Chapter 6

Optimus shuddered at the taste of their daily ration of energon, hating it so much. Megatron understood well, but it was the only thing keeping them alive. Lockdown hadn't been seen since they were first captured, which the two were thankful for.

The ship rocked and shook.

"We must be landing," said Megatron. "But we haven't been traveling long enough to reach Quintessa."

"Lockdown must have stopped to fuel his ship," said Optimus.

"Then I will take this chance to find a weak point in this cell. There is always an escape route with these things in case the owner was ever captured and held prisoner in their own ship," said Megatron. "But knowing Lockdown, he commandeered the ship and took it as his own."

"Nothing would surprise me with that mech," said Optimus.

Megatron got up, tapping along the walls and floor, trying to find something weak. If he could find just one spot, he could use his strength to try and break them out of here. Optimus watched his brother work before looking out of his cell. Across from him were familiar creatures, Cybertronian in origin. Each one was hung upside down and their cells were much larger, indicating they were larger Cybertronians.

Maybe once they were freed, Optimus would help these mechs and get them to join him. And the design of the ship looked familiar too.

"I know this ship," said Optimus. "It is the Knights Temenos."

"I thought it was lost to time with the Knights of Cybertron," said Megatron.

"Apparently not if Lockdown has it now," said Optimus. "But I know where the weapons chamber is for when we get out of here."

"Good," said Megatron.

~~~000

Lockdown scowled, not liking these aliens. They thought they were superior to him. Foolish things.

"Hurry up!" Lockdown said in their native language.

"Almost done, Master Lockdown," the fuel master said.

"You had better," said Lockdown. His comm beeped at him, showing he had a message. "Yes?"

"Lockdown, I am pressed for time now. How soon can you bring me the Prime?"

"Soon Quintessa. I am just fueling now and then I will use dark matter drives to jump there," said Lockdown.

"You had better hurry."

The transmission cut out. Lockdown scowled, not liking her one bit, but hey, she paid well. Once the ship was finished, he headed out.

~~~Cemetery HQ

Savoy was nervous with the wiretap, but got through easy. He rolled his eyes at seeing Joyce and Attinger talking in the office.

"What took you so long?" Joyce demanded.

"Sorry, ran into a bit of a problem before some mech showed up and took off with Prime," said Savoy. He looked to Attinger. "I take it, that was your asset?"

"Yes. He got Optimus and the girl. He left already. I don't know where. I don't read alien," said Attinger, showing the alien device.

"Okay," said Savoy. "What about the other girl and robots?"

"We'll hunt them down and take each of them out for Joyce," said Attinger.

"Then I will use their bodies, melt them down, and create my own," said Joyce.

"Okay," said Savoy.

He watched and listened. He looked back at the device, seeing strange symbols that moved and changed. Maybe this could help bring Optimus and Jessica back. He went up to it, studying it. Attinger and Joyce ignored him. Big mistake on their part. Savoy grabbed it before leaving the office, undetected.

Savoy started to walk away and the device he hid safely away. However, Attinger and Joyce were not as stupid as Savoy thought.

"Where's the device?" Joyce demanded as Attinger glanced toward the door.

"Savoy," Attinger snapped as he and Joyce got up and started after Savoy.

"Can you not keep this guy in line, Attinger?" Joyce demanded as Attinger saw Savoy in his sights.

"SAVOY!" Attinger shouted as Savoy froze as his hand instinctively was on where his gun was.

Savoy turned as his stormy eyes met Attinger's angry one.

"Wanna put the heat away?" Savoy ordered.

"Where is the device?" Attinger demanded.

Attinger went to punch Savoy, but he blocked the punch.

"Wrong move!" Savoy said as he sent a karate kick toward Attinger's chest and then his back.

Savoy took off just as Joyce grabbed Attinger's gun, firing as the bullet grazed Savoy's side. Savoy's hand went to his side as he saw the blood.

"Shit," he growled as he managed to get down to where the cars were.

"Going somewhere, Savoy?" one of his own team said as he turned to see five of his team officers with weapons pointed at him.

"Need help, please," Savoy mumbled hoping the sister or the Cybertronians heard him, because if they didn't he would never find out what this strange attraction he had for Optimus and Jessica was.

Xxx

On Lockdown's ship…

Lockdown spent a lot of time in the room where Jessica was kept, he watched her closely. There was something else about this human that intrigued him, but he knew instantly what Quintessa would do to her. She would torture her in front of Prime to break him.

Lockdown laughed and Jessica looked up.

"You're a monster! You're helping that bitch awaken Unicron, and you're too stupid to realize it with wanting trophies and prizes!" she shouted as Lockdown got up and walked toward her.

"You've got a lot of ball bearings talking to me like that," Lockdown growled.

"I am not afraid of you!" she shouted.

"That could be easily changed, human," he hissed as she stood her ground; she wasn't the slayer for nothing.

He was no different than the demons she killed only he was a Cybertronian and very, very, very, tall.

Scrap….

"Ratch, take me to Savoy now. He could be hurt," Anika said. Even though she didn't trust the man right now, the healer in her spoke out.

Ratchet nodded, transforming down and letting his lover inside. He sped off to where Savoy had gone, hoping they made it on time. They weren't too far away, but there was no telling what can happen between then and now.

~~~Cemetery Wind HQ

"Nowhere to go Savoy," Attinger said, joining the men. He had his gun pointed at Savoy, who also had his gun out and pointed for protection. Not that it would do much good with being outnumbered. "Now, where is the device?"

"Go fuck yourself Attinger," Savoy said.

Attinger fired his gun, hitting Savoy's left thigh. Savoy grunted in pain, shaking, but he still remained on his feet.

"You're a traitor Savoy," said Attinger. "You remember what we do with traitors."

Savoy made sure Lockdown's device remained safe and hidden. He prayed that someone would get there fast to save him before he was killed. Even with fire burning his leg, he didn't dare back down.

"I won't tell you shit," said Savoy.

Attinger rolled his eyes at the arrogance shown to him. He was getting quickly annoyed with Savoy. And he wouldn't hesitate to take him out quickly either. Savoy could hear an engine fast approaching. He just hoped he would be okay. Attinger aimed for Savoy's heart, pulling the trigger.

Savoy stumbled, collapsing as he was hit. The blood from his side had spread enough to look like his chest had been hit. He coughed, hurting a lot. He felt himself get pulled into the back of a vehicle. He could see Anika kneeling next to him, looking over the damage. And it would appear she was being... nice to him? Was he dying? Anika didn't like him.

"Here, drink this," Anika said, pulling out some vodka. She gave him some of the strong alcohol before shoving a cloth into his mouth. "Bite down on this. I'm getting the bullet out and it'll hurt like a bitch. Once I do, I can heal you."

Savoy only had a moment before she poured the remainder of the vodka onto his thigh wound to clean it out. He screamed, the burning hurting so much. Anika flipped out a knife, which had some tweezers on it as well. She dug into the wound, cutting it open wider before reaching in with the tweezers and pulling the bullet out. Savoy slammed a hand onto the seat, pain so bad he thought he was going to pass out.

Ratchet winced from the hit, but knew that Savoy was in deep pain. He drove fast, taking a longer way in case he was followed. Anika let her hands glow, one on his thigh, the other on his side to heal him up. After that was done, she moved his shirt up to see if the bullet hit his chest. Luckily it didn't, thanks to the wiretap there. She took off the destroyed machine, tossing it to the side.

"You okay there Savoy?" Anika asked.

"Yes," said Savoy. He pulled out the device he had stolen. "Attinger had this. It could tell us where Optimus and Jessica are."

"This must be a tracking device," said Anika, looking at it. "And these must be coordinates. Now once the Nemesis is all fixed, we can go after them."

"Good. I still want to know why I'm so attracted to them," said Savoy. "The kisses did feel nice."

"What? Kisses?" Anika asked. Savoy looked at her, swallowing a bit.

"Y-Yeah," he said. "I had kissed both of them. I don't know why."

Anika glared for a bit, but shook it off. There was no way Savoy could be a third in their bond, right? She could very well be wrong. But she still didn't trust Savoy yet. She needed more to know he was good. But she would let him help them.

"I'm still watching you Savoy," said Anika.

Savoy watched her then.

"Your sister…" he started to say.

"What about her?" Anika asked.

"What is she? I saw her hands glow and she…. Well she clocked my tower so to speak," Savoy said with a laugh. "And, I am trained in all forms of combat," he said.

"She's a slayer," Anika said.

"A what?" Savoy asked.

"She kills demons, she was trained by someone who also trained me in healing," Anika explained.

Savoy with Anika's help sat up. Anika watched Savoy strangely. It was the expression in his eyes that made her realize he did have something for Optimus and her sister.

But Anika was protective of her sister, and she didn't want anyone to hurt her or Optimus. She was guarded and would always be that way,

Xxx

On the Ship….

Lockdown grabbed the device Jessica was in and she snarled at him.

"Let me go, you reject from hell!" Jessica snarled as several of Lockdown's thugs pulled Optimus and Megatron out as they were in shackles as Optimus' optics landed on Lockdown who held a device with his mate inside of it.

"Jessica, are you alright?" Optimus asked.

"Yes, this creep did something to me though I can't use my powers," Jessica said as Optimus narrowed his optics at Lockdown.

"You will pay for this, Lockdown, she is my mate and THAT is treason to harm a mate of a prime," Optimus said as he grunted as the bounty hunter's thugs pushed him and Megatron to move.

The two brothers realized they were back on their homeworld or what was left of it anyway.

And, there floating in the one area was Quintessa while standing next to her was a massive being Jessica realized was Inferncus!

"Do you think he survived?" Joyce asked.

"If he did, then he will become very sorry he betrayed us," said Attinger. "Damn him."

"We don't need him. We can easily get those robots. We got many capable men and women who can do the job," said Joyce. "Now, get to it. I want them soon so I can start building my empire of robots."

"Whatever," Attinger said. "I just want results."

~~~3 months later

"Is it all finished yet?" Anika whined, staring at the large ship that was brought to Cade's home.

"I have no clue. There is so much alien shit here, it blows my mind," Cade said.

"You love it and the challenge," Anika said, looking over to him.

"Hell yeah," Cade agreed.

"We should have it done soon," said Wheeljack.

"That is if you don't blow anything up," Leadfoot teased. "I've seen your inventions."

"Well, after a while of experimenting, my inventions work just well," Wheeljack protested.

"Sure they do Jackie," Roadbuster laughed.

"Come here Anika. You're worrying too much," Ratchet said, picking up his lover and taking her away from the working mechs and human. "I know you're worried about your sister, Optimus, and Megatron. We all are."

"I just want her brought home and safe. All three of them," said Anika. "I can't help but worry."

"I know, sweetspark," Ratchet said.

"Do you think we can find them?" Anika asked.

"I just hope so," said Ratchet.

"Hey, we're all set to go. Better take the humans in case we don't come back," Wheeljack said.

"Then we better go get our stuff," said Cade. "Come on Tess. Let's go."

"Better call Shane to come with," Anika said. "You need your boyfriend after all."

"She doesn't have a boyfriend," Cade said.

"Yeah she does," said Anika.

"I'll come help you pack up," said Ratchet.

Once the humans got all they needed, as well as many years worth of food rations and water, they got into the ship and headed off into space. Anika handed the device to Soundwave, who got the location of Lockdown's ship, which was on Cybertron. Now they just hoped that they could reach them in enough time to avoid any damages.

Savoy watched and listened, and he realized they were planning on leaving him behind. They didn't offer to get his stuff just the others. He glanced away then trying not to show any weaknesses.

Suddenly, Savoy gasped out in agony startling the others.

"What's with him?" Hound asked.

"Get Ratchet and Anika," Drift said.

Xxxxxxxx

On Cybertron…

Optimus pulled against the restraints as he was forced to watch his mate being tortured by Quintessa.

"RELEASE HER, QUINTESSA!" Optimus ordered.

"No, she is the last protector I plan on killing her slowly, and YOU will watch!" Quintessa shouted as lightning shot from her hands hitting the Prime making him yell out.

Xxx

On Earth…

Ratchet was by Savoy whose body kept seizing in spasms of pain.

"What's wrong with him, Ratchet?" Anika asked.

"I'm not sure," he said.

"They're in… pain both of them," Savoy gasped as he finally passed out cold from the pain he was feeling.

"How does he know that?" Anika asked.

"There is only one way he would know that…" Ratchet started to say.

"How?" Anika asked.

"What ya talking about Ratch?" Ironhide asked.

"Savoy is their third true bond. He is supposed to be bonded to Jessica and Optimus. That is the only explanation to why he can feel their pain," said Ratchet.

The others looked at the small human with Anika.

"Ratch, we need to go now," said Anika, who had Savoy cradled in her arms. She may be a lot of talk, little action, but she still cared about people. "Bee, go grab his things and load them up. Ratch, help me get him to the medibay. We need to keep an eye on him."

"Of course," said Ratchet, picking the two up and heading inside the ship.

Anika stayed next to Savoy on the medical berth. Even while unconscious, his body still spasmed with pain and he voiced that pain. Anika did what she could to help him, but there was nothing they could do about the pain since it was not him who was injured. It was Optimus and Jessica. Even Megatron could be getting hurt if he tried to protect Optimus and Jessica.

But if they were getting hurt, then Quintessa must have them. Anika shuddered, thinking of all the things Quintessa and her lackey Infernacus could be doing to them. And they were bad.

"We're already for launch," said Ratchet, having gotten a comm from Starscream.

"Then let's go already. My sister, Optimus, and Megs are in trouble," said Anika.

"Hold on sweetling. It'll be bumpy at first, and you are not used to it," said Ratchet, moving closer to make sure they didn't fall around while they took off.

The engines hummed up and warmed. Before long, the ship was in space, the gravity machine kicking in so they didn't go floating everywhere. Anika felt a bit sick, but she was more worried about Savoy with him being in such pain. She knew she was a bit harsh on him, but she was naturally just protective of her family and now with Ratchet since she knew they would become bonded.

"We need to get to Cybertron as fast as possible," said Anika.

"Even with the ship and quantum jumping, it would take a few days," said Ratchet.

"What about a spacebridge?" Anika asked.

"Sentinel was the creator of that. He designed it so only he can control it," said Ratchet.

"Damn," Anika muttered, having completely forgotten that detail from the third movie.

"We'll get there as fast as possible," said Ratchet.

"I just hope nothing really bad happens," said Anika.

But she had a sinking feeling that something really bad would happen. And she had a feeling her healing may or may not be enough to fix it.

'Just hold on a while longer. We're coming,' Anika thought.

Xxxx

On Cybertron…

Optimus could feel his mate's pain and something else…. No. She was giving up!

"Jessica, please fight!" Optimus as Infernacus walked up and started to beat the young Prime.

Optimus' POV

I could feel this monstrosity hitting me in places that I had been hurt in before. My past kept hitting me, and Quintessa smirked then as she floated up to me.

"You can't seem to have any happiness, can you?" she asked in a nasty tone.

I felt so many emotions right at that nanosecond, my pain from the past and then feeling what happened now. All I could do was pray Jessica could hang on for me, I needed her so much in my life.

I remembered what Sentinel and The Council did to me, making me feel like a useless glitch undeserving of anything descent in my lifecycles. Then I found Jessica and my life changed, yes she was snarky but that was what drew me to her in the first place. She was not afraid to tease me and such. I fell in love with her, and Quintessa was not going to rob me of that happiness, not now that I found it.

I kicked Infernacus away from me and slammed my helm against Quintessa, and used every ounce of backup power I had to pull against the chains that were holding my servos.

I kept shouting and pulling as Quintessa roared in fury at me, as she looked at Infernacus and gave chilling instructions to him.

"Finish him," she snarled. "While I show his protector she failed him," Quintessa ordered.