I don't own Transformers or the Riordanverse; they belong to their owners.

Chapter 22: African Firefight.

Three days passed, and with the help of the demigod workers Hermes had sent, the repairs to the Ark-27 were almost complete. However, without the extra Energon to fuel the engines the ship was still grounded for now.

At the moment, Hot Rod and Thalia were taking a break from their duties and watching a movie called The Lion King.

"So…do all Lions talk in your world?" Hot Rod asked.

"No just in this movie," Thalia said.

"So they're not the kings of the savannah?" Hot Rod asked.

"Animals don't have kings," Thalia answered. "And they don't sing either."

"Oh thank goodness for that…" Hot Rod muttered. "This Simba guy still seems cool though."

"Yeah, it's a good movie," Thalia replied. "One of my favorites. Me and…" Thalia trailed off. "I used to watch it all the time before I ran away."

Hot Rod raised an eyebrow.

"What?" asked Thalia defensively.

"You and who? You were gonna mention someone else." Hot Rod said.

"No, I wasn't." Thalia insisted.

"Yes, you were."

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you-"

At that moment the door to the kid's room opened. Hot Rod turned his head around and saw Prowl standing there.

"Ah don't give me that look Prowl." Hot Rod said. "Optimus said I could have some time off from fixing the ship. You can check with him."

"This isn't about that Hot Rod," Prowl responded. "Ratchet finally found an Energon deposit."

Hot Rod, Thalia, and Prowl walked to the briefing room where everyone else had gathered. The exceptions were Hound, Annabeth, and Luke who had left to go on a supply run at the store.

"You interrupted me and Thalia's time watching talking lions for this." Hot Rod muttered.

"What?" asked Chromia.

"It's not important right now," Thalia answered.

"What is important is this," Ratchet said. "I finally managed to find an Energon deposit."

"Yeah after three days…" Sunstreaker muttered.

"If I had the proper equipment it would have been faster," Ratchet mumbled. "Anyway. It's located here; on the Earth continent of Africa.". Ratchet pulled up an image on the viewscreen, revealing that the Energon was in a rocky area of the Savannah.

Hot Rod laughed. "Well that's fitting," he said.

"We need to get that Energon at all costs," said Optimus. "Hot Rod, Brawn, Ratchet. Sunstreaker. You four, take some of our demigod allies, head to the area, and recover and process as much Energon as you can." he turned to Prowl and Chromia. "Prowl, Chromia, I need you two here to help with repairs."

"Understood Prime," Prowl said saluting.

"We'll get it done," Brawn said.

"You all have your assignments. Now let's get to work." Optimus stated. "Till all are one."

"Till all are one." everyone repeated.

"Hey, can I come?" Thalia asked Hot Rod.

"You sure you want to?" Hot Rod asked.

"I've never seen Africa before," Thalia said.

"Hmmm. You make a convincing argument." Hot Rod said smirking.

Later, the four Autobots and Thalia were in the middle of the savannah in Africa, gathering energon with the help of Charles Bekendorf and two of his other siblings Darin and Holly. Brawn used a drill attachment on his vehicle mode to dig into the stone surface of the rocks found by Ratchet. The other Autobots and kids gathered up the exposed energon and helped put it through a converter designed to turn it into its liquefied state.

It was several hours of long, boring work in the sun. All around them, the wonders of the savannah unfolded. Zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest herds walked through the plains. Hawks flew above them, and hippos swam to keep themselves cool at a nearby watering hole.

"URG… I'm so bored…" Sunstreaker muttered as he managed the converter and sent in another load of Energon.

"I know what you mean." Hot Rod muttered. "I'm starting to wish I'd stayed home with everyone else."

"I don't know what you guys are talking about," Brawn said as he took a break from the drilling work. "I LOVE this."

"Easy for you to say." Sunstreaker sneered. "YOU get the fun part. We're stuck managing the boring equipment part!"

"Cool it you two." Ratchet scolded. "I know this work isn't the most exciting but someone's gotta do it."

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right" Sunstreaker muttered.

"Don't worry," Ratchet said. "We're almost done."

Charles himself was looking curiously at some of the samples he had helped to gather. "This… this energon stuff is incredible."

"We know…" Sunstreaker muttered.

"No seriously." Charles insisted. "A clean, efficient energy source like this? I can think of a lot of ways my friends at Camp Half-Blood could use this stuff…"

"Tell you what," Ratchet said. "If we have any leftover, you get to keep it to play around with. It'll be our way of rewarding you for helping us."

"Thanks, Ratchet," Charles said

As this discussion was going on, Hot Rod looked around the grassy fields that were dotted with sparse trees. It seems like Thalia had wandered off.

"Hey Ratchet, you mind if I check on Thalia real quick?"

"Go ahead," Ratchet said. "But come back quickly, we need your help with this."

"Understood." Hot Rod said. He wandered off into the plains looking for her.

Onboard The Nemesis. Starscream sat around bored on monitor duty. It had been several days since their attack on the Autobots ship, and things were pretty dull right now. Megatron wasn't quite ready for another large-scale assault on the Autobots base, especially since they were likely back at full strength at the moment. So for now they were just biding their time.

"Having fun slacking off on monitor duty Starscream?" asked Megatron from behind.

Starscream turned around coolly. "Well it's hard to put in the hard work when there's nothing going on." he protested.

"That's about to change," Megatron stated. "Laserbeak just came in with a report. Four Autobots are on the human continent of Africa mining energon. I need you to come with me, Skytread, Quake, and Skywarp to take them out and take their energon."

"Why don't we just take our full forces and overwhelm them?" Starscream asked incredulously.

"Soundwave, Spinister, and Barricade are out looking for more of those Allspark symbols, and Thundercracker is needed here to keep working on his research on this planet."

"You mean the research that involves watching those stupid human programs?" Starscream asked.

"I don't quite get his taste either but as long as it keeps getting us useful information, I will allow it," Megatron explained.

"Fine," said Starscream. "It will at least be a break from watching a screen all day…"

Thalia sat down on a small rock, observing a nearby pride of lions. Like most prides, it consisted of about two males, a bunch of females, and a few cubs.

She watched as one lioness licked the fur of two cubs lovingly, as one of the male lions walked over and gave an affectionate nudge to her. Doubtlessly he was the cub's father.

Thalia just stared at them with a blank expression.

"Hey Thalia you okay?" asked Hot Rod.

Thalia didn't say anything at first.

"...Thalia?"

"...Did you know Lions have multiple mates?" asked Thalia

"They do?" Hot Rod asked.

Thalia nodded. "Yeah, they… spread the love around I guess. And they have kids with every lioness in the pride. They work together to keep each other safe. Lionesses do the hunting, and the males help protect the pride from hyenas and other lions, and both help raise the cubs…"

"...Are you thinking about your mom and dad Thalia?" Hot Rod asked.

"Yeah…" Thalia said sadly.

"I thought you hated your mom." Hot Rod pointed out.

"I do," Thalia said rather insistingly.

"Sounds to me like you miss her." Hot Rod said.

"I don't!"

"You sure you're okay?" Hot Rod asked.

Thalia scoffed "Yeah I'm-"

Just then there was a growing, charging swirling sound.

Hot Rod and Thalia looked at the direction it was coming from and saw a ground bridge opening.

Out of the ground bridge came Starscream, flying in his jet mode.

"Ah no! Decepticons!" Hot Rod cried.

"We gotta get back to the others!" Thalia said.

"Alright then," Ratchet said as the latest bit of energon had been converted. "Now all we have to do is wait for Hot Rod to get back and then we can-"

"Ratchet look out!" shouted Sunstreker and he tackled Ratchet to the ground, just as a laser blast flew above their heads and landed on the rock wall.

Ratchet looked up and saw Starscream in his jet mode fly over them.

"Starscream!" growled Ratchet.

"Uh, friends of yours?" Charles asked.

"Far from it," Brawn answered.

Starscream looked around and transformed into his robot mode… right next to where Megatron had just walked up.

"Megatron!" Sunstreaker said with a hint of panic.

"Yes, Autobot. Me." Megatron laughed sadistically as Quake, Skytread, and Skywarp walked up alongside him and Starscream.

"I take it you want the energon?" Ratchet asked.

"Is it that obvious?" Megatron laughed. "Don't worry, I'll make sure your donation to the Decepticon cause is properly appreciated."

"Not gonna happen!' Brawn shouted. "Let's go guys!" he started charging forward at Megatron. "Might over microchips!"

Before Brawn could make it to Megatron though, Quake tackled him and pushed Brawn to the ground, grabbing the Autobot by the neck.

"This is for the last fight we were in you outdated piece of junk!" Quake shouted.

"What makes you think you can beat me this time?!" Brawn asked defiantly.

"Because this time I'm not trapped in a box!" Quake yelled. He raised his fist but that just gave Brawn a chance to uppercut Quake right in the jaw.

Behind the two, Megatron and the other Decepticons charged forward at Ratchet and Sunstreaker, who both brought out their weapons and started shooting.

"Kids get out of here!" Sunstreaker shouted.

"No way," Charles, responded bringing out a giant hammer he had brought with him. "This is the thing we're trained to do at Camp."

"Darin, Holly?" he asked. "Why don't we get a nice look up close at these robots?"

"Sounds good to me!" Darin said.

"Woo hoo let's do it!" Holly shouted, and the two kids pulled out their own weapons.

As the three kids charged in swinging at the chaotic mess of a battle, Skywarp teleported in right behind Charles.

"Oh goody," Skywarp said. "The Autobots got some new pets." he lunged forward and attempted to grab Charles. "I can't wait to play with- gah!" he was interrupted with a laser blast to the back, as Hot Rod came running in with his duel pistols with Thalia charing right beside him; spear and aegis in hand.

"Yeah here's the thing." Hot Rod snarked. "We've seen how you Decepticons play with pets. It's not nice."

Ratchet dodged a shot from Megatron's fusion cannon before firing a shot back at him. "You're late," he said.

"Because I was calling for backup!" Hot Rod explained as he shot at Skytread and Starscream and dodged a bullet from them. "Optimus said he should be here soon."

"Oh really?" Ratchet asked. "Good work then. I retract my reprimand," he said smirking.

"Thanks' Hot Rod said. "Now let's kick some con tailpipe!"

"Hah! Let's do it!" Thalia cheered.

"Skytread! Give us some additional support!" ordered Megatron as he fired a shot towards Hot Rod who barely managed to dodge it.

"On it!" Skytread shouted. On cue, his top half jumped into the air and turned into a smaller jet, and his bottom half fell to the ground and became a small tank. The jet flew into the air and started strafing the Autobots, and the tank started firing shells in all directions.

"I hate it when he does- THAT!" Sunstreaker screamed as a shell from Skytread hit him right in the torso knocking him backwards several feet.

"Just keep firing!" Hot Rod ordered as he fired his twin pistols in all directions. "We got this!"

"Does this happen to you all the time?" Charles asked as he swung his hammer.

"Oh yeah!' Brawn responded as he gave Quake a nice jab to the jaw.

"Good to-" At that moment Skywarp teleported right in front of Charles. "WAH!" Charles exclaimed as he fell backward.

"Guess your new pet's tenure didn't last too long." laughed Skywarp as he reached to grab the human child.

Charles put on a determined look, then swung his hammer right at Skywarp's hand, the moment the hammer hit him, a spark of flame appeared on his hand and it went up Skywarp's arm and surrounded the rest of his body. Skywarp screamed in pain. "What… What did you- GAAAAAAH" he yelled as he fell on the ground the flames burning all over him.

"Skywarp!" cried Starscream.

"How did you do that!?" Hot Rod asked.

"I.. don't know," Charles said.

"Do it again!" ordered Ratchet as he worked to help repair Sunstreaker in the middle of combat.

Charles tried, but before he could hit the downed Skywarp again a laser blast hit the ground right in front of him, knocking him on his back again.

Starscream rushed over and lifted his foot up above Charles. "Die vermin," he said.

"No!" cried Thalia and she jammed her spear into the back of Starscream's leg.

Starscream grunted and swerved around to look at Thalia.

"My mistake. I'll do you first," he said. Starscream reached forward, Thalia tried to stab the con but he was too fast. He grabbed the girl in his hand.

Thalia was about to shove Ageis in Starscram's face when she heard the sound of a turbine winding up.

Starscream had activated his leg thrusters.

She started to panic. "No! NO!" she cried but the trusters ignited and Starscream flew into the air with Thalia in his hands.

"Thalia!" screamed Hot Rod as he looked up in horror.

Thalia shivered as Starscream flew higher and higher into the air. Everything went out of focus and the words of defiance she wanted to shout at Starscream wouldn't come out.

Starscream finally stopped midair, on the same level as some clouds. "Alright human scum," he said. "Time to…" he paused.

He looked at Thalia's terrified face. She was trying her hardest not to look down but she was failing horribly, her face was pale and she trembled in Starscreams hand.

Starscream looked around in confusion before it hit him.

"Ah," he said. "Afraid of something? Heights perhaps?"

Thalia didn't answer, she just kept shivering.

"Well. That means I know exactly what to do." Starscream grinned sadistically.

His palm opened and from hundred of miles in the sky, Thalia began to fall.

She screamed. The ground of the Savannah rushed towards her.

"NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Come on come on! SOMEONE PLEASE" she begged.

The wind howled in Thalia's ear.

"DAD! SAVE ME!" Thalia cried as tears fell from her eyes only to be lost in the sky.

The ground got closer and closer and she was seconds away from impact.

"PLEASE!" Thalia cried. She closed her eyes and instinctively braced for impact…

The impact came from the side, as someone hard and metallic grabbed Thlia mid-fall and they landed painlessly with a thud in the nearby grass.

"Thalia!?' Thalia!?"

Thalia didn't answer, she trembled and bunched her body together.

"Thalia! It's me! It's me!"

Thalia finally let herself open her eyes and saw a familiar calming face. He had caught her right before she hit the ground.

"Hot Rod?" asked Thalia.

"It's okay Thalia" Hot Rod said assuringly. "I'm here. I got you."

"I almost…" Thalia stammered her eyes red. "I almost…" she started crying on Hot Rod's chest plate. Hot Rod did his best to hold her comfortingly.

"It's okay Thalia." Hot Rod repeated. "I'm-"

Right then an explosion detonated near them. Hot Rod looked back and saw Skytread's tank mode coming straight at them.

"All right! Time to squash some Autobots and their pet!" said Skytread's voice from the tank.

"Hey! I wanna kill the human!" repeated Skytread's voice, this time coming from his jet mode.

"I called dibs Jet!"

"I don't care I want it!" the jet said as it started to fire on Hot Rod. Hot Rod did his best to shield Thalia from the laser blasts. The jet managed to get a hit off on his back though.

Hot Rod grimaced as he endured the hit, and Skystread's vehicle modes started to surround him. "Where's that backup!?" he wondered.

"Right here!"

Hound in his jeep mode ran right into Skytread's mini tank mode, flipping the vehicle on its side and causing Skytread to grunt in pain.

Luke and Annabeth jumped out of Hound's jeep mode and rushed over to Hot Rod and Thalia. Hound transformed into robot mode, just as Skytread combined his two halves to take on Hound.

When Luke and Annabeth got to Hot Rod they saw Thalia in her current freaked-out state.

"Thalia?" Annabeth asked. She had never seen her friend like this before.

"Hey Annabeth…" Thalia murmured in a small voice.

"What happened to her?" Luke asked.

"Starscream dropped her in mid-air." Hot Rod explained. "I think it really-"

Behind Hot Rod, Hound grunted as Skytread punched him in the face and then headbutted him.

"Um, Thalia." Hot Rod said. "I hate to leave you but I think Hound needs-"

Thalia nodded. "Kill them all," she said darkly.

Hot Rod nodded back and charged in, tackling Skytread. Luke and Annabeth stayed to comfort Thalia, holding the scared girl in their arms…

The Autobots were in a tough situation. Even though Optimus, Chromia, and Prowl had come to assist, the original Autobots at the mining site were badly hurt. Sunstreaker had sustained a serious chest injury from a gunshot, and Ratchet was doing everything he could to keep him operational. Meanwhile, Brawn was taking a beating from Quake.

It didn't help that Skywarp had recovered from the injury Charles had given him; angrier and more in the mood to fight than ever. Charles tried to hit him and the other Decepticons again along with Holly and Darin but the cons had learned to keep their distance.

Starscream was currently engaged in combat with Prowl and Chromia, he was managing to hold the two Autobots off, if only barely.

Megatron was fighting Optimus, after momentarily distracting his foe by punching him in the face, he looked around. Most of the Autobots were distracted at the moment. This was the chance they needed.

"Skwarp! Get the energon and teleport away!" ordered Megatron.

Skywarp leaped over the heads of the Hephaestus kids. "You got it boss!" he cheered. He teleported right to the energon converter, where all the containers of liquid energon were being kept.

"No No No NO!" Ratchet stammered "Stop him!"

Prowl turned away from his battle with Starscream and aimed his Acid Pellet gun at Skywarp. "I got- GAH!" he cried as Starscream shot him in the back with his null ray.

Skywarp grabbed the converter and the containers. He grinned. "Bye," he said. With a flash of purple light and a VOP, Skywarp was gone.

Optimus saw the whole thing where he stood during his fight with Megatron. "Damn it," he muttered.

Megatron laughed. "Oh don't take it personally Optimus," he said. "You had to know I'd win at least a few battles. I like to keep you on your toes."

Optimus didn't say anything but he threw another punch at Megatron, a punch Megatron deflected and counteracted with his own punch.

"Goodbye, Prime. See you again soon," Megatron said before turning to the other Decepticons. "Decepticons, regroup at the Nemesis!" He transformed into his tank mode, while, Skytread and Starscream changed into their vehicle modes and drove off with him,

"Ah, man!" Quake muttered as he bashed Brawn's head against a rock "I was just getting into it." but he still turned into his tank mode and followed his leader.

This left the Autobots alone and an awkward silence hung in the air for a couple of moments as everyone took in the loss. A now repaired Sunstreaker picked himself back up, Brawn dusted himself off from the battle with Quake, Chromia just stood there and Ratchet went over to make sure Prowl was okay.

"Optimus. We're sorry…" Holly said.

"It's not your fault child," Optimus said assuringly. "The Decepticons took us by surprise. Besides, you can't win every battle…" he said mournfully.

Ratchet grunted as he stood up and walked over to Prowl to examine his injury. "I guess I'm gonna have to find another energon source…" he mumbled.

"Do what you can Ratchet," Optimus said.

Hound, Luke, Annabeth, Thalia, and Hot Rod walked up to the other Autobots; Thalia was still shivering and looked on edge.

"You okay Thalia?" asked Charles.

"I'm fine…" Thalia rather aggressively insisted.

"You sure?" asked Charles.

"I said I'm fine!" Thalia yelled.

"Okay Okay…" Charles muttered.

"Just give her some time Charles." Hot Rod said.

"She just needs a little time."

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