Unknown Territory (TFP)

37.

The Autobot leader protruded his blade, ready to end his arch nemesis's life. Optimus let out a war cry as he dropped his blade right into Megatron's chestplate, only to be stopped by the silver mech's servos. The Decepticon leader chuckled darkly as power rushed within him. Snapping the blade, he rammed the broken blade into Optimus's shoulder cables, making the Prime cried out in pain before getting kicked across the volcano field.

Optimus took out the blade weakly as he groaned in pain, staring at the volcano in disbelieve as he watched Dark Energon spewing instead of magma.

"How is this possible...?"

---

Back at the Autobot's base.

Ioa's optics snapped open as she ripped the IV drip from her servos, glitching between Shadowglyde and Lightblade while struggling off the berth, only to be held down again by Ratchet, who was getting worried about the femme's mental health.

"STAY DOWN FOR THE LOVE OF PRIMUS!" He ordered as Bulkhead came to help, holding the femme's peds as she tries to thrash around.

"OPtiMUs! We NEEd TO SaVE HiM!" Ioa cried out, resulting in the two bots loosening their grip on her. The femme's eyes were glowing dangerous indigo as she spoke, her voice glitching as she jumped between Lightblade and Shadowglyde.

"GeT hIs COOrdiNAteS! We HavE TO GeT HIM OuT oF THeRE, NoW!" Ioa roared, sending the message clear to the Autobot CMO. Ratchet quickly locked onto to their leader's coordinates, only to realise Ioa was once again, correct.

Optimus was in grave danger.

---

Optimus was about to be offlined when a groundbridge opened, the green wrecker tackled the warlord, wrestling with him as Arcee and Ratchet dragged the injured leader into the groundbridge. Bulkhead rushed into the groundbridge before it closes, leaving a furious Megatron behind.

Back at base, Optimus was sent to the berth next to Ioa, which he then realised she was glitching uncontrollably, her senses still running wild as she tries to calm herself from the agonising torture. His gaze was locked onto her until Miss June's words rang in his audials, making him turn his attention to the human lady.

 Precisely, an angry human lady.

"He's lucky to be alive." she snapped. The leader expressed his sadness towards the child's accident.

"June, it deeply grieves me that I have failed. But I will do everything in my power to ensure that no harm comes to our human friends or any human ever again." Optimus said, guilt laced in his tones as he spoke.

But Miss June was having none of it.

"Optimus...they're children. They do not belong in your world. They should be worrying about grades, prom dates, pimples—not their own survival!" she fought back, not wanting the children to be expose to danger anymore. She decided to take Raf away, while calling the rest of the human child to follow.

Miko fought back, saying that Miss June is not her parent and therefore she would not listen. Jack was called next, but to everyone's surprise, he refused. Miss June was disheartened and was about to drive off, when Ioa tries to put her two cents worth in.

"I-It's not wise for you to go out there... The cons might b-be out... please stay Miss June..." Ioa softly pleaded, her body aching but she refuses to give in, sitting up straight to look at June.

The human mother is still resilient though.

"Look at you! You're made of metal and much stronger than us, yet you are hurt! What gives us humans any chance in this?! We are leaving and that's final!" she snapped before getting into her car and drove off.

"Bumblebee... follow her, if you please." Ioa said. She stood up, wobbling but was able to now stand. Ratchet was about to hold her down again when Agent Fowler contacted them, describing the situation outside.

In short, it was chaos.

Bumblebee needed no more convincing as he put metal to the pedal, speeding to chase after his friend.

Ioa weakily limped towards Optimus, before taking a seat next to him. She took his servos as she wanted to heal him, only for the leader to pull away from her.

"You need to conserve your energy Ioa, I will be okay."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I said no." was what Ioa said before snatching the Prime's servos and healed him quickly. The wounds on his shoulders closed as he felt rejuvenated. Ioa gave him a sad smile before whispering in his audials.

"I'm always going to defy your orders if it means that I get to save another life."

The leader only sighed as he watched Ioa stood up, only for her to sit back down as the helmache returned, causing her to shed coolants again as she cradled her helm.

"Bumblebee! SAVE THEM!" Ioa begged, optics closed as her body glowed blue. She raised one servo in the air and next thing everyone knew, they saw a footage of Bumblebee saving Raf and June from the tornado. Everyone was relieved when they saw the yellow bot managed to get away from there with June and Raf as he drove back to base.

Said bot came in just as the footage disappear, Ioa panting vehemently as she tries to stabilise herself.

'Damn this...'

"Stay strong Light. We can do this, together." Shadowglyde said in pain through the bonds, comforting the pained femme.

Ioa slowly raised her helm to see June and Raf back. She gave them a soft smile before changing it into a sad one.

"Forgive me everyone, but I think I'm in need of a recharge." Was Ioa's last words before she shut down, Ratchet rushed to her aid as the unresponsive femme went into stasus mode. 

A/N: ANNDDDD CUT! CLIFFHANGER YALLLLL CUS ME IS SAD

Okay soooo Optimus and Ioa is still bickering like an old couple aasffffhfhdfd god y'all get a room!

This chapter was kinda hard to write because idk for some reason I felt pain when I described Ioa's screeching, it kinda hit close to home, and that's why I put a trigger warning, just in case.

All in all, I do hope you enjoy this chapter and as always, thank you for reading, commenting and voting! Please stay safe and healthy everyone! Enigma signing out!