5 – Retribution

"Where is my brother?!"

I paced the command centre at Natros, the City of communication. Here it was that I wanted to find out what had happened to my brother. I didn't know, and I had to know!

"I cannot find a trace of him on Cybertron." One of the workers at the Com tower I was currently at said.

"Are you saying-"

"He is gone."

Gone.

Gone.

Gone!

"NOOOO!"

Magnus sat bolt upright. Clutching a shaking hand to his head, he let himself calm down from the vivid dream. It was still raining outside, but not as heavily as before. What time was it?

Magnus noted that it was two o-clock, his internal clock telling him so. He glanced at his brother, who was still deep in recharge. His colours were back to normal now, and Magnus took note of it. Why did they change back? Had Optimus reclaimed control of his element?

He clenched his fist, anger from five hundred years of abandonment cursing though him like the poison of revenge. He wanted to hurt Optimus so badly for making him suffer so, but at the same time felt an infinite sadness that made him just want to curl up and cry.

"Why Optimus …" Magnus whispered, looking over at his brother, "Why did you abandon me so?"

***

Searching was not something the two young mechs enjoyed to an extent.

"Why did we get stuck with such a boring job?" Hotshot whined as he searched the desert area outside of Hexatron. "I could be doing something useful!"

"Like what?" Hoist snickered. "Chatting up some of the femme's around our base?"

If it were possible, Hotshot would've blushed. "Very funny!"

"But seriously, you've been acting a bit funny like that. What's the matter?" Hoist had always been concerned for his fellows, but Hotshot and him had been friends for Primus knows how long, and that generally put Hotshot before others.

"Just been feeling a bit lonesome I guess." Hotshot replied thoughtfully. "There's only so much comfort ones friends can give."

"True, true…" Hoist mused. "Well, we best be heading back. I can't find any traces of Magnus out here. And it's late."

On their side of the planet, the sun was setting low in the sky, marking the end of a new day.

"Alri – what the?!" Hotshot suddenly skidded around and transformed, landing on his feet as Hoist did the same.

Because from the direction of their base, there had just been an explosion …

***

"All personal to the top level. Prepare for battle!" Scavenger's voice carried though the entire base by means of the many speakers and com-links. The bots ran to elevators, stairs, and shafts; anyway to get out as another explosion rocked the base from above.

"Allllllllllright!" Jetfire zoomed up one of the shafts in his shuttle mode with a few of his friends. "Time to get back into action! Wooooooooooo!"

"Jetfire, this is no time for fun and games!" Red Alert's agitated voice drifted though Jetfire's com-link. "The New Ones are behind this, and you know how tough they are!"

"Alright, alright! Chill Red!" Jetfire said, and said more happily, "I can take these guys no sweat! Come on Skyblast, Ultrasound, lets go and kick some tail pipe!"

"I hear ya Jet!" The ice blue jet known as Skyblast said from below him.

"Let's just try and stay alive?" Ultrasound; A purple and black hovercraft with rocket engines, said to his commander.

Jetfire heard Red Alert sigh and the comlink winked off.

Those three are like kids! Red Alert thought as he tried to sustain control of the systems. The infamous Blastbox must be hacking into the system. It was a shame such a great technician was on the New Ones side.

"Soundwave! Try and hold off this hacker!" Red Alert commanded. "I'm going topside to help the others fight!"
"Affirmative, sir." Soundwave replied in his usual bored tone.

"Red Alert, some of the bots up on the top have been injured already." Scavenger said from his post. He would only go up if things got rough. "Got up there and help them out. Your more valuable as a healer then a fighter."

"Yes sir!" Red said and transformed, heading off to an elevator.

What is it the new ones want? Scavenger mused as the other four workers continued to deflect the hackers.

***

On the topside, around one hundred New Ones were engaged in a brawl with the rebels. They had the upper hand, as they were faster, stronger and somewhat smarter. But that didn't stop the rebels fighting back.

They sent bombs over the barricade on the ground and blew up a large square of ground. The bots retorted with cannon fire from many turrets that lay scattered on the field. They had prepared for an attack and left nothing to chance. As soon as the alarms had sounded, Scavenger made the topside transform into a battle station. It was a great asset and as the New Ones flew up to shoot at the snipers, the bots below would shoot a rocket up their tail pipes. But something wasn't right.

"Ahh! Ahh and AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Sideswipe screamed as he got catapulted into a trench behind a large barricade, the explosions causing his flight.

"What are we gonna do?" Said Sideswipe's friend and co-worker Brainstorm. "My sensors indicate that these transformers measure that stats of their enemies and heighten their own!"

"You mean they can alter their tech specs to their advantage?!" Sideswipe said, horrified. "We're done for!"

"Not necessarily." Brainstorm said as he shot at one of the silver androids over the barricade. "If Scavenger and the four Element bots get here in time, they maybe able to destroy them."

"Element bots?! What are –" sideswipe began but was interrupted when a nearby explosion send dust and shrapnel into the trench. Brainstorm then snipered an incoming silver android and replied.

"When the bots come, you'll see."

***

Hoist and Hotshot sped as fast as they could back to their base. They could see and hear the gunfire that was blasting the top of the base to bits. The New Ones were strong, and they didn't have anyway to pierce their armour …

"How are we going to beat these freaks?!" Hotshot yelled to his comrade. The last time we fought them we found out the hard way that their armour can't be dented. The only ones we found dead were at Polyhex after some transformer defeated them all."

"I wish whoever that was would come and help us out!" Hoist replied. "It's a shame that he or she left no trace of their self."

They drove onwards. Suddenly, a huge explosion sent fire rocketing 1000 feet into the air, meaning that they had either blown up a fuel centre there or … blown up one of their own kind. …

As they arrived, they saw the source of the fire. It was Scavenger and his crew.

They transformed and dived behind the barricade, ready to watch these five in action.  

"New Ones!" Scavenger addressed the silent silver slaughter machines. "Your time has come! Attack!"
The four-cloaked transformers attacked. Two ran on either side of the field, leaving a large gap in the middle, their cloaks billowing behind them as the New Ones ran in to meet them.

A big mistake.

A huge earthquake ran under their feet as they ran to meet the transformers. But they fell right into the trap that Scavenger had set. The other four had deliberately ran to the sides to let Scavenger let loos a massive fissure to trap them in the ground. Seven of the hundred had fallen for it.

"Smart move," The leader of the pack commented, "But we were made more superior than you and cannot fall for such petty tricks."

"Petty eh?" The red-cloaked transformer to the right said. The voice was that of a female: husky and devilish to match her element. "I'll show you petty!"

She ran towards the leader, and none of the bots made an attempt to stop her. She knew what she was doing.

Aiming a kick at his head, the leader raised his arms up to block it just as she activated her element – Fire.

Her leg suddenly encased itself with white-hot flames. She landed on his arms and sent a jet of the boiling substance straight to his face. He screamed, but was only slightly affected as one of his men attacked, as did the rest of them. The other elemental bots attacked.

Fire to metal, wind to metal, earth to metal, poison to metal and water to metal. The elemental bots fought and fought, but they seemed to make no difference to the New Ones at all. All except-

"ARRRRRghghsysdhghg …" One of them gargled the flames and poison he was forced to take and felt it eat its way though his body.

"It worked!" The fire bot cried as she high fived the poison bot.

Their victory was short lived.

"Transform!" A new, and hauntingly familiar voice cried out suddenly. Looking up, the bots saw someone approach, and Jetfire saw his old nemesis appear in all his violet glory.

"Hello Tidalwave." He said, acting suddenly serious. 

***

Inside the now abandoned base, Soundwave fought the hackers that had finally been beaten by his superior mind. He had scored top grades in his schooling days for his hacking abilities and proved himself over and over. But now he knew of three transformers that right now were in grave danger. They were still to be returned to life, having been in status for many years. The transfer … the transfer had been complete before then.

Soundwave quickly got up and ran down the corridors of the shaking base. The battle above was ferocious and he tended to stay out of battle. He quickly typed the password in the security lock to the room. He opened the door.

Inside were three transformers, slumped together against a wall in a sitting position with many wires attached. Two were male and one was female. It had been ages, but they were ready to wake now.

If this base falls, Soundwave thought. They must be saved. For Optimus's sake.

He activated them and brang them online. One of them, a Crimson and black one with silver highlights awoke first and looked up. He looked like he would transform into a tank.

"Soundwave?" Medivo said.

"Hello Medivo. Good to see you function." Soundwave responded.

The femme awoke next and shakily stood up, as did Medivo. She groaned, rubbing her head and said, "Why did you de-activate us?"

"I'm sorry Electrica," Soundwave said. "But you know Optimus only did it to protect you."

"Protect us my foot." The third bot said upon awakening. "Well, at least now I get to do some serious tail pipe whooping!" He threw his fist into the air.

"Razorblast, you are in no shape-" Began Soundwave, but was interrupted by Medivo.

"We'll be fine. Electrica is the only one who can't fight." He said.

"I think I'll stay here." Electrica said and glared at Medivo. She was mostly black with florescent blue highlights on her logs, arms, head and on her wings. She could transform into both a jet and a car. She didn't take kindly to her 'friends' pointing out her lack of fighting ability.

Razorblast was very dark green with laser yellow for highlights. He transformed into a massive cannon that Medivo usually used as hi weapon for combat. He also could transform into a hovercraft, making him a triple-changer with an attitude problem.

"Alright, you two can go." Soundwave had been their keeper for many years now and usually allowed them to do as they wished (within reason) "Just don't get killed or Optimus will come to haunt me."

***

Clash!

Fists connected.

Bang!

Guns smoked.

Crash!

An enemy fell.

Tidalwave continued to fight with his old foe. He didn't want to fight him, but he was forced to. Just being used as a tool was not what Tidalwave had wanted, but then again, he had no choice. He and Jetfire had become friends over the time of peace, but he couldn't think like that now. He had a duty to uphold, and he had to fight his friends if that is what it took.

But why?

"Jetfire!" Tidalwave shouted above the sounds of explosions.

"What now you lying – slagging – asshole!" Jetfire vented his anger though punching at Tidalwave's chest.

"I was forced!" He coughed.

Jetfire reeled back, his optics narrowed. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because, the New Ones raided my city!" Tidalwave spat, shooting at one of the New Ones that had come flying up to meet them. He screamed and barrelled towards the ground.

"Technico?" Jetfire said, shocked. It was probably the most impenetrable to attack than most of the cities.

"They got Blurr too!" Tidalwave said. He was not as emotionless as people liked to believe. He did have a mind of his own, even if he said very little most of the time.

"Tidalwave, I'm not saying I believe you," Jetfire began. "But if you really want to help us, then turn spy for us."

"Spy?"

"Yeah you can help!"
"I … don't know …" It had been 500 years, but Tidalwave was still a little insecure about the whole peace thing. Jetfire had noticed when they went out together with some other friends.

"Come on! You can do it!" Jetfire said encouragingly.

Tidalwave nodded and said, "Alright."

They continued to fight to make it look like nothing had happened. Skyblast and Ultrasound were doing very well as they fended off five New Ones at once!

"Oh yeah that's the stuff!" Skyblast said as he shot one of his opponents with acid. They had taken example from Flare (that fire bot) and Poryon (that poison bot) to use hot acid of a sort to melt them out. His opponent dodged the attack, however, Ultrasound (as nervous as hell) squirted him with his own concoction. The silver android screamed and fell.

The New Ones knew they were overwhelmed. They could not get into the base because the rebels had blocked off the entrances and the Rebel technician had overridden the hacking bots. With one's impression of one returning, the leader shouted an order to retreat …

***

His underlings had failed …

He slammed his fist down on his desk, making the battered leader jump. They had not had an easy fight, but no matter …

He still had he finally completed weapon at his disposal …

"They will know soon enough … "He spoke to the leader, "Why we are here on this planet…"

Unknown to him, a certain violet transformer was recording the whole thing. He silently left and transmitted it to the Rebel base …

***

"…They will know that no-one escapes our wraith unscathed. Tell our lord to send us some Glittorus fuel. We will need it in time."

Soundwave finished plaything the footage and turned to Scavenger and the rest of the crew assembled.

"That's what Tidalwave was able to report to us sir." He said. "So what now?"

"Firstly, I'll have a repair crew fix up the topside and then repair ourselves. I'm giving everyone a break for the next cycle. Make sure you are recharged in the morning; I'm sure they'll return soon with another assault crew." Scavenger ordered the crowd. "Also, we are proud to welcome back Razorblast, Medivo and Electrica." The three said Transformers waved from where they were on the podium and joined the crowd. They already had their own quarters due to soundwave insisting on it. He knew that these three would be activated again someday.

"I knew I could count on good 'al Tidalwave!" Jetfire said as he walked out with Skyblast and Ultrasound. They had sustained minor damages, but Ultrasound had managed to not get a scratch. This was mainly due to him being so nervous he shot at anything that moved around him, making the New Ones not get a chance to hit him in time with the rapid fire of his machine gun. Even if the bullets didn't affect them, it still made them dazed for a split second.

"You wanted to kill him before!" Skyblast stated.

"Yeah … well, we were arch nemesis's." Jetfire said matter of factly.

Ultrasound and Skyblast both looked skyward.

Red Alert had managed to bring many of the fallen bots online again, but felt something was amiss. Just why did the New Ones leave so suddenly? They had three quarters of their army left after all, so why?

"Hey Red!"

Red Alert looked up and saw Hotshot and Hoist run to him with Sideswipe between them.

"What happened to him?" Red Alert asked as they placed the fallen bot on one of the many tables in the medic centre.

"The idiot ran out to shoot one of them and got caught in a explosion!" Hotshot said in anguish. "He maybe older from when he went to Earth, but he still needs to learn more about fighting."

"Oh leave him be." Hoist said. "He just wanted to do a good job, like you would've."

***

Optimus watched as Magnus walked deliberately far in front of him. If the situation had not been so serious he would've been inclined to laugh. Magnus had received a transmission from the base saying that it was under attack, which meant that the now retreating New Ones would fly over them. Is he ignoring me on purpose?

Suddenly he stopped. I was taken aback for a moment and wondered why he had stopped so suddenly.

"I had a nightmare last night." He said, without turning around.

Optimus gasped. He knew that was a bad thing for Magnus.

Suddenly, Magnus started glowing with elemental force, and whipped around to face his brother.

"I'm going to show you, " Magnus said, every resentment that had built up by his absence bursting though in his voice "What it WAS!"

And he attacked, not physically, but a mental blast that assaulted Optimus's mind.

And he saw Magnus's dream …

"Where is my brother?!"

Optimus saw Magnus pace the command centre at Natros, the City of communication. He was like a phantom, watching with disarray as the events unfolded. Optimus guessed that Magnus wanted to know what happened to him, and from the time he could see it was merely an hour after the end.

"I cannot find a trace of him on Cybertron." One of the workers at the Com tower Magnus was currently at said.

"Are you saying-"

"He is gone."

Gone.

And when Optimus saw the look on Magnus's face, he instantly regretted doing everything he had done in the past five hundred years.

___________________________________________________________________________

Hey! I finished it sooner than I thought! Wicked!

Well, now that I have finished school I'll have much more time to spare, so the next chap will be up soon enough. Thankyou to all my reviewers! Keep 'em comin' please!

Anyway, I hope the battle scene was alright. I'm not very good at writing that sort of thing much. If anyone has any tips PLEASE don't hesitate to tell me! I really want to improve it. :)

Also, Here is a preview for the next chap:

6 – Romance

A familiar face emerges into the fold, and is greeted by shock and suspicion. Seems that he is indeed going with the rebels soon enough, but what is it about Electrica that completely unnerves him?

See if you can guess who 'he' is.

Later for now!

ST