Author's Notes: This is part of the TMUK fanfiction group. Basically all you need to know is ALL the old Marvel comics happened; the Autobots have Cybertron back, but are under the current control of the evil ex-Imperial tyrant Star Saber; the Decepticons are hiding in satellites around the planet, waiting for their chance.

SOFTWARE WARS

Cybertron, 31/12/2298

The city of Iacon has seen much hardship in its time. Many Autobots still clearly remember the day when Trannis reduced it to rubble, and the thousands of Vorns in which they were treated like vermin, fodder for the Decepticon smelting pools. The war is over now, and Iacon has been repaired, but people still remember the pain and hardship of those years.

It's New Year's Eve in Iacon. Autobots lie crowded in homes and pubs, counting down. Rack'n'Ruin and the Dinobots are in Maccadam's Old Oil House, drunk on Energon champagne ("this bar accepts no responsibility for any corrosion of fuel pumps caused by our alcohol") and trying unsuccessfully to remember the words to some old Earth song.

Fireworks blast off in the sky, lighting the sky and deafening the Autobots with explosions. The sound of celebration can now be heard all over the city, even in the room of former Wrecker Topspin. The lights of the fireworks reflect in his blank optics. The sound of explosions do not register in his audio sensors.
Nothing will register for him at all. And the only clue is the cable linking his mind to the Cybertronian cyber-net.

Crashed System

By Charles Ellis

Twin Twist just lies there, not comprehending what the police are telling him. It's all extraneous anyway. All that matters is that Topspin is dead.

Topspin is DEAD.

Fellow Jumpstarter and Wrecker, practically his brother, and now a metal shell in a morgue somewhere.

Topspin is-

"Sir?"
He looks blearily at Siren. "What?"

The ex-Headmaster coughs nervously. "I repeat; the autopsy has shown no physical cause of death, no gunshot or whatever. We know he had been on the cyber-net a few hours prior to his body's discovery, and then his mind was destroyed by a virus… We think this was a deliberate killing; someone hacked into his mind and implanted a fast-acting virus in him. Do you know any Transformer with a motive, or the capability-"
"WHAT?"

Siren and the others subconsciously backed away. "Uh, I said-"
"YOU are telling me that someone MURDERED Topspin," said Twin Twist. His voice was low and menacing. "And you come to me, with no lead?"
"Twin Twist, we need information! Who would do this?"
The Jumpstarter laughed. "Just about every Decepticon currently active- now why aren't you trying to FIND THEM?"
"I'm domestic security, Decepticons are off-world and come under the-"

"SHUT UP! Get the SLAG outta my home! GO!"

Siren and his men ran out. Twin Twist stayed very still and very quiet for a few seconds, before transforming and smashing the table with his drills.

"ARGGGGGHHHH!"

And then there was just him, in amongst a bunch of wood fragments.

"no…"

****************************************************************

Decepticon stronghold, unknown area of space, 2/1/2299

"ONSLAUGHT!"

Soundwave stormed through the dusty corridors of the base, in a foul mood. WHERE were those blasted Combaticons? The Decepticon army were fugitives, exiled from their own home planet, half-forgotten by the world- they were NOT in a position where it was good practise for crack commando squads to just bugger off whenever they felt like it!

The Combaticon commander emerged from another corridor and said: "Problem, Soundwave?"
"Yes, there IS, Onslaught. This is the fifth time you've left the base without authorisation. It's getting… irksome. Need I remind you that we are, at the moment, at a tactical disadvantage? We cannot risk anything happening to Bruticus."
"Don't worry," said Onslaught dismissively. "We're not putting ourselves at risk-"
"Well, what ARE you doing?"
"Someone has hired us for a job. I figure the Decepticons could use the money. It's basically terrorist work, a little hacking- don't worry, it's safe as far as we're concerned."
Soundwave narrowed his optics. "See it stays that way. We need the Combaticon's, Onslaught, but we do NOT need rebellious elements. Need I remind you how much of Starscream was left after Galvatron slew him?"

"Understood sir," muttered Onslaught.

************************************************************************

Rack'n'Ruin and Sandstorm found Twin Twist in Maccadam's, nursing a glass of oil. Sandstorm shook his head.

"Poor guy. I mean, we all knew Topspin, but Twin Twist is taking it much harder…"
"Of course," said Rack. "They were practically brothers," added Ruin, "same model, same production date… They go way back, before the Wreckers was founded."

"Yeah, I know… Wonder where the others are?"
"Broadside is on a colony right now, Carnivac never knew Topspin, NO idea where Whirl is, Ultra Magnus will be turning up for the funeral with the Sparkabots, and Springer…" "We checked with Springer, and he said he'd 'make arrangements'," sneered Rack. "His buddy is DEAD and he'll make arrangements… I tell ya, things have changed a lot. I'm almost glad I'm a derelict."
Sandstorm didn't want to continue this, and so headed for the Jumpstarter. "Hey."
"Hmmm? Oh, Sandstorm. Hi."

"We heard the news, we decided to come here for the… er…"
"Funeral." His voice was that of a dead man's. "Say it. FU-NE-RAL. I know about death, Sandstorm."
"Yeah, but… me and Rack'n'Ruin know how close you two were. For what it's worth, we're sorry."

"I remember," said Ruin, "all those fights Topspin won. Remember how he freed about 16 prisoners in the Smelting Pool single-handedly. That's no way to go, mind frying. He was a WRECKER. He should've died in battle, the fuel of Decepticon's coating his drills. Not like- like-"
"I know."
"…"
"…"
"…"

"Waitress," said Twin Twist, "more oil please."

************************************************************************

Star Saber's office, 3/1/2299

"No doubt about it," said Siren. "This was a definite hack. Also, I've checked the cyber-net at the time of the hack; this came from right within New Iacon. And a government building."
"Hmmm." Star Saber clasped his hands together. "So it wasn't the Decepticons, but someone from within my own government. Anyone working in that building with a grudge against the Wrecker?"
"No sir." Siren wrung his hands and said: "This fits with the recent hack on grunt worker Coil, but the Combaticons were involved in that… And it may also be related to the recent botched assassination on Perceptor-"
"I drew that conclusion myself," said Star Saber. "So… We appear to be facing a Software War, Siren."
"WHAT?! But I thought that was just a hypothetical-"
"It is quite real, Siren; at one point, the Autobots had a lot of equipment ready for a Software War. And DON'T tell me that this may be cyber-crime; hacking Coil so he would hack Springer, this recent assassination of Topspin, Perceptor half-destroyed by an explosion caused by a power malfunction which itself was caused by an unknown hacker- This is terrorism, Siren. More than that, it's a declaration of war."
"But by who?"
"That is the question. That is the question."

TO BE CONTINUED

OUTBREAK

By Charles Ellis

Iacon Security HQ, 2/2/2299

Nightbeat said: "Play it again, Siren."
Once more, the video footage showed a market plaza in Cybertron, with hundreds of Autobots wandering around. Then it all went white.

"Rewind and play back at half speed."
The same footage, only now they could see a random Autobot in the top left glow slightly before the explosion.

"Halve speed and play back again, this time focus on top left."

This time, they could see a pixelly close-up of the Autobot, just walking. And then he shuddered, his face went blank and he exploded.

Nightbeat sighed. "Suicide bomber. Still… it's odd. He didn't look like he was in control, like- Damn."
"Looked like he'd been hacked?" guessed Siren.

"Yeah. Chalk it up with the hacking of Coil, the attempted murder of Perceptor, the murder of Topspin and three security Autobots, and now THIS."
A quick background check showed that that Autobot had been a labourer who'd walked that way every day to get to work; he'd then had his self-destruct function go off in public, killing three other Autobots and wounding four. Oddly, his brain module had been damaged in the explosion, something that was specifically NOT meant to happen.

"Well, let's keep working," said Nightbeat. "We need to track down whoever is causing all this."

"Slaughter City", 3 hours prior

Vortex grinned. "That's it. Our little surprise should be kicking in right now."
Onslaught nodded. "Good. And the rest of it?"
"Two days from now."
"Good. Let's head back to base."

"Those little creeps better pay up on time," said Swindle. "We NEED that stuff; what's taking them so long?!"
"Relax, Swindle. They need us. After all… we have dirt on them. They back out of THEIR end of the deal, then we might 'accidentally' blab the whole thing to Autobot Command… Now, let's leave before someone recognises us…"

Requiem Port, New Iacon, 8/2/2299

Ultra Magnus got onto the platform, looked down at the gathered and took a deep breath. PRIMUS he hoped he didn't screw this up-

"Topspin was a Wrecker. An Autobot resistance fighter, slagging the enemy, facing death head-on. He was… he…" He shook slightly. "I'm sorry… I-I just…" He gripped hard on the podium, steadying himself. "Look, Topspin was one of us. A Wrecker. And that's all I can say."
He got down, passing the assembled group. It was small, for Topspin hadn't been a very sociable Autobot. His only real companions had been the other Wreckers, and Impactor, Roadbuster, Guzzle & Xaaron were dead; Carnivac, Cattila & Skids had never been actual Wreckers; Whirl was AWOL and Springer… the bastard hadn't even turned up. There was just him, Broadside, Sandstorm, Rack'n'Ruin, Sizzle & Fizzle and Twin Twist.

Twin Twist just had this horrible blank look on his face. His optics had lost any semblance of the spark of life, and his entire face was nothing more than some eerie mask. Did he even register what was going on?

Nobody knew what to say; Wreckers had NEVER died in anything less than a battle, and it seemed to Magnus like they were all slightly embarrassed. But no, it was something else- it was despair. Despair that a Wrecker could die in their own home. Despair that a Wrecker could die without fighting a valiant battle, surrounded by the shells of Second Generation cannon fodder. Despair that they could actually die like a normal person.

It was a terrifying thought for them.

Broadside pressed a button, and the pod containing Topspin's corpse launched, heading for the Sun.

And it was really over. He was really dead.

Hovering above them was a modified helicopter. It transformed and landed onto the nearby rooftop, and flinched slightly as the pod flew past him. His face was always expressionless, a cube of metal with a single cyclopean eye- nobody ever knew what he was thinking.

Whirl shook his head in anger. Yet another Wrecker cut down. Impactor, Roadbuster, now Topspin…

He didn't join the others; he wouldn't know how to act. He'd been away too long… But he was still a Wrecker, and he had to be here to honour his old friend. Few others did; Star Saber had deliberately kept the news quiet, and so Topspin was given THIS meagre send-off.

This isn't right, thought Whirl. He should have had crowds mourning his passing, soldiers firing weapons into the air, he should have had a CEREMONY. But no, that's for the Primes of this world, isn't it? No, we can't have funerals for soldiers who go in and get the job done, we have to make a big fuss over some idiotic archetype who we all know is going to return ANYWAY! This isn't fair… This isn't right… Not for Topspin… 's not right…

Cybertronian atmosphere

The pod flew upwards, leaving the mortal world behind and heading for the beckoning Sun.

And unnoticed by any on Cybertron, Astrotrain swooped out of thin air and grabbed the pod.

Soundwave nodded to the Triple Changer as he entered the lab. "You got it."
"Yeah," said Astrotrain. "One Wrecker, all ready and waiting for probing!"
Bombshell gave a sadistic grin and opened up the pod. "Never probed a corpse before, Soundwave- should be an interesting experiment!"
"I expect results, Bombshell. Do NOT fail me in this."

????, 9/2/2299

Ratchet was not in a good mood. He didn't think much of Star Saber and his neo-Fascist cronies anyway, and now he was expected to drop everything to just have his optics shut off and then be taken to some slagging "classified base". At least Sideswipe was here- he could trust Sideswipe. Well, he supposed so- who knew anymore? Life on Cybertron had become far more complicated since the ex-Imperial had taken control. And sometimes it was very short.

Was this what we fought and died for? To be oppressed all over again?

Star Saber was waiting for them in a small, rusty room, with a large vid-screen taking up a large part of the wall. He seemed tense.

"Ratchet. I have summoned you here for a matter of global security. You may have heard of the recent mind-hackings-"
"Yes."
"Now. This is not just random killing. This is far more dangerous- the attack on Perceptor and frequent Combaticon sightings are linked with the hackings, and I believe several of my officials are under mind control."
"Why would mind-hackers want to kill Perceptor?"
"We don't know. He has been fully repaired, but he has no idea why it happened. This leads Springer and I to believe that this is part of a Decepticon plot. We appear to be in a Software War."
"Ah. I remember Rodimus talking about them. There were Decepticon and Autobot bases set up a million years ago, ready for a Software War…"
"This is one of them, rebuilt and upgraded by me. We hope to be able to strike back at the attackers from here."
"Hang on, hang on… How do I fit into this? I'm just a doctor, you want Wheeljack or someone like-"
"No. We need you," Star Saber said. He sighed. "We appear to have a virus. An Autobot was programmed to explode recently, in a crowded area- now it appears he'd been programmed to carry special Nanobots to spread to nearby Autobots and implant a computer virus in their minds. And many Autobots interface through neural connections with the many Internets and Intranets on Cybertron…"

The implications hit Ratchet in the gut. The virus would spread from Autobot through the nets, into other Autobots. And then again. And again.

Half of Cybertron could be infected.

"Oh, PRIMUS!"
"Indeed. This is a serious problem. I need you to work on an anti-virus; we have found one infected Autobot for you to experiment with."
"That's all well and good," said Ratchet, "but there's a virus spreading! You need to stop it!"
"We're initiating a lockdown on the 'net now. I have several of my best agents locating the infected, blocking off their home access ports from the 'nets and having them brought here, to stem off the infection. We have found about one hundred infected already…"
"I-I'll get to work right away."
"Good. The resources of Cybertron are at your disposal."

News of the virus was kept quiet, for a while. Star Saber knew the problems it could cause; anarchy, maybe even open rebellion. He wouldn't let that happen. So he squashed all news of the frequent deaths among Transformers, and claimed the lockdown on the 'Nets were because of glitches. In retrospect, that was stupid; now everybody with half a hard drive knew he was covering up something. And the people kept dying. And some of them went missing, for no given reason…

Ratchet worked frantically with the abducted Autobots, trying to find a cure- he was making good progress. Nightbeat and his men were searching for the infected, so they knew who to treat or abduct; others continued investigating into who was behind the hacking.

That is not the story. The true story was when a group of Autobots got together and started talking about the recent happenings. The true story was when others joined in. The true story were the Autobots who were fed up being ground under Star Saber's heel, and who were scared that they might die or just disappear, and didn't know what was going on and were SICK of it.

The true story was when the riot started.

New Iacon, 18/2/2299

The Public Service Address Screen exploded into a million glass fragments, and the crowd cheered. Behind them fires tore their way through skyscraper after skyscraper. The mob moved open, breaking windows and starting fires and smashing up any member of the security forces that tried to stop them.

And the crowd was getting bigger.

Sideswipe screeched to a halt next to the police barricade and transformed. He had his black armour plating on, and a Pathblaster by his side. He watched grimly as the crowd continued their destructive rampage. Miscellaneous Autobots smashed their way into an office building and there was a great cheer as an explosion echoed from within it. The mob was snarling, a thousand cries of anger and paranoia mixing into one angry whole.

"…why are you abducting us-"

"…slagging 'Cons!"

"…we have a right to know-"

Siren gulped as the crowd came closer. "What do we do, sir?"
Sideswipe said nothing for a moment, and merely wiped his gun down absently. Finally, he spoke, in dull tones.

"Star Saber has instructed us to use lethal force to keep them back."
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah, that's what I said. But people are going to die in a minute."
"Yes," said Siren coldly. "Because we'll be shooting them."
"NON-rioters, wise-aft. Quite frankly, they're a bigger priority and this riot will hit a residential district in about three cycles. I don't like it either, but we don't have a slagging choice."

The crowd surged on and then fell back as they were blasted with deadly accuracy. Rioters literally exploded, their brain modules breaking apart and mech-fluid splashing across the ground. And the roar of anger become cries of pain and fear.

By the morning, 17 rioters were dead, along with four security patrolmen who'd tried to hold the riot back. Twenty buildings had been burnt or severely damaged. And this only increased the paranoia and resentment bubbling beneath the surface of Cybertron.

????, 19/2/2299

"I can't believe you did that," said Springer. His hands clenched and unclenched. "The thing is, Star Saber, that you instructed your little militia to shoot dead civilians."
"Anarchists," he said coolly."
"And why did they riot? Could it have something to do with the fact you're withholding news of this virus from them?" He jabbed his finger in Star Saber's face. "Slag, you didn't even tell ME until six days ago, and I CO-RULE Cybertron still. Or did you 'forget' to tell me?"
"This coming from the Autobot who still hasn't found out who attacked Perceptor, or why? Or maybe you have, and you're withholding evidence just to spite me?"
Springer shifted from side-to-side, obviously uncomfortable. "I-I just haven't found much out."
"Sure. In the meantime, the virus. Still a problem, riot or no. Ratchet says he has a cure, and is testing it now. That particular crisis is over, and we didn't even have to reveal anything."

"Oh, great. So now everyone will still remain paranoid. You'll release those abducted, mind-wiped of course, and still everyone will think abductions are still going on. And they'll remain scared and angry-"
"Springer, if we disclose this, we would have a full-scale REBELLION on our hands, and neither of us want that."
"…No, of course."
"Now get out and see to the cure."

Ratchet sighed and allowed himself a small smile. The cure worked. It frigging WORKED! Hundreds were dead, but that was the last- nobody else would die from this virus.

"It's done Springer," he said, grinning. "It's cured."
Springer smiled back. "Good. We'll upload and distribute it ASAP. Thank you for your co-operation, Ratchet."
"Oh, don't mention it."
"There is just one thing, before you go, standard procedure."
And a cranial interface cable oozed from Springer's head and plunged into the startled medic's forehead.

+++MEMORIES ACCESSED.+++

+++ALTER/DELETE MEMORIES. Y/N?+++

+++Y+++

+++DAEMON FILE: TROJAN ACCESSED. UPLOADING TO DESIGNATE: RATCHET…+++

***********************************************************************

The last of the funeral pods launched. They contained the last Autobots to die of the virus, the last ten of three hundred.

They cleared Cybertronian orbit, heading for the Sun. And like the rest of the three hundred, they were captured before they reached there.

TO BE CONTINUED

Check

By Charles Ellis

Star Saber's HQ, New Iacon, 6/3/2299

"The people are angry," said Great Shot. Outside of Star Saber's tower was a mob of Autobots, picketing it and screaming abuse. "We should go public with the Software Wars-"
"Certainly not!" said Star Saber. "It'd turn civil unrest into planet-wide rioting and anarchy!"
"In that case," said Springer, "we should up our efforts to track down the hackers. The Combaticons have been identified as the most likely suspects, but we've had no luck tracking them down."

"Damn. The Decepticons have been quiet for a decade, who'd have thought they'd do something this ambitious?"
"Well, Saber," said Springer, "if you'd spent more effort and resources in tracking them down and finishing them off, we might not be in this situation. Oh wait, did I say 'we'? My mistake. It's just YOU that's in the Smelting Pool."

"Springer… You are part of this government. What effects me-"
"Doesn't effect me. I'm a veteran of the war and legendary leader of the Wreckers. You're just a hated dictator. This civil rest was bound to happen some day anyway."

Star Saber was absolutely livid. "I run this planet well-"
"You do so by oppression and generally annoying every Autobot on the planet."

Star Saber glared at Springer and started to leave the room. "I'm going for ISS."
"Sure, back out of the argument," he sneered. "How a coward like you remains in power is beyond me. You practically BEG for some idiot with a gun to come along and cap you."

"And it will never happen in your lifetime."

************************************************************************

Damn the Autobots! I came in and rebuilt Cybertron from a war-torn wreck into a prosperous planet! Under my rule, the Decepticons are nothing but a ragtag group of thugs! Civil rights and freedoms must surely be less important than what I've given them. I give them all this and all they do is riot and whine about oppression. Do I throw them into Smelting Pools?(It's tempting with some of them) Do I hunt them like turbo-foxes? No, I merely remove their ability to cause trouble and mess up post-war Cybertron. Surely that is logical!

Idiots. Would they prefer that political naïf Springer in charge? PUTTUP.

Star Saber sighed and connected himself up to his room's ISS computer. After a while, his optics dimmed.

+++INVOLUNTARY SYSTEM SHUTDOWN- FUNCTIONING.+++

+++MOTORLOCK VIRUS- UPLOADING...+++

+++MOTORLOCK VIRUS UPLOADED. DESIGNATE STAR SABER INCAPACITATED. BROADCASTING TO DESIGNATE SPRINGER.+++

**********************************************************************

Ratchet pushed his way through the crowd towards Star Saber's HQ. Sideswipe helped by beating up the nearby protestors so Ratchet could get through them. One of them called him a Decepticon and far ruder names, so Sideswipe hit him harder.

"It's like a mob of Sharkticons!" said Ratchet.

"Yeah, lousy fraggers. C'mon, we need to get to Star Saber!"
"On it!"

The two of them transformed and sped off towards Star Saber. The leader of Cybertron had had his body freeze up totally- this was urgent. The two of them reached Star Saber's quarters and walked in.

"Anyone else around?" asked Ratchet.

"Nah. Good thing, that- who knows what could happen if there was? C'mon, we better get to work."

The guards to Star Saber's room came back, having sneaked off to the nearby pub. As they did so, they noticed the door was open. Frowning, the two of them entered the room, and saw Sideswipe & Ratchet standing with smoking guns over the slagged form of Star Saber.

And somewhere else, Springer smiles.

TO BE CONTINUED

Meet the New Boss

By Charles Ellis

Cybertron, 7/3/2299

Nobody remembered who he was.
He was Whirl, one of the Wreckers. But nowadays he kept out of the public eye. Nobody remembered him, and he liked it that way. The Wreckers had just never been the same, not since Impactor had died. And Cybertron… He almost wished the Decepticons were still in power, it would be preferable to Star Saber. At least he could shoot the 'Cons…

He absent-mindedly brushed some dust from the table in his cramped apartment, and turned on the TV.

Rack'n'Ruin practically LIVED in Maccadam's Old Oil House. They spent half the day there, and where they went afterwards, nobody knew. Gut didn't care- Rack'n'Ruin always paid their bar tab, unlike SOME veterans he could mention (coughtheDinobotscough).

"Turn on da Teev, man," slurred Rack. Ruin grunted in agreement before falling into his Energon shake.

Gut sighed. I've really got to stop spiking the Opening Time drinks with Shanix. If they discharge lubricant on the floor again…

He turned on the TV.

Twin Twist hadn't gone outside in two weeks. He hadn't said a word in three weeks. The other Wreckers had given up on him- they were all sad over Topspin, but he'd taken it harder than the rest. They were concerned he might be suffering mental problem. Already the Reductionists were coming round, trying to use his sorrow to get him to convert.

The last one had needed three days of intensive medical care.

Out of habit, not really registering what he was doing, Twin Twist turned on the TV.

The Combaticons were feeling really smug with themselves. They'd just struck a huge blow for the Decepticon cause, and all without Galvatron knowing (like they wanted him knowing about the mind-hacking, they wouldn't trust HIM with that technology). Only one way to check if it'd succeeded.

Vortex turned on the TV.

Planet-wide broadcast- message by Springer

"Greetings. Last night, Star Saber was assassinated by the mind-hacked Ratchet and Sideswipe. As a result, I am now in control of Cybertron.

"And so it is my duty to inform you that all the recent events- the attempted assassination of Perceptor, the death of Star Saber, the recent deaths, the ed at his old comrade, hero of a thousand raids, one of the Wreckers, the slagging WRECKERS, and he felt his Spark grow cold. "You can't be serious," he croaked. "Twin Twist, don't do this…"
Twin Twist just looked away and walked out.

Decepticon subterranean base, Cybertron

"Springer's been mind-hacked," said Soundwave.

Astrotrain frowned and looked over at the TV. Soundwave was growing more tense and aggressive ever since the missile strike- no, before that. Back when he'd first got wind of the mind-hacking. Soundwave scared him. Cautiously, he said: "How can you tell? His speeches seem to be good, he's informing the people, giving them hope-"
"He's not. Listen closely. Focus on the words."
Astrotrain squinted and did so. And then he noticed it- yes, his speeches did seem good. But listen closely, and you would see that they were designed to INCREASE paranoia. Talk of remaining vigilant, enemies without faces, warnings of new strikes… All designed to confuse and scare the already paranoid Autobots. Whoever was behind this was very subtle.

"And remember that Galvatron wants us to be ready for a serious terrorist attack, in revenge for our satellites. The puppet-masters behind this want to drive Cybertron into internal conflict, get the Autobot government to collapse into anarchy, and basically kill as many Transformers as possible without having to fire a single shot themselves. Ingenious. We should have done that."

Soundwave would've gone further, but Bombshell arrived. He practically bounded into the room, his optics lit up.

"I-I've done it!"
"You've mind-hacked the corpse?"
"Th-that's just it!" Bombshell gave them all a smug grin. "I've found it out… A virus did hit Topspin, it DID burn out quite a few of his systems… but it left the key ones operational, but damaged enough to make him LOOK dead.

"He's still alive."

TO BE CONTINUED