Worlds Apart
Darkest Hour
Driving cleared his head some many times before, why not now! Hot Shot drove hastily over the torn planet surface with Prowl and Opposite tailing him. Perceptor rode in Prowl's front seat. The two behind him were only trying to stop Hot Shot from doing something stupid. Hot Shot, however, was up to something stupid anyhow.
"Hot Shot, please," begged Opposite. "Megatron told us to stay put!"
"You know what, even back in my world, I was never much for following orders," huffed Hot Shot, his engine revving.
"That never crossed out minds," groaned Prowl, speeding up.
"Please! We're getting too close to the Autobot base!" Opposite gasped.
"Perfect," chuckled Hot Shot.
"Hot Shot, we go in there without a plan and we're history!" growled Prowl.
"I have a plan," Hot Shot howled. "I'm going in there, guns a blazing and getting Prime back!"
"No offense, but that is a terrible plan," mumbled Perceptor.
"Well…who asked you!" snapped Hot Shot.
The Autobot base was larger, however, than Hot Shot anticipated. It was at least a good ten stories tall with large weapons attached around each floor. The doors were heavily guarded by two burly soldiers. Hot Shot groaned as he hid behind a dismantled building. Prowl crossed his arms and huffed, seeing that Hot Shot finally realized how stupid his plan was.
"See, Hot Shot!" snapped Prowl. "This is stupid. We don't have a solid plan, a leader, or the right weapons for a job like this!"
"We'll have a leader if we go in there and get him out!" Hot Shot grumbled under his breath.
"We're getting nowhere with this!" whispered Perceptor.
"What do you think we should do, Percy?" asked Hot Shot.
"Yeah, Perceptor, what is the best thing to do here?" hummed Prowl.
"How'd I become in charge!" gasped Perceptor.
"Just give us an answer and we'll leave you alone," huffed Hot Shot.
"I agree that getting Prime back is one of the better things we could do…"
"Ha!" cheered Hot Shot.
"But…" Perceptor continued.
"But?" whimpered Hot Shot.
"But, Prowl is right in saying we need a sturdy plan to fall back on," Perceptor finished.
"Fine, then Mr. Opposite should come up with a plan," grumbled Hot Shot.
"Why me?" mumbled Opposite.
"Because you know this place better than us!" explained Hot Shot.
Opposite paused and thought this over. It was perfectly logical for him to conduct a plan, but he'd never really done such a thing before. He consoled his thoughts. Perceptor looked over at the well guarded base. They wouldn't destroy Optimus until they had the chip in their possession. Hot Shot and Prowl concluded that Prime left it with someone or somewhere and getting him back would mean finding the chip. They hadn't considered which of them could possess the chip; much less that he possessed it.
"I've got it!" cheered Opposite. "There are underground tunnels beneath the base. They're being watched too but with less security. Optimus is either in the holding cells or down by the smelting pit already."
"We got a map?" asked Prowl.
"A small basic layout," nodded Opposite, showing a small data pad.
"Than let's go!" smirked Hot Shot.
Opposite led the group down into a dark and seemingly endless tunnel. Opposite led with Hot Shot following close behind, followed by Prowl and finally Perceptor. The scientist hadn't thought about telling the others about the chip just yet. He'd noticed when Optimus gave it to him. The leader wasn't trying to be stealthy. If he had, he wouldn't have given Perceptor instructions to keep it hidden. The scientist kept it in a safe compartment on his arm.
"We're almost there," nodded Opposite up ahead.
"Great!" cheered Hot Shot.
Finally, Opposite stopped at a small, broken down ladder. Hot Shot climbed up first. He gave the all clear. Prowl went up next. Opposite offered the ladder to Perceptor. He shook his head, advising it best that Opposite go up before him. The Decepticon shrugged and climbed up. Perceptor sighed and followed the others. They entered a brightly lit hall that was well polished and kept clean. Opposite pulled the group to the right.
"Where to now?" asked Prowl.
"Smelting pit would be the best place to visit first, in case we're running low on time," nodded Opposite.
"Right," smiled Hot Shot, "than what are we waiting for!"
The speedster took off down the hall, his footsteps echoing. Opposite groaned and rushed after him. Prowl sighed, shrugged and chased after the two. Perceptor groaned. This seemed to happen often with this little group, running off without another word. The scientist gave up trying to make sense of it and followed them.
They came to the entrance of a large, circular room. The center was cut out and fell into a deep, burning, blaze of the smelting pit. The glows of the fire below danced across the walls. A small suspension kept a tiny platform up in the center. Hot Shot's smile faded slightly. In the center of the platform was the young Optimus Prime, gagged and hands held onto a post.
"Optimus!" cried Hot Shot.
The leader turned and began mumbling to them. Nothing could be made out. Prowl found the controls. A bridge appeared connecting the floor to the platform. Optimus groaned, tugging on his straps. Perceptor, showing up rather late, watched at Hot Shot dashed first across the bridge. Opposite came to assist. Prowl left the controls and stood on the bridge in anticipation.
Hot Shot tried hard to get Prime's hands untied while Opposite undid the gag. Still, Optimus resisted the help. Prowl eventually came to the platform to help with the hands which were giving Hot Shot such a hard time. Perceptor couldn't help but feel this was far too simple. Something shimmered the shadows, right behind Perceptor's head. The scientist gasped as a head covered his mouth. The gag finally fell and Optimus used his voice as quick as possible.
"It's a trap!" Optimus howled.