Lots of various threads occurring in this chapter! Things are developing; Sari is off to Tibet, on her mission to locate the first hidden Technorganic (with someone else not far behind). And other new developments...
Ben was on Cybertron with Raf, Jack and Miko, getting some intense training from Sideswipe and Ironhide. It was very hard, and just like Miko before him, he was beginning to grumble about it.
"Man! This training stuff is a lot tougher than I thought!" He complained to Jack. They were taking a break from the routine, spending some time seeing the sights in Iacon. The Cybertronian city was really taking shape; certain parts actually beginning to look like the Iacon of old.
"When you get a chance, Ben, you should come to Sari's Cybertron," the Cyber-Ninja Gakusei told him. "It's amazing. They won their war, and have a fully functioning Autobot planet."
Ben sighed. "Training's hard. Sideswipe rides me! We keep doing the same things over and over and over!"
"It's for your own good. When you're in the heat of battle, you won't have time to think about your next move. That's what the constant drilling's for, to make it second - nature. Trust me; you'll appreciate it when the time comes."
"I want so much to be like Hound! He's awesome! He's always doing the right thing, and I want to be like that."
Jack smiled. "It's good to have someone like Hound that you look up to. He's a true warrior who cares deeply for his fellow bots."
Ben frowned, trying to truly understand things. "But why? Why does he do it Jack? I mean, he risks his Spark! Does he do it for the glory? For getting his name carved in some book?"
Jack put his servo on the young Technorganic's shoulder. "Ben, being a hero isn't about letting others know you did the right thing, it's about you knowing you did the right thing."
He looked up at Jack and smirked, "What were you just doing there, reading from greeting cards you saw back at the Mega Mart?"
Jack gave him "the look". "Ben…"
Ben laughed and threw up his servos. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding! I get it, Jack, I do. I really wanna be a bot like Hound."
Jack laughed as well. "Hound doesn't care about getting his name in some record books. It's Hound's love for his comrades that makes him such an effective warrior. He will take on an entire Decepticon army if he has to, and he would sooner go down swinging than abandon his allies on the battlefield."
"You showed that same honor when you took out Scorponok while Blackout was firing at you. And when you rushed to help my Sparkmate get to Minerva," he smiled. "Thanks for that, by the way."
"My pleasure," Ben smiled, then sighed. "Hope I'll find someone like you did."
"You will, Ben, you will."
"Hey, guys," said Miko, coming from across the street. She was checking out the latest developments in Iacon and spotted them. Luckily, her pink and purple armor, and Autobot shield prevented any undue concerns from the populace. "How's things?"
"Ben's sharing training stories," said Jack.
"It's brutal!" He groaned.
"Oh, hey, I know; it's tough, take it from me! When I started under Arcee and Sari, they were killing me! I was ready to quit! But I got encouragement from a bot I really admire, and he gave me that extra lift to my spirits."
"Really? Who was that?"
"My best Wrecker bud, Bulkhead."
"Besides, I saw you out there on the training field, Ben; you're looking good!"
"Thanks!" He smiled.
Meanwhile, on Skybolt...
"Colonel Mitchell, we're being hailed. It's from the starship R'kurul."
"On screen, Lieutenant." The Skybolt's bridge display lit up, and an orange-furred officer appeared. "Colonel Mitchell, good to see you again," he said.
"Likewise, Captain P'kyrr. Thank you for responding to Lieutenant T'Resh's call."
"Glad to be of assistance; wish we could have arrived sooner, but from the lieutenant's communique, the Earth's leaders had unfortunately assumed that the Autobots' forces would have sufficed. Please inform your superiors and Optimus Prime that we are at their disposal to assist in holding back Megatron's advance. Where should I report?"
Soundwave approached the throne and displayed on his faceplate an image. It was of the R'kurul, in orbit above the Earth.
"A Regulan ship? What are they doing here?" asked the Decepticon lord. Soundwave played back the intercepted comm:
"Glad to be of assistance; wish we could have arrived sooner, but from the lieutenant's communique, the Earth's leaders had unfortunately assumed that the Autobots' forces would have sufficed. Please inform your superiors and Optimus Prime that we are at their disposal to assist in holding back Megatron's advance. Where should I report?"
"The Autobots have assembled across the river from Megatron's forces, to the west. They are using the humans' stadium at coordinates 40.813611, -74.074444 for a base of operations. Optimus will meet you there."
Soundwave then displayed an image of the location, MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Megaton laughed. "An interesting development in this war!" he mused. "With whom are the Regulans communicating?"
"It has to be the Autobots, my lord!" said Starscream. "Certainly not the humans - they are too primitive to be dealing with other planets."
"So, Optimus is pleading for assistance? Pitiful. Tell me Soundwave; from where was that comm intercepted?" Soundwave displayed a message on his faceplate "Signal origin starship R'kurul; circuit destination unknown."
"Unknown? Find the source!"
A bridge opened up near home plate at MetLife stadium. Stepping out were Captain P'kyrr and his First Officer, Commander F'rras. Meeting the two were Agent Fowler and Optimus Prime.
"Agent Fowler, good to see you again," said P'Kyrr, "this is Commander F'rras."
"Captain, Commander, I'd like to introduce you to Optimus Prime," said Fowler.
The two Regulans looked up. "Good to meet you, Optimus Prime," said P'Kyrr. "We Regulans are here to assist the Autobots and the Terrans in this conflict."
"Thank you, Captain," said Optimus. "We are deeply indebted to you for coming to our aid."
"Let us retire to a secure location," said Fowler, "Soundwave's ears are in many places." He got on a comm to TFA Bulkhead. "Bridge us to base,"
"Roger," said Bulkhead, and the four entered the opening, enroute to Area 51.
"Miko, you were looking a little distracted out there today," said Ironhide, "something up?"
"Dunno," she replied, "it's something in my shoulders. hard to describe. When I'm in battle, they - I dunno - they kinda itch."
"Hmm. Why don't you have Red Alert examine you?" And the trainers excused Miko to send her to the Infirmary.
"Nothing that I can determine, Miko," said Red Alert, looking at his readout, "then again, I'm no Predacon expert. But you have a Technorganic specialist in Sari's dimension. Why don't you pay him a visit?"
"You mean that Dataminer guy?"
"That's the one. Sari's off on her special mission, so why don't you and Jack go? Then report back to me. I'll send Optimus and Ratchet my recommendation."
"Works for me, Doc."
Over in the TFA Cybertron, Jack and Miko travel to Dataminer's study. As usual, he greets them with his usual warm enthusiasm.
"Jack! Miko! How good it is to see you! What brings you to my study?"
"Hello again, Dataminer! Miko and I wanted to come see you about a problem she's having."
"Oh? Well, Miko, come, tell me, what seems to be the trouble, my dear?"
"It's my shoulders," she explains, "when I'm in battle training, they get this weird sensation, like they itch, or, like they want to do something. I dunno, that's the best way I can describe it."
Dataminer rubbed his chin. "Hmmm, yes. Your shoulders, eh? Well, let's have a look, shall we? Come on up to my examination table and let's see if anything's changed since the last time you were here." And Miko got up on his largest table, while the green laser lights scanned her Predacon body. As before, multiple monitors began displaying various data elements, which the old Autobot studied with great enthusiasm.
"Marvelous information, Miko! Wonderful!" He exclaimed, as the information scrolled by. Then, a particular line-item caught his optic. "Hold on! This is new!"
"What? What is it?" she asked.
"I think I see, Miko. Let me consult my reference work." And he left the examination room to get something from his library. He returned with an old scroll.
"What is that, Dataminer?" asked Jack.
"This is my reference work on Predaking," he responded. "I've collected research on him ever since that unfortunate incident with Hounder." He opened the scroll, looking for a particular entry. "Ah! here it is. Hydrafire Blasters."
"Hydra what?" said Miko.
"Hydrafire Blasters. Predaking had a very special battle mode, which increased his offensive capabilities by 200%."
"200%! Awesome!" Miko grinned.
"Oh boy," groaned Jack.
"And I've got those now?" Miko couldn't wait to hear more!
Dataminer got up and re-examined her output. "Quite so, my dear. You call them forth by thinking of them, just like Jack here calls forth one of his offensive mods."
"What, exactly is the nature of these Hydrafire Blasters, Dataminer?" asked Jack.
The old bot hesitated for a nanoklik, then blinked, "Oh, yes." He went back to the reference work and read the entry: "Hydrafire Blasters: Switched Predaking to a three-headed mode, which…"
"WHAT?!" Miko yelled. "THREE HEADS?!"
Dataminer looked up. "Er, quite so. The Hydrafire Blasters are two additional heads, which come out of your shoulders. They function as partially sentient processors which can independently track and destroy their own targets."
The room fell silent. Miko stared at Dataminer, her mouth open. Jack stared at Miko, trying to imagine her with three heads.
Miko screwed her face up and finally spoke. "Do they...talk to me? Do I talk to them? Are my thoughts their thoughts? How the heck does that work?"
"Hmm," he continued reading. "You control them, but they generally act independently of your thoughts."
"This is just...totally weird," said Miko.
"We can try it out on Cybertron," said Jack.
"With Red Alert there," said Miko.
"Red Alert? Why?" asked Jack.
"'Cause this three-headed thing kinda freaks me out a little, and I want to be examined by him afterwards. I mean, three heads? What if I go psycho or something?"
Dataminer put his servo on Miko's shoulder. "I understand your concern, Miko, but I'm very confident you'll be alright. Would it make you feel better if I were there with you the day you try it out?"
"Oh, would you?"
"Of course, my dear!" he smiled. "Let me make some arrangements here, and the three of us can travel to Jack's Cybertron."
Back on the T:Prime Cybertron, Miko, Jack and Dataminer met with Red Alert and the trainers Ironhide and Sideswipe.
"Let me get this straight," said Ironhide, "Miko can bring out two other heads?"
"Just so," said Dataminer. "She possesses the exact body of Predaking, just in a smaller size - and with pink and purple scales, of course," he chuckled. "So what that means is, every power and capability that Predaking had in his Predacon mode, Miko either has now, or will have as her Technorganic nature continues to evolve."
"Predaking was the most powerful of the Predacons," said Red Alert. "When Miko is fully evolved, will she be as powerful?"
"That is my understanding, yes," answered Dataminer.
"Which may explain why she was able to take on so many of Shockwave's Predacons," said Jack.
"That, and her training," said Ironhide. "I have my doubts about any training the Decepticons give their Predacons. The Intel that Raf has gathered from Shockwave's data files indicate that he believes the Predacons are sufficiently fierce so as to not require training at all."
"I have forwarded this information on to Optimus and Ratchet," said Red Alert, "and Optimus said that should this new capability of yours be as formidable as hoped, Miko, he looks forward to your rejoining your Skystriker team back on Earth to battle the Decepticons."
"Can't wait to butt heads! Oops! Heh, didn't mean to make a joke there!" Everyone laughed.
Well, let's get started," said Sideswipe. "I've put in some special programming on the training drones so we can test out this new capability of Miko's. Red Alert, Dataminer, you stand by to see how Miko performs, and examine her afterwards."
On the training grounds, Jack stood on the sidelines with Ben, Raf and Arcee, while Red Alert and Dataminer were with Ironhide and Sideswipe.
("So Miko has the ability to sprout two extra heads in battle?") Arcee asked Jack.
"That's what Dataminer told us."
"With three processors? Which one is Miko?" asked Raf.
"As far as I understand it, Miko will still be in her own processor," said Jack. "The other two heads are only partially self-aware. Their job is to independently seek out and fire on the enemy."
"And Miko controls them, right?"
"That's the way it's supposed to work."
("Almost sounds like powerlinxing.")
"That's what they're hoping to learn."
"Three heads?! That's freaky!" said Ben.
("May be freaky, Ben, but if it increases Miko's offensive capabilities 200%, we can certainly use it in battle."), said Arcee.
"Alright," said Sideswipe, "go ahead up in the air, Miko. I'll send several dozen drones to attack you. When you see them coming, bring out your extra heads and we'll see what happens."
She took off, and several dozen drones flew up after her. They circled the Predacon girl in a tight spherical matrix formation, flying so rapidly around her that there was no room to escape. All began firing on her.
Miko gave it a thought, and her shoulders started to glow. A strange sensation, then sprouting out of them came first a set of Predacon necks, followed by twin Predacon heads! At the same time, her own processor became aware of their presence; they were still her, but separate at the same time. "OK, this is really weird," she thought. She then gave them a command: "Take them out!" The heads opened their mouths and fired enormous red blasts of plasma bolts, which upon making contact with a drone, exploded it immediately. "Whoa!" Miko thought, "Cool, but scary at the same time." The heads continued to operate independently, firing on the drones to her left and right, giving her the freedom to take care of the ones immediately in front of her. In this way she blasted a hole out of the matrix.
No sooner did she break out of this when additional drones attacked, firing on her. The heads, sensing their approach, fired their plasma bolts at them, taking them out without Miko issuing a single command. Again, she concentrated on the ones coming from the front. This went on until all the drones were spent.
Once all the drones were gone, Miko gave the thought to return the heads back into her shoulders, and they did so. The "extra" two presences in her processor disappeared, leaving everything back to normal. She landed.
"Incredible, Miko!" Said Sideswipe, "you took out four dozen drones in record time!"
"How do you feel?" asked Red Alert.
"I feel OK," she responded.
"Let's get you back to the infirmary for a full checkup."
"Well, everything looks good from my end,Miko" said Red Alert. "Your processor's doing fine after that training exercise. What do you see in your output, Dataminer?" he asked.
The Technorganic expert was examining Miko's archival records, reading through her experiences. "Hmmm. I see, Miko, how these 'extra' presences appeared in your processor. This no doubt is how you control those heads, to issue commands. You told them to go after the drones."
"Yeah, I said 'Take them out!' and they did, all by themselves. It was weird."
"They obey you," he explained. "You should train on that. For example, you need to make sure they don't attack friendlies."
"You mean, they could accidentally attack other Autobots?" she looked on in horror!
"It's entirely possible. You'll have to train them on how to distinguish friend from foe," he advised. "They need to learn."
"Oh geez!" she sighed. "I'm gonna have students."
"We'll help you, Miko," said Red Alert. "Sideswipe can fashion some drones with Autobot insignia. Your extra heads will need to learn to look for those. Did Predaking's extra heads know not to fire on his friendlies, Dataminer?"
"Oh yes, quite so," he replied. "And you can teach your heads in the same way, Miko."
"Oy! Just what I always wanted," she groaned.
"Why? What's the matter, Miko?"
She looked at the two and sighed. "All my life as a human, I hated being in school. Now, I've gotta be a teacher!"
"Ah! The student has become the headmistress," Dataminer smiled.
In the Tibetan Himalayas, a ground bridge opened away from any roads or living places and Sari Sumdac stepped out. She was less than a handful of kilometers from her target. She could almost sense the Technorganic's presence even without full concentration.
"I should first mix in with the locals." she said to herself. Walking discreetly in "human" mode to a crowd of gathering people, she scanned a young woman from a distance.
One of her new powers included the ability to scan other humans for alt modes. A white flash, and her body had shifted into the Tibetan woman's, including her clothes and voice.
"Amazing!" she gasped, looking at herself in a storefront , black, shoulder-length hair. She stroked it, then touched her face; high cheekbones, Asian complexion and facial features. "Heh!" She smiled, "I wonder what Miko would think?"
Then the reality hit her, "Whoops! I look exactly like that girl I just scanned; I don't want to be confused for her!"
Thinking quickly, she spotted another woman and scanned her as well. But before changing her human mode again, she pondered "Maybe I can create my own."
Trying out her new abilities, Sari fashioned from the two a composite. Checking in the mirror again, she was satisfied. She kept her real voice, though. "OK, now I shouldn't look or sound like either of them."
"However, I will need a Tibetan name for myself," she thought, and decided upon "Chodren", a Tibetan name for girls meaning "Lamb of the Dharma".
Sari joined the crowd, though remaining mostly apart. Absently, she stared at a tall mountain far away where she could sense her fellow Technorganic. There lay the Drigung Monastery, a temple of Tibetan Buddhism. She had a pretty good feeling about this new Technorganic.
Sari began to walk her own way, headed towards the city knowns as Lhasa. A few people in the crowd were doing the same; she assumed they were going in the same direction.
One might ask, why waste time going to the temple like a normal human, when she could have just bridged to the temple?
Well, one thing her old Sensei Prowl told her was "In a race, you may want to go fast to be first at the finish line. But if you go slower, you can watch what surrounds you. Sometimes appreciating what lies around is just as crucial as the race itself." Sari smiled, fondly remembering her old teacher's words.
So rather than take to the main roads, she decided to try one that led through the Tibetan plateau.
"You lost, miss?" Sari looked up to see a nomad couple on horseback. The husband approached her. "It will be dark in a few hours; not safe to be traveling alone at night."
"Thank you very much for your concern, sir," she responded in his native Ü-Tsang. "I am traveling to Lhasa. I know it is a long distance."
"Much too far to make it on foot before sunset." He looked to his wife, and she nodded. "You are welcome to join us, and spend the night in our tent."
"You are most kind!" Sari responded. "I would be honored to accept your gracious invitation! But I have no money; how can I repay you?"
The husband smiled. "If you are willing to help us prepare supper, help grandmother with the children, and milk the yaks in the morning, I think we can accept that as compensation." He looked back at his wife, who smiled and nodded.
"Oh, gladly!" Sari replied.
"What is your name?" He asked.
"Chodren," she replied.
"My name is Tenzin, and this is my wife Geshe. Come, Chodren, you can ride with my wife." Geshe helped Sari up, and the three headed to their tent. Tenzin introduced her to the family: Tenzin's mother Jinpa, whom the children called "Mo-mo"; his eight-year old son Dorjee, five-year old daughter Dohna and baby Karma. Dorjee and Dohna were shy at first meeting Sari, but warmed quickly to her. Dohna showed Sari her baby doll, and she and the child sat in one corner of the tent chatting about the "baby", feeding "her" and then tucking the baby in before singing her to sleep.
"Chodren," asked Jinpa, "can you please help Dorjee collect up the yak dung?"
"Certainly, Mo-mo," Sari responded, and Dorjee led her out to where the yaks were grazing. "Mo-mo was curious to see what your reaction would be," he told her, giving Sari a bucket, "whether or not you were a town girl."
"I see," Sari chuckled. "How'd I do?"
"Good," he smiled. "You know what the dung's for?"
"Fuel?"
"Yep." They collected up enough "fuel" for the evening's supply and brought it back to the camp. The Technorganic then helped with dinner preparations, and holding baby Karma when it fussed. After the sun went down they gathered around the fire and shared cups of butter milk tea made by Mo-mo, talking about the day's activities and tomorrow's plans. The family was interested in learning about Sari's journey.
"Why do you want to go to Lhasa, Chodren?" asked Geshe.
"I am headed to Drigung Monastery. There is a student there I want to visit."
"A relative?"
"A relative, yes, although I have never met him. I have only learned of him recently. I am very excited to finally have a chance to see him."
"How exciting!" said Jinpa.
"Have you been to the Drigung Monastery?" Sari asked.
"I have," said Tenzin. "It is a beautiful monastery, and one of the great Kagyu centers of study. Your relative is very fortunate to be a student there."
In the morning, their tent was covered with thick frost. Sari got up early and picked up the milk cartons. "Um," she thought nervously, "I've never milked a cow, much less a yak!" She didn't know what to do. "I'm not even sure which ones are the males and which are the females! Oh yikes!" She started to panic.
"Not too sure what to do, Chodren?" a voice came from behind. Sari turned. It was Jinpa.
"No, Mo-mo, I'm sorry," she said sheepishly, "but I'm very willing to learn."
The grandmother chuckled soothingly. "It's alright, my dear," she said. "I could tell by your hands that you weren't a nomad girl. But you have a good heart," she smiled. "Come, let me show you." And Jinpa led her out to where the yaks were grazing. "Here's your very first lesson in milking," she said, and instructed the Technorganic in the skill. After a few tries, Sari got the hang of it, and the two returned to the tent with the family's supply of yak milk. "Thank you, Mo-mo," she told the grandmother. "You're very welcome, Chodren," Jinpa replied. "A few other lessons, and you'd make a wonderful nomad wife."
After breakfast, Sari bid a warm farewell to Tenzin's family. She hugged the children and gave Dohna's baby doll a kiss goodbye. "Thank you for your hospitality," she told them all.
"Safe journey, Chodren," said Tenzin. "Best wishes for you and your relative in the monastery." All waved goodbye as Sari took to the road once more.
Arriving at Lhasa, Sari went to Drigung Monastery and mixed in with the tourists. She got in a queue for a tour. "What a beautiful place! Tenzin was right!"
During the monastery tour, Sari was gazing at "The Serkhang Chojé", an important statue of Kyobpa Rinpoché enshrined in the Golden Temple. One of the monks approached her. "I see you admiring the founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage," he said to her. "A bit different from your Hindu tradition, I'm sure."
Sari looked at him, shocked! "Sir?" she asked.
He looked back and smiled peacefully. "I am aware of your true nature, my child, and I have a strong sense of why you are here. You are also one of the two-natured beings. I have been awaiting your arrival for quite some time."
"I sense that you are a master of your world's spiritual arts," he continued. "What is your name?"
"Chodren," she replied.
He chuckled. "No, I mean your real name."
She smiled back. "Sari."
"It is an honor to meet you, Sari. I am Gyatso. Come, let me show you our school. There I will introduce you to my students, including the one you seek." And he brought her to the interior section of the monastery. On the way, she marveled at how Gyatso knew who she was and why she had come, but then she realized that there must be many other wise spiritual leaders around the Earth, like her friend Jarlie in the Australian outback. "I hope the other Technorganics have found teachers like Gyatso - or Jarlie." she thought.
They entered a restricted area of the monastery, and walked into the schoolyard. "So what do you think of our humble abode, Sari?" Gyatso asks her.
"It is beautiful up here, Master Gyatso," she replied. "The view is breathtaking,"
"Not too high up, I hope," he smiled.
"No, my twin nature enables me to adapt very quickly."
"Have you ever visited any of your Hindu monasteries?" Gyatso asked.
"Yes, I've been to the Sringeri Sharada Peetham and also the Govardhana matha in Puri," responded Sari. "But on my homeworld, we have a Dojo. I am a member."
"I sense that, Sari. You are a practitioner of your people's spiritual arts."
"I am what is called a Cyber-Ninja. I am also Sensei to a student of my own."
He guided her to a door "In this temple we practice the Six Dharmas of Nāropa. Six tantric practices. These six yogas are used..."
"In the attainment of Buddhahood, as is customary for the Drikung Kagyu lineage." Sari concluded, using her limited knowledge on the subject. She then felt embarrassed for interrupting Gyatso and was about to apologize. But the monk chuckled lightly:
"Yes, that is quite right." he then continued. "My students are right now practicing the milan, the dream yoga. The milan's aim is to harness the power of the lucid dream state and increase one's self-awareness. When you are deprived of physical stimulus (from the sleeping body) and conceptual stimulus (from the dreaming mind), you can observe the purest form of conscious awareness. Witness events that happen around you that you can't see or comprehend even when you're awake."
"I have heard it also allows people to see places and actions they experienced when they were awake." Sari input her own bit of knowledge to which Gyatso nodded.
He finally pushed the door softly and they came into a veranda with a line of young acolytes in lotus position. Their heads were shaved and their backs were turned to Sari, making them all practically indistinguishable. However, the Cyber-Ninja could sense the familiar energy from a particular student.
Gyatso clapped his hands and the acolytes stood up and turned to their master. Most of them were surprised to see a woman present. The Technorganic monk she detected looked at her with sky-blue eyes and smooth facial features. He granted her a warm, large, and goofy grin.
"Alright, boys that will be enough for today. Go to Brother Chodak for your next class." the students bowed their heads and went away until Gyatso called. "Aang, please stay."
The Technorganic acolyte didn't appear to be surprised at all. He remained behind and Sari took a quick look at him. Aang appeared a mid-sized 13, 14 year-old tops. His eyes were clearly bionic. Sari sensed a spiritual presence in him.
"I will leave you two alone. Aang, show our guest the utmost courtesy." Gyatso took his leave.
"Sure, Gyatso." Aang smiled at him. Sari noticed he hadn't used any title or honorific to address his master. Clearly Gyatso's and Aang's relationship was more that of father and son than teacher and pupil. Noting the facial similarities, there was no doubt that Aang had Gyatso's DNA.
"I knew it!" Aang excitedly exclaimed when they were alone. "I knew I wasn't the only one."
"He knows what I am. Not surprising." Sari thought before dropping her disguise and with a white flash, regaining her true human form. "Hello, Aang. I am Sari Sumdac. And yes, I am just like you. A Technorganic."
She then transformed in "bot" mode to demonstrate. Aang marvelled at the silvery white and gold, shining chassis before he transformed as well. Aang's chassis resembled his monk robes with light yellow and orange colors. The optics were blue and his body had white lines. The heat sinkers on his back were the largest she'd ever seen on a Technorganic. They almost matched Skysword's wings in length. One peculiarity was the collection of blue arrow tattoos on his limbs and top of his head.
"Strange. Aang's human mode has no tattoos." she thought.
"Say, can you fly?" he asked grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes…I"
No sooner than those words left her mouth, Aang burst high into the sky like a bullet. His blastoff almost knocked Sari over. Taking his cue, she sped up after him. To her surprise she had to rely on her new speed to reach him. They were soon far above the temple and above the clouds. Now Sari noticed Aang's abnormal heat sinkers had extended into wings. They had a black metallic structure with round white lines.
"You're fast." she admitted.
"Yeah, I love it up here!" Aang did a barrel-roll, flying higher. Sari quickly scanned his wings and found something interesting. Although Aang had four plasma jets like all other Technorganics, those wings were sophisticated gravitic engines. They were the reason why he was so fast and agile in the air.
"He was certainly made to fly." she smiled.
He came back down, now a bit more serious.
"Forgive me Sari, I'm just freaked out! Ever since Gyatso told me I was different, I wanted to learn of my origins. No matter how much I trained or meditated, I never got a clue. And now the Universe just drops all the answers in my lap! This is just…"
"Aang!" she spoke out, stopping him. "I know this is exciting for you, but I don't know much more than you do. I have no idea where we came from or why we're here. All I know is that my mission is to find and gather all Technorganics."
"Oh." he said, clearly crestfallen, but quickly regained some of his previous glee. "So we're 'Technorganics', is it? And are there more of us?"
"Yes, you may have heard about the so-called New York War."
"Not really. News gets here really slowly."
"Then do you know about the Autobots and Decepticons?"
"I heard about someone called Kālī and metal giants from another world."
"Then let me clear things up for you."
Several floors below Manhattan, far underneath what had been Grand Central Station, a meeting was being held in a conference room located in an enormous hidden compound. Above a large mahogany conference table were eleven large monitors. All displayed a logo of the earth with a gear border. At the bottom of the large middle monitor was a single word, "MECH".
Seated at the table was a thin man smoking a cigarette. Ten of the monitors flickered, displaying "Sound Only". The man was facing the MECH board of directors. The monitor on the far right spoke up first.
"General Levichev, what have you and your super soldiers uncovered about this invasion?"
"As expected, the Autobots failed. The Cybertronians led by Megatron have succeeded in conquering the city. My troops have already begun the process of infiltrating their network."
"Aanan's squad?"
"Yes. His team has uncovered some remarkable Intel. Apparently, that synthetic Technorganic Kālī, whom MECH had assumed was killed by Sari, has returned with new powers and abilities! No longer a minion of Megatron, she is now the servant of some other group, apparently given the mission to locate hidden Technorganics around the world."
"MECH could have use of these Technorganics," said another monitor.
"Indeed," replied Levichev. I have teamed up Ilinca and Mehrdad to investigate further."
"What are your plans?"
"Megatron's scientist has converted five humans into additional Technorganics. Aanan has retrieved the specifications."
"Difficult to replicate?"
The general took a drag on his Gauloises. "Not for our scientists, no. I have instructed Ilinca and Mehrdad to use our resources to locate one of them and arrange...a…" Levichev put out his cigarette and lit another, "...MECH rendezvous."
"An examination?"
"Precisely."
"What risks do you foresee?" asked another monitor.
"MECH has learned a great deal about these mechanical beings since reverse-engineering the Decepticon Breakdown," replied Levichev. Silas made progress, but his mistakes were...unfortunate. Mehrdad will be equipped with our latest electromagnetic cybertronic-disabling weaponry. He should have no problems at all."
"Very well, General. Proceed."
Kālī, in "human" mode, watched the temple from a mountain. It was night when the ground bridge had arrived, but she could sense her target in there. The new Technorganic. But there was something else. A strange source of pure energy, totally different from what she had ever felt. And it seemed to be accompanying the target.
"Found anythin'?" Thunderbolt asked, bored. He and Starfury had been assigned to escort Kālī on the hunt. Though Megatron also instructed them to pay attention to anything that might reveal Kālī's intentions, or the identity of her so-called master.
"Yes, he's in there. And so is something else I cannot identify."
"Will it pose a hindrance?" Starfury asked, eyebrow quirked.
"Possibly. Whoever it is, it holds a great power." Kālī mused. "The target is having dinner with the other monks and the unknown enemy."
"Then let's wreck their party!" Thunderbolt transformed and took out his hammer with a vicious grin.
"Not so fast, hammer-boy! I'm leading this hunt and I say we wait until the morning. They will leave the temple then, that much I know."
"Say what?! Come on, they're right there!" Thunderbolt groaned.
"I'm not going to risk blowing this because you underestimate our prey!" Kālī turned to him, her eyes sparked with energy. "We're doing this my way."
"I have to agree with her." Starfury shrugged.
"You're takin' her side?" Thunderbolt was outraged.
"Believe me, I don't like or trust her anymore than you do," Starfury said that as if Kālī wasn't right there. "but her argument is logical. We wait until tomorrow when we can see the unknown enemy."
"Great." Thunderbolt groaned.
Got a couple of folks to thank for this chapter! TheSealer of course! We co-wrote this as usual, and it was TheSealer who came up with this new Technorganic. More to come!
But the idea for Miko's new mod came from another FanFiction writer, the Stag Prince! I'm sure her Three-Headed mode will come in handy in battle, and it'll definitely be a shock to her enemies; many thanks for the suggestion!
So Kālī has also arrived in Tibet. What will happen? We shall see! And of course, MECH is back, apparently unfazed about New York City having fallen to the Decepticons (unfazed, or grateful?). Will they succeed in capturing a TechnoCon – and if so, what will happen? Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading. Please review.