XIX - Ruse

I was really starting to hate Mondays. Sunday had ended fine; the humans left, the boys presumably spoke with Oliver's mother after they had literally shoved her into the thick of things. Starscream and I had fallen into recharge on a pair of makeshift berths that were about as comfortable as a bed of rocks. Oh well, it wasn't like we had anything better, save for the floor.

But only on a Monday, one can wake from recharge to find oneself staring down the barrel of a charged blaster.

"Surprise," came Arcee's voice.

~9 hours earlier…

I stared up at the ceiling, unable to find rest. Starscream was more successful with that; his intakes evened out a while ago. My internal clock read 12:18 a.m. I lightly tapped a finger against the wall, matching each second ticking by. I stopped after a few minutes, realizing I had dug a few long scratches in the wall without meaning to. Maybe I was more worried about my more frequent nightmares than I realized.

I hoped this would not be another night without recharge, I needed my strength if the Autobots were to make a surprise entrance. So far they had been quiet, but I sincerely doubted it would be for much longer. And what better time to spring a surprise attack then at night? Might as well try to catch some recharge while I still could. I offlined my optics, intaking deeply and regularly. Despite my efforts, my thoughts refused to stop swirling around. Relaxing soon became impossible, each groan of the ship, creak of the berth set me on edge as if it were the Autobots sneaking around a corner, ready to pounce.

I hummed quietly and sat up, unable to take any more. "The medical section might contain some light sedatives…" It was worth a try.

I walked over to the other end of the room, careful to keep my pedfalls as quiet as possible while I inspected the labels on certain cabinets. "Let's see…" I gingerly pulled one open, "No, not anestesias, too strong…" I chuckled, my optics scrolling over the assortment of vials and flasks. They came to rest on a cylinder not bigger than one of my fingers, "ah, here we are. If that's what it takes…" I grimaced, sipping at it, a bitter taste filling my mouth as I laid back down on the berth.

The minutes slowly ticked by, and I began to wonder if it would actually work. My thoughts slowly drifted elsewhere, to what Oliver had said the other day. Why had he volunteered to board Megatron's warship in my place?

I was still mulling it over when "what it took" hit me like a sledgehammer.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

I groaned, cracking open my optics. Clang. Will was kicking the side of my helm, shouting. "Wake up, wake up!" I jumped a little, remembering how Arcee trained her blaster on my faceplates in the dream. It felt considerably more real then.

"Cut that out!" I snapped, sitting up and rubbing my helm.

"Sorry." He apologized. "But I had to do that for, like, five minutes!"

"I really should get around to re-enabling my weapons systems." I grumbled, "What time is it?"

"Nine." Oliver's voice joined in.

I moaned to myself, "What was in that sedative?"

"What?" Starscream asked, sliding off my knee. I resisted the urge to kick him off.

"Couldn't recharge." I explained. "Why the rush?"

"The 'Bots are here!" Will said, his voice dropping to a whisper as if they could hear him.

"Where?" I hissed, whipping my helm around.

"Not too far from here, but they're taking their time. Oliver and I almost ran smack into them when we bridged over here."

"And when exactly was that?"

Oliver shrugged, "Maybe thirty minutes ago?" Will nodded.

"We already have a plan, seeing as they are blocking our sole escape route." Starscream said.

"I'm listening."

"So," Oliver continued, "You're going to pretend to hold us hostage, because the 'Bots don't want to hurt humans. And then you'll negotiate with them, and obviously release us."

"Yeah, I like that idea." Will jumped in. "Just… keep those talons away from my face." He pushed my fingers away.

"I will do what is necessary." I stated. He gulped slightly, bringing on a smirk from me.

"Well, do it now! They're coming!" Oliver hissed.

He was right, I could hear the rumbling sound of pedfalls echoing towards us, steadily increasing in volume. Starscream scuttled away, evidently to his discontentment. He hid against the wall behind the humans, having a good view of us, but was practically invisible. I grabbed Oliver up in my right servo and Will in my left, raising them high off the floor.

Bumblebee burst into the room first, followed by Optimus and…

"Bulkhead!" I crowed, "I was wondering when you might show."

"Can't say the same." The green mech lumbered towards me, transforming out a wrecking ball.

"Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn't." I gently squeezed Will, finding him the most irritating of the two. He stopped walking, but instead trained a blaster on my helm. "Ah, I wouldn't do that either." I squeezed Oliver a little too, not nearly enough to injure either of them. But he played the part, gasping a little and struggling accordingly. I smirked menacingly.

"Release them." Prime commanded. The humans looked at me pleadingly.

"Not until you agree to my terms." I added, not loosening my grip in the slightest.

[Which are…] The scout beeped.

"You let me go in peace–"

"Hate to interrupt," Bulkhead interrupted, not sounding sincere at all, "but where's Seven? Or Starscream… whichever one you are."

"Seven is… dead." I improvised.

"Our condolences." Optimus said. I couldn't tell whether it was sincere or not, his stoic expression was too hard to read. "Do you have proof?" he pressed.

"I-I don't need proof! I snuffed the ungrateful pile of slag yesterday!" I hope that sounded convincing.

[Can't you show us?] Bumblebee asked.

"No!" I snapped, "What's it to you? I disposed of his chassis, and even if so could show you, I wouldn't."

"I think he's bluffing!" Bulkhead snarled.

"N-n-now let's not jump to conclusions." I raised my servos, trying to placate the massive green mech. "Besides, you have neglected to allow me to finish listing my terms."

Optimus' optics narrowed, "Continue."

"Ah, as I was saying…" Oliver slightly inclined his head to show his encouragement. "Meaning you do not follow me in any way, and that you get out of here before…" time to try a different approach. The hostage ploy was a lost cause anyway.

"Before what?" Bulkhead asked, his tone coated in skepticism.

"Before…" I acted like I couldn't choke the words out. "Be-before Me–" I willed my wings to droop as if I had just remembered something terrifying.

[What?] Bumblebee prodded nervously. I had apparently even set the humans on edge too.

"M-M-Megatron…" I whimpered as the green and yellow mechs' optics widened but they let me continue. "He's coming… I-I saw it on the ship's scanners…" I panted, scarlet optics darting around feverishly, "Do you have any idea what he'll do to me?!" I shrieked, falling to my knees in front of Optimus and dropping the humans, who stumbled to their feet and backed away. "He will do more than terminate me! He'll rip me to pieces until he gets to my spark chamber!" I pleaded, putting on a desperate, terrified expression. One that Optimus Prime could not help but pity.

[I hate to say this,] Bumblebee whirled, [But it sure sounds like he's telling the truth. And even if we all know Megatron's nowhere near as good as his word, we do know that he would 'tear his second to pieces' before our very optics, then attack us as well.]

Silence fell for a minute after that, save for my choked intakes. I shot a furtive glance at Starscream reclining against the wall, who looked deeply impressed.

Bulkhead shattered it first. "Bee, I've said this before, but you've got one dark processor for a good guy."

The scout chortled in his own weird way for a short while after that remark.

I looked back up at Optimus and desperately grabbed his arm. "Please! By the Allspark, let me get out of here! Megatron will have more than my helm when he shows up, which will be sooner rather than later!" I shrieked melodramatically.

"If Megatron is indeed en route here, then I think the best course of action would be for us all to retreat. Our energon reserves are lower than ever, so if he manages to wound any of us, we hardly possess enough for medical assistance." Optimus stated to the other Autobots before addressing me. "Starscream, why did you seek refuge here?"

I slowly got to my pedes, still forcing my wings to stay low. "I did not 'seek refuge here,' but was merely following a stray energon trail and happened upon this wreck again. I figured accessing its systems might boost my search, but I saw Megatron's signal fast approaching, and then you all entered." I pointed out, stepping towards the Autobots. "And he is going to be here any second now, so I need to make my escape, if you don't mind!" I yelped, furiously shoving my way past them.

The more unnerving thing was the fact that they didn't attempt to stop me. I was halfway down the long hall before I realized they weren't following.

I heard snippets of their hushed conversation, "… can't trust…"

[… fear seems real…]

"… called Decepticons for nothing…"

"… Megatron?"

"… dishonest as it gets…"

[… authentic.]

"… aiding–"

"Are you going to just stand there and hope Lord Megatron spares you?" I hissed, reluctantly plodding back towards them.

Bulkhead and Bumblebee looked to Optimus, as did the pair of humans. Starscream edged along the side of the wall in the corner of my vision.

Optimus touched a servo to his comm link, "Ratchet, we require a ground bridge." After not receiving a reply, he repeated the message. Then he lowered his arm.

"Signal's jammed." Bulkhead pointed out.

"Of course it is." I snapped, "This ship's hull is nearly impenetrable, and that includes radio waves." I elected to leave out the fact that Starscream had installed a heavy dampener to cover any signals that may be transmitted, whether entering or leaving the Harbinger before the shrink ray incident.

"Oh, and how do you know that?" The green mech scoffed, shifting his stance. "I thought you were only following an energon trail."

A lie already graced my glossa, "I stumbled over it while pinging the Harbinger from Megatron's warship right before Airachnid and I went on that little… excursion to find the relic." I remembered those words as if that Airachni-glitch had uttered them yesterday… My personal native guide. How delightful. I resolved that the next time I laid optics on her, I would personally remove all those wretched spider legs followed by her helm.

The green mech still looked dubious, "Oh, is that so? And what else did you 'stumble' over?"

"Just. Get. OUT!" I yelled, shoving the green mech. He didn't even sway on his pedes, it was like trying to push a wall. But at least walls don't push back.

This one did. Bulkhead shoved me off him roughly, I lost my footing and fell to the floor, but managed to land sitting up. I covered my helm with my servos in a beseeching, defensive gesture, whimpering, "We need to leave…" my wings fell flat. "I need to get out of here, before it's too late…" I amped up the desperation in my tone and sprang to my pedes, running past them. With a bit of luck, they would take the bait this time. I was running out of ideas.

But of course, luck has not been on my side of late.

Seven dashed out of the room like he was fleeing death itself, wings bouncing so much it was impossible to tell if they were fluttering or not. I ruefully felt a pang that had been a dull ache in the back of my mind since I "lost" my wings. It would be a miracle if I ever flew again, considering my current diminutive stature of about six feet, lack of a T-Cog and wings to boot.

On a lighter note, Seven was doing an admirable job acting; I myself was almost convinced that Megatron was about to swoop in.

Will silently watched the scene unfold before his wide eyes while Oliver rummaged through something out of my view. I pressed my back against the wall and leaned towards them to afford myself a better view, but not by much. The Autobots transformed and followed after Seven, chasing the diminishing sound of his pedfalls down the long corridors. Oliver appeared to be tugging something up over his left leg–I could hardly tell from my vantage point, but it looked like a hollow replica of one of my pedes.

As soon as the Autobots' engines could no longer be heard, Will raced over to me.

"Well, what now?" The human asked as we walked over to Oliver.

"We wait for Seven to return." I said, "And Oliver, after he returns, we interrogate you about why exactly you said you'll board the Nemesis."

"Okay, rule number one of interrogating someone," Oliver began, "don't tell them you're going to do it beforehand." I huffed in exasperation as he tugged another boot on. "That… gives them time to… ugh… prep for it… and they can evade… your questions better." He grunted, struggling to fit the boot over his foot. I got a closer look at them, they were very realistic replicas of my own pedes and lower half of my legs that fit snugly over his own.

I gawked at them for a second in disbelief, "What are you doing?! And what is that?!" I screeched at him.

"This is my get out of jail free card." He explained not vaguely at all. He was met with a pair of blank stares. "You know, from the game Monopoly? You may pass go and collect two-hundred dollars? Ring a bell?" More blank stares. "Ever go spelunking?"

"What?"

"Cave-diving." He elaborated.

"How is this relevant?" I snapped.

"Because you both live under rocks!" Oliver snickered. Will and I exchanged exasperated looks.

"Hey, the last time I played that game was when I was five. My dad put hotels on everything. It wasn't too fun." Will replied defensively.

"Games tend to be more fun when you're winning," I agreed haughtily.

"Anyhow," Oliver continued, clearly offended that neither of us got his reference, "this work of art," Will blew a raspberry at that comment, "is my ticket to board the Nemesis. I'll board the big bad warship disguised as Starscream," He nodded at me, but I silently crossed my arms in disapproval, "and hopefully grab a sample of Megatron's metal from Knock Out's lab. It's a pretty good plan."

"That is not a good plan! It's hardly a concept!" I snapped pointedly.

"Hey, I know. But I've thought this through a bit, and it's the best shot we've got. Seven straight-up refused to go, and I'm guessing you don't want to go either." He hastily added as I glared at him. "Plus, I have this sweet costume I made for Halloween night."

I frowned, "I am not even going to ask–"

"That's a first." Will muttered.

"… however," I continued, undeterred, "how would you get up there? Don't forget that we aren't in possession of the ship's location."

"It was just over the Atlantic a couple days ago." Oliver reminded us.

I scoffed, "It's a ship, it moves. Who knows where it is now!"

"We know that, genius." He snorted. "But you found it once, you can find it again, right?"

I suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable with both their eyes staring at me with a newfound intensity.

"Well… you see, it isn't that simple, it took me weeks to locate the Nemesis the first time—and that was just a desperate attempt to hoard its energon stores! We don't have weeks!"

"Can't you just check NASA's images?" Will suggested. "Or a conspiracy website? Because NASA's got a lot of satellites, one of them is bound to have seen something."

"And you think that 'something' would be available to the public?!"

"NASA does have to release all their images," Will argued.

Oliver cut in, "But they wouldn't want the public to know that giant robots walk, drive, or fly among them and that an alien warship is flying over their heads with enough firepower to level a city."

"Oliver," Will said, faking being serious, "lots of things go over people's heads."

Oliver punched him lightly, "Hey, help me get these wings on." he grabbed one that was connected to the thruster and shoved it at him.

"Maybe you shouldn't hit the people you want help from." Will mused, glancing at me as well. I rolled my optics, turning my attention to a series of scratches on the wall next to the makeshift berth for my clone. My gaze darkened.

"Oh, wait, I forgot you were allergic to work." Oliver groaned. His friend faked a sneeze.

"Seven!" I commed. "What is taking you? We have urgent matters to discuss!"

"Can't we… discuss it… over… this link?" He panted, pedes clacking in a rapid staccato against the floor.

"These are private frequencies," I agreed, "but, you never know who could have tapped the signal."

"… you never know who could have tapped the signal." Starscream's voice resonated from speakers throughout the inside of the MECH compound. It was followed by a small crack of static as the comm signal cut out.

"You could not be more right, Starscream." Silas purred. "A Transformer and its clone?"

"Two birds with one stone." A MECH soldier agreed, adjusting his grip on a pulse rifle.

Silas silenced him with a sweep of his hand, "Why stop at just one T-Cog, when we can open up an entire robot, another living machine?"

"Sir, what about the failure with the Transformer Breakdown?" Another soldier asked.

"That was hardly a failure!" Silas smirked, his eyes glittering with malice. "It was indeed unfortunate that we were unable to complete the procedure on poor Breakdown; however, we did accomplish the initiation of Project: Chimera." With a few swift taps across a screen, he pulled up a schematic of Optimus Prime's systems and pointed at his T-Cog. "This device here, this is the key. This is how they do it." He crossed his arms over his chest, already looking triumphant. "And it will transform our technology to surpass all others on this planet."

Silas paused his speech to analyze Starscream's T-Cog as it swung gently from a set of chains in the corner of the room as if pushed by an invisible breeze. Its multitude of sharp points glinted wickedly in the early morning light.

Silas' scars stretched across his face as his thin mouth widened into a sick grin. "All the living machines' technology will soon belong to MECH."

The soldiers took up a cheer.