Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 14 : Rescue


Optimus woke to the sun spilling through his chamber's window. His chassis rumbled warmly as he rolled from the berth, sitting up to peer out the thick panes to the beautiful sunny day that this planet had graced them with.

Stretching to ease his hydraulics, he stood and moved to one of his personal compartments. He removed his armor polish and a fine cloth, still damp from helping the seeker buff the incriminating evidence from his wings and chassis only a few hours ago. They had nearly undid all the work when Prime got a little too sly with the polishing, forcing Starscream to beg the other to say longer. He couldn't risk the chance of getting caught and had to leave the jet. He promised to be back later.

He sat back down to buff the jewel toned scratches from his own plating. Far to tired to do it last night, he decided he could do a better job after a recharge. Some where fairly deep, due to the red and white seeker's overenthusiastic performance. Prime could hardly complain though. Not when the Decepticon agreed to join their forces on this very day.

When he was satisfied that all the scuffs were covered Optimus left his chamber in a far better mood then he had been in since taking the Decepticon prisoner. Greeting his fellow Autobots along his way to the control room, he passed Jazz who was just exiting his own chamber with a loud yawn and a deep stretch.

"Good morning Jazz." He waved cheerfully.

"Oh!" The Porches started slightly when he noticed his friend's greatly improved mood. "Prime! Good mornin' to you too. You seem...happy today."

"Yes. I feel much better today."

Jazz caught up to Prime's side and they walked together to the Ark's bridge, dodging other Autobot's who also seemed to be in a good mood. The sun shine and crisp morning air always beckoned them to go for a morning tire burn around the desert.

"Any particular reason why?" The blue and white mech asked.

"I guess I just needed a decent night's recharge." Optimus shrugged. "That and I have an important announcement to make this morning. However, I'll have to review it with you and Prowl first."

"Important announcement?" Jazz quirked a brow.

"It's best we discuss it in private before we tell the others."

They arrived at the control room in time to see Sunstreaker and Sideswipe off. The twins eager to get to their recharge from a long night shift. Prowl, right on time as always, joined them only seconds later. Before Huffer and Windcharger showed up for their morning shifts Prime would have a quick and private meeting with his officers to ask their opinions on Starscream's swapping allegiances. It was of the utmost importance to the General that his fellow Autobots were all comfortable with the choice. He knew the transition would be slow at first. Starscream would have to be monitored at all times and his weapons would remain off line until fully trusted. The other's would have a hard time accepting the seeker. Hopefully all would run smoothly eventually.

"So what's this secret that you need to discuss with us first?" Jazz sat down in one of the monitoring seats, Prowl leaning on the station just to his left.

"It's about Starscream." The semi stated.

"Are we finally locking in stasis?" Prowl anxiously asked as he had been waiting for three weeks to hear that Prime was going to give up interrogation.

"No." Prime shook his head. "In fact, we're doing quite the op-"

A loud siren suddenly sounded, cutting Optimus off mid sentence. The Prime sighed as his officers instinctively turned to face the monitors. This would have to wait until they dealt with the disturbance. What had started as a promising day was now a disaster.

"Prime! We got Decepticons closing in fast!"

"Closing in where?" He looked up to the display screens.

"Here!"

Teletraan 1's screens jumped to life, displaying the live screen footage from their cameras outside. Every single Decepticon on planet Earth filled the screens as they closed in on the Ark. Prime's spark sunk as he realized just why they were here.

"Here comes the rescue squad!" Prowl shouted over the blaring sirens and sounds of Autobot's rushing into the control room.

"Autobots! We must stop them!" Optimus called over the racket. " Wheeljack! Monitor Teletraan and the shields. The rest of you, transform and attack!"

The bay doors opened, the roar of engines as the Autobots raced out to meet the Decepticon, who were already firing upon the golden ship. Prime ran out after them once Wheeljack was at the station. The desert dust swirled around him in thick clouds. He could hear his soldiers fighting all around him. The entire ground shook as the air born enemies hammered the shields relentlessly. The dust and smoke hiding them from the earth bound Autobots.

"Optimus!"

Prime turned the to the sound of the Ironhide's voice just to his left. The large weapon's specialist materializing a second later.

"Those creeps kicked up enough desert to short out our optics! We have no visible targets!"

Prime ducked as a large chunk of the mountain rained down from above them with a loud boom. "We'll have to move clear of the cloud."

With a nod from Ironhide, Optimus opened his channels and ordered the others to move away from the base. Just then, a large explosion sounded.

"Prime." Wheeljack hailed him on his comm. "The dropped some kind of charge. The shields down! We have a breach on the port stern!"

Starscream knew what was happening the moment his tiny cell began to shake. His comrades had finally come to rescue him. He would be free and able to claim his revenge. However, this was not the way he wanted it. His own means of escaping had taken three weeks to achieve. He was so close to tasting his success, only to have everything go to waste. He did not want or need Megatron's aid.

Running to the door, he pounded on the reinforced steel, shouting for Optimus. If Prime could let him out, if he could swear his allegiance, if only for a moment, all that work wouldn't have to be in vain. He could still save his pride and his ego and shove the trusting Autobot aside and run for the nearest exit. This, however, was not to be. No answer came from the other side of the door. He was forced to wait it out alone.

The side of his cell, just next to the berth he had only a moment ago been sitting, exploded inwards, showering the room with debris and smoke. He ducked to the floor, covering his head, coughing as his frantic intakes sucked in the smog and dirt. The whole room trembled from the impact of what could only be a well placed bomb. He turned towards the sudden light that filtered in through the haze and saw the silver Decepticon tyrant himself. The large mech seemed to melt through the dust and smoke like a nightmare come to life. His spark suddenly clenched in disbelief and fear.

The seeker gasped as the general advanced on him without a sound, grasping his outstretched wrist and tugging him to his pedes. The dull weight of the other's arm looped around his waist, supporting his suddenly weak frame, carrying him towards the ripped open entrance like some monster from a dream, kidnapping him.

"Starscream." Megatron's voice, very real, not a dream. "Can you fly?"

Audios blaring with the sound of gun fire and panic boiling beneath his plating, the seeker couldn't find his voice. Even when vertigo took hold of him as Megatron leapt from the tear in the Ark's side, he couldn't cry out. The tyrant held him close as the wind rushed past them, soaring up and above the clouds of dust, still packing him like a heavy bag of sand who refused to fly. Bright sunlight blinding as he looked towards the earth in time to see the Autobot's emerge from the haze. His optic darting from one to the other until he found the familiar red and blue mech that he suddenly wanted more then anything in the world.

"Decepticons!" Megatron called. "We have what we came for! Back to base!"

Spark sinking, Starscream started to squirm, trying to break free of the creature that held him. He could see Prime. He was just bellow them. So close and yet so far. Megatron struggled back, far more fiercely, possessively, not willing to let go of the mech for an instant. Realizing that his efforts were futile, Starscream gave up. Turning into the larger mech he gave a defeated whimper and buried his helm into his powerful chest. He didn't want the other to see the disappointment on his face. It only made it worse when he heard Prime's voice cry out over the wind that roared in his audios, shouting his name. Black servos held him tighter as if the other mech sensed his distress.

"You're not going any where." Megatron growled over the fading sound of gun fire.