Transformers: Of Bots and Men

Processor Over Matter

"Hand over my virus-ridden comrade, Autobots." Starscream ordered.

"And let you erase the last trace of my organic friend?" Ratchet balked. "Not on your spark."

"You know, I was hoping you'd say that." Starscream grinned.

Starscream and the vehicons unleashed a volley of laser fire on the bots, Optimus and Ironhide returning fire. Ratchet led Massacre behind a building as the blaster fire went wild.

Ironhide spun his cannons before letting loose on the Decepticons. One by one, the Vehicons hit the ground, but continued to pour in to aid Starscream. Seeing no end to the onslaught of enemies, Optimus made a decision.

"Jazz, we need a Groundbridge." he declared into his

"On its way!" Jazz replied.

"Prime, you sure bringing her back to Iacon is a good idea?" Ironhide questioned, glancing back at the building where Ratchet and Massacre were crouched.

"We don't have choice." Optimus replied. "We're outnumbered here."

The swirling green portal returned, appearing behind Ratchet and Massacre.

"Autobots, fall back!" Optimus ordered.

Ratchet grabbed Massacre's arm, pulling her towards the portal urgently. She stumbled after him, looking back at Ironhide and Optimus. She didn't have long before she was pulled into the swirling mass of light. Once they were through, both Optimus and Ironhide followed suit, keeping their backs to the portals and their guns firing at the vehicons and Starscream.

"Don't let them escape!" Starscream howled.

"Too late, Decepticon!" Ironhide shouted back.

Together, he and Optimus disappeared into the portal, the lights closing up seconds before the first Vehicon could touch it. Starscream lowered his gun, a feeling of dread seeping into his spark chamber.

"Scrap." He swore, his voice an octave higher than normal.

...

Ratchet and Massacre appeared on the other end of the Groundbridge, stumbling as they did. Ratchet managed to steady himself easily, used to traveling via Groundbridge to aid fallen bots. Massacre, who'd never traveled through one before, promptly landed on her face. Before she could get up, every bot in the control room had their weapons up, aimed right at her.

"Put it in neutral, Massacre." Jazz ordered.

Massacre looked up nervously, remaining on the ground with her hands planted firmly in front of her. Ratchet stepped in between his fellow bots and Massacre.

"There's no need for that." He assured them. "She doesn't mean us any harm."

"Ratchet, have you blown a fuse?!" Arcee exclaimed, her optic sensors never leaving Massacre's frozen form. "That's Massacre, Megatron's second in command! Do you not remember how many bots she's terminated, the amount of Energon she has on her servos?!"

About that time, Optimus and Ironhide appeared in the Groundbridge, the portal closing behind them.

"Everybody, stand down." Optimus ordered.

"Optimus," Arcee sputtered, "you can't be-"

"I said stand down, Arcee." Optimus interrupted.

Arcee paused, the reluctantly stepped back, though her weapons remained trained on Massacre. She was not the only one who remained wary of the Decepticon, but none of them seemed actively prepared to attack. Optimus knew this would be the closest he would get to getting them to back down and decided to proceed.