Hey all! Here's the next chapter and i hope you enjoy!
Shout Outs!:
Aloris2.0 the great
thanks!
Cashagon
*Loki grins and laughs evilly* ...you'll see i think, next chapter? haha, thanks for the reminder, i almost forgot to put something in this chapter ;)
gwencarson126
Oh yes, thickens like gravy. Thanks!
Seven hours ago…
Raf grinned and waved at Optimus who nodded and looked around, "Where is Jack?"
"He's out with his mom getting groceries." Raf answered.
Miko popped up on the couch, "Whatcha need, boss bot?"
"We are in need of the Key to Vector Sigma."
Miko's face scrunched in thought.
"That doodad you gave him when you went to fight Unicron?" Fowler asked, walking out of his office.
Optimus raised an optic ridge at the Key's description but nodded.
Raf looked up from his computer, "What do you need that for?"
"Wait," Miko cut in, "you didn't lose your memories again did you!?"
He chuckled, "No Miko. We need it to find a piece of the Omega Lock."
Jayce walked around the corner, having come out of his room at the familiar voice, "Optimus! Is Jemina here?!"
He smiled sadly, "No, we did not come to visit this time but soon."
Jayce's shoulder's fell but he nodded, "Okay."
The humans were silent, Fowler finding his voice first, "Finding a piece? How many of those things were made?"
Optimus returned his attention to the older humans, "One, with a second one partially built—those pieces remain scattered across Cybertron, and one resides in Vector Sigma's vault."
A car pulled in and Jack jumped out, "Hey Optimus, is Arcee here!?"
"Unfortunately not but I am in need of your assistance."
Miko plopped back onto the couch with a pout, "So unfair. He gets to go, again!"
Jayce frowned at her and crossed his arms, "I've never been."
She pouted, "Ok, my trip didn't count."
Fowler pinched the bridge of his nose, "I better go get that space suit again."
Optimus nodded, "Many thanks Agent Fowler."
He waved it off and disappeared back into his office.
Two hours later Jack was dressed and ready. June was fitting his helmet into place, "It's lucky that NASA didn't need their suit back right away and let Fowler store it here."
Optimus stood patiently by the Ground/Space Bridge controls.
Jack flashed him a thumbs up.
Miko jabbed her thumb at his chest, "I want pictures, you better bring back pictures!"
Jack rolled his eyes, "I don't have a camera Miko."
"Then use your phone!"
"I don't have my phone."
"Come on! If I can't go I want to see it somehow!"
Optimus smiled and kneeled down, "After its restoration, Cybertron's atmosphere should be breathable."
Miko's eyes popped, "You'll take me!?"
"Yes, I believe-"
"Thank you, thankyou, thankyouthankyou!" She hugged his hanging digit.
He recovered quickly from his shock enough to smile.
Miko squealed and ran up to Raf and Jayce, hugging them tightly—unable to contain her joy. Raf laughed from her enthusiasm and pushed his glasses.
The Bridge activated and they walked through. The first thing Jack noticed was that they Bridged into a building, and it looked very nice—nothing like the broken down wrecks he'd last seen.
They walked out of the building to a fairly busy street, several Cybertronians were driving or running along. It was beautiful.
Optimus started walking and he had to run to keep up, apparently their paces were a lot faster than what they used on Earth. Optimus sensed his struggle and offered him a hand. "Thanks."
Optimus smiled and they hurried through the city, weaving between buildings for shortcuts. As they, Optimus, walked Jack caught the looks of several Cybertronians. Most were confused or curious as they chatted with each other in a combination of chirps, clicks and strange words—he could only guess that it was Cybertronian.
Optimus ignored them all as he proceeded to the city's edge and transformed.
"How far from Kaon are we?"
"A little under thirty minutes."
Jack nodded and sat quietly for a minute. "How's Arcee doing?"
"Quite well, she met up with a few old friends recently. She misses her partner though."
Jack grinned and pulled out the Key, holding it in front of him where it glowed brightly. Unlike Iacon, Kaon was dead and cold—looking every bit the part that he remembered it as. Optimus drove straight for the arena, minus the statue of Megatron, which laid in pieces everywhere within a mile's radius, everything looked the same. His eyes instantly dropped to the dents and gashes in the ground from when Arcee fought the Insecticon.
Optimus saw Jack's face and transformed, "There are no Insecticons in the vicinity."
Jack smiled bashfully, "Uh, yeah. Thanks."
He brought up the Key and the floor rose, revealing an entryway that had its door torn off. He turned to say something to Optimus, only to stop when he saw his optics looking distant. He tried to follow his gaze but only saw stadium seats, realizing he was no doubt remembering something he ducked his head.
Optimus turned to him a moment later, "Are you ready?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah, but first, uh. Last time there was horde of Scraplets in there…I think they died with the Insecticon but…"
Optimus offered him a servo, "Thank you for the warning. I will be vigilant."
The entered the darkness and Optimus activated the Brights on his chassis, Jack blinked and pocketed the Key as Optimus consulted the tracker. The came to a Y, Jack remembered taking the right path, but they turned down the left. He sat as Optimus' constant sway made him fight off drowsiness. He started to try and start up a conversation but shut his mouth, not knowing what to talk about.
Apparently Optimus seemed to notice his hesitation and asked, "How is school going?"
Jack mentally cursed Cybertronian sensors, "Fine, summer break just started so that's fun…kinda boring though since hardly anyone's there anymore."
Optimus nodded, "You will be a, junior next year, correct?"
Jack grinned, "Actually I'm a junior now." At Optimus' confused expression he elaborated, "Once summer starts you go up to the next grade. Jemina been teaching you Earth stuff?"
He nodded with a smile, "A little, not as much as I'd like; though, that will come in time. Right now it is more important for her to learn about Cybertron."
"Yeah, sounds fun…except for maybe the politics, then again that could be interesting. What are Cybertronian politics like? Do we have anything like them on Earth?"
Optimus chuckled, "I wouldn't know but I would be happy to teach you more sometime. As would Ratchet I believe."
Jack grinned, "Well maybe I'll ask him then…"
"What is on your mind Jack?"
They turned a corner and the air continued to get colder but not overly bothersome, thanks to the suit. "It's just. I was thinking about after high school, what I'll do then."
Optimus nodded, "That is a good thing to ponder. Do you have any ideas?"
He shrugged, "Not really but, well I wanna be with you guys." He looked up but not at Optimus, "It's just that after everything I've been through with you guys, I guess I don't want to give it up." He turned and grinned at him, "How often can you say that a sentient, robotic being from a different planet is your best friend and partner?"
Optimus grinned with a chuckle, "Agent Fowler seems keen on the idea as well."
He nodded, "Yeah, we've talked a little bit."
"We could always use a representative here on Cybertron."
Jack's eyes widened, "What?"
Optimus looked down at him, "Once Cybertron has been rebuilt and stabilized, I would like to continue and better relationships with Earth."
Jack didn't know if his eyes could get any wider, "Wow, hu, Fowler otta have fun with that. Man, Fowler on Cybertron, that'll be good."
"I wasn't thinking of him."
They stopped in the middle of the hallway and Optimus felt for a latch, finding something he pressed it and a small door slid to the side to reveal a keypad. Optimus frowned in thought before typing in a code. The console beeped negatively and Optimus tried a different code, this time it didn't beep but instead slid open part of the wall. They peeked in and saw a piece laying on the floor, at least a third as tall as Optimus and Primus knows how long.
Jack frowned, "That could be a problem."
Optimus set him down on the piece, "Could you get an estimate of how long it is?"
Jack nodded and cautiously walked along the piece, "Hey Optimus?"
"Yes?"
"If it's too long for you to get out, who are you going to get to help you?"
"That is a good question." Jack could tell by the rise and flux of his voice that he didn't want to get anyone.
Jack stopped at its edge, thinking mentally and looking back at Optimus, "I'd say it's at least 45 feet, if not a little longer."
Optimus nodded, "I can attempt to pull it out."
He offered a servo and Jack quickly hopped on. He lowered him to the floor and pulled out a few cables, giving them to Jack, "I'll pull it out but then I'll need you to secure it to my trailer hitch."
Jack nodded and stood back as Optimus pulled the piece out. Jack twitched and balled his hands as the metal screeched, wishing he could plant his hands over his ears to block some of the noise. A lot of pulling and grunting later the piece was finally out, Jack breathed in relief as Optimus tipped the piece on its edge and quickly transformed, backing up under the piece which was now a little taller than him. A second later the piece fell over onto his trailer bed.
Jack ran to the trailer and wove it through the undercarriage before figuring out that the end of the cable was magnetic. Hurrying to the side of the piece he stated to climb, only to fall on his butt after the first foot hold—space suits were not good climbing.
He yelped as someone took the cable from him, only to drop his head from embarrassment a second later. Optimus' holoform, Orion, stood there with an amused smile and grabbed the cable, effortlessly scaling the piece. He ran around Optimus to the other side to catch the cable after Orion weaved it through a few holes in the piece and secured its end in the same fashion.
The driver side door opened and Jack climbed in, watching the cabling closely through the mirrors. As he started forward the cabling looked strained but remained firm. Jack sighed as they made slow progress, Optimus' motor revving loudly as the piece screeched from being drug behind them. He frowned and asked, "How you doing Optimus?"
His answer was strained, "Alright, I will make it until we are out of the vault and can call for back up…I hope Aliena's team is having an easier time."
Jack laughed, "Yeah, me too."
He didn't ask anything more to allow Optimus to concentrate.
When they saw daylight after more than an hour of slow progress it was a beautiful sigh, both man and mech sighed in relief. Once they were clear of the vault with the piece, Jack jumped out of the cab and started detaching the cable; the vault sinking back into the ground like a silent falling mountain.
Orion was already on top of the piece, unweaving it from the top and dropping it down to Jack when he froze, growling lowly, "Jackson, hurry."
Jack blinked, looking up at him for a second before Orion jumped down and pushed him under the trailer. Jack mentally froze, trying to understand why Optimus would suddenly do something like that when a voice cut off his thoughts. "Hm, miscalculation—the techno-organic is not at this location."
Jack could feel the anger rolling off of Optimus as his chassis vibrated, he quickly set to unhitching Optimus from the piece as heavy peedsteps closed quickly. He rolled out from under the trailer as the cable gave a 'click' of releasing and Optimus revved to pull himself out from under the piece. It fell with a thunderous clap—pushing Jack farther away. A purple peed missed him by a hair, the shockwave from the piece's fall pushing him the extra distance to not be squished.
Ion fire caught Optimus on his trailer bed and back half of the cab before he could transform, sending him skidding and rolling as he transformed. He slowed and stopped his unceremonious rolling by driving his arm blade into the ground, face mask snapping shut.
Jack stood and start to run in the opposite direction, only to dodge the grasping servo of a Decepticon. He yelped and backpedaled, hitting his back on the piece, watching as the unfamiliar 'con advanced.
There was a screeching of metal on metal followed by Optimus' unintelligible shout. Two of the tree Decepticons that had come with the purple mech ran to his aid while the first reached for him again. Thinking quickly, he dodged to servo and ran between the legs of his, he assumed, kidnapper—he hoped it wouldn't be murderer—sprinting across the ridiculously long metal arena. The mech attempting to grab him gave chase, pouring more adrenalin into Jack.
Optimus snarled as he swiped at Shockwave, optics narrowing as it merely scraped the thick armor. He blocked an attack before thrusting his blade at another. They proved to be much more troublesome than Vehicons piling onto him, one sinking their blade into his thigh. Blue Energon instantly began seeping out as the blade was removed. He snarled and transformed his servo into a blaster, shooting at the mech while fending off the other with his blade and constantly dodging Shockwave's ion blasts.
A blaster and terrified scream grabbed his attention. He turned his helm just enough to see Jack running with his hands over his head as he prepared to dive away from a grasping servo. A deep growl rose within him as he flung the mech holding his blade into Shockwave and uppercut the other before taking quick aim and firing at the mech chasing Jack. The shot hit him in his side and Optimus started towards him.
Jack heard what was happening and turned to take a running glance at Optimus to see if he was alright, his steps faltered as Shockwave stood back up and fired at him. He couldn't get his voice to work in time and the shot hit Optimus in the back just below the helm. Finally his voice came back, "No!"
Optimus fell without a noise and Jack froze, torn between running out of the death-trap arena or running to Optimus—though for what his mind couldn't formulate. The choice was snatched from when a servo latched around him, yanking him off the ground.
Shockwave walked over to the fallen Prime while another mech kicked his side, seeing if he was truly unconscious. When he didn't react Shockwave looked up and ordered, "Bring them both—they can be used as bait for the techno-organic."
The mech that had kicked him bent down to fix a pair of stasis cuffs on Optimus when his optics suddenly onlined and he swung out with his sword, impaling deep it in the mech's shoulder guard.
Jack couldn't help the grin and yelled, "Yeah!" Only to grunt a moment later as the servo constricted.
Optimus heard the yell but had to parry the second mech's fire. A limp was starting to set in despite his best attempts to stifle it and sore and stiffness settling into his arms and legs from Shockwave's hit. He raised an arm to block a fist and swung out his other, contacting with the mech's side. He dodged Shockwave's blaster turned club only to jump into his fist, sending him to the ground—bouncing and rolling before he could right himself.
Energon trickled into his optic while more poured from his mouth. He balled both fists, glancing in Jack's direction and noting its distance before ducking under an ion blast and blocking a fist.
Jack squirmed in the servo that held him before eyeing a small gap in the armor. He glanced up at the mech then thrusting his hand in and yanking on as many wires as he could at once. The mech yelped and instinctively opened his servo. Jack grinned before he yelped, hitting the ground and landing on his feet wrong, sending him sprawling and tumbling along the ground. He stood and ran, hissing as his ankle protested but ignored it.
The mech that held him glanced in his direction before running to help his partner with Optimus.
So focused on Shockwave and the other mech, he missed the approaching mech from behind until his blades drove into his side and shoulder. He grunted and fell to his knees as the blades were drawn out, blinking trying to clear his optics and mind from the pain that overrode all thought. Something rammed into his side and helm, toppling him onto his back—optics dimming.
Jack made it to the edge of the arena where he could find any number of places to hide when he heard a crash from where Optimus was fighting. His eyes widened as he saw him fall and his heart stopped. He took a step forward, praying Optimus would get up again that it was just a feint but as Shockwave drove his peed into his side and Optimus fell flat he lost his ability to breath.
The mechs picked up Optimus, preparing to drag him through a Ground Bridge but halted as a line of ion fire circled them. Galvatron landed heavily, cannon already preparing to fire again, "Release him."
Shockwave seemed to growl in his answer, "You have abandoned your cause, Megatron."
His optics narrowed but didn't respond verbally, answering with a louder hum of his cannon.
Jack tentatively stepped closer but still stayed well out of range.
One of the mechs, a large gash in his dark purple shoulder growled, "You've gone soft."
Having enough, Galvatron shot at the mech holding Optimus' left arm. The Prime fell from the lack of support with a quiet grunt.
The three mechs charged him, none landing solid hits except the purple mech, albeit small. Galvatron's sword slid out and met the mech's own. The mech glared at Galvatron, his attacks seeming to communicate some message while Galvatron snarled.
Another mech attacked from behind but missed as Galvatron swiftly dodged.
Jack turned as peedsteps got closer. He hit the floor with a shout as the third mech missed his grab.
Galvatron heard Jack's shout and snarled, memories of orns again surfacing. He snapped the blade of his current attacker and was about to drive his own through his spark when the purple mech shouted at him, "Surrender or the Prime dies."
His helm snapped up to see Shockwave standing with one peed on Optimus' back as he weakly struggled to throw him off while the other mech held his blaster above his helm. Another yelp from Jack made him turn and catch Jack diving into a small nook in the wall, too small for the mech to reach in—but only a matter of time before he fished Jack out.
Galvatron lowered his head with a dark chuckle, "You should know better than to challenge the former Gladiator of Kaon, Cyclonus."
Within seconds of each other, Galvatron threw the shard of sword in Jack's direction—cutting off the attacking mech—while shooting at Cyclonus in the next instance. He ran at Shockwave a moment later, sword extended, but the mech jumped back. A Ground Bridge opened in the middle of the arena and the mechs ran towards it and disappeared, much to Galvatron's displeasure.
Jack crept out of the crack he'd taken refuge in ran towards Optimus and Galvatron. The latter picking up the unconscious former, slinging an arm around his neck and carefully holding his side. Another Ground Bridge opened and they walked through, Jack following Optimus closely.
Once through Galvatron looked down at Jack and ordered, "Go to the med bay and ensure that either Knockout or Ratchet is there."
Jack nodded and started out, only to stop a step later, "Where is med bay?"
The femme operating the Ground Bridge answered, "Ten clicks right then left and it'll be in front of you. Move, I have another emergency transmission."
Galvatron glared at her but Jack was already running out. By the time he got to the med bay Galvatron and Optimus weren't too far behind. He put his hands on his knees and heaved in breaths while trying to speak, "Ne—need R-Ratchet or, Knock-out."
A scuffling of peeds and a familiar voice made him look up, "Jack?"
He was frozen until Galvatron entered, "KNOCKOUT! Get your aft out here, whatever patient you have can wait!"
He continued to carry Optimus inside and heard an argument going on in the back room. Hm, sounds like both mechs are here. It mattered little to him, he only needed one, preferably Ratchet, much to his pride's dismay but the Autobot medic always was a better one.
Arcee ran forward and scooped up Jack who was still panting, "Are you ok? What happened?" She directed the question to either mech or man but Galvatron pointedly ignored her and continued to the back room.
Silverbolt stood about to say something but froze at Galvatron's look.
His processor struggled to come up with a reason for his being here until he took in all the company present, coming to one conclusion. He burst into the back room and saw Aliena laying on the table and not looking much better than Optimus.
Ratchet grabbed Optimus' other side and guided him to another table before shoving him out. He walked out to Jack explaining to Arcee and the others what happened. He listened before asking what happened to Aliena. As Jack finished Arcee frowned, "Their up to something."
"Who?" Jack asked.
"Shockwave and that traitorous Starscream." Galvatron growled.
Silverbolt stared at Jack in awe, "That's a human? You guys really are weird."
Jack frowned and crossed his arms, "Who said we're weird?"
Jazz answered with a shrug, "Aliena."
"Oh," his arms and shoulders fell, "I guess she does have authority to say that."
Arcee laughed before Galvatron got their attention, "I will need help in retrieving the piece. It was left in Kaon."
The bots present stood and followed Galvatron out. Arcee set Jack on the ground again, "I'll see you in a bit, partner."
He grinned and decided to sit under a chair to wait, rubbing his sore and swelling ankle.
Shockwave entered the lab to find Starscream and the Predacon waiting there. Naturally he made a logical conclusion, "She was not at your location either?"
Starscream frowned, "Oh she was, but the beast let her get away."
The Predacon growled and Shockwave snapped at Starscream, "You had her?"
"In his grasp." He hissed.
Shockwave pelted Starscream, "You fool, we need her for anything to progress!"
Starscream yelped and cupped one servo around the other, "Careful! It's the only sample I got!"
Shockwave turned around, audio-wings raised in interest, "Sample?"
Starscream showed him a digit that was covered in a blue substance. Had Shockwave had optics he would have rolled them. "We need both her life bloods, having her Energon does nothing to help us without her human blood."
Starscream smirked, "I guess it's a good thing she switched forms and lost some then."
Shockwave's helm snapped up from the repair kit he was standing over, returning to Starscream's servo and grabbing it harshly.
Starscream yelped indignantly, "Hey, watch it! This was not easy to procure!"
Shockwave scraped the liquids off with a small metal stick, examining it closely before putting it in an analyzer, "This will suffice."
Starscream rolled his optics as he thoroughly washed his servo, muttering, "Suffice he says. I'd like to see him face her when she's mad…at what I'm not sure."
Shockwave snapped back, making Starscream's wings flatten, "I'd love to watch you be pelted by Optimus and Galvatron."
And done! we'll find out what their planning next chapter. until next update.
NOTE on GARGOYLES story, it is in the process of being reviewed by WolfLord so don't came to me asking for updates, ask him...i'm a-waitin' on him.
Anyway have a great weekend.
