Disclaimer:Transformers belongs to Hasbro, Takara, etc . The only thing in this that belongs to me is Arcee's sister.
Somewhere in the desert, Megatron was in his Cybertronian Jet form flying to a location and transformed as he approached his vehicon troopers and approached an excavation site.
Optimus and ratchet looked at the site from above.
"Megatron?" Ratchet said with horror.
"It seems you detected the ancient Autobot frequency precisely because it was unearthed," Optimus told him.
"Well, our backup shouldn't be far behind," Ratchet stated, referring to Bumblebee who had gone off to scout the area upon Optimus' orders.
"Without knowing what the Decepticons have exhumed, I believe that I am unwilling to wait," Optimus decreed as he stood up charging his blasters.
Optimus began to walk down to the sight. Ratchet remained where he was. He didn't know what was going to happen next. But he knew he wasn't going to like it. The Decepticons are still to notice the presence of the Autobots. They were too busy exhuming their latest finding.
"Show me," Megatron requested high in the rocks before the Vehicons hoisted a strange Cybertronian container, one that Megatron recognized very well, "Bring it to me with utmost care."
When the Vehicon brought the container to Megatron with care, the Decepticon lord wasted no time in opening it and revealing the weapon inside. But before he could reach down and take it…
"Megatron!" Optimus called as he ran towards them, "I cannot allow you to pilfer Autobot relics!"
"Not only are you misinformed, Optimus, but I would strongly advise you to lower your weapons…unless you're in the mood for Mutually Assured Destruction," Megatron smirked as he held up an oddly-shaped weapon; one that made Optimus and Ratchet shudder in fear.
"It can't be!" Ratchet gasped.
"The spark extractor," Optimus growled.
The Vehicons were quick to surround the two Autobots. Too many times they had let the Autobots slip through their clawed servos. They weren't going to make the same mistakes again. Megatron would have their heads on a silver platter.
"Rather unassuming yet capable of extracting every spark within its radius. And too think that you led me straight to it, Optimus. Or should I say Orion Pax did?" Megatron smirked, earning a murderous glare from his arch enemy, "You really should have left your Decepticon insignia intact…for you have no idea how useful your code-breaking skills proved to be during our all-to brief time together." He then contacted his chief of communications, "Soundwave, send the Ground Bridge."
A Ground Bridge opened nearby and Vehicons came out the portal, "Engage them!" Megatron ordered.
As the Vehicons began to battle Ratchet and Optimus, Megatron began to leave. With the Vehicons keeping his enemies busy, he could make an easy escape…
Or will he?
Three other Vehicons were hiding behind the rocks, their blasters charging. Obviously, they were planning to jump in and catch the Autobots by surprise. Well, a certain Urbana 500 wasn't going to let that happen. Bumblebee jumped from the cliff and landed in the ditch in vehicle mode. Repeated shots were fired as Bumblebee drove towards the battle involved other Vehicons, Optimus and Ratchet. Optimus was never so relieved to see the scout in his life.
"Bumblebee, secure the package!" Optimus requested.
Bumblebee didn't waste time. He immediately raced for the awaiting Ground Bridge where Megatron was slowly walking through it. Megatron didn't hear the sounds of the Autobot scout transforming behind him. In fact, he didn't notice Bumblebee's presence until he swooped past and took the spark extractor right out of his hand. A Mexican stand-off was about to take place. Bumblebee stood crouched to the ground, holding the spark extractor in his hand. Megatron stood upright. Shocked, but ready to fire his weapons whenever necessary.
"What?!" Megatron yelled as he unsheathed his blade.
Not wanting to get sliced and diced, Bumblebee made a hasty retreat. Megatron was quick to follow. Bumblebee transformed into his vehicular mode and drove right between Megatron's legs as though he was driving through a tunnel. Megatron was quick to follow the scout as he performed the loop-de-loop, swiping his blade every chance he got. Megatron screamed in frustration as he followed Bumblebee out of the entrance of the portal he originally came through. He wasn't about to lose him. Not again. Bumblebee performed another loop-de-loop and disappeared…well, he had disappeared by the time Megatron emerged.
So had Optimus and Ratchet.
And then there were the destroyed Vehicons.
Megatron just can't win.
Optimus, Ratchet and Bumblebee bridged themselves back to base with the spark extractor they intercepted from Megatron. Arcee, Chromette, Bulkhead, Jack, Miko and Raf were listening in on Bumblebee's recollection of the story.
"Loop-de-loop, huh?" Arcee smirked.
Done with using the toy car as a model, Bumblebee handed the car back to Raf, before walking away from the catwalk.
"You have some brass bearings, Bumblebee," Bulkhead told him
"Agreed," Chromette said.
"Optimus, here. The source of the frequency we detected," Ratchet proclaimed as he pointed to the beacon on a screen in front of them.
"An Iacon homing beacon," Optimus realized.
"What's an Autobot locator doing on that?" Arcee asked.
"The class 'A' Decepticon weapons were confiscated during the war were sealed within vaults below Iacon," Optimus explained.
"Where you once worked as an archivist?" Bulkhead added.
"Iacon was both a cultural center and a stronghold, which Megatron raided when Autobots were at their nadir. It stands to reason that in anticipation of Iacon being overrun by Enemy forces, these weapons were jettisoned off-world to keep them far from Decepticon reach," Opimus went on.
"Clearly, the beacon was added as a safety measure should the weapon be found by the undesired party," Ratchet added.
"Well, thanks to our hotshot stunt driver, this one's going in our vault," Bulkhead said after chuckling.
"Do you think this is the only intel you supplied to Megatron?" Arcee asked.
"Arcee, you are right to ask," Optimus answered nervously, "and I am afraid I do not remember."
"Optimus. Megatron clearly took advantage of your amnesia, but for all we know, this spark extractor is the extent of it," Ratchet cut in. "Have you stopped to consider that he might have suggested otherwise merely to plague your thoughts?"
"The spark extractor was in my grasp!" Megatron roared as he pounded his fist onto a computer station, "I should have removed more than that scout's voice box when I had the chance!"
Soundwave approached the warlord and showed him that there are at least two more coordinates on earth to investigate for relics on his visor.
"Indeed, Soundwave. We possess two more sets of coordinates which Orion decrypted before departing our ranks. Let us see what other long lost treasures we might be reunited with," Megatron smirked as he walked up to Soundwave.
With everything going on recently, the Autobots had to be on their guard. Neither of them knew where the decrypted coordinates that Optimus possibly provided to Megatron would lead and neither of them knew what treasures said coordinates would lead everyone too. So…extra patrols were set up. Bulkhead and Bumblebee happened to be on one. Bulkhead went in one direction. Bumblebee went in another.
Bumblebee buzzed to Bulkhead on his comlink after picking up a signal.
"Yeah, I just got the same signal. Could be another homing beacon. Let's rendezvous at the coordinates," Bulkhead replied.
No more words were needed after that. At speeds regular cars could only dream of achieving, Bumblebee sped towards the source of the signal. He didn't have far to go. He only had to take the next bend then turn into the desert next to the road. Transforming into his robot form, Bumblebee took steps that were filled with caution.
He saw this transmitter emitting a strange signal implanted in the rocks before him. To say that he was curious would be a terrible understatement. Immediately, Bumblebee took off running towards it. He went to touch it. However, he never got the chance. Just like he never saw who fired the shot.
Bumblebee beeped in pain as the electricity coursed through his entire body. Eventually, it became too much for the Autobot Scout to bear as he fell back onto the ground, his optics offlining and the sound of his systems shutting down echoed through the night. Four men walked towards the downed Autobot. Among them was Silas.
M.E.C.H had planned this.
"Silas, another one is heading toward our position. Estimated Arrival: two minutes," a M.E.C.H surgeon reported.
"Work, briskly," Silas instructed.
Above them, a jet flew in the skies before transforming and landing in the cliffs. Starscream had picked up the same signal and decided to investigate the matter. When he got there, he saw Bumblebee being carved open by humans and immediately put two and two together. Starscream may be predictable.
But he wasn't dumb.
"It would appear the signal was a trap. Better Bumblebee than me," Starscream sneered.
While the surgeon worked to remove a vital organ of Bumblebee's systems, Silas stood on the rocks with a pair of binoculars in his hand. He saw another car approaching. It was Bulkhead. Not wanting to encounter the Autobots again, Silas decided to make a hasty retreat.
"The backup is ahead of schedule," Silas observed.
"As luck would have it, so would I," the surgeon remarked as he pulled out an organ.
"Move out," Silas instructed.
The four men boarded the helicopter and took off towards the skies, making a retreat. Starscream, sensing that Bulkhead was on his way, decided to do the same and took off. There was nothing for him here.
When Bumblebee woke up moments later, he saw the M.E.C.H helicopter taking off. But at the time, he didn't know if it was a new Decepticon or M.E.C.H operatives. The sounds of an approaching vehicle filled his Audio receptors followed by transformations. Bulkhead immediately ran to his side and knelt next to him.
"Bee! Who did this?! 'Cons?!" Bulkhead growled angrily.
Bumblebee buzzes sadly, telling him that he doesn't know who attacked him.
"One way to find out. Come on!" Bulkhead cried as he took off.
Once he was close to the road, Bulkhead transformed and took off at high speeds. Bumblebee went to do the same…however, he couldn't. His wings didn't turn into doors. His chassis didn't turn into his headlights. Bumblebee glanced after Bulkhead on the road. His optics saying one word: Help.
Screeching tires echoed throughout the Nevada desert. Finally noticing that his buddy was no longer with him, Bulkhead reversed back and transformed.
"We rolling or not?!" Bulkhead demanded.
Bumblebee buzzes a reply saying that he couldn't.
"What do you mean, you can't?" Bulkhead asked him.
Bumblebee said nothing but his optics said it all as he was scared, unsure and helpless.
They called for an emergency Ground Bridge immediately after that. Everyone was quick to realize that something was wrong with Bumblebee after they both explained the situation.
"You can fix Bee, can't you?" Raf asked worriedly, as he approached his guardian on the metal slab.
"Bumblebee was hit pretty hard. The stun blasts may have fried his T-Cog," Ratchet answered.
"Is that like a T-Bone?" Miko asked.
"Not exactly. It's the organ that allows us to scan vehicles and transform," Arcee corrected.
"Without the ability to transform or fly, We Cybertronians are pretty much vulnerable in the battlefield," Chromette added.
"By the AllSpark!" Ratchet gasped as he deactivated his scanner, "Bumblebee's T-Cog isn't damaged. It's missing."
Optimus' optics widened in horror. It was one thing for him to loose his voice box. But for him to loose his T-Cog?! Not only can't he speak. He can't transform. Now, he was in more danger than he was when his voice box was destroyed. Optimus wasn't the only one to wear the horror on his face. Bulkhead, Chromette and Arcee were the same way.
"But the Decepticons transform too. Why would they steal that?" Jack asked.
"Megatron may be known to raise zombies, but he's no ghoul," Ratchet stated.
"If Megatron wasn't behind this, then who was?" Raf asked.
"The ones who cannibalized Breakdown," Bulkhead realized.
"And tried to gut me," Arcee added.
"M.E.C.H," Ratchet snarled, "And it would appear their knowledge of Cybertronian biotech has grown more sophisticated."
"But why would they want Bumblebee's part?" Raf asked.
"I might have an idea why," Chromette said and everyone looked at her, "I have a feeling that they probably are trying to build their own Cybertronian."
"Hmm," Ratchet said thinking about what Chromette Just said, "That's a good reason why they would steal it, but why would they want to build their own version of us?"
That question wouldn't get answered as Bumblebee sat up and started buzzing, wanting to hunt down M.E.C.H and regain what was rightfully his.
"Bumblebee please. You are not presently equipped to handle this," Optimus protested, earning some buzzes of strong protests from the young Autobot scout, "You are mistaken, my friend. I do know what it's like to lose a vital part of one's self. And as a result, I know the value of putting your faith in the strength of those around you. We vow to do everything in our power to make you whole again."
"And if not, Ratchet can make you a new cog thing, right?" Miko asked, hoping that it would make the situation better.
Bumblebee wails and moans as he slumps back onto the berth.
"What'd I say?!" Miko demanded.
"Miko, a T-Cog is a biomechanism, not a scrapyard find. If it were that easy, don't you think I would have replaced Bumblebee's voice box by now?!" Ratchet snapped.
Bumblebee began buzzing on how useless he was now.
"You're not useless, Bee," Raf said, trying to lighten his guardian's mood.
"All right, all right, I say none of us transform until Bumblebee gets his cog back," Bulkhead suggested.
"Your spark's in the right place bulkhead," Arcee said, "But I don't think now is the time to be limiting ourselves."
"Agreed, Sis, Chromette said.
"Not with Megatron potentially seeking out other doomsday devices. And I fear, not while M.E.C.H uses Bumblebee's T-Cog for their own sinister purpose," Optimus snarled.
If there's one thing M.E.C.H's good at, it's causing complete and utter chaos. This was proven by them installing Bumblebee's T-Cog into their own cybertronian as Chromette was right, M.E.C.H really is making their own cybertronian. Project Chimera was a work-in-progress ever since their first alien encounter. M.E.C.H was only interested in two things: power and total world domination. They weren't willing to let anything stand in the way of their conquests.
"Commence beta test," Silas instructed.
The surgeon typed in a few commands and the result more than just satisfying. First, the hand stretched out its fingers before clenching its fist multiple times. The whirring of circuitry coming to life filled the ears of everyone in the room. The veins and protoforms that were uncovered glowed a bright shade of green.
"Installation complete," the surgeon reported, "Commencing scan."
Silas stepped back when bright blue beams sprouted out of the robot's optics. They watched as the beams scanned the shape and colour of the helicopter nearby. Once everything about the helicopter was scanned into its system, the beams disappeared. The computer that was being operated by the M.E.C.H surgeon pinged to indicate the success of the scan.
"Scan successful," the surgeon reported, "commencing transformation."
Now this was where everything started going downhill for Project Chimera. Instillation of all the necessary parts including Bumblebee's T-Cog: successful. Beta test: successful. Scan of the Transformer's new vehicle form: successful. Transformation into said vehicle form…
Not so much.
Suddenly they heard manic laughter from outside the warehouse they were hiding in. When they looked outside, they saw the white-and-silver painted former Seeker. With ease, Starscream pushed the doors wide open and let himself into the base.
"You are the ones who turned poor Breakdown into a pitiful science experiment?!" Starscream said with disbelief, "Didn't learn much from the experience, did you?"
Every M.E.C.H agent with rifles suddenly aimed them at Starscream. The agents were coming from every level in every direction known to man. Silas, not one known for getting his hands dirty, just stood there casually.
"Enough to know where the soft spots are, Decepticon," Silas sneered.
"Oh please. I am no longer affiliated with that entity. Besides, if I were here to avenge the big lug, you would be screaming for mercy by now," Starscream smirked.
Silas couldn't help but realize that the Decepticon rogue was, in fact, correct. Everyone would be dead or pleading for mercy had he come to avenge Breakdown. Inwardly shuddering at the mere thought, he pushed forward.
"Why are you here?" Silas wanted to know.
"To propose an alliance. You see, we have much more in common than you think. And I am not merely referring to our battle scars," Starscream answered.
"What could I possibly gain from such an arrangement?" Silas asked.
Starscream, more than apply to answer, said two simple words, "Insider knowledge."
Having heard enough, Silas raised his hand. But it wasn't to open fire. Instead, it was a signal that instructed the crew to stand down. Unlike many others, he wasn't one to shoot first and ask questions later unless the situation called for it. He was willing to hear out the full proposition Starscream was offering to M.E.C.H. If he tried anything or he didn't like the idea…
Then he could shoot him.
"Wise choice," Starscream complimented, "Now, a T-Cog isn't technology. It is biology. Which means it will reject any power source other than Energon."
"Go on," Silas encouraged. So far, he was liking where this was going.
"Energon is the fuel, the ammunition and the lifeblood of all Cybertronians. Whatever their affiliation. You and I both want it. And currently, I lack the means of locating it. But once I supply you with the…," Starscream winced as he scratched himself, staining his clawed digit with his own Energon, "Particulars of its chemical makeup."
Starscream pressed the Energon-stained finger against the hole where the transforming robot's heart would be. They heard the purring of the machine as it came to life again, stronger than it was when on the previous power source M.E.C.H had it running on. Silas couldn't help but admit. The knowledge Starscream was supplying was fascinating…so far. Right now, he was waiting for the catch.
"We can utilize your considerable resources to devise the means of detecting new deposits for us to share," Starscream said with a smirk on his face.
"If the supply meets M.E.C.H's rather significant demand," Silas retorted.
"Ahhh… Intending to build an army, are you? I am no stranger to ambition," Starscream growled with a smirk on his face.
Back at the Autobot base, Ratchet was doing everything he could to locate the lost T-Cog, he also had to contend with Bumblebee, who wouldn't leave him alone.
"Optimus, Chromette and Bulkhead haven't reported in yet," Ratchet told him with frustration, Bumblebee buzzes a reply, "Bumblebee! I will let you know the moment I hear something." Bumblebee starts tapping his shoulder with one of his digits, "Oh for Primus sake! Will someone keep him occupied so I can get some work done?!"
"Hey Bee! How about a video game?" Raf offered from the entertainment center on the catwalk.
Willing to have a distraction, Bumblebee went to join Raf. He saw that he and Miko were playing the racing game that they've played together. When Bumblebee watched what they were doing, he almost did a face palm. Considering it was the only video game they had, Miko and Raf were racing. Realizing that it was only making things worse for Bumblebee, they opted to do something else.
"Ooh bad call," Miko cringed.
"Sorry," Raf apologized.
"Hey, no big deal! That game's lame!" Miko said as she tossed the controller aside and grabbed the television remote, "What do you say we watch some TV?"
As soon as she switched the channel a commercial of Bumblebee's alternate mode played. "The new Urbana 500 it won't just rock your world it will transform it."
Bumblebee then held his head in his hands and left.
"Taking the Auto out of an Autobot is so not a good thing," Miko remarked.
Bee, come on! You're just as amazing without wheels! I mean, speed isn't everything!" Raf said.
However, just as he said it, Arcee came speeding into the base accompanied by Jack. At the centre of the room, she came skidding to a stop, falling on her front wheel before landing on both.
"Personal best, Arcee! You hit 120 easy!" Jack said excitedly.
"Uh-oh!" Both Jack and Arcee muttered together as they saw Bumblebee's facial expression as he heard what they said.
Bumblebee then started to walk away, Ratchet noticed this and knew he was up to something.
Bumblebee! Where do you think you're going?!" Ratchet asked him.
Bumblebee buzzed a reply telling the medic that he was just going for a walk.
You can't just go out for a walk! We are robots in disguise! Leaving the base in this form puts you at risk of being seen! And of us being discovered! You just have to remain in the silo until…," Ratchet stopped as Bumblebee shrugged his hand off his shoulder and buzzed an angry reply.
"Yes, Bumblebee. Until I can fix you," Ratchet whispered sadly.
The next day, Raf was sitting on the steps of Memorial High School waiting for one of the Autobots to pick them up, when he suddenly heard an ambulance siren and saw a red and white ambulance park up in front of him. He grabbed his bookbag and entered Ratchet's alternate mode.
"In you go," Ratchet chided.
"Thanks for the lift home, friend of Jack's mum who works at the hospital!" Raf said loudly as they pulled out.
"Where are the others?" Ratchet asked.
"Jack's at work, and Miko's in detention…again," Raf answered.
"I was expecting Bulkhead," Raf said.
"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But he's on watch duty," Ratchet answered with an awkward silence following, "You wanna ride with the siren on?"
"No thank you," Raf immediately answered.
Back at base, an alarm was blaring. Bulkhead and Bumblebee immediately observed it.
"This could be it. I'll alert the others," Bulkhead decided and Bumblebee buzzed a protest.
"I know we can handle it, Bumblebee. But that's no reason to… Oh! What are you trying to prove?" Bulkhead sighed and Bumblebee buzzed a reply and Bulkhead sighed giving up, as he was allowing him to go with him on the mission.
"Ratchet, what happened to Bumblebee's voice box?" Raf asked as Ratchet drove through the streets of Jasper.
"It was… severely damaged in battle," Ratchet answered.
"How?" Raf asked.
"How do you think? Tragically of course. It happened at Tyger Pax. Our brave scout was captured by Megatron's forces and interrogated. But he refused to provide intel and paid a grave price for his courage. Bumblebee was left for scrap. But Autobot troops found him and evacuated him to a triage facility where a field medic managed to stabilize his condition," Ratchet explained, leaving out the detail that he was the field medic that stabilized Bumblebee's condition after he lost his voice box.
"So, we owe Bumblebee's life to that field medic," Raf surmised.
"That's one way of looking at it, I suppose. Though the medic... could have done better," Ratchet said sadly.
"Clear," Bulkhead reported after jumping through the Ground Bridge, causing Bumblebee to follow, "I still don't know how you talked me into this. You're worse than Miko."
Bumblebee buzzed a reply, reminding him that high pursuit chases don't always happen on missions.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. I know. Not every mission ends in a high-speed pursuit. Without your…" Bulkhead cut himself short as Bumblebee buzzed a reply, angrily as he interrupts him. "Fine. I'll drop it. But if Optimus finds out, this was not my idea."
Bumblebee buzzed a reply with a wave gesture, saying 'yeah, yeah, yeah'.
"The signal's coming from over there. And it's coming our way, fast!" Bulkhead said as the scanner he was holding in his servos started beeping fast.
"Catch me if you can!" Knockout challenged as he has sped past them, driving out of the cave in front of them.
"I'll get him!" Bulkhead said just as Breakdown ran out of the cave, "Okay, you get him!"
Bumblebee ran away while Bulkhead and Breakdown began their battle.
Bumblebee managed to follow the Decepticon medic onto the nearby highway. Knockout couldn't help but be amused by the manner of the ongoing chase. Gaining speed, he created more miles between himself and the Autobot scout. But Bumblebee was relentless. He was going to let the lack-of T-Cog bring him down.
"Sporting of you," Knockout remarked as he noticed that Bumblebee wasn't chasing him in his Urbana 500 alternate mode, he tried grabbing the medic from the bumper but Knockout gained more speed, he stopped and tried to activate his blasters but couldn't and bumblebee buzzed as he wants to shoot Knockout's tires but couldn't due to having no T-Cog.
"You're not even gonna try and shoot out my tires?" Knockout said with disbelief as he skidded to a stop, Bumblebee where's your famous horsepower, huh? Show me some speed!"
Bumblebee clenched his fists in anger and ran towards Knockout. Unfortunately Knockout sped away as soon as he was close enough to hit him. Bumblebee looked at the Gas station next to him and saw the same old fashioned pickup truck, Fowler honked Optimus' horn at when they were transporting the D.N.G.S all those months ago, when they first encountered M.E.C.H. He picked up the truck and slammed it against the road as he jumped on it. He used his weight to travel at high speeds with the truck and control the turns. Sparks flew off of the two rear hubcaps where the tires once were. Nevertheless, catching up to Knockout was an easy task. If Knockout wasn't amused before, he certainly was now.
"What is with the rent-a-car?" Knockout chuckled with amusement and smirked, as the car began to fall apart under Bumblebee's weight, "I'd stick around and do some donuts around you but I have a delivery to make." In his back seat, a large Cybertronian stick. It was the Iacon relic that Bulkhead and Bumblebee detected at the Autobot base. He made a sharp turn around the bend.
Bumblebee tried to do the same, but it was too late as the old fashioned pickup truck he was on, broke the traffic barrier, which was the barrier that was situated near the road that prevented cars from going over the cliff. It didn't work as the old fashioned pickup truck fell to the ground below followed by Bumblebee.
To be continued.
Please favorite, follow and review.