Chapter 20

Sergeant Epps stood next to Ironhide as the Ark lifted off from the base. Lennox walked up to them.

"He's doing it again isn't he?" Ironhide merely responded with a low growl. Epps glanced at Lennox. "Sore subject." Lennox nodded. "Got it."

"How's Sam?"

Lennox looked grim. "He's out of the woods, but the Doc says the visions are playing hell with his brain, they've had to keep him under sedation to stop him from hurting himself."

"Yeah I heard he was going bat shit crazy earlier." Epps muttered. Ironhide was now paying attention to the two soldiers as the Ark disappeared into the clouds.

"Has Sam said anything about his visions?" He asked. Lennox shook his head. "He just keeps screaming they're coming, they're coming. We can't get much else out of him after that as he ends up going into convulsions."

"They're coming?" Epps stared at Lennox. "That does not sound good for the success of Optimus's mission." The ground rumbled beneath their feet as Ironhide emitted a low growl. He glared at them before glancing back up to the sky.

"He will succeed." He stated simply, firmly leaving no room for argument.

****

Trailblazer held on for dear life as he was hauled through the Atmosphere at break neck speed. Starscream banked sharply as they entered the coldness of space. He accelerated swiftly towards the moon, falling behind its shadow to avoid detection from the Autobots at the station.

"Where are we going?" He shouted up. Starscream sounded tinny, strange in space as the jet replied absently.

"To the Nemesis. Time is short."

They travelled the rest of the way in silence; Trailblazer's internal capacitor was cycling rapidly as his apprehension grew. They touched down lightly onto a rocky surface. Standing Trailblazer frowned.

"This isn't the Nemesis." He glanced at Starscream who seemed uncomfortable. "What is it Starscream?"

"We are being watched." He spoke, his tone hushed. Trailblazer's optics darted around him focusing on the entrance to the cave embedded within the asteroid.

"There's no one here." He hissed nervously.

"He knows we are here."

"Who does?!" Trailblazer was becoming increasingly more frustrated.

"I do."

He spun round turning to face the impassive Soundwave that had approached them silently. Trailblazer trembled slightly, there was something not quite right about this mech. Soundwave barely glanced at the fearful Autobot and rested his gaze on the now confused and angry Starscream.

"Welcome back Starscream." His monotonous tone sent shivers running through Trailblazer's frame. Starscream was seething.

"How did you...?" The jet's optics widened in horror. His voice dropped to a whisper. "What have you done to me?"

Soundwave smiled darkly behind his mask, the seeker was more perceptive than Megatron gave him credit for. Still there was little time for questions. He had to act quickly. Before Starscream could register what was happening, two tendrils locked onto either side of his helm. He winced sharply, struggling against him. Soundwave twitched slightly, his optics darkened; Starscream's whole body locked painfully then fell to the ground in a heap as the tendrils were withdrawn.

"Give me the Matrix Starscream."

Starscream stared at him, his optics began wandering. Clutching his helm, he stood shakily, wobbling a little. Blinking he stared at Soundwave again. "What... what happened?"

"The Matrix Starscream. Your mission was to retrieve it. Give it to me."

Starscream opened and closed his mouth before frowning. "My mission?" He slurred lazily. Blinking rapidly to focus his optics, he took a tentative step forward. "I do not have a Matrix Soundwave." He paused, confused. "What am I doing here? Where am I?"

Soundwave tensed, this was not good. "The Matrix Starscream, you must have it."

Starscream got angry and lashed out wildly. "How dare you accuse me of taking something..." He drifted, stepping backwards he stumbled losing his balance and fell heavily on his aft. He stared up at Soundwave. "What is a Matrix?" He asked innocently, still clutching his helm.

Soundwave growled softly. Ignoring the dazed seeker he spun towards Trailblazer. The brave youngling had his weapon drawn and was pointing it at Soundwave. Soundwave's optics narrowed. Trailblazer grimaced as if he was in pain and gripped his weapon with both hands. Try as he might he could not pull the trigger. He whimpered as Soundwave grabbed him roughly.

"You should have run when you had the chance."

Trailblazer still baffled and now worried as to why he couldn't fire on the disturbing mech, struggled in his firm grip as he was half dragged, half carried into the dark cave. "I am no coward." He snarled angrily.

"Then you will be a dead hero." Soundwave replied, emotionless, cold. Fear gripped Trailblazer's spark and his capacitor stalled as his optics fell on the sight of the vast silver machine that came into view before them. He heard Starscream stumbling behind them.

"Starscream! Help me! Remember what you said, we need to stop Megatron!"

The jet stared incredulously at the two mechs in front of him. His vision was still blurry; his cortex felt like it was burning through his helm. What had Soundwave done to him? Trailblazer's words echoed through his mind. There was something he needed to do. He would never help an Autobot, how did he get here. A truce... he remembered a truce. His optics glazed over slightly as the effects of Soundwave's mind plant left holes in his memory cache. His name screamed into his audio receptors.

"Starscream please!!" Trailblazer bellowed frantically as Soundwave forced him to lie on a flat metal slab.

"I don't know... what has happened... why are you yelling?!" He glared at the Autobot before sinking to his knees with exertion; both hands now gripped his head he gasped in pain. "So much... noise..."

Trailblazer watched crest fallen, as Starscream collapsed face first onto the metal grill with a grating crash. Soundwave turned to the noise and audibly sighed.

'Lord Megatron, Starscream has returned.'

'Excellent Soundwave and the Matrix?'

'He did not... retrieve it; he has however brought us a substitute energy source'

Megatron's voice took on a threatening tone. 'You know the price for failure Soundwave. This had better be sufficient or I will tear out both your sparks and use them instead. I will be there shortly.'

Soundwave glanced down at the unconscious seeker he frowned, in his underestimation of the power of the mind plant; Soundwave knew he would pay for this failure painfully.

****

Optimus was grim faced as the Ark shot through the atmosphere, rattling loudly. Prowl winced as part of the ship's plating flew across their vision.

"Ratchet is not going to be happy." He mused out loud. Optimus grunted softly in response. The Earth's moon shot past their vision.

"How long will it take us to reach the coordinates?"

Prowl tapped the console he was seated at. "Approximately 40 minutes at present speed."

Optimus frowned. "Too long. Prowl can you calculate how long we would need to engage the hyper drive in order to drop out of hyper speed just before those coordinates."

Prowl stared at his leader. "Sir attempting a hyper jump within a solar system is extremely dangerous. We could re-materialise inside a planet or worse if the calculations are off by a minute fraction."

Optimus glanced at him. "Then I suggest you get the calculations correct Prowl." Faint amusement played at the corner of his mouth. He rested a hand on his Tactician's shoulder seated in front of him. Prowl turned slowly, and began the calculations.

"Sir I have programmed the calculations into Teletraan 1 we need to activate the hyper drive and burn for no more than 1.37 seconds." Prowl spoke carefully, his processors still computing the information as his fingers moved swiftly over the console.

"Where will that bring us out?"

"Well if my calculations are correct, then it should bring us out into the shadow of Jupiter. The Nemesis will be easily attainable from that position."

"Activate hyper drive."

"Sir, I want to add that the chances of us succeeding have dropped to 24% simply by utilising the hyper drive." He glanced up at his commander grimly, Optimus met his optics. "Understood."

Prowl nodded and initiated the command. The Ark thrummed into life, its outer shell vibrating at the force of the engines. The tactician glanced up, waiting for the command.

"Now Prowl."

His finger pushed down and the screen in front of them went solidly white the engines screeched painfully as they shunted to a stop, Optimus braced himself on the console. The image was replaced with that of the gas giant. Optimus exhaled with relief. Patting Prowl on the shoulder. "Good job Prowl. Move us out of the planet's gravity field."

Prowl simply nodded in acknowledgement.

"Teletraan 1 display visuals of the Nemesis."

The screen flickered; a darker image came on screen. A ship barely visible against the outcrop of rock. "Teletraan 1 can you detect Decepticon activity?"

The screen flickered again. A strange sight came into view. Optimus frowned at the three unmoving rocky bodies close to where the Nemesis was situated. "That's odd." He mused. Prowl scowled. "They must be holding the asteroids in place with some sort of gravity field from their ship." He glanced at the console again. "There's a powerful build up of energy in the centre of that middle asteroid, the largest."

"Right Prowl I want you to remain here, keep monitoring for any changes. They must be inside the asteroid; I will go try to find Trailblazer and Arcee."

"Optimus you know this is a trap!"Prowl exclaimed exasperated, turning and standing to face his calm leader.

Optimus gave him a thin smile. "From Starscream I would expect nothing less. How long before it reaches full power?"

"I can't be certain without fully understanding the machine itself. From the exponential increase I would say no more than 30 earth minutes before critical mass is achieved. There is already a gravimetric distortion forming close to the third asteroid."

"Not much time." Optimus mumbled quietly as he turned to head from the ship, Prowl grasped his arm in an uncharacteristic display of concern. "It's too dangerous to go alone."

"Prowl I need you here, monitor the situation, warn Earth if those asteroids pose any kind of threat. If I don't return in 25 minutes you are ordered to destroy the asteroids, all of them."

"What about you?"

"Right now our concern is our friends and the planet. I need your word that you'll follow my order Prowl." Optimus's tone was stern, commanding. Prowl was torn, he couldn't argue with his leader's logic, but to be the one who pushed the button that sent his Prime to Primus, that was not who he was, he was a tactician. He dropped his head, doubt and anxiety - alien feelings to him - washed through his circuitry.

"I can't do that Sir..." He gulped. "Optimus..." He felt Optimus's hands on his shoulders prompting him to look up.

"Prowl you are one of my finest officers, you know I am right. Give me your word."

Prowl swallowed hard. "But Optimus..."

"Prowl..." Optimus spoke the faintest hint of a growl touching his words. "We don't have much time. Your word."

Prowl resigned himself to the decision, relaxing under his commander's grip. "The word is given."

He felt Optimus squeeze his shoulders slightly and then he was gone. Sighing Prowl turned his attentions back to the screen.

****

He stood, it was cold. He couldn't move, opening his eyes his gaze was greeted by the sight of the terrifying metallic monstrosity looming before him. Then he saw him and shook with fear. The vile tyrant looked straight at him with blood red optics and laughed. He was frozen with abject terror. He turned away and the machine boomed covering his ears he screamed as the vibrations shattered his inner ear. He fell; his gaze fell on the familiar face, his friend, his leader. Their eyes met he reached out desperately trying to reach him. A loud humming filled the cavern he was in. He could only watch as a powerful light burst from Optimus's chest. The powerful, noble leader trembled at the sheer force of power and his roar of agony assaulted his senses. Sam screamed as he tried to crawl his way across the rock, a weight bore down on him, painfully pinning him to the spot. His fingers stretched out, the pain, so much pain. His chest felt like it was on fire. Tears streaked down his burning cheeks. He cried out Optimus's name, his blue optics fell onto his prone form, sadness seeped into Sam's very soul. Then in one last burst of energy, Optimus shrieked as his chest was torn open and the machine thundered into life. Sam could only hear his own screams as once again he watched Optimus Prime fall lifeless to the floor. An agonising, blinding hot white light filled his vision and Sam knew no more.