Author's Note: I do apologize for the delay, but I have been unable to get my claws on a computer so I could resume typing. I didn't mean to leave you all hanging, I really didn't.
On another note, please know that all given heights for various Transformers are guesses only; no one can actually make up their minds on how tall the Transformers really are. So if I give a height estimate for any Transformers in this fic, I am actually guessing at how tall they might be. So please don't chew my head off if my measurements disagree with yours.
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or the Transformers, but you already knew that.
Metal and Neon
Chapter 12: Threatening Storm
With both Grissom and Ultra Rodimus having bad feelings that something terrible was on the horizon, both the human cops and the Autobots increased their drive to get all of the remaining humans out of the city. It wasn't easy. Many refused to leave their possessions behind.
"Possessions can be replaced!" Ultra Rodimus exploded, glaring at the humans. "Do you have a death wish!"
The humans eyed him.
"If you don't get your pathetic behinds out of this city, then you will perish in the next attack! You can replace the house and whatever is inside, but can you replace a life!"
That was enough to get that family moving. Fastlane escorted them out of Vegas, then turned around and came back. He met up with his leader on the way to dislodge another family.
"I will never understand the human attachment to some things," Ultra Rodimus muttered to himself on the way.
Catherine, riding in his cab, patted his dashboard. "It's very difficult to explain."
"I don't even want to know."
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The dimensional breach was still far from closed. Ultra Rodimus had posted sentries around the opening to alert the other Autobots if the sensors detected any signs of Decepticon activity. So far, the sensors hadn't even blipped, and the sentries were getting bored.
"This is so boring," Fireflight complained, rubbing his optics and staring blankly at his monitor.
"It may be boring, but we were ordered to continue scanning," Silverbolt informed them. "Ultra Rodimus says something is coming."
"Ultra Rodimus is paranoid," Air Raid grumbled, leaning back in his chair.
The Aerialbot commander whirled around to face the F-15. "What did you say?"
"I said Ultra Rodimus is paranoid!" Air Raid shot back, glaring at him. "He had a feeling and now we're wasting our time scanning for nothing!"
Silverbolt looked like he was about to blow a few circuits, but he was spared from responding by Scattershot. The Technobot leader had taken one look at Silverbolt's face and decided to intervene before the two started throwing punches.
"Our leader is not paranoid," the red, white, and maroon Autobot interrupted. "He has had such feelings before, and never once has he been wrong. I trust his instincts. If he says something's coming, then something is coming and it is our job to find out what it is before it reaches Earth."
"And if I decide not to?" Air Raid sneered.
It was Skyfire who answered. "Then you will have to face both Ultra Magnus and Ultra Rodimus himself. If Ultra Rodimus doesn't thrash you so badly your armor will fall off in pieces for disobeying him, think of what his mate, who, if you'll recall, is the drill instructor and has a well-earned reputation as being a slave driver, will do to you."
Air Raid gulped and quickly returned to his work. Not even he wanted to risk Magnus's wrath. As drill instructor, Magnus outranked even Ultra Rodimus himself when he chose to enforce his rank. No one who ran afoul of Magnus wanted to repeat the experience. Ever.
For several more hours, the shuttle was quiet. Only the click of metal fingers on keyboards, the creaking of chairs as massive forms shifted position, the soft hum of electronics, and the occasional beep of a computer accepting an order broke the silence. Everyone was intent on his monitor and assigned sensor array. Even Air Raid.
Because Air Raid was the arrogant, snappish type who disobeyed orders when he felt like it, he had been on the receiving end of a great deal of punishment. Neither Ultra Rodimus nor Ultra Magnus had ever laid a hand on him, he had been exposed to his Prime's occasionally vicious temper and more than a few "special training" sessions from Magnus. Ultra Rodimus annoyed was intimidating enough, but when he was truly angry... it was a whole other league. When he was at his angriest, even the strongest bots trembled before him. It was rare to see him angry, but anyone who crossed him when he was in a bad mood was in for it. Air Raid had gotten on his bad side once, and just remembering it made him want to cringe. Since he never, ever wanted to be in that situation again, he decided that he should stick to his task.
The hours crept past. Every six hours, the shift changed, and the second crew took over while the first group rested. The shifts had changed twelve times when one of the consoles started to beep.
Everyone froze for a split second, then hurried over to look at the monitor. Two other banks of sensors were turned in that direction to try and gather more data.
An alarm went off.
"I told you he's never wrong!" Scattershot bolted for the comm unit. "This is Sensor One to base! Come in!"
"We read you, Sensor One," Blaster responded. "What's up?"
"This is no time for jokes, Blaster! I have to talk to Prime!"
"He's out, but hang on a sec and I'll patch you into his comm." Blaster didn't even wait for Scattershot to acknowledge. For a moment the line hissed with static.
"Prime here," Ultra Rodimus finally said. "What is it, Scattershot?"
"The 'Cons, sir! They're coming! And they have company!"
The young Autobot leader was all business. "How many?"
"Looks like twelve ships, all full, and... What the hell!"
"What!" Ultra Rodimus demanded.
"It's..."
Before he could get the warning out, the shuttle rocked violently. Sparks flew as consoles blew out. The comm line screamed with static, and Scattershot knew the comm antenna was gone. He lurched toward the intership comm unit.
"Get us the hell out of here!"
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Ultra Rodimus looked at his comm unit, hearing nothing but static. Then he looked at the other Autobots and at the humans.
"You have to leave now!" he yelled at them.
The urgency in his voice and the frantic call, as well as how suddenly it had been cut off, finally got through the humans' thick skulls. They scrambled for their vehicle and were gone in record time.
"There are still people here!" Sara yelled.
"We're out of time!" Magnus yelled back, eyes flashing sapphire.
"Look!" Springer pointed.
A wave of black dots were diving out of the sky, pouring out of the larger blotches of shuttles. The dots, each one an individual Decepticon warrior, swarmed toward them like enraged wasps. And behind them came something else, something huge, partially obscured by the rest of the Decepticon army.
"What is that!" Nick demanded.
The huge black shape landed somewhere just out of sight. For a moment, nothing happened. Then a titanic shape rose into view.
"No," Ultra Rodimus breathed.
The humans could only stare in utter shock as a form so massive it made even the towering Autobot leader look small loomed up over the city, every step making the very ground shake.
"What is that!" Warrick finally managed to force out.
"That" was a colossal robotic dinosaur, mainly black with spots of gold, green grey, and purple spotting its armored hide. Its head, limbs, and back bristled with weaponry. The purple Decepticon insignia dominated its chest. In height, the mechanical monstrosity was over 1000 feet tall. It let out a deafening roar.
"Trypticon!" Hot Spot gasped.
To be continued...
Cliffie! Ooh, I'll bet you're gonna hate me for this! But you're gonna have to wait until my next update, whenever that may be, to find out what happens next. So please don't come after me; if you do then there won't be any more story.
Gromia: Yeah, I know the feeling. Once you start you can't stop, and even when you take a break you're itching to get back at it. I'll try and save as much of Vegas as I can, but with Trypticon now on the field...
Fenestrae: If you must be hooked onto something, at least CSI and all its offshoots are good shows to be hooked on. And yes, there are evil computers out there. Didn't you hear the new saying? "I love my computer, but my computer hates me." So much for summer vacation... Yes, it's getting interesting again. Keep reading!
You know the drill. Review for more chapters. And I know you're out there. This fic has gotten 137 hits but only 44 reviews! Leave me a review, even if it's only one word long! Please!