Shadowfire

Chapter 20

"Alright Autobots we've got a situation" Lennox announced, striding into the meeting hall, instantly commanding attention. Optimus came in behind him and began briefing us.
"Though they've been in hiding since Megatron's death, lately we have received reports of an increase in Decepticon activity, seemingly targeting random humans"
"Upon looking into it we've discovered several links between their activities and these, now deceased, people"
"It appears the Decepticons have been using human's to aid them in their plans, and are now dropping excess weight"

"What's going on with them?" I asked aloud "if they'd chosen to have those humans as their, I don't know- slaves or whatever, why turn around and kill them?"
"Yeah, they're messed up man" Jazz agreed "more chaotic than they used to be"
"It was almost better when Megatron was in charge" Ironhide muttered, Jazz shot me a sympathetic look- the only one who knew the sharp, stabbing pain that radiated from my spark out into my torso at his words.
"You watch it big guy" Wheelie piped up, glaring at 'Hide from his position on the table "you're disrespecting a great mech" everyone laughed at the tiny 'Bot shaking his servo at the much larger weapons specialist, I shot the little guy a grateful look.
::Thanks::
::Anytime, Princess::

"Regardless" Optimus said, silencing the chatter "it is our duty to stop them from wreaking havoc upon this world"
"We have reviewed intelligence through a Ukrainian diplomat that suggests they will be attacking the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which is still highly radioactive and could cause massive devastation if breached"
"Why are they attacking there? What's there to gain?" I asked, frowning. There was something about this mission that I wasn't buying, the Decepticons had no reason to destroy Chernobyl- despite the problems they could cause by releasing that much radioactive material, and for us to be warned in advance? There was something suspicious going on, and I didn't like it.
"Uh didn't you hear Lennox? Massive devastation"
"That's all they want" Bee agreed
"But surely-"
"Enough" Optimus interrupted "it doesn't matter what their motives are, just that we stop them. We move out in half an earth hour, dismissed"

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::Shadowfire to Starscream::
::Responding::
::How much do you know about Decepticon movements?::
::Not much, I'm not with them anymore I'm- I don't even know, I could find out if you wanted but-::
::No need, how are they governing themselves?:: I changed the topic, not wanting either of us to dwell on what had caused Screamer to become so lost as to simply travel aimlessly.
::They're not, no one is in control, they're all going out alone or in small groups attacking random places and withdrawing before the Autobots can get there. They don't know what to do without-:: there was a crackle of static that if Screamer was human might've been him clearing his throat or holding back a sob, it was hard to tell ::much like me::

___________________

"There's some kind of signal here" Lennox looked down at the device in his hands "it's pinging on the reader but it's not energon. Can you pick up anything on your scanners?" He addressed this question to Ratchet, and a moment later the 'Bot responded.
"No, we're the only Cybertronians here"
"Spread out" Optimus ordered "I want at least one 'Bot with each team of humans. Find whatever's giving off this reading"

We split up, separating into predetermined squads, I accompanied my father and Epps' unit, forging ahead, keeping a lookout.

"Found it" Lennox announced over the comms, I began to approach him, abandoning my position as scout "what's this?" He muttered to himself as he dropped to his knees to inspect the metal case, the communication device inside his radiation suit still picking it up "guys! It has Kennedy Space Program markings on it"

He went to pick up the box, but Epps slapped his hands away.
"What if it's dangerous?" He nodded towards me, and I hefted the case easily.

___________________

"This is an engine part, from a long lost Autobot ship. A fuel cell, from the Ark"
"What's a fuel cell from an Autobot ship doing here?" I asked "Optimus think, there's no way it could've gotten-"
"What if the humans brought it here?" Ironhide suggested "what if they've known about us for longer than we knew" the expression on Optimus' faceplate turned stony
"Ridiculous" I said "why would they bring it here? This place is a nuclear waste! It doesn't make sense"
"It's a fuel cell" Ratchet supplied "they could've been studying it, trying to replicate our technology. And this was the result" he swung her servos wide,  gesturing to the wrecked building we were in.
"But we would've known about it" Jazz pointed out "the human governments promised us full disclosure"
"The humans lied" Optimus stated, breaking his silence at last.
"No" I protested, but was interrupted before I could really argue.

"Unknown Energon reading!" One of the NEST team members barked, instantly we stopped our bickering, falling into a defensive formation "right below us!" All of a sudden the floor collapsed, a Decepticon tearing it out from under us as the mech launched himself upwards. Long, mechanical servos arched through the room, destroying load bearing pillars and sending the dust and debris raining down upon us. I snatched up my dad and uncle, holding the two struggling humans against my chest plates as large chunks of concrete hit the ground where they had been standing a moment ago. I spread my fingers, allowing them to wedge their machine guns into the forks between the digits as they rained fire onto the Decepticon. My fellow Autobots and I fell back, managing to extricate all the humans, and releasing them into the smoky outside world, where there was no falling roof to crush them.
"Stay behind me!" Optimus hollered, as he launched himself towards the attacking mech, Ironhide and Ratchet beside him. I took up a position flanking them, Jazz at my back, Bee slightly off to the side, as we fired on the Decepticon, laying cover fire for the charging trio of Autobots. They moved in sync, dodging and weaving projectiles together, as if they had charged into battle like this a thousand times before, and would a thousand times again. Something twinged deep inside my memory banks, a flash of a grainy scene obscured my vision as my optics temporarily offlined. I watched as these same three mechs advanced on me, fear coursing through my newly formed circuits, someone held me tightly
"Y-u'll n-v-r t-ke h-r aw-y fr-m m-" I recognised the fragments of the voice, my sire. The sharp stabbing pain in my spark jolted me out of the memory, Jazz was shaking me.
"Shad. Shad!"

I looked around. True to form, as Starscream had told me, the 'Con had been quick to retreat, hurrying to make his escape- obviously unprepared to deal with such a large force of Autobots, knowing no backup would be forthcoming. I hadn't recognised the mech, he must've been one of the new, or old, recruits from under The Fallen's command.
"Shad. Shad focus. What happened?" My vision swam as I forced my optics to take in Jazz, who was hovering over me protectively, Ironhide by his side, his hand on my helm, panic on his features. I couldn't see Optimus, but Ratchet began hurrying over, shoving the two mechs out of the way as he examined me.
"Memory" I explained "something triggered it" Ratchet began scanning my helm as Lennox and Epps appeared, hovering about anxiously
"We need a medical evac" Ratchet announced suddenly "now!" He snapped when no one moved.