Here is Chapter 10! Sorry for the wait!
Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving, to all of my American readers!
"Come on, Miko! Put your back into it and quit whining!"
"Easy for you to say, Jack. You're stronger than I am." The Japanese girl paused, a devious smirk appearing on her face. "No, wait, let me correct that. I am stronger than you. You just don't want to do the work!"
"You know what? Forget I said anything. Raf, see anything?"
"No! I think we're in the clear!" The small boy leaped up and over the railing to join the others in the motorized cart.
"Good." Jack stepped back as the Harvester landed with a thud on the motorized cart. Touching his hand to his ear, he the waiting medic. "Ratchet, we're done here."
"Notify the others. Stay put and stay out of sight."
"Will do. Arcee, did you copy that?"
"Yeah. Bulk and Bee are with me. Optimus is a few klicks out. Wait for us out by the loading bay and be careful."
"Why does everyone keep saying that? We'll be fine!" Miko looked up, her pigtails bouncing.
"Well, we're stuck with you, aren't we?" the oldest retorted, narrowing his eyes before sighing. "Sorry. Look, let's just -"
Before he could continue, a tremendous crash erupted from outside, the very noise shaking the very foundations of the earth. They all stumbled, using the rail of the cart for support. Debris rained down heavily, and Jack immediately grabbed the younger ones and covered them, biting back a cry of pain as a rather large piece of cement rammed into and nearly crushed his right shoulder; the pain was immense and he had to force himself not to give away their location. When all was settled, they emerged, coughing in an attempt to relieve their lungs of the dust and dirt that clogged them.
"What in the world was that?" Miko demanded, shaking her multicolored hair.
"Not sure, but it may have something to do with the Decepticons we saw outside," Jack responded, looking down at the two huddled beneath him. "Are you two alright?"
"Oh, you're actually concerned? I'm touched, Jack." Miko grinned, clasping her hands together.
"We're fine, Jack." Raf gave the girl a disbelieving look. "We should really get out of here before they realize we're here."
But before the tall teen could respond, a deep and rumbling voice sounded behind them.
"Oh, I believe it's already too late for that."
They whipped around to see the two massive Decepticons they had seen earlier. The blue one was smirking, one servo transformed into a large and menacing hammer and his golden optics burning bright. The sleek black mech lingered in the shadows behind his companion, his crimson optics blazing and his wings twitching and fanning the air.
"Scrap," Jack hissed. "Miko, Raf, run!"
Miko immediately grabbed Raf and sprinted down the hall. The large blue mech chuckled darkly and transformed, speeding after them.
That left Jack with the quiet black Decepticon.
... ... ... ... ...
All was tense and quiet.
Arcee was becoming restless, itching to transform and stretch her cramping joints.
/Patch into your comm. with Jack. I think there's something wrong./ Bulkhead suddenly spoke, his rumbling voice echoing.
/What makes you say that?/ She tore herself from her wandering thoughts, immediately at attention.
/Listen./ He patched her in, and they did as he instructed.
Nothing.
/Bulk, I don't see the point.../
/There!/
She paused, tuning her audios to the highest frequency.
There. That noise.
It was a growl.
A low, rumbling growl.
A scream.
Silence.
/We need to get in there! Now!/
... ... ... ... ...
When they entered the parking lot, the large hole in the side of the museum was the first thing they noticed.
"Raf? Jack? Miko!"
Try as they might, there was no response.
The kids were nowhere in sight.
"Arcee." Bulkhead caught her attention and she turned. The massive green mech was leaning down, sifting through the debris that cluttered the floor and picking up a piece that was small in comparison to his servos but large to a human. She approached slowly, dreading what he was about to show her, as he remained eerily silent.
It was a bloodstained piece of cement.
... ... ... ...
"Deathstrike, what do you mean, 'the organics are in there'? Do you not think our scanners would have picked them up?"
The assassin vented hoarsely, shifting his weight and depositing it on the side that was not dependent on his sentient crutch. "Our sensors are tuned to...Cybertronian life signals and energies. Organics..." He shook his helm, flaring his wings as his engine growled with the heat clawing up his throat. "...organics are not." He cringed faintly as pain shot down his injured leg, and it buckled without warning, nearly collapsing in on itself. His weight pressed into the bulkier mech as he snarled lowly, optics flashing as a harsh tremor racked his lean and powerful frame.
"Easy, Deathstrike." Breakdown shifted to better accommodate the taller yet leaner mech. "I know you have already told me before, but are you certain that you wish to fight?"
The jet black mech rumbled a warning, his wings twitching before he vented once more. "Yes, Breakdown, I am sure." His armor flared, shifting and rippling over his frame like sleek black water before settling against his chassis. "Your concern sickens me."
"You like it, don't you?" the navy blue mech teased, raising his free servo as if in surrender when the medic fixed his burning glare on him.
Deathstrike turned away suddenly, olfactories flaring as his wings hiked up high on his back. A low growl reverberated throughout his chassis, and his crimson stare burned with enough insanity and hunger to unnerve his partner.
"Deathstrike."
"They are coming." The assassin's servos clamped down onto Breakdown's. The navy mech hissed slightly as the other's long and razor-sharp claws sliced effortlessly through his refined armor, yet he did not complain, knowing it would enrage the already incensed assassin even more.
"We have a plan for getting the Harvester before them, do we not?" Breakdown questioned, feeling the other's armor rise as his vents worked overtime in a futile attempt to cool his overheating chassis.
Deathstrike shuddered, snarling viciously before regaining his bearings. "We go around back and..." His wings flared with a jerk, batting his companion's servo as his engine roared. "...find a way to retrieve the relic. They will be watching."
Breakdown nodded. "Anything else?"
The matte black mech hissed, jerking suddenly as a violent shiver ran through his frame. He reared back as much as his partner's iron grip allowed him, elongated claws tearing deeper slashes into the navy blue armor covering Breakdown's servo.
"Calm down. You will not lose control, understand?" He decided to take matters into his own servos. Deathstrike could not reveal his secret to the enemy, not while he was like this, weakened and ravenous. It would do no good. Switching to an encrypted and private communications line, he continued. Do you need to take from me?
The Seeker shuttered his optics. I have not refueled in quartexes, Breakdown. If I do take from you, I fear I will not be able to stop myself from completely draining you.
You know how to control yourself. Stop doubting.
Armor moved silently again. How can you advise me not to lose control? Do you remember what happened in Polyhex?
That was hundreds of vorns ago, and many things have changed since then.
I will not take from you and that is final.
Fine, then, you insufferable glitch.
Calling me names will get you nowhere, my dear Breakdown.
Whatever.
Deathstrike scowled and flicked his wings up and down before settling them in their normal neutral position. "Come. We must be going. We have work to do."
... ... ... ... ...
When they pulled up to the museum parking lot closest to where Deathstrike was certain the organics were, all was dark and silent. Nothing seemed to me awake, alive, or moving in the vicinity of the building, but Breakdown was following Deathstrike's enhanced senses that clearly stated something alive and possibly well was in there.
"Take the door down," the medic murmured, shuttering his optics as he leaned heavily, almost weakly, against his partner.
"Sure." Shifting his weight momentarily to allow the other to become more comfortable, he activated his defense relays. The plating on his shoulder panel shifted aside and a missile launcher emerged from its depths. Targeting protocols popped up on his HUD display, his tracker locking on the best place the missile would need to land in order to cause the least but most effective damage.
It fired, and the resulting crash and explosion was enough to even jar the weakened assassin from his straying thoughts. Breakdown murmured a hurried apology while his sensor and scanner range broadened. Deathstrike, still leaning against him, snarled quietly, attempting to stand on his own.
"Stop that." Breakdown held the other only slightly tighter, as to not aggravate the lightly slumbering beast. The assassin shook his helm, narrowing his optics as if in a challenge.
"There." His voice was deeper and had a rasp hidden somewhere in it, and his vents rattled throughout his frame. He was becoming worse. "In the...main entrance hall."
Breakdown nodded, finally allowing his companion to use him as a means of steadying himself. With a lurching gait and a weakened leg Deathstrike prowled the area, vents whirring and wings turning to pick up every bit of data in the room. Breakdown stood off to the sidelines, recognizing the mech's already dark mood would not be improved by his intervention.
"Come here," Deathstrike spoke suddenly, his deep and rasping voice echoing throughout the decimated room. Breakdown did as told, narrowing his optics as he weaved his way through the debris. The assassin stood waveringly near a large piece of cement that was leaning against a metal cart of some sort.
"They are under that slab," Deathstrike murmured in a sort of breathless tone, shuttering his optics and cringing ever so slightly as the hunger roared its fury and tore at his throat. "I cannot move it."
Breakdown said nothing, heaving the slab away. Beneath it was three organics cowered together, seemingly unconscious...or even dead. One was significantly taller than the others, and his long and lean body covered them. A large bloodstain was spreading rapidly from beneath his right arm, which looked twisted in a very painful way. The other two, a skinny black-and-pink haired girl and a small boy with spiky hair and large glasses that seemed to be too big for him, were covered in as much dust as the larger one.
"Well, what do we have here?" Deathstrike rasped, tilting his helm.
"That one is Bulkhead's pet." Breakdown grinned viciously as he motioned to the girl, the rage in his spark stirring.
"Do not get carried away," Deathstrike hissed. "Are you thinking what I currently am?"
"Oh, yes."
The assassin rumbled deeply. "We should get started, then."
... ... ... ... ...
"Where are they?"
/Arcee, my computers cannot pick up their signals. Either they're cloaked or -/
"Don't you dare finish that!" The blue femme paced the area, deep in furious musings. If any 'Con had even put a digit on them...
"Arcee, we're just as worried," Bulkhead said suddenly. Bumblebee whirred his acquiescence next to him, his doorwings twitching. "Don't worry; whoever did this, they'll pay. I mean, look at the bright side. We got the Harvester."
"We lost our teammates, Bulkhead! Our charges! Is that all you care about, that we got the Harvester?"
The Wrecker narrowed his optics. "I didn't say that, and you'd better watch yourself, 'Cee. Miko means the world to me!"
She scoffed. "Then why aren't you looking for her?"
Bulkhead rumbled threateningly and made to approach her before a voice cut in.
/Both of you had better stop acting like glitched sparklings before I come up there, dismantle you, and rebuild you as toasters!/ Ratchet snarled at them through the communications link. /"Get your helms in the game and focus! Have you found any clues yet?/
"No!" Arcee vented deeply, crossing her servos. "Nothing except this bloodstained rock!"
/Bloodstained... Arcee!/
She jumped at the harsh and severe tone, one that was more brutal than normal, of the medic. "What?"
/I can use that DNA to trace the kids! Why did you not say something earlier?/
"Thought it was irrelevant." She scowled deeply.
/The thought of turning you two into toasters is so tempting right now./
"Shut up." She turned away, putting a hand on her hip as she gestured furiously with the other. "Get a bridge here and we'll give you the Harvester. Optimus, do you know what's going on?"
/Indeed, Arcee./ Even with the possible danger the children were in, Arcee found that she still found the smallest bit of comfort in the rumbling and smooth bass tones of her leader. /Have you found any evidence that links the Decepticons to the disappearance of our charges?/
"Optimus, there are residual traces of Cybertronian energy signals here, and they don't match Autobots." Bulkhead patched in, the faintest traces of worry and suspicion staining his voice.
There was a rumble in response for a moment, and then the Prime responded. /Very well. Secure the Harvester and await further instructions./
"Sure thing, Boss." Bulkhead tuned into Ratchet. "We're ready for that bridge, Ratch."
/It should be arriving shortly. Approximately 132.7 seconds./
The portal soon appeared, and just as they were about to go through, the Harvester secured safely in Bumblebee's subspace, a deep voice sounded behind them.
"I am afraid we cannot let you take that."
The Autobots turned and were graced with the sight of two enormous mechs. One was rather significantly taller than the other, and large and powerful wings rose from his back. Pitch black and sleek armor covered his lean frame, flared slightly from his chassis; it was unclear if it was in anger or in something else. His servos were crossed, and his long and thin digits were tipped by huge and menacing claws. The scowl on his faceplate exposed his long and razor-sharp fangs. His companion was slightly shorter, with heavier and slightly bulkier armor of the warrior class; it was colored a deep navy blue. His servos were crossed as well, over a massive chest, and the smirk on his orange faceplate complimented the way his yellow optics glared.
Both mechs had the Decepticon insignia centered on their chassis.
Arcee glanced between the two, checking for weaknesses of any sort. The tall mech radiated a storm of black fury and hunger, but she noticed he was favoring his left side and had most of his weight on one leg.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her servo transforming into her Energon blaster and whirring menacingly.
The mech only glared at her and grinned viciously, a sight that was rather horrifying.
"Breakdown." Bulkhead was glaring at the blue mech, his flared armor betraying his rage and hate.
"Missed me, Bulk?" the blue 'Con rumbled, his optics flashing.
"Hardly. Come back for a rematch?" Bulkhead got into a defensive position.
"You know I did." Breakdown made to lunge at the other, but the black mech snarled suddenly and, surprisingly, the massive blue Decepticon froze and calmed down. He settled for crossing his servos once more and continued, "You have something we want."
"If you're looking for the Harvester, you're out of luck," Arcee stated firmly. "It's not here."
"We both know that is a lie." The Seeker spoke in a voice deeper than Optimus', yet it was hoarse and sounded strained as if he were attempting to stop himself from doing something regrettable.
"So why don't you be nice little Autobots and give us the Harvester?" Breakdown growled, narrowing his optics.
"Not a chance." Arcee turned to Bumblebee, who whirred in concern and confusion, his large optics spinning. "Bee, get out of here!"
The Decepticon Seeker snarled, his optics blazing hellishly. In a flash, he moved from his current position to where the scout was. Lashing out, his enormous claws latched onto the young mech's doorwing, twisting it with a sickening screech of warping metal and shredding seams and circuity. Bumblebee cried out, twisting futilely against the Decepticon's ruthless grasp. Energon began to flow freely from the wound, and Arcee could have sworn she saw the black mech run his glossa over his fangs as the hunger in his glare flared brightly.
Breakdown narrowed his yellow optics; he must have noticed as well. "Deathstrike!" A hidden warning was hidden deep in the massive Decepticon's voice.
The Seeker seemed to snap out of a trance, and he snarled again, glaring down at the cowering Autobot who stared up at him with wide and worry-filled sky blue optics. With a jerk, the assassin pulled the little mech up and shoved him at Arcee, hard enough to make her falter under the unexpected weight as Bumblebee crashed into her.
There was a harsh clang as Breakdown collided with Bulkhead, cracking the cement beneath them as well as any museum artifacts that happened to be in a display defenseless from two forty-ton aliens.
"Why don't you just give up and give us the Harvester, Bulkhead?" Breakdown growled, parrying the punched thrown his way.
"Not a chance, Breakdown." Bulkhead suddenly got the upper servo and had the Decepticon in a headlock.
"That all you got?" Breakdown twisted and elbowed the other in the faceplate, the resounding crack echoing throughout the room.
"Oh, I've got plenty more!" The Autobot grabbed Breakdown by the servos and hauled him over his helm, swinging him a few times before throwing him out of the building and into the parking lot. He stalked out of the decimated building, intent on incapacitating his enemy.
Meanwhile, Arcee and Bumblebee had regained their bearings in order to fight the Seeker. He moved incredibly fast, dodging each of their blows and striking back with greater force each time.
"You still haven't answered my question. Who are you?" Arcee growled, slicing at him with her blades.
The Decepticon swerved in one graceful movement, ending up behind her as he lashed out with his claws to leave five deep gashes in her winglet. The femme hissed, jerking out of his grip in order to let Bumblebee get in on the quarrel, aware of the fact that hot Energon was pouring from her wounds and that her strained systems were working overtime to accommodate to her injuries.
Bumblebee whirred determinedly and threw a punch, but the Seeker sensed the oncoming attack and vanished from view, ending up on the other side of the room.
The black and yellow Autobot tilted his helm, beeping in confusion as they approached their enemy, weapons unsheathed and ready for action.
Deathstrike bared his fangs, his engine rumbling, and armor shifting as he saw the two coming at him. He moved towards the femme first, striking out and digging his claws into her side. Cringing, she kicked out at him, attempting to dislodge his painful grip; she was surprised at the immense strength of his supposedly thin armor, as her attack did nothing to deter his determined grasp.
Bumblebee saw that the Decepticon was distracted and leaped onto his back, uncaring of his wings. Snarling in irritation, the Seeker reared back, growling viciously as he attempted to dislodge the younger and smaller mech's hold on him. Bumblebee kept up his act, leaning down, up, or away in order to dodge the razor-like talons slicing at him. Arcee saw the small window of opportunity and kicked at the Decepticon's weakened leg, satisfied with the crunch that resulted from the assault. Deathstrike roared, though not in pain, unbeknownst to her, and suddenly his servo shot out and his claws were wrapped around Arcee's throat. His crimson optics burned with malicious hunger and desire, and his fangs glinted in the dim moonlight. She struggled in his iron grasp, her processor beginning to slow as his grip halted Energon flow. All the while, the Decepticon seemed terrifyingly amused as his engine rumbled threateningly; he ignored Bumblebee's now desperate attempts to make him stop while Arcee gasped and struggled futilely.
Suddenly the sound of a powerful engine reached them, and a horn honked loudly. Optics turning to see the visitor, a large red and blue semi-truck sped towards them at a rather alarming rate, seemingly having no intention of stopping. The plating covering it shifted and creased, and it transformed into the massive frame of Optimus Prime.
"Release them!" the leader of the Autobots bellowed, transforming his servos into their double-barrel Energon blasters.
Both of the Decepticons let out terrifying laughs, yet they stopped their attempts to fight them.
"Optimus Prime." The Seeker spoke, snarling softly, as his bloody crimson gaze locked onto the intense cobalt of the other. "It has been a while. Though I cannot say I am pleased to see you."
"Likewise, Deathstrike." Optimus charged his blaster. "I will not repeat myself."
"But you see, we have the upper hand." Suddenly the black Decepticon dropped the now unconscious Arcee and kicked her towards her leader, the screech of her metal plating ringing harshly in their audios and in the room. Bumblebee immediately ran to her side, attempting to wake her up.
"Explain." Optimus shifted his stance and weight so that now he was in front of his injured team. His power and authority, as well as his strong presence, radiated from his field at an almost alarming and overwhelming level.
"Why don't we show you?" Breakdown appeared suddenly, dragging the unconscious frame of Bulkhead behind him and throwing him at the Prime's pedes with a ground-shaking thud.
Optimus narrowed his optics, keeping his weapon charged and aimed with a steady hold.
Deathstrike and Breakdown glanced at each other, nodding once with flashing optics. The Seeker's chassis armor split and unfolded into a subspace, and he reached in and took out something. With a horrifying grin, he unfolded his clawed servo.
Jack, Miko, and Raf lay limp in the Decepticon's grasp. Miko and Raf seemed unharmed, yet there was a large bloodstain on Jack's right arm, one that was spreading steadily.
Optimus felt rage and shock stir deep within his spark, and the Matrix's humming tones did nothing to sooth or smother it.
Deathstrike snarled, his fangs lengthening as he took in the scent of Optimus' field.
"Like I said, we have the upper hand, and you will do whatever we say if you want your precious humans to live."
I sincerely apologize for the long wait! It took me forever to write this, and I am sorry for that.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this! Almost four thousand words! :D
Read and Review, pleaze! :)