43- Toxicity.
Inside the Nemesis, Megatron entered in a chamber, one specifically occupied by the Insecticon hive.
"Who is the fiercest among you?" Megatron asked to the hive.
"There is no greater ferocity than an Insecticon hive. But if you were to choose one among us…" A voice said, until one Insecticon, very different from the others (the Insecticons appearance of TF Prime) landed behind Megatron and changed to his normal form. "I am Bombshock."
"You will retrieve something for me, Bombshock, and annihilate everything that gets in your way."
Sullust
Moments later, a ground bridge transported Bombshock and 3 other Insecticons to the destinated place: a volcanic area.
"Divide, and do not hesitate to conquer." Bombshock ordered.
Bombshock changed to his alt form: a flying horned beetle; and took flight alongside the other bugs. Meanwhile, in the Autobot base the events when the first team was about to embark were happening.
"Luke, Han and Leia will accompany Arcee and Bumblebee." Optimus said.
"Yes!" Han cheered.
"At least we can spend time with you, Bee." Leia said.
"(Another mission together.)"
"Initiate transport. And triangulate coordinates of the other three relics." Optimus ordered to Ratchet.
"That was some trick, Han." Bulkhead congratulated as his pal was getting down stairs.
"You mean swiping Intel from right under Megatron's nose? Just doing my part for Team Prime." He answered before Bumblebee honked his horn. "Oh, gotta go, Bulk. I'll tell you all about it when we get back. Wait up!" He shouted running at the group.
"Take care of him, Bee." Bulkhead said.
"Take care of her, guys." Sky said, at the same time as Bulkhead, making them both to look each other and laugh a little.
The group went for their destination. Now it was Bulkhead's turn.
"Bulkhead, prepare for departure." Optimus announced.
"You are headed for Sullust." Ratchet added.
"I'll prep for volcanic weather. Wrecker style." Bulkhead said excited.
"Aris, Sky, BB-8 and agent Kallus will be your communications and transportation hub." Optimus explained as he looked at the kids, who waved their hands, and Kallus, who was still in bed.
"I can haz cheeseburger!" He said crazy again before going out again, making the kids laugh.
"Communications, huh? I will be fine with the kids only." Bulkhead said as he headed for the portal.
"Be on your guard, Bulkhead." Optimus advised before the Wrecker entered the portal.
The ground bridge transported Bulkhead in middle of the volcanic area. He immediately recognized that volcanoes didn't smell well.
"Aw, smells worse than a Decepticon barracks. Fine place to hide a relic." He said observing the area before he started looking around between the volcanic pits with smoke coming out. After a while looking, he contacted base. "Base, I can't find any sign of the relic. Can you reconfirm coordinates?"
"Triangulating your position, Bulkhead." Aris said as she typed some calculations on the terminal. "You are at the correct location."
In that moment, agent Kallus woke up and got up from the medical berth, but still affected. "Need…coffee."
"Well, the coordinates are wrong, cause there is nothing here." Bulkhead said, before he heard a buzzing noise. "But something's coming."
Bulkhead saw Bombshock in alt form flying at high speed, coming right at him. The Autobot tried to shot him down, but the Insecticon tackled him and dragged him around a rock wall before changing to robot form and throwing him to the ground. Bulkhead landed hard, and Bombshock prepared to strike again, but Bulkhead managed to block his attacks and counter.
"Leave it to Megatron to send a bug to do his dirty work." Bulkhead deduced as he and Bombshock started to circle, facing their opponent.
"You know a thing or two about dirty work yourself, Wrecker."
"Do I know you?"
"I know your kind, as I have crushed more than a few Wreckers in my time."
"Now, you see the thing about bugs your size, they make a bigger mess when I smash them!" Bulkhead said pulling out his wrecking balls.
Bulkhead threw a few swings at Bombshock, until he stopped one of the balls with his hand. Then, he slashed him on the chest with his claws and threw him on the ground. Next, he jumped and tried to smash Bulkhead's head with his foot, but he rolled out of the way in time. He changed his wrecking balls for his guns and fired at Bombshock, who covered himself before charging and punching the Autobot hard on the face. But Bulkhead countered immediately with his wrecking balls a few times until he finished with an uppercut hit on Bombshock's head, cutting one of his mandibles in the process. The Insecticon collapsed, unconscious, as Bulkhead wiped a drop of energon leaking from his mouth. Then, he noticed some interesting tracks, so he changed to his walker form and followed them. Meanwhile, at base, Aris was busy with another issue.
"Ratchet, the virus is coded. Commencing upload." Aris reported.
"Aris, I have a beat on the relic." Bulkhead called in.
"Aris is busy. I'll take it from here."
"Kallus. How was your beauty sleep?" Bulkhead mocked.
"Fine. I dreamt I finally got a little respect from you." He answered sarcastically.
"He, keep dreaming."
"What's your status?"
"I came up empty to provided coordinates. But I figured an old lava flow might have carried the relic downhill."
"Wouldn't that just burn it up?"
"These relics survived interstellar transport. I'm sure they can withstand molten…oh scrap."
"What is it?"
"I'm leaking energon. The Insecticon hit me hard."
"Insecticon?"
"Probably knocked a gasket loose, none to worry about. Trust me, he's in way worse shape than I am."
Maybe, but Bombshock already recovered consciousness, just when the other Insecticons met with him.
"The Wrecker left me alive. The last mistake he will ever make." He said before changing to bug form and started the chase.
Meanwhile, Bulkhead's deduction was right, because he found the relic's capsule right where he supposed it might be. He returned to robot form and walked to it.
"There you are." He tried to open it, but it was harder, even for hands like him. But finally opened it, falling backwards. "It got the lid off." But when he took a look of what was inside, he showed a horrified face as some green smoke came out from some kind of strange green energon. "Uh oh. Base, we have a problem."
"Bulkhead, what is it?" Kallus asked.
"I found the relic: it's a cash of energon."
"That's good, right?"
"No no no, not this kind. It's known as Tox-En. Causes nausea and dizziness upon contact, prolonged exposure weakens us to the point of paralysis, and then snuff off our sparks."
"Well, what are you talking to me for? Get far away from that Tox-En, pronto. If it's deadly as they said, the Cons won't want it either."
"No, they'll wanted it even more. During the War for Cybertron, Megatron figured out a way to refine raw Tox-En, turn it into a weapon of mass destruction. I witnessed an entire unit wiped out by the sickness." Bulkhead told as he remembered a scene of a zone of Cybertron infected by Tox-En, with a group of Autobots dead by the Tox-En effects. "No way I can leave this stuff for the Cons to find and abuse."
"So bring it back here. BB-8, open a ground bridge."
"Forget it. Even if we had a safe place to store it, the stuff's way too potent to risk exposing to the rest of us." Bulkhead said, until he heard a familiar noise coming. "Urg, I'll call you back. I'm gonna need to take care of this, Wrecker style." He said, pulling out a grenade.
The Insecticons continued searching until they located the relic's container.
"There." Bombshock pointed.
The Insecticons transformed and landed. While Bombshock observed, the other 3 bugs approached the capsule. One of them pushed the other two aside and ripped the lid open. It saw the Tox-En inside and was going to take it, not aware that there was a grenade hidden inside.
"No! Wait!"
But Bombshock's warning came too late: the grenade exploded, making the closest Insecticon to fall backwards to the floor. Bombshock approached to check it out, but it was already dead, not by the explosion, but by the shrapnel of Tox-En, which he identified and covered his mouth while he stepped back.
"Tox-En."
Meanwhile, in other side of the area…
"Wait, you're carrying it? I thought that stuff was toxic." Kallus said.
"It is, but I needed to put some distance between me and the bugs." Bulkhead said as he ran with another piece of Tox-En at hand.
"Well, what now?"
"I'm gonna get rid of this steaming pile the only way I can. I'm gonna lob it into the volcano." He answered, looking at the nearest volcano.
"What about your insect problem?"
"This isn't my first time eluding an enemy patrol, you know?" Bulk answered cleaning some energon which came from his mouth before spitting a little drop.
Back with the Insecticons…
"Lord Megatron, the object we seek…it is Tox-En." Bombshock communicated to his master through com-link.
"Exactly how much is in your possession?"
"None, my lord. An Autobot…"
"Are you not the fiercest Insecticon?" Megatron cut off annoyed.
Meanwhile, Kallus was watching Bulkhead's progress through the map on the screen.
"Wait. You're moving away from the volcano?"
"Exactly." Bulkhead confirmed as he continued running, leaving a trail of energon behind him without noticing it. Or maybe yes.
The Insecticons continued looking from the air, until Bombshock spotted something.
"Below."
They descended to check the trail of energon. Bombshock tasted one drop as a predator would do with its prey.
"Yes, the Wrecker leaks from his wounds. Find him." Bombshock ordered before they changed back to bug form and continued the search.
As for Bulkhead, he was trying to reach the top of the volcano in his walker form while he carried the Tox-En on top of his vehicle form, but it was taking him harder than expected to climb up a steep slope. Finally, he managed to pass it completely.
"You left a false trail, huh?" Kallus deduced. "I once pulled that trick when I got separated from my unit behind enemy lines."
"When were you ever behind enemy lines? It isn't supposed that the Republic military was composed only by clones?" Bulkhead asked.
"Things changed after the end of the war. Besides, many officers didn't come from the clone army. So, I wasn't always a droid sitter."
"He, next you're gonna tell me your mother doesn't tuck you in at night."
"Not since basic training."
"Training as what? A rodeo clown?"
"You may have spent too much time in the pod races with Han. I was trained in special operations, alongside a simple elite squadron of the best soldiers, all chosen by admiral Yularen. We could wreck with the best of them."
"Who knew you and I were so much alike."
Suddenly, someone called in. "Aris, has agent Kallus regained consciousness?"
"Stand by, Bulkhead, I'll be right back." Kallus said before pressing the other line. "I'm here, Prime. What's your situation?"
"We require access to a research facility at our current coordinates."
"Let me make a call." Kallus said turning on his com-device.
Meanwhile, Bulkhead was struggling to walk up another slope, but he was getting tired fast, so he changed to robot form, collapsing on the ground, which made him slid down the slope, alongside the piece of Tox-En.
"A dirty job…that only a Wrecker can do. Come on." Bulkhead said grabbing the Tox-En and making his way to the top again.
Meanwhile, at base…
"This is an emergency: our deep space sensors have detected dangerous solar flare activity heading for your system. I need that entire station evacuated immediately, do you hear me? Get out of there, now!" Kallus communicated to the outpost before passing to Optimus. "Base's clear, Prime. Try not to wreck the place."
"Many thanks, agent Kallus." Optimus thanked through com-link. With that settled, he switched back to Bulkhead.
"Bulkhead, are you holding up?"
Bulkhead was walking slowly and grunting with each step he made, probably because of the Tox-En effects.
"Any word…from Han?" He asked weakly.
"Don't worry about him. You need to focus on your own mission."
"Right. I…I need to…rest…just for a minute."
"I know its tough, but I need you to stay the course."
Then Bulkhead tripped over a rock, making him to fall and drop the Tox-En. He grabbed it again and tried to stand up, but ended falling back dizzy.
"Bulkhead, Bulkhead, Bulkhead! Bulkhead, answer me, you rust bucket!" Kallus yelled.
"Uf, I'm here, elite soldier." Bulkhead finally answered, making Kallus to sigh in relief.
"You had me scared, two-ton."
"I…I can't do it."
"I do not want to hear that kind of talk, especially from the likes of you. We both know you made it through worse."
That made Bulkhead had flashbacks of some times when he was hurt badly: when he was swarmed by the scraplets, when Starscream used the energon harvester on him, when he and Breakdown clashed their weapons together, when he was caught by the ground bridge's explosion, the many times he received hits from his rival, and when he had Dreadwing's bomb on his chest.
"Nah. Not worse than this. Not even scraplets." Bulkhead answered.
"Look soldier: you know as well as I do there is a mission, and the reason why you take the mission."
"Honor, duty."
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
Bulkhead had more flashbacks, about the times he spent with his friend Han Solo.
"Han, I'm supposed to be protecting you."
"Bulkhead, I'm strapped tight inside ten tons of metal muscle. I'm more than protected." Han reassured.
"Han, check it out: new battle scars." Bulkhead announced pointing his shoulder, making Han take some pictures.
"Han?!"
"I heaved on your floor mats, sorry."
"Before I became a warrior, I was a laborer. I can build stuff, I can break stuff."
"I wanna be just like you, Bulk."
"Bulkhead, I know somewhere inside you always remember me. And I just want you to know I'll never forget you." Han expressed hugging Bulkhead's foot.
That was what Bulkhead needed to cheer up his spirit, and his strengths.
"You're right, Kallus. I gotta dig deep. For the other Bots. For Han." He said finally getting up and continue heading for the volcano.
Meanwhile, the Insecticons continued tracking the false energon trail.
"There is no logic to his movements: his trail is meant to lead us astray. To find the Wrecker we must not follow." Bombshock realized as he looked to the volcano and laughed. "We must anticipate."
Bulkhead finally reached to the top. In front of him, he saw a hole with smoke continually coming out, which meant that was the hole where he must drop the Tox-En.
"Almost there." He said continuing toward the hole.
"That's right, soldier. Dump that rock and come on home." Kallus encouraged when he heard his personal com-link ring, so he answered it. "Agent Kallus here. Han, what is it? I'm in the middle of a crisis here and you want me to… Oh. Put him on the line."
Bulkhead continued crossing the covered surface, until…
"Wrecker!"
He saw Bombshock coming flying in his alt form before landing in front of him, blocking his way to the volcano's hole, and changing back to robot form.
"Put down the rock and allow us to put you out of your misery." Bombshock advised as the other two Insecticons surrounded their opponent.
I'm gonna swat some flies." Bulkhead said, before pulling out a grenade and throwing it right below one of the Insecticons.
The grenade exploded so close that the Insecticon was sent flying against the volcano's walls. Bombshock pulled out two of his insect legs, ready to use them for combat, roared and charged against Bulkhead. But when he was too close, Bulkhead used the Tox-En as he jammed it to Bombshock's throat.
"Fair warning, I'm contagious." Bulkhead said.
As result, Bombshock fell to his knees trying to catch his breath. The last remaining Insecticon changed to its flying bug form and charged at Bulkhead, who simply hit it with the Tox-En, sending him to the ground near.
Bulkhead jammed the Tox-En in the Insecticon's chest. "Here. Hold this."
The bug didn't move, because of the combined effects of the hit and Tox-En. With that settled, Bulkhead returned to face Bombshock, only the two of them. At the same time at base…
"Mister Chewbacca, this is agent Kallus, from the Republic Security Bureau. Today, you have contributed to the alliance between the freedom fighters of the Republic and the Autobots against the threat of the Decepticons. This is a fight in disguise, so it cannot be showed to civil population, but according with the entire thing witnessed by the children and your previous battle experience, consider yourself an honorary helper of the Republic. If you are able to continue helping us in any way you can, we will be most grateful." He said hanging up his com-device returning back with the terminal. "Bulkhead, you're still with me?"
"I'm in the scrap and you put me on hold?" He joked.
"I want you to know Han's safe, mission accomplished."
"Ah, that's my boy."
With his pal in safe place, Bulkhead could focus now on Bombshock. He charged at him and punched him on the face, but Bombshock did the same. They continued like this until Bulkhead gave him an uppercut. In that moment, the other Insecticon shook the Tox-En off of it, but it was still dizzy enough to collapse into the ground again.
"It's getting jam. Contact the warship for a containment unit." Bombshock commanded to it as Bulkhead was approaching to hit him again, but he saw him in time to intercept his attack and punch him in the face.
Bulkhead collapsed as he groaned, feeling a hard headache as his vision started to get dizzy.
"Bulkhead, do you read me?" Kallus asked.
Right in that moment, Ratchet was returning to base.
"Ratchet, come here!" Aris called.
"Bulkhead, please respond."
"The Iacon database?" Ratchet saw.
"It's downloading into our mainframe." Aris reported.
"Answer me, soldier!" Kallus called.
Ratchet laughed by happiness. "Aris, you're a genius."
"Will you keep it down?!" Kallus shouted to them, leaving them confused.
Back to the volcano…
"Your spark is mine, Wrecker." Bombshock said, preparing to finish him.
Bombshock was about to crush Bulkhead's head with both fists, but he dodged in the last moment and grabbed him by the head and send him right next to the Tox-En piece. Next, he approached him and pinned Bombshock's face against the Tox-En.
"You want a taste of this, do ya?!" Bulkhead yelled.
After releasing him, Bulkhead pulled out one of his wrecking balls and hit him on the face. That made Bombshock to fall back, almost at the edge of the hole. Then, he saw Bulkhead grabbing the Tox-En…
"Catch!"
And threw it at him. Bombshock did it, but as result he fell into the hole, to the deeps of the volcano. Bulkhead approached and took a look inside, and saw the Tox-En being melted by direct contact with the lava.
"Kallus, mission accomplished. But you might have to…tuck me in." Bulkhead reported.
"BB-8, open the bridge, now!" Kallus asked.
The little droid nodded and operated the terminal. The ground bridge opened in front of Bulkhead, a few distance from him. He started to make his way to it, not realizing that Bombshock was not gone: he did fell into the volcano, but managed to survive, with his whole body burned and with smoke coming out. He got out of the hole slowly and pulled out a laser gun on his arm and fired at Bulkhead. The shot, which hit him in the back, was what sent him flying through the portal back to base.
"No." Ratchet said as he went to check Bulkhead, while smoke came out of the hole he now had on the back.
