Alright. He's another chapter of this story. I had lots of stuff to do which got in the way of writing this chapter. And also, this chapter is the start of season three of Transformers: Prime. I decided to change few things around.
Hope you like this, and I promise to update a bit faster. Enjoy.
Chapter 14: Darkmount, NV
"Leave no stone unturned!" Sam ordered the Vehicons and Insecticons as they dig through the ruins of the Autobot base. After the Autobots mysteriously disappeared in that bright light yesterday, Sam had ordered the Decepticons to dig out the remains of the Autobot base for any clue where might the Autobots be and any information that might lead to the mysterious light.
"Commander," Starscream calls out to Sam, "look who we found, pulled from the wreckage of his ship... Wheeljack." Starscream moved aside to show Sam the injured and captive Wheeljack.
"So, one survived." Sam had heard of Wheeljack from Bulkhead. When he was a kid, Bulkhead would tell him bedtime stories all about him and Wheeljack during their days as Wreckers. The way Bulkhead talked about him made him want to meet Wheeljack in person. But that's in the past now. "Take our 'guest' back to the citadel for questioning. Back to Darkmount." The Vehicons nodded before dragging Wheeljack to Darkmount.
"This is the dawning of a new age, Commander... the reign of the Decepticons." Starscream proclaims.
"You do have a way with words, Starscream." Sam commented before turning to the Vehicons and Insecticons. "Make haste and unearth any remains that might lead us to the Autobots!" As the Decepticons do that, Sam decided to look around the ruins, see if he can find something.
It has been so long since he's been back at the base – three years to be exact. Being here brings back memories. It makes him sick. As he continues to walk around, he came across something he never thought he'd see again: his room. The place is destroyed, every single of his belongings are destroyed. A huge wave of memories flooded his brain. He remembers all the good times he had in his room. Having sleepovers with Mikaela, Epps and Will, sometimes the Autobots would join in as well, and playing video games with Bumblebee and Cliffjumper. But the best part in his memories are him cuddling in the arms of Optimus's holoform. Remembering all those memories brings nothing but pain and suffering. All of those memories are fakes, lies.
"Commander Metatron, we've got something!"
Sam snapped out of his memory lane when someone called his name. He left his old room and made his way to the Vehicons. When arrived, they showed him what they dug up. "The Forge of Solus Prime and who's the ugly wretch trapped in a stasis pod?"
Starscream laughed humorously at the name-calling before glaring at her in hate. "That ugly wretch is Airachnid. She once attempted to wrest command of the Decepticons during Megatron's brief absence. She went rogue after a failed attempt to terminate her and then later tried to assassinate Megatron using an army of the Insecticons."
Sam hummed as he took in the information. "Is this all you managed to materialize during your search?"
"Yes, sir." One of the Vehicon replied.
"I see. Take these two back to the ship. As for Airachnid, keep her in stasis."
The Vehicons nodded before picking up the heavy items and taking them to the ship. Sam began to look around the base again, followed by Starscream right besides him. "Commander, how can you be so sure the Autobots escaped instead turned to scrap in the light?"
"There were no sign of their bodies lying around after the light disappeared. My only guess is they used the distraction to get away. They could be anywhere." Sam stated.
"We must initiate global surveillance, Commander." Starscream suggested. "Send search-and-destroy teams to every sector of this planet."
Sam nodded at the idea before contacting Soundwave. "Soundwave, monitor all Earth-based transmission for any sign of Autobot communication... with each other or with their human counterparts."
"Commander..." Starscream said as he sees something coming from the horizon. Sam stopped walking as he sees an army of military forces heading their way. "Hmm. Foolish humans. I shall deploy the armada."
"That won't be necessary, Starscream, not when we can engage our enemy with newfound might." Sam watches in glee as Darkmount's fusion cannon took aim at them. The cannon began charging up power before launching at the military, devastating the military forces as well as Jasper.
After the devastation of the military forces and Jasper, Sam sat down on his throne, located on the top of Darkmount as he talks to – and threatens – Fowler via communication lines. "A new power dominates your world. Any further attempts to attack me will be met with even greater force. Your leaders should be advised that my fusion cannons possess enough firepower to decimate any densely populated area of my choosing. I would, in all likelihood, set sights on the nation's capital, for starters."
Fowler sat there quietly as he listens to Sam. Fowler was immensely happy to hear Sam has been alive for three years. But when he found out Sam joined the Decepticons, it broke the old man's heart to shred. "Point taken. Now, what do the Decepticons want from us?" Fowler demanded, doing his best to hide his emotion.
"Nothing, Agent Fowler. The Decepticons mean no harm to humanity. They merely desire a place to call home." Sam said somewhat sincere.
"I'm sorry there, Sam, but I'm having a tough time swallowing all this... since the 'Cons seem so bent on plastering humankind under molten steel."
"Agent Fowler, I admit that war brings out the worst in everyone, including me," Sam admits, "but the conflict with the Autobots is now over, and their quarrel has never been with the humans."
Starscream arrives to hear the conversation between Sam and his former human ally. He was having thoughts about Sam being a double agent this whole time by how the way he's talking, but that all changed when Sam gave an evil grin at him and Starscream couldn't help but grin back at him. The former human is obviously using the agent's feelings to his advantage, using it to trick Fowler .
"Now that the one true enemy of the Decepticons is no more, my only wish is to have the Decepticons coexist on this planet with the human race... peacefully." He grins evilly. "Together, Agent Fowler, I believe that you and I can make that dream a reality." Sam grins again before hanging up. After he hangs up, he got up from his throne and walks over to the edge of his throne room.
Starscream gave an applause as he joins by his side. "You, too, have a way with words, Commander. I almost believed you myself."
Sam gave a light chuckle over the praise. "Earth is our planet now, Starscream, and we shall finish what we started. Humankind has no idea what lies ahead for them."
"Yes, General Bryce. Special containment protocol G-1000 has been executed has been executed as planned." Fowler informs through the phone. "Evacuation of Jasper, Nevada was 100% successful. As far as its citizens or the media are concerned, the threat was the meteor shower from few days ago, and the town is to remain quarantined until the resulting radiation levels can be dissipated. Sir, any form of retaliation would be too risky. I just need more time... Yes, I understand." Fowler hung up and plopped himself on his chair.
After a second of silence, June enters Fowler's office with a clipboard at hand. "Agent Fowler, those medical supplies still haven't arrived. We have wounded men who need..."
"I'm doing the best I can, Nurse Darby." Fowler said, interrupting her. "I've been a little busy juggling a bunch of nuke-happy generals who don't seem to care if they blow Nevada sky-high and someone whom I believed to be dead, someone whom I considered my own flesh-and-blood, have joined the Decepticon ranks. The way he was talking, it's almost as if he is happy the Autobots are gone... like he doesn't care or loves them anymore."
June felt sad for Fowler. She could tell how much Sam's betrayal is hurting Fowler. To help Fowler avoid anymore pain, she changed the subject. "Still no word from anyone?" She asked worryingly. "If I could just call Jack..."
"You know it's too risky." Fowler interject. "So do the 'Bots. The 'Cons could trace any cellphone signal."
"Then take me home. If Jack can't call, that's where he'll look for me."
"Jasper's under complete 'Con lockdown. Nobody's getting back in there. The only ones who can fix this mess are Primes and his 'Bots. I'm sure they're keeping a low profile. They got to be."
A pratolling Vehicon flies through the skies as he scans cars moving along the road in search of any Autobots. He checks the first which is a SUV but the results came out negative. He checks the second one which is a truck but showed the same results. The last one was a camaro. His readings shows the camaro looks the same as the yellow scout's vehicle form, but the car is black with yellow strips, not yellow with black strips. "Negative. No Autobot recognition." He informs the base before leaving the area.
The black camaro drove to a nearby tree and parked there. The door opens to reveal Rafael, Bumblebee's human friend. As he got out and gave an 'okay' signal, the black camaro transforms and reveal to be Bumblebee.
"That was too close. But your new paint job did the trick." Rafael said. "In any case, what's the plan? Now that we're separated from the rest of the team again."
After the whole Thunderwing incident and that light, Bumblebee and Rafael found themselves on a meadow, just outside of any human population. But they weren't lucky when they came across two Decepticons. Before any of them had a change to report their findings, Bumblebee took care of them quickly. To avoid detection, Raf suggested to have Bumblebee change his look. Bumblebee then scanned a perfect vehicle from Rafael's books and then took off.
Bumblebee gave a thought before buzzing at Rafael, telling him of a plan.
"Right. Just keep heading towards Jasper..." Rafael gulped in fear. "Towards Megatron's giant fortress."
In the Rockies, Bulkhead is driving down the road with Miko in the passenger seat, feeling bored at the moment. She looked outside the window and see the scenery with boredom written on her face. "I never knew there were so many Rockies." She sigh. Tired of doing nothing, she took out her cellphone and started playing.
"Miko!" Bulkhead yelled pulling on the brakes causing Miko to cry out in surprise. "No cellphone! You know the rules."
"Dude, I wasn't calling anyone, just playing a video game I already downloaded." She reassured by showing Bulkhead the game on her phone.
"Sorry. I guess I'm a little on edge." He apologized before driving again.
Miko could relate. She is also shaken up from what happened yesterday, seeing that bright light and then suddenly appearing with Bulkhead at some rocky area. None of them don't know what was that strange light. "Where are we headed anyway, Bulk? You got some sort of plan?"
"We're following standard Wrecker protocol."
"Which is...?"
"An emergency plan we followed during the war in case any Wrecker got standard or separated from the unit. We always rendezvous at the exact same set of coordinates. If Jackie is still alive, he'll be there." He said confidently.
Back in Darkmount, Sam is being accompanying by Starscream to Wheeljack's cell for questioning about the whereabouts of the Autobots. As they arrived, Sam orders Starscream to stay outside, for this will be a private chat between the two. Sam walks inside, locking the door behind him and greets the wide-wake Wheeljack. "Wheeljack. It's good to finally meet you in person. I have been told great things about you."
"And who might you be?"
"My Cybertronian name is Metatron, but I used to go by my human name Sam."
"Sam? As in Sam Witwicky?" Wheeljack asked in disbelief.
"Ah! So you know my human name?"
Wheeljack nodded. "When I first arrived, Bulkhead told me all about you. But he said you died. How are you still alive?" He remembered Bulkhead telling him about an additional human whom used to live with them. A human that goes by the name Sam Witwicky. Bulkhead told him everything: how Sam was found abandoned by Cliffjumper and was brought to base to raise him, and how he died. He remembered Bulkhead sobbing when he told him how Sam died. He known Bulkhead for many centuries and he never seen him cry. He must've taken Sam's death real hard.
"I, too, believed I had died. But I found out that the AllSpark in me saved me. Since then, I was held captive by the Decepticons."
"So what made you changed to a Decepticon?"
Sam narrowed his eyes in hate and hurt. "I found out the Autobots abandoned me, they never really loved me. They used my feelings for their own entertainment."
Wheeljack was completely shocked. Just where did he came up with that idea. He comes to a conclusion that Megatron was behind this. He must've told Sam lies about the Autobots. "Sam, it's quite obvious Megatron lied to you. You know the Autobots won't do anything to hurt you. They would give up their lives just to protect you. No hesitation. Wasn't Ironhide's death proof enough that they would give up their life for you?"
Sam turned so that his back was facing Wheeljack. It's true. Ironhide did died when protecting him. But Sam shook that way. It was obvious Ironhide was only protecting Will since he's his mate. The only ones who ever cared for him were Will, Epps and Mikaela. But they are gone. He looked back at Wheeljack with his optics turning purple. "Ironhide's death means nothing to me." Not wanting to have this conversation anymore, he took his leave. "Starscream, you know what to do."
"Of course." Starscream smiled gleefully as he walks inside the room. He picked up a tool and walked towards the chained up Wheeljack, ready to torture him to give up the location of the Autobots.
As Sam sat back down on his throne, he summons Knock Out. "How may I serve you, Commander Metatron?" Knock Out kneels down before Sam.
"Assemble a team and disembark for Cybertron immediately. While hunting Autobots remains paramount, we must not squander the opportunity to recover any Iacon Relics left behind in the chaos." Sam remembers Smokescreen having retrieved the Phase Shifter back at the Omega Lock site area. He could still feel the bruise he received from Smokescreen's kick. "For all we know, Optimus is out there somewhere planning to do the same."
Smokescreen has been watching on guard, protecting his injured leader for almost a day with no rest. He sits there, wondering how they managed to be here in a underground cavern. He knows it was that bright light, but what caused that said light to appear and sent them to a cavern. His attention was caught when Optimus began to stir. He quickly rushed to his leader's side. "It's okay, Optimus. You're with me... Smokescreen." He reassures him.
"How did...I get here?" Optimus groans weakly.
"When you were hit by Thunderwing's blast, just as Sam was about to extinguish your spark, a light appeared out of nowhere." He begins to relates. "Just as that light swallowed us, I managed to get to you before we all were separated. We appeared deep in an underground cavern. But we're safe here, but we're down so deep, no one can pick up our signals. I'll have to scout above ground if I'm gonna have any hop of finding Ratchet."
"No. No hope." Optimus mumbled.
"What do you mean? The Doc's the only one who can get you patched up."
Before Optimus could mumble another word, he powers down into deep unconsciousness before he can explain.
Arcee pulls over behind an abandoned warehouse to rest from their long travels. Jack got out and begins to panic over his mom's safety while ignoring Arcee's call. "She could have been hurt or taken by the 'Cons. And even if she did get out, she's got to be worried out of her mind not knowing where I am."
"Jack, calm down. We'll get back to Jasper, find a way to reach your mother and the rest of the team." She looked around the area for any sign of Decepticon until she spots a helicopter. "Stay here. Could be a 'Con on our tail." She transforms back into her motorcycle form and took chase after the helicopter.
Jack sighs as he is left alone. He reached to his back-pocket and pull out his cellphone, looking at the picture of his mom. "Sorry, mom. I'd call if I could." To avoid being detected, he was not allow to use his cellphone to make any calls. "Oh, one text couldn't hurt, could it?" Ignoring the rule of using cellphones, Jack send a text message to his mom, telling that's he's safe with Arcee.
As Soundwave works on locating any signals from the Autobots and their human friends as he was ordered to, he detected the message. He pressed a button and a picture of Jack showed up on the monitor.
"Commander." Starscream contacts.
"Send in the troops. And, Soundwave, I want a live feed." Sam stood up from his throne and transform into his jet mode and heads back to the ship. Soundwave dispatches Laserbeak, along with some Decepticon troops.
After sending his message, he puts away his phone, just in time to see a Vehicon heading his way. Cursing for his idiocy, he makes a run for as the 'Con starts strafing him.
Arcee hid behind a boulder and took aim at the helicopter. She sighed in relief when she identified it to be a civilian helicopter. She heard an explosion back from where she came from and quickly heads back.
Jack continues to run and hide from the Decepticons' attack. He climbed over the fence and hid behind the loading dock. "Smile, Jack. You're on Decepticon TV." He joked nervously as he spotted Laserbeak.
"Commander. We have a visual." Starscream informs Sam as he appeared from behind, watching the live feed.
Jack ran and took shelter under a truck. But it was futile as the truck flew away from the 'Cons' attack. Just as the next round of attack was about to hit Jack, Arcee rescues him just in time. She quickly grabs him, took shelter behind a car and began shooting at the Vehicons.
"How long does it takes to exterminate a lone Autobot and a weak human!?" Sam exclaims impatience as he sees Arcee coming to Jack's rescue which infuriated him.
"Well, in my experience-"
"Not a riddle, Starscream." Sam growled. Starscream chuckled nervously and mumbled a sorry.
Looking around the area, Arcee spotted a nearby gas station. Coming up with an idea, she and Jack lured the two Vehicons to the station while hiding behind it.
"Not the best cover." He said fearfully.
"We're not here to hide."
The two Vehicons transformed and landed on the ground. They walked up ahead to the gas station and readied their weapon. They crouched down and saw Jack with two fuel dispenser.
"Hey, guys. Unleaded or diesel?" Jack asked with a smirk.
The two 'Cons looked down and saw the ground around them was flooded with gasoline. Jack threw the pumps and ran to a car to take cover. Arcee popped up from that car and fired at the gasoline, causing the gas station to explode and took out the two Vehicons and Laserbeak. The two quickly fled before the Decepticons could send out more reinforcements.
Back at the warship, Sam snarled at the lost feed.
"Well? Did any of the surveillance data survived?" Sam asked Soundwave as the latter repairs Laserbeak. A silence from Soundwave means 'no' to Sam's question.
Starscream sighs. "A shame. We might have at least learned the direction in which Arcee and the human fled."
"Clearly, we need to improve our methods of hunting Autobots and build upon the tactical advantage that we've managed to secure."
"Commander Metatron," Knock Out spoke through the comm link, "I am ready to return to Darkmount, and I'm certain you'll want to see what I've uncovered."
"Soundwave, open a SpaceBridge portal." He orders Soundwave, quite feeling eager to know what Knock Out found at Cybertron.
Soundwave withdrew his tentacles and through his vizor, he activated the SpaceBridge, opening the portal from behind the three. Knock Out walked out and Sam is unpleased to see him come back empty-handed. "I find myself in urgent need of good news," Sam forewarns, "so please, Knock Out, tell me you found something useful."
"Some things, Commander. And someone." Knock Out steps aside, allowing the new visitor to come out of the bridge. A loud footsteps echoed the room and Shockwave has made his appearance yet again.
"Shockwave." Sam was shocked at first to see him again, but then chuckled as he found his answer to his problem. "Just the tactical advantage I need." He states with a smirk.
So how do you guys like it. Like I said, it's going to be a bit different. Like how I made Sam take command over the Decepticons instead of Megatron. I decided to give Megatron a vacation before I bring him back.
Review and see you guys soon.