You should never be alone!
Chapter 7
Anger, rage, frustration. Those words didn't begin to cover how Smokescreen was feeling. His fists were clenched hard that they were practically shaking. His optics had turned a very light, pale blue that it was obvious that he was livid over the whole situation. They had been able to retrieve the four Omega keys to restore Cybertron but before they could do so Megatron had turned up. They would have blasted him away by now if it weren't for them holding Isabella, Jack, Miko and Raf hostage. All four of them were trapped inside a glass canister to protect them from Cybertrons toxic air though the decepticons that held them threaten to open them and expose the humans to the toxic air.
It wasn't just that though, what got to the rookie the most was that Bella was there and she was unconscious, her face bruised and her arm in a weird position that was obviously painful to her and she had other injuries that were causing blood to ooze out into the bottom of the canister, staining her hair and clothes all over. He really didn't want to wait and see if the decepticons would kill her but something told her that she would die anyway from her injuries if she didn't get to a hospital soon. The decepticons wanted to exchange the keys for the human's lives which he was not happy about, if anything it was making him more livid to the point that not even Optimus Prime would be able to stop him from charging forward and taking on Megatron himself.
Optimus frowned deeply, the warlord had gone too far this time. They noticed how the teens were looking to them fearful of what might happen. Miko kicked the glass in a failed attempt to get out though even if she did she would die instantaneously. The autobots were silent, the whole situation was out of hand the fight was between them and didn't involve the humans but that didn't seem to stop the decepticons from doing whatever it takes to get what they want. It seemed as though Megatron was losing his patience as he turned to his second in command. "Starscream!"
Immediately the stiletoed decepticon worked to try and push the autobots hands into giving over the keys. Starscream lifted the canister with Jack and began toying with him. "Jack…it's time to come out and play" starscream bent down and placed his sharp digit on the glass; dragging it down to create an ear piercing screech that made them all cringe at the sound.
"Go ahead. The autobots were prepared to sacrifice themselves for my planet, I'll do the same for theirs" Jack spoke out without fear not as bothered that his life was being threatened then again better him than all three of them or even the entire Earth. At his bravery the other two agreed Miko being the most forward about it as she stared up to Knock Out "Me too, creepy" thought the decepticon medic didn't seem too impressed by it. He would be thrilled to open the capsule and watch her suffocate.
"Perhaps we should oblige them" though not all the humans could answer as the eldest, the adult was still unconscious and showed no signs of waking up anytime soon. Particularly on her own. Each of them knew that Bella needed to get to a human hospital soon otherwise there would consequences.
Optimus's fighting stance disappeared as he realised what had to be done "If my decision dooms the autobot cause on Cybertron then so be it, but I will never forsake our human allies" as he finished his sentence he swung the star sabre that he held into the ground and walked backwards so that he stood with the other bots. They waited a moment before following his lead, disarming their weapons and throwing them down in front of them so that they were out of reach. Megatron looking mighty pleased with himself.
Though Smokescreens anger didn't go unnoticed as he was helpless to save Isabella, his spark pulsing hard under his chest plates at her being in danger. He had been conflicted of the amount of emotions he had been feeling for the red head, he had never really felt that way before about anyone before so it was easy for him to ignore it. But now things were clearer to him, as much as Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee were attached to their human friends Smokescreen was sure that what he was feeling for Bella was different. It was deep, ever since he first heard her voice. It had stayed with him, ringing in his audio receptors, and it would never leave him.
"Now if you please, the Omega keys" the gladiator lifted his servo waiting for them "one at a time" Knock Out moved forward holding up the container with Miko inside.
Megatron watched as the exchange was going to take place "You first big boy" Knock Out signalled for Bulkhead to come and get the teen. The green autobot looked to the Omega key he was holding and then to Optimus for guidance, he wanted Miko safe but he didn't necessarily want to give over the Omega key. Prime looked to him and nodded before Bulkhead made his way over, taking it carefully in case the cons decided to trick them. It would be something they would do just so they can something more from the leverage they have. "If I don't get the girl, I'm going to make you eat this key" Bulkhead was angry as he shook the key in his hand and then threw it into Knock Out's.
"You're welcome" Knock Out handed the canister over giving his devilish smirk as he walked back with the key in hand.
Bulkhead held on to Mikos canister tightly "get scrapped" Miko shouted back to the medic as they moved back to the others. As he did Bumblebee moved forward with his Omega key to meet Soundwave who held up Raf in his capsule. The young scout looked softly to the boy but it soon changed as he quickly gave over the relic and took Raf, making sure to make it clear to the communications officer that he was angry for taking their friends. He moved back to the rest of the autobots.
Arcee and Smokescreen were the only ones not with the Omega keys now which got them quite worried as Starscream had both Jack and Bella with him. Optimus did like the look in Megatrons optics one bit as he had turned to look at the remaining two humans they had. Starscream moved forward and placed both containers on the ground waiting for the remaining keys. "I suggest you hurry, Optimus. This one will soon loose it's value" he pointed to the injured woman. Both Optimus and Smokescreens optics widened, he was right time was running short and they had no idea of the extent of her injuries.
Smokescreen clenched his denta, a growl escaping his mouth as he didn't even wait for Optimus to tell him to go. He moved over quickly; Arcee following behind.
Starscream could see that there was something more in Smokescreens optics than the others "No tricks" he stretched his arms forward showing he was ready to fire at them should they try anything, but he soon over turned his hands to take the keys "the keys, if you please". Arcee carefully placed the key she holding into one of his servos while Smokescreen practically smacked it into his grasp. But he was less concerned for that as he immediately turned to Bella, her skin paler that before. Both bots picked them up and returned to the Prime's side. Though Smokescreen kept his gaze on the red headed woman, hugging the glass close to his chest for extra protection. Before anything could be done to save the humans a ground bridge opened up and an armada of decepticons ran through it their weapons primed and ready to fire at the autobots on Megatrons command. The autobots were encircled, trapped.
Smokescreen made sure to place himself in between them and Bella, though as he was solely focussed on her well-being he could hardly fight. It would put her life more at risk than it already was. "Now bare witness as a new era dawns on Cybertron" Megatron took one of the keys and placed it in the Omega Lock while his followers did the same. The entire area lighting up with life "Behold; the age of the decepticons"
Smokescreens zoned the horrid voice out as he saw that Bella was bleeding from her head and her stomach. He didn't know what happened to her but he wasn't going to let her die. "Bells…" he didn't know if she could hear him but he wanted to reassure her that he was with her now "It's me, I'm so sorry this happened to you but you're going to be okay" he didn't know that for sure. If anything he would have to fight through the autobots to get her to safety, to get her to a hospital as soon as possible.
His attention snapped from her unconscious form up to see the Lock activated, it shot a huge beam of energy right at the nearest ruined building. Said building lit up as scrap pieces of metal floated up into the air and fixed themselves into place to create a new structure one that looked untouched and out of place with the rest of the war stricken area. All bots there were gobsmacked with the capabilities the Omega Lock had, its power was bigger than any of them imagined though when they learned they could revive their planet they didn't know what to expect and this certainly wasn't it.
"You have what you want, Megatron. This conflict is between autobots and decepticons. Allow me to return the human to Earth" somehow they got the impression that that wasn't going to happen, even when Megatron could quite easily see that Bella needed urgent medical attention but it would have been very unlike him to care in any case.
"I wouldn't recommend it. They'll be far safer here" that meant that Megatron had bigger plans that just restoring his home. "Is the space bridge locked on target" he turned to his side where his second in command stood.
Starscream respectfully bowed a little as he replied "Per your instructions, Lord Megatron"
"Excellent. Why rule only one world when I can rule two" just then a space bridge opened above the Omega Lock where it shot through so much energy that it was difficult to look at as the brightness almost blinded them. Everyone could guess where Megatron was sending it which meant that they couldn't just stand around and do nothing, not while Earth was in danger.
"If the Omega Lock can restore Cybertron, it can do the same to Earth right?" Miko was trying to look on the brighter side not that there was one.
"No. It will cyberform your planet inn favour of its new matrix, destroying all indigenous life in the process" and the penny dropped.
There was no way that any life on Earth would survive cyberforming. Megatron was then pondering over what he would call Earth once it was cyberformed which made the teens start to bang against the glass of their prison in distraught. "Leave our planet alone!"
The decepticons evil laughing told them that they didn't get Mikos message. Optimus's optics focussed on the Omega Lock, it was the power core of the whole thing which meant that the only way to stop them would be to destroy it and he had already vowed to protect Earth even at the cost of Cybertron. Clenching his fist Optimus reacted instinctively as his blade was drawn out. He swung at one decepticon drone and kicked it away where it Knock Out. He then punched another down and ran out of the opening to the star sabre grasping it tightly in his servos as he swung it horizontally around and knocked other vehicons down. Seeing this Megatron grasped his own dark star sabre and charged at the Prime. The one time his plans seemed to be working and something was already going wrong. Both of their blades clashed but the warlord wasn't quick enough as Optimus brought his down to slice through Megatrons servo that he had taken and attached to himself to give him prime abilities. He kneeled over in pain as sparks flew from his missing limb.
Optimus had a clearer path as he kept running to the Omega Lock doudging blasts from Knock Out and Soundwave as they did their best to keep him away. Starscream fired one of his rockets at him but Optimus was able to evade and take down the SIC by using him as a foot hold to jump up higher that he could over the medic and communications chief. Lifting the star sabre up Optimus swung it down with him as he fell down to the ground, the powerful blade piercing the metal of the Lock that it short circuited and exploded around them. Surrounding decpticons were blown to pieces and the autobots moved out of the way but still protected the humans with them. Quickly Optimus re-joined them using his comm link to request a space bridge from Ratchet. Smokescreen was the first to run through with Bella with the other following closely behind them. "The children…What happened?" Ratchet was blissfully unaware of what had occurred; of the decision Optimus made to doom Cybertron to remain lifeless. The bots placed the teens down and opened the capsules so that they could be free again. Smokescreen however was delicate he opened the canister but didn't want to touch Bella in fear of making her injuries worse. "Somebody say something"
"Optimus destroyed the Omega Lock" Bulkhead really didn't want to be the one to say it but Ratchet needed to know and now it was confirmed, it wasn't a nightmare it was the reality.
"What? You did…" Optimus didn't let Ratchet finish the sentence knowing that it would have been some sort of criticism
"What was necessary. There was no time for another prolonged battle, not with Earth in imminent danger" he stood tall showing that he although it perhaps wasn't a great idea but he stood by it. He was in a no win situation.
"So you destroyed the only device, in any universe, capable of restoring our home. Optimus, we needed that"
Smokescreen looked on in disgust at the old bot didn't seem fazed that their human friends were threatened and the Earth would have been destroyed. The teens stood by the capsule and watched as the rookie reached in and gently wrapped his digits around Isabella's body lifting her out and letting her blood soaked body lay in his palms. "Is she okay?" Jack asked not sure if he really wanted to know the answer after taking a closer look at her. All eyes were on the unconscious woman now, if it weren't for that Smokescreen was sure that his optics would be filling with lubricant.
"I don't know, I need to get her to a hospital" he then looked to the teens that had been captured as well "What happened?" the three of them looked between each, having a silent argument over who would tell him.
Not one of them really wanted to but Jack spoke up first "She saved us. We were cornered and she distracted them long enough for us to run away but we weren't quick enough…Starscream hit her" the rookies anger was now directed to the thought of Starscream attacking the red head but he remembered her in his palms so pushed it aside so he wouldn't hurt her further in his anger. He zoned out on Ratchet's speech that was getting on his nerves as he concentrated on her. He could pick up a heartbeat but it was faint, Optimus too was more worried for her well-being. They had no clue as to when they had been kidnapped and so didn't know how long she had been in this state. "Arcee, bridge Smokescreen and Isabella to a hospital out of state" she nodded and moved over to the controls, finding a suitable hospital that was a decent distance from Nevada. Smokescreen responded to the order sliding Bella into Optimus's steady servos so that he could transform into his vehicle mode easily. His door then swung open as Optimus carefully placed her inside.
The Indy 500 didn't waste time sitting around as it sped right through the bridge to the destination Arcee had set. He didn't particularly care where it was as long as they could help Bella. Make her better and healthy again, he would have to use his holoform though it didn't know how he would explain her injuries.