A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I saw "Prometheus" last night. Great movie.
Chapter 48
Beneath the surface of a naval assault vessel, the halls were, devoid of any life, were quiet, save for the sound of metal clashing. Even from the farthest part of the ship, one could hear a battle between two individuals so different, they were similar. One had been born into the life of a warrior, fallen from grace, and now sought to conquer all before him. The other was born with a destiny he knew nothing of; he'd suffered great emotional trauma, but was now trying to save the last bit of innocence he had left. The prize both men were after; the fate of young girl, unaware of the battle taking place over her.
ShadowStrike and Shredder clashed blades, the ringing of their swords filling the room, occasionally destroying anything in the way. The two separated, jumping back and were knew across the room from each other. Panting heavily, the younger ninja glanced over to Sunny, unconscious inside of the tank outside of the now hollow spark chamber of Cliffjumper. He didn't want to think about what might happen if the Shredder's plan succeeded. Though part of him was glad to be near her again.
The thought of her being with another family, especially against her will, was a tough pill to swallow. The thought he might never see her again caused him no end of heartache. He couldn't stand to have another woman in his life taken from him. He'd lost Chikara; he'd all but lost Arcee. So, in a way, he owed the Shredder to some extent, but that didn't mean he would let the man get away with what he'd done.
Finding his second wind, ShadowStrike charged and found himself locked in combat yet again with ninja warlord. The two glared at each other, both their eyes glowing a demonic red. Breaking their lock they began clashing blades again. Using his back-handed grip, Shredder managed to keep the ninja at a distance. No one would stop him now that he was so close. He would bring about a New World Order and crush any who impeded him.
Locking down the boy's blade, he managed to land a cut with his Falcon's Talons, slashing his side. Pulling back, he shredded more of his skin, allowing him to land another devastating cut on ShadowStrike's shoulder. For all of his skills (which the Shredder had to admit were impressive), the boy lacked proper armor. The Shredder's armor was made of reinforced titanium; it slowed him down, but still allowed him to move with the utmost swiftness. The younger ninja panted, both from loss of breath and in pain.
"You are no match for me," the Shredder finally broke the silence. "There is little point in trying to stop an entire machine. Give up."
"Never," he grunted. "I won't stop until I free Sunny. Let her go."
"You keep trying to prevent the girl from fulfilling her destiny," the Shredder said. "Why? Do you not see that I am trying to do?"
"Rob Sunny of her free will and rule the world?" he spat.
"A world filled with war and strife? This divided regime starts wars for such petty reason; more often than not, there is no reason, just profit. You think the feudal era was violent? At least we didn't have weapons that could render areas lifeless for thousands of years."
"Such a politician," ShadowStrike said. "Always finding the right mixture of words to justify your actions. I know our world is in need of some serious change, but ruling it won't do a thing but insight more violence."
"Not when one rules with an iron fist, enforcing even the smallest of laws to ensure compliance with the larger ones. Make no mistake, I will rule this world and crush any who stand in the way!"
ShadowStrike Rising
Aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier, the Autobots and their human allies were discussing the situation currently taking place. The fleet had temporarily stopped moving just halfway on their route to New York. Bryce was on the phone with every military official who could authorize a retaliatory response. He was trying to convince them that the situation was under control, but they remained skeptical. Meanwhile, a small force was being put together to board the ship ShadowStrike was currently on.
As the SEAL team prepared, they remained unaware of the young Asian girl who'd managed to sneak aboard and was now awaiting their departure. Since Jack hadn't radioed in a while, Miko thought she might try and help him somehow. She knew it was crazy, but she had to try something. These soldiers wouldn't be able to tell Jack from the other ninja and might try and attack him. Or worse, they may try and take Sunny from him; not something she recommended.
In the back room, the others were busy talking about why this was happening. Raf spoke first, "It doesn't make any sense. The Shredder is probably a master strategist, so it wouldn't be hard for him to maneuver around all this."
"Indeed, Rafael. I believe this is all a rouse while the Shredder readies his true plan," Optimus replied. "All we can do is trust that ShadowStrike will be able to stop him."
"What about Ratchet and Arcee?" June asked. "I know Agent McCloud went back to base to bridge them here so Ratchet could make the final repairs on her body and transfer her mind back into it. We may need them sooner than that."
"She's right Boss 'Bot," Bulkhead said, before realizing something. "Oh scrap."
"What is it?" Fowler asked before coming to the same conclusion. "Has anyone seen Miko?"
ShadowStrike Rising
The assault craft pulled up to the ship and the soldier exited the boat and began searching for any sign of the Foot Ninja. Miko managed to sneak aboard with them and stay hidden. They could all hear the clashing going on, but their priority was to take control of the ship and attack the fleet from within. The Japanese girl broke off from the soldiers' path and ran down a hall, heading towards the sound of a battle. She could imagine that Jack was having a bit of trouble dealing with the Shredder.
He was, afterall, an ancient demon with the skill of a general and a politician; a deadly combination. Jack would need to use every skill he knew and concentrate if he hoped to walk out it alive. Miko hoped to ease his mind by finding Sunny and getting her out of here. Odds are, she was near the action (hopefully not to near) so Miko was heading in that direction. As she neared, sound caught her attention.
She turned to right and found a large group of Foot Ninja, talking casually until she appeared. They stared at her a moment before drawing their weapons and closing in on her. She backed away, "Umm, do any of you guys know where I can find the little girl's room?"
"We'll take you right there; it's right next to the holding cells." one of them growled. He reached to out to grab Miko, only for a blade to appear across his throat. They both turned to find Karai, her mask off and glaring at the ninja.
"Karai?" Miko gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll be taking the girl to holding cells," she ignored her. "Unless you have a problem with that." The man previous intimidating presence disappeared as he and others looked nervous before complying. Karai took Miko by the arm and led her down the hall she came from. She waited until she was sure no one else was around before speaking, "What are you doing here?"
"I asked you first," she huffed. "You do realize this ship is crawling with ninja, the Shredder, and… your with them aren't you?"
"Until recently," she said. "Let's get you off this ship before things get messy."
ShadowStrike Rising
ShadowStrike and Shredder were still locked in combat, the former having taken a lot of damage due to his opponent's inexperience. The Shredder didn't have anything short of a few cuts, but was ultimately unharmed. ShadowStrike had lost a large amount of blood and was going on pure adrenaline at this point (ironic, considering adrenaline needed blood to flow). He continued to attack, using everything he learned from the Tribunal sans Stealth, as it wasn't necessary for this fight. The Shredder had counter for each attack, each spell; everything.
He'd trained with the Tribunal for years whereas Jack had only been with them for a few months. And the boy was as predictable as each of them; he'd attack with his blade, then a spell, then use what Strength he had attained from his training, still unable to use the attribute to its fullest. He was certainly impressive, but he still could not compare to the experience and wisdom the Shredder had attained over the centuries he'd wandered the Earth. The older of the two could finish this farce any time he wanted, but chose to humor the boy for the sake of time. But time was close to expiring.
"Surely you see the folly in continuing to oppose me boy," he said. "Give up and I may yet give you a place in my New World."
"I won't stop until you let Sunny go!" ShadowStrike managed to duck under the Shredder's swing and cut his quadricep. The ninja warlord staggered, but still stood tall, his patience finally at an end.
"Enough!" he roared, grabbing the boy by his throat and slamming him into the ground, taking Getsuga and driving it through him. Making sure the ninja was immobilized, the Shredder walked over to the panel, damaged slightly from their battle, but still functional. ShadowStrike gripped his sword and tried to pull it out, but it was caught by the something beneath the floor. HIs blood poured out of his wounds and slowly spread across the floor. He struggled helplessly as the Shredder flipped a few switches.
The sight of Sunny's pod glowing caught the ninja's attention; the energy around her started to glow and pulse. Jack looked at the peaceful the look on her face as they energy glowed. Had the situation not been so dire, he would think it was such a beautiful sight. The pod began to move slowly, lowering itself into the hollow spark chamber of Cliffjumper. "No," he whispered, horror etched on his face as he try to comprehend what was happening, "What are you doing to her!"
"I am simply providing young Sunny with the tools she will need to bring about the New World," Shredder chuckled. "With the Autobot chassis, which no government has a proper defense against, she will destroy anything in her path."
"What do you hope to gain from that?"
"Send a message. I knew that once I neared the U.S. naval border they would send someone, preferably you, to stop me. Because you have the one thing I need to bring it all to fruition."
"What are you talking about?"
"I believe you are familiar with the device known as the Key to Vector Sigma," the warlord smiled darkly at the boy's surprise. Jack had forgotten all about the Key; he didn't even have it on him.
"Well, too bad. I don't have it with me at the moment."
"But you are linked to it," Shredder grinned. He walked over to where the boy lay and dug his hand inside of his stomach. The ninja cried out in anguish as his insides felt like they were being torn apart. "As I'm sure you know, a space bridge moves in two directions. Since you are a living space-bridge, I can use you to find the Key."
"Stop!" ShadowStrike hissed through the pain. Try as he might, he couldn't get his mind off the Key and where he left it. And that was what the Shredder was counting on as he pulled out the Key to Vector Sigma, covered in his blood. "I-I-It w-w-on't do you a-any good. O-O-Only a P –Pr-Prime or one chosen can use it."
"I know," Shredder replied. "That is why I pulled it out. So it would be covered in your blood. With this, my victory is assured. Sunny will subconsciously control the chassis with her mind while the Key keeps her will at bay. As she destroys the city, the U.S. will do everything in their power to destroy her. Once they do, the Key will unleash a shockwave that will eradicate the entire nation."
"The Key isn't capable of something like-"
"That just proves how little you know about the device," Shredder laughed. "I have knowledge of things far beyond your comprehension, boy!"
"How do you know all this?"
"The Bargainer showed me."
"The Bargainer?"
"The one whom I made the deal with to become what I am," the Shredder said. "He knows many things, not that you'll live long enough to find out about them." He threw the Key towards Sunny's pod as it entered Cliffjumper's body, the chassis closing to form the chest. Almost immediately the body activated and sat up, destroying the roof over it. The Cybertronian was too large for the room as it tore a large hole, debris falling everywhere. Everyone was shocked at the development; the Autobots especially.
"Cliffjumper?" Bulkhead gasped. "What happened to him?"
"I do not believe that is Cliffjumper," Optimus said. "Merely his chassis, restored to life by unknown means." The machine managed to climb out of the hole it made, preparing to leave, the Shredder atop its shoulders.
"Destroy this vessel and the boy along with it," he ordered. The machine complied and turned toward the hole, its lifeless optics peering down at ShadowStrike. It raised its hand to prepare and prepared to fire.
"Sunny," ShadowStrike said as he raised his own hand as if to touch it. Maybe he could reach her; somehow talk to her and bring her to her senses. "Stop." The machine stared down at the ninja a moment; as if something inside was trying to stop itself, wondering what it was doing.
"Machine!" Shredder called, "do as you master tells you and destroy this vessel!" Coming to its senses, it charged its weapon and fired at the ships reactor, blowing a hole in the vessel. The ship began to quickly sink into the ocean as ShadowStrike remained trapped. The machine turned away and headed towards New York City.
"SUNNY!" he cried as the ship sunk into the ocean, salt water mixing with his wounds, but he didn't care. That pain paled in comparison to anguish in his heart at the moment. He'd failed to protect the last bit of innocence he had left. He'd broken his promise to Sunny's father and would die in the ocean. Alone.
Ironic that he died alone when this whole thing began and now it would the same way. As his began to lose consciousness from lack of air, ShadowStrike thought of those he called family. His mother was probably having a heart attack right now and was worried sick about him. He heard static over his commlink, meaning Raf was trying to contact him. Miko was probably snapping pictures of the machine right now.
The 'Bots were probably in shock at seeing Cliffjumper again, only to discover that it wasn't him. He could only imagine the pain Arcee was going through at the moment. Even now, Cliffjumper was still a sore subject that caused her no end of guilt and anger. This would only add to those insecure feelings and she would need him to help her through it. Sadly, he wouldn't be able to help her.
He thought back to when Ratchet first made the comparison between himself and Optimus. He didn't think it was right then or now. Optimus would have found a way to save Sunny and stop this before all this could happen.
'Sunny,' thought the ninja. 'Forgive me.' He lost consciousness as two figures swam down toward him.
ShadowStrike Rising
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. I apologize for not taking the Miko/Karai friendship storyline to its full potential, but you can guess who Karai's guardian gonna be. Next time: As the machine begins destroying New York, there's seems to be no one capable of stopping it.