Transformers: Cybertron DX
Episode 4: The Reformatting
Mudflap watched through a remote camera the events unfolding in the prison. So, the Autobots have indeed infiltrated Cybertron. They must be headed for the Temple. Fortunately, I'm close enough to trap them there. Mudflap turned to face Megastorm. "Come with me."
The pair transformed and sped off. Mudflap contacted a division of his troops and directed them to the Temple. With the execution of the remaining lead Autobots, he could solidify his power base and, perhaps, overthrow Starscream.
Mudflap relished that thought.
Hot Shot and Wingsaber flew from the gate and landed on the floor. Hot Shot got up and looked around, suddenly feeling small in the massive chamber. Upon further inspection, it was more of a hallway, pillars lining it every few meters. At the end, Hot Shot saw what looked like a ziggurat, one which he couldn't see the top of. He was speechless.
"Whoa…" Wingsaber said in awe.
"I had no idea there was something this big down here!" Red Alert exclaimed.
"It is well hidden. One cannot find it unless they know what to look for." Vector Prime explained. "We do not have much time. Follow me." He led the way down the hallway.
The group walked down the hallway, everyone but Vector Prime alert. Red Alert spoke up. "So, how are we getting away? The Decepticons most likely know about this place, and will pursue. And we can't steal another ship."
"Vector Prime warped us out of the prison, so he can probably warp us back to Iacon One. Right?" Demolishor put in.
"I will need to recharge my energy before we can go anywhere. We must also retrieve the planet map before we leave. The Decepticon called Starscream has it." Vector Prime stated.
The procession froze. "STARSCREAM has it?! You expect us to get it from him!?" Demolishor exclaimed.
"He'd kill us! The only people that have survived a duel against him are those he wanted to live!" Red Alert added.
Vector Prime looked at the shocked faces of the Autobots. "We do not need to fight him. All we need is a diversion, so we can sneak into his quarters and retake the map."
"It won't be that simple." Wingsaber interjected. "All of Darkmount has been alerted to our presence and Primus knows what kind of traps he's got in his quarters. We're being hunted, and in our present condition, we've got no chance. I doubt even those Cyber Keys can help us now."
"Do not doubt the gifts of Primus." Vector Prime turned and continued down the hall.
Mudflap drove up to the entrance to the Temple and transformed, Megastorm right behind him. About fifty troops stood waiting.
"All right, gentlemen, the Autobots are in there. If we destroy them, we gain incredible prestige. And if we win, I will make sure every one of you gets Cyber Keys." Mudflap announced. "We have the element of surprise. Let's get in there and bring death to the Autobots!"
Megastorm followed Mudflap's troops into the Temple. Mudflap's troops would be enough to overwhelm this small band, but Megastorm thought there was more to Mudflap's intentions than simple extermination. I'll need to keep an eye on him. Megastorm thought.
"Why is Vector Prime missing?" The calm voice was much more unnerving than being screamed at. The security chief had been screamed at by Megatron, and had grown accustomed to having his audio receptors overloaded. Starscream being calm at a time like this was something no one expected.
"I, uh, the Autobots snuck in and broke him out. Sir." The security chief replied.
"And how did they get in?"
"Well, they seem to have come in through the maintenance areas. Two different spots, too."
Starscream nodded. "Why were they not detected? Is the maintenance area that empty that someone didn't see them?"
"Well, uh, security's been a bit lax since we took Earth, sir. We never thought they'd come to Cybertron."
"And what if they had been here for me?"
The security chief hung his head. "We wouldn't be having this discussion."
Starscream stood. "Exactly. And since they warped away, we have no idea where they are now and no idea what they'll do. Now get out and fix those holes. This will not happen again."
The security chief snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, sir!" He spun on his heel and strode from the room.
Starscream took Vector Prime's map from under the desk and studied it. The Autobots had Vector Prime, and apparently only he could decode and align the map properly. And every time he did activate it, the map was a complete mess. He recognized one or two stars, but no others. Everything was in the wrong spot.
Wait. I recognize two stars. Maybe we can realign this map without Vector Prime, using those two stars. Starscream commed the astronomics lab. "I'm sending Vector Prime's map down there. See if you can realign the map." He clicked off the comm. and summoned a guard. Starscream handed the guard the map. "Take this to the astronomics lab."
As the guard left the room, Starscream began to pace. Now, Vector Prime warped away before the guards got to them. Vector Prime gave us the Cyber Keys, though I did trick him for them. He is probably going to give the Autobots the Cyber Keys voluntarily, which means…
"They're at the Temple." Starscream opened the comm to his personal guard. "The Autobots who attacked us are at the Temple of Primus. Converge there. We won't lose them this time." He closed the comm and ran out of the room. They won't escape me this time.
Finally the Autobots came upon the ziggurat at the end of the hallway. The structure was even taller than the Autobots had expected. Vector Prime seemed like the only one who wasn't in awe, as he simply walked up to the door and stuck his sword in the lock.
The door slid open, and Vector Prime waved the Autobots inside. "Step on the pedestal and you will be reformatted. Your current bodies are not suited for use of the Cyber Keys." Vector Prime said.
"So we all get new bodies? Nifty." Jetfire commented.
"The Powerlinking modifications didn't raise your aesthetic appeal any, so this-"
"Callin' me ugly, Red?" Jetfire cut Red Alert off.
"S-sorry. I didn't mean to imply that." Red Alert replied bashfully.
"'S okay, Red. Getting' a bit tired of this body anyway." Jetfire consoled.
"So, we just step on it? And BOOM- we're reformatted?" Demolishor asked.
"Yes. Who shall be first?" Vector Prime asked.
The Autobots looked around at each other. The Decepticons had used similar tricks against the Autobots before, such as lost Minicons, false Energon deposits, Decepticon superweapons, things like that. Many had been lured into these traps and destroyed, casualties increasing as the Autobots became increasingly desperate.
"Well, somebody needs to try this thing. I may as well." Wingsaber said, shrugging. He stepped up to the pedestal. "Just stand here?"
"On the diamond."
Wingsaber stepped over to the diamond in the center. The engravings on the pedestal glowed like small rivers of magma. The diamond glowed similarly, and Wingsaber was lifted off the ground and enveloped in white light.
"Wingsaber!" Hot Shot exclaimed, stepping forward.
Vector Prime held out his arm to restrain Hot Shot. "This is supposed to happen. He will be fine."
Demolishor looked up, and saw that Wingsaber had reappeared. It looked to him like his armor had been removed, exposing his inner machinery. A wave of what looked like red slime oozed down Wingsaber's body, obscuring the inner workings from view. Mass shifted and parts shrank inward, other parts growing. That was all Demolishor could see before Wingsaber was consumed by a flash of light.
The Autobots awe of the spectacle was interrupted by a laser passing within centimeters of Jetfire's head. "Behind us! Take cover!" Jetfire shouted, and the group dispersed behind whatever they could find as cover and returned fire.
Megastorm cursed. He had missed the Autobot, and had done nothing but alert the squad. "Knew I should've gotten my targeting sensors checked." He muttered. His thoughts were interrupted by a laser grazing his head. He immediately rolled to the side.
Mudflap drove up next to him. "Watch and learn." He transformed, drew his pistols, and fired down the hall, causing Hot Shot to duck behind cover again.
Mudflap waved his troops onward. "Come on! Let's finish the job!" He roared, leading the charge of his troops.
"Slag! They're charging!" Jetfire called out.
Hot Shot pulled out a grenade. "Not for much longer." He primed it and threw. "Catch this!"
A few seconds later, the sound of an explosion echoed throughout the room. A few mech parts landed amongst the Autobots. They leaned out from cover and poured firepower down the hall.
"Mind if I join you guys?" A voice said from behind Hot Shot.
Hot Shot turned to face the voice. "Wingsaber?"
"Yep. New and improved." Wingsaber said, shifting his hands to chaingun mode and firing down the hall. His new armor was a gleaming white, with black legs that had a red patch on the shins and turbines for kneecaps. White upper legs were topped by a black torso, with an Autobot insignia plastered in the center of a gleaming golden plate. His wings held missile racks and blaster cannons, making Wingsaber look like he was dressed for war.
A smile crept across Wingsaber's golden face. "Wanna be next?"
Hot Shot nodded. "As soon as we can drive these Decepticreeps back."
"Let's see what I can do about that. CYBER KEY POWER!"
Mudflap snarled. That grenade had managed to halt the charge, but a fair distance had been closed. He was about to order a second charge when the white Autobot called out for a Cyber Key. The Autobot's cockpit flipped up from his back and opened, charging the weapons in front with a menacing red glow.
The next thing Mudflap saw was a pair of flaming red plasma balls headed straight for him. He ducked back behind his cover, just in time. The plasma balls detonated close to him, vaporizing a cluster of soldiers.
Megastorm radioed the blue mech. "Mudflap, sir! We've got to fall back and regroup!"
Mudflap swore. To retreat was to admit weakness. But right now, he didn't have much of a plan. "Fall back!"
A small hail of firepower chased the Decepticons down the hall as they retreated back to the entryway. Hot Shot turned to Wingsaber. "That was pretty impressive. Do we all get cool powers like that?"
"It sometimes varies between robot mode and alternate mode. The only way to be sure is to be reformatted." Vector Prime answered.
"Ooh! Ooh! Me next!" Demolishor exclaimed.
Jetfire chuckled. "Go ahead, Demolishor. No one's stopping you."
Demolishor hopped up onto the pedestal and was engulfed by the white light.
"YOU IDIOT!!"
Mudflap recoiled from his leader's voice. He had returned to the entrance to find Starscream and Thundercracker waiting for him, along with many other soldiers. "I- well, I-"
"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Starscream boomed, cutting off Mudflap. The seeker's optics flared. "When you knew where the Autobots were going, you should have reported it to me immediately! Thanks to your incompetence, the Autobots now have the very weapon we used so effectively against them!"
"Maybe if you weren't so incompetent yourself, the Autobots wouldn't have made it off of Earth alive!" Mudflap shouted back. Immediately he regretted his words.
Starscream's optics narrowed. "More Autobots have escaped from your forces and attacks you have personally led than any other Decepticon, and you dare call me incompetent?" Starscream hissed. He stepped closer to Mudflap, staring the general square in the optics.
Mudflap stared defiantly back. "If you will let me, I will finish the Autobots for you. I will-" He was interrupted by Starscream's fist smashing into his face. The blue mech fell to the ground.
Starscream aimed one of his null lasers at Mudflap. "I'm not happy, Mudflap. You have been failing me consistently of late. And I'm sick of it. I hereby strip you of your rank of General. You will return to your barracks and wait until I call for you." Starscream turned and pointed to three of his soldiers. "Escort Mudflap to his barracks."
Mudflap resisted initially, but submitted. He silently hoped he would have some command rank left over, but Starscream dashed that hope. "I'll let you have your rank back when you earn it, Captain."
"All present and accounted for?" Hot Shot inquired. Everyone had just finished being reformatted, Hot Shot himself being the last one.
"Scattershot reporting in, sir!" A blue and yellow mech saluted. Hot Shot knew that Scattershot was Demolishor, but had decided to change his name. He was still a tank, but different. Robot mode had his treads on his shins, which were blue. His upper legs and codpiece were yellow, just like his shoulders and arms. The front end of Scattershot's vehicle mode formed his chest, with the turret in tank mode forming what looked like a backpack.
"Jetfire ready for duty." Jetfire saluted, next to Scattershot. Jetfire had assumed the form of some kind of green and white human cargo plate. His broad cockpit made his chest, Autobot symbol displayed proudly in its center. His wings formed his shoulders, and his arms the turbines. His tail folded onto his back, leaving large olive green legs to form his plane mode's middle.
"Red Alert awaiting orders, sir!" Red Alert saluted. He had retained an ambulance alternate form, but had changed structure dramatically. Both the front and back of his vehicle form meshed together to form his legs, red-tinted windshields sticking out from the tops of the shins and a deep blue stripe running down the inside front portion. One hand was still a laser scalpel/welder/whatever Red Alert needed it to be at the time. His doors covered the sides of his shoulders like shields, blue stripe running horizontally down it. His color scheme remained largely the same, navy blue and white.
Hot Shot nodded. He had assumed a new form, that of a sports car. His color scheme consisted of reds, oranges, and gold flames on his hood, which split in half to form his shoulders in robot mode. A dark gray dominated his chest plate, broken only by a yellow square in the center and orange/yellow highlights on the sides. His forearms and hands shared the dark gray coloring. His vehicle mode doors were strapped to his forearms, which contained three proton blasters each. The roof of his car mode had spun and rested on his back. His legs shared the hot coloration of the rest of his body, red with a gold triangle running up the middle of his shin.
"All right, boys, let's get that map and get back to base. Roll out!" Hot Shot declared, and transformed into sports car mode. Wingsaber assumed the form of an A-10 Warthog airplane, Jetfire his cargo plane, Scattershot his tank mode, Red Alert his ambulance mode, and Vector Prime as an ancient Cybertronian ship. The Autobots, rejuvenated and fully repaired, sped down the hallway.
I knew that fool would give the Autobots the advantage. Starscream thought bitterly, as he sighted the Autobots coming down the hall. He called for a halt and motioned for his soldiers to open fire. Starscream transformed and joined them.
Vector Prime flew up to Starscream, transforming and drawing his sword. "Return my map, villain!" he demanded.
"I think not, old man." Starscream declared, activating his Cyber Key power, blades snapping out.
In an instant, the pair's blades clashed, and both flew apart. They danced through the air, swords slashing at the other's vital parts.
"See you Autobrats got an upgrade! Won't help ya none!" Thundercracker declared, blasting at Wingsaber and Jetfire.
The two aerial Autobots split formation, coming at Thundercracker from the sides. Thundercracker transformed and soared upward, then looped around and fired a brace of missiles at Jetfire.
The green Autobot barrel rolled away, and Wingsaber U-turned in midair. "I can do that too!" Wingsaber shouted, launching his own brace of missiles at Thundercracker.
Thundercracker dodged those missiles and accelerated at Wingsaber, launching his missiles at point blank.
The missiles struck home, sending Wingsaber spiraling to the ground. Thundercracker transformed. "That'll learn ya." His joy was interrupted by a large green cargo plane smashing into his frame. Thundercracker dropped a few meters, then recovered.
"And that'll learn ya to pay attention!" Jetfire mocked, coming around to strafe Thundercracker.
Hot Shot's fist smashed into Megastorm's face. The green tank dropped and swept his leg underneath Hot Shot's, knocking the Autobot to the floor. Megastorm got up and loomed over Hot Shot. "Looks like I'll be getting a kill today." He said, smiling.
Hot Shot aimed his proton blasters into Megastorm's abdomen and fired, searing the mech. Something ruptured, causing Megastorm's abdomen to explode outward, felling the Decepticon.
"Not today, pal." Hot Shot said, rising to his feet and aiming at the next Decepticon.
Starscream's and Vector Prime's swords clashed, bringing their faces very close together. "I want my map, Starscream. Without it, we cannot save the universe from Unicron!"
"I was going to do that, you old fool! You had the Autobots come rescue you and interfered with my plans!" Starscream shot back, flinging Vector Prime away.
Vector Prime recovered. "You would have used the power of Primus for your own ends! I will not allow that!" Vector Prime lunged.
Starscream dodged the lunge easily. "You'll never get it. It's still in Darkmount, and the fortress is now impenetrable! And you will all die here!"
Vector Prime prepared to lunge again, when Scattershot called his name. He looked down to see the Autobots were being overwhelmed. He looked back at Starscream. "You will not use the power of Primus for your twisted ends. I will see to that." Vector Prime soared downward and opened a warp gate. The Autobots quickly retreated through it.