Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Triple Changing. Enjoy the 3600-word chapter. I do not own Transformers, Hasbro does.
(Autobot Base)
Fuse spun his weapon as he looked to the side.
"Fuse?" Optimus questioned as the Triple-Changer turned over to his commander.
"Yes, sir?" Fuse asked before he seemed to be relaxed.
He had been too interested in what was going on as he paused to think. He was too interested in such a thing before he cracked his fingers and then seemed to keep growing more and more with such an idea.
"Rachet has studied some information within your memory banks. I believe you have information on Sandstorm and a second Autobot." Optimus stated to which Fuse nodded.
"Yes, memory 224," Fuse stated before he crossed his arms. "I do not know what is going on in my memory banks, sir," Fuse stated.
Fuse stayed silent as he felt too thrown off before he was too chaotic for now. He had been too thrown for now and then he was too interested for this moment.
Optimus stayed silent before he sighed and leaned on the wall behind him. He knew what was going to happen as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Optimus seemed to relax, he paused, interested in a second idea. He would not be able to throw himself into the next message and then cracked his fingers.
"Sprinter is alive?" Bulkhead asked, walking up to the Triple Changer.
"I do not entirely know, Bulkhead," Fuse said, gesturing to the screen. "From what I have seen? Yes, he is functioning but I cannot tell if he survived reentry." Fuse stated.
He watched the Autobot's face contort into a snarl, a frown of emotion that made him want to scream. He knew it well, the idea of an Autobot dying while there was a chance of what was going on.
Still? He had been too unable to answer the question. He had the memories but it was not something which he could have relaxed.
"Optimus? If I may, however? We must find the two pods… Or however many might have crashed onto this planet." Fuse stated.
Optimus wanted to speak but Fuse spoke first. He had been too thrown off but too unable to deny what the next move was and would have been. It was something that not even the best Autobot could have prepared for.
"There is information on those two vital to the war effort," Fuse stated before he sighed, relaxing.
Optimus paused as if thinking. He could guess what he had been hearing, he knew more and more with each passing second on this planet. He was too interested in the idea and he knew more and more with time what was on the line.
The Autobot leader paused, turning to the side as Fuse turned to Bulkhead before marching past him to the monitor.
"Where did you get my memories?" Fuse stated before he sighed. "This much data is going to be taking time for now," Fuse stated.
"It already must be honest. I downloaded it while we were busily studying your chassis." Rachet stated before Fuse hummed, tired and thrown off at the same time.
"Fair enough, let us see what I remember," Fuse stated before the communications system flared up.
"Prime? I got a situation here; can you send your flier here?" They heard.
Fuse remembered the tone; it was the human from the base which he had woken up at. He was silent before he turned to Optimus and then nodded.
"Can you make do without me?" Fuse questioned before he spoke up. "What you need, soldier? I will see if I can get there soon." Fuse stated.
"Air support, Mech is running an op and I know the bots can't fly," Fowler stated.
Fuse turned to Optimus, raising an eyebrow at the commander.
"M.E.C.H?" Fuse questioned.
"Human insurgents. We encountered them while we were transporting a human weapon… And again, upon the operation, I was up on a few days prior." Optimus stated.
"So, the locals are hostile to a degree…" Fuse stated. "I will be over, just a heads up? My alt mode might be a least a little uncomfortable, I can fly ya, but I don't know if you can handle higher speeds." Fuse stated before Rachet opened the ground bridge.
Fuse slowly walked through it, blinking as he did so. There was a lot more to have been thinking through, he had not talked to Arcee today which bothered him.
He knew and she had butted heads for a few days and he defended himself as a soldier. Yet? Fuse knew the keen aspect of being on was relying on teammates. He had yet to make many bonds on the team and he kicked himself for it.
A second later and he arrived at a gated community. It was certainly a military outpost given the number of soldiers and weapons, he saw several craft like his tank alt mode and a few aircraft which reminded him of someone he wished he did not.
Fuse slowly walked through the base, giving a respectful nod to the soldiers milling around. He did not know these natives and they were more primitive than Cybertronians.
However? They were friendly and allied soldiers and Fuse would respect them as such. Any soldier willing to put their life on the line for an Autobot was equal to an Autobot in his opinion.
"Fuse?" Fuse heard before he looked to see a human who had been perhaps the commanding officer of this base.
An awkward silence fell over him. It was an awkward situation before he hummed before he looked over at the human.
"I am sorry, I do not believe we have met, soldier," Fuse stated as he crossed his arms. "And it is sergeant, sir. Fuse of the Autobot Army." Fuse stated.
Fuse was too interested in this sort of place was cool enough to have been dealt with for now as he hummed, too interested in what was going on next.
Even for him? He did not envy the humans, however as it came down to it all.
"Agent Fowler… Former U.S Army." Fowler stated to which Fuse nodded.
"What do you need, soldier?" Fuse asked. "The Decepticon army has been up to something?" Fuse questioned.
"You could say that… Recognize this?" Fowler asked, holding up a small screen.
Fuse grasped it as best he could, prying it from the human's fingers and holding it up. His optics focused in on what looked like a destroyed ship… Which was entirely Cybertronian in origin.
"The Maltreat… Decepticon Tormenter class warship… Where did you get this picture?" Fuse questioned to which Fowler hummed.
"Arcee and her partner…. While ago? It was just scrap and dust… But I've discovered what looks like the Cons might be busy." Fowler stated.
"Ah… Cee has been busy, it seems." Fuse stated. "So, you need me for an op? when do we mobilize? Do we know anything about the Decepticon strength?" Fuse asked.
"Heh… You remind me of myself during my time in the army… It's only one." Fowler stated.
"Ah," Fuse stated. "I'll check it out, Agent… Might be best if I destroy the wreckage, though. Don't want the cons getting their hands on any weapons onboard." Fuse stated.
"Actually? I was hoping Arcee could help… She has intel on the area and she and you seem the fastest… Well, you in the air." Fowler stated.
"Ah. Might be having some trouble then, she and I don't mix well." Fuse stated, crossing his arms. "I do not think we've mixed since I've been here," Fuse stated.
"You and her don't see eye to eye within the ranks," Fowler said, walking towards one of the ariel vehicles on base.
"Optic to optic, and yes," Fuse stated. "She believes I'm too eager to destroy Decepticons and too eager for a fight," Fuse stated before sighing.
"You're a soldier, are you not? Why don't you and her try and work through it? Optimus told me Triple-Changers still were supposed to work with other bots. It's something I don't understand." Fowler said.
"I'm… Trying to try, at least a little. I've been thinking over the last two times we argued." Fuse stated before he sighed.
"Can we please head out? I'll talk to Cee and tell her what is going on and then try and deal with it." Fuse stated with a shake of his head.
He knew more or less he was going to have to face another tail lashing from Arcee and he wasn't looking forward to it. He also knew part of him wanted to pound the cons into scrap, shattering them to pieces under his fists.
Still? He also wanted friends; he couldn't fight the Decepticon army alone… And no matter how much he felt tired? He knew he would be throwing more and more with it for now as she looked downwards.
He had been too interested for now as he looked to the ground. He had been too interested in what was going on before he sighed to himself.
There was a LOT more to try and deal with for now as she looked around for now… There was too much on the mind either way.
Fowler, either sensing his discomfort in trying to fit in or valuing the mission at the moment? Simply decided to board his aircraft, allowing Fuse to transform into his F-14 Tomcat mode and mercifully put any problems he had out to pasture.
(1 hour later)
Fuse soared ahead of the fleet of 3 helicopters. He could tell more and more with each passing moment that something was off, very off.
If the Decepticon Empire was busy here? He'd have met a full squadron of Vehicons followed by either Starscream or one of the Decepticon Lieutenants engaging him. He noticed no security and swooped down, transforming into his M1 Abrams mode, sweeping the turret around as the tank slammed into the ground.
With caution, he normally didn't exercise? He slowly rolled down the slope into the clearing, his weapons systems ready to vaporize the very next soldier he met.
After 10 seconds, however? The Triple-Changer shifted back to robot mode, curious as to the lack of opposition. He looked up to see the few helicopters overhead.
There was no way Megatron was scared of the human military, right? He didn't know the warlord to have any tactical weaknesses such as that.
"Fowler? You or your men picking up anything from the air?" Fuse questioned, sweeping his minigun arm around the clearing as he clicked his tongue.
"No. Nothing… Think you can take a closer look at the wreckage?" Fowler asked.
"Sure… Rachet? Can I ask if you can…?" Fuse asked before the medic spoke up.
"I have already informed Arcee. I have yet to gain any response from her." Rachet stated in a short, blunt tone.
Fuse sighed and leaped down into the crater. He blinked at the state the ship had been left in… Wreckage, pure and utter wreckage which seemed to be blasted to pieces.
He swept his weapons around, unsure if anything had been left to chance. Part of him wanted to fire a round in the air, daring any Cons to attack rather than let them ambush him.
"I don't see ANYTHING, Fowler. This carbon scoring wasn't made by Autobot weaponry. It's too messy, looks like someone made the ship explode from the inside." Fuse stated before he hummed.
"Well, I'd like to ask Arcee what in the world…" Fowler started to say before something came over the radio.
"There's a problem at the rock refinery… Fuse, mind lending some support?" Fowler asked.
"Let me guess… A con?" Fuse asked.
"A certain spider," Fowler stated.
"Arachnid, Megatron's hunter assassin…" Fuse said before he transformed. "Keep as much distance as you can, she's a monster at melee and I've seen her tear 3 bots open. I see a shot at blasting her to scrap? I'm taking it." Fuse stated before he transformed into jet mode and roared ahead of the fleet of helicopters.
He dropped a small little pin on his databanks about these coordinates. If they were still here when he returned? He'd file a full report with Optimus.
It would be too much harder to do it. There was a LOT more to try and deal with for now as she clicked her fingers before she seemed to be ready for it.
He flew faster and faster with each little second. Part of him knew if Arachnid had shown up? Someone WOULD die, it wasn't a question, they were not a match for her and would NEVER have been. It was too painful to deal with.
Even then? He would not allow it to have ended… Not now and not later.
"Fowler? I'm going in… NOW… I can't let her get away." Fuse stated while flying ahead.
he didn't wait for an answer… He didn't need one, didn't want one. All he had to do was fight and he did so very well.
He flew forwards with speed and gunned his engines, there was more energon at base… That was all he did.
(With Arcee)
Arcee flipped backward, landing a roundhouse kick on Arachnid who retreated… She knew M.E.C.H. They weren't even close to as dangerous an enemy as her… But she fought either way.
She landed a kick that knocked down the spider bot, pausing only to open fire and force her to fall the pylon.
She was about to try and save Jack when the whirl of helicopter blades made her turn to the ground.
She was greeted with a helicopter which possibly belonged to mech and she knew damned well what would happen if it attacked her friends.
So, she went to fire… Only for a rocket to slam into the vehicle, tossing it to the ground as the tail exploded and the craft exploded in a fireball.
She was about to turn only for the sound of engines to come flying in as she turned to see an F-14 Tomcat… Fuse? What was he…?
She went to turn only for Arachnid to fire a web at her. The F-14 circled back before flaring its engines at them, the jet turned and slammed into Arachnid, knocking her backward as it transformed.
"Arcee?!" Fuse asked as he flew to the top of the tower.
"Fuse!?" Arcee asked before a scream cut them off.
"Kick her skid plate… I'll get the kid out of here," Fuse stated before noticing a group of soldiers aiming their guns at Jack.
Fuse turned and leaped onto the tower, stomping as he did so and throwing the humans down a level. He turned to Jack with interest.
"Jack, right?" Fuse questioned to which Jack nodded. "Cool. I'm going to get you and her out of here." Fuse said with a sigh.
He could tell nothing of what was going on. He didn't want to leave Arcee to handle her alone, yet? He knew saving lives was part of what an Autobot did.
And he was not going to be just a soldier, he started trying to make friends today for now, he sighed to try and deal with it for now as he paused to look to the side.
He had been too interested in whatever he could deal with. He grabbed at Jack and the human, using his thrusters to fly into the air… He was greeted by a scream from the woman which made him wince.
'I guess I shouldn't be surprised to hear this on my auto receptors.' He thought as he fell to the ground.
He landed atop a building, kneeling to let the two down as he turned back to Jack for a moment. The humans fired at them as Fuse growled, his voice echoing into a primal roar of fury at this.
"Stay here… I'll be right back," Fuse stated before he leaped into the air and transformed back into his jet mode.
"Was that a plane?" June asked as Jack just nodded in disbelief.
(With Arcee)
Arcee turned her attention back to Arachnid and her reinforcements as they all struck at once. She leveled a blaster at them as the sound of engines slowly yet surely roared up.
"Arcee, let go!" Fuse yelled as a light came from his frame.
Arcee did so as she realized what it was: A rocket which was followed by another as she dropped to the ground, the lights slowly seeming to fly back and slam into the silo, blowing it to pieces and throwing aside Arachnid while consuming the soldiers in a fireball.
Fuse roared through the flames, transforming in time to perch atop more of the machinery. He turned to Arcee with a hum as if he was thrown off by her appearance.
"Ladies night?" Fuse joked as Arcee shrugged.
"This was a private event." They heard as Arachnid slammed her legs into the ground.
"Really? Your little buddies don't seem to get the memo." Fuse stated, gesturing to the humans. "I know you; you are too dangerous to need backup and you are not one for team-ups. Which means you are here because of something else." Fuse stated.
"Oh, look. An Autobot with brains… You are in the way, Fuse… And I don't like things in my way." Arachnid stated.
"Too bad, I like scrapping war criminals…" Fuse said, his minigun popping from his wrist. "Arcee? You want to take her yourself or do you need backup?" Fuse asked.
"She's mine, protect Jack," Arcee said, unfurling her arm blades.
Fuse wanted to argue against this… But he had no real reason to. Arachnid was a dangerous assassin but he could see a few more of the surviving humans going to attack Jack.
"Be careful. We both know what she can do." Fuse stated before he flew up and towards the humans.
"Yes, we both know how Tailgate worked out." Arachnid hissed.
Arcee screamed a battle cry and tossed herself at the Decepticon assassin, she knew it was meant to throw her off balance, unsettle her to the core… And it was working, she wanted this woman dead and dead now, damn the cost and damn the morality of such a thing. She would not be allowed to do such a thing.
She slammed into Arachnid, throwing them down to another level where they slammed into the ground of scraping and slamming metal. She kicked Arachnid to the side while flipping back onto the platform.
Arachnid turned to engage before a barrage of gunfire forced her to the side. She turned to see Fuse who had set the humans aside and carried them down the street.
He had been unable to think of whatever needed to try and deal with it for now. He flew towards them, knocking Arachnid off balance.
"Kid said to help you… He's got guts." Fuse said before he turned back to him. "You hurt them? I'll tear your spark out." Fuse stated before he sighed.
"Oh, good. A bot with manifolds." Arachnid stated before she hissed.
"How about you frag off before I shoot your spark out?" Fuse hissed. "Arcee, we're outnumbered, I am not leaving you or the kid here… Not against her, I know what this fragging monster is like." Fuse stated, narrowing his eyes.
Fuse knew more and more that he had intruded on something and he was between a rock and a hard place… if he tried to save the kids? Arachnid would gain the upper hand and kill Arcee.
Save her? M.E.C.H would go after the kids. He was hoping that if Fowler and his team showed up, he could use more reinforcements.
The spider bot pounced on them, firing webs and lasers as Fuse darted back with Arcee flipping backward. It was clear that they were as outmatched as they looked.
"So, the itsy-bitsy ambush you on patrol?" Fuse asked, scanning the skyline as he did so.
"No," Arcee stated. "Went after his mother," Arcee stated.
"Right, being a coward… Classic con move." Fuse stated. "Arcee? I want to talk when this is over… Real one." Fuse stated before opening fire.
He knew more and more that if he survived at the moment? He'd not be hearing the end of such things. Not that he didn't deserve it.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Arachnid questioned.
"Yeah, life," Fuse said before listening. "Also? Thanks for choosing to assault an Autobot in the open." Fuse said before the sound of choppers was heard.
Arachnid went to say something only to be greeted with more and more gunfire, making her flinch as a series of helicopters arrived.
"I'm glad I got picked for recon today…" Fuse said opening fire as did Arcee.
Arachnid screeched in pain, knowing that even with Mech? She was outgunned, she had no way to kill two Autobots at once and she wasn't able to fight back openly.
She turned, her optics flaring a green beam that swept over the helicopter as she transformed into it, slowly lifting off the ground as Fuse shifted his arm into that of a missile launcher.
He weighed the option of getting Arachnid or saving the humans… And he chose to be an Autobot first, firing the rocket and then turning to check on Jack.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point this out so Fuse does not come off as an insert. I am going to make half the story about the show and half the things not in it. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show off the aftermath as well as setting up the next mission and Megatron's next plan. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!