The Gamble of Deception, Part III

"And that's how Sentinal Prime won the battle of Tyrest," said Kup as he and Hot Rod led the group of recently freed Autobots back to base.

Despite their injuries, the former prisoners followed the two Autobots. Some needed help walking and were assisted by others. Everyone was fully charged by whatever energon was left at the camp and many were armed with the weapons the Decepticons left behind.

As it turned out, the Decepticons surrended, believing Kup actually did have an explosive and that he was crazy enough to kill them all. Kup told them they could go free if they left their weapons behind and promised the Autobots wouldn't chase after them. Seeing as they wanted their chassis' all in one piece, the Decepticons agreed and quickly left the camp.

Kup continued his story. "Despite the odds against him, Sentinal Prime was able to rally his warriors against the superior number of Decepticons. He knew the enemies' command structure was failing, leaving the Decepticons too confused to launch a counterattack. Which led to most of them abandoning their post out of fear."

"Wow, that's amazing!" said Hot Rod. "But how did Prime know that would happen? I mean, I appreciate someone willing to take such risks but how did he predict the outcome?"

"He didn't know what would happen," replied Kup. "But he understands the mentality of most Deceptions. They need to follow someone who appears strong, merciless, and even cruel. It keeps their kind of scum in line. Autobots have a sense of morals, even the worst of us. So once the Deception command at Tyrest fell apart, their troops came undone."

"So that's what happened to the Decepticons back at the camp?" asked Hot Rod. "Their leader was dead so had no idea what to do?"

Kup thought for a moment. "Not just that. They didn't have any more fight in them. You saw how lazy they were, all they were doing was torturing our guys and guzzling energon. Blasted slag suckers deserved to get wrecked but we have to get our bots home and take care of them. Not to mention the Cyphotax."

"Oh yeah, the Cyphotax," said Hot Rod.

"Hey kid, you never told me how you knew my name or how you knew I was out here," Kup had almost forgotten all about that.

"Well, I guess you deserve to know. Don't get mad, ok?"

Confused, Kup agreed. "I promise, now spill the bolts."

"Me and a umm, high-ranking commander flew in from Iacon. When my commander was given an update by your superior, he was informed of your mission and all the details. And, to put it mildly, he lost his temper when he learned that you weren't carrying the real Cyphotax."

"Say what now?" Kup stopped in his tracks.

"Yeah, you and your team were sent out with a decoy. See, your superior thought the Cyphotax was too valuable for the Decepticons to get their hands on it so he sent the real one with another team to deliver it to its true destination."

"It's true destination?" Kup was almost yelling, drawing the attention of the other Autobots. "So where were we going?"

"You and your team were headed nowhere. The coordinates you were given don't lead to another base or even a city for that matter. And to make matters worse, he sent out an unencrypted transmission about your team and your mission. It was meant to fool the Decepticons into thinking you had the real thing. Sorry, but you were used."

Kup took out the fake Cyphotax, held it for a few seconds then threw it at the ground. "Why of all the fragging scrap-piling, piston-headed, rejects! My team paid with their lives for a decoy? When I get my hands on that pile of retro junk!"

"Don't worry, Ultra Magnus already dealt with him."

"Magnus?" Hearing the name calmed Kup down. "He was the commander who came out with you? And he sent you out here?"

"Yes and no. I decided to find you. Magnus wanted to put together a team to come out but he had to go through your superior's mission logs to see where else he screwed up. Only Magnus had clearance to see those files and had to prioritize what needed fixing first."

Kup thought for a moment. "Can't blame him. With all that was going on, he had to figure out what was worth saving. Plus with the Decepticons wise to me and my team, we were as good as dead."

"Yeah. But I saved you and we saved all these Autobots," said Hot Rod with a smile and with his arms wide open. "Maybe when we get back to base, you can put in a good word for me? After all, I did sneak out without permission."

"You came out here on your own and risked your spark for me and my team? Why?"

"I figured I could find you. And maybe before the Decepticons did if I was lucky. The bottomline is, what happened to you didn't sit right with me."

Kup couldn't help but feel impressed. "You did good, kid. I'll put in a good word for you when I speak to Magnus. However, there is the matter of you imitating an Autobot officer. That's against the rules."

"What else was I supposed to do? I did that to scare them and it worked!"

"Sure kid, sure."

As the two walked along with the former prisoners, Kup couldn't help but admire the kid. Sure he was reckless, cocky and maybe slightly annoying, but he had a bright spark inside of him.

Despite his obvious inexperience, Hot Rod could fight as well as any seasoned Autobot. He would take some considerable heat for leaving headquarters to find Kup and his team, but since his one-bot rescue mission was bringing home so many others, his punishment wouldn't be as severe. And Kup would indeed put a good word for Hot Rod.

As they continued back to base, Hot Rod and Kup spoke about past battles, Autobots they had met during the war, and enemies they fought with and defeated. When Kup began to talk about fighting alongside the great Optimus Prime, Hot Rod listened intently as stories of the missing Autobot leader inspired him to enlist.

Eventually, Hot Rod confessed that in the future he would like to be as famous as Optimus. Kup couldn't help but say that not many can carry the weight of responsibility of being a Prime like Optimus did, but he had a feeling that Hot Rod processed the potential to make something of himself one day.