C166 Using the AllSpark
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After ditching the car in a quiet, easily accessible spot, Peter left a small stack of cash in the glove compartment, a form of compensation for the broken window and the inconvenience he had caused the owner.
With that done, he doubled back to Mikaelaâs house on foot, grateful that the night was quiet and uneventful. He slipped into the driver's seat of his Camaro, the familiar rumble of the engine bringing a sense of comfort as he drove off.
The night had been eventful, and as he navigated the nearly empty roads, his thoughts briefly drifted back to Mikaela and their unexpected meeting. But there was no time to dwell on that nowâhe had other things to take care of.
After finding a secluded area where he was certain no one would spot him, Peter drove the Camaro into the cargo hold of his ship. The metallic ramp closed behind him with a soft hiss, sealing them inside.
Leaving Bumblebee in the cargo hold, Peter took a seat in the cockpit, lifting off and speeding toward the Red Room. The journey was smooth, and soon enough, they arrived at the usual hangar where he parked his ship.
The ship settled into its usual spot, the ramp lowering with a quiet whirr as Peter stepped out. âNow, time to find Rocket...â
But thankfully, he didnât have to go far to find him. The raccoon was already waiting for him, standing by the entrance to the hangar with an annoyed expression on his face.
The moment he spotted Peter, Rocketâs voice rang out, filled with irritation. "You know, Quill, itâd be real nice if you didnât keep taking the ship without telling me first. All my tools, my weaponsâtheyâre on there! Youâre messing with my work!"
Peter sighed, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I know, I know. Iâll try to take one of the Jedi ships next time, okay?" He said, then added, "Actually, I was just about to come find you. I need your help with something..."
Ignoring Peter out of spite, Rocket grumbled, clearly not appeased. He started to brush past Peter, heading for the ship, still mumbling under his breath about delays and interrupted projects...
But then he stopped dead in his tracks, his sharp eyes narrowing as they fell on the sleek, yellow Camaro parked in the cargo hold. "What the hell is this?" he demanded, his tone a mix of surprise and disbelief.
Peter couldnât help but grin, a hint of pride in his voice as he explained, "I bought myself a new car. Thatâs actually what I need your help with."
Before Peter could elaborate, Rocketâs eyes widened with mock incredulity, and he immediately launched into a barrage of teasing. "Why the hell would you want something like this? Earthâs vehicles are ancient! Thousands of years behind the tech we could get from just about any corner of the galaxy. You seriously spent money on this hunk of junk?"
As Rocket continued to mock the Camaro, Peterâs patience began to wear thin. He knew Rocket was just being Rocket, but after the long night, he wasnât in the mood for it. A mischievous idea began to form in his mind, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Alright, alright," Peter said, raising his hands in mock surrender as he stepped closer to the car. "Let me show you what this thing can really do."
Rocket scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, this I gotta see. What, you gonna show me how this sh*t box barely hits sixty miles an hour?"
Peter just grinned, ignoring the jab as he placed his hand on the back of the Camaro. A faint glow began to emanate from his hand, the familiar power of Mechu-Deru flowing through him.
Within seconds, the glow spread across the entire vehicle, as Peter reached out with his mind, connecting with the dormant systems inside Bumblebee.
With a soft hum, the Camaro began to shift and change. Panels slid apart, wheels retracted, and the whole vehicle began to expand and unfold, its parts rearranging in a complex, intricate dance of metal and machinery.
The transformation was smooth and fluid, and within moments, the familiar yellow-and-black form of Bumblebee stood towering over them, the Autobotâs large frame hunched over slightly to fit inside the cargo hold.
Rocket, who had been casually leaning against the wall, nearly jumped out of his fur as Bumblebee suddenly loomed over him. His wide eyes scanned the massive robot, his earlier bravado vanishing in an instant.
"What the...!" Rocket yelped, scrambling back a few steps as he tried to process what he was seeing.
Turning to Peter, Rocket scratched his head, still unsure of what exactly they were about to do. "So, what are we doing again?"
Peter scoffed, shaking his head. "Youâd know if you were listening earlier."
Ignoring Rocketâs puzzled expression, Peter approached Bumblebeeâs dormant form. He reached up to his neck, unhooking the necklace that held the dice-sized AllSpark. The relic glinted in the low light of the room, its mysterious power palpable even to Rocket, who couldnât help but eye it with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.
Peter wrapped the chain around his hand, pressing the AllSpark firmly against Bumblebeeâs hood. âHere goes nothing...â
Closing his eyes, Peter focused, channeling his energy through the AllSpark using Mechu-Deru. His hand began to glow, and that glow quickly spread from his palm into the AllSpark and then into Bumblebee, causing the entire car to emit a faint, pulsating light.
Rocket took a step back, his eyes widening as he muttered, "What the fâ"
Before he could finish, Peter gasped, his eyes snapping open in shock as the glow from his hand spread to the rest of his body. The energy surged through him, overwhelming his senses as it poured from the AllSpark into Bumblebee.
The room itself seemed to come alive, the walls of the core feeding on the immense energy being generated, causing the Red Roomâs systems to hum with newfound power. The once-dim lights flared brightly, and the air around them crackled with raw, untamed energy.
Rocketâs jaw dropped as he watched, utterly dumbfounded. "I probably shouldâve been paying attention," he muttered, feeling completely out of his depth.
Peterâs body began to tremble under the strain of channeling the AllSparkâs power. The pain was intense, every nerve in his body screaming as the energy coursed through him. But he didnât stop.
âUrgh...â Peter groaned, feeling the AllSparkâs energy reaching out to Bumblebeeâs damaged spark, attempting to heal the fractures within it.
Despite the pain, a small, triumphant smirk formed on Peterâs lips as he felt the spark begin to mend.
Soon enough, the light surrounding him grew even brighter, until it became almost blinding.
â!â Rocket had to shield his eyes with his hand, squinting as he tried to see what was happening. The entire room was bathed in an otherworldly glow, the energy reaching its peak.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the light dimmed and faded away. Rocket slowly lowered his hand, blinking as his eyes adjusted.
In the center of the room, Peter lay on his back, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. The AllSpark was still clutched tightly in his hand, its power now dormant once more.
Rocket, still processing everything, took a hesitant step forward. "Did it work?"
Peter, struggling to catch his breath, managed to nod weakly. "I... I think so..."
They both turned their attention to Bumblebee. For a moment, nothing happened, which worried them, but then, the carâs headlights flickered on. The engine rumbled to life, and the radio sputtered, cycling through various stations as if testing its own functionality.
âHaha!â Peter laughed victoriously. âItâs alive!â He yelled, doing his best to imitate a certain mad scientist.
The car began to shift and move, transforming back into its towering robot form. This time, though, it was different. There was a subtle vitality in its movements, and its eyes glowed with a faint but unmistakable light of consciousness.
Peter pushed himself up, wiping the sweat from his brow. A sense of relief and accomplishment washed over him as he started to speak. "Uhh, hey! Iâm Peter Quill, and this isâ" he turned to point to Rocket.
"Umm, Quill!" Rocket interrupted, his voice tinged with alarm.
Peterâs eyes snapped back to Bumblebee, and his heart skipped a beat. The Autobotâs arm had transformed, its hand now replaced with a massive, glowing blaster, which was pointed directly at Peterâs head.
A/N: 2206 words :)