Alright, so first off, I don't know if it's 'all right', or 'alright' and I'm too lazy to take two seconds and google it. Second, thank you all so much for the awesome reviews! I'm really horrible at responding (like seriously, I don't think I've answered even one. I'm a bad person.) but rest assured they are all read and very greatly appreciated! I dedicate this chapter to you, you wonderful, supportive oddballs! And I mean that in the best possible way. Really though, I am grateful for all the feedback, and it is greatly appreciated. I noticed someone mentioned that they didn't get the update email notifications for chapters 10 through 13, and the site did have a window come up stating that a problem had occurred when I posted them. I went back and checked after posting each one, and the chapters were there, but they must not have sent out the notifications. It seems like the problem's resolved now though, so… yeah. Anyway, thanks again to everyone who's read/reviewed/followed/favorited/etc. Enjoy!
Switchshade's claws twitched nervously, the mech shifting on his pedes with restless energy, though his optics remained locked on the screen before Ratchet. The sounds of battle could easily be heard over the comm., and Switchshade found himself wishing that there was a visual feed instead of merely audial. The black mech may be in awe and terror of the Lord Prime, fear his wrath and his power, but Switchshade had seen Megatron's fighting abilities up close and personal for many vorns. He knew the tales of the warlord's days as a gladiator in the Pits of Kaon, and despite the Lord Prime's prowess in battle, a victory was never guaranteed in single combat with Megatron. Please, be safe. Come back safely…
Despite everything, Switchshade had grown rather fond of earth, and though he felt slightly guilty for his disloyalty to his sire after all that Soundwave had done for him, he couldn't help but hope that the Autobots could somehow managed to achieve victory. Megatron's dark energon-powered warriors would utterly decimate earth, and at that moment, Lord Optimus Prime was the only one standing between the tiny blue planet and certain destruction.
"These things are getting closer! That's bad, right?" Agent Fowler asked, glancing at the schematics on the screen, pinpoints that showed where each life signal contaminated with the blood of Unicron was at any given moment heralding their approach to the spacebridge. The human was almost completely recovered from Starscream's abuses, and although Switchshade could claim no personal fondness for the discourteous human, he found himself glad nonetheless that he seemed to be recuperating well.
"Ratchet, we're in position." Arcee declared, a quieter, "Hey 'Bulk, wanna bet who can bash more zombies before we offline if they make it through?" and a subsequent clang audible in the background. Bumblebee whirred in amusement as Cliffjumper and Bulkhead placed wagers on whose kill count would be higher, while Arcee attempted to simultaneously cuff both mechs around their helms and listen to Ratchet's instructions on how to detonate the spacebridge.
"Arcee, pay close attention." the medic commanded, not even bothering to attempt to chastise the other mechs, well aware that it would only be a waste of time they didn't have. Even as he began to relay the precise instructions to the femme, Switchshade and the humans listened in horror as the sounds of the battle between Optimus and Megatron suddenly ceased, and then Megatron spoke. "Ah, misdirection, Optimus! You would have made a fine Decepticon." Clearly something had occurred on their end that had not been transmitted back to the base, but Ratchet quickly passed on a warning to Arcee that Megatron might now be aware of their actions. "I chose my side." The Prime's deep voice was troubled, but determined, and the vast history between the two mechs was made more than evident by his tone. The sounds of battle quickly commenced once again.
"…Now follow the line from the flow regulator to the energon pub. There should be a valve." Arcee quickly acknowledged the medic's instructions with a brief, "I see it." Ratchet continued, "Good. To turn all that power against itself, all you need do is reverse the current." There was a brief pause, and a sound of exertion, before the femme triumphantly announced, "Current reversed." To the brief distraction and surprise of all present at the base, Agent Fowler suddenly jumped and exclaimed, "Yes!" at the news, causing Switchshade to wonder if perhaps the human was not fully recovered after all.
With a mastery only a mech as ancient and wise as Ratchet could possess, the medic stoically refrained from rolling his eyes at the adult human's antics. Sparklings, each and every one of them. Mechs and humans alike… "I'll ready the groundbridge." He conveyed to the four Autobots still waiting near the base of the spacebridge. The battle between Optimus and Megatron must have concluded, for all noises had ceased from the Prime's comm., but his life signal was still active, so the details could wait.
However, blaster fire at the detonation point drew the attention of those at the base, and they realized that Megatron had not ceased to fight, but had simply switched targets. The Autobots fired on the Decepticon's lord, but he dodged and shrugged off the shots with ease, returning fire and almost immediately striking Arcee directly in the chassis. Stunned and disoriented, the femme fell back, and Cliffjumper instantly leapt to catch her before her frame could fall, his normally cheerful optics suddenly narrowed in rage as he turned to fire on Megatron once more. He attacked viciously with his left servo's blaster, while his right cradled the femme protectively to his chassis. "Wake up, please, wake up, you're going to be alright. Arcee, please, hang in there." The red Autobot muttered continually, his gentle, encouraging tone a stark contrast to the rage writ all over his faceplates as he did his level best to snuff out Megatron's spark from a distance.
The energy current reversal seemed to be working, and the four 'Bots quickly converged together, worried for a moment, until Optimus suddenly came into view several yards from them, sprinting quickly to their location as he attempted to evade the chunks of rock steadily disintegrating under his pedes. Ratchet quickly stated, "Optimus, the groundbridge is ready and waiting!" Together, the five warriors moved to converge on its location, Optimus commanding, "Autobots, jump!" They obeyed, the Prime in the lead, with Bumblebee and Bulkhead right behind him. Cliffjumper took up the rear, still cradling Arcee's unconscious form in his arms as he followed.
Back at the base, four humans and two mechs waited with bated breath, Raf finally asking when the 'Bots did not instantly emerge from the groundbridge's portal, "Do you… think they're…?" The old medic hurried to assure him, "Five life signals, although one is very faint." Switchshade heaved an exvent of relief without conscious thought, grateful beyond measure that they had all managed to survive, although he was quick to retreat from the center of the room when the Lord Prime emerged first from the groundbridge. Optimus landed lightly on his pedes, straitening and surveying those in the base with grave optics, his battle-scarred frame a sight to behold. Switchshade immediately lowered his optics in great respect, bowing his helm and subtly backing away, grateful that the Prime's attention was currently on Ratchet.
Miko grinned widely when Bulkhead was the next to emerge from the groundbridge, crying his name joyfully and racing to meet him as he stepped forward, a matching smile crossing his faceplates as he knelt to offer his servo for her. Bumblebee came through next, and right behind him came Cliffjumper carefully carrying Arcee. Jack ran forward, checking himself as he realized just how badly damaged she was, and the red racer could only offer a half-hearted smile, more than concerned himself for the courageous femme. Miko and Raf tried to offer comfort as well, but in spite of the stunning victory, a solemnity had fallen over the base at the grievous extent of Arcee's damage.
"We nearly lost one this week. By the Allspark, I will not let us lose her." Ratchet declared with great conviction. Jack remained at Arcee's side, and reached out to gently touch her servo. At the contact, her icy blue optics flickered, and then onlined, and she managed to meet the human's gaze blearily. "Arcee…" Jack murmured dolefully. Arcee managed a tiny, mischievous grin despite her pain, stating, "Jack, really? There are other motorcycles in the world…" prompting a small smile from the human in return. Cliffjumper chuckled softly, careful not to jostle her, although he cradled her even closer to his chassis happily at the fact that she had not only regained consciousness, but was coherent enough to joke lightly.
Ratchet turned from his soon-to-be-patient to look to Optimus, asking quietly, "And Megatron?" There was a grief that Switchshade could not understand in the Lord Prime's tone when he answered, "Not even he could have survived ground zero." The oddly solemn moment struck the black mech as odd, for were the Autobots to lose a highly ranked commander, there would be a great deal of joy and celebrations aboard the Nemesis.
"Prime!" Agent Fowler broke the solemnity with his brisk voice, though his tone softened minutely as he continued, "I didn't get to thank you 'Bots for saving me… I owe you one. We all do." As he spoke, he moved to the door he had originally come through, leaving the moment he finished his last sentence.
As soon as the agent was gone, Cliffjumper carefully lowered Arcee to her pedes at her behest, keeping a servo held out for her to hold onto for balance as she needed, Bumblebee stepping to her other side to offer similar support. Now standing on her own two pedes, the femme managed a much more convincing smile to the humans, causing the tension in the room to decrease a great deal. Miko's answering smile suddenly dropped from her face as the young human seemed to realize something, and she stepped towards Optimus, asking hesitantly, "So… is this the part where you say goodbye, and tell us we need to forget we ever saw you?"
The Prime's powerful blue optics met the human's eyes for a moment, and then he tilted his helm slightly in answer. "Without the means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged." At that, he turned to glance at Switchshade, noting the younger mech's terrified, excessively humble stance, and making a note to himself to speak with the black mech once all else had been concluded, before continuing to address the humans. "You three have become friends, and are all true warriors-if not in body, then in spirit." He continued to speak, but Switchshade had nearly reached his capacity to remain still and listen. Though he had undergone nearly no physical combat, the events of the past several days caused a severe strain on his processor, and being in such close proximity to the mech powerful enough to best Megatron, and bring about his demise, was not helping in the slightest.
Distantly, Switchshade noted that the Prime was sending the humans home with their guardians, although Cliffjumper had offered to take Jack while Ratchet tended to Arcee's wounds, but most of his processor was focused on quickly and unobtrusively making his way back to the holding cell in which he had first woken in the base as quickly as possible. He managed to escape the main area, hurrying to his cell and moving inside swiftly, closing the door behind him and suddenly wishing that there wasn't an open space in the bars to see through. The plating between his doorwings tinged slightly, but Ratchet's handiwork and his self-repair had all but completed the healing procedures.
Settling down in his favored corner, Switchshade pulled his plating close to his frame, and began to manually shut down most of his systems, allowing his processor time to defrag and begin to come to terms with everything that had occurred that solar cycle. Ratchet's promises of no harm to come, Soundwave's shocking acceptance, Arcee's near-death experience, Megatron's deactivation oh Holy Primus how by the Allspark is Soundwave going to cope? He has dedicate his entire functioning to Lord Megatron, and now his liege-lord is lost. Starscream will rule now, but Soundwave… Oh Primus… Sire…