CHAPTER 71
Wing only had time to meet the golden, luminous gaze of the girl his future held in his arms and hugged against his frame before he opened the optics again and the clearing reappeared.
Suddenly, he let go of the Hand of Mortilus before collapsing backwards, falling heavily into the grass near Rung, to whom he still held his servo.
"Wing ..." he heard the brown and white bot's exhausted voice.
Wing inhaled, exhaled ...
For several long minutes, he couldn't answer. The vision had been much more grueling than what he had seen at Arkus, with the Diamond. Perhaps because the Diamond of Adaptus had revealed to him things that he himself hadn't remembered ... his deepest desire... his daughter ... while the Hand of Mortilus had shown him a vision of the future.
A future… which had seemed so cheerful… so happy…
Him, with Father John… at Lake Tekapo… Holding a girl he would have ...
"What is it ... What have you seen?" Bumblebee asked them, visibly out of breath.
"... You first" Rung replied.
Yes ... What had they seen? Had their future looked as happy as Wing's would be?
Yet ... Wing couldn't feel joy. More ... a doubt. Confusion.
He did not understand. He had just learned that he had raised a daughter ... Heavenlight, whom had been everything for him ... and he would have another in the future?
But why ? How? 'Or' What? Would he also adopt her? Or would he have her with someone? And if that was the case ... with whom?
And why would she look so much like Heavenlight?
They could be sisters, Wing thought sadly.
"... I was with my Autobot comrades ... I was with Arcee, Cliffjumper, Bulkhead ..." quoted Bumblebee, looking absent.
He paused.
"… And Optimus Prime."
"…How is it possible?" asked Rung.
Optimus Prime was dead, after all.
"…I do not know. But… we laughed together, we had a good time… the future sounded promising."
Wing gave him a sad smile. At least ... He was delighted that his future showed no desolation or bitterness.
"What about you, Wing?"
Wing bit his lip. However, Rung's gentle gaze kept him from remaining so secret.
"…I was with my family."
Father John… his daughter…
They were his family, weren't they?
"... We were on Earth. We also enjoyed time. The future… the future seemed happy."
"I see."
Even if his tone didn't sound as convincing, Wing tried to follow Rung's advice: show optimism. Believe in the best ... even if it was so difficult.
Heavenlight… did you have a sister? If so, where is she? And why didn't Drift mention her to me? Unless you were separated?
Unless he was mistaken ... but he'd seen her. This blue and purple girl with the golden look who smiled at him ... the one he would have.
Yes ... maybe he would have her with someone. But apart from Drift ... who else? And Wing refused to believe that Drift would come back to him. Even if he wished it so internally, he knew it would never happen.
"... Rung. And you ... what did you see?"
Rung ... was not smiling.
He seemed ... concerned. Anxious.
Had he seen something bad? Negative?
Rung's response left no room for doubt. After a heavy silence, his voice rose.
"…Nothing. I did not see anything."
Wing and Bumblebee frowned.
"Didn't the Hand of Mortilus work on you?" proposed Bumblebee, astonished. "We all saw our futures and you ..."
"…That is what I am saying. I saw my future ... and there was nothing. Only black."
Black… What did it mean?
Unless…
With the spark flying, Wing tightened his servo around Rung's, keeping his jaw tight.
"... Nothing ... is written in stone, huh? And then ... Maybe there is another interpretation to this vision" Rung offered, trying to reassure them in vain.
"We will do everything to prevent something from happening to you," Bumblebee told him, placing his servo on his shoulderplate.
He had surely come to the same conclusion.
"…I am sure of it."
Rung ... No. Wing refused to admit that something would happen to him. Even if he had failed to help Atomblast, his children, Garboil, Canopus, the people of Arkus ... they might find a way to protect Rung.
The white and brown bot had been there for them, had supported them during their quest for artifacts, despite his amnesia, even though he did not believe in Optimus Prime…
Yes. It was certain. Wing would do everything in its power to keep this promise. And he knew the Autobots would also do their best.
"... But maybe that's the thing that'll happen to all of us, right?" said Rung sadly.
"About what?"
"The Allspark. We are all gathered with our loved ones in the Allspark. We are one, right?"
The Allspark…
Till we are all one. Wing felt himself stiffen.
Silence fell.
"…Indeed. We are all one in the Allspark" sneered a voice behind them.
All of a sudden, the trio turned virulently.
"… And you will join it very soon."
They hadn't heard him happen.
Neither him ... nor the others.
How long had this vision lasted? How long ?
Scorponok, a few yards from them, surrounded by dozens of armed Insectons, gave them a grim smile.
"… I offer you a choice. "
Immediately Wing, Bumblebee and Rung stood in front of the altar, ready to protect it. Their gesture prompted the Insecticons to draw their weapons and point them at them.
But none of the three moved. Scorponok took a step towards them, his smile never leaving his face.
"... Leave the artifact to us. You may have the chance to stay alive. Or… die and we will take it anyway."
"Great choice" squeaked Bumblebee. "We prefer to take a third option, if you don't mind."
"You have no other options," said Scorponok.
"I know. It was sarcastic."
In response, Bumblebee's servo swung to his waist, ready to draw his laser-gun. Wing wanted to take his sword.
He wanted to use it. But ... He was tired of fighting.
After all that had happened, at Arkus, at Messatine ... He was tired of fighting against Scorponok, against Hardshell, against Saberhorn ...
Against everyone.
"Don't you think it's time we stop fighting each other?" asked Wing, calmly.
"We will stop fighting when we get the five artifacts" replied the scorpion, a peaceful tone.
"But that doesn't mean anything!"
"Since when does protecting ourselves mean nothing?" he squeaked.
"You let an entire City destroy itself!" Rung growled, raising his tone.
"So what ? Do you think I care?" said Scorponok.
Rung clenched his fists. Wing took a breath.
"We know that you have been victims of hatred and discrimination on Cybertron. We know it! But taking revenge will get you nowhere."
"Shut up, Autobot. It's not revenge. It's only justice for us. You have looked down on us for far too long, you standards. But now the wheel is spinning and you're going to pay!"
"Because massacring innocent people who have not even discriminated against you is "justice"?" spat Bumblebee.
For a moment Wing saw Scorponok tick.
But it was brief. He started to laugh.
"These are acceptable collateral losses."
"You scum!" Bumblebee yelled.
"The standards may have hurt you," added Wing. "But not all of them! Gasket… He was friends with Insecticons. With Atomblast. With his children…"
I raised an Insecticon, he almost revealed.
And I loved her. I know I loved her.
"... Not all standards want the death of Insecticons, or Cyclops, or anibots ..."
Again, Scorponok chuckled.
"But you think I have something to do with this Atomblast, his children or your friend Gasket who died, anyway?"
This time, Wing didn't add anything.
In his turn, discreetly, he put his servo on the handle of his sword. He glanced at Bumblebee.
Rung was not fighting. And there were ten of them. For only two…
He didn't know if they would get their servos on it.
The chances were slim. But they had to try. He thought back to Rung's vision and their promise to protect him.
This motivated them more.
"…Ready?" Wing whispered softly.
"…Ready."
And before the others could even fire, Bumblebee drew his gun while Wing rushed into the army, diving forward like a laser.
Dodging the first shots, the white bot hit one of the nearest Insecticons with a shoulderplate before throwing a sword in the second's one. He wasted no time and rushed to Scorponok in front of him, before pouncing on him to throw him back into the grass.
Scorponok roared. He held out his forearms and violently pushed Wing away. The white bot used his servos to get up before picking up his sword and attacking Scorponok, who hissed at his team for help.
Wing glanced at Bumblebee behind him. Even though the yellow bot used his laser-gun, it did not remain static and followed the white bot in his stride, catching two Insecticons by the neck to strike their heads against each other. It knocked them out and Bumblebee tackled another. The white bot looked for Rung. He saw the brown and white bot rushing to the Hand of Mortilus to grab it, cutting the grass under the feet of the other Insecticons.
Wing yelled at him to hide before blocking Scorponok's uppercut with his right arm.
"I hate whiners and cowards!" growled the scorpion, no longer smiling.
"Do you think it's cowardly to want to stop fighting?" Wing replied, his voice trembling. "The war is over, remember!"
"You think you're smart!"
Wing took a fist in the middle of his jaw. He replied with a kick, avoiding a tail blow from the scorpion.
"But meanwhile ... I broke your katana! I can very well break your sword!"
"You won't!"
No ... No way he would also break his sword.
Wing reached for the scorpion's head and, in a quick gesture, grabbed him by the neck. However, his pede slipped and before he could even attack his opponent, he slipped, dragging Scorponok into his fall.
"Boss!" cried one of the Insecticons.
The two rolled on the ground, which bowed down a steep slope. Wing did not seek to transform and endured the rocks, the earth, the roots that lacerated his back and his face.
Endure, he repeated to himself.
Endure… postpone your pain until later.
His fall felt endless, even if it only lasted a minute. Wing landed on his back, spitting energon after the impact.
Above them, the fight with the Insecticons continued. Wing's spark accelerated. And immediately terror took over.
Bumblebee and Rung ... would they be able to go the distance against the group of Insecticons? Beside him, a few meters away, Scorponok straightened up with difficulty. He too had been struck by pain. Wing used his sword as a support to stand up and did not have time to flash the optics when suddenly three Insecticons blocked his vision, aiming with different simultaneous attacks.
Wing tried to block the pede of one to receive an uppercut from another right into his cheek. The white bot hit a tree, dropping his sword before catching it in flight.
Endure ... Wing stood up. He grabbed the closest and mowed his legs, before running to the second to throw him towards the third, the two hitting each other and falling together.
The white bot took a few seconds to catch his breath before turning to Scorponok who was advancing towards him.
"... Scorponok ... please" whispered Wing.
"Why should I be afraid of you?" sneered the scorpion. "After all, the last time, you weren't even able to finish me off!"
"The Circle of Light forbids me to kill you!"
"Exactly!"
Wing bent back, dodging a new tail turn. Immediately, the pede of the white bot slipped. He straightened up and blocked, kicking the scorpion in the face. This destabilized him and Wing stuck his elbow in his stomach, making him back off.
For a few seconds, the scorpion flickered and Wing thought it was going to collapse to the ground. But he straightened up.
Wing coughed.
"…I have a daughter."
Scorponok's optics creased.
"... I adopted a daughter. An Insecticon. Heavenlight."
Wing kept coughing deeply, desperately trying to catch his breath.
"… You? Adopting an Insecticon?" Scorponok squeaked, incredulous.
"…It's possible. She is my daughter, regardless of her Insecticon mode."
She was my daughter...
And I know I loved her. Even if I don't remember her ... I know I loved her.
"… We can find a way to live all together, without discrimination."
"... If I find your daughter" said Scorponok, "I would make her suffer in front of your optics."
This time, Wing couldn't bear the threat. Forgetting his pain, the white bot jumped up and rushed towards him. He did not control his strenght and threw a punch in the middle of the forehelm. Scorponok surely hadn't expected it. At least, he hadn't expected such an outpouring of rage as he was sent flying back, landing a few meters further.
Wing did not try to hide his anger. He glared coldly at Scorponok.
"Finally ... your rage. I was wondering if you could feel it."
Heavenlight was dead.
She was dead and Scorponok dared to speak of her like that ... Wing tightened his grip on his blade.
"... that amuses you. Huh? To destroy everything?"
"… Not as much as our Queen."
His smile widened.
"… your daughter first… and then it will be your human vermin."
Again, Wing sent him his fist. Scorponok managed to block it, but with difficulty. Wing dived forward and entered him, pinning him against a tree.
"Boss !" yelled the same Insecticon.
Wing did not detach his optics from the scorpion.
"... You will not kill me ... you will not kill me" repeated Scorponok.
"… How can you do that? Your soldiers ... your soldiers are loyal to you."
"Of course they are!"
Wing tightened his grip around his shoulderplates, swinging his knee in the leg. Scorponok gasped and winced in pain.
Wing dodged a laser shot from the right side. He turned and pushed Scorponok forward, before taking care of the shooter. Using his sword, he made a display before aiming him in the helmet, knocking him out.
"Too nice ... you should have killed him" commented the scorpion.
"Enough, Scorponok!"
"We won, anyway!"
"No…"
Wing kept his jaw clenched.
"The fight is not over."
"That's what you think."
Scorponok raised his arm. For a moment, the white bot thought he was going to use a secret weapon. Immediately, he placed the blade close to his face, so as to defend himself effectively.
But it did not happen. He reached for the sky. On the steep slope, Wing saw another Insecticon fall while rolling.
Upstairs, he could see the laser shots exchanging without stopping.
Did Bumblebee and Rung make it?
Obviously, yes…
"... Black" Scorponok yelled towards the sky.
Black… Who was it for?
Wing looked up.
Then the buzzing came closer. His optics widened when he saw a cloud of Insecticons, much more numerous, dangerously approaching the ground to point their guns on the hill where Bumblebee and Rung were located.
Wing tried to speak, but no words came from his mouth.
Insecticons ... There must have been fifty ... maybe a hundred.
"No ! No!" Wing yelled. "Bumblebee! Rung!"
"Give us this artifact!" growled Scorponok. "Or your friends die!"
Panic quickly spread to the white bot.
The effect of the training faded and very quickly Wing lost his strength, lowering the sword in spite of himself.
Optimism left him ... What could they do, against an army of a hundred Insecticons?
"No…"
"You're way too weak, Wing. You get nothing without killing."
No… He would not kill. He would not kill ...
"Please! Let them go! Leave Bumblebee and Rung! Let them live!"
"So, give me that artifact!"
Again, Arkus' vision of destroying itself resurfaced in his processor. Wing closed the optics, as if trying to protect himself from this horrible dilemma.
He couldn't let Bumblebee and Rung die ... He couldn't let the universe destroy itself ...
I saw my future ... and there was nothing. Only black.
No…
"Please! Please!"
He didn't care ... He didn't care if he looked pathetic.
"Stop that ! Scorponok, stop!"
"Are you begging me now? When it is you who refuse to give up your damn principles? Too bad your little Minicon and her cellphone aren't here to help you this time."
Scorponok's fist appeared in his field of vision.
He heard the cannons charge as he spun back, falling to the ground as his sword glided a few yards further.
Temporarily blinded, he looked for Scorponok. The scorpion was facing him.
The buzzing hissed in his audios and Wing spat even more energon through his mouth.
"… I am disappointed with the Circle of Light. I expected better. But fine. Let's finish it, right?"
Wing did not try to answer. He wrinkled the optics as the scorpion raised his fist again, ready to finish him off for good.
The white bot looked for a weapon. His sword was too far away ...
The fist fell on him. Wing just had time to raise his arm to counter it.
But Scorponok never attacked him.
Wing did not understand. He then observed that Scorponok twisted forward. He screamed in pain as a blue and red arm entered his field of vision to grab him by the wrist to lift him up in the air.
The white bot frowned. He looked for where the help came from ...
Was…
"Wing!"
This voice…
Wing blinked.
The next moment, he met Dai Atlas' optics, who looked at him with concern.
"Dai Atlas ..." Wing tried to say something else, say other words.
But nothing came. Nothing went through his processor.
His leader ... His leader was here in Frayus ...
He could hardly believe it was real. He thought he was hallucinating.
Yet it was real. Dai Atlas turned away from him. He had taken out his sword and his katana. He faced the Insecticons which flew by the dozen in his direction, shooting at sight while they were melting on its prey.
But that would not be enough to bring Dai Atlas to the ground. In an instant, the leader of the Circle of Light deflected the lasers as quickly as Wing believed he had at least four arms to defend him. Wing hardly straightened up, rushing to pick up his sword. Dai Atlas jumped into the air and grabbed a Flying Insecticon four meters from his head to drop him to the ground. He tackled him to the ground before kicking him in the middle of his face.
The shooting didn't stop. The noises did not stop. In the distance, Scorponok stood up. His shocked look spoke volumes about his state of mind.
He understood who he was dealing with. He understood that he was not dealing with an Autobot or a Decepticon. But to the leader of the Circle of Light. One of Cybertron's most powerful fighters.
Wing had never been more delighted to see his leader, even if that did not lessen his surprise to see him here. While Dai Atlas distributed blows and deflected the shots, even using his own body as a shield to protect Wing, Scorponok was about to transform to start running.
He was running ... He was running away.
"Come back, coward!" Dai Atlas yelled at him before pursuing him.
Wing used his own sword as a shield. Scorponok did not go far. A few minutes later, Dai Atlas grabbed the scorpion by the helmet before flattening his blade under the throat, threatening to slice it at any moment.
This was enough to stop the shooting. Dai Atlas raised Scorponok, displaying him well to the other Insecticons floating in the sky, keeping their guns aimed at the two members of the Circle of Light.
"that's enough ! Cease fire! Or I kill him, is it clear ?" warned the giant.
Scorponok replied with a strangled cry. But Dai Atlas did not let go.
Silence fell. Throat tight, Wing looked back at the Insecticons squadron, apprehensive of their reaction.
Would they listen ...? Would they stop shooting?
Or were they going to continue?
Endure, Wing repeated to himself inside.
We can find a way to live together, without discrimination.
The Insecticons made no movement. None moved. They seemed to take Dai Atlas' threats seriously.
Then, before they could even decide how to act, a shadow covered the ground, hiding the sun.
It was the other way around… Wing turned around.
And he was surprised to see a blue and red Autobot ship appearing in the sky, the guns outside pointed at the Insecticons who were ready to take up arms.
Its presence was threatening enough that the squadron, five minutes later, would drop their arms, the Insecticons surrendering one after the other.
"Rung! Bumblebee! "
Once back in the clearing, the first thing the trio did was to get together. It had not been a good idea to have split up and that had greatly diminished them, even if the arrival of Dai Atlas had almost immediately reversed the trends. Right away, Wing inspected everyone's injuries.
Bumblebee had numerous bruises on his face and frame and the energon fell at his pedes. He needed care. As for Rung, he did not appear to have any visible injuries. Rung and Wing hurried to support Bumblebee to make him sit on the ground and perform first aid while the Autobot ship landed on the ground.
Dai Atlas waited, Scorponok handcuffed and kneeling on the ground nearby. When the doors opened, Bumblebee, Wing and Rung were puzzled to see two newcomers appear and advance towards them, side by side.
Ultra Magnus and Star Saber.
"… Sir?" cried Bumblebee, seeming to forget the pain for a few moments.
"We thought you might need help," the Autobot leader immediately clarified.
Star Saber expressed nothing behind his mask. He said nothing. He didn't even greet them and just gave a disdainful glare to the scorpion, as the squadron of Insecticons gathered a few yards from them. Since their leader had surrendered, the others had followed.
Wing was surprised by this behavior. But the Insecticons, whatever some standards said, were mostly loyal to each other when they belonged to the same swarm. Which was surely the case here.
Dai Atlas crossed his arms, his face closed.
"Where's the Hand of Mortilus?" he questioned them immediately.
"Here," Rung told him, opening his chassis.
Wing caught a glimpse of the stone artifact inside. Dai Atlas just nodded before Rung closed it. Ultra Magnus cleared his throat before speaking.
"Good teamwork, Dai Atlas."
"Thank you, Ultra Magnus" replied Dai Atlas in a tone devoid of warmth.
"How did you know we were here?" Bumblebee asked them.
Ultra Magnus turned to him.
"Arcee warned us. When we knew about Arkus, we figured you'd surely need reinforcements. We came as fast as we could."
At the mention of Arkus, their faces darkened. Wing turned his head away. Out of instinct, he did not want to meet the stern look of Dai Atlas.
This brought them back to their failure ... their failure since they had not been able to prevent the Insecticons from recovering this artifact. But when Bumblebee was about to add something, Ultra Magnus cut him off to tell them something new.
"... The Autobots got the Diamond back."
Silence fell. The news felt like a bomb. Wing couldn't believe his audios.
They ... had the Diamond recovered?
"How?"
"They managed to infiltrate," said Ultra Magnus. "They had been able to bring it back to the Autobot base. Our comrade Ratchet was also found."
The shock won them over.
They had found Ratchet ...? In addition to the Diamond?
Bumblebee, Wing and Rung exchanged an incredulous look. None of them dared to believe it. Yet Ultra Magnus seemed sincere.
Very quickly, relief appeared on Bumblebee's face. He covered his mouth, stifling an upset emotion in front of his boss.
"I ... Ratchet ... Ratchet is alive!"
"Yes, he is," said Ultra Magnus, the shadow of a smile appearing on his face.
"Ratchet… I'm so happy…"
Wing gave him a delighted smile, sharing his relief. He was happy for him, for them, that they had been able to find a comrade.
And now ... they were in possession of three artifacts.
"Three artefacts ... that's not enough to preserve the universe yet" Dai Atlas commented.
"But we're on the right track, right?" Rung reminded him.
In the distance, the Insecticons were starting to stir. This was evident by the flapping of their wings. Star Saber made a quick gesture of anger, pulling out his blades as he pointed a katana at them. Some Insecticons backed away, but others bared their dentas.
"… Let's lock them in stasis pods" declared Ultra Magnus.
"We should just execute them," growled Star Saber.
Ultra Magnus gave him a cold look.
"I said: we lock them up."
Wing sighed. Star Saber wasn't thrilled but he didn't add anything, clenching his fists at the blue bot.
It was the only decision to make. The Circle of Light didn't kill, after all.
However, while Rung and Star Saber ordered the Insecticons to line up, Ultra Magnus and Dai Atlas turned to Scorponok, still in the same position.
"... We should lock him up too" proposed Ultra Magnus.
Dai Atlas' response was final.
"He put the universe in danger."
"Dai Atlas."
"Remember our agreement, Ultra Magnus," said Dai Atlas sternly. "Anyone who attacks artifacts will be placed under the jurisdiction of the Circle of Light. Under my jurisdiction."
Ultra Magnus twitched but didn't notice anything. Wing remembered the conditions of alliance between Autobots and Circle of Light.
The fact that they were allies didn't mean they were friends, Wing thought bitterly. Even if ... He considered, from the beginning of their quest, Bumblebee, Rung, Arcee and Cliffjumper as friends.
"Scorponok," Dai Atlas said in a calm voice, as soon as all the Insecticons had entered the ship.
Scorponok looked at him, a heinous stare.
"… Do you expect me to be grateful? Because I am under your jurisdiction?" he said surly.
"How could you bring yourself to do this?" Dai Atlas continued in the same tone. "Endangering the universe, using artifacts."
He marked a time.
"… Did you know what the consequences would be, if you used them?"
"We knew the consequences perfectly," Scorponok growled. "It was not for nothing that we decided to look for them."
He added, in a low tone:
"They're ours now."
"Now you only have the Crown of Solomus," Dai Atlas reminded him. "You won't get far with just one artifact. If you surrender, there will be no more victims. There will be no more war."
Scorponok laughed. Dai Atlas did not change his expression, gazing at him unemotionally.
"Because you think the war and the hatred will end? That discrimination against us will end? You are really naive to think that I would believe such a thing."
"Cybertron is your planet, whether you like it or not" retorted Ultra Magnus.
"I prefer to live on Earth, on a planet where our race rules rather than on Cybertron where we are persecuted!"
Bumblebee snapped.
"Earth is NOT your planet! You will not rule it!"
"As you say" sneered Scorponok. "At least no one will torture us here."
"The fact that you were discriminated there doesn't justify the damage you've caused," said Dai Atlas harshly.
"Really? And what are you going to do to me then? You, the Circle of Light? Who refuses to kill regardless of the motives? You who prohibit murder? You who have always refused to go to war?"
Dai Atlas optics creased.
"Put me in jail. Or better, put me in the corner. I will go out after promising not to do it again" Scorponok taunted.
"You should take us seriously," growled Star Saber.
"Take what seriously ? You fanatics who say they act on behalf of Primus?"
Scorponok faced Dai Atlas, who was still silent.
"… If Primus existed as you claim so well… He would have prevented such a war. He would have prevented such discrimination from spreading."
Wing felt the fury of Dai Atlas rise inside him. He didn't say anything outside even though the white bot knew how much he hated people insulting the name of Primus and daring to question it that way.
"... Poor heretic" insulted Star Saber.
"I stand by what I said" replied Dai Atlas after a while. "There will be no more victims if you surrender."
"You must be completely stupid to believe that."
"You know that even if you are under our jurisdiction, we will not be lenient towards you."
"Oh yes ? And what punishment are you going to inflict on me?"
He provoked him. He provoked him voluntarily.
Why?
"Will you put me in a cell? Will you torture me physically? Go for it. At the Sanctuary, I'm used to it" Scorponok taunted. "If this is your sentence, I have nothing to fear."
"You will certainly have a trial," replied Ultra Magnus.
"And there is no question that you are released as easily after what you have done" warned Dai Atlas harshly.
"If you let me go, believe me I'll do it again."
Dai Atlas clasped his servos. His expression had changed.
Wing frowned. He didn't recognize this one. Something ... like uncertainty. Mixed with a kind of disgust.
"… Are you faithful to the Sanctuary?" Dai Atlas only asked. "To those who would contribute to the destruction of the universe?"
"It is not because I am a prisoner that I will switch sides."
This expression did not disappear.
"... And I will do everything to protect the universe" retorted Dai Atlas coldly. "Everything in my power to accomplish my mission."
"What's the point?" growled Scorponok. "You are only weak. The Circle of Light is only filled with cowards, anyway."
Wing wanted to retort that Dai Atlas was not a coward.
His leader had gone through many trials, had met many deities, had discovered many planets... He carried a heavy weight on his shoulderplates ... and Scorponok didn't have to call him a coward.
"…You are faithful to the Sanctuary. So, be it. I am loyal to Primus, Cybertron and Cybertronians. I offered you a choice. You refused it. So, I view you as a dangerous threat to me. A threat that would continue to persist even if I released you."
"Well ... put me in prison. Go for it. What are you waiting for?" Scorponok gave him a mocking grin.
Dai Atlas took a breath.
His unreadable air disappeared. Instead, there was only resolution, sweeping away any hesitation he might ever have.
"… Star Saber. Bring me my sword."
These few words had the effect of a thunderclap.
Everyone ... Wing, Rung, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus ... turned around to look at Dai Atlas.
"Dai Atlas…"
"Bring me my sword," said Dai Atlas.
"Why ... what are you going to do?" Ultra Magnus questioned him, the shock evident in his voice.
Scorponok chuckled.
"Scare me, no doubt."
"I left you a choice," Dai Atlas reminded him harshly.
No. Dai Atlas had something else in mind, Wing thought.
But when Star Saber brought back the sword in question, the white bot's energon froze irreparably all over his body.
"Dai Atlas ... wait. What are you going to do?"
"I can't let him condemn the universe," Dai Atlas replied, a condescending look on his face toward Ultra Magnus.
"You ... you're not serious, are you?"
Dai Atlas did not answer. And his lack of response continued to strike the white bot down.
No. He was not serious. Dai Atlas was not serious.
"Dai Atlas ... you're not going to execute him" stammered Ultra Magnus.
This time, the leader of the Circle of Light spoke in a low voice.
"He is under my jurisdiction."
Dai Atlas had established rules, legislations.
The Circle of Light did not kill. They never killed.
This time, Scorponok's smile vanished. And gradually, concern appeared on his face, becoming more and more apparent.
"I mean ... Dai Atlas. He must have a trial" exclaimed Ultra Magnus.
"A trial ? His trial has already been done. He is guilty of genocide. And as long as he lives, the universe will not be safe."
"But ... you can't do it like that! He has rights! He must have the right to a defense! Or at least, to a court! To a jury!"
"I'm not Autobot, Ultra Magnus. And the Circle of Light will not be equated with Autobots."
Scorponok's concern, even if he remained silent, slowly turned to terror.
He understood. He understood that Dai Atlas was not kidding.
"Dai Atlas… you… you can't!" Wing intervened in turn.
"And why can't I?" Dai Atlas replied coldly.
Because… Drift ... Gasket ...
"You ... you have established legislation. Against murder. The death penalty… it amounts to murder. The Circle of Light does not kill, remember. Your goal in establishing these rules was to strike a balance and not to turn ourselves into barbarians, despite the war."
But Dai Atlas did not seem moved by Wing's arguments.
"The death penalty ... is justice," said Dai Atlas, in an unequivocal voice. "He deserves only this punishment for his crimes. Him. As well as all those who will have contributed to the destruction of Arkus. I will not let the universe fall into their hands."
"We can just lock him up!"
"It's not a sufficient guarantee, Wing. And maybe I was wrong to establish these rules. They are unsuitable for this kind of situation."
Scorponok kept his mouth open. One limb after another, his whole body began to tremble.
He was scared. For the first time, Wing saw him frightened, panicked.
Yes. Scorponok had contributed to the Arkus genocide. But Dai Atlas decided to obstruct his own rules just like that.
His leader ... his leader who had always followed his own laws to the letter, to the point of being sometimes too strict.
No. He wouldn't do it.
"Dai Atlas…"
He hoped Dai Atlas would think about it. Let him reconsider his decision. He couldn't kill Scorponok and obstruct his rules that way, so arbitrarily.
It wasn't the Circle of Light. The Circle of Light did not kill. It always had been.
But Dai Atlas just took his sword.
"Dai Atlas!"
"Dai Atlas… don't do that!" exclaimed Ultra Magnus.
With a warning look, the giant dissuaded him from approaching him. Dai Atlas walked toward Scorponok, sword in servo.
"Dai Atlas!" shouted Wing.
The white bot unwittingly placed his servo on his sword.
"Don't dare to intervene, Wing, if you don't want me to be exiled from the Circle of Light for treason!"
Wing froze, stunned by the words of his leader. He was crucified on the spot, his sword slipping from his servos before falling to the ground.
The leader he had always admired, followed whatever happened ...
Despite himself, Dai Atlas' lips trembled.
"... I'm the one who'll do it."
He turned to Scorponok.
Silence fell. They heard nothing more. No buzzing.
Then, Dai Atlas' voice rose.
"Scorponok. You are charged with crimes against Cybertron and the universe. You have been judged and found guilty of the crimes of genocide, destruction and murder."
He marked a time.
"Consequently, I condemn you to the supreme punishment. I sentence you to the death penalty for the first time in ten millennia."
"You're not serious…"
"Do you have any last word?"
Scorponok's face decomposed.
He understood that it was over ... that there would be no more hope. And Wing tried to take a step towards him.
Something to prevent it ... to prevent him from dying ... But it was like his legs were weighing heavily ... like he had no control over his body.
The spark threatened to come out of his chassis. He stared at Scorponok. He didn't even look at Dai Atlas.
But Scorponok, after a long minute of silence, just shook his helm.
He had nothing to say.
"… Dai Atlas…" could only pronounce Wing.
Dai Atlas did not listen to him. He didn't listen to him anymore.
He raised the sword.
And Wing looked away as the latter fell on Scorponok's head to cut it off in a sharp gesture.
He heard Scorponok's body fall heavily to the ground.
Then nothing. No one said a word.
The Circle of Light did not kill
Drift ... Gasket ...
They had killed ... and they had been exiled.