"Ready your positions." Optimus whispered into his comm link as he hid behind large rocks beside Prowl, looking at the two guards that stood at the entrance. "Wheeljack, deploy the bomb pellets."
"Copy that." Wheeljack answered over the comm link, and the Autobot leader watched carefully as the drone flew from his position down to the front gates of the large fortress, deploying small smoke pellets from its compartments.
Prowl saw smoke flutter around the two guards, and he grabbed his blaster, setting the blasts to stun. He aimed his weapon down below at the two Decepticons, aiming with accuracy as he fired two shots, and both guards fell onto the ground with a loud thud.
"Jazz, Chromia, Ironhide, move in from your positions." Optimus ordered as he and Prowl swiftly moved from their position down to the entrance, where they saw their fellow comrades.
"Who's going where?" Prowl asked as Jazz worked on getting the doors open. "Bumblebee is most likely in a cell, and Elita is most definitely with Megatron."
"Hide, Mia, and Jazz will get Bumblebee. Prowl will go back to the transport - be ready to take off at any point in time." Prowl nodded and transformed quickly, speeding off. "We're not here to kill or capture. We're here to take back what has been taken from us. Jazz, any luck?" Optimus asked, gripping his blaster tightly.
"Almost there," the silver mech muttered, roughly pushing a metal contraption into the modulator, and soon enough with a hiss, the doors slid open. "Go, go!"
Weapons readied in their hands, the Autobots bursted into the Decepticon base, firing at any mech who came their way. "Go get Bee! I'll look for Elita!" Optimus yelled as he parted ways from his fellow comrades, running down the corridors. Alarms rang through the empty halls and rang against the walls like bells, and Optimus found himself running faster than he ever had before. Searching frantically, he kicked every door in, his blue optics searching all the rooms. It wasn't until he heard the faint screams of Elita, he bolted in the opposite direction, shooting any Decepticon that came into his way.
He followed the screams, and when they got fainter and fainter, he growled to himself as he threw an explosive pellet onto the door, backing up a few feet away. An explosion erupted and he gripped his blaster in his hands as he entered the room, emerging from the smoke. On the other side of the room, he saw Megatron holding Elita with a deathgrip around her neck, his dark crimson optics locked on his blue ones.
"You have five astroseconds to let her go, or I swear to Primus I'll shoot you dead." Optimus said sternly, keeping his gaze on his brother.
"I was wondering when you'd arrive, brother." Megatron said, tightening his hold on Elita. A weak groan escaped her lips, and Optimus' optics darted from his brother's to the injured femme. "Come to save the day, have you? Be the hero that everyone knows? Rescue that little annoying bot and your valued officer?"
"Your problem is with me, and only me. She has nothing to do with it, so let her go!" Megatron smiled maliciously, and he laughed lightly.
"Fine." The dark mech threw Elita roughly to the opposite side of the room, watching as she slid across the floor, hitting the wall harshly. "Happy now?" Optimus glared at his brother, keeping his blaster pointed at him. Optimus glanced at Elita, who hadn't moved an inch after being thrown halfway across the room. The femme had her optics completely shut, and he could see that she was on her side, her arms and legs slightly sprawled out, and he could see the dried mech fluid that covered her face.
"Now, dear brother, don't tell me that you've gone soft for her," Optimus moved his gaze from Elita to Megatron, who had a blaster in his hands.
"What would you know about any of that stuff? All you know is wreaking havoc and destroying cities down to the ground." Optimus retorted back, holstering his blaster. "Are we gonna be able to talk this through, or is your stubbornness going to get the best of you?"
Megatron threw his blaster down to the ground, and he quickly moved into a defensive stance, holding his fists up. "I'm afraid none of you Autobots will be leaving here alive!" the dark mech yelled, and he quickly launched himself at his adversary, tackling the Autobot leader to the ground. Optimus reacted quickly and kicked his brother off of his body, and he quickly stood up, grabbing a stray sword that was scattered on the ground. He glanced back at Elita for a split nano-klick, and he stood protectively in front of her.
"I don't want to hurt you, Megatron. But I will if I have to." the Prime said as he gripped the handle of the sword. Megatron laughed effortlessly, unimpressed with the statement made by his brother. He grabbed a sword from off his back, and he pointed towards his enemy, his dark crimson optics filling up with rage and hate.
"Violence isn't your way, Prime. So I implore you to try." the Decepticon growled as he gripped the sword in his hand, and he charged at his brother, bringing the weapon down. Optimus quickly reacted and blocked the blow, pushing him off. The two circled each other, keeping their optics locked onto each other.
The red and blue mech brought down his sword several times, and each time Megatron blocked his blows, growling in anger. Optimus kicked the sword out his hand and landed a punch across his face, which made the Decepticon leader slide across the floor. He dropped his sword and cracked his fingers, glaring at his opponent.
"We cannot keep fighting, Megatron!" Optimus yelled at his deranged brother, hoping to break sense into him. "Too many soldiers have died because of it, we're killing our planet!" Optimus dropped his sword, the only sounds in the room was Megatron's heavy breathing, and the clanking of metal against concrete when Optimus dropped his sword.
"Maybe you should have thought of that when you went against me!" Megatron yelled at his brother nagrily, standing up. "We could have been so powerful together, but no!"
"I did it for the sake of our planet - of our world! If we went with your way, you would have killed off any bot who stood in your way, and that's not the way to lead! Look at all the destruction you have caused! Take a look outside, Megatron, we're killing each other!"
Megatron growled and charged at the Prime, landing a kick in his stomach that sent him across the room. Optimus skidded against the concrete floor, and he spat out mech fluid that had built up in his mouth. He eventually gave up on trying to turn Megatron, and focused more on knocking him unconscious. The second he succeeded, he would grab Elita, Bumblebee, and the rest of his team and haul ass out of the dark fortress.
Megatron launched himself at his brother and landed directly on his back. He pushed Optimus' face into the ground, and the two bots rolled around, both trying to claim dominance over one another. Optimus grunted as he felt a sharp pain connect with his back, and he turned his head slightly to see Megatron rapidly punching and kicking his back. He arched his back out roughly and flinged Megatron off of his back, onto the ground a few feet away.
Grunting to himself, Optimus clenched his fists together and somersaulted over to the deranged bot, sliding his leg across the floor, connecting with Megatron's calves. The dark leader fell to the floor, and Optimus grabbed him by his broad chassis and threw him against the opposite wall where Elita laid. Grunting weakly, the Decepticon moved onto his hands and knees and stared up at the Prime, smiling weakly. His mouth was full of mech fluid, and it tainted his dental plates and his lips.
"You think you've won, huh?" Megatron slurred out as he began to stand up, but Optimus acted quickly, and he kicked his corrupt brother in the chest. The dark mech let out a pained groan, collapsing back onto the floor.
"I came here to rescue my Autobots, not to kill you." Optimus said with a stern look. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already." He pointed his blaster at his weary brother, placing the setting on stun, and he quickly pulled the trigger, sending stunner waves to the weak Decepticon. Optimus let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding in as he holstered his blaster.
He rubbed his back tenderly, and looked around the room before his optics settled on the unconscious femme that was sprawled on her side. "Elita," he whispered as he walked over to her, kneeling by her side. He shook her shoulder gently, and when he got no response he pulled her into his arms, his hand finding her waist. Her head lolled against his shoulder, and he cupped her face with his other hand. "Elita? Elita, can you hear me?" He shook her gently, worry and concern filling his optics.
A small, weak groan escaped her lips, and she fluttered her optics open, looking up at Optimus, who held her protectively in his arms. "I-I tried f-fighting him o-off," she muttered faintly, fighting to keep her optics open.
"Shh, just stay awake, I'm gonna get you and him out of here." Optimus whispered to her gently glanced behind him, hearing faint gunfire and shouts, and he turned back to the femme, sliding an arm under her knees and back. He lifted her into his arms with ease and stood up, running out of the room, looking down the corridors. She weakly looked up at him and fought with every fiber in her body to keep her optics open.
"Bumblebee!" The little bot jerked up his head after hearing his name and looked to the two Decepticons in the corner, who had drawn their weapons.
"See! I told you that they would come for me!" Bumblebee cried out, standing on his little shaking legs. "They're gonna beat you guys up!" the youngling squealed as Blitzwing grinded his teeth together and strided over to the cell, and ripped the door open, pointing his blaster at the youngling.
"Maybe they'll just find their youngling deactivated, huh?" Blitzwing put his finger on the trigger and was about to pull it when he heard rapid footsteps and then a hot pain in his central processing unit. The Decepticon fired his weapon, barely missing Bumblebee, who cowered into a fetal position. Blitzwing turned around and was met with another blow to the face, this time knocking him unconscious. Bumblebee looked up and saw Barricade look down at him, offering him a tiny smile.
"I can get you out, but I need you to listen to me, okay?" Barricade crouched down at the youngling's height offering his hand. Bumblebee solemnly nodded and took his hand, and Barricade lifted him into his arms, holding him close to his side. "Keep your head down, okay? I'm gonna get you to the Autobots." Bumblebee nodded and quickly hid his face in Barricade's arms.
The rogue Decepticon gave his unconscious comrade one final look before sprinting out of the room and down the hall. His optics were focused on the youngling in his arms that he didn't hear the incoming steps approaching him from up ahead. Barricade quickly glanced behind him, seeing smoke start to fill the hallways. He turned his attention ahead and was met with a hard, harsh hit to the face, which made him land on his back. The yellow youngling sat up and shook his head slightly, staring up at the three Autobots who had their weapons fixated on the Decepticon.
"Ironhide!" Bumblebee squealed as he jumped up and ran to the three bots. Chromia pulled him into her arms and held him against her chest.
"Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" Chromia asked the youngling as Bumblebee shook his head, motioning to his small body.
"Nuh-uh, Lita protected me the entire time." Bumblebee said, laying his head back down on her chest. Jazz and Ironhide grabbed Barricade by both of his arms and slammed him against the wall, and the weapons specialist pressed his blaster harshly into his chest.
"What were you doing with Bumblebee, huh? Where were you in a rush to?" Ironhide yelled as Jazz tightened his hold on the Decepticon's arms.
"I swear I was gonna help him find you guys, I swear!" Barricade yelled defensively, looking at Bumblebee.
"It's true! He took down the other 'Con and helped me." Bumblebee cried from Chromia's arms. "He said that he would protect me when Elita was with the other bad mechs." Jazz looked from the youngling to the blue mech, pulling his blaster from its holster.
"Just because you helped him doesn't mean you're off the hook. Now march!" Ironhide pulled Barricade off the wall and pushed him forward towards the exit.
"Where're you taking me?"
"Back to base. We'll let Optimus decide what to do with you." Ironhide gruffly said as all the mechs ran towards the exit. Chromia held onto Bumblebee tightly as she heard heavy footsteps come towards their direction. They all stopped for a moment, but sighed in relief when Optimus rounded the corner with Elita limp in his arms. Her optics were barely open, and one of her arms was curled in her lap while the other hung off the side of her body.
"Did you get Bee?" Optimus asked urgently, and when Chromia motioned to the youngling in her arms, he pulled out his comm link. "Prowl, we've got them, get your aft over here now!"
"Copy that. En route."
"Come on, Megatron will only be unconscious for a few more klicks we- why do you have Barricade?" Optimus' optics landed on the Decepticon, and he held Elita closer to his body.
"We'll explain later, Prowl's coming soon, we've got to move fellas!" Chromia cried out as they all ran towards the entrance, seeing Prowl hover just above the entrance. Pushing themselves, the Autobots jumped into the open hatch, landing in the hull of the transport. Jazz quickly closed the door, and Prowl sped ahead, flying away from the Decepticon fortress.
"I hope you're happy! Once Blitzwing wakes up, he'll know that I helped you escape, and they'll kill me. Did you hear me? Kill me!" Barricade yelled as Jazz slapped on a pair of stasis cuffs.
"Oh, shut up!" Ironhide yelled as he grabbed his rifle and hit Barricade upside the head with it, knocking him unconscious. Jazz arched an optic at him. "Oh please, you were thinking of doing it too."
Optimus gently sat down against the wall, looking at the injured femme in his arms. Her optics were half open, and they were locked with his as her head was tucked against his shoulder. A small groan escaped her lips, and Optimus gently shushed her, sliding his hand out from her knees and placing it on her face, gently caressing her cheek.
"You're gonna be fine, I promise." Optimus whispered as Elita faintly nodded, her optics completely shutting. The Autobot leader sighed heavily and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, letting his lips linger for a few moments.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Bumblebee asked from Chromia's lap as the blue femme sat in the opposite saide of the transport. She looked at the two and saw Optimus lean his forehead against Elita's.
"She will, I promise." Chromia whispered, hugging Bumblebee close to her chest. Jazz and Ironhide sat on either side of her, leaving Optimus and Elita alone.
"She's gonna make it, Mia." Ironhide said, wrapping an arm around his sparkmate's shoulders. Chromia leaned her head on his shoulder, shutting her optics.
"Approaching the hangar now, Ratchet's waiting with a medical bed."
"Already?" Bumblebee asked, lifting his head up. Chromia placed the youngling on the ground, nodding her head.
"Prowl is using the super fast transport, that's how we got to you guys so fast." she explained, patting his head. The hatch of the ship opened, and immediately Optimus leapt to his feet with Elita's unconscious form.
"Ratchet, over here!" The medical officer dragged the bed over just as Optimus walked down the ramp, gently setting Elita on the cushioned bed.
"Has she gained consciousness since you found her?" Ratchet asked rapidly as he and First Aid ran to the medbay alongside Optimus.
"She's been in and out, but she hasn't regained consciousness since landing." Optimus answered. Ratchet scanned the femme, taking note of her injuries. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"From the looks of it, you got there just in time, but she's gonna need to be in a deep stasis." The medical officer turned to Optimus. "We'll let you know the second we're done, I promise."
Optimus nodded and watched the two medics push Elita into the medbay, locking the door. He sighed heavily and turned to look back at Chromia and Bumblebee. He smiled and crouched down, opening his arms as Bumblebee dashed out to him, Optimus enveloping him into a hug.
"Primus, I was so worried about you." Optimus muttered as he pressed a kiss to Bumblebee's head. "Don't ever do that again, Bumblebee, okay?" The yellow youngling pulled back slightly, his bottom lip slightly wavering.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked. Optimus shook his head, placing a hand on his surrogate's son's face.
"I could never be made, Bumblebee. I was just so worried about you." Optimus whispered as he stood up with him in his arms. "Let's get you some energon, and then we'll go into a nice recharge, okay?" Bumblebee nodded, resting his head against Optimus' chest. He looked up at Chromia, seeing her eyes glistening with tears. He held on his free hand, and she gently grasped it, squeezing his hand gently.
"I know she'll be okay, it's just… I've known her my entire life, and I've never seen her on the brink of death." Chromia whispered, looking up at her friend. "She'll be okay, right?"
Optimus nodded and squeezed back, gulping thickly. "Elita is strong, she's gonna make it. She has to." Chromia nodded and let go of his hand, taking Bumblebee into her arms.
"I'll get him checked out and fed. You need some alone time." Chromia whispered, patting his shoulder as he disappeared into the base. Optimus sat on the ground, leaning his head against the wall.
"She'll be okay."