Chapter 11
The sun sank mellowly over the western horizon. Sparkplug snored, leaning on Bumblebee's back door, head rolling limply in sleep. Spike looked over at Carly and flashed a grin; she smiled back. Chip tapped away at the keyboard on his laptop.
A voice came up over the radio: "Captain White suggests we stop for the night, to allow his troops and our companions to rest." It was Optimus.
Sparkplug snorted and jolted awake as Bumblebee slowed quickly. Chip gripped his laptop tightly, frowning as the computer's inertia faded. Spike looked up through the windshield at the military convoy surrounding them, each vehicle carefully pulling off the road onto a sandy field littered with patches of grass. The six Autobots followed tentatively, cautiously rolling onto the field, wary of the lower traction.
Carly immediately climbed out of Bumblebee and dropped to her stomach and rolled over. Spike watched curiously as she crawled beneath the small yellow Autobot. Spike opened his own door and stepped out, falling to his hands and knees to see what she was doing.
"Oh wow, this is too cool!" Spike heard her say. "Everything's here!"
"Yup," Bumblebee replied.
Ratchet converted to his true form and stepped forward. "When we choose our disguises, we replicate every aspect of the subject in question. Every physical aspect, at least. We still possess the same top speed and other capabilities as on Cybertron," he explained.
Spike looked up at the Autobot medic, who smiled kindly. "We look like your vehicles, but we're still more advanced."
"So how did you guys learn English? And I think Optimus was speaking Spanish or something at first. I mean, it's not like you guys would speak English back on Cybertron, right?"
"You are correct, Spike. We have our own language, most of which is entirely different from the patterns of Earth languages. Originally, the Cybertronian language consisted largely of what you call clicks and beeps, but this evolved into a more guttural and vocal style early on, perhaps before the end of the First Golden Age, and then returned to its more computerized origins."
"This is so cool," Carly said, still looking at Bumblebee's chassis.
Spike sighed and turned back toward Carly and Bumblebee. "Hey Carly, we should probably find out about dinner or something."
"Oh, you go ahead, Spike. I want to check out Bumblebee some more. Then maybe Optimus," Carly replied, still lying beneath Bumblebee's vehicular form.
Spike sighed again, and then began looking around the site for Captain White or maybe one of his seconds here. Spotting him gesturing and directing the setting up of tents and locking down of weaponry, Spike hurried toward him, and tapped on his shoulder.
"What is it?" White asked.
"What are we going to have to eat?" Spike said.
"Say again?" White said, staring intently at the movements of Spike's mouth.
"What are we going to eat?"
"Oh." White reached into a pocket, fumbled around for a moment, and produced several granola bars. "Enjoy, kid."
Spike took the bars and turned and ran back to Bumblebee and dropped them in the passenger seat. He took a deep breath, standing still for a moment. Sparkplug and Chip both gave him confused looks, but before either could speak, Spike shot off to Optimus Prime's trailer, up the ramp, and into the hold.
Roller sat at a large computer console, typing rapidly. In fact, he was typing so quickly that Spike at first thought his fingers had split into multiple digits, each stroking the individual keys elegantly and with purpose. Roller looked away from the monitor and shifted his gaze toward Spike. His fingers slowed and then stopped, and Roller placed his hands in his lap. "Yes?"
"I was just wondering what was in here. I mean you don't discover an alien race every day," Spike replied, taking in everything inside the steel rectangle.
"Just be careful and don't touch anything. You might accidently trigger the trailer's defense systems."
Spike nodded, and continued to stare. Three massive beams connected by rotating joints and surrounded by mazes of piping and wires occupied the majority of the space. At the end of this structure was a large teardrop-shaped object, which each wire and pipe seemed to converge on. The end of this object was a circular hole, although it was too high for Spike to see inside. It resembled a spotlight used in concerts and at dances.
Then Spike felt as if a light bulb were shining above his head. "That's it!" he declared, turning and running out of the trailer.
G.B. Blackrock sat nervously in his chair in his office at the Blackrock Industries Main Headquarters building. It was a large and extravagantly-furnished room, with large oak bookshelves, housing everything from essays on advanced robotics and quantum mechanics to thousand-page-plus books about the advent of the nuclear age. Satin curtains hung over the large window behind him. Two chairs on the opposite side of Blackrock's impressive oak desk were carved of cherry wood. In one corner, a small fern waved gently in the air conditioning. Agent Korosky sat in a chair opposite him, gathering papers bearing information classified above top secret.
"According to my intelligence agents among Captain Bradley White's troops, the specimen your company discovered is known as Megatron, and these newer arrivals are his enemies. They have come to destroy this 'Megatron' and end a civil war that has been raging on their home planet for thousands of years," Korosky said.
"With everything that's happened so far…" Blackrock trailed off. And then: "I'm so relieved that they've come to try and help clean up."
"They won't be helping. They'll be doing. All we can do is provide support. Our arms, to our knowledge, can do no serious or permanent damage. The only thing that we have that would definitely be effective is the atomic bomb. Mr. Blackrock, you had better pray that these Autobots are enough to stop whatever of Megatron's soldiers have come for him."
"Well why wouldn't they be?" Blackrock asked.
"Because the Autobots sounded afraid of Megatron. Not necessarily his army as a whole, but they fear Megatron like we fear dictators who double as mass murderers. If I'm not mistaken, that's exactly what he was."
Blackrock turned to the window gravely, gazing out at the darkening sky. "Send word, however you can, that my company will provide whatever support we are able."
Korosky nodded, rose, and left the room.
"What have I unleashed?" Blackrock said somberly.
Optimus Prime chuckled. "When Elita and I were courting, I took her to the Great Rift, to watch the Energon falls when the light of Cybertron's two moons passes through them, creating the most beautiful sight in all the world."
Ratchet nodded. "I have measured the boy's pheromone levels, and they are far above normal levels."
Ironhide snorted. "Me 'n Chromia didn't have none of that. We met at Maccadam's, there was a bar fight… the rest is history."
Prowl simply grunted and tapped his foot impatiently, begrudgingly shining the headlights on his chest onto the same spot as Bumblebee, who sat calmly, waiting for Spike to bring Carly along.
A large bat gave out its screeching cry above, drawing Prowl's attention. He glared at the animal, analyzing its body, but was unable to ascertain its identity in the darkness. An answering cry from a bird far away increased the former Decepticon's impatience and agitation.
Prowl signaled with two fingers to Roller, who sat on the trailer's ramp. Roller nodded, understanding, stood, and retreated into the hold.
At last, Spike led Carly into the light, with his hand over her eyes. "Spike, where are we going? Can you uncover my eyes now?"
Spike flashed a big grin. "Yeah." He let his hand drop to his side.
"What is this?" Carly asked. The six Autobots were groups around them in a circle. Some of the soldiers watched, while some continued to patrol the area, and some slept soundly in their tents.
"I know you wanted so bad to go to the dance. So, I'm bringing the dance to you," Spike said, smiling.
"Oh, Spike, you didn't have to do this," Carly said.
"I wanted to."
"Yo, this is DJ Jazz here, and I'm gonna take care of you tonight!" Jazz said, vaulting over Bumblebee and landing lightly on the ground inside the lit circle.
Soft music began playing from Jazz's speakers, and Spike held one hand out to Carly. She took it, tentatively, in hers, and Spike pulled her in close, taking her other hand in his, and the two began moving in unison, taking long, slow strides, turning, and continuing in a line.
Sparkplug and Chip peeked out from behind Ironhide's leg. "I didn't know Spike knew how to dance," Chip said.
Sparkplug chuckled and said, "He didn't. Amazing what fifteen minutes can do."
Carly laughed as Spike dipped her low and spun. "I don't think I've ever been dancing beneath the stars before," she said.
"And I don't think I've ever been dancing beneath the stars with aliens watching," Spike said, smiling widely.
"Good point," Carly laughed.
Spike swung low again, pulling Carly along with him, then spun.
"Young love," Sparkplug sighed. "It takes me back."
Spike spun around Carly, who turned with him. She stared deeply into his eyes, and he stared back. Their hands parted, and Spike scratched the back of his head nervously. Carly stepped closer. Spike leaned in…
The song ended and Jazz switched his radio off. "We have a request from Bumblebee. Bee, take it!"
Spike looked back to Carly, and their eyes met again. They both leaned in this time…
"WAKE UP IN THE MORNIN' FEELIN' LIKE P. DIDDY!" Bumblebee's radio blared abruptly, startling Spike and Carly.
Bumblebee transformed, letting his headlights dim, and began dancing along with the song.
"Bumblebee…" Spike began, but the yellow Autobot didn't hear.
"Bumblebee!" Spike shouted.
Bumblebee lowered the volume on his radio. "Huh?"
"Switch the station," Spike said.
"Okay," Bumblebee said.
"STOP CALLIN' STOP CALLIN' I DON'T WANNA TALK-"
"Just turn it off," Spike said, turning to see Carly walk over to Optimus's trailer.
"Aw," Bumblebee groaned, switching the radio off.
Spike started toward the trailer to follow Carly, when she and Roller suddenly appeared in the doorway. Their faces looked grim.
"Optimus… Teletraan-1 has detected five Decepticon spark signatures approaching our area," Roller said gravely.
"Roller, are you sure?" Optimus asked.
"Yes. They have been identified as Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Ratbat, and Laserbeak, five of Soundwave's minions."
"Then we are found," Prowl said. "I had a hunch. Ratbat was right over us, but I didn't act. Let's get out of here before they can show up."
"Too late!" a soldier shouted from somewhere behind Optimus. Immediately, two missiles tore into the ground, sending three military jeeps flying through the air. One bore down on Spike, but Bumblebee launched himself forward and knocked it away.
"Come with me if you want to live!" Bumblebee shouted. Spike and Carly dove inside the Autobot as he transformed again.
The piercing cry of a raptor sliced through the air as it descended into the campsite, black and red. It smashed the roof of another vehicle, grabbing it with taloned claws.
Soldiers scrambled into their vehicles, firing shots at the attacking mechanical bird.
"Ironhide, get Captain White and call for help!" Optimus commanded, transforming and hooking up to his trailer. Roller leapt inside, rolled, and came up at the Teletraan console.
Ironhide nodded and transformed, rolling off amongst the soldiers. As Bumblebee sped off, Spike saw someone get in but wasn't sure if it was White or not. Sparkplug shoved Chip inside Ratchet's medical bay and climbed in after him, and Ratchet took off after Bumblebee.
Two more robots slammed into the ground, revealing themselves; they were identical aside from coloration. The blue one growled at his red and black brother: "Come on, Frenzy, let's slam these punks!" With that, both Decepticons' arms shifted into pile drivers, smashing into the ground and releasing shock waves that uprooted trees and tossed vehicles around like toys. Ironhide rolled over once, but was quickly back on his wheels, pulling onto the highway.
A lavender bat attached itself to Prowl's neck with metal fangs, and the former Decepticon could feel his energy being drained. "Get off, batty!" Prowl shouted, ripping Ratbat away and tossing him.
"Hey, no one treats Ratbat like old hat!" Frenzy declared, sending a shock wave Prowl's way. As the wave hit him, Prowl leapt into the air, using it to send himself higher.
Coming down fast, Prowl swatted the blue one with one hand and the red one with the other, touching down lightly. "You midgets aren't worth the metal you're made of."
A missile from beneath Laserbeak's wing knocked Prowl backwards, skidding across the sand into a tree. Prowl quickly recovered and took off after the other Autobots. The campsite was now empty save for trashed tents and the wreckages of three jeeps. A fourth crashed down just as Prowl moved out of the way. He converted into his vehicle mode, and sped off onto the highway, followed by the four minions.
He heard the roar of a jungle cat as a black feline Decepticon launched out of a grove of trees on one side of the highway, tearing two jeeps in half. "Ravage…" Prowl hissed to himself.
Laserbeak soared above him, powered by jets in his aft side. The bird squawked, almost mocking Prowl. Prowl transformed and leapt gracefully into the air, swatting Laserbeak out of the air. The bird crashed to the ground with a loud thump.
Prowl ran after the convoy, watching in horror as two missiles fired from the launchers on Ravage's hips, destroying several jeeps. The feline Decepticon ran swiftly, faster than even Prowl. He wouldn't be able to keep up.
Ratbat came from above, preparing to dive, as he was caught in the chest by a missile. A squad of three F-22s roared overhead, one firing another missile. Ravage effortlessly dodged this missile, as it exploded just off the road in a gap between Prowl and the convoy.
Ratbat fluttered his wings, and rose to the level of the Raptors. Before the pilots could react, it latched itself to one. Quickly, the engines faded and quit as the energy from the fighter drained into the small bat-like Decepticon. As it fell, Ratbat unlatched itself, and the jet crashed into a field, sending up a ball of fire and a plume of smoke.
Laserbeak smashed through another one, completely obliterating it. The pilot screamed as he fell with his seat, and Laserbeak slashed at him with his talons. The screaming fell silent.
Prowl launched himself into the air, landing a perfectly-placed kick to Laserbeak's back, and the bird fell from the sky, as Prowl leaped to Ratbat, who fell beneath the weight of the much larger Autobot.
Spike glanced back at the carnage, chains of explosions going up behind him in Bumblebee. He could just barely see the newest one, the feline as it tore through the military towards them. He saw the laptop Chip had left in the… Chip had left the laptop in the back seat! "Oh no…" Spike whispered to himself…
Frenzy and Rumble rocketed by in their alternate forms, speeding past the downed Laserbeak and Ratbat, and even past Ravage. The converted back into their true forms, Rumble landing on Bumblebee's hood and Frenzy on his trunk.
Carly screamed as the two converted their arms into the pile drivers. "Hold on, Spike and Carly!" Optimus cried over the radio. Suddenly, Bumblebee lurched forward, and there was a loud crashing as Optimus bumped into Bumblebee from behind.
Frenzy cried out, lost his balance, and fell. He rolled out of the way just as Optimus's tires rolled over the spot he'd just been. Ravage knocked the red Decepticon out of the way, continuing his pursuit of the laptop.
The final Raptor roared overhead, and Ravage jumped up toward it, activating the thrusters in the back of his launchers, latching his clawed feet into the exterior. With one incredibly strong swipe of a forepaw, he severed the wing and let go. The F-22 rolled out of control, veered off to the right, and crashed. Ravage alighted and hit the ground running.
On Bumblebee's hood, Rumble said, "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts insi-" Bumblebee swerved into the next lane and screeched to a stop, throwing Rumble onto the road, where he bounced twice before skidding to a halt. Bumblebee accelerated again, gunning his engine. Spike and Carly cheered.
"We're not out of the woods just yet, Spike!" he said.
Prowl transformed back into his vehicular form, gunned his engine, and shot forward, slamming into Ravage. Ravage snarled viciously, holding fast to the scar in Prowl's hood.
"Get off!" Prowl growled, swerving left, then right, but Ravage couldn't be thrown off.
Ravage jumped from Prowl's hood, and butted into his passenger door, knocking Prowl off the road. Prowl transformed, rolling into a grove of trees, and cursed in Cybertronian.
Ravage continued toward the front of the shrunken convoy, firing missiles at each of the military vehicles, annihilating them all. White looked on with horror through Ironhide's windows, unbelieving.
"I'm sorry," Ironhide said. "Having to go through losing all of your troops not once, but twice must be a heavy burden." These words also played across each of Ironhide's windows.
White said nothing in reply, perhaps not hearing or seeing.
Ravage bounded, almost gliding, over the wreckage of the military vehicles, snarling and glaring intently at the small yellow sports car at the front of what was now simply a line of Autobots.
Spike and Carly screamed as Ravage leapt over the entire length of Optimus Prime's vehicle form, landing on the same place where Frenzy had. A quick swipe of Ravage's forepaw opened the door behind Spike.
Spike turned in the driver's seat and reached back for the laptop, but Ravage lunged forward and snatched the computer with deadly delicacy in his mouth, let the door shut, and climbed to the front of the vehicle. Ravage was now close enough that they could see a single red optic hanging from Ravage's jaw, along with the laptop.
Spike, Carly, and Bumblebee screamed as Ravage lifted one paw, preparing to smash through Bumblebee's windshield and slaughter the both of them.
Suddenly, a shell exploded with precision in front of Bumblebee. Ravage yowled and leapt from Bumblebee's hood. "BANG!" yelled a voice from nearby, loud enough for the six Autobots to hear. Bumblebee, Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Jazz all screeched to a stop, and Prowl came sprinting after.
Ironhide, Ratchet and Bumblebee let their human counterparts climb out before the vehicular Autobots transformed. Roller smiled at the Teletraan console, and, as the group watched, a red tank rumbled over a small hill. The Autobot sigil adorned the front of either tread guard, as well as the top of the turret.
On the top of the turret, the hatch opened, and a man crawled out. As this man came forward, they could make out his graying hair and drooping features.
"Aren't you the news guy?" Spike asked.
The man held out his hand. "Walter R. Path, BANG, here, at your service!"
A moment passed in silence, and Sparkplug voiced the humans' thoughts: "What is going on here?"
Ironhide grinned. "Heh, Warpath, old buddy, you can cut the act. They're with us."
Walter Path distorted and faded, and the red tank began to shift its own shape. This new Autobot was thickly built, almost like a football player, and the short cannon from the turret stood straight from his chest. There were treads on both legs. The stocky Autobot introduced itself: "The name's, CRASH, Warpath!"
"What, do you have robo-tourette's or something?" Chip asked.
"Actually, that is not inaccurate," Ratchet said. "Ever since he was a hatchling, Warpath was known for shouting onomatopoeia mixed with words when speaking."
"That's, WHOMP, right!"
"How did you get here, Warpath?" Bumblebee asked.
"I agree with Bumblebee. I was afraid you might have died on the jump," Optimus said.
"Well, it was back when we were, CRASH, leaving, you remember? When Perceptor opened the, ZOOM, spacebridge, Optimus, you wanted to go last, but I, KABOOM, insisted to go last, in case there were any, SMASH, Deceptichumps trying to get through."
"Yes, I remember. What happened afterward?" Optimus said.
"When you, SHAZOOM, went through, the whole space bridge went, SLAM, BANG, KABOOM, haywire! I hurried through, but the coordinates, for some odd reason, BOOM, changed when you went through, Optimus. I saw the, BLAM, Matrix, and ended up here. So while you were all, ZING, spacebridge hopping, I came directly, SHAZAM, here. And I've been, CLANG, here for years, posing as a, SHOOM, reporter," Warpath explained.
"So that's why you'd always see a red tank whenever you were reporting!" Chip said.
"BANG! You're a clever one," Warpath said.
"I'm beginning to wonder how both you and Megatron ended up on this planet after being transported through a spacebridge, even though the one Megatron was sent through was a first version. I am also beginning to wonder if it was as accidental as we thought," Optimus said.
"It probably has something to do with the Matrix. I mean, think, Prime, both times the Matrix was nearby. Either way, Megatron is here now, and the Decepticons want him. We have to quit playing around and destroy them all as soon as possible," Prowl said.
"Prowl, you may be correct about a connection with the Matrix, but we are not playing here. It is essential to maintain a healthy relationship with this planet's military forces and governments," Ratchet argued.
"No, Prowl is right. By associating ourselves with human military forces, we have placed them in the Decepticons' sights," Prime said.
"That's ridiculous, Optimus," Prowl said. "The Decepticons had military targets from the beginning, or Soundwave would've ordered Lockdown not to engage Captain White's troops in the desert. Whatever happens, we cannot lose sight of our goal: to stop the Decepticons. If we don't, this planet, and many more along with it, are doomed," Prowl said.
"Indeed." Optimus paused for a moment, before issuing his command: "Autobots, transform and roll out. We should arrive in Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon."
