3 hours and 58 minutes until detonation.
Arcee finally managed to shake the MECH pursuers in an incident that involved some fancy driving and a soda truck. Now that they were free, she could now head to the edge of town and catch a bridge to base, drop off her partner to his ever-worrying mother, and help Optimus free her comrades from the clutches of a madman.
At least, in theory. In practice, a little thing called reality tends to mess up the best written plans.
One of the most hated sounds she'd ever heard reached Arcee's audio receptors. It was the sound of an approaching helicopter. Tilting her rearview mirrors, the Autobot was greeted by the less-then welcoming sight of a boxy, purple and black copter.
"Really?" Jack exploded. Apparently, the boy only lost his cool when confronted by the being who wanted his head on a stand, never mind the elite terrorist organization. Then again, most other people would probably wet their pants after nearly being decapitated. "Does she always have to be around?"
"Airachnid," Arcee snarled.
"Airachnid!" shrieked June. "She's there?"
"Unfortunately," responded Arcee grimly.
"It was probably only a matter of time until they caught wind of us," grunted Ratchet. "Considering the fact that we've been moving to and fro for so long and with such urgency."
"Arcee, are you in the clear?" Optimus's voice rumbled.
Arcee checked her surroundings, as she pulled off an expressway ramp onto a relatively quiet street. "Not yet. Give me about six minutes, tops."
"We don't have six minutes," Jack broke in. "Look."
On the underside of Airachnid's alt-mode, a boxy section was opening revealing four darkly tipped missiles.
As usual, Jack and Arcee were in such sync, they were able to simultaneously sum up the situation and their frustration perfectly. "Oh, for the love of Primus."
"Optimus, we can shake off the spider, but you need to get to Bulkhead and Bumblebee. We're running out of time."
"Understood." In the silo, Optimus turned to Ratchet. "Have you located Bulkhead's and Bumblebee's signature?"
"I'm afraid so," responded Ratchet. "Either MECH doesn't have shielding, or they want us to find them. Meaning it is most certainly a trap."
"I fear you are right, old friend." Optimus's optics narrowed. "Silas has proven numerous times he has no respect for the life of others, be they organic or machine. It is time to defeat him once and for all. Ratchet, fire up the ground bridge."
The hum of energy filled the silo, and the ground bridge opened in a halo of multicolored light. Optimus nodded to the other occupants of the room before squaring his mighty shoulders and walking through the portal.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Silas stood calmly in the mouth of the open warehouse, watching the glowing tear in time and space. Everything as coming to fruition. Soon his dreams of control would come true and everything he ever wanted would be at his fingertips.
Sanchez stood at his side, squinting at the glowing gap. "Why aren't your men aiming their guns?"
"All in good time, my acquaintance, all in good time."
A broad silhouette appeared through the gap. The shape soon acquired color and MECH stood silently as Optimus Prime emerged, weapons online and ready.
"Silas." The Prime's transportation disappeared, and his faceplates lid in place. "It is time for you to answer for your crimes against Autobots and the innocents of your species."
"Save the humanitarian speech, Mr. Prime." Silas's face was seemingly blank and devoid of emotion, yet Optimus could see the evil glint of smug victory in his eyes. "I suspect everyone has already heard it before. But since you have confirmed my belief of your lacking ability to sacrifice, I offer you a choice."
The MECH leader snapped his fingers, and a grunt came forth, dragging a struggling Raf with him.
Optimus's weapon began to power up. "Release him Silas."
Silas mockingly appeared to think about it. "Hmm…I really don't think so, Prime. You came here to free you're comrades, but I think you'll find my plan more…persuading. You will contact your base, and send for a bridge. Upon arrival of the bridge, you will order any remaining troops and civilians, save the bridge operator, out of the base, so that my men and I may enter in relative safety.
"Should you refuse to comply, I will order my men to execute Ms. Nakadai and Mr. Rodgers, both who are currently in an undisclosed location. And should you attempt any trickery…"
The grunt that held Raf was handed a metal cylinder and a harness. It was the E-bomb.
Optimus could only watch helplessly as two grunts held the boy still, while a third strapped the bomb and harness on his back securely.
"…Mr. Esquivel's intelligent brain will splatter the wall. And for a small demo, I introduce you to the amount of control I currently have over this situation."
Silas took a small remote out of his pockets as the grunts roughly turned Raf around so that the timer faced the Autobot leader. Silas tapped in a code in pressed a button.
On the bomb, the ticking timer suddenly stopped, and went blank. After a second the numbers reappeared, only there were far less than before. All that remained now was a one and two zeros.
A single minute.
Optimus's optics widened horror. Silas noticed his reaction and chuckled. "Oh do not fret, Mr. Prime. That number is simply the standby amount. It was the failsafe should the bomb be sabotaged and needed quick detonation. The timer is still counting down from original time. Should I type in a certain code, any remaining time shall be reduced to one minute and began the countdown to there. Now that you know what you are truly up against, I suggest you contact your base. Now."
Optimus glared at him for a second before his shoulders slumped. Pressing the side of his helm, Optimus wearily and reluctantly contacted base. "Ratchet, send forth a groundbridge."