Chapter 17 – Behold, Project N
In the icy tundra, deep in the heart of the Northern pole area, a vast number of soldiers in white parkas and strange looking weapons march around the snow. There are large tanks behind them, equally camouflaged in the white and grey of the surroundings as the turrets slowly move back and forth. Scanning the perimeter, the strange white tanks grumble silently as they keep running on fuel. The soldiers all remain quiet as they ready their weapons and keep an eye on the horizon.
"This isn't good is it sir." One of the frozen looking soldiers states to another pulling out a pair of binoculars. "The storm shield is gone…we can't contact home base…and even Project site two isn't responding to our calls."
"That blast we saw took out the satellite." The man replies as he focuses his binoculars. "Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Now there's something heading our way on the instruments…"
"The Autobots?"
"Not sure." The man sighs back. "But last report is that they were all down at home base. Could be possible that they've discovered our ruse and are now coming here to take out the real project."
"Major Bartlet, Sir!" Another officer shouts from behind.
The major lowers his binoculars and spins around.
"What is it lieutenant?"
"Sir, we've just picked up yet another energy surge…." The man states with a slight nervousness.
"Well? Out with it." Bartlet demands.
"Sir…it's not an Autobot signature…it's…it's…."
Suddenly a large lazer blast comes roaring through and strikes the tanks behind them all. The impact sends everyone to the ground as the group of armored vehicles explodes into fiery debris. The Major and the others rise their heads out of the snow as they hug the ground and look up to see two jets rushing in. Like birds of death streaking in the now bright blue sky, the sun gleaming off of their metallic structures, and the sound of their jet engines roaring in the air. The Major knew instantly knew who was attacking him, for even he saw the footage of film that was given to all of them to study. These were Decepticons, but from their apparent markings, they went by another name. Thundercracker and Starscream. The two Decepticon members send a rein fire down on them with their energy cannons, the soldiers quickly scatter to avoid being hit and allow the jets to come past them all. Diving for cover yet again, the Bartlet rises up and screams at them all to get back on their feet.
"Return fire! Get up and return fire! Take them down! Take them down!" The Major howls at them all.
The soldiers do as they are instructed and aim their strange weapons at the Decepticon Jets coming around for another attack. The men pull the triggers and quick rapid shots blast out of their guns. These were no ordinary weapons they were firing with, for these were part of Archeville's arsenal, deadly lazer weapons of alien origin. The millions of streaking green lights hit Thundercracker and Starscream repeatedly and managed to penetrate their metal hulls.
"AAAAHHH!" Starscream shouts in pain. "You little insects! I'll make you beg for death!"
"Grraahhh!" Thundercracker screeches as well. "We've got to turn back and tell Megatron! The humans are too well armed."
"Never! Stand your ground Thundercracker!" Starscream replies as he now spins and dives to avoid being hit. "I refuse to be undermined by mere flesh creatures! If they want a war…then let's give them one they will never forget! Die humans! DIE!"
Starscream barrel rolls and then hurls to the Earth at breakneck speed. Switching his wing lazer canons to missiles, the Decepticon launches both sides and sends them streaking down at the military at point blank range. The missiles hit the ground near a group of tanks and explode in a large fiery ball that consumes everyone and anyone near the expanding radius of it. Screams of the soldiers echo in the air as the lazer fire continues and rushing though the plume of dying blast, Starscream whisks by and laughing in sheer delight.
Bartlet tries to rally the men for another attack, but soon hears a faint booming sound in the distance. As he turns to see from where the sound originated, a large bolt of energy narrowly misses his head and vaporizes the other tanks behind him. On the horizon of the snowy arctic, Megatron and his minions of evil are walking their way towards them all in a confident stride. Megaton holds out his mighty black arm cannon again and sends more lazer blasts to take out the artillery trying to regroup.
"Release them Soundwave! Release and destroy!" Megatron shouts as he fires his cannon.
"As you command, Megatron!" The blue robot nods as he glances at his leader. "Ravage! Lazerbeak! Rumble! Frenzy! Attack…attack…attack!"
As Soundwave taps the top of his chest, the plate opens up on him and releases the four one at a time as they transform out of their former states. Ravage quickly unfolds first and scurries across the ground, gaining speed with each long stride he takes. The animal like robot reaches the soldiers in no time, the cat pounces on each man and rips them to shreds with its mighty metal claws. Lazerbeak zooms in and fires down on the scattering troops and begins to take formation with Thundercracker and Starscream as they zip past continuously. Rumble and Frenzy come running in and tackle the more heavily armed troops to the ground as they mercilessly smack them about like rag dolls. Megatron gives a smile at the effectiveness of the assault and lowers his arm slowly as they all continue to walk in a casual manner. The attack was brisk and brutal, with the sound of weapons dying off; the Decepticon leader gave a chuckle at Archeville's men.
"Such a pathetic display. Is this all you have waiting for us? Is this the great secret army I was lead to believe that would put up the most struggle? How disappointing."
"You heard him." Skywarp says walking behind Megatron. "Our leader asked you a question, slave!"
The black and purple Decepticon yanked on a metal chain, down on the ground trying to keep up with their huge walking strides was Archeville. The old man clasps the noose around his neck and struggles to breath as he is literally being dragged in the snow. Megatron notices the whimpering man trying to catch his breath to speak, and suddenly stops as he turns to face him. Skywarp yanks on the chain again and sends him hurling over to the silver robot's feet.
"P-p-please Megatron! I-I can't go on like this any longer!" The man manages to say as he gasps for air. "Let me walk on my own…and not with a leash!"
"I will do so when I feel that you are no longer lying to me."
"Please." Archeville now begs. "I promise you…I promise you hear and now, I shall not deceive you further. I want to help you. I want to give you what you seek!"
"Oh?" The leader says with questioning eyes. "But I thought you would rather die then see us get our hands on your precious project? Why the sudden change in heart doctor?"
As he finally regains his breath, the old man rises up and uses his metallic claw-like hand to loosen his noose.
"Because I want you to teach me everything. Everything that you know."
Gazing up at the leader, he notices the robot's eyes didn't even change at his request.
"Power Megatron…I want power as much as you do. To gain the knowledge of the universe and unlock the secrets to ultimate power!"
"Power?" The silver robot mutters as he continues to look down at him. "You would destroy your own kind, give up your own military and level this planet to rubble just to achieve the ultimate knowledge of the universe for your own sense of gratification?"
"Yes. I would." The old man answers with insane grin. "After all…isn't that your agenda as well? Two of a kind we are Megatron….two of a kind and looking for the same thing. Ultimate power."
With the sound of lazer fire dimming even further in the background, Megatron lets out a boisterous laugh and folds his arms together as he soon stares at the doctor again.
"You are truly a madman Archeville. To think that you and I have anything in common is beyond the absurd, it's down right insulting. But there is a grain of truth in you, despite all the lies and overlapping hidden agendas in that small feeble brain of yours. And I must admit that your adaptiveness to alien technology is impressive to say the least. You wish to join us now and continue your search for ultimate power, eh?"
As Megatron rubs his chin in thought and looks up at the others staring at him, the silver polished villain gives a simple nod.
"Very well then. I shall be merciful to you alone. Release him."
Skywarp stood shocked by his leader's words and looks around to the others as they too are in awe.
"I said release him." Megaton says again as he unfolds his arms and stares at Skywarp.
"Yes…Megatron."
The black and purple colored robot removes the chain from Archeville and tosses it away into the snow. The old man rubs his neck with his flesh and bone left and nods at the leader in thanks.
"Now Doctor." Megatron says bends down to his level. "As a new member of the Decepticon faction, show us the location of this Project of yours."
"Of course my leader. Of course." Archeville bows. "It's just beyond that next glacier over there. It shouldn't be too hard to spot now."
The Doctor strides away with a confidant grin and holds his robotic claw hand behind his back as he leads the way. With the other Deceptions following, Skywarp leans over to whisper to Megatron.
"You're not serious are you? You're not going to let him live after we've found this..whatever it is, are you?"
"I will allow him to live until I feel he is no longer of any use to us." The leader smirks as he whispers back. "For now we will use him and his technology to benefit us. Once the Autobots are destroyed and this planet sucked dry….then we shall put him out of his misery once and for all."
Archeville now walks briskly thought the now dead silent battlefield of burning wreckage and pooling ice water full of dead bodies. As he steps over one of the corpses, one of them rises up and points a gun at Megatron, who himself didn't seem prepared for any survivors.
"Don't move any of you! I've got your leader in my sights and I'll shoot him dead if I must!"
"Major Bartlet?" Archeville says as gazes at the man before him.
"Doc…doctor Archeville? What? What the hell are you doing here? What happened to you?"
The old man comes closer to him and gives him a hug. The Major seems puzzled by his behavior and tries to keep his eyes and gun focused at Megatron. As the doctor releases him from the embrace, he shows him something he managed to take off from his belt.
"Is this your sidearm Major?"
"Yes? But bullets won't kill these creatures?"
"No, of course not my boy."
He quickly brings up the gun to the Major's head and raises his eyebrows.
"But this will kill humans. Like you."
Squeezing the trigger, Archeville takes out the Major as the bullet exits out the other side of his skull. Without so much as regret, the Doctor simple lowers the smoking gun and begins to grin like a madman. Megatron seems unconcerned about the whole event and taps the old man with his foot in order for him to keep walking. The bodies lie about across the snow, blood soaked and burned. As the massive evil robots continue to walk through the devastation, Starscream and Thundercracker join with them as they transform and land.
"Why are you walking Megatron? We could all just fly over and be there in no time." The Jet commander questions.
"What's your rush Starscream?" The leader giggles at him. "Are you in such a hurry that you'll run the risk of being taken out by any more of Acheville's secrets?"
"Secrets…I'm sick to death of this human's secrets! We should just kill him now…he's led us this far. Why keep him around any longer?"
"Because it amuses me to do so Starscream. Archeville has become more valuable then I first thought, he's given us a glimpse of technology we can use against the Autobots and perhaps bring back to Cyberton for further study."
"Study? Ha!" The jet commander scoffs. "What's there to study? These are primitive weapons they all have, useless to our superior technology, he's just as feeble minded as the rest of the flesh beings on this world."
"Not so feeble minded as to build weapons with alien technology incorporated into them. No Starscream, this one is different from the rest..." Megatron points at him.
Peering back at the tiny human walking briskly in front of them all, Megatron gives a slight scowl as he finishes his thought.
" But we must watch him carefully. Humans are very untrust worthy creatures, they seem to have a creative flare for the unexpected."
"Scared of a human are you Megatron? Bahahaaha!" Starscream cackles. "Oh I never thought I'd see the day when a small flesh being would ever shake the microprocessors of the great and powerful Megatron!"
"Be silent!" The leader says smacking him in the face. "At least he's been more useful to me then you have! Now get behind me…do it!"
Starscream rubs his face from the force of the strike and does as he's told. The frown on his face is similar to that of a child having been disciplined by his father.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Behind a large snowdrift two heads come popping out from behind it. Huffer and Cliffjumper. Both looking over at the cold, frozen remains of Skyfire's space ship. Their eyes were wide with wonder as they saw the bulky looking ship sitting there, but remained hidden behind the snow bank as they gazed around the area.
"You were right Trailbreaker, this is the spot!" Huffer whispers.
"Is there any human soldiers there?" The large black robot's voice says from behind the drift.
"Naw, there's no body there. I think we should just go in." Cliffjumper whispers back.
"No you idiot!" Huffer says bonking him on the head. "We can't just go waltzing in there without checking the perimeter before hand! Now get back there with the others."
Cliffjumper rubs his head and ducks behind the snow again. Wheeljack now joins Huffer as they continue to look.
"What's that over there?" The Autobot scientist asks.
Huffer zooms in with his built in optic sensors and studies the big opening on the side of the craft.
"Looks like something blasted it's way in…fairly recently too."
"Could be them taking something out?"
Huffer's eyes return to normal as the faint glow of blue dims down.
"I reckon so. But it's a pretty big hole for them to be making. In fact I'm almost sure they were blasting their way in…not out. If they were trying to bring something out…wouldn't they do it from the other side? Kinda sloppy if you ask me."
"Well." Wheeljack says as he stands up. "There's only one way to find out. I think the coast is clear…other wise Trailbreaker there would have picked up their heat traces."
Huffer lets out a long sigh and stands up as well.
"Fine…we'll go in. Honestly its like you guys never had training for these sorts of missions."
Cliffjumper runs through the snow bank leaving a hole that shows the others squatting behind it.
"About time…lets stop yappin' and get in there already. My circuits are freezing."
The others Autobots follow behind him as Wheeljack and Huffer continue to study the ship outside.
"Hmmm." Wheeljack says to himself.
"Hmm, what?" The orange colored robot gazes over at him curiously.
"Not as big as I thought it would be. Or well preserved."
"You wanted it bigger? This is pretty big if you ask me."
"No, no…" Wheeljack sighs. "I mean for all the things that Archeville has. The weapons…all that technology….it doesn't quite fit. Not only that but I…I think this is a Cybertronian ship."
"What makes you so sure?"
"The design of it...from what I can make out anyway. But just look at the metal, tell me you haven't seen that kind of hull plating before?"
Huffer walks up close the ship and brushes his hand along the ship's side. His eyes jump slightly as he feels the quality of metal.
"Hey…you're right. This is weird."
"That's not the only thing that's weird." Trailbreaker says as he comes out of the ship after being inside with the others. "I think you boys ought to see what we found."
Huffer and Wheeljack look at perplexed as they walk with Trailbreaker back inside the dead vessel. As they enter in, they see the other Autobots scattered about the place gawking at the hundreds of human corpses lying about.
"My god!" Wheeljack gasps. "What in the name of Cybertron happened here?"
"There's more in the command section…" Bluestreak says as he walks up to them looking ill. "These were all Archevilles troops, every single one of them."
Cliffjumper examines one of the burnt remains and looks at it carefully.
"Their bodies are all fused. Fire didn't do this…an energy weapons did. Plasma to be exact."
"Yeah, looks like Plasma Energy did this to some of them, the burns are consistant of that. But these guys over here, more like a fusion cannon ripped into them." Trailbreaker adds onto Cliffjumper's observation.
Cliffjumper steps back from the corpse and clutches his hand tightly.
"Fusion. And who do we all know that has one of those? One that could do all this to them?"
Huffer folds his arms and shakes his head at Cliffjumper's subtle theory.
"Oh give it up Cliffjumper…Megatron is dead. Prime took him out and he's dead now. All the Decepticons are dead."
"You sure about that?" The small red robot says, as he looks at him hard. "Take a good look at all these dead bodies. You still wanna tell me that other humans did this kind of damage to them?"
Huffer didn't respond. He just remained there looking at the long tunnel full of frozen burnt corpses and stroked his chin in thought. All of them stood in place as Cliffjumper's words gave them all a moment's pause to think about it.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Is it much further yet?" Skywarp groans. "I feel like I'm draining power just from all this walking."
The Decepticons continue to walk slowly with Archeivlle as he leads them all further out into the arctic. The old man should be shivering to death from all the cold; in fact he should be dead from hypothermia. An observation that even he noticed while walking it the freezing snow. In his mind he figured it must have been the augmentations that Starscream gave him. The cybernetic upgrade bestowed upon him that probably included their nanotech technology. The microscopic robots that give the Cybertronians the ability to shape shift and heal quickly. Perhaps, he thought, this is what is keeping him warm. The tiny machines maintaining his body temperature and toughening his skin for the cold climate. A smile came on his face as he realized he was the first human in history to have nanotechnology flowing through his veins.
"Well Doctor?" Megatron says rousing Archeville out of his train of thought. "Are we even close now?"
"Yes Megatron, very close." The old man nods. "In fact, I'm surprised you didn't see that already."
The Decepticons all raise their heads up and see a metallic spire sticking up out of the ground in the distance. Not so much sticking out of the ground as it was just coming out of the horizon of the snow. Starscream seemed puzzled that it didn't look embedded in the ground.
"What? What is that?" He questions. " It looks like…a….a tower?"
As they come closer and closer…the spire begins to look bigger and more detailed in design. They can now see windows on the side of it. And a thicker attachment just at the base of it as it too begins to get larger in size with each step.
"A city?" Thundercracker now questions.
"Here? In the middle of the Arctic? What would aliens be doing planting a city smack dab in the middle of ice?" Rumble says gasping out of breath. "It's Impossible."
Megatron gives a smile and snickers at their stupid observations.
"Not impossible Rumble. Inevitable."
Archeville finally stops and looks at the others coming up as they notice that there is no more ground to step on. It is a huge dug out area, the deep pale green-blue glare of the ice shows the signs of being ancient in its depths. A massive glacier that goes all the way down. And at the bottom of this massive never ending dug out crater, sits a huge vessel of enormous bulk and length. The metal is faded and discolored from being in the ice all this time. The Decepticons all gazed at the sight of it and looked at one another curiously. But as Starscream peers at the ship he suddenly realizes what Megatron is now beginning to laugh out loud about.
"I don't believe it!" The jet commander blurts out.
"Behold, Project N." Archeville states as he holds out his hand in pride.
"Its…its…" Rumble stutters. "It's the Nemesis!"
Megatron continues to laugh in a rather insane manner, raising arms up in the air and clutching his fists, he keeps his eyes fixed on the tail fin of the ship with the massive Decepticon logo still slightly visible on the side of it. The Decepticon vessel they once lost millions of years ago was now back in their possession once again.