Knight in Borrowed Armor 8
Surprise Attack
A Transformers Prime Fanfiction
"Here I stand to release this body to its rightful caretakers," Nitor bowed deeply before Optimus Prime as they stood in the center of the silo.
The Autobots ringed the two mechs, each quietly standing with their own thoughts. The four adult humans waited on the platform.
"Why?" Optimus finally asked.
Nitor looked up in surprise, glancing around the assembled sentients.
"I assume you have customs regarding the internment of honored friend?" The battered red mech asked. "It would be unjust to deny you the peace of following these."
"We indeed have such traditions," the Prime said. "However none of us would deny your right to existence. I would do a far greater honor to our fallen friend to grant you the continued use of his shell."
"Oh," sudden understanding lit up Nitor's face plates. "Forgive me for not explaining this properly. If it is my continued existence you are worried about there is nothing to fear."
He saw the looks of confusion ripple across the room.
"My kind, my people, do not exist in solid forms as do yours," he waved a hand to include the humans as well as the Cybertronians. "I live as what you know as light; a sunbeam in a forest, a glimmer in the clouds at sunset. For me to return across the barrier required an," he hesitated searching for the proper word, "anchor of sorts. That was the main reason I needed a shell. The only other reason is that it is extremely difficult to communicate with the humans in my," he hesitated again, "natural form. Now that my duty is complete there is no reason for me to stay confined to this shell."
"Ah, maybe we should leave while you discus this," offered the Lady Monk, feeling that she was intruding on something.
"That will not be necessary," Optimus said gently.
The Prime opened a channel between the Autobots and began to exchange data. Even by Cybertronian standards it was a short conversation. They were unanimous in their decision. Communicating this way only seconds passed. Optimus turned again to the red mech.
"We are all of the same mind in this matter Nitor," he began. "The best way to honor our fallen comrade will be to extend the use of his shell to you," he paused, "if that is your wish. We will not ask you to stay if you wish to be free from this physical form."
Nitor shuttered his optics rapidly a few time as he thought over the Prime's speech.
"It is always easier to serve them if one has a solid body," he finally said. "I gratefully accept this gift, however,"
"What?" the lady Monk suddenly shouted, capturing the attention of the room. "Who would attack, never mind commander, evacuate now. There is no reason to defend an empty hanger," she said firmly into her phone. "Someone is attacking the base where we summoned Nitor," she explained to the concerned faces around her, "with an airstrike. The commander is evacuating but a group of scientists has been trapped in the main building."
"Cons!" Fowler exclaimed, leaping to the consol. "They must have heard the signals the new guy sent out and traced it to that location somehow."
"That signal was a broad spectrum call sign," Ratchet spoke up. "It may well be that we have more to worry about than just the Decepticons."
"Maybe MECH then," Fowler growled. "Or Screamer. We have way too many bad guys." He pulled up a report and frowned. "Nope, it's cons. International contacts confirm it. Optimus I'm pulling up the schematics for the base now."
"The scientists are there," the Lady pointed to a central building.
"Autobots! Prepare to transform and roll out!" Optimus ordered. "Nitor remain here with Ratchet."
"This is not one of the usual top secret facilities," the general spoke up. "You should be able to access the base layout fairly easily."
"Optimus Prime," the red mech protested, "I am a warrior, and there are people in danger because of my actions. I need to assist you."
The leader of the Autobots looked at the other silently for the briefest of moments. Suddenly his hand snapped out and caught the smaller mech under the chin. Nitor staggered back and fell onto his skid plate at the blow.
"You said yourself this body is strange to you," the Prime said, reaching out to help the red mech up. "That blow was by no means swift for the manner of combat we will be involved in."
Nitor nodded glumly.
"As you say. I will wait here, until such a time as I can master this shell."
The Autobots leapt into the ground bridge and transformed. The green portal flashed out of existence behind them.
"God speed," General Trask said softly. The man turned to Agent Fowler and let out a sigh. "As much as I would love to see how this turns out I'm afraid my duty is done and this is none of my business from here on out. Lady Monk shall we take our leave?"
"I think it would be best if I stayed for a bit longer," the dark skinned woman said softly. She gave Mrs. Darby a warm smile. "June has accepted Nitor's bond but she knows next to nothing about the responsibility's that entails. I will summon a ride when I need one."
"So you will stay and brief her, good." The general nodded and headed for the elevator without further comment.
"I need to get my reports into HQ and organize the cover story for this," Fowler sighed as he followed the older man through the doors. "Call me if you need anything he said to the women.
The two men rode the elevator in silence to the top of the shaft. Just as they parted ways to go to their separate aircraft the general flashed a mischievous grin at Fowler.
"She looks back you know."
"What?" the agent sputtered.
"An old man sees things," Trask shrugged. "It's your life but any soldier would be a fool not to Capri Diem with an opportunity like that."
The younger man gaped at the general for a moment. The old man laughed loudly and strode whistling to the jet. Fowler finally took a deep breath and shook his head.
"Rank has its privileges," he muttered as he headed to his waiting chopper. Like not being told off when you were acting like a complete…
Optimus exploded out onto the green landscape surrounding a small military base. The banner flying on the flag pole had the same coloration as the ones in the country which housed them but the geometric pattern was different. His attention was initially drawn to the flag because it was the only thing moving.
"Fan out," the Prime ordered, "This looks far too much like a trap. Bulkhead, free the scientists and give them a ride to the tunnels. Arcee, Bumblebee, scout."
Each Autobot fell to their assigned task instantly. The green mech transformed and rolled up to the building that protected the scientists. It was sunk into the ground and consisted of several layers of concrete and steel. It would have been fairly easy for the Decepticons to destroy it but not without killing the human inhabitants. They must have wanted them alive. The doors were protected by a manual lock that could only be opened from the inside. The Autobot would have smiled to himself if he'd had a face at the moment. The cons must have been stymied by the sheer simplicity of the set up.
Bulkhead positioned himself so there was as small a space as possible between the shelter's door and his. He sent the code the general had given them. The door began to open almost immediately. A thin middle aged man poked his head out of the window. Round, wire rimmed glasses sat atop a thin nose.
"Hello? Who's there? Are you here to rescue us?" he asked nervously, glancing at the seemingly empty SUV.
"Please enter the remote controlled drone," Bulkhead said according to his instructions. He tried to suppress the laughter in his voice. Miko would love this.
The scientist glanced around quickly and signaled the others behind him. Nine similar humans scampered out and toward the waiting rig. Just as the last one left the building the cons attacked. Two air drones came in fast and hard but not firing weapons, clearly intent on taking prisoners. A blur of yellow appeared and fired off twin cannons. Bumblebee's shots didn't stop the onrushing drones but it did knock them off course. Arcee and Bee began engaging the drones.
Bulkhead replayed the message for the humans hoping it would hurry them along. The scientists appeared to have frozen in terror. The thin nosed man with glasses suddenly started and began herding the rest of the group into the waiting transport. The Autobot wasn't exactly sure how many humans his alt mod was rated for, but with the threat of the combating robots raining around them all nine squeezed into his interior in what must have been record time.
The green SUV shot off toward the mouth of the escape tunnels. To one side he caught a glimpse of Optimus bringing his sword down on Soundwave. In another Arcee and Bee were back to back thrashing the rest of the drones. Bulkhead tried to ignore the odd prodding from his interior caused by the tightly packed humans. He screeched to a stop in front of the entrance to the tunnels.
"Thank you for riding Save My Tail airlines ladies and gents!" He called out cheerfully. "Please disembark on the side away from the big booms and have a pleasant trip through the escape tunnels!"
The door to the tunnels opened and two humans in what Bulkhead recognized as combat gear popped their heads out.
"Get in here," one shouted to the struggling scientists. The two young men leapt forward and began bodily pulling the white coated figures out of the SUV.
"Down the tunnel. Go, go ,go!" The soldiers shouted. Once the door closed behind the last human Bulkhead roared off to join the fight. He arrived just in time to see Soundwave take off leaking energon and Arcee drive her wrist blade into the last standing drone.
"Awe, how come you didn't leave any for me?" he asked cheerfully.
"Finish the evac a little faster next time and maybe we will," the fembot retorted with a smirk.
"Autobots," Optimus's baritone rang out, "Our task here is done. Fowler has informed me the cleanup crew is on the way."
"Roger that Bossbot," Bulkhead responded.