Writing has become so much more difficult for me lately, I think it's because the only Transformers on TV is G1. I'm not complaining about G1! Recently, this Christmas actually, I received season 2 of Transformers G1. We also got this new beautiful TV, and two new computers! They're beautiful, I've named them Mac and Lopez. Mac is a MacBook (obviously) and Lopez is this Dell which is excatly the same color as Lopez from Red vs Blue Season 7.

Anyway, here's the Nightbird Arc, next is the Bruticus Arc, (which will be a huge pain), then the Hook Arc, and finally, the highly anticipated Galvatron Arc! It's all organized in my head. I plan on sticking around a long time with this piece!

Enjoy!


In which the Autobot Colony Lithone is approached

Timecode: 9501.3.02

The Decepticons towards the end of the Great War had focused on keeping control of Cybertron. The major colonies that had been captured by Decepticons had been founded under the original Galvatron, but most of them were on the outer ring of Cybertronian colonies. Cybertron itself had been surrounded by Autobot colonies that formed a shield of sorts against the rest of the universe. New Kaon had been chosen as the Decepticon capital because of its proximity to Cybertron.

Lithone was one of the more outer Autobot colonies. The planet wasn't very much at first sight because of the thick acid rain clouds that muffled its skies, though there were breaks. What made the planet so important, according to the records that Hook had forced him to read, were the oil wells deep within the planet. It just so happened, however, that this colony was on the other side of the Autobot space. That meant they would have to fly around the Autobot space to get to this place. Unlike the quick ride to Polrise 8 and back, this would take a full three megacycles. They would arrive in the planet's air space in about ten cycles, since they had been flying non-stop.

Bruticus had gotten better from his attack back on New Kaon. He would limp and whenever Hook caught him out of the medical bay, the engineer would explode. Hook claimed that though he appeared fine, his wiring was still a mess. The only time that Hook wasn't working on Bruticus was when he was on bridge duty. Galvatron was forcing him to do so partly because he didn't want to trade sections with Nightbird all the time, and partly so Bruticus could get out of the medical bay without Hook knowing.

Nightbird's ecstatic behavior hadn't changed, unfortunately. Before going to recharge the first megacycle away from New Kaon, he had come to the conclusion that her behavior was a result of meeting with Sky-Byte on the way back to the Artemis. Her behavior had only gotten stranger though. Thinking about it now, Nightbird had never left the Artemis unless she had been asked by Hook to run a favor. He had asked her to secure some parts for the Artemis, she had returned with Swindle so that Hook could do the bargaining in person. According to the creepy salesmech, Nightbird had received a ping on her commlink and left of her own free will without so much as a twitch. A cycle later, she had returned with Sky-Byte. What had she been doing? Could whatever she had been doing have caused her twitch? Why would she have been with Sky-Byte?

These questions raced through Galvatron's processor as he stared at the screen of his datapad with an Autobot novel inscribed. He had hoped reading something would help him clear his processor, but it wasn't working. In fact, the questions only rained down harder. This in itself was confusing. He had never been close to Sky-Byte or Cyclonus until they had known each other for over a stellar cycle. Why was he so worried about her? Being worried for Bruticus was easy. He was a nice Decepticon and those were hard to come by. Hook, well, Hook rarely put himself in the path of danger, so no worries there.

Galvatron tried to concentrate on his new novel. Miror Prime was facing the Fallen in the classic battle of good versus evil. Not much to miss. What was he supposed to do anyway.

Interest now completely lost in his book, Galvatron it put aside for later. Hook might yell at him for procrastinating, but Galvatron just couldn't read unless there was something at the end of the road to look forward to. Sky-Byte had bribed him into reading piloting manuals by taking him out to oil. Cyclonus required no reading, everything was completely hands on. That meant he got beaten to scrap until he learned to not get beaten into scrap, which he was much better at now. It also meant charge until you can get a hit. Cyclonus rarely ever spoke during their lessons. Galvatron had to learn through experience. Even when finally hitting Cyclonus, the purple fighter had claimed that most bots rarely fought like him. He had then proceeded to copy different fighting styles to help Galvatron get what little variety he could get.

Eventually, mostly because of the overbearing silence that filled his room, Galvatron left his quarters for search of intelligent conversation that would help clear his processor. That meant Bruticus. Hook would have him in the medical bay at the moment, but Bruticus could still speak to him. Hook would just provide commentary. It was a little annoying, but Galvatron had gotten used to it.

He entered the medical bay to find Hook recharging on his desk. Bruticus was laying on the berth still. He appeared to be awake.

"Yo," Galvatron whispered in fear of awakening Hook. "You awake Bruticus?"

"Hello...Galvatron," the green Heavy groaned and looked at his captain. "Hook's been...recharging for...a while."

"Yeah, well, I don't want to deal with his interruptions this cycle. How're you doing?"

"I'm...feeling better. My circuits...no longer...sting. Hook says...I can leave...tomorrow."

"That's not stopping you from leaving normally, is it?"

"...Not really."

"That's nice to know. I've got the next bridge shift, and I was wondering if you'd keep me company."

"Oh...why?"

"By the AllSpark, I don't know. I've just got this feeling in my spark."

"...Okay."

"Thanks."

For a moment, the two simply sat there basking in the presence of the other. Galvatron decided to bring up one of the topics that was bothering his tired processor since Hook didn't appear to be waking up anytime soon.

"Hey Bruticus, do you think Nightbird has been acting weird?"

"Yep."

Galvatron was slightly surprised that Bruticus hadn't hesitated to answer. Maybe he had been waiting to have this conversation.

"So what have you noticed?"

"She's...gotten paranoid. She's always...looking over...her shoulder. She seems...afraid of something. I...don't know what...but she seems...sad."

Sad? Galvatron hadn't picked up on that.

"Nightbird was fine when I left the Artemis that morning."

"...Yeah. She was...normal when...Predaking brought me...back from...the Heavy Brigade...Barracks."

The captain made a mental note to have Hook work on the big mech's vocalizer.

"So between the time you were dragged back and I returned, Nightbird left the Artemis. We don't know what she was doing, but something happened to make her...let's call her 'twitchy' for now."

"Okay. When did... she leave?"

"The insane salesmech said shortly after you arrived, which was right before I arrived. She came back with Sky-Byte."

"Then Sky-Byte is obviously part of all this!"

Both Galvatron and Bruticus turned to see Hook leaning back in his chair watching them out of the corner of his optic.

"How long..." Bruticus failed to end.

"I've been awake the whole time," the engineer answered rudely and attempting to look superior, "Galvatron's been sneaking you out of here, so I decided to head you two off this cycle. Anyway, I didn't expect you two to start speaking about our resident Cyberninja."

"Are you saying you haven't noticed the difference in her lately?" Galvatron asked stunned.

"Of course I've seen the difference! Even a mech with malfunctioning viz-scanners could see it!"

"Oh...do you want to...help us...figure out why?"

"Not really. But I have been suffering from slight boredom lately, so why not? You were exchanging facts?"

"Well," Galvatron thought aloud, "I'm pretty sure Sky-Byte has something to do with it. They did both arrive back at the same time."

"How do you know that they arrived at the same time? She could've been back and Sky-Byte had just arrived to tell us our new...mission."

Hook emphasized the word mission. He didn't seem to like the word, but Galvatron didn't know why. In any event, he returned to the original topic.

"I'm pretty sure they did. She kept looking at him."

"And she wasn't just looking at him because he's one of the reasons that we're on these missions?"

Galvatron mulled over the possibility, then shook his head.

"Sky-Byte likes me. He wouldn't put me to death like the other idiots on the Council."

"That doesn't have anything to do with Nightbird's impression."

"Well, there was no aura of hate and pain. She was just looking at him. Looked kind of guilty, actually."

"Guilty?" Bruticus perked up.

"She wouldn't make optical contact with me."

A slight shudder went through the ship. Galvatron recognized the sensation, though Bruticus and Hook were shooting confused looks around the room.

"What's...going on?"

"We're slowing down," Galvatron whispered.

"What's Nightbird doing?" Hook snarled before running out of the room. Galvatron returned his attention to Bruticus.

"I'm going with Hook, will you be okay on your own?"

"Don't...worry," Bruticus' jaw lifted in what Galvatron interrupted as a smile, "Just keep me...informed."

Galvatron gave one last nod to his companion before dashing out himself.

-(\:/)-

Sitting in the berth for so long was both good and bad. Good, because he was given more time alone with his thoughts. Bad, because he almost forgot how his motor functions worked.

Bruticus watched his captain and the engineer leave him. The conversation had spurred many questions. Questions that needed answers. Answers that he could access through Decepticon command frequencies.

He slowly sat up, mindful of the circuitry damage done to him megacycles back. Hook had replaced all the damaged sections, but some of the wires had yet to properly install. Delicate work such as this was best left to his self-repair functions. Luckily, his main motor systems were quick to healing.

The Decepticon Heavy walked out the sliding door, conscious of its swish that closed it behind him. He walked down the halls toward the cargo area. There was a terminal he could reconfigure to pick up the command signals. It might take a bit of time, but Bruticus knew the systems of the Artemis even better than Hook, who had mostly designed the more practical parts of the ship, simply because systems always gave you practical answers. When he had been a young member of the Heavy Brigade, before confronting Megatron, Bruticus had looked for the answers to his questions within the Decepticon database. They had been much more informative than Lugnut. He trusted the system more than he trusted most mechs, like Megatron.

Like always, the cargo bay had crates upon crates stacked around. Half of the floor opened to allow docking. The terminal the Bruticus had been musing about was off to the left hand corner. He began to make his way toward it. In the side of his vision, he saw a small flicker. His head spun to investigate, but there wasn't anything there. He turned back to the terminal.

The terminal's screen lit up white, then violet. The keyboard folded out, and Bruticus placed his thumbs on the pad. Keyboards were a little harder than his number game, but he could adjust. Bruticus took a deep vent before letting his thumbs fly over the keys. It had been a while since he had attempted an entry into the database, but ever since Megatron had left for the AllSpark, security had grown lax.

All unessential trains of thought were stopped as he began to concentrate on the digits flying across the screen. They weren't that different from getting into the Autobot database, so he considered himself in practice. .35317.85642.352753.65432.5235.785... He passed the levels of firewalls for the normal Decepticon security with ease. He wanted to laugh, but returned his complete attention to the more difficult part of the firewalls. The Council had a much longer and more difficult security frequency. 10010111010101001011101-101001011101110100101010-0100010111010101001011010-...

Bruticus lost track of time, focusing on his work. He didn't even recognize the lurch of the ship, as if something had been fired. He watched the growing lines of data in front of him. This was taking much longer than he could remember. Maybe security had updated? Finally, the frequencies synchronized.

First, he accessed the most recent meeting of the Council of Generals. There wasn't much. Something about an Autobot that needed to be eliminated. And setting the elimination with a 'competent plan of action'. He couldn't get much out of it. There was nothing in Sky-Byte's journal log, in the same security folder. Huffing unhappily at the lack of information turning up, Bruticus began to scan anything worth scanning, simply for gathering purposes. Most of the information seemed trivial at the moment, but Bruticus had learned that having anything was better than nothing.

As his mind traveled at astonishing speeds throughout the database, he managed to get into Shockwave's intelligence files. They were a real prize and he congratulated himself. Shockwave's security frequency and firewalls were the most sophisticated that he had ever encountered. Never before had he been able to get into the double agent's files. Greedily, he began to scan the newer reports.

'HB and LA will be traveling to Lithone 1.3.03 for an IR. Opportunity to commence Operation: Gemini inbound. Send Cyberninja NB.'

Most of Shockwave's reports were like this, but Bruticus pause at this one. Lithone, that's where he was headed. The date was tomorrow. They were to arrive tomorrow. Were they to assist Shockwave in his Operation: Gemini? HB, LA, NB, IR? LA was easy enough, Longarm which was Shockwave's Autobot identity. HB... who was close to Shockwave with initials like that? Oh, of course, Highbrow. Head of Intelligence Highbrow. IR then was probably an intelligence report. Operation: Gemini was probably an assassination plot to get Longarm higher into the Intelligence Department.

'Send Cyberninja NB.'

It hit Bruticus harder than the Nemesis' firepower.

This wasn't a mission for Team Diana. It was a mission for Cyberninja Nightbird. Such a mission would probably end in her deactivation. That was the point of Team Diana, wasn't it? For them all to die. Only Galvatron wouldn't let them die.

He needed to tell Galvatron, they needed to help Nightbird. It was what teammates did, right?

Bruticus saved all of the found data and turned around to see Galvatron in the doorway of the cargo bay looking slightly spooked and vents whirling.

"Have you seen Nightbird?"

-(\:/)-

Perhaps the first thought that had gone through her mind when she had been called to the Council of Generals was outright refusal. They were Megatron's pawns, the pieces he used to control the rest of the Decepticon Army, and they were almost completely useless without him. Traitors to the true leader of Decepticons. Especially Straxus.

None the less, she had risen out of two things, a small curiosity of to know why they would wish to see her, and to escape the salesmech Swindle's ongoing chatter that was good for his position although annoying after a while. She had entered the Council of Generals' strategic chambers only to be completely ignored for a cycle. They had, eventually, motioned for Nightbird to join them. Their topic was one she was familiar with given her past experience with Galvatron.

"Highbrow will arrive in 3 megacycles," General Dynobot had told her. "He will be accompanied by Longarm, who is really Shockwave in his Autobot disguise. Shockwave has climbed the latter as far as he can get at the moment. The Autobot Council has known Highbrow since the end of the reign of Galvatron," he hadn't seem to notice the tensing of her frame, "and have no wish to replace him. The only way that Shockwave could become the Intelligence Prime is if Highbrow were to meet an... unfortunate end."

"This is where we will need you," General Strika had brought up a holographic image of Lithone, "The Autobots there wear repelling clocks to protect themselves against the acid rain. Hiding among them and killing Highbrow should be easy."

"It's finding a way to kill Highbrow and make Shockwave appear completely innocent that is your real challenge," Admiral Sky-Byte had spoke up without making optical contact. He had looked bored, but he, too, was tense. "However you wish to do so, just make it believable."

"Here are the exact times of the schedule for Lithone," Razorclaw had produced a datapad and handed it over to her. "You know your mission, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to execute."

Nightbird had expected the datapad. Sky-Byte had walked with her to the Artemis, said something about not letting Galvatron know about it. How he would try to find another way. It was unacceptable.

Killing was part of war. You decreased the enemy's numbers so that you could overpower said enemy and reach your goal.

Galvatron II was not his namesake.

The rest of Team Diana seemed to recognize her inner conflict. Galvatron II especially. It hadn't mattered though. In a megacycle, nothing would matter.

Upon seeing the approaching Lithone upon the Artemis' sensors, Nightbird had sabotaged the ships navigation systems. Nothing serious, but it would keep Galvatron II stuck for a megacycle or two. By then, she would have completed her mission. After that, she had gone down to the shuttle bay, narrowly avoiding Bruticus and left the ship to finish the trip to Lithone on her own.

It would be a while until she had arrived on Lithone. She let memories circle her concious. Normally they would be about the reign of her true leader, Galvatron.

This cycle, they were about the little time spent with Team Diana.

And she couldn't understand why.

-(\:/)-

Hook had run to find Nightbird in the bridge only to find that she wasn't in the bridge. Instead, he had been greeted by a completely trashed room with a few broken monitors and a ruined control board that would need replacing. Galvatron had been quick to enter the room behind him. He hadn't allowed the young mech the luxury of gaping.

"Go and find her NOW!" the engineer had screamed. Galvatron hadn't stayed around to ask why.

Currently the engineer was evaluating the damage done to the bridge. It hadn't looked that bad at first, but like Bruticus' injuries, it was much worse on the inside. It would take him at least a megacycle to repair the damage. A far off part of his processor wondered if the Cyberninja had been inspired by the Heavy's injuries. Didn't matter, he would yell at the stupid femme for taking the growing anxiety on 'his' bridge! Then he would fix the bridge. Finally, he would keep Nightbird from doing anything on their next mission.

Because of his whirling processor, he didn't notice how much time had passed when both Galvatron and Bruticus entered the bridge.

"I see!" Hook snarled upon their entrance. "So this was a plot between the three of you to get Bruticus out of the medical bay early!"

"What?" Galvatron exclaimed in a kind of shock that was too real for the situation.

"Fine! Nevermind! Where's Nightbird?"

"Oh, that," Bruticus and Galvatron walked up closer to Hook, "She's gone."

"What do you mean she's gone?"

"I mean I can't find her anywhere and the shuttle from the cargo bay is missing. So either you sold it to Swindle, or she took it to leave."

"Why?"

"She was...given a...mission," Bruticus spoke up.

"Of course she was given a mission!" Hook shouted in anger, "she's part of Team Diana! We all have the same mission!"

"Nightbird...was given a...separate mission."

"Oh really," Hook looked at the ceiling in annoyance.

"Hook, do us all a favor and shut up. Please continue Bruticus."

"Looked up...Council Database."

"You have the key?" Hook interrupted.

"...No."

"Then how the frag did you access their information?"

Bruticus looked at him that peeved Hook. It clearly said, 'shut up and listen'.

"Frequency."

Both Hook and Galvatron waited for Bruticus to continue. The Heavy's expression went from annoyed to embarrassed.

"I...used a terminal...and synchronized...frequencies...manually..."

"Bruticus," Hook almost whispered, "do you mean to tell me that you were entering in numbers as fast as the terminal? And you were entering them in correctly within the time limit?"

"...Yes?"

Hook was silent for a moment.

"Who are you?" This time, he did whisper.

"He's Bruticus!" Galvatron finally spoke up hitting Bruticus' arm with a grin. "He's got a lot going on up there in that huge head of his. It would be best to not underestimate him!"

The Heavy looked proud, but also embarrassed. He was probably never praised for his processor before.

"So big guy," the Captain continued, "Nightbird was sent on a mission separate from us, did they say where or why?"

"Shockwave will be...traveling to Lithone...with Autobot Head of Intelligence...Highbrow Prime."

"Highbrow Prime?"

"Don't interrupt Bruticus!"

"Will be arriving...1.3.03...send Cyberninja...NB for...assassination."

"NB? Do you mean Nightbird?" Hook spoke out again. Galvatron seemed to be annoyed, though Bruticus wasn't.

"The message...said send NB. Nightbird is...a Cyberninja...and has left us. I'm going...to assume that means...she is NB."

"Your evidence is sound," Hook nodded despite himself. "Carry on."

"...That's it." Bruticus confessed.

"It's enough for me," Galvatron boomed. "Let's see, Nightbird is going to Lithone for an assassination, one she might not survive. She left us here so we couldn't do anything about her. But before she left, she attempted to cripple the ship..."

Galvatron went silent, optics off and chin in a hand. Hook didn't know what could be going through the Decepticon Captain's processor. Finally, Galvatron's shoulders slumped.

"Please tell me one of you knows what Shockwave looks like in his disguise?" he asked crossly.

"Of course!" Hook put out rather insulted by the fact that Galvatron didn't seem to think that he didn't. He and Bruticus chose to stare at him. "I'm the one who designed his disguise!"

"Really?" Galvatron didn't appear to be insulting, just curious, "and how did you pull that off?"

"A mix of Autobot coding from Scientific Officer Blackarachnia and Triple Changer technology."

"So you know what this 'Longarm' form will look like?"

"I just answered that question you slagtard."

"And how long would it take you to fix this ship enough that I could fly to Lithone, maybe with Bruticus and myself helping?"

Hook looked around again at his beautiful ship. "Less than a megacycle, if you're thinking about heading off Nightbird. But we won't get there in time even if you two did pass me parts."

"Through Decepticon territory? No, we wouldn't make it," Galvatron agreed, then grinned, "But we'll be cutting through Autobot territory. That should shave off about twelve cycles. Try your calculations again."

The engineer did so, then sighed while taking out a datapad, "I'm going to need..."