Hey Ho it's the big 10
I am terribly sorry for the longer than usual wait, for those who didn't see the notice I put up, my laptop battery died and well, I didn't really have much to write with besides pencil and that doesn't help much. And thank you to those that understand the computer crap, I am getting a new one or hopefully have gotten it by the time this chapter is up. Right now I'm writing this on my family PC which I'm not always able to get access to so joy...
Also a grand thank you to you people that reviewed:
Imaginator-Creator: so the reason there's so many commas is the proofreader program I use and I did try and go through a fix a few of them, but run on sentences have always kinda been my bane when writing.
LethalJustice94: Thanks for the review and it's good to know I'm doing the characters right
Jackdauphinais: Sooo…. Was it good? The stupid cliffhanger or… what?
Teamdone36: so my word count goal is typically around 6,000 or so and well sometimes I get a little out of hand and I'm well aware one of the chapters is about 14,000 words long I think
Also, I wanna know about people's reactions to E3 what are your thoughts...
*Basic disclaimer saying I own just about nothing inserted here*
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"The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way."
-Keanu Reeves
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Chapter: 10
Reality hits with the subtlety of a freight train
The silence that filled the air when Fowler said the president was wanting to see Jack and Optimus that no one would have needed Ratchet hearing to hear a pin drop across the base.
Fowler however just continued unaffected by the news he had delivered. "Also wanting to speak with you will be a few high ranking Generals to name a few would be General Bryce my direct superior and General Bryce his direct superior. The others I haven't met with the exclusion of a man named Thomas Banachek he's in charge of an organization called sector seven."
Sean, however, scoffed at the idea, "So, the President of the United States and a bunch of his officials just want to talk to Jack? That's it? no experiments or anything? Because I for one know that not how it's ever gone down in any sci-fi movie or comic or anything." Sean by the time he was finished, dark green mech was shaking slightly and glancing toward the many exits around the room since he freaked himself out.
Jameson quickly stepped up and Gibbs slapped his friend over the helm and got to work calming him down while everyone else processed the news they were just given. And some were also trying to dislodge Sean's frantic rambling.
But one bit of information kept gnawing at Raf's processors, the President while it made sense he knew about the Autobots, shouldn't have known about Jack or any of them. "Agent Fowler," Raf spoke up getting the portly agents attention. "I thought that no one knew we know about the Autobots?"
Fowler let out a weary sigh as he looked up at the visored former human, "They didn't but in my report, after the attack on Jasper I had to put in a list of people that were missing and those that we could confirm were taken." Fowler walked over to the command section of the human area grabbing a swivel chair tired of standing at the rails. "General Bryce wanted to know what possible reason several teens and a few adults who might have been captured by the cons could possibly warrant their capture. so I told him about your contact with the bots and to say he was not happy was an understatement."
That made a lot of sense. it wasn't very comforting to know that the government knew about them but there wasn't much of a thing either party could do about it since they were also now a secret due to their sudden and most likely irreversible change in species.
Fowler continued, his tired voice carrying through the quiet command center. "Bryce threw a fit that you knew, threatened to have me court-martialed because I was 'withholding' potentially damaging information for as long as I had. Then he seemed to remember the cons grabbed you and made a few dozen phone calls and dismissed me." Fowler slouched back in the chair his hand over face, and Jack realized the special agent must have been absolutely exhausted because of their capture and this situation was probably not helping at all.
"Uh, Agent Fowler why don't you take a break for a bit you've earned it." Jack offered his servo to the agent who looked tempted by the offer.
"Seriously dude you looked half dead." Miko piped up looking over the agent who in her opinion looked like he went dune bashing without a seatbelt on.
"What the heck, why not, just set me down over by the couch. That'll do just fine." Fowler climbed onto Jacks servo who realized that it was odd carrying the agent who used to be a head taller than him now fit securely in his palm and was holding onto his thumb for support.
Jack set the agent down and with a yawned thanks Fowler laid down and promptly fell asleep. While the bot may not have liked Fowler all that much namely Bulkhead and Ratchet, the kids thought of the agent as a kind of wacky uncle at times.
Wheeljack vented a sigh. "Well Prime is probably gonna want to know about this, I'll go comm him." with Wheeljack being relatively new to earth he didn't know much about earth politics but just from listening in on this conversation he could tell it was something he didn't want to be a part of.
However, the communication console blinked on and started beeping announcing an incoming comm which Wheeljack quickly answered letting a femmes voice fill the air. "Arcee to base we need an emergency groundbridge..."
Arcee was interrupted by a quick burst of machine gun fire and explosions, lots of them, moments later Ratchets voice cut through the sudden influx of noise "We found wounded and MECH is on site, hurry and open the blasted fragging thing!" his voice promising a wrench if it wasn't opened that moment.
Raf quickly input the coordinates to the team and Cliffjumper pulled the lever igniting the teal and green vortex. It didn't take long for them to hear the sounds of someone coming through the bridge and Arcee and Bumblebee quickly burst forward into the command center carrying what appeared to be a dismembered leg and an arm.
Spike almost purged his tanks at the sight of the limbs that were leaking energon all over the command center as the two Autobots quickly made their way to the med-bay June quickly following after them.
Ratchet came through the bridge not even stopping as he ran toward the medbay, none of the kids could say they had ever seen Ratchet run so fast excluding when Ratchet had experimented with Synthetic Energon. However, Optimus came in next shocking everyone because in his servos he carried Breakdown the Decepticon who fought them just the other day, who was currently missing an arm, leg and his patch that covered the hole were his other optic used to reside and was currently sparking like someone shoved a dagger in it. Breakdown was barely held together by what everyone assumed was Ratchets field repairs his yellow optic flickering just barely.
All in all the Decepticon was absolutely torn apart and covered in a white substance that Jack could easily identify due to the two different occasions in which he had run into cause of the web like muck.
Optimus hurried him to the med-bay. Everyone focused on the bridge where Bulkhead came out of it limping slightly firing wildly through the bridge. Miko ran up to after the bridge closed to steady him.
The wounds that Bulkhead had sustained when they had assaulted the cave before Jasper was attacked had strained the welds threatening to break from the exertion that battle put on his frame. Miko eased Bulkhead down onto one of the concrete landings between the staircases, his knee joint sparking and obviously causing the green wreaker a lot of discomfort and pain. Wheeljack assessed his friends condition quickly and decided that Bulkhead was in good enough condition to give out some answers to what the slag was going on.
"What the frag happened out there that's got all of you dinged up" Ignoring the groaning by Jameson about his language around the kids, Wheeljack crossed his arms in front of his green buddy and waited for an answer.
"Yea and why is Breakdown here. I mean I know he was in pieces but still, he deserves it." Miko interjected looking none too happy that the Decepticon was in the base as was a number of the other former humans who remembered the one opticed con in the cave brawl.
"I'll tell ya what happened, but it ain't pretty," Bulkhead said with a grunt from an obviously injured leg. He motioned for them to find somewhere comfortable, and as they did so he started on what happened.
Roughly two hours prior
A green vortex of energy opened up in the mountainous forests of California close to a nearby lake. The Autobots came through at high speed skidding to a halt to avoid hitting the nearby trees.
The Autobots transformed arming their blasters scanning the area while Ratchet holding a scanner looked around and glanced at the scanner before pointing in a direction without a word spoken the bots move forward cautiously.
Optimus and Bulkhead were having trouble however with the trees being tightly bunched together obscuring their path, while Arcee, Ratchet, and Bumblebee easily traversed the terrain due to their smaller sizes.
Noticing the issue Optimus opened up the comm channel, "Arcee and Bumblebee move ahead and scout the area we will rendezvous when we find the objective. Ratchet continue leading us to the source of the signal." Arcee and Bumblebee gave a nod and ran ahead Arcee climbing up a tree to get a height and sight advantage. Bulkhead and Optimus staying on both sides of Ratchet in the event of an ambush.
It took almost twenty minutes for the Autobots to reach the general area of the location the mineral composition of the surrounding rocks throwing off the scanner, Arcee and Bee regrouping with the others giving reports of any activity.
"We haven't seen anything so far, although I heard a helicopter not to far away but decided against pursuit, figured it was probably just humans." Bumblebee shrugged still looking around still on guard due to the lack of any nearby activity.
"Hmm that could be the case but secure the perimeter around the signal and move in slowly we can not take any chances," Optimus commanded the others moving to follow the order.
"Optimus this is a very faint signal to small to be a refined energon store and too big to be exposed crystals so my current theory is that it is a wounded cybertronian." Ratchet said through the open comm channel.
Warily checking his surroundings the Autobots leader replied unsure of what was going to happen. "Are there any more nearby signals?"
"Negative Optimus just us and this signal although there are some human life signs nearby however that is to be expected this area is apparently a common vacation spot in the region." Ratchet replied quickly.
Optimus thought this over for a moment if there were humans in the area they would have to move quickly "If that is all, Autobots move in but proceed with caution."
With that, they all moved in having the signal surrounded. Bulkhead was the first one to reach the origin point but stopped immediately as soon as he saw what it was. Arcee and Bee were the next two to get to the signal not seeing it but the frozen form of Bulkhead.
"Bulkhead? you alright? what…" was all Bumblebee got out as he got a good look at what Bulkhead was staring at. It was a gruesome sight that rivaled that of a scraplet victim, it was definitely a cybertronian but they had been absolutely torn apart to the point were Bee or Arcee could hardly identify the mangled frame.
Bulkhead however could. The rust-red almost orange faceplate and overall chassis design was a dead giveaway to the crippled and barely online con in front of them. And the most disturbing part was the white web-like substance that was holding his bleeding form up like a fly stuck in a spider's trap.
Bumblebee was in a frozen state of shock just as much as Bulkhead was. Arcee, however, shook out of it quickly putting her servo to her helm activating her comm, and scanning the area now on high alert. "Ratchet you need to get over here now its… its Breakdown something torn him apart and I think I know who did it, but he needs immediate medical attention."
Arcee's quick message, however, broke Bulkhead out of his shock and turned on her anger in his optics. "Are you kidding me this slagheap deserves what happened to him! I say we just leave him to rust." Bulkhead glared at the blue femme.
"Do you not see those webs stringing him up like that. Airachnid is the only thing on this planet that can do that, this has to be a trap. we need to grab him and get the frag out of here." Arcee retorted glaring just as heatedly at the large wrecker.
Bulkheads retaliatory remark was cut off as Optimus stepped out from the tree line with Ratchet close behind him. Seeing his patient Ratchet quickly made his way over clearing the webbing with his scalpel blades.
Focusing his attention on the rest of his team Optimus attempted to calm Bulkhead down. "Although Breakdown is an enemy Bulkhead he does not deserve this. All life is sacred and should not be wasted over old rivalries. he will, however, be kept as a prisoner." however, the supposed to be calming words only agitated the green mech further.
"You don't understand Optimus I can't ever overlook what he helped do, what I can't understand is how can you!" Bulkhead shouted at Optimus inferring to the former humans that were now back at base, Optimus looked right into the green wreckers optics an anger rarely seen slowly bubbling to the surface.
"Be that as it may, I am not asking you to forgive him but to just allow us to get him back to base for help because I doubt Megatron will be as kind." Optimus' optics darkening into a frown.
Although Bulkhead was still angry he could see his leaders reasoning even if he didn't like it, besides if he went back to Megatron after this Him, Jackie, and Miko could kick his aft. "Fine" he grumbled and walked away his back turned to everyone watching the forest.
Optimus looked at Bulkhead for a moment longer then turned to Ratchet who was hurriedly welding up the most devastating wounds that gushed out fairly large amounts of energon. "Ratchet how is he?"
The old medic took a moment to respond. "He's not doing well but that's to be expected from the damages he's sustained its a wonder that he's still online." His tone serious and focused Optimus felt better to leave the medic to his work.
It had actually gone absolutely silent in the time that they had arrived here, the sound of insects and late night birds no longer present the only noise being Ratchet's welder. it was eerily quiet putting Optimus on edge. In his studies of the planet he had read that it was only this quiet in the event of a predator being nearby and whether or not their presence here had equated to that was up for debate.
Looking around and taking in his surroundings again Optimus took roster of his team. Arcee had taken the high ground in the outcropping that surrounded where Breakdown laid. Bumblebee stood guard over Ratchet while he worked keeping his helm on a swivel. Bulkhead was stomping his way around the outskirts of the outcropping walking off his anger.
Keeping his own optics scanning the area for any activity he noticed that Bulkhead had stopped. "Optimus I've got movement in the trees low to the ground, multiple humans." Optimus looked closer around the area and indeed there were a large group of humans steadily surrounding them.
Finally the dead silence was broken, however, it wasn't by the bots, bot a calm and smug sounding voice that was familiar to all of them. "Ah, the Autobots what a nice surprise this is, how are all of you this fine evening?"
Optimus looked to find the origin of the voice finding it he recognized the man immediately even though he already knew the voice. "Silas," He greeted stoically, "what do you want." Optimus looked around their position finding more and more MECH soldiers.
Whilst everyone had been distracted during their argument they had been surrounded by what looked like a small army of MECH soldiers, the Bulkhead fell back then getting in between Ratchet and the terrorist organization. Bumblebee quickly joined him as did Optimus taking center stage.
"Well originally we were investigating a strange energy signal, but imagine my surprise when one of my patrols catch sight of a green vortex opening and all of you come out. I had to see what all of you came out here for that was so important your entire team came out here for." Silas said while glancing behind the Prime at Ratchet working on Breakdown with a sinister smirk.
"Hmm, it seems you've come to the aid of this Decepticon again. This is interesting and I thought that you were enemies, but seeing as how you're trying to save him for a second time it's making me think he was a spy for you." The statement made Bulkhead scoff as he readied one of his maces.
"If you think this fragger was a spy for us your even crazier than I thought fleshy, I swear-" Bulkhead was silenced mid-rant by Optimus raising his servo to calm the large mech. Bulkhead vented deeply to calm himself down feeling much calmer although still angry he gave a small nod to show he was alright.
"Breakdown has never been a spy for us nor do I think he would wish to be, but life is sacred to all living things no matter what they have done," Optimus said taking a small step forward causing all the MECH soldiers to ready their weapons.
"Hmm wise words Optimus, wise words, it is unfortunate that I do not share your sympathies MECH's goal is to be the leading organization in technology to lead the world into a new order and you are the ticket to that technology, if you turn over the Decepticon we will let you leave here unharmed if you don't." Silas left his threat hanging in the air along with the sound of his soldiers arming their rifles and EMP weapons.
Bumblebee readied his blaster somewhat frantically the memory of having his T-cog taken still vivid in his processor. Ratchet paid no mind to the humans that were surrounding them and focused on getting Breakdown somewhat travel worthy. Arcee was quiet as none of the humans had seemed to notice her higher position she planned to keep it that way.
"I can not allow that to happen, Silas, you are well aware of that. To hand him over would mean his offlining and I can not let that happen even if he may be an enemy." Optimus' gaze was hard as he stared down the fanatic man who stoically held his ground in the face of such an intimidating sight.
However, the smirk that was now growing on the terrorist leader's face was disturbing, to say the least. "You know, I have eyes watching all over the place. Even had some stationed in Jasper Nevada when it was attacked, they were keeping eyes on some individuals that I believe we have a mutual… acquaintance with."
Optimus didn't have to turn around to notice his comrades stiffening at the inference that the kids were being watched without them knowing. "In particular they got a good sight of the Darby household, the family was determined missing but with the way their home was destroyed my people tell me it's highly likely, Jackson was killed in the attack. It's a shame really kid was quick on his feet and a heart of gold something so many people lack in this world."
Unseen to the humans on the ground and to the bots below her Arcee was seething, mainly because she knew that it wasn't true, but also due to the fact that it could have been a reality had the cons not had a different agenda. Glaring down at everything below her she met optics with Bumblebee who had a look of understanding on what was visible of his faceplate. Quickly she took a deep vent and quickly reminded herself that it wasn't true and that Jack was fine… just… different now.
"Very well, at least you can't say I didn't give you a choice." Silas turned around and started heading back into the forest but not before giving a final order. "Take them." With the command given the forest erupted in the sounds and flashes of gunfire. the bots not getting very damaged by it, but still having to avoid EMP devices.
Bulkhead being the largest Autobot and by far the easiest to target was quickly hit with an emp device that clamped onto his leg and delivering a painful electrical shock, disabling him for a moment and making him kneel for a quick moment before standing up again with a limb and most definitely feeling the multiple circuits in his leg fried.
"Optimus what are we supposed to do if we can't shoot back." the Prime hearing the yellow scout beep and whir over the resounding gunfire took cover for a moment to think before responding.
"Autobots give suppressing fire so that Ratchet may work to get Breakdown mobile." with the command given the forest erupted in blue blaster rounds, yellow tracer rounds, and electrical discharges.
Arcee being the most agile abandoned her position in the rocks took to the trees up above the surrounding force opening fire making soldiers go flying from the blasts. Bee started running around blasting at the bases of trees to cut off lines of sight and to give themselves some cover.
Bulkhead and Optimus in a bid to cover themselves uprooted some of the trees to utilize as a barrier between the fight and Ratchet. They kept firing, the concussive blast from the blasters making MECH soldiers go flying into trees, each other, or to just land hard on the ground some trying to get back up but failing.
Bee jumped over the cover Optimus and Bulkhead were at taking cover while waiting for his blasters to cool down some. "Well, things seem to be going good all things considered." Bee buzzed in relief and it was true MECH wasn't able to advance thanks to the combined efforts of Arcee and him.
"Bee you might want to get back out here MECH has some armored personnel carriers out here and they've got me pinned," Arcee shouted over the comms. Bee was about to rush back out when he suddenly got pulled backward with wood, rocks, and dirt hitting him in the faceplate with an explosion sounding off to his right. he was in such a daze he didn't hear someone shouting at him for a second.
"Bee, you alright?" Bulkhead asked for the third time, The big bot using his body to cover the dazed scout.
"Yea I'm fine what happened?" Bee asked looking at where he was crouched a moment ago see the tree he was standing behind reduced to splinters and it smoking.
"You almost had your helm blown off by one of those APCs Arcee was talking about your lucky I saw it when I did." Bulkhead pulled Bumblebee up before going back and covering Ratchet while he worked.
"Ratchet can you give us an estimate of how much more time you need to work?" Optimus inquired "We need to vacate the area soon this amount of noise is bound to attract attention and that is something we cannot allow to happen."
"I know Optimus I'm going as fast as I can I'm about eighty-five percent finished sealing up the major energon leaks just a few minutes more and we can move him without making the damage worse." Ratchet hurriedly responded ducking to avoid a burst of bullets and a cannon shell that exploded behind him.
"Arcee we need ya to help disable those APCs we can't get a shot on them from here," Bee said through his comm while simultaneously dealing with a group of insurgents trying to flank them.
"I'll see if I can take care of them but I need you to cover me." Was her response before cutting the comm. Bee without another 'word' ran off jumping and shooting between trees and cover shots pinging off his armor and EMP's sometimes getting a bit too close for comfort.
Arcee, on the other hand, was dispatching the APCs with ease using her wrist blades to cut up the turret before Jumping and dodging bullets and shells to get to the next one occasionally blasting the turret if it was out of reach. Unfortunately for the Autobots MECH caught onto what she was doing and started targeting her to keep her off of their heavy weapons.
A MECH shell managed to glance off her breastplate, knocking her out of the tree and rattling her systems but aside from that it did a fairly minimal amount of damage just leaving a dent that was fairly painful.
Bulkhead managed to grab her and bring her into cover before she got hit again which wasn't easy considering his damaged leg. "Ugh, Thanks, Bulkhead. Ratchet please tell me your close to finishing with that slaghead cause we're all pinned down right here and MECH is advancing." Arcee pointed towards the scout who dove in like he was stealing a home base in baseball with an APC right behind him, which had its front end smashed by Bulkhead's mace.
"Yes please tell us your almost finished with him because I'm tired of getting shot at for the rest of this month." Bee adding his thoughts.
"I'm almost done but we can move him now we just have to hurry and be careful not to reopen any of the wounds." Ratchet said irritably before ducking under another barrage of gunfire.
Arcee ducked behind another tree for cover which was becoming a bit sparse from the explosions and fire. "Arcee to base, we need an emergency ground bridge..." Arcee had to cut the comm short due to machine gun fire and explosions and lots of it.
"We found wounded and MECH is on site, hurry and open the blasted fragging thing!" Ratchets voice cut through the comm link finishing what she couldn't.
Not even thirty seconds later the familiar sound of the ground bridge filled the area the glow of it a fair ways away from the fighting. "Arcee, Bumblebee each of you will have to take one of Breakdown's limbs through the bridge while I carry Breakdown," Optimus ordered. although Optimus was not much taller than the Decepticon he was able to carry him over his shoulder easily due to the lost weight of two limbs.
Arcee and Bumblebee ran through the ground bridge first with Ratchet close behind and Optimus although slowed down by the added weight on his shoulder made it through soon after with Bulkhead coming in last to cover their escape from MECH with the bridge closing soon after them.
Present time
"that wraps up the fragged story of our unwanted house guest." Bulkhead finished with a scowl it still evident he wasn't happy about saving his rival for the second time.
"Ugh, at least you didn't have to carry his leg. That was just weird and unnerving." Bee buzzed from the back of the group with Arcee standing behind him making Sean jump like a cat.
"Gah, how long have you been standing there!" Sean shouted looking at the yellow scout, Everyone else laughed at his expense.
"Uh been here for a while. Really you didn't see or hear us walk up?" Sean just shook his helm. Bee just shrugged and walked over to Raf.
"Wow sounds like everything really hit the fan," Jameson said his optics looking strangely serious for once.
"What does anything have to do with hitting a fan?" Arcee questioned with a raised optic ridge not understanding the human term.
"Uh, it just means things got messy real quick Arcee or things go crazy, take your pick," Sierra answered stifling a laugh at the incredulous look Arcee had.
"Anyway, what has me wondering where did MECH get those APCs and EMP devices, last time we faced them it was just sports cars and advanced rifles, their starting to upgrade their weapons." Jack cut in saving Sierra from either further explanation or Arcee getting mad at her but opening a whole new can of worms on accident.
"Hey uh I heard you talking about something called MECH multiple times now and uh what is it?" Spike asked gaining everyone's attention for a second. "Uh yeah, what is MECH cause I've never heard of it," Sean added. "Yeah, are they some kind of military agency or something?" Mikaela also added.
There was a large tidal wave of questions about this dangerous group that the newbies hadn't heard of before and most of them were worried, and rightfully so they targeted cybertronians that they had just found themselves associated with. Add to that fact that a Decepticon was just let into the base, One of the bots responsible for their current plight they were appropriately stressed.
Jack shared glances with some of the others and knew they had a lot of explaining to do for them and get them up to speed on current events that they didn't even know had happened. They deserved that much especially since their world had gotten so much more dangerous.
Alrighty then…
Once again I'm so terribly sorry this took forever this story should have so many more chapters to it especially since I started it in 2017 and 2019 is well underway now.
Well apology aside how has everyone been, I know E3 just went by how do you guys think that went… Bethesda entire crowd was undoubtedly bought after fallout 76 flopped like a dead fish, Doom does look like fun however so looking forward to that maybe. Cyberpunk also looks promising, especially with Keeanu Reeves recent addition. And the new Modern Warfare also looks good, wondering how that's gonna play out. So yeah just tell me what you thought about E3 kinda curious as to what I skimmed over.
Also, DM me if you want an invite to a discord server I made, it doesn't have any special bots or anything yet still haven't really figured that out, but come on in share your ideas with others or myself.
In addition, feel free to leave a review telling me if I messed something up like missing italics or bolding, I do have a proofread program I use but it doesn't catch everything and messes some things up and I'm not sure how the beta system works at all so, for now, your gonna fill in that slot and feel free to leave your ideas as well that would help tremendously.
And aside from the fact that I feel like I'm forgetting something I think that's it, so have a good Day/Night and stay frosty my friends.