Crack in the Pavement
Chapter 19
Never piss of a femme.
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers; I'm just prostituting it for my amusement.
Summary: Megatron uses Ironhide to get his revenge on Prime. Multiple minor side pairings, see list in fic.
Warning: Graphic rape. Torture. M/M robot slash consensual as well as NON-CON
Pairings: Non-con Megatron/ Ironhide, Con Optimus/ Ironhide. Established Jazz/ Prowl, Twins/ Ratchet, Mirage/ Cliffjumper
Russia finally called the Autobots in a week after the Autobot victory at Mt Black Horn. They had set their navy out after the Decepticons in an attempt to defend their oil rigs. The Decepticons managed to sink two destroyers* the cost of life and the media outrage had given the Russian government no other choice than to seek help. Ironhide sat within Skyfire's holding bay along with the rest of the team Optimus and Prowl had chosen to chase the Decepticons out of Russia. It was going to be an interesting attack, given that the oil rig was in the ocean. Once again, they were attacking at night. After the destruction of the destroyers, the Decepticons had taken over the rig. As always the Decepticons recharged at night thus making night the perfect time to attack.
All of the Autobots were expected to jump out of Skyfire's hold and parachute onto the rig. No one really could really guess how this strategy was going to work out. Smokescreen had put wagesr out, taking bets as to how many of the parachutes would be shredded by the 'Cons before they could land. Even if that did happen, none of the Autobots were going to be hurt falling. They were made of tougher stuff.
This would be Ironhide's first battle in nearly a month and Ironhide was more than ready to take out some 'Cons. He was almost giddy, almost, and he was almost nervous, almost. Ironhide had been training the Twins for several hour each day for the last week and in doing so he had worked out any sluggishness in his own systems; he was ready to fight.
Optimus was not as ready to see Ironhide in battle but he accepted the fact that he couldn't hold him back any longer. This didn't mean that Optimus wasn't taking extra precautions. Though Ironhide didn't know it, he now had his own bodyguard, only while he was in battle. With Mirage remanded to the Ark for his own safety, Cliffjumper hadn't been at all conflicted when Optimus had asked him to watch over Ironhide during the battle ahead.
"I'll do my best," Cliffjumper had promised. "He might catch on quick."
"Be circumspect," Optimus had asked. "Ironhide will watch his own front, you need to watch his back."
"Got it," Cliffjumper had said.
To his credit, Cliffjumper didn't appear to be paying Ironhide or Optimus who was seated left of Ironhide, any special attention. He was conversing with Bumblebee and adjusting his parachute straps. Optimus shifted his attention away from Cliffjumper, lest Ironhide notice.
"Get ready to jump," Skyfire announced. Moments later, Skyfire's hangar door opened and one by one the Autobots jumped out. They steered their chutes towards the oil rig. As the first 'Bot landed, the first 'Con burst out from the rig. The night sky was lit up by laser fire. Optimus cut free from his shoot as some Decepticon shot it into shreds. He landed on the rig with a violent bang and ran immediately into the fray. Ironhide was right behind him; Optimus hadn't seen him do it but when Optimus had freed himself of his shoot, even though Ironhide's had still been intact, he had cut free of his. There was no chance that Ironhide would let Optimus get more than two steps ahead of him.
Ironhide's spark pulsed quickly as his circuits lit up and his senses sharpened. He ran after Optimus blasting away at whatever 'Con dared cross his path. It felt good, too good; he was back. Even as he watched out for Optimus, Ironhide was watching the battle. He knew where every 'Bot was, and knew mostly which 'Cons they were fighting. Prowl was the master strategist; Ironhide was the wizened soldier. This was his element.
The clang of metal against metal caught Ironhide's attention and he turned to his left. Blastoff leapt from from the metal structure above Ironhide yelling a war cry as he raised his weapon to fire directly at Ironhide. Even as Ironhide was rolling out of the way, a streak of red came out of nowhere, barrelling into Blastoff. The Combaticon fell hard and Cliffjumper shot him in the faceplates before he jumped off of him and ran off into the fray of 'Bots and 'Cons fighting over control of the main deck of the rig. Effective little minibot, if as suicidally insane in battle as the Twins.
A rush of air pushed Ironhide to his knees as one of the Seekers, he couldn't tell which one swooped right over him. He looked up, raising his gun to aim at the offending flier when another Seeker, the pale blue plating told him it was Thundercracker swooped immediately over him before shooting straight up into the sky.
"What the slag?" Ironhide swore, he fired up at Thundercracker and realized the other Seeker was Skywarp. The circled above him, swooping down lower and shooting back up and out of range of Ironhide's guns.
"Crazy Seekers," Cliffjumper yelled from Ironhide's right. He shot up at the Seekers as well, when the Seekers flew out of his range, he picked up whatever debris was closest to him and hurled it up at the Seekers. Ironhide dimmed his optics for just a moment at the sight. This was all just too strange.
"Engage the enemy!" Starscream screeched, drawing the attention of the bonded Seekers to him. "Stop playing and fight!"
Thundercracker and Skywarp hung in the sky, seemingly torn. Starscream flew at them, causing them to fly away from Ironhide. He herded them to the other side of the rig. Ironhide watched them for a moment. What the slag was that about? He'd worried about it later. There were 'Cons to slag.
Elsewhere on the rig, Jazz was wrestling with Ravage. His brothers and master were preoccupied with their own battles and didn't notice his plight as Jazz lifted him above his head and threw him off the side of the rig. Whether it was the Casseticon's shriek or the spark bond that connected them, Soundwave was on after Jazz seconds later. Jazz took cover as Soundwave fired a volley at him before he dove off the rig. The battle turned at this point and Starscream called a retreat. It could have been a trap and Jazz knew better than to drop his guard. The rig structure next to Jazz exploded and he was thrown, hard to the ground. When he looked up, his processor ringing, Soundwave was collecting his remaining Casseticons. His gun was trained on Jazz. He flew from the rig just as his last Casseticon returned to him. With the rig cleared of Decepticons, Jazz struggled to pull himself up.
"Easy, Jazz," Ironhide said, the first 'Bot to reach the saboteur.
"I'm okay," Jazz replied. He remained seated as he processor continued to spin. "Just knocked my processor around a little. Soundwave took offence to me throwing Ravage off the rig."
"Big surprise," Ironhide replied sarcastically. He helped Jazz to his feet. Optimus joined them. Cliffjumper, who had kept close to Ironhide throughout the battle had disappeared.
"I've called for Skyfire to return," Optimus announced. "Is everyone capable of climbing the ropes to get back into his hold."
Murmurs of agreement echoed through the rig. Once again, no one appeared severely damaged. Ironhide looked pleased as he looked over the tattered rig. Much of it would have to be rebuilt. None of the Autobots had gone down into the rig to see what the Decepticons might have done there. 'Cons could have been hiding inside, unlikely but it was still a possibility.
"Bumblebee, Cliffjumper," Ironhide called. "See if you can get into the rig itself to see what the 'Cons did to it."
"On it," Bumblebee called and he and Cliffjumper pushed away rubble and climbed down into the rig. Ironhide looked back at Optimus.
"He's good," Ironhide said. "Crazy, maybe worse than the Twins. But he's a hell of a fighter and if I train him a bit he'll make a good guard. And I'll keep him around if it makes you happy."
"I told him to be circumspect," Optimus sighed. "And you noticed this quickly."
"He kept poppin' up out of nowhere slagging anythin' I wasn't already going after," Ironhide explained. "I can't believe he took out Blastoff on his own."
"He is something," Optimus agreed. "Your training could take him from berserker to sage warrior."
"I'm not a miracle worker," Ironhide replied. "But at least I can turn him into a thoughtful berserker."
"Thank your for going along with this," Optimus said.
"Leave it at just him and I'll play nice," Ironhide replied. "Just Cliffjumper, got it?"
"Understood," Optimus agreed. He ran one servo down Ironhide's back. It was the only display of affection Optimus allowed himself outside of the Ark.
Skyfire came to hover above the rig and dropped several ropes, letting them dangle down to the rig. Jazz saluted Optimus and Ironhide with a grin and began climbing the nearest rope. He made it look easy. He made it look graceful.
"Way to make the rest of us look like clumsy drones," Cliffjumper called up as he began climbing another rope. Grumbles of agreement broke out from the other Autobots. Jazz looked down and chuckled.
"The only thing that concerns me about the battle was those Seekers," Optimus said as he, Ironhide, Jazz and Prowl sat in Prowl's office.
"They never went to grab at me and they came in low," Ironhide added. "They were plenty close enough."
"They dove and circled?" Prowl asked. Optimus and Ironhide nodded in confirmation. "Strange. They've never displayed this behaviour in the past."
"It's true," Optimus said. "I don't believe they fired a single shot in the battle."
"They took some pot shots at Bumblebee after Starscream drew them away from Ironhide," Jazz said. "Didn't even come close to hitting him. Which is also not like them at all."
"So we can all agree that the Skywarp and Thundercracker were not behaving normally," Prowl said. "Unfortunately the best we can do is theorize as to their motives."
Optimus left the meeting less perturbed. He hadn't expected Prowl to have any answers as to why those Seekers had behaved that way around Ironhide. It made Optimus want to lock Ironhide away even more than he already did but Optimus knew Ironhide would never accept that. At least he didn't need to worry about Ironhide brushing the Seeker issue off. Ironhide was tense, clearly as concerned about the Seekers as Optimus, possibly, probably more worried. Thinking this, Optimus wrapped his arm around Ironhide. He steered them towards his quarters; Ironhide didn't resist.
"Are you tired?" Optimus asked as he ushered Ironhide into his/ their quarters.
"Yeah," Ironhide replied. He sat on the berth and rested his arms on his legs.
"Let me get you a cube and then get some rest," Optimus said. "I need to meet with Red Alert and Wheeljack, but I'll join you later."
"Sure," Ironhide replied. He laid down on the berth and shuttered his optics as Optimus went to fetch him a cube. Optimus returned after no more than a few minutes to find Ironhide already deep in recharge. He left the cube on the table near his berth and left Ironhide in peace.
He didn't go to meet with Wheeljack or Red Alert but went to his office. It had been weeks since Optimus had contacted his operatives remaining on Cybertron. Optimus had not gone this long between contacts since he'd woken up on the Ark. That had been an interesting call. This one would be more so, and Optimus dreaded it. There was no point in dragging out the inevitable; Optimus entered a long code into the monitor at his desk and waiting for the communication to bounce from satellite to satellite and make its way to Cybertron. The screen crackled and Elita One's face appeared.
"Optimus Prime," Elita One scolded. "We were getting worried."
"I'm sorry," Optimus replied, suitable contrite. "Things have been... Difficult for the last few weeks."
"How so?" Elita One asked, her tone and expression brokered no argument.
"Ironhide was captured," Optimus explained. Before he could say anything else, Chromia shoved her way to sit beside Elita One at the monitor.
"What?" Chromia demanded. "When? Why didn't you call us?"
"We were busy," Optimus replied. "We rescued him, sort of. He's here now, and he's well."
"You aren't telling me something, Prime," Elita One said with a scowl. "What happened to Ironhide?"
"It isn't my place to say," Optimus replied, truly believing that Ironhide wouldn't want Optimus to say anything.
"You're Prime," Chromia argued. "It's your place to say anything. Start talking."
"Chromia," Elita One tried to calm down the other femme but wasn't so calm herself. "Optimus, tell us or we'll badger Ironhide."
"I shouldn't," Optimus said. But he didn't want Ironhide to be ganged up on by the two femmes. "Megatron tortured him."
"Oh Primus," Elita One gasped. Chromia's optics narrowed into slits and she flashed clenched denta.
"Megatron raped him," Optimus finished, and shuttered his own optics. The words hurt to say.
"I'll kill him!" Chromia roared. "I'll kill that slagging bastard."
"When?" Elita One asked, she placed a servo on Chromia's arm. "When did this happen."
"Megatron captured Ironhide three weeks ago," Optimus replied. "We were able to rescue him after four days."
"Four days," Elita One echoed. "It wasn't just once, was it?"
"No," Optimus admitted. Chromia raged out of few of the screen.
"Oh Primus," Elita One said. "How is he?"
"He's doing remarkably well," Optimus replied. "He is... He is fully healed and insists on being back at work."
"Of course, he's Ironhide," Chromia interjected as she reappeared next to Elita One.
"He is Ironhide," Optimus agreed. He sat stiffly, and never took his optics away from Elita One.
"There's something else," Elita One said. "You don't want me to think you're distracted but you are. And I can't see your servos. I bet you're tapping your digits against your leg right now."'
Optimus looked down at his lap and stilled his servos. He vented before he looked up again. Elita One and Chromia were both staring at him. It was within his authority to refuse to answer. But was this the thing to keep secret. The Autobots of the Ark knew Ironhide was with spark, though Optimus had not mentioned that there was any question of paternity. No one needed to know that. Those that knew about what Megatron had done could guess but none would openly. The Ark was celebrating the news of the sparking. In the last week, Optimus had begun celebrating as well.
"Ironhide is with spark," Optimus announced. "My sparkling."
Elita One gave Optimus a long look. She silenced Chromia before she could say anything. Chromia shut her mouth and looked to Elita One to see her smiling at Optimus, Chromia smiled as well.
"Congratulations," Elita One said. Chromia nodded and added: "Give Ironhide our good wishes too."
"I will," Optimus said, smiling for the first time in the conversation.
End Chapter 19
* type of warship
AN/ Thank you for all the positive reviews. I was thrilled to read them and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.