I am so sorry for missing not only one update but two. Things got out of hand, school is now hounding on me and the election got the best of me. I was freaking out on who would win. I'll post a second chapter this week on Friday as a make up. Thank you all for waiting patiently or impatiently!
Still 3rd POV Location: a back road
Worry is what Jazz when he saw Aubrey fall to the ground. His charge was trying to get up and away from the Decepticons around them. Her energy was depleted after running from the pit spawned Cons around him. There wasn't anything he could do. Three other Cons stood against him and he needed to offline them all for the humans' safety.
Defeat is all Jazz could feel as he saw Aubrey get scooped up by one of the three Cons. Anger filled him the next moment. His frame moved all on its own, fighting through the pain flaring in his system.
His charge was left on the ground as the three surviving Cybertronians flew away from the scene; the human woman still in their grasp. Jazz picked Zeke off the ground for his protection in case they came back for him.
All the mech could do was watch the afterburners of the jet blast away. Aubrey cried for the twins in hope of receiving help from them. None of them could take the risk of blasting one out of the sky. If they did, the jet would crash and possibly kill Brey in the process.
The twins snapped their helms in the direction, pure rage morphed onto their face plates. In unison, they shouted back with a call of her name. For a moment, Jazz thought he saw their optics flicker red. Uh-oh, he was going to be in trouble if they revert back to their gladiator mode. Two things could only stop them if they did: manually putting them in statis or Aubrey.
Jazz couldn't do that in his state and with the human in servo and Brey was taken. That's when the familiar sound of engines coming towards him. He glanced behind him and sorrowfully sighed as the group he called for just arrived. Five kliks too late.
They transformed and surveyed the scene. Optimus and Ratchet the first to approach him. Jazz held out his charge for the medical bot could check him over and take care of any injuries.
Off to the side, the twins were venting extremely hard where their shoulders were rising noticeable with each intake. Their optics bored into the sky, the jets could be barely seen. There was nothing they could do at the moment to get her back and they knew that, that's what was pissing them off even more. Their sparkmate was taken from them right in front of their optics.
Again, their optics flickered red and nearly stayed that color. The Autobots must act quickly or they'll have two problems on their servos.
Optimus looked around Jazz then glanced at the Terror Twins. Confusion struck him, why were they acting that way? Then realization. Aubrey wasn't in sight and the two were covered in energon so they wouldn't risk injuring Brey. The defeat and destroyed aura that Jazz backed up that thought. "The Cons, they took Bre'," is all Jazz said.
The poor mech felt like a failure for not keeping Aubrey safe. Sides and Sunstreaker placed her safety into his servos. Jazz felt cleaning fluid building up at the ridge of his optics. His visor thankfully blocked anyone from seeing him in that state.
Horror and shock passed over Ratchet's face. Optimus though already figured it out before hand. "Let us leave and gather our bearings back at base. We will discuss there on how to retrieve Miss Aubrey from the Decepticons," Optimus ordered and turned to face the still raging Terror Twins. A slither of fear ran through him. Even the big bot was scared of them; they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Lennox is going to glitch when he hears about this," Ratchet stated the obvious.
"That's an understandment. He's goin' ta probably weld our afts ta tha ceilin'," Jazz mumbled and noticed Optimus still facing the twins. "They aren't takin' it well. Do ya think we hav' ta put them in statis?"
Optimus sighed. "The decision is up to Ratchet. He knows them best." Said mech glanced up from checking over Zeke and watched the raging twins. Ratchet cringed at the sight of them. Those two didn't need to be put through more pain, they already had lost enough. Why did Primus keep taking from them?
"I'll try to talk to them but if it doesn't work out, then I'll put them in statis," Ratchet answered before handing Zeke back to Jazz and approached Sides and Sunstreaker. Optimus and Jazz stayed back, far away from them. They have seen them out in battle many times, they cut through Cons like they're nothing.
The Autobots were lucky to have those two on their team. It might be a possibility they be the only thing keeping them afloat.
The leader of the Autobots and the third in command watched as the two thing unraveled right in front of their optics. At first, it seemed like Ratchet was able to calm them down a little before saying something they didn't like. That pissed them off more and tried to attack the Medic. They must have never heard of the saying 'never mess with the CMO'.
Ratchet was able to put them both in statis pretty quickly before they got too out of servo. This meant when everyone got back to base, those two would be put in the Brig for their own good. If Optimus let them go run free around the NEST base, it was a possibility they would go after the Cons by themselves.
Running into the enemy's base was a terrible and horrible idea but to save who they loved. To them, it seemed to be the only way.
Back on their own land, Sides and Sunstreaker were put into the brig and brought out of statis. As a natural reaction, they freaked out and nearly blew the other up. Their optics met Prowl, Optimus's, and Ratchet, sorrow in two of three of them.
Both of them rushed up to the bars and scowled at the three. "Let us out! The Cons have Brey and we need to go save her," Sides growled, optics again, on the verge of turning red. HIs gladiator coding ready to put into action with his brother just one line away.
"No, we're sorry but this is the only way to ensure you don't leave the base. Megatron would use her against you," Ratchet argued but apologized that things had to go this far.
"First off, we need to find their ship then form a plan to retrieve her," Prowl intervened and crossed his arms over his chassis. He would never admit out loud that he felt bad for the two. Aubrey was a beyond special femme to all of them. A loyal, strong-willed femme who earned the title as an Autobot. Said title and relationship are what got her caught.
The Cons were more focused on her and paid little attention to Zeke. Jazz was relieved by that since he cared about Zeke and his family. Talia would be devastated about losing her husband in the line of duty. That's what they would have to tell her.
"I don't give a single slag. We will search this entire mud ball planet to find her," Sunstreaker seethed, optics on the verge of turning full blood red. "She is our sparkmate and over our cold, offline frames we'll let Megatron even look at her."
His words were truer than ever. Both of them were ready to face the leader of the Decepticons and offline him if it meant the safe return for Aubrey.
Optimus sighed and wanted nothing more for this war to be over. Yet, his brother, one he at least considered to be, won't let go of his goal to destroy the Autobots. In the end, when all shall be one, hopefully Megatron will see reason. "Once we find their ship, we will let you out but you must listen to my command. Her life is on the line," he cleared.
This, of course, didn't sit well with the two and they both snarled in reaction. That's when the last coding finally was inputted and all pit broke free.
Blue optics turned a deadly shade of red. Sunstreaker released a horrifying, guttural roar and punched the wall closest to him. His brother reached out to grab one of the higher-ranking bots but they moved back just in time.
The cell they were in was specially made for them; they have been in there a few too many times. So there wasn't any worry to them breaking out and hurting somebot or human.
Again, Optimus sighed for the fifth time today and turned to leave. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker would calm down after awhile and you couldn't reason with them in their state. Prowl followed the moment after and Ratchet stayed for a couple extra seconds. Sorrow building up inside of him at the sight of the twins. Then he caught up to the retreating bots.
Little did they know, they have a helper on the inside.
Hours later at the base… "Lennox! We have locked onto their ship!"
Barricade sat underneath a bridge, near the small town of Wellston. Today was the day of rescuing the human. The logical side of his processor told him to turn tail and run. Why would he stick his neck cables out for a flesh bag?
A human, the ex-con was saving a human from the clutches of Megatron. His actions would be seen in the Autobots optics as good and maybe they'll let him hid there. After he fulfilled this, Megatron would send a whole fleet after him to end him.
The way that Megatron talked about capturing the human gave the clue she was important. Aubrey did help him get away from the Autobots and stuck her neck cables out for him. But still, Megsy was going to have double security wherever she'll be. He'll probably have Soundwave watch over and nothing gets passed that bot.
His frame shock at the thought of the dangerously silent mech who is rumored to be able to beat Megatron. That means something, Megatron was a gladiator in the Gladiator pits and was undefeated.
If Barricade remembered correctly, the system for retrieving energon was easy to remember and terrible though. Since Megsy is too cocky, he believes the Autobots won't try to steal or attack any of the mines. This meant there were barely any Con guarding them and only miners who rarely got out to battle.
This gave the ex-con a chance to slip around the guards and sneak on the lift. That was going to be the hard part. The lifts are small and no room to hide. His best bet was to take out the next round of guards going up to the ship. That actually sounded like a good plan for once.
Let's just say his leaving of the faction wasn't very quiet or subtle. He made a huge scene and painted a target on his back strut for the rest of his life.
The mech had to extremely carefully about his plan. One mistake and it's his helm on the line… It was now or never. Barricade knew he couldn't leave behind the femme to deal with the Decepticons. He was once part of them and understood what did to Autobot prisoners. She would be treated the same, no matter her being human.
He pulled out from underneath the bridge, dread already growing in his tanks. What was he thinking?! Saving a fleshie! If only his creator and sire could see him now.
To the naked optic, you couldn't see the giant hovering space ship over a makeshift mine. If you looked hard enough though, you would be able to notice the strange outline of it. That's where Barricade was heading.
The pavement under his tires turned to gravel then dirt the longer he drove on it. The trees around him grew wilder and out of servo compared to ones closer to the main road. He continued though, no matter how much he didn't.
Not long after, he heard the somewhat familiar sound of energon drills and stopped. This is where he had to be the most careful or Megatron would have his helm, literally.
Barricade transformed quietly and snuck through the forest towards the noise. The loud sounds they were making would draw out his pedesteps over there. The dread in his tanks kept growing and not disappearing all together.
Quieter than a cyberfox, the mech was able to dodge around the miners and hide close to the lift. How he was able to do this, he didn't even know himself.
Just like how he thought out his plan, the next round of miners taking the energon up to the ship came along. Time to fulfill this stupid plan of his and save the pit spawned meat bag. Barricade lunged forward the moment they entered the lift and attacked.
The door closed behind him, incasing him into the lift and it began its short trip up to the ship. The miners were shocked at Barricade's appearance and said ex-con took the opportunity given to him. As to not alert everyone of him showing up, he used his fist to knock them at least to the floor.
Next, he jabbed his only blade into the chest of one of them while the other watched. That miner watching knew he was next and was going to be offlined. He turned his com link on to contact one of his higher ups about the ex-con but a blade stopped him from doing so. That was close, too close for Barricade. The mech was nearly discovered the first two kliks he was on the lift and wasn't even on the ship, yet.
A heavy sigh escaped him after defeating the two. Barricade waited for the lift to get up to the ship with weapons ready. There might be guards on the other side and he had to be ready for them.
As if Primus was on his side, there weren't any guards. Now, it was time to get to the Med. Bay where the fleshie is hopefully. He couldn't contact Knockout or Breakdown in fear of the T.I.C would intercept the com. link. That would blow his cover big time.
Down the hall, Barricade could hear the sound of pedesteps come his way. Where he was is a dead end with no places to hide. Now he was screwed. The more guards/miners he took out, the higher the risk of being caught grew with it. Also, Screamer did make his 'normal' rounds to the mines to ensure everything was running smoothly. He was probably stealing some energon for himself and hiding it.
Since there was nowhere to hide, his only option was to take out whoever was coming his way. So, Barricade raised his weapon, steadied his vents, and stared intently at the door.
The door slid open. Barricade attacked first, asking no questions but stopped the moment a large gray servo grabbed his wrist. Uh-oh. HIs optics found the familiar face of Knockout and Breakdown. The two of them didn't seem very pleased. "You almost scratched my paint! And we're the ones trying to help you. The audacity!" Knockout scoffed and crossed his arms.
Barricade's speeding spark slowed down after noticing it was them. Breakdown released him and stood there, a bored expression on his face plates. Then the ex-con noticed the fleshie he was saving wasn't with him. "Where's Aurbrey?" he questioned.
"Back in the Med. Bay. Megatron ordered to have a device connected to her leg so if she tried to leave the Bay, an electric shock would stop her and an alarm would go off. Also, you should hide your signal a little better. The only reason we came here is we were expecting you," explained Breakdown. Barricade nodded his helm in thought.
"Alright, let's get going so I can get off of this ship as quick as possible." With that, the three headed towards the Med. Bay. All on the lookout for any of the guards patrolling. Primus, if somebot found Knockout and Breakdown sneaking a fugitive on board, well, all pit would break lose. Let's just say, all of them would lose their helms to a higher bot.
The three of them rounded the corner carefully, a few hallways away from the Med. Bay. Knockout and Breakdown immediately crashed into another bot. At first, they believed it was a guard and had been caught. No, but who they ran into wasn't on their side.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker noticed the ex-con behind, anger rising more in their system. Their sparkmate had helped the bot 'escape' from the Autobots and here he was.
In unison, Barricade and the Terror Twins growled "what are you doing here?" to each other.