Ascendent
Part 9-Queries
Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.
From the journal of Dr. Daniel Jackson:
Jan. 13
I had a disturbing dream tonight. That's why I'm up now, in the middle of the night, writing. I dreamt of being ascended, or the half-way ascended plain. I know I'm not making much sense, but I'm confused right now. Maybe I've been spending too much time around Cybertronians and not enough time around humans, but that's not true. Maybe I need to spend a little more time with other people, be they human or otherwise.
I hope this was just a dream and not something else. Because if it was. . .
-----
Landry raised an eyebrow as Dr. Jackson entered his office without knocking. The archaeologist usually used proper decorum but apparently, he was annoyed enough to ignore it. The look in the blue eyes was enough to make him pause, setting down the pen he was using to check off supplies.
"Anything I can do for you Dr. Jackson?" Landry said, smiling.
Jackson ignored the smile.
"Sir, have I. . ."
"Yes?"
"To borrow the words of Col. Mitchell, 'pissed you off in a way more than usual?'" Daniel said.
"Why?"
"Why wasn't I told there still remains a part of this artifact, the Allspark?"
Landry sat back in his chair, understanding Daniel's annoyance.
"It wasn't deemed necessary," Landry said. "And besides, how do you know about it?"
"I asked Perceptor a couple of questions about the Allspark, and he said if we could gain access to the shard, we might be able to find out more about it," Daniel said.
"Jackson, you have to understand--the thing was studied for more than 80 years and our best scientists couldn't tell us more than what we already know," Landry said.
"Were any of them archaeologists?"
"No," Landry said.
"Then why can't I be granted access?" Daniel asked.
"Because the shard is in a secure location where it can't be used to harm anyone again," Landry said. "Jackson, I'm sorry, but my hands are tied. I have my orders."
Daniel frowned, turned walking away. He'd get access, one way or another. He was contemplating just how as he walked into the lab, finding an unfamiliar Autobot and an equally unknown human, and a teenager at that, getting ready to lay his untrained hands on one of his artifacts.
"Don't touch that," Daniel said.
The boy jumped, pulling his hand back, while the Autobot laughed at his human companion.
"That is a 5,000-year-old cartouche from the 1st Dynasty of Egypt," Daniel said.
"Then what are you doing with it?" the boy asked, curious.
Daniel started to answer, but stopped, annoyed someone had let a teenager wonder onto base. Was Mitchell even doing his job?
"Who are you?"
"Sam. Sam Witwicky," he said, offering a hand. "And my yellow companion here is Bumblebee."
Witwicky. . .that name rang a bell. Witwicky.
"You're the one who destroyed the artifact," Daniel said, the lights finally coming on. He shook the boy's hand. "I don't mean to be mean, but what are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd stop by and say hello. You probably don't get to see too many people here in the lab, and considering you're stuck in here with Perceptor and Wheeljack, all you do is science. . ."
"I enjoy science," Daniel said.
"Yeah, but there's more to life than work."
"My work is my life," Daniel said.
"Sure. This place has become my life, but I still have to go to school and spend time with my family, normal, you know? And I'm sorry we haven't met before now, but I was on Christmas break in Seattle visiting my grandparents and my aunt and uncle, then we went to Buffalo to visit my other uncle, and we got snowed in, and I got sick when we got home and my dad's been driving Bumblebee to work. . ." Sam said. He noted Daniel's cocked eyebrow, crossed arms.
"I'm boring you with the details, aren't I?" Sam asked.
"Yup," Daniel said. "I have work to do."
"Seriously, Dr. Jackson, have you spent every day locked up in here with the wonder twins? C'mon. Come to my house for dinner tonight. Bring Col. Mitchell and Dr. McKay. It'll be fun, and when was the last time you guys had a home-cooked meal?" Sam said.
Daniel bit his lip. "When did you meet McKay?"
"About an hour ago. In the rec room," Sam said. "Look, my parents know about this place, and besides, we've already had over Captain Lennox and Epps and the rest of the unit, so you should come. It'll be fun. My mom's a great cook."
"Did you ask Mitchell?" Daniel said.
"Yeah. He's coming and McKay said yes, too. . ."
"All right. I'll come," Daniel said.
-----
Dinner, as Sam promised, was fun, although parts of it were not, like when Sam zeroed in on the fact that Daniel focused on the boy's involvement in the destruction of the Allspark. However, not for destroying Megatron but the obliteration of an artifact he would've liked to study. That got McKay involved, asking about the quantum mechanics of the device, and what else it was used for.
Which lead down a road Daniel and Mitchell didn't want to go down.
"So, Sam, have you asked them what else they used it for?" McKay asked as Sam cleared the dinner table.
"Like what?" Sam asked, cocking an eyebrow. The scientist had him cornered and there was nowhere to run, with the exception of outside, and it was a weeknight and if he took off in Bumblebee, there would be consequences.
"Uh. . .I don't know. . .I have a few theories since I've read the research from the Sector Seven files," McKay said.
"How'd you get access to those?" Sam asked, frowning.
"I have the highest security clearance known to man," McKay said.
Mitchell and Daniel walked into the dining room, hoping to drag McKay off before he could have the opportunity to embarrass himself and offend the Witwickys.
"I only want to ask one question," McKay said. "The kid's known them longer than any of us, and I don't think it'll hurt to ask before we put the question to one of them."
"What's the question?" Daniel asked.
"I just want to know how they propagate the species," McKay said.
--
McKay found himself once again scrunched in Hot Rod's back seat as Mitchell and the Autobot drove faster than the speed limit allowed. Every once in a while, Daniel or Mitchell would use the rearview mirror to glare back at him.
"C'mon. It was an honest inquiry. And you can't tell me you haven't wondered either," McKay said. "Fine. I'll ask one of them in the morning."
"Ask what?" Hot Rod said, suddenly interested. He knew his friends were annoyed, but none of them had mentioned about what. Mitchell's aimless driving meant he either felt the need to do nothing at all or clear his head, and the annoyance meant clearing his head.
"McKay here wants to know where little Autobots come from," Mitchell said.
They were greeted by silence. Mitchell waited a few moments before trying again.
"You did understand the question, didn't you?" he asked.
"Yes," Hot Rod said. "Although you'd be better off asking Ratchet. I am not answering that question."
"Why not?" McKay asked.
"Because you've possibly offended our new friends," Daniel said. "Has he?"
"No," Hot Rod said. "It's just that I'd rather not have to be the one to explain."
"Why?" McKay asked.
"Because," Hot Rod said.
"It's complicated?" Mitchell offered.
"Yeah," Hot Rod said.
