Find Me (You Saved Me Series Book 3)

They Know

The Autobots and humans walk discouragingly through the ground bridge. All hope for Cybertrons rebirth has been squandered. Heads drooping, eyes staring down at the floor. Ratchet turns from the screen and watches the group walk in. This wasn't the return he was hoping for. 

"Shelby? The children? What happened?" He asks as he spots the humans walking in. 

Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee set the pods down, ignoring Ratchet. The group still trying to understand what happened themselves. They release the children from their containment, before regrouping. Hot Rod sets Shelby on the floor and she releases her suit. She doesn't dare look up at Ratchet. She knew this was going to happen, trying hard to stop it, and there was nothing she could do. A pain shoots through her arm, as she forgot it was broken. The suit helped keep it together and let her do her job, but now something worse was coming.

"Somebody say something," Ratchet barks, wanting answers. 

"Optimus... destroyed the Omega lock." Bulkhead finally gives the doctor the news. 

"What? You did what...?" Ratchet holds back a cry. 

"What was necessary." Optimus interrupts. "There was no time for another prolonged battle. Not with Earth in imminent danger."

"So, you destroyed the only device capable of restoring our home...Optimus we needed that." Ratchet is barely able to get the words out. 

"You weren't their Doc." Smokescreen starts, stepping in front of Optimus. 

"Smokescreen." Shelby stops him and walks forward, "Ratchet I know you are upset, and I know things probably could have gone differently, but we have a more pressing matter to attend too."

"What could be more important than the fact that Optimus just ruined our chances of going home?!?" Ratchet roars, his servos curled into fists. 

"I need to go up top. I need to see if they were able to create Darkmount." Shelby says, "And you need to be ready to bridge everyone out of here. If we are lucky Darkmount wasn't created, but the Cons still know our location and we need to get to the new location." 

"You knew this was going to happen. Why didn't you stop it? Why would you let Optimus destroy it? You let this..." Ratchet points a finger at her, yelling at her. 

"Don't you dare!" Dreadwing growled, getting in between them, "She risked her life to save not only Earth but tried to save Cybertron as well. We also know this is not the end. Shelby told us how Megatron rebuilds the Omega lock. We can still revive Cyberton."

"We had a chance now! Now we have to wait even longer." Ratchet rants, throwing his hands in the air. 

"We don't have time to argue about this!" Shelby roars over him, her chest heaving. 

She doesn't wait for him to answer and walks up the stairs and into the elevator to go up. Holding her arm close as she goes. Dreadwing and the others slowly follow. They reach the top and the hatch opens, dark clouds hang over, then sun beating down through a few openings. As the elevator stops moving, a space bridge opens up in the distance. 

"Well, he didn't get to create Darkmount, so that's a plus, but we need to leave now. Optimus, we discussed the plan for this. We need to act now. We don't have a lot of time." Shelby says, staring at the Nemisis closing in. 

"What plan?" Arcee's eyes wide as she asks. 

"The Extraction plan. Everyone needs to get to the new base." Shelby answers, not sparing her a glance.

"What new base?" Bulkhead asks this time.

"It doesn't matter now. Now we need to escape. It can be explained later." Shelby tries not to sound frustrated. 

The elevator starts lowering back into base. All the Autobots, besides Optimus and Dreadwing are confused. For they had no idea about this plan. Fowler and Ratchet had also been in on the idea. It was meant to be a secret, one they hoped they weren't going to have to reveal. They didn't want anyone getting captured and possibly revealing the plan. The only way for that to work was to keep it hush hush. Now it was time to put it into action. 

"They are going to demolish the base, but someone will have to stay back and destroy the groundbridge so that the cons can't use it to get us to our new location." Shelby explains as they hit the ground. "Ratchet open the ground bridge to the new base. Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee get the children on the other side. The rest of you follow right after. Optimus you too. Dreadwing, you as well." 

"What about destroying the ground bridge?" Hot Rod asks, not liking where this is going.

"You are not staying back." Dreadwing already knew what she planned to say. 

"We need Optimus alive, and we know what happens after everyone leaves base." She insists. 

"I won't allow you to risk your life anymore. You and Dreadwing will leave as well." Optimus orders. 

"We don't have time to argue!" She raises her voice, "I am staying. Everyone through the ground bridge now!" 

The ground shakes as the Decepticon war ships approaches. Most of the Autobots are already through the ground bridge. Hot Rod hesitates, Shelby sends him a glare, and he walks backward before rushing through the bridge. 

"Please, Optimus, Dreadwing, go. Save the planet. Save your world." She pleads. 

"I can't let you die." Dreadwing cries out.

"I love you, Dreadwing." She releases her suit and give Dreadwing a push. 

"I love you, too." He then turns to run through the bridge, looking back one more time to say goodbye. 

"Optimus, please for once don't be concerned about a human. Save your Autobots. They need you." She looks up at the Leader. She flips helmet over her head and the visor comes down covering her face. 

"I can't allow one human life to die if there is a way I can save them." Optimus doesn't move from his spot.

"The Cons are about to blow this place up. You need to leave. I have lived my life. I may not be able to save those who I lost, but I can save your life. This time around, Smokescreen will not be able to bring you back. Especially since Darkmount isn't here and the Cons will leave after digging around the place to find our bodies. I am not taking that risk. I will shoot you through the ground bridge if I have too. Ratchet will be able to patch you up." She ties to reason. She brings her blaster up, pointing it at him and moving into position if she should have to resort to this. 

"You will not be forgotten." Optimus understands now and slowly backs into the ground bridge. She only nods in response.

As soon as he is through, she closes the path to freedom. A lone tear rolls down her eye as she stares up around her home. She brings her blaster up and with a war cry she shoots the computer. She destroys it, shooting until a large blast comes caving down on her. The ground shakes and concrete falls to the ground. She loses her footing as the base crumbles. Fire erupts around her, encasing her. 

"I'm sorry." She whispers, her eyes closing, waiting for the end. 

The war ship sends another few blasts onto the base, sealing the deal.