Get Ready

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"Do not leave base. The cons are going to try breaking into a facility, do not go. Let them take whatever they need. But we need them to take Ratchet though. You know the plan Optimus. I know you will want to save him, but we made a plan for this. Stick to the plan. Ratchet understands the assignment." Shelby orders Prime. 

"I will." Optimus answers over the radio. "Optimus, out."

"You think the cons have any idea what we got planned?" Agent Fowler asks after the radio goes silent. 

"I don't think so, but I'm sure they are very confused on how we are one step ahead of them at all times. I wouldn't be surprised if Megatron is starting to become very reckless. He is moving quicker than before. Already trying to create the Omega lock. We need to be very careful." Shelby explained. 

"Well, we will be pulling into base shortly." Fowler says as base comes into view.

Any type of relaxation Shelby had in her system left the SUV. She sat on the edge of her seat, tensed and ready to fight. Even though she isn't in the right condition to fight. Still licking her wounds from the last one. This time she has no suit to help her fight. Lazerbeak is still right on their tail. Trailing far behind, trying to stay unnoticed. Shelby checks out the window one last time before they drive through the gates. 

The vehicle isn't even in park yet as Lazerbeak breaks through the doors to the building holding the Autobots. Fowler and Shelby can hear the fight breaking out. Her first instinct is to rush in and help, but a set of crutches and a large man hold her back. Electricity crackles inside and then the sound of a ground bridge opening. A green and blue glow lights up the facility, then vanishes within seconds. Before they go in, the rest of the Autobots come in to view after coming out of another building. 

"Dreadwing!" Shelby says excitedly. 

"Shelby!" He takes quick steps to her and lifts her in the air. 

Dreadwing brings her close to him and looks her over. "I am going to murder Megatron myself." He growls, assessing her injuries. 

"Don't, let Bumblebee do that. I'm alive, that is all that matters." She rubs her hand over his digit. 

"I'm sorry, I should have stayed with you. Finding out you were alive; still doesn't release the guilt I hold for letting you stay." He brings her close and she presses her forehead against his. 

"It doesn't matter now. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." She whispers. 

"Shelby?" An insecure voice comes from behind them.

"Knockout," Shelby utters, looking over at him as Dreadwing turns to the red speedster, "No one has harmed you in anyway?"

"No, I am fine." Knockout laughed lightly. 

"Optimus, we ready to see what happened inside?" Her eyes travel to the leader. 

"After you." He smiles down at her. 

Instead of letting her walk in, Dreadwing carries her. He lost her once, he isn't about to let her out of his sight. They walk into a seen from battle. Smokescreen, Bulkhead and Hot Rod are laying on the ground groaning from being electrocuted by Soundwave. Equipment not to damaged, but a few pieces broken here and there.

"Shelby!" Hot Rod shouts excitedly from the floor, "I'd hug you, but I can't feel my legs yet."

Shelby giggles from her perch in Dreadwings hand, "You can give me one later."

"Status report." Optimus requests as he walks in. 

The three bots start to get up, Bumblebee, Knockout, Wheeljack and Arcee helping them. After Smokecreen is up, he walks over to a piece of shot up metal. 

"Nice shot, Smokescreen. You did it." Wheeljack praises the young bot. 

"Did you guys already complete the transponder to give this piece of Lazerbeak wings?" Shelby asks. 

"Yes, we just need to wait until Raf gets here to help complete it." Wheeljack states. 

"Sounds good. Now we don't have Optimus's gift of flight this time to follow it. So Dreadwing you will have to be the one to follow." Shelby reminds them, looking up at her bot. 

"Everything is ready to go." Optimus declares. 

"But first we must get the mess hall ready for a blast." She smirks.

"Ohh, I get to paint now!" Smokescreen bounces up and down. 

With that, him and Bumblebee head out to go repaint the letters on the two buildings. Knockout stands off to the side, watching the others convers and hear Shelby's side of the story of how she survived. A sad look washes over his face as he listens to her go on about how he saved her. They talk about what will most likely happen in the future events, the battle that will be coming. He has heard some about it but hasn't been given an answer on how they all know so much. 

"How do you know so much about what will happen?" Knockout interrupts. Everyone falls silent, some not trusting him yet and not sure if they want him to know too much. 

"I've seen the future." Shelby admits, trusting Knockout 100%. 

"So, you knew I would join the Autobots?" He asks, shocked by her answer. 

"Oh no, that's just from me changing the future. There is so much that didn't happen in my coma. Like Hot Rod and you. But a lot has also happened that has proved it will happen." She explained. 

"I'm not sure if I want to understand." He shakes his head at the thought. 

Just then, the areal sirens begin to go off.

"We have incoming. A whole fleet's worth." Fowler shouts. 

Soldiers rush out to the jets and rise into the air. Starting to shoot at the incoming enemy. 

"Air cover's holding, for the moment." He speaks.

Everyone stares at the screens, watching the missiles come closer and closer. The beeping of the incoming target getting louder and louder. Then within seconds, an explosion goes off. 

"The mess all sure is a mess." Smokescreen says as they all walk outside to assess the damage. 

"We are fortunate that the Decepticon's can be fooled by a simple paint job." She states the line Magnas would have used if he had been there. Not that anyone knows what he would have said. 

It brings frown to her face. She has changed the timeline so much, they are down a bot. If she would have let things go the way they were supposed to, he would have been there. Where is he?  She wonders to herself. If only she could find a way to get him here. To help them. 

"Let's get back to finding Ratchet and the Nemisis." Optimus brings her out of her stupor. 

They all go back inside and find the children have arrived. Raf already working on trying to connect the broken piece of Lazerbeak to the transponder. Wheeljack jumps in to help him. Before Shelby has a chance to have him set her down, Optimus interjects. 

"Shelby, may I have a word?" He asks, holding out his servo. 

Shelby looks up at him in surprise, wondering to herself why he would want a word with her. She has said everything to him. She only nods and crawls off of Dreadwings palm and into Optimus's. Then the Prime turns and walks away. 

"Knockout gave this to Ratchet, hoping he could fix it." Prime takes a small device out of his subspace and hands it to the woman. 

"My suit?" She questions, looking it over. 

"He worked hard to fix it, hoping it will be good as new." Optimus smiles down at her. 

"I thought it was too damaged in the explosion. Knockout said it was beyond destroyed." She gasps. 

"He didn't think he would be able to fix it. He gave it to me this morning to give to you when you got back. I would hope you will be able to put it to good use." He suggests.

"I'm always down for a fight, sir." She agrees. 

"Finished!" They hear Raf shout in the background. 

Shelby's smile grows and she looks up to Optimus, "Let's go get Ratchet and revive Cybertron."

"Lets." He agrees. 

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