Chapter 4

Sorry guys, the beginning of this chapter is kinda slow and was really painful for me to write. Nonetheless I hope you still enjoy it and the action scene near the end.

No one said a word as they re-entered the Autobot base. Ratchet had tried to find a trail of where MECH may have taken Jack, but his scanners couldn't pick up a signal. Optimus decided to call Agent Fowler, informing him of the recent events, hoping to gain some information on MECH's whereabouts. The government agent said he'd contact his superiors but couldn't promise anything. Everyone was worried about Jack, although some had different emotions.

June was currently in the medical room, crying into her palms and Ratchet was trying to calm her down.

"Mrs. Darby, I assure you we will find Jack. We are doing everything in our power to find MECH and retrieve Jack." The medic said in a gentle tone. It seemed like his words only made it worst as the mother started to cry harder.

"Primus," Ratchet cursed quietly, "what did I do to deserve this?"

Meanwhile in the command room, a heated argument started to arise.

"So what?! We're just going to sit here on our tailpipes and let MECH do whatever they want to Jack?!" The green wrecker smashed his fists together, showing how furious he was. Although Jack wasn't his partner, Bulkhead cared deeply for the kid. He reminded him of Optimus and why he chose to leave the Wreckers to join Team Prime. Jack had the ability to be something greater, but chose to remain humble about it. Secretly, Bulkhead admired him for this trait and showed a lot of respect towards him.

Bumblebee let out a couple angry beeps as he wasn't taking this situation too well either. The scout glared at Bulkhead and pointed two fingers at him. Ratchet returned to the command center to see what was going on.

"Right, like your one to talk" Bulkhead sneered back, "last time I checked, scouts don't ever have idea, at least not good ones anyways." The wrecker took a step forward a two-handed Bumblebee's chest, pushing him back.

"Bulk calm down" Wheeljack said as he lowered Bulkhead's arms and stepped between the two.

Bumblebee narrowed his optics and began beeping angrily.

This time Ratchet stepped forward, holding the angry scout back. "Bumblebee! We do not use that kind of language!"

Bumblebee knocked Ratchets hands away as Bulkhead got pasted Wheeljack. The two angry 'bots met in the middle, staring at each other with narrowed optics.

"Enough!" Optimus ordered startling the two. "Arguing with one another is not going to help us find Jack. All of us are worried about him and we cannot afford to let our emotions get the better of us."

The two 'bots looked at each other sheepishly.

"Your right Optimus, sorry Bee", the green wrecker apologized. Bumblebee responded with a couple beeps as well.

Optimus looked at the two and nodded. He too was worried about Jack and what MECH might do to him. He only hoped that the person he entrusted the key to Vector Sigma with is strong enough to withstand their torture. He looked at the faces around the room and saw everyone hoping the same thing. Suddenly, Optimus realized that Arcee wasn't in the room. He knew she was not taking the situation very well since she had just lost two partners and maybe a third.

The Autobot leader slowly made his way over to Arcee's quarters where she no doubt was hiding. Noticing that it was locked, he knocked on the door, awaiting a response.

"Please" came a small voice, "leave me alone."

"Arcee, it's Optimus" the leader stated, "May I have a word with you?"

After a moment of silence from both ends, the sound of a click could be heard. Optimus opened the unlocked door, revealing Arcee lying against her berth with the lights off. The two-wheeler had her legs curled up against her chest with her head in her arms, not looking up at her visitor. The poor female was sobering as energon tears slowly ran down her arm, dripping onto the floor. Rarely does his second-in-command show this side of her, nonetheless to see her crying was never heard of before. Although, Optimus knew that on the outside, Arcee is a ruthless warrior, but on the inside, she is just a little girl.

"Arcee," Optimus began, "I understand how you feel at this moment. We are all under the stress of finding Jack and we are doing everything we can. I know you blame yourself for what happened to Tailgate and Cliffjumper, as well as our current situation. It is not your fault Arcee but the doing of others."

"But it is Optimus!" Arcee cried. More tears started to fall from her optics. "If I was with Jack when he went to make his delivery, nothing would have happened to him! Maybe he still be with us right now and not with MECH. Primus knows what they are doing to him right now and it's my fault! I'm his guardian and his partner! I'm a failure!"

It pained Optimus to see her like this. The death of Tailgate made her become self-centered and angry. She blocked everyone out from her life and became a shadow of the darkness. When Cliffjumper was terminated, it only made her worst. But when she met Jack, everything started to change. The boy's determination to get through to her allowed Arcee to open herself up again. Optimus could see that she made him happy, as he did for her. It was as if fate had brought the two together. Now that Jack has been taken by MECH, it seems like Arcee has fallen apart. She was not like this after Tailgate and Cliffjumper, and Optimus can see it in her optics that she has nothing left.

"Nothing could have prepared us for this predicament. If you were with Jack, perhaps you would have also been taken by MECH. No one is able to tell the future Arcee, and you should not be taking the blame. We will find Jack and rescue him from MECH. Right now, Jack needs his partner to be strong. He needs someone willing to do everything she can to help him and not someone who dwells in the past. Arcee, you must be strong. For the team, and for Jack."

Arcee got up slowly and gave Optimus a hug, crying into his shoulder.

"I want... him back... Optimus" the female said between her sobs.

"You two have a strong connection" Optimus stated. Arcee slightly nodded her head. "We will get him back Arcee, you have my word."

Optimus gently wrapped his arms around his second-in-command, comforting her as she continued to cry.

...

A being stood in the middle of a dark, circular room; his hands ready to react as soon as he was given the command. The man was 5'8", had a military cut that shortened his black hair, and looked to be between the ages of 16 and 20. He wore a mask that covered most of his face except his eyes, showing off his dark purple, almost black, colored pupils. Large dark purple veins flowed down his arms as his black, compression tank top allowed him to flex with ease. The word "MECH" could be seen near the top of his left chest. He wore a pair of black pants, held up by a dark brown belt around his waist; his boots covering the bottom of the pants. A sheath hidden behind him was strapped around his right shoulder and under his left arm, concealing the man's favorite weapon; a sharp edge katana. Inside a holder connected to the left side of his belt held the man's alternative weapon; a deadly 50 caliber Desert Eagle. He had only been taught 2 things in his life; to complete his tasks, and to kill.

"Agent 000, are you ready for your assessment?" came a voice that echoed throughout the dark room.

Agent 000 merely nodded and got into a stance, preparing to draw his weapons.

All of a sudden, a dim light lightened the room and revealed over 50 prisoners standing against the circular walls, each with an armed pistol pointing at Agent 000. All these prisoners have once served with the military, only to be captured by MECH and tortured for information. They have all been told that if they succeed in killing the man in the middle of the room when the lights were turned on, they would be granted their freedom. All the prisoners have been given extensive training during their time with the army and accepted the chance to be freed immediately. Now all of them stood with their guns pointed at the target, some of them laughing and saying that this was too easy. Little did they know that they would be very, very wrong.

After a moment of silence, the voice returned with one word.

"Commence."

*(Warning: Somewhat gruesome and disturbing scenes take place in the following paragraphs)*

Agent 000 immediately drew his katana with his left hand while removing the Desert Eagle with his left. Bullets began to be fired from all directions as Agent 000 dashed for the nearest prisoner, showing incredible agility and speed. The prisoner saw Agent 000 coming for him as he quickly aimed the pistol at him. When he fired, Agent 000 merely sliced the bullet in 2 before impaling the prisoner with his katana. He tossed the dead body at another group as he went from prisoner to prisoner, slicing their bodies into pieces. Bullets ricocheted off the walls, killing multiple prisoners as others became victim of Agent 000's katana. After killing almost of quarter of the prisoners, Agent 000 threw the katana towards the opposite wall, impaling a prisoner in the head, instantly killing him. Agent 000 grabbed the nearest prisoner, disarming him and using the body as a human shield while shooting the Desert Eagle from behind, blowing the heads off some. The man threw the limp body while jumping over 10 feet in the air, shooting off the rest of his ammo before throwing the gun with suck force, it punctured a man's face. Quickly pulling his katana out from the dead body, Agent 000 whipped the sword like a boomerang, beheading over a dozen prisoners as he dodged more bullets fired his way. Retrieving his sword, Agent 000 finished off the rest of the prisoners while splitting incoming bullets in two. The final prisoner backed up against the wall as he realized he was the last one standing. Seeing Agent 000 run directly at him, the prisoner lifted his pistol. Before he let off a shot, Agent 000 sliced the prisoner and the pistol in half, allowing both halves of the surprised prisoner to fall.

The entire bloodshed took place in mere 4 minutes. Agent 000 put his bloodied katana back into its sheath as he walked to retrieve his Desert Eagle. The entire room was filled with blood and different body parts. Not one prisoner was intact or recognizable.

Looking from a glass window, Silas as well as other MECH officials looked in shock and awe. Some could not believe the massacre that took place while others were grinning from ear to ear.

"Agent 000," Silas said into the microphone, "you have completed the assessment. You are now dismissed."

Agent 000 looked up and nodded as he punched the wall, destroying the metal as he exited through the hidden door.

"Gentlemen", Silas turned around, "I believe Operation 000 has been a success."