Predaking and Ripclaw dragged Blackwall down a hall lined on both sides by prison cells. Skylynx and Darksteel padded behind. Most cells were empty, but a few hunched bodies sat in the back of some, bearing teeth at the police and Predacons. Glowing bars fizzed and caged the prisoners, their light drenching the hall in red. Ironhide and Prowl led the Predacons to larger cells with thicker bars. They beckoned at one that was open.
"We'll get a Decepticon doctor to check 'im out," Ironhide drawled. "Just put him in for now."
Ripclaw and Predaking tossed in Blackwall.
"Is this where all Decepticons are held?" Predaking asked.
Ironhide drawled, "Nah, just the high-risk ones. Meaning those most likely to cause problems like Blackwall today. Lots o' 'Cons will come back, an' we can't hold 'em all, and we don't wanna. We're goin' for a peaceful option, see if we can rebuild Cybertron together."
"How has that been going?" Ripclaw asked.
"Let's talk elsewhere," Prowl muttered. "Too many eager audio receptors here."
The ground bridge had closed, leaving them in Kaon. Predaking frowned as they took turns riding down an elevator, until all of them crammed into a smaller room. The two police bots sat at the table, inviting the Predacons to do the same.
This was promoted as just one simple task. Predaking sat down. I sense they have something else in mind.
Ironhide told them, "Tryin' to make peace with the 'Cons has been hard, but we have some Decepticon ambassadors, so to say. They're helpin' us convince other 'Cons t' surrender. It's been helpin' t' keep the factions separate for now, coolin' down and rebuildin' their own cities. Not that anyone's forced to live in Iacon or Kaon. It's just where everyone gravitated."
"Knockout is the only Decepticon in Iacon, as far as I am aware," Predaking stated. "Not including the Vehicons."
"Right. So in Kaon you'll find some 'Cons 'ere. Besides them Vehicon troopers, not many, but we're nervous 'bout some big armies of 'Cons turnin' up soon."
Prowl spoke up, "You Predacons spend a lot of time around the Vehicons. They like you, don't they? They would grant you access into their Maccadam's knock off bar."
"Yeah, why?" Darksteel asked.
Here it is… Predaking ground his teeth. They already had other plans to use us.
Ironhide continued, "The 'Cons 're hostile to us 'Bots who try t' enter the establishment, and we ain't sure if it's worth rilin' up the 'Cons for a raid."
Prowl added, "Since we're in Kaon now, perhaps you could go in and complete an investigation for us? Look and ask around, but act natural. Don't let them know you have just joined the police."
Darksteel growled, "I don't want to betray the Vehicons."
Ironhide argued, "This ain't betrayin' 'em! Y'all care about keepin' the peace on Cybertron, right? No matter who it is, we can't have trouble brewin'."
"What would trouble look like?" Skylynx inquired.
"Well, plans for an attack t' retake Cybertron for the 'Cons. Bots who talk 'bout tryin' what Blackwall did either alone or together. Arms dealin'. You get it, right? Signs o' danger to the Autobots."
"Hmm, alright," Darksteel grumbled. "I doubt we'll see any of that. But what do we do if we see something?"
Prowl replied, "Keep acting casual, wrap up the interaction in an unsuspicious way, come back here."
Predaking squinted at the police officers.
"We had wanted to explore this city regardless," Skylynx pointed out. "So this task is a fine introduction to police work."
"This request has come upon us so suddenly," Predaking growled. "How long have you desired this?"
Ironhide waved his hands. "Oh, we've been hopin' just to ask y'all for a while! On account of you gettin' along with them Vehicons. We ain't askin' you to betray 'em! Could ya just help Cybertron out, snoop around, and make sure no one's plottin' slaughter?"
"Very well," Predaking conceded. "But only as a part of our exploration of this city. We have been curious about it for some time."
His metal felt prickly as Ironhide and Prowl led them to the exit. Although Predaking had wished to visit Kaon, he felt pushed and used, no matter how sensible the Autobots' reasons had sounded.
"Take all the time you need," Ironhide told them.
I do not need your permission.
Predaking strutted out of the Kaon Prison with his chin high. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Autobot Seeker guards. Their chatter stopped and they stared at them, until Ironhide and Prowl slipped outside to talk to them. Predaking led his brethren past a locked up grey building labelled Kaon Police Station. He quickened his pace. Once they were further away, Predaking he lowered his chin and widened his eyes.
The street was eerily spacious and silent. Black triangular buildings sat on either side, though short unlike the giant towers of Iacon. Behind them, crumbling brown ruins stood and slowly creaked. Wind whistled through the holes in the buildings and down the street, chilling the backs of Predaking and his brethren.
"Colder than Iacon," Ripclaw remarked.
"But no construction here?" Skylynx wondered. "I hear nothing."
Their footsteps crunched down the smooth black metal road. There was only one road to follow—no others were paved and cleared of rubble. It took them toward a neighbourhood of grey rectangular buildings, where more streets branched out, and the first signs of life presented themselves as car engines, voices, and wisps of steam leaving rooftops. Vehicons rolled down the street in vehicle mode, purple and one yellow.
They halted and transformed, turning around.
"You came to Kaon!" the yellow one exclaimed.
"We have heard about a Vehicon-run establishment," Predaking rumbled. "We have since been curious to see it."
"Oh sure, we'll show you where it is."
On foot, the Vehicons led the Predacons right at a fork in the road. Around here, Decepticon symbols marked almost every door and wall. Most of the lighting decorating them were purple, not blue. Thoughts of dark energon slipped into Predaking's mind. He wondered if Blackwall had received his supply from the Vehicons. Would they have known what he intended to do? Was dark energon ever truly used as medicine, or had what Vortex said been a lie?
"Here," the yellow Vehicon announced.
A neon sign, though now powered off, depicted a collapsing Vehicon. Below it was what Predaking could only assume was the bar's name written in letters he could not read. Two Vehicons lounged outside the entrance, sitting under unreadable graffiti.
"Hey," one sitting Vehicon said. "Come on in."
The doors detected movement and slid open. Purple light poured over the Predacons as they trudged over a finely polished floor. An enormous room spread out before them, hosting dozens of tables and chairs. They inhaled in amazement, even if only a few seats were filled by Vehicons and other Decepticons. A bar even longer than Maccadam's stretched out in front of a wall with four TV screens behind it and seven glowing shelves of different coloured drinks. In another corner of the bar, almost a separate room of itself, Vehicons played a game over purple tables, aiming sticks at coloured balls.
Over the calm quiet music, a voice called, "Welcome, Predacons!"
A Vehicon strode down the length of the bar, chest out and arms swinging. Based on the confidence in his body and voice, Predaking deduced who he was before the Vehicon's face cracked to reveal orange teeth.
"Altero!" Darksteel exclaimed.
Altero swept his hand toward the stools at the bar. Coming over, the Predacons adjusted them and took their seats. A few Decepticons sitting further down the bar glanced their way silently.
"I've been waiting for you to drop by." Altero grinned. "Please, allow me to serve you for free."
The Vehicon grabbed something behind the counter, then slid four metal sheets in front of the four Predacons.
"I insist, take it as a thank you for the kindness you have shown the Vehicons."
Smiling, the Predacons thanked him back. They read over the menu, but Altero raised his finger. "You know what? Let me make you something absolutely special."
Altero lined up four tall glasses, took out a small vial from his chest, and added one red drop to each glass.
"Red energon, a rare treat. It will give you a burst of energy."
"We heard a story about Starscream and red energon," Predaking mentioned.
"Drink enough red energon, and your body will move at hyperspeed," Altero affirmed. "But I'll just give my favourite customers a tiny boost."
He took bottles filled with pink liquid from the wall.
"And pink energon, a sweeter energon variant than normal blue."
After filling each glass to the brim, Altero slid them to the Predacons. Carefully, they picked up the glasses then sipped from them.
"Oh!" Ripclaw cried. "Very sweet!"
Exclaiming agreement, the Predacons couldn't help but chug their drinks. Predaking's pulse jumped and he shimmied in his seat.
"Great!" Altero smiled. "It'll be an expensive drink, but I have to make an exception for you, don't I?"
"Oh, you don't have to," Ripclaw argued.
"What else can I get you?" Altero spoke smoothly and clasped his hands. "Drinks? Biscuits? Ah, both, of course."
He brought them fizzing energon and blue biscuits with red powder on them. As the Predacons happily drank and ate, Altero pulled out a tiny metal pipe from his chest space. With a click, Altero activated it. Strips of light glowed on its sides while he held it between his fingers.
"So, are you planning on staying in Kaon or is this just a visit?" Altero asked.
"An impromptu visit," Predaking muttered. "The Autobots bid us to investigate your establishment."
"No surprise there," Altero exhaled. "They are quite paranoid… And wouldn't you say… controlling?"
"Indeed, at times," Predaking agreed.
"I'll be honest, it wasn't easy getting this place built," Altero sighed. "Vehicons had to stand up for it. We promoted it as a place of relaxation, of fuel and games… Back there, we even made movie rooms where patrons can watch entertainment in private."
The Predacons looked where he pointed with the pipe.
"The Autobots nearly stopped us from building this. Can you believe that?"
Altero tilted his head, reading their guilt as they glanced at each other. When they said nothing, he went on.
"Though I spend a lot of time in Kaon, I hear a lot from Iacon," Altero said. "My fellows keep me up with the news. So I know how the Autobots mock The Fallen Trooper. But let's move on from that. I heard just how heroic you all were today. Thank you, I'm sure you protected Vehicons, taking down that raging Decepticon."
"You already heard?" Skylynx blinked incredulously.
"I hear everything," Altero chuckled. "As soon as it happens."
Predaking said, "About that Decepticon… He had taken dark energon."
"Ah, as a drug?" Altero cocked his head.
"To make himself more powerful."
Altero held his chest. "You aren't blaming us for the attack, are you?"
"Well…" Ripclaw hesitated. "Did you give Blackwall that dark energon?"
"Dark energon is medicine; we have saved lives by selling it," Altero admitted. "But when a Decepticon makes such a rash and violent decision… Then we regret trusting them with it."
"Maybe you should stop selling it then," Ripclaw suggested.
"That won't be a problem…" Altero patted the counter by her claws. "We've run out of it. The Fallen Trooper's shanix comes from honest work now."
"Oh, that's good…" Ripclaw blinked.
"I hope there are no more attacks… under the influence of dark energon or not," Altero sighed. "That was just senseless violence, what Blackwall did. Cybertron doesn't need that."
The Predacons nodded along. Yellow smoke began to leak from Altero's pipe, so he stuck it between his teeth and let the smoke float down his throat. Some of it slipped back out between his teeth, carrying a honeyed scent.
"What is that?" Skylynx wondered.
Altero smiled around his pipe. "Nothing special, just a tantalizer. Boils whatever you put in it. This one is mechamomile tea. Would you like any of that as well?"
"Sure," Darksteel answered.
"I'll boil some." Altero started collecting their empty dishes. "Why don't you go look around? Maybe try out our games?"
Thanking him, the Predacons stood. All around them, Predaking now noticed the Decepticons and Vehicons looking their way. They shifted their attention back to their drinks and the TV screens.
When the Predacons headed over to the purple game tables, a Vehicon offered, "Want to learn billiards? It's an Earth thing."
Two Vehicons explained the rules of the game, then let the Predacons play against each other. Within moments, they shot balls off the table. Resetting the balls, the Predacons practiced a gentle touch before and after Altero brought them their tea. It was hard with the red energon still electrifying their bodies, shaking their arms. A Vehicon dodged one of Predaking's flying shots again.
Much time passed before any Predacons had won their games. After a third game for a champion, Skylynx emerged victorious. But Skylynx swayed while walking, and his brethren joined his trudge to the movie rooms. Predaking's insides sloshed from all he had consumed and his eyes began to droop. Once they entered the back hall and picked a room, Predaking plopped down on a massive metal couch. He let the others pick something to watch.
"Oh, they got more Earth stuff!" Darksteel claimed the remote.
He selected a bizarre animated show in which the characters blabbered in an alien language. Though Cybertronian subtitles accompanied it, Predaking stretched back, too tired to pay it any attention. He dozed off, and his brethren must have as well, for they all woke with the TV paused.
Darksteel stretched. "I didn't know you could have too much energon."
The Predacons stumbled back out into the main room.
"Heading out now?" Altero called. His teeth were hidden now; his face was the smooth one of any other Vehicon.
Predaking nodded. "We shall. Thank you for everything you generously gave us."
"It was nothing, just make sure to speak well of us, alright? But oh, don't tell them about me. You know how they would overreact to hear of one Vehicon leading the others. They would ridiculously brand it as a revolution and jail us all!"
"We've never said anything about you," Darksteel replied. "And we won't ever. It isn't their business. You're not doing anything wrong!"
"Thank you, Darksteel."
Predaking agreed that they would not reveal his identity. Then, he led his brethren back out onto the cold quiet streets, tottering back to the Kaon Prison.