Author's Notes: Holy Toledo! I can't believe how long I let this story languish! Normally I'm not the type to get writer's block, but that's pretty much what happened here. I know where I want this story to go, but getting it there was proving challenging. I just had to walk away for a while and then come back to it later. Well, I've kept you guys waiting long enough, so here (finally) is another chapter of My Last Word Was Argh! :)
Chapter 10
Open Windows
Skyfire couldn't get any further than the edge of the Decepticons' sensor radar. That still left 10 nautical miles to cover before the small team of Autobots could make it to the Nemesis, and they would have to walk on the ocean floor to get there.
Seaspray kept having to stop to make sure everyone else was still behind him. He didn't know if Mirage was or not because he had already turned on his invisibility shield. The ocean was probably the only place in the universe where Seaspray wasn't clumsy, but his ability to gracefully navigate the water while firing a weapon was a rare talent among the Autobots, and that was why he was naval commander of Prime's forces.
/Alright Autobots, Seaspray will stay outside the Nemesis to guard our entry and exit point,/ Prime explained over the comm as they walked, /I want Mirage and Jazz at the front of the line to scout out our route, and Ironhide and I will guard our rear defenses. Everyone clear on our positions?/
/Yeah, yeah.../ Ironhide groused impatiently, /Seaspray keeps watch, the spies spy, and we cover their afts. Got it./
Optimus shook his head with equal parts long-suffering and amusement. Ironhide was always half-cocked, but he was probably one of his most reliable and loyal troops. To be fair though, Optimus would've likely trusted his life to any one of his mechs. Despite the fact that the Autobots were losing the war for Cybertron, it was still a comfort to know they held to their ideals and that his friends always had his back.
Seaspray made it to the hull of the Nemesis first, but he had to wait for Jazz before he could do anything about it. Jazz scanned the massive structure, and then found a spot that was both physically weak and out of sensor range. He pointed to where it was, and Ironhide used his liquid nitrogen at point blank range to freeze a hole in the wall! Jazz watched bemusedly as some of the liquid nitrogen floated away along the ocean current, and Ironhide scowled at Jazz for getting so easily distracted.
The Autobots climbed inside. The hole was at a spot on the ship that was at an angle, so they had to climb up a ramp to get to the exit door. Ironhide sealed up the hole before the water could flood the entire ship.
Once inside, the other three Autobots saw the door open on its own, so they knew Mirage was on the move. Jazz followed closely behind, and Optimus and Ironhide carefully followed; keeping their footfalls as soundless as possible.
They kept to the shadows as they walked down seldom-used corridors and halls. It was eerie walking around inside the Nemesis with its darkened purple walls and the steady thrum of machinery keeping the lifeless beast functional. Jazz led them down to the lower levels where the brig was. No one knew how Jazz knew where the brig was, as he had never been captured, and they didn't want to ask.
When they made it to the brig doors they could see that it was being guarded by Drag Strip and Dead End; two of the Stunticons. The time for stealth was over…
"YAAAAHHHH!" Ironhide let out an unholy war cry as he rammed into Drag Strip and started trying to tear him apart!
The moment of surprise bought them time, but it wasn't enough! Drag Strip scooted away from Ironhide's bulky body and kicked the old red mech in the abdomen! He then fired his weapon on the incoming Prime! Prime was barely affected, and his rifle fired into the yellow Stunticon with no effort! Drag Strip fell to the ground unconscious but still alive.
Optimus, Ironhide, and Jazz all looked at Dead End to see what he would do. With one lazy and disinterested move Dead End stepped aside to allow the Autobots entry without protest.
"Why're you just givin' up?" Ironhide asked suspiciously.
"In a hundred vorns no one will remember this even happened," Dead End reasoned in a bored monotone, "Why should I care whether your friend dies in here or dies out there?"
It didn't make sense for Dead End to betray his comrades for no reason, but then again the Stunticons were all insane. Nothing they did ever made any sense. Jazz keyed in a code to open the door (no one asked how he knew that, again), and the Autobots rushed inside to save Wheeljack!
What they saw next complicated matters.
Wheeljack was resting on the only recharge cot in the cell, and Starscream sat on the floor and glared at them with contempt. How were they going to get Wheeljack out without releasing Starscream? Also, how did Wheeljack get the cot instead of Starscream?
Chip sat on a small recharge berth and contemplated the last few hours of his life. The berth was too hard. It was obviously made for a mech and Chip felt he'd never be able to get to sleep on it, so he had plenty of time for thinking.
At first he wondered what Megatron could want with him. He thought maybe the old tyrant had some sinister plan for the boy, but after examining his behavior it didn't add up. He had lost his memories, that much he admitted to Chip. Still, it was obvious that there were still traces of the evil Decepticon inside of him. Why else would he want to kill Starscream and torture Wheeljack? Still, if he didn't remember his past, then he was probably unfamiliar with his troops. How could Chip use this to help him escape the Nemesis?
His thoughts were interrupted by Rumble entering his guest quarters with a tray of food. It looked like a sandwich, but there was no filling; only two slices of bread. There was also a glass of water, and Chip just hoped it wasn't ocean water. The Decepticons weren't exactly knowledgeable in the nutritional requirements of human beings.
"Hey fleshy, Megatron says I have to make sure you eat this," Rumble said begrudgingly, "You better not give me any trouble, or I'll mess you up! Now hurry up! Frenzy and I are goin' to a card game tonight in Bonecrusher's quarters. I'm not gonna stand here all day while you sniff your finger or whatever it is humans do!"
Chip scowled at Rumble, but took the proffered tray nonetheless. That minicon's mouth never seemed to stop, and it really got on Chip's nerves. Chip looked down at the rations he was given, and he remembered a documentary he watched where prisoners in the Victorian Era were given bread and water to break their spirit and to save the government money. It seemed like a fitting analogy.
He gingerly sampled the water to make sure it wasn't salt water, and it seemed to be fresh water, so he slowly drank it. No sense drinking too quickly in case it was drugged or something. Chip ate the bread and wondered when his thoughts became so paranoid. Then again, he was trapped with the Decepticons. Maybe paranoia was the appropriate response.
Rumble leaned back against the wall and waited for Chip to finish eating with a withering look on his face plate. Rumble was clearly not happy acting as a babysitter for Megatron's new pet human.
"Finish the water, flesh bag!" Rumble demanded when Chip stopped drinking and set the water on the berth.
"I'll get to it!" Chip snapped defensively, "You don't have to stay here any longer if you don't want to. I ate the food, so why don't you just leave me alone?"
"You're lucky Megatron insisted we keep you alive," Rumble growled dangerously, "If I had my way you'd be nothin' but a smear on my pile drivers."
Chip gulped when he heard the venomous tone Rumble used with him. He took the water and started sipping again to appease the 'Con. Still, Rumble did give him some valuable information. For whatever reason, Megatron wanted him alive.
The Autobots spoke over the comm links so as not to let Starscream know what they were planning. By now Wheeljack was practically touching the energy bars in order to get closer to his friends. He thought he would never see them again, and even though he wasn't free yet he already felt great just knowing they were there to rescue him. He just wished he wasn't so useless behind these bars so he could help them! Oh well, at least they included him by telling him the plan through the comm link.
The Autobots spent a good few minutes discussing the plan to themselves. Finally, the Autobots nodded to each other resolutely, and Jazz stepped forward and faced Starscream.
"What do you want, Autobot?" Starscream spat contemptuously.
"Nothin' much. Just thought I'd jam with you," Jazz said in a deceptively friendly tone.
"What on Cybertron are you talking about, Autobot fool?" Starscream asked crossly.
Starscream didn't have to wait more than a second for the answer, as Jazz started blaring his light show and pumping out rock music as loud as he could! The Autobots knew they didn't have long since Jazz's speakers would alert the other Decepticons, but it was the best way to immobilize Starscream while they quickly opened the cell, grabbed Wheeljack, and closed the cell.
Mirage worked the controls that shut down the energy bars while Ironhide grabbed Wheeljack by the wrist joint and dragged him out! Mirage quickly turned the bars back on and gave Jazz the signal to shut down his music.
Starscream's optics hurt, his audio sensors hurt, and he had such a helmache! It took him a moment to get his bearings, but when he did he saw that the Autobots, including Wheeljack, were gone! He was left alone in the cell, which meant he would have to formulate his own escape. On the bright side, at least he didn't have to stay in a cell with Wheeljack anymore.
The Autobots ran for the hole where Seaspray was waiting for them, but Wheeljack skidded to a sudden stop in the dark corridor, nearly causing Jazz and Mirage to trip on him since they were behind him!
"Why'd you stop?" Jazz asked.
"We can't leave yet!" Wheeljack exclaimed frantically, "Optimus, Chip Chase is in here! He was captured by the Decepticons, and I don't know what they plan to do to him, but we gotta save him!"
"Very well," Optimus replied after a moment of thought, "Ironhide, you and Mirage go left, Jazz and Wheeljack go right. I'll contact Seaspray and we'll take the central corridor. When one team finds and retrieves the boy let everyone else know. We'll meet back here. Let's move out!"
The Autobots separated then and went in search of Chip. Wheeljack just hoped they weren't too late. Considering what the Decepticons were willing to do to him, he could only imagine what they had planned for Chip.
Chip, meanwhile, had waited for Rumble to leave and then immediately started searching the walls for a weak spot. He needed to find a way out, but that was going to be a tall order. He was under the ocean, and he didn't know how to operate the ship's controls to get him to the surface. Even after he was on the surface he didn't know how to swim. This looked hopeless.
Chip's only hope of escape was to find Wheeljack. He had to be alive in this place somewhere, and Chip would find him and repair him as soon as possible. Then they could escape together!
He thought about where Wheeljack would be right now. There were two possibilities. One was the medbay where he was before. That place was usually occupied, but all Chip would have to do is wait for a time when Wheeljack was alone. Then he could quickly repair Wheeljack and they could escape. The second option was the brig, which would be easier to break into but more difficult to find supplies to repair the Autobot. Either way, Chip had to try something. He couldn't just sit there and wait for his doom.
He felt around the walls until he found something just behind a giant bookshelf. It was an air vent! Going through this thing might be dangerous, but it was a way out. Chip pried open the vent (hurting his fingers in the process) and wheeled inside cautiously. He could hear his own breathing in the empty metallic space, so he tried to breathe quieter. He only hoped no Decepticons heard him.
He gently rolled his wheels and looked around, but he wasn't sure what he thought he would find. He had hoped for corridors that would lead to different rooms, but so far the vent was a straight line. He stopped for a second to give his arms a rest and wipe off his glasses. Part of him considered going back to his room and waiting for Megatron. He didn't seem to be accomplishing anything here. That part was shoved deep inside however as Chip forced himself to continue. He needed to escape and get back to his family. He also needed to get Wheeljack back to the Autobots. He wouldn't abandon his friend.
Chip rolled on for a few more minutes in tense silence. His world suddenly gave way however as he accidentally rolled down a shaft below him that he didn't see before!
He screamed as he toppled down and was separated from his chair! After a half minute he and his chair landed hard on a grate, which gave way and he continued to fall into whatever room he was above!
Chip was grabbed by a hand, and was almost unconscious from the impact. As his vision blurred and waved he realized that his glasses were gone. He couldn't see who or what held him, but he knew it wasn't Wheeljack because the colors were all wrong. Red and blue instead of white, grey, red and green.
"Uhn...Optimus?" Chip asked weakly as his entire body assaulted him with pain.
"Guess again, human," a screechy voice replied smugly.
"St-Starscream…" Chip mumbled as unconsciousness finally overtook him and he passed out in Starscream's hand.
Starscream looked at the little human that had crashed into his cell. Megatron in his addled foolishness considered this thing his friend, but Starscream looked at the boy and saw a much grander purpose this otherwise useless flesh creature could serve. Soon he would lead the Decepticons, and soon the universe would tremble in fear at the mention of the name Starscream!