Chapter 3.
Scrapheap.
(Jack POV)
When I woke up, I got up and headed for a shower then got changed and ready for today. Then I grabbed something to eat. Then after I was finished. I head to the garage and finished making the Specs for the Mark 3 and Got Jarvis to start making the Mark 4 with the I decided to merge what I did with the Mark 2 Compression case with the Mark 3, Which I'm going to call the Mark 5.
Just when I managed to finish the schematic for it.
"Sir, There is a call for you," Jarvis said.
"Arcee," I said.
"Already done it, Jack," Arcee said.
"Put it up Jarvis," I said.
Then a face I haven't seen for 2 years came on.
"Hey, Jack," Pepper said.
"Pepper, Hey, How's the company treating you," I said.
"Great, Jack, What about there, Heard it was the best entertainment in the world," Pepper said.
"Pep, This is Jasper, Nevada, It Lied," I said.
Pepper ended up laughing. "Only you Jack," She said.
"Same thing the Rhodey said," I said.
"Rhodey, Called you," Pepper said.
"Yeah, The same group that got Dad Killed, They were using Dad's Jericho Missiles. Then Someone or thing destroyed them. According to what Rhodey told me," I said.
"Jeez, Jack, It's almost like you can't get a break," Pepper said.
"I know, Anyway, What's going on?" I said.
"I was wanting to talk about that Tower in Midtown Manhattan," Pepper said.
"You mean Stark Tower what Dad would have done," I said.
"Yeah, it could show the world what just one building with a Arc Reactor can power," Pepper said.
"Pepper, Fine, We make the one in Manhattan the Prototype," I said.
"Fine, We see how it goes then," Pepper said.
"Yeah," I said.
"Okay, Now to get it built could take a year at least," Pepper said.
"Let's change that to 2 years, For the Building and the Arc Reactor," I said.
"How will that work?" Pepper said.
"I could take Building at least a year and 6 months, Then the rest of Installing the Arc Reactor," I said.
"Okay, But we both know they could be problems which can take longer for that," Pepper said.
"I know," I said.
"Okay, I send Jarvis the plans for the Tower when Their are ready," Pepper said.
"Thanks, Pepper," I said.
"Always, But really good see you again, Even if it is like this," Pepper said.
"Same here, Pepper," I said.
"Say Hey to your Mom from me," Pepper said.
"Will do, Be safe, Pepper," I said.
"You too, Jack," Pepper said.
Then the Call ended.
"Jarvis, Let me know once we get the Plans," I said.
"Will do, Sir," Jarvis said.
"Who was that?" Arcee said.
"Pepper helped Dad a lot when he was running the business, So when he died, Pepper was gave the CEO in the Business so she could handle it till it was time for me to take over, True, She hands the Business, While I'm working on everything else, Like the Tower which I going to build," I said.
"She looked after you when you were younger, Hey," Arcee said.
"Okay, That, too," I said.
"Alright, Alright," Arcee said. "We showed head to the base, Soon,"
"I know, Just let me get the Mark 5 Finished for Jarvis here, Then I can Test the Mark 4 at the base," I said.
"Alright," Arcee said.
I took another 2 hours to make sure everything was on it, Which I wanted the Mark 5 to have. And Gave them to Jarvis to work on after the Mark 4 was finished.
"Alright, all done, See you at the base Jarvis," I said.
"I will meet you there, Sir," Jarvis said.
I grabbed everything else I needed to get the Room sorted and when Back to where Arcee, Who must of Power down.
"Arcee, You up?" I said.
"Am now, You ready," Arcee said.
"Yeah, Want to have a drive, Before the Base," I said.
"Oh, I am so in," Arcee said.
"Sweet," I said getting on and the Helmet came out of her Subspace inventory. And I put it on and we headed out and made sure the Garage door was fully closed and headed the the Edge of the Town where no one was.
"Hold on, Jack," Arcee said Before taking off.
"ALL RIGHT," I said as I feel the Speed pick up.
We ended up staying at that speed all the way to the Base. Then Slowed down to go in. Then Arcee drove me to where my room is and I headed in and dropped off the Gear and checked on the Scan of the Energon Crystal. Jarvis Managed to finish the scan and started scanning the Compounds in it see if we can created it, But It is really going to take some time, roughly a couple of Days, lucky it only looks like another 3 Days.
Then I headed out and the to Control room where everyone was and I went up to where Miko and Raf was.
The too long after It looked like Optimus and Arcee was headed out. As Ratchet opened the Groundbridge.
"Arcee and I will search for any clue which might explain the origin of our arctic find," Optimus said.
"Only until your sensors sound, Remember once your core temperature drops into the Blue zone, System failures aren't likely, They Imminent," Ratchet said.
"Whats going on Arcee?" I said.
"Tag Team, Jack, It's my turn for Exploration Duty," Arcee said.
"Wait, The Arctic find?" I said.
"How?" Arcee said.
"Jarvis, I still have an earpiece if I have to Shot over here," I said.
"I admit it is a good idea, Since Jarvis got to the base, It has been running nice and simply," Optimus said.
"Well, Too bad, It's a beautiful day for a ride, Would hate for you to feel guilty for leaving me indoors," I said.
"It's in the Arctic, Jack, Can that suit handle that," Arcee said.
"Well, it did handle pretty good when I was with you guys on the space Bridge," I said.
"Yeah, still not happening," Arcee said.
"Well, Just going have to work on that project we talked about then," I said.
Then Raf said that he always wanted to see Snow but it was too Dangerous, Even the them too.
"But I will bring you back a snowball," Optimus said.
"That would be awesome," Raf said before heading.
"I got Jarvis into the Com system if anything happens he can rely it to us for a bridge," I said.
"Thanks, Jack," Arcee said.
"Thank you, Jack," Optimus said.
"I have also got a satellite for where the Ground Bridge is dropping you off," I said.
"Thank you again, Jack," Optimus said,
"Like I said last time, We're a team," I said.
Optimus nodded then Him and Arcee head in vanishing from sight.
"Jarvis, Keep an eye on them, Let me or Ratchet know if something is wrong," I said.
"On it, Sir," Jarvis said.
"Nice call Jack," Ratchet said.
"If it is too dangerous for us, The Arctic is definitely too for you guys," I said.
Then I headed for the Room and Then Before I left the Room Something went and I ran back.
"Ratchet what was that?" I said.
"The Ground Bridge controls, The Ground Bridge is Down," Ratchet said.
Then Bulk and Bee came and Ratchet got them lifting the Panels to check the Connections.
"Jarvis, Run a Full Diagnostic on the Ground Bridge," I said.
"Diagnostic on the way, Sir," Jarvis said.
"Ratchet, Jarvis," I said.
"I know, It would help once it has completed," Ratchet said.
"Sir, it is going to take 30 mins to complete," Jarvis said.
"Got it, Ratchet can Arcee and Optimus survive 30 mins out there?" I said.
"I hope so, They both tough," Ratchet said.
"I know," I said.
XXX
Not long when Jarvis Diagnostic was about to finish Power went.
"Jarvis," I said.
"I'm still here, Sir, But I need full power to complete Diagnostic," Jarvis said.
"Something, Bite the Circuits in the Ground Bridge,"Ratchet said.
"But what?" I said.
"No clue, yet," Ratchet said.
"Sir there is something crawling around in your Room," Jarvis said.
"Okay, on my way, Back in a couple Ratchet," I said heading to my room.
When I get there something was something was lying there and I grabbed it and then I hear something else and it looked like the same Creature I just picked up but it had Purple eyes and was trying to eat one of my tools.
"Hey, Get off that," I said before I pulled out my Hand Repulsor on my left hand and shot it. I pulled it out to get a better look at it then I looked the one on my hand, Which was just looking at me. Why in the world is this one different to that one.
"You're not going to eat my stuff, are you?" I said to it. And It just chirped back at me.
"Jarvis is the Mark 4 done," I said.
"Ready and waiting in the Command center, Sir, Back up power is enough to acquire suit if needed," Jarvis said.
"Thanks, Buddy.
Then I found Raf and He saw what I had.
"Wow, Can I look at him," Raf said.
"Sure, Raf," I said passing it to him. "I have to get back to Ratchet,"
"Okay, Meet you there, in a few," Raf said.
Then I ran back to Ratchet only to see him still looking at that Circuit which was part of the circuit was ate.
"Hey Guys look what I found," Raf said.
Then we all looked at him.
"We're busy" Ratchet said as he looked at Raf. "AH!"
Then Bee and Bulk got up too.
"Hey, Hey what's with you guys," Miko said.
"Scraplet! Scraplet" Bulk said.
"What's a Scraplet?" Raf said.
"The most dangerous vermin ever to crawl upon the face of Cybertron," Ratchet said.
Then I got one of my Hand Repulsor weapons on my left hand out again.
Then looked at it.
"This are you kidding me?" I said.
"You're giant robots, Scrappy here is teeny," Miko said.
"You have no idea of the damage that teeny thing can do," Bulk said.
I pulled out the other one. "I found this one trying to eat at one of my tools while that one was just looking at me," I said before throw the one I shot to the ground.
"This one wouldn't hurt anything," Raf said as he was patting the scraplet's head.
Then the scraplet who had fell asleep woke up and looked up at Ratchet, Bulk and Bee and chirped at them.
"The only thing I am not getting if that one was, why is this one not," I said.
"All scraplet do is dismantle machinery and eat anything metal especially living metal," Bulk said as He and Bee powered down their weapons.
"Well, this one doesn't seem to want to eat you," I said.
The scraplet then jumped down from Raf and started running in circles around me before it snuggled against my leg as well as looking up at me chirping. I can't help but to chuck a bit before I bend down starting to rub its head only to make it to start chirping, my guess happily too. Of course Miko couldn't resist but to come over and start running it a bit also. Of course to scraplet looked at Miko. Then it ended up jumping into her arms and snugged into her.
"Aw, Aren't you cute," Miko said.
"I don't know why yours hasn't decided to eat us, but there are never more than just these 2. I fear I know how they got in here," Ratchet said.
"That Arctic find Bulk and Bee found," I said.
"That would be my guess also," Ratchet said. "Let's go take a look,"
"Okay Miko and Raf stay here with that one, Jarvis Mark 4," I said. Heading for the Platform to let Jarvis fit all the piece together but left the Helmet of since I can just put it on if need.
"Everything is online, Sir, Just in case," Jarvis said.
"Thanks buddy," I said.
Then Me, Bulk, Bee and Ratchet head to where they put it and we went in to find it teared open and Partly defrosted.
"It's a trap, A Scraplet trap," Ratchet said.
"Uh, an empty scraplet trap," Bulk said.
"Most likely ejected into space eons ago, only to wind up in the arctic, where the temperature kept them in stasis,until we brought the thaw," Ratchet said.
"Now they are wide awake and ready to eat, How many are we talking about Ratchet," I said.
"Thousands, and the power malfunctions and the Ground bridge damage, are sure signs of that their infestation is well underway," Ratchet said.
"Then Let fix the Bridge and Send them back to the Arctic," I said.
"How?" Ratchet said.
"Me," I said.
"What," Ratchet said.
"Jarvis can you re calibrate the arc Reactor to carry the same signature of Bee, Ratchet and Bulk," I said.
"Yes, But I will keep it on standby for when you need it or the scraplets will be on you," Jarvis said.
"I'll take it," I said.
"Sir, Optimus and Arcee are trying to get through," Jarvis said. "They are saying that their temperature has reached the Blue zone, They are asking for a ground bridge,"
"We need to get back to the Command center," Ratchet said.
"Let's go," I said after Putting on the helmet and hitting the Thrusters back there before removing the helmet again.
"Ratchet to Optimus, Do you read me?" Ratchet said. "We have a situation, Scrap, The scraplets have gotten into the Com-link system,If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, They will reduce the entire base to a scrap heap,"
"I say we bug out of here and let them keep it," Bulk said.
"But Optimus and Arcee are out there, We need to fix the Ground Bridge and bridge them back," I said.
"Jack's right, Evacuation is not an option," Ratchet said. "If we don't get the Ground Bridge back online Stat, Optimus and Arcee will perish,"
"Jarvis, You still got the link to them," I said.
"No, Sir, That went the same time with the Com-link system," Jarvis said.
"What about the Satellite?" I said.
"I have them on it but there's nothing I can do sir without the Ground bridge, as soon as it is back online I can open a bridge to where they are," Jarvis said.
"Bulkhead you never run," Miko said as Raf was holding the Scraplet which wasn't even trying to Eat Bulk, Bee and Ratchet.
"Miko you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot," Bulk said. "I have, They pick you apart from the inside out, going for the small juicy bits first, fuse by fuse, Circuit by circuit, till there's nothing left, and I mean Nothing, Not even your optics,"
"Them We are the only ones to help," I said.
"We need made of metal," Raf said.
"Yeah, The scraplets can't hurt us," Miko said.
"Typically I find your fleshiness to be your last engaging quality, But it would appear to provide an advantage, under these extremes," Ratchet said.
"Okay, We pair off One bot, One human, I'll watch your back while you repair the Ground Bridge, In the Mark 4," I said.
"And we go on a bug hunt," Miko said.
"Oh, Boy," Bulk said.
And Bee Beep like he was saying the same.
Then Me and Ratchet was to where the Ground bridge was as Miko and Bulk and Bee and Raf went to keep the scraplets busy. As for the Scraplet that isn't eating them is with me.
"How's it going over there?" I said.
"I've repaired the damaged conductors and rerouted the central conduits, But the Ground Bridge still won't receive Power," Ratchet said.
Then there was some Clinking.
"Jarvis, anything near here," I said.
But nothing.
Then I looked up and saw them.
"Ratchet, Stay completely still," I said.
Then The just attacked him.
"Jack, The Fire extinguisher!" Ratchet said.
Then I grabbed it and ran over spraying it over Ratchet to get them off him.
"Ratchet get the Patch kit, We leaking Energon like, WHOA!" Bulk said.
Then the Scraplet's attacked Bee and Bulk, Then Ratchet again.
I was using the Fire Extinguisher on Ratchet.
Then we got all of them.
"We get them all?"I said.
Then there was more whirring in the distance.
"Hardly, These were just scouts," Ratchet said.
"Great and I'm running out here," I said.
"So the rest of them know we are in here?" Bulk said.
"And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal," Ratchet said. "Optimus and Arcee will never make it home, We must get the ground bridge operational,"
Then we can send the Scraplet's anywhere on Earth," Raf said.
"No back to the Arctic let them freeze," I said.
"Once they get into the sub-zero should freeze on contact," Ratchet said. "So think Ratchet Think,"
"Where is the power supply for the Ground Bridge," I said.
There''s has to be a breach in the Energon Fuel line," Ratchet said.
"No I go, I can use the Mark 4 Repulsors to seal the breach," I said.
"Let's go," Miko said.
"No, Stay here with them, be back before you know it," I said. Putting the helmet on and used my thrusters the get there. Once I get there I saw the Breach.
"Jarvis, set the Repulsor to seal the breach," I said.
"Setting complete, sir," Jarvis said.
I fired on the breach slowly moving the beam which was for sure sealing the Breach. Once it was sealed I flied back to the Control room.
"Ratchet Go," I said.
"Ground bridge activated," Ratchet said.
"Jarvis, Activate the Mod now," I said.
"Already have sir," Jarvis said as the ground bridge fired up.
I saw all the scraplets heading for me and I run through the Bridge to the other side and I saw Optimus and Arcee.
"GET DOWN!" I shouted as the Scraplets came through and Died after 3 secs in the cold.
"Come on, Lets get you 2 out of the cold," I said.
Arcee and Optimus headed towards the bridge.
"What happened?" Optimus said.
"What Bee and Bulk found was a scraplet trap," I said. "They took out the ground bridge once you 2 got through. then the Com-link,"
Then we walked through to the base.
XXX
Optimus and Arcee was in the med bay.
"We good," I said.
"They going to be fine," Raf said.
"Perhaps you should get some rest yourself old friend," Optimus said. "You saved a few lifes today,"
"It was all my doing," Ratchet said. "We're just fortunate that this infestation happened on a Saturday,"
"Our human friends may be small, But they are strong," Optimus said.
Then Miko screamed.
"What is it? Another Scraplet," I said.
"Spider! Is it on me?" Miko said.
"Really, We faced Scraplet, and you are scared of spiders still," I said.
"Shut it," Miko said. Then off.
"Did she just scream like a little girl," Bulk said.
"Always something," I said.
That's all for this one.
More to follow.
Stay tuned and safe.
Love Y'all.
PEACE!