Finally, huh! Chapter 15. I apologize, yet again, for the long wait! School just started and what not. You know how it is. I'll be updating as soon as possible, folks! I'm not slackin' off!
Anyways, enjoy this chapter! Hope you all like it.
Chapter Fifteen: Friend or Foe?
Outside Bumblebee's Cell
Mirage stood there in the corridor, his circuits frozen. Immobile.
Quite frankly, he didn't really want to know what had happened at the end of that battle. Even if the aftermath was just what he was hoping and praying for, nonetheless, he did not want to know. A sense of fright ate at his spark and only made his unwillingness to move swell inside him.
Would he ever go and look? Of course.
Just not at the moment.
He let a couple cycles pass. A sort of guilt and unease roused in his tanks, sickening him. Tentative digits began stroking Bumblebee's lifeless faceplate, sliding downward to trace the little contours of his tiny chassis. Mirage looked down at the 'bot and passed a sigh. Was that a whimper he heard? He didn't know. It didn't really matter.
His digits stroked slower. His processor began to scream at him.
Enough wasting time.
He's dying.
Go. Move, before it's too late…
Reality struck him like a punch to the face.
He knew that with every passing cycle, Bumblebee's lifesource grew dimmer and dimmer and dimmer. The rim of death neared the little one. He could either act now, or let another ten cycles fly by – ten seemingly mere cycles that could be essential to 'Bee's restoration.
Mirage pushed out a sigh.
"…C'mon, 'Bee," he finally whispered. "I've got to get you out of here."
He carried himself to the cell, prepared to accept whatever the sight may be – the sight soon to be in his optics. Even more already started to settle in the pit of his tanks, and he subconsciously held Bumblebee tighter.
His spark began to quicken.
What if's ran through his processor.
What if Optimus was online? What if he wasn't?
What if Megatron was waiting for him to turn the corner, waiting for him to step in the perfect line of fire?
What if, what if, what if…
The inquiries hushed the instant he arrived.
Rounded, blue optics scanned the interior of the cell almost too intently, fearful of the unknown and the yet to be discovered. There was Energon spattered in random splotches on the floor. The walling was dented from the two mechs' brawl, burnt from laser and fusion fire, bent in, and scuffed.
And, there he was.
Megatron, propped against a wall, lay motionless. Blood red optics flickered, his arm's fusion cannon puffing a continuous cloud of smoke into the air. Megatron's motionlessness, however, didn't mean he was completely offline. The Autobot knew this, and he hesitantly entered the cell. He kept careful distance.
The atmosphere held an awkward eeriness about it. Hearing nothing but his footsteps and a fading enemy leader made him cringe.
A cycle or so passed.
Footsteps – he heard them. Blue optics lifted to the approaching form, someone all too familiar and unmistakable. He gaze rounded a little once his processor searched his memory banks for a designation match. He made a sound of relief.
"Optimus," he uttered with a little uncertainty. "Thank Primus."
The Commander didn't respond so quickly. His armor was scorched on some sections of plating - battle worn, dented and scratched. There was a wound at his side, a gash trickling Energon onto his thigh plating. Before Mirage could fully examine the infliction any longer, Optimus' hand clutched the area, covering it from his sights.
"Optimus…" Mirage said his name again. "Are you - "
His words halted as Prime pushed out a soft groan, taking in a trembling ventilation before he spoke.
"I'm fine, Mirage. I'm fine," he claimed gently. "It's nothing too critical."
Mirage thought otherwise, but didn't rebut.
Optimus adverted dropped his optics to the mechling, passing a slow sigh at the doleful sight. His gaze remained there for astroseconds before lowering to the floor.
He shook his head. "Bumblebee…"
Mirage dropped his optics as well. "…Unresponsive. He makes sounds to my voice on some occasions, but otherwise, he's too weak to answer me."
Optimus nodded slowly. "We have to regroup as soon as possible. The sooner we reach headquarters, the better."
Mirage nodded once. "Absolutely."
Prime established a private COM-link frequency between himself and Elita One, waiting for the static to subside and white noise to quiet. It took a few astroseconds for the channel to clear.
"Elita, Optimus," he informed. "Status report."
The femme stammered shortly. "Optimus? Is Megatron defeated?" she insisted, brushing his question away for a moment. She paused, bringing the pain in his vocal patterns to her attention. "…Are you alright?"
Optimus nodded aimlessly. "Yes, Megatron is defeated, Elita. He shouldn't be a threat to us any longer. And as for myself…" He glanced down at his side. Energon was starting to ooze against his palm and seep between his digits, running down the back of his hand. The ache ate away at his frayed circuitry and wiring, pulsating with such a sting.
He passed a soft sigh, trying to rid his vocalizer clean of any pain. "I will hold."
"You're positive," she questioned.
"Positive."
Elita proceeded to answer his initial question. "Blackout's been down for a few cycles now. There's no sign of any other Decepticon threats either. My scanners haven't detected any…" She paused. "We've been regrouped at the outskirts for about four cycles, waiting for you and Mirage...and the mechling."
Optimus acknowledged. "Send me your coordinates."
"Already done."
The commander couldn't help, but smile. "We'll be with you shortly. Optimus out."
"Elita One, out"
One click terminated both channels.
The Autobot commander met the optics of his soldier, stepping forward to further approach him. Initiating a scan of his companion, a harsh reminder of struck his processor. He had forgotten that he was not the only wounded Autobot…
"You're status," he started. "…Your Energon levels are low."
Mirage seemed a little struck by the statement, as told by a sort of perplexed glint in his blue optics. He lowered his gaze to the wounds inflicted on his form – his side and upper leg. A cautious servo brushed across each injury, and his digits withdrew as an ache rattled his circuits.
"I'll manage, Prime," he assured.
The real truth was, his entire system ached within. Standing on his own two feet was nearly a challenge in itself, but he forced his processor to overcome the matter and concentrate on one thing. His little ambition– precious Bumblebee.
If anything, he did not want Bumblebee to offline.
That was his one and only prayer.
xXx
Outside: Outskirts
A Couple Cycles Later
"Can you tell what's wrong with him?" Mirage's asked softly, a tinge of regret tugging at his tone.
Ratchet's scanners analyzed the mechling's cold, near-lifeless frame, cradling him in tender servos and gentle digits. He opened the 'bot's tiny chest compartment. All optics watched a weary, blue spark pulsate under the burden of a horrible struggle, the struggle to stay online. 'Bee was barely hanging on. The Medibot sighed regretfully.
"You can't really have a diagnosis for this, other than, 'practically offline…'"
Mirage winced. Those weren't the words he wanted to hear.
"He's still able to be restored, isn't he? His lifesource…" Elita asked hesitantly. "He's not offline."
Ratchet nodded slowly. "It's possible to return him to full consciousness, yes, undoubtedly. However, the sooner we get to the base and get this 'bot to the medbay, the better. His spark's fading…slowly, but still." He closed 'Bee's chest compartment with a slow shake of his head. "We better get moving."
"How long would you say we have, Ratchet?" asked Optimus.
"A Megacycle, tops," the medic responded. "Beyond that, and Bumblebee's chance of returning online will be very slim. Close to none. It'd be a complete miracle if he returned."
xXx
"I knew this day would come. I knew it, I knew, I knew it," Starscream exclaimed in his alt. mode, swooping in a happy, graceful incline. He situated himself in front of his two subordinates. "Megatron finally cracked! And now, I can crown myself as…the new leader." He laughed. "Lord Starscream…It's Beautiful."
Thundercracker pushed out a huff. "I beg to differ. I'll give you one stellarcycle as the new leader of the Decepticons…"
Starscream was far too busy crooning over the situation to throw a snappy comeback.
"…Enemies ahead," Skywarp rained on Starscream's parade. "The Autobots are attempting to escape the grounds."
Starscream stopped his vocalizer. His scanners shifted to high alert, analyzing the ground below for any energy signatures.
Scanning, scanning, scanning…
Energy signatures were locked.
"Aah', there," he grinned. "Autobots, most definitely. Making a run for it. Just as we presumed."
"…Awaiting orders, Starscream," Skywarp said. "Should we fire on them?"
"Of course!"
Heated nullray fire blossomed at the tips of his weapons, locking a perfect shot for the escaping enemy. With no ado, laser blasts seared through the skies, impacting the land below.
One battle might have been over, but another had just begun.
xXx
In mere cycles, the rightful headquarters would be in their sights, and finally, the mechling would get the proper treatment his fragile lifesource so dreadfully hungered. Mirage only wished, as did every other Autobot, the absolute best for their dear Bumblebee. The thought of losing such a precious lifeform was a nightmare to all.
Ratchet returned Bumblebee to the hands of his guardian. "Here. Take him."
Mirage pulled the 'bot close to his spark, lowering his optics to the little one's faceplate.
"Thanks, Ratch'."
As he dropped his optics, the realization to how much Bumblebee meant to him struck his processor. 'Bee was that little spark in his lifecycle. He couldn't do without it. If this little spark were to die, fade away for eternity, a huge part of him would offline with it.
Imagining a life without 'Bee…He cringed.
His dreary thoughts were shattered at the sound of blaring nullray fire.
More Decepticons?
Their attempted retreat could not be pursued. Bumblebee's lifesource was in jeopardy. If they couldn't shake the threat in due time, Bumblebee's spark chamber would be an empty shell in a matter of time.
Mirage would not let that happen.
"Return fire!" was Prime's order. All Autobots lifted their weapons.
Nullray fire streaked through the dreary skies, piercing with sharp colors, only to be returned by Autobot laser fire. Every blast grazed Decepticon alloy, or ended up being dodged effortlessly. Nonetheless, the battle only grew heated. Activity didn't seem like it was going to end any time soon.
Mirage clutched Bumblebee away from the nullray blasts, aiming his own weapon for Starscream, the leader of this unexpected attack. He aimed with no ado and fired. Armor piercing darts lashed through the air, only to latch to the jet's alloy. Starscream wobbled to lower altitude, failing to regain himself. He ended up in the ground, but the other two Decepticons carried on, nonetheless.
Sunstreaker shot his optics to Elita One and narrowed his gaze. His mouth bent. "I thought you said there were no more signs of any Decepticon threats."
The femme made a face in return. "I don't know why I didn't detect them. They must've retreated further away than my scanners suspected."
Nullray blasts seared by Mirage's faceplate as he took position behind a hunk of rubble for cover. Heat washed over his shoulders as the fire did not cease. Instinctively, he pulled the weary mechling against his spark chamber. Bumblebee's little form hung limp in his hands, like a ragdoll. Tender fingers supported his tiny head and skidplate, stroking at the 'bot's wound. Bumblebee uttered a soft noise of ache. Mirage withdrew his fingers.
"Sorry, little one," he crooned with a cringe. Instead, he stroked Bumblebee's faceplate.
So desperately did he want to retreat from this battle and get 'Bee somewhere safe. A sickening feeling, sort of like paranoia, roused inside him. He feared for the little one's safety. If they were here in a megacycle, even half of a megacycle more, he knew Bumblebee was condemned to offline.
And, he told himself again, he could not let that happen.
Blue optics fell to the 'bot and a sigh passed Mirage as he traced Bumblebee's emotionless features. He cringed again, not only at the spark wrenching sight, but at the ache that attacked his leg and side. It burned. He felt his systems fading in and out of consciousness, begging him to shift himself into stasis and rid himself of all the pain. The urge to was atrocious, but he knew he couldn't.
Mirage leaned against the rubble and started to turn his gaze to the battle. However, he looked up into the optics of Ratchet, who had knelt beside him.
"Something wrong?" the Medibot inquired, initiating a scan of Mirage. "Your energy signature's fading…Slowly, but nonetheless…" His voice drifted off. "You didn't tell me anything."
Mirage gestured to his thigh and side. "I'm guessing you didn't notice my injuries," he said softly as he indicated his wounds. "Megatron gave them to me not even a megacycle ago."
Ratchet brushed a light hand over the infliction on his side. "You're losing quite a bit of Energon…"
Mirage diverted his gaze. "I'll hold. This shouldn't last that long…"
A sigh. "Seriously, Mirage. Will you be able to make it?"
"…I can feel my systems fading in and out, and my processor's a little light," he clarified. Mirage shook his head. "Nonetheless, I'm fine. Really."
Ratchet shook his head. "Let's hope these Seekers are out of here soon. The momen-" Nullray fire seethed over their heads, hitching his words in midsentence. He began again. "…The moment we get to the base, I'm patching you up."
Mirage nodded, but a mental stab to halted him. His blue optics lifted to the Medibot's with a contradictory stare. "No. Don't."
Ratchet quirked an optic ridge. "What are you talking about?"
Mirage down to his hands. His fingers stroked the Energon seeping wound that ran from Bumblebee's tanks to his side, letting the blue liquid stain his fingertips.
"…I want Bumblebee back to perfect status, first, before anything or anyone else." His tone was soft, but solid. "Please. Just do that for me."
Ratchet bent his mouth. "Perfect status isn't obtainable - "
"You know what I mean," Mirage lifted his optics. "The mechling's too young in his lifecycle to offline now. Our mission was to rescue him from a condemned future as a Decepticon warrior, meaning we would have to preserve his lifesource."
"I understand that, Mirage."
A pause as fire soared past them. "Just promise me you'll keep him online," Mirage said as he ducked a little.
Ratchet nodded slowly. "I promise." He turned his optics over to Bumblebee and frowned. He eased a gentle finger against the 'bot's emotionless faceplate, stroking his tender features slowly and gently.
"And I promise to you, Bumblebee, to keep you online…"
xXx
Thundercracker swooped upside-down, charging his weapons for a particular lone Autobot. His nullray blasts streaked the air, but only seethed the ground beside the Autobot. Close, but no cigar.
He huffed.
Thundercracker fired a second time, this time striking the Autobot against the leg. He barrel rolled, wobbling on his wing joints until he was leveled vertically. He thrusted forward with a jolt of his engine and swooped upward, redirecting his route back down the path just traveled. His scanners fell over Starscream, immobile in outside the battlegrounds.
"So much for our 'new leader," he sighed.
His continued scanning.
Nothing – No, what was this? Two Autobots hiding behind cover.
"Skywarp, two Autobots behind that debris," he announced via COM-frequency. "Obliterate them."
xXx
Nullray blasts continued to rain Hell, and it seemed the Autobots' attempts to shoo away the Decepticon threat were proving to be nothing but futile. Return fire, back and forth, back and forth. It was unceasing.
Quite frankly, Mirage was growing tired of it. He was sure he was not alone.
Why couldn't they be home?!
He only wished the Seekers had retreated for good and never bothered to stick their noses in their business. They had been so close to freedom – so close to home. Once they were over that hill, the pathway to headquarters was clear as anything…
"Sideswipe!" Ratchet's voice cut into his thoughts. The Medibot sighed. "He's been hit."
Mirage looked up.
The Seekers swooped overheard in accorded fashion, their engines whining into Mirage's audios. Laser fire sustained and he lifted his optics to the skies, watching the blasts graze the Decepticons' alloy. Some of the shots hit, but did nothing critical.
"Ratchet, take Bumblebee," he insisted.
The Medibot took the mechling into his hands with a nod, and cradled the fragile being against his chestplate.
Mirage readied his weapon.
Questions – they haunted his processor, yet again.
How long would it be when they'd finally be at their rightful base?
How long would it be until Bumblebee returned fully online?
Would Primus even allow Bumblebee to live?
Destiny was the one controlling Bumblebee's lifesource, and even Mirage's own.
He could be offline in a megacycle. Bumblebee could be out in a matter of cycles.
In spite of it all, giving up was not an option.
His weak form trembling in the struggle, he curved a digit around the trigger, taking careful aim for one of the two fighter jets. His finger eased inward, sending armor piercing rounds to the skies.
xXx
Jaryn took the newfound skirmish into his optics. He soaked it in, mulled over it, and took in a little more. He watched laser and nullray action trade off and on, back and forth, to and fro… He had seen his poor Bumblebee in the Medibot's hands – lifeless, motionless…Was he offline? Or, were his systems were still fighting, hanging on? He couldn't sense his own son's lifesource anymore. It just wasn't there…
… I have figured out,
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul.
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one.
Blue optics flicked to the skies, narrowing a little as armor piercing rounds latched to the underside of one of the fighter jets. In astroseconds, they were no more. They detonated.
The Seeker swiveled in midair, swerved in a 180 degree turn, and blasted away from the battle. Smoke coughed from his engine, leaving a grazing trail against the underbelly of the clouds. The second fighter jet didn't hesitate to fire down on the enemy. Most of the blasts only seared the ground, yet others grazed Autobot alloy.
Jaryn looked away.
I will never let you fall.
I'll stand up with you forever.
He couldn't stand on the sidelines any longer, especially when the Autobots were so close to freedom. Nearly there.
All too familiar sounds – a few clicks, whirrs, chirrs, and hums – resounded in his audios, the sound of his arm cannon readying for battle. He began to advance. His processor became plagued by images of that dreadful day. He couldn't help but remember it. That one day that happened so long ago, yet stood alive in his memory banks like a brand new idea.
You're my, my, my true love, my whole heart.
Please don't throw that away.
'Cause I'm here for you.
Please don't walk away and please tell me you'll stay.
Stay.
There was no backing out. He had been the bystander for far too long.
I'll be there for you through it all.
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.
His shoulder cannons unleashed. "Do or die."
xXx
Mirage stood prepared to fire another blast of rounds at the remaining Seeker, the last threat. He locked a perfect shot, and curled his finger around the trigger. His gaze narrowed as he focused the fighter jet in his sights. His finger moved inward …
…When the sound of unfamiliar footsteps stopped him in the act. His blue optics flicked to where the noise came from, round as they scanned the area intently.
Who was it? Another Decepticon?
No.
He laid eyes on an Autobot he had never seen before. The perfect stranger.
Due to instinct, he braced, but dared not lower his weapon.
The mech's form was a warm yellow striped against black, brawny with broad shoulders and an angular pair of doorwings, seeming to be a machine utterly designed for war. Anyone scanning attentively enough could definitely conclude that his mech's faceplate held the same features as Bumblebee – just, in a mature version, of course. His framework was virtually no different from Bumblebee's, with exceptions to the arm and shoulder cannons.
A strange coincidence.
Optimus Prime caught a glimpse over his shoulder and lowered his rifle to mid-thigh. Every pair of blue optics watched this unidentified mech lift his arm cannon up at the skies, taking aim of the last Decepticon threat. A bulb of plasma swelled at the tip of his arm cannon, and blossomed on each of his shoulder cannons, growing denser with every astrosecond. The blasts brewed full-fledged. Unison, they lashed to impact the Decepticon's chassis.
The fighter jet swerved in and out of control, struggling to muster control. He managed to alter his route down the path Skywarp had retreated on. Energon leaked from his chassis as he thrusted forward, engine screaming, only to disappear in astroseconds.
Quiet. Heavy quiet. It was abnormal.
The Autobots lowered their weapons and turned to face Jaryn. No one said anything.
The mech disabled his weapons. Finally, Optimus approached him.
"Designation?" the Commander insisted skeptically.
"Jaryn," was the answer. The mech lifted a hand to the Autobot insignia at the center of his chestplate. "I'm an Autobot."
Sideswipe made a sound. "I 'unno, Prime. He could be a Decepticon - in disguise."
"…After he saved our afts," muttered Sunstreaker.
Jaryn ignored and gestured to Bumblebee. "That mechling is my creation. My son," he told them firmly. "I've been watching you and your entire force here for the last countless cycles…waiting for the perfect moment to come out to help you all."
Everyone exchanged questioning glances.
"Why didn't you come sooner?" Chromia inquired somewhat hesitantly.
Jaryn sighed and started to clarify. "…I lost Bumblebee long ago when our unit was attacked…My sparkmate was tragically offlined in the incident, and I searched for eternity to find Bumblebee. Why didn't I come sooner? I was afraid, truthfully, of what could happen to me." He paused. "I only want your trust, and permission to come to your base – so I can see Bumblebee and be reunited with him."
"M'not convinced," Sunstreaker put bluntly.
Arcee stepped forward to Prime. "Optimus, Hot Rod and I came across Jaryn several cycles ago," she told him. "What he's saying is true."
"He could have lied to you too," Ironhide put out.
Mirage, honestly, did not know what to believe. Jaryn could be a true Autobot speaking nothing but fact, or a Decepticon in disguise lying to get Bumblebee in enemy claws.
Mirage looked to Jaryn. He noticed that his optics were fixed on Bumblebee. There was a sort of pain and sorrow in his weary gaze – internal suffering. Mirage sympathized, but
nonetheless, he would not give up Bumblebee until his processor was completely convinced by Jaryn's tale.
Optimus looked to Jaryn. "…You may come with us to the base," he decided. "If you truly are the Autobot you say you are..."
Jaryn nodded almost too quickly. "I swear, Sir."
Mirage held Bumblebee a little closer. He hated his processor for holding a protest a against Optimus' decision. He couldn't help himself. After all they had gone through, it was only normal to grimace at his Commander's verdict.
They started over the hill. There was a happiness alive in his spark, happiness to be going home, but he did not let it show on his faceplate.
Could Jaryn be trusted?
The answer would be evident in only a matter of time.
There it is.
Review please.
