Chapter 4
Making it Happen
Knockout was busy in the Nemesis med bay, finishing the final touches of Megatron's new device, when said mech walked in. He'd sent him the human's brainwave scan results, first thing, and received an outline of the device he was holding now. Using the rest of the data he'd collected, from other scans and a few blood tests, he was able to construct and carefully craft a mind control band.
"Is it ready?" Megatron demanded.
"Yes, and to your exact specifications." Knockout said, as he handed his leader the device, feeling pleased with himself.
"Excellent." Megatron gazed at the small ring, fitted for a human head, in his hand. "And our patient?"
"By my estimations he should be waking soon." The red mech said, turning to the small creature occupying the examination table. Indeed he was beginning to stir.
"Good." Megatron stated, walking to stand beside the berth, so the youngling would have no trouble seeing him. He set the plain looking silver band over the dark haired head, and watched as it warped, and shrank, fitting snug like a crown, it wouldn't be coming off now. The human groaned, opened his eyes once, then quickly shut them, and opened them again carefully.
Knockout observed as the boy's eyes cleared, saw as he recognized the Decepticon leader, and watched as the fear, when he realized his situation, was buried under an expressionless face in an attempt at bravery.
"Hello, Jack." His leader took sadistic pleasure in getting a reaction from the human as he leaned in leering at him, "I hope you enjoy our hospitality. We wouldn't want you to leave unsatisfied."
The human's facial color faded a bit, an effect of fear, if Knockout remembered correctly. Still, the boy seemed to find some inner strength, as he gazed at the Decepticon leader fiercely.
"Whatever it is you want, Megatron, I'm not giving it to you." He growled, it was cute really, as the sports car watched in amusement.
The Decepticon leader chuckled, "My dear pet, you won't have to give me anything, because I already have it."
The human recoiled slightly, his eyes widening in understanding, then narrowing in a second.
"We'll see about that!" The child snapped.
He brought his small hands together, and as the two mechs watched, one in anticipation the other in wonder, lightning gathered between them. Just as it was about to be thrown, Megatron spoke.
"Heel, boy!"
Jack yelped, as sudden pain lanced through his head, at Megatron's command. It faded quickly, but caused him to lose concentration, and the electricity between his fingers disappeared. His skull hurt from the pounding before, and that shock hadn't helped, so he reached up trying to sooth it. His fingertips brushed metal, and he felt his heart stop, as he felt out what it was. A metal band encircled his head, it wasn't uncomfortable or too tight, but it wouldn't come off with the few tugs he gave it.
"You will not attack your master." Megatron hissed sternly. Jack looked up at him in defiance.
"The slag I won't." He shouted, and tried gathering energy again.
Nothing happened.
Jack couldn't help staring in confusion, "What?" He stuttered looking down at his hands.
Megatron grinned gleefully and turned to the mech behind him, "Knockout, you've outdone yourself." He said, and Knockout bowed.
"Thankyou, Lord Megatron." He replied gratefully, "As you can see whatever command you give him he can't disobey, a slave worthy of you."
"Not yet, no. But soon he will be." Megatron laughed aloud and Jack backed away in terror. Where were the Autobots? How was he going to get out of here?
'Optimus,' Jack thought desperately.
'Please, help me!'
As Miko took her time mopping, she watched the activity around her. Raf, Ratchet, Optimus, and Bumblebee had put their collective heads together passing and rejecting plans back and forth. Agent Fowler was on his cell, pulling strings with his contacts, in an attempt to use human means to locate the Nemesis. Bulkhead was over trying to comfort June and he would glance in her direction now and then knowing how annoyed she was, and Arcee was wandering the base.
The Japanese girl glanced at the mop she was using in frustration. Miko knew she couldn't exactly contribute, she didn't understand Cybertronian systems or computers as much as Raf, and even though she could have given a few ideas, with the speed the three mechs and human boy were going she couldn't have kept up for long. She looked at the four again, their rapid fire conversation had long gone over her head. She turned her gaze towards Fowler, she didn't have anyone she could call for aid, although it looked like he wasn't getting any results either.
Big surprise.
Glancing back at Bulkhead, he seemed to be doing well talking with June, keeping her distracted. Miko sighed, she understood the mopping was Ratchet's way of keeping her busy, so the waiting would be easier, but it made her think too much and that made it worse. She stared off down the inner corridor of the base, where Arcee had gone, she didn't think the femme bot should be alone right now.
Miko looked back at the command room before a determined expression crossed her face. She set the bucket and mop aside and went searching for Arcee. Because the base wasn't very big it didn't take long to find her. The motorcycle femme sat on some crates, staring at the floor, lost in whatever world had captured her attention.
"Arcee?" The femme glanced up at the human female.
"I know you're worried about Jack." Miko climbed up on the boxes and sat beside her. They stayed like that in silence for a moment.
"I should have brought him to the base or with me. At least then I'd know he was safe." Arcee stated berating herself.
"And Jack should have remembered to take his cellphone when he left." Miko countered, the femme bot looked at her in surprise.
"Truth is," The girl sighed, "You can't blame yourself and you can't even really blame Jack. You can't think about the what ifs." The femme bot continued to stare at her so she continued, "When Bulkhead almost lost his memory because of me I did that even after he was fine. I couldn't get over the guilt and it was driving me crazy."
"What did you do about it?" Arcee couldn't help asking curiously, she hadn't thought Miko still felt that way afterwards. The outgoing girl was always so energetic.
"I let it sit until my mother asked me about it, my real mother." Miko said.
"I asked her, how do you get over feeling guilty after you hurt someone you care about?" Miko gazed up at her.
"She said, 'By way of forgiveness, tender love and care, and thinking of what you can do for them when they need you." She finished.
Arcee's optics widened, and her mouth opened in amazement, as she thought about it. Miko was right, and her mother was right, Jack did need her and she wasn't doing him any good sitting here consumed by her thoughts. The femme bot looked at the female beside her.
"Thank-you, Miko." She said, and stood up. "Come on, let's get back to the others."
When they arrived, the group had assembled around the main computer, they looked up as the two walked in.
"There you are." Ratchet said, "I was just about to call you. We're ready to begin Optimus." He passed attention to the Prime who took a breath before beginning.
"As you all know, our human friend, Jack, was kidnapped by the Decepticons earlier today." Was it really just that morning? It felt longer to Miko.
"After careful considerations and planning we have devised a way to retrieve him." Optimus continued, "I am going to call Megatron out. Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Arcee will accompany me to face him."
"So how is this going to work?" Miko asked,
"We're going to try slapping a tracer on one of the Decepticons so they'll lead us right to their ship." Ratchet held up the bug in question, a tiny disk, with a transmitter in the center, no bigger than his two fingers.
"Are you sure this will work, Prime?" Fowler asked.
"Megatron will not ignore a direct challenge. His pride as a Decepticon won't allow it." The tall mech assured.
"So we'll call him out, and when he shows up, we put the snitch on him, I like it!" Miko exclaimed.
"But I do not." Ratchet said as he turned to his leader.
"Optimus, you know this plan is extremely risky and if it fails Jack will have no hope of rescue." Miko didn't like the sound of that and felt an idea take hold of her. She stayed quiet though, the Autobots wouldn't approve she knew.
"I know well what I'm asking you all and the risks involved, but this is the only plan we have, that won't endanger everyone more than necessary." Optimus gazed at them all a flame of determination in his optics.
"And we must not fail. For Jack's sake."
Megatron stood back from the human before him, grinning smugly, with satisfaction. After ensuring his forced obedience, the mech began programming the boy, with commands that would ensure his loyalty to him. Now, he had finished, and his unwilling human pet was ready for a field test. Soundwave walked in just then.
"Ah, Soundwave what news have you for me?" Megatron asked. The silent mech's visor switched to an audio stream played on an open frequency.
"Megatron," Prime's voice came through, "I know that you are listening and I know what you have done. I am calling you out to face me to answer for your crimes."
Megatron smiled wide, all teeth, as Soundwave's visor plate displayed location coordinates to somewhere in the desert.
"So, Prime seeks to challenge me, does he?" Megatron glanced in Jack's direction, "I think it time I revealed my little surprise." He chuckled.
"The fool won't know what hit him. I can't wait to see the shock on his face, when he falls at my feet, thanks to you, my pet." He patted Jack's head.
The poor boy could only watch with sinking dread.
AN: I'm evil, mwuahahahahaha :)