Let's Get Crazy by Prince
…
one month later
...
Rose shrieked in excitement with Miko beside her as the girls jumped out of Optimus' large servos down to the crystal blue lake surrounded forestry. A lake of water the Autobots found during recon and Miko demanded to go swimming, so Optimus felt compelled to make her demand a reality. Besides he liked spoiling his young friends and his daughter, hearing their laughter was the best thing he's heard in Eons. Miko and Rose disappeared into the water with the reacting water creating waves from their arrival. Jack looked over at Raf nervously as Raf almost bursted with excitement, Jack went to request a count when Raf jumped out of Bulkheads head with an cry of joy down into the lake.
Christmas passed over the past few days, Rose spent Christmas morning with the Autobots watching Christmas movies until the kids were able to come out for a couple hours since it was a family day. But the Autobots were family now, so it was only right. and the kids expect the working kids had free schedules. New Years was around the corner and so was school, but this was probably the best day so far.
"Scared, Jack?" Bulkhead teased.
Jack scoffed, looking up at him and then down at the lake, "No." Jack met Bulkheads optics again, "Yes."
"Okay," Bulkhead replied, rather calmly.
Jack relaxed and then Bulkheads tone frightened him, next thing he knew he was tossed lightly in the air, Jack flailed as he screamed falling into the lake with Bulkhead chuckling.
"Bulkhead!" Arcee shrieked, stood next to him and watched the water intently, waiting for Jack to reappear from the water.
Jack broke through the water surface, he was fine.
"He's fine!" Bulkhead defended as Arcee became over motherly towards Jack.
"Cee I'm okay," Jack replied when Arcee scooped him out of the water and glared at Bulkhead and she passed him.
You could say Jack has grown on Arcee, more than was expected already.
Optimus chuckled at the exchange and turned back to the splashing water, Miko and Rose were having a water fight as Raf swam around in his own section with Bumblebee near having his own entertainment in the lake. Bulkhead and Optimus laughed at Bumblebees antics.
"Having fun, Bee?" Bulkhead asked, quite amused.
Bumblebee replied in lighthearted buzzes.
"Ratchet?" Optimus inquired as Ratchet sat down in the water near Rose and Miko, Ratchet allowed Miko to climb up on him and jump off.
"Speak of this to anyone, I'll shave that pretty hair of yours," Ratchet grumbled at Rose who grinned at him smugly as she climbed up to his Cybertronian equivalent of a collar bone.
She rested her shoulder and upper arm and her head on the side of his face, "Oh please, you can't deny, we're growing on you."
Ratchet shifted so Rose was falling off him and into the wall below, he smirked when she resurfaced and splashed him with war.
…
one week later
…
Deep in the arctic with danger winds and freezing temperature, Bulkhead and Bumblebee were scouting an Energon signal, Bulkhead kept checking the scanner, he held it up at a different angle. Tapped the device as Bumblebee buzzed questions protecting his face from the harsh cold temperatures, Bulkhead turned to his left walking forward looking down.
"No, we're not there yet," Bulkhead replied looking down at the smaller mech shielding himself, "But it should be just past this ridge, Bumblebee."
Bulkhead looked down the ridge and slid down to the bottom of it with Bumblebee right with him. Bulkhead looked out at the icy terrain, and then back down at the device in his hand. Bumblebee looked around and seen something.
"I don't' get it," Bulkhead held up the scanner, "these readings are off the meter."
Bumblebee buzzed a report and walked towards what he spotted. They approached a frozen pod in ragged circular icy floor outlined in the ice crusted in snow.
…
"I told you, doc. We're fine!" Bulkhead remained frustrated as he disconnected the tubes strapped to his chassis and stood up.
Only to have Ratchet push him back down on the medical berth once again.
"The only way to be certain you're fine, Bulkhead, is to endure standard defrosting procedure! You know prolonged exposure to sub-zero conditions can cause permanent system damage!" Ratchet objected.
"Ratchet, have you learned anything more about the arctic find?" Optimus Prime asked his old friend as he and his, second-in-command, Arcee approached their fellow Autobots.
"Not yet. The pod can't be opened while it's frozen solid," Ratchet reported.
…
The pod sealed in thick walls of ice engulfing the dark grey pod as its prisoner. The large, locked space was quiet, the ice was melting and creating a puddle on the floor where it rested. A massive piece of the pod was exposed from melting after the time of Ratchet checking over Bulkhead and Bumblebee, something or somethings started clawing around. Metal on metal. Something begins trying to break through the barriers of the pod, pounding against the weak metal. The thing within began making cracks from its blows until it broke ragged hole within the hole. A miniature claw emerged from the hole with a vengeance.
…
*theme starts here*
*Let's Dance starts*
Let's dance
Let's dance
Let's dance
Let's dance
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance
To the song they're playin' on the radio
Let's sway
While color lights up your face
Let's sway
Sway through the crowd to an empty space
Optimus' grill of his vehicle form with his insignia appears on the screen zooming out to him driving down the highway, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet and Arcee in their vehicle forms drive around him and in front of him.
If you say run
I'll run with you
And if you say hide
We'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall into my arms
And tremble like a flower
Let's dance
Let's dance
Zooms in on Optimus as he transforms into his legendary form and turns around as his Autobots transform and form their legendary formation.
At the Autobot base a Autobot insignia signal flashed on the screens, zooms out to Rafael and Rose, Rafael jumped over the railing into Bumblebee's hand, Bumblebee transforms, Rose jumps over the railing as he transforms and lands inside his vehicle form.
Let's dance
For fear your grace should fall
Let's dance
For fear tonight is all
Bumblebee makes a sharp left u-turn and disappears into the groundbridge, Miko runs forward as Bulkhead follows, he transforms and does a drift trick as Miko jumps into the backseat and Bulkhead disappears through the ground bridge. Jack runs into the groundbridge tunnel as Arcee drops onto the floor, from the nowhere, she runs forward and transforms into her vehicle form. Jack jumps onto her seat and they disappear into the groundbridge.
Let's sway
You could look into my eyes
Let's sway
Under the moonlight
This serious moonlight
And if you say run
I'll run with you
And if you say hide
We'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall into my arms
And tremble like a flower
Zooms in and out on Megatron walking forward as Starscream runs from behind him, jumps and transforms into his jet form and takes to the skies as Megatron lifts his legendary arm canon firing. Follows Starscream's view through the army of Decepticon's drones firing at Optimus and Arias (in her Cybertronian Form) running towards them with his own blaster raised as he fired back with a explosion behind him.
Megatron pushes through the crowd meeting Optimus face to face as threw their fists at each other in the same direction and their fists collided.
TRANSFORMERS PRIME
DEVELOPED FOR TELEVISION BY
Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
AND
Duane Capizzi
Jeff Kline
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Jeff Kline
Let's dance
Let's dance
Let's dance
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues
Let's dance
To the song we're playing
Let's sway
…
"Arcee and I will search for any clue that will explain the origin of our arctic find," Optimus reported as him and Arcee stood before the activated GroundBridge.
"Only until your sensors sound. Remember, once your core temperature drops into the blue zone, system failures aren't likely. They're imminent," Ratchet warned.
They turned to the entrance hall hearing vehicle engines and saw Bumblebee and Bulkhead approaching. Stepping out of Bulkhead were Miko and Rose and stepping out of Bumblebee were Jack and Raf.
"Miss us, Doc Bot?" Miko asked Ratchet as he groans.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed behind the children and woman.
"Shouldn't they be in school?" Ratchet moaned.
"On Saturday?" Miko said in disbelief, "We have the whole weekend off to spend with you," She tormented.
"Why are you here?" Ratchet asked Rose, she took a lot of offense to that.
"Whoa, I thought we bonded?" Rose put a hand over her heart, scoffing in fake disbelief, "I switched my shifts to weekdays, which means weekends with you."
"I wasn't expecting to carpool. What gives, Arcee?" Jack asked his motorcycle guardian, walking up to her.
"Tag team, Jack. It's my turn for exploration duty," Arcee answered.
"Oh, too bad," Jack remarked, shrugging and crossing his arms, "It's a beautiful day for a ride. Would hate for you to feel guilty for leaving us indoors," Jack sing-songed, slyly.
"Arctic exploration duty," Arcee added.
"Indoors where it's warm," Jack immediately walked away.
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow," Raf gushed excitedly.
"I would invite you to join, Rafael. But the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots," Optimus sighed sadly.
"I… understand," Raf nodded in understanding.
Optimus nodded at him and turned to the groundbridge then back at Rafael.
"But I will bring you back a snowball," Optimus offered.
"That would be awesome," Raf replied, smiling up at him.
Optimus and Arcee walked through the groundbridge and broke through the barriers.
"Transportation complete," Rachet proclaimed.
The GroundBridge control system began crackling electricity.
"By the All Spark!" Ratchet gasped.
"So, what do you guys think we should do today?" Miko asked walking up to the living room set up.
Bumblebee replied in buzzes.
"Video game tournament! The last one standing wins!" Raf challenged.
Bumblebee agreed in buzzes.
"Bulkhead! Bumblebee! Here! Now!" Ratchet called out desperately.
"Prepare to be destroyed," Miko taunted as she took the controller from the table and held it up in Jack's face.
"Uh. Yeah. Not really my thing, Miko," Jack declined propping his feet up on the coffee table and rested his head on his arms.
"Oh? Scared of losing to a girl?" Miko tormented Jack as she continued to wave the controller around his face.
Jack sighed as he snatched the controller from her hand, "Bring it!"
"No mercy," Miko smiled as they began their competition.
As they started playing, Raf sat there looking glum. He got left out sometimes, Rose usually accompanied him if Bumblebee wasn't available. Rose was on the computers doing something for online schooling. He wanted to be in the Arctic, he wanted to experience snow, since he lived in a climate that never snows, it was an experience he longed for. They were all able to get swimming without going to the YMCA, they were able to enjoy the lake in a foreign country, and hiking in the forest. He wanted to see snow.
"Hey, Raf. You wanna take on Miko for me?" Jack offered.
"Nah. I have stuff to do," Raf sighed as he walked away.
Jack shrugged and went back to versing Miko in the game. With Ratchet, things didn't look good with the GroundBridge. Bulkhead and Bumblebee approached their team medic with caution.
"You can't boss us around when the boss is out!" Bulkhead reminded him.
"I need some heavy lifting. The GroundBridge is down!" Ratchet announced, causing Bumblebee to bleep his concerns about Optimus and Arcee, "Optimus and Arcee made it through just fine. It's bringing them back that concerns me. Now remove those panels. Chop chop."
…
"…Temperatures sub-zero and dropping." He imitated wind blowing, "…Gotta… get back… to base!…"
In the hallways, Raf was playing an imaginary game by himself. He was pretending he was with Optimus and Arcee on Arctic exploration duty and fighting against the high-velocity winds and the sub-zero temperatures. He looked around sensing something and then a screw fell off to his right, he walked over and picked up the screw. Suddenly, clinking of tiny metal feet from above him, he turned and looked and then something clawed in front of him and then banged from behind and he stepped forward tripping over something.
Raf looked up to see gigantic blue eyes looking at him, a small little robot, he jumped back yelping and then watched it claw up to him.
"Where did you come from?" He chuckles and stands, he immediately thought it was a pet and absolutely adorable. "The Autobots never said anything about pets."
It blinked it's optics innocently, walking towards him, Rafael pulled the screw from his back pocket and held it up.
"You wanna play fetch?"
The thing began jumping up and down excitedly and ran in a circle. Raf threw the screw with a grunt, and the thing chased after it.
Raf chuckles, "Good boy. Go get it!"
Then it ate it with whirring sounds.
"No! Don't eat that! You're gonna choke!" Raf protested.
But it ran back to him, the screw was gone.
"Or… not."
…
"Come on. Come on. You want some?" Jack asked as he gently rammed his car into Miko's car before Miko's car crashed and the screen displayed GAME OVER on the tv screen, "In... your… face! *Jack did a happy dance and then the electricity flickered* What the? Great! Power failure!"
"Frag!" Rose slammed her hands on the computer desk top.
"Awwww… it wiped out our game," Miko pouted, mockingly.
"But I was winning!" Jack whined.
"Bummer," Miko tormented.
Ratchet was plagued by another electrical complication within the Autobot base. And this one would potentially lead to a life-or-death situation for Optimus and Arcee who are trapped in the Arctic until further notice.
"We most definitely have a problem. But what could have caused this?" Ratchet asked as the electricity flickered again..
"Or that," Bulkhead piped in.
"Must be the main grid. Hopefully, it isn't a substation malfunction," Ratchet remarked.
"Hey, guys! Look what I found!"
"We're busy!" Ratchet called back.
Suddenly, Ratchet screamed at the thing Raf was carrying happily in his arms. Once Bumblebee and Bulkhead got a look, they joined Ratchet in the little scream fest and defending themselves with their blasters raised. Immediately, Jack, Rose, and Miko ran to Raf, ready to protect them from the crazy Autobots.
"Whoa!" Rose held up her arms.
"Hey! Hey! What's with you guys?" Miko demanded.
"Scraplet! SCRAPLET!" Bulkhead cried.
"What's a Scraplet?" Raf asked.
"The most dangerous vermin to ever crawl upon the face of Cybertron," Ratchet answered darkly.
Rose laughed.
"This? Are you kidding me?" Jack scoffed in disbelief.
"You're giant robots! Scrappy here is… teeny," Miko pointed out dryly.
"You have no idea the damage that teeny thing could do!" Bulkhead retorted fearfully.
"Aw, he wouldn't hurt anything," Raf shook his head as Scrappy came to life in his arms.
The scarplet found the three live, juicy robots in front of them, especially Bumblebee who was closest. Scrappy became a demon. Immediately, his mouth opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth and snapping it's jaws hungrily at the Autobots. It broke free from Raf's grasp and started approaching them. Instantly, Bulkhead and Bumblebee started shooting at the tiny scraplet. But all their shots missed the tiny evil scraplet as it dodged the fire.
The scraplet jumped onto Bumblebee's leg and started creating a mesh wound. Bumblebee began freaking out as the Scraplet moved around on his body. He fell to the ground and grabbed the scraplet with his hand. However, the scraplet took the opportunity to begin eating his arm. Bumblebee was scared. Bumblebee whacked the scraplet off his arm. It flew to the ground and recovering quickly, the Scraplet went for Bumblebee again.
But then Rose started beating it with a crowbar, she hit five times as it began to break apart before Jack caught the crowbar.
"Whoa, easy there, killer," Jack coaxed.
"Whoa. I did not see that coming," Miko remarked to Jack as Rose and Raf ran over to the Autobots.
"I'm sorry, Bumblebee!" Raf apologized, only to have Bumblebee bleep his reassurances in response. "Is he gonna be OK?" Raf asked, worriedly, guiltily.
"Only a mesh wound. He'll live," Ratchet reassured the two.
"Now do you believe me? All Scraplets do is dismantle machinery and eat anything metal! Especially living metal!" Bulkhead exclaimed.
"Well… bug squashed," Rose replied with an edge in her tone.
"Game over… right?" Jack finished.
"What the hell was that?" Miko demanded, confused.
"No. When it comes to Scraplets, there's never just one," Ratchet retorted darkly, "And I fear I know how they got in here."
…
Now everyone was inside the room Ratchet had stored the pod Bulkhead and Bumblebee found. Upon close examination, Ratchet's fears weren't exonerated. But indicted.
"It's a trap. A Scraplet trap," Ratchet proclaimed.
"Uh…an empty Scraplet trap," Bulkhead observed nervously.
"Most like projected into space eons ago…" Ratchet replied shining his light into the pod, "only to end up in the Arctic where the temperature kept them in stasis," Ratchet added.
"Until we brought the thaw," Jack realized.
"And now they're wide awake and ready to brunch," Miko piped in.
"Ain't this lovely?" Rose inquired, sarcastically.
"Hardly!" Ratchet didn't catch her sarcasm.
"So… how many are we talking about?" Raf asked nervously.
"Thousands. And the power malfunctions and the GroundBridge damage are sure signs they're infestation well underway," Ratchet announced gravely.
…
Meanwhile, in the Arctic, Optimus and Arcee are unaware of the events going on at base. Concentrating on their mission, they scaled an ice glacier as they continued their voyage in the cold place. They stopped and looked around approximately three-quarters of the way down. Optimus' insignia began beeping with an alarm turning blue as he was scaling down an ice cliff. He reached the blue zone.
"Arcee, what's your status?" Optimus asked, through the commlink.
"My sensor's going off," She reported, "Guess we should call for pickup before things get chilly."
"Optimus to base. Core temperature readings have reached the blue zone. Prepare to activate GroundBridge," Optimus spoke into the commlink only to receive static, surprising him.
…
"Ratchet to Optimus, do you read me? We have a situation!" Ratchet tried to tell Optimus, but the radio died out on him before he could continue, "The Scraplets have gotten into the commlink system! If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, they will reduce this entire base to a scrapheap!"
"Well, I say we bug out of here and let them keep it!" Bulkhead voted, Bumblebee agreed with buzzes.
"Evacuation is not an option. If we don't get the GroundBridge back online stat, Optimus and Arcee will perish!" Ratchet proclaimed.
"They… will?" Jack gasped worriedly.
Rose paled significantly.
"Bulkhead, you never run!" Miko objected.
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot. I have. They pick you apart from the inside-out! Going for the small juicy bits first, fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit till there's nothing left! And I mean nothing! Not even your optics," Bulkhead retorted.
"You have to let us help," Jack said.
"We're not made of metal," Raf stated.
"Yeah. Those Scraplets can't hurt us," Miko and Rose piped in.
"Typically, I find your fleshiness you be your least engaging quality. But it would appear to provide an advantage under these extremes," Ratchet decided.
"OK good. So, we pair off. One bot, one human," Rose suggested, "Or two humans, or half human."
"I'll watch your back while you repair the GroundBridge, Ratchet," Jack proclaimed.
"And we go on a bug hunt," Miko added.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee turned to each other before they both shivered in fear.
"Oh boy…"
…
"Optimus to base. Do you read?"
Currently, Optimus and Arcee were trudging their way in the Arctic snow trying to find somewhere they can keep their temperature up a little while longer for the time being. However, it was an arduous task with the wailing winds and the sub-zero temperatures. During their search, Optimus continued his attempts to contact the base. His attempts were interrupted by a grunt and a thud. He turned around and saw Arcee crouched on the ground, and he helped back to her pedes.
"Are you sure a nice long drive wouldn't help? I hear Miami's beautiful this time of year," Arcee joked as she dusted the snow and ice off of her body.
"The nearest temperate climate is too distant, Arcee. Attempting to reach it would expand too much energy and hasten the freezing process. Until Ratchet sends for us – and he will-," Optimus replied, "Our best option would be to seek shelter and insulate ourselves."
…
"I get to be your bodyguard for once. How cool is that?!" Miko gushed excitedly as Bulkhead swung his blasters around paranoid.
"Raf, I'm the first one here…right?" Bulkhead asked nervously into the commlink.
The lights went out and Bulkhead screamed high-pitched out of fear.
"Did you just scream like a little girl?" Miko asked with a sly smirk as the lights flickered back on.
"No…" He looked away, "maybe…" She smiled wider at him with mirth, "Can we talk about this later?" Bulkhead begged Miko.
Miko shrugged and they continued scouting the base for any Scraplets that have to be destroyed. They ventured down another hallway and turned around a corner. Clinking and clanking in the hallway worsen Bulkhead's fears.
"Take it easy, Bulk. Just take it easy. Everything is going to be-."
Miko was cut off by Bulkhead shooting at the walls and ceiling as he heard even more metallic clanging. When he shot at the right spot on the ceiling, cables fell on him hanging from the ceiling. Bulkhead screamed as his heightened senses of fear got the best of him, flailing around he tried to get the imaginary Scraplets off him. Miko watched Bulkhead as he continued until she decided to step in.
"Okay, wish I hadn't seen that," Miko remarked, "Bulkhead! You're fine. It's just a bunch of cables."
He stopped.
"Oh. Right. Cables," Bulkhead laughed sheepishly as he tugged at one to prove his point… which unleashed Scraplets hiding in the ceiling and this time he didn't stop screaming.
…
Raf and Bumblebee also scanned the hallways of the base looking for any signs of scraplet infestation. Rafael was armed with a crowbar, and Rose was armed with sledgehammer, ready to attack any scraplet. Not a single, solidarity sign of Scraplets… yet. Bumblebee couldn't help but bleep his concerns.
"Don't these things ever stop eating?" Raf demanded in annoyance as he ran to an air vent that has become the latest victim of the scraplet infestation at the end of the short hallway.
Rose shivered looking up at the ceiling and following Bumblebee to the end of the hall. She looked up at Bumblebee as he stopped and turned around, she hasn't seen the Bot's this scared before. And after what she witnessed,
Bumblebee ripped open the remainder and Raf and Rose let out a warrior's cry with all their weapons ready. But they didn't find any Scraplets. They did hear clinging though. Lots of clinging.
Clinging from the air vent from behind them of the floor, all their forms deflated in fear and worry at the multiple metal feet that was becoming awfully familiar. Scraplets began emerging from the vent, ready to feed. Blaster fire, crowbar, and sledgehammer swings went everywhere as the Scraplets descended upon Bumblebee. One of the Scraplets bit Rose's right thigh near her knee blood immediately began flowing out of the pierced flesh, but it detached the moment it registered her blood, and focused its attention of Bumblebee.
"Rose!" Raf screeched when she fell.
But then she was up with electric navy-blue veins, navy-blue icy electricity detonated from her body in a bright flash of light.
Let's sway
Under the moonlight
This serious moonlight
…
"How's it going over there?" Jack asked casually.
"I've repaired the damage conductors and re-routed the central conduits. But the GroundBridge still won't receive power!" Ratchet reported in anger as he punched the floor nearby.
Then he heard the clinking and began looking around. Jack was banging the metal bar into his open hand. He caught movement and turned to the scraplets high up on the wall in the another vent, crawling around, chilling. Until a couple noticed Jack and then the live Cybertronian with his back turned working on the groundbridge. They began to descend.
"Whoa!" Jack yelled as he saw the Scraplets fly towards Ratchet ready to consume the medic, "They fly? You never said they can fly!"
Ratchet began backing away from the oncoming Scraplets, hoping to protect himself from their endless hunger. However, all his attempts were made in vain. The Scraplets still descended and began feeding on him. Their combined force knocked him to the ground.
"RATCHET!" Jack shrieked as her rushed to help him.
Jack began swinging his metal bar at the Scraplets that were causing as feeding frenzy on Ratchet. He swung and swung and swung at Scraplets but more seemed to appear more than he could whack off.
"Jack! Fire extinguisher!" Ratchet exclaimed.
Nodding, Jack ditched his metal bar for the fire extinguisher. He ran over and attacked Ratchet with the cold foam that was trapped inside the fire extinguisher. The Scraplets began to all fell off of him, dead.
"Ratchet, get the patch kit. We're leaking Energon like-Whoa!" Bulkhead's request was cut off by the sight of even more Scraplets swarming them.
"EAT THIS!" Bulkhead yelled as he pounded some Scraplets.
He screamed at the Scraplets eating his hand, Rose's power exploded from her body reaching further throughout the space.
Let's dance
Let's
Let's
Let's dance
Let's sway
Let's
Let's dance, let's dance, let's dance, let's dance
Let's dance
…
In the deep Arctic, Optimus and Arcee managed to find some shelter from the Arctic cold. However, deep down, he knew that it still wouldn't be enough. Their core temperature would reach unrevivable levels, and their sparks would give out due to cyber-hypothermia. But it didn't stop them from fighting, waiting for Ratchet to send for them. He turned to face the Autobot femme next to him. He saw her curled up in a ball trying to insulate herself against the cold. She appeared to be sleeping. Or unconscious. Or even dead. That last thought gave Optimus dismay, he couldn't lose another Autobot.
"Arcee, wake up," Optimus pleaded.
She lifted her head and groaned, she wiped her optics, "Just resting my eyes."
"The longer we remain alert, the longer we remain alive." He reminded her.
"What do you suggest? Wait. How about a game?" Arcee suggested, "Let's play Who Screwed Things Up Back at Base?"
"Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction," Optimus interjected her, having faith.
"Caused by Bulkhead." She replied, "Let's see. No commlink. Maybe even no power. The big lug probably tripped over a cord. He's never been too graceful. Remember when we first arrived on Earth and Bulkhead walked into those power lines?" She chuckled, she liked Bulkhead a lot , even if she bullies him sometimes. "Who knew he could dance like that?"
"Bulkhead may be… too large for this world, but his inner strength is without bounds. One should not be measured by size alone."
…
Rose hummed as Jack, Miko, and Raf made sure the frozen dead Scraplets on the ground were actually dead, and her body with dry ice smoke radiating from her. The Bots fell back to ground near the computers, moaning and groaning in pain. Rose sat down on a crate and applied pressure on the leg wound.
"How did you get that?" Ratchet demanded as Miko came running over with a large med kit.
"We get them all?" Jack asked nervously over the moans of pain Ratchet and Bulkhead were emitting.
"Rose!" Miko yelped as Rose fell back against the metal crate like dead weight, and Scraplet's made their presence known close by.
"These were just scouts," Ratchet sighed sadly, "Rose!"
Bumblebee bleeped his worry about the fact they only killed the scouts and worried about Rose and slumped onto the floor weakly.
"So the rest of them know we're in here?" Bulkhead questioned fearfully.
"And if we allow ourselves to become their next meal, Optimus and Arcee will never make it home. We must get the GroundBridge operational," Ratchet proclaimed. "And Rose is in need of immediate car."
"Then we can use it to send the Scraplets anywhere on Earth!" Raf realized.
"Why not back to the Arctic?" Jack suggested, "We already know they don't do cold."
"Sweet! One-stop shipping!" Miko remarked.
"Given the body mass of the Scraplets, sub-zero temperature should freeze them on contact. So think, Ratchet. Think! If the GroundBridge is still down, there must be a breach in the Energon fuel line," Ratchet gasped in realization.
"If we weren't breaching and Rose could do that whatever storm again…, one of us could get back over there and fix it," Bulkhead remarked.
"Where do we find it?" Jack immediately asked.
"And how do we fix it?" Raf added.
…
Slowly and carefully, the trio of teens tiptoed their way past the Scraplets searching for fresh metal. Jack was carrying a metal toolbox filled with metal tools that would help them fix the Energon fuel line.
"Remember. We're okay. We're not metal," Jack reminded his friends before spotting the leak, "There's the breach! Come on! We have to work fast."
…
"So if we get – when – we get the GroundBridge open, we send the creepy crawlies out or bring out bots in?" Bulkhead asked.
"Optimus and Arcee will be fresh meat! If we bring them in first, the Scraplets will have no reason to leave. We'll need bait," Ratchet replied.
"Where are we gonna get bait?! Those Scraplets have already helped themselves to everything in here!" Bulkhead retorted, "And Rose!"
"Rose is experiencing exhaustion and blood loss Bulkhead! Exhaustion from her activating powers, just like her mother."
…
Just as Jack finished wielding the fuel line leak closed with a fresh piece of metal, dozens and dozens of Scraplets flew past them and into the vent above them.
Bad news.
"They're getting ready to feed!" Raf cried.
Back in the command room, vents ell with swarms of Scraplets swarming above, ready to feed.
…
Optimus and Arcee were continuing to lose their strength. They were slumped within a snowbank. Both sprawled out. Both knew they didn't have long left. They knew they weren't making it back.
"You know the worst part? After battling 'Cons all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, I is how our lights go out?" Arcee asked in disbelief.
"Arcee, this may not be the finish we had planned. But if this is indeed the end, if we are to become one with the All Spark…"
Arcee put her hand ontop of his and turned it and took her hand.
"It's been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime," Arcee murmured with a smile.
…
"Ratchet, all system go!" Jack proclaimed as he, Raf and Miko ran back into the command center.
"Fire it up!" Miko yelled.
Ratchet barely had the strength to stand up, he used the railing to reach the GroundBridge controls, leaning against it.
"GroundBridge… activated," Ratchet announced weakly, before falling to the ground face first.
Optimus looked up to the sound of a groundbridge portal opening, they were going home.
Ratchet lied next to the GroundBridge controls. Bulkhead and Bumblebee were slumped against the wall not too far from him. Rose was barely breathing. Above them, Scraplets were swarming. Bulkhead got an idea when a piece of a railing above fell to the floor not too far from his right.
"Bait, huh?" Bulkhead pondered aloud as he approached the GroundBridge and waved his arms around to gain the Scraplets' attention, "Ready for the main course? Come and get it!"
As Bulkhead staggered into the GroundBridge portal, the Scraplets hungrily followed him. As the Scraplets flew above them, Ratchet pushed Bumblebee flat onto his back on the ground.
…
Weakly, Optimus and Arcee staggered towards the portal. Both falling to their knees while Optimus recovered quickly than Arcee. They both looked up to Bulkhead breaking through the barriers.
"DOWN! DOWN!" Bulkhead yelled at them as he staggered through the portal and fell with Scraplets coming through behind him.
Optimus got into a protective over Arcee as the Scraplets descended with jaws open, with their many rows of teeth whirring, ready to feed. Then they began to freeze and began to fall onto Optimus frozen, frozen metal on freezing metal. The Arctic sun broke through the clouds, Optimus and Arcee looked back towards Bulkhead in surprise and relief.
"I'd invite you in. But the place is a mess," Bulkhead remarked.
…
Bulkhead was right when he said that the place was a mess with frozen or beaten or both Scraplets. Optimus and Ratchet were resting against the wall. Arcee laid on a berth, shifting, Bumblebee laid on the other one, Bulkhead leaned against the decontamination shower. Rose was propped up on a medical bed with her leg wound taken care, a saline drip along with a blood bag, she looked over in worry at the Autobots.
"Jack, report bio-circuitry status," Ratchet requested.
"Levels are rising," Jack reported.
"Excellent. Rafael, keep a close watch on Bumblebee's electro-pulse monitor. Miko, check Bulkhead's interface patch," He instructed, "How are you feeling, Rose?"
"It's steady!" Raf announced.
"Looking good!" Miko observed.
"Better," Rose replied.
"Perhaps you should get some rest yourself, old friend. You saved quite a few lives today," Optimus pointed out.
"It… wasn't all my doing. We're just fortunate this infestation happened… on a Saturday," Ratchet remarked.
"Our human friends may be small, but they are strong," Optimus complimented the kids.
And then they heard a girlish scream coming from Miko.
"Scraplet?" Jack and Raf asked as they stood around her, ready to fight with their respected weapons.
"Spider!" Miko replied fearfully.
"What?!" Rose stiffened.
"Is it on me?" She began freaking out as Rose passed out again. Miko shrieks as she disappeared behind the shower, "Aah! Get off!"
"Did she just scream like a little girl?" Bulkhead asked as Ratchet and Optimus looked at each other.
"Rose discovered her powers today," Ratchet reported looking at Optimus and they both turned to Rose waking up.
"She has powers?" Arcee asked.
"As of today, ice and electric in one, like a storm!" Raf gushed.
"It was pretty dope," Jack added looking back at the laptops.
Bumblebee replied in buzzes.
"It was the only reason we survived that wave of Scraplets," Bulkhead added.
"And her leg?" Optimus asked.
"Scraplet," Raf replied, "But it didn't think she was tasty, that's why the wound too deep."
"Her Cybertronian metal skeleton is covered in her fleshiness," Ratchet added, gingerly tapping the blood bag, "I don't even want to imagine if they weren't bothered by that."
"Oh nice, another nightmare to add to the list for today." Rose grumbled, shivering.
…
It was the early morning hours of night when the Autobots were fully cleared, Rose's condition was to be determined since her levels weren't to were they were supposed to be. Not by Ratchets quick research of human anatomy and medical practices, their human friends stayed, Jack took the armchair as Miko took the couch and Raf was laying on another medical bed, all three sound peacefully asleep. Optimus walked over to Rose sensing her distress in her slumber, her facial expressions changed showing her distress, had she been serious about the Nightmares? Optimus looked up at Ratchet who approached him just as Rose sat up, gasping fearfully for breathe with her face etched in horror.
"Easy," Ratchet coaxed calmly when she jumped startled seeing Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee looking at her from all the way in front of her and Ratchet and Optimus closet to her. "It's okay, it was just a dream. My advice still isn't working?"
Rose laid back down, "No," she replied lowly.
"Everyone is here. Nothing can get in here. We wouldn't allow it," Ratchet responded gently, shocking the other Autobots.
Rose nodded, meekly and curling up onto her good side, she tried closing her eyes but she couldn't get the image out of her head. She back to sleep for the rest of the morning locked in nightmares, what Ratchet said didn't apply to these nightmares. It has nothing to do with a break in and torture, and dead bodies, it was a battle with Decepticons she didn't know but they were Cons. This battle was too much for her to even fully function properly as the Auto it's drove them home to get ready for the day.