Devcon tapped his fingers idly on the desk aboard Docholli's ship. He had neutralised the Pedroxian surgeon and was now awaiting the arrival of a clean-up crew to take the good doctor into custody and probably impound his ship and investigate the deceased remains of the Cybertronians that hung like trophies within the ship.
Slumped in a chair, apparently still fighting the effects of the tranquilising agent administered to him by Docholli, a purple Cybertronian watched Devcon tidy his equipment away. It had been twenty or so minutes since Devcon had neutralised Docholli, and he had no idea when the paralysis would wear off, although the robot had surprised Docholli with his resistance to the chemical.
Devcon was slightly relieved with how things had turned out. The appearance of the stranger had led Devcon to move on his target sooner than he had anticipated. His initial plan had been to find Docholli's ship and stake out the Pedroxian's movements, but the appearance of another Cycbertronian had forced Devcon's hand.
Devcon looked at the stranger out of the corner of his optics. It was pretty obvious that the robot in question was or had been a Decepticon. Autobots tended not to go for purple as a colour, nor sport fiery red optics that burned as they tried repeatedly to stand. Most Autobots also knew better than to a) hang around Monacus and b) try to employ the black market medical services of a suspected serial killer. Well - maybe Springer might after a night on the high-grade but that was about it -Devcon thought to himself with a wry smile.
If he was a Decepticon there really was only one person it could be, Cyclonus, the long-missing lieutenant of the last Decepticon commander, Galvatron. Devcon was pretty sure Autobot command on Cybertron would be eager to apprehend him, and there might just be a few credits in it, much as Devcon tended to prefer avoiding visits to Cybertron, which contained too many painful memories of a past best forgotten. Maybe he could radio Ultra Magnus and have him come out to pick the prisoner up, he mused to himself.
The chiming of his communicubes brought Devcon out of his reverie. He threw the three cubes on the desk and the hologram displayed a Judge, although not one that Devcon was familiar with.
"Devcon – I am Judge Entacapo. I have taken control of the administration of this case. All notifications have been sent to Cybertron and we have their authority for all clean-up. We hope to have a squad there within the hour. You are to render all assistance to them with the criminal Docholli. It's possible they may wish to question you about the evidence. We ask also that Cyclonus be detained for questioning. Entacapo out."
Frowning slightly Devcon replaced the communicubes in his compartment. This definitely wasn't standard procedure, but then again neither was finding a suspected organ-harvester turned out to be a serial killer of Cybertronians. Still, something was nagging at the back of his mind.
"Mmmmmuurrnnaaammeee". The seated Decepticon, Cyclonus, interrupted the silence and seemed to be agitated.
"What is it Decepticon?" Devcon looked at him levelly.
"How….Judge…know…my…name…?" It was taking all his effort to speak, as he was still heavily sedated.
Devcon froze. The Deceptiocn had hit upon his nagging doubt - nobody had mentioned Cyclonus' name in conversation. In fact, no Judge in either of his correspondences would have even been able to see Cyclonus, seated as he was far away from the desk where Devcon had used his communicubes, first when he made his initial report and then when he received the follow-up communication from Judge Entacapo.
"Need…to…get…away. Kill…us…too,"
Cyclonus was almost pleading with Devcon, who was now more than perturbed at what was going on. He whirled quickly to look at Docholli, who was restrained via energy bonds in the corner. Too late, Docholli wiped a smirk off his face and affected a look of cowardice but Devcon had caught it. Something was definitely amiss here, and if the cowardly surgeon was smiling he knew help was on the way.
"I think you might be right." Devcon muttered, opening his forearm panel and pressing two buttons in quick succession. Cyclonus winced slightly in response. Devcon moved up to him, his emotions warring within him. He had no love for Decepticons, and leaving possibly the most powerful remaining Decepticon in the universe at the mercy of some kind of anti-Transformer group who would almost certainly murder him did have a certain kind of appeal. At the same time, Docholli had already displayed amazement at the inner workings of Cyclonus. If, as rumour had it, he was indeed created by Unicron to be more advanced than any other Transformer - bar his now deceased comrades, Galvatron and Scourge – this was not the kind of technology Devcon wanted to fall into the hands of a shadowy organisation hell-bent on murdering Cybertronians.
"They must have eyes and possibly ears on the ship. I've just scrambled any observation and communication devices except my own for about three minutes. Tell me why I shouldn't just leave you here to be killed. Tell me why you deserve to live."
For several long seconds Cyclonus seemed unable to think of anything to say, then he again forced himself to speak.
"Magnus. Ultra Magnus. Let me…go. Cant…let him…down."
Devcon nodded. Magnus was an honourable sort, and coincidentally happened to be one of the few Cybertronians who Devcon would occasionally report matters of interest to. It would be easy enough to clarify Cyclonus' claims, but first they had to get out of the situation they were in. Briefly Devcon considered stealing Docholli's ship, but realised it would likely be easy for his allies to track it. Better to just get out and get back to his own ship, although the injured Cyclonus would slow him down.
Devcon looked from Cyclonus to the door. Docholli might be useful as a hostage, but there was no way he could support Cyclonus and also keep an eye on his prisoner. He would have to leave Docholli here to be found by his allies.
His mind made up, Devcon moved Cyclonus' arm over his frame and helped him stand, as they began heading slowly towards the door. They had to get out of here and do it fast.
