I don't own Transformers Prime.
Chapter 12
After the events with Nemesis Prime Amber was not very surprised when she was asked to speak with General Bryce again. She was finally able to give him a full account of what she had seen and done on the Decepticon Warship and what she knew of what Prime had been up to. Though the General listened to what she had to say she figured that he took all of it with a grain of salt. He didn't really seem to believe her or Fowler about the relics/weapons that were scattered all over the planet. She failed miserably to hold back a laugh when Optimus finally showed himself and scared Bryce and the private that was recording the whole debrief. Thankfully Prime was finally cleared and they were able to return back to Autobot base much to Amber's relief.
That had been nearly a week ago and since then Amber had noted something out of the ordinary happening going on around base and it was driving her nuts.
The first clue she had that the rest of the team was up to something was the hush conversations that Jack, Raf and Miko were having when they thought she wasn't looking. Also the way the bots seemed to be on edge whenever Amber was near any of their rooms. The last thing was the feeling Optimus was trying to keep something from going through their bond to her. Never had she ever thought she would feel extreme excitement come from her adoptive dad who was always so in control of his emotions.
"Alright is someone going to tell me what in the world is going on?" Amber finally demanded after days of putting up with it. Everyone looked at her in surprise seeing the glare on her face, arms folded and looking ready to skin each of them alive. They all felt a shiver of fear like they always did when ever Amber was angry.
"There's nothing going on Amber honest." Jack said avoiding her eyes, fearing he would cave under her intense glare.
"Amber would you come over here please." Ratchet suddenly called out from his lab where he was working. Shooting the rest of the bots and the humans looks, she walked over to the medic, Casper at her side. Of course when the two of them walked in and he saw the dog Ratchet scowled at him in disdain. "I need your help with this device, my hands are too big to grasp the wires to properly place them. Also please send that dog back to the main area, I do not need dog hair in my lab."
Amber did as he asked ordering Casper to his dog bed before she let Ratchet pick her up and put her next to the device he was working on. "I'm not going to be electrocuted am I?" she asked well going to the spot where wires were hanging out.
"No, no, you'll be fine." he assured her well he told her to where the wires needed to be put, having her hold them in place well he secured them. After that was done Ratchet had her help him well explaing that it was another small engine he was building to use for testing the synthetic energon he was trying to perfect. "The last sample I tried in the old engine caused some unforeseen problems and I had to discard it." he informed her.
"It blew up didn't it?" Amber asked having seen the remains of the old engine but had not wanted to upset the medic by asking about it. Ratchet was a bit taken back but finally he admitted that yes it had blown up, right in his face but thankfully that was all. An hour later Optimus walked in to the lab and smiled seeing Amber off to the side watching Ratchet work.
"So this is where you have been hiding." he said announcing himself to the pair, walking over to see what was going on.
"Amber was just assisting me is all." Ratchet said helping Amber down to the floor before he looked at Prime with a raised eyebrow. "Is everything ready?" he asked Prime in a hushed voice.
Optimus nodded, a smile gracing his face plating well he looked down at his daughter who was completely unaware that the two were even talking since she had left the lab. Optimus followed her out, trying very hard to keep his excitement from getting through the bond and ruining the surprise. "Amber how would you like to accompany me on a drive to a location I suspect may hold more energon?"
"Sure, so long as we stay in communication range this time and an evil double of you doesn't attack the rest of the team well were gone." Amber's comment did get a small chuckle for him well he transformed, letting her and Casper in his cab. Ratchet activated the ground bridge allowing Prime to drive through and once they were through the medic shut the bridge down with a smile.
Amber looked out the window a bit taken back by the flat terrain that had awaited them on the other side of the bridge. Frowning she looked around wondering where on earth they were exactly, until they passed a sign saying they were just outside a small town called Manzanola. "Dad why are we in Colorado, where are we going?" she asked.
She could feel Optimus's smile through the bond which did put her at ease but Amber still wondered what was going on. That is until he took a turn down a dirt road, activating his holoform and they soon came to a farm stead that looked very familiar to her. "Optimus why are we at my aunt and uncle's farm?" Amber asked well they all climbed out.
"I confess that I have been in contact with your extended family and had arranged a get together with them for this weekend as a surprise for you. We're staying the whole weekend to help out and spend time with your family." Optimus said leading her to the house, knocking on the door they heard Aunt Misty say that the door was open and to come on in. They walked in side and Amber jumped a mile when everyone she knew jumped out and shouted. "Surprise, Happy Birthday Amber!"
"Wait what?" she asked beyond shocked looking around at the small farm house that had been decorated. There was a birthday banner hanging on the far wall, followed by streamers, a cake and gifts on the side table.
"See I told you that with everything going on she didn't remember when her own birthday was." Miko said walking over to put a small plastic crown on her head but Amber waved her off. Amber looked around at all the happy faces of her family and her friends, feeling the start of a panic attack rising. Fighting to breath, she turned and quickly went outside to grasp the rail around the front porch, Optimus and Casper at her side with in seconds. Having realised what was happening Optimus told everyone to stay in the house, asking June to explain to Karl, and Misty about what was going on.
"Easy Amber, easy. Just try to focus on steading your breathing." Optimus told her well pulling her to his holoform's chest, rubbing her back. It took a few moments but eventually she called down but she wasn't ready to let go of him just yet. Casper suddenly stood up on his hind legs, planting his front feet on her side, and she scratched his head, grateful he was there.
"I'm sorry." She finally muttered.
"You have nothing to apologise for Amber." Optimus told her kindly well he continued to rub her back.
"Yes I do. You guys all went through the trouble of doing something nice for me and I reacted by having a stinking panic attack." Amber grumbled well stepping back from him and let Casper drop back to all fours. It was then that she realised that her eyes were wet, which made her rub at them furiously on her sleeve. "I've probably gone and upset Lucy and John, who are too young to understand."
"You didn't Amber." Lucy said running out to hug her crying cousin around the middle. "There is nothing you could do that would upset us."
"We've been looking forward to this weekend because we want to know all about you and your dad here." John said joining in on the hug, before looking up at Optimus with big eyes. "Can we call you Uncle by the way?"
"Wait did you tell them that you adopted me?" Amber asked a very surprised Optimus who was staring at the pleading eyes of John and Lucy.
Never did Amber think it would be possible for Optimus's Holoform to blush but the moment John had asked to call him uncle its cheeks turned bright red. She couldn't help the laugh that came out of her mouth which only made Prime's blush darken well shooting her a look. "Yes you both may call me Uncle." With that all said and done they all headed in and for the first time in many years Amber celebrated her birthday with every member of her family. She couldn't recall that last time she had actually done anything for her day of birth or if it had been any fun.
They played games and had a wonderful dinner (thankfully the bots not eating still went unnoticed by her Aunt and Uncle) in the backyard. It was only after all of her gifts had been opened and they sang happy birthday that they noticed the sun had begun to set and the others had to leave for home. Misty tried to insist that they all stay for the night but in the end only Optimus and Amber stayed. The next couple of days were the most peaceful either of them had had in a long time. They helped to bring in the harvest and with other chores all over the farm. John and Lucy had fun playing with Casper and Amber when she had a free moment. Though it was on the second night after Lucy and John had gone to bed that Amber finally told her family about what had happened back in her childhood. She even gathered her courage enough to show Karl and Misty the scars that covered her back.
In a fit of anger Karl threw a glass at the wall, it shattering upon impact. "I am going to find Leland and beat him to a bloody pulp before I grind him up with my claw grinder." he snapped.
"Uncle Karl please don't sink to his level." Amber told him well calmly getting the broom and sweeping up the shards. "Besides he has already gotten his comeuppance."
"What do you mean?" Misty asked well grabbing the bin for her.
"Recently he and his terrorist group tried to frame me and in reaction the government put out an arrest warrant for my team and I. It was only by stopping the imposter that I was proven innocent but however a collapsed ceiling fell on him. We have not located a body but he most definitely did not leave unscathed." Optimus explained, of course leaving out a great many details.
"Well I for one hope he shrivels up and dies." Karl growled taking is seat again but still looking upset but he then fixed his niece with a glare. "The one thing I don't get Amber is why didn't you come to us?"
"I couldn't take the risk that he would come here looking for me and you guys all get caught in the cross fire." Amber admitted making both her aunt and uncle smile at her fondly.
"You know it doesn't really surprise me Amber that you have joined up with Optimus and his team." Misty said with a smile on her face. When the topic of what Optimus did for work he had simply told them he worked with the military. "When you were little you always seemed proud of your mother being a soldier. I remember that time you were playing with your dolls in the living room, pretending that you and they were fighting some great evil."
Hearing this peeked both Optimus's and Amber's interest, remembering when they talked about there may be signs of her being Solus reborn in her younger years. "I did? I don't remember that." Amber said trying to not sit on the edge of her seat.
"Oh I bet not you were only 2 and a half at the time when you stayed here with us because both of your parents were out on missions. The fact you were talking so well was such a surprise, I had recorded the whole thing on video tape." Misty said with a fond smile and suddenly she perked up well rising from her seat. "You know what I think I know where that tape is. I'll be right back."
Optimus exchanged a look with Amber well saying through the bond. 'This may hold the answers you have been wanting.'
She said nothing well they headed into the living room and waited for her Aunt to return, him feeling her mixed emotions. They didn't have to wait long before Misty came back with an old video recorder and had Karl hook it up to the tv. It only took a few moments but for Amber it felt like forever till the video started playing and a younger her was on the screen. Optimus thought that younger her was adorable with her little pigtails on either side of her head and the little pink sundress she was wearing. She was seated on the floor of the very same living room, a big teddy bear in front of her and 4 small dolls on hand. But when they heard what younger Amber in the video was saying his spark came to a stop.
"Brothers we have to stop Uni from turning all light to darkness. Prima don't be so mean to Megatronus, he is helping in his ow way." Optimus looked at Amber and saw that she was staring at the video, her eyes wide but not focused, and the light was glowing once again.
Optimus reached out and touched the relic and Amber came out of her trance, jumping and looked at him in fear. 'It would seem that our suspicions were correct and you did remember some of your passed life when you were younger.' he told her softly through the bond hoping to put her at ease. Instead Amber abruptly stood and stormed outside, Casper hot on her heels.
"What- what's up with her all the sudden?" Karl asked turning the video off and both he and Misty made to follow her but Optimus stopped them.
"Please let me speak to her alone as I believe I know what is that has upset her and it is a delicate matter." he told them, getting up and went outside before they could say anything. Optimus didn't see her but he had also seen where she had been heading when she passed his real body outside. Heading to the old treehouse that was in the backyard,where Casper was sitting at the bottem of the latter whinning well looking up. Optimus gave him a comforting scratch behind the ears before climbing up the latter and found her curled up in the corner. "Amber-"
"Optimus just don't." Amber snapped cutting him off, her voice muffled as she had her head down, her legs pulled to her chest. "I don't want to talk about it." Optimus wasn't one for being easily deterred, climbing into the tree house, picked her up and put her in his lap while he sat down. He didn't say anything but he did send calm through the bond. Amber didn't respond at first but after a few moments she not only calmed but surprised him when she showed him what the light had shown her.
Never in his long life did Optimus think he would see parts of the battle between the thirteen and Unicron. However there was no denying that the familiar sight of the Chaos Bringer but that meant that the other Cybertronians fighting him were the first Primes. It wasn't much but it quickly became clear whose point of view he was seeing it from. After he had seen all of it Optimus squeezed her tight. "I do not blame you for being upset dear one."
"Up till that moment I had hoped that Unicron had been wrong that the voice I was hearing was wrong and that meeting I had with Solus was wrong. That I was just me." Amber said her voice sounding weak, which was not the strong young women Optimus had come to care about like she was his own. Though she had never showed or said anything Optimus had wondered if Amber had concerns with being the arifacter's reincarnation. It was in this moment he realised he knew just what to tell her.
"During the assembly where Megatron and I stood before the council and I was named the next Prime, I didn't know what to think. Especially since I had not gone there seeking power, to be named a leader, I only wanted to make Cybertron a better place to live for every mech and femme. The war caused me to except the role of leader and being a prime very quickly but I have often wondered since our exodus from our home if it was really all worth it in the end. That there could have been something else I could have done or if the council had indeed made the right choice when they chose me." Optimus told her, reminding himself that he had spoken only to two others about his own doubts.
Amber picked up on this fleeting thought and asked in surprise. "Who other than Ratchet have you shared your doubts with?" It did not surprise him that she had figured out that Ratchet was one of his confidants.
"Well Ratchet has been there since the beginning, so he knows everything there is to know about me." This got a small giggle from her and he felt her gloom lift some. "The only other one that I have ever shared everything with is my mate Elita-One."
That got Amber's attention as she sat up and looked at him in confusion. "Wait, you mean to tell me that you have a wife and you didn't tell me?" Optimus chuckled before he told her about his other half, happy that all her fear and concern about being Solus reborn was gone for now.
-o0o-
Things at base were in chaos after what had been a crazy day for the bots.
A few days after the relaxing weekend at the farm Bulkhead had been on patrol when he picked up a strong energon reading and went to investigate. He came across a cash of energon at the bottom of a mine shaft waiting for the Decepticons to pick up. Sure enough the warship arrived overhead and Bulkhead tried to climb out of the shaft. Which resulted in him falling half way up and knocking himself out when he landed. Of course the cons didn't check the load when they brought it up to their ship and that was how Bulk ended up on the Decepticon warship. He then in turn ran into not one but two Starscream before he made his way into the war ship's engine room, doing major damage to its engine.
Well Bulk was making his escape from the downed warship the rest of the bots were investigating a strange signal at the same location where Airachnid and her Insecticon had been. Reaching the location they not only found Airachnid but an army of Insecticons. Some of them broke off from their formation to attack them but that didn't slow Arcee down from going after her arch nemisis. In the end after a short fight underground Arcee was able to trap Arachnied in a stasis pod which they brought back to base for safe keeping.
"I'll say this for the spider she sure brings the term beautiful but deadly to mind." Amber muttered finally get a look at the femme she had been told so much about. "She makes me think of a Black Widow spider."
"That actually isn't a bad comparison." Jack said well they all stood by Ratchet's work area where they could see the Decepticon warship had crashed. Bulk of course was pleased by his handy work and it did give them an opportunity. "We should hit the cons right now well their vulnerable." Arcee suggested.
"Megatron's warship maybe grounded but let's not forget that we remain vastly out numbered. Especially since he has added the Inceticon hive to his ranks." Ratchet reminded them all.
"Then maybe it's time I call in an airstrike." Fowler suggested ready to have Uncle Sam deal a blow to the cons.
"Or for us to consider more extreme measures Agent Fowler." Optimus said, his voice hard and Amber could feel that Optimus was done playing nice with Megatron and his forces. Well he and the other bots got the Spark extractor ready Amber wondered if it was really necessary for them to use it. It seemed too much like a plan that her father would utilize, not her new dad.
Sensing this from Amber Optimus spoke to her privately. 'This is not a choice I take lightly dear one but if the war can finally be over today I will do what must be done.' Though his words soothed her she could feel Optimus's regret that he could not save the mech he had once saw as a brother and mentor. Amber hugged Optimus's leg and said. 'I understand.'
Right before they left the base's scanners picked up an energy spike, and not just any energy but that of Dark Energon. "That can't be good." Amber muttered well putting a comforting hand on Raf's shoulder.
Ratchet activated the bridge, Arcee, Bulk and Bee went through but before Optimus did Fowler stopped him. "Hold on Prime. If you are going to deploy some kind of super weapon in a final showdown with the cons it's my job as a representative of planet earth to bear witness." Optimus and Ratchet exchanged looks but Prime agreed in the end.
Out in the field it didn't take long for things to take a bizarre turn.
With the others acting as bait to draw the warship's fire, Bee drove closer to get under it, drop the Spark Extractor and try to get safely out of range. However the before he could the ship hit him with a stasis pulse and the scout was down. Arcee was the next to get the weapon and try and deploy it but she didn't get very far before the beam hit her too. Bulk was able to grab it but was hit by the beam, which left Optimus to grab the weapon from Bulk and run, avoiding getting hit. In the end despite his best efforts Prime too was soon down and this left Fowler out on the field and at the con's mercy. So he was surprised when the ship's weapons were put away and the war ship turned, leaving the downed Autobots and the Spark Extractor behind.
After Ratchet had brought all of the team back he did a scan on all of them and found something odd. "Their alive but I've never encountered this form of stasis lock. Amber are you getting anything through the bond by chance?"
"Its weird." she told him from where she stood by Optimus's feet, her hand on his leg, Casper at her side. "I can still feel him and he seems aware but he can't respond or anything."
Fowler interrupted as he left the bases scanners, approaching Ratchet. "The cons are crossing the Atlantic. Making a B-line for North America."
"Wait we can track them?" Jack asked surprised.
"Why aren't they cloaked like usual?" Raf wondered.
"None of this makes a lick of sense." Fowler agreed. "They had us in the crosshairs but the cons just took off."
"They even bail on that Spark Extractor thing." Miko pointed out.
"Well if the ship isn't cloaked maybe the communications relay is open and-"
Ratchet cut Jack off. "Are you suggesting that we just… call Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?" The 4 teens all gave him, 'you got any better ideas look?' which Fowler copied when Ratchet turned to him for ideas. So with a groan Ratchet called the Nemesis. "Autobot Outpost Omega One to Decepticon Warship. Megatron please respond." There was nothing but silence for a few moments before Ratchet tried again. "Megatron?"
Finally there was a response but it wasn't Megatron. (("Megatron has been relieved of his command."))
"Who is this?" Ratchet asked calmly.
(("Who is this?")) The unknown voice growled.
"Have you taken control of the Decepticon vessel?" Ratchet tried and they got the last reponse any of them were expecting.
(("I AM THE VESSEL! Any cybertronian who interferes with my mission will be neutralised.")) The ship showed them video of the cons all in stasis on the board the ship seeming to make his point clear.
"What is your mission?"
(("Priority One: decrypt Iacon data base and recover Decepticon technology.")) was its answer.
"For what purpose?" Ratchet asked hoping it was still feeling like sharing its plans but it than cut the connection.
"It hung up? Rude." Miko said.
"Rude?!" Fowler snapped not happy at all with the situation. "There's a giant spaceship flying around collecting Decepticon weapons of mass destruction."
"A giant spaceship filled with neutralised Decepticons." Jack reminded the special agent, and Amber could see that he was quickly coming up with a plan.
"Point?" Fowler demanded.
"This could be our only chance to slip aboard and download the Iacon data base." Jack suggested.
"So Optimus could decode it." Raf added.
"Yeah. Now why didn't you think of doing it when you snuck on board that one time?" Miko asked Amber smugly.
Amber scowled at the younger teen and snapped. "Oh I'm sorry but Optimus and I were a little busy trying to stay alive and get off the ship when Optimus didn't even remember who he was and I was out of it after getting away from Soundwave."
Ratchet chose to ignore this little argument agreeing that Jack had a sound plan and was about to go himself. Jack and the rest of them had to talk him down, reminding him that the ship had already put any Cybertronian's it had encountered into stasis. So it was decided that Fowler and the kids would all go and infiltrate the warship, believing that it could not detect humans. Casper wanted to come too but Amber told him to stay at base where he would be safe. Ratchet of course was worried about one thing. "Amber there is a strong possibility that it will detect the Light of Primus."
"If it does than I'll just have to keep its attention on me." Amber told him before telling Casper again to stay at base and walked through the ground bridge and into a crowded hallway on the warship.
"Fowler to base, we're in."
(("Good. Their data core should be accessible from any console.")) Ratchet informed them. They walked passed all the cons that were in forced stasis, Amber racking her brain from her last visit, looking for anything that may be familiar to her. They soon reached an intersection and discovered a frozen Knockout at a terminal. Miko banged on his leg armor for good measure before saying. "Doc knock is knocked out."
"Look the ship has decode two sets of Iacon Co-ordinates." Raf observed just before a third joined the slowly growing list. "Three! Let's rip and run." With help from Fowler Raf and him were able to climb up Knockout and put the Transfer Drive Ratchet had given them to download the Iacon file.
It was about this time that Jack noticed where the Warship was headed. "Why is it headed for Manhattan?"
Looking at the list of the new Co-ordinates that had been encrypted Amber put two and two together. "Because the first relic is located there." she said dread filling her.
"What would a relic from Cybertron be doing in the big apple?" Fowler asked.
(("The Iacon relics landed on earth eons ago Agent Fowler. Long before the city was built on top of it.")) Ratchet said, his voice hush.
"Which means if the ship wants this one, it may have to move some buildings out of the way." Jack said and they knew that could not happen. Too many human lives were now at stake and they were they only ones who could do anything about it. Fowler tried but the ship shocked him when he tried to access the navigation module. He fell off the terminal, in a heap on the floor, which brought them to the attention of the ship. Thankfully it could not detect them but Ratchet's fear was confirmed when it picked up the energy from the relic around Amber's neck. It took a shot at her but thanks to her reflexes she was able to evade it just barely.
"System access detected. Interference will not be tolerated." the ship growled well it target Amber who took off running, drawing its fire.
"Amber what are you doing?" Jack asked scared for the older girl.
"Keeping it busy. Just get the data and stop the ship from getting to New York!" She shouted before she was out of sight. Amber was able to avoid any shots from the ships weapon systems and get around any cons that were in the way when an idea popped in her head. "It must have been frustrating to have been helpless well Megatron and his minions flew you around and not being able to do anything at all."
She got a growl for her comment and was near hit with a stasis beam, causing her to roll and take cover behind a set of drones that were huddled in a hallway. "What's your name by the way? No sorry I mean your designation?"
This time the ship rewarded her with a response. "I am Trypticon, a titan among Cybertronians." It- no he said with pride.
"I don't doubt it with a strong and powerful name- I mean designation like that. You must be a strong warrior but how did you end up stuck as the Decepticon's vessel?" Amber asked peeking out from between the Vehicon's limbs, eyeing the weapons that were trying to target her but she was safe for the moment.
There was a hum like growl for a moment like he was thinking before he answered her, his tone full of confusion. "My memory banks seem to be damaged. I do not recall what caused me to be in this predicament. What is you designation, keeper of the Light of Primus?"
"Oh so you know which relic it is that is in my care, though I am not surprised with superior scanners like yours. My name or designation is Amber Star Bishop, I'm still learning about the Light and all it can do. I suspect if I had the hang of it I could help you remember what had happened to you." she offered well trying to play to any form of ego the titan may have, feeling the Light of Prime growing warm in what she hoped was encouragement. At the same time she felt a sort of pressure in the back of her mind, it felt familiar but instead of trying to focus on it Amber's mind was forced back to the situation at hand.
There was another thoughtful growled hum from Trypticon before the weapons were put away and he said. "Perhaps there is a way we can help each other. Go to the bridge."
Amber blinked in surprise well slowly leaving her hiding spot, ready to duck back if needed. "Um… ok but I'm afraid I don't know the way." she told him well making sure her watch's comm channel was still open so Ratchet could hear everything but not respond to her. Suddenly some lights lite up in the floor in front of her seeming to lead the way. Amber followed the light and in no time she found herself on the bridge.
Meanwhile back with Jack, Raf and Miko they knew that they had to stop the ship but how was the question. When Ratchet pointed out that Megarton most likely used Dark Energon to repair the ship Jack asked if they could dump it. Ratchet thought about it and agreed that was a sound idea and instructed them to follow the main overhead conduits to the ship's energon infuser. Well the three teens ran Jack asked. "Ratchet, are you still in contact with Amber, do you know if she's ok?"
(("I can indeed hear Amber and she is doing an excellent job of distracting the warship by offering to help him remember what happened to him.")) The medic's replayed.
"Help him remember?" Miko asked confused. "Who's him exactly?"
(("It's not important at the moment but I fear what he will do to her when he realises what Amber and you are. I recommend hurrying a she may not be able to keep him distracted for much longer.")) Ratchet instructed hoping to keep them on task well listening to Amber talking to the Warship.
Reaching the bridge, Amber went to the closest terminal, carefully climbed a vehicon and following Trypticon's instructions she soon had a file open. It had all the information the cons had on the Light and how it had come to be in their possession. It seemed the last possessor of the relic had been a mech by the name of Longarm, who had been an Autobot that specialized in long distance attacks. He had mostly covered his fellow bots from behind if they needed to retreat. He had found the lost relic before the war in an old abandoned facility of some kind near the edge of the Sea of Rust. He had been a part of the building casse back in the Golden Age, him and his team meaning to clear the place for construction. Before that the file said that the relic had been lost for millennia. 'Man I have never been more grateful than now that Optimus has been teaching me Cybertronian.' Amber thought well she quickly read all there was in the file before Trypticon closed it.
"Now that you know all there is about the Light of Primes use it to learn what happened to me during the war." He demanded, his voice full of frustration. It seemed his patience was reaching its end.
"I'll try but there is no guaranty that it will work, since I am still learning." Amber said calmly in a soothing sort of voice well placing both of her hands on the terminal's screen. Closing her eyes she concentrated on the warmth that was the relic around her neck, it slowly began to grow hotter but for the first time it wasn't painful. Suddenly images filled her vision and she saw all of what had happened to the titian. However before she could tell Trypticon he let out an angry roar. "I am infested with alien life-forms and you Amber Star Bishop have deceived me!"
"Um- maybe just a little." Amber admitted sheepishly, backing close to the con she had climbed earlier. "I do know what happened to you though. You were-"
"I WILL NO LONGER BE DECEIVED!" he bellowed and fired at her, which she narrowly avoided by jumping out to of the way. Amber was able to grab a part of a con's armor and scrambled down him to the floor. She bolted for the door, which Trypticon tried to close to cut her off, firing at her with what seemed like a bolt of energy instead of a stasis beam this time. She was able to make off the bridge before the door closed but was grazed by an energy bolt on her left side. Amber cried out in pain, her steps faltering for a second but she kept going. "All parasites will be eradicated!"
Hearing that Amber feared that the others were about to be killed off and there was nothing she could do about it. But suddenly there was a strange sound throughout the ship which caused Amber to pause, leaning against a nearby wall. "Critical power drain." Trypticon said his voice growing weak and Amber felt her heart becoming heavy. She held her side well taking a moment to catch her breath, holding her bleeding side.
"I'm so sorry Trypticon. You deserve better than to be used and thrown away by those who created you." Amber muttered well watching the purple lights return to their normal blue. She listened to his dying voice and maybe a moment passed before a con that was close to her suddenly moved. Fear filling her now Amber bolted down the corridor, very grateful that she could remember which way she had come from.
She arrived back at the terminal around the same time Jack and the others did. "Ratchet, fire up the ground bridge." Jack ordered MIko helped Fowler to his feet.
"On your feet soldier." She said well putting his arm over her shoulder.
"And beavers and ducks and Wallace and grandma." Fowler sang, very much out of it and slipped out of Miko's grasp. He would have face planted if Amber hadn't been there to catch him and steadied him on her uninjured side.
"That's all that's been downloaded?" Jack demanded when he looked at the progress of the Iacon data being downloaded on the drive.
"The Iacon file must be huge." Raf stated and just than a ground bridge opened. Between Miko and Amber they carried Fowler through to the base where Bee took him off their hands. Amber was grateful for that since her side was screaming at her, which of course Optimus sensed. He activated his holoform and after taking her aside, he lifted her shirt to assess the damage. It looked like a rather large third degree burn, the edges cauterized a bit and it was bleeding. "This will need to be seen by June but I believe that for now some burn ointment and bandaging is the best course of action." he said Raf bring him the first aid kit.
"Since when do you know how to tend to a human injury?" Amber asked him wincing a little well he applied the ointment and began bandaging her side. Casper had joined them and was licking her face until she scratched him behind the ears.
"After what happened to Rafael and more recently you the others and I have been learning first aid- in case any of you were injured in the future. It would seem that I was wise to do so." He told her well properly securing the bandage and then giving her a hug. He sent relief and reassurance through their bond, glad that she and the others were all right, also proud that they had done a good job. Amber couldn't help but smile at feeling this from him.
"The download of the Iacon data base may have been incomplete but we now possess four set of co-ordinates decoded by the ship." Ratchet informed them a few moments later after he had plugged the drive in to see what they had of the Iacon data.
"Then we must act quickly for Megatron possesses the same four sets and he will not hesitate to obtain the potential doomsday devices which lay at the site of each." Optimus said fearing what was to come.