Author note: Some violence... just thought I'd mention it :-)
Chapter 142 – Just You and Me Now!
Prime P.O.V
''It's just you and me now!'' I unsheathed my sword and ran purposefully after Lockdown's damaged ship, determined to force him into a confrontation.
Phoenix had managed to escape the magnet and now that I had destroyed it, she should be safe. I could now focus all my attention on tying up loose ends and ensuring Lockdown would collect no further bounties, rather than worry about her wellbeing. A ghost of a smile spread across my dermas behind my battle mask. Just the thought of her, seeing her again, hearing her voice, gave me a renewed sense of purpose, focus and strength. /Soon Phoenix, we will be together soon/. I lengthened my strides, covering the ground quickly.
It had become strangely quiet as though everything had been building to this moment. The sound of the Knight's Temenos' stabilising thrusters burned furiously above me as the ship loomed about the silos before me. I turned my helm skywards, trying to glimpse my opponent.
As I rounded a corner, my pedesteps echoing off the silo walls, I heard it. ''PRIIIIME!'' a loud, guttural yell of hatred and evil anticipation rang out. Seconds later the conveyor belts overhead exploded in flame as several missiles found their mark. I instinctively raised my left arm holding my shield as I watched Lockdown, flames engulfing him, ride the falling rubble as it came crashing down.
I pivoted about, turning to avoid having the collapsing structures land on me and yelled out in both pain and anger as debris rained down on me, including a large section of a silo. It slammed into my helm and my back, knocking me off my pedes to the ground. I landed heavily but kept my shield up protecting me as I slid along the ground.
There was a loud metallic clang, and my arm was forced to the ground from the intensity of the blow as Lockdown struck the shield with his hook. Before I had a chance to scrambled to my pedes, he had sunk the hook into some plating on my back and dragged me along the ground and around, using my momentum to lift me up and slam me face first into the wall of the silo.
I groaned as concrete crumbled, and dust flew into my optics from the impact. I swung back around, using my shield to block any further strikes while I lashed out with my sword, attempting to disarm him. He managed to block it with his weapon.
As I brought my sword back, Lockdown swung again, connecting with the blade, and sending sparks flying. I swung my shield in a wide arc connecting heavily with his face and shoulder, knocking him off balance to his knees. Though I took a moment's delight, I knew this was no unseasoned soldier I faced, but a battle hardened, ruthless and skilled foe and this fight was far from over. Using his momentum, he turned back around and lashed out at me with his sword, smashing it into my shield.
I pulled my shield back and brought my sword arm down hard, hoping to sever his right arm but he managed to fire a shot from his cannon, and it disarmed me. My sword flew out of my servo and clattered to the ground. I grunted, swinging back around with my shield, hoping to connect but he crouched down low and kicked out at me with his pedes, hitting me in the helm. I let out a growl of frustration and annoyance as I stumbled.
I leaped back up to my pedes and launched myself at Lockdown bringing my shield down as I landed, slamming it into his face. He stumbled back and I pressed my advantage, kicking out with my right pede and then bringing my knee up towards his chest. At the same time, he let off a series of shots towards me which I narrowly avoided, using my shield to help protect me. Once again, I put all my weight behind my shield as I brought it around to slam into him, spinning him about on his pedes. Once again, he was able to use his momentum to turn back around on me, using his left arm to crash into the back of my helm before he immediately brought his right arm with the cannon down and elbowed me in the back.
I staggered momentarily from the sudden onslaught and Lockdown used this to his advantage. Being smaller and lighter than I, he leaped over my back with ease and whilst holding my right arm, spun about while twisting it. I felt my joints, cables and wires creak and groan protesting at being forced to move in such a way. Before I could recover, Lockdown had brought his right leg up and kicked me with great force into the wall of one of the silos.
He was so fast, a blur of silver metal. A small coil of doubt and concern began to wrap about my spark, though I immediately launched a counterattack. /I will NEVER give in, I will NEVER give up!/. I growled out loud and kicked him away from me, pushing myself off the wall and out into the open. He stared at me with cold, calculating optics and a sneer on his face. He was enjoying this. It was sport to him, and I was his trophy. I scowled back at him. /We will see about that!/.
I balled my right fist up and yelled through gritted denta as I slammed my shield down into his helm, sparks flying off everywhere. As he stumbled back, I swung my shield back up towards his face, bringing my right leg up to kick him in the chest. Lockdown staggered back, crashing heavily into the concrete wall and falling to the ground. I jumped back, as the sound of his sword unsheathing rang in my audials. There was a flash of silver as his hooked arm snaked out to try and grab my pedes and bring me down. I managed to leap clear.
As I spun about, I noted a figure standing amongst the crumbled ruins of a brick wall. /ATTINGER!/. I felt a wave of anger envelope me, though it was quickly followed by icy fear as I realised who he was threatening with the gun he held in his hand. My optics widened in shock and my battle mask retracted. ''CADE!'' I bellowed out to the human ally who had given so much to help us. In that moment, Lockdown faded from obscurity. I had one task and one task only as a promise I made came rushing back.
''It's just us and them, and you chose them!'' I heard the bitterness, the twisted sense of betrayal in Attinger's voice as he accused Cade of turning his back on his fellow humans to support us and he prepared to squeeze the trigger.
/NO!/.
I took several great strides before I leapt to get clear of the brick wall and get a clear shot, priming the guns on my shield as I did so. Without hesitation, I fired at the man who had seen us as nothing but scrap metal and dollars, the man who had hunted us and threatened us and the man who had brutally and heartlessly murdered my friends – my family. I watched as the bullets found their mark, his body flung lifelessly to the ground below.
He was the first and only human I had knowingly and willingly killed. And I did not mourn his passing, nor my decision.
''Anytime!'' I heard Cade reply to the blood-stained figure on the ground.
The sound of an angry growl and a metal blade slicing through the air alerted me to the fact that Lockdown had taken advantage of my distraction. I stepped back away from the slicing blade and brought my left arm around to try and punch him in the face - but he was quicker. He slammed his right fist into my face with enough force to knock me off my pedes and into the wall behind me. I groaned out loud as I fell to the ground in a shower of concrete and debris. As I prepared to stand once more, I felt his right pede connect with my chin. My helm was snapped back, and my body smashed roughly against the same wall. As I scrambled to get back to my pedes, I felt the blade of my own sword pierce my chest and I screamed out in agony and shock, clutching at the cold metal as it tore through me.
Lockdown raised his left pede against my chest as he sought greater leverage as he drove the sword deeply into my chest cavity. Sparks, electricity and energon exploded around the wound that was dangerously close to my spark chamber. I was effectively pinned in place. His right servo on the hilt of the sword and his left lashing out to push my helm against the wall as he spoke, ''You saved the human instead of saving yourself!'' His face contorted in utter disgust and contempt as he spat the words at me. ''You bring shame upon us all!''
His beady green optics were torn away from me as Cade took up his gun and fired upon him. I lashed out with my left pede, an angry growl escaping my dermas as I sought to take his attention away from Cade, but it was in vain he fired at the brick wall Cade has used for protection. Another human who had been sheltering there, was blown away. /NO, get away Cade, he will kill you!/. I struggled against the sword buried almost to the hilt, desperately trying to free myself and resume my fight.
There was a flash of yellow and black and the sound of gravel crunching under tyres as my scout, Bumblebee, slid to a halt, Tessa and Shane clambering out. I growled in frustration at his blatant refusal to follow orders as he charged towards me, transforming to attack Lockdown. ''I GAVE YOU AN ORDER!'' I barked at him as I continued to strain against the sword. Though I was angry at my young scout for putting himself, and the young humans at risk, I watched on helplessly with a mixture of fear and pride and as he fearlessly took on Lockdown.
Cade and Bumblebee worked together to force Lockdown back while Tessa and Shane moved towards a tow truck. ''Get out of here now!'' he screamed at Tessa while he advanced towards a furious Lockdown. ''HEY, YOU! HEY!'' he taunted, and I could not help but admire this human's bravery and tenacity. As I continued to push and pull at the sword, Cade's words came back to me as I watched this human, this fragile human, take on a foe multiple times his size in a bid to protect me. /You gotta have faith Prime, in who we can be/.
''CADE! Get out of here! This is MY fight!'' I screamed at him, all the while clutching at the offending weapon that held me captive.
My spark twisted painfully in my chest as I watched Lockdown grab Bumblebee by the leg and slam him into the ground, ''This is MY fight,'' he announced as he primed his weapon, ''And you're all gonna DIE!'' Lockdown spat viciously as he turned to fire upon Cade, who only just managed to jump out of the way.
I was becoming desperate as I watched on, powerless to help as the humans who fought valiantly to aid me. My spark leaped to my throat as Lockdown's blade sliced the air millimetres above Cade's face as he huddled on the ground. /Primus no! Please, I MUST help him!/. I strained and groaned.
I had been so focused on the battle between Cade and Lockdown that I had failed to notice Tessa scramble up on the back of the tow truck Shane had parked before me. ''Get away all of you!'' I ordered in vain as the young woman leaped from the back of the truck to attach a metal hook to the sword. I slammed my fist against the blade in sheer frustration as her voice rose above the chaos.
''DRIVE!'' she screamed to her mate.
My optics widened both in realisation of what they were trying to do and in horror as I watched Lockdown loom threateningly above Cade. His weapon drawn and aimed, his voice issuing his final threat. ''You see my face your life is over!''
In that moment, the chord went taught, the sword was pulled free from my chest and I immediately sprung to my pedes. Catching the sword mid-air, I grasped it in both servos, giving an almighty yell as I leaped high in the air, closing the distance between Lockdown and I in one bound.
Channelling all my rage, my fear, and my relief, I brought the sword down, piercing Lockdown's chest cavity in a shower of blue sparks as the chamber housing his life force was breached. The force of my blow and my own momentum sent him to his knees, as I drove the sword in to the hilt. Adjusting my grip, I pulled the sword up, slicing his thorax and helm open. Green energon and sparks erupted from the gaping wounds and I reached over and pulled the lifeless carcass away from Cade, who still lay huddled on the ground.
I blinked down at the small, but courageous human who had nearly given his life defending me, nodding my helm in acknowledgement and recognition of his valour and sacrifice. ''Honour to the end.''
Cade slowly got to his feet. His face was sweaty and covered in dirt, his breathing raspy and shallow as he tried to calm the adrenaline that coursed through his body, yet he managed to smile up at me. ''Thanks Prime, you saved me.''
I stared down at my newfound ally and friend. ''Actually Cade, I believe it may be the other way around.'' He looked up at me, confusion evident on his face. I looked away for a moment, staring at the sparking and lifeless body of Lockdown as a pool of energon gathered about his mangled frame. For a moment I am filled with quiet shame as I recall my previous decision. ''I was going to leave this planet, your people – you – to fend for yourselves against the likes of him,'' I nod my helm at Lockdown's crumpled body, a look of disgust on my face.
I blink my optics before I raise my helm and look back at Cade. ''But you helped me remember, helped me realise, that while humans are capable of great treachery,'' I looked over at Attinger's bloodied form before I cast my optics back towards Cade, ''they are also capable of incredible acts of selflessness and bravery.'' Cade lowered his head and shuffled on the spot, as if embarrassed by my praise. ''And that is something worth fighting for.'' Raising his head slowly to look me in the optics, Cade nodded solemnly in agreeance. ''You,'' I shuttered my optics, ''and some of my most trusted friends, reminded me of the importance of having faith, in believing that all of us, human and transformer alike, can be so much more than our mistakes.''
''Amen to that Prime!'' He smiled broadly up at me. ''I'm just glad you're on our side big guy.''
I smiled back at him. ''Cade Yeager, so am I.'' It was true.
His smile turned to a wry grin and he gave a soft chuckle as he folded his arms across his chest. ''So Prime. Speaking of things worth fighting for, now you can finally set things right with your Phoenix.'' He raised his eyebrow at me interrogatively. ''That was her I saw back there, wasn't it?''
My dermas flew open, and I blinked my optics rapidly at the sudden and unexpected change in conversation, yet I felt a smile spread across my dermas at the mention of her name. ''Yes Cade. That was Phoenix.'' My smile started to fade slightly. ''Though whether she wishes to remain my Phoenix is..''
The sound of a missile exploding into the silos behind us alerted me to a new threat as some of Galvatron's minions began to swarm the area, intent on carrying out his orders. ''HURRY!'' I yelled to Tessa and Shane as they ran over to join us under a hail of bullets. ''Quickly, I'm setting off Lockdown's grenade.'' I shoved the device into a concrete pillar beside the battered corpse of its owner. ''Hold tight!'' I gathered the humans into my right servo and arm and, using my rockets, launched off. Powering away over the city skyline, I made my way towards the other side of the harbour and my awaiting Autobots.
And - my Phoenix.