Transformers Prime: Dangerous Liaisons
Chapter Three
"Say again, Whitman?" Strickland asked into her audio pickup. "What came over the wire?"
"Our eyes at Nellis said they got a return notification from the Task Force sent to acquire the Darby kid. They got him, and they've requested a blackout on a section of the base." The agent relayed. "My guess is they've got something coming in they don't want anyone without top clearance to see."
"The Techno-Morphs." Strickland ventured.
"Seems so, ma'am." Whitman agreed. "Should I notify Director Silas?"
Jessica thought on that for a moment. "No." She decided. "Stand-by. We're diverting now, we should be able to beat the Task Force unit back to Nellis. I'll take it from that point. Patch me through to our man on the ground there."
"Understood." The line went quiet as her department worked on their end.
She mulled over the situation. She wouldn't be able to deliver the teen and his alien ally right from the hands of the Military. That kind of attention was the sort MECH did not need. As things stood, the failure of the D.N.G.S. operation over a year before had almost exposed them completely. Thankfully her fast work to reestablish the Initiative's cover had since led U.S. intelligence agencies to regard them as nothing more then would-be terrorists. That was perfectly fine.
However, the opportunity now being presented was too good to pass up. If she calculated precisely, timed everything, and waited for the right moment she would be able to deliver two birds with one stone. Her father would never have a reason to doubt her again, and she would have likewise proven to her mother that she had become every bit the asset to MECH's cause that she knew herself to be, with no further need of coddling.
"We've got our man." Whitman informed her.
"Copy. Patch him through, then wait for further instructions."
The communications channel clicked, and she could hear the sound of aircraft over the connection. Their mole at Nellis was transmitting with a personal device from an exterior location.
"Knight here." The spy identified, using one of a dozen coded alias.
"Knight, this is Bishop. Our touchdown is in less then five. We need a secure landing zone and I'm going to need airman fatigues upon arrival."
"I can do that. Be advised, anything more then that might risk compromise."
"Won't need more then that, Knight. The rest is up to me."
"Understood. Relaying secure LZ. Out."
The Blackhawk's onboard suite of computers received the coordinates seconds later. Now it was simply a matter of touching down, then the rest, as she had stated, rested on her.
. . .
"You really think you spoke to this…Primus?" June asked her son, holding on to both him and Arcee as the three speed along ahead of the small convoy of vehicles pulling up the rear. In the near distance they could already see the lights of Nellis' Airfield where their conveyance waited.
"I don't know for sure, mom." Jack told her openly. "But, I wouldn't have made it out of there without hearing that voice. Then, after what the two of us saw, that vision or whatever it was, the voice told me these Invaders were coming. It was just too much to be some figment of that Dreamscape. Plus, I saw what the light from Primus did to the Virus's form; it was afraid, like it knew it was facing something more then the dream-world it created around us."
"If it's true, and these old enemies of yours are coming to invade the planet, can you and the other, uh, Autobots stop them Arcee?"
"We'll certainly try, June. With everything we've got and then some." Arcee told her firmly. "But, I wouldn't turn my nose at finding an advantage. When it comes to whatever we might be facing when they get here, there are just too many unknowns."
"God…" June whispered.
"Mom, you have to trust me. It's going to be alright. We've faced some pretty incredible odds, and we're still here. If it comes down to it, we'll have the whole planet ready for a fight. And if there's something in my head that can help, then it just means we'll have an even better chance."
"Don't worry. I'll support you, every step of the way sweetheart. I just don't you to risk your life if…"
"I know, mom. It'll be alright."
"Hang on, you two." Arcee interrupted gently. "We're here."
Ahead of them, a series of perimeter security vehicles were already moving to clear the way. In the near distance Jack could see the massive C-130 cargo plane set aside for transport to the off-site facility on the tarmac, turbines spinning and ready. As they grew closer that section of the airfield suddenly went dark.
"What…?" June asked.
"Security precautions." Arcee explained. "Lucia already gave me the head's up. The base has a lot of personnel, other military, and even a few civilian contractors. Not all of them are cleared to know about me or the others. The rest…well, they're not ready to know yet."
"They'll know eventually." June pointed out.
"Maybe they'll never have to if we can find a way to stop that invasion force before they get here."
"But…what about you two?" June asked them. "Do you want your relationship to be a national security secret forever?"
The sudden silence was telling. Neither of them did; the fact that the team now knew about them, as well as Jack's mother, was a massive weight off of them. However, to have their romance become common knowledge to the rest of the world? That was something they had not discussed.
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there." Jack finally offered. "All I care about right now is that the two most important women in my life know about each other. Couldn't have asked for more then that."
"Would have been nice if you hadn't of waited for a crisis to tell me." June rebuked.
"Believe me, June, I tried telling him the same thing." Arcee added. "Your son can be stubborn."
"Oh, you don't need to tell me…" June agreed.
"Is this going to a thing now? My girlfriend and my mother teaming up to rub my face in something?" Jack inquired heatedly. "Because, honestly, I'll take my chances with the 'cons."
"Oh, you're so cute you when you get all indignant." June teased.
"Isn't he though?" Arcee observed mirthfully.
Jack merely sighed heavily in response.
Behind them, the Task Force vehicles speed up, the two Humvees pulling ahead to escort, with Lucia's SUVs pulling up the rear. The convoy was already cleared to pass through a security checkpoint and enter the airfield.
None of the vehicles had their lights engaged, the drivers utilizing the small runway lights for direction in the darkness. After some small turns the convoy reached the C-130. Jack could see the rear loading ramp had been lowered. Arcee came to a stop, giving Jack and his mother time to slip off before she shifted to her bi-pedal form. Lucia's SUV had come to a stop behind them, the Agent stepping out and moving towards them.
"Well, that was certainly an adventure." Carlos joked somewhat bitterly. "Hopefully no more road-bumps from here, eh?"
"Right. Hopefully." Jack agreed.
"Well, your airtime shouldn't be very long. I can't give you the exact location. Even the 'bots weren't told after the Big Guy suggested you just get Ground Bridged there. But, I know where you're going. Don't worry, as secret R&D sites go, it's pretty swanky. The questions might get annoying, but at least you'll have a cushy place to rest your head."
"Let's hope so. If it turns out to be a pit, don't think for a second I won't take Jack out of there." Arcee said.
"Easy there." Lucia placated. "It's on the up and up. President might have been advised to do this a bit more harshly then we would have liked, but it doesn't matter who's telling him what, he's not going to make an enemy of our best chances to not get conquered."
"I hope you're right." Arcee told him coolly.
"Well, I've done my part. I need to get Mrs. Darby to the Silo. Fowler wants to get her completely debriefed and introduced to the rest of the gang."
"Good. I've got some words for him too." June answered sternly.
"Ha. Can't wait to see that." Lucia said, turning to Jack to hold out a hand. "Well, good luck with the eggheads, Jackie boy. Hope there's something in that cabeza of yours that'll knock this whole thing out of the park."
"Me to. And thanks, Carlos." Jack turned to his mother as the Agent moved back to his SUV.
"Well, you just do what you can to help." June told him, her voice breaking slightly. "And I'll see you as soon as you come back. And, don't worry, I'll make sure they let me stay in touch."
"Mom, the places I've been? This is just a hop skip and a jump." Jack teased lightly. "I answer some questions then it's me and Arcee relaxing on a beach. Might be our last chance to take it easy for awhile. And trust me, we need a vacation."
"I'm sure." June said before taking her son into a hug. After a few moments she let him go, looking up in the near darkness at the two bright silver blue optics watching them.
"Arcee? You make sure he's looked after. They think he's so important, you make sure they treat him that way."
"I won't leave his side, June. He was important to you and me long before they had any reason to care this much."
June laughed gently. "You know, it's funny. I always figured that I'd find something to hate about the first girl Jack said he really loved. Can't say I've ever cared much for the ones he used to pine after. God, I remember this self-centered little redhead…"
"I think Jack's moved past that mind-set." Arcee observe happily.
"And I'm glad. You might not be…what I always imagined," June told her, reaching up to place a hand on the armor of Arcee's leg. "But I can't think of any woman I'd rather see looking after my son in this life more."
Arcee found it difficult to speak, but quickly rallied. "Thank you, June. That means more to me then you know."
"Sir? Ma'am?" Called an aircraft crewmen from the ramp. "We need to get airborne."
"Got it." Jack answered. He gave his mother another hug. "Enjoy meeting Optimus and the others. Believe me, it's going to be something else. Sure as heck was for me. I wish I could be there."
"You'll be back here soon enough." June told him. "Just go. It's not getting any easier."
Jack smiled at her, then moved for the ramp, Arcee beside him. The pair entered the hold of the aircraft, turning about as it rose up to seal them and the crew in. Before the ramp closed completely Jack could see the faint shadows of the vehicles moving quickly away. He couldn't help but release a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"You okay?" Arcee asked him.
"What? Yeah." Jack answered. "Have to admit, this isn't exactly how I thought our evening would go."
"Really? You act as if this wouldn't be the first interruption to a date night. I'm starting to think that Drive-In is bad luck."
"Sadly, you're kind of right." Jack observed with a bitter smile. "Maybe we should start staying in with a movie?"
"Works for me." Arcee agreed. "Come on, we should get strapped in before we're airborne."
"Right." Jack said. "Think they've got peanuts?"
"I don't think it's going to be that kind of flight. We're not exactly flying the friendly skies…" Arcee mused as they moved towards the forward half of the hold.
Their attention focused elsewhere the pair failed to notice the steady eyes of one female Airman watching them intently, nor did they notice when she used a concealed camera to take a series of photos, each one quickly encrypted and transmitted on a secure frequency to the MECH central command bunker hundreds of miles away. In seconds the photos would be decrypted and shown to the Initiative's director, the message of them clear enough. "Targets acquired." The rest was merely a matter of time.
. . .
…He was in the woods once more, stumbling through the fog. This time, however, he had a greater sense of purpose. This time he knew where to go. He followed the invisible tether that drew him towards the radiant orb of light nestled deep in the forest. There, he found the same figure as before, bathed in a radiant glow which made it indistinguishable. Jack found that he could speak, "What…was the question?"
"…choose." It told him, just as it had before. "…choose."
"Choose what?" Jack asked it.
"Choose…sacrifice." It said.
"Sacrifice of what? Whom?" He cried.
"…you…will know." It said.
"Wait…there's more I need to know!" Jack demanded. The light had already begun to fade as the woods turned to ash. "No! Wait…not yet, wait!" Jack pleaded…
. . .
Jack woke with a start, nearly falling from the padded passenger seat set in the forward half of the aircraft. The hold was bitterly cold, though Jack was keenly aware that the temperature in the plane wasn't the reason he was shivering. Belatedly he checked the display on his phone, the screen showing the time to be just after 5:00am. He wondered at there being no sign of a call from his mother.
"Arcee?" He inquired, wondering likewise at her whereabouts in the large holding space.
"I'm here." Her voice answered, her armored feet clanking loudly as she moved up the aisle towards him. The personnel in the Aircraft who had been given clearance to transport Jack and his non-human companion where still acclimating to the Cybertronian woman's presence. Most tried, in vein, not to stare as she stomped by.
"You need anything?" She asked, reaching down to give his face a brief touch with her finger.
"No. I'm just wondering if you've heard from my mother?" He asked.
"She's fine. Resting at the Silo." Arcee explained. "Ratchet tells me she had…quite the reaction to meeting everyone." She chuckled slightly. "Seems she's quite taken with Optimus."
"Why am I not surprised." Jack mused wryly. "He does make an impression."
"Like mother like son, hmm?" Arcee teased. "Wonder how long it will take her to admit how she feels…"
"Okay, first, you were as guilty of that as I was." Jack countered. "And second…my mom and Optimus isn't something I ever want to think about too closely."
"I know." Arcee bemoaned sardonically. "It's so gross when the old people do it, right?"
"Ugh…" Was Jack's only answer as he covered his face with both hands. "And there's the mental picture…"
"Glad I could provide." Arcee replied whimsically. "Anyway, I was just speaking to our pilots. Should be another two hours or so until we get to…wherever we're going."
"Great. And no In-Flight movie." Jack observed wearily, stretching slightly in his seat. "Hey, did you talk to Optimus at all?"
"Just a bit. He's been in video sessions with the President and his cabinet most of the evening. Sounds like things are still a bit tense." She told him.
"Why? I thought my agreeing to this whole interrogation would put them at ease."
"It's more then that. The President is pushing for Optimus to permit scientists under Government contract to begin studying our technology. Something Optimus is afraid of, even with the threat the Quintessons represent."
"But I thought you guys proved that the military already had some Cybertronian tech. What about that stolen weapon's research from the Nemesis you retrieved last year?"
"That weapon's research was designed to effect my kind. Something we learned first hand." Arcee told him. "But, from what our histories and Optimus's knowledge contains, the Quintessons are…something different. More organic then machine, but they have undergone genetic manipulation and Bio-Cybernetic augmentation. At least the ones who tried to conquer Cybertron eons ago did."
"So, bottom line, the stuff the Military has isn't enough." Jack ventured.
"Or so the President and the Pentagon insist." Arcee explained. "We don't even know if we'll be able to stop them from getting here. If Optimus agrees to your government's request to open up our science to them, and we find out later that the Quintessons can be stopped from reaching Earth, we would have still given your Military vast technological superiority over this planet's other countries."
"And that's a bad thing?" Someone asked from behind. Arcee turned to regard's the woman's voice, Jack likewise looking. Only a few steps away, just in earshot of their conversation, was a female Airmen, standing casually, appearing to have no qualms about having eavesdropped on their discussion.
"Excuse me?" Arcee inquired.
"I was just curious." The Airmen clarified. "What would be so bad about giving the us an advantage over other world powers?"
"Guess they don't teach Air Force personnel about respecting privacy, do they?" Arcee rebuked coldly.
"Arcee." Jack chastised. "It's not that big a plane. She probably didn't mean to overhear. Right, Ms…?" He asked, trying to make out the name on her fatigues.
"Cameron." The woman answered. "Airmen, First Class."
"Well, Airmen First Class, I don't see how this conversation concerns you." Arcee said heatedly.
"I apologize, ma'am." Cameron replied, with somewhat equal curtness. "I guess I don't warrant an answer."
"No." Arcee agreed. With a slight nod, the woman began to move away.
"Wait." Jack interjected, drawing a look of ire from Arcee. "It's not that big a deal. The leader of our team, a Cybertronian like Arcee, is a pretty smart guy. He's kind of got the whole ancient wisdom thing going. He, Arcee, and the others of their race have seen how War can decimate a planet. He just doesn't want to see that happen to us."
"The only way that could happen is if a War actually broke out." Cameron responded quickly. "But War's are usually begun when an enemy believes they have something to gain. But if one side has far more power then any other, especially of the armed variety, that alone would serve as an ample deterrent."
"Your Military is already the most powerful on the planet. That hasn't stopped quote un quote weaker enemies from attacking you."
"Which is what Optimus is worried about." Jack interceded once more. "Basically, that someone might authorize the use of advanced technology in response to any kind of attack. And, if the U.S. military suddenly has pulse-laser weapons, things might get pretty bad pretty fast."
"Peace can't always be won through diplomacy. Sometimes the best kind of point to make is a harsh one. If we had to use this advanced tech in response my guess it whomever attacked us or our allies wouldn't be too quick to so again." Cameron insisted.
"Right. I'm sure using our science to glass a small city somewhere wouldn't bother those so called allies, especially if they had not been given access to the same tech." Arcee responded sarcastically.
"Sometimes it's best if the advantage isn't shared. Less chance things will spiral out of control."
"Then…how would we beat a superior and mutual enemy?" Jack questioned. "We can't always win a fight alone. And working with others means trust. Other nations wouldn't be so quick to join the fight to save everyone equally if the U.S. decided to keep everything for themselves."
"I suppose that depends on whether or not everyone deserves to be saved." The Airmen replied stoically.
Jack tried to keep the look of shock from his face at the casual nature of the woman's response. Arcee, however, did nothing to hide her disgust.
"You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago." She told the Airmen. "He believed that only the strong should survive, and those who kept the world weak should be removed for the sake of everyone else."
"Depending on the circumstances, maybe he had the right idea." Cameron observed. "What happened to this person?" She asked.
"He became a Tyrannical despot and Warlord who destroyed my Planet." Arcee answered, her voice hard.
Cameron was silent for a moment, weighing the value of any response before she said, "Doesn't mean that would happen here."
"Maybe we should let this go." Jack offered, seeing Arcee's anger rising. After a few tense seconds, Arcee merely huffed, then looked away.
"Fine by me." She answered.
"I have duties to return to as it is." Cameron answered, looking to Jack. "Thank you for the talk. It was…insightful." She told him.
"Sure." Jack answered simply. The woman walked away towards the back of the plane leaving the pair of them once more to converse alone.
"Didn't realize Decepticons came in Human Form." Arcee said bitterly.
"That's not fair, Arcee." Jack answered. "So she has some harsh views. I don't think she's out to support conquering mankind. Most people in the military just want to protect the country and their families above everything else. Sometimes that can leave people a bit…closed minded."
"Making excuses for people like that is what led to The Fall, Jack." Arcee countered harshly. "Even Orion Pax once tried to pardon Megatronus for his radical views. That didn't end well for Cybertron."
"Well, Optimus learned from that." Jack told her gently. "So, if he does decide to help give humanity's tech a boost, he'll make sure it's done for the right reasons. Not just to make one country more powerful then the others."
"I know." Arcee said with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I guess this evening has me still on edge. If I could, I'd be breaking some speed records out on the Interstate. Or smashing some 'cons. Great stress relief."
"Wish I could help with the stress relief," Jack told her somewhat amorously.
Arcee laughed. "Think your mother made it clear she wouldn't like me taking advantage of you."
"Think I'm old enough to decide that for myself." Jack answered. "Besides, I like getting taken advantage of by you."
"Down boy." Arcee said coyly, giving him a poke with her alloyed finger. For just a few moments the dangers around them suddenly seemed a million miles away.
. . .
"Hello Jack." Airachnid whispered, watching the military aircraft on the screen in front of her. Her own ship, while heavily damaged by Darby sometime ago, had been repaired enough to be able to sustain atmospheric flight. She knew the vessel could be restored fully were she willing to submit to Starscream and his Decepticons. But Airachnid didn't much care for bending a knee to anyone, especially not Megatron's former sycophant. She had her own games to play.
"Kill him…kill him…" Came the hollowed, echoing voice from behind her. Crosswire gazed at the display with a psychotic intensity she could not help but find…somewhat alluring.
"Not yet, lover." Airachnid told him softly, her silky tones lost on the monster in his insanity. "I want to see where they're taking our dear Jack first. There's something very interesting going on here." She observed.
"Secret retrievals and flights into the night. And no sign of the Prime or his cronies. They've left Jack and his Arcee all alone. Why would they do that, I wonder?" Try as she might, Airachnid had been unable to uncover more detailed information as to why the U.S. Military had wanted Jack secured so badly. Thankfully for her, Airachnid enjoyed solving puzzles, especially if it meant an interrogation or two.
She had become quite skilled at adapting her usual techniques for use with humans. Most of those she had…acquired after her first encounter with Jack had not been of the same level of quality as the brave little human, but they had, none the less, given her ample ideas for when she had her new pet in hand.
"But, don't worry." She assured the creature. "You'll get to put your wonderful invention to use soon enough." Crosswire gripped the massive weapon almost affectionately in response.
Leaving her monster to it's twisted thoughts, Airachnid returned to studying the C-130 moving through the clouds ahead of her, verifying her ship was still utilizing it's stealth systems. To her benefit, the human aircraft did not have escorts of the smaller jet-fighter variety.
While her heat signature and profile cloak kept Airachnid hidden from radar, a visual scan would see her clear as day. For that reason she had remained several hundred kilometers back, keeping her target at max range. Thus far there was no indication her position had been noticed.
According to her planetary data both she and the aircraft were now passing well over the Gulf of Mexico and into what was called the Caribbean Sea. Several large, and small, island chains were already visible in the near distance.
"Taking a trip to romantic getaway, hmm?" Airachnid mused. "Lovers retreat perhaps?" She laughed at that. "Doubtful. Still, as far as graves go, I don't think they could have chosen any better." Watching silently, the Cybertronian Femme-Fatale thought almost wistfully of the fun to be had.
She noticed the plane begin a slow descent, angling for one of the distant islands. She quickly altered her own course to get ahead. There was a great deal to be done before the fun began.
. . .
"We are on final approach." The pilot's voice squawked on the hold's speakers. "Secure for touchdown. ETA ten-minutes."
"Wonder where the hell we are?" Jack thought aloud. "All I've been able to see is clouds…and water." He commented, looking out one of the small viewports set into the hull.
"My GPS has been a bit erratic." Arcee told him. "Might be due to the electronic instrumentation on this bird. But," she added, double checking the holographic read out over her forearm. "I think we might be somewhere in the Caribbean."
"Are you serious?" Jack exclaimed. "Ha. And here I thought I was just being clever with that beach remark." He told her with a sly grin. "Guess Carlos wasn't kidding when he said we'd like this off-site place."
"Well, I suppose if they're going to steal you away from your family in the night, the least they can do is poke and prod you in Paradise."
"Not getting my hopes up too much. If this is a military site, I'm thinking the bare amenities only. If we're lucky, maybe we'll actually get to be above ground."
"Sir? Ma'am?" A male Airmen told them from the forward end of the hold. "You best get strapped in. Touch-down can be a little bumpy. The runway for the facility isn't very long so the breaking can be kind rough."
"Noted." Arcee told him with genuine appreciation. Aside from Cameron, she had treated the Air Force personal cordially enough. "Buckle up, Jack. I'm going aft." She told him.
"Alright." Jack said, reaching for the straps and buckles. "See you on the ground." He settled in as Arcee moved to secure herself for landing. Jack could feel the air pressure and even temperature in the hold change as they descended down through the cloud cover, offering him the first real view of their destination. Coming up to greet them was an island of respectable size. Aside from a landing strip cut from the jungle the island was completely covered by foliage.
There were no mountains, though a large hill did rise near the interior. Jack could not discern any structures save for a small hangar adjacent the landing strip, however if the island was the location of a government R&D facility the appearance of a mostly deserted private island was certainly intentional.
He gazed in earnest at the white sands of the beach encompassing the spit of land. He and Arcee had never had the chance to enjoy a walk along the ocean, especially one so blue and clear. He hoped they would have the chance.
"Runway in sight. Beginning landing procedures." The pilot commented over the speakers for the benefit of his civilian passengers. "Wheels are locked into the open and we are on final descent. Stand by for…what the hell is that?" The Captain suddenly asked, giving Jack ample pause.
"Mike, do you see that?" The Captain inquired to his co-pilot.
"Yeah…looks like the one in the back, but, god damn that thing's huge. What's it doing on the runway?"
"Call it in."
"Caspian, this is Bravo-Sierra 3420, we have an unknown contact on the runway, looks to be one of the Cybertronians. Please advise, is it hostile?"
"3420, this is Caspian, we…wait one. Something's happening down here…" Jack could suddenly hear the unmistakable rapport of small arms fire being exchanged. "Breach! Security Breach! 3420, break off, I repeat Break…" The line cut out, leaving Jack to listen in stunned silence.
"You heard him! We're out of here. Radio the mainland, tell them we have an emergency."
"Oh my God, that thing's pointing something."
"It's got us targeted!" Shouted another voice.
"Evasive maneuvers', brace for impact!"
"Arcee!" Jack yelled. Before he could hear a response the aircraft was lit by violet light, bucking wildly. Despite their moorings, cargo containers dislodged, smashing about the C-130's interior, tearing through the hull, and Airmen alike, as they went. Jack caught something wet and warm across the face as the aircraft inverted, turning over-end. The last thing Jack would see through the cracked viewport was the black basalt runway coming up to meet them.
. . .
Jessica awoke to a ringing pain in her head, the world momentarily spinning as she tried to focus. She could smell acrid smoke, the twang of ozone from burned electrical wires. She had been trained to get her bearings even in the most disorienting of circumstances, and she forced herself to depend on that instruction now, reciting numbers in her head to quickly gain her focus and memory.
As her vision cleared, her senses becoming more alert, she could feel a weight upon her, soft, but heavy. The body of one of the Air Force crew. She tried not to mourn his death, wasteful as it was. She simply didn't have the time.
Pushing herself free of the body, Jessica climbed to her feet, still fighting slight disorientation. She blinked through it. Gauging her surroundings she could see she was still inside what remained of the C-130's hold, the main compartment strewn with mangled containers, and more then a few mangled crewmembers. The aircraft's rear loading ramp had torn open in the crash, spilling daylight into the smoky interior.
Running her hands down her arms, torso, and legs she checked for breaks or other damage that might hinder her. Aside from one or two rather substantial bruises and a cut along her cheek, she was physically sound.
Content with her self evaluation, Jessica began moving through the wrecked hold, checking the bodies she could reach not so much for survivors, but to see if her target was among the living or the dead, or whether or not he was still in the plane at all. Of the machine woman there were no signs.
She had made her way through almost half of the mangled plane's interior when she heard the first impact tremor of massively heavy footfalls, the sound reverberating through the compromised hull.
Instinct and training taking over Jessica spotted the nearest pile of debris, making note of the dead crewmen slumped over the wrecked containers. Distancing herself from the act, Jessica pulled the body over her. If the footfalls heralded what she thought it could be, she new it would be prudent to conceal herself as must as possible.
Only a few feet away the nearest section of the aircraft's hull was suddenly torn away, more daylight streaming through, highlighting the monstrous form that lumbered it's way inside. The thing had clearly once been one of the Techno-Morph aliens, what Jack Darby had called Cybertronians.
However, unlike Jack's stalwart protector, the Autobot Arcee, and the other aliens Jessica had seen, the monstrosity before her seemed almost broken, it's body a mishmash of arms, legs, and other components that did not seem to match the mangled torso that glowed with an eerie purple light which flared most brightly from the thing's empty eyes.
Those same empty sockets swept the fuselage's interior, searching for what Jessica was sure was the other Cybertronian passenger and her human charge. She had seen no sign of Arcee amidst the debris, nor had she found Jack, alive or dead. If the teen still lived, she hoped the alien creature did not find him first.
The monster stomped deeper into the plane, shifting aside containers, chairs, and other equipment, checking the bodies it found. With each failure to locate Jack it seemed the creature became more enraged, it's anger punctuated by broken sentences as it muttered angrily to itself in a strange, echoed tone.
"Find him…find him…kill him…rend his flesh. Yes…no, no, the pretty killer wants us to bring him. Then we can have our revenge, yes we will…"
Jessica, doing her best to control her fear as the thing drew nearer, could not help but wonder at the words. Before the plane had gone down she had heard the transmission over the coms about the R&D facility being breached and attacked. The pretty killer, as the thing called it, had to be the other aggressor.
Were there only two of them? If so, that slightly improved the odds of evasion and escape, especially if the Autobot was still alive. It also meant that, if she could summon MECH support to their location, they might be able to capture not one, but three Cybertronians. It would be all the Initiative would ever need to study and reverse engineer the alien technology which comprised them. First, however, there was the not so simple matter of refraining from being killed by the monster making it's way towards her.
The creature's blackened foot, the metal of it charred, came down only a few centimeters or so away, and Jessica stilled her breathing as best she could. The monster's empty eyes swept over the debris, and the body, then over her. She fought to quell the desire to run that screamed within her. An eternity seemed to pass. Then the creature moved on, further up the plane's interior, still searching. Jessica wanted to gasp in relief, but kept herself from doing so.
Then the monster bellowed it's rage, smashing it's fists about in fury.
"Not here! Not here!" It shrieked. "Where is he?"
Around her the wreckage of the plane shuddered under the assault, and Jessica feared the creature would bring what was left of the C-130 down upon them.
"Crosswire?" Came a new voice, unmistakably female, over an open communication channel broadcasting from the monster. "Did you find him?"
"He's not here! You told us he was here!" It cried. "Where…where…"
"Crosswire!" The voice exclaimed angrily, before taking a beat to retain some measure of calm. "He and Arcee were on the plane. They can't have gone far. If you can't find them there, start searching the area. I'll…finish up here and join you shortly."
Crosswire seemed to want to rip and tear at the air in front of it before it finally sagged, dejected "Yes." It told the female simply, before turning about and moving back through the hole it had tore in the plane. It's heavy footfalls became distant until, at last, all was quiet, save for the creak of the wreck and the occasional pop of exposed wiring.
Jessica forced herself to remain still for several minutes more, just to be sure, before she exhaled loudly, adrenaline and anxiety leaving her slightly shaken. She had found herself in life threatening situations before, and each time her control and sharp mind had seen her though. This, she told herself, was no different.
Confident that she was, for the time being, in the clear, Jessica slid out from beneath her cover, offering the body of the dead Airmen a silent prayer and thanks, before resuming her own search. Even if Crosswire had been unable to locate Jack, she didn't care to accept it's brutal search as final.
She moved up and down the wreck, rechecking bodies, searching through or under broken chairs. Had the teen become dislodged in the crash he would not have been ejected so easily given their low altitude and angle of approach towards the runway. His body should have been easily accounted for among the others. Unless?
If Arcee had survived the crash relatively unharmed, she could have easily retrieved Darby and carried him to safety. Given the state of the other crewmen, and the impending arrival of the monster that had torn it's way into the plane, the Cybertronian woman would have deemed Jack the priority as opposed to checking for other survivors. It was a choice Jessica could understand and a call she respected.
Given the lack of a body, of either the human or Cybertronian variety, she deemed that scenario the most likely. Despite all of that, her mission remained the same, albeit with one caveat. She had to find a means of contacting MECH and informing the Director of the new turn of events and her need for retrieval and support.
Checking the pockets of her fatigues she located her PDA, thankful that the device had been built for abuse given the hit she had taken in the crash. She activated the device, hoping to transmit her status but instead she bit off a curse. The PDA's display indicated that it's connection to the MECH satellite network was being interrupted. She should have figured as much.
Given the nature of the island as a government research and development site it would stand that they would jam any non-authorized transmissions. That gave her additional pause as she wondered if the pilot's order to radio a mayday towards the mainland had gotten through. If not, then it meant her chances for survival rested solely on Jackson Darby and his Cybertronian partner; two individuals she was also under orders to capture and bring to MECH. The later fact wasn't something she allowed herself to be concerned with now. Her priority was survival and, to accommodate that, she would have to discover the fate of her two targets.
Returning the PDA to her pocket, Jessica began a new search. It did not take long to find what she wanted on the body of the C-130's Captain in the aircraft's decimated cockpit. Sadly, the man had not died well. She carefully removed the pilot's military issue M9, searching the cockpit for additional clips or rounds. She succeeded in finding two extra clips.
While MECH's previous encounter with the Cybertronians had proven the ineffectual nature of standard weapons, she accepted it as being better then not having any means of defense. If she had the opportunity to improve upon that she would do so. The weapon would serve well enough in other possible scenarios. Satisfied with what she had gathered she wasted no more time. Arcee and Jack had an ample head start and she would have to move quickly to close the distance.
She moved back through the aircraft, moving up carefully to the breach in the hull. Peering out, she scanned the abandoned stretch of runway and the surrounding jungle. It appeared clear enough. She stepped out slowly, keeping her profile as small as possible given the daylight.
The C-130 had rolled and slid to a stop on the far end of the lading strip, just a few kilometers short of the seawall that kept the high-tide or storm weather ocean away from the runway. She moved carefully around the wreck, seeing in the near distance the small building and hangar that served as a checkpoint and processing center for any arrivals to the island and the R&D facility. There likely wasn't anything of use to her inside as any com-gear they might have would likely be linked to the main complex.
There was, however, something incredibly useful. The Motor-Pool. Parked in neat rows beside the hangar were several small land rovers and jeeps. Jessica checked to see which had been serviced and fueled recently. She found a sturdy looking Wrangler and was happy to see that the keys were kept inside. Given that they were on a secure government funded island they clearly did not have to be concerned with vehicle theft.
Climbing in, she turned the key and was welcomed by the sound of the Jeep's engine turning over, the motor well maintained. She pulled out of the parking area, and angled the vehicle for the main road.
She knew, as very likely Arcee did, that the best chance for rescue lay with the main complex near the island's interior. While they might take an alternate route through the jungle, they would try to stick close to either the main or service roads which would be the easiest means of finding their way to the R&D site. Jessica would use the roads, and her vehicle, to narrow her search. If she encountered either of the hostiles she could easily ditch the Jeep and move into the jungle for cover. She would deal with that should the situation arise. For now, she concentrated on finding Jack and Arcee. From there, she would find a way to complete the mission. It a promise she silently made to herself.
To Be Continued…
