Heya readers, last place we left off, Optimus and Bumblebee along with the help of Fowler who had been returning back with Monalisa and Leonardo from a meeting with his Superiors had destroyed Skyquake, and at the same time, Starscream had gone to investigate a life signal at the Destroyed Space Bridge...
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Reports
As the battle against Skyquake had continued, Starscream flew high into the skies, breaking past Earth's orbit and up to the former sight of the destroyed Spacebridge.
He was still angry and frustrated that his plans to bring Skyquake over to his side had not been successful, he couldn't help but feel Skyquake was a fool to keep living in the past. Yet he had hoped that Skyquake's Hatred of Prime would work in his favour if he killed the Prime and that alone would convince the troops that he Starscream was perfectly capable of leading the Decepticons.
Before long the seeker arrived at the ground zero site of the Space Bridge explosion, then he transformed and landed on one of the larger pieces of floating debris.
Looking around at the wreckage, the Seeker was certain there was no sign of life.
"No one could have survived this." he stated then smirked to himself "As I suspected, faulty sensors. The last thing I need now are rumours that Megatron is still..."
He stopped mid-sentence in surprise as a pained groan echoed through the rubble.
Following the sound, floating from one floating piece of rubble to the next, his spark beating, Starscream saw to his shock and horror the figure of Megatron floating among the rocks and destroyed metals!
"Megatron." He gasped in disbelief as he reached the leader of the Decepticons. He placed a servo on the mech to have a proper look, yet as he did, Megatron suddenly awoke and grabbed his shoulder painfully!
Starscream gasped in fear looking into Megatron's furious red optics but then Megatron fell back into stasis, letting go of the seeker.
"But how?" Starscream growled as he rubbed his sore shoulder and stared at the injured, but still alive Mech!
How could Megatron survive such a close-range explosion?
"It defies all logic! It's impossible" Starscream thought as he studied Megatron's body more, then he spotted a bright purple glow pulsing from Megatron's spark chamber and he soon realised!
"Of course, Dark Energon…" Starscream remembered before he leaned forward slightly to speak directly into his Master's audios.
"Everyone believes you are deceased, who am I to disappoint them…Master…" He sneered smugly as he reached for the Energon shard stuck in Megatron's chest then he pulled it out!
As the shard left Megatron's spark chamber, Megatron gasped and struggled before falling back into stasis once again.
Starscream smirked and stood up before pushing his former Master's body away from him to be part of the rubble that floated around him, finally free of his cruelty, the way he would humiliate him before the troops when he failed, and now he could fully claim the leadership of the Decepticons.
"And this time, stay dead." Starscream spat, but his spark shot up to his throat as he heard a whirring swooping sound not far away and he knew very well who that was!
Soundwave's drone, Laserbeak!
If the communications officer wasn't there himself to witness, then his loyal drone would and Starscream had to act quickly!
"Soundwave!" Starscream gasped as he hid the Dark Energon shard behind his back.
"If you are listening, I have found Lord Megatron!" he said in forced light tone with fake concern added in.
"And he is…unwell, we must transport him to sick bay…immediately!" he ordered keeping the Dark Energon shard hidden as the drone hovered nearby.
Meanwhile Fowler, Monalisa and Leonardo arrived back at the Autobot base. Monalisa and Leonardo felt very shaky after what had happened as well as a bit queasy as their stomachs were still doing loops
No sooner did they return than everyone started asking questions!
"What happened?"
"How did it go?"
"What did they say at the Headquarters?"
"Hey! Hey! Back up!" Fowler barked "We'll tell you everything, but right now I think these two need a moment!"
The rest of the Hamato Clan and the Autobots saw Leonardo and Monalisa's stricken faces as well as how pale they looked and Donatello, Raphael and Master Splinter wasted no time in seeing to them.
"What happened out there?" Raphael demanded as he sat next to his wife on the sofa and Kemeko concerned for her father ran over, but Pandora held her back despite the fact she was worried for her mother so Donatello could see to them.
"Leo and Mona look rather sick!" Bulkhead said worried.
"What happened out there?" Arcee asked.
"Optimus and Bumblebee are on their way back." Ratchet reported as he looked at his screens then he and the others heard engines and Optimus and Bumblebee appeared both looking dirty and covered in scratches and scrapes from earlier.
"What in tarnation happened to you two?" Ironhide asked as he took in their appearances.
"It's a long story." Optimus said as he looked at Bumblebee who went over to Ratchet who started examining him.
"What happened out there?" Michelangelo asked.
"You guys look like you've been through a compactor!" Pandora stated.
"Part of the everyday occurrence on Team Prime." Arcee quipped.
"Everyone please!" Splinter spoke up and everyone turned to look at him "Let us please quieten down and let those who have returned tell their tale."
"Thanks." Fowler said looked at Optimus who graciously nodded at the Special Agent and spoke of the events that happened.
Everyone sat and listened in shock and awe about Skyquake and how Optimus had tried to get the Decepticon onto his side, yet how he refused to serve under a Prime and tried to kill him and Bumblebee.
"That was an admirable thing you tried to do Prime." Splinter said, "Yet one cannot always lead others from the destructive paths and dark choices they make."
Bumblebee bleeped and whirred as he spoke of what he did to Skyquake, to which Optimus translated.
Everyone was gobsmacked, and Pandora cheered and whooped.
"Wow! Nice job Bee!" she said clapping her hands "You're a rockstar! I wish I could have seen that!"
Michelangelo also looked impressed.
"You go dude!" he said.
Optimus coughed as he looked at Bumblebee.
"It was a very dangerous move." He said, "Putting yourself at risk was perhaps not the wisest of strategies Bumblebee." He said, "But you performed admirably."
Bumblebee looked proud of himself and bleeped thanks to his leader.
"Yet Bumblebee wasn't the only one who performed a service today." The Prime stated as he looked over at Fowler, Monalisa and Leonardo.
The lizard and turtle were sipping some Jasmine tea and Donatello had given them some motion sickness tablets.
Fowler smiled and explained what they did to assist Bumblebee.
"Wow!" Pandora cried "Awesome!" and she looked a little crestfallen she had missed all the fun.
Michelangelo agreed yet Kemeko went over to the sofa and hugged her father close and Leonardo in turn hugged her back in reassurance.
"Which then brings us to the next question." Ironhide asked "What happened at Headquarters Agent Fowler?"
The other Autobots and the Hamato Clan agreed.
"Yeah." Bulkhead chimed in "How did it go?"
"Well make yourselves comfortable." Fowler said "We'll tell you..."
Flashback
After about half an hour from leaving the Autobot base, Fowler, Monalisa and Leonardo touched down at a large military Base where the Special Agent landed his jet and some soldiers appeared to escort them to the main base to meet with Fowler's bosses.
It was no surprise when they saw Leonardo and Monalisa than the soldiers were shocked at their appearance which did make the lizard and turtle uneasy.
Fowler noticed this and gave the soldier's a stern look to stay professional which they stiffened up and started to escort them to the base.
Leonardo walked next to Monalisa and took her hand to reassure her and she in turn squeezed his hand back.
They had left the weapons behind at the base, as they didn't want to cause any conflict being armed, and they trusted Fowler's word that there wouldn't be any trouble.
As they walked, Monalisa glanced at the soldier's escorting them, and she couldn't help but feel that a couple of them were checking her out, she had briefly glanced one of the young male soldiers next to her running his eyes over her from her scaley arms to her tail.
She didn't blame them studying her with their eyes if they kept their hands to themselves.
Before long they arrived in the base and were escorted to an office where two guards stood on either side of the doors.
As they saw Fowler, they stiffened up, but they almost jumped in shock seeing the turtle and lizard behind him.
"At ease soldiers!" Fowler said, "They mean no harm."
The first one nodded quickly and knocked on the door to which a voice was heard from the other side giving permission to enter and the guard opened the door.
Fowler gestured with his head for Monalisa and Leonardo to follow him until he saw the other guard eyeing Monalisa.
"Eyes front Soldier!" he snapped to which the Guard snapped his head up and looked ahead going very pink in the cheeks.
Monalisa raised an eyebrow until Leonardo leaned over to whisper to her.
"If I didn't know any better, I think he was eyeing you up a bit!"
Monalisa blinked and looked slightly appalled, but she didn't get the chance to speak her mind before they entered the room and were greeted by a man with greying brown hair and a moustache and wearing a General's Uniform sitting at a desk with two similar dressed men on either side of him like bodyguards.
"General Bryce?" Fowler greeted the man.
"Agent Fowler." General Bryce replied looking at the Special Agent then at Leonardo and Monalisa.
"And are these the mutants you discovered at the Autobot base?" he asked gesturing to the turtle and lizard.
"They are, yes sir." Fowler replied, "They are Leonardo and Monalisa."
General Bryce didn't speak for a moment as he analysed Monalisa and Leonardo with his hard critical eyes.
Then at last he spoke.
"What are your names?" he asked.
"Leonardo Hamato." Leonardo said bowing to the General "And this is Monalisa, my sister."
"Good day." Monalisa bowed to the General.
General Bryce nodded at the mutants then gestured to a couple of seats in front of the desk and before long, Leonardo and Monalisa found themselves being grilled on who they were, where they came from and how they ended up knowing about the Autobots.
Between them, Leonardo and Monalisa told General Bryce everything about them including showing him a couple of photos they had of their family and of April and Casey.
Fowler even joined in the conversation to vouch for them telling the truth.
"So, there's more of you?" General Bryce asked.
"Those in the photos yes." Leonardo said, "The other three turtles are my brothers, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, and the rat is my father and sensei."
"And that there is my daughter Pandora," Monalisa gestured to the hybrid in her photo as well as explaining she was partnered with Raphael.
"And the human girl?" General Bryce asked, her eyebrows furrowing with suspicion.
"She's my adopted child." Leonardo said "I've raised her since she was a baby after her parents died..."
Throughout the interview they had decided not to talk about the Shredder or the Foot, as they didn't want to add any more problems than they already had with keeping the Autobots hidden as well as worry about the Decepticons, so they decided to just keep the conversation about them and their family for the time being.
All they spoke about was about how they lived peacefully under New York in the Sewers and never interfered with human life and were no threat to anyone and just happened to come across the Autobots by chance whilst in Massachusetts.
Fowler also spoke about how they along with their family and the Autobots saved his life recently and how he trusted them too hoping that would establish a rapport with his Superior.
After about fifteen minutes of explaining, General Bryce was quiet for a moment as he thought hard, then he nodded, yet his face remained serious.
"I see." He said then looked up at Fowler who stood to attention, yet the mutants could sense he was nervous at what his superior was going to say.
Finally General Bryce spoke.
"I have listened to your stories, and I will say this," he said, "Given how you have kept yourselves hidden so well for years and we see no reason why you should be feared, then I am willing to grant you sanctuary as well as a liaison with the Autobots."
Fowler felt his soul light up with relief when he heard that, and Leonardo and Monalisa exchanged looks before looking at General Bryce.
"Honestly?" Monalisa asked "You mean it?"
General Bryce nodded.
"Indeed miss." He said then looked up at Fowler and the special agent knew that look very well.
It was 'Don't-Make-Me-Regret-My Decision' to which Fowler nodded as sweat formed on his forehead...
End Flashback
"... And that's basically how it went." Agent Fowler concluded.
"So, your superiors are content with the existence of us?" Michelangelo asked.
"And they will grant us Sanctuary?" Donatello questioned.
"In a nutshell." Monalisa said, the colour had returned to her cheeks after the crazy flight earlier and she lowered her Jasmine tea.
"Awesome!" Pandora said and Kemeko nodded happily.
"They've allowed us to continue our interaction with the Autobots, and keep us safe from the humans." Leonardo said, "Despite their initial discomfort."
"I've never been grilled so hard in my life." Monalisa said "It was draining."
"I can understand that." Fowler said, "And I'm used to General Bryce's grills all the time when something goes crazy."
"I think it was wise you did not speak about your enemies Leonardo, Monalisa."
Everyone looked over to Optimus Prime as he leaned forward towards the raised platform.
"Fowler's superiors are worried about how our battle with the Decepticons will affect the planet, as well as humankind, and knowing there are other enemies that our mutant friends have, will only add to their stress."
"Darn tootin!" Ironhide agreed and the other Autobots murmured or in Bumblebee's case bleeped in agreement.
"Maybe one day when it is needed," Splinter spoke up "we will need to inform them, as well as of our friends in Mutopia, but for now, we can enjoy the fact that we have support from those of Agent Fowler's employment."
The rest of the Hamato Clan agreed.
"I'll inform April and Casey." Donatello volunteered.
"And I say this calls for drinks in celebration!" Michelangelo said to which everyone, including the Autobots, were too happy to agree.
"I'll get the Engex." Bulkhead volunteered.
"And I'll break out the beers!" Michelangelo said, "Or Sake or wine?" he suggested to Splinter.
"And soft drinks for the minors." He looked at Pandora and Kemeko.
"Glad it all worked out!" Fowler smiled as he happily accepted a soda from Michelangelo as he passed the drinks around to celebrate.
Meanwhile, in Medical Lab of the Decepticon Warship, Starscream stood with Soundwave staring at the body of Megatron who lay on a medical berth attached to many wires pumping him with energon and keeping him alive.
Starscream after realising Soundwave's minion Laserbeak had followed him, he was forced to get the Nemesis to the destroyed Space-Bridge to pick up Megatron and bring him to the sick bay where his former leader was instantly attached to life support.
"The troops will be pleased to hear of our success in rushing Lord Megatron into stasis." Starscream said grimly, with a hint of anger, as he looked at a still functioning Megatron.
"Let us hope that our Master pulls through."
He forced those words out like sour thorns.
As much as he kept up the pretence, he was hopeful his master would return from stasis, he secretly hoped it wouldn't be the case.
He looked over to the monitor showing the steady beeps coming from it showing Megatron's still beating Spark as well as the brain activity as if it were taunting the seething Starscream.
So now we know how the meeting with Fowler's Superior went, not too bad, if not a little tense, and Starscream discovered Megatron!
Looks like Starscream's new leadership is in question now the Warlord and True Leader of the Decepticons has been found barely alive!