Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. It is the rightful property of Hasbro. My only claim is the plot to this fanfiction.
A/N: Here you all are, the updated you've all patiently waited for. I've had internet problems, yes, this time it was the internet that's held up things. Not going to waste much time explaining anything else, so let's just get to what you've been waiting for. Save for one thing…if you are gonna constantly demand that I update, then put some convincing words into your reviews or PMs because if you just tell me to 'update now', then your ass is going to wait. I don't jump to other people's command. I have a life and one that's constantly busy. I write these fanfiction for fun and to relax when I have free time. If you're too impatient, that's your problem, actually converse with me and put some actually thought into it and I'll be more incline to hurry with these updates. For those of you that have been very supportive and kind with your reviews, this chapter goes to you guys who gave me the energy to keep going with this fanfiction.
Now, let's get on with the story…
xXx
Rise of the Predacons
Chapter 10
Lights lit up the entire construction site as the Voyager positioned itself above it. The bottom of the ship shot open and multiple figures began to fall from the ship's belly. The familiar clang of metallic feet struck the ground and the hum of Cybertronian weapons activated as each warrior from the Voyager took aim at the Insecticons and the Autobots.
One Cybertronian with a black and white scheme and a blue visor over his optics had a narrow rifle-like blaster pointing at the Autobots, until he realized just who the leader of the group was. "Optimus Prime?!"
Optimus focused his optics, having to filter them so he could see through the near blinding spotlights from the Voyager. "Jazz?"
"Well, I'll be a son of a Scraplet! If it ain't Big Blue himself!" the Cybertronian identified as Jazz uttered as he lowered his blaster. "I heard you been sending a message to all Autobots, but the signal always kept catching interference! So this is the planet you've been at!"
"Do you know him, Optimus?" Arcee asked warily, not lowering her blasters at all to the foreign Autobots.
"I do indeed…he was Cliffjumper's partner during the war," Optimus Prime stated as he deactivated his blasters and started to approach Jazz.
"…Cliffjumper's old partner?" Arcee uttered in shock, looking at the new Autobot with new curiosity.
"Like to talk to old Cliff, but we got a matter to settle here first," Jazz stated and turned to aim his sniper blaster right at Airachnid. "We've been chasing this psycho-bot for a long time. Now we finally got her cornered!"
"Wait, we have a matter we need to resolve first," Optimus Prime said. "She has taken one of our own and turned him into a techno-organic."
"That's a pity then…" a new voice said.
Everyone looked up to see a transformer with green and rustic yellow scheme, on his shoulders were huge turbine-like engines and on his legs, landed right before Optimus Prime. He stood almost at the same height as the Prime and his plating looked slightly thicker, mainly around his chest and shoulders and arms. On his chest glowed a bold Autobot symbol with a deep scratch running across its eyes.
"Springer…" Optimus Prime grimaced.
"Prime," Springer greeted distantly, swiftly turning away from the Autobot leader and focusing his optics on Arachnid and the hulking warrior she was sitting on. "I don't recognize what Cybertronian that is…but it doesn't matter now."
"Wait, Springer! That is no Cybertronian. That was once a human, an earthling, altered by Arachnid," Optimus Prime informed.
Springer just sniffed uncaringly. "An earthling, huh? Didn't think they were that big…I guess it's due to the mutation process. Oh well…as I said, it doesn't matter." He brought his arm up as it shifted into a cannon-like blaster and drew a hilt from his back, where a huge double-edge blade extended out from. "If it's been altered by her infection, than its life has been forfeited."
Jack snarled hatefully at the new Autobot, his optics almost glowed with energon fire. He had no recall of this strange Autobot. Maybe it was part of the memories that hadn't been restored yet, but deep down inside...where the old him still remained, he knew he had never met his Autobot before and it screamed at him to be cautious. Acting on that instinct, Jack waved to Kickback. The Insecticon understood the silent order and called to his brethren through the mind-link and started to order the retreat. This was a new threat to them. Jack wasn't going to risk anything until he had a better understanding of what these new Autobots wanted.
As much as he wanted to just confront and rip them apart, Jack had to remain calm. This was too unexpected and he still had too much to prepare before confronting anyone. It was bad enough he had Megatron to content with, and he figured he could handle the Autobots should they decide to take a more offensive direction, but with the new addition to their forces, now he had no choice but to list them as a higher threat, as he did with the Decepticons. He also needed to leave for Arachnid's protection. These newcomers had already stated they were here for her…and he did not trust himself if he gave into his rage. He almost lost it when Starscream had her and was crushing her to death.
There was no telling what he would do if he did in fact lose it completely.
And it wasn't easy. The part of him, the creature that he could transform into was clawing at him to change and lay waste to them all. He needed to fall back before he allowed himself to lose his self-control. What kept him focus from giving into his primal urge was feeling Arachnid's frame shaking. She had locked up and almost seemed catatonic since the arrival of these new Autobots. Her current state left them at a disadvantage as he could not give out mental orders like her, leaving him having to give them verbally, and that would just give his enemies a chance to counter anything he tried.
Somehow Springer realized that they were going to retreat as his weapon hummed and he locked on Arachnid. "Not this time!"
The blast was almost similar to Megatron's cannon, if somewhat more condensed in a ball like projectile. Jack's optics widen in realization of what the projectile really was. Swifter than anyone expected, Jack unfurled his wings and wrapped them around himself and Arachnid, pulling her off his shoulders and hugging her as the ball of energy exploded like a grenade. The force was more than Jack expected, though. He was launched back from the powerful explosion that followed and crashed hard on his back, rolling his head back in a slight daze.
"What was that?!" Arcee screamed after the attack, staring at the massive hole the explosion left in the construction site.
"An Ion-Surge Launcher…" Optimus Prime said with deep disapproval. "It was outlawed before the start of the war…"
"In war, one must use what is necessary," Springer countered as he locked on where Jack had fallen. "I've waited a long time for this, Arachnid…time we ended this now."
He fired one more and watched in great satisfaction as the projectile sailed smoothly to its desired target, but right as it was descending, one of the Insecticons pivoted itself in the projectile's path. Its spark went offline in a matter of nano-seconds when the projectile exploded, disintegrating the Insecticon entirely. The sacrifice had given Jack enough time to recover from his dazed state, just in time to see the shadow of the Insecticon that had forsaken its spark to save his and Arachnid's.
Snarling in rage, Jack took the moment his fallen warrior had given him to get back to his feet and scramble for the Ground-bridge. He did not look to see if any of the other Insecticons were following, he trusted Kickback see to it that they did, and if he didn't, then he would be looking for a new second-in-command after he ripped his first one into scrap! He reached the Ground-bridge but stopped just long enough to look back at Optimus Prime and Springer.
"This isn't over…" Jack promised and dashed into the Ground-bridge and it closed up behind him. His timing was perfect, as just as the Ground-bridge closed, Springer had launched another projectile.
It left another massive crater in the construction site, but none of that mattered to the snarling Ex-Wrecker. "Just by the alloy covering of your teeth, Arachnid! You won't escape next time!" He looked ready to fire his weapon again just to vent his rage, but a heavy hand grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn and looked at Optimus Prime's face.
"Stand down, Springer! We cannot continue needless destruction on this world!" Optimus Prime ordered angrily.
Springer jerked his shoulder away from the Prime's grip. "You have no idea what horror you've allowed to escape!"
"We know all too well of what Arachnid has done," Arcee said, stalking up to Springer.
"Then don't get in our way. We must pursue Arachnid at all costs," Springer snapped and made to head back to the Voyager.
"Springer! You cannot go after Arachnid. This world is unaware of Cybertronian existence, save for a select view. We must maintain a level of secrecy while on this world," Optimus Prime reprimanded.
"Not my style," Springer retorted. "If Arachnid is allowed to continue spreading her infection as she did to that earthling as you called him, then our petty war with the Decepticons will pale in comparison to the horror she will bring the universe."
"Petty?!" Arcee gawked and snarled some. "You call all we've been through and lost petty?!"
"Keep your subordinate under a tighter leash, Prime. I don't tolerate outbursts like that from my own," Springer replied, giving Arcee a distain look, until he was picked up off his feet by Optimus Prime and brought right up this face as the Prime's face-guard snapped over his faceplate.
"You will heed my orders, Springer. I have overlooked many things you've done, but I will not have you endangering innocent human life…" Optimus Prime said sternly, drilling a glare right into the ex-Wrecker's optics.
Springer tried to return the glare but could not match the ferocity Optimus had put into his. "…Pathfinders…reporting back to duty, Optimus Prime," Springer grunted hostilely.
Optimus Prime released Springer and gazed up at the Voyager. "…Megatron will be alert to your vessel. It's best you taken precaution and cloak its presence from the Decepticon's scanners."
"The Voyager is well equipped for stealth operations, Prime. Or have you forgotten that?" Springer retorted sharply.
"I have forgotten nothing, Springer," Optimus Prime replied heavily. "For now it is best if you keep the ship in orbit until we can find a suitable area for it to land. I will talk to our allies here on earth to procure one for you and your men."
"If you have allies that resourceful, then why do you need to hide your presence from them?" Springer said rhetorically.
"The sentient beings on this planet are not completely united. We have been fortunate to meet one nation that has been cooperative and understand our position," Optimus Prime said, opening his faceguard.
"I see…divided powers. Hmph, sounds like they haven't come far as a species yet," Springer commented.
"They are a young race still…they have much yet to learn," Optimus Prime defended quickly. "They are capable of great compassion…as well as violence, much like our own race."
Springer's faceplate showed clearly did not believe that statement. He shrugged it off and changed the topic. "What of that techno-organic with Arachnid? You said it was once a human being?"
Optimus narrowed his optics a fraction as he frowned. It had seemed that the long passage of time had done nothing to change Springer from his old disheartened ways. Were they not in need of more soldiers, Optimus Prime would have been tempted to send Springer back out into space. "We will discuss the matter back at our base…The humans must know that we failed at our mission and to report more Autobots have arrived on earth."
"The great Optimus Prime, reporting to fleshlings? I never would have imagined," Springer sneered and deactivated his launcher and sheathed his sword. "Jazz! Contact the ship and tell them to maintain in the planet's orbit until we've a better understanding of the situation here." As he turned to speak, he did so that way Optimus Prime wouldn't see him tap his chest two times.
Jazz frowned at the signal but nodded at the order and opened a link to the ship, giving the crew their orders. As soon as he was finished, the Voyager began to ascend back up into the night sky and disappeared entirely as it cloaked itself from the visible eye. The ex-Wrecker turned back to the Prime and smiled. "So…where to?"
"Ratchet…activate the Ground-bridge," Optimus Prime ordered. "…Prepare for our arrival." He looked over to where the Insecticons, Jack, and Arachnid had been, feeling grieved by the destruction they had caused to the construction site, but more importantly, the lack of any red energon. "Tell Agent Fowler our mission…failed."
"Just what happened, Optimus?" Ratchet called back through the com.
"An unforeseen arrival of the Voyager. In the confusion, the red energon was taken…by Jack and the Insecticons," Optimus Prime replied to his old friend.
"Jack?! He was with Insecticons? Does that mean he joined Megatron?" Ratchet panicked.
"I fear it is worse than that, old friend…It would appear that Jack has gained the Insecticons allegiance and has chosen to stand as a separate faction in this war," Optimus Prime grimaced as he tried not to sigh before all the Autobots. No doubt June had overheard the communication, and he worried what it might do to the already grief-stricken mother.
A Ground-bridge opened up near their location and Optimus Prime turned to Springer and the other Autobots that accompanied him. "Through the Ground-bridge, it will take us to our base…and then we will talk about protocol while here one earth." He waited for no reply and marched through the portal with Arcee and Bumblebee behind him.
Jazz started to follow after them when Springer's sword suddenly appeared at his throat. "I did not give the command…"
"But Optimus…he's our leader," Jazz retorted, then hissed when the blade pressed closer to where his voice-box was housed in his neck.
"He had his chance back on Cybertron, he failed," Springer reprimanded curtly. "I give the commands now…but we will act as though we are doing as Optimus orders us to do. But remember…all of you! We are here to follow our prime directive…and that is to eliminate Arachnid. She's started to unleash her infectious nature, so now we must step up our plans, no matter what. Am I understood?"
Jazz refrained from saying anything…seeing how he still had a blade at his throat. The other Autobots did not say anything, fearing for Jazz's safety should they say something that would make Springer turn him into an example. One Autobot with an orange and reddish-brown scheme and yellow wing-like blades stationed on his back.
"Springer…maybe if we explained it to Optimus, he might see reason and help us."
"I know Optimus…he won't do anything if it meant hurting a life, not even if it was a Scraplet," Springer replied harshly and then withdrew his sword and pointed at the Autobot that spoke up. "Don't question my orders again…this will be your last warning…Hot Rod."
"I…Yes sir," Hot Rod said, lowering his head and staring at the ground bitterly.
"Good…now into the Ground-bridge. We mustn't keep our 'leader' waiting," Springer said and stalked first into the vortex.
Hot Rod looked at Jazz, making sure he was all right. "Did he nick you?"
"Almost…that bot's getting more trigger happy by the nano-second. I was sure he would take my head off at time," Jazz said uncomfortably.
Hot Rod snarled some. "…If he ever did, I'd see he paid for it."
"Cool it, Hot Rod. Springer is a veteran and a Wrecker. You're no match for him, trust me," Jazz cautioned.
Hot Rod looked at the other Autobots, then back at Jazz. "Times change…and unlike Springer…I still believe in Optimus Prime." Hot Rod reached down and stroked a side of his helm, where a faint dent in his helm marked it. "He saved me a long time ago…time I paid him back."
"That's why we joined up with Springer's crew…" Jazz said, nodding in remembrance. "Hoped to get back to Big Blue himself. Damn me to the melting pits if I let anything happen to him!"
"Autobots…let's roll out. We have to keep our optics on Springer, at all costs," Hot Rod said, revealing his authority over the crew. He had worked long and hard to become Springer's second lieutenant, just so he could be close enough to take the ex-Wrecker out when the time came. There was much he wasn't proud of doing since he joined Springer's Pathfinders, but maybe now he could start redeeming himself now that he was here on earth…with the true leader of the Autobots.
Putting his personal feelings aside, Hot Rod and Jazz entered the Ground-Bridge, accompanied by the rest of the Autobots. Whatever happened now, Hot Rod just hoped he could make sure he could help the Last Prime, or all would be lost…
xXx
Back on the Harbinger, the interior of the ship was abuzz with rage. When they had cleared the Ground-bridge, Arachnid had snapped out of her catatonic state and was venting her rage by angrily slashing her claws and her extra-limb's at anything close.
"How dare Springer show his face to me!" Arachnid roared.
All the Insecticons quivered in terror as they felt the full weight of her fury through their shared consciousness. None of them dared ask her why she was so angry. They had accomplished their mission. The Autobots were robbed of their prize as they now possessed the red energon. They only lost one of their brethren and he died an honorable death by serving as a shield for their King and Queen, and yet she was rampaging in the laboratory, swiping her claws at all of them. Kickback had to admire their new king. He was not afraid for a moment while his Queen lashed at him. He took most of the attacks, having placed himself in her path whenever it looked like she might go in to kill one of her loyal minions.
It really didn't matter to them if she chose to punish them. She was their Queen and if she decided to punish them or even kill one of them, it would only remind the whole hive to strive better to please her. They were hers to do as she wished, for better or for worse. But it seemed their king was of more of the mind of keeping them all in one piece.
He willfully took her wrath in their place and allowed their queen to slash at his scaled plating. Not once did his faceplate flinch from the series of cuts she left. Jack didn't need to care about it, though. His remarkable self-repairing system immediately sealed the damaged armor, so he had no fear of any lingering wounds. But his patience was starting to wear out. He had tried to talk her down and when that didn't work, he let her continue to unleash her anger on him, but when it seemed she was only getting worse, he made the decision to end it.
With one sweep of his hand, he grabbed Airachnid and crushed her against his body. Using his wings, he folded them around her to trap her spider-limbs and arms, leaving her thrashing helplessly.
"Release me now, Jack!" Airachnid screamed into his faceplate.
Jack only shook his head and held her tighter. "Not until you cool down. If I have to drag you out to the nearest river and throw you in there myself, I will if it'll get you to calm now!"
"You dare?" Airachnid hissed angrily, murder burning in her optics.
"I do" Jack replied coldly, meeting her deadly glare with one of his own. "You started losing it the moment you saw Springer, and I want to know why."
Airachnid hissed at him, but he just continued to look straight into her optics. "You are not alone anymore, Airachnid. I'm here now. You need to trust that I will be your sword and your shield."
That seemed to get through to her as she stopped struggling and just stare blankly at him.
Seeing she was reasonable again, Jack turned to the Insecticons. "Leave, all of you!"
"As you command, our King!" Kickback said and bowed, and as one, all the Insecticons in the lab stalked out of the laboratory.
After every single one of them had gone, Jack released Airachnid and stalked over to the door and shut it, leaving the two of them alone. He had no doubt Airachnid would close off her innermost thoughts to the collective minds of the Insecticons, she wouldn't want anyone, even her own minions, to know what she was truly thinking. He returned to Airachnid's side and stood there. There was no pressuring her, no encouraging words to get her to open up. She wasn't that kind of woman. She didn't need someone's pity, just their understanding and Jack knew that once she collected herself, she either would open up to him or not. If she needed him for anything, he would wait until she said so, if not, then he would just continue to wait until she made the next move.
His actions had been precisely what Airachnid needed. Seeing the Voyager, seeing that bastard Autobot Springer had dredged up emotions she had thought died in her long ago. Had she not been so overcome from the sudden emotional urge into her Spark-chamber, she'd have commanded her Insecticons to slaughter every last Autobot…but when she saw that ship, that Autobot, her past overwhelmed her. Had it not been for her Jack…she surely would have gone offline. He had stepped up and protected her, as he promised…
"My Jack…" she whispered.
He took one large step and he was by her side, placing his massive hands delicately over her shoulders. "I'm here…"
"Springer is here. He means to finish what he started back on that forsaken planet," Airachnid whispered, leaning against his body as her multiple set of optics stared into oblivion. "He will see that I go offline…"
"If that is what he plans, then he will only meet his own demise," Jack growled lowly, hugging her against his frame. His optics once more burned with energon fire. "None shall harm you, this I vow."
Her limbs started to curl around his large frame, embracing him and secretly liking the safe feeling she felt being in his embrace. Maybe it was the many eons she had existed on her own, or maybe it was the organic pieces that were continuing to alter her body, either case, she deeply relished being so close to Jack like this. What was better was that it was her, not Arcee, Jack held protectively. She was the one that made him into something more than just a carry-on item. She made him into a king! What would her Jack be if he continued to rot away being just a human being? He was perfect! Her Spark burned with anger just thinking how the Autobots blindly ignored how wonderful her Jack was…what potential had been lying inside him.
But she saw it. She saw past the feeble organic, puny thing Jack was and saw the greatness that was waiting to be unleashed. She did it! She unlocked Jack's true self! He was hers, in mind and body. Her mark was everywhere on him, from his black scales up to the horned crown that spiked out over his head. Every bit of that was devoted to her and that pleased her greater than anything else. Feeling the need to reward his loyalty, Airachnid started to climb up Jack's chest sensually until her faceplate was right in front of his and then descended her metallic lips over his. There was a slight clang with the metal meeting metal, but it was a pleasing ring to her audio receptors.
Jack melted into her treasured kiss. It was so addicting and each time left him yearning for more. When he pulled away from her embrace, he looked into her optics. "Springer's head will be your trophy…right next to Megatron's."
Airachnid felt her inner parts vibrate with pleasure. "Mmm, that's a very desirable idea, my Jack."
"That's just the beginning…but before we get into that…I think it's time we look at our prize of the night," Jack said after cupping her chin and stroking the corner of her mouth. He looked over to the giant red energon crystal and smirked. "If the properties of this red energon are as you say, then I'd like to experiment with an idea."
Now curious, Airachnid wondered what her human-turned-Cybertronian would think to do with red energon. She had a very good idea what to do with it once it had been processed. What was more dangerous than an entire army of Insecticons enhanced with super-speed. They could rip Megatron's ship apart, including him, before he had a chance to raise a bladed eye-brow. Then in turn use whatever was left of the red energon to render the Autobots to spare-parts.
Jack, not caring that Airachnid was still latched onto him, walked calmly over to the container and with one swift punch, broke the side of it. With his fist still inside the container, he reached forward and broke off a piece of the red energon, and then hummed to himself as his processors worked on overdrive, then he asked Airachnid a question.
"Red energon speeds up a Cybertronian…just how fast does it make them go?" Jack asked.
"A Cybertronian fueled by red energon can move so fast the whole world around them seems to have stopped moving. But don't mistake that for stopping time, there still is some passage of time, just at a very slower rate," Airachnid explained, then raised a non-existing eyebrow. "What are you thinking of, my sweet?"
Jack flashed a primal smile as he tightened his grip over the small fragment. "For us to start adding our numbers. If we face two armies now, we must have an army that can match theirs." This smile turned darker as his optics flashed out energon fire. "It's time we begin to rise and make our enemies…fall."
Airachnid gave him a sinister smile and stroked his faceplate. "I will begin the needed preparations, my love." She then leaned in and licked one of his horns. "But only after you satisfy your Queen."
Jack put down the red energon fragment and then gave his lover his full attention. "I'd like nothing more…" He grabbed one of her horns and forced her faceplate to smash against his, locking his mouth over hers and raiding her eager mouth with his tongue. She wasn't some petite, inhibited female. She was wild and she desired it rough, even painful. It got her off faster than just teasing her.
"Our quarters, now!" Airachnid hissed into his mouth, biting at the edge of what consisted as his lower lip.
Jack did not need the aid of the red energon to move at the speed he used to reach their personal quarters.
xXx
Up in high orbit over earth, the Voyager hovered over the blue planet, cloaked to the naked eye from all spying equipment. On the bridge the Autobots under Springer's command worked feverishly to locate any signs of Airachnid. One Autobot in particular was busy with another task. He was the Chief Science officer onboard the ship and was tasked with another important part of their main operation. He stood as tall as Springer in height but whereas the leader of their vessel schemes was green and yellow, his was red and white, with a black helm and white vent-plate that covered his forehead. The vent had been installed there to help keep his constantly working processor from overheating. On his right shoulder moved a cylinder-like device that held a number of functional tools critical for observation and study. It moved with a life of its own as it scanned over his current project.
There was a sudden commotion in the impressively large laboratory he was placed in charge of. Some of his lab assistants started to scream and call for aid. "Perceptor! It's waking up!"
Perceptor sighed as he was pulled away from his project and marched over to where his assistants were panicking. "Who allowed it to come back online? It should remain in offline status at all times, who re-activated it?"
An Autobot with mostly silver schemes, adorned with slight red lines running around his arms and legs and the wing-folds that moved up and down behind his back ran over to Perceptor. His frame was slightly bulky but it matched his large size and height. Perceptor narrowed his optics at this giant of an Autobot. "Jetfire, did you do this?"
"You know I wouldn't do something this idiotic, Perceptor! I've been trying to keep it from regaining consciousness for the past mega-cycle!"
That surprised the science officer. "You mean, it's been waking up on its own?"
"Yes! Everything we've been trying so far has only delayed it. For whatever reason, it wants to wake up, and I cannot think of anything else—short of putting it in a stasis-pod—of keeping it under control!" Jetfire replied hastily.
Perceptor looked over at where Autobot grunts were fumbling around, grabbing electro-rods and sticking them inside a containment prison that was constructed to house the thing in question. Where they stabbed, a howl echoed up from the prison as painful bindings the rods produced wrapped around it, limiting its movement as it was nearly fully awake.
"The specimen hasn't done this before, has it?" Perceptor questioned, rubbing his chin as he pondered the growing situation.
"No, since Springer and his team managed to capture it and we put it into stasis-mode, it hasn't stirred. But since we've left the planets orbit it began to stir," Jetfire replied, completely perplexed with what was happening.
"Fascinating," Perceptor murmured to himself. "This bears much to analyses. I want all other projects to cease and focus on maintaining the creature's captivity. We cannot afford to lose it now. We must understand why it had chosen now to awaken, and how it was able to do so on its own." Since the beast had been brought aboard the Voyager, Springer had limited to just how much Perceptor could study it. He seemed very concerned that no risks were taken with the creature, wanting to keep it offline at all times. But since that now seemed impossible, and until he informed Springer of this development, there was no harm in running a few simple scans over the creature and learn some why it was so important to their commander. "Prep the creature for study…it's time we see why Springer brought this thing aboard."
xXx