Author's note. An exciting new chapter for everyone, hope it meets with approval.
With thanks to Bumblebeeshoney and Whitemysterycat for their suggestions.
Tiedwithribbons, I'll try to update 'An AllSpark Wish' soon although I'm not sure when it'll be up.
Enjoy and please review.
"Blast them!" Megatron roared furiously as the Autobots fought to advance their position.
It was three hours into the battle and barely an hour before, the Autobots had managed to breach the base's defences. The seekers and triple changers had held them for as long as they could but their opponents' sheer resolve and determination had won through. But Megatron was equally determined that this would be the only victory the Autobots saw this day. Either way, it was going to be a long, bloody battle.
"Autobots, hold your ground," Optimus Prime retorted, his battered body holding strong despite his fierce battle with Megatron several hours previously. Megatron was also patched up but he hadn't seen quite as much action as Optimus already had. Still, the Prime's righteous anger was so far fixing any tiredness he might be feeling.
"Soundwave," Megatron now snarled at his TIC who was clutching an arm that was bleeding heavily.
"Yes Megatron," the navy blue Mech intoned.
"Use your acoustics to knock them back," the grey Mech ordered, those Autobots were getting far too close for his liking.
"As you command," Soundwave stated, pushing himself up and moving forward.
"Laserbeak, eject," he commanded and as the cassette tape flew out, he added. "Operation: Send and retrieve."
Laserbeak squawked and flew downwards as her master transformed into a cassette player. He caught him and flew straight at the Autobots, skilfully dodging their fire and dropping Soundwave right in front of them as he transformed back to root mode. Bringing his arms up so that his fists bumped his shoulders, he sent high sonic waves right at the Autobots. Those caught in the blast screamed and fell backwards, clutching at their heads in pain. Before those unaffected could properly retaliate, Soundwave transformed, allowing Laserbeak to retrieve him and take him back to the safety of the Decepticon line.
Megatron smirked as he watched the Autobots drag their injured backwards.
"Push them back," he commanded, aiming his canon right at the Autobots and firing.
A bot named Pipes screamed as his lower arm exploded in a shower of sparks and life force. Megatron laughed wildly, revelling in the destruction all around him. Primus, he should have done this far sooner, such an easy method for enraging his nemesis. If Elita only hadn't resisted him, he would have spurred the Prime into action way earlier. At the reminder of his daughter, his optics flashed and he tried to blast the bot carrying his screaming victim away but just missed. No matter, there were plenty more for him to obliterate.
"What are you waiting for?" he snapped at a couple of soldiers who seemed hesitant to push onwards. They jumped before lunging forward, firing wildly. One of them was stupid enough to get hit in the leg but at least they drove the Autobots back a bit more.
"What now?" a very battered Seeker screeched.
Megatron set him a contemptuous look before saying "Soundwave."
Soundwave tore open a panel on the wall and fiddled with the wires. Up ahead of them, a blast door suddenly descended, separating them from the Autobots.
"Very good Soundwave," Megatron complimented as Starscream looked grumpy.
"That won't hold them forever," he pointed out snippily.
Megatron ignored him in favour of asking Soundwave.
"Are our slaves still secure?"
"Affirmative," Soundwave assured him but that could easily change.
"Hmm," Megatron mused, as much as he was relishing the battle, he did not want his whole base destroyed or the Autobots setting up shop.
It was time to change tactics.
While Megatron mused, Optimus was taking stock of the situation with his officers except for Ratchet who was frantically tending to the wounded. Ironhide had of course remained at the Ark, still too injured to join them. The remaining officers were battered but relatively unhurt.
"How you holding up, Prime?" Jazz questioned as his leader sat on a piece of rubble.
"Well enough," was the reply. "Prowl, what is your assessment of the battle?"
"We haven't penetrated deep enough yet," Prowl said instantly. "If we want to rescue those Femmes, we'll have to change our strategy."
"Agreed," Optimus said with a nod.
He looked down and murmured.
"Megatron will have placed our Femmes in the deepest part of the Nemesis. Therefore, we need to go down."
"And fast," Jazz stated. "So how are we gonna do that?"
"I believe I know how," Optimus said, looking right over at a certain Autobot inventor.
While the battle raged above, the Femmes huddled in the room they'd been stashed in. As the hours had continued, they'd started to hear the very distant sounds of battle far above them. Echo was humming to make sure her sleeping Sparkling would remain sleeping and calm. She hated this so much but knew Soundwave didn't have a choice in the matter.
"Just what happened?" Ivory demanded again. "Why are we stuck down here?"
Elita just shrugged helplessly, Arcee cuddled up beside her. The older Femme kept questioning the pink Femme about why the Autobots were suddenly attacking but Elita wouldn't answer. Echo suspected that her friend did partly know why but she seemed to emotionally exhausted to say anything. Echo had no desire to push her, whatever had happened would come out soon enough, and the best thing they could do at the moment was remain calm.
As Ivory huffed at the lack of an answer, Firestar now said.
"Sounds fierce, whatever's happening up there?"
She looked upwards before musing.
"Think they'll manage to make it all the way down here?"
"Dunno," Moonracer said with a shrug as Darklight asked.
"You want to go?"
"Huh?" Firestar said. "Of course I do."
"What about the Sparkling?" Darklight questioned and Firestar glanced down at her swollen abdomen.
"I'd feel safer having this Sparkling with the Autobots," she said quietly. "But I suppose you mean the combaticons?"
Darklight nodded, she did. Firestar sighed heavily.
"I've had a surprisingly good time with them," she admitted. "And I don't mind having one of their Sparklings, I'm looking forward to meeting the little one actually. But I have no intention of becoming their breeder or interface on the tap for them. I'm an Autobot solider and even with a Sparkling, I fully intend to continue my career."
Gesturing at Elita with Arcee, she said.
"I can do that with a single Sparkling, even if the Sire can't help me. But I won't be able to if I'm forced to give each Combaticon a child."
Darklight nodded thoughtfully at this.
"I don't want another one," she admitted before adding a little hesitantly. "At least not yet...maybe if this one goes okay...maybe."
"Hey, if you just want one Sparkling, that's fine," Firestar assured her with a smile. "There's no rule that says you've got to have loads. But if you really enjoy having that Sparkling and want another, then that's great. You go for it but only if you and your partner really wants them."
The young Femme nodded gratefully, this was still uncertain territory for her. Starscream's apparent excitement for his offspring had eased her fears; it didn't seem likely that he would abandon her or the child. He was even still interfacing with her, which to her meant he was still interested.
"What do you think you're going to have?" Firestar now asked encouragingly, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.
She shrugged, she hadn't the faintest idea.
"Do you know?" she asked, was there a special way to tell?
"I kinda think it'll be a Mech," Firestar said, patting her bump. "Don't ask me how I know, just a feeling."
This made Darklight glance down at her own bump. Starscream did not seem bothered about the gender; he only cared whether or not it was a Seeker like him. So that was what she hoped for as well.
"Mama?" Arcee asked her mother quietly. "Are you okay?"
She knew something was upsetting her mother, something so bad that she hadn't been able to tell her or the other Femmes yet. Her mother drew her a bit closer and said softly.
"I'll be fine sweetness, I just hope your father's alright."
Arcee nodded, if her father was attacking the base, the risk of injury was high. But what could have prompted him into action? He hadn't been happy that she had to return to the Nemesis the previous cycle or the fact the other Femmes were still prisoners but there had been no indication he was going to act like this. He'd mentioned a plan but somehow, she thought he meant something much more subtle.
Before she could ponder the issue further, the door to their room opened and Skywarp strode in. He was heavily dented and bleeding in a few places but was clearly still going strong. The Seeker made his way quickly to Moonracer and carefully unchained her ankle before picking her up.
"Warp?" she questioned as the Femmes all stared.
"Megatron wants you," he said softly, heading for the door.
"What for?" Elita demanded, she had a bad feeling about this.
He shrugged, he was just obeying orders.
"Skywarp," Elita yelped suddenly in fear. "Don't take her to Megatron."
"Sorry, orders are orders," he stated even as he held Moonracer a little more protectively. "I'll look after her."
Before anyone else could say a single word, he Warped away. Rumble now poked a head in and said.
"Echo, you okay?"
"Yes," she said with a nod, indicating that his little sister was too. "Is Soundwave and the others alright?"
"Yeah, their fine," he said with a shrug. "Those Autobots just won't quit though."
"Why are they attacking?" Arcee quickly asked and he offered another shrug.
"I dunno, old Megs pissed off Prime something major," he told them. "No one knows what he did though, not even Soundwave."
This made Elita feel worse than ever, the revelation that she was Megatron's daughter had pushed him over the edge and he'd done something terrible. But she didn't know what else she could have done, it was bad enough to be raped but to be raped by your own Sire? No, she couldn't have gone through with it even if she'd had the presence of mind to predict what he might do with that information.
"What's he going to do?" Arcee asked worriedly, referring to Megatron.
"He probably wants her for a shield," Firestar said with a grimace. "Moonie's the only one who doesn't have a Decepticon Sparkling or is...well, closely involved with Megatron. She's prefect for his purposes."
Arcee's optics where wide with horror as Elita held her tightly.
"Optimus would never hurt Moonracer," she stated earnestly. "If Megatron does try to use her as a shield, none of the Autobots would harm her."
Her daughter nodded dumbly, that was true but she was still scared. She'd never been in any battles but she knew just how dangerous they were. Moonracer's life could still be in peril from a stray shot.
"He's gone mad," Ivory muttered. "That Prime better get here and quickly."
"You're telling me," Darklight stated with a puff of air, things were really starting to get serious.
They suddenly jumped as there was sudden blaster right outside their room.
"Rumble, Frenzy!" Echo cried in alarm as her daughter woke up and started to whimper.
The blaster fire suddenly ceased with a few thumps. The Femmes held their breath, could it be the Autobots? They got their answer a moment later when the door was opened and there stood Optimus Prime, smoke rising from a few scorch marks on his armour.
"Optimus!" Elita cried in delight as Arcee said. "Baba."
His optics showed his relief as he quickly hurried to their side and hugged them as Wheeljack entered.
"Where's Rumble and Frenzy?" Echo asked urgently as he said.
"Their fine, just a bit stunned."
He frowned as he looked around the room.
"Where's Moonie?" he asked as Optimus broke his Femme's shackles.
"Skywarp took her," Elita answered as Optimus moved over to Ivory who was looking very relieved. "We don't know why, Megatron wanted her."
His fins flashed blue with worry, this was not good.
"We'll get her back," Optimus assured his Autobot as he carried on freeing the Femmes.
When Wheeljack offered a hand to Echo, she hesitated.
"I...I don't know if I want to go," she said quietly, soothing her Sparkling. "Wave would be devastated if I left."
"Megatron has become more dangerous," Optimus told her grimly as he and Elita helped Firestar to stand. "Are you sure you'll be safe?"
She nodded, saying. "He would never allow anyone to harm me or our daughter."
"As long as you are sure," he said gravely. "I will not force you to come but if you ever feel your life or that of your daughter's is in peril, please do not hesitate to contact us."
"I will," she promised before asking. "Can you please bring Rumble and Frenzy in here, I want them with me."
He nodded and Wheeljack hurried outside.
"The others are making sure the Cons can't stop us," Optimus stated as he finished freeing everyone. "We must get you all out and fast."
"What about Moonracer?" Arcee asked and Optimus said. "We will make an effort to get her back but I would rather you all safe and sound back at the base."
"What did Megatron do?" Elita asked him quietly as they passed Wheeljack carrying the unconscious cassette twins. He laid them gently before Echo who cuddled them against her, prepared to wait until Soundwave came for her.
"Later," Optimus murmured and she knew he'd done something bad.
"How did you get past the Cons?" Nightracer asked as they hurried along the corridor, Wheeljack bringing up the rear.
"By some lateral thinking," Optimus chuckled, pointing up ahead and making the Femmes gasp.
There was a gaping hole in the ceiling that looked suspiciously like it had been blown up.
"Wheeljack," Firestar exclaimed in glee. "Knew those explosions would come in handy some day."
"Thanks," he chuckled as Smokescreen poked a head through the hole. His face lit up in delight and he eagerly offered a hand.
"Climb up me," Optimus said, leaning forward with his hands braced on his knees, providing a slope for them to go up.
"I'll go first," Elita said, worried in case any cons appeared. "Firestar, you come next and then Nightracer, I'll help you up."
She quickly scaled her mate's broad back and with a little help from Smokescreen, pulled herself through the hole. She then waited as Firestar now climbed up, helped by Wheeljack and Arcee before she and Smokescreen pulled her up from the hole. They then repeated the exercise with Nightracer and Ivory, pulling them safety through the hole as they were joined by Jazz.
"Yah found them?" he said with a wide grin before offering Elita a bow. "Good to see you ma'am."
"It's good to see you too Jazz," she replied warmly as Arcee now scrambled up her father followed by Wheeljack.
Elita gave her daughter a hug, could it be they were finally going to be free?
"Come on, let's give the Prime a hand," Jazz encouraged with a grin as Optimus lunged for the hole and started to heave himself up. His Mechs grabbed him so that this move was made much easier and he was soon up.
"Megatron has Moonracer," Optimus stated as he lead them in the direction of the next hole. "We will have to make an attempt to free her before we leave but I want all of these Femmes taken to safety. I will not allow Megatron to continue using them as shields or abusing them."
"I gotcha Prime," Jazz said with a serious nod. "We'll get them to safety and you can take care of old Megs."
"Hmm," Optimus agreed, contacting other soldiers to back him up with protecting the Femmes.
They made it to the next hole and the Femmes were soon pulled up through them by Autobots waiting for them. A small group of Decepticons discovered them as they run for the next hole but they were soon driven away. Of course, Megatron would know by now that they were running for it, Soundwave would have felt his syndicates being stunned and would have told his master.
The lights flickered slightly over their heads, casting long shadows as their feet thudded on the hard metal floor. Distinctly, they could still hear the sounds of sporadic battle but there was no fighting near them presently. They made it through two more holes without incident and Optimus told them that they had almost reached the Autobot line. If they could reach it, Megatron would not be able to get the Femmes back and the Arielbots could transport them back to the shore.
"All of you just head back to base," Optimus ordered. "I will send a couple of bots with you to carry Firestar and Darklight."
"Okay baba," Arcee agreed on everyone's behalf. "What about...?"
"Prime!" came a roar from right behind them.
Elita couldn't help herself; she turned with Optimus even as the other Autobots tried to hurry the other Femmes towards the exit. They'd been ordered not to stop for anything, just get those Femmes out.
Megatron was standing there with Moonracer pinned in front of him, his canon still smoking slightly. He was flanked by Soundwave, Starscream and Skywarp with various other Decepticons behind them. Moonracer's hands were cuffed behind her back and apart from looking scared, appeared to be unharmed.
"Moonracer!" Wheeljack yelped in alarm as Optimus demanded. "What do you want Megatron?"
The grey Mech smirked tightly before saying.
"I want my slaves to remain here where they belong Prime."
Elita bristled; he still referred to his own granddaughter as a slave?
"They belong as far away from you as possible," Optimus stated fiercely, stepping slightly ahead of Elita towards Megatron. "Release Moonracer this instant."
"I don't think so," Megatron said with an evil smirk. "She hasn't performed her duty yet."
"Duty?" Wheeljack exclaimed. "What the heck are you talking about?"
Megatron just shoved Moonracer into Skywarp's arm who looked a little surprised. The warlord now stated.
"The majority of her fellow Femmes have already produced Sparklings, I believe it's her turn now. Skywarp, do your duty!"
"Uh...now?" Skywapr asked a little unsure as he held Moonracer who had the same expression of horror that her mate did.
"Yes, now Skywarp," Megatron stated.
"But...," the Seeker started to say but Megatron turned his burning gaze on him and said coldly.
"Either you do it now Skywarp or I will!"
The Seeker started before apologetically taking Moonracer over to a wall despite her struggles and protests. The others moved to block any attempt to stop the Autobots from rushing at Skywarp. Megatron just smirked as Moonracer started to scream at Skywarp to stop.
"Your move Prime," he told the furious Autobots gloatingly, hands on hips. "What will it be?"
Author's note. Can the Femmes escape? Will Megatron carry out his threat? Find out next time, until then.