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Trials, Tribulations and Transformations

XXIV - Zero Hour Part Five

Palisade, CO - May 8th, 2011 - Sunday, 1:00 pm

The Peach Capital of Colorado was looking quite splendid this time of year, Optimus thought. The Palisade Mountain Summit was especially calming to view on the road.

It took some very tricky maneuvering, but with his advanced GPS access to nature trails that can be accessed by a big rig as well as his advanced driving skills, Optimus Prime had made immense progress in making his way across the country in the time that he did.

And so far, his travels have been unobstructed.

While his own journey to the base's new location was relatively without incident, it was a troubling one for him. The fear for the lives of his Autobots and human allies weighed heavy on his spark like an ocean.

It has been over six hours since the Autobots made their departure and in the short while that they had separated, Optimus' mind and spark had been in turmoil.

If there was ever a time we needed reinforcements, I don't believe there was ever a more desperate time than this very moment.

Before Optimus could make another turn, his internal sensors went off.

Incoming bogies.

Dozens of them.

Danger.

Optimus made another turn but instead of going on the open road, he went off-road and head for certain crevices in, gaps in between the mountains of the Palisade Summit.

Small spaces would be necessary in dealing with superior numbers. The cover would also be necessary in staying out of sight.

Once he had found an acceptable cavern to conceal his trailer, Optimus transformed. He approached a hidden compartment and with a slight, soft jab, it flipped open revealing an ion blaster gleaming in black.

It had the appearance of an automatic heavy rifle in jet-black with a massive tubelike barrel about his large as Optimus' forearm.

Not my weapon of choice given its devastating firepower, but I cannot spare the Energon that I need to make it to the base's new location.

Optimus took a clip and jammed it into the blaster's clip port. Then he cocked it. It was now locked and loaded.

Hearing the sound of many flyers transforming and landing several kliks away,

The sound that followed was that of Energon weapons brandishing and charging.

Optimus held his breath as he cradled the ion blaster in his arms.

They were coming and they were getting closer.

And then he closed his protective mouth plate, ever so softly.

In a few mere moments, they would have made their way to the opening of the cave.

And whatever turmoil resonated in Optimus' optics, now there was only determination and resolve.

With grace and strength, and a mighty battle cry, Optimus leapt out of the cave, his ion blaster at the ready.

And then the shooting began.

Santa Fe, NM - 1:00 pm

"So your dad was a marine?"

Jack nodded. "Yup. 14th Regiment. He was a sniper."

Miko's eyes were glowing with wonder. "Whoa."

"And during the Gulf War, when he got injured, guess who was his nurse?"

Miko's eyes shined all the more and she squealed in delight. "Your mom?!"

Jack nodded with a goofy grin on his face. "And here's the thing: after my dad got out of surgery, he was still pretty woozy because of the painkillers. When he was waking up, mom was right over him and he said, 'An angel. I must be in Heaven.'"

"Aww!" Miko almost shrieked. "That is so cheesy but that is so sweet!"

Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Yeeeeeahhhh, it was pretty cheesy."

"Sooooo Mr Darby," Miko said cheekily, fluttering her eyelashes. "Do you think I look like an angel?"

Jack's face turned red-hot. He chuckled nervously. "I'd have to say...well…"

Miko elbowed him in the ribs. "C'mon! Don't be a prude!"

"Miko."

If Miko still had her lotus flower pigtails, they'd be rigid at this moment. "Y-Yeah Arcee?"

Arcee turned from the base mainframe to look at the exchange student. She had a coy smile on her faceplate. "Go easy on flustering Jack, you might give him a heart attack."

Miko giggled. "If he can face down a robot spider psycho, twice, I think he can take a little smooth talking, especially when he's not the one doing it."

Arcee shrugged her shoulders. "Fair enough."

Jack looked less than impressed. "I resent that."

"Sooooo?"

Jack turned back to look at Miko and nearly recoiled when he saw how close her face was to his.

"So?" Jack said nervously.

"Didn't answer my question," Miko said cheekily.

"Uh...well…I'd have to say...better."

"Better?"

Jack nodded, cheeks still red. He avoided eye contact with Miko and started rubbing the back of his head, a habit she became quite familiar when Jack was nervous.

"Better as in angels are certainly radiant but you, you got a natural radiance about you that is…" Jack swallowed. "Well, let's say it's really something."

Miko has a rather perplexing look on her face as though she had never heard something like that being said to her.

She hadn't.

It was perhaps the strangest and the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.

It was also perhaps the funniest.

Miko barely had time to cover her mouth before bursts of uncontrollable giggles came through.

Now her face was turning red, not from embarrassment but from the laughing.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked sounding embarrassed and somewhat irate.

"I-I'm sorry," Miko said in between giggles. "That was...that was so funny and cute!"

Jack choked. His face seemed to get so red, it looked like his head was turning into a radish.

This only seemed to cause Miko to bust out laughing all the more.

She cackled like a mad woman. She was on her back, her hands gripping her stomach, kicking her legs out, and tears rolling down her cheeks.

And if it were not enough, Arcee had turned from her station just long enough to see Jack's tomato like face and she had to cover her mouth to prevent from laughing out loud.

Jack noticed at once. "Arcee!" He whined. "Not you too!"

I'm...I'm sorry," Arcee said, coughing in an attempt to cover up her laughter. "You're just funny is all."

Jack, a good sport though he was, covered his reddened face with both hands, praying to God that the blood rising to his face would dissipate quickly.

Wiping her eyes, Miko got to her feet. "Oh lighten up Jackrabbit, we're not teasing you or anything."

"I know," Jack said, still covering his face. "This is just new is all."

Managing to regain her composure, Miko took a long look at Jack and then, adopting a light look of regret, she took hold of Jack's hands and pulled them away from his face.

He didn't resist, not wanting to in any way manhandle the girl he was dating.

"I'm sorry for laughing Jack, it's just...well…" Now her face started turning red, this time out of bashfulness. "You were…um...pretty friggin adorable there."

Jack was starting to feel faint.

What's wrong with me? Why am I getting so flustered?!

"Are you ok?" Miko asked.

"Just...give me a second," Jack said as he went to find something to sit on.

A metal crate would have to do.

Jack slumped down, trying to catch his breath.

"Geez Jack, you're not getting sick are ya?" Miko asked.

"No, I'm not." Jack pulled on the collar of his shirt. "Just really warm."

Arcee pursed her lip. "I can increase the flow of the air filter if you like?"

Jack waved his hand dismissively. "No no, it's fine. I just...need a sec."

Miko sat next to him. She noticed that his jet-black hair was a bit disheveled, a few strands stuck to his forehead due to perspiration. With her middle finger, she moved a few strands so she could get a better look at his ocean-blue eyes.

The eyes she came to adore.

"You're not used to this are you?" Miko asked softly.

"Well...no." Jack turned to look at Miko. "I've never actually been on an actual date before. Heck, I've never had a girlfriend before."

"What about your ride with Sierra?"

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "We just had that one ride and then we parted ways. That's all."

"So…" Miko said twiddling her forefingers. "I'm your first? For real?"

"Well...yes."

Jack smiled warmly and she returned the smile. She averted her eyes nervously. Jack did much the same and cleared his throat.

"And that is why you're so bashful?"

Jack gulped. "I just…" He started. "I just never felt this way about anyone, not even Sierra."

Miko pushed some hair behind her ear, a habit that Jack became quite accustomed to whenever she was nervous.

"Really?"

Jack's smile widened which caused Miko's heart to skip a beat. "Really really."

Miko giggled. "I love that movie."

"What movie?"

"Uh Shrek? That line, really really?"

"Oh," Jack said as though he had remembered. "That's where I got it from."

Miko covered her mouth. This time she managed to prevent any sound of laughter from escaping.

"So how's your parents meet?" Jack asked.

Miko became rigid. "What?"

"Your biological parents, how'd they meet?"

Miko looked downward. "They...don't really talk about stuff like that."

Jack frowned. "But you have talked."

"When they have time, I guess."

Jack looked at Miko, furrowing his brow in thought. We never talked about her home life before. Except that one time when she came to my house for the first time.

"You told me you have loving parents."

"I do!" Miko said, a bit too quickly.

Jack stared at her, not entirely convinced.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Miko started biting her bottom lip. "Not really."

Jack put a hand on her shoulder. "You know you can tell me anything right?"

Miko looked at him, smiling. "I know." She lost her smile. "I'm just not ready to talk about certain things."

"You know the best way to deal with your problems is to face them."

Miko pursed her lip. "Not yet."

There was disappointment in Jack's eyes but he nodded. "Whenever you're ready?"

Miko laid her head on his shoulder and Jack leaned his own head on hers.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

Miko had her eyes closed, smiling all the while as she continued to savor the joy of Jack's company and touch. But her lightning fast mind, ever in the works, a burning question sprang forty, one she had not bothered to ask until now.

"Hey Arcee?"

"Yes?"

"What were you before the war?"

Arcee stopped typing with a start. "What made you think of that all of a sudden?"

"Well, Bulkhead told me he was a construction worker, but I don't know what you guys used to do. I never asked because...because I was afraid of hurting your feelings."

Arcee smiled. "Think nothing of it. No one has really asked me that, not in a long time, and frankly…" She chuckled. "You are the first human to ask me that question."

Miko's mouth dropped. "Really?! No human has asked, not even Jack?!"

Jack looked rather bashful. "I guess the question never occurred to me. I can't believe I haven't thought to ask." He looked up to Arcee. "Sorry Arcee."

Arcee waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. And an answer to your question Miko, I was a school teacher."

Jack and Miko, their eyes practically popping, did a double take on the two-wheeler. "WHAT?!" they both said in unison.

Arcee looked sheepish.

"You?" Miko said pointing a finger. "A teacher?"

"Is that so surprising Miko?"

"Well, you don't really seem the type."

Arcee sighed. "I wasn't a teacher for very long. When the war reached Iacon, everything changed."

"What happened?" Miko asked.

Arcee paused in her motion before answering. "That is a very long story."

"No better time than now for a long story Arcee," Jack said. "We'll need something to pass the time while we wait Optimus out."

Arcee regarded Jack with weary concern. "It might be a bit intense for you both."

Miko scoffed. "He beat a friggin spider 'Con and we both survived a deadly high-speed chase with a band of mercenaries. I think we can handle an old war story."

Jack squeezes Miko's hand, indicating for her to stop. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to Arcee."

"I will," she said firmly. "I think it will do me good to talk about it."

"If you're sure," Jack said.

"I am."

Undisclosed Location - 1:30 pm

The Rocky Mountains.

A grand mountain range in the Americas, known for its enormity, its grand heights and length, and its beauty.

Because of the elevation of its peaks, because air pressure decreases as the altitude increases, the temperature drops. The higher it gets, the greater the loss of atmosphere.

However, if you're an Autobot or Decepticon, such things are merely a trifle.

"Blaster, how far am I along now?"

"Your objective is just a few kliks above you Jazz."

The Special Operations Chief of the Autobots grabbed onto another outcropping of the mountain side he was currently scaling.

It had been a little more than half an hour since he began climbing.

And he climbed with earnest.

Lives were at stake after all.

Not just the life of a fellow Autobot but also the lives of two human allies.

"How's Bulkhead's signal looking?" Jazz asked.

"His life signal is relatively unchanged but judging by his vitals, it doesn't look good."

Jazz's spark clenched as though it was being squeezed. "Are you saying they might be torturing the big lug right now?!"

Jazz could hear a woeful sigh from his end of his comm unit. "I hate to say it but if half of what we learned of this MECH is true, it is more than likely that Bulkhead is now one of their latest lab experiments."

Jazz clenched his teeth.

Anger radiated in his spark like a whirlwind.

He doubled his effort to reach the top of the mountain.

"Jazz, I can read your vitals. Be cool. People are counting on you."

Jazz vented deeply. "I know. What's your ETA?"

"Give me 10 minutes."

"Alright, just hurry bud."

"Hey it's me Jazz, when I make a promise, I keep it."

1 Hour, 45 Minutes Earlier

Boulder, CO - 11:45 am

Jazz's landing was less than graceful. And no sooner had he managed to crawl out of the crater his pod made did he receive a distress call.

And it wasn't good news.

"Come again?"

"This human organization known as MECH has taken off with Bulkhead, along with two human captives, both allies of Team Prime."

Jazz cursed inwardly. "Where are they heading Sideswipe?"

"North, towards the mountains.

Jazz immediately made his way in that direction. He transformed and rolled out.

"I'm on my way now!"

"You need me and Sunny to back you up?"

"No, your priority is to keep the human kids you snagged safe, got it?"

There was a pause on the end. "You're sure?"

"Yes!" Jazz said sternly. "Those kids are under Prime's protection. See to it that they stay protected."

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

"Don't be sorry Swipes," Jazz said humbly. "Stay cool and stay sharp. Jazz out."

As Jazz made his way to the main road, he activated his comm unit once again.

"Blaster, you read me?"

"Loud and clear bro."

"Did you get all that?"

"Sure did, I'm on route to Bulkhead's position now, but we gotta approach with caution, stealthy like."

"I hear ya. Are the boys feeling frisky today?"

Jazz heard a hearty, raucous laugh that was so loud, it was almost grating on his audio receptors. "Oh believe me Jazz man, they're ready to rock and roll."

Jazz grinned inwardly. "Solid."

Palisade, CO - 1:45 pm

These are not mere grunts. These are Megatron's more capable footsoldiers.

Optimus had his back pressed against a large boulder in the canyon way of the Summit. The barrel of his ion blaster was smoking heavily. The canyon way had become littered with Decepticon casualties.

"Surrender Prime! There is no escape!"

Optimus narrowed his eyes, his teeth clenching from behind his war mask.

"I know you can hear me Prime! Surrender! In the name of Megatron!"

Because of the acoustics of the canyon, Optimus did not need to raise his voice for his answer to reach the Decepticon who addressed him.

"No."

Optimus applies a new energy clip to his ion blaster and he charged it.

He crouched, his weapon at the ready, and he leapt.

He opened fire.

Two Eradicons on the ground went down. One Eradicon in flight mode was shot down and crashed, hitting three other Con troopers.

But more kept coming.

I have to keep fighting. The tech cannot fall into their hands. The lives of my Autobots and human allies depend on the success of this mission.

Optimus took notice of the barely perceptible mist of steam rising from the gaps in his armor.

This battle has actually made him break a sweat.

It has been a long time since I've been pushed into a combat situation of this magnitude. I had almost forgotten what my own condensation looked like.

Optimus continued in his onslaught and it wasn't until the increasing numbers began to wane that the Decepticons began to falter in their performance.

Some of them have even began to retreat.

And soon enough, all of them have cleared out.

Optimus watched them go.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Optimus deactivated his war mask and holstered his blaster onto his back.

With a heavy spark, he evaluated the battlefield. 29 sparks were extinguished this day. 29 living souls were wasted this day.

They left me no choice.

The silence was broken by a heavy thwip, like a slimy substance had been ejected from a considerable distance.

Optimus recognized the sound too late.

He felt a great impact on his back.

He resisted the temptation to reach for his weapon. He already knew it had been glued to his back and if he tried to wrench it free, his hand would get stuck.

In the blink of an optic, Optimus brandished his dual blasters and he turned them in the direction of where the wad of webbing came from.

There was no sign of the assassin.

"Too slow Prime."

That voice came from above him.

The next thing he knew, Optimus was on his back, glued to the ground, his blasters pinned to his chest.

He struggled but it was no use.

Airachnid, with her many legs, was scaling the canyon wall. She had the most hideous, the most smile on her face before she pounced on the Prime.

"Isn't it odd that not too long ago, I had you at my mercy when I wielded the power of the Immobilizer?"

"You…" Optimus groaned as he continued to struggle. "You only decided to enter the battle now? When your warriors are already beaten and broken?"

Airachnid smirked savagely. "I prefer to let my subordinates do the hard work. I prefer my victims when they can be placed at my mercy and you, Prime are not easy to subdue."

She flexed her clawed servos. "Now then, about that trailer you were transporting. Where is it?"

Optimus said nothing. He just glared at this predatory scavenger.

Airachnid did not like his silence.

With the swiftest movement, she thrusted one of her spider legs into the opening of Prime's armor, where the shoulder meets the neck.

Optimus barely managed to bite back a cry of pain, and it came out as an agonized groan.

"And what about your precious Autobots?" Airachnid sneered. "Where are they hiding? Tell me."

"I would rather die."

Airachnid started to salivate as though Prime had just described her exact intentions. Drops of acid dripped from her mouth and fell upon Prime's face, neck and chest.

This time he did cry out in pain as his cyberskin started to burn and corrode.

With a single claw, Airachnid extended it towards Optimus' left optic.

"I have all the time in the world Prime. Do you?"

What followed was the sound of a blast in the distance and at the same time, the sound of shattering metal and Airachnid crying out.

A small explosion sent the assassin flying and she landed several kliks away.

Optimus' optics barely had time to register what had just happened. As quickly as he was captivated, his captor had been knocked off her many legs.

Optimus turned his head in the direction of where the shot came from.

There was no sign of the shooter.

Sniper. But where…?

Airachnid arose from his stupor. Two of her spider legs have been shattered by the blast. Her purple optics shone hatefully like a burning furnace.

"WHO DARES-?!"

Another shot had been fired.

It hit the cliff wall, just mere inches from Airachnid's head.

She froze where she sat.

It was a warning shot.

This much was certain to Airachnid as the shot went right between the horns on her head like a football goes through the iconic pitch fork goal.

The mark of a crack sharpshooter.

Airachnid knew the next shot would go between her eyes.

She had to escape if she was to survive.

"Soundwave, open an emergency groundbridge to my coordinates, NOW!"

In seconds, the familiar sound and green color of a groundbridge burst into existence.

Airachnid wasted no time and limped her way through it.

It closed and disappeared.

Optimus looked about in the direction of the shooter. He tried zeroing in with the zoom-in feature of his optics. So far, he saw not a trace of his rescuer.

Optimue started struggling once more and he managed to get one arm free.

He activated one of his swords and was just in the process of cutting himself when-

"Prime, do you read me? Are you alright?"

Optimus froze where he lay. He thought he had heard a voice through his comm device.

He knew that voice but...it couldn't be.

"Optimus, it's Perceptor, can you hear me?"

To be continued…

VOICE CAST

Optimus Prime - Peter Cullen

Jack Darby - Josh Keaton

Miko Nakadai - Tania Gunadi

Arcee - Sumalee Montano

Jazz - Khary Payton

Blaster - Bumper Robinson

Sideswipe - Travis Willingham

Perceptor - Jim Ward

Airachnid - Gina Torres

Eradicons - Travis Willingham, Josh Keaton, Steve Blum