New Life, New Obstacles

Chapter 10

Ultra Magnus was about to give chase when he heard a pained whine, turning around he saw Arcee and Metalsound. Wheeljack quickly made his way over to Arcee, "What happened, babe?"

"We were attacked, one had spit venom in my optics and I can't see."

"Scrap. When I find that--"

"That's going to have to wait, Wheeljack. They both need medical attention. Soundwave, bridge us back now," Ultra Magnus commed as he picked up a weakened Metalsound.

Wheeljack picked up Arcee and they all went through the Ground Bridge when it opened, "But what about Steeljaw and the others, aren't we going to help them?" Strongarm asked as they made it through the Ground Bridge.

"First we need to help these two."

"But--"

"Oh my goodness! What happened!?" Fixit exclaimed with worry as Soundwave took Metalsound away from Ultra Magnus. Wheeljack rushed Arcee to Med Bay.

"Strongarm, I know you're concerned for your mate but we need to take care of Metalsound and Arcee first," Magnus says caringly, he knows she's worried for her mate.

"We both got hit by their venom, I think Naja, the brown and gold one got me. Metalsound was bitten by Mova, the red and black one," Arcee explained as Wheeljack placed her on a berth.

"Fixit, what can you tell us about them? Is there an antidote?" Magnus asked with concern.

"Arcee's blindness is only temporary but we must find an antidote for Metalsound. If we don't find one within the next six hours..." he trailed off as the sun started to set.

"If we don't find the antidote in time she won't make it," Wheeljack finished for the Mini-Con.

"What!? Where can we find the antidote!?" Strongarm asked worried for her friend.

"If we had a sample of Mova's venom we could make the antidote," Fixit replied.

Soundwave looked to Metalsound who was already shivering, "Side effects include?" He asked.

"She'll get cold and hot spells, and may suffer from delusions," the Mini-Con explained.

"We need to find out where the three are hiding out," Strongarm states.

"But how? We can't track them if they're cloaked," Arcee stated as she tried to sit up.

"How can we track down one who is cloaked?" Strongarm asks as she tries to think, "Soundwave, do you know how we can find them?"

Soundwave nodded as Laserbeak detached himself from his sire and flew off.

"Yeah, Laserbeak can find out where they're hiding," says Wheeljack.

"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Arcee asked.

"Well, I'm gonna look after you," Wheeljack says hugging Arcee.

Magnus walked up to Strongarm who was looking off into the distance with a worried look, "Are you alright?"

"I'm just worried, and I know I should have been more focused on Arcee and Metalsound but, I don't know what they're going to do to Steeljaw and the others," she choked.

"I know, it's not easy having your mate taken away and being in danger, I certainly know how that feels."

"What did you do when mom was taken?"

"I went nuts, I took any and all leads to track down the group, I was determined to rescue her."

"How did you survive after losing her? I understand a lot of bots would die after losing their mates."

"I was dying, but I realized that if I had joined with your mother, I would be leaving you alone. I survived because you needed me to stay with you."

Strongarm leaned in and hugged him, "Do you think I'll get Steeljaw back alive?"

Ultra Magnus wrapped his arms around his daughter, "We will get him back, Strongarm. Besides, he's not going to give up that easily. He loves you too much and he's going to fight to come back to you."

She looks up at him, "So, you believe now that he truly loves me?"

"I saw his room before we left for patrol this morning and every time you're around his optics follow your every movement. He wants to be near you and it's torturing him being unable to."

"His room? What's going on with his room?"

"There are claw marks on the walls and the room looked like a war zone."

"His animal instincts are kicking in and he can't do anything, it's killing him so all he can do is tear stuff up."

"Seeing how you reacted earlier convinced me how much you care about him as well."

"I really love him father and I don't want to lose him."

"I know, we'll get him back, all of them."

She smiles, "Yeah, we will."

"Wheeljack?" Arcee calls while reaching out for him. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her, "Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me. Are you alright?"

"My optics hurt. I can't stand being blind."

Wheeljack had gotten a wet rag and placed it over her optics, "I know, I got hit by a flashbang once. Couldn't see anything for the next few days," he said as he held her close.

"The good news is that the venom's effects should wear off in a few hours. So it's not permanent," Fixit piped.

"That's good," she says as she lays her helm on Wheeljack's chest and wraps an arm around him.

Wheeljack nuzzled her helm before looking to Metalsound and Soundwave, "How's she doing?"

Soundwave had placed a damp rag on the Predacon's helm, trying to keep her from overheating, "She's slowly slipping. We need the antidote."

"Papa?" She asked as she slowly lifted her helm.

"No, he's not here Metalsound."

"Papa, please come back."

"She's dreaming about her sire."

"Who's her--?" Arcee was cut off by a low growl. Metalsound was staring at the wall as if she could see something the others couldn't.

"What is she looking at?" Strongarm asked.

"She may be experiencing an accumulation, proclamation, hallucination," the Mini-Con replied.

"Side effects from the bite?"

"Yes."

"Soundwave, any luck on finding the cobra triplets' hideout?" Strongarm asked anxious to find her mate.

"Still searching."

"How long does it take for it to search!?"

Before Soundwave could reply Metalsound bolted off the berth, "Metalsound, come back! Where's she going?" Fixit asked once she was out of sight.

"We can't let her be out there alone," Arcee replied as she tried to get up.

"Arcee! What are you doing!? You're still blind, you can't go off!" Wheeljack yells at her as he gets her to sit back down.

"Well, Metalsound can't be out there in her state of mind! What if she hurts someone or herself?"

"You can't be out there either!"

"Soundwave, Magnus, and I will go after her," Strongarm says reassuring her.

"And what will you do if they get captured?"

"Let me worry about that, you stay here and work on getting your sight back."

With that Strongarm transforms and rolls out after Metalsound followed by Soundwave and Magnus.

"I hate not being able to do anything," Arcee mumbled as she laid back down.

"I know you do," Wheeljack says trying to comfort her.