17
Nicholas Brunt was stuck in Jazz's alternate from with three rambunctious college students on their way to southern Nevada. Perfect. Nick tried to keep his cool just watching the road and holding the steering wheel in an iron grip. Why did Prime insist they ride together? It was ridiculous.
Optimus Prime and Ratchet had decided who would come and get the Allspark, and who would stay at base. Currently in their caravan were Optimus Prime, Jazz, Ironhide, Arcee, Prowl, Bumblebee, Skidplate, and Sideswipe. Stalk, Bulkhead, Strike, Grimlock, Blurr and Mirage had been confined to the base with Ratchet to help the latter build a ground bridge. Ratchet had insisted that they needed to get the ground bridge up and running as soon as possible, so he took as many Autobots as he needed for the task. Stalk had complained loudly, but Ratchet calmed her down by telling her she was his assistant.
"I knew the Allspark would be at Area 51! I knew it!" Heather called from the backseat. "Aliens do exist."
"You're sitting in one," Kiara pointed out.
Heather's cheeks reddened, "Well, I've been studying Area 51 since I was little."
"Have you?" Nick muttered sourly.
"I saw Bigfoot once!" Bruce blurted.
"You did?" Heather's eyes sparkled.
"I was in the woods, and something threw a rock at me. I looked in that direction and saw a big, dark shape with glowing yellow eyes. The eyes were about seven and a half feet off the ground. Much taller than I was. Then it lumbered off."
"I study conspiracies a little," Kiara said. She was sitting in the passenger seat. "Did you know John Wilkes Booth might have lived for forty more years after he killed Lincoln?"
"Really?" Heather breathed in disbelief.
"He killed Lincoln?" Bruce asked. Heather jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
"We're here," Nick sighed in relief. Five more minutes of this and he would've torn their throats out. The three kids snapped to attention.
"You sound irritated," Jazz's voice came from the dashboard.
"You have no idea," Nick muttered.
"I find their conversations quite interesting."
"Good for you," Nick growled. They were now passing a fence with a sign that said this was restricted land for Area 51. A collective breath was taken when the kids read the words: Deathly force may be used. "We'll be fine," he assured them. "I have clearance for this base."
"We don't," Heather reminded him.
"I'll take care of that," Nick said. Nevertheless, the kids sunk down in their seats as if they could avoid being seen.
After a couple minutes, a band of black cars with tinted windows surrounded them. Nick stopped the car, and all the Autobots did the same. He stepped out, talked to the main man, showed him his clearance badge, and was allowed through. The main guy wasn't happy about all the cars coming in, but Nick finally persuaded him to let them through. Nick got back in the car, and the black cars lead the way to Area 51.
"So," Bruce drawled, "these are friends of yours?"
"Acquaintances," Nick grumbled his knuckles white on the wheel. "I wouldn't go so far as friends. These guys are too uptight for my liking."
The rest of the trip was made in silence, though the trip wasn't too far. Finally, a large hanger came into sight. It looked like it could hold thirty private jets, but instead probably held a lot of alien equipment. Too bad they couldn't get the VIP tour.
"How many of those hangers are there on this site?" Kiara whispered.
"About twenty," Nick replied. "More are being planned out every day."
The black cars came to a stop, and so did the caravan of Autobots. For the sake of the humans, Jazz was in the front of the line with Optimus and the rest right behind. Nick unlocked the doors and stepped out. The teens decided to get out too and stay on the opposite side. Nick looked around and gestured for the kids to follow. The foursome approached a large group of men in either black business suits, or in more of the military camouflage look. All looked intimidating, and the kids lowered their gazes.
The leader of the group (they assumed) was the most intimidating. He was a large man, with graying black hair and hard, blue-gray eyes. He was dressed in a dark gray business suit with a crisp white shirt and a purple-blue tie. Nick came up right in front of the man, and the kids hung back.
"Nicholas Brunt," the strange man said stiffly, offering his hand.
"Silas Smyth," Nick said just as stiffly, taking the hand and pumping a couple times.
"Why have you come here, brought unauthorized children with you, and a huge group of unauthorized vehicles?" Silas' tone was as cold as his eyes.
"I've come here for item T38-502-FD2. You know the one I'm talking about. These children, and vehicles, are with me."
"That doesn't make it any better," Silas growled. "They'll have to be watched for the rest of their lives."
"They WILL be watched," Nick assured him, "by me."
Silas nodded disbelievingly, "You come with me. Everyone else stays here."
"No," Nick contradicted. "I'll bring Kiara and," his gaze swept over the Autobots, "Optimus. That should suffice."
"Fine," Silas groaned. "Come with me," he gestured to Nick, Kiara, and Bruce.
Nick laughed, "This isn't Optimus," he put a hand on Bruce's shoulder. He pointed to the large semi in the parking lot, "That is."
Silas' eyes gleamed questioningly. Suddenly, Optimus' alternate form split and shifted, and in a few seconds Optimus Prime was standing there in all his glory. The Autobot leader inclined his head to the head of Area 51, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Silas Smyth."
Silas was speechless for a moment. He tugged at his shirt collar as if it were tight on his neck. Finally he said, "Follow me." His voice was shaky. He turned and led the way through the huge compound with Nick, Kiara, and Optimus following behind.
They stopped at a hanger in the middle of the base. It seemed a little smaller than the other ones, at least width-wise. Silas opened the hanger doors and gestured for them to step inside. Kiara and Nick both gasped at what was inside.
Inside was a huge cube, five times larger than Optimus Prime. Odd hieroglyphs decorated every side of it, and Kiara had a sneaking suspicion that it was Cybertronian. Its surface was the color of tarnished silver. Prime's optics shone as he looked up at the creator of his race. He reached up and touched its tarnished silver surface. The whole cube shifted and collapsed onto itself innumerable times. Finally, it stopped when it was the perfect size to fit in the palm of Prime's hand.
"Is that safe?" Silas asked, pointing to Optimus.
"Completely," Nick replied, "in the hands of the Autobots. Now, lead us out of here and we'll get out of your hair."
As they walked back to the parking lot, Silas couldn't seem to keep his mouth shut. He acted annoyingly like Heather. "What was that in there?"
"That was an Autobot taking back its creator."
"Creator? Who are the Autobots? How did you get to know them? How did the kids find out about them?"
"Silas, please," Nick said sternly. "I'll give you a full debriefing when we get this taken care of."
"Fine," Silas agreed stiffly.
When they got back to the other Autobots, Optimus handed the Cube to Kiara and transformed. "Keep it safe," the Autobot leader told her.
"I will," she promised.
Optimus raised his voice, "Nick, Bruce, Kiara, and Heather, you may ride in any Autobot you choose." Silas stepped closer, "Mr. Smyth, thank you for your services. I hope to see you again soon." The Area 51 leader nodded. Kiara slung her leg over Prowl's seat and placed the Allspark in his sidecar. Heather jumped onto Arcee and jammed the helmet onto her head. Bruce raced over to Ironhide, and Nick slid into Sideswipe. "Autobots, roll out!"
Sideswipe led the way out. Kiara frequently checked the Cube to make sure it was safe. After they got out of Are 51, Optimus Prime took the lead.
After a while on the road, Kiara looked up and saw smoke trails in the sky. That was nothing new, but about three of them in the foothills of Colorado was a little odd. Suddenly, there was a crash in front of her, and she screamed. A huge, amorphous yellow mass landed directly in front of Optimus Prime. He braked and swerved, and the other Autobots screeched to a halt. Arcee was too close to the front, and had to transform to keep Heather safe.
An odd jet hovered in front of the yellow mass. It transformed into a huge, formidable-looking Cybertronian. From the look in his eyes, Kiara knew he wasn't friendly. He kicked the yellow mass out of the way, and Optimus transformed to meet him.
Kiara heard Jazz call Base on his con-link, "Ratchet, we need backup."
"Hello, Optimus Prime," the new 'con sneered. "I'd hoped this worthless mass of gold would crush you, but I had no such luck."
"Megatron," Prime replied, "are you here to take what we came for?"
"I sensed its presence the minute it left that horrible base." The tension was thick enough to cut with an energon sword, and Kiara placed a protective hand over the Cube. "Now, are you going to hand it over, or are we going to do this the hard way?" The whole Decepticon army came up behind him and transformed. The Autobots did the same, and the humans were herded behind the bulk of Ironhide.
Prowl leaned in close to them, "If Ratchet gets the ground bridge up in time, get behind Blurr and Mirage and don't stray from them. They'll be your bodyguards. If not, Ironhide and I will alternate." The humans all nodded, and Ironhide put himself between them and the Decepticons. Kiara kept a tight grip on the Allspark.
"You'll never get the Allspark, Megatron," Optimus looked primed for battle.
"Then it's the hard way," Megatron smiled malevolently. "Decepticons, attack!"