Chapter 24
Hangar E…
"Return trajectory fluctuations have been stabilized!" called Raf from in front of his laptop, to which Ratchet responded by pulling down a lever. "Ultra Magnus, we are ready to receive." He spoke into the comm link. A moment later a large blue and red semi rolled through the portal carrying a glowing blue cube on its back. Upon pulling to a stop with a hiss of its air brakes, the truck was approached by Bumblebee, who then proceeded to pick the cube up and walk forward. The sound of transformation could then be heard as Ultra Magnus stood up and strode the short way towards the group of other Autobots.
"We didn't find much else in the rubble of the former base." He stated. Behind him the portal flashed as Wheeljack stepped through holding a giant ball of twisted metal.
"You call this 'not much else?'" He asked sarcastically. Mustering up all his strength, the wrecker twirled on his feet and flung the ball towards the group. The throw had been intended for Bulkhead, but upon not reacting quickly enough, the ball bounced off his chest and with a sickening thud and yelps from both Jack and Miko, buried itself into the wall and door of Agent Fowler's office, missing the two kids by mere centimeters.
"Wheeljack!" Shouted Ratchet, a look of absolute anger on his face. "You could have caused serious damage!"
"To me!" Added Miko furiously as she and Jack got back to their feet. A moment later the sound of Agent Fowler's voice could be heard from behind the giant ball. "A little help here?" he called.
"What were you thinking, soldier?!" Ultra Magnus asked stepping up behind the wrecker.
"I was thinking, Bulk could catch that lob." Replied Wheeljack, using his hand to illustrate his point. "Allow me to make myself clear." Stated Magnus standing tall and firm, a look of annoyance etched onto his faceplates and his eyes narrow slits.
"As Optimus Prime's second-in-command, I have no inten-"
The next syllable died in the commander's throat as the sound of a sizable explosion was heard from the hangar next door. With it came a slight ground tremor that forced the humans to sturdy their standing positions. A moment later several smaller explosions could be heard that resembled the slow firing of a machine gun.
"What in the Allspark?!" Exclaimed Magnus.
Inside the adjacent hangar, the far wall was being treated to severe punishment via the crackling orbs being thrown at it. Several cracks and gashes had appeared in it and the wall was now a permanent shade of black due to the extreme heat. Facing this wall firing shot after shot of void particles was Alex, dressed in black shirt, pants and army boots. Sweat was pouring down his temples as he continued to shoot orange balls of energy from his palms. Ending the round of short bursts he held his hands together and allowed the energy to build up. The orb grew in intensity and when it reached the level of being able to withstand it, Alex released it. The orb flew across the room and hit the wall, the miracle being that the wall managed to stay upright as the massive fireball rocked it and the floor, nearly making Alex lose his footing. As the smoke cleared, he saw that small strands of sunlight were making their way through the solid concrete. Again, it was a wonder that the wall was still standing.
Alex took a deep breath, turned round on his heel and immediately winced from pain. The injury had left a nasty scar running down his leg and now and again, proceeded to give in to the odd bout of stress or exhaustion. Limping over to a side table near the door he picked up the small bottle of pills he had managed to snag from Nurse Darby's medical kit. Also on the table was his phone, displaying a picture of him and a friend on top of Table Mountain. This picture could be partly blamed for his current venting session.
Alex was peeved. The viewing of a few episodes a couple of days ago might had gone down well with the Autobots and humans (The only exception being Smokescreen, as most of the episodes were of ones not starring him), but there were some members of Team Prime who still bore suspicion and disapproval towards him. The latter being specifically that of Ultra Magnus. Alex had known from the start that the commander would not be easy to handle. The mere fact that Alex had kept his secret from the team until now, as well as the method he had used to escape from Autobot Outpost Omega One, had certainly had a negative effect on Magnus's view on him. However, Alex knew it was partly his fault. The way he had acted upon his arrival at Hangar E as well as the way he had spoken to the mech were perceptions that wouldn't have been advised to display, especially in front of this particular Autobot. And while it could be argued that he had Optimus to keep an eye on his second-in-command, there was no telling what Magnus could end up doing if provoked enough.
But Alex was not going to back down from this. He had stood up to Megatron, for God's sake. And he had never been a fan of Magnus's character. Might have had something to do with his first appearance on the show, telling Jack off for merely wondering about formalities. In Alex's mind, Magnus showed little or no respect to the human members of Team Prime, and damn him if he was going to let himself be pushed around by him.
Grabbing his phone he made his way to the side door leading out of the hangar. Time to see if Project Predacon was underway…
….
"But we are fortunate that Smokescreen is experienced enough to not have followed protocol." Ratchet said to Arcee as he tinkered with his drill.
A sound above them made them look up. Alex had just appeared through a door and was busy wiping his face with a cloth. "Good session?" asked Arcee sarcastically.
Despite breathing deeply Alex gave a small grin. "Something like that." He replied. "Speaking of which, Ratchet. Did you ever-"
"What exactly are you thinking?!" asked a storming Ultra Magnus as he strode towards the gantry.
"I'm sorry?" Asked Alex turning to the commander.
"While I may not be fully aware of or understand the particulars of your 'ability,' have you not stopped to even consider that by expelling this 'energy' you put this entire military base at risk, or that it is possible that the decepticons are capable of detecting such bursts?!"
Alex went silent. After a moment he looked down to Ratchet and Arcee. "Smokescreen's new color is blue, right?" He asked.
Ratchet and Arcee looked at each other in mutual confusion. "Uhh…yes?" said Ratchet.
Alex sighed. "And you guys were just talking about how he went back for Optimus?" he asked.
"Yeah?" said Arcee.
Alex turned back to the commander, one eyebrow raised as part of a somewhat bored expression.
"Commander, you're just annoyed 'cause Bulkhead didn't catch the lob." Alex said as he started walking along the gantry. "And for your information, I received permission from both Optimus and Fowler to let some steam off in the hangar next door." He paused. "My apologies if you were not made aware of this." He added.
"I will recommend to you again that you should watch your tone with me, human." Said Magnus icily. "I am not going to tolerate your insolence nor your cheek. I may not know to what extent your knowledge of me is, but I will have you know-"
"You were Optimus's second-in-command during the war." Interrupted Alex, leaning on the rails. Cloth draped over his shoulder. "I heard the first time you said it. You like to repeat that fact, don't you."
If it wasn't for Ratchet's interruption and the sudden beeping coming from Raf and his banks of computers, Magnus would've certainly drawn his weapons on Alex at that point. However Ratchet didn't interrupt at that specific point by chance. He had been watching this argument unfold and knew what the probable repercussion of which was.
"Commander, would it be possible for you to assist in operating the groundbridge? There appears to still be some minor problems preventing it from functioning smoothly." He said.
The commander continued to stare at Alex for moment, who in turn stared back. "Of course." He replied slowly as he strode over the bridge controls.
Alex also made his way over to the computers. Standing next to the sitting child Raf looked up to him as the groundbridge powered up. "Is Optimus okay?" he asked.
Alex looked down at the 12-year-old. "He's fine," he replied. "But he's bringing back something…foreboding."
A frown appeared on Raf's face. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Ratchet!" Alex called out. "Remember that second thing I told Megatron?"
"What about it?" queried the medic.
"You're about to find out what I meant." Alex replied. At that moment the groundbridge surged into life and through it stepped the giant form of Optimus, holding something in his folded arms.
"Optimus," said Ratchet. "Did you find energon?"
"No, but I did uncover this." Replied Optimus as he placed the object on the raised platform in the center of the hangar. "It cannot be." Stated Ratchet as he walked over. "Be what?" asked Jack.
"The ancient remains," replied Optimus while gazing down at the cracked and damaged skull. "Of a predacon."
Raf looked back up at Alex, who said nothing.
…..
"Though it remains unclear why such a skull would be found on your planet," stated Ratchet as he walked around examining the skull. "Its presence reveals all too much about the predacon that Megatron sent in pursuit of us."
"You mean that dragon bot we put on ice?" asked Miko. She and the other three humans had gathered on the platform to get a closer look at the artifact. However Alex with his arms folded maintained a distance.
"It also explains the 'experiment' you conducted with Megatron back at the Harbinger." Continued Ratchet looking down to Alex.
"I needed to see if things were still on track." Replied Alex. "And going by what just happened with Optimus, I'm going to assume that it still is."
"Are you telling us that Megatron intends to create more predacons?" asked the commander.
"Maybe. What do you think?" asked Alex. Magnus said nothing.
"Except a tiny detail being that predacons have been extinct, since…well…" said Ratchet.
"Since before most life began on Cybertron." Completed Smokescreen.
"They're like Earth's dinosaurs." Stated Raf.
"Which means for you guys running into one is like, us meeting a T-Rex." Added Jack.
"So then what were dinobots?" queried Miko. "Totally different." Replied Bulkhead.
"With Megatron seeming new interest in the excavation of prehistoric skeletons, and a certain scientist back among the Decepticon ranks…" began Ratchet.
"It would stand to reason," stated Optimus. "That Shockwave cloned the beast from one such find."
"And now Megatron's looking to clone another." Said Magnus.
"What makes you think 'bucket head' would stop at just one?" asked Wheeljack rhetorically.
"We could have 'beast wars' on our hands." Stated Bulkhead.
"And if Shockwave only requires a single strand of CNA from which to clone a beast…" started Ratchet.
"He already possesses what he needs to engender this one." Finished Optimus. "Autobots, we must become Beast Hunters."
There a moment of silence as Optimus's statement sunk in. Then the leader lowered his head.
"Alex," he asked looking at him. "Is there anything you can tell us about previous predacons?"
Alex took a deep breath. "Not much. I know that they've been around since G1 which means they are certified characters." Alex looked around the room. All he got back were blank looks.
"G1 refers to the very first Transformers cartoon." Alex explained. "I haven't watched it so I can't name any of the predacons in it."
"Will Shockwave be successful?" asked Magnus bluntly.
Alex looked up at the commander. "Honestly, I don't know" he replied.
The commander's eyes narrowed.
"I actually really don't." Continued Alex. "My knowledge ends at a point when you guys and the 'cons were still looking for the bones. But I can tell you that Shockwave is capable of cloning more."
"How can you be sure of that?" asked Arcee.
"Because this isn't the first time that he's done it." Alex replied.
Everyone in the room looked down at Alex in surprise.
Alex shrugged. "There's no harm in telling you this." He said. "It actually answers a question that is currently on Smokescreens mind."
Everyone turned to the rookie. He shifted uncomfortably at their gazes.
"I was uh…wondering what predacons bones would be doing here if they went extinct on Cybertron." He stammered.
Alex had started walking round the predacon skull. Arms folded and in complete control.
"Technically speaking," he began. "These are NOT the remains of predacons."
"Really now." Scoffed Ultra Magnus folding his arms too. "And I suppose that Optimus is entirely misinformed about what-"
"May I please finish my sentence?" Asked Alex stopping in front of the commander.
Magnus closed his mouth. Optimus looked on with concern.
Alex continued walking. "These are actually the remains of predacon clones. Apparently during the war, Megatron sanctioned the dispatch of a small predacon army to Earth; to get rid of any Autobots stationed here. When their job was done they would stay here and guard the energon reserves, while waiting for Megatron's arrival." He paused. "That arrival was a little bit delayed. So much that the predacons eventually just died out."
"Makes complete sense." Commented Wheeljack.
"Indeed." Agreed Magnus reluctantly.
"Anything else that you can tell at this point in time, Alex?" asked Optimus.
Alex exhaled through his mouth loudly. "Well last time I saw predacons it was on Transformers: Animated. Oh wait, no. That wasn't technically a predacon it was a mutated Autobot that looked like one."
The Autobots went wide-eyed at this. "Who was the Autobot?" asked Arcee.
"It was…actually, I'd better not." Stopped Alex.
"Why not?" asked Jack.
"'cause I'm scared I might freak out Bumblebee." Said Alex.
Suddenly a series of high resonating beeps and static whirs could be heard coming from the scout.
Alex held up his hands. "No no no! It wasn't you, it was just someone you might've known. That's all." He said quickly.
Bee made some sort of sighing motion upon hearing this.
"Back to the matter in hand," Said Ratchet as he began walking towards his console. "Perhaps some Cybertronian history can help us shed some light further on the matter."
As the group started to disperse, Alex made his way along the raised platforms with his fellow humans.
He chose to ignore the eyes of Ultra Magnus following him as per expected.
….
Night had fallen over the base. The kids had fallen asleep on the sofa and most of the Autobots had taken the opportunity to get some relaxation time in. Magnus was checking computer readouts and Ratchet was working on his synthetic energon formula. Upon inputting a new set of calculations that would take some time to process, Ratchet moved away from his station and headed slowly towards the giant hangar doors. Discovering that they were slightly open he slipped through the crack and into the crisp night air. Floodlights lit up the tarmac just in front of the doors but apart from them the rest of the runway was dark. Looking to his left he found who he was looking for.
On the ground propped up against the wall just out of the lights reach sat Alex, hidden mostly in the shadows but due to extremely good eyesight, the medic could make out that the teenager was looking up at the stars.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" asked Alex not looking away.
Ratchet also turned his gaze to the heavens. There was no moon that night but the stars shone brightly.
He turned back down to the human. "You need to be more careful with Ultra Magnus." He stated.
Alex never took his attention off the sky. "Why?"
"He is not one to take insolence lightly." Ratchet continued. "The elite guard was never a place for making jokes."
""You don't know Magnus the way I do." Alex replied.
"Maybe not," agreed Ratchet. "But we both know what he is capable of doing. I wouldn't put that to the test."
Alex said nothing.
Ratchet shrugged. "I just hope you're not as stubborn as Miko can be, considering what happened earlier."
Alex looked up. "What are you talking about?"
"She was attempting to move the lobbing ball away from Agent Fowler's office doorway, and in doing so it fell off the edge of the gantry and landed Ultra Magnus's foot."
Alex's eyes went wide, along with a massive a smile forming. "You serious? And this was not in the episode why?"
"Who knows." Ratchet replied turning back to look at the sky. "Just please tread carefully, Alex." He said.
Alex also turned back to his stargazing, not uttering a word.
Ratchet sighed. Turning round he started to head back inside the hangar. Suddenly he stopped and turned back to look down at Alex.
"Just out of interest," he asked. "That predacon that was actually a mutated Autobot." He paused. "Who was it?"
Alex looked up at the medic. A look of dread on his face.
"His name was Wasp." He replied. "Know him?"
Now it was Ratchets turn to say nothing. While Alex returned to his daydreaming Ratchet returned to the inner sanctity of the hangar, trying not to think about what had actually happened to the rookie that had served under Ultra Magnus in the Elite Guard back on Cybertron.
To be continued…
Question from the author: Now that the series has ended, will you guys still be around to read my prattlings?