Chapter 20 – To The Rescue

The sun continues to glare on the icy snow covered surface of the polar north. The cold, barren, wintry wasteland remains still as the wind howls about and brushes over it without being able to stir any of the snow up from the ground. The faint sound of vehicles gear shifting and crushing the surface with their tires now becomes louder as we soon see Optimus Prime and the other Autobots driving through the valley. The convoy of car transformers lined up in single file behind each other as they make a steady roadway for all to follow. Suddenly, Optimus Prime comes to a halt and quickly transforms as he notices the horizon ahead. The other Autobots soon stop as they all transform back into robot mode and look upon the leader with a curious gaze.

"What is it Optimus?" Brawn asks.

"Hey ya man!" Jazz says as he walks up. "Why are we stoppin'?"

"My sensors are picking up a massive object dead ahead." The leader replies as he squints. "And believe me…you don't need them to spot that over there.'

The leader points to the crest of the horizon and shows them the faint tower of the ship's bridge sticking up like a building in the distance.

"Is…is that what I think it is?" Prowl gasps.

"The Decepticons ship…" Wheeljack nods. "The Nemesis. I'd recognize that hull configuration anywhere. This is bad."

The purple-hued metal was faded and looking rather run down, but Prime could make out the features with little effort. It suddenly dawned on him of the meaning of Archeville's secret plan, it was so blatantly obvious, he could have struck himself in the head for not thinking of is sooner.

"Project N…" Prime scowls. "N for Nemesis. What a fool I've been, if humans were able to discover our ship…then obviously they would have discovered theirs as well."

Bumblebee runs up ahead to have a look and turns back to Optimus as he looks at him with sympathy.

"I'll admit this is kinda bad on our part…but don't blame yourself Optimus. You or any of us couldn't have known the humans would find this thing so easy."

"But they did Bumblebee…they did." Prime sighs. "And now Megatron has the means of getting home."

"But it's not too late to stop him Prime." Ironhide says clutching his fist. "The ship is bound to be in need of major repairs…just like ours was when we were discovered."

"He's got a point there Optimus." Ratchet shrugs as he looks at the distant ship. "Our systems needed maintenance just to get the computers working to spec. I doubt theirs is in any better condition."

"What are we waiting for?" Cliffjumper shouts as he takes out his hand weapon. "I say we go in there and take them all out! We've got to catch them while they don't have it up and running Optimus!"

Prime paces back and forth as he rubs the back of his head.

"True. But I don't want to dash in there at full throttle without knowing what he has got operating. Besides, we've got friends trapped in there…and I know Megatron, he'll use them as leverage. Just like he did during the skirmish in the city of Vectron Major. We lost a lot of good friends because of that massacre…"

Cliffjumper lowers his head in remembrance.

"I'll say. That was just before the mission to take out Megatron's Energon depot on the second moon. Grimlock was just itchin' for some payback after what he done to our guys in Vectron Major. Grimy…my buddy…that was one tough son of a transformer I'll never forget. That's two counts I owe Megatron for killin' my friends."

Prime walks over and places his hand on the small red Autobot's shoulder.

"Don't blind yourself to the anger of what he did Cliffjumper. I too grieve for our fallen soldiers, but to rush in without knowing what waits for us is how mistakes are made. A lesson we've learned in the past and best not repeat again."

"Yeah…I…I guess your right Prime." The little red robot nods as he looks up at he leader. "But we can't just sit here while they get that ship ready."

Optimus Prime steps away from the group and folds his arms as he thinks.

"Indeed. We need to figure out a way to get inside, rescue Spike and Sparkplug and then blow that oversized wreck to pieces. But I can't think of a way of getting past them without being detected. I'm open for suggestions."

The group of Autobots all begin to think hard as they mutter to one another about what to do.

"What about this..." Smokescreen suggests. "Prowl, Sliverstreak and I create a diversion and then you guys drive right into the side of that ship and blast your way through each level?"

"Man that's the worst idea I've ever heard." Blaster moans. "Where you just here now when Optimus said no going in guns blazing?"

Windcharger snaps his fingers in realization and smiles.

"I got it! So we can't rush over there to get them? But who says we can't go under to get them?"

Huffer starts to share in the idea and laughs.

"That's a great idea! We can dig under the ice and make a tunnel all the way over to the ship's hull at the base."

"But we'd have to tunnel a fair ways down and there's not telling how thick that ice is below us." Wheeljack states. "Don't forget this is just a frozen ocean right? There's bound to be areas where the ice is weak and we'd all fall into the depths."

"I say just let us smaller bots go in then." Windcharger observes. "That way the tunnel won't be as big and we can move about without being detected by the Decepticons."

Optimus Prime taps his fingers as he rests his arms together. Taking a look back at the distant ship and then at Windcharger again, the leader nods reluctantly.

"Alright…we'll give this plan a shot. But the minute it becomes too dangerous or the ice gives way…head back immediately. I don't want you all to become frozen residence of this place."

Windcharger smiles and then takes his pick of those going with him.

"Bumblebee, Brawn, Huffer…you're with me guys."

"Wait!" Cliffjumper interrupts. "I want to go too."

Windcharger looks up at the leader and shrugs.

"How bout it Optimus? We could use him."

Prime walks over to the small red transformer and places his hands on side in a relaxed manner.

"Oh…very well. I hear by return you to active duty again Cliffjumper. But remember to keep that trigger finger in check…we don't want mistakes to be made."

"Don't worry Optimus." The small robot smiles back at him. "I won't let my ego get in the way of the mission."

Brawn transforms into his Land Rover Range Rover mode and converts his front headlights into two spinning drills.

"Ok enough of the talk. Let's get this show on the road!"

Brawn positions himself to the ground and drills through the ice and snow. Bumblebee, Windcharger, Huffer and Cliffjumper all transform. The group of small cars follows the green-yellow Land Rover down into the hole he's creating at a rapid pace. As they disappear from sight, Optimus Prime turns to the others standing around and gives them assignments.

"Prowl, Smokescreen, Sliverstreak…you three will be diversion once Windcharger and the others have Spike and his dad. Bluestreak, Jazz, Hound, Sunstreaker you'll cover the left side as we go in. Sideswipe, Ratchet, Ironhide…you're with me on the right. Red Alert, Inferno, Blaster…you take the middle and find a spot to keep a look out for us. The minute they radio in…give us a signal to begin our attack."

"Rodger that Prime!" Blaster salutes.

"Let's move on out Autobots." The leader commands. "Transform and roll out!"

The entire group converts simultaneously and proceeds to drive towards the ship in single file again.

••••••••••••••••••••••

Deep below the surface ice, Brawn continues to tunnel through, as Windcharger keeps close behind him. Huffer, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee keep a good space between as they maintain a good slow speed behind the others.

"Am I heading the right way ol' buddy or am I off course?" Brawn asks.

"My scope says you're on the money Brawn." Windcharger answers back. "Just keep level and don't move too quick."

"Hey Huffer?" Bumblebee shouts from the back of the line. "I was just thinkin'…"

"That's dangerous for a young upstart like you." The orange flat-nosed rig chuckles.

"Yeah, yeah…" The yellow Volkswagen beetle sighs. "What do you think Wheeljack's interest in dinosaurs is? I mean, he's always talking about them non-stop."

"Who cares!" Huffer shouts back. "He's got Dinos on the brain…what can I say? Never could figure out that guy…it's like he's always thinking constantly. But never on the task at hand."

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Which is what you should be doing right now." Huffer says to him again.

Brawn continues to drill at a steady pace and shivers abit as he works.

"Man, I never thought my chassis would be this cold…I hope I never see ice like this ever again."

"We could be on this planet for some time." Windcharger points out to him. "Never say never…it's bad luck."

"Bad luck." Brawn moans. "I tell ya…if we accidentally run into those Decepti-creeps I'll show them what bad luck is all about."

"Less yappin' guys…more drillin'!" Cliffjumper shouts.

Brawn snickers at his comment.

"Well, well…look who's trying to be mister professional all of a sudden? Guess being stripped of rank smacked some common sense into that crazy wired brain of yours."

"Cool it guys! We've got to focus." Windcharger commands.

"You had to say cool didn't ya?" Bumblebee giggles.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Inside the massive Decepticons ship, Archeville, Chip Chase, Spike and Sparkplug continue to sit and watch Ravage keep pace around them. The cold red energized eyes staring right through them as it growls constantly.

"Hey Chip." Spike whispers to the young man sitting opposite to him. "Look, I'm sorry I chewed you out earlier."

"It's ok Spike." Chase says closing his eyes. "I probably deserved it. You were right anyway…it was all about being the world's greatest hacker. Guess this is my punishment for being so arrogant in the first place."

Spike inches closer to him and keeps an eye on the black robotic panther moving about.

"So tell me, you've been working on these computers of theirs all this time right?"

"Yeah?" Chip nods. "Why?"

"So you know pretty much the codes and the command functions of this thing right?"

"Where is this going Spike?" The young man asks him.

"Maybe you can send a message to the Autobots without them knowing about it."

Chip looks over at Ravage and at Skyfire standing near the entry doors as he keeps his eye fixed on them as well.

"And how do you propose we go about doing this? We've got the killer kitty and the jolly white giant eyeing us all the time."

"Well, maybe if we create a distraction…"

"Don't you even try it boy!" Archeville sudden speaks as he overhears their conversation. "I'll alert them to whatever you're planning. So forget it."

"You would." Chip snarls at him. "All this time I thought you were just trying to keep the technology from falling into the wrong hands…now I can see your as insane as these killing machines."

"They're not insane Chip. And neither am I…I see everything so clearly…just as they do."

Sparkplug snickers at him.

"Give me a break Doc. That glass you're looking through is just as clouded as their judgment is."

Ravage growls loudly at them again as he notices them getting overly chatty, the group quickly grows silent once more as they continue to sit. Skyfire had heard their conversation as well, even at such a distance from them; he could still make out their entire chat. His mind was racing on what was true and what was not. Being in that ice for all this time might have fried some of his circuitry, but he was beginning to doubt the Decepticons we not as they appeared to be. He tapped his upper lip in thought and soon left the room to search out Starscream to help him in this difficult time. They had been friends for many years in the past, always relying on each other for wisdom and guidance. As he walked down the ruined corridor, he stepped over the many shattered bodies of the Decepticon soldiers that had been deactivated all this time. Gazing upon their lifeless faces, he wondered if he had done the right thing about leaving Cybertron in a time of great crisis.