45- Out of the Past.
The Nemesis was flying in middle of space, and on its bridge was Starscream and Soundwave, waiting for two Decepticon soldiers to bring them a captured Autobot.
Once they carried the Autobot in front of Starscream, he turned at her. "They said it couldn't be done. The one called Arcee is too quick, too stealthy to be captured. Well, here you are, with a rare opportunity to make history." He said before pointing at Soundwave. "You see, I have intercepted this encrypted Autobot signal. And if it's encrypted it must be important. Decode it for me and I will see to it that you perish quickly."
But Arcee didn't answer, she simply mumbled.
"Speak up! I can't hear you when you whimper." Starscream demanded.
"Get…fragged." Arcee simply said.
Starscream grumbled at first, but then he chuckled. "Perhaps you will be more inclined to cooperate when it is not your own well-being at stake."
Arcee saw the Decepticon soldiers bring another captured Autobot, one very recognizable.
"Arcee, been a while." Cliffjumper saluted.
"Give me the encryption code or I will add your comrade Cliffjumper to the multitude of fallen Autobots below." Starscream threatened.
"Scrap him. I barely know the guy." Arcee answered.
"Ouch, glad I'm not the sensitive side." Cliff said.
In front of the ship was a metallic planet, but empty of life.
"Cybertron is little more than a graveyard now. Give me the code!"
"I'm not afraid of you, Starscream. You're no Megatron." Arcee provoked.
"RAAARG!" Starscream roared as he was about to strike her with his claws.
But all that simply a memory from the past, because the real Arcee was in the Autobot base. She could see Bulkhead in front of her lying on the floor, with Han next to him. But he didn't look happy to see him better.
"Three steps, Bulkhead? That's all you can manage?"
"I'm sorry, Han. My legs still hurt." Bulkhead said before he got up with difficulty, because it was hard for him to keep balance.
"What did I tell you?"
Bulkhead sighed. "No excuses."
"Exactly. Try again. Ten steps this time."
While Bulkhead tried his best to walk, Ratchet went next to Optimus, who was working on something on the terminal.
"I hope decoding the Iacon database is going more smoothly than Bulkhead's recovery."
"Slow but steady, old friend." Optimus reassured.
"Ugh, native technology. But your expertise in the field should provide any edge we need to beat the Decepticons at this game."
"I fear their access to cybertronian technology may provide them with equal advantage."
Then they heard a crash sound, caused by Bulkhead collapsing on the floor again.
"Not good enough! You have to come back stronger than before!" Han scold.
"Time for a break, Bulkhead." Ratchet said as he went to help him up.
"A break? You think the Cons are gonna give Bulkhead a break in the middle of a firefight?!"
"If you push a patient too far, too fast, you risk exacerbating their injuries."
"But…"
"Bulkhead needs to rest." Ratchet cut off before he took Bulkhead to a resting seat.
Han groaned in annoyance, just in the moment when Bumblebee and Cliffjumper drove inside the base and transformed in front of him.
"Out of the way!" He said mad passing through their feet.
"Whoa, what's with that mad face?" Cliff asked.
Arcee looked at Han worried, knowing what he was feeling. Moments later, Han was sitting near the edge of the peak of base's ceiling, with tearful eyes.
"Han?"
"Oh. Eh? Hey Arcee, I was just…"
"Aren't we a little close to the edge?"
"Heights don't scare me."
"Bulkhead's coming along just fine, thanks mostly to your efforts. But he needs a friend right now, not a drill sergeant."
"No offense, but I came up here for some privacy. You don't have anything to do with Sky now?"
"He is with his family now."
"And you're not too?"
"I understand what you're going through. If you ever want someone to talk to…"
"I'm fine, okay?" Han interrupted. "I'm not the one Bombshock tried to scrap."
"Han, it's rough when someone you care about gets hurt. Closing yourself off from feeling won't help anyone."
"Well, you would know, wouldn't you?"
"Yes. I would. And almost happened again."
Then Han turned his head to look what Arcee was looking: the two piles of rocks that looked like some kind of primitive but symbolic monument.
"Arcee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." Han apologized.
"It's okay, is not what you think." She tranquilized as she pointed to the pile of the left. "See? That one represents the years we have been on this galaxy since we arrived. And the other one represents the number of all the fallen comrades that we remember, that joined the Allspark. But there is one that is been on my mind lately. After I lost my first partner, Tailgate, I pushed everyone away. Until Cliffjumper came along."
"But he's here, with us."
"Yep, but he and I didn't get along like now the first time we met."
"What was he like then?"
"Like now, quite the conversationalist. It was me the one who was different."
Back to the story, Arcee was inside a prison cell when suddenly the Cons threw Cliffjumper inside.
"Cliffjumper? Are you…?" Arcee started.
"I…I can't…I can't believe you actually cared." Cliff said with a chuckle.
Arcee stepped away a little annoyed. "The only thing I care about is whether you talked just now."
Cliffjumper got up and loosened his servos. "You're always this nice to your rescuers?" He started to check the room.
"Didn't answer my question."
"I got bored with Starscream's little workout, so I idled my engines and fake shut down. Scream bought it."
"How did you wind up here?"
"Intercepted some chatter about a Decepticon operation on the old home planet. So I follow the trail and find Starscream shipping massive amounts of energon here to Cybertron. What's your story?"
"Same."
"You're quite the conversationalist."
In the bridge, Starscream was growing tired of the Autobots uncooperative behavior.
"I've tried every interrogation technique and nothing is working. I would just eliminate them but the code they carry is too valuable. If only I could break them open and just take it." Starscream expressed mad.
Then Soundwave pointed to Cybertron.
"No, I will not take the prisoners to the surface. Why should I let him have all the glory?"
"The code they carry is too valuable." Soundwave replayed Starscream's previous sentence as answer.
"All right. Since I must deliver the energon to him anyway."
Moments later, the Decepticons were on the surface carrying a lot of energon and the two Autobot prisoners through the streets.
"So this is Kaon, huh? Love what you Decepticons have done with the place. The ruins are especially picturesque." Cliffjumper said.
Of course, that provoked Starscream enough. "Silence!"
And one of the Cons pushed Cliff from behind. They reached to some kind of laboratory.
"Here we are." Starscream announced.
"Ew, that's not a good sign." Cliff admitted seeing a table with lots of creepy operating tools.
"Since I could not compel you to surrender the encryption code, I'm forced to introduce you to someone whose methods are a little more…persuasive."
Walking through the hallway was a purple cybertronian, bigger than all the others present in the room, with a body that resembled some kind of advanced tank. But the parts that distinguished him from the others were that he had a huge cannon instead of his left arm and only one red eye.
"We may be in a little more trouble than I thought." Cliff said nervous.
"Autobots, say hello to Shockwave." Starscream introduced.
Moments later, the two Autobots were hooked to two operating tables while Shockwave was checking the tools.
"Delivering a mountain of energon, intercepting an encrypted Autobot communique and capturing two key prisoners is impressive, I admit. But Lord Megatron expects nothing less from his first lieu…" Starscream was saying, until he saw Shockwave looking at him. He may be a little annoyed. "I should let you work, right? No doubt you are trying to concentrate. Carry on."
Shockwave picked up a plug and inserted it at the back of his own head. With the Decepticons distracted, Arcee tried to break one of her energy shackles, thing that Cliffjumper saw.
"Hum, Shockwave, are you certain you can extract the decryption code without first nullifying our subjects' neural net?" Starscream asked.
Shockwave was checking things on a terminal before turning at him. "I invented the cortical psychic patch. I am familiar with its idiosyncrasies."
"Of course you are."
Shockwave walked towards Arcee with the other end of the cord in hand.
"Keep that thing away from me, you one-eyed freak." She yelled.
"Leave her alone! Use it on me!" Cliff demanded.
"Do not worry. If her mind does not survive the procedure, you will be next." Shockwave reassured before he held Arcee's head with his cannon as he plugged the cord at the back of her head, causing her a lot of pain.
Cliffjumper tried to break free, but the monitor already showed what Shockwave was looking for inside Arcee's mind.
"Ah, the code." Starscream saw.
Shockwave pulled out the cord off Arcee, causing her to moan in pain, and lying motionless.
"Arcee! Arcee! I'll scrap you both!" Cliff yelled.
"Shut up. I'm trying to listen." Starscream said.
The encryption began to relay a message. "This is Optimus Prime. To all surviving Autobots who hear this message, I ask you to join me in a remote corner of the universe, on a highly far away galaxy, with countless planets rich with energon. I have reason to believe these worlds will soon become a new target of Decepticon conquest. Besides, this galaxy is at the beginning of its darkest hour, soon to be overshadowed by an emerging conflict. Our team is small but strong. Join me at these coordinates so that we might plan our resistance and support the good side of this conflict. Safe journeys."
As they heard the message, Cliff saw that Arcee was faking death. She winked him an eye and continued to try to break free.
"Ah, brilliant! Not only do we know where to find Optimus Prime, but he's begging for help. Now is the time to strike." Starscream proclaimed.
Shockwave turned at Cliffjumper. "You are no longer of use." And aimed his cannon at him.
"Hey Scream. Curious, you always let other Cons do your dirty work?" Cliffjumper called.
"Shockwave, you already disposed of one of my prisoners. Cliffjumper is mine."
"Your reasoning is hardly logical, but indulge yourself."
Shockwave left the lab with the guarding Cons, leaving the Autobots alone with Starscream, who was checking the tools.
"What do you think, Cliffjumper? Plenty to choose from here. Shall we go with precise dissection or blunt force?" Starscream suggested.
In that moment, Arcee broke free.
"Your choice, Scream. Whatever you pick, I'm just gonna end using it on you." Cliff replied.
"Very well." Starscream said as he approached Cliffjumper. "Why don't we do this the old-fashioned way?" And raised his claws.
But before he could strike, Arcee jumped and arm-pinned Starscream. Then, she kneed him on the back and kicked him to the operating table. The energy shackles activated and kept Starscream pinned.
"No! No!"
Arcee released Cliffjumper.
"Thanks for the save." He thanked.
"Your turn, Starscream. What's with all the energon?" Arcee asked.
"As if I would tell you."
"Talk, or you're a science experiment. I'm not kidding." Arcee said serious before she walked to the tools table.
"You should probably tell us something. I'm not sure how long I can hold her back." Cliff suggested to him.
"I'm no expert with this thing, but I heard one slip-up can fry a neural net." Arcee threatened picking the cord.
"Shockwave! He's the one you want. He's building a space bridge beneath Kaon." Starscream answered.
"Impossible. Space bridge technology's been lost for megacycles."
"And yet he managed. Shockwave never left Cybertron precisely so he could scavenge parts, then reverse-engineer space bridge mechanics. But he went far beyond the original ones: this new space bridge can transport Decepticon troops to any point of the known universe instantly."
"And you just delivered all the energon he needs to power it up." Cliff finished.
"Well, it often pains me, I try to be a team player."
Arcee kicked Starscream hard on his face, knocking him out.
"Going somewhere?" Cliff asked.
"To take down a space bridge." Arcee answered as she continued walking.
"Without me?"
"This will require stealth, not chatter."
"Oh, you mean the chatter that distracted Starscream long enough for you to free yourself."
"Just try not to slow me down."
Both Autobots jumped down to a lower level and started making their way through some corridors.
"You know where you're going?" Cliffjumper asked.
"My unit used these tunnels during the war. They're part of Old Cybertron." Arcee revealed.
"The sooner we blow the bridge, the sooner we join up with Optimus Prime."
"Give him my regards."
"Did you not hear Prime's message? He needs us."
"Teamwork isn't my thing. After we finish this you and I go our separate ways."
"Whatever you say, partner."
Arcee suddenly stopped and faced Cliffjumper. "Let's get one thing straight: you are not my partner."
"Arcee, I know it's rough. I really do."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She said as she continued walking.
"Tailgate."
That made Arcee remember what happened to his partner, the reason why she hates Airachnid so much.
"Closing yourself off from feeling won't help anyone." Cliff said as Arcee's surroundings changed back to Naboo.
"Sounds familiar." Han called in.
"A good advice is a good advice." Arcee replied.
"So, I gotta know. What happened next?"
Arcee chuckled. "I knew you would like to know the rest of the story."
Back into the story, two Decepticon soldiers were guarding the entrance of the space bridge station, until they were taken down and dragged away by the two Autobots. Next, the duo hid as they spotted the space bridge, already generating a portal.
"Shockwave's latest work of art." Arcee observed.
"Already fueled and ready to rip. Arcee, look familiar?" Cliffjumper pointed to the space bridge control terminal.
"The coordinates Optimus provided. They're being used to target the space bridge."
"Which means the Cons will ambush Optimus and his team before any Autobot reinforcements can get there."
"If the Cons scorch Optimus, the war is as good as over."
"We can fix that." Cliff reassured changing his hand for one of his guns.
"No. We don't have the ordinance to blow the bridge. I'll have to sabotage the control systems."
"What about access? You're just gonna walk up and ask for permission?"
"No. You are."
Two Decepticons were finishing preparing the space bridge when…
"Uh, excuse me?" Cliffjumper called entering walking into the station. "I got separated from the tour group. Does anyone know where I can find the Decepticon base?"
The Cons simply activated their weapons as they walked toward him.
"Wow. Didn't Starscream tell ya? I'm on your side now." Cliffjumper invented, leaving the Cons confused. "That coward, Optimus Prime, turned tail and ran. Left the rest of us Autobots to fend for ourselves. So much for camaraderie, huh?"
As Cliff continued distracting them, Arcee reached the controls silently.
"Figured I'd rather be on the winning team, so I took Starscream up on his offer. Imagine the look on Prime's face when it starts raining Decepticons. Me with them." Cliff continued. "Brilliant. I know all about Starscream's plan, we can all get along now."
Suddenly, the Decepticons lowered their weapons, which Cliffjumper found suspicious.
"There is someone behind me, isn't there?" Cliff asked before he turned, and found Shockwave standing before him.
"Only Starscream could fail to dispose of a helpless captive." Shockwave deduced.
Then the space bridge began to give off an eerie screech and power build-up.
"Uh, it is supposed to sound like that?" Cliff asked, before Shockwave wacked him aside and ran to the controls.
"Interloper!" He said grabbing Arcee by the head and throwing her to a ledge, but she managed to cling on for her life. "You have overridden the energon containment protocols, haven't you? Clever, but not irreversible."
The Decepticons tried to grab Cliffjumper, but he managed to push one aside and kick back the other. He disposed of two more with close combat techniques, including punching one on the face and using another as shield. With the Cons eliminated, Cliff took out his weapon and fired at the terminal, earning Shockwave's attention, who felt no damage from the shots. Cliffjumper changed tactic: he jumped on Shockwave and kicked him on the face. Shockwave tried to smash him with the cannon, but he evaded and tripped him. Next, he aimed his weapon at Shockwave's face, but the Decepticon sent him flying with an unexpected uppercut. While Cliffjumper was down, he was surrounded by two Decepticon soldiers, but they were shot down by Arcee, who returned. More Cons came from behind, so after eliminating the first one she pulled out her wrist blades and engaged them in close combat. She finished with them all, but saw Shockwave approaching Cliffjumper, still on the floor, aiming his cannon at him.
"There is more than one way to nullify a neural net." Shockwave proclaimed.
"Not this time." Arcee said after activating her weapon and firing.
The shot hit part of the ceiling, and cause rubble to fall upon Shockwave. Cliff rolled out of the way.
"Cliff?" She called as she went to help him.
"I knew you cared."
In that moment, Starscream entered the room with more soldiers.
"It appears Shockwave's arrogance was his undoing. Destroy them!" He ordered.
The two Autobots were forced to cover behind some rubble. Starscream saw immediately that something was wrong with the space bridge.
"Autobots, whatever you did to the space bridge, undo it now!"
"Becht it really starts to shoot at us if they want our help." Cliff said as they continued hidden. "Seeing as our exit is blocked and we have an open space bridge portal currently set for Prime's location. You're with me?"
Cliff offered Arcee his hand, which she took. The Cons continued firing until…
"The space bridge, is going to blow!" Starscream shouted alarmed before running away like always.
The Autobots ran into the portal, just when Shockwave managed to get out from the rubble. The Autobots continued their way through the portal's tunnel, until a shot almost hit them. They saw Shockwave coming at them with his shock cannon ready to fire.
"Give him everything you got!" Cliff said.
Both Autobots fired their weapons at Shockwave, but nothing made him slow down. One of his shots almost hit them and forced them to jump aside. The shot let Cliffjumper on the ground, but Arcee got up, waited for Shockwave to fire first, and dodged very close at the last moment and then fired her gun, hitting his weak point: the eye. That made Shockwave groan in pain as he covered his injure.
"Woo! Bulls-eye!" Cliff congratulated.
Even with his injure, Shockwave continued firing, trying to hit them as they continued running through the tunnel trying to get away from a chain reaction.
Geonosis
They made it to the other side of the portal and landed on solid ground before the vortex exploded. Both Autobots were lying on the ground with closed eyes.
"Think Shockwave survived?" Arcee asked.
"Hope so. Ha, I want a rematch." Cliffjumper said with a smile as he tried to get up.
"Let's find Optimus. Partner." Arcee said offering him her hand.
Cliffjumper didn't hesitate to take it before they took a look to their surroundings.
Cliff chuckled. "Rich with energon, huh? Hope the other planets don't look like this. Reminds me of the time I was lost in the Sea of Rust, back on Cybertron. Except I was separated from my unit with absolutely no one to talk to."
"Talk at?"
"Admit it: you love the company."
Arcee chuckled. "Okay, I admit it. The truth is…I really missed to have some company. You were right." She confessed sincerely.
"Of course. You just needed a little reminder. Now, we only need to know where Optimus and the others might be."
Then, Arcee stopped.
"What's wrong?" Cliff asked.
"I don't know. Is just…something doesn't feel right." Arcee answered.
Cliff spotted something. "Maybe you're right. Look, there's smoke coming from over there. Behind that hill."
"Hey, do you hear that too?"
They started to hear the sound of an engine getting closer.
"Let's hide. Quick!" Cliff suggested.
The Autobots hid behind a big boulder and saw coming the origin of that sound: a few republic gunships were heading toward the smoke.
"Starships?" Arcee identified.
"They look very advanced, and the military type. Optimus didn't mention this galaxy was highly inhabited."
"But…he mentioned a conflict taking place. I have to take a look." Arcee said running at the smoke, following the gunships.
"I'm coming with ya. But I am not sure if I should ask why."
"There is something else I'm hearing. Very familiar."
When the Autobots reached the top of the hill, they discovered the reason of why there was military vehicles and smoke: at the distance, they witnessed a huge battle between two armies.
"You were right: the sound of battlefield." Cliff said in disbelief.
"It's not an ordinary conflict, is a war." Arcee realized.
"Another war, besides ours. We better left the questions for later, when we find Optimus."
"Right. Let's get far as we can from here so we can put a locator beacon. That will allow them to find us." Arcee decided before they started to get away from the combat.
And the story ended.
"No way. You two were at the Battle of Geonosis? The very beginning of the Clone Wars?" Han asked in disbelief.
"Crazy coincidence, huh? Actually, we didn't do much thing back then. That caught us by surprise too. Funny: at first, I didn't think I'd get used to Cliff's constant chatter, but now that would be the first thing to miss if he would not be here with us. He was a great support when I entered Team Prime, helping me integrate myself in the group. And make me visualize that despite what happened in the past, that doesn't mean it can't be second chances. Sincerely, I don't know what would have become of me, if it wasn't for him." Arcee finished.
Han understood what Arcee passed through, so he held her hand, making her saw him and smile. But no one of them realized that Cliffjumper saw the entire scene. And after witnessing his partner helping Han feel better, he smiled, knowing that she still remembered when he helped her too.
