Alpha struggled even more. "Please! Let him go! If you lost your memory then you have no proof that Prowl really did try to kill you"
"On the contrary, my dear." Hammertread replied cooly. "That is the one thing, the only thing, almost, that I do remember. I may not remember, but I get flashes of my memory from time to time."
The tank transformed, with Alpha slung over one shoulder, and walked down into the valley, a gun in his other hand. "Well." he looked over the two, and grinned at Prowl threateningly. "It's been a long time." Jade brought out her sniper rifle. "Not yet." Beacon whispered, getting out his own.
The tank's expression softened ever-so-slightly when he looked over at Driveby.
"Dri?..." He took a step towards her, but made sure to keep a good amount of space between them. Driveby almost said something, but swallowed the comment. She instead looked away.
The shadow continued to circle the dried-up lake, keeping itself too far above for identification.
Compass scanned over the cube for what seemed like hours. There was nothing in it...there had to be something in it...there was nothing in it. He took a sip, and then waited. Nothing. He stared at the cube, and set it down wearily. "...Alpha..."
Alpha tried to fight.
Omega landed and whimpered. "Sis..."
Alpha heard him in her mind, but said nothing. She was too scared for her love. "Fraggit, let me go!" She yelled, kicking at the tank from atop his shoulder where he had her slung like a sack of potatoes.
"In a minute." Hammertread's grin widened.
"She's a lot of trouble, you know that?" he jerked a thumb up at the femme. "She also has a big mouth."
"Hey!"
"The tank grinned, and he threw a pair of ener-shackles at Prowl. "To make sure you can't run away." he grinned. He turned to Driveby. "I trust you'll cooperate." his expression softened slightly. "Won't you?"
Driveby snorted and swallowed another insult.
Omega turned invisable and landed behind HT.
"Sis." he whispered
Alpha looked up. She smiled softly, then. "Where's Compass. Please tell me..."
Omega flew over to the two and was ready to snatch his sis from the mech's grip.
Prowl looked at Alpha, at Driveby, and then at HT. "I don't believe you brought your flier miles card with you, did you?" He questioned the tank innocently.
The tank quickly looked up to the sky, sensing something. When he didn't see anything, he returned his gaze to the black and white tactician and narrowed his optics.
Driveby silently radioed Beacon. "get ready to strike."
Beacon relayed the message. There was a series of clicks, unheard over the wind in the underbrush. Cap transformed and leaned forward, getting out his mini-rocket launcher that also was his gun turret. Prowl smirked.
Hammertread turned quickly in a circle to make sure nobody was around, and reached for his guns. His tankmode gun turret swung out in front to him.
"Clang!"
"What the?"
Omega reached out and snatched Alpha off Hammertread's shoulder.
"You okay, sis?"
"Where's Compass? Let me go Omega!" Alpha yelled, "I need to know where Compass is!"
Omega held his sister as they backed away. "Al-"
"He'S GOT COMPASS!!!"
Prowl raised his hand. "Your private jet arrived." He pointed upwards towards the sillouette. "I hope you don't plan on going anywhere." He flicked his wrist, signalling the group in the trees and nodded to Driveby.
"By the way. I don't surrender."
He knew they were stalling for something! the tank drew his turret rifle and aimed it at Alpha..
At the last second he turned and fired at Prowl instead.
"NOW!" Driveby yelled.
Prowl pivoted, but was late as the shot nailed him in the shoulder. He shouted and hit the ground on his knees, grabbing the circuits in his shoulder as they shorted out. Using his good arm, He picked up his own gun and turned, firing at HT. The shadow over HT shrunk significantly, almost disappearing as the owner of it flew higher.
Everyone rushed out from cover at once. Hammertread snarled. He rushed at Prowl, intent on ripping him apart.
"I DONT CARE IF THERE ARE ONE OR ONE HUNDRED! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" he bellowed.
"Prowl!" Alpha yelled, jumping from Omega's arms. She ran over to him, arms and legs now free. "I hate people getting hurt because of me."
Omega landed next to HT and punched him.
Ratchet looked up at the silhouette, recognizing it, and bolted from the trees, shouting and firing.
Hammertread growled and advanced, his optics glowing brighter red. He swatted Omega away to one side, and stomped over to Prowl.
Omega growled.
Alpha made ten copies appear. They blocked Prowl from HT's view. "Leave now." they growled as the orinal ran over to Omega and helped him to his feet.
"Where's Compass?!" Alpha yelled.
Prowl stood and shook his head at Alpha. "No, I'm fine. Get your brother and go find Compass!" Ratchet raced over, stopping by Prowl. He quickly assessed the damage and nodded, stating he'd be able to repair it later, before firing at HT. Prowl faced HT and stepped away from both Alpha and Ratchet, eyeing the tank. He held the gun in his good hand, but didn't fire.
Hammertread cracked his knuckles, a wide, evil grin spreading across his features. He mentally counted how many Autobots there were. Then ran at Prowl, spear-tackling the white tactician. Once he was on the ground, Hammertread punched him twice.
Jade, Gunlock, and Beacon swooped down from overhead trying to get a missile lock, but Prowl was in the way. Hammertread grabed one of Prowl's shoulder-missiles and wrenched it free, tossing it aside...
Prowl winced and his head whipped to the side with the punches. He grabbed a hold of Hammertread's shoulder, and attempted to roll, using his wings as leverage. He pushed with all his might, and shouted to Driveby to call the Ark for backup.
Alpha's copies joined the fight. While they weren't strong, there were ten of them and one of-
Alpha mumbled something and the copies disappeared.
"Sis, what are you-"
"I need to know...where Compass..." Alpha closed her optics. She touched Compass's mind. "Compass? Can you hear me?"
Compass jerked his head up. "Alpha?" He looked around, trying to get a sense of where he was. "Alpha!" He shouted. She had to of been somewhere nearby.
"Get your team out of here!" Prowl yelled at Driveby. Ratchet heard him, and radioed it to the rest of Driveby's group. Prowl wrestled with HT, trying to get him off of him. "We're not going anywhere." Gunlock fired a couple shots towards the two. Cap rushed forward, intent on beating down the tank and running him over with his own tank mode, but Ty caught him by the shoulder and held him back. "Let him handle it." she said.
Hammertread kept punching him, grabbing the other one. "Can't have you using those." He grinned. He puched lower, leaving dents in the patrol car's pristine hood..
Suddenly the battlefield went really quiet, and Hammertread looked up. The roar of engines was getting lounder.
A black and white Porsche came speeding over the ridge at 80 miles per hour, a pair of Lamborginis hot on his tail. One red, the other yellow. A Datsun with a similar paintjob to Prowl's came speeding in behind them.
"Where are you? Please tell me..." Alpha begged as Omega picked her limp body up. "I'm gonna help ya out..."
"This is wasting your strength..."
"Compass, if you can still hear me...where are you"
Hammertread got up and kicked Prowl as hard as he could in the center of the chest. He pulled out his shotgun and aimed it in the center of the Autobot's chest, right where his spark chamber lay beneath the metal. "I will have my revenge.." he whispered.
"Leave him alone!!!" A black and white blur came out of nowhere, right as the tank pulled the trigger...
Prowl looked at the cars, recognizing them even though his vision was fading from the punches. "No...Jazz. Get. Out." He tried to shout. He pulled his leg up and under HT, and nailed him hard in the lower section, trying to throw him off of him.
Compass tried to stand, but once again fell to his knees. "I don't...I don't know...It's too dark. I-I can't get up..." His optics dimmed momentarily. He refused to touch the rest of the Energon cube in case his scanners didn't pick up traces of whatever may of been in it.
Prime pulled up at the edge of the valley and Transformed. "Autobots, Attack!" He thundered. Suddenly, the entire rest of the Ark seemed to appear over the ridge..
Hammertread snarled and fired at the black and white Prowl again before turning to drive away.
"I'm coming, Compass. Hang on." Alpha whispered then transfomed. She drove towards where she sensed Compass.
"Hang on." Omega transformed and followed.
Compass tried to give Alpha a sense of where he was, but he couldn't. His energy level was dropping, causing him to shut down necessary equipment in order to do so. He laid there, trying to keep his optics lit.
Prowl shouted in pain as the shot struck home, nailing him hard in the chest. He blacked out moments later, while trying to fight off the lack of energy.
Ratchet yelled. "PROWL!" He bolted from Prime's side, and skidded towards him, hitting his knees in the dirt while landing next to his side. Above them, the silhouette dived, its shadow growing larger on the ground.
Hammertread thought quickly for a second, then screeched to a halt, transformed, and turned around. He ran back towards the two, firing row after row of shots. He knocket Ratchet away and aimed his rifle straight down at the tactician's head.
"I'f you are stil alive and talking... I will not rest untill you DIE!!" and he fired, again.
Ratchet blocked the shot with his hand, before nailing HT hard in the neck with his elbow.
"You'll be the one dying today, Hammertread!" and fired off three shots at the tank's head. Hammertread staggered back, blinded momentarily.
"YOU"LL PAY FOR THAT!!!" The boxy tank roared and backhanded the medic as hard as he could.
The silhouette finally came into view, a sleek white jet with a straight tailfin. Hound eyed the battle from inside the cockpit. "Rook, how does it feel to crash in on a party?" He chuckled.
Rook smiled as his tailfin split and he fired two rockets at Hammertread. "I wouldn't know. I always seem to crash in on battles, not parties. Ratchet's head was flung to the side as he took the blow. He went to deliver a hit, but heard the whistling from above. His optics widened, and he grabbed Prowl, pulling him back as far as possible as Rook's missles whistled and homed in on Hammertread.
The missiles found their mark, sending the tank flying a few feet, and shattering the treads on his lower legs.
Alpha followed the sense and then transformed. She looked around the cave and, after lighting up her optics, spotted Compass. She ran over to him and bent down. "Compass! Thank Primus!" She held him close.
"Something's wrong...hold on..." Her markings lit up as she ran her hand over him, merging her energy aura with his, giving him some of her energy.
"I hope this works..."
Compass' optics lit, but only barely.
"...Alpha?" He whispered, and smiled lightly when he realized it was her. "...You're...okay.."
"I'm fine..." Alpha hugged him as her markings glowed even brighter. "You're the one that needs help..." She looked at the energon. "Did he give that to you?" She asked, "He gave me some too...only he didn't drug mine...I wonder...you need energon, Compass...would you be willing to try it?"
"Try...what?" He questioned. He looked at her markings, and it suddenly occured to him her armor was off. He struggled to sit up. "Nothing, nothing." Alpha sighed. She helped him sit up and then looked at her glowing markings. "Heh...at least they don't hurt..."Same here..." Omega walked over to Alpha, you could see his markings glowing faintly under his armor.
"Yours too...oh no...we can't...not now..."
The tank made it back to his feet, although limping, and attached something to the end of his rifle. He fitted a small missile on it and fired at the large jet, then fired off a row of regular shots at Ratchet and Prowl. "Rook! Roll!" Hound barked as the tank fired at them. Rook complied, barreling to the side and making a swift turn, the edge of his wing barely scraping the ground as they struggled to rebalance. He veered around, and landed near Bluestreak and Cable, who were watching the fight with some of the others. Hound stepped out from the jet, before Rook transformed next to him.
The tank stomped forward, ignoring his shredded leg armor, the pain only adding to his anger. Jazz zoomed over to intercept him..
"Oh no ya don't." He turned up his headlights, blinding the tank, who fired wildly trying to hit his target. Hammertread covered his face and fired at the sounce of the light.Jazz deftly leapt to one side and rolled away. He flickered his optics to try to clear them and loaded another missile, firing at the Prowl again.
He ran/limped towards them.
"I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL I HAVE FINISHED YOU!"
A large blue fist collieded with the mech, knocking him off balance. He turned to face Prime.
"You." he spat.
Compass looked sadly at Alpha and Omega. He'd remember what Alpha had whispered the one day about the markings, and he swallowed, looking at them, and then directly at her.
"You"
Hammertread squared off with the Autobot leader, ready to charge, when he suddenly felt something like a pin prick in the back of his neck. The world swirled around him, and the tank hit his knes..
"What..."
and collapsed.
Ratchet grinned from behind him. Prime looked a little relieved.
Prowl groaned, and turned his head to the side, slowly coming to. All he saw were blurs, and a very distinctive pain was radiating from his chest and arm. Prime looked over at the very dented and gashed black-and white, and Ratchet hurried over to him.
Alpha swallowed. "well...right now...we can't serve him...so...so maybe..."
"Maybe it's not our time?" Omega offered up.
"It can't be...I've got sparkling...we can't serve Primus here so..."
"Let's try...maybe we have new powers."
Alpha nodded. She helped Compass to his feet. "Omega"
Omega walked over to his sister and subspaced his armor. The mech frowned as the Omega signs on his wings glowed. "Let's hurry."
"Right."
The two took a breath and started to chant,
"Alpha and Omega.
Beginging and then End.
Good and Evil.
Light and Dark.
One cannot survive without the other.
The other cannot survive without one.
Together they may battle, but together they create balance..."
The twins' optics turned white. Their surroundings flickered and then they were at the Autobot base.
The twins's optics went back to normal and then they let out a soft moan before falling down into stasis.
Compass blinked as they appeared at the base, and looked around. He turned and saw both Omega and Alpha drop into statis.
"ALPHA!" He yelled.
The twins moaned as their markings stopped glowing. They let out a soft breath. "Primus..."
Vector Prime, sensing the twins, ran towards them. He looked at the two, optics full of worry. "What...happened?"
Compass held Alpha, on the brink of crying. He looked up at Vector and shook his head.
"I-I don't k-know..."
Vector Prime bent down and touched Omega's forehead. He then walked over to Alpha and touched hers gently. "Don't worry...they're alive...just in stasis..." He sighed, picking Omega up. "Quickly, let's get them somewhere where they can rest"
"Master..." Alpha mumbled, snuggling into compass. Her markings glowed a bit, but then stopped.
Jazz and Jade were the first ones to reach the unconcious second-in-command.
"Is he okay?" Jazz asked.
"Just stay still don't move." Jade advised. The rest of the Autobots joined them, Sunstreaker ready to kick the unconcious Hammertread into spare parts. Sideswipe was next to him scowling also.
Ratchet looked over the damage for a second, then simply said. "We need to get him back to base. now."
Prime looked at Hammertread as Driveby and her team walked up. "What are you going to do with him?" she asked.
"I don't know. But we should keep him in stasis" (drug-induced sleep) "until we decide." Prime said.
Driveby nodded and looked down at him. She shook her head and walked away. "Too bad. You could have been a good person if you would have just tried." she whispered, shaking her head.
"we'll be at our base if you need us." she called.
"Thank you. Prime said. She turned to face him, then her gaze fell on HT again. She just nodded and turned away. Driveby and the other five of her team transformed and drove/flew away.
"Byeeee!" Cap yelled, turning to wave widely before transforming and vaulting up over the ridge with a whoop.
Prime transformed and opened his trailer door. Sunstreaker, sideswipe, and Jazz hauled up the heavy tank and threw him none-too gently into Prime's trailer.
"I'll gaurd him." Sunstreaker growled. "Not alone you won't" Sideswipe followed him up into the trailer. "I'm going too.." Jazz said, all traces of humor gone from his voice. Instead of his usually easygoing, happy self, there was a scowl written all over the visored mech's face.
"Perhaps you should go with Ratchet." Prime suggested. Jazz glared at Hammertread for a moment, then nodded and walked over to where Ratchet was still hovering over the barely-concious tactician. Jade walked over, also.
Ratchet did what he could to patch up Prowl at the time, cursing all the while. He noticed Jazz's shadow, and went silent. He didn't need to look up to know Jazz was upset. Rook and Hound walked over to them, Hound limping, albeit not as bad before. Ratchet eyed him, but the jeep gave a friendly smile.
"Hiya, Ratchet!"
"I'll provide you all transport home. It'll take less time then driving back." Rook stated as he transformed. Hound stepped up the ramp into Rook and nodded to Ratchet and Jazz. "Let's get him up here." Ratchet nodded, and looked at Jazz.
Alpha moaned as she finally woke up. the femme looked around and then sat up. Her hands went to her chest and arms. "My armor..."
"Right here." Vector Prime walked into view, alpha's armor in his arms.
Alpha smiled and took them. She slid them on and then smiled even more. "Thank you master. where's omega?"
VP pointed to Alpha's brother's sleeping (not to mention snoring) form.
"There."
Alpha laughed.
Compass looked at Alpha, just staring. He was at a loss for words. He thought she was a ghost, come back from the dead, and he feared touching her to see if it was true, even when Vector handed her the armor. He stared.
Alpha smirked and walked over to omega. She tapped him.
"BRo?"
"SNORE!!"
Alpha deadpanned at her brother's loud snore.
"Bro?"
SNORE.
Alpha sighed. "Never mind." She turned around and faced compass. Placing a hand on her hip, she frowned, but then smirked. "Whatcha starin' at?"
Jazz hopped up into Rook's cargo area next to Prowl, looking worriedly at his friend.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe slammed Prime's trailer door shut, and Prime started his engine with a low rumble.
"Autobots, Transform and roll for home!"
Jade transformed and took to the sky. Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Bluestreak took off over the ridge, and the other Autobots transformed and started their engines with a rumble.
Ratchet set opposite of Jazz, next to Prowl, looking at the tactician. "Prowl?" No response. He tapped his finger idly on the seat. Hound sat down next to Jazz. "Is he gonna be alright?" He asked gently. Ratchet didn't answer, unsure himself. All he needed right now was to get back to his medbay to hopefully ensure he was alright.
Rook took off, clicking his tailfin back together and heading past Prime towards the Ark.
"Y-You're..." Compass got up, almost stumbling, and hugged her tightly, holding back. "...I thought you d-died.."
"I'm fine, Compass..." Alpha said, hugging Compass. "Primus doesn't have a use for us...yet..." She whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder. "So, we're still here and Omega still snores loudly."
Omega made a snore that sounded like "'eard that".
Alpha laughed.
Compass chuckled and embraced her. "I'm so glad you're okay..." He whispered to her.
Jade flew silently beside Rook, watching the three cars and tank speed across the barren flatland. Beacon whistled something, and Jade dropped back to fly in formation with him and Gunlock. It was something she'd never gotten the chance to do. All seekers traveled in trios. Or so it seemed. But Jade knew she'd never be part of one. too bad.
She looked over at Rook, and could make out the figures inside through his window. The Autobot saboteur, Jazz, was sitting next to Ratchet with his head bowed, maybe looking at Prowl? She hoped he would be alright.
"We gotta go." Gunlock radioed. Jade tipped one wing. The two fliers banked left, and then tipped to the right before straightening out an flying away.
Jade swung closer, hoping her scanners could get a glimpse of something. The Ark came into view, and Jade glided forward, glad to be home.
Rook kicked his thrusters in, bursting towards the Ark and decending through the air, flying right into the entrance of the Ark. He slowed to a hover before the hallways became too narrow for his wing span, and landed. Kicking the ramp open and down, Hound helped Jazz and Ratchet carry Prowl to the medbay
"I'm fine." Alpha smiled, hugging him. She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Don'tcha worry 'bout me...I can take care of myself..." Her optics flashed where he couldn't see. "How'd HT get you too? I mean...could he have gotten ya while I was still knocked out?..."
Compass looked at Omega over Alpha's shoulder. "I..don't know. I don't even remember where I was. I just woke up there, I still don't even know where we were."
"Don't worry, he can't hurtcha now..." Alpha sighed, hugging him. She smiled a bit and then kissed his cheek. "Let's go grab some energon"
Compass nodded. "Let's."
Daze blinked and moved out of the way when the rest of the Autobots came back. She smiled faintly at them.
Jade landed and ran inside, following directly behind Jazz, the twins, bluestreak, and Wheeljack and Ratchet who were carrying the unconcious Prowl to the repairbay.
For the next fifteen minutes or so, everyone was grouped together in the control room talking and chattering away. Eventually, different groups parted from the crowd to go find another place to chat, or something else to do.
After about an hour, Daze walked over to Jade, and tilted her head to one side.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Out. Out!" Ratchet could be heard yelling from the repairbay. The small crowd filed out, and headed for other places.
Jade shook her head, trying to bite a pang of back worry. "Some psychopathic tank tried to rip him him to shreds.
By hand.
He got in a few good punches before Rook and the other Autobots showed up. Driveby and them... they tried to stop him. He was just too heavily armored." She turned away from the doors, and noticed the figure in the shadows, leaning gainst a wall in the corner, next to the doors
"Oh," Daze shrugged and turned around, staggering slightly. "I'm sure he'll be OK."
Jade sniffled and glanced over at the figure, who kept glancing at the doors with a worried expression. She gave him a sweak smile.
The saboteur parted from the shadows, and walked over to the two of them.
"Ya'know, even if ya know someone for a few million years, ya still can't help but worry." Jazz glanced back at the closed repairbay doors.
"Even if ya know they're gonna be alright." He slung one arm across Jade's shoulders, and put the other around Daze's waist.
"Come on, there's nothin' we can do anyway. It's up ta Ratchet and Primus." He offered a smile, and guided the two towards the rec. room.