Ch. 233

The screen remained dark. One voice coughed and another voice sighed.

"So, sound's working."

"Hold on, let's do this right. Ready?"

"One at a time," a third voice cut in, "follow my mark... Viewfinder is... go," a third of the screen lit up and a view of two short, boxy mechs, identical to each other with light gray and purple paint and green chest plates, became visible; these two mechs smiled.

"Spyglass... is go," another third of the screen lit up to view the other two mechs.

"Spectro is go," the final third of the screen lit up.

The video was being filmed through the red colored optics of these three mechs, Viewfinder appearing to be only slight bigger and distinguished from Spyglass and Spectro by a large gray circle in the center of his green chest plate.

"Alright, first synchronized recording session is looking good..." Viewfinder announced, "Pan right," all three views moved, "pan left," all three views moved again, "aaand center," the three mechs stared at each other and Viewfinder smirked, "Perfect. Where are we starting?"

"Volunteer number one is still in Brainstorm's office," Spectro informed his companions, "Team leader wants to establish a quicker way to find these guys. It took him forever to convince the mech to come in for even a look."

"We allowed to go in and record?"

"Nah, big 'no'," Spectro huffed, "but we'll get him on screen later."

The video cut to a new view from one of the mechs walking down a hall; the other two were absent.

"Now, I want the three of you on top of every new subject that comes in," came Brainstorm's voice; the view turned to look back and Brainstorm, a blue and white seeker with an orange faceplate and face mask, became visible, "Subject one just left, but he will be back. He's just as curious as we are..."

"Sir," the recording mech asked, "what can he do? We got a bet going..."

Brainstorm chuckled and knelt down, "My, it wouldn't do much good to simply say, now would it? You'll see for yourself, he'll be back. Make sure one of you is in my office during working shift and you may catch a glimpse-"

The feed cut again to show the view having been spliced in half from two different angles, one from Brainstorm's office and the other out on the other side of the lab. Research assistants and technicians were scuttling around as a thin, ground based mech with white plating and blue accents allowed energy sensors to be attached to his chassis.

"Spectro... you read me?"

"Loud and clear, Spyglass."

"Can you believe it? That's Mirage! What's a swanky, high-life bot doing here?"

Spectro snorted, "Didn't Viewfinder tell you? Mirage is subject one. Now, pay attention, they're gonna have him-"

The white mech, Mirage, crackled lightly in an orange static before disappearing completely, the sensors appearing to hover in midair. Both views on the screen shook.

"Did you see that-"

"Be cool, be cool! He doesn't know we're filming!" Spectro hissed, "Keep it tight, Brainstorm warned us we'd see some pretty weird stuff..."

"Analysis complete," a femme research assistant spoke up, "Thank you, subject one. If you could... make yourself visible again?"

Mirage reappeared in the same crackle of orange static and while a couple of assistants helped remove the sensors, audio on Spyglass's side could be heard.

"Nothing, not a single bit of energon used," came a mech's voice, "Whatever made him capable of such a thing... and the potential for it-"

"I know," Brainstorm's cheery voice interrupted, "but be patient. Until we find a second subject we'll have nothing to compare it to. We'd be floating on nothing but wishful thinking and conjectures. I have no time for such things."

"I'll return if you need more data," Mirage called out after the sensors were removed, "but don't call me otherwise. I don't want anyone asking questions."

Brainstorm chuckled, "Of course! The utmost discretion!"

The feed dipped into static before flickering back on scene to a dark blue mech with a blue visor across his optics. He was excitedly smashing a white and black fist into an open servo, talking with assistants who were prepping him as Brainstorm's voice narrated.

"Barricade came to us only a couple of days ago," the mech explained, "After testing with subject one, I may have found an algorithm that will help us locate new subjects. Some may not be aware of any abilities they possess. Barricade seems to know, however, and has insisted that what he shows us can only be brought forth after a bit of... unorthodox methods."

One of the research assistants transformed out a blaster and shot Barricade in the side and chest plate, the blue mech cursing and then growling loudly.

"Yeah, alright! Lemme show you guys what I got for ya!"

The view panned out to show a reinforced wall had been set up some distance away. Barricade psyched himself up, green electrical static dancing over his chassis. He transformed and sped forward in his vehicle mode as fast as he could. The sparks grew in number and he rammed the wall with everything he had. A flash of green light blew out the view for only a second but when the scene came back into focus there was a large dent in the wall and Barricade had transformed back. Without any damage whatsoever. Whichever small, gray mech was operating the camera ran closer to record the moment.

"See that?! You see this?!" Barricade yelled excitedly, "Invincible! I'm fragging invincible! Check me out!"

The camera view moved up and down to where the blue mech should have been shot but found nothing.

Barricade laughed, "You guys ain't seen nothing yet! Get me out on a bigger field, I'll show all of you what's what!"

The view cut to a scene with Brainstorm sitting at his desk, his yellow optics seeming kind and bright as he spoke, "It's in the spark, you see. Something about how it was formed in our two subjects differentiates it from the biological norm. No energon is needed for them to do what they do. Yes, we've seen devices capable of performing services like these but they require maintenance, the chore of being built. Some of the technology required for these devices have been lost. But to be sparked with these abilities- the edge it would give our species as a whole- the possibilities are endless."

"Ahem," the camera operator, Viewfinder, cleared his throat, "do you... so have you named them?"

Brainstorm took a few seconds to answer, "I call them 'outliers'."

The view shifted again as though recording in a more secretive manner, showing Brainstorm talking to an assistant, "I want it set up in a way that challenges him to the fullest. ... No, it has to be life threatening. The best way to attain clearer results-" Brainstorm looked and sounded frustrated, "He needs to believe he's going to die."

The view cut to Brainstorm speaking with Nexus, "More than three. Seven, if the supplier can manage. We'll begin the cloning test in a few days time."

Another cut in the feed showed Brainstorm shaking servos with a bulky, white seeker with a cone-shaped helm and a dark faceplate. The white seeker was leaving.

The camera view rushed over and Brainstorm hummed happily, "Ah, Spyglass. The three of you are still carrying on?"

"Catching it all, sir," Spyglass informed him, "Who was that? Outlier number three?"

Brainstorm shook his helm, "Oh no, Ramjet is a volunteer for phase two."

"What..." Spyglass cleared his throat, "What's phase two? Did- did you already talk about phase two?"

The scene switched to Barricade talking with four other Barricades; Brainstorm narrated.

"Our supplier was only able to deliver four cloning protoforms but the procedure was completed with zero complications," the mech mused happily, "We will begin with testing their ability to replicate Barricade's outlier ability, graded a 'two' on my scale."

"Two seems kinda low, boss," Reflector's voice cut in.

Brainstorm sighed, "While changing damaging kinetic energy into a healing energy is quite effective, it has limitations that sour the grade. If it can be enhanced or given an addition that improves upon the whole of the ability, we could see a jump to a 'four'..."

One of the Barricade clones stepped out onto the testing field and an assistant approached, blasting the clone in the side. The clone cried out and another yell of pain made Viewfinder change the camera view to show another Barricade, the original one, doubled over in pain.

"W-what is this?! What's happening?!" the original blue mech yelled.

"Can you still perform the test?" the assistant on the field asked nervously to the clone as the other Barricades crowded around the original, "Can you still- he says he's still going to try!"

The assistant backed off as the clone transformed and sped down the runway towards a reinforced wall. No green sparks danced around him. The impact from the collision forced the clone to transform in surprise and wailing from both the clone and original filled the testing facility.

Brainstorm hummed in thought, then called to his assistant, "Shoot it again. In the helm."

The assistant hesitated before finishing the clone, Barricade curling up into a ball on the floor with his servos clutching his helm as he screamed. The other clones looked nervous.

The view cut to what appeared to be some time later, Brainstorm tapping in somber disappointment at a datapad on his desk, "... Interesting development all around," he sighed, "the ability of an outlier can't be cloned. But it would seem an added wrinkle to such an insult, the original outlier can feel the pain of its clones. ... Barricade was not pleased when we had to scrap the rest of the clone tests. It took four of my assistants to hold him down. Luckily, we were able to sedate him before the final blow. We'll begin more tests tomorrow."

"Sir?" Spectro's voice cut in, "Didn't Barricade say he was going to stop the experiments?"

Brainstorm stared into the camera, "... He doesn't quite have a choice in the matter."

The view cut to Brainstorm speaking with an assistant as three bots walked into the lab, one femme and two mechs.

"Excuse me," the femme asked, her chassis a fiery red with orange and warm, light gray accents, "we're here to talk to Brainstorm?"

Brainstorm perked up and waved his assistant away, "Yes, I am he. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

A big, equally fiery colored mech stepped forward, "You're doing tests, right? Something about unique signatures?"

Brainstorm paused, "Hm. I'm not sure where you heard this information...?"

"Inferno," the mech responded.

"Yes, Inferno," Brainstorm nodded, "I'm afraid the details of my work are both classified and by invitation only."

The femme laughed, "Oh no, not him! I'm sorry," she explained, "I'm Firestar and our friend-" she stepped aside, "Hot Spot, you can do this. We're here to support you."

The mech, Hot Spot, almost seemed sheepish despite his bold fire-red and cold-blue color scheme and towering, powerful form, "I really hope you're the mech I'm looking for," he explained, his voice muffled by a blue faceplate, "What I can do- they know about it," he gestured to his companions, "and they know how worried I am about it hurting someone... This... this is really hard for me, but if you can help..."

He trailed off and Brainstorm chuckled in his upbeat tone, "Ah, I see. And I understand. Myself and my team will do all we can to help you, Hot Spot..."

The feed cut and divided into two views, one of Brainstorm speaking with an assistant quietly and another trained towards Hot Spot as he began his first test.

The red and blue mech was talking with the research assistant attaching his sensors, "First time it happened felt like a gift from Primus, you know? But the more I thought about it, the less comfortable it made me. I know I was sparked to serve and protect, I know I'm meant to help others, and if whatever this is helps me do it better, that's fine by me... but I have to know it's not gonna get someone else hurt or killed because I can't use it the right way..."

"Don't worry," the assistant reassured him, "We'll see what you can do and we'll go from there."

Brainstorm's feed showed him nodding and his team ducked behind clear protection walls, "Hot Spot, we will fire when you're ready."

Hot Spot rolled his shoulders and concentrated, light purple sparks popping out from his chest plate and coursing over his form; he braced himself and nodded, "I'm good to go!"

Brainstorm leaned over to the closest assistant, murmuring, "Fire."

Laser fire from all directions burst forth and ricocheted off Hot Spot, the electrical sparks deflecting the assault. The laser fire ceased quickly and the red and blue mech panted intakes as the purple sparks dissipated.

"I need a sec!" Hot Spot shuddered, "This only happened a couple times before, I can't keep it up for long."

Brainstorm hummed, looking into the camera, "Let's see if we can't help him with that, hm?"

The video cut and the view showed the camera operator to be hiding around the corner of a hall, Brainstorm just down the way as he spoke to Hot Spot in a hushed tone, "I understand all of your concerns. This could very well be the beginning of something you're not ready to be a part of."

"Thank you, thank you for understanding that," Hot Spot nodded.

"We'll do what we can to help you find ways to control it while looking to find out how it came to be," Brainstorm informed the larger mech, "Removing it, however? ... We'll see what the tests reveal and go from there, hm?"

Hot Spot's red optics brightened, "Call me in whenever you need me; I'll be here."

The large mech left down the hall and Brainstorm looked back towards the camera, "Another one hooked, Viewfinder."

The view switched over to Brainstorm sitting at his desk again, a stack of datapads beginning to build across the table.

"So," Spectro spoke up, "these outliers, how many have you discovered so far?"

"Only three," Brainstorm shrugged, "but our research into each one has taken priority. Subject one has only come in for one other test, but moving in too quickly may scare him off. Subject two has been sedated for almost a week now. He insisted on leaving after the whole debacle with his clones... Subject three, however, 'Hot Spot'," the mech's tone became warmer, "he's a dedicated subject. I see potential in him. As it stands, his ability is ranked at a 'one': difficult to produce and maintain, and somewhat lacking."

"He can deflect oncoming fire; that's considered lacking?"

Brainstorm sat up straighter, "Ah, the clincher, isn't it? You see, he cannot deflect all oncoming fire. If the sparks that surround him cannot move swiftly enough, he can be shot or grazed, even burned, by any lucky marksman. Subject three is under the impression that we're here to remove such abilities. I'm afraid his assumption is under... a certain impression. We must maintain that if we are to grow his ability, Spectro."

Spectro held out his servo to deliver a thumbs up, "You got it, boss."

The view switched again to show Brainstorm speaking with a new individual, a tall, lithe mech with a rounded, orange face mask and a maroon color overall. Brainstorm gestured the camera over.

"Spyglass, meet Dead End," the mech introduced the two, "Dead End will be doing similar volunteer work as Ramjet."

Spyglass held out a thumbs up, "Nice. Happy to have you on the team."

The feed cut to show two separate testing rooms housing Ramjet and Dead End. Both mechs were stretching and preparing themselves for instructions. Brainstorm's voice narrated.

"Both normal subjects have been given high doses of radiation similar to that created by outlier sparks," he explained, "While Ramjet was the first to begin treatments, Dead End has already begun to show signs of an acquired outlier ability."

The view showing the maroon mech focused in tighter and Brainstorm gave a command over an intercom, "Dead End," he spoke clearly, "when you're ready."

Dead End nodded and began to relax, a set of dark purple sparks slow to form crackling excitedly from his frame. Bits and pieces of the mech seemed to fizzle away but with a loud, thunderous boom, Dead End disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared standing beside Ramjet instantaneously. Ramjet laughed excitedly, shouting something about being ready to to charge his ability next as red sparks began to jump from his frame.

The video cut for a second and a disappointed Brainstorm came into view as he sat at his desk.

"... Both normal subjects are deceased," he sighed, "All vitals remained in normal range for a time. This... came on suddenly. Dead End's ability fractured him into pieces; he was torn apart. Ramjet's ability allowed him to create pockets of heat that were capable of melting temperatures. Unfortunately for him, the more he used his ability, the more heat he absorbed within his frame. In his uncontrolled panic, he inadvertently melted himself from the inside out..." Brainstorm sighed again, tapping a digit on his desk, "... Volunteers... But we should be able to replace them in a day or two."

The scene didn't change much. It opened again to the view of Brainstorm sitting at his desk, but all three mechs were recording given the three angles. Brainstorm appeared to be in a better mood.

"What made you want to pursue this?" Viewfinder began, "What started it all?"

Brainstorm chuckled, "What starts anything? It's a need. In my case, it is a need that spans many definitions. A need to know, a need to explore, a need to prove my theories. All of it boils down to what makes and defines us, really. A need of self discovery. A need to know. What are we? Are we the metal cases that holds the spark? Or are we the spark that is carried by a metal case? If I were to simplify all this, I would say it comes to this question: if we are what we've become to this point, what is the next step in our evolution?"

"So your motivation then," Viewfinder continued, "it's, in a sense, a look towards the future of our species as a whole? Not just these bots you've found so far?"

Brainstorm nodded, "We evolved from such early creations that, if we are to allow the stories of Primus, were incomplete, rushed... Our energies, our sparks, are so much more complex and yet held back by so many limitations. While our frames boast the ability to transform and even take on upgrades and paints that change us visually, it is the evolution of the spark that is our next step. Something that was not allowed to have its time to properly gestate," he laced his digits together, "and has unfairly hindered our growth as a species. At this rate, we may as well be evolving at a pace that organic forms could overtake. Not a very relishing thought..."

Viewfinder hummed, "I see. And with these abilities working they way they do, and energon demand at an all time high, do you see outliers as a means to overcome these more mortal problems?"

Brainstorm stared, his yellow optics brightening just a bit, "Why Viewfinder, you make it sound as though I intend to turn gods out of those powerless degenerates."

The scene cut suddenly and the view changed to what looked like the camera running down a hall. The view stopped and turned a corner, the recording mech peering into the lab as Brainstorm's voice became clearer.

"-hit me like an oncoming gust! The balances were off, there was no way they could have survived something like that!"

"Hmm," came a mimic of Brainstorm's voice, most likely Nexus, "The readings I have analyzed are nearly complete. From the energy output given, Subject Ramjet's outlier ability ranged at a five, while Dead End's capped at a four."

Brainstorm paced into view, then back deeper into the lab, "Enhancing normal sparks will never be feasible," he concluded, "Their energy structures have not evolved to find compatibility, even with artificial mutations. We may need to see if enhancements can be made on existing abilities..."

The view switched over to Brainstorm overlooking a readout from Nexus, "Spectro, do you have a question?"

"Uh, yes, sir," Spectro lined up his shot better, "You have a grading system you use to rank the outlier's abilities. What requirements do you use to scale them?"

"The energy output they provide has the most to do with how I grade each ability," Brainstorm replied absentmindedly, "but the ability itself can effect the number as well."

"Can you tell me about it?"

Brainstorm made a small noise, a sign of disinterest, before leaving Nexus's findings on a workstation, "A one or two dictates a power that is for self use only. These are of interest but have little use outside of personal gain. The energy readings are low or hard to maintain."

"Like Hot Spot?"

"Precisely," Brainstorm nodded, "His ability to reflect damage away from himself is useful, but unless we can see it extended to other parties, he may settle at a one."

"What do you define other ranks at?"

"Threes and fours are more exciting. While we've yet to find a natural three or four, these abilities can extend to another. Dead End's ability lacked energy output but when he teleported the first time, his test sensors stayed with him. Had he shed them during his test, it would have shown his inability to carry anything other than himself through the process. Sadly, we were unable to begin looking further into phase two with either enhanced subject."

"These abilities sound like they're getting more destructive as we go up in rank. Dead End was torn apart by his ability."

Brainstorm feigned a pout, "Yes, tragic. And yes, the energy output increases the higher the number."

"Does ranking stop at ten?"

Brainstorm didn't speak. He only stared.

The scene cut to a view of Brainstorm's back and wings as he wrote on the glass walls of his office, "The theory of a rank ten is but a whim," he confessed, "and you know how much I despise wishful thinking and conjectures."

"Then why are you giving it a chance?" Viewfinder's voice piped up.

"Why do we know anything for certain?" Brainstorm hummed, "When it cannot be seen or touched, what can we truly rely on? ... Math, Viewfinder, and science. These two things never lie. Only the idiots blinded by their own pride and misuse of such powers ruin these two great things."

"Did you give it a name? Rank ten?"

Brainstorm didn't speak for what seemed a long time. He set aside the marker he was using to write with before turning to meet Viewfinder's gaze.

"I call it a 'world burner'."

The scene switched over to Brainstorm speaking with Hot Spot, the larger mech's tone saying he didn't sound pleased.

"The more I use it for your tests, the more it shows!" Hot Spot leaned down for Brainstorm to see, "Only in my left optic. And it's the same color as those sparks I make."

Hot Spot's red optics showed a distinct, purple ring in the left orb and Brainstorm gently took hold of the mech's faceplate to examine him, "My, yes. A physical manifestation, it would seem... I can have a technician adjust the color before your tests today-"

"No," the red and blue mech pulled back, "I came to you for help getting rid of this. Can you take it away or not? Cause if you can't, then I'm just gonna have to find a way to make sure I don't use it on accident. This ability... it's not something I'm comfortable with."

Brainstorm nodded, "Hmm... we may be able to try something new today... We've had some positive readouts on our radiation therapies..."

The feed cut to a close up of the side of Brainstorm's helm as he stared out into the lab.

"So..." Spyglass began, "you lied to him."

"... It's as I told Viewfinder, math and science never lie. And while I am certainly no idiot, my pride on this particular discovery is very much on the line."

"We reviewed that footage... Does this mean you see yourself as misusing the power of math and science, too?"

Brainstorm slowly turned to look at the camera, "... Not yet..." his gaze went back to the lab room, "He's just finished the radiation treatment... I want to talk to him first-"

The scene switched to a darkened room. Brainstorm's form was barely visible.

"I'm up," Viewfinder announced as the camera view moved closer, "So what did you find?"

"Nothing as of yet," Brainstorm admitted, his servos busily digging into wires and parts that served him no purpose, "but Nexus was able to read Hot Spot's new energy output from across the room. The mech is at a seven."

"That's... that's a huge jump from one to seven. And what does that mean for what you're working on now?"

"Numbers, Viewfinder."

"Math never lies."

"And now that I have a more detailed set of readings, my board is becoming more complete. I am going to find my world burner. I know it exists."

"What if it doesn't?"

"... Then like so many others before me, I shall allow my greatest obsession to consume me before I let it go. I will find it, Viewfinder. This device I'm making will help me. If I am unable to monitor it, one of you three will. Understood?"

"Yes, sir..."

The feed dipped into a new scene focusing on Hot Spot, who was setting up for testing as he had done before.

"This will be our first look to see if any further mutations have enhanced his ability," Brainstorm mused to the camera, "Spyglass, be sure to analyze this recording later and make detailed comparisons to his previous tests."

Spyglass held out a thumbs up, "We'll have it done, boss," the camera zoomed in as Hot Spot spoke to an assistant, his expression seeming worried, "Does he know about the enhancement?"

Brainstorm chuckled, "No. So it will be a surprise for all of us to see what he's capable of now..."

An assistant off to the side called her fellow researchers to clear the area and Hot Spot braced himself, his light purple sparks charging in a tighter formation around his chest plate and servos.

"Ready..." the assistant called out, "fire."

Laser fire shot out from multiple directions at Hot Spot and the mech moved swiftly, his purple sparks creating small force fields that deflected the laser fire back. After a few seconds, the laser fire stopped. Hot Spot looked nervous as the force fields he created remained for a few seconds more.

"Hey... how am I still doing this?" the red and blue mech murmured, his optics staring down at his servos.

"Hm," Brainstorm sighed absentmindedly, "Someone's going to need a bit of convincing..."

The scene cut to an open hallway and Hot Spot's loud voice, not quite shouting, but definitely heated, echoed as he confronted Brainstorm, "You said this would take it away!"

"I said," Brainstorm corrected him, "that we were testing radiation therapies. Your ability is connected to you, it may appear to grow stronger before it is dampened-"

"What I did in there- that was so much more advanced than what I could do before! What if I accidentally use it where others could see?"

"Take time off from your job then," Brainstorm shrugged, as though the answer were that simple.

Hot Spot stepped back, "I... can't do something like that."

"You already have few options, Hot Spot," Brainstorm informed him, "Take sick leave. It's the best way to describe what you're dealing with right now."

"But..."

"You cannot have it both ways. If you are this concerned with your abilities being discovered, you must stay in the labs," Brainstorm sighed, "We can continue the radiation therapies later today..."

The scene change dipped into an open office and Brainstorm glanced over momentarily, "Ah, Spectro. Ready?"

"As I'll ever be, boss," Spectro replied; he turned to line up his shot with a nervous looking Hot Spot through the glass wall of the office and across the lab, "Subject three doesn't look so great."

"Subject three has just absorbed a second dose of outlier radiation."

The camera view shuddered, "But s-sir! You said that much energy could kill a-"

"A regular mech," Brainstorm turned to the camera as it settled on him, a datapad in his servo, "Hot Spot has an outlier spark. He should take to the radiation perfectly," he turned to an intercom link and activated it, "Begin testing now."

Spectro trained his view back onto Hot Spot as the mech began charging his ability. For a brief few seconds, the sparks were controlled, concentrated, but the mech began to shudder and his optics went from red to purple.

"Something's happening!" Hot Spot cried out, his chassis wincing as a rogue bout of purple lighting escaped his control and cut across the lab, "I can't- I can't control it! Help, it's-"

A concentrated burst exploded from Hot Spot and sliced through Brainstorm's office, the camera view showing he and Spectro had barely jumped out of the way. Amidst the chaos of screams, alarms and smoke from fire, Brainstorm painfully pulled himself from the floor and Spectro's angled view trembled.

"B... boss... are you..."

Brainstorm looked over blearily and then let out a shout as he scrambled to get up, "No, NO! Barricade's med berth is behind that wall! Get him out of there, we can't lose a second outlier-"

The scene cut to Brainstorm and Spectro huddled together near the camera view on the far side of a med wing. Hot Spot's chassis was just visible behind the two, various machines plugged into him keeping him alive. Viewfinder's voice gently murmured, his optics being used to record the moment.

"Sir... whenever you're ready..."

Brainstorm nodded, "... Barricade is dead," he said quietly, "Hot Spot's inability to control the added mutation created an energy slice that... ... Barricade was sedated, he didn't feel a thing. But that now leaves us with one dead, one who refuses to come back in for testing and the last one in a processor-dead state. Hot Spot's condition has been like this for days. Suffice to say, he's not likely wake up."

Spectro refused to look into the camera, his servos nervously tapping against the side of his leg. He said nothing.

Viewfinder sighed silently, "... Where do we go from here?"

Brainstorm looked mildly irritated, "Well, with no healthy subjects to test upon, where do you think we'll be going with-"

"Is he in here?! Primus, he's in here, isn't he?!"

Brainstorm and Spectro looked back in surprise as Inferno burst into the med bay with Firestar just behind him.

"Hot Spot, NO!" the femme cried out, running to the berth and latching onto the unresponsive mech as she sobbed.

Inferno looked furious, "What did all of you do to him?! What happened?! He came in for help and THIS is what you do to him?!"

Brainstorm cautiously approached the two emotional bots, his servos up, "Inferno, that was not the case. We were helping him. Things... didn't go to plan. Hot Spot knew the risks-"

"The risks?!" Inferno roared, his servos in fists, "You're really going to tell me about how he knew the risks over his berth-ridden chassis?! Don't you DARE talk about my friend after you did this to-"

"Inferno!" Firestar whimpered through her tears, pulling back to look down at Hot Spot, "Please... stop yelling at him, please..."

Inferno grit his dentals and turned away.

Firestar gently stroked the top of Hot Spot's helm, "Brainstorm... we were only called a short time ago... and the mech who spoke to us couldn't tell us anything. Please, how long has Hot Spot been like this?"

"A few days," Brainstorm answered, "and we've been monitoring him closely in case of any changes. Unfortunately, there have been none. When we were certain of his condition and realized we had no other bots of contact, we reached out to you."

The femme nodded slowly, "How... how did this..."

She couldn't finish her sentence. The camera view zoomed in as she found her voice again.

"Please... I need to know-"

Most of the bots in the room frowned in confusion, but Ratchet spoke up quickly, "Why did you pause it, Starscream?"

The seeker's optics cycled in blinks as he focused on the image on the screen, "... I think... I know what she's going to say."

Ratchet immediately threw his servos up and the rest of the room had varying degrees of confusion. Smokescreen dared to venture closer to the red and white mech, his voice soft.

"Starscrimus...? How do you know?"

Starscream shook his helm and let out a quiet sigh, "She's... she's going to say..." his claw gently pressed the play button, "I don't care what you say." "I don't care what you say." "But I have to know if he'll live." "But I have to know if he'll live."

Starscream's optics watched the camera feed closely as it zoomed out to show the three bots now.

"Now, Brainstorm says 'hard to say'..."

Brainstorm sighed, "Hard to say."

"I've never seen anything like this-" "I've never seen anything like this-"

Starscream's voice began to shake "Don't say that!"

"Don't say that!"

"Don't fragging say that!" "Don't fragging say that!"

"If you can't give us an answer-"

"-bring us someone who can!"

"For Primus' sake, no one will tell us anything-"

"-let alone if he'll survive this!"

The room was hushed. Brainstorm on the screen appeared exhausted. Starscream felt just as much.

"... I don't know what I can say." "I don't know what I can say..."

Starscream stepped back from the controls to stand by the farthest work table. He felt eyes and optics staring at him. No one asked how he had known what they were going to say. It was clear that he wouldn't be able to give an explanation.

The next scene changed sharply to the camera view running down the hall after Brainstorm.

"Why didn't you say anything while it was happening?!"

"Sir!" Viewfinder's voice huffed after him, "We were in the middle of a confrontation by Hot Spot's friends when Spyglass informed me, I didn't want us both running off in a sudden hurry-"

"This is more important than those simple bots!" Brainstorm yelled, dashing into an office.

Viewfinder stayed close as the taller mech began looking over monitors and machines, all spouting out data and readings that had the seeker trembling with rage and excitement while Spyglass stayed clear out of the way.

"It went off and- and I wasn't sure what was happening at first!" the small mech admitted, "But I had the machines on auto-record and as soon as it started- it got everything!"

Brainstorm's optics went wide, "It was there... the world burner was in the room..."

"Firestar? Or the other one-"

"No," the tall mech rested his servos on one of the consoles to steady himself, "it came after. It made itself present... after they arrived. It wasn't one of them..."

Brainstorm went silent for a few, long seconds, before he spoke again, "We need a ship. Now."

The next shot showed the Ark at quite a distance back. Research assistant mechs and femmes ran around loading equipment in as Brainstorm dictated the rushed chaos.

"I'll have to narrate this myself," Viewfinder mumbled, "since the boss is so busy. Whatever science he used told him that the world burner does exist. Problem is, it's not exactly on our world. He said that he'd explain more once we started travel. Probably good we're leaving now. Things are starting to get a little difficult. Politics and all that. We managed to get a ship with what they're calling 'Autobot tech', so that should make things easier? I'm not sure in the long run... Hot Spot died a couple hours ago. Firestar and Inferno are arranging to have his chassis taken away," Viewfinder's servo came up to point at a large box that was being loaded in, "Spectro hid the needle that did it in that one-"

The view fizzled out before focusing on Brainstorm as he looked out into the vastness of space through one of the many windows the Ark had, "Well, at first I would have said that it was some sort of planet destroying capability," he mused, "Rains of fire and quakes and all that..." he shook his helm, "but the data Spyglass collected reflected an interesting flavor. Something more of a portal type quality. Perhaps a rift? Another dimension? ... Another universe entirely..."

The scene skipped roughly to Viewfinder and Spectro stumbling through a dark hall, Spyglass calling out, "Yeah, and watch for turbulence!"

"It's not turbulence, it's the pull of gravity, dumbaft!"

"Look out, Viewfinder! You're sounding like Brainstorm!"

The view settled on a new scene as Brainstorm gestured towards a blue and green planet, "This is where the world burner will be. This unnamed, uncharted world is far from Cybertron and we've yet to locate any disturbances from other Cybertronians-"

"Wait, sir?" Spectro interrupted, "You just said the world burner 'will' be here. Don't you mean it already is?"

Brainstorm's optics brightened. It was apparent he was smiling under his mask.

"Oh, no. It's not here yet."

"... Ok... How- how is that possible? We came all the way out here to find it and it's not here?"

"Yet," the taller mech emphasized as he directed Spectro to follow him into the labs and into his office; the room was noticeably empty, "The power I theorize this spark is capable of has not yet been activated. As in, it does not yet exist in our universe."

"Wait, wait, I-I'm confused. So does it exist or...?"

"It does! But the spark that's capable of such power has not been awoken!" Brainstorm sat at his desk, "It is here, right now, but the bot whose spark it is has not yet had the opportunity or traumatic event powerful enough to activate the ability. This could range from a light scare to facing death itself! So the readings we have are from the world burner, yes, but not yet."

"N... not yet... It... It traveled through time?!"

"Time and space itself," Brainstorm purred, "A spark that can traverse through the infinite, delicate webs of realities, journey without hinderance between dimensional weavings, and will appear," he pointed out of the lab, back towards the window, "on that planet."

"... When?"

"From what these readings say? ... Not anytime soon."

The scene split to two views of the same argument, an assistant yelling at Brainstorm, "-but you keep saying we have to wait! We've been here for years, waiting for this so called 'world burner outlier' that you claim to have discovered! How much longer?!"

Brainstorm stood his ground, "We will wait as long as we have to. This spark is levels beyond our previous subjects. To have evolved to these capabilities-"

"So you claim!"

"We want to go home!"

"There are rumors of war back in Cybertron; I want to get back home to see how my friends and family are!"

Brainstorm glared darkly and said nothing as his assistants continued to grow restless.

The next view was dark. Brainstorm tapped his digits gently against a windowsill as he stared down at the blue and green planet below.

"... Viewfinder," he called out.

The camera slowly drew closer, but the mech said nothing.

Brainstorm stopped tapping his digits, "You remember why we're doing this? Why I'm doing this?"

"... Of course, sir."

"The others," Brainstorm mused quietly, "they... do not have the same contacts we do."

Viewfinder zoomed in on the side of Brainstorm's helm, "No, sir."

"All of them... whining about their families. Their friends. ... None of them see how the work we are set to accomplish will level the playing field... How it will equalize our society. How it will destroy the separation plaguing those who are forced to dwell at the bottom of the system..."

The next scene began with a loud crash, and the camera doubled back as an assistant tossed their work aside.

"NO!" she yelled, "No more! My conjux contacted me before I went recharge! There IS a war now! Cities have been bombed, civilians killed! I need to get back home to them, I need to make sure they're safe!"

Brainstorm's servos were up to show he was taking a defensive position, "We don't know what's going on. We can't just leave on a whim-"

"We came OUT here on a whim! This is my conjux; they wouldn't lie to me!"

Viewfinder and Spectro were just behind Brainstorm, the two watching everyone closely as the assistants began to shout louder.

"We should've left DECADES ago!"

"I didn't study in school to be a part of something like this!"

"I'm going home now whether you like it or not!"

"Alright!" Brainstorm's voice finally cut in, his optics flashing angrily as the bots settled, "... Alright, I hear you... We need a few days to settle everything, prep the Ark and all that. But we will leave and I will return myself after we return to Cybertron and see what's happened..."

The camera view went dark. It was silent for a few seconds before the screen showed Brainstorm sitting in his office.

He had his peds set out over the desk, "... Disappointments. All of them."

"Sir," came Spectro's voice, "we're not really leaving, are we?"

Brainstorm had an annoyed look in his optics, "Yes. But not for the reason they believe..."

"... Sir?"

"Orders, Spectro. No one else outside of this team knows exactly what we were doing. Hot Spot's friends only knew that we were intending to help him either control or remove his ability. They knew nothing of the bigger picture..."

Spectro let out a soft intake of air, "That includes our contact?"

Brainstorm shrugged, "Unfortunately, yes. And this ship? It is incapable of working properly without a very integrated bot or the number of assistants to support it. ... It'll be a rough landing, you'll notify the others, won't you?"

Spectro held out his servo, giving a thumbs up.

The next scene had splices of chaos cutting through. Screams as an alarm sounded. Someone shouted orders to put up the shielding around the Ark. Brainstorm was caught on camera for only a moment as he rushed down a hall.

Some time must have passed before the next scene popped up. Viewfinder's servos were working at a computer, logging video files as Spectro and Spyglass rested beside him in large chairs. A noise directed the mechs to look at the front of the room, towards the doorway, as Brainstorm's form blocked the light.

"I have a task for the three of you..."

Spectro sat up straighter, "News?"

Brainstorm nodded, "Rescue is coming. The ship will be safe enough on this planet. The life here is organic and fragile. When we can return for it, and my research, we will," he held out a servo while his other arm stayed close to side, and Spyglass jumped from his seat to accept what was being given.

"Another file?"

"Audio, not video," Brainstorm hummed, "I need the three of you to make a little something for my world burner. I have a feeling that should it find this ship before we return, it will have many questions..."

"Got it," Spyglass smirked.

Viewfinder's camera angle quirked quizzically, "You want the audio as an intro or an outro?"

Brainstorm shrugged, "Oh, something at the beginning perhaps. Pick your favorite highlights for the rest, all the important bits..." his other servo finally came up and he adjusted the settings on a large blaster, fully charged, "I have some tedious cleaning to do," he sighed, "Finish the file and upload it to 'Fulgor', would you? Find me when it's done. If you happen to see anyone that I've missed..."

Spectro and Spyglass sneered as Viewfinder chuckled, "Oh, don't worry. We'll make sure to catch the stragglers."

Brainstorm's optics brightened, "I could always count on the three of you..." he backed into the doorway, "What a disappointing distraction from all of this. I should have staffed better..."

Spectro snickered, "Aw, c'mon, sir, you picked them cause they'd never be 'Con material. This has gotta be the best part!"

The video ended. The room was unnaturally quiet. It took long moments of processing before anyone spoke...