Chapter 11: Flying Mind
Alarms sounded throughout the Nemesis and sparks flew.
"Dreadwing, damage report." Megatron instructed.
"We have suffered critical damage to all major systems, Lord Megatron. It will be some time to get the ship airborne." Dreadwing reported.
"Soundwave." The silent 'Con showed the feed of when Bulkhead smashed the power core. He stopped when the Wrecker smashed it and zoomed in. "So it was an Autobot who crippled my vessel. They will move quickly to exploit any perceived weakness."
"Surely they're not foolish enough to launch a direct assault, my liege." Knockout stated who is standing next to a drone.
"Optimus has grown decidedly more ruthless since our last encounter." Megatron proclaimed.
The commanders went down to the power core.
"Lord Megatron, as your physician, I strongly advise against this. Dark energon's regenerative properties are impressive. But the side effects, there's no telling how it might impact the ship."
"Dark energon courses through my veins. Infusing the warship will enable me to manipulate the craft as if we are one, and together, we shall crush Optimus Prime."
"...but when the Insecticons suddenly backed off, I got inspired by my proximity to the power core and did what I do best..." Bulkhead explained the events of yesterday. He punched his fists together.
"You trashed Megatron's ride like a rock star in a hotel room." Miko commented before high-fiving Ava.
"We should hit the 'Cons right now while they're vulnerable." Arcee suggested.
"Megatron's warship maybe grounded, but let's not forget that we remain vastly outnumbered. Especially since he added the Insecticon hive to his ranks." Ratchet added.
"Then maybe it's time for me to call in an air strike." Fowler suggested.
"Or for us to consider more extreme measures, Agent Fowler." Optimus corrected.
Optimus and Ratchet stood before a storage vault that stored a weapon. "The spark extractor?" Ratchet stepped forward. "Optimus, are you certain you want to travel down this path?"
"While I am deeply reluctant to deploy a weapon of this caliber, especially one forged by Decepticon hands, this may be our only chance to end the war once and for all."
On the Nemesis, a claw inserted a dark energon container in the power core entrance. Megatron pulled a lever up which caused something to push the box inside the core. The dark energon began to make its way throughout the ship as it changes colors. The hallways were more lit up and the computers turned to red with Cybertronian language as it appears to be decoding something.
"Yes, I can feel it." Megatron said.
Unfortunately, the Autobots detected the dark energon emanating from the warship.
"Optimus, I'm detecting a massive energy spike at the Decepticon crash site. It appears to be dark energon." Ratchet activated the portal when everyone was ready.
"Autobots, transform and roll out!" Optimus instructed. The Autobots did as told, but as Optimus was about to enter...
"Hold on, Prime." The said mech looked to the agent. "If you're going to deploy some kind of super weapon in a final showdown with the 'Cons, it's my job as a representative of planet Earth to bear witness."
Ratchet and Optimus just looked at each other before joining with the other Autobots. Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee remained in vehicle mode while Ava stared gaping at the airborne ship. The others transformed into robot form when Optimus joined them.
"Sweet lady liberty." Fowler gasped at the warship as he stood next to the techno.
Soundwave showed Megatron the Autobots' presence. "Optimus, you never disappoint."
Just then, the ship's weapons came out and aimed at the Autobots.
"Bumblebee, now." Optimus ordered. The scout screeched his tires as he drove towards the Nemesis. "Ava get Agent Fowler to cover." The techno and the agent ran to get cover. "Arcee, Bulkhead draw their fire." The three Autobots split up as Ava and Fowler watched the situation from their cover. Bumblebee continued to drive toward the Nemesis. "Once you launch the spark extractor, be sure to clear of its radius before it activates." Optimus instructed through the comm-link.
Bee transformed into his robot form and ran toward the Nemesis with the spark extractor in hand. Then, a satellite of some sort emerged from the ship and shot a purple laser beam. Bee tried to evade it, but the beam shot him and the scout dropped to the ground unconscious.
"Bumblebee!" Ava called out and went to aid him but Fowler pulled her back.
Arcee came running and grabbed the relic. "Mine."
But the satellite turret fired at the Autobot femme and caused the same result, something Ava noticed and the Decepticons as well.
"I didn't realize that the ship was equipped with a stasis beam." Knockout observed.
Bulkhead was the next one to grab the spark extractor but he didn't get far as he saw the ship already firing at him. Optimus' optics widen as he was the last one of the Autobot warriors so he charged forward. The Prime dodged the beam and grabbed the relic as the turret continued to fire. He jumped high into the air and prepared the relic but the turret re-directed its target and fired at the Prime, causing him to stiff and fall to the ground.
With her Sire down for the count, Ava finally decided to rush out on the battlefield to check and see if he's all right, ignoring Fowler as he called after her. Ava slid to her Sire's side and equipped her visor to check his vitals. When the visor completed the scan, she sighed in relief as he was just in stasis.
Her antennas twitched when a shot was fired. Ava jumped back before the blast hit where she was. She glared up at the Nemesis. She noticed one of the satellite blasters were aimed at her and Fowler. But she knew that the camera was focused on her, so she stuck her tongue out. Fowler saw this and face-palmed.
However, Megatron was smirking at her action. Then, the terminal zoomed in beside her and spotted the relic. "The spark extractor. Guide us closer so that I may collect what belongs to me. Destroy the Autobots and bring Prime's daughter to me." He ordered. Just then, the computers beeped when it decoded a set of coordinates and deactivated the weapons.
"Huh?" Both Fowler and Ava asked in confusion and saw the ship began to move.
Ava contacted Ratchet through her visor. "Team's down. Requesting medivac."
Megatron noticed that the ship wasn't doing as he instructed. "What?! Where are you going? I said closer!"
"Lord Megatron, the ship seems to be navigating itself." a drone reported.
"Override!" The tyrant ordered.
The drone tried but the response he got was an alarm sounding and the ship shook. Megatron growled in anger as he looked to the drone. "The systems are bypassing manual control..." the drone was suddenly electrocuted and fell to the ground.
A silence fell throughout the bridge. Knockout spoke his observance. "It appears that the ship now possesses a will of its own."
"Impossible! Trace the problem to its source and fix it!" Megatron ordered.
"Do not tamper with my systems." a deep voice suddenly spoke causing the 'Cons to look up. "This will be your only warning."
"Warning?"
"My mission assumes priority. Any Cybertronian who interferes will be neutralized." the voice threatened.
"My own vessel dares to address me in threatening tones?!"
Soundwave silently pointed to a computer with coordinates. Knockout walked to the computer. "It also seems to be doing a better job at decoding Project Iacon database than we were. It already deciphered a new set of coordinates."
Soundwave showed the location. "And judging by our current course, that is precisely where the ship is headed." Dreadwing added.
"As I desire." Megatron stated. "You see? This warship is nothing more than the extension of my very will."
"Your will means nothing. The Iacon artifacts will belong to me."
"I am Lord Megatron. I command you to cease operations!"
"You are no longer in command."
The ship sent a high frequency into Megatron's head, causing him to scream in pain and caress his head. When the pain stopped, Megatron stood back up. "Regain control of this vessel by any means necessary." Just as he said that, Soundwave sent out his tentacles to hack into the system but was shocked into stasis. "All hands - cut power to the mainframe and disconnect data relays now!" Megatron ordered over the comm-link. Everyone tried to regain control of the vessel but all were disabled.
Ratchet scanned the others who were still like a statue. "They're alive, but I've never encountered this form of stasis lock."
"The 'Cons are crossing the Atlantic making a bee-line for North America." Fowler announced as he approached the medic and stood beside Ava.
"Wait, we can track them?" Jack asked in confusion.
"Why aren't they cloaked like usual?" Raf asked.
"None of this makes a lick of sense. They had us in the cross hairs, but the 'Cons just took off."
"They even bailed on that spark extractor thingy."
"If the ship isn't cloaked, may be the communication relay's open..."
"Ep, ep, are you suggesting that we just call Megatron and ask him what's happening up there?" Ratchet asked. The humans kids just shrugged. The medic looked to Fowler and Ava who did the same action.
On the Nemesis, Knockout entered the same room Orion Pax was in and saw another set of coordinates.
"Lord Megatron, the computer has decrypted a second set of coordinates. Perhaps we should permit it to continue."
A satellite appeared behind him and fired. "I do not require permission."
"Autobot Outpost Omega One to Decepticon warship; Megatron please respond." Ratchet attempted to contact the warlord.
The silver titan sprinted through the halls until he reached the power core and grabbed the lever. "This mutiny ends now." A turret appeared behind and fired.
"Megatron." Ava attempted to reach the warlord. Silence.
"Megatron has been relieved of his command."
"Who is this?" Ratchet asked.
"Who is this?" The ship repeated.
"Have you taken control of the Decepticon vessel?"
"I am the vessel. Any Cybertronian who interferes with my mission will be neutralized." The ship showed the Autobots the frozen Decepticons.
"What mission?"
"Priority one - decrypt Iacon database and recover Decepticon technology."
"For what purpose?"
There was silence as the ship seemed to consider answering but it disconnected instead.
"It hung up? Rude." Miko commented.
"Rude?!" Fowler repeated. "There's a giant spaceship flying around collecting weapons of mass destruction."
"A giant spaceship filled with neutralized Decepticons." Ava stated.
"Point?"
"This could be our only chance to slip aboard and download the Iacon database."
"So Optimus can decode it." Raf added.
"Ingenious." Ratchet complimented. "I will infiltrate the Decepticon warship."
"Not ingenious." Jack objected. "You saw what it did to the Decepticons."
"Probably Megatron too." Raf added.
"And Team Prime." Miko added.
"But that thing had me dead in its site, and I'm still breathing." Fowler added.
"The ship may be blind to humans." Jack added.
Ratchet became silent as he considered what course of action to take. "Ava, I am sending you to download the Iacon database. You will need this." Ratchet pulled something from below the keypad and handed it to the techno.
"What is that?" Miko asked curiously as she touched it.
"It's a compatible transfer drive." Ava answered.
"A what?" Fowler asked in confusion which caused Ava to roll her eyes. She then jumped off the platform, landing in superhero style and entered the portal.
On the Nemesis, a portal opened and Ava appeared holding the drive in between her armpit. She equipped her visor and contacted Ratchet, "Ava to base, I'm in."
"Good. Their data core should be accessible from any console."
Ava walked down a hallway with several frozen Decepticons. When she reached an intersection, she turned right and paused when she spotted Knockout at the console. "Found one, but Knockout is there." she informed.
"Approach with caution Ava." Ratchet instructed.
Ava cautiously approached the Decepticon medic and when she reached him, she pounded his pede with her fist a couple times. No response. "Hmm, doc knock appears to be knocked out." Then a beeping noise brought Ava's attention to the screen and she saw that it already decoded three set of coordinates.
"The ship has already decoded three set of coordinates." She climbed on the 'Con and jumped onto the console when she reached it. Next she inserted the drive into the port. "Downloading Iacon database." Then another noise caught Ava's attention and she turned to a smaller screen that showed a map of the world. She then looked back at the bigger screen and saw the first set of coordinates were blinking. Her eyes widen in horror realization. "Uh-oh."
"What? What is it?"
"It appears the ship is heading for Manhattan because that's where the first set of coordinates are located."
"What would a relic from Cybertron be doing in the Big Apple?" Fowler asked, sitting in the roller chair.
"The Iacon relics landed on Earth eons ago, Agent Fowler. Long before the city was built on top of it." Ratchet explained through the comm-link.
"Which means if the ship wants this one, it may have to move some buildings out of the way." Ava explained further.
"Ava's mission just got complicated. How does she deter the ship?" Fowler asked.
"I would advise disabling the navigation module. Call up the main navigation manual." Ratchet instructed.
Ava nodded as if he was here and looked to her right. She jumped to the console keypad and reached to touch the gray spot, but was shocked with electricity causing her to scream in pain. She stumbled backward and off the console, grunting as she landed on the ground. Her vision starts to blur and starts to feel dizzy. She blinks to get her vision normal and shakes her head to shake the dizziness away.
"System access detected." Ava's eyes widen and she frantically looked for any cameras. She froze like a statue when she spotted the camera on the ceiling. "Intereference will not be tolerated." The ship searched for the one responsible but couldn't find anyone. "Reveal yourself!"
"It doesn't see me." Ava said.
"Yet. The ship must be must not be scanning for carbon-Cybertronian based life forms, but once it widens it's search parameters..."
"I'm toast." the techno finished.
"I am bridging you back."
"No. There are millions of lives at stake in New York and I am the only one who can do anything about it."
"Ava it's too dangerous. These readings, the ship's rapid recovery, all indicate that Megatron employed dark energon to repair it."
"Hold on. If you're saying that ship is fueled by dark energon, she can just... dump it, right?"
"Hmm... she will need to reverse the warship's energon infuser. Follow the main overhead conduits. They'll lead you to the power core."
Ava followed the conduits to the power core and froze when she entered the chamber. Just my luck. There, standing frozin in stasis was none other than Megatron..She breeathed and forced her feet to continue forward. "Looks like Megatron had the same idea." she informed as she starts to climb him.
"The energon injection can only be operated manually."
Ava jumped over the lever. She grunts as she starts to try and push with her body but it wouldn't budge. She backed off and pouts as she glared at it with her hands on her hips.
"I am infested with alien life forms!" the ship realized as it widened its parameters.
The techno gasped and looked up to see the injector looking at her. It lunged forward which she dodged by jumping off the console and rolling on the ground.
The injector faced the intruder. "All parasites will be eradicated."
She equipped her hammer and skates and backed up. She ran as fast as she could and doged the injector and swung her hammer, hitting the Deception leader. She dodged the injector again as Megatron slowly fell backwards from the impact.
She raised both her right arm and leg to shield herself from the incoming attack from the inserter but it froze "Critical power drain. I am in... command. Prepared to be... neutralized."
Ava relaxed her body and watched as a dark energon box emerger from the core. She then watched as the energon turned from purple to blue. When Megatron's arm suddenly moved down, she took that as her cue to leave. Megatron groaned as he caressed his head and looked to the lever and saw it was down.
Everyone that was frozen in stasis started to come back online. The kids cheered Ava when the Autobots came online.
"Yes, she did it!" Miko cheered.
"Thank the Allspark." Ratchet gratefully said.
Ava ran on her skates back to the console where Orion Pax was stationed. "Ratchet, fire up the Ground bridge!"
As she ran through the hallway, the 'Cons there came online. She skidded to a stop when she arrived at the console. She immediately noticed that the ship decrypted four set of coordinates. It's better than nothing. She thought and began to climb Knockout and tried to pull the drive out of the port, grunting as she did. However, she didn't notice that Knockout came back online until she heard venting so she glance behind her and and saw the mech smirking.
"Thanks for the save, and now you are to be punished." Knockout said as he tried to grab the teenager, but she dodged. "Hold still you brat."
Finally, Ava decided to end this and equip her hammer before hitting the Decepticon medic away. But he was knocked back when Ratchet stepped through toward the console and knocking him to his knees. Ava disengaged her hammer just before Ratchet picked her up and pulled the drive out of the port. Then he ran back into the portal just before Megatron arrived at the console.
Knockout groaned in pain and looked up and saw his leader in front of him. His optics widen, "My liege, I..."
"You let them escape..." Megatron looked to the screen and saw four coordinates. "with vital intelligence!"
In the Autobot base, Ava sat in the line chair with her legs pulled to her chest and head resting on her knees as she listened to the conversation.
"The download of the Iacon database might have been incomplete, but we now possess four sets of coordinates."
"Then we must act quickly for Megatron possesses the same four sets and he will not hesitate to obtain potential doomsfad devices."