CHAPTER EIGHT
--The Junkyard--
Cade Yeager braced himself in front of his office-trailer as the convoy of black vehicles rolled along the Junkyard's only path in a single file. The lead SUV came to a halt no more than five feet from where Cade stood while the other vehicles formed a half-circle around, effectively blocking the path.
From the SUV emerged a blond man with a strong jaw and shades. Slamming the car door behind him, he briskly strode up to Cade and showed no respect for personal space as he stood face-to-face with the junkyard owner.
"Nice place you got here," the man said, snapping his gum loudly.
Cade eyed him warily, keeping his arms folded over his chest. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You can point us to where the alien fugitives are hiding."
"Sorry?"
"Don't play dumb with us," the man snarled. "We know you know where they are. Tell us where we can find them and--"
"Is this a joke?" Cade interjected. "This some Men in Black sequel I wasn't told about? Yknow, you need a permit to film on these lands."
The man flashed him a government badge. "Joshua Red, director of Sector Seven. We have been working with those who call themselves Autobots for the last three years up until now. I don't know how often you watch the news, but a little incident went down in Verenya that's got the whole world concerned."
"I've heard, but I've got nothin' to do with it. Just a simple man trying to make a living."
"We'll see about that." Joshua flicked a hand to his agents. "Search the area," he ordered. "They're sure to be hiding somewhere around here."
"'Fraid you won't find much besides garbage," Cade said casually. "I really wish I could help y'all, man, but I think you're--"
"Sir, I'm getting a reading!" called one of the agents.
Joshua arched an eyebrow at Cade, his lips tightening into a mirthless smile. "You were saying?"
Suddenly, the same agent let out a cry as a car chassis was thrown up into the air somewhere in the junk field, landing on and crushing Joshua Red's SUV. As the S7 Director turned around, several large metal figures emerged from amid the junkyard, brandishing axes and swords as well as wicked grins.
"Like I said," Cade murmured, stepping back. "You won't find much besides garbage."
One of the giant robots, who seemed to have something resembling a mustache on his face, began making his way towards the S7 vehicles, not seeming to care that their guns were pointed at him.
"Good evening, everyone! And welcome to--"
"Shoot him!" Joshua barked.
At once, the buggies began to unload on the Junkion. Wreck-Gar barely flinched as he swung his ax, impaling one buggy on its end, and swung it back around to hammer a second buggy into the ground. Startled, some of the remaining buggies started to move only to be attacked from behind by the other Junkions.
"Boy," Wreck-Gar said as he pulled his ax out of the first buggy. "Tough crowd."
Joshua glared at the attacking machines before raising a hand. "Hold your fire!"
Everything went still as the S7 vehicles ceased their fire. Scowling, Joshua looked Wreck-Gar up and down before turning to another one of his agents.
"These aren't the Autobots," he snarled. "These are... I don't know what they are but they aren't who we're after!"
"I can tell you boys exactly what they are," Cade calmly spoke up from behind him.
Joshua spun around to face him with a nasty sneer. "What?"
Cade smiled thinly. "A distraction."
The Director's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets as the sound of a ship's engine rumbled in the distance.
* * *
"This hasta' be the maximum weight limit--"
"Shut up, Rattrap," Primal Major grunted. He stood behind the rodent Maximal as the latter piloted the Axalon away from the Junkyard, with Elita-One, Jetfire, and any other flight-capable Autobot or Maximal flying beside them. Even without them on board, it was a miracle the Axalon could still fly at all with everyone else present.
"Set a course for Jazz's team's last known position," he went on. "If they're still there, then maybe we can pick them up and--"
"And what?" sniped Fowler. "We have nowhere left to run!"
Cheetor craned his head from where he sat. "Uh, boss-bot...?"
"Are they pursuing us?" Primal asked.
"Someone sure is."
As if on cue, the Axalon shuddered as it was fired upon. Primal looked over to Cheetor's monitor to see a visual of a red fighter jet chasing them. No sooner had the jet fired on them that Elita and Jetfire were on its tail, providing cover for the ship.
"Rattrap, put all the juice you can into the engines!" Primal ordered. "Rhinox, see if you can--"
He was cut off by a loud thump from above. Something had landed on top of the ship. Before Primal could say anything, sparks spewed from the ceiling as a bladed object tried to cut through. Brandishing his twin blades, Primal glanced over at Fowler and the other humans.
"Can someone take them somewhere safe?"
"Like, what, the airlock?" Fistfight asked snidely.
"Or the cargo hold. Anywhere that isn't here."
"We've got 'em." Bumblebee and Stakeout came forward and scooped up their companions in their arms, with some protests from Fowler.
"Good," Primal said. "Now get them out of here before--"
Suddenly, the sparks stopped as did the sound of cutting. There was a brief moment of silence before whoever was outside started kicking their way through the hull of the ship. Bumblebee and Stakeout had already rushed to the cargo hold by the time the ceiling finally split open and a blue-armored Decepticon jumped in.
Wasting no time, Arcee brandished a pair of energy-swords and lunged at the intruder. The Decepticon raised a set of rotor-blades and blocked her attack before delivering a kick to her abdomen. As Arcee staggered back, Strongarm charged forward and rammed herself into the bot, sending him stumbling back. Taking advantage of his disorientation, Rhinox grabbed the Decepticon from behind and threw him to the ground. He then deployed one of his chain-guns and pointed it at the intruder's face.
"Did you honestly think you'd have a chance against all of us?" Rhinox asked calmly.
The Decepticon glared at him. "You're a fool if you think you've won."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Strongarm. "We just kicked your aft."
"Yes. Because I let you."
Frowning, Primal looked back to Cheetor's screen. Dread filled his spark as he saw that the red jet was still behind them, with neither Elita or Jetfire to be seen. The fighter fired a rocket at the Axalon's engines and, before Primal knew it, they were plummeting towards the ground...
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