Chapter 14: Pieces in Play
Autobot Outpost Omega One; Miko
Miko knew she didn't have much time to act; Optimus had chased her through the maze of corridors and would be in the room in seconds. She was lost, she wasn't even going to deny it. Her secret hideout wasn't this far back. Not that it mattered where she was right now. Something more important had come up, in the form of a truck.
She hadn't meant to take Raf's laptop without asking. In fact, the reason she'd spoken to Ratchet in the first place was because she meant to ask him if she could use it for a few hours. But then she panicked, and one thing led to another. She didn't think Optimus would chase her through the base just for a measly laptop. Especially since the Prime had been... absent lately, in mind if not in body.
That was the problem now, though. She needed plausible deniability. If she didn't have the laptop on her, then Optimus couldn't blame her for taking it. Noticing a stack of large crates on the one side of the room, she ran the easy 100 metres and (with the grace of a rebel) tucked the laptop in amongst the metal parts. If anyone had seen her sprint, they might have noticed that she'd broken the world record for the 100 metre dash. As it was, Miko wouldn't have cared either way.
The larger door to the room opened, and Optimus flew in, slamming the door shut in the process. Miko would have tried to hide herself as well, if it weren't for the fact that the mech had spotted her in a second flat. The hide and go seek record was not hers today.
"Miko," Optimus said, taking a step forward. It didn't escape either of them that his foot landed just in front of her only way out of the room.
"I swear, I didn't touch anything!" she yelped out, more out of reflex than anything else. She paused for a moment to catch her breath. Satisfied, she recomposed herself to look more innocent. "What's up, boss bot?"
Optimus seemed to hum in thought for a moment. Finally, he perked his head up, finding the right way to word what he wanted to say. "It is unsafe for you to venture into the larger store rooms unattended."
A large part of Miko, her rebellious side, was extremely happy that she was breaking rules. The more practical side immediately crushed those thoughts down. That side had already thought up a plan. Now she just needed to execute it perfectly...
"As to why you decided to enter the most dangerous of all the storage rooms, I do not know. If Ratchet were to have caught you walking around in his personal room..." Optimus didn't need to finish that sentence.
Miko immediately stopped thinking about escaping. The most dangerous room? Ratchet's personal stuff? The boss bot was only giving her more reason to stay in here. Still, she did need to get out. She could fetch the laptop later. "I didn't exactly plan on coming here. I was being chased." Miko tried to say with as little venom as possible.
If it had been anyone else, they would have been looking away in embarrassment. As it was, Optimus bowed his head down in what could be considered shame. "I was only worried for your wellbeing. As I am now. You should not be in this room without Ratchet watching over you."
Again, Miko's curiosity flared. This time, she acted on it, and allowed herself the chance to look around the room for the first time.
She'd assumed that the room was filled with crates, just like the pile she'd hidden the laptop in. The opposite seemed to be true. Crates lined the walls, but the centre of the room was filled with a complex framework of metal beams and struts. A few rings of metal were arranged in a row, creating a tunnel similar to...
"...A Ground Bridge!" she gasped, turning to Optimus for confirmation.
He slowly nodded his head. "Ratchet built this one before he built the one we use today. It is his prototype. He likes to perform stress tests and experiments on this one, so that we always have the main one for usage at any time."
"This is so cool. So it works exactly like the real one?"
Optimus nodded again, walking over to it. Miko immediately noticed that what she had thought was an equally large Ground Bridge was in fact an extremely tiny one. "You could say that, although it's effectiveness is not as great."
Miko would have to agree with that one. With the mech standing next to it, she realised Optimus would be luck to fit both of his legs in at the same time.
"Right, got it, the handheld version."
Optimus smiled a little at that one, walking back over to her. "I believe we should leave before Ratchet discovers we were in here. He is very... defensive of his project."
Miko nodded, following him out of the room. She could fetch the laptop later.
As they walked, neither one realised that they had been duped by the other.
Cybertron; Jack
"Now it's my turn; what's going on?" Jack repeated.
Alpha Trion nodded, his attention completely focused on the visiting organic. "I apologise for not giving you, or Orion, any warning of this. Recent events have forced my hand, and I was lucky enough to get so much down already as it is."
Jack immediately exchanged his curious look for a worried one. "What recent events? How recent?" He added the last question as an afterthought; he wasn't oblivious to the fact that the human definition of 'recent' was probably different from the Cybertronian one.
Alpha Trion collected his thoughts for a moment. "Your arrival, I suspect, was a catalyst of some kind. Or perhaps a warning."
Jack skipped over his involvement in the events, instead focusing on the last part of the sentence. "A warning for what?" This wasn't the time for riddles and interpretation!
Alpha Trion turned around instead of answering him, his gaze moving to look through the window behind his desk. A sparkling view of the city greeted him, still filled with people milling around the entire place. The peaceful serenity of the scene distracted Jack for a moment.
His mind reeled back at that. Peaceful... warning... "The war, right? You think it's going to start now?" He tried to be calm, but his voice came out panicked regardless.
Alpha Trion nodded, turning to face Jack again. "Not right this instant, no. But it is in the air. Megatronus has an audience with the Council tomorrow. Based on your memories, I deduced that, without Orion there to balance out Megatronus' warmongering spark, our entire planet might fall into complete disarray, hence why I sent Orion to join him in the political battlefield."
Jack shook his head, trying to think calmly. It didn't work too well. "But that means the Council will pick Orion over Megatronus. That was what started the whole war!"
The sharp tone didn't affect the mech at all. "Of that, I am aware. A war has been brewing on the horizon for ages, one which I have been preparing Cybertron for. Our collective knowledge and control of future events will be naught if events do not play out as they did in your time."
Neither one of them spoke for a while, each deep in thought. Jack knew that Alpha Trion was right, but that didn't take away the feeling that something was going top go horribly wrong. Besides, it was hard for him to imagine a war being the ideal solution to a problem.
"Cybertron will still die. I know that." Alpha Trion broke the silence. For a moment, his composure broke from that of a mech in charge of events to one who had to make a great sacrifice. "I see no alternative to that. But there is hope that, in your world and time, Cybertron may be restored to his former glory. If that is the case, then I shall do everything in my power to ensure that my people and your people have that chance."
Again the room was silent, but a different silent. There was less thinking and considering going on, and more painful acceptance. Neither human nor Cybertron would willingly choose to destroy an entire culture. As it was, they weren't being given any better options.
"So, you said you were prepared for the war?" Jack asked, breaking the crushing silence. He'd change the mood to a more positive one while he still had the chance.
Alpha Trion paused a moment, before nodding slowly. "It is not complete. In your time units, I suspected I still had a few decades more time to prepare. Your arrival showed me that events were escalating at a faster pace than anticipated. But I have managed to gather up some assets which may be vital to the Cybertronian war effort. Less than what I would have preferred, but it may be the edge the Autobots will need in the future."
Jack nodded. "So you got them weapons and armour, then?"
Alpha Trion hesitated before nodding. "Something along those lines. I have begun a systematic search of the Iaconian archives. The relics from ages past are currently hidden within a vault beneath the city. As more devastating items are found, they will hidden there as well." He paused for a moment. "And now, I have prepared a more important asset for the Autobots use."
Jack perked up at that. Anything that helped the war effort was good news...
"I have influenced many of my sources within the Council. In two days time, Orion Pax will be as good as a Prime to our people. The Matrix will then soon present itself to him."
"You don't mean..."
"The Council on their own would not choose Orion over Megatronus. Megatronus, as it stands, is a good contender for the next leader of Cybertron, if only so that the Council can calm the protests that have started under his name. My influence is necessary for the mech that is to be known as Optimus Prime to come into being. It is all I can do to ensure Cybertron will exist in the future."
Jack was about to protest something, but Alpha Trion cut him off.
"I am old, but I am wise. This is the only course of action available. I will continue to aid with the collection of the ancient relics, but there is little more I can do now." He seemed to cringe at the word 'ancient', but otherwise maintained his normal neutral tone.
"So what now then?" Jack blurted out.
Alpha Trion chuckled. "Now, it is time for you to go. I was not lying to Orion when I said that I would ensure you were in safe hands. However, it is my duty to ensure the Council does what they must."
Jack nodded, before he finished processing what Alpha Trion had just said. If he had been drinking water, he would have spit it out. "What? Who am I going with then?"
Alpha Trion chuckled again. Instead of answering him, he turned to face the door. "You can come in now. I know you were listening."
Jack jumped up in surprise when the door slid open, revealing a short, almost completely white mech behind it. While his optics were hidden behind a visor of some kind, Jack could still see a smirk on his face. "Now dat just ain't fair, Ah thought Ah was silent." the mech moaned, his smile wavering for a moment. It perked up again, and he crouched down to look Jack eye-to-visor. "Hey, little fellah. Name's Jazz."
And with that said, Jack was offered a single digit to shake.
Junk Planet; Raf
"Clear the passage!"
"Make way!"
"Coming through!"
"Just move it already!"
Raf was woken from his sleep by the sound of running and yelling. Well, louder yelling than usual, since the Wreckers weren't ones who believed in silence. He moved to the edge of the medical berth he had been napping on, trying to see what was going on. He managed to catch First Aid's attention.
"What's going on out there?" He yelled, his voice barely carrying over the increasing noise from outside. It sounded like they were getting closer...
First Aid frowned, moving around in a panic. "A team went out this morning and tried to break into the main Decepticon base. Then I got an urgent message telling me to prep the entire bay for an emergency." The rest went unsaid between the two of them.
"Do you need some help?" Raf offered, running on the berths and jumping on tables in between them to keep up with the medic.
First Aid slowed down for a moment, before resuming his mad dash to fetch all his tools. "I would not complain if you aided me in sealing off Energon lines. Otherwise, there is little I can ask you to do without seeing my patients first."
Raf nodded, but kept up with the medic anyway. He wasn't getting as fatigued thanks to his new limbs, and it didn't hurt that First Aid preferred to know where he was if the medic ever needed his assistance immediately. Plus, with all the commotion going on outside and with First Aid running around like a headless chicken, it was impossible for Raf to even want to stay still anymore.
It was a long three minutes before the first Wrecker burst into the medical lab. Energon dripped from almost every joint, and if his paint was any indication of events, then there had been a stampede halfway through the fight. And a meteor shower, knowing the Wreckers' luck. First Aid nodded at the mech and pointed at a far berth. Wordlessly, the mech dragged himself over to the platform, although he merely sat on the edge of it instead of resting down on it. If First Aid hadn't been distracted by the influx of patients, then he would probably have complained about that one.
As it was, First Aid was barely keeping up with the stream of Energon and battle injuries. Two mechs had managed to detach their servos (both of which had been recovered, something the medic would thank Primus for later), while the collective regiment of soldiers had managed to repaint the floor with Energon. The medic had been cautious enough to send those with sparking wires to the far end of the lab, away from the highly flammable mess on the floor.
Wheeljack had fallen into the last category. With a nod from First Aid, Raf weaved his way across the room to the only recognisable Wrecker of the lot. There was an unspoken agreement between the human and the healer: keep the inventor distracted. Not one mech in the room wanted to see Wheeljack's vibrant and explosive personality when they were drenched in Energon.
"Hey kid. Aid been keeping you busy?" the Wrecker greeted the moment Raf reached his berth.
Raf made his way up to the Wrecker's lap before he answered. It was easier and less awkward to talk to the sitting mech like that than it was from the sides. Raf still didn't feel at ease with his new weight, and thus wasn't going to risk balancing himself on the Wrecker's shoulders. "Same old, same old. Been quiet lately."
Wheeljack hummed in agreement, sounding a little amused. "I bet. With all us Wreckers out raiding the Decepticon stronghold the past few cycles, First Aid's probably been searching for something to do."
Raf resisted the urge to tell the inventor that First Aid had done exactly that. The medic was timid enough as it was without the rest of the Wreckers knowing he was bored when he was alone. Instead, Raf redirected Wheeljack. "So, how did it go?"
Before Wheeljack could respond, the large mech sitting next to him answered. "Like slag. We still have no clue why the Decepticons have taken an interest in this planet."
Raf stared at the other mech in confusion. The frame looked familiar, but no names came to mind. Raf had been alone with First Aid and Wheeljack his entire stay here. He would say that he knew the mech hadn't been on Earth with him, but since he had hardly recognised Wheeljack (nevermind that he hadn't realised he'd been with Bulkhead) he felt couldn't say that for certain.
Wheeljack seemed to be crushed under the awkward silence that followed, and felt he needed to resolve it. "Raf, this here is Springer. Springer, Raf. You met the first day you were here. Springer here is our boss."
Springer nodded, although he cringed a little at the word 'boss'. "Temporary boss, you know that Wheeljack. Until..."
"Until he's back. I know, I know. Doesn't mean I'm excited about it." Wheeljack cut off, folding his arms in frustration. He barely cringed when a river of sparks cascaded out of his elbow joint. He did wince though when he decided to unfold them again just to be safe. "Anyway, he's right. We managed to get inside, but their computers are heavily encrypted. Whatever secrets they're hiding here, they're big ones."
Raf's eyes widened in surprise. "You guys don't know why they're even here?" The idea seemed ridiculous to him. How could they not know by now?
Springer nodded. "Our tacticians have tried guessing, but we're missing a vital piece of intel. For all we know, there is nothing of value on this planet. The locals are descendants of a failed colonising attempt from eons ago, and they aren't half as advanced as we are. The planet is literally a heap of junk floating around a star."
A thought passed through Raf's head, a memory of a similar conversation back on Earth. "Your ancient technology can be pretty advanced, if you ask me." He countered.
Springer paused, slightly shocked by the comment. Slowly, he nodded. "I suppose that is also true. The Firsts knew many things that were forgotten over time. But that point is moot. Until we know the real reason why the Decepticons are here, we are stuck in the dark. We need to get that info off of their servers, before it's too late."
Whatever else the leader of the Wreckers wanted to say would have to wait, as First Aid came over to tend to their injuries. Raf sat in silence, debating his next move.
Autobot Outpost Omega One; Miko
It had taken an hour, but Optimus had eventually decided that Miko wasn't going to sneak off into the storage area any time soon. Then, as usual, he disappeared to somewhere else, leaving only a parting word for Ratchet.
It had taken Miko exactly ten seconds after that to sneak off into the storage area again.
A part of her wondered if anyone would ever learn that lesson. She was not one to be underestimated when it came to sneaking off. Not that she was complaining. It made moments like these, when she absolutely had to sneak away, that much easier.
Of course, she hadn't remembered the way she went the first time, so it took her a long time to find Ratchet's personal storage room again. The medic had chosen a well hidden room, Miko would later admit in private.
Finding the crate she hid the laptop in had taken her seconds. It was the only one that was open, after all. She hid the laptop under her shirt again (just in case someone came looking for her while she had it). She left the room without touching anything else, although she took a few pictures of the Ground Bridge before she closed the door.
Finding her way back through the maze of corridors was a bit easier. She'd spent enough time in these parts of the base to know certain landmarks. Black scorch marks from when Arcee had gotten extra irritated with Starscream last week meant that she was three right turns away from the main part of the silo. All she had to do was make a left turn, and then go straight until she saw a gaping hole in the wall (a reminder of Ratchet's synthetic energon incidents). Two doors to the right was her safe haven.
She made sure the door was securely shut before making her way over to the small sitting area she had arranged. The laptop was removed from its hiding place, and Miko was quick to connect it to the power cable she'd set up that morning. Ready for what was supposed to come next, she called out to Ravage, "It's ready!"
A shadow slowly began to move in the rafters, jumping down and landing on crates. Miko wasn't even startled by her silent friend's entrances any more, although the large cat did occasionally go out of his way to startle her. He snorted out some air, before looking down at the laptop, which happily hummed as it powered up.
"This is the best way to connect to the internet from here. Anything else, and the 'bots might notice that it's missing faster." Miko explained.
The cat ignored her, instead fiddling with the laptop's USB ports. One of his claws eventually entered it, and the cat sat down, preparing itself for a long and tedious job.
The computer pinged, and the log-in screen came up. Miko mentally face-palmed. "Man, I forget about that. I don't even know his..." Miko slowed down when she saw that the log-in screen vanished, replaced with the desktop, "...password. That works."
The cat shot her a quick smirk, before returning to his job. Pages and files flew across the screen faster than Miko could read them, and more than a few times she saw symbols that were definitely not Japanese. Finally, a single page remained on top. As Miko read it, she couldn't help but hope that she'd made the right choice.
"Downloading: 0%"
I had a whole proper note written out, but then my computer decided to eat it all up. I haven't slept in over 24 hours, and things have been chaotic over here in a non-merry way, so please forgive my laziness this time. I promise another update this year (a dodgy goal, but a reachable one, I admit). I'll explain my unforgivable absence this month then.
Hope you guys liked the chapter! Tell me what you thought, if you have any ideas or suggestions or guesses. Send a shout-out to your family for Christmas if you want. I don't bite.
Enjoy your festive December everyone!
JayJayinMay, the Joyous Joker