Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ Fragments of Memory ❯ Resisting Oppression ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10: Resisting Oppression

 

Optimus Prime lay sleeping in his dark room. He had forced himself into stasis to prepare for the following day, shutting down his busy thoughts. They all knew that Starscream's machine to change the girl was ready. What he had threatened them with all those years ago must be done, otherwise the Decepticons wouldn't come out of the woodworks. Prime was uneasy. Megatron was a predictable opponent, always attacking when he wanted to, with as much force as possible. The transformer's power had been so great that he relied on his strength alone to carry his mission. Starscream was a much different enemy; preferring to strike when the time was precisely correct, using intelligence and stealth. Bumblebee would be absolutely crucial to the Autobot resistance, and it was he that Prime awoke to creeping through the doorway. Prime's motion sensors booted him out of rest as his one good ocular lit.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a whisper, not wanting to wake his slumbering troops.

“I have a favor to ask you, Optimus.” The use of his first name had an effect not lost on the smaller Autobot. Prime sat up and leaned forward, hands on his knees.

“Anything, Bumblebee. I know I was hard on you earlier.” Prime squinted; his night vision was still not the same as it had been. Bumblebee shut the door behind him and the thin crack of light disappeared, rendering Prime mostly blind.

“I want my shard of the Allspark back.” Whatever it was the boy wanted Prime didn't think it would be this.

 

 

“I will give it back to you, then.” He said, knowing the fragment wasn't his to retain. He swore to himself long ago that a mere request would return it to its rightful keeper.

“I just…I want to keep it with me to remind myself that I'm fighting for something larger than myself.” Bumblebee offered, a little taken back that Prime had agreed so readily.

“I understand.” He opened his chest; his life's light flooding the small room, and plucked the Allspark fragment from its place. Prime placed it in Bumblebee's outstretched palm. Bumblebee placed it in his own chest, closing the armor around his delicate inner workings quickly. Prime caught his arm as Bumblebee turned to leave.

“I'm sorry.” He said.

“So am I.” Bumblebee said, his voice sounding very odd. Prime had never heard it quiver so. A hand clasped over his, which was still clutching the young Autobot's arm. It was Bumblebee's other hand. Prime looked up, the room still awash in blue light from his life-light. He noticed the scratch through the insignia on Bumblebee's brow a moment too late as his arm was suddenly snapped. Bumblebee caught him as he pulled away in reaction and smothered Prime's howl with an elbow to an unguarded face. The larger transformer grunted and struck out in defense, catching Bumblebee's shoulder, flinging him against the wall. The steel crumpled as Bumblebee braced himself and catapulted into Prime's open chest. Bumblebee's head caught the corner of the open armor and Prime shot several rounds into him, panicking as Bumblebee's weapons got closer to his internal processor. What was going on? He backed up several feet when Bumblebee squealed in pain, one of the bullets striking his neck. Primus, the boy was just having a fit for losing his love, and he had gone and shot him! A kindly word was lost as Bumblebee leapt from his defensive crouch and his fist connected directly with Prime's inner workings. Prime blacked out from the blow and Bumblebee left the room as if nothing had happened.

 

The other Autobots were woken not by the sunrise, as it was coated in dark clouds, but by the horrible sounds of gunfire. Bumblebee walked floor to floor, blasting and shooting everything he had worked so hard to build. The medic's station was blown apart, the deactivated Decepticon's body tumbling uselessly. The newly organized intelligence room was decimated, computers and tracking equipment melted and mottled with bullet holes. Ironhide flew to his door and yanked it open, cannons ready for an assault of Decepticons. What he saw shook the warrior to his core. His guns drooped uselessly to the side. Bluestreak ran up to Ironhide, Wheeljack and Hot Rod not far behind. Ratchet poked his head out sleepily.

“Whas goin' on?” he asked, speech slurred from rising out of a deep stasis.

“Bumblebee…” was all Ironhide could say. The yellow transformer glared down on them from the top floor of the base.

“Anyone who denies me love will be my enemy.” He seethed. The Autobots dove for cover in Ironhide's room as Bumblebee released a barrage of missiles at them. He walked calmly outside and treated their headquarters to several well placed plasma blasts. A trail of smoke and a fast-crumpling structure were left behind as Bumblebee strode out to Arianna.

 

She woke up suddenly, sitting up so fast she clunked her head on the tree behind her.

“Augh-!” was all that Arianna got out before she fell silent at what was before her. Bumblebee stood above her, his oculars were flat and unresponsive.

“Bee? What's wrong?” Silence. She stood and brushed herself off.

“I know you're going to gather intelligence today with Bluestreak but I don't want you to leave like this…you could be gone for a long time.” Arianna said, crossing her arms over her chest. He ignored her and glanced at the heaping remains of the base. When Arianna followed his gaze she gave a small cry of shock. The Autobots were struggling to lift a still unconscious Optimus Prime out of the rubble and Bluestreak spotted Bumblebee first.

“What the HELL?” the Datsun Coupe yelled, his arms thrown wide in question.

Bumblebee made sure they all had turned and were watching as he swept a hand across Arianna, knocking her several feet and enticing a yelp of pain.

“Oh Primus!” Wheeljack cried.

“He's deflected.” Ironhide said his voice dead and grim.

“No!” most of them cried in unison.

Bumblebee picked up Arianna quite roughly.

“If I cannot have her, then no one can. I'll hand her to the Decepticons and destroy us all.” He growled.

“Oh my God, BEE?!” Arianna cried. Bumblebee did not spare her a look as transformed and she ended up in his backseat. The locks flew down and trapped her in, and she pounded her fists on the cool glass. The Autobots were frozen in despair as their former brother sped away, carrying the end of them all into Decepticon hands.