59- Thirst.
The Nemesis was flying through a storm while inside its lab, someone was not having a good day.
"Oh, will my torment never end? First, I have to fight for Galvatron's favor against that treacherous harpy Airachnid. Now I must contend with Shockblast and his incorrigible beast." Starscream complained before sighing in relief and looking at his pokémon team. "At least I know I can count on you to listen my deepest feelings."
All the Genesect nodded.
"Oh, look on the bright side, Starscream. At least one of them is currently on ice: locked up tight in the vault of our warship." Knock Out reassured.
Starscream sighed. "Oh, how I would love to stuff Shockblast and his mangy abomination, right into that stasis pod beside her. At least he's so busy working with his beasts that he didn't think about making some experiments on my pokémon, which is such a relief. The only reason his Project Predacon is currently in full swing is because I supervise the acquisition of his dozen of Predacon bones."
Then they heard a faint groaning.
"Will you please keep your lab rat quiet while I'm airing my grievances?" Starscream asked.
The groans were made by no one more than Misbelwy, now in her new cybertronian body, attacked to an operation table.
"Darkscream…help…me." She pleaded.
But he simply chuckled. "My, my, my. Whatever have you been inflicting upon poor Misbelwy?"
"Ha, well anything that merits the need for a living petri dish." Knock Out said as he injected her a syringe full of green liquid.
Then Misbelwy groaned in pain as her eyes turned green.
"Despite your justifiable lack of regard for her human side, it doesn't trouble you to watch what remains of your former partner endure your scientific endeavors?" Starscream asked.
"Not really. Besides, Misbelwy once had poor Breakdown pinned to her lab table. I think my former partner would be pleased to be a part." Knock Out answered.
Suddenly, she powered down.
"What just happened?" Starscream asked.
"You recall that…synthetic energon I recovered from the Autobots? Well, I have been reproducing the formula to test its viability as an alternative energy source. However, the compound remains erratic and there have been side effects." Knock Out explained.
"Such as?"
Suddenly, Misbelwy reawakened screaming, with her optics still green. "DARKSCREAM, I HOPE YOU REPLACED YOUR T-COG, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TEAR IT OUT ALL OVER AGAIN AND FEED IT TO KNOCK OUT!"
"Shear unrivaled aggression." Knock Out concluded.
"Such power and fury!" Starscream admired. "Galvatron has longed desired the beast machine super soldier, and we now possess the means of delivering one to him."
Speaking of Galvatron, he was in the bridge having a private talking by com-link, probably with Shockblast.
"Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh."
In that moment, Starscream entered the bridge and approached him.
"Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that…"
"Not now!" Galvatron interrupted him. "Please, continue Shockblast. No, no one important."
Starscream scowled in frustration and left the bridge. In a hallway outside, the Genesect and Knock Out were waiting for him.
"Did you speak with our liege, about our little enterprise?" Knock Out asked.
"He was…otherwise engaged." Starscream answered.
As they entered the lab, they were surprised at hearing Misbelwy roaring in pain so loud.
"I AM GONNA MAKE YOU SUFFER IN WAYS YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE!"
"Just how much of this Synth-En have you given her?" Starscream asked.
"Two additional doses, three at the most. But Misbelwy's increasingly volatile nature isn't the only wrinkle." Knock Out said as he injected another dose to Misbelwy, causing her to fidget and grunt. "It appears that the more green stuff I administer, the faster this monstrosity formerly known as she-Breakdown burns through her own natural energon reserves."
"This will not do! Galvatron already possess one unruly beast with that Predacon of his. What good is another freak of nature that cannot be controlled?" Starscream replied, until an idea came to his mind. "Wait. I'm a fool."
When Starscream returned, he came back with an energon box, but this was purple instead of blue.
"Dark energon?!" Knock Out recognized while the Genesect looked at it confused. "You are more than a fool, Starscream! I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!"
"Oh, on the contrary, dear doctor. Adding dark energon to the formula should provide lord Galvatron with full control over his super soldier."
"Okay. Truth that lord Galvatron seems to possess a symbiotic link to anyone or thing infused with the dark matter allowing him to manipulate them as if they were puppets. But…have you forgotten what the so-called blood of Unicron did to our warship?"
"That was the result of a massive infusion. I am suggesting a drop or two: merely enough to allow our master to command his warrior at will."
"Even so, it's too drastic a measure to undertake without Shockblast's approval. I do, after all, report to him."
"Not on this project! Super soldiers fall under military operations. Meaning, dear Knock Out, that you now report to me." Starscream told him face to face. "Isn't that right, boys?"
Techbug nodded first, followed by his companions. With all settled, Knock Out processed the dark energon to liquid form, loaded it in a syringe and injected it to Misbelwy, who groaned in pain and let out a painful scream.
"Wait for it." Knock Out said, waiting to the assimilation.
But moments later, she simply powered down again.
Starscream groaned in disappointment. "Humans in any form cannot be relied upon!"
And then, Misbelwy sprung back to life, roaring in rage, with her eyes now purple.
"It's alive!" Knock Out announced.
But suddenly, Misbelwy broke free from her binds on her arms and whacked Starscream and his Genesect aside, making them crash to the wall.
"Scrap!" He cursed.
Next she broke the binds of her legs and stood on her feet, until she fell to one knee. Starscream cautiously poked her, but she didn't respond.
"Oh, for the love of…Now what?!" Starscream demanded.
"I tried to tell you before: it's a side effect of the Synth-En, she's burnt through her own natural reserves." Knock Out reminded.
"Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions for a while. Might calm Misbelwy down a bit. Make her a tad more manageable."
Misbelwy struggled to lift his head.
"Need…energon." She said weakly, before her lower jaw split into monstrous mandibles with a fierce roar.
From her mouth emerged a long-bladed tongue, revealing to being turned into something they didn't expect: a monster. That scared them all while Misbelwy stood up and walked toward them. Starscream tripped back to the floor, so she went for him. Next, she grabbed him and pulled him closer. The bladed tongue launched for his neck, but he tilted his head to the sides to avoid the bites.
"Boys, don't stay there just watching! Attack!" Starscream commanded.
Immediately the entire squadron answered to their master's call: Techbug and Zapwave attacked Misbelwy with Metal Claw, Infernyphoon used Blaze Kick, Waterspout hit her with Iron Head and Cryotremor used Aerial Ace, but it seemed that none of the attacks disturbed Misbelwy. Until Knock Out grabbed an electric staff and zapped her with it, causing her to release Starscream and allowing him to kick her back a few steps. But that didn't look to affect her much as she let out a monstrous roar and showed her tongue again.
Starscream gashed. "Do you think she's actually trying to…?"
"Suck out our energon with that thing?" Knock Out ended while she tried to get closer, so he aimed his staff again. "It seems that way."
But Misbelwy grabbed the staff and broke it in half. Everyone ran out of the lad screaming, with Mysbelwy after them.
"See if you can hold her off." Starscream said before he and his pokémon changed form.
"What?! Wait for me!" Knock Out said jumping on Starscream's wing as he took off.
They left flying fast, leaving Misbelwy behind, forcing her to wander the halls looking for other preys. Once they were far enough, Starscream slowed down and returned to robot form alongside his pokémon, tossing Knock Out, making him land hard on the floor.
"We need to…sound the alarm!" Knock Out said frightened.
"Out of the question. Galvatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible." Starscream objected.
"But…we are!"
"Well, you are mostly. Anyway, his lordship doesn't need to know that. Not if we handle this the right way."
"Meaning?!" Knock Out asked as the Genesect looked as confused as him.
"Use your head, pals! This warship is crawling with highly Vehicon troopers armed for combat. The moment Misbelwy attempts to feed, they will neutralize her for us. Problem solved."
In another hallway, a lone Vehicon was patrolling the area, and around the corner Misbelwy was waiting for depredate him. Once he was close enough, Misbelwy lunged out and tackled him. The Decepticon screamed in pain as Misbelwy sucked out his energon, until she finished with a roar as the Decepticon powered down. Meanwhile, the group was starting to search carefully.
"Once we recover Misbelwy's body we must dispose of it quickly as possible." Starscream was explaining. "No trace of her can be allowed to remain."
Her…infected body." Knock Out said shuddering.
When they turned a corner, they gasped as they saw the Vehicon's body. Knock Out rushed to his side and checked for an energy pulse.
"Gone. Completely drained of energon. Tell me something, Starscream. When you said problem solved, is this even close to what you had in mind?"
"I do not appreciate your tone, Knock Out. This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault."
"Well it certainly isn't mine!"
Without anyone noticing the Vehicon slowly moved up to his feet, except Cryotremor, who showed it to his companions before they tried to call the Decepticons' attention.
"Oh no? You're the mastermind who chose to experiment with synthetic energon." Starscream claimed.
"And you're the Mankey wrench who thought it was a good idea to dabble in voodoo!" Knock Out argued.
Finally, Techbug stood in middle of them to call their attention.
"What?!"
The squad's leader pointed at the Vehicon, which terrorized them a lot.
"Energon." The Vehicon snarled before his mouth turned like Misbelwy's, which made the Cons scream.
"I thought you said he had no spark!" Starscream yelled.
"Dark energon, it reanimates the dead." Knock Out realized.
Starscream pulled out his weapon and fired at the undead Decepticon supported by his Genesect: Techbug and Infernyphoon fired Signal Beam, Cryotremor tried to slow it down with Ice Beam, Waterspout attacked with Dark Pulse and Zapwave tried to trap it with Electroweb; Knock Out pulled out his buzz saws in case. But despite the shots and attacks, the undead continued walking at them.
"Aim for the head!" Knock Out suggested.
"What?! How do you know?!" Starscream asked.
"I've seen human horror films." Knock Out replied, which made the Seeker, even the pokémon, to look at him in disbelief. "At drive-in theaters!"
Starscream retrieved his weapon, aimed one of his arms to the zombie's head and fired the missile. That cause an explosion, but when the smoke cleared, they saw the body still moving with the tongue still active.
"Forget the head! Go for the spark, boys! Techno Blast at full power!" Starscream commanded.
The five pokémon charged their cannons and fired at the undead's chest at the same time, burning through the zombie's spark chamber, terminating it for good.
"We severed its link to the dark energon. Human horror films, waste of time." Knock Out nodded.
Misbelwy wandered aimlessly down another hall looking for more preys.
"Energon." She snarled.
At the same time, the Decepticons were trying to know what happened.
"If the mutation can be passed along with a single bite, the entire crew is at risk." Knock Out realized.
Starscream squealed in fear. "You're saying Misbelwy could beget more Terrorcons?"
"Mmm, could happen. And the ensuing feeding frenzy can turn this entire warship into a scrapheap. So now can we sound the alarm?!"
Before they continued debating, they came across four long-range Decepticon soldiers.
"You there, have you noticed any unusual activity…" Starscream called while the Decepticons turned at them, and revealed that they were infected. "In…this…vector?"
The zombies marched toward them, so the group have no choice but to turn around and run while they screamed while Zapwave and Cryotremor used Magnet Rise and Ice Beam in an attempt to paralyze them before catching up the rest. They reached to a wall with a fork at the end. Knock Out ran to the left while Starscream and the Genesect squad ran to the right, until the red Decepticon turned around and followed them. They continued running until they found more zombies in their way, infected engineers and tanks. So they ran the opposite direction. Then Starscream noticed they were going to pass near a room.
"In here!"
Everyone jumped inside before the door closed and hid in a corner.
"Fellas, this situation might be a bit more direr than either of us ever imagined." Starscream admitted.
"Mmm, I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?"
"Drained of our precious fluids. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon chow, it has been an honor serving lord Galvatron with all of you."
The five Genesect bowed to him, meaning that they shared his same feelings.
"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish." Knock Out confessed.
There was a long pause.
"Mm-hmm. Well, then." Starscream started.
"Should be going." Knock Out added.
The group exited the room and walked carefully looking for any possible zombies around, but when they turned to the left, they bumped into someone. Fortunately, it was not a zombie, but it wasn't something good either: Galvatron. And he didn't look happy, the reason they gasped in fear.
"Would either of you like to tell what exactly is going on?" He demanded.
"Yes, absolutely nothing, my liege." Starscream started.
"All is quiet, too quiet. One could even say dull." Knock Out followed.
The Genesect didn't know how to act: follow Starscream and Knock Out's game or agree with Galvatron.
"Funny. Because the dark energon within my spark has been pulsing." Galvatron revealed.
"Allow me to handle this." Starscream offered. "It's Knock Out's fault!"
"Precisely my…WHAT?!" Knock Out exclaimed surprised.
"He infused Misbelwy with a cocktail comprised of dark and synthetic energon, creating a monstrous mutation which is now on the verge of turning your entire crew into mindless energon sucking Terrorcons!"
"I do not know from what madness your yarn spraying, Starscream. But if I learn that you have been dabbling with my dark energon stores again, attempting to infuse yourself with its formidable power…" Galvatron was saying while another zombie was approaching him from behind.
Infernyphoon noticed, and tried to warn Galvatron about it.
"Let me just say, you have been awarded more chances for redemption than anyone in Decepticon history." Galvatron continued, until the snarls of the zombie finally got his attention.
"Energon!"
"Hey, you there, what are you doing? I order you, stand down!" Galvatron ordered, but the zombie charged at him, but him killed him with a single swing of his gladiator bowler before looking back at the group.
"We did try to tell you." Starscream said.
"Mm-hmm." Knock Out nodded, the same as the Genesect.
The Decepticons were now in the bridge explaining everything to their leader while Soundblaster was trying to locate Misbelwy.
"Then why can I not command the monster to follow my bidding?" Galvatron asked.
"While the trace of dark energon should have granted you control over these ghouls, I believe the synthetic component may be corrupting your link to them." Knock Out explained.
"Initiate high alert! Instruct all troops to keep their distance from the mutations and terminate them on sight!" Galvatron instructed to Soundblaster so he transmitted the commands before facing the group again. "Your fate, however, remains to be seen." He told them, who looked at each other nervously. "Why are you still here?! Find this…creation of yours and eradicate it, immediately!"
The Decepticons left the bridge and started looking for their creation.
"I realize lord Galvatron is only doing this to punish us, but how are we the best choice to hunt down Misbelwy?" Knock Out asked. "I mean, why not deploy his beloved beast machine super soldier, hmm? After all it is supposed to be the ultimate hunter."
"Out of the question! Can you imagine if the Predacon became infected? Nothing could stop it." Starscream reasoned.
In other parts of the ship, the Decepticon troops were engaging the zombie horde, supported by the Insecticons which crawled on the ceiling, helping each other in destroying all the undead Decepticons: the Decepticons used their weapons while the Insecticons eliminated the zombies with their claws. Soundblaster was the one who was supervising the cleaning. As for Misbelwy, she continued wandering until she noticed a locked door on her left. She smashed the screen pad with her fist, forcing the door to open. Once she entered, she saw inside a lot of pods that contained the recovered relics from the Autobots, and a familiar stasis pod. She sensed an energon presence inside.
"Energon." She snarled before slamming the glass and started to rid the stasis pod apart.
That caused Airachnid's reawakening. Of course, she looked surprised for what she saw first.
"Breakdown?! Did I not exterminate you once already? Wait, why do you look so…"
But she didn't have time to finish the question, because Misbelwy's mandibles sprang open as she closed to suck Airachnid's energon. She managed to dodge the tongue before she climbed on top of the wrecked pod and kicked Misbelwy's face. She brushed it off and grabbed her before pulling her closer to try sucking again. But Airachnid grabbed the bladed tongue before it got too close and punched her in the face, causing her to lose her grip. Misbelwy tried to crush her, but Airachnid quickly jumped back. Misbelwy tried to stomp her again while she was down, but Airachnid slithered her way out and tried to crawl away, but Misbelwy caught her and swung her to the wall, disorienting her. Before she could get up, the former human grabbed her and approached her tongue to suck her energon, but she quickly changed to her spider mode as she shot webs, allowing her to crawl to the wall.
That made Misbelwy groan in frustration. "Energon!"
Airachnid shot multiple webs at her, pinning her to the ground and a few more to ensure she couldn't get up. Next, she jumped down on her and stabbed her in the throat with one of her claws, neutralizing her finally.
"Second time's the charm." She laughed. "But to be certain, I shall remove your very spark." She started to rip apart her chest, until she gasped when she found who was inside. "Misbelwy. Whatever have they done to you? Now that explains the look change. Oh, but more importantly, thank you for freeing me."
"No…thank you. At last…I can finally…join…with my brother." She said agonizing before she truly expired.
"Whatever." Airachnid simply said as she started summoning her servants. "Insecticons, heed me."
Airachnid's words were listened by all the Insecticons as they were finishing with the last zombies.
"Your queen has returned."
As response, all the Insecticons changed to their flying form and flew off to her location. Soundblaster saw that, so he knew something was not going well. The group was entering the same room, and it didn't take them too much to find Misbelwy's lifeless body. To be certain, Cryotremor and Infernyphoon used Giga Impact and Flame Charge against her body. Seeing no reaction, they nodded to Starscream.
"Our ordeal is finally over." Starscream said relieved.
"Or not." Knock Out said pointing at the wrecked pod.
"Scrap."
"Starscream! Have you made contact with the plague bringer?!" Galvatron asked by com-link.
"Actually, my liege, I have good news, and bad news."
That made Galvatron roar in anger. Meanwhile, all Insecticons were regrouping with Airachnid.
"Loyal servants, the time is now! Lay waste to all Decepticons. Leave no trace of them in your wake." Airachnid instructed as she marched down the hall.
At the end of the hall, she saw a very recognizable Decepticon.
"Soundblaster!"
Airachnid ordered the Insecticon hive to stop, while Soundblaster simply remained his ground.
"I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams." Airachnid swore before she charged alongside the entire Insecticon hive.
Soundblaster locked the space bridge coordinates onto one of Cybertron's moons, and activated the portal in front of her. But it was already too late for Airachnid and her Insecticons, who passed through the portal and reached the moon. Once the entire hive crossed, the portal closed, leaving Airachnid and her Insecticons banished on Cybertron's moon, forever.
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
With all done, Soundblaster returned back to his post. Everything returned back to normal in the ship, but of course Galvatron discussed that with Shockblast.
"Yes, the containment protocol you recommended to prevent any further outbreak is now underway. Oh, and Shockblast, having just lost more than half our military might I cannot stress enough the importance of Project Predacon. See if you can speed things along, will you?" Galvatron said before he hung up and turned at the others. "Knock Out, need I remind you that as the ship's medic, you report directly to Shockblast, not Starscream."
"Understood, master." He replied.
"Just to be sure, you will hand over all of your projects to him… immediately. Including the synthetic energon."
"As you wish, my liege."
"And as for you." Galvatron said looking at Starscream.
"Lord Galvatron, if you will just allow me to explain things."
"No. Allow me to explain things. In a manner which I know you'll understand." Galvatron said advancing toward him.
Expecting something bad for their master, the Genesect squad reacted in different ways: Techbug didn't know what to do while both Infernyphoon and Waterspout changed to flying mode and left the room, while Cryotremor and Zapwave simply refused to look. As for Airachnid, she was sitting on a boulder on Cybertron's moon as the Insecticon hive stood before her.
"Your majesty, we await your command." One of the Insecticons announced.
"Approach me. Serve your queen." She said, not aware that she had two bite marks in her neck.
One of the Insecticons approached her, and once it was close enough Airachnid grabbed its head. And suddenly her lower jaw divided into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerged from her mouth, the same as Misbelwy. She sucked the Insecticon's energon, which shrieked in pain as the rest lined up to be next.
