So I'm able to write a little bit...but not like I used to. Grade is going up so that means just a little freedom! So.I wrote a little to celebrate with you guys. :)
Disclaimer-I do not own Transformers: Prime or Merlin.
Chapter 25
Wizard's Duel
"You know, I might not be the first human on Cybertron," Miko sighed, shooting Jack a glare.
Jack shrugged.
"But I can still be the first human exchange student!" she announced from Bulkhead's shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell us about the Omega Keys before?" Jack asked Arcee
"You probably didn't notice…" she replied, "But things have been kinda intense around her lately,"
"So you guys could really be going home soon, huh?" Raf asked.
"Don't worry Raf, you'll come visit!" Miko cheered, "Once we get our place set up he can bunk with us, right Bulk?"
"Uh…Miko?" Bulkhead muttered.
"You are taking me with you…right?" she asked.
"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves here?" Ratchet interrupted, cutting Bulkhead's answer off, "Not only do we lack any actual method of reaching Cybertron, but Starscream now controls the sole means of our planet's restoration,"
"As far as we know," Optimus growled.
"You think Starscream's rejoined the 'Cons?" Smokescreen asked.
"He might have used the Omega Keys to buy back Megatron's favor," Optimus said.
"Hmph!" Ratchet snorted, "Without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder? It wouldn't surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and…"
An incoming message alert cut him off.
"Ok, that's weird," Bulkhead said, staring at the screen.
"Is it Starscream?" Arcee asked.
"No…it is Dreadwing," Ratchet confirmed, "And he wants to meet,"
Dreadwing?
"And he says he's come alone…" Ratchet added, "And that he wishes just to talk, not fight,"
"It could be a trap," Jack supplied.
"I do not believe that Dreadwing would perform an act of trickery during negotiation," Optimus replied, "Dreadwing is an honorable soldier, he would not break the rules of a parley."
"So that means we're going?" Bulkhead asked.
"What if you go through the Groundbridge and KABOOM!" Miko yelled, flailing her arms, "Instant trash can!"
Everyone winced at that image.
"We will treat this like any other Decepticon encounter," Optimus assured everyone, "One false move on his part…and he will never make it to the first step,"
Ratchet opened the Groundbridge and they all walked through.
Jack turned towards Miko.
"How can you just leave your friends and family like that?" he asked her, "You're willing to go to a distant planet…with all the chance that you will never see your family again? How can you do that!?"
"I can always visit you know," she retorted.
"But what will your parents think?" Jack asked.
"I'm sure they'd be fine with it,"
"Fine with what?" he demanded, "That their daughter is leaving them and going to live on a distant planet with a bunch of…"
He stopped, sighing.
"Look, I'm sorry. I'm just a little frazzled…it's been a bad week," he admitted.
Miko raised an eyebrow.
"Bad week?" she repeated.
"Let's just say…we have to buy a new stove at work," Jack muttered, "I…kinda lost it…"
"Did anyone see you?" Raf asked.
"No, thankfully…but it made a very big boom…they think that some of the grease got into the flames…I mean…it was a total accident!"
"So you lost your temper on accident?" Miko asked, confused.
"No," Jack replied, shaking his head, "I lost control…it just happened. Maybe it's because I haven't used magic in over a week…and it's like a muscle spasm…it just flared after being cooped up so long,"
The Groundbridge reopened…and the team walked through…with this massive golden hammer tipped with silver and spinning and glowing in Optimus' servos.
"The Forge of Solus Prime…" Ratchet breathed.
"It's no Star Saber," Smokescreen admitted, "But I bet it can shatter Megatron's blade…and put some dents in that ugly mug of his,"
The kids snorted and tried turning their heads to keep from laughing…it didn't work.
"It's not that kind of hammer," Arcee sighed.
"With the Decepticons in possession of all four Omega Keys…a more appropriate use of the Forge would be to use it to replicate our own…" Ratchet added.
"Even with such power," Optimus stated, "their reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not possess,"
"We just better hope that Megatron doesn't destroy the Keys…to prevent anyone from going home," Arcee shrugged.
"Megatron may be evil..." Optimus started as he placed the hammer part to the floor and leaned on the base, "but I do believe he will use the Keys for their intended purpose,"
"Well I say we let him keep 'em and do the work for us!" Bulkhead said, earning him a look from everyone, "W-well I mean…what difference does it makes who restores Cybertron?"
"If Megatron revives Cybertron," Optimus continued, "he will no doubt use it to his political advantage,"
"Y-you w-what...y-you lost me," Bulkhead said, utterly confused.
"In all likelihood, the leader of the Decepticons will portray him as our planet's savior and brand all Autobots as war criminals," Optimus explained.
"The grand deception continues," Arcee sighed, tiredly.
"Megatron's so called achievement could influence Cybertron for eons to come," Ratchet added, "Poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens…hardly the idle way to begin a new age,"
"But there is hope," Optimus interrupted, "for while Megatron may have the Keys…he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega Lock itself,"
"Omega Lock?" Bulkhead asked.
"Wait…" Arcee said, turning towards the Prime, "Now you've lost me,"
"That which the four relics were designed to activate," Optimus said, "We must locate the device before Megatron does and secure it…until we can recover the Keys,"
"There are no other Iacon entries to decode," Ratchet pointed out, "This…lock…could be anywhere on Earth,"
"Actually," Optimus stated, "It is on Cybertron,"
"WHAT!?" everyone demanded.
"How do you know?" Ratchet cried.
The Prime swung the hammer over his shoulder and walked towards the Groundbridge.
"Alpha Trion revealed its location to me during the message conveyed by the Star Saber," he said as he walked.
"And you didn't think to tell us?" Ratchet asked, shocked and sad.
"Alpha Trion did not wish it so," Optimus stated, turning back towards the Groundbridge.
The group could hear the loud bangs and the crackle of electricity as Optimus swung the hammer.
"It's getting late," Arcee said, "Let's get the kids home so their parents don't worry,"
Later, in the garage, Jack turned towards his guardian.
"Do you want to go back to Cybertron?" he asked.
"Yes…and no," Arcee admitted, "Yes, because it's my home, and I want to see it the way I remember it…no, because I'd be leaving those I care about behind,"
"Right," Jack nodded, "Cybertron's atmosphere is poisonous to humans,"
"Yeah, well, it's late, and you have school tomorrow, so…I guess I'll see you then,"
"Alright," Jack shrugged, "'Night, Arcee,"
"'Night Jack,"
Fire burned in the middle of the courtyard, a dark haired man sprinted out of a doorway and stood on the steps.
"Merlin!" a strong voice yelled, "Where the hell have you been!?"
"Nowhere!" Jack's father yelled back, running towards the blond man.
"You're starting to make a habit of this!" the blond accused, "What's your excuse this time?"
Merlin froze, eyes wide in horror and fear as he looked past the blond.
"Come on Merlin, you can do better than that!" the blond snapped.
Merlin remained mute, instead raising a hand to point behind the blond.
The Blond frowned and turned…Jack nearly screamed.
Skeletons. Live skeletons…with swords…coming at his dad, their bony feet making soft clicking noises on the cobblestones.
What in the world did his father get into!?
The blond came up to the first skeleton and it swung at him. The blond ducked back, parrying and blocking each of the skeleton's blows.
The blond then stabbed the skeleton in the midsection. It stared at the sword in its 'stomach' before looking up at the blond, shrugging, and attacking again.
A second skeleton came towards Merlin. The sorcerer looked at it, then down at the ground before dancing backwards and grabbing a sword for himself.
He started dueling, and although he lacked the same discipline that the blond…Jack assumed was Prince Arthur…had…Merlin was quite accomplished with the blade.
He sliced the skeleton's arm off. It looked at him…and knocked Merlin off his feet.
Arthur ran up and stabbed the skeleton…right as Merlin looked down at the arm and noticed it skittering towards him!
Merlin let out a startled yell and started whacking at the arm much like one would at a whack-a-mole game…
Before he lost control of his powers and the arm froze in mid-air.
Merlin leaped upwards and punted the arm far across the courtyard before he and Arthur ran into the palace and up the stairs.
"You need to warn Gaius," Arthur ordered, readying his sword, "tell him to seal off the hospital,"
Click, click, click.
Merlin didn't move, he watched as the skeleton's silhouette crept closer and closer.
"Merlin do as I say!" Arthur snapped, turning back to the sorcerer.
And Merlin ran.
Right as the skeleton came up the stairs.
"AH!" Jack yelled, jolting upwards.
The light to his room flicked on.
"You ok?" June asked.
"Just a nightmare," Jack reassured her.
His mother sat down on the edge of his bed.
"You sure?"
"I'm fine,"
"You know you can always talk to me,"
"I know…but I don't think you'd understand,"
"Try me,"
Jack sighed.
"I've been getting these weird dreams lately…some of them good…some not so much," he admitted, "All of them have Dad in them,"
"Your father…?"
"Yeah, like…dreams of when he was younger…like when Arthur was still alive," Jack explained, "It's like I'm watching his memories…weird huh?"
"Depends," June shrugged, "I mean, my husband is a thousands of years old sorcerer, my son is a sorcerer too, and said son also has gotten himself neck deep into a centuries old war with giant transforming alien robots as the fighters! Have I missed anything on the strange meter?"
"Well…you forgot that one of said alien robots is your son's motorcycle,"
June laughed and ruffled her son's hair.
"I'm sure everything is fine," she assured him, "Just a bad dream, now…go to sleep. You've got school in the morning,"
Jack nodded and pulled his covers up as June turned off the light.
…
The next day, after school, Jack hurried to his locker, eager to get back out of the building…
SLAM!
Jack barely avoided getting his nose caught in the closing locker door.
Vince glared at the young sorcerer.
"Darby, you and I have a score to settle," he growled.
"Not today, Vince, ok?" Jack asked, reopening his locker.
Vince slammed it shut once again.
Jack sighed and pried Vince's fingers off again.
"I don't have time for this, Vince," Jack warned.
Miko and Raf walked down the hall, they had gotten their things together already and were going to meet Jack on the front steps…when Raf froze.
"Miko," he whispered hoarsely as he looked down the almost abandoned hallway.
"What?" she asked, looking in the same direction…and her eyes widened.
Vince had Jack cornered…and the two younger students knew from experience that backing Jack into a corner was the last thing someone wanted to do.
Because Jack lashed out if he felt like he was trapped.
"Vince, please, back off," Jack warned, trying to get away.
Vince gave a harsh bark of laughter and kept advancing.
"I mean it!" Jack pleaded.
"Would that be begging I hear?" Vince sneered.
"Leave him alone Vinny!" Miko snapped.
Vince lazily turned around.
"Well if it isn't the geek and the punk," the bully said, "I'll deal with you two later…once I'm done with Darby,"
Raf took one look at Jack and instantly started to worry.
Jack was very nearly vibrating with tension, trying to hold his power back, but he was starting to fail.
Miko noticed that her friend's irises were starting to gain a gold tint to them and both she and Raf knew that there wasn't much time.
Either they get Vince away from Jack now…or Vince got seriously hurt.
They opted for the first choice.
Miko lunged forwards, slamming into Vince's side and Raf rammed into the bully's legs…right as a gust of wind…or something much more powerful rushed over their heads.
"What the!?" Vince snarled, shoving both younger students out of the way, "Having little kids fight your fights, Darby? That's lame,"
And he stalked off as Jack got up. Said warlock started after him, fists clenched but Miko and Raf stopped him.
"He's not worth it," Miko answered.
"That guy just…" Jack growled, closing his eyes, "I just want to…"
"We know…but as Miko said, he's not worth it," Raf said.
"He's such a Clotpole," Jack huffed as he picked up his stuff and the three walked out, "And a prat,"
"If you want my opinion," Miko added, "I would have let you zap him,"
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because you'd regret it later…I mean, you would and your mom would…maybe even your dad. Oh, and don't forget the 'Bots, well, Ratchet might have just let you do it," Miko shrugged, "But I know Optimus would be upset,"
"Speaking of 'Bots…" Jack started, "Where are they?"
The parking lot was empty.
So the three sat down on the front steps, and waited.
And waited.
And waited…
And they waited some more…
"Duuude!" Miko moaned, lying on the stairs, "Just call the Hatchet and see if he'll 'Bridge us to Base!"
Jack nodded, took out his cell phone and dialed.
"Optimus?" Ratchet's voice asked.
"Uh, no, Ratchet, its Jack," Jack said, "Is something wrong…'cause school's been out for almost an hour and…no one's come to pick us up…"
"That is because the entire team is rather…indisposed…at the moment," the medic huffed, "I suggest you obtain an alternate method of transport,"
Miko jumped down from the stairs.
"What's he saying?" she asked.
"The…'Bots are busy," Jack said as he waved her off.
"Then tell Ratchet to come get us!" she groaned, "It's not like he has anything else to do!"
Jack cringed, making Ratchet mad…not a good idea. Not good at all.
"Just, go home!" Ratchet snapped, "I will be in touch later!"
And he hung up.
Jack turned to the others.
"He hung up," he said, shrugging.
"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?" Miko asked.
"Did Ratchet tell you what's going on?" Raf asked.
"No," Jack replied, "They seem to be keeping us in the dark a lot lately,"
The trio got up and started walking down the stairs.
"Maybe they've got a good reason to be keeping secrets?" Raf asked.
"Maybe they're getting their revenge on Jack," Miko suggested.
"Hold up!" Jack protested, "What did I do!?"
"Well…you did hide your family secret from them,"
"She's got a point there,"
"Guys…that was different," Jack sighed, "I was protecting them all from Morgana and…"
"And who might I ask?" a dark, cold voice asked.
Jack whirled around, eyes wide as his dark blue gaze lit upon the light grey gaze of the dark clothed man before him.
"Mordred!" Jack gasped, putting his friends behind him.
"The guy I brained back in the cave?!" Miko demanded.
"Ah, you," Mordred growled darkly, "I've got a score to settle with you little wench,"
"I am not a tool!" Miko protested.
"Wench, Miko," Jack corrected, "Not wrench,"
"It doesn't matter, son of Emrys," Mordred said, "You're coming with me, and that is for certain,"
He raised his hand and Miko and Raf were sent flying.
"Or you watch your friends die," the dark sorcerer replied.
Jack looked at his friends trying to get up. If he could break Mordred's concentration…they might have a chance!
The young sorcerer looked up.
"Lig-fyr onbærne swathe!" Jack called, eyes blazing as fire leapt up around Mordred.
"Acwence tha bælblysse!" Mordred shouted back.
The flames started to falter. Jack looked back at his friends who were standing.
"GO!" he shouted.
But they remained where they were.
Mordred stepped out of the blaze and Jack gave a shout of anger.
"FYR WITHERE!" he screamed and the flames leaped even higher than before.
But once again, Mordred extinguished it.
Jack started backing up into the alleyway, eyes glowing as he did.
"Ic her accigie ænne windraes! Færblæd waw!" he started, raising an arm and not taking his eyes off Mordred, Miko and Raf noticed the wind started to pick up, "Windræs ungetermed: ge hier!"
The sky darkened and Mordred frowned.
"What are you doing, child?" he asked.
"That's what we want to know," Raf whimpered, grabbing onto his eldest friend.
"I don't like this…" Miko added, grabbing Jack's other arm.
"Ic de bebeod mid ealle strangesse daet du geblawest ond syrmest strange! Gespurn peos Mordred!" Jack finished, nearly screaming out the last words.
Suddenly a full scale whirlwind surrounded the older sorcerer, and he was knocked off his feet…and clear across the street, landing in a crumpled heap.
He didn't move.
Jack groaned and fell to his knees. That spell was advanced magic…and it had taken a lot out of him.
"Raf, help me get him up," Miko ordered, slinging Jack's arm around her shoulder.
And together the three of them staggered towards Jack's house.
Or, rather, they were…until Raf noticed a slick red sports car parked right in front of them.
With the Decepticon's insignia on it.
"Guys," Raf warned, "It's Knockout…"
"Doc Knock is here?" Miko demanded.
"What are we going to do…?" Raf asked, frightened.
"Run," Jack growled, "Go!"
"But what about you?" Miko asked.
"I'll…distract him," the sorcerer supplied, "Just go!"
"But Jack…!"
"No buts, just go!" he ordered.
He tried to stand…but he fell almost immediately.
"Seems like someone is all tired out," Knockout hummed, transforming and grabbing all three of them, "And to think they said it would be difficult to catch you with the Autobots around…"
Jack glared at him, eyes glinting…
And a sign came loose from a storefront, slamming into the side of Knockout's helm.
The vain Decepticon screeched angrily, dropping the three kids who then tried to make a run for it.
They ran right into Starscream and Soundwave's open servos.
Soundwave caught Miko in his servo and Raf with one of his tentacles while Starscream caught Jack in his servo.
The young sorcerer kicked and struggled weakly.
"Onlucan me!" Jack cried, his eyes dimly flashing "Onlu-onlucan m-me,"
Starscream gave a low growl of pain and shock as his servo started to open not of its own accord…and he dropped Jack into a container, the boy hitting the bottom with a sickening thud.
"JACK!" Miko and Raf screamed as they too were put in glass containers.
Soundwave silently handed Knockout Miko's container.
"Hey, Pretty-'Con," Miko snarled, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size? Lemme outta this container and let's settle this like…"
"I'm afraid that where we're going…you won't want me to open the container, fleshy," Knockout hissed.
"Where are we going?" Jack asked tiredly as he leaned on the glass to keep from falling over.
An image flashed on Soundwave's visor.
"Cybertron?!" Raf squeaked.
Miko and Jack's eyes widened.
They were going to the Autobot and Decepticon homeworld?!
A Spacebridge opened and the three Decepticons walked through it with their human captives.
"Hand over those Keys," Megatron growled.
"And why would we do that?" Smokescreen snorted.
The Spacebridge burst to life…
And Optimus watched as Starscream, Knockout and Soundwave walked out of the Spacebridge…with Miko, Raf and Jack in hand.
Tension filled the ranks.
Bumblebee's vocal processor nearly blew out from the stress as he watched his charge being carried out.
Bulkhead clenched his servos as he saw Miko in the claws of Knockout, he knew what Knockout did to femmes…and he didn't want that happening to his charge.
Arcee watched, frozen as Jack pressed his hands on the glass, his dim blue-gold eyes flicking to each and every Autobot's optics.
Smokescreen stared at the new low the Decepticons had stooped to, he hadn't really thought that Megatron would do this.
Optimus stood stoically, glaring at Megatron and the new low he had sunk to.
"So that I may hand over the humans!" the Decepticon Leader replied, with a shark-like grin.
"And if we refuse?" the Prime growled through his battlemask.
The Decepticon stalked closer to the Autobot Leader, until they were in each other's faceplates.
"Then I will have no choice but to open the pods…" Megatron purred, "Exposing your pets to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere."
He glanced back at the human children.
"And then…we can all watch them instantly perish…" Megatron finished, "Together,"
"NOOOO!" Merlin shrieked angrily pounding his fists on the crystals until they bled, "LET HIM GO! YOU MONSTER! YOU SON OF A…!"
"Merlin!" Gwen shouted running in as Merlin sank to the floor, Arthur, Gaius and Lancelot not too far behind, "What's wrong?"
The sorcerer clung to the crystals, his blood staining their pure whiteness as he screamed.
Gwen held him but he kept struggling to push her away.
"HE HAS MY SON!" Merlin howled, "HE'S GOING TO KILL MY SON!"
Arthur took a look at the scene still playing out in the crystals and shook as he saw his best friend's son held captive like some sort of pet.
"He has my son," Merlin sobbed, "And I can't do anything! I have to stay here and watch him die!"
"No you don't," Arthur murmured.
"What do you mean Arthur?" Gwen asked.
"Because that one Autobot is not going to let Jack die," the King replied.
"How do you know?" Gaius asked.
"Because I know a true leader, a noble leader when I see one," Arthur replied, "And that blue and red Autobot…the Prime…I have a feeling he'd rather die himself than have anything happen to these three children,"
We're getting closer to the end of season 2! So...should I have Megsy find out about Jack in Darkest Hour or in Darkmount, NV? Let me know!
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please R&R! :)
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.