Karina Torres: TFP

Darkness Rising: Part 5

Karina's POV

"Optimus, I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's Space Bridge.High in Earth's orbit" Ratchet states. Miko is standing next to Bulkhead, while Raf and I sit on Bumblebee's shoulders.

"Out of our reach" Optimus says.

"Ok, so you guys don't fly. But can't you just ground-bridge there?" Miko asks them.

"The Ground Bridge has limited range.Stretch all the way into orbit its vortex could snap.And scatter us to the stars" Ratchet explains.

"Since Megatron is likely already in transit, I'm afraid we must take that risk.Reaching the Space Bridge first is our only means of stopping him" Optimus states. Just then Jack arrives on Arcee.

"Hey, guess who's back" Jack says as he hops off of Arcee removing his helmet.

"Autobots, prepare for departure" Optimus orders.

"Where to?" Arcee asks.

"The last frontier" I state.

"Space? I thought they didn't have any way to get there" Jack says confused. Bumblebee lowers Raf and I safely to the floor.

"They don't, really" Raf tells him.

"Be seeing you" Jack tells Arcee. Ratchet prepares the ground bridge and opens it to the space bridge.

"Be careful Bee" Raf and I tell him.

"I'm so jealous" Miko whines.

"Don't even think about following me" Bulkhead tells her.

"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teaming with humans, I will never forgive you" Ratchet tells him.

"Until we meet again, old friend" Optimus says and activates his battle mask."Autobots, roll out" he orders. He, Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee enter the vortex. I stay close to Miko encase she tried to follow them. Luckily she didn't.

"Great job, Bulkhead.Without the dish, Megatron would be unable to aim the Space Bridge at Cybertron" Optimus states over the coms.

"Don't the Decepticons know where their own planet is?" Raf asks Ratchet.

"Naturally.But Cybertron is many light years away.To reach their target, their aim must be astronomically precise" Ratchet explains.

"If Megatron went to the travel of rendezvousing with his Space Bridge, he must have an alternate targeting system.A remote one" Optimus tells us. Raf takes out his laptop and starts to look something up.

"From what I know of Earth's technology, I doubt there exists a single radio-telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron" Ratchet tells him.

"What about a whole bunch of linked radio-telescope dishes?" Raf asks him.

"Like the giant sized array in Texas?" I add.

"Shh! This is not child's play" Ratchet scolds us.

"Good thinking Karina, Raf" Optimus praises us."Ratchet, have agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security hazard" he instructs.

"You, soldier! You on the uniform! Put on some pants!" Fowler shouts before passing out.

"That may be a challenge" Ratchet tells Optimus. Raf tries to break through the firewalls with no luck.

"I can't get past the array's firewalls.They're too thick" he states.

"You actually think you could keep the Decepticons out?" Ratchet asks him.

"Maybe, if I could get in" Raf tells him.

"W-wait, Raf, what if we could get you all the way in? Like 'inside-the-building' in?" Jack asks him.

"I could log into their intern network on the other side of the firewall" Raf tells him.

"The risk is too great, the Decepticons would be there.Perhaps even on sight" Optimus tells us.

"Optimus, with all due respect you said it yourself, this is bigger than the safety of three humans" I remind him.

"Yeah, if we let the 'Cons win, we are fried, along with everyone else on our planet" Miko states.

"Raf?" Optimus asks.

"I want to give it a shoot" Raf states.

"I'm with you cuz" I tell him.

"Count us in too" Jack tells me and Miko nods her head in agreement.

"Ratchet we're going to need a ground bridge" I tell him smiling. He nods his head and locks onto the coordinates. He bridges us there safely.

"That'll take some getting use too" Jack states. We run into the building sticking together. We reach a computer room and Raf starts to hack in while Miko guarded the door.

"Security sure is lax on this place" Miko states.

"I'm in and so are the decepticons" Raf states.

"What?" Jack and Miko ask him.

"How can  you tell?" I ask.

"Schematics.With the same alien math we saw on their ship.But this time, I can download it" Raf explains. He plugs in his USB and starts to download the schematics.

"It's gotta be the Space Bridge" Miko and I state.

"The Decepticons are syncing it to the dishes" Raf tells us. "But I can sync in them" he states smiling.

"Will they know?" Jack asks him.

"Even if the Decepticons see that I'm in the system, they have no idea I'm in the house" Raf assures us.

"Hope you're right cuz" I tell him.

"They're locked on to Cybertron, but not for long" Raf tells us. He hacks into the dishes and changes their position.

"Knew you could do it" I say proudly patting Raf's shoulder.

"The dishes are heading back towards Cybertron" he states as the dishes begin to move again. "I'll just undo that again" he tells us.

"What happens when the 'Cons realize they are been punk?" Jack asks him.

"It's only virtual combat, you know, like on-line gaming" Raf tells him.

"Yeah, Jack, what are the 'Cons gonna do? They're probably like a thousand miles away" Miko tells him. My necklace heats up.

"Guys, something's wrong" I tell them. Jack looks behind us and screams. A robot tentacle attacks him and Miko. "Raf, don't let him lock on again" I tell him.

"Don't worry, I won't" he assures me as he tips rapidly. The tentacle throws the other two off and Raf grabs the USB. We jump over the computer dodging the tentacle. I see an axe on the wall and grab it. I swing at it and dodges. It sends me flying into the wall, making me drop the axe.

"You handed it an axe?!" Jack exclaims.

"Not good" Raf says as I rub my head. But the tentacle leaves with the axe. "You ok Karina?" he asks me.

"Yeah, but my head hurts" I tell him. Miko helps me up and we follow the tentacle. We reach another room to see a faceless Decepticon on the roof. Miko takes a photo of it and as a tentacle grabs me. It flies away with me. "Let me go!" I shout hitting it with my fists.

"Karina!" I hear Raf shouts.

"I'll come back!" I shout even though he probably can't hear me. "I promise" I sniff as tears fill my eyes. Why did the decepticon take me and not the others?

A/N

Picture above of Soundwave and on the external link of Karina's necklace.

See you new year in the chapter Masters and Students.