\To readers: remember, all of the relic episodes take place after bee's dilemma with Siren, so the kids didn't know anything bout it at first. The following moment with poor Jack takes place a little after Optimus announces the team to split for the relics so just remember all of this is happening simultaneously with ep.7 and 8. That's all I hav to say...for now =) Reviews and PMs would be greatly appreciated, as always. I'm catching a bit of writer's block/procrastination cuz im starting to experiment a little with POETRY so i'll try to work on the series as much as possible but u might take a break (only for a few days/weeks tho).
Episode 9: Road Trip
Jack spun his number 2 pencil in his hand as he searched his mind for the right function to use. The rest of his Pre-Calculus class busily punched the keys on their TI-89 calculators, their smug faces full of confidence. Unfortunately, Jack was probably the only one in that room who had watched a drive-in movie with Arcee Three last night instead of practicing more problems for the test. Behind him, he heard Sierra's pencil fly away on her test, solving every problem correctly. He wanted desperately to cheat, but it seemed like a little Optimus on his shoulder yanked his ear at the very thought of it.
To his luck, a heavy metal ringtone invaded the room's silence, and all of the class' eyes turned on him slightly.
"Mr. Darby, is that your phone emanating the most ostentatious tune?" his pompous math teacher, Ms. Frank, declared in her annoying studious voice. The students grinned while looking down at their tests, but Sierra stared up at Jack's backside. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
"Sorry, it's…my mom," Jack said, staring down at his desk.
"Tell her to call you back at a more appropriate time…right here."
Jack yanked his Motorola out of his bag, and flipped it open while sitting in the center of the class.
"Yeah, Mom?" he asked, knowing it wasn't her.
"Jack, Optimus needs your help!" Arcee Five's voice bubbled in the speaker. Ms. Frank raised her eyebrow slightly, and Jack rolled his eyes when he heard a classmate whisper that his mother sounded hot.
"I-I'm kinda taking a test right now," he whispered uncomfortably.
"Bee Four's on his way," she continued, ignoring his comment. "Meet him at the front of the school and I'll Bridge you guys to Optimus."
"Wait –I can't just leave school like that," Jack muttered, glancing at Ms. Frank's analytical squint.
"Find a way! Or else I'll send a Bridge to where you're at!"
She hung up abruptly, and Jack flipped the screen down, irritated. Peeking once more at Ms. Frank's flaring nostrils, he gulped and asked her a deadly question.
"Can I...take the test later?"
The entire room gasped and Ms. Frank gave Jack her cold stare through her horn-rimmed glasses.
"And give me one good reason you should, other than that you're clearly unprepared."
Jack bit his dried lips.
"I…just need to use the restroom. It's an emergency."
He blushed when a few giggles echoed the room, and Ms. Frank put down her pencil on the quizzes she was correcting.
"You have two minutes –not a second more."
Jack could hardly believe his luck. "Oh, thanks so much-"
"Let me remind you that your test is a zero if you're late for any reason-"
"Got that," Jack said, relieving himself from his desk. "Two min-"
"Go."
Instantly, Jack shot from his desk and out the nearest door, a giant F on his test plastered in his mind. He quickly slid down the stairs, dashed past rows of blue lockers, and finally crashed through an emergency exit at the side.
Bumblebee Four watched his rear view mirror for a brief second and then continued with his racing game. Rotating his steering wheel rapidly, he maneuvered from his opponent's ram, and sped to the next loop. Once more, he looked at his mirror and bleeped enthusiastically when he saw Jack sprinting from the side of the school. He unwillingly closed his game and swung open the passenger door.
"Bee, step on it!" Jack panted once he slunk inside. "Before I get detention for life!"
Bumblebee Four buckled him in and revved his engine loudly until a familiar ecstatic voice called out. One that chilled Jack to his bones.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Miko yelled out, Raf running close behind. Jack stared blankly, flabbergasted, and Bumblebee Four exhaled as Miko bounced into the back seat with Raf at her side.
"What are you guys doing here?" Jack shouted, craning his neck over his seat. Bumblebee Four zoomed off from the pavement and headed toward the coordinates where Arcee Five would Bridge him.
"Duh," Miko answered. "We-"
"Raf, you got anything to say?" Jack interrupted, refusing to listen to her babbling.
The short twelve-year old adjusted his glasses. "Our classes were listening to a lecture, and then I saw Miko sneak out of the room right after it began. I knew she was looking for trouble, so I just told my teacher that I felt sick and went after her."
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Miko asked, annoyed. "You're not Bulkhead!"
"Miko, just shut it!" Jack exploded. "And how come you never leave me alone? Seriously, why?"
"I ONLY ASKED FOR JACK!" Arcee Five boomed with frustration over the radio after Bumblebee Four bleeped to her the news. The kids abandoned their argument. "HOW HARD IS IT FOR MIKO TO UNDERSTAND?"
Miko rolled her eyes and crossed her arms stubbornly. Jack and Raf heard her sigh and begin to tap keys silently.
"Sending Ground Bridge over," she spoke in a calmer tone.
Bumblebee Four swerved into an alleyway behind a faded orange apartment with cloudy windows, and Jack recognized it as where he and Arcee first met Arcee Two. A large green portal appeared next to the stairs and Bumblebee Four's muscle car mode entered. To everyone's surprise, Miko was silent throughout the rest of the ride.
Parked at the entrance of a forest trail were several vehicles. Two identical blue motorcycles stood next to a yellow muscle car with black stripes, and a bulky green truck remained with a red and blue longnose truck. They sadly watched a family of hikers pass into the woods, wishing that their species was less…conspicuous. For the time being, the relic was safe from the Decepticons' grasp, but Optimus dreadfully knew that they wouldn't hesitate to obtain it in front of the public.
"Where's the neon lights and gold streets?" Bulkhead Four radioed to the gang, using his front tire to point at the healthy trees.
"C'mon, Bulk," Arcee Two sighed. "There's more to Vegas than just that."
Bumblebee sulkily bleeped a comment.
"I believe you would find the games here…peculiar, Bumblebee," Optimus noted. "It is best that we stay at the other part of town, where the humans' bodies are less, uh, exposed."
"We get the picture," Arcee Four said. She groaned in vehicle mode. "Where's Jack? It's been ten minutes already."
"Be patient, Jack's on his way probably," Optimus assured. Only a second passed by until he gave in.
"Bumblebee Four," he radioed. "Is Jack with you?"
Beep Bleep Bleep Bleep Bloop.
"Should've known," Arcee Two muttered. Optimus and Bumblebee only sighed together, though Bumblebee was glad Raf tagged along.
"Ha, that's Miko," Bulkhead Four added, almost with pride. "Always jumping at the chance."
"Her courage might be her worst flaw, Bulkhead Four," Optimus reminded. "She has no idea of the danger she's putting herself in."
To reader: Kudos to Primessparrow for giving me the idea of using a staff for the relic. Also, just a big "u rock" to all of my readers, including T'Reilani cuz i kno she'll nag me bout it XD hope u keep following clone chronicles cuz well, it'll be worth it =) -everyday hero
A moment later, a Ground Bridge appeared within a group of trees behind them, away from sight. The Autobots heard Bumblebee Four darting out of the foliage and making his way towards them. Abruptly, he skidded in front of Optimus and flipped both of his doors out. Jack and Raf irritably slammed their sneakers onto the ground and walked towards Optimus, Miko trailing behind. She winked to Bulkhead Four's truck mode, and he flickered his headlights at her encouragingly.
The three kids entered Optimus' truck cab and, as always, Jack was the first one to ask for answers.
"What's going on?" he demanded. "Bee Four told us 'bout the whole operation with Siren and the relic coordinates, but what does that have to do with you being able to pull us outta school just now?"
"Jack, we looked at every possibility to avoid involving you three," Optimus began shamefully, speaking through the stereo of the truck. "Only humans are able to help us with this mission, and we know so few of you. Agent Fowler is already aiding in Ultra Magnus' team's mission, and your mother –I have a hunch that she would refuse."
Jack couldn't argue with that. Optimus continued.
"We decided that you were our best option, but we had mistakenly overlooked your loyalties to each other."
Jack sighed, reluctantly holding back a snarky comment about Miko.
"The relic is buried within the trail, about a mile away," Optimus informed. "Bulkhead Four will supply you with your gear, and you will begin immediately. We will surround the forest trail, in case of any Decepticons. Be careful, and be on the lookout for any scouts the Decepticons might have sent. If there is an emergency, do not hesitate to alert any one of us."
"Optimus, time is short," Arcee Four radioed. The kids watched Optimus' brake pad tap uneasily, as if he was fighting the decision to let them go on their own. He sighed.
"Good luck," he concluded. "Roll out."
His driver door swung open and the kids exited the truck, Miko grinning lightly at the thought of their own mission. Bulkhead Four unlocked his trunk, revealing three bright yellow shovels and Arcee Four's scanner. Although it was the smallest one of the Autobots, Jack had to clasp both sides awkwardly with his hands and almost dropped it at its weight. To humans, the scanner was almost as heavy as three dictionaries.
He hugged it to his chest and proceeded forward, Raf and Miko handling the shovels. Raf held two over his shoulder normally, and Miko pretended to use hers as an electric guitar, stringing imaginary strings and humming a Smash Monkey song.
Optimus carefully watched them with his visor, and when they were out of sight, commanded the team to keep them in their sights the entire time.
Cybertronian symbols on the scanner's screen glowed blue and beeped repeatedly when Jack had placed it over an area of soil a few feet off the trail.
"I think it means the relic's underneath here," Raf suggested, planting his foot at the spot. Jack shrugged along.
"Or it could mean there's a bomb," Miko sang in a high tone, and Jack shook his head.
"I'll take my chances," he said flatly. He took one of the shovels from Raf and jabbed it into the soil.
"Raf, help me out with this."
The two boys shoveled like machines, scooping up massive amounts of dirt each time. Miko sheepishly joined them, purposely flinging some of the dirt at Jack's face. Quickly, he sputtered to get it out of his mouth; not even realizing who had done it. He continued digging and his shovel suddenly hit something solid, and it clanged loudly. Foolish grins broke out on the kids' faces, and they eagerly dug at the object until it finally became visible.
The relic was a long black staff with green glowing rings that wrapped around it like a candy cane. Raf gasped at the Cybertronian symbol etched into a white and yellow crystal at the end of the staff: a design of an orange gear with curved lines at the side. Beside him, Miko and Jack knelt down and clasped their hands around the rod. Taking a deep sigh first, they heaved and were pleasantly surprised that the staff was no heavier than seventy pounds. Raf lined up behind Miko and grasped onto the end, so the kids held it like a battering ram.
"We gotta move fast," Jack whispered. "Optimus is waiting."
Carefully, they took long strides forward, moving at a steady pace. They walked through the forest off from the trail, since they knew that the hikers would be curious about the artifact they were carrying.
A Ground Bridge suddenly materialized in front of them and Arcee Five appeared within.
"Jeez, Jack, we've tried calling you like a billion times!" she yelled.
"Whoops, vibrate," Jack said, flipping out his Razr.
"Why do we even bother?" Arcee Five sighed to herself, palming her face, and he chuckled.
"Change of plan. We need Raf. Unless you can find someone else who can hack into the White House's security systems."
Behind his glasses, Raf's eyes bulged with excitement at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He quickly let go of the staff and pulled his backpack up his small shoulders. Jack and Miko waved at him as he scrambled into the portal with Arcee Five.
The two waved back inside the portal, and it vanished in mere seconds. Sighing, Miko and Jack gripped harder onto the staff and continued.
They walked for three minutes until Jack stopped in his tracks, and Miko bumped her face into his neck.
"Hey!" Miko complained painfully.
"Shhhh." Jack brushed a palm tree leaf out of the way and the kids saw a red tanker truck park on the pavement, on a different parking lot from the one they had met Optimus on.
"That truck's a Con," he warned. "Arcee Two and I met up with him during a drive."
"Megs probably sent him to get this," Jack assumed, raising the staff.
"Finders keepers," Miko uttered, and they took a different route, racing to tell Optimus.
The Autobots sighed with relief in vehicle mode when the two kids emerged from the dense brush, lugging the long staff on their shoulders.
"Hey, is Raf with the others?" Arcee Four asked urgently. Hastily, Jack nodded back and the two jumped inside Bulkhead Four.
"We gotta hurry!" Jack hollered inside the truck. "That Con tanker truck is here!"
"Flatline," Arcee Two spat.
"Follow my lead," Optimus declared, starting his throaty engine. He stepped on his gas pedal and sped away from the trail, the Autobots tailing behind. They drove for a mile and then turned onto a deserted road near the boiling desert. After assuring that there were no signs of life, Optimus and the team transformed into robot mode. While the others were busy stretching their sore parts, the Autobot leader called the base.
"Ultra Magnus, we have obtained the Deflector," he said. "Bridge us back."
Only static responded, and Optimus repeated the message.
"So, what does this thingamigbobber do?" Miko questioned Bulkhead Four, pointing at it on the ground. Jack only crossed his arms and looked down aside her, repressing his desire to tape up her mouth
At her question, Bulkhead Four released a hearty laugh and wiped his optics.
"When we get back, you'll see."
"Awww," Miko whined back. Jack shook his head and gazed up at Optimus, realizing that for the first time, he appeared frustrated.
"What's up?" Arcee Two asked him, noticing him gritting his teeth and staring up at the faint sky in annoyance.
"I'm not getting a response."
Bumblebee bleeped, offering a light suggestion.
"I'm certain this is not a joke, Bumblebee. They need our help. We must come to their aid."
"Wait –you're saying we're gonna have to drive back?" Jack panicked. "With Flatline behind us and all the Cons watching?"
Optimus looked at the kids sorrowfully, holding back a teardrop. He crouched down to get to their level.
"I am –I am deeply sorry for throwing you two into this mess," Optimus spoke. "You never asked to be a part in all this chaos…I promise that we will protect you with our lives, if that is the cost for redemption."
All of Jack's anger towards the Autobots seemed to melt away at Optimus' words.
"Don't blame yourself, this was always gonna happen."
Optimus shamefully smiled back, proud of how much Jack had matured.
"I will keep my promise anyway, Jack. For always. Thank you for your understanding."
Jack nodded awkwardly and joined with Miko inside Bulkhead Four. Optimus turned to the address the rest of the team.
"Autobots, metal to the pedal!"
Chh-ch-ch. Optimus took a running start and transformed into truck mode in mid-air. Behind him, the Autobots transformed into vehicle mode and dashed forward on the Las Vegan road as if they were heading into war, the bright sunlight gleaming on their metal.
The race of their lives had officially begun…
Half an hour had passed, and the Autobots continued down Highway 375, ironically nicknamed Extraterrestrial Highway (yes, this is actually a REAL highway!). The sleepy town of Jasper laid a hundred fifty miles ahead, an endless fleet of zooming vehicles and a bottom-numbing two hour drive between it and the Autobots. With Optimus at the lead, the team swerved into another crowd of cars, grateful for the absence of traffic.
"Hey, let's play a game!" Miko cried enthusiastically inside Bulkhead Four's truck mode.
"Hmm? Mm, okay," Jack said drowsily. He straightened up from his nap and rubbed the back of his aching neck.
"Okay," he started. "I spy…something that's red-"
"Optimus! My turn!"
"Let me finish, jeez! Anyway, I spy something red with a yellow letter on it."
"A McDonalds sign?"
Jack choked. "How'd you get it so fast? We passed that sign an hour ago."
"Duh, it's so obvious! Now, watch the master."
She whipped her head back and her jaw dropped the next moment. Curious, Jack followed her gaze and cringed uncomfortably at what she was seeing...who she was seeing.
"Uh…Bulk!" Miko exclaimed urgently, pointing through the back window. "We got company!"
Only a few minutes away, twelve black police Suburbans were in pursuit of the Autobots, and their sirens blared loudly along with the flickering lights atop the vehicles. The vehicles on the freeway quickly began pulling over,
"Cons!" Jack and Miko yelled at the same time.
"They're just cops," Arcee Four radioed to Bulkhead. "We can handle them."
"Then why is he here?" Miko pointed.
A hulking blue armored truck rolled behind the police cars; it cut in front of a bus and brutally pushed a red car out of its way and into a tan minivan.
"Optimus?" Arcee Two asked at his side.
"It can't be!" he shouted. "Bulkhead Four-"
"Finish him off once and for all?" he interrupted, in a slightly hopeful tone.
"Protect the children!" Optimus replied. "Move up ahead!"
"You got it."
Immediately, Bulkhead Four accelerated past the Arcees and Bumblebees, and pulled over in front of Optimus' truck mode.
"What now?" Jack asked in his seat. He almost jumped out of his skin when the screech of a microphone replied.
"I know you're in there!" a voice boomed behind them. Jack and Miko swiveled their heads around, and the Autobots looked through their rearview mirrors.
"You Bots got nowhere to run…or hide," Silas announced. Time seemed to freeze when the team heard the seemingly indestructible man's voice. They realized with disgust that he was in the driver's seat of Breakdown, speaking through a megaphone mounted on the vehicle.
"As you all know by now, I hate following the law. But it's always nice when they decide to lock the exits so it's a lot easier to corner you guys."
Silas paused, desperately wishing that there would be more opportunities to see Optimus leak his Cybertronian alloy shorts.
"They even sent a team to come after you, Prime; to interrogate you and whatnot…but I'm sorry to say they couldn't make it."
Bumblebee then sickly realized that the police cars were dented with bullet holes, and their bumpers were worn out from ramming into men with suits.
"You know what we want," Silas said, directing it towards Optimus. "They won't cost you anything…after all, they're just spare parts."
Bumblebee Four whimpered to his original, and the Arcees growled furiously at the insult. Even Jack and Miko felt a blast of hot air erupt from Bulkhead Four's heater.
"If you refuse on my offer…well, MECH's got a plan already made for you and your team, Prime. Just like we did for my new ride."
His words sent a chill through Optimus like a horrible choice of motor oil. He and the team accelerated, and MECH attached to them like glue.
"That's your answer, Prime? Running away?" Silas said through the megaphone. "Let me reply."
A MECH soldier emerged from an SUV's sunroof with a rifle and shot several rounds that pierced through the hood of a yellow Subaru. Jack and Miko watched with disbelief as the car spun out of control and collided into a red Jeep. Luckily, both of the drivers survived, but it looked like the Subaru driver's head had taken a bad hit. The soldier quickly pointed his gun to the right and aimed for a trailer truck, but Optimus pushed him off in the nick of time. The soldier yelled as he toppled out of the sunroof and was catapulted off of the road.
"Tsk tsk," Silas said. "A Bot harming a human."
"You're not human," Optimus spoke sourly.
"Oh, you're very right," Silas glared. "You'll find out soon enough. But now, I think I have a craving for some alien weaponry."
Four MECH Suburbans behind him swerved into the exit branching from the road. Optimus and the Autobots realized with terror that each of the exits led up to Bulkhead Four ahead, and prepared themselves for one chaotic roller-coaster ride.
"Autobots!" Optimus declared. "Activate Stealth Mode! Pursue and destroy!"
It was easier done than said. The Bumblebees' roofs split in two, and a cannon arm emerged out of the driver's side. Their engine blocks elevated slightly and transformed into a powerful Energon cannon, and missile launchers flipped out from each of their sides. Their burning tires left a streak on the road as they made a U-turn around Silas and the Autobots, and went after the two MECH vehicles. As harsh as lightning, Energon pistols erupted from the Arcees' sides and their seats flipped back to unveil a grenade launcher. A cannon transformed from Optimus' trailer hitch and he immediately directed it at MECH behind him.
At the same moment, MECH was readying its team. Soldiers poking out of the sunroofs cocked their deadly rifles loaded with self-designed bullets. A battering plow flipped over the Suburbans' front bumpers, and Silas backed up as an SUV sped in front of him to take on its first victim.
Bumblebees' POV
Bumblebee and Bumblebee Four raced viciously along the road, MECH about twenty feet away from them. With pinpoint accuracy, Bumblebee Four launched an Energon blast clean through a Suburban and the burning inferno flipped over to its side. Two MECH soldiers angrily kicked the passenger doors off their hinges and aimed their rifles at the two yellow Urbana muscle cars. Simultaneously, they shot several rounds at the Autobots and took a suicide dive into the river beneath the road. Meanwhile, the Bumblebees felt no damage after they shot so they concluded that hopefully it was a missed shot.
Gracefully, Bumblebee launched his chassis into the air and over the crushed Suburban, and his clone repeated the move. Effortlessly, they landed smoothly on their tires and continued delivering Energon beams at the three Suburbans ahead.
Optimus and Arcees' POV
The soldier on top of the SUV launched a peculiar ball-shaped bullet at Optimus' truck bed, and Optimus blew up the vehicle with an Energon blast from his cannon. Suddenly, he heard four shots sound next to him and glanced through his mirrors. He caught a glimpse of an SUV driving away from his right side, a soldier reloading his gun perched on top. Strangely, he felt no pain and his scanners didn't detect any explosives. Refocusing, he swiveled his back cannon around and shot at Silas, but his reflexes were impressive. The MECH leader dodged and weaved, and the Energon bounced harmlessly off the road.
Another ball-shaped bullet went over his cab and lodge onto Arcee Two's grenade launcher. It didn't blow a hole surprisingly; it only attached like a magnet. A whirring sound filled his audio sensors, and he directed his mirror away from MECH for a moment and towards his back truck section. At first, he saw no threat…until a small and round creature with cat-like ears came around and chewed at his side, leaving a trail of chiseled metal.
"Scraplets!" Arcee Two screamed at his side, destroying one chewing at her rim with her pistol. Optimus followed suit, and blasted the ones gnawing on him but in a few seconds, MECH mercilessly launched more at him. Pop, pop, pop. The Scraplets went from the barrels of their guns, unfolding from their ball form and sinking their razor-sharp teeth onto Optimus. Not even the great Autobot leader could control himself. He painfully groaned in truck mode as the multitude of Scraplets ate away the metal skin under his truck disguise. He crashed against the road barriers, and managed to knock off ten of them onto the pavement. The Arcee clones ground the vermin into dust with their tires, and Optimus sent more for their pleasure as he shot dozens of Scraplets off his truck mode.
Optimus and the Arcees ceaselessly shot forward, burning with pain from the Scraplets' jagged teeth. The three passed into a steel bridge and two MECH SUVs came up quickly behind.
"I got Optimus," a MECH soldier radioed to Silas, spotting him near the end of the tunnel. Hurriedly, he pulled out his Scraplet rifle when all of a sudden, two shadows passed over his windshield. Clinging onto the ceiling trusses of the bridge, the Arcees swung down and sent roundhouse kicks to the unsuspecting MECH vehicles. They watched with triumphant grins as the police cars hurtled down into the water, and gave each other approving nods. Below them, Silas and five MECH SUVs drove past at brutal speeds. Knowing that Optimus would need their help, the Arcees dismounted and began transforming in the air. As soon as their front tires hit the road, the two motorcycles burnt rubber, and switched back to Stealth Mode.
Forty feet ahead of them, Optimus agonizingly rolled on, his mind set on protecting the children and ignoring the Scraplets tearing through his circuitry. He angrily sent another blast at MECH behind, but they skillfully dodged it.
"You're brave but foolish, Prime," Silas bellowed. "You just don't know how high the stakes are."
Beside him, a MECH Suburban rammed into a white and orange VW bus off the road. Optimus saw that there was a family with four kids inside, and wasted no time to make a screeching U-turn. Silas and MECH drove past, knowing that they had a small window to capture Bulkhead Four while Optimus was distracted.
The kids and their parents screamed at the top of their lungs as their bus plunged down towards the highway thirty meters below. The three sons hugged their little sister and the parents together hopelessly prayed for a miracle.
A red and blue truck glided off the road they were on only moments ago and Optimus Prime clasped onto the back bumper with his right hand and dangled on the bridge with his left. A wave flowed past peacefully below, and the Autobot leader let out a great sigh of relief that echoed loudly.
To his luck, his left arm began to numb painfully and he felt his grip slowly loosening.
LAST UPDATE, I KNEW IT WOULD TAKE AWHILE TO FIND IT ;)
With all his efforts, he held on, determined to save the humans' lives. Fire coursed through his Energon, but he continued fighting. His sensors picked up two vehicles approaching, and before he could transform his hand into a blaster, Arcee Two lifted him with his left hand and Arcee Four grabbed his shoulder to haul his body up. He offered them a pleased smile and gently set the bus down on the road. The family inside had fallen unconscious during their dive, and the Arcees giggled at the thought of them waking up on the highway. They would never know their heroes, but the Autobots were more than fine with that.
After thanking Arcee Two and Four hastily, Optimus transformed back into stealth mode and shot towards MECH like a deadly bullet. The girls followed his manner, and zoomed to catch up with their leader. Optimus raced towards MECH with lightning speed, and for a brief moment, it felt like he was defying time itself.
Bumblebees' and kids' POV
Jack watched uneasily through Bulkhead Four's back window at MECH and Silas coming close.
"Miko! Now!"
He swung down the window and Miko excitedly popped her rock star head out.
"Get some!" she cried, launching shaken bottles of soda pop at them. The two kids had filled bottles stashed in Miko's schoolbag with Jack's Mentos and the bottles exploded like fireworks in front of a MECH soldier's face. He shrieked and fell off from the sunroof, and his comrades swerved out of the way.
"Looking good guys!" Bulkhead Four encouraged.
"I don't know how long we can keep them off," Jack said, staring at Silas only a few feet away.
In the nick of time, two yellow cars turned sharply from the exit and covered Bulkhead Four's rear. They cussed in Cybertronian as five Suburbans behind shot a horde of Scraplets at them, and faced the danger. Furiously, they unleashed rounds of Energon at the critters, and Bumblebee dumped gallons of oil on the pavement. An SUV got trapped instantly in the puddle, and the kids cheered when it skated uncontrollably off the road and plunged down. Another MECH vehicle replaced it and shot five Scraplets forward.
Bulkhead Four shrieked like a banshee and accelerated like a madman. Before they could mock him, Jack and Miko were thrown back into their seats and held back their lunch the best they could.
Behind, the Scraplets slid under Bumblebee Four's engine block and dismantled the scout from the inside. The young Autobot bleeped frantically as they brunched, and Bumblebee managed to knock two off by ramming his body against his clone's. MECH took their moment of opportunity, and hammered his stealth mode with more Scraplets. They bit into Bumblebee's car parts and began making their way into the delectable Cybertronian techno-organic metal.
The MECH soldiers reloaded their guns and prepared to launch more rounds until a volley of grenades landed on the car roofs. They hysterically swept them into the ocean before they could detonate, and two motorcycles slyly snuck in between two SUVs at the back. Blades jutted out from the Arcees' sides, and they each sliced a pair of tires.
"Hi-yah!" they cried identically, and they pushed against the cars. Without the support of their side tires, the SUVs tumbled over the side of the road.
"Grrr!" Silas muttered, looking through his rearview mirror. He dodged an Energon blast from Bumblebee Four, and pursued Bulkhead Four, refusing to leave without the weapon.
The soldiers in the last two MECH SUVs stared uneasily at the two muscle cars and motorcycles boxing them in.
"Busted," Arcee Four uttered in a deadly tone.
Silas glanced at Breadown's speedometer. Ninety miles per hour, it read. It gradually rose as Silas stepped on the gas pedal, and got ever closer to the green truck.
He triggered the Energon cannon, and it popped up from the hood. Silas grinned as the crosshairs on the targeting screen locked onto Bulkhead Four.
"Got you big guy," he spoke. His hand lifted to push the trigger.
Er-Er! Optimus shot from the rear like a cannonball, and smashed his grille into the blue armored truck. Silas desperately fought with the steering wheel, but it was too late. Breakdown's vehicle mode slid off the road, scarring the pavement with hot tire tracks.
Optimus screeched to a halt, and the rest of the Autobots gathered around his truck mode.
"Have a nice swim," Miko said, her head popped out of Bulkhead Four's window. Beside her, Jack belched and slammed his head against his seat.
"Optimus, we couldn't capture the MECH soldiers," Arcee Four said in motorcycle mode, driving over the last Scraplet Bumblebee had shot off. "Arcee Two and I had them trapped, but they took a suicide dive."
Her words blurred within Optimus' mind, for he was focusing intently on Silas' tire tracks. He transformed into robot mode and slowly walked forward, the Autobots and kids watching uneasily. Squatting down, he peered over the ledge of the road.
Nothing.
Suddenly, a large blue hand shot out and sucker-punched Optimus into a road sign.
Cautiously, the Autobots transformed and activated their weapons. Jack gulped as Breakdown's robot mode climbed up from under the bridge, and smashed his feet back onto the road. Except it wasn't Breakdown anymore. A giant MECH logo was plastered on his abdomen, and in place of his mouth was a trapezoid-shaped screen. His optics were yellow, but not the same as Breakdown's. They were colored like Nemesis Prime's, cold and lifeless. His chest pieces opened, revealing Silas within a blast-proof window. Jack and Miko cringed when they noticed that Silas' body was cut off. His waist was mounted onto a platform of sensors and wires, and his arms were wrapped around a mechanism that allowed his body to control Breakdown's robot mode. (Think Avatar with the AMP suit, Silas DRIVES the suit in vehicle mode but becomes part of it in vehicle mode)
"You've done some serious damage to me with my robot, Prime," Silas began. "But know this: you can never destroy me."
"Wanna bet?" Bulkhead Four hissed, triggering his mace.
"Bulkhead Four, stay down," Optimus warned, stepping in front of him. He transformed his hand into a blaster. He glared at Silas, and the MECH leader chuckled at Optimus' stupidity.
"I have better things to do than fighting you, Prime." Swiftly, he transformed and the Autobots brutally unleashed blasts of Energon at his form, but they did minimal damage. Bulkhead Four broke out from the ranks and swung his mace at Silas, but he drove out of the way. He left a large cloud of smoke behind, and Jack and Miko shielded their eyes while Optimus, Bulkhead Four, Arcee Two, and Bumblebee Four charged forward through the cloud.
Bumblebee bleeped in frustration to Arcee as they shielded the kids.
"I always keep my guard on, Bee," she said, her pistol pointed forward in case of any surprise attacks.
Behind Jack, five MECH soldiers suddenly appeared from the bottom of the bridge, operating jetpacks. Stealthily, they snatched the Deflector wedged under Jack's arm.
"What –hey!" Jack shouted, whipping his head back. Arcee Two and Bumblebee immediately swiveled their bodies and fired Energon ruthlessly at the soldiers, but they were too late.
A MECH soldier pushed a button on the staff and a holographic green diamond appeared at the end. The Autobots' shots were absorbed like a wind machine, and the rod's symbols glowed brightly.
"No!" Arcee Two yelled as he flew higher and aimed the rod at the others chasing Silas. A big blue ball of their combined Energon shots spouted from the diamond and hit Optimus. He lost control and skidded on the road, and his team following him painfully crashed into his truck mode.
Bumblebee and Arcee Two glared at the group of soldiers as they retreated, and Silas drove his suit down into the ocean, where a MECH submarine was awaiting him.
Meanwhile, the Autobots and kids gathered around their damaged leader, smoke hissing from his hood.
"Optimus?" Jack asked hopefully.
He transformed and splayed his body on the road, Energon leaking from his wounds. He painfully smiled at his team and was glad to see that the others weren't that injured.
A black helicopter suddenly appeared above, and the Autobots pointed their guns at it, in case it was MECH. Then they noticed that it had the emblem for the U.S. government.
They watched as it landed and a man in a suit stepped out, bodyguards following him.
"Optimus Prime, I am General Bryce," he introduced, though Optimus had already met him before with Fowler. "And all I have to say is that we are in great debt to you and your team."
"Why?" Arcee Two asked suspiciously.
"The government shut down your base's communications, so that we could have a private chat about your motives. We had foolishly believed that you were a threat to this country."
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. Everyone but Optimus looked with disgust at him now.
"Well, we were wrong. And I came to say that the United States government has restored your base, and that we are now on the same team."
A Ground Bridge appeared beside the helicopter, and the Autobots did not hesitate to end the conversation. They gathered Optimus and angrily headed into the portal, the kids accompanying them.
"Just to let you idiots know, we were always on the same team!" Miko outraged, and Jack pulled her away though he was as furious as her.
General Bryce watched the Autobots inside the Ground Bridge, their backs turned against him. It slowly began to fade away, and at the moment he was about to head back to the copter, a voice spoke.
"We forgive you," Optimus said weakly. A heavy burden on Bryce seemed to disintegrate, and he lit a rare smile.
"I see them!" Raf shouted excitedly, pointing at Optimus' team at the end of the tunnel.
"Gosh, they look worse than we did," Arcee Six noted to Bumblebee Two, cringing at all of their Scraplet scars. The Scraplets did no real damage thankfully, only flesh wounds. However, they still looked like they had run through a jungle of chains.
"I'll prepare sick bay," Ratchet said, and he dashed to the other side of the room, almost stepping on Fowler.
Ultra Magnus jogged up to Optimus, and eyed his dents and wounds with concern.
"MECH is back," Bulkhead Four spat at the side. He said it as he fearfully pulled off a dead Scraplet lodged on his leg, like it was radioactive.
"Even worse, they now have the Deflector," Arcee Two added, gesturing towards Jack. "I don't know if we'll ever have another shot at them, literally."
"I sense that we will," Optimus suddenly spoke. "Even power is not eternal."
The three fell into silence as Optimus uttered another sentence.
"Track down Ratchet Two's team's coordinates," he instructed Ultra Magnus.
"We did as soon as the government restarted the Bridge." he comforted.
"Many thanks, Ultra Magnus."
Miko ran into the scene, after showing Bulkhead her new playlist for recon expeditions.
"'Cee Five told me that the others are on their way, Bulk Four," she smiled.
As if on cue, the tunnel lit up again and the rest of the team gathered around the entrance, Ratchet staying at the back to ready his tools.
The first one to step out was Arcee. She had a gimp in her walk and looked like she was about to topple over any minute. Arcee Three and Four held onto her just when she was about to trip, and Jack gasped at her bruised left optic. The pain on her body was badly scratched up and one of her wings was bent back. She looked like murder.
"Arcee," Jack whispered, and she gave him another of her I'll be fine stares with her good optic.
Ratchet Two entered, badly beaten and his chest windows were completely cracked. Bumblebee broke out and was about to support his frail body when Bumblebee Six came inside, carrying Bumblebee Three in his arms.
All optics turned on the injured Bumblebee. A hole was through his chest and black smog leaked out of his back.
Bumblebee shrieked and ran over to Bumblebee Six urgently. He was only inches away when his clone stopped him with one thundering step forward.
He glared tightly, and a hidden darkness within the base seemed to break free.
