A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I would like to know what you think about me making Jack sort of like a Prime, being that he's human. I don't think the species matters, just the traits.
Chapter 7
In the outskirts of the desert, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and ShadowStrike stood over a monolith, looking over the horizon. The Prime and the medic observed as the young ninja looked over the region before him. He had found that through concentration, his senses could be heightened. He could see objects from miles away and hear movements from even the slightest of creatures. He also noticed he was slightly stronger than before.
Jack realized that he would have to start working out and build his muscles up if he ever wanted to survive an encounter with Megatron. Even more so if he ran into the Shredder; his body still ached from their first encounter and they had only traded a few blows. Heaven help Jack if they ever drew their swords in battle. Jack finished scoping out the area and decided to take it a step further. He spread out his arms like an eagle and tilted forward.
He fell from the cliff and glided through the air; it would seem his suit was aerodynamically designed for such things. He descended to the ground below, feeling almost like a little kid again. How many kids could say they were as close to "flying" as he was? He landed with ease on the ground and looked up to Optimus and Ratchet, using his hearing to listen in.
"So far, I have found no upper limits in his abilities," the medic spoke, going over the scans he had just taken. "Still, let's see how powerful his space-bridging ability is." Before Optimus could relay Ratchet's message, Jack had teleported to their location, his head spinning.
"Still not use to that," He shook his head.
"It most likely depends on the distance," Ratchet said. "Your body enhanced or not, is not used to traveling so far at a molecular level. I suggest only using your ability to travel short distances and only go beyond your limit when the situation calls for it.
"Jack nodded, "What next?" Ratchet was about to respond, when his scanner picked up something. It was an energy signature not far from their current location.
"By the AllSpark," Ratchet said. "If my readings are right, an Iacon artifact has just been unearthed."
"Where is it located?" Optimus asked.
"Not too far from our current location," he replied. "And if we haven't moved it, the Decepticons must have." Since retrieving Optimus, the 'Cons kept a low profile; no doubt dealing with Megatron's uncontrollable fit of rage at the loss of their archivist. Now, they were on the move and had found Primus knows what kind of weapon.
"What is their current location?" Optimus said.
Before Ratchet could answer, Jack replied, "Might want to look above you." They looked above and noticed a silver alien jet soaring through the sky. It moved at incredible speed as it flew past them, seemingly unaware of their presence.
"Megatron," Optimus narrowed his optics.
ShadowStrike Rising
Deep within the desert, the Vehicon troopers were hard at work unearthing an unknown device. Whatever it was, they only found thanks to coordinates attained from Orion Pax's decoding of Autobot files taken during the War for Cybertron. There was little doubt that this device was among many Decepticon weapons taken during the war. It was sure to be powerful if the Autobots shipped it off-world to keep from Lord Megatron's reach.
When the War had reached its climax, Megatron had led an all-out campaign into the Autobot capitol, using his troops as distraction while he attacked from the slums. Since the Autobots never kept the slums well-guarded, Megatron and his forces tore through them to the Halls of Iacon. There, the gained a decisive victory when the Lord of the Decepticons defeated and captured Sentinel Zeta Prime. Eventually, the former leader of the Autobots was killed by Soundwave. With that, they won the War for Cybertron, but the true war, as they would soon learn, was just beginning.
Now, they were mere moments away from unearthing their latest find.
"Get a move on," Alpha-1 ordered. "Lord Megatron is almost here and he demands that we unearth this device by the time he arrives!"
"I don't care!" the Vehicon named ST3V3 said. "I live to serve our true leader, Lord Starscream!"
"Shut up, ST3V3!" one of them called.
"Just you wait," he continued, "Lord Starscream will return and put Megatron in his place!"
"He does know Soundwave listens in on these conversations, doesn't he?" one of them whispered to Alpha-1.
"It' doesn't matter," Alpha shook his head. "Just get back to work." As they continued, Megatron himself descended upon, shifting into his true form as he landed.
They all bowed, "Lord Megatron."
"What have to report," he asked.
"We have almost unearthed the device," Alpha-1 reported. "A process that would be going faster if ST3V3 would learn to stop babbling and work." He looked back over to ST3V3, who was still preaching to no one in particular about how Starscream's return would be miraculous.
"He is lucky that I don't rip out his spark," Megatron growled. "If he did not manage to survive every battle with the Autobots, he'd be of no use to me."
"Lord Megatron!" one of the miners called. "We have the device." They brought out a container and opened. Megatron walked over and reached inside, surprised at what he'd found. Meanwhile, Optimus, Ratchet, and ShadowStrike watched from behind the rocks.
"What do you suppose is in that container," the ninja asked.
"I do not know," Optimus said. "But I do not wish to wait and find out. ShadowStrike, remain while Ratchet and retrieve the package."
"Huh?"
"We cannot allow Megatron to know of your existence just yet," the Prime explained. "Ratchet and I can handle the enemy on our own for now." ShadowStrike nodded and waited while they climbed down to confront Megatron.
ShadowStrike Rising
In Japan, the Prime Minister, Oroku Saki returned to his estate, a large building that towered over Tokyo. Entering the lobby, he was met by his loyal ninja, the Foot clan. They bowed in loyalty to their master as he made his way to the elevator. He was met by his chief scientist, Baxter Stockman. Dressed in a lab coat and a suit, the African American scientist greeted the man.
"Shredder," he greeted. "And how did it feel being kidnapped by terrorist. Did your plan bear and results?"
"Indeed, but not as much as I planned," the man replied, handing the man a data pad. "Where is Karai?"
"Up in the dojo," he said, looking over the data. "She's training as usual."
"Good," he smirked. "I may require her for future endeavors with MECH." He entered the elevator and went to the top floor, his home. He entered the dojo to find his daughter, Karai, training with the other ninja. She had just dispatched with the last of ninja when she noticed her father's presence.
"Father," she smiled. "I thought MECH was going to 'hold' you for a little while longer." She had long black hair and creamy pale skin. Her large dark brown eyes were filled with mischief as she followed her father to the control room. She wore a black tank top and tight pants.
"I encountered 'complications'," he said. "It would seem the automatons have gained a new ally, sort of."
"Sort of," she raised an eyebrow. Saki reached the panel and began shifting through images of the Autobots and their human allies until he found Jack Darby's photograph. Karai eyed with interest and smiled slyly, "Cute, how old is he?"
"The same age as you," Saki replied. "I threw him off a cliff and he should have died, but he came back. He had a new outfit and some new abilities."
"Sounds like he'll be fun to play with," Karai smiled deviously.
"Indeed," Saki chuckled darkly. A transmission came in; it was Silas.
"We have just created a device that will allow us to draw in one of the Transformers. We await your arrival."
"Understood," Saki replied. "Karai, fetch Stockman and prepare for departure."
"Yes father."
ShadowStrike Rising
Back in the desert, Megatron reveled in the fact the he had just gotten his hands on a powerful relic of Iacon, thanks to Orion Pax. The Autobots may have regained their leader, thanks to that pitiful human, but Megatron still had a one of three Iacon devices to add to his arsenal. He would soon make the Autobots, and more importantly that human, pay.
"Megatron," came the voice of Optimus Prime as he and his lap dog, Ratchet, approached.
"Optimus," the Decepticon leader smirked. "I would suggest you keep your distance, les you and Ratchet fall victim to our newest acquisition." He pulled out the device from the container.
"By the AllSpark," Ratchet gasped.
"The Spark Extractor," Optimus narrowed his optics. A dangerous weapon, the spark extractor lived up to its name. Optimus had seen that device rip out the sparks of several Autobots.
"And to think, the Decepticons owe this latest find to contributions of Orion Pax," Megatron sneered. He smiled darkly at the surprise in Optimus' optics; so the Prime did not remember his time as Megatron's data clerk. That made this all the more sweeter as he backed away, waiting for Soundwave to send the ground-bridge, "So what will you do Optimus? Allow me to leave or risk the lives of you and your medic?"
Optimus donned his battle mask and drew his blasters, attacking the Vehicons as they drew their weapons. Megatron retreated to a safe distance to await the ground-bridge as it appeared before him. He entered it just as another bridge opened, revealing the Autobot scout, Bumblebee. 'Bee sped past the Vehicons, using his wheels to his advantage?
"Bumblebee," Optimus called. "Retrieve the package!" 'Bee did as instructed and entered the ground-bridge vortex. He sped past Megatron and transformed to confront the Lord of the Decepticons. It had been the first they'd been in battle alone together since that faithful day at Tyger Pax. 'Bee dove at the Decepticon leader, who clutched his throat.
"Let's see," he smiled darkly, "What shall I take from you this time?" Bumblebee drew his blaster and fired in Megatron's face. As he recovered, 'Bee snatched the spark extractor and drove out of the bridge. Megatron stomped after him, exiting the bridge only to find the Autobots gone.
"Curse that scout," he growled.
ShadowStrike Rising
The Autobot base was abuzz with joy as they reveled in their latest victory against the Decepticons. Bumblebee beamed with pride and a little arrogance as he recalled how he outsmarted Megatron.
"His arrogance may prove to be his downfall," Zangetsu said.
"Let him have his fun for now," Jack said. "A little boasting never hurt anybody."
"So why didn't ol' Zangetsu let you know about the Decepticons and their find?" Bulkhead asked.
Zangetsu materialized and stood before the Wrecker, "I knew your computers were programmed to locate any device with an Iacon tracer hidden within it."
"So," Arcee looked at Optimus nervously, "How many more devices you decode for him?"
Optimus sighed, "You are right to weary Arcee. However, I cannot remember my time on the Nemesis, so I have no idea."
"Then perhaps this is the only one they found," Ratchet said.
"As I informed you last night," Zangetsu said, "There are at least three devices that have been identified. I strongly suggest you keep on the lookout for them."
ShadowStrike Rising
Driving down a desert highway, Bumblebee patrolled the area for any sign of Decepticon activity, Bulkhead a few miles over. He was still savoring his victory in retrieving the spark extractor from Megatron. Some might call him arrogant, but they didn't know what Bumblebee went through, what he was still going through. Suddenly, his scanners activated and pinpointed a signal coming from a few miles away.
Bulkhead commed, "You gettin' the same readings as me?" 'Bee beeped in confirmation.
"Might be another Iacon signal," the Wrecker pondered, "let's rendezvous at the coordinates." 'Bee sped down the road to the device; it was only a matter of time before the 'Cons found the device. A few minutes later, he arrived at the location to find a rather large device. He wasn't sure what it was, but Ratchet would probably be able to identify it. He was certain that he would need Bulkhead's help, so he decided to wait. He heard a strange sound and turned around.
He was met by an electrical shock; he thrashed around before collapsing and falling into darkness. Out of the sky, MECH descended. They landed next to the scout as Silas and the Surgeon stepped out, followed by several soldiers. They took their position as the Surgeon prepared to work, "There's another on the way."
"Work briskly," Silas replied. He nodded and began cutting into the 'Bot as the other got closer and closer.
"He's ahead of schedule," Silas said.
"What a coincidence," he replied. "So am I." He held a cylinder like device and they boarded the chopper and took off. Just as the green came into view. Bulkhead transformed ran to 'Bee's side, looking over the scout for any injuries as he came online.
"'Bee! Are you okay? Who did this?" Bumblebee merely beeped in confusion. "Let's go!" Bulkhead transformed and sped, 'Bee following. He got a running start before he transformed; or at least tried to. His parts moved, but did not shift. 'Bee tried again, but got the same result.
Bulkhead backed up, transformed, and stomped over to be, annoyance clear on his face, "We rolling or what!"
"I can't," 'Bee beeped.
"What do you mean you can't?"
ShadowStrike Rising
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! I'm still deciding on whether or not to let the 'Bots get the hammer. Next time: 'Bee's unable to transform? What's happened and what is MECH planning?