Chapter 5
Ironhide sped up a bit, having led the others to where the signal was coming from. Optimus could be in danger and he wouldn't allow him to die or get hurt. Chromia followed close behind with Hound next to the two. Crosshairs and Sideswipe were next and then Ratchet.
"Crosshairs, Sideswipe, head over to that ledge. We're close," said Ratchet. "Be prepared for anything."
"Gotcha Ratchet," Sideswipe said.
"How much farther Ratch?" Ironhide asked.
"We're five minutes away. We should be seeing Optimus soon," said Ratchet.
"I just hope he is okay," said Chromia.
"I do too," said Ironhide.
They could see Optimus' vehicle form in the distance, getting closer. Their sensors only detected a male human. A loud bang startled them. They recognized it as a shot from a gun. That had them speeding up to assist.
~~~Cemetery Wind, a bit earlier
"He's on his way now," said Attinger. "So don't be alarmed. He will help to detain Optimus Prime."
The man listened on the other line.
"Yes, he will know what he is doing. You have to work with him, no exceptions," said Attinger. "I don't care Savoy. You will do as you are told!"
Attinger hung up the phone, scowling. Savoy would annoy him so much at times. But he was good at his job. And with Lockdown now arriving on Earth, they may have a better chance. Maybe. He had heard that Lockdown was very skilled as a bounty hunter, but Optimus was smart. And he had others with him, those Autobots and Decepticons.
"I will have you, Optimus Prime. One way or another," Attinger said.
~~~000
"Sides, what could that be?" Crosshairs asked, pointing off into the opposite direction of the others.
"Don't know," Sideswipe said, zooming in on the vehicle that was fast approaching. "It is Cybertronian."
"Not one of ours. Doesn't look like a Decepticon either," said Crosshairs. "Could be trouble. I'll keep my scope on them."
"Good," said Sideswipe. "I'll let the others know."
Crosshairs kept looking at the vehicle, seeing it transform. He cursed, getting ready to fire at the mech that had shown up.
"It's that no good bounty hunter Lockdown," Crosshairs said. "He must be here for the boss."
"We won't let him get to our leader," said Sideswipe.
Crosshairs nodded, watching the mech. Lockdown's gun transformed out of his chest. Before the mech could shoot, Crosshairs pulled his trigger, hitting the mech.
"Got 'im!" Crosshairs cheered. "Show you. Now to make sure he stays down until they get the boss and little girl."
Xxx
Optimus thought Jessica had been shot but thankfully she wasn't injured, however she saw the expression in her eyes and glanced to where she was looking.
Lockdown.
He was on the ground but wouldn't stay down long.
"Scrap," Optimus growled as he transformed and grabbed Jessica transforming all around her taking off with Lockdown right behind him.
"PRIME…!" Lockdown yelled.
"Lockdown," Ironhide growled.
"Cover the boss," Hound said, pulling out a machine gun.
The three gunners fired at Lockdown, who activated a shielding around him. Being a bounty hunter had perks with getting mods as trophies. Lockdown turned to the two snipers, shooting their ledge and taking them out and burying them into the rubble of rocks.
He turned back to the other four, seeing Optimus was getting away behind them. He would have to take them out quickly. He used another mod that he had taken from Skywarp, teleporting behind Ratchet and knocking him out.
"Where did he go?" Chromia asked.
"Behind us," Ironhide said, swiftly turning and firing, missing the mech again.
Lockdown teleported again, using an EMP blast to knock out the black mech before moving onto Chromia and then Hound. Looking at the fallen mechs and femme, Lockdown knew they wouldn't get up anytime soon. He looked in the direction Optimus went in, transforming and using another mod from Blurr to speed after the Prime, catching up quickly.
Optimus was his goal, and he would get the Prime. That is what he was hired to do.
Xxxx
Jessica knew all too well who was after them, and it terrified her. She looked at Optimus then.
"He's after you. He is planning to bring you to Quintessa, Optimus. She wants you to believe she is your creator and that you were not created by Primus," Jessica said and then added. "She works with Unicron." Jessica said.
This again made Optimus' energon race with fear because Unicron was pure was jarred out of his thoughts when a shot went off forcing him to transform. He held onto his mate as he saw Lockdown approaching.
He didn't want to put her down. He had to protect her, however, what he didn't realize was his spunky mate was already ready to fight. Her hands glowed bright and she started hitting Lockdown with the fireballs.
"Get away from him, you bastard!" Jessica shouted.
Optimus realized the expression in Lockdown's optics he knew something.
"Well, well, well, I believe my contractor will pay me double to add you seeing how you are a protector to the last Prime," Lockdown snarled as Jessica froze.
What?
She was just a slayer…. Wasn't she?
Crosshairs groaned, pushing at the rocks that trapped him. He sighed as they moved, freeing him from his prison. He heard Sideswipe cursing and went to go help him. He dug the mech out, helping him out.
"You okay Sides?" Crosshairs asked.
"Yeah," the silver mech said. He looked towards where the others were at, seeing them down. "Frag."
The two sprinted over, checking to make sure they were alive. Ratchet woke up first, saying a few colorful words about the bounty hunter. Ironhide was next, checking on his mate when he saw her down.
"'Mia, you okay?" Ironhide asked.
"I'm fine," Chromia said. "Where's Optimus and Jessica?"
"Don't know," Crosshairs answered. "Lockdown may have gotten them already."
"Frag," Ratchet groaned. "Anika won't like this one bit."
The sound of jets above them alerted them someone had come. They looked to see Megatron transform midair and land safely near them.
"Where is my brother?" Megatron asked.
"He went that way last. Lockdown took us out," Ironhide said.
Megatron growled, transforming again to go help his brother.
Xxx
Optimus was trying to keep Jessica safe too regardless of what Lockdown called her. Whoever this Quintessa was if she got her hands on Jessica there was no telling what she would do to her.
Jessica didn't let up on her fight, until Lockdown had enough of her interference.
"Enough girl!" he roared as he pulled something out and threw it faster than Optimus could counter.
The item in question locked onto Jessica, making her scream and she collapsed onto the ground unconscious as Lockdown hit Optimus with something to immobilize him.
Lockdown walked up to Optimus and Jessica, a nasty sneer on his lips.
"You both belong to Quintessa now," Lockdown said.
"We are slaves to no one," Optimus growled.
Lockdown laughed as Megatron unexpectedly appeared.
"Let my brother go!" Megatron ordered.
Megatron glared at Lockdown, snarling at the mech. He had seen Optimus get hit as well as his mate. Lockdown was so dead.
"And what will you do about it Megatron?" Lockdown asked.
"I'll fragging kill you," said Megatron.
"You can try," said Lockdown.
Megatron glared at the mech with a promise of death. He ran at the mech, throwing a punch. Lockdown easily dodged it, using a mod from Brawn to grip the mech in a very tight hold. Megatron gritted his dentas, refusing to voice his pain as Lockdown twisted his arm around, snapping the joint in half.
"I wonder if I can get a price for you, traitor," Lockdown said, using the EMP blast on the mech.
Megatron slumped down to the ground, unconscious. Lockdown called for his ship, having some drones come and carry his prizes onto the ship. He took Optimus and Megatron into a cell and took the human to a different part of the ship, away from the two Cybertronians. It would be a holding cell for humans since they couldn't survive out in space. And that is where he was going. He planned to get off this planet, go planet hopping when he needed supplies, and finally reach Quintessa to get paid for the bounty.
"Prepare to leave. We're going out of this system and cruise along until we need to fuel the ship," Lockdown instructed his minions.
"Let me go!" Jessica protested.
Lockdown rolled his optics as he tossed her into her new prison cell. Jessica ran to the glass siding, pounding on it. She glared at the black mech.
"You will so regret this Lockdown," she said.
"Quiet human," the mech said. "You won't be leaving anytime soon."
Lockdown left Jessica in her cell, heading to check on Optimus and Megatron. Both mechs were awake by now, glaring hatefully at the bounty hunter.
"Get comfortable. It will be a while before we reach Quintessa," said Lockdown.
"What have you done with my mate?" Optimus demanded.
"She's fine, Prime," said Lockdown. "A drone will be by with energon later."
Lockdown left the two brothers. Megatron tried to break his chains, but found he couldn't. They were too strong with energon reinforcing them.
"Slag," Megatron muttered. He looked over to his brother. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live," said Optimus. "I'm more worried about escaping here with my mate and you."
"Agreed," said Megatron. They sat there in silence until the drone came and dropped off energon. After scanning it and finding it safe, they drank it. Megatron shuddered. "Low grade. Meant for the lowest caste."
"At least it is energon, brother," Optimus said.
"Yes," said Megatron.
~~~000
"Where did he take them?" Ironhide demanded of their prisoner, Savoy.
"I don't know. I just know that Attinger said that he had an asset that wanted Optimus. Maybe that was him," said Savoy.
"You better hope you aren't lying," said Chromia.
"We should take him as our prisoner. He can have information we can use," said Sideswipe.
"Agreed," said Crosshairs.
"We should get back. Knock him out and we'll take him with us," said Ironhide.
The small group left with their unconscious prisoner. Now they had to plan to find Lockdown and get back Megatron, Optimus, and Jessica. And Anika would not be happy. Not one bit.
Xxx
Jessica glanced down at her hands and her red essence was not working. She was startled by that fact.
"I neutralized that, girl,"
Jessica gazed up finding Lockdown standing there as menacing as ever.
"What did you do to me?" she demanded.
Lockdown smirked then.
"I didn't think there were anymore Protectors left, they were never human before. So, that is a new one. I am guessing your mentor never told you your powers could be removed, girl?" Lockdown said.
Jessica didn't even know she was Optimus' protector, all she knew about was being a slayer. But Lockdown was pissing her off completely, and as she felt him watching her she snapped her head up in defiance once more.
"You better not hurt Optimus!" she shouted.
This only made Lockdown laugh at her all the more.
"I have my bounty along with two extras. Once you three are delivered I will be on my way after I am paid," Lockdown remarked as Jessica felt a stab of fear hit her.
What was going to happen now?
Xxxx
Back on Earth…
Anika stared in horror at the mechs who told her what happened and her fury spun out of control.
"My sister is where?!" Anika roared as Ratchet tried to pick her up to calm her down. "Don't touch me! And, why is that asshole here!?" she yelled as Savoy eyed her, but looked away.
Savoy's POV
"I know what I did was wrong. I kidnapped them, threatened them, and scared Optimus. I didn't mean to do any of those things, I had just started out wanting to figure out why I had strange attractions to them both. I just wanted them to…." I wanted to finish but I couldn't; I glanced away.
I looked at the younger sister. She hated me.
"I'm sorry," I said in barely a whisper.
"That's bright," she snapped.
I knew Attinger wanted Cybertronians off Earth, he felt they were all dangerous. He also wanted their secrets. I had to help them get Optimus and Jessica back.
"I want to help get them back, please I need to know why I am feeling like this and the only way is to talk with them but differently I realize that now," I said.
The younger sister walked up to me, her eyes said it all. She hated me.
"If you do anything to them especially Jessica I will kill you myself!" she yelled.
"You have my word," I said.
"Do you have any idea who contracted Lockdown?" one of the Decepticons asked.
I sighed.
"No, he never told me that, but as far as he knows….. I am still on his team," I said as the Autobot Medic glanced at the big black Autobot.
I wasn't sure what was being said but I had a feeling if I wasn't careful I was going to go squish very quickly.
Megatron sat and growled, not liking this predicament. He hated this, being able to be caught so easily. They had already launched into space and was where Primus knows where. He hated being weak. Lockdown was much stronger than when he had last encountered him.
"Brother, stop," Optimus said, having noticed Megatron was unconsciously clawing his arms.
"I shouldn't have been able to be so easily caught," Megatron growled.
"Lockdown is sneaky," said Optimus. 'We'll find a way out. The others will no doubt try to find a way to come after us as a rescue."
"I do hope you are right brother. I have a ship hidden, the Nemesis, but I don't know how well it will function. It has been out of use for many eons," said Megatron. "Soundwave knows where it is at."
"Then I hope it works," said Optimus. He needed to get out of here with his brother and mate.
~~~000
"Okay, I got a plan," Anika said. She turned to Savoy. "You pretend to still be with Cemetery Wind and report back to us with any information. If you truly care about them like you say, then you'll do this. I'll put a wiretap on you."
"Do whatever you need to," said Savoy.
"Good. Ratch, you got a tap to put on him?" Anika asked.
"Of course love," said Ratchet. He fished out a small device that would attach to Savoy's chest.
Anika took it and went up to the man. She took his shirt off, ignoring his blush. She attached it to where his heart was, making sure it was on. She then put his shirt back on. She looked at the man, raising an eyebrow at the strange look he gave her.
"What? If you think I'm interested in you, I'm good. I got Ratchet," said Anika.
"Fine. What do you want me to do?" Savoy asked.
"You just do what you normally do there and this will pick up everything and report back to us," said Anika. "Just remember what I said Savoy and we won't have problems."
"Got it," said Savoy, afraid of the younger sister.
"Soundwave, what about plan Nemesis?" Starscream asked, having remembered hearing about it from his leader once.
"Plan Nemesis: ship. Function: unknown," Soundwave said.
"I can always come with and see if we can get it fixed and functioning," said Wheeljack. "We need to get the boss back."
"And Jess and Megs," said Anika.
"We can do that," said Ironhide. "And if we are lucky, we can find Omega Supreme to help us."
"Then let's get to work," Starscream said.
Xxx
On Lockdown's ship…
Jessica fiddled with the object that Lockdown had thrown at her, she kept trying to remove it.
"Still at it I see," Lockdown said.
Jessica narrowed her eyes at the bounty hunter.
"You will find I am not one for giving up, Lockdown," Jessica snapped. "Do you really think this cheap casing can hold me for long?" she demanded.
Lockdown laughed then.
"That may be but if you break that cheap casing as you call it, you will perish that prison is keeping you alive," Lockdown said as Jessica growled.
Oh, how that bounty hunter was pissing her off.
"What's Quintessa really going to do with Optimus?" Jessica asked as she wondered if Lockdown actually knew.
"I have no idea nor do I care. I am getting paid and that is all I care about," Lockdown said as Jessica got an idea.
"You do know she works for Unicron, right?" Jessica asked as he looked at her.
"What kind of game are you playing now?" he demanded.
"None. I am only trying to tell you the truth," Jessica said.
"Or your version of it," Lockdown snapped.
"Fine, don't believe me," Jessica said with a shrug.
Xxxxxxxx
On Earth…...
Savoy headed off to the KSI headquarters to help in any way he could to get Optimus and Jessica back…..
He needed to figure out what made them different and what made them tick one way or the other.