"Oh, will my torment never end? First, I had to vie for Megatron's favor against that treacherous harpy Airachnid. Now, I must contend with Shockwave and his incorrigible beast." Starscream ranted as he paced around Knockout's laboratory.
"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." Knockout said. "How I would love to stuff Shockwave and his mangy abomination right into that Stasis pod beside her. The only reason his Project Predacon is currently in full swing is because I supervised the acquisition of his dozens of Predacon bones." Starscream ranted.
Groaning interrupted him. "Will you please keep your lab rat quiet while I'm airing my grievances?" Starscream asked until he saw who was on the slab. The user of Breakdown's husk and former leader of M.E.C.H. C.Y.L.A.S. "Starscream, help me." C.Y.L.A.S. groaned.
Starscream snickered. "My, my, my. Whatever have you been inflicting upon poor C.Y.L.A.S.?" He asked. "Well, anything that merits the need for a living petri dish." Knockout said and injected a familiar green chemical into C.Y.L.A.S's arm, making his optics turn green. Silas groaned inside his chassis.
"Despite your justifiable lack of regard for his human side, it doesn't trouble you to watch what remains of your former partner endure your scientific endeavors?" Starscream asked. "Not really. Besides, C.Y.L.A.S. once had poor Breakdown pinned to his lab table. I think my former partner would be pleased to be a part." Knockout said.
C.Y.L.A.S. thrashed around before losing consciousness. "What just happened?" Starscream asked. "You recall that Synthetic Energon I recovered from the Autobots? Well, I've been reproducing the formula to test its viability as an alternate energy source. However, the compound remains erratic, and there have been side effects." Knockout explained.
"Such as?" Starscream asked. C.Y.L.A.S. awoke with a great bellow of rage. "Starscream, I hope you replaced your T-Cog, because I'm going to tear it out all over again and feed it to Knockout!" He threatened. "Sheer unbridled aggression." Knockout said.
"Such power and fury! Megatron has long desired a beast machine super-soldier, and we now possess the means of delivering one to him." Starscream said.
"Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation?" Megatron asked. "Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that -" Starscream started. "Not now! Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important." Megatron said. Starscream growled and marched out of the bridge.
"Did you speak with our liege about our little enterprise?" Knockout asked. "He was otherwise engaged." Starscream said. They entered the lab and were met with C.Y.L.A.S. screaming and thrashing. "Oh, I am gonna make you suffer in ways you will not believe!" He threatened.
"Just how much of this Synth'N have you given him?" Starscream asked. "2 additional doses, 3 at the most. But C.Y.L.A.S's increasingly volatile nature isn't the only wrinkle." Knockout grabbed another canister of Synthetic Energon and injected it into C.Y.L.A.S's arm. He thrashed more violently than last time.
"It appears that the more green stuff I administer, the faster this monstrosity formerly known as Breakdown burns through his own natural Energon reserves." Knockout explained. "This will not do! Megatron already possesses one unruly beast with that Predacon of his. What good is another freak of nature that cannot be controlled?" Starscream asked, then got an idea. "Wait! I'm a fool." He smiled wickedly.
Starscream left the lab and came back with a container filled with a familiar purple light. "Dark Energon?! You are more than a fool, Starscream. I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!" Knockout said. "Oh, on the contrary, dear doctor. Adding Dark Energon to the formula should provide Lord Megatron with full control over his super-soldier." Starscream said.
"Okay. True that Lord Megatron 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 that the Autobots possess a human user of the Blood of Unicron and could manipulate C.Y.L.A.S. like he's a puppet like Megatron, and did you forget what this stuff did to our warship?" Knockout asked.
"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, and Soundwave informed me that Elsa has a hard time using symbiosis to control something infused with the Dark Energon." Starscream said.
"Even so, it's too drastic a measure to undertake without Shockwave's approval. I do, after all, report to him." Knockout said. "Not on this project. Super-soldiers fall under military operations. Meaning, dear Knockout, that you now report to me. Are we clear?" Starscream asked.
Knockout reluctantly processed the vile Blood of Unicron into its liquid state and injected it into C.Y.L.A.S's arm. He started thrashing even more. "Wait for it." Knockout said. C.Y.L.A.S. passed out again. "Grr. Humans in any form cannot be relied upon." Starscream groaned.
C.Y.L.A.S. awoke with purple optics and growled animalistically. "It's alive!" Knockout said excitedly. C.Y.L.A.S. broke his Energon cuffs and punched Starscream into the wall. "Scrap!" The Seeker yelped.
C.Y.L.A.S. broke his bottom restraints and walked on shaky pedes. C.Y.L.A.S. collapsed to one servo and didn't move. Starscream cautiously poked him. "Oh, for the love of, now what?!" He asked. "I tried to tell you before. It's a side effect of the Synth'N. He's burned through his own natural reserves." Knockout said.
"Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions for a while, might calm C.Y.L.A.S. down a bit, make him a tad more manageable." Starscream said. "Need... Energon!" C.Y.L.A.S. wheezed before his mouth-plate split into four monstrous mandibles and a bladed tongue came out.
The monstrosity stood up and roared as it approached the Decepticons. Starscream tripped and C.Y.L.A.S. went after him first and pinned him down. Knockout noticed his Energon prod. C.Y.L.A.S. hissed and lunged his tongue at Starscream's neck, but the Seeker moved side-to-side to avoid being bitten, then C.Y.L.A.S. was electrocuted from behind by Knockout, and Starscream kicked him off. The tongue came out again.
"Do you think he's actually trying to," Starscream started. "Suck out our Energon with that thing?" Knockout finished. C.Y.L.A.S. jerked his tongue at them. "Sure seems that way." Knockout said, then C.Y.L.A.S. grabbed his Energon prod and broke it in half.
Both Decepticons ran out of the lab with C.Y.L.A.S. chasing them. "See if you can hold him off." Starscream said. "What?!" Knockout asked. Starscream transformed. "Wait for me!" Knockout yelled and jumped onto Starscream's wing, and they flew down the hall, escaping C.Y.L.A.S.
C.Y.L.A.S. turned away to find his next victim. Starscream crashed into the walls due to Knockout's weight, then transformed, and Knockout skidded across the floor. "We need to... sound the alarm!" He panted.
"Out of the question, Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible!" Starscream said. "But we are!" Knockout corrected. "Well, you are, mostly. Anyway, his lordship doesn't need to know that. Not if we handle this the right way." Starscream said. "Meaning?" Knockout asked.
"Use your head, Knockout. This ship is crawling with highly trained Vehicon troopers armed for combat. The moment C.Y.L.A.S. attempts to feed, they will neutralize him for us. Problem solved." Starscream said.
An unsuspecting Vehicon walked by. C.Y.L.A.S's mouth split into four monstrous mandibles, and he attacked the Vehicon before draining it of its Energon.
"Once we recover C.Y.L.A.S's body, we must dispose of it as quickly and efficiently as possible. No trace of him can be allowed to remain." Starscream said. "His infected body." Knockout shuddered.
They turned a corner and found the Vehicon C.Y.L.A.S. attacked. Knockout checked for a Spark pulse. "Gone. Completely drained of Energon." He said and faced Starscream. "Tell me something, Starscream, when you said 'problem solved' is this even close to what you had in mind?" Knockout asked.
"I do not appreciate your tone, Knockout. This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault." Starscream said. "Well, it certainly isn't mine!" Knockout said. They didn't know that the Vehicon was getting up. "Oh, no? You're the mastermind who chose to experiment with Synthetic Energon." Starscream said.
"And you're the monkey wrench who thought it was a good idea to dabble in voodoo!" Knockout yelled. Growling interrupted their argument, and they saw the Vehicon was alive. "Energon!" The now-Terrorcon hissed and opened its mouth-plate, and a bladed tongue came out. The Decepticons yelled in fear.
"I thought you said he had no Spark!" Starscream said. "Dark Energon. It reanimates the dead!" Knockout realized. They prepared their weapons, and Starscream started blasting the Terrorcon, but the attacks did nothing.
"Aim for the head!" Knockout instructed. "What? How do you know?" Starscream asked. "I have seen human horror films." Knockout said. Starscream gaped at him. "At drive-in theaters!" Knockout finished. Starscream switched his cannon back into his servo and aimed his missile.
As soon as the Terrorcon was close enough, Starscream fired at the helm. The smoke cleared away, revealing the Terrorcon's helm gone, but the bladed tongue was still intact and was coming for them.
"Forget the head! Go for the Spark!" Starscream said and shot the Terrorcon until the Spark-Chamber was ruptured, and the monster returned to being a lifeless husk. "We severed its link to the Dark Energon. Human horror films, waste of time." Knockout scoffed.
C.Y.L.A.S. was marching through another hall, intent on claiming another victim. "Energon!" He hissed.
"If the mutation can be passed along with a single bite, the entire crew is at risk!" Knockout explained. Starscream squeaked. "You're saying C.Y.L.A.S. could beget more Terrorcons?" He asked. "Could happen, and the ensuing feeding frenzy could turn this entire warship into a scrap heap. So now can we sound the alarm?" Knockout asked.
They found a group of Vehicons. "You there, have you noticed any unusual activity -" Starscream started when the Vehicons' mouth-plates split apart. "In this sector?" Starscream finished. The Terrorcons started limping after them.
Starscream and Knockout yelled and ran for their lives down the halls. They came across a hall that split into two passages. Starscream took one while Knockout took the other, then ran after Starscream. They kept running but then stopped when they found another group of Terrorcons.
They yelped and kept running. Starscream spotted a room. "In here!" He said, and he and Knockout entered before the door closed. "Knockout, this situation might be a bit more dire than either of us ever imagined." Starscream said. "Hmm. 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?" Knockout asked.
"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 Megatron with you." Starscream said. "You're no Breakdown, though I must confess I have always admired your lustrous finish." Knockout admitted.
They looked away in silence, and Starscream awkwardly cleared his metal throat. "Well then." He said. "We should be going." Knockout said.
They both leave the room and accidentally bump into Megatron. "Would either of you like to tell me WHAT exactly is going on?" The warlord asked. "Yes, absolutely nothing, my liege." Starscream said. "All is quiet. Too quiet. One could even say dull." Knockout added.
"Funny, because the Dark Energon within my Spark has been pulsing." Megatron said. "Allow me to handle this." Starscream said. He smiled evilly and accusingly pointed at Knockout. "It's Knockout's fault!" He blamed. "Precisely, my WHAT?!" Knockout caught himself mid-sentence.
"He infused C.Y.L.A.S. 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!" Starscream said.
"I do not know from what madness your yarn springs, Starscream. But if I learn that you have been dabbling with my Dark Energon stores again, attempting to infuse yourself with its formidable power," Megatron started. A Terrorcon was behind him. "Uh, my liege?" Starscream asked. "Let me just say, you have been awarded more chances for redemption than anyone in Decepticon history." Growling interrupted Megatron.
"Energon!" The Terrorcon hissed and readied its tongue. Megatron turned around. "Hey, you there. What are you doing? I order you, stand down!" Megatron commanded. The Terrorcon ran at him but got a purple ice spear through its Spark-Chamber, killing it instantly. Megatron furiously turned around to face Starscream and Knockout.
"We did try to tell you." Starscream said. Knockout nodded.
"Then why can I not command the monster to follow my bidding?" Megatron asked in the bridge. "While the trace of Dark Energon should have granted you and maybe Elsa control over these ghouls, I believe the Synthetic component may be corrupting your link to them." Knockout explained.
"Initiate high alert. Instruct all troops to keep their distance from the mutations and terminate on sight." Megatron instructed Soundwave. "Your fate, however, remains to be seen." Megatron said. Knockout and Starscream remained silent. "Why are you still here?" Megatron asked. Starscream and Knockout took off. "Find this creation of yours and eradicate it immediately!" Megatron ordered.
"I realize Lord Megatron's only doing this to punish us, but how are we the best choice to hunt down C.Y.L.A.S.? I mean, why not deploy his beloved beast machine super-soldier, hmm? After all, it is supposed to be the ultimate hunter." Knockout said. "Out of the question. Can you imagine if the Predacon became infected? Nothing could stop it." Starscream stopped him.
In another hall, Vehicons were shooting down a Terrorcon horde with two Insecticons climbing on the ceiling. The Insecticons landed on the monsters and tore them apart as a Vehicon shot a Terrorcon 3 times before it fell.
One of the Insecticons pinned another Terrorcon to the wall. It extended its tongue, but the Insecticon ripped its Spark out. Soundwave was closely following the Insecticons.
In another part of the Nemesis, C.Y.L.A.S. sensed Energon coming from the vault. He punched the button, and the door opened. C.Y.L.A.S. observed the vault before his purple optics landed on the Stasis pod. "Energon!" He punched the glass away and ripped the pod open. Airachnid fell out of Stasis. "Breakdown?! Did I not exterminate you once already?" She asked. C.Y.L.A.S. extended his tongue.
Airachnid moved away and climbed to the top of the pod and kicked C.Y.L.A.S. He grabbed her and tried to bite her, but Airachnid grabbed the tongue and slapped C.Y.L.A.S's helm. Airachnid jumoed away, but C.Y.L.A.S. kicked her, picked her up, and threw her into the wall.
C.Y.L.A.S. picked Airachnid up and tried to bite her again, but she used a web to escape to the wall above him. "Energon!" He hissed. Airachnid threw webs and restrained C.Y.L.A.S. to the ground. Airachnid landed on him and stabbed him in the neck with her spider leg and C.Y.L.A.S.'s optics went dark. "Second time's the charm. But to be certain." She started ripping his chassis open. "I shall remove your very Spark!" She stopped when she saw a dying Silas inside.
"Silas? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me." Airachnid thanked. "No. thank... you." Silas weakly corrected before he died. "Whatever. Insecticons, heed me." Her voice echoed through the symbiotic connection, and the Insecticons halted their attack. "Your queen has returned." Airachnid said in their helms.
All the Insecticons in the Nemesis transformed, and Soundwave watched them fly down the hall.
Starscream and Knockout entered the vault, and the former aimed a cannon at something on the ground. It was C.Y.L.A.S's husk. "Our ordeal is finally over!" Starscream said. "Or not." Knockout pointed at the ripped open Stasis pod. "Scrap." Starscream said. "Starscream, have you made contact with the plague bringer?" Megatron asked over the PA.
"Actually, my liege, I have good news and bad news." Starscream said. Megatron growled.
All Insecticons howled and flew down the hall and met up with Airachnid. "Loyal servants, the time is now. Lay waste to all Decepticons. Leave no trace of them in your wake!" Airachnid instructed. She saw Soundwave down the hall. "Soundwave!" Airachnid snarled.
Soundwave clenched his servo. "I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams!" Airachnid and the Insecticon horde charged at him. Soundwave displayed an image of Cybertron and its moons on his visor. As soon as Airachnid was close enough, a Space-Bridge opened and spat Airachnid and her army onto one of Cybertron's moons. "NOOOO!" She cried.
Soundwave walked away.
"Yes, the containment protocol you recommended to prevent any further outbreak is now underway. Oh, and, Shockwave, 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?" Megatron asked and hung up.
"Knockout, need I remind you that as the ship's medic, you report directly to Shockwave, not Starscream." Megatron reminded. "Understood, Master." Knockout said. "Just to be sure, you will hand over all of your projects to him immediately. Including this Synthetic Energon." Megatron said.
"As you wish, my liege." Knockout said and left. "And as for you." Megatron said. "Lord Megatron, if you would just allow me to explain things -" Starscream started. "No. Allow me to explain things, in a manner which I know you'll understand." Megatron said as purple magic manifested around his servo, and Starscream backed away in fear.
"Your majesty, we await your command." An Insecticon said. "Approach me. Serve your queen." Airachnid said. There was a bite from C.Y.L.A.S. on her neck. An Insecticon approached her, and Airachnid gently caressed its helm before her mouth split into four mandibles and she started draining the Insecticon of its Energon with the rest waiting in line, unable to protest against their fate. The Insecticon's screams echoed across the moon.