Chapter 09: Same Old War

'Jetfuel!' Megatron roared, as he saw the Lockheef SR-71 Blackbird, land just before him. The damn Decepticon punk always wanted everyone to see him!
'My master,' the dark voice groaned, as he kneeled before Megatron. Megatron stood together with almost his entire Decepticon army on several large cargo ships. The humans were killed, naturally. But who ever even cared! They were nothing more than mere slaves. Sentinel Prime had failed to see that, he had been to merciful to those stinky rats. But he would not fail, not again. He was Megatron, ruler of the world. And they would know. They would worship him, as their God. That thought reminded him of a small thing he still had to take care of in Chicago. He smiled and sighed, this was all to easy. Even more with all the power he now had!
'Chicago is ready,' Jetfuel groaned with his deep dark voice.
'Good,' Megatron said. They would make Chicago the center of the new Cybertron. Megatron thought it was quiet ironically. The one nation which thought it was so amazing, so great, so powerful, so supreme, would fall first and even become the terror of the rest of the world!

As the soldiers and Cyberia were packing their things, Sam and Simmons came to the cargo. Charlotte had send them to go along. Which was something completely not for Charlotte! None of them trusted it, not even Sam and Simmons themselves. But Charlotte had only said that they should go along, because they knew the Autobots. Sure. Sam was happy enough that he finally had something to do! And Simmons, well he thought it would give him some more inspiration for his fifth book! What did make Lennox happy, was that now they had their normal equipment with them and some new –no old cut back shitty toys- tools with them! The rest, well they just had to see how it would work out. Sam indeed knew a lot of the Cybertronians, so he probably would be handy. Simmons on the other hand, Lennox was no so sure what to think about the Charlotte's boy. Everyone knew they had something going on. They were both pretty weird, so they made a good pair. Lennox only felt sorry for the world would they ever get children!

10.03, time to go. Lennox walked on front, followed by his team. Cyberia walking between them. Sam by her side. Simmons in the back. Epps did not go along with them, he did not want to fight anymore wars. He went back to taking care of the Autobots. He had had enough. Lennox had talked with him the other day about it. They could sure us a man like Epps. He was smart, quick, loyal, and always a good friend. But he had made up his mind. He had had enough with the war for Cybertron. He had fought in it, in the beginning years. But now he felt like it was enough. He wanted to get out now he still could. And even though Lennox did not agree with Epps, he accepted Epps' choice.
This all just flashed through the lieutenants mind as they walked outside. He sighed and cracked his neck. Here we go, he thought and walked through the opening in the cargo. He felt calm and focused, and hoped it would last! Cyberia on the other hand felt her heart beat like crazy! She had to focus real hard to control her breathing. Something was not right. Why did Charlotte send Sam and Simmons? It made no sense. They had not delivered any message to Lennox or any other soldier. Or had they? Sam had not, she had watched him closely. But Simmons, on the other hand. She realized she had indeed seen him with some sort of paper. She looked over her shoulder and looked straight into the eyes of Simmons. He had been watching her. This could only mean one thing; her thought about him had been right. But what should she do now? There was only one thing she could do, and she knew it. She had to. And she would, she decided. She calmly took her gun in her right hand and counted her steps. Sam was looking around and noticed that Cyberia was walking with her gun in her hand. When he looked around once more, he saw she was the only one. Should he say something? But before he could decide, Cyberia suddenly turned around and a loud shot was heard when a bright blue something between a flame and bullet was shot from the gun. Two shots were fired. Immediately the other soldiers took their guns. Some looked around to see what Cyberia had shot on, other pointed their gun to her. Sam was shocked about what he saw next. Simmons was dead. He laid on the ground. Eyes open. His gun laid just beside his hand.
'What the hell!' Lennox yelled.
'You know why,' Cyberia said calm.
'No,' Lennox said honest and upset.
'Something was wrong,' Cyberia said, raising her sound waves a bit.
'Something's wrong with you too,' Chad groaned, 'Don't see me driving a bullet through your skull.'
'Wouldn't help,' Cyberia said simple, 'Still, it's just wrong that they were send here without a real reason.'
'She's right,' Sam said. Everyone looked at him.
'Thank you,' Cyberia said.
'I'm still coming, though,' he said. She smiled and nodded.
'Just don't go shooting around again,' Sam giggled a bit.
'Not until we reach Chicago, at least,' Ethan smiled.
'Right, let's go,' Lennox said, and made the soldiers walk on. But when Cyberia passed, he laid his hand on her shoulder. Immediately she looked at him and grabbed his hand, but did nothing.

'Don't go shooting my men,' Lennox said clear and demanding.
'He was not your man,' Cyberia said back, looking straight into the brown eyes of the lieutenant. She used to have them too.
'You know what I mean,' Lennox hissed, 'You have no idea how many people are on my back, trying to get you away.'
'Don't worry,' Cyberia said calm, 'I'll go soon enough. And besides, I believe one of your men even got a little something from Charlotte.'
'What?' Lennox said, a bit surprised by the change of direction the conversation had taken.
'You'll see,' Cyberia said and curled her lips to a small smile, 'Don't worry.'

'What's taking them so long?' the pilot asked the soldiers as he waited for the lieutenant. Everyone was ready for lift off, only the lieutenant was still talking to the Cybertronian girl. Lennox's face was serious, but Cyberia's face was emotionless.
'I bet she's hypnotizing him,' Chad sighed.
'Shut up,' Ethan said.
'Guys, settle down,' Chapman said. The two turned away, still Chad could not stop himself. Luckily Chapman saw it on time.
'One word, soldier, and you can go behind the desk,' Chad looked from Chapman to Ethan. It was not worth it. So he just gave a dirty look to Ethan and turned his face away

'Don't worry?' Lennox said sarcastically, 'We're about to go back to war, and you say 'don't worry'?'
'It's the same old war as years ago, Lennox,' Cyberia said, 'It's the same war that has been fought for thousands of years.'
How can you say that? This is completely different!'
'No, it's not! Don't you see?'
'What I see, is that we're in war with Cybertronians!'
'Indeed, that's the only thing that changes: the enemy and the place where the fight takes place. The reason is always the same: power. Control. Proofing you are stronger. Showing your wealth to others. Expanding your own greed. It's the same war that has been fought since the beginning of time! It has been fought here on Earth, on Cybertron and so many other places!
Don't you see, Lennox! It's the sick mind, the greedy mind, the mind who wants to be noticed, the mind that needs to know that it's loved that keeps on making wars! And it will go on, for so many thousands of years. It could eventually even become human's own fait.'
'I'm sorry,' Lennox said, realizing he had really upset the girl. Her look was fierce and her jaw was tensed, and together with all the metal lines on her face, she looked fearsome.
'Be sorry for all the wars and dead,' she said and stepped back, 'Not for upsetting someone.'
'Lieutenant!' the pilot yelled from the chopper. Without a word Cyberia turned and walked to the chopper. Lennox followed her. He sat down between two of his men, with his back to the pilot. Cyberia sat down in an other chopper, opposite of Sam. When nothing happened and no one said a thing, she stood up and tapped the pilot three times on his shoulder. Within four minutes they were up in the sky, heading for Chicago.