Megatron's Trial ~ Part Two
The green autobot was steaming, "What decepticon attack? And why on Moon base 1?" Cliffjumper gave no reaction to Bulkhead's outrage. "One of our guards overheard some prisoners speaking of a plan to make it their space bridge operations base." "But how can that be?" Optimus moved in front of the infurious Bulkhead, "Haven't all decepticons been captured?" "Apparently there are others that we were not aware about. Ultra Magnus has sent me to tell you that you will be needed to protect the inhabitants." "Were there!" Bulkhead pumped his fist into the air. "Now just wait a klick! Why us?" Ratchet asked. "Because of the trial we needed as many bots possible, and many are still in the sick-bay from previous battles. We're gonna need all hands we can get." "That's right, Megatron's trial is today…." Optimus seemed to have spaced off. Phoenix looked at him with curiosity. She looked away quickly as he looked up again, "does Sentinel know this?" The red mini-bot nodded. "I have already been in contact with him. He too is coming but he mentioned something about picking up a 'missing signal' first before leaving?" " I see," Optimus nodded, "Unfortunately Omega Supreme is in a rough condition but you have my word we will bridge there as soon as we are up and running." With that, Cliffjumper signed off leaving the team in silence. "I guess he means their coming to get me. Maybe I can help somehow if were both leaving" Phoenix shrugged. Optimus turned to her, shaking his head "I don't think you leaving with us is such a good idea Phoenix." "What?" "This is going to be dangerous, and with no offence but I think you need a bit more training. Your encounter with Starscream was too much of a close call." "And being that this whole thing has become unpredictable I don't think you being stuck on a ship would be considered safe ether." The old med-bot leaned against a control panel. "So…what should I do then?" The leader placed a hand on her shoulder, "I think it would be best if you just stayed here at the base." "But what about Sentinel…" "You leave him to me, don't worry." With a defeated sigh she nodded in agreement, and following her orders and left just as Optimus asked Ratchet, "How long do you think we'll be up and running?" "Just give me a few nanoklicks and I'll see if I can't wake the big guy up. Sari, get your key"
Hours later, the humming sound of engines was heard from outside. Phoenix's ears perked up to the strange noise as she sat under the giant tree in her 'temporary' room. They must be ready to leave. She walked into the main room to find Sentinel and Optimus staring, waiting for her. "Ah just the bot I'm looking for," there was a certain smarminess in the snowmobiles voice "It's time to go missy. Let's move out." Not knowing what to say she gave Optimus a concerned look. He understood, placing a hand on Sentinel's shoulder, "Like I told you before; it's not a good idea for her to come with us Sentinel. It's much too risky for a bot without training." "Then what do you suppose I do Optimus? Just leave her here so she can just walk away?" "Um..sir?" He glared down; the look made her nervous "I assure you I won't. I know my words don't mean much but I promise I will not leave." The mech raised an optic "Uh-huh. Right." "Trust her Sentinel" Optimus asked softly. "Look, I'm just doing what I was sent to do. I'm just gonna slap the cuffs on and then while where out in the field she'll be safe and sound in the brig." Phoenix took a step back as he brought out a pair of stasis cuffs. This was not going well. "And what would happen if a con managed to sneek aboard? Both the Steelhaven and Phoenix would then be in decepticon hands." Sentinel huffed away Optimus' words as he took Phoenix's wrist and slapped the first cuff on. "And I don't think we want Ultra Magnus to know about the truth behind a certain head incident?" The mocking tone made Sentinel freeze before he could put the other cuff on. "You would'nt…" "We'll just see. Are you going to let her stay?" The blue mech stared into the birdbots big blue optics. "Oooh. *Grumble* Fine. But the cuffs stay on!" "Sentinel I don't think that…" "No," Phoenix's sudden blurt paused him. "It's ok, if it helps to show I can be trusted I'll keep them on." Sentinel was speechless as she raised her wrist to him, breaking from the minor trance he snapped the other cuff on; bonding them together. "Now these have a tracking device in them, so no funny stuff." He warned. "No funny stuff promise" she smiled.
Phoenix waved from the ground as the ship lifted from the ground and flew towards the bridge at Sumdac tower. "Good luck." Back inside, looking around she never truly realized how large the base was when empty. It seemed painfully familiar somehow. She grunted at the stasis cuffs as they started to chafe her wrists. "Gah! That pinches." She winced as she shifted them to a more comfortable position. Not knowing what to do next she laid on the stone couch and stared up into the ceiling. "I wish I could be more help," just lying there while the others fought, it just didn't sit right. She should be helping them. After all they took her in, healed her and all she did in return was take advantage of their kindness. There had to be something she could do, but with hands cuffed and a solemn promise there really wasn't anything she could do. Giving in to her body's urge to preserve the last of the energy she had left; she slipped into stasis.
~~~Back in Kaon; a pair of Troopers led Shortfuse down the hall back to his cell from the lunch cycle. The black and orange mech kept a calm face; and he could sense the Trooperbots nervousness. He smirked, as one held his arm and the other opened the cell door with a keycard. "Back you go." The door opener commanded. A crooked smile stretched across the decepticon's face. "You now boys, it's funny what you can learn when you're locked in one place for so long." "Oh ya? Like what?" the one holding on to him asked.
Before ether could react; Shortfuse's arms came from around his back, grabbed the Troopers heads, and smashed them together, throwing them into his cell and locked the glass door. "Like learning how to disable a pair of stasis cuffs." Walking away he crushed the stasis cuffs under his foot as he walked. The echos of cheers rang through the building from the other convicts, clapping to his actions. He held up his hand as he made his way to Shockwaves cell, "Sorry guys, but you're gonna have to wait a bit longer." With the stolen key card he realised Shockwave, the clones Sunstreaker and Ramjet the last cell he walked up to was Lugnut's. He stopped in front of the glass as the giant con stared blankly back at him. "Hmm, you I'm just not too sure about" he smirked. "You will open this cell!" Lugnut boomed. "I could, but the question is… should I? I mean it's not like Megatron really needs someone constantly kissing his aft all the time..." BANG! Lugnut's pincher like fist smashed into the glass that separated him from Shortfuse's faceplate. "I WILL OBLITERATE YOU! YOU WRETCHED…!" "Aaaww did I tick you off?" "Ahem…" both mechs looked toward Shockwave, who gave a disapproving look through his optic, "We have no time with your arguing. Right now we need to stick to the plan before the…" Suddenly the light began to flicker red and an alarm sounded. Shockwave smacked his face into his palm "alarm goes off." With that; Shortfuse realised Lugnut and all bolted down the hallways. "Where are the others?" Shortfuse huffed to Shockwave, "As far as I know Blitwing was taken to the asylum." "Good. You lot get to the control room. I'm gonna go have a visit to a few of my old teammates."
The trial was back in motion, nearing the end of its peak. The council were on the edge of their seats waiting for the final verdict. Ultra Magnus stood for the jury's final decision. "Megatron, your past acts can easily sentience you to Offline, but after much consideration we have come to the conclusion…" "Oh please spare me you touching words." The tyrant moaned. Ultra Magnus showed no reaction to his interruption. "That you are sentence to life in the highest Security prison of Kaon and confined to solitary confinement." "You're so kind." "You seem confident for a bot whose plan has been foiled." "Whatever do you mean?" Megatron raised a brow, but with slight cockiness in his voice. The council began to whisper and exchange glances at Ultra Magnus; confused on what the leader was talking about. "We have heard of your plan to attack Moon Base 1. By now autobots have beaten your unknown troops there and are being arrested as we speak." A sudden tinge of worry surprised him as Megatron face was covered by a sinister smile. "Oh you did did you?" The Magnus nodded. "Do tell me, what are these others you speak of?" Ultra Magnus was about to give a slightly confused answer, until a large BOOM went off on the other side of the court doors.
Everyone froze, Ultra Magnus face was frozen with mere shock. A dark chuckle made him looked down to Megatron who now was bursting out laughing. "You autobots are too soft for your own good." The autobot gritted his molars, "You should have put me offline when you had the chance." Suddenly the realization finally clicked into his processor; it was all a diversion. "It just goes to show you even behind bars; I cannot be stopped." The doors were blown through, bots in the room started to scream and run while the Troopers began to fire. Several cons ran into the blasted doorway firing at anything that moved. Megatron waited silently strapped to his gurney until an orange and black mech stood in front of him. "Shortfuse….it has been sometime." "Indeed it has my lord." Inserting his hand into his arm, a circular, orange glowing saw took its place and with a flick of his wrist shredded Megatron's bonds. The con stepped off and stretched his stiff functions, while Shortfuse bowed and presented his fusion canon by lifting it over his head. Taking his prized weapon of choice and reattaching it to his arm he sent a blast up into the roof. "Excellent." "Freeze!" He looked over his shoulder to see a Trooperbot holding his weapon up. The con just stared at the shaking bot. "S-surrender!" Shortfuse laughed at the bots pathetic attempt. Just as Megatron turned to blast it away, the trooper was held suddenly in mid-air, limp. A pointed spike had priced its back and had gone straight through its chessie. As quick as it went in, the scorpion like con yanked it out. Pink liquid dripping from one of his tails. "Khaos, long time no see." Shortfuse greeted. "Indeed, and thanks for breaking me out of that mad house…there were some real loose nuts in there." His smile was made with two rows of razor sharp teeth. "My lord" he quickly bowed his head to Megatron, and then turned back to the action with sinister happiness.
"Everything is going exactly on time," Shockwave made his way through the chaos kneeling before the great leader. "If all goes well in part two of the plan that is." "It better, this whole operation will bring us closer to reassembling our army and the conquer of Cybertron at long last." "Of course" Shortfuse nodded. "Are all the devices in place?" Shockwave clicked the tips of his fingers together, "Yes sir, all we need now is the final signal from Soundwave."
~~~A blue vehicle with green circuit lines raced down the streets, speeding through countless lights and almost causing several collisions by the beeping, passing cars. Reaching the autobot base it ran over the fence boundary, stopping at the entrance. Within a few klicks; Soundwave changed from alt mode and pulled out the cassette bird Lazorbeak out in its guitar mode. A quick slash sliced a square in the garage door. The large chunk of metal fell to the floor with a loud "CLANG!"
Phoenix bolted upright, gasping from the sudden break of silence. "What was that?" she whispered to herself. She gazed over the back of the solid couch, but still crotched down low so to silently lean back and hide if needed to. Part large the door now lying on the ground as a large unfamiliar shadow moved across the floor from the outside.
The stereo mech walked and looked around. Phoenix ducked just in time as he scanned the area she was hiding. Peeping over the edge again; she saw the purple insignia upon his chessie. "Scrap! Decepticon! Why do they always have such bad timing?" Her optics followed him; making his way to the enlarged autobot sign on the floor at the back of the factory. Once over it; he stood still like a statue, waiting for something. Phoenix kept a careful gaze as the floor started to buzz, and Soundwave slowly sunk into the floor. "What the scrap?" Waiting until he was out of view she ran to the hole and carefully looked down; there was nothing but a black abyss. This was definitely not on Jady's tour.
Oh, what was that communication thingy on her ear again? She tapped a spot on her audio sensor just like Optimus showed her, "Hello? Anyone there? Hellllloo." Nothing but static replied with a finger jabbing at her ear "Oh man! Ether there out of reach or I'm still not getting this thing." Giving up the struggle with her own ear she looked back down into the darkness, but this time there was a faint greenish-blue light flickering at the bottom. With a gulp she spread her wings and stood at the very edge of the hole. "Well, here we go." One step forward made her drop straight down into the darkness, the wind caught up under her wings; slowing her down until her feet touched the bottom. She stumbled a bit having no servos to hold out to help her balance, but managing to keep up in the end she dashed behind the elevator shaft and peered over to see Soundwave once again. He was typing something into a computer; the whole room was dark if not for the bright green glow of the large screen. "This is Soundwave, all operations are go. Will begin transportation shortly." Phoenix ducked back behind her wall as the mech turned and moved to a different section of the computer. "Phase 1 has been success. Autobots have been sent to rouse location. Soundwave now clear." Wait…transportation?...phase 1?...Rouse? "Oh scrap!" Phoenix covered her mouth realizing how loud she just blurted. Soundwave turned around to the sudden noise but saw nothing; convinced he turned away again. When she heard nothing happening; her thoughts continued. "The guys have been sent on a wild goose chase! Ugh stupid audio sensor thing! Work already." Once again she jabbed her finger at the spot on her ear still receiving nothing but static. "Well that's obviously not going to work." The cuffs chafed her wrists even more "Ow! Dang it! Why did I agree to these things again? *sigh, these are certainly not going to help me at all." Peering around the corner again she continued to watch Soundwave type away as some odd symbols and images popped up and stretched across the screen. As some of the images appeared a feeling of familiarity swept over Phoenix; as though she has either been or see them before but yet recognized none of it.
A small beeping noise echoed through the room, a square appeared on to the screen with what looked like to Phoenix a Cyclops with reindeer antlers. "Shockwave to Soundwave, the prison break has been a success as you know. We have managed to free Lord Megatron and are awaiting transportation." "Affirmative" the vocalized bot replied. "Will commence once coordinates are sent and set."
Phoenix optics widend. Megatron? Wasn't that the bot that was being tried, and had Optimus all worried? And did he just say prison break! Now she definitely knew this was not good.
"Indeed, here they are. Do realize that we are depending on you now, therefore failure is NOT an option." "Understood." With a nod the one optic mech was gone and replaced with another file of mysterious symbols. Phoenix's spark pounded as she hid back into the shadows, tapping madly now at her audio sensor. "Come on! come on! come on! Pick up! Pick up! Pick uuppp!" Nothing but static filled her hearing, until finally a familiar voice came through. "Phoenix? Is that you? How did you get this signal?" "Optimus! Oh thank Primus." She sighed in deep relief…unaware of the small toy sized bot gazing up at her from down below. "Optimus you need to get out of there! You've been tricked; this whole things…." She cut off, with wide optics as the space around her began to darken. "Phoenix? Phoenix! Is there something wrong?" The femme was too stiff to move as she turned to look up into Soundwave's red visor. "You have no idea."
To be continued…..