Normal Perspective:
A day had passed since the humans stopped Trypticon and freed everyone from their frozen states, and now, the Autobots, plus Knockout and Breakdown, were preparing themselves for the journeys ahead.
"If we are to have any hope of recovering the Iacon relics before the Decepticons do, we must divide our resources." Optimus was saying to the others.
"But Optimus, when it comes to numbers, we are already at a grave disadvantage." Ratchet reminded. "Even with our recent additions."
"Under the circumstances, swiftness of action is paramount." Optimus said, knowing that they had no choice. "This is one race we absolutely cannot afford to lose."
Ratchet then went over to the console, looking at the location of where the Nemesis was.
"Here's a twist," The CMO said, having just found that the Nemesis was on the move again, and was no longer in Manhattan. "It would appear that the Decepticons have retreated from Manhattan."
"They just... up and left?" Arcee asked, surprised.
"It is more likely that Megatron has already set course for the second set of coordinates." Optimus said. "Having dispatched a unit to this relic's underground location."
"Without busting up a city block to get to it?" Arcee asked, knowing that with the Decepticons, they would no doubt do such a thing.
"They used subway tunnels." Jack said, making everyone look at him. "New York has a whole network of them running beneath the city."
"Since the human population no longer seems to be directly threatened, maintaining our disguise will be necessary." Optimus said, and turned to the others. "Arcee, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, you are the best choices to navigate through such a densely populated area."
"Optimus, New York has more than eight million people." Jack pointed out. "The odds of being spotted by at least one of them are pretty high, even if they are headed underground."
"Where are you going with this?" Arcee asked, hesitant.
"You're gonna need a faceman." Jack answered, to which Optimus and the others, aside from Michael, only stared at him. "Someone who can speak on their behalf." Jack explained. "A human who can run interference if their cover gets blown."
"Well, I've actually been in subway stations." Miko said, remembering her time in Japan. "I grew up in a major metropolis unlike Mr. 'I've never been outside Jasper, Nevada'."
"I have been to Cybertron." Jack reminded.
"Cybertron doesn't have subways!" Miko argued, but then became curious. "Does it?"
"Agent Fowler's field experience makes him our best candidate." Optimus said, and turned to the man, who was laying on a gurney, still out of it from his shocking experience the previous day.
"If he weren't still recovering from his encounter with the Decepticon Warship." Ratchet said as he walked over to them.
"Which we all survived." Miko said, trying to convince the Prime to let them go. "Without incident."
Optimus looked hesitant for a moment, but realized that they had no choice.
"Very well." He conceded. "Miko, Jack, Jessica, and Vince, you will accompany Arcee, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper."
"Yes!" Miko cheered.
"I've honestly always wanted to visit New York." Jessica said, smiling, as she and the others got ready to leave.
"Initiate transport, and triangulate coordinates of the other three relics." Optimus ordered to Ratchet.
"That was some trick, Miko." Bulkhead praised, as the young girl climbed down to the main level.
"You mean swiping intel from right under Megatron's nose?" Miko asked rhetorically. "Just doing my part for Team Prime!" Bumblebee, who had transformed alongside Arcee and Cliffjumper, then honked, grabbing her attention. "Oh! Gotta go, Bulk! I'll tell you all about it when we get back! Wait up!"
She then ran over to the others and climbed into the scout.
"Take care of her, 'Bee." "Take care of him, Miko." "Take care of them, guys."
Bulkhead, Raf, and Michael all looked at each other, realizing that they all had spoken at the same time, and grinned.
The group then headed out.
"Bulkhead, Breakdown, prepare for departure." Optimus said.
The two aforementioned mechs looked at each other, surprised they were being assigned to the same mission together and alone. They didn't really know about working together, for they hadn't done so since the MECH incident. That had been under special circumstances, of course, for their alliance had been against a foe who was a threat to both of them. They had since gone back to being enemies since then, putting the event behind them, not thinking the same would happen again, yet low and behold, it was. Knowing that arguing wouldn't change Optimus's mind, they reluctantly said nothing against the arrangement.
Breakdown and Knockout also looked at each other, unsure of what think about the arrangement. They hadn't been apart since Breakdown had nearly been killed by Airachnid, and neither wanted to end up having a repeat of that experience since they would apart, but they reluctantly put their concerns aside, for it was only one mission, and arguing wouldn't change anything in the matter.
"You two are headed for the equator." Ratchet said, walking up to the two large mechs.
"I'll prep for tropical weather." Bulkhead said. "Wrecker style."
"Of course you will." Breakdown snorted, rolling his optic.
Bulkhead didn't rise to it, and instead glared at him. They both walked over to the Groundbridge as it powered up, ready to leave.
"Rafael and Agent Fowler will be your communications and transport hub." Optimus explained.
Raf gave a thumbs up, but Fowler only said something in gibberish.
"Communications huh?" Bulkhead asked.
"Like that won't be a problem." Breakdown said sarcastically, and the two headed out.
"Be on your guard, Bulkhead and Breakdown." Optimus advised, and he watched as they disappeared, then he turned to Raf as the bridge shut down. "Rafael, lock on to the remaining coordinates. Michael, Starscream, and I will embark for the Antarctic."
Starscream and Michael looked at each other as Raf set to work, remembering their own previous experiences in cold climates. While Michael hadn't been on the previous missions to cold places in person, he remembered the time when he and the others had to free Bumblebee from Megatron's control, which had technically taken place in a cold climate, which Starscream had been attempting to melt at the time.
"As for you, Old Friend," Optimus said as he turned to Ratchet. "I would prefer that you have company on your mission."
"No one is left to join me, Optimus, aside from Knockout." Ratchet said. "And even if Agent Fowler were alert," He added, looking over at the human, who muttered something before passing out again. "he's human."
"I was considering the only remaining Autobot alternative on this planet." Optimus said.
Ratchet then realized who he was referring to.
"Bu- You... You can't be serious! Wheeljack is insubordinate! A ruffian!" Ratchet argued. "Besides, he's Bulkhead's partner."
"I will not be working with that Wrecker!" Knockout also argued. "He'll just ruin my paint job the second he sees me!"
"Both of your expertise are scientific, but Wheeljack is a highly capable warrior." Optimus reasoned. "You two would be wise to welcome the temporary alliance."
The two medics looked at each other, and sighed. While they had once been enemies, they had gotten along somewhat during the former 'Con's time at the base, and could at least work together when it came to anything scientific, despite their conflicting personalities.
When it came to working with someone like Wheeljack, however, that was a different matter entirely.
At the same time as the Autobot's dispersal, the Decepticons were doing the same, sending units out to retrieve the four relics at each set of coordinates.
"Dispatching multiple squadrons will enable us to pursue all four coordinates simultaneously." Megatron said, seeing it as the best course of action, unaware that the Autobots were doing the same.
Just then, a door opened, and Barricade stepped into the room with a few drones.
"Lord Megatron, I've assembled the mining detail for the first set of coordinates." The CPO said. "Given my previous success in missions against the Autobots, I intend to bring this relic back to you."
"Excellent Barricade, but despite the fact that you are one of my officers, given the unfortunate loss of Knockout and Breakdown, you will require appropriate support." Megatron said.
Just then, an Insecticon walked up behind the medium-sized mech, who turned around and stumbled back slightly due to how close it was to him.
"Uh... yes, my liege." Barricade said, somewhat hesitantly, and he and the Insecticon left to head to the first location.
Megatron then turned as the second set of coordinates was brought up.
"The coordinates indicate that the second of these four Iacon relics lies at the very bottom of this world."
"I will journey to the ends of this, or any world, to serve your will, Lord Megatron." Dreadwing said.
"Then return with my prize, Dreadwing." The Warlord said, turning to face him. "And prove you are more worthy of being my Second-in-Command than those who have preceded you."
Dreadwing nodded, and left to find Cyclonus and a squadron of Vehicons to take with him.
Megatron then turned to Soundwave.
"Soundwave, you will head to the coordinates of the third Iaconian relic. I trust that you won't fail your mission."
Soundwave, of course, said nothing, but nodded, and left to head out.
The Warlord then headed to another room in the Nemesis; the room in which where all the Insections stayed.
Entering, he walked to the middle of the room, looking around at the many identical bugs, and spoke up.
"Who is the fiercest among you?" Megatron asked.
"There is no greater ferocity than an Insecticon hive." A voice answered. "But if you were to choose one among us," An Insecticon jumped down from the ceiling, shifting to its bipedal mode. "I am Hardshell."
"You will retrieve something for me, Hardshell." The Warlord said. "And annihilate everything that gets in your way!"
Hardshell screeched in response, calling upon five other Insecticons to accompany him, and the six beasts left to head to the coordinates.
Megatron watched as they did, satisfied. Now all he had to do was sit, and wait.
The race had officially begun.
-----
In an alleyway in New York, a Groundbridge opened, and Arcee, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper drove out of it, Vince, Jack, Miko, and Jessica with them.
Vince was riding in Bumblebee with Miko, Jack was riding with Arcee, and Jessica was riding with Cliffjumper.
They drove up to the edge of the alley and looked around at the many tall buildings and bustling streets surrounding them.
It was very different from the quiet town of Jasper.
"Woah..." Jack said in awe.
"Of course, it's not Cybertron." Miko said to him in annoyance, as Bumblebee and Cliffjumper drove on ahead.
"Alright "face"," Arcee said. "How do we get underground?"
"Well, you can't just jump the turn styles and hope no one notices." Jack replied, knowing that with such a large population, the odds of doing such without being noticed were extremely slim. Just then, Bumblebee honked, and Miko, who was leaning out of the window, waved them over.
"Check it out!" Miko said, and gestured to the sight over the railing, which appear to be a tunnel for one of the old subway systems, which had an opening to the surface. "Construction."
"How convenient." Jessica smirked.
"A fact of life in the big city." Miko said, also smirking.
"Well, let's head in." Vince said.
After making their way down to the tracks without being seen, the group headed into the tunnel. As they walked, Bumblebee was starting to lose focus, and started to drift off to the side towards the others, walking over the tracks, which looked to be dual-gauge. As he was about to step onto the third rail, which seemingly looked to be there for narrow gauge rail stock and nothing more, Jack called out.
"Bumblebee! Don't move!"
"<:What? Why not?:>" The scout asked, as electricity danced between his pede and the rail due to him being made of metal, and his close proximity to it.
"The third rail." Jack explained. "It carries electricity to power to subway trains."
"One touch and "ZAP!", you're fried!" Miko said dramatically.
Not wanting to be "fried", Bumblebee awkwardly regained his balance, trying to avoid touching the rail, and walked ahead, beeping awkwardly as he did.
"Fried honey, anyone?" Cliffjumper asked jokingly, to which Bumblebee sent him a glare.
"He must've learned about that on TV or something." Miko said to the others.
"Or from Esquivel." Vince said, smirking.
"Or Michael." Jessica added.
Soon enough, Arcee pulled out the scanner they were given, which beeped at a consistent rate, the sound bouncing off the walls around them.
"We getting any closer?" Jack asked.
"Triangulating the coordinates is one thing, but figuring out how to reach them through this maze is another." Arcee replied.
Just then, the sound of drilling echoed through the tunnel, which caught Bumblebee's attention. He looked over at an opening in the wall near him. Walking over and looking through it, the others did the same.
"Drilling." Arcee said seriously, knowing that were both close to the relic, and that the Decepticons found it first.
"It's coming from this way!" Miko called, and ran into the opening.
"Miko!" Jack called, but he went unheard, and he, Jessica, and Vince ran after her, while the three 'Bots looked at each other. Soon, the four reached the other side, exiting into another tunnel.
"Miko, what is your-" "Hold it right there!" Called a voice through a megaphone, cutting Jack off. They looked over as lights came on, shining on them, as well as a man holding a megaphone.
"Scrap!" All four teens said together.
"What are you kids doing down here?" The man asked through his megaphone.
"We're... on a field trip!" Miko said, trying to think of a cover story. "With our school, but we got lost."
"Oh really?" The man asked through his megaphone again, not convinced.
"I told him we should stay with our group, be 'Leonard' here insisted we search for fossils." Miko explained, trying to sound convincing.
"My bad." Jack said simply, deciding to go along with it.
"I wanna go home. "Miko continued, pleading in her voice. "Can you help us Mister..."
"Vogel." The man-Vogel-replied through his megaphone, but then moved it away. "But you can call me Vogel." The four teens looked at each other, completely confused, but said nothing. "So, ever ride a sweeper train?" Vogel asked, and gestured to the engine behind him.
The engine was a large, yellow, boxy electric locomotive. It looked nothing like an actual engine, and looked somewhat smaller than those above the ground. Vogel then began to walk towards it as Jack, Miko, and Jessica looked at each other, remembering their previous experience on a train. Thinking a repeat wouldn't happen, they decided to go along with it and were about to board when they heard pedesteps behind them and the fours teens looked back to see Arcee, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper, the latter two of which somehow fitting into the opening, peering out from the other side of the opening to see what was going on.
"Face." Jack said, reminding them of their role in the mission. The three bots looked at each other, and then back at the kids, and nodded. The four teens then boarded the sweeper train, and the quintet headed off. As they drove through the tunnels, Vogel kept explaining the history of each tunnel and the purpose it served, which began to make Miko and Vince feel bored.
"And this section was added in the '30s as part of a public works project." Vogel said, referring to the section they were now in.
"Fascinating." Miko said, before yawning.
"Interesting." Vince agreed, before doing the same.
"These old tunnels have a dark side too." Vogel went on. This caught the quartet's attention. "Strange creatures have been said to lurk down here. Giant snakes. Albino alligators. Even Mole Men."
The four kids glanced at each other, and remained silent until Jack spoke up.
"Well... but those are just people who live down here because they have no place else to go, right?" He asked, thinking it to be the most logical explanation.
"That's what the Media wants you to believe." Vogel replied. "But I say they're from outer space."
Jessica and Jack stiffened, surprised at how accurate his claim was to the situation they, Miko, and Vince were a part of, which Vogel had no idea about. They looked at each other, then to where Miko and Vince had been standing, only to find them gone. They heard a tapping noise behind them and looked over to see the two heading towards the back, motioning for them to follow. They looked at Vogel, who was still talking, and silently made their way over to them, then they all made their way to the back and jump out through the backdoor, and watched as the train disappeared into the distance.
"Aliens huh?" Miko asked, laughing. "If only he knew." The others looked at each other, silently agreeing, for if they had never found out about the Autobots, they might've been as oblivious to the whole idea of it as others, and would most likely believe or brush off Vogel's claims.
Meanwhile, Arcee, Cliffjumper, and Bumblebee were heading through a different tunnel when they picked up a signal.
"I'm picking up a locator beacon." Arcee said to the others. "The 'Cons have unearthed the relic."
"Less work for us." Cliffjumper smirked. The trio then ran over to a corner closest to where the 'Cons were, deploying their blasters once they did, and looked around it.
"Have you located the relic?" Barricade asked as he walked over to the hole they drilled. The drone didn't reply, so the police mech pushed his way past, and grinned as he spotted the container that held the relic.
"Lock and load." Arcee muttered.
Behind them, the Insecticon approached from the ceiling. Arcee looked back, as did the others, and they moved out of the way as the 'Con lunged at them, missing. They all then began to fire at the bug, who began to retaliate, causing the fight to move closer to the mining operation, which caught the attention of Barricade.
"Get them!" He ordered to the drones, who ran over to help.
"I'll get the relic!" Arcee called to the others, who nodded, and proceeded to hold the Insecticon off. The femme charged towards the hole, taking out the drones in her way as she did easily, kicking up a dust cloud as she skidded to a halt. However, Barricade came up behind her through the cloud, and hit her with his rotary mace, which looked similar to Breakdown's hammer, albeit smaller, was hollow in the middle, and had blades on the end, and had the same ability as Knockout's sawblade, with the blades on the mace able to rotate, allowing for extra damage to opponents, which he had deployed, knocking the femme to the ground.
"You look too pretty for prison, but allow me to read you your rights while I take you into custody." The CPO smirked, and went to attack her again, but the blue femme dodged, and kicked him in the back-struts, knocking him to the ground.
"Dodge and kick." Arcee smirked, then she ran over to the relic, and tried to pull the container out, but it was stuck in the rocks and wouldn't move.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were still holding off the Insecticon. Despite their combined efforts, the two were no match for the might of the beast.
"You mess with Cliffjumper, and you get the- AGH!" The red mech never finished as he was thrown into a wall, dazing him, and he eventually fell into stasis-lock. Bumblebee tried to hold it off, but he was shoved into a wall hard, also dazing him. The 'Con jumped off the ceiling, screeched loudly, and punched the scout hard.
Meanwhile, Arcee was still trying to pull out the container, but was swiftly taken out by Barricade, who had recovered, by hitting her with his rotary mace.
"You are under arrest for attempted theft and obstruction of justice." The black and white mech smirked.
The 'Cons had won the race, or so they thought.
-----
Over in another tunnel, Jack, Miko, Jessica, and Vince were walking around, trying to find their friends. They stopped as they heard a strange noise.
"Uh..." "This way!" Miko said, cutting Jack off, and ran forward.
"How do you know?!" He asked, and he and the others ran to catch up, doing so and stopping the girl. "Miko, let's think this through!"
"Why?" Miko asked, annoyed. "Because you don't think I don't know what I'm doing?"
"Well..." Vince started, but shut his mouth when the Japanese girl sent a death glare his way.
"I'm Jack." Miko mocked. "Optimus picked me to go to Cybertron, so I must know everything!"
Vince snickered at her mockery of the raven-haired teen, as Jessica gave him a look.
"Okay Miko, seriously, if that's what's bugging you, then why didn't you say something before?" Jack asked, a mix of annoyance and concern in his voice.
"I've been holding it in." She answered simply, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Since when do you hold anything in?" Jack asked, incredulously.
"Not everyone speaks everything they feel, Jack." Jessica said honestly, to which the boy just sighed.
"Look, it's not like you don't contribute." Jack said to Miko. "Just yesterday, you helped to take down a psychotic Decepticon Warship!"
"Exactly." Jessica spoke up. "And remember when you and I prevented the Decepticons from getting the Synthetic Energon formula? And when we saved Bulkhead from being consumed by it?"
"And yet Jack got to go to Cybertron!" Miko shot back, annoyed.
"This isn't a competition! I-" "Lost, huh?" Came Vogel's voice, cutting Jack off as the four teens looked over at him as he approached. "You four are gonna have to explain yourselves to the New York Transit Authority."
"I think we should tell him the truth." Miko said to the others.
"Right." Jack said confidently, and went silent, trying to think of another excuse, then he spoke up again. "The truth is... we lost our dog."
"You're wasting your breath." Vogel said, knowing that too was a lie.
"The real truth." Miko said, and stepped forward, knowing that with him believing in aliens already, he would most likely believe in their story. "We're trying to prevent aliens from digging up a powerful ancient relic so they can't use it to destroy our planet."
Vogel then realized something upon hearing that.
"I swore I heard something high-pitched earlier today." He said, and looked back. "Something that wasn't the crew drilling over on Track 5."
With Vogel now onboard with them, the quintet set off in the Sweeper Train once again to continue their search.
Meanwhile, the Insecticon was dragging an unconscious Cliffjumper and Bumblebee behind it before throwing them into a pile with an unconscious Arcee.
"Now, let us see what it is you are, and what you can do." Barricade said to no one in particular as he opened to the container, pulling out what looked to be a watch, then he looked over at the unconscious Autobots, and began to walk over to them. "And what better way to find out than with an unconscious test subject."
At the same time, Vogel and the kids, who were traveling down the line through the tunnel, looked ahead as the Decepticons came into view.
"Mole men?!" Vogel asked in shock. "Metal ones?!"
"Actually, Decepticons." Miko corrected.
"And they have Arcee, Bumblebee, and Cliffjumper." Jack said, noticing their friends were with them.
"We need to help them!" Jessica said urgently.
"Vogel, this thing have another gear?" Miko asked.
"Abso-freaking-lutely!" Vogel replied in excitement, and shifted gears, causing the train to speed up significantly. The 'Cons looked over in shock, and the Insecticon jumped clear, but Barricade didn't, and the train slammed into him, dragging him along between the train and wall for a distance before finally getting free.
"I can have you arrested for assault on a Law Enforcement Officer!" The police mech shouted in rage. The Insecticon tried to shoot at them, but the shots missed the train each time, and it gave up. This allowed the Autobots to wake up and continue the fight for the relic. "Hate to run, but I just missed my train!" Barricade taunted, and transformed, speeding away.
"Follow the relic." Arcee ordered to Bumblebee. "We'll grab Jack, Miko, Jessica, and Vince!"
Bumblebee transformed and sped off after Barricade, leaving Arcee and Cliffjumper to fight off the Insecticon. The two couldn't help but smile at each other, for this was the first time that the two fought together by themselves since they became partners three years ago. The two dodged the Insecticon before transforming and taking off after the Sweeper Train.
With the bug following behind.
-----
On the train, Vogel tried to apply the brakes, but no matter how hard he tried, they wouldn't work, nor could they slow down. The shift in gear to such high speed caused the brakes to fail, and they were now a runaway.
"Not good!" The man said, realizing their predicament. "The brake line must've been torched!"
"We can't stop?!" Jack asked, alarmed.
"Not again!" Jessica cried.
"No big deal." Miko said, trying to find a bright side to the situation. "These tracks go on for miles, right Vogel?"
"Not this one!" He replied, knowing exactly which track they were on.
Vogel was, unfortunately, right.
Several miles further on, a new tunnel was being constructed, with tracks having been laid for the foundation, and barriers had been placed at the end of the sidings to let workers know about the construction, with the wall that was being torn down to make way for the new tunnel behind them.
But the points were set towards it...
"This track ends?!" Jack asked, not wanting a near-repeat of the last time. "As in, crash and burn?!"
"It's the D.N.G.S. all over again!" Jessica yelled in annoyance.
"I'm really starting to hate trains!" Miko cried, remembering that incident well.
Behind them, Arcee and Cliffjumper caught up, with Arcee transforming and jumping onto the back of the train, catching the attention of the occupants inside.
"What was that?" Vogel asked, as Jack, Miko, Jessica, and Vince made their way to the back of the train, finding Arcee, to which the teens smiled, but Vogel, who also ran to the back, was shocked, and grabbed an axe, thinking she was evil.
"Welcome to Earth!" He yelled out in anger, but the kids stopped him.
"Vogel no!" Jack called.
"She's with us!" Vince added.
"She's one of the good guys!" Miko put in.
Vogel looked up at her, and Arcee gave him a look of unamusement.
"Arcee! The brakes are shot!" Jack called through the window.
"Is there any kind of emergency override?!" She called back, and the teens looked at Vogel.
"No ma'am." He replied. "But there is switch-track control up ahead, if you can adjust the pull-rod!" Arcee looked behind her for a moment before looking back. "You'll know it when you see it! It'll reroute us to another line!"
Arcee nodded, and looked over at Cliffjumper.
"Stay with the train!" She called. "I'm going on ahead!"
"Got it, 'Cee!" The Dodge Challenger replied.
With everything set, she jumped off the train and transformed in mid-air, much to Vogel's shock.
"Did she just turn into... a motorcycle?!" He asked in disbelief.
The five watched as the femme went on ahead, but looked back as a screeching noise sounded out; the Insecticon coming into view.
"Scrap!" Cliffjumper swore, but didn't transform, staying with the train, knowing that he wouldn't be able to hold the bug off by himself, even if he wanted to try.
"And that would be?" Vogel asked.
"Trouble." Jack answered.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee was catching up to Barricade fast.
"Well well, look who deserves a ticket for speeding." The police car taunted. Seeing a another tunnel ahead, he swerved, made a bumpy U-Turn, and headed down the tunnel, with Bumblebee doing the same, their tires canceling out any shock they would've received from the rails.
Back with the train, Arcee sped on, trying to reach the points as Jack, Vince, and Vogel watched from the front of the train, while Miko and Jessica stayed at the back, looking at the Insecticon following them, as well as Cliffjumper. Soon, Arcee reached the points. Transforming, she pulled on the lever, trying to turn them.
But they wouldn't move, for they were jammed, with the lever being stuck-fast. Pulling harder, the points jolted, but then jolted back, and the lever snapped off, leaving the points set to the wall.
"Scrap!" She swore. The others looked on, frightened. With no other option, Arcee ran over and wedged herself in the points, forcibly trying to change them. Inside the train, Miko and Jessica joined the others at the front, and were shocked to see Arcee trying to change the points physically. The blue femme struggled and struggled to change them, with the train barring down on her.
With one final effort, the points were changed, electricity dancing along the third rail as it connected with the one on the adjoining line. Arcee jumped out of the way, just as the train flew past. Cliffjumper swerved to avoid hitting Arcee and the train, hitting one of the barriers instead, destroying it, but he was otherwise unhurt. The humans cheered in delight at their friend's success, while Cliffjumper transformed and ran over to Arcee, who sighed in relief.
"You okay?" He asked, concerned.
"Yeah." Arcee replied.
The two then looked up, seeing the Insecticon barreling towards them. They jumped out of the way while the 'Con hit the wall.
Arcee landed on the rails, electricity dancing along a section of the third rail she was above due to her close proximity to it. Remembering what Jack and Miko had said about avoiding it, she smirked, having found a way to utilize it to their advantage. She looked over at her partner, who had gotten up, the two having a silent conversation. The red mech understood, and the two smirked, putting their plan into action.
"Come to mama." Arcee muttered, as the Insection crawled towards her, avoiding the rails. It then transformed, screeched, and tried to attack her, with the blue femme dodging. She and Cliffjumper then shot at it, but it was able to get closer, its pede just missing the third rail. Arcee then side-jumped as it tried to swipe at her, the two 'Bots firing at the 'Con again. Arcee then unsheathed an arm blade, and swiped at the beast, knocking it back. Cliffjumper then ran over to Arcee, and the two fired at the bug, throwing it back even further, and to the ground. The beast then got up and lunged at them, but their blaster fire slowed its charge, causing it to land right on the tracks, getting electrocuted by the rails.
"Shock and drop." Arcee and Cliffjumper said together, and looked at each other, smirking. With the bug problem now taken care of, the two set off after their human friends.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee and Barricade were still racing through the tunnels. The young scout came up alongside him, and hit the police mech in the rear-right side, causing him to spin out. Bumblebee then transformed, jumped high in the air in front of the police car, grabbed him, and tossed him, the CPO transforming as the was thrown through the air, landing on the ground, the relic bouncing on the sleepers away from him in the process. Bumblebee then dashed for it, as Barricade recovered and did the same, the two pushing and shoving each other as they raced for the relic.
At the same time, the runaway Sweeper Train was still running, now safe from crashing into any walls or sidings.
"We're in the clear." Miko sighed in relief.
"We still need a way to stop." Vogel said, knowing that weren't out of the woods just yet. "Besides slamming into a wall, I mean."
Meanwhile, Bumblebee reached the relic first, Barricade tackling him, the two tumbling over each other. Barricade tried to grab the relic from the scout, but he kept it from his reach. The black and white mech then grabbed the yellow and black mech by the ankle-strut, yanking him back, making the scout lose his grip on the relic, the watch activating as it hit the sleepers. Bumblebee kicked the police mech in the faceplate with his pede, knocking him out. As the scout began to get up, the relic began to levitate, attaching itself to Bumblebee's arm. Standing up, he looked at the watch curiously, not seeing the train barrelling towards him around the corner.
"Watch out!"
"'Bee, look out!"
"Bumblebee!"
Hearing the shouts and the sound of clattering, he looked up, and was shocked to see the runaway train. Everyone braced themselves for an impact,
But the train went right through the scout.
Barricade regained consciousness and got up, only to see the runaway train streaking towards him, the vehicle slamming into him, knocking him to the ground, his body being pushed along the tracks and pavement for a good distance before the train was finally brought to a halt, damaging the 'Con severely.
Miko leaned out of the window, relieved to see that Bumblebee was okay.
"Bumblebee!" She sighed, relieved.
"<:Glad to see you guys are safe.:>"
"Dude!" She called in excitement, as the she and the others ran up to him.
"<:I'm fine.:>"
He then looked back as Arcee and Cliffjumper arrived and transformed.
"<:Arcee, Cliff.:>"
"How did you not get mashed?" Jack asked.
"<:I think the relic saved me.:>"
"Phase Shifter." Arcee explained. "Handy when you need to phase through solid objects."
"Or vice versa." Cliffjumper added.
"<:Well, that's useful.:>"
Barricade then got up, growling in baffled fury, which made everyone look over at him, and he shoved the sweeper engine away from him.
"I'll send you all to the Pits for that!" He shouted. Bumblebee caught the engine, and he, Arcee, and Cliffjumper deployed their blasters. The police mech growled again and transformed, taking off, losing a wheel in the process.
The four teens looked at Vogel, and realized that they had one more problem to sort out.
"He knows." Jack said the bots. "Do we have to take him with us?"
"To the Mothership?" Vogel asked, to which Jessica and Vince chuckled.
Had it been the Decepticons taking him with them, then such a question wouldn't be entirely inaccurate. Miko thought for a moment, then an idea struck her.
"I think I have a workaround." She said, and pulled out her phone, dialing Folwer's number. The man, who had recovered from the previous day's events, answered, but wasn't happy, for he dealing with something urgent, but after explaining the situation, he reluctantly agreed to talk to Vogel, who took the phone.
"Mr. Vogel, this is Special Agent William Fowler of the United States Government." He began. "You are hereby deputized as an honorary agent for the department of... um.... Interstellar Relations!"
"Thank you, sir." Vogel said, feeling excited about his "new position", and gave Miko her phone back. "So, you folks'll be in touch?"
"Abos-freaking-lutely!" Miko said enthusiastically.
"Uh uh." Arcee interjected. "But until then, we need to maintain complete radio silence."
"It's been an honor." Vogel replied humbly, saluting to them, with the Autobots returning the salute, then they, and the humans walked off.
"Good call, face." Jack praised, smirking slightly.
"Hm. I understand big city people." Miko replied. "Who spend way too much time below ground."
"One relic down. Three to go." Arcee said. "Let's hope the others are having similar results."
The bots then transformed, and the humans climbed in and on them before heading for home, while Vogel watched on.
"Robots who turn into vehicles..."
He looked over at his engine, and pondered.
Could the same be done for such vehicles?
-----
Night had fallen in New York by the time the group reached the surface, the humans pleased by their success in securing the relic.
Calling for a bridge, they headed into the alley they arrived in.
But what they found on the other side of the bridge was anything but pleasing...
~~~
A/N: Tunnel Vision is done. Yay! Now, I believe I have some explaining to do for the beginning. Since the four episodes all happen concurrently with each other, I decided to combined all four dispersal scenes for both sides together, and add one for Soundwave, since he was never given one. I found that it was better from a reading standpoint than just rewriting the same dialoug twice one chapter after another since they all happen at one time. I was also going to have a different set of teams for this hunt, but after some convincing from an outside source, I decided to go with the current one. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you for 9K reads!
Next Chapter: After assigning everyone their teams, Optimus heads out to retreive the second relic, bringing Michael and Starscream with him. However, the Decepticons make things difficult, and things get worse when another party takes the relic for themselves, forcing a temporary alliance between both sides.