MUSIC: DECIPHERING THE SIGNAL – TRANSFORMERS

Crystalline hands drum against the armrests of a throne. Not a single word is uttered is heard. Just the drumming echoing through the throne room's hallway. Kneeling before their master, Cad Bane and Lockdown scowl under their breath, humiliated but not willing to evoke any wrath from the one who sits above them.

"To think I entrusted you with a simple duty. Kill the girl." Mephiles then speaks up. "You had one mission, arguably the most important mission of this entire faction's history."

"Are you proud of yourselves? You let the entire Metarex down."

Mephiles stands down and slowly floats down from his chair before landing on the silk carpet. "And to think you called yourselves the best hunters ever written."

"Sir…" Cad Bane finally grumbles, raising his head to face the hedgehog's venomous glare. "We never had time to prepare, she just fell from the-"

His plea did not last long, as Mephiles reaches for the alien's throat, silencing him. A cold wind blows through the room as Cad Bane's hat whisks off his blue head and floats to the ground.

"Our forces outnumbered the Disciples' squadron 6 to 1 back there. Even without warning, you had more than enough time to make sure I struck her down before they got to the ship! So, don't even think of pulling the preparation card on me!"

Lockdown then pinches Cad by the legs, his massive stature becoming easy to pry his partner away from Mephiles' grasp. Yanking him back to the ground, Lockdown looks down at his superior.

"We won't fail again, Lord Mephiles. One way or another, that girl will die!"

Mephiles shakes off his hand, disappointed by Lockdown's interference in his discipline. His hands ball up into fists, purple energy crackling throughout his arm with rage. Now is the hedgehog's turn to scowl before looking down, his sneer turning back into a frown.

The power building up within him dies down, whatever composure he has returning to him.

"You're lucky I still have use for you." He then points to the massive door behind them. "Dismissed, await your next operation."

Lockdown nods before turning around and departing, nudging Cad with his foot. "Come on, Bug Eyes."

Cad Bane coughs, rubbing his throat and retrieving his hat, adjusting it just right. Grumbling, he dismissively follows the Cybertronian out of Mephiles' quarters.

Stepping back to his throne, Mephiles sits back down, drumming once again. After a couple minutes, the door then opens back up to reveal a blue robed beaked sorcerer floating up to the leader with some kind of steel case.

"Ah, Kamek. My loyal informant!" Mephiles beckons with glee. "Please tell me you have brought some good news!"

"I have retrieved what you requested, my lord!" Kamek bows, handing the case over. "Didn't take much searching in the Outlands library to get it, but this should be all you need to know about our new friend!"

The metal case is sealed with a glowing Metarex insignia of a pointed purple crown encased in a circle. Holding his hand out, Mephiles' magic unlocks the seal, the case fading away to reveal the contents inside. It is two Blu-Ray covers stacked atop each other with five girls posing on the art. Front and center is the name of the product at hand…

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Mephiles then moves the top case to the right to observe the Blu-Ray below it.

PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA MOVIE 3: REBELLION

"Hope you enjoy your little research session, master! Heheheheh…!" Kamek cackles.

Mephiles lets out a small chuckle. "Indeed I will. It's only a matter of time before this… Sayaka girl is fully trained. It's time I do a little training of my own."

Mephiles opens the cases to reveal the discs inside and hands them over to the wizard. "Cue them. Then prepare to send notes to the orientation division."

"Let us all find out how insignificant she really is."

The throne rotates, facing the wall as it opens up to reveal a massive screen. Kamek flies out with the discs in hand as the projection starts to play.

Meanwhile in the mess hall of the Metarex ship, Cad Bane slams the table in rage.

"Stupid hedgehog!" He spits, letting out his grievances.

"The blue one or the purple one?" The robot Ultron asks, grinning at seeing the once skilled hunter in disarray.

"Both of 'em!" Cad shoos off with his hand. "Making me look like a fool like that."

Sipping a glass of an alcoholic beverage, Boba Fett looks over to his rival. "He should've put me on the case, but you so insisted this morning."

"So much for being the one determined to quote unquote, eliminate the new Golden One, huh?"

"Shut up, Fett." Cad sneers at the Mandalorian.

Just then, Ultron's sensors hear something echoing at a across the hall that he pinpoints as Mephiles' room.

Kawashita yakusoku wasurenai yo me o toji tashikameru…

"…What in the hell is he doing over there?" He squints.