CHAPTER 50
More Danger
"You know boss, there is something I don't get." Swipe stared at Bloodshell quietly, flicking his pipe a bit "We have a human in our cargo hold. A commodity we haven't been able to even get near easily until now." He then added "He's our chance to try out their ability to make good pets or slaves." He then added "With the word getting around to the shops and all... A lot of people are interested in owning one, after all." He explained.
Swipe turned towards the cell that Jeff sat in the corner of silently. Though the boy had been known for his sharp wit and harsh tongue, the young human had said and done nothing. No doubt, he knew that they were not your average Decepticon, but rather after the highest profit they could make. "He doesn't look like he'd do much good at slave labor." He nodded "All bone, hardly any meat." He then added "But as an exotic pet?" He tilted his head "Mmmm, we could make a pretty nice profit if we take him back to the Decepticon outpost on Chaar." He then added "The younglings there have been requesting it."
Jeff lifted his head as the two smugglers spoke, a shiver moving up his spine. "I'm not an animal you dumb, fragged in the head, freaks." Jeff spat as the two turned to him, and the teen stood "Do you realize who you took, huh? The whole Autobot army is probably out looking for you right now." He then shook his head "You won't see a single drop of Energon."
"Oh, is that so?" Swipe snorted "Y'think because you're the adopted scum of a noble Praxian the whole world will come looking?"
More than the adopted son of one. Jeff thought, though he knew he would be dumb to point it out.
After all, a mech like this would love nothing more than the last Praxian youngling, let alone one with noble energon running through him. Jeff had a feeling his price would skyrocket by imagine if that became the case. "I'm still the son of one of their leaders." Jeff found a good excuse for the outburst "I've got a lot of friends in the Autobots too. A lot of friends you don't want to make enemies of." He put his hands on his hips "You really wanna press your luck, slagger?" He asked.
The slam of Swipe's fist against the forcefield knocked Jeff back onto his rump. Clearly, he realized, the large mech was not amused in the least by his tendencies to talk back. "You will silence yourself." Swipe stated cooly "Though your words do interest me, greatly, human." He peered towards Bloodshell "Blood, do you remember that half-Praxian youngling the Autobots supposedly found?"
Jeff could feel his stomach toss and turn as Bloodshell looked him over. His mouth curved into a full row of fangs, and the shield went down. "I do." Bloodshell spoke up "You talk a big game, like you're so important or something..." He chuckled "Tell me human, if I took a sample of your bloodstream what would I find?" He questioned "I can take it, or you could talk right now." He said with a tilt of his head.
Before Jeff could answer, he was lifted up, and a small prick in his arm sent a jolt of pain through him. It lasted a few seconds before Bloodshell set Jeff down easily, something Jeff knew could not be good. "Oh boss, you're going to love this." Bloodshell spoke up "Do you remember that noble, Osmar that we offlined a couple of years back?" Jeff's eyes widened slowly "This kid's not just half-Praxian. He's got the same type of Energon running through his veins."
Swipe looked at Jeff, who froze up in fear, with a look of pure glee. "Now, that is priceless." He stepped forward "Not only do we have the last Praxian youngling? But a noble one at that." He then added "This should make things interesting." Swipe sneered "I believe we haven't given the gutter rat a proper welcome." He explained, stepping forward towards Jeff "Being a noble certainly means we haven't accommodated him properly."
Jeff took his moment of fear as the chance to run, straight into the waiting hand of Froctyl. As he was lifted off the ground, he screamed, struggling and squirming as best as he could. "Should I find him a room?" Froctyl titled his head slightly "We should let our special guest get comfortable after all." He laughed a little "You're not going anywhere but straight into hands of the highest bidder kid." He explained.
"You can't do that!" Jeff shouted "My Dad-!"
"We killed your sire." Swipe chuckled "Imagine what we'll do to your "dad"." He then added "Put him in room 8a. He'll have a nice view as we leave orbit." He explained "And an even better one as I eliminate the Autobos that bring us our ransom." He laughed.
As Jeff was carried into a corridor, it was all that he could do to scream. Something he continued until his throat became horse and his body heavy. He was brought into a room, one with a recharge berth, and a single window. As Froctyl set his newfound "precious" cargo down slowly, he grinned. "Sit a spell, take a nap." Froctyl chuckled "You're not going anywhere for a very, very long time."
As Froctyl slammed and locked the door, Jeff simply sat there in fear that his words were more than true.
...
"The fact they even called him "gutter rat"."
"That's what we get for allowing his adoption story to be placed on the web." Ratchet grunted "Decepitcons like that would take great joy in teasing one by any means they could." He growled.
Prowl clenched a fist slightly, trying to keep his cool. It was one thing for Jeff to be kidnapped, that he could handle despite the fury. But him being kidnapped by those who took great joy in degrading him made his spark churn in the worst of ways. "How could I have left the apartment?" Prowl muttered "I thought Jeff would have woken up... I thought Bee would have gotten there in time." He then added "Even if they did sneak through the window, why did they have to take him?" He questioned.
"With his size." Optimus spoke up from the head of the table "It should be obvious. Jeff was vulnerable. They could take him without much of a struggle or noise made." He sighed quietly, feeling his own spark seethe with rage "What I worry is that they may determine Jeff's origins." He turned around slowly "I do not need to reiterate the fact that Jeff's standing as the only known Praxian youngling..." He shuddered "Let alone the offspring of a noble.." He stated quietly.
"If that happens they won't negotiate with anyone." Ratchet stated glumly "He's worth far more to him in the hands of his family's enemies."
Prowl slammed his fist hard against the wall at the very idea. Feeling a hand upon his shoulder, he turned quietly towards Cable. Though Prowl wanted to shrug his father off, he knew far better. "We won't let them take him, son." Cable stated calmly "Many tried this on you in your youngling years. None of them succeeded in taking you away from us permanently."
"On Cybertron we had enforcers assigned to protect the nobility." Prowl stated glumly.
The smack upside the head his father gave him, nearly knocked him to his knees. Cable stared down at his son, his optics going crossed slightly. "Jeff does not need your brooding son. He needs you to be strong." Cable stated bluntly "I never gave up on you when you were gone for more than a month of our time." He then added "You sure as pit are not giving up on your own son." He explained.
Prowl felt his optics peer down at the floor. He knew that Cable was right, he needed to gain control of his emotions. Though even at work, with his son in danger, it was a task much easier said than done. "Prowl?" Optimus spoke up "We are all frightened for Jeff's safety. All of us. But your father speaks the truth." Prowl looked up at his leader "Now more than ever we need you at your strongest if we are to find and rescue him." He explained.
Prowl slowly found his strength slowly, pulling himself to his feet. Slowly building up his stoic demeanor, Prowl nodded, signifying his relaxation. Yet as he stared around the room, he could see he was not the only one tense. In fact, the normally well composed Prime himself looked more worried than he had seen him in quite some time. "We're going to need a team in there." Prowl finally spoke up "I can't go in to get him alone. Who knows what they have waiting for us to come and get him."
"Bumblebee?" Optimus turned his head towards his youngling, who had said close to nothing "Get a hold of Mirage. We have much need for his stealth. I believe his ability to cloak could be our greatest ally in this mission." He explained calmly "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, Cable, and myself will also accompany you." Prowl nodded his head slightly "Have we a pinpoint on their location yet, Sideswipe?" He noted the silver mech as he stood by a computer.
Sideswipe slowly nodded his head in response. "And Sunny just told me through the bond he's rigged enough Energon to give those fraggers quite the show." Sideswipe stated as he cracked a knuckle slightly "They've taken Jeff through a space bridge given the signal from that message originates from the side of a dormant volcano originating in Hawaii." He explained.
"Two hours remain on the clock." Optimus spoke up "Jeff's safety is imperative, and we must not keep his captors waiting. Inform Mirage to space bridge and rendezvous with us as the volcano's base." He then spoke loudly "Autobots, roll out."
For a moment, Prowl lingered behind, fear still coursing through his spark. But within moments, he took off after the rest of the brood. His only hope and thought in his processor being that he prayed that nothing would happen to Jeff before they found him.
