It had been a long time since Ultra Magnus had felt like a soldier, but his instincts had not been dulled by inactivity. He immediately scanned the room, identifying the exits, the number of mechs present who could get caught up in any exchange, and the posture and demeanour of the staff. Residual energon emissions indicated the presence of energy weapons behind the bar, presumably for dealing with trouble-makers, and whilst he had no doubt the weapons could do little damage to himself or Springer (and Cyclonus for that matter) he couldn't say the same about some of the less robust-looking bar patrons.
If possible, Magnus decided to himself, conflict needed to be avoided. Besides, he was actually curious about where Cyclonus had been. With the death of Galvatron, Autobot strategists had all theorised that Cyclonus would take up the leadership of the Decepticon remnants. Instead, nothing had happened, leading the High Command to list the Decepticon as "Missing –Presumed Dead" in the Great Litany of all who had fought and died for both sides in the Great War.
"He's looking straight at us, Magnus. What's the plan?" Springer's tone had changed from his usual affable self to the all-business 'bot that Magnus had fought shoulder to shoulder with for centuries.
"We can't afford a scene in here, Springer. Too many variables, and I don't really want to have to fight those bruisers outside as well as a Decepticon lieutenant. Let's see if he fancies having a civil conversation. "
Springer smiled, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"You're curious Magnus. You wanna know what happened to the Decepticon who was as close to your 'opposite number' as it gets, aren't you?"
Magnus ignored the question. Springer knew him well enough to know when he was right.
The two Autobots slowly walked over to the table. Cyclonus kept his optics fixed on them, but remained calmly seated, impassive and inscrutable.
Springer spoke first.
"Cyclonus. Been a long time -we don't want any trouble. Can we sit down?"
The Decepticon looked at Springer then at Magnus. He returned his steely gaze to Springer. His words were methodic and evenly delivered, in the low rumble that few Autobots had heard.
"Sit if you wish, Autobots. I will make no effort to stop you. I too desire no conflict at this time."
Magnus slowly sat down opposite the Decepticon. Springer pulled a chair alongside them, sitting alongside Magnus so as to avoid giving the impression of penning the Decepticon in.
"What are you doing here, Cyclonus?" Ultra Magnus wasted no time cutting to the chase.
At the moment, drinking and reminiscing. If you refer to my reasons for being back in this system, they are my own, and not your affair."
"Not the answer I was looking for."
"It's the only answer you will get at this time, Magnus."
Springer cut in.
"We thought you must have been dead after the Decepticon remnants splintered." He began matter-of-factly. "You were next in line to take command. You never showed again. We knew you weren't the running-away type either. What happened?"
Cyclonus, finally dropped his gaze from the Autobots and contemplated his Engex.
"Stasis-lock. I was badly injured in the explosion of an engine from our destroyed cruiser. I drifted for a long time in cold space. Eventually I came back online, and the universe had changed as I slept. No Decepticons, no Galvatron, no Scourge, no war, and seemingly no place for me."
He raised his optics again to meet Magnus' own, as the tall Autobot continued to question him.
"Weren't you curious about the other Decepticons? Your comrades-in-arms?"
"No." The starkness of the Decepticon's response surprised Springer, but Magnus remained stoic.
"I was created from a corpse by a being whose power and essence I cannot begin to comprehend." Cyclonus said, staring darkly again at the Engex. "I have no memories before that point. I did not exist. The being that I took the place of was wiped from existence and I began anew. A warrior. A weapon. Bound through loyalty and creation to Galvatron, my master, and in brotherhood to Scourge. They are dead. I felt Galvatron die just before I went into stasis lock, and the last of Unicron's power over me died with him. The other Decepticons were, with very few exceptions, a collection of low-lives, opportunists and cowards."
"Do you even know who you were before your, uh, re-formatting?" Springer asked, bluntly.
Cyclonus showed no sign of offence at the triple-changer's direct questioning. "No. And again, I do not care. Some say Skywarp, some say Bombshell or an Insecticon clone. It matters not. I believe, if I had any prior knowledge of my past self, I - like Galvatron who retained Megatron's memories - would also have been driven mad. Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first drive mad."
Ultra Magnus had never heard for definite exactly how Galvatron and his augmented forces had come to be, and listened fascinated to his every word. It was also unusual, particularlly for a Transformer as 'young' if you could describe Cyclonus as that, to mention God or Gods, or indeed any religious aspects. Before he could ask another question, however, Cyclonus asked a question of his own.
"Are either of you Autobots religious in any way? It is a topic that our race rarely considers and rarer still discusses, however it is one I have had plenty of time to consider, given my recent trevails."
"No, I don't follow any religion." Ultra Magnus replied first.
Springer answered next "I don't either, although I used to discuss it with some of the humans from time to time. Their race has a number of religions, the majority of which feature one deity or God."
"I believe I was created by a God." Cyclonus stated.
Both Autobots looked at him quizzically. If Cyclonus noticed, he gave no inclination, and continued speaking.
"Unicron was a being beyond our comprehension. Yes, in size and scale, he merely represented a Transformer of limitless power, and most scholars look upon him as such, from what I can find. But most scholars believe he "rebuilt" the three of us. He did not. He willed our change, and it came into being. That is power beyond my understanding. Beyond science. He gave me a spark and consciousness, Magnus! Think of that! Transformers given life beyond Vector Sigma. It should be impossible, yet it wasn't. Why?"
Cyclonus knocked back his Engex, he narrowed his optics as the buzz flowed through his circuits. Ultra Magnus considered his response, and, following a pause, responded.
"I don't know the answer to any of your questions, Cyclonus. I doubt many beings do. Is that your purpose in life now? To wander aimlessly looking for answers to your existence? You could be more than that you know."
Cyclonus laughed. A hollow, mirthless chuckle, bereft of any sign of amusement.
"What would you have me do, Magnus? Wander bars on Monacus like yourself and Springer here? Join the Autobots? Fawn and simper over Optimus Prime? Babysit the Dinobots? No. I am not Autobot, and have no desire to watch you all try to rebuild Cybertron. But I have enjoyed our discussion."
"So what now?" Springer asked. "You just head off and we let Autobot High Command know there is a powerful Decepticon wandering around suffering from an existenital crisis? I don't think so."
Ultra Magnus cut in. "Springer, wait. Can you give us some space? I want to speak to Cyclonus one-to-one for a minute."
Springer hesitated for a moment, but his trust in Ultra Magnus overcame his instinct to fight the Decepticon. He moved his chair back, gave Magnus a nod and headed back to the bar, which was now growing busier.
Cyclonus watched him depart and turned to face Ultra Magnus.
"Speak Magnus. What troubles you?"
"Tell me why you are here, Cyclonus. I can't let you go without knowing what you are doing. I simply can't - but if you give me your word that you mean no harm to us, I will let you go. You once saved my life, and I want to help you if I can."
Cyclonus shrugged.
"I was injured on Junk. I cannot transform, I'm looking for a black market medic to fix me. That's the sole reason why I'm here, Magnus. I have no cause to fight for anymore beyond my own survival, which will be greatly improved by avoiding confrontations with Autobots. I give you my word that I do not intend to restart a Decepticon Empire, or bestow any harm upon you or Springer unless provoked."
"Okay. That's good enough for me. You know, if you wanted to come with us to Cybertron, we could get First Aid to look at you-"
"Stop. I'm not accompanying you to Cybertron. My life, my destiny and my search for answers are my own. A prison cell on Cybertron will not help."
Ultra Magnus looked at Cyclonus for several seconds. Then he nodded and rose to leave.
"Goodbye Cyclonus. I hope you find some purpose - and some answers."
"Farewell Ultra Magnus. When next you or Springer discuss religion with the humans, could you ask them a question for me?"
Magnus was surprised. "What's the question?"
"What does an angel do when God is dead?"
With that Cyclonus turned away from Magnus and lowered his head. Springer walked over and plonked another vial of Engex down on the table.
"Let's go, Magnus. See ya Cyclonus."
The Autobots left, Magnus weaving his bulky form between patrons, offering apologies as he knocked into several of them.
Cyclonus watched them go. He contemplated the vial of Engex, and knocked it back, as a fiery glow burned through his circuits. Trust an Autobot to buy the cheapest stuff in the place.
