Chapter Seventeen – Unforgotten

Darren's Point of View

I clutched the wall with my hands tightly, craning my neck to look around the towering wall, towards the cell. I flinched with every shot I heard, with every metallic shing, every kick, punch, and every scream from both that Decepticon and my beloved Bumblebee. Whimpering to myself, I lowered to a crouch, feeling tears rise.

Bumblebee's screams made me incredibly scared, even more afraid than when I was in that cell alone. The images that popped in my head didn't help. I saw him dying, and shook my head quickly, shutting my eyes, trying to get that picture out. I couldn't help it though. I had to be with him again once this living nightmare was all over.

Thud….thud….thud…

I gulped.

"Oh, God…"

Thud…thud….

Something shrieked like a hawk, shrill and echoing. My eyes shot to the opposite end of the hall and widened. My heart pounded as I saw a gigantic winged beast, its eyes even more of a piercing red near all that shining silver metal. It thudded its way to the cell and shrieked again, madly, then charged into the cell. I heard cannons unleashing and quick fires. I couldn't tell if it was shooting, or if that was Bumblebee.

I prayed to God Bee was okay. I hoped He would keep him safe…give him the strength and courage to go on – and not give up.

A cry of pain interrupted my prayers. It was Bumblebee.

All was silent afterwards. Dead silence.

Then Decepticon laughter, all by itself. One of the beasts was laughing. Alone.

The other one must've been down.

But, what about my Bumblebee?

Was he down?

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Bumblebee's Point of View

Pain. That's all I felt. Everywhere, anywhere. I didn't feel angry or determined or worried or courageous. I just felt pain.

Starscream towered over me and pointed his left arm's missile launcher directly at my chest, his right arm's machine gun aiming for me too, but not directly. The Decepticon snickered and taunted me, firing the machine gun into my chest. The bullets impacted and I shut my optics, letting the pain come.

"Ohhh," I groaned, unable to hold it in.

"Conquest is made of the ashes of one's enemies," he said at me, his age-old motto.

I shot him a glare, and wacked at away his missile launcher swiftly, rising to my feet with barely any strength to do so. But, I managed, and shoved my plasma cannon into his spark.

My optics flashed electric blue. His machine gun aimed for me, but I hastily ignored.

"I don't go down that easy," I growled.

Starscream snarled, and shot his machine gun. A few bullets hit my neck, but I dodged the rest with skill I didn't even know I had.

I kicked him in his ankles, and his claws dug into my chest. I nearly fell as pain stung, but I only cried out. I kicked him harder, in the knee this time. His knees weakened and he squatted to my level. I used this as an advantage.

Using my other hand, I shoved his right arm into the wall. Unhesitating, I lifted my knee and forced his left arm into the wall. He was now unable to fire. I smiled at him.

"Now, you were saying?" I grinned.

Starscream's optics stared directly into mine, freezing me for only a second. He tried to free himself from my hold on him, even tried to bite me. I laughed at him, shoving my plasma cannon deeper.

"Exactly," I said lowly. "Underestimating gets you no reward, Decepticon."

I fired the cannon directly into his spark and he howled out in anguish. I had him where I wanted him…

But, unexpectedly, he tore his claws at me, digging them into my chest. I fired again out of reaction and he roared. Energon spurted from his chest. I fired again and again. He fired too, machine gun bullets hitting me, stinging and hot. I shuddered and grabbed my side where the bullets had hit as he loaded his missile launcher…

And fired.

The missile hit me straight in the stomach and I screamed, falling to my knees, then onto my side. I started quaking violently, barely able to raise my cannon at him. He snickered.

"Why don't you say that again, Autobot?" I shot at me. His launcher shoved into my cheek. "Hmm?"

I coughed many times.

"Y-You…son of a glitch," I breathed. I felt myself slipping away to nothingness.

Starscream laughed again.

"You worthless pile of slag," he snickered.

I didn't answer. I started rising to my feet again, using the wall. I could barely breathe. One of my vents were completely blown, and the other, not anything better. My spark struggled to pulse, my whole system fighting.

Don't give up…

"Hahahaha," Starscream teased me as I tried to stand. He fired a missile into my chest, laughing the entire time as I collapsed on my knees again "Puny Autobot youngling."

"Ah…!" I gasped in a short groan. My hand clutched my spark. "Ohhhh…!"

Don't give up…

His laughter echoed. Bullets penetrated my armor, going through to my metal skin. I shivered in pain, my body falling against the wall. My chest fell at awkward times and blood oozed beneath my armor. I felt my spark starting to fade.

"N-No…" I breathed. I coughed roughly, feeling Starscream's optics on me. "Mmm…"

"Any last words?" He missile launcher cocked into place.

I looked to him, almost completely dazed. My cannon rose.

"This is for you, Darren," I told myself. And in unison…

We fired.

My plasma shot hit his spark and he roared out in pain, holding it, waddling of balance as pain struck him. His missile tore into my side, blowing wires completely. I cried out at the top of my voice, and gripped the wall for dear life.

I heard a mighty thud as Starscream fell, then a low hum as his systems shut. I smiled to myself, still breathing awkwardly.

So satisfying, that sound was.

I had defeated the Lord Starscream. By myself…

For you, Darren…

Chuckling to myself in pain, I let my whole body relax as I collapsed onto the floor. I lied there, motionless, letting the pain do its job. My spark's pulsed slowed to barely a rhythm, humming…

Mmmm….

Mmmm…

….mm…

…..

Mmm….

…..mm.

Mmm…m-mmm…

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

At the Adonis III

Optimus sat on his recharge berth with Ratchet beside him, his head in his hands, his deep blue optics drooping as worry drenched his whole spark. His faceplate was emotionless as he talked with Ratchet, still about the possibilities of where Bumblebee could be, and what had happened to the little youngling.

"He has to have a reason for not answering us when we contacted him," said the medical officer, breaking the silence. "'…'n I'm sure he does. Bumblebee wouldn't just ignore us. He has such respect."

Optimus' faceplate didn't change at all.

"I'm just uneasy as to where he could be, Ratchet," droned the commander.

"I understand that, Prime. Bumblebee's never just…upped and left."

Optimus sunk. "And how are we supposed to locate him? We have no communication with Bumblebee, no coordinates, and no witnesses to his…disappearance."

Ratchet sighed and massaged his temple with one hand.

"There has to be a way…"

"…And Bumblebee's very considerate of us. How could he just leave?" Optimus continued, shaking his head. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with an angry sigh. "Ughh', Bumblebee…."

Ratchet sat straight. He snapped his fingers.

"That's it…!" He whispered to himself.

Optimus blinked at the officer.

"What is?"

"Bumblebee, you said he was considerate. That reminded me of something…"

Optimus shifted to face Ratchet. "Go on…"

Ratchet nodded. "Bumblebee is considerate, meaning he is thoughtful, kind, understanding, caring…towards his squad, us. I remembered how he has a bond between everyone, not necessarily as strong Creator-Creation one, but one strong enough that we can…feel it."

Optimus nodded. "Yes, that's true, but I'm not following you."

"Well, let me demonstrate. Can you, right now, feel a connection towards me?"

Optimus raised an optic ridge.

"I-I…No."

"Concentrate with your whole spark, Prime."

Optimus hesitated, then directed all of the power in his internal systems to his spark. He felt its pulse surge, and he looked to Ratchet, making a face.

"That was it," the officer grinned. "You see? Each one of us here has a bond that we don't realize all the time."

Optimus nodded. "And does this relate to Bumblebee?"

"You have the strongest bond with him," Ratchet told him. "I believe that you could sense the bond just by being outside. You could follow it, Prime."

"Follow it…?"

"Yes, it will make much more sense once you're outside." He paused. "You and Bumblebee have a bond that's almost as strong as a Creator-Creation, even Sparkmate-to-Sparkmate, Optimus." He chuckled. "I'm sure you know how that feels with your femme, huh? With Elita?"

Optimus' optics widened and he blushed, looking away. He chuckled shortly.

"Y-Yeah, you're right," he said quietly in a sigh. "That bond…"

Ratchet nodded. "That's right, Sir."

Optimus lifted his gaze to a window.

"We should give it a shot, then. Try to follow the bond to locate Bumblebee…"

Ratchet nodded again and rose to his feet with his commander.

"Yes, that's a good idea, if I don't say so myself."

Optimus sighed. "I just hope he's alright…I'm worried about him."

Ratchet waved a hand. "Ahh', I bet the youngling's fine, Optimus. He's properly trained by you, I might add. You needn't worry."

Optimus shrugged as Ratchet's hand patted his side.

"Yes, that's right."

"He does have one big spark, too, after all."

Optimus smiled.

"Correct you are…" He sighed.

But, was that really a good thing at a time like this? Having such a big spark…That meant Bumblebee would risk it all for the one he loved so much.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Darren's Point of View

All was silent. Deafeningly quiet.

I tiptoed my way into the cell I was once screaming in, my eyes nervously glancing around. I saw that monster that'd hurt me with the spikes… lying crumpled on the floor, sparks popping out of his chest, smoke rising. I looked to Starscream, in the same condition, his red optics flickering as he was dying a slow painful death.

And I looked to my Bumblebee, whirring agonizingly into the metal floor, tears staining his cheekplates. He looked helpless in his agony, lifting his head to cry out in pain.

"Ohhh!" He moaned.

I ran over to him suddenly, tears falling. I stopped a foot away from him, watching him drag himself against the ground in his agony, watching blood ooze from under his armor. The sight was horrifying, but I kept looking. Bumblebee coughed many times into the ground. I saw blood spurt out.

"O-Ohhhh," he groaned. He clenched his hands into fists and coughed again. His optics shut tightly, and he dragged himself further into a corner. I walked beside him slowly.

"B-Bumblebee?" I said softly, my hand reaching out to touch his fragile body.

He twitched and whirred in a groan. Opening his optics, he smiled at me.

"Darren…" He could barely say my name. His voice was like dust.

I eased closer, fingering over the side of his chest. He shuddered. I shook my head.

"N-No, Bee, it's okay…" I cooed. "You're alright, right? You're okay?"

Bumblebee clawed at his side, moaning.

"M-Mmm," he hummed in pain.

"Bumblebee, you're okay…" I assured.

He looked at me with droopy eyes. His hand lifted to cup around me, and I felt his finger stroke the top of my head. Tears fell quickly, he stroked faster.

"D-Darren, you did-didn't escape?" His airy voice asked.

I shook my head. "I'm n-not leavin' you here…I-I'd never."

He smiled, his finger traveling to my spine in that oh-so-familiar touch. I sniffled.

God, how I had missed how he played with my spine.

"C-Can you get up?" I asked him, brushing fingers over his lower belly.

Bumblebee shook his head. His optics shut as he let out a groan, leaning back his head.

"N-No, I-I…" He moaned, bringing his head back down. He sighed shakily. "I-I can't." I saw his chest rise, but suddenly fall. He wheezed as he struggled to breathe, his fingers digging into the metal ground with scraping sounds. He coughed and cried out in pain, making me whimper in fear. I set both of my hands against his leg, patting him.

"Bumblebee, y-you're okay," my voice shook. "Shh, Bee, it's okay. Breathe."

He took in a ragged breath, but forced it out in a cough. Blood trickled from his mouth and down his neck. I climbed up on his body and moved to his chest, letting him see me. My eyes dumped their tears onto my cheeks and I rubbed his spark quickly, shivering as I started to sob.

"Bumblebee, breathe, c'mon," I encouraged him through my cries. "Breathe. In and out, in and out…You can do it."

He made a helpless purr, his chest still failing to cooperate. He cried out again.

"In and out, Bee," I whispered. "In and out, now."

His optics stared into mine, and he looked completely innocent. I set one hand over the other and pressed down, trying to help him breathe. He got a breath in, then another, still staring into my eyes. I nodded, pressing down against him with all my strength again.

"It's okay, c'mon…" I comforted. He kept breathing, then suddenly stopped, gasping and struggling for a breath. I tumbled off of him and watched, fear-stricken. Bumblebee made all of these inhuman groans and moans, his body quaking in pain. I shook my head, sobbing quietly.

"Bee, n-no, man," I trembled, slowly stroking him. "Don't...You're okay, Bee…"

He didn't seem to have heard me. He kept crying and groaning.

"Ahh…!" He cried. "M-Mmm…Ohhhhh…"

The sounds were heart breaking.

"You have to breathe," I told him. "You can do it…!"

"C-Can't…," he said so softly. "V-Vent's…blown."

I looked at his chest. He was right. If he were a human, his entire lung would be destroyed, and the other, practically dead. I jolted, sobbing into my hands. I felt his finger weakly nudge my leg. I looked at him through blurry eyes.

"D-Darren, I-I d-don't…," his words were merged together, barely there. "…d-don't want y-you to see th-this…"

My eyes widened. "S-See what?!" I demanded. "Y-You're not…"

He was leaving me. He wasn't.

He couldn't.

"…Y-You pursue y-your dreams, Darren…D-Don't let anyone t-tell you th-that they're better th-than you, u-understand…?" He paused to cough, his hand clutching his side, then his spark. He groaned. "…D-Don't…" His voice trailed.

My heart almost stopped. I climbed onto him again, on his chest. My chin trembling, I laid my ear to his spark. It was humming…

Mmm….

…..

……

…..Mmm….

….

Mm….

Uneven, slow…

Dying.

I looked at him, my face twisted in sorrow I'd never felt before. I sobbed.

"N-No, Bee!" I yelled in a sob, my body shaking. "You c-can't leave me…!"

Bumblebee leaned his head back, his chest making me lift and drop with every broken breath he took. I heard him whirr, saw him close his eyes, saw his breaths slowing, and felt his spark's pulses decelerating…

Bumblebee was dying.

My guardian angel…Going.

"Bumblebee!!" I shouted, scrambling to his faceplate. I hugged it. "N-No, Bee…!!"

"…N-No one's gonna hurt you ev-ever again," his voice was barely there.

I cried out, sobbing even harder.

"Bumblebee, man, c'mon!"

I felt his blue blood on my hands. The blood that gave him life…

That used to.

His metal skin started growing cold. I started crying harder.

"No, no, no, n-no, no…," I groaned, sobbing. "No!!"

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Bumblebee's Point of View

"No, no, no, n-no, no…"

Darren's sobs filled my receptors, but they were only an echo ringing in my head over and over. Again, all I could feel was pain. Everything was darkening, my world was closing in. My chest failed to rise up even an inch. Darren's tiny hands clawed at my cheekplates, my warm blood covering his palms.

"Bumblebee!"

Bumblebee…

Bumblebee…

My name.

It echoes with the rest.

Mmm…

My spark's fading with every second…Its humming no longer a real pulse.

Mmm…

…..

……

……..

……Mm…

……….

……..

………….

……..

M-Mmm…

It neglects to beat correctly, stuttering, skipping in rhythm. My every wire loosened inside me, my joints extending and falling aside awkwardly, my head tossed to the side. I whirred, the sound strangled, as I couldn't utter much more. Darren's body shook violently against my faceplate. I groaned.

"Darren…," I managed to breathe. My hand covers his shaking body, and I draw him close to the nape of my neck. I hear his troubled whimpers and grief-stricken sobs. I wish he didn't have to see this…

"B-Be a good b-boy…" I whispered. "…b-be good, now…"

"Y-You c-can't go," he moans. "I-I love you t-too much, Bee."

His words make my spark flutter for the smallest second. It resumes its dying pulse.

"Y-You kn-know I l-love you t-too, my s-sparkling…"

Darren lays his head against me. I stroke his spine…

For the final time.

"Don't forget me, Bee," his little voice trembled. "Oh, God…D-Don't go…"

"I-I could never f-forget y-you…a-and y-you d-don't…" I stopped, trying to stay alive. Fighting to stay online. My systems screamed at me, alarms blaring. "…D-Darren, r-remember m-me…" I whirred.

"I-I w-w…w-will."

"A-And I-I'll be h-here…" I weakly tapped his tiny heart, and sat my finger there, feeling it beat…feeling the little life under my fingertip. I smiled barely. "…th-there…al-always."

His whimper was the last sound.

"D-Darren…"

His name was the final breath.

My spark faded…and floated away to the Well of Allsparks…

And, alas, I heard the gallant trumpet fanfare.

Primus calling me to Heaven…