Trials, Tribulations, and Transformations
XXVI - Reunion
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Autobot Base Alpha One - May 8th, 2011 - Sunday, 7:15 pm
"Bumblebee," Arcee gasped. "Your voice."
"I know!" Bumblebee shouted joyfully, practically bouncing on his feet. "I'm. So. HAPPY!" He enunciated.
And then, out of sheer joy, the scout scooped Arcee up in his arms and twirled her in an awkward hug, much to her surprised distress. After the third twirl, Bumblebee placed her back on the floor.
Arcee swayed a bit on her feet, dizzy from the experience.
She would've fallen if she hadn't been caught by the shoulders of an old friend.
"Whoa-ho! Easy there 'Cee," Jazz chuckled. "The dance party comes later."
Arcee turned with a start. "Jazz? Is it really you?"
"In the mesh and at your service."
Arcee, powerful emotions rising up inside her like a spring, could not contain herself. A sob erupted from her mouth and with open arms, crashed into Jazz's midsection, who was all too happy to accept the embrace.
"Jazz," Arcee rasped. "Cliffjumper…he's…"
"It's ok 'Cee," Jazz said, holding her tightly. "I know what happened."
Arcee said nothing more. She just buried her head in her teacher's chest.
Jack, Sari and Miko looked on the scene with bewilderment.
"Arcee doesn't hug," Jack said.
Arcee didn't turn to look at her partner. "I'm holding him."
"Aww," Sari and Miko cooed in unison as they watched the touching scene.
Jack, dumbfounded but then shook his head out of the stupor, said, "Seriously, what did we miss?"
"I can answer that question Jack."
The former fry cook looked up at Optimus who had just now exited Ratchet's medical lab.
"Optimus please," Ratchet said sternly. "You need to pace yourself. You're still recovering."
"I will keep that in mind Ratchet, thank you." Optimus knelt so that he could speak to his human friends on their level, or at least a level closer to theirs. "Once the others are ready, we will gather and recap on the events of the past twelve earth hours. For now, rest for the moment. Your personal quarters are already being prepared."
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Undisclosed Location - Nemesis Warship - 7:30 pm
"What do you mean he's unresponsive?!"
"My liege, it is not as simple as it seems."
Soundwave, Communications Chief and confidant to Megatron, Leader of the Decepticons, laid on a medical slab in Knockout's laboratory, seemingly in a deep sleep but not a pleasant one.
"Tell me what happened!" Megatron demanded.
Knockout flinched but he continued. "Soundwave has apparently suffered a terrible emotional shock Lord Megatron. And the breakdown was so immense that he has now been rendered into a comatose state."
Megatron sneered. "How is this possible?!"
"I cannot say my liege, I fear I don't know our resident spymaster as well as you do, but I do have a theory based on a recent development."
"Elaborate."
Knockout approached the largest computer in his lab and tapped a few keys before standing aside so that Megatron could see what he had pulled up.
It was a Decepticon life signal complete with a profile and image of the owner.
Megatron's eyes widened with surprise. "Ravage? Alive?"
"That would seem to be the case, my liege."
"But she had perished long ago," Megatron protested. "Soundwave felt her life signal fade away on that day."
"Fade? What do you mean?"
Megatron regarded the scientist with coldness. "Not that it's any of your business Knockout but as Soundwave's physician, I can tell you this much: he has a special link, a spark link with some of his more personal subordinates, such as Laserbeak for example."
"I...I see," Knockout said, caressing his chin in thought. "That explains it."
"Explains what?" Megatron asked impatiently.
"W-Why the emotional shock of course," Knockout stammered nervously. "Whatever Ravage must've been through was no doubt excruciating and whatever it was that severed the spark link and then reconnected it, the very horrors she endured was revealed to Soundwave via the link and it was apparently too much for him to handle, thus he was rendered into a seemingly vegetative stage."
Megatron growled dangerously. "And MECH was responsible?"
Knockout gulped. "Considering her signal was last recorded to be in direct proximity or at least very closely in the mountain area where Breakdown discovered that MECH compound and from what he had found, there have been numerous experiments, most to all of Cybertronian biology."
Megatron clenched his fists, so hard that he drew Energon, his sharp claws piercing the palms of his hands. After a moment of seething, Megatron sighed. "Will Soundwave recover?"
Knockout relaxed as though he had been bracing for an attack that never came. "Too soon to tell. I have yet to determine the extent of the damage to his psyche and his spark."
Megatron frowned. "What are you saying?"
"Lord Megatron, my knowledge of this kind of spark strain is practical at best. I've never treated anything like it before. But it is treatable."
"What is the treatment?"
Knockout cleared his throat before continuing. "Either open spark surgery, which can be a very risky procedure."
Megatron glowered at him. "And?"
"A spark bonding."
Megatron stared at the doctor contemptuously.
"Those are the treatments Lord Megatron, otherwise Soundwave may not recover at all."
Megatron sighed and closed his eyes. "And what of Ravage?"
"Her life signal is strong but her location is unknown. Her tracker has either been damaged or...or she has turned it off."
Megatron stood to his full height. "What?"
"I'm only guessing Lord Megatron, I don't know for certain."
"I don't have time for your guesses Knockout! I want results! You will do whatever you have to in order to bring Soundwave around, is that clear?!"
Knockout trembled. "Y-Yes my liege."
Megatron swept out of the lab without another word, but not without looking in Soundwave's direction one last time.
Knockout grabbed his lab table in order to keep his balance. He was still shaking.
But then he grit his teeth in frustration. He seemed to have more concern for Ravage's captivity but not Breakdown's? No surprise, Soundwave and his personal soldiers have always been his favorites.
Straightening himself out, Knockout went back to work examining Soundwave's condition.
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Autobot Base Alpha One - 8:30 pm
Jack and Miko's mouth hung wide open. So much so and so long that their jaws were sore.
"Seriously?!" Miko cried. "Bulkhead, Fowler and Jon were kidnapped?!"
"Yes Miko," Optimus answered.
"And you were attacked and almost scrapped by Cons?! That spider psycho Airachnid included?!"
Optimus sighed. "Yes."
Miko's eyes were glinting with wonder. "But then a few Autobots just crash land and they came and saved all of you?!"
Optimus smiled. "Precisely."
Jack then stepped in and asked his own questions. "So Sari was really kidnapped by MECH?"
Optimus clenched his optics gravely. "She was."
"But I'm ok now Optimus, don't worry!" Sari assured firmly. "Bumblebee and Ravage got me out of there."
"Ravage?!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"That's right Ratchet," Bumblebee said. "It was her who helped me find where they were keeping Sari. If it weren't for tracking skills, we might not have found her so quickly."
Bulkhead scoffed. "Why would a 'Con help us?"
Sari glared at Bulkhead. "Maybe because I was kind to her."
"Surprising," Steeljaw said. "After she had sworn to take her revenge on humankind for the cruelties she suffered at MECH's hands."
Miko stared at the lion. "Did that robot lion just talk?"
Steeljaw looked back at her. "Of course I can talk. I'm not like those mute witless beasts on your planet." He regarded Bulkhead with some heat. "I'll have you know Bulkhead that this shocked me when I learned of Ravage's actions. Ravage would not do something like this lightly."
"She's still a Decepticon."
"Who engages in a highly dangerous attempt to rescue a young human girl, an ally of the Autobots."
Bulkhead glowered at the lion. "You gotta soft spot for her or something?"
Steeljaw growled.
"Enough!" Optimus commanded sharply. "Jazz, if you could continue?"
"Sure thing Prime." Jazz stood up from his place in the circle. "After we got word from Blaster about what happened, Wheeljack let me and Sideswipe borrow his ship so we could launch a rescue of our own. We picked up the kid, Ravage and Bee and we hightailed it outta there."
"Of course Ravage wanted us to drop her off," Sideswipe added. "Said that she didn't want to be an Autobot prisoner."
Blaster nodded gravely. "Understandable considering that she had been a prisoner and lab experiment of MECH for almost thirty earth years."
Sari looked up at the Communications Officer aghast. "W-What?!"
Blaster looked back at her and then at Optimus who had an unimpressed look on his face.
"Thirty years?!" Sari cried. "Ravage had been tortured for thirty years?! Did the 'Cons abandon her?!"
Blaster was stricken by this young girl's firmness and distress. "I can't believe that. Soundwave would never abandon his own soldiers like this. But Megatron…? No, Soundwave would hate him for it."
"I wish she had stayed with us," Sari whispered sadly.
"So that she could divulge the location of our new base?" Ratchet said.
Before Sari could protest, Optimus spoke up. "Blaster, can you track Ravage's position?"
"Not without help. Even through Decepticon frequencies, I couldn't get a fix on her. But Steeljaw can find her, he's the finest hunter in the Autobots."
Optimus looked at the hunter hard. "Steeljaw, I wish for you to find her and quickly."
Steeljaw clenched his jaw anxiously. "And when I find her?"
"Tell her I'm prepared to make an offer, that will be as much of an advantage to her as to the Autobots."
Steeljaw nodded. "Shall I leave at once sir?"
"That would be best."
Steeljaw nodded. "Ratchet, if you'd be so kind?"
Ratchet frowned. "Optimus, I must protest! You know what Ravage is capable of."
"Your concern is noted Ratchet."
Ratchet shook his head and pulled the lever which activated the groundbridge.
Steeljaw entered the portal and he disappeared. The groundbridge soon followed.
"You won't hurt her will you?" Sari asked fearfully.
Optimus knelt down to look at Sari. "No harm will come to her Sari, but if she endangers any of my Autobots or you, I will be forced to take action."
"She wouldn't hurt me, not after risking capture just to save me."
Optimus smiled. "I believe you."
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8:45 pm
"How are you feeling Jon?"
"A little sore Jack, my eyes itch, and my head is a little swimmy. How is Sari?"
"She's ok, but her cheek. Geez! Who'd want to hurt a sweet girl like her?"
Vince shook his head in disgust. "Savages."
"Y-Yeah," Raf said, wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. "Savages."
"You ok squirt?" Vince asked.
"I'm...I'm just so happy that she's ok...and that Bee's got his voice back," Raf said tearfully.
Jack patted Raf gently on the back. "Me too Raf."
"How did he get his voice back by the way?" Jon asked. "And those upgrades?"
"Ratchet must've done it," Vince said. "He's the medical chief isn't he?"
"Or that Perceptor," Raf said. "He's supposed to be some kind of engineering wizard."
"I dunno," Jack said. "They both seemed rather shocked about it."
"Now that you mention it, Ratchet looked pretty confused when he heard Bumblebee's voice," Raf said. "He was overjoyed though, but confused. But how can that be? Who else could've fixed Bee's voice box?"
"Why question it?" Vince asked.
"Why question it?" Jon repeated. "Don't you think it's a little fishy? Bumblebee's injuries and then of all a sudden he's all better and his voice box is repaired too? Doesn't add up."
Vince yawned tiredly. "Whatever it was, it can wait. It's late and we all had a long day. Except Darby and Nakadai."
Jack grunted in amusement. "Miko was really disappointed, having missed all the action as she put it."
"Man, I don't get that girl," Jon said.
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9:00 pm
Ratchet continued to tinker with the data cylinder and record its data to his logs. Progress was slow but it has increased exponentially since he had arrived at this new base. It possessed technology which has proven more than useful, therefore making his work easier.
This very base baffled Ratchet. It was clearly of Cybertronian origin, but neither Autobot or Decepticon. So it clearly dated back to the Era of the Ancients, Cybertron's Golden Age. Where did it come from? How did it come to earth? How long has it been here exactly? And who did it belong to?
Such questions will have to wait to be answered. For now, completing the Synth-En formula remains a top priority, among other things.
"Ratchet."
Ratchet continued his work without looking up. "Yes Optimus?"
The good doctor heard his leader clear his throat. He looked up to see Optimus, accompanied by Jazz. Both had deeply serious looks on their faces. Optimus pointed a finger down a hallway which lead to the Energon storage unit.
A place of privacy for us to speak in confidence. To speak of something of vast importance no doubt.
Ratchet immediately dropped everything but not in a way that would draw attention and he followed Optimus and Jazz down the hall and straight into the Energon storage unit.
Optimus shut the door, locked it and engaged the room in privacy mode to assure that no one could listen in.
Once the three had found an opening among the Energon cubes, they stood in a circle. After a few moments of tense silence, Optimus spoke.
"Jazz."
The Spec-Ops Chief looked up at the Prime.
Optimus smiled warmly as he extended a hand to him. "It is good to see you again."
Jazz grinned and he took the hand with vigor. "Oh O-P, ya dunno how good it is to see ya!" Suddenly, Jazz gripped Optimus' tightly and pulled him closer so he could hug him around the waist in a brotherly embrace.
Optimus hardly hesitated to return it.
Ratchet, quite bewildered, chuckled at the sight. He stopped abruptly when he realized he had just laughed out loud.
Jazz smiled. "Good to see ya loosening up doc."
Ratchet mumbled in slight annoyance. "Well it has been an eventful year."
"So I've heard. Scraplets huh?"
Ratchet shuddered. "That was a nightmare. Thankfully we had help."
"In an easy to carry package," Jazz chuckled. "Them humans are pretty useful in a tight squeeze huh?"
Optimus smiled. "In more ways than one old friend." He then cleared his throat and his voice was severe. "Now then, we have urgent matters to discuss."
Jazz straightened up and put on his serious face.
Ratchet didn't have to make such an effort as he was always serious.
"Jazz, I assume you were simply leading a scouting party, to confirm the distress call I sent?"
Jazz nodded. "That's right, on Prowl's orders."
"Where did you come from Jazz?" Ratchet asked.
"Regulon 4, in the Gigantion System."
"Gigantion?! Regulon 4?!" Ratchet exclaimed. "That's halfway across the galaxy! How did you and Prowl come to be there after the Ark?"
"Long story short, after the space bridge collapsed, we found ourselves drifting through space among what was left of the Ark. If it weren't for the Aerialbots and Protectobots, we'd be dead."
"Protectobots?" Ratchet asked.
"Autobots who specialize in search and rescue, and disaster relief. First Aid is among them, do you remember him?"
Ratchet rubbed his chin. "Yes, I believe I do. He was a student of mine when I was teaching medicine back at Iacon. He was an eccentric but gifted young bot." Ratchet smiled. "He graduated top of my class." He then frowned as though he had a bad taste in his mouth. "And Flatline was the runner up."
"Jazz, how many survived the space bridge's collapse and the chaos that followed?" Optimus asked.
Jazz grimaced. "A little over a thousand but there are thousands more that are unaccounted for."
Optimus closed his eyes. "Such as?"
Jazz sighed. "Aside from standard troops, there's Kup, Bluestreak, Brawn, Firestar, Trailbreaker, Warpath, Jetfire, to name a few, and…" Jazz gave Ratchet a sad look. "Red Alert."
Ratchet bowed his head.
Jazz placed a hand on the medic's shoulder. "Hey now Ratch, unaccounted does not equal dead. I'm sure Red Alert's ok, she's a tough old bird."
Optimus continued. "Besides yourself and those who accompanied you, who are left and who is in command?"
"Prowl is running most operations as acting commander. Ultra Magnus is leading the Wrecker's in Kup's absence. Mirage is leading Spec-Ops in my absence. Hoist is running the medical division. Tracks, the front liners. Shall I continue with specifics?"
"No," Optimus said. "Just upload them into our mainframe. I'll look into it when I get the chance."
Jazz nodded. "Cool."
"Furthermore, given the fortune of our increase in numbers, the Autobots will be in a better position to protect our human charges."
Jazz smiled. "You will be assigning Autobots to the children who currently do not have guardians."
"That is correct."
Jazz' smile became wider. "Who am I teaming up with?"
Optimus gave the Spec-Ops Chief a knowing smile. "Jon."
Jazz pumped a triumphant fist. "Yes!"
Optimus knelt a bit and put a finger to his mouth, sending a silent message to keep one's voice down."
Jazz was sheepish. "I mean...yes," he said in a mute whisper.
Ratchet shook his head with amusement. "And the others?"
"I gave it some thought and from what I saw how the children have interacted with the newcomers, I believe the best matches speak for themselves."
"Well let's hear it boss," Jazz said.
"Obviously Perceptor and Blaster cannot as they are too busy with their present directives to keep charges. So Sideswipe will be entrusted with Sierra's safety, Katie will be paired with Sunstreaker and Vince with Wheeljack."
"Good matches," Jazz said.
Ratchet did not entirely agree. "What?! You want to pair Vince with Wheeljack?! He's a ruffian! Uncontrollable!"
"Vince or Wheeljack?" Jazz asked.
Ratchet opened his mouth to answer but no sound came out.
"Vince has been rather...uncouth when he first came to the base," Optimus said. "But he has matured remarkably quickly."
"So why pair him with Wheeljack of all bots? He'll be a bad influence on him!"
"I disagree."
Ratchet sighed. "You didn't mention Sari. Who will be partnered with her?"
"I've yet to decide, but now we come to the substance of this meeting."
"You mean there's more?" Jazz said.
"This is no laughing matter Jazz. It is a matter of survival and security, not just for earth, but for countless other worlds as well."
Jazz and Ratchet flinched and they looked apprehensively at the Prime.
"I'm not sure I understand Optimus," Ratchet said anxiously. "Are you referring to the Decepticons?"
"No. Not this time. Ratchet, do you know why Bumblebee has made such a miraculous recovery? Including the restoration of his voice box?"
"I...I don't know."
"Hold it," Jazz said holding his hands up in a halting motion. "Ratchet, you didn't fix Bee up?"
"No, it pains me to say but I had nothing to do with it."
"If it wasn't you, then who?"
"There's an answer to that question, but it must never leave this room," Optimus said sternly. "Do you both understand?"
"Totally Prime," Jazz said.
"Perfectly," Ratchet said.
"Very well…listen closely."
To be continued...
