Hey everyone! I'm back with chapter 24! I want to thank you for the reviews, I'm glad you enjoyed loopy Starscream. Also I want to thank those who sent me ideas for future chapters. Even though I have them mostly figured out, I do enjoy reading your ideas and they do help me think about how to piece my chapters together, so thank you so much for that, I appreciate it.
Anyway, here is chapter 24! I hope you like it!
Transformers Prime: The Medic's Assistant
Chapter 24: Partners
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime
(Jasper, Nevada - Autobot Base)
Arcee let out a battle cry as she charged at her opponent. The two fought hand to hand as they tried to take each other down. Finding her opening, the two wheeler did a perfect flip and kicked the red bot back, knocking him off his pedes.
"Ow!" Cliffjumper said as he landed on his back.
Winning the match, Arcee made her way over to him. "I'm beginning to think I might need a new sparring partner," she teased as she extended her servo out.
"And who would you get that's better than me?" Cliffjumper asked as the blue bot helped him back up, "trick question! Nobody."
"Nice flip, Arcee! You'll get the next one, Cliff!"
Arcee groaned as she looked over to see Stormracer off to the side waving at them. "Just what we need. A cheerleader."
"Aw come on, Arcee," Cliffjumper said, "Storm just wants to cheer us on."
Arcee vented. "I'm done training for today."
"Already?" her partner asked, "but I was just getting warmed up. I want a rematch."
"We'll continue when there's... less company." Heading for the exit, Arcee didn't say a word to Stormracer as she walked right past her.
Stormracer vented before making her way over to Cliffjumper.
"Hey, Storm," Cliffjumper said, giving her a smile, "you on break?"
"Yeah," she said, "sorry I chased away your sparring partner."
"Nah, you didn't chase her off. She just has other stuff she has to do is all."
"You don't have to lie, Cliff. I know she doesn't like me."
Cliffjumper's smile disappeared. "Hey, that's not true. Arcee's just... well, she's not used to having someone around so... positive."
"Is it because I hugged her when you two joined? It was the hug, wasn't it? I was just so excited to have another femme on the team that I wasn't thinking. I mean, no offense to the mechs here, but it felt weird being the only gal around."
Cliffjumper chuckled at her rambling.
Realizing what she was doing, Stormracer sheepishly chuckled along. "Sorry."
"Listen, Storm," the red bot said, "just give Arcee some time. She went through a lot during the fight on Cybertron. She even lost her partner, Tailgate. But that doesn't mean she doesn't care. She'll warm up to you eventually. I mean, she warmed up to me. And I annoyed the scrap out of her."
Stormracer chuckled at the last part. "I get it. Thanks Cliff."
Cliffjumper smiled. "Hey, what are friends for."
(Years later)
"Alright, Storm," Arcee said, "Remember. Stomp, elbow, flip."
Bumblebee restraining her from behind, Stormracer practiced how to escape. Carefully doing it so not to hurt the scout, she pretended to stomp on his pede, brought her elbow towards his torso, and then flipped him over her shoulder. Bumblebee let out a bleep as he hit the ground hard.
"Oops!" Stormracer said, helping the scout back up. "You okay, Bee?"
"All good," he assured her, giving her a thumbs up, "good job!"
Arcee made her way over to the teal bot. "Not bad. However, if you want to free yourself from an actual enemy, you have to hit them hard and fast. We'll continue training tomorrow."
Soon as the three walked into the main hangar, they heard Ratchet grumbling in a corner as he angrily worked.
"Uh oh," Stormracer said, "he's having one of those days again."
"You mean when he's grouchier than usual?" Arcee asked.
"I heard that!" the medic said angrily.
Stormracer stepped back as he walked right past her. "Um, everything okay, Ratchet?"
"No, everything's not okay," he said, "I can't find anything anymore and Bulkhead keeps breaking my tools."
"I said I was sorry!" the green mech shouted from across the room.
Stormracer looked back at her boss. "Is there anything you want me to-"
"No no," the medic said, "I'd rather do this all on my own." Something snapped in his servo, making him grumble even more as he walked away.
Optimus made his way over to the femmes. "Arcee. Stormracer. How goes training?"
Stormracer smiled. "It's going great! Arcee's been teaching me a lot these past couple days. Who knows. Maybe one day I might actually beat her in a fight."
"Don't push your luck," the two wheeler said.
Back at the computer, Ratchet saw the scanners picking up something. "Optimus, our scanners have detected a decepticon energy profile. But its... ancient."
"The past has a way of catching up with the present, Ratchet," Optimus said before looking at the others. "Autobots, prepare to roll out!"
Not wanting to be in Ratchet's way, Stormracer looked up at Optimus. "Mind if I come along?"
"If that is alright with Ratchet," Optimus said before looking at the medic.
Feeling like he needed time to cool off, Ratchet vented. "Yes, yes, she can go with you."
Soon as they groundbridged to their destination, they found half of a ship called the Harbinger buried in the ground.
It wasn't long until they found a way in. Once they did, Optimus looked at the assistant. "Stormracer, remain here and be on the look out in case any decepticons arrive."
"Sure thing," she said.
The assistant watched as the group made their way into the ship. Venting, she sat down on a rock and waited. It wasn't until a while later that she heard noises coming from up the slope, making her get up to investigate. Once she reached the top, she saw Arcee fighting a decepticon femme with spider limbs attached to her back. Instantly she figured this was Arcee's arch nemesis, Airachnid. Seeing her friend in trouble, she transformed and sped over towards the fight.
Arcee went to attack the con, only for Airachnid to dodge and restrain her.
"So, add anymore deceased partners to your growing list?" the con asked. Hearing a sound, she looked over to see a teal car speeding towards them.
Stormracer transformed and aimed her EMP at the spider bot. "Let her go!" she warned.
"Stormracer, no!" Arcee said.
Airachnid chuckled before shoving Arcee towards the assistant, making Stormracer lower her weapon as she went to help her friend. Just then the teal femme felt a sticky substance rapidly wrap around her. Both her and Arcee trapped in Airachnid's webbing, the two soon found themselves pinned to the ground.
"Right. Spider bot," Stormracer said as she and Arcee struggled to free themselves, "should have seen that one coming."
"Ya think?!" Arcee asked angrily.
Airachnid laughed as she towered over Stormracer. "I guess this makes you partner number three." Moving one of her spider limbs, she prepared to impale the teal autobot.
"Airachnid!" Optimus shouted, making the three look to see the Autobot leader running towards them with his blaster out, "get away from them!"
Angrily hissing, Airachnid transformed into copter mode and took off as Optimus tried shooting at her, only to miss as she flew away.
Stormracer vented in relief as the Prime made his way over and freed them. "Thanks, Optimus," she said. She looked over at Arcee. "You okay?"
The two wheeler frowned at her as they both got back up. "I told you to never go near Airachnid."
"I couldn't let her hurt you."
"I had everything under control!" Arcee said angrily.
Optimus frowned at her. "Arcee, you know better than to engage the enemy alone."
"Not her," she said to him, "not after what she did to Tailgate. She will pay."
"Revenge will not bring back those we have lost," the Prime said, "is that understood?"
Arcee didn't answer as she turned away, still wanting revenge.
"Move it!" the three heard Bulkhead say. Looking over, they saw Bulkhead and Bumblebee making their way over with their weapons pointed at a webbed up Starscream.
"Urgh, No need to use force!" the seeker complained before the two made him fall to his knees. He looked up at the team. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."
"Is that right?" Bulkhead asked, "and what do you want in return?"
"I want to be on your side."
"... Say what now?" a surprised Stormracer asked.
"On our side?!" Bulkhead asked with a laugh, "yeah right! And I've been lobbing with The Fallen!"
"You wouldn't betray the decepticons," Arcee said.
Starscream looked at her. "Wouldn't I? What have they done for me lately? Besides humiliate me, spy on me, demote me. Megatron tried to extinguish my spark in cold blood and all but replaced me with that traitorous wretch Airachnid. She abandoned me! Left me for scrap! So why not rat them out?"
Looking at him for a moment, the bots walked off to discuss the matter while Bumblebee remained to keep an eye on the prisoner.
"He's telling the truth about Megatron trying to scrap him," Arcee said, "I saw it with my own eyes."
"You're not saying you actually trust Starscream," Bulkhead said to her.
"Trust him? Never. But this may be the one time our objectives align."
Optimus looked at the green bot. "You're right to be weary, Bulkhead. But I agree with Arcee."
(Time skip)
Having their prisoner cuffed and his wings clamped, the bots put Starscream in Optimus's trailer before driving off to find the other half of the Harbinger. Soon as they reached the location, they came to a stop and transformed when they saw the arch way.
"Well what do you know," Bulkhead said.
Arcee was still suspicious. "It still could be a trap."
"Starscream's loyalty to Megatron has always been questionable," Optimus said as he walked over to them, "but if he has truly split himself from the decepticons, our prisoner's knowledge of their agendas could make him a valuable ally."
"You don't mean permanently?" Bulkhead asked him, "as in keys to the base and everything?"
"However unlikely that scenerio, every sentient being deserves a chance of redemption."
"Even bot killers?" Arcee asked angrily, "even Airachnid?"
"Without that hope, we may never achieve lasting peace," Optimus told her.
Making his way over to the end of the trailer, Bulkhead opened the door. "Rise and shine, Screamy," he said before dragging the seeker out.
"We're here," Arcee told their prisoner, "where's the ship?"
Starscream got up in a kneeling position as he looked around. "It's through the arch," he said, pointing at it, "among the stones."
"Bulkhead, Bumblebee, you're with me," Optimus said, "Arcee, Stormracer, remain with our prisoner."
"Got it," Stormracer said, giving him a thumbs up, "be careful, bots."
Optimus and the others started walking away before Arcee stopped them. "Optimus, please," she said, making Optimus look at her, "for Tailgate."
"Your desire to avenge Tailgate will only continue to cloud your judgement," he told her. He and the others continued on, leaving the two femmes and seeker behind.
"You okay?" Stormracer asked Arcee.
Arcee frowned as she looked away from her. "Fine."
Hearing Starscream getting agitated, they looked to see him squirming. "Is the clamp really necessary?" he asked them, "I promise not to fly away. It's really giving me a crick!"
"I could shove you back in the trailer," Arcee said.
Starscream whined as his shoulders drooped.
Stormracer leaned against the trailer as Arcee started pacing back and forth in front of the prisoner, wishing she was taking part in the fight.
Watching Arcee pacing for a while, Starscream looked over at the assistant. "So, why did they bring you along?" he asked.
"My boss is having a bad day and I didn't want to be in his way," she said.
Starscream vented. "I wish I could have just left whenever Megatron had a bad day. But no. I had to always be at the receiving end of it!"
Arcee looked at them and frowned. "Zip it you two."
The con watched as the two wheeler continued pacing. "I'm not really bad you know," he said to her, "now Megatron, he's the evil one."
Arcee stopped as she looked at him. "Tell it to somebody who cares."
"Like who?" Starscream asked, "Airachnid? What I wouldn't do to get my hands around her wretched throat."
"So we can agree on one thing."
"Oh, you have no idea. She showed up one day, and the next thing you know, she's acting like she runs the place. She whispered lies into Megatron's ear, maneuvered to remove me from my rightful place."
Arcee frowned. "Well... she terminated my partner."
"What?!" Starscream exclaimed, "she's taking credit for scrapping him now too?! That was my doing!"
Arcee and Stormracer looked at him in confusion. "What?" the two wheeler asked.
Realizing what he just said, Starscream immediately went quiet.
"You weren't there," Arcee said.
The seeker nervously chuckled. "Uh, of course I wasn't. I don't know what I was thinking."
Arcee was now suspicious. "Who are you talking about?"
"No one. Who are you talking about?"
"Tailgate."
It was Starscream's turn to look at her in confusion. "Who's Tailgate?"
Realizing who he was talking about, Arcee's optics widened before she glared at him. "You are the one... you extinguished Cliffjumper!"
Soon after the two wheeler said it, it was as if time froze for Stormracer as she stared at the seeker. "What?" she murmured.
"Cliffjumper?!" Starscream exclaimed fearfully.
Anger consuming her, Arcee activated her blades and prepared to offline him.
"No, no, no, you miss understand!" the seeker said, "it wasn't like you think. The troopers mortally wounded him." He held onto Arcee's arm. "I was trying to help Cliffjumper. Put him out of his misery. He begged me to!"
Not buying it, Arcee growled as she made Starscream let go before kneeing him, making him fall back.
"Okay!" the con exclaimed fearfully, "okay, it was a mistake! I've made many. But I've changed!" Desperate, he looked up at the medical assistant. "Stormracer, please reason with her! I know what I did was wrong, and I'm sorry! Please! Forgive me!"
Stormracer remained quiet as she stood there, still staring at him. Old emotions were coming back to her. Especially anger.
"She's not going to help you," Arcee said as she approached Starscream.
"No! Please reconsider!" the seeker pleaded, "you wouldn't terminate a defenseless prisoner, would you?"
Glaring at him for a moment, Arcee pulled out a key and tossed it to the ground in front of him.
"What, what is that?" he asked timidly.
"The key to your cuffs," she said.
"What for?!"
"Cliff would have given you a fighting chance."
"No, please! I, I don't want to! What's passed is passed! I'm one of you now!"
Arcee activated her blasters and aimed them at him.
"No, no, please no!" Starscream cried.
"Take it!" Arcee barked.
"Stop!"
Arcee looked over to see Stormracer right beside her.
"Don't do this," the assistant said.
The two wheeler frowned at her. "Give me one good reason."
"It's not right."
Arcee only scoffed at her. "You sound like a sparkling." The blue autobot looked back at Starscream with her blasters still on him.
Refusing to back down, Stormracer got between her and the con.
"Storm, get out of the way!" Arcee said angrily.
"Arcee, please! I'm angry at Starscream too, but offlining him isn't going to solve anything. Remember what Optimus said."
"I thought Cliffjumper was your friend! You may not care, but I do!"
Hearing that made Stormracer angry. "I don't care?! You think I don't miss him?! He was family!"
"If you cared about Cliffjumper then let me avenge him!"
"Let me put it this way, Arcee! We need Starscream's knowledge on the decepticons! You offline him, we'll never get it!"
"That doesn't matter anymore!"
Stormracer was about to say something else until she felt something hit her in the back of her helm. Making a slight noise, she fell to the ground as everything around her went black.
Arcee's optics widened. "Storm!" Just then she felt Starscream's digits slice into her side. Gasping in pain, she stumbled back as she looked down at her wound, seeing energon leaking from her cuts.
Starscream, who had grabbed the key and freed himself while the two femmes were fighting, looked at the two wheeler and evilly chuckled as she fell to her knees. "Something wrong, Arcee? I thought you wanted a fight."
Arcee forced herself back up before Starscream could strike her again. Soon as she activated her blades, the two fought. As they fought, Starscream laughed at his opponent, knowing he had the upper hand thanks to her injury. However, Arcee was still able to block his attacks and kick him back.
Staggering back a little, the seeker looked at her as they circled each other. "You're tougher to scrap than your former partner. At least the one I scrapped. Was Tailgate weak like Cliffjumper?"
"Just keep talking, Starscream," Arcee said angrily before resuming the fight.
Regaining consciousness, Stormracer groaned as she sat up and held her helm. Hearing the sound of a battle, she looked over and gasped when she saw Starscream and Arcee fighting. She watched as Starscream took the two wheeler down and kicked her down a slope.
"You should have finished me when I was helpless to fight," Starscream said as he approached Arcee, "just like I finished Cliffjumper." Towering over her, he grinned as he raised his sharp digits back. "Now, prepare to reunite with your partners!"
Just then he was tackled from behind, making him fly over the two wheeler and roll onto the ground.
Rolling away from him, Stormracer got up and activated her EMP. "You already took one friend from me! I won't let you take another!"
She fired a pulse at him, only for the seeker to roll out of the way and get back up. The next thing she knew, he got around behind and restrained her.
"Hey!" she exclaimed as she tried to break free.
He laughed at her. "It's adorable that you think you can defeat me."
Still in a lot of pain, Arcee looked up and glared at the seeker. "Let her go!"
Starscream held onto his prisoner as he turned around to face the blue femme. "Or you'll what?" he asked with an evil grin, "you cant even stand. Even if you could, you would only risk harming poor sweet Stormracer here."
Stormracer let out a yelp as the con dug his sharp digits into her.
Arcee forced herself up. "I'm warning you."
Starscream chuckled. "And what do you intend to do?"
"Not me," Arcee said before smirking, "her."
Remembering what Arcee taught her, Stormracer stomped on Starscream's pede as hard as she could. The con yelped in pain as he let go of her, allowing her to jab her elbow into his torso. Letting out a yell, she grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder.
"Agh!" Starscream shrieked before hitting the ground hard. He let out a groan as Stormracer backed away from him. Fighting off the pain, the con rolled around and glared at the assistant as he got on his knees. "Why you little underling!" He was about to attack her until he heard a battle cry behind him. Turning around, he fearfully shrieked as Arcee charged at him.
"This is for Cliffjumper!" she yelled. Her blades out, she struck Starscream, making a cut on his cheek. After a couple more strikes, she yelled as she spun around and jabbed her elbow into him. She pinned him to the ground as she pressed her blade against his neck cables.
"Go on," Starscream said, "do it. Megatron will only terminate me for treason if I dare return to the decepticons. You may as well be the one to put me out of my misery."
"As if I needed convincing," the two wheeler said angrily as she raised her other blade up in the air.
Starscream's optics widened in fear. "What?! Wait, no!"
"Arcee!"
The blue autobot looked over at Stormracer.
"He's not worth it," the assistant said.
Arcee's glare disappeared as she looked at her friend. She then looked up and saw Bumblebee standing on top of the slope giving her the same look Stormracer was. Deciding not go through with it, Arcee retracted her blades and let Starscream go before walking away and collapsing from her injury. The seeker immediately got up and left as Bumblebee and Stormracer raced over to their friend.
Soon as she was at Arcee's side, Stormracer activated her commlink. "Ratchet, we need a bridge."
(Time skip)
Ratchet immediately patched up Arcee while Bumblebee and Stormracer both dragged their immobile friends through the groundbridge. Once Ratchet fixed the immobilizer Bumblebee broke to stop Airachnid, the medic was able to reverse the affect and free their friends from their frozen state.
"The damage looked bad, but it was a snap to repair, allowing us to reverse its affect on you," Ratchet said to them, "you should regain your full range of motion before too long."
"And Arcee?" Optimus asked.
"She's rather resilient, for a two wheeler."
Everyone looked at the two wheeler sitting down with her back facing them.
"It is the external wounds that heal quicker," Optimus said to her.
She looked over at the group. "I thought settling scores would help me move on. But instead I chased away our chances of winning this war anytime soon."
"Wisdom cannot be granted, Arcee," the Prime said, "it must be earned. Sometimes, at a cost."
Arcee sadly looked away. She then heard someone approaching, making her turn around to see Stormracer sitting down beside her, looking at her with sad optics.
"Go on," Arcee said to the assistant, "tell me I was stupid. I deserve it."
Stormracer didn't say anything as she wrapped her arms around the two wheeler and gave her a big hug. Normally, Arcee wasn't big on hugs. But this time was different. A tear rolling down her cheek, she shut her optics and hugged her friend back.
And that was chapter 24! I hope you liked it! Stormracer will definitely have more fight scenes between her and Starscream, but I don't want to give too much away on what will happen. Also thank you to Heart for giving me the idea for the ending of this chapter. I thought it was sweet and wanted to add it.
Next chapter is T.M.I. I already started typing it so hopefully I will update soon. I might try and take a bit of a break depending on how I feel, but knowing me, I'm probably going to push myself to keep typing lol. Until next time! God bless!