Chapter 16
A/N: I just own this story, nothing else.
Telepathy
"Bumblebee's speech"
/comm-link/
Autobot Base, August 21
"So why aren't you excited about going to school?" Bulkhead asked Wally as the boy continued complaining about his homework.
"Because it's boring, pointless compared to what I've learned with the League, and I'm not even going to use most of it in my future anyways," he replied.
"Remember if you fail high school you can't get into uni—coll—what's that word again?"
"Uh, college?"
"Man, you sound like my parents," he sighed.
"Wally? What did you do now?!" Erica called from another room.
Ignoring her, Bulkhead crossed his arms and looked down at the youngster. "It's only because we want what's best for you. Look, before I was a warrior I was a laborer, construction; I can build stuff, I can break stuff, and that's it!"
"Seems like you and I are good from the same things," Superboy said with a slight smile.
"Superboy, I already know you're way smarter than me. And you, you should aspire to be something like Ratchet," Bulkhead said pointing at the boys respectively.
"I'm detecting a fresh energon pulse, from the nation of Greece," Ratchet said as they walked into the common room. "An ancient city, quite historic if I'm correct."
"Ancient Greece huh? Who's up for a field trip boys?"
-.-
Nemesis
"It's about time Knockout!" Starscream growled as the red haired and clad man strutted into the bridge. "I do not enjoy being kept waiting."
"It was a long drive Starscream, I'm still picking bugs out of my grill," Knockout sighed running a hand through his styled red locks.
"Yes, right, you're one of those," he sneered.
"Come again?" the red-head asked putting his hands on his hips.
"Never understood why any self-respecting Decepticon would choose automobile, when they could have the power of flight instead."
"It makes me look better than wings do," he huffed as he was lead towards the med-bay. "I take it Lord Megatron requires a laboratory assist?"
"You could say that," Starscream replied as the door opened, revealing the man on life-support.
"Whoa."
-.-
Greece, August 22
"Here we are," Bulkhead said letting the kids out of his car before grabbing a device out of the front seat and starting to scan.
"Sweet!" Wally said looking around with Superboy. "So what's the plan?"
"I'm scouting for energon," Bulkhead replied with his vehicle armor in puppet mode behind him. "You are doing research for that history report, and Superboy is actually getting to see somewhere else that doesn't involve a mission."
"Looks like you got punked," Superboy chuckled as Wally just gaped at the man walking ahead.
"Signal's strong…" he grumbled looking up to see construction equipment. "An excavation site, according to my scanner the humans hit energon veins, and they don't even know it." His gaze landed on a crumbling piece of wall, one with the fresco of a man holding a golden orb. "Whoa…that's Cybertronian!"
-.-
Nemesis
"Unfortunately our beloved Lord Megatron has been like this for quite some time," Starscream informed. "But the crew took a vote, and it was decided that an expert might put him on the road to recovery." He sounded angry as he mentioned that detail.
"I may've done plenty of body-work Starscream, but I'm better at breaking things than fixing them," he replied showing the buzsaw in his arm. "Be better if I had my assistant…"
"I summoned both of you, where is he?"
"We were hot on a fresh energon trail when you called. Breakdown will show when he's done scouting it."
-.-
Greece
"Why would ancient Greeks paint an energon harvester?" Bulkhead asked as he looked over the painting.
"So that's what that is," Superboy said as Wally took a picture. "See, you're smarter than you let on."
"But even dumber than he looks," a Cybertronian in blue, grey, and orange vehicle armor said.
"Breakdown," Bulkhead snarled already in his own vehicle armor, no need to let him have the upper-hand.
"Miss me?"
"Like rust in my undercarriage," he growled.
"You know him?" Wally asked.
"We have a history…"
"And you have two pets," Breakdown sneered. "Do they play fetch?" He broke a column off if its foundation, hurling it, Wally sprinted to a safe distance as Superboy caught the incoming object and hurled it back at the charging 'Con who just punched through it.
"Stay back!" Bulkhead ordered as he tackled his nemesis. They fell off the ledge they were on, and Breakdown hurled Bulkhead through the fresco.
"Oops, hope the pretty picture wasn't too important," Breakdown chuckled as he turned, transformed, and drove off.
"Told ya I'm good at breaking things," Bulkhead sighed as the kids rushed over.
"We've always got your back Bulk," Wally said holding out his phone and the picture of the fresco.
-.-
Autobot Base
"It is indeed an energon harvester," Optimus confirmed as they looked at a larger version of the picture Wally sent. "A powerful tool created by the Ancients, to remove raw energon from any source."
"Greeks knew the Autobots?" Robin asked.
"No, but the Ancients used the art of a given era to hide hidden messages, an art that we still used to transfer highly classified information in the war. The fresco was most likely a sign, indicating the harvester's location."
"Uh, Optimus, if the harvester can be used to remove energon from anything, and you all have energon in your bodies…" Artemis started.
"In Decepticon hands, the harvester would be a devastating weapon."
"See! We were right to destroy the painting!" Wally smiled.
"He's got a point," Arcee said. "How can they find it without the painting?"
"With the internet," Robin stated. "If you search up for: Greek god, and gold orb, this pops up." He showed an image of a statue holding the orb. It's at a museum, here in Jasper actually."
"That the real thing?"
"Contact Agent Fowler," Optimus said.
"This is Special Agent Fowler, I am currently on an intensive training retreat, and am not available till Tuesday," the message machine relayed.
"I hate talking to machines," Ratchet grumbled.
"Without Agent Fowler's direct aid, we will have to confiscate the harvester on our own," Optimus sighed.
"But you're an official in the government, doesn't that give you some power?" Suberboy asked.
"My position does not grant me the ability to warrant a seizure of the harvester, which is why we were trying to get in contact with Agent Fowler," he explained. "I do not wish to break human law, but once the Decepticons learn of the harvester's location, they will not hesitate to take it by any means necessary. We must act covertly."
"We could do it, in our civies," Erica suggested. "No one would suspect a group of teenagers going to a museum and getting locked in by accident! This way you can be on guard just in case any Cons do show up!"
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Bulkhead said skeptically.
"But it is our most valid option," Optimus agreed.
-.-
Nemesis
"Yea, that's it," Breakdown confirmed the image on Soundwave's visor.
"Then I'm afraid Megatron's well-being will have to wait," Starscream smirked. "It's harvest time."
-.-
Jasper
The team drove into the museum parking lot, Optimus stopped in the front as the others circled around.
/West side secure/ Arcee said.
/I got the east/
/South side covered/
/Maintain your guard. Team, I will have a clear view of you, once you have the harvester, I will contact Ratchet to bridge you back to base/
"You'll be bypassing all forms of normal entry, so the alarms won't go off. But make sure to avoid the security guards," Ratchet warned as he opened the bridge. Artemis and Wally hopped off, ready to find an alternate escape route if needed. Going through, they arrived in a hallway, driving the lift into the main room, they saw the orb.
Erica looked out to see Optimus flash his lights. "We're clear," she whispered. "Robin, go."
Smirking, he began hacking the security feed, and placed it on a loop. "This is way too easy!" he nodded to the others and the lift went up, allowing Superboy and Aqualad to carefully lift the giant golden ball.
Hearing another car, Optimus looked behind him and saw someone driving up next to him. "Sweet rims, twenty-four gauge?" Knockout questioned. "You're real heavy duty, just like my friend here."
Breakdown drove up and fired a missile, transforming, Optimus spun around and caught the projectile. The power behind it made him slide back, cracking the glass slightly. The two groups quickly looked at each other, before Knockout charged up with his staff, electrocuting the Prime.
"Cons," Erica said.
"And they've got Optimus," Aqualad said.
Outside Knockout flashed his lights towards Breakdown. The Con began to speed towards the museum when Arcee and Bumblebee sped out from either side of the building. Breakdown shot a missile at 'Bee, whom barely dodged the shot. He fired another at Aree, who avoided it, but the force from it sent her skidding into her teammate. Bulkhead charged over the roof, heading for Breakdown. The brute slammed Bulkhead back into Knockout, and forced both of them through the glass, causing the alarms to go off.
Knockout sat up, and saw Prime starting to recover after being electrified with a few thousand volts. Raising his staff, he charged again only to get slammed aside by a smug scout.
"Time to make our exit guys!" Wally said as the others drove over. He and Artemis ran ahead, finding the exit they picked. Going to the bay doors, they opened it only to be confronted by the security guard.
"Hi…"
"Come with me you two," the guard said taking Artemis and Wally inside his office.
The main door to the loading dock was partially open, so the others could see a pair of lithe, Cybertronian vehicle-armor legs approaching. "Arcee!" Aqualad called. They started head for the door when it opened all the way to reveal the faceless Con.
"Soundwave!" Erica said starting to put on her ring, when a tentacle smacked it out of her hand. Robin tossed a few explosive bat-a-rangs at him, but once they made impact, they didn't explode and the Con just flicked them off. Before M'gann to do anything to help, they all felt a dark presence enter their heads.
"Objective: energon harvester, Orders: retrieve by any means necessary, Obstacles: foolish children," the telepath said before their heads exploded in pain. Grabbing the harvester, he transformed and flew off; once he was gone, the pain in their heads subsided.
"That would be game," Knockout said putting away his staff as he and Breakdown transformed and drove away.
The Autobots were about to pursue when the team raced out. "The Cons got the harvester!" Aqualad said.
"And security got Artemis and Wally!" Robin added.
"I'll go get them!" Bulkhead said before Prime stopped him.
"They may be detained, but they are safe," he stated.
-.-
"If this is some kind of prank, you two need to know that the authorities are on their way. Along with, no doubt the Autobots, both of whom would love to hear what happened to the sphere," the security guard said.
"We were doing our history reports, we just lost track of time and got locked in after closing," Wally said.
"So what's your history report about? I'd love to know."
"Ancient Greece/Rome!" they said.
-.-
Base
"In all likely hood Starscream will use the harvester to gather as much energon as possible as quickly as he can from the planet's otherwise unmineable energon deposits. Approach with extreme caution, Starscream will not hesitate to turn the harvester on any one of us," Optimus warned as he sent his team through various bridges to different locations to try to find the Cons. "Bulkhead, it is best you remain here."
"So, I can get the guys out of the museum?"
"So, you can help Ratchet, to get the kids, Fowler remains our best option," Optimus replied before leaving through his own bridge.
"Still no answer," Robin sighed when Bulkhead walked over.
"Fowler's lounging around some poolside cabana drinking a martini!" Bulkhead growled slamming his fist on a large torch.
"Bulkhead! I needed that!"
"We could free them, if we just returned the harvester to the museum," Bulhead stated.
"So, the Decpticons could steal it again?" Ratchet grumbled.
"I am so dumb!"
"So, how are we going to help them?" Erica asked.
"By returning this replica, the construction of which, would be going a lot faster if Bulkhead didn't just mangle my frame-welder!" Ratchet explained.
"I wish I never took you and Wally to…wait…the painting wasn't the only thing we found at those ruins," he realized.
"Starscream's not dumb! No matter what tool he has, he's going to take the easy route!"
-.-
Greece, August 23
"Why move mountains now, when we have a motherload of energon right here for the taking?" Starscream said holding the sphere. "Courtesy of this gift from the Ancients."
"Actually Starscream, it was a gift from Breakdown and myself," Knockout said.
The commander aimed the orb at them at they stepped back as the orb began draining the energon from the unfortunate vehicon it hit. A minute later, he fell over dead. "All that energon in such a tiny vessel," Starscream mused.
"The Ancients never missed a trick, Lord Starscream," Knockout corrected himself.
The pair cowered as he aimed it at them, before turning away with a smug grin. Going over to some rocks, he started to drain the energon out of them.
Bulkhead and Superboy cautiously approached the group of Cons. They carefully moved forwards only to freeze as Bulkhead stepped on a pot.
"Back for seconds?" Breakdown questioned as he pulled out his hammer and Knockout grabbed his staff. The pair looked between them, before smiling and rolling back at the last possible moment, making the two Decepticreeps hit each other. Suerboy grabbed the electric staff out of the air, and jammed it into an opening within Breakdown's armor, he collapsed to the ground as electricity surged into him.
Bulkhead gasped as the energon harvester was turned on him. "You're a big one, this could take a while," Starscream sneered.
Superboy ran forwards, and punched Starscream in the face, sending him back into the cliff. Bulkhead got up and lumber over to the orb. Picking it up, he crushed it in his hand, and hurled it off, allowing it to explode in the sky.
"Sweet," the young clone grinned just as Bulkhead collapsed. "Bulkhead!" Rushing over he got on the titan's chest just as KO and Breakdown started to approach.
"You two are gluttons for punishment," Knockout smiled. Behind them a bridge appeared and the other Autobots came out, firing on them.
"Fight?" Breakdown asked.
"Drive," his partner replied. The two turned tail and ran before transforming and driving away.
Starscream barely avoided several shots, before he growled and flew away.
Looking up, Bulkhead saw his team and Superboy looking down at him worriedly. "Hey…anyone get a souvenir?"
Superboy held up an old clay pot. "This work?"
-.-
Jasper
"Rome is way better than Greece!" Wally snapped. "They developed paved roads, aqueducts, and so much of today's modern math!"
"The Roman borrowed most of that from the Greeks!" Artemis countered. "They stole their gods, culture, why do you think that's all they stole!"
The security guard sat between them looking baffled, first it was just a description of their reports, but soon it was a full-on debate about who was the better empire. A loud knock sounded at the door and Agent Fowler walked in. "Special Agent William Fowler, the stolen property has been located and restored to the premises," he said flashing his badge. "The kids come with me. You dropped your phones, I found them right next to your history reports."
"Thanks Fowler," Artemis said as they walked outside.
"You're welcome, just don't let it happen again," he said as they got into Bulkhead's truck.
"I still say the Romans are better."
"WALLY!"
