Ensconce Transformers Prime AU (Book 2) (Wattys 2017)

Chapter Thirty Six

Starscream was pleased with the awed silence of the police station. Maybe they would take him seriously now. He thought for a moment and gave them some time to process his request.

He walked over to the others and stood behind Jazz. Drift and Wheeljack were on either side of the young officer. They looked at each other then at Starscream. The officer shook with fear and shock as he stared at his commander. He gasped quietly when he felt the barrel of the gun against the back of his head.

"You have one hour to fulfill my request, or he's next." Starscream sneered and cocked the gun. The screen went black and a clock appeared as a count down.

"Well that should hurry things along." Starscream sighed and walked off to his computer. The Insecticons kept watch as the three leaders spoke in the corner. Jazz stared at Magnus as he continued to shake, but tried not to. Wheeljack looked at him and furrowed his brow.

"Jazz... you're alright." He said gently and the young man nodded slowly. One of the thugs got irritated and told him to stop freaking out. Another gang member laughed and they started to mock him.

"Knock it off!" Wheeljack boomed and kicked them both in the back of the knees. They grunted and punched him hard a few times then walked off a ways. The soldier glared at them as blood leaked from his mouth. He winced and looked at Jazz who was still shaking and staring at Magnus.

"Jazz... Jazz look at me." Wheeljack said seriously and the officer finally glanced at him. "I've been in a few hostage situations before when I was overseas." He said and the young man looked at the others.

"Don't focus on them..." he mumbled and the young man nodded slowly.

"Wheeljack.... I don't... I don't want to die..." he whispered. "I... I thought I wouldn't be afraid... but..." he trailed off and looked at Magnus. The soldier glanced at the commander then at the traumatized officer. Wheeljack hesitated then put his bound hands over the young man's head. He then hugged him tightly and made him look away as he shook.

"I won't let them kill you." Wheeljack promised and glared at Starscream. Drift watched them then looked to the clock. He hoped his children would be alright.

~

The officers stared at the digits when they came up, then looked at each other with horror. The mad man wasn't kidding. Chief Burns and Ironhide just stood there, rooted to the floor. Heatwave snapped out of it and narrowed his eyes as he looked at the others.

"Get to work! Find your teams and get out there to find them!" He shouted then assigned them to go to certain areas. Once they were gone he walked over to Rodimus and Strongarm.

"Don't..." the young man muttered and looked at him as tears filled his eyes. "Don't say anything... there's nothing you can say... just..." he rasped and buried his face in his sisters hair. Heatwave thought for a few minutes then gently gripped his shoulder. He then went to Chief Burns and gripped his shoulder to snap him out of it.

"We'll bring them home." The firefighter said seriously. The chief simply nodded then shook his head to focus.

"Let's get our boys back." He said and they turned to leave. They stopped though and noticed Ironhide hadn't moved. He was just staring at the clock.

"He's gone..." he finally whispered then looked at them with an unreadable expression.

"He's gone..." he rasped and stared at the floor. "First Optimus... now Magnus..." he mumbled. The other two men looked at each other then at him. Chief Burns walked over and set a hand on his shoulder.

"Ironhide... it's not your fault." He said calmly and thought for a moment. "I need you to do something... go visit Smokescreen at the hospital." He suggested. The man furrowed his brow and looked at him.