Rage Against the Machine

The Ark...

"I'm boosting energy by twelve percent," Wheeljack announced, as Huffer watched on with interest. "Stand-by." The containment chamber in front of him began to shake slightly, but managed to retain its shape. A sequence of numbers entered into the control panel increased the flow of energy by another three percent. "Fifteen percent," he said. "What are your readings, Perceptor?"

The Autobot scientist kept a careful watch over the data he was receiving. "Chamber strength is at twenty percent," he answered. "It isn't going to hold, begin decreasing power."

Wheeljack ignored the request. "Increasing to eighteen percent."

Perceptor glanced at Rhinox, who was also surprised at Wheeljack's refusal to comply. He then updated the data and repeated his findings. "Chamber strength is down to eleven percent. Decrease the flow, Wheeljack!"

"It'll hold," Wheeljack snapped. "We don't have time to be cautious." His grip tightened on the release valve. "Twenty one percent." The once slightly shaking containment chamber now grew to display large tremors. A humming sound, a sign of near-destruction for the chamber, roared throughout the room. Chip and Spike, certain there was going to be an explosion, left their posts and made their way to the exit. They stopped, a few steps away from the door, and watched. Huffer, not one to be left out, joined them.

"Wheeljack," Rhinox yelled, "Disengage the power supply; you'll blow us all up!" Perceptor joined his Maximal friend and continued to plead with their partner. Wheeljack remained focused on his experiment, certain the chamber would hold. The energy being channeled into the containment chamber was being broken down and realigned simultaneously. Just a few more seconds and this entire ordeal would be a success, Wheeljack thought. Once the energy has realigned to the proper pre-designed calculations, it would be redirected into a smaller, hand-held containment device. If all went as planned, the device would then be ignited in a specific location and its energy pattern would fuse into a type of 'astronomical glue', patching the literal hole that now merged various time-lines without prejudice. "I said disengage," Rhinox roared again. "Wheeljack, I won't ask you again!"

"It's my fault this has happened," Wheeljack replied. He felt a great amount of guilt for his earlier mishap, the one that set all that has happened in motion. "I caused it and now I'm going to fix it!" His optics watched in painful anticipation of the coming result. Rhinox began to realize the burden Wheeljack felt, and in turn felt pity for the Autobot known lovingly as 'the mad scientist'. The Maximal and Perceptor retreated and stood near the humans and Huffer. A mixture of respect and fear filled their circuits. And then, it was over.

For a moment, it seemed Wheeljack would be proved right. Only seconds remained until the process would be complete, and he could radio Optimus Prime and announce they were successful. But that would not be the outcome.

An unexpected surge through the main extension compromised the matter configuration of the chamber. "No!" Wheeljack yelled, his tone ripe with defeat. "Not while we're so close!" But there was nothing more he could do. There was nothing left that anyone could do. As the chamber was about to explode and release its build-up of energy, Wheeljack reached and tore the connecting cables from their power sources. A loud series of 'clicks' followed, signaling the energy transfer had abruptly ended. In a rare show of rage, he smashed through his computer console with one punch. Regaining his composure, he turned to face his comrades. "I'm sorry, everyone," he sighed. "It's over."

As Rhinox and the humans comforted their emotionally drained friend, Perceptor began to investigate the abandoned experiment. His sensor readings quickly changed the somber mood in the room. "Don't give up hope just yet," Perceptor said. "While it's true the attempt to contain the energy failed," he began, "It would appear the energy instead integrated within the containment chamber itself." He rose to look the others face to face. "In other words," he explained, a smile forming on his faceplate, "The energy wasn't contained inside, but rather the chamber itself has been filled with the energy."

Chip and Spike, still shaken by the very real fear they could have been vaporized only moments ago, tried hard to understand what Perceptor was saying. Even the very intelligent Chip Chase was at a loss for words. "So, what you're saying is," Spike asked, "Is it turned into some kind of super-energon cube?"

Wheeljack and Rhinox walked over and began to perform their own assessments, followed closely by Huffer. "Yes," Wheeljack answered, quickly coming to the same conclusion as Perceptor. "Yes, it did."

"Can you use it to fix this madness?" Chip blurted out.

There was a long pause before anyone spoke, casting serious doubt on the chance of receiving a positive answer. Finally Perceptor looked up and away from the experiment and spoke cautiously. "Perhaps."

end of chapter 20