TF (OC): Searchin’
Rating: PG
Series: G1
Summary: This is the back-story for my OC Tracer. The war drags on and circumstances change. And the fight for survival is brought a little too close to home
Warnings: Erm… violence but you don’t really get to see that… few bad words, but nothing you haven’t heard before
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten… Tracer belongs to me… as do Kicker and Rollback
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.
Searchin' Part One
Searchin' Part Two
Searchin' Part Three
Searchin' Part Four
Searchin' Part Five
The war dragged on for another vorn before energon became scarce. Battles were fewer because of this and the focus of the war turned from battles and destruction to energy collection and raiding if necessary. It was more a case of defence and self-preservation that it had ever been before.
Patrols were increased and Red Alert was becoming more paranoid with every passing joor. They made several modifications to the security grid to ensure that they weren’t taken by surprise. The store of energon they had left was larger than most and they were told that they were at risk for a raid. Routine patrols became steadily more dangerous.
“We’re running the gauntlet every time we step outta that door.” Kicker muttered as he and Tracer returned from a patrol and headed straight for the repair bay.
“I know. But there ain’t nothing we can do about it Kicker.”
“Problems?” Red Alert was waiting in the repair bay for them.
“We’re getting slagged every time they find us.”
“Kicker! What he means is they’re finding us too easily.” Red Alert narrowed his optics.
“Too easily?”
“They find us within a breem Red.” Kicker replied as Rollback started work on Tracer’s injuries.
“They’ll find us soon if we’re not too careful.”
“We are being careful. I don’t know how more careful we can be.” Red Alert leant against the berth Kicker had heaved himself on to.
“Neither do I. But I’m telling you, they’ll find us. We take a different route each time we leave and come back yet they’re still on our tailpipes within a breem!”
“I shall make sure the security grid covers as much area as possible.”
“We’re delaying th’ inevitable Red. They’re gonna find us sooner or later.”
“I know…” The admission from Red Alert made the other three pause momentarily. Rollback’s laser scalpel almost dropped from his fingers as he stared at Red Alert. “But we will not go down without a fight.”
“That’s for sure!” Kicker agreed.
“We just need to be prepared.”
“You’re telling me.” Kicker replied, a pointed look at Tracer.
“Hey, I can fight!”
“Yeah… against one Decepticreep maybe.”
“It wasn’t my fault they took advantage of my size.”
“Ain’t saying it were. Just that you should have run like I told ya.”
“I was not going to leave you to fight them all by yourself!”
“Okay you two, stop it!” Rollback ordered. “I am not having arguments about who can fight better. You both got slagged as far as I can see.”
“He’s got a point.” Kicker conceded. “Besides, you were doing a pretty good job out there kid.”
“Of course I’m right.” Rollback muttered. “Right, you’re all done Trace… recharge and take it easy, please?”
“I’ll need a full report Tracer.” Red Alert requested before he left.
“You’ll get it before I turn in.” Tracer promised on behalf of herself and Kicker, before settling down on the berth to wait for Rollback to finish repairing Kicker.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It seemed to happen so quickly, Tracer reflected afterwards. ‘Sooner or later’ had turned out to be about an orn and they barely had any warning.
Firestar and Red Alert had not long returned from patrol and having been quickly patched up by Rollback, had settled down to recharge in their quarters. Inferno and Rollback had headed out on the next patrol leaving Kicker and Tracer on guard at the base. Tracer reviewed the reports from Iacon while Kicker kept an optic on the console monitoring the security grid.
“Still no sign of Soundwave I see.”
“Huh?”
“I said, still no sign of Soundwave.”
“Good. Little fragger...” Kicker trailed off, muttering under his vocaliser.
“Looks like Prime is planning an expedition off world to look for more sources of energy.”
“Slag. Didn’t realise we were that low.” It was always the same when they were on duty together. Tracer would read the reports and relay the information to Kicker in a more understandable form. He was better at picking up things on the readouts far quicker than she was.
“Yeah. They’re asking for volunteers.”
“Bet ya Prime’s already got a list of those he wants with him.”
“Probably. Couldn’t hurt to volunteer though. What do you reckon? See some new places?”
“Maybe… wait a klik…” Kicker lapsed into silence as he studied the monitor. “Tracer, get Red Alert up here now.” He didn’t look over his shoulder, knowing she’d do it, instead switching to long-range communications. “Inferno… Inferno, do you read me?” He paused, waiting for a reply. He got nothing but static. “Slag it all to the Pit and back.” He swore, hitting the base alarm button.
“Kicker?” Red Alert started his questioning as soon as he entered the command center.
“Red, we got Decepticons incoming and they’re coming in hot.”
“I had hoped we would have more time. Have you called Inferno and Rollback back?”
“Tried. Comms are being blocked. Can’t get nothing but static.”
“Which way are they coming in?” Firestar asked, putting down an armful of weapons.
“From the north.”
“That doesn’t leave us much in the way of options.”
“Suggestions?”
“Rig the tower for detonation.”
“We don’t have the…!” Kicker began, only to be cut off mid-sentence as the proximity alarm began blaring. “… Time.” He finished, cutting the alarm off. “Anything we do has gotta be done fast.”
“And without letting them know exactly where we are.” Tracer finished for him. Red Alert looked around the remaining members of his team.
“We’ve got no choice but to stay and defend the energon. We cannot let the Decepticons get it.”
“Let’s show ‘em why it ain’t wise to mess with us.” Kicker announced, picking up the largest weapon in the pile.
“Tracer, keep monitoring the comm. frequencies. As soon as there’s any chance of getting a call out to Iacon, do it.” They were interrupted in their hasty planning by the sounds of explosions from above.
“Slag, they know where we are.”
“Places!” They all grabbed weapons from the pile Tracer and Firestar had brought in and took positions around the room as best they could. From Red Alert and Kicker’s estimates, this would be the place they would break through in to.
“How many?”
“Too many.”
As the ceiling caved in, the room seemed to explode into a blaze of fire and noise. The Seekers came through firing at anything and everything that moved. The Autobots had to duck and wait before they were able to return fire. Soon all Tracer could hear was the noise of the guns and rifles and cannons going off. All she could see was smoke and fire and warped metal. Then as her pain sensors registered an overload, she saw and heard nothing more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
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Part Seven