FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

_ Big Badda-Boom _

"It's a shame we can't use any of this footage in our documentary series," the camera guy said, leaning forward and staring at the monitors as the battle raged on.

"Some of it might be declassified eventually. We'll just have to wait for it." Tenesha shrugged. "The interviews we get after the team comes back should be interesting, though."

Sierra nodded, but had most of her attention on the feed from Smokescreen's optics and her occasional glances at the other monitors. On the feed from Arcee's optics, Smokescreen shifted back into his vehicle mode and raced across the pavement toward one of the guys in powered armor. The guy noticed him a split-second before Smokescreen plowed into him and knocked both legs out from under him.

"Boop!" Smokescreen laughed as the man tumbled through the air and then slid across the ground. Sierra burst into laughter.

"Hmm." Tenesha cocked her head. "Took me a moment to remember where I'd seen one of those cars before. It looks like the one you had in the game everyone was playing a couple weeks ago."

"Yeah." Sierra chuckled. "The Grotti X80 Proto. When I mentioned it was my favorite car in the game, Smokescreen used it as his vehicle mode. Not sure how he did it. I thought they had to scan real vehicles, but I guess he built a 3D model or something." She blushed. "Well, however he did it, I thought it was really sweet."

"Ah. You two are, uh ...?"

Sierra wondered if she should keep quiet about it, but then she decided to let the cat out of the bag. Her parents would find out about it sooner or later, anyway.

"Yep."

"Interesting. I wonder how many centuries old he is."

"I never asked him." Sierra shrugged. "He's young compared to most of the others, and his personality is a lot like most of the guys I go to school with, so it never really occurred to me. Uh, I mean, guys other than Vince and the clods who hang out with him."

Tenesha grinned. "Still haven't gotten your hostility toward him out of your system, even after you spent a few hours kicking his ass all over Los Santos?"

"Like I told him when he was begging me to stop, I'm barely getting warmed up. Next time I run into him while I'm in the game, I'm gonna have a field day until he gives up and logs out." She returned her attention to the screens and found one centered on Khalilah. Three of the Decepticon defectors had just arrived on the scene to bring Khalilah back to the base for repairs.

"It's still burning through her," one of them muttered. "Slower than before, but it hasn't stopped."

"You'd better cut it out, then," Khalilah said. "Before it melts through something vital. Just core it like an apple."

"Ratchet and Knockout should be able to handle that." One of the Vehicons slid his arms under her. "They have all the tools they need to ..."

One of the other defectors appeared to notice something off-camera and spun toward it. On another screen, one of the men in powered armor aimed his cannon at Arcee's back -- and she hadn't noticed him. The Vehicon darted behind her, then just stood there and waited, shielding her with his body. She glanced over her shoulder at him, gasped, and grabbed his arm. She yanked him to the side just as the MECH guy fired, and the projectile grazed his shoulder and ricocheted into the sky.

Arcee turned toward the dude in the powered armor, snarled, and charged him. He and several of his buddies opened fire on her. She leaped and darted back and forth and dodged all of the shots before cocking her right leg back and punting the guy who'd shot at her straight into a stack of shipping crates. He slammed into them hard enough to scrape them across the ground and leave a dent when he collapsed. Arcee plucked her scaled-up, lever-action shotguns off her hips and pointed them at the others.

"I'm ready to accept your surrender." When they hesitated, she added, "In case you're wondering, the ammo in these will punch through your armor and turn you into clouds of red mist. Khalilah still has a chance to survive. You won't."

In the feed from Arcee's optics, the men inside the powered armor held their hands up to the windows, opened their canopies, and released their seatbelts. They climbed out, dropped to their knees, and placed their hands on their heads.

"Smart choice. Tomoko, we need to make sure they don't go anywhere."

Tomoko scurried over on her spider legs. "Stretch out on the ground, guys."

They flicked a few nervous glances at each other, looked back to Arcee's huge shotguns, and laid face-down before putting their hands back on their heads. Tomoko launched a glob of webbing at each, pinning them to the ground. They struggled for a few seconds, then gave up.

"Thanks." Arcee grinned.

Tomoko beamed, scampered back to Khalilah and the others, and kept watch for more enemy troops while they carried Khalilah toward the still-open ground-bridge vortex.

"What the hell, Bilby?" one of the Vehicons muttered, pointing at the wound on his shoulder. "You could've just pushed her out of the way. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Bilby shrugged, but didn't answer.

"I'll take out their vehicles so they can't be used to escape or attack us." Elita swept her optics over the base, settled on a set of armored vehicles that resembled SWAT tanks, and stormed off toward them.

"Once they realize they have no means of escaping," Optimus said, "perhaps they will surrender."

"We'll see." Elita stomped up to the nearest of the SWAT tanks and pointed her cannon at it.

The door swung open and a human leaped out with hands raised. Sierra squinted at the screen. Miko?

"Wait! Don't shoot! It's us! Uh, the people who were kidnapped, I mean. We're all right here!

The image on Optimus's feed spun as he turned toward them. Elita's optics opened wide, her jaw dropped, and she snapped her gun down toward the pavement.

"You could've done that before I was a split-second from pulling the trigger!"

"I wasn't thinking. Heat of the moment, y'know?" Miko glanced around. "Besides, we were kinda worried about getting shot if we poked our heads out."

Sierra glanced over at Miko's mother and host parents. All of them slumped over and let out long sighs of relief. Natsumi broke into a huge grin while tears streamed down her cheeks. Roderick and Camille hugged and then he reached over to put a hand on Natsumi's shoulder.

Elita shook her head and glanced around at the vehicles. "My scans are picking up human life signs in some of those. Are they all friendlies?"

"Yeah, we got out of our cell, found our way outside, and piled into these mini-tank thingies. Figured we'd at least have some armor around us, that way."

"Colonel McKenna," Optimus said, "we have found the hostages. They are outside."

"Copy that. We'll escort them off the battlefield and then mop up the MECH personnel."

"Is Raf alright?" Tomoko said in a hushed tone, as if dreading the answer.

"Right here." Raf poked his head out from behind Miko, spotted Tomoko on the far end of the base, and waved. "I'm okay. We're all okay."

"That's such a relief! I was so scared!" Tomoko waved back and then grinned toward one of the buildings. "Miko, I'm in there with the team, and we've brought your armor."

Miko's grin turned predatory. "Sweet."

---

"I don't suppose this is the part where you guys put your guns down and come along quietly?" Ashanti peeked around the corner and waited for the MECH troops' answer. When they opened fire, she ducked back under cover with a long sigh. "Didn't think so."

Jack winced as the hail of bullets blasted chunks out of the walls around him. The six MECH guys ducked back through the doorway at the end of the hall, and Jack had to fight the urge to charge after them. For all he knew, these guys could've developed ammo that would not only drill clean through his armor, but also kill Rosalina and the other Pretenders.

He glanced over his shoulder at the bullet holes in the wall behind him, and found flames dancing around each one. Yep, that looks like the same kind of ammo the mech suits are using. Terrific.

"There's no back door," Arcee shouted. "You're trapped in there. Why don't you make things easier on yourselves and come out with your hands on your heads?"

The only reply was another burst of gunfire. Ashanti sighed again and plucked a grenade from her belt.

"Don't say we didn't warn you." She pulled the pin and chucked it through the doorway. The grenade bounced and rolled across the floor, and the people inside screamed and erupted into the hallway.

Tomoko grinned and pinned four of them to the walls before the remaining two regained their senses and strafed her. She squeaked and ducked back around the corner just as Ashanti's grenade blew.

"You're hit," DeeDee Washington said after noticing wounds on Tomoko's chest and back.

"I know. It hurts!" Tomoko grimaced and leaned against the wall. "I'm glad this body is just a mobile platform I'm remote controlling, because I can feel it burning through my guts. It must be the same kind of ammo they hit Khalilah with."

"We'll have to get a sample of it so we can develop a way to counteract it, in case anyone else gets their hands on it."

Rosalina suddenly lunged into the open and charged the nearer of the two remaining MECH troops. They turned to cover her with their rifles, and she jumped to the left, putting one of them between her and the other. At the same moment, Ashanti fired a quick burst from her rifle into the wall to distract him. He flinched and shifted his aim to her, giving Roz the opening she needed. She ripped the gun from his hands, grabbed the front of his tactical vest, and lifted him off the floor.

"I won't ask twice. Where is Sokolov?"

"Or what? You'll kill me?" He sneered, pulled a grenade from his vest and yanked the pin out. "I'll take you with me!"

Roz clamped her free hand over his, pinning his fingers to the grenade, holding the lever down and preventing it from arming. The guy tried to shake his hand out of her grip, but she bore down until the bones in his fingers crunched and he screamed. She pried the grenade from his hand and tossed it casually through the doorway.

The other man turned and bolted. Ashanti leaned into the hallway and raised her rifle as the grenade detonated.

"Side," she snapped, and Roz stepped over to the wall, giving Ashanti a clear shot. She popped a single round between the man's shoulder blades and he pitched forward and sprawled face-down.

"That was your only chance," Roz said to her captive. She clamped her hands onto the sides of his head, snapped his neck, and turned to the immobilized men before he hit the floor.

"Jesus," one of them whispered. Roz studied him for a few seconds, walked up to him, and traced a sharp fingertip slowly over his throat.

"I won't ask twice. Where is Sokolov?"

The guy to her right tried to sneer at her. "What's it to you, alien?"

She turned her glowing red optics on him and let them drill into his eyes for a moment. "He kidnapped and threatened to kill my husband and our son." She turned slowly back to the other man and raised her finger to his eye, moving the pointed tip closer and closer. He whimpered and shat his pants.

"That was your only chance."

"Wait!" He squeezed his eyes shut, tried to turn his head away, and sobbed. "He's in the main bunker! Underground, I mean! On the north side of the base! It's where the command center is. He headed there when your attack started."

Roz smirked and pulled her hand back. She glanced at Tomoko, still grimacing and shuddering in pain, and picked up the rifle dropped by the man she'd killed. She grabbed the spare magazines from his belt and handed one to Ashanti before slipping the others into a pocket.

"Our labs can analyze these and see if they can come up with a defense." Roz pointed the gun at the guy's head and added, "If you're lying to me, I'll come back here and show you how it feels to burn to death from the inside out."

"It's the truth, I swear!" He sobbed again. "I'm not lying, I swear! Please don't kill me!"

Roz walked back to Ashanti. "Let's get the civilians out of here and then finish taking out the trash."

"My thoughts exactly." Ashanti spoke into her radio. "Optimus, did you guys hear all that?"

"We did. Some of us are near your position. Where exactly are you?"

"Fourth floor, near the southeast corner."

"We can expedite your exit from the building. Alert me if I am too close to your position."

"Uh ... okay."

The building shook suddenly and everyone staggered. Rumbling and tearing and snapping sounds grew louder until the wall a few yards away cracked and then exploded. Jack caught a glimpse of a hand bigger than his entire body before a shower of debris obscured it.

"That's just about right." Ashanti let out a quick laugh before walking over to the hole as Optimus carefully pulled his hand back. "Thank you, sir."

Jack and Arcee glanced at each other and grinned before joining the rest of the team at the new opening in the side of the building. He found Optimus holding his hands up, cupping them just below the opening. Ashanti waved the others ahead, and several of her team members made their way out into his palms. He lowered them gently to the ground while Arcee stepped up to the opening. Jack and his mom waited for Arcee to grasp each of them gently in her hands while her mini-me climbed down the outside wall. Arcee backed away to let Tomoko pick up the remaining squad members.

Jack glanced around, spotted Optimus's and Elita's Pretender bodies emerging from another building, then found the SWAT tanks and strode off toward them.

"Let's get our friends out of here."

---

"This is it, everybody." Miko watched several of Elita's squad cover Strika while she made her way to the former hostages and transformed back into her cargo-helicopter mode. At the same time, Jack, June, Roz, and Ashanti's team sprinted over to the SWAT tanks. Miko waved to get the other hostages' attention and pointed at Strika. "She'll fly you all out of here."

Her dad stared at her. "Us. Meaning you as well."

"Nope. I'm finishing this."

"Miko ..."

Another pair of footsteps caught her attention and she turned around. Tomoko half jogged and half limped over to her and held out a big duffel bag.

"I brought your armor."

"Oh, thanks! This is exactly what I need." Miko noticed Tomoko's wounds. They looked like bullet holes, but the edges glowed white-hot and melted metal dripped from them. "What the hell happened to you?"

"It's the ammo they're using. Must be something they developed recently. It's burning through me from the inside out." She shrugged. "Well, not me, just this body. I'm actually okay, so far. Just try not to let them hit you." Tomoko noticed something behind Miko, grinned, and bolted. "Raf!"

"Hey." He started to put his arms around her, but she waved him off.

"Don't touch these bullet holes. Whatever this stuff is, I don't want it spreading onto your armor." She held both of his hands. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

"You need to hurry," Strika said. "If any of their shells hit me, I may not be able to carry you back to the base."

"Off you go." Miko hurriedly put her armor on and sealed the helmet.

"Miko, you need to come with us," her dad said.

"I'll keep 'em too distracted to fire any shots at you." Miko climbed back into the SWAT tank she'd stolen.

Her father glanced at the team, grimaced, and climbed into the passenger seat. "Not without me."

"Dad ..."

"I'm not taking orders from my daughter. If you want to do this, I'm going with you."

Heh. First time we've done anything together in years. "Okay, but don't forget I'm wearing armor and you're not. If anyone shoots at us while we're on foot, use me as cover."

She glanced to the left and found everyone except Roz, Lucas, and Bobby onboard Strika.

"Get Bobby out of here," Rosalina said. "I need to make sure these bastards never hurt either of you again."

"What about you, Mommy?" Bobby stared up at her and his lower lip quivered.

"I'll catch up with you later." She crouched and put her arms around him. "I need you to go with Daddy. I'll see you soon. First, though, there's something Mommy needs to do."

He took a slow breath, then grinned. "Kick their asses!"

"Will do." She grinned back, stood, and kissed Lucas. "I love you both. See you soon."

"I love you, too." He held her hand while backing toward the door, letting go only when he was too far away to remain in contact.

"Finally," Strika muttered as she closed her doors and spun up her rotors.

"Cover her," Elita ordered her team, and all of them opened fire on the remaining powered-armor troops, vehicles, and other MECH personnel to keep their attention on them and off Strika.

"Okay, Dad." Miko started the engine and stepped on the gas. "Let's fuck some shit up."

"Uh ..." He gulped, took a slow breath, and braced his hands on the dashboard. "Sure."

She turned the wheel slowly, getting a feel for how the vehicle handled, and then steered toward the last dozen or so mech-suit troops scattered around the compound. She put her hand on the joystick and moved the crosshairs onto the nearest one, who'd just noticed her and started to turn around. She squeezed the trigger and a rapid thumping sound on the roof rattled the whole vehicle. Holes popped open all over the powered armor and the edges of each started to melt away. The guy inside tried to lurch away, but she continued firing until several rounds tore through the suit's left knee joint and it toppled over.

The rest of the mech suits turned toward her, the drivers noticed the one she'd taken down, and scattered.

In her HUD, a building on the far side of the base was highlighted. Ashanti's voice came through her helmet speakers.

"That's where we're heading. Try to keep keep your fire away from it."

"Got it. Have fun." Miko spotted a Humvee roaring out of the nearer hanger. Several jets farther inside were already in flaming pieces, probably taken out by Elita or one of her teammates. A guy in a MECH uniform leaned out the window and aimed an RPG straight at Miko.

She centered her crosshairs on the Humvee and pressed the red button on the left just to see what it would do. She kept her finger on the trigger in case nothing happened. A rocket streaked from the roof-mounted launcher and ripped the Humvee's engine and front tires to shreds. The guy hanging out the window tried to throw himself clear and just kind of flopped over the side and tumbled to the ground.

Miko turned toward the warehouse past the hangar and noted the trucks, crates, and barrels stored inside. "Oh, that looks important." She stomped on the gas and surged through the huge doors on the front of the warehouse. She zoomed in on one of the barrels and arched an eyebrow at its label. "Huh. Quinitricetyline. Whatever the hell that is."

"Sounds like it might be rocket fuel," her dad said. "Or maybe an explosive."

"Something used in those new bullets of theirs, maybe." Miko turned around and accelerated away from the warehouse, then turned back and spoke into her mic. "Everybody, get clear of the building in front of me. I'm gonna blow up some of their stuff, and I have no idea how big the boom will be."

"Understood," Arcee replied. The blips in Miko's HUD moved away from her position. When they reached what she hoped was a safe distance, she put her thumb on the red button.

"I'm lighting it up." She fired a rocket straight into the stack of barrels.

The entire warehouse became a fireball. Miko had just enough time to suck in a breath before the concussion slammed into her tank and scooted it backward.

"Holy shit!" Arcee shouted.

The mini-tank turned sideways and continued sliding until it flipped onto its side. She found herself pressed against the door and her father on top of her.

"Miko," June called out. "Are you okay? I'm watching your pulse here, and ..."

"I'm fine, I think." She shook her head and pushed her dad into an upright position. He stumbled, stepped on her, and quickly moved his foot off. "That was a big boom. That was, like, a Mythbusters-quality kaboom."

"I dunno what you did," Arcee muttered, "but you vaporized the whole building. Shrapnel and flaming liquid shot all over the base and is setting other stuff on fire." She grunted and Miko noticed faint scraping sounds, as if she were pushing herself up from a prone position. Maybe the shockwave had knocked her flat.

"Fuck me. Did you get caught in the blast?"

"Just the concussion. We're all fine, otherwise."

"Did Strika get clear before ...?"

"Yeah, she's almost at the ground-bridge coordinates."

"Good." Miko sighed and shifted around in her seat. "If someone could tip us back upright ..."

"Miko," her father whispered, and she glanced up to find him staring up at the door. "All I can see through this window is fire."

She stared through the narrow windshield slits and saw nothing but flames.

"Uh ... guys, are we burning?"

"Yeah," Arcee said. "Miko, your vehicle got drenched in whatever that liquid is. It's engulfed in flames."

Her heart pounded even harder. "Are there any fire extinguishers nearby?"

"We're looking."

"Okay. Is the entire tank on fire? Do we have enough maneuvering room to open one of the doors and jump out?"

"No, every inch of that thing is burning. If you open the door, you'll let the fire in. If you try to climb out, you'll get that flaming gunk on you and we have no idea if we'll be able to put it out."

"Fire extinguishers might not even work on this crap, then." Miko glanced at her father and noticed sweat dripping down his forehead and cheeks. She checked the temperature in her HUD and took a moment to get her breathing under control. "It's heating up in here. Shit, if we try to get out, we'll fry ourselves to a crisp, and if we don't get out, we'll be baked like a turducken."

"Sit tight, Miko!" Bulkhead's voice, all of a sudden. "I'm with Ashanti's team in the bunker, but I'm on the way back. And I've got a fire extinguisher!"

"Hurry, bud." Miko watched the temperature gage rising slowly and hoped he'd make it in time.

And hoped the fire extinguisher would actually work.