So here's chapter five, but first I would like to thank all my Followers for Shadow of The Night. GRAVEM1ND, Snoekat, SonarPrime, Talonslayer21, and bajy ya'll are awesome and I'm glad that you are enjoying my story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime, only my OCs.
Chapter Five: Darkness Rising Already Part 3
"This is gonna be fun." I smirked while sitting in the passenger seat of Cliffjumper's vehicle mode.
"What are you talking about, Shadow?" I turned to look at Jack who was on top of Arcee and looked at me through his helmet's visor. I just smirked wider.
The four of us: Arcee, Jack, Cliffjumper, and I were side-by-side at a STOP sign.
I was woken up this morning by a call from Arcee asking if Cliffjumper and I would like to meet her and Jack in the desert.
I quickly accepted her offer when I realized that Ratchet was gonna get a little workout due to his broken equipment coming to life, and I don't want to be anywhere near creepy-crawly when it happens. Also I knew that Optimus would come to the old bots aid.
Plus, this will give me the chance to spend some time with my guardian, as well as Arcee and Jack.
I snapped out of my thoughts when Arcee and Cliffjumper spoke.
"Tighten your grip Jack."
"Hold on tight, Shadow."
I had no time to react when Cliffjumper slammed down on the gas, yelping as I was suddenly thrown back into my seat. Gripping the 'Oh-Shit' handle, I saw Arcee and Jack just a little in front of us popping a wheelie. I couldn't hear them but knew what was said due to watching the show a trillion times.
"Uh, Cliff? Aren't we supposed to make them eat our dust?" I asked
He laughed. "And we will, don't worry. I just wanna make them think that they're winning, buuuuut..." He trailed off before accelerating more. Jack looked at us in shock when we came up beside him.
Laughing, I waved at the two of them before we quickly passed them. I shouted out in victory when we passed the one mile marker, winning our small race. Cliffjumper honked his horn before doing a doughnut in victory. I laughed at his action as Arcee and Jack pulled up beside us.
"Alright children, calm down." Arcee spoke with a clear smirk in her voice.
"Hey!" Cliff and I shouted offended while he revved his engine. The other two chuckled.
"I agree with Arcee here, you two do act like children." Jack said as he lifted up his visor and even though I can't see his lips, I can tell by his tone and eyes that he's grinning.
I lightly scoffed. "Says the child." I grinned when Jack started stuttering. "I-I no-, I-I'm sixteen! I'm not a child!"
"Mm-hm and I'm 21. Your point?" I smirked at the teen. Oh how I love messing with people.
Cliffjumper and Arcee chuckled. "She does have a point." She said, Jack blinked in disbelief.
"I thought you were on my side!?"
"You thought wrong."
I burst out laughing at his expression. Priceless. Golden. Hilarious.
I started to say something but I was interrupted by a car horn. Jack and I turned around to look behind us and I smiled when I saw Bulkhead and Bumblebee driving up along with Miko and Raf.
"Hey, what you guys up to?" Bulk asked as he stopped right behind Arcee.
Grinning as I got out of my guardian and leaned against the back door. "Oh nothing much, other than making those two eat our dust." I said jabbing a thumb towards the femme and teen, who revved her engine and he scoffed.
I slightly jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder but relaxed when I heard Cliffjumper laugh. "And then they have the brass bearings to call us children, I can't believe them!" He exclaimed with a wide grin. I grinned just as wide.
I peered over at Bee when I heard buzzes and whirls that sounded like laughing. "I can." He beeped as I glared at the black and yellow muscle car, Raf in the passenger seat throwing up his hands in surrender.
"What was that?" I growled.
"I'm just saying. Cliffjumper always acts like a child and you might as well be a child since you are a young human." He beeped and somehow I got the impression that he was smirking at me.
That little piece of- .
I started my way over to the Urban 500 to start putting some dents into him, only to be suddenly swooped up by a pair of strong arms.
"Yeah, not happening." Cliff said before I was tossed back into my seat and the seat belt quickly clicked into place before I could jump back out and give Bee a piece of my mind.
Cliffjumpers grinning holoform fizzled away and his engine came to life.
"Think we should be heading back to base now." He said as the others agreed and we all started towards the base.
I glared at the steering wheel before a tiny grin appeared. "Next time you do that I will turn you into a toaster oven."
He chuckled. "Whatever you say Shadow."
I playfully glared at him before sticking my tongue out. "Sparkling." I heard him mutter and I whacked his dashboard.
"I heard that."
"You were meant to."
Soon enough we were driving through the tunnel before pulling into the Command Center as Ratchet and Optimus approached us. And this is where things start to get crazy. I thought as us humans got out of our bots and let them transform.
I grinned from the events of earlier today while the other three were talking in excitement.
"That was awesome!" Jack said as Arcee smirked down at him with a hand on her hip.
"Can we go again?" Raf asked and Bee responded with they will later.
"Sweet!" Miko jumped up while Bulkhead started to stand up only to freeze when we heard a thud from within. "Uhhh?" Bulk reached in and pulled out Miko's guitar.
"Sorry, I must have left that in the back seat." The Japanese girl said as she grabbed her guitar from her guardian.
I looked up at Cliffjumper. "Maybe next time we can go against Raf and Bee." He smiled and nodded. Suddenly Optimus walked in front of us all.
"Autobots, prepare to..." The Prime stopped in front of Cliff and I and just seemed to look at him, then down at the rest of us humans.
"Um, roll out?" My guardian asked, confused.
"Remain here." He then turned towards Ratchet. "Ratchet you will be with me." Then turns back towards Arcee.
"We will be out of communications range for some time so I'm putting you in charge." He told the two wheeler. I barely paid attention to Miko telling Bulkhead that he should be boss since he's the biggest.
As soon as Optimus started to turn away, Arcee stepped forward. "Optimus, with all due respect, playing bodyguard is one thing, babysitting another." She started, gesturing a hand down towards Jack and I.
I sure hope, for her sake, that she didn't realize that she gestured to me as well.
Jack sighed heavily walking off while I just glared up at the blue bot before following Jack over by the wall along with Raf.
I smiled down at the boy, laying a hand on his shoulder as he smiled back. Looked back up at the bots in time to hear Ratchet retort.
"My pistons may be rusty but my hearing is as sharp as ever!" I snickered silently at that.
"For the moment, it's only reconnaissance." Optimus said.
"Then why do I hear an edge in your voice?" Arcee asked suspiciously.
"Arcee, much has changed in the last 24 hours and we all need to adapt. Ratchet, bridge us out." Optimus ordered, leaving no room for arguments as Ratchet opened the ground bridge.
"Optimus, Ratchet, please be careful." I said. Ratchet nodded to me while Optimus looked at me with the tiniest hint of surprise. I mouthed 'I know'. He nodded to me before the two of them walked through the bridge.
"Ok chief, uh, what's on the activities list?" Jack lightly clapped and asked a little nervous most likely due to Arcee's bad mood.
She glanced at us before turning around. "I'm going on patrol." She stated, annoyed. I raised an eyebrow. Well damn Arcee, aren't you a big bundle of sunshine and rainbows... Not!
"But Optimus told us to stay." Bulkhead said as she went to pass him by.
"When you're in charge, you can call the shots." And to prove her point. "Bee, with me." She ordered turning to the young scout, who in turn looked between her and Raf before slumping.
"I'm coming." He buzzed in disappointment while walking to Arcee.
I grinned when I noticed Cliffjumper trying to hide behind Bulkhead probably in hopes of not getting called on patrol like Bumblebee.
"I know you're there Cliffjumper." I laughed when Cliff jumped at Arcee's statement. Nice try, but no cigar. But luckily didn't order him to join them.
Arcee turned back to Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, you're in charge." She patted his arm before the two of them transformed and sped off.
Cliffjumper sighed in relief as he walked out from behind Bulkhead.
"That was a close call." He said before he walked over to us and sat down on the ground against the wall.
Grinning as I stepped up to him and he lowered his hand for me to climb onto.
"Yeah, no joke." I said as I stepped off onto his shoulder and sat down by his neck.
"Soo um," I looked at Bulk who had turned to us not really knowing what to do.
"What's on the activities list?" And not a second later did we all have to cover our ears when a high pitched noise sounded.
"How about band practice?" Miko asked after she finished plugging in the guitar.
"But- we're not a band." Raf said as he uncovered his ears. Miko came up to him. "Why so antisocial? Come on Raf, you play anything?" She asked.
"Um, keyboard?" The young boy held up his laptop.
"Laptop and symbols, good." She then turned towards Jack. "Jack?"
I sometimes mess around on the harmonica." He said as he scratched the back of his head and Miko suddenly got up in his face. "Do I look like I do country? Just cover yourself with fake blood and jump around screaming."
"Uhh..."
"Bulkhead and Cliffjumper, percussion." She stated and I tried to hide farther back on Cliff's shoulder when Miko turned to me.
"I know you're there Shadow. Come on, what about you?" I sighed and was about to say that I will be the camera person recording and doing photography when a certain guardian of mine decided to open his big fat mouth.
"Oh Shadow here is a pretty great singer." Why that fragging creation of a glitch, I swear to Primus that he is gonna get an aft kicking of a lifetime.
Miko gasped in excitement. "Lead singer, perfect!"
I glared hard at Cliffjumper but all he did was smile as if I wasn't planning his offlining.
"We go for big industrial sound. DIY, we're a band. You just need to know the songs. This one's a ballad My Fist, Your Face!" She then strummed the guitar and we all had to cover our ears (audio receptors) again.
Suddenly a familiar green light and alarm sounded.
I groaned in annoyance. I don't want to deal with the irritating agent today... or at all. And I wasn't the only one that noticed as well.
"Oh scrap, not good." I heard Cliff say.
"Whoa Whoa Whoa." Bulkhead said to get Miko to stop, and stop she did.
"Oh come on. You can't handle raw power?" Miko says, not even fazed by the loud aft alarm. Cliffjumper, however, quickly placed me on the ground and stood up.
"Proximity Sensors!" Cliffjumper said as he backed up to Bulkhead.
"Quick. Hide!" Bulkhead said to us in a slightly panicked voice.
Well, we didn't need to be told twice. The three teens ran behind Bulkhead's foot, while I ran behind Cliffjumpers.
Not a second later the angry African American practically stomped out of the elevator and onto the platform.
"Prime!"
"Uh, Agent Fowler..." Cliffjumper started nervously.
"H-He's not here. Nobody's here." Bulkhead finished equally as nervous.
"Except us, of course." Cliffjumper quickly said and I facepalmed. They are obviously not good at this lying thing.
Either Fowler didn't notice the lie or didn't care. "Well, where is he? Wait don't tell me, he's out pancaking a mini mall!"
The two mechs glanced at each other and I laid a comforting hand on his foot, but then my attention was drawn to the three teens when I heard the slight sounds of Miko's guitar. My eyes widened.
Oh slag, I forgot all about her damn guitar.
Fowler had moved a few steps towards the stairs, causing Bulkhead to slightly step to the side to make sure the three stayed hidden. Well that would have been good and all, if only Miko had unplugged her instrument.
I watched as Raf had an arm around the girl's stomach and Jack pulling her arm, both trying to keep Miko from getting yanked out into view.
They managed to keep her hidden while Bulk took quick nervous glances at them before looking back at the still ranting agent. "I don't know what language you bots speak on your planet, but Prime promised he would handle the Decepticons and blowing a creator in the middle of Nebraska isn't the word 'Handle' means in English. So you tell Prime..." Que the guitar noise again, but louder this time.
Ah-oh. Not good. Abort. ABORT. I thought in slight panic. I was not looking forward to this.
"Since when you bots electric?" Fowler questions suspiciously, causing the two bots to stiffen up. The four of us humans glanced at each other and Jack shrugged before they walked from behind Bulkhead and, after sighing, I walked out from behind Cliffjumper.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Jack slightly waved and I resisted the urge to face palm again. Real smooth Jack.
"Contact with civilians," Fowler slammed his hand on the railing, furious. "Team prime had really gone off book this time. Wait, don't tell me, you're running a daycare center!?" I glared hard at him. Fragging bastard, I'M 21 YEARS OLD! I mentally screamed in rage, but kept quiet.
"Oookay..." Bulkhead muttered, and I heard Cliff mutter 'we in trouble now'.
"Uh, we're interns." Jack lied and smiled to match it. "Student interns." Raf added and I decided to take Jack's line. "Earning extra credit in Auto shop." I started only for Miko to suddenly blurt out 'Robotics' at the same time I said 'Auto Shop'. I glared at the girl and made a mental note to get some heavy duty duck tape to tape her mouth shut.
It was no surprise to me when Fowler didn't buy any of our lies and started down the stairs. "Ok, let's move. I'm taking all four of you into Federal custody, it's for your own protection." He said as he walked towards us. Oh hell naw, I ain't goin nowhere!
Luckily Bulkhead and Cliffjumper intervened by slamming their foot down in front of us, immediately stopping the agent in his tracks. "We're protecting them." Cliff growled out and Bulkhead nodded in agreement. To say that Fowler was mad would be an understatement.
"Is that so?" He then turned towards the wall phone next to the stairs. "Well, maybe you can explain that to my superiors at the Pentagon!" He said as he picked up the phone and I smirked at what was about to happen.
"Don't use that phone..." Cliffjumper smirked while crossing his arms. Bulkhead bent down and poked at the phone's wall unit, ultimately crushing it. "It's out of order." Bulk finished smugly. I snickered at Fowler's expression.
"This isn't over bigfoot, not by a long shot!" Fowler yelled as he threw down the phone, but since there was the cord that was connected to it, just swung in the air. Agent Fowler stomped back up the stairs and to the elevator, glaring at the two bots, particularly Bulkhead.
As soon as the doors closed and Fowler was gone, Bulk groaned while shaking his head.
"Well, that went well." My guardian said sarcastically and I snorted. "He needs to take a chill pill... or ten." I said as I walked to where the main computer was. I heard Cliff and Bulk chuckle at my comment. Jack, Miko, and Raf walked over to join me.
I knew it wasn't going to be long before we got that S.O.S. from the guy. And I was right, about five minutes later I jumped when the alarms went off again.
"My ears." Raf complained and I placed my hands over his to try and help block out some of the noise. Poor kid.
"What now?" Cliffjumper groaned as he and Bulkhead walked up to the computer.
"It's an SOS, from Fowler!" Bulkhead informed as he tried to figure out what to do on the console.
"SOS? What did he get himself into this time?" Cliffjumper asked with a raised eyebrow.
Finally the alarms stopped and the four of us looked at each other before Raf looked up at Bulk. "Did you trace it?"
"Location scan was incomplete... Oh well." I chuckled at that. Well, aren't you the ever lovable one Bulk. I mused.
" 'Oh well'? Seriously?" Jack said in disbelief.
Cliffjumper looked down at the black haired boy. "Fowler's a jerk."
"Whoa! Whether you like the guy or not, the Decepticons may have him." Jack exclaimed.
"And Agent Fowler knows your location." Raf stated before gulping. "Our location."
"And did we not just witness how fast Fowler backs down from a bot? The cons will totally make him squeal." Miko said as I nodded.
"Fowler likes to be a smartaft and make stupid comments. While he doesn't have to worry about ya'll killing him, there is no doubt that the cons will torture him till he breaks or dies." I said.
"But we lost the transmission, Fowler can be anywhere." Bulkhead says frustrated. I grinned.
"Maybe I can narrow it down." Raf says as he sat down with his laptop and started typing. "About five years ago, the government started microchipping their agents. You know, like what owners do with pets." I had to resist the temptation to laugh at Jack and Miko.
"What? I saw it on tv." Raf said a little nervous at the stares he was getting. "Anyways, if I can hack into the Feds mainframe, then maybe I can pinpoint Fowler's co-ordinance."
"You know how to hack?! But you're like, 2 years old!" Miko exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at her. You guys underestimate the kid.
"12... and a quarter." He smiles at us, I smile back before walking up to him and sitting down beside him, watching him work through the firewalls and blockages.
After a few minutes Raf finally got a fix on the agent's location. "Latitude 39.5 Longitude 116.9." Raf relayed the co-ordnance to Bulkhead who punched them into the computer and opened the ground bridge.
"Alright, wait here." He said as he and Cliffjumper walked towards the bridge, Miko made the comment about not breaking up the band. But before they went through Cliff turned towards us. "Uh, Shadow, you're in charge." Then they both charged through the bridge before it shut down.
I stood there wide eyed. "Say what now!?" I exclaimed. It was supposed to be Jack, but I guess since I'm older it makes sense.
"Well, I guess we four have the run of the place." I snapped out of my thoughts when Jack said that, but then saw him look around. What's he looking fo...Oh Slag! I am getting so tired of this day, no thanks to Fowler and Miko.
"Miko? Miko?" Jack called for her but retrieved no response. I placed a finger to my temple to ease the oncoming headache.
"Bloody child must have gone after Cliff and Bulk." And maybe use that duck tape to tape her to a metal chair and have Ratchet weld a metal cage to lock her inside.
*Cliffjumper's POV*
Bulkhead and I jumped through the ground bridge and we were surrounded by rocks and cliffs.
"Fowler?" Bulkhead calls out.
"You here?" I asked out loud as we looked around, only for us to freeze when we looked up a bit to see the Decipticons Warship hiding between the two large rock faces.
"Ah-oh." Bulk muttered as we walked to the edge of the large boulder we were behind. "The whole Decepticon sham-bang."
"This isn't looking too good, Bulk." I stated as I eyed the drones patrolling down on the ground and a few I can see on the top of the warship.
Bulkhead shook his head. "No, it isn't. How are we supposed to sneak past all of them?" I shrugged. I didn't have a clue on what to do. Scrap, what do we do?
"But we do need to get closer." He pointed at a bolder a little in front of us to the side. Nodding, we waited until the drones were turned before we booked it to our new hideout, careful to make sure none saw us as one ended up walking passed a bit too close for comfort.
Suddenly we heard a voice that made us both freeze.
"All right, so what's the plan?" Miko smiled at us from behind a much smaller boulder. Scrap.
"Miko!" Bulkhead exclaimed quietly before shoving his digit in front of his mouth to tell her to be quiet. But of course Primus hates us because the same drone that walked by us towered over the human with a blaster pointed at her. Double scrap. What the frag is she doing here!? I thought in panic.
"Oh, unwise." You're just now realizing that!?
"Miko, get down!" Bulkhead yelled and luckily she jumped over the rock before she got hit by the blast. The con turned to shoot at her again only to be tackled by Bulkhead. I took out my blasters and made sure that no other cons heard and came running.
I just hope Miko is the only human here.
*Shadow's POV*
Well scrap, I swear that child's gonna get it when all this is over.
"That girl is gonna be the death of me." I muttered from my place next to Jack who glanced at me.
"What should we do? Bulkhead and Cliffjumper may not even realize that she followed them." Raf started to panic. I shook my head.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure that they know by now. Miko doesn't seem to know when to keep her big mouth shut." I said as I glared at the ground bridge where said girl went through.
"Miko hasn't seen the Cons in action like we have. She has no idea." Jack said with a worried look as Raf went to the computer.
"Those are the co-ordinance, their destination is still locked in!" Raf turned to us.
"Good, we need to go and drag Miko's reckless ass back to base." I told the young boy before I slid down the ladder and started towards the ground bridge.
"Uhh, you're in charge." I heard Jack tell Raf.
"In charge of who!?" The preteen exclaimed. I turned back towards the boys while still walking backwards.
"In charge of Casper." I grinned at them as the ground bridge powered up and they both ran up to me. Raf was smiling at what I said and Jack had the smallest smirks.
"Well, here goes nothing." I said before we walked through, feeling the slight vibration inside of my body.
Soon we made it to the other side and found ourselves in some rocky canyon.
"Whoa, are your bones vibrating?" Raf asked in fascination. I smiled and nodded while Jack shrugged. But we froze in our tracks when we noticed the Cons Warship in front of us. Holy Primus, it's HUGE!
Seeing the Nemesis on the screen is one thing, but seeing it for yourself in real life is completely different.
I just hope that none of the cons can see us.
"You there!" WHY UNIVERSE? WHYYYY?
My eyes widened when we were spotted by some drones from the top of the ship and I could barely hear the charging of their blasters.
"Scrap." I was able to mutter before they opened fire on us.
Ohhh shit shitshitshitshit. Not good. Not GOOD! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE! I screamed in my head as I dodged the shots, only to let out a scream when a blast struck the ground a foot from me, throwing me off balance. I looked up and my eyes widened when a shot was hurling its way right at me.
I closed my eyes, waiting to be struck down. But it never came, however, I did hear a grunt. Opening my eyes, a gasp slipped past my lips.
There above me, blocking the blasts... was Cliffjumper.
I opened my mouth, but before anything could come out I'm suddenly swept up in his hand as he transformed around me. Soon finding myself in the passenger seat with my head leaned back and eyes closed trying not to up chuck my breakfast.
OP had shown me the small kitchen when I had woken up in the middle of the night in search of anything to eat. I had found some nonperishable foods and was able to make me something to eat while Optimus stayed with me in his holoform, which was a male in his mid 40s, dark brown hair, blue eyes, about 6ft, and pretty muscular. We had talked for about an hour and a half before I went back to bed and he went back to his quarters to work a bit.
"What in the Allspark are you doing here!?" I flinched a bit at Cliffjumper's tone. He was not happy, at all.
"Here to drag Miko's aft back to base when we found out that she followed y'all." I told him as he and Bulkhead, who had the others, took cover behind a boulder.
My door opened. "So I don't get another spark attack, please wait here." He said as I got out.
"Don't have to tell me twice."
Him and Bulkhead sped around and towards the warship. Watching as they went under the ship and zoomed up the side of the cliff. I had to squint a little to try and see them fight the drones. It didn't take long for them to finish off the drones, especially with Cliffjumper being alive now.
I saw Bulkhead and Cliffjumper look towards us, and that's when I remembered...
"Where's Miko!?" I heard Bulkhead yell out. Five, four, three, two... * Knock Knock*
"Found her!" I stated as Miko emerged from Bulks chassis, about to hurl. I snickered. Yeah, that's what you get.
But the funny moment was ruined when more vehicons showed up and tackled the two bots. I lightly hit my forehead against the rock. How in the Pit did neither of them notice the con? We stayed behind the boulder for several minutes longer before Raf spoke up.
"Do you think they forgot about us?"
"No,I don't think so." I said from my spot, only for the blood to drain from my face when I heard heavy footsteps behind us.
The three of us slowly turned around to see two drones looking down at us. "Well scrap." I squeaked and before we could make a run for it we were grabbed, one holding Jack and Raf and the other holding me. Well frag, this ain't good. I thought as they took us into the warship. Hopefully Arcee and Bumblebee will save us in time.
10? 15 minutes? Is that how long we have been walking the halls? Damn, why's this ship so big?
"Bring them to the brig. Commander Starscream is keeping the other human there." The con that was holding me said, just as we were crossing an intersection. It didn't take even a second to hear two familiar engines and I knew what was about to happen.
I closed my eyes and barely had time to prepare when Bee slammed into the drones legs. "Shi-" I yelped when I was thrown from the cons servos and was falling towards the ground.
The air was knocked out of me when I landed on my back, but luckily I had my arms behind my head so it didn't slam on the hard floor.
"I'm so sorry, Shadow. Are you alright?" Bee asks with panicky beeps and whirls.
"Pea-chy." I wheezed out while holding a thumbs up. I slowly got up with the help of Jack.
"You sure you're alright?" He asked in concern and I nodded.
"Yeah, ain't the first time I had the air knocked outta me." I leaned slightly into him as I started getting my breathing back to normal.
"Bumblebee!" Raf exclaimed with a big smile. The black and yellow scout kneeled down closer to us.
"You shouldn't be here, something bad could have happened if we hadn't found ya'll." Bee scolded us.
"Appreciate clearing the front door for us, but storming the Decepticon warship was not on the activities list." Arcee said next to him.
"Blame Miko. she's the one who snuck out with Bulk and Cliff, we were just trying to find her and drag her aft back to base. As you can see we didn't get that far." I explained.
"But Miko is with them." Raf cleared up when the two seemed concerned when she wasn't with us.
"Yeah, so let's hurry up and find them, get Fowler, and get the pit out of here. I would rather not risk getting grabbed by Cons again." I said as the others nodded before we started running down one of the many long hallways.
When we came up to the next intersection, Arcee got her blaster out before aiming it down the hallway. "Friendly."
"Hello." I heard Bulkhead's voice.
Walking around Arcee I saw Bulkhead and Cliffjumper with their blasters out.
"Thanks for not shooting our helms off." Cliffjumper said nearly the same time Bulkhead did. Arcee sighed and transformed her blaster back into her arm, as did the other two.
"Brought the humans huh?" She asks jokingly.
"You try getting them to stay behind!" The two exclaims while pointing to Miko, who was in Bulks hand. I couldn't help but chuckle at them.
Cliffjumper looks down at me. "I thought I told you to stay where you were."
I scoffed. "Yeah well we didn't have much of a choice because as soon as you three went into the warship, two drones came up and grabbed us."
Suddenly he kneels down closer to me. "They didn't hurt you, did they?" He asks in concern as he scans my body for any visible injuries.
I blinked in surprise at his sudden change of mood before chuckling. "Yeah, I'm fine, they didn't hurt us. Arcee and Bumblebee saved us in time." He sighed in relief. I ain't even gonna menchin the fall I had when Bee saved us.
"That's good." He said bringing his servo down for me to climb onto before bringing me to his shoulder.
"We need to find Fowler and get these kids out of here." Arcee stated.
"He's in the brig." Jack, Raf, and I said at the same time.
"Alright, let's go. The sooner we get him, the sooner we can get out of here." Cliffjumper said as he brought his blaster and ran down one of the hallways, the others hot on his heels.
In the middle of the brig a male African American man hung chained by his arms high up above the ground.
"My dear Agent Fowler." The man slowly woke up due to his interrogator's annoying voice.
Lifting his head he saw the con known as Starscream, Second in Command of the Decepticons, walking towards him.
"You know that the Autobots have abandoned you." He chuckles. "I am the only one you can rely upon now, so tell me what I want to know or..."
He brought out the Energon prod and slowly inched it closer to the weakly struggling man.
"Please, no more. They're in... secret government base..." The Agent started before stopping when he started hearing blaster fire outside the room.
Starscream looked to the door and the two drones next to it got out their blasters. He turned back to the man.
"Yes."
"In the old steel mill or was it that carnival fun house?" Fowler smirks at the con.
Starscream shakes in rage before shoving the prod into the man's gut. Fowler screams in pain before falling unconscious.
As the blaster fire started getting louder Starscream turns to the two drones and growls at them. "Will someone find out what is going on out there!"
And both drones ran out to see what the commotion is.
They came out of nowhere. One minute we were running down the hall and the next we had cons on both sides of us.
Cliffjumper wasted no time in grabbing me and setting me down with the other three humans before shooting at the cons. There was so much noise going on and cons getting blown apart that it was hard to focus.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee shot at the cons in front of us while Cliffjumper and Arcee went after the ones behind us. An explosion from a drone blowing up by Bulkhead had my ears ringing and I was pretty sure Raf's were as well.
Noticing that Bulkhead was getting a bit too close to us I grabbed Raf at the same time Jack grabbed Miko and we ran to one side only to run back when a head of a drone slammed down in front of us. Pit running back wasn't safe either because the fragging body that the head belonged to fell right in front of us, narrowly missing us.
The last drone decided then to tackle Bulkhead, to which caused him to fall and nearly crush us. the impact causing us to lose balance and fall as well. Jack had his arms protectively around Raf, Miko and I.
Bulk managed to throw the drone off of him and before it could get back up Arcee and Cliffjumper shot him.
The four of us breathed out in relief that that was over. Getting up we hurried away from there before any more intercepted us.
It didn't take long before Arcee stopped at a door. "Get against the wall." She ordered the four of us, to which we obeyed.
Bumblebee started knocking on the door and after several seconds it opened up and the bots started shooting down all the drones in there, which wasn't much, only like 4 or 5.
"Clear." We heard Cliff give us the ok for us to come in.
"Wait in here." Arcee told us as I nodded. Cliffjumper raised an optic ridge at her while Bumblebee looked confused.
"Wait, why do they need to stay here? "
"Because they're slowing us down and are easy targets. They will be alright..." She got out her blaster. "As long as they stay put." She said more to us as she walked out. The other three looked to each other before getting out their blasters and ran after her.
"Cliff, wait." I called out to him as I ran to the door. He stopped and turned to me. "Is something wrong?"
I smiled softly at him. "No, I just wanted to say be careful."
He grins at me. "Don't worry, I will. I'll be back for you." And with that he turned and ran after the others. I turned back to the room with a slight blush. 'I'll be back for you' Damn it Shadow, snap out of it!
"That. Was intense." Miko stated in amazement.
"Was?" Raf asked in disbelief.
"It's your fault we're stuck in this intensity! What were you thinking Miko!?" Jack glared at the girl who glared back. I sighed heavily, I was not in the mood for this.
Suddenly I felt as though I was being watched. Turning away from the three I walked farther into the room.
"Did I ask you to follow me?"
I looked up towards one of the vents.
"You're the one who wanted us to be a band, doesn't that usually mean playing together? "
I could have sworn that I heard something. Like voices.
"Well maybe I wanted to play solo."
Maybe if Dumb and Dumber would shut the frag up, I could tell for sure.
"Well maybe I have some regard for your safety."
Wait, there it was again. I looked closer at one of the vents, seeing four slightly shining glows.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Is your name Optimus ? You can leave my protection to Bulkhead thank you very much!"
Wait a minute...are those...
"Waa. STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!" Raf yelled out, causing me to jump and spin back around to the three in time to see Raf running off. Forgetting about what I had been doing turned towards the two teens. Glaring at the two I growled out lowly.
"You two fix this now before I beat your afts right here and now." And with that I went over to where Raf was by the edge of the steps. Sitting down next to him I wrapped my arms around him.
"It's going to be ok. I swear those two like to bicker like an old married couple." I said softly as he leaned into me a bit. Then Jack and Miko came up next to us, Jack on the other side of me and Miko on the other side of Raf.
"Oh Hey Hey, Raf. Raf, it's ok." Jack said in a gentler voice.
"Yeah, we're going to be fine." Miko said as she laid a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Our bot will come back for us."
"Yeah, they're going to take us back home."
"How do you know?" Raf asked weakly and Jack and Miko looked at each other, not knowing what to say to him.
"Raf, look at me." I said softly and he slightly looked up at me. "I promise they will come back for us, trust me." Smiling softly at him and I saw a tiny one from him.
"Hey Raf, what do you make of that?" Jack suddenly asks and we all look up at the large screen in front of us. Raf and I got up and made our way down the steps, me helping him a little, before we ended up directly in front of the screen. Jack and Miko came up behind us.
"It's important. Real important. We gotta get this to Optimus." Raf said in wonder.
"How do you know that that isn't a recipe for space nachos?" Miko asks sarcastically. I rolled my eyes before turning to the girl.
"Really Miko, just because there's a triangle doesn't mean that it's nacho's."
"I know math when I see it, and that's one serious equation." Raf answered in awe.
"Please tell me it's not a Cybertronian version of Algebra 2." I shivered as I remember taking that class my Senior year in high school. I swear it's a whole other language that makes no sense whatsoever, I'm lucky I even passed that class.
"Well, can you... download it?" Jack asked unsure. Raf thought for a second before taking off his backpack.
"I got a flash drive." He started looking around the alien computer. "But I don't see where to plug it in, this tech is way alien."
We froze when we suddenly heard metal footsteps. Slowly turning towards the door my blood ran cold at seeing a drone walk in and noticing the offline drones.
Jack grabbed Raf's wrist as we ran to find cover, only for Raf to slip from his grip to turn around and grab his backpack. Cursing, I ran after him and quickly helped him put on the backpack, but when we looked up we yelped when the drone was looking right at us before aiming his blaster.
Shiiiiit. We slowly started backing up with Raf behind me while the con started walking towards us.
"Run Raf, RUN!" I yelled as we turned tail and ran while the con shot at us. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna Die. I DON'T WANNA FRAGGING DIE!
Suddenly a strong force knocked Raf and I to the side and Jack was there shielding us. "Miko, take a picture!" He shouted out to the girl across the room.
"Great idea! Hey, you!" I nearly slammed my head into the ground when she got the cons attention and took a pic of it. Miko, you idiot.
"Not of that, Of that!" Jack and I shouted. "Ohh" She says before taking a picture of the screen.
"Let's go! Let's go! Come on! Come on!" Jack shouted as he pulled Raf and I as we all jumped back up the stairs and ran for the door, all the while being shot at by the fragging con. Thankfully the door opened quickly as we ran as fast as we could down the hall.
"Go! Go! Go!"
I knew that the con followed us out. And I also know that he's lining up his shot.
*Honk Honk Honk Honk* Oh thank the Allspark!
We ducked down as Bulkhead transformed and jumped over us, running at the con. He tackled it, slid quite a ways, then flipping before slamming it to the ground, then transformed.
I jumped when Bee, Arcee, and Cliffjumper skid to a stop by us.
"I thought I told you to stay put!" Arcee yelled as Jack got on her and Miko and Raf got in Bumblebee. I jumped into the passenger seat of Cliff's alt mode.
"Can you open a comm. with Arcee and Bee?"
"Sure." He replied but I can tell that he wasn't happy in the slightest bit.
"Arcee, Bee. We were just fine until that fragging con decided to walk in. We had nowhere to go but out. So don't get mad at us, get mad at the now dead con thanks to Bulkhead." I explained before closing my eyes and leaning my head back against the seat. Cliffjumper had cut out the Comm. and spent the rest of the drive in silence.
I stood by the railing as Optimus finished welding an arm brace on Ratchet. Optimus went to put the device up while Ratchet walked towards us.
"How's the arm?" I asked him.
He sighed. "It wasn't too badly injured, but I will need to wear this brace for about two Earth days."
"Hey, that's not bad, us humans would need to wear a cast for about a week to a month, sometimes longer depending on the severity of it." I said as Miko turned to them.
"What happened to you guys anyway?" Miko asked, a bit concerned.
"We engaged an army of undead Cybertronian warriors." Ratchet explained as Miko did a double take.
"Zombies? ... You fought zombies and I missed it!?" She exclaims in anger.
"Trust me, it wouldn't have been fun." I muttered to myself.
"Bulkhead, you exercised extremely poor judgment in allowing the humans to accompany you." Prime lectured the former wrecker. Bulkhead looks at us before looking back at the Prime.
"It won't happen again Optimus, I-I promise." I shook my head at that.
"But it wasn't Bulkhead's fault." Miko stepped forward. I huffed out a laugh.
"Yeah, it was your's, that is what happens when you sneak out of base after the bots." I said, but everyone ignored me except Optimus, Ratchet, and Cliffjumper. Thanks guys, at least I know someone listens.
"Miko, please." Bulkhead hissed, but she ignored him and brought out her phone.
"And check it out, recon!" She lifted her phone up to Optimus as he bent down closer to look at it.
"Hmm, Ratchet, have a look. It could be of importance to Megatron."
"Whoa, Megatron's back? That's really bad news right?" Jack asked as I nodded. "Very bad news."
Ratchet took a look at Miko's phone. "I- don't understand." He says in confusion.
She looked back at her phone. "Opps, that's the con that tried to blow Raf and Shadow away, or at least until Bulkhead rearranged his grill." She said in excitement, making air punches. All the while Cliffjumper was looking at me wide eyed(or optic). Oh why do I have the feeling that I'm gonna get a lecture from him later.
"Miko, Raf and Shadow were almost killed! This isn't a game! When are you going to get that through your thick skull?!" Jack seethed. Yeah he wasn't a happy camper.
"Um, we were all almost killed Jack. You, me, Shadow, Raf, even them!" She crossed her arms and glared at the ground.
"Well if this was just an average day with the Autobots, then I don't want to be a part of it, not any more." Jack declared shocking Miko and Raf.
"Jack..." I started only for him to interrupt me.
"No Shadow, don't. I can't- I can't do this." I slowly nodded. He'll be back tomorrow.
"Jack, putting you in harm's way was never our intent. However, it is no longer the safety of you four that is at risk, but the safety of all humankind. We will respect your decision if you wish to leave." Optimus said and not a second later the ground bridge came to life.
"No point of long goodbyes here's the door." That got my blood boiling, more than it did watching it back home.
"Could you possibly be any more sparkless Ratchet?!" I yelled at the now shocked medic before running down the stairs and towards my room, ignoring those calling my name. Reaching my room I slammed the door shut before walking over and plopping down onto my bed. I am so tired of this day. I swear I could beat the slag outta Miko and Ratchet.
I stayed like that for about 20 or so minutes before I heard a knock on my door. I sighed heavily but didn't make any moves to answer. Must be either Cliffjumper or Arcee.
I heard transforming before the human sized door opened. Maybe I can act asleep so whoever it is can leave me be.
I heard footsteps coming closer but it sounded different than Cliff and Arcee's. Feeling the shift as the person sat on the edge, I made sure to keep my breathing steady.
"If you think you could trick me into thinking you are really sleeping, you are mistaken."
I breathed out a laugh. "Nothing gets past you huh OP?" I turned over so that I'm looking up at Optimus's holoform.
"I'm not gonna apologize to Ratchet if that's why you're here." I told him as I closed my eyes again.
"I agree that Ratchet should have taken a different approach in the situation. But that is not why I have come to you."
I opened my eyes and looked at him questionably.
"I was about to go on patrol while Ratchet looked over the schematics Miko provided him, I came here to ask if you would like to accompany me?" I stared at him as I sat up.
"Really, you want me to come with you?" I asked in shock and he nodded with a small smile.
I smiled from ear to ear. "I would love to join you!" I said excitedly as I jumped up. He chuckled at my action as he followed me to his vehicle form outside my door.
Jumping into the passenger seat Optimus made his way to the driver's seat. We drove out to the main room where only Ratchet, Arcee, and Cliffjumper remained. I didn't make eye contact with Ratchet when he turned to look at us, instead I rolled down the window and waved at Cliffjumper and Arcee.
"Shadow will accompany me on my patrol." Optimus stated.
"Well in that case, have Fun Shadow." Arcee said, smiling at me. Cliffjumper however, was pouting.
"But what about our drives?" I couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"How about I spend most of the day with you tomorrow? How's that sound?" Well judging how he instantly perked up, I would say he likes that idea. "Deal."
And with that, Optimus and I started the patrol around Jasper.
Looking over at his holoform, I couldn't help but think back to the memories of our time working at the Hall Of Records. How Optimus Prime was Orian Pax. The once shy data clerk that was fun to be around and to prank, is now a fearless leader known by friends and foes alike. A leader that has seen a lot of war and death.
A leader that refuses to show any kind of emotion such as joy, smiling, or laughing, or even anger to the point he punches a hole in the wall, or cries cause he's sad.
No, so much has changed in my old friend. Even though I don't have all my memories, but just by looking back on how we used to be, makes me wish that everything was still like that.
"Is everything alright Shadow?" Optimus's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I looked up at him before looking down in my lap.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You may?"
"Well I know not for when the others are around but when it's just us, would it be- you know, Alright if I still call you Orian?" I didn't look up at him but I felt him slow down and pull over on the side of the road.
"It's just, I remember working with you at the Hall Of Records, and how much fun it was to be around you." I chuckled sadly. "I miss the shy data clerk that became one of the greatest mechs that I have ever met. I-I miss being able to laugh and joke around with you. Even though I don't have all my memories, just by remembering back then, makes me wish it was still that way today." A tear slid down my cheek.
Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around me and Optimus pulled me against his chest where I could hear his 'heartbeat'.
"You are not the only one. I would be happy if you called me by my old name." He said softly as we just held each other, and I felt him start to relax, probably for the first time since my disappearance.
Exhaling a shaky breath I tightened my hold on him, as if afraid that he might disappear this time instead of me. "I missed you so so much Orian."
"I missed you too Shadowstalker."
And we stayed that way a bit longer, just holding each other.
By the time we continued patrolling we started talking a lot about Cybertron and our time at the Hall of Records and outside of work. I nearly cried when he cracked a joke or two, 1 cause Primes don't joke around and 2 cause it was so damn funny.
So that's how the rest of the time was like, just us enjoying each other's company while laughing and joking around just like we had done before my kidnapping.
I smiled up at Optimus. "Thank you Orian, I needed this."
He smiled down at me. "As did I Shadowstalker." He said before ruffling my hair.
Well then, it seems like Cliffjumper is quite the protective guardian when it comes to Shadows' well-being. I will have a poll set up on my profile for where Shadow and Cliff will go to spend most of their day at, so please cheack that out and vote for which location you would like them to go. Also the scene between Optimus and Shadow nearly made me cry.
Cliffjumper: 'Nearly'? You're crying right now!
Me:*Tissue in hand* No I'm not.
Arcee: Yes you are.
Me:*sniffles* I'm not crying, I just got something in my eye.
Bulkhead:*cough* Lies *cough*
Shadow: Well since Authoress is too busy crying *Authoress crying in background saying that she isn't crying*. Thank you for reading this chapter and I would say that I can't wait for it, buuut I have no idea what the pit she has in store for us. But until then, Shadowstalker, Out!