Ch. 225

No one had been allowed to touch anything after that. The team was gathered together on the command deck, Predaking quietly muttering apologies down to Starscream while the seeker told him not to be sorry in a hushed tone. The great mech had done nothing wrong. He had simply gone looking for answers and instead opened a thousand new questions, many of which had needed to come to light about the ship, its use and its former crew...

"And what did the reports detail?" Ultra Magnus frowned.

Ratchet shook his helm, "Most of the files were corrupted. Soundwave was able to salvage a small piece to analyze. From what we can gather, the files are copies from another, separate computer somewhere on this ship. And I have two guesses where they could be..."

Breakdown rolled his shoulders, "Those stupid rooms we haven't been able to get into."

Bulkhead crushed a first into his open servo, "The doors are sealed tight though. And if there is anything important in there, who's to say it won't have some kinda safety mechanism or something?"

Wheeljack smirked from off to the side, "Careful, Bulk, don't think too hard."

"But we need to get into those rooms," Arcee crossed her arms, "Standard research vessel protocol, right Ratchet? We need to finish fixing this ship before we can get much more on what was done here."

The medic nodded, "Brainstorm's data cylinder may be able to connect to the Ark's main hub here on deck, but I have a theory it will give us more information if we find this separated computer where all of these logs seem to stem from. It appears to be the major research console and, if the two were connected again, it could reveal files unattainable through other units."

"Can't Soundwave or Raf just hack in?" Jack asked from beside Smokescreen's peds, "Why not just find it that way?"

Ratchet sighed, "It's this confounded security measure. I know only by reputation that Brainstorm was very secretive about his work. No one outside of his team was allowed to share in the tests or data until the research was complete. This computer, this main station, can share files and speak with the other consoles on the ship directly, but they do not have the clearance to speak back."

"In lamest terms," Wheeljack smirked, "we want the goods, we gotta go to the source. Can't hack it with the rest of these consolation prize computer consoles."

Starscream frowned in thought, "How much more could this ship need in repairs? You've had it for long enough, haven't you? Shouldn't those research vessel protocols be overridden by now?"

Ultra Magnus walked over to stand beside where Soundwave was sitting to access the ship's diagnostics, "The ship's connections are riddled with bugs; they tend to drop from time to time, which is why Soundwave is as integrated with the controls as much as he is."

"Soundwave: is master conductor."

"That you are," Magnus agreed, selecting various ship codes to present on the command screen, "Soundwave has to identify the signs of what we're calling a 'slip'-"

"Felt more like a 'nosedive' the first time around," Knockout scoffed, earning him a glare from the larger blue mech.

"-a 'slip'," Ultra Magnus emphasized, "before it occurs and direct connections manually to various ports and terminals that can handle the extra data until these slips correct themselves."

Ratchet sighed, "And before you ask," he grumbled, "we've been unable to identify whether these bugs are due to the age of the ship, damage we've yet to discover and repair, or if Brainstorm himself created this as a means of protecting his work still left aboard this vessel."

Starscream struggled to produce a smile, "Well, we shouldn't find ourselves too concerned, should we? With Soundwave on the job, it should be handled relatively soon..."

"Soundwave: has been working for days."

The seeker chuckled nervously, "Ah, well, Soundwave, you should find the problem soon then-"

"Ark's code: So. Much. Willingness to continue: diminishing. Current sustainment: due to pride," the lithe blue mech's faceplate displayed a teary emoji before he let out a somewhat emotionless scream, "Aaaaaaaaaah."

Starscream grimaced, "Alright, yes, I'm getting the picture."

Bumblebee beeped thoughtfully, asking if entering into the two rooms could cause more problems than solutions.

Ratchet shook his helm, "We're not sure. But pulling them open appears to be our only means of gaining access to these rooms..."

Predaking's optics brightened, "I am strong!" he announced, "I can pull these doors open for you! Starscream has seen me capable of such things before!"

The seeker nodded slowly, "Yes, Predaking will be your best bet in making these rooms accessible..."

"I will do the best job possible!" Predaking puffed out his chest plate as he walked, "I will ensure that the Autobots see how useful I am! And they will be astounded!"

Starscream blinked in amusement, a weak smile on his faceplates, "Let me assure you, as much as I have been already, that you have nothing to prove to them. They are already amazed and astounded. But you are doing us a great favor, Predaking. Let me know if I'm not thanking you enough for that."

The Predacon gasped softly, "But you have already thanked me! And I have not yet completed my task!"

The red and white mech managed a chuckle, "Then I shall thank you again once it is done. How's that?"

A small rumble came up Predaking's throat, a purr of sorts, and the towering mech scuttled ahead when he saw Optimus and Ratchet stop at a large, round blast door.

"So," the great mech scowled, "this is to be my opponent..."

Ratchet nodded, "Yes, in a sense," he gestured to the obstacle, "We need to take a few moments to ensure that it hasn't been ladened with traps should it be opened, but that shouldn't take long to accomplish. In the mean time, if you'd like to get to know your... 'opponent', if you will..."

The medic stepped aside to look over a panel Optimus had pried open while Predaking began to pace and carefully look over the door as a whole, familiarizing himself with the structure. Starscream watched from some distance back and jumped only slightly when he felt a hefty servo pat at his back.

"Back amongst it all again, huh Scream?"

Starscream scowled to cover up his surprise and frowned, "Wheeljack, for the love of Primus..."

The white mech chuckled, "Yeah, yeah, I heard ya all the other times. But it's good to have ya back, you know? We missed havin' you around."

"Yes, I'm sure..."

"I GOT'CH'YA!"

Starscream choked down a yelp when a smaller force tackled into him from behind, Miko's cheery laugh doing little to quell the anxiety that was growing in the seeker's chest plate. When the red and white mech looked down, he saw the girl smiling at him from behind the glass covering of the Apex Armor, her grip around him as warm as her expression.

"Check me out! I've been running circles around these dudes for weeks!"

Bulkhead came running up behind Miko with Smokescreen in tow, "W-wait, we're not even sure you're gonna need to be here!"

Miko let Starscream go to pout at the green mech, "And why not? You said they'd need all the help they could get."

Bulkhead sighed, "Uh, well, yeah I did-"

"Jackie's here to diffuse any bombs, Ratchet and Optimus get to work on wires and circuitry; why don't I get to help Starscream and Predaking break the door in?"

Wheeljack laughed, "She's got a point, Bulk. Kid's a force made unstoppable, even without the armor. If it doesn't offend the 'King, she'd be happy to help."

"Help? For me?" Predaking turned and beamed brightly when he saw Miko approach him, "Ah, the smallest warrior! Is this the armor you wear into battle?"

Miko smirked and brushed nothing off her fingertips, "Yeah, I mean, I've been wearing it lately."

The Predacon laughed loudly and pulled her towards the door, "Come! Let me show you what I have learned so far..."

Bulkhead sighed gently and shook his helm, "Soon as she heard we were doing this, she jumped in that armor..."

"Hm..." Starscream noted quietly, watching Wheeljack make his way over to Ratchet and Optimus when the pair began looking more closely at components and wires, "Yes. She's always been very, ah, ... 'gung-ho', hasn't she?"

Bulkhead looked to the seeker, "Um... yeah, I guess. Uh... hey, about what happened-"

"Oh, no need to apologize," Starscream quickly interrupted, a wide smile on his faceplates, "All my own doing, don't worry about it," he directed his focus back onto the door, "So, no one has tried using the Phase Shifter? That would have been my first answer to all this."

Smokescreen shrugged, "It was the first thing we tried, too," he admitted, "Gotta tell ya, being thrown back down the hall wasn't my idea of a 'fun time'. Both rooms seem to be phase-proof."

Bulkhead chuckled gently, "Oh, c'mon, Smokey, hurtling down the hall at break-neck speeds had to be a little fun."

The white mech smirked, "I mean, yeah, before the impact."

The bigger mech laughed but suddenly coughed and rushed away from the pair, "Wait, Miko! Wait for Ratchet and Jackie to give the 'all clear'!"

Smokescreen smiled and turned to look at Starscream, his friendly expression disappearing when he saw the strain in the seeker's optics that were watching everyone else and the rigidity in his form that flinched at any loud noise or voice.

"Hey... Starscrimus?"

Starscream didn't move.

Smokescreen frowned lightly and reached out, resting the tips of his digits against the red and white mech's shoulder armor, "Starscream?"

The lithe mech pulled away and smiled wide, "Well, they're getting busy without us, aren't they?" he quickly responded.

Smokescreen frowned harder, "Starscream... are you-"

"Yes!" Starscream croaked out, the smile he was holding struggling not to crumble away; he reached out to take Smokescreen's servo, giving it a squeeze, "Everyone's been asking me the same question and it's getting a bit repetitive. I'm sorry for being sharp, but I am fine," he grinned for emphasis, "Really! I'm... fine."