A/N: Sorry for how long it has taken me to get this update out. It is a rather short chapter, but it is necessary to the plot development. You see, I have the climax and the epilogue already figured out, it's just been a total bear to try and get the segue from Ellie's repairs and character/relationship development of the OC's and the canon characters to the vital defining moment between them. So, figure one more chapter of set-up, which may be a while in coming, and then the last couple chapters should be rather soon after that. Again, sorry for how long it's taken me to get this out, but I haven't given up on this story. As always, please let me know what I did right or wrong. Tracy
Chapter Forty-seven:
The razor thin microbot silently slipped through the sparse vegetation surrounding the compound. He was able to get the coordinates of the base from Lugnut before Barricade had told the lug head not to let the info slip. Besides, the way he figured it, Starscream was still in command, technically, since Megatron was incapacitated. He just wouldn't bother to mention the simple fact that he was only following the vain seeker's orders because it also would get his master back as well. With Ravage gone, Soundwave was the only family he had left.
Turning his optic back to his task, he continued the slow process of mapping out the defenses and weaknesses of the facility. He wasn't too sure of the capabilities of these Spidrobots, but he knew that the scalpels were about defenseless. He figured he would prepare for the Autobot forces to be even more so, mostly so he didn't have to allow for it on the fly.
Slowly, he crept toward the drainage culvert the stolen blueprints had outlined. It was right where it was supposed to be, and covered with both bars and a steel mesh grate. The bars, he knew, would be easy to slip through, it was the mesh that would give the medic drones the problems. Resolutely, he began to cut out a small piece toward the bottom that would meet the spec's he had been given. It was larger than what a scalpel would need, it made him wonder; exactly how big where these Spidrobots?
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
The six Spidrobots stood in formation in front of Weaver, with Webster trying very hard to imitate them at the back. A small sound from their leader and they all instantly transformed into their alts. At the sound of the large pede falls, Weaver turned around and saluted Optimus Prime in a crisp, military manner. With his optics twinkling, he returned her gesture and quickly dropped his hand in an imitation of the human officers he had seen.
"You have your troops ready for inspection I see," he greeted the small, red femme.
An affirmative warble was the answer as she quickly assumed her alt form of a remote controlled helicopter. With a practiced optic, the prime looked over the assortment of mini-bots in their alts; Weaver was a red, remote controlled helicopter, Webber was a desert camouflage patterned, remote controlled tank, Spiral was a green, remote controlled military ambulance, Spinner was a white, remote controlled Cessna, Silks was a computer tablet with a multi-hued, tie-dyed patterned case and Webster was a blue microscope.
"Very good," Optimus praised them as they transformed. "You should be aware that your Energon levels might be picked up by various detectors Dr. Carlisle may have. We will alert Maestro to the fact so that he can disable any that may be onsite. I recommend you discuss with Jazz, Soundwave and Laserbeak how to disguise your signatures, just in case there are independent detectors present.
"I trust you have distributed the assignments?"
Weaver warbled an affirmative.
"Are there any questions about them?"
A series of beeps, whistles and chitters was the response.
"You wish to know about Ellie's status?"
They all nodded and looked at him hopefully.
"She is in recharge at the moment. Tomorrow, we will work on getting her used to walking on her new legs. Do not expect her to be released in time to aid in your deployment."
Webster uttered another complex string of sounds the Autobot commander easily translated.
"It will depend on how quickly she recovers. I doubt she will be permitted too far from med bay for at least the next several weeks."
Silks shyly chittered at him with her own question.
"Of course. You will be permitted to say 'good bye' before you leave. I am certain she would not allow you to go without seeing you off.
"She should be onlining in four hours or so. We will make certain you are permitted to see her at that time. You will be deploying in five hours.
"Any other questions about your assignments?"
None of the assembled bots had anything.
"Very well then, once you have checked over your gear, you will report to Ratchet for your physicals. You are dismissed."
Weaver saluted sharply then turned around to issue the order to her troops. Optimus carefully stepped over them and continued on his way. He was off to get the latest update from Maestro.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
Maestro was not happy with the latest development. Sure, he was glad to know where the "Lazarus" project was being housed, but he wasn't particularly happy about what it had entailed.
Quickly making a duplicate of the report Dr. Carlisle had been sent, he added it to the update he was preparing for Optimus Prime. It would seem that the project was not, as they had believed, the reanimation of humans using Cybertronian technology; it was the reanimation of Cybertronians being controlled by the humans.
Since it was a separate, independent facility, he was not able to just monitor it as he did with his current base. No, instead, he had to hack the feeds directly. Begrudgingly, he was impressed with the level of sophistication of the firewalls and other hacker traps, but he was still able to get into the database in under a minute. He just wouldn't mention that it took him ten point three seconds longer than his best time.
Suddenly, the sound of the Energon detector began to go off, quickly silenced by Maestro before the humans were aware. Accessing the security feed, he watched in amazement as a small, razor thin intruder made his way through the storm sewers.
"Hey! You dere!" he called as he transformed the security camera into a small humanoid shape. "Would ya be tha one called, 'Reedman'?"
The unknown intruder froze as he frantically tried to locate the voice. Finally, seeing the small bipedal form where the security camera obviously should have been, he addressed him. "Yes? Are you Maestro?"
"Aye lad! Thot I em. Would ya be scoutin' now?"
"Yes. I am trying to determine the best way to get the scalpels and spidrobots into the lab."
"Mmhmm, an' ya used the blueprints on file, did ye no'?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Doctor Carlisle has modified the base a goo' bit. All of the entrances an' exits ha' been booby-trapped an' outfitted wi' Energon detectors lad. Tha only way into the base wi'ou' detection is wi' help. My kind o' help."
"What do you propose?"
"Leave tha hole in tha grate as a secondary escape route, an' a diversion when ya'r mission is complete an' ya hafta evacuate. Instead, whot ya'r gunna do is locate tha maintenance shaft on tha west side o' tha base. Thar's a good bit o' phlox growin' thar that'll prove adequate cover fer ya all. It's a lightweight aluminum over tha cover, hidin' a carbon steel grate behin' it. Once yar through tha grate, there's a steel mesh jus' afore tha farst intersection. Takin' tha nor'east branch eigh' hundred feet will get ya to tha employee locker rooms. From thar, ya can get into tha heatin' an' air ducts to get to tha lab on tha other side o' tha base."
"Won't we be caught in the maintenance shaft?"
"I run tha security monitors. Ya will no' get caught. Tha only thin' ya may hafta worry over is tha noises ya make in tha air ducts.
"Even though tha Deadeye squadron ha' agreed to help, thar not tha only group on base. Ya hafta get past all o' them; especially tha Vulcuns."
"Yes, the ones with audial implants.
"What are the ducts made of?"
"Poin' nine aluminum."
"Then we will have to put some sort of mufflers on our pedes," Reedman speculated to himself. "Any suggestions?"
"Why no' duct tape?" Maestro asked as he chuckled with good humor.
"You know, that actually might work. Any idea where I can get some?"
"Up tha wall to yar right, tha access panel thar? It'll let ya inta tha electric access conduits. Turn ta yar left once yar in and follow tha straight fork. Once it dead ends inta a vertical shaft, go down ta tha next access panel. That'll lead ya inta tha maintenance supply room. Accordin' ta tha logs, thar's two full cases o' duct tape."
"And how should I get out?"
"Once ya get ta tha supply room, thar's a terminal thar. When I see ya, I'll give ya the real blueprints an' highlight the best escape an' entrance routes.
"Don' worry; all o' the janitorial closets are completely stocked, no one should have a need ta enter tha room."
"When will the bulk of the staff arrive?"
"Ya go' six hours an' forty-two minutes," he finished as the security camera transformed back into its alt mode.
Maestro watched the razor thin mech make short work of the access panel and disappear with a wave of his tail. He kept careful track of the weight distribution within the conduits to track the progress of this new being. As soon as he got into the supply room, he found the duct tape and approached the terminal. With practiced ease, the assimilation 'bot showed the other the blueprints, entrance and escape routes, location of their comrades' fallen bodies and the best places to hide.
Once he was certain the other had all of the info he needed to accomplish his mission, he turned off the terminal and assigned a smaller portion of his processor to tracking the razor mech. More of his attention was spent monitoring the progress of the reassembly, compiling the report to be sent to Prime and tracking the whereabouts of the Deadeyes. It wouldn't do for Dr. Carlisle to begin exterminating them, especially before the reintegration.
VVVVVBREAKVVVVV
Fig was nervous. The reason he was nervous was that most of the other members of his team were tense. Two-ten had been sent on an "intra-squadron training exercise." Those who weren't on duty were clustered around their squadron's day room, trying very hard not to appear to be watching the phone.
Idly, everyone was going through the motions of doing something else, but no one was really concentrating. They were all just waiting for word of Two-ten's fate. Most didn't think she would survive, so they were all just hoping she went quick and painless.
The shrill ringing of the phone had everyone jumping at once. Fearfully, they all began to look at each other to see who was going to answer the phone. Nobody wanted to be the one to get the news that their squadron leader was dead.
"Deadeyes!" Flaherty finally answered in an unusually reserved tone.
After listening intently to the receiver, his brows drew in confusion.
"No sir, she isn't back yet," he replied carefully.
The instant lightening of his features as he broke out into his trademark smile had everyone breathing a collective sigh of relief.
"Yes sir! As soon as she gets here, I'll tell her.
"Goodbye, sir."
As gently as he could, he set the phone back into its cradle before he let out a whoop of sheer joy.
"She's on her way back! She isn't dead! Alright!" he shouted as he began jumping around excitedly.
"What was the message you need to relay?" JJ asked, still skeptical.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I need to tell her that Carlisle wants to see her first thing tomorrow to discuss something about her leadership abilities."
"What about my leadership abilities?" a very exhausted looking Two-ten asked as she drug herself into the day room and dropped her gear.
"Two-ten! You're back!" Flaherty crowed as he practically tackled her with his exuberant hug.
"What happened?" JJ asked quietly.
"Don't know," she answered quietly as she extracted herself from Flaherty's hug and collapsed into the closest chair. "I was on my station, taking aim at my target when I get the call to move. Not even five minutes later, the exercise leader was where I had just left with a pair of binoculars up to his face. Whoever was the other side's sniper killed him with a bullet right through one of the lenses.
"Since I was the next highest, rank, I took command and changed tactics. Ended up capturing the whole other team."
"Well, that's what Carlisle wants to see you about," Fig announced.
"Most likely," Two-ten agreed.
"I'm just wondering how long it's going to take him to send you on more exercises," JJ admitted quietly.
"Probably, all too soon," she admitted, reluctantly.
A/N2: First of all, this is a replacement of the original chapter that was uploaded when I realized that I had forgotten to put in the POV breaks. Sorry about that. Secondly, I am truly sorry if I butchered Maestro's accent. It's supposed to be a Scottish brogue, so not really sure if I was able to adequately capture it or not. Anyway, enjoy the read! Tracy
