Chapter 3
Portland suburbs, home of Ariana Bailey,
"So what's this mystery meeting about, Big Bot?" Chris plopped down on the couch next to Alex and Devon. All eyes were on Eric, who was pacing in the middle of the room.
"As you all know," he began, "Megatron and the Predacons managed to surface the Nemesis. It's not back to full power, but if Megatron manages to collect enough energon, he'll be able to power it up like he did before. I doubt it can still fly, but even without flight it will serve as an excellent base for the Predacons. It has a lot of equipment and weapons that they can use."
"One would think," Martin's warrior instinct kicked in, "that we would need the same, otherwise we shall be at a great disadvantage."
"Exactly," Eric agreed, "which means that we'll need a more…practical base of operations."
"And that means reconfiguring the Ark," Ryan concluded. "It's our best option."
"But the Ark is…" Chris looked for the right word, "well, outdated."
"Not a problem," Ariana said. "Ryan, Alex, and I have some more advanced Cybertronian programs. It would take some time and a lot of effort, but we could probably update the Ark's systems. We could send programs through Telatron 1 that would modify and upgrade every program they encounter."
"Right," Eric sat down. "It would also need some additions considering our human forms. So here's what we need: rebuilt the life-support and medical systems to be useful to us, update weaponry, navigations, archives, and change certain codes." The Maximals nodded as they listened to the long list of modifications. "In addition to Telatron 1, new shields and external guns must be placed and it has to be resupplied with energon. Some other systems must be reprogrammed, rebuilt, recalibrate, replaced, and re…"
"Modeled," Alex put in. "I'm thinking this:" he made a rectangle window with his hands and looked at Eric through it, "pretty pink curtains and lace. It's totally you, Fearless Leader." He laughed until a chores of "Shut up, Alex" cut him off.
"So we need all that, some rough materials," Eric counted on his fingers, "ammunition, and Prime. Where is Optimus Prime?"
"I don't know," Martin said, "but he's not here. He called me and said he had to leave town on a very important mission. I believe he said he'll be back in a few days."
"Really?" Eric was surprised. What could be so important that Rafe would jus get up and walk away, especially when they didn't know where Justin was? "Well, since he's not here we'd better hold off on those modifications. For now I have an assignment for three of you. Ryan, Chris, and Alex, I need the three of you to find a man named Buster "Spike" Witwicky, his wife, and son, Daniel. They worked closely with the Autobots and have contact with army personnel who also know about it."
"Wait a minute," Ariana held up her index finger, "the army knows about us?"
"Not us," Eric shook his head, "they don't know about Maximals, but they do know about Autobots."
"Now he tells us," Devon muttered.
"So," Eric ignored the comment, "in conclusion: Ryan, Chris, and Alex will get in touch with the Witwicky family, while Ariana, Martin, Devon, and I will see what else we can do. Ariana, when is Jamie's summer camp over?"
"August 20th ," she replied. "That's in two weeks. I think we can handle things until then without him. Or Justin."
"So be it," their leader agreed.
"Any idea where to find these people?" Ryan asked as he, Alex, and Chris got up to leave.
"He lives in the suburbs, on the other side of Portland," said Eric. "It should take you no more the an hour if you go by freeway. You can take my car."
"Rode trip!" Chris clapped his hands together once. "See you guys later." He ran out like a bullet. As soon as they were near Eric's red, sports car, he immediately went for the driver's seat.
"Hey wait," Alex protested. "I want to drive."
"I'm driving," Ryan said firmly. "Eric would feel much better if someone mature drives." Though still unhappy, Alex and Chris found their seats. When the car pulled out of the driveway, Eric turned to the others.
"Now that they took your car, how are we supposed to get to the Ark?" questioned Devon.
"We won't," Eric replied. "For now, I want Ariana to prepare those upgrade programs. We can't do anything until they are finished running."
