Chapter 132 – Once More into the Fray

Prime P.O.V

::Prime! Sideswipe here. Acknowledge:: the voice flares to life over my comms as I stride towards the cockpit, Beijing looming through the window.

I stop in my tracks and my servo flies to my audial immediately as I prepare to respond. ::This is Prime. Report on your status Sideswipe::

::Well, I'm still kickin.' I'll be a bit sore and sorry in the morning but I'm sure I'll live::

::Indeed:: The silver twin was about as tough as he was cheeky, he'd be fine. ::And the others? What is their condition? Did you succeed in containing Galvatron?:: I tried to hide the concern from my voice.

::Dino is a little banged up but still functioning. Roadbuster and Topspin are fine – a little pissed off but fully functional. Heh… you should see some of the others! Well, what's left of 'em!:: After a brief laugh, there is a disappointed sigh from Sideswipe as he continues. ::I'm sorry Prime, while we managed to take out quite a few of the infected prototypes and fuck the factory up, we were unable to contain Galvatron and Stinger and what seems to be a whole mess of his infected prototypes. There were so many of 'em Prime. I'm sorry:: Sideswipe sounded genuinely annoyed in and of himself.

While the silver twin, along with his equally devious twin brother Sunstreaker, had incurred my wrath and vexed me on numerous occasions over the millennia, to hear him so dejected and critical of himself was quite unusual and a little disconcerting. ::Sideswipe you did well, you all did. The most important thing is you are all still alive and, you managed to slow Galvatron down and deplete his numbers::

:;Yeah. I guess we did:: came the tentative reply. ::Prime, he would be headed your way, he is likely gunning for that Seed still:: Sideswipe's voice held an edge of concern to it.

::He likely is Sideswipe:: I paused a moment. ::So.. where are YOU headed then?:: I resumed my path towards the cockpit where Jazz was busy piloting the ship.

I could almost hear the smile down the comms. ::We are on our way Prime. Be there as soon as possible::.

::Affirmative Sideswipe. Prime out:: I entered the cockpit and came to stand beside Jazz who threw me a cursory glance.

''Have ya heard from 'Sides an' tha others yet? They okay?'' my 2IC questioned.

I couldn't help the smile from spreading on my dermas. Sometimes I swear Jazz is part Prime the way he seems to just ''know'' when things happen. ''Affirmative Jazz. I just received a comm then. They are functioning but unfortunately failed to contain Galvatron and Stinger. Reading between the lines, I'd say we severely underestimated how many protoypes they have amassed and how many have been infected. It would seem Sideswipe and the others put a fair dent in the numbers however, a slew of them are still functioning and headed this way under Galvatron's command.''

''So, what's tha bad news then?'' Jazz flashed me a smile before fixing his optics on the buildings ahead.

I gave a low chuckle at my Second and his questionable sense of humour. ''Glad you can make jokes Jazz.''

''Well, ya know tha Earthen sayin' Prime: 'Ya either laugh or ya cry'. Given we can't really cry, only really leaves room for laughin'. Besides, I've always tried ta be a silver linin' kinda bot maself.''

I briefly clasped him on the shoulder in appreciation, ''A fact I am most grateful for Jazz, believe me.'' I removed my servo and stood silently beside him as he piloted our stolen vessel towards the multitude of high rises, my optics rapidly scanned the rooftops – searching.

After grappling with my own conscience, my own disappointments and my own demons, I decided to take on board what Rachet, Elita, Jazz and even Cade have said to me. I feel my chest rise and fall as I cycle air through my intakes and the finality of my decision settles upon my shoulders and my spark. Once more I will help the humans, once more I will defend them and all they can be though it may cost us – cost me – dearly. /It is the right thing to do/.

At last, I find what I am loath to be looking for. Joyce and presumably the Seed is beside him. ''Optimus, do ya see what I see?'' Jazz interrupts my thoughts as he deftly manoeuvres the craft near the building as carefully as possible.

''Affirmative Jazz. I see him too.'' Though I feel a flare of irritation and annoyance at sighting the arrogant man, I also feel myself tense and my spark rate increases as I make a connection. /If Joyce still has the Seed in his possession, then Phoenix is still alive and would likely be nearby/.

Almost as though he once again heard my thought and reached a similar conclusion, my Second speaks up again. ''If Joyce is here with tha Seed Prime, ya can bet Phoenix will be nearby, ya might even catch a glimpse of her any moment now.'' At his words, I reach out to grip the backrest of the seat in which he sits in an effort to contain the excitement and, strangely some trepidation, at the thought I might soon lay optics on my beloved Phoenix.

As we draw nearer to the building, the outline of Joyce and the black bag he is hefting become clearer. He seems to be trying to hide or get away from us. ''He must think we are Decepticons.'' I muse out loud to my Second. ''Jazz, bring us about so we can make contact with him and try to gain possession of the Seed. I'll notify some of the Autobots and our human allies to prepare to make contact.''

''You got it Prime!'' The stabilising engines of the ship sputter and fire as Jazz begins to swing the craft about to allow the rear cargo bay door to open.

::Elita, Hound, Bumblebee, Ironhide, Rachet, Arcee, prepare to assist Cade and our human allies in helping to retrieve the Seed from Joyce. Exercise extreme caution, I have received word from Sideswipe that Galvatron and his protoypes are bearing down on us and the Seed at this very moment:: Having momentarily delegated responsibility for Joyce and the Seed, I return my gaze to the rooftops beyond Joyce as I try desperately to catch a glimpse of Phoenix./She MUST be here somewhere! Please.. I just need to know she is okay.. I need to SEE her/.

Jazz successfully manoeuvres the ship into position. ''Opening cargo bay door Prime.'' I nod silently.

I am unable to hear the conversation between my Autobots and Joyce over the roar of the engines, so I continue my sweep of the rooftop. Without warning, a loud angry screech of annoyance that could only belong to one femme, rises above the noise of the engines and at once sets my spark racing.

/PHOENIX!/.

I immediately snap my optics towards the direction I believe it came from and take a step towards the window. There, with wings outstretched and aflame in anger, sits my Phoenix. /My beautiful, terrifying Phoenix/. In that moment it is as though my spark is filled to the point of overflowing with love, longing and need. A desperate need to be with her again. My servo reaches out to touch the glass window and my optics fix onto her, willing her to gaze in my direction – to see me just once. ''My Phoenix, so close,'' the words are whispered as if she might disappear if I say her name out loud.

''PRIME!'' Jazz's alarmed voice shatters the moment a nanosecond before the missiles impact into the side of the ship, and a loud explosion rips through the air. I am thrown against the floor as the ship lurches and I lose sight of her. I growl in frustration and immediately spring to my pedes again.

Hound's voice comes through my comms :We're hit, we're hit!::

I hear Jazz groan as he strains to keep our ship from crashing into the building below. The frame seems to shudder and strain as the whole hull is swung about 360 degrees. In that moment, as the nose of the craft is swung right around – I see her. In one fleeting moment, as time seemed to slow for us alone, I manage to catch a final glimpse of her.

She had transformed back into her bi-pedeal mode and was standing atop the building with one of her arms outstretched towards the ship. The servo on her other hand had retracted to reveal her menacing energon blade and her face – her beautiful face - was frozen in horror, as she watched us spin out of control towards the wooded mountains that skirted the city.

''PHOENIX!''. Was all I managed to scream out loud before the ship collided with the mountain ridge, leaving a deep gouge along its top, snapping, and uprooting trees like so many matchsticks. Flames erupt from the impact and the sound of twisting and abused metal screeches throughout the ship, piercing my audials.

Behind me, Jazz groaned with the effort of trying to gain some control of the ship as it spun wildly about a rocky canyon, clipping a wall. ''Come on ya slagging glitch! Pull up baby!'' By some miracle or skill, Jazz managed to keep the craft in the air, avoiding crashing into a small village below. I reached out to grab something to brace for imminent impact as I saw the ground rushing towards us.

''HOLD ON TA YA AFTS EVERYONE!'' Jazz yelled to Crosshairs, Drift and myself as we careened towards the ground.

There is a sickening explosion and a violent lurch as the craft ploughs into the ground. Despite my efforts to stay upright, I am thrown to the floor and feel a sharp pain in my right shoulder as it absorbs the impact. I grunt out loud, though the sound is consumed by the chaos that surrounds me. I close my optics briefly and when I open them again. We have mercifully come to a stop.

I remain on the floor for a moment, crouching. My chest rises and falls as I cycle air deeply and regain my composure. /She was right there! Right slagging before me and now she is gone - again!/. I clench my servo as I try and regain a sense of calm and my sense of balance. After a moment I begrudgingly put thoughts of Phoenix aside and focus on the here and now. ''Is…. Is everyone alright? Sound off!'' I begin to rise slowly to my pedes, stiffly rotating my right shoulder to try and work out the pain.

There are a few groans about me as my Autobots also regain their bearings. ''Sensei, I function,'' Drift's voice is the first to respond.

''Well, wasn't that a barrel of laughs. This day just gets better and better!'' It would seem Crosshairs is none the worse for wear.

''Well Prime,'' there is a flash of silver and black off to my right as Jazz gingerly moves to stand up. ''It would appear we have landed.'' There is a small, sheepish smile on his dermas as he rubs the back of his helm.

''You call THAT a landing!'' Crosshairs growls out as he scowls in Jazz's direction.

''Hey bruther!'' Jazz raises his servos in mock surrender, ''Any landin' ya can walk away from, is a good one in ma book. Wouldn't ya agree Prime?''

I nod and begin to walk towards the containment cells. ''Agreed Jazz. Autobots, head outside and try to ascertain our location and try and establish connection with Elita, Ironhide, Rachet or Hound to determine their status.'' I continue in my path.

''Where would you be going then?'' Crosshairs yells out after my retreating form.

''To check on the well-being of the prisoners in maximum security.'' A small smile threatens to spread across my dermas. I pause momentarily in my stride and cast him a questioning glance. ''Unless YOU would like that pleasure Crosshairs?''

At the same time there is a massive, angry roar from within the bowels of the ship and the colour seems to drain from Crosshair's face. ''Uh no. No, I would not. As you were Prime.''

I manage to contain the bubble of laughter and a smile as I nod curtly in his direction and continue on my way. The sound of the cargo bay doors opening fades into the background as I approach the holding cells warily. I can feel multiple sets of optics boring into me as I approach, groans of protest and bellows of pain and anger assault me as massive metallic bodies strain to be free.

Making a cursory examination of their situation, I am satisfied that no serious injury has befallen them. I snort out loud, /It would take more than a mere crash to cause any injury to these prisoners/. As I turn to exit the room, I make optic contact with the one I assume to be the leader. He bristles in anger and contempt, steam snorts out of his enstrils and a low growl is sent in my direction.

I am filled with sorrow and pity for these creatures, these legendary warriors to be so shackled and humiliated. Though it tears at my spark to see any sentient being chained or imprisoned as such, for now it must remain that way.

I send what I hope passes as an apologetic look and turn to head back towards the others - an outraged scream follows me. Closing my optics briefly, I fight the urge to turn around and release them then and there. /Not yet. Not until I am certain we are in dire need of their assistance. That there is no other option, but to chance calling into effect an ancient oath and promise, I cannot take the risk of letting them loose/.

I do my best to drown out the cacophony of malevolent noise behind me as I head towards the exit. /Soon my brothers. One way or another, I will free you from your bonds. I swear it on Primus/.