Authors Notes- And here I am back again with yet another chapter to Gilded Earth. As you can already gather I don't Transformers that belongs to Hasbro. I do, however I do own the plot. Now that we got that out of the way here is Chapter Three.
Chapter Three: Scattered Like Leaves On The Ground.
This was not how Smokescreen ever thought that the war would go, the young rookie thought as he paced around the small bunker he had taken refuge in after he and the rest of the Autobots escaped. Leaving Ratchet and Optimus behind. Smokescreen didn't know where any of the other were, so he was alone, on a planet ruled by Decepticons, the to top it off the kids were missing too. Oh this was so not how he thought things would go. And now he and the rest of the Autobots were scattered across this planet.
And due to the suddenness of the attack Smokescreen wasn't sure if Jack and the others had gotten out safely. Guilt gripped Smokescreen as he leaned against the wall, arms wrapped around his knees. What was he going to do now? He was alone, Optimus was gone, the kids were gone, and Arcee and the rest of the Autobots could be anywhere on this planet. He wanted to comm them, to tell them where he was but he knew that it would bring the Decepticons down on their heads. Heaving another sigh Smokescreen chewed on his bottom lip. He had to come up with something, find someway to get them back together.
You do have the phase shifter. He thought to himself, his optics settling on the device strapped to his wrist, something he had grabbed before things went to hell. Something he hoped would be useful in the future. But, for right now it was useless. Muttering a curse Smokescreen got to his feet, and began pacing around the place, optics narrowed. But... Smokescreen stopped in his tracks, an idea forming in his mind. Perhaps there was something at the ruins of the old base that could help him? And if not maybe he could find away into the Decepticon base Megatron and his goons had set up.
He might even find something there. Moving towards the exit he turned his gaze upwards, scanning the sky for any sign of Decepticon activity, before transforming and driving off.
It was quiet. Bulkhead never knew how much he hated the silence until he no longer had Miko with him. The green wrecker growled as he drove down the road, seeing nothing but mountains as he drove on by. Was Miko still alive? Was Jackie? These questions kept floating through his head as he drove. If Wheeljack was still alive then Bulkhead had no doubt that he would follow Wrecker protocol and they would meet up again, or so Bulkhead hoped. But, Miko...She didn't know about that, they had never suspected that their base would have been discovered.
In fact if Bulkhead had been quicker he would have grabbed Miko and the rest of the kids when they were about to ground bridge away. But things had happened so fast. Miko, I am so sorry. Bulkhead thought. He hoped she was still alive. Some friend he was. Bulkhead thought, Wheeljack was MIA, Miko was missing, and he hadn't the slightest idea where the others could be. And that darkened Bulkhead's mood as he drove, he hoped he would run into a Decepticon or several just so the green wrecker had something to take his anger on something.
He drove on, a low growl escaping him. Whatever happened Bulkhead hoped he would find away to reunite with the rest of the Autobots. And then maybe just maybe they would get back at the Decepticons.
Bumblebee didn't know where he was going, didn't know where he had ended up. All he knew was that he had to keep driving, that is until he caught sight of a couple of Vehicon fliers. His spark fluttering as he caught sight of them. He hoped that with his new paint job he would manage to slip past them without much trouble. Releasing the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding as the two fliers passed him by.
Thank Primus. He thought as he continued down the road. The last thing he wanted was to run into any Decepticons while he was searching for the rest of the Autobots. But that was a task easier said than done, and without Raf to scour the web for any sight of them was even harder. A pang of sorrow gripped Bumblebee's spark as he thought about the boy. Was Raf in the grips of the Decepticons? Bumblebee didn't know, but he hoped that he wasn't under the rumble of the former base dead. Bumblebee didn't know what he would do if Raf was dead. Raf had been on of the only few people who actually understood him.
And he seemed to understand Raf in kind. He knew that the boy was the youngest in his family, and because of that was often over looked by his family. And so, before Raf had met Bumblebee and the rest of the Autobots the boy was rather withdrawn. And sure, that might still be the case but Bumblebee had seen Raf grow.
And if Bumblebee was being honest he had hoped to see the boy continue to grow. So, Bumblebee hoped that Raf still lived, though where he could be Bumblebee did have an idea. One that made him sick to his tank. If Raf and the others were still alive there was only one place knew they could be. And that was in the hands of the Decepticons. This thought alone made Bumblebee sick. If this was true what were the Decepticons doing to them?
Anger replaced the worry in Bumblebee's spark at the thought, the thought of Raf being hurt by the Decepticons... If they so much as hurt one hair on Raf's head then Bumblebee would make them pay. And with that thought Bumblebee drove down the road to where the old Autobot base once stood, perhaps he would find answers there.
She didn't know how long she had been driving, she didn't know where she was going, and she certainly didn't know where the others were. All she knew was that the Decepticons had the upper hand, and now they were on the run. Arcee scoffed. Funny, considering she was alone, the only thing keeping her company was Sadie. And the hologram was never one for conversation.
Jack, Arcee thought. She knew he was still alive, even with everything going to hell she knew that Jack was still alive, but as much as she cared for the boy her thoughts were not only of him but of Optimus. She had known that he and Ratchet had stayed behind when the building came crashing down. Had they made it out alive? Had Ratchet? These questions ran around and around in her mind as she drove. Keeping her optics on the sky above as a few jets flew on by.
Making her spark jolt as she swerved and transformed, peering out from behind the rock she was hiding behind as two Vehicons soared through the sky. A scowl forming on her faceplate as she aimed her blaster at them. It would seem that Megatron and his Decepticons were pulling out all the stops to hunt them down, not surprising. But Arcee would be damned if she was going to go down without a fight. Watching as the two Vehicons disappeared Arcee let her guard down. A big mistake, as the moment she did a shot rang out. Hitting her square in the middle of her back, sending her to the ground. Hitting the ground with a grunt Arcee struggled to pick herself up, and looked over her shoulder. She saw lone Vehicon standing there, blaster trained on her.
Red visors glowing menacingly in the fading light of the day. Growling Arcee managed to get to her feet, aiming her blaster she fired on the lone Vehicon. Catching it in the shoulder, just as the two Vehicons from before joined the first. Perfect, Arcee thought, lip curling back as she glared at them. As if I don't have enough to deal with. Letting out a low growl she fired on the first Vehicon again, taking it down with ease. Before turning her attention to the other two.
Unbeknownst to her that as soon as she had been discovered the Vehicons had sent a report to Megatron. And she was now being watched by Laserbeak, the surveillance drone was watching and recording Arcee's every move, reporting it all back to the Decepticons. Megatron smirking as Arcee took down Vehicon after Vehicon. And here he had thought that hunting down the remaining Autobots would be a challenge. And yet, the one called Arcee had finally been found. Funny, he had heard stories about Arcee, saying that the Autobot in question was nearly impossible to capture. And yet, here she was cornered by his Vehicons.
Things were beginning to look up. And with her human partner in his grasp he just might be able to persuade the two-wheeler to tell him where the others were. Sure, he knew it might be pointless this was Arcee after all. But Megatron was determined to be rid of the Autobots once and for all. And while the two-wheeler was here she could keep Wheeljack company in the brig. Placing a hand on his chin Megatron continued to watch as more Vehicons joined the fray, surrounding Arcee.
A cruel grin forming on his faceplate as a well placed shot from one of the Vehicons sent the femme flying. A low chuckle escaping him as Arcee remained motionless, before turning away, hands clasped behind his back. His optics settling on Jack, who had been watching the whole thing. Eyes wide.
"It would seem that your friend will be joining us shortly." Jack tore his gaze away from the screen to look to Megatron. "Won't it be nice to be reunited with your friend?" Megatron asked.
Jack was silent as he glared at Megatron, the smile disappearing as Megatron looked down at Jack. Of course, it would seem that Jack was just as stubborn as his dear mother. No matter, Megatron thought.
Jack and his friends would soon see that it was futile to continue to resist, that this was their reality, and nothing was going to change that. No matter how much the remaining Autobots and their human companions wanted it. Watching as Soundwave opened a ground bridge, allowing the Vehicons to drag the unconscious Arcee through.
The femme letting out a pained groan, but did not rouse. And soon, Megatron thought, as he ordered her to be taken to the brig, Breaking Arcee would be fun, casting one final look at Jack before disappearing into the depths of the ship, leaving Jack alone. Silence permeated the command room as Jack gripped the bars of his prison, anger shining in his eyes as he watched Megatron disappeared. Vowing to himself that someway, somehow he would get himself and the others out of this hell, or he would die trying. Nodding to himself Jack sat down in a corner of his cage, trying to come up with a way out.
Authors Notes- And thus concludes Chapter Three. Sorry, I don't have anything to say this is The Exhausted Writer signing off. Have a good day!