Bolt ushered them both inside and secured the door immediately after to prevent any unwanted nuisances from getting in. He had both of his guests follow him to main deck where he took his seat up front and clasped his servos neatly onto his lap.
"So, Queen Arcee, care to tell me why you and Lord Megatron are here?"
Arcee took a seat at one of the chairs nearby but Megatron kept standing, instead leaning on the console. She frowned, "You can just call me Arcee, it's fine. I...got dethroned in some sort of coup. I was going to have Megatron retrieve the Allspark but I got pushed into the portal as well and here we are."
Bolt made a noise that sounded like he was grimacing, "Ooo, not good. That sucks because you were doing quite well, in my opinion."
Megatron flashed his annoyance at his former Vehicon soldier, "And how did you end up here? I thought most of the Vehicons remained loyal to me?"
The Vehicon put his servos up in defense, "I didn't say I defected to the Autobots but the opportunity they gave me to go adventuring was kind of a calling card for me. Of course, as you can imagine, it didn't go well. I still respect you, Lord Megatron, but how long can one bot wait? The crew and I found the ultimate adventure...and we paid for it."
"What happened to the ship and the crew? The other vessels?" Arcee asked, a slight hitch of unnerve in her voice.
Bolt acknowledged her fear and sighed, "When we heard about the Allspark terraforming its own island with an abundance of creatures throughout the galaxy gathered in one place, we were quite honestly scared a little. When we heard your orders to retrieve the Allspark, we did go with some fear but most of us learned to keep that fear down until we got here. The Allspark's Citadel is shielded by gems hidden throughout the island. We found that out when we tried to go straight at it. One ship hit the shield dead on and it exploded. Every other ship was forced to land with the Allspark syphoning power by proximity.
"The first day on the island, we found ourselves scattered across the region. My crew and I landed here in the marshlands, one landed near Lyra Lavalands in the volcanic valley, several others went into different terrains but we survived the longest. I know this because we lost communications over time to all the other vessels. Couldn't call for help outside because no signal can breach past the island. We only had ourselves, the other ships, to communicate with. By the end of the first month was when things became noticeably horrific."
Arcee clutched her servos tight together in anticipation of what she was about to learn. Megatron looked concerned for once.
Bolt continued, "The other ships went out on by one but it was a pattern. The first to go was over near the mountains, then in a circle each ship fell like something was hunting them and just trailing the island. Then one of our crew disappeared looking for supplies. We panicked, locked up our ship, the Endeavor, and waited. Once we thought we were in the clear, we tried again...and again...and again. What started as a crew of fifty dwindled to me and three others. One moment, it became three. Another left just me and the last crewmember. And since a year ago...it's been just me."
Megatron sneered, "How is it you've survived this long?"
"I actually paid attention to my surroundings. The others kept thinking whatever was hunting us or anything on the outside would simply pass but I was smart enough to prepare the ship and myself for anything I could. The speaker screeches you heard to ward off that nightpaw? I saved this ship multiple instances using it by utilizing my time and quick thinking. I managed to map out the island before everyone else disappeared and lived with that information ever since. I know what to find in each environment, what to avoid over trial-and-error witnessing, and I used the ship's scanners to isolate just where the electromagnetic gems are for the citadel shield. Now it's only a matter of getting them."
The femme gave Megatron a shrug before approaching Bolt, "These gems, if we were to obtain them, would break the shield? Are you sure?"
Bolt nodded, "Pretty sure. I don't know if just taking them will shut them down or they need to be manually shut down. I take it you want to go after the Allspark, reclaim it and take your kingdom back?"
"I seem to have no other option."
He glared at Arcee with doubt but caved without a fight, "Okay, as you wish. I found a total of eleven gems on the island. If you could gather them and bring them back to me, I can figure out how to disarm them and lower the shield. Once we do that, we'll storm the citadel from the bottom up. If layout is any indication, there should be an entrance near the base but it's hard to tell just where it is."
The warlord said, "We walked around it and didn't see any entrance before we found you. If the Allspark is determined to keep us from reaching it, I doubt the entrance being locked has anything to do with the shield gems."
"True, but we can't confirm until we find them all. The question is: are you absolutely sure you want to do this? If you continue, who knows what you'll encounter that protects those gems. And unfortunately, one of us has to stay here to protect the Endeavor. If my guess is correct and some type of creature hunted all those ships down and has tormented the marshlands ever since because of my defenses, I've managed to get lucky so far but it's only a matter of time before it tries again. If we lose this ship, there's no way we're getting off this island alive. If we capture the Allspark and haul it back, we can repair this vessel and fly off."
That made Arcee frown, "So, I take it you're going to stay?"
Bolt stood up and walked to the main computer at the bridge, "Or one of you can if you want to. Guests decide first but I know this ship from bow to rear, every inch of its capabilities."
"Fine," she spoke, "Megatron and I will retrieve the gems."
"Beg pardon, my dear, but if we go out there, we'll be as dead as the rest of the Cybertronians who were on those ships," Megatron argued.
Bolt waved a digit, "No, you'll have a better chance. I'll give you as many weapons as possible and I'll be here to be your home base support. I'll use your sensor feeds to monitor all activity around you with your permission. Of course, before we do that, I should give you a glimpse into what you're dealing with from all the data I've collected."
"Show away then," the grey mech said.
Bolt pulled up a huge map of the island and a few highlighted destination points popped up after it settled in a vertical sky view. He activated radar functions and brought up pictures he seemed to have taken during his stay. Arcee was impressed to say the least. A blue spec pulsed on the middle West side of the island and Bolt quickly pointed it out.
"See that blue spot? That's us. Now, I should say really fast that there are roughly eleven different ecosystems on the island, not counting the center where the Allspark's Citadel is located. Most habitable to all, some only to creatures designed for its effects which I will try to provide a counter defense for you if available. I don't like to brag but I'm a pretty nifty inventor," Bolt said with glee.
Megatron laughed, "Yes, too much time on your servos will certainly allow such skill to bloom."
"That or maybe I did it while on the Nemesis behind your back but to preserve the good nature of our partnership, perhaps some mockery is best left to the professionals," he snapped in a faux cheerful tone.
The warlord growled but didn't respond to it.
Arcee put a servo on her hip. "So, what did you do on the Nemesis when you were aboard?"
Bolt chuckled, "Ah, you know, maintenance, construction work, you name it. Whatever was required, most of us learned on the fly if we didn't know already. I took to inventing and innovation a couple years before the war ended while on Earth. I got inspired by Einstein, Tesla, and another big-name innovator I can't think of at the moment. Stuck on a wayward ship for years during a burnt-out war and terrible customer service, what are you going to do?"
His stood straighter when he heard her laugh in surprise but grew proud of himself.
Megatron rolled his optics and observed the map as it displayed red dots throughout the map. "I take it those are our shield breakers?"
"Yes, Lord Megatron, technically though they are estimated locations where their unique energy readings were coming from, not precise. The ship's boosters to the radar are maxed out right now which is also taking energy from it. The Allspark is doing everything in its power to keep me from finding those gems. So, another thing that makes this suicide quest more dangerous," Bolt said.
Arcee gripped her arm in disappointment. "It's going to be one of those adventures, isn't it?"
The Decepticon leader, instead of chastising her, tried to be kinder, "Look on the bright side, we have a chance of doing the impossible. At least if we die, we die trying like warriors, you and I."
"You think of me as a warrior?"
"Are you not the femme who stood by Optimus' side and went head-to-head with me a few times. Your sisters weren't that brave, no disrespect. And didn't Cybertron chose you because you are a warrior? You and I aren't so different, perhaps that's also why we can do this."
She studied Megatron and gave a small smile, "What happened to the high and mighty warlord who thought no one was better than him?"
"Technically," Megatron mused, "I didn't say that."
"Oh sure, okay," she snarked, earning her a teasing grin from the larger mech.
Bolt didn't say anything about that but Arcee could tell he was looking at Megatron with an unreadable emotion. The faceless visor Vehicons had were sometimes a pain to understand but head movements could also give away their emotions; his thoughts were shrouded in mystery. Megatron seemed to notice but ignored it with another sneer. He probably knew why the Vehicon was looking at him like that too.
To break the unusual tension, Arcee cleared her throat, "As you were saying, Bolt, about the island?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, the life-threatening adventure and all the ecosystems. That fun stuff. Um, well for starters, we are in what I dubbed the Mystic Marshlands because of its ambience and at night, it glows with all these little light bugs floating about."
"You mean fireflies?" She corrected.
"That's what they're called? Cool. Anyways, these willows growing out of the marsh I think are not Earth-based because they glow too. During the day, they have a blue subtle tint but at night, they become amazingly bright with neon blues and greens. You need to see it, trust me. If I die, I want it to be at night in these marshes. Absolutely stunning."
Megatron said, "When we got here it was barely last light so it'll be dark if not already."
Bolt hummed in agreement, "Before you guys want to do this journey of yours, maybe you should stick around a few days, get a feel of the place before you set out. It'll help get more familiar with the territory. Running out into the open blindly will attract predators and other obstacles."
"Sounds like a plan, we got nothing better to do, do we?" Arcee smirked.
"I'm in no hurry," Megatron answered.
Bolt almost looked giddy from his body language and highlighted what seemed to be the Mystic Marshland's shield gem.
"After I found out about these gems, I went to investigate the closest signal which is just over yonder near the giant willow you probably couldn't fail to notice if you tried. I hate to say that some deaths of my crew were because of that...but it was. I was the first to figure out how to hypothetically disable the shield and I thought I could simply take the gem and reverse engineer it. I was wrong. Something is in that tree and it hit us faster than anything we anticipated. I survived because I retreated early knowing we didn't have enough time to regroup and plan an attack before it was over us. Never really saw what it was. I bet you anything it's guarding the gem...and the other gems are being guarded by other creatures as well.
"North of the marsh, you have Nemesis Forest, named after our very own warship because of its ability to shroud most of the ground in deep shadow even during daylight just like the dark halls of that dreaded vessel. Its gem is central but I never navigated the forest to find out exactly where it could be. Sorry. Above that...well below if you want to be accurate physically, there's a large river complex and delta end in Paragon Canyon, so named...because I thought it was a cool name. The signal looks like it's in the middle of the canyon but I think different. Some cliffsides have pockets and there's a chance it may be in one."
Arcee sighed, "So much on this island."
"I'm actually about done," Bolt shrugged. "I named the other locations but know not where their gems are, so it'll be up to you to find them. Lyra Lavalands and its volcano, Mt. Blastburn, are past the canyon. I didn't have any creative names for it. Go to the right from there and you have Nightshade Desert where there may be something lurking beneath the sand so be careful. Beside it is the snowy Roughridge Mountains which is horrifically cold at night and at the base of that is Crystal Lake, so named because the water reminds me of the crystals in Crystal City, very shiny.
"I must warn of Cinder's Swamp past that. I got confirmation of a Crococinder species from Caminus residing there hence the name choice. The swamp is isolated inland from Dark Rock Bay and its Energon Beach, both the bay and the beach are technically the same location so don't get confused. To the left below it is I think where you guys came from, Cyber Meadows. Nice Dinobot population. Then to the southwest just below us is the Primal Jungle, also didn't have a really good name for it, and that loops us back to Mystic Marshlands. Cool, huh?"
"What about the Allspark's Citadel?" Megatron asked. "We saw its rocky terrain but is there anything else to it we need to know?"
Bolt tinkered with the map's data specs and placed it in a 3D overview horizontally to now look down upon it. "Um, I do recollect that the Black Mountains had foliage on it at first when we got here but not much. The Allspark is powerful enough to give life but if it's necessary, I have no doubts it can take life too. I think it fed off all the foliage there to empower itself with raw energy to reshape the island, not that it really needs such a boost to begin with. The mountains are now barren and the citadel rests in the center. Other than that, there's not much to tell."
Aerial images of the citadel and the Black Mountains showed the range was almost in a complete circle and the center was a miniature valley. Arcee studied the map and took hints of the low areas as well as the high peaks of the Roughridge Mountains.
The island was its own natural fortress. The Allspark must have taken inspiration from Cybertron's war and expanded on various concepts with the use of vegetation and animals rather than actual soldiers. Since Cybertronians were used to threats like themselves, they wouldn't have any defense against a more unpredictable set of obstacles, especially living creatures. Clever.
"Now that we have an idea of what we're dealing with, I say we take a break and discuss more details in the morning," Arcee said.
Bolt stretched and nodded, "Agreed. Like I said, you should see the marshlands at night. You'll like it."
"Great. Megatron, you coming with us?"
Megatron didn't seem as thrilled about it. "Go up there without me. I'll be there soon. I...have a lot to think on."
A brief moment of disappointment hit Arcee but as Bolt prepared the lift to the Endeavor's top, she snapped back to her interest of the ecosystem she had yet to observe in its supposed beauty. When she reached the ship's exterior, her optics went wide.
The marshlands' vegetation glowed with the number of fireflies roaming around, pulsing as specks among a vivid night blue environment. The water was peaceful, untouched with traces of illuminance beneath its surface from a type of algae.
Then there was the giant willow in the distance. As Bolt had described, lines beneath its bark and the strings of leaves hanging down from it were neon blue like the color of Energon. It had a spiritual vibe to it, something Arcee couldn't put into words. Monogoliaths that roam around had similar bio lights bringing her to the conclusion that they were from the same world.
"Beautiful, no?" Bolt chuckled, sitting down on the ship with his legs over the edge. "If you want to see more, just look up."
Arcee took his lead and sat at the edge. Upon peering up to the sky, she found he was right again. The sky was clear as ever with a portion of the Milky Way galaxy visible and stretching across half of it. The Moon was in a corner of her sight, just breaching the horizon, and the stars were as bright as could be. Had the island not been so dangerous, the view alone would have won her over.
"The Allspark certainly knows how to choose its locations," the Vehicon said.
They both heard a splash and looked down at a visible pool of water where four bright green optics were staring off to the side from them. Arcee quickly shot a glance at Bolt who seemed unfazed.
"Aquatronian garden leaper. The few land pieces on that planet had springs including the hand-built lands the populace created, and they loved to rest on land so naturally they made themselves at home in artificial gardens with pools of water. They're more of an annoyance than any type of threat though. They keep unwanted bugs down."
Arcee gave him a brief expression of amusement, "How do you know so much about the wildlife from other planets?"
"I consider myself an amateur cyber and organic biologist. Velocitron, Chaar, Aquatron, Cybertron, Caminus, Kanjis and Earth all have unique types of animal-based and exotic wildlife. I studied...a lot...in my spare time," Bolt said. He then pointed at her, "Tell you what, not only will I help you find the gems but I'll also help you identify the various species across the island. And if they are hostile, I'll try to give the best insight on their weaknesses. That way there's less hassle in getting what we need."
The femme smiled until a loud screech was aimed towards them. They both immediately looked back to see a giant eagle-like organic creature diving straight at them. They had less than a second to react.
Boom!
The bird's body shattered into thousands of pieces before it hit the ship's surface and bounced over their helms into the marsh. The body of the creature was consumed by the water and didn't appear again.
Both Cybertronians clutched their chests until they realized someone indeed shot it down. Turning back around, footsteps gave away Megatron who had a fusion cannon attached to his arm. It was black instead of the normal purple one he usually sported but he made it fit.
"I can't leave you alone for five minutes and you already draw attention to yourself," the warlord smirked.
Bolt helped Arcee up before taking a piece of the bird that remained on the top, examining it as Megatron approached. The piece was a silver sheen with red feathers but its inner flesh was green, not something found on Earth for sure.
"What was that?" Arcee asked.
Bolt shook his helm, "A Rozaria bloodhawk. These things are nasty dive-bombers and they will snatch up any prey small or large that they can wrap their talons around. I know Kanjis has creatures here but I didn't know Rozaria did too for quite some time until recent."
"Which planet is that again?"
"Kanjis' neighbor. The Rozarians are an organic species; they kind of resemble the Earth beast called the rhinoceros but more reptilian. They are huge like us in comparison to humans and their skeletons are as dense as metal, allowing blunt-force trauma with almost every punch. Their wildlife is similar to themselves, very hard to kill unless you have a weapon powerful enough to do so...which I see you found one, Lord Megatron."
Megatron adjusted the cannon. "It's a bit larger than my former and heavier but nothing I can't work with."
Bolt quickly checked the skies for any more of the bloodhawks. When he spotted none, he gave the okay to resume studying the environment. This time, Megatron stayed with them.
For the next hour, they had spotted a few nightpaws and garden leapers, some of whom ate a firefly or two which gave its belly a humorous glow. Monogoliaths and the African elephant herds with them occasionally moved by, one of them even lifted its trunk to sense the unknown bots. Bolt assured Arcee they were harmless too. The elephant waved its large ears and trumpeted before taking off with the rest of the herd.
"Not to ruin the mood or anything, but there's something I should warn that the bloodhawk attack reminded me of," Bolt started. "I think the Allspark has tampered with some of the wildlife and other creatures it brought here. Some of them are hostile when the rest of the same species aren't. Another thing I noticed is there may be rare creatures on the island the Allspark brought in just for security, not in mass like the elephants or the leapers."
Megatron frowned, "Rare...as in there's only one of its kind here on the island?"
Bolt nodded, "Yeah. I saw a turretmonger in the forest, a native species of Chaar but it was the only one there. I set up cameras and it was always the same one. It had a distinct scar across its throat too. It didn't look like it was randomly put there. I think the Allspark set up enemies specifically to guard the gems in case someone tried to take them. I can't stress enough how careful you guys need to be."
Arcee scoffed, "We've fought each other where one slip up meant life or death, same concept but different enemy. Nothing we can't work out together."
"But, I hate to say, you may have to kill all the enemies you come across. As rare as they are, they will not stop until you are dead, so you just have to kill them first. I feel bad but I'd rather help you guys than let you die here."
"Thank you, Bolt, for everything," the femme said sweetly.
The remainder of their stay on the top of the ship boiled down to simply watching the stars. They all missed their home world, but they would return if it was the last thing they did.
AN: You now see a glimpse into what Megatron and Arcee are going to get themselves into. Also, the garden leapers are my favorite creatures I probably designed in this because they will be around in quieter moments...much to Bolt's disliking.
