Chapter 16

I do not own Transformers.

Optimus looked around at the NEST base as the soldiers were readying for attack. He had wanted to go alone, and not risk any lives over their plan of attack, but Lennox insisted they help. Gabby was their friend too, and she needed them right now, he said.

They had been able to get Thunderwing's location pretty quickly from the soldiers in the area, who were also readying to attack the old warehouse she was located in.

Optimus didn't know how he knew, but Gabby was all right for now. He had kept her family up to date on their progress, and they were relieved that she was back in the United States, but were still scared for her and the baby's safety.

Orianna. How he loved the name she picked out. He remembered when she scoured the World Wide Web for hours and hours trying to think of something. He had left it all up to her, because she was ultimately the one to give birth. Besides, the names he could think of no human could probably pronounce.

"A little bit of her daddy in there," she said smiling.

Ironhide walked up to Optimus and put a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Now is the time to bring your mate home once and for all."

Optimus turned and smiled slightly through his faceplates. He missed Gabby like crazy, and it was definitely driving him crazy in the process.

Her face flashed through his processers and his optics began to glow brightly.

"Thank you, old friend," he answered sadly.

Optimus looked around, and the Autobots were getting restless to get going, most complaining the humans were too slow.

He gathered the Autobots in the Med Bay for one last talk before they left.

"I want everyone to remember that Gabby is human, and we have to be careful what we shoot around her," he said.

Dino showed his knives, and said, "Gabby is tough, but we will be careful."

"Do we know how to defeat Thunderwing yet?" Sides asked rubbing his head from his injuries of before.

Optimus shook his head, and said, "If we can get the shell off, we have a better chance with him. Otherwise, wait for my signal. I want to make sure that Gabby is safely with Ratchet. I have a feeling that she has been observing him, and can relay the information as well."

"What about his mate?" Bee asked.

"I want her taken alive," Optimus sad flatly.

The Autobots looked at Optimus as if he lost his spark.

"She has first hand information on Unicron, so we need her," Optimus said.

"What if she tries to kill Gabby?" Sides asked.

Optimus growled a little at the thought. "Then shoot to kill."

Lennox and Epps walked in at that moment, and Lennox said, "Optimus, we're ready."

Optimus nodded, and all Autobots transformed into vehicle modes, and took off.

They figured they would be in Florida within hours.

Gabby sat pretending to read her book, but in essence she was not paying attention to the words. She was still waiting for her moment to hit the sprinklers. Sometimes, she really hated the advance technology of these beings; they would see everything she did without looking.

She ran a hand through her hair, looked around. Thunderwing had been talking to Deserae in their native language and they kept eyeing her. This was making Gabby extremely nervous. He had growled lowly a few times, and then finally took off into the air.

Deserae shut the doors to the warehouse, and looked at Gabby.

"I know what you're planning," she said matter-of-factly.

Gabby froze in place as Deserae transformed into vehicle mode, and activated her holoform.

Gabby stood and backed away in fear.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said her voice quaking giving her away.

Deserae scoffed and then laughed. She was now only a few feet from Gabby, and her eyes began to glow her bright green.

"Come now, Gabrielle. You have been eyeing that sprinkler system for almost 2 days now," she said smoothly.

Gabby looked around for a mode of escape but found none. Was this it? Was it the end?

"Also, to answer your question, why yes, it does still work," Deserae smiled in satisfaction.

Gabby practically had her back to a wall, and immediately put her hand over her belly in protective response.

"The question is do you want to live or do you want to die?" Deserae asked her eyes narrowing at Gabby's movements.

Gabby was also looking around for a weapon. Her heart beat against her chest in fear, and she could feel the beads of sweat forming on her brow.

"What do you think?" Gabby asked.

Deserae thought for a moment, and said, "Then we can help each other."

Gabby's eyes also narrowed in confusion to the woman er holoform standing in front of her looking very calm.

"What?"

"See, Thunderwing is sick of waiting on this baby to be born, even though he had strict orders from Unicron not to kill you till it was born, but he knows that Prime is on his way…."

Gabby stood up straight and said, "So, what does that mean to you?"

"Well, a life for a life. I save you, and Prime gives me immunity to leave this horrible planet."

Gabby shook her head. She would not trust Deserae as far as she could throw her.

"Do you really believe I would trust you? The daughter of Megatron?"

Deserae laughed loudly at the accusation. "Gabrielle, I never even knew my father. He was off trying to conquer Cybertron when I was sparked."

"That means nothing to me, "Gabby said in a scathing manner.

Deserae stepped aside and said, "Go ahead Gabby. Leave now, and try to survive in the swamps here. Though we can't be exposed to water, we will find you, and then you will really die if the Earth creatures do not get to you first."

"In your condition, I doubt you would last a few hours," Deserea continued with a smile. "Your about ready to give birth."

Gabby's eyes widened. "What? I can't be more than seven months right now."

Deserae laughed at that. "Come on, engineer, you're smarter than that. Your baby is a half-breed. She grows at her own pace, remember?"

Deserae scanned Gabby for a moment. "This baby should have killed you by now. Your heart should have given out, or your spine should have been broken, but this baby protects your body. It is another amazing feat. Yes, she weakens you, but not enough to harm you permanently."

Gabby looked down; she did indeed look full term. She had been so caught up in her escape that she hadn't noticed. The baby seemed to not be zapping her energy anymore.

In fact, she seemed to be self-sustaining now, as Gabby felt her strength slowly returning.

Gabby looked over at Deserae and asked, "You said you want to leave this planet, but there has to be a better reason for me to trust you enough to make an escape."

Deserae shrugged in holoform. "Gabrielle, you are having a Prime's child. The scientist in me wants this to occur, and besides Thunderwing may be my mate, but that doesn't mean I chose that."

"What?"

"Yes, I am more of a slave. I have had enough of it. He doesn't treat me that great as I am sure you have observed."

Looking back Gabby realized it was true. She remembered Thunderwing threatening Deserae a few times, and knocking her to the ground. So, there was domestic violence among the aliens as well.

Gabby's eyes narrowed again. Deserae looked deep in thought, and a little sad. It almost made Gabby feel sorry for her, well, somewhat. She was a still a Decepticon by choice.

"So, what is your plan?" Gabby finally asked.

Deserae smiled and said, "Very simple really. Thunderwing will go into recharge when he gets back. I know where to injure him, and you pull the sprinkler system. It should start a rust infection, and maybe short out a few circuits. That will give us enough time to get you to Prime."

"So, he can be injured," Gabby said thoughtfully.

Deserae laughed again, and answered, "Yes, there is a place where you humans call the hip area where the shell parts when he walks."

So, that's where it is!

Gabby had to ask. "What does he look like underneath the shell?"

"Ha! You think he is horrifying now? You don't want to know. Think of your Earth's worst horror movies."

"Is he carbon based underneath?" Gabby's engineering mind took off.

Deserae looked around, and smiled again. "I know you want this information for the Prime."

"Yes," she whispered.

"No, he is still robotic, but not pretty," she answered. "Also, not as strong either."

Gabby looked down and back up at the other woman, and said, "Thank you."

Deserae shrugged again. "Are you in?"

Gabby sighed a little. She really had no choice at this point. It was now or never. Even if Optimus got to her how did she know she would live through the fighting? What if they couldn't find her again? What would happen then?

Gabby rubbed her face, and thought for another moment before answering.

"Your emotions show on your face, Gabrielle," Deserae said with a smirk.

Gabby scoffed at the observation.

"Barricade never knew what Thunderwing's weaknesses were, that is why he was defeated so easily. I do."

Gabby felt the sadness wash over her again at the thought of Barricade. He knew he was going to die, and deep down Gabby knew it too, so that was why she let him kiss her. She had granted him his one last wish.

Gabby took in a deep breath and let it out. She really had no other choice now.

She looked Deserae square in the eye, and said, "I'm in."

Deserae clapped her hands together in victory. "Good! Time to get you back to the Prime."

"I will speak to him about your immunity," Gabby said.

"He will give it to me," Deserae said softly. "Or I will just hold you hostage myself."

Gabby frowned. Hadn't she known that all along?

"Figures," she said with sarcasm.

Deserae did one last scan of Gabby to make sure she was up to the task. "Hey, either take it or leave it."

Both women eyed each other for a moment after Deserae was done her scan. There was an unspoken mutual agreement between the two, of alien and human species that they had no choice, they had to work together.

Gabby could hear the jet thrusters coming back into the area.

Deserae still looked a little worried about the plan, but Gabby was going to go for it.

"Lay down, and act like you're sick for now. I will come and do another scan, that will be your signal that he is in recharge, and you head to the sprinklers."

"When are you going to shoot him?" Gabby could feel the fear rising in her throat, as the sound of the jet got closer.

"Once I see you are at the breaker," she said.

Gabby nodded and laid down on the cot pretending to be sick as Thunderwing opened the doors.

….

Optimus and the other Autobots pulled up to the warehouse a few hours later and were horrified by the site they witnessed.

Water flowed out from the warehouse. Bells were going off everywhere.

At the opening of the warehouse was Thunderwing stooping over an obviously injured Deserae. It looked as though he was getting ready to strike the final blow.

Optimus quickly scanned the immediate area, and saw no sign of his mate.

Where did she go?

"Gabby!" he cried out into the woods.

No answer.

Next chapter will be what happens when Gabby and Deserae try to make their escape, and what goes wrong. I thought I would preview what Optimus sees in the aftermath.