A/N: Again thank you all so much for taking the time to leave such wonderful reviews, favorite and/or follow this story. I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but as a reviewer pointed out, I like for my actions scenes to have an immediacy to them. That means they will not be long and drawn out. That being said, please don't hate me for this chapter T_T. Also, I have a poll up on my profile if you would be so kind as to vote your preference.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners (Hasbro et. al.). The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.
Soundwave stopped the recording, then played it back.
"I'm not sure if this call can be intercepted but Optimus is alive. Wheeljack and I found him at the base. We are transporting him now."
"He's alive?"
"Barely, but stable. He's horribly injured though. We have to get him to Ratchet before his condition deteriorates."
He paused it, digits hovering just over the pressure pad. Lord Megatron would want to know this information immediately. But he was on Cybertron at the moment. Action had to be taken or the opportunity would be lost. Sending out a question to Lazerbeak he got a set of coordinates as a response. It would be best to ambush the bots before they got to the human metropolis and met up with the medic. According to Knockout's report the wrecker was injured and was having to rely on a human for help transporting Prime.
Digits resumed their dance over the pressure pad, more information scrolling across the screen. Data for the geographic area, population density, and infrastructure was sifted within kliks. He paused, highlighting a particular set of information. Where would the Autobots go that they would feel most safe? Somewhere underground and this city just happened to have one of the largest underground complexes on the continent. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Contacting Knockout he got whined at before the medic finally shut up and went over the information he'd sent.
"So you want me to intercept them? I can do that. Do I get any more back up than last time? I got my aft handed to me."
Soundwave closed the connection and turning away from his station sent a short encoded message to Megatron's private line. He didn't need to wait for an answer. Opening a ground bridge he walked through, coming out the other side just as Knockout sped passed.
There was a surprised yelp from the battered medic. Soundwave watched as he transformed, skidding a few feet before coming to a stop. He'd never seen the medic look quite this beaten before, though there was gleam in his optics. He nodded and Knockout grinned.
"Well now, didn't think I'd be seeing you out here. Megatron usually keeps you on a pretty short leash."
Soundwave turned his head staring at the medic until he shifted his weight and looked away. "I sent that Eradicon on ahead to scout the area. He should be back soon. We should probably-"
Soundwave transformed, hovering a few feet above the road. The landscape was radically different, low rolling hills broken only by the occasional human dwelling. On the horizon the spires of the metropolis were just barely visible.
"Fine, fine. Lead the way." Knockout took his time transforming, cursing the whole time. Apparently he was more injured than previously thought. Soundwave took note of that fact. Maybe Megatron's method of dealing with the medic was achieving results faster than anticipated. He kept his pace slow, making sure to keep the medic in sight at all times.
Lazerbeak sent him a short data burst. The Autobot medic was nearing the rendezvous point. He sped up, Knockout following suit. The maze of roads reminded him of traveling from Kaon to Iacon though without any of the attention to aesthetics. Most of the structures were squat ugly things, the humans' vehicles creating mass chaos. He had to slow down to allow Knockout time to navigate the traffic. Lazerbeak caught up with them as they turned onto another main thoroughfare. The Autobot medic was held up in the late afternoon traffic as well.
"Sir," The Eradicon swooped down coming level with his right wing. "The wrecker and the human have stopped. They are at a refueling station."
Soundwave acknowledged the information and sent the 'Con on head to keep an eye on the pair. Relaying the information and the coordinates to Knockout he veered off. Knockout would catch up, but he was going to take a direct route.
###
The High Council stood in shadow as they faced the Cybertronian before them.
"Are you the gladiator who calls himself Megatron?"
"I am."
"By what authority do you claim this name."
"My own and none other."
The scene twisted and warped, now Orion found himself facing Halogen and the Council members, Megatron at his side.
"We set up on you the quest of the Matrix of Leadership. From here on you are to be called Optimus Prime."*
He turned to look at Megatron but there was nothing there, just a dark shadow. That shadow reached out and enveloped him.
He woke with an ache in his processor. The temperature had dropped, the chill settling into aching servos. Even though his pain receptors were still shut down, he imagined he could feel the stinging ache. He wanted to get up. He'd never spent so much time in forced recharge and it was fraying his circuits. Then there were the dreams. Ancient memories twisted as his processor tried to make sense of everything that had happened. He shivered, metal clanging.
"Optimus, are you alright?"
June's voice should have been more comforting but right now he was too agitated. Clenching his servos he forced himself to answer.
"I'm fine."
"We are almost there. We'll be on our way as soon as the army convoy arrives."
"June . . . I'm sorry to ask this, but is there anyway you could loosen the tie over my chest plating? I'm feeling rather constricted."
"Oh, of course."
"Thank you."
He listened to the hum of tires over pavement as he waited. The many noises of civilization that had been conspicuously absent out in the desert. If he let himself he could imagine he was back in the Hall of Records, the soft hum of the Grid all around him as he'd sorted, cataloged and filed data. That life seemed like a dream now. A delusion brought on by joor upon joor of conflict. Should I have surrendered, then, before the tragedies of Vos, Polyhex or Tyger Pax. How many lives could have been saved if I had just surrendered? But, at what cost?
Surrendering to Megatron would have meant giving up everything he'd come to believe in. The right for every Cybertronian to be self determinant within the framework of society. Even the humans had laws to govern their societies, to keep things structured to a degree. Yet unlike the caste system they were allowed the opportunity to learn, to grow, to better themselves. Or even the decision to do the opposite.
He was dragged from his line of thought by the tarp being pulled back. June's small form appeared in his line of sight. She patted his shoulder and soon he was able to move his arms to a more comfortable position.
"Is this really necessary, June? Are we not nearly to our destination?"
She pursed her lips as she studied him. "I suppose not. Just don't fall off!"
"Of course not."
He helped her remove the straps over his chest, but stopped her when she went moved to his legs. He shook his head at her questioning look. Her shoulders slumped, head bowing.
"I'm so sorry Optimus."
"No apologies, please. You have worked tirelessly and have risked yourself to get me to safety. I am sorry that you have had to put yourself at risk like this."
She lifted her head, wiping at a tear. He raised a hand to help her down and was shocked when she latched on to his servos, giving him the equivalent of a hug. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Optimus."
Carefully he curled his servos around her, trying to return the sentiment. "Thank you."
A horn blared, startling them both. Wheeljack shot passed them, transforming as he went, both katana drawn.
"'Cons!"
"June get in the truck."
He set her down and levered himself up as best he would. Wheeljack was facing off against a very battered looking Knockout and an Eradicon. The truck started with a rumble and lurched forward.
"Get Optimus out of here, June!"
"I'm trying!"
With an effort Optimus brought his cannon to bear. The Eradicon took two hits before going down. He was forced to shield himself as fire erupted around him. Glancing up he spotted Lazerbeak. He took several shots but the mini-con was too fast. If Lazerbeak was here, where was Soundwave?
There was a yell and Wheeljack slammed into the side of the truck, nearly topping it over. Optimus instinctively shifted his weight to keep all the tires on the pavement. June was screaming.
"Wheeljack, Soundwave is here too."
"Got it." He was slow getting back up as Optimus gave him covering fire. Knockout had ducked down behind the building. The Eradicon hadn't got back up. Thank Primus for small favors. A red and white truck, sirens blaring and lights going barreled into the lot. Ratchet transformed as Knockout brought his prod to bear. The clang of metal on metal nearly drowned out June's frantic yelling. The truck had stalled.
"June, calm down. Ratchet is here to help."
"It won't start! I think I flooded the engine!"
"Give it a moment, then try again." He took another shot at Lazerbeak keeping an optic out for Soundwave.
Something slammed into the front of the truck, the back end rising off the ground with the impact. June's scream cut off. The truck landed hard, jarring Optimus.
"June!"
He tried to turn to see what had happened and met a blank visor.
"Soundwave-"
His arm was forced down as he tried to fire. The tie downs dangled in front of him for a nanoklik as Soundwave's tentacles made quick work of untying him. He was dragged off the back of the truck. Still trying to bring his weapons to bear, he found his wrists bound together with a tentacle. He didn't have the strength to break the hold. Then he was being hauled over the pavement, metal sparking. He caught sight of the wrecker. The entire engine block was crushed beyond recognition. He couldn't see June in the cab and desperately hoped she was alright.
"Optimus!"
"Leave him alone you slagger!"
The green glow of a ground bridge lit up the area. Knockout shot passed. Lazerbeak hovered overhead firing continuously at the oncoming bots. Wheeljack took a direct hit and went down. Ratchet tried to dodge him and got shot for his effort.
"Ratchet! Wheeljack!"
The ground bridge closed.
*excerpted from Transformers: Exodus by Alex Irvine.