Four million years ago, the Decepticons took up arms to build a better Cybertron. Now the war has ended. But sometimes taking up arms is easier than putting them back down…
Transformers: Evil Forces of the Decepticons
By Dan Brodribb
CAST
Front Section
ONSLAUGHT (Combaticon Leader) Is on top of the world
MOTORMASTER (Stunticon Leader) Is Drivin' and Cryin'
WILDRIDER (Stunticon) Is hurtin' for certain
BLAST OFF (Combaticon) Is off doing other things
Aft Section
RAZORCLAW (Predacon Leader) is in the village, the quiet village.
DIVEBOMB (Predacon) is a friendly.
RAMPAGE (Predacon) Tiger earning his stripes
BRAWL (Combaticon) Finds change difficult
BREAKDOWN (Stunticon) Shoots first
DEAD END (Stunticon) has a name containing the words 'dead' AND 'end'
DRAG STRIP (Stunticon) has some ideas
VORTEX (Combaticon) was just asking questions.
BEACHCOMBER (Autobot) The Autobot abides
MIRAGE (Autobot) Likes guns, money, and conspiracy theories. Not in that order.
PART 2: In The Village, The Quiet Village
Beachcomber had no problem admitting it: the Decepticons were professionals.
Razorclaw split their limited forces into two teams and they came at the village from its North and South ends, weapons out, uncomplaining of the wind-blown grit that scratched at their metal hides and build up uncomfortably in any exposed joints. The teams swept silently through the streets and met in the center to report.
"Nothing," said Rampage.
"The same," said Razorclaw.
Vortex transformed and landed from where he had been providing air support for Rampage's team. The transformation was seconds slower than it should have been and sounded slightly atonal-from the wind and dirt no doubt. "Looks like the place is abandoned."
"Let's see what there is to see," Razorclaw said. "Pair off and take a look around"
Mirage pulled Beachcomber aside. "I need to talk to you."
"Okay."
"What was that frak you pulled back there about the village? About not shooting anyone."
"Our job is to be observers."
"So observe. Observe and shut the hell up. You may not have noticed, but we're the only two Autobots here and we are vastly outnumbered."
" You want me to stand by while the Decepticons slaughter innocent be-?
"Potential innocent beings. We don't even know that there are any yet. Beings or innocents"
"Potential innocent beings then. It doesn't matter. We don't stop being Autobots just because the war's over."
"You're an idiot, Beachcomber. A naïve, idealistic idiot. Did it ever occur to you to ask why Prowl sent us on this mission?"
"To keep an eye on the Decepticons. To make sure they aren't pulling a fast one."
"Yes, but why us? I've been a suspected Decepticon sympathizer since Day One. And you're an idealistic peacenik who has a tendency to open his mouth every time he sees something 'not right.' Prowl sent these guys out there to get them out of the way. Has it ever occurred to you that he might want US out of the way too?"
"No, that had not occurred to me," Beachcomber said.
But now that it had, Beachcomber couldn't get it out of his mind.
"Look at them. The Autobots. They're talking about me . Talking about killing me."
"Why would they be talking about you?" Vortex said. "I'm the one who tortured Beachcomber back before the Surge. If anything, they're talking about how to kill me."
"I know Mirage's secret."
"Secret?"
"I know his secret. He likes to pretend he's all fancy, Mr. High and Mighty. Hints that he was upper class, but he wasn't. Blast Off was aristocracy. Mirage…he comes from the same place I do, and that's as low-down as you can get. We like hunting and racing too…but not the kind they watch up in the towers."
"He's going to kill you for that. Come on. He's an Autobot."
"He's a bot who won't let anyone know who he is," Drag Strip said. "You can't trust a bot who isn't honest with himself."
"You know you're a member of a group that calls themselves Decepticons, right?"
"After the Menasor thing, they brought a shrink to see the five of us. One of the things he told us was: deception is one thing; dishonesty is another."
"I wouldn't know," Vortex said. "People don't lie to me. At least not for very long. Wait-look at this."
"At what?
Vortex indicated a long crate at the side of the building they were searching.
"It's a box."
It's a box with Quietus' seal. The bot we came here to find." Vortex pointed to a symbol on the side of the crade, nearly eroded to nothingness by the sand. "I think there are weapons inside."
"Weapons?"
"Before he disappeared, Quietus designed weapons, mostly sonics. Think of Frenzy, Thundercracker, Dirge…"
"And some of those weapons are in this box. Or maybe some new ones.
Vortex's optics glowed crimson. "Too bad, the war's over."
"Too bad," Drag Strip said, his eyes gleaming red straight back at the Combaticon. "Unless there was something in here that we could start it up again. With a different outcome."
"I wonder what your shrink would say about that."
"Probably something about endlessly repeating the same actions and expecting different results."
"Isn't that what they say about Decepticons? We never die, but we never learn."
"Not true. I learned I like shooting things."
"What have you two found?" Rampage called, jogging over towards them.
Vortex reached inside the crate. He said, "An opportunity to start over."
There was a soft click and the crate exploded.
The explosion took out Drag Strip and sent Vortex hurtling in one direction while his right leg spun off in another. Rampage, slightly further away, was knocked to the ground. He lay there, covering his face and screaming about being blind.
The others came running from all directions. Beachcomber found himself kneeling in front of the Decepticon that had once tortured him for information, trying to make sense of the screeches and blasts of static emanating from his mouth.
That was the moment that something shapeless and fast yanked Dead End straight up into the sky.
"Defensive perimeter," Razorclaw called out as he hauled Rampage to his feet and slung one of his junior officer's arm over his shoulders. "Brawl! Transform and provide fire support."
Brawl's transformation cog whined and his joints made an unpleasant grinding noise as he struggled to shift to his tank mode.
Beachcomber rose to obey Razorclaw and Vortex grabbed his forearm.
"Don't-don't leave me," the Deception said weakly.
Beachcomber shook him off and ran.
Something dropped from above and landed behind Breakdown. He spun and opened fire, realizing too late that his target was Divebomb. The two Decepticons-shooter and shot-had time to share horrified looks before Divebomb fell sideways to the ground, showering sparks and leaking vital fluids.
Breakdown dropped in front of the fallen Predacon to see if there was anything he could do.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry I'm sorry."
Divebomb was looking past him, over his shoulder. His eyes widened.
For a second time, Breakdown sensed movement from above.
This time he was too slow in turning around.
Something, several things came out of the dust and grabbed at Razorclaw. Dropping Rampage, Razorclaw focused on defending himself, firing his weapon with one hand, swiping his sword at shapes coming out of the dust with the other.
Mirage's voice came out of the sandstorm. "Razorclaw!"
"Stay back, it isn't safe," Razorclaw called out.
Mirage appeared next to him and grabbed Rampage on one side. Supporting the injured Predacon between them, Razorclaw and Mirage began to move.
"This way!" Beachcomber called out from somewhere beyond them.
"You're both here? Satisfy my curiosity, Autobots," Razorclaw said. "What part of 'Stay back. It isn't safe' was unclear?"
"In our defense," Mirage said, "when an Autobot says 'Stay back. It isn't safe,' what it means is 'I'm in need of rescue, but I'd rather sacrifice myself than ask for any help.'"
"I marvel that your side won the war."
Brawl had finally managed to transform.
Under his covering fire, Razorclaw, supporting the injured Rampage, along with Beachcomber and Mirage found shelter in a derelict building.
Beachcomber, built for these conditions, had the best vision, but even to him their attackers were little more than movement and vague shapes obscured by the blowing sand. He called out targerts and Mirage and Razorclaw fired blindly at them.
Brawl clanked towards their position. The ground on one side of him gave way beneath his treads, The tank lurched to one side. One set of tracks spun helplessly in the air, while the other was smothered in the dirt.
Once again, he began to transform.
"Hurry up!" Beachcomber called. "They're nearly on top of you."
In robot mode now, Brawl pulled himself free of the sinkhole. He was crawling forward towards them when something grabbed his legs from behind and pulled him backwards into the storm.
"They're all over the place," Beachcomber said.
"This is hopeless," Mirage said. " I'm the best shot with the most accurate rifle Cybertron's produced but in this visibility…I mean have I hit even one of them yet?"
"I think I found something," Rampage called from behind them. "Can one of you sighted bots confirm that what I'm feeling beneath my hands here is a trap door?"
Beachcomber hurried over. "He's right. Seems to lead into some tunnel system."
"Tunnel to where?" Mirage asked.
"A tunnel to not-in-the-middle-of-a-sandstorm surrounded by who-knows-how-many who-knows-whats," Rampage said.
"It is a step up from our current position," Razorclaw agreed. "I'll bring Rampage and cover our retreat."
As soon as they were in the tunnels though, Rampage had other ideas.
"You're hurt," Beachcomber said. "We can't leave you."
"Of course we can," Razorclaw said, easing his blinded comrade into a comfortable seated position facing back the way they had come. "We're all Decepticons here."
"How are you going to hold anybody off when you can't see?" Mirage asked.
"We're in a tunnel. Just point me back the opposite way you're going," Rampage said. "Skipper, it's been a pleasure."
Razorclaw laid a hand upon his Rampage's shoulder. "You're a Predacon. Through and through."
"You're insane," Beachcomber said.
Rampage grunted: "Don't say I never did nothin' for ya."
The tunnel was clear of sand and wind and the floor was smooth. The Predacon leader and two Autobots transformed for speed and raced down the passage into the unknown.
Behind them, they could hear Rampage firing his weapon.
All too soon, the firing stopped.
Transformers: Evil Forces of the Decepticons
By Dan Brodribb
CAST
RAZORCLAW
BEACHCOMBER
MIRAGE
