"If we are to have any hope of recovering the Iacon Relics before the Decepticons do, we must divide our resources." Optimus said. "But, Optimus, when it comes to numbers, we are already at a grave disadvantage." Ratchet said. "Under the circumstances, swiftness of action is paramount. This is one race that we absolutely cannot afford to lose." Optimus said.
The Nemesis was getting closer to Manhattan. "Dispatching multiple squadrons will enable us to pursue all 4 coordinates simultaneously." Megatron said, then Knockout came in. "Lord Megatron, I have assembled the mining detail you requested for the first set of coordinates. Breakdown and I enjoyed previous success retrieving Iacon Relics. In memory of my fallen comrade, I intend to do the same again." Knockout said.
"This is a mission, not one of your racing excursions. Stop your preening! Move quickly and operate with a surgeon's skill! Do you understand me, Knockout?!" Megatron yelled.
"Explicitly, Lord Megatron." Knockout said with a hint of fear. "Now, since the unfortunate loss of Breakdown has left you rather vulnerable, you will require appropriate support." Megatron said. An Insecticon approached Knockout from behind. He turned around, and the creature growled. "How very repellant." Knockout said.
"Here's a twist. It would appear that the Decepticons have retreated from Manhattan." Ratchet said as he monitored the Nemesis' position. "They just up and left?" Arcee asked. "It is more likely that Megatron has already set course for the second coordinates, having dispatched a unit to this relic's underground location." Optimus said.
"Without busting up a city block to get to it?" Chromia asked. "They used subway tunnels. New York has a whole network of them running beneath the city." Jack said. "Jackie, what the heck is a subway?" Elsa asked. "They're a bunch of tunnels that are underneath massive cities, and people use them for transport." Jack explained.
"Since the human population no longer seems to be directly threatened, maintaining pur disguise will be necessary. Arcee, Bumblebee, you are the best choice to navigate through such a densely populated area." Optimus said. "Optimus, New York has more than 8 million people. The odds of being spotted by at least one of them are pretty high, even if they are headed underground." Jack said.
"Where are you going with this?" Arcee asked. "You're gonna need a face-man. Someone who can speak on their behalf, a human who can run interference if their cover gets blown." Jack said. "Well, I've actually been in subway stations. I grew up in a major metropolis. Unlike Mr. "I've never been outside Jasper Nevada." Miko said.
"Me and Elsa went to Cybertron." Jack said. "Cybertron doesn't have subways. Does it?" Miko asked. "If there are too many Decepticons, I could help them." Elsa said. "Agent Fowler's field experience makes him our best candidate." Optimus said and turned to face Agent Fowler, who was resting on a gourney, still recovering from when they infiltrated the Nemesis. "BANANA FISH!" He yelled and passed out.
"Agent Fowler's field experience makes him our best banana fish!" Elsa joked. "If he weren't still recovering from his encounter with the Decepticon warship." Ratchet said to Optimus. "Which we survived without incident." Miko said. "Very well. Jack, Elsa, and Miko will accompany Arcee and Bumblebee." Optimus said. "Yes!" Miko said happily. "Wait, I can't come with?" Anna asked. "Sorry, Anna. But this is a big kid mission. Tell you what, I'll bring you back a treat." Jack said. "Thank you, Jackie." Anna hugged Jack.
"Initiate transport, and triangulate coordinates of the other 3 relics." Optimus said.
Deep within an alleyway in New York City, a Ground-Bridge opened, and Jack and Elsa emerged while riding Arcee, with Elsa on the back. Bumblebee came out in the back with Miko in the driver seat. The oldest kid and former princess got a good look at the massive glass towers that seemed to reach the sky itself. "This is amazing." Elsa said in awe. "Of course, it's no Cybertron." Miko said. It was evident that she was still jealous that they went to Cybertron, and she didn't.
"Alright, face, how do we get underground?" Arcee asked. "Well, you can't just jump the turnstiles and hope no one notices." Jack said. "What's a turnstile?" Elsa asked. "I'll explain later." Jack said. Bee's honking horn got their attention, as did Miko waving at them. "Check it out. Construction. A fact of life in the big city." She said.
The 3 humans and 2 Cybertronians walked throughout the subway tunnel. Their footsteps echoed against the walls. Bee walked on a rail, and just as he was about to step on another, it started emitting electricity. "Bumblebee, don't move!" Jack warned. Bee buzzed in confusion. "The third rail. It carries electricity to power the subway trains." Jack said.
"One touch and zap! You're fried!" Miko added. Bee hopped awkwardly as he buzzed cautiously and returned to normal walking, with Elsa laughing all the way. "He must've learned that on TV or something." Miko said.
A Vehicon drilled into the wall, then backed away, allowing more to enter. "Could we please pick up the pace? The humidity down here is threatening to corrode my undercarriage." Knockout pushed. The Insecticon growled behind him. "Must you hover?!" Knockout asked.
"Are we there yet?" Elsa asked. "Triangulating the coordinates is one thing, but figuring out how to reach them through this maze is another." Arcee said. Bee heard a faint drilling sound. He peeked into a smaller tunnel that only a human could fit through. "Drilling." Arcee said. "It's coming from this way." Miko said, then ran into it. "Miko!" Jack sighed and followed. Elsa ran after them as well.
"Miko, why did you -" Elsa started as soon as they reached the end of the tunnel, then a bright light blinded them. "Hold it right there!" An adult warned. "Scrap!" The trio said. "What are you kids doing down here?" The stranger asked through his megaphone. "We're... on a field trip with our school. But we got lost." Miko lied.
"Oh, really?" The stranger asked. "I told her we should stay with our group, but Margaret here insists that we search for fossils." Miko lied. "Who? Oh, my bad." Elsa lied. "I want to go home. Can you help us, Mr?" Miko asked. "Vogel. But you can call me Vogel." Vogel said. The kids looked at each other. "So, ever ride a sweeper train?" Vogel asked. The trio walked towards him when Bee and Arcee peeked through the tunnel. "Face." Jack said as he turned around.
The sweeper train started moving as Vogel showed the area. "And this section was added in the '30s as part of a public-works project." He explained. "Fascinating." Miko said with a yawn. "But these old tunnels have a dark side, too." Vogel said. "Like what?" Elsa asked. "Strange creatures have been said to lurk down here. Giant snakes, albino alligators, even mole men." Vogel explained.
"Well, those are just people who live down here because they have no place else to go, right?" Jack inquired. "That's what the media wants you to believe. But I say they're from outer space." Vogel said.
Jack felt Elsa tug his sleeve. "What?" He whispered to her, and she pointed at Miko, who was moving to the back of the train. "I'm telling you, Area 51's got nothing on this place. The aliens are down here, building up their army. Plotting to use us humans as slave labor." Vogel said. Miko pushed open the back door, and the trio jumped out as the sweeper train left.
"Aliens, huh?" Miko laughed. "If he only knew." She said.
"I'm picking up a locator beacon. The 'Cons have unearthed the relic." Arcee said the the beeping on the tracker increased. Drilling filled the otherwise empty tunnel as Bumblebee and Arcee readied their weapons and hid behind a corner. The Autobots peekwd around and saw a giant hole in another wall with an Energon mining drill next to it.
"Well? Let me see it already!" Knockout exclaimed and pushed a Vehicon aside, and got a good look at the Iacon Relic.
"Lock and load." Arcee said. What they didn't know was that Knockout's guard, the Insecticon, was right behind them. Its growling got their attention. Bee and Arcee moved aside as the Insecticon lunged at them. They shot at the Insecticon as it walked towards Bumblebee while firing back. Bee rejoined Arcee as the Insecticon kept attacking.
Knockout and the Vehicons ran out of the hole and watched the Insecticon throw Bee aside. It was about to shoot the scout when Arcee landed on its back, shooting it, and Bee kept firing. "Attack, already!" Knockout commanded.
"I'll get the relic!" Arcee said. She shot the Vehicons, kicked them, and then sliced another apart. She skidded to a stop at the end of the line while looking for Knockout. The automobile enthusiast appeared frol behind her and hit her with his saw. "You have lovely features, perfect for a little procedure I call the nip and tuck." Knockout said. Arcee dodged his saw, then kicked Knockout away. "Dodge and kick!" She said, then ran to get the Iacon Relic.
She tried to lift it out but failed. The Insecticon smashed a light fixture on the ceiling while dodging Bee's podshots. It punched him against the wall, it howled, and attacked again. Arcee kept prying at the relic until she was electrocuted from behind by Knockout's Energon prod. "Shock and drop." He said.
Jack, Miko, and Elsa walked down the tunnel until they noticed it split into two different directions. "Where do we go?" Elsa asked. "Uh." Jack started. "This way." Miko interrupted and ran into the right tunnel. "How do you know?" Elsa asked. "Miko, let's think this through." Jack said as he put a hand on Miko's shoulder.
"Why? Because you two think I don't know what I'm doing? 'I'm Jack! Optimus picked me and Elsa to go to Cybertron, so we must know everything! And I'm Elsa. I have the blood of a god of destruction running through my veins! And I traveled into the core of Earth itself with Optimus!'" Miko mocked them.
"Hey! Unicron made me!" Elsa said. "Okay, Miko, seriously if that's what's been bugging you, then why didn't you say something before?" Jack asked. "I've been holding it in." Miko said. "Since when do you hold anything in?" Elsa asked. "Look, it's not like you don't contribute. Just yesterday, you helped take down a psychotic Decepticon warship. This isn't a competition -" Jack started, until a light shined on their faces.
"Lost, huh? You 3 are gonna have to explain yourselves to the New York transit authority." Vogel said as he approached the trio. "I think we should tell him the truth." Miko said. "Right. The truth is... we lost our dog." Jack lied. "You're waisting your breath." Vogel said. "The real truth." Miko said. "We are trying to prevent aliens from digging up a powerful ancient relic so they can't use it to destroy our planet." She admitted.
"I swore I heard something weird and high-pitched earlier today. Something that wasn't the crew drilling over on track 5." Vogel said.
The Insecticon dragged Bee across the floor and tossed him next to an unconscious Arcee. "Now, shall we see precisely what you are and what you do?" Knockout inquired as he opened the canister and held out the relic. "And what better way to learn your power than to conduct an on-site experiment?" Knockout asked as he readied the relic.
Down the tracks, the sweeper train was speeding. "Mole men! Metal ones!" Vogel shouted as he stared with shock. "They're actually called Decepticons." Elsa said. "And they have Arcee and Bumblebee!" Jack added. "Vogel, this thing have another gear?" Miko asked. "Abso-freaking-lutely!" Vogel pushed another lever and the train sped up. The Insecticon jumped aside and Knockout was hit and grinded against the wall. "Hey, watch the finish!" He growled.
The Insecticon growled and fired at the train, but it escaped. Arcee and Bee woke up and shot the Insecticon. "Hate to run, but I just missed my train!" Knockout yelled, transformed, and retreated. "Follow the relic. I'll grab Jack, Miko, and Elsa." Arcee said. Bee transformed and chased Knockout. Arcee kept shooting the Cybertronian bug, then skidded across the rails. She transformed and followed the train as the Insecticon transformed into its beetle mode and chased her.
Vogel pulled the levers, but nothing happened. "Not good. Brake lime must have been torched!" He informed. "We can't stop?!" Elsa asked. "No big deal. These tracks go 'round for miles, right, Vogel?" Miko asked. "Not this one." Vogel said. Far ahead was a dead end.
"This track dead-ends, as in crash and burn?" Jack asked. "I'm really starting to hate trains!" Miko yelled. Behind the train, Arcee got closer. She transformed and jumped onto the back. "Whoa! What was that?" Vogel asked. Jack, Miko, and Elsa ran to the back and saw Arcee in the window. As did Vogel. "Welcome to Earth!" He yelled as he grabbed a fire axe. "Vogel, wait!" Elsa yelled. "She's one of the good guys!" Miko added.
Vogel lowered the axe. "Arcee, the brakes are shot!" Jack yelled. "Is there any kind of emergency override?" Arcee asked. "N-No, ma'am! But there is a switch-track control up ahead. If you could just adjust the pull rod." Vogel said. Arcee looked at the wall. "You'll know it when you see it. It'll re-reroute us to another line." Vogel said.
Arcee nodded, then back-flipped and transformed. "Did she just turn into... a motorcycle?" Vogel gasped. Arcee drove past the train as the humans watched, and then they heard a howl. "Uh, oh." Miko said. "That again?" Elsa asked. "And that would be?" Vogel asked. "Trouble." Jack said.
"Well, well. Look who got his treads back." Knockout observed through his rearview mirror. He pulled a sharp turn into another tunnel, as did Bee.
Arcee kept driving as the Insecticon got closer. The Autobot arrived at the rod, and she started pulling it, but the track didn't budge. She kept pulling, but the rod broke off. "Scrap!" She cursed. "Uh, oh!" Vogel shouted. Arcee jumped onto the track and pushed it with her pedes. The train got closer. Arce started kicking the rail until it was in place. She jumepd away before she was hit, and the train entered the other tunnel. "Yay!" Elsa yelled. "Yes!" Jack said. "Sweet!" Miko cheered. "Alright!" Vogel said.
Arcee heard howling. She jumped away, and the Insecticon crashed into the wall. Arcee hit the ceiling and landed. She watched the electricity course across the rail and got an idea. "Come to Mama." She said as the Insecticon approached her, its bug legs not hitting the rail.
The Insecticon transformed and tried to punch her. She dodged and fired. She looked at the rail as the Insecticon got ready to fight. She kept dodging and firing, then readied a wrist blade, and cut the Insecticon before blasting it away. The Insecticon jumped at her as she fired, and the bug hit the floor, glided across it, and hit the rail. The Insecticon was electrocuted to death. "Shock and drop." Arcee said.
Bumblebee and Knockout swerved on the tracks, and Bee managed to hit his side. As Knockout spun out of control, Bee transformed, jumped in front of him, and threw him forward, making him transform and drop the relic. Bee and Knockout fought as they ran at the relic.
"We're in the clear." Miko sighed as the train continued. "Still need a way to stop beside slamming into a wall, I mean." Vogel said.
Bee grabbed the relic first as Knockout crashed into him, barreling them down the tracks, and Bee lost his grip on the relic, making it turn on. Knockout started dragging him away, but Bee kicked him off. The relic floated into the air and attached itself to Bee's wrist.
The train car was right behind him. "Watch out!" Jack yelled. "Bumblebee!" Miko shouted. "Move, or you'll get hurt!" Elsa cried. Bee turned around and braced himself, but he went right through the train like a ghost. The humans looked at him in shock, then turned around right as the train collided with Knockout.
The automobile enthusiast fell onto his stomach as he yelled on the way, and the trian finally stopped. "Bumblebee?!" Elsa cried. Bee buzzed happily. "Dude!" Miko said as the humans left the train. Arcee came up to them and transformed. Bee buzzed as he showed the Iacon Relic. "How did you not get mashed?" Jack asked.
Bee buzzed again. "Phase Shifter. Handy when you need to pass through solid objects or vice versa." Arcee explained and put a servo on Bee's chassis, which passed through him. Bee detached the relic.
Knockout groaned as he got up and saw his reflection in the damaged windshield. "No. NOOOOO!" He screamed at the sight of his finish, which was utterly destroyed. The heroes turned around as Knockout pushed the train away. "You scratch my face, I scratch yours!" He snarled. Bee caught the train, and he and Arcee pointed their weapons.
Knockout growled, transformed, turned around, and retreated. A tire broke off of him. "He knows." Jack said. "Do we have to take him with us?" Elsa asked. "To the mothership?" Vogel asked. "I think I have a workaround." Miko said.
"That's right, soldiers. Dump those rocks, and come on home!" Agent Fowler said to a soldier on the Autobot monitor, then his phone ringed. "Fowler. Miko, what is it? What in the sam Hill? I'm in the middle of a crisis here, and you want me to, uh, put him on the line." He said.
Miko gave her phone to Vogel. "Mr. Vogel, this is special Agent William Fowler of the United States government. You are hearby deputized as an honorary agent for the Department of... uh, Interstellar Relations." Agent Fowler said. "Thank you, sir." Vogel said and gave the phone back to Miko. "So, you folks will be in touch?" He asked. "Abso-freaking-lutely!" Miko said.
"But until then, we need to maintain complete radio silence." Arcee said. "It's been an honor." Vogel salited them. Bee and Arcee returned the salute, and they turned to leave. "Good call, face." Jack said. "I understand big city people who spend way too much time below ground." Miko said. "One relic down, 3 to go. Let's hope the others are having similar results." Arcee said. She abd Bee transformed, and Jack and Elsa climbed onto Arcee as Miko entered Bee, and they drove away as Vogel watched them.
"Robots who turn into vehicles?" He wondered as he looked at his train, then back at the departing Autobots. "Hmm."