CHAPTER 39
A Change of Plans

The way he was shackled to the wall barely allowed him to crawl over to a corner of his cell. He couldn't lay down to sleep, or even find comfort, only sit there, kept chained like an animal. The door to his cell provided no hope of escape either, only consisting of several long lasers that would easily cut through him. Whatever they had injected into him was definitely inhibiting his bond to the others (a fact which he hoped Ratchet could fix, given it was probably a device), which scared him. Were they looking for him? He shuddered at the thought that they might not be, but the other half of him knew they were.

He'd exhausted all of his tears, and simply sat there in pain, wondering if he'd ever be let out. He rattled his chains, and groaned quietly as he heard loud footsteps making their way down the hall. His eyes widened, and he shook his head, yanking again. "It won't do you any good, you know," Trevor stared over as Barricade came into view. "You're not going to get free of them, that's reinforced Cybertronium. Powerful enough to hold down even your grandsire," He chuckled slightly. "Comfortable, insect?"

"If you're going to kill me before they get to me," Trevor gritted his teeth. "Just get it over with."

Barricade snorted with amusement, a fact which made a chill run up Trevor's spine. "Kill you? Of course we're not going to kill you," Barricade taunted him darkly. "You're far too valuable for that. Perhaps if you had simply stayed that human who got in over his head. But no, the Autobots had to take such a liking to you," He teased. "So instead, you've become very valuable to us as a prisoner."

"You can't keep me prisoner forever," Trevor told him bluntly. "At some point you'll slip up and they'll find me. And I bet you money dad won't fall for whatever stupid trap you laid out either," Barricade barely seemed to be paying attention as he typed something into a control panel. "What are you doing? Gonna come in here and rough me up?" He watched timidly as the lasers retracted and Barricade began to step in. "Y-You don't scare me."

"Oh please, you're terrified," Barricade sneered. "Can't say I blame you, either. A little sparkling among all these Decepticons? I'd be lubricating all over the floor if I were you," He added with a sneer. "Luckily for you, however, Lord Starscream believes you have been in bondage long enough to realize escape is futile," He began to remove Trevor's bonds, relieving the human of some of his pain. "Don't even think of running." He noted once he finished.

Trevor rubbed his wrists, and neck quietly. He wanted to run, run and scream at the top of his lungs. But what good would it do? Even though he was free now, the Decepticons could chain him up again. And what's more, they had taken him there in a bag like luggage, he had no idea where he was, or how far from help he was. "You're not going to hurt me, though?" Barricade's optics narrowed at Trevor at that. "After all the threats you told dad, you haven't even made an attempt to hurt me."

"Not yet," Barricade hissed. "Make no mistake, insect. Your father snuffed out the spark of the one I cherished most," Trevor gulped slightly. "And though he is lucky I have chosen not to retaliate by murdering you," He sneered. "That does not mean I will be leaving you alone. Quite the opposite actually," He then noted. "The bond inhibitors we put into you only block the communication side of it, you see. No one can block the emotional side of it, it's impossible for one reason or another."

Trevor backed up quickly, knowing what that meant. He was going to hurt him alright, he was going to hurt him, and he was going to make sure Bumblebee (as well as Optimus and Elita) felt every aching moment of it. "You'll only make him more angry," Trevor breathed. "Grandpa and Grandma will feel it too, y'know," He added as Barricade seemed to relish in his fear. "Y... You'd just be-."

"Tormenting them with the knowledge you're being tortured," Barricade sneered. "A fact that will span several days before my plans for your sire ever transpire," Trevor swallowed hard. "I intend to make sure that when I make the bargain with him that he has been pushed so far," He approached Trevor menacingly. "That he would do anything to have you back out of sheer desperation."

Trevor whimpered as Barricade crouched down, reaching forward, and running a talon underneath his chin. Barricade relished in this moment, in the fact that he had the power to slice the child's throat without a second thought. "But not tonight," Barricade chuckled, retracting the claw. "I'll leave you here for the next few nights, in hopes that Bumblebee will be panicking from the lack of news. As well as the fear I'm sure is flowing through your veins," Trevor felt himself quiver again. "It'll make this that much more fun."

Trevor wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but did not let himself do that. He would not let Barricade get to him, not with his family still out there. "They're going to find me," Trevor spat at Barricade following that, surprising the Decepticon. "And when they do, you're going to wish you'd stayed in whatever hole you crawled out from under," He then added firmly. "You spineless, deranged, murderer."

Barricade regarded the young human for a long moment, activating their own holoform technology. (Created from scematics they'd gotten by hacking the NEST database) The slap sent Trevor against the wall, as the boy let out a startled cry, then followed up with two swift, painful kicks. It was enough that Bumblebee would no doubt feel the pain, but not enough to give him much of an idea of what he was going through. And what's more, it was enough to make the boy let out a choked cry of pain, satisfying the Decepticon that he'd shut that loud mouth of his. "Don't ever speak to me like that again, INSECT," Barricade snarled as his holoform disappeared. "Learn your place," As he made his way to to the door, he added with a wicked grin. "Or your cries will become even more pathetic than when your pathetic excuse for a carrier begged for her life," He then said with a sneer. "Right before I leveled that pathetic home of yours and silenced her."

Trevor wanted to launch at Barricade at the comment about his mother. But before he could even get to his feet again, the lasers buzzed to life yet again, and Barricade left. Leaving the boy alone yet again in the isolated darkness of the prison.

...

For the first time in his young life, Bumblebee wanted to go on a rampage. How could this have happened? He'd sworn to protect his son with his life, and now he was in the hands of the enemy. What's more, he was in the hands of his worst enemy: Barricade. His rage the moment he'd seen Sunspot flying off with a bag containing what he knew was his son, Bumblebee had injured a large number of the Decepticons, and killed one. An act very unlike him, but then again, they had taken his boy, and Trevor was just that: a boy, barely even sixteen. He was probably scared, crying, lonely, and wondering where he was, why he hadn't come to save him yet.

Now he simply sulked in his berthroom, his optics burning with more and more rage at every passing second. "... Bumblebee," The scout barely raised his head as Optimus entered the room. "Youngling-."

"I failed him, Prime," Bumblebee told him quietly. "I failed him, Joseph, his mother, and myself all in one go," He shook his head, putting his hands on either side of his helm. "I swore I would protect him with my life. I knew the second the Decepticons showed up I should have gotten to him," He thrust a fist against the side of his berth. "And now he's gone, he's fragging GONE."

Optimus seated himself beside his adopted creation slowly, placing an arm around his shoulders. He knew how Bumblebee was feeling, he'd experienced the same thing when he'd adopted the scout, after all. "Bumblebee, we are going to find Trevor and bring him home," The mech rumbled quietly. "He's my grandcreation, have you forgotten that already?" The mech stared up at him quietly. "I will do everything in my power to bring him home, as will the rest of us."

Bumblebee nodded his head slowly, resting his head against the leader's arm. "I'm just scared, Prime," Bumblebee noted. "I can barely feel him, other than this shot of pain earlier. And I just," He shook his head. "I swear Prime, if something happens to him, I don't think I could ever live with myself," He explained. "I've only had him for close to a year, but Trevor's my life. Probably the most important thing in it," He then paused. "No offense."

"None taken. When you have sparklings, that happens," Optimus told him. "Next to your sparkmate and family, they become more important than anything else," Bumblebee nodded slowly. "Listen to me, youngling," Bumblebee kept his audio receptor's perked. "We are going to get him back, mark my words. If we did not you are not the only one who would feel he had failed him."

Bumblebee slowly stood to his feet, clutching his hands into fists. He knew that Optimus was right, most likely. They had saved him many times, after all. But at the same time, it didn't make him feel any better. "How did you do it?" Bumblebee asked, his voice low. "Keep yourself sane when the Decepticons took me, I mean?" He questioned.

"I sent all the love I could over our bond," Optimus noted. "Just as I have sent what I could over to Trevor," Bumblebee turned his head slightly. "It may not seem like much, but at least you are doing something. It lets them know that you love, and are searching for them. When you cannot contact them through telepathy, at least," Bumblebee nodded his head slowly, remembering how Optimus did that. "It goes a long way, as I seem to remember."

Bumblebee nodded, sending a large heaping of love towards Trevor as quickly as he could. He had already done that before, but he knew Optimus was right, it wouldn't hurt. "So how DO we get him back, Prime?" Bumblebee questioned, his doorwings lowering slightly. "We can't just wait until the 'Cons call me, you know. Barricade will kill him if I don't do what he wants. And I know me, Prime," He paused a moment. "I won't be able to control myself. I'll do whatever it takes to get him back..."

"Then we try to go over Barricade's plan," Optimus noted as he stood to his feet. "Get a hold of Starscream and offer him what his endgame no doubt is," He shook his head. "Something far more valuable to him than Trevor."

"The Allspark shard?"

"Simpler than that," Optimus replied, his voice firm. "An exchange, if he lets Trevor go. I will hand myself over in his place," Bumblebee's optics bulged as he stared over at the Autobot leader. "This is my grandcreation, whom I love just as much as you do, son," He told him bluntly. "I would be angry with myself if I was what they wanted and they used both of you to get to me," Bumblebee's optic ridge furrowed. "Therefore, I am doing my duty not only as leader of this team, but as a grandsire and sire."

Bumblebee stepped forward, worry in his optics. "Prime, they'll want you unarmed!" Bumblebee noted. "They'll torture you."

"I'd rather they torture me, than Trevor," Optimus told him bluntly. "They can do what they wish to me. But when it comes to my family, you of all people should understand," He then added. "They are off-limits."

Bumblebee's doorwings twitched, not liking the sounds of this. But he knew there was no way of talking Optimus out of this. This was the thing about Optimus, he always put others before himself. And the fact that Trevor was his grandson, a grandson he had grown a tight, and warm bond with only added to it. "Trevor wouldn't like it," Bumblebee admitted. "This means we'll have to launch a rescue mission for you. And he'll feel like-."

"It matters not what he'll feel like," Optimus stepped forward. "What matters is that I would do anything to have him back. And allow me to do so, son."

Bumblebee took a deep breath, cycling out air at that. This was definitely going to be tough, but who was he to keep trying to stop him? After all, he wanted Trevor back as much as Optimus did, and for all he knew Optimus would escape himself. "Better run it by the others," Bumblebee nodded. "Ironhide'll hate it too."

Optimus didn't reply this time as he led his adopted creation out the door. All that mattered to him now was whether or not we were already too late. But either way, there was one thing for certain: they had to work fast.

...

The feed of the bug that Barricade had placed on Bumblebee long ago ended seconds later as he mentally cursed. This was a disaster, if Optimus offered himself up to Starscream, then the seeker would no doubt call off his entire plan. And that would not do at all, not with revenge against Bumblebee nearly in his grasp. He slammed his fist against a wall violently, letting out more Cybertronian curses as he racked his processor for how to remedy the situation. If Optimus had Starscream's comm already, there was no way of disabling it in time. And if he attacked Starscream to usserp command, he'd no doubt be branded a traitor and executed.

Of course, the answer slowly entered his head before too long had passed. He had to go rogue, take the kid and execute his plan on his own. No one would have to know that Starscream hadn't issued the order to execute him, after all, he was his right hand on Earth. And quite frankly, he didn't care what Starscream thought afterword either, because at the end of the day, he was an idiot. :Vehicon's 180, 400, 550, 1600, 4200, and seeker Sunspot report to me immediately,: He commed out to his Vehicons. :We're shipping out to execute our plans early, Starscream's orders. Gather your supplies, and be ready to go on the move.:

He made sure to cut off the part of his comm link that linked him to Starscream. Calmly, he made his way towards the holding cells, making sure to keep as quiet as he possibly could. Thankfully, the human wasn't smart enough to get out, and he found him sleeping in the corner of the room, likely finally crying himself into exhaustion. "Rise and shine, fleshbag," Barricade slammed his fist against the cell wall, shocking Trevor awake. "Looks like we've had a little change of plans with you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Barricade was silent as he carefully punched in a code, causing the laser bars to disappear. He approached the boy casually, carefully removing one of the sacks that had been used to carry him there out. "It means that I'm not about to let your darling grandsire get in the way of what I took you to do," Trevor gulped slightly. "I thought this would go smoothly and easily, but of course, Autobots have to always do things the hard way."

Trevor definitely did not like the sound of that. His eyes darted around the mech's leg, noticing that the door was now open, his one chance at escape. If Barricade had gone rogue like it sounded, maybe, just maybe he could get to Starscream. And in return, whatever Optimus had planned could still go forward. "I like the idea of my Grandpa turning this around a bit too much for that," Trevor stated. "So if you'll excuse me."

Barricade looked surprised that he'd actually had the guts to make a run for it. And as he had taken that advantage to run between his legs and for the door, the Decepticon only growled. "Like I said, ALWAYS the hard way," He snarled out. "Get back here you little rodent!" He shouted.

Trevor ran with every ounce of his might, making it through the door. For a moment, as Barricade hurried after him, he thought he stood a chance, however meager it was. Only for that to go away quickly at the appearance of two, large vehicon drones stepping into the main doorway, guns drawn. "Hault, prisoner!" One of them stated loudly. "Make another move and we will painfully subdue you."

Trevor still took the shot, but unfortunately for him, the vehicon made good on it's promise. The electric whip that wrapped around his body caused him to scream loudly, every ounce of his body going numb as he hit the ground. "Morons! You'll kill him!" Barricade shouted. "We need him alive for this to work!" Trevor cried violently, rocking back and forth, and imagining the pain Bumblebee probably felt too. "Those are meant for Autobot prisoners!"

Trevor was relieved as Barricade ripped the whip out from around him. "Thank Primus, you only got a few burns on him. Not even second or third degree," Barricade snarled. "We torture this one, understood? We do not use our weaponry that will kill him," He then added with a snarl. "If we do this whole plan goes to pit."

Trevor raised himself just in time for the sack to fall over him, and be swung up landing him at the bottom. Trevor could still feel his body trembling from the force of the shock, as Barricade looked inside. "Don't worry boy," Barricade chuckled slightly. "In a few minutes," He then lowered a device inside, shooting out a thick gas. "You'll hardly feel the pain anyway."

Trevor felt his body grow tired, both from the pain and the gas as Barricade tied the top of the sack tightly, trapping it inside. Barricade heard as the child coughed, and continued to tremble a moment before the sack seemed to be dead wait. He smirked, that would hold him for the long trip ahead of them, and definitely save him the trouble of listening to his whining for most of the time too. As the rest of the Vehicon team, and Sunspot entered, he nodded, counting them off slowly. "Good, you're all here," He noted. "You've all been told to set course for Africa, where a small base has been made. Lord Starscream and I have changed our minds. It is too obvious a spot," He then noted. "Set your courses for the Rocky Moutain range. It is not far, but there is plenty of space for us to hide there before we execute the plan."

"Shall I take the bait ahead?" Sunspot questioned, stepping forward.

"NO!" Barricade snapped. "I will keep the prize, you scout ahead in case the Autobots have already caught on."

The look on Sunpot's face as the senior Decepticon stormed past him was fear, a fear that Barricade relished in. It kept him from questioning him again, and made the subject of Starscream less likely to come up. A fact which made him happy, for nothing, and he meant nothing, would stand in his way.