Chapter Two- Back to the Action
The Ark slowly descended above a mountain, constantly sending Autobot miners in and out with piles of energon while there were protected by a lot of soldiers. On the top of the mine, Grimlock stands accompanied by other three Autobots with the same red eyes: one grey which could turn into a sports car named Bumblebee; other was dark brown which appearance showed that he was very strong and turned into a heavy car, known as Bulkhead; and the last one, who could turn into an ambulance and had toxic green skin was Ratchet, the sinister Autobot medic and scientist, known by the Decepticons as the Doctor of Doom. Ratchet seemed to be talking with someone.
"So, this is our largest energon mine?" A new visitor asked inside the shadows.
"Indeed my liege. Of all the energon deposits that we have located on this planet during your absence, this one is by far the most significant." Ratchet explained.
"The drones have been mining without pause and we have amassed quiet a stockpile. You there, fetch me a sample, now!" Grimlock shouted.
"Grimlock!" Optimus said emerging from the shadows. "Now that I have returned, I will issue the commands. Don't ever forget who is really in charge."
"I understand, Optimus Prime, master." Grimlock said turning back.
"Je, it seems that the party is over for him." Bulkhead said. "But is good to have the boss back."
"In the name of all the Autobots on Earth, welcome back, our liege." Ratched added.
"(We miss you so much Optimus. We have remained loyal to your cause, some more than others.)" Bumblebee said looking to Grimlock.
"And I'm pleased to know that you're still the same like those who fight long ago against the same adversaries, so there will be deserved praise and rewards." Optimus said putting a hand on Bee's shoulder.
No one known that with that touch a strange electric shock flowed through Bumblebee, but he didn't feel anything.
"Then we shall ready the space bridge to bring forth the Autobot army that you have gathered during your time in space?" Ratchet asked.
"My army will come. But my time away has yielded a more intriguing means of materializing them." Optimus said.
"What do you mean by that?" Bee said. "Uh!"
"Bee! You talked, with your own voice!" Bulkhead said impressive.
"Impossible, your voice box is already damaged!" Ratchet reminded. "Unless…"
"That is the meaning of what I said about rewards for loyalty." Optimus affirmed about the thing that appended when he touched Bumblebee.
"But how?" Bee asked, eager to know answers.
"That was a little demonstration about the power I'm learning to drive, the same force where my new army will come. The solidified form of the matter the ancient texts refer to… as the Blood of Unicron." Optimus concluded showing a purple energon shard.
"Unicron the Destroyer? I thought it was only a legend." Grimlock said.
"And it is said his blood is the Anti-Spark." Bulkhead added.
"Plucked from cosmic shores. Gaze upon dark energon." Optimus said.
"Impressive, a new power source that can open us a lot of possibilities. I can't wait to begin all kind of research with this substance, especially on test subjects from this world." Ratchet said sinisterly.
"Oh no old friend, this power is only for my personal use. Unless you have my permission, no one would dare to experience the same power than I, understood?"
"Of course Prime."
"Legends tell that it holds the power to reanimate the dead." Bee said.
"We only require a cadaver to see it that is true." Optimus realized before see all the Autobots. "Which one of you is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?"
"That will not be necessary. If I may, my liege." Grimlock ordered two Autobot troopers to bring him the corpse of Steve. "Consider it a welcome home present."
Optimus's answer was an evil smile.
Meanwhile in the Decepticon base, Megatron finished his tale. "And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Autobots know of yours."
"Got it. If we spot any strange vehicles call 9-11." Jack concluded. "Can we go now?"
"Are you insane? I'm living a dream here in Bot-swana, and I'm not going to allow you or anyone to shatter it!" Miko warned.
"It is best that you three remain under our watch, at least until we can determine our enemies intentions." Megatron finished.
"Lord Megatron, with all due respect, the human children are in much danger here as anywhere." Starscream commented.
"Children?" Jack asked.
"Starscream has a logical point. The humans have no protective shell; if they get underfoot they will go… squish." Shockwave said before he takes a big loud step to prove his point.
"Then for the time being, Shockwave, Starscream; we must watch where we step." Megatron concluded.
Momentarily after an alarm was triggered and a flashing green light, so Shockwave turned back to the computer with Soundwave.
"What's that?" Jack asked with concern.
"(Don't worry; it is our proximity sensors, which tell us someone comes from the base's top.)" Stinger said.
"Proximity sensor. Someone's on top." Raf translated.
Soundwave opened a window on the screen, revealing a helicopter and a tall man in military uniform with no hair walking to an elevator door on the mountain. "Lord Megatron, its Agent Silas."
"I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys." Jack said.
"Special Agent Silas is our designated liaison to the outside world, as he tends to visit only when there are issues. It would be best that not meet him at this time." Megatron explained, and the kids hid behind some metal boxes.
The elevator made it's decent to the main haul, the doors opened and Agent Silas entered the base, but he did not seem very happy.
"I will summarize: seven wrecks, thirty four fender-benders, a three hour traffic jam on a particular note; numerous reports of a military helicopter with strange colors flying with no authorization and a brown muscle car." Silas said looking at Airachnid and Stinger. "So, anything you have not told me, Megatron?"
"We have the situation under control, Agent Silas."
"They're back, aren't they?"
"If you are referring to the Autobots, I had doubts that they ever left. Your planet is too valuable."
"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon."
"Hear me, Agent Silas. We are your best, possibly your only defense against the Autobot threat."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Hey fleshy!" Breakdown interrupted. "Did anyone get caught by the crossfire? The Decepticons knows when to use force and how much to use." He ripped off a mechanical arm on the table and squeezed it until broke into pieces.
"Watch out Breakdown, I just buffed that!" Knock Out complained for what Breakdown has done.
"Enough!" Megatron shouted before turning back to Silas. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Silas. I, however, cannot."
"Then do us both a favor and handle this, Megatron. Under the radar." Agent Silas said as he went back to the elevator. "Or I will." The doors closed and sent the agent back to the surface.
"Pretty big bearings, for a human." Starscream said.
"Agent Silas is concerned for his world, Starscream. As he should be." Megatron responded.
Meanwhile inside the energon mine, Optimus was going to test the dark energon on Steve's body.
"Let us see if power born of darkness can reignite the spark." He put the purple shard in Steve's spark chamber and suddenly the body consumed it completely.
After that, the dead was alive, but it's was very different from the being that he was before. It had purple eyes, and let out a horrific screech before broken free from his restrains and attacked the nearest Autobot. He was destroying him slowly as another Autobot trooper tried to shoot him, but the hits didn't get him down and he went for him after finish with the first one. Optimus was impressed, not like his followers who were terrified.
"That's your plan?! Bring back our dead enemies so they can attack us again?!" Bulkhead asked terrified.
"That is no longer a Decepticon. It's just a mindless creature, which only instinct to destroy anything in its path." After finished with the troopers, the zombie lunged at Optimus and his Autobots, but the tyrant was fast enough to cut it in half with his sword, making it fall off the ledge. "There, Autobots, the rise of the indestructible seed of my army: Terrorbots. The ultimate weapon." The zombie upper half was still hooked to the ledge, but then Optimus kicked it off down to a lower level of the cave. "Once I learnt to control it."
At that moment in the Decepticon base, the computer showed an image of Steve and a pulse.
"Lord Megatron, Steve's life signal just popped back online." Soundwave announced.
"Who's Steve, another human who knows about you?" Miko asked.
"How is that possible?" Megatron added.
"Origin unknown." Soundwave responded.
"It could be a bug, the system is full of them." Shockwave added.
"But maybe there is a chance Steve is still alive, Soundwave doesn't make mistakes." Airachnid said, hoping her friend was fine.
"Shockwave, prepare sickbay, we might need it." Megatron said.
"Hey! What can we do?" Miko shouted.
"Remain here with Shockwave." Megatron answered, causing Miko to groan as Shockwave nodded.
When the Ground Bridge portal opened all the Decepticons were ready.
"Decepticons, transform and rise up!" All of them ran and transformed into vehicle driving into the vortex.
"What just happened?" Jack asked.
"I transported them to the designated coordinates by the ground bridge." Shockwave answered.
"What's a ground bridge?" Raf asked.
"A scale down version of space bridge technology. It allows us to connect two places across the universe and create a tunnel for two way travel. But since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel…"
"You're stuck here on Earth." Jack finished.
"Correct. So I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."
"Woah. Does it work on humans alike?" Raf asked impressed by that invention.
"Naturally."
"You mean I could just hop on over and visit my parents on Tokyo?" Miko asked.
"Within moments. Why don't you allow me to send you three to there right now?" Shockwave asked, hoping to see if he can make some ground bridge research.
"Watch it Shockwave." Miko said.
The ground bridge opened inside the mine and the Decepticons emerged and shifted back into robot form with their guns ready.
"It's an energon mine." Knock Out stated.
"Judging by its scale the Autobots have been tunneling for quite some time." Starscream added.
Right in from of them the Autobots continuing to mine out the energon. "Let's find Steve." Megatron said as they approached them, making the miners run away while the soldiers prepared for combat. So are the Decepticons.
The team had no trouble getting through the first line of Autobots soldiers, but they had a difficult time taking down the workers armed with electric generators and the drill vehicles, fortunately Megatron and Breakdown had no problem with them. They continued advancing through the mine fighting Autobots. Inside the base Shockwave was trying to be patient with the children, especially with Miko.
"What is this?" Miko asked looking a strange device.
"Something not finished, don't touch it." Shockwave said. Miko tried to know what was it, but Shockwave seemed to be watching her without looking. "I mean it."
"Is there anything in here we can touch?" Jack asked.
Shockwave tried to get access to the computer, but the screen showed an Access Denied window, which frustrated him.
"How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asked.
"We didn't have any choice. This missile silo was the only thing that we could reclaim as base of operations. Soundwave and I made some modifications to adjust it to cybertronian network, but it seems more complicated than I though." Shockwave said as he tried to fix the problem.
"I think I can fix that."
"Really? You must understand this is complex technology. It's not a child's toy." Shockwave said while Raf was plugging his laptop and did something.
"Try it now." Raf suggested.
Shockwave did so and surprisingly all Access Denied disappeared and an Access Allowed appeared in its place, the screen was back to normal. Shockwave looked back at Raf with astonishment. "Fascinating. How does one so young possess such knowledge?"
"I have a lot of free time." Raf answered. Though he had no visible mouth, Shockwave was smiling.
The Decepticons eliminated the entire Autobot squad, yet another wave was coming, so they decided to travel by fast way.
"Maximum overdrive!" Megatron said as he and the other Decepticons changed to vehicle mode and pass through all their enemies.
They reach to the center of the mine, so they hid behind some creates.
"Quiet an operation they've done." Breakdown said before they were bombed by the Autobots shots, but they began to fire back.
Inside a room of the Ark, Optimus stood before an entire chunk of dark energon.
"Blood of Unicron, how might I fathom the depths of your mystery? Become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?"
"Optimus, intruders have been detected in the mines." Bumblebee said through a communicator terminal.
"Decepticons?"
"Yes, Megatron is with them too."
"I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready the ship for depurator."
"What about the Decepticons? All the energon we've mined will fall in their hands!" Grimlock shouted.
"Then blow the mine." Optimus responded.
Inside the mine the gunfight was still going on. Airachnid spotted a figure that lying on the third level.
"I think I see Steve, on the third level." Airachnid shouted.
"We'll cover you, go!" Megatron ensured.
She used her spider mode to avoid the laser shots while the others managed to make a path for her. She used her webs to swing and reach the third floor. She saw Steve missing his lower half. Some shots of the Autobot troopers hit the pillar supporting the floor, making it collapse.
"Steve!" She managed to grab him with her webs. "Hold on partner, we'll get you home."
He looked at her, but his face was now very terrifying that she lost grip of him and his remains fell into a spike full of energon, killing him instantly. There was a maniacal laugh, coming from Grimlock, who has a bomb in his hand.
"Megatron! I would like to stay but I have urgent business, so I left this present for you guys." He activated the bomb and dropped into the pile of energon while he goes aboard the warship's elevator.
"It's a bomb, the timer it's almost out!" Starscream said.
"This place is going to blow!" Knock Out added.
"Decepticons, let's get out of here!" Megatron ordered as all the team transformed and began to run away from the followed explosion. "Soundwave, bridge us back. Use the arrival coordinates, now!"
"Immediately." Soundwave opened a Ground Bridge portal and the Cons got through in the neck of time.
Soundwave managed to shut down the portal once all the Decepticons passed across in time, although some of the flames went through. The humans were at awe.
"Cutting it a bit close. Where is Steve?" Shockwave asked, but they all just lowered their heads and shook slowly with sadness.
"What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I go next time?" Miko asked without pause.
"Look…" Airachnid said angrily.
Fortunately before Miko could say another thing Jack cut in. "Hey Miko, let's go see what the Cons hide in their socks draws."
"Airachnid, what did you see?" Megatron questioned.
"It wasn't Steve, at least not anymore. He was mutated, butchered like something from those Autobots experiments during the war." She explained until she trembled to her knees.
"(Airachnid! Are you hurt?)" Stinger asked worried.
"I'm fine, just dizzy." She said.
"Robots who can get dizzy?" Miko asked.
"Robots with feelings." Raf observed.
"Robots…who can die." Jack stated.
Knock Out scanned Airachnid with a blue light all over her body, and suddenly he got a red reading on her right hand.
"What is this?" Knock Out asked, observing a strange purple substance.
"Don't know, but Steve was covered in it. Leaking it."
"I want to know exactly was it's this thing. Let me take a sample." Shockwave scrapped it off with experiment blade.
"You better take a decontamination bath. Stinger, give me a hand." Knock Out said.
Stinger helped Knock Out to carry Airachnid to sickbay.
"Uh, I hate to interrupt but I can't get a signal" Jack said showing his phone.
"A security precaution, the silo walls isolate all radio waves, prevents our enemies locate us." Soundwave explained.
"But if I don't phone my mom, I'm sure the cops will be out looking for me."
"Have you broken the law?" Starscream asked.
"No, I'll just be breaking curfew. It's nearly 10." Jack explained.
"Yeah, I better get home too. My mom will ground me for a year!" Raf expressed.
"Humans customs, I hadn't considered." Megatron said chuckling a little. "But the issue of your safety remains. Breakdown, accompany Miko home."
"Awesome! My home parents will freak!" Miko said.
"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form."
"Curbside duty, got it liege." Breakdown said, making Miko groaned.
"Stinger, you'll do the same for Rafael."
"(With pleasure, Lord Megatron.)" Stinger nodded looking anxiously towards Raf.
"Knock Out…" Megatron began.
"I'm busy helping Shockwave with his analysis." Knock Out said.
"Airachnid, you'll watch over Jack." Megatron called her seeing her return from the bath.
"Oh, I'm still dizzy." She said.
"You're fine, don't think any excuses." Starscream reminded.
Airachnid carried Jack to his house, but he had something to tell her.
"Airachnid, I just want to say that I share your pain." Jack said.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"I'm just trying to help you in this moment." He replied.
"Well excuse me but you don't know what I'm feeling." Airachnid said angrily shifting to her robot form.
"I do."
She remained shocked when she heard that.
"My family is not the one what I want to have; it's only me and my mom."
"What about your father?" She asked.
"He's not part of my life." Jack said coldly. "That's the reason I'm here when you need someone to support you or if you need to talk to anyone."
"Thanks Jack, I didn't have idea that our situations were very similar."
Just then they heard a car approaching them.
"Scrap, Autobots." Airachnid said aiming her weapons at the car.
"No! It's my mother! Hide, hurry!" Jack said before go to the car.
"Jack?" Her mom said getting of the car, named June Darby.
"Mom, don't panic I can explain." Jack said.
"Can you?" She said as she walked next to the helicopter. "Jackson Darby, I did not expect this from you. I worry about you enough when you're not here, and I would worry more if you were going on a motorcycle, but this?! Do you know that you're too young to try to fly a helicopter?"
"I'm sixteen; I can't be riding in a ten-speed forever."
"How did you even afford this?" She demanded.
"Actually is borrowed, from a friend, he said that I don't need to learn how to drive her, she's automatic. But the point is I maybe was a kid when I dreamed to drive something, but I'm not anymore. You always told me to make responsible choices, well, I choose her, and I'll be responsible, I promise." Jack explained.
"Her? I didn't expect you to bringing girls home just yet."
"I like to think she brought me."
"Well, I'm glad you have a reason to wear the seat belt, every single time you fly! You will take me for a spin every once and awhile?" June asked as she entered home.
"We'll see. She's kind of temperamental." Jack concluded as she followed her mother, leaving Airachnid outside the house.
The next morning, Jack was awakened by Airachnid's noises. "Shh, are you crazy? You'll wake up my mom." Jack said.
"Prepare yourself, time to go." Airachnid said.
"Uhhh. It's Saturday." Jack groaned.
"Don't be mad, you can watch cartoons back at base with Stinger."
"Ugh, cartoons. I'm sixteen." Jack grumbled before going to get his stuff.
"And leave a note for your mom, she worries!" Airachnid finished.
Aboard the Ark, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots were standing in front of the dark energon.
"I don't think you need to worry about further Decepticon interference, master. And not with Megatron gone." Grimlock said.
"What makes you think that, Grimlock?" Bulkhead asked.
"I destroyed the mines as our liege instructed, and there is nothing which can survive that kind of explosion."
"I'm not sure Megatron is gone."
"Bumblebee is right; Megatron is not so easily destroyed. We have millennia worth of battles behind us to prove it, but the next time he comes, I'll be there to confront him again." Optimus said while he contemplates the dark energon.
"Maybe you should take a break, my liege. Maybe too much contact with the dark energon might allow its properties to greatly you." Cliffjumper added.
"Or perhaps, I have not permitted myself contact enough!" Optimus said ripping of a piece of dark energon.
"No!" Bumblebee said knowing what was inside his master's mind.
"Are you mad?!" Grimlock shouted.
"Optimus, wait! Not your spark chamber! Dark energon has never been fully studied, its properties never unlocked. You don't know what it will do!" Ratchet said, but it was too late.
Optimus place the shard it in his spark chamber. Soon his whole body was consumed with dark energon. Meanwhile in the Decepticon base, Shockwave was finishing his analysis about the purple substance.
"Hmmm, 45% energon, 15% cosmic radiation and 40% unknown. The base elements are completely anything I have ever seen. Must have been extremely concentrated to affect Airachnid so fast. Perhaps minor decontamination will yield more profitable results." Shockwave used tongs the pick up the glass that contained the substance. "Unfortunately complete results are slow without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you, Breakdown."
What he didn't realize that a drop of it fell onto the mechanical arm that Breakdown broke. Then the dark energon corrupted it, it got on its own legs and began to walk away.
To be continued…