Starscream flew around the city,maintaining surveillance for Sideways. Feeling extremely irritated and extremely used.
"That pit-spawned framer! He's lucky I'm feeling extremely generous to even condor helping him!" he vented. "This may work in my favor as well. Since we are both in search of Barricade and that girl, I can survey the skies and well out of danger, while Sideways does all my dirty work on the ground." He chuckled at his marvelous plot.
His moment was ruined when his com link beeped. He growled.
"What is it Sideways!' he snapped.
"Sideways? Well, that's a name I'd never thought I'd hear again." That bone chilling voice froze Starscream in his tracks when he quickly realized his mistake.
"Lord Megatron! What a pleasant surprise!" he stumbled over his words. Primus be damned Megatron figured out he was helping Sideways this whole time rather than carry out his direct orders.
"Have you scoped the planet like I told you?" Megatron asked.
"Of course, Mighty Megatron! Although there is nothing new to report. Nothing has changed since you left." Starscream relayed, feeling slightly relieved that Megatron didn't probe any further about Sideways.
"Excellent. I have finished gathering the remaining Decepticons lying in wait in Iacon. We shall be arriving sometime tomorrow."
Starscream shivered slightly. "That is wonderful news, my lord. But, please, take your time. We wouldn't want to exhaust our new recruits before the battle even starts!" he said, sounding extremely tense. He mentally kicked himself for being to obvious. Now Megatron will surely be suspicious of Starscream's little scheme.
"If I didn't know any better, Starscream, I'd say that you are planning something without my knowledge." he paused, "Something that might involve Sideways."
"O-Of course not, sire! If there was anything that involved Sideways, it would be his spark crushing in my servos!" He had hoped that was as convincing as he sounded in his head.
"Hmm. Well, it appears that I have nothing to worry about then. Be at these coordinates tomorrow at noon, Starscream. And don't disappoint me." With that, the transmission ended.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone in the room was tense when they learned Megatron was headed for the Earth. Barricade was more nervous than anyone, but he did his best not to let that show.
"What's his ETA?" Optimus asked Ratchet, who was at the computer.
"With his speed and current position, I'd say tomorrow. Probably in the afternoon. But he's not alone."
"How many are there?" Barricade asked, the tension seeping into his voice.
"Hard to say, maybe fifty, a few hundred, a few thousand. We won't know for sure until they land." Ratchet said regretfully.
"Any updates on the whereabouts of Starscream or Sideways?" Optimus asked, ignoring the growls that came from Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Barricade.
"I had a lock on Starscream, but it vanished moments later. And I can't seem to find Sideways anywhere."
Everyone turned their attention to Sam, who eyes were downcast to the floor. It was obvious that she was afraid, they could see her trembling slightly.
"Sam." she looked up to Optimus. "Given the severity of this situation, you will remain here while the rest of us will go out for patrol. Barricade," said mech looked to the Prime, "since you are being hunted as well, you will remain here with Sam."
"WHAT?!" Sam, Sunstreaker, and Barricade shouted at the same time.
"Optimus, you can't seriously be considering leaving this Con here in the base alone with Sam, right?" Sunstreaker asked, ignoring the growl from Barricade.
"I have and my word still stands. Barricade will remain here with Sam." Optimus replied, still firm on his decision. Sunstreaker stepped forward.
"But Optimus-"
"Sunstreaker, enough." Ratchet snapped. Sunstreaker growled but hesitantly backed off.
"What is your problem with me, punk?" Barricade asked him.
"Nothing, except for the fact that your a Con!" he snapped.
"I defected from the ranks, otherwise the girl would still be with Sideways. Besides, you should be thanking me for saving her when you couldn't!" Barricade snapped back.
"Enough! Both of you!" Sam shouted. They quieted down and looked at her. They knew she was the last person they wanted to tick off at the moment, so they just settled for glaring at each other.
She looked back to Optimus.
"Optimus, I'm more than capable of protecting myself! I don't want to stay here! I want to go out there and fight! This is my fight to!" Sam said.
"Sam, you have to think about this!" Ratchet said. "In your current condition, you could be more of a liability than an asset. I'm not losing you again." Anyone could see the determination in his optics, but Sam wouldn't listen.
"No Ratchet! I can't just sit here and do nothing while you all risk your lives for me!" Her fists clenched till her knuckles turned white. "Is this all you're going to expect from me? To always be the damsel in distress? That everything will be fine if you keep me locked in the ivory tower? What about what I want? Optimus, I'm more than ready to fight again!"
While everyone was too busy focusing on Sam's little outburst, no one noticed Sideswipe transform, activate his holoform, and walk over to her.
"I want to get Sideways back for what he's done to me! I won't rest until I tear out his spark! I-" she stopped when she felt someone grabbed her. She just barely had time to register Sideswipe's presence before she felt a fierce hand slap her hard across the face.
She was stunned into silence. She lowered her head till her bangs covered her eyes as she placed a hand on the red mark on her cheek.
"Sideswipe, what are you doing?" Sunstreaker asked, shocked at what his brother just did. He wasn't paying attention though, his focus was solely on the girl in front of him.
For a moment, everything was quiet. The event of what had just occurred still trying to register in everyone's minds.
"You idiot." Sideswipe whispered. Sam looked up and glared at him. "Why is it that everything has to always be about you? Everyone in this room are risking their lives for you, the least you could do is just listen for once!" his voice started off soft and then grew into a shout.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Did you even hear yourself?" he continued, then narrowed his eyes at her. "You sound just like a Decepticon."
/ Sam POV /
I hadn't realized the trouble I've been putting everyone through. Have I really been that bothersome?
'You'll never be anything but trouble for them, you know?' Sideways taunted in my mind.
'Then why are they doing all this for me if they hate me?' I asked.
'Guilt maybe? The guilt they felt over your mother, the guilt in losing you, the guilt that you are now a slave to my control.'
'The first two may be right, but I'll never be a slave to anyone, especially you!'
"You sound just like a Decepticon." Sideswipe said.
My heart stopped.
My breathing stopped.
My legs gave out as I collapsed to my knees.
He was right.
I was sounding more and more like a Con every minute.
What do I do?
'Give up.'
"SAM!"
…..
Then, everything went black.