I'll keep this brief so we can continue with the action. Thanks so much for the reviews, favorites and alerts everyone! As promise, more action in this chapter. Various scenes will tend to overlap. I have been fritzing the past few days over seeing new images and videos for the movie. So it might have affecting the chapter a bit. If you see any major errors let me know! Lmao!
Author's notes: italics denote comlink chatter.
Cyclonis
The battle was brutal! I loved it. Neither side showed any mercy from what I could see. A shame I joined it a bit late. Hunting down Prime's daughter proved to be a most annoying task!
Alas, I was here now and was going to make up for lost time. So I jumped right into the fray, blasting my rifle.
"Cyclonis, this is Soundwave. Have you seen Starscream or Venom? I've lost contact with them"
"Negative. Last I saw they were chasing after Kaceystar through the sky. I've been a bit busy since then," I replied, activating my thrust, leaping up high into the air and landing behind an unsuspecting Autobot. I yanked him off a fellow Decepticon and flung him hard to the ground. Then I fired at him at close point range killing him instantly. "Starscream probably turned off his communicator and hid his energy signature to go after the femme. Venom has the same abilities. The idiot listens to every word Starscream says."
"Starscream's quest for revenge had better not foul of our Lord's plans. And I'm aware of how influential Starscream has been over Venom recently. It is a matter I'd planned on discussing with Megatron."
"The sooner the better I'd suggest. Shall I look for them?" I asked, helping the Decepticon up onto his feet.
"No, you're in charge on the battle field. I'm working to get these fires out before they reach a more vital section of the base. The blasts knocked out the emergency fire system through out the base. It's out of control at this point."
Another large explosion sounded. Frag it to pit. Our entire shuttle launch deck was enveloped in thick black smoke.
"I'll leave you to it, Soundwave. If I see Starscream or Venom I will notify you immediately. Cyclonis out."
The mech's face beside me just blew up from weapons fire. I turned to see a black armored femme charging at me.
"Chormia, I must say you do look quite lovely today!" I snickered easily sidestepping her advance at me.
"I'd be careful of what you say, Cyclonis! You know how jealous Ironhide gets."
"How is the old rust bucket these days? Does he still have the energy to please a beautiful femme like yourself? Why not come to our side and I'll show you how a real mech treats…"
WHAM!
I landed hard on the ground and had to shake my head to recalibrate my senses.
"Wonder when you'd show up," I smirked.
"Talk to my femme that way again Cyclonis and next time I swear your head will come off," Ironhide growled.
"We need back up at our location!"
"Dirge! You pathetic excuse for a Decepticon! You had the tactical advantage over those four miserable Autobots. How in the pit could you lose that?"
"They flew at us! They're attacking us in the air right now!"
"Fine, I'm on my way!" I growled and activated my thrusters, lifting off the ground.
"Get back here you coward!" Ironhide shouted.
"Another time perhaps, Ironhide," I smiled and then blew a kiss at Chromia. "Until next time my lovely!"
I quickly transformed and took evasive action as Ironhide fired his cannons wildly. It was a good thing he was blinded by his rage for he missed me and it's a rare thing for Ironhide to miss his target.
Accelerating, I flew quickly over the battlefield towards Dirge's coordinate. I smiled to myself when I saw one of those crazy twin's and his friend floating helplessly towards the ground.
"I see the twins have never learned to consider the consequences of their actions," I said to myself. "Perhaps I should teach them a lesson."
I took aim and fire, hitting my mark perfectly.
Sunny's howl of pain was such sweet music to my audio receptors.
Sunny
One thing about my friend Bumblebee that I really admired was the fact that he never over reacted to any given situation. For instance, I would have been screaming my fool head off if I was free falling to the ground. But I wasn't. I was stuck in a slow descent, in pain, and watching helplessly as my friend fell.
Oh slag! He wasn't falling for long!
"BEE!!" I screamed when a Cyclonis swooped down and snatched up my friend.
"Look at what I found!" he snickered. "Silly Autobot, shall we see just how well you can really fly without any wings?"
The fragger still had a Cybertronian jet form but I knew that form well. It was definitely Cyclonis. Plus, I never forget a 'Cons voice.
"FRAGGER! LET HIM GO!!!!" I shouted, wishing I at least had my gun. Only my gun was gone. The damage to my right forearm caused my transformation systems to shut down. Slag! I couldn't even transform into my style alt form!
"DON'T WORRY BRO!" Sides shouted. "WE GOT IT!"
Laser and plasma fire erupted from my right and I twisted around enough to see my brother had his chute deployed, holding on to Hot Shot. Both mechs were firing a fast as they could at the 'Con before he got out of range.
To Bumblebee's credit he fought and struggled to break free as the 'Con tried to go higher in the air. Bee grabbed hold of the fragger's wing and twisted and wrenched on it hard making Cyclonis cry out. Then he howled even louder when one of his thrusters blew up. Side's and Hot Shot's aim finally hit their mark.
I wasn't sure if that made things better for Bumblebee or not. The resulting tail spin was out of control and headed straight for the ground. Then if that wasn't bad enough, just before impact Cyclonis jettison his captive, managing to right himself enough bracer for impact.
Cyclonis stumbled upon his landing but was quick to get on his feet and took off running. Bumblebee's landing look painful as the sand erupted around him as he skidded to a stop.
I released my chute so I could drop to the ground faster. As did my brother. Though we were still high in the sky I knew we could handle the drop. My gears complained when I landed with a heavy thud. Once I recovered I started running for my friend.
"I've got Bee, go get that fragger!" I shouted at my brother and Hot Shot as I ran by them.
"No problem!" Hot Shot growled.
I heard them transform behind me. Their engines roared to life. I glanced back to see them both slip and slide before they got enough traction to speed away.
"Sunny! Help!" Bluestreak yelled over the comlink.
I looked in his direction. He was in single combat with the sniper and another 'Con was in route. Needless to say, he was seriously outmatched! And Blue was a good fighter but an even better gunner.
"I'll be there as quick as I can, I promise. Just avoid him as much as possible until I get there!"
"Ok…don't take too long! The fragger has a long reach!"
"Just talk to him!" I laughed.
"What are you nuts?! He'll try to kill me for sure!"
"Come on, Blue. You're not that bad. None of us have threatened to terminate you!"
He laughed back at me.
"Just hang tight. I'll be here soon. I promise."
I sprinted faster. I had to get to Bee and get me a weapon. Lucky for me Bee landed near one of the shuttles. I could get him inside and get me a weapon at the same time.
"Ratchet…what's your ETA?" I asked, sliding on my knees to Bee's side. He wasn't moving and his optic covers were closed.
"I'm working on it!" he grunted. "What's his condition?"
From the sound of it he was in the middle of a heated battle.
"Chest wound. Plasma round went straight through entering the backside. Loss of energon. He's unconscious at the moment from the impact I assume. Just get to Bee as soon as you can! I'm placing him inside one of the shuttles."
"Ratchet, this is Prowl. Magnus and his unit are heading to your position to free you up! Sunny, you've got to help Bluestreak. You're the closest. We cannot afford to let that sniper back into this fight."
"I'm on it!" I said, lifting Bumblebee up in my arms. "Frag Bee, you're heavy!"
Before I could even head to one of our cloaked shuttles I saw the door to one of them open. Primus, Leo was far too brave for this sort of thing! He had a weapon in one hand and the other on the door's control mechanism. I ran as fast as I could towards him.
"Hurry Sunny! I heard everything. I've got a rifle primed and ready for you."
"You're one crazy little fragger! Now get back!" I shouted running up the ramp. Once inside Leo shut the door and I quickly laid down Bumblebee on his side.
"AHH!!" Bee cried out when I laid him down a bit too hastily.
"Frag, sorry Bee! Leo, get me the med kit."
"I'm on it!"
"Where…where am I?" Bee asked, blinking his optics.
"In a shuttle. Leo's going to take care of you until Ratchet gets here. Just hang tight. Ok."
Bumblebee nodded, grimacing. I could tell by the look in his optics he was hiding something from me. My sensors told me the damage was extensive but I didn't have a medic's sensors to tell me just how bad. I feared for my friend's life. Yet, I knew my duty. I knew I had to stop that sniper otherwise other Autobots were in danger.
"Sunny! How about that help you promised?!" Bluestreak grunted over the comlink.
"Sunny, go! Blue needs your help," Bumblebee said, pushing me away. "Go, that's an order. I'll be fine."
"Leo, you take care of him. Understand. Keep him conscious until Ratchet gets here. Can I trust you to do that?"
Leo nodded, handing me the med kit, "You can count on me, Sunny."
I glanced at Bee and grabbed hold of his hand holding it close.
"You'd better hang in there because if you die I'm going after your fraggin aft in the afterlife to get you to come back!"
"Sure," he chuckled. "Now go!"
I smiled, patted Leo on the head, did a quick weld on my wrist where my hand was blasted of, grabbed the rifle and exited the shuttle making sure the door was shut.
"Ratchet, this is Sunny. You'd better hurry," I said over a private comlink with the CMO.
"Understood."
Leo
When I saw Kacey in her jet form flying across the sky it took a lot of restraint on my part to keep from reaching out to her. I had to keep reminding myself that I could cause her to be distracted and I didn't want that for my sister. I didn't want her to get hurt. But I could not help but sit at the edge of the seat, my spark pulsing wildly within its chamber watching what I could see from my limited view. Especially when I saw Bumblebee falling in the sky!
I actually think my spark stopped pulsing for a moment when that 'Con got a hold of him. A part of me wanted to go out there and help just like Bluestreak did. Only I knew I couldn't do that. So I did what I could by opening the door to let him and Sunny in. And of course I would do as Sunny instructed me, no matter how difficult. Bumblebee was my best friend. I'd do anything to help him.
I didn't need to be a medic to know Bumblebee was in bad shape. The wound in his chest was sparking some. His vents were wheezing. Energon was pooling up beneath him. If all that wasn't bad enough, he had this sad look on his face when he looked at me…almost as if he was sorry I was there to watch him die.
Well I wasn't going to let him die!
Hurrying, I grabbed the medical kit started rummaging around in it. Most of the stuff I had no idea what to do with. But I did recognize the medical scanner because Kacey showed me how to use one once when she was practicing with one.
"Do you know how to use that thing?" he asked weakly lifting his head up.
"Yes," I replied confidently, pulling out the cable.
I grabbed his wrist and examined it for a few moments until I found the port. Then I inserted the cable and activated the scanner.
"I guess you do," he snorted, resting his head back down on the floor of the shuttle. "Kacey taught you, didn't she?"
"Of course," I smiled while trying to recall what she taught me to do next. I pushed a button and nothing happened. I pushed another and finally Bumblebee's vital signs registered on the scanner. Frag! How do you read this stupid thing?
"Let me see," Bumblebee said, obviously noticing the trouble I was having. "This is my spark rate."
"It's not normal," I frowned, thinking the flashing yellow and red lights on the scanner couldn't be a good sign.
"Here are my energon levels and energy levels."
"You're energon level…it's in the red," I gasped. "Your energy levels are fluctuating too much."
"My repair systems can't stop the flow. A line was ruptured…just behind my spark chamber."
"How do I stop it?"
"You can't. Ratchet will have to cut me open to get to it."
"But…you're bleeding too fast and have already lost so much energon already," I said, fighting back my tears. "Ratchet won't get here in time!"
"It's ok Leo," he smiled warmly, wiping my tears away. "Don't cry. I die with no regrets."
"How can you say that?" I cried. "You can't give up! Kacey will be spark broken if you die! So would I! You're my best friend!"
He turned his face away, trying to hide his emotions from me.
"Well, perhaps I have one regret," he said sadly then looked at me, so much emotion filled his optics. "Will you do me a favor? Will…will you give a message to Kacey for me?"
I hiccupped. I didn't want to say yes because then that would be like giving up on him. But I didn't want to say no either because he was my friend. I didn't want him to die. Plus, I knew how important he was to Kacey and how much he cared for her. How much…he cared for Kacey…
"You love her, don't you?" I suddenly asked.
"Everyone loves Kacey."
"No. I mean you really love her. Don't lie to me Bee. I've seen how you look at my sister. I just didn't put it together until right now. I've seen that look in your face…I see it every single day when my father looks at my mother."
He sighed, relief filled his optics and he nodded slowly, "Yes, I love her. Will you tell her for me…tell her how much I love her and that I'm so sorry I never told her myself. Can you do that for me Leo?"
"No," I said, remembering something else Kacey taught me about the medical scanner. I punched in a few commands then looked at Bee. "You can tell her yourself because I'm not going to let you die!"
It took a few astroseconds before the scanner beeped. It told me exactly where the leak was.
"What are you doing?" Bee asked when I peered into the exit wound.
"Thanking Primus for once about being small," I smiled and reached my hand into the wound.
Bumblebee hissed arching his chest slightly. Then he groaned in pain, hands balled into fists.
"Sorry…almost there," I said, my hand searching, following the flow of energon until I found the source. I did the only thing I could do. I plugged it with my finger. With my free hand I activated the vital sign readings once again. They were stabilizing. Energon and energy levels were low but no long fluctuating wildly.
"What'd you do?"
"Apparently, Primus sent me here to save your aft," I smirked.
Hound
That father instinct within me started nagging at my processor. I couldn't shake it. I always got that funny feeling deep in my spark whenever Marshall needed me and much too a few mechanisms' dismay when Sunny or Sides needed my help too. Mostly it was Sunny as Sides always had more common sense than his twin brother.
"Prowl, I'm going to help Sunny with Blue!" I said as I transformed into my vehicle mode. "I got a bad feeling in my spark!"
"Very well, I'll take command of your unit."
"Hound, wait! We're coming!"
I lurched to a stop just after I had started to go. Lennox and three of his men quickly opened the doors and climbed in. I did nothing to stop them. These humans were skilled warriors in our battles against the Decepticons. I and many of the Autobots considered them part of the army. Even Wheeljack, since he put the Autobot insignia on all the humans' armored suits.
"You might need back up," Lennox added patting my dashboard.
"Sure," I chuckled through the speakers. "All of you might want to buckle up!"
Accelerating fast, I hit my max speed within a matter of seconds. I wasn't as fast as Optimus. No one really had his power to pour into their engines. Nor was I as fast as Bumblebee or the twins. But I was fast enough for I could feel the humans gripping the seats as I sped off, saying 'Oh shit!'
Then they were hooting and hollering when I got some air from a sand dune. Let's see if what they come up with next!
Up ahead I saw that Sunny was taking on two 'Cons, Torque and Carbine. Blue looked badly damaged as he crawled away, dragging his left leg.
"Sockets or Red! Gonna need a medic at my location as soon as possible!"
"I'll go! I'm done here!" Sockets responded.
"Hold on to your afts!" I said to the humans, speeding straight for Sunny.
"Ah…Hound…what are you doing?" Lennox asked.
"Anything I can to help Sunny and Blue!" I exclaimed then opened a comlink to Sunny. "Hold them right there, kid!"
"Oh…I'm holding them alright!" he growled.
I stayed on course straight for Sunny's backside. Then when I was in range, I adjusted my vehicles position applied the brakes at the proper tension and did an almost perfect power slide around Sunny's feet and into both the 'Cons, knocking their legs out from under them.
"Woohoo!" the humans cheered.
But I wasn't done yet. Using the force of gravity, I opened the door, released the seat belts and ejected the humans out onto the sand. Then I quickly transformed and jumped on Carbine beating him in the face.
"A little warning next time, Hound!" Lennox laughed.
"The old fragger is just full of surprises!" Sunny commented jumping into the action by ramming the butt of his rifle into Torque's abdomen.
"Watch your vocal processor or next time I'll just let the 'Cons rip you a new aft!" I countered.
"LOOK OUT!!" Bluestreak shouted.
I looked up only the get a foot in the face from a fragging 'Con, Brawl I believed was his name if my memory's correct. It dazed me for only a moment but that was enough for Brawl to free his fellow 'Con and get the upper hand on me. I quickly found myself now lying on the ground getting my face beat in.
"Hound!" Sunny cried out, charging towards me.
Only Torque tripped him up and Sunny fell face first onto the ground. Lennox and his men started firing at Brawl. Torque fired at them causing the ground to explode in front of them and I lost sight of the humans. It was like they just disappeared!
"FRAGGERS!" I snarled, punching and kicking to get free.
Brawl laughed at me. With good reason. He was twice my weight and strength.
"Keep them steady while I get rid of them!" Carbine snickered, aiming his sniper rifle at me.
"NOO!!!" Sunny screamed just as I heard thunder booming in the sky.
Looking up I saw Kacey spiraling down straight for Carbine. With a style and grace all her own, the femme transformed and flipped over, landing on her feet in front of Carbine. His rifle exploded apart as her extended blade sliced right through it. Then to my amazement, a second blade extended from her other arm as she pirouetted around. One blade pierced his chest armor while the other finished the job cutting deep to his center.
Brawl snarled a crude remark about femmes and charged for her. Kacey vanished, activating her cloaking shield. With my tracking skills I was able to detect her faint cloaking shield's frequency.
"Show yourself or I'll blow his head off!" Torque said, holding his gun to Sunny's head.
"Don't listen to him Kacey!" Sunny shouted.
Torque hit the back of Sunny's head with his gun.
"Don't think about you old fragger!" Brawl grinned pointing his gun at me when I tried to get up to go help Sunny. "Show yourself you piece of slag!"
"As you wish," Kacey's voice sounded.
Torque barely had a chance to turn as face Kacey. As she deactivated her cloaking shield her two swords were already in position crisscrossed near his neck. The blades literally popped his head off when they both cut through his armor.
Brawl turned and fired at Kacey who had cloaked again. In the blink of an optic she'd moved positions. The 'Con didn't have a chance as one of Kacey's blade suddenly protruded from his chest as she de-cloaked directly behind him. The blade twisted. Brawl spasmed for a moment before his optics dimmed.
"You guys ok?" she asked shoving the dead 'Con.
"Better than ok," Sunny smirked, getting to his feet.
"Your hand!" she gasped rushing to his side.
"Don't worry! Bee's got it for me."
"Where is Bumblebee?" she asked. "I heard you call Ratchet to his location."
"He's fine," Sunny smiled and I knew he was lying. I could always tell when he was lying.
"Lennox!" Kacey suddenly exclaimed running to where the humans had once been standing.
I quickly followed, spotting the movement in the sand. Their energy signatures reappeared on my sensor too. The blast must have shorted them out temporarily.
"You ok guys?" Kacey asked, gently lifting Lennox and another out of the sand. I picked out the other two.
"Better now!" Lennox said, giving her the thumbs up.
Just then four Decepticon fliers blasted over our heads.
"Slag! I have to go after them!" Kacey said.
"Go, we've got things under control here," I smiled.
"Go Kacey. I'm fine," Lennox said when she hesitated.
"Ok. I'll be back to check you guys as soon as I can," she said setting Lennox and his comrade down.
Once clear she lifted off the ground, transformed and rocketed after the Decepticons.
"Frag, she's got power," Sunny commented as I heard sirens blaring and getting closer.
I turned to see Socket's in his Earth alt form, a red Ford F150 Type IV mini-rescue, racing towards us. Not sure why the humans called it mini. It wasn't small but it wasn't large like Ratchet's Hummer alt for either.
Sunny started laughing as Sockets came to a stop and transformed, "You didn't need the sirens! We're not on Earth!"
"I never got to used them before," Sockets smirked, shrugging his shoulders.
"See what Blue needs done first," I ordered. "His leg looks bad."
"Yes, Sir."
"Sunny, how is Bumblebee? The truth. I know what you told Kacey was a lie," I said over a private comlink.
"I'm not a medic but I could tell it was bad. I'm hoping Ratchet gets there in time to save him."
I nodded in acknowledgement and patted him on the shoulder. I understood how upset he was. He had that same worried look my son always had when a friend was in trouble and there was nothing he could do about it.
"We must trust in Primus and pray for Bumblebee," I told him.
Ratchet
Magnus set up a convoy as we raced through the battle field in our vehicle forms. He was in the rear with Akima in front of him. Rox was lead with Firestar in her robot form standing on his truck bed picking off Decepticons and me behind them.
Frag, Elita and Chromia trained the femme well. She was as ruthless with the plasma gun as Chromia and as calculating with picking her targets well like Elita.
And Rox, though he may be missing a few bolts in his processor, proved to be an excellent mech wrecker. He had the strength to plow and roll over a Decepticon in his vehicle mode. Plus he had the speed and agility to veer around them when necessary.
"ROX YOU FRAGGER!!" I shouted when we went off a jump that I had no idea was there.
"Just having a little fun, Ratch!" Rox chuckled.
"Well give me some warning next time!" I growled when I bounced upon landing. "And no one calls me Ratch except Optimus so keep it that way!"
"You did say to get you there quickly," Magnus said, defending the young mech. "Rox took the straight and direct approach, just like I taught him."
I growled back at Magnus over the comlink making him laugh.
"And Rox, you do need to show a bit more respect for Ratchet. He'll save your life one day."
"Of course, Magnus Sir. I apologize, Ratchet."
"At least he has manners," I commented. "Been trying to teach them to Ironhide ever since I first met him."
"We've got incoming!" Firestar shouted just as sand exploded around me.
"Fragging 'Cons!" I grumbled feeling the sand pelt my armor.
"Transform and take cover!" Magnus ordered.
Firestar gracefully leapt off Rox as he started to transform. My gears complained loudly to me. I wasn't accustomed to transforming while driving and certainly not at these speeds! Some how I managed but I wasn't as graceful as the others and stumbled once on me feet. Magnus grabbed hold of my arm enough to steady me only to then shove me to the ground. He started firing his gun, positioning himself between me and the four 'Cons shooting at us from the sky.
"FRAGGER! I'M NOT A SPARKLING!" I snarled as him, rising up and firing my own weapon and getting a good look at the 'Cons' alt forms. They appeared similar to Starscream's form, meaning these four have been to Earth and assumed a disguise.
"Sorry, Ratchet," he said as we ran for cover behind some boulders where Rox, Firestar and Akima already were. "Prowl told me to make sure you got to Bumblebee in one piece. I was just following orders."
"Fine," I grumbled. "Thanks."
"Look!" Rox pointed excitedly.
I noticed just as he called it out. Frag it to pit! Kacey was streaking through the sky from behind the 'Cons and catching up fast! Really fast!
"Need a little help?" she chuckled over our comlinks.
"You bet babe!" Rox said back and I can easily imagining her rolling her optics at him.
"First of all, I'm not your babe!" she said as she opening fire on them. With a single weapon's blasts she took down the lead 'Con of the formation by blowing out is thrusters. "Second, you all are going to owe me some high grade when we get back to Earth for saving your afts."
"Uh?" he said back just as one of Kacey's weapon blasts went over out heads and took out a 'Con that had been trailing us on the ground.
"Frag it to pit!" I exclaimed watching his chest glow red and spark from the weapons damage as he fell forward…dead.
"Thanks Kacey," Magnus said.
One 'Con suddenly hit his brakes. Kacey quickly adjusted her form by rolling to one side narrowly missing the 'Con as she flew past him. He transformed back into his jet and accelerated. Kacey meanwhile had already moved far ahead and caught up with the two 'Cons still firing at us.
"Hold your fire!" Magnus ordered. "We don't want to risk hitting Kacey!"
Once above the 'Con on the right, Kacey transformed in her robot form, sword extend. Sparks flew as she cut right into him as she landed on his back side. She was…vicious twisting and jerking her blade. Only when he was finally dead and his engines cut out did she stop her attack.
From there she leapt into the sky, sword swooping from high up, landing at the other 'Con. He rolled flinging her off before she had a chance to follow through with her arm swing.
"Don't you have somewhere to be Ratchet?" she asked, activating her thrusts and righting herself before going back on the offensive.
Her comment reminded me to do a medical scan of her systems. She'd be held captive for several days. I know what damage the Decepticons are capable of to their prisoners. I've had to help piece together the bodies…and processors…of a few mechs and femmes during my life time.
"You're energy levels are dangerously low, Kacey. Try to conserve."
"I am aware Ratchet. Why do you think I'm using my swords and not blasting every fraggin 'Con to bits?"
"Swords?" I asked just as a blade extended from her left forearm, ramming both blades into the chest of her opponent.
"Father said he would duel wield from time to time. I kind of like it."
"Just be careful. For your father's sake please."
"Of course," she replied dodging weapons fire from the fourth 'Con who had attacked us. "Take care of what you must do. I'm fine. Besides, Roller keeps bitching at me too, telling me when I'm overexerting myself."
"Good do hear! I expect to see you as soon as this battle is over. That's an order."
"I kind of figured. See you then. Oh slag! Gotta go!" she yelped and transformed.
"Damn youngling doesn't have an inkling of what conserver energy means does she?" I muttered when she rocketed away.
I didn't say anything. She had Starscream and Venom hot on her tailpipes again. She must have done some fancy flying to lose them once. I'm not sure that will happen again. Not with Starscream.
"Ratchet!" Magnus shouted.
"Right…let's go!" I shouted and transformed into my hummer form.
Soundwave
"Blitzwing, put more ice on the walls, floor and ceiling," I ordered. "We must cool things down as much as possible to keep the fire from spreading. At least until all the fuel for the shuttlecrafts has been consumed by it."
Another explosion shook the hallway. Each explosion was more another one of our fleet of shuttlecrafts. Their fuel cells were always kept fully charged. Thankfully the other fires in the base were under control. Still, we were losing the battle here. With the majority of the troops outside getting this fire undercontrol was proving to be a most difficult task.
"Sir! I've got Starscream and Venom on the radar!" Rumble announced.
I hurried over to his station. The two Decepticon energy signatures were chasing an Autobot's energy signature. And they were going fast and further away from the battle.
"Neither is responding to my hails, Sir."
"Starscream or Venom, this is Soundwave. Do not. I repeat, do not harm the femme! She's to be captured and then executed per Megatron's orders. Do you hear me?"
"Oh I hear you Soundwave. But there's not much you can really do about it at the moment!" Starscream responded. "She attacked us. Venom and I are merely defending ourselves."
"That is bullslag! Both you and I know it!"
"Temper, temper, Soundwave."
"Venom! If you disobey your father's orders he will be most displeased with you!" I said, deciding to change tactics.
"I understand, Soundwave," Venom replied.
"What the frag are you doing?!" Starscream yelped.
My optics saw that Venom's energy signature collided with Starscream's on the radar. Then Venom's pulled away while Starscream fell behind.
"I learned my lessons well, Starscream!" Venom laughed, sounding much like his father. "I will bring the femme to my father myself!"
"Venom, you fragger!"
"Kiss my aft, Starscream! Soundwave, I give you my word I will bring Kaceystar to my father alive. I cannot promise she will be in one piece though. But she will be alive. Venom out."
I wasn't sure if I should be so relieved at the moment. Venom had an appetite for destruction, more so than his father. I would have to rely on his will to not infuriate his father and trust that he would do as he promised. Meanwhile, I'll pray to Primus that Venom doesn't get carried away and forget his duty.
"Continue to monitor Venom's movements," I ordered and then turned my attention back to the task at hand.
I frowned looking at the monitor. Only six percent of the fire was contained.
"Megatron, this is Soundwave. I need more mechs to help with this fire! Or we could lose the entire base!"
No response from my Lord. Not surprising. His passion to kill his brother seemed to override all reasoning with him.
"Units eight and eleven, fall back to base. I repeat fall back to base immediately and await further orders."
Both teams acknowledged my orders so I turned to leave the command center. As the true second in command I know Megatron would not reprimand me for doing what is necessary to defend this base.
Magnus
We made it the rest of the way without incident. I literally gasped when I saw Leo's arm in Bumblebee's chest and the scout lying on his side in a rather large pool of energon.
"Leo, what are you doing?!" Ratchet snarled.
"Keeping him alive until you get your cranky, rusty aft here!" he countered, determined look on his face.
Good Primus! He looked so much like Optimus.
"He speaks the truth, Ratchet," Bumblebee said weakly, his optics barely lit.
I actually thought he was unconscious.
"Of course," Ratchet said, relenting as he kneeled down beside Bumblebee.
"Let me know if you need anything from me," I said to the CMO.
"Well, I could use Rox. Bee needs energon and emergency surgery."
"Rox, inside now. Akima you and Firestar keep you optics open."
"This is Sockets, we need to set up a triage. Huffer and Flatbed are bringing in more injured! I've got two myself."
"Do it Sockets. I trust you. I'm busy with emergency surgery. Red, you to stay on the battlefield," Ratchet ordered. "Rox, sit here and give me your left arm."
"Wheeljack this is Magnus. Assist Red Alert anyway you can out there."
"Orders acknowledge," Wheeljack replied.
"Prowl…Ironhide…how are things going with Optimus and Elita?" I asked, watching as Ratchet hooked up a line from Rox to Bumblebee for an energon transfusion.
"Optimus and Megatron are really going at it," Ironhide replied, his weapons firing repeatedly in the background. "But I think Elita and Thunderblast are out doing them! Frag femmes can be vicious!"
"Hide! Prowl went down!" Chromia suddenly shouted. "I'm heading for him! Cover me!"
"PROWL!!" I shouted over the comlink.
There was no answer from our second in command.
"Magnus! I need your help!" Ratchet said before I even made a move to leave the shuttle and get back into the battle.
"Can't Akima or…"
"No, I need strong hands…now. Grab his armor here and pull back when I tell you. I need a clear path to his protoform beneath. Hurry, pressure is building up in the line. I've got to repair it before he goes into a systems wide failure. Bee, I gave you a local to dampen the pain for the surgery but I need you conscious for this."
"Just do it, I'm ready," the scout said as I moved into position, my hands on one of his back plates.
"Leo, when I tell you I want you to remove your hand."
"Ok, Ratch."
"You did a good job saving his life. Now it's my turn," Ratchet smiled. "Pull Magnus."
I pulled and Bumblebee moaned loudly in pain. Leo, who seemed far to comfortable with this talked softly to Bumblebee much like Optimus would do when talking to injured troops after an intense battle. Needless to say, I was impressed with Leo.
"I'm widening the entry wound now," Ratchet said, his medical laser shooting beneath the armor I'd pulled back. "Then I'll clamp off the line so I can repair it."
The faint smell of smoldering metal skin instantly filled my senses. I turned my head away as it reminded me too much of fallen comrades on a battlefield. My view changed to Leo. The concern for his friend was prominent on his youngling features. He was barely a teenage yet much like his eldest sister had a maturity beyond his years.
"You have good instincts like your father," I said quietly to him. "Don't let anyone ever tell you differently."
"Thank and don't worry, I won't," he smiled up at me.
"Ok, Leo you can remove your hand," Ratchet said. "Do it carefully and slowly. Bumblebee try to keep still."
"Ok…I'll just…lie here," the young scout smirked tiredly as Leo did as he was instructed.
"Even when you were so close to going offline you're still a smart aft," Ratchet commented.
"He can't help it Ratchet, it's in his nature," Leo chuckled.
"As it's yours to be like your father and save lives," Bumblebee remarked. "Thanks Leo."
"I'll be sure to put in a good word with Optimus for you," I smiled.
"As will I," Ratchet added. "Your quick thinking save Bee's life. Ok…Magnus. I sealed him up. You can lower his plating."
"Hide, I'm on my way! How's Prowl?" I said over a private comlink as I did as Ratchet instructed.
"Chromia's almost to him. I wouldn't be surprised if he went kamikaze to get himself killed."
"He told you too?"
"Yeah. I can't say I blame him. I'd probably do the same thing if I were in his position."
"You'll never be in that position, babe," Chromia remarked. "Besides, going kamikaze isn't Prowl's style. Plus, he wouldn't do that to us. He'd give us our chance to say goodbye."
"Go Magnus," Ratchet said when I was hovering near the shuttle's door listening to Hide and Chromia talk. "I've got things under control here."
I nodded then descended the ramp.
"Akima, Firestar more injured will be arriving. Do what you can to help. I have to go see about Prowl."
"Yes, Sir," Firestar acknowledged.
"Magnus, be careful," Akima said softly to me.
"Of course," I smiled, pulling her close then kissed her deeply. "I'll be back as soon as I can. You're in charge here with Ratchet."
Once clear I transformed and sped off, praying to Primus that Prowl was ok. I understood his desire to want to join Jazz in the after life. I was still hoping perhaps I could change his mind. We still need him with us. I'm not ready to take on such a burden as second in command.
Frag, I'm still surprised Prowl suggested that I be his replacement and even more surprised that Optimus agreed. I was…honored. But to be honest, I could never replace Prowl. Never. He's one of a kind and irreplaceable. And I'm just a simple soldier.
Chromia
"Talk to me babe! You near Prowl yet?" he asked, the sound of a 'Con getting his face smashed in by my sparkmate echoed from my communicator.
"No Hide. I'm due south, away from the fight. I saw two 'Cons dragging him off but haven't seen any sign of him since," I sighed, kneeling beside a fallen Autobot check for a spark of energy from him. Frag! Looking up from the corpse I spotted a familiar looking black and white door. "Hang on, I found a piece of him. Fragging 'Cons ripped off one of his doorwings!"
"I'm on my way! You keep going! We can't let them kill him! Not after that fragger killed Jazz!"
A loud wail of pain sounded, barely audible over the ruckus of the battle that continued to rage a short distance away. I ran towards the cry instantly recognizing which mech it belonged to. I'd heard Prowl in pain before during the heat of battle. I'd never in my entire life seen anyone move so fast across an entire battle field as I'd seen Jazz that day.
Prowl howled again and I adjust my course jumping over a few dead Decepticons. My weapon was primed and ready when I spotted him. Two Decepticons were torturing him. One had him pinned down face first on the ground with his foot on the back of Prowl's neck while the other fragging 'Con was kicking and smashing Prowl's other door wing.
I didn't hesitate to shoot at the fragger, blowing out one of his optics. He staggered back grabbing his face. His buddy turned and aimed his weapon at me. Big mistake!
With no one holding him down, Prowl was up on his feet in a flash and grabbed the 'Con from behind in one of his patented choke holds. With a violent jerk of his arms the 'Cons body went limp and was dropped offlined to the ground.
I quickly finished what I started with the other 'Con so I could tend to Prowl.
"Red, we need medical assistance at my location. I've got Prowl," I said hurrying to the second in command's side. Prowl staggered, nearly falling over. I quickly wrapped an arm around his waist, supporting him. "Steady there. You ok?"
He nodded looking a little woozy.
"Come on, sit down until help gets here," I said, gently encouraging him to lower himself down onto his aft. "Red, hurry!"
"On my way. What's the extent of the damage?"
"One of his doorwing's was ripped off. The other one is smashed up pretty bad."
"If he's in too much pain you can shut down the sensor relay to his doorwings. It's located at the small of his back where they come together."
"Ok," I said, moving behind Prowl. My optics looked at the mangled metal and scanned for the relay. "What a mess! Let's see if I can help you out until Red gets here, shall we?"
Prowl nodded, saying nothing.
"Ah, there it is," I smiled, jabbing one of my fingers beneath the plating.
"Ow!" he yelped, arching his back.
"Sorry," I cringed, moving the plate carefully to expose the relay.
"Not your fault," he groaned. "I had no idea these fraggin doorwings were so sensitive!"
"They look cool. I know if Jazz was here he'd have fun playing with them."
Prowl shot me a look of disbelief over his shoulder then smiled shaking his head.
"I think I got it…" I said then heard a soft click. Prowl noticeably relaxed.
"Thank you," I sighed, hanging his head.
Suddenly lots of heavy foot falls sounded. When we looked up about a dozen or so Decepticons went running. I tensed aiming my weapon ready to take them down.
"Hold your fire," Prowl ordered, rising to his feet. "That's the third wave of Decepticons I noticed leaving the battle."
"Why? We're outnumbered four to one."
"I suspect the explosions have something to do with it. Probably a fire that's out of control," he said, scratching his chin and looking towards the Decepticon's base.
There was still a lot of black smoke billowing upwards.
"Magnus this is Prowl."
"Thank Primus! Are you ok?"
"Just a little banged up but I'm fine. I want you to get the troops and fall back."
"What? Are you crazy?" Ironhide inserted.
"Something else is going on," Prowl explained. "The Decepticons are redirecting their focus. We've done what we came for. Kacey is free. Now give the signal to fall back before more lives are lost. That's an order."
"Understood, Magnus out."
"Kacey, acknowledge."
"A little busy now Prowl, what's up?"
"We're falling back. It's time to leave this place."
"Copy that. As soon as I ditch the dodo I'm on my way."
"She's not even in my sensor range," I commented.
"I trust Kacey to take care of herself," he replied calmly.
"I guess there's no stopping her now."
"Ah, there's your sparkmate now," he smiled as Ironhide arrived looking rather displeased.
I knew my love. He would calm down in a moment. No one ever doubted Prowl's orders or his battle strategies.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Ironhide, since my transformation systems are offline, I need you to transform and give me a ride to where Optimus is."
"What the frag am I…a taxi service?!"
"If the servo fits…" I smirked making him narrow his optics at me.
He wasn't mad. I could feel his amusement through our bond.
"Alright. Just don't scratch my armor," my love warned.
"Since when do you care what your armor looks like?" I countered.
"So, he's finally taking some advice from Sunstreaker on the finer points of personal cleanliness," Prowl quipped making me laugh. It was a rare thing for Prowl to crack a joke. Whenever he did he caught me by surprise and always made me laugh.
"Oh, ha ha. Keep it up Smokey and you'll be walking back to Earth. And you femme, who's side are you on?"
"Yours and you know it babe," I cooed to Ironhide, then smacked his aft. "So transform and let's get moving! All this fighting is getting my interface systems all riled up!"
"Please don't flirt near me unless you want me to crash my processor," Prowl moaned.
Ironhide and I simply laughed at him and transformed.
"Sure you don't want to stick around, Prowl? We're going to miss you to bits," I said, my spark aching for my friend as he climbed onto Ironhide.
"My decision is final," Prowl said as we drove off. "For what it's worth, I've truly appreciated everything you guys have done for me. I'm honored to be considered your friend."
"I never said I was your friend," Ironhide commented chuckling. However, I could feel the ache in his spark. His pain was deep, much deeper than mine for he'd known Prowl a lot longer than me. "You're more like a brother, Prowl. I mean that."
"Thanks Hide," Prowl replied with such sadness in his voice.
I didn't have time to try and console him with words. The clanging from up a head was heavy and fast. As we approached and transformed, we could see Optimus and Megatron were beating the slag out of each other and had looked like they'd gone a dozen rounds or so.
Dents decorated their formidable armor. Energon splattered and dripped down their armor. Even pieces of their armor lay broken on the ground. It even appeared that Optimus lost his battle mask. I actually shuddered, clinging to Ironhide, for I had never seen such rage on my Prime's faceplates before.
"RIP THE FRAGGERS AFT APART, OPTIMUS!" Ironhide growled.
Honestly, I doubt Optimus even heard him. The brothers were too focused on each other to notice much of anything else. They didn't even realize we were there.
Then suddenly Optimus stopped in mid punch and turned. His rage quickly fading into worry, fear and desperation!
"ELITA!" he shouted and started running. Only he didn't get very far as Megatron tackled him from behind.
That was when the rest of us finally saw what captured Optimus attention. I gasped. Ironhide grabbed hold of my hand and I heard Prowl use a Cybertronian curse word.
Thunderblast had pinned Elita to the ground, holding her gun against my friend's chest right were her spark chamber was. I knew a single shot at that range was lethal. What was worse, the look in the Decepticon femme's optics scared the slag out of me.
I knew from that maniacal look that Thunderblast was going to pull the trigger.
Up next: Elita vs. Thunderblast
FYI: I changed some of Kacey's scenes after seeing some footage of the movie. I had to! It was just too cool looking!