Chapter 16 – Snow Blind

"Did you see that?"

Bumblebee gasps as he points to the sky.

"That looked like massive energy blast not too far from here." Wheeljack states as he too looks up. "I can also make out debris heading back to Earth in my optical visuals. It definitely took out something."

"Wait a second…" Brawn says in confusion. "If you can see that…does…does that mean we can finally get our bearings?"

Trailbreaker flips his arm panel open and taps on the various buttons inside of it. A holographic screen appears above the opened arm and shows a graphic display of the area.

"Well I'll be a Cybertronian grease monkey…" He snickers. "Sensors are back on and so is the compass!"

Cliffjumper grabs the larger robot's arm and brings it down to his eye level.

"Hey yeah! And look…there are those energy signatures again. The one's that led us up here!"

Pulling his arm back up, Trailbreaker quickly flips the panel close and looks scowls at the little red robot.

"Do you mind? I don't need your grubby hands all over me…"

Huffer taps his head as he spurs a thought.

"This is getting serious guys. A major blast comes out of the middle of the arctic, something is destroyed high above…"

"Like a satellite…" Brawn adds.

"And now the dampening field that was blocking our sensors is now gone." Huffer continues to ponder. "No question about it fellas…this is big time danger we're heading into."

"Then we'd better stop all this guess work and head straight to the source." Bluestreak says taking out his gun and charging it up.

"I'm the leader of this here group!" Huffer barks at him as he shakes his fist. "I'm the one that says what we're going to do next!"

Bluestreak lowers his weapon and gives a long sigh.

"Ok then leader…what's our orders?"

Huffer clears his throat and makes a heroic pose as he steps out in front of them all.

"Autobots! We're going to the source of that blast! Transform and roll out!"

Brawn folds his arms together and shakes his head negatively.

"If Optimus ever chooses a new leader…I hope you're not on the list."

The others all snicker at Brawn's comedy and shrugs his shoulders at the small orange robot as he looks back at him with disapproval.

"D'oooh…just Transform already will ya!"

As the group transform, Bumblebee looks around as he notices Spike isn't standing around them.

"Hey! Spike! We're leaving! Where are ya?" He shouts out in the blizzard. "SPIKE!"

"He's gone to look for his dad Bumblebee." Trailbreaker says as he transforms. "I'll go and round him up…can't of gone too far."

"Naw that's ok Trailbreaker." The little yellow robot sighs as he remains in his robot form. "I'll go and fetch him. They might have gotten lost in this storm. I'll catch up with you guys…"

"Fine…suit yourself." Huffer moans. "The rest of us…move on out!"

The orange Autobot transforms back into his mini-transport truck cab mode and beings heading off north. The others quickly transform and follow him as they disappear into the horizon. Bumblebee lets out a tired sigh and holds his hand up over his eyes to shield the blinding whiteness from his oculars.

"Spike! Sparkplug! Where are ya!"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

As Sparkplug continues to walk through the snowy valley, the storm begins to die down slowly and gives him a chance to get his bearings. His neon colored orange suit was now nearly white because of the snowy conditions, even though the outfit was designed to withstand cold climates, it still managed to feel ice cold inside of it. He remembers thinking of how much fun it was when he was a kid, being in snow and having fun, but never in his wildest dreams did he ever thing he'd be running around in the northern arctic tundra. As he gazes about to see which direction the Autobots might be in, he takes a chance and turns right to start a new path. Its all starting to look the same to him now, nothing but vast icy dunes of snow and blowing frozen winds that send a chill though him like the hand of death's icy feel itself.

"I'm lost." He thinks to himself. "I shouldn't have wandered off so far. Damn fool I am, I should have at least taken a flare or told Trailbreaker to shine his lights while I went out."

As he continues forward, he soon hears footsteps approach him. Slowing down the storm may be, it's still hindering his vision all around, as he hears the crunching sound getting closer and closer.

"The Decepticons again?" He wonders to himself in thought. "Crap! Got to get out of here, got to find the others and warn them of…"

Sparkplug now tries to sprint though the sea of white snow and tries to stay well ahead of the sound coming from behind him now. The middle-aged man starts panting loudly as the task of running through thick snow becomes overwhelming. Soon he trips and collapses on the ground and breathing heavily, he feels something coming at him now, the footsteps getting closer and closer. Not knowing what to do, Sparkplug prepares himself for the worst and bunches up his thick black-gloved hand into a fist.

"Stay away I'm warning you!" He shouts at the figure standing near as he leaps to his feet ready to swing at them.

"Dad? Dad! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Sparkplug blinks rapidly an soon focuses his eyes, he now sees Spike standing there gazing at him with confusion as he takes note of his father's fist raise up at him.

"Spike? Oh…Spike thank god!" The man says as he rushes over to hug his son. "I'm so glad to see you my boy."

"Where the hell of you been?" The young man says as he pulls him away. "The Autobots are getting ready to leave and your wandering out here alone."

"Sorry son. I tried to take a quick leak….but…I ran into some trouble."

"Trouble?" Spike laughs. "What kind of trouble do you run into out here? Did ya pee on a polar bear or something?"

The father laughs at his son's comment and takes hold of his arm, Spike aids his father through the thick snow as they head back to where Spike assumed the Autobots still where.

"No, no…" Sparkplug sniffs and giggles at him. "Nothing happened like that. No I'm talking about some old enemies that aren't dead. In fact…I think we're in more trouble then any of us realize."

"What is it?" Spike asks as they continue walking. "What did you find out here?"

"Decepticons."

"Decepticons?" Spike stops as he looks at his father. "Here? Alive? But…but how?"

"I don't know." The father breathes out. "But we've got to hurry back and warn the others quickly before they run into a trap."

The two men quickly grab hold of each other and walk side by side in a fast pace. The storm was still continuing to die down and now the outlines of the area could now be seen. It amazed them both on how fast the snowy blanket was giving way, and even speculated on what the cause was.

"I'll bet you Archeville is behind all this, Dad." Spike says giving a quick sniff of his runny nose. "I just know that psycho has some scheme up his sleeve and the Decepticons are part of it."

"Yeah." The father nods. "No doubt this wintry blast is his doing as well. Hard to believe that he can control the weather. But I wouldn't put it past the likes of him after all we've seen of his evil already."

Suddenly the ground begins to shake and the two men drop to the ground. The impact is constant and feels like something is pounding towards them with each tremor. Before the two can help each other up, a large shadow casts over them and nearly blocks out any light shining down on them. The snowstorm finally ends and as they turn to look up, they see a large double-barreled weapon pointing at their heads. The weapon is massive, and familiar in design, and as they continue to look beyond it…they finally see who is aiming it towards them.

"Humans…" Skyfire gasps as he gazes down at them. "Incredible."

Spike and Sparkplug stay close to each other as they cower in fear. They see the large emblem of the Decepticon faction sitting on his chest plating and give a gulp in fear.

"You've developed a synthetic fiber to shield your bodies from the extreme climates. You are very well developed at this stage I must say."

Skyfire's massive robotic hand reaches down to them as he prepares to pick them up. Both Sparkplug and Spike try to run away before he can reach them, but their distance was not enough. The large robot manages to scoop them up quickly and holds him in his hand so they cannot escape.

"HELP!" The father yells loudly. "HELP!"

"Somebody! Help us!" Spike now shouts. "Huffer! Trailbreaker! Anybody!"

Screaming away in vein, the two men are overcome by their fear as they get raised up to Skyfires height. The large winged robot stares at them with confusion and tries to quiet the two down.

"Why are you yelling? I do not understand, I am not here to hurt you. I only wish to study you and get to know you all."

Both men quickly silence as they hear the softness in this robot's voice. Spike scowls at the robot and continues in his attempt to break free of its massive clutches.

"Yeah I bet you do! You want to rip us open and spill our guts out across the arctic for your own sick amusement!"

Skyfire was taken back by that comment and shakes his head in denial.

"No, no…it's not like that at all. Why would you say such a terrible thing? Do all humans think that way of alien visitors? I assure you I am only curious about your species and not in dismembering you."

Sparkplug, also trying to break free still, glares at the robot in disbelief.

"You really must be toying around with us? You're a Decepticon! You're only twisted pleasure is to see us humans suffer to no end."

"Is this humor?" Skyfire says with confusion on his face. "Humans have the oddest sense of this I must say. Why the other two were also not as…"

Spike stops struggling and looks at the robot.

"Other two? What other two?"

"The other two humans with Megatron. They're in my ship and.."

"Megatron!" Sparkplug gasps in horror. "You mean to say that Megaton is alive?"

"Is he to be otherwise?" Skyfire snickers. "If it hadn't been for him and Starscream, I probably wouldn't have ever come back online. He is very much alive my friends."

Both men glimpse at one another and share a feeling of dread. Megatron and Starscream, two names that they wish were never heard again. This was terrible news to discover, with the leader of the Decepticons back and fully functional, there's no telling what is in store for Earth now.

"I don't get it." Spike now talks to the robotic giant. "Why aren't you crushing us to death or trying to kill us in somehow?"

"Not a good question to ask son." Sparkplug snaps at him.

"Kill you?" Skyfire recoils. "Why would I want to kill you? I don't kill organic beings, not lower life forms that have committed on offense to me. What would make you think such things?"

Spike points to the symbol on the robots chest and gives him a curious look.

"Because you're a Decepticon. Decepticons kill humans no matter what. They would rather see us dead then alive."

"Ok Spike…" Sparkplug now grits with his teeth. "Seriously you are not helping the situation."

Skyfire looks at them both with a questionable gaze, he can see that the young human male is serious about this information and tilts his head back slightly as he responds.

"I don't believe you. Megatron and the Decepticons are not murderers. They come from Cybertron, our home world…my…home world. Our kind is devoted to peace, harmony and scientific study. We've only come to gather our resources and fight the real threat that plagues our very existence. The Autobots."

"The Autobots?" Spike questions. "The Autobots aren't a threat. If anything it's reversed."

"Nonsense." Skyfire quickly denies. "I've been told of their various crimes against our own people. They have ravaged our world and slaughter billions to tend to their own agenda. No. These are a savage group of Cybertroinans and must fought by any means necessary."

"Who told you that? Megatron?" Sparkplug now adds.

"Of course. Megatron is the rightful leader of Cyberton, these terrorist Autobot factions are trying to undermine his authority and split our people apart in war."

"That's a load of horse shit if I ever heard it." Sparkplug scoffs.

"I beg your pardon, human?"

"Megatron is trying to pull the wool over your eyes."

"Wool? What is this wool? And what is horse shit?"

"Daaad…" Spike now says as he starts to feel uncomfortable in the robot's massive hand.

"The Decepticons are the criminals that came from Cybertron." The father pounds on the metallic part of the robot's thumb. "Not the Autobots. Optimus Prime and the others are here trying to stop them from destroy all life and draining the planet of all it's natural resources. We ought to know…my son and me, we were there. We've seen the true nature of Megatron and his cronies; they're only interested in killing everything in its path and sucking this planet dry. They're the real enemy! The Autobots are the true liberators of Cybertron!"

The two men feel the tightening of the robot's grip and growl in slight discomfort as they feel the pressure growing. Skyfire is not happy at all with Sparkplug's truth and peers at them with distrust.

"I think you've been corrupted by the Autobots. They've filled your head with this notion and are trying to deceive you all. There's only one way to prove to you that what I'm saying is the real truth."

"Do tell." Spike says sarcastically as he grits his teeth from the mounting pressure.

"I shall take you to Megatron."

Both men suddenly become gaunt in the face as the giant white robot smiles and begins walking.

"He will tell you the real truth and make you understand that we Decepticons are only interested in peace."

"Yeah right. A piece of the world I think he means." Spike whispers over to his father as the commune amongst themselves.

"I should have never wandered off. So much for me ever getting the chance to go to the bathroom." Sparkplug sighs.

"What do we do now? He won't let us go. We've got to break free and warn the others."

"And how are you going to do that?" Sparkplug snaps at him. "We could shout to the top of our lungs and the Autobots wouldn't even hear us. And breaking free…we're still sitting ducks out here in the cold north. No. We're trapped in this monster's hand and there's no way out of it. We'll just have to think of something when we get there."

"That's crazy dad!" Spike starts shouting. "He's taking us to Megatron. The guy hates humans! He's going to kill us right there."

"I know son…I know."

As the massive robot continues to walk away, and the snowy storm completely stops, Bumblebee sticks his head of a snow bank near by as he watches from afar.

"Decepticons!" He gasps. "I've got to save them!"

As he takes a few steps out, he suddenly stops and thinks for a second.

"No…no wait. I can't take on a guy like that. He's far too huge and probably stronger then the likes of me. I should probably regroup with the others and get some back up."

The little yellow robot quickly transforms into his Volkswagon beetle mode and drives off after them.

"But I can't let Spike and Sparkplug down again. I'll follow them and radio the others of my position. If they so much as harm a hair on them…."

Bumblebee's voice trails off as the thinks of the consequences. He's reflecting on the event that happened with Sparkplug in the Ruby Mines of Burma. He felt so terrible for nearly killing Spike's father after trying to protect him with his body that he decided to me more discreet when sneaking around the Decepticons again. He won't allow anymore harm to come to his new friends, even if that means sacrificing himself.