Dying Embers 3
A Transformers Prime FanFiction
Laika was very glad to meet them. For the second time that day Jack found himself flat on his back. The sparklings curiously poked their heads out of the parka to look at the massive husky/wolf hybrid. She left off washing the human's face to turn her mothering on the delighted infants. They squealed in delight as her long rough tongue scoured the light coating of rust from their round heads.
"You see? Laika will get you safely there!" Boris said proudly. The man seemed more relaxed than Jack had yet seen him.
Sixteen huskies were harnessed to a sled. Except for the long legged Laika they were all smaller than Jack had imagined they'd be. The sled was sparsely loaded and was itself a light contraption, it hardly looked capable of carrying them. Mrs. Darby was settled down on top of the few supplies and Jack carefully sat down in front of her. The sled driver had a short conversation with the two commanders then came over to the passengers.
"We head east across the sea ice once we are past the small island," he said curtly. "You will switch to relay team outside of Tin City. From there you stick to sea ice and follow coastline south-east until you reach shore south of Unalakleet. That is as much as I know."
"Thank you," June said, wriggling as the sparkling dug its myriad tiny legs into her ribcage.
"Why are we relaying so soon?" Jack asked curiously, reaching out to stroke the head of a curious husky who was nuzzling the smallest sparkling.
The man let out a short bark of laughter.
"These dogs are good dogs," he said, "good for sprint. They get us across ice faster than any machine can. Thirty, thirty-five kilometers per hour. No good for long haul."
"Oh," Jack said creatively as he shifted the two sparklings under his parka.
The small driver walked along the team, pulling them away from the passengers with some effort. Once they were lined out he stomped back to the sled. With a cry of mush the two Americans were thrown back against the seats as the pack tore off over the snow.
The first leg of the ride wasn't uncomfortable at all. The seats were well designed to support passengers. A feature the driver bragged about quite a bit. The base had provided both of them with ample clothing and chemical warming packs. The movement seemed to lull the sparklings to sleep because the stopped moving and snuggled into their humans with happy trills. The snow pack was hard and the dogs ran over it easily. Laika led off at a fierce pace and the rest of the team strived to keep up with her.
It was less than an hour later when they spotted the next team in the relay. A lanky figure in a National Park uniform cheerfully waved to them as their current musher stopped the sled several dozen feet from the other.
"Why are we stopping here?" Mrs. Darby asked in surprise as he assisted them up.
"You get up, walk to next sled," the man explained cheerfully. "Stay warm and limber!"
"Good idea," June said.
She and Jack walked briskly over to the new sled and shook hands with the woman waiting for them. She bundled them into the sled and the dogs went tearing off.
"Okay, here's the deal," she shouted as they blew over the ice. "I'm not supposed to know your names or ask questions." She paused and blinked in surprise when two blue optics peeked out of June's parka then disappeared. The woman shook her head and went on. "The rules apply to every team you meet. We were all told that you two are doing a scientific experiment. Most of your mushers will be government employees of one sort or another. But civilian trailbreaker teams are being sent ahead to find the fastest trails and make sure the ice is safe. We should have you to the Yukon in less than twelve hours. There you will meet someone with further instructions."
"Thank you," June said with a warm smile and a giggle, which the ranger dutifully ignored.
The sudden movement had woken the sparklings and the one she carried was shifting around curiously. Thousands of tiny feet tickled her as it adjusted its position.
"So how did you get all the civilian trailbreaker teams to participate if they don't know what's going on?" Jack asked.
"Easy," the ranger replied with a grin. "We say, 'Here's fifty bucks, go do what you love to do along a specific route for a few hours. We don't get many complaints."
As promised the dogs made good time, and the trail was smooth and hard ahead of them. It felt as if they were flying along some times. Their goggles protected them from the glare of the snow and ice when the sun shone weakly over the horizon at noon. But there was little to break the monotony of the trail. Jack soon found himself dozing off between changes, the long hours and stress catching up with him.
At one point a happy trilling woke him up. All three of the sparkling were awake and had poked their heads out of the parkas. Jack followed their gaze up, and nearly stopped breathing. His mind searched for something to compare what he was seeing to. It was a groundbridge, no, a space bridge, massive and powerful in the night sky above, swirling with red, green, blue, and pink. Smaller spirals surrounded the main one. There was no fear in the boy. Nothing evil could come out of something so beautiful. It was as if his very being was thrumming in tune to the lights above him.
"Amazing, isn't it?" a gruff voice called out; breaking the dreamlike state Jack was in.
Jack looked over his shoulder at their current musher in confusion. How did he know about space bridges?
"The Aurora," the man explained pointing up.
"What, oh yes, the Northern Lights," Jack said feeling a bit sheepish. Of course that's what they were. No one in this solar system had the kind of power it would take to make such a massive bridge. Still, he stared up at them in fascination. The human adjusted his parka so his two sparklings could enjoy the view and still stay warm. They appeared to be as fascinated by the spectacle as he was. Jack saw the display reflected in their optics, the cerulean blue capturing the spiral and shining it back to the heavens. The smaller one looked at the human and smiled in delight.
"Skyfire," Jack whispered softly, stroking the little ones head.
O
O
"And here you go! Solid river ice under the snow now," the musher called out as the sled pulled up to the base of a mountain.
He waved goodbye cheerfully as the two passengers carefully stumped across the slick ice to the next sled in the relay. The man shook his head. He knew he shouldn't be so curious but what were they carrying under those parkas?
The next team consisted of nineteen dogs, each larger than those they had seen before. When Jack asked about it he was told that more strength was needed to keep up the pace over hills and scrub. Like every other dog team this one seemed interested in the mysterious bundles the two humans carried. It took the musher a few moments to get them straightened out. The woman then handed the travelers a thermos of hot tea and warm cinnamon rolls. While Jack was gratefully eating his a small hand reached up and snatched a piece out of his mouth.
"Hey! That's not for you," Jack laughed.
The sparkling showed the bit of food to its sibling who tore off half. They mimicked the human's actions, shoving it into their mouths and beginning to work it over with their mandibles.
"Yuck!" Jack unbuttoned his parka a bit and tried to work the goop out of the infant's mouth, unsure what the carbohydrates would do to the Cybertronians' innards. "Ouch!" He exclaimed yanking his finger back, suddenly very glad for the extra protection the gloved offered. Skyfire's jaws were strong.
"Are you okay?" June called worriedly.
"I'm fine," Jack reassured her. "But do you think cinnamon rolls will do them any harm?"
Mrs. Darby let out a laugh and shook her head.
"A little bit shouldn't cause any problems," she reassured him. "And it is good to see them interacting. I was getting a bit worried because,"
The musher cleared her throat loudly and June snapped her mouth shut with a sheepish look. Jack sat back in the sled more than a little concerned. From what little he had learned from the decaying records on the pod Starscream had done some terrible things to the sparklings; things that might easily affect them for life; especially the virus. The human stroked the wriggling little ones, as much to reassure himself as to comfort them. He looked at the orange stain on his glove and a trickle of fear ran down his spine. The rust was getting worse. He cuddled the sparklings closer and crooned to them. There was nothing else he could do until they got back to base.
O
O
*So hereee wee areeeeee, in the Tijuana jaiiilllllll,* the voices of the Kingston trio wailed out over the frozen tundra.
A young man in a parka paced beside a gunmetal grey semi attached to a nondescript trailer. The hood had fallen back to reveal long dark hair and a dark native face. He shot an annoyed look up at the cab and gave a quick kick at one of the chain wrapped tires. The music roared out louder in response.
"Will you stuff it?" the human growled.
The music increased in volume yet again.
"Hey, I didn't want to be here anymore than you do," the young man huffed. "Do you think I wanted to give up a December trip to Mexico to ride an ice road? I was looking forward to seeing Lola too."
The music died and a snort came from the engine compartment. The mighty diesel growled to life and began releasing warm air out of its smokestacks.
"Look we owe Johnson for last summer. We'd have never gotten you rebuilt so fast if he hadn't been pulling strings. The least we can do is help him out when he needs some cargo transported."
A low growl emanated under the sound of the engine.
"I'm sorry you had to fly out here but speed, Ouch!" the human rubbed his posterior where the black tie strap had snapped it.
"I know all that," a deep voice snarled. "I know I'm the only one capable of performing the task assigned. I let them drag me off the ground in that evil contraption. I am here. I WILL do what needs to be done. Just don't expect me to be pleasant about it."
"Fair enough," the human muttered leaning up against the cab.
"Hey, do you hear that?" the semi suddenly killed its engine.
The young man perked up and tilted his head to one side, surprised by the sudden change in his brother's tone.
"A dog team," the human murmured.
"No duh, but listen," there was an odd urgency in the deep voice. "The bitches are singing the birth song."
"So they are," the young man said. "Huh, did they haul us out here for an emergency medical run?"
"Why us? Why not a plane or a copter?" the truck rumbled. "The weather is good for both."
"Maybe a Clan member who can't fly? Well, we'll find out soon enough."
The human heard the sound of his companion sniffing the air. The wind was in the right direction so he should be able to get a clear scent.
"Smithy!" the deep voice called out suddenly.
"What?"
"It's Smith," the truck said happily, "and he has some of his special friends with him."
"Well, I'll be stumped," they young man said softly.
O
O
The final leg of the dog sled relay was short. The team pulled up to the edge of the Yukon River and the musher helped the tired travelers to their feet. June said thanks for the last time and they walked down the indicated path to the riverbed below. Jack frowned at the scene awaiting them.
"But the virus will eat right through that truck," he said eyeing the grey machine as they approached.
"Maybe Ratchet was able to fit them with a containment unit in the trailer," his mother suggested.
"Maybe," he agreed reluctantly. There was something familiar about the rig, something he couldn't quite put his finger on, until the figure came bounding up the bank to greet him with a shout and a crushing bear hug.
"Smithy!" The other young man started when he felt something move under the bulky parka.
"Zech!" Jack replied happily. "Sal! Heya! You look great."
"Get over here you sissy Cheechako," the deep voice rumbled happily from the engine. "Let me look at you."
"Uh Dr. Green this is…"
"Huh? You don't share your mother's name? Why not?" the truck asked bluntly.
Mrs. Darby shot Jack a sharp look.
"Sal!" Zech exclaimed in embarrassment.
"Cover story," Jack explained with a laugh. "How'd you know?"
"I just know these things," the semi said dismissively. "Scent mostly. Throw whatever that top secret cargo is in the back and let's get this show on the ice. I actually think the chopper ride was worth it! This trip is so going to ro….." It suddenly grew very quiet. Zech held his breath.
"Chirup?"
Jack unsuccessfully tried to push the curious head back down into his parka.
"Ah, forgive me if I'm wrong," the semi began in a tightly controlled voice. "But is that an infant of Red Warrior's species?"
Jack shot Zech a desperate look, remembering Sal's reaction to Optimus. June stared evenly at the truck.
"And if it is?"
With a hiss of hydraulics the landing gear descended and the trailer unhitched from the semi.
"Then there is no way I am taking them up the Yukon in this trailer," growled the rig in disgust. "Whose idea was that?"
Zech spun around with a furious gleam in his eye that nearly matched that in the woman's.
"Now climb up in my cab where I can keep them warm," continued the deep voice. "Honestly, hauling children like cargo? What would Ma say?"
Zech shot Jack a sheepish grin, relieved that he had misunderstood his brother, and offered Mrs. Darby a hand up. The woman smiled sadly and shook her head.
"I appreciate the sentiment, ah?"
"Oh, where are my manners?" Zech said in embarrassment. "Dr. Green I'm Zechariah Franklin, this here is my brother Salcha Franklin. Sal to our friends."
"Sal, but these children are carrying an extremely dangerous metal eating virus that needs to be contained. If we ride up front with you, you will be in grave danger, not to mention we won't get very far before you break down." There were a thousand questions racing around the nurse's head but her training and mother instincts were focused on one thing at the moment; getting the sparklings to the safety of the base and Ratchet's care.
"Ah, so you don't know who I am?" Sal asked more than a little smugly.
"Until five minutes ago we had no idea who we were supposed to meet here," Jack said absently, shuffling through a stack of paper Zech had handed him. "Mom, here. These are the instructions from the Doctor."
She took them and began reading through the list. A frown formed on her face.
"Hey," Sal said, a bit put off by the lack of attention he was receiving. He pulled around to the back of the trailer and reached out with a black tie strap to open the door. "I would just like to point out that I am not made of metal. This is just a body I use, and I am perfectly capable of protecting it from the axel to the smallest circuit. So there is no need to stuff the little ones into this."
The semi disdainfully pulled a container out of the trailer, along with a small Cybertronian generator.
"That's a refrigeration unit," Jack said with a frown eyeing the windowless box and protectively clutching the sparklings closer to him.
"Yes it is," June murmured quickly scanning the sparse instructions. "The Doctor thinks the cold may slow down the virus's progression. He says the best course of action will be to keep them at -40 degrees where they should go into a physical dormancy state, and set the force field up around them. That might contain the virus."
"But?" Jack asked hearing the hesitancy in her voice. He had bent over to examine the force field generator.
"But I am to analyze the situation and use my best judgment," June said heavily. "I agree with Sal that it would not be good to isolate them."
She stroked the sparkling coiled around her waist and realized it was trembling. She automatically adjusted the parka around it but realized its gaze was turned on the looming semi. The woman frowned. It was afraid of the truck?
"How is the virus spread?" Zech asked, "If I'm allowed to know?"
"Physical contact," June said still mulling over the problem.
"How about this?" Jack suddenly suggested. "This is a class zeta seven force field; it is specially tuned to only work on mechano-viruses. We put the force field up on the inside of Sal's cab."
"Sounds good to me!" the semi called out cheerfully, pitching the refrigeration unit carelessly back into the trailed and locking the door.
"You do realize that this is a great risk," Nurse Darby looked straight at the truck. "If you become infected there is no telling what the virus will do to you. Even the effects on the species it was designed for are still theoretical."
The semi rolled within inches of the unflinching woman. The hood lifted fractionally and a long black tentacle reached out to touch the trembling sparkling. The little one let out a wail as the appendage approached and tightened its grip on June until she grunted softly in pain; but as the thick coil gently stroked the round head the little one stopped trembling and un-shuttered its optics to peer curiously up at the truck.
"Cheep?" it queried softly.
"Who taught the little one fear?" the voice asked. Though the tone was quiet June heard outrage and danger in it.
"His name would have no meaning to you," she said calmly. "Know that he is an outcast among his own kind and a fugitive everywhere he goes on this world."
"The pain this little one is feeling, it is great. Is that a 'theoretical' symptom? We need to get them to a proper facility and fast. I can do that better running bobtail than hauling a trailer. As for the risk," Salcha said quietly, "Let me worry about that. I fear neither death nor quarantine." The coil disappeared into the engine compartment and a deliberate smacking sound rang out. "And besides this virus doesn't taste dangerous."
June blinked and opened her mouth, then smiled and shook her head.
"Smith, set up the force field and let's get on the road," she called out.
Her son got to his feet. Zech opened his parka and Jack handed over the larger of the bipeds. Soon the generator was humming away and they were settled into the cab. June examined the sparklings closely in the interior light. They were covered in an orange crust. Carefully the three humans rubbed the little ones down until they shone silver again. Zech produced a drop cloth and an industrial strength biohazard box for disposing the tainted rags.
"Did the feds give you that for the trip?" June asked curiously.
"Nope, we always keep one handy," Zech replied cheerfully never taking his eyes off the sparkling he was gently stroking.
The nurse raised her eyebrows. Those containers cost nearly a grand apiece. The hospital she worked for only kept one in stock. She looked at the two young men, working perfectly together as if they'd know each other for years. There was more than one mystery here she decided, but as she ran over the massive amount of classified information she already had to juggle in her life the woman was more than content to leave them mysteries.
Once she was content with the cleaning job Sal lowered the temperature to just below freezing. The sparklings protested and tried to crawl back under the parkas but the nurse was firm. The Cybertronians wouldn't freeze at that temperature, neither would the humans in the parkas, and it would slow the virus. The three chirped sadly for a bit and then curled up one to a lap and shuttered tired optics.