Disclaimer: Hasbro owns Transformers, I own the story. Any and all additional recognizable culture references, locations, songs, et cet, belong to their rightful owners.
Chapter 9: Arrested
"We're what!?" Ironhide yelled.
"The Council of Cybertron has ordered that Autobots Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Jazz, Prowl, and Ironhide be taken into protective custody for crimes against both the United Nations of Earth and the Council of Cybertron," the Autobot official stated coolly.
"What did we do wrong?" Jazz asked. "We've been putting our aft on the line ever since we woke up on this planet!"
"By allowing the Decepticons to enter the inadequate care of Breaker Laboratories, and participating in strange and unusual experimentation in the way of Project Smelting," the turquoise and white official went on. "The aforementioned Autobots are charged with abuse of power, recklessness with important priorities, and endangering of lives, both human and Transformer."
"Sir," Prowl said politely to the guest of the Ark. "When we initially were introduced to Project Smelting by Breaker Labs, the Council gave us permission to and even encouraged us to participate, seeing it as an opportunity to create better bonds between the Transformer and human race."
"None the less," the official went on. "It is well advised to turn in your weapons and come with me peacefully. The sooner the Council sees that they are wrong about the crimes the sooner you may be released and returned to your duties."
The Autobot fathers exchanged looks before Prowl sighed and drew out his laser gun. He turned it over and handed it, handle-first, to the official. The official blankly took the weapon and handed it to the larger red-orange and yellow Autobot beside him, who placed the weapons with in a compartment in his chest. Jazz grimaced, but also turned over his gun. Ironhide handed over his gun, as well. Everyone stared at him. Rolling his optics, Ironhide began to open up numerous compartments on his person and continued pulling out and handing over weapons.
Jazz looked over to the door way of the Ark lobby that led deeper into the ship and there saw Benjamin, Max, Jess, Josh, and Becky. Behind them, Wheeljack, with Jack Turbine on one shoulder and guest Sam on the other peeked over their heads. Josh looked up at Jazz from beneath his white hat's silver bill with wide, worried eyes. Jazz waved his hand in a comforting motion before turning back to the official.
"Hey, uh, official man, sir," Jazz ventured. "What about the kids?"
"They will not be punished for their existence," the official replied as he passed some grenades from Ironhide to his weapons carrier. "They will be allowed to stay here on Earth and continue assisting in the war against the Decepticons and Neo-Nazis."
"If I may ask, who filed the complaint about the charges?" Prowl asked.
"Certain anonymous parties have filed official complaints against Autobot activity on Earth," the official said carefully. "All that I have been authorized to share is that these same anonymous parties have certain political strength here on Earth."
He moved some tiny bombs from Ironhide to his brawny partner. "And are you done yet?" he asked impatiently of Ironhide.
"That's the last of 'em," Ironhide said, grinning mischievously as he raised his hands up in show.
Prowl rolled his optics and slammed an elbow in between Ironhide's shoulder blades. Twin tiny compartments opened up in Ironhide's wrists and dropped out a set of tiny throw-able razors. Prowl politely picked the razors up and handed them to the weapon-carrying mech while he ignored Ironhide's glare.
"I didn't even know you could use those," Jazz muttered.
"Good, let us go," the official said, turning around and striding out the Ark door.
The four Autobot guards who had been standing near the door now moved to circle their new prisoners, escorting them out of the Ark and to the spacecraft outside.
"Don't worry, kids," Jazz called back to the Efforts. "We'll be back in a jiffy!"
"You better," Anne whispered.
Outside, the Autobots walked up the ramp and into the belly of a pale green and white space jet. The door lifted itself up and lights all about the craft flashed as the engines with in hummed as they charged up. The craft gently floated off the ground and turned around, as smooth and graceful as a duck on water. Once it had pointed itself to the sky, the land around the craft flashed and the craft took off, becoming a mere white streak in the darkness of the night before disappearing into the starry sky. The Efforts waited a long moment as it slowly sank into them that their fathers had been arrested for their existence.
"Well," Becky finally said, "This bites."
"Do you need a strong man to lean on, Becky?" Josh cooed, approaching the dark-haired beauty.
"Back off, wimp," Becky growled, drawing her gun and pointing it at Josh.
Josh backed off.
"Great!" Anne snarled, stomping a robot-feline foot in frustration. "Now how are we supposed to take out Breaker Labs when our best guys are gone?"
"Hey, look at it this way," Jack Turbine said, flexing his arms. "You got us!"
"Was that supposed to make me feel better?" Anne asked.
"An anonymous tip?" Max muttered, looking up at Sam.
"Don't fret, Miss Anne," Sam said, sliding down Wheeljack's arm and leg to the floor, "With the right measure of brains and brawn, we could take out the Decepticons ourselves!"
"He's right," Benjamin agreed. "All we have to do is apply our forces in the correct manner and we can complete our tasks. I'll be the first to admit that I'm afraid for my father's life, but that can't keep us from our duties. Now, my father, Optimus, was leader of the Autobots here on Earth. Becky's father, Prowl, was second-in-command, and Josh's father, Jazz, was third-in-command. Who does that leave to lead?"
Everyone looked at Wheeljack.
"No," Wheeljack stated.
"Agreed," everyone else replied.
"Skyfire?" Jess suggested.
There was a blip noise as Skyfire joined the conversation via comm. links from his space jet form outside.
"I'm an international air bus," Skyfire stated.
MJ, inside Skyfire, added in, "I'm his driver."
"Teletran One?" Jack suggested.
"Negative," the Ark's female computer stated, "I am the Autobots' information bank and nothing more."
"Oh stop playing dumb, Ben," Max said, rolling his eyes. "You're the leader now."
"What?" Benjamin exclaimed.
"Duh," Jess said, agreeing with Max. "You're Optimus Prime's kid! Of course you're the leader!"
"You gotta admit that you pretty much were the leader even before the boss bots got arrested," Wheeljack agreed. "Optimus let you do your own thing here and Prowl only filled out forms."
"So, boss bot," Josh said teasingly, winking at the startled-looking Benjamin, "What are your orders?"
Benjamin looked around at all the staring faces and looked at the floor. He walked forward then paced back and forth, staring beyond the floor and into plans only he could see.
"Depleted forces in Europe with Optimus, Ratchet, and 'Bee gone…" He muttered, as he always did when thinking hard, "Need people to take down the Labs… Europe war too strong for mere humans…"
Finally, he looked up at the waiting party. Taking a deep breath, he spoke his mind and accepted his responsibilities as leader of the Autobot Army.
"Okay," he said. "Optimus, Bumblebee, and Ratchet were among the strongest forces in the war in Europe against the Neo-Nazis and will need to be replaced. It's too dangerous for anyone who isn't in the army or made of metal so… Anne, Josh, Becky, Wheeljack, you can ride Skyfire over there to help the forces there keep Europe free. Skyfire will have to help in anyway he can: Protection, fighting, carting troops and the injured around, anything he can do, he should do. You'll probably have to report to Sunstreaker or Sideswipe, since they're the only other Autobots in the area Optimus and the others were in, right, Teletran?"
"Affirmative, Master Benjamin," Teletran One confirmed.
"Jack, you can work as the main communications man here at the base with Teletran One. Jess, Max: you two and I will see to recruiting some replacement mechs for Prowl, Jazz, and Ironhide and work with Sam in tracking and breaking down Breaker Labs' main base of operations, wherever it may be."
"Anything Skyfire and I can do, Ben?"MJ asked.
"Just keep doing what you're doing, guys," Benjamin said with a small smile. "Be the 'international air bus'. And like I said: If the United Nations army needs you, you help them. I know being the go-to guy in war will be trying, but please do try. Our elites are gone."
"Alright, everyone," Benjamin finished up, clapping his hands. "Get some sleep. It's been a long night and we're going to have a lot to do tomorrow. I'll see about calling up some mechs for the replacement Breaker Lab party…"
Thus ordered, everyone went their separate ways into the Ark to rest. Most, though, were still scared for what would happen to the arrested Autobots, or how exactly they were going to maneuver on a skeleton crew of soldiers when almost everyone else was under the command of another Autobot general or too busy with their own groups on patrols and duties. Max spotted Sam heading towards the visitors' section the ship. Narrowing his eyes in distaste, he marched after Sam.
Sam perked his head up when he heard Max approaching, then turned around, only to have Max's face thrust into his own.
"You," Max hissed. "You filed the anonymous tip, didn't you?"
"Why, Max," Sam cooed, placing a hand on his chest in an injured gesture, "I'm appaled that you would see me petty so much as to do something so treacherous when I have such a small relationship with the Autobots!"
"Yeah, and your little speech back on the mountain was a little hot just to be a personal opinion," Max sneered sarcastically.
"You're right," was Sam's unexpected agreement. Suddenly, he moved forward, shoving Max against the wall. Grind, the skateboard strapped to Max's back, clattered against the wall and Max grunted in surprise.
"It's the personal opinion of everyone who has a decent heart on this planet," Sam snarled. "You don't really think people would just shake off something like loosing entire families in the city that you sunk, did you?"
"I didn't sink it!" Max defended, "It was Rumble! He hit the ground too hard—"
"Go ahead, Max," Sam hissed, backing away from Max, as if disgusted to touch the yellow-haired Effort. "Go on and keep making excuses like a little kid, because that's all you are." He turned away and threw a hand up in dismissive disgust, "A little kid."
Max watched Sam walk away a few steps, and, determined to get in the last word he spoke, calling out to Sam.
"I'm not going to let you hurt my friends!" he yelled. "I'll fight you to my last breath before that happens!"
Sam simply nodded, refusing to turn around and let Max see his amused smirk, and went on to his room. Once in side the bland guest room, no one heard his next words.
"I don't want to fight you, Max," he whispered, "I just want to have a little fun."
Max, meanwhile, felt a knot growing in his stomach; the same knot that had warned him of many a failed mission before the mission had failed. He swallowed the lump in his throat and headed to his room, quietly praying that all would be well for his friends.
- - - -
Optimus supposed that he could be grateful that he hadn't been locked in a pair of stasis cuffs like a common criminal and had actually been locked in a guest room on the spacecraft instead of being put in the brig like a disobedient soldier. But some how, being locked in the comfortable guest quarter was worse, even an insult, than the brig; it was mocking his rank and how far he was falling, and it was teasing him that sure, he could leave, but the door was locked and guarded by a couple of guards just outside. He wondered if the others felt like him…
Suddenly, the spaceship shuttered to a stop and the lights flickered. He looked up and around, his hands itching when they couldn't draw a gun or turn into an energon axe. Was the ship malfunctioning? Were Decepticons attacking?
After a moment, the ship shuttered as it returned to moving and the lights once again gained their strong glow. The door slid open and his guards peeked in. Optimus could see the reluctance in their optics: They still considered him a hero and felt bad that they had to hold him captive.
"What was that?" Optimus asked.
"Just a minor flux getting out of Earth's atmosphere, Optimus," one of the young guards replied, "You okay?"
"Yes, thank you," Optimus replied.
The guards smiled a little and appeared to be about to continue talking. However, they both looked up when they heard approaching footsteps and quickly retreated and shut the door. There was a rude clack as the door's lock was initiated and once more Optimus was locked in his room. After a moment of staring at the door that would have opened for him in any other situation, he walked over to the bunk and sat down, staring at the ceiling.
A flux exiting the Earth's atmosphere, He wondered mutely, Skyfire has entered and exited the atmosphere hundreds of times on his missions off Earth and experienced no such flux…
- - - -
Meanwhile, the brawny red and yellow weapons carrier mech unloaded the Autobots' weapons onto a rack built into the wall divided into five feet by five feet squares, down in a secluded corner of the storage bay area. He placed Jazz's weapons in one section, Optimus' in another, and so on. Ironhide's weapon array took up two whole sections of the rack wall.
The mech shook his head in amazement at Ironhide's weapon array before tapping at a control panel by the door and leaving. Once he left, a glowing pale purple force field covered the weapons racks and blocked the door way, thus securing the confiscated weapons.
Up against the ceiling along one wall was an air vent. Now the screen of the vent was kicked out of its frame. Before it clattered to the floor, though, it stopped, hovering for a moment over the air, before gently settling itself on the floor.
Viva la telepathy.
A familiar dark blue hover camera floated out of the vent and landed on the floor. Behind him followed a black and yellow robot bird. Buzzsaw set down the cassette player he carried and it quickly changed to Soundwave.
"Confess: Unsure that objective would not reachable," Soundwave stated, "Compliments to Buzzsaw for fast flying."
Buzzsaw squawked quietly in thanks before flopping onto his front with an exhausted, whistling sigh. When they had detected the Autobot ship that would take them directly to their destination leaving the atmosphere, it had appeared that they would not make it in time. But due to Skynet's telepathy stalling the ship and the surprisingly fast flying of Buzzsaw, they had just barely managed to sneak in through an exterior air vent before it had shut up against the space vacuum.
Now they looked around, seeking a hiding place. Skynet saw some supply crates stacked near by and pointed. Nodding in understanding, Soundwave pressed a button on his shoulder.
"Buzzsaw: Return," he ordered.
Buzzsaw folded his wings to himself and tucked his chest against himself, flattening and shrinking to become a typical yellow and black cassette that flew up and into Soundwave's waiting chest. The two went over to the crates and Soundwave transformed first, dropping down to hide in the shadows of the crates. Transforming back down into his hover camera alt-form, Skynet floated over and settled down in the shadows of the boxes right beside his father. Once settled, he scanned the ship.
No; most of the mechs here were either too stupid or too firm in their being to be swayed. None had a particular useful strength, a deceptive mind ready for cultivating, or even had the desire for change. As far as they were concerned, life was just fine the way it was: a little scary with the war, but fine, none the less. It was somewhat pitiful, but no matter.
Skynet's cooling fan spun, making an electronic sigh in disappointment. There were so many people, and yet, so few actual candidates for his campaign. Cassetticon handlers like Soundwave and Blaster made choosing Cassetticons look so easy with their large number of Cassetticons. Skynet had clearly underestimated the fact that they had wandered for eons during war and he had just started. At this rate, he might have another Cassetticon sometime next year.
Feeling with in himself the compartment where news footage tapes were ordinarily stored, he felt to make sure, once again, that his first and thus far only Cassetticon was in place. He had inherited a sort of private sub-space area from his father as part of his Transformer abilities and could store much more than just a lone tape there. The tape, now, slept in a sort of half-daze, ready to leap into action and yet, ready to continue waiting inside Skynet for orders. The Cassetticon had been scared when Skynet had changed him, but that was to be expected when such things happened. Now he was just tired from the change.
The Cassetticon, sensing Skynet's attention, mentally waved, showing that all was fine for him.
Satisfied, Skynet settled down for the long flight to Cybertron.
- - - -
"Dr. Moriguchi, sir, the Autobot elites have been successfully apprehended, arrested, and are on their way to Cybertron," the messenger said. "The plane is almost ready for flight to pick up Base 63's caravan. Would you like to schedule the flight now?"
Moriguchi allowed the messenger to wait for several moments as he maneuvered his tweezers and scalpel inside his latest fleshling mutant dissection. He had found it rather fun to manipulate creatures' genetic coding, changing them into new freaks of nature while they were still in the embryo. This particular test subject could only be called "bestial and black". Beyond that, it was far too marvelously strange to explain. Its purpose? Simple: To be cut open and be examined. Most of the other Breaker Laboratory members still sought purpose in their tests, but Moriguchi just loved flat-out playing god with science.
The messenger's eyes noticeably twisted in confusion when he noticed that all the creature's organs were brightly colored in neon hues.
Amused at the messenger's reaction to the dissection, Moriguchi spoke.
"Yes; set it for take off at three," he replied. "And how are the other members of the Office doing? There appears to be a body count growing around here."
"The Duke of Delaware was found poisoned last night and we have reason that Velma Hoissen, the CEO of the uniform company, is behind it. We're just barely keeping Duncan Ryanne of Moscow from killing her; he and the Duke were good friends, you know."
"Hmm, fascinating," Moriguchi said optimistically, putting the heart of his organism in a dish. "It seems that our Office members are dying off all on their lone some at a faster rate the closer we get to our goal. You are dismissed."
When the obedient messenger had gone, once more Moriguchi pulled out his list. He crossed the Duke's name off in red pen and looked around for a differently colored pen. He looked at the organism, shrugged, and dunked the tips of his tweezers in the black, watery blood of the creature. These, he drew across the names of Velma and Duncan, making the blood turn up as a dark, dark navy blue on the paper. Red was dead, blue meant "going, too".
"Five down, with two coming, soon to be seven to go," he said with a small smile before he tucked the paper back in his coat and resumed his gruesome hobby.
