Enormous hands roughly shoved Wilson and Swiftshadow into a jar. At least that is what it looked like at first. On second inspection Wilson realized that is was some sort of containment unit. Thick glass surrounded them on all sides. Just the lid and floor were made of some sort of metal. The lid snapped shut with a hiss. There was no way out.
They were lifted up so they were eye level with their captor. Cruel scarlet eyes studied Swiftshadow intently. His face was white with black markings that wouldn't have looked too out of place at a KISS concert. A hooked hand tapped the glass making Wilson's outer casings vibrate. But that could've been the writhing growling mess below him.
"Weren't you an easy catch? And here'd I'd hoped that you'd be more of a challenge," He chuckled, "
Swiftshadow snapped at the hook.
"Feisty aren't ya? No matter, heard Shockwave likes his test subjects with some spitfire in them. last longer that way,"
The tone in Swiftshadow's growling shifted. Most people would've either missed it or dismissed it as aggression. But not Wilson. He knew what every sound she made meant. This was a terrified growl. One full of desperation and panic like a cornered cat hissing at a ravenous coyote. Not that he could blame her. He was plenty scared too.
Swiftshadow had told him about Cybertronians. She mentioned that they were giant, large enough to turn into various vehicles. He just didn't expect them to be this big. He could sit on his captors thumb and still have room left over.
The jar jostled violently as the mech boarded his space ship. Its ramp lay open like a great maw waiting for its next meal. Wherever he was taking them, Wilson was pretty sure he didn't want to be there.
"Who are you?" Barked Swiftshadow. Her talons scraped against the glass.
"Who am I?" Laughed the Mech, "It's been a while since someone has asked me that question. Don't know too many who haven't heard of the legendary bounty hunter Lockdown,"
Lockdown hoisted the jar onto a set of latches. With a mechanical hiss the jar was locked into place. Swiftshadow sank to the bottom of the vessel. Wilson could feel her tremble and shake beneath him.
"I'd recommend getting comfortable, It's going to be a long trip," A hooked hand grated against the glass. Lockdown then disappeared through a sliding door. Wilson guessed that it led to the cockpit.
"Icantgoback," Swiftshadow panted, "Icantgoback,"
"Swiftshadow?" Wilson looked down. He realized that she was not panting, she hyperventilating. Her eyes glazed over as they stared into nothing. She kept muttering that phrase over and over again.
He disconnected himself from the saddle and stood in front of her nose. Gripping her nose horn he stared into her eyes. He hadn't seen her this terrified since Malic Korvoth had placed that spell on her.
"Swiftshadow look at me. Come on look at me. Nothing exists but me okay?" Her eyes focused on him, "Now breath. Suck in. Hold. And let it go. Can you do that? I'm gonna get us out of here. I just need you to stay calm and not panic, okay?"
She breathed in a huge sigh and nodded. Wilson set to work. He heard the ships roar to life. He didn't have much time. He scanned the jars locking mechanism. Highly complex and intricate in design, designed to keep things from breaking out. Things like Swiftshadow. But not him. He just needed to cut a hole first and that would take some time. Time was something he didn't have.
The ship jolted as it took off. Swiftshadow yelped in terror. Wilson hoped she could hold herself together until he finished cutting through the metal plating. A metal disc dropped away to reveal the delicate circuitry beneath. His talon shifted into a pair of prongs and jammed them into the circuit boards. Strange code flooded his systems. He silently thanked Cartographer for his upgrades as he quickly deciphered the codes. He soon found what he was looking for. The jar hissed open.
Swiftshadow wasted no time in bolting out of there. Her jaws wrapped around Wilson's body. He did not fear those teeth. He'd been in their grasp many times, never once did they hurt him. This time Swiftshadow squeezed a little harder that usual. When she set him on the ground Wilson realized that getting out of the jar was the easy part. Next was to get off this ship before it left the atmosphere.
He spotted a grate on the floor, too small for Swiftshadow, but big enough for him. As much as he curse his small stature there were moments like these that it proved to be a great boon. Swiftshadow ripped the bars from the floor. He made no hesitation as her dove in.
He scanned the ships guts. Noting every single wire and circuit. Every part and fuel line. carefully mapping them out and comparing them to Cartographer's ship schematics. It wasn't long until he found what he was looking for. At least he hoped it was what he was looking for. cutting his way through the duct he made his way to the navigation system. He hacked his way into the system. Cybertronian code ran across his vision.
He made it without a moment to spare. they had yet to break the mesosphere. He quickly began hijacking the ships controls. Fortunately the ship was electronically controlled which made hacking them easy. He pinned the ship into a nosedive and locked the controls. It wouldn't be long until lockdown caught wise to his doings.
He sliced a nearby fuel line. Dark cobalt liquid poured out. Energon. Powerful and explosive. He snipped a nearby wire and stripped the ends bare. After carefully placing them close the broken pipe. The next time Lockdown opened the cockpit door he would receive a banging surprise. He just hoped his calculations were correct.
He quickly slipped back out of the vent where Swiftshadow waited nervously. He led her towards the back of the ship. He could already feel the ship start to drop. Lockdown cursed from the cock pit. The door exploded like Wilson planned.
The ship careened out control. Tumbling out of the sky like a rock. Alarms blared as red lights flashed. Smoke filled the hold. Shrapnel flew everywhere. The door was now a gaping hole into the cockpit. Lockdown groaned as he picked himself of the console. Through the broken windshield Wilson saw great ocean swells.
And a way out.
Swiftshadow saw it too.
All that was left to do was to lock himself into the saddle and let Swiftshadow do the rest. Battling the G-forces Swiftshadow inched her way towards the broken cockpit. A broken window pane offering freedom. Yet the crushing physics held her back and lockdown stood in the way.
The G-forces released their grip as the ship hit the ocean. Sea water flooded the cabin. Powerful torrents of water dragged the ships occupants around like rag dolls. Wilson thanked Megamind for the seating upgrade. He remained latched firmly on Swiftshadow's back.
Swiftshadow took one final breath as she dove for the gap in the cockpit. She dodged Lockdowns swinging hook as she swam past him. Squeezing through the broken windshield, she escaped. Wilson took one last look at the sinking ship as the oceans murky depths claimed it.
Swiftshadow breached the surface and with a couple of flailing wingbeats took to the sky. An endless expanse of water surrounded them on all sides. The ocean stretched on before them like a hilly plain.
"You doing alright there?" Wilson asked.
"Just tell me where the nearest shore is," Swiftshadow flapped hard trying to gain more altitude.
Wilson checked his navigation systems. Dread sunk into his hard drive. They were far from anywhere. "East," He said simply. He just hoped that swiftshadow had the strength to make it.
Two times Swiftshadow saw the sun rise before her eyes. Two times Swiftshadow felt it set on her back. For two nights she flew under star studded sky. Two days under the scorching sun. Still she had yet to see land on the horizon.
Spasms of agony arced in her back and shoulders with every wingbeat then echoed deep into her chest. Her lungs worn raw heaved as they struggled to capture their fifth wind. Though it easily could've been the seventh or eighth. She stopped keeping track after the third.
The ocean waves reached out like claws trying to rip her out of the sky. The dark depths called to her like a sirens song. lulling her into joining the abyss. She knew that the moment the fell she would not be getting back up. Keeping high enough to keep out of the oceans grip was beyond exhausting.
She was fortunate that Wilson had sharp claws and knew where to poke. Whenever she started to drift of course or her eyelids grew too heavy a sharp jab would inevitably come. A needle pricking her between the scales.
Idle conversation would sometimes fill the long silences. Mostly reminiscing on past adventures, or long rambles on various stars from Wilson.
"We should be seeing land soon," Wilson noted standing tall on her back. She wished she could be off her numb wings. Her legs had fallen asleep forever ago and were now far beyond the pins and needles stage.
"I think you said that yesterday," She swallowed what little spit was in her mouth. The dryness extended deep into her throat. The tissues and linings stuck together uncomfortably. The only moisture she'd gotten was a couple mouthfuls from a lone raincloud. Water, water everywhere never a drop to drink she thought ruefully.
"No I didn't. And see there it is." He pointed across the sea towards the horizon. On the Horizon like a beacon in the dark was the dark silhouette of land. Sweet beloved land. Relief flooded into her bones. The ordeal was nearly over. She sped forward.
"Hey! Hey! What do you think you're doing? You need to pace yourself for a bit longer. I'd hate to have make it all this way only end up on the bottom of the ocean at the last mile. Besides you'll wreck yourself doing that,"
Yeah, right. Like she hadn't done that already. Wilson had a point she acknowledged. "Sorry," Was all she managed to say.
The sun was sinking low onto the horizon by the time she could make out any discernible features of the shore. She was thankful that Wilson dimmed the visor so she was not blinded by the sun. Pale sandy beaches stretched out before her. Steep jagged cliffs rose shoreline like great monuments of sanctuary.
The most notable feature however was a castle. Nestled upon the crags and stone, Its walls worn from centuries of sea spray and squalls. Trees, shrubs and other greenery hugged close to the walls. A masterful structure stood proudly behind them. Built to fend off enemy armies and to shelter its inhabitants from any storm. Great towers stretched up into the sky.
"See the window at the highest tower? Go for it,"
Swiftshadow snorted an affirmative. Too tired to argue. Mouth too dry to speak. The window was more of a doorway to a balcony. Swiftshadow didn't really care. It was a barrier to safe shelter. Lockdown if he survived would not be able to get her in there.
With a final push of the wings she broke through them snapping the latch that held them together. She skidded across the cobblestone floor getting tangled with a rug.
The last thing she remembered was Wilson stroking her muzzle saying, "That'll do, girl, That'll do,"
Carmen nursed a bruise on her cheek. Any higher it would've been a black eye. The Ice pack sent soothing coolness into the tender flesh. She winced as she adjusted the ice.
"Come on Carm, we'll get him next time." Ivy sat on a chair arms crossed on the backrest.
"It's not like we won't get another chance," Said Zack from across the hotel room.
"It not that Neal the Eel got away. It's the fact that he got away with several priceless artifacts," Carmen huffed, "Most notably, The Celtic Wolf,"
"I've been doing some research on the pendent," Players presence presented on an open laptop, "According to Museum records it was found in the ruins of an Celtic temple in eighteen eighty seven. It quickly gained a reputation of being cursed as anyone who owned it was suddenly stricken with misfortune and in some cases death. The last guy who owned it gave it to the museum after he suddenly lost his wife and two kids."
"Wow, maybe we should let Neal keep it." Said Ivy, "Let the curse have him,"
"I agree sis," Said Zack, "Let's not get mixed up in bad mojo,"
"I didn't take you guys for the superstitious types," Said Player. Carmen rolled her eyes a little. Curses and spells were nothing more than fanciful fairy tails. Magic and the supernatural simply did not exist.
"The matter remains that we must return the stolen property to the museum," Shadow-San said from his corner.
The hotel room swung open. Chase Divineaux and Julia Argent stepped into the room. "We've got a lead," Chase announced.
Julia handed Carmen a slip of paper. "According to our intel Neal has fled to this location."
Carmen couldn't believe what it said, "Well team, it looks like we're headed to VILE's old hideout,"