Here it is! I guess I'll let you get right at it... Enjoy!
Artemis had no clue how long Smokescreen had been gone for. It could have been days, weeks even, or it could have been fifteen minutes. All she knew that sitting in a cavern deep underground with the barley online Optimus was nerve wracking at best. She loathed the feeling of uselessness that came along with watching over the Autobot leader. She knew he was dying, but had no means of helping him. All she could do was sit there and pray. And she hated it. She hated the feeling of helplessness while Optimus lay dying beside her and Smokescreen risked his life scouting topside. But she had no choice. It's not like she was doused in radioactive materials and developed the ability to heal Cybertronians. She couldn't even contact the Team because she was out of M'gann's telepathic range, and the cavern that they were hiding in was too far underground for any type of electronic communication to work. So she was stuck sitting there praying for Optimus to wake up, for Smokescreen to come back with good news, for the others to stay safe, for the Team, Fowler, Paula, June and the rest of Jasper were alive and well, and that the Decepticons giant fortress would fall on their heads and crushed them.
"The Autobots clearly Groundbridged from their base before it was destroyed." Megatron growled as he and Starscream strolled along the wreckage that used to be the Autobot base. "They could be anywhere."
"We must initiate global surveillance my liege. Send search and destroy teams to every sector of this planet." Starscream suggested.
"Soundwave. Monitor all Earth based transmissions for any sign of Autobot communication, with each other, or their human counterparts." Megatron said with a menacing undertone.
"Master…" The Decepticon leader turned his attention towards where his Second in Command was looking. In the distance, he could see human military approaching in tanks and helicopters. There were all of a tan colour, except for the lone, black jet that flew point. There were also several tiny figures that accompanied the jet, two of which glowed with a strange form of green energy.
"Attention, you are illegally based on Earth soil. Disengage all weapons and stand down, or suffer the consequences." One of the glowing green figures demanded. Megatron realized that the green figures were the Green Lanterns stationed in this sector. The Decepticon scoffed a little. Back before Cybertron had gone dark, the Guardian's Manhunters, were completely useless in preventing the War on Cybertron. Then after war had broken out, the planet was abandoned, left to rot in the Forgotten Zone, along with all the other planets in that system. Needless to say, Cybertronian opinion of the Green Lantern Corps was not very high.
"Foolish insolent humans." Starscream growled, clearly insulted that such lower life forms would dare to threaten him. "I shall deploy the armada, and show these vermin the true meaning of consequences." He spat.
"That won't be necessary Starscream. Not when we can engage our enemy with new found might." Megatron smirked as his weapon charged up and fired. His smirk only grew wider as it hit its target. As the explosion spread outwards, a figure ejected from the black jet moments before the force of the explosion ripped it apart. The figure fell for a few moments before one of the Green Lanterns swooped in and caught it. Megatron chuckled as the tanks and helicopters warped from the explosions. Oddly, the seemingly unprotected humans appeared unscathed, and even rescued some of the helicopter pilots. But Megatron wasn't concerned. They would all fall before him soon enough.
Bruce was beginning to hate flying. Every time he took the Bat-Plane out of the Batcave, he wound up being shot out of the sky, and needing Clark of all people to rescue him. It was embarrassing. Though, considering this time it was Hal who caught him, it was not as bad as it usually was. Still, the alien's weapon was devastatingly powerful. Batman realized with a jolt that while he, Clark, John, Hal and Diana had managed to rescue most of the soldiers that had come with the Leaguers to confront the aliens, the entire town nearby was decimated. The town that he had forced Artemis and her mother to live in after it became clear that the archer was losing her control on the situation back in Gotham. While he knew that the people had been evacuated, he knew that Artemis wouldn't just leave if she thought she could help, and the protective part of him worried for her and her mother.
"Well that was disastrous." Diana muttered as they retreated towards the nearest military base. "What do we do now?" She asked, flying next to Hal, who was using his ring to levitate Batman back to base. Bruce sighed, though it came out as more of a growl.
"Now we go to Plan D."
"Arrow! What exactly is going on? Do you know where Artemis is?" Paula asked with a strained calmness that June was surprised she possessed. As soon as they had seen the Base blow, Folwer had taken them back to the military base that he worked at with the teen heroes in Bio-Ship not far behind. To their surprise, Green Arrow and Red Tornado were waiting for them, along with several members of the Justice League. The Team quickly left with the android to debrief while Green Arrow greeted the helicopter.
"Paula! Thank goodness you're safe!" The archer cried pulling the ex-con into a hug before helping her out of the helicopter.
"I am fine. But what are you doing here?"
"Short version: Alien invaders are attacking from their enormous fortress. The government called us in as soon as their fortress appeared." Green Arrow sighed, as they walk into the base together. "Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman and Green Lanterns Hal and John are confronting them now." He added grimly.
"We know about the aliens. They've been here a while now." June sighed, following Fowler, who leading them through the base.
"Really? Because we've only known for about an hour. Why is that exactly?" The emerald archer asked with a slightly accusatory tone.
"Because the government didn't want the super powered members of the Justice League to make an alliance with the Autobots in case we needed to take you down. I've already explained all this to your lovely protégé and she has moved past it, so do you think we could do the same?" Fowler asked, sounding annoyed. Green Arrow nodded, his face softening at the mention of his protégé. Batman had already chewed out General Bryce, so he wasn't too fussed about not knowing about the Cybertronians beforehand. The four of them walked into a small office. No sooner had they all found chairs and gotten settled, did the door to the office open and Batman and Superman walked in. June's eyes widened a little.
"So I'm assuming that asking them to give up went as well as expected?" Green Arrow asked sarcastically. Batman threw a glare at him and Superman sighed.
"At least we know what their weapon can do."
"Oh yeah, that's a real comfort." Arrow groaned. Batman turned to Paula and June, who were quietly waiting in the corner of the office.
"Paula, why don't you go meet with the Team. Kid Flash has been asking about you." Paula nodded.
"Why don't you come with me? We can see if we can reach Jack as well." June nodded as well and the two women disappeared out the door.
"Alright so what's our next step?" Superman asked, looking in between Folwer and Batman. The Dark Knight opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by the telephone. Folwer raised an eyebrow before putting the phone on speaker.
"Agent Folwer here."
"Greetings Agent Fowler."
"Megatron!" The members of the Justice League exchanged looks while the war lord chuckled darkly.
"Precisely. I'm assuming you've been briefed on your government's little attempt to confront me?"
"I've heard." Fowler growled.
"You can see a new power dominates your world. Any further attempts to attack me, will be met with even greater force. Your leaders should be advised, my fusion canons possess enough firepower to decimate any densely populated area of my choosing. I would in all likelihood set my sights on your nation's capital for starters." Batman's eyes narrowed beneath his cowl and Superman looked ready to fry the phone with his heat vision.
"Point taken, now what do you want from us?" Fowler demanded, looking just as angry at the threat, but keeping his voice calm.
"Nothing, Agent Fowler. The Decepticons mean no harm to humanity. We merely desire a place to call home." Green Arrow rolled his eyes.
"No offence, Megatron," Folwer sneered. "But I'm having a tough time swallowing all this, since you seem so bent on plastering humankind under molten steel. Not to mention, I seem to recall being shot out of the sky more than a few times by you 'Cons."
"Agent Fowler, I admit that war brings out the worst in me, but the conflict with the Autobots is now over, and our quarrel has never been with your kind. Now that the one true enemy of the Decepticons is no more, my only wish is to co-exist on this planet with the human race… Peacefully. Together Agent Fowler, I believe that you and I can make that dream a reality." And with that, Megatron hung up. There was silence in the office for a good ten seconds.
"That's all I needed to know." And Batman turned on a dime and left, Superman hot on his heels.
"You know, I hate it when he does that." Green Arrow sighed, shaking his head. "Do you really think he wants peace?"
"This is the guy who kidnapped your sidekick in order to blackmail the Autobots into giving him the only thing that could revive their home planet. Peace is the last thing on his mind." The archer glared and growled a bit.
"She's not my sidekick… I'm going to go talk to Batman." He said, before leaving Folwer to his thoughts.
"Artemis?" The blonde perked up as Smokescreen's head poked through a wall, quickly followed by the rest of his body. "How is he?"
"The same as when you left to scout topside." She sighed. After Optimus had woken up the first time, Smokescreen had promptly asked him to power down again, promising to look after him while he healed. Now he hadn't moved in ages. Smokescreen sighed and sat down next to Artemis, who had perched herself on a flat rock after pacing around the cavern had grown tiresome. "How is it up there?"
"The Cons destroyed most of Jasper. There didn't seem to be any humans around though." He added quickly when Artemis' face grew distraught. "I'm sure your mother's alright."
"So what's our next move?" She asked after a brief moment of silence.
"We wait for Optimus to wake up, let him heal, find the others and take down Megatron." Smokescreen stated simply. Artemis rolled her eyes.
"Gee, that sounds like a fool proof plan. I don't think anything could go wrong with that stroke of brilliance." She snipped, the sarcasm dripping from her words.
"I know. It's kinda like all of your plans." Smokescreen returned evenly.
"Touché. But at least I usually know most of the variables. We don't even know if the others are alright!"
"We're just going to have to believe that they are." The Autobot said simply. Artemis sighed angrily and folded her arms across her chest.
"I hate this. I hate this a lot." She growled, digging her fingernails into her arms. "I want to do something! Like kick Megatron in the face… if my mom's injured or worse I'm going to…" Smokescreen looked at his distressed partner and gently picked her up and protectively wrapped his fingers around her tiny frame.
"I know. But we're going to fix this. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She muttered darkly.
"Who said I can't keep that promise? You seem to be forgetting how incredibly talented and brilliant I am. And you're just as gifted." Despite their grim situation, Artemis grinned.
"So, if you're wrong, and we all die, I can blame you?"
"Go ahead. But when we do make it out, and everyone's back together, I get to say I told you so."
"Deal." She smiled, gently bumping her fist into his thumb.
"Why don't you get some rest?" The blonde nodded and slipped out of her quiver and handed it to Smokescreen, who placed it on the rock she was previously sitting on. She curled up in the palm of his hand and closed her eyes, leaving the Autobot to watch over both human and Prime.
"Mrs. Crock!" June took a step back and assessed the situation in front of her; six super powered teenagers and Robin, the Boy Wonder were all rushing to crowd around the wheelchair bound woman. The same woman that June regularly had over for tea and who apparently was on a first name basis with half the Justice League.
"Are you alright?"
"How come you didn't evacuate with the others?"
"Is Artemis alright?"
"I am fine. All of you worry too much. June and I were on our way to the Autobot base to see if we could find our children…" Kid Flash's face visibly fell.
"So you don't know where Artemis is?" He asked, eliciting a few sympathetic looks from his teammates and a comforting pat on the shoulder from Robin.
"I am sorry. The last time I saw her, she was on her way to school." Paula sighed sadly.
"We tried reaching every way we could. Telepathy, comm. link, even the special communicator that's nearly impossible to jam." Aqualad told them in a grave voice. "She has not replied to anything."
"Did you try her cell phone?" June asked, announcing her presence for the first time since the young heroes arrived.
"No answer. My apologies, I do not believe we have been properly introduced. I am Aqualad, this is Rocket, Zatanna, Miss. Martian, Superboy, Kid Flash, and Robin." Each made a small gesture at the sound of their name.
"June Darby."
"You're Jack's mom right?" Kid Flash asked, looking at her curiously. June nodded.
"How did you know that?"
"I met him a while ago, around the same time I met Smokescreen the first time. You look alike." He explained. "Is he missing too?"
"Yes. I can't reach him or his guardian." June sighed before a man in a military uniform jogged up to them.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but you're presence has been requested in the War Room." The man informed the teenagers. Aqualad nodded.
"Please excuse us. Paula, we shall let you know immediately if we find any news on Artemis' whereabouts." The heroes said their goodbyes, and hurried off.
"Are you Nurse Darby?" The man asked once the others were gone.
"I am."
"We could use your assistance in the Medical Bay."
"Of course. Lead the way." June and Paula followed the soldier, both praying for their offspring.
Vandel Savage stood by his colleagues and watched the pitiful attempt the Justice League made at getting the Cybertronians to surrender on the footage that one of Ivo's MONKIS had recorded. He almost laughed.
"And you have told us everything you have found out about these… Cybertronians?" Savage asked, turning to face Luthor as the League made a speedy retreat on the video.
"Everything I have learned from both M.E.C.H and the young hero, Artemis." Luthor confirmed.
"Alright then." Savage turned back to the computer and closed the video window and opened a video link with the frequency Ra's al Ghul had procured. After a moment of silence, the dark screen flickered to life, giving the Light their first real glimpse of the Decepticon leader.
"Greeting, Lord Megatron." Savage said, inclining his head slightly. "I am Vandel Savage, and these are my associates." The imposing Decepticon sneered at the humans condescendingly.
"And who are you to contact me?" Megatron asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"We are the Light. And we have a proposition for you." Megatron turned to his subordinate and chuckled deeply who smiled and shook his head.
"And what exactly do you think mere humans like yourselves could offer me?" He questioned, turning back to the Light and looking amused. Savage smiled at him.
"The Light has many things to offer; between the seven of us, we hold both power and position over the entire globe. Not only that, but we have access to cutting edge technology and weapons." Megatron was silent for a moment before he broke out into near hysterical laughter. The smiled slipped off Savages' face.
"Foolish humans." The subordinate chuckled. "Do you not realize that there is nothing you can offer us? The so called cutting edge technology you have has already been surpassed by Cybertronians eons ago. Any weapon you possess would pale in comparison to our fusion canons. And there is nothing more powerful than the glorious Decepticon Empire. Your species is a pathetic one." Savage glared as did the others. (Well, Klarion snickered, but he wasn't human anyways.)
"You underestimate us." Queen Bee told them, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Actually, I believe we've estimated you're usefulness perfectly. You have nothing to offer us." Megatron said once he had finally stopped laughing. He gave them an evil smirk and cut the transmission.
"That went well." Klarion snickered, oblivious to the hateful glares sent his way.
"Ugh." Optimus groaned, startling Smokescreen, who jumped and woke up Artemis. He quickly set her down and was by the Prime's side in an instant, while the blonde tried to get her bearings.
"Optimus, it's okay. You're with me- Smokescreen." Artemis made a noise in the back of her throat. "Oh, and Artemis too."
"How did I get here?" Optimus groaned.
"When we were evacuating the base, just as the Con's opened fire, it was our turn to Groundbridge away." Smokescreen began.
"But we couldn't just leave you there in good conscious." Artemis continued, hoisting herself up onto a rock so that Optimus could see her. "So we used the Phase Shifter to bypass the portal and we drove through the rock until we made it into this cavern."
"I dropped Artemis off and came back. But that's when the blast hit, and the whole joint came tumbling down. I managed to pull you from the wreckage, before the Cons dove in… I'm sorry I defied your orders." He added remorsefully.
"Uh, Hotshot, I don't think that's his main concern right now." Artemis chided, her eyes watching the mech worriedly.
"Anyways, we're safe here, but we're down so deep no one can pick up our signals."
"No one. I've tried reaching the Team, but there's nothing." Artemis added. "Wally's probably going insane." She muttered to herself.
"So I'll have to go back above ground if we have any chance of locating Ratchet." Smokescreen said, moving to stand.
"No… no hope." Smokescreen wheeled around and looked incredulously at Optimus while Artemis looked at him in concern.
"What do you mean? The Doc's the only one who can get you patched up! Optimus…" The Autobot leader fell silent.
"Has he powered down again?" Artemis asked edging closer to the fallen Bot.
"I can't tell…" Smokescreen said, checking Optimus for a pulse. He sighed when he found one.
"What did he mean, no hope?" The blonde wondered aloud.
"I'm sure he was just delirious from the pain. But we need to find Ratchet." Artemis rolled her eyes.
"And how are we going to do that? We have no communications, no Groundbridge and no way of even finding him, or anyone else!"
"Then what do you supposed we do?" Smokescreen asked shortly.
"Go up to our old base, make sure no one's around and find a medical kit or something!" Artemis yelled back.
"Oh. Good plan." He said, turning to leave again. Artemis sighed and climbed onto the rock the Prime's head was resting on.
"You're going to be okay." She said gently.
"No… hope." He murmured again.
"You know, the last time I was in this sort of a situation, I thought the same thing." She said, a memory flashing through her head. "A friend of mine, was much more nonchalant than I was." She began to absentmindedly stroke the cold metal of Optimus' head. "He asked if I was distraught and I blew up at him. 'Of course I'm distraught!' My best friends were dying, and I was almost out of arrows. I was not feeling the aster. I was completely hopeless, but he just looked at me and said, 'Well get traught, or get dead.'" Optimus cracked an optic open and looked at her. She gave him her most comforting smile and continued. "That's all you have to do. Get traught." His optics closed again and the archer's smile slipped off her face. She was quickly starting to feel more chalant than traught.
"Agent Fowler! Agent Fowler!" June cried joyfully, running towards the special agent. "Jack contacted me! He's with Arcee! They're both safe!" For the first time that day, Fowler smiled and accepted the hug June gave him.
"Good. Any news on the others?" June's smiled deflated a little as she shook her head. Fowler patted her shoulder. "Well, if Jack and Arcee are alright, there's a good chance the others made it out safe as well. I'm going to report in with the League." June nodded and Fowler hurried across the compound to the War Room. He knocked four times before the door was answered and he was let in.
"I just got word from one of the Bots. She and her human partner are safe for now." He said nodding in greeting.
"Did they say where they are?" Batman asked. Fowler shook his head. "Alight. For now we'll plan this without the Autobots. Team, you're going to infiltrate the Decepticon stronghold and find a way to disable their plasma canons so that the League and the Army can launch a counter attack." Batman said, addressing the teenagers in the room. You're going to be on your own getting in and out so that they don't suspect a heavier force is waiting for them." The Dark Knight explained, not looking too thrilled with the idea. The other Leaguers whose partners were present didn't look happy either.
"We understand." Aqualad said after glancing around at his team.
"The most important thing you remember is-"
"Sir!" The door to the War Room slammed open and an out of breath soldier came flying into the room. Batman's eye slits narrowed as Green Arrow and Red Tornado helped the man to his feet. "Sir! Lex Luthor and his associates are outside the gate and demanding to see you!"
"Luthor? What does he want?" Superman growled angrily.
"Don't be so antagonistic Superman. After all," Said a suave voice. Luthor confidently strode into the room, prompting most of the League and all of the Team to draw a weapon or charge their powers. "I might just have the thing you need to successfully take down the aliens."
"Yeah? And why should we trust you?" Green Arrow spat, glaring at him with as much hate as Superman was.
"Because it wouldn't be me you were trusting, it would be one of your own." Luthor replied, totally at ease in the room filled with people who hated him.
"You mean the weapon you wanted Artemis to help you build." Robin sneered, already knowing that the weapon wouldn't work, thanks to Artemis' purposely misleading information.
"That, along with all the technology that M.E.C.H has already acquired."
"So we would still really be trusting you then." Fowler said, rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"Call it what you will, but the truth remains; you need what I offer." Superman glared and walked right up to Luthor. The Kryptonian towered over the businessman, but Luthor barley blinked.
"I don't think so." He growled before stomping off to cool down. Luthor smiled and turned to Batman.
"What about you?" Batman remained silent and carefully watched the villain. "Though it's not really up to you. You're not the one who's going to be risking his neck on the front lines, is it?" He asked, looking over at the Team, his eyes lingering on each teenager in. Batman sighed.
"What do you have?"
"I'm back!" Smokescreen called, running into the cavern. He glanced at Artemis and knelt down beside Optimus. "I combed through every square micron of our old base, but I couldn't find Ratchet's medical kit. There wasn't even a bandage." Smokescreen sighed as Optimus' dull optics flickered over to him.
"The Forge… of Solus Prime." He whispered.
"It's gone." The Autobot told him somberly, while Artemis stroked his head again. "The Cons' picked the place clean."
"Don't worry about that now. We can deal with it after you're not half offline." Artemis promised while Smokescreen's head suddenly popped up in understanding.
"What?" Artemis asked, looking at her partner cocking her head to the side.
"The Forge! If he had that, he could fix himself up! Power of the Primes!" He cried excitedly. "It's got to be in Megatron's fortress somewhere! Hang on for just a little longer Optimus!" He turned to leave, but before he could make it through the rock, the archer sprinted in front of him and held out her arms. "Uh, what are you doing?"
"You're not leaving without me again." She insisted.
"Look someone needs to watch over Optimus."
"Why? If he goes critical, what can I do about it? I can't communicate with you down here, I have no idea how to help him, and even if I did, I'm too small to be any use!"
"It's too dangerous up there!" Artemis growled at him.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that. I can take care of myself Hotshot, and I can watch your back too." Smokescreen looked at her, his expression showing how conflicted he was. "Listen, I want to help and I can't sit in the cave any longer without knowing if you, or any of the others are alright! I'm having enough trouble staying traught as it is!" To emphasis her point, she snapped out her bow and gave him a pointed look. Smokescreen sighed and pinched his optics shut.
"Fine, but you have to promise you'll do as I tell you."
"Whatever you say Hotshot." She said with a grin, feeling much better now that she was able to help. He grumbled something unintelligible, holding his hand out to her. She smiled and climbed aboard.
They were much closer to Darkmount then Artemis realized. It only took them fifteen minutes to traverse from their cavern to the Decepticon citadel.
"Nice little place Megatron's built himself." Smokescreen commented, as they peeked their heads out of the dirt.
"Great. It could take us days to find the Forge!" Artemis bemoaned, fingering her bow tightly. Smokescreen scanned the enormous structure before grinning.
"Not if he keeps his valuables in the same places." Artemis followed his line of sight and smirked. The Autobot pulled them both out of the ground and switched off the Phase Shifter.
"Now, how do we get up there?" She asked, looking up at the ship. "It's not like we can just walk up to it…" Smokescreen smirked in a devious way, and offered her his hand.
"You just leave that to me."
M'gann suddenly went rigid. After Batman had accepted help from Luthor, Conner had angrily stormed from the War Room, closely followed by his girlfriend. Now the two of them were sitting outside the building on a bench that was shaded by a few trees. Conner looked at her worriedly when she abruptly straightened up.
"M'gann? Are you alright?" She didn't answer him, and starred ahead of her.
'A-Artemis? Is that you?'
'M'gann! Are you alright? What about the others, are they okay?' The Martian's face broke out into an enormous grin, and she looked at her boyfriend with an elated expression.
"I've made contact with Artemis!" She squealed happily. Conner smiled as well.
"Is she alright? Where is she?" M'gann quickly pulled Conner into their mind link.
'We're all alright! We're with your mother at the military base Agent Fowler works at. Where are you? Did you make it out of the base before it blew?'
'My mom is there? Cảm tạ thượng đế. Smokescreen said that the Cons destroyed Jasper!'
'They evacuated the town just in time! But you're mother and June are at the base with us and some of the Justice League! What about you?
'I'm alright too. Hotshot and I got out before the base blew and circled back to grab Optimus. We've been hiding out in an underground cavern.'
'That's why we couldn't reach you! But where are you now?'
'Sneaking into the Decepticon war ship. What about the others? Can you ask Fowler if anyone's made contact?' M'gann and Conner exchanged a worried glance.
'You're sneaking into the Decepticon war ship? Why?'
'Conner! And yeah, we need something from it. What about the others?'
'June says that Jack and Arcee are safe. We don't know about the others.'
'Well, that's something I suppose… Scrap, we're here. I have to go! I'll try to make contact again before we head back underground. Stay safe, and make sure no one does anything stupid!'
'That goes double for you.' Conner told her. Artemis chuckled before M'gann disconnected with her.
"At least we know she's safe." The clone sighed.
"But what could they need in the war ship?" M'gann pondered.
"Don't know, but we should tell the others."
"Right! Let's go."
"I can't believe that worked." Artemis whispered in disbelief once M'gann had disconnected. Smokescreen jogged through one the walls in Darkmount and out onto the platform connecting to the Nemesis and grinned at her.
"And you didn't even have to waste any of your arrows." The blonde made a noise of disbelief in the back of her throat. "So what did your friends say?" They had just reached the base of Darkmount when Artemis excitedly started whispering about the Martian making psychic contact.
"All the humans are safe. Apparently they evacuated Jasper before it was destroyed. And Jack and Arcee made contact. Not sure about the others though."
"We'll worry about them later. As soon as we get Optimus functioning again we can deal with everything else." The pair moved through the Nemesis quietly, avoiding the patrols as best they could. Smokescreen had Artemis in one hand, and his blaster in the other, while the archer had an arrow already notched in her bow.
"Maybe it's this way?" Artemis asked, gesturing around the corner.
"I'm sorry, overreacting?" Both human and Autobot looked at each other with wide eyes and optics as Starscream's voice wafted around the corner. They looked around wildly before Smokescreen simply leapt through the nearest wall. "Easy for you to say, Knockout. Nobody here wants your post. I on the other hand, hold the most coveted position in the Decepticon ranks. And no matter what he may claim, I know that Shockwave is plotting to usurp me. Did you see the smug look in his optic when he unveiled that vile beast to Lord Megatron?"
"Wow. And I thought human politics were bad." Artemis commented once the voices had died down. "Who's Shockwave?" Smokescreen shook his head.
"Bad news." He said simply. "They say he has no capacity for emotion, only logic." He explained.
"Huh. Just like my Physics teacher at Gotham Academy."
"Come on, let's get moving." The Autobot said with a chuckle, backing up slowly through the walls again. They continued to move backwards until all of a sudden, they were face to face with the shocked face of a spiderlike Decepticon. "Gaah!" Smokescreen cried stumbling back a little and accidently dropping his charge. He stumbled back a bit before regaining his footing.
"OW! Watch it will you!" Artemis snarled rubbing her bottom. Smokescreen smiled sheepishly and offered her a servo. They took a proper look and he realized that the scary Con was frozen in a stasis pod.
"Ha, you don't scare me ugly!" He laughed. The blonde rolled her eyes.
"Because when Bots are feeling brave, they shriek like little girls, right?" She said innocently.
"Ha, ha." They turned around and the Elite Guard let out a low whistle in appreciation. "Hello beautiful."
"Quick, grab it and let's blow this Popsicle stand!" Smokescreen looked at her curiously.
"What's a popsicle?"
"Never mind, let's go!" She said, as heavy footsteps sounded outside the room. Smokescreen grabbed the hammer, stowed it and snatched up the heroine, leaving the same way they came in. When they got a decent distance away from the stronghold, Artemis stopped her protector.
"Wait a sec…"
'Artemis!'
'Megan! What's wrong?!'
'Fowler says that Ratchet transmitted their co-ordinates!'
"M'gann says that Ratchet sent his co-ordinates to Fowler." Artemis told Smokescreen quickly.
"Really?" Artemis nodded.
'M'gann, bring the Team and the Bio-Ship, and meet me where the base used to be! We need to check out those co-ordinates!'
'Acknowledged. We're on our way.'
"I'm going with the Team and we'll meet up with the others. You take the Forge and revive Optimus! When you're ready, use my communicator and contact us. The Cons shouldn't be able to trace it." She said quickly, handing the green engraved circle to the titan. He did not look pleased.
"What? You want to split up, again?!" He sputtered.
"I don't like it either, but we need to combine our forces if we want to take down Darkmount. Someone needs to let the others know where we are and you have to use the Forge to fix Optimus!" She told him. He sighed in defeat.
"Alright, that makes sense. Just be careful."
"I'm not the one I'm worried about. Take care of Optimus."
"Can you make it by yourself?" He asked.
"Hotshot, Batman makes us sprint a thousand miles as a warm up. I'll be fine." She gave his finger a tight squeeze, flashed him a confident grin, and jogged off towards the base.
So I will do my best to update quickly since I did , but it's been a busy summer! Anyways, I decided to let Artemis go with the Team to meet up with the other Autobots because I wanted her and the Team to actually fight. But I've gotten over 100 reviews! You guys are so phenomenal! Thank you so, so much! Well, I hope you guys are having a terrific summer! I'll see you guy as soon as possible! :D