Transformers Prime
A/N: Hey viewers, thanks for the reviews. It is encouraging and I'm hoping to get even more readers. Enjoy this next chapter.
Animated Starscream will be referred to as Starscream-atd
Chapter 10
0o0o
"So, lord Megatron," Knockout started, "Where is Soundwave anyway?" the red medic inquired. He leaned lazily on the hall that led to command bridge, just around the bend that would lead to it. As he crossed his arms, he watched Megatron standing there, at the entrance to the bridge with his hands clasped behind him. He was surveying the organized chaos in front of him, silently approving of the crew of his ship going about their assigned duties.
"Soundwave has gone to rendezvous with Shockwave," Megatron began. "Shockwave from that dimension has schematics to a transwarp device," Megatron said to himself, but loud enough for Knockout to hear. He was obviously approving of Soundwave's plan. Knockout's face was that of a 'not bad'. An impressed whistle sounded from the medic. "After the space bridge was invented, Transwarp technology was thought to be lost, like time travel."
"Exactly," Megatron said, his rare moments of complete agreement with an assessment. He gave Knockout a sidelong glance. "With this technology, not only can we procure all the energon we need," Megatron said, raising one of his massive arms and clenching a fist, "But so many more possibilities will become accessible!" He concluded, letting the cryptic message hang in there for a few moments, in which he lowered his arm.
"I won't divulge all of the details, as I'm sure Soundwave would be willing to. However, the device's capabilities will be revealed all in due time."
"As i'm sure it will, Lord Megatron," Knockout appraised neutrally.
0o0o
"Before you two agree to undergo this mission, there is something about Cybertron you should know." The older Optimus' words peaked the younger counterpart's attention.
"What do you mean, exactly?" Young Prime asked seriously. The way that the older Optimus said that did not sound very promising.
"As you have told me that the Cybertron of your dimension is otherwise...safe," The older Prime hesitated, "Cybertron of this plane of existence is in a much more dire situation. The planet is embroiled in a massive civil war. It has been infected by a corrosive antithesis to Energon...Dark Energon." Both young Optimus and Blackarachnia were struck speechless.
"The planet's infected..?" Young Optimus released an almost disbelieving exhale. The older Prime nodded solemnly.
"And..." Optimus added, sounding a bit more light hearted, "We'll have to run through Megatron's ship to reach the spacebridge.
If Miko was drinking anything, she would have instantly spit it out from excitement of even the concept of what they were suggesting.
"Woah, woah, woah! Two Primes and a new bot, raiding through a ship to get to a portal? I have to come with!" Miko exclaimed while stretching her arms out to emphasize every word. "This would be the mission of a life-time! Can I come, can I come, can I come?" she pleaded, jumping up and down.
"Miko," Bulkhead started slowly, just as a gently scolding brother would say to their younger sibling, "I know you like action and all, but this is like a mission for just them three. Think of it like, uh...a Max Payne mission," The large mech quickly added, not sure if Miko would get it. Miko contemplated a moment before realization dawned on her. "Oh," Miko dragged out. "Well can we at least see it on a camera?" Miko attempted lastly, the question aimed at Optimus. The seasoned war veteran could not argue with that.
"Why not," he agreed. Looking at Blackarachnia, he continued his train of thought. "The coordinates of their warship is mapped into the Ground Bridge for now," he said, then looking toward Ratchet and nodding. Ratchet reciprocated the nod, acknowledging the unspoken command. With a pull of the medic's arm, the lever slammed downward, causing the swirl of dimensional energy to open massively.
"You three must hurry, no doubt that the Decepticons will find the portal and attempt to breach through," Ratchet warned, and the three autobots nodded quickly. Optimus was the first to run through, remaining in bipedal mode to prepare for unknown terrain. Blackarachnia and the Optimus of her universe followed close behind and then the portal closed abruptly. A permeable silence stretched for a time before one of the Bumblebee's spoke.
"So...anyone up for a race?"
0o0o
Soundwave remained silent as he always did, even under the intense glare of an angry sun. Shockwave remained at his lab to monitor their progress while he ran a copy of the Transwarp schematics. For extra support, in the case of needing help in moving their target from point A to B, the Starscream that he met only recently had tagged along.
Soundwave found this Starscream to be very much different and very much the same as the native Starscream. He was still a bit underhanded, conniving, and even quite intelligent, but lacked the apparent fear that the other Starscream had of Megatron. If only Soundwave's own second in command was more dignified. Both their alt modes disengaged their thrusters as they closed in on a copse followed by a large area of trees and foilage. The environment was much like a jungle or tropical forest.
Reverting quickly to bipedal, both Soundwave and Starscream landed on a stable patch of ground.
"So, who or what are we looking for? It must be quite impressive for shockwave to approve so easily," Starscream commented as he walked behind Soundwave. Soundwave remained as quiet as usual and then stopped after walking a few more paces. He pointed at a large boulder of some sort that was fused with the surrounding foilage. The rock itself was covered in moss, and from closer inspection, Starscream noticed that it looked like a naturally formed tomb-like shape.
"it's in there?" Starscream asked after glancing at the tomb rock, then Soundwave. The silent mech nodded. After Starscream regarded Soundwave momentarily, who made no move to reach for the rock, exhaled tiredly. "Must I do everything," Starscream mumbled and could have sworn that Soundwave was silently laughing at him. Activating a low powered arm cannon, Starscream aimed at the side of the rock, attempting to break off the outer shell of the rock. In a rush of air, the concentrated beam struck true and the outer shell collapsed like suspended broken glass.
The first thing that Starscream thought was that he did not think the boulder was that big.
Soundwave's schematics were indeed spot on. The large mech that was buried under the rock was extremely tall. An imposing figure that would look intimidating to both friends and foes alike. Both Starscream and Soundwave needed to crane their heads just to see his helm.
"Grimlock," came Optimus Prime's voice. Starscream flinched before turning his head. Only Soundwave stood there, in the same exact stance as before. Then he realized that the large mech, obviously in Stasis-Lock, was Grimlock, the Dinobot. Starscream had to blink his Optics a few times. The Grimlock he knew of was not that tall.
"That's Grimlock?" Starscream asked, pointing at the towering, comatose mech, in a disbelieving tone.
Soundwave simply nodded once more.