EDITED ON 14-7-15.
Okay guys, I know that this chapter is terribly late, but in all honesty I am really quite pleased with myself for getting it out within a month of posting. Trying to balance my not so great grades with making time for extracurricular writing... Well, you can all understand which of those come first.
On the other hand, this chapter was completely not what I intended to write. I like how it turned out though, and I hope you guys enjoy this twist much as I did. You should also know that things are really starting to escalate now and there are only about 4 or 5 more chapters planned for this section of the Chronicles of Cybertron trilogy.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Disquiet Within
A-003 waited anxiously as the sharp and frankly terrifying device lowered down closer to his helm. He was laying down on the berth with Tiron operating said device. He couldn't move because his creator had locked his motor controls down for the procedure.
"Alright, you should only feel a slight sting as your optic sensors accept the new lens." Tiron told him clearly, wanting to avoid any unpleasant reactions from the prototype.
He was in the process of installing the colored lenses that would hopefully tone down the prototype's burning gaze. The lenses were little more than colored glass, but they would easily suffice. Of course, the prototype itself was not to be told why he needed these lenses. Such an adaptive piece of technology couldn't be allowed to go around with the knowledge that he intimidated quints.
It was a ridiculous notion to start with, but Tiron truly believed the simple task would be beneficial; otherwise, he would not have bothered in the first place.
Satisfied that the prototype unit was immobile, Tiron swiftly lowered the lens to its place in A-003's helm. It was an easy process really -all he had to do was slot the glass into place and seal it with a quick adjustment. It only took half a breem and then Trion allowed the unit to sit up.
"Right then, Unit A-003: report optical status."
A-003 sat up slowly with a slight wince, which only caused him an increase of the stinging pain around his optics. He had a headache too. "Optical status: functional…" A-003 trailed off and Tiron raised a questioning eye ridge, silently urging the prototype to continue.
A-003 however was too distracted by the strange disorientation the colored lenses were causing to notice the subtle gesture, and Tiron was forced to speak. "Unit A-003, is there an issue?"
A-003 looked towards Tiron, coming out of his slight daze. "This unit's vision is blue."
It took Tiron a moment to understand what the prototype was saying. "What do you mean by that?" he asked before he thought to stop himself.
A-003 cocked his head and made a face, "This unit's vision is blue." A-003 repeated himself with a little more emphasis. It was a simple enough statement and he couldn't understand why it was so hard for Tiron to get that.
Tiron hovered there shortly before it finally clicked. The lenses were blue. The prototype's optics were not calibrated to account for the tint of the glass and thus would be seeing everything in a blue film.
A-003 watched as Tiron turned around to pick up a datapad, "Slide back your data port, A-003. This will only take a moment."
A-003 complied reluctantly, feeling the cold air of the lab brush against the open ports on his servo. It was a strange feeling that always sent shivers down his spinal relays. The feeling was not nearly so disturbing as what he knew would come next. Having an outside presence shifting through his programming unhindered was just short of painful, not to mention extremely uncomfortable.
Tiron swiftly plugged the datapad into the proffered opening and began accessing the unit's system files. It was a simple matter of locating the correct string of code and adjusting the perception values.
Half a breem later Tiron disconnected from the prototype and placed the datapad on the console behind him. "Better?" He asked neutrally.
A-003's optics dimmed slightly then brightened back to normal. "Affirmative."
Tiron sighed tiredly, relieved that the cycle was finally over. It had taken far longer to get the prototype units amour situated properly as constant adjustments and modifications had to be made. Frankly, he was quite done for the rotation and needed a bit of time away from the prototype.
However, if the A-003 noticed, it didn't show any signs, and for that Tiron was thankful.
He honestly didn't want to deal with the unit for a while. He needed time to compose himself. And not just because of how fast the prototype was developing. He needed a chance to discuss a matter of some great importance with Alchana.
Needless to say, Tiron had been somewhat distracted the entire cycle after having seen the most recent news reports.
"Unit A-003, I have some important business to attend to. You are to obey Professor Inquirata, understood?"
A-003 nodded slowly, disappointment practically flowing off his frame. "Understood."
"Good." Tiron responded distractedly before pausing, feeling like he had forgotten something. The engineer shook his head roughly and made to exit the lab, internally scolding himself for being so unfocused.
A-003 vented softly as he watched his creator leave.
He had hoped so badly that he could stay longer and answer all the questions A-003 had thought of the past few joors that he'd actually been conscious. A-003 slumped resignedly on the berth for the briefest of moments before turning his attention to Professor Inquirata, who was once again secluded in his corner of the lab.
Shifting his weight to silently slide off the berth, A-003's chassis flopped forward –straining his neck cables terribly- while the rest of his body remained firmly planted on the berth. Pushing himself back upright took a considerable amount of effort, his frame not being used to moving at such extreme angles, but he managed.
It took a few moments longer before A-003 realized that he was still magnetized to the berth. Tiron had forgotten to release the mag-locks.
A-003 didn't know how he was supposed to get out of this situation.
He knew that Professor Inquirata would probably release him if he noticed. However, once the professor got involved in a task then it was rare for him to notice much more than the project in front of him. A-003 held out very little hope that the other scientists would notice him either. As far as they were concerned, he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
The prototype vented harshly as he resigned himself to his fate. Plating falling limp, A-003 simply sat there, hoping desperately that somebody would notice him.
Alchana was seated in her lab, reviewing the data she had acquired the night cycle before. She wanted to be absolutely sure what she was handing over to Volam wasn't anything of consequence to the cause.
She knew of course that anything she gave him would be consequential to some quint or other; there was no avoiding that -just so long as it did not affect her directly.
Alchana had contacted Volam the moment the new cycle began to arrange for a drop off location. She never received a response, but that was not entirely unexpected. He had received the message, of that she was sure.
Now she was just waiting. And she hated it.
Other scientists moved swiftly around her as they worked on the latest problem another department wanted them to solve. That was the downside of being the head of an R and D department; none of the projects Alchana worked on could she truly call hers. Even the prototype unit, couldn't really be called hers.
Not really.
She didn't design the original frame, or any of its basic components for that matter. She just added onto and improved what she was given until the problem was solved. Then the project would be passed on to whatever division and she'd have to start all over again with a new project. Much like the situation she was currently in, albeit for slightly different reasons, but it still had the same effect.
This time she wouldn't be so easily distracted.
The prototype was the key to her success, and abandoning its progress was not part of her plan.
Not when she was this close to reaching the turning point of her plan. She was so close.
"Alchana, I need to speak with you." A voice stated firmly from behind her.
Alchana startled, flaring her thrusters and practically launching out of her chair. Who dared to interrupt her! Then she realized that it was Tiron's voice, though she had never heard him use such a severe tone towards her before.
"W-wh..." Alchana choked out. What was he doing down here again, and so soon after his last visit? He was going to ruin everything if he couldn't remember to keep his distance!
"In private. Now." Tiron interrupted curtly, and maneuvered stiffly to the conference room, not stopping to see if his colleague was even following.
Alchana blinked, before scowling darkly and entering the enclosed room after him.
As soon as the doors slid shut behind them Alchana let loose. "What in pit is wrong with you! You can't just waltz into my lab every cycle and expect the Judges not to notice!" She berated him loudly, not even realizing the change in her faces.
Tiron stayed silent and activated the center console of the conference table, bringing up a live news report. What happened next made it clear exactly why he was there.
"Just over two cycles ago a guard was found dead at the entrance of the Astronomical and Meteorological Department of Yaos. Witness accounts state that they didn't see the cause of his death, but it has been suggested that it was murder."
The video feed zoomed into the said building where there were masses of quints investigating the scene, while others gawked at the sight. Small groups of higher-ranking guards attempted to keep the crowds back and were only marginally successful.
"Forensic professionals are investigating the scene of the crime, while an autopsy is being performed at the Yaos Medical Division as we speak. As of yet there are no clear results. The AMD is unable to be evacuated as it is an integral part of our system, but rest assured that security has been doubled and select areas have been portioned off to the public for safety reasons. The…"
Tiron's attention was dragged away from the holoscreen by Alchana's angry tone.
"Why are you showing me this? I have nothing to do with AMD, you know that."
"Patience Duani, what I wanted to show you has yet to be shown." Tiron responded tonelessly. Normally he would have added something along the lines of 'Of course I know that,' in response to her defense, but this time he wasn't so sure.
He knew of course that Alchana would never go so far as to kill another, but he still wanted an alibi.
"Now we have a special broadcast from the Judges, specifically Lord Kledji, on their stance concerning these distressing events."
Instantly at those words Alchana focused intently on the holoscreen, as Tiron had known they would.
"We are greatly disturbed by this recent act of treason against the quintessons of Quintessa." Lord Kledji spoke deliberately, the shrewd voice of death ringing out strongly. "It is highly suspected that rather than happenstance, this murder was a planned attack to infiltrate the Astronomical and Meteorological Department of Yaos. As such, we believe that it is only the beginning of a resurgence of the insurrectionists. However, with that being said we promise to you -the quintessons of Quintessa- that we will do all that is in our power to capture and bring the perpetrators to justice. May the Empire endure-"
"-And the Judges rule." A voice finished solemnly, "What a shame that such upsetting events have to happen, but alas, such is the way of lesser minded quints."
Alchana and Tiron turned around simultaneously, coming face to face with Inquisitor Krahulik. Alchana hissed slightly in distain.
"What brings you here, Inquisitor?" Tiron asked stonily, even he was not able to hide his distaste for the higher-ranking quint.
"I could ask the same thing of you Respectable Engineer Tiron." Krahulik replied smoothly, not at all bothered by the clear show of dislike from both parties. "Were you not transferred to General Engineering last orn?"
The Inquisitor was met by a momentary silence, where he noticed the news reports continuing on the holoscreen in the background. "Ah, I see." He said, an entirely exaggerated expression of sympathetic understanding crossing his face. "The Honorable Professor called you over, did she? I do understand; the news was terribly distressing…"
Alchana forced back a string of profanities at what the professor was insinuating. That he would think that she was so feeble was infuriating.
"Actually Inquisitor, it was I who arranged to meet with Professor Alchana." Tiron spoke up quickly in an effort to prevent his former colleague from saying something untoward.
"Really?" Krahulik feigned surprise, "I suppose that every good quint would make time to comfort their own." He drawled, leveling his gaze directly on Tiron as he spoke.
Tiron scowled at his words and glanced over at Alchana, who remained stony, verging on disrespectful, towards the inquisitor.
Krahulik was quite unimpressed by their silence and proceeded to maneuver slowly around the conference table, watching the new reports as they seemed to repeat themselves despite being a live feed. Since it seemed like he wasn't going to be getting anywhere like this he decided to switch tactics.
"Well, as I don't seem to be very welcome here, I will be taking my leave." He finished his circle around the room, dragging an unobtrusive tentacle along the table's edge.
Alchana's lips lifted slightly, the only acknowledgement that she had given him up until that point. Tiron, as always, went out of his way to be respectful despite feeling the same hostility towards the inquisitor.
"Good joor, Honorable Inquisitor."
That seemed to garner the high ranked quint's attention. Krahulik turned slightly, looking over his shoulder guard to respond with a shrewd curl to his mouth, "Good joor, Respected Engineer Tiron P'thian. May the Judges rule."
The Inquisitor did not wait for the customary response, and Tiron was thankful he did not have to speak the loathsome words.
Not quite relaxing, Tiron turned back to Alchana, who had already resumed her position in front of the holo-screen.
"He suspects our true motives, you do realize that don't you?" Tiron posed the question carefully for fear of angering her.
"Of course I realize." Alchana's voice was deceptively calm as she continued, "I just don't care." She started simply.
Tiron was silent, the voices coming from the reports continuing in the background. "What do you mean you don't care?"
Alchana refused to turn her attention away from the holo-screen. Tiron calm resolve started to fray, and he reached over from behind and turned it off. "How can you not care? If he finds out what we're planning then the Judges will be next to know. They are already blaming us for a random murder we had nothing to do with!"
Tiron was truly angered at that point and his own stresses and frustrations were bleeding out into his words.
"Even after all these vorns you still don't know me Tiron." She replied coldly, "I am disappointed."
Tiron spluttered, trying to make sense of what she was telling him. He just didn't get it. Fine then, she reasoned. He would figure it out eventually. At that moment Alchana had bigger problems of her own to worry about.
Alchana left Tiron where he was hovering with an expression on his face that was just about as convoluted as his thoughts.
At her main console in the lab, she began typing out an encoded message to the main faces of the insurrection. In a few short words was a call to readiness and a location. She sent it swiftly, turning around and expecting Tiron to have followed her out. She was unpleasantly surprised when he wasn't there.
Maneuvering back to the conference room Alchana found her former colleague exactly how she left him. Tiron stiffened and looked up at her blankly, with a startlingly cutting stare.
"I sent a message to the others." Her voice carried its normal expressionless tone, but he could sense the underlying cadence. Apology. If there was such a thing when it came to Alchana.
"You killed him, didn't you?" His voice was so quiet she almost didn't hear him ask the question.
Alchana fought to look him in the eyes, and found she couldn't. "Yes, I killed him."
She had no guilt for killing the guard, he was in her way and she removed him. It was a simple concept. However, Tiron always had a habit of making the simple things complicated.
"It was quick. A short 100 hilyon burst took care of that." She found herself inexplicably defending herself on front of her one time partner that had been at her side for so many vorns. She couldn't tell him it was painless, because it wasn't. It was a legally outlawed torture device after all.
Tiron just looked at her, never saying a word, watching Alchana unravel before his very eyes. He hated, oh how he hated, to admit that Bithon might just have been right all along.
"I didn't believe it until now. I suspected, but refused to acknowledge it." Tiron gave her a small sad smile, nearly breaking when he saw the fear in her eyes.
Alchana was terrified. Realization was slowly setting into her mind of just how consequential her actions were becoming. She had been prepared to handle whatever the Judges threw at her, with Tiron by her side.
"Don't." She mouthed desperately. No. No. NO.
Tiron didn't say goodbye. He didn't say anything. He just got up and left, ignoring her silent pleas.
Anger replaced desperation in an instant, her face changing rapidly without her direction. "Don't do this Tiron. I forbid you to leave like this!" Her voice carried loudly in the empty room and Tiron came to a stop.
"You can't stop me Alchana." Though he responded emotionlessly, his eyes bored holes into the entranceway, burning with a convoluted mix of emotions that all fought to be expressed all at once.
"Like pit I'll stop trying!" Alchana shouted, fear tinging her voice.
Tiron's resolve snapped, "You think you can just force me into believing it's okay? That you can change my mind simply because you are the Honorable Professor Alchana-Duani?" His voice was raised, the sheer power behind the normally collected persona cutting through the room like a projectile.
Tiron stopped then, in some vain attempt to collect himself. He'd never spoken to anyone like that, always preferring reason to volume.
"When I joined the insurrection you promised me an end to the violence, a new rule that would be led by order and a single unified cause. You told me that you would never allow the uprising to fall to the levels that caused the Proxi Massacre."
"A promise I intend to keep!" Alchana argued vehemently.
"By murdering innocent bystanders?!" Tiron questioned harshly.
"What is one quint when it comes to the cause? No one is innocent in this cycle and vorn, surely you realize that!"
But Alchana knew then that she has lost the battle.
"And that is exactly why I am leaving the insurrection. I will not become the very thing I swore to prevent." Tiron turned back to the exit and the doors opened with their customary swish. "I hope we do not meet again, Duani."
The door swooshed closed.
Alchana hovered there for a long while, stunned by the sincere finality of his words. He meant it.
He really meant it this time.
They had had fights on ethics before, many far worse than this over something far less, but this time she knew he wouldn't come back. And she didn't blame him.
She didn't understand it and she didn't want to. In her mind she was perfectly justified, but to Tiron -she had gone against everything he thought they stood for. She swallowed painfully, her mouth dry.
He was gone.
He wasn't coming back this time.
It was her fault
Her mind startled to crumble.
he was gone.
