#freaky science

*Hurry boss. We don't got much time before the whole place blows* Jazz comm buzzed in his audio.

"I know, I know. Give me a klick, I hav' to take care of that slaggin' AI.." The visored mech chirped back as he jacked into the glitching and sparking console.

He really didn't have time for this but if he didn't get rid of the AI Program now. He wouldn't get another chance before the Decepticons hid it again. This AI was chewing up and spitting out the Autobots, seemingly knowing every move before they could even get the troops out. So with a snarl Jazz dived into the coding working his way deeper into programing battling traps and viruses. He came across the file he was searching for, KP0R1. He tried to open it only to be met with a huge blazing firewall. You have ten klicks to cease or be disposed of.

"O really." Jazz snarked, carefully hiding his shock at the very mech-like feel of the AI against his own processor..

Yes. Was the simple answer.

"Cute, but'cha caused alot ah problems lately and this is will be the end of the line for yah. " Jazz said smoothly releasing a virus code only to watch in morbid fascination as it was 'caught' by an unseen figure and methodically torn apart.

5 klicks to cease.

Jazz ingnored the program in favor of cursing up a storm. " That was my best viruse!"

*Boss hurry! You got 3 breams to get out.*

"I'm a little busy right now!" Jazz spat back through his comm as he continued his mental wrestle with the AI.

3 klicks. The program warned again.

"Yeah, yeah." The Polyhexan said with a smirk as he attacked the AI's firewall, only to be sent to his knees by an electric surge that coursed through his frame.

Your time is up. Last warning. That's when the screen above the console lit up with two white glowing optics.

"Ok. This is getting weirder and weirder."

The optics blinked. And the room shook.

"Ok, Mister Program yah going down now, cause there just went tha first bomb."

Jazz continued his mental attack whilst tearing into the console with his clawed servos. The optics on the screen narrowed as the the program began dismantling his attacks one by one but a few still got through and damaged the firewalls. With a grin Jazz pulled back the computer's plating and shoved a few wires about revealing the console's power core. "Heh, heh. Gotcha!" Jazz snickered has he reached forward to close his fist around the core.

The white optics on the screen widened. Wait, don-

The carpenter ant in the picture above has fallen victim to parasitic fungi of the genus Cordyceps, which manipulate the behaviour of their host in order to increase their own chances of reproducing.

The spores of the fungus attach themselves to the external surface of the ant, where they germinate. They then enter the ant’s body through the tracheae (the tubes through which insects breathe), via holes in the exoskeleton called spiracles. Fine fungal filaments called mycelia then start to grow inside the ant’s body cavity, absorbing the host’s soft tissues but avoiding its vital organs.

When the fungus is ready to sporulate, the mycelia grow into the ant’s brain. The fungus then produces chemicals which act on the host’s brain and alter its perception of pheromones. This causes the ant to climb a plant and, upon reaching the top, to clamp its mandibles around a leaf or leaf stem, thus securing it firmly to what will be its final resting place.

The fungus then devours the ant’s brain, killing the host. The fruiting bodies of the fungus sprout from the ant’s head, through gaps in the joints of the exoskeleton. Once mature, the fruiting bodies burst, releasing clusters of capsules into the air. These in turn explode on their descent, spreading airborne spores over the surrounding area. These spores then infect other ants, completing the life cycle of the fungus. Depending on the type of fungus and the number of infecting spores, death of an infected insect takes between 4-10 days.