Okay, I am not good at writing battle scenes! This is the best I can come up with! I am going to do this in two parts before I get to the femmes in Optimus Prime's time period. Once again…I don't own Transformers!
At the end of the last chapter…Autobot City's landing pad…
Blackarachia hummed in anticipation...as Jazz landed the shuttle she glanced over at her son who was still silently, glaring at her, "Why are you still unhappy, my little sparkling? You haven't made a sound since I gave you your energon."
"I didn't need a bottle," he hissed out, "I am a fully grown mech who is perfectly capable of taking energon!"
"Really," she rolled her optics in annoyance, "First your dependence on your organic bone, and now you say you can eat on your own! Well…I suppose I could if you were under my power…but I can't…no…I can't, is it the bond with your fleshy glitch that is preventing me from taking you into my web?"
He's optics tuned a brilliant white and he was about to shout out, when a ghostly hand stopped him, "Don't think with your spike, Rodimus…you will only be reinforcing the sparkling image she has of you," his guardian angel told him though he couldn't see her, "You are a fully grown Prime! Remember what I taught you when your opponents are taunting you…don't give them the satisfaction, turn they're taunting against them!"
With those words, Prime's optics turned back to sapphire blue and he goaded, "At least she's alive and perfectly functional that I can eventually get an overload from! You on the other hand, mother dearest…must be quite desperate to have a living mech if you're overloading on a dead shell!"
"How dare you?!" she screamed at him as she hit him in the face, her claws leaving marks across his face…from his forehead…over his optic and nose…right down to his jaw.
Ignoring the pain, he sneered, "It's the truth! I was there on one of those lovely days when you paid a visit to my father…I wonder what he would have said if he could see you acting like a glitch in heat over his dead body!"
"Aggah!" she bellowed out as lost her temper and hit him again; the marks on his face, becoming deeper. "How dare you spy on your father and I? After everything I have done for you!"
"Weren't you spying on Marrisa and I first?" he snidely ask.
Once again, she screamed out in rage and proceed to throw a temper tantrum of massive proportions; she keep hitting him in the same spot in the face all the while shouting over, and over again, "How dare you?!"
When she finally stopped hitting him, he spit out a bit of energon onto the floor and inquired sarcastically, "Now who is acting like a sparkling?"
She was about to hit him again, when Jazz interrupted her, "We have landed my Queen; Ultra Magnus, Springer, and Arcee are waiting for us to open the hatch.
"Good," she hissed out to him and then glared furiously at her son, "I will deal with your insolence later!"
As she marched toward Jazz; Rodimus wearily sighed and once again spit out a bit of energon from his mouth, suddenly he felt a eerie hand trace the marks on his face and once again he stared into the face of the ghostly femme, "These will probably become scars if they are not treated soon, Roddy."
He smirked at her as he teased, "Hey…you were the one who told me to act like a Prime and turn her words back at her!"
She huffed at him as she tried not to give him a proud smile, "Yes, I did say that…but there is fine line when it comes to taunting your enemies when you're their prisoner…"
"If you cross it than you're a suicidal slag head," he finished for her, "Yes, Mom…I know." He's optics widen as he realized what he said, "Oh…pit!"
She stared at him for a moment in shock, finally she asked, "How long have you thought of me as a carrier, Rodimus?"
He looked down at the floor in embarrassment as he muttered, "Since I was a sparkling, I didn't mean to offend…" He felt a hand raise his head, and he looked into her happy, but sad optics.
"Rodimus," she said, "I am not offended…I admit that I am surprise by your words and happy because I felt the same way for eons!" As tears ran down her optics, she smiled sorrowfully, "I was a carrier for just a short while in my lifetime…my son joined me in the Matrix at the same time as me. Unless he is reincarnated, he will be forever be a sparkling. Watching you and having a hand in raising you…you have helped me deal with what I have missed with my sparkling!"
He smiled at her in joy, and then realization slowly dawned on him, "Wait a click! You're son died with you! Then…"
She laughed softly; as she hushed him, "Quiet, now! If you say my name, I will have to return to the Matrix and I really don't want to go back just yet!" She looked over her shoulder and sneered as she watched Blackarachia walk triumphal down the gangway, "Particularly, when I have something to give to my proper successor and I also have few choice words to say to that glitch of a mother of yours!"
As she disappeared from sight; Rodimus stared at her in amazement, and whispered, "Why couldn't my father fallen for some femme like her?!"
At the same time…Ark's command center…
Red Alert frowned in concentration as the main view screen…which was showing Autobot City's landing pad… fritz slightly; he banged his hand on the keyboard and growled out, "I knew I should have maintained the Ark's security cameras…but did Aft Magnus wanted to spend the credit on them…no! Obsolete he said; we wouldn't need them he said…"
"Red Alert, shut up," calmly commanded Prowl as he observed the screen carefully, "Though I do agree with you that Ultra Magnus is an aft-head, and since he didn't follow my suggestions…he will now have to pay a heavy price."
"What do you mean, Prowl?" asked Chromia as she too watched the screen.
He sighed regretfully, but didn't answer her question; instead he his attention to Marrisa Fairborne, "Prime told you that Springer and Arcee were bonded, for how long have they been bonded?"
She blinked at him in surprise over the question, "For nearly a year, why are you…" Her optics widen in shock, "No…she wouldn't…"
Prowl closed his optics momentarily as he tried to control his pain, both physical and spiritually; finally he replied with anguish, "Yes, she would. Ultra Magnus took Rodimus from her when he was a sparkling, she is going to…in her mind…even the score."
Realizing what was about to happen, Lancer mournfully wailed out, "Oh, dear Primus...I have no love for either Ultra Magnus or Arcee, but… it shouldn't be like this!"
"No, it shouldn't," glumly whispered Chromia, "Hopefully; Springer will survive this with his sanity intact since the bond is still newly formed in Cybertrion time."
"Maybe," Red Alert said morbidly.
Silence reigned over the command center, finally Lancer choked out, "Who…who…do you think is going to do the deed?"
Prowl's optics narrowed as Blackarachia came down the gangway, and said, "We're about to find out."
They watched despondently and silently as Arcee was overpowered by her sparkmate and sire and forced down onto her knees. Lancer put her hands over her optics, and muttered, "I can't watch this…"
Springer took out his sword, and swiftly cut off Arcee's head from her body. Gasps were heard around the room, finally Red Alert softly said to Lancer, "You can uncover you're optics now…it's over with."
Lancer slowly opened her optics, and tried not to hurl at Arcee's headless, but slowly graying shell. "Oh, dear Primus, Prima, and the Ancients!" she gasped out.
"Indeed," Prowl woefully muttered as he stared at the view screen, "Congratulations, Elita…your acting just like Megatron did eons ago when he first appeared on the road."
They continued to watch as Springer went into the shuttle and came back out with Jazz…between them a struggling Rodimus Prime. For the first time since the shuttle landed, everyone smiled with pride and relief. "You were right, Prowl!" exclaimed Red Alert as tapped into the keyboard in order to zoom in on Prime, "He's immune to her little spell binding act! How did you figure it out?"
Prowl grunted in disagreement, "Gadget was the one who told me that he would be immune."
"And how did she know?" he asked.
"It's quite simple," answered Gadget as she came up behind them, "No matter the upgrade she does to herself, she can't change her MSC. And since our fearless Prime has half of it, he therefore becomes immune to any hypnotizing act she tries to pull on him."
"Is there anyway for her to change that?" Chromia asked with concern.
Gadget shrugged and jabs a thumb at Prowl as she sarcastically replied, "Unless she becomes like mech-girl here and transfers her spark to a new shell; no…there is no slagging way she can change it!"
Before anyone could make anymore comments; Marrisa screamed out, "MY MATE!"
Quickly, everyone turned their attention back to the screen; Red Alert's cameras had managed to zoom in on Rodimus Prime's face and the claw-like wounds that he now possessed. "My mate, he is my mate! Need to rescue my mate!" panicked the cyborg.
"Terrific," hissed out Gadget as everyone groaned in aggravation, quickly she picked her up before she could race out of the room. She scolded her, "Marrisa Fairborne, listen to me! You can't go half aft out there and rescue him! Do you want to get captured as well? If you do…you will not be able to help him, yourself, or anyone else in this slagging mess!"
She growled out in fury, but slowly the feral look in her eyes went away, finally she said, "You're right, but…" she growled again as she stared at the view screen which by now was empty of anyone with the expectation of Arcee's headless shell.
"I know what your feeling, femme leader," Chromia soothed her, "But, we can't afford to give away our advantage at the moment. Besides if Prime is anything like his sire…his tougher than he looks!"
Marrisa nodded her as she agreed, "He is tougher than he looks," she sighed wearily and ordered Gadget, "Put me down, and I'm not going to do anything rash."
Gadget quickly ran a scan over her, finally she said as she slowly put her down, "Try to stay calm; we can't afford for you too to go fragging insane at the moment."
She grunted in agreement and ordered, "Red Alert, put in your audio plugs and get down in auxiliary control! We can't afford to let her know that you're helping us, and take Blurr with you! Make sure his audios are plugged up as well!"
"Right," he confirmed as he quickly got out of his chair and left the room.
She turned her attention to Lancer, "Tell all mechs to plug up their audios; and tell Stigma's team to get ready for their little act! I'm going to the tunnels," she ordered as she went out the door, "Tell me when its time for our team to roll out!"
Lancer replied as she proceeded with her orders, "Gotcha, femme leader!"
Gadget sighed wearily as she walked up next to Prowl and Chromia, "Are you sure that glitch is going to contact you, Chromia?"
Both Prowl and Chromia grunted in confirmation, Chromia explained, "She will…when things aren't going her way in the city, she will. By the way, I thought the Matrix would have prevented any wounds like Prime is wearing…"
"From scarring his pretty little face?" finished Gadget as she flopped down in a nearby chair, "Yes, usually the Matrix keeps a Prime's facial image nice and attractive. However, I just scanned our precious femme leader and what I found is quite interesting."
"What does that have to do with Prime's face plate?" inquired Prowl as he kept an optic on Lancer.
"She has an increase of Matrix energy," answered the medic as if her answer explained everything.
They were silent for a moment as they processed this statement, finally Prowl said, "The Matrix is focusing its energy solely on her, trying to speed up the process…"
"So, she can kick Blackarachia's aft," finished Chromia in wonder, "I don't suppose Gadget…"
"Not for this battle," she interrupted and was about to say more when a beeping sound was heard.
Lancer turned to them, "The glitch is contacting us, just like you and Prowl said she would," she told them.
"Show time, femmes and mech-femme," hissed out Chromia as she mentally prepared for the confrontation. "Give us a few minutes, Lancer…until Prowl, Gadget, as well as myself make a head start for Stigma's position; then patch me in!"
Meanwhile in the courtyard of Autobot City…
Prime shifted as he tried to break the energon ropes that tied him to the flagpole; he was tied standing up with his hands above his head and the ropes were around his chest as well. Sighing in defeat, he instead stared at his Autobots that were standing at attention before Blackarachia. He's optics fell on Bumblebee, Trailbreaker, Smokescreen, Preceptor, the Protectobots, Springer, and finally, the one who helped cause this disaster, Ultra Magnus.
Growling in fury, he muttered as his optics blazed white, "If I get out of this…that pit spawn fool!" Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to Springer and First Aid. The latter seemed to be fighting his dearest mother's control, while the former had no reaction over what he had just done to his mate. Suddenly, a familiar hand gripped his jaw painfully and turned his head toward Blackarachia.
"My little prince," she purred out, "Who is Lt. Caine? I need him to get into Teletran 2, yes…I do…"
Trying to get his jaw out of Jazz's grip, he spat out, "Eat slag!"
She scowled at him and scolded, "Such language! Doesn't matter…I have a fairly good idea on what the password and personal code will be…yes I do!" She went to a nearby terminal, and punched in what she thought the code and password would be, when she got the results she hissed out in anger, "What is this? Prowl's code is right, but three passwords?! What is my old friend and Lt. Caine up too?"
Prime smiled grimly as he answered her, "Oh… I would say stopping you from taking complete control of Autobot City."
"Yes," she spat out, "I can see that! Preceptor!"
"Yes, My Queen," he said as he quickly came up to her with a portable comm. unit.
"Such a good slave," she purred out as she patted his check, "Always thinking what I will need." She glared over at her son, "Pity, my little sparkling is not following you're lead!"
He returned her glare, and said sarcastically, "What do you expect? How can I follow your lead when you treat me like a sparkling, taken over my Autobots, and forced my best friend from sparkling hood to murder," he emphasized the word murder, "his mate and my friend from my youth!"
She rolled her optics in annoyance and then proceeded to ignore him in favor of contacting the Ark, "Blackarachia to Chromia…I know your there my old friend."
She waited a few minutes, and then called out again, "Chromia…you trigger happy glitch answer the slagging comm.!"
The comm. unit was silent for a moment, finally Chromia's voice called out, "Chromia here, something I can do for you, old friend?"
"You can bring Lt. Caine here," she hissed out, "And have him release the fragging controls to Teletran 2 for me!"
Behind her, Prime softly sorted out, "Now, look who is using bad language."
"And what makes you think he is here?" she purred out in reply.
"Because…" she drawled out, "He is fragging helping you in stopping me! Its Prowl's ghost, isn't it? He is there helping you, yes…he is…"
"Uhh, no!" she denied gleefully, "Prowl's ghost is not here…or any ghost for that matter!"
Blackarachia blinked in surprise, as she stated in amazement, "You are telling me the truth…I can tell when you're lying, and now you are telling the truth. If that is the case…how is Lt. Caine related to my beloved mate's SIC?"
"That is for me to know," she confidentially told her, "And for you to figure out, old friend! Do you really think I would make it easy for you?"
The insane femme closed her optics and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, finally she asked, "Are the Dinobots with you?"
"They're not by me at the moment, no," she answered as she stretched the truth.
"Red Alert?" she hissed out.
"Now, why would he be here?" Chromia asked innocently, "I thought he went on vacation yesterday."
"You fragging know that slagger never takes a vacation, Chromia!" bellowed Blackarachia as it took all her will power not to destroy the comm. unit, "And the Dinobots have most likely been ordered by you or Lt. Caine to get their afts to the Ark in order to help you with any counter attack you two put together!"
"Counter attack?" she once again asked innocently, "Oh…the counter attack that is now at your front door at the moment!"
"WHAT?!" she bellowed and then ducked as a blast from an energon canon landed in near her in the courtyard. Hissing, she ordered, "Slaves! Defended me and my sparkling!"
As her hypnotized Autobots immediately went into defense positions around Autobot City's gate, she hissed out over the comm., "You and your Lt. Caine will not beat me, Chromia! Blackarachia out!"
Near the tree line that borders Autobot City…
Glimmer and Hound frowned in concentration as the holograms they displayed appeared to be attacking the city with Ironhide's old guns; meanwhile Stigma used the remote control she set up to fire said guns. She gave a quick word to Chromia, Gadget, and Prowl who were beside her, "Statement: This will last only 10.5 minutes."
"Right," grumbled Chromia as she, Gadget, and Prowl made a beeline for the city's entrance; she called over her comm., "Chromia to Femme Leader, Do it now! Stigma says this illusion won't last long!"
The tunnels under Autobot City…in front of the secret entrance that leads into the city…
Marrisa Fairborne looked over at her rescue team and ordered, "Right, you heard her! Boomer and Cliffjumper find that amplifier! Snarl guard the entrance, the rest of you with me! Mechs…get your fragging audio plugs in now! Let's roll out!"
As she and her team raced thru the entrance; though Gears, Snarl, and Cliffjumper had one thought in their minds, 'Femme Leader?'
Meanwhile in the Ark's Med Bay…
Swoop was keeping one optic on Prowl's spark readings and one optic on the Dastardly Duo; he immediately frowned as they headed into Gadget's office. "Me Swoop don't have patience in dealing with them," he grumbled as he picked up his wrench. As soon as he walked in and was prepared to throw it at them; but Sunstreaker stopped him with a gesture and Sideswipe was pointing to something on the desk view screen. Scowling, he immediately went to see what had caught their…he gasped as he stared into the frozen features of Wheeljack.
They looked at one another, finally…hesitantly…Sideswipe activated the tape; though they couldn't hear what was being said by both Wheeljack as well as Ratchet, they did watch silently the last moments of that fatal ambush. When it over, all three had tears running out of their optics. With a great deal of inner strength, Sideswipe sent the tape and a message to Red Alert's terminal in auxiliary control.
Auxiliary control…
Red Alert watched apprehensively as Gadget, Prowl, and Chromia made their way to Autobot City's entrance. Suddenly, a pop up message appeared on his terminal view screen; scowling, he muttered, "What the slag? Watch this now! What has those fragging twins found in med bay?!" He pressed a button to watch the tape, "I thought Swoop was watching those…" He trailed off as Wheeljack came onto the screen; he was so in shock…he didn't even notice when Blurr came up behind him.
They watched the tape, though like the mechs in med bay, they couldn't hear what was said…when it over, Red Alert bowed his head in grief and Blurr was for once standing completely still. Finally, Red Alert muttered softly, "No way in the pit am I letting Prowl and Chromia watch this!"
Meanwhile back in Autobot City…
Rodimus Prime smirked in pleasure as his mother nor any of her forces noticed the sneak attack coming up slowly behind them; his smirk soon turned to a full blown smile as Marrisa Fairborne and Firestar quietly came toward them. His optics roamed over his mate's changing form and his engine purred at the thought of finally having her; suddenly he felt a slap in the back of his head and an eerie voice whispering in his audio, "Now is not the time…use your head not your spike!"
He hissed in sexual frustration, and quietly said as his rescuers approach, "My delivery is late!"
Firstar raised a curious brow, while Marrisa softly chuckled out, "Sorry, sir, but the cook messed up the order! You should have heard the new or should I say old manager…he was furious!"
"I bet he was," he growled out as Firstar cut the ropes holding him, "I am too, Lucy!" When he was finally freed, his optics turned to a brilliant white as he stared at Ultra Magnus's big aft. "In fact, I am going to take great pleasure in reaming out the cook!"
Utterly confused, Firestar said, "Umm, Prime and Femme Leader… I have no idea what you are slagging talking about; but shouldn't we find cover? Stigma's little planned illusion is not going to last long."
Rodimus Prime and Marrisa Fairborne both growled in anger, finally she agreed, "She's right, besides the manager wants to personal punish the cook!"
"Really?" he drawled out as he and his mate raced for cover, "I do hope it will be appropriate, Lucy! Some friends have mine have been poisoned by him due to his carelessness! In fact, one of them lost her head over the illness!"
"That's just the tip of the very large iceberg, Derwood!" she exclaimed, "By the way, do you think you can repeat your recent yoga position, later? It looked very attractive!"
"I'll have you in an attractive yoga position as soon as you're able!" he growled out, "It will involve my spike and your aft sticking up in the air!"
Thoroughly confused, Firestar raced behind them and grumbled, "Those two are fragging perfect for each other!"
In the meantime at the gate, Chromia quickly tapped in Red Alert's emergency…but long…override system. She felt Prowl's impatient optics staring at her, "Yeah, yeah…I'm moving it!"
The time was soon up; Blackarachia frowned as she peeked out over the wall, "What the…why is Ironhide firing an empty canon?!" she hissed out, "This is a trick!" She whirled around and stared in utter shock as her son ran free and her forces were quickly becoming subdued, "How?" she gasped and then screamed out in rage, "Protectobots! Form Defensor!"
"Yes, my Queen," they said and quickly formed the combiner giant; however as soon as they formed…one of their arms short circuited and fell down transforming into First Aid, he shouted, "N-No! I-I…" On the ground he went into seizures, all the while muttering, "No, No…"
Blackarachia sneered in disgust, "Weak fool! Don't stand there! Stop them!"
"Yes, my Queen!" shouted Defensor.
"Wonderful," grumbled Firestar as she stared at the fallen medic, "Their gestalt bond plus Blackarachia's spell against his pacifist nature as well as sub-mech nature must have screwed him up!"
"So I can see," stated Prime as he ducked away from a giant hand that was grabbing him for him.
"Slag with this nonsense!" shouted Marrisa Fairborne as she raced toward the fallen medic, "Lights…form Lightstar and stop him from tearing the city apart!"
"Right away, Femme Leader," they said and immediately formed a combiner femme that immediately grabbed Defensor away from their leaders, "You're going down," said Lightstar.
"Make me," said Defensor as he tried to punch her, "I can defeat you…"
"With one hand?" finished Lightstar as ducked away from the punch and gave a punch of her own…in the spike plate.
"Oof!" he muttered and clutched his spike plate, "You'll pay for that!"
Lightstar snorted in amusement, "Yeah, yeah…like we haven't heard that one before!"
As the two fought, Marrisa quickly checked over First Aid, "Great," she grumbled, "Gadget's bad feeling was spot on!" Before she could call for the femme medic, a hand picked her up the ground and a familiar voice called out, "I have her, my Queen!"
"Bring her to me!" shouted Blackarachia as she fired shots at her son to keep him from rescuing his mate.
"Yes, my Queen," droned out Ultra Magnus and he was about to run to her direction when a voice yelled out, "Oh, no, you don't lad!" He was punched in the face hard enough for him to automatically release Prime's mate, and for Kup to quickly catch her.
As he raced out of Magnus's reach and toward Prime, Marrisa commented, "I thought Prowl ordered you to stay out of this battle!"
"Yeah," he confirmed, "But, I recently learned that there are times when you got to fragg orders and do what your spark tells you to do what is right." He gently handed her over to Prime, "Here's your mate, lad."
Prime gave him a brilliant smile as he expressed his gratitude, "Kup…thank you. She's my other half." He gently ran a finger up his mate's back and smirked in pride as he felt her shiver in pleasure, "And it's about time you woke up and smelt the exhaust that Magnus was putting out!"
"Well, better late than…" he gasped in pain as he took an energy shot in the back.
"Kup!" shouted Prime and his mate; he immediately put her down and went over to check his old mentor.
In the distance, they could hear Blackarachia's wicked laughter and they immediately realized it was her that shot the elderly Autobot. Marrisa frowned in concern and shouted, "I'm going to find Gadget, Roddy you stay here with him!"
As she raced off, Prime cradled his mentor, "Kup," he whispered painfully, "Don't leave me."
Kup chuckled weakly, "You'll be fine, lad. You've got Ms. Fairborne and Prowl…you don't need me anymore. And if you do…I'll be in the Matrix waiting anytime you need an old soldier's advice."
"Kup," he pleaded with tears in his optics, "Please…"
"I can't lad," he whispered, "I'm sorry…for everything. I am sorry…" With these words Kup died in Prime's arms.
"NO!" bellowed out Rodimus Prime as his optics shone white, "KUP!"
By this time, Chromia, Gadget, and Prowl managed to get thru the gate as well as Stigma, Hound, and Glimmer racing behind them; they heard Prime's mournful wail. "Oh, slag…" cursed Chromia and she looked over at Prowl, "You better go to him and make sure he doesn't go nuts!"
Prowl looked at her sternly as he signed out, *I will…but follow your own suggestion Chromia, don't go nuts! I have lost too many old friends recently!*
"No promises," she grumbled as turned her attention to the insane femme that was on the second level.
"Stigma and I will keep her from doing something stupid," said Gadget as she gestured to Glimmer and Hound, "You two go and check First Aid."
"Right," confirmed Glimmer as she dragged a temporarily deaf Hound toward the injured medic.
The three femmes were about to go after their target when Marrisa Fairborne came up to them, noticing their direction, she mournfully said, "I was coming to get Gadget...but…" she sighed wearily, "It appears it's too late to do anything for Kup. C'mon, let's go get that bitch before she does anymore damage!"
"Tell me about it," grumbled Chromia as they went after the insane femme, "Pit! What is taking Boomer so long?!"
In one of Autobot City's science labs…
"Can't ya slagging hurry up, Boomer?" snapped Cliffjumper as he kept one optic on the door, and the other on her in case he had to run for cover; in his mind she was Wheeljack's niece and the first four letters of her name was another word for explosion.
"I'm fragging working on it!" she snapped back even though she knew he couldn't hear her, "I am not Uncle Wheeljack, and that pinhead Preceptor changed Med-One's plans a bit!" Sighing in aggravation, she turned her attention to the amplifilier's control box. "Fragg," she grumbled as she studied the circuitry, "All right, Boomer! Calm down, you can figure this out! If I was Preceptor, where would I place the circuit that leads to the speakers?"
Back in Autobot City's courtyard…
Rodimus Prime clings to his mentor's dead shell, mourning over his loss; suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked and stared into his new SIC's temporary optics. Prowl signed out, *I told him to stay out…but an old timer like him, could never sit out on something like this!*
Rodimus sighed sadly as said, "I know…but…our relationship was so strained as soon as I became Prime. I wish…"
Prowl gently smiled as he comforted him, *He learned his lesson in the end, Rodimus. I believe that was another reason he choose to disregard my order…he was trying to make up in the way he treated you!*
Prime snorted in agreement, "Couldn't he find another way to do it without getting himself killed?"
"Now, sparkling," purred out a familiar voice behind them, "do not cry! You're better off without the old fragger!"
Both of them sighed in aggravation; as Rodimus got off the ground, he hissed out as he turned around, "Blackarachia."
At the same time, Prowl turned around and gave a furious glare to his former friend, *Elita,* he signed out.
"Moonracer," she chided with a frown, "Its Blackarachia, now." She turned her obsessive gaze to Prime, "How many times must I say this? Call me Mother."
"I know of a femme," he growled out, "that was more of a Mother to me than you ever will be! To be perfectly honest, I wish Optimus Prime fell for someone like her instead of a psycho like you!"
"Who would dare take my place?" she hissed out, "Chromia?"
"No," drawled out Prime in grim amusement, "The last time I talked to her…she mentioned giving something to her proper successor as well as giving you a piece of her processor!"
Both Blackarachia and Prowl stared at him in curiosity, eventually a knowing gleam came into Prowl's optics, *You must have really fragged her and the others off... Elita,* he signed out.
"It doesn't matter," she said dismissively, "I'll deal with this insolent femme, later! Ultra Magnus get my sparkling; I'll take care of Moonracer!"
Sighing regretfully, Prowl quickly signed out to Prime, *Leave me some of his aft for me to deal with later.*
"No promises," Prime told him as he cracked his knuckles as his optics blazed white, "I've got a tron of aggravation and recent sexual frustration to dish out on him!"
Prowl grunted in agreement, and then turned his attention to Blackarachia; he gave her a bring it on gesture. She hissed, and attacked him with her claws gleaming in the afternoon sun. As they fought, the insane femme noticed something different about Moonracer; she seemed to be calculating every move that Blackarachia threw at her.
Stopping a moment to catch her breath, she studied her former sharpshooter carefully, "Where did you learn to fight like that in such a short amount of time?"
Moonracer didn't answer, instead took a quick glance over her shoulder…and then quickly ducked. Blackarachia's optics widen has Ultra Magnus's big aft headed directly for her, "Aaagh!" she screamed as he fell on top of her.
She heard her son chuckling in amusement, "Well, you finally got a living mech to get an overload from!"
She hissed in displeasure as she threw Ultra Magnus's unconscious form off of her, "Son, or no…you will pay for that remark!"
Rodimus Prime stared at her grimly as he walked over to stand beside Moonracer; he could sense from the Matrix that Boomer had nearly deactivated the amplifier that enslaved his Autobots. Deciding now would be a good time to distract his insane mother, he asked, "Has her fighting style changed along with her shell, Lt. Caine?"
Blackarachia's optics widen in shock as Moonracer signed out, *Not really, if anything she's gotten more predictable and dramatic.*
"H-how?" she stuttered out, "Jazz said that Lt. Caine was an Autobot undercover! Moonracer…"
"Is dead!" interrupted Prime, "Gadget, Boomer, and Swoop have just been using her shell as a temporary placement for a spark that survived a tron ago!"
"Optimus?" she hissed out hopefully.
"No," said Prime firmly and then turned to Moonracer, "Care to re-introduce yourself to her?"
Realizing that Prime was trying to further distract the insane femme for some reason, he stated, "Designation: Prowl. Faction: Autobot. Rank: Second-in-Command of the Autobots under Rodimus Prime. Serial Number: PR000-02."
She gaped at the two of them in shock for moment, and then started to laugh hysterically, "Well, played…Chromia!" she laughed out, "You have finally beaten me!" She heard a series of clicks behind her, turning around she stared at the femme herself, Marrisa Fairborne, Stigma, Silverstar, and Gadget pointing their guns at the former leader.
"I am so glad," drawled out Chromia sarcastically, "that you admire my unusual tactic, Blackarachia! Now, are you finally going to surrender…old friend?!"
Before the insane femme could reply, a huge explosion was heard and the ground shook. Everyone lost their footing for moment, as Cliffjumper called out over the comm. channel, "Boomer's done it! But, she made the ceiling and walls fall on top of us! We need some help to get the slag out of here!"
Rodimus groaned out as he stood up, "I told Aft Magnus that we needed to reinforce the science labs when we were re-building the city! As usual, he didn't fragging listen to me!"
"I'll add it to Red Alert's long list," moaned out Prowl from the ground, "If it isn't already on there! Pit, how much work am I going to have to do because of that pit spawn fool?!"
"The better question would be," growled out Marrisa, "where in the blazes did my crazy mother-in-law go too?!"
They immediately looked around for a few frantic minutes, until Gadget pointed out, "There!" They looked in the direction she pointed at, and soon noticed Blackarachia heading for the shuttle."
"The time machine must be in the shuttle," he growled out in anger, they stared at him in astonishment.
He was about to say answer their unasked question when an eerie, femme voice whispered in his audios, "Send your mate and the femmes around you after her, Roddy. Trust me… right now they are needed in the past. You'll catch up with them later!"
Sighing in regret, he ordered, "I'll explain later! Marrisa, femmes…go after her! I'll catch up to you as soon as I can!"
Staring at him for a moment in shock, they realized what he wanted them to do! Finally, Marrisa grumbled, "Right…time to play Marty McFly! Roddy, I'll be careful…you just take care of yourself and the rest of the Autobots! Femmes follow me!"
As they raced after the former leader, Gadget lingered for moment, "Prowl," she reminded him, "Tell Swoop, I know he can slagging do it!"
Prime raised a curious brow at his SIC as he helped him off the ground, "What was that about?"
Prowl sighed wearily, "My operation," he answered as he opened his comm. unit, "Prowl to Lancer, Blackarachia is going back in time. Chromia, Stigma, Silverstar, Gadget, and Marrisa Fairborne are tagging along with her. Send the clean up crew and tell all mechs at the Ark that it's safe to take out the audio plugs. Tell the Dinobots, with the exception of Swoop, that they need to rescue Cliffjumper and Boomer in the science lab; Boomer caused the amplifier to explode. Tell Swoop he is now temporarily CMO of the Autobots since First Aid is down and Gadget has gone back in time; also tell him he needs to get his aft down here…now! We've got injure bots, and another fatality."
"Lancer here," she called out, "I copied all of that, but who is the fatality and are you certain that you want Swoop as temporary CMO?"
"Lancer, this is Prime! Do what Prowl slagging said!" he ordered over his comm. unit, "And Kup was the fatality, he died saving my mate from Blackarachia!"
"Oh, slag…" she muttered in despair, "All right, I'll tell everyone. Lancer, out!"
Rodimus and Prowl both sighed wearily and then turned their attention to Ultra Magnus, who was still unconscious. They scowled down at him for a moment, finally Prowl said, "I suppose we should start dragging the idiot to the Med Bay, Prime."
"But, it is so tempting to leave the slagger here," whined Rodimus Prime as he reluctantly got one of Magnus's arms.
"I know," agreed Prowl as he grabbed the other arm, "But, we have to set an example and be better bots than this aft head!"
Meanwhile…Autobot City's landing field…
Blackarachia hissed in displeasure has she pressed the extra buttons on the modified shuttle, "She won this battle…but I haven't loss yet! Prowl! How did he survive when my beloved did not? Prowl! I should have known!" As she kept repeat herself she heard the click of feet on the shuttle's floor, knowing who it was she spat out as she activated the time machine, "Chromia!" Turning around she glared furiously, "And the organic bone!"
"That's right, old friend…" drawled out Chromia and her team aimed their guns, "Give up, your fragging around with forces that should never be fragged with!"
She snorted in disagreement, as the shuttle began to rock and buckle, "I think not!" she yelled out as she grabbed hold of the pilot's chair in order to steady herself.
If anyone observed the shuttle at that moment, they would have been amazed at the energy surrounding it as it disappeared from sight.
Meanwhile in the Ark's Med Bay…
Swoop, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker gaped at Lancer in shock and it wasn't about Kup's death, sad though it was for them to hear; instead it was about a certain new position for Swoop…
"WHAT?!" Swoop bellowed out, "Me can't be CMO!"
"Sorry, Swoop," she said with sympathy, "Gadget has gone back in time and First Aid has been severely injured; you're all we got! Prowl says get you're aft down there now! Lancer, out!"
"But…but…" Swoop stuttered out in astonishment.
The twins though thought it was hilarious about Swoop's new position, "Don't worry, Swoop," purred out Sideswipe as he thru an arm over his shoulders; "We will be glad to help you out! After all we have plenty of experience under the Hat…ow!" He rubbed he forehead in pain, "Who threw that wrench at me?!"
"It wasn't…" he's brother started to deny, when he too was hit by a wrench, "What the slag?!"
"Me Swoop say that wrenches came from main screen," he told them as he pointed out the Med Bay's main view screen. Before he could say more, Ratchet's gleeful face appeared on it.
"Heh, heh," he chuckled out, "Oh…how wish I could see your slagging faces… you two pit spawns of my existence! Wheeljack final got his automatic throwing wrench system working…and hopefully it's still working after a tron!"
The twins and Swoop yelled, "What the pit?!" Then the twins immediately ducked as two wrenches were headed their way, they bellowed, "RATCHET, YOU SLAGGER!"
Ratchet laughed some more, "Did I mention, it's targeted to your specific energy signatures?" He fell out of his chair laughing hysterically.
Swoop swiftly got out of the way, while twins dived underneath a near by berth, "I know he told us he would haunt us from the grave," drawled out Sunstreaker as he inspected the dent on his arm, "But, this is fragging ridiculous!"
"You're fragging telling me! I should have known that the Hatchet would have planned something like this if he knew about the future!" exclaimed Sideswipe as he slowly peeked out and immediately ducked another wrench.
By this time, Ratchet dragged himself back into his chair, still chuckling, "You slaggers have a three minute opportunity to get the slag out of my Med Bay as it re-loads… otherwise this nifty gizmo will start firing again!"
"Sorry, Swoop…" said Sideswipe as he raced out.
Sunstreaker finished the sentence, "Got to run! My paint is at stake!"
Swoop sighed wearily as he looked at Ratchet's image who was still chuckling, "Me Swoop know You Ratchet can't answer…but me ask anyway…did You Ratchet have to do that now when Me Swoop need help?!"
The video clip didn't answer the question instead he said, "Now that the trash has been taken out…its lesson time, Swoop! So, you better pay attention!"
Swoop sighed again in exhaustion as he sat down on a nearby berth, bringing out a data pad and electronic pen from sub space, "Me Swoop don't have time for this, but Me Swoop will listen anyway!"
"Now," explained Ratchet as he folded his arms, "This part of the lesson you don't need to write notes…I am going to say something quite simple…YOU CAN SLAGGING DO THIS SWOOP!"
Swoop nearly fell off the berth, as he squawked out, "What?!"
"You heard me," his creator told him firmly, "I've trained you well, and from what I heard from Gadget; you studied on your own when that…PIT SPAWN OF A APPRENTICE OF MINE didn't apparently do his slagging job as CMO of the Autobots, which part of it was to train new medics; which in this case is YOU! Now, Gadget has finished your training… believe it or not… for passing Med Class 1! She believes you can fragging do it too! When she comes back, you will take that slagging test and knock the examiners screws out!"
Ratchet face softened as he continued, "I am proud of you Swoop…I know I didn't say that often enough! I am proud of the medic you are now…and the medic you will become!" He was silent for moment, finally he said, "I know your scared but you'll have to do Prowl's surgery and be temporary CMO…at least until Gadget gets back or if that fragger First Aid gets functional again!"
He's optics narrowed furiously as he scowled, "And when that little pit spawn gets functional again…there is a message cube behind my giant wrench in my closet in my personal quarters in the Ark that I want you to give him, be sure to take the giant wrench with you…BECAUSE AS SOON AS HE FINISHES WATCHING MY MESSAGE TO HIM…I WANT YOU TO PERSONAL HIT THAT FRAGGER WITH IT AND TELL HIM THAT HE IS GOING TO STUDY UNDER THAT JOE KNOWN AS PYSCHE OUT! IF HE DOESN'T… I AM COMING BACK FROM THE SLAGGING MATRIX TO DRAG HIS AFT TO HIS NEW TEACHER!"
Swoop winced as his audios rang in pain, he muttered woefully as he wonder what First Aid had done to set Mt. Hatchet off from the grave, "Me well."
"Now," continued Ratchet more calmly, "Let's go on with the lesson!" From the side of screen he drew out an Earth blackboard, on it was a diagram where the names of the Autobots that were enslaved by Blackarachia as well as Prowl along with some interesting information attach to each name, "If Teletran is still functional it should be sending you a copy of this to the data pad I know you got out…right about…now!"
Swoop looked down at his data pad which beeped out in conformation of new data, "Me Swoop surprise that stupid Teletran managed it!" he grumbled as he quickly read over the diagram.
"You'll have to read this on the way to the city," Ratchet told him, "And you better come back here in order to finish the first part of my little instructional video series that I set up for you and Gadget. I call this little lesson, 'Tips On How To Keep The Slaggers In Med Bay, If They Need To Stay In Med Bay After You Patch Them Up! Part: 1.' Please take particularly note on Prowl…if you remember the fragger is sneaky as the pit to keep in Med Bay after post-op!"
Swoop rolled his optics at the long title, "What Earth saying me hear Him Prowl say lately?" he grumbled, "Oh! Like father, like daughter!"
"Now," Ratchet told him as he shooed him away, "Run along, patch them up, and keep an eye on them until Gadget gets back. Oh, give Rodimus Prime a copy of the medical logs…both personal and official from the time I died until now…he needs to give them to my past self. Don't worry after I read them, I gave them to Gadget to take back…AND THEIR THE SLAGGING REASON WHY I WANT TO RING FIRST AID'S SCRAWNY NECK FROM THE GRAVE AS WELL AS THAT AFT HEAD KNOWN AS ULTRA MAGNUS!"
Wincing again in pain as his audios rang; Swoop stopped the video clip, grabbed Gadget's spare tool box, and rushed out of the room to save his fellow Autobots.
A few minutes earlier…in the Command Center of the Ark…
Red Alert and Lancer gazed in a mixture of amusement and surprise at the Dastardly Duo hiding underneath a console…each, "I am going to regret asking this," drawled out Red Alert, "But, what has you two hiding like scared cats?"
"Ratchet left another message, this time for us and Swoop," Sideswipe started to explain.
"He's message to us was literally a bunch of wrenches! Wheeljack got his automatic wrench throwing system working before he died," finished Sunstreaker and then he scowled as he watched Red Alert and Lancer chuckling, "I wouldn't laugh too hard, we might have to cover our audios!"
They both look at the twins in apprehension, "Why?" asked Lancer bravely.
"Ratchet in the video has got the same look in his optics that Prowl had when he found out Aft Magus fragged up his counter attack plan," Sideswipe told them.
Red Alert and Lancer stared at them in amazement, finally Lancer reassured them, "I am certain First Aid didn't do anything as bad as…"
She was cut off as they heard the long dead medic's bellows coming from the Med Bay, when it was over…all of them winced at the pain they received in their audio receptors.
"Apparently," drawled out Red Alert as he shook his head to get the ringing to stop, "he can…what has Ultra Magnus done now as well as First Aid that the Hatchet is on a war path from beyond the grave?" Sighing in aggravation, "So, who is going to be the one to tell Prime and Prowl this latest, wonderful, news?"
As one, the twins and Lancer pointed at him and said, "You are!" Lancer added, "You're the senior officer here at the moment!"
Red Alert groaned as he flopped down in a nearby seat, after a moment, he opened Teletran's comm. channel, "Red Alert to Rodimus Prime and Prowl."
Autobot City's Med Bay…
Prime and Prowl were busy helping the wounded into Med Bay, as a result of the battle and explosion of the amplifier. Currently, they were helping a shocked Springer unto a berth. All he kept muttering was, "What have I done? What have I done?" Rodimus was going to offer some words of comfort when Red Alert made his comm. call to them; Springer looked at his old friend and asked, "Is Prowl here? Does that mean Arcee is not dead either?"
Sighing, Prime gently told him, "Springer…Prowl is alive, but Arcee is dead; I'm sorry."
Whimpering, Springer repeated his earlier words, "What have I done?"
As he kept repeating himself, Prime sighed miserably and gestured to Prowl to follow him into the CMO's office, when they closed the door, Prime answered the call, "Prime here, what's wrong now?"
"Well, Ratchet left another message," Red Alert started to explain.
But Prowl interrupted him, "Another message?"
At the same time Prime asked, "Why would he want to leave a message?"
Red Alert sighed regretfully as he quickly explained about Wheeljack, Ironhide, and Ratchet knowing about the future as well as what they had recently overheard coming from the Med Bay. Prime was thoughtful at the end of the explanation, while Prowl asked, "What was the first message about, Red Alert?"
"Oh," he babbled nervously, "Nothing you need to see…nothing really…just a…"
"Red Alert," they both warned; with Rodimus Prime adding, "What was in the slagging first message?"
"Umm, Prime I'll show you later," he nervously explained, "Prowl really doesn't need to see it in his condition."
They were silent for a moment, finally Prowl asked as he calmly as he could, "Red Alert, is the first message about how I managed to survive the attack?"
"Yes," he weakly answered.
Prowl closed his optics for a moment, and then told them dejectedly, "You're right…I don't need to see it...yet."
Prime looked out of the office window, "I see Swoop coming in now, Red," he said, "We'll try to get more information from him, Prime out."
Prime cracked the door open and called out, "Swoop, can you come in here for a minute?"
Swoop hurried inside the office as Prime shut the door behind him, he asked sternly, "Me Swoop say what? Me Swoop bu…what happened to Him Prime's face?!"
Rodimus chuckled grimly as he traced his new scars, "Oh, a little gift from mother dearest…she didn't like my opinions. I'll be fine Swoop, my face doesn't hurt that much."
Swoop grunted in disgust and then looked sternly at Prowl, "And You Prowl need to unlock Teletran 2!"
"I will in a moment, Swoop. But, first what was in the message that Ratchet sent you?" asked Prowl, "Red Alert told us he heard the Hatchet's screams of fury all the way in the command center."
Sighing in frustration, Swoop quickly explained to them what was on the tape; they both raised surprise brows, "The medical logs?" questioned Rodimus Prime, "He wants me to bring a copy of the medical logs to his past self?"
"Me Swoop say yes, can Me Swoop go back to work now?"
"Yes," answered Prowl as quickly turned on the desk's computer, "I am unlocking Teletran 2 now."
"Me Swoop say good!" he yelled and then gave them a quick look as he went out of the room, "Me Swoop deal with You Prime and You Prowl later!"
"Terrific," grumbled Rodimus as Prowl merely sighed in acceptance over their coming treatment, "What were the passwords you used, Prowl?"
"Ironhide, Gears, and Ratchet," he answered, "Speaking of which, we need to know what is on those logs that would cause Ratchet to want to commit murder even though he is dead."
Prime grunted in agreement, "We'll need someone with medical knowledge to go over them. Boomer is out, Grimlock told me a few minutes ago that she's unconscious but her arms have blown off of her. He and Sludge are trying to find them now in the rubble."
Prowl shook his head in amusement as he sarcastically asked, "Why does that sound familiar to me?" Suddenly, Teletran 2 called out, "Teletran 2 awakened, Autobot Prowl relieving Autobot Ultra Magnus of duties as Autobot City's Commander and SIC of Autobots. Awaiting further orders, commander…"
Rodimus smiled joyfully at those words, "So," he teased him, "What are your orders, commander?"
"Whatever you want Prime," he replied with a smirk, "But, may I suggest we update the alert level on the city until we can get things fixed and straighten out?"
"Finally!" he exclaimed with relief, "A SIC who makes suggestions to me instead of going behind my back! Do it…and we still need to find someone to go over those medical logs!"
Suddenly they heard of Swoop yelling, "Me Swoop say You Preceptor need to rest! You Preceptor have concussion and don't need to be moving around!"
They looked at one another for a moment, and then Rodimus quickly went to the door, calling out, "Oh, Swoop! Could we borrow Preceptor for a moment?"
A half hour later…
"I still can't believe it!" exclaimed Preceptor, "Do you know how rare temporary spark placement, is? Gadget, Boomer, and Swoop really need to write this out for…"
"Preceptor!" Prime and Prowl both shouted with the SIC adding, "Find out what's on those slagging logs that would make Ratchet explode…"
"Like a volcano, even though his dead!" finished Rodimus Prime as they both stared sternly at the scientist.
"Okay, okay," he hurriedly told them, "But…this could take a while. So, could you please give me some breathing room instead of scowling in my direction?"
Sighing in frustration, they both went outside the office and closed the door. Almost immediately, Prowl was pounced on by a very happy Autobot. "Prowler, you're alive! Swoop just told me! I'm saved from the slagging SIC position! You're alive!" Jazz kept repeating this mantra as he proceeded to hug him to death.
"Jaaaz," Prowl squeaked out as he tried to catch his breath.
Rodimus tried not to laugh as he gently released Prowl from Jazz's grasp, "Let him breathe, Jazz."
'I'm sorry, Prowler!" he exclaimed joyfully, "But I am so happy! No more piles of disorganized files!"
"It's going to take vorns to fix them, Jazz!" exclaimed Prowl as he regained his breath.
"No more dealing with the Prime Heritage by myself!"
"Hey!" protested Rodimus, "It's not my slagging fault I am going thru it!"
"No more of Aft Magnus's lectures!" Jazz continued, "No more coming up with plans by myself!"
"That reminds me…" growled out Prowl and then he slapped the back of Jazz's head, hard.
"Hey!" protested Jazz and then yelped as Prime slapped him even harder on the head, "What was that for?!'
"Why do you think, Jazz?" hissed out Prime, "Let's do a decoy shuttle, you said…Blackarachia wouldn't expect it you said!"
"Oh," muttered nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry, about that! Where was I…ah! I know! No way now I'll be SIC! That reminds me!" He skipped over to Swoop who was busy injecting Springer with a sedative, "Oh…Swoop! I got something for you!"
"Me Swoop say what?" he warily asked as he looked up at Jazz, "Hmph!" Jazz kissed him square on the lips, when he was finished…Swoop wiped his mouth in disgust, "Me Swoop say why did You Jazz do that?!"
"Oh, for saving Prowl," he drawled out, "And me from taking the SIC position. OW!" He rubbed his head from the dent that Swoop gave him with his wrench.
"Me Swoop say Him Prowl not saved…yet!" he shouted and then he turned his attention to the SIC, "Speaking which…when and where do You Prowl want surgery? Me Swoop ready to do it, if You Prowl want a Dinobot doing it on You Prowl!"
"I have more confidence in you than in First Aid at the moment, Swoop," he replied as he stared suspiciously at a comatose First Aid for a moment, he then turned his attention back to the Dinobot, "Let's do it at the Ark and whenever you want too."
Swoop raised a brow in surprise as he said, "Me Swoop need to finish repairs on injured Autobots, get Her Firestar here to watch patients, and contact Him Hound to help Me Swoop since no one else available. Give Me Swoop three hours, and meet Me Swoop at Ark's Med Bay."
"Very well," he said and then pointed at Ultra Magnus who was still unconscious, "Do me a favor, though…keep this idiot under sedation until I am fully functional to yell…I mean… talk with him properly!"
Swoop nodded in agreement, and quickly hurried away from them in order to get ready for the surgery.
Rodimus sighed wearily as he closed his optics and pinched his nose bridge in aggravation, "I wonder if Galvatron has days like this?!"
Char…Hook's Med Bay…
Galvatron watched in amusement as Hook and Soundwave opened the crate, both of them were wearing Cybertrion haz mat suits.
"I don't see what is wrong opening a simple crate; from a mere Autobot femme," he muttered to Scourge.
Motorhead overheard him, and thought to himself, 'Primus! Sometimes I wish he remember his time as Megatron! All of those times that Stigma sent packages to Soundwave!'
As they opened the crate, gas filled up the room…soon every Decepticon stood absolutely still with the expectation of Soundwave and Hook. That didn't last long when Barricade transformed and jumped out of the crate; he was painted pink, wearing a huge female's wig with a huge bow on top. He shouted out, "Oppan Gangnam Style!"
As he and every single Decepticon whom was infected by the gas, sang and dance to the hit tune; Hook called out over the comm. channel to Soundwave, "When we fix everyone…you and I are going to have a very long talk on how you keep fragging off that pit spawn sister of yours!"
Soundwave groaned in agony because he was certain that this talk would involve him being hit, numerous of times, with Hook's wrench.