Hey, guys! Yep! I'm back! You're back! We're all back for Talida Prime: Rising Storms. With the drama that happened this season and everything that happened in Fading Light, what do you think's gonna happen next?
First of all, I have to reply to reviews that were left on the last chapter of Fading Light.
Awesmo3000: An awesome end to an even awesomer story! Can't wait for Rising Storm! It's gonna be awesome! :D (BTW, it's "afro, circus, afro, circus, polka dot, polka dot, polka dot, afro!")
Really? Thanks for that!
Bee4ever: Awesome ending. Can't wait for the sequel!
Neither can I!
devildog452: What do you think will become of Malita?
When I know, you'll know.
SapphirePrincess1020: Can't wait for the next story
Thanks!
Autobot Shadowstalker: I loved this story! It's actually better than TFP itself. Hope you post the sequel soon!
How's this for soon?
Jacob Detiz: How about make the story on the 21st so I can look forword to read it on my birthday.
Can't. Brothers coming up. Won't have the time.
Link's Rose: Ohmygod I'm so excited! Because the threequel is coming soon, and, and, TFP SEASON THREE IS COMING OUT NEXT FREAKING MONTH! Asdfgjilasdfghjklqwyrudnskch sj!
No it ain't. It's a rerun of Transformers: Animated. It was placed in the wrong category.
Abyss Prime: OH MY FRAGGING PRIMUS! YOU KILL ME SO! UPDATE SOON! XD
Don't worry. I'll update.
Guest: AMAZING CANT WAIT! What song is that ? PLEASE UPDATE SOOON ! HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY! I hope you have a wonderful birthday
Always do. The song was Shattered by Trading Yesterday from their album More Than This.
AlphaTrion3145: I would love to see another trailer with scenes from the whole 2nd season.
I'm not THAT good.
Guest: Princess of Dreams
I have loves this and can't wait for the sequel. 'til all are one!
'Til all are one!
VectorSigma101: Great ending! :D Wonder how Talida's going to react to Bumblebee loosing his T-Cog…DRAMA!
This will be good…
haloangel21: …I see your point here. Anyway, loved the epilogue. Can't wait for the next continuing story!
Glad you loved it!
Oh! Talida's outfit's been changed. I forgot to mention that before. Whoops! Anyway, Talida is wearing from now on a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a blue singlet, a red cardigan, brown boots, brown belt, a gold Forever 21 headband and the necklace. Her bangs are still there and her hair is wavy. No purity ring. She shouldn't be wearing once since…well, she's not a virgin.
Transformers: Prime rightfully belongs to Hasbro and The Hub.
© Talida Prime and other OCs rightfully belong to me unless I say otherwise.
Broken rightfully belongs to Lifehouse and their respective record label.
ENJOY!
"The broken clock is a comfort.
It helps me sleep tonight.
Maybe it can stop tomorrow,
From stealing all my time.
I am here, still waiting.
Though I still have my doubts.
I am damaged at best,
Like you've already figured out…
I'm falling apart… I'm barely breathing…
With a broken heart that's still beating…
In the pain… There is healing…
In your name, I find meaning…
So I'm holdin' on… I'm holdin' on…
I'm holdin' on…
I'm barely holdin' on to you…"
Optimus, Ratchet and Bumblebee divided in two separate directions upon arrival. Optimus and Ratchet stuck together while Bumblebee was on his own. Recent events still loomed in their minds Particularly what Arcee, Jack and Talida had to undergo to regain their leader. That was a truth everyone knew. Cybertron almost killed Arcee, Jack and Talida during their perilous journey. Upon their return home, Airachnid only make it worse by firing those shots. Ratchet couldn't count the amount of times he nearly lost at least one of them. Talida more than Jack and Arcee. But they all had to remind themselves that the three of them were still with them. They were still alive but were far from returning to their former selves due to their battered bodies and spirits. It'll take time.
Time they were willing to give.
Hidden away behind a rock, all Optimus and Ratchet could see was trouble. Trouble in the form of Megatron. He arrived at the sight and transformed into his bipedal mode. Slowly, yet menacingly, he walked towards his troops that were in the middle of an excavation. The Autobots weren't the only ones to spot the signal.
"Megatron?!" Ratchet gasped in horror.
"It seems you detected the Ancient Autobot frequency precisely because it was unearthed," Optimus rumbled.
"Well, our backup shouldn't be far behind," Ratchet stated, referring to Bumblebee who had gone off to scout the area upon Optimus' orders.
"Without knowing what the Decepticons have exhumed, I believe that I am unwilling to wait," Optimus decreed as he stood up charging his blasters.
Optimus began to walk down to the sight. Ratchet remained where he was. He didn't know what was going to happen next. But he knew he wasn't going to like it. The Decepticons are still to notice the presence of the Autobots. They were too busy exhuming their latest finding.
"Show me," Megatron requested high in the rocks before the drones hoisted a strange Cybertronian container, one that Megatron recognized very well, "Bring it to me with utmost care."
When the drone brought the container to Megatron with care, the Decepticon lord wasted no time in opening it and revealing the weapon inside. But before he could reach down and take it…
"Megatron!" Optimus called as he ran towards them, "I cannot allow you to pilfer Autobot relics!"
"Not only are you misinformed, Optimus, but I would strongly advise you to lower your weapons…unless you're in the mood for mutually assured destruction," Megatron smirked as he held up an oddly-shaped weapon; one that made Optimus and Ratchet shudder in fear.
"It can't be!" Ratchet gasped.
"The spark extractor," Optimus growled.
TRANSFORMERS PRIME
"The broken locks,
Were a warning you got inside my head.
I tried my best to be guarded.
I'm an open book instead.
I still see,
Your reflection inside my eyes.
That are looking for a purpose.
They're still looking for life…
I'm falling apart… I'm barely breathing…
With a broken heart… That's barely beating…
In the pain (in the pain), is there healing…
In your name (in your name), I find meaning…
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm barely holdin' on to you…"
The drones were quick to surround the two Autobots. Too many times they had let the Autobots slip through their clawed servos. They weren't going to make the same mistakes again. Megatron would have their heads on a silver platter.
"Rather unassuming yet capable of extracting every spark within its radius. And too think that you led me straight to it, Optimus. Or should I say Orion Pax did?" Megatron smirked, earning a murderous glare from his younger brother, "You really should have left your Decepticon insignia intact…for you have no idea how useful your code-breaking skills proved to be during our all-to brief time together. And how is my dear niece?"
"An answer you will never get," Optimus growled.
After his family nearly died at his hands, did Megatron really think that Optimus was going to answer that willingly?
"Cannot blame an uncle for trying to inquire about the health of his niece, baby brother. Soundwave, send the GroundBridge," Megatron requested before one appeared, "FINISH THEM!"
As the drones began to battle Ratchet and Optimus, Megatron began to leave. With the drones keeping his enemies busy, he could make an easy escape…
Or will he?
Three other drones were hiding behind the rocks, their blasters charging. Obviously, they were planning to jump in and catch the Autobots by surprise. Well, a certain black-and-yellow muscle car wasn't going to let that happen. Bumblebee jumped from the cliff and landed in the ditch in vehicle mode. Repeated shots were fired as Bumblebee drove towards the battle involved other drones, Optimus and Ratchet. Optimus was never so relieved to see the scout in his life.
"Bumblebee, secure the package!" Optimus requested.
Bumblebee didn't waste time. He immediately raced for the awaiting GroundBridge where Megatron was slowly walking through it. Megatron didn't hear the sounds of the Autobot scout transforming behind him. In fact, he didn't notice Bumblebee's presence until he swooped past and took the spark extractor right out of his hand. A Mexican stand-off was about to take place. Bumblebee stood crouched to the ground, holding the spark extractor in his hand. Megatron stood upright. Shocked, but ready to fire his weapons whenever necessary.
"WHAT?!" Megatron boomed as he unsheathed his blade.
Not wanting to get sliced and diced, Bumblebee made a hasty retreat. Megatron was quick to follow. Bumblebee transformed into his vehicular mode and drove right between Megatron's legs as though he was driving through a tunnel. Megatron was quick to follow the scout as he performed the loop-de-loop, swiping his blade every chance he got. Megatron screamed in frustration as he followed Bumblebee out of the entrance of the portal he originally came through. He wasn't about to lose him. Not again. Bumblebee performed another loop-de-loop and disappeared…well, he had disappeared by the time Megatron emerged.
So had Optimus and Ratchet.
And then there were the destroyed drones.
Megatron just can't win.
Optimus, Ratchet and Bumblebee bridged themselves back to base with the spark extractor they intercepted from Megatron. Arcee, Bulkhead, Jack, Talida, Miko and Raf were listening in on Bumblebee's recollection of the story. Cayden was fast asleep in Arcee's arms after being fed some low-grade Energon. Everyone has adapted well to the birth of Cayden like they did with Talida's. Talida herself has also adapted very well and slipped into the 'older sister' role. Mostly, she was just happy about no longer being the youngest in the family. Unfortunately for her, she can't play with her brother as much because of her recovering lungs and the fact she has to have that cast on for another five weeks. But she does what she can and Cayden loves his big sister all the same.
"Loop-de-loop, huh?" Arcee smirked.
Done with using the toy car as a model, Bumblebee handed the car back to his son, enjoying the sounds of his laughter as he ruffled his hair playfully. Raf, however, pretended to gag when Bumblebee nuzzled Talida gently.
Bulkhead chuckled before saying, "You've got some brass bearings, Bumblebee."
"Optimus, here. The source of the frequency we detected," Ratchet proclaimed as he pointed to the beacon.
"Is it that I think it is?" Talida asked as she and the others joined the conversation.
"If you are thinking that this is an Iacon homing beacon, then yes," Optimus nodded.
"How did you know?" Miko wanted to know.
"Saw a lot of those in the Hall of Records back on Cybertron…until Megatron blew it up," Talida grumbled.
"What's an Autobot locator beacon doing on that?" Arcee demanded.
"The Class A Decepticon weapons confiscated during the war were sealed in the vaults during Iacon," Optimus answered.
"Where you once worked as an archivist," Bulkhead piped in.
"Iacon was both a cultural centre and a stronghold, which Megatron raided when Autobot troops were at their nadir. It stands to reason that in anticipation of Iacon being overrun by enemy forces, these weapons were jettisoned off world to keep them far from Decepticon reach," Optimus explained.
"And the beacons were placed on them to alert any Autobot in the vicinity and/or on the right frequency wavelength in the case of the relics being unearthed," Talida added in realization, "That sneaky bastard knew how to do it."
"But they were mostly used to alert any Autobot if the artifacts were unearthed by the undesired party," Ratchet corrected, "And I would appreciate it if you didn't call Alpha Trion a 'sneaky bastard.'"
"Well, thanks to our hot shot stud driver, this one's going in our vault!" Bulkhead decreed.
Then Arcee asked the question that no one else was brave to ask and Talida wasn't brave enough to reveal the answer to,
"Do you think this is the only Intel you supplied to Megatron?"
"Arcee, you are right to ask," Optimus said as he gently took his son from his spark mate's arms into his own, "And I'm afraid I do not remember."
"Optimus, Megatron clearly took advantage of your amnesia. But for all we know, the spark extractor is only the extent of it!" Ratchet cut in.
"Uh…," Talida trailed off, unsure of whether or not she should reveal the truth.
"It IS the only extent, right?" Ratchet asked nervously.
"You want the short version or the full story?" Talida wanted to know.
"Full story," Optimus requested.
"Almost three days before Arcee, Jack and I were stranded on Cybertron, I infiltrated the Decepticon warship, disguised as a drone. I got myself assigned to you. I overheard some things that I never thought I would overhear. Well…Megatron came in to ask for a progress update. He never noticed me. You did. Never reported me. One of the first things Megatron asked was how many files you have cracked. Well…you cracked three," Talida revealed, "I don't know what the other two were. In fact, until now, I never knew that one of them was the spark extractor."
"You said you knew the files!" Arcee protested.
"All the important ones! You know, ones the Decepticons should NEVER know about!" Talida retorted.
"Calm down or you'll have another attack," Jack warned.
"Besides, have you ever stopped to consider otherwise merely to plague your thoughts?" Ratchet asked.
"If you were there, Talida, how come you never stopped me?" Optimus asked, "How come you never brought me here?"
"They tightened security. Sneaking off was impossible. Even I had trouble. And the reason I never stopped you because there was nothing to worry about. Before everything, you taught me the codenames for everything that should kept out of Decepticon reach no matter what. I saw no threats," Talida shrugged.
"THE SPARK EXTRACTOR WAS IN MY GRASP!" Megatron roared as he pounded his fist onto a computer station, "I should have removed more than that scout's voice box when I had the chance!"
"Father, you need to remember something," Malita said.
"Be careful what you say next, my daughter. You have been skating on thin ice since the events in the mine," Megatron stated, "I only let you off with a warning because of your unquestionable loyalty in the past before Unicron's awakening. However, if you show evidence of potential betrayal like that again, the fact that Energon and spark relate us would not matter. I would not hesitate to deal the appropriate punishment."
"What I was going to say is…well, I'll let Soundwave say it," Malita corrected his thinking with Soundwave supporting her statement.
"Indeed, Soundwave and Malita. We possess two more sets of coordinates, which Orion decrypted before departing our ranks. Let us see what other long lost treasures we may be reunited with," Megatron smirked.
With everything going on recently, the Autobots had to be on their guard. Neither of them knew where the decrypted coordinates would lead and neither of them knew what treasures said coordinates would lead everyone too. So…extra patrols were set up. Bulkhead and Bumblebee happened to be on one. Bulkhead went in one direction. Bumblebee went in another.
"Bulkhead, I'm picking up a signal," Bumblebee bleeped into the radio.
"Yeah. I've just picked up the same signal. Could be another homing beacon. Let's rendezvous at the coordinates."
No more words were needed after that. At speeds regular cars could only dream of achieving, Bumblebee sped towards the source of the signal. He didn't have far to go. He only had to take the next bend then turn into the desert next to the road. Transforming into his bipedal mode, Bumblebee took steps that were filled with caution.
He saw this transmitter emitting a strange signal implanted in the rocks before him. To say that he was curious would be a terrible understatement. Immediately, Bumblebee took off running towards it. He went to touch it. However, he never got the chance. Just like he never saw who fired the shot.
Bumblebee bleeped in pain as the electricity coursed through his entire body. Eventually, it became too much for the Autobot Scout to bear as he fell back onto the ground, his optics offlining and the sound of his systems shutting down echoed through the night. Four men walked towards the downed Autobot. Among them was Silas.
MECH planned this.
"Silas, another one is heading towards our position. Estimated arrival: two minutes," a MECH surgeon reported.
"Work briskly," Silas instructed.
Above them, a jet flew in the skies before transforming and landing in the cliffs. Starscream had picked up the same signal and decided to investigate the matter. When he got there, he saw Bumblebee being carved open by humans and immediately put two and two together. Starscream may be predictable.
But he wasn't dumb.
"It would appear the signal was a trap. Better Bumblebee than me," Starscream sneered.
While the surgeon worked to remove a vital organ of Bumblebee's systems, Silas stood on the rocks with a pair of binoculars in his hand. He saw another car approaching. It was Bulkhead. Not wanting to encounter the Autobots again, Silas decided to make a hasty retreat.
"The backup is ahead of schedule," Silas observed.
"As luck would have it, so would I," the surgeon remarked as he pulled out an organ.
"Move out," Silas instructed.
The four men boarded the helicopter and took off towards the skies, making a retreat. Starscream, sensing that Bulkhead was on his way, decided to do the same and took off. There was nothing for him here.
When Bumblebee came to moments later, he saw the MECH helicopter taking off. But at the time, he didn't know if it was a new Decepticon or MECH operatives. The sounds of an approaching vehicle filled his ears followed by transformations. Bulkhead immediately ran to his side and knelt next to him.
"Bee! Who did this?! 'Cons?!" Bulkhead growled angrily.
"I don't know," Bumblebee bleeped sadly.
"One way to find out. Come on!" Bulkhead cried as he took off.
Once he was close to the road, Bulkhead transformed and took off at high speeds. Bumblebee went to do the same…however, he couldn't. His wings didn't turn into doors. His chassis didn't turn into his headlights. Bumblebee glanced after Bulkhead on the road. His optics saying one word:
Help.
Screeching tires echoed throughout the Nevada desert. Finally noticing that his buddy was no longer with him, Bulkhead reversed back and transformed.
"We rolling or not?!" Bulkhead demanded.
"I can't," Bumblebee whined.
"What do you mean you can't?!" Bulkhead asked.
Bumblebee said nothing but his optics said it all. Scared. Unsure.
Helpless.
They called for an emergency GroundBridge immediately after that. Everyone was quick to realize that something was wrong with Bumblebee after they both explained the situation. Raf and Talida were by Bumblebee's side as Ratchet ran a scan over him.
"You can fix dad, can't you?" Raf asked worriedly.
"Bumblebee was hit pretty hard. The stun blast may have fried his T-Cog," Ratchet answered.
"Is that like a T-Bone?" Miko asked.
"Not exactly. It's the organ that allows us to scan vehicles and transform," Arcee corrected.
"Without the ability to transform or fly, Cybertronians are pretty much vulnerable in the battlefield," Talida piped in.
"By the AllSpark!" Ratchet gasped as he deactivated his scanner, "Bumblebee's T-Cog isn't damaged! It's missing!"
Optimus' optics widened in horror. It was one thing for him to loose his voice box. But for him to loose his T-Cog?! Not only can't he speak. He can't transform. Now, he was in more danger than he was when his voice box was destroyed. Optimus wasn't the only one to wear the horror on his face. Bulkhead and Arcee were the same way.
"But the Decepticons transform too? Why would they steal that?!" Jack wanted to know.
"Megatron may be known to raise zombies. But he's no ghoul," Ratchet stated.
"If Megatron wasn't behind this…," Raf began.
"Then who was?" Talida finished, an idea already beginning to form inside her head.
"The ones who cannibalized Breakdown," Bulkhead growled.
"And tried to gut me!" Arcee piped in.
"And kidnapped my mum!" Jack added.
"MECH," Ratchet snarled, "And it would appear their knowledge of Cybertronian biotech has grown more sophisticated."
"But why would they want dad's part?!" Raf wanted to know.
Bumblebee bleeped some things and went to walk away. Obviously, his intentions were to hunt down MECH and regain what was rightfully his. However, knowing what happened last time when Bumblebee lost his voice box, Optimus wasn't willing to let the past repeat itself.
"Bumblebee, please. You are not presently equipped to handle this," Optimus protested, earning some bleeps of strong protests from the young Autobot scout, "You are mistaken, my son. I do know what it's like to lose a vital part of one's self. And as a result, I know the value of putting your faith in the strength of those around you. Especially your family. When Arcee and I raised you as our own, we promised ourselves that we would do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Allow the both of us to promise that we will do whatever it takes to make you whole again. We all will. This I vow with all my spark."
"And if not, Ratchet can make you a new cog thing, right?" Miko asked, hoping that it would make the situation better.
"Here we go," Talida muttered to herself as Bumblebee moaned and slumped back onto the berth.
"What did I say?!" Miko demanded.
"Miko, a T-Cog is a bio mechanism. Not a scrap yard find. If it were that easy, don't you think I would have replaced Bumblebee's voice box by now?!" Ratchet snapped.
"Don't say that!" Talida told Bumblebee off after his latest series of bleeps, "You're not useless! You're far from it!"
"Alright, alright. I say that none of us transform until Bumblebee gets his cog back!" Bulkhead decreed.
"As much as we appreciate the idea and that your spark is in the right place, it's easier said than done," Talida objected.
"Tally's right. Now's not the time to be limiting ourselves," Arcee agreed.
"Not with Megatron potentially seeking out other doomsday devices. And I fear, not while MECH uses Bumblebee's T-Cog for their own sinister use," Optimus snarled.
"Lida, don't even think about it," Jack warned as he placed his hands on Talida's arms, "Look. I'm as upset about this as you are. …OK. Maybe less. But going out on a violent rage isn't going to solve anything. It isn't going to get Bumblebee's T-Cog back any sooner than it's going to take. And it certainly isn't going to help your wrist injury or your lung damage. We're not in a time where Unicron never happened. We're not on Cybertron anymore. You can't just go off gallivanting getting yourself killed. Everything's different now."
"You don't know anything, Jack. So stop pretending that you do!" Talida snapped as she stormed off.
"Tally," Miko began.
"Leave me alone!" Talida yelled, disappearing down the hall.
"Nothing's been the same since Cybertron," Jack muttered darkly.
"She's traumatized, Jack. When Starscream and Malita kidnapped her when she was 14, she refused to talk about it to any of us. It wasn't until her suicide attempt that she told us everything that happened," Arcee explained.
"Something more happened during the journey and rescue than she's willing to confess. Were the three of you ever separated at any stage during your journey?" Optimus asked.
"When we were attacked by the Insecticon while I was reloading the Matrix, when Megatron attacked us with the missile and when we saved you," Jack answered.
"The problem is: she spends more time putting other people's feelings ahead of her own. It's why she's almost getting killed all the time," Bulkhead pointed out.
"Why did I have to have a stubborn sister?" Jack grumbled to himself.
"Why does she always shut down like this?" Raf wanted to know, earning some bleeps from Bumblebee.
"Translation?" Jack and Miko pressed.
"He said she thinks she's protecting us by hiding the truth from us," Ratchet translated before glancing after Talida worriedly, "I'm personally waiting for the day she realizes that it is going to do her more harm than good."
If there's one thing MECH's good at, it's causing complete and utter chaos. This was proven by them installing Bumblebee's T-Cog into their own Transformer. Project Chimera was a work-in-progress ever since their first alien encounter. MECH was only interested in two things: power and total world domination. They weren't willing to let anything stand in the way of their conquests. Everyone remembers what Silas had once said before,
"A few human lives are a small price to pay for a miracle of science."
"Commence beta test," Silas instructed.
The surgeon typed in a few commands and the result more than just satisfying. First, the hand stretched out its fingers before clenching its fist multiple times. The whirring of circuitry coming to life filled the ears of everyone in the room. The veins and protoforms that were uncovered glowed a bright shade of green.
"Instillation's complete," the surgeon reported, "Commencing scan."
Silas stepped back when bright blue beams sprouted out of the robot's optics. They watched as the beams scanned the shape and colour of the helicopter nearby. Once everything about the helicopter was scanned into its system, the beams disappeared. The computer that was being operated by the MECH surgeon pinged to indicate the success of the scan.
"Scan successful," the surgeon decreed, "Commencing transformation."
Now THIS was where everything started going downhill for Project Chimera. Instillation of all the necessary parts including Bumblebee's T-Cog: successful. Beta test: successful. Scan of the Transformer's new vehicle form: successful. Transformation into said vehicle form…
Not so much.
Manic laughter could be heard from outside the warehouse they were hiding in. When they looked outside, they saw the white-and-silver painted former Seeker. With ease, Starscream pushed the doors wide open and let himself into the base.
"You are the ones that turned poor Breakdown into a pitiful science experiment?!" Starscream cackled in disbelief, "Didn't learn much from the experiment, did you?"
Clicks could be heard before dozens of red target lasers were pointed at him. Starscream looked around and saw that every single MECH operative in the room – except for Silas – were pointing their guns at him ready to fire. Operatives were coming from every level in every direction known to man. Silas, not one known for getting his hands dirty, just stood there casually.
"Enough to know where the soft spots are, Decepticon," Silas sneered.
"Oh please. I am no longer affiliated with that entity. Besides, if I were here to avenge the big lug, you would be screaming for mercy by now," Starscream smirked.
Silas couldn't help but realize that the Decepticon rogue was, in fact, correct. Everyone would be dead or pleading for mercy had he come to avenge Breakdown. Inwardly shuddering at the mere thought, he pushed forward.
"Why are you here?" Silas wanted to know.
"To propose an alliance. You see, we have much more in common than you think. And I am not merely referring to our battle scars," Starscream answered.
"What could I possibly gain from such an arrangement?" Silas asked.
Remembering what happened last time when he made a deal with Airachnid, Silas knew that it was better to ask the questions now than to regret it later.
Starscream, more than apply to answer, said two simple words, "Insider knowledge."
Having heard enough, Silas raised his hand. But it wasn't to open fire. Instead, it was a signal that instructed the crew to stand down. Unlike many others, he wasn't one to shoot first and ask questions later unless the situation called for it. He was willing to hear out the full proposition Starscream was offering to MECH. If he tried anything or he didn't like the idea…
THEN he could shoot him.
"Wise choice," Starscream complimented, "Now, a T-Cog isn't technology. It is biology. Which means it will reject any power source other than Energon."
"Go on," Silas encouraged. So far, he was liking where this was going.
"Energon is the fuel, the ammunition and the lifeblood of all Cybertronians. Whatever their affiliation. You and I both want it. And currently, I lack the means of locating it. But once I supply you with the…," Starscream winced as he scratched himself, staining his clawed finger with his own Energon, "Particulars of its chemical makeup."
Starscream pressed the Energon-stained finger against the hole where the Transformer's heart would be. They heard the purring of the machine as it came to life again, stronger than it was when on the previous power source MECH had it running on. Silas couldn't help but admit. The knowledge Starscream was supplying was fascinating…so far. Right now, he was waiting for the catch.
"We can utilize your considerable resources to devise the means of detecting new deposits for us to share," Starscream said with a smirk on his face.
"If the supply meets MECH's rather significant demand," Silas retorted.
"Ahhh… Intending to build an army, are you? I am no stranger to ambition," Starscream growled with a smirk on his face.
Back at the Autobot base, Ratchet was doing everything he could to locate the lost T-Cog. However, the task was easier said than done. Because he also had to multitask with watching over the latest addition to the Autobot family as he slept. Plus, he had to contend with Bumblebee, who wouldn't leave him alone?
"Optimus and Bulkhead haven't reported in yet," Ratchet sighed in frustration, "Bumblebee! I will let you know the moment I hear something! …oh! For Primus sake! Will someone keep him occupied so I can get some work done and Cayden can get some sleep?! Not you, Talida! I am not letting you off that oxygen until you're oxygen intakes are at a suitable level when that ventilator is completely empty!"
"But I'm-," Talida began to protest as she went to remove her mask.
"Ah ah ah!" Miko chided as she secured the mask back on Talida's face, "That attack you had was one of the worst ones you've had yet! It's different for you! Techno-organics are prone to these attacks."
"Where did you learn this?" Miko asked.
"Believe it or not, I paid attention to Ratchet's rambling," Miko laughed.
"Hey, dad. How about a video game?" Raf offered.
Willing to have a distraction, Bumblebee went to join his son. Satisfied with the knowledge that Talida would keep her mask on, Miko rejoined the race with Raf. When Bumblebee watched what they were doing, he almost did a face palm. Considering it was the only video game they had, Miko and Raf were racing. Realizing that it was only making things worse for Bumblebee, they opted to do something else.
"Ooooh… Bad call," Miko cringed before noticing Talida going to say something, "Ah ah ah! Mask stays on!"
"You're worse than Jack," Talida grumbled, although no one was able to understand it due to the mask.
"Sorry," Raf apologized.
"It's OK," Bumblebee reassured him as he knew Raf didn't mean it.
"Hey! No big deal! That game's lame!" Miko decreed as she tossed the controller aside and grabbed the television remote, "What do you say we watch some TV?"
However, when Miko switched channels, it didn't help the current situation at all.
"The new Urbana 500. It won't just rock your world. It'll transform it."
Studying the facial expressions everyone else was wearing, Talida couldn't help but say through the mask, "We just can't win, can we?"
"I GIVE UP!" Bumblebee decreed as he held his head in his hands and left.
"Taking the auto out of Autobot: so not a good thing," Miko remarked, earning a nod in agreement from Talida as she checked the levels in the ventilator, "Almost done."
"Dad, come on! You're just as amazing without wheels! I mean, speed isn't everything!" Raf said.
However, just as he said it, Arcee came speeding into the base accompanied by Jack. At the centre of the room, she came skidding to a stop, falling on her front wheel before landing on both. This action didn't disturb Cayden, who remained asleep. As Optimus and Arcee tended to say, Cayden was able to sleep through anything. Maybe even a Decepticon invasion.
"Personal best, Arcee! You made 120 easy!" Jack gushed excitedly, upsetting Bumblebee.
"Uh-oh," Jack and Arcee muttered. This would not be good.
"Jack, do me a favor and hop off so I can see my son," Arcee requested.
"Oh. Right. Sorry," Jack apologized as he hopped off.
"Bumblebee! Where do you think you're going?!" Ratchet asked the retreating scout.
"I'm going for a walk," Bumblebee answered casually.
"You can't just go out for a walk! We are robots in disguise! Leaving the base in this form puts you at risk of being seen! And of us being discovered! You just have to remain in the silo until…," Ratchet stopped as Bumblebee shrugged his hand off his shoulder.
"Until what?! Until you can fix me?! Because you did such a good job last time!" Bumblebee snarled before walking away.
"Yes, Bumblebee. Until I can fix you," Ratchet whispered sadly.
He knew that what Bumblebee said were simply words of anger. He didn't mean it. That didn't make it hurt any less than it did.
The next day, Jack, Talida, Miko and Raf went to school like any other day. Despite being at the school for a week with their injuries, Jack and Talida still get asked if they would allow random students to sign the plaster cast on their arms. They all hoped that soon, they would able to have it removed and be fully recovered. Talida carried a ventilator with her at all times in case an attack occurred. The classes that she didn't have with Jack, she had with Sierra. She always made sure she immediately used the mask whenever she did have an attack.
Currently, Raf and Talida were sitting on the doorsteps of Jasper High waiting. They didn't know who was going to pick them up and they didn't know when. Then…they heard the sounds of an ambulance siren and saw the flashing lights. Immediately, Raf and Talida grabbed their belongings and raced towards the red and white ambulance. Opening the door, Talida helped Raf into the car before hopping in herself.
"In you go," Ratchet chided.
"Thanks for the lift home, friend of Jack's mum who works at the hospital!" Raf said loudly as they pulled out before turning to his mother, "I don't know how you do it."
"It takes practice," Talida shrugged.
"Where are the others?" Ratchet asked.
"Jack's at work after his boss made him switch shifts," Talida began.
"And Miko's in detention…again," Raf finished with a knowing sigh.
"Hey. What happened to Bulkhead?" Talida asked, remembering that the former Wrecker was supposed to pick them up.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you two. But he's on watch duty," Ratchet answered with an awkward silence following, "You wanna ride with the siren on?"
"No thank you," Raf immediately answered when Talida shook her head.
Back at base, an alarm was blaring. Bulkhead and Bumblebee immediately observed it.
"This could be it. I'll alert the others," Bulkhead decided.
"But we can handle it!" Bumblebee protested.
"I know we can handle it, Bumblebee. But that's no reason to… Oh! What are you trying to prove?" Bulkhead sighed, earning a sigh from the Autobot scout, "Alright. But if Arcee goes to slit our throat cables or Optimus tortures us like Megatron because we left a one-week-old sparkling alone in the base to fend for himself, I'm blaming you."
Ratchet, Raf and Talida fell into silence once again as they drove through the streets of Jasper.
"Had any attacks?" Ratchet asked.
"One. But it was minor. Only needed my asthma medication," Talida shrugged.
"Ratchet…what happened to dad's voice box?" Raf suddenly asked, causing everyone to go quiet.
"Don't your parents talk to you about it?" Ratchet grumbled.
"Dad never likes to talk about it and mum says she only knows minor details," Raf answered.
"It was…severely damaged in battle," Ratchet said.
"How?" Raf demanded.
"How do you think? Tragically, of course," Ratchet scoffed before beginning the story, "It happened at Tyger Pax. Our brave scout was captured by Megatron's forces and interrogated. But he refused to provide Intel and paid a grave price for his courage. Bumblebee was left for scrap. But Autobot troops, led by Optimus and Arcee who were searching for the boy they raised, found him and evacuated him to a triage facility where a field medic was able to stabilize his condition."
"So…we owe Dad's life to that field medic," Raf surmised, "And Optimus and Arcee since they were the ones that were found him."
"That's…one way of looking at it, I suppose. Though the medic…could have done better," Ratchet said sadly.
It wasn't hard for Talida to figure out the truth in the story. In fact, she knew it. She knew the full story behind the loss of Bumblebee's voice box. She knew that Optimus and Arcee were the ones that found him beaten and broken. She knew that Ratchet was the medic that was entrusted in saving Bumblebee's life. She knew that he still blamed himself to this day for being unable to repair his voice box.
There were many things that Talida wished for. But there was one wish that almost topped the list.
She wished that Ratchet would stop blaming himself for something that was beyond control.
"Clear," Bulkhead reported after jumping through the GroundBridge, causing Bumblebee to follow, "I still don't know how you talked me into this. You're worse than Miko."
"It's not like there's gonna be a high-speed pursuit!" Bumblebee reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. I know. Not every mission ends in a high-speed pursuit. Without your…" Bulkhead cut himself short.
"Quit while you're ahead," Bumblebee warned as he glared at the medic.
"OK. I'll drop it," Bulkhead relented, "Remember. If Optimus finds out, this was NOT my idea. And I think I've already told you enough times what will happen to us if Optimus and Arcee find out we've left Cayden home alone. He's a week old!"
"I won't tell if you don't," Bumblebee promised Bulkhead, causing Bulkhead to shudder at how alike he sounded to Talida there.
"You sure your relationship with Talida's not incest?" Bulkhead randomly asked, earning a punch from Bumblebee before he was distracted by the beeping scanner, "Signal's coming from over there. And it's coming our way! Fast!"
"Catch me if you can!" Knock Out challenged as he sped past them.
"I'll get him!" Bulkhead vowed…before Breakdown came out of the cave, "OK! You get him!"
"I'm on it!" Bumblebee decreed as he ran away while Bulkhead and Breakdown began their battle.
Bumblebee managed to follow the Decepticon medic onto the nearby highway. Knock Out couldn't help but be amused by the manner of the ongoing chase. Gaining speed, he created more miles between himself and the Autobot scout. But Bumblebee was relentless. He was going to let the lack-of T-Cog bring him down.
"Sporting of you," Knock Out smirked as he gained even more speed.
Now Bumblebee was really at a loss. He couldn't catch Knock Out on foot. And…after trying a few times, he couldn't activate his Energon stingers.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Bumblebee moaned.
"You're not even gonna try and shoot up my tires?!" Knock Out said in disbelief as he skidded to a stop, "Bumblebee, where's your famous horse power, huh?! Show me some speed!"
Bumblebee clenched his fists in anger as he ran towards the smart-ass 'Con. Unfortunately, Knock Out sped away as soon as he was close enough to hit him. An idea beginning to form in his mind, Bumblebee grabbed a beaten-up Ute. Slamming it on the road and pushing against it, he jumped onto the back of it. Using his weight, he made the old Ute travel at high speeds and control the turns. Sparks flew off of the two rear hubcaps where the tires once were. Nevertheless, catching up to Knock Out was an easy task. If Knock Out wasn't amused before, he certainly was now.
"What is with the rent-a-car?!" Knock Out cackled in amusement, smirking as the car began to fall apart under Bumblebee's weight, "I'd stick around and drive doughnuts around you! But I have a delivery to make!"
In the back seat, Malita seemed to hold some kind of a Cybertronian magical stick. It was the Iacon relic that Bulkhead and Bumblebee detected at the base. She held on to the handles above her as Knock Out made a sharp turn around the bend. Looking out the window, she secretly hoped that Bumblebee would too.
Bumblebee made the turn. However, it wasn't the right turn. He broke through the barrier that was situated near the road that prevented cars from going over the cliff. It didn't work for him. The white, broken Ute fell to the ground below…
Followed by Bumblebee.
To be continued…
"I'm hangin' on another day.
Just to see what you throw my way.
And I'm hanging on to the words you say.
You said that I will be OK…
The broken lights on the freeway,
Left me here alone.
I may have lost my way now.
Haven't forgotten my way home…
I'm falling apart… I'm barely breathing…
With a broken heart… That's barely beating…
In the pain (in the pain), is there healing…
In your name (in your name), I find meaning…
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm barely holdin' on to you…
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm holdin' on… (I'm still holdin'…)
I'm barely holdin' on to you…"
OH MY GOD! BUMBLEBEE!
Trailer for next chapter coming up!
Shows MECH removing Bumblebee's T-Cog
Shows MECH trying to operate their own Transformer
Shows Optimus climbing up an icy cliff face
Next time in Talida Prime: Rising Storms…
Ratchet: WHAT?! BUMBLEBEE AND TALIDA CAN'T DO THAT!
Shows Knock Out and Breakdown retreating through a GroundBridge
It's the thrilling conclusion to Operation: Bumblebee…
Talida: Go for it, Bee!
Shows Bumblebee jumping onto MECH's transformer and reaches inside
Optimus: AUTOBOTS! Prepare to roll out!
Shows Bumblebee trying to protect Talida as MECH shot at them
Starscream: Energon will do wonders to our army!
Silas: It's working…
Show Knock Out blocking Optimus' and Arcee's attack with a shield
Show Bumblebee throwing a boulder at MECH insurgents
Talida: BUMBLEBEE!
Talida Prime: Rising Storms
More coming soon…
Only on fanfiction…
There's that and more coming soon. …HEY! WHEELJACK'S COMING BACK SOON! WHOO!
BYE!