(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; Just Filly, Angel and any other OC's I've mentioned throughout the story thus far.)
(Authors Note: Hello dearest readers! I am so, so sorry for not updating this story sooner but I have been rather busy as of lately. My movie verse Transformers story has claimed much of my time, but I've also been out visiting family and catching up on some reading in my spare time. Just note that I haven't forgotten about this story and I still intend to continue adding onto it. Until next time, feel free to comment and read at you own leisure. And remember to stay creative, stay safe and stay awesome!)
"English"
::Comm. link::
{Cybertronian}
[HUD notifications/scans]
::Bond conversations::
:Speaker speech:
"Intercom/Soundwave's speech"
[:Angel/Ravage speech:]
Memories/flashbacks/stasis
{:Ghost/apparition speech:}
Chapter 21
After hours of tracking, Angel finally came upon the Decepticon base where Filly was being held captive. Using her infiltration skills, she stealthily scouted around the entirety of the base, searching for a way inside; but there wasn't an entrance that was left unguarded. With a huff, the large cyberdog then began searching for an alternative way in. As she looked, Angel soon found herself being stalked by a familiar cybercat.
Ravage was outside prowling around the base when he spotted the Autobot K9 sniffing around. He knew she was there for the youngling and wanted to offer his assistance. Approaching her with caution, Ravage spoke, [:I see your injuries have not been treated since our battle. Why is that?:]
She emitted a growl and took up a defensive stance as a precaution, [:The recovery of my charge is more important than mending my wounds. If you're here to fight me, I will not go down easy.:]
He mused at the idea of battling her again...but not to the death as Megatron would want. No. Ravage saw this fellow cyberbeast as an equal. She was just as strong, intelligent and powerful as he was; and admittedly, he saw her physical attributes rather enticing. She was indeed a beautiful specimen...for an Autobot. Mentally shaking his helm at the thought, he flicked his tail and tilted his head to the side, [:And why do you assume I am here to fight you?:]
[:Why else would you be here if not to fight? I'm trespassing on your territory and I'm an Autobot. Isn't that reason enough to warrant an attack?:]
[:Under normal circumstances, yes. But this isn't exactly a normal circumstance, now is it?:]
[:What are you getting at?:]
[:You want to rescue the small femme we captured, correct?:]
[:That is my sole objective, yes.:]
[:Then allow me to assist you.:]
[:Why would you assist me? We're at war.:]
[:That may be so, but my carrier sees this whole situation as a mistake. He wishes for the youngling to be returned to the Autobots, to which my fellow cassettes and I are also in agreement with him. We too wish to see her returned to your kind.:]
At that, Angel tilted her head, [:Why? Was it not you and your fellow Decepticons who attacked us and captured her in the first place?:]
Ravage averted his gaze and looked to the ground, [:We were not given a choice. My carrier and fellow cassettes were ordered by Lord Megatron to capture the Autobot youngling. He hopes Optimus Prime will surrender to him and trade places with the femme, but he has no intentions of letting her go back to the Autobots. He knows she's likely among the last of the femmes, so he plans to imprison her and indoctrinate her into becoming a Decepticon.:]
[:Why are you telling me all this?:]
[:...We do not wish for her mind to become corrupted and her choices taken away. Those of us who serve under Megatron do so willingly out of fear or like-mindedness.:]
[:Are you saying there are those of you who are trapped here because you're afraid to disobey Megatron?:]
He nodded, [:Correct. My carrier, Soundwave, is described as Megatron's most loyal subject...but he only serves as a means to keep us minicons safe. He's afraid that my fellow cassettes and I will be harmed if he were to disobey orders...but he understands the youngling must be returned to the Autobots.:]
[:Is he with Filly now?:]
[:Yes. He's been tending to her since her encounter with Starscream and has not left her side for fear that she will be tortured again...or taken away to begin the indoctrination process. Megatron has ordered Shockwave to arrive on base to start the procedure, but it will be some time before he is able to make the journey.:]
[:How long?:]
[:Roughly three Earth hours at best.:]
At that, Angel emitted a slight growl, [:Then I don't have much time...Can you take me to her?:]
Ravage knew he was taking a great risk by bringing an Autobot into the Decepticon base, but he had no choice. If he wanted to save the youngling from becoming an unwilling slave for Megatron, he had to act fast. [:Follow me. There's a small vent in the back that the Decepticons have always overlooked. My fellow cassettes and I are the only ones who can access it, but you shouldn't have any trouble.:]
[:Won't you or your carrier get reprimanded or severely punished for assisting me?:]
[:You needn't worry about us. Soundwave is an expert at covering his tracks and has never given Megatron a reason to question his loyalty. He will not suspect him of treason.:] He then opened the grate leading into the vent, to which they entered and silently began to crawl. Ravage skillfully led her through the maze of ducts until they were inside the brig where Filly was being held captive.
Silently, the two of them then made their way over to the cell where the tiny femme was located. Notifying Soundwave of the situation, Ravage glanced back at Angel, [:My carrier has been alerted to your presence and is now falsifying a maintenance issue with the surveillance system. This means Megatron will likely summon him to 'fix' the problem as he trusts him with these sorts of mechanical malfunctions. Once Soundwave is gone, a replacement guard will be tasked with patrolling the brig, but until then, you'll have less than three Earth minutes to get the youngling out. Are your fellow Autobots ready?:]
[:Affirmative,:] she nodded.
[:Good.:] The two of them then watched as Soundwave exited the brig before they emerged from the duct, to which Angel sent her coordinates to Blaster who activated a groundbridge.
[:Thank you Ravage.:]
He gave her a nod and leapt back into the duct while she dragged the unconscious youngling through the portal leading into the Autobot base. Once they were home and the groundbridge was closed behind them, both Filly and Angel were taken to the Med Bay for treatment.