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Transformers Prime: The Medic's Assistant

Chapter 20: Operation: Breakdown

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime

(Autobot Base)

Stormracer yawned as she and Bumblebee watched Miko flip through the channels. All they wanted to do was watch some tv, but the girl was being picky on what to watch.

"Is she even going to pick a channel?" Bumblebee asked.

"Hey, maybe you should pick something, Miko," Stormracer suggested, "you know, before you break the remote."

Miko groaned as she dropped the remote and let herself sink into the couch. "I'm so bored! When's Bulkhead coming back from his mission?"

"He should be back soon," the assistant said.

"You said that ten minutes ago," the girl whined.

"Ah, but now its closer to soon by ten minutes."

"But when's soon?"

"... Soon."

Sighing in frustration, Miko hopped off the couch and made her way over to the computer. Bumblebee and Stormracer watched her leave before looking back at the tv, seeing she had stopped it on a romance movie.

"I love you, Margarette," the man said.

"Kiss me, Tom," the woman said.

Bumblebee looked at the screen in confusion. "Why are they taking off their clothes?"

Remembering what she read up on, Stormracer made a face. "You remember when you asked me how humans reproduce?"

Both now very disturbed, they looked away from the tv and shuddered.

Using the commlink unit, Miko contacted her guardian. "Marco," she said. She waited for a moment before repeating, "Marco!"

"Urgh," Bulkhead finally said, not sounding too good, "Miko?"

"Eeeeehh!" the girl said, "you're suppose to say polo."

After a pause, Bulkhead said, "Miko, let Ratchet know I need a groundbridge."

Soon as Bulkhead returned to base, he was immediately sent to the med area to get patched up. There he told everyone he ran into Breakdown during his mission.

"Engaging the enemy on your own was foolish, Bulkhead," Optimus said to the wrecker.

"Breakdown jumped me," Bulkhead said, "I knew I could take him. OW!"

"Stay still," Ratchet told him as he worked on his arm.

"But you should see the other guy, right Bulk?" Miko asked her guardian.

"Uh, about that..." Bulkhead started.

"You didn't torch him?" Miko asked, sounding disappointed.

"Not exactly," the green bot said, "I figured you all did. When I came to, Breakdown was just gone. I remember hearing a copter, but maybe it was Agent Fowler."

"Not me," Agent Fowler said as he walked over to them, "but I have an idea who. Show me where this con-napping occurred."

Everyone gathered around the computer as Ratchet brought up the last set of Groundbridge coordinates.

"This is where we picked up Bulkhead," Ratchet said.

"Kamchatka, Peninsula in Eastern Russia," Fowler said, "most of it was abandoned twenty years ago when its volcano first erupted. My intel reported MECH activity earlier today."

"MECH? You mean those techie guys?" Miko asked.

"The very ones who know of our existence on your planet," Ratchet told her.

"They must have tracked us there," Bulkhead said.

"But why go after Breakdown?" the girl asked.

"What's it matter?" Arcee asked, "they can have him."

"I agree," Bumblebee bleeped.

Bulkhead chuckled. "Yeah, dragged off by humans. Ha! Guess I softened him up for them, huh?" he said as he looked at Miko.

"Meh," his human friend only said as she looked away.

Stormracer didn't agree with the others. "But what if he's in serious trouble?"

Bulkhead gave her a look. "What's that suppose to mean?"

The teal femme let out a vent. "You're all probably going to hate me for saying this but... I think we should help him."

Bulkhead looked at her in disbelief. "What?!" he exclaimed, "why should we? He's a con."

"Con or not, we can't just let MECH do whatever they want to him," she argued, "we're better than that."

The wrecker frowned at her. "Who cares what they do to him," he said, "He deserves what's coming."

"That doesn't make it okay, Bulkhead," the femme said.

"That is enough, you two," Optimus said before looking at the autobot medic. "Ratchet, reactivate the previous groundbridge coordinates. We will rescue Breakdown."

"What?!" Ratchet exclaimed.

"Optimus, you can't be serious," Arcee said in disbelief.

"Why should we help him?" Bumblebee asked.

"MECH can melt him down for all I care," Bulkhead said, "let the cons rescue their own."

"It is unlikely that Megatron would bother with an errand of mercy," Optimus said.

"Okaay," Arcee said, "but this is Breakdown we're talking about."

"Sometimes we must rise above ourselves for the greater good," the Prime said.

"Oh, what's that suppose to mean?!" Bulkhead exclaimed, "Breakdown's gonna be grateful and go all soft and join the cause?"

"While it is unlikely that any decepticon will choose the path of good, even they possess the potential for change."

"Grr! I knew where this was headed!" the wrecker said angrily.

"By greater good, I meant human kind," Optimus told him.

Bulkhead's frown disappeared, but he still shook his head at the idea of rescuing his nemesis.

"MECH presents a clear and present danger," the autobot leader continued.

"Prime's right, two ton," Agent Fowler told Bulkhead, "we know MECH is obsessed with obtaining groundbreaking technology."

"Which means we cannot allow any cybertronian biology to fall into their hands," Optimus added.

Bulkhead huffed as he looked at Stormracer. "You got your wish," he said angrily, "you happy?!"

Frowning at him, Stormracer turned around and walked away from the group.

Bumblebee looked at Bulkhead and frowned. "What was that for?!" he asked.

"I don't get why she cares so much," the wrecker said, "Breakdown's the enemy. Why should she feel sorry for him?"

"That's just how she is, Bulk," Arcee said.

"She's like that because she hardly ever goes out in the field and sees what actually happens."

"Bulkhead, there is nothing wrong with showing compassion for others," Prime told him with a frown, "and though she spends most of her time in medbay, Stormracer has seen her fair share of what war brings."

Bulkhead still frowned, but kept quiet as he looked away.

Optimus looked at the others. "Autobots, prepare for departure."

As Ratchet fired up the groundbridge, Bulkhead vented as he stood off to the side. Miko made her way over to him, trying to encourage him. "Come on. Bulk," she said, "you gotta go with."

"Don't wanna," he said.

"Bulkhead," Optimus said.

"Optimus, I'm sorry," the green bot said, "I just can't do it."

"I support your choice," the prime said.

"What?" Bulkhead and Miko said in shock.

"Given your history with Breakdown, your judgement may be clouded, and thus jeopardize the mission. Besides, the decepticon may be more in need of a medic than another warrior."

"Locked and loaded, Optimus," Ratchet said as he made his way over to the group. He looked over at Stormracer. She was still upset, but still forced a smile and gave Ratchet a thumbs up.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. Transforming into their vehicle forms, the rescue team drove off through the groundbridge.

Bulkhead frowned after they left. "Fine," he said, "happy hunting." He looked over at Stormracer who was looking back at him.

Letting out a vent, the femme just walked away, not wanting to talk to the wrecker at the moment.

Bulkhead vented as well as he watched her walk to the other side of the room.

"Urg!" Miko said as she leaned against the rail, looking away from her guardian.

Hoping to cheer her up, Bulkhead said, "uh, what do ya say? Creature double feature?"

"Sure," Miko said unenthusiastically, not even looking at him.

"I'm in," Agent Fowler said.

While the movie played, Agent Fowler fell asleep on the couch as Miko continued to pout on the platform. Bulkhead looked over at Stormracer who was at the computer. Seeing she was still upset made him feel bad for his behavior towards her.

Bulkhead then looked over at Miko who refused to look at him. "Dino-lizard vs five headed ape," he said to her, "you're missing the smackdown."

"No, you're missing the smack down," the girl said, finally looking at him, "which stinks, cause Breakdown is your arch enemy. Not Optimus', and definitely not MECH's."

Bulkhead vented. "Miko, you don't understand," he says, "Breakdown and I go way back. You have no idea the things he's done. I am not rescuing him, okay? Not now. Not ever."

"Duh, you don't have to bromance him, Bulk," Miko argued, "you just have to beat him!"

The green bot looked at her questionably. "Uh, what?"

"No rescue, no rematch," she said with a wink.

Letting that sink in, Bulkhead looked at the groundbridge. Thinking it over, he looked at Miko and vented. "Fine, I'll go. But only because I want a rematch."

Miko smiled. "Go get em, Bulk!"

Hearing the whole conversation, Stormracer approached Bulkhead. "You're not going alone," she said, "I don't care if you're still mad at me, I'm coming with you."

He looked at her for a moment before venting. "Well, I guess someone has to make sure I don't scrap Breakdown soon as I see him."

Grabbing her small emergency first aid kit, the medical assistant fired up the groundbridge. Soon as the two bots arrived at the coordinates, they looked around.

"There," Bulkhead said, pointing at the tire tracks on the ground.

"Nice of them to leave a trail," Stormracer said.

Transforming, the two followed the tracks in vehicle form.

"You have a plan, right?" the femme asked.

"See where these tracks lead, fight MECH, free Breakdown, then rematch," Bulkhead said.

"... No seriously, what's the plan?"

Seeing a car driving by, the two transformed back into bot mode and hid behind a building.

"MECH," Bulkhead said.

Watching the car drive into a tunnel, the two rushed over to the entrance.

"This must be the place," Stormracer said.

Bulkhead activated his blaster. "Stay close," he told her.

The two made their way into the tunnel with their guards up. It wasn't long until they stumbled upon a large metal door.

"Yep, this is the place alright," the femme said, "maybe we should try knocking."

Bulkhead activated his wrecking ball. "My thoughts exactly. Get ready for the welcoming committee."

The wrecker began pounding the door as Stormracer readied herself. With one last big swing, Bulkhead sent the door flying. Immediately the two were shot at by MECH agents.

"Marco!" Bulkhead yelled as he slammed his wrecking ball down. He made the humans slowly back up as they continued firing at the two bots. "You're suppose to say Polo!"

Stormracer shielded her optics from the on going fire power. Frowning at the humans, she moved her servo down and knocked them back. "Is that any way to treat a femme?!" she asked.

The two continued to fight their way through until the humans eventually gave up and retreated, allowing them to go further into the tunnel.

Coming to the end, they see Breakdown clamped down in front of a human sized computer with his stats on it. The two made their way over and looked down at him, seeing he was missing an optic and had his chest plate cut open.

"It must be your lucky day," Bulkhead said as he reached his servo down.

Breakdown shut his only optic tight, expecting the autobot to finish him. Instead, Bulkhead removed the clamps on him, making the con look at his foe questionable.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Breakdown asked.

"Helping you," Bulkhead said, "yeah, I don't believe it either."

Stormracer got beside Breakdown, getting a good look at the damage. "Yikes," she said, "how are you not in pain right now?"

"Those fleshbags turned off my pain receptors," the con sneered, "they wanted me to watch."

Seeing something leaking, the femme pulled out her first aid kit. "I need to patch something up," she said.

Breakdown frowned at her. "I thought you were only an assistant."

"I am," she said, "but that doesn't mean I didn't learn a thing or two."

He still frowned at the femme, not sure if he should trust her or not.

"I promise I'm not going to hurt you," she assured him.

"Trust her," Bulkhead told the con, "she's the one keeping me from punching you right now."

Breakdown looked back at her. Venting, he nodded.

Just then an alarm started going, making everyone look around.

"Better make it fast!" Bulkhead told the assistant as he activated his wrecking ball, "we're about to have company!"

Sure enough, more humans showed up and started firing at them. Giving Stormracer time, Bulkhead rushed over and knocked the humans back.

While Bulkhead shielded most of the firepower for them, Stormracer continued patching the con.

"The patch will hold," she told Breakdown, "the rest of the damage doesn't appear too severe, but I still recommend you see an actual medic."

"Why are you two helping me?" Breakdown asked.

"Because you need help," she told him, "and Bulkhead wants a rematch."

That made him laugh.

"Anytime now, Storm!" Bulkhead said as he got the humans to retreat.

"I'm almoooost… done!" she said, finishing up her work as she closed Breakdown's chest plates.

Bulkhead went over and helped Breakdown get back on his pedes. "Can you run?" he asked him.

The con grinned as he activated his hammer. "Never run when you can fight!" he said.

Bulkhead frowned as he swatted the hammer away from his face. "Just keep that thing pointed away from me, alright?"

The three cybertronians ran down the tunnel as more humans shot at them.

"Creature double feature, coming at ya!" Bulkhead said as he shielded himself with his wrecking ball.

Getting past the humans, the three finally reached the exit. But soon as they stepped outside, they were greeted by more MECH agents shooting at them.

"I have a strange feeling they don't want us to leave," Stormracer said as she shielded her optics.

Breakdown activated his shoulder cannon and started firing, causing a car to swerve and flip over. "Did you two have some sort of escape plan?" he asked.

"You're not gonna like it," Bulkhead told him. He then contacted his leader. "Bulkhead to Optimus. Rendezvous to my coordinates. Stormracer and I are in need of back up."

The three fought back as they waited for their back up. Stormracer brought her focus on the cars as she transformed and drove around them. While the humans tried to shoot her, she rammed herself into the cars, causing them to swerve into each other or flip over. She then felt shots being fired at her from above, making her look to see more helicopters arriving. Just then a shot hit her tire, causing her to swerve. Transforming, she tumbled onto her front as the humans continued shooting her, making her shield herself as she got back up. Seeing an empty vehicle behind the cars circling around her, the teal femme activated her grappling claw and fired it at the car. Soon as she hooked it, she yanked the car forward, causing two of the moving ones to swerve and crash into it. Just then she heard Bulkhead grunting, making her look to see him down on his knees from the ongoing fire power.

"Bulkhead!" she said, rushing over to aid her friend. With one big swipe of her servo, she knocked the humans back, getting them away from the green mech. She even stomped down on the front of a car that was coming at her. She then looked up and noticed one of the helicopters was charging up a large cannon. Seeing it was aimed at her and Bulkhead, she immediately tried getting her friend up.

"Bulk, we have to move, we have to move now!" she said urgently as she tried getting the bigger bot to move.

The cannon fired a laser and was heading for the two autobots. But just before it was about to hit them, Breakdown rushed over and tackled the two out of the way. The laser hit the ground, forming a blast as the three sat up.

Stormracer looked up at Breakdown. "Thanks," she said.

He grinned at her. "You're welcome."

The humans continued firing at them. Staying close to one another, the three continued fighting off their foe. Just then MECH started retreating, confusing the cybertronians as they watched the cars drive off and the helicopters fly away.

"Did we win?" Stormracer asked.

Just then they heard a sound approaching.

"Your back up?" Breakdown asked Bulkhead.

It wasn't long until they saw jets approaching. Transforming, Starscream and a group of vehicons landed in front of them.

"Uh oh," Stormracer said.

"Commander Starscream," Breakdown said.

"Consorting with the enemy, Breakdown?" Starscream asked as he walked towards them.

"They got me out of there," the bigger con said.

Starscream mockingly bowed at the two autobots. "Many spark-filled thanks, autobots," he said before looking at Breakdown, "now destroy them."

Breakdown was hesitant as he looked at the two before looking back at his commanding officer. "But th-"

"Do you plan on joining their ranks anytime soon?" Starscream interrupted, "no? Then be done with it already!"

Breakdown looked at the two again.

"You don't have to do it," Stormracer told him.

He looked at her for a moment before grinning. "sorry, Darlin," he said, "but I'm still a decepticon."

Bulkhead protectively got in front of her as he glared at his foe.

"Tough break, Bulkhead," Breakdown said as he activated his hammer, "maybe in the next life." Letting out a yell, he charged at the green bot. Stormracer leaped out of the way as Bulkhead jumped back and hit the con with his wrecking ball, knocking him to the ground.

"Destroy them!" Starscream shouted angrily at the vehicons, only for Bulkhead to send him flying back.

The vehicons activated their blasters and charged them up. Stormracer backed away until she saw Bulkhead grabbing Breakdown.

"Hammer time!" the green bot yelled as he threw the con right at the vehicons, knocking all of them over.

"Whoo! Strike!" Stormracer cheered.

"Come on!" Bulkhead shouted at the cons, "I'll scrap all of ya!"

Starscream and the vehicons got back up and were about to attack when shots started firing, making everyone look to see Optimus and the others arriving.

"Retreat!" Starscream ordered. Transforming, he and the vehicons flew off over Bulkhead and Stormracer's heads. The two watched them leave before looking to see Breakdown getting back up. Shoving past Bulkhead, he transformed and drove off after the others.

Optimus and the rest of the team walked over to the wrecker and the assistant. "Engaging the enemy alone was even more foolish this time around," the prime said, "but, I am honored that you saw fit to rescue your rival, Bulkhead. You have truly risen above yourself."

Bulkhead grinned as he looked at everyone. "Did you see? I beat Breakdown and bashed them all with his own hammer! I won the rematch!"

Arcee rolled her optics. "I'm sure Miko would be proud," she said.

"We should call her for a bridge," Stormracer said.

After contacting the base, it wasn't long for a portal to appear. Looking at Stormracer, Bulkhead looked at Optimus. "You all go on ahead," he said, "there's something I have to say to Storm."

Nodding, the Prime followed the others through the portal. Once they were alone, the green bot looked at the teal femme.

"Listen, I'm... I'm sorry for the way I acted towards you," Bulkhead said, "it's just, Breakdown and I go way back. And it felt like... well, like you were taking his side."

Hearing that made Stormracer feel bad. "Bulkhead, I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"I know," he said, "I get it. You care about others." He smiled at her, "and to be honest, I wish there were more bots like you around."

Stormracer smiled at him. "Thanks. And even if we don't always agree on things... I'll always have your back."

Sharing a fist bump, the two made their way into the groundbridge portal and were greeted by Miko on the other side. Immediately Bulkhead told his human buddy what had happened as Stormracer and everyone else listened.

And that was Chapter 20! I hope you liked it! Next chapter is the Stormracer/Knock Out chapter, and it will overlap the crisscross episode. Hopefully I will update it soon. Until next time! God bless!