[Location: Nemesis crash site] Time frame: Flying Mind
Elita looked up at the massive ship looming above her, listening carefully for the drone flyers. Hearing none about, she winced as she lifted her hand up to her ear to open her communicator.
[Location: Autobot Base]
Everyone paused in their conversation as the communication station beeped urgently. Ratchet, being the bot closest to it, opened up the call. "Elita-One to base. Ratchet are you there?" Relief flooded all in the room.
"Yes, Elita," Ratchet quickly responded, "I'm here. Are you damaged?"
"Bit bruised, but alive," she gave a tired sigh, "I got out of the ship. Tell Bulkhead I'm sorry I couldn't keep up with him."
"Where are you at, Elita?" Optimus asked as he stepped up behind the medic.
"Under one of the ship's fins. They've already had drones searching the area and I guess I'm hidden from their scanners at least."
"We'll open a ground bridge to your location," the medic offered quickly.
"No," came the reply, the word sharp with pain, "Don't waste the surprise on my exit if you're planning something."
"She's right," Arcee said, "We should hit the 'Cons right now while they're vulnerable."
"Megatron's warship may be grounded, but let's not forget that we remain vastly outnumbered," Ratchet warned, "Especially since he's added the Insecticon Hive to his ranks."
Elita remained quiet as she listened to their discussion. When Optimus spoke up next, he gave her her orders. "Get as close to the ground bridge coordinates as you can, Elita," and the Prime turned away from the console to go deeper into the base.
[Location: Nemesis crash site]
"Understood, Elita out." Closing her communicator, Elita groaned as she slowly climbed to her feet. It took a moment for her internal navigation to direct her where to go and she slowly walked over to the edge of the cliff. Leaning over as far as she dared, she had to chuckle. "Of course. Well! Here goes." And she slowly began the climb down the rock face.
She was halfway down the cliff when the ship above her began to rumble. Looking up she saw the injured behemoth rise, shaking a few rocks lose. Seeing the danger heading her way, she let go of the rock she was currently holding and let herself drop down to the next protruding rock, swinging to the side from the momentum before letting go of that one to freefall to the next one to avoid being hit. The next freefall began when she pushed off with her feet into a leap outward from the cliff face, finally hitting the ground and rolling like a ragdoll.
As soon as she stopped, she looked up to see the ground bridge opening up and her friends begin to drive out. With another groan, she got up and began to rush towards them as they ran towards the ship. As the Decepticon ship loomed overhead like a shadow of death, Elita paused only for a moment as she saw Bumblebee take a hit, the scout crashing to the ground.
Arcee picked up the device, taking over the mission before she too took a hit from the odd energy blast from the ship. Bulkhead was next, not even getting the chance to aim the deadly device at the ship before he too was hit by the beam.
Elita was nearing her friends by this point, pushing herself past the pain, as Optimus Prime grabbed the device, gave a mighty leap, and prepared to throw the device only to be hit by the ray as well. Elita was at his side after he crashed to the ground. Grabbing the Spark Extractor, she prepared to throw it when she saw the beam heading her way. Rolling to dodge, she looked up at the ship as the ray locked on her, transformed her right hand into her sniper rifle, aimed and fired as the beam came down on her.
[Location: Nemesis bridge]
Megatron did not look pleased at the view before him. "You fools let her escape!" and then he saw the device she was holding, "and she has the Spark Extractor. Guide us closer so I can collect what belongs to me, and destroy the Autobots."
It was then that Megatron realized that he screwed up.
[Location: Autobot Base]
It took time and several trips to bring back his comrades, but Ratchet managed to bring everyone home. It took a bit of work, but he managed to pull the Spark Extractor free from Elita's hand, her weapon still up and aimed at its non-existent target.
It was when he was passing by her again that the medic noticed that her eyes were dimmed. Kneeling down he saw that the three pieces that housed her human shaped component was opened slightly. It took a bit of work, but he managed further open it, catching the limp human form as it fell free.
"What happened to her?" Jack asked as they watched Ratchet bring her over to the couch and gently set her on it.
"Despite her origins, she is now a fully Cybertronian being," the older Autobot said, returning to his console. "She might have tried to eject herself before the beam struck, but she was still in contact with it when it hit. They're alive, but I've never encounter this form of stasis lock."
While their human allies were on their mission on the Nemesis Ratchet kept an eye both on his console that tracked their progress, and on scans of his friends. There had to be something he could do. When they began to relax, their stasis lock fading, the Autobot medic knew that the kids succeeded in dumping the dark energon from the Decepticon warship's power core.
Bumblebee was quick to catch Elita's larger form as it relaxed, but crashing towards the floor, burn marks and deep gouges in her armor plating telling her story. Bulkhead looked the most remorseful over what had happened, but had to laugh when the larger form said, "It looks worse than it feels, but I'll let ya'll have the fun for a while." They were quick to rest it on Ratchet's table for repairs.
Optimus was at the ground bridge opening with Ratchet, taking Agent Fowler from Miko and Rafael as they walked through. "Where is Jack?"
"He told us to go," Miko rushed through the words, "Jack went back for the drive."
"I've got this Optimus," Ratchet said as he rushed past them into the ground bridge.
Carefully placing Agent Fowler on the medical bed, Optimus waited by the controls for Ratchet's return shortly thereafter, with both Jack and the drive in hand. The Autobot medic set Jack down next to his friends before plugging the drive in to access the information.
Elita had pulled herself up from the couch, put her helmet on the coffee table, and made her way over to Agent Fowler to check his vitals. The man was mumbling happy things from his childhood, the mention of "Grandma" making her smile.
"Elita," She looked up at Optimus while he spoke with her, "You will stay here and monitor Agent Fowler's progress."
"No prob," she smirked. He gave her a grave nod and began to make plans with the others about the collection of the relics.
Elita was sitting on the edge of the platform, leaning against the lower bar of the railing with her chin resting on crossed arms, as she listened and watched the teams split. Jack, Miko, Arcee, and Bumblebee were the first to leave. Next was Bulkhead, rushing off on his mission, looking forward to sharing with Miko when they all got back.
Optimus and Ratchet were speaking before the Prime headed off to search for his relic. The medic stood still as they watched the Autobot leader walk through the ground bridge. While Rafael pulled up the coordinates for Ratchet to bridge through, Elita reached out for the remaining bot.
"I know this isn't ideal," her hand brushed against some of his arm plating, "but maybe you can rub off on him."
"I doubt it," the medic said with a huff to his voice. They both looked over as the ground bridge reactivated.
"Be careful, Doc," she requested gently.
Ratchet looked back down at her, carefully rubbing the back of her hand with one of his fingers, "I will," and he turned to enter the ground bridge.
Once it winked shut, Elita managed to pull herself back up to her feet and smiled at Rafael. "Looks like the three of us have the fort."
The young man smiled, pushing his glasses up a bit. They talked about the newest computer system that they finished putting in until Agent Fowler woke up. While the men were busy manning their own stations and keeping track of the team, she was doing what repairs she could to her larger form. She knew from where she was aching what areas needed the most attention first.
When she heard Rafael becoming excited about something, she slowly hopped her way over. "Do you have to mention food?" she inquired as she crouched down beside him, looking over his shoulder.
"Sorry, Elita," the computer genius said a bit distractedly as his fingers flew over the keys of his laptop.
"Nice coding," she complimented before moving down the ramp. She stopped to look up at the readout of those in the field, mentally kicking herself for having been caught. She should be out there helping, not stuck at the base. Her stomach growling brought her thoughts to the present. Even based troops had their job to do. Rafael was doing his, Special Agent Fowler his own. She will do her own part.
Gingerly making her way down the stairs she moved to the energon storage chamber and began to load up one of the human sized carts with the prepared liquid energon to move it over to the medical area of the main room. Knowing that the Decepticons were going to give her friends a full fight, she would be prepared to help treat them as they came in.
She was two full loads of prepared energon ready when she heard Raf cheering. Something good must have happened, so she went to check. Looking up at the massive screens above them Elita had to smile as she patted the young man's shoulder. "Excellent coding. I could learn a thing or two from ya."
"I doubt that, Elita," he said, looking up at her, "but thanks for saying so." Then from his laptop they both heard Ratchet call for a ground bridge. "Excuse me," he said as he turned his focus to that.
Elita watched the information scrolling on their screen. It was in and of itself amazing coding. She was going to have fun with it if Optimus let her near it. Hearing Rafael greeting Ratchet excitedly, she couldn't help herself but to smile. With all that weighed the medic down, it was uplifting to see his spirits so high. This was indeed a blessing for the Autobots to have the Iacon Database in their possession, giving them fighting chance in beating the Decepticons to the relics.
When Raf opened the ground bridge for Bulkhead to come back through, everybody stared in shock as the huge bot came flying through the portal, landing face first at Ratchet's feet. Shock filled them all as they took in the damage. The young computer genius ran closer, standing next to Agent Fowler.
Elita could see some of it from where she was. Both of her forms reacted before her mind did, the larger one getting up from the table to bring over a box of prepared liquid energon as the smaller one leapt down from the walkway, both running over to their injured friend while she ignored own pain.
Ratchet was already kneeling at his side, but with Elita being smaller she was able to weasel her way in to take in the damage. While they worked together on their friend her larger form was injecting the energon into Bulkhead's arm. Not knowing how the others would be coming through the ground bridge, they focused on the most pressing matter at hand. Keeping Bulkhead alive.
[Author's Note]
I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS PRIME NOR ANY CHARACTER IN THE SHOW.
Gah! Now I realize how hard it is to keep fanfics near canon while the show is still in progress! I figured I didn't need to add much from the actual episodes since ya'll have most likely seen them ^_- . We're all going to have to wait until at least Saturday before I can post one more.
I might have a bit more fun going off story line a bit later on, but we'll see what I can come up with.
The cold is gone from our home, thank goodness, and thanks for all the concerns. And thanks for reading!