19- Rock Bottom.
Unknown Planet, Unknown Regions
It was a nice day while both Sky and Aris were admiring the place around them near the entrance of a cave.
"Can you believe how lucky we are to be in a place like this? We are probably the first visitors to explore some of this planet before everyone else." Aris said amazed.
"Yes, it is something incredible. Aris, I don't want to look like the curious one, but something tells me that you are here not only because of the recon mission. I suspect you wanted to lose sight of a certain mandalorian. Is the one that I'm thinking?"
"The Explosive Artist? Ah, you're so right. That girl, Sabine Wren, she gets into my nerves. She is so prideful, arrogant and conceited, I can't take it."
"If she is, why she is so interested that you two become friends?"
"Maybe because I'm the only mandalorian Jedi since a long time ago. She insists me to learn the ancient mandalorian warrior traditions, but that's not my style. And I don't understand her needs to leave a mark of paint. Trust me Sky, I will not be fooled by some rebel girl like her."
"Yeah, she is a little rude and like to do things on her own way. Which is different about how you react when her brother is around."
"What?" She asked a little red. "I don't know what are you talking about."
"Come on, Aris, you know I can feel your nervousness. And I saw how you look at Tristan."
She sighed in defeat. "Does it show me so much?"
Sky laughed. "A lot."
"Okay, maybe I think Tristan is a good boy. And very cute and handsome."
"Then maybe the best way to start knowing him better is start getting well with his sister. Give it a try, maybe you will become great friends."
Aris sighed. "I will try. But I don't promise anything. And don't tell me what master Yoda would say, because it has nothing to do with this. Let's keep this between the two of us, okay?"
"Promise." Sky nodded before he and Aris hug.
In that moment, they heard footsteps and a beeping sound coming from the cave before Arcee and Cliffjumper exited.
"By all appearances, the mine's been almost stripped." Arcee said.
"But I'm getting a signal. It's faint, but it's definitely energon." Cliff said checking the scanner.
Both kids started to get interested.
"Doesn't make sense. Decepticons never leave energon behind. But it looks like the mine operation was suddenly interrupted." Arcee deduced.
"What are you guys talking about?" Sky asked.
"We found some Decepticon mining equipment inside the cave, probably used for energon mining. But the scanner shows that there is still some energon present inside the cave." Cliff told.
"We also found something disturbing: remains of Con bodies, scattered around all over the place. It's like when they were finishing extracting the energon, something attacked them." Arcee theorized.
"That can be true. After all, we don't know what could live on this planet. Also, I can sense some life deep inside the cave. There is something alive in there." Aris sensed.
"If there is something here that doesn't like the Cons like us, maybe is worthy to know what it is." Cliffjumper suggested. "Think you can find it, partner?"
"Just follow my lead, and light the way." She nodded as she and the Autobot went inside again.
"Unbelievable. Ah Cliff, what kind of things sneak inside your head?" Arcee simply said.
"I never see a cave from the inside before. You think I could take a look? You know, if it were…"
"Safe? No want to ruin the idea, but a stripped mine can be structurally unstable, Sky."
"I promise to be careful, and if something happens, I can always trust in the Force to find a way out."
"Well, that's a point. Just don't tell your parents."
Both partners entered the cave. But in a few moments later, two objects came flying from the sky: they were Megatron and Starscream in vehicle mode, who changed to robot form and landed in front of the entrance.
"Ah, Lord Megatron, far be it from me to question your intentions, but I do not understand why we've come here, alone." Starscream asked, but Megatron simply went inside the cave, so he followed him. "Every last trace of energon was extracted from this mine, there's nothing left."
"Reports said that something went weird with this mine, so we are going to investigate it. So, indulge me, Starscream, won't you?"
Starscream had no other choice but to follow his master inside, but he seemed nervous. Deep inside the cave, Cliffjumper and Aris were still looking for any possible lifeform.
"This place is huge." Aris admired.
"So, got anything?" Cliff asked.
"No, anything yet."
Suddenly, the scanner started beeping again.
"Arcee, I found something." Cliff said through the com-link.
"Cliff? Cliff, do you read?" Arcee called, but only received static. "Scrap. The mineral composition down here is causing interference."
"Don't worry, Arcee. I can track them with my abilities." Sky offered.
"Glad to know that. It was indeed a good idea to bring you here."
Back with Aris and Cliffjumper…
"Sorry Cliff, I can't point exactly where those life feelings are coming from."
"Well, we're here. Ratchet's gonna want a sample." Cliffjumper nodded as he followed the scanner's signal until it pointed to a rock wall, so Cliff changed one of his hands for a sword and started slicing the rock.
At the same time, in other part of the cave, both Decepticons found a few mining drills, and a lot of Decepticon miners' body parts all around the cavern.
"How intriguing." Megatron observed.
Starscream was nervous, both because of the scene and from something else, but decided to act like he didn't know anything.
"Incompetent fools. This mining equipment should have been relocated. Why is it still here?"
"The most valid question."
"My apologies, master. I believe Soundwave was in charge of coordinating transport." Starscream said, but Megatron only groaned. "But in fairness, during your exogalactic travels we all had to assume additional responsibilities. Clearly mistakes were made."
"Yes. Clearly." Megatron said before he slammed his fist into a cave wall, and pulled out a large fragment of energon, surprising Starscream. "Every last trace of energon extracted?"
"Lord Megatron, I can explain."
"Explain what? That you've hoarding a supply of energon for your personal use? And disposed of the personal that participated in the operation to ensure only you will know about it?" Megatron asked as he dropped the energon to his feet.
"No! Not exactly. The miners were about to finish when suddenly one of them called that they were being attacked by something. Probably something that lives inside this…" but before Starscream could finish, Megatron stomped on the fragment, destroying it.
"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream!" Megatron yelled as he advanced toward Starscream, making him walking back. "I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the dark energon from my chest, in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you since had replaced."
"You know about that?!"
"Soundwave is quite competent at surveillance; I can assure you. The fact is, Starscream, despite your treachery, I've allowed you to carry on this long because I took a certain delight in following your string of failures. But you've finally become tiresome, predictable." Megatron aimed his fusion cannon at him and started charging it. "You've hit rock bottom."
"Master, please! Give me one more chance! I beg of you!" Starscream said as he went to his feet.
The Decepticons didn't realize that Sky and Arcee were going to reach the same cavern that they were.
"Arcee, I sense something. Something big, and bad."
"Exactly what?" She asked.
"You have ceased to be of use to me, Starscream. So you shall simply cease to be." Megatron declared.
Starscream covered himself waiting for the end, until he spotted Sky and Arcee. Megatron also saw them, and decided to fire at them. Arcee grabbed Sky and rolled behind a rock wall.
"Stay down!" Arcee told him.
Megatron continued firing as he started advancing at them. Starscream took the chance and ran to the exit, but Megatron saw him.
"Starscream, you dare abandon me?!"
Megatron fired at him, but Starscream dodged luckily and changed to his alt form, flying as fast as he could to get away from the shots.
"Arcee, I got an idea." Sky said.
After listening him, Arcee saw Megatron distracted and fired him at the back, making him to turn at her. He tried to fire back, but when he tried, he wasn't able to. He even wasn't able to move his arm.
"What? What kind of trick is this?!"
Sky was the reason Megatron couldn't move his arm: he was using the Force to paralyze his arm. Arcee took the chance and launched a storm of shots at him, making him groan in pain. Some lasers hit his arm a few times, making it to move and fire and the ceiling. That made a huge rock to fall over him. The impact started to cause a chain reaction that started to crack the floor.
"Scrap." Arcee cursed.
The entire cave started to crumble down, taking the mining equipment, Arcee, and even Sky. But they weren't the only ones who sensed the tremors.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Cliff said.
Both him and Aris saw how their surrounding started to fall, specially above them. Cliff immediately covered Aris from the rubble which fell above and around them. The collapse also caught Starscream when he was almost at the exit. A few rocks hit him, making him loss control of the flight and returning to robot form.
"What? NOOOOOOO!"
The entrance was blocked too as a cloud of dust covered the entire area. Once the cave-in was over, Sky manage to get out of a few rocks and clean himself of dust coughing.
"Arcee! Arcee!" He called, but only heard the echo.
He saw a path through the cave, the only way he could take, so he started to look for his friends. But suddenly, he heard some strange noises behind him, sounded like hisses, but not like from a snake. He sensed that he wasn't exactly alone in the cave, and it didn't sound friendly. So he turned on his lightsaber, hoping that the light could scare whatever was inside there. Meanwhile, Aris coughed a little because of the dust, but thanks that Cliffjumper covered her, nothing else happened.
"Did I do that?"
I don't think so. Probably was because of an earthquake." Aris deduced.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. What about you?"
When Aris saw Cliffjumper, she saw he wasn't exactly fine: he was standing, with his hands holding the ceiling over him.
"Peachy."
"Whoa."
"Don't worry, Aris. I got it under control."
"What do you think caused the cave-in?"
"Who knows. Probably just like you said. I just hope Arcee and Sky are safe, because we can definitely use an assist."
"Just keep holding that ceiling, Cliff. I'll get us out of here."
Aris started to move rocks with the help of the Force, trying to make a way out. Meanwhile, in the cave's exit, some rocks moved before Starscream busted out of the crumble. He coughed a little before turning at the collapsed entrance, and laughed sinisterly.
"Predictable, master? Is that what you called me? Well, now who has hit rock bottom? What's that? I'm sorry, I can't hear you beneath all that ruble!" He exclaimed before laughing maniacally. "Farewell, Lord Megatron. May you rust in peace." He was about to leave, but stopped. "But you have survived far worse. If you manage to free yourself you would blame me for your set back. And there is no way that I can possibly escape from your wrath. Or worse yet: your mindless followers would come looking for you, and take credit for your rescue. Credit that can rightfully be mine! Ragh! MEGATRON!"
Meanwhile, Sky continue looking for his friends in the caves.
"Arcee?! Cliff?! Aris!"
He only received his echo, and more of those strange hisses, which started to sound closer. Trying to know what was following him, he tried to see if there was something in the path from which he came, but it was too dark. So he decided to use the Force to see better, and discovered that there was something following him indeed. Once it crawled through the rocks, he could saw it better: it looked like some kind of black creature, with almost humanoid appearance, but it had six fingers ended in claws in the front legs, which also looked like hands; spikes on its back; a long tail ended in sharp point like a lance and a long head which seemed to had no eyes, but the creature was looking at him, so it could see. And when it opened its mouth, a second jaw showed out when it hissed again. Sky saw enough to know that creature seemed dangerous, so he immediately used the Force to bring down a few rocks, making the creature to fall back and blocking the way. But he sensed that the creature was no alone, there were others which looked the same alongside it, so he had to continue. Fortunately, he saw a Decepticon mining drill in front.
"Now that would come in handy."
Meanwhile, Aris was still trying to make a way out, but she felt back to the floor, signal that she was starting to feel tired.
"Aris!"
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"I'm just need to…rest for a second. Nothing more." She said, trying to get on her feet, but she couldn't.
"Aris, listen to me. There is no fresh air down here. If you used up the oxygen too fast…"
"We could suffocate!"
"Urg, not we, Aris, you. Autobots don't need to breath, remember?"
"Right, you are droid-like beings. Okay, I will try to go slowly, breath less, so I can keep a little better." She said as she now tried to move the rocks with her hands.
"No, you need to stop, now."
"I can't, Cliff. I have to get you out of here."
At the end, she ended giving up.
"Aris, please, don't worry about me." Cliff said as he strained to keep the ceiling from giving in. "I'm fine."
Sky climbed to the drill's control panel. In that moment, he heard the sound of rocks breaking and saw that the blockade he created was no more. The creatures managed to cleared it, specially one which looked a little larger than the rest, one which had larger spikes, tail and a head which resembled a crown. Seeing that they were looking at him, Sky pressed a few buttons on the terminal, and the drill powered up.
"Roll out."
The drill started to move, forcing the creatures to step aside as Sky started to make his way through the caves, while they followed him. The drill's sounds reached even where Cliffjumper and Aris were.
"Did you hear that?" Cliff asked.
"Sounds like…"
"Drilling. Gotta be Arcee and Sky."
"We're in…here!" She shouted weakly.
"Aris, grab something and bang it on my foot. Can you do that?"
Aris grabbed a rock and went near to Cliff's foot.
"I don't wanna hurt you."
"I know is hard to believe, but I'm tougher than I look. Now give it all you got."
Aris did what he said: she started hitting his foot with the rock, making a lousy noise. Meanwhile, Sky opened a way with the drill, sensing someone buried at the other side. But when he went to check who was he stared in fear seeing who was: Megatron.
"I suppose helping those less fortunate would be completely out of the question, little one." Megatron remarked, making Sky back away. "If that is the case, you might as well use your drill to finish me. I guarantee you will never have a better opportunity than right now."
Sky thought about it, but he wasn't sure.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory, seize the day. Optimus would."
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this. The same as I." Sky simply answered before he went back to the drill's controls. "You should fear more whatever lives in here."
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus, the day I rip out his spark!" Megatron yelled as Sky left him.
Once he was alone, Megatron started to try to get free by himself, until he heard some hisses. Next, he saw coming front the tunnel in front of him a group of creatures crawling right at him interested, making him more reason to get out faster.
"Don't dare to get any closer!" He warned, but the creatures didn't listen.
Aris was continuing with Cliff's idea.
"Atta girl."
Suddenly, they heard hisses too.
"What's that?" Cliff asked.
"Sounds like hisses, but from what?"
"Aris, you said before you sensed something alive in here, remember? Maybe whatever it is could give us a hand. Can you sense if it is near?"
"Let me check."
But Aris did not need to sense it, because suddenly a few rocks fell from the wall, showing a hole from where a couple of creatures started to sneak out. Aris started to get scared, and immediately ignited her lightsaber and threw it against them, making them to get back inside the hole before she used her lightsaber to block it.
"Aris, why did you do that?"
"Because I've seen those creatures' nature, when I tried to connect with them. It's seems they are highly dangerous."
"Well, that could explain what happened to those Cons, and why it seemed like they abandoned the mine's operation. We have to guide the others here before they try to sneak in here again."
Suddenly, they heard another strange sound.
"What was that?" Aris asked.
"Nothing. Go on, keep bagging." Cliff cheered, but the sound echoed again as Cliff looked like he was hurt.
"That's not true. Cliff, what's happening? Tell me."
"My arms. They're starting to give." Cliff confessed.
Aris widened her eyes in horror and fear. "Does it hurt?"
"A little." Cliff grunted.
The ceiling started to shake as more rocks fell down.
"Cliffjumper!"
"Help's coming. We've just got to guide them here. Hit me again."
But Aris was worried and scared.
"Aris, do it!"
Aris tried to do it, but she was too weak that she only hit it two times.
"Are they any closer?" Cliff asked.
"I can't tell. The sound is all…freaky in here. And with the sound of those creatures I don't know how much time do we have."
Then, they heard sounds coming from the other side of the rocks.
"Ahahaha, yes." Cliff said.
"Arcee found us." Aris added.
But once a hole was made in the rocks, they heard a sinister laugh that wasn't exactly from Arcee.
"Put any doubt of my allegiance to rest." The responsible one who made the hole looked at the inside, revealing to be Starscream.
"What's he doing down here?" Aris asked getting up.
"Aris, get behind me. Now!" Cliff advised.
Starscream took down the rest of the rock blockade and entered the chamber. "Well, well, if it isn't Cliffjumper and his pet vermin. My, you do have your hands full, don't you, Autobot? This can be my perfect chance to finish what I planned to do from the start."
"Do whatever you want to me, Starscream, but let the human go!"
"No. I'm not leaving you." Aris said behind Cliff's foot.
"It appears that the human wishes to remain." Starscream said as he tried to grab her, but she hid behind the other foot.
"Starscream, don't push me!" Cliff warned.
"You like playing with the big droids, don't you, little girl?" Starscream asked as he circle around Cliffjumper, looking for Aris.
He managed to find her, but when he tried to grab her, she launched a Force push that sent him against the wall.
"Why you little… Of course, you're a Jedi, don't you? Let's see how good that Force of yours is when my shots rain above your head!"
But before he could go after her again, Cliffjumper kicked him, but the effort made the ceiling to fall a little.
"That's it, you two. I will…!"
"What? You'll what? Make me bring down the ceiling on top of all of us? Run Aris!" Cliff shouted, but she shook her head and put herself between he and Starscream.
"Yes, run Aris! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!" Starscream taunted.
Aris prepared her lightsaber in case for the worst, but it wasn't necessary, because immediately Sky's drill came and pushed Starscream aside. Sky showed and saw both of them.
"Sky, get Aris and get out of here! Now!" Cliff instructed.
Sky climbed down to the drill's track-wheels to grab Aris's hand.
"Come on, Aris!" Sky called.
"Run, Aris!" Cliff repeated.
Aris' eyes watered and a tear came down her cheek. But at the end, she allowed Sky to grab her hand and get her aboard the drill.
"We can't leave Cliffjumper!" She cried.
Before Starscream could react, Sky moved the drill to reverse and exited where he came.
"And then, there were two." Starscream said, looking at Cliffjumper.
Once in the tunnel where he came from, Aris looked at the entrance.
"Arcee will save him, won't she?" Aris asked.
"I hope so, but we better find a way out of here before Megatron digs himself free, or before those creatures find us." Sky said.
"Megatron's here too?" Aris asked worried.
The drill started to make its way down the tunnel, until a cybertronian foot stood in its way, surprising them both. Back with Cliffjumper, Starscream chuckled.
"If you think I'm gonna beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it."
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't' it? Well, you're more valuable to me alive. Imagine Megatron's appreciation when I not only rescue him, but deliver an Autobot. I believe that would restore my stature quite nicely." Starscream told to him getting face-to-face.
Then, he heard the sound of a cybertronian weapon charging and lightsabers activating. Starscream turned around and saw Arcee aiming her weapon at him, with Sky and Aris on her shoulders, aiming their lightsabers at him.
"Don't move, Starscream." She warned, leaving him paralyzed by the surprise. "Hey Cliff."
"Hey Cee."
"You better don't try anything. These lightsabers can leave you without fingers quite easily, and more." Arcee told, making Starscream shiver.
"Now, raise your hands." Aris ordered.
Knowing what she was referring too, Starscream only groaned in defeat. Moments later, both Autobots exited the cave in vehicle form and allowed the children to get out before changing to robot form, looking at the entrance.
"We could finish them. Here and now." Arcee suggested.
"Shame we didn't bring any grenades." Cliffjumper grumbled as he crushed his fists.
"Would Optimus… finish them?" Sky asked.
"No, he probably wouldn't. Not like this." Arcee said.
"But Optimus wouldn't rescue them either, right?" Aris asked.
"Let's go home." Cliff finally said before they started their way back. "Once we get back to base, let's make sure to erase this planet from any stellar map, so anyone cannot find it."
"Yeah, giving by Sky's description, I don't want to know what those creatures are, and what they can do." Arcee supported.
"You know? After all this experience, I don't think getting along with Sabine could be worse." Aris admitted.
"Yeah, definitely." Sky added. "Just don't tell her or anyone of her kind about this place."
Meanwhile, inside the cave, Starscream was force to take Cliffjumper's place in holding the ceiling. And he wasn't holding it well, because it was going down more and more, and to make things worse he started to hear hisses from one of the tunnels. He saw started to get nervous once he saw a group of creatures approaching, this time accompanied by other different ones: huger, with larger heads and sharp long claws on their hands; and others huge which walked at four legs and had shield-like heads.
"No, don't get close to me. Get away, you ugly insignificant abominations!"
The creatures continued approaching until a laser shot almost hit one of them, making them to scatter. Starscream saw who shot them: Megatron, with some ugly marks on his face.
"Master, you're alive. Thank the Allspark!"
But Megatron simply stared at him.
"I…I did not abandon you master. I return, to save you!"
"Save me?"
Both Starscream and Megatron saw that the creatures were regrouping and getting close to Starscream and from behind Megatron, the same as the ceiling above him was failing more.
"Look into my spark, Lord Megatron. My intentions were true. Please! Have mercy!"
The creatures started to surround them while Megatron stood, until he smiled sinisterly a little.