CHAPTER 79

Mary

He did not understand.

They hadn't had time to expect it. Nothing had been planned. It shouldn't have happened.

They had been gathered in the Council Chamber, along with Mary, Emily and other high-ranking officers of the American army. Normally, access would have been denied to Father John, being a civilian. But since he had interacted and frequented with Cybertronians, especially those from the Circle of Light, his presence had been required by Emily.

No ... nobody had expected it. They had discussed strategies to adopt, how to deal with the threat that hung over Earth as well as the entire universe ... And the next moment, Father John had felt himself propelled back, a violent explosion having broken his eardrums in a howl of terror as well as the smell of fire.

Fire ... Even now, motionless, unable to move, his body covered with ashes, the priest's ears whistled intensely as he inhaled the ashes and smoke, spitting blood from his mouth and nose.

With his blindness, it was as if his five senses were paralyzed ... and Father John felt vulnerable, helpless.

Beside him, he heard movement noises. But he couldn't guess who.

Mary…

How long had he been there? One hour? Five minutes?

Time had stopped. And when Father John had the strength to move an arm, he could not repress a strident cry of pain.

He called her weakly. Once. Twice. No answer.

He called her ... more strongly.

He had to ... he had to get up. At least get up… Father John touched something. He quickly guessed a body.

A body still warm ... For a second, Father John thought it was Mary and his heart almost stopped.

But no ... it wasn't her. It was Aaron… he recognized him by touch. And he didn't need to check further to find out that he had died.

His hand began to tremble and Father John began to moan with anguish and pain.

Aaron ... Gosh.

That would be his fate if he didn't move... if he didn't get out of here. However, Father John could not move. Even less to recover. Father John surely had bones, broken ribs ... maybe a concussion ...

He didn't know how. But he had to ... he had to do violence to himself. Father John screamed in pain. Despite everything, he tried to lean on his elbows.

At least ... start ... start with that.

Father John leaned to project himself forward ...

And two hands wrapped around his shoulders.

The perfume… He could smell Mary's perfume…

"John! "

Father John dropped against her. Mary straightened as much as she could. Father John asked her if she was injured. She replied that no, even if Father John felt that she was not telling the truth.

The blood…

"We have to ... we have to get out of here," articulated Mary. "We need to find Emily, Cade, the others… "

Father John nodded. Mary managed to keep him standing.

And, leaning on her like a crutch, Mary helped him cross the room until the smell of smoke and ashes faded.


"... a Cyclops ... I can't believe it. Were you dating a Cyclops? "

Karan walked straight ahead. As she walked, she felt the spider's claws come closer, touching her shoulderplate and her back at times, making her flinch in spite of herself.

She didn't need to turn around to guess an evil grin on her lips.

"… You, an Insecticon? Do you dare to mix your race with others?" Cooed Airachnid.

By her side, Chop Shop.

Chop Shop… the same one she had come to know, with whom she had discovered the Earth, the same one who, just a few hours ago, had advised her to support Outrigger and forbade her to be called useless… pointed a laser-gun on her.

Karan didn't know what was hurting the most. Part of her still believed in it, despite herself, despite the situation.

But she had to realize it. She felt herself pushed forward and stumbled.

"You fall again and I slaughter you" threatened the spider, a honeyed tone tinged with contempt.

"It would be easier if you didn't push me," Karan squeaked.

She jumped suddenly and writhed in pain. The spider had scratched her back with her only claw.

The energon sank behind her. She heard the spider suck on the tip of her forceps, running her glossa over the tips of her lips.

"It's better if you keep quiet."

"Just obey, Karan," Chop Shop commented in a dark tone.

This time, the Cyclops twitched. She turned wildly towards him. She wanted to jump on him, nail him to the ground, punch him until he spit the energon through the optics ...

But it was as if her own body did not obey her.

"… But who exactly are you?" growled Karan. "Who are you? You are not the Chop Shop I know."

Chop Shop paused before responding.

"… Just Chop Shop. Professional thief. Insecticon. That's all."

"I do not believe you."

"You should never have believed there was anything else, Karan. You were naive."

Naive ... If Karan was not so angry, she would cry. Without a doubt.

Karan was thrown forward again. Fortunately, this time, she caught up in time by bending her pede.

"Too bad" whispered the spider. Now, are you keeping on?"

The energon continued to flow ...

Lead them to the base ... to the artifacts ...

Never. Karan stopped suddenly.

"What are you doing?" spat the spider, annoyed tone.

Either way, she would kill her. She was a psychopath. You could see it at a glance. Karan simply crossed her arms, trying to channel her hatred and rage until she reduced it to the level of spark. She could get screwed.

"I stop and sulk" she mocked. "Isn't it obvious?"

"... A being as useless as you ..."

"Abbreviate with your demonic villain speech from the end of the world! You want to kill me? Come on, go for it! Here."

Karan turned suddenly towards her and stood in front of the spider, at a distance close enough for her to pierce the chassis.

"I even prepare the ground for you".

"Do you think you're smart?"

"What? I make it easier for you. Avoid staining your hideous face."

Well, maybe she was doing a little too much.

But what was there to do? At his side, Chop Shop opened his mouth, closed it ... He seemed extremely anxious. Something in his optics begged her not to continue, to just lead them to the base.

Oh no. Don't make her think that he genuinely cared about her! The spider winced in anger, her shaking forceps stacked over the head of the Cyclops.

"…As you wish."

Karan clenched her fists.

She who had always believed that during her last moments, she would cry and whine like a coward, unlike Kat who had always been more courageous than her ...

But strangely, she felt calm. Almost at peace. And she wondered if Outrigger's training really had anything to do with it.

"... I have a better idea" sneered the spider.

Karan did not understand.

She did not move, waiting for the forceps to fall on her like a cleaver.

But instead ... the spider had moved away.

And without leaving time for Karan to turn her head, the spider immediately found herself behind Chop Shop.

Pliers under the throat. Karan froze in spite of herself. The spider's wicked smile kept growing.

"If you don't bring these artifacts ... I slit his throat."

Karan growled. Before her, Chop Shop closed his optics, as if he had already resigned himself to it before even betraying her.

No ... no way playing this card.

"... Do what you wish" Karan growled finally. "Do you think I'm going to condemn the universe for him?"

"Are you sure?"

"I do not care."

He had betrayed her, he had sold her out to this spider, her life was currently threatened because of him ...

Her friends' lives were threatened. Because of him.

Don't devalue yourself, Karan

What a joke…

"Really? Would you dare let him die?" sneered the spider.

"The Decepticons stab each other in the back," Karan replied. "Too bad for you. I am one."

"So, there's no problem."

Then the forceps slowly but dangerously approached the throat of Chop Shop.

She was not bluffing ... she was not lying ... But Karan was not going to fall for that.

He deserved it. He deserved it more than anyone. But the moment Karan saw the blade lightly puncture one of the cables in the throat of the Insecticon that she had known since her arrival on Earth ... Karan could not bring herself to let it continue.

Suddenly, she no longer controlled herself and she started to scream.

"Stop!"

"I was sure ..." whispered the spider. "You know what you have to do."

What weakness ...

She felt so pathetic. However, Karan listened. She heaved a long sigh before putting her servo to her headset.

She resented him so much… he deserved to die…

"What are you doing?"

"I'm opening a ground-bridge," Karan replied. "Right down to the base."

"You just have to take me there. It would be a joy to massacre your comrades."

If she had been able to, Karan would have turned pale.

"There is no one at my place ... and the artifacts are stored in a safe of which only we know the combination."

The spider did not repress a disappointed pout. However, she believed her and contented herself with sighing before declaring.

"So ... bring it to me. I want to see you open it in front of me."

Karan felt her fists clench.

Forgive me, Kat ... Forgive the fact that your sister is so stupid.

Without adding anything else, Karan entered the base coordinates.


As soon as Wing, Gasket and Rung reached the site, they simply saw a heap of smoke covering the remains made up of fallen stones, ashes and black particles rising in the air.

No one wanted to believe it was the headquarters of the United States Army. Even less Wing, who had been locked up and imprisoned there by the humans when the latter had tried to obtain information on the affiliation of Cybertronians.

He believed it even less ... because Father John had been inside.

And immediately Wing stopped as the smoke cleared around them.

Wing thought of nothing other than the conversation he had had with Dai Atlas a few days earlier.

Don't erase my memories.

You will have to endure the death of others.

Wing remembered a memory.

A painful memory ... one about the apartment which had collapsed in Kaon. With Heavenlight inside.

His optics clouded over without him realizing it.

He had spent three days there… three days without stopping.

Three days to research for her…

Father John ... Father John had been at the base ...

Throat tight, Wing slowly advanced towards the place that had once been the headquarters of the American army ...

Seek ... Seek humans ... Seek Father John ...

"Wing ..." he heard.

Dad

Maybe it had been Heavenlight's last words ... Maybe she had called him for help?

Father John ... he didn't hear him calling for help. If he was alive, he would call for help ...

Why didn't he call?

"Wing!"

It was Gasket's voice. Immediately, Wing turned. In Outrigger's back, a light rose, becoming brighter and brighter.

Wing's optics widened. He didn't think twice and rushed in the direction of the young brown bot.

But he didn't have time to reach him. Gasket had already grabbed Outrigger in his arms, dragging him to the ground while a jet of flame passed just above their heads, destroying everything in its path while igniting the place where they had stood a few seconds before.

Wing covered his face. Gasket and Outrigger rolled to the ground. Beside him, Dai Atlas drew his sword and his katana, ready to use them.

The white bot looked up. After finding Outrigger and Gasket were fine, he turned around.

In front of them ... there were not only five, ten Insecticons. It was nothing compared to their last meetings.

Wing's breath caught when he realized that there were about a hundred Insecticons, all on the city walls.

All ready to melt on Crown City.

"We are gathering!" Ordered Ultra Magnus.

Among them ... Wing recognized a few.

Hardshell, Saberhorn among the fighters…

All were armed. But no one moved. They were waiting for the signal.

The signal to attack.

Jaw clenched, Wing was about to draw his own weapons. Beside him, Outrigger and Gasket seemed determined to come to blows, even if Wing's mentor did not have a physical weapon.

But… did he need it? Wing glanced at Dai Atlas.

Each member of the Circle of Light awaited his orders. But Wing couldn't help but wonder what he was going to decide.

Was he going to decide to let the Autobots defend Crown City alone? After all, the Circle of Light was neutral. Humans did not concern them.

His spark tightened more. Resigned, Wing did not expect any other decision from his leader.

"... Wing, Outrigger, Gasket ..." breathed Dai Atlas.

His order was barely audible. But he reached the audios of the white bot.

" …Prepare yourselves "

Wing blinked. Dai Atlas turned towards him and for a brief moment, their optics met.

Wing gave him a slight nod.

They understood each other… they finally understood each other.

"Insecticons!"

They heard Hardshell command on his side, in a booming voice.

They expected it ... They have been fighting for this since their arrival on Earth. The group, made up of Autobots and the Circle of Light, united for the first time since the war, stood ready. Each approached the others, ready to defend themselves.

Then the order fell.

"... Attack!"


Dai Atlas alone was worth at least twenty soldiers.

When the army of Insecticons melted on them, he and Ultra Magnus stood side by side. They were the two heads of their respective teams. Therefore, they were on the front line. And it did not take long. Dai Atlas and Ultra Magnus were the first to counterattack.

One after the other, the Insecticons were thrown back by the Great Sword of the giant of the Circle of Light cutting in an arc, while Ultra Magnus were carrying out attacks from a distance, aiming precisely at each of the Insecticons who transformed into their insect modes to rise in height and be more difficult to access.

Dai Atlas ... looked so strong, so valiant. Worthy of being the leader of the Circle of Light, worthy of being the Apostle of Metrotitan.

Wing in turn joined the battle. He was soon surrounded by three to four Insecticons who, as soon as he was placed in their line of sight, repeatedly shot at him.

The white bot took an inspiration. He should not let his emotions run wild. Not during such a fight.

Precisely, Wing began to parry and deflect as many shots as he could with his single sword, his defensive gestures becoming faster and faster as the shots progressed in intensity.

Wing felt a shot in his ankle. Then in his shoulderplate. But it didn't matter, he didn't dwell on it. He continued to deviate before taking advantage of a slight opening caused by Gasket who broke the field of training of Insecticons, so that Wing jumped in the air and transformed in his turn into his aerial mode.

In turn, he hit the first Insecticon. The one who was closest to him. Immediately, Wing transformed and grabbed him, before sending him on a second who could not dodge him in time and was rushed back in shock.

At his side, Gasket faced the others, with his bare servos. Wing hurried to stand next to him, so that they were back-to-back to protect themselves from possible attacks from behind. Wing uttered a cry of rage and sent his sword which stuck in the pede of one of the Insecticons who had raised his weapon to shoot in the helm of his mentor. This spared Gasket, who was not deconcentrated in his struggle, while it strengthened Wing's determination.

The white bot picked up his sword and began to swap with the blades of a warrior who almost towered over him.

It was not Hardshell, although the two shared the same mode. Speaking of him ... Hardshell had rushed straight to Dai Atlas in person. He uttered a battle cry, throwing his head back before rushing over to the leader of the Circle of Light who wasted no time blocking his attacks.

Dai Atlas would resist a long time before retreating under the assaults… and Wing guessed that the cold anger of his leader slightly disconcerted Hardshell even if the warrior Insecticon did not let anything show through.

Wing was struck hard in the face with a powerful punch. He wobbled a few seconds before aiming at the Insecticon at the waist, his opponent easily blocking his shots.

Outrigger…

Outrigger!

His young student had attacked Saberhorn directly. From afar, Wing saw them exchanging blows fiercely, each blocking, each retreating, each attacking ...

From this distance, Wing noticed the almost amused smile on the beetle's face while Outrigger redoubled his efforts to get the better of him.

The white bot was afraid… he was afraid for his pupil…

Wing received another punch directly in the throat. He almost dropped his sword.

A shadow passed near him. The white bot blinked, realizing that Gasket had already intervened and had taken over, throwing himself on the ground to lean his palms against the ground to kick the fighter's jaw.

That was enough for Wing. He took advantage of the short window that the Insecticon hinted at when he tried to regain his balance to raise his sword. The next instant, the combatant waltzed away and crashed to the ground. Wing turned suddenly to strike another who was shooting at them from behind.

"… I imagine Drift had an excellent teacher," complimented Gasket, who took a breath.

"… I learned from the best."

The two exchanged a slight smile before throwing themselves headlong into battle. Wing threw a shoulderplate in the middle of a soldier's forehead. He used a feint to throw his sword in the air. It landed in her other servo as the Insecticon followed her from the optics. Wing pierced his shoulderplate before stepping back.

Briefly, Wing checked that the wound was not fatal before turning around to serve as a shield for Gasket, who lowered before twirling to strike his opponent with an inverted kick.

Father John…

Wing clenched his jaw. No ... he shouldn't be thinking about that ... In his processor, the image of the collapsed apartment never left him.

He tried not to listen to it and counterattacked with more zeal. But it was difficult not to think about it… it was difficult not to think about it with the current context.

Don't erase my memories ...

No… Father John was not dead. He felt it… deep inside, he knew that the human was not dead and was indeed alive today.

Wing sent the most powerful head kick possible in the full chassis of another Insecticon before turning to Outrigger.

This time, the young bot led the fight. Even if Saberhorn was strong and used his two swords, Outrigger only used his katana and managed to back the pirate slowly but surely.

The amused look the pirate had displayed earlier had disappeared and he had only barely camouflaged irritation instead. Wing swept across the legs of another soldier before kicking him, taking advantage of a few seconds to catch his breath.

"Wing!" Shouted Arcee.

The white bot turned. Using her laser guns to ward off the Insecticons who were approaching them, the two-wheeler turned to him.

She pointed to the sky. Wing followed his gesture. His gaze fell on the ship behind the clouds. A red and purple vessel, bearing the colors of the Decepticon faction…

"They are the ones who fired!" Shouted Arcee. "If I can get the coordinates, I could ask Ratchet for a ground-bridge to get there!"

"And you think it can work?"

"It must work!"

Wing hesitated.

Going alone ... it would be unwise ... however, Arcee smiled confidently, indicating that she knew what she was doing.

Wing nodded.

"I cover you," he swore.

And he kept his word. The battalion began to fire again. And Wing used his sword and his own body as shields, warding off and deflecting the laser impacts as the femme put her servo to her earpiece to contact Ratchet and request a bridge.


He would get to him...

Never detaching his optics from those of the beetle he faced, Outrigger went after the pirate's blades by simply using the katana, which he grabbed with both servos.

Saberhorn stepped back, slowed down. He winced slightly when they heard, through the shooting and howling of the fighting around them, a crack that became more and more intense.

"Not bad, young bot," said the pirate half-heartedly before kicking him unexpectedly.

Outrigger dodged and replied, gripping the horn firmly. Saberhorn growled and with a sharp gesture, he detached himself from him by pushing him away abruptly by means of an uppercut in the jaw which destabilized the young bot. Saberhorn took the opportunity to recover his short blade, which had fallen to the ground.

The young bot shook his helm, trying to regain consciousness but Saberhorn didn't give him the time. Using his flapping wings to gain speed, the beetle rushed at him.

Outrigger almost repelled the blow of the horn by a parade with his blade. But that was not enough for Saberhorn. The next instant, the beetle re-used the same attack and this time, Outrigger's katana escaped from his servos.

Saberhorn's blade was found under his throat, the tip brushing against the cables. Outrigger froze, before slowly raising his head towards the beetle.

"A kid's place is not in combat," Saberhorn commented sourly.

"I'm not a kid!"

His immediate response snatched a mocking smile from his opponent. But Outrigger didn't give him the time to add more and grabbed the beetle's short blade with full palm.

"I am a member of the Circle of Light… of course my place is in combat!"

With the back of his servo, he quickly swept the blade before throwing himself on Saberhorn. The two quickly rolled to the ground. Outrigger tried to have the upper hand but after a few minutes of struggle, the beetle finally pressed him to the ground, the blade against his forehead.

Outrigger glared at him. And as Saberhorn opened his mouth to add something, Outrigger took a breath and used the full weight of his legs to hit Saberhorn in the back and release him from him. Saberhorn was flipped forward, falling a few yards further as the brown bot rose.

Immediately, Outrigger's instinct was to recover his katana. Beside him, Saberhorn seemed to have the same idea. But Outrigger was faster. He threw himself on the ground to take back his blade which had landed in the grass ...

Please, hopefully Karan was fine...

" Watch out!" Saberhorn yelled at him suddenly.

Surprised, Outrigger turned around. He barely had time to see the shot fall plunged on him that he jumped to the side to dodge it, carrying out a roll before standing up.

He turned to his opponent. Saberhorn was already standing, staring at him with an unreadable expression.

"…Why?" asked Outrigger.

He'd had no interest in warning him. The beetle just shrugged, without answering. Then his optics dropped to something that Outrigger didn't see well among the smoke that clouded the battlefield, preventing them from distinctly seeing the fight going on around them.

Outrigger narrowed his optics. Saberhorn's optics followed a moving shadow. Outrigger understood who it was from the moment he discerned two human figures running as far as possible from the battlefield.

Saberhorn smiled again.

A colder smile.

"Wasn't it the vermin that shot at my optic the last time?"

"Father John! Mary!" Outrigger called them. "Run!"

They were injured ... they were covered in blood.

Even at this height, the brown bot noticed that they couldn't even run to escape. Mary supported Father John who barely struggled to stand up. But upon hearing Outrigger's cry, Mary jumped. Saberhorn swooped down on them while Outrigger propelled itself forward to protect them from the beetle.

Father John collapsed. Outrigger redoubled his speed as Mary tried to straighten him up and put him back on his feet. She was determined to carry him ... to carry him if necessary ...

Run! tried to yell Outrigger at them. Run!

It would not be enough ... He was too far.

Outrigger eventually turned into his alt-mode, hoping to keep humans away in time.

Fatigue won him over. Outrigger accelerated.

But before he could even parry Saberhorn's sword which had risen in the air to slay the human closest to him, his sword was suddenly blocked by another one that blocked his path.

Outrigger froze. Saberhorn turned.

Wing was facing him, staring at him coldly.

"... Outrigger. Join Karan. Take them to safety."

As he transformed, Outrigger didn't get him told twice. Immediately, he lowered himself to grab the two humans in his palms to lift them up and carry them away from the fight.

Saberhorn did not attack him. He let him go. He had completely turned back to Wing.

And while Outrigger hugged Father John and Mary against him, he heard nothing except a heavy silence falling on the two warriors.

Then, the silence was broken by the soldiers' cries as Wing and Saberhorn placed themselves in a fighting stance, before launching one on the other, as if they had been intended to do so.


"Glowstrike. Shoot."

Inside her ship, Glowstrike watched the battlefield.

Despite the battlefield scan, despite a close-up view of the conflict that appeared on the dashboard, Glowstrike still couldn't discern who was who, where her soldiers were and where the enemies were.

"Glowstrike. Shoot!" Hardshell repeated through the communication.

The firefly did not answer. Again, she carried out the commands to establish a global view of the field surrounding the human city of Crown City.

But faces didn't appear… everything was so blurry.

Everything was so vague around her.

Again, Hardsell's voice rose.

"What are you doing for, Glowstrike? We must strike now! Otherwise, the diversion will not be enough to allow our Queen to recover the artifacts!"

Glowstrike kept her optics closed.

She had no orders to receive from him ... Even to obstruct the path of their enemies, she did not want to shoot her own soldiers.

Not without thinking of another strategy. But at the moment, she had thought about it ... She found none. Still, she was still considering options. There was always an option.

But ... No alternative solution which would reduce the losses of their armies presented itself to her.

Without an army, they would have no chance of fighting the Autobots and recovering what belonged to them.

"Glowstrike! Are you the Second or not? Damn, shoot!"

Finally, Glowstrike answered, the tone muffled but audible enough for Hardshell to hear it despite the outside noises that covered it.

"… We are not going to shoot our own comrades."

"Primus! You are so weak!"

However, she had thought of this alternative. She had prepared for it. She had prepared for the possibility of sacrificing her soldiers to give the Sanctuary a chance to survive.

It was war, after all. There were inevitable losses.

When she had sacrificed Zizza, she had been prepared for it. She had done it without any hesitation.

All these soldiers were ready to die for the Sanctuary. She had been prepared for it. All her life. She had been prepared for the tragedies of war.

But… now that she faced the horror of it, even if her digits were squeezed on the trigger which, by a single press, a single shot, would cause an explosion that would decimate everything in its path, she couldn't just do it.

She couldn't take action ...

It was silly. It was completely stupid on her part.

"Glowstrike! Either you shoot, or we all die!"

How could she feel so much hesitation? She had never felt it before when it was a question of accomplishing what had to be done for the safety of the Sanctuary.

Why now?

Glowstrike reopened her optics, silently observing the dashboard before scanning.

Very quickly, she looked for Saberhorn. Where was he on the battlefield ...?

For once ... only once ... it interfered with the principle that the Sanctuary should come before anything else. Before her comrades.

Before love, so tempted that she could feel it.

Glowstrike actively searched. As Hardsell continued to yell orders at her over and over in the audios, the firefly eventually deactivated the communication, hanging up before he could even finish his sentence.

Saberhorn… where was he?

Glowstrike sets up a new scan, this time focusing on the silhouette of those who were potentially part of her troops. One after the other, she searched with a fine comb, zooming in on the fighters who either won or collapsed on the ground, dead or seriously injured.

After a few intensive minutes of research, Glowstrike recognized the silhouette of Saberhorn. Even if she did not clearly discern it, she recognized him. She knew it was him.

He was currently fighting another soldier, a standard, using his two fencing swords at the same time.

He backed away ... he toiled. It was obvious in his gesture. All the more reason for him to move away.

Glowstrike started communication.

"Saberhorn?" She called him.

"My dear, I'm in the middle of a fight!"

"Get away from the battlefield. There will be a new strike" she ordered him severely.

"What?"

"Now!"

Definitely… she was weak. Normally, she would not have hesitated to sacrifice anyone for the Sanctuary. She didn't understand her own attitude ... it made no sense.

But she couldn't. She felt incapable of it.

She felt unable to shoot when Saberhorn was among the battlefield.

Hardshell would call her a coward and surely she was.

Saberhorn hung up. On the screen, she watched the silhouette of Saberhorn kick in the face of his enemy. Then he pulled away before spreading the wings.

A few seconds later, he took off and flew into the sky, leaving the earth over which death reigned and the Energon poured out afloat.

Glowstrike took control, calculating the target accurately enough to target the center of the battlefield and thus hit all of their enemies at the same time.

Slowly, she adjusted the barrels.

All ... they were all in her sights.

Glowstrike took a long breath.

She wasn't supposed to feel any emotion…

She was ready ... she was ready to shoot now.

Even if it was her soldiers ... even if it was not worthy of a Queen who had sworn to protect these same inhabitants of the Sanctuary ... Glowstrike's digits hovered over the buttons.

Then ... a figure turned around.

Suddenly Glowstrike froze.

At first, she didn't believe it. She discerned it.

The individual was turned in her direction.

Despite herself, Glowstrike felt the rhythm of her spark accelerate. A violent heat gripped her head and her cheeks began to boil, as if she was on the verge of collapsing.

She believed that the individual had noticed her ... but she knew, deep down, that he was unable to see her since she was located inside the ship. Surely that was what he was contemplating now. The Decepticon spacecraft. Their ship.

Not her.

Glowstrike clenched her jaw. Something that felt like anger arose within her. An intense rage that she kept internalized.

She hadn't expected... she hadn't expected it, even if she should have.

Now she had one more reason to shoot.

Yes. Glowstrike tried to calm down, the anger continuing to burn in her spark.

She should not hesitate any more.

She had to shoot… now… Now…

Then she met his optics. She met his gaze.

It only lasted a few seconds.

A… broken expression. So destroyed. So dejected.

Glowstrike thought she saw her own reflection. Her own mirror.

The individual did not leave the battlefield. He had gone back to battle, defending himself against the offensive of her most valiant soldiers.

Glowstrike kept her digits on the buttons.

Saberhorn had left the battlefield ... now she could shoot.

Now ... she could shoot.

But the heat, the anger did not leave her. Her spark was racing, even though she felt nothing.

Then, Glowstrike's optics clouded over.

She ended up shaking her head, sighing deeply. A sigh of weariness.

Her trembling servos left the controls.

The shooting resumed.

But this time, she heard them clearly.

Too ... too close.

She realized that they came from behind her, behind her back.

Glowstrike immediately turned her attention away from the screen and turned around.

And her stare met an Autobot two-wheeler's who threw herself on her, uttering a war cry.


"Tic, toc, Chop Shop… Tic Toc"

Minutes passed… and the expression of Chop Shop decomposed gradually.

Five minutes. She had given him five minutes.

Five minutes for this Cyclops to retrieve the trunk and open it in front of her…

Five minutes to deliver the artifacts ... if she wanted Chop Shop to survive.

In the end, she didn't even have the caliber of a Decepticon.

She who'd claimed that the Decepticons stabbed each other in the back, she had not even been able to endure the death of Chop Shop.

Unless it was a trick to flee ... Airachnid groaned impatiently.

She turned her attention back to the red Insecticon. He who had tried to be falsely valiant and dignified in the face of death ... it simply failed.

The ground-bridge still didn't open.

Karan still didn't come back.

"In the end, she didn't care much for you, Chop Shop" sneered Airachnid.

Chop Shop did not respond. Would he answer nothing? Not even begging her to spare her?

Pity. But too bad. Anyway, she had already planned to kill him at the base. Airachnid quietly approached him, in a dangerous and seductive step, not changing her expression.

"My only comfort was to kill you ... knowing that your Cyclops would die after you. Because of you."

Chop Shop started.

This terror ... Airachnid enjoyed it all the more.

"At least… she'll join you in the Allspark. You will be together. How romantic."

She began to chuckle.

"As romantic as my story with Lockdown…"

"Of course it ended well ... for both of you" said Chop Shop slowly.

Airachnid glared at him.

What right did he dare-?

Lockdown was going to live again! How dare he?

"Lockdown will rise from the ashes," she growled.

"He should already get his head back."

"With or without head…It remains Lockdown."

How much fun they would have when he came back.

Together ... they would slaughter everyone.

Autobots, humans ... and these ridiculous inhabitants of the Sanctuary.

They would reign over corpses and that would not bother her in any way.

"You pushed your luck enough, Chop Shop. The five minutes have passed anyway."

Airachnid stood in front of him. Chop Shop did not detach his optics from her.

He kept his brows frowning. As if he was waiting. As if he was waiting for her to finish him.

How cute. He was going to play the brave soldier card? He, a vulgar thief that nobody would miss?

"Farewell, Chop Shop."

Chop Shop did not respond.

But he would not have any right to last words.

She would keep her word. Her clamp rose ...

And before she could even knock it down on Chop Shop, a green light shattered Jasper's environment.

A ground-bridge appeared. Airachnid turned around, a smile on her lips.

"Finally ... it was late. But there she is."

Karan did not reappear immediately.

Airachnid waited. She waited for her to reappear with the safe.

With her artifacts in.

Then something fell from the ground-bridge. On her eight legs, Airachnid walked slowly to examine what it was.

A safe… open. Did she bring it to her?

Airachnid sneered and leaned over to pick it up.

Her first reflex was to check that the artifacts were inside.

But she did not have time to discern anything.

A light ... a ray of light emanated from the safe.

She just had opened it to see Karan emanate from the ground-bridge, dressed in an armor she knew.

One of Tarantulas' armor ... one that these Autobots had stolen.

Airachnid did not understand.

Then Karan's voice rose:

"A gift from Fracture, the tarantula!"

Then the safe exploded on the spider's face.