Exiles
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XV - Flying Mind
Nemesis Warship - Andes - March 18th, 2012 - 1:30 pm
The Bridge
Alarms blasted.
Lights flickered on and off.
Computer consoles crackled, sparked and then crashed, and then came on again as Soundwave used all his power and skill as a computer technician to get the ship up and running again.
Every crewhand glanced at him every now and then in wonder.
There was Soundwave, Communications Chief, alive and quite well, working fast to make up for lost time.
As pleased as Dreadwing was to see an old colleague up and running again, he had work to do.
"We have suffered critical damage to all major systems, Lord Megatron."
"And it may take at least a day, maybe two to get the ship airborne," Barricade added.
Megatron frowned.
The ship wasn't his main concern.
Not even Soundwave's condition.
It took a great deal of effort not to show his relief upon seeing his Communications Chief on his feet again.
As for learning on who it was that literally saved Soundwave's spark.
I will have to remember to reward Airachnid.
"Uh, are we going to talk about how the rest of the mercenaries from Junkion just up and left?" Stockade asked timidly. "Even when we crashed, they made no attempt to attack us. Why did they just leave like that when they had us where they wanted us? That doesn't add up."
Megatron looked hard at his young officer.
The rest of Megatron's staff officers looked at Stockade as well, thinking over what he just said.
Megatron's smile was a thin line.
It seems I made the right choice to promote him. He's young but his insight is impressive. Stockade has a knack for tactical reasoning.
"Indeed, Stockade," Megatron said. "All the more reason to bring this ship up to speed as soon as possible. Who knows when those cutthroats will return?"
"Then we must prepare for a possible attack!" Dreadwing said urgently. "If not from those pirates, then by the Autobots!"
Megatron shook his head. "I hate to say it, but I believe the Autobots have more pressing matters than to meddle with us."
"Why do you say that, Lord Megatron?" Barricade asked.
"Call it a hunch."
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Med Bay
"And where have you been?" Oil Slick demanded.
Knockout crossed his arms impertinently. "Taken hostage by an Autobot and nearly crushed and burned to death in the power core!"
"Bulkhead?"
Knockout blinked in surprise. "How-?!"
"He was caught on surveillance, with you screaming and crying about your finish."
"Caught by whom?!"
Knockout gasped when he saw Soundwave's berth empty.
"What-?! Where's Soundwave? Is he-?"
"Dead? No. He woke up sometime ago and now he's returned to his normal duties…" Oil Slick growled his next few words. "…despite my objections."
"But how?"
"He received an emergency spark bond."
Knockout gaped. "From whom?"
Oil Slick beckoned Knockout closer.
As a doctor, such information is confidential, but being the personal physician of the person in question, Knockout would have to know.
Oil Slick whispered the name and Knockout reeled back in shock.
Knockout stared for a moment but then threw his head back as he roared with laughter.
"Oil Slick! What a sense of humor! I never would've guessed!"
Oil Slick rolled his eyes as he returned to the patient he was tending to.
Knockout stopped laughing at once.
He stared at Oil Slick, then at Soundwave's medical berth as though he were questioning their existence.
Two plus two still equals four right?
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Autobot Outpost Omega Two - Denver, CO - 1:30 pm
"Are you quite certain, Blaster?" Optimus asked.
"Oh yeah. The interference I'm getting can only mean one thing."
Optimus looked grim. "Soundwave."
"But how?" Ratchet asked. "From what I discovered examining Ravage's own spark, the magnitude of the spark damage, the coma that followed, it would have to take a spark bond to certainly bring Soundwave around, especially if he's in good enough shape to return to his normal duties."
"A spark bond?" Miko asked. "Isn't that something you'd only do for your best friend if they're close to dying?"
"Pretty much," Bulkhead said. "But who'd care about a guy like Soundwave enough to do a spark bond? Spark bonds are sacred. It's not done lightly."
"Regardless, what matters is that Soundwave functions," Optimus said. "The Decepticons no longer operate so blindly now."
"We could take care of that," Wheeljack said, tossing a grenade in his hand. "With their ship down, we can blow their operation to smithereens."
The Autobots and their human friends gave the Wrecker an unimpressed look.
"What? That's we do."
"Jackie," Bulkhead said in a diplomatic voice. "We just went out of our way to bail out the Cons after being attacked by bugs and one seriously disturbed eight legger. Now you want to turn around and blow them up?"
Wheeljack frowned. "Why not? They're still our enemies, right?"
"Wheeljack," Arcee said, putting her hands on her hips. "You may not want to hear this, but I think we have an even worse threat than the Cons on our hands right now."
"Like those mercs that just came out of nowhere," Bumblebee added. "From Junkion."
"Uh, Junkion?" Vince said, scratching his messy red hair. "I may have missed a few classes, what planet is that?"
Katie rolled her eyes. "Think Tatooine and Mad Max put together."
"Oh. Right. The junkworld full of crooks, bandits, pirates, warlords, and kill-crazy Insecticons."
"In a nutshell, old boy," Perceptor said.
"Anyway," Wheeljack said, wishing to move on. "If we're not going to attack the Con's warship, what are we going to do?"
"Nothing," Optimus said. "And I believe it would be wise that you do the same, Wheeljack. Until the Decepticons renew old hostilities or endangers mankind in any way, we will stay our hand. We will not engage them."
"You're serious."
"I am."
Wheeljack glared at the Prime.
The others watched in apprehension.
It was no question that Wheeljack was distasteful towards all authority, even that of a Prime. And here he was being told not to engage their greatest enemy at their lowest.
An opportunity that may never present itself again.
"Fine," Wheeljack said finally, putting the grenade away. "But you know that if the situation was reversed, the Cons would not hesitate to melt us down."
Optimus said nothing.
His thoughts went back to the last time he had encountered Megatron.
On top of the tank at the water sanitation plant.
Just before the false Optimus Prime almost cut him down.
Just beside said knockoff was ripped in two by Megatron himself.
When Megatron had Optimus dead to rights, he let him live.
He just took the stolen T-Cog off of Nemesis Prime and left without another word.
Optimus hoped that perhaps he was getting through to him.
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Nemesis Warship - 2:00 pm
"Lord Megatron, I must protest!" Knockout exclaimed. "Dark Energon's healing properties may be impressive but have you forgotten what it did to our crew when Unicron emerged?! Think of the side effects! How it will impact the ship!"
"I am not likely to forget it," Megatron said without turning to look at the medic. "But I do not intend to use a large dosage, only a drop or two, just enough to accelerate the warship's repair time. Then I will lock down the dark substance for good."
Flamewar frowned, crossing her arms. "Or you could jettison that stuff into the sun. I'm new to all this Unicron mumbo jumbo but dabbling in hoo doo is a definite no-no."
Megatron turned his head to glare at the young soldier, who did not so much as flinch.
"Noted," Megatron said as he walked away.
"And not just because of what happened to the crew but also what it did to you. And what it almost made you do. I mean you almost killed Commander Airachnid and Stockade."
Megatron froze.
Knockout almost choked as his spark skipped a beat.
Flamewar did not falter an inch.
Megatron turned slowly to glare death at the girl.
He had killed for less than that.
And yet Flamewar stood there, unafraid.
This show of defiance might've infuriated Megatron even more.
Instead, he chuckled.
"I can see why you managed to survive in battle against an entire battalion of Insecticon warriors alone. You would've made an excellent gladiator."
Flamewar was taken aback by this compliment. "Thanks."
Knockout sighed in relief.
For the moment there, I thought Megatron was close to going on another rampage.
Megatron stopped dead and turned his head to glare daggers at his physician.
Knockout sputtered.
"What did you say?" Megatron seethed.
Knockout smiled nervously. "I said that outloud?"
Flamewar smirked. "Yup."
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Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 2:30 pm
"Oh boy," Blaster said as he observed the mapping console centered on where the Nemesis crashed. "Ratch, ya seein' this?"
Ratchet crossed his arms before pinching the bridge of his nose.
The rate at which the ship was repairing itself and those energy readings.
That could only mean one thing.
"Dark Energon."
Optimus shook his head. "Infecting his own warship with the dark matter to repair it. Megatron, what have you done?"
"Hmm, it only appears to be a light amount," Ratchet said, observing the stats. "But then why are the Dark Energon levels climbing?"
"The ship's taking off," Blaster said. "But it's not climbing. If this ship gets anywhere near human civilization, there will be widespread panic."
"But I thought the ship was cloaked," Bulkhead said.
"It was but apparently their cloaking tech hasn't repaired itself yet. If we can get a reading on them, that clearly means their cloaker isn't working."
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Nemesis Warship
"What?! Stockade, where are you going?! I said raise our altitude! We'll be exposed to those miserable humans!"
Stockade tapped away at the one of the navigational consoles, quite beside himself with confusion.
"Lord Megatron, it appears that the ship is navigating itself. Shall I initiate override?"
"Do it."
Stockade issued a new command but it didn't seem to do any good.
"Systems seem to be bypassing any command I give, Lord Megatron. It's almost as if the net knows what it's doing."
"What does that-?"
BZZZZZTTTT!
Stockade arched his back as the console keyboard seemed to crackle and electrify.
A stream of purple lightning coursed through Stockade as he screamed and then fell backwards.
He laid there twitching and smoking.
Mr
"STOCK!" Flamewar screamed as she rushed towards her unconscious brother.
"No!" Megatron said in a fierce voice, holding his hand up. "Soundwave."
Soundwave extended his tentacles and very delicately looped around Stockade's arms. He pulled him away from the console and out of harm's way.
Flamewar knelt down by the young bot, trying to bring him out of his stupor.
Megatron felt something in his spark. Long it had been since he last took the dark substance himself, but it still lingered in his spark like a shadow on his mind and soul.
Stockade, this young dedicated officer, got hurt again because of his decisions.
Something else ate at him, that infecting the ship with Dark Energon would cost him dearly.
"Take him to the medbay," Megatron ordered. "And Soundwave, with utmost caution, trace this problem to its source and fix it."
A terrible booming voice echoed in the ship, stopping all activity.
"DO NOT TAMPER WITH MY SYSTEM! THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY WARNING!"
Megatron couldn't stop the twinge of dread in his spark.
He knew that voice all too well but his people couldn't know what he knew.
"Warning?" Megatron said, trying to sound indignant.
"MY MISSION ASSUMES PRIORITY! MY NEW MASTER'S WILL REIGNS SUPREME! ANY CYBERTRONIAN THAT INTERFERES WILL BE NEUTRALIZED!"
Megatron snarled. "My own vessel dares address me in threatening tones?!"
Barricade and Blackout looked at each other, alarm writ large on their faces.
Knockout observed the main monitor of the bridge.
"Lord Megatron, the ship seems to have full control of our mainframe and now seems to be having better luck in decoding the Iacon Database than we are."
On the screen, a line of Cybertronian data blipped into existence.
"It's already deciphered a new set of coordinates."
A rigid Soundwave approached Dreadwing, urgently getting his attention and motioning to the mapping system on his visor.
The map was of the U.S. state of New York and it was honed in on Manhattan as its present destination.
A densely-populated human city.
"And judging by our current course," Dreadwing said. "That is precisely where we're heading."
Megatron did not like this.
He knew that voice but the speech pattern wasn't right.
Two drops of Dark Energon did this to the warship?
No, not just a warship.
A Transformer.
Megatron knew it and so did Soundwave.
Trypticon.
This titan of a Cybertronian was a soldier under Megatron's command until he fell in battle against Optimus Prime and his Autobot air support.
Trypticon had been thought dead but not so.
His body had been detained and slowly drained of Energon, ever so little. A spark was a fountain of ever-flowing Energon but just as humans require water to function, so do Cybertronians need Energon. Given his great size, Trypticon could last for some time, even being drained, he could survive if he wasn't drained completely.
Just before the Fall of Cybertron and the Exodus, Megatron infiltrated Autobot City and with Soundwave's technical expertise, turned Trypticon into their warship, the Nemesis.
Given his damaged state, the transformation would be permanent and Megatron knew it.
A cruel fate for such a loyal soldier and now it seems that Trypticon may be close to becoming self-aware once more.
And Heaven forbid if he regenerates to the point of being able to transform into his titan form.
It would be the end of the Decepticons and possibly this whole continent.
"Lord Megatron?" Blackout said, sounding shaken.
To so alarm the chopper was not an easy thing to do.
The voice boomed again, this time with greater force and anger.
"YOU DO NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM MEGATRON ANYMORE! I CONTROL THIS VESSEL! I AM THE VESSEL! I AM IN COMMAND!"
Nearly the entire crew fell to the floor either from fear or the great tumultuous shaking of the ship's voice.
Dreadwing looked at Megatron, his optics pleading.
Megatron looked uncertain, lost.
But then it was replaced with enraged determination.
I won't have everything thrown away because of an old fossil that doesn't know he died cycles ago!
"All hands!" Megatron roared. "Cut all power to the mainframe and disconnect data to all relays! NOW!"
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Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 2:50 pm
"The Con's warship is heading towards the Gulf of Mexico," Fowler said urgently. "Making a beeline for the states!"
"Wait, we can still track them?" Jack asked.
"They're still not cloaked," Ratchet said, sounding quite alarmed and thoroughly confused. "Which means they're completely exposed. And if they go to the U.S., they'll be detected for sure! Has Megatron gone mad?!"
"Something has happened," Optimus said gravely. "Blaster, do you detect any data interference?"
Blaster planted his data tentacles into the keyboard of the mainframe and his mouth hung open.
"Nothing. It's as if ol' Soundwave got switched off."
"Someone or something has taken control of the Nemesis!" Sunstreaker exclaimed.
"Was it one of those mercenaries that attacked before?" Sideswipe inquired. "Or one of those acolytes like that spider psycho we got locked away?"
"No, Sideswipe," Optimus said, shaking his head. "I don't think so."
"So if we can track them," Jack said with a knowing smile. "That means their communication's relay should be open."
"Ep ep ep!" Ratchet sputtered indignantly. "Are you suggesting we just call Megatron and ask what's happening up there?"
The kids, apparently on board with Jack's idea, shrugged their shoulders and held their hands out in the universal sign of 'Why not?'
Fowler was apparently on the same page with the kids because he mirrored the gesture.
Ratchet looked at Optimus, to which the leader gave an approving nod.
Ratchet punched a key and waited.
Optimus motioned Ratchet away so he could speak.
"Autobot Outpost Omega Two to Nemesis Warship, do you read?" Optimus said.
There was no reply but the line was definitely open.
"Megatron, can you hear me?"
"Megatron is no longer in command, Prime."
Optimus flinched. Whoever this was, they knew who he was before he gave any indication. Unless this person knew him and therefore recognized his voice.
None of the bots seemed to recognize that voice.
Not at first anyway.
"Who is this?" Optimus asked resolutely.
"Who is this?"
"Have you taken control of the Nemesis? Are you one of the mercenaries from Junkion?"
"I am the Nemesis, Prime."
Bumblebee recoiled.
The mainframe opened a window and the screen was now showing live surveillance footage of the Nemesis.
There were dozens, hundreds of Decepticons, frozen in their place as though they had been turned into statues.
The Autobots, their human friends, even Optimus watched with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
Some they recognized. But Megatron was nowhere to be seen.
Stasis.
Somehow they were all put into stasis and Megatron undoubtedly suffered the same fate.
"Why are you going to the United States?" Optimus asked.
"To acquire Decepticon technology."
"For what purpose?"
"My own and for my new master."
"And who is your master?"
"Till all are gone."
The call ended and the relay closed.
"He hung up," Miko growled. "So rude."
"Right?" Katie said.
"It can't be," Bumblebee croaked, his voice seemingly caught in his throat. "It can't be."
Optimus put a finger to his lips, then subtly motioned to the kids, as if telling Bumblebee to consider his words and mind who was listening.
"Bumblebee? What is it?"
He already knew the answer.
"O-Optimus," Bumblebee said in a shaky voice. "Doesn't that voice sound familiar to you?"
Optimus's face was completely still but his eyes were filled with dread.
But he stood his ground as always.
"Yes."
"Well don't leave us in suspense, Optimus! Spit it out!" Sideswipe practically shouted, clearly as disturbed after seeing how this turn of events affected his leader and the scout renowned for his bravery.
Optimus faced his Autobots, looked them all in the eye, and he spoke in a low but clear voice as if declaring the worst possible news.
"That voice, Sideswipe, is the voice of the titan known as Trypticon."
The reaction was like a bomb had gone off.
The Autobots all gasped, stepped back, some of them even fell on their rears.
Ratchet sat down on a crate, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
"No," he whispered. "It can't be. It can't be."
Optimus clenched his fist, trying to maintain his composure, feeling quite shaken himself.
"It would explain how his remains suddenly vanished and how the Decepticons somehow acquired a warship at the same time. I had thought they had merely dismantled Trypticon and used his body for spare parts, as well as utilizing his power core to power said warship. We were only half right, the Nemesis and Trypticon are one and the same."
Blaster rubbed his forehead to wipe away any perspiration. "And we never put the two and two together until it was too late."
"Hold it," Vince said impatiently, clearly not getting it. "Who is Trypticon?"
"Is that someone we should know about?" Jon asked.
There was a long pause before Bumblebee knelt to talk to the kids at eye level.
"Trypticon was, is, a very giant giant of a Transformer. Essentially the equal to what we got for a Godzilla."
The kids seemed to lose all color in their faces.
"He once transformed into this orbital Energon station. It was operated and manned by Starscream and a few seekers before they entered the war themselves, when they were strictly neutral. Megatron took control of the station and used it to manufacture Dark Energon for his war efforts. Just after Cybertron went dark, Trypticon was tasked with assassinating Optimus. An assassination attempt which obviously failed. Our air support grounded him, and myself and Optimus and a few other Autobots made sure he stayed grounded. Later on, we built this Ark so we could leave Cybertron to find Energon deposits in hopes of restoring Cybertron's core. Before we could leave, Megatron infiltrated the crater where Trypticon fell and converted him into their warship."
"What do you mean by converted?" Katie asked.
"Megatron hijacked Trypticon's scanning function, it's what we use to scan for vehicles to transform into, and Megatron used it to turn Trypticon into their warship."
"And considering the severity of Trypticon's injuries, such a transformation would be permanent," Ratchet said in disgust.
"You mean..?" Katie said, shocked.
"He's stuck like that?" Sierra asked in disbelief.
Bulkhead scoffed. "You'd rather he'd be able turn into his bipedal form and turn Earth into his literal stomping ground?"
No one could argue with that.
But to turn anyone into a vehicle and be unable to transform ever again? It was profoundly cruel, even if it was done to a monster like Trypticon.
Optimus looked hard at the monitor. "Regardless if it is Trypticon or not, the Nemesis must be stopped no matter the cost."
"And what was that thing he said before he hung up?" Jack asked. "Till all are gone? What is that?"
"It's an ancient mantra of the followers of Unicron," Optimus said gravely.
"Hoo boy," Jon said, suddenly going into a cold sweat.
"But how do we stop it?" Jazz asked hopelessly. "I mean you saw what it did to the Cons. We'd be put into stasis before we could do anything."
"Even if we could just bridge ourselves in, how do we stop it?" Sunstreaker exclaimed. "It's a warship with a mind of its own!"
"Obviously, Trypticon came out of stasis when Dark Energon was introduced into his power core," Optimus said.
"That means we can dump it right?" Jack asked.
"Sure," Arcee said, pleased by her charge's resourcefulness. "But we'd have to be on the ship. We can't dump the stuff remotely."
"It would be a switch at the base of the power core in the heart of the ship," Perceptor said.
"And while we're at it, why don't we download the entire Decepticon mainframe?" Jack suggested.
Ratchet's eyes lit up. "Ingenious but a download of that massive caliber with the tech we currently possess would take days."
"Then just the Iacon Database."
Optimus smiled. "That will have to do."
"So who do we send?" Ratchet asked. "Agent Fowler might still be recovering from his concussion and effects from the groundbridge as well as whatever he may encounter on the ship might aggravate his condition."
"I can hear you."
"Agent Fowler," Optimus said. "Do you feel well enough to embark on this mission?"
"Fit as a fiddle, Prime."
"But he'll need tech support," Raf said with a confident smile.
"And backup," Milo said, mirroring Raf's smile, as well as crossing her arms.
Vince and Jon looked at each other.
"Heh, why not?" Vince chuckled.
"Let's do it," Jon said.
"Hold up son!" Fowler objected.
"Sierra, you in?" Katie said, looking at her best friend expectantly.
Sierra, the red-headed cheer captain, who hadn't quite been herself since it was discovered that her own grandfather, Leland Bishop is the MECH commander, Silas.
"Siri?"
Sierra raised her head with a tight smile. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Why not? I got nothing better to do."
Katie was worried.
Sierra seemed to have lost some of her usual energy and vibrancy. It was as if she had become an adult overnight. But she left alone.
For now.
"Now wait just a minute!" Fowler and Sideswipe shouted in unison.
Fowler put his hands on his son's shoulders.
He noticed that his son had gotten slightly taller.
"Jon no, I won't let you go."
"And Sierra," Sideswipe said, kneeling before his charge. "You haven't been in the field. It's dangerous. This won't be like when MECH was hunting you."
Suddenly upset, Sierra turned her back quickly.
Sideswipe realized his mistake.
Reminding her of her grandfather and the deep state black chapter paramilitary-science organization he was associated with was the last thing she needed.
"Siri, I-
"Don't! I may be a minor but I'm not that naive little girl anymore. You guys have been risking your lives for us and if my friends are going, then so am I. Don't try to stop me, Swipes."
Sideswipe looked deeply hurt, not by Sierra's words but because he knew she was right and he couldn't protect her from everything.
"Good luck kiddo. I…I love you kid."
Sierra turned back with a sad smile.
She reached her arms out and Sideswipe gladly took her in his arms so she hug him around the neck.
And then Sierra kissed him on the cheek.
She thought it'd be cold and hard but it was quite warm and soft, like the smoothest electric blanket she ever felt.
"Love you too."
Sideswipe felt close to crying but he was afraid he wouldn't let her go if he did.
So he made himself not cry.
"Ok kid, ok. Go. And give them heck."
The others watched the touching scene with warm smiles.
Sunstreaker actually turned so he could rub his eyes.
Fowler, quite humbled by the scene, turned back to his son. "I guess you and Sierra are both set on doing this."
"You bet we are, daddy-o."
Jazz grinned as he knelt beside the man and his son.
"Boy's becoming a man, Bill. And this man's mind is made up."
With that, a tearful Fowler hugged his son tight.
Jon returned the hug.
"Then let's do this…together."
"Together," Jon said, starting to get emotional himself.
"Ratchet," Jack said. "Get the bridge ready. We're going in."
Ratchet nodded as he punched in the coordinates.
Arcee smirked. "You always wanted to say that, didn't you? 'We're going in.'" She said those words in the best Jack impersonation she could muster.
Jack shrugged bashfully. "Um…yeah."
Miko cozied up to her boyfriend. "I love it when you're fierce."
She fluttered her eyelashes and Jack choked, turning red in the face.
"L-Let's just hurry before my mom finds out."
Ratchet smirked. "Funny you should mention that."
"Why's that?" Jack asked nervously.
"Because her car is coming up right now."
"Open that bridge right now!" Jack practically shouted. "Openitopenitopenit!"
00000
Nemesis Warship - 100 miles east of Barbados - 3:20 pm
A green vortex erupted in the hallway and eight figures walked through.
Raf, followed by Jack, then Miko, Vince, Jon, Katie, Sierra, and finally Fowler, who was carrying a compatible transfer drive or the Cybertronian equivalent of a flash drive to put it simply for the purpose of downloading the Iacon Database.
To keep in contact with each other and the base, they were all fitted with specially-designed comm earpieces, courtesy of Blaster.
The vortex closed.
Those who have never been on the ship looked on in awe and wonder.
Jon, Katie, Sierra and Vince's mouths were open wide, their eyes filled with wonder at the awesome Cybertronian space vessel.
Then they gasped as soon as they noticed the Decepticons.
The hall was filled with them.
They hadn't realized how small they were compared to them.
They were too busy running to really see it.
And the way they just stood there, unmoving, as if they were turned to stone.
It was much like the room containing the stone victims in the White Witch's castle in the Narnia series.
Wishing to move fast, Fowler pressed the comm in his ear.
"Fowler to base, we're in."
"Good," Ratchet said. "Find the nearest console. Any computer on board will do. Apply the drive and download the database."
"What about stopping the ship?" Katie asked.
"First things first. This is a theory but I believe once Trypticon is put back into stasis, the stasis ray's effects will wear off and the Decepticons will be conscious again. You need to be off the ship before that happens."
Jon and Vince looked nervously at each other and then at the dozens and dozens of Decepticons standing in various forms of stasis.
They'd be like tourists in Jurassic Park.
"Shouldn't we find a console nearest to the power core then?" Miko asked. "That way we can just grab the drive and get out fast."
"Hey, that's not a bad idea," Jon said.
"Better get moving then," Katie said. "How do we get there?"
"Follow the Energon lines in the ceiling. I'll guide you," Ratchet said. "Oh hello Ms Darby."
Jack froze.
His friends looked at him, abashed and feeling a little sorry for him.
"Ratchet, where are the kids?"
Jack could hear his mother's voice as clearly as if she were next to him.
"Ratchet? Optimus? I asked a question."
"I'm here mom," Jack said nervously.
"Jack? Where-?"
There was a pause before he heard her mother gasp and then her voice was filled with anger.
"Jackson Darby! Are you and your friends on the Decepticon warship?!"
Fowler grinned sheepishly. "June, hey hey hey."
Then his face was awash with mild horror as the kids looked at him as though he lost his mind.
"Bill? What do you think you're doing?! Why did you bring the kids with you?! Your own son included and mine?! You bring them back here right now or I'll rip your ears off!"
Fowler seemed to lose all color as he chuckled fearfully. "Suddenly the Decepticon warship isn't so bad."
"I heard that!"
Vince choked on a laugh.
"Ratchet?" Fowler asked, sounding terribly on edge. "Why is the line still open?"
"Oops."
Vince tapped Jack's shoulder. "Dude, your mom scares the crap out of me."
"I heard that too, Vince Raider!"
Miko covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"We'd better get moving," Jack said, feeling very dejected. "Optimus, can you tell mom why we can't come back just yet?"
"Of course, Jack."
"Now you wait just a minute-!"
"Nurse Darby, please. I ask you for your patience so you may hear and understand why your son and his friends cannot return at this moment. Your country is in grave danger and right now, they are the only ones who can accomplish this task."
There was a pause before June responded.
"Alright, I'm listening."
00000
4:00 pm
It was almost an hour before they arrived at a console that was nearest to the power core.
The journey felt longer to the group.
The console they found was already occupied.
By Knockout.
"No, no!" Vince cried. "Not him!"
"Easy babe," Sierra said, putting a hand on his broad chest. "I think he's in stasis."
Vince blushed. "You called me babe."
"Quiet you!"
Miko tapped Knockout's leg with her knuckles. "Doc Knock is knocked out."
Jack choked on a laugh.
Vince groaned quietly.
"Hey, the ship's already decoded four sets of coordinates," Raf announced as he pointed a finger.
The group looked up at the console's screen.
They couldn't make heads or tails of the Cybertronian text, not like Raf could.
Four lines of data appeared on the screen.
And then another blipped into existence.
"Five," Raf said. "Let's rip and run."
Fowler, followed by Jon, who helped Raf up, climbed on Knockout's back and maneuvered onto the console's keyboard.
"There should be an access port to apply the transfer drive," Ratchet said.
"There," Jon said, pointing at what was clearly some kind of port hole.
Fowler inserted the drive and the download automatically commenced.
"Right, so Ratchet, how long is this going to take?" Vince asked.
"Difficult to say, it depends on how much is contained in the Iacon Database."
"Great."
"Better go find that power core then," Jack said, giving Vince a friendly tap on the shoulder. "Raf, you, Jon and Agent Fowler better be ready to split as soon as Knockout starts to twitch."
"Good call," Jon said.
"Let's move before the ship knows we're here," Katie said.
"I'm with you," Sierra said, looking up nervously for anything that might be Cybertronian surveillance tech that could give them away.
Before Jack, followed by Miko, Katie, Sierra, and Vince could take off, Jon called out.
"Uh, you guys? You might want to look at this."
They turned and they saw an alarmed Jon point at another screen at the top left of the console's main screen.
It was a map of the United States and a destination was centered over New York.
"Why is the ship heading for Manhattan?" Jack asked.
Raf adjusted his glasses as he studied the first set of coordinates. "Because that's where the first set of coordinates is located."
Everyone was stunned into silence.
The situation just went from bad to worse.
"Why would a relic be in the Big Apple?" Fowler asked.
"Because the relics were jettisoned and landed on Earth eons ago, Agent Fowler," Ratchet said gravely. "Long before the city was built on top of it."
"Which means," Jack said. "It will have to move some buildings out of the way."
"No," Sierra cried. "My parents are in New York!"
"What?!" the group shouted in unison.
Katie's eyes grew huge. "That's right! Her grandmother, her mom's mom, had a heart attack and they went to New York to see her in the hospital!"
The group looked sympathetically at the near hysterical red haired girl as she was consoled by Katie.
Barbara Bishop.
Silas's wife.
The shock of learning what her husband had become was too great a struggle for her.
And now a Cybertronian titan-warship was about to rain fire on the city she was in.
"What do we do?" Katie asked, soothingly patting Sierra's back and coaxing her through some breathing exercises to keep her together.
"I suppose you could disable the ship's navigation system," Ratchet said. "Call up the main navigation menu."
"There," Raf said, pointing at one of the console's keypads.
"I'll handle it," Fowler said as he approached the keypad, only to be held back by his son.
"Hang on dad, the ship's self-aware," Jon protested fearfully. "Wouldn't it detect us accessing its navigation system?"
Raf gasped.
Why hadn't he considered that?
"By the AllSpark, that's right!" Ratchet exclaimed. "Even if you could access the navigation system, Trypticon won't be deterred from its course! He'll just eliminate the obstruction, being all of you, and move on."
"Then we'll have to stop him at his source," Jack said.
"UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED."
The group froze at the sound of the booming voice.
"INTERFERENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED."
An oval-shaped contraption emerged from the ceiling with a screen, clearly operating as some type of security scanner.
The human group froze in their place.
"REVEAL YOURSELVES."
The scanner looked to and fro but it gave no sign that it could see the humans.
"It can't see us," Miko whispered triumphantly.
"Yet," Ratchet said. "It is currently not scanning for carbon-based life forms. But once it widens its search parameters-"
"We're toast," Raf said, cowering a bit.
"More like burnt toast," Jon said.
Katie wanted to slap him. "No."
"I'm bridging you all back."
"No," Jack said with a shake of his head.
"Jackson Darby, listen-!"
"Mom no!" Jack exclaimed.
The others looked at him, shocked.
Jack never talked back to his mom before.
"Mom, I'm sorry but millions of lives are at stake. Right now we're the only ones in a position to do anything about it."
"You're out of your element Jack," Ratchet said. "These Dark Energon readings are getting worse. Pretty soon, they'll become potent to the point of being toxic…for you humans!"
Jack heard his mother gasp.
"Then we'd better hurry," he said.
00000
4:30 pm
It took some tricky maneuvering and leaping and climbing over several Decepticons, but Jack, Miko, Sierra, Katie and Vince made it to the ship's power core.
"Whoa," Vince uttered looking at the massive core shaft of the Nemesis.
It was as wide and tall as the one of the skyscrapers in New York.
"Now what?" Miko asked.
"Ratchet said that we had to reverse the Energon infuser," Katie said.
"And Percy said that it was at the base of the core shaft, a big switch he said," Sierra said.
"And it looks like Megatron had the same idea," Jack said, pointing a finger.
The kids gasped when they saw the Leader of the Decepticons, frozen in place, with his hand on the switch.
"Ok," Vince said, sounding quite frustrated at this point. "How do we flip the switch with Buckethead's stinking tin can in the way?"
"We'll think of something," Jack said.
00000
Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 4:40 pm
"I can't believe this! I can't believe any of you!"
June Darby had her hands on her hips. She was dressed to the nines, in a woman's suit, crisp white shirt and black heels.
She was at a meeting with her boss at the local hospital.
She was dressed rather elegantly and she was mad.
The Autobots were rather at a loss for words.
Even Optimus was somewhat speechless.
June accepted the explanation but it was still too much for her.
"To just allow those kids to board the Decepticons' warship."
"Without me!"
The Autobots looked at June's car as a small form popped out.
She was carrying a crutch.
"Sari?" Bumblebee croaked, feeling choked up.
"Hey guys," said the young Indian girl.
This time, without the red hair dye.
She didn't have the access to that luxury at the time.
Sari Sumdac.
Heir to the Sumdac Systems Incorporated.
And recently recovering from getting shot in the back in her own penthouse.
00000
Nemesis - 4:45 pm
"We have to get his legs to buckle under him," Vince said.
"Hey yeah!" Miko practically shouted.
"Good idea Vince," Jack asked.
Vince smirked. "First rule of street fighting when you fight someone bigger: you go for their legs.
"How do we do that?" Katie asked. "He's huge."
"I AM INFESTED BY ALIEN LIFEFORMS!"
"Scrap!" the group said in unison as they looked up at the oval-shaped scanner staring down at them.
Trypticon was now aware of them.
"Scatter!" Jack shouted.
A large claw, evidently used for moving Energon crates, suddenly came to life and attempted to crush the kids before they ran in all directions.
Katie and Sierra ran out into the hall and through a ventilation duct.
Vince hid underneath a work table.
Miko ran into a stack line of several Energon crates.
Jack on the other hand stayed put. He looked up at Megatron's massive frame and then the claw.
Then he had an idea.
"Jack, what are you doing?! Move!" Vince screamed.
"Jack, run!" Miko shouted, her voice trembling.
Sierra turned her head and gasped.
She knew what Jack was doing.
Jack was going use himself as bait to get the claw to attack him, then he'd jump the last second to send the claw into the back of Megatron's legs so he'd fall and bring down the switch to the Energon infuser, therefore sending Trypticon back into stasis.
The claw came down on him.
"NO!" Miko screamed.
Jack leapt out of the way at the last second and the claw hit the floor with a crash.
Jack lost his footing and now the claw was looming over him for another go.
A loud whistle pierced the air.
And the claw stopped dead and seemed to face the source of the noise like a striking serpent interrupted in the midst of hunting its prey.
Sierra, terrified yet standing her ground, squared off with the Nemesis-controlled claw.
"Siri, NO!" Katie screamed.
"It's ok, Katie!" Sierra shouted. "C'mon you Decepticon reject! Come and get me!"
The claw angrily clicked as it prepared to thrust.
"Foolish child."
Sierra circled and the claw followed suit.
Until she knew the back of Megatron's legs were to her back.
The claw thrusted forward.
And being the cheer captain at her school, Sierra was ready.
And Sierra masterfully flipped through and past the claw, looping through one of its openings and the claw crashed into Megatron's one leg that was keeping him upright, bending at such an angle, keeping his balance was impossible.
Megatron fell backwards and brought the switch to the Energon infuser down with him.
Sierra, on the floor, watched in horror as the Decepticon leader descended.
But she was saved at the last second when Miko grabbed her, threw her and then herself out of harm's way.
The hum of the power core became less and less intense as the Dark Energon began to siphon out.
All Energon piping was replaced with blue energy as the amethyst drained out.
"CRITICAL POWER DRAIN."
The claw attempted to attack again but was stopped short as the self-aware ship was being put back into stasis.
"I…AM IN…COMMAND."
The voice got weaker and weaker.
"PREPARE TO BE…neutralized."
And then the voice was gone.
Trypticon was defeated before he even realized how.
00000
Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 4:50 pm
"They did it!" Ratchet exclaimed, beside himself with joy and relief.
The base erupted with cheers and laughter.
"That little punk did it!" Wheeljack whooped.
"What, you kidding?" Jazz laughed. "Jon must be the one who pulled it off!"
"You're both crazy!" Sideswipe said in good-natured humor. "My Sierra must be the one who saved the day!"
Optimus smiled, pride filling his spark.
How far the children have come.
June was openly sobbing.
It was happy sobbing.
She hadn't been this relieved or proud since Jack got Optimus's memories back.
Sari was also crying, not only out of happiness but also disappointment.
That there was an adventure of impossible odds and she wasn't there for it.
00000
Nemesis Warship - 4:55 pm
"What are you doing here?!" Frenzy roared.
Rafael, Agent Fowler and Jon attempted to escape when they were spotted by one of Soundwave's symbiotes.
But to do so, they'd have to either jump or climb down Knockout's back.
Before they could make their escape, another one of Soundwave's symbioses leapt onto the keypad.
Rumble sneered. "MECH agents trying to steal our stuff huh?"
"What?!" Jon exclaimed. "MECH agents?! Us?!"
"So you admit it!"
"Jon, run!" Fowler screamed.
"Oh no you don't!" Rumble cried as he advanced the man and his son.
But Frenzy got to them.
His hand transformed and brandished some kind of taser and Frenzy jabbed it in Agent Fowler's stomach.
"Dad!" Jon screamed as his father went down.
Rafael cowered and started crying as he hid behind Jon.
Rumble advanced on them next.
Jon, terrified beyond belief, decided to fight back, to protect Rafael if nothing else.
Fists balled, he attempted to choke out Rumble.
He was somewhat confident of success since the minicon was a foot shorter than him.
Rumble had him by the throat in an instant.
It was unbelievable to Jon how powerful the grip was, like a hydraulic vice.
Any tighter, he knew he wouldn't be able to breathe or so much as whisper.
"Help! Help! Jon wailed, tears of fear running down his face.
No sooner than the pleas escaped his lips did Jon feel the grip release.
"Jon! Jon! You ok?!" Raf asked as he knelt by his friend.
"I think so. Is dad ok?"
"I don't know."
The two boys looked at the prostrate form of Agent Fowler.
Suddenly he pointed up in the air and shouted deliriously, "The parrots are their daddy!"
Raf blinked in surprise and confusion.
Jon almost chuckled. "He's fine."
A green vortex exploded.
00000
Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 5:00 pm
The base erupted in cheers and claps and boisterous laughter.
The Autobots whooped and hollered, congratulating their charges.
"Way to go, kid!" Wheeljack whooped as he used a single finger to ruffle Vince's messy red hair, much to his annoyance.
"I knew you could do it, Goldilocks!" Sunstreaker laughed.
"You've done us all proud!" Sideswipe shouted with a grin.
Vince and Jon helped Agent Fowler onto a gurney so Nurse Darby could look over him.
Again.
Once she was sure any damage done to Fowler was not life-threatening or even permanent, June wasted no time tearfully embracing and kissing her son.
"I'm fine mom," Jack complained. "C'mon mom, really. Not in front of the guys."
Bumblebee chuckled. "My ma and pa's just the same."
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker shivered at the thought of the old codger and his wife.
"Ma and pa?" Vince said. "Since when do you talk like that?"
Bumblebee shrugged. "That's just how my old man talks. Sometimes I mirror his talk and I don't even realize it, especially when I remember them."
"They miss ya like crazy, Bee," Jazz said, putting an arm around the scout.
Bumblebee looked crestfallen.
Raf decided to get down to business. "We could only get six sets of coordinates, Optimus. We would've gotten more but after Knockout came to, we didn't want to stick around. Especially after those minicons jumped us."
Optimus shook his head with a smile. "You've done well Rafael."
Raf smiled bashfully.
But then he let out a pained yelp when he felt a sharp slap on the bank.
"Ow! Hey! What did you do that f-?!"
Raf froze dead in his sentence.
Sari Sumdac grinned like a Cheshire Cat. "Miss me Raffy boy?"
Raf almost didn't recognize her on account of the absence of red hair dye and he grinned tearfully. "Only like a whole lot!"
He embraced the girl, being careful not to hurt her, seeing she clearly only just got released from the hospital recently.
Sari happily returned the hug.
The other kids gawked, numb with shock.
They haven't seen Sari on her feet in weeks and now here she was.
Out of the hospital, as if nothing had happened.
Slowly, so as to not to aggravate her obvious tenderness, the kids joined in one big group hug.
"Sari!" they said in unison.
00000
Nemesis Warship - Command Center - 5:10 pm
Megatron was half-mad with fury as he towered over his staff.
Dreadwing, Brawl, Blackout, and Barricade stood at attention.
"The Autobots' pets infiltrated my ship!" Megatron bellowed. "They escaped with vital intelligence. Six! I repeat, six sets of coordinates from the Iacon Database! We must divide our resources and find these relics before they fall into Autobot hands! Or any hands that are no friend to the Decepticon cause!"
"To be fair sir," Barricade said calmly. "Most to all of us were in stasis. And who'd thought that Prime would send humans, not only to steal intelligence, but to put the ship into stasis."
He didn't dare ask how the ship somehow developed a mind of its own, for the ship seemed not like an inanimate object come to life but rather a Transformer coming back to life.
Would have to circle back to that later.
"It does not matter!" Megatron snapped. "Our enemies are moving fast and we must redouble our efforts to equal them! The war is hanging in the balance! Other enemies are entering the board and we cannot give them the opportunity to join forces! Or the Decepticons will be no more!"
To be continued…
…..
VOICE CAST
Trypticon - Fred Tatasciore
NOTE:
The scene between Rumble and Jon, I got the idea from the original series, where Rumble had Spike dead to rights and for no reason at all, he drops him and leaves him. Like did Rumble take pity on the kid or something when Spike called for help?
As for the "parrots are their daddy" bit, my wife said that I said that in my sleep. I talk in my sleep sometimes.
NEXT CHAPTER: Tunnel Vision