chapter ten
The room was large, freezing cold, and completely devoid of human life. Lennox could see a little in the dim light of what had to be hundreds of computer monitors, all humming away at their assigned tasks. She lead Epps and Stringer deeper into the room, senses on high alert as she waited for something to reveal itself. As any good leader should, she was keenly aware of the locations and movements of her soldiers. She knew instinctively when Epps shouldered his weapon and turned his focus to one of the computers. She was aware of Stringer investigating something on the wall. Her focus was on the door.
"Lennox." Epps' voice was tight. "You need to see this."
"Stringer." Lennox moved to stand beside Epps as Stringer fell into position to guard their backs. Lennox turned her attention to the computer. All she could see were lines of code. "All right, hacker-boy. What am I looking at?"
Epps shot her a dirty look, but at her grin he simply rolled his eyes. Indicating the room with a sweep of his hand, he said, "For one thing, this computer was left on. The rest are in lock-down mode. So someone is working overtime." Lennox made a face. Ironhide's thermal scan hadn't detected any human beings, but with the interference from so many computers, it wouldn't surprise her for someone to be hiding in here. Epps broke through her thoughts. "The other thing is this." He typed in a few commands and heavily encrypted information scrolled across the screen. Lennox felt her gut clench.
Encrypted information, yes. But certain words were not translated into code, and those were words she recognized: Autobot, Decepticon, and Cybertron.
She thought she knew what the information was for, but she wanted to be sure. Unfortunately – "You can't break the encryption, can you?" she asked Epps. He shook his head. "All right. Find something to download the information on. We'll get it to Jazz and see what the Autobots make of it when we get back to base."
Something big exploded somewhere to the south of their position, and all three automatically hit the deck, covering their heads as the building shook. "Better hurry, Epps." Stringer called out. "Looks like the battle has finally begun."
Epps said something rather rude sounding, but he quickly set about searching for something that even resembled a flash drive. Lennox and Stringer had moved from the computers back to the window, getting a decent view of what was going on in the 'streets' below. Jazz was valiantly keeping the Decepticons from attacking the building – Lennox thought they were Starscream and another mech she didn't recognize. However, the Seekers had figured out that something of importance was in the building. They weren't so much firing at Jazz as they were keeping the Autobot pinned down.
Stringer cursed and raced to the other side of the room. "We need to see what's going on behind us." she said, her voice borderline frantic. "They're coming up on the other side, I know it."
"You think we don't know it too?" Epps demanded, finally finding a flash drive and plugging it into the computer. "I ain't no hacker, man! There's only so fast I can move!"
Lennox took aim and fired off a few rounds at the smaller, yet still larger than Jazz, Decepticon who was trying to sneak up behind Jazz. The round didn't so much hurt as distract the unknown – Barricade, she remembered – and that small distraction was all Jazz needed to pick up Barricade and throw him into the two Seekers. Lennox had to chuckle at the way they scattered. Like rats abandoning a sinking ship. Then again, she'd run too if something that big came flying at her.
Jazz glanced back at the window. "You guys set yet?" he called out.
Lennox glanced back at Epps, who quickly pocketed the flash drive and joined her at the window along with Stringer. Lennox grinned and motioned for Jazz to come get them.
That was when Starscream fired a rocket into the ground floor of the building, bringing the entire thing down on all of them.
/----/
Sing was the one to notice the building collapsing in, tumbling to the ground. He shouted in fury and fear, alerting the others to the predicament of their comrades. Optimus was quick to assume control of the rapidly deteriorating situation. "Ironhide, Ratchet – go!" he commanded, knowing those two would be the ones to leave regardless. Acknowledging Prime, the two transformed into their alt modes and took off back towards the toppled building.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe maintained positions, firing on Thundercracker and Soundwave as Optimus and Bumblebee attempted to keep Devastator from sneaking up behind them. They were doing damage, and almost – almost winning.
It would be a meaningless win if they lost those at the building. Optimus refused to even think of what would happen if any of them were harmed, or worse.
O'Connell shouted out a warning, and all three humans turned their focus to Scorponok. In the midst of the battle, he had managed to sneak up on them. They set up with the speed and efficiency born of years of battle experience and aimed the rocket launcher. They got off one shot before Scorponok opened fire with his claw cannons. They took cover, and Jones glanced around desperately. Where had Sideswipe gotten off to?
Before he could call out, the red mech appeared behind him, firing off a couple of cannon bursts at the scorpion. Scorponok screamed something foul-sounding and scampered away. With all the concrete around him, there was really no way to burrow into the ground.
"Look alive!" Sideswipe said with a grin. "He'll be back before this is over."
"They're retreating!" Bumblebee called out. Sure enough, Thundercracker transformed and took to the air while Soundwave followed. Scorponok was presumably trying to find Blackout while dodging the cannon bursts the Twins were sending his way. Devastator fired off a few more rounds at Optimus and Bumblebee, giving his companions time to get away before he too transformed and left.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Sing heaved a sigh of relief and sank onto the ground. "Well that was short." he said with a breathless laugh.
Jones couldn't help but chuckle. "You scared the crap out of me, Sides." he teased. "I look up, and you were gone."
"Just covering your back." Sideswipe said with an easy grin. "isn't that what teammates do?"
"Let's get to Lennox." Sing said suddenly. "I didn't see the other Decepticons take off."
"Follow me." Optimus transformed, allowed Sing to climb into the cab, and took off down the streets, followed closely by his soldiers. From behind him, he could hear the familiar-yet-strange banter of his soldiers.
"Aw, man! My paint's all scratched up!" Sunstreaker griped. Sideswipe laughed.
"No one's gonna know, Sunny." Bumblebee teased.
"When we get back to base, I'll give you a touch-up." O'Connell offered. "I'm pretty good at detailing cars."
They were met halfway by Ironhide, Jazz, and Ratchet. Optimus quickly hailed them on the radio. "What happened?"
Stupid pit-spawned Decepticons tried to take out the building. Ironhide grumbled. Lucky no one got turned to scrap metal.
Hey, I do know how to take care of myself. Jazz protested lightly. Besides, I think it's gonna take more than a few cannon shots to kill off these humans. Epps was already cussing like Sunny by the time 'Hide and the Hatchet got there.
Optimus chuckled at that. "Good to hear." he said, relaying the information to the human in his driver's seat. Sing grinned.
"Very good to hear." he agreed.