iTransformers
Chapter Ten: Enemies Gathered
"Sector 7 agents found the artifact off the coast of Australia and moved it here several months before Megatron was found by none other than Daniel Shay," Rosenburg informed the group as they proceeded down the dark hallway.
"Daniel Shay?" asked Carly, astounded. "My great grandfather?"
"Yes, ma'am," the elderly man answered. "Spencer, Carly, your grandfather made one of the most important discoveries of the century. They said he was insane...look where we are now because of him. He always said that the public's opinion of him would protect the secrets."
"Wow," Carly whispered, a smile growing on her face. Suddenly, the girl remembered her new friend. "That's what he meant when he said 'no sacrifice, no victory'...Wait a minute...show us where Bumblebee is before we do anything else."
"Of course," Mark replied, his voice calm and agreeable. The man then turned into another dark hallway. Carly, Sam, Freddie, and Spencer followed him, expecting the worst.
Meanwhile, the Autobots raced down the highway, guided by the directions Laserbeak sent them. Despite the confident look on her hologram pilot's simulated face, Arcee felt a deep sense of worry for her human allies. Optimus felt guilty for involving innocent beings in his specie's war, and a sense of duty towards Earth. Jazz was determined to save Bumblebee, and the humans, who proved to be more profound than he had ever imagined. In fact, some could even say he liked them. Ironhide. driven by his own memories of wars, felt compassion for the four humans and Bumblebee, as well as the urgency to retrieve the AllSpark. Plus, a second shot at those agents would be nice. Ratchet, being the scientific mind of the Autobots, refused to show any trace of interest towards the creatures he'd been forced to ally himself with, other than a natural sense of loyalty, which could be felt for any living being put in harm's way by his fault (be it direct or otherwise). Jazz told me about the human's refusing to betray Bumblebee, the medic thought to himself. From all of my years of research, their species has never ceased to disappoint me...but Carly, I think her name was, seems so different. Perhaps there is hope for this race after all.
"Prime," Jazz called from over a radio frequency. "How are we gonna help Bee?"
"Our main priority is the humans' safety," Optimus replied. "We cannot do anything that may jeopardize them."
"But we can't just leave him to die," Jazz shot back, growing upset. "Who knows what those humans are doing to him."
"Bumblebee is a brave soldier," Optimus replied, his voice grave. "He knew what he was getting into. It's what he would have wanted... I would gladly take his place, but right now, our only option is to locate and rescue the humans."
"It's not right," Jazz said, defeated.
"I know," Optimus responded. "Humans are a young race...not so different than how we once were:...untrusting, hateful...But they must not suffer from our mistakes."
Under the dramatic sunset, its passionate yellow, orange, and crimson colors, the Autobots' polished exteriors glistened. However, from above them, a gray Military jet cast a shadow over the land. On its tail fin, a black insignia reflected light. It somewhat resembled the Autobot emblem, but with several sinister twists: its head was divided into three horns, with the center point cleaved into a sharp U. shape. Its eyes were in a thin scowl position, with no mouth below it. Among other differences, the lines were sharper and more Gothic-inspired. "Soundwave, I have a visual on the Autobots," said the machine, his voice higher in pitch, but smokey and hoarse. "Send the other Decepticons the coordinates. Starscream, out."
"Bumblebee!" Carly screamed as she saw the yellow Autobot laying on a large metal table, being doused with a gas form of nitrogen. Large metal arms were grabbing at his armor. "Let him go!"
Rosenburg looked up to a boxed-in lab roughly ten feet above his head. "Stop the machines!" he cried. "Let the alien go!" With that, the gas stopped flowing, and the claws detracted into the ceiling.
Still weak, the yellow robot let his head move from side to side, the joints of the neck feeling frail. Returning to full conscious, Bumblebee deployed a guard over his face: it was mostly yellow, covering the eyes with two thick, black lenses, resembling insect eyes. The Autobot's 7-shaped horns were now pointed upward, like the antennae of a bee. Aiming his cannon at his imprisoners, the Autobot violently moved from side to side, scanning the room.
"Bee!" Sam yelled. "Bee, it's alright!"
"They're not gonna hurt you anymore," Carly called. "Please, put down the gun."
Bumblebee let out a fierce grunt, and continued jerking back and forth.
"...Come on, man," Freddie called out, finally allowing him to accept the existence of other life. "You have believe us! We're your friends."
"Please, Bee," Carly added, her throat beginning to ache.
Managing to calm himself, the Autobot hid his cannon, then forced his helmet back on top of his head. Bumblebee then let out a sad sigh, and looked at his friends.
"It's over, man," Spencer said. "They know where the AllSpark is. They're gonna take us to it."
Bumblebee nodded, shocked by what he was hearing, then got down from the table. "Let's go," said the Autobot, using a recording of Jeff Bridges from the 1980's film "Tron". With that, the robot activated his Energon tracking system, and led the group down a dark hallway.
Carly walked beside Lennox. "Hey," she said. "Thank you for standing up for my friend back there. Sorry 'bout the goon comment."
"No problem," the young man replied. "The name's Ron, by the way. Ron Lennox."
"Carly Shay," the teenager introduced herself. "Bumblebee's my guardian. That's why he's so hostile around guys with guns when I'm around."
"After all this is over," Ron replied. "Would you mind explaining all of this stuff to me really slowly?"
"Sure thing," Carly giggled.
Finally, the group reached a giant chamber, being lit by a gigantic, shining cube with cryptic symbols carved into it. The room was coursing with energy, distorting the visibility to a degree.
"Whoa," Spencer exclaimed, taking in the raw power that sat above him. "That must be the AllSpark."
"I've never seen anything like it," Sam added, bewildered. The energy caused the teenager's blond hair to blow.
Carly stepped next to Bumblebee, who was dwarfed by the cube, but standing staunchly despite that. Almost instinctively, the Autobot put his hands out around the two sides of the cube. Blue energy began to course from its exterior, and thousands of small cubes formed as the AllSpark began to shrink. Suddenly, a bolt of energy shot out from the Cybertronian artifact, and struck Carly.
Bumblebee let out an amplified scream of shock, though it didn't drawn out Carly's cries of pain as the energy coursed through her body.
"Carly!" Spencer called, running up to his sister.
"Stay back, son," commander Russo replied, holding his hand out in front of the young man. "That cube could be radioactive."
"I don't care," Spencer shouted, breaking the man's grip, and running to his sister's side. "Carly." The girl's brother bent down on his knees, and held her hand.
Carly didn't respond, her eyes remaining closed. Suddenly, with a flash, images began to assault her mind: images of Cybertron. Images of Primus disappearing into the stars. In no more than a second, the girl saw herself standing under an ocean of stars, watching Autobots and Decepticons, Mini-Cons and Mini-Cons fighting to the death. Machines dipped their cupped hands into glowing streams of fluid, and slowly, weakly drank. Energon. In the next instant, Carly found herself back on Earth, with her friends, guardian, and brother standing above her.
"She's coming to," Lennox declared. "Don't crowd her."
"Carly," Spencer said, his voice gentle. "Are you alright?"
"...Yeah," the brunette answered. "...But Primus is dead."
"What?" Sam and Spencer replied, shocked. Bumblebee dropped his head in sorrow.
"But right now, all that matters is saving the AllSpark," Carly announced. "Go git 'em, Bee."
Bumblebee nodded, then put his hands back on the cube. Slowly the AllSpark compressed its self into a small cube, no bigger than an old-time milk basket. Several small sparks of energy shocked the Autobot's fingers, causing him to pull back for a second, but finally, Bumblebee was able to safely hand the cube to his allies.
"Wow," Sam declared. "How did you..."
"Mass," Bumblebee answered, using a recording of Bill Nigh, the Science Guy. "Displacement," the robot completed, using a recording from a history special dealing with early civilizations' developing irrigation.
"That is so funky," Lennox declared, bewildered.
Meanwhile, the Autobots stood atop the Hoover Dam, planning what to do.
"There are few openings we could fit into," Optimus declared. "Any damaging of the landmark's surface could be deadly for the humans inside."
"I'll go inside," Arcee volunteered. "I'm about the size of an average human."
"You must use stealth," Ratchet informed her. "Should anyone see you, our cover will be blown, especially if any civilians witness an..."
"I know, Ratchet," Arcee interrupted. "Thank you." With that, the female Autobot slid down the side of the dam.
"Please Primus, let this work," Ironhide whispered.
"Now for the AllSpark," Optimus said, holding the glasses in front of him. With that, the Autobot leader said a quiet prayer, and projected a light from his optic receptors. A hologram of the globe, covered with blue-colored lines formed in front of the lenses. "...The AllSpark is inside the dam." Optimus touched the side of his head, activating a communication link between himself and Arcee. "Arcee, I am sending you the coordinates to the cube. It is inside the dam."
"Thanks, sir," the female Autobot. Arcee then snuck into a storm drain, and made her way towards the cube.
"Prime," Jazz said, breaking the silence. "What do we do when we find the AllSpark?"
"We will board the Ark once again, and return it to Cybertron," Optimus answered. "Hopefully, the government will devise an explanation, as they did for the Phoenix Lights phenomenon."
Ratchet chuckled a little under his breath.
"And what if the Decepticons find is first?" Ironhide replied. "Or if we should fall to them before we reach the Ark?"
"...Then I shall merge the cube with my Spark," Optimus gravely answered, opening his chest, and revealing a glowing orb inside of the small chamber behind the truck doors. "The Decepticons must not get their hands on it."
"That's suicide, Prime," Ratchet declared. "The cube is raw power. It could destroy you both."
"A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet," Optimus responded. "This is our war, not the humans'...It has been an honor to serve at your sides. Autobots! Roll out!" Following Optimus Prime's order, the robots charged forward.
Watching the Autobots' every move, and listening with government-grade equipment, a small wasp coated with shining silver armor forged entirely out of metal walked along the hot brick surface of the dam. Generating an amplified squawk, the Insecticon flared out its wings, and took flight inside the Hoover Dam, entering through the storm drain Arcee used.
"This is awesome," Spencer exclaimed, holding the AllSpark. "The future of an entire race. This is art."
Bumblebee tapped Carly on the shoulder. "Tell me how he died," he begged, using a recording of the emperor in "The Last Samurai".
"...Primus," Carly replied, feeling sorrow creep into her mind. "I...I don't know. T-there was some kind of fight...There were other Autobots...working together. That's all I know. I'm sorry."
"Carly! Sam! Spencer!" called a familiar voice, sounding urgent.
"Arcee!" Sam called back. "We're alright. Where are you?"
The female robot dropped down from the ceiling, landing gracefully but hard on the floor. "Right here," she answered. "Bee...you're okay."
Bumblebee nodded, then lowered his head in sorrow.
"It's alright," Spencer assured the pink Autobot. "The government showed us where the cube is...but Carly told us...I guess the AllSpark showed her... Primus is dead."
Arcee kept her jaw open, a look of pure shock frozen on her face. Turning her head away from the humans, and staring at the floor, the Autobot replied: "...Let's just get the AllSpark. Primus would want us to know...that his Spark is now one with The Matrix." Despite her strong words, it was easy to tell Arcee was in pain. She took this matter so personally, so gravely.
"For what it's worth," Freddie stuttered. "I-I'm really sorry for your loss."
"This is Freddie Benson," Sam introduced. "He's one of our close friends."
"Thanks, Puckett," Freddie whispered, not used to being complemented by his friend/enemy.
"Come on," Arcee replied, putting a strong smile on her face. "Let's get out of here."
Suddenly, a loud buzzing sound tore through the air. Three robotic insects (the wasp that was spying on the Autobots, a large dragonfly that was hued metallic green and dark gray, and a fly) flew at the humans, their thin wings glistening under the lights. Carly, Sam, and Spencer threw themselves onto the ground, dodging the Insecticons. Freddie threw himself against the wall.
"What the hell are those things?" Russo yelled.
"No idea," Spencer called back. "Odds are, they're Decepticons."
Arcee deployed a cannon that covered her entire right hand, then began shooting at the robots. Realizing how damaging his attacks could be, Bumblebee merely swung his hands through the air, trying to strike down the Decepticons.
The insects flew past the humans, and raced down the hallway, using night vision to see through the darkness. Finally, the three reached the chamber Megatron was being held in.
"They're going towards Megatron!" Rosenburg screamed, his voice reaching a deep tone. With that, the soldiers charged into the room, their guns in hand. Carly, Sam, Freddie, and Spencer began to follow.
"Carly," Arcee called. All four of the humans turned around. "You have to get out of here. The AllSpark can't fall into Megatron's hands."
"But I have to..." Carly began to argue.
"The other Autobots are outside," Arcee interrupted. "Laserbeak!" The orange bird flew down from the ceiling, and landed on Carly's shoulder. "Please send her position to Optimus, Beak. Go, Carly."
Inside the large chamber, the wasp stabbed its blade-like legs into the hard drive of one of the super computers. Muttering an electronic chirp, the Insecticon sent a message to Starscream that translated to: "Waspinator infiltrating government computer...Freeing Master Megatron."
The fly violently stroked its wings up and down as it approached Megatron's massive, frozen body. However, before it could reach the hose spurting out the liquid nitrogen, it was caught in the freezing spray, and dropped to the floor in a layer of ice, shattering. Dragonfly charged at the soldiers, distracting them for a short time. The bullets missed it by only inches.
"Forget him, get the wasp!" an African-American soldier yelled.
Suddenly, the liquid nitrogen hose shut down.
"No!" one of the soldiers hollered.
Rosenburg ran into the room, followed by Bumblebee and Arcee.
"No!" Bumblebee shouted, his voice heavily amplified, and still very weak.
Arcee lunged into the air, and blasted Waspinator, severing his connection to the computer. However, the thawing process had already began. Loud cracking sounds emanated from the frozen Decepticon's body, which stood about 32 feet tall. Chunks of ice fell down from the fearsome machine. Suddenly, the Decepticon swung his right arm out, shattering the ice encasing its body.
"Move in!" Arcee ordered, racing forward on the single wheel her legs merged to form.
Megatron tore out of his icy prison, letting out a ferocious roar that echoed through the entire room. "I am...Megatron," the beast declared, his voice amplified and flowing with varying frequencies. Ignoring Bumblebee and Arcee's fire, the beast threw his clawed hand up into the air with malicious fury, smashing a platform suspended high in the air, knocking the two men standing on it to the cold ground, and their deaths. Megatron thrust his left hand into the wall, shattering the metal guarding it. With a monsterous roar, the machine violently transformed into a Cybertronian jet, and tore through the room, flying out through a large storm drain.