My Life as a Teenage Autobot

Chapter 4: Roll Out

It was 7:32 PM MST at the silo. Jenny sat on top of the structure looking at the stars and moon. A sudden sense of sadness and loneliness overcame her. "I miss Mom, and Brad, and Tuck, and even Sheldon." She thought while a drop of antifreeze flowed from her right eye.

Jenny was startled by Optimus saying "I've always admired Earth's moon. So peaceful." Jenny wiped away her "tear" and turned toward the metal giant. "I miss everyone. My friends, my family. I would give anything to see them again."

Optimus eyed the girl with sympathy and lowered his head. "I understand." He soothed. "You do?" Jenny asked. "I've not spoken with many of my Cybertronian brethren since the War. Some are gone forever." Optimus confided in a solemn tone.

"I'm… sorry." Jenny said knowing it wasn't enough. "It is best not to dwell on friends we have lost. Rather, we should keep their lives in our memories and look toward the future." The Autobot advised.

"Can I tell you something?" Jenny asked. "Of course." Optimus replied. "Thank you. For everything. Not many would have taken in someone like me." Jenny thanked.

Optimus was about to answer, but Ratchet called him on his comm-link. "Optimus, we're ready to brief Jenny on the enemies she'll encounter in the field." The medic reported. "Understood." Optimus acknowledged.

Optimus and Jenny took the elevator down to the communications hub where Ratchet had prepared a presentation of the different kinds of Decepticons. "Ratchet you may begin." Optimus said.

Ratchet pressed some buttons on his keyboard and the image of a black and purple robot appeared on the center screen. "This is a Vehicon," Ratchet began, "The backbone of the Decepticon Army. Though slow witted they are dangerous in large groups and completely docile. They come in car and jet types."

Ratchet pressed a button and a bug like robot displayed. "This is an Insecticon, the heavy hitters of the Decepticons. You are strongly advised to fight them at long range as their claws and heavy armor prove troublesome in close quarters.

The image changed to a red robot with a smirk on his face. "This is Knockout, the Decepticon medic."Ratchet explained. "His experiments serve to further Decepticon science and to satisfy his ghoulish curiosity. His vehicle mode is an Aston Martin DB9."

Next was a blue and yellow robot with a sword and cannon. "This is Dreadwing, the Decepticon second in command and Air Commander. He is fiercely loyal to the Decepticon cause and transforms into an F-35B." Ratchet informed.

Then a robot with no facial features appeared. "This is Soundwave. He is the chief intelligence officer of the Decepticons. Ironically he chooses not to speak. His arsenal consists of sonic weapons and a miniature drone known as Laserbeak." Ratchet explained.

"You already know the rouge Decepticon, Starscream." Ratchet presumed.

The final image appeared on the screen. It was big, silver, red- eyed, and heavily armed with a giant arm cannon. "This is Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. His ambition and ruthlessness know no bounds. He was raised in gladiatorial combat so extreme caution is advised." Ratchet continued.

"So that's all huh?" Jenny asked nervously. "No. We have one other enemy. A terrorist organization named MECH. They hunt down Cybertonians and use them for parts so they can build a transforming army." Ratchet finished.

Jenny was really starting to wonder if joining the Autobots was the best idea. As if to read her thoughts Bulkhead chimed in, "Don't worry, Jen, we've got your back." Bumblebee nodded and buzzed in agreement. "Indeed." Optimus agreed. "And with your flight capabilities we will finally have an edge over the Decepticon Air Force."

Just then an Autobot Iacon beacon symbol appeared on the computer map. "Looks like Megatron is in the Andes Mountain Range in Chile." Ratchet reported. "It stands to reason that they found another Iacon relic." Optimus concluded.

"Well Jenny, this is your first mission as an Autobot." Arcee observed. "Try to keep up." The Cybertronian teased. "I don't have to try Arcee." Jenny retorted.

"Enough, both of you!" Ratchet scolded as he opened the Ground Bridge. "Autobots, transform and roll out!" Optimus ordered. The Autobots shifted into vehicle mode (save for Jenny who activated her flight thrusters) and entered the Ground Bridge vortex.

When they exited they arrived on a ledge in the Andes Mountains. The Autobots that could transform shifted into robot mode and Jenny gently landed "Ah, bienvenido a Chile mis amigos." she said. "You're fluent in Spanish?" Arcee realized. "I'm fluent in all of Earth's languages." Jenny explained.

Optimus produced a scanner and led the Autobots toward the Iacon beacon. Unfortunately, a few moments later, the beacon's signal disappeared. "The Decepticons deactivated the beacon," Optimus observed, "but I've marked the location."

Eventually the Autobots arrived at the location to find themselves outnumbered three to one. There were ten Ground Vehicons guarding the entrance to a tunnel in the side of a mountain and five Vehicon Flyers hovering above them. The group of Decepticons was 500 yards away.

"Jenny, distract the Vehicon Flyers, we'll take the others." Optimus advised Jenny switched to her energon power supply and bolted in to the air toward the Vehicons. She stretched her arms out and aimed herself at a Vehicon Flyer from the side. She punched straight through the alien metal. The falling Decepticon crushed two Ground Vehicons before exploding.

The other Flyers set off on a pursuit course for Jenny. "Catch me if you can!" she boasted. Optimus and the other Autobots opened fire with their laser weapons knocking out two more Vehicons. As the Vehicons returned fire, the Autobot charged them, laser guns blazing. One of the Vehicons transformed into car-mode and sped down the tunnel. "He's gonna warn Megatron!" Bulkhead realized.

The Autobots shifted into vehicle mode and pursued the lone Vehicon. Meanwhile Jenny continued her dogfight. She swerved rolled and looped to dodge the barrage of fire they sent at her. Jenny maneuvered to the rear of one and downed it with her arm blaster. She swerved left and sent another down with a blast from her palm laser. Another two were brought down by four of her homing missiles. Finally she flew up to the last one, landed on it, and cut an "x" shape in it with her plasma sword. The Vehicon exploded a few seconds after she jumped off and headed toward the other Autobots.

"Prime, its Jenny. All Flyers destroyed. I'm headed for your location." She reported. "Understood. We're pursuing a Vehicon into the tunnel." Optimus replied.

Jenny flew down the tunnel to catch up to Optimus. He and the Autobots followed the Vehicon into a large open area in the cave. In the center lay a giant sphere of Cybertronian origin. Standing next to it were Megatron and Knockout.

The Vehicon and the Autobots took their robot modes as they approached the sphere. Megatron turned to greet them as the activated their weapons. "Greetings Optimus. You're just in time to reunite with an old adversary from the war. Knockout opened the sphere. Inside was not an Autobot relic or a weapon of mass destruction but something far worse. A tall purple robot with a single yellow eye and a cannon for a right arm emerged from his stasis in the sphere.

"It can't be." Arcee gasped. "What? What is it?" Ratchet asked. "Shockwave." Optimus realized.