Chapter 7
The night sky of Detroit was lit by the radiant moon and the street lights. Occasionally a blimp would pass over the city. Hiding on one of those blimps was Starscream, Blitzwing and Lugnut. They were waiting for Blackarachnia and Wasp to catch up. "What odd creatures" Blitzwing murmured. "All scurrying around like so many nanobots" Lugnut grunted "Will you shut it down for two cycles? I can't hear myself think" "You mean you can't hear those voices in your head" Blitzwing muttered.
Then something grabbed onto the blimp, almost dragging it down. Starscream looked down to see Blackarachnia clutching onto Wasp and the web rope she was using. Starscream pulled her up. "Sorry we're late. So, what did we miss?" "Nothing yet. But we can't delay much longer. I'm detecting at least two Autobot energy signals heading towards the nearby body of water." "I think the humans call it Lake Erie" "What does it matter what the organics call it?" Lugnut asked "They are insignificant!" "Will you keep it down?" "If duty requires it, we will protect the humans if necessary" Starscream said tapping Lugnut on the chest "That means 'no killing'" "I know what it means, Starscream! I am not as dumb as I look!" "I know, and it's always worried me and Megatron"
"Can Decepticons get show on road?" Wasp asked. "Indeed. Decepticons, as Megatron used to say, 'transform and rise up'!"
Starscream and the other fliers transformed. Wasp grabbed onto Blitzwing and Blackarachnia took Lugnut.
North Sister Island
Optimus carried CB across the lake. CB had never flown before, and it was rather scary for her. But she couldn't show weakness in front of her leader. In fact, that was why he took her with him, security card, scooter and all, while she was minding her own business. They landed on the coast. "So, what's this 'AllSpark' we're looking for?" "It is the life source of our race and our trump card against the Decepticons. That's all you need to know. Now spread out and search. I'll contact you when the others get here"
Optimus slashed through the jungle. He was always fascinated with the possibilities of organic life. He figured this place could be used as a fortress, if properly supplied and defended. Unfortunately, the abundance of organic life on this island was scrambling his sensors.
CB had never been nature hiking either, and it also freaked her out. But, anything that came her way she just blasted. No big deal. Then she felt something… something, surging. CB scrambled through to the top of the mountain. There she found a large box covered with foliage. She brushed it away and tried to open it. "Come on, come on! Why won't you open?" She banged on the container. Suddenly it opened, and CB saw a beautiful blue sphere. Staring at it, she suddenly saw a number of images, probably Cybertronian things flash into her mind, then a number of images flash from her mind to it. "Did we just have a conversation?"
Then the AllSpark shot out at CB security card, turning it into a red metal key shape. CB was furious "If you mess this up, you owe me my security deposit" She took the key off her neck, looked at it and threw it to the ground, towards her scooter. Then it suddenly glowed and was dragged towards the scooter. The key was inserted into the scooter, which glowed, shifted into something and then back into a scooter. CB looked at the scooter and activated it. Then it shifted into an odd shape and shot up into the air.
CB couldn't believe it. Her scooter could now turn into a jetpack! The jetpack came down onto the ground. CB began to think "I'm not gullible, Optimus. The AllSpark is no mere weapon, no simple energy source. It is power - Ultimate, unfathomable power. You know and I know. But, unlike you, I'm going to use it" She walked towards the AllSpark and placed her hand blasters on it. "Come on! Give all you got!" The AllSpark glowed and engulfed CB. "What's happening to me?" She then began to upgrade. She felt taller… faster… stronger… smarter… ""It's working!" The glow faded away to reveal CB, not as a young child, but as a technorganic teenager in robot mode. Something began to beep "Uh-oh. My warning diode must be activating. Display visual" The hologram showed a rough representation on a harrier jet, a bomber, a fighter jet, and two humanoid figures riding on them. "Circuit Breaker, did you find anything?" "I've found jets coming toward the island" "Forget it. I'm coming over" Then the transmission was cut off. CB strapped on her jetpack, put on her key and sped off through the undergrowth.
On the coast, the Decepticons had landed, Starscream taking Optimus by surprise. "Decepticons, I knew you'd come here." "There's no need for violence, Autobot." Starscream greeted "Why are you here?" "I'd ask you the same question. It can't be for Megatron, because he's been scrap for 50 stellar cycles" This remark caused Starscream to fly into a frenzy "Shut up!" He said and shot at Optimus with his null rays. "If Megatron is dead, then you will surely pay!" Optimus activated his axe and took off. Starscream was shocked. "Impossible! Autobots don't fly!" "If you believe that then the whole galaxy is unimaginative!" Starscream flew up to face Optimus. "We shall decide this battle, servo to servo" "Bring it on, Decepticon"
As Starscream and Optimus clashed, the other Decepticons searched the area, weapons readied. Blitzwing was circling the island when he looked out to sea. "The Autobots are heading our way" "I will send them the way of the Titanic!" "And then we'll paint moustaches on their faceplates. Moustaches are funny! Ahahahahahaha!"
All the Autobots, except Ratchet, loaded off the ship, brandishing their new weapons.
* Bulkhead was equipped with air-to-air missiles and a saw blade that could slice through iron ore asteroids
* Prowl was equipped with jump-jet boosters and his shuriken
* Goldbug was equipped with his beloved rocket boosters
* Scoop was equipped with glop grenades
* Crosshairs was equipped with his triple-crusher cannon
* Jazz had his nun chucks in addition to sound speakers for sonic attacks
They spread out into the forest, smashing through everything in their way. Goldbug, however, got lost. "Bumble-bot!" He heard someone cry out. Goldbug stopped dead in his tracks, stumbled around and found himself face to face with Wasp. "Wasp! Shouldn't you be in the stockade?" "Shouldn't Bumble-bot be on the scrap-heap?" Wasp shot at Goldbug, who flew up into the air, and came down with his stingers. "Nice try, Bumble-bot, but you not Lug-bot" "Aw, you made some new friends in your damaged processor, Wasp?" Goldbug taunted. He didn't notice Lugnut stand up behind him and smack him aside. "What next?" He thought. Goldbug heard Scoop screaming and coming down towards him. "I had to-" As Scoop landed on him, Goldbugs thoughts were cut short.
Blackarachnia was standing atop the body of Bulkhead, Using her special downloading powers she had simultaneously knocked out Bulkhead and borrowed his strength, which she had used to take Scoop out of the picture in one punch.
Blitzwing was wandering, searching for the two Cyber-Ninjas. "Come back here so I can pull your pistons out through your tailpipes!" "Oh, and void your warranty with excess wear and tear!" Then a deafening sound blasted his audio circuits and two shurikens slashed at his legs. Crosshairs stepped forward, pointing his cannon at Blitzwing "I'd prefer my warranty intact. So, if you'd just leave us alone, that would be fine" Blitzwing grabbed Crosshairs and held him in front of him "I hate taking hostages, but you have left me no choice. Release your weapons" Prowl just performed a powerful roundhouse kick with his jump-jet boosters to Blitzwing, which knocked Crosshair's battered chassis away. Prowl kicked again, the jumped up, took a shuriken…
Blitzwing transformed to tank mode, and froze Prowl, who crashed hard onto the ground. Jazz grabbed onto Blitzwing, who transformed and took off into the air. He didn't notice a small blue object heading his way. "Hi-yaaa!" It screamed, blasting Jazz off Blitzwing, who was sent spinning through the air. "Ooh, dizzy! Not liking the dizzy!"
Blitzwing collided with Lugnut, who transformed him to robot mode. "What in the name of Decepticon is that?" "Readings indicate a surge in AllSpark energy" "Coming from that thing?" "Yes, but also from… down there?" CB then started shooting at them. "Fool! No one moves Lugnut!" "What kind of Autobot are you?" "The kind that can kick your skidplates in a nanosecond!" CB pulled out a blade and an energy hammer, raced towards them and beat them up badly, sending them crashing to the ground.
Optimus was beginning to tire of his fight with Starscream when his enemies comlink came on "Help! Give me a hand, or a foot! How about a pelvis?" "Blitzwing?" "Starscream, we may have found the AllSpark" "Understood, Lugnut. I'm on my way" Optimus screamed and smashed the comlink before racing off. Starscream transformed and chased after him.
CB observed the wrecked chassis of Lugnut and Blitzwing. As she cackled slightly she saw Wasp and Blackarachnia come out of the forest. Blackarachnia tied CB up in webbing. "What are you?" CB didn't answer. Optimus came crashing down. "Why, it seems she's the perfect fusion of organic and technological - in other words, a success. Which is more than I can say for you, Elita-1" "It's Blackarachnia now, Orion!" Blackarachnia swung at Optimus who threw her off. "And it's Optimus now, 'Blackarachnia'!"
Blackarachnia stumbled back "I'm never going back to Cybertron! Not while Ultra Magnus still oppresses it!" "In that case, why not join me and the wait will be over quicker?" Blackarachnia spat acid at him "Never! You're the one who experimented on me in the first place!" "So unwise" Optimus said as he raised his axe. He was stung by Wasp "Autobot not hurt Wasp's friend!" Then Wasp was pulled back into the air by CB, who fused his stingers together and dropped him to the ground.
Starscream screamed past CB, sending her screaming and spiralling towards the forest. He transformed and grabbed the AllSpark. But Optimus grabbed it as well. "Give me the AllSpark!" "In the name of Megatron, you shall not have the AllSpark or me" "If I can't have the AllSpark, then no one shall." Optimus pulled out his axe and started hacking away at the crystal. Blackarachnia pulled Optimus off, while Starscream swung around and tossed the AllSpark with such force that it flew into space. The gust also blew away the shards that were hacked off.
Optimus was enraged. "What did you do? Where is the AllSpark" "Someplace where you will never find it" "NEVER!" Optimus roared as he blasted off towards space "NO PLANET CAN EVER ESCAPE MY WRATH!" Starscream blasted his jetpack to pieces and watched as he crashed back down towards the island.
Starscream landed to attend to his comrades. "Did he harm you, Blackarachnia?" "Not too much" She looked to Wasp "Thank you, my friend" "Wasp understand if Spider-bot have problems with Autobot" Starscream helped Lugnut and Blitzwing to their feet. "What happened to the AllSpark?" "I sent it into space to keep the Autobots away." He looked guilty "Now that I have time to relax, I wonder if it was the right thing to do" Blitzwing put his hand on his shoulder "You turned our certain doom into a fighting chance" "Decepticons, this is an uneasy victory we have won. The Autobots on this planet pose a major threat, and we must work to defend it. Only then can we hope to follow our main objective"
Starscream held out his hand "I vow to defend this planet with my ember. Who's with me?"
"I am"
"Wasp trust Flying-bot"
"I just know I'm going to regret this"
"I am…" "…with you…" "… all the way!"
Autobot Headquarters
Ratchet turned to see the Autobots stumble inside, cracked, and in need of several megacycles worth of repairs. Optimus groaned "Serves you right for going off half-cocked. Now I'll have to fix you all" "I'll take care of that, Ratchet" "I'm this team's field medic, kid!" "But I have this" CB swung her key around. She flew up, held the key in her hands, which glowed and engulfed the Autobots. When the glows subsided the Autobots were fully repaired. Ratchet gaped in disbelief.
"That is quite the cure" Prowl groaned. "Are the Decepticons gone?" Scoop asked "Far from it" Optimus growled "But the AllSpark is out there. We'll crush the Decepticons for that, but we need strategy, numbers, and more luck than I imagined"
