Chapter 104 – Ambushed
Prime P.O.V
::Elita, keep your sensors on high alert:: I warned through our private commlink as we drove slowly through the narrow cobblestone streets of San Ángel, one of the older parts of Mexico City. ::I have sent a private comm to Jazz to let him know we are looking for him and the others::
We had arrived on the southern outskirts of the sprawling capital city late in the afternoon of the second day since departing our Autobots. It had been a long journey, and we had needed to rest once more since leaving ''Truth or Consequences''. As we rolled cautiously through the streets of this district of Mexico City, I was struck by how beautiful and calm it seemed to be in comparison to some of the other districts and neighbourhoods we had previously driven through. Trees lined the cobblestone streets, metal balustrades covered in brightly coloured flowers, ''Bougainvillea'' I believe they were called, and multiple cafes and restaurants dotted the area. We pulled up briefly on the perimeter of the main plaza, San Jacinto, a pretty, leafy oasis. ::Elita, anything to report?::
::Negative. I have not sensed any Autobot presence in this area:: Her voice was emotionless and flat. ::Let's make our way towards the Centro district and the Plaza de la Constitución. We may have better luck picking up Autobot energon signatures in that area::
::It is also a far more densely populated area with numerous citizens, tourists and activity:: I felt a worrying sensation in the pit of my tanks. ::I doubt Jazz and the others would choose that location to hide out:: I tried reasoning with her.
::Then again, where better to hide than in plain view of everyone and everything. However, you do whatever you feel you need to Optimus Prime. You do anyway:: came the surly reply.
Though we were in our alt modes, I could hear and almost ''see'' the sneer in Elita's voice and on her dermas. I sighed out loud. ::Very well Elita, we shall head towards the main square. Just be aware we are not the only ones searching for our friends. Keep your scanners on high alert and report back immediately if you suspect anything untoward::
::Affirmative:: was the only reply she gave.
With an internal sigh, I pulled away from the pretty little Plaza, and began navigating my way towards the main Plaza in the Centro District. We had not travelled far when I noticed a black SUV tailgating us from a distance. /Hmm… could be nothing. But in my experience a car of that description bodes for some sort of Government presence/.
I remained silent for the moment, widening the search area with my scanners and once again sending a private comm to Jazz and then to Sideswipe letting them know of our intention to head towards Plaza de la Constitución. The single black SUV soon became several more. The worrying feeling in my tanks increased tenfold and I felt a pulse from the Matrix, as if it was trying to warn me.
::Elita, be advised several black SUV's tailgating us:: I warned her. It is likely they were not aware of her existence as she was driving ahead of me and she had only recently joined our team, arriving on Earth after the battle of Chicago. ::Elita, suggest we split up and make our way to our destination separately, I'll draw their attention away as I do not believe they are aware of your existence. Suggest you scan another alt mode, something less conspicuous::
There was almost a growl down the comm line ::Are you SERIOUS? Separate in a foreign city, without ANY backup that we are aware of? I may be very angry at you, but I am not willing to watch you die. Negative Optimus Prime. I am not leaving you::
I felt a quick rush of annoyance at her staunch refusal to follow orders. Previously spark bonded or not, I was still Prime and her outright unwillingness to listen to me irritated me ::Elita, while I appreciate your support I am more than capable of fending for myself. If we ARE indeed alone here, then it would stand to reason to gain the upper hand wherever possible. Concealing your existence would give us a tactical advantage and, should the worst come to pass, at least one of us will be able to make their way back to the others, raise the alert and regroup:: While I was trying to keep my tone neutral, irritation and a little bit of concern seeped into my tone as I noticed the black SUV's gaining ground on us. We were running out of time.
For a moment there was no reply, I could almost hear her processor ticking over as she deliberated on my argument. Finally, in a low angry whisper she ground out her reply ::Fine! I shall peel away, assume a different alt mode and try to remain concealed. However, if you come under heavy fire, I cannot guarantee I shall be able to refrain from assisting you::
::Understood. However I..::
The sound of bullets whizzing through the air and ricocheting off my frame and the subsequent screams of panic and confusion from the people going about their business nearby, interrupted our discussion.
/So, it starts/.
I felt myself tense up as I prepared to defend myself, Elita and the innocent people of this district. /Why would they open fire without confirming which faction we belonged to? Why would they open fire in a heavily populated civilian area?/. I felt anger boil through my lines as I tried to process their intentions. Elita had since disappeared from sight before me and I felt a small wave of relief. Another round of bullets sprayed against my chassis followed by a small explosion off to my right, my spark ached as I watched a beautiful, old building crumble and collapse. There was nothing I could do but pray to Primus that no one had been inside.
I tried to speed up and thread my way as carefully as possible through the streets back towards Avenue Insurgentes which would hopefully lead me towards the Plaza de la Constitución. A hail of bullets and explosions jolted and buffeted me about and I gave a loud groan as a large shell penetrated the right side of my chassis, sending sparks flying and a sharp pain coursing through me. I felt myself grind my denta together in determination as I accelerated, trying to deftly weave through late afternoon traffic. My attackers did not seem to care that there would be heavy civilian casualties if we engaged in battle in such a heavily populated city. A small part of my processor wondered if that was part of their plan.
Further explosions and the sound of helicopters above me indicated I was far from safe. I continued down the Avenue, desperately looking for somewhere I might seek shelter or safely engage my pursuers. Up ahead to my left I noticed a large parkland area. A quick access of the Internet and maps indicated it was Parque México, a large nine-hectare park. /Perfect. There would be less humans in that area given it was late afternoon and evening was rapidly approaching and I may be able to hide out there for a while or at the very least, have an opportunity to engage my attackers ''safely''/.
I had no sooner reached that conclusion than a missile exploded beside me, forcing me to swerve violently and almost tip over. I decided to use the momentum and transform to my robot mode, carefully trying to jump over cars and make my way across the Avenue to the opposite side of the road and towards the parkland. Given my pursuers in their SUV's did not have the ability to transverse the road as I had, I had just bought myself a little time.
Or so I thought.
I had just retransformed back into my alt mode, approaching the park from Avenue Michoacán, when a second missile found its mark in my chassis. ''AGGRRHH!'', I let out a yell followed by a low growl of pain. My internal systems began to send error codes and warnings of compromised functioning or impending shut down. I ignored them as well as the screams of the people who ran for cover from the explosion. I drove into the park, transforming once again to bi-pedal mode, scanning for a suitable place to ''hide''. I veered off to the right and began to run towards a large lake area hoping to seek some shelter amongst the larger trees and building nearby.
As I began to traverse a large open grassed park area to get to my destination, I felt a hail of bullets slam into me from seemingly every direction and a large explosion just behind me knocked me off my pedes. I instinctively rolled as I hit the ground, assuming a crouching position. I retrieved my Ion blaster and engaged my battle mask. The time for running had ended - for now.
''WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT?'' I yelled at my attackers, as they began to emerge from every direction, their weapons drawn and aimed at me. ''Can you not see I mean you no harm? I am an Autobot – not a Decepticon! Why do you attack me?'' My optics searched the swarm of soldiers as they approached me, my senses on high alert, ready to react.
A lone voice addressed me as a middle-aged man, with greying hair, light stubble and dressed all in black approached me, ''Who we are is none of your business. What we want – well that depends.'' The man hid his face behind dark glasses and a sneer.
I tilted my helm as I tried to place where I had seen this human before, he seemed familiar. However, his true identity remained of secondary importance at this point in time. ''What do you mean by that depends?'' I automatically raised my weapon, preparing to defend myself. I felt the cables and gears in my legs tense, preparing to hurl myself in either direction. My spark pulsed rapidly in its casing. /How has it come to this?/.
The sneer on the man's face disappeared for a moment only to be replaced by a false smile, ''Are you Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots?'' The sound of various guns being cocked and loaded echoed in the suddenly silent evening air.
For a moment I paused. A warning pulse flared in my chest and following millennia of battle, of pre-war jitters and hunches, every nerve and fibre within me screamed to disengage and refuse to answer this arrogant man. However, if there was a small possibility that my answer may put an end to this nonsense or somehow help protect my Autobots, I had to answer. I allowed my optics to stare directly into his and in a loud, clear voice I replied, ''Yes. My name is Optimus Prime, and I have the honour of being the leader of my Autobots.''
The man removed his glasses, his face losing all emotion. Realisation slammed into me in that moment. I knew who this man was! He had been the one who had tried to take OC away after she first revealed her powers all those years ago. I felt a white-hot rage flash through me and I shuttered my optics once, digging my pedes dig into the ground beneath me, preparing to fight. ''I was hoping you'd say that.'' A sadistic smile of pleasure and anticipation spread across his features as he yelled the order, ''TAKE HIM OUT! FIRE!''
Immediately the sound of a variety of guns and assault weapons shattered the air around me. I growled out loud in pain as they found their mark in various places on my body, splitting metal open, gouging deep wounds, and drawing precious energon from me. ''NO! PLEASE, STOP! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?'' I screamed at them. I did not want to harm humans, I had sworn not to but these humans – they were trying to kill me. Out of nowhere, several explosions erupted amongst the humans before me, drawing their attention for a moment.
/Elita!/
I let off several shots from my blaster in front of me, to the right and left to try and provide some cover. And I turned and ran through the park back towards the direction of Avenue Insurgentes.
::Optimus, keep running! I'll cover you!:: Elita's voice yelled across our private comm and I heard more explosions erupt behind me along with screams of pain and confusion. Elita clearly did not hold the same view as I regarding not harming humans, at least not at this point in time.
Though I was grateful for her timely intervention, I did not want her caught up in this nightmare ::Elita, retreat! Fall back, get out of here!:: My large strides had taken me to the other end of the park in no time. Another explosion destroyed a grove of trees nearby and threw up chunks of earth, showering me in grass and soil. I held my arm in front of my optics to shield me as I ran ::Leave here, it is too dangerous. Get back to the others. That is an order!:: I barked down the comm line as another missile blast and a powerful explosion that seemed to come from a weapon not of human creation slammed into the ground nearby, knocking me off my pedes for a moment. I rolled across the ground, groaning and growling before springing to my pedes again. I searched wildly around me, trying to locate the origin of the shot and who may have fired it. Heavy footfalls that shook the ground echoed around me and a lone, large metallic figure with a cannon where its face was or should be, came looming out of the smoke towards me. I felt my spark cease pulsing for an astrosecond.
/Lockdown!/.
The merciless Cybertronian bounty hunter came stalking towards me. /What on Cybertron is HE doing aiding the humans?/. I barely had time to form the thought in my processor before he fired another shot towards me. I managed to dodge the blast and clenched my dermas tightly together in fierce determination as I raised my blaster, firing off several shots in his direction. One found its mark in his shoulder joint, earning a loud growl of pain.
I was about to charge towards him when Elita's voice blasted through the comm ::NO! I cannot leave you, not like this!:: panic and defiance in equal measure saturated her voice. It shocked me enough to distract my attention. Lockdown took advantage of the momentary lapse in concentration and fired his cannon. I was thrown back by the blast as it found its mark deep in my chest housing, barely missing my spark chamber. I clutched at my chest, sparks and energon flying from the gaping hole. I gave a loud yell of pain and anger as I turned and began to race towards Avenue Sonora and back towards Avenue Insurgentes. I was in no condition to engage with such an enemy. I quickly transformed into my alt mode, which was becoming badly damaged by the punishment I was receiving.
::Elita, Lockdown is here!:: I heard her gasp of shock and worry down the comm line. I was not going to tell her I had been badly wounded ::We cannot hope to engage him and the humans at present. I have not heard from Jazz and the others, I can only assume they have moved on from here:: I did not get a chance to finish before Elita cut in.
:: Or have been killed already:: Her voice held a hard edge to it ::I am coming to help you Optimus, I will not lose you too!::
I continued to barrel down Avenue Insurgentes. My senses picked up incoming missiles again. I swore in Cybertronian and swerved to avoid them, explosions showering me in pieces of burning hot shrapnel that tore into me :: NO! Elita. YOU MUST retreat NOW! You have to get back to the others and warn them. I forbid you to come to my aid::
::But..:: she began to counter argue.
::NO! THAT IS FINAL. I ORDER YOU TO LEAVE NOW ELITA!:: I growled down the comm line in a tone that brooked no opposition. I was ex-venting heavily in exertion and desperation. Another explosion nearby threw parked cars into the air and I narrowly avoided having them crash down on me.
There was a moment's silence before Elita replied in an angry though defeated tone :: FINE! STUBBORN SON OF A GLITCH. ELITA OUT!:: I felt a brief wave of relief wash over me as I knew I no longer had to worry about her safety. If anything happened to her as a result of trying to help me… I did NOT want to continue that thought. I did not reply to her as all of my focus was now directed at outrunning or outsmarting my pursuers.
With Elita now safely headed out of the area, my thoughts turned to my other Autobots. ALL of them. I had to warn them to disengage from humans and be cautious of this new threat. I had sustained multiple, serious injuries. My CPU flared and screamed warnings of all the various systems that had been damaged, compromised or destroyed. I felt myself weakening but I had to make a final announcement.
For a moment I baulked at accessing the emergency Autobot frequency. Putting out a call on that comm line would mean Phoenix would hear it. I did not want my first words to her in two years to be such a dire warning. I did not want my first words to her to also be my last words, yet, if I did not take this course of action all of my Autobots may also meet this fate. Ambushed by forces we once fought alongside and called brothers in arms. I felt my resolve strengthen. I had to do it. /Once again Phoenix, I must beg your forgiveness/.
Accessing the frequency, I sent my warning to my friends ::Calling all Autobots! Calling all Autobots. We are under targeted attack. Cease all contact with humans immediately and go into hiding. We are being hunted:: I stifled a groan as waves of pain radiated throughout my damaged body ::I will return to you all as soon as I can – IF I can. Optimus Prime out:: I had no sooner ended the transmission than I felt my comms system die. The connections must have finally given out after that last hit from Lockdown. I felt relief as well as a feeling of utter loneliness descend on me. I was now truly alone.
My spark ached. I did not know when or if I would ever see my loyal friends again - or Phoenix. /To think I had just made the decision to contact her after this mission and find her/. Now, I would be lucky to escape with my life.
Up ahead on the right I noticed something that might assist me in getting out of here. Autolavado Carwash loomed in the distance and parked off to the side waiting for its turn was an old Freightliner FL86 cab over semi-truck. It looked beaten up, rusty and run down but it might just be my salvation.
I quickly scanned its form and felt my frame shift and change to accommodate the new schematics. I made a sharp right onto Calle de Durango and navigated my way through some of the back streets, trying desperately to avoid detection. Normally when I scanned a new alt mode and updated, everything would update with it. It would seem my injuries and energon loss were too significant and had taken their toll on my auto repair systems. I must have been severely damaged as I still felt the wounds, dents and holes in my new form. However, my new appearance may just provide the cover I needed to escape this hell and the opportunity to eventually reunite with my Autobots and somehow get repaired.
As I drove along the roads, trying to cloak my energon signature, I suddenly became aware that the sounds of explosions and gunfire had ceased. There was not a black SUV in sight. I continued picking a path carefully through the various streets, slowly backtracking and making my way towards Mexican Federal Highway 57 which would eventually lead me to the town of Monterrey and then onto Highway 85 which would lead me to Laredo, a town on the Texas border.
As the sprawling image of Mexico City shrunk in my rear-view mirror, I began to feel myself relax slightly. I desperately needed to stop and rest, but I could not afford that luxury now. I had to keep moving lest I be discovered again by either the human task force or Lockdown, who for some unknown reason was aiding them. Warnings kept flooding my CPU. My weapons system was severely damaged, my comms had been disabled and I was rapidly losing energon and various other fluids vital to stay online. I internally shook my helm, trying to focus on the task at hand – get to safety. I sent a silent prayer to Primus that Jazz and the others had not suffered the same fate I had and had somehow managed to move on and were safe, hiding out somewhere.
Pain. Hurt. Tired.
I ached all over, it felt as though every inch of me was on fire and burning from the heat of missiles, scorch marks and bullets. That last shot Lockdown delivered was almost fatal, my spark casing almost destroyed. /Primus, please. Let me survive this. Help me find a way back to my Autobots. Back to Elita and Phoenix/. I prayed that the deity who, according to Phoenix and her audience with Him, supposedly favoured me above all other Primes, heard my pleas and granted me reprieve. /Primus please, give me the chance to make things right with them both. Please/.
I continued this litany as I navigated and painfully inched my way closer to home, drawing silent strength from my desire to fix what I had broken between the two femmes I loved and cared for so very much and my desire to be reunited with my Autobots – my friends and my family.
