AN: Some Cybertronian time units you might need: nanoklik = 1 second.
Who do I choose? It could be any of them… Except him of course. Fixit pondered, hovering over the nine mechs to choose from. He eventually decided and went to lie down; seriously worrying that he was going to make another mistake. Saberhorn heard the voice tell him who to investigate and shrugged.
"I'm certain he doesn't go anywhere, but… I hope Fixit knows what he's doing." Saberhorn shivered; fearing that he would be the next bot for somebot to find dead later.
XxX
"Hey, you suddenly decide to come and speak to me did you, you…" Kickback trailed off mid-insult.
"You'd be wise to not insult your betters, Insecticon." The bot pointed the gun more firmly at Kickback, making the bot shiver.
"Why you gotta be so… hostile?" He asked, backing up. He felt solid wall behind him and his fear at his discovery only served to make the other bot grin.
"Because you all deserve what you're going to get!" The bot fired the shot. Kickback slumped to the ground. The bot drew out his knife; eager to slice Kickback's throat. He didn't take kindly to insults.
XxX
Fixit heard the voice telling him to get up, so he did; wheeling straight over to the computer. He saw one report on it and sighed in relief. At least the killers didn't kill Saberhorn earlier. He thought, reading over his report. Ped actually went out last night. I wonder who he visited. Fixit wheeled out of his door and headed to the main room. He saw only nine bots waiting for him inside.
"I'd better go and check on Kickback, hadn't I?" Fixit turned around and wheeled along the corridor, stopping only when he reached Kickback's door. He heard footsteps and turned to see who they belonged to.
"Just coming along to find out whether the one who did this was the same one who killed Glowstrike, or Scorponok." Saberhorn informed him. Fixit knocked and received no answer after a few nanokliks. He headed inside and found Kickback sprawled on the floor.
"Same mech who killed Scorponok, then." Saberhorn shuddered. Fixit heard the voice telling him Kickback was innocent. Both he and Saberhorn made their way back to the main room; Fixit to stand at the front, and Saberhorn to stand at the back.
"Who did you visit last night, Ped?" Fixit asked. He didn't receive an answer.
"Fixit asked you a question!" Overload told him off.
"Fine then, don't answer me." Fixit folded his arms across his chest, glancing up at the ceiling; awaiting the voice's announcement. It didn't disappoint.
"Ped, make your way to the front." Fixit told him; certain he'd caught another assassin.
"Fine. But I don't see how me not answering you means I should die."
"I think it's you not coming up with an alibi that means you should die." Crazybolt grinned; if this was the bot that killed Springload; then he was going to get what he deserved. Ped made his way to Fixit's plinth and stood in front of it.
"You may close your optics if you wish." Fixit told Ped; who didn't seem nervous.
"May I speak to everybot first?" He asked with a smirk. Fixit didn't like it; but allowed him to speak.
"It's been fun, going around visiting bots. There are only a few things that I wish." He paused awaiting a bot to ask what. He received that response from most of the mechs left.
"That you all could have seen the look on Steeljaw's face when I drew the knife on him is one." This prompted a few cries of outrage; bots realising he was the bot who had been slitting other bots throats.
"End that heathen!" Saberhorn shouted, growling at him.
"Made a change for Scorponok to be intimidated by somebot; instead of the other way around." Ped smirked; knowing this was winding the Insecticon up.
"The other thing I wish that you all knew was Thunderhoof had exactly the same look in his optics as Steeljaw did." Ped smirked; turning to Fixit.
"The final wish is that I could have shown all of you; so you'd finally give me the respect I deserve!"
"Killing other bots in cold energon is neither respectful nor honourable, you lousy bot worm!" Saberhorn lunged for him, only being stopped by Grimlock holding him back.
"He isn't worth it Saberhorn. He wants you to react." Overload told him. They all heard a shot and turned. They saw Ped lying on the floor, Fixit holding a gun in one hand behind him. Fixit adjusted the gun's parameters, before firing it once more. The voice whispered that Ped was the loose cannon.
"One less killer to worry about." Fixit told the remaining eight mechs.
"Would any of you like to volunteer to carry him to his room?" Fixit asked, surprised at who raised his hand. Saberhorn picked Ped up and carried him to his room. He let go as soon as he was inside, leaving the body to slump to the floor. Give him the courtesy he gave everybot else. Saberhorn thought, shutting the door behind him. Just as he made his way back to the main room, the voice told everybot to report to their room. He turned back around and walked to his room, followed by everybot else going to theirs. Fixit picked his target for Saberhorn to investigate, before going to recharge. He didn't expect to be lucky twice in a row; but… Saberhorn heard who his target was and grinned. I'm certain that mech is always up to something. He thought; heading back to his room. Only the coup leader decided to head out; he wanted his first taste of energon being spilled.
XxX
"Why would you be visiting me?" Hammerstrike looked confused by the mech visiting him.
"To kill you." The mech answered, drawing his gun.
"Wait, you aren't even going to try and…" Hammerstrike shouted in pain; the gun had been fired.
"No. I see no point in it." The mech changed the gun's settings and fired at Hammerstrike's spark. He went back to his room, grinning at how everybot but him would be surprised at the Sharkticon's absence later.
XxX
Fixit checked his report, disappointed by the lack of useful information. He made his way to the main room. He stopped upon noticing a lack of pale blue in the room.
"I'll check on Hammerstrike." Just in case there is some different method of killing being used. He added in his head. He knocked on the door; unsurprised to receive no answer. He went inside and saw Hammerstrike lying on the berth. Probably with a bullet hole in the centre of his chest. Fixit was informed as such by the voice, before heading back to the main room.
"Would anybot care to own up to killing Hammerstrike?" Fixit asked them. He received silence as his answer.
"You didn't really expect anybot to do so, did you Fixit?" Saberhorn asked him.
"No." I would have liked it, but I didn't expect it. He added.
"Do you intend to kill anybot?" The voice asked, sounding somewhat amused by the turn of events.
"No." Fixit answered it.
"Then report to your rooms." Each mech did as asked, unsure of whom to trust. Fixit pondered who to investigate now. Chop Shop isn't the killer, neither is Saberhorn… Maybe… Fixit picked his target, before going to lie on his berth. There were only seven mechs left now, one of them a killer. Saberhorn heard his target, and looked confused. Why would he kill mechs? Oh well, better do as I'm asked… He headed out to plant the bug on the mech's door. A mech received his orders and headed out as well. He had a mech to dispatch.
XxX
"You aren't Headlock, and only he comes into my room unannounced. Get out!" Groundpounder shouted at the mech by the door.
"You shan't be remembering the visit." The mech pulled out a gun. Groundpounder growled at him.
"You! You were the one running around shooting bots! I'll make you pay for that!" Groundpounder readied his fist to swing at his visitor. Before he could get anywhere near said visitor; a shot knocked him to the ground.
"I was expecting the Fiery Fists of Furnax. Oh well!" The mech shot his target.
XxX
Fixit glanced over his report. It said that Quillfire had gone out last night. Maybe he's the killer… Fixit pondered while wheeling his way to the main room. He quickly spotted who was missing. Fixit frowned, before making his way out of the room again. He knocked on Groundpounder's door and received no answer. He went inside and found the mech in question lying on his bed. The voice informed him that Groundpounder was an innocent; and he made his way back to the main room. He noticed there were only six mechs left; not counting himself. But I know who the killer is; I'm going to save everybot! Fixit thought. He glanced over the mechs remaining.
"Who did you visit, Quillfire?" Fixit asked; hoping that he wouldn't answer.
"Overload." He answered, very quickly. Fixit thought it suspicious.
"Liar! You didn't come into my room at all!" Overload dropped him in it.
"He's an assassin!" Crazybolt suggested, fidgeting in place. It was hard for him to stay still.
"I can't help agreeing with you. Quillfire, make your way to the front." Fixit told him.
"What? But I'm innocent! This is a misunderstanding." Quillfire shivered, doing as he was asked, however. Once he was stood in front of Fixit, he noticed the gun in the mini-con's hand.
"I'm innocent! You just wish to do away with me. That's it! You believe that I will manage to perform this revolt, don't you? You think my revolution will be successful and that's why you must stop me!" Quillfire ranted, waving his arms around.
"Quillfire, shutter your optics." Fixit told him.
"Fine, oppressor! But this revolution will not end with me!" Quillfire's optics slid shut and Fixit pointed the gun at him. Fixit fired it once; then changed the settings and fired it once more. The voice informed him that the mech he'd just killed was an assassin.
"He was an assassin. So that means; we all must be safe now!" Fixit seemed relieved. Everybot else did too. They were informed by the voice to report to their rooms; which was a little strange. Grimlock carried Quillfire to his room; leaving the mech on his berth. Grimlock then went to his own room. Fixit picked a mech for Saberhorn to investigate, before lying on his berth. Strange. Why would Saberhorn need to investigate anybot? Everybot else is innocent, aren't they? The thoughts made Fixit think he'd missed something. Saberhorn heard his target, shrugged; and left to bug that mech's room. You aren't safe yet, Fixit. You still have me to worry about! The coup leader mused, heading out to kill somebot once more.
XxX
"Oi, what you doing coming in here?" Chop Shop asked, thankfully combined. Thankful for his visitor that was.
"You don't think this game should have ended by now?" The mech asked.
"I guess. What that cobber decides isn't my concern." He folded his arms across his chest. Chop Shop saw the gun in the mech's hand.
"Hey, what you doing with that? You ain't an assassin; Fixit got 'em!" Chop Shop was just about to separate into his components to make him harder to hit, when a shot hit him and he collapsed.
"He may have got my assassins, but he won't get me." The coup leader pointed out, before firing another shot.
XxX
Fixit found that he'd got a report. So, Chop Shop had a visitor. Fixit thought, after reading the report. He made his way to the main room; seeing only four mechs waiting for him. He shivered; Chop Shop was missing. That means… there is another killer! Fixit thought, while making his way to Chop Shop's room. He pushed the door open; not even bothering to knock anymore. If he got told off, it meant that something different was going on. Fixit had no such luck; he found Chop Shop lying on his bed. The voice informed him that Chop Shop was innocent. Fixit made his way back to the main room; standing on his plinth before the four remaining bots.
"I don't suppose any of you would like own up to visiting Chop Shop last night?" Fixit received silence as an answer; as he expected. The voice asked if he wished to kill anybot; Fixit giving a no in response. All five of them reported to their rooms; the four prisoners all nervously looking at each other. One of them was a killer; and they hoped he wasn't going to be visiting them that night. Fixit thought about which of the remaining three mechs could be the killer; since he knew it wasn't Saberhorn. Overload, Grimlock or Crazybolt… Overload, Grimlock or Crazybolt… Fixit tapped one without looking and tapped confirm. He went to his berth; hoping that Saberhorn caught the killer in the act.
XxX
"So, it was you that ordered the death of Glowstrike." Saberhorn glared at the mech who'd decided to visit him.
"It wasn't me. I'm just visiting you, to try and gain your support." The mech told him.
"I don't think so. The only reason anybot would be visiting somebot right now is to kill them." Saberhorn shuddered, now seeing the gun drawn on him.
"Well, if you're going to shoot me…" Saberhorn raised his arms to the sides and closed his optics; unable to care anymore. He was the only Insecticon left on the Alchemor now. He felt a shot and dropped; stunned by it. The mech shot him again; this time the gun set to kill. The mech headed back to his room, shaking his head.
XxX
Fixit checked his computer, and saw no reports. He knew what that meant and headed straight to Saberhorn's room. Fixit found the mech in question on his berth. The voice informed him that this was his only remaining investigator; something Fixit already knew. He made his way to the main room; seeing only three mechs waiting there for him.
"I don't know which of you the killer is; so I'm not going to kill any of you." Fixit informed the three mechs who were left. He wasn't to know that one of them was inwardly cheering; he could kill somebot else now! Fixit made his way back to his room; hoping that there were still three mechs waiting for him the next morning.
XxX
"Hey, you here to talk?" Grimlock asked his visitor hopefully.
"No, you dim-witted Dinobot; I'm here to kill you." The mech drew his gun.
"I knew it." Grimlock shut his optics; not wanting to see when the shot was fired. He felt the shot course through him; knocking him to the ground. The mech made his way over and shot Grimlock once more. One more to go; then I'm free! The mech thought to himself.
XxX
Fixit made his way to the main room. He saw only Crazybolt and Overload waiting for him.
"Fixit, you do not need to check on Grimlock. You need to choose which of these two mechs is the killer." The voice came over the speakers. Fixit looked confused.
"Otherwise; he will kill the last remaining innocent and then… come for you." The voice told him rather sinisterly. Fixit pondered that for a few nanokliks.
"So, why should I not kill you?" Fixit turned to Overload first.
"Have you ever caught me leaving my room?" He asked. Fixit shook his head after thinking about it.
"Crazybolt has left his room, at least once, as you quizzed him about it. Who says it isn't more than once?" Overload folded his arms.
"Doesn't mean that Overload didn't go anywhere." Crazybolt glared at him.
"It just means you never caught him."
"Like he never caught you?" Overload smirked.
"Quillfire named him! Quillfire said he'd visited Overload when Groundpounder died!" Crazybolt sounded like he was grasping at straws; even though what he'd said was right.
"Which I denied. Who's to say he didn't just pick somebot randomly?" Fixit looked to be considering both of their words. He also appeared to be considering the way the two of them were acting. Crazybolt seemed really nervous; whereas Overload seemed calm. Fixit made his way over to the two mechs.
"Both of you; close your optics." Fixit drew out his gun. Overload quickly did as asked, Crazybolt nervously closing his optics a few nanokliks later. I'm really not sure… it could be either of them… Fixit pointed his gun at his chosen target and fired. Crazybolt dropped with the force of the stun shot. Fixit changed the gun's settings and fired it into Crazybolt's spark. The voice didn't say anything. Fixit saw the gun disappear from his hands, as though it was an illusion.
"Oh Fixit, you made a good choice." Overload told him; sounding relieved at the choice.
"For me, that is." Overload drew his own gun; making Fixit still. He'd chosen the wrong one!
"I'm going to enjoy my freedom. The universe shall be my stage. This prison-ship just the start of my journey. For you however, this prison-ship shall be something else entirely." Overload pointed his gun at Fixit.
"Your grave." Fixit felt a powerful shock go through him and his world went black.
XxX
Fixit screamed. He onlined his optics, silently hoping that there wasn't a killer awaiting him when he did. He was surprised to see a ceiling above him, not endless stars or darkness. Fixit shivered; silently hoping that what he'd just experienced was a nightmare. He knew one way to be sure. He got up and wheeled his way along the corridor. No prisoners greeted him, no other Mini-cons saw him as he went. He found the room where some of the stasis cells were. He keyed in the code and the door slid open. He found all of the prisoners inside; still in their stasis pods. He made his way over to certain pods; noting that Steeljaw's throat cables were intact, not repaired, but completely intact. As though they had never been cut. He also noted that neither Saberhorn nor Glowstrike had signs of being shot in the chest, or repairs to indicate they had been. Just a nightmare then… Fixit thought to himself. He made his way back to his berth. He hoped that he wouldn't have any more nightmares.
AN: Yes… it was all just one of Fixit's nightmares. Alongside being useless, I imagine he'd fear being killed by one of his prisoners. This chapter's title comes from a quote by Thunderhoof; "It ain't who wins the most fights, just who wins th' last one." And the end results are, for anyone who would like to see them:
The Coup Leader was Overload.
The Assassins were Quillfire, Vertebreak and Scowl.
The Forger was Minitron.
Quillfire killed Glowstrike, Clampdown, Malodor and Groundpounder.
Vertebreak killed Razorpaw, Zizza and Stockade.
Scowl killed Underbite and Bisk.
Minitron forged evidence by getting Filch to kill Nightstrike.
Overload killed Hammerstrike, Chop Shop, Saberhorn and Grimlock.
Ped was the Loose Cannon.
Ped killed Octopunch, Terrashock, Scorponok, Steeljaw, Scowl, Minitron, Springload, Thunderhoof, Simacore and Kickback.
Fixit ordered the deaths of two innocents; Filch and Crazybolt.
Fixit ordered the deaths of three killers; Vertebreak, Ped and Quillfire.
Thunderhoof, Saberhorn and Razorpaw were the Investigators.
Also, all of the other Roles (Coup Leader, Assassins, Investigators and the Loose Cannon) were randomly chosen. Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it!