Ouch. Its been a long time since I've updated, hasn't it? Sorry to keep you all waiting. But here is Chapter 10 ^_^ My psychic powers told me I'd finally update today. And the powers never lie. (Somewhat of an inside joke. :P)
The third section was spawned from a conversation I had with Kibble Beast. I couldn't resist adding it into the story.
Oh. That reminds me. Have you read Kibble Beast's story "The Edge of Reason?" ...No? Then what on Cybertron are you waiting for?!?! Go read it! Now! Before you read this chapter!!! And review its epic awesomeness!
Now, since you've read her ingenious story, (because you DID read it, right?), please enjoy the chapter!
Artemis glared at the Seeker through the cage she was thrown in. "So I'm still stuck with you?" she asked Starscream, folding her arms across her chest.
Starscream shot her an equally contempt glare and turned around.
"Psh. Nice manners you have. You'd think after three days, you'd be a little friendlier."
The Seeker still ignored her.
"No wonder the other Decepticons had you guard me. Probably wanted you out of the way."
Starscream tensed at the comment but didn't turn around.
"Not like you could do much else but mindless tasks such as watching a pathetic little human anyway."
At this, Starscream snapped and spun, charging his cannon.
"Say that one more time, fleshling. I dare you."
"Aww, did I hit a nerve there, Screamy?" Artemis mocked, standing up. "You'll get over it."
Starscream slammed her cage into the wall, knocking her over. He then pressed his cannon to it so he could blow it and the annoying fleshy organic inside to smithereens.
Artemis just yawned and sat back up. "You don't want to do that."
Starscream's optics narrowed. "Oh, I think I do, fleshling."
"Well, if you're longing for a slow and painful death by Megatron, then yeah, I guess you do."
Starscream didn't answer her. She was right, though. Megatron warned him that she needed to be kept alive, or the Autobots wouldn't attempt to invade their base to retrieve her, therefore entering a trap that was being set for them. And if she should somehow die, Megatron promised to make the last few moments of his dramatically shortened life a living Pit. Slag it.
"I hate you," he growled, shutting his cannon off.
"Good. The feeling's mutual then," Artemis said lazily.
Starscream was cursing his luck. "Of all the fleshlings on this pathetic planet, I get stuck with this one." He threw something against the wall in his frustration. "Why can't you be scared of me like everyone else? Why can't you cower in fear every time I threaten to hurt you? WHY?"
Artemis smirked. Her plan was working. On the inside, she was indeed scared out of her mind. She was battered and bruised and starving from three days with no food, trapped by the enemy, and no real means of escape. Artemis was practically screaming in terror inside her head. But she wouldn't let that fear show. Instead, she built up every last bit of her courage and annoyed the gigantic evil alien robot because she heard Megatron order her to be kept alive. Now, if she could just drive the Decepticon crazy enough, her plan could work.
Ratchet was finishing up repairs on Prowl for the second time within a week. Anyone could tell how stressed the CMO was…he didn't complain once since Prowl was brought in, not even when Sunstreaker and Sideswipe arrived to Earth. Not that they really bothered Ratchet in the first place; they could tell something was wrong the moment they landed. The entire mood of the base was somber and subdued.
Optimus slowly opened the medbay doors. "How's Prowl?" he asked.
"He'll survive, at least. He's terribly weak at the moment, but with enough rest and energon he should be back to his old self soon enough," Ratchet replied tiredly.
Optimus was grateful for the news. "And how are you doing?"
"Tired, but functional." he sighed, making his exhaustion even more apparent. "This past year has been the toughest."
Optimus shuttered his optics. "This year's been hard for everyone." Then he looked to his CMO and added, "You're a great medic, Ratchet. We couldn't survive without you."
The CMO took the compliment with a small smile. "I'm just doing my job."
The commander returned the smile before leaving Ratchet to his work. He turned down the hallway towards the science laboratory.
"Perceptor, how are you doing?" Optimus asked, walking into the lab.
"The locator is almost finished. But we won't have any idea if it works unless we can test it," he replied, not looking up from his work.
Optimus nodded, understanding. "Where's Jetfire and Wheeljack?"
Perceptor set down his instruments and looked at his commander, a ghost of a smile twitching at his lips. "I had Jetfire distract Wheeljack for me. His Spark is in the right place, but in a situation this urgent I needed to work on this one alone…without any explosions."
Optimus would have laughed loudly at this statement had the situation been any less serious, but instead he only let out a small chuckle.
"There," Perceptor said finally. "Finished."
"We really need to find a way to test it first."
"I suppose if a human volunteer allowed us to implant some Cybertronian technology into them, they would give off the same energy signal as Artemis," the scientist mused.
Almost if on cue, Major Lennox appeared in the doorway. "Hey, I heard you need a volunteer to track?" he mentioned, walking into the lab. "Because I'm ready to help out if you need me."
Optimus looked at the human intently. "Are you sure you're up to this? The technology we implant in you will be permanent. And we don't know for sure what kind of side effects it will have."
"Absolutely. If Artemis can affect all of you so much, then she's definitely worth it. I'll do anything I can to get her back." he paused for a moment, looking up to Optimus. "I can tell by the look on your face she's like a daughter to you. I don't know what I'd feel like if I ever lost Annabelle, but I know I'd do anything and everything in my power to make sure she comes back safely."
Optimus smiled gratefully towards the Major's empathy. "Thank you," he said, holding a hand out for him to climb on. Major Lennox was then lifted up to a desk, where Perceptor was carefully preparing a small microchip.
"This chip will enhance your human senses slightly, and link you to our main computer system, where we can monitor your vitals from anywhere on this planet," Perceptor said, delicately holding a "small" needle between his forefinger and thumb. "This is something I've had for a while now. Its rather obsolete by Cybertronian terms, but I've held onto it just in case."
Lennox only nodded, eyeing the rather large needle determinedly.
Perceptor positioned the needle at the base of the Major's neck. "This will burn for the first few seconds, followed by a tingling sensation for about ten minutes. After that, the chip will have completely integrated with your body," the scientist informed him before injecting the microchip.
Lennox only flinched slightly as the chip was inserted beneath his skin. He immediately felt the burning, followed by the tingling sensation.
"Perceptor," Jetfire yelled from across the hall. "Wheeljack has something he wants to share with you."
"I'd better go check that out," Perceptor said, keeping a straight face. "I'll be back in ten minutes to test the signal tracking device."
"WHAT did I tell you, Starscream? I told you not to damage her!" Megatron seethed, glaring at his second in command. "These pathetic fleshlings are fragile, and the slightest amount of damage could kill her! And if she dies, the Autobots won't come barging into our base to get her, and won't fall into our trap! Making my endless planning useless!"
"B-but Lord Megatron! I didn't do anything-"
"You slammed her across the room! You're lucky she's still alive, imbecile," he growled, pointing to Artemis, who was curled up into a ball in apparent pain.
"But she was fine just a minute ago-"
Starscream's explanation was cut off by a swift punch to his face.
"I don't care, you idiot. Pull one more stunt like that again, and you're last moments will be the punishment of the millennium."
The Seeker stumbled backwards and fell, wincing at the pain. Artemis peered at Starscream, sprawled across the floor, and gave him an impish wink from behind Megatron's back.
"Lord Megatron! She's fine! Look! She just winked at me!" Starscream almost pleaded, pointing to Artemis accusingly.
Megatron narrowed his optics and turned to her. Artemis resumed her "in severe pain" act, curling up into a tight ball and whimpering softly. He studied the girl a few moments longer before turning to Starscream again, who was just standing back up.
"Interesting insight," Megatron said softly, eyeing his second in command.
Starscream looked relieved. "See? I was right-"
"Except you're wrong!" Megatron bellowed, grabbing the Seeker by his wings and throwing him across the room. He crashed into several shelves that collapsed around him.
"Don't fail me again, Starscream," Megatron finished, walking from the room.
Artemis couldn't help but chuckle. Her plan was working wonderfully. If things kept going this well, she could be back at the Autobot base long before they would come to get her.
Starscream, on the other hand, looked like he was about to go insane. He couldn't attack the girl. And he couldn't take out his frustration on his surroundings, or Megatron would accuse him of trying to attack the girl. He couldn't win.
Unless he somehow found a way to get away from the annoying fleshling…
He was jolted from his scheming by Artemis.
"Oh, that was wonderful!" she said, leaning against the bars of her cage. "I think my performance was award winning, don't you think?" She smirked at the death glare Starscream shot at her. "The whole 'pain' thing worked out perfectly too, since I really am injured, and Megatron's basic scanners picked it up. It's a good thing he doesn't know much about us fleshlings, besides the fact we die easily. Totally played into my plan."
"And where exactly are you going with this plan of yours?" Starscream asked through gritted teeth.
"Aw, you'll see soon enough Screamy," She smiled innocently. "Or maybe I just want to annoy the slag out of you."
Artemis took no small satisfaction when she heard the Seeker grumble quietly, "And its working horribly well."
The Autobots and humans gathered in the lab room, anxiously waiting to see if Perceptor's invention worked. Major Lennox sat on the edge of the desk, nervously kicking his feet. His senses were indeed much stronger and sharper than before. His hearing could pick up the whispers across the room like they were being said right next to him. He could feel minute vibrations all around him that he couldn't before. Everything was so intense…it was a little overwhelming for the soldier, but he didn't regret it at all.
"Okay…let's turn it on," Ratchet said, pressing a button on the device. It immediately started humming.
"Well? Does it work?" Jolt asked, looking from Lennox to Perceptor and Ratchet.
The two mechs working by the machine stared at the screen for a moment, then looked across the room at Lennox, and back to the screen again.
Finally, Ratchet and Perceptor looked up, unable to keep the smiles from their faces.
"It works."
Cheers erupted from the lab room from mech and human alike. They had a way to locate Artemis…even Ironhide, who had been unusually quiet the past three days, couldn't keep from feeling relieved.
"What's the plan, Optimus?" Jazz asked, walking up to the Prime.
"First, we need to set the range on the signal finder to find Artemis. Once we find her, we must proceed with caution. If she is indeed at the Decepticon base, they are no doubt setting a trap for us."
"They are sure to know that we'll come after her," Red Alert said, nodding. "And no matter how hard we try to stay out of their traps, we're sure to walk straight into the middle of one to save Artemis."
Optimus looked around the room. All faces were fixed on him, waiting for his orders to roll out. "This mission will be one of the most dangerous we've ever encountered. I can't guarantee that everyone will come back alive…I understand completely if anyone wants to stay behind, and no judgment will be placed upon you. But I for one will go for Artemis, even if it means facing certain death."
"What, you think we'll let you barge into the Decepticon base alone? You're out of your processor. I'm in," Jazz replied, stepping next to the commander.
"Us too," Sunstreaker said, taking his place next to Optimus with Sideswipe.
"Sunny and I can tell how important she is. We can't stay behind just because we haven't met her," Sideswipe added.
"You'll need a medic to save your afts during the battle. Primus knows you'll need me," Ratchet said, standing next to Jazz.
"And you'll need someone to operate the machine to find Artemis," Perceptor added.
"You won't have a chance of entering their base without someone counteracting their security systems," Red Alert stated, also walking over to Optimus.
"I can assist Ratchet and Perceptor if anything goes wrong. You need my backup," Jetfire said, standing next to Sideswipe.
"We may not be as strong as you, but we're just as willing to fight," Major Lennox said, taking his place with his team.
"We know how to fight them now. We have an upper hand we didn't have the first time," sergeant Epps added.
"We're also ready to fight," Bumblebee said, following Jolt over to the group.
"Wait. Who will watch Prowl? He's in no condition to fight," Ratchet asked.
"I can stay behind," Wheeljack replied. "I can help monitor everyone from here and let you know who may need help."
Everyone turned to look at the last mech on the other side of the room: Ironhide. He hadn't said a word, nor made a move to join the others.
"Ironhide. I understand if you don't want to come-"
"No," he said abruptly, clenching his fists. "I promised to always protect her." He shuttered his optics, thinking hard. "I have to go for her, even if she hates me."
Optimus nodded once in acknowledgement. "Just take care of yourself out there, old friend," he said quietly. He then turned to face his group of soldiers. "Autobots, Major Lennox," he nodded. "It has been an honor fighting with you all. Your courage and determination is something I cannot thank you enough for." Optimus paused, gathering himself before giving the command that would almost certainly send someone to their death.
"Autobots, roll out!"
Oooh, is that foreshadowing I see? You'll have to wait and find out. *impish grin*
Yes. I just had to have Megs abuse Screamer. It was too fun to pass up.
Okay, but now I have a question to pose to you all. Where the story currently is, I can end it in the next 3 or so chapters, or I can continue it for longer than that. I have ideas for both.
So, do you want me to get to the uberly awesome climax of the story? Or do you want me to keep writing this story for longer than that?
Let me know. I'll go with the majority decision here.
*cough* Oh, and review please. I don't know what kind of incentive I can offer you this time, but please. Review. ^_^