You should never be alone!
Chapter 13
A/N: So sorry I've been neglecting this but I wanted my other fic finished and I will mainly be focussing on this one now to get this one done. Hope you enjoy. Please R&R.
Smokescreen had mobilised with Bumblebee for the mission, following Optimus into the ground bridge to the oil field that Agent Fowler had alerted them to. Once they materialised on the other side of the bridge the three of them transformed into their bi-pedal forms. It seemed quiet and no decepticons were in sight from where they were but the area was huge so they were no doubt going to have to spilt up to search for the cons. Optimus scanned the area before turning to his soldiers. His jet boosters firing up "I will search this quadrant" he left as he finished speaking, boosting up into the sky. Though nothing more needed to be said as the scout and rookie knew their orders to search the other quadrant. They didn't waste time transforming and racing off in the opposite direction to Optimus.
They soon entered the oil field full of rigs and refineries though they were spaced out, there was still a danger though if they fired their weapons close to them. Smokescreen definitely didn't want to have to explain to a worried Isabella why he had scorch marks all over him and an oil field explosion that filled the news. Just thinking about the red head made him lose focus a little and his vehicular form swerved just a little. He had promised to stay focused on missions and he was already failing and he was only driving. Once the two mechs had driven into the heart of the field they shifted their forms again and activated their weapons. Now they were alert and ready for any decepticons should they find them. They kept they're optics open, making sure to check round the rigs in case the cons were hiding but they had to remain quiet as well.
In the silence Smokescreen couldn't help his processor as his thoughts betrayed him. He wondered about Isabella. Since his spark called for her all the time he was finding it increasingly difficult to not worry about her and think of her beautiful face when she was not by his side. But he did keep Optimus's words in the front of his mind also to snap him out of it. It wasn't the only thing that was bothering him though. He had heard Bella's kind words before but he still hated the feeling that he was nothing more than a rookie to the team. Bella saw him differently, she saw him as a great warrior and it made him feel more appreciated but it didn't seem like everyone else felt the same way. Ultra Magnus being one that saw him as a lower class fighter. It was then that the rookie remembered that he was with Bumblebee. He was still a scout and had been since the beginning of the war and knew that the others considered him something more than just a scout. If anything Optimus should have promoted Bee to a warrior by now much like Smokescreen want to be but he guessed that he still had to prove himself. But it still didn't make sense in his processor; Optimus was willing to give him the matrix.
"Hey Bee, have you ever thought that you might want to be a Prime?" he resorted to asking the mech by him about the situation and get another perspective. Of course the scout answered him though Smokescreen could tell that he was trying to focus on the mission at hand "not now. Someday"
Bumblebee whirled out his reply to the rookie and moved forward a little still looking out for the decepticons "Warrior. Yeah, you and me both" Smokescreen two scanned the area. Pressing his back to the oil rig and checking the area behind him "but I've seen you in action. Optimus knows you can scrap with the best of them, why won't he just promote you from scout already?"
Again Bumblebee answered Smokescreen still surveying the area "Your choice. So why wait?" Bee was taking the lead at this point but stopped to turn and face the rookie so he could explain why. Though his reason didn't seem logical and maybe like it would never happen Smokescreen couldn't help but admire the mech; giving him a soft smile. "Guess it would be more meaningful to graduate back home on Cybertron. Your one patient guy; I should take a cue" the conversation was cut there when the sound of mining filled their audio receptors. The two autobots peered around a couple of stack storage containers trying to keep hidden from sight from the decepticons. They could see them using a large mining machine to get to the predacon bone that they were trying to excavate.
Using the different storage containers as cover to get closer they remained silent and together. That was until they heard the sound of charged up blasters and it was then that they knew that there were more cons that they hadn't seen but had definitely seen them. Nodding to one another they jumped into action. Evading the rain of fire that was coming down on them from decepticons on high ground and finding cover. Bee was the first to return fire while Smokescreen tried to scope out where the cons were. Though he would admit that there was the worry of the explosive oil around them. Stepping carefully around his cover he spotted a con on top of a tower and quickly took aim and fired at him before he was spotted. The con was downed immediately but that only got the attention of the enemy. Two vehicons running at him now as they fired. The rookie noted the rig right in front of him and timed himself perfectly as he ran out from his cover and started shooting at them. The rig came down close to him in time and he immediately grabbed on to it. To the decepticons it was like magic, one second he was there and the next he wasn't. They stopped and looked up to see Smokescreen launch himself up with the momentum of the rig and flip in the air before using one of his blasters to shoot the closest vehicon in the helm as he descended. The shot was spot on and offlined him but before the lifeless body could fall down to the ground Smokescreen grabbed onto the shoulders and used his weight to flip himself and the lifeless drone throwing him at the other one taking him down as well.
That didn't mean that the drone was out as he landed leaning on the rig. The done looking up to Smokescreen expecting the autobot to attack and finish him off but he didn't. Smokescreen was leaning on another rig with a cheeky smirk on his face plates and his arms crossed. The rookie then pointed up which made the drone concerned as he looked up from where he had been thrown to see the oil rig come down and smash his helm in offlining him for the autobot.
Smokescreen was enjoying himself at that point knowing if Bella was watching him then she would think he was a right show off but she would still be impressed. Just as he was thinking about the red head his com link beeped signalling that she was trying to call him. His spark fluttered that she wanted to talk to him and wasn't about to hesitate to answer her but stopped hearing Bee fighting other cons. He couldn't speak to her now. He was needed more by Bumblebee right now and he was sure she was fine waiting for him at the base with the others. She was probably just worrying about him and he couldn't blame her. If it were him in her position he would worry too. Though he was always concerned for her but that just showed how much he cared for her. He clicked his com link ignoring her call and ran to go help Bee but when he got there it seemed that he was unneeded as Bee had taken the decepticons down with ease.
Smokescreen was quiet as he approached the scout and caught Bumblebee off guard. The black and yellow mech quickly pivoted pointed his weapons right at Smokescreens face plates and yet he didn't even flinch as he smirked "like I said, you got nice chops for a scout" Bee retracted his weapons and stepped back "Do you think everything is alright back at base? Bells tried to call me" Bumblebee didn't get to answer as they heard pounding steps coming towards them. Peering to the side where the mining had been taking place was the cyclopse decepticon scientist. His body shifted as he walked and even though he wasn't doing anything he looked intimidating but that didn't waver the two autobots as they caught sight of what was in his servo. A predacon bone.
Shockwave didn't waste time as he shot at them immediately. Bee and Smokescreen jumping away just in time to evade the shot. That was when they returned fire; one of their shots hitting Shockwaves blaster away as he fired making him misfire on a nearby oil rig. The rig exploding into flames and gushes of oil spilling out. The flames and oil begun a chain reaction as each individual oil rig suddenly exploded and the black liquid rained down from the sky. Smokescreen and Bee had to take cover. They didn't get far before the rig right by them went up in flames and the two autobots pushed to the floor. Black smoke began rising up into the air now blocking out the sun light. They needed to hurry now as humans would be coming to try and control the area.
"How epic was that?" it seemed that the excitement of it all was getting to Smokescreen as they picked themselves up. Only then did Shockwave launch over them in his vehicle form and drive off with the bone. Smokescreen and Bumblebee were quick to tail him and swerved around on their tired as he shot at them and they tried to catch up with him. He drove out on to the main road and was heading to the bridge that the autobots had arrived on. That was when Optimus came into view in the air. It appeared that the Prime was more of a threat than the other two however as Shockwave diverted to Optimus. It seemed that his aims weren't that good as Optimus had plenty of time to evade and with a single shot from Optimus, Shockwave was disorientated and his form flipped. He tried to gain control by transforming mid-flip but he only ended up losing grip on the predacon bone and falling onto his front.
Optimus flew over Smokescreen and the rookie couldn't help but comment on what he just witnessed "and that's why he's a Prime" The two mechs were speeding down to catch up with Shockwave now so that they could secure bone and they could just make out Shockwave picking himself up. Though the scientist was now the last of their worries as a groundbridge opened up and they instantly recognised Soundwaves jet form flying through and opening fire on them. "Soundwave" Smokescreen and Bumblebee evaded as rubble was thrust into the air from the communication officers shots.
With Soundwave acting as Shockwaves back up the scientists took his chance to grab the bone and begin running for the groundbridge. Though Bee and Smokescreen saw this and were determined to stop him. Putting their pedals to the metal they used the speed to push themselves forward. Bee transformed and used the speed to push himself up. With the momentum with the speed and the jump Bumblebee was able to kick into Shockwaves back and knock him back but before he could land on the ground Smokescreen tried the same technique and kicked Shockwave down so that his body scraped onto the ground, sparks flying up from the friction. When he came to a stop Bumblebee narrowed his optics and ran to Shockwaves side, his servos quickly wrapping around the bone and pulling it towards him but Shockwave was still gripping it. It was then that the scout received a punch in the chest plates and his body was thrust backward into the bridge wall.
Smokescreen tried to cover fire and when they didn't work he aimed to shoot the bone out of his servo but that didn't work either and the young blue mech got shot in the chest. He didn't stay down through Smokescreen saw Bumblebee getting backup and distracted the scientist by shooting at him. It gave the scout his opportunity to jump onto Shockwaves back and hit him in the helm but the scientist was able to throw Bee off to the ground. Just as the decepticon was about to shoot out Bumblebee's spark Smokescreen yanked his weapon back only for him to be thrust into the side of the bridge. He groaned in pain from the impact and tried picking himself up seeing Shockwave approach him with no good intentions.
It was very clear then that Isabella had bad timing as his com link beeped again but Smokescreen ignored it immediately as he eyed the predacon bone in the enemy's servo. He watched intently buying his time as Shockwave charged at him and just as their bodies were going to collide, Smokescreen activated the phase shifter that he always had handy and jumped forward. He shifted through the decepticons like it was nothing and grabbed onto the bone flipping over until his body had completely phased through Shockwaves. Now it was only a matter of tug of war. Both of the bots pulling on the bone for possession of it. Bee joined in a minute after and stress of the strength of them all snapped the bone. Both Bumblebee and Smokescreen having a piece while a small shard went flying into the air and over the edge.
Everyone knew that all the decepticons needed to clone another predacon was a single strand of CNA. This could be gathered from even the smallest bit of a bone so it was essential to recover the whole bone. All optics tried to focus on the small shard that got away. Even Optimus flew up to collect it but Soundwave was cunning and quickly opened a Groundbridge that collected the shard. Only then did the two decepticons retreat into a groundbridge and disappear even when the autobots were shooting at them they still got away.
Smokescreen and Bumblebee put their weapons away as Optimus landed on the bridge and stood with them. "A single strand of CNA" Smokescreen held up the bone. He felt low knowing that they had failed. There was another predacon that was to be added to the decepticon army and the rookie would have to no doubt fight. He sighed as Optimus called in for a groundbridge back to the base. Only then did his spark pulse at knowing he'd see his favourite red head though he would give her a word or two about calling while he was in the middle of a mission. She wondered why she would want to speak to him. She had never done it before and was sure that she had plenty of company back at the base.
Once the groundbridge appeared Optimus lead them back through and the Prime immediately reported back to the team that they hadn't been successful which only added to their negative emotions that they were feeling. There was something that bothered the rookie though. He saw Miko who had gone with the wreckers and Jack and Raf. He even saw Agent Fowler with Jack's mother in the hanger but didn't see the one person he wanted to.
He craved her attention knowing that just her presence cheered him up but she wasn't around. There's was no reason for her to be outside. Smokescreen stepped carefully afraid that he might have missed her and wasn't aware of her location but even when he scanned the hanger twice more he couldn't place her. He slowly worked his way to where he saw Raf sat at his laptop and didn't hesitate to ask. "Raf, where's Bella?"
The young teen looked up to him to reply stopping whatever he was doing on his computer "Isabella went home. Said she was tired and had work in the morning but that was a while ago" Smokescreen thought for a moment. He did worry. As her guardian he was supposed to watch over her when she was at home. He could understand not waiting for him but he couldn't grasp why she tried calling him twice. "Everything alright, Smokescreen?"
Raf would have told him if she tried contacting the base but it seemed she hadn't. "Bella tried contacting be twice while on the mission. I feel bad that I didn't pick up but I had other priorities"
The young teen nodded in understanding "She'll understand. Why don't you try calling her now"
Smokescreen nodded and placed his servo to his com link on his helm. He listened to it beep for a moment as it tried to connect but she wasn't picking up. The only part of her voice he heard was that of a recorded message telling people to leave a message and she'll get back to them. "She's not answering" Smokescreen began to get annoyed now. There was no way he'd angered her by ignoring her calls. He was about to try again when he heard Raf typing away at his computer.
"She should be at work around about now"
His spark filled with concern. There was no reason that she would not answer her phone. He knew that even during her work she would pick up for him, he looked down at Raf and then up again as he was thinking. It didn't seem like he was needed right now and he just learned that there was decepticon activity in the city lately as Fowler and Jack's mother had been kidnapped. It was at that moment that Smokescreen was sure his spark stopped for a moment or two. "Something wrong" he spoke softly and Raf was the only one listening. The rookie's face showed only complete fear.