Chapter 23

Soundwave and Megatron hauled Optimus to the machine. Trailblazer stared in horror as he watched his Prime get dumped at his feet. Megatron tore away the cable linking to Arcee's chest. She moaned slightly as he released her restraints letting her slump to the floor. He lifted the unconscious, injured Prime roughly. Pinning him to the upright berth as Soundwave replaced the restraints; Megatron smirked as he shot an electrical pulse into Optimus's neck. He regained consciousness with a groan, his optics onlined and narrowed, finding Megatron in his face.

"You have minutes left Megatron." He growled softly. Trailblazer could hear the anger, he'd never seen Prime angry, and this frightened him. What had he done? Why had he chosen to go with Starscream? He should have listened, why didn't he listen? He cast his pale blue optics down to the struggling seeker, curled on the floor in some distress, clutching his helm.

"Starscream…" He whispered. Glancing up to see if the others heard. "Starscream!" He hissed louder. Starscream lolled his head round. His optics narrowed, trying to focus on him. Trailblazer rolled his optics; he looked like he'd downed 10 cubes of high grade energon.

"Help me… get the restraints… I can do the rest…"

Starscream's head drifted back to the floor with a groan. "Dammit seeker! They mind raped you, used you. You want to help me. You brought me here to help you overthrow Megatron… come on! Get up!"

He heard movement and froze; he felt his strength slowly returning. The tiny mech jumped up to Soundwave who continued to watch his leader. Trailblazer turned his head he could just see his leader's head over his shoulder. What in Primus was Megatron doing? His jaw dropped open as he watched Prime become manipulated mentally, as Soundwave drew nearer to him. Megatron was tapping his fingers on his chest. The blue optics glared at Soundwave who got close enough to physically hack the Autobot leader. Tendrils shot out from his frame, Trailblazer gasped as they fixed themselves onto Prime's helm, just like they had done with Starscream.

Optimus stiffened, his body locking painfully as Soundwave viciously hacked into his cortex, probing until he found the right signals. He pressed further. A strangled moan sounded from Optimus's vocalizer as his chest plates began to crack open, slowly revealing his spark. Megatron held his hand up halting Soundwave, jamming one hand into the cogs of his enemy's chest he forced the plates open revealing his spark chamber, he deftly reached into the chassis. Optimus cried out and reeled from his touch. He felt the Matrix get ripped from his body and roared as Megatron tore it violently from his frame.

Megatron sneered at his prize and flew to the top of the machine planting the Matrix in the centre. Soundwave advanced on Prime, attaching the cable directly to his spark. Trailblazer trembled with fear as he heard his leader scream in blinding agony. Soundwave reached up about to place a sensor block on him. Megatron landed beside him and stayed his hand.

"No I want him lucid." He reached across grabbing his chin and pulled Prime's face up to stare in his optics.

"You will watch Earth and all you hoped to build burn at your hand." He chuckled and glanced down. "Or should I say spark. You see Optimus; I only need the Matrix for the laser. To power the machine I need your spark. I am grateful that you are once again so nobly, sickeningly predictable" He snarled and back handed him viciously across his face causing his head to snap to the side.

"I will gather the others. Send the first asteroid of drones."

Soundwave nodded. "Yes Lord Megatron."

Optimus felt his capacitor plummet through his chest as he realised the extent of his mistake. He had failed. "Megatron Earth will not survive a direct Asteroid hit... There will be nothing left for you to conquer!" Megatron sneered with satisfaction. "You should have thought about that before you brought me my only means to destroy that pitiful planet." Optimus knew he was right, his frame shuddered as energon was sucked from his spark chamber at an alarming rate. He hung his head as the pain overwhelmed his sensor net, his senses felt like they were on fire. He had doomed the Earth, failed to protect his men. He groaned in pain and despair. He was helpless to stop Megatron.

Trailblazer was beside himself, despite the effects of the sensor block he struggled against his restraints.

"Starscream, you will die here. The Autobots… they're going to blow the Asteroid in less than 5 minutes. You don't want to offline do you?" His tone was softer, pleading. The seeker had stopped groaning and now merely stared into space. Trailblazer's voice seemed to shake him out of his stupor. He glanced up at the young mech.

"Please, I don't want to offline either… help me… that's all I'm asking."

He watched as Soundwave had moved to the other side of the machine, Megatron was at the entrance to the cave, when the cavern began shaking.

"What's going on Soundwave?!" He yelled.

"Plasma blasts. The Ark."

"Argghh…." Megatron roared with anger as he transformed and flew out of the cavern to deal with the new threat.

Trailblazer felt the restraints on his legs loosen. Glancing down he saw Starscream fiddling with them. Gripping onto the Autobot's frame, the large jet hoisted himself up, he opened the release and Trailblazer fell to the floor with a clang, still weak from his energon drain.

Soundwave looked up, Rumble skittered over to them and launched himself at the Autobot, Starscream caught him mid air and hurled him into the wall. He turned his glare to Soundwave; the two Decepticons launched themselves at each other as the powerful, deadly machine thundered into life. Trailblazer drew himself up using the console. Glancing down at the screen his optics widened. The machine had succeeded in opening a singularity, the energy from the Matrix and Prime's spark feeding it. He watched with growing dread as the first asteroid approached the gravity well and with a thunderous roar the machine trembled. Trailblazer flinched. His optics opened, the first asteroid was gone, its route set on a collision with Earth.

He acted quickly, drawing his weapon he shot through the cable connecting to Prime's spark. Optimus cried out at the sudden release, before his head lolled forward.

"Frag it." Trailblazer swore. Weapons fire erupted across the cavern. He ran over to his leader and tried releasing the restraints; he did not know the codes. He turned back to where Starscream was battling Soundwave; the seeker was still suffering the effects of the plant and was making fatal mistakes. Soundwave was winning. He blinked in surprise as weapons fire shot across the cave at the two mechs. It struck Soundwave in his chest sending him sprawling, Starscream grabbed the opportunity.

Trailblazer couldn't see the shooter. "Optimus!?" He grinned in surprise as he heard Prowl's voice echo across the rocky tomb.

"Prowl! Over here, Prime's injured."

The black and white mech soon came into view. "Trailblazer…?" Prowl's optics glared at him sceptically.

"Not the time, we got to get him out of here. Who is on the Ark?"

"Nobody." Prowl answered as he went to work on the restraints, his brilliant mind computing the possible locking codes at a rate no other 'bot could. "Then how…?"

"Automatic program, just invented it."

Trailblazer raised his brow. "Wow… Can you free him?"

"Yes."

"We need to warn Earth, Megatron launched the first Asteroid."

The restraints swung open, Prowl caught the heavy frame of his leader as he slumped forward. "No time. They're on their own." Prowl strained under the weight, Trailblazer helped him as he shot an electrical pulse to Prime's helm.

"Optimus…? We've got to go." Optimus groaned, as his legs buckled, he gripped onto Prowl. His optics coming online he blinked at his tactician. "I thought I ordered you... to stay on the ship."

"You did Sir. I disobeyed, and took over command in your absence." The cavern shook violently, rocks tumbled and bounced from the top, the machine was stalling without energon from Optimus's spark to fuel it. Optimus was stunned at his SIC's admittance. "We've got to move." His strength was slowly returning. He lifted the slight cycle bot into his arms. Trailblazer hung back frantically typing at the console of the machine. Prowl glanced behind him as Optimus ducked beneath falling rocks to the entrance.

"Trailblazer we need to go now!"

"No, I need to stop the machine. Starscream's plan will work!"

Prowl ran to his side, tugging at the smaller mech's arm. "Come on! I am not debating this with you!" Trailblazer was quick and strong. "Let go!" He shoved the tactician away from him. Optimus had noticed their absence and placing Arcee at the entrance of the cave he tried to make his way across.

Trailblazer slammed his fist onto the console in frustration. "I don't know the sequence!" He cried out in exasperation. Prowl's tone was softer. "You've done all you can, we have to move."

Trailblazer held his ground. "If we leave Megatron gets the Matrix who knows what hell that will unleash on Earth even if it survives this attack." Prowl set his mouth in a grim line determined to get the stubborn youngling, he lunged forward, his optics widened and a gasp escaped his surprised open mouth. His frame jolted slightly before falling to the ground revealing a rather smug looking Starscream in his wake.

Trailblazer froze the cavern was shaking tremendously now, he gripped the console to steady himself as the Decepticon approached. Prime's booming voice could be heard over the din. "Let them go Starscream, you've lost!"

The seeker chuckled softly and still staring at Trailblazer raised his weapon at the approaching Prime and fired, Trailblazer jumped as his leader fell to the floor. Energon seeped from his wound. He moved trying to push himself up. Starscream turned and glared at him. "Don't Prime, don't be a fool more than you already have been." He crouched down and reactivated the stunned Prowl. Grabbing him firmly he lifted the slighter 'bot and tossed him towards Optimus.

"Get your leader out of here, before he bleeds out on the floor." Prowl stared at him in shock. "Release Trailblazer!"

Starscream fired his weapon above Prowl's head, causing him to wince. "Go before I change my mind and kill you both!"

Prowl had no choice but to haul Optimus to his feet. His intent gaze fell on the young 'bot. "I'll come back for you." Trailblazer could only nod. Fear gripping his spark. As Starscream turned to face him a strange grin spreading across his face.