Megatron growled as he stood in front of one of the many monitors the ships command console contained, recent months had been busy with the decoding of the Iacon database having taken top priority on his vessel, and it would seem from the amount of battles they had engaged in, Optimus had taken that priority as well, though it still baffled the War Lord as to the Autobots had come to possess the entire database. The list of relics lost was displayed before him, more lost then recovered. If it weren't for the complete and total incompetence of every mech aboard his ship, with the exclusion of Soundwave, he would have more of these relics in his possession.
His eyes skimmed across the screen as Soundwave approached him, the faceless mech had a way of walking so softly even Megatron at times did not hear him.
"Soundwave have you decoded another set of coordinates?"
Soundwave nodded slowly as he took over Megatron's main screen and displayed a set of coordinates. Megatron looked between the screens and Soundwave,
"Why have you not dispatched a unit to retrieve it? Optimus Prime is not doubt already on his way."
Soundwave nodded toward the monitor as the view shifted into a satellite feed,
"An ocean…"
Megatron murmured softly to himself, his fingers tapped in an agitated manner on the console.
"How far below the surface is the signal emanating?"
The screen panned out to show the relic was some 370 miles below the water's surface, Megatron growled,
"Without access to under water equipment how in the put are we supposed to retrieve the relic?"
His question was more of thought, though it earned an answer from Soundwave as an image of the Polarity Gauntlet appeared on his visor. Megatron raised an eyebrow,
"The Autobots possess it, or have you forgotten Breakdowns never ending incompetence."
Soundwave shook his head slowly bringing up an image of Jack, Miko, and Raph, he had taken that day at the Satellite Array in Texas. Megatron pulled his shoulders back, standing to his full height.
"Yes indeed, perhaps Optimus would be more… receptive to my taking the Gauntlet if his precious human pets lives hung in the balance."
Megatron turned his back to Soundwave, clasping his hands behind his back,
"Dispatch LaserBeak, from the evidence we have collected the children seem to reside in this area."
Megatron pulled up a map showing Jasper, Nevada and its surrounding cities. Soundwave nodded as LaserBeak detached from his torso and took flight out of the ship.
"Alert me when you locate them."
Soundwave nodded silently taking his leave, leaving Megatron to grin to himself.
…
Miko crossed her arms defiantly as the three waited on the school steps,
"Late again"
She grumbled, Jack closed his History book and sighed,
"They have things to do Miko, the whole "relic hunt" has them going at all hours."
Miko just shrugged,
"If they would let us help them…"
Raph cut in,
"What? What could we do? In case you forgot Miko they are like 10 times the size of us, the cons could crush us with their finger if they wanted to."
Miko just rolled her eyes,
"Yeah well, they aint so tough."
Jack sighed, Miko's nonchalant attitude toward the whole "danger" aspect irritated him.
"Guys what's that?"
Miko and Jack looked to where Raph was pointing,
"Uh that looks like LaserBeak."
Jack stood up quickly, grabbing his phone out of his pocket,
"Scrap, no service, he must be jamming the signal."
Jack grabbed Raph and Miko's arms,
"Come on! Run!"
He grabbed them making a break for the school gym.
….
Soundwave's visor blinked as LaserBeak sent back an alert to Soundwave.
"You have located the humans?"
Megatron glared at him, Soundwave nodded,
"Excellent, bring them to me."
….
Jack slammed his body into the gym door, the thud echoing through the gym.
"Not the best idea Jack, wide open space, where are we gonna hide?"
Jack turned to Miko, his frustration getting the better of him,
"Gee Miko, since the Cons aren't so tough, why don't you take care of LaserBeak and me and Raph will cheer you on."
Miko snarled at him, not amused by his comment as the wall to the gym exploded inward, dust kicked up around them as long tentacles reached out and grabbed them.
"HEY PUT ME DOWN!"
Miko kicked and smacked at the arms holding her, Jack's arms were pinned to his sides, Raph was practically concealed in the tentacles grasps as LaserBeak lifted into the sky.
…
Megatron strode out to the flight deck of the ship, his hands clasped behind his back as Soundwave stood next to him, LaserBeak was on approach he could hear the one human screeching as LaserBeak come to hover in front of him. The humans eyes were wide as they stared at Megatron.
"When Bulkhead finds out to kidnapped me, he'll turn your ship into a scrap pile!"
Miko yelled and cursed at the War Lord, Megatron seemed amused by Miko's threats as he ordered LaserBeak to dispense with them in the Brig. Jack shot a glance over to Miko as they were carried down the corridor of the ship,
"Maybe you should shut up before you get us killed…."
He hissed, Miko shook her head.
"They won't kill us, they need us. Why else would they bring us here?"
LaserBeak practically through the children into the room, Megatron chuckled slightly,
"Wise for one so young, you are correct I do need you."
Jack turned to look up at him,
"Why?"
Megatron smirked before turning and leaving, the large metal doors sliding shut and sealing the children inside.
"This isn't good…"
Raph whimpered.
….
Megatron crossed his arms over his chest as he placed the call, thanks to the Autobots curiosity and invasion of his ship he now had the com link connection to their base.
…..
Ratchet jumped, startled by the com unit ringing. Optimus, who was working on decoding more of the Iacon coordinates, stared blankly at the screen, the incoming com connection was from the warship.
"Megatron?"
Ratchet questioned; Optimus nodded his head.
"it would appear so."
He established a reluctant connection,
"Megatron?"
Optimus spoke coolly,
"Ah Prime so this connection is sound, very fortuitous of you to have tried to contact me before, or else this message would have had to be delivered in a much different manner."
Optimus clenched his fists,
"What is it you want Megatron?"
Megatron's voice crackled on the other end,
"I have something of interest to you, well in all honesty three things of interest to you."
The monitors shifted to a video feed of the children in the brig, they ran around the cell banging on the walls, searching for a way out. Optimus and Ratchet both gasped at the image in front of them,
"Now all I want in the Polarity Gauntlet, then you can have these…human children back."
Optimus was silent, it was an easy answer give the Gauntlet for the children lives, though if Megatron had the Gauntlet what consequences would come of that?
"You have 12 hours to comply Optimus, or I will start killing off your precious pets."
The screen flipped back to the Iacon decoding screen,
"You don't suppose that was just a ploy?"
Ratchet asked, his voice wavering. Optimus shook his head placing in a com connection to Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee.
"Whats up boss?"
Bulkhead's voice came over the com,
"Do you and the others have the children?"
Bulkheads answer caused Optimus spark to stop.
"No, we were on our way to pick them up…. What's wrong?"
Optimus looked to Ratchet,
"Return to base, we have a situation."
…
Megatron snickered,
"It is only a matter of time now, until Optimus brings me the Gauntlet, then I will kill his human pets
in front of him."
Knockout was studying his arm panels, not really listening to Megatron. Megatron turned slightly looking over his shoulder, the medic was young and vain.
"Knockout!"
Knockout flinched at Megatron's voice,
"Yes, my liege?"
Megatron shook his head slightly,
"Stop preening and assist Soundwave with getting Optimus Primes human pets ready for transport."
Knockout eyed him,
"Are we actually going to just hand them over?"
Megatron smirked,
"Not as easily as Optimus believes."
Knockout shrugged nonchalantly as he walked back to the Brig with Soundwave, he resented the communications officers apparent immunity, Megatron never said a bad word about him, never punished him either. Knockout was startled from his thoughts as Soundwave thrusted a small clear container into his hands.
"Why do I have to touch them?"
Knockout grumbled, Soundwave didn't respond as he opened the Brig door. Jack was standing protectively in front of Miko and raph, not that I would help but it made a statement. Knockout twisted he face as he placed the container on the floor,
"Alright now be good little humans and get into the container."
Knockout snarled at the children when they backed away from him,
"Fine."
He whispered harshly under his breath, he reach out roughly grabbing Jack, Miko and Raph, and dumping them into the container. The children yelped as they lost their balance as Knockout carried them back to the command center. Megatron looked into the container, a smile spread across his face that cause Jack to shiver,
"Excellent. Optimus has contacted me. Soundwave we require a bridge."
…
Optimus held the Gauntlet in his hands, as a bridge opened in front of them. Megatron was the first to step through.
"Where are the children?"
Optimus stepped forward; his battle mask drawn. Megatron glanced behind him as Knockout came walking out.
"As we discussed, the humans for the Gauntlet."
Optimus eyed the container, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead were behind him, their weapons drawn but not charged. Something didn't feel right.
"Why do you require the Gauntlet Megatron?"
Megatron smiled,
"I have located another relic, not that it matters to you now, because without that Gauntlet no one could possibly reach it."
Optimus looked behind him, the three nodded to him as he took a breath before proceeding. He stopped a few feet before Megatron. His one hand held the relic the other one stretched out,
"The children…."
He growled. Megatron nodded to Knockout who placed the container into the Primes hand while taking the Gauntlet. Optimus looked into the container; the children seemed unharmed though they were oddly quiet as he backed away. Megatron sneered as Knockout took the Gauntlet through the bridge,
"It is a pity Optimus, that you allow such small, insignificant creatures to control you."
Megatron laughed as he turned and disappeared through the bridge. The bots breathed a sigh of relief.
"You guys okay?"
Bulkhead leaned in,
"Uh guys?"
The children just stood there, their eyes never blinking.
"Are they in shock?"
Arcee reached over popping open the container only to have the children fizz out. The Autobots gasped,
"A hologram?!"
Bumblebee beeped loudly; Optimus furrowed his eyebrows looking to where the bridge had been opened. What did Megatron intend to do with the children?
….
Megatron turned the Gauntlet around in his hands,
"Such magnificent craftsmanship."
He touched the side activating the magnetic field,
"You have your prize now let us go!"
Jack hollered up to the war lord, Megatron chuckled.
"Oh no yet, first you will watch as we reclaim the relic, then we will take over this universe, once the three of you watch your planet fall, Optimus will watch as I destroy the three of you."
Raph grabbed onto Jacks arm, hiding behind him. Miko stood next to Jack, her heaving shoulder showed her anger.
"You won't get away with it…"
Jack murmured, Megatron smiled eyeing him.
"We shall see."
With that the war lord took off out of the command center, taking his jet mode on the flight deck and heading toward the location of the relic.
…..
StarScream huffed as he clicked the alert on the monitor,
"Megatron?"
He eyed the Decepticon life signal flying toward the Atlantic, another odd signature accompanied him.
"Mmm... what are you up to?"
StarScream waited a watch for a few more minutes till the signal finally stabilized, he snatched the ground bridge remote from the console.
"Now is the time."
He spoke to himself as he picked up the Apex Armor.
"Today is the day I destroy you … master… and take the Decepticons as my own!"
….
Megatron hovered in the air around the source of the signal for a few moments before landing on a nearby glacier.
"Let us see what treasure Iacon has left for us this time."
He activated the Gauntlet and pointed it toward the ocean, the water began to ripple and wave as Megatron grunted, slowly walking backwards to pull up the relic. His spark beating faster, the relic must have been a weapon, a massive weapon for it to be this heavy. Megatron was confused as what appeared was a broken ship.
He braced himself as he swung the ship around, gently placing it down on the ice. He walked over to the monstrous ship,
"Titanic?"
He cocked his head as he read the lettering, he blinked confused as he surveyed the wreckage. The relic was a destroyed ship? Perhaps a titan? His hopes spark as he walked around the ship searching for a symbol of any kind, disappointed when nothing presented itself.
"Megatron!"
Megatron wiped around,
"I wondered how long it would take you to arrive."
"You took something that belongs to me."
Megatron roared with laughter causing the glaciers to shake,
"Then perhaps you should come take it back."
Megatron took a defensive stand, the Gauntlet activated as Optimus and his team prepared their weapons.
"We want the children Megatron, give them to us and whatever the relic inside that vessel is… is yours."
Megatron glanced behind him for a second,
"And if I don't?"
…
StarScream walked through the open portal, he loved the feeling of power the suit gave him. His smile turned to a scream as he felt himself fall. A loud splash echoed around him,
"Frag it all!"
He yelped as the water drug him downward till he hit the ocean floor. StarScream managed to push himself up to a standing position.
"This blasted planet! I hate this place!"
He looked around him, it didn't appear the bed sloped up anywhere and the armor was too heavy to allow him to swim to the top. He was soon distracted by what appeared to be half of a ship.
"humph…. Primitive."
StarScream huffed looking up to the surface, he was about to begin walking when a sudden surge grabbed at him. He screeched as he body was forcibly drug upward.
…..
Megatron pointed the Gauntlet toward the ocean, pulling up whatever he could use as blunt force against the Autobots. He swung his arm around as debris and metal shot itself toward the Autobots along with someone else.
Megatron growled as an armored body slammed itself into Optimus causing the Prime and the armor to tumble back a couple of feet.
"StarScream?"
Optimus was shocked as the seeker pushed himself up,
"Yes what?"
StarScream snapped, just as Megatron began walking toward them again.
"StarScream, I should have known you would show."
StarScream smiled, as Megatron turned another attack on them with the Gauntlet. Arcee dove out of the way.
"We can't keep on like this, if we can make it to the ship, we would have more cover."
Optimus nodded, His main concern right now wasn't StarScream, though the seeker in the armor provided the perfect distraction.
"StarScream distract him!"
Optimus ordered as he directed his Autobots toward the ship. StarScream looked toward Megatron then back at Optimus.
"If I didn't take orders from him, I sure as scrap won't take them from you"
A yell escaped him as he finished his statement, his armor was being lifted into the air. Megatron eyed him,
"Come out of that armor StarScream and fight like a mech, not the coward you are."
Optimus took the opportunity as he and the Autobots reached the ship, making their way inside.
"Whoa!"
Bulkhead looked around, the ship was massive by human standards and was still quite large. Optimus looked around, was this the relic Megatron was after? A broken ship? The ground shook as a loud thud sounded outside, it wasn't long till Megatron appeared.
"Even the strongest of armor can't protect the weakest of creatures."
He sneered at Optimus,
"This is what you threaten the children's lives for? A broken human ship?"
Megatron laughed,
"No, its cargo."
Optimus backed up as Megatron raised the Gauntlet again.
"Move!"
He hollered to the others as they made their way down corridors. Megatron managed to get Optimus in the magnetic field, lifting up the Prime and slamming him through the floor to the cargo hold below. Optimus groaned as he shook his head, rolling on his side as Megatron jumped down the hole into the hold. He gaze scanning the area for what he was searching for. Optimus grunted as he pushed himself to stand, his eyes falling to a vehicle, a primitive looking one. He dismissed it as he watched Megatron, they couldn't get near him, he could repel them with a wave of his hand.
"Well, Well, it has been a long time."
Megatron knelt beside the car, Optimus blinked from the looks of it, it was one of the first human cars. It look similar to an image Jack had shown him of a Model T, if he remembered correctly. The vehicle didn't move. Optimus kept his stance, the others peered down the hole. Optimus shook his head, instructing them to back away. He still wasn't sure what Megatron was after.
Megatron stood and back away,
"The years have taken their toll."
Optimus was confused now, was the gauntlet messing with Megatron's mind? Megatron looked around, completely ignoring Optimus as he reached over for a crate, or what was crate, the wood was rotten and eroded, splintering in Megatron's grasp. A though metal clang echoed as 5 sharp staffs fell to the floor. Optimus felt his spark drop,
"The Legian Darts…"
Megatron laughed quietly as he picked them up gently,
"The weapon of the legendary Liege Maximo. So, this is what you were protecting?"
Optimus stepped forward,
"I cannot allow you to take those."
Megatron just sneered rolling his eyes as he aimed the Gauntlet at the rusted vehicle, he sent out bursts of magnetic energy causing the ship to shake. Optimus looked up to the hole where a battle had begun, he wasn't surprised when StarScream jumped down into the hole, dragging Arcee down with him. She growled, clutching her side in pain as she backed over to stand with Optimus.
StarScream eyed the Liegain Darts,
"Spears?"
He sounded disappointed, Megatron appeared to not be paying attention to them. He had created a magnetic field around himself, the mysterious vehicle, and the relic. Optimus looked to Arcee,
"Are you alright?"
Arcee nodded,
"Seriously spears is the relic?"
Optimus shook his head,
"No, they are the Liegain Darts, Liege Maximos primary weapon. The darts contain powerful toxins and chemicals designed to incapacitate Maximo's enemies in various ways once they entered the body."
Arce shivered,
"How delightful."
Optimus blinked looking between StarScream and Megatron,
"Are Bulkhead and Bumblebee…"
"Alive just unconscious at the moment."
Arcee snarled at StarScream who was currently attempting to break through the magnetic barrier. Optimus went to speak again when the ground shook once more and the mysterious vehicle began to move, the form shifted slowly, its metal sparking as it took the form of a Decepticon.
"By the all spark."
Optimus breathed, the Decepticon completed its transformation. She stood slightly taller than Arcee, a femme her eyes as red as fury smiled.
"Lord Megatron, I have been waiting for your arrival."
Megatron smiled,
"Strika, I thought you dead."
Strika smiled walking over to the darts.
"The humans found these, once I got wind of it, I followed them, they were loaded onto this ship. I knew if it ever reached its destination the Autobots could possibly one day take them…"
She glared over at Optimus and Arcee, even StarScream seemed shocked as he had stopped his attempted to break the barrier.
"Once they were loaded onto the ship, I managed to slowly interfere with the ships technology, what little barbaric technology there was. The crash knocked me into stasis."
Megatron looked behind him, then back to Strika.
"Optimus I would like to introduce you to one of my top generals, Strika."
Strika looked up,
"we've met."
She nonchalantly stated as she gathered up the darts.
"I suppose you have a way out of here?"
Megatron nodded, giving Optimus one last glance. Optimus shook his head as he ran toward Megatron,
"No!"
He hollered as a bridge appeared and the War Lord disappeared with Strika behind him. StarScream yelped as the magnetic barrier had been leaning on disappeared, causing the seeker to fall. Optimus felt his spark fall, the children were in danger, their lives hung in the balance.
…..
Strika, looked around the ship as they walked through, she stopped dead when she saw the container with the children inside.
"You've got to be kidding me! You have human pets?"
Megatron sneered,
"No, you fool those belong to Optimus Prime."
Strika made a disgusted face, she hated humans. So small and squishy it was disgusting.
"Well now that you have me you don't need those."
She pointed at the container. Megatron turned to her,
"You suggest we kill them?"
Strika just laughed,
"I killed a couple thousand when that stupid ship crashed."
Megatron eyed the children, Jack pushed the others to the far corner. Megatron's eyes flickered from red to purple and back again. He could kill them then give Optimus their bodies, though the pleasure in seeing Primes face as he killed them would be more triumphant then just killing them. Megatron turned without a word and left the room. Strika grumbled, she glanced at the humans.
"Soundwave open a bridge to our previous location."
SoundWave didn't move,
"I hold rank over you communicator now open it!"
Soundwave slowly opened a bridge as Strika reached over and grabbed the Container, she threw it through the portal.
Jack, Miko, and Raph screamed as the container tumbled and eventually smacked off something. They looked up through busted lips and black eyes to see Optimus holding the container. Jack smiled,
"Optimus!"
Optimus opened the container, the children all looked up at him with a smile.
"You are safe now."
He spoke softly to them. His eyes glancing over to StarScream who seemed no longer interested in the Autobots but in grumbling about Megatron. Jack glanced around the area,
"A ship?"
Optimus nodded,
"Megatron managed to secure the relics, and a new commander."
Miko nodded,
"She's the one who threw us."
Arcee reached over taking the container from Optimus,
"We aren't underwater, are we?"
Raph gulped, Arcee shook her head.
"Megatron pulled this ship out of the ocean, I believe I saw a name on the side. "Titanic?"
The children's eyes went wide as they turned around looking with intense curiosity.
Jack's eyes lit up,
"Arcee do you have any idea how long this ship has been under the ocean?"
Arcee shrugged,
"Like over a 100 years!"
Arcee smirked,
"100 years really isn't a lot to us Jack, longer life spans remember."
Jack nodded, as Raph spoke up.
"History comes to life, this is amazing, can we tour it?"
Optimus furrowed his eyes, keeping a watchful eye on StarScream as he tried to find a way out.
"This ships structure is unstable, it would seem its century under the water has caused massive decay and damage, now that the three of you are safe, I would prefer we transport you home."
Miko sighed,
"We are safe, we're with you guys besides, this a once in a life time experience."
Jack placed a hand on Miko's shoulder,
"On second thought Miko its said that some 1500 people died in this ship, I don't know about you, but I am not really interested in seeing bodies…or bones…"
Miko wrinkled her nose, along with Raph.
"Fine, let's go."
Optimus looked up to see movement, Bulkhead and Bumblebee were stirring.
"ratchet we need a bridge to our first location."
Optimus radioed, StarScream turned around,
"You're just going to leave me stuck down here?"
The bridge opened behind Optimus and Arcee,
"I am certain you will find a way out."
Optimus cracked a slight smile as he and Arcee took the bridge to outside the ship, radioing Bulkhead and Bumblebee to join then as they each carefully took charge of their partners. Jack looked at the ship, she laid at an angle on her ship, the water dripped off of her, some of the droplets had frozen.
"How do we get it back into the water?"
He asked quizzically, he looked over to Optimus.
"She should be put back. No one has ever pulled her out of the ocean, no one ever felt it was right to do so."
Optimus nodded, turning from the group as he radioed Agent Fowler. He returned once he had finished his call.
"Agent Fowler is on his way with the military, they are bringing specialized equipment to return her to the sea."
Miko stretched yawning,
"As fun and informational as this is, I am starving and exhausted."
Optimus smirked, he was still concerned with the fact that now Megatron not only had another commander amongst his ranks but his possession of the darts and gauntlet. Jack laughed as Arcee had placed him down and he had managed to land a snowball right on the femmes face, his laugh causing Optimus to break form his thoughts, other matters for other days for now he was just happy they had rescued the children and they were safe.