Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Triple Changing. Enjoy the 2400-word chapter. I do not own Transformers, Hasbro does.
(3 days before Shadow Zone)
Optimus, Arcee, and Fuse all stood atop the cliff overlooking a mine as Fuse counted. The area was a giant crater-like quarry which was leading to the mines which seemed to descend further into the cave.
"I count at least a dozen cons," Fuse stated. "Several miners, though…." Fuse stated.
"I believe you are aware of the code of conduct?" Fuse heard.
"Yes, sir," Fuse stated before he looked to Arcee. "Normally I would just start bashing cons and avoid the miners… But I assume hitting them fast and hard isn't the plan?" Fuse asked.
"Is if you want them to raise an alarm." Arcee snarked.
"The ones with wings… Most of them can fly?" Arcee heard.
"Yep," Arcee stated before Fuse hummed.
"I got an idea… I will deal with their air support," Fuse stated before sliding down the slope.
"Are all triple-changers… Like that?" Arcee questioned.
"Their helix T-Cog causes them different personalities… But I do not know." Optimus heard as Fuse shifted into his plane form.
Rather than maintain a permitter? 4 of the Vehicons shifted into jet form and chased after him, chasing the triple changer into the sky.
"Four on one… Great." Arcee stated before she and Optimus drew their blasters.
(With Fuse)
Fuse gunned his engines, flying as fast as he could and circling the mines as he seemed to think. He had a lot on his mines as he cut the engines, flew backward, and spun behind 2 of the Jets.
His weapon systems which incorporated the jet's flared up… the minigun on his nose opened fire, tearing through the armor on one Vehicon which made it spin, causing it to slam into the ground, exploding as he paused.
"Are Vehicons usually like this?" Fuse asked as he shifted into robot form, his leg thrusters firing as he maintained altitude.
"Yeah, probably," Fuse stated, gripping one of the Vehicons by the wing and slamming it into another trying to ram him. "All right, let's see what you got, flyboy," Fuse stated, shapeshifting back into his F-14 form and then flying off.
(With Arcee and Optimus)
Optimus paused to gun down a Vehicon before turning to watch Arcee cut a Vehicon in two. Both were about to say something only to watch the last Vehicon slam into the ground, body falling to pieces as Fuse transformed, sliding across the ground.
"Air support neutralized…. With prejudice." Fuse stated.
"Fuse," Optimus stated before he sighed to himself. "Please try to exercise caution next time," Optimus stated.
"Noted, sir," Fuse stated as he dusted off his hands. "Miners cleared out already," Fuse stated to which Optimus nodded.
"No doubt to warn Megatron of our incursion here," Optimus stated as Fuse frowned.
The idea of it was going to end up getting him hurt for now, and unwilling to it all comes to a head in a way he could not have allowed… Nor would he try it for now and he knew that, knew what was coming to the bat as he tried his best to relax and survive.
It was just too much at times, he knew more or well for the moment before he relaxed and then seemed to be interested in something beyond chaos.
"I do not see why they stopped using these things… They fly just fine and they are just as effective as they look." Fuse stated.
"Is it the fact fast and sturdy don't mean quiet?" Arcee joked.
"Want me to bring up the fact you're a super-fast blue motorcycle in the middle of the desert?" Fuse stated. "I do not get it. if Megatron is so powerful and smart? Why can't he afford better security?" Fuse asked.
"Megatron is also at war with the humans and has been dealing with the plots of most of his inner circle… I do not believe he can focus his attention on combating us." Optimus stated.
"Hmm," Fuse stated. "That's why you were able to find me?" Fuse asked.
"Well, you made a giant hole when you slammed into Earth." Arcee joked, gaining a chuckle from Fuse.
"Rachet had detected the arrival of several high-speed items entering Earth's atmosphere… We believed it might have been an object from Cybertron." Optimus stated.
"So, if you didn't get to the pod in time…" Fuse muttered.
"You'd be talking to Megatron," Arcee stated as the lift finally hit the bottom.
The three Autobots slowly yet surely walked off the lift and into the mine, weapons ready as they swept their optics around. Fuse turned to look down a corridor.
"Any odds Megatron left one of his lieutenants in charge here?" Fuse questioned.
"Doubt it, he doesn't trust anyone," Arcee stated.
"But it cannot be ruled out. One of his followers would be commanding his army if he was to be incapacitated." Optimus stated. "And I am aware of the fact a new Decepticon has come to Earth," Optimus stated.
Arcee clenched her fists at the mention of Arachnid. She knew Optimus was referring to her and she wanted nothing more than to scrap her for what she did to Cliff. Fuse appeared to pick up on this as he turned to Arcee.
"Whoever it is? They are going down… Only matters how permanent it is." Fuse stated.
"We do not enjoy combat, Fuse," Optimus stated.
"I was built for it, sir," Fuse stated.
The two were about to speak further when a voice cut in and caused them to look ahead. A very familiar voice to which Arcee felt her oil boil.
"Oh… I did not expect guests." They heard as a Vehicon fell from the roof, its head snipped off and its body sparking.
"ARACHNID!" Arcee screamed.
Fuse drew both of his weapons and looked up in time to notice a glob of webbing which he cut in twain with his blade. He then noticed a black and purple Cybertronian descend from the ceiling, legs stamping into the floor.
"Hello, Arcee…" Arachnid purred, teeth flared in a smile.
"Great…" Fuse stated as Optimus spoke.
"Arachnid, we do not have the time to deal with you," Optimus stated.
"I do," Fuse stated, raising his canon towards the Decepticon and firing, bullets flying towards her as she retreated. "Typical con…" Fuse muttered as Arcee rushed after her screaming.
"ARACHNID!" Arcee yelled as she rushed after the spider bot. "GET BACK HERE!" Arcee yelled.
"Well, someone wants to fight as much as I do…" Fuse stated before rushing to join her as Optimus sighed.
He knew as much as anyone that Arcee and Arachnid had a history, both wanted out of their mortal struggle using the death of the other… They hated each other in the most twisted way.
He continued to gather Energon, knowing that Arachnid had probably killed the rest of the staff here… She did not care for mercy; she did not wish to care and there was something to be said about it… He could chase Arachnid but she would escape, the odds were against her as well.
(With Fuse and Arcee.)
Fuse was not quick to follow Arcee, one of his forms was speedy but the terrain favored her… And if he shot? He might shoot Arcee in the back.
Arachnid grinned and flung herself at Arcee who dodged, carrying the spider bot into Fuse's waiting fist, pinballing her into the ceiling.
"What is it with you bugs and being creepy as frag?" Fuse asked, pointing his cannon at her.
"Oh, great… Another Autobot." Arachnid stated before she drilled into the wall, spinning her arms into the wall as she did so.
Fuse hummed and started to look out, seeing another hole in the side… Small mine, he guessed and they made a lift to get in easy.
Arcee leaped into the hole as Fuse transformed into his tomcat form and flew down the tunnel, soaring up and out of the hole before he circled the mine. He flew at speeds that a human pilot might pass out as he rotated and scanned the area.
He was rewarded with Arachnid popping from the ground in a spill of dirt as Arcee followed.
Fuse hummed before firing a rocket from his wings which soared towards Arachnid, she dodged only for the weapon to explode, throwing her alongside the ground.
Fuse transformed as he landed, slamming into the ground strong enough to crater it as the Autobot surged forwards, striding on legs the size of tree trunks.
"You're going down," Fuse stated as he rolled away from her stabbing legs which hit empty air.
Arcee responded with more fire from her blasters, nailing Arachnid in the spine as the spider bot spun, firing, and webbing her to a tree.
"Shh, let the big bots talk," Arachnid stated to which she turned to Fuse. "You are new… I have not killed you before." Arachnid stated.
"Yeah… Not happening, creepy crawly." Fuse stated, drawing his blade, and preparing for combat with her as he straightened up.
Even then? He was ready to tango all the same and he showed it as he opened fire, forcing Arachnid to retreat. He could see she was far faster and if she closed the distance? He might floor her with one hit but her claws would cut through his armor.
He decided keeping his distance was better and he transformed and took flight just as she pounced, ramming her through a tree and soaring into the sky just as Arcee tore from the webs.
"She's mine!" Arcee stated as Arachnid chuckled.
"Still not over Tailgate? I still got his head on display if you want to see it." Arachnid stated with a chuckle.
"I'LL SMASH YOU TO SCRAP!" Arcee stated, charging forwards.
She screamed in rage as she decided to attack head-on. Fuse could see her blades flaring, sending Arachnid into a retreat but it was clear in terms of speed? They were evenly matched for the moment, there was a matter of skill.
This was why Fuse decided to end it with a strafing run of gunfire, tearing up rock and stone as the spider bot finally retreated, knowing that she could do nothing to handle a flying Autobot, especially without an Alt-Mode to use.
She drilled into the ground, leaving Arcee behind as she screamed in oily anger at being denied her revenge. She looked at the hole as Fuse landed, hovering on the ground.
"So… She is one of Megatron's Lieutenants?" Fuse asked as Arcee bristled with anger and walked past the triple changer. "Ok, back to the job… Commander? Arachnid retreated, should I pursue?" Fuse questioned.
"Negative. Secure the entrance, I am bringing energon to the surface." Optimus ordered.
"Roger… Sir? Can I ask a question? if the Decepticons are still united, why are they operating against each other… Besides the obvious reason, last I checked? Arachnid worked as an assassin for Megatron." Fuse stated.
"The Decepticon leadership has been changing since the war has moved to Earth. I suspect most of Megatron's lieutenants have their agendas they plan to execute." Optimus stated.
"Then it is good we are operating as a mostly united front… Commander? I wish to keep this vehicle form; I can cover ground faster and I do not have a problem pretending to be part of Earth's military." Optimus heard.
"We can discuss that when we return," Optimus stated before he sighed. "Fuse? I ask you to exercise some manner of restraint in the issue… We are at war, but the humans are not all combatants." Optimus stated.
"I was bred to scrap cons and take orders, sir… But I can take orders a bit too much." Fuse stated.
"We are not all soldiers, Autobot," Optimus stated.
"I know, sir…. I can take orders well enough; I will stay in my lane best I can." Fuse stated before he sighed.
He knew Optimus did not approve of his approach of guns blazing, but he was used to war, to combat and fighting the enemy on their terms. He was a soldier and he acted as it would remain.
She knew what was coming and how she would end it for now at the end of the road, not willing to end it. He had been too distracted, too thrown off for now… There was something else to be had, something that might end for now when it came down to it.
There were a lot of things that seemed to be too dealt with for now.
Fuse slowly circled the mines, too interested in what was going on. He transformed while he reached a crane, gripping it and using the momentum to throw himself onto the crane… He had been willing to think for that was the one advantage of this.
The chaos would become too much. The chaos which would feel odder and odder and seemed to be distracted, for now, he would be ready to think… To act, and he would be ready for the worst. The chaos which would not be ready to deal with it for now.
There was too much to deal with it for now, he had been prepared for the worst. There were a lot of things that he had been ready to deal with.
"Sir? What exactly is the plan to defeat the Decepticon army? What are our resources, and numbers? If we can surround them? We will deal with them as best we can." Fuse stated before he sighed.
Optimus was silent, not just because he had more to do, but because he had problems with it in ways that would be dealt with more warfare. They would not be ready for chaos that he could not fathom.
"The Autobots you have seen are the Autobots we maintain, Fuse… There is no larger resistance to the best of my resistance." Optimus stated.
Fuse fell silent.
"That might not be entirely true, sir." Optimus heard.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out I will be changing some of the chapters and their names. The next chapter will be set during the end of Shadowzone and introduce Blitzwing along with setting up Arcee and Fuse bonding and more of his arc. Until the 900–6500-word chapter in 2-10 months, Lighting Wolf out!