Transformers Prime: Bio-Tech

Chapter 9

"Prime! Prime!" Fowler called out over the screen. "Special Agent Fowler? To what do we owe..." Optimus began to speak. "What else? 'Cons! I chased them off with some hard ordnance, but not before they blew me out of the sky!" Fowler explained. "Again?" Bulkhead teased. "They tried a smash-and-grab on the D.N.G.S." "The... what's it?" Arcee asked. "Dynamic Nuclear Generation System," I explained, "A.K.A, D.N.G.S. It's a prototype energy source I was designing. It's being ported to the coast for testing." "That's absurd," Ratchet scoffed, "Why would Starscream want Earth technology?" "My guess would be to create a weapon of mass destruction," I replied, insulted, "If the D.N.G.S were to melt down, it would irradiate this state and the four next to us." "Uh, did Agent Fowler say which state he was currently in?" Rafael asked nervously. "I'm a sitting duck here, Prime. I need you to spin up your bridge and send the D.N.G.S to its destination before the 'Cons come back," Fowler explained. Optimus looked to me as I shook my head. "Sorry Agent Fowler, but sending such a volatile device through a Groundbridge is out of the question," I said firmly, "If there were to be an accident during transmission, the radiation could propagate through the Groundbridge vortex and harm all 50 states... and beyond." "You got any better ideas?" Fowler asked. I smiled as I realised what Optimus was thinking.

"Ah! No need Agent Fowler. I will handle the driving," Optimus said over the comm as I was sure Agent Fowler aimed to take over driving. "It's gonna be a long trip," Agent Fowler muttered. "Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. "We are locked onto your coordinates, Optimus," Ratchet said as we watched the screen that showed the location of Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumble and Arcee, "Barring any complications you should reach the drop off point by sundown." A horn was heard through the comm link. "Move it gramps!" Fowler exclaimed. "Agent Fowler, is that really necessary?" Optimus asked. "Ah, don't tell me you're one of them, textbook drivers. Humph. You know, you're saving my bacon here, Prime," Fowler said. "I am proud to be of service," Optimus replied. "Did Agent Fowler just compliment us?" I wondered. "Course, not like I'd need your help if you and the 'Cons had stuck to tearing up your own portion of the galaxy," Fowler claimed. "Spoke too soon," I sighed. "Are you suggesting that no evil existed on your planet before we arrived?" Optimus asked. "Project Arcturus," I coughed. "Otto," Ratchet warned me in Cybertronian as I only shrugged. "Of... Well, it was a... different evil. How about some radio? You seem like a Nashville kinda guy," Fowler said. "That's the one!" Fowler exclaimed, "The 'Con that shot me down! Who is he? Wingnut? Dingbat? Skyguy?" "Watch your rearview," Bulkhead said, "Feeling a little constricted without the use of my fists here, boss." "Remain in vehicular mode unless absolutely necessary," Optimus ordered. "A whole team of 'Cons," Agent Fowler said. "What? I'm not picking up anything," I replied. "They must be utilising cloaking technology," Ratchet noted. I scoffed, "Since when have 'Cons been smart enough to use cloaking technology?" "Pull over!" an unknown voice said over the comms. "Well I'll be dipped!" Agent Fowler exclaimed. "Our assailants are not Decepticons... They are humans," Optimus said. "Human?!" Rafael, Jack and I questioned as I jumped down from Ratchet's shoulder onto the catwalk. "Oh please!" Miko exclaimed, "Taking on our bots? They're road kill!" "Aah!" Agent Fowler exclaimed, "Who are these guys?" "Autobots, maintain your cover and use minimal force," Optimus ordered, "disarmament only." "Could use some air," Fowler gagged, "Prime! Bear right! You're gonna tell me everything I want to know..." "I do hope you take better care of the D.N.G.S than you do your captives," an unknown voice said over the comm. "Special Agent Fowler here! Identify yourself!" Fowler ordered. "I am Silas. But of greater consequence to you, we are M.E.C.H. Fair warning... we will be helping ourselves to your device, even if it means inflicting casualties," Silas warned. "Is that so? Tell me Si, what's the market price for the D.N.G.S. these days?" Fowler asked sarcastically. "What makes you think we intend to sell it, Agent Fowler? There's a war brewing between the new world order and the old. The victor will be the side armed with the most innovative technology," Silas claimed. I began to walk away and went to my case. "Otto?" Jack asked as he watched me take out my gun and strap it to my waist. "You don't have faith in our bots?" Miko challenged. "Oh I have faith in them, I'm prepping just in case," I said as I noticed Ratchet eye me and nodded at him. "So, Si..." Agent Fowler said over our comm, "You think M.E.C.H has all the most radical tech?" We all heard Arcee's engine rev. "Later, Si," Fowler mocked. "Agent Fowler, do not take your 'Silas' lightly," Optimus warned, "Megatron preached the very same ideology before plunging Cybertron into the Great War that destroyed our world." "Optimus," Ratchet said, "Prepare to initiate Phase 2. Five miles ahead, to the south, you will reach the rendezvous point." "That's our destination point," Agent Fowler said. "Autobots, keep tight formation," Optimus ordered. "Air support! Ours or theirs?" Arcee asked. "Optimus, you have company!" Ratchet informed Optimus as he noticed my hand instinctively go towards my weapon, "Steady Otto." "Aah!" Fowler screamed in panic.

"Agent Fowler, I'm afraid if you and we are to survive, it has become absolutely necessary to drop our cover," Optimus said, "Remain here." "Will do," Fowler agreed. "After a long road trip, it feels good to get out of the car, stretch my legs..." Bulkhead said, "And kick some tailpipe." "Special Agent Fowler you live a charmed life, walking among titans," Silas said over comm. "Come on down. I'll introduce you," Fowler taunted. "In due time. But at the moment, I'm too busy wondering how the D.N.G.S might have vanished into thin air without a trace. Now if you'll excuse me... I have a train to catch," Silas said. "Prime! Silas got wise to Phase 2!" Fowler said. "I understand," Optimus said. I looked up at Ratchet, annoyed. "He'll be fine Otto," Ratchet reassured me. "Prime, do you read me?" Fowler asked, "Prime!?" "Otto..." Ratchet warned. "Optimus is down. M.E.C.H is going to grab MY D.N.G.S so do not tell me everything is going to be fine," I argued, causing the lights to flicker. "We need to think of something quick," Jack agreed. "Like a Phase 3?" Rafael asked. "Exactly like a Phase 3," I told Rafael. "All right if M.E.C.H wants my D.N.G.S, they have to get on that train," I reasoned. "What if we get on board first?" Miko suggested, "You know, run some human-on-human interference?" "That would be suicide," I said, "For you... not for me." "Absolutely not!" Ratchet argued. "The United States could melt down! Lives are at stake!" Jack argued. "You want me to bridge you not only into a confined space but one travelling at 90 miles per hour? I can't even count the number of ways that can go wrong. Mass-displacement trauma, twisted limbs, metal burn... well maybe not the last one. Regardless, it is nearly impossible to fix the Groundbridge coordinates on something moving at that speed!" Ratchet argued. "Would it help if we had access to the train's coordinates?" I asked, typing on my computer. "Well..."

I jumped through the Groundbridge and heard Jack and Miko grunt next to me, causing me to shake my head in exasperation. "Why Ratchet allowed you to come with me, I will never understand," I lifted my hand to my commlink, "We're in." "I read you, Otto," Ratchet said, "The commlink patch works." "Of course it does, who do you think created it so I can remain in contact with bots?" I looked up as I heard chopper blades get close. "Rafael, M.E.C.H's landing on top of the train." "In about twenty seconds, you're gonna come to a fork. Brace yourself," Rafael said. I held on as the train took a sharp turn. "What have I been saying all along about Earth technology?" Ratchet sassed. "Ratchet, while I would normally enjoy our conversations insulting the limitations of human tech this is really not the time," I snapped back. "We've got company," Jack said and I looked up to the roof to see M.E.C.H welding a hole in it. I picked up my blaster as Miko picked up an axe and Jack picked up a fire extinguisher. I raised my blaster as three M.E.C.H agents looked into the train, "I dare you to make the first move," I challenged. "What he said," Jack said. The agents retreated back onto the chopper and took off. "Wow, you're pretty fierce," Miko said. An explosion shook the ground in front of us. "Son of a glitch," I cursed, "Ratchet, M.E.C.H blew the train tracks. You need to bridge us and the soldiers out of here," I said as I looked at Lennox's unconscious form. "We've lost access to the train data!" Ratchet replied, "I can't bridge you back without your coordinates." I hurried over to Lennox. "Come on Lennox, wake up, wake up!" I looked up at Jack and Miko and saw their scared expressions. "We'll watch over him," Jack said, "You go do what you have to do." I looked up at him and nodded as I ran to the front of the train. "Optimus, Otto, Jack and Miko are on that train, and M.E.C.H has blown the tracks," Ratchet explained over the comm. "On my way," Optimus replied, "Maximum Overdrive!" "Where's Optimus?" Arcee asked over the comms. "He had a train to catch," Fowler explained. I reached the front of the train at the same time as Optimus, reaching out to the systems and overriding the engine, forcing the train to stop as I sighed in relief before running back to Miko, Jack and Lennox. I stopped as I heard chopper blades and Optimus and I glared up at M.E.C.H's chopper as they flew away. "Optimus, are you and the children..." Ratchet wondered over the comm, "Intact?" "Intact, Ratchet," Optimus replied as I shook my head, "Crisis averted. But the world in which we live is a different one than previously imagined. One that has spawned its own Decepticons... in human skin."