Heya, readers! I'm back with a chapter in my arsenal. Blah, blah, blah. I have the same problems my last update on The Black Screen so please do not burn me for leaving you all since January with no updates. I hope this new chapter is compensation enough...
To credits! I do not own Transformers! And hey, I only own this fic and my OC.
Chapter 52: To Die Anyway
Hook cursed loudly as the peace broke slowly. After the Autoscum femme had emerged from the shadows, he regretted thinking that he could deal with her later as she destroyed one of the important objects in his arsenal for the girl's survival. He had pinged Barricade of the infiltrator earlier, minutes before he was left on his own but it seems that the Autobots had planned this out and was not only just a scouting mission. The other had been intercepted by the yellow bug of a Camaro and with that, he knew that they were in shallow waters as the danger was fast approaching.
The medic knew what was going to happen but he could not do anything yet since it would only harm the girl that was minutes away from a mental breakdown as her brain impulses sent different signals to its dead ended synapses. Her nanites were still trying to bridge the gaps created by the deterioration but unfortunately, her emotions peaking was not helping. They reached the critical once again as it created the large electrical pulses that were starting to damage further her already half processing processor, speeding the degradation. He frustratedly tried to balance stabilizing her spark and brain impulses at the same time, regulating the large spark pulses as he calculated when and where the fluctuations from her spark were placed the most. The machine monitoring her had already fritzed from the pulses but thankfully his data pad was enough to help him… That is not until the femme went and ruined it.
If he had known that the Autobot would act violently and ruin his too important datapad, he would have shot the femme down, one way or another. That datapad not only was helping him monitor the little organic but it had also contained his long list of records acquired when he took time off to complete his own side of the Lord's plan. With the datapad currently in pieces on the ground, he doubted that he would be able to pick it up and get it working in time. The Lord was not going to be happy in seeing a fall back in his plan. Not only had the fragging pink femme put him behind schedule but she had endangered their little organic.
Oh, the anger that coursed through his frame was untamed and he was not sorry when he had managed to grabbed the glitch, only to throw her hard to the side. He was practically burning with fury as his frame overheated and his vents worked overtime to cool him down. Instead of calming, though, what damage he did, he knew was still not enough for what she had just done.
Even though his com-link with the higher command suddenly burst loud in his helm, he ignored them and went to just do what he intends to do. He wanted to deactivate the glitch, for once, his thoughts were reasonable. But as he did, he was caught off guard with the emotions his combat team was in as the bond they have opened. Worry, anger, hate, panic and irritation in great heights made him lose some of his focus.
His little slip would have handed his deactivation when he saw the femme about to blast him but thanks to the mechling that had been keeping Shein away, he was spared for the nth time of his cycle in their war. Not really needing a second repeat on what they need to do after that, Hook shot off to get the little organic and make their escape. The thud and vibrations made when their enemy had fallen on the ground were clear indication that they were now one enemy short but he knew that didn't mean there were less of them as he try to get away.
::Hook! We are on our way. Where are you?:: His brother Constructicons pinged him as he rushed out of the facility, not looking back even once for leaving all of his equipment behind. His current concern was the femme in his care and he dared not to let them take her away again.
::Still at the facility. If you can make it in time, then good, but I need more backup it seems…:: The medic informed as he and Frenzy burst at the sight before him when he got out of the building. He had managed to avoid a blade that was gliding in the air in front of him when he was just inches from exiting. The dodge he made was done ungracefully but he had not cared as he protected his little sleeping passenger in his servos.
"Give her back, Decepticon!" The silver mech on wheels, Sideswipe, screamed at him. Amusement was painted on Hook's features upon seeing the other's modified form as he compared the once red form the other had when he had that snotty twin of his, but this was not the time to find things in positive light. He dodged another swing as he sidestepped and landed a kick on the other's back since his hands were kind of full at the minute.
"Frag off!" Hook hissed as he let his scanners work to give him insight on the sudden shift of the wind when he had landed on that side. Frenzy had already shot off at the Autobot frontliner so it was not him that made it. There was only one type of individual that can make his sensors go off in alarm, and those were the mechs in the Ops.
Shooting to the side, he had managed to evade the hidden mech as the background distorted and his instincts were proven right. The only two Autoscums that would be able to do that kind of thing were no other than that high tower Autobot, Mirage, and that rogue looking one, Hound. He had data on them lightvorns ago so this was not a surprise for him.
"You will be sorry once I get my servos on you." The invisible mech growled as Hook calculated his next move. His optical scope can see Frenzy was still able to keep the other mech busy but still, he was unsure of being outnumbered. Their current state was not helping that much since he has a little handicap but he would put that in good use if he needs to. As much as he dreaded using it, he would if that means getting more time.
He only hopes that once he does it, Shein would be able to forgive him and for her to not take anything of it to the spark. Primus knows how much he would do to not make it happen. Taking sparks were so in the past with him these days.
"Haven't you, Decepticons, done enough on her?!" Sideswipe grunted as he tried to get to Hook but was stopped by the cassette. As that went, the dirt below them had exploded as they all became airborne. The medic took note on how the dirty air hit an invisible wall, immediately knowing what place to hit. The background shifted again and with that, Hook was able to take that one chance to land a hit on the mech with all the might he had hidden. That force had managed to make the other flung back to hit the wall of the warehouse with a loud thud.
"Done enough, I haven't! If you fragging glitches could just leave us for a vorn-" Hook growled as his ruby red optics glinted brightly in the dim lighting, trying to pierce or bore a hole on the frame that had made his mouth plates move first before his microchipped processor, but before he could finish off the sentence, they were sudden hit with a force of a missile.
Looking up now, he saw that one of the trines came down monitoring.
::Frag you, you dimsparked glitched! Look where you are aiming or I'll make you into scrapmetal once we get back…:: The medic growled over the com that had soon opened once the flyer shot another round at the Autobots around him. Frenzy screeched at the sudden onslaught of missiles but the surprised and pained shouts of their enemy brought music to his audios.
::If I were you, medic, I would not run my mouth and use my legs…:: The seeker snidely replied as he did a graceful turn in the sky, the trajectory was in line again to where they are.
"FRENZY!" Hook called out for the mechling as he saw the other ran towards him. The silver Autobot was currently busy trying to see where the Air Command Leader would hit next but the medic knew better than to stand there and wait around to see if they can deactivate them.
Once Frenzy was near, Hook's scanners went on again. This time, he was too late to inform the other to get back when the stuttering mechling was hit. Landing at the far right of him, he took comfort at the distance that the little silver cassette had been placed at. It would be far enough for Starscream to be able to shoot without harming him more.
The next shift in the air was immediate but Hook managed to back away in time. His processor concentrated on detecting the sneaky slagger as he kept his servos close with the little organic safely encased within his medical supply compartment. There was no erratic movement from her with all the abrupt movement he had done and that made his worry spike.
Had the damage gone that deeply? He wondered as he blocked a swing from behind with his arm platings. That pushed him a few inches from where he stood, but he took the chance to try and kick the other while the invisible mech was still trying to get back to his own stance.
"I would have already offlined you…" Hook grunted in exasperation, dodging yet again as he waited for the opportunity. Sideswipe was gone though, he soon noticed but looking around, he can say the same for the seeker that had been there earlier.
"Then why hadn't you?" The other said, continuing the sequence of blows that aimed for that single place that he knew where femme was. Hook had realized the pattern that was slowly becoming noticeable so he kept on pulling away, driving the other in circles as he evaded each and every single blow. He knew that this would not last long but his determination only heightened even more so, to get out of there. His sensitive scanners versus the other's advance cloaking field (even though Earth has come to actually prove that it still has a long way to go with all the faults he was witnessing), not one of them was slowing down to give the other a chance to escape or claim what they had come for.
Hook cursed his bond brothers' continuing absence but if that meant that they would soon be over here in the minutes he kept as a distraction, then so be it… As long as this gives them time to make their afts get here and help them, he was a willing Con. But Primus, he was itching to hit this mech before him.
Monitoring Shein's condition as he continued on with his luck of not getting hit, he spotted something from behind the other's back plates that made him hold onto his disgruntled expression. That is until a smirk twitched on his lip plating. Predicting the trajectory of the speeding alt mode, he swung his pede around and managed to hit his enemy. It landed Mirage in the same spot that Barricade would have to pass in his haste.
And like what Hook had thought, Barricade hit the slagging invisible mech, leaving them tumbling forward. Mirage's device was soon offlined too as it fritzed from being butchered with hits. Mirage frame came into view with his arm hung at his side, unusable. Abruptly putting distance between him and the Autoscum, Barricade had soon groaned and cursed Hook. Not before long, the yellow Camaro came into sight.
"What in the frag was that for, medic?!" the deep baritone laced with annoyance and aggravation vibrated around the tense air that surrounded them. Barricade glared at the mech that was struggling below his pede before the despicable human came out of the yellow bug that stopped before them. Gears turned and went into place when the youngest scout of the Autobots transformed and stood before the two Cons.
"Now, what are we going to do with you?" Barricade growled as he stomped on Mirage's helm with a force that dented and buried the other's helm a tad deeper into the ground. It elicited a wince from the mech below but nothing more.
"Mirage!" The brown-headed squishy screamed worriedly for their little Ops agent that could only grunt as Barricade repeated the action. Mirage's servos were struggling to keep the pede away but since it was not enough, he decided that holding it firmly in place was better.
"Let him go!" Sam growled as his guardian took out his cannon, aiming it at the black and white Con. That action of threatening the mech only amused the cop.
"…In exchange for what?" Hook raised an optic ridge at the sudden negotiation taking place between them. Barricade was awfully going to the point with this conversation.
"W-wha?" Sam could only go on baffled as Bee shot them an intense glare but was just as curios as the other was for the sudden out-of-character of their enemy. When did they express the need to be the first to negotiate?
"Are your receptors still working or have you gone deaf on me already, meat bag?" Barricade snorted as he shook his helm, not taking offense on the shocked looks he was getting his way. After that off-handed comment, Samuel gave his own glare but did not bite.
"…Fine… What do you want?" The human liaison's facial expression of anger faltered when Barricade repeatedly stomped on the other, from helm to chest plating that effectively had put Mirage in stasis lock. Why the high tower mech hadn't accessed his cannons was because they were already deactivated the minute he had hit the wall of the warehouse that has this little force field intact. The impact released a large electric pulse that repelled him and short-circuited his other systems. Mirage could only vainly try and get Oen with sheer determination and shorthand combat skills he had learned from Jazz and Prowl.
"You let us go and we'll let him off…" Barricade did not say anything more as his intense and brightly shining optics held them in his sight like he was waiting for them to make a single wrong move and he would devour them. They knew that moment that the black and white mech was not in the mood to give mercy.
"Where is Oen first…!" Barricade glared and scoffed. "You should know that you are not in place to make demands…" He growled.
::They are just trying to distract us…:: Hook sighed internally as he stood still in the background, not leaving his position since he knew that he had a high chance of escaping if he waited for the others to come for them.
::I figured…:: Replied Barricade in a half amused and sarcastic tone. ::How is she?:: He asked then.
::As far as I can tell with all the equipment she had fried from her earlier electrical discharge? I can say she has a less likely chance of surviving after this… Apart from that fragging truth, nothing more can be sighted until we can get her to safety and start trying to nurse her back out of her comatose state.:: Hook informed in a deadpanned voice, lace with no emotion, just pure monotone.
As Hook think, Barricade was exchanging a few harsh words with the Autobot in front of them as both of them were getting more livid with each other by the klik. Hook was sure that any later now, Barricade will start something he would regret as the mech's small mannerisms like clenching and unclenching servos tightly, showed along with him gritting his dentas roughly. That tremble in his systems wanted to escape as Barricade not only receeded back to the mechling he was but also the fact that the violence was going to be the last resort in ending this conversation.
The topic that the two scouts were playing on now was the utter fact of a misinformed past of the cop. It was like seeing Barricade as the youngling he once was before he had gained ranks after going cold sparked and killing his kin one by one. Shein had already warned them to not even say a single word about it but they knew what was the other's demons that haunt him till now. The mech's past was his own and the only one to really understand him was Shein. Offlining his own family unit and little brother must have elicited something of great importance that the only way for him to continue on is carrying the guilt of being the one to let his family rest.
"You are terribly young to tell me words of no such form of proof to come with it." Barricade said gravely as he looked down at Mirage. The fact that the other was a high tower mech was not helping seeing that he and his family did suffer a lot from them.
Hook knew of this and remained silent. Looking into his compartment and praying to Primus that the fragger would just let the topic go. It was not time to turn into the crazy and demented mech he is in front of the Autobots. It was a weakness, yes, but a weakness that Barricade had long before turned into something gruesome in comparison. He turned that weakness into a strength that enabled him such feat of being a cold and muderious spark.
Soon, Sideswipe came out of no where, already with his blades out, glinting for some action. Bumblebee held him back, asking more of what he was talking about, taking offense for being told the truth that he was cold and mindless drone that had nothing in mind other than kill for a living back on Cybertron. Sam, who didn't know of what the story was, remained silent but felt compelled to defend himself as the Decepticon insulted him for being a weak link of any one that he attaches himself to.
Sidswipe who just listened on was soon given a short data burst to keep him updated on what was happening. They were burning off some time but also was coming into a heated argument face to face with a con. From reviewing the conversation, a content had struck some chords in Sideswipe's spark as his optics flashed so bright that it was painful to see. They almost white as the frame was tense as a statue, and a livid growl escaped his vocals.
The topic that struct him was the conversation about who the slagging faction did started it all; the bombings, the genocides, the planet's deminse. For Barricade, he argued that it was the Autobot's misguided nobel actions for hindering the Decepticons while Bee pointed out that if it weren't for them, the Decepticons would have plague the planet in martial dictatorship of a demented Lord High. The conversation just continues on until who was the more worthy faction to be sparked. No one really did think logically this time as anger clouded their minds. Even Sam didn't seem to notice it but participated in defending the Autobots' side.
"You were the fragging glitches that destroyed what our home once was! Don't go on turning the table and putting the blame on us! You offlined EVEN. THE. SPARKLINGS. EXTINGUISHING LIVES AS IF THEY ARE WORTH NOTHING! BONDS LOST, FAMILY UNITS GONE! AND ALL OF IT WAS BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU WHO ARE JUST PIT-SPAWNED AND GLITCHED MICROCHIPED PROCESSORED SLAGGERS THAT FELT NOTHING! NOTHING BUT MALICE AND GREED WORTH GOING TO THE PIT! DEFUNKED SPARKS THAT SHOULD GO TO THE SCRAPYARD! DON'T YOU FRAGGERS, FRAGGING SAY THAT WE WERE THE ONES TO BLAME BECAUSE I CAN SLAGGING GIVE YOU A CYBERTRON LOAD OF FRAGGING REASONS FROM THE MOMENT YOU LUGNUTS EVEN BECAME SPARKED!"
With that, the tirade was over. Sideswipe was huffing as his vents tried to cool him down. Coolants were leaking down the side of his optics but he stood with that intense glare at them, ready to slice them and relieve him of the pain that his spark was swimming in. The pain of the bond he lost a long time ago, opened like a fresh wound... but from that, Sideswipe hadn't known it would open a lot more darker wounds of the past for Barricade and Hook.
At that moment, Hook can say that he had never felt that intensity of dread as his memories sprung into the front of his processor. He wanted to stagger back and fall into stasis but on the outside, he stood there, stoic and numb as if he left his emotional circuits back on the Nemesis. He was relieving all the cycles he has and they were deep and dark, before the war…
Sideswipe's words did not only affect Hook but also the other mech, Barricade. The black and white Decepticon stared at the other with a flat look. And he stood there with a rather offending stance that deemed him to not care of what the other had just said. Once again, all of this was a façade as deep in those red optics that gleamed in the dim lighting was his own pain. He let the pain become anger as he soon lost control of his functions with the repeated cycle of Sidewipe's words. His processor was going faster and faster, giving him no satisfaction in thinking of gruesome enough deactivation that was worth what the mech had deemed him to be.
He will let the other know how truly gruesome and deadly he is.
Barricade's emotional unit had staggered and looped into being livid and in pain while his logical processor tried to fry itself. That did not hinder his movements though as his tone that once had fluctuations turned totally monotone. Hook's own tone became a lot colder with a silent promise of death even if they knew that the femme would be terribly upset of him for what will happen soon. They did not like it but these Autobots just pushed their lines.
The emotional struggle that Barricade had within his frame was great enough to trigger his guardian protocols. In one fell swoop, he saw the only threat near him… Mirage and decided to do what he needs to do to keep things 'safe'. Not really thinking more of it as a threat, the glitch deemed Mirage as a serious one and the only action to take was deactivation. Deactivation it was for no emotional core acted upon to hinder such act from being done.
"NOOOOOOO!" A series of shouts came from the other group as Barricade's red optics turned to a sickly purple, heightened with the same feral growl of a untamed mech. Upgrades soon washed over his frame as they onlined, not before long, the mech's pede came down over the chest plates, eliciting a loud crunching noise as the chest plates crumpled inward. That woke up the mech receiving heightened feedback of pain as he let out a loud howl.
Soon, the metal platings touched his spark chamber, putting strain over them. The glass wall of the spark case crack and it was then that Miraage knew was his end.
"AHHH-CK!" Mirage screeched, struggled hard and wide but once the final stomped came down… He was gone. Never to feel pain anymore… or anything at that. Energon coated his killer's pede as Barricade took his it out of the hole that he had managed to do.
The killer had then kicked theofflined one towards thefrontliner and scout that tried to jumped towards him in anger, making Sideswipe stagger back as he would soon crash into the little organic. Sam was in the trajectory of the fall so Bumblebee hadn't had the chance to even shoot at them as they hastily ran away, favoring to save his charge.
Chapter 52: Things Go Wrong
::We've been careless…:: Hook growled through the com as Barricade responded with only a growl, obviously busy with his own enemy distraction. The medic couldn't help curse now and then for things to have gone from bad to worse in the small span of the earth's week. Not only that but if ever they would be able to surpass this current situation, where would they take Shein? Not only was their makeshift facility invaded but most of his modified equipment was there. It would take a lot longer to acquire the same machines and enable Shockwave to make the same modifications once again. It would also hinder the progress of their plan and would decrease the covertness of their movement.
Turning to another direction in processing, Hook decided that it was not the time to think of long term effects until they had not safety taken care of the situation at present. ::My Lord, if there are any able, we would like to request some backup…:: Hook directly addressed the Lord instead of answering Soundwave's query for his sudden outburst on the private group line. The line was connected to those involve within the higher circle and was always open and used at certain times. Babble was not really an activity that they participated a lot so the link was maintainable in Soundwave's standards.
::Request granted. Your unit will be on their way in the breem. Don't get slag before they get to your position.:: Megatron growled out over the line before diverting his attention to Soundwave, already asking for the communications officer to connect him to the said mechs or deliver the order as the mech was assigned to get a feed on what was happening to the makeshift base.
::Acknowledged. But I fear, my Lord, that-:: The medic wasn't able to finish his words as the silver Autobot, Sideswipe suddenly came out with swords aimed at his path. Hook was able to sense him fast enough that he had managed to halt but it seems that the younger mech was not finished in his onslaught. Sideswipe turned his upper body while his lower wheeled legs provided more range to complete his maneuver. By the time he was done turning, Hook can feel the pain coming from the side of his helm as the other had managed to lay a long slice. It had effectively severed some of his com system wires and cut him off from the command circle. From this, Hook knew that he was going to undeniably at a disadvantage to lose contact with the others so instead of trying to dial with a manual device that Shein had provided, he had overridden his repair nanites to make them focus on that part of his helm. Hopefully, it would online before he gets slag by the fools.
The frontliner soon distanced his self when Hook tried to land a hit of his own. It missed but it did enable the medic to shift his patient in one servo with the gentleness he could muster before tugging his chain out from his subspace. Immediately after seeing the missing human femme, he commed the others to confirm the visual he had of the girl. The other Autobots asked off Arcee but confirmed that her first approach must have failed for him to catch Hook like this.
Hook had his optics on the other as he read that troubled expression. No movement was made between the both of them but surely, he could not just high tail out of here when he was being watched like a cyberhawk. He remained silent and soon raised the chain to swing it in a manageable circle at his side. The chain was good as any weapon he had since his own blaster was out of the question with his system repairs on an override. But he can see his own problem with using it as a weapon since the other was more agile and flexible to handle dodging his fast swings. If the slagging Autoscum can't sit still, he would need to choose between literally damaging the other than just trying to trip him and make him lose momentum so that he can tie the other down.
Glaring at Frenzy that was keeping his optics on Shein, he focused on the other. It was not easy to make the hit as the Autobot dodge with every agility and flexibility available in his frame but that didn't mean Hook would just give up and let Shein go again… He wasn't a Con for nothing as he kicked a large rock near his active frame and aimed it at the other. It may not land on the trajectory he was aiming for but at least, it did destroy the other's stability as he tripped on it and landed hard on his side. Thankful for Shein's incorporated Cybertronian-Human lessons about topography and utilizing it rather than destroying, he managed this in the best way he can while incapacitated.
The story to this strategy had been way back when they were still in several locations around the world for Megatron's revival plan, several months before the fallen was defeated. Some of the Cons have to make makeshift bases as per what Soundwave and Shockwave ordered. But really, their bases were of minimum covertness as the Autobots hunt them down. He and his own team had managed to escape their last encounter of the humans and Autobot group just via submerging their selves into the subterranean abyss before going upside again.
It was a foreign terrain again with nothing but sand and some pile of rubble rocks surrounding them upon their upside travel, taking precaution on not letting sightings of them spread to the Autoscums. But after some time as they settled in some large pit in the ground, the government slags of the place they were at came to pick them off. It seems that they don't know what they are as they courageously addressed them with their mini toy weapons but still, it had packed a punch when they had fired on them. They were at a disadvantage since they still have mechs down while their weapons were still spent. Only those who have close combat weapons were of use.
::Slag… Comming the base! We need back up. It seems that the friendly inhabitants have no hospitality to let us stay here. Long range weapons are still down; mechs are incapable of escape with heavy damage. Repeat… we need back up.:: That was what he had reported in haste before a missile hit him.
Making a plan, they agreed that the damaged must be protected as they were the first cons to fall if they were to be bombarded with weapons. Shein would not like that at all as they would lose more mechs with this but it can't be helped. Speaking of the girl, soon, her voice was heard over the coms.
::Hook! If weapons are down, try and use the terrain as a makeshift weapon while trying to escape them. Help the damaged mechs to break the rocks to manageable throwing projectiles while the frontliners engage with caution. Take away their vehicles too… flip their cars and let some get in closer proximity if needed so the slaggers can't fire their slagging heavy weaponry… Just stay safe and know that the others are coming! You now know what to do, now improvise squad leader! I expect you lot to come back all alive and working.:: She hastily tapped on something and not before long, she was coordinating them into the terrain no matter how she was inexperience as them in with this.
::Don't underestimate me, Hook. I may lack the field experience because you guys won't take me but I still have the knowledge to help you as a local of the planet… Now, come back home…:: With finality, the coms died and the backup was there.
When they had come back to the base with minor damage from the fight, she welcomed them happily with a smile but soon found herself frowning so deep. It was like Decepticon boot camp version 2 when she made them go on the basis of the beginnings and afters of war from human's point of view in their history. Who knew that humans can be more of a Decepticon themselves.
Back to the fight at hand, with a fling, the heavy end of the chain ended up hitting Sideswipe to the chest plate who was not as fast enough to dodge. The impact was that great it seems as the silver mech let out a surprised pained cry and was sent flying back to crash into the foliage at the side. Hook took this opportunity to transform down and drive, not noticing that there was another Autobot on the field that was silently in the safety of his special ability.
"NO! GO! FOLLOW HIM! GET HER BACK!" The silver mech had suddenly burst out in thin air around them as he wheezed, shaking his helm and point at his retreating form. Hook drove faster from that, as he saw that the designated Autobot was Mirage.
Cursing his luck, Hook wondered where the heck is his unit after all this time. Not being able to com as the system diagnosis says error, he can't help think that the slagging frontliner deserve what state he had left the other in. Jerking from his thoughts, he was soon alerted that his persecutor was just about behind him.
"Give her back, Decepticon slag!" Mirage has sworn that the medic was too heavy to be that fast as he sped up some more to catch up. It was getting rather difficult, too as tree to tree kept being taken down by the heavy construction vehicle in order to stop him from advancing.
::How in the pit you can't still gain up on him?:: Sideswipe asked over their private com.
::How that medic lost some tons, I would not know…!:: Mirage hissed as he was almost hit by a large rock thrown at his direction. As the Con stayed silent, he had narrowed his focus on the other thinking that they were missing something rather important here.
::The Constructicons are on en route! We'll intercept them. Focus on getting the femme away.:: Ironhide said over their frequency as the others cursed. Optimus was heard to be giving more orders but they sure were doing it already. The only downside is that they still can't get contact of Arcee.
Soon, they all heard the rumble of engines in the sky. The blue and white mech knew that this little mission of theirs is going to get messy.
::Sideswipe, you friends are here…:: He snorted as the other mech cursed about not being able to give them a proper greeting. It was always a welcome sight that the other twin hasn't lost himself in the grief of still missing his brother.
::Leave them to me…:: The other declared before shutting off his own com. From the distance, one would hear a shout of excitement and a screech that was reminiscent of the times Screamer gets jumped on by the frontliner.
Now, all Mirage needs is to focus on the now struggling con in the front of him. His frown deepened at this point, literally wondering what the heck was going on with the other. It wasn't like a Constructicon to be this fast and to be this faulty at such a short interval.
Hook cursed as he can feel his systems heating up and straining from his extended use of his upgrades. Shein had already warned him about this, specifically, the repercussion that he would face once his systems could not pull through any longer but it was not recommendable to stop now. He'll likely burn his spark out from this but he could not care for the life of the little girl rest in being able to get the treatment she needs before she collapses on herself.
Monitoring the entity behind him was already doing enough but seeing the other was getting ready on jumping at him, he would not dare shut his sensors and render himself blind to be taken unexpectedly.
The Autobot hadn't fired at him but seeing that he has Shein in his form, strapped safely in his compartment, she might be the only thing that had been holding the other up. Still, he was rapidly declining from normal processing and operation as his system strained. He knows that not long into this activity, he'll be rendered useless in his own medbay.
:: *frrrzzzzz* -K! T-The… zzzzttt… -scums are- *frrrzzttt* us off! :: Hook's semi-repaired com flickered to life with static and all things helmachingly worthy. The medic could guess that the others were intercepted also by the other Autbots to prevent them advancing, leaving him with no backup while this frontliner and scout were made to retrieve her. Cursing their luck, was there enough power to com the base and request for those who don't know about the plan to come and raise chaos at their enemy?
Soon, Starscream appeared with a cargo on his frame. The seeker was not able to stir away from Hook as he hit him, making them all tumble down a trench. Hook's sensors blared in shock as he felt something slice his compartment at the same time. Fearing what could possibly happen as they all stop tumbling, he inspected his self and saw the damage.
Starscream had also seen it and had immediately shoved the Autobot with a hard kick even though his wings were currently in no condition to make him move. His pain receptors were blaring with pain but he endured it seeing the damage on the medic. Worse was, he knew that the medic's compartment was the only place that Shein could have been. Seeing that large blade just embedded on that spot had him panicking on what might have happened to her. There was no blood so it was safe to say that she was likely uninjured but that was just pushing their luck.
The seeker tried to ping the medic to inquire about Shein's condition but saw that the other was not in the condition to make connections as his frequency produced only static. Looking over at the mech again, he can see that the side of his helm was also heavily damaged, leaving him to ask in the open.
"What is the condition of the femme?" He growled with a wince as he placed himself beside the medic to help. Sideswipe who took the brunt of their tumble, still lay at the side with an aching frame. Taking both of their situation as an invitation, Hook opened his compartment and let the girl fall into the seekers hands. They can see that Frenzy was able to shove her to the corner but the downside of it was that the little symbiot took all the brunt of the slice as it cut off his upper limb and head from his body.
Soundwave was not going to like this but they can't do anything about it, not in this place.
::HOOK!:: The medic winced as his com started acting up again.
::Have you been slagged?:: The small voice of the shiest of his unit asked as the other can be seen flinching when Hook only answered with a growl.
::PIT! Get over here now before they take Shein!:: Hook noticed the shift in his scanners and warned Starscream that the Ops agent had now caught up with them. ::My systems are already down and Frenzy has sustained massive damage!:: Hook shook when he tried to get his limbs working back again. The movement was too stressful that he could only move his helm to see that Starscream was under attack. The seeker was good at fending himself off with Shein delicately held to his chassis but he knew that it would not be long till the other Autobot got up and joined the fray.
There was suddenly a large explosion near them that sent Starscream, Mirage and Sideswipe who had now gotten on his stabilizers, flying everywhere. The seeker's hold was not enough to keep the girl encased in his hold but Starscream took the landing quite nicely, just letting her roll to the far side of their field.
No one had noticed this as the four mechs stayed down but as Skywarp approached; his optics immediately had fixated on Shein as she lay there unmoving. He flew down to try and warp away with the girl but it seems that it was not only him that got the message of what he was about to do. As hastily as he swooped down, he was tackled by the silver menace, Sideswipe, making him tumble to Hook and activating his warping system in that short amount of time from the collision.
Skywarp and Hook effectively banished from the field while Thundercracker helped Starscream from his already heavily damaged state; both of them oblivious to what had happened to their trinemate and medic.
At the midst of this chaos, Sam shot out of the shadows and went for the girl for the second time in his life. It was like déjà vu as he swiftly made it through the foliage, catching sight of Mirage who noticed him. Both of them soon had an agreement as the mech suddenly got up and fired at the two seekers to distract them from what the young man was trying to do. Sideswipe was still down but Sam cannot do anything about for now. The frontliner would just have to wait for Ratchet as he get Oen to safety.
Moving through the greenery once again, Sam carried the girl carefully deeper into the foliage. Soon, he saw who he was looking for… Arcee. The motorcycle just stood there as if it were a normal one in a normal day but Sam cannot really blame the other since she tried to really make up for the time she lost while in stasis. The young man had found her like that when Bee just threw him out of his compartment while leading Barricade further away.
With no one around, Sam tried to fix Arcee with the little control he has on the Allspark, effectively waking up the other but not enabling her to operate on optimum levels. He still needs practice on that but at least he was successful at his try.
"I am sorry, Sam, but from here on out, I would be able to maintain my balance… My systems are slow in repairing themselves." Arcee informed as her avatar tried to form before collapsing into particles once again.
"That is alright, Arcee… We'll manage this…" Sam told her as he carefully mounted the bike with Oen tucked over his front so she would not fall and still enable him to navigate the other. One hand was on the handle while the other held the other in place.
Satisfied with that arrangement, they tested it for a while before Sam got the hang of it and told Arcee to revved it up full. They soon shot out of the foliage before Sam's phone blared with Bumblebee's panicked voice.
::Sam! Barricade is on to us! He is headed to your direction now.:: The scout warned.
"Tell the others to send us some backup… Arcee is still not in the condition to take charge over her own frame and Sideswipe has already been badly damaged. I fear that Mirage wouldn't be able to hold much with both of them in no optimal condition like Thundercracker. I had seen Starscream, still able to move and fire." Sam told the other as he got a burst of 'aye aye commander'.
Sam's eyebrows furrowed in concentration of controlling the Allspark once again. He reached out into his mind, seeing the ball of energy and grasping once again the link he had with it to try and do the same from earlier. He got a good grasp of it that is until he was taken into surprise as they swerved to the side. Arcee might not have felt it but the air around them reeked with the scattered and released energy.
Nervously, he stayed silent about what had happened, thanking that the other hadn't noticed it. The young man just decided that it wasn't worth getting known right then and there so they continued on moving from road to foliage once again. The highway was a good choice to travel in haste but with Barricade hunting for them, Arcee wasn't taking chances on them getting seen. Sam had also hoped that the Decepticons were kept preoccupied as they try and get to the larger group with Oen paling by the minute.
He can see it on her face that she had lost a lot of her chubbiness though she did gain a ton like him. Thank goodness he was not organic on the inside or they would both be unable to advance out of this situation. Sensing her spark too, Sam found the feeling he was getting, strange. Out of all the times he had been exposed to spark frequencies, the other's was… new… and very wild as if one single thing can make it burst.
::Sam, bad news… I lost sight of Barricade…Slag. Keep an eye out for him, Sam. He knows that you have Oen.:: The black and yellow bot cursed as panic course over them. With Barricade untraceable, he might be anywhere.
A klik later though, they didn't have to worry about losing sight of the con because, at the distance, Sam can hear the familiar rumble of engines with his secretly heightened hearing.
"Uh… Bee… I think I know where he is…!" He stated in shock as he held onto his grips tighter.
Arcee who felt this, cursed too knowing that something was coming at them from the distance. She wasn't able to do anything but she did exert herself to speed up more… Hopefully, Sam would be able to handle the speed to outrun the mech approaching.
"Sam, better place your gear junkie out now. I'll provide you with speed and stability but you need to be able to control me hard enough…" Arcee rumbled. The only answer she got was his grip tightening again. With that, they shot faster and faster, seeing Barricade's own fast approaching form.
"Ugh… Please oh please…. Darn it… I am too young to die! For the second time…" Sam muttered as he gripped on to the handle harder. It was hard enough that he was working with one hand but seeing that the speed wasn't helping in keeping the girl in his hold safe, he wondered how he will do this. Instead of turning back to the other direction, they just went straight. It might be a crazy ass move but this was the only plan they have in getting pass the mech. Swerving to the side, they just slightly missed hitting the mech's side mirrors before continuing on.
It took not a minute later for Barricade to high tail and turn 360 towards them to pursue. Cursing, Sam looked at the Arcee's own side mirror to see that he was gaining greater distance by the second even though it was a wonder how the other could still manage such a feat when the mech looks as ready as any damage crap to be scrapped into the junkyard. Something was amiss and Sam couldn't help wonder as the Allspark in him burned awake in recognition of pain and panic. From being exposed to Arcee's spark a couple of dozens of times, he knew that this spark frequency was from Barricade himself, which puzzled him more.
Suddenly, a yellow blur went over then and tackled the ranging mech behind them. Sam's eyes widened as he saw that it was Bumblebee in the midst of a raging and already transformed Barricade.
"Go! Go! Gogogogo!" Bumblebee's radio blared as Arcee oblige not to stop.
*grins evily* So what do you all think is the real chapter? I know that a all of you who had read Amnesia know of Continuity and Reality chapter... but this time, I am not going to reaveal what is the real chapter. Did I just spawn again some very intruiging reactions? Let me know!
Review, readers. I love to see all of your reactions after so long.
Taeniaea: Welcome aboard! And feel free to take some of the craziness I have in store for all my readers. Thank you for the review and hope you continue on reading! Tell me all what you think... I'm open for plot twists too.
4212 wonderland: *hugs* Then thank you for adoring my little fic. I can't really say it is my finest but as you can see, it is one of my famous one along with the Black Screen. If you would like to check it out, I recommend it! Hmm... further questions? Why not PM me to make it more clear. I'll answer the most things I could... as long as it does not really impede my surprises in store for all of you. Maybe a mech's past? or maybe the fact as to why mearing is such a old grouchy lady? Or better yet! What will happen to Gould, Sam and his girl friend~ Okay, I am 'Bluestreaking' right now. But right, we will come to that Oen-Shein thing soon. But I think that Bloodshed is necessary... *winks*
BarricadesDemon216: *laughs* See what I did here for you? And guess what! What do you think will be the real continuity of this plot?