Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XII, Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

    Pieces of glass flew everywhere as the two cars crashed into the building. Laying on the ground, Spike covered his head as shrapnel rained down on him, scraping his knuckles.

    For a moment, everything was at a stand still. Then a gruff voice emitted from one of the cars. "Hand over the device."

    Spike glanced at Jimmy, who was still holding onto the device Verity had given him. The young mechanic, frozen in terror, did not move. The cars angrily revved up their engines.

    "I said hand over the device!"

    Trembling with fear, Jimmy got up shakily to his feet and turned to face the driverless black and red car. Focusing his gaze on the empty driver's seat, he held up the small computer. 

    "H-here, sir. It's all yours. Take it."

    "Thanks." Upon saying that, Spike expected the black sports car's drive to emerge from the vehicle somehow, despite not being seen. Something completely different occurred.

    The front of the car split apart down the middle and extended forwards, its bumper and headlights flipping up. The doors folded down like panels and giant, metal arms sprouted from the sides, using themselves as leverage to push the rest of the car up to stand on its front, which now resembled legs. As the trunk tucked itself into the back and the roof slid up, a head emerged from a crevice in the newly-formed torso, red optical sensors flaring on a black faceplate.

    All four kids froze in shock. Not a scream nor a whimper was uttered. To Spike, it was as if everyone had begun to think they were dreaming and were waiting to wake up, only to realize that this wasn't a dream.

    The metal giant bent itself down and stretched out an awaiting hand. "The device, human."

    Jimmy did not move. The massive robot narrowed its optics. "The device. Now."

    Hunter was the first one to find his voice and he released it as a scream. "RUN!"

    The four of them scurried from the giant and hastily made for Jimmy's car. The robot's brief confusion at this motion bought them enough time to climb into the yellow hatchback and start up its engined. As they took off, the giant morphed back into its sports car form and took pursuit, its partner close behind.

    The roar of engines could be heard all the way down the highway.

*  *  *

    Parked just off the road, the solitary policeman watched as automobiles drove down the highway past his car, moving at appropriate speeds. The sight was rather mundane and the cop felt boredom tiring him out.

    The loud roar of engines brought him back to attention and he looked in time to see three cars zoom by. One was a small, yellow hatchback, occupied by four terrified teens. The other two- black and white respectively, but otherwise identical- lacked any occupants whatsoever and seemed to be moving on their own accord.

    A strange smirk crossed the officer's face. Starting up and activating its siren, the police car joined in the pursuit.

*  *  *

    "Can't you go any faster?" Verity screamed as they sped down the highway in Jimmy's hatchback.

    "If I put any more pressure on the accelerator, the tires will burns off!" Jimmy shouted back. "This is an old car, you know!"

    "They're gaining on us!" Hunter said, panic in his voice. "And now there's a cop, too!"

    "Why doesn't he pull over the driverless cars?" Verity said. "They're the ones chasing us! And without any drivers!"

    "I guess he doesn't care!" Jimmy said as, despite his own words, he slammed on the accelerator. However, instead of going faster, the car abruptly stopped.

    Jimmy opened his mouth to curse at the vehicle but instead screamed as he, Spike, Verity, and Hunter were shot out of their seats and onto the road. Then, before their very eyes, the yellow hatchback began to change shape....

*  *  *

    As he finished his transformation, Bumblebee felt some parts of him pop. He hadn't changed shape in a few weeks, so it felt refreshing to be in his natural form.

    Morphing from their alternate modes as well were the Decepticon twins Runamuck and Runabout, along with the police car Barricade. The odds were definitely not in his favor, but as an Autobot, it was his duty to defend the humans from them.

    Stepping ahead of the other two, Barricade grinned menacingly. "Well, well, if it isn't Optimus Prime's favorite little scout. What are you doing so far from home?"

    "Doing scout stuff," Bumblebee said bitterly, converting both of his arms into stingers. "How about you? What are you doing here on Earth after all this time?"

    "On a mission of our own. We had been detecting energon readings for a while... clearly that had been you. But we also detected what appeared to be Cybertronian technology." Barricade nodded to the humans now cowering behind Bumblebee. "Those creatures happen to have it. Hand it over and they won't be harmed."

    "Right, and I've got a space bridge to sell you." Bumblebee raised his stinger arms. "You'll have to do better than that."

    "We can, actually."

    At Barricade's signal, Runamuck and Runabout charged towards Bumblebee and collided into him, sending the yellow Autobot flying off his feet and landing hard on the road. As the four humans fled from the brewing conflict, the two Battlechargers approached Bumblebee menacingly.

    "Dibs on the head," Runabout grunted.

    "No fair, you always get the head," Runamuck retorted. "How about you get the legs this time?"

    Before Runabout could reply, Bumblebee raised a stinger arm and zapped the black Battlecharger in the face. With the Decepticons briefly distracted, Bumblebee got to his feet and rushed towards the four humans. Scooping them up with his arms, he pulled them towards him as he began to transform into vehicle mode. Once they were safely inside, he sped away.

    "What the heck was that?!" one of the humans screamed.

    "This must be a dream. This must be a dream. This must be a dream."

    "I knew I shouldn't have left home."

    Bumblebee quietly sighed. He was fully aware of the rebuke he would receive when he arrived at headquarters. But if the humans truly did have their hands on a piece of Cybertronian tech, he had to keep them out of danger. Besides, it would be worth investigating where the tech had originated from....