"Sideswipe to Optimus. Come in!" Sideswipe yelled into his comm. link. He was currently outside by his alt. form, frantically looking around. Sam had gone back to class and he was stuck there until she got out of detention.
"What is it Sideswipe?" Optimus asked.
"Where's Barricade?" he didn't mean for it to sound like a demand, but he was so freaked out, he couldn't help it.
"He's here at the base." He was going to continue, but Sideswipe cut him off.
"Keep him there!"
"What's going on? Is everything alright? What about Sam?"
"She's fine. Listen, we have to find Starscream and Sideways before it's too late!"
"Hold on Sideswipe, slow down! Tell me what's happening."
"Okay, Sam and I figured out what Starscream is planning." Silence on the other end allowed him to continue. "He has a temporary alliance with Sideways so that they can, as the humans say, kill two birds with one stone!"
"What does that mean, Sideswipe? Starscream would never agree to work with another Decepticon, especially Sideways."
"Unless it was something he could gain from. The capture of a traitor. The destruction of Barricade."
"Sideways, report! What is your position?" Starscream demanded over the comm. link. He was currently flying around the desert regions outside of the city. He gave Sideways a simple task- keep an eye on the girl and her temporary guardian. It's been almost three hours and he hadn't even updated on his mission.
He could hear a sigh on the other end. "Chill out, Screamer. What's the rush anyway? I think you need to get Megatron's cannon out of your tailpipe and loosen up a bit."
Starscream growled, irritation growing quickly within him. "I gave you a simple task, Sideways- watch the brat and the Autobot. I expect an update at least every hour! Has every bit of training from the Decepticons vanish from your memory banks?"
"Well, you know, it has been a while since you ratted me out to Megatron and got me exiled, causing me to live a life of boredom and loneliness. Any of this coming back to you, Screamer?"
"Stop calling me that!" Starscream shouted.
"And there goes the hearing in my right audio receptor, heh heh." Starscream knew Sideways was just toying with him. He was notorious of it back on Cybertron when torturing captured and helpless Autobots…and unlucky Decepticons.
"Be grateful that I am only putting up with your slag until Barricade is captured. After that, you will face my wrath Sideways." Starscream promised.
"Why must you always be the fun killer, Starscream? Besides, I can't allow you to do kill me just yet."
This confused Starscream. "And why is that?"
"I have a previous engagement that has been delayed for far too long. Surely you have enough mercy in your spark to at least let me do that."
"Ah yes, you are after that human girl. What is so fascinating about her that you are going through all this trouble just to toy with?"
Sideways chuckled. Starscream knew this chuckle. It was the dark and twisted chuckle that made even his energon run cold.
"She survived."
AH! Detention is so fragging boring! I slammed my head on the desk after I finished my chemistry homework. 'Just one more week' I thought. I can do this. It's just one more week. One more week of staying after school…doing absolutely nothing but work on homework…nothing to do…
I CAN'T DO THIS!
I groaned into my desk. I lifted my head back up to look at the clock. 4:15. Great, forty-five more minutes to go. I closed my eyes, feeling a slight headache after slamming my head on the desk.
I looked out the window and saw Sides by his vehicle form. He was waving frantically and shouting at nothing. I knew he was talking to Optimus about Starscream and Sideways, but I at least hoped he wouldn't oversell it. I let out a hopeless sigh. It was Sideswipe, what was I thinking? I scanned his surrounding area. Everything seemed to be okay, except…
A slight gleam caught my attention. My heart raced and my face paled at the sight of the familiar silver Ferrari that was parked right around the corner where Sides was; and he didn't even have a fragging clue! I quickly pulled out my cell phone when I remembered something!
'Shit! Cravers is here! I can't contact Sideswipe!' I quickly raised my hand. Cravers looked up from his book he seemed to be enjoying, looking quite annoyed.
"What is it Miss Cross?" he groaned.
"I have to use the restroom." I said, trying to hide my urgency, but to not avail. The three other students who were suffering with me turned their attentions towards me with facial expressions of 'what the hell is wrong with her?' Probably because I was bouncing up and down, sweating, and looking very nervous.
Cravers sighed after a few moments. "Fine, but hurry back."
"Thanks!" I said as I dashed out the door. I ran to the bathroom, making sure no one was there, I took out my phone. The one thing I did not want to see right now:
'No Signal'
"SHIT!" I shouted, but then quickly covered my mouth. I only had one other option. I creaked the door open, making sure the coast was clear, before I dashed out, nearly slipping on the floor, and made my way towards the front entrance. I forced open the doors.
"SIDESWIPE!" I screamed. He quickly looked up, but turned back around when the sound of squealing tires was heard.
Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Sideswipe's holoform dissipated, Sideways was speeding towards him, I ran down the stairs, and somewhere in the background I can hear Carmina Burana.
Everything came back as Sideways transformed.
"You're mine, Autobot!" he growled and shot at him. Sideswipe, having no choice, transformed and retaliated.
I heard the doors open behind me and saw Cravers run outside, freaking out.
"SAM! Come with me, NOW! We have to get to safety!" I didn't see the other students, but I was guessing they had already made it out.
"No, Mr. Cravers, you don't understand! You have to get out of here!" I tried to tell him. He must not have heard me because of the raging robot battle behind me and the sound of his own frantic heart. He rushed towards me and grabbed my arm, proceeding to pull me back to the school. Seeing as how I wouldn't be much help here anyways, I followed.
A jet was heard flying overhead and Starscream quickly transformed right next to us, close enough to where me and Cravers separated. Mr. Cravers had fallen on top of the stairs, and I had fallen on the ground from the force of impact.
"Hello, little girl." Starscream sneered as he advanced on me. I crawled backwards, helplessly trying to get away. I looked back and saw Sideswipe losing to Sideways.
"Sideswipe!" I cried out to him, my voice breaking. He looked over to me and growled.
"Starscream! Stay away from her!" he shouted and aimed his cannons at the seeker.
"Don't try anything, Autobot." Starscream throated as he whipped out his cannon and pointed it at me. My eyes widened and my heart stopped. I looked back over to Sides. Sideways had his cannon aiming at Sides. He was at a dead end.
"Good." Starscream grinned. "Now contact Barricade, tell him to come alone."
"No way!" Sides shouted.
"Oh, but you will, or you're little pet dies!" He charged his cannon as it began to glow. I could feel the heat from it.
"Sam!" he desperately called.
"Starscream, please." Sideways said, nonchalantly. "Have a little civility, would you?"
The cannon slowly died out. Starscream scoffed. "Civility? I am Starscream, the Great Decepticon and soon to be leader! I have no need for civility."
"You remember the deal, Starscream? I get the girl, you get the traitor." Sideways warned, narrowing his optics.
"Then how about we switch?" Starscream suggested as he bent over and roughly scooped me up. I yelled in surprise and in pain since he squeezed me too tight. As he walked towards Sideways, I heard a 'clink'. Starscream stopped and growled. He turned around and I saw Mr. Cravers holding a big rock, about to throw it.
"Let her go!" he demanded.
"Mr. Cravers, don't!" I tried to tell him, but Starscream pointed a gun at him.
"You would be wise not to interfere, human." he growled, pointing his cannon to him. Cravers paled, scrambling backwards, and ran back into the building. I face palmed at my 'hero's' retreat.
Anyway, continuing on…Starscream sneered at the retreating human and proceeded to walk over to Sideways. I didn't know what to do, Sideswipe looked so conflicted as well. He wanted to save me, but couldn't. He held me out and dropped me roughly into Sideways' awaiting servos and took his place next to Sideswipe, his null ray aimed at his head.
"Now then," Starscream began, "why don't you be a good little Autobot and contact Barricade for me? You're only hurting her more by delaying my mission." He gestured towards me. On cue, Sideways squeezed me and I couldn't help but gasp in pain.
"No, please! Stop!" he begged. Starscream pushed his cannon into Sideswipe's head, forcing him to his knees.
"Then do it!" he demanded.
"Sideswipe! Don't do what he says!" I shouted to him. Sideways squeezed again and I cried out.
"Shut up!" Sideways growled. Sideswipe growled louder, but was still conflicting on the inside. I felt terrible! He wanted to save me, but couldn't! I couldn't help but feel that this was all my fault!
"Sideswipe, please! Don't do it! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine!" I begged. He lowered his head and shut his optics.
"I'm sorry, Sam." he muttered painfully. I stared at him, wide-eyed and in disbelief.
He can't do this, there was just no way! He wouldn't sell out Barricade, would he?
'Please don't.' I thought to myself. He looked up at Sideways, his optics now darkened with rage and determination.
"I'm not contacting him." he growled in a tone that left no room for argument. Starscream and Sideways were shocked to say the least, hell I was too, but Sideways recovered quickly with a smirk.
"Well, now, this is interesting. You would rather sell out this human, your brother's charge, but not an ex-Con." he stated.
I studied Sideswipe's optics carefully, there was just something in his voice that the two Cons didn't catch, but I wasn't sure what it was. But there was something in his optics, something determined. He knew something.
I wasn't sure what he was planning, but I was going to go along with, hoping that it would work.
When Sideswipe didn't respond to Sideways, he growled.
"I'll give you one last chance, brat. Contact Barricade or I will make the girl suffer." He held me up to prove his point. I saw him flinch ever so slightly, but he held his ground.
"I told you, I'm not going to contact him!" he snapped.
"Why not?" Starscream demanded.
"Because he doesn't need to!" said a looked over and I nearly bursted with joy, Starscream nearly fried his circuits, and Sideswipe grinned.
Over to where the voice was, stood Barricade, seething with rage.
"Let her go, Sideways. Now!" he demanded.
Sideways chuckled darkly. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise. Looks like you get to have your little traitor after all, Starscream. That's good because killing you myself would have just been a waste of time and energy."
Starscream snapped back to Sideways. "And just what do you mean by that, Sideways?" he seethed.
It was then that Sideways laughed. It was like he knew some sort of inside joke that we were all unaware of. He finally stopped and glared at Starscream.
"Did you honestly think, after killing Barricade and the Autobrat (Barricade and Sides glared), that I was going to let you scamper on back to Megatron so you can just hand me over like a piece of scrap metal? Oh, what a shame Commander, I thought you knew me better than that." Sideways tossed me up into the air.
"Whoa!" I yelled, and landed with a hard thud in his hand. Barricade and Sideswipe wanted to help, but they didn't want to risk me getting more hurt.
"I'm afraid I can't let any of you leave here, alive. I've waited far too long for this moment to arrive and it seems the only thing in my way, is you." he looked directly at me. I gulped and tried to shrink back in the palm of his hand.
"You double-crosser!" Starscream shouted at him, taking his weapons off of Sideswipe and pointing them to Sideways.
"Who said I ever played fair? How about when you got me exiled off of Cybertron and foiled my chances on taking out Megatron? You wanted him destroyed too!"
"Yes, but I will be the one to do it! I refuse to have some washed-up strategist take what is rightfully mine!"
Sideways growled as he said this.
They were so caught up in their arguing like an old married couple, that they never noticed Barricade and Sides preparing for an attack, until…
"NOW!" Sideswipe shouted, taking both Cons off guard. Barricade and Sideswipe immediately pelted them with fire power. This surprised Sideways, apparently, because he dropped me in order to protect himself. I landed harshly on the ground and tried to get up to run to Sideswipe and Barricade, but I fell back down, pain shooting up my leg. I tried crawling back, but a large foot stomped in front of me. I looked up and saw Sideways' fierce red eyes glaring at me.
"You're not going anywhere, girl!" he aimed his gun at me and charged it. The sounds of a jet slightly caught our attention as we watched Starscream's retreating form.
"Starscream, you coward!" Sideways shouted. Sideways looked over to see Sideswipe's and Barricade's cannons pointed directly at him.
"It's over, Sideways." Barricade said.
"Step away from the girl. Now!" Sideswipe demanded. Sideways smirked.
'What are you going to do? I have the upper hand here, one wrong move and I'll kill her." He bent down, grabbed me, and lifted me up so that they could see me. He began to squeeze me very tightly and didn't stop. I gasped for breath, but nothing came. The only sound I could muster was a weak whimper. My lungs burned with the lack of air and I began to feel light-headed.
"SAM!" "NO!" Barricade and Sideswipe shouted at the same time.
"Drop your weapons!" Sideways demanded. They looked to each other and dropped their weapons to the ground.
"Good." he said. My ribs and arms hurt from the forming bruises and my head also hurt from the lack of air. My vision began to blur but I fought to stay awake.
"Now let her go!" Barricade demanded.
"Actually, I think I'll hold onto her for a while longer." he replied, backing up.
"Sideways, you slagger!" Barricade cursed.
"You both were never going to win from the start. Her fate was decided the day she got into that car with her mother. The day she survived. You all knew that this would be inevitable." Sideways explained. Everything started going in and out as I fought unconsciousness. Everything was spinning.
"You're wrong, Sideways, you're the one who's outnumbered." Sideswipe said.
"The two of you against me? Ha! Don't make me laugh!" he mocked.
"It's not just the two of them, Sideways." his optics widened and he turned around. Behind him stood Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Sunstreaker, and the human soldiers, all looking extremely pissed.
"You have us all to deal with as well." Optimus finished.
I don't think I could be any happier, but that soon faded away as my world went dark. The last thing I heard was the sound of gunfire and the feeling of falling.