14. Superstes
The surfaces on each grain of sand gathered the moonlight, varying in size and shape, right before they were disturbed by two giant metal feet and an insect that resembled a hybrid of a hornet and a fire ant. Lockdown looked up at the sky, seeing the visible comet coming their way. Inferno studied them.
"Lockdown, why has the royalty requested them to come?" Inferno asked.
Lockdown didn't say anything. He just kept his gaze on the object that was about to make impact.
When it was close to midnight it had finally made contact, slamming into the ground and throwing up great clods of earth as it skidded across the grass, leaving a trail of fire as it burst into flame behind it. Inferno transformed and hissed, his claws extended out.
"Who has come?" Lockdown whispered, optics burning with impatience.
Two figures rose out of the smoke, simian in appearance—the first was extremely large and bulky-looking, whilst the second was smaller, but still quite robust. They immediately turned to the freeway just visible in the distance, scanning their Earth forms, and they had soon folded down into their desired alternative modes—the first became an indigo Subaru, whilst the second was a black and purple Mustang.
Then they transformed, and Lockdown raised a ridge. "Thunderblast," he hissed.
The Amazonian femme smirked, her entire face. "Greetings, Lockdown," she said silkily. "I trust we are here in good time." Her golden eyes were slanted and her mouth tight with years of slaughter—there was nothing beautiful about her.
"And Barricade," Lockdown murmured.
The Decepticon bounty hunter nodded, his violet optics glowing in the darkness. "There better be a good reason why we're here," he said simply.
"It appears that Optimus is on Earth," Lockdown explained. "He, at first, had a small band, but now they are large in size."
"Hopefully the royalty doesn't have to worry anymore than those organic Cybertronians," Inferno added to the mix.
Barricade's optics ridges were raised in surprise. "They're still alive? So few have told me they were dead. They did, after all, unleashed that virus."
"Well, there is proof that they still live," Lockdown sighed. "Now shut up and prepare to move out and hunt them down. Megatron doesn't like to be kept waiting. Though, I am curious, where is Rampage?"
He suddenly felt something hot and heavy land on the cables of his neck. He turned around to find two sickly dark green optics staring down at him. His red and violet armor glistened in the moonlight.
"Ah, you had to bring him?" Inferno whined. "He's a poor soldier to the royalty. Although he's not as bad as Starscream."
"I heard that!" Starscream's voice came out of nowhere.
"Well," Barricade grinned. "Then perhaps we should not keep our lord waiting. Let's go."
They transformed, Inferno taking to the skies with Rampage behind him. Lockdown led the ground Decepticons with him, before Thunderblast's wheels were heard squealing.
"So, we meet again," she soothed.
Lockdown didn't say anything.
"I wonder," she continued, "if you are aware of the Autobot Wrecker being on Earth. The one they called Wheeljack."
"Are you still on that?" Lockdown asked. "I thought you might have gotten over it."
"Shut up," Thunderblast hissed. "But, does he by any chance have a partner?"
Barricade answered Lockdown's secret prayers as he bumped her end with his vehicular mode, causing her to whine and squeak in surprise.
Dreadwing sat in his cell in silence, wallowing in pain. He had missed Skyquake. He suddenly heard footsteps coming his way long before he saw Noble come by. The Maximal stopped and his navy blue visor met Dreadwing's crimson gaze.
"You're the Con they talked about," he confirmed.
Dreadwing just grunted.
"Oh, come on." Noble rolled his head as an indication that he meant for his optics. "It isn't that bad. You're still alive."
Two hands suddenly grabbed the bars, forcing Noble to stagger back.
"Do not tell me what is or isn't bad," Dreadwing snarled. "You do not know what it feels like to lose someone that is close to you, to know that his death he received in honor was disgraced by being resurrected from the dead, to have your own leader take your life."
"Well, then maybe you should ask someone that," Noble stated.
"Really? Do you?"
"Yes."
Dreadwing seemed surprised.
"I was like you, an abomination. One night I thought I lost my friends when the virus was unleashed. Then I was attacked, knocked out, and taken on enemy ship. I had no idea how long I was out, but I woke up looking like this the very next minute. The only thing that had kept me going was to find out if they were okay, which I eventually did. What do you have to say to that?"
Dreadwing was speechless. He had no idea what to say.
"You know, for a warrior who values honor, I was hoping for you to be better than this." With a nod, Noble turned and stormed off.
It wasn't long before he joined the others.
"Well?" Silverbolt asked.
"Let me guess," Blackarachnia spoke.
"You were right, he's as stubborn as a mule," Noble grumbled.
"Wait!"
Everyone turned to look down at the hall.
"Maybe not," Transmute mused as she got up and dashed for the prison cell.
"Transmute, wait," Silverbolt called out.
"Um, guys, are you sure letting him out is a good idea?" Cheetor asked.
"That's what I'm worried about," Noble mumbled as Transmute came back with Dreadwing behind her.
"Well, what do you want?" Nightscream demanded.
"I will tell you what you need to know," Dreadwing explained. "Whatever you want. The monument that Megatron forged from the Omega Lock is a replica of Darkmount in Kaon. He will likely use that as his advantage to conquer this world and Cybertron. We can use it to locate your other friends."
"How do we know this won't be a trap?" Blackarachnia questioned.
"It will be like me asking if you will betray me or not," Dreadwing said. "Plus, my twin's death was disgraced and my own leader terminated me."
The silence that came over them seemed tedious. Then:
"He does have a point," Cheetor said.
"Well, what are we waiting for then?" Transmute said. "Let's do some damage."
Silverbolt sighed. "Fine." He glared at Transmute. "But I got my eyes on you."
The Maximal scoffed, "Whatever," as they exit out of the warship. But behind them in the center of the hall, two green optics glowed.
Nightscream came back inside later to retrieve a tool while they were building something. Well, mainly Noble since he was more of the mechanic of the group. As he grabbed the tool he had a feeling as if something was not right.
"Hello?" he said. He was answered by silence and headed for the hallways.
Nightscream stopped halfway down the hall. He turned and looked back down before calling out once more, "Is anyone here?"
Silence. Nightscream tried to shrug it off. Something must have come up, perhaps it was just his paranoia kicking in again.
He froze when he heard a heavy footstep. He dared not to move. He fumbled around, prepared to make a run for it. He still had a chance, did he?
"Transmute!" he screamed as he made a mad run for it.
Silverbolt perked his 'ears' up when he heard someone shout Transmute's name. The Maximal turned to see it was Nightscream that had just screamed her name. He immediately shifted his attention to him. The worst feeling of terror ran through him as he saw him run towards him, a stranger only a few paces behind.
He immediately charged forward. With his free hand, he yanked Nightscream behind him while smashing the stranger with his other hand, sending him flying backwards into the woods.
Nightscream peeked from behind Dreadwing as the unknown transformer crashed into the trees before looking up at him. "Just so you know," he said, "the others won't be happy about this."
Dreadwing looked down at the latter. "Are you alright?"
"I am now."
Dreadwing nodded as the stranger emerged from the wreckage. He shoved the young one behind them. "Stay close behind."
"Maximals," he seethed as he stopped. He saw Transmute glaring at him before he gave a small hiss, "I suppose you will all give up your spark to protect the girl."
"Keep away, creep," Cheetor snapped.
Blackarachnia turned to Noble. "Who is that?"
"I don't know," Noble said.
"I bet it's that Tigerhawk creep," Transmute guessed.
Tigerhawk pulled something from his space pocket and threw it at them.
"Grenade!" Blackarachnia shouted as they all dodged the given blow. They hid behind the boulders.
"Great, not only is Megatron our problem, but so is this guy," Cheetor groaned.
"Even if we can convince him we're in balance, how do we get rid of this guy?" Nightscream questioned.
"Why are the cute ones two-headed?" Blackarachnia asked.
"I know, right?" Nightscream scoffed, folding her arms and leaning against the rocky wall.
"What's the plan?" Silverbolt asked.
"We gotta warn the others before someone gets hurt," Noble suggested.
"Someone? Try us!" Dreadwing shrieked.
That was when their hideout exploded. Everyone was flying in different directions. Nightscream managed to transform and flap away from their. Dreadwing crashed into a nearby tree and quickly clung onto a branch before he could fall. Transmute immediately transformed and caught Blackarachnia. Noble managed to do the same with Cheetor on his back. Silverbolt, however, wasn't that lucky. He fell and hit the ground with a loud thud, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
"Silverbolt?" Blackarachnia called down to him.
"Yeah?" he replied weakly.
"How does it look from down there?" Transmute called.
Silverbolt sat up, but the results caused him to see the world spinning before him.
"He's wacko," Blackarachnia confirmed.
Dreadwing looked up to see Tigerhawk floating towards him, a sword in his right hand. The emissary snarled and glared at him. "Any last words, Con?"
"Yeah, have you ever wonder if the Vok is using you to satisfy themselves so they can gain a twisted sense of humor?" Dreadwing snarled.
Tigerhawk looked very thoughtful, but he shook his helm. He was about to open fire when the former Decepticon screamed and jumped onto him. What happened next was a blur before they heard a loud BANG!
"Dreadwing!" Transmute screamed, covering her mouth as Blackarachnia and Silverbolt ran forward.
They stopped when the commotion froze and Dreadwing stood there with a a blade in his hand. He had driven it in Tigerhawk's abdomen, who was staring down in shock. He slowly raised his head, his optics flickering. Very unusually from green to black to red before juggling through.
"What's the matter?" Blackarachnia asked. "Having a little trouble staying awake?"
Tigerhawk glanced down at the wound set there before glancing up at her again, sadness filling his optics.
"Blackarachnia?"
Dreadwing nearly stumbled backwards when he spoke in a female voice. Tigerhawk fell limp, but he managed to catch him.
"What happened?" Noble asked as they came forward.
"Dude," Nightscream said as they ran over to them. "What's wrong? You did away with him. We're safe once more. That's all that matters...doesn't it?"
Dreadwing nearly stiffened. "He sounded like Wing-Saber when he said my name."
They were speechless.
"What?" Cheetor said.
Silverbolt knelt down. "Just stay awake," he told him. "Optics on me."
"No," Tigerhawk growled in a much softer tone. "I'm clocked out here."
"Not an option in my book," the fuzor hissed.
Tigerhawk painfully shook his head before speaking once more in the female tone, "They lack control of size."
Transmute gaped at this. "You weren't kidding."
"Guys, what do we do?" Cheetor asked.
Noble growled. "I dunno."
"We need to get him, her, whatever inside," Blackarachnia suggested. "The others will know what to do in this situation.