CHAPTER 42
The End of a Feud
"You gave your life for an INSECT."
The word "insect" made Bumblebee growl lowly at Barricade. How dare he call his son an insect? Trevor was more of a mech that Barricade could ever hope to be, at least in his opinion. He looked over the mech, clutching his fists. "He's not an insect," Bumblebee snapped. "He's my son, and a tough little guy too," He then added. "What did he do? Defy you? Primus, you can't handle a kid? You've really lost your processor."
Barricade snarled, beginning to circle Bumblebee and sizing him up. It was clear that the mech was ready to attack Bumblebee, and that he really, truly wanted to kill him there. But Bumblebee reminded himself that wouldn't happen, nor would he kill Trevor, because he was now safe. A fact he tried to hide through forced tension. "Your son is an annoying little pest," He snapped back. "One that I'm quite glad to have out of my plating," Bumblebee watched his calm movements carefully. "I'll be glad to have YOU out of my way as well. That's something I've wanted for some time."
"Are you going to stand around and monologue all day?" Bumblebee asked with a tilt of his head. "Or are you going to actually try and fight me?" He added sharply. "Because I'm really tired of hearing the stupidity that that ugly mug of yours is spewing. I want to get to the part where I make you wish you had never hurt my kid, or killed his family already," He then added. "I've waited for that for a long time."
Barricade's optics filled with amusement. "You're angry I killed the human's parents?" Barricade questioned, almost as if he were surprised by that. "But it made you a "daddy"," He mocked wickedly. "I thought you'd be thanking me."
"You made a boy who did not need to be a part of our war an orphan," Bumblebee snapped. "I'm glad I got to be a dad, but with all you've done... All you put him through," He began. "You deserve a one-way trip to the pit. And I'm just the mech to send you there."
At that moment, Barricade lunged faster than Bumblebee could blink. Bumblebee ducked under the swing of his fist, his optics bulging. This happened fast, and he knew that the others were still on their way. It was not how he had planned for this to go, but he had no choice but to fight now. Swinging his own fist vertically at his spark chamber. Barricade staggered back, allowing Bumblebee to sweep his feet out from under him, slamming a fist hard into his face next. Barricade looked less than happy at that, growling, and kicking out at the Autobot's chest, and sending him colliding against the ground.
Bumblebee rolled out of the way swiftly as a fist slammed down just inches from his head. He growled, bringing out his cannon, and firing repeatedly. Barricade retaliated by slashing at his face with his claw in earnest. Bumblebee growled, pushing up with his legs, and throwing a series of punches, letting all his fury at the mech fly free. "You are so adorable when you're angry," Barricade mocked. "Come on, show me a little more rage, you punk. That's the best you've got?"
Barricade gripped the side of his arm, holding Bumblebee back before throttling him in the throat. He slid across the ground, pain filling every inch of him. Barricade grinned, putting a foot on his throat. "The vehicon hasn't come back by now. So I know Trevor's still alive," He then added. "Are you taking comfort in the fact he is "safe"? Well I'm taking great glee in the fact that once I'm done with you. I'm going to keep you just within an inch of your life, so I can go and find that rodent of yours," He added harshly. "And gut him right in front of your optics, nice and slow... Slow enough that you'll have to live with it every second of your miserable life. Because you know what, your treachery tells me you deserve to live, and LIVE WITH THAT."
Bumblebee's optics narrowed with rage, his doorwings flaring. It was the mental image that ultimately pushed him to his limits, nothing else. His hand wrapped around Barricade's arm, surprising the mech, but not in enough time to prepare him for the violent rip that made his shriek in pain. Bumblebee was stunned even at himself, at the fact he had just ripped off Barricade's arm. But he didn't care, this mech had threatened his family one too many times, and his reign of terror was ending now.
With a violent swing, he smacked Barricade upside the head with his own massive arm. The Decepticon didn't take it lightly either, Energon pooling out from his arm. "There won't be enough pieces of you to even touch my son," Bumblebee snapped back. "You think you're so tough? Let's see how tough you are with one fragging arm," He then added. "Come at me, Decepticreep."
He knew that Barricade was in a blind anger, roaring violently. Bumblebee could hear the rumble of engines, and the exchange of gunfire around him too. The other Autobots had arrived to take on the drones, that much he knew. But at the same time, he didn't care. This was ending that night, on that mountain, come hell or high water. He slid underneath the mech as he charged at him, and fired rapidly along his body, causing more energon to pool. Bumblebee then launched onto Barricade's back, gripping the wires on the back of his neck and yanking, hard.
Barricade quickly began to fritz, pain jarring through every part of his body. But Bumblebee didn't want to kill him like that, he could have, but he wouldn't. He carefully stood to his feet, and let Barricade get to his own, before backing up a few feet. "Alright, Barricade," Bumblebee beckoned him cooly. "You wanna offline me? I'd do it now. Because you look like PIT!"
Barricade charged, every ounce of his body charging. Bumblebee dodged the incoming blow, kicking Barricade's feet out from under him, but not expecting Barricade to grip him hard around the neck. They plunged over the side of the mountain they stood on violently, hitting several rocks on the way down. But by the time Bumblebee finally hit a surface, he could tell he was in better shape than Barricade. He stared up quietly, his optics noticing that they had fallen enough feet that they were away from the other fight up top.
Barricade pulled himself to his feet again, barely standing, and growling. "I will not offline," Barricade snarled. "You think this is anything? This is nothing... An arm and cables can be... Repaired," Bumblebee stood to his feet too. "Come on, Bumblebrat, I still have fight left in me. Hit me with your best shot," He commented.
Bumblebee prepared himself for the next strike, moving quickly to kick Barricade in the chest. As the spark chamber hatch dented slightly, he knew what to do, what he had to do. And he had only one shot at it. Launching his hand forward, he caught Barricade's throat, bringing his cannon as close to Barricade's spark as he could manage. And with a deafening blast, he fired, watching as the blast shot through him violently. "That," He told Barricade bluntly. "Was for Joseph and Marie Ridley," He then added, before firing a second time. "Now go to the pit where a scumbag like you belongs."
"You little frag-."
The second blast blew his entire chest and spark apart, allowing Bumblebee to kick Barricade's lifeless shell off the side of the mountain. Bumblebee watched silently as it fell on and on, soundlessly, taking a deep breath as he tried to relax. "BUMBLEBEE!" He heard Optimus shout from up above. "Are you functioning?" He questioned.
"Yeah, Prime, I'm fine," Bumblebee commented. "But Barricade isn't," There was a silence. "I'm going to need some help up."
But as he looked down, even though it had hurt to take a life, he felt a great deal of peace. Which by all accounts, he had needed more than anything else.
...
"Dad!"
Bumblebee activated his holoform as soon as he was within range of his son, pulling him into a hug. The drive back to the NEST aerial transport had been torture, if only because he had no idea if Barricade had double crossed him again. But here Trevor was, safe and sound in his arms, as he kissed the top of his head tenderly. "Primus, I was so worried," Bumblebee commented. "How badly did he hurt you? Are you okay?"
Trevor trembled slightly, but shook his head, burying it deep in the holoform's chest. It was clear that the boy had been terrified for him, perhaps just as terrified as things had been the other way around. But what mattered now was that they were both okay, and safe with each other. "I was so scared, I just... I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," Trevor murmured into his chest. "And then when you agreed to fight that psycho."
"That psycho is dead now," Bumblebee told him calmly. "Blew his spark clean up, he won't be hurting anyone again. And your parents can finally rest in peace," Trevor seemed to only relax slightly at the notion. "You gonna be alright, kid? Look at me," He moved Trevor's head up to stare up at his holoform's eyes. "I'm okay, buddy, I'm not going anywhere. Just a few scrapes and dents, that's all."
Trevor finally nodded, relaxing fully as Bumblebee's real form approached. He allowed the Autobot to scoop him up into his palm, pulling him against his chestplate. It was definitely a great feeling to hold his son again, close and safe from harm. "Thank God for that," Trevor murmured under his breath. "Dad?" Bumblebee peered down at him. "For the record, I kinda knew you could kick his aft." He explained. "I'm just glad to have you back."
Bumblebee let Trevor snuggle against his chestplate, and nodded. "It's even better to have YOU back," He told him, his optics brightening. "Now let's get onto the transport. I'm exhausted, and you must be even worse," Trevor nodded weakly. "Easy my little warrior," He murmured as Trevor squirmed a bit. "Try not to hurt yourself more, alright? Ratchet will only be more pissed when he sees you tonight."
Trevor couldn't believe he was thinking it, but he was going to be thankful to even see Ratchet. Even if he knew that he could expect lots of shouting and raving over the fact that he had been hurt. As Bumblebee moved up the ramp and onto the transport, Trevor took note of the fact that, other than the pilots, there were only Autobots on the transport. "Lennox and the other didn't come?" Trevor questioned.
"Barricade was unstable and dangerous," Bumblebee shook his head. "Optimus felt bad enough that the pilots had to come along," He explained, seating himself on the floor, his head barely missing the ceiling. "Trev, I'm gonna need to transform down. Frag they need to hurry up with fixing our custom transport after it got hit last mission," He groaned. "Are you going to be okay to sit on your own once they strap me down for transport?"
Trevor squirmed a little, not liking the sound of being separated from him. But he watched as the pilots stepped out, with food. Of course, it wasn't more than a sandwich, and a bottle of water, but right now, it sounded heavenly. Given he hadn't eaten anything in the last few days, after all. "Activate your holoform so I can... You know?" Trevor muttered.
Bumblebee only smiled, allowing his holoform to phase in once again. In a matter of moments, he had transformed down, and the pilot had brought Trevor his food and water. Bumblebee hated the feeling of being strapped down, they all did, but their specially modified transport would hopefully be flight ready again in due time, so he lived with it, as Trevor himself strapped in, beginning to scarf down his sandwich happily. Most of the ride from there was spent in silence as the Autobots let a physically and mentally exhausted Trevor sleep. And for that matter, for the first time in a while, many of them also fell into recharge.
When Trevor finally shifted awake, the pilot was shouting that they were just outside of Diego Garcia. Words which were music to Trevor's ears for the most part. "Time to start opening those peepers," Bumblebee teased as Trevor stared up at his father. "Come on, bud, there's going to be a medical berth with your name on it when we hit land." He noted.
Trevor smiled slightly, taking a deep breath. "A bed sounds so good right now," He commented. "Compared to a dreamless sleep on a cage floor it sounds excellent," He muttered half to himself. "I just hope I'll never go through that again."
Bumblebee wished he could really promise Trevor that it wouldn't without a doubt. But he also knew that the Decepticons were nutjobs, and without a doubt, at some point it might happen again. But he also knew that with any luck, Trevor would be tough enough to keep going just as well as he had before. "Can't promise it will never happen again," Bumblebee leaned forward, rubbing his kneecaps slightly. "But I do promise that I'll always be there, no matter where or when. I will come and save you every time."
"Every time?" Trevor asked. "But what if-?"
"Trevor, I will come for you even if I only have one leg, one arm," Bumblebee explained. "And half my head to my name. There's not even a question, I would fight, and die for you," Trevor's mouth slowly curved into a smile.
From the side, Optimus and Elita both purred their engines lightly. Having clearly been listening in on the conversation. "We all will, Trevor," Optimus told him gently, his voice calm.
"And don't you forget it," Elita added.
Trevor leaned his head against his father's shoulder at that. Letting out a deep sigh, he nodded his head. "Thank you guys," Trevor replied quietly. "And I hope you know I'd do the same," He added firmly. "Any time."
Bumblebee only nodded, rubbing the back of Trevor's head quietly. Trevor only smiled, knowing that it was true all around. After all, what family wouldn't go running into the face of certain danger, or even death for each other? Well, most families didn't have to worry about that, but when it came to his, it was a very real possibility. "Is it bad I'm glad he's dead?" Trevor questioned. "Barricade, I mean?"
There was a silence in the transport, but it was Ironhide, to the right who spoke up. "We're all glad he's offline, kid," Ironhide admitted calmly. "After all he's done, especially to families like yours?" He explained. "He slagging deserved worse than what he got, but at least he's rotting in the pit now," He added rather bluntly.
No one seemed to argue the sentiment, though Trevor knew by the way he moved that Optimus was not too happy. After all, this was another life the war had taken, even if he was a psychopath. And to watch his people continue to die off, Trevor imagined, was a nightmare for the Prime. Though he also imagined that Optimus didn't feel too bad, not after all he had done to his grandson and his family. Finally, the mech spoke, his voice calm. "Indeed, Barricade was beyond help," Optimus explained. "For the greater good, it was a necessary act. And furthermore, I am glad he can no longer torment either one of you."
Trevor had a feeling that was the most that they were going to get out of Optimus on the subject. Bumblebee simply nodded his head, perhaps not enjoying taking the life of anyone like that due to his gentle resolve. But at the moment, simply relieved their nightmare, and his age-old feud with the neck was finally over. "I'm just glad it's all over," Bumblebee grinned. "You're not the only one looking forward to a nice, long, recharge, kiddo."
Trevor nodded, that was definitely something he could more than agree with. Leaning back, he listened as the gentle hum of the engine started to slow, and felt as they began to descend. Slowly, calmly, towards the home he'd been yearning for the last several days.
...
A/N: Welp this chapter took forever to finish! But hopefully good things come with time. I finally have brought an end to Barricade and his arc of the story! And I hope it turned out to be a satisfying end.