Chapter 14

The sun's heated glare fell over a deserted town located three hundred eighty-four miles north of Fort Bragg's military outpost. The town's population cleared out six months ago, amidst rumors of the Army testing giant robots that could masquerade as anything from toasters to vehicles. The military saw an opportunity to use the newly acquired space as a testing ground for actual military assets. From testing new equipment to having war games, Uncle Sam made sure his tax dollars were being spent wisely. However, new rumors began to spread; rumors concerning a terrorist organization that saw fit to usher in a newer world order. Word by the water cooler was that the town was being used as a staging ground for the group known as M.E.C.H. This was the first bit of intelligence on the group since the mysterious disappearance of its founder and leader, former Col. Leland "Silas" Bishop.

This info, was of course, need to know.

"We're lost," Rafael Esquivel mused as he, Jack Darby, and Miko Nakadai, entered the small town; as deserted as the sun was hot. They walked down the sidewalk, taking in the barren streets and hollow buildings. Jack sighed and folded up the map he'd been trying to decipher for the last hour.

"We'd be fine if someone,"—he glared at Miko, who crossed her arms defiantly—"hadn't volunteered us for orienteering."

"So not my fault!" she fired back. "That jerk challenged me! I don't run away from a fight!"

"That 'jerk' was a newly appointed lieutenant," Raf shook his head helplessly, pushing his thick rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Who was hammered harder than a Vehicon after a run-in with Bulkhead," Miko huffed. "He smelled like a brewery! What kind of soldier drinks that much?!"

"The kind celebrating a new promotion?" Jack deadpanned.

"Still didn't give him the right to talk trash about Fowler."

"I always thought you didn't like him," Raf said.

"Of course I like him! I just won't ever say it to his face. Way too much fun to get under his skin. And don't either of you tell him either, or else," Miko punctuated her threat with a light punch to Jack's arm.

"Did you have to let him talk you into dropping us off in the middle of nowhere, with a map, a compass, and canteens, though? We even left our cell phones back at the base. What are the 'Bots going to do when they find out about this?" Jack paused before adding, nervously, "What is my mom going to do?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it," Miko said simply.

"Then you can tell Nurse Darby," Raf suggested.

"Thing is, when we reach that bridge, I'm pushing the both of you forward and blowing it up," said the Japanese girl with a wink.

"Riveting," Jack replied dryly, taking a small sip of his canteen. "Let's see if we can find somewhere to escape this heat."

Miko broke off from their line and brace herself before kicking open a door to what looked like an old shop. Gesturing towards the inside cheekily, she smirked at the exasperated expressions of her companions. Giving the empty block another once over, she closed the shop door and threw herself into the nearest chair. Raf climbed onto a stool while Jack settled for the counter top where the register sat beneath a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. Wiping his glistened brow, the raven haired boy stared out into the street through the viewing window, wondering just what awaited them when they returned. He had little doubt that both his mother and Arcee would take his disappearance kindly. Nor did he wish to face the disappointment that was guaranteed to be written on Optimus's face when he learned of this little adventure.

Raf hoped that 'Bee didn't get too riled up over his absence; ever since their run-in with Megatron, the Scout had been kept him close to the chest, even more than a year after the incident. He was also concerned over what Ratchet's reaction to this might be; the young computer analyst knew of the guilt the medic carried over his near inability to provide aid when he was injured. Not to mention, he would probably take out his frustrations on Miko; Raf might have been less than thrilled with her at the moment, but he didn't want to see her in trouble.

Miko yawned lazily in the chair she'd taken possession of, thinking about the Wreckers and what they must have been doing while she was here baking in the sun. Bulkhead and Wheeljack were probably kicking some 'Con cans while she was stuck here, all because she'd developed a soft spot for Fowler. She imagined that Ultra Magnus might not have approved her "disrespectful actions", but liked to think the Commander would understand the reasoning behind it.

After all, the Wreckers, Stealth Team, Optimus, Ratchet, and Unit E were all one squadron; if she'd learned anything from her parents, as well as the 'Bots, it was that a squad had each other's' backs.

"I think we've rested enough," Jack sighed, dropping down from the counter. He examined himself for the first time; his shirt was soaked through with sweat, sticking to his skin. He was pretty sure his skin had darkened slightly and the slight throbbing of his skull was cherry on top of this little "treat".

"Just one sec," Raf said, retrieving his laptop from his backpack; he'd been allowed to bring it with him since there was no Wi-Fi in this area. Regardless, he wanted to check his computer because he'd gotten one of those feelings. The same kind he got before something tech related went wrong. What the Army Lieutenant didn't know was that Ratchet had upgraded the bespectacled boy's hard drive work through a link of satellites. Switching the device on, he ran some scans of the area, pausing slightly before his expression creased into a frown.

Jack was positive he didn't like that look, "What's wrong?"

"There's an unusually high amount of energy emanating from this area," he adjusted his glasses, "Too much for a town this small, even when it was fully populated. Not to mention . . ."

Miko shared a glance with Jack before she inquired, "What?"

"I know this data sequence," answered Raf grimly.