Transformers Prime: Amulet of Life (#1) [Completed]

Chapter 31

"You have got to be joking," I grunted. My shoulders slumped, disappointed and shocked. "Guys, there's two scraplet swarms!" I exclaimed while pointing to the pod in the ceiling. Wheeljack turned around. He looked to where I was pointing.

"Scrap," he muttered. "I'm leaving." The wrecker turned and exited the room with no further remark. Everyone followed suit.

Once we were out of the room, they all transformed, except Grimlock, who couldn't transform due to his malfunctioning T-cog. I climbed into Smokescreen and we sped off.

"Do you think the second pack knows we're here?" I asked.

"Probably, they always seem to know," he muttered. I turned around in the seat and saw a swarm of scraplets coming at us.

"Yep, they know where here," I muttered while turning around. Smokescreen speed up a bit.
••••••••••••••
Back at base
"Optimus come in. Please respond!" Ratchet yelled at the computer. "No signal, they must be to far underground," he cursed.

"Would you like me to investigate?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"Yes. It's probably best that we do act."

"Bumblebee, Arcee, with me," Ultra Magnus commanded.

"What about me?" Bulkhead asked.

"You are our back up, just in case," Ultra Magnus said. The three Autobots walked towards the ground bridge when Scorn came running up.

"I'm coming too," Scorn declared.

"No, stay with Bulkhead,"  Ultra Magnus order sternly while slightly narrowing his optics.

"I don't take orders from you," he growled in a dangerously low voice. He pushed past Ultra Magnus and stood at the groundbridge.

Ratchet shrugged to the second in command while he powered the ground bridge up. Without a single word, the three Autobots and Dinobot walked through the vortex. Once they emerged they climbed down the rock wall to see that the tunnel entrance to the mine was caved in.

"Odd," Arcee muttered.

"Let's start moving those rocks," Ultra Magnus commanded. Scorn was one step ahead of him and was already moving the boulders.

••••••••••••••
Lora's P.O.V.
After running, more like driving, away from the scraplets for a long time, we had decided to split into two groups. Grimlock, Swoop, Smokescreen and myself were one group, with Optimus, Slug and Wheeljack as another. We were now drawing the scraplets away from the other group. Our plan was to 'pass' the scraplets in between us, confusing them and letting us pick them off.

Smokescreen was driving full speed with me inside and Swoop flying with Grimlock in his talons. I turned around in my seat to see how close they were.

"I think we lost the scraplets," I told him.

"I think so too," he swung a sharp turn and landed behind a group of boulders. I was pushed in my seat by the momentum of the turn. Smokescreen suddenly before opening his door for me. I unbuckled my seatbelt before hopping out.

He had swung behind a boulder pile, which was pretty tall for me. I walked over to the boulder pile and started climbing up it as Smokescreen transformed and crouched behind the pile. Swoop and Grimlock did the same. As I arrived at the top of the pile, I saw one scraplet pack standing off with another scraplet pack.

"Guess they met. Do you think they'll turn on each other?" I asked, turning my head to look at our small group.

"No, highly unlikely," Grimlock said "it's a fool's hope."

"Then I'll gladly be a fool and hope," I whispered. The scraplets seemed to be talking and then they turned to us.

"Scrap," we all said in unison.

All of the transformers transformed quickly as I scrambled down the rock.

"Jump on Swoop," Smokescreen yelled as he transformed. I took a deep breath then jumped. At first, my feet connected with nothing and I panicked, but then I hit Swoop's wing and slid down to the neck as he grabbed Grimlock. Then we were off again.
"The swarm just got reinforcements," I muttered as I hung onto one of Swoop's metal spikes on his back.

"Optimus, the two swarms are one," Grimlock said into his com.

"Understood," I heard Optimus respond. "We are on our way to your coordinates," I heard a 'ting' of metal hitting metal and saw Grimlock swinging his mace and hitting scraplets.

I went on my belly and shimmed over towards Swoop's two tails. I slowly stood up trusted my instincts. My hands went up and my arms went parallel with the ground. A massive shield appeared around Grimlock and Swoop. The scraplets hit and bounced off. Grimlock's attacks still were able to pass through.

The more the scraplets hit my shield, the more the amulet's energy ebbed away. I could feel it slip away.

The group swerved around a corner. I lost sight of the scraplets; I needed the rest. I kneeled down and the world swayed. I lost my balance and collapsed onto Swoop. He landed and someone pick me up off of the Dinobot. I couldn't hear anything as I looked up at Smokescreen. My hearing returned just as Smokescreen said something.

"Lora, what happened?"

"Most of the Energon from the amulet is gone. I used it to make a shield so they wouldn't get to Grimlock or Swoop," I said. "I'll be fine."

"There are to many for us to out run or attack, we can't wait for Optimus and the others, we need to keep on moving," Grimlock said.

"I'll draw them off, give you guys some time," Swoop said.

"What do you mean?" I asked while sitting up. I looked at the scout, confusion clear on my face.

"What Swoop is saying is that he'll stay behind and keep them at bay long enough for us to get away, and I forbid it. I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself for us. We will think of something else, that doesn't involve someone dying," Grimlock scolded.

"I'm sorry Grimlock, that is one order that I can not follow," Swoop said sadly, shaking his head. "It has been an honor serving alongside you." Swoop turned and walked away. Grimlock face filled with shock and disbelief.

"No," I muttered so quite that no one heard me. Smokescreen transformed and I laid down in the back seat.

"If he is going to sacrifice himself, we might as well respect his wishes," Smokescreen assured Grimlock, laying a hand upon his shoulder. He patted it before leaving the Dinobot. Grimlock didn't turn around as he spoke.

"Very well." He hung his head. "Farewell old friend, until our sparks become one with the All spark." Grimlock turned and ran with Smokescreen driving not far behind.

I laid down and rolled over as I cried silently in the back seat for the friend I just lost.