TFP Emblem Chapter 13: Tricked

It was official. Megatron was back. Bumblebee and Optimus had both just suffered the worst torment a person could withstand. Optimus with the Cybonic Plague and Bumblebee with that demented monster running around his processor. But the cherry on top, MECH has made itself known and Silas is as twisted as ever. We're all on edge, the other kids and I have been watching Transformers Prime season 1 and we all know what hell awaits us. But the thing is, we haven't told the Autobots. We just hope that, certain things won't happen. We never turn it on in Base or mention it for that matter, we always 'meet' up at deviantART Chatrooms or on Facebook where we send YouTube links to each other. Right now, all eyes are on Scott. His mom, a fashion designer, has been really suspicious of him lately as well as my mom. Someone will find out sooner or later, but I honestly hope later. 

"Optimus you really should be taking it easy, remember what Ratchet said.." I said to Optimus while he practiced some combat moves on a Cybertronian sized dummy that we had dubbed 'Lord Bucket Head'. Optimus retracted his battle mask and crossed his arms.

"Madison, Ratchet said that I am fit for duty. I am well and you must stop worrying about me so much, worry and stress is not good for a fourteen year old girl." Optimus said.

"Worry and stress comes with high school anyway. But you know I worry because I care Optimus." I said as I leaned over the railing. 

"I know you do, but you worry too much. I can handle myself." Optimus said. I sighed. 

"I know you can but you have to be more careful. I don't want to loose you.." I said. Optimus was quite for a moment. When he began to speak the alarm went off.

"PRIME!!" Smith hollered from the elevator. 

"You'd think he'd go hoarse from all that screaming.." I said as we entered the room. I crossed the catwalk the circled the room. 

"Agent Smith?" Optimus asked cooly. 

"Take a wild guess. The Cons are at it again but this time it's personal.." Smith said darkly.

"What do you mean?" Optimus asked. 

"The Cons attacked a military facility and left 50 personal wounded. A quick head count shows that they got away with a prisoner." Smith said.

"What prisoner?" Optimus asked.

"Orlando Romanaff." Smith said. The very name sent shivers up my spine. Romanaff was head of the Order, a secret society bent on domination. I was captured and interrogated by Romanaff himself. I gripped the iron bar so hard my knuckles cracked. I couldn't see Optimus' face but his fists where clenched. 

"What on Earth would a Decepticon want with a human? They don't care for them. Are you sure it was a Decepticon who broke in?" Ratchet said a little hostilely.

"The main intelligence server was hacked into minutes after the attack. And we found this." Smith said. The screen had a picture of what looked like a scrap of metal with the Decepticon insignia on it.

"It's a set up." I whispered. Ratchet had a point, Megatron could care less for humanity. The shrapnel could be a ploy to throw us off the scent. But who did it? I could tell Optimus but what proof would I have? I'd be dismissed by Smith immediately because I'm a 'kid'. No, I was gonna get proof one way or another.

"Hmm. We will look into it." Optimus said. Smith nodded.

"Hurry it up, the Pentagon wants answers and I can't hold them for long. I'll send you coordinates" Smith said and shit off his Com. 

"So do you think the Cons destroyed an entire base to only retrieve Romanaff?" Arcee asked. Optimus shook his head.

"I do not believe so, but Megatron has been known to make some very strange decisions.." Optimus said. 

"How do we know it's Megatron? Like Ratchet said, he could honestly care less about us humans. Maybe it's someone else entirely.." I said. The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them. All the Autobots looked at me, I felt so uncomfortable but I had to justify my words.

"It could be a trick to throw us off the scent or a trap." I said. Optimus nodded. 

"There is that possibility.." He said. 

"It could be Mindwipe or MECH." Ratchet suggested. 

"Or Arachnid." Arcee muttered. Last week Scott and Arachnid played a dark game of  hide and don't get caught in the Red Woods. Bumblebee beeped his suggestion. Optimus had folded his arms and rested his chin on his fist as he listened. 

"Whatever the possibility, we must get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. Ratchet, lock onto the coordinates. Autobots, transform and roll out!" Optimus said. When the Ground Bridge whirled to life they transformed and sped through. Leaving me, Ratchet, Scott, Mandy, and Dallas in the Base. Ross was looking into a secret military unit called E.T.I.C (Extra Terrestrial Interventions and Communications) The other kids where on Scraplet patrol (Base has four levels) so the Doc and I where alone. I walked down to him and sighed.

"Something wrong Madison?" He asked as he looked up from the controls. I shrugged. 

"Sometimes I wish that I could do more for you guys. I mean, so far I have accomplished being captured, twice mind you, and have done nothing for the Autobot cause! I just feel so, useless.." I sighed. Ratchet nodded slowly.

"I understand that feeling but your not useless. Your a quick thinker and are not easily fooled." Ratchet said. I rubbed the back of my head and chuckled nervously as my face felt hot like a blush, remembering the humanization incident and the interrogation. That seemed so far away now...

"Thanks Ratchet." I said. The proximity sensors suddenly went off and Smith and Ross entered in a state of panic. 

"Where Prime?!" Smith breathed, he seemed winded. Ratchet looked at him, confused. 

"On the mission you sent him. Why?" Ratchet asked as he walked over to them. 

"We never sent a transmission, we where hacked." Ross said. I looked at them in shock. 

"Wh-what? You mean, they just walked into a trap? Set up by who?" I asked shakily. 

"Rhymes with 'OundAve'" Smith said. Ratchet gasped.

"Soundwave!" Ratchet said in horror. 

"His bird-pet-thing caught me off guard and nabbed my ComLink. I was able to get it back but the damned thing fried it." Smith said.

"What?!" Mandy exclaimed as she, Scott, and Dallas entered the room. Ross nodded. 

"We gotta help them!" Dallas said. Ratchet shook his head. 

"No, I must help them. You kids stay here, and don't get any big ideas Mandy!" Ratchet said sternly. Mandy had become the Miko of the group. 

"Hmph! But I want to see some Con bashing!" She said. 

"Bulkhead will tell you when he get's back. But stay here!" Ratchet said. The Ground Bridge fired up. This was it. I was gonna pull a Miko. My heart pounded and my breathing increased rapidly. Ross and Smith began to fill the other kids in about what happened, I hurried down the staircase. As Ratchet ran through, I followed close behind but not so close to the point of being noticed. I knew that if I ran on my feet I'd be caught for sure, I sound like a draft horse on concrete when I run. So I elevated to my toes (I had mastered the art of walking and running on my toes even though I never wore high heels) and pursued Ratchet. The air became uncomfortably humid and sticky. All around us was nothing but cliff face and a few trees here and there but mostly in clumps. There where ruins on the cliff, I guessed Greece because of a crumbling mosaic that depicted Zeus defeating Kronos, King of the Titans, and sending him to the depths of Taturus as well as the remaining columns and buildings. It must've incredibly beautiful at one point in time. There was distant Ion cannon fire in the distance. I ducked behind a boulder as Ratchet transformed. I bet my kneaded eraser that he could see me from his side mirrors. As he sped off towards the sounds of battle I heaved a heavy sigh of regret, fear, excitement, and anxiety. I was now alone. In Greece. With no cell phone of any kind. And nobody knew where I was. 

'When Optimus finds me he is going to kill me so hard..' I thought to myself. Optimus was a force to be reckoned with. He was just as fatherly as a person could get! He nagged about homework, he told me off if I did something wrong, he even 

nagged about me showing up to Training on time instead of napping in a spare hidey-hole (Base is full of them. I usually find old rooms or a loose panel to snooze in) But he is my Guardian. I wondered how my actual dad would feel if he knew about Optimus being real and all.

 I slowly crept out from my hiding place and headed towards the battle area when something caught my eye. It was Megatron in jet form. He transformed and landed in what used to be a theater. I squeaked and ducked behind a rock. I was most certainly dead now. You see, I kinda, maybe, insulted Meagtron when he was possessing Bumblebee and Doc Bot, Dallas, and I went after him. And he never forgets face.. 

Megatron started laughing madly. Starscream landed right beside him.

"What a glorious plan Lord Megatron! You have lead the fool Autobots to their demise without any effort of any kind. But what do you expect from such an impressive tactical mind such as yours?" Starscream said as he bowed to his master.

"Complements will not get you far Starscream, I still have not forgotten your attempt to terminate me!" Megatron growled. Starscream cowered back and made a whimpering sound.

"Please forgive me my Lord, but I was simply-" Starscream began but he was cut short by the rev of an engine. Knock Out drove in and transformed then bowed. 

"My Liege, I'm sorry I am late. But Breakdown and I had some previous engagements. But we come bearing gifts." Knock Out said. The hair on the the back of my neck stood up and my heart leapt into my throat as headlights lit up behind me. I spun around to face Breakdown. He transformed and reached out to me but I ducked and sprinted for my life. 

"Come here little human.." Breakdown sneered. The high-beams hit me again, making me an easy target. I was so close to a small pass that lead out of that valley, so close, when Knock Out suddenly fell from the sky. He looked absolutely terrifying with his red optics, those clawed servos, and that twisted smile.

"Come to Papa!" He exclaimed. I skidded to a halt and screamed. No matter which way I went I was dead. Forward, dead. Backwards, dead. Right, dead. Left, trapped. Knock Out nabbed me with one swipe of his claws. 

"Gotcha!" He said. I struggled the best I could but when I felt myself beginning to get free his grip tightened even more so. I cried out in pain. Knock Out took me to Megatron and presented me as some sort of trophy. 

"Lord Megatron, may I present the Chosen One of the Primes." Knock Out said. Megatron looked like a cat ready to pounce on a defenseless mouse.  He looked at me as if he had been patiently waiting for this day for a long, long time. He narrowed his optics.

"I always expected the Chosen One to be Cybertronian, not some pathetic human. Either way, you will do just fine.." He said half to himself. 

"Wh-what are you going to do to me?" I asked trying to keep my voice steady. He gave me a cruel smile. 

"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" He asked then he chuckled darkly. Optimus appeared on the ridge of the slope and jumped down, sending everyone but Meagatron tumbling back. 

"Knock Out! Get her back to the ship!!" Meagatron called as he and Optimus battled. The other Autobots joined in the battle. Bulkhead vs Breakdown, Bumblebee and Arcee vs Starscream, Megatron vs Optimus Prime. That left Ratchet and Knock Out. Knock Out transformed and strapped me to the seat with his seat belts. I screamed and struggled as we moved through the battle. Ratchet and Arcee followed in hot pursuit. Arcee and Ratchet boxed Knock Out in by ramming into him.

"OW!! Watch the paint!!" Knock Out snarled. 

"Watch this!" Arcee said. She transformed and jumped onto the roof. Knock Out started veering left in right and doing donuts to try and shake Arcee but nothing worked. A Ground Bridge appeared before us and Knock Out was headed straight for it. Arcee managed to rip the door open. 

"Arcee!" I exclaimed. He reached out to release me from the seat belts but Starscream knocked her away. I screamed something inaudible as she fell. Before we crossed into the Ground Bridge I was able to scream one last thing.

"OPTIMUS!!!" I cried with all my might. And then I was aboard the Nemesis.