I know it has been a while since I updated, I am sorry about that. I have been feeling unmotivated about writing, art and everyday life stuff. But hey the new school year has started and I have a bit less stress during the week days with my kids going back to school. So time to get back at it and get my stories out into the world. Anyway, disclaimer, I do not own transformers Prime, just a big fan who wants to get better at writing. Enjoy
Chapter 8
"The Decepticon Space Bridge is located right here." Ratchet informed everyone pointing to the location on the map he had up on his screen. After he and Bulkhead had come back from trading information for services with Starscream he had called everyone in the field back to base, with the good news and the bases of a plan. "Deep within an energon mine."
"Adjacent to a raw fuel supply, clever. What's our Intel?" Arcee asked ready for action.
Ratchet exchanged a look with Bulkhead before saying. "A- reliable source." He chose to ignore the scrutinizing look Arcee was giving the two of them and turned to the humans. "So do we have a consensus?"
"Do we even know if people can breathe your atmosphere?" June demanded trying to stop Jack from going through with the mission. She had already had had a fit when they told her what Amber had gone and now Jack was getting ready to head to Cybertron, she didn't like this situation any better.
"I'll hook Jack up." Fowler said, causing June to turn and glare at him. "Completely state of the art. I still have connections at NASA."
June's face softened as she looked at Jack and said. "It's too dangerous."
"Mom I know that this is hard but Optimus risked his life to save our planet and hes not even human. Amber is risking hers to bring him back, we owe it to them."
"Jack maybe the only one who can do this June but I don't want you to think for one moment that I'll allow him to travel unchaperoned." Arcee assured her, stepping forward, having her partner's back.
"Not everyone is destined for an ordinary life. Optimus Prime was once Orion Pax after all." Ratchet said and in the end that was what convince June to let Jack go. "Have we had any further contact from Amber?"
"Not since she sent that picture of Optimus saying she found him." Raf said tapping his own watch communicator.
"I didn't even know they could do that." Miko commented looking at hers very closely, wondering where the camera could be hiding. They waited a few hours before Fowler returned with the space suit he had been able to get for Jack. With that on hand they were ready to proceed.
"We will ground bridge directly into the energon mine and make our way to the space bridge chamber, neutralizing any Decepticon forces we encounter. Once we secure the Space Bridge we'll send for Jack." Ratchet said laying out the plan for everyone, knowing that this was not going to be easy for any of them. "Stealth must be an absolute priority. We will most certainly be outnumbered and if any Decepticon should transmit an alert to their warship-"
"The odds become 400 to 1." Bulk said for the medic.
"Scrambling communications upon entry will certainly provide and edge in this regard." Ratchet concluded.
"Taking the bridge is the easy part. You 3 need to hold it long enough for Jack and me to get to Cybertron and back." Arcee reminded them.
"Rafael climbed to the top of the rope in gym class, we can do this." Raf smile that the old medic happy that Ratchet understood what Raf had been trying to say to him earlier. Miko didn't care about any of this as she stated that if Ratchet got to go storm the Space Bridge she would go too. She was not very happy when Ratchet told her that she would have to stay behind and help man the ground bridge and communications with Raf. "Agh! Can't go to Cybertron, can't storm the Space Bridge, can't sneak onto the con warship." she muttered in distain well walking away in a huff.
"And Nurse Darby will stand by in case of emergency." Ratchet informed June, hoping that she would not be needed.
"Son it's time to suit up." Fowler told Jack.
-o0o-
Back on the warship, Orion had been working when his mind started to wonder to what Starscream had told him the night before. He checked the data base for Optimus Prime and soon found himself looking at the image of an imposing mech bearing the Autobot symbol. He gave a sigh of relief at seeing that the mech looked nothing like him as he read the file. "Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobot invaders. I reminded Starscream of him? And Lord Megatron said that Ratchet was the Autobot leader." Orion paused as he thought it all over. "Someone is not telling the truth."
Orion worked on the encryptions that were in the file's code, pausing for a moment when he felt Amber move in the sparkling rest area of his spark chamber. He wasn't sure if she was waking up or simply moving in her state of forced recharge. He hoped that she was alright and that his spark wasn't hurting her in anyway, that would not be ideal. He worked a bit longer and soon undid the encryption, watching as the image of the unknown mech changed to one of himself.
Orion's spark picked up pace a little, uneasy with this new development, so he was a bit surprised when a new presence, a calming one entered his mind. 'It's ok, you'll be ok soon.' he recognised Amber's voice and knew that something was happening between the two of them. That a bond was forming, much like any carrier or creator would with a sparkling.
Meanwhile in his spark chamber Amber was half awake and didn't know what was going on. All she knew was that Orion had learned the truth and he was on the verge of panicking. She wasn't sure where she was or how she had gotten there but she didn't really care at that moment, her guardian needed her strength. "I know you don't understand but I can say that everything in the end will be as it should be." Though she said this out loud, her voice was barely above a whisper but he still heard her.
Shifting to get more comfortable Amber wince when pain shot up her right leg from where Soundwave had grabbed her. Orion felt her pain and wished that there was something he could do to help her, but he knew that taking her out now wouldn't do any good. In response to this desire tendrils of energy came from his spark and approached Amber's injured leg. She watched in fascination as they gently wrapped around her leg and the pain slowly began to fade.
Orion felt her awe but wasn't sure what was happening, and it didn't help that at that moment Megatron walked into the room. Turning away from the mech he considered a dear friend he tryed to hide his confusion. "Orion, have you made progress with project Iecon?" he asked well approaching the work station, noting the change in how Orion was acting
"It seems I am a bit rustier than I thought." Orion lied, turning to face Megatron.
"Might that have anything to do with the nature of your afterhour's research? Did I fail to mention that we would be tracking your activities?" Megatron asked well bringing up the image of Optimus Prime that Orion had uncovered.
Orion only hesitated for a moment before he demanded answers. "Why does history portray me siding with the Autobot aggressors? And why did Starscream call me a Prime? I must know, who am I?"
"You are my clerk." Megatron all but growled at him. "Now get back to work and decode that data base."
'No don't.' Amber told him, having heard everything from inside his spark chamber and he could feel her worry of what Megatron would do with the information in that coded file.
Orion didn't need to think about it after that. "No. I would rather erase my findings than make them available for your questionable use." He did just that, feeling Amber's relief well he turned and walked away from his work station but they both felt a chill when the con leader laughed. Turning Orion watched Megatron push a button and all the information reappeared on the terminal's screen.
"Did you really think we wouldn't be tracking and documenting every ioda of your evaluable research? I also know about the human, and where you are currently keeping her." Megatron informed him, taking pleasure in the fear in Orion's optics well his hand flew to his chest, right over his spark chamber. Just then Soundwave walked into the room, informing his leader that one of their slumbering sentries back on Cybertron had become active.
"You told me that our planet was dead." Orion thinking now that it was another lie.
"That is beside the point." Megatron snapped at him before calling the guards that had been waiting in the corridor into the room. "You will finish project Iacon by the time I return or I will carve out your spark and the girl before your very optics."
Orion didn't argue with him, fearing for both his and Amber's survival, walking back to his station and got back to work. He heard both Megatron and Soundwave leaving the room but he knew the two guards were still there. 'It's ok Orion, keep working for now. I'll help you get out of here and get to the Autobots when the time is right.' Amber told him and he could feel her slight movements from inside his spark chamber. He wasn't sure what she was doing but he was comforted by the confidence she was sending through their newly made bond.
"No one told you to stop Pax." One of the guards said, walking over to him, bringing out his cannon, his fellow guard following his lead.
Despite hearing both guards cannons charging Orion kept calm as he turned and tried to reason with them. "I believe Megatron intends to use whatever he may find in Project Iacon to harm the Autobots. Please, we can warn them." Orion received a few hits that knocked him to the floor for his words, and one guard put his canons in his face. Orion, was surprised by this show of aggression but it was only the beginning as both guards began to hit him, over and over again. Orion tried to not move too much from the blows not wanting Amber to be hurt by the back lash in his spark chamber.
"You have to admit, it's a privilege to stomp the former leader of the Autobots." One guard said when they stopped hitting him and let him slowly crawl away from them. Orion looked up at the image of Optimus Prime, than at the two guards' right before he took a punch to the face. The two began to hit him again, this time with no pause in between their blows.
"No please stop." He begged, fealing Amber's anger at the two grow. Suddenly the anger was his own and his hands were replaced by two cannons well he cried. "Enough!" both cons were surprised to see them but not as much as he was. 'Orion, let me help. Trust me.' he was confused but opened his chest plating and the Vehicons received a shock.
"Hello boys." Amber said right before shooting both of them in their optics, successfully blinding them, allowing Orion to finish them with his wild and seeming untrained fire. With them down Amber jumped out of Orion's chest and after she was sure the room was clear of threats she turned to him. "Are you alright Orion?"
He didn't answer at first, as he was too busy looking at his cannons well closing his chest plating once more. Once he was done with that he looked at her, shocked to see that she too was armed and her pack was gone. It was most likely still inside his chest. "I am fine but what did you mean when you said that you would get me to the Autobots?"
"I'm sorry that I lied to you but I wasn't sent to the warship to observe the Decepticons." Amber told him well fishing out her dog tags, putting them on and letting him see the Autobot symbol. "I'm actually with the Autobots and I came here to rescue you."
Through their new bond he knew that she was telling the truth but there was more to it than that. "You would risk your own life to save mine?"
"You have done the same for me." She simply told him before the two of them made their escape through the con's ground bridge. But instead of going to Jasper like she suggested, Orion had instead taken them to the last place he should have gone.
-o0o-
It had been a few ruff hours for the members of Team Prime, with seizing the Space Bridge, and sending Jack and Arcee to Cybertron. Other than one hick up with Agent Fowler making casual conversation with Breakdown, Jack and Arcee reported engaging a Insectacon and a swarm of Scraplets. Despite all this Jack was able to get the Matrix and the two were on their way back to the space bridge when Megatron arrived. The con leader made it well known that he would not let them restore Optimus's memories and even though it was the 3 of them against him, Megatron easily defeated them. He now waited at the threshold of the open Space Bridge for Arcee, who he assumed had the reloaded Matrix. "Come Arcee, so that I may end the lineage of the Primes for all time."
"I cannot allow that to happen Megatron." Orion told him as he and Amber both walked into the mine.
"And why should you care Orion Pax? You are no Prime." Megatron snapped glaring at him and the small human that had stowed away on his ship.
"That may be true, or yet another deception, but this much I do know. My sympathies lay with the Autobots and you are not one of us." Orion told him well he brought out his swords, even though one was cut in half still from his fight in Unicron's body all those months ago. Amber was smiling at the angry look on Megatron's face, though she wished that they had not come there with Orion's lack of experience.
She was proven right when he charged Megatron with a shout, ignoring her pleas to stop, his strike easily blocked and receiving a punch right to his midsection. Amber winced seeing Orion down on his knees already, well Megatron stood over him. "Your spark maybe in the right place Orion." he hit Orion in the back of his head, knocking him completely to the ground. "But you have much to learn before you can hope to ever stand your ground against me. A moment sadly which shell never come."
Megatron raised his sword about to strike Orion down but suddenly Amber shot him in both knee joints and Arcee came speeding through the Space Bridge. The femme hit Megatron with a battle cry and sent him flying from her leader, who was slowly picking himself up. He saw the two fighting well Amber came running up to him, but he saw that she was looking at something behind him. Turning Orion spotted another human walking out of the Space Bridge towards him. He stopped near the data clerk and held up the reloaded matrix well Amber came to stand next to him. "Are you… certain I am worthy?" he asked Jack, fear filling him but he could feel the calm come from Amber well she smiled up at him.
"You have no idea." was all Jack said before he began to upload the Matrix. A beam of light left the key card and hit Orion's chest, causing it to open and the energy filled the relic that rested there. By this point Megatron got a hold of Arcee and pinned her to one of the Space Bridge supports.
"How nice of you to join our little reunion. Now if you please, the Matrix." He snapped at her, believing that she still had it. That was till he noticed the two humans with Orion and the energy that was being uploaded into him. Sending the femme a glare, he tossed her aside and charged at the three, Amber and Ratchet were the first to see him coming. She dropped to a knee and opened fire at him, trying to hit any vital points not covered with armor, well missing the attacking Autobot medic.
She only got two shots out before she was out of ammo and could only watch as Megatron sent Ratchet flying with a single blow, not pausing in his charge. Amber scrambled for another clip, seeing the key card fly out of Jack's hands and into her guardian's. Megatron was almost upon them just as she got the clips changed and Orion's chest closed up. She wasn't able to get a round loaded when Megatron went to strike but Optimus stopped Megatron's blade with both hands.
"Megatron!" Optimus shouted at him, he and the humans seeing the horror on his face, Optimus's battle mask fell into place, he pulled a hand back and made a fist. "Be gone!" the first blow landed right in the con leader's face, and the next few blows hit their marks too, making Megatron stumble backwards.
Amber let the breath she didn't know she had been holding out and turned to smile at Jack who smiled back. "So how was Cybertron?" she asked casually well standing up, holding the rifle at rest.
Jack laughed well he came to stand next to her, saying. "An adventure that you can hear about later." Amber smiled well watching her guardian send Megatron flying across the mine with one last punch.
"Ratchet, how did we arrive here?" Optimus asked as they all came to stand by him.
"Long story old friend." Ratchet told him well all them got ready to fight Megatron, who was slowly getting back to his feet.
(("Base to Arcee, we're reading 5 Autobot life signals down there. Is Prime with you?")) Fowler asked over the comms.
"With Jack and Amber." Arcee said looking down at the two smiling. They opened fire on Megatron, who was back on his feet and very angry, thankfully their ground bridge appeared. "Autobots, fall back!" Optimus ordered, Arcee grabbing Jack and Bee doing the same with Amber, minding her rifle well he jumped into the bridge.
"This time hes coming with us." Bulk told Megatron before he and Optimus went through the bridge, it closing behind them. Megatron gave a frustrated yell at all his plans being ruined once again.
Back at the Autobot base Fowler, June, Raf and Miko watched the others return, June hugging Jack in relief but then she spotted Amber who was walking next to Bee. She looked at the girl, angry and ready to give her a piece of her mind but she held back for the moment. All of them turned, looking at Optimus, him being the last of them to arrive. Raf ran up to him and asked. "Optimus?"
"Hello Rafael." Prime said with a smile.
"The big guy remembers us. Wahoo!" Miko jumped for joy.
"Although it seems there is much I do not remember." Optimus said noting the Decepticon symbols on his shoulders, frowning. He was surprised to feel some reassurance from Amber in his mind and spark, making him look down at her in shock. She didn't say anything but her smile and the emotions she was sending him did put him at ease.
"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this. From every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot." Ratchet said well he and the others surrounded him, glad to have him back. With all of them being distracted Amber turned away with the intent to clean and put away the rifle, to discover a scowling Fowler standing in her way.
"Ah… hi Agent Fowler, how's it going?" she asked trying to look innocent. He didn't say anything well taking the rifle from her hands.
"Don't hi me young lady, you are in so much trouble."
For such a short chapter I am sorry it took me so long to edit it and post it. I will try to get the nest one up sooner but leave a review.