Chapter 6
(Disclaimer: I do not own the transformers, Hasbro does. Max and the flock aren't mine either. They belong to James Patterson. Ember however is mine)
(This chapter is in the middle between Masters and Students and Scrapheap, Scrapheap episode included in the chapter.)
We arrived at the base, bones of all my flock felt like they were vibrating. Miko looked at me, then at Optimus, then at the dark blond.
"Another one?" I nodded head as I continue across the floor to the steps.
"One just like us." Miko's mouth dropped
"Really? What's your name?" She was silent waiting for an answer
"U-um." She was walking up the steps rubbing her arm "Ember, my name is Ember."
"Well hi Ember" she started pointing bring to different things. "That's Jack, that's Raf," she started pointing to the Autobots "that's Ratchet, that's Arcee" Arcee waved her hand and gave a small smile to say hi and Ember waved back shyly. "That's Bumblebee, that's Bulkhead, and that," she points to Optimus as he walks out of the back rooms of the base "that is the very Optimus Prime himself, leader of the Autobots." She turned around and pointed to Fang to start introducing her to my flock. Oh no. No one would introduce the flock other than me. I put a hand up
"Thank you Miko but I can so the rest." She smiles and trots over to Bulkhead. Who took her home along with Arcee, Jack, Bumblebee, and Raf "Ok Ember. This is Fang, my right wing man." I point over to the rest of the flock "and that's Angel, Nudge, Iggy, and the Gasman." She opened her mouth "Don't ask. Just for your benefit stay upwind. And finally I am Max." She slowly nodded her head in agreement.
"That's a cool name." She looked up at Optimus who was looking at the giant green screen. "Um, hate to bother but where are we?" He looked over and smiled
"Just outside Jasper, Nevada." She looks over to me.
"So Max, other than the wings is anything else different?" I nodded my head
"I have hyper speed when I fly. Iggy can feel colors. Gazzy can imitate anyone. Fang can disappear when he is extremely still. Angel has the load. She can read and control minds, talk to fish, and breathe under water." The computer behind all of us beeps a few times making Ember and the rest of the flock jump. I however didn't pay attention until Optimus walked over.
-Optimus POV-
When the alarm went off everyone jumped even poor Ember who is new to all of this. I walked over to the monitor looking at the screen. Ratchet typed a few keys and a file popped up.
"A cybertronian pod." Ratchet informed everyone. My optics widened. This could mean new anything. Mechs and femmes or maybe a relic.
"Where is this pod located?" Ratchet vented and continued tapping keys
"The arctic." I turned toward the rest of the team.
"Bumblebee, Bulkhead you will go scout out this pod. Insure that you get it before the Decepticons do. Good Luck." Ratchet held up a hand
"Yep, yep, yep. You only have limited time there. So please hurry." He turned toward the ground bridge controls "Ground bridge online." Bulkhead and Bumblebee walked through to the chilly climate.
-Bumblebee POV-
Bulkhead and I appeared in the Arctic and immediately my systems started freezing. Bulkhead pulled out the locater and turned the device on. It started to beep and we headed on our way.
(30 minutes later)
I was starting to get impatient. "Are we there yet?" I bleeped as I raised my servo to block the wind. Bulkhead vented
"No, we're not there yet. But it should just be past this ridge" We came up to the edge of the ridge and stopped before we slid down. Landing on the bottom we looked around. Bulkhead pulled up the locater "I don't get it these readings are off the meter" I continued to look around. I stopped when I spotted a small object in the distance
"Oooo. Come over here." I chirped. Bulkhead followed me. We came up to the big ice. I looked through the ice and saw the big pod in which was frozen.
-Time Skip-
-Max POV-
Bulkhead and Bumblebee came through the portal with the others carrying a big black ball made out of metal. I saw them bring it to a back room.
When they came back Ratchet set Bumblebee and Bulkhead on a birth and hooked up to a machine.
Thirty minutes passed and Bulkhead was getting impatient.
"I told you doc, we're fine" He pulled one of the tubes hooked to his chassis. He stood up knocking the other tube off as well. Ratchet turned around and put a servo on his shoulder plating.
"The only way to be certain you are fine," he pushed Bulkhead back down onto the birth, "is to endure standard defrosting procedure. You know prolonged exposure to sub-zero conditions can cause permanent system damage." Optimus walked up from the other side of the base with Arcee at his side
"Ratchet," The old medic turned around to face him, "have you learned anything more about our Arctic find?" Ratchet stood up
"Not yet." He walked over to the smaller computer which held a video cam of the pod. "The pod can't be opened up when it is frozen solid." Arcee turned to Bumblebee and asked
"Hey Bee can you go pick up Jack for me, I have some things to do." He chirped away and walked towards the exit of the base. "Thanks Bee." He and Bulkhead transformed and drove away. Ratchet turned towards the ground bridge controls and turned the teleporter on. Optimus and Arcee walked in front of it.
"Arcee and I will search for any clue which might explain our origin of our Arctic find." Ratchet pulled up his locater
"Only until your sensors sound. Remember once your core temperatures drops into the blue zone," he points the locater towards Optimus and his insignia flashed blue. He did the same to Arcee as he continued "system failures aren't likely, they're imminent." Angel ran to the railing
"Max what does imminent mean?" All the Autobots looked over to her.
"Angel, imminent means that it will happen." Her eyes got wide as she realized what I had just said and the risk that Optimus and Arcee are taking. Engines revved from the entrance to the base as everyone looked over to what the sound came from. Bulkhead and Bumblebee drove in. Jack and Raf jumped out of Bumblebee as Miko hopped out of Bulkhead
"Miss us doc bot?" Ratchet groans as he asks
"Shouldn't they be in school?" Miko looks up to him as she walks away from the two transforming Mechs
"On Saturday? We have the whole weekend off, to spend with you." Jack walks over to Arcee with confusion in his eyes
"I wasn't expecting a carpool, what gives?"
"Tag team, Jack. It's my turn for exploration duty." Jack sighs
"Ah, to bad. It's a beautiful day for a ride, would hate for you to feel guilty for leaving me indoors." Jack stated trying to get Arcee to take him along.
"Arctic exploration duty." Arcee stated. Jack point to the staircase of the cat walk as he says
"Indoors where it's warm." Raf followed behind Jack before he stopped in front of Optimus and Arcee,
"The arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." Optimus smiles a bit before saying
"I would invite you to join us Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots." He motioned the rest of the Autobots. Raf looked at the ground
"I… understand." Optimus turned toward the ground bridge before stopping
"But, I will bring you back a snowball." Raf jumped up and down
"That would be awesome." Optimus and Arcee walked through the ground bridge and disappeared.
"Transport complete." Ratchet sighed. The ground bridge controls cackled before completely shutting off, "By the Allspark!" Miko finished walking up the steps before asking
"So, what do you guys think we should do today?" Bumblebee bleeped and held up a digit and made a controller out of his servos. Raf jumped excitedly
"Video game time, last one standing wins." Ratchet yells from the other side of the base
"Bulkhead, Bumblebee! Here, now." I walked across the catwalk to see what was the matter. The two walked over and Bumblebee bleeped to Raf before he waved. Ratchet was franticly pulling the levers to the ground bridge as Bulkhead and Bumblebee walked over
"You can't boss us around just because the boss is out." Ratchet continued pulling the levers as he said
"I need some heavy lifting, the ground bridge is down." Bumblebee bleeped as I asked
"What! Did Optimus and Arcee make it through?"
"Optimus and Arcee made it through just fine, it's bringing them back that concerns me." He turned to the floor and pointed to it, "Now remove those panels, chop, chop." Bumblebee and Bulkhead removed some panels as Ratchet grabbed some tweezers. The power went out as I heard Jack and Miko complaining, Ratchet picked up one of the many computer chips with them and looked at it. "We most definitely have a problem. But what could have caused this." Jack and Miko walked over just as the power went out again,
"Or that?" Bulkhead asked. Ratchet looked up as he continued
"Might be the main grid. Hopefully it isn't a substation malfunction." Raf walked into the room
"Hey guys, look what I found." Ratchet's face looked angry as he faced him
"We're busy, AHHH." Ratchet screamed as I looked at the little robot laying in his arms "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" All the Autobots backed up and got their cannons out. Jack, Miko, Fang and I all went in front of Raf to protect him. Miko was the first one to speak
"Hey, hey. What's with you guys?" Bulkhead continues jumping back as he yelled
"Scraplet! Scraplet!" Raf jumped up to try to see the giant robots
"What's a Scraplet?" Ratchet wide opticed answered
"The most dangerous vermin ever to crawl upon on the face of Cybertron." I giggled
"This," I scoffed "Are you kidding me?" Miko spread he arms
"You're giant robots, scrappy here is… teeny." Bulkhead panted
"You have no idea the damage that teeny thing can do!" Raf looked down at the robot
"Aw, he wouldn't hurt anything." The robot woke up and looked right at the bots with his big purple eyes. He opened his mouth to show rows of sharp teeth. I backed up quickly. It jumped out of Raf's arms, whirring coming from its sharp mouth. I skittered toward the bots. Bulkhead and Bumblebee started shooting at it. They missed every time. It jumped onto Bumblebee's leg and started chewing away, taking off bits of paint. Bumblebee fell back. I jumped forward in fear, trying to go and help him. He tried to grab it but it started chewing up his arm. He flicked the bug off, it landed on the floor. It started back at Bumblebee, but Raf found a crowbar and kept smashing it violently. Jack grabbed the crowbar and kept him from hitting the dead robotic bug anymore.
"Easy there killer." Raf stopped and panted trying to catch his breath. His eyes got wide as he ran over to Bumblebee. I flew over the railing towards him. I looked back over at Miko who said
"Whoa, I did not see that coming." I returned my focus onto Bumblebee. I looked up at Ratchet who stepped forward to help Bumblebee.
"Is he going to be okay? I asked with worry in my voice. Raf ran behind me panting
"I'm sorry Bee." Ratchet finished examining him and looked back at us.
"Only a mesh wound, he'll live."
"Now do you believe me," Bulkhead questioned us, "All Scraplet's do is dismantle machinery and eat anything metal. Especially living metal." Jack and Miko waked up
"Well bug squashed, game over right?" Jack asked nervously. Ratchet shook his helm
"No, when it comes to Scraplets, there's never just one. I fear I know how they got in here." I cocked my head to the side.
"How?" We all walked to the room where the pod was being stored. The pod was broken open and empty.
"It's a trap," Ratchet stated, "A Scraplet trap."
"Uh, an empty Scraplet trap." Bulkhead shook nervously.
