Soundwave was surveying a cluster of dark-colored buildings from atop a sand dune when he sensed the death. Rumble!? He opened a private link to Ravage. /Ravage! What has happened?/
/Found the Autobots. Humans are with them. Megatron's killer is with them! Silver Autobot protects it. Female human killed Rumble!/ came Ravage's enraged reply.
/A human?/ Soundwave repeated, his own anger surging. Sixshot was supposed to be looking after Rumble and Ravage! /How many Autobots and humans are there?/
/Sixshot is landing to see. Silver Autobot trying to catch me. Lots of tree things to hide among here./
/Be cautious, Ravage./ Soundwave told him, then closed the line, opening another one to Sixshot. /Sixshot!/
/Now is not a good time, Soundwave./
/So I've been told. I will expect an explanation regarding Rumble later. For now, do not leave Ravage behind, or you will regret it/ threatened Soundwave
/Then he had better come when I call him./ Sixshot abruptly cut the link.
Soundwave turned his infuriated gaze back to the human settlement. Until Frenzy was found, Ravage's survival would depend on that arrogant Seeker. He transformed back into vehicle mode and sped across the desert toward those buildings.
As with the military base, humans came out in jeeps to intercept him, this time using more effective weapons than the soldiers had. The projectiles burned through his armor, narrowly missing vital wiring. A few well-aimed concussion bursts, and their four jeeps exploded in flames. Soundwave tossed aside one that was in his way, then changed back to the SSC. Seconds later he was bearing down on the nearest of the buildings, where more humans had emerged and fired at him. These ones were wearing some sort of helmet-like devices, apparently intended to protect them from his sonic bursts. Soundwave decided to test their effectiveness.
It took just a slightly stronger pulse to incapacitate these humans. Soundwave shrugged, unimpressed with the humans' shields, and let out Ratbat, Buzzsaw and Lazerbeak, instructing them to question the humans in the other buildings, and to download all data from any computers they happen to find. After sending them off, he walked over to the building in front of him and tore the roof off.
Unlike the previous humans, these weren't wearing badges signifying positions of authority. He was forced to question these creatures two at a time. Soundwave looked down at the terrified humans, pushed the heavier pieces of furniture around to block the outer doors and prevent their escape, then grabbed two white-coated males at random. "Where is Frenzy?" he asked the pair, activating a projection of his friend.
Soundwave found it very convenient that humans had such fragile bodies. A squeeze in just the right place, and they couldn't answer his questions fast enough. Frenzy, he was told, had been 'stored' here, as the one human phrased it, four days ago, but had been transported again early this morning by helicopter. He'd missed Frenzy by just a few mega-cycles.
Another squeeze produced no more information from either human. They hadn't been told where Frenzy was taken to. Finished with these, Soundwave threw them aside and picked up two more humans. At times he was forced to stop, temporarily, to deal with more armed humans who'd reached the building and attacked him.
Soundwave glanced briefly at the dead humans scattered about the rooms, then accessed each computer before heading for another building. There wasn't much more to be discovered here, other than a snippet of conversation one of the humans had overheard, about NBEs Three and Four being moved into an underground cave. There were many caves on this world, Soundwave found out as he reviewed his data banks.
Unless Laserbeak, Buzzsaw or Ratbat discover the name of that cave, he would have to return to Las Vegas, to the Nellis Air Force base, where the helicopter originated from. Someone there was likely to know where it, and Frenzy, had been sent.
"Ahh. There you are. Enjoying the 'improvements' to this city?" Thunderblast asked, finally locating Thundercracker walking through what the humans called Chinatown, when it was still standing.
"What do you want?" he bluntly asked, immediately suspicious of her.
"Angry, hm? Well, you do have cause to be, considering the danger you're in."
"Danger? What are you talking about?" he demanded. She couldn't possibly sense his growing doubts regarding their so-called mission.
"I'm sure you've been wondering, as we all have, why Starscream hasn't formally named you as his Second-In-Command."
"Second-In-Command?" Thundercracker repeated, taken aback. He actually hadn't even thought of that. His first impulse was to reject the idea, but..it would give him a stronger position from which to question Starscream's decisions.
"Naturally." She paused, as if contemplating the matter. "But perhaps Starscream is considering choosing Shockwave instead, to satisfy his ambitions."
"As if that would." He looked at Thunderblast sharply, wondering what her motive was in approaching him. "Why are you telling me all this?"
"To warn you, of course. Shockwave is the only real rival you have to being Second, just as you are his. You might want to consider taking steps in eliminating the competition. I've no doubt that he's already planning to do so. It is the logical solution, after all," Thunderblast added as a parting shot before walking away, leaving him with a thoughtful look on his face.
If Starscream wanted to use Thundercracker to rid himself of Shockwave, then she would do all she could to arrange it. And enjoy it. On her way back to Starscream, she came across Shrapnel, lying in wait to capture and play with any stray humans who'd been foolish enough to stay in the city. "Shrapnel!" she called to him, 'inadvertently' frightening a human back into it's hiding place, a partially-collapsed hotel, before Shrapnel had a chance to snag it.
"Yes, yes??" he angrily hissed.
"We're nearly done with this city, I believe. Do not get distracted and ignore Starscream's order to leave."
"I won't, won't."
"See that you don't. It would be quite tragic if you happen to be left behind," she said, mockingly, before moving on.
/I have located the Autobots in the section of land the humans call Utah/ Sixshot informed Starscream. /There are only five: Optimus Prime and four of his lieutenants. They have five humans with them. One is the young male, Witwicky, who you said killed Megatron. They are traveling East./
/I see.../ That is so typically sentimental of the Autobot leader, to keep company with lesser beings, he thought, sneering.. /Continue./
/Ravage impulsively attacked Witwicky, and has been damaged by Optimus' lieutenant, Jazz. Rumble went to his aid, but one of the other humans killed him/ Sixshot reported in a scathing tone, not bothering to hide his annoyance with those drones. /Hardtop also became careless, and is dead, too./
/Clumsy fool!/ Starscream snarled, far more angry about the loss of Hardtop than Rumble.
/Yes./ Sixshot agreed. /The Autobots have been injured, though. I request permission to finish them off./
/Since Ravage is in need to a medic, take him to Hook/ Starscream decided, giving Sixshot the Constructicons' current location, who should be halfway to that other city by now. Perhaps Rumble's demise, and Ravage's injuries, will draw Soundwave back. /I shall send the other Seekers to take are of the Autobots./
/Yes, Lord Starscream. We're on our way there now./
Starscream closed the link, then sat down on a piece of a huge broken fountain to wait for Thunderblast, who returned a few cycles later. "Well?"
"I'm reasonably certain Thundercracker is now convinced of the threat to him. We'll just have to see if he has the fortitude to act on it."
"He may need further encouragement, which I'll expect you to provide."
"As you command, Lord Starscream. Do you require anything else from me?" she asked, in a meek, demure voice, though it grated on her vocal processor.
"Not at this time," Starscream replied, with a faint smirk at her tone.
"Very well..." Thunderblast looked about, commenting, "Most of the humans here have managed to escape us, scattering in all directions." She shrugged. Their turn will come, in time. "What city shall we destroy next? There is an even larger one on the other side of this continent. New York City, it is called."
He took a brief moment to consider it, then shook his head, smiling. "No. We shall strike at the center of power in this country."
"Ahh.. Washington D.C. An excellent plan." She smiled back. "Let's pay it a visit, then."
"We will, soon. Now go play with your pet. I'm certain Shortround is searching everywhere for you by now," he said, dismissing her.
"...yes, Lord Starscream..." she said, annoyed, and stomped off.
Starscream watched her go, amused, then opened a line to Thundercracker. A relatively easy mission may give him more confidence to take out Shockwave. //Thundercracker./
/Yes, Lord Starscream?/ he answered, after a few astro-seconds.
/Sixshot located the Autobots, but Hardtop was killed by them. I want you and the other Seekers to track them down again. You can get their last coordinates from Sixshot. Kill as many Autobots as you like, along with their humans, but leave Optimus Prime alive./
/Alive? May I ask why?/
/I want him to know what it's like to feel insignificant, before he dies/ Starscream said, a trace of angry resentment in his voice for the proud leader. /Now go. When you're done with them, meets us in Washington D.C., a city on the East Coast of this land./
/Yes, Lord Starscream./
Starscream closed then link, then, on a whim, opened another one to Shockwave, to give him the dubious honor of transporting the Constructicons to the Washington city. After they were finished with all of San Francisco's bridges, of course
"Could we please make a stop soon?" Maggie requested a few minutes after they'd crossed the border into Colorado, sitting in the front passenger seat now and wearing the spare clothes she'd packed. "I really need a break. A..uhm...restroom break."
Ironhide looked puzzled for just a moment, then nodded. "Anyone else?" he asked the others.
"I do, too," Mikaela seconded; she was starting to feel uncomfortable, now that that subject's been brought up.
Simmons didn't bother to answer, relatively sure the question wasn't directed at him, anyway.
"What about you, Sam?" asked Jazz.
"Sure. Some food would be great, too," Sam added, and right on cue his stomach made it's opinion known.
"Yeah, it would," Will agreed, thinking of a thick, juicy hamburger.
"We should pay with cash, in case someone's trying to locate us through our credit cards," Maggie advised.
"Yes, that would be wise. The next town is six miles ahead," Optimus told them. "It is called Grand Junction. We shall make a brief stop there."
"Thank you," they all said together, then chuckled a little.
Since they were now pushing one-fifty, it took them only a couple minutes to reach the exit leading to fast food restaurants. After a short debate over who had the best burgers, they all pulled in and parked at the one Jazz recommended.
"Be right back." Mikaela dropped a kiss to the center of the steering wheel before getting out: Bee had prudently decided to deactivate his holoform while waiting for the sunlight to restore his power reserves.
"I hope they're not crowded in there," Maggie said, tying her hair back after hopping out of the truck.
"Maggie?"
"Yes, Ratch'?" She turned around and walked over to the Hummer.
"Please remind the others to order their food as take-out."
"Of course." Maggie nodded, and noticed the disgruntled look he was giving her neck. Oh... "I'll go do that now," she said, hurrying into the restaurant. "Ratchet wanted me to remind you guys: Take-out only."
"Sure, Maggie," Will replied for everyone.
She gave the menu a quick read, ordered a chicken salad and a bottle of water when her turn came. While their meals were being prepared, they all made a dash into the much-needed restrooms.
Ok, so maybe he has a good reason to be upset. Maggie blushed, looking in the mirror at several small bruises on her neck as she washed her hands afterward, then splashed cold water on her heated face. Still... Ratchet did seem to be almost obsessed with her skin. She shrugged at that quirk of his and dried off. Pulling her torn clothing from her tote bag, she dumped them into the trash barrel and covered them with paper towels. Have got to remember to not let Ironhide do that again, she told herself as she went to get her food.
"How're you doin', Sam?" Jazz felt compelled to ask again, once they all came back outside carrying drinks and bags.
"Just fine, Jazz," Sam replied, looking forward to getting some hot food into his stomach. "Shoulders don't even hurt now."
"His wounds are healing well," Ratchet volunteered, then fell silent. Something wasn't right...
A Decepticon appeared right behind Sam, snatched him up in one hand, and then disappeared just as quickly.
"Sam!" Jazz shouted, transforming the same time as the others. He stood staring down at the dropped paper bag that now lay where Sam had been standing. "No..."
"No!" Mikaela rushed forward, but there was nothing she could do. There was nothing anyone could do.
"What happened?!" Maggie asked, who'd been checking at her watch at that moment.
"One of them grabbed Sam!" Will told her, his food also forgotten as he dropped the large duffel bag he'd been carrying. "That damn teleporting one."
"Oh my god..."
"Skywarp," Bumblebee said, blinking rapidly in horror. No..Not Sam!
"Everyone, roll out!" Optimus ordered, his vocals strained with shock and fear at the sudden, and completely unexpected, abduction. "He may not have taken Sam far! Find him!"
"--you mean, find whatever they decide to leave behind for us..." Jazz said, his optics dimming with grief. It'd happened so fast... Sam was gone in an instant...
"Damn.." Simmons muttered, squeezing his coffee cup so hard it burst. He might not have liked the kid much, but that didn't mean he wanted him dead.
"Jazz!" Optimus clamped a hand on his stricken lieutenant's shoulder, disregarding the gasps of shock from other humans in their vicinity as they saw the Autobots. Hiding was hardly a top priority now. "Do not give up hope. We don't know what Skywarp has planned."
"He is close by," Ratchet stated, after a moment of intense concentration. "I can sense that much."
"Let's go, then!" Maggie threw her lunch over her shoulder and ran over to Ironhide.
Will wasted no time pulling out the grenade launchers and handing them out to Maggie, Mikaela...and Simmons, since there was one extra one now. Temporarily! he told himself.
"Yeah..." Jazz straightened up, desperately trying to stay positive, but it was hard. After what happened to poor Glen... No. That was not gonna happen to Sam! "Let's roll!" he growled, changing back to his car mode. Ironhide, Bumblebee and Optimus also transformed, doors opening for their passengers.
"Ironhide, Jazz, you search along the highway," Optimus ordered. "The rest of us will search every part of this town. We must find Sam."
/Guess who I found/ Skywarp said, a grin in his voice.
/The Autobots, I assume?/ Thundercracker replied.
/The humans, too. They're at a building that produces food, near Exit Thirty-One on the road they call Interstate Seventy./
Thundercracker thought that was unusual. The Autobots cared enough about these beings to keep them, and maintain their well-being/Where are you?/
/I'm next to Exit Twenty-Nine now./
/Have you told the others?/ he asked, flying low over the highway to Skywarp's location.
/No, I thought you'd want to know first. With your permission, I'll start our attack./
/Don't. Not yet./ Thundercracker instructed, landing when he reached Skywarp. "I would like to ta-- question one of the humans first. Alone."
"Question a human?" Skywarp stared at him, bewildered. "Why?"
"Because I'm curious about something, that's why." Thundercracker decided not to try to explain his reasoning to his friend.
"Fine. I'll bring you one, then,"Skywarp said, and teleported. A few astro-seconds later he was back, with a young human male in his grip.
Sam slowly opened his eyes, his head pounding from...what the hell happened? It all came back in a rush. "No!"
"This, I believe, is the one that killed our leader." Skywarp grinned as he tossed the human over to Thundercracker.
...oh, shit... Sam closed his eyes tightly as the world went spinning a second time.
Thundercracker lunged forward, catching the human before it hit the ground. /I did not ask you to throw it!/
/You didn't say not to./
/Just stand guard, Skywarp./
Skywarp shrugged and strode away from them, sitting behind a tree to watch for Autobots.
"Do not pretend to be unconscious," Thundercracker told the human, as two vehicles skidded and crashed behind him. One look at a large cannon pointed at them sent the passengers fleeing. He left the road then, walking through a wooden fence to a pasture.
...please let this be a dream...I'm still with Jazz...asleep... Sam prayed, then heard that thing speaking to him, in English. Opening his eyes again, he stared up at a pair of red optics. His nightmare had come true after all. So this is it. I'm never going to see my family or friends again. Or Jazz... "Go ahead! Kill me and get it over with!" Sam yelled, furiously throwing the cup he'd had clutched between his hands.
Thundercracker blinked when brown liquid splattered his face, and glared at the impudent creature. "Perhaps I will."
Sam glared back and waited for it to crush him like a bug. Funny thing was, it looked annoyed, but not really pissed off. "Well? What are you waiting for??"
"I---have questions."
Huh?? It wants to chat before it kills me? Unbelievable! "Okay..." Sam said slowly, forcing himself to think more clearly. Maybe I can stall it long enough for Jazz and the others to get here, and take both of them out... "Ask away."
"You are the Witwicky human who killed Megatron and destroyed the Cube?"
"Yes!" Sam admitted; there wasn't any point in denying something it already knew. "I'm...sorry about the All Spark..but I didn't have a choice! Megatron was gonna kill me, and Optimus. He was gonna kill everyone!"
"Did your kind have no choice in torturing Megatron for one hundred meta-cycles, as well?" He angrily gave the human a small shake.
"Wh--what the h-hell's a m-meta-cycle?!" Sam stuttered, rattled by the shaking.
"A meta-cycle is approximately thirteen Earth months," Thundercracker impatiently calculated for it. "Do the Autobots think you are too primitive to understand that?"
"Go to hell!" Sam retorted, his nerves fraying. The monster's hand tightened painfully around him, and he gasped. "All right, all right! They don't like to talk much about Cybertron." To his surprise, it's grip eased up a little. "Megatron.. My great-great grandfather found him in the Arctic Circle, in 1897, and he'd been kept frozen ever since. Until some friends of yours showed up and sprung him. Does that sound like torture to you??"
His optics narrowing, Thundercracker regarded the human. Witwicky was frightened and angry, but there was no hint of deceit in it's voice. So Starscream had lied, it seemed, about Megatron being tortured, but not about being held prisoner by the humans. That would not be enough to turn the others against their new leader. He needed to catch Starscream in an even greater lie.
Christ, I'm actually defending us against this thing? Screw that! "Why don't you answer my question now?" Sam brashly demanded. "Why did you and your kind turn into evil bastards?"
"We--" Thundercracker stopped short, considering it's words, and finding himself unable to produce an answer that was even remotely rational. It had been Megatron's unwavering belief that only Decepticons were worthy to rule Cybertron, but now, with both him and the All Spark gone...
Skywarp chose that moment to interrupt them. /The Autobots have found us./ he alerted Thundercracker, as well as Dirge and Ramjet.
"There's Skywarp, up ahead! Jump out!" Ironhide braked hard, releasing the seat belt before starting to transform. "Hurry!"
Weapon and bag in hand, Maggie threw herself out the opened door. "Oof!" she exclaimed, the breath knocked out of her when she landed hard on her side. She kept the grenade launcher held high to keep it from hitting the ground, then scrambled to her feet. 'Up ahead' was almost the length of a football field. She slid down into a roadside ditch for cover.
Ironhide sent for the others as he ran towards Skywarp, firing his cannons, trying to damage the Decepticon enough so he couldn't teleport. Skywarp didn't have the boy anymore, he'd noticed with a sinking feeling. "What have you done with Sam?!" he snarled, closing in on his enemy.
"What do you think I did with it?" Skywarp taunted, letting the Autobot get within ten feet of him before teleporting away.
"Damn!" Maggie cursed to herself: She'd just started to aim at it when it vanished. Where did it go? And was Sam even still alive? Bloody hell... The ditch was proving hard to get out of now; her feet kept slipping on loose rocks. She gave up for now, and began picking her way around rocks, and an occasional broken bottle, to rejoin Ironhide.
"Over here!" Sam shouted, having heard the unmistakable sound of Ironhide's cannon. The Decepticon made no attempt to shut him up, which made him want to kick himself for luring Ironhide over into what was probably an ambush.
"Sam!" Ironhide stalked their way, stopping a few yards away. "Drop him!" He switched to Cybertronian, aiming his cannons at Thundercracker.
'Be careful,' Sam mouthed to him.
Ironhide's optics blinked once at the boy; he'd been on the alert for Skywarp since the Decepticon vanished. There was no sign of the other Seekers.
"What is this human, Sam, to you?" Thundercracker asked, his own weapon out and aimed at the Autobot.
"A friend, not that you'd know what that is." Ironhide silently berated himself for that remark. It didn't help Sam at all to get the Decepticon angry. In fact, nothing could. He grimly acknowledged the hopelessness of the situation. Thundercracker was going to kill Sam, no matter what happens. He prepared to fire.
"He's my human." Jazz spoke up as he slowly approached and stood by Ironhide. Sam's face was white with fear, but he looked to be unharmed. So far. Gotta try to keep him that way, he thought, gesturing behind his back to Maggie, who ducked back down in the ditch. Another good sign was that the Decepticon hadn't immediately fired on Ironhide. Wish I had a saw, like Ratchet's...
Puzzled, Thundercracker stepped back when the silver Autobot appeared. Why did he not attacked from behind? He'd had the opportunity.
/Why'd you tell him that?/ Ironhide sent to him.
/It's what humans call a desperate measure. Lower your cannons./
/Hope you know what you're doing../ Ironhide muttered, slowly lowering his arms.
/You and me both./ There wasn't any way to safely rescue Sam by force, obviously. But there might be a chance, however slim, that Jazz could to convince him to be----merciful. Thundercracker, according to other Autobots he'd spoken with in the past, wasn't malicious like the other Decepticons. "We're the ones you're really after, right? Not some tiny human."
"Jazz..." Sam whispered faintly, then held his breath. Instead of fighting, they were--talking to each other? He really wished he could understand Cybertronian.
"This human belongs to you?" Thundercracker opened his hand to study Sam Witwicky. His initial assumption was that this being was Jazz's pet, but the way they were both staring at each other implied that there was more to it. In fact, both Autobots appeared very concerned for it. He warily lowered his own weapon, but remained alert for a potential attack from the other Autobots.
"--if you wanna look at it that way, then, yeah. He belongs to me." Jazz edged closer. "Give him back...please?" He really had to force that last word out.
Sam cautiously sat up on the monster's palm. What the hell was going on? Was it actually going to let him go? Or was it just playing some sick mind game with them? ...maybe they can distract it long enough for me to jump... Jazz would catch me.
"I might.." Thundercracker was about to question them further when he noticed Ramjet, flying low, directly at the Autobots' backs. /Ramjet! Stop!/
/They're about to slag you!/ Instead of veering off, Ramjet increased his speed, determined to save his fellow Seeker.
/No!/ "Behind you!" Thundercracker hissed the warning in a low voice.
Ironhide eyed the Decepticon, suspecting a trick, while Jazz turned to look. /It's Ramjet!/ Jazz shoved at Ironhide when he started to turn and raise his cannons, trying to help the much-bulkier Autobot get out of the way in time.
Thundercracker closed his hand around the human again and stepped to one side as Ramjet plowed into the Autobots, all three of them just missing him as they crashed to the ground. "...scrap pile never listens..." he muttered angrily, turning to see how much damage Ramjet inflicted.
Both Autobots were down. A silver arm lay on the ground a few feet away from them. Ironhide had born the brunt of the collision, though. His chest armor had been smashed in, partially exposing his spark casing. He needed their medic, now.
Skywarp, who'd apparently been watching from a distance, appeared on the other side of them and fired down at Ironhide's chest. "Stop!" Thundercracker immediately ordered. Skywarp looked confused, but obeyed, backing away from the Autobots.
"No!!" Sam fought wildly to get free, slamming his fists down on the Decepticon's hand. "Jazz! Ironhide!"
/I did not ask for your assistance, Skywarp!/ Thundercracker reprimanded, hearing a scream from yet another human, this one standing next to the highway.
/Why were you just standing there, doing nothing?/ Skywarp asked, defensively. Ramjet made a sharp grinding noise as he tried to transform, but his right wing was crumpled from striking the Autobots, and he dropped offline from the excruciating pain.
/I have my reasons.../ Thundercracker ground out, frustrated with their interference, well-intentioned though it was.
"Ironhide!" Shutting down his pain processors and sending an urgent message to Ratchet, Jazz struggled to get upright, leaning over Ironhide as the light faded from his optics. "Primus, no..." he said in a whisper, helplessly watching his friend die.
Dirge reached the group then, transforming and landing next to Thundercracker. /That one is still alive/ he stated, looking at the smaller, silver Autobot.
Jazz looked up at the three Seekers, then back down at Ironhide's body. With his shield arm gone, there wasn't much he could do now to defend himself. He waited for his turn. Primus.. I'm sorry, buddy. Sorry, Sam...
/Leave him. Ramjet's wing is damaged and he can't fly./ Ramjet's injury gave Thundercracker a perfect reason to retreat. /Help Skywarp take him to Hook./
/I can do it myself./ Aggravated by Thundercracker's bizarre behavior, Skywarp hooked his fingers into Ramjet's frame and teleported. He would get an explanation for all of this later.
/--We're leaving now, Dirge, before the other Autobots arrive./
/Very well./ Dirge smirked at the surviving Autobot before changing back to jet form and flying off.
Thundercracker looked down at the still-wriggling human in his hand, dropped it--him, into a bush, then followed Dirge.
Jazz looked back up, startled, when he heard them leaving. What the-- "Sam!"
"I'm..here.." Sam gasped, branches leaving long scratches on his arms as he tried to drag himself out of the bush. His backpack had caught on something, though.
"Sam! Hold still!" Maggie stopped just long enough to help him out, then ran over to Ironhide, dropping her weapon and tote bag. "No, no, no!!"
"Oh, no..." Sam came up behind her, staring in horror and clutching Jazz's arm to his chest. "Is he--?"
"No!" She rounded on him, just as Optimus and the others found them. "He's not!! Ratchet!!"
"I'm here." Ratchet transformed and rushed over, tools out and prepared as he got a good look at Ironhide's chest. The scorched wiring could be replaced...systems repaired... All of the damage was reversible, given time, except for Ironhide's spark casing. It had been shattered, and was dark now. Empty. "He's gone.." Ratchet said in a stunned, mournful voice.
"No! He can't be dead!" Maggie shrieked in denial and tried to climb up onto Ironhide's chest, heedless of the sharp, jagged metal. "Help him!"
"Stop." Ratchet retracted a welder into his left wrist and plucked her off of Ironhide, cradling her in one hand. "You'll injure yourself."
"I don't care! He can't be dead!" she repeated, even though she'd seen where that bright blue spark of his should be...but wasn't... "He can't be..."
Jazz's head drooped as he scooted Sam closer to him with his left hand.
"--you're certain, Ratchet?" Optimus asked, not wanting to believe it, either. Of all the Autobots, he'd always expected his battle-hardened old friend to be the last to fall, even after himself. His optics flickered with sorrow when Ratchet silently nodded. "He was a brave soldier, and a loyal friend and companion."
"No..." Maggie wilted in Ratchet's hand, sobbing. It's not fair! Not Ironhide!!
Ratchet covered her with his other hand, still staring at his dead friend. I must repair Jazz's arm. Try to salvage something from...Ironhide. He would have wanted that, he thought, but couldn't seem to make himself move just yet.
"I'm sorry." Sam wiped a hand over his face, feeling overwhelmed with grief, and guilt.
"It's not your fault, Sam," Jazz was quick to point out, curling his hand around him. It's mine, he silently added, looking Sam over to make sure he hadn't been hurt.
"It could've grabbed any one of us," Mikaela told him, quietly weeping herself. Bee lightly patted her back, his optics dimmed like the others.
"That's true, Sam," Will backed her up, taking the loss of his friend a little more stoically: Soldiers don't cry in front of others.
"Yeah," Sam mumbled, sniffling, though he knew it wasn't true. He was the one that killed Megatron, not them. That Decepticon had come after him. And now Ironhide was dead. What'll we do now?
This is really upsetting, Simmons thought, rubbing the back of his head as he watched them. It was like they were mourning a death in the family. Actually...that's what they kinda are. One big, tight-knit, extended family. "Ok, look," he began, feeling obligated to speak up. "We'll hide his body somewhere, come back later and...bring him back."
Mikaela was the first to turn and look at him. "Wait a minute... Did you just say 'bring him back'?"
Simmons almost fidgeted, now that everyone's attention was on him. Everyone except Maggie, that is. He could still hear her crying in Ratchet's hand. "Yeah.. That's what I said. Like how you guys brought back Jazz."
"What is this, some kind of joke?" demanded Jazz.
"Nope. I'm not joking."
Optimus reached inside his chest, slowly pulling out the fragment of the All Spark. He turned it over between his fingers, thoughtfully, then looked back down at Simmons. "I believe it's time you told us exactly why we are traveling to Mammoth Cave, Agent Simmons."
Simmons stuffed his hands in his pants pockets. "Okay, first of all, you gotta understand that people were really dumb back in the '30s."
Bumblebee peered down at him, almost afraid to ask. "What did your people do during that time period?"
"Well, we - meaning Sector Seven -- found out that the All Spark could regenerate, like you guys' armor does," Simmons told them, getting more nervous when the Autobots stared at him.
What was that? Maggie went perfectly still and clapped a hand over her mouth, listening hard. Something about the All Spark...regenerating?
"How--how did they discover that it possessed that ability?" Optimus' processors whirred with astonishment, and the stirring of dread.
Ratchet's own shocked expression turned into a dark scowl. "They would have had to--"
"Pretty much, yeah." Simmons confirmed, nodding.
"What're you saying, Simmons?" Jazz demanded, trying to ignore the twinge of hope in his spark. It couldn't be...could it?
"I'm saying that there are more pieces of that Cube thing, and they're a lot bigger than the one you're holding."
"That was completely irresponsible of them!" Optimus rumbled loudly, his optics flashing with outrage at the disaster the humans could have so easily brought about. "Were they not aware of the danger they'd placed themselves in?"
"Whoa! Don't yell at me about it!" Simmons backed away from the intimidating figure, hands up. "Besides, nothing happened! They didn't blow up the planet or anything."
Sam stared at him in disbelief. "They cut off chunks of the All Spark, and stuck them in some cave? What the hell were they thinking??"
"There aren't all that many places secure enough to keep something like that," Simmons told him, still eyeing Optimus warily. "They moved all of the pieces there; didn't wanna risk them getting scattered and lost."
"Let me up!" Maggie pushed at Ratchet's hand. He quickly uncovered her, and she leaned forward to look down at Simmons. "Just how many pieces are there? Are they still in that cave? And how long have you known about them? Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Optimus looked over at Maggie's tear-streaked face, then lowered himself to one knee, almost at eye-level with Agent Simmons. "I suggest you tell us everything you know. Now!"
