"Clash of the Decepticons"
Ch. 3
It was said that Venus' race could never die. Their bodies could be destroyed but their essence floated around until they found a new body to inhabit and it seemed Oppressor found Bumblebee's to be most adequate.
"…Oppressor… I never thought we'd meet again," Starscream growled. "Why the pipsqueak Autobot?"
Oppressor grinned. "Why, you ask? Because this Autobot has motivation, anger, and vengeance in his fuel pump. All the things that make me stronger."
"How long do you think you can control that body?"
"As long as I can, Starscream. In fact, he let me take control of his body."
Starscream looked at Oppressor in disbelief. "That can't be… no Autobot would agree to that!"
"It's true. The small robot was so intent on getting revenge on Azura he said he would do anything. All I had to do was offer him power beyond his wildest dreams and he accepted."
"But you left out one small detail, is that right?"
Oppressor chuckled. "What the kid doesn't know, won't hurt him."
"What has become of him?" Starscream hated Bumblebee, but what Oppressor was doing was something despicable and wrong.
"He's still alive, I made sure of that. He's just in stasis mode. Now if you will excuse me, I must be going." Oppressor grinned and left.
"I can't believe it… my father…" Venus whispered in disbelief. "How did…"
"I don't know Venus, I guess fate just has a way of messing with us."
"What do you think my father has planned for us?"
"I don't know… but then again you never know what goes through that madman's mind."
"He's planning… on destroying us…"
"Azura?" Starscream knelt beside the fallen femme. "Can you sit up?"
"I… I think so…" Azura pushed herself up with a groan. "Oppressor may be in Bumblebee's body but he has all his powers. He plans to get us out of the way so he can destroy the others and then regain control over Alkaliadron. Bumblebee's logic circuits must already have been fried for him to be able to take control of the small Autobot."
"Why didn't he try to take control of any other Autobot… or why not a Decepticon?"
"Because the person must willingly give up their body." Venus said. "It's the law of my people. Unless the person is willing, one cannot enter that person's mind. And if the person so chooses, they may push the inhabiting spirit from them."
"So, all we have to do is talk Bumblebee in to pushing Oppressor's spirit from his body?" Azura asked.
"But how will we do that? You heard Oppressor… Bumblebee is asleep in stasis mode, there's no way we can reach him!" Starscream pointed out.
"So, what exactly do we do now?"
"I don't know, Azura," Venus sighed. "I just don't know."
§ § § § § §
Shadow, the bounty hunter Autobot was rocketing through space when suddenly he got a transmission on his COM-link. He paused. "Yes, ma'am?"
"Have you picked up Oppressor's scent yet?" Came a feminine voice.
"No, there's no trace of him yet. It's as if he's disappeared."
"Or found a new body. Hurry up Shadow, we have no time to waste. Allita-One out."
Shadow looked out at the cold void of space. Where are you?
Shadow was a bounty hunter sent out to destroy the tyrant Oppressor. He was the first warrior Autobot created by the Quintisons. The Quintisons thought Oppressor was becoming too strong and they were bent on taking him out and claiming Alkaliadron for themselves.
But when Shadow had gone there he had failed. Oppressor had been too strong for him to handle. He survived, but he was blinded from the encounter.
So for thousands of years he had been traveling from planet to planet, laying low… gathering strength for when he confronted Oppressor again.
When he returned to Cybertron five thousand years later, he found the Decepticons and Autobots had overthrown the Quintisons and the Decepticons now ruled Cybertron.
He met up with the Autobot femmes where he worked for them as a spy. Until one day that is. He had been cleaning up Shockwave's lab when Megatron, the Decepticon leader, had sent a transmission saying that they had finally destroyed Oppressor and both them and the Autobots had control of the planet.
"But did you destroy his essence?" Shadow had blurted out.
"Silence worker bot!" Shockwave had snapped, backhanding the Autobot. "It is not your place to ask."
But Shadow knew they had not destroyed the tyrant's essence. They did not understand about Oppressor's race. The Decepticon's always had a way of doing a half-fast job.
So Shadow went back to the femme's headquarters to ask permission to go searching for Oppressor. He was familiar with Oppressor's life signature and would be able to find him.
Allita-One agreed and here Shadow was, flying through the dark void of space looking for a wayward spirit. But it looked as though he had lost its scent.
"I'll find you, Oppressor! Even if it means five thousand more years…"
Suddenly Shadow thought of Venus. He wondered what she was up to. He worried Oppressor had gone after her. Shadow shook his head. Oppressor would never hurt Venus. She was his own daughter. But if he placed a hand on her he would… he would what? Destroy him so he could go inhabit another much stronger body?
What was Shadow to do? I should have made a plan.
§ § § § § §
Megatron tapped his fingers impatiently. "Where the slag is Starscream and Azura?"
"Venus is missing too," Soundwave pointed out.
"I can see that, Soundwave!" Megatron snapped angrily. "They weren't in they're quarters and none of the other Decepticons have seen them. So… WHERE ARE THEY?" Megatron slammed his fists on the computer keyboard.
"Have you tried them on their COM-links?"
Megatron made a mock gasping sound. "Why didn't I think of that?" Megatron growled. "Of course I've tried them on their COM-links and all I get is slagging static!"
"Do you think they might me in trouble?"
"Starscream may be treacherous and Azura arrogant but they're not stupid. They're probably out, fooling around. I've noticed they've been at each other's throats more so lately."
"And Venus?"
Megatron sighed, his face going soft. "Venus… she's honorable… not the one to start up a conflict… I admit I am a bit worried about her."
Soundwave looked at Megatron inquiringly. "You love her don't you?"
"What? Don't be absurd!" Megatron snapped.
"It's just that… I haven't seen you talk like that about a femme since your last love."
Megatron shook his head. "Get out, Soundwave. I need time to think alone," Megatron said, waving his hand towards the door.
"As you command, Megatron." And Soundwave left, the door hissing closed behind him.
Megatron sighed, looking back at the black computer screen. Could it be true? Was he indeed falling in love with Venus? But she was much younger than him. It wouldn't be right. But her race's aging process differed from Transformer's. She was only nineteen in Alkaliadronian years, but in Transformer years… he couldn't tell.
All of a sudden, Bumblebee's image appeared on the computer screen, causing Megatron to fall out of his chair with a yelp of surprise.
The Autobot chuckled. "It's good to see you too, Megatron," Bumblebee grinned.
Megatron growled. "What do you want, Autobot?" Megatron got back on to his feet and looked up at Bumblebee. Something was wrong with the small robot. There was a strange glint in his eyes and his voice had a slight grating sound to it.
"Optimus wishes to see you. He wants you and the Decepticons to relinquish your control over half of the planet."
Megatron growled. "How dare he! We made a deal!" He glared at Bumblebee. If looks could kill, Bumblebee would have been dead at that very moment.
Bumblebee just chuckled. "Optimus said you would say that. He said if you refused, he told me to tell you we have three of your troops."
Megaton blanched. No!
"Starscream, Azura and Venus," Bumblebee said as he showed the three Decepticons in cells.
Megatron winced at the sight of Azura. It looked as though she had been tortured. She looked almost broken. And… Megatron looked closer… had she been crying?
The camera went back to Bumblebee. "If you do not meet Optimus in the canyon fifty miles from your base, we will destroy them."
Megatron growled. "Very well, Autobot, I will come."
"Bring the Decepticons as well. They should be present to see this."
"Who are you to be calling the shots? Shouldn't Prime have told me himself?" Megatron looked at the small Autobot suspiciously.
"He's a bit busy at the moment. So, do you agree?" Bumblebee waited patiently. Megatron was so predictable. He could never let a challenge pass him by.
"Yes… I agree. What time shall we meet?" Megatron asked
"An hour from now. Till then Megatron." Bumblebee smirked slyly. Bumblebee's image disappeared from the screen.
Megatron slumped to his chair. This is a catastrophe. Has Optimus lost his mind? This isn't like the Autobot leader.
"I told you!" Came Soundwave's voice from behind the door.
"Shut up, Soundwave!" Megatron shouted. "Get the troops ready! We're going to the canyon fifty miles from here in an hour."
"Yes, Megatron."
§ § § § § §
"Optimus, I have news!" Bumblebee cried, running in to the main control room.
Optimus turned around to look at him, a stern look on his face. "Where the slag have you been, Bumblebee? We've been trying to reach you on your COM-link all day! I —!"
"Optimus, Megatron is calling you out! He says he wants total control of Alkaliadron and he wants to fight you for it!" Bumblebee interrupted.
"That fiend! Very well, I shall face him. Where does he want to meet me?"
"At the canyon fifty miles from their base. He says you should bring the other Autobots so they can watch their leader fall."
Optimus growled, shaking with rage. How could Megatron do this? After all that they went through together to free it from Oppressor? Wasn't controlling half of the planet good enough? Of course, what did he expect from someone as ruthless as Megatron. "When does he want to meet?"
"In an hour."
"An hour? Very well. I hope he doesn't steal the powers of his troops to make himself stronger like last time."
All of a sudden, Teletran One began to beep.
"What's this?" Prime asked, walking over to the computer and punching up the screen to see a blue and red robot flying towards the head quarters. He didn't look like any Decepticon he's seen. The robot also looked old. Almost first generation.
"Identify yourself!" Prime demanded.
"Shadow! Autobot bounty hunter. Creation of the overlord Quintisons. Let me in!"
Bumblebee's eyes widened. No… it can't be…
§ § § § § §
"The Autobots and Decepticons are both walking right in to a trap and they don't know it! What else could go wrong!" Azura cried, pacing back and forth in their cell.
"Freaking out isn't going to help," Starscream said, standing in the corner.
"Well, maybe if you weren't so slagging laid back —!" Azura clenched and unclenched her hands agitatedly.
"Please stop fighting!" Venus cried, sounding a bit agitated. It was rare that Venus got angry or impatient with anyone.
"Not until Starscream gets off his lazy ass and tries to help for once!"
"What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know! Try to figure out an escape plan, maybe!"
"And then what? How are we supposed to defeat Oppressor?"
"I don't know!" Azura cried, clutching her head. She looked at Starscream, glaring menacingly. "You and your stupid revenge! You got us in to this, Starscream!"
Azura threw a punch but Starscream dodged her and grabbing her wrist spun her around pinning her to the wall.
"Calm down, Azura! This is just what Oppressor wants! He wants us to kill each other. That's why he just hasn't killed us yet."
"No, he wants to use us as bait!" Azura pushed him to the ground and put her knee on his chest. "And if you dare lay another finger on me, I'll turn you to slag!"
"I'm willing to take the risk!" Starscream rolled over, making him on top.
The two Decepticons continued struggle, when suddenly, they found their lips pressed together. They jumped away from each other, spitting and gagging.
"Oh my Primus that was disgusting!" Azura cried, wiping her mouth.
"It was worse for me!"
Azura harrumphed. "You obviously have no taste. Motermaster says I'm the best kisser in the universe."
"What does Motermaster know? He's a moron!"
"Yeah? Well, you know what I'm going to do now?"
Starscream leaned forward and grinned. "What?"
"This!" Azura grabbed Starscream and dragged him in to a passionate kiss.
Starscream's eyes widened in shock.
When Azura was done, she pushed him away and wiped her mouth. "Don't tell me that wasn't the best kiss you've ever had."
"Okay, I won't."
When Starscream didn't say anything else, Azura just growled. "Just wait, Starscream when we get out of here, I will kick your ass all the way to Alkaliadron!"
Starscream chuckled. He was finally getting the revenge he wanted.
"Guys, we have to figure something out and fast. Maybe we can short out the bars." Venus placed her hand against the bars and cried out when they shocked her.
"Venus, if you even try that you'll get yourself killed. Starscream and I may survive it, but parts of you are organic. And you know what happens to humans when they're electrocuted." Azura said.
"No, I've never seen that." Venus looked at the tow inquiringly.
Starscream slide his thumb over his throat and made a slicing sound that made Venus gasp.
"That's awful. But what else can we do?"
"You're not doing anything Venus. Starscream and I will figure something out. The last thing I want is for you to get hurt."
Starscream watched Azura thoughtfully. Maybe Venus was right. The way Azura looked out for her friend, she almost seemed… civil. But that still wouldn't stop him from finishing his revenge.
§ § § § § §
"Why are you here, Shadow? How have you come to be here?" Optimus asked, as Shadow recharged.
"I am on a secret mission from Allita-One. I was flying through space and I was running low on energy when I saw this planet. My scanners told me it was rich with energy."
"I know Allita… she is my wife."
"So, you are the famous Optimus Prime she keeps talking about? Well, thank you for the energy, but I must be going." Shadow was about to leave when Prime suddenly grabbed his arm.
"You said you were a bounty hunter Autobot made by the Quintisons themselves, right? How can that be? I though only Decepticons, were warriors and assassins. And how is it you were able to survive for so long and blind to boot?"
"It is a long and difficult story to tell." Shadow shook his head.
"Well, at least stay to help us." Optimus said.
"Help you? What is the matter?" Shadow sat down and looked at Optimus, a concerned playing across his face.
"We are to fight the Decepticons over the controll of a planet, we could really use the help of a true warrior."
"I knew the Decepticons were treacherous beings. Very well, I shall stay to help you fight. But after that I must go." Shadow patted Optimus on the shoulder. "You are truly an honorable mech.
Oppressor stood in the shadows brewing. How can he still be alive? I thought I had killed him all those years ago! I guess I'll just have to kill him again. What fun, I get to kill the Autobots, Decepticons and Shadow in one felt swoop! I will enjoy this.
To be continued…