Secure Own Oxygen Mask

Chapter 33

On the ride home you flit through new submenus, changing a setting here, making a tweak there.  Your frame feels both familiar and alien.  The lightness of it surprises you the most.  You stand when Astrotrain lands, and there is an instant where you expect to float away.

"Erm."  Astrotrain doesn't open his door immediately. "So, about that video . . ."

The video in question is not especially incriminating.  It's an ancient clip of a much younger Astrotrain, voice cracking with youth, reciting abysmal poetry in some pre-war club. But Astrotrain was correct to assume that Blitzwing and Octane would have reacted with delighted derision, had they seen it.

"Video: deleted," you say.  Now Astrotrain doesn't have to worry about it getting around. A fair exchange for a short ride.

You don't actually delete the video, of course.  But it won't be brought up again.  Which boils down to the same thing.

You are always glad to settle a favor.

Secure Own Oxygen Mask

Chapter 31

Soldiers come running across the airfield as you transform and kick in what remains of the hangar door.  There are more humans waiting inside;  you wade into their midst, leaving them the option to scatter or be stepped on.  Most have enough sense to scramble away.  Bullets rattle against your back but your armor is thick, you barely feel the impact.

Still, it's best to act quickly.  You are blocking the radio transmissions calling for bazookas and grenade launchers, but you cannot prevent the humans from transmitting such messages in person.

There. A stealth jet, a matte black wedge, conspicuous among the more traditional jets favored by the Seekers.  Light flares from your optics and washes over the plane as you initiate the scan.

The data rolls in too fast to interpret on a conscious level but you can feel it sinking into your struts. Configurations flash through your mind and you do your best to guide them according to the specifications that Hook and Shockwave provided.  Your chassis glows white as your frame reconfigures.

For a moment it feels like your entire body is made of energon. It burns, yet there is no pain.

The moment passes;  you feel lighter.  Bullets are still hailing towards you.  They sting.  Worse, three soldiers are hauling a massive, tube-like weapon into the hangar. You would prefer not to wait around and see what it would do to your new form.  

You transform. A blue stealth jet roars over the soldiers, flying into the night.

Secure Own Oxygen Mask

Chapter 31

You mask Astrotrain's presence from the humans' radar, hiding his approach to McKellan Military Base.

"Laserbeak: eject. Operation: Undermine Security."  You send the cassette bot on ahead with instructions to disable the security cameras overlooking the airfield. 

"Will disable cameras," he confirms before diving out of the cracked door.  Cold air gusts in and Astrotrain shudders and snaps the door closed as soon as Laserbeak is clear.

Only a few minutes pass before the cassette bot sends confirmation. "Cameras destroyed. Set fire on other side of building, too. Distraction."

"Good. Wait near airfield."  All is going as planned so far.  "Astrotrain: descend."

"Coulda brought a few more guys as backup," Astrotrain mutters.  But he breaks through the cloud cover. "We're here," he rumbles, unnecessarily, as he sets down.

You do not respond, ducking under the shuttle door as soon as there's room.  There is no time for pleasantries.  

Hurrying to the end of the airfield, you approach the hangar and place your palms on its massive door, judging its dimensions as your palms hum.  The steel is high quality and several inches thick.  Even humans are not so foolish as to leave their most potent armaments unprotected.  

Your frame is optimized for defense, not offense. The cannon on your shoulder is not capable of blowing through the door. (Not yet.)  Nevertheless, you have a way through.  It will not be subtle, though.

"Laserbeak: return to shuttle. Astrotrain: ready for takeoff. Pursuit anticipated."  

With that you fold into your boombox mode—a form easily fifty times the size of the human device—and begin blasting your speakers at top volume.  

Heavy metal music shakes the building. Pebbles dance on the tarmac.  And the steel door in front of you begins to crumple.