Guard and Detect
Chapter 1
Cybertron - Cycles after the Decepticon Insurrection in Kaon: 5
He violently swigged from his vial of energon. In his opinion they almost deserved it; after the Clampdown, Registration act and the redundancy of miners, surely the Senate had seen it coming? Perhaps they did. What if the Senate consciously sparked the Decepticon uprising in order to wage a war against them, a plot to distract the general populace from their lack of freedom? The extent of Nightbeat's own wild conspiracy scared even himself as he put down another glass of premium energon. These days were dark indeed.
"You, my friend, have had enough." Quark's voice was stern. He was drained, strained and the last thing he needed was another miserable, drunken friend. Nightbeat analysed Quark's thoughts thoroughly, but was too unhappy to soothe or comfort him in the slightest. Generally Quark was great company, but this was certainly not a 'general' point in time, he was far too conservative, Nightbeat quietly thought to himself. It was times like this when he needed to talk to someone who was more rational and down to Cybertron. Granting Quark a grunted farewell, Nightbeat set off to visit his comrade in the Tritorian Guard. Blitzwing was always a breath of unfiltered fresh air.
The raised fist had gripped a painted purple insignia. According to the Senate, the Decepticon 'Plague' had swept through Iacon late in the previous night, leaving only propaganda posters in their wake. The poster drew Blitzwing in deeper as he had looked into it; the raised fist stirred an emotion in him in that he had never felt before; or at least he had never let it rise to the surface in such a way. Anger seethed through Blitzwing's circuitry. Working as an armed enforcer, he had been lucky. Forged as a strong guard unit he would never be without employment or energon, unlike the 'Empties' he callously passed by every day. He had always accepted it, the natural order, none could stop the senate. But something about that symbol, as he looked at the poster he was no longer so sure.
Oh how Quark would disapprove, Nightbeat thought as he did something he had been meaning to do for a long time. He opened the link and watched as the samizdat writing speedily downloaded into his data-pad. 'The Decepticon Manifesto' the document had proudly emblazoned upon its title page. Its author was the mysterious cavalier of freedom, Megatron of Tarn. Thoughtfully and open-mindedly, Nightbeat had scanned the introduction.
Rumour held that during the recent 'troubles' in Kaon, Megatron had killed Sentinel Prime but surely that was just a rumour. The Apex armour held by the current Prime could not be defeated by the bravest warrior on Cybertron, let alone an intellectual. It was on the fourth page that a particular paragraph drew Nightbeat's attention.
"And on that day of Declaration, all Cybertronians will stand united against oppression and shall overthrow the Senate with one voice. From that day forth our race shall be known collectively as Decepticons. Look to Nova Peak, prepare, wait and do not fall asleep. When that Declaration Day arrives, we shall fulfil the dream of the Knights of Cybertron.
On that day, all shall be one."
Nightbeat could not believe it; this writing seemed to him so pure and from the spark. Only now did he understand the positivity and truth of the Decepticon ideal. He had to show Blitzwing. For the first time in his near-infinite life span, he felt as if there was no time to spare.
As he had wandered confused, struggling with his emotions, Blitzwing turned a corner into an alley well known as home for its population of 'Empties'.' He didn't understand why he took this detour from his normal path to 'The Grotto' the place he called home; it was if Primus was guiding him. He instantly regretted his decision when he almost unwittingly walked into the midst of a disagreement. Several Senate Police had just brutalised a poor citizen. From behind the corner, Blitzwing watched as a small black and gold robot confronted the towering police force. Blitzwing's face contorted in shock as a blast of energy shattered the worn body of the black and gold transformer. Blitzwing had felt a strong urge to step in, but before he could convince himself to do so, a white racing robot leapt into the fray, his anger was unparalleled. He executed the Senate police in seconds, a force of pure rage taking vengeance. Realising what he had done, the white robot quickly fled into the darkness once more. Blitzwing could not believe it; this display of vengeance was violent, but he could understand the white robots rage. As he watched the white robots take flight, he realised that he vaguely remembered him, an ex-racer by the name of Drift. A fire took root within the spark of Blitzwing. The Senates corruption would not stop itself, he realised, it must be made to stop and if violence is required then it is justified.
When the mentally broadened Nightbeat arrived at 'The Grotto', he found Blitzwing in a state of deep reflection.
"What brings you here?" Blitzwing questioned pensively without even looking up.
"What's wrong?" Nightbeat was taken aback by the coldness of Blitzwing's words. Blitzwing certainly wasn't ever the warmest or most talkative of transformers, but this level of solemnity was unusual.
"I just witnessed a citizen murdered by the Senate police." Blitzwing's words froze the air.
Nightbeat could not think of the words to reply, the Senate was getting more ruthless but a firsthand account of their violence was something he could not take lightly.
"Then another citizen, the racer turned circuit-speeder addict called Drift, eliminated the police." Blitzwing continued.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing," Blitzwing momentarily paused ", I should have killed them myself."
"What?!" Nightbeat almost lost his footing with the shockingly callous words of Blitzwing.
"Drift was justified. The Decepticons are right. Violence is the only way. No more of this 'Till all are one' and political garbage. I am going to take action now. I am going to Kaon now. You will come with me if you know what is right."
"What are you talking about? What about the Decepticon Manifesto?" Nightbeat questions emotionally. Blitzwing tossed a Data-track into his hands.
"The situation is long past pacifist rhetoric. It took today to make me realise. Read this."
Nightbeat looked down at the data-track in his hands.
"Towards Peace by Megatron of Tarn" it reads.
"What is this?" Nightbeat cried in exasperation.
"The truth. Sentinel is dead. He has already been replaced. Zeta Prime will no doubt be worse than his predecessor." From outside, the sounds of engines resonate and drown out the deep guttural voice of Blitzwing.
"My escort has arrived. I take my leave." Blitzwing quickly sat up and exited the room.
Nightbeat watched on, his mouth agape as Blitzwing boarded the immense Astrotrain.
"Good luck, wherever Primus takes you." Blitzwing bid farewell to his old friend.
As Astrotrain lifted from the ground, Nightbeat glanced at the copy of 'Towards Peace' in his hand. Confident in the fact he would regret his decision later, Nightbeat leapt on to the back of Astrotrain as he engaged his thrusters. Nightbeat held tightly for dear life, as the passenger hangar door opened and a proud Blitzwing exited chuckling jovially and smiling broadly.
"I knew you'd come. You always do what is right."