Frozen in Prime

Chain of Command

"Wreckers don't call for backup." Wheeljack said. Bulkhead, Miko, and Ultra Magnus looked at him. "What Jackie means is, we can't get a commlink signal this far underground." Bulkhead said. Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack glared at each other. "Miko, I have to get you out of here. Gonna need you to climb." Bulkhead said, and he and Miko looked at the way out in the ceiling.

"No way, I want to help." Miko said. "And you will. Your mission: Reach my ship so you can contact Optimus Prime." Ultra Magnus said. "Yes, sir." Miko said and saluted Magnus. She started climbing the rocks.

The cave rumbled, and more roaring could be heard from the tunnel. "Not sure I like the sound of that." Wheeljack said. "So, uh." Bulkhead started. "We make our stand." Ultra Magnus said and grabbed the Forge of Solus Prime. "Here and now." He finished. Bulkhead and Wheeljack readied their cannons.

Miko finally reached the surface and ran for the ship, but the hatch started lowering, and she ran off. "Given that the ship is currently unoccupied, it would seem the Autobots did stumble upon our little mining operation. No worries. My Predacon is no doubt dismantling the interlopers as we speak. It was a challenge, but I managed to tame the savage beast. Taught it to heed my ever command." Starscream said.

"Come on, come on." Miko muttered. "You're not wearing the armor to protect yourself from it?" A Vehicon asked. "From my beloved pet? Of course not. In fact, it's getting rather warm in here." Starscream pressed the center, and Miko watched the Apex Armor deform around the user, and Starscream took it off his chassis. "Ah, ventilation." He sighed and stretched his metal skin.

The Phase entered the cave and ran at Ultra Magnus but got bashed in the helm by the Forge of Solus Prime. "Open fire!" Ultra Magnus commanded. Bulkhead and Wheeljack started firings at the Predacon. It swung its tail at the green Wrecker, but he ducked, and his back was scratched by the tail.

The Predacon released streams of fire at Wheeljack and Bulkhead, but they jumoed away. Ultra Magnus bashed the Predacon with the Forge again, and it swung its tail at him, but Bulkhead caught it. "No, you don't." He said.

The Predacon flung Bulkhead into Ultra Magnus. Wheeljack shot it from above. "Hey, hot head!" Wheeljack threw his grenade at the Predacon, and just as it was about to enter its mouth, its tail tossed it away. Wheeljack watched the grenade clatter around and land near Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus. It shined red. "Oh, scrap." Wheeljack said.

The bomb exploded, and a bunch of dust poured out of the hole in the ground. Starscream and the Vehicons approached the hole. "Oh, that'll do some damage." The Seeker said. Miko bolted for the ship, but a stiletto-heel blocked her path. Starscream was above her. "Miko, is it?" He asked.

The Predacon burst out of the rocks and looked for the Autobots, but its optics landed on something shiny. It pushed a boulder away, revealing an optic. The Predacon stared at it and had a vision of the Predacon the optic belonged to.

"Oh, I'm sorry, were you trying to reach this ship to call for help, perhaps?" Starscream asked and pressed a button, and the hatch was lifted. Miko ran for the hatch. Starscream tried to stab her with his claws, but she jumped behind him and kept running, then leaped at the hatch and climbed up. She stabbed Starscream's claw again and jumped to the Apex Armor. It started forming around her, and Starscream looked in fear.

"What's the matter, Screamy? Can't pick on someone your own size?" Miko asked.

Starscream looked up. As did Miko and the Predacon optic clattered off her and landed in front of Starscream. "What do you know, it does fetch." Starscream said. Miko turned around and saw the Predacon in front of her. "Scrap." She said and screamed as she started running, but the Predacon pinned her down.

Bulkhead, Ultra Magnus, and Wheeljack pushed the rocks off their bodies. "Well, that didn't go exactly as planned." Wheeljack said. "That's because any first cycle cadet knows better than to detonate a grenade in a confined space." Ultra Magnus said. "Even if I intended the confined space to be the belly of the beast?" Wheeljack asked.

"Uh, sir?" Bulkhead started. "Your actions continue to be just one step removed from getting us all scrapped." Ultra Magnus said. "With all due respect, sir, the Predacon's lose, and Miko's out there alone." Bulkhead said as he activated his mace and ran out the exit. "Permission to provide cover, sir?" Wheeljack asked.

The Predacon started clawing at Miko. "Go ahead, make a wreck of her as you no doubt did the Wreckers!" Starscream cheered. "Starscream, status report." Megatron said. "Master, we have secured the bone, and pur Predacon is dealing with the Autobot's pet human as we speak. On my command, of course." Starscream said.

"I will not risk losing a precious commodity to your arrogance." Megatron said. The Predacon threw Miko into the ground. "I'll tear you apart!" She threatened. Starscream watched the Predacon torch Miko. "Have the beast return with my prize immediately. You can stay behind and finish the Autobots." Megatron ordered.

"Yes, Master. Assuming I can coerce the brainless brute into -" Starscream gasped when the Predacon hovered above him. It pinned him to the ground but noticed the Predacon optic. It grabbed its prize in its mouth-plate and flew away. "But you never obey my commands!" Starscream huffed.

"You heard our master. We must locate the Autobots. As soon as I retrieve what belongs to me." He said and approached the fallen Miko. "Even the strongest armor can't protect the weakest of creatures." He said, then Miko grabbed him. "Protected you, didn't it?" She asked.

She threw the Seeker into one of the Vehicons, and the other fired, but the Apex Armor was impervious. Starscream watched Miko bash the Vehicon away. He fired a missile, but Miko caught it, and it exploded. Miko jumped out of the smoke cloud and kicked Starscream away.

The Vehicons tried to attack, but Miko bodied them, kicked them, and punched them like ragdolls. The Wreckers climbed out of the hole and saw Miko in action. "Who's wrecking who now?" Miko asked and bodied the Vehicons again. "Miko?" Bulkhead asked. "Perhaps you weren't wrong about the human after all." Ultra Magnus said.

Miko kicked the last Vehicon away. "You do know that I vanquished Cliffjumper, don't you?" Starscream asked and raised his claws. "Big whoop. I snuffed Hardshell." Miko said. They stared each other down until the Wreckers came to Miko's aid. "Retreat!" Starscream commanded. He and the Vehicons transformed and flew away.

Miko groaned. "They got away with the bone." She said. "Hey, you brought your a-game, kid. Like a true Wrecker." Wheeljack said. Miko smiled. Wheeljack looked at her and Bulkhead. "And I want to remember us just like this before the rust sets in." He said and started walking away. "What? Where's Wheeljack going?" Miko asked.

"Solo." Bulkhead said. Miko stammered. "Again?" She asked. "Jackie just broke up the band." Bulkhead said. Miko, Ultra Magnus, and Bulkhead watched Wheeljack leave in silence.