Two things.
//This is now com speak.//
That's easier to understand now.
And two...I apologize ahead of time.
Sad chapter.
Megatron smirked as he watched the Autobots approach the base on the security screen.
"Such fools…blindly walking into my trap…they didn't lower their energy signatures enough for my new and improved security system!" he cackled evilly. "Decepticons," he shouted, turning towards the great room. "Get to your places. The Autobots are nearly here!"
//Team One, are you ready?// the commander asked through his com link.
//Yes Optimus,// Red Alert answered. //Perceptor and I are all set up to counteract the Decepticons' defense system and find Artemis's location.//
Optimus turned towards his team. "Team Two, are you ready?"
"We're ready to go," came Ironhide's reply. "Ratchet, Bumblebee, Jolt, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Jetfire, and I are ready to kick some Decepticon aft! Lennox's team is ready as well."
"Good, good," Optimus nodded. "Remember everyone, be careful. We are sorely outnumbered by the Decepticons, and must keep our guards up!"
He then commed Jazz. //Even though they're expecting us all from the east side, there could still be some Decepticons on the west side. Keep your optics open! Artemis must be found as soon as possible. We can't leave until she is safe with us.//
Jazz nodded to himself, determined to successfully complete his mission. //I'll find her, Optimus. I promise.//
Optimus peered down at the Decepticon base through the forest. It sat in a small valley clearing far from any civilization. Optimus could detect movement near him, while almost nothing where Jazz was hiding. They kept their energy signatures just high enough to fool the Decepticons, while Jazz hid his completely to keep his presence a secret, with the help of Red Alert lowering detection levels of the Decepticon defense system ever so slightly. Red Alert and Perceptor were towards the north side, hidden behind a rocky outcrop with a good view of the base below. Team Two was positioned to the east side, just beyond the entrance to the enemy's base.
Now, all that was left was for Red Alert to signal the rest of the defense system to be crippled.
Starscream was livid.
"What do you mean I have to stay here?!?"
Megatron glared down at his second in command. "They came for her. They will be trying to get to her. So she must be watched at all times! If they somehow manage to rescue her right away, they'll immediately leave, which would mean less of them get killed!"
"But-"
"No arguing with me, Starscream! You will stay here and watch this fleshling, and destroy anything that tries to come through this door," Megatron commanded, leaving.
The Seeker grumbled and settled into a chair, crossing his arms. "Not like any of them will actually get this far…" he said to himself.
Artemis sat silently, contemplating. The Autobots came for her sooner than she expected, so she had to slightly tweak her plan. But things could still work out.
Jazz could hear the battle taking place across from him. He was worried about his comrades fighting so many Decepticons…about a three to one ratio of them…but quickly put that to the back of his processor. He had a job to do, and he knew the others were tough enough to hold out a while.
Jazz stealthily made his way down the hillside and past the now-deactivated security systems. He quickly found an entrance, slipped inside, and allowed his energy signature to rise slightly, once again avoiding detection because of Red Alert's work.
"I really gotta thank him for this," Jazz said to himself, breezing through the hallway. //Perceptor,// he commed. //Where's Artemis?//
//About seven hundred yards east, four hundred yards north of you,// came the reply.
//Alright, thanks!//
Jazz continued through a maze of halls and tunnels, mentally noting how far east and north he was traveling, and completely hid his energy signature again. As he was nearing Artemis's supposed location, he picked up a Decepticon energy signature.
//There is indeed a Decepticon in that same room,// came Red Alert's reply when Jazz inquired. //I don't know who it is, but you must be careful. Red Alert out.//
Jazz nodded to himself and shut off his com link. He had to be stealthy. He had to be completely silent. He had to be--
CRASH.
Jazz barely contained his cursing. He was so intent on getting to the door in front of him, he didn't notice the pile of scrap metal he so gracefully smashed into.
Now, what to do when that Decepticon came out to investigate…
"What was that?!?" Starscream asked, startled. He was just about to enter a deep recharge cycle when a loud crashing noise abruptly brought him out of it.
Artemis cursed whatever made the noise. She was waiting on Starscream to get bored enough to recharge, then making her escape while he slept. Now, that would be impossible. Unless…whatever it was out in the hallway occupied him long enough…
This looked like it needed a little prompting.
"Hey, Screamer. Aren't you going to check that out?"
"Shut up, human! Don't tell me what to do!"
"I was just saying…I mean, what if that crash was an Autobot coming to get me?"
The Seeker rolled his optics. "No Autobot could get past our defense systems without detection! And even then they'd need to get past Megatron first…" he pouted once more, wanting to be allowed in the fight.
"Oookay…" Artemis said, shrugging. "But what if there was that small chance, that insignificantly tiny chance I'm right? What will you do if there is an Autobot out there, and you let him gallivant around your base unwatched? What would Megatron do to you then?"
"I said--" Starscream paused, thinking. He would be thrashed horribly if there was indeed an Autobot creeping around the base. Maybe he should check that out, just in case.
"Stay there, fleshling!"
Artemis sighed. "Seriously, like there's anywhere else I could go?"
Starscream exited the room charging up his cannon. The second he was out of sight, Artemis went to work on the metal bars keeping her captive. She figured if she could narrow her cannon blast into a concentrated beam of energy, she could cut through the metal bar halfway easily.
Artemis was almost completely out when she heard someone approaching again. She froze in fear, hanging out of her now-useless cage. She knew that not even Megatron would "forgive" her for escaping…not that she was needed much longer anyway. Artemis braced herself for the end, tightly shutting her eyes to avoid looking at her impending doom.
But instead of a cannon blast, she heard a whisper…"…Artemis? Are you in here?"
Her eyes shot open. "Jazz?"
"Artemis!" Jazz reached her in a matter of astroseconds. "You're okay!" He held out his hand for her to climb on. "We've been so worried about you!"
Artemis hugged Jazz as best she could, holding back tears of happiness. "I'm so glad to see you, Jazz!"
"We need to get back everyone else to let them know we can leave. They're taking on the 'Cons as we speak."
"Woah, what?" Artemis asked, surprised. "You all came, and they're taking on the Decepticons in their own base?!? Are you out of your minds? You could all be killed!"
"So could you," Jazz said seriously, looking Artemis in the eye.
"But I'm just--"
"A part of our family. No one made us come, Artemis. We all volunteered to save you. Even Ironhide," Jazz mentioned, reading her mind.
"I-Ironhide's here?"
"Yeah. Fighting alongside the others, making sure you'll have a safe escape."
Artemis was speechless, but Jazz quickly changed the subject.
"Speaking of escape, we have to get going! There'll be time for reunions later."
Jazz carefully held Artemis in his hands and darted out the door, staying to the shadows. "I don't know if I can get past Starscream undetected again…"
"Yeah, how'd you do that the first time?" Artemis whispered.
Jazz nodded towards the ceiling. "Magnets really come in handy, ya know?"
"Here he comes!"
Jazz leapt behind a large cabinet, pressing himself flat against the wall as Starscream walked past, muttering angrily about stupid noises and annoying fleshlings.
"We don't have much time once he reaches that door," Artemis whispered.
"Then we'll--"
"ARRGGGGGHHH!!!"
"--RUN!"
Jazz cupped Artemis in his hands and took off running, not bothering to find the way he came in. He was narrowly dodging the angry cannon blasts from Starscream, who was chasing after the two swiftly.
"Hurry, Jazz!" Artemis yelled.
"Alright, hold on!"
Jazz smoothly transformed into his alt mode while placing Artemis in his interior at the same time. Then he floored it. The Autobot's second in command spotted a window, and crashed through it to the outside in a shower of broken glass.
"Optimus! I've got her!"
The leader briefly took note of Artemis with Jazz before fending off Megatron and Barricade. "Autobots!" he yelled, still struggling with the two mechs. "Fall back! Retreat!"
But it wasn't that easy. Every Autobot was fighting at least two Decepticons, and Jolt, Sideswipe, and Bumblebee were already having emergency repairs done by Ratchet.
Jazz set Artemis down by the medic and immediately dove into the fray, bravely pouncing upon Soundwave and dragging him off of Sunstreaker. The golden mech laid motionless, coils and tentacles twisting around his armor and internal circuitry. Jetfire rushed forward and pulled him back to the rest of the injured. Optimus had long since ordered Lennox's team to fall back and head for base for their safety, but not before they took out a few of the enemy for themselves.
It wasn't that the Autobots were weak, just sorely outnumbered. They were fighting valiantly, keeping the Decepticons from their injured and trying to fall back at the same time, but their attempt was slowly failing. Red Alert and Perceptor even entered the fight to help, but it was getting harder and harder to keep the Decepticon Army at bay.
Before they knew it, the Autobots were standing back to back with each other next to the injured, completely surrounded by the Decepticons. All fighting stopped.
"Oh, how I've waited for this day…" Megatron gloated, stepping forward. "The day the last Prime would be extinguished for good!"
The other Autobots instinctively inched closer to Optimus, unconsciously trying to protect him.
//Optimus, this is Wheeljack. Do you copy?// the scientist commed his commander.
//Copy, Wheeljack. Are the humans safe?//
//Yes, sir. Well on their way back home and no Decepticons following.//
Optimus allowed a small sigh of relief for their human allies. He didn't pay much attention to what Megatron was saying, but took note that as long as the Decepticon leader was talking, they would still be alive.
//Sir,// Wheeljack pressed on. //There's this new invention--//
//Not now, Wheeljack,// Optimus said, slightly annoyed the scientist couldn't wait until after the battle to share his new discovery. He needed to think of a plan to get out.
"I will crush you all, one by one, and you'll be the last I kill, Prime…" Megatron continued, completely blissful at the capture of his longtime enemies.
//But Optimus--//
//Wheeljack, unless you're invention can somehow bring us all safely out of this mess, I'm not really in the mood to hear about it!//
//But that's exactly what it does!// Wheeljack exclaimed. //At least, in theory. I haven't tested it yet.//
Optimus gaped for a moment, then regained his composure. He switched his com frequency to include all Autobots. //What does this invention do?//
//It latches on to any Autobot's energy signature within a certain area, and transports them back to base, from wherever they are on the planet, instantly! I came up with it when Perceptor was making the other locator for Artemis.//
"…And then I will become supreme ruler of the universe!" Megatron pushed on.
//Is there any way you can test it first? I'm still very uneasy about using it blindly.//
//Let him test it on me, Optimus,// came Prowl's reply.
//Prowl? You're too weak! There's no way I'll let you--//
//With all due respect, Ratchet, its either let me test this device, or use it on all of you without knowing if it works. I'm willing to sacrifice myself.//
//I don't like this Prowl…but okay. And hurry, you two. We don't have much time left here!// Optimus said, sighing.
Megatron was oblivious to the hushed whispers the Autobots were exchanging. He was too into the moment to notice anything but their worried looks and scared optics.
What seemed like an eternity later, Wheeljack spoke again. //Optimus, it works! And Prowl is alright, exhausted and weak, but alright!//
//Then get us out of here!//
//Sure thing…but there's one small problem.//
//What kind of problem, 'Jack?// Ironhide asked, impatient.
//With the current settings, Artemis wouldn't come with you.// he replied.
//What? Why not?//
//She had a different energy signature. I haven't had time to add hers into the machine, and adding it will take several more minutes to do.//
//You're sure she won't come back with us?// Optimus almost pleaded. Their one chance of escape was quickly fading away.
//He's right, Optimus. She wouldn't return with us,// Perceptor replied.
//We can't leave her. Its why we came in the first place. We'll find some other way out,// Optimus stated.
"Any last words, Autobots, before you're painfully blasted to oblivion?" Megatron cackled, savoring the moment.
Every Autobot left standing stood proud, silently staring down the enemy. They all knew this was the end.
Artemis had been listening in on the conversation the entire time, and was upset that they gave up their only chance of escape, just for her. Ironhide happened to look down and catch her eye, and an idea seemed to wordlessly form between them.
//'Jack,// Ironhide whispered, switching back to a private frequency. //As soon as Artemis and I are out of range, bring everyone else home!//
//Has Optimus approved this?//
//You know he would never allow it, but its our only chance. Let me escape with Artemis, bring the others back, then work on getting to us!//
//I don't know, I really don't...//
//If you don't do this, we'll all die!//
Ironhide heard static on the other end of the link as Wheeljack sighed. //Don't make me regret this, Ironhide.//
Ironhide then readied himself to break through the circle of Decepticons. He chose a spot between Ravage and Barricade. Then, he shot two quick cannon blasts towards the two mechs, scooped up Artemis, and dove out of the circle, all under two seconds. Optimus didn't even have time to speak before Wheeljack brought them back to base.
"What the…" Optimus asked aloud, disoriented from the sudden change of scenery. A few seconds later, everything clicked. It hit the other Autobots at the same time.
"IRONHIDE!" Optimus bellowed with such force the windows shattered around the base. He desperately hoped the Weapons Specialist could somehow hear him…that he was nearby. But he wasn't.
"I'm working on it as fast as I can, Optimus," Wheeljack answered the commander's silent question. Perceptor rushed over to help.
"Just…just hurry!"
Megatron's optics flashed with an uncontrollable rage.
"NOO!" he shouted, trying to comprehend what just happened. "How could they just disappear like that? Its impossible!"
"Lord Megatron, sir, there's still one Autobot here with the fleshling," Starscream spoke, hoping to curb that rage for the moment, as he would most likely be on the receiving end of it.
Megatron and the other Decepticons immediately set out after Ironhide. "If I can't kill them all, I'll at least kill one of them!"
Ironhide rushed through the forest with Artemis as fast his form would carry him. Which, for a mech of his bulk, was pretty fast. But not fast enough.
"You'll never escape us, Autobot!" Megatron yelled, rage almost exploding from his optics.
Ironhide only made himself run faster, ignoring the jeers and insults being thrown at him and dodging cannon blasts left and right.
Then he hit a dead end.
He and Artemis were surrounded. All of the Decepticons had their cannons poised and ready to strike. Ironhide had no way out…he was no match for so many of them. Trying would only make their deaths more painful.
"I won't make the same mistake of waiting twice, Autobot," Megatron sneered.
"Got it!" Wheeljack yelled…
Ironhide crouched down and covered Artemis with his body…
…And Wheeljack pressed the button to bring Ironhide and Artemis back.
…And the Decepticons fired.
A moment of complete and utter silence enveloped the Autobot base when Ironhide and Artemis returned. Jazz broke it.
"IRONHIDE!" he shouted, running over.
The Weapons Specialist was obviously hurt badly…it looked like he took several direct cannon blasts from point-blank range.
Ratchet immediately dove to his side, followed by Perceptor, Jetfire, and Wheeljack. The CMO was running scan after scan on the fallen mech with Perceptor, while Wheeljack and Jetfire were patching main energon lines faster than they ever thought was possible.
Artemis slowly crawled out from underneath Ironhide just as the medic and his team were carefully turning the unconscious mech to rest on his back. Jazz pulled her closer to him, sensing her distress, and tried to comfort her. But when he tried to speak, his vocal processors wouldn't work. He was too shocked to do anything.
Ratchet kept fighting that nagging feeling in the back of his processor. "He's going to make it! The fragger is going to survive! I'm a medic, slag it! I've done this before!" he kept telling himself, his hands a flurry of movement to save one of his oldest friends. But each passing second was proving the nagging feeling to be more and more truthful.
Ratchet abruptly stopped working. He knew something was terribly wrong. It felt like time had frozen. It couldn't be true. He was the old, tough, battle-worn warrior that could survive anything.
Anything…anything but this.
Ironhide was dead.
*sniffle* Yes. Ironhide is dead. Forever. He's not coming back. *hides* PLEASE DUN KILL MEH! DX
Yeah, I made Megatron a little dumber than he actually is. He's just excited about succeeding for once in his life, I guess.
And we'll pretend that no one was monitoring the defense system when Red Alert shut it down completely, okays?
I tried to make this chapter as clear as possible. If you don't understand anything, just ask and I will (attempt to) explain it to you. I did finish this in the early hours of the morning, so maybe what made sense to me then won't make sense to the rest of the world.
But before you ask, I will not reconsider bringing Ironhide back from the dead. I'm sorry, guys. It's something I felt had to happen.
...And today I'll understand if you don't want to review because you all hate me for killing him.