Author's note. The kids have a plan but so does Sideways. Find out what happens when these plans come together.
Enjoy and please review.
For the next couple of days the kids did their best to please their guardians, working hard in school and at their chores. They did not try to sneak off with Billy and Fred as the Decepticons still stalked them whenever they left the safety of the base. But what Optimus and the other Autobots didn't know was that Alexis, Rad and Carlos were spending all of their spare time researching possible Minicon locations.
"Anything?" Alexis asked as she cooked a light meal for the three of them while Rad and Carlos sat at a computer. They shook their heads and Alexis turned but to the cooker, slightly disappoint but still hopeful.
"It's ready," she called a short time later and Carlos rushed to join her at the table. Rad indicated that he would join them in a moment. Rad stared at the screen, feeling slightly defeated. Now of the leads they had found had led to anything despite how hard they had searched. But then he spotted something at the bottom of his search engine.
"The Jade shield of the Inca," he murmured. He clicked onto the site and started to read the information of the article. And the more he read the more excited he became. There weren't any photos of what it, there was an illustration of what it was supposed to look like. And though it looked exactly like a dormant Minicon, even the colours were right.
"Guys," he said, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. They stared at him as he spun in his seat to face them, his face shining. "I think I've found one."
"A Minicon?" Carlos yelped jumping to his feet followed by Alexis who cried out.
"Where is it?"
"In the Western part of South America, in the rainforests of Peru," said Rad, shifting to allow them to see the article. "It was a priceless artefact that was lost about three hundred years ago. Archaeologists believe it is hidden in one of the many hidden temples in the jungles of Peru."
His eyes shone as they all stared at one another in delight at their discovery.
"It might take a bit of time to locate, but it's a lead, I'm sure Optimus and the others will be able to find it," said Rad proudly.
"And we're sure it's a Minicon?" said Carlos, checking the screen again. "It'd be awful to send them on a wild goose chase."
"Everything points to it being the real deal," Alexis declared, scrolling down all the relevant information.
"Come on," she said, grabbing their hands. "We have to tell Optimus about this."
They fairly charged through the corridors of the base. Hotshot leapt out of their way as they raced past.
"Whoa, kids, what's the rush?" he asked bemused as they sped down the corridor.
"We've got great news for Optimus," Alexis called over her shoulder.
Optimus stared in surprise as the kids raced into the control room where he and Jetfire were going over tactics. He took in their shining faces and knew something was up.
"Kids, what's going on?" he asked as they ran onto the outstretched hand he offered. Once they were on the table, Carlos immediately cried.
"We found one Optimus, we found a Minicon."
"What?" both Optimus and Jetfire exclaimed.
"How'd you do that?" asked Jetfire in disbelief.
"It was Alexis's idea, she thought we could research possible Minicon locations," explained Rad as Alexis blushed.
"I wanted to make it up to you Optimus," she said softly. "For making you worry when you've been so good to us. We thought this would be the best way. Are you pleased?"
In answer Optimus took then in his hand once again and gently hugged them.
"Yes Alexis, I am very pleased, this is great news. So where is the new Minicon?"
They explained about Peru causing Optimus to look very thoughtful. Carefully setting the kids down, he pulled the appropriate file from the computer and he and Jetfire examined it. After a few minutes, Optimus turned back to the kids, his optics twinkling as he said.
"It looks like you're right kids, I'm sure there's a Minicon there, I'm very proud of you."
The kids beamed at his praise as Optimus became thoughtful.
"However, it will obviously recover quite a bit of searching, hopefully we'll be able to pick up a signal once we reach the location."
"At least you'll have a head start on the Decepticons," Alexis piped up.
"Yeah man. And maybe you'll find it before they even realise what you're up to," Carlos said enthusiastically.
Optimus smiled down at Carlos as he shook his head slightly.
"I'm afraid Megatron is bound to notice what we're up to but at least we'll have a head start. Call Scavenger and the others Jetfire, please."
"Right away boss," said Jetifire as he turned on the base comm.
"Kids while I'm very grateful for what you've done and have no problem with you helping us plan," he gave a small sigh before continuing. "I'm afraid you're punishment still stands and you will not be allowed to accompany us."
"We understand and we weren't expecting you to take us with you," said Rad. "Besides we've still got school tomorrow."
"Optimus, how are we going to get home if you guys are going to be away?" Carlos asked, remembering seeing Starscream shooting overhead as they had left school that day.
"I will send Red Alert to collect you at the usual time, then he can return if need be," replied Optimus.
"We can monitor you guys," Alexis suggested to which Optimus agreed. The rest of the evening was spent making plans. Rad, Carlos and Alexis were delighted to be included in them, and all three fairly glowed with pride as they were complemented on their discovery. They didn't mind not going, they were just concerned with regaining their guardians complete trust.
They went to bed that night, happy and content excited by the prospect of the nest day when they would be able to watch the Autobots retrieve the Minicon from the safety of the base. Little did they know, it would be their last night.
Somewhere in the mountains.
Sideways smiled, he had finally arrived back on Earth after his long journey. A journey that had gone very well, very well indeed and all he had to do now was wait. But that wait wouldn't be long, he could feel it in his very processor that it wouldn't be long till the Autobots and the Decepticons clashed.
He lightly fingered the locked crate he held that contained the key to the success of his plan. His smile broadened, his master would be very pleased once he learned of what Sideways had done. The Autobot and Decepticon fight would continue for a while now, long enough so that his master could regain his strength at long last. And then they would strike.
But not yet, the time for still a ways off, and besides the plan he had for taking out certain Autobot members would not be permanent. Optimus would need to be restored eventually, because Megatron needed his nemesis to fuel his rage and purpose. In the meantime however, well we'll just have to wait and see how this pans out thought Sideways as he melted from view.
"Wow, I'm still can't believe it, you guys actually found a Minicon," Billy exclaimed while Fred looked on in awe.
"Yeah it's cool, man and Optimus and the others were totally impressed," said Carlos proudly as they walked out of the school building.
"Hey guys," Alexis said to Billy and Fred. "Optimus said you could come over if you like and keep us company."
"Awesome," said Billy as Fred gave a huge grin. They found Red Alert waiting for them and they all clambered in. Carlos glanced around the street but couldn't see any of the Decepticons. Almost as though he had read Carlos's mind, Red Alert said.
"The Deceptions turned up a couple of hours ago, that's why none of them are here."
"How's the search going?" asked Rad.
"Not bad, we've narrowed the location down so it shouldn't be more than an hour or so till we actually find it. Trouble is, this the Deceptiocns have showed up, it feels as if we've done all the hard work for them."
"Don't say that," said Alexis. "You'll find that Minicon and get it home."
"Let's hope so Alexis" Red Alert replied as he continued to drive towards the base. Once there, the kids went with him to the Warp Room where he warped away to join the other Autobots. The kids wondered to the Control Room to watch the ongoing battle. It was difficult at times to tell what was happening because of the thick jungle and its substantial vegetation.
"Oh no," Alexis cried some time later. "Starscream's got into the temple."
The Autobots and Decepticons had finally fought their way to an overgrown Inca temple where the Minicon was hidden. While Optimus and Megatron had fought high above the entrance, Starscream had managed to swoop past them and had entered the temple.
"It's alright," yelled Rad. "Hot Shot's gone in after him with Perceptor."
But at that moment, LaserBeak was hit by Cyclonus and sent flying. The kids groaned, now they couldn't see what was happening. But then they saw something that froze their hearts as LaserBeak stopped spinning and came to rest on a branch.
"Sideways," Rad whispered as they watched the mysterious transformer that was neither Autobot nor Decepticon make his way stealthily towards the fighting transformers.
"Optimus," Carlos yelled into the comm. "It's Sideways, he's there. Optimus?"
He turned to them, his face set in extreme worry.
"The comm's not responding something's jamming it" he said in alarm. They all watched in mounting horror as Sideways got steadily closer to their friends and it was clear neither side was aware that he was stalking them.
"What's that?" Billy suddenly said pointing at the screen. Now that Sideways was closer they could see that he was carrying some sort of small box. And whatever was in it could not be good.
"Optimus, Optimus," Carlos was still yelling into the communicator, desperately trying to raise Optimus, but to no avail.
"We have to get out there, Sideways is up to something and Optimus and the others have no idea he's there. By the time they do," Rad broke off as he, Alexis and Carlos started to running for the door.
"But Optimus told you to stay here," yelled Billy as Fred cried "You'll get into such trouble."
"We don't care, we won't let them get hurt," Alexis yelled defiantly. "You guys stay here and monitor things."
Not waiting to hear their replies, the three kids raced from the room and charged down the long corridors to the Warp Room. As soon as they were there, they set the coordinates and within a few moments disappeared.
Megatron stood with an incredible air of smugness as he surveyed Prime who was standing just in front of him, looking very annoyed. Why? Because in Megatron's grasp was the Minicon shield which the Autobot's had worked so hard to find. Starscream had beaten HotShot and Perceptor to it and had managed to hand it to Megatron who was just taking a moment to gloat. He really did enjoy getting one over the Autobot leader.
"Well its looks like I've won Optimus," he smirked, taking in Prime's mud splattered appearance. "So nice of you to find this Minicon especially as its signal hadn't activated."
Prime gave him slight glare but replied calmly.
"You've won this time Megatron, unlike last time."
"Oh no you don't, Optimus, you're not going to bait me," Megatron said before sneering. "Speaking of the last battle, I see those little brats aren't here. A little too sore, perhaps?"
That managed to rile Prime as he looked very annoyed now, but to his credit refused to respond to the jibe. Instead he said coolly.
"For your information Megatron it was the kids who found this Minicon's location."
"Ahh, what a shame it was all to naught," Megatron sneered in a falsely sorrowful voice. There was no way he was leaving yet, not when he could savour the victory right in front of Prime and taunt him about it.
What neither he nor Optimus or indeed any of the transformers realised was that Sideways had them firmly in his sights. Selecting his targets, he whispered into the crate the coordinates before releasing the contents. Three glowing orbs rose and starting floating in the direction of Optimus Prime, Scavenger and HotShot, slowly picking up speed. A sudden mist had appeared and was now starting to obscure Sideways' view but it didn't matter, the orbs would find their targets. And then it would begin.
Alexis, Rad and Carlos were charging through the jungle, straight for their friends. They couldn't yell as they didn't want to alert Sideways to what they were up to.
"Guys?" Billy suddenly screamed down the comm. sounding truly afraid. "You have to stop those ball things, we just saw them go through this vine overhang and nothing happened but then one brushed past this weird metal spike. And guys, it burnt clean through it."
This only increased the kids' speed, if those orbs touched their friends. They burst onto the clearly and saw the orbs now speeding towards their friends who along with the Decepticons were totally oblivious.
Megatron had just about to taunt Optimus some more when he spied the speeding orbs and the kids sprinting straight for them. His optics widening in shock he started to say.
"What the?"
Optimus spun and he saw an orb coming for him. The others turned and they saw the orbs coming. Optimus tried to shoot it, but the shots bounced off it. He watched in horror as hit came for him but.
"Noooo," all three kids screamed and they launched themselves at the orbs and managed to grab them. There was a flash of light that blinded everyone, but as it receded they saw the kids sitting up, clutching the strange orbs to their chests.
Though Sideways couldn't see the either the Autobots or the Decepticons because of the now thick mist, he had seen the flash of light and knew the orbs had made contact. And even better he had heard the kids, meaning the process would commence soon.
Rad sat up in front of Optimus as Carlos got up in front of Scavenger and Alexis in front of Hotshot.
"Rad, kids what?" Optimus started to exclaim but Rad quickly said.
"Optimus, I know you'll probably be mad at us, but we saw Sideways and we couldn't raise you on the comm. so we came to warn you."
"We weren't in danger," Alexis said breathless. "These things don't harm organics but Billy saw them burn clean through metal, we had to stop them."
Optimus didn't know what to say, these kids had risked themselves for him and the others, how could he be truly angry. The kids were grinning from the adrenaline rush of saving their friends so he wasn't going to scold them for that.
Rad looked up at Optimus in relief, keeping a firm hold on the orb though it wasn't trying to leave him. But all of a sudden something smacked right into his behind and sent him sprawling. What had hit him, he thought as he rubbed himself with one hand? He got his answer as Optimus yelled.
"Megatron."
"You are too soft, Prime, these little wretches have disobeyed you again. I was merely showing you the correct way to curb such behaviour," Megatron said smirking as he withdrew his hand only to say.
"Starscream, Demolisher, deal with the other two."
And before they could be stopped, Starscream and Demolisher carried out their orders and gave both Alexis and Carlos a sound smack. Starscrema though had held Alexis so that she didn't go flying like Rad and Carlos. As the boys muttered darkly, she had dipped her head, shyly holding her orb tighter. He released her and turned to watch Optimus start arguing with Megatron.
"You okay, Alexis?" HotShot asked kindly. "It was brilliant how you managed to save us."
"Well," she said smiling. "It was the least we could do considering."
And then her face had frozen. She and the two boys suddenly went ridged, and then they started shaking. And the orbs started to glow.
"Alexis," HotShot cried out in terror as Optimus spun and saw what was happening. But before he or any of the other Autobots could do anything, the kids suddenly threw back their heads and screamed, flinging out their arms as they did so. And as both the Autobots and the Decepticons watched in horror, the orbs absorbed into the kids' bodies making the kids scream louder.
"No," Optimus yelled but before he could touch Rad, a strange light shot out of him and engulfed Optimus and the beam spread from all three of the kids so that it covered the other transformers.
"It's scanning us," Megatron roared as the light seemed to do just that and then receded back into the kids bodies who stopped screaming as it did this and collapsed on the ground. And for a moment no body moved then Optimus rushed forward and scooped all three of the kids into his arms.
"No, no," he moaned as he examined their still forms. Red Alert rushed over to him and quickly scanned them.
"It's okay, they're still alive," Red Alert said quickly but he looked very worried.
"We have to get them back to the base," Optimus mumbled. Scavenger nodded and activated the Warp Gate. The Decepticons didn't try to stop them as they Warped out of sight.
Mean while Sideways was frowning. That beam of light had been far too big, not to mention that hadn't sounded like Optimus Prime or his other men screaming. What had gone wrong? Sideways optics widened as he realised what had happened and he cursed. Those meddling kids had ruined everything. His master was not going to be happy. The jungle echoed with his roar of rage.
Once they made it to the base, Optimus and Red Alert had raced to the Med Bay and Optimus had immediately set the kids down on an examining table.
"What happened?" Optimus moaned as Red Alert started to examine them.
"I don't know, there seems to be no damage, their just knocked out."
Optimus almost sighed in relief, almost because he had a very bad feeling about this. If he lost them, he didn't know what he'd do. And they Red Alert's panicked voice brought him back to reality.
"Optimus I'm getting massive energy readings, I don't understand..."
But he was cut off as a second light suddenly exploded from the kids as well as an odd roaring and whirling sound. It completely blocked out Optimus's vision, he couldn't see them couldn't see the kids. And this light beam lasted much longer than the last one.
But then abruptly it disappeared as suddenly as it had arisen. Optimus desperately rubbed his optics trying to see what had happened to the kids. But the first thing he saw was Red Alert's wide eyed and totally shocked expression.
"Optimus," Red Alert said in a shaky voice "You are never going to believe this."
Because in place of the kids, were three transformers lying unconscious on the examining table.
Author's note. Well there you have it, the kids have been turned into transformers but that wasn't Sideway's plan. Can you guess what it was? Next chapter, the kids wake up.