Exiles
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XII - Crossfire
50 miles east of Sorata, Bolivia - March 3rd, 2012 - 3:00 am
Caverns, caves, and forested mountains as far as the eye can see.
There was some frost on the ground and the trees from the evening cold.
In the distance, the sound of battle.
Blaster fire.
And then silence.
Followed by the vibration of heavy footfalls.
Airachnid crawled away backwards, optics filled with fear as Breakdown approached, hammer at the ready, evil grin plastered on his faceplates, some tidbits of webbing still stuck to it.
Her back hit a large rock and she was trapped.
"Easy prey," Breakdown said as he raised his hammer.
Airachnid raised a placating hand as Breakdown brought the hammer down.
But it stopped and Breakdown found he could not move the hammer from its place at all.
He looked up and gawked to see a thick line of webbing above his head, his hammer caught in it and hardly budging an inch.
Airachnid smirked as Breakdown glared defiantly at her.
Airachnid raised a razor sharp spider-leg.
Breakdown knew what was coming and he steeled himself, maintaining his defiant stance, showing no sign of fear as Airachnid prepared to strike.
Her razor sharp pincer-like foot came up faster than Breakdown could register, coming towards his throat.
Breakdown almost gasped as the pincer stopped short of his face, just inches away.
"I win again," Airachnid chimed.
"Cheater," Breakdown groaned.
"All's fair in war Breakdown, you should know that by now."
"Indeed."
Breakdown and Airachnid looked up to see Lasebeak perched on a tree branch above them.
"If this wasn't a training exercise, you'd be dead, Breakdown. But you've improved your form and you almost got her, but you need to learn to mind your surroundings."
Breakdown scoffed. "I still lost."
"Yes…but you're getting better. But for the life of me, I cannot imagine why you didn't transform both of your hands into hammers."
"Because I got some webbing stuck to my other hand when I pulled it off my face before Airachnid took off. If I used both hammers, I'd have webbing stuck inside my hand instead of outside. It's a lot harder to pick the webbing out that way."
Laserbeak shook his head. "Makes no difference if you're dead."
"Yeah whatever, can you cut me free now?"
Laserbeak shook his head. "Not this time, you must learn to break free yourself. Perhaps if you learned this lesson, you would not have-"
Breakdown instantly brandished his shoulder launcher.
"Have what?! Go on, have what?!"
Laserbeak was unconcerned.
"Just making an observation, that is all Breakdown."
"Observe this!"
Breakdown's shoulder launcher roared.
Laserbeak masterfully maneuvered around the missile.
And he swooped down on the Stunticon, claws at the ready.
But both him and Breakdown were struck with sticky globs of webbing and effectively pinned to some very large rocks.
They struggled and cried out in distress but they were effectively bound.
Airachnid had her arms crossed.
"Isn't it bad enough we're down several hands without fighting amongst ourselves?"
Breakdown snarled.
"You started it when you made that 'patch things up' comment!"
Airachnid rolled his eyes. "Come now Breakdown, that was a year ago. Isn't it time you let it go?"
"It wasn't a year ago, it was three minutes ago!"
Airachnid facepalmed.
"That's not what I-!"
Tsheeeeeewwwwww!
Airachnid screamed as she was sent flying by an amethyst energy blast which hit right in the center of her back.
She landed just between where Laserbeak and Breakdown were bound.
A few smoldering spider legs landed in different places in the valley.
Breakdown and Laserbeak gawked in shock and confusion.
In the dark shadow of the wood, they saw something lurking, skulking.
Something tall, spindly and misshapen.
With two points of amethyst lights, clearly functioning as its eyes.
Airachnid tried to push herself up, groaning in pain as she did so.
There was a gaping hole in her back and the smoking stubs where her legs used to be were twitching painfully.
Suddenly, several strings of what looked like black goop snagged her by her legs and began pulling her away.
Airachnid gripped a rock, momentarily keeping herself in place.
She raised a hand, turned her head and prepared to fire at her attacker.
A deep, throaty chuckle erupted from the throat of the tall being standing several meters from her, but it was still too dark to identify the attacker with any accuracy.
Airachnid however, stopped dead and her purple optics grew huge in horror.
That hesitation cost her dearly as she was pulled even harder and she lost her grip on the rock that was keeping her in place.
"No!" Airachnid cried as she clawed at the ground trying in vain to escape. "No! No! No! No!"
The black web went tight and Airachnid was pulled fast into the dark shadows.
Airachnid screamed and struggled the whole way.
Breakdown's mouth hung open in dumb shock and horror.
Laserbeak's optics were open wide and huge.
Neither have ever seen such raw fear from Airachnid.
Who did she see to trigger such a reaction?
Laserbeak automatically activated his commlink.
"Laserbeak to base, send backup to my location!"
All Laserbeak got was static.
"Scrap! Something's scrambling my signal!"
Breakdown struggled furiously, trying to break free from his webbing trap.
Of all the times to be helpless.
Breakdown hated it more than anything.
No! No! No! Not again!
Breakdown struggled like the devil but to no avail.
Laserbeak was having less luck.
Try as he might, the webbing was too thick.
Breakdown heard the sound of rushing wings coming from two directions.
But it was not wind.
It was two incoming bogies.
"Megatron?" Breakdown said hopefully.
Laserbeak was not so confident. "No."
Two heavy landings.
And two tall shadowy beings revealed themselves.
"Happy day," said a dark yet cheerful voice.
00000
Autobot Outpost Omega Two - Denver, CO - 3:20 am
"Jazz! Bulkhead! Come here!"
Ratchet stood at the monitor, a map of the country of Bolivia and there was a blip on the map indicating a high-frequency transmission.
"Who is it?" Bulkhead asked.
Ratchet tapped a few keys and recoiled in surprise.
"It's Laserbeak."
"Laserbeak?" Jazz exclaimed. "Soundwave's pet drone?"
"And his vitals are in the red." Ratchet tapped a key to access the embedded message. "I have information concerning an enemy of unknown faction. Bring medical kit and I will tell you all I know."
00000
80 miles east of Sorata, Bolivia…
Laserbeak laid in a pool of his own Energon, gasping and shuddering in exquisite pain.
His wing was torn. His beak was slightly bent. And he was leaking.
Then, a blast of spiraling green energy appeared.
The vortex that was a groundbridge came into existence, and Ratchet, followed by Bulkhead and Jazz came through.
Laserbeak chuckled bitterly. "I was wondering if you'd come at all."
"Why call us?" Ratchet asked. "Has Megatron abandoned you?"
"Hardly. The ones who attacked me have established some kind of scrambler, cutting off all Decepticon frequencies. Obviously, they didn't take into account that I might call you Autobots for help. Once my wing is repaired and I'm good and clear of this area, I'll contact my Decepticon comrades."
"Alright." Ratchet knelt down beside Laserbeak and prepared his medkit. "Now, that information?"
"Ah yes, let's see. We were ambushed by what appeared to be an eight-legger, much like Airachnid. With some obvious differences…"
00000
Nemesis Warship - Just over the South Pacific - 1:40 am (Pacific Time)
"Laserbeak, I can see your resourcefulness has served you well once more," Megatron said, clearly pleased. "You've managed to escape an enemy that not only has captured my 1st Lieutenant but Breakdown as well?"
Laserbeak humbled himself before Megatron, head bowed, his beak almost touching the floor.
Dreadwing was flanking on Megatron's right.
He dared not meet his master's eyes for fear that Megatron would read his thoughts.
He had not only contacted the Autobots but received medical care from Prime's medic.
"Their life signals, Master," he said sadly.
Megatron looked grim as he turned toward a computer showing a map of South America.
No Decepticon life signals could be detected.
"It is possible that they have been taken underground, thus why we cannot trace their life signals."
"Dispatch me, Lord Megatron," Dreadwing said dutifully. "I shall lead a squad and rescue our captivated comrades."
"No," Megatron said, waving a dismissive hand.
Laserbeak and Dreadwing stared in shock at their leader.
Knockout, who was manning one of the computers, maintaining surveillance, felt a sudden and terrible rage rise up inside him.
He turned quickly, his face twisted with anger and he pointed at Megatron and he regretted his next words before he even finished.
"You're going to abandon Breakdown aga-?!"
THWACK!
Megatron had backhanded his medic.
Not hard enough to really hurt him but just enough to get his attention.
"I did not say that, Knockout, and if you ever speak to me like that again, you'll lose more than your finish."
Knockout held his hands up, cowering in fear.
An incoming transmission came online on the main computer.
"Missing Breakdown already?"
All turned towards the monitor.
That was Airachnid's voice.
Megatron nodded curtly to Laserbeak.
Laserbeak understood at once and began the process of tracing the communication.
"Honestly Megatron, you seem to have a very bad habit of losing subordinates. At this rate, you won't have an army left. It's not to be questioned why your followers are slipping away."
Megatron bared his teeth. "Is that a challenge, Airachnid?"
He didn't believe for a second that this was Airachnid and not an imposter using a vocal synthesizer to disguise their voice.
"An invitation. If you want what's left of that one-eyed brute, come to the coordinates your pet bird is no doubt tracking at this very moment."
The transmission ended.
"I have this pretender's location, my Lord," Laserbeak said.
"Good."
Megatron began to walk away, fists clenched, controlled rage radiating from the sound of his every step.
"Allow me to accompany you," Dreadwing said.
"No, you remain here, Dreadwing and stand by."
Dreadwing watched Megatron leave, a look of terrible foreboding on his face.
He looked at Laserbeak.
He had much the same look and met Dreadwing's gaze.
"You know this is a trap," Dreadwing said.
It was not a question.
00000
Autobot Outpost Omega Two - 3:40 am
"You just sent Laserbeak on his way?!" Arcee snapped.
"What we're supposed to do, bring him back here?" Bulkhead asked.
"Yeah," Jazz said with a nod. "And risk him giving away our base's location?"
"Or we could trace the Decepticon warship and put an end to Megatron once and for all!" Arcee seethed. "And Airachnid."
Jazz looked frustrated and concerned. "Arcee…"
"I'm afraid we have more pressing matters," Optimus said as he walked into the command center. "If these new enemies have so easily dispatched two very powerful and very dangerous Decepticons, and if Laserbeak's word is to be believed, whoever they are, they are no friend to either the Decepticons or ourselves."
Bumblebee flanked him and he looked up at his leader, baby blue optics brimming with foreboding.
"You don't think-?"
"It's a possibility, Bumblebee. A possibility we cannot afford to rule out. Therefore, an investigation is warranted and we must approach with extreme caution."
Optimus turned to his medical officer.
"Prepare the groundbridge and the medical bay."
Ratchet looked at his leader with a startled look in his optics.
"You-?"
"I will not take any chances, Ratchet. Not if this is what I think it is. And have Perceptor help you."
"What about Wheeljack and the Twins?" Bulkhead asked. "Should we call them up?"
"And leave the children unprotected? Sari is still under observation and not yet ready to be moved."
Optimus addressed his soldiers, steeling himself "
Time is short. We will have to proceed with what we have. Do not take any chances, my Autobots. Do not separate from the group. To do so may mean certain death."
All present shuddered at that.
For Prime to speak in such a way, as though disaster may be imminent.
"And if it is the Acolytes?" Arcee asked, a twinge of anxiety in her voice.
Optimus's steely gaze did not waver.
"We make do."
00000
100 miles east of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia - 4:00 am
Megatron landed at the entrance of an abandoned Energon mine.
He entered the cave, not hesitating in the least, despite knowing he had no idea what he was in for.
He thought back on what Optimus had told him.
These three unknown enemies.
And the crest that Laserbeak described.
Thus far, such a symbol was lost to time as none of their historical records could identify it.
Megatron was essentially walking into unknown territory.
To face an enemy that not only bested Airachnid but Breakdown as well.
Not to be wondered, Megatron felt no fear.
It was a wildness in him that has been with him for as long as he remembered.
It was a cold fury that blotted out everything.
Megatron never feared those who challenged him.
None but Optimus Prime.
Megatron reached the end of the tunnel and found himself in an enormous room under the mountain.
It was lit by bioluminescent mushrooms.
And Cybertronian drones.
This enemy had prepared this mountain room like a gladiatorial arena.
Grinning maddeningly, the Leader of the Decepticons declared his challenge.
"I AM MEGATRON! SUPREME RULER OF THE DECEPTICON IMPERIUM! SHOW YOURSELF INTERLOPERS AND I WILL KILL YOU!"
"Is that a promise?"
Megatron averted his eyes to his right and then turned to see a tall being enter the stone room.
He had a dark-purple/black color finish, a silver face, burning-red optics, black lining around his mouth which resembled a beard, a helm that was shaped almost like a turban, razor sharp claws, and bat-like wings.
This new foe had a lop-sided grin on his face.
"Who are you?" Megatron demanded.
"Hmm," the newcomer said, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "Who am I? What an honor to be asked such a question by the nefarious Megatron. To be even considered so on his radar that he'd ask who I am."
The newcomer stood in a stance and squared off with Megatron.
"My name is Scourge and at the moment, I might even be your executioner."
Megatron chuckled. "But you did not come alone."
Scourge shook his head.
"No," he said emphatically. "I would not dare wager in a battle of strength with you. Oh no."
A deep, throaty chuckle echoed in the room.
It was a sickening sound.
Megatron looked up at a rocky platform to see a shadowy being approach on eight spindly legs.
"Commander Airachnid?"
"No, it is not Airachnid," said the eight-legger.
The crawler came into the light.
It was an eight-legger alright.
However, she was much bigger than Airachnid.
Her armor was a pitch-black finish.
She was slim, with a purple inner-glow that seemed to lightly radiate from every opening as though from a great depth.
Her cranium protruded from the rear in an almost oval-shape.
Her face was silver, eyes a deep purple, a more sickly color as opposed to Airachnid's vibrant optics.
Those eyes, Megatron thought, looked so inflamed, so hungry.
She'll be trouble.
And her mouth was twisted in a sickening grin, like that of a mad woman.
And she was, she was clearly mad.
"Welcome, Megatron," she tittered. " I am Sarys."
She pointed a black claw.
"And that quiet one behind you… is Cyclonus."
Megatron cocked an eyebrow and fast as lightning, his instincts kicked in.
But it wasn't enough.
Before he could maneuver out of danger, the force of an asteroid struck him hard in the back and he was sent flying into a rock wall.
Megatron's vision was blurred as he picked himself out of the rubble and off the ground.
Impossible! No one can sneak up on me like that! Not even Airachnid!
Megatron looked forward and saw another newcomer, a head shorter than him, dark-purple/black armor and a helm fitted with horns that extended parallel above his head.
His face was stoic, stone-cold and calm as a grave.
Megatron grinned.
He was sidelined, ambushed, and outnumbered.
And it excited him.
It was as if he was back in the Pits of Kaon, proving his metal.
"Impressive. Perhaps you will offer a challenge after all. Whom am I facing, may I ask? As in what master do you serve?"
"You'll come to know him soon enough," Scourge said. "Perhaps you already do."
Megatron grimaced.
"Unicron."
"Precisely," Sarys mocked. "He wanted you for his champion but after putting him to sleep, we had to choose another."
Megatron laughed. "Your champion? Well, we'll see if he meets my expectations."
Megatron stood and brandished his broadsword.
Scourge chuckled. "Oh, Cyclonus is not Unicron's champion."
"What?"
Sarys laughed. "None of us are, we are merely his heralds. But compared to you? We are superior in every way! You are weak compared to us!"
Megatron had heard enough.
He roared as he charged at Cyclonus, but without even flinching, the Unicron herald activated his jets and blasted off, narrowly missing Megatron, who rushed past him.
Megatron was moving so fast he nearly stumbled.
Sarys laughed derisively. "Oops. Did someone fall?"
Cyclonus hovered in midair, just beyond Megatron's reach.
He spoke without turning his head.
"You haven't asked about your subordinates, Megatron. Haven't you a thought to spare about them?"
Megatron snarled, infuriated that a perfect stranger would ask him his business.
"If they were so weak to be captured by the likes of you, a band of fanatics of a weak titan, then they deserve-!"
Cyclonus came back down and backhanded Megatron.
The Leader of the Decepticons roared as he swung his sword in an upward arc.
The blade grazed Cyclonus' cheek.
He touched the cut with two fingers and found purple drops of his Energon.
Scourge whistled in appreciation.
"You came here, intending to fight an enemy you know nothing about. Are we supposed to believe you have no intention of rescuing your 1st Lieutenant and your Quarter Officer?"
Megatron looked surprised.
"How do you know Breakdown's office?"
Sarys smiled. "We have our resources."
Three points of amethyst light illuminated on one side of her head and the other.
Auxiliary optics, or rather her other eyes.
"The eyes of Unicron are everywhere."
"And now they're set on this planet and the treasures they hold," Scourge said with a smile, holding his arms out beckoning. "Technology and knowledge of the ancients that will be critical in the conquering of Cybertron and all the ancient colonies. All in Unicron's name."
Fury overwhelmed Megatron's spark.
These strangers just claimed Cybertron and the colonies for themselves.
In front of him, Megatron, Supreme Leader of the Decepticon Imperium.
And in Unicron the Destroyer's name no less?!
The power-mad titan who sought to rule all and destroy all?!
And who had the arrogance to presume to control him like a puppet?!
How dare they?!
"That will never happen," Megatron said, his voice low and dangerous. "Not while I'm alive."
"And how long do you think that's going to be?!" Sarys laughed.
And then she uttered a sound so chilling, it disturbed even Megatron.
Some kind of clicking, purring sound emanating from the tendrils of Sarys' vocals.
"What are you doing?" Megatron demanded.
A savage roar echoed in the mountain.
Out of the darkness, a huge hulking bot emerged.
It had claws, antenna, powerful mandibles, teeth ground sharp and a red visor over its optics.
It clicked its mandibles menacingly as it set its sights on Megatron.
"An Insecticon?"
"Indeed," Sarys piped.
Suddenly, her head came up with a start.
"We have a breach! Twelve degrees north!"
Scourge nodded to Cyclonus.
They transformed into their Cybertronian jet modes.
Cyclonus turned into a jet with a sleek fuselage, a razor thin sword-like nose, and jagged fins like that of an intergalactic predator.
Scourge however, his jet mode looked all too familiar.
It was almost exactly like his own.
Megatron's optics grew huge.
"You! You!"
"Me. Me," Scourge said mockingly.
Megatron's mind was wrought with terrible realization.
It was him. He was the one who attacked the scout and his pet human. That means…that means…by the AllSpark! Prime was right! Scourge must have been here long before we even came to this planet! What does he and his comrades know?
Scourge and Cyclonus took off at supersonic speeds.
And Megatron's momentary shock was shattered by the roar of the Insecticon as it advanced on him.
"Play with him for me," Sarys laughed.
The Insecticon thrust its claws, aiming for the center of Megatron's chest.
He masterfully parried the blow and slashed off one of the bug's mandibles.
It didn't slow down for an instant.
"I am Megatron! Your leader! The Insecticon Hive is sworn to the Decepticons! Do as I command and stand down!"
"It's no good, Megatron!" Sarys exclaimed ruefully. "The bug can only obey me! I have the bug under my complete control! Call it a superior wavelength that rules their hive mind!"
Megatron roared in rage as he brandished his cannon and took aim at the black spider.
His aim was thrown off by the Insecticon tackling him.
Pinned by the bug, Megatron pushed back the beast as it tried to bite his throat out.
He attempted to aim his cannon but was stopped when a glob of black ooze slammed into its muzzle.
Sarys shook a finger. "Uh uh, no blasters."
Megatron roared in rage as he gripped the Insecticon by the head and pushed back with all his might.
He barely had enough strength to free himself.
00000
Dreadwing, followed by Blackout and several Eraticons flew towards the abandoned mine.
But they were forced off course by two incoming bogies.
Scourge and Cyclonus transformed midair and drew their weapons.
Scourge brandished a curved sword with an auxiliary blade extending from the hilt. The blade burned hot.
Cyclonus drew twin swords, much like Wheeljack's except they were purple and glowing hot.
Dreadwing and Blackout transformed midair, jettisoning so that they could balance themselves upright.
They drew their weapons fast.
"Who are you?!" Dreadwing demanded. "Why are you standing in our way?!"
Scourge scoffed. "You misunderstand. You are in our way. And you have no business here. Leave now or die."
Dreadwing's face twisted in rage.
Blackout maintained a cool exterior.
Dreadwing transmitted a silent command to the squad to fall back, double back quietly, and slip past the air battle so they may reach Megatron.
The squad leader, Bronzecurrent, understood at once and obeyed.
Dreadwing roared his battle cry and engaged Scourge.
Blackout took on Cyclonus.
Down below, at the mouth of the abandoned mine, a groundbridge appeared and the Autobots came through.
In the distance of the deep black cave, sounds of ferocious battle could be heard, as well the familiar screech of an Insecticon.
Optimus, followed by Jazz, Bumblebee, Arcee and Bulkhead, activated his battle mask and spoke in a deep, low whisper.
"Approach with extreme caution."
00000
They came to a cave overlooking a deep, voluminous pit, almost like a colosseum.
They saw the pitched battle between Megatron and an Insecticon warrior.
"So my audio receptors weren't playing tricks on me," Jazz said.
"An Insecticon?" Bulkhead said. "On Earth?"
Bumblebee looked about the room for possible openings, possible escape routes or somewhere other bugs may come through.
"And if there's one, there's more. Oh boy."
Arcee spotted something down below and without even thinking about it, she transformed.
"Take whatever is left of Megatron, Airachnid is mine!"
"Arcee, NO!" Optimus cried as the two-wheeler sped down the side of the mountain arena so that she could pursue who she thought was Airachnid.
Sarys' head turned all the way to the back.
Arcee saw this and hesitated in her shock.
"You're not Airachnid!"
"How observant you are!"
Sarys fired a glob of black webbing but Arcee maneuvered and avoided the sticky substance.
The black eight-legger rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
She might give good sport.
Sarys took to her heels and fled into a tunnel.
Arcee relentlessly followed after her.
"Arcee! Come back!"" Jazz screamed as he chased after the two-wheeler.
Megatron, through his peripheral vision, saw Optimus and his Autobots on a cliff above him.
"You never disappoint Optimus."
The Insecticon screeched as it swung its claws at Megatron's head.
The warlord ducked and thrust his sword upwards.
The sword ran the Insecticon through.
The bug screeched a pained, gargling death cry as Megatron pulled the broadsword out and with one swift motion, cut the Insecticon's head off, sending it flying across the stone arena.
The headless corpse toppled over in a heap.
Megatron, utterly exhausted and leaking from half a dozen wounds, threw his head back and declared long and loud, voice echoing in the cavern.
"LET IT BE KNOWN, THIS IS THE FATE OF ALL WHO DARE CHALLENGE A TRUE GLADIATOR OF KAON, BE THEY DECEPTICON, AUTOBOT, OR ANY FOOL WHO WOULD SERVE THE CHAOSBRINGER!"
Optimus' optics opened wide at that, just as Megatron fell to his knees in his exhaustion.
Optimus leapt off the cliff, slowing his descent by digging his sword into the rock wall.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee followed after him.
They landed before Megatron's prostrate form.
The Decepticon leader gingerly lifted his head, coughing up Energon.
"Well, Optimus," Megatron spat. "Do you intend to take me as your prisoner or end this here and now?"
Optimus stared hard at his oldest adversary, considering things.
He looked to the tunnel that the mysterious eight legger fled.
Whom Arcee pursued and Jazz followed.
"Megatron, who was-?"
The sound of incoming jets filled the mountain as at least two dozen Eraticons flew in through the mountain's many roof openings.
"The surprises never cease," Megatron said.
They all landed on several levels of the cave, weapons drawn and charging.
"Release Lord Megatron to us and we will let you escape with your dignity!" shouted squad leader Bronzecurrent.
He had a silver bar across his Decepticon shield.
Bulkhead and Bumblebee did not falter.
It wouldn't be the first time they've been outnumbered and outgunned.
Optimus had other ideas however.
He looked down at Megatron who stared at his most hated enemy as if daring him to get out his own cannon and shoot him.
"Bronzecurrent, do I have your word?"
Bronzecurrent was startled that the Prime knew his name.
"Y-Yes, on my very spark and all my honor."
Bulkhead scoffed. "The honor of a Con! Kick Buckethead's bucket!"
Some of the Eraticons angrily took aim at Bulkhead.
"Stand down!"
The Eraticons, even the Autobots, stared in surprise at Megatron.
Optimus looked down at Megatron.
His hateful glare did not wane, as though a part of him did not want to let go of his hate.
Optimus held out his hand, offering to help up who he once called brother.
Megatron slapped the hand away.
Bronzecurrent approached and helped Megatron to his feet.
"Megatron, who was that?" Optimus asked. "The eight-legger who commanded Insecticon."
Megatron hesitated but before he could open his mouth to answer, something echoed in his mind.
Hold your tongue!
Megatron stopped short and put a hand to his head.
"I don't know," he said. "I never seen her before, but she's no Decepticon."
Optimus blinked.
Megatron's hesitation.
It was strange, as though he had a thought and it suddenly disappeared.
00000
Arcee crawled through the narrow tunnel.
Who was this new player?
And what had she done with Airachnid?
Did this new eight-legger kill her?
Perhaps she died screaming.
Arcee smirked at that but then that sick pleasure was followed by numb horror.
Then confusion.
Why should she be horrified for wanting Airachnid to suffer?
It's not like she never thought about it, how she'd inflict every imaginable torture to the spider until she begged for death-
Arcee shuddered.
She couldn't finish that line of thinking.
What was wrong with her?
She continued crawling forward and in her haste, she felt something on her hands.
Something wet and sticky.
She lifted both her hands and found them covered with sticky black webbing.
"Scrap!"
Arcee was suddenly hoisted upward and she couldn't move.
She was bound in a black cocoon.
And as she was being reeled up the branch of a large tree, a horrible face stared down at her with venomous amethyst optics and a cruel sick smile.
"Feisty one, aren't you?" Sarys cooed.
Arcee opened her mouth to talk but all words were muffled by the glob of black webbing that Sarys had fired from her wrist.
"I try to make it a habit of not having my food talk."
Her smile revealed fangs as she forced Arcee's head upward, exposing her throat.
BANG!
Sarys screamed as a blaster bolt struck her in the shoulder, sending her flying and hitting a mountain rock.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Sarys cursed like a mad woman as she scurried out of the line of fire, rock and soil exploding in the wake of the blaster fire.
Sarys transformed and flew away in a helicopter mode that Arcee hadn't seen since the days before Cybertron fell.
It was not Earth-model but Cybertronian, Iacon-make.
What the scrap-?
BANG!
Arcee flinched and instinctively braced herself.
The pain of getting shot never came, only the impact when she hit the ground.
That blaster fire severed the webbing line that kept hanging upside down.
00000
A shadowy figure in the trees in the distance was on one knee, looking through a scope attached to a gamma distribution rifle.
He stood up and put his weapon over his shoulder and attached it to an automatic rifle boot.
"Brawl's life for yours, two wheeler. My debt is repaid."
Barricade walked away into the darkness.
00000
Nemesis Warship - Just over Bolivia - 4:30 am
A wounded Megatron was carried gradually and carefully, Dreadwing and Blackout helping him through the groundbridge.
Neither of them escaped unscathed.
Oil Slick came forth, medkit in hand.
"Right this way my Lord."
"Where's Knockout?" Megatron wheezed.
"He's sitting this one out," Oil Slick said. "Barricade found what was left of Breakdown."
"What?" Blackout said in disbelief.
Dreadwing sighed. "What did they find?"
"His arm, just his arm. Nothing else. It was gunmetal grey."
00000
Knockout sat alone on a medical slab, hunched over, holding a limb.
Breakdown's arm, severed at the elbow.
No color but grey.
Knockout's face was wet with tears as he cried over what was left of his partner, his friend.
The closest thing to a brother he ever had.
Knockout felt a presence but he didn't care to lift his head, even as the clearly larger being sat next to him.
Megatron be damned! The Decepticons be damned! Why should I even care anymore?!
A hand was placed on Knockout's shoulder, the hand gingerly caressed him.
Knockout was startled and raised his head to see Thunderblast, her yellow optics raw and her cheeks stained with tears.
Knockout lowered his head shamefully.
To be comforted by this overgrown child.
How far has he fallen?
He didn't care at the moment.
He just sat there as Thunderblast stayed by his side, crying quietly with him.
00000
300 meters below the surface where Sarys fled…
Walking upside down in the subterranean tunnel beneath the caverns of the mountain Illimani, Sarys grinned giddily as she entered a crevice leading to an enormous inner-sanctum.
She barely noticed her aching shoulder, freshly welded and patched.
Her sick excitement overrided the pain.
For miles, there were Insecticon pods blanketing the massive cave, every inch of wall, floor and ceiling.
"My slaves," Sarys cooed, arms open wide.
Hearing a keening moan, Sarys looked up to see Airachnid, dents and deep scratches all over her body, bleeding and leaking in several places, her horned helm missing.
Her black cranial chamber was bleeding, cords of metal cable, which might look like hair, hanging down.
Her horned
She was bound to the rock ceiling, not with black webbing but cybersteel cuffs.
Sarys giggled like a mad woman.
"Get comfortable, you're going to be here a while. We have much to catch up on, my dear…darling…daughter."
Airachnid lifted her head, faceplates twisted in pain, rage, and fear she was desperately trying to hide.
"You…are no…m-mother of mine."
Sarys lost her smile.
Now her silver face twisted and contorted into a hideous mask of rage.
Any inch of defiance.
Sarys hated it.
She shot out a web.
And fast as lightning, Sarys drew close, extended her razor-sharp spear-like spider legs and brought them down in a rain of swords.
Airachnid screamed in pain as she was being stabbed in several places, not enough to cause any mortal damage but enough to cause terrible agony.
The caves echoed with Airachnid's screams and Sarys' insane laughter.
To be continued…
…..
VOICE CAST
Sarys - Kelly Hu
Scourge - Mark Oliver
Cyclonus - Brian Bloom
Breakdown - Adam Baldwin
Laserbeak - Robin Atkin Downes
Airachnid - Gina Torres
Dreadwing - Tony Todd
Knockout - Daran Norris
Stockade - Andre Sogliuzzo
Oil Slick - Michael York
Flamewar - Grey DeLisle
Thunderblast - Hynden Walch
Blackout - Noah Nelson
Barricade - Steve Blum
Brawl - Nolan North
Megatron - Frank Welker
Optimus Prime - Peter Cullen
Ratchet - Jeffrey Combs
Arcee - Sumalee Montano
Bulkhead - Kevin Michael Richardson
Jazz - Khary Peyton
Bumblebee - Will Friedle
Next episode: Nemesis Prime