Yayy, new chapter. I don't think this is my best work, but oh well. You tell we what you think, all you readers. x3
Enjoyyy.
Chapter Twelve – Stalked
Bumblebee's Point of View
Flash Back - About Seven Hours Before…
I backed out, down the driveway of Darren's home after revving my engine twice at him waving to me in his window, then made a turn before heading down the road. Pausing at a stop sign, I had a chance to collect my thoughts. I vented out a deep breath.
I had to get to the Adonis III and inform Optimus about my decision for Darren's recue. I was pretty confident that he would approve of me initiating it, but then again, I didn't have an overall plan on how I was going to pull this off. Like Darren said, I shouldn't worry about it. The rest of the squad would, sure enough, help me come up with something.
Turning left smoothly, I headed down another road, keeping my scanners online for the neighboring cars. I nearly braked suddenly as they released a warning signal to my CPU, telling me that they'd detected a familiar signal. I waited, letting them scan further. I called for my scanners to bring the signal's designation to my attention. My spark sped at the name.
Barricade.
Frantically, I ordered my scanners to find the location of the Decepticon that was near me. He was only a few cars behind, tracking me, his police lights flashing madly as his wailing siren screaming at me. My mind jumbled with thoughts.
I told myself that he'd seen me go to Darren's house…and waited for me to leave so he could follow. He was stalking me?
Why? What had I done? I didn't know. And I didn't have time to ponder about it. I had to act now, ask questions later.
I sped through the middle of the lanes, ignoring what the other humans around me were thinking and shouting. Barricade wailed his sirens louder and hit the gas, his engine growling. He came right on my tail. I struggled to go any faster, feeling my frame push forward as it gained a little speed. He rammed into my back side, not too hard, but enough to jolt me forward and swerve uncontrolled. I made a hard turn onto another road, regaining a straight course. Like a lion, he stalked me, following close behind. I couldn't shake him.
I floored my gas pedal as hard as I could, my engine roaring. He growled at me and he grazed my side, sirens blaring into my audio receptors. I turned away from his path, he followed.
I couldn't go to the base, he wouldn't follow, and I knew this for sure. I knew he wasn't anything to a whole squad of Autobots that'd destroyed many of his own team at Mission City. Even if I went to the base and got everyone to help me go after him, he would probably turn back to Darren's house, and harm him and his family…Perhaps his entire neighborhood. And, it wasn't like every Decepticon that'd come to Earth was dead. Starscream was still out there, the new leader – Powerful and blood-thirsty.
I heard Barricade's engine roar again, and I instinctively jolted forward with a floor of my gas pedal. I had to turn and alert Darren before Barricade got the best of me.
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Barricade had Bumblebee squared, locked in his infrared sights. His scanners wouldn't lose him. He followed the Camaro's every turn and twist, every pause and stop. Of course, he wasn't going to follow the little mech forever. He had things up his sleeve.
He established a com channel, still in hot pursuit, and then linked a specific signal to Starscream only, preventing anyone from hearing their conversation.
"Barricade to Starscream," he reported in his Cybertronian tongue. "I've got the Autobot in my sights. Further orders, my Lord?"
Starscream snickered lowly on the other end. "Excellent," he grinned. "Take him down."
"Should I wait until we're on suitable ground, Starscream? Fighting on this human road would not be acceptable, as I see it. Too many filthy humans are in my path."
Starscream made a sound of understandment. "Yes, force him to suitable ground…then fight. You must contact me if you become the slightest bit weakened. We cannot let the Autobot win…or call for support."
Barricade acknowledged, gaining speed. "And what of the human he was protecting?"
"Once the Autobot is taken care of, you report to him and do the same," the Lord replied. "I don't want any of them still standing. It disgusts me to see a Cybertronian so fond of these hideous creatures."
"Yes, Lord. I will extinguish both of them for you."
"And, any humans that dare to impede your progress. Destroy them all."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Once the Autobot is finished, contact me."
"I will."
The com channel clicked dead, and Barricade resumed his pursuit. The Decepticon roared his engine at the young mech in front of him, then immediately floored it, slamming into the Camaro. The two cars slid of course and onto the grass by the Tranquility Lake. Pounding his mighty fists in the Earth, Barricade transformed, his red optics flashing at Bumblebee as he stood before him. Clenching his fists, he roared. Bumblebee hissed.
"You're on, Autobot."
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Bumblebee's Point of View
I raised my fists as Barricade neared me, flashing my optics a heated blue at his red pair. My internal systems revved into overdrive once he whipped out his chain mace with a shing, threatening me with it with massive steps against the ground, coming towards me. I flicked my head downward and donned my battle mask. My shoulder cannons rose from sliding plates of armor and I cocked my arm back once, revealing my shoulder cannon. I zeroed in on Barricade. I felt him to the same to me. We glared.
He faked me with one hand, making me look at it. As I did, his chain mace lashed up my side, some of the spikes getting caught under my armor and sticking into my protoform body. I fell back, but got to my feet quickly to reward him with a blast from my arm cannon to his chest. I missed his spark, but he roared at me in pain and anger. We both scrambled forward for each other. Our hands grasped together, his claws digging into my arm cannon. I narrowed my optics, hissing at him.
"You will die, Autobot," He growled at him.
"You've got it all wrong," I replied lowly.
His claws grabbed onto my hands tightly and he tried to force them down, trying to make me weak under his weight and strength. I didn't let him. I thrusted upward with a grunt, both of our hands shaking considerably as we pushed against each other. He roared at me again.
"Little cretin," he hissed angrily. "Give up. You're no match."
I ignored him, flashing my optics heatedly.
I felt my energon blood ooze from under my armor plating, from the wound by the chain mace. I paid it no mind, angling one shoulder down. I fired my cannon right into his stomach. He let me go with a groan. Energon oozed out, making me smile.
I shot again and again, and each time he lowered to the ground, ending up on his knees. He sat there in pain, motionless for a time.
I walked over to him, aiming my cannon for his head. I was unprepared for his next move. His chain mace lashed out and struck my ankles, causing me to fall. I fell on my back and looked up at the towering Decepticon, apprehensive at what was to come next. He swung his mace at me. I tried to stop it with my hand, but the instant the spikes it my palm, I withdrew immediately. The spikes impacted my side and I cried out, rolling to the opposite side.
I scrambled to my feet and aimed all three cannons at him. He charged at me, yelling and cursing in Cybertronian. I glared and fired twice from each weapon. He fell to the ground, smoke rising from his chest, sparks from frayed wires popping into the air. I walked over to him and towered over the wounded Decepticon, cocking my arm back once to stash away my arm cannon. He twitched and fell on his back, his frame shuddering quickly. He lied there motionless.
I turned, still looking at him, and started to walk off. I let my shoulder cannons return in my armor. I looked away. He was finished - for now.
Walking to a tree, my shoulder collapsed against it. I groaned as I looked to the blood that was oozing out of my side. Ignoring it, I looked to the distance. Barricade wasn't dead, and I didn't think that I should kill him. I'd contact Optimus and see if the squad would come. Until then, killing him wasn't worth my time.
I clicked on a private channel to Optimus. I grabbed my side as it stung.
"O-Optimus? This is Bumblebee."
Static for a few seconds, then a click as the signal was confirmed. "Bumblebee? Is something wrong?" Hearing his voice relieved me.
I drew in a ragged breath. "Y-Yes, Sir. Barricade knows where Darren lives. He's been tracking me. I just combated him now. He's unresponsive…offline, only momentarily."
He paused, probably thinking like he always did. "Warn Darren and his family. Tell me your location – I'll have someone watch Barricade while you do so."
"I'm at Tranquility Lake, Sir."
"And where does Darren live?"
I gave him the precise coordinates after researching my CPU banks.
Optimus made a sound of acknowledgement. "You get to Darren quickly, Bumblebee. Keep him safe and hidden, out of Decepticon harm."
I nodded. "Y-Yeah," I said shakily. "I will."
Another pause. "Are you hurt, soldier?"
"I'll live. There's no time for Ratchet to fix me anyways. I'll be fine, Sir."
"…Alright. Get to Darren, expect us soon."
"Y-Yes, Sir."
"Optimus, out."
With a small nod, I killed the com link and took in a deep breath through my vents, holding my side a little tighter. Ignoring the pain, I stepped forward and transformed into my vehicle mode, driving off the grass by the lake, onto the road.
I revved my engine and swerved right, going over the speed limit. I didn't care. I had a boy to save. I wasn't going to let him get hurt again. I would keep him safe until Barricade was extinguished and all Decepticon threats terminated.
And, I would do this until it was a hundred percent complete. Not 99.9. 100.
Even if it meant dying for him.