Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 17 : Hesitate




Two weeks had passed and there was still no sign of Decepticon activity.

The Autobots were broken into two teams. One to guard the new solar plant, and one to remain at base incase the Con's had another target in mind. The plant had been opened and running smoothly for seven days. Optimus was given the first few hours of operation in order to collect enough energon cubes to last for months. Technically, their job was done. Even though the humans felt it was no longer necessary for the Autobots to patrol the area,. Prime was not quite satisfied.

It didn't matter how many days went by. The plant was still too tempting a target to ever be safe. It would need constant monitoring.

Every Autobot present seemed to sense their leader's anxiety. None questioned his reasoning. It had been quite some time since the last contact with Decepticons and now was not time to make mistakes. Ever since the jet was stolen right out from under their noses, the Autobots felt they had to at least make it up to themselves. Failure just wasn't an option anymore.

Optimus took to watching the skies. Blue optics were almost constantly watching the horizon or skimming over the cloud lines, searching for the slightest movement. A few times, a human jet flew over head, the hum of the engines far more noticeable to Cybertronain audios as the craft sliced a white streak along the wide blue canvas of the sky. His spark would beat heavily in his chest the moment he heard the sound, only to sink into a disappointed pulse when the plain benign shape was recognized.

It was petty to feel the way he did. Foolish and immature. Chastising himself, Prime would go back to his duties and try to forget about it. Until the next plane flew over.

Ironhide joined him after a while. The two would chat on and off throughout the day, which Optimus was thankful for. It helped keep him occupied and kept his processor on more acceptable things. Unlike Jazz, Ironhide didn't know anything about what had passed between his leader and the Decepticon prisoner. He never asked those bothersome questions that the blue and white mech did. And if it wasn't already painfully obvious, Prowl suspected a little too much for comfort as well. The two officers knew far more then they let on and it made the semi nervous when they started prying. It also made him feel guilty for lying to them. He was thankful the two of them were back at the base keeping an eye on Teletraan and the Dinobots. The dinosaur based bots always seemed to misbehave when Prime was not around. Grimlock was no doubt keeping Prowl occupied seeing as how the tyrannosaurus liked to drive the poor strategist crazy. Jazz was probably keeping Prowl from trying to scrap them. They wouldn't have time to discuss their leader's strange behavior of late.

"And so I say to 'im, 'Wheeljack, if Autobots were meant ta fly, we'd have been forged with wings, not jet packs!'. And he ramble's on 'bout some propulsionary system, or some other technical jargon that I can't wrap my processor around."

Prime chuckled as his friend tried to mimic the Autobot science officer. Thick accent butchering the attempts to sound half credible.

"At least he's thinking in the right direction." He offered. "If we could fly, it would make our jobs a lot easier."

"Yeah, I guess." Ironhide shrugged. "It's just too bad we don't have Starscream anymore."

"Why do you say that?" The semi looked at his friend with more surprise then he should have. It had been days since anyone had brought the jet's name up.

"Well it's just that we could'a used a bot like 'im." The red mech replied. "If you had managed to convince 'im ta join us, then we'd have no use for flyin' Autobots."

"Oh." He tried to keep his misery from betraying him, turning his optics away from his comrade and looking back up at the blue sky.

"I know ya could've done it, Prime." Ironhide tried to reassure him. "It's just that creep Megatron was too quick fer us."

"Maybe you're right." He half heartedly answered.

The two stood in silence for a moment. The breeze picked up, swirling the dust at their feet in tiny spirals. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon. A shame they were spending it watching for Decepticons. The red van seemed to sense his leader's sorrow. Ironhide followed Prime's distant gaze into the endless blue above them, deciding that the scenery was far more uplifting to look at. He squinted when a faint spot suddenly appeared from behind a large cloud.

"Prime..." He muttered as if the un-identified object, that was growing larger and closer every second, could hear them.

"I see it, Ironhide."

"My early warnin' sensors are goin' haywire." The large mech clenched his fists.

"Mine too."

Several more appeared, each growing larger as they closed in on the solar plant.

"Decepticons." Prime growled.

Ironhide was the first to move. He spun on his heel and took off towards the others, shouting out for the rest of the Autobots. Optimus stood his ground and waited as the first Con to appear, approached closely enough to identify. Drawing his weapon, Prime took aim, but the Decepticon in question had better plans than to hover in mid air and blast away. He didn't have time to search for a pair of red and white wings.

Megatron flew straight at him, dark fists straight out and preparing to ram into the blue and red semi. Optimus barely had time to drop rifle and block the blow, the two mech's collided with earth shaking force. Prime was knocked clean off his pedes. He hit the ground hard, skidding along the dirt for a few jarring spans before coming to a stop. Processor fuzzy from the impact, he wasn't quick enough to duck a strike to the back of his helm. Megatron had circled back around while Optimus was recovering from the initial blow and kicked out at the easy target, catching the Autobot in the head. Prime managed to grasp the silver tyrant's ankle before he was out of reach, pulling Megatron down to his level. Optics blurred and dizzy from pain, he could only hold on for dear life the other threatened to lift him clear off the ground.

It was a quick tug of war that ended in a fusion cannon blast barely skimming over the red mech's right shoulder. The searing burn from the intense heat suddenly kicked his instincts into over drive. Grasping the other mech with both servos, Prime kicked up off the earth, swinging his legs up and over his head, nailing Megatron in the lower back.

The Decepticon cried out as they both came crashing down, landing in a furious and thrashing heap of fists.

"Damn you, Prime!" Megatron pushed against the ground with his pedes, grasping his enemy by the shoulders, rolling them both over and forcing the other face first into the dirt.

The jet's roared over head a second later, loud in Prime's already buzzing audios. His face plates mashed into the ground he could only hear what was happening around him as his Autobots attempted to repel the newly arrived Decepticons. The sound of gun fire and the smell of smoke and dust. He could feel Megatron above him, forcing him down, pinning him. His right arm held down above his head as his attacker's left knee dug sharply into his hips. Sharp blows as the silver bot punched his vulnerable exposed back with his free left servo.

"Come on, Optimus!" The Con shouted above the roar of the battle. "This is boring! Fight back already!"

His armor buckled under the other's relentless blows. Pain shooting up his support column with every clang of his black metal fist. Prime swung his free arm backwards and grabbed what he guess was the other mech's thigh. Hooking his servo under the knee, he pulled Megatron's leg into his chest and rolled, dragging the tyrant off balance with a surprised yelp. Prime didn't stop rolling over until he was face up, sprawled out and lying on top of the overwhelmed Decepticon, who floundered for a moment trying to free his limb from the other's unrelenting hold.

Megatron's pede dug into his back a second later, and with a grunt, the silver mech managed to kick the other off. Prime landed on all fours, scurrying up right and back onto his feet.

"Prime!" Hound's voice sounded over his comm. "I've called in reinforcements! They should be here within a few minutes!"

Blue optics trained on the still recovering Decepticon, Optimus acknowledged his comrade with a quick "Affirmative."

"That's much better, Prime." Megatron managed to gain his footing, leering dangerously at the Autobot as he advanced. "It's always so much more fun when you reciprocate."

"There's nothing about this I'd call 'fun'." The semi responded, joints tightening in apprehension as the other drew closer.

"You could if you tried harder." The silver mech grinned before he sprinted forward, servos reaching for red and blue armor.

Starscream watched the battle from high in the clouds. He hadn't descended and joined the melee like the others. Megatron was far to preoccupied with Prime to notice the lack of his air commander. His comrades, as well, were all too focused on trying to scrap puny Autobots to notice his absence. Just as well. The seeker was not thinking clearly enough to pretend to care about the squabble bellow. His crimson optics scanned over the scene beneath him until he found what he desired. The Autobot General, who was currently wrestling that pathetic excuse for a Decepticon leader.

Trusting that Optimus knew what he was doing, Starscream was not concerned that the Autobot would be harmed. Even if Megatron managed to overwhelm him, Prime would not be seriously injured. It was not Megatron's goal to kill the semi.

Starscream should have figured out his leader's reasoning for wanting Prime captured alive along time ago. Megatron had made it very clear to all Decepticons that attacking Optimus was expected of them, but they were not allowed to slay the Autobot. Megatron claimed that it was his right to destroy his enemy and no one else's. It was one of the many reasons for why they all feared Prime. He was the one Autobot that they were not allowed to fully defend themselves against if their lives were in danger.

However, the seeker was not prepared to sit back and let Megatron capture Prime today. Even if Optimus and himself hadn't been involved, Starscream would still hesitate to hand the Autobot over to his leader. That would only let Megatron have one more thing that he wanted. He wasn't prepared to let that happen.

It seemed though, Megatron was gaining the upper hand. A well aimed fusion cannon blast nailed Prime in the shin. Staggering back wards, Prime collapsed to his knees, clutching at the injury. One of the smaller Autobots saw this and ran to his leader's aid, firing upon the larger silver mech. Megatron, distracted by the little red Cliffjumper, didn't notice Optimus limp his way to his own rifle that was lying in the dirt only a quick sprint away. The Decepticon managed to repel the pesky Autobot, turning his weapon towards Prime's retreating back. One shot and the semi would be down for good.

Panicked, Starscream could see no other option but to try and save Prime. His thrusters kicked to life as he dove down from the cloud banks towards the red and blue Autobot at an angle that would hopefully push themselves further from Megatron's line of fire. Cursing himself his stupidity, and cursing the Autobot for making him so heroic and reckless, Starscream braced himself for impact.

Megatron heard the familiar sound of the seeker's engines approaching from behind. He looked up just in time to see his air commander dive overhead in a red and white streak, tackling the Autobot general to the ground. He could only watch as the two mech's bounced along the dirt in a tangle of limbs and wings, skidding a fair distance away from where the Prime had been a target only a second ago.

"Starscream!" The silver tyrant bellowed angrily, as he had had a clear shot that was now ruined. "What are you doing!?"

The seeker couldn't answer. He was busy wrestling the Autobot, who thrashed in a blind rage against his unidentified enemy. Now that Prime had him marked as a hostel, his plan to spare the semi harm had backfired and threatened to scrap him. Optimus was injured and loosing steam fast, but Starscream still had to put up a decent fight to defend himself. Not wanting to hurt the mech even more, the jet tried to restrain him, suffering blow after blow from the red and blue mech's iron fists as they swung out at him. He had no choice but to strike back at maddened bot.

The Decepticon general watched as his second in command managed to pin Optimus to the dirt. Believing that Starscream was attempting to aid him in capturing Prime, he grinned in triumph as the seeker locked his servos and raised them high above his head, ready to bring them down with enough force upon the struggling Autobot to surely knock him senseless. But then something happened that he had not been expecting. Prime suddenly let up his assault, causing Starscream to hesitate the final blow. The two stared at each other for a moment as if finally seeing each other clearly. Megatron felt his spark clench in a strange, sickening way as the Autobot's servos fell soundlessly against the seeker's narrow waist, a look of utter awe in his blue optics. Starscream's determined expression falling to something just short of relief as Optimus' palms ran smoothly up his sides. The Decepticon drew a shaky vent of air as he realized that the jet was reluctant to strike. His core twisting, disturbed, at the unspoken intimacy that passed between two.

The scene didn't last long as the promised Autobot reinforcements showed up just in time. A well aimed shot from Prowl nailed the seeker in the shoulder and he fell backwards and off of Prime with a cry. He quickly transformed and flew off leaving Megatron, stunned and horrified at what he had witnessed, alone as the army of Autobot's surrounded the area. He had no choice but to order a retreat.

Prime managed to sit up in time to see Prowl approach him, willing to help him back to his pedes. His optics searched the skies wildly for the seeker, his spark beating furiously in his chest as he realized that he had nearly scrapped the very mech he wanted to save.

"They're gone, Prime." Prowl placed his hands on Optimus' shoulders, trying to calm the mech down.

Snapping out of it, the semi looked blankly at his friend. "Oh." He managed to gasp.

Fatigue suddenly took hold of him as he collapsed into the strategist with a sigh. His buzzing audios barely heard the black and white mech shout for a medic before he slipped into stasis.