Hey ya'll, so here's the chapter. so i wanted to apologies in advance, i had a hard time writing this chapter...so, yeah, sorry if it's sucky :P Enjoy!(if you can)
Shout Outs!
Adby1
:D yup, everything's going down hill...
Cashagon
I'm glad it made you happy, it was fun to write!
Cilla
Glad, 'cause here it is
Tayla
:D :D :D
Anduren
You shall see
Seeker3
Here you go
The Avengers sat in the living room thinking about what had, ben reviled in the past few days. Tony and Steve wandered about on daily business as they had already known and the shock wasn't much for them, the other's however…Fury suddenly came in, his face and voice neutral but he held that air that something was wrong. "Rogers."
Steve looked up in surprise, "Uh, yes?"
Fury didn't answer but glared at said super soldier. Tony walked over, "Is there something you want, 'cause if not I'm gonna ask you to leave before you wilt the plants."
Fury turned to him, "We will be talking later Stark." He then turned back to Steve, "I distinctly remember telling you to report anything that threatens national security, especially when it came to this Jemina Archer person. And a transforming super soldier girl who can take on Loki defiantly falls under that category."
Tony and Steve glared at Natasha and Clint before Natasha defended, "SHIELD needs to know about all security threats, friend of yours or not."
"And what do you plan to do?" Steve asked.
"As it seems Loki is after her for revenge on you I'm likely to put her in a high security safety house." Fury answered.
Tony just looked at him, "You do know she could break out of there in like, probably two seconds…and she has a means of transportation."
"Aye," Thor nodded, "And even if we did manage to convince her to remain Loki could break in just as easily."
Clint then walked forward, "Then what do you propose we do? If Loki gets her its game over. We don't even know what she's capable of now."
"She seems to be protected fairly well as it is." Bruce interjected, "I don't think there's anything we can do that would be better that the Autobot's protection."
Fury turned to Tony and Steve, "If she ends up killing the world, I will take you both down myself."
They all just looked at each other as he left, "Is it just me or is his patience wearing thin?" Tony asked.
They all nodded before Thor asked, "Aren't we going to the Autobot base today?"
As if on cue Tony's phone range and Tony nodded, "A bridge will be coming in a second."
Optimus and Jemina sat on top of the mesa for another hour until the car horns of Arcee, Bee and Bulkhead signaled their departure to pick up the kids. Jemina sat up instantly and shook the sleep from her optics as she stood, "I fell asleep didn't I?"
"You needed it." Optimus argued, not happy that she had woken up with only an hour of rest…but he knew there was going to be no getting her into her berthroom to get some recharge until the sun went down.
Jemina stood and went over to the elevator, Opitmus following as they descended beck into the base. Getting Jayce some food she sat at the couch while the others returned and looking a bit upset. The Avengers arrived as Arcee, Bee and Bulkhead had to quickly explain why they had practically ignored their charges the past three days. Once the kids calmed down they asked questions nonstop, mainly Miko, about Cybertron and what they would do once it was restored, "You know," Miko began, "I might not be the first human on Cybertron, but I can still be the first human exchange student."
"Why didn't you tell us exactly what was happening before, I mean I knew about the keys but…" Jack said.
Arcee answered, "You probably didn't notice but things have been kind of intense around here lately."
Raf sounded sad, "So, you guys could really be going home soon, huh?"
Miko tried to cheer him up, "Don't worry Raf, you'll come visit! Once we get our place set up he can visit us, right Bulk?"
"Uh, Miko…?" Bulkhead tried to say.
"You are taking me with you right?" Miko frowned.
"Well, they'd have to get rid of the toxic atmosphere first Miko, and who knows how long that could take." Jemina intervened, Miko pouted, knowing it was fully true.
Tony, and the other Avengers, just looked at every one with a dumbfounded look, "Wait, you guys can just rebuild your planet and go home?"
Ratchet nodded, "Indeed, civilization, finally."
Jack asked, "So now what are you guys doing? Since all of the entries have been decoded?"
"Not all of them." Ratchet replied.
Raf looked confused as Natasha scowled, "Then why isn't Optimus working on decoding it?"
"What good is an coded entry?" Natasha asked.
Arcee answered, "It's been decoded, we just don't know what it means."
"Well what does it say?" Miko asked exasperated.
"Something about using a crystal, but that's it. No picture, no coordinates, nothing." Bulkhead answered.
"Well that sounds useless." Miko grumbled.
"It is." Ratchet answered roughly.
"Can I see it, maybe I could help." Tony offered and Bruce nodded.
Ratchet sighed and put up the entry and translated it for them. They both looked confused, when Bruce asked, "Is there any kind of special crystal on Cybertron? Any kind of rare rock formation or something."
The 'bot shook their heads when Ratchet answered, "Nothing but a crystalized form of Energon."
"Could it be Energon then?" Tony asked.
"Possibly," Ratchet mused a bit.
Jemina and Opitmus made a nanosecond eye contact before turning their attention back to the discussion, which was coming to a close while the kids walked up to the platform. Bee and Jayce were currently racing, Jayce not doing too well against the full blown car, while the other's talked. The day was uneventful, for once, as the kids left and the Avengers continued to talk. Jemina sat on the couch tiredly as her eyes drifted closed, the need to sleep becoming too great.
Optimus transformed as he came back from patrol and saw Jemina laying on the couch, obvious she had fallen over, as he walked over to Ratchet, "Any luck on finding the Nemesis."
"No," Ratchet said simply.
The others came back and Bulkhead said, needing to fume without the kids being present, "What do you think Starscream is going to do with the keys?"
Thor asked confused, "Who is, Starscream?"
"A rouge Decepticon who manage to steal the Keys we had with the help of red Energon." Ratchet huffed.
"You think Starscream's rejoined the 'cons?" Smokescreen asked.
Arcee nodded, "He might have used the Omega Keys to buy back Megatron's favor."
"Hmph, without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder? It wouldn't surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and-" Ratchet was cut off by computer beeping and Jemina jolting awake from the sudden noise.
"Ok, that's weird." Bulkhead stated flatly.
"That's creepy." Clint said.
"Is it Starscream?" Arcee asked.
Ratchet typed in a few things and answered, "No, it is Dreadwing and he wants to meet."
"Ratchet, open a ground bridge, I will go to meet him." Optimus ordered.
"Alone?" Arcee asked while Jemina agreed and scowled deeply.
"I'm coming with Optimus." Bulkhead stated firmly while the other's all nodded and voiced their agreements.
"Alright, but I would like the humans to remain behind." Optimus said, directing it at Jemina, "I do not believe it would be wise to bring a seeker with us when it is Dreadwing we are meeting and I do not want to place the others at the risk."
She didn't say anything but nodded while the Avengers reluctantly agreed and watched them leave through the bridge when Ratchet came over after it closed. He looked at Jemina in quizzically and she just looked dumbfounded, "Can I help you?"
He frowned, "When did you last recharge? Actually recharge, not one-hour/two-hour cat nap as you humans call it."
"Uh…I'm not sure, why?" She asked cautiously.
"Because you're going to pass out on the floor if you continue on like this. And it's not an if, it's a when." He answered when Optimus called.
Tony looked at Jemina, "Wait, how long has she been up?"
"Probably two and a half day, more than likely longer." Ratchet huffed.
Thor said wide eyed, "Why would anyone reject sleep unless in an absolutely dire situation?"
"Because it's Jemina. I swear she's worse than a sparkling most of the time."
"I resent that." Jemina glared, "I can take care of myself just fine."
"Say's the human that's about to pass out on the floor." Ratchet shot back
"*Ratchet, we need a ground bridge.*"
"Coming up." He, Jemina and the Avengers turned and saw the team come back in, and Optimus carrying something.
Jemina instantly recognized it as the Forge while it took Ratchet a little longer to figure out then looked astounded, how had Optimus gotten that?! While the Avengers where, just as almost always, completely lost. Jemina smiled lightly when she saw the broad smile on Opitmus' face and heard the Forge whirring slightly, Optimus needed it-a relic of a prime, they all needed it if they were to get to Cybertron to restore the lock. Smokescreen came over grinning, "It's no Star Saber, but I bet it can shatter Megatron's blade and put some dents into that ugly mug of his."
Arcee rebuffed, "It's not that kind of hammer."
"With the Decepticons in possession of all four Omega Keys, a more appropriate use of the Forge would the to use it to replicate our own." Ratchet said, finally finding his voice again.
Optimus shook his helm, "Even with such power, their reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not possess."
"I guess we better hope Megatron doesn't destroy the Keys to prevent anyone from ever going home." Arcee thought aloud.
Optimus refuted the idea, "Megatron may be evil, but I believe he will use the Keys for their intended purpose."
"Then I say we let him keep them and do the work for us." Bulkhead said then shrugged when all eyes turned on him, "W-I mean, what difference does it make who restores Cybertron?"
Opitmus answered, "If Megatron revives Cybertron, he will no doubt use it to his political advantage."
"Y-you lost me." Bulkhead stammered.
"It's basic politics, what's to understand?" Tony asked nonchalantly, "Besides they're boring."
Jemina sighed softly, "It makes sense but I hate politics, they just give me a headache."
"In all likelihood, the leader of the Decepticons will portray himself as our planet's savior and brand all Autobots as war criminals."
"The grand deception continues." Arcee sighed.
Ratchet added, "Megatron's so-call 'achievement' could influence Cybertron for eons to come, poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens…hardly the ideal way to begin a new age."
"But there is hope. For while Megatron may have the Keys, he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega Lock itself or the location of the remaining Key."
"Omega Lock?" Bulkhead sputtered.
"Wait. Now you lost me." Arcee said confused.
Jemina sighed while Optimus explained, was it really that hard to realize that a key doesn't exist without a lock? "That which the five relics were designed to activate. We must locate the devise before Megatron does, and secure it until we can recover the Keys."
Ratchet replied, "There are no more entries to decode. This Lock and this crystal, could be anywhere on Earth!"
"Actually…it is on Cybertron. And Crystal will come once the lock is secured."
"Ok, did you read something in that message that I didn't, 'cause I heard nothing like that." Tony said and Bruce nodded, something was up.
There was a course of 'what?' before Ratchet asked, "How do you know? And how do that the crystal will just, appear there to unlock the Omega Lock?"
"Alpha Trion revealed the location of the Omega Lock to me during the message conveyed by the Star Saber. As for Crystal, I just know."
Ratchet sounded deeply hurt, "And you didn't think to tell us."
"Alpha Trion did not wish it so. With the Forge of Solace Prime, we now possess the means of reaching Cybertron."
Jemina nodded before she yawned, "Turning the ground bridge into a space bridge."
Ratchet and Optimus looked at her as did Tony and Steve. Ratchet said, "You need to go home and get some rest."
"Why can't I just stay here?" She asked, not liking the idea of going home when they would probably be going to Cybertron shortly, and they would need her.
Ratchet answered exasperated, "Because every time you've tried as of late something happens and it just keeps you up!" He walked over an activated the ground bridge, "You will either go home and get a decent night's rest or so help me I will drag you home and tie you to your bed."
Jemina looked pleadingly at Optimus but he shook his head, "I will side with Ratchet, you haven't slept in several days. We will call you when we secure the Omega Lock."
"But-" She started only for Ratchet to cut her off.
"Ep, ep, ep." He pointed towards the bridge, "Get, some, rest."
Jemina looked one last time at Optimus and saw he was dead serious also before she sighed and walked down the platform. She ruffled Jayce's hair slightly as she passed the cot and petted Aja's ear momentarily as she slept next to him. Before she left she smiled at them and nodded, then disappeared. Optimus got an uneasy feeling, like she knew something was wrong but wasn't telling them, like something now was going to go horribly wrong.
She stepped out of the bridge into her back lawn and made her way to the house. She took a shower then stumbled into the heavenly soft bed, she was so tired but the nagging thought of the kids being kidnapped by the 'cons kept playing in her mind until she passed out.
The group watched her leave before they heard Optimus walking towards the ground bridge. Tony asked confused, "What are you doing?"
Optimus set the hammer down and climbed down to the ground bridge, "I will modify the ground bridge to a space bridge so that we have a means of reaching Cybertron. I must work quickly as our tactical advantage over Megatron will not last long."
He began pounding and sparks flew from the hammer as he worked, he was don't within half-an-hour. Arcee walked over once Optimus left the room, "Is it my imagination or has Optimus been acting differently since that message from Alpha Trion?"
Steve looked at her, "Knowledge can be a great burden, maybe something's bugging him?"
:I don't understand why he would keep things from us though, especially not something that large.:
The Avengers just looked at the 'bots for a translation but were ignored, "Yeah, he has been keeping things from us."
"Even Ratchet's out of the loop." Arcee frowned.
"Well give me one good reason Optimus couldn't trust his own teammates, why he couldn't have told us about the Omega Lock." Bulkhead snapped.
Smokescreen came over, "Because if he had, Megatron would've pulled it out of my head with his patch."
"Hold on, he could do what?" Clint asked.
"Access memory files through a cortical psychic patch." Arcee answered flatly.
Clint paled and Thor spoke, "Are you memories so easily accessed?"
"They weren't until…never mind." Arcee began before stopping. She didn't want to talk about him right now.
Ratchet looked over the newly reconfigured space bridge, "Yet another astonishing convergence of magic and science, courtesy of the ancients."
Thor 'elbowed' Tony, "See, even the metal titans agree that both magic and science exist."
Tony growled and held his side, "Dumb luck, magic is still just science we don't understand."
Thor pouted a bit, "What does it take to make you a believer? You've seen it happen several times and yet you still don't believe."
"Again, science we don't understand. I don't believe in anyone's hocus pocus without seeing the science behind it."
"So what would you call Mjolnir?" Thor asked.
Tony glared, "Asgardian science."
"It's magic Tony, just like how you and I fly, it's magic." Thor said shaking his head.
"There is a perfectly scientifical for how I fly! It's called propulsion and…never mind I feel like arguing right now." Tony grumbled and crossed his arms.
"It's hard to believe, a few swings of that hammer and bam!" Bulkhead said.
Arcee finished, "Our ground bridge is now a space bridge."
The base suddenly began to flicker a bit before the computers beeped, "Our sensors are detecting a massive Energon burst occurring outside Earth's atmosphere. A surge of that kind could only mean one thing-activation of another space bridge."
Optimus walked over, "Megatron has discovered the Omega Lock is on Cybertron."
"It appears we have lost our advantage." Ratchet sighed.
"But with Megatron unaware that we now possess the means of interstellar travel, the element of surprise remains in our favor. We must embark on this mission with every resource at our disposal."
The 'bots nodded and left to get the relics while Optimus turned down a hallway and began pounding on something else. They came back in and Bulkhead asked, "What's he forging now?"
The others stopped and looked back to see Optimus coming out with a re-forged Star Saber. The Avengers looked at it in shock, never having actually seen it before when Tony said, "What do you want us to do?"
Optimus looked at him before walking towards the bridge, "Remain here with Ratchet."
"But we could help." Tony argued.
"I will not place your life at risk for my planet, remain here." Opitmus finished with a harder tone, "Megatron must be stopped no matter what the cost."
Several hours passed, they weren't really sure as some of them had fallen asleep, when the computers beeped from an incoming signal, "Ah! Optimus?"
"*Uh, n-no Ratchet, it's Jack. I-is something wrong 'cause school's been out for almost an hour and no one's showed to pick us up.*"
"That is because the entire team is rather…indisposed at the moment. I suggest you obtain an alternate method of transport."
"*What's he saying? The 'bots are busy. Then tell Ratchet to come get us! It's not like he has anything else to do!*" Miko and Jack argued over the phone.
Ratchet sighed, "Just go home! I will be in touch later!"
"Someone's grouchy." Tony mumbled and received a death glare from Ratchet.
A loud noise made Jemina jump awake and look wildly around before she managed to calm down and realize it was just her phone ringing. Taking in a deep breath she picked it up, "Hello?"
"Hey Jemina, do you know where the 'bots are? School's been out for an hour and no one's come to pick us up and Ratchet was a bit, uh, snappy? More so than usual and told us to go home."
Her breath hitched, "Jack get out of there! Try to get to my place I'll pick you up on the way." She hung up and jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed before grabbing the car keys and running out, not caring about food, or locking up the house, or anything else at this moment in time. Starting the car she drove towards the school, knowing she was currently breaking a few speed laws but not truly caring, especially when she saw the sleek, red, sports car racing beside her. She called Jack using her abilities to activate her phone, "Jack?!"
"Hey, what's up, were headed ov-" He started.
"Change in plans, run, just run. Knockout's right next to me and headed for the school."
She didn't hear anything else before the phone beeped signaling the end of the call. Knockout must have gotten tired of racing, not knowing it was Jemina inside the car, and so sped ahead quickly before Jemina locked his breaks and he came to a screeching halt and she drove past. She speed past the school when she was forced to put the car into a halt to prevent herself from ramming into the Vehicon which stood in the middle of the road. She jumped out and saw the kids encircled by Starscream and a couple other Vehicons.
"Jemina!" Miko cried out before Starscream made a move to grab Jack.
Jemina made a small motion with her hand to guide the sonic wave that rippled out and slammed into Starscream, sending him several yards back, "Run!"
"Don't need to tell me twice." Jack said hurriedly as he got Raf moving.
Jemina took up the rear as she heard Knockout grumbling and running over, "You?! You were the driver?" He shouted quite unhappily.
"Get them!" Starscream shouted and several Vehicons ran forwards.
Jemina managed to keep them at bay as the kids ran for a building. Once inside they were grateful that it was just an extra warehouse and that there was no one there. Jemina nudged them, "Let's see if there's a back exit."
They moved quietly through the warehouse when a soft clanking could be heard, "What's that?" Raf asked quietly.
"I don't want to know." Jemina replied, "Let's just get out of here and have Ratchet bridge us back."
Jack pulled out his phone, "I don't have any signal."
"The 'cons must be sending out a disrupter." Raf said.
"Why would they do that or want us for that matter…besides Jemina." Miko thought aloud.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Jemina said moving along before the clinking sound suddenly drew very close, to close, "Miko!"
She shoved Miko aside with a small sonic blast as a tentacle swiped where she had just been, "Ah! Creepy tentacle!"
"It's Soundwave." Jemina replied.
Jack asked in a near shout of terror, "What do they want us for?!"
A second tentacle encircled them from behind, "Any ideas Jem?" Miko asked.
"Uh, you run I block?" It sounded too much like a question but they all agreed to it so Jemina struck one of the tentacles with an electrical bolt while the kids quickly jumped over the other. She heard Miko shriek and her attention became divided two ways, enabling the tentacle to ensnare and yank her out, "No, let go! Miko!"
She saw Knockout holding Miko tightly while Jack was being held in a death grip by Starscream and Raf by a Vehicon. A couple other Vehicons brought over some cylinder prisons and they all dropped the kids in them, though Soundwave did receive a couple nice dents on his plating from Jemina trying to escape, though the fact that they held the other kids was what truly held her back-she would have to get them out also and that was not likely at this time.
Starscream laughed manically, "Soundwave, target a space bridge for Cybertron."
Within seconds a bridge appeared and the 'cons walked through carrying the containers. They reappeared on Cybertron, Megatron facing off against the Autobots…but something was dramatically different from what Jemina had remembered. She looked around and saw that the Lock was not up, the glowing circle overhead that was supposed to revive Cybertron, was missing. There was that, and Megatron's arm. It wasn't the red and yellow she remembered from the cartoons, it was green, gold, blue. She was confused by this until Megatron spoke and snapped her attention back to the present, "…So that I may hand over the humans."
"And if we refuse?" Optimus asked, wanting to know all the bases.
Jemina, along with the others, watched Megatron walked closer to Optimus, "Then I will have no choice but to open the pods, exposing your pets to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere. And then we can all watch them instantly perish, together."
The threat didn't scare Jemina herself, but she was worried about the others, they didn't have the capability to become a Cybertronian. Miko kicked the container, "Not how I wanted to spend my first trip to Cybertron."
When the Autobots didn't move Megatron yelled, "Starscream."
Starscream lifted the container that held Jack, "Jack, it's time to come out and play." He said in a singsong voice as he dragged his clawed hands down the glass.
The sound made him and the other flinch, "Go ahead. The Autobots were prepared to sacrifice themselves for my planet, I'll do the same for theirs."
"Me to creepy." Miko said turning to Knockout.
Raf was too scared to say anything but nodded also. Jemina nodded, "I'm willing."
"Perhaps we should oblige them, should we start with your personal pet first Prime?" Megatron taunted.
Opitmus straightened, "If my decision dooms the future of the Autobot cause on Cybertron, so be it. But I will never forsake our human allies." With that he dug the Star Saber into the ground and backed away.
The others then threw their relics over and Jemina sighed, "I was supposed to try and prevent this…"
"Now, if you please, the Omega Keys. One at a time." Megatron ordered.
Knockout walked forwards with Miko, "You first big boy."
Bulkhead looked at Opitmus who nodded then walked forward, "If I don't get the girl, I'll make you eat this Key." He said as he slammed it into Knockout's waiting servo.
"You're welcome." Knockout said handing Miko over.
"Get scrapped." Miko growled.
Bee walked over next and traded off with a Vehicon, saying a few select words from his mind, who then gave the Key to Megatron. Megatron then said with an almost visible smirk in his voice, "If this human was important enough to entrust the Matrix of Leadership, he's worth two Omega Keys."
"What about Jemina?" Optimus asked.
"You will know the demand in a second." Megatron answered coly.
Both Jemina and Opitmus had a feeling that they knew what he wanted, but neither could give it. Arcee and Smokescreen walked over to Starscream, "No tricks. The Keys if you please."
They gave him the last of the Omega Keys and came back with Jack. Optimus shouted at Megatron, "What is it you want for Jemina?"
Megatron smirked, "As she seems rather important to you Optimus I will make it simple, give me the crystal and tell me of its function."
"I do not know. We saw the same message but have not deciphered its meaning."
"In that case…" A ground bridge opened up and several Vehicons came through and encircled the group. Jemina's breaths quickened, for what reason she wasn't entirely sure, it's not like if they open the container I'll die. Megatron walked over to the small protrusion from the ground, "Then let us see what four Omega Keys will do, they might even lead us the fifth like they did with the Omega Lock."
Soundwave walked closer to the Lock with Jemina's container in his servo and a Key in the other. Once they were near enough to touch it the keys gave off a soft glow and Jemina felt her body pulsating in an unnatural manner, though not giving off the glow like the keys. Megatron smiled as the Lock emerged from the ground, "Ah, so the fifth key was a ruse, very clever Alpha Trion." He turned to the Autobots, "Now bear witness as a new era dawns on Cybertron. Behold, the age of the Decepticons!" Megatron shouted as they inserted the keys.
A map of Cybertron then appeared. Something then began to bug Jemina's mind, it kept wanting access to something…her eyes widened in realization, "No."
Megaton put something into the map and again the thing wanted access. She asked it, mentally, what it wanted access for. Knockout scoffed, "Stupid computer, it's requesting the command again."
Megatron growled, and put it in again. He wanted to restore a building just to west. Reluctantly Jemina gave it access, but only allowing it to go that far, she had to try and keep under the radar for now. A beam of energy shot out and enveloped the building and in seconds it was restored to its former glory. Jemina could hear Optimus' disbelief, "By the Allspark."
The others all added their own 'whoa' when Miko said, "Instant home makeover."
Knockout just said, "Shiny."
Jemina groaned, really? She began looking around the container, she knew what Megatron's next order was going to be, and there was no way she was going to give him access to that, there was no way she was going to guide a death beam to her planet. Optimus then spoke up, "You have what you want Megatron. This conflict is between Autobots and Decepticons, allow me to return the humans, all the humans, to Earth."
Megatron turned halfway, "Oh, I wouldn't recommend it, they'll be far safer here. Is the space bridge locked on target?"
Optimus' optics widened in horror, "Per your instructions, lord Megatron." Starscream said.
"Excellent, why rule only one world when I could rule two?" A space bridge opened overhead and Megatron activated the Lock, only for it to do nothing. "What, activate!" He punched in the command again and again Jemina refused to guide the beam, "Soundwave!"
Soundwave set het container down and walked towards the console and began typing into it, trying to find an override, all the while continuing to send commands to guide the beam. Only a minute in and Jemina was getting a headache. Soundwave then did something with the controls, some kind of request, and when she refused it brought a new wave of pain, sending her to her knees.
Megatron saw Jemina struggles as Soundwave continued to tamper with the controls, currently not having any luck overriding them. He watched Soundwave try another crippling tactic to take down the impenetrable firewall when Jemina cried out in pain and clutch her head. After a second her breaths became labored but the pain had subsided when Soundwave moved on. He smiled cruelly and picked up Jemina's container, she met his gaze head on with one of defiance, "So there was a fifth Key."
Arcee looked at Jemina confused, "What does he mean by that?"
Optimus looked torn in two directions, "He's figured out where the fifth key was hidden."
Megatron laughed, "How Alpha Trion managed to give a human an Omega Key I will never know, though it will be his downfall." He turned back to the Lock and looked at it, in the center underneath the map of Cybertron was a space large enough for a human to stand, an Omega Key to sit, or a Cybertronian to rest their servo. He set, more like harshly dropped, the container on the spot and nodded to Soundwave.
He again demanded access, unrelenting. Now that the key had been placed in the Lock Jemina couldn't refuse the order, it had to be fulfilled. The beam fired and an another cry of pain arose from Jemina, she had no way of refusing the order. Megatron grinned, "Such raw power! What should I call my new domain? New Kaon? Or perhaps Gilded Earth."
The base started to fritz it shook slightly, the computers doing no better. Clint shot up from the couch and half yelled, "What's happening?!"
Ratchet typed furiously into the computer, "Optimus, do you read? An unknown energy spike in Earth's atmosphere is crashing all my systems."
Tony ran to a computer and began trying to activate it but it was too fritzy to be stable, "Gah, come on!"
"Please tell me this is related to the activation of the Omega Lock." Ratchet breathed.
Steve ran over to the edge of the platform, "What do you want us to do?"
"Pray that Optimus succeeds." Ratchet answered before giving his full attention to the computers again.
Jemina breaths labored as she fought for some control, the beam was heading for Jasper…I may not be able stop it, but I can try and redirect it. Focusing she moved its trajectory away from Jasper to the first none-populated place she could think of, Death Valley.
Megatron saw the trajectory change and growled, "What are you doing?!"
Jemina continued to move its trajectory away from the population, when a new thought struck her but it would take time she didn't have. Soundwave made a command to override her movements but she was able to keep control with great pain, and managing to shout praying he would do something to prevent the Earth from being destroyed, "Opitmus!"
That must have been the final straw as Optimus broke from the Vehicon circle and ran for the Star Saber. He ran for the Lock as he cut down several Vehicons and knocked Jemina's container out of the way before bringing the Saber down and destroying the Lock. Megatron saw Optimus running for the Lock but was not able to move fast enough to prevent him from destroying it. The resulting explosion swept over everyone and Jemina raised a shield around her container to ensure she wouldn't be hurt.
A few seconds later it dissipated and the immediate area was in ruin. Looking around she saw the 'bots protecting their charges from the flames and saw Opitmus get up from where he had been thrown to. She was about to shout for him when a deep, maniacal laughter erupted from behind her. She rolled around to her other side and saw Megatron not three feet from her, and he reached for her container, "You have doomed Cybertron Optimus, so it is only right that I rip away something precious to you!"
"No!" Optimus shouted, Jemina wasn't quite sure if he was actually yelling no or if it was for show but at the moment she didn't care.
Megatron gripped her container and tore the lid while flinging her out, smiling the whole time. Jemina had grabbed a last breath before he threw her out and she rolled along the burning ground for a second before she realized that if she wanted to survive, she was going to have to show her other form. Not wasting another second she switched, within a fraction of a second a human was no longer lying there but a seeker. Megatron's laughed died suddenly as he looked at her in pure astonishment, "You, you were that seeker? How is that possible!?"
Fury burned in his optics and he charged her. Jemina scrambled up and ran, activating the foot thrusters to give her added speed, and circled around to Optimus as another space bridge opened up. They ran towards it, the other 'bots already through, when a missile struck the ground just short of Optimus and Jemina, sending them both flying away from the bridge. Megatron came running through the smoke with his Dark Star Saber drawn and ready to kill, and he was heading for her. Optimus reacted instantly and drew his own Star Saber and swiped at Megatron, not aiming for his blade but for the elbow of the Prime's arm Megatron had stolen.
Megatron fell to the ground from surprise and pain, giving Jemina and Optimus the time they needed to run through the bridge before it closed. They arrived at the Jasper base a minute later with Ratchet asking, "What happened? Somebody say something! Why is Jemina in her Cybertronian form?"
The 'bots all looked down and Bulkhead answered painfully, "Optimus, destroyed the Omega Lock."
"What?! You did-"
"What was necessary." Optimus answered firmly, "There was no time for another prolonged battle, not with Earth in imminent danger."
Ratchet looked devastated, "So you destroyed the only devise in any universe capable our home? Optimus, we needed that."
Smokescreen butted in, "You weren't there doc. And it's not your place to second-guess a battlefield decision."
"It most certainly is! There had to be another way!" Ratchet shouted.
Steve spoke up, "Having made many of those decisions myself it most certainly is not."
Jemina hung her head as she fought back tears, Cybertron may not have ever been her home or planet but she felt connected to it now, and she felt like she had just let down Alpha Trion, "If I had just acted sooner than I could have diverted the beam from Earth, none of this would have happened."
Jack looked at her then said to Ratchet, "I-it wasn't that simple Ratchet."
"Megatron was using the Omega Lock to attack the Earth." Raf said with an unusual firmness.
"Someone was attacking the Earth again?! I have got to try and find some way to prevent that…" Tony grumbled.
Miko added, "Optimus saved our planet."
"What about our planet?! All our struggles and Energon spilled and countless sacrifices for nothing?!"
"Right decision or wrong, what's done is done. And we have another problem here on this world, the 'cons just changed the rules when they put Jack, Miko, and Raf into play." Arcee said.
"How is it any different now?" Thor asked.
Optimus glared at the children, though it wasn't them he was glaring at, "He has willfully put younglings, human or Cybertronian, into death's way."
Ratchet yelled again still fuming, "And what about the fifth Key? How did he activate the Omega Lock without it? When did Megatron find it? Where was it?"
Bulkhead looked at Jemina, "Right under our noses the whole time."
Ratchet looked at Jemina, "You were the key? But, how? Why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you stop Megatron from using the Lock?!"
Jemina looked at him dead in the optics, her optics on the verge of tears while she kept her voice at a frightening calm, "You don't think I tried? You don't think I didn't go through excruciating pain to try and keep Megatron from using the Omega Lock? I didn't want it destroyed as much as you but I did what I could to stop him, it just wasn't enough."
"Hold on, now what's going on with this fifth key?" Natasha asked.
Jemina turned away and stared at the floor, "It doesn't matter anymore, I failed in protecting it." And any hope of a sooner restoration.
Optimus put an arm around her to comfort as he spoke, "Megatron now knows of her Cybertronian form, and I fear he knows of the children's residence also."
The computer suddenly beeped and Fowler appeared, "*Prime! The Pentagon's preparing to go Defcon One. I need to know what we're dealing with.*"
"To what do you refer agent Fowler?" Optimus asked.
Jemina answered, "He means the Decepticon base Megatron built."
They all looked at her, "And how do you know that?" Ratchet asked.
"You don't think that whatever Megatron wanted access to didn't first go through me? Even if I wasn't able to override it in the end. He actually had it set for few klicks away from this base when I managed to move it to Death Valley." Jemina finished.
Tony groaned, "Fury's gonna have our heads."
They all just looked at her when Fowler said, "*In Jasper, Nevada? I don't get it. I already had the town evacuated when the beam first hit. Why was he aiming for there?*"
Optimus' optics hardened, "Because the Decepticons have discovered the location of our base." As he finished the base shook.
Ratchet turned to the computers, "Where being attacked by the Decepticons!"
"*Prime, reinforcements just arrived.*"
Optimus scowled, "Agent Fowler, your military cannot prevail against the-"
"*You didn't think I was gonna let Team Prime have all the fun did ya?*" Wheeljack asked over the com unit.
Bulkhead laughed despite the situation, "It's Jackie!"
"Who's he?" Bruce asked but it was left unanswered.
"Wheeljack? But how did you-" Ratchet started.
Wheeljack cut him off, "*I picked up a strange energy surge, hope you don't mind the company.*"
Ratchet shook his head, "No, it's just that after everything-well…"
"*We're still on the same team doc. Always will be.*"
Optimus took a step away before ordering, "Ratchet, prepare to bridge everyone out of here."
"We're abandoning the base?" Ratchet asked.
Optimus turned, "The base is lost. Wheeljack and agent Fowler can only buy us time to escape. Bumblebee, Rafael, Jayce, Clint, and Tony, you will depart first."
:What?! Why?:
"You're splitting us up?" Raf asked.
Jayce ran over, "No! You can't do that!"
"Shouldn't we stick together?" Jack inclined.
Miko added, "All for one and one for all?"
"Why am I leaving? We're on Earth, we can help." Tony argued and the other Avengers along with him.
Optimus shook his head, "We must disperse to avoid capture until we can regroup and launch a counterattack. Survival is our only priority now. And they would target you knowing about your alliance with us, it would be better if you split up along with the others."
Ratchet hung his helm before he moved over to the controls and activated the bridge. Jayce ran to Jemina, "I don't want to go!"
She knelt down and smiled, "It's ok, Bee and Raf will be there with you, and you can smack Tony if he starts to get a mouth. I'll see you in a day or so." Hopefully. She picked him up and deposited him in Bee's cab when he wouldn't let go. It took everything she had not to cry at the sight of her brother being torn away, but it was necessary.
"We haven't much time." Optimus yelled over as Ratchet then switched the coordinates and Bulkhead, Miko, Bruce and Thor drove through, doing the same for Arcee, Jack and Natasha.
Jemina, Steve and Smokescreen were next. Smoky and Steve saluted while Jemina looked pained at Optimus before turned and going through the bridge. She saw the end getting nearer as she had to keep telling herself that Optimus would be fine, that when Smokescreen went back through he'd-her thought stopped as the horrible realization dawned on her, Smokescreen won't go back through because he's supposed to watch me and Steve! She stopped and looked at Smokescreen and Steve who was walking next to him for a half-second before running back to the base and bending the light around her so she wouldn't be seen.
Smokescreen heard peeds running away behind him and he turned to see Jemina running back towards the base, oh Optimus will kill me if she goes back and gets hurt! He ran after her, forgetting about Steve, and activated the Phase Shifter he had snagged back on Cybertron as he ran after her then ran through the wall to avoid detection. As he ran back he saw Ratchet walk over as the ground bridge just changed coordinates and disappear.
Steve saw the two of them run back in, "This isn't going to end well." He grunted as he ran back for the two of them and brought his shield up to bear.
Jemina circled around Ratchet as he disappeared through the bridge and ran through the bridge. Optimus raised the Star Saber and destroyed the computer so the Decepticons couldn't follow as the base came down on top of them. Jemina wanted to shout but could only manage to throw a shield to protect Optimus as the base collapsed on them, she being too far away to cover them both when she saw Steve. Having half-a-second she jumped and covered him from the falling debris, her last thought before her world went black was, their safe, he's safe.
Eh, sorry, not my best chapter...the next few will be better, they better be *glares at mirror and shouts* if it isn't i'm gonna strangle you! So, what did you think, review?
