A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Panther-Strife: Karai is a character from the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" comics. She is the adoptive daughter of the Shredder (though in this version, she is his biological daughter). As for putting her with Jack, I don't think so. I've decided, thanks to everyone's reviews, that it will be Jack/Arcee.
Chapter 8
Bumblebee lay on a medical berth while Ratchet scanned him over for any damages. Bulkhead had contacted them and explained what happened. While tracking a signal that might have been an Iacon artifact, Bumblebee was ambushed by an unknown enemy. When Bulkhead arrived, there was no one in sight; he and 'Bee attempted to follow, only for the scout to find that he couldn't. Everyone watched as Ratchet's scans begin compiling an answer to the problem.
Raf walked up, concern evident on his face, "You can fix 'Bee, can you?"
"That depends," Ratchet replied. "We have to determine how much damage his T-Cog may have suffered."
"T-Cog?" Jack repeated.
"Is that like a T-Bone," Miko inquired.
"Not exactly," Arcee said. "It's the organ that allows us to scan vehicle and transform." Ratchet's scan came back and he looked it over in horror.
"By the AllSpark! Bumblebee's T-Cog isn't damaged. It's missing!"
"But why would the 'Cons take 'Bee's T-Cog?" Raf asked.
"I do not believe it was the Decepticons," Zangetsu materialized. "They already possess their own T-Cogs."
"And that leaves only one other suspect," Ratchet said.
"The ones who cannibalized Breakdown," Bulkhead said.
"And the ones who tried to crack me open," Arcee growled.
"MECH," Ratchet confirmed everyone's thoughts. "It would seem they learned more from their recent capture of us than we realized." Bumblebee sat up on the berth and let everything sink in. He had been tricked by MECH and now his T-Cog was missing. And like that, familiar feelings hollowness and emptiness swelled in 'Bee's spark. He beeped sadly.
"Don't say that 'Bee!" Raf said. "You're not useless."
"Bumblebee," Optimus placed a hand on the scout's shoulder. "I know how it feels to lose part of yourself. I also know that it is best to rely on the strength of those around you. Know that we will do everything in our power recover you T-Cog and make you whole again." 'Bee gave another sad beep.
"Okay," Bulkhead said. "I say none of us transform until 'Bee gets his T-Cog back."
"Your spark's in the right place, Bulk, but I don't this is the time for us to be limiting ourselves," Arcee replied.
"Not while Megatron and the Decepticons are searching for more Iacon devices and not while MECH concocts plans of its own." Optimus narrowed his optics.
ShadowStrike Rising
At an old, abandoned military base, Silas and his men were hard at work placing their newest acquisition to use. It had been fairly easy for them to take the Autobot, Bumblebee's bio-mechanism. It really didn't matter who answered the transmission' whether they be Autobot or Decepticon, they would fall victim to MECH's trap. Still, it gave Silas a sick sense of satisfaction to know that he had debilitated the Autobot "youngling" as they called him. MECH's scientists were hard at work installing the bio-mechanism into their very own Transformer.
They had managed to use the schematics they had attained from Optimus Prime and Breakdown to put together a man-made version of a Cybertronian skeleton. Their plan was to use the T-Cog to make their robot a walking weapon to help them bring about the new world order. They placed the mechanism inside the skeleton and filled it with gas.
"Preparing to scan vehicle mode," the Surgeon said. The mechanism came to life, humming like an engine as the optics turned toward a helicopter. "Initiating scan."
The man-made Transformer ran a beam along the helicopter and began transmitting data before he panels short circuited. The Surgeon backed away from the computer as Silas frowned. It would seem that the fuel they used was insufficient. The Shredder and Karai stepped out of the shadows, the latter dressed in black ninja outfit, a black robe on her shoulders and a hood and mask on her face. On her back was a standard katana.
"It would seem you are having difficulties, Silas," the Shredder looked over to the computer panel.
"Looks like this thing doesn't run on fossil fuel," Karai said. "I'm surprised given that it came from a gas guzzling race car."
"All MECH needs is to find the right power source," Silas replied. The sound of a dark chuckle echoed throughout the facility. Everyone turned their attention to the hanger doors, which were slightly open, revealing a grinning Starscream. The rogue Seeker had followed the beacon sent by MECH as a trap and arrived just as they were making with Bumblebee's T-Cog (better the scout than him). He figured that these "terrorists" might be useful in helping him locate energon.
Starscream opened the doors and walked in, taking long, arrogant strides, "So you are the ones who disfigured poor Breakdown and yet you've learned nothing." MECH immediately aimed their weapons at the Seeker, preparing to fire on Silas' order.
"Enough to know where the soft spots are, Decepticon," the scarred man spat.
"Please," Starscream scoffed," do not insult me. If I were here to avenge Breakdown, you would be smears on the wall."
"Is that so?" the Shredder raised an eyebrow.
"And it would seem that you are in need of lessons on how that device your acquired work. I can provide such lessons."
"Really?" Karai asked. "How about you tell us how you got those heels." She gestured to his feet; the Seeker simply snarled and continued. Silas gave the sign for his men to hold their fire.
"Wise choice," Starscream smirked.
"Expalin," Silas replied.
"Very well," the Seeker strode over to the man-made Transformer, "A T-Cog is not technology; it is biology. As such, it requires its native energy source." Starscream nicked his fingers and allowed some energon to seep into the bio-mechanism. It began humming and emitting a luminescent glow.
"I find myself in need of energon to survive," Starscream said. "If we joins forces, we can amass a large stockpile for us to share."
"Can this 'energon' meet MECH's rather large demand?" Silas asked.
"You intend to build an army? Starscream asked. Silas simply stared at the Seeker. He smiled in response, "I am no stranger to ambition."
ShadowStrike Rising
At the base, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Raf, and Miko were all waiting in the command center. Jack and Arcee were out riding somewhere while Optimus and Bulkhead were on patrol searching for any sign of MECH. 'Bee was feeling cooped up inside base; he missed the feel of the wind as he sped down a road, the thrill of chasing after the Decepticons when the situation called for it. He was getting impatient waiting for word Optimus and Bulk's search. He walked up to Ratchet and beeped.
"Optimus and Bulkhead haven't reported in yet," the medic replied curtly. "I will let you know when they do." He was doing the best he could to sympathize with Bumblebee, but the scout's impatient behavior was getting on his nerves. He tapped him again, causing him to growl, "Oh for Primus sake! Will someone keep him occupied so I can get some work done?"
"Come on 'Bee," Raf called, "let's play!" The scout walked over to the his charge and Miko, the two of them hard at work playing the racing game that he and Raf loved to play (they really needed to get some more games). 'Bee beeped sadly as he noticed how the yellow race car reminded him of how useless he was.
Miko took notice, "Forget about games." She picked up the remote, "Let's watch some TV!" She flipped the television on just as a commercial was playing.
A silver car, resembling Bumblebee's vehicle mode sped down the road, "the Urbana 500. It won't just change your world. It'll transform it."
Raf and Miko stood, eyes wide open, the former's glasses slipping and the latter's pig tails drooping like an anime character. 'Bee looked at the television in shock before beeping in frustration. He couldn't take it anymore! He wanted his wheels back and he wanted them now!
"Taking the 'Auto' of an Autobots is really a downer," Miko said.
"It's okay, 'Bee!" Raf said. "Speed isn't everything!" As if on cue, Arcee sped into base with Jack on her, coming to a screeching halt. Jack removed his helmet and laughed.
"Nice one, Arcee! You broke your last record with that one!"
'Bee beeped angrily at the two partners, his frustration close to boiling over.
"Whoops/Ohh," they said at the same time. 'Bee's door wings slumped as he stomped toward the exit.
"Bumblebee," Ratchet stopped him midway," Where are you going?"
"For a walk," he beeped.
"You can't go for a walk in you bipedal form!" he said. "We are robots in disguise! You run the risk of being seen! You mus stay at base until-"
'Bee turned around and beeped angrily at the medic. He didn't understand; he couldn't! And 'Bee was in no mood for a lecture right now. He stormed off, leaving a sullen Ratchet.
"Yes Bumblebee," Ratchet said. "Until I can fix you."
ShadowStike Rising
At school, Raf waited on the stairs for his ride to base; since 'Bee lost his T-Cog, he wasn't able to leave base. He figured Optimus would send Bulkhead; he was too young to be riding with Jack and Arcee and a semi would probably draw more attention. He couldn't get his mind off of what 'Bee said to Ratchet. He kept trying to figure out what his best friend meant by "until Ratchet could fix him". Could it have anything to do with 'Bee's voice box?
He was drawn from his thoughts as a siren blared, revealing Ratchet in his vehicle mode. This drew everyone's attention as Raf scrambled into the ambulance, "Thanks for the lift…friend of Jack's mom! Who's a nurse!" They drove toward the edge of town, "I was expecting Bulkhead."
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint!" Ratchet snapped. "But he's on monitor duty." Raf slumped against the seat, still thinking about Bumblebee. Ratchet decided to try and cheer the boy up, "You wanna ride with the siren on?"
"No thank you," he replied before deciding to ask. "Ratchet, how did Bumblebee loose his voice box?"
"It was severely damaged in battle," the medic replied.
"How?"
"How do you think! Tragically, of course; it happened at Tyger Pax. Our brave young scout was captured by Megatron and interrogated. When Bumblebee gave no information, the Lord of the Deceptcions ripped out his voice box and left him for scrap. Luckily, he was found by other Autobot scout and evacuated to a nearby triage facility where a field medic managed to stabilize his condition."
"So," Raf smiled slightly, "we owe Bumblebee's life to that field medic."
"Perhaps," Ratchet replied. "But the medic…could have done better."
ShadowStrike Rising
At base, Bumblebee and Bulkhead were watching at the monitor identified another signal, this one genuine. It was in a flourishing area, somewhere in a cave. Bulkhead wished to go alone, but 'Bee insisted on accompanying him to the location, determine to prove his worth to Team Prime. They were getting closer to the signal when they noticed it was coming to them.
"Catch me if you can!" Knock Out sped past them.
"I got him!" Bulkhead prepared to transform when Breakdown came charging out of the cave. "Okay, you got him." He drew his wrecking ball fist and attacked while 'Bee chased the Decepticon medic. He knew he could catch up to him, speed or now speed. He tried to draw out his blasters, but nothing happened. He forgot that without his T-Cog, he couldn't access his weapons.
"You're not even going to try and shoot out my tires?" Knock Out asked mockingly. "C'mon Bumblebee, where's that famous horse power?" He sped away as 'Bee continued pursuing, using an old pick-up truck.
"What's with the Rent-A-Car?" Knock Out scoffed as he sped down the highway. They were coming up on a curb and Knock Out knew it wouldn't end well for Bumblebee. "I'd stay and drive donuts around you, but I have a delivery to make." He sped off as 'Bee's truck began to fall apart, sending him over a cliff edge. He let out and frightened beep as he feel to the ground below.
ShadowStrike Risng
A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Next time: As 'Bee recovers, Ratchet makes a difficult decision. Meanwhile, another Iacon artifact is found as the 'Cons cross paths with the Foot.