They say never judge a book by it's cover. Well, you'd be more than dead if you tried to judge me by my appearance. I maybe small, but I pack a mean punch if you mess with me and my team... Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude... hey there! I'm Windswept! And boy, have I got a story to tell you. Well, what are you waiting for?! Get over here and get ready for my adventures on Team Prime!
Happy (late) new year everyone! Now, I know I promised that I would be reuploading my chapters to present updated versions of them between the last time I updated and the end of January, but unfortunately, I have been unable to complete some of time. This is because work picked up massively over the last month and I didn't have much time. I've worked through most of them, but I don't want to upload them until I've completed the rewrites so that the story flows.
However, during this time, I have been able to plan out the future of this series and what I want to do with it, where I want to go, etc. All I can say is that I'm VERY excited for the future regarding this series - I have so many things planned and I can't wait to share them with all of you!
Thank you to flarerfire123 for following and favouriting this story, as well as mummyslayer for following, and to Marcus Cersy for favouriting. Another special thank you to Angelwings2002 for once again reviewing - I'm so very grateful for your support and thoughts. And one last thank you to Estella Prime as well for also reviewing - as for your thoughts in your last review, no spoilers, but at the moment, Windswept is perfectly content being on her own for now, however, you never know for the future. :)
Without further ado, here is the first chapter for 2020!
- Transformers Prime does not belong to me. All rights go to the people and brands who were able to create this show.
- Windswept and the other OC's belong to me.
Chapter starts in Windswept P.O.V
(Chapter Title: We've Hit Rock Bottom
"We're supposed to be at a rock concert! But all I see is…rock!"
I rolled my optics into a close, enjoying the warm sunshine on my armour. Arcee, Bulkhead and I had been called out to an Energon excavation on a mine just outside Jasper. It wasn't actually that far out - coincidentally, it was in the area where Cliffjumper was jumped by the 'Cons all those months ago…
Primus I miss that mech...
We decided that since the possibility of Decepticons were unlikely for a routine Energon scavenge, we agreed to bring our human friends along. But while Arcee and Bulkhead had gone into the mine for exploration, they decided to leave me with the humans. It wasn't a problem really… until Miko started whining about her concert…
Jack yawned, "Relax, Miko. The show doesn't start for two hours."
I opened an optic to look at Miko, arms crossed and glaring at Jack, who was sitting beside Carly and enjoying the sunshine like me. "Do you know how long I've waited to see Slash Monkey?"
"Uh…"
"FOREVER!" Both my optics flew open at Miko's screech, interrupting her human friends. Jeez, that girl could give someone a spark-attack! "And it's their only US date!"
"There's a shock," Jack grumbled sarcastically as he sat up and wiped something off his jeans.
Carly slapped him lightly on the arm jokingly, looking up at Miko with a laugh, "What he means is, who doesn't love… obscure Bulgarian shriek music?" I could see by the forced look on my charge's face that she certainly didn't like Miko's music taste either...
The sound of skidding caused me to look up at a vehicle form approaching us from around the corner. I began to recognise it as Aquastrike's aqua blue Ferrari Italia form - before we were sent out to the cave sight over an hour ago, Aquastrike volunteered to come hang out with us after her patrol ended… Huh, is it that time already?
She transformed and looked at us with a half-panicked look, "What's wid all 'da screechin'?"
"Miko's whinging about some concert again," Jack leaned back with a sigh.
"By all appearances, the mine's been stripped." Miko was prepared to snap at Jack about the Slash Monkey concert again when we heard Arcee's voice.
Damn... that really wouldn't be good news for us. We needed all the Energon we could get with our team being larger than it used to be. And Ratchet needs it to power the Groundbridge too, and that wastes a large amount of Energon as it is.
"But I'm getting a signal," I climbed to my pedes as Bulkhead protested, "It's faint, but it's definitely Energon!"
"Well, ain't 'dat odd?" Aquastrike hummed, standing in front of Bulkhead and taking a glimpse at the scanner, "If it ain't 'Nergon, then what could it be?"
I heard Miko gasp about something, but I ignored it when Arcee started talking - I really didn't want to hear about her concert again...
"It doesn't make sense. This operation's been abandoned four, maybe five years. And the Decepticons NEVER leave Energon behind."
"What if it's some sort of trap the 'Cons laid out for us?" I wondered, "Maybe they thought they could trick us?" Now saying it, the thought of the Decepticon's setting out an ambush for us kind of made me nervous, and made me start regretting bringing the teens.
"Uh, guys." We looked down at Jack and Carly to see what they had to say... but all they did was point in the direction of the open mine.
Guess who was running into the mine?
"COOL!"
You bet she was...
"She went in?!" Arcee scoffed in disbelief.
"Of course she did," I slapped my forehelm in frustration.
"Have you met that girl?" Carly asked rhetorically, "I mean like, really get to know her?!"
Bulkhead only groaned in frustration, racing into the mine after his human friend, "Miko! Get back here!"
"I better go make sure he don't let 'er run loose again when he does catch 'er." Aquastrike raced into the mine after Bulkhead. I didn't blame her really - Bulkhead had a habit of not always learning lessons, just like Miko actually. I guess the same could be said for all of us considering we all fail to keep an eye on that girl.
"It would be kind of interesting to see," Jack began, showing a look full of curiousness towards Arcee, "You know, if it were-"
"Safe?" Arcee finished knowingly, walking to him, "A stripped mine could be structurally unstable, Jack."
"We promise to step lightly," Carly promised behind him with a pleading smile.
Arcee looked at me for an answer... I guess it's not a bad idea - I mean, Carly and Jack were gonna have Arcee and I if something went wrong in the mine and they needed our help. It's not like we're not going in solo like Miko just did...
I gave my partner a half-shrug, which eventually caused her to look back to our charges, "Just… don't tell his mom."
Miss Darby would definitely have a field day if she found out - what she didn't know won't hurt her one bit...
With Jack and Carly hand in hand in front of usm we walked into the abandoned mine... albeit with slight hesitance... probably just on my part though... Something about this mine felt weird, like something was going to happen. Primus, I just hope my instincts were wrong...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The sounds of jets filled the silence above the mine, flying down towards the ground from the sun like they had just flown out of the orb. When the jets were low enough, they transformed into Cybertronians...
Cybertronians named Megatron, Starscream and Slipstream.
"Lord Megatron, far be it me to question your intentions. But I don't understand why we've returned here after all this time," Starscream walked up to Megatron, "Alone." His master ignored him as he continued into the quarry. After sparing a glance at Slipstream, who gave no hint to any emotion in her face, he raced after his master. "Every last trace of Energon was extracted from this mine. There's nothing left."
Megatron paused to turned around, "Indulge me, Starscream. Won't you?"
"Come on, Starscream," Slipstream insisted with a drawl, bumping her shoulder into the back of her twin's purposely and giving him a glance over her shoulder briefly, "What are you afraid of?"
Starscream eventually followed his master and second in command nervously, purposely hanging back from them. Something wasn't right - it was like something was being planned, and he was in the centre of it, even if he didn't know what.
He had to be on his guard.
Bulkhead and Aquastrike treaded carefully into the mine in search for the former's charge, who's curiosity had gotten the better of her and had sprinted in solo. That concerned the pair of Autobots - while the mine had seemed to be stripped of Energon regardless of what the scanner had shown, anything could be unstable.
"Miko! MI-"
"CHECK IT OUT!" The Japanese exchange student suddenly appeared near them. "Now this would make an awesome rehearsal space! HELLO! HELLO, CLEVELAND!" She ran further into the open space of the mine, listening to her echoing cheers, "ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? WHOO-HOO-WHOO!"
Aquastrike shook her head in amusement before her eyes caught something on the scanner. She bumped Bulkhead's shoulder to get him to look at the device. There was something in the mine that was causing the Energon reading. And Miko had happened to stumble upon the area where the scanner was showing.
"Arcee, Windswept. We found something."
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Something fuzzy was occurring in my audio receptor. Maybe it was my receptors finally giving up from Miko's cheers deep within this place. As much as I thought the idea could be possible, I knew that someone was trying to contact with me.
"Bulkhead? Bulkhead, do you read?" Arcee asked with worry.
"Aquastrike, you got me?" My response was nothing but static, and I could bet on Arcee receiving the same thing too.
"Scrap." My partner took a look around the mine. "The mineral composition down here is causing interference."
If I already wasn't unsettled from my own nervy instincts, I definitely was starting to feel it now...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
"Okay, so maybe the acoustics aren't perfect," Miko decided when she realised Bulkhead and Aquastrike had failed in getting into contact with their teammates.
"Well, we're 'ere now," Aquastrike shrugged, looking at the still-beeping scanner in Bulkhead's hand, "Ratchet's probably gonna wan' a sample."
Bulkhead nodded in agreement, letting the beeping of the scanner guide him towards a rock formation. The beeping continued to get faster and faster until it eventually stopped when he stood right in front of the rock wall. The former Wrecker transformed his hand into a wrecking ball and began swinging at the rock formation to see what he could uncover.
As the Decepticons continued their journey, something in the distance formed and created a sight that Megatron found perculiar, "How intriguing."
Starscream appeared from behind his master to see why he had stopped. He gasped at the drilling equipment the Decepticons had used to dig out the Energon embedded in the mine's rock walls. It was sitting in the place where they had last been used...
His gasp turned into a growl of frustration, "Incompetent fools!" He stormed towards the equipment "This mining equipment should have been relocated! Why is it still here?!"
"A most valid question," Megatron agreed.
"Maybe you could explain why it hasn't been relocated, Starscream." Starscream spun around to look at his twin, his face of intent anger trying to cover up the horror he was feeling. "If I can recall accurately, I think you decided to perform another scavenge of this mine when I went on my 'hiatus', correct?"
Starscream looked up at the Decepticon Warlord, fake innocence dripping from his voice, "My apologies, master. I believe Soundwave was in charge of coordinating transport." When his master slipped out a low growl, Starscream knew he wasn't being believed. He couldn't help the step backwards in fright. "But in fairness, during your interstellar travels, all had to assume additional responsibilities. Clearly, mistakes were made."
"Yes. Clearly." The Decepticon Warlord punched into a rock-covered wall nearby. Starscream couldn't help but gasp in fright as he began realising that his master was already seeing through his performance. He was even more frightened when the latter pulled out a chunk of Energon before him. "Every last trace of Energon extracted?"
Slipstream's mouth was agape in disbelief and horror - Starscream had been keeping rations of Energon from not-fully-extracted mines... for himself... She thought she knew every little detail about her twin, but clearly, she had been wrong.
She turned to the Seeker in outrage, "Starscream?!"
"I can explain!" Starscream nervously begged.
"Explain what? That you've been hoarding an extra supply of Energon for your personal use?" Megatron demanded, letting the chunk drop to the ground.
"No! Not exactly! You se-" The Warlord crushed the large chunk of blue crystals.
"DO NOT TAKE ME FOR A FOOL, STARSCREAM!" Said Decepticon could only whimper and walk backwards from his master's anger, trying to escape him as he stepped closer. "I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own dead warrior with it! It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced!"
"YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?" Starscream screeched, continuing to back away from the Warlord.
"Soundwave is quite competent in surveillance and Slipstream is most loyal, I can assure you." Starscream looked behind his master at his twin, who continued her dirty glare at him. "The fact is, Starscream, despite your treachery, I've allowed you to carry on this long because I took a certain delight in following your string of failures! But you've finally become tiresome! Predictable! " Megatron aimed his blaster cannon at the traitorous Decepticon. "You've hit rock bottom."
Starscream was quick to raise his arms to protect himself from the weapon, "Master! Please! Give me one more chance! I BEG OF YOU!"
Slipstream's optics lit up as her leader aimed his cannon at her twin. It was happening - Megatron was finally going to execute Starscream once and for all!
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
The sounds of yelling and screeching began filling my audio receptors. I was confused - it didn't sound like Bulkhead, Aquastrike or Miko… And as far as we were concerned, there weren't anyone around at the time we entered this place… Unless they came in after us…?
Jack and Carly suddenly stopped walking, their faces turning white in some sort of fright when they looked into an open section of the mine.
"You have ceased to be of use to me, Starscream. So you shall certainly cease to be." ...Megatron...?
Arcee and I walked towards our charges to see what exactly what was going on...
Oh… my… Primus…
Megatron was pointing his blaster cannon at Starscream!
...He was going to execute him!
The mech was whimpering and trembling as he attempted to shield himself from the blow he was about to receive... and despite the state he was in, I felt no sympathy for him whatsoever. He deserved whatever bad thing he got. He was in charge of the Decepticons when Cliffjumper was murdered, he reanimated Skyquake with Dark Energon, and more...
Farewell Starscream, it would be an honour to watch you die...
…Welllll, it would've been an honour had he not spotted us... along with Megatron...
"You." The figure appearing from the other side of Meagtron was angry...
Now Slipstream was normally angry when it came to our battles... but this level of anger was unfamiliar... Like she could really kill someone without trying, but still enjoy every momet of it...
Megatron suddenly growled in frustration - probably because we had interrupted the excecution - and began firing at us instead. Arcee and I had to scoop Jack and Carly out of the way from the blaster shots while rocks were sent flying around. We managed to roll out of the way and behind a rock pillar to protect us.
"Stay down!" Arcee instructed to them.
We peered around the pillar from opposite sides, immediately going to return fire at Megatron with our own blasters. He continued firing shots at the pillar, making Arcee hide - his blasterfire was much stronger than ours, and could easily injury someone moderatly to severely if he wanted to...
But I was going to be more brave - I aimed my blaster at the Warlord, preparing to fire at him as he slowly began coming our way.
I fired just as one of Megatron's shots hit the pillar, messing up my aim at the last second. The shot hit Slipstream instead, who flew backwards into one of the rock walls. I spotted Starscream searching around in fear, making me redirect my blaster towards him. Just as I began to fire at him, he began fleeing.
Megatron was quick to notice him, "STARSCREAM?! You dare abandon me?" He let out a snarl, and began firing down the tunnel Starscream had raced out in.
All I could see from my angle was Starscream leaping away from one of the blaster shots that hit the ground behind him, transforming into his jet form as he flew away. Slipstream joined in with Megatron, setting off one of her missiles down the tunnel. Upon contact with the rock walls, they soon began caving in from the explosion.
With Megatron and Slipstream both distracted by Starscream's cowardness, I took the opportunity to aim careful and fire at the pair of Decepticons. Arcee joined me, also firing shots at Megatron. My blaster hits managed to hit Slipstream, knocking her over.
Arcee's hits had managed to hit Megatron, not powerful enough to knock him over, but enough to get his attention. He spun around and went began to fire at us again, but Arcee was too quick - another shot of hers hit his arm away from us and towards the roof of the open area. The shots sent Megatron's blaster fire to the roof, making rocks rain down around him until suddenly, a large section of the roof came tumbling down onto the Warlord, burying him alive.
"Primus…" I whispered. It was all so sudden, everything that was happening around us...
Arcee and I soon felt the shockwaves of the impact from the large boulder smashing down onto the floor of the mine. Cracks began forming in the floor, heading straight for us!
"Scrap!" Arcee cursed when she realised what she had done.
She had pretty much caused the collapsing of the mine.
...Carly and Jack… they need to get out of here!
We turned around and began racing towards them, but Arcee soon fell when the floor gave in on her. I tried reaching out for her, but it wasn't long before the floor gave out underneath my feet. Carly and Jack were just in front of me, attempting to reach out, but none of us could do a single thing as cave collapsed around us…
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Unaware of what was happening, Bulkhead, Aquastrike and Miko froze as the mine began shaking and raining with rocks.
"Uhhhh…?" Bulkhead looked around nervously, instantly in belief that he was the reason the mine was collapsing.
Aquastrike was confused and frightened. Something was making this mine collapse around them, but she was fairly confident that Bulkhead wasn't the reason…
She could only presume that something was happening with her teammates...
She went to race out of the open area she was in when the pillar holding up the roof of the mine snapped, collapsing and taking the roof with it. Two large sections of the pillar went in different ways; the first section went straight for Aquastrike, who began fleeing away from it to not be hit. But she was soon falling to the ground, the section having caught her leg, pinning her down. Knowing she was trapped, Aquastrike simply covered her helm and waited for the shaking to end.
The other section of the pillar went straight towards Miko, who could only squeak and cover herself from the impending impact. But her guardian was quick to take the blow instead with his back. He was unable to help Aquastrike now so he could only do one thing - protect Miko.
A large section of the roof slammed onto the back of him, forcing him down onto his hands and feet, his body covering Miko as more of the roof began caving onto and around him...
Starscream continued his flight out of the mine, carefully dodging the falling rocks around him from the ensuing collapse. He moved to the left, then to the right, and back again as he dodged large sections of the roof falling. He was nearly there, he could see the light of day out of the tunnel.
There was one piece of the falling roof he failed to miss, causing him to grunt at the sudden force and spin him off course. He transformed, falling face first on the dirt. He looked at the sight of the light fading away from him as the falling rocks began blocking his path.
"WHAT? NO!" Starscream could do nothing but listen to his echoes of pleading, reaching out for anyone that could be nearby that could help.
But anyone that was nearby was already buried into the mine further in.
Above ground, dust began swarming the area as the dirt below moved with the collapsed rock underneath. The dust continued flying, creating a circle around the area of the collapsion, the shockwaves going through the circle of dust and into the trees surrounding the area…
As rocks crumbled onto what was left of the floor of the collapsed mine, Jack Darby arose from the large rocks, coughing and spluttering. He looked over himself, covered in dirt and sand from the collapsion, before climbing over some rocks. He took a long look at his surroundings, remembering he wasn't the only one who had been buried.
"Arcee!" Jack yelled, listening out for anything that could lead him to one of his friends, "Carly! Windswept!"
"Jack?" Despite the loud echoes of his yelling and the small rocks continuing to rain down, Jack was able to make out the small voice nearby.
Rocks began moving, followed by two arms, pushing themselves up to reveal the upper half of his dust-and-sand-covered girlfriend Carly Esquivel trying to free herself from the rocks.
"Carly," Jack sighed in relief, climbing over the rocky flooring to get to her. When he did, he quickly reached out his hands for her to grab. "Are you okay?"
Carly shook her head, trying to throw off the dust that was now covering her. Spotting her boyfriend's hands reaching out to her, she grabbed them. The two worked together to pull her out of the wreckage of the collapsed mine, him pulling her into a hug before she had gotten onto both feet once she was free.
"I think so," she eventually answered, their hug ending when she pulled herself away from Jack to check herself for any injuries. She glanced up at her boyfriend, "Are you?"
The boy nodded before taking a look around at his surroundings. There was nothing but rocks. Nothing that could show him that his or Carly's guardians were nearby. But what he did spot was light, at a tunnel on the other side of him where the rocks began looking a lighter shade than the ones he was surrounded by.
"Windswept? WINDSWEPT?!" Carly was yet to see the tunnel of possible freedom, too busy looking around for her guardian. She was panicking; what if her guardian was injured somewhere? What if her guardian had run into Megatron or Slipstream? What if her guardian was…
The girl shook her head - she wasn't going to think like that. She was going to think positively that her guardian and Jack's were nearby and were okay.
"Oh scrap," Jack muttered before looking over to Carly, "Come on."
Carly looked at the boy in confusion as he began climbing over the rocks, "Where are you going?"
Jack paused to turn to her, "Carly, standing around isn't going to do anything. If we want to find the others, we have to move." He moved back over to her and grabbed her arms gently. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Carly couldn't stop the up and down motion of her head. As the duo began to climb over the rocks in the direction Jack wanted to go, Carly couldn't help but still be concerned about her guardian…
And the bad thoughts that came with it.
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Rocks… rocks… rocks… falling down at once… landing around me, on me…
I snapped my opics open. It was dark, and nothing but… I attempted to transform my left servo into a flashlight to try and bring some light into the area I was in. But something was stopping it. Odd. I tried moving my servo...
Ahh! Ow!
Two things I noticed: one thing I felt was the soreness of my servo, not painfully sore but enough so if I attempt to even move one of my fingers the slightest, it brought me pain. The other thing was that there was something heavy on it.
I moved my right servo… and nearly laughed in happiness at the fact it wasn't pinned down. I transformed it into a flashlight and waved it around.
The collapse of the mine was bad, but thankfully, none of the large rocks had caved in around me as badly as I thought. I had space that would allow me to sit up with ease if I could. I pointed the light over at my pinned servo and discovered it trapped underneath one of the rocks.
I decided to risk it, carefully digging the tip of the flashlight underneath the rock that had my servo pinned. I bit my lip as I managed to move it enough for my servo to slip out. But the once bareable sting made me cry out in pain, making me forget about the flashlight that was just under the rocks. Because I pulled it out very suddenly and very quickly…
Please rocks, don't fall on me like you already have!
There was noise and there was movement, but thankfully no more rocks came falling down. I wasn't too concerned though, because I was more worried about my left servo that I was now clutching against my chest. It was starting to cause me excruciating pain now.
Ow! Primus! It hurts!
I attempted to sit up, trying to dig my heels into the ground below me to help me. Panic quickly came rushing through me. I couldn't move my feet…
Okay Windswept, it's fine, you're fine. Just shine the flashlight over at your feet.
And so I did… but I couldn't see my feet.
Everything from my hips down… my legs, my pedes… had nothing but rocks on them… Lots and lots and lots of rocks…
Well… scrap…
Wait… where's Arcee? She fell near me! And Carly and Jack too! Maybe they're nearby?!
"Arcee!" I yelled out. My voice was shaky and nothing more than a whimper now, "Carly! Jack?!"
I heard nothing but the echoes of my voice… Panic was coursing through me so fast… I had an injured servo, half my body was trapped underneath this rock, and there was no one around…
...I should've listened to my instincts - they always knew, all the time they did... This was one of those times that I should've listened to them...
Oh frag it, I should be listening to them all the time!
"HELP!" I managed to find my voice to yell out. I hoped for someone to be nearby, to help me out of this... "SOMEONE! HELP!"
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The small form of Miko Nakadai began rising to her feet, coughing from the falling dust courtesy of the collapsed mine.
"Did I do that?" Bulkhead asked nervously, the headlights on his chest and the light blue within his optics barely providing the only light in the cave.
"Don't think so," Miko replied warily, beginning to walk around to survey her surroundings.
Aquastrike lifted the top half of her torso up with her hands, catching Miko's attentions almost immediately. While the Japanese exchange student raced over to her, the aqua blue femme simply groaned in discomfort and a shake of her head, "I haven' felt so knackered since dat rescue mission for Sunshine 'nd 'Swept back on Cybertron."
"Are you two OK?" Bulkhead asked.
"Natch," Miko replied first before she turned to the female Autobot, "What about you?"
Aquastrike knew that her arms and upper body were fine. She went to move onto her knees only to grimace in pain at her leg. Instead of sitting on her knees, she fell backwards, unable to find comfort in the pain she was. She moved her hands down her right leg, pinching nerves gently to understand the pain she could be in.
"Ma leg," she grimaced once more, "Below da kneepad... " She remembered the section of a pillar that was holding up the roof falling onto her leg. "Dat rock section dat fell on me, it musta broke somethin'. What 'bout you, Bul-"
The female Autobot stopped herself when she looked to Bulkhead - the Autobot was holding up large rock sections of the roof above his head, smaller rocks still drizzling onto them.
"Peachy," Bulkhead muttered in answer.
"Whoa!" Miko gasped.
Aquastrike immediately knew that if her partner released his hold on the uneven roof above them, it was going to set off another collapse all over again, possibly sending them further trapped into the mine that they already were.
"Don't worry, you two," The former Wrecker began reassuring once he saw the worried looks on his friend's faces, "I've got it under control."
His partner could see through his words - even he wasn't sure if he did.
"What do you think caused the cave-in?" Miko wondered.
"Can' 'ave been Bulk. He was barely swingin' at dat rock," Aquastrike began reasoning, "For dis whole place to start collapsin' on us all of a sudden, it woulda needed somethin' with a lota power to unsettle it."
Bulkhead sighed in agreement, "Who knows what happened. I just hope the others are safe. 'Cause we could definitely use an assist."
"Just keep raising that roof, Bulk. I'll get us out of here." With the promise made, the Japanese exchange student approached a large rock pile in front of them. She lifted one up, grunting with all her might as she lifted it out of the way. Soon, she was moving onto another rock, pulling it out of the way before lifting up another.
Aquastrike had to give credit to the girl for thinking positively and using her intivative. She would've even helped if she was able to stand on both feet without any pain. But even she knew that Miko's attempts to begin freeing them wasn't going to do much, even if she did lend a hand. She looked up at her partner watching his charge - she didn't have much faith in him either.
She activated the the private communications link, "Tell me seriously, you 'aven' got dis under control, 'ave ya?" Her tone was quiet, but full of tempered concern.
"I wish I did."
A clawed hand forced its' way above ground, rocks scattering suddenly. Small grunts were followed by a Cybertronian form climbing from the rubble he was buried under. He wheezed and coughed before looking at the collapsed mine he had just escape from, suddenly cackling with glee.
"'Predicable', master?! Is that what you called me? Well, now who has hit rock bottom? And you Slipstream, who never had faith in me, look who's in glee now?!" The dust-covered Starscream bent forwards with a hand at his audios, "What's that? I'm sorry. I can't hear you under all of that rubble! Farewell, Lord Megatron! Farewell Slipstream! May you both rust in peace!"
Starscream began walking away from the collapsed mine. Surely Megatron and Slipstream couldn't cheat death once more and walk away from this! Surely Megatron couldn't rise up and steal away the Decepticon title again. Surely Slipstream couldn't stop him this time… Surely...
"But you have survived far worse, Megatron. If you had managed to free yourself and Slipstream, you would blame ME for your setback. And there is nowhere I could possibly escape your wrath. Or worse yet, your mindless followers will come looking for you! And take credit for your rescue. Credit that could rightfully be mine!" He let out a scream of frustration. "MEGATRON!"
Jack and Carly continued climbing over the rock pile, desperately searching for the guardians and their friends. But the longer they continued their search, the more bad thoughts about the wellbeing of their friends seeped into Carly. No matter how hard she shook her head to free herself from them, the girl continued to feel terrified.
"Arcee!" Jack called out, only getting echoes of his voice in response.
"Windswept!" Carly yelled next, also getting the same response.
"Bulkhead!"
"Miko!"
"Aquastrike!"
Carly looked up at the roof high above her and tried to breathe her consuming thoughts away. Neither she or Jack had any idea of how long they had been in the mine - they hadn't bothered to check their phones as they knew they were too far deep underground to get a signal.
A quick crumble of rocks caught the two teenager's attention, causing them to look at something nearby. It was a Decepticon mining drill.
Jack turned to his girlfriend, "Well, that could come in handy."
The girl nodded slowly, following her boyfriend in scaling up the rocks towards the drill, "'Swept's right, those Vehicons are useless."
While the crescent moon shone in the black sky outside of the collapsed mine, things weren't exactly shining inside of it.
Miko breathed heavily as she pulled yet another rock off the pile trapping her, Bulkhead and Aquastrike in their area of the mine. Fatigue had grown on her immensely, causing her to drop the rock she had in her hands and collapsed backwards.
"Miko!" Bulkhead and Aquastrike cried worriedly.
"I'm feeling strong," Miko panted, moving to get herself up again.
"No you're not," Bulkhead shook his head.
"I just need to...rest for a second. That's all." Aquastrike had to commend Miko for her perseverance - the girl wasn't going to be deterred easily, no matter the state she was in. But when the human collapsed onto her knees with a whine, the aqua blue Autobot knew that a lack of strength was what was going to discourage it.
"Miko, listen to me. There's no fresh air down here. If you use up the oxygen too fast…"
Miko lifted her head up suddenly, "We could suffocate."
"Not we, Miko. You," Aquastrike corrected unwillingly. She didn't want to discourage the girl, but she didn't want to lie to her either, "Cybertronians don' need oxygen, remember?"
"Right. Smack down in outer space. That was pretty cool." Aquastrike would've said Miko looked to be regaining a little energy had she not fallenonto her hands. "Okay, what if I...just slow down? Breathe...less?" The Japansese-Exchange student tried again, this time crawling to another rock. She attempted to lift it up, but no matter how hard she tried, her arms were unwilling to work with her.
"No. You need to stop. Now." Aquastrike could see the pain in Bulkhead's eyes. It was killing him to see his charge attempting to free them. She could understand the feeling because it was paining her seeing the human straining herself too.
"I can't, Bulk. I have to get you out of here." Miko eventually collapsed on her back against the rocks, facing Bulkhead.
"Miko, please. Don't worry about me." Sudden straining from the roof above convinced Aquastrike otherwise of Bulkhead's words. "I'm fine..."
"You 'ren' fine. I need to help you." Aquastrike hissed, taking a fleeting glance from Miko to Bulkhead.
"What you need to do is save your own strength. You're the only one that can help Miko."
"'Elp 'er with what?! I'm quite literally a sittin' duck right now 'n case you missed my leg 'njury!"
"You know what I mean, Aqua. If I don't make it…"
Aquastrike shook her head - she knew what Bulkhead was trying to say... but she didn't want him to admit it, "Of course I know what you mean'."
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
I was sooooooo ready to give in right now. Primus, please, take me away from this enclosure!
I had no idea how long I'd been down here, and frankly I didn't want too. I already had an idea though considering my voice was hoarse from all the yelling I had done. No one responded, obviously. But it's okay - I would rather them be safe elsewhere in this mine than have them risking their lives coming to save me.
The pain in my wrist had weakened, but it still pulsated like a fragging glitch, and my legs were still pinned down by the rocks. I didn't dare make a single move - the echoes of my yelling probably weakened the rocks around me. The last thing I wanna do is move a single fraction and have them all topple down.
Sudden crumbling of rocks from behind me caught my attention. I tried to look around above my helm to see what the noise was, but everything was still dark. I hope it isn't Carly or Jack coming to my rescue. Or Miko for that matter. I can't have them see me trapped like this and attempt to help free me. That'd be cruel.
Carly… Primus, I hope she's okay and not alone. It terrified me to think that she was out there, possibly with nothing but her own thoughts. My own ones scare me sometimes, and I know that Carly's been through some scrap like me; I'd hate to her think negatively about the situation.
More crumbling noises, which caused me to flinch harshly. They were closer this time - I could hear the scraping of metal on them…
Arcee?
I looked above my helm just a rock was pulled away, revealing some sort of brightness into my entrapment. I could see everything a lot clearer now, but it didn't make a difference - my legs were still trapped and my servo was still hurting.
"Well, well, well."
...No fragging way...
I looked above my helm. Her faceplates may have been upside down in my optics, but her amused face was as clear as day.
"You look a little… trapped there, 'Swept."
I wanted to spit my saliva at Slipstream's face when she spoke my nickname, but I swallowed hard before I could give it a second thought, "Nooo… really? I hadn't noticed."
Slipstream scowled, "Sarcasm will certainly not get you out of this mess." She pulled away a few more rocks slowly, which allowed me to see part of her torso.
...Where there was some kind of item stabbed deep into her.
I gasped at the site - she was injured too. Much worse than me by the looks of it, but still - we were in the same float… or boat? Ah, scrap it.
"What's in your torso?"
The 'Con paused briefly to glance at her injury, "I have no clue. But if I remove it, I'll bleed out before I can kill you. And I presume you'd take a certain delight to that, wouldn't you."
Remember that whole incident where Optimus was struck with the Plague and I had to go into Megatron's mind to retrieve the cure, and the only way I could get it was to prove to him that having my leader in the real world die from an illness would never satisfy him? Yeah, well, I meant every word I said because I could relate to it.
"Most certainly…not…" The surprise in my enemy's face was clear. "There's nothing that I want more from this damned war than for you to be finally done with your taunting. But if we end it here like this, neither of us will be happy with the result."
If I want to truly get rid of Slipstream for good, we both needed to be on top of our games. The way we were now definitely proved we weren't.
"It's like you read my thoughts, Windswept."
I… really didn't expect her to agree with me.
"Megatron told me about how you were able to extract the Cybonic Plague cure from him, and I must say, you can be inspiring sometimes," Slipstream began explaining as she forced more rocks away from my helm, "As satisfying as it is with others, kicking you down while you're already on your back wouldn't do justice for us."
Who the frag is this Slipstream?!
"What have you done with my real arch enemy?" I forced out a chuckle.
The 'Con smirked at me before suddenly grimacing, falling to her knees. I glanced at her wound - I can't believe she's been able to wander around with that thing in her. But it was doing one thing - keeping Energon in her.
"Hurry up and pull me out of here," I instantly ordered her, "The sooner I get out of here, the sooner we can get better to finish off our mess."
Slipstream smirked again and hooked her servos under my shoulders, "Ready?" I gave her a quick nod. "Three… Two… One…"
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Jack climbed onto the controls of the Cybertronian drill, reaching his arm down to help Carly up to him. They had completed one part of the mission - get to the dril. They were eager to start up the second part of the plan, which was to get it fired up so they could find their friends… But that looked to be easier said then done when they glanced at the screen filled with Cybertronian code.
The boy spared a glance at Carly, "You and Raf seem to know something about this kind of stuff. Can you understand it?"
The girl shook her head, "I was hoping you'd be willing to play a game called 'press a button and see what happens'."
"Miko would have her fingers on this thing in seconds," Jack attempted to joke.
Carly's face lit up with a small smile at the boy before a serious expression crashed over her face. She reached her hand out to the keypad controls, pressing two buttons on one side and another on the other before pressing the center button. The keypad lit up in reds and blues before the screen in front of them lit up with the works of the drill.
"What happened to 'pressing a button and seeing what happens'?" Jack questioned smugly.
Carly smirked back at him, "'Swept's a good teacher."
"So is Arcee." Before the girl could question, the boy climbed to the top of the drill and instantly began driving the machine. He glanced down at his girlfriend, who only had one thing to say.
"Roll out!"
It was time to find their friends.
The strain of holding up the roof above was starting to take its' toll on Bulkhead. But as much as he wanted to admit to his partner and his charge, he couldn't. Aquastrike was already worried as it was about him, and Miko was beginning to worry too now that she had finally decided to take a proper rest. He just had to hold on a little longer - surely, someone was coming for them.
The sounds of whirring equipment far away from them had them looking up with a small glimmer of hope.
"Do you hear that?"
"Sounds like…"
"Drillin'!" Aquastrike finished for Miko excitedly, sitting up with a grimace. She clutched her knee and glanced at Bulkhead, "It's gotta be da others!"
"We're in…here!" Miko called out weakly, "Hereee…!"
Aquastrike shook her head - she knew that wasn't going to be enough to get their attention. And even if she yelled out too, that might've not been enough either. They needed a clear, loud noise to send their message across. So when she spotted Miko still lying on the rocks, an idea began presenting itself to her.
"Miko, I need ya to do somethin' for us. I need you to do grab somethin' and ban' it on Bulk's foot. Can you do t'at for us?"
Aquastrike's calming tone gave Miko the strength to do what was requested of her. She rolled onto her feet and began lifting a rock up. It was a struggle, but regardless, the strength that Japanese Exchange student had regained was enough for her to pant her way over to her guardian. But before the girl could fulfill her request, she suddenly looked up at Bulkhead.
"I don't wanna hurt you."
"I know it's hard to believe, but I'm tougher than I look," Bulkhead smiled, not wanting to deter his charge, "Now give it all you've got."
Aquastrike's face softened at Miko's innocence when she remained still, "You can do it, Miko. We believe 'n you!"
The hesitance in Miko was still there, but she shrugged it away as she slammed the rock down on her guardian's foot armour over and over.
Bulkhead looked over at Aquastrike with a soft expression, watching her fiddle with her knee plating, "You have no idea how grateful I am that you're here for her."
Aquastrike paused in adjusting her knee plating to look up at Bulkhead at his words, "I'll always be here for 'er… 'nd you. We're all gettin' outta here today."
A drill suddenly swirled into the rock, providing the driver with a gap in the wall to look through. Although Jack and Carly were uncertain, they had to take every option available to them in order to find their guardians and friends.
The pair pulled the drill away from the wall and pulled it up alongside the hole they had created. Jack jumped down to Carly to see what they could find in the broken wall… but what they found had them freezing in horror.
Megatron's head filled the gap in the hole.
"I suppose helping those less fortunate would be...completely out of the question." Jack took a few steps backwards as his answer, standing in front of a shaking Carly, "If that is the case, you might as well use your drill to finish me. I guarantee you will never have a better opportunity than right now."
Jack didn't know what to do - Megatron was right. There wasn't a better opportunity than the one he had been presented with. He could do it.
Behind him, Carly was shaking her head. She didn't know what to think - here was the uncle of her guardian trapped before her. The one who removed the memories of her closest friend and lied to her for years… Carly couldn't believe that she was actually considering avenging her guardian's woes for her.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Think of the glory. Seize the day. Optimus and Windswept would."
Would Optimus really seize this opportunity? Would Carly's guardian?
Megatron's eyes lingered on Carly. "Think of how proud my niece would be of you... the one she would sacrifice everything she had for."
Jack felt a small, familiar hand clutching his wrist, causing him to look at her for an answer. But once he saw the determined look on her face, he knew they both were making the same choice. "No. They wouldn't. Not like this." With a shake of his head, he moved away to the controls.
Megatron glanced at the young girl as if he had already figured out her answer, "One day she'll learn how weak she's become because of you."
A wave of anger crashed over Carly's face at the Decepticon's words, and turned her back to him.
But even when the drill began moving away from the hole, Megatron wasn't done speaking to them, "I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus – the day I rip out his spark!"
The Decepticon Warlord watched the drill disappear from view before moving his hand to the edges of the broken wall. The humans may not have saved him, but they still gave him a chance to free himself.
They may grow to regret not seizing the opportunity in the future...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Slipstream had successfully managed to pull me out from my cavern, and believe me, I couldn't be more than thrilled about no longer being trapped in that little hole on my own. I'd even take having to assist my own worst enemy with an injury out of a collapsed mine than be trapped alone in a small space.
In fact, I even was taking that option.
Although my legs had the so called 'needles and pins' (or was it the other way 'round? Damnit Carly and your phrases) because of being trapped still for so long, I wasn't willing to allow that to stop me from getting myself and Slipstream out of this place. I had a wrist I need a splint on and Slipstream had a stab wound she needed repairs on.
I can't believe I'm suppressing my urges of just pulling out that thing in her torso and leaving her for dead. Even I surprise myself sometimes.
The 'Con suddenly gasped and fell to her knees, and since my not sore arm was helping in holding her up, she pulled me down too.
"It seems I'm going to need urgent medical care soon." I looked at Slipstream's wound. I think it was becoming infected.
I had little to none knowledge in medical expertise, but this was beyond my capabilities. I had to get Slipstream out as soon as possible.
"We did the right thing. He can find his own way out."
"Do you think we'll regret it?"
Carly? Jack? ...Regret what?
I pulled Slipstream up at the familiar voices, walking around the corner to find drilling equipment parked up a few feet away. Inside it was the two humans I had I been most worried about it.
I couldn't contain my relief, "Thank Primus. You two are okay?"
The two humans looked up at me with relief melting on their faces...until they spotted Slipstream, which caused a wave of distrust and wariness to replace it.
"Windswept…" Carly squeaked.
"Oh lovely, more surprises," Slipstream purred tauntingly before she began gasping at her injury again.
Carly and Jack removed the wariness part of their facial expressions, but maintained the distrust… Honestly I didn't blame them - I mean seriously, who the frag helps their arch nemesis?
Me apparently…
I pointed at Slipstream, "You get one servo on these two, and I'll make you bleed out right here, right now."
...But just because I was helping her, it didn't mean that I wasn't going to let her know the few rules to our current agreement.
"...It seems I have grown some kind of spark. I don't have the want to deal with these pests today." In a nutshell, that was definitely a much nicer-than-normal Slipstream. "Rebecca must be rubbing off on me."
Rebecca? Growing a spark? - or heart? … I know that she apparently got along reasonably with Carly and the others when they were in that alternate dimension…
...Huh.
"Have you seen the others?" I asked the humans, "Arcee maybe?"
Carly shook her head, "No we've only seen one per-" Her face suddenly turned white and spared a worried look at Jack, who also had paled at her words. "-son." It was like she didn't want to admit who she had seen.
I was instantly concerned, "Carly, who have you seen?"
"Megatron." My Energon boiled at Jack's admission. "But he was trapped. There's no way he's getting out of his hole any time soon." But it simmered down slightly at his words.
They had come across Megatron and escaped from him without a scratch.
Slipstream let out a small snort, "Typical. Megatron's lived through a Spacebridge explosion. This'll barely leave a mark." She removed her weight off of me and struggled to walk around the humans, briefly glancing at them, "Which way is he?"
"What are you doing?" I asked cautiously while Jack pointed in the direction of where Megatron probably was.
The 'Con looked over her shoulder quickly, "Going to get him out of this mess. Who knows? Maybe my injury might get the best of me for a little bit."
None of this made any sense. Why was Slipstream so eager to help me? Of all Autobots, she's choosing to work with me rather than against me! It wouldn't have surprised me if she had left me back in my little cavern - in fact, I kinda expected it!
"Why are you doing this?!" By the time the words left my mouth, Slipstream had disappeared, and I very much believe that even if she heard me, she would've ignored me anyway.
"Why is she being like that?" Carly wondered with me.
"We've got bigger things to worry about." Jack was right - we had to find the others.
"Right, you two head this way." I pointed down a tunnel entrance none of us had come from. " I'll go down the other way." I indicated to the opposite entrance. "If you can find an exit, I need you guys to get out. You've already been through enough for one day."
Jack nodded, "Got it."
"Be careful 'Swept," Carly warned.
I smiled softly my human friend, "Always."
Jack drove the drill away from me and down the tunnel I requested him to go down. Carly was watching me carefully - she was making me concerned.
They had seen Megatron… maybe it was him they were talking about when they mentioned regret… maybe Megatron was trapped and they chose not to help him or something like that? ...But Megatron's good at manipulation. I hope he didn't say anything to upset Carly.
A sudden shuffling noise quickly grabbed my attention. I spun around - Primus please let it be someone on my side.
NO ONE'S P.O.V
Miko heaved up another rock to slam down onto her guardian's foot. The last one had eventually crumbled into smaller pieces in her hands, and she knew she couldn't stop the task Bulkhead and Aquastrike had so kindly requested of her. Not when both of them were supporting her in her task.
"Atta girl!"
"You're doin' great!"
Miko collapsed to her knees in pants when she hit Bulkhead's foot. The energy in her was starting to disappear again. She wanted to keep going… but was distracted by a sudden noise. She looked around, "What was that?"
"Nothing. Go on. Keep banging."
Aquastrike's head spun to Bulkhead at his words - he knew what was wrong and he wasn't willing to tell his charge or his partner. Just as she was about to ask, a small groan from the former Wrecker sounded before small rocks began spitting from the roof and on top of her and Miko.
The Japanese Exchange student had yet to put two and two together, looking around wildly before focusing back on her guardian, "Bulkhead, what's happening? Tell me!"
"My arms!" Bulkhead began as more rocks continued tumbling around the trio, "They're starting to give!"
Aquastrike looked away from the horror-filled face of Mikos - she wasn't surprised that Bulkhead was struggling. It was a given by the strain of his arms and way he wasn't willing to tell Miko the truth. But it hurt her knowing she was unable to help her struggling friend.
"Does it hurt?" Miko wanted to know when Bulkhead continued grumbling.
"A little." When Bulkhead's arm began to lose its' grip on the roof, it convinced Miko otherwise.
"BULKHEAD!"
"Miko, listen to me!" The human spun around to Aquastrike at the command, "Help's comin', 'kay. D'ere comin', but they ain't gon come dis way if we don' make 'ny noise lettin' 'em know we're 'ere. Hit Bulk's foot again, Miko!" When the human remained still in fright, Aquastrike knew she had to raise her voice, "DO IT!
Miko followed the order, picking up her rock and hitting Bulkhead's foot once more. She was suddenly full of energy now knowing her guardian was struggling. But as much as she wanted to continue, her renewed energy suddenly disappeared, causing her to collapse onto her knees again.
There were more whirring noises in the distance, which caught the attention of the trio
Bulkhead's arms briefly shook, "Are they any closer?"
"I can't tell," Miko began, going to walk over to the other side of the cave, "The sound is all-" The girl collapsed once more in exhaustion. "-freaky in here!"
The trio looked up at the sounds something against the rock pile keeping them trapped. It sounded like someone was pulling the rocks away to allow them entrance into the shut off section of the cave.
Bulkhead began chuckling in delight, "Yes!"
"Arcee and 'Swept found us!" Miko cried.
The rock wall crumbled slightly in a puff of dust… just as a sudden cackle echoed through a gap in the wall.
"Put any doubt of my allegiance to rest!" Starscream paused suddenly at the sight of who he had truly found.
"What's he doing down here?!"
"Miko, get behind me. NOW!"
The rock wall began crumbling down in more puffs of smoke, causing Miko to follow Bulkhead's instruction… before falling from the movement. She was able to jump back to her feet just as the full form of Starscream appeared through the dust.
"Well, well. If it isn't Bulkhead and his pet vermin?" The Decepticon bent down slightly to overlook Miko just as he spotted Bulkhead's current situation. "My, you do have your hands full. Don't you, Autobot?" He turned away just in time to catch the sight of the injured Aquastrike glaring at him angrily. "Autobots."
"Do whatever you want to me, Starscream! But let the girls go!" Bulkhead began pleading just as the roof rained down more rocks.
"NO!" Miko clutched onto Bulkhead's ankle armour in disagreement. "I'm not leaving you!"
Aquastrike was surprised by Bulkhead's attempts at sacrificing himself for not just Miko, but herself also. It may have been because of the state she was in since it wouldn't be a fair fight. But it wouldn't have been a fair fight for Bulkhead either. She shook her head, "I ain' goin' nowhere, Bulk."
"It appears that they wish to remain." Starscream reached a clawed hand towards the human girl, but wasn't able to catch her as she quickly retreated from behind her guardian to behind Aquastrike.
"Starscream, stay t'e hell away from 'er," Aquastrike warned threateningly.
The Decepticon turned to the injured Autobot at his name, smirking when he saw the funny bend in her leg, "You never belonged out on the field. You were better off hiding away in Iacon."
It was Bulkhead's turn to start threatening the Decepticon, "Starscream, don't push me."
"You both like playing with the big robots, don't you little girls." Starscream's tormenting was enough for Aquastrike to bring out her triple-barrelled blaster and fire at the silver Cybertronian, sending him across the room.
That wasn't the end of him being smashed around as Bulkhead attempted to finish him off by kicking him into the rock wall. But the decision impacted Bulkhead's hold on the rock roof as he once more struggled to keep his arms up to stop the inevitable from happening.
Starscream snarled as he recovered from the hits, "That's it, Autobot! I'll-!"
"You'll what? You'll what?!" Bulkhead began challenging, "Make me bring the ceiling down on top of all of us?" The Autobot turned back to his charge and his Autobot partner, "Both of you, run!"
Miko didn't waste time in shaking her head, opting to go back to Bulkhead to hug his ankle armour rather than attempt to find her way out of the cavern.
"Yes. Run, Miko. I would love to see you try. Really. I would."
Starcream's audio receptors soon caught the attention of a transforming noise. He turned to find Aquastrike on both feet, aiming her triple-barrelled blasters at him. She was standing at an awkward angle because of her injury, but that wasn't going to be enough to stop her from doing something about the Decepticon continually threatening the innocent Miko.
Starscream copied Aquastrike's movements, activating his missile in preparation for a standoff.
The sounds of a whirring engine distracted Starscream momentarily as more rocks from the roof began raining upon. He had no time to question the sudden noise however as something slammed through the rock wall and ran him down.
Bulkhead watched the drill pull up in front of him, he, Aquastrike and Miko waiting to see if the newcomers were friend or foe. But they soon got their answer when the dirt and dust-covered forms of Jack and Carly appeared from the control system
"Jack! Carly! Get Miko out of here!" A small grimace from the pain of holding up the unstable roof made the former Wrecker pause for a moment, "Now!"
As soon as she spotted her Japanese friend, Carly leaped over the controls and sprinted down the machinery to get closer to her friend. At the edge of the wheel arch, the brown-haired girl bent down to reach her hand out to the girl.
The dust-covered Miko looked from her friend to her guardian with an unsure expression. Was Bulkhead going to be okay if she left him? Did she want to leave him behind in his position? Would she have the guts to? The questions swirled around her, leaving her worried.
"Miko, please! Come on!" Carly begged desperately, reaching her arm out further.
Again, the Japanese exchange student refused, looking back to her struggling guardian.
"RUN MIKO!"
With tears now pooling in her eyes, Miko reluctantly reached her hand out to her friend. But Carly didn't want to waste anymore time, reaching further down to Miko's wrist to pull her up safely onto the drill. Tears were now streaming down the dirt-stained face of Miko's, "We can't leave Bulkhead!" A small whimper came from her before she rested her weakened body against her friend.
"Miko. I promise, he'll be fine." Carly hugged her friend tightly in what was a failing attempt to comfort her.
Starscream soon climbed to his feet just as the drill whirred to life again, causing him to step back from it while Jack reversed back through the gap in the wall, leaving behind a trail of falling rocks in their wake.
"Aquastrike, GO!" The female Autobot turned to Bulkhead in surprise at his words.
"Bulkhead, I ain'-"
"Don't...push me, Aquastrike! JUST GO!"
Aquastrike remained still, glaring at the Decepticon angrily, "I ain' makin' the same mistake twice." The aqua-blue Autobot knew better than to leave a man with behind more than once. Bulkhead needed her help more than he was willing to admit. And even if she was injured and barely able to stand on both feet, she wasn't ready to give up without a fight.
"So then there were three," Starscream couldn't help but sneer, looking down at the former Wrecker as the weight of the roof started to take further toll on him...
The drill reversed further into an open passageway just as Carly and Miko were climbing to their feet on the drill, the latter clutching her friend hysterically, "Arcee and Windswept will save him! Won't they?!"
"We just need to find a way out of here before Megatron digs himself free," Jack quickly responded.
"Megatron's here too?!"
Carly grimaced at the reminder, but it didn't last long as the drill was refired. But they didn't get very far as something stepped in their way, causing Jack to stop the drill and gasp. The girls behind him also gasped at the sight.
Starscream chuckled at the predicament the Autobots he had trapped were currently in. One was struggling to stand due to an injury on their leg, the other was struggling to keep the roof from collapsing onto all three of them.
"If you think I'm gonna beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it." Bulkhead's bite had yet to leave him.
"Uh, yes," Starscream hesitantly answered, "Begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it? ...Well, you're much more valuable to me alive." He bent down to put a hand on the Autobot's shoulder. "Imagine Megatron's appreciation when I not only rescue him. But deliver not one, but two Autobots." He looked at Aquastrike's face of pain, "I believe that would restore my statute quite nicely."
Sudden sounds of activating weapons caused the Decepticon's face to sour into horror...
WINDSWEPT P.O.V
Starscream froze for a moment when he heard the whirring noise of the activated weapons. He slowly turned around in realised fear.
Beside me, Arcee - who I had found after telling Carly and Jack to find Miko earlier, opticed him dangerously, "Don't move, Starscream."
I looked past Starscream at Bulkhead, who was crouching very pecariously as he continued to hold up the roof above himself and our enemy. I sadly smiled at him, "Hey, Bulk." Poor mech will have sour arms for days.
"Hey, 'Swept 'Cee," Bulkhead greeted us weakly.
Arcee's face expressions went from anger at Starscream to sympathy at our trapped friend to anger at Starscream again, "Raise your hands."
I could tell by Starscream's nervous whimpers that he was considering trying to find a way out of the mess we were in. But then he let out a moan of disappointment, obviously aware we had him trapped.
I felt a servo on my shoulder, making me turn towards Aquastrike, who had a leg up off the ground, "You 'ave no idea how t'ankful we 're to see ya's." She must've been injured too.
A soft smile appeared on my face, "The feeling's mutual."
By the time we left the cavern in Starscream's servos and safely grabbed the humans, the sun was beginning to rise as we rolled out of the mine. Holy… it was only turning to the afternoon when we started this scouting mission… had we really been trapped in that mine for that long? It looked like it!
Once the kids removed themselves from Bulkhead, Arcee and I, we along with Aquastrike transformed to overlook the destruction the mine's collapsion had done. I looked at all of us - Aquastrike and I had injuries and we all had dust on our armour or clothing, but regardless of all that, we were all alive and safe. I couldn't be more relieved.
"We could finish them, here and now." I looked at Arcee in surprise at her words.
"Shame we didn't bring any grenades," Bulkhead grumbled, pounding his fists together.
"I could call 'Jackie-bot down if ya really wan' some." My surprised face looked at the injured Aquastrike leaning on Bulkhead for support.
I felt nothing. It was like I was numb. I didn't have an opinion over what to do with my enemy, my enemies' twin… my uncle…
"Would Optimus...finish them?" Jack hesitantly asked.
Carly's eyes meet my optics, my spark pounding at the thought of Optimus taking advantage of the situation and getting rid of three ruthless Decepticons by taking the easy route. It just didn't sit right…
My… temporary 'truce' with Slipstream had me thinking this way.
"No," Arcee shook her head, "He probably wouldn't. Not like this."
"But Optimus wouldn't rescue them either, right?"
My stomach turned at Miko's question - I didn't have an answer for her, and frankly, I don't think there was one. I turned away from the mine with a shake of my helm, "I think it's time we went home."
I was exhausted, had a sore servo and a pounding helmache. I didn't care who was following me or not, I just wanted to go home and figure out what Slipstream was really up to today… But I doubt I'll ever find any truthful answer...
NO ONE'S P.O.V
The whimpers tumbling out of Starscream's mouth were due to the strain of the collapsed roof he was forced to hold up. He had tried to come up with ways to get out of the mine and leaving the Autobots trapped, but each scenario ended with the same ending - the roof collapsing on top of all of them.
Amongst the strained noises Starscream was making as his arms grew weaker, the Decepticon soon spotted something in the corner of his eye, turning his head in surprise to find his leader and his co-second-in-command watching him.
"Master!" The Decepticon Warlord only looked around at Starscream's predicament, "You… and Slipstream are alive! Thank the AllSpark!"
Slipstream grimaced in pain of her injury, she and Megatron wordless as they glared at the Cybertronian who had caused their woes.
Starscream's arms started to give in to the strain of the roof, "I…I did not abandon you, master! I returned! To save you and Slipstream!"
"Save us?" Megatron repeated, looking down at Slipstream momentarily with an unamused expression.
Starscream knew he was in trouble whether he was rescued or not - Megatron was not believing a word he was saying, and neither was Slipstream. They both remembered what had occurred before they had run into the Autobots.
Again the roof wasn't doing Starscream in favours, "Look into my spark, Lord Megatron. My intentions were true! PLEASE! HAVE MERCY!"
Slipstream looked at Megatron's red eyes glaring into her twin's menacingly. For once, she could not tell what her leader had in store for Starscream…
…And what it all meant for the Decepticons moving forward...
I guess that'll do for now. I'm looking forward to a small break in work coming up soon to get out some more chapters and complete my rewrites... Hopefully a follow/favourite/review might make that happen sooner than later.
Fun fact about this and the last chapter (this will all make sense IF you know what I'm talking about): while the canon TFP show ran in real life, the TF: Rescue Bots show ran alongside it. There was one instance in TFP where Bumblebee and Optimus were away during 'Metal Attraction' and 'Rock Bottom' - I did my research and found that they were both away on a mission with the Rescue Bots crew. While I haven't incorporated this into my version (I do not intend to either, by the way), I have ended up using it somewhat. In the last chapter Starlight and Aquastrike were also away with Optimus and Bumblebee, meaning that they were with the RBs too. However, in the scenario they were in, unfortunately Aquastrike got herself into a 'little' bit of trouble and was sent back to the Jasper base. That is why she appears in this episode. I didn't touch upon it for now, but maybe in a future episode. We'll see.
I have a 'small' update regarding the prequel series coming up soon. As I mentioned in the last chapter, the story is going to run alongside season 2 - that hasn't changed. What has changed is the chapter count - it is now sitting at fifty chapters, which is a big amount of work, but here's how it's going to stay fresh: the prequel will be broken down into five, ten chapter arcs, with a different story to tell in each arc. I did float the possibility of finishing it when season 3 does last chapter, and I can confirm that because of its' length, it will run alongside the last season and finish at the last chapter of that.
Because of this, the Predacon's Rising movie will be a standalone situation that I'm still working on. I say situation because I'm still working on how I'm going to ensure that it was worth making it its' own seperate entry. Like RID2015, it's a work-in-progress.
Of course, I love reading everyone's thoughts and opinions regarding storylines for this series, so please do continue sharing them - you never know, maybe I could incorporate one or two in somehow...
Thank you for reading.