I LIVE! Hhh. So much has happened. A couple days after I posted the last chapter (in November), I wrecked my car. I was ok, but my car was totaled. I had to call in to work the next day just so I could go car shopping. (I live 30 minutes from my work, I needed a car!) So that was a major stress. I've been sick off and on. Plus work was super busy with the holidays. It's calmed down a little bit but since it is winter, if there is a threat of snow, people freak out and have to come get their groceries.
Anyway, here is the next chapter. Based on 'Loose Cannons' (s2e09). Liliy has been going back and forth between Omega One and her base. And Ratchet is still upset with her.
"What are you doing here?" Ratchet practically growled when Liliy entered the main room from one of the hallways.
"I have some information," she replied as she climbed the stairs to the top tier.
"You could've just called," he retorted.
"But then I wouldn't get to see your handsome face, Ratchet." She smiled sweetly at him.
Ratchet went from glaring to sputtering in the span of a second.
Standing in front of the main console, Optimus exvented. "Liliy, why must you harass my medic?"
"Because it's fun," she replied with a smirk. "And he has much better reactions than you do."
Oh. Did I just…? Liliy thought as the Prime's optics widened ever so slightly and he looked away from her.
"You said you had information for us," he said, getting back on topic.
"Yes."
He looked at her expectantly, one optic ridge raised.
"Well, you see-"
The base's commlink interrupted her.
{Prime!} Fowler snapped, appearing on the monitor. {What in blazes are your people doing out here? We had an agreement. No collateral damage.}
"I am sorry, Agent Fowler," Optimus said as all the other Bots gathered behind him to listen. "But all Autobots are present and accounted for."
{Then explain why I'm receiving reports of two jumbo sized bots mixing it up 20 miles outside Omaha.}
"Decepticons?" asked Ratchet.
"There has been plenty of infighting lately," agreed Arcee. "Megatron can't seem to keep his ranks in line."
"Or perhaps the CRC?" Ratchet shot a glare at Liliy.
"They're not mine," Liliy replied. "This is what I was going to tell you about though."
{Well, I'm just arriving on the scene. Have a look.}
The video changed to show a wrecked spaceship and a bot standing next to it. The camera highlighted the bot and zoomed in.
"I don't know," Bulkhead commented as he studied the dark blue mech. "Paint job aside, it can't be Skyquake. Optimus and Bee pounded him into the ground."
"Before Starscream yanked him back out," Arcee added. "As some kind of undead terrorcon."
"I took care of that," Liliy said.
"But the question still stands, who's the dance partner?" asked Arcee.
The video moved to pick up another spaceship. This one was intact, rather than plowed into the earth. The camera circled to find another bot. It zoomed in again.
"By the AllSpark," Ratchet said, recognizing the familiar white frame, "it is one of ours."
"Wheeljack. Haha! Jackie's back!" Bulkhead exclaimed, happily slapping Ratchet and Bumblebee on the back.
{I don't care if Abraham Lincoln's back! We have to contain the situation before we all wind up on the 11 o'clock news!}
"Alright, alright, Agent Fowler. No need to shout. We're on it," said Liliy, moving over to the computers.
"Who made you team leader?" Ratchet asked as Fowler dropped the call.
"I'm not. I just happened to know the coordinates so I was going to open a bridge for you." She typed in the destination and activated the portal. "I knew Wheeljack had returned. That's what I came to tell you."
"No time for arguing. An Autobot needs us. Roll out!" Prime commanded.
Bulkhead wasted no time in complying. He was the first one into the portal followed by the rest of Team Prime with the exception Ratchet. After the ground bridge powered down, the medic looked over at the computers and realized that Liliy had left as well.
"I suppose it's fine. She is capable of taking care of herself after all."
Upon exiting the ground bridge, Team Prime split into two groups. Bulkhead and Optimus went for Wheeljack while Arcee and Bumblebee moved to flank the Decepticon. The Con fired at Bulkhead and Optimus until he was forced to take cover behind a building when Bulkhead shot back.
"Jackie!" Bulkhead exclaimed as he reached his friend.
Wheeljack was kneeling on the ground. His left arm hung useless at his side, an ugly blaster mark marring his shoulder plating. Bulkhead helped him to his peds.
The Con was now occupied with taking on Arcee and Bumblebee since they had circled around behind him. Realizing his disadvantage, he ran for cover behind another building farther away. That's when Agent Fowler got too close in his jet. The Con quickly scanned it for his vehicle mode, then turned to run off.
"Oh, no you don't!" shouted Wheeljack, activating the blaster on his good arm to fire at the Con.
"Wheeljack!" said Prime.
"Jackie, no!" Bulkhead cried.
Despite the warning cries, Wheeljack still fired. The building the Con had chosen to hide behind was a gas station. Wheeljack's first shot hit one of the pumps causing it to explode. That caused a chain reaction that had the whole place on fire in no time.
The Con came blasting out of the smoke in his new alt mode. He looped around and flew past Fowler. Wheeljack continued to shoot at him until he was out of range.
"Dreadwing rigged the place to blow," he snapped, finally deactivating his blaster.
"Dreadwing?" asked Bulkhead, confused.
"Actually that was your handiwork, Sparky," said Arcee.
"It's called a gas station," explained Bulkhead. "Kind of like an energon depo. It doesn't mix well with blaster fire."
"Huh. Well, our Con's getting away." Wheeljack turned to head to his ship.
Optimus quickly intercepted him. "Wheeljack, there are other considerations. While upon this world, you would do well to follow my lead."
"Besides, you really should have that arm checked out before you do anything else," said Liliy, appearing on Optimus' shoulder.
"Liliy! You followed us?" asked Bulkhead.
"Naturally."
"Agent Fowler?" Optimus spoke into his comm since Fowler was still in the air. "Can we leave the human authorities and damage control to you?"
{Yes. But getting rid of that ship is going to be problematic.}
"Oh, I can take care of that." Liliy pull out her phone, pushed a button and put the device to her ear. "I need a clean-up crew to my location. … No casualties. One injured but we'll leave him to Ratchet. There is a wrecked ship and a burning fuel station though. … Wheeljack. … Not yet. ... That's fine. Thank you."
"My name was mentioned, why?" Wheeljack asked as she hung up.
"Lima wanted to know why there was a burning fuel station," Liliy replied. A ground bridge opened nearby. "Oh, they're here."
"That was fast," said Bulkhead.
"That should be expected. They're my boys after all," proclaimed Liliy proudly.
"Isn't that bridge a little big though?" asked Arcee.
"Nah. Kilo is just that tall. Plus they have to get the ship back thru."
A moment later a mech appeared. He was just over twice the height of Optimus and definitely bulkier. To the surprise of the other Autobots, Optimus stepped toward him.
"Good to see you again, Kilo."
The blue gray mech looked down at them. "Hello, Optimus. Madam."
"Hey, Kilo. Anyone else coming?" Liliy asked.
"We're here, Madam." said a large grounder as he and a tall flier stepped out of the portal, followed by X-ray and Whiskey.
"Hello, everyone," greeted Optimus.
"Hey, Optimus," X-ray replied cheerily.
"Hurry up and get that ship," griped the flier, a femme. She was about Prime's height and painted light grey. "We're wasting energon the longer we keep that portal open." She headed over to take care of the fire carrying something looked like a modified water gun.
"Yeah, yeah, Charlie." X-ray waved her off once her back was turned.
"So why are we picking up this ship?" grumbled the grounder. He was closer to Megatron's height and just as massive. His armor was olive green and tan.
"Thought you could use another project, Bravo," Liliy replied with an amused smile that only grew when she heard Charlie's faint 'Power up and Energize' in the background.
Bravo just looked at her.
Liliy laughed. "Actually it's a favor to Agent Fowler. You guys ok from here? I'm gonna go back with the Bots."
"Wait. What about that ship?" asked Whiskey, pointing at the Jackhammer.
"Ah." Liliy looked over at Wheeljack. He was holding his injured arm again. She turned back to Whiskey. "Do you want to move it?"
"Oh. I'll do it!" volunteered X-ray.
"You better get it there in one piece," warned Wheeljack.
"Or what, short stuff?" X-ray teased. "You'll tan my hide?"
"I don't know what that means," Wheeljack admitted over Bulkhead and Acree's snickering.
"It's one of Earth's many ways to say 'kick your aft'," Liliy supplied, unable to keep the amusement out of her voice.
"Why didn't you just say that?" Wheeljack stepped up to X-ray, glaring up at the taller mech. "Yes. I will kick you aft if you break the Jackhammer."
X-ray winked at him. "I'll try my best not too."
Wheeljack just continued to glare at him.
"Well, call if you need anything," Liliy said to her 'boys'. "We'll be heading back."
The mechs waved as they gathered around Dreadwing's ship that Kilo was dislodging from the ground. It was also quieter over by the gas station as Charlie was quickly putting out the flames with some sort of foam. Optimus called for a bridge from Ratchet and the Autobots returned to base with Liliy.
"Ugh. I was hoping you would stay gone," Ratchet groaned upon their arrival.
"So sorry to disappoint you, Ratch," Liliy said with a smirk. "But I wanted to hear Wheeljack's story."
"It seems some things have changed since I was here last," Wheeljack commented, eyeballing Liliy with suspicion.
"Well, you can talk while I have a look at your arm," Ratchet said as he grabbed Wheeljack by his good arm and dragged him over to the medbay. He pulled out a med berth. "Sit."
Wheeljack rolled his optics at the command but he obeyed anyway, sitting on the med berth while the others gathered around to listen. Liliy was still perched on Optimus' shoulder.
"Look, commander," Wheeljack said as Ratchet started to work on his arm. "Apologies for the fireworks. Won't happen again."
Liliy snorted at that. Optimus shot her a warning look.
"But I tracked Dreadwing across a hundred light years of space," Wheeljack continued.
"I thought you were roving the galaxy," interrupted Bulkhead. "Ya know, looking for Autobot refugees."
"I was," answered Wheeljack. "Until I found one. A Wrecker."
"Who?" asked Bulkhead, surprised.
"Seaspray."
"Hah!" Bulkhead laughed. "How is ol' barnacle butt?"
"Not so good, Bulk. Blown to bits, actually."
"What?!" Bulkhead stumbled back a few steps. "No!"
The other Autobots closed their optics in a moment of silence for their fallen comrade.
"Dreadwing," Optimus stated.
"My flyer," Wheeljack began his tale, "the Jackhammer, picked up Seaspray's signal a couple of light years from Madiran. We made contact and arranged a rendezvous in the Dromidon System. But Dreadwing must've intercepted the transmission 'cause he got to Seaspray first. A proximity bomb. Supposed to take us both out. Guess I should be glad the Jackhammer can take a punch. I picked up Dreadwing's ion trail and tracked it through a dozen solar systems before catching up with him. And he led me right back to this marble. Some coincidence, huh?" he finished.
"I know of this Dreadwing," said Optimus. "He was captain of a seeker armada and as such, like his twin Skyquake, fiercely loyal to the Decepticon cause. Dreadwing has no doubt traveled to Earth to pay allegiance to his one true master."
"And perhaps to confirm the death of his twin," added Liliy.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Bulkhead.
"Dreadwing and Skyquake were split-spark twins, therefore they shared a bond. I'm sure that Dreadwing felt it when his brother died but he has come here to confirm it as well."
"Whatever the reason," Wheeljack said as he brushed aside Ratchet's servos and stood up, "he better enjoy the visit. Cause it's gonna be his last."
Ratchet groaned in annoyance but let Wheeljack be for the moment.
"Wheeljack," Prime said. "This planet is heavily inhabited. Any strike we make against the Decepticons must be carefully measured, as a team, lest we risk endangering the human population."
"Are you suggesting we sit back and do nothing?" Wheeljack growled.
"That's not-" Liliy started.
"You!" Fowler's sudden appearance interrupted her. "Loose cannon! Your cowboy antics almost blew our cover!"
"Cover?" asked Wheeljack.
"We're robots in disguise, Jackie," Bulkhead explained. He gently poked his friend's good shoulder. "You need a earth based vehicle mode outside of here."
"That spaceship you shot down!" yelled Fowler. "Not earth based! If it wasn't for Liliy's people, I would have had to jump thru some big hops to get it hauled out of plain sight! You need to keep a tighter leash on your people, Prime."
"A tighter leash?" Wheeljack finally turned to face the human fully. "Let me clarify, tiny."
"Jackie," Bulkhead warned as Wheeljack approached Fowler.
The white mech got right up in Fowler's face. "I'm not one of Optimus Prime's people." He turned and started to stalk off.
"Hey, Wheeljack," called Ratchet. "I'm not done with your arm."
Wheeljack suddenly bumped into another mech that was entering the room from the entrance tunnel.
"Oh. There you are, short stuff," X-ray said. "I got your ship here in one piece."
"I hope you didn't just leave it sitting out," Arcee commented.
"Of course not. It's in the cave up top." X-ray pointed at the high ceiling.
"Eh? Then how did you get in here?" asked Bumblebee.
"The front door." X-ray jerked his thumb digit over his shoulder. Everyone just stared at him. He smiled before explaining. "Well, when you have the ability to move as fast as a Laserblade, walking on vertical surfaces is easy."
"You wasted your red En on that?" Liliy asked, rubbing her temple.
"I didn't know how to get in up there," X-ray complained. "And I couldn't exactly fly down."
"Wait. Wait," interrupted Wheeljack. "What Laserblade?"
"The one that is going to put you on your aft if you don't get back over to the medbay and let Ratchet finish repairing your arm." Liliy was standing on Prime's shoulder now, still human but her eyes glowed red as she glared down at Wheeljack. "While you may not want to take orders, I will stand by Optimus and say that there are some rules you have to follow while on this planet. Even the Decepticons follow them so there are no exceptions. Got it?"
"Yeah. Yeah. But only if you prove it."
"Prove what?"
"That you are a Laserblade."
Her mouth curved up in an unsettling smile a second before she disappeared. A moment later, Wheeljack was regretting his words when his peds were yanked out from under him and he landed painfully on his back and jarred his injured shoulder. Liliy appeared on his chest plates as a Laserblade and smirked at him.
"It's dangerous to ask a former assassin to prove themselves, you know. Now, please return to the medbay, Wheeljack."
"Yeah," he agreed thru clenched denta.
Liliy jumped off him and X-ray helped him back to his peds. The blue mech followed him over to the medbay and stood by while Wheeljack sat back on the med berth. Ratchet huffed in annoyance but went back to fixing his arm. Bulkhead joined them as well.
"So I take it the new guy has a problem with authority," said Fowler, watching them.
"Wheeljack and Bulkhead served together in the Wreckers," replied Optimus. "A combat unit that operated outside the normal chain of command."
"Hm. Black ops."
"They accepted missions no one else would and many of them did not come back," said Optimus.
"So these are your true colors?" Fowler asked, turning to Liliy and looking her over as she walked up to him.
"Hm? Oh, right. You weren't here when I transformed for the children."
Fowler pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. Put the civilians even more at risk."
"You didn't even know about the CRC till the DNGS incident. Or human me, for that matter."
"I felt something was off about you from the beginning, though," argued Fowler. "I just couldn't put my finger on it. That was also when we encountered MECH for the first time. Then the CRC conveniently showed up to help us."
Liliy pushed up her visor. "Agent Fowler, I sincerely hope you are not suggesting that we were working with those fleshbags."
Fowler shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't glaring, just staring. He had been stared at like that before, a common occurrence when he started working with the Autobots. It had just been annoying back then, but, for some reason, this was worse. It felt like a genuine threat.
"Liliy!" Prime's servo was suddenly between them, cupping protectively around Fowler, blocking him from the femme.
Liliy jerked and looked around. "What?"
The Autobots were staring at her in shock.
"Oh." She realized that they all could feel her menacing aura. Taking a few steps back and letting her visor fall back over her optics, she calmed herself.
"The CRC only learned about MECH at the same time you did," she said. "We have no interest in keeping track of humans. Only Cybertronians."
Fowler nodded thanks to Optimus as he removed his servo. "And how exactly do you do that?"
"The Spark Detection System or SDS." She touched the armor over her spark. "I have the ability to sense the spark of any Cybertronian around me within a certain radius, even if they are cloaked or shielded. Bravo, my chief engineer, was able to build a device that amplified that ability to encompass the entire planet."
"So this base doesn't hide the Autobots?" Fowler asked.
"Not from me."
"And the Decepticons? Could you tell me where their warship is?"
"I could. But I'm not going to."
"What about Dreadwing?" asked Wheeljack as Ratchet was finishing his repairs. "Where is he now?"
"Hmm." There was a brief pause as she accessed the SDS via her visor. "It seems he's left the Nemesis. Alone."
"Wheeljack, Optimus told you-" Ratchet started.
"Yeah. I know. I heard him." Wheeljack stood up and rolled his previously injured shoulder and then lifted his arm and made a fist.
"Try not to do anything strenuous. Your arm needs time to heal," Ratchet told him.
"Sure, doc." He turned to X-ray. "Let's go have a look at my ship. I need to check it for damages."
X-ray glanced over at Liliy who replied with a nod before answering. "Sure, if Bulkhead'll show us how to get up there."
"Uh, yeah." Bulkhead looked up at the Prime. "With your permission, Optimus."
"Of course," Optimus replied.
Bulkhead led Wheeljack and X-ray thru the back hallways and up to the top of the butte. The Jackhammer was sitting in a cave across from the silo's launch doors. Wheeljack started down one side, inspecting for damages as he went. X-ray pulled down his mask as he went down the other side, scanning for damages under the surface.
Still frustrated about Dreadwing, Wheeljack slammed his fist against the ship's paneling. "I can't believe this."
"Jackie." Bulkhead sighed. "Look, even if it weren't for the humans we couldn't take on the Cons right now. We're outnumbered."
Wheeljack spun to face him. "Roadbuster, Pyro, Impactor, Rotostrom, Seaspray. All dust."
"That's what I'm talking about. Wreckers are Autobots. There just aren't that many of us left. But if we get behind Optimus, we have a chance to end this. Once and for all."
"Guys like Optimus they talk a good game but when you're in the scrap, they don't wanna get their servos dirty."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't know Optimus like I do. Being a Wrecker meant everything to me, but I left that behind-"
"Because Prime was the real thing. Blah blah blah."
"Hey, now," X-ray said as he came around the back of the ship. "Don't be bashing Optimus, short stuff. From what I know of him, he is the father to Team Prime as the Madam is the mother to the Cybertronian Rebel Corps."
Bulkhead laughed. "Ha. Your mother is tiny."
"Isn't she?" X-ray chuckled.
"Ya lost me again," said Wheeljack.
"Well, if you stick around this time, you'll understand," replied X-ray. "But, to put it simply, if something happened to one of us, the Madam would not sit idly. Same goes for Optimus."
"Hmh. If you say so." Wheeljack didn't sound too convinced. "By the way, why do you have that mask?"
X-ray reached up and pulled off the mask. He turned it over in his servos. "Because I used to be a Vehicon."
"The others too?"
"All of us. The Madam and Leecher saved our lives and in return we followed them. So far, life as a rebel has been much better than being a Decepticon."
"But why keep the mask?"
"To serve as a reminder. That and it's incredibly useful-"
The ship's comm beeped. Wheeljack hurried onto the Jackhammer to listen to the message.
{Wheeljack, I know you're out there listening. I have a proposition for you.}
"Is that…?" asked Bulkhead who had followed him.
"Dreadwing," Wheeljack confirmed.
{Meet me at these coordinates, if you have the spark.} The coordinates appeared on the ship's monitor.
"I'll see you there, Con. Just to watch you fry."
"Jackie, it's a trap," warned Bulkhead as Wheeljack took the pilot's seat.
"I know. But when has that ever stopped me." He pushed a few buttons to start the ship's engine. He glanced back at Bulkhead. "You coming with?"
The big wrecker thought about it for a second and slid into the other seat. "At least let me call for backup."
"You know Wreckers don't call for backup."
"They call for clean-up!" they both said together and then grabbed servos in a special Wrecker handshake.
"I'm coming too," said X-ray, standing behind them.
Wheeljack looked back at him. "You sure? I've only got two seats."
"Unfortunately for you, short stuff, I have orders."
"To keep me from getting into trouble?"
"If that were the case, I would have already disabled your ship. No. My orders are just to stay close and offer assistance if needed."
"Seems to me that Liliy is more lax than Prime."
"Well, the Madam feels that having someone on site makes it easier to intervene. Part of the reason she still hangs out at this base."
"Fine. Just don't get in my way."
"I'll do my best."
Bulkhead and X-ray stayed back while Wheeljack went to face Dreadwing. When Dreadwing led him into the canyon, Bulkhead and X-ray followed along the top. The Decepticon purposefully ran into a deadend and let himself get cornered.
Wheeljack retracted his battle mask as he stepped closer to the Con with his swords at the ready. "If you're thinking about flyin' outta here…" He glanced up.
"Think again!" finished Bulkhead, standing at edge, looking down with both blasters ready.
Dreadwing just smirked. Knowing that meant nothing good, Wheeljack jerked his helm up and spotted the bomb right below Bulkhead.
"BULKHEAD!" he shouted, turning away from Dreadwing and completely missing X-ray sliding down to tackle the Con from behind.
Dreadwing dropped his detonator as he shook X-ray off but the bomb was already active. The blast cause a landslide, bringing Bulkhead and a ton of rocks down on Wheeljack.
X-ray found himself face down on the ground, his legs pinned under the pile of rocks that had buried the Wreckers. A shadow passed over him and he looked in time to glimpse Dreadwing as the Con's fist came down to meet his helm.
"X-Ray. Wake up." That was Liliy's voice.
"Come on, X. This isn't the time to be sleeping." Wheeljack smacked his cheek.
Opening his optics, X-ray reached up and swatted Wheeljack's servo away from his helm.
"Stop it," he grimaced. "My helm is already pounding without you hitting it."
"What happened?" asked Liliy. She was standing on the rocks next to his helm. "You've got a nice dent there."
"Dreadwing knocked me out after my legs got stuck under the rockslide."
"So you did not see him take Bulkhead?" asked Optimus.
"He took Bulkhead?" X-ray repeated.
"It looks that way," answered Wheeljack. "I doubt Bulk would've up and left us."
"Then there's no time to waste." X-ray started to stand. "We need to go after them."
"Easy there." Wheeljack helped him to his peds and steadied him.
"Are you sure, X-ray?" asked Liliy.
"Even if you order me to stand down, I'm going to see this thru, Madam."
"Very well," Liliy replied immediately.
"Whoa. No hesitation. Shouldn't he rest a bit though?" asked Wheeljack.
"He will," replied Liliy. She returned to her spot on Prime's shoulder. "On your ship, while we fly to Bulkhead's location."
"Can you walk, X?" Wheeljack was holding on to him.
"Yeah. I think so."
"Then let's go."
"Which way to Bulkhead?" Wheeljack asked as they left the Jackhammer.
"Somewhere in the middle of all those shipping containers," answered Liliy.
Stacks upon stacks of colorful metal shipping containers stretched out before them.
"You don't know exactly?"
"Oh, we do. X-ray, if you please."
X-ray started down one of the rows with Liliy on his shoulder. Wheeljack and Optimus followed, blasters ready and optics searching for any sign of Dreadwing.
"We are close to population," Optimus reminded Wheeljack. "Remember…"
"Blasters and fuel pumps don't mix," Wheeljack replied.
"We're really close now," said X-ray.
They came around a corner to find Bulkhead stuck to a stack of containers with magnetized cuffs. And there was one of Dreadwing's bombs wired to his chassis with a timer counting down.
"Hey guys," he greeted with mock enthusiasm.
"Scrud," Wheeljack swore after the initial shock wore off. He approached Bulkhead. "You really got yourself in a heap of scrap this time, partner."
"Stay back, Jackie," warned Bulkhead.
"Better get to work," Wheeljack said as X-ray came up beside him.
"Have you defused one of these before?" asked Optimus.
Wheeljack carefully opened the bomb up to look at the wires inside. "Fail safes. Dumby leads. Booby traps. It's a work of art."
"But can you defuse it?" repeated Liliy.
"If he can't, I might be able to," said X-ray, scanning the bomb.
"Do what you can, but do it quickly." Liliy moved from X-ray's shoulder to Optimus'.
"Where's Dreadwing?" he asked quietly so not to disturb the concentration of the other two.
"On top of the crane to your right. You can see him from here."
Optimus hazarded a glance up at the crane. Dreadwing was actually turned away from them. He appeared to be speaking into his comm.
"Let us see if we can buy them some time." Optimus turned and walked off.
"Jackie, if you guys don't abort," Bulkhead said, "we're all gonna need clean up."
"Tryin' to focus here, Bulk," replied Wheeljack.
Bulkhead looked up and realized someone was missing. "Where's Optimus and Liliy?"
Wheeljack turned to look around too but X-ray's optics never left the bomb.
"Huh. It's like I told ya," he said as he turned back. "When the scrap hits the fan blades, the generals are the first to bail."
"No. Not Optimus," insisted Bulkhead.
X-ray sighed. "There's no need to be so negative, short stuff. Not every commander you meet is going to be a crankshaft." He spared a glance at the white mech. "Optimus and Liliy went to find Dreadwing. Cause if we can't defuse this bomb, he will be able to."
While Dreadwing was still distracted by his comm, Optimus and Liliy snuck closer. He finally noticed that Prime was gone.
"Dreadwing, if you are anything like Skyquake," Optimus called from behind a stack of containers. "I know that you value loyalty and honor."
"Is there a point to your bluster, Prime?" Dreadwing replied.
"Only that Megatron knows nothing of those principles. He lives solely for destruction and conquest. But there is another path: Deactivate the bomb."
"Think he'll listen?" Liliy asked.
The pile shook as blaster fire tore a hole through the container next to Prime's helm. And Dreadwing landed not too far away.
"Guess not." Liliy slipped off Prime's shoulder to allow him free movements and split away from him.
Optimus drew Dreadwing's fire to distract him. Firing back, Optimus dodged behind another stack. Dreadwing quickly followed, only to trip, dropping his blaster as he fell on his face. He lifted his helm. Liliy stood in front of him with her hand on her hip and a cocky smirk.
"Hey there. Dreadwing, is it? Would you mind defusing the bomb?" she asked. "Perhaps, in exchange for information about your brother?"
Dreadwing looked startled that a human was even talking to him, but when she mentioned his brother, his optics narrowed into a glare.
"My brother is dead. What more is there?"
"Do you know what happened to his body after he died?"
"Liliy." Optimus was back and he had his blasters pointed at Dreadwing. "You probably shouldn't…"
Dreadwing pulled out his detonator. "Tell me. Or the Wreckers perish."
Liliy put her hand behind her back so that the Con couldn't see her blade transform out of her arm. "That's not how this works."
All he saw was a line of red light, then the top half of his detonator hit the ground next to his servo.
"You defuse the bomb." She rested her staff on her shoulder, the blade inactive. "Then I share the information."
There was the noise of pounding peds two rows over.
"Bulkhead, wait!" Wheeljack shouted.
Just as Bulkhead came around the corner, an electro-charge slammed into his back. His forward momentum sent him stumbling into the pile on his right. Even with the charge surging through his systems, he managed to fall on his back to avoid crushing the bomb. A moment later, Wheeljack came around the corner, followed by X-ray with his blaster still active.
"Frag... that hurts..." Bulkhead ground out.
"Can't believe you actually shot him," Wheeljack said to X-ray. He reached down to help Bulkhead, only to jerk his servo away when he got shocked.
"His fault for running." X-ray looked up and spotted Liliy with Dreadwing and Optimus. "Oh, hey, guys."
"X-ray, what are you doing?" Liliy asked. "You could've detonated the bomb."
"Actually, I should've shot him earlier," he replied as he moved around Bulkhead to look at the bomb. "It seems I fried the bomb."
Wheeljack leaned over Bulkhead. This time he didn't get shocked. "Oh, you're right. The timer stopped."
"Then hurry and remove it," Liliy ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
X-ray and Wheeljack helped Bulkhead sit up before they started removing the wires from his frame.
Dreadwing pushed himself up to his knees. "The bomb has been deactivated. Tell me the information you promised."
"But you were not the one who deactivated it. I don't have to tell you anything." She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "I suggest you leave now, while Wheeljack is distracted."
Dreadwing glanced up at Optimus.
"He won't stop you. But if you try anything…" She twirled her staff. "You'll end up like you're detonator."
Dreadwing got to his feet. "I will find out what you know."
"If you get the chance before that, ask Starscream. Though, I doubt he'll tell you what happened."
Dreadwing regarded her for a moment after he picked up his blaster. He glanced at Optimus who was still watching him warily before he turned and walked away. Once he was clear of all the containers, he transformed and flew away.
"Tch. You let him go, didn't you?" asked Wheeljack, after they finished removing the bomb.
"Of course." Liliy's staff disappeared back into her arm. "We won't kill another Cybertronian unless it is absolutely unavoidable."
"And if he had blown us up?"
"My hand might've slipped then." She shrugged. "No one is perfect."
"Madam, I'm detecting several more bombs located around the area," X-ray said.
"Yeah. Me too. Dreadwing's backup. He just couldn't activate them because I broke his detonator." She kicked one of the halves at her feet. Turning, she looked up at Optimus. "You guys can head back. X-ray and I will handle clean-up."
"Very well."
"Hey, short stuff. Stick around the planet this time, ok?" X-ray bumped his fist on Wheeljack's shoulder. "Maybe you'll learn a thing or two."
"Whatever you say, X."