Chapter 10

The Nemesis…

Megatron was not happy. Apart from having deep gashes in his left foot and shoulder, only Soundwave had returned from his mission with something to show for it. He cursed Knock Out's incompetence, he cursed Starscream for still living, and above everything else, he cursed the specimen for the damage he had caused. He would have also cursed Hardshell but if his claims of him offlining the Autobot Bulkhead were true, this day might have had a scrap of a silver lining.

However he was not without knowing. After Knock Out had tended to his wounds, Soundwave had taken a closer look and found residual void particles imbedded in his injuries, the molecular make-up of background radiation. This was important news, as it explained how the human had been able to repel him with those orbs of energy. Megatron grimaced. The boy had power now. Undeniable power. It was a weapon he could not counter. This also meant that he could not risk opening up another bridge into the void, in case of any other humans falling through and becoming capable of defending themselves like that. But knowing how Optimus Prime cared for his human pets, Megatron figured that he would not let the boy out of the base, let alone put him on the battlefield. No, he was of no immediate threat to the decepticons. But Megatron looked forward to the day when he and the specimen would meet once again.

The Autobot base…

"Ow!" Alex exclaimed as June Darby set about his stitches. "Any chance of more pain tablets?"

"You've already had all the ones I brought with me." June replied patiently.

They were sitting on the medical berth on the upper level along with Agent Fowler on the phone to General Bryce, Miko sitting on the steps on the side, Raf sitting with his laptop on the couch and Jack standing with arms crossed and leaning against the guardrail. All of the Autobots were crowded around Ratchets medical computer with himself attending to Bulkhead who was still unconscious on the larger berth. Finally Fowler finished with his phone call.

"Yes, Sir." The agent hung up. "Turns out highlights of your Big Apple adventure got caught on security tape. "The pentagon needs me to run interference with the mayor." He glanced towards Bulkhead. "I'd try to stall, but-"

"Go where you are needed Agent Fowler." Optimus interjected. "There is nothing more you can do for Bulkhead at this time."

"Keep me posted, Prime." The agent moved towards the lift. As the doors opened he turned back. "I mean it."

With Fowler gone, Arcee reported that Wheeljack was on his way. Alex was looking rather forward to meeting the former wrecker, as he was a character in a league of his own. A rogue element that didn't adhere to protocol (to quote a forthcoming character in Season 3). But Alex could'nt help think that Wheeljack could eventually be killed off in the final episodes.

His train of thought was halted by June inserting another needle into another cut and the sound of Miko's outburst.

"I can't believe you're giving up on Bulkhead already!" she exclaimed.

"All I meant was Wheeljack and Bulkhead are close. I thought he'd want to be here." Arcee replied.

"I know what you meant." Miko snapped as she stormed off.

"Miko," Optimus asked sternly. "Where are you going?"

"Home! While Agent Fowler can still give me a lift." The elevator doors hissed shut behind her.

Arcee started moving towards the human living area but was stopped when Optimus placed a hand on her shoulder.

"She needs time." He said.

"It's not Miko I want to talk to right now." Arcee replied as a frown started to appear. She moved closer to where Alex and June were sitting. "Looks like you've got some explaining to do." She said as she stared Alex right in the eye.

Alex opened his mouth to speak but then winced at a new bout of pain. "Ugh! Easy please, Ms. Darby." He asked June.

"You ripped most of your stiches open. There's no way I can be easy." She replied.

Jack stood upright and glanced at Raf. "Raf, why did you help him?"

Raf couldn't bring himself to look at Jack. "He said he needed to face Megatron."

"And you didn't stop to think about what you were doing?" Jack pressed on.

Alex saw that the young boy was in an awkward position and did not approve of Jack putting more pressure on him. He spoke up.

"Raf was working on my instructions therefore I take full responsibility for what he did. He was just helping me to get to Megatron."

"And just what exactly did you need to speak to Megatron about that propelled you to open an unauthorized groundbridge?!" Ratchet had joined the conversation, a frown also appearing on his face.

Alex looked to the medic. "Let's just say he might not be bothering me from now on." He said.

Ratchet was done with the constant lying. He turned to his leader. "Optimus, I demand that you immediately explain to us who or what this child is."

"Forget it; I'm not prepared to wait." Arcee interrupted. She turned back to Alex, a fiery look on her face. "How do you know about us?"

"Arcee…" Optimus began.

"It's alright, Optimus." Alex interrupted. He turned to June. "Are we done, Ms. Darby?"

"I think so. Just don't apply to much pressure to the leg. And you can forget about using that brace again. That equipment hasn't been used in years for a reason." She began packing her bag. Alex slowly got up from the berth, grabbed his walking stick and began slowly making his way towards the guardrail and the Autobot onlookers.

"The reason I know about you is way too complicated to explain, Arcee. Optimus will agree with me on that." Alex began. "The reason why I went to see Megatron was to convince him that I didn't actually know about you guys. He thought that I could tell him where your base was located."

"And can you?" Arcee interjected.

"Of course. Jasper, Nevada." Now it was Alex's turn to frown. "You don't think I would have actually told him, do you?"

"Looking at how you're dodging questions, I for one am finding it extremely difficult to trust you." Arcee replied.

Alex gave a small grin at this. "You don't need to trust me, Arcee. Just don't ask questions about me."

Bumblebee had come over and chirped and beeped something at Alex. Alex turned to Raf for translation.

"Bee wants to know if you can tell us where you're from." Raf said.

Alex smiled. "Cape Town, South Africa." He said.

All he got was looks of confusion.

They were startled by the sound of a powerful engine. They all turned see to a white sports car speed through the entrance, transform mid-air and land with a thud in front them.

"What's the damage, Doc?" Wheeljack immediately asked.

"Bulkhead suffered massive trauma to his central neural conduit." Ratchet explained.

Wheeljack approached the medic. "I've watched you work. You're a maestro."

Ratchet was worried. "The Tox-En exposure has caused system wide shut-down on a sub-micronic level. I can't even begin to operate until Bulkhead regains some strength."

Wheeljack took a deep breath. He looked around the base and only then did he notice Alex.

"Who's the new kid?" He asked.

"Alex. Nice to meet you, Wheeljack." He introduced.

"Yeah, whatever." Shrugged the former wrecker before turning to Optimus. "You gonna tell me who did this to him?"

"At the moment I believe it's best to focus our attention on Bulkheads recovery, rather than revenge." Advised the Prime.

Wheeljack glance in Bulkheads direction. "You do that." He stated before turning round, transforming and racing out of the base with a squeal of his tyres.

"Wheeljack will most likely do something rash you know." Said Ratchet.

"And I am not sure that we could stop him if we wanted to." Replied Optimus.

"I wouldn't worry." Said Alex. "He can look after himself."

"And you'd know that, wouldn't you." Arcee shot back.

Alex couldn't help himself. "I would, actually."

"Ratchet," Optimus began. "Would it be possible for you to examine Alex?"

"For what exactly?" Ratchet seemed as if he couldn't care less.

Optimus nodded at Alex. "Show them."

Alex stood up straight. Leaning his walking stick against rail, he held his hands in front of him. His face showed concentration as his hands momentarily froze. Suddenly with the crackling of electricity an orb of glowing orange energy materialized between his palms. Every jaw in the room, apart from Optimus, dropped.

As the crackling grew louder and bolts from the orb shot out further, Alex shouted "Optimus, I need somewhere to throw it!"

Optimus quickly looked round the base. In a corner his eyes fell upon a stack of empty energon cubes. "The corner to your right!" he shouted.

Alex spotted the boxes and with a sweep of his arms, the energy fired itself in the right direction. The orb hit the cubes with a deafening explosion. The cubes were blown apart instantly. When the smoke had cleared, they saw the walls surrounding the corner were completely black and bits of smoking metal lay about on the floor.

Alex looked down at his hands. There wasn't a singe on them. He glanced at the medic whose jaw was still scraping the floor.

Ratchet saw Alex looking at him and immediately closed his mouth. "Uh… one quick scan wouldn't hurt…"

…..

"By the allspark." Ratchet stated as he finished running his scanner over Alex's body. "The background radiation inside of you has been activated."

"What's background radiation?" asked Raf.

"The particles that exist between dimensions." Ratchet explained. "They make up the space that we call the void. It is speculated that because these particles technically do not exist, they are extremely powerful. When grouped together they become volatile, and are capable of massive destruction. Alex's body has been completely exposed to the void, therefore absorbing the particles into his physical form."

"But if these particles are as powerful as you say they are, shouldn't Alex be up in flames or something?" Asked Jack.

"Correct." Confirmed Ratchet. "But Alex has somehow found a way to safely expel the energy."

"When I first released the energy, I was quite active." Alex said. "Running from Megatron and all that. Might be connected."

"Perhaps." Agreed Ratchet. "But the bigger question is how you came to be exposed to the void. It is only possible if you gained access through a rip in the fabric of reality, and even that anomaly is theoretical."

A lie was needed here. Alex shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me."

Arcee narrowed he optics. She wasn't buying that but she said nothing.

"If possible, Optimus I would like to run a few more test to see-"

"I think Alex has been prodded and poked enough for one day." Interrupted June before turning to the other two boys. "And it's way past curfew for both of you. Ratchet could you open a bridge for me?"

"Of course, Nurse Darby." Replied Ratchet. He made his way to the controls.

"Let's hit the road, Jack." Said Arcee. She transformed and waited, revving her engine impatiently.

"You're not bridging home with me, you two?" asked June.

"No thanks." Said Jack simply as he and Raf walked down to where Arcee and now Bumblebee as well, were waiting.

"See you tomorrow, guys." Alex called after them. Raf waved back but Jack just ignored him.

Jack watched as both boys left the base with their guardians. He then turned to Ratchet.

"Ratchet," he said. "Since I do not like the idea of there being particles inside me that could kill me at any moment, you can run your tests tonight if you want."

Ratchet looked back at the boy. "You expect me to not ask questions meanwhile?"

Alex shrugged. "Depends on the questions."

While Ratchet was still not comfortable with the boy, he thought it would be better to examine him while he was concurrent. He looked to Optimus for approval and received it. He nodded. "Let's get to work then, shall we?"

Alex nodded back. "But first," he added. "You need to tell me where Agent Fowler keeps his stash of coffee."

…..

They were halfway back to Jasper when Arcee finally spoke. "Don't trust him, Jack." She said.

"What?"

"Don't trust Alex. He's dangerous." She elaborated.

"But it looks like he has control over the background radi-"

"I don't mean that." Arcee snapped. "I mean he's keeping something from all of us, except for Optimus."

"Well obviously." Scoffed Jack. "I'm not blind, Arcee."

Arcee didn't reply. Her sudden increase in speed showed Jack that she was really annoyed. He knew that Alex had hit a nerve by naming her former partners, and he did not like to see his partner in distress.

"He's supposed to be coming with us to school tomorrow." He said. "Is there anything you want me to do?"

Arcee was quiet for a few more moments. "Watch every word he says."

To be continued…