Authors Notes- Looky here. I finally return after what seems like forever. I apologize for that life you know? But here I am with another chapter to Otherworld at long last. As you can gather I don't own Transformers. The belongs to Hasbro, I only own the plot. Now that we got that out of the way here is Chapter Five. I hope you enjoy!
The kids didn't know what they were expecting when they stepped through the ground bridge. And into the ruined remains of what they could guess had been the Nemesis. At least that's what it looked like to them, according to what they remembered from their very brief times they had been aboard the Decepticon ship back in their universe. Only this one looked like it had seen better days.
"Welcome to the Nemesis." Airachnid said, still leaning against Starscream, energon leaking from her many wounds. Her optics flickering as she almost collapsed. "Once it was one of the greatest Decepticon ships. Now an unrepairable wreck we use to hide from the Autobot threat."
"What happened to it?" Raf asked, looking around, taking note of the wires hanging from the ceiling to the ruined consoles.
"Autobots happened if you're that curious." A familiar voice spoke, one that sent shivers down Miko spine.
Turning around her eyes widened as the all too familiar figured emerged from the shadows. However, unlike her universe's Breakdown this one looked far worst for wear compared to the one back home, who only lost his optic. This one looked far worst, sure he was still missing his optic, but there were also claw marks running down his face plate. Leaving deep grooves in the metal. And his normally blue paint job that Miko knew him for almost looked black it was so stained. And he walked with a limp. And most noticeable of all? His left arm was missing, long wires sticking out of the stump.
To put it nicely he looked like crap.
"What are you doing up and about?" Starscream asked. "You should be resting until Knock Out can fix you.
At that Breakdown sighed and rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Was feeling restless, and I overheard that you and Airachnid got into some trouble, I got worried." Breakdown said.
"How sweet.," Airachnid cooed, offering him a tired smile.
At that Breakdown offered of his own as she reached out to him, her fingers brushing against his scarred cheek. All while the kids looked on. Miko and Jack couldn't help but wonder if these two were like this in their world, and instantly regretted it. Shoving the thoughts from their heads the group continuing on as Breakdown moved to follow them into what Jack could only guess was the med bay.
The trio watched as Breakdown limped to his berth with a sigh. They then turned to the corner of the room, where Knock Out sat with his back to him.
"Oh, Knock Out I have another patient for you." Starscream said, jerking Knock Out from his thoughts, making him jump.
Turning around Knock Out' optics widened as they settled on the sorry form of Airachnid. Jumping out of his seat he moved towards them, stopping when he saw three human children at his feet before looking to Starscream and Airachnid.
"What happened?" Knock Out asked, moving around the kids to take Airachnid off of Starscream's hands, and helping her to the bed as Airachnid hissed through her denta as he did so.
"Catch the Autobots terrorizing some stray humans? Or are they some bold little escapees from one of the Autobot death camps?"
All three kids looked up as Kock Out said this, another question, one of so many forming in their minds. Airachnid shook her head as she looked down at them. "Actually I was on patrol when I stumbled across Arcee and Cliffjumper terrorizing these three. I..." Airachnid trailed off, optics narrowed. "Couldn't leave them be." She said.
"I highly doubt any of us could, Airachnid." Starscream said. "But, let's be honest," he said, arms crossed as he narrowed his optics at Airachnid. "You also wanted to try and take Arcee out, didn't you?"
Airachnid was silent, her optics narrowing further but said nothing as Starscream heaved a sigh, shoulders slumping. "I know you and her have had...history I know that. But you could have been killed. You know as well as I do that both Arcee and Cliffjumper are a few of Lord Prime's most feared soldier. Or were, now that Arcee is one with the Allspark that leaves Cliffjumper all alone. And will no doubt be looking for payback." Starscream said.
"Perfect." Knock Out commented as he worked to seal up Airachnid's wounds. Causing the femme to hiss in pain, and glare at him. "Wasn't it bad enough that the 'Bots out number us, but now we have an Autobot with an vendetta against us too? Boy does our luck just keep improving. Next thing you know is that they'll be knocking on our front door and such."
"That's not going to happen." Starscream insisted. "And besides I was the one who landed the killing blow on the two-wheeler. So, if anyone's at fault it's me."
"You should have left her for me." Airachnid growled, glaring at Starscream.
"Puh-lease. No disrespect, Airachnid but if I hadn't stepped in when I did it would be you that would be one with the Allspark." Starscream growled, hands on his hips.
Airachnid moved to come up with a retort. But thought against it, as much as she hated to admit it, Starscream was right. Heaving a sigh she said nothing. Silence soon permeating through out the medbay.
"Not that this isn't interesting." Miko spoke, all optics on her as she did. "But, I think we have some questions of our own, and well...yeah." Miko trailed off, looking down at her feet,
This had to be a dream, a really messed up dream brought on by... Miko had no idea, but she was more than ready to wake up and find herself back in her world with Bulkhead and the rest of the Autobots. In a place where the Autobots were good and would never hurt them, where Optimus was never called Lord Prime, and Arcee would never try to hurt them. Let alone Jack. And yet, Miko thought as she pinched her arm for the countless time that night. It wasn't a dream.
"Ah, yes I do recall you saying something like that. But, as curious as I am to hear your story we should see Megatron, and then you can tell us your story." Starscream said. Moving towards the door, looking over his shoulder at the three humans.
They were silent as they looked from one to another, before moving to follow Starscream. Their hearts thundering in their chests as they did so. While it was obvious these Decepticons were the good ones, they were still apprehensive about meeting Megatron. As images of the Decepticon warlord from their world flashed through their mind, as they walked down the hall after Starscream.
"I...I don't understand." June said, as she stood before Optimus, Agent Fowler at her side looking equally confused. "Y-you're telling me that the kids are missing? That you have no idea where they are?"
This had to be a dream. There was no way that Optimus was telling her this. There was no way Jack and the others were missing.
"How could they be missing?" she choked out, swatting Fowler's hand off her shoulder, as he tried to comfort her.
Optimus was silent as he crouched down before the distraught woman. He wanting to reassure her, to tell her something, anything but he could think of nothing to tell her. He and Ratchet had spent countless hours trying to find out where the kids had ended up to no avail. And now the bad news had reached June.
"Nurse Darby." Ratchet spoke up, moving to where the human woman stood, tears shining in her blue eyes. "I assure you that we are doing everything we can to locate them-"
" Just tell me what happened." June cut in, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Ratchet looked to Optimus and the others, the Autobot leader nodding to his old friend.
All the while the rest of the Autobots listened. June was silent as they told her what had happened. Silence soon fell over the base.
"So, you're telling me that the kids are trapped somewhere? In like another dimension?" Asked Fowler, sound incredulous as he looked up at the Autobots.
"It's the only explanation." Ratchet said.
June needed to sit down, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. The kids were lost. And not only that but they were lost in some sort of dimension? And so far there was no way of getting them back?! June groaned as she slumped down on the couch the kids usually sat.
Regret forming in the pit of her stomach. She should have forbade Jack and the others from being involved with the Autobots. And now they were gone.
"June." Arcee spoke, and as the blue Autobot spoke a surge of anger flowed through June's body as she glared at Arcee.
"Don't lose hope. Ratchet and the others are doing all they can to bring them back. So, please don't lose hope." Arcee said.
June only glared at her as Arcee said that, before getting to her feet. Cold, blue eyes narrowed as she looked to Agent Fowler. "Take me home." She growled. "I don't want to stay here any longer."
Silence once again fell over the Autobot base as they watched the human woman and their human liaison disappeared.
"That," Smokescreen commented, tubbing at the back of his head. "Could have been better." A shiver ran down his spinal strut, as he remembered the look June gave them when she first heard the news.
Remembered the look in her eyes as she looked up at them. Anger and betrayal shining in her eyes. Smokescreen wondered if it would have been better if June had just yelled? Or done anything but looking at them like they had betrayed her. And they had, they had vowed to protect the humans under their care, and they had failed at that...
Shaking that thought from his head he looked to the others. "So..." he said, all optics were on him. "What now?"
As soon as he said that Optimus then turned away from his men, optics narrowed. Denta gritted. "We do what we can to bring the children back. "Optimus said. "No matter the cost."
Authors Notes- And thus concludes Chapter Five of Otherworld. Sorry it wasn't that great. I'm a little under the weather. But never less I hope you enjoyed and this is The Exhausted Writer signing off, have a good night!