From Teens to Sparklings

Chapter 24 Enter Wheeljack!

Wheeljack wasn't entirely sure how he had gotten into this situation.

He remembered piloting the Jackhammer in the Milky Way galaxy, when he got a strange, scrambled signal. It was being broadcasted from a backwater planet called "Earth". Deciding to investigate, he had set course for the planet, and had arrived within a week. He had just broken through the planet's atmosphere, when something took out his ship's engine. He remembered crashing, then nothing. The next time he awoke, he was being suspended 8 feet off the ground in a pitch-black room, his wrists and ankles bound by tight cuffs, parts of which emanated a soft purple-pink glow. That was what had him worried. There were only a select few forces that used that particular colour, and even fewer that could lift someone as heavy as himself.

A door slid open, and his fears were confirmed. A tall, sharp looking figure stepped into the room, flanked by two smaller forms. Red optics met his own, and Wheeljack quickly suppressed the shiver of fear that ran down his backstrut. As cocky and confident a mech he was, even he was not immune to the fear Megatron instilled into the sparks of every creature that met his piercing gaze. If he was, he likely would have died long ago, as he surely would have made a rash and fatal move, like trying to attack the warlord on his turf. Still, he had a reputation to uphold, and he would not allow his fear to be seen.

"Hey there bucket head. Long time no see." He snarked, putting on a confident half grin.

Megatron, to Wheeljack's surprise, didn't react violently. In fact, the Decepticon leader seemed to be purposely holding back. His posture didn't seem as imposing as usual, and his denta were not being bared. It made the bound Wrecker nervous. What was going on here? Why wasn't Megatron being aggressive?

The two bots next to Megatron looked up at their leader, seemingly as confused as Wheeljack. One raised his stun rod questioningly, silently asking if he should attack Wheeljack for the offensive remark. But Megatron shook his head, motioning for him to lower the weapon, simultaneously flicking a clawed digit towards something Wheeljack could not see. The Vehicon nodded and holstered the stun rod quickly. The Warlord turned to face Wheeljack again.

"Wheeljack. I must say, I didn't expect to see you here. Tell me, what brought you to this little planet?" He asked. His voice was calm, but Wheeljack could still hear the dark growl hidden behind it.

"That's none a ya business Megatron. Why do you care anyways?" He growled, narrowing his optics. Megatron smirked.

"Oh, I was just wondering if your arrival had anything to do with your Wrecker friend being here." Megatron said innocently. Wheeljack's jaw fell open in surprise, his optics widening, before his face became angry, his fear forgotten.

"What have you done to Bulkhead Megatron?!" He growled, baring his denta in fury. He strained against his cuffs, trying to break lose. Megatron chuckled darkly, stepping out of the room.

"Nothing... yet. Although I might allow you to see him one more time, right before I rip out his spark!" He laughed, seemingly forgetting about holding back.

Just before the door slid closed, Wheeljack's audial fins caught a small, frightened "Peep!".

Miko shrunk back as the large mech stepped past her, the large door sliding shut as the creature inside screamed in frustration. She glanced over at Raf, who was looking at one of the Vehicons. The drone-like bot pressed a few buttons before walking away. Raf tilted his head slightly, before whispering something to Miko.

"|Meet me here once everyone is asleep|."

Miko nodded and ran over to Knock Out, following him away from the door. Breakdown quickly picked her up, holding her close to his chest as Starscream stalked past. Raf backed up as the older Seeker approached, his wings falling back in fear. But he didn't allow himself to be backed into a corner, and bravely stood his ground, even as Starscream's sparkless optics caught his. Raf narrowed his optics as Soundwave picked him up.