A/N: Yays for being vague! Mwhahaha. We already knew that there were two strange signals coming from some weird source. Well, guess what? That's right, there is another. Now exactly what are these 'artifacts' and why are there three on Earth and why is one in... you'll have to read on for more information. Rachel is back, but Jazz is off on another of his James Bond missions. And TC is going home for a visit; he's supposed to be there shopping for troops and gadgets, but... And I'm really getting into writing Skywarp, he's a much more than just the yes-man I originally thought he was.

As always, constructive criticism is welcomed. Reviews are given much love!

Story Arc 6

Chapter 3 – Impossibility

"Harmonizing radiation?" Wheeljack looked strangely at the gentle scientist. "Just what kind of experiment are you planning?"

Jetfire paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts on how to approach this; he did not like to lie to people, especially his friends, but he needed to keep this project a secret for as long as possible. "I was thinking about taking a trip to the outer reaches of this solar system. I was researching on the human internet about the arguments over the 'dwarf planets' and objects in the Kuiper Belt and it piqued my interest. Unfortunately most of the scanners I have will detect every other type of radiation, but I would like to see if this system carries any harmonizing radiation. If it does then I can send my findings back to the Iacon Science Academy. It has been quite a while since I published anything for the Academy."

"Sounds like fun." The engineer started to pull tools out and set them on his workbench. "Are you going alone or is this trip open for visitors."

He actually wanted to go explore this system at some point and it seemed a plausible story, but he hadn't thought about anyone else wanting to go along. And though he would miss the company, he needed to find the sources on Earth before he could possibly take the trip. "For the moment alone, at least until I can get Ratchet to clear to go, then maybe we could go and explore together. It has been a long time since I got to explore with someone else."

"As long as the Decepticons keep quiet, I'm sure Ratchet will give you the go ahead."

"I am hoping he does."

--

"Do you have the scanners working, 'Screamer?" Skywarp was leaning against the worktable, bored out of his CPU and flicking wires and small pieces of scrap metal around.

Starscream growled and smacked the bored black and purple Seeker away. "I would if you'd stop being a glitching pest. Go torment TC for awhile."

A mischievous smirk crossed Skywarp's face. "He said to come harass you."

The Air Commander gave a martyred sigh. "Figures he would."

"So are they done yet?"

"No. Stop asking." The red Seeker's voice took on his annoyed snarky tone.

Skywarp picked up a tool and started to toss it up in the air. "How are we going to find the other ones?"

Starscream plucked the tool away from his wingmate. "I don't know yet."

The black and purple Seeker picked up another tool and started to use it to bat scrap pieces around the lab. "Why not?"

Starscream carefully put the scanner down on the table before powering up his null ray and aiming it directly into his wingmate's face. "Because. You. Keep. Annoying. Me."

Skywarp put the tool down. "Hey. Chill out, 'Screamer. I'm just asking some questions. Sheesh. Who lubricated in your energon this morning?"

The weapon powered down and the Air Commander picked the scanner back up. "You did, probably." He carefully soldered a wire to a conductor hoping beyond hope that Skywarp would just shut up.

"So how much longer 'til you're done?"

He set the scanner back down and put his hands on the edge of the table, crushing the metal and leaving indentations of his fingers. "You know what, 'Warp?"

The black and purple Seeker grinned. "What?"

Starscream let go of the table and faced his wingmate. "How about you figure out how we're going to get the one that's out in the ocean. Think you can do that?"

Skywarp gave a non-committal shrug. "Sure."

The Air Commander smiled and turned back to the scanner. "Good."

Skywarp rested his elbows on the table and started to flick more of the scrap wire across the workbench.

The scanner went down and Starscream punched the table, sending almost everything on it a few inches into the air. "I said go think up a way to get the one out of the water!"

"I am thinking."

"…" Starscream's face contorted in anger as he grabbed the black and purple Seeker's arm and bodily forced him to the door. "OUT! Now! Get out! Go away! And don't come back until you 'think' up a way to get that piece!" He managed to shove a grinning Skywarp out of his lab. "And if you even try to teleport back in here, I will personally tear you limb from limb, understand?!"

The door to the lab slammed shut and Skywarp giggled manically. There was the soft swishing sound as the Seeker teleported to the control room a few feet behind Thundercracker. He stifled another wicked giggle as he leaned in right next to the dark blue Seeker's audio receptors. "GUESS WHAT!?"

Thundercracker jumped out of the control chair, incendiary guns out of subspace and aimed for a giggling Skywarp. "You son-of-a-glitch! Don't you ever do that again!"

The black and purple Seeker shrugged. "I just thought you might want to know about the scanners."

The weapons slipped back into subspace and Thundercracker sat back down. "'Screamer finished yet?"

"Nope."

"…" Thundercracker rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"Oh!" Skywarp smirked evilly. "'Screamer says he wants you to find a way to get the one that's out in the ocean."

--

With the newly installed scanner, Jetfire circled over the initial region where he had found the signal. The radiation signal was still on Earth, but it had moved northward significantly. The gentle scientist connected with one of Sky spy's satellites and checked for nearby Decepticon activity. He gave a sigh of relief when it verified that there hadn't been any in the last few weeks. Plate tectonics, he mused as he accessed Teletraan 1 and pulled up all the information stored in the mainframe about the Aleutian Trench. Seven million years drew the signal towards present day Alaska, but it also put it extremely close to the very active Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Veritech fighter dropped altitude until he was just barely skimming the over the deep blue waters as he let the scanner direct him to the exact spot where the harmonic radiation was the strongest. Jetfire transformed over it and hovered above the waters as he took readings about the signal. The source was much bigger than he had first encountered, which could mean it was an original artifact. In a sense, he was relieved that it was still here, but now that Starscream and the others knew about it he worried that it wouldn't stay where it belonged, hidden from everyone and everything.

The gentle scientist increased the sensitivity of the scanner trying to get a reading on just how far down the artifact was when two more, and much fainter signals appeared from the southeast. How was that possible? He accessed Teletraan 1 and fed in the telemetry that the scanner gave him. Jetfire frowned. One signal, if the scanner was correct, was on land, and near a heavily populated area. The other was much fainter and in the direction of the Decepticon base, Nemesis. The fainter signal must mean that Starscream had some type of artifact, but as to what would give that faint of a signal, he didn't know.

Jetfire turned his attention back to the other signal. Why hadn't he noticed this one when he came to inspect the planet? There was no information of that signal registering in his data banks. Now he regretted telling Starscream anything about the harmonic radiation signals. If the Seeker found out about the signal there… There was no stopping the intervention now; he couldn't stand by passively if the humans in the area would be in danger.

Jetfire cringed as he realized that he would now have to tell Optimus about everything; he would need the Autobots help if he were to remove the artifact and relocate it somewhere safer. The gentle scientist transformed in the air and headed back towards the base. Questions filled his mind with spark-wrenching regret. How long did he have before Starscream found the other signal? Why were the Seekers interested in the signals? Would they harm the humans if… not if…when, when they found the other signal?

And the most disturbing question that invaded his mind: what was Starscream planning to do when he found the source of the signals?

Jetfire sighed deeply as he opened a comlink to the Ark. "Jetfire to Optimus."

"Optimus here. Did you need something, Jetfire?"

"I was wondering if that offer to talk was still open."

--

Starscream handed the recalibrated scanner to Thundercracker. "This will pick up any signal that is even remotely similar to the other three."

The dark blue Seeker smirked as he turned the device over in his hands. "What about the range on it?"

"Unfortunately, not as far as I would like it to be. I can remedy that, but I need some parts that we can only get on Cybertron." The Air Commander crossed his arms over his cockpit. "Which is why I'm sending you there."

Crimson optics narrowed. "And how are you going to explain that to Megatron when he wakes up?"

A smirk spread across Starscream's face. "You're to report to Shockwave with orders to bring the best of the War Academy back to Earth. We're short on fighters and we need new medics and he is to procure a new gestalt for us."

Thundercracker chuckled. "Recruiting new troops, good idea. That will make Megatron's solar cycle."

"Hmmph. He'll find something wrong with it I'm sure."

"Think of it this way, once we get this working…" He held up the device.

Starscream frowned. "We're seven million years behind on the search."

Thundercracker put a hand on his wingmate's shoulder. "But now we have better scanners and information on other locations and signals."

"That doesn't mean we will find them any faster."

Thundercracker sighed, "I should have known that text wasn't complete. It was just too perfect for it to be the only information source."

Starscream shook his head, "Too late for regrets now. You did the best you could with the information we had, TC." He pulled two data pads out of subspace and handed them to the dark blue Seeker. "One is the requisition to give to Shockwave. The other is the list of equipment I need and all the codes to get into where it is stored." He looked at his wingmate seriously. "I want you to keep your comlink on at all times and keep your optics open. If you run into trouble Skywarp will be there in under 50 astro-seconds."

Thundercracker grinned. "When do I leave?"

--

There was soft sound of Cusco's 'Montezuma' playing in the background as Rachel sat in front of her computer at her newly acquired desk in the med bay. She had an identical one set up in Wheeljack's lab as well, but today she was watching over the only patient and waiting for Ratchet's return so they could start inventory. She ran her finger over the mouse pad, scrolling down the latest text from Cybertron about mech upgrades. It wasn't the best read she had lately, but it was better than focusing on Jazz being gone. She sighed and rocked in her chair, letting her head fall back and staring up at the ceiling. Eight days with no word from him and counting. She wasn't sure if she could handle another day of him being gone.

There hadn't been any Decepticon activity since the battle for Portland besides small energy raids and the Seekers showing up to ask Jetfire questions about harmonic radiation signals. And then there was Skywarp asking Optimus to tell her he said 'hiya'. She couldn't fathom why on Earth he wanted to say hello to her and she was still getting teased about it from the other Autobots that were there when he made his request.

She kept staring at the orange titanium ceiling, letting her mind drift. Harmonic radiation. She'd never heard of it before, and yet Starscream came all the way over to the Ark to ask Jetfire about it. It had to be something important if the crazy Seeker was interested in it. She sat up and accessed the Iacon Science Academy's database through Teletraan 1 and ran a search. It didn't turn up much information and she frowned at the scant amount of it.

Harmonizing radiation occurs when certain unstable primordial radionuclides decays into the highly radioactive metalloids Elistride and Ceftrium.

She ran a secondary search on Elistride and Ceftrium and gaped at what it said. Elistride and Ceftrium weren't just 'highly radioactive', they were life-ending-mass-extinction-destroy-everything-on-Earth-radioactive. That cold feeling of dread filled her stomach: that crazy Seeker wasn't planning on bring that interstellar matter to Earth, was he? She kept reading the miniscule article on the database.

The extremely limited presence of harmonic radiation in the cosmos has drawn recent controversy over its existence. While certain proponents in the scientific community still aver the authenticity of the claims of actual discovery within star systems, many scientists are putting forth the argument that harmonizing radiation can only be observed within a controlled laboratory setting.

Now she wanted to talk to Jetfire. He obviously knew more about it than the two paragraphs in the Science Academy database.

--

"You're telling me that it's here on Earth?" Optimus Prime looked at the gentle scientist like he had sprouted a third head and turned purple.

"Yes. And no." Jetfire nodded. "The one from Cybertron was somehow lost billions of years ago. There is a belief… Well there was a belief, before the war, that there was one for every stellar system."

"And the one for this system is here on Earth?"

"Yes. When we came to explore this system I detected the signal, but when I tried to investigate it, I ended up caught in the polar regions and crashed." He interlaced his fingers together. "The same signal is still here on Earth, but in a very unstable region of the Pacific Ocean. I doubt Starscream can reach that one, but it is the lesser signals that are a cause of concern. There is one in Central America near heavily populated areas, and the other is with Starscream."

The Autobot leader looked at Jetfire thoughtfully for a moment. "I am curious as to how you knew what the signal was."

"My mentor back on Cybertron was one of the few experts to examine one brought in from another planet. One day he took me to see it, he said it was a once in a lifetime experience. It's a shame he went missing on an archaeology dig on Mira-12. He would have enjoyed Earth." Jetfire mused for a brief moment on the past before returning his attention on Optimus Prime. "I believe we need to investigate the one in Central America and, if necessary, relocate it to a safer location."

The Autobot leader stood up from his desk. "Gather what you need. I'll have a team ready to go in one jour, Jetfire."

"Thank you, Optimus. May I request that you bring Wheeljack and Ratchet along?"

"I will let them know."

--

"You'll need to be on constant standby, 'Warp. If anything goes wrong for TC, you have to get to him as fast as possible." Starscream scowled as he finished the final repairs to Megatron's power relays. He had drawn out the warlord's repairs for too long and he was going to pay for it when Megatron awoke.

Skywarp leaned against the nearest exam table playing with the upgraded scanner. "Who's guarding the Space Bridge right now, anyways?"

"I did not look over duty rosters this morning. But I'm sure you won't have any problems from the cannon fodder. If he doesn't know who you are, he doesn't belong in the Decepticons." He closed the final panels on Megatron's armor and started removing the cabling that monitored his systems. "I'm ready to bring him back-" He took one look at Skywarp tossing the scanner up in the air and snarled, snatching the device quickly. "What are you doing you glitch? We only have two of these and you can't have it out when 'our glorious leader' wakes up!"

Skywarp grabbed the scanner back and turned it on to prove that he didn't damage it. "Pfft. It's not like we need it for this stupid planet anymore. We already know where the thing is."

The scanner beeped and Skywarp stuck his tongue out at his wingmate. "See? It works."

The device beeped again… and then it made a higher pitched beep.

The two Seekers looked at each other for a moment, and then quickly turned their attention to the scanner. "There's another one?"

--

Optimus Prime, Jetfire and Wheeljack walked into the med bay looking for the grumpy medic.

Rachel turned around holding the data pad that she was using for inventory and smiled at the newcomers. "Afternoon fellas."

The Autobot leader nodded to her. "Good afternoon, Rachel. Is Ratchet around?"

The young woman pointed down just as there was a loud clunk and some cursing in Cybertronian. Ratchet stood up rubbing his head. "What do you need, Optimus?"

"I need your assistance for a mission."

The medic picked up the box he had been taking inventory of and set it on the table. "Oh yeah? When?"

Optimus chuckled. "Now."

An optic ridge was raised as he looked over the three. "You don't give a mech much time to get ready do you?"

Jetfire nodded to him. "I'm sorry if this upsets your schedule, Ratchet, but I requested your assistance for this."

"Alright. What do I need to bring and who else are you taking?"

"The four of us and Bluestreak and Mirage will meet us at the entrance." Optimus looked sideways at Jetfire. "We are not expecting trouble."

Ratchets optics narrowed. "Then why do you need me?"

"In case one of us are injured in the attempt to recover the…item." Jetfire looked at the others.

"Is this what you needed the scanner for, Jets?" Wheeljack looked at the gentle scientist, his vocal processors 'blinking' as he spoke.

"I'm afraid it is." The gentle scientist's gaze fell to the floor. He still felt guilty about lying to a friend. "I do plan to go explore the Kuiper Belt in the future, but this is more important right now."

Wheeljack rocked back on his heels with a chuckle. "So it really does exist, huh? I was taught to believe it was the material of myths and legends."

"What really exists? The harmonic radiation?" Rachel, who had been quiet up until that moment, spoke up.

Jetfire looked at the young woman. "You know of it? I did not encounter any information on the human internet about harmonic radiation."

"I should hope not!" She looked wide-eyed at him. "The two paragraphs from the Iacon Science database didn't give much information about it, but I can tell you this: it doesn't exist on Earth. It's so radioactive that it would wipe out life as we know it, or as I know it, at least."

Jetfire chuckled. "It does exist here on Earth, just not in the forms given by the database. If you like, I can give you more information about it when we return."

"Can I go with you?" She looked up at Optimus. "You said you didn't expect any trouble."

The Autobot leader looked at Jetfire. "If she wouldn't be in any danger from it, I see no reason why she can't come."

"Certainly. As a matter of fact, you could be very useful to me." The Veritech fighter smiled at Rachel. "Have you ever been to Central America?"