With the sudden news that everyone had been presented with, the plan for action was explained. After listening carefully to Optimus Prime explain what they were to do, Arcee had waited before stepping forward with her own shocking information.
She had already briefed Soundwave and Megatron about Bumblebee, and she was certain Megatron would have told Optimus. At least, he should have. If not, that was something she refused to deal with. Maybe that would teach Megatron about hoarding secrets.
But now, she was telling them everything.
Everything about the predacons, her suspicions, and what she had found out about Sentinel. Ark had then stepped forward with her own findings she had uncovered with Knock Out. Everyone listened carefully, and no one, aside from Jazz voiced his disbelief. This earned him several annoyed comments from Prowl.
The evidence, along with the information that was suddenly brought up changed nothing. Yet everything was altered.
Arcee had wondered if they were going to delay the attack, but surprisingly, both Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that it would be best to strike as soon as possible. Teams were created, Decepticons and Autobots were informed for the mission, and a plan was laid out.
"We will send in scouts to survey the area first," Optimus stated. "We will then have a clearer picture of what we are up against. Our mission is to observe first, and then coordinate an attack when details are further gathered."
"We will then storm the base once we have secured the location," Megatron said. "No one gets in, or out, We will make sure of that. If possible," his optics flickered to Arcee. "We will see if we can rescue any survivors."
To Arcee's surprise, Megatron had agreed to allow her to accompany the rag-a-tag group of Decepticons and Autobots in storming the base. Of course, she had to agree to his terms without any arguments on her part. She had agreed quickly and hastily without a second thought. It was only until she saw Megatron's satisfied look that she began to wonder what she had gotten herself into.
She was to stay with Barricade and Bonecrusher, two mechs whom Megatron trusted on the mission. So far, Arcee saw no problem with the arrangements she had landed herself into.
Until she had rounded the corner and saw Moonracer gearing up.
"No," Arcee said firmly.
Moonracer's optics narrowed. "You cannot tell me what to do."
"You are inexperienced," Arcee said. "You will be a liability and put yourself, and others at risk."
"And you won't?" Moonracer demanded, looking at Arcee with a frown, her optics glinting.
"I am not inexperienced," Arcee said. Everything was riding on them getting Bumblebee back in this one mission. If they failed, it might cost Bumblebee his life. She could not risk that. It was also partially the reason she did not want Moonracer going with them. Moonracer was a risk and might, unintentionally, cause them to fail. But she would not voice that to Moonracer. Already she could see that the femme had her mind set.
"You do not know what I am capable of," Moonracer said.
"Exactly," Arcee said. "Can you handle what is to come? We do not even know what to expect when we go in."
"I will spare us the argument and just outright tell you that I have been cleared by both Optimus Prime and Megatron to accompany you on this mission," Moonracer interrupted. She strode toward Arcee, holding up the fake Key to Vector Sigma that Arcee had Shockwave make. "You gave this to me," she said. "Why? Was it a sign of trust?"
Arcee stared at it, unblinking. She finally turned back to look at Moonracer. "For safekeeping," she said simply, turning away with a small frown. "We are needed in the meeting room immediately," Arcee said over her shoulder. "I suggest you follow me if you still wish to partake in this crucial mission."
"Arcee," Moonracer called out suddenly, causing her to stop. "We will get him back."
Arcee turned to look back at Moonracer. "No promises, because it is a fact. He is coming home to us, alive." She strode out of the room quickly, her steps quick.
Everything was a blur for Arcee as she studied the last minute plan while gathering her gear. She looked up faintly as Ark approached her, the darker femme battle ready.
"Are you with me?" Arcee asked.
Ark placed a servo to her chassis. "To the death, my Heir."
Skylynx grunted as he shifted positions in the rough ground. His sides were beginning to ache from crouching down for so long. Beside him, Darksteel was as still as the rock that concealed his presence in the dark, low hanging cave.
"This is crazy," Skylynx grumbled.
"This is necessary," Darksteel stated. Though the grumble in his voice indicated that he shared Skylynx's misgivings on the situation.
"Are we even sure it will work?" Skylynx hissed. Darksteel sent him a warning glare, optics flickering to Skylynx's neck were the device Antagony had slapped on them resided. In that moment, Skylynx was reminded to hold his tongue and chose his words carefully as every single word he spoke would be monitored.
Predaking had told them before that Antagony had not been the one to clone them. That in itself robbed her if her right to control them. She had not cloned them, therefore she had no sway over the predacons, the ones she called her 'pets', though she believed she did. Skylynx could not wait to rip out her throat, as well as that cursed device that was strapped to his neck. Freedom, which had been preached to him for so long but never experienced, would come to him soon enough.
The smell of spilled energon grew stronger, and Skylynx shifted once more. He was not sure how long Predaking wanted them to wait outside the cell doors, hidden from sight. Every bone in Skylynx's being trembled with the anticipation of taking action, of finally wrecking some damage on the very ones who had caused them pain, who had humiliated them.
He smirked. He always knew he was strong. He'd find out just how strong when he crashed through the prison doors. Sure, it might hurt, but it would hurt Antagony and Sentinel more.
"Yeash, this cave seems to go on forever," Barricade muttered.
Arcee said nothing, her optics surveying everything around her with caution. One servo brushed up against a rock, while her other servo was out and formed into a blaster. Beside her strode Ark, alert and ready. Though her servos were empty, everything about the femme was dangerous and poised. Arcee had more than faith in her abilities.
Moonracer had remained silent behind them, and so far, they had yet to come across any signs of hostilities or signs of predacons. Yet, Arcee refused to give up hope. They had only been patrolling for an hour. A lot could happen in the next few minutes.
"Hold up," Barricade said suddenly, holding up his servo and gesturing for everyone to stop. Arcee tensed up, only to realize that it was the light up ahead that had caused Barricade to stop.
The sound of shifting metal drew her attention, and she saw Frenzy detach himself from Barricade. "Scout up ahead," Barricade ordered.
Frenzy scowled as he stared up at the taller mech. "Why?"
"There's an opening, and you are small enough to go unseen to scout out the area, and because you wanted to come, and you have to do as you are told!" Barricade said with narrowed optics, pointing up ahead of him like he was directing a stubborn child. "Now go!"
Fenzy grumbled, but he sprinted away with barely a sound. Arcee watched him go until she lost sight of him.
Three scouting teams had entered through the ground bridge Soundwave had provided, yet nothing of interest was reported as of yet. But still, Arcee was holding on to that hope, the hope that she would see Bumblebee.
The sound of someone sighing caught Arcee's attention, and she glanced over to realize that it was Ark. She became alert immediately when she realized that Ark was in fact, muttering, her optics closed and her servos clenched.
"Ark?" Arcee whispered, reaching out to gently touch Ark's shoulder. "What is it?"
Ark's optics slowly opened, and her purple optics gazed at Arcee. "Something is not right," she said.
Arcee frowned. "What's not right?" Of course nothing was right! They were in an unknown territory where predacons and crazy scientists and enemy soldiers possibly roamed. But she kept that information to herself. "What is it?" Arcee repeated.
"An agent of Unicron resides here," Ark said softly. Her optics flickered upward, toward where the faint light was. "Not as strong...but an agent nevertheless."
Arcee's frown deepened as an unexplained feeling of dread filled her. "An agent?" she asked, but Ark was brushing her aside and approaching Barricade. They conversed in hushed tones, too soft for Arcee to hear. Yet Barricade pulled back, reaching for his comm link. "I'm informing Soundwave of this," he said.
Ark nodded. "You do that," she said, and Arcee's concern grew as she watched the exchange between them. She then watched in astonishment as Ark slipped away, vanishing through another passage. Arcee stepped forward, only for Bonecrusher to stop her with a sharp claw.
"Let the femme go," he said gruffly. "She knows what she is doing."
"It's dangerous for her to be out there alone!" Arcee protested.
"It is dangerous for her to reside here with us," Barricade answered simply.
Arcee wrenched her arm free, scowling. "How would she know that an agent of Unicron resides here? And she should not be separating from the group! Megatron gave us specific orders to scout out the area and-"
"Scrap," they heard Frenzy hiss through the comm link. "There's a large predacon resting on the cliff side. Might be sleeping, but then again, darn beast might see us."
Barricade looked as if he was ready to respond and issue an order, but he never got the chance as a loud roar that shook the very walls around them rang out through the air.
Predaking looked ever the picture of ease and comfort. Set up high on a pillar, curled up in the fading light, he gave off the illusion of one relaxing.
In fact, it was a strategic move. At least, that was what he thought. The very vantage point gave him view of almost every single passage through the mountains he knew of, and he knew plenty of passages. His optics shifted around, alert as his tail curled in anticipation. But every single part of his body stayed still for the most part.
His spark thrummed in anticipation for what was to come. He had waited so long, so long for the taste of freedom. No longer would that witch have control of him. No more would he be confined.
Something dark caught his attention, and he looked up sharply, trying to focus on the movement. It was gone by the time he focused on that area. He frowned, remembering where that passage led to, and he could only wonder why someone in their right spark would head in the area that was reserved for Antagony specifically. Even he did not like going there.
Another flash, this one silver, caught his attention. This time, he was able to make out the small, silver form of a Cybertronian. But the small being was quick and vanished, but Predaking had been able to make out the form of the minicon.
His smirk of triumph grew, and he unfurled his wings and straightened up, letting a loud roar tear through his throat and echo all around the caverns that was his prison. A prison he would shatter.
"That the signal?"
"Yeah that's the signal you idiot! Bust it open!"
Bumblebee blinked tiredly, his audio receptors still aching from the loud roar that had echoed around them. Even in the sealed prison cell, they had all heard the roar. But what confused him was the sound of two large mechs arguing outside the prison doors.
The walls around them shook as the cell doors exploded around them. Bumblebee let out a sharp breath, an action that paiend him, as dust filled his wounds and his optics. He blinked, trying to make sense of the large beings that towered before them.
"Can't believe we are doing this," Skylynx grumbled as he clawed at the very restraints that held Smokescreen captive. Smokescreen stared up in shock, but hastily scrambled over to Bumblebee.
"Well, believe it," Darksteel stated as he freed Firestar. The femme growled before transforming and flying toward Bumblebee whom Smokescreen was trying to release. With one swipe of her sharp claws, the cuffs came off and Bumblebee collapsed into Smokescreen's arms. He tried to upright himself, a servo covering his bleeding throat, but Smokescreen still supported him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Firestar growled as she planted herself between the two mechs and the predacons.
Skylynx hissed, ignoring her as he took in the sight Bumblebee was left in. "Slag, that don't look good."
"He needs a medic, fast," Smokescreen said as he propped Bumblebee up against the wall and tried to stop the slow trickle of energon.
"Has the bleeding worsened?" Darksteel asked anxiously, his optics flickering towards the ruined, smoking doors.
Smokescreen paused, unsure, before he shook his helm. "Um, no."
"I'm...fine," Bumblebee rasped, standing up.
"Good," Darksteel muttered. "Then get moving. We have wasted enough time as it is." He paused and looked at Smokescreen who was helping a groaning Bumblebee to his pedes. "I suppose that the plan must be changed for a bit. You will have to stay behind with him." He nodded to Firestar who was still standing protectively in front of Smokescreen and Bumblebee. "You will come with me."
"I am not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on!" Firestar snapped, growling dangerously.
"The Cybertronians are here!" Darksteel snapped, impatient. "Do not ask me how, or why, they just are."
"Predaking planned the who thing," Skylynx said, a hint of urgency in his voice. "At least, we think he did. To be honest we are not sure how he managed to alert the Cybertronians to our presence."
"But he did, and we need to use this moment," Darksteel snapped. He pointed at Firestar. "You will work with me and and Skylynx to create a distraction while the two weakling mechs escape."
"What about those devices on your necks!" Smokescreen protested. He yelped as Skylynx started shoving them out of the cell. Bumblebee picked up his the pace, servo over his wounded neck as he forced himself to walk.
"We will work past the pain," Darksteel said, though there was uncertainty in his voice. "There is no other way."
"...No," Bumblebee protested, ignoring the flare of pain. "I have...no device…" He looked at Smokescreen helplessly, urging the mech to understand his unspoken words. Smokescreen frowned before watching as Bumblebee pointed to the devices on their necks, then to the lighting around them. His optics widened in understanding.
"Is there an electrical grid we can destroy that would damage the links Antagony has on the devices?" he asked quickly, looking at the predacons.
Darksteel paused before transforming into his mech form. "There is. But we do not know which one it is."
"Then we destroy them all," Smokescreen said firmly, stepping away from them. He transformed into his predacon form before flapping his wings and grabbing Bumblebee gently in his claws. "You three stick to the plan. I am going to get the two of us to that grid."
"But Bee is injured!" Firestar protested. But the glare Bumblebee sent her silenced her for a small moment.
"Go!" Bumblebee ordered, his voice shaking, causing them to snap into action. Darksteel, Skylynx and Firestar launched into the air while Smokescreen flew away with Bee held safely in his grip.
Ark stepped forward on the ground carefully, the light of the lava and the heat causing her discomfort, yet she pushed on. She gripped the explosives she was given, silently calculating how best to use them.
Her optics fell on the steel support systems and she noted how they were keeping the very large, central cavern up. Her optics flickered around to the mechanical, active monitors. She cocked her helm when she realized that these very thick support systems were keeping the fragile caverns stable.
With a smirk, she grabbed one bomb out of the container while setting the box down. She figured that one charge should be enough to shake the foundation.
She carefully stepped forward before a feeling of dread filled her spark. Instincts kicking in, she dropped to the floor and rolled away just as a wave of electricity incinerated the rock she had been standing in front of previously.
A growl of frustration escaped her lips, and Ark leaped to her pedes, staff out and ready. Her optics searched the dim, warm cavern, and she stepped away from the steady lava flow.
"You are far from home, little child," a voice said. Ark's gaze snapped to the the entrance of the passage to take in the sight of a tall black armored femme. The femme's purple optics glowed with malice as she regarded Ark. "Or maybe you are a lost child who is searching for a home."
"I found my home," Ark growled, servo transforming into a blaster and shooting at the femme.
The dark femme blocked the blasters with her electric staff before leaping away from the dangerous spot in the cavern that left her vulnerable. Ark took that small distraction to run toward the support systems, getting ready to toss the bomb.
A blaster shot sounded and Ark dropped the bomb with a scream as a blaster bolt went through her servo. She hissed in pain, gripping her staff in her uninjured servo and turned to face the other femme.
"I could sense your corrupted spark signature," the femme said lightly as she strode toward Ark, her stance ready to fight. "It was a very telling signature." She paused, pouting for a minute. "Although, you left the practice, and our hold losend on you."
"Precisely why I left," Ark stated as she launched forward, her own electric staff activating. The witch seemed ready however, and blocked the attack with trained ease. The infuriating smugness did not leave her optics, and her expression did not change as Ark and her became locked in a desperate battle.
"Were you trying to topple my sanctuary?" the witch pouted. "Very naughty of you child. My predacons will deal with you soon enough." Her optics flickered over to the steaming lava flow. "Or the fire of the mountains will consume you."
"My the fire of the Pits consume your wickedness," Ark growled. She pressed all her weight into knocking the femme off balance before throwing her staff at the witch. The femme shrieked as the staff skewered through her shoulder, though she snapped off the ends of the staff as her energon dripped and hissed on the floor.
"You discarded your weapon," the femme growled in triumph. "You have no weapon!" Though the triumph left her optics as Ark rushed at her with activated swords. The witch scrambled on the defense, blocking the new style of attack with her staff.
Just as Ark felt that she had the upper hand, a ground bridge opened up behind her. Ark pushed past the distraction, knowing that the witch was to be her top priority. Yet she also knew it could cost her her life if she ignored the new arrival.
All these thoughts filled her mind, and she came to a swift decision to focus on the witch while twisting away from the danger she knew lurked behind. Yet she was not fast enough as a blaster bolt slammed into her side. With a cry of pain, she fell to the burning ground.
"Looks like you are in need of assistance, Antagony," the new arrival said as he activated his sword in one servo while wielding a blaster in the other.
Antagony grinned. "Always eager to assist a lady, Dirge." Her cold optics focused on Ark who struggled to stand. "Now, assist this femme through her misery."
Ark growled, optics sparking as her swords vanished, only to be replaced by wrist blades. Crouching down low on the ground, she readied her stance. "Cumbersome swords," she muttered.
Antagony grinned, electric rode sizzling with dangerous energy in ehr servos. "I couldn't agree more."
Bumblebee held in his pained gasps as he gripped Smokescreen's claws for support as they crashed through the thick, glass windows that was obviously the main headquarters of super evil crazy witch femme and her traitorous partners. Honestly, this made his job all the more easier. Now if only Bumblebee could try to push past the pain that was lodged in his chassis.
He leaped to his pedes quickly before rushing to the consoles. "Electric...power!" he gasped, searching around for the main power source. If they could destroy the main power source, there was a good chance they could cut off whatever energy was powering up the devices on the predacons.
Smokescreen transformed, running to Bumblebee's side. "There!" he exclaimed, rushing to the console. "At least, it looks like this is it."
Bumblebee nodded. "Blast it!" he rasped.
Smokescreen nodded and stepped back, only for his optics to widen with pain as he collapsed to the ground, screaming and tearing at his throat. Bumblebee rushed forward, unsure how to put an end to his friend's suffering. Looking up with narrowed optics, his servos transformed into blasters, aiming at the console.
Something slammed into him with an electric force, and Bumblebee was sent flying into the shattered glass walls that overlooked the caverns below. His optics snapped to witness Sentinel approach him, blaster out, as well as the device in his servo that was causing Smokescreen such misery.
Sentinel frowned as he stared at Bumblebee. Smokescreen had ceased screaming in pain, until Sentinel's frown deepened and he pressed once more on the device. Bumblebee was scrambling to his pedes as his friend's pain continued, yet Sentinel lashed out at him with a dagger.
But Bumblebee saw the dagger, and he ducked, bareling right into the older mech. The dagger was sent flying away as they both collided into the wall. Bumblebee knew he had to act fast. While he was younger and faster, he was also injured. That was a fact Sentinel took advantage of. He jabbed his servos into Bumblebee's wounds, twisting and causing Bumblebee to pull back with a scream as he felt his voice box crack.
Sentinel lashed out with a kick, sending Bumblebee falling back. He gripped the sides of the broken window, yet his descent doward did not stop. His servos cut and bled as he tried to hold on, the sounds of Smokescreen screaming his name filling his hearing.
Yet none of it stopped his fall. The glass broke, and Bumblebee plummeted to the ground. He could not even scream as he fell, the ground eager to receive him.
The breath was knocked out of him as something large slammed into him. The white predacon who had caught him curled his wings around Bumblebee, protecting the yellow mech from the fall. Bumblebee's insides were jared as they crashed into the ground, the predacon letting out a pained groan as his body continued to spasm with pain.
The wings that had protected him fell back, and Bumblebee scrambled to his pedes quickly, looking into the predacons pained filled optics. "Smoke...Smokescreen!" he gasped. He looked back up at the main headquarters with narrowed optics. Their advantage of destroying the power source was ruined, but at the moment, Sentinel seemed content with causing them misery. He could faintly hear the screams of the predacons echoing around him. Hopelessness clenched his spark as he was faced with the impossible task of escaping this Pit.
There was nothing more condemning then failing.
He bowed his helm before rising to his pdes, focusing his glare on the very spot he knew Sentinel was. Smokescreen's pained cries had been reduced to whimpers, yet a jolt of pain would still surge through his body.
Bumblebee strode forward, only for Smokescreen to transform and reach for him. "Don't.." Smokescreen gasped. "Don't go alone."
It didn't matter if he had to do it alone. It didn't matter if he could survive. All that mattered was if he could give his comrades a chance. Even now, he cursed Predaking for his hastiy plan that was getting them killed and forcing them into this situation. Where was the backup he claimed to have?
A roar sounded up ahead, and he looked up with wide optics to witness Firestar crash through the broken glass that Smokescreen had destroyed. A green figure was in her claws, and Bumblebee barely had time to realize that he recognized the tiny green femme before a familiar voice warmed his spark and caught his attention.
"Bumblebee!"
He had never turned faster then before as he spun around, optics wide with shock as he took in the sight of the mighty blue femme who stood before him, her optics matching his feelings of wonder and pleasant surprise.
"Arcee!"
Then the ground beneath them began to shake.