." I told him quietly.
"It's not your fault. I can tell what you said about the Decepticons were true but you did not feel that way." He said back.
I stepped back and nodded, smiling wearily at him.
"You should get sleep now. Arcee and Bulkhead have to explore an abandoned mine tomorrow, and I might let you and the other kids join." That made me super excited.
He chuckled at my sudden mood change.
"Goodnight sweetspark."
"Goodnight dad."
He left the room just as I turned off the lights. I got in the bed and instantly fell alseep.
(~Dreamland~)
"Sweetie, I said it doesn't go in your mouth!" A femme voice softly giggled, gently taking whatever I had in my mouth.
Oh great, how old am I? I mean, I've been in dreams where I was 1 at the youngest and 8 at the oldest.
"Here, let's review on what Uncle Ratchet taught you." She offered.
She sat on her knees, placing her servos on her thighs and staring so nicely at me. Then I realized, it was her! The fragging femme I still don't know the name of! The one who appeared all ghostly one time when I was little! That femme!
"What's this?" She asked, poking my head.
"Helm." I responded with a squeaky voice. I nearly squealed at how cute it was.
"And this?" She asked, poking my laid out foot.
"Ped." I answered back, swatting her servo away.
"And both of them?" She took both her servos and squeezed my feet while laughing.
"Pedes!" I squealed, trying to kick her away.
"Trying to escape carrier are we? Not today my little monster!" Then she pulled me forward and tickled me!
I squealed, squirming and laughing my tiny helm off.
"Y-Yourrr the m-monster carrier!" I said between laughs.
"The tickle monster?" She asked, her digits raking my frame.
"Sstoooop!" I finally was able to run out of there but bumped into someone's legs.
"Silverstar, you cannot escape me-" she suddenly stopped to look at the bot I bumped into.
"You're home early." She swiftly caught herself, giving a smug look at them.
I looked up and saw Optimus. But dream me went into action immediately.
"Sire! Save me from the tickle monster!" I cried out, reaching my baby arms out for him.
He picked me up and placed me on his shoulders, just out of reach for the femme.
"I hate being short." She sighed, looking up. She was just at the bottom of where Optimus' red chest began.
"You shouldn't hate being short, it adds to your character." Optimus complimented her, taking a servo off my leg and on to the femme's faceplates.
She smiled at him then shifted her gaze at me then back at him.
"How were you able to come home early?" She asked.
"Meeting was cancelled so instead of lounging around for the next two solar cycles (days), thought I would take the next ship here." He answered back.
(Note, the ship he's referring to, flies. That kind of ship.)
"Aren't you lucky."
I was really hoping for him to say her name, I needed to know!
"Now sire and carrier are both here!" I squealed out happily, throwing my arms in the air.
But I lost my balance and swung backwards, my back hitting Optimus'. I just hung there, thanks to the hold he still had on my legs. Completely upside down.
"That was smart." The femme walked behind Optimus, staring at me.
I gave a 'hmph', crossing my arms. I was surprised I wasn't growing sick from being in this position.
Then she grabbed me, keeping me upside down before tossing me up in the air and catching me again, rightside up. She balanced me on her hip, her arms wrapped around me.
"So, anything new back at base?" She asked, staring into the optics or Prime.
"Just the same things. Decepticon attacks on cities, military planning, but I did get a new second in command. His designation is Ultra Magnus. He did pretty well for his first few solar cycles (days)."
Ultra Magnus? That's new. Wonder if it was that other nameless bot who appeared. Mostly blue with red touches, real meanie if you ask me.
"That's good, but are any of the attacks getting closer to here?" She asked, worry filling her voice and faceplates.
"Elita don't worry, we are keeping them at bay from conquering any more of Cybertron." He places a reassuring servo on her shoulder.
Elita, that was her name. Finally! That took longer than it should have, jeez.
"We both know they're getting stronger, it won't be long till they do."
"We can only hope and keep fighting."
"Are you talking about the scary bots?" I asked all shivery.
Both didn't know what to say but Elita swooped in quickly.
"No sweetie, we're just talking about carrier and sire's work-" but I interrupted her soothing.
"They're gonna come back, aren't they?" I started tearing up, for some reason.
That was until I got a flashback to that moment. Not dream me, that got put on pause as I got short moments which was probably the answer why.
It showed a base burning down as Elita held me close to her spark. I was crying as Autobot troops shot down Decepticons, who were just as powerful. Then Elita put me down, saying she would be right back and went to help them out.
I was still crying, watching helplessly as she fought really good for a while, till she got shot which immobilized her. Optimus luckily came in and dragged her back to where I was. Then we all sat there, huddled as Autobot reinforcements came, scaring the cons away.
Then my dream unpaused. Oh, so I was currently scared cause of that one moment. Ok, I got you, I understand now, thanks dreamland!
"Sweetspark don't leak (cry), that isn't happening again." Elita held me close to her, rubbing my helm soothingly as she shushed me softly.
"We are safe here Silverstar, always." Optimus then spoke up, pulling us both in for a hug. His arms wrapped around us as the dream finally faded to black.
(~Reality~)
"We're supposed to be at a rock concert but all I see is, rock!" Miko complained, pacing back and forth on the rocks we currently sat on.
Jack was yawning during this, relaxing in the sun covered spot. Yeah, this wasn't exciting at all. Dad, of course you let me go on the worlds most boring mission. The only thing keeping me occupied was the dream from last night.
Arcee and Bulkhead told us to stay so they could investigate it. Jack and I had to hold and strangle Miko for the next few mins after that, until she accepted defeat. Now, for who knows how long, we were waiting for them to come back.
"Relax Miko, the show doesn't start for two hours." Jack assured the fidgeting girl.
She was dragging me and Bulkhead to a concert, I had no choice and Optimus didn't help me. Now she was all panicky she was going to miss it.
"Do you know how long I've waited to see Slash Monkey?" Miko asked Jack.
Jack was about to answer before Miko shrieked out the answer.
"FOREVER! It's their only US date!" She exclaimed.
"There's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure bulgarian shriek metal?" Jack asked sarcastically.
"Don't say that around heavy rockers, they're pretty sensitive." I half whispered to him jokingly.
Just then, Arcee and Bulkhead's pedsteps echoed against the rocky walls as they came out.
"By all appearances, the mines have been stripped" Arcee spoke up, looking at Bulkhead who was fixated on the tracker.
"But I'm getting a signal, it's faint but it's definitely energon." Bulkhead turned the device off, staring dead at Arcee.
"You sure it's not the tracker being faulty again?" Arcee asked half amused.
"I grabbed a different one this time 'Cee." Bulkhead somewhat grumbled.
I just swallowed nervously, looking somewhere else. I was figuratively sweating nervously you could say.
"Wow." Miko breathed, staring at Jack and I.
"Well, this doesn't make sense. This operation has been down for maybe 4-5 years? And Decepticons never leave energon behind." Arcee pointed out.
I didn't even realize Miko had already gotten down from the rocks and down the mine.
"Uh guys?" Jack spoke up to get their attention. With a 'done' look on his face, he pointed at Miko who was currently running.
"Cool!" Her voice echoed as she swung her arms up.
"She went in, unbelievable." Arcee stared dumbfounded, putting a servo on her hip.
"I'm sorry, have you met Miko?" I asked chuckling.
"Like, at all?" Jack added as him and I got down from the rocks.
Bulkhead sighed like a tired parent would. "Miko! Get back here!" Then he ran in, catching up with the small girl.
"It would be kind of interesting to see, you know if it were-" "-Safe?" Arcee finished.
I hadn't even realized she came closer due to me being distracted by the funny scene.
"A stripped mine can be structurally unstable Jack. And don't start Riley."
"Come on Arcee!" I complained loudly, throwing my arms out in front of me towards the mine.
"We promise to step lightly." Jack raised his arms up in the air. Arcee sighed at the two of us.
"Just, don't tell your parents." She put two digits against her helm then pointed them at us.
I smiled happily as I ran in, Jack and Arcee laughing as they took their time walking in.
I ran around, looking for Miko and Bulkhead. Then I heard Miko's voice bounce off the walls. Saying "Hello Cleaveland? Are you ready to Rock?! Woohooo!"
I couldn't find the source of the voice either. Which sucked so I stayed with Jack and Arcee, not wanting to get lost.
After a while of walking, static from Arcee's comm rang out.
"Bulkhead? Bulkhead do you read?" Nothing but more static in return.
"Scrap." She looked down at us then at around our surroundings.
"The mineral composition down here is causing interference."
"Can't you just say rocks instead of making it seem so professional?" I asked jokingly.
She rolled her optics amused before the three of us continued our walk.
There was nothing to say about this place, it was pretty boring. Not as exciting as I thought, or without Miko to make it fun. Why must she always be on my mind? Let's think of something else. Well, the mine does remind me of the one Cliffjumper snuck me to. Then Starscream showed up and being the little kid who heard bad words and wanting to use them, shouted at him with said words. Ironhide said it in one of my dreams so I wanted to try it out.
Then I saw light coming from our left, must've been a wider space. Jack and I were ahead of Arcee so we got the first look at what the space held.
When we saw it, I expected maybe more rocks or better yet, nothing! But nope, instead we saw Megatron and Starscream. But Megatron had his blaster aimed and readied at Starscream.
I nearly shrieked but Jack covered my mouth in time and pulled me back. Then he continued to watch in total shock as I breathed heavily but silently.
How did they get in here?! Why were they here if all places in the galaxies?! Why now?! How big of a coincidence was this, them showing up at the same time we're here?!
"You have ceased to be a use to me Starscream." Megatron growled.
"So you shall cease to be." He finished.
I finally got the courage to poke my head out as Arcee didn't get the memo. She continued walking as I tried to tell her to stop as quiet as I could.
Starscream meanwhile, ducked in fear, using his arms as a shield. Causing his helm to turn our way and spot us, his fear washing away as confusion set in. That's when I heard Arcee stop dead in her tracks, staring at the scene as well with shock.
Megatron got the gist by now too, looking where Starscream was currently focused on since he no longer trembled in fear. He saw all 3 of us and his face furrowed in annoyance and anger.
We all awkwardly stared at one another, shifting our gazes to the opposite people. The tension was building up faster than Miko's run earlier.
That's when Megatron finally did something. He turned his blaster towards us and fired multiple shots. Arcee quickly grabbed us and rushed for the nearest cover.
"STAY DOWN!" She shouted at us as we got down. I held Jack's arm as Arcee planted her back against the wall, blaster ready.
Megatron continued firing, not giving Arcee a chance to shoot herself. Then I heard his pedsteps as they neared us, still firing his blaster. We were so dead, so so dead.
Then I heard Starscream's scream (Hehe X3 is that why he's called StarSCREAM?) and his lighter pedsteps fading away. Was he seriously running away? I mean, could you blame the poor guy?
But that got Megatron's attention as the blasting came to an abrupt stop.
"STARSCREAM, YOU DARE ABANDON ME?!" He shouted after him, turning his fire at him.
Arcee used the opportunity and fired her shots at the taller mech. He returned fire but Arcee didn't allow him, shooting at his arm. The force made it go up as he continued to fire. The rock above started breaking, dust coming from its cracks. Until it all came down on him, cracking the floor beneath. It was like the factory all over again!
Arcee ran toward us but it was too late, as she dropped down into the dark abysse. Jack and I weren't too far behind her, as we screamed. Then, for me, it all went dark.
When I came to, I couldn't see anything. I took in greedy amounts of air but ended in a coughing fit. My throat was incredibly dry and I was covered in dust and rock debris. There was no light and the dust was still settling, so I wasn't able to see 5ft ahead of me.
"Arcee! Jack!" I called out. I heard my voice echo within the walls, but I got no answer back.
"ARCEE! JACK! ANYONE!" I cried out again. Still no answer.
I hope they were ok, I really did. But now, I needed to find a way out. I remember Ratchet telling me something after the factory incident. Don't go looking for others, you'll get yourself lost. The best thing to do is find a way out and meet them there. So that's exactly what I planned to do.
I tried pull my legs to my chest while lifting myself up but my whole body ached. An addition to that was, my left leg was stuck. So I counted from 3 then tugged my whole leg out, which wasn't so smart. I ended up making a gash there, not deep but it hurt so much. The rocks and dust entering the wound weren't helping either.
I pulled out my cellphone and used its light to guide me around. I made it to a wall and decided to walk alongside it, find any crack I could crawl through. But I went around the entire space and not a single way to escaping.
Then I remembered something! I looked around one final time before changing my form. Now I could make a way out. My helm was just barley touching the ceiling, talk about a perfect fit.
I took my blaster out and backed myself up before blasting a hole in the wall. Once the dust settled and I let out a series of coughs, which I didn't know they could do, there was a tunnel.
"Thank Primus." I mumbled happily. I switched back to my servo before walking out of the small space and into a very cramped tunnel.
I kept listening for anyone or anything, just in case. I really really really hoped they were ok. What about Miko and Bulkhead?! Did they get affected by this as well? Scrap.
Eventually the tunnel ended and led to a fork. I used the headlights to look down both, seemingly endless paths. Right or left? Both looked promising.
I ended up going left, walking till I found a ledge, that was super high up. But there was a little bit of light so that looked good.
Looking around for anything to grab on, I grabbed a rock poking out from the ledge. Soon, I was rock climbing unstable mini ledges to get to the light. Thank goodness I'm a fit being. Eventually, I was at the top. Pulling myself up, I laid spread out on the floor, breathing unnecessary air. It was a habit as a human to breath after a workout like that, I kept forgetting I didn't need to breath.
I finally sat up, looking around, trying to find the source of the light. It came from the ceiling with no way of getting up. Then I realized where I was. It was where we started before falling! But way lower down since the original flooring crumbled to dust underneath our feet.
Then I heard rocks moving, that got me to my pedes as I backed up slightly. The heel of my ped was off of the ledge I just came up too.
Then a certain stiletto mech came from an entrance and looked down at the fallen floor. Eventually, our optics met.
"Maybe he doesn't know who I am." I whispered to myself but I remembered what Knockout told me, maybe he can be dumb for once?
"Well, this is certainly a turn of events. Here, I'm saving my master and on my way, I spot an all to familiar femme." He sneered, grinning with satisfaction.
Oh frag no, we can play cat and mouse if you'd like screamer. Play it cool, play it cool.
"Sup screaming stilettos." No! Why did I say that!
He slightly growled in anger before hopping down the massive hole I stood in.
"Guess you didn't escape." I taunted. Why was I angering him, not sure.
"I did but I'm a loyal mech, a loyal Decepticon. Unlike you."
"Raina was a con, not me." I smiled, placing a servo over my spark.
"I suppose that's correct but you are still her, just a different mindset now." He started it walking closer to me and if I backed up anymore, I was gonna fall.
"How about you just go find Megatron and I'll be on my way." I offered, trying to shift to the side and away from the ledge.
"It's a shame the others aren't here to back you up." He said sarcastically, rubbing his claw like digits together.
"Yeah, real shame they won't see me escape you. Or Megatron seeing you fail him once again." I needed to stop taunting him, but it was too good!
He snarled, raising his hand up, claws ready. Oh, we're fighting now? No thanks, I know how but I wish not to, especially since I'm already wounded. Never fight with an injury or the chances of you failing increase drastically.
"It was nice chatting Starscream, really, and now I got to go." After I said that, I didn't even give him a chance to respond as I sped past him and to the spot he came from.
If he escaped, than that was the way out. No way was I fighting in an arena like situation without backup. I started climbing as best I could, hearing Starscream blast one of his missiles. It hit right beside me, the force blowing me back to the ground.
"Ok, not that way then." I huffed as I rolled on to my stomach and got up. My body was way more sore now, I felt like a grandma.
"Go away will ya?" I shouted before deciding to go the way Arcee, Jack, and I came from. Just needed to climb faster than Starscream could shoot.
So I took out my blades, not bothering to look for things I can grab and climb on, and made my way up. I just made it as Starscream transformed and joined me up top.
"Frag. Off!" I shouted, shooting at him.
I back up slowly, still shooting like Megatron did with Arcee. Don't give him a chance to fire back. Once my back hit a wall, I ran the direction we walked in and retraced my steps. All while escaping screamer.
I changed into my human form as I hid behind some rocks. I heard him walking around, his own blaster engaged as he looked around. He gave up after a few mins and returned down the hall we came from.
"Too close, way to close. Now, let's get out of here." I got out from the rocks and continued to follow the tunnels out while in human form.
The sound of a driller echoed and got louder every step I took. Then it suddenly bursted out from the side and scared the living scrap out me.
"Riley?" A familiar voice called out. Lowering my arms from my face, I saw Jack operating the drill.
"Jack! You're alive!" I shrieked, climbing into the drill and crushing him in my embrace.
"Your leg!" He looked down at the lengthy but not deep gash.
"We can worry later, it's fine." I reassured him.
"Let's just find a way out." He shook his head.
"We need to find the others first, they can't be far."
"We can't risk getting lost, we know where the exit is now, let's just go. There's no use in rescuing somebody if you can't rescue yourself."
"It's ok, I've been keeping track of all the turns I made. I have a pretty good memory."
"You sure?" I asked.
"I'm sure." He stated confidently.
"Then what are we waiting for, power this bad boy up!"
Soon, the drill was back making the loudest noise ever. It spun like crazy and drove pretty fast for a drill. Eventually Jack mined at a spot and pulled back out, about to call for Arcee but instead saw Megatron.
"Jack what is it-" I walked up beside him and saw what he saw. We both now stared as Megatron caught drift of the situation and looked up.
"I suppose helping those less fortunate would be...completely out of the question."
Jack and I just slightly back away. I subconsciously grabbed his arm and ducked more behind him which surprisingly, Megatron didn't find amusing. He just kept talking.
"If that is the case, you might as well use your drill to finish me. I guarantee you will never have a better opportunity than right now."
"Jack?" I quietly spoke, looking at him. He was just as unsure as I was. It was his call, I just wanted to get out of here.
Jack looked down the tunnel then back at Megatron, weighing his options.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Think of the glory. Seize the day! Optimus would."
I mean, no one would have to know he killed Megatron. Jack could and we would never have to say another word, just cover it up with him just dying in a mine. But when he mentioned Optimus after taunting about it, I knew he was messing with Jack. Then Jack spoke my mind.
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this."
The I let go of Jack as he went back to the controls. I turned back to Megatron who's optics gave off slight satisfaction. It was disturbing.
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus, the day I rip out his spark!" Megatron yelled as Jack turned the drill around and left.
"In your dreams shark tooth, buckethead, looking fragger!" Where was all this confidence coming from? If I wasn't already on his scrap list, I am now.
"Do you, think I should've killed him?" Jack asked, with slight regret in his voice.
"Jack, what you did was the right thing, 100%. Don't ever doubt that. Now stop overthinking it and find the others before Starscream or Megatron find us or get to them first."
I gave him a smile, urging him to go on. So he sped the drill up a bit faster.
"How did you even get this thing on or learn how to use it?" I asked, staring at the symbols that made total sense to me but not to Jack.
"I guessed, got lucky."
"You did, there's some pretty weird stuff this can do. It even has a self destruct button, wonder why."
"It does?! Which one?" He asked all worried.
I pointed to one that was near the middle and he sighed with relief.
"I nearly pressed that one." He admitted chuckling.
"Luck is on your side my friend."
We kept going for what felt like hours but merely minutes as we went along the tunnels. It was all like a maze, one that never ended. But then we heard talking, more specifically, Starscream. Thought I lost him!
He was talking about something but I heard Bulkhead's voice follow suit.
"Jack." I looked up at him with worry.
"Already on it." Then he sped the drill and rammed it through, hitting Starscream and barley missing Bulkhead.
"Jack, Riley, get Miko out of here. Now!" He shouted. It looked like he could give out any second.
I rushed to the edge and held my hand out as Jack stayed at the controls.
"Miko, come on!" I shouted but she looked hesitant to leave Bulkhead. I was too but we needed to leave or we would all be scrap.
"Come on, it's ok!" I shouted again, making her turn back to me.
"Run Miko!" Bulkhead now told her.
That finally got her moving as she turned around and raised her arm up. I grabbed it and pulled her up, holding her close in case she had second thoughts.
"We can't leave Bulkhead!" She cried out.
I wanted so badly to change forms, he needed help and we were just leaving him. I had to choose fast but my answer was obvious.
"Jack, fire up the drill and get Miko out of here." I told him as I hopped down.
"What?! Riley get back here!" I looked back at him.
"It's ok, I got this! Go!" I repeated.
He powered the drill and off they went. Bulkhead was about to say something when I changed forms and aimed my blaster at Starscream.
"I'll explain later Bulkhead." I told him.
"Not going to run away again? How unusual."
"Who's aiming at who Starscream?" I threatened, making the message clear.
"Hands, put them up and get comfortable."
He gave a resisting moan, like a child would when their told its time to go home. He did as he was told as I motioned Bulkhead to lower his. Now Starscream carried all the weight as Bulkhead's arms got a rest. The creaking the wreckers arms made was so horrible, they needed to seriously rest.
"Bye bye." I waved my servo at him before pulling Bulkhead out of there.
"Start explaining missy." Bulkhead said once we got out of earshot from him.
"The crystal Optimus gave me did this. It started after I left you guys but was too afraid to mention it so I kept it away. Years later and it finally finished what it started, now I can switch between the two. Don't be mad."
"Mad? I'm shocked but happy that you can be one of us!" Then he gave me a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.
"Yeah it's pretty great." I laughed.
He finally set me down as we exchanged smiles.
"Bulkhead?" Arcee's voice suddenly spoke up.
I turned around and standing there was Arcee, Jack, and Miko. It felt very awkward since they didn't know it was me.
"Uh, hi guys." I nervously waved.
"Wait, Riley?" Miko noticed right away, but that didn't shock me. It's Miko, she makes the impossible, possible.
"Hey Miko." I greeted chuckling while still standing nervously.
"How?!" Arcee walked up to us.
"I'll explain the full story back at base, let's just get out of here." I told her.
Eventually, we all made it out. The rising sun shone against our dust covered bodies. Miko was asking questions which I replied to all of them, "back at base, you'll know."
We all stared at the mine, wondering what happened to Starscream and Megatron.
"We could finish them here and now." Arcee spoke up.
"Shame we didn't bring any grenades." Bulkhead added, punching his fists together.
"Would Optimus...finish them?" Jack asked, referring to the earlier statement Megatron said.
"No. He probably wouldn't. Not like this." Arcee responded, just like how Jack answered.
"But Optimus wouldn't rescue them either, right?" Miko asked this time.
"Let's go home." Bulkhead turned around and walked away.
Arcee stopped, staring at the mine again before sighing.
"You want to, don't you? Finish them off." I walked up to her.
It felt so weird looking down at her for once. I was taller than her but shorter then Bulkhead. Same with Jack and Miko, their so small! How have any of us not gotten squished?!
"Just thinking all the problems that could be solved if we did." She stared back again before looking up at me. This was so weird!
Then she started studying my faceplates before going wide eyed. Seriously, what the heck is going on. What was with the bots, looking at me, then getting all shocked?
"Arcee?" I asked. Is this going to be like Ratchet all over again?
"Sit down for a second." She requested.
"Why-" "Just do it."
I arched an optic ridge before sitting down cross legged. The others had stopped by now and watched. Now I was looking up at Arcee while she looked down.
Then she covered her intake (mouth) with her servos, staring. Then she started shedding lubricant.
"Arcee, please don't cry." I suddenly got up and placed my servos on her shoulders.
"You look just like her." She whispered in shock.
"That's what Ratchet said too. Lemme guess, Silverstar?" I asked.
She nodded her helm. Well, according to my dreams, this is a perfectly normal reaction for her right now. I mean, Silverstar was her niece and now she saw me looking like her. I might be dumb in not connecting dots.
"Come on ladies." Bulkhead spoke up, snapping us both out of our thinking.
We walked through the groundbridge but right before I did, I changed back to being human. I still wanted to surprise Optimus and Bee at least. I already told the others not to say a word so we were all good, I hope.
But once we arrived, we had to explain everything that had happened. Ratchet pulled me aside to show me something, the results of the thing he did 2 days prior. It turns out, I was her...
—
(God this has gotten so cringe XD. I might keep her mostly human cause of how cheesy I think this is! I'm so sorry y'all ^)
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IG: x_adventures . of . little . riley_x
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