Chapter 15
Cave_Canem
Giant Transforming Robot
I grumbled to myself as the Energon was poured into my open mouth. They still weren't removing the muzzle, so I couldn't even lap it up properly.
So here I was instead being fed like some helpless pup or sparkling. But... I needed the Energon to let my self repair work, so I just had to put up with it. My right foreleg was still twinging occasionally after I landed on it awkwardly from that last big shock, and my comms system should hopefully be fixed soon too.
And… I wanted to be mad at this Vehicon for going along with it, but… call it deep-seated instincts, or just not wanting to alienate the one 'ally' I had right now, I couldn't bring myself to do so.
Was… Was this how you got some Beastformers just accepting being pets? I-I don't want to get like that, but… I don't want to keep being hurt either…
But now I'd thought of it, I couldn't help thinking that assigning two such completely opposite Vehicons to guard me was intentional, to force me to look to the 'good' one to protect me. And if Soundwave finished whatever he was working on, or Megatron decided to try his hand at the Cortical Psychic Patch…
… Ravage, please come soon...
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Ravage watched her instruments carefully she she flew in a clear search pattern, "Come on, I'm right here, just a little oblivious kitty cat..." She said quietly, "You know you want to..."
The proximity sensors blared out a warning at the same time as the controls suddenly shifted, the Nemesis' flight deck computer taking control of the craft's autopilot through a back door she had 'missed' while the warship flew in above her. Clearly they meant to surround and capture her the instant she landed.
Waiting until the fighter passed beneath the Warship, Ravage triggered the manual release for the cockpit window, then for the ejection seat.
The ejection mechanism launched her straight up, and Ravage fought her instincts for a moment to orient herself upside down and run her magclamps to full power as her paws hit the underside of the ship, even as the now empty fighter continued on towards the hangar, systems already in stealth mode as she made her way to a maintenance hatch.
Now, she could try to hack it, or simply short out its control circuit, but long experience told her that competent enemies usually had someone watching for unauthorised openings or damage reports. Soundwave was nothing if not competent at his task. Even if he was likely busy as the only mech that could decode the Relic Data fast enough to keep up with Orion, she'd bet on him having subroutines set up to alert him to that kind of intrusion.
But maintenance hatches were there for a reason, and it was much harder to track someone when they were making use of authorised openings. Ravage settled herself into position 'behind' the hatch way in low power mode.
Every circuit of her being longed to rush out and damn any who stood in her way, but it was her patience and focus that had always given her the best results.
Sure enough, a few doors later a Vehicon emerged from the hatchway carrying a toolkit, Ravage slipping inside just as it closed followed by diving into a maintenance/ventilation duct. She didn't dare connect to any networks or try to get a signal out, but she had an inkling of where her target was likely to be held...
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The Vehicons had mostly left me alone after my… 'feeding', and I'd taken to curling up as far in the corner as the chain leash would allow me to move.
Partly because the slightly darker spot was actually more comfortable for me… Partly because it let me turn away from the door enough to start trying to cut through the chain with my claws. More to feel like I was doing something than any expectation it would work.
I hadn't made much progress, beyond my pedes starting to ache and the claws wearing down more than they already were. Ravage could have sliced through the chain by now, with those wild claws of hers. Without my weaponry, I… Wasn't quite so capable as that. My beastmode was a pet breed, after all. Not a wild predator like a Cougaraider.
Not to say I didn't enjoy hunting some smaller mechanimals, and I generally liked my sleeker frame. But in situations like this, it did have its issues.
My audials twitched as a new sound came over that of my claws quietly scraping against hardened metal, and I went still as I focused on it. It was a soft hum, coming from the ventilation duct. That got slowly louder until I saw a few tendrils of data-cables snake through the cover and carefully remove it.
The unmistakable sound of a small antigravity impeller filled the room as Laserbeak hovered out of the vent, turning his unmoving face to look towards me.
I looked up at the other Minicon nervously, chain clinking slightly as I shifted away from them. Scrap, did Soundwave finish his 'improved' collar already? Had he sent Laserbeak to install it?
Laserbeak hovered in place for a few moments impassively, and it was all I could do to maintain optic contact as my body language parser repeatedly errored out on the unnatural shape, unable to pick up anything of use. It felt… weird. But they hadn't done anything yet…
My self repair had indicated my comms system should be back online again a few Joors after I'd been returned to my cell. I hadn't risked sending any signals yet given I knew none would escape the ship and I didn't want to let them know so they could break it again, but… This felt like it could be worth the risk. At the very least, I so very badly wanted to find out why Laserbeak was like this, and if he was even still Laserbeak.
+Laserbeak?+ I sent a weak, directional comms signal to the other Minicon, using an old code I remembered Ravage teaching me so long ago. One the Recordicons had used among eachother to pass messages and gossip under the Senate's noses.
The 'drone' bobbed up and down slightly in what I tentatively classified as an affirmative.
+Spitfire.+ He responded using the same protocol.
+Did Soundwave send you?+ I asked, hating how weak and fuzzy my voice sounded. I still... wasn't in great shape. My comms array was functional, but it was not happy.
+No.+ The blunt denial brought me up short for a moment, +This is... It's wrong. I... I can't leave Soundwave, he's been... Different, since Rumble and Frenzy were offlined, but I still...+ He twitched and seemingly abandoned that chain of thought, +... I can still help you.+
And before I knew what to make of that, the hidden manipulators and data cables extended from his chassis and quickly and efficiently removed the collar and muzzle via simple expedience of undoing the locks I couldn't reach.
I worked my mouth open and closed a few times, just enjoying the feeling for a moment before I turned back to him. "So, what now?" I asked.
"Yes, what now? I hope you weren't planning on just unleashing poor Spitfire here into the middle of the ship and considering that your good deed for the Orn." Came a voice I had hoped against hope to hear again, as Ravage dropped down out of the vent into the cell, landing almost silently with her customary feline grace.
Only to by immediately tackle-hugged by myself as I yipped and nuzzled into her excitedly, the pain in my foreleg forgotten for the moment, "Ravage! Y-You came!"
"Of course I did, Little Wolf." She replied softly, "I promised didn't I?"
"You did, but I... I just-"Anything else devolved into a happy whine as I reassured myself that this was real, Ravage was Here and it suddenly felt like everything was okay now as I did my best to merge into her plating.
A foreleg wrapped around my backplates and a gentle squeeze came as her response to that, and I belatedly realised that the Cougaraider was maintaining optic contact with Laserbeak still, who had not left.
And I'd just been behaving like an excited cyberdog puppy again.
Bah. Worth it. I couldn't pretend not to be excited to see Ravage again. I closed my optics and just relaxed and enjoyed her presence for a few moments, paying attention only after I realised the vibrations I could feel were the Cougaraider talking again.
"Laserbeak, if you know this is wrong, then come with us." Ravage was saying, "Maybe Ratchet can figure out something for your frame..."
+It's probably too late for that, but… I appreciate the sentiment.+ Laserbeak replied softly, +My old frame was destroyed in the same battle that lost Rumble and Frenzy. And I doubt Ratchet has the components to build a new one. And besides, I can't leave Soundwave. This frame was never designed to have a Cybertronian in it, and Soundwave is the only one with the support components for it. I'm going to try to get through to him, but...+
"I see." Ravage nodded thoughtfully. "… Then thank you. And I wish you luck. Even if I doubt it will work."
+Of course. Now go on. I'll try to stall, give you a head-start.+
I only reluctantly stepped back away from Ravage, but he was right. Inside a cell was not a good place to stay. "Thanks for coming to let me out at least, Laserbeak. I'll make sure to tell everyone you said 'hi'."
Laserbeak's transmission came with a soft chuckle, +You do that. And tell the kid I don't blame him… Too much. That was a smart little program, and I've had worse hack attempts than a worm that doesn't actually cause any damage. As for Ratchet… Well, not so much. But the Wrecker's plan was to just blow me up, so I suppose it was preferable.+
"Of course." I nodded before Ravage and I mag-clamped our way back up to the ventilation duct and inside it, Laserbeak slowly following to replace the vent grating before hovering off in another direction.
Of course, my aching forelimb complained more at the sudden movement and Ravage glanced back as I started limping again, slowing down to keep pace with me, "Spitfire?"
"Just landed awkwardly. I'll be fine." I assured her quietly.
She didn't seem convinced, but didn't push it as we continued moving as stealthily as we could to whatever her destination was. I could just ask, but… I winced as another actuator complained. Focusing on keeping moving was more important for now.
The alarms finally going off as they noticed I was missing came shortly afterward, and I focused more on keeping pace.
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A few Astrominutes later we were peering out of a closed vent at the squad of Vehicons that were guarding the obvious means of exit.
"Ravage, I don't think I'll be much help in a fight right now…" I said quietly. My bad leg was worse now than it had been when I was last fed, and trying to aim on three legs was… iffy, at best. "And that's a lot of Vehicons even for you."
"Don't worry, they're about to have a much bigger problem to deal with." Ravage replied, "One last gift from my ship." She added, bittersweet but with a hint of viciousness as my comms system picked up a brief databurst from her own...
Followed by a distant explosion and the whole ship shuddering as entirely different alarms started sounding.
"Energon fire in main hangar bay! All crew report to firefighting stations!" The intercom sounded out, as most of the Vehicons raced to contain the inferno currently spreading through their hangar bay.
It wasn't like the Vehicons, even the flyers, lived in the hangar, but it was still a space with a large Energon buffer tank and munitions storage for rapid refuelling and rearming of combat sorties. Not that they really did that much anymore, but the Nemesis had been designed back when carrier operations were an important consideration.
In this case, it meant the Vehicons that had earlier been ordered to block any way out now had to choose between that, or risk letting an Energon fire blow up half the ship when it reached the tanks, most of the Vehicons rushing off to their new positions.
Ravage just looked unbearably pleased with herself as she smiled at me, "Now we should be able to get past them. Can you run?"
I tried putting my weight on my right foreleg again and shook my helm, "Ngh... Sorry, think I'd just slow you down..."
She just lay down next to me and tossed her head back, "Then climb on and hold on tight."
So I climbed onto her back and tucked myself as low and small as possible while keeping the magclamps on my paws in contact. Loafing was a lot less fun when you were trying to avoid compromising your partner as they carried you away.
Once I was in position Ravage burst out of the vents and gunned down the two remaining Vehicons before rushing into the row of escape pods.
"Which one are we taking?" I asked quickly.
"We're not taking a pod." Ravage shook her helm, "They'd all have trackers on them, just like Smokescreen's did."
I paused, "Then... why did we go here?"
"So that I can do this." Ravage said, sweeping her forepaws across a control panel to launch all the escape pods in this set to random coordinates, "That should keep them guessing. Now we leave." She said, turning towards the doorway…
Which opened to reveal Soundwave.
"Scrap, change of plan!" Ravage shouted, skidding to a stop just short of where a heavy data cable slammed into the deck plating and running back to the escape pod launchers.
The now empty escape pod launchers.
"Uh... Ravage, neither of us can fly..." I pointed out nervously as she slammed a paw on the manual override to open the inner doors.
"We're over water, we'll survive. And its either this or both of us getting caught." Ravage said quickly, darting into the launch tube just ahead of a grasping cable and slamming the inner door shut on the other mech, the communications officer immediately grabbing the two halves of the door and starting to force them open again. Another couple Astroseconds and he would have enough free space to zap us with his data-cable tendrils.
… I couldn't go back. Not again.
"Do it."
Ravage rammed her own data cable tail into the control console and forced the outer hatch to open, and then we were gone, my optics catching an almost-desperate extension of Soundwave's Data-Cables as he finally forced the doors open and stretched his arms out towards us.
Then we hit the atmosphere outside of the Nemesis' shields and the ship and Soundwave were suddenly retreating figures in the distance, the air resistance feeling like getting punched in the chest again as Ravage shifted to keep us upright and I felt her plating warm slightly as every one of her E-War and jamming suites ran to full power to avoid Soundwave GroundBridging us back in.
Attempting to ping the Autobot comms network got no response, but I queued up a message to send as soon as my systems registered a connection again.
"Ravage…" I said quietly, as the water started getting closer, "If you have some kind of parachute or antigravity gadget, now would be the time…"
"Sorry, no luck there." She said quietly, "Stay on my back. When we hit, I should absorb most of the impact."
"W-ha- Ravage, you can't-!"
"I'm improvising. Just… promise me, okay? I'm sorry if this doesn't work out. But I couldn't leave you with Megatron again. If this is the price…"
She knew the impact might kill her. And she'd jumped anyway, because otherwise Soundwave would have had us.
"… I promise." I said quietly. Because what else could I do now? But I felt sick, and not just because of very firmly land-bound systems complaining about my current state.
The water came rushing up all at once, and everything went black.
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I came back online feeling like I'd been punted into another wall, opening my optics slowly and trying to blink away the condensation… Only to freeze as I realised it was inside the lenses.
'Oh, that's not good.' Water wasn't usually much of a threat to a Cybertronian, we didn't exactly need to breathe after all – but if your seals were compromised and it actually got inside you…
And then my memory bank fully rebooted and I stifled a scream as I realised the hard surface I was standing on was Ravage, her frame dented and cold even as I could see bubbles escaping from compromised seals and her optics were dark. But… She wasn't greying.
And… My navigation system had gotten a few seconds of GPS signal just before the impact. It wasn't much, but… Land should be… This way.
Ignoring the aches and twinges in my own frame, I bent down to start dragging the other Minicon towards the nearest island. I had to force myself to use my bad forelimb, the actuator shuddering and complaining as I forced myself to put weight on it, but I wasn't leaving her.
I couldn't. I wouldn't just leave her to rust.
Walking backwards as my mouth firmly clamped onto Ravage's tail, I forced myself to move, relying on my secondary sensors to warn me of many obstacles. Just keep moving. One paw in front of the other. Don't stop. Never stop. Keep Moving.
One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four.
Not long after I'd started, my optics finally shorted out, but vibrational and auditory sensors gave me enough to keep moving, and my inertial guidance was still working after that original GPS fix. Keep moving.
One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four.
Extraneous systems powered down as my systems tried to preserve warmth and power for my core. It was fine. I could keep moving.
Water intrusion sensors were going off in my other actuators now. It was displacing the oil from the joints, removing precious lubrication and risking a short. I overrode the circuit breakers. I had to keep moving, no matter what. Get to dry ground, get in contact with… Somebody. Get Ratchet. Ravage needed me.
Get to Dry Ground. Keep Moving. Don't Stop. Stopping is death. One paw, then the other.
The last of my external sensors failed. But my inertial guidance was still running, and my limbs could still move. Disable pain receptors. Keep moving. There is nothing but where I am, and where I must be.
I am dragging something. It is slowing me down, but it is important. Keep moving. Do not let go. Divert all non-critical power to locomotion and navigation systems. Set remaining systems to extreme power saving. I don't remember why I am moving, but it is important. Move to set coordinates. Do not let go. Do not Stop.
Photovoltaic panels registering light input. Inertial guidance now indicates 300 metres from destination.
250
Right forelimb has ceased movement. Disable connections and divert power to remaining systems.
I kept moving, now dragging a seized limb as well as my cargo. What small fraction of my navigation systems was left told me that dropping the load would increase my chances of reaching land by fifty percent… But some deep part of my refused. It was… Important. I couldn't remember why, but bringing it to shore was the only thing that mattered right now. Keep holding on. Keep Moving.
200
150
100 metres. A jolt of electricity arced across the control lines for both rear limbs as a seal failed, both legs becoming little more than dead weight.
Keep Moving. Adjust movement to account for remaining limb. Dragging forward, but the surface is getting finer, the remaining forelimb pushing it to the side instead of moving me further. My photovoltaics were starting to feed power back into my systems as more light started filtering through, bringing my processor partially out of emergency survival mode.
No…
75 Metres. Extreme Energon contamination detected due to water ingress. Power systems failing.
I was… So Close…
My last remaining method of movement went still 61 metres from shore. I couldn't even see if we were actually there, or if my inertial guidance was damaged and we'd been walking in circles. Autonomic systems diverting power from my photovoltaics to keep my processor running even as my Energon pump started to stutter. I remembered… 'I'm… Sorry, Ravage. I tried…'
[POWER SYSTEM FAILURE. SYSTEMS OFFLINE]
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"Servo, fetch!" A blond haired young teen shouted, throwing a metal disc across the beach as the robotic dog barked happily and ran across to catch it, stubby tail wagging happily as it turned to bring the toy back to the boy… Only to freeze and drop it, suddenly looking intently towards the sea waves.
Cody ran over to the Cyberdog, "Servo? What is it boy?"
Servo barked quickly and ran off into the surf, grabbing something and trying to haul it back towards shore. Like… Like he did during a Rescue!
Cody pulled out his communicator, "Dad, Servo's found something on the Eastern beach, I think you should come take a look at this."
The greying chief of police replied quickly, "We'll be there as soon as we can son."
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EDIT 15/08/2024: Edited the escape pod scene to flow better and include a moment of reaction from Soundwave. Edited the underwater section to mention why Spitfire remembers Ravage at the end and removed an earlier mention before it made sense.
So here I was instead being fed like some helpless pup or sparkling. But... I needed the Energon to let my self repair work, so I just had to put up with it. My right foreleg was still twinging occasionally after I landed on it awkwardly from that last big shock, and my comms system should hopefully be fixed soon too.
And… I wanted to be mad at this Vehicon for going along with it, but… call it deep-seated instincts, or just not wanting to alienate the one 'ally' I had right now, I couldn't bring myself to do so.
Was… Was this how you got some Beastformers just accepting being pets? I-I don't want to get like that, but… I don't want to keep being hurt either…
But now I'd thought of it, I couldn't help thinking that assigning two such completely opposite Vehicons to guard me was intentional, to force me to look to the 'good' one to protect me. And if Soundwave finished whatever he was working on, or Megatron decided to try his hand at the Cortical Psychic Patch…
… Ravage, please come soon...
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Ravage watched her instruments carefully she she flew in a clear search pattern, "Come on, I'm right here, just a little oblivious kitty cat..." She said quietly, "You know you want to..."
The proximity sensors blared out a warning at the same time as the controls suddenly shifted, the Nemesis' flight deck computer taking control of the craft's autopilot through a back door she had 'missed' while the warship flew in above her. Clearly they meant to surround and capture her the instant she landed.
Waiting until the fighter passed beneath the Warship, Ravage triggered the manual release for the cockpit window, then for the ejection seat.
The ejection mechanism launched her straight up, and Ravage fought her instincts for a moment to orient herself upside down and run her magclamps to full power as her paws hit the underside of the ship, even as the now empty fighter continued on towards the hangar, systems already in stealth mode as she made her way to a maintenance hatch.
Now, she could try to hack it, or simply short out its control circuit, but long experience told her that competent enemies usually had someone watching for unauthorised openings or damage reports. Soundwave was nothing if not competent at his task. Even if he was likely busy as the only mech that could decode the Relic Data fast enough to keep up with Orion, she'd bet on him having subroutines set up to alert him to that kind of intrusion.
But maintenance hatches were there for a reason, and it was much harder to track someone when they were making use of authorised openings. Ravage settled herself into position 'behind' the hatch way in low power mode.
Every circuit of her being longed to rush out and damn any who stood in her way, but it was her patience and focus that had always given her the best results.
Sure enough, a few doors later a Vehicon emerged from the hatchway carrying a toolkit, Ravage slipping inside just as it closed followed by diving into a maintenance/ventilation duct. She didn't dare connect to any networks or try to get a signal out, but she had an inkling of where her target was likely to be held...
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The Vehicons had mostly left me alone after my… 'feeding', and I'd taken to curling up as far in the corner as the chain leash would allow me to move.
Partly because the slightly darker spot was actually more comfortable for me… Partly because it let me turn away from the door enough to start trying to cut through the chain with my claws. More to feel like I was doing something than any expectation it would work.
I hadn't made much progress, beyond my pedes starting to ache and the claws wearing down more than they already were. Ravage could have sliced through the chain by now, with those wild claws of hers. Without my weaponry, I… Wasn't quite so capable as that. My beastmode was a pet breed, after all. Not a wild predator like a Cougaraider.
Not to say I didn't enjoy hunting some smaller mechanimals, and I generally liked my sleeker frame. But in situations like this, it did have its issues.
My audials twitched as a new sound came over that of my claws quietly scraping against hardened metal, and I went still as I focused on it. It was a soft hum, coming from the ventilation duct. That got slowly louder until I saw a few tendrils of data-cables snake through the cover and carefully remove it.
The unmistakable sound of a small antigravity impeller filled the room as Laserbeak hovered out of the vent, turning his unmoving face to look towards me.
I looked up at the other Minicon nervously, chain clinking slightly as I shifted away from them. Scrap, did Soundwave finish his 'improved' collar already? Had he sent Laserbeak to install it?
Laserbeak hovered in place for a few moments impassively, and it was all I could do to maintain optic contact as my body language parser repeatedly errored out on the unnatural shape, unable to pick up anything of use. It felt… weird. But they hadn't done anything yet…
My self repair had indicated my comms system should be back online again a few Joors after I'd been returned to my cell. I hadn't risked sending any signals yet given I knew none would escape the ship and I didn't want to let them know so they could break it again, but… This felt like it could be worth the risk. At the very least, I so very badly wanted to find out why Laserbeak was like this, and if he was even still Laserbeak.
+Laserbeak?+ I sent a weak, directional comms signal to the other Minicon, using an old code I remembered Ravage teaching me so long ago. One the Recordicons had used among eachother to pass messages and gossip under the Senate's noses.
The 'drone' bobbed up and down slightly in what I tentatively classified as an affirmative.
+Spitfire.+ He responded using the same protocol.
+Did Soundwave send you?+ I asked, hating how weak and fuzzy my voice sounded. I still... wasn't in great shape. My comms array was functional, but it was not happy.
+No.+ The blunt denial brought me up short for a moment, +This is... It's wrong. I... I can't leave Soundwave, he's been... Different, since Rumble and Frenzy were offlined, but I still...+ He twitched and seemingly abandoned that chain of thought, +... I can still help you.+
And before I knew what to make of that, the hidden manipulators and data cables extended from his chassis and quickly and efficiently removed the collar and muzzle via simple expedience of undoing the locks I couldn't reach.
I worked my mouth open and closed a few times, just enjoying the feeling for a moment before I turned back to him. "So, what now?" I asked.
"Yes, what now? I hope you weren't planning on just unleashing poor Spitfire here into the middle of the ship and considering that your good deed for the Orn." Came a voice I had hoped against hope to hear again, as Ravage dropped down out of the vent into the cell, landing almost silently with her customary feline grace.
Only to by immediately tackle-hugged by myself as I yipped and nuzzled into her excitedly, the pain in my foreleg forgotten for the moment, "Ravage! Y-You came!"
"Of course I did, Little Wolf." She replied softly, "I promised didn't I?"
"You did, but I... I just-"Anything else devolved into a happy whine as I reassured myself that this was real, Ravage was Here and it suddenly felt like everything was okay now as I did my best to merge into her plating.
A foreleg wrapped around my backplates and a gentle squeeze came as her response to that, and I belatedly realised that the Cougaraider was maintaining optic contact with Laserbeak still, who had not left.
And I'd just been behaving like an excited cyberdog puppy again.
Bah. Worth it. I couldn't pretend not to be excited to see Ravage again. I closed my optics and just relaxed and enjoyed her presence for a few moments, paying attention only after I realised the vibrations I could feel were the Cougaraider talking again.
"Laserbeak, if you know this is wrong, then come with us." Ravage was saying, "Maybe Ratchet can figure out something for your frame..."
+It's probably too late for that, but… I appreciate the sentiment.+ Laserbeak replied softly, +My old frame was destroyed in the same battle that lost Rumble and Frenzy. And I doubt Ratchet has the components to build a new one. And besides, I can't leave Soundwave. This frame was never designed to have a Cybertronian in it, and Soundwave is the only one with the support components for it. I'm going to try to get through to him, but...+
"I see." Ravage nodded thoughtfully. "… Then thank you. And I wish you luck. Even if I doubt it will work."
+Of course. Now go on. I'll try to stall, give you a head-start.+
I only reluctantly stepped back away from Ravage, but he was right. Inside a cell was not a good place to stay. "Thanks for coming to let me out at least, Laserbeak. I'll make sure to tell everyone you said 'hi'."
Laserbeak's transmission came with a soft chuckle, +You do that. And tell the kid I don't blame him… Too much. That was a smart little program, and I've had worse hack attempts than a worm that doesn't actually cause any damage. As for Ratchet… Well, not so much. But the Wrecker's plan was to just blow me up, so I suppose it was preferable.+
"Of course." I nodded before Ravage and I mag-clamped our way back up to the ventilation duct and inside it, Laserbeak slowly following to replace the vent grating before hovering off in another direction.
Of course, my aching forelimb complained more at the sudden movement and Ravage glanced back as I started limping again, slowing down to keep pace with me, "Spitfire?"
"Just landed awkwardly. I'll be fine." I assured her quietly.
She didn't seem convinced, but didn't push it as we continued moving as stealthily as we could to whatever her destination was. I could just ask, but… I winced as another actuator complained. Focusing on keeping moving was more important for now.
The alarms finally going off as they noticed I was missing came shortly afterward, and I focused more on keeping pace.
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A few Astrominutes later we were peering out of a closed vent at the squad of Vehicons that were guarding the obvious means of exit.
"Ravage, I don't think I'll be much help in a fight right now…" I said quietly. My bad leg was worse now than it had been when I was last fed, and trying to aim on three legs was… iffy, at best. "And that's a lot of Vehicons even for you."
"Don't worry, they're about to have a much bigger problem to deal with." Ravage replied, "One last gift from my ship." She added, bittersweet but with a hint of viciousness as my comms system picked up a brief databurst from her own...
Followed by a distant explosion and the whole ship shuddering as entirely different alarms started sounding.
"Energon fire in main hangar bay! All crew report to firefighting stations!" The intercom sounded out, as most of the Vehicons raced to contain the inferno currently spreading through their hangar bay.
It wasn't like the Vehicons, even the flyers, lived in the hangar, but it was still a space with a large Energon buffer tank and munitions storage for rapid refuelling and rearming of combat sorties. Not that they really did that much anymore, but the Nemesis had been designed back when carrier operations were an important consideration.
In this case, it meant the Vehicons that had earlier been ordered to block any way out now had to choose between that, or risk letting an Energon fire blow up half the ship when it reached the tanks, most of the Vehicons rushing off to their new positions.
Ravage just looked unbearably pleased with herself as she smiled at me, "Now we should be able to get past them. Can you run?"
I tried putting my weight on my right foreleg again and shook my helm, "Ngh... Sorry, think I'd just slow you down..."
She just lay down next to me and tossed her head back, "Then climb on and hold on tight."
So I climbed onto her back and tucked myself as low and small as possible while keeping the magclamps on my paws in contact. Loafing was a lot less fun when you were trying to avoid compromising your partner as they carried you away.
Once I was in position Ravage burst out of the vents and gunned down the two remaining Vehicons before rushing into the row of escape pods.
"Which one are we taking?" I asked quickly.
"We're not taking a pod." Ravage shook her helm, "They'd all have trackers on them, just like Smokescreen's did."
I paused, "Then... why did we go here?"
"So that I can do this." Ravage said, sweeping her forepaws across a control panel to launch all the escape pods in this set to random coordinates, "That should keep them guessing. Now we leave." She said, turning towards the doorway…
Which opened to reveal Soundwave.
"Scrap, change of plan!" Ravage shouted, skidding to a stop just short of where a heavy data cable slammed into the deck plating and running back to the escape pod launchers.
The now empty escape pod launchers.
"Uh... Ravage, neither of us can fly..." I pointed out nervously as she slammed a paw on the manual override to open the inner doors.
"We're over water, we'll survive. And its either this or both of us getting caught." Ravage said quickly, darting into the launch tube just ahead of a grasping cable and slamming the inner door shut on the other mech, the communications officer immediately grabbing the two halves of the door and starting to force them open again. Another couple Astroseconds and he would have enough free space to zap us with his data-cable tendrils.
… I couldn't go back. Not again.
"Do it."
Ravage rammed her own data cable tail into the control console and forced the outer hatch to open, and then we were gone, my optics catching an almost-desperate extension of Soundwave's Data-Cables as he finally forced the doors open and stretched his arms out towards us.
Then we hit the atmosphere outside of the Nemesis' shields and the ship and Soundwave were suddenly retreating figures in the distance, the air resistance feeling like getting punched in the chest again as Ravage shifted to keep us upright and I felt her plating warm slightly as every one of her E-War and jamming suites ran to full power to avoid Soundwave GroundBridging us back in.
Attempting to ping the Autobot comms network got no response, but I queued up a message to send as soon as my systems registered a connection again.
"Ravage…" I said quietly, as the water started getting closer, "If you have some kind of parachute or antigravity gadget, now would be the time…"
"Sorry, no luck there." She said quietly, "Stay on my back. When we hit, I should absorb most of the impact."
"W-ha- Ravage, you can't-!"
"I'm improvising. Just… promise me, okay? I'm sorry if this doesn't work out. But I couldn't leave you with Megatron again. If this is the price…"
She knew the impact might kill her. And she'd jumped anyway, because otherwise Soundwave would have had us.
"… I promise." I said quietly. Because what else could I do now? But I felt sick, and not just because of very firmly land-bound systems complaining about my current state.
The water came rushing up all at once, and everything went black.
-----------------------------
I came back online feeling like I'd been punted into another wall, opening my optics slowly and trying to blink away the condensation… Only to freeze as I realised it was inside the lenses.
'Oh, that's not good.' Water wasn't usually much of a threat to a Cybertronian, we didn't exactly need to breathe after all – but if your seals were compromised and it actually got inside you…
And then my memory bank fully rebooted and I stifled a scream as I realised the hard surface I was standing on was Ravage, her frame dented and cold even as I could see bubbles escaping from compromised seals and her optics were dark. But… She wasn't greying.
And… My navigation system had gotten a few seconds of GPS signal just before the impact. It wasn't much, but… Land should be… This way.
Ignoring the aches and twinges in my own frame, I bent down to start dragging the other Minicon towards the nearest island. I had to force myself to use my bad forelimb, the actuator shuddering and complaining as I forced myself to put weight on it, but I wasn't leaving her.
I couldn't. I wouldn't just leave her to rust.
Walking backwards as my mouth firmly clamped onto Ravage's tail, I forced myself to move, relying on my secondary sensors to warn me of many obstacles. Just keep moving. One paw in front of the other. Don't stop. Never stop. Keep Moving.
One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four.
Not long after I'd started, my optics finally shorted out, but vibrational and auditory sensors gave me enough to keep moving, and my inertial guidance was still working after that original GPS fix. Keep moving.
One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four. One, Two, Three, Four.
Extraneous systems powered down as my systems tried to preserve warmth and power for my core. It was fine. I could keep moving.
Water intrusion sensors were going off in my other actuators now. It was displacing the oil from the joints, removing precious lubrication and risking a short. I overrode the circuit breakers. I had to keep moving, no matter what. Get to dry ground, get in contact with… Somebody. Get Ratchet. Ravage needed me.
Get to Dry Ground. Keep Moving. Don't Stop. Stopping is death. One paw, then the other.
The last of my external sensors failed. But my inertial guidance was still running, and my limbs could still move. Disable pain receptors. Keep moving. There is nothing but where I am, and where I must be.
I am dragging something. It is slowing me down, but it is important. Keep moving. Do not let go. Divert all non-critical power to locomotion and navigation systems. Set remaining systems to extreme power saving. I don't remember why I am moving, but it is important. Move to set coordinates. Do not let go. Do not Stop.
Photovoltaic panels registering light input. Inertial guidance now indicates 300 metres from destination.
250
Right forelimb has ceased movement. Disable connections and divert power to remaining systems.
I kept moving, now dragging a seized limb as well as my cargo. What small fraction of my navigation systems was left told me that dropping the load would increase my chances of reaching land by fifty percent… But some deep part of my refused. It was… Important. I couldn't remember why, but bringing it to shore was the only thing that mattered right now. Keep holding on. Keep Moving.
200
150
100 metres. A jolt of electricity arced across the control lines for both rear limbs as a seal failed, both legs becoming little more than dead weight.
Keep Moving. Adjust movement to account for remaining limb. Dragging forward, but the surface is getting finer, the remaining forelimb pushing it to the side instead of moving me further. My photovoltaics were starting to feed power back into my systems as more light started filtering through, bringing my processor partially out of emergency survival mode.
No…
75 Metres. Extreme Energon contamination detected due to water ingress. Power systems failing.
I was… So Close…
My last remaining method of movement went still 61 metres from shore. I couldn't even see if we were actually there, or if my inertial guidance was damaged and we'd been walking in circles. Autonomic systems diverting power from my photovoltaics to keep my processor running even as my Energon pump started to stutter. I remembered… 'I'm… Sorry, Ravage. I tried…'
[POWER SYSTEM FAILURE. SYSTEMS OFFLINE]
-----------------
"Servo, fetch!" A blond haired young teen shouted, throwing a metal disc across the beach as the robotic dog barked happily and ran across to catch it, stubby tail wagging happily as it turned to bring the toy back to the boy… Only to freeze and drop it, suddenly looking intently towards the sea waves.
Cody ran over to the Cyberdog, "Servo? What is it boy?"
Servo barked quickly and ran off into the surf, grabbing something and trying to haul it back towards shore. Like… Like he did during a Rescue!
Cody pulled out his communicator, "Dad, Servo's found something on the Eastern beach, I think you should come take a look at this."
The greying chief of police replied quickly, "We'll be there as soon as we can son."
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EDIT 15/08/2024: Edited the escape pod scene to flow better and include a moment of reaction from Soundwave. Edited the underwater section to mention why Spitfire remembers Ravage at the end and removed an earlier mention before it made sense.
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