Hi everyone! And we're back with another chapter at the appointed time. Have to say, it's useful for me to have the time between initially writing the chapters and they're being posted. Gives me time to revise or even add in stuff like I did with this one, cause I later decided I didn't want to just mention the characters in the dream, but wanted to give them a little personality too. :D
Have fun!
Chapter 15
Venting. Scraping of metal. Grunts. Blaster shots. Cries of pain.
War.
War was going on around the purple femme, battles of Autobots against Decepticons. Energon was spilt. Flowing freely and covering the metal ground, staining it blue. She was there and yet felt disconnected from it, like she was watching a movie.
"Violetwind!" a pink femme called out from her left. "Did you hear me? I called for a retreat!"
She heard herself reply, "But we have to maintain our position! They're counting on us! If we leave now, they might not survive!"
"And if we don't move now we won't survive to help them later! Get moving, we'll regroup and try again!" the femme yelled.
With a huff she complied, "Yes, ma'am."
They retreated, ducking enemy fire to regroup with a group of other femmes, who Violetwind recognised from her previous dream, though she still could not recall their names.
"Gals, we've got to help that transport get through. It's carrying energon, which you all know, we desperately need," the pink femme spoke to the others in a leader-like fashion.
"So then come on, let's get out there. We can't let everyone down," replied the blue femme.
The rest chorused their agreement, and let out a cheer.
Violetwind, however, was more sombre. "Are you sure about this? We sure as slag don't have the numbers for this."
"Just chill, Vi, we can handle it," a light green femme shot her a smile.
"Just stay in formation and look out for each other," a bulkier orange and red femme told her.
A silver seeker femme with blue highlights rested a hand on her shoulder. "You're job's not even that hard. 'Least you get cover. I'll be up there," she nodded to the skies where they could see Autobots and Decepticon fliers darting and weaving about each other.
The purple femme grunted. "Just don't get shot down."
"Are we sure she doesn't care the tiniest bit?" teased the older, darker green femme.
"Give it a rest. Let's get to it," grumbled Violetwind, although a light smile played on her face.
"She's right we've got a job to complete. Roll out!" the pink one ordered.
The bots all nodded, heading off, ready to rejoin the battle.
Before she could find herself fighting again, Violetwind's dream faded, or at least this scene did. It morphed into something else and she found herself alone on a spaceship. The vessel was small and fairly plain. She was just sitting, watching the monitors with an extremely uninterested expression.
Just before she could fall into recharge out of boredom, they sprang to life, screaming out beeps and jolting her upright. The sensors were detecting a Decepticon presence on a nearby inhabited planet. The femme gasped, knowing about the complete disrespect they had for local lifeforms. Without even considering how dangerous it might be to herself going in alone, she headed straight for the planet.
Everything was going fine until, as luck would have it, one of the engines blew out. "You slagging piece of Decepticon junk!" she screamed hitting the ships dashboard angrily with her fists. "I knew I should have cleaned out the engines while back on Aleneex," she muttered, grabbing the manual controls to do her best to survive the inevitable crash. She was going down and going down hard.
"Ahhhhh!" The purple femme cried as the ground loomed ever closer, closing her optics in anticipation of the crash landing.
~oOo~
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Violetwind screamed, immediately sitting up as she jolted awake.
'Violet, Violet, calm down. Calm down,' a beeping yellow mech, rested a hand on her shoulder.
Venting heavily she looked up into his bright blue optics, trying to calm herself. "Bee..." she panted. Swinging her legs over the side of the berth, she rubbed her hands over her optics.
'Are you alright? I just came to tell you that Optimus had finished upgrading the ground bridge but you were crying out in your sleep,' chirped the mech.
"I- I think so... Just another... another nightmare..." she told him, trying to shake off the odd feeling that came with her dream. Lifting her head she looked at him questioningly, "We now have a space bridge?"
He nodded, his voice full of concern, 'You ready to leave or do you need a little while to recover?'
Trying to smile, she reassured him, "No, I'm ok. It's just a dream... or... something... Anyway it doesn't matter now. Let's go check out the space bridge."
Bumblebee whirred his agreement and they headed out to the main room.
"It's amazing what that forge has done," Arcee commented as the femme and mech entered the room.
The orange and white medic muttered in awe. "Yet another astonishing convergence of magic and science, courtesy of the ancients."
"And our leader," added Smokescreen, proudly looking upon the mech.
Bulkhead grinned, "It's hard to believe. A few swings of that hammer, and bam!"
"Our ground bridge becomes a space bridge," the blue femme finished for him.
Violetwind glanced over at the new space bridge, "So we'll be able to get to Cybertron with this?"
"Most certainly will," the green mech replied cheerily.
'This is great we can go secure the Omega Lock now and stop Megatron from getting there!' chirped Bumblebee excitedly.
Their conversation was interrupted by something on the monitors, the computer letting out a series of beeps.
Ratchet was quick to investigate what was wrong. "Our senses are detecting a massive energon burst occurring outside Earth's atmosphere. A surge of that kind could only mean one thing; activation of another space bridge..."
Stepping forward, their leader spoke gravely, "Megatron has discovered that the Omega Lock is on Cybertron."
The medic's face looked grim, "Then it appears we have lost our advantage."
"But," Optimus spoke with hope, "with Megatron unaware that we now posses the means of interstellar travel, the element of surprise remains in our favour. We must embark on this mission with every resource at our disposal. Autobots, retrieve the weapons from our vaults."
With nods of acknowledgement, they moved off to collect the devices, while Violetwind hung back, not really sure what to do with herself. So she just waited until the others returned; objects in hand. Looking over them, she wondered what each of them did. About to ask, she was stopped by her voice piping up.
Oh hey! The Immobilizer, I made that!
"I-I made that..." she muttered in surprise, staring at the device in Bulkhead's hands. "I made a weapon!" The femme squeaked in horror.
Overhearing her, the green mech glanced down at the weapon, before looking back at her. "You made the Immobilizer?"
"Um, apparently... Well, so says my voice," she replied warily.
"Here," he offered her the weapon, "I don't need it. I can do just fine without it."
"But- I- uh, I..." the femme tried to reply.
Bulkhead chuckled, "No need to be shy. Here," he placed the device in her hands, "And just be careful out there. We'll probably be getting into a bad fight out there. Keep your wits about you and you'll be fine."
The mech then walked off, leaving her holding the Immobolizer. Violetwind just stared at it for a moment before quietly whispering, "So how do I work it?"
It's not hard, just point, shoot and your enemies are frozen where they stand. Pretty handy indeed.
Well at least you're talking to me again. She thought to herself, not having heard from the voice since she tried to get information from Starscream.
"Come on, Vi, you aren't going to stand there all day, are you?" Smokescreen called out, waving her over.
"Uh, no," turning around she quickly joined the group as they readied themselves to head out through their upgraded ground bridge.
Though before they left, as they waited for Optimus, they bots realised they could hear banging echoing through the halls.
"What's he forging now?" questioned the large green mech, causing everyone to look towards the noise.
After a few more clangs of metal, the sound stopped and Optimus Prime emerged holding a large weapon. The Star Saber had been repaired. Everyone's optics fell immediately on the sword, mixtures of feelings going through them; joy and amazement the predominant ones. Violetwind felt a sense of awe that the magnificent weapon was now whole again; especially after having seen it destroyed with her own optics. The battle fields were level once again.
"Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost!" declared the Autobot leader firmly. Placing the saber onto the holder on his back, he transformed, leading them through the space bridge.
~oOo~
Exiting the other side of the vortex, the purple femme could not withhold a gasp. All around them were ruined rusty metallic buildings, some so tall that even Optimus was tiny by comparison. The scarring of war was clearly seen over the landscape as they drove through it. She was both amazed and horrified as she took everything in. The world felt so foreign...
Cybertron... The voice muttered into her thoughts sadly. It used to be quite beautiful...
Optimus transformed and came to a stop, the rest of them following suit. The leader felt a deep pang of sadness in his spark at being on their dead planet once again. To see it again reminded him of how long the war had been going on and that his desire for peace had still not yet come to pass. The Autobots and Decepticons just could not see optic to optic.
"We must stop Megatron," Optimus muttered quietly to himself, his head down and optics closed.
Feeling something touch his arm, the mech looked down to see Violetwind staring back up at him with sad, caring optics, yet a soft smile on her face. "I believe in you, Optimus."
A small smile lifted his face. "Thank you, Violetwind," he replied softly, her words helping ease the pain in his spark.
They moved off again, keeping their senses alert. Then in the quiet their audios caught the sound of many steps: the sound of an army.
Slowly and quietly they drew closer, taking a good vantage point where they could look down upon their enemies without being noticed. Down below Megatron and his vehicon troopers were searching for the Omega Lock's location.
Keeping his voice down, Optimus started organising them for the fight and retrieval of the keys. "The Decepticons are unaware of our presence; our element of surprise still remains. Let us use that to our advantage. Autobots, this is one fight we cannot afford to lose. "
Quickly the Prime explained the details of his plan to the team. "Smokescreen, you will go in first, attacking from the rear."
"You got it, Optimus. Can't wait to see the looks on those 'Cons faces when I show up out of nowhere!" the rookie replied enthusiastically with a wide grin.
"Bumblebee, you will attack from the right with Violetwind. I would like you two to remain together. Violetwind does not posses the battle experience to be left alone."
The scout nodded and whirred, 'Of course, Optimus.' He looked over at the femme, 'You can count on me, I won't let anything happen to you.'
"Thanks, Bee," she smiled, appreciating his confidence and glad she was not going to be alone.
"Bulkhead, Arcee," the red and blue bot continued, "you will start off from the left. We will then gather, attacking from down there," he turned to point towards where he wished them to be in the street below, "I will deal with Megatron myself while you reclaim the Omega Keys. Once they are in our possession retreat. Do not remain to fight. As we make our retreat, Smokescreen, that is when you are to use the spark extractor."
"What then Optimus?" Arcee questioned.
"Then, we shall head for the Omega Lock."
Understanding their roles, the group disembarked for their separate positions where they would take on the Decepticons. Violetwind and Bumblebee had staked out a place above the troops on a broken roadway. The femme was shifting nervously, scared about the battle ahead.
Noticing that she was unsettled, the yellow mech looked at her with concern, 'You alright?'
Glancing briefly over at him, she turned her gaze to her pedes, "I'm just worried... about everything- about everyone. You guys have become like family, I don't want to see anyone get hurt..."
'Hey, stop worrying. It won't help you and it won't help anyone else. We'll pull through this,' he assured her.
"You really think I can do this?"
Nodding he chirped comfortingly, 'You just have to believe in yourself, like the way you believe in Optimus.'
She sighed, "Sometimes it's easier to believe in someone else..."
Their conversation grew quiet as the pair saw Smokescreen phase out of the ground behind the Decepticon army. The young mech was about to take out the rear guards before they even realised he was there. When they finally did turn around they were not even able to get a shot on him, the phase shifter causing them to fly right through him.
'Right, my turn,' Bumblebee beeped, activating the polarity gauntlet. He picked up a large hunk of scrap metal, as the white mech ran off back into the wall. Directing the pile over the vehicon troopers he dropped it crushing a few of them in the process.
'Now, Vi,' whirred the mech.
Activating the Immobilizer she aimed it towards the troops. Firing the weapon, the pulses froze the enemy where they stood, rendering them useless.
An enraged Megatron roared to his troops, "Crush them!"
His army was quick to obey, firing up at where the two Autobots were positioned.
'Time to get going,' beeped the mech, grabbing Violetwind's arm and starting to run.
Racing along they dodged enemy blaster fire from below. Releasing her arm, Bumblebee transformed into vehicle mode, in order to facilitate their escape. The purple femme followed his example transforming into her alternate mode and speeding after him.
Elsewhere in their own positions, Bulkhead and Arcee joined in the battle, first with their blaster fire before jumping down to begin the charge; the blue femme wearing the Apex armour before she even hit the ground.
Bumblebee and Violetwind drove up behind them. The yellow mech returned to robot mode, running alongside the other two as they charged towards the vehicons. The femme transformed too, stumbling a little over her own pedes in the process. Regaining her balance she drew out her blaster, adding to her comrades' shots.
Behind her, Smokescreen emerged from the ground, joining the charge. "You ready for this, Vi?" he called over to her.
"No," she whined, wishing they were still back at base before things had gone rotten and Starscream had tricked them.
"You've got this! Just remember your training," the mech encouraged.
"Mhmm," she muttered to herself, "Hear that voice, remember my training. You were a big part of that so I hope you're not going to go and give me silent treatment now..."
She felt an inner sigh, coupled with a few seconds silence before it broke into her thoughts. Well, I couldn't leave you out here defenceless now could I? She could almost feel it smirking.
"Good to know," the femme smiled a little.
Distraction from her inner voice came in the form of Megatron roaring to his troops. "Defend the keys!"
The vehicons surrounding those holding the keys automatically gathered closer, forming a tight-knit barrier. While others charged towards the Autobots, ready to give all they had in the battle.
Slag's about to go down. Get ready.
The first of the Decepticon troopers came within physical combat distance. The Autobots knocked them down like they were nothing, focused on achieving their goal. Optimus joined them as they ran, shoving away vehicons with ease.
Angered by their progress, Megatron yelled a command to his troops, "Use the bombs!"
A trooper carrying the explosives, grabbed one and tossed it at their enemies. Violetwind shrieked as it landed in front of her, her arms instinctively raised to shield her face as she ducked back. Yet nothing happened. After a few seconds had passed, she slowly relaxed, opening her optics to look down at the supposed bomb.
Inside her head, her voice was cackling like an idiot.
"What happened?" she muttered in confusion.
"What was that supposed to be Deceptacreep! It didn't even fizzle!" Smokescreen yelled, a mocking grin on his face.
Still laughing her voice spat out, The fragging idiots! They didn't even realise the plans I gave them weren't finished! Those were of the first prototype that was a complete failure! They have the wrong Immobilizer bomb plans!
Hearing this, even Violetwind herself broke into giggles.
A deep growl could be heard from the Decpeticon leader in his anger, realising the plans must have been wrong, or that Knock Out was extremely incapable. "Get them!"
It was just after he yelled that Megatron was met by his old rival, Optimus Prime. The pair of mechs entered into battle against one another their mighty swords clashing in an amazing display. Purple and blue energy waves bloomed about them, showing off the immense power of their weapons.
Megatron, you're gonna have to do better than that piece of scrap! her voice called out, uninterested in the leaders' battle and despite the mech himself not being able to hear it. Suddenly it stopped laughing and gave her a swift command, Vi, duck and slice!
Having been giggling over the sneakiness of her inner voice she had forgotten about the battle, allowing one the the vehicons to almost get the drop on her. Luckily for her, her voice was watching out for her; still giving useful instructions, to which she reacted instinctively.
Ducking out of the way she brought out her left sword to slice the trooper across his chest-plate. Energon seeped from the wound as she delivered a kick over it, knocking the vehicon back. Quickly she spun around before another could come at her from behind, which one was trying to do.
Go right.
Immediately she side stepped to the right, the shot that had been aimed at her helm, passing harmlessly by her. Swinging her left arm from across her chest she severed the mech's neck. A feeling of sickness welled up in her as she watched it fall backward, heavily leaking energon. It just hit her; she was fighting... she was killing...
This realisation froze her to the spot, gaze locked on the vehicon. Her vocal processors were choked up with emotion. "I- I..."
Forget them! You need to get back into this fight or you'll be the one on the ground! Her voice yelled at her.
"I can't..." she cried softly, optics still locked on the leaking energon.
"Violet, look out!" Smokescreen yelled at her but she could not respond, horrified at being the cause of something's death.
'Violet!' This time the shout was from Bumblebee right before he knocked into her, sending the pair tumbling to the ground.
Turning her helm to her rescuer, she looked at the mech with wide optics and open mouth but could not say anything.
Bumblebee looked down at her with concern before rolling off her and getting up. 'Hey, are you alright? You just froze up.'
Shakily getting to her pedes, she vented for a few moments and collected her thoughts before they all poured out in a hurry, "I'm not ready for this. I can't do this. I don't want to do this! I don't wanna fight. I don't wanna kill! I c-"
He broke her off, stopping her from falling too far into a freak out rant. 'Violet, calm down! We can't back out now. Cybertron is counting on us. You can do this! Believe in yourself, I do.'
She took a few deep breaths into her intakes in order to calm down.
'If you don't want to kill, knock them out instead,' he suggested, 'or, use the Immobilizer more. It only freezes not kills.'
"Right... Right, I can do this... I'll just, knock them out..." Steadying herself she looked back at the scout, "Thanks..."
The mech's optics softened before he whirred, 'I said I'd take care of you. You've got this.' He then quickly ducked back off into battle, yet staying nearby in case she needed more help defending herself again.
Surveying the fight she spotted an opening to the keys. Taking advantage of it she aimed the Immobilzer in that direction and fired, sending the waves over the vehicons holding the keys. Suddenly Bumblebee was at her side again, having realised what she was aiming for. Using the polarity gauntlet, he easily retrieved the keys from their holders, bringing them towards the Autobots. As they got close enough Arcee, Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Bumblebee plucked them straight out of the air.
'Let's go,' chirped the yellow scout transforming to his alternate mode.
The rest followed his example, racing off with their prizes.
Optimus was the last to leave, having just knocked Megatron back he preformed a quick spin and swung his saber so that it sent an energy wave at his opponent. The wave hit Megatron with such a force that he was sent flying. Seeing that his team were already retreating Optimus joined them, leaving the last part of the plan to occur.
Megatron stood up on top of the decayed building Optimus had flung him onto. He roared threateningly at his soldiers, not happy that the Autobots had stolen back the keys. "I will have those keys or I will have your sparks!"
Stepping out from a piece of rubble, Smokescreen grinned. "I can help with the last part," he held up the final device in the Autobot's arsenal.
The Decepticon leader's optics went wide as he recognised the weapon. "The Spark Extractor!"
Hitting a few troops with his fist, the white mech phased through the ground, leaving behind the activated Spark Extractor. The weapon began to spark, arcing from the closest vehicons before its reach started spreading, taking the life from any trooper it came across.
Roaring in frustration, Megatron threw his sword into the spark extractor, destroying it and stopping it from taking more lives.
Smokescreen smirked as he phased through the environment to return to the others. The rest of Megatron's army had been taken care of and now the Autobots had some time to find and secure the Omega Lock.
And so we finally see what happened with those plans Violet gave to Megatron all those chapters ago.
Side note: the random planet name Aleneex, upon going back over it I realised it resemblance to the tissue brand, Kleenex. It was not intentional, yet amusing. XD