Yellow glared at the bright sunlight. Nightbird slipped a blade from her back, keeping her distance from Impactor. "You made clumsy movements, but I saw the damage left behind. You would've fit well as a Wrecker." The former leader smiled, adjusting his harpoon.
"I've had requests for a few ranks before, but my loyalty is for who I want to give to."
"And what does Viper have that Megatron doesn't?"
"You trust for Megatron is in payment." She created a hologram and let the yellow mech turn and slash it in half.
"I know your tricks." He snarled, then fired out his harpoon. Nightbird moved away as the weapon pierced through the air. He didn't stop, firing a blast from his shoulder cannon. Nightbird hit the sand as her shoulder burned with melted armor. She threw a laser blade, damaging the former Autobot's torso.
It vanished as Impactor turned his helm, seeing her gripping a laser sword. He stopped the attack with his harpoon, staring into her optics. He punched her wrist and roundhouse kicked her side. The ninja femme spiraled before touching the sand again. Instead of crashing, she flipped back, throwing more blades that did hit his frame again.
Nightbird's hologram got a chance to attack, striking him without damage. It left him trapped in an electric shock. Impactor snarled as he noticed her approaching. Slashing through his chest with the blade, trying to expose the vital portions of his frame. In a split second, his harpoon pierced through the illusion and then jabbed into her frame. He snarled as she shoved his shoulder cannon in another direction before he could fire.
In that tight grip, she flipped him over into the sand. Pinning him down until throwing him back before the cannon could hit her. He flung out his harpoon, piercing into her armor and pulling her from where he stood at the rocks. The mech gave a swift punch, jabbing into her helm. Yellow dimmed before Nightbird twisted her body. Car armor parts taking Impactor out of the grip. The ninja femme kicked his chest, then jabbing at him with her blades. Silver gleamed against the translucent yellow. Harpoon pierced and awaiting to tear her open. They remained locked within their grip.
Impactor smiled, grabbing onto her helm and shoving her against the wall. Energon leaked down his chest. Nightbird dragged her blade against him further. "Not bad, I'm impressed." His harpoon shoved the sword away, aiming it close to her neck. "Don't make me kill you, I've ridden this rodeo many times before." He noticed her arms lowered, an innocent look in artificial eyes.
"I know, I've heard it before." A click alerted her to the sound of Stasis Cuffs.
"Come on then, Megatron wants you back right now." He began to drag her through the beach and back to the ship. Energon trailing down his frame and onto the sand. Nightbird looked around, trying to figure out a way to get out of this. Wait, where is Viper?
Right then, broken dark blue armor tackled into yellow, forcing Impactor off his pedes. An acid gun shoved into his wounded chest. Bright blue optics glared at him. "Give me a reason not to kill you right now."
"I can help you with whatever you're doing, put that thing away." Impactor snarled, yet the mech remained firm.
"How can we be sure you're not going to blab it all to Megatron?"
"If you told me what you're doing, then I'll listen."
"Not here, get in your ship and take us to Nali. We'll tell you everything before the others get here." They began to hear sirens wailing. The mech broke the Stasis Cuffs, keeping his gun aimed at the former Wrecker.
"Nali? There's nothing of interest there." Impactor frowned.
"I'll tell you when we get inside. Now stop trying to break my helm open with that harpoon. Be glad I brought a few medkits." Viper huffed, helping the injured femme get up. "You'll both bleed out if you don't get inside." The mech went into the ship. Impactor watched them, clenching his fist, but knowing when to not risk it. Still, he noticed a flash of gold and purple on the top of the cliffs. He looked up, seeing a figure standing there. Without a word, he went inside and sat down, feeling his armor bleeding.
The shuttle flew off before the figure could catch up to them. Malus watched, helm tilted and a smirk on his face. "That's it, run as far as you can. I will catch you when the time is right..." He purred, transforming and storming off into the forest.
Nightbird leaned back on the old makeshift couch. Yellow optics staring at the projection onto the wall. Soundwave knew how to get cable for everyone, so most Cons would enjoy spare time. It's a secret spot, no fun-killers allowed in here to ruin the fun. For now, most of the place in a frenzy. Voices yelled outside, drowned out by the sounds of a circus on the screen. Starscream, Megatron, and other higher-ups in a shouting match as humans filled up the screen. Humans, the Decepticons loathed them. She couldn't deny that without them, she wouldn't be here. To think, they're working together now thanks to Cobra, but are causing such an insane racket outside. She didn't notice the door opening as a human woman was drawing the caged white tiger in front of her.
"What's your name again? Ah, Dhiren. Well, I'll just call you Ren. Hope that's alright with you."
A figure sat beside her, seeing the tiger's blue eyes shine. Lockdown leaned back too, a smile on his face. "Seeing this film again? Do you have other interests?"
"I thought you didn't care what I watched."
"Curious, but I'd rather hear this than listen to the screaming outside. Its a mess, I didn't sign up for that." He vented, watching the drawing of the tiger move about on the paper. The woman continuing to ask questions.
"You're the idiot who let Perceptor get away." She vented as well.
His hook pierced the couch's old fabric and left a tear. "I will hang his corpse out to dry once I get my claw on him. " A growl before frowning.
"Good luck with that, after the incident, Optimus won't let him go by himself." She rolled her optics and chuckled.
"You're more fun to chat with than Slipstream." He shook his helm.
"Oh, why bring her up?"
"Was wondering if you'd like to escape somewhere far from here. I have my ship stowed away, no one knows. We could sneak out and escape this mess."
The human-made femme nodded but looked back to the screen. "Have you heard anything from Viper?"
"Him? No, he's been quiet after Megatron sent him out for the mission."
"Does he know yet?"
"Know about what? You still haven't answered me your offer."
"That he's not the one human-made Cybertronian. No, I'm not risking my life out there right now. Where do you go anyways?"
"I go to places, far off places you'd dream of. Everywhere I turn, there's a mission with my name. More trophies to keep."
"I'm not ready for those changes. I'd like to wait longer. More soldiers will take up slots and Megatron won't notice. It won't be fun to have Decepticons chasing us."
"I've done it before, but make sure to come back before Megatron can think of me."
"Then why say we can leave without him noticing?"
"I'm sure my punishment will expire soon."
"And soon being a million years."
Lockdown laughed, then grew quiet.
"You worry about being a puppet? That someday your little Spark of life will get ripped out of you and become the drone no one thinks of?"
Nightbird didn't reply, returning to the screen.
The bounty hunter adjusted his hook. "No, he doesn't know the truth behind you. I'm asking you because I'm fascinated at your skills. Holograms, ninja reflexes, the gadgets you have. It amuses me you use so much and Megatron can't see your worth. No one does except me and a few others. I'll keep the offer up for a while, need to get supplies ready for it." He took a deep vent. "Was waiting for a time like this, it can get lonely up in space."
"Not used to the company now?"
"Had to get used to it after Megatron dragged me out of the Space Bridge." He chuckled.
The two stopped as a few other Cons entered. Everyone wants a distraction from the constant screaming. Even if it's a romance film. It took until the third film in the series for everyone to shut up and agree on the cooperation. One other incident happened duing that time, but it's still painful to remember.
Yellow flickered awake, Nightbird noticed a few patches on her frame. She didn't speak, frame too numb and busy resting on a bench. Viper busy doing the same to Impactor. "Going to answer me?" The Wrecker huffed out. Not flinching as the snake continued cleaning up the Energon on his broken chest.
"Revenge. There are a few people involved with my creation that I want gone. It has nothing to do with Megatron, his paranoia is getting the better of him."
"How many targets left?"
"Four, three are across the ocean, two of them are together. That's why we need to go to Nali first. I was planning on leaving Nightbird behind so she wouldn't chase after me."
"So you would've ditched her here?"
"No, I would've tried to figure out a way for her to leave. I want to make sure she survives, for I know the more I kill, they will find me and I won't make it."
"How much is this going to cost me?"
"Cobra hacked into the American networks, found vital documents and I stole them. Would be nice to ransom them off and get yourself a lot of cash."
"Cash? I don't need those tiny pieces of green, but I'm sure they'd convert it to Shanix." He glanced at his worn harpoon.
"I know its not an Autobot way, but its still something you can do. I can't stand humans, they've torn me apart and left me to gather dust. That's enough repairs for now. Try not to be stupid again, my processor still aches from that memory."
"What memory?"
"I'm still trying to figure it out if its a memory or a dream. My head hurts whenever I try, its happened more often when I'm unconscious. I don't know why, but I'm sure its because I'm unable to receive the pain. Cobra feared me, yet, why did they cut my mind apart? What did I do to deserve that?" Viper took a few deep vents before lowering his helm. "Its nothing for you to worry about." He walked over to the controls, laying back against the seat.
Impactor noticed the softened expression on Nightbird. "Do you think he's crazy?" The mech whispered.
"No, he's like a lost child trying to understand where he came from. I didn't know his visions would be this serious, I wished he told me what they are about." She stared up at the ceiling, as Impactor looked over his other weapons for when they arrive to Nali.
Viper lowered his helm, wishing he knew how to understand this paranoia, how to ease their worries. But, what more could he do but hope to see it again? Will he get any answers from them? Blue optics glanced at his wounds, best to get it out and try not to think about how much he hurt Nightbird with his words.
Further away, an Autobot ship flew over a desert. Nothing bothering it until a sudden jolt alerted the two riders to a presence. Through a screen, Hound noticed one jet flying towards the ship. "Decepticon!" The mech scrambled to the back and began to fire, while Sentius Magnus grabbed onto the controls. "We may be going down! There's someone else out there too!"
Electricity surged through the ship, forcing the power to shut off. Both Cybertronians gripped onto their seats as they crashed to the sand.
Hound noticed two figures stepping into the ship. He remained low as power came back on, showing two Seekers. Thundercracker looked around before finding the dark green mech. "There you are, we knew some Autobots were coming by." He huffed, as Skywarp Nightraven approached the downed Sentius Magnus.
"Huh, brought out the big guns too." The Nighraven chuckled, kicking the mech. "So, what brought you here? Snooping around Decepticon territory for fun?"
Hound sat up, as the blue Seeker aimed his chain gun at the Autobot. "We weren't coming here to give you two issues." He snarled.
"How can we be sure of that?" Skywarp turned his helm, seeing the Gi Joe sticker on the Autobot's chest. "Its funny how we're both branded." The Cobra symbol prominent on his wing.
"Decepticon territory? Never knew we were in Nevada." The mech sat up, being slow to not allow TC's trigger finger to itch.
"Well, we're not in there, but its still connected to that. Skywarp wants his old body back."
"I don't want to be stuck like this!"
Hound shook his helm. "I know, I hate this body too. Why not let us help you? Why are you looking around here?"
"Old Cobra base where Viper trashed them after they fled. He wasn't himself after that movie night."
"Don't remind me Thundercracker, I don't care for romance, but Viper, when he appeared, made it the scariest thing." Skywarp's wings tensed up to his frame.
"I'm interested to hear about it." Sentius Magnus groaned, sitting up, his flags still perked up. "I've wondered a few things about Viper, and if this is a key to his life, then I want to know."
"Reminds me of your brother, he had a weird interest in that." TC lowered his gun, but kept optics locked on Hound.
The demigod didn't snap, instead walking past Skywarp. "You shut down our ship, so it leaves us nothing else to do until its operational."
The four mechs exited the ship and explored across the desert. They'd find the remains of the base. Seeing broken machinery and what Hound feared to be human remains melted away by the acid. A frown on his face while the other Decepticons displayed no emotion, yet they kept their guns out. Made sense, no Autobot would let any Decepticon roam free with a gun in servo. He glanced to Magnus, hoping for any ideas, nothing.
They entered into an underground part of the base untouched by the rampage up above. Its such a shelter, to hide away from the storm above of the rampage of war. Viper made his choice to destroy them, the humans had a choice to stop it, but they pulled the trigger. It was just a shot away that broke him. At least from what Hound could guess by hearing Skywarp and Thundercracker talk.
"Viper's still quite a disturbed bot, I heard he ran away earlier. Megatron's must've thrown a bone at someone to fetch for him."
"Yep, its chaotic about that, but at least he cleaned up this place for us to sneak around." Skywarp giggled, twirling his two guns while aiming one at Sentius Magnus. "Anything you can do to help us?"
The golden mech turned to face a large room full of screens. He approached, but Skywarp followed with his guns. Pressing them against his back as his servos shuffled through big black VHS tapes. "I don't know what these are, but they tried to escape with them. Hound, Thundercracker, I need to check on these. You two go on and search for the body, if there is one."
There was a soft heat as Skywarp's finger kept nearing the trigger. "My body." He hissed.
"Don't be stupid Skywarp, I'll use my EMP bomb to put Hound and Sentius Magnus in their places."
"But if we get Skywarp's body back, then can you help us?" Hound chimed.
"With what?" Thundercracker's red optics glimmered in the dull lights.
"There is something upsetting the Balance, and we have to find it." Sentius Magnus added, inserting a tape into a slot.
Both gold and red optics inspected the screen that came to life. While Hound and Thundercracker left to explore the empty lab.
It's dusty, no one could tell where anything is without the headlights from Hound's chest. "Feels like a million years passed by." He noticed parts of the place collapsed, letting sand pour in.
"Viper tore a number into this place. Never thought a human-made Cybertronian could do this." Thundercracker looked around, checking for anything that could reveal Skywarp's armor. "I still don't trust you, I'm hoping you can help out or something that makes me glad I kept you alive." His chain gun still aimed at Hound.
The Autobot moved about, brushing away sand. "Why would they put it away in here?
"Skywarp thinks they put his armor here so they'd have that technology for themselves. You know how greedy humans are, yet, they ditched Soundwave's body at that city, must've done the same to you. I saw them hauling away Skywarp's old armor as they kept tearing through it. He says he's not fond of this frustration with that armor."
"What's going on with Viper?"
"We don't know, he and Nightbird left the base a few weeks ago. We're not sure why, Megatron wants to know since reports popped up."
"The dead humans?"
"Yeah, no clue why they're getting melted down, we know Viper hated humans, but not that much." Thundercracker kept brushing away the sand and dust. Trying not to get any into his vents that'd cause a loud 'sneezing' fit that'd alert everyone in a hundred-mile radius of his presence.
Sentius Magnus and Skywarp stood still, watching the small bits of footage move by. Nothing important to them yet, except for old plans no longer in use. Magnus crossed his arms, feeling Skywarp's gun pressing against his helm. "Shouldn't you be checking over for what you're looking for?" He said while checking a few tapes, subspacing a few without much thought. Some having interesting titles, but he knew to be careful with this insane mech.
"No, not if it leaves you running around with two weapons. But, I don't want you to go on a rampage. Yet, I'm quite upset you're wasting my time with those weird brick things. I want my old body back, I want to be before this whole Cobra mess." Skywarp replied.
"Skywarp, can you tell me a bit about Viper?"
"Why? That crazy human-made freak?"
"I'm curious, since I've heard he wasn't feeling well after what Cobra did in the alliance."
"That was awful, not because of my new body. My pedes are so bent I'm like on high heels. I mean, I like the ability to hide myself, easier for pranks. But, I look ugly."
"I can tell. You're trying to understand that as well."
"What about the other humans you had to work with?"
"I do not trust them, neither does Hound. He's spoken to me about the visions he's had. Nightmares of the humans tearing us apart. I cannot let anyone kill me or my brother. We need to protect the artifacts."
Tapes rotated, nothing special passing by on each through the fast-forwarding. Both remained stern, listening to the high pitch voices. Made Skywarp laugh at how silly Cobra Commander sounded.
Then, one tape hidden among the pile emerged. On the screen was a woman wearing a black coat with the Cobra symbol prominent on her chest.
"Doctor Coluber here, since none of my colleagues are insane enough to do this, I cannot let this go. After the failure of Operation Snakebite, I've decided to explore into it. What went wrong as everyone around me wants to bury it. Yet, something much deeper happened. Something no one but I noticed." The footage then turned to a camera recording of a few Cobra Rattlers landing onto a runway at an old base. Chaos soon emerged once one of them transformed and cause chaos, leaving Skywarp's jaw agape. Sentius Magnus remained firm, hearing the people panic.
In the recording, Viper's armor tensed, a symbol appeared on the ground. He pressed his servos to the floor and wailed unknown words. Sentius Magnus stood up from his crouched position. "I remembered that, look at the floor!" Indeed a symbol's present, but it vanished once the mech crashed after a well-placed shot. Blood pouring out of his face as glass shattered. "This, Skywarp, do you know what it is?"
"Viper's always been insane?"
"No, I knew you wouldn't have known." He ejected the tape and kept it close. Staring deep into it with an intense fascination.
"Hey, aren't you going to tell me?" Right then, the demiogod tackled Skywarp, digging his sword into his side.
"Never tell anyone of what you saw, or I will tear you apart. The Balance is more important than your worthless existence." Sentius Magnus snarled as the purple Seeker hitched on his words. Bright red optics shining against his bold golden sight.
"I'll not." Skywarp stuttered before vanishing from his sight. Shooting at the demigod and running off to where Thundercracker and Hound are.
"You will not escape with what you know!" Golden arrows flew everywhere as the Nightraven ran.
Thundercracker and Hound looked up from their investigation. Both finding Skywarp running into the room. "We've gotta get out of here! There's a crazy demigod after my aft!"
"What did you do?" Thundercracker came up to his fellow Seeker as he panicked.
"Nothing!"
They heard Sentius Magnus nearby, yelling out in rage. "No one will stop me from healing the Broken Balance!"
"We'll go find your body later, I don't think we can reason with him!" Hound grabbed their arms and dragged them out of the room. Right as the golden spider tank chased after them through the underground ruins.
They scrambled outside, finding the Autobot shuttle back in operating condition. Two Cons and a Bot ran inside, Hound activating the systems. Thundercracker and Skywarp stood at the doorway as the mech emerged from the sand. With the shuttle in operating mode, the purple Seeker snuck in. Thundercracker fired out an EMP bomb at the Relic Guardian of Light. Magnus froze as TC ran into the shuttle, he stared as they escaped, going further away and to parts unknown.
Everyone stared at each other as Skywarp's wings drooped. "What happened?" No one replied, nor could they know what to say.
Sentius Magnus waited until the effects wore off, taking a deep vent and clenching his bow. Hound nor the other two in sight anymore. "Malus, I hope you're having better luck than I am." He impaled his sword into the soft sand, letting a golden aura envelop him.