Episode 11 Persuasion
Smokescreen POV
Ok, my head was spinning and it did not feel good. I got up from my position and tried to shake the pain away, but it only made it worse.
"Ratchet we require immediate transport back to base."
"Stewards, there's a man on the wing of this plane."
"Ratchet do you read?"
"Arcee?"
"Bulkhead, is everything alright? Where's Ratchet?"
"He's … he's gone." I looked around trying to find the good Doc, but all I found that he wasn't here, but he wasn't the only one missing.
"Gail's gone to" Bulkhead bridged the team back to base and Dad was too not happy that Gail was gone. The rest of the team looked around hoping that our two lost teammates. Immediately questions are thrown at us and Bulk answers most of them because I can't. I'm too angry at myself for not protecting my wife against Soundwave.
"Smoke what is this?"
"Peeled some paint off of Laserbeak, if I were a better shot Gail would still be here as well as Ratchet."
"Chin up Soldier, we've combed the entire floor and for the moment that remains our only clue."
"Nothing in the ground bridge logs, if they bridged our bots out here they used theirs."
"Why take Ratchet and Storm prisoner, but leave these two behind?"
"Besides being the Prime's daughter I don't understand why they would kidnap Shadow Storm, but if Megatron intends to hold our medic and one of our teammate's hostages. I find it curious that he's made no demands."
"I do not know why Megatron would hold my daughter, but Ratchet may possess something that the Decepticons want."
"Well whatever the cons are after, Ratchet and Storm won't give it up… right?"
"Unless they use a cortical psychic patch then whatever the cons want they'll get." I didn't mean to get testy with Bulkhead, but I was really worried about my wife and I kept praying to primus to keep her safe.
Shadow Storm POV
The first thing I see when I wake up is the steel walls of a ship I try to move around, but my hands and feet are tied down. I soon guess that I'm on a medical berth on the cons warship. Looking to my right I find Ratchet also latched to a berth.
"Ratchet" he hears my voice and wakes up
"Shadow Storm! Are you alright?"
"I'm doing fine considering where we are."
"For now at least."
"What do you want from us?"
"From you; you're assistance, to help complete a little science project."
"I will never cooperate"
"Shockwave does not require your cooperation to siphon your knowledge, doctor." Shockwave attaches one end of the cortical psychic patch to Ratchet's berth effectively knocking him out.
"Inform me the moment the procedure is complete."
"Shall I perform the procedure on her as well?"
"No need, have her transported to a cell to await her teammate." The cons removed me from the berth and not too gently forced me into a cell throwing me inside. I stumbled before gaining my footing just as the door was closed on my cell. I slammed the door trying to get free, but with my hands bond it was not much use.
"Smokie, please hurry please."
Smokescreen POV
"Listen I need 24-7 satellite monitoring eyes on the skies and ears to the ground" We were still trying to figure out why Ratchet and Gail were taken by the cons.
"Maybe bucket heads after the techno babble." Wheeljack brought up the schematics on the synthetic energon formula.
"The synthen formula?"
"Why would the cons need the artificial stuff if they already control most of this planet's energon reserve?"
"Greed, what else?"
"If Megatron is truly rebuilding the Omega Lock as Ratchet surmised synthetic energon might be a necessary component."
"I hate to be the one to bring lighting to a thunderstorm, but there's one thing we're all ignoring. If the cons found Ratchet here they know the location of this base." Ok that was one thing we hadn't thought about, but then a crazy idea came to me one that just might work.
Shadow Storm POV
I had sat down in the middle of my cell waiting for whatever would happen next. What did happen wasn't what I was expecting the door opened and Ratchet was tossed in.
"Ratchet?"
"Shadow Storm, Oh thank Primus when I woke up and found out that you weren't still chained to the berth beside me."
"Whoa where did this sudden moment of care come from you?"
"Don't get used to it, now what happened?"
"Chill out, they brought me here not soon after Shockwave attached one end of the cortical psychic patch to you making you immediately go into an unconscious state."
"Did they do it?"
"You mean the psychic patch, Shockwave asked Megatron if he should do it to me as well, but the leader of the Decepticons didn't think what I had in my brainpan, was important."
"Well I guess that's good, I'm sure that the rest of the Autobots are looking for us." I smiled at Ratchet knowing full well that my dad and Smokie will certainly be looking for me and Ratchet.
"I just hope they can find us in time." It wasn't long before the two of us heard footsteps coming from outside our cell door. When the door opened three Decepticons walked through Megatron, Soundwave, and Starscream.
"Are you through poking around inside my head? You didn't find what out wanted did you? Or else you wouldn't be here?"
"What I want apparently does not yet exist."
"And what would that be?"
"We would very much like for you to continue your work on the formula for synthetic energon."
"Even if I were capable, do you think that I would hand you a limitless supply of fuel and ammunition just so you can just turn around and use it against the Autobots? No, thank you."
"You're really crazy if you think we're going to help your cause."
"Oh, but you misunderstand I intend to use your medics formula for the purpose of creation not destruction. We have discovered that your synthen formula, when combined with cyber nucleic acid, in fact forms the basis for an alternative cyber matter."
"You are attempting to rebuild the Omega Lock."
"We stand on the verge of a great moment in time you and I, the restoration of our very home world."
"Collaborate with the very barbarian who essentially destroyed our planet in the first place...who sadistically crushed Bumblebee's voice box, while looking him right in the eye? No, thank you."
"Then I present you with a choice: complete your research or" He motions toward Soundwave who moves closer to us showing us an image on his screen which is of the children. I make it a point to show no emotion whatsoever.
"Humans always the weak link."
"Are these...humans supposed to mean something to me?" Ratchet was trying to sound convincing, but it wasn't happening the cons already knew what these humans meant to us.
"If not I am certain this will." The image on Soundwave's screen changed showing an image of our base. This time I made no effort to hid my emotions I became really scared not only for my teammates, but for my father and mate as well. "As you must certainly be aware we know the location of your current base. Accept my offer and I will allow your fellow Autobot and human pets to remain unharmed."
"What about Shadow Storm? Why did you kidnap her?"
"An extra incentive should you not do your job in a timely manner." Megatron signals to the guards posted outside the door within moments they had me in their grasp and Starscream struck me with a rod over and over again until Ratchet screamed at Megatron to stop. Starscream stopped and Ratchet came beside me and checks me over as best he could with his hands still tied. "It would seem that you have much to discuss I'll give you the time."
"Gail, are you ok?" I used my ability to heal myself, but because of the predicament we were in I decided against healing all of my wounds especially the ones that were on the surface.
"I'm fine, I can use my powers to heal myself though not all the way just enough to make me look like I had taken a beating, but in actuality I'm ready for anything just try and make sure you don't do anything to upset them."
"I don't want to accept their offer, but if it keeps you and our teammates safe at least for a while then that's good."
"Then do it" Ratchet nodded his head and we wait for the cons to return still maintaining the hope that our friends are working on coming to save us.
Smokescreen POV
"All aerial search patterns are coming up empty."
"No, comlink chatter either."
"And no ground activity, it's a little too quiet out there"
"Since the Decepticons no longer seek Predacon bones or Earth technology, there is no activity to track."
"So until Megatron makes a move we're in a holding pattern."
"Ratchet didn't think this new hand he built for me was good enough, but I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough...giving up. We have no choice, but to play this old school split into teams for maximum coverage." The alarms then sounded and everyone's attention turned to the monitors.
"We have in coming a whole fleet's worth." That was a lot of cons I just hope that my plan goes off without a hitch. The humans were flying their jets trying to give us air cover.
"Air cover is holding, for the moment." the cons were still attacking then two missiles were launched from a single ship and they were on target.
"Lord Megatron, I am pleased to report that Autobot base has been reduced to ashes." The destroyed building was immediately beset on by the bases in an attempt to quell the flames that now engulfed it.
Smokescreen POV
My teammates and I looked at the destroyed building behind our own base. "The mess hall sure is a mess."
"We are fortunate that the Decepticons can be fooled by a simple paint job." We looked on as the fire trucks watered down the flames as well as the extra mark we placed on Hanger F.
Shadow Storm POV
Megatron led Ratchet and I with Vehicons guarding us onto his bridge.
"I'm sure you both would more fully appreciate a tour of our facilities if you were comfortable." With that two Vehicons undo the bindings around our hands.
"How do you know I won't use these to amputate?'
"And pass up a chance to see our molecular masking field?" Megatron indicates a screen behind him.
"Your clocking device? ... Shielding is shielding, high tech or not."
"Perhaps you will be more impressed by our energon transfusion compactor. It allows us to maximize our consumption a thousand fold."
"Decepticon engineering never fails to impress."
"Doctor, we may be mortal enemies, but Autobots and Decepticons do share one common goal. You would like to see the ruins of our devastated home world restored to their former brilliance. As would I."
"Megatron you would just try to conquer Cybertron all over again, and enslave anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to you."
"Of course I would … and your comrades would attempt to stop me more than ever, but at least we would once again possess a planet worth fighting over."
"Perhaps, but you wouldn't stop there would you? Earth would be next, if not first. What assurance do we have that you would leave humankind be? That you wouldn't instantly terminate us once you get what you need?"
"None whatsoever, after all, we both know that as a Decepticon any assurance I might offer would be worthless … but that does not change the fact that you may be Cybertrons only hope of ever seeing life again doctor." Megatron walks out of the bridge and out the door. "Come; let me show you where you'll be working."
Smokescreen POV
Raf was analyzing the piece that I shot off of Laserbeak. I was walking back and forth trying to keep myself busy. Not long after I started Wheeljack stopped me.
"So you clipped the business end of Laserbeaks transponder."
"Yeah I did"
"You're not such a bad shot after all." I smiled for a second before returning to my sour mood.
"We thought you might be the best one to provide an analysis, in Ratchet's absence."
"It's trying to communicate with the warship."
"How do you know?"
"It's telling us."
"Uhh Raf that's Cybertronian code."
"Wait first Raf understands Bumblebee, now he reads Cybertronian. Are we sure he's not some kind of alien."
"I've been learning for a while… in between stuff … when … Ratchet had time to teach me." Raf was really sad as were we all about missing our Doc, but I think Ratchet and Raf were real good science geek friends.
"Hey, Raf we'll bring him back."
"If it's the last thing we do."
"If it's talking to its mama, can we triangulate the signal?"
"To a shielded warship"
"If the transponder was still attached to Laserbeak we could follow it"
"Maybe we should give it wings."
"We can use spare parts from the machine shop."
"Then let's do it, for the Doc and Storm."
Shadow Storm POV
"While your forces have put a dent in our resources, Shockwave has been invaluable in updating our laboratory, should you choose to accept the task. You shall have unrestricted access to our equipment." I look around and find nothing of interest to me, but Ratchet must have found something because he goes over to a table and picks it up.
"Is that a quantum Cryo inducer? Only two were ever made."
"Three actually, you're holding the original prototype." He shows it to me considering a big deal. Megatron was trying really hard to get Ratchet to help him out, but if I knew the Doc he would try to get away the moment he could.
Smokescreen POV
"The frequency modular keeps shorting out."
"Easy champ, let me try in crossing some wires."
"Now there's something you don't see every day."
"Jackie wasn't always a loner you know, being a wrecker was all about the team." Some tools crash and all of us here Ratchet's sayings coming out of Raf's mouth.
"Ep, ep, ep; Miko I needed that."
"I was just trying to tighten up that thingamajig."
"Pulease"
"Raf you've been spending way too much time with Ratchet."
"Sorry, Miko"
"It's ok it was actually really funny to hear those words come out of your mouth." The team laughed at that it really was hilarious
"Ok, here it goes." Raf starts the machine and flies it around, but it accidentally almost cuts off Fowler's and Jack's heads."
"Sorry Agent Fowler, I'm still fine tuning CHIPs remote."
"CHIP"
"So, we're going to let the doohickey fly back to con central."
"And lead us right back to Ratchet and Storm."
Shadow Storm
We continue to follow Megatron and after a while Ratchet breaks the silence.
"Even if you managed to reconstruct the Omega Lock, it is a mystic force. I've come to my senses; the notion of scientifically replicating its abilities is pure folly. Madness even." We went through a door at the end of the hallway we found ourselves in a large room.
"But how will we ever know for certain doctor if we do not try." Megatron pushes a button on the wall that looks familiar to me which opens a huge circular panel in the floor "And how can we not try when the means finally lie within our reach" Together Ratchet and I look down through the hole and to our astonishment we find the Omega Lock new and improved still under construction attached to the warship.
"By the Allspark, you've actually done it."
"Decepticon engineering, it will not take long for this Omega Locks drives to be operational. All that is still needed to restore our home is the cyber matter to launch through it"
"Which requires a stabilized formula for the production of synthetic energon."
"I have every confidence in you doctor"
"I'll do it … but then again you already knew that didn't you."