The Secret of the Legion 10

Disclaimer: Usual disclaimers apply. This story follows some of the continuity and concepts put forward in my Fragments story. This story is being shortened from original plans, especially since no one seems to care about it anymore… but I still like relaying my own take on Kiss Players. Anyway, this story should be getting interesting soon.

The Quintisson stared at the monitor screens with curiosity. "During the attack on Autobot unit 01, the Legion went berserk, acting on their own animal like instinct…"

"I thought you corrected that problem," the human woman and EDF-Japan head respectfully asked. Although she was human, she was distant, as if there was not much of her Humanity left in her. She assumed her dead feeling was from the guilt of sending so many of her fellow EDF officers to death in the field or the secret laboratories, in reality the reason was far different and known only to the Quintisson.

"That is correct, the problem was solved and the Legion dispatched after Autobot unit 02. The Legion functioned properly and according to plan save for one unit which has gone rogue and taken itself off our grid. This is both a worrisome yet hopeful development. While the disobedience is an opportunity for improvement, the independent action could indicate free will and an independent spark."

Amano gazed up at the alien with her vacant eyes, despite being above human average intelligence she was ignorant of the technologies the Quintisson was referring to.

"However," the alien continued, "Unit 02 is escaping the trap set by the Legion. Send in your forces."

Nodding, Amano moved away, speaking into her headset, "Attention Rat Squad: A rouge Transformer has been located. Subdue or Destroy; last seen at these coordinates…"

0oOo0

Elsewhere, a red pickup truck sat out of sight, behind a dumpster. In the driver's seat, Marissa Fairborne hung up her cell phone, and addressed the truck, "Well, we have located him."

"You are sure it is Hot Rod?" Optimus Prime's voice filled the cab.

"No doubt about it, reports say he defended a couple from a group of Legion, and is on the run."

"Have the others plot a suitable intercept location. We will meet them there, its time to end this."

0oOo0

Sirens blazing, the three remaining Autotroopers and members of the EDF's Rat Squad tore down the streets. Atari's car pulled off at the site where Hot Rod had engaged in combat moments before, while Ringo and Kaori continued on after the red sports car that was rapidly speeding away from the area. Ringo contained her rage that Atari insisted on taking statements from the survivors and accessing the damage of the situation instead of pursuing the target. What happened didn't matter, whatever the excuse, her job was to kill or capture the Autobot.

She would deal with Atari later, and she was sure she would enjoy it. In the meantime she and Kaori continued the chase following the red car as it darted through traffic. The Autobot obviously detected them, but it would not escape them.

A few minutes into the chase, Ringo's attention was again distracted by Atari when her voice came over the radio. "The Autobot's innocent, it protected the people from the Legion. Still plenty dead, but the Legion did that. We shouldn't destroy it."

Like that matters to anything, Ringo thought. "We follow our orders, Atari. Hurry and catch up to us, we may need back up."

0oOo0

"I'm getting tired of running," Hot Rod said, skidding to a stop.

"What are you going to do?" Shao Shao asked.

"I'll give them a chance. If they are set on fighting, I'll finish my conflict with them once and for all."

"No, you can't. They are my friends!"

"Are they really?" Hot Rod asked, the time he had spent in hiding was taking its toll on his patience. "If I remember right, they had you stripped naked, tied up, and were about to let you be eaten by a Legion." The transformer transformed into his robot mode, his triple blaster mounted on his arm and twin guns in hand.

Thoughts of Ringo flashed through her head. "Most of them are my friends, and they have no idea that there is some sort of link between the EDC and the Legion."

Hot Rod paused, and forced himself to calm down. "No, you are right. I'd bet the Qunitisson is behind this whole thing. I just wish I knew what was going on here." He repositioned his twin guns so they would function as tonfa melee weapons.

Two Autotroopers pulled up and transformed, merging with their drivers. Shao-Shao recognized Ringo and Kaori, but she wondered where Kayu was.

Hot Rod stood his ground, "I had nothing to do with the Legion that attacked, so let me go."

"That's not an option, Autobot," the Autotrooper that was Ringo said.

"Now, what we have here is a simple misunderstanding," Hot Rod said, "I wasn't asking."

0oOo0

Atari hurried as fast as she could, but by the time she caught up with the others it was already too late. A large red white and yellow robot stood poised over the two fallen, yet functional, Autotroopers of her fellow Rat Squad mates. She felt shamed that she was partly glad that Ringo had been beaten, but she was genuinely worried about Kaori. She transformed and merged with her Autotrooper.

"Leave them alone!" Atari shouted, her Autotrooper pointing at Hot Rod, its Gatling Cannon at the ready in its other hand.

"Fine" Hot Rod said, "I'm done here anyway. You will find they are unharmed, if a bit humbled." He didn't actually look at her, but kept his eyes scanning the horizon.

Atari's eyes fixed on the angry look she was getting from Shao-Shao, and it disturbed her as she didn't even recognize the Chinese woman. So fixed was she on the angry face glaring at her that she didn't notice that Hot Rod had transformed until Shao-Shao climbed into him and drove off.

"You dumb Bitch, why didn't you shoot it?!" Ringo shouted from within her Autotrooper, as she and Kaori's Autotroopers began struggling to get up.

"I'm sorry…" Atari began, but her attention was soon diverted elsewhere by a black car heading towards them at an impossibly high speed.

It paid no attention to Hot Rod, focused entirely on the Autotroopers.

Atari raised her Gatling cannon and fired at the black car. Cannon shells tore up the pavement where the car had been, as for the car, it was flying through the air, twisting and changing its form landing in the shape of a humanoid robot with the face of a Legion.