Ripjaw sped back inside, spark pumping energon through her shaken system. She climbed the stairs up to the upper area and came out on top of the base, looking on as the Nemesis began shooting near her.
There has to be something I can do. She thought, going back inside and looking for anything that resembled a weapons room.
The little Predacon could hear her sires roars as the war ensued, her anxiety rising as she felt useless in the moment. Firing shots became louder as they broke through the ceiling, Ratchet setting up the ground bridge at Optimus Prime's command for retreat. Ripjaw quickly ran back to the main area as she saw them beginning to leave one by one, looking on in disbelief that they would abandon the battle like this.
Optimus looked to her once he noticed she wasn't going in with them. "You must leave now, Ripjaw."
"But what about my sire?! He's out there battling while you all run!" she argued, tail whipping about anxiously.
"It is his choice to do battle, but this is not a fight that can be one on our part right now. You must go through now and we will all meet up at a rendezvous at a later time!" He replied firmly.
The sparkling shook her head, quickly taking off towards the road hall to go outside but being swiped up by the prime's hands and taken to Ratchet.
"Leave with her, I will destroy the ground bridge so the Decepticons cannot follow you." Optimus ordered.
"But what about you?" Ratchet inquired, worried for his leader.
"I will be fine, now go!" the prime commanded, bringing his guns out and ready to destroy the controls.
Ripjaw shrieked and thrashed in the medics arms as he ran through the portal with her, being sent near a scrapyard far away from the base. The sparkling finally managed to escape his grasp once they were through, looking on as the ground bridge disappeared from site as it closed.
"NO! My sire!" she screamed. "He'll die if no one helps him!"
Ratchet could only look to her as he felt defeated, unsure of whether or not it would be worth it to even meet back up with the others. The old medic felt as if the battle was completely lost.
Predaking continued in his onslaught against the Decepticons, optics widening when he saw the Autobot base suddenly destroyed by a bombing from seekers. He let out a roar as he flew to the wreckage, looking desperately for his sparkling.
Many soldiers took this chance to shoot while the predacon was preoccupied, being met with fierce flames afterwards as the beast protected the wreckage as if it were his territory. Megatron looked from Lazerbeaks video surveillance, smirking to himself.
"Aim all weapons at Predaking. I want him in as much shambles as the Autobot base is." He ordered.
The Nemesis soon aimed towards the large predacon as he stood firm, ready for any and all attacks to protect what could be where his sparkling laid in need of help. He refused to take even a step away from his perch, readying a blast in his throat then releasing all he could into one flaming volley towards the ship. Weapons soon fired back, laser hitting flames as both somewhat canceled each other out but passed.
Predaking was soon showered with laser shots as the Nemesis was hit with the fire blast, both sustaining heavy damage from one another. Seekers in the sky soon flew by, releasing missals upon the beast as he still refused to move from his spot, wings flapping roughly to create a gust that rerouted the bombs away from the site. His claws dug into the rubble as the recoil from the bombs blasts hit him, growling deeply in his determination.
Megatron glared to the screen after regaining his footing in the ship from the hit, turning and walking out to the landing bay then transforming to his jet mode, flying down upon Predaking for a battle in person. The beast stared him down, wounded and tired but not defeated.
"It's time for you to be deactivated, beast." Megatron growled, bringing out his Dark Star Saber.
Predaking transformed despite his injuries, readying his claws for battle. "On the contrary, it is you who will be ended, Megatron."
Both bots soon rushed at each other, blades and claws flashing at one another as they fought without mercy. Megatron slashed skillfully towards his opponent, smirking as the saber sliced through the predacons tough metal when contact was made.
"You're no match for my saber, accept your fate!" The leader proclaimed, swinging for direct hits.
Predaking refused to give in, dodging when he could and clawing back when moments provided themselves. His injuries left him with slower movements compared to his former master, giving an advantage to the Decepticon. This was a battle to the end and they both knew it, neither giving the other any leeway.
Megatron doubled his efforts knowing his competitor was tiring, landing a blow to the Predacons chest and sending him flying back with a blast from his arm cannon. Predaking landed roughly in the wreckage, struggling to get up as his spark was almost flayed. The Decepticon quickly came after him full force, raising his blade in a strike but being blasted away but an unseen combatant.
The Predacon looked over, seeing Smokescreen now in the fray. The young Autobot quickly went to him and placed a hand on the king's arm.
"We have to go, everyone but you has left!" He insisted, tugging at him.
"Everyone? Even Ripjaw?" Predaking asked hopefully, exhaustion starting to set in.
"Yes now let's go!" Smokescreen yelled, sending another blast as Megatron began to come after them.
With a quick tug into the ground, Smokescreen and Predaking disappeared into the ground, leaving the Decepticons strike without a target. Megatrons energon boiled at seeing his opponent escape, yelling out in frustration and slashing at the ground.
Predaking looked around the cavern they ended up in, seeing Optimus waiting there in silence.
"How did you make it out alive?" the Predacon inquired, confused by the situation.
Smokescreen proudly held up his weapon with a grin. "Phase Shifter, best invention from Iacon ever. I managed to come back last minute and got Optimus out of the base right when the bombs came down."
Predaking looked to Optimus, his need for revenge still flowing but keeping it in check. "Where is Ripjaw?"
"With Ratchet somewhere on the planet, her exact location I am unsure of. All I know for sure is that they are all safe from this location." Optimus replied, his answer enough to calm the beast.
"So how do we find everyone, Optimus? They could be anywhere." Smokescreen queried. "I don't exactly want to be stuck underground while the Decepticons run around the planet without us to stop them."
The leader looked to him, brow furrowed a bit from the situation. "We must wait for a bit until the Decepticons leave the area, though I don't know how long that will take."
"That could take days, Optimus! We don't have time to wait!" Smokescreen bemoaned.
"It's what we must do to survive, Smokescreen." The leader replied somewhat harshly.
Predaking hand clenched into fists, his own impatience nagging at him but knowing there wasn't much else they could do, especially with his weakened state. "How long."
"Could be hours. Could be days." Optimus answered, none too happy with their predicament either.
The bots all sat there, waiting for their moment to leave for a rendezvous.
Days began to pass after the initial attack, Ripjaw's patience having waned.
"We can't keep staying here, we must leave and find the others!" she nagged, growling at the older bot.
Ratchet stayed silent in his vehicle mode, trying to ignore her childish shrieks. Ripjaw even went to the extent of kicking his tires in attempts to rouse him. After hours his own patience began to grown thin.
"If you want to see the others then leave yourself! I'm staying here!" the medic shouted.
"You can't just give up! I thought you Autobots never gave in to Decepticons!" she yelled back, he tail whipping about.
"Just watch me." He grumbled. "The war is over, child. The sooner you realize that, the better. We lost."
Ripjaw snarled, kicking his tire again. "I refuse! As long as there is someone willing to fight it will not end until Megatron deactivates!"
Ratchet grew silent again, giving her another cold shoulder as she relentlessly struck at him. Just as she was about to slash his tires, they heard a car engine coming towards them. Ripjaw quickly transformed to beast mode and stood her ground, ready for any enemy until she saw Bumblebee appear.
"An Autobot!" she exclaimed, quickly getting Ratchets attention as they both transformed.
"Bumblebee?!" The medic questioned, happy to see his friend but still disgruntled at their position in the war.
Ripjaw stood as they conversed, frowning as it quickly turned into a small argument between them as Ratchet refused to leave.
"I'll leave with him then. You can stay and rust here!" Ripjaw huffed, going to the scout.
"See if I care!" Ratchet frowned, transforming back to vehicle mode with his back to them.
Bumblebee's shoulders slumped some but looked down to his new companion, soon transforming back into a car and letting her in.
"Let's get going. We have a long way ahead of us if we're to meet up with the others." Ripjaw said, being seat belted in the driver's seat as the scout sped off onto the open road.