Shadows
Doctor Strangelove (rampage_eats_peas@hotmail.com)
Four figures in
dark green robes stood around a glowing, golden circle chanting. The circle
started glowing brighter and two orbs floated out of it. They formed into two
figures also wearing dark green robes. The chanting stopped and a door behind
the figures opened.
Two more people,
also wearing robes, and one of them wearing a crown, the other a tiara, walked
in and the first six bowed down, "Lord Artiquest, Queen Necro," one of the
figures said while still bowing, "We have succeeded in bringing Vivificus and
Effundo here, to the Mortal's Realm."
The one wearing the
tiara, Queen Necro, smiled, "Excellent work, Lapazvia, but I see that you have
still failed to bring us Tarula. Now tell me, how do you think we'll be able to
raise the mighty god if we do not have the third demon?"
Lapazvia cowered
and sunk lower to the ground, "I-I'm sorry, milady, but we st-still haven't
been able to locate his signal."
"We're close
though," the figure next to Lapazvia offered.
Queen Necro got
down on her knees and looked deep into his optics, "Ah, Nahpetsion, I'm glad to
hear of your closeness to finding Tarula, but until I see results," she stood
up, "We are no closer than we ever have been."
The figure in the
crown, Lord Artiquest, chose this moment to speak up, "The Mystics have been
trying for centuries to raise the mighty god, and if you bumbling idiots mess
up our one chance, well, you won't be happy," He stopped and picked up a book,
seemingly from nowhere, "The god Queritatio was banished by the Council of the
Gods for he tried to overthrow them. He led an army of demons against them but
was defeated when the immortal demon, Snt, was vanquished by the god Alewillow
and separated into three separate entities. The entities, Salut, Narat, and
Tarula, were sent to the corners of the universe so that they could form back
into Snt, for only its blood could release Queritatio from his prison in the
Realm of the Dead. It is written that during the Tredecim the Mystics,
Queritatio's minions, would bring him back and restore his power. And he would
let out a shriek that would be heard across the universe and destroy all
mortals. Queritatio and the Mystics would rule over all, and the gods
themselves would tremble," He shut the book.
Cheetor sat up in
his bed and looked around. "Amen." He'd been having a nightmare again.
What was it? He'd been wearing robes, and there was a man, a king? He couldn't
remember.
"Slag," he sighed,
"That's the eighth time. I should probably get up anyway," he looked out the
window, still dark, "Or not," Cheetor laid back down, but after a few minutes
got back up, "I can't sleep. Maybe someone else is up."
Cheetor walked out
of his quarters and down the hall where he could see a light shining. He walked in and saw Rhinox and Optimus
standing at a nearby console, "What's going on Big Bot?"
Optimus turned
around and looked at the younger bot, "Cheetor, what are you doing up?"
"Couldn't sleep.
So, what's going on?"
"The sensors
detected a stasis pod landing nearby. We don't think the Preds would come this
close, so we sent Airazor and Tigatron after it. They should be back pretty
soon."
As if on cue
Airazor, Tigatron, and a mysterious blue bot walked in. His feet were quite
large for his slender legs, the same with his hands and arms, on his back he
had two large bat wings, his optics were deep blue, he had two long bat ears on
the top of his head, and two fangs sticking out of the corners of his mouth. He
looked a little older than Cheetor.
Airazor pointed to
the newest bot, "Optimus, Rhinox, Cheetor, this is Night Shade. Night Shade,
this is Optimus, Rhinox, and Cheetor. Optimus, if that's all you needed,
Tigatron and I are going to head out. Maybe take a walk."
Optimus nodded, "No
problem with the Predacons?"
"None."
"That's good. I'll
see you two tomorrow then."
Airazor and Tigatron nodded, said their
goodbyes, and left. Optimus turned to Cheetor, "Cheetor, can you show Night
Shade to one of the empty rooms."
"Sure thing, Big
Bot."
Cheetor and Night
Shade walked down the hall in an eerie silence and Cheetor couldn't help but
think that he knew Night Shade from somewhere.
Tarantulas and
Scorponok pushed through the trees and came into a clearing where a stasis pod
was laying silent.
Tarantulas sighed,
"Well, this was a waste of time. Megatron knew this was a meaningless
task. Bastard."
Scorponok nodded,
"This far for nothing? I can't believe it. Well, let's go."
The two Predacons
walked off, not noticing the lifeless protoform lying in the bushes.
Dinobot was sound
asleep and didn't notice when the door to his quarters opened and Night Shade
walked in. He slowly walked over to the sleeping Maximal and started chanting.
Small green sparks shot from Night Shade's fingertips into Dinobot's optics and
mouth. Night Shade stood up and slowly walked out of the room.
Cheetor shot at
Night Shade who ducked and shot his eye lasers at the cat. The blast hit
Cheetor and sent him flying into the wall. The two Maximals were in the
training room trying to give Night Shad some battle experience. Night Shade ran
over to Cheetor and looked at his wound.
"Oh, it's not that
bad. Here, let me try something," Night Shade's hand started to glow blue and
Cheetor's wound healed.
"Whoa. How'd you do
that?"
"Just a little
tricked a learned. Hey, where'd you get that marking?"
"Oh, I've had it as
long as I can remember. I always thought it was pretty cool."
"It does look
pretty cool. Here, I want to give you something," Night Shade pulled out a
black necklace with a purple jewel on it, "It's something a friend gave me back
on Cybertron. It's supposed to protect you from danger and bring you good luck.
I don't know if it's true or not, but I want you to have it."
"Wow. Thanks,"
Cheetor put the necklace around his neck and looked at Night Shade. The two
bots stared at each other for a few moments when Airazor walked into the room.
"Have you two seen
Rhinox?"
Cheetor shook his
head, "No. Why?"
"It's Dinobot. He's really sick."
"Wow. How bad is
it?"
"We're not sure.
That's why we need Rhinox."
"Well, I haven't
seen him," Cheetor looked at Night Shade, "Have you?"
Night Shade looked
at Cheetor and then down at the floor, "No. Haven't seen him."
A few days later,
after Rhinox had healed Dinobot pretty quickly, Night Shade was in his
quarters. He pulled out an identical necklace to the one he gave Cheetor and
put it on and closed his optics. He smiled as he saw Cheetor sleeping and he
took the necklace off. He sighed and took a small green jewel out of a sub
compartment and put it up to his head.
"Glad to finally
hear from you, Nahpetsion."
"I've been busy,
milady."
"Yes, and how
did the plan go with the Predacon scum?"
"Not well. One
of the Maximals cured him."
"Shame. Well,
keep trying. And keep trying to find out about Tarula. You still don't think
it's Dinobot."
"No."
"Well, keep
trying."
Night
Shade/Nahpetsion took away the jewel and picked up a book, "Let's see. Tons of
information on Tarula and I can't figure it out," He turned a page and gasped
in shock as he saw a picture of Tarula's tattoo, "It's Cheetor."
Airazor was taking
a quiet walk through the forest and looking up at the night sky when she heard
a rustling in the bushes. She stopped walking and looked over at the bushed,
"Hello, Tarantulas."
Tarantulas stood up
and pretended to look sad, "Oh, I didn't surprise you?"
"Sorry. So, what
are you doing here?"
"Saw you walking.
Dark night. All sorts of nasty things that might want to prey on a lovely thing
like you. Be better if you had a big, strong man to protect you."
Airazor smiled
wrapped her arms around Tarantulas's neck and smiled, "Well, since there
doesn't seem to be one around I guess you'll just have to do."
Tarantulas faked
shock, "Hey!"
She kissed him
softly, "Relax. I'm just teasing."
Tarantulas kissed
her back (imagine exactly how), "I know. I know something else too."
"What's that?"
"We're dangerously
close to the Maximal base."
"Ooh, sounds
dangerous."
The two laughed and
fell to the ground.
Queen Necro touched
emerald on her tiara and smiled when it started to glow.
"Nahpetsion."
"Yes, milady?"
"It's been a few
day since we've talked. I need to know what's going on. Any success with
Dinobot?"
"None."
"What about
Tarula? Do you know who he is?" There was a long pause. "Nahpetsion? Do
you know who he is?" Another pause. "Nahpetsion?"
"No. I have no
idea."
