The pickup truck steadily slowed itself down as it approached the gates of Kaon. Its headlights cut through the hazy light of the rising sun, its frame jittering with unease. "Uh... so we're sure about this?" Thad muttered, mostly to himself, as he crept closer to the gates. "I mean, there's really no point in turning back. Just wondering—how does this work exactly? Do we knock, ring a doorbell, or—" Before anyone could answer, a shrill alarm pierced the air. Red lights mounted along the outer walls began flashing in harsh, repetitive bursts, their beams bathing the bridge in a sinister glow.
Panels along the ground near the gate hissed open, releasing a host of additional weapons that unfolded and locked into place. Cannons, missile pods, and turrets of various shapes and sizes emerged like mechanical predators, swiveling in unison to point at the small group—all at once.
"...oh scrap," was all Uzi managed to say at the sight, her voice trailing off as all their eyes turned hollow with worry.
"That's what we're gonna get turned into!" Lizzy yelped from inside the cab, leaning away from the windshield as she flinched at the many weapons aimed her way. "Nevermind, this was dumb! Thad, backup!"
Thad didn't need convincing. "Yeah, I don't think they're in a welcoming mood," he stammered, his tires squealed in protest as he shifted gears, attempting to reverse. However, before he could force the gas pedal down, large road barricades rose from the ground, blocking any path forward. Another set sprang up behind them, cutting off any retreat. They were boxed in.
Doll leaned over the edge of the truck bed, her optics widening as she realized how dire the situation was becoming. "(Well, this is problematic,)" she muttered, her tone deadpan as she scanned their surroundings for any escape routes. She grimaced when she found none.
"Just calm down!" Uzi yelled, trying to gain control of the situation as she pulled on her backpack. "I can try to talk to them."
"Talk to who, the guns?" Lizzy shouted back. Before Uzi could respond, an automated voice cut through the chaos. Emotionless and precise, it carried an air of complete authority.
Halt. Scanning identity./
A crimson beam of light burst forth from a mounted scanner above the gate, sweeping across the truck in methodical precision. The beam lingered as it reached the cab, illuminating Uzi and Lizzy, who exchanged uneasy glances. "Still sure about them being the good guys, Uzi?" Lizzy quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she shrank back from the scanning light. "Oh excuse them for being cautious," Uzi shot back as she rolled her eyes, though the nervous edge in her voice betrayed her bravado. "They're only in a freaking war." The scanner shifted, bathing Thad's entire frame in red before moving to the back. It lingered briefly on Doll, who crossed her arms, looking thoroughly unhappy. "(Uzi, I am not a big fan of having weapons pointed at me twice in one day.)" Inside the cab, Thad grumbled as his steering wheel moved left and right—the vehicle equivalent of shuffling one's feet. "Yeah, I'm siding with Doll. Doesn't help that we're really out in the open right now."
"Oh you both can just—"
The beam retracted, and the automated system spoke again:
Subjects identified: four neutral Cybertronians./
Vehicle designation—unknown./
Purpose of approach—unknown./
Warning: Unregistered entry may result in termination./
Thad's engine stuttered as panic took hold. "I don't think I want to be terminated! Uzi, you're the Decepticon expert—what do we do?"
Taking a quick breath to psych herself up, Uzi opened the door on her side of the vehicle and stepped out of Thad, her hands raised in mock surrender. "We're here to join the Decepticons!" she shouted. Her voice wavered under the weight of the moment, but she pushed on, stepping forward and raising her voice further. "We were neutral—and from an underground colony in the ruins of Kalis! But we want to be part of something bigger—we want our lives to matter." Turning her open palms into fists, Uzi threw her arms into the air and shouted, "For the new golden age, All Hail Megatron!"
A tense silence followed. The red light of the scanner flickered for a moment, as if processing her words, but the weapons remained locked on Thad, their targeting systems humming ominously. "...Is it gonna work?" Lizzy whispered, leaning forward on the seat. She glanced at Uzi, her body tense, almost ready to reach out and pull the girl back into the vehicle at a moment's notice. "(If it doesn't, this will be a short trip,)" Doll remarked dryly, shaking her head as one of her eyes glitched for a fraction of a nano-click.
As the seconds dragged on and the barricades stayed in place, with the weapons unwavering in their aim, it was only a matter of time before someone tried a crazy idea.
"Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong!"
Slowly, all three of the female drones turned to look at the dashboard of the truck, where Thad had just shouted what was possibly the most random string of noise imaginable. "Was that, like, a stroke or something?" Lizzy asked, raising a skeptical brow within her visor as she gripped Thad's steering wheel. "Because you picked a really bad time to have one."
"Girls, come on—it's the universal greeting. It's supposed to express goodwill," He said, sounding almost shocked that none of them recognized the saying. "They used to teach us about it all the time."
"When we were, like, two and still protoforms," Uzi replied, disbelief thick in her voice. "And I'm pretty sure no one thought we'd use it on a literal wall of guns pointed at us—"
Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong./
All fell silent as the automated voice perfectly mimicked Thad's words, syllable by syllable. Uzi blinked hard, trying to convince herself she wasn't dreaming. She even began clapping her palms against her cheeks, just to confirm she was awake. The situation didn't improve when she heard what came next. "(Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong!)" Doll suddenly shouted, standing up in the truck bed with her arms outstretched toward the many weapons. She delivered the greeting with the flourish of an entertainer addressing an audience. Uzi turned toward her cousin, hands held out in complete bewilderment. "(I will admit, it is rather fun to say,)" Doll said with a smile, while shrugging her shoulders.
Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong./
As quickly as they had appeared, the crimson beam of light and the weapons began retracting back into their resting places. The barricades surrounding Thad's vehicle mode sank into the flooring with a mechanical hiss, freeing him to move.
"That worked… that worked?!" Uzi exclaimed, her eyes hollowing as she stared slack-jawed at the gates of Kaon, which began slowly opening before them. The mechanical locks on its outer layer unfastened one after another. It should have been a triumphant moment, yet Uzi couldn't help comparing it to something as absurdly childish as cartoon-logic. All it lacked were colorful horses preaching friendship. "...I could've just shouted 'open sesame,' and it might've worked too!"
The metallic click of boots on the ground drew her attention. Uzi turned to see Lizzy stepping out of Thad from the driver's side. "Oh, relax. You can't exactly complain about how stupid something is if it works," Lizzy said, walking to stand beside Uzi.
"Yes, I can, and I will!" Uzi snapped back, folding her arms stubbornly.
With a purr of his T-cog, Thad transformed into robot mode just as Doll leaped from his back. "Come on, girls," he interjected, trying to diffuse the argument. "It's not stupid. I mean, it's a technique used across the known cosmos by—"
He was stopped mid-sentence as Doll placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head sorrowfully. "(I am sorry, pretty boy. It is quite dumb,)" she said with no remorse. "(Still fun, though.)" Thad sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
When the final lock disengaged, the massive gates creaked open, revealing a cavernous interior where a second gate lay further within. Between the gates stood multiple military-style barricades, gun emplacements, and weapons platforms. Each was manned by drones—armored and identical in appearance, their purple plating and helmets featuring only a glowing, bright red T-shaped visor.
Uzi recognized them immediately. "Vehicons," she whispered, glancing at the others. "Drones like… me. They've got frames that can't handle actual vehicle modes, so they wear armor to do it for them. They're the foot soldiers of the Decepticon cause… civilians who joined the fight."
"Are they friendly?" Thad asked, noting the tense silence as every Vehicon kept their weapons trained on the group. "Because they don't look friendly, but that seems to be the theme going on with the Decepticons so far."
"(They're waiting, it seems…)" Doll pointed toward three figures standing imposingly at the far edge of the entrance. "(My guess is they're acting on orders from them.)"
Lizzy narrowed her eyes at the approaching figures, her body visibly tensing. "They don't dress the same as the others, so Doll might be onto something… What exactly is the play here, Loser? …Loser? Uzi?"
Lizzy's words went unheard, as Uzi was lost in the moment. Her spark skipped a pulse as the figures came into focus. They were real, true Decepticons—exactly as she had imagined: tall, powerful, and heavily customized. Their armor gleamed with authority and menace, their very presence exuding the will of Megatron.
Peace Through Tyranny.
The largest of the trio wore olive-green armor that bore the marks of countless battles. His tank alt. mode was obvious from the visible treads on his arms and legs, as well as the cannons mounted on his back. The glow of his visor carried a fiery intensity as he stared at the newcomers. "Well, I'll be. It just be a pack of sparklings," he rumbled in a thick Scottish accent as he and the others marched forward. "Little far from home, aren't ya, wee ones?"
The smallest of them was sleek and reserved, with polished plating that caught the dim light. His cautious stance and flickering optics suggested a quiet, observant nature. "Hey, you never know—maybe there's more to them than meets the eye," he said.
"Both of you, can it," commanded the figure in the center, his deep voice cutting through the air like a blade. He radiated discipline and authority, his dark metallic armor reflecting ominously under the dim lights. His piercing yellowish visor scanned the four young drones with calculated precision.
The trio halted before the group, their massive frames looming over the teenagers—especially Uzi, who looked comically small in comparison. Not that she seemed to mind; she was too busy reeling as she was able to recognize one of the three Decepticons.
"Onslaught… The Onslaught!" she muttered under her breath, her awe barely contained. Lizzy elbowed her sharply to snap her out of it. "Ow!"
"Care to fill the rest of us in?" Lizzy asked dryly, folding her arms while glaring at the shorter girl.
Uzi scoffed, as she gestured toward the older drone. "If you actually paid attention in history class, you'd know he's the Strategic Commander— Onslaught ! He's a freaking hero!" Practically shaking with excitement, Uzi shot a glare at Lizzy before returning her full attention to the Decepticon leader, her tone shifting to one of admiration. "Sir, I've studied several of your campaigns—the Battle of the Iron Cage, the Siege of Nexus Prime, the Blizzard War of the 547th cycle—you're a tactical genius who's proven Decepticon supremacy time and again! It's a total honor to actually see you in metal!"
"(Do you need a minute, cousin?)" Doll asked, her tone holding a tinged of concern.
"Yeah," Thad chimed in. "You're totally fangirling right now."
"Oh, this is nothing. You guys remember when she first made a presentation about Megatron a few years ago—" Lizzy began, but Uzi quickly elbowed her in the side to silence her.
"Bite me!" She shouted, glaring at her team.
A single clearing of the throat was enough to silence the four teens. Their attention snapped back to the Decepticon commander, while his commandos seemed to be holding in their own laughter. "...That is some impressive knowledge of history, kid," Onslaught said, his visor shifting to focus on Uzi's shoulder, where her homemade Decepticon badge was proudly stitched onto her hoodie. "One of the Vehicons told me you were shouting about joining. So, you think you've got what it takes to become a Decepticon?"
With an all-too-eager grin, Uzi raised her leg in the air, showing off the dried dark energon that coating it. "I've got an Autobot's inner energon on my leg from stomping his head in. What do you think?"
Silence followed. The only sound was the cold morning breeze, accompanied by snow drifting between the two teams. "You mean, you didn't clean your leg the entire ride here?" Lizzy asked, recoiling in disgust. "Gross."
"I didn't exactly bring a brush or sponge, okay?" Uzi shot back, stomping her leg down as she turned toward Lizzy. "Not like I want to stay covered in this stuff—it's so weirdly sticky."
"(I think it's quite a pleasant feeling, to be honest,)" Doll chimed in, tapping the glass of her visor where a dark smear was visible. Some of it had been wiped near her mouth, as though licked clean. "(I haven't washed off the splatter from when I cut that one Autobot's arm off… or was it his head? Hmm…)" She paused thoughtfully.
Thad visibly cringed at the mention. "Yeah, nothing concerning about how casually you say that at all, D," he muttered, shaking his head as he and Lizzy exchanged a look.
"(Aww, pretty boy is scared of a little energon blood?)" Doll teased with a smirk.
"No… well," Thad's eyes turned hollow as a realization dawned on him. "Actually, now I'm wondering if Uzi left some inside me. She didn't exactly wipe her feet."
"Relax. Inner energon is supposed to stay inside a drone, Thad. That's, like, Engineering Class 101," Lizzy said, patting his shoulder in a weak attempt to calm him.
Uzi tried to interject. "I mean, we could just rub some snow on ourselves. That should be enough to clean—"
"You are not allowed to give any advice about cleanliness," Lizzy interrupted, "especially considering how most of the time you smell like motor oil and battery acid."
"Yeah, because I do this thing called actually working ! Unlike a certain glitch of a drone who just steals someone else's upgrade idea and gives them to herself because she thinks it'd be 'cool' to be smaller!"
"Oh, my Primus, are you still mad about that? Do you like, need a stool or something to help you get over it?"
"Was that a joke about my height?"
"And here I was thinking it flew over your head like most things."
"Why you—"
A snapping of fingers cut through their bickering. "Children," Onslaught said, his tone loud and commanding. "I'm only going to ask nicely once. If you all want to talk, start by telling me the important things. Like who you are, and how you managed to get Autobot inner energon splattered on two of you."
Uzi opened her mouth, ready to explain, but Lizzy stepped forward, cutting her off. "We're just NAILs who lived in an underground colony," she began, jerking her thumb toward Uzi. "At first, we came here because of this one —big Decepticon fan, kind of a loner, no real friends, you know. She's got this whole angsty, 'the world doesn't understand me' thing going on. So, naturally, she decided running away from home was a good idea."
"Hey!" Uzi snapped indignantly.
Onslaught raised a hand, silencing her with ease. "I've had two daughters. I know how teenage girls act. Continue."
Lizzy nodded. "We followed her, and, well, apparently the city of Kalis is being used by Autobots for some weird murder spire. A group of them found us, and…" She hesitated for a second, as if searching for the right words. "...things got messy. We kind of got into a shootout with them."
"And yet you all seem to have walked away with minimal damage." Onslaught's visor shifted to Thad, specifically his shoulder, where a noticeable scorch mark remained from a grazing shot.
Lizzy noticed the skeptical tone. "Yeah. We got lucky. Guess we had a guardian robot looking out for us or something." Doll hummed approvingly at Lizzy's words.
Uzi stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Luck doesn't change the fact that we killed them. One of the Autobots was a Wrecker—the ex-leader, in fact. Impactor. He's the one whose head I crushed under my boot." She smiled, clearly proud of the accomplishment, until Lizzy loudly faked a cough. "Well, after Doll and Thad helped big time in taking him down first," Uzi quickly added, a faint blush crossing her face. "But I'm still the one who killed him!"
Onslaught remained silent, though his teammates reacted with visible shock at the revelation. "The Autobots are shooting at sparklings now?" The large Decepticon growled, his voice huffing as his fists clenched. The smaller Decepticon appeared unsettled. "I mean, it's Kalis. That's where those freaky monster things live—the angels! These kids are lucky to have come out alive at all." Onslaught's deep voice made his teammates stiffened.
"Impactor, huh…" This tension didn't escape the group—except Uzi, who raised her chin smugly. "Yeah, I recognized him," she said, "Felt good to enact some justice on that Con-killer. He spent his last moments trying to—" "I don't need to know," Onslaught interrupted her, before turning away. He clasped his hands behind his back as he walked off without another word, leaving almost everyone in confused silence.
Uzi was obviously the most taken aback by the attitude. "Seriously? Am I missing something?" She asked, looking toward the other two 'Cons for an answer. "I killed an Autobot, a Con-killer. Shouldn't that be, like… a good thing?"
The large drone took a knee, lowering himself to speak to the quartet of young drones, optic-to-optic. "Think nothing of it, wee one. He's got history—that's all. By the great spark, we all do. Want my advice? Be careful about what Autobot names you mention around here. A lot of fellas have personal grudges with certain Autobots, and they won't take kindly to someone settling scores they think belonged to them." He gave the group a scrutinizing look before snapping his fingers in sudden realization. "Ah, right, names… Brawl," he said, gesturing to himself, then pointing at the drone beside him. "This skinny bloke here is Blast Off. We're part of a squad: Combat Icons."
"Uh…" Blast Off leaned closer to his companion, whispering pointedly, "It's Combaticons , dude. We've been fighting together for years—how do you keep messing that up?"
"It's too early in the morning. I haven't had my first drink yet," Brawl replied, waving him off dismissively, even as Blast Off muttered something about how all Brawl did the previous night was drink.
Thad leaned over toward Uzi as the two older drones were speaking to each other, he raised a brow within his visor and he whispered, "Onslaught, Brawl, Blast Off… and that Autobot guy was named Impactor? What's with the names on the surface? It almost sounds like names you'd give action figures."
Uzi looked offended by the question. "Hey, their names are awesome!" She whispered in a harsh, defensive tone. "Besides, my name is Uzi, and you don't make a big deal out of that."
Lizzy scoffed. "That's because we know your real name is Uziel." Once again, she didn't even react as Uzi gave her the coldest stare possible.
"...How the shock did—" Uzi stopped herself from asking the question and looked over to Doll. "(Is there a problem, Cousin?)" Doll asked, a small smile playing on her face. "(Shall you mock me by calling me Dola, as my mother named me? Because I still haven't told them your middle name. Or your father's cute little nickname for you. What was it again… Knobby?)" There was a look of absolute murder in Uzi's eyes as she prepared to throw herself at her cousin, but everyone froze when Onslaught suddenly leaped into the air and transformed. A large military truck—much bigger than Thad's alt. mode, something that made the boy's optics brighten with glee—landed on the floor with a loud thud.
"And that's the signal for us to get a move on," Brawl said as he picked himself up and gestured for the teens to follow. The back doors of Onslaught's truck mode opened to reveal the vehicle's spacious but utilitarian interior. "Welcome to Kaon, kiddos."
"(Just like that?)" Doll asked, raising a brow within her visor. "(That's strangely inviting compared to the literal wall of guns we were staring at seconds ago.)"
"Look, you're not Autobots, so obviously you're welcome to come in," Blast Off said, waving a hand toward the Vehicons, who finally lowered their weapons. "But you're not 'Cons yet. It takes more than slapping on a symbol and killing an Autobot to join." The rest of the group chuckled, while Uzi muttered a human curse under her breath. "It's tradition," Blast Off explained. "We bring new recruits to meet the leader so they can officially become Decepticons."
Uzi blinked in confusion, then her optics brightened with her own excitement at the thought of meeting her personal hero . "Wait as in… Lord Megatron? The Lord Megatron, we get to meet him! Oh my Primus, how do I look—terrible I know, shut up Lizzy, scrap! Someone give me something to clean myself with, so I don't shame us all! I mean, he was last reported on the Nemesis when it left Cybertron to battle against the Autobot Ark. Did he come back? Did he kill the last false prophet, did—"
Her hopes were quickly dashed as Blast Off and Brawl both suddenly laughed at her. "Oh man, you kids really have been living under a rock," Brawl said, shaking his head with a hint of pity. "We haven't heard from him in years! Our leader is someone Megatron put in charge, though."
With a look of utter disappointment on her face, Uzi's entire demeanor dropped as her disappointment rival that of the entire city of Kaon. "Who in the pits could rival Megatron in leadership?"She would ask, with pure disdain in her voice.
"His name is Shockwave."
Onslaught's vehicle mode rumbled powerfully as it maneuvered through the wide, uneven streets of Kaon. Having passed through the second gate, the military truck reached full acceleration in seconds, navigating jagged roads and dangerous lanes with practiced ease as it entered the city limits. Inside the vehicle, the group of young drones sat in a mix of awe and curiosity. Doll, Uzi, and Lizzy were glued to the small window slots lining the sides of the truck, their optics scanning the chaotic yet vibrant cityscape outside. Thad, however, had found his own source of entertainment.
"Okay, hold up, this has to be a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected—an MRAP—vehicle. I can tell just from the size of it and the massive armor plating. But what model is this? I think it's… uh… what was it called? It's on the tip of my tongue. Lenco? No, that's the manufacturer. They off-shoot to civilians for police work a long time ago back in—wait is this a Bearcat? Are we in a Bearcat? No, but the interior feels more like a MaxxPro. And there's no real opening for a turret section on the top. Is this some kind of custom job, or—" Thad continued his rambling from the front cabin, where he was seated with Brawl. The older drone, lounging lazily in the driver's seat, looked as though he'd rather recharge than endure the endless stream of chatter filling his audio receptors.
"Primus, he's cute, but he can be as bad as Uzi sometimes," Lizzy whispered, sharing a snicker with Doll as they glanced at the boy. Their laughter faded as their attention returned to the view outside, both of them quietly taken aback by the sight of it all.
Everyone knew the history of Kaon. It was infamous as one of the worst places on Cybertron—once it was a haven for drones who fought in underground gladiatorial combat areas, an open secret, even during the Senate's rule. Before the planet's core was overloaded and the war began, Kaon was the first city to fall to the Decepticons. Where in a single day, thousands of drones roused up against their oppressive masters, declaring that "This is our world." During the war, Kaon was transformed into a prison for Autobot captives and anyone who dared oppose the Decepticon cause. It was said to be a hellish place where unspeakable acts were committed in the name of Decepticon sovereignty.
Given its brutal history and dark reputation, one might expect Kaon to be a lifeless, desolate city—a hollow shell filled with broken souls, no better than the dead ruins of Kalis.
Except... Kaon was alive.
Yes, it was an imposing industrial sprawl of jagged, rusted architecture looming under a perpetually smog-covered sky. Towers stretched toward the heavens like serrated spears, and dark purple banners fluttered ominously in the wind. The foreboding aesthetic was undeniable and deliberately crafted. But beneath the grim exterior, the city thrummed with unexpected vibrancy. The streets bustled with drones of all shapes and sizes. Massive construction bots lumbered past, either hauling supplies or repairing the ever-expanding city walls. Vendors manned market stalls cobbled together from salvaged Autobot scrap, offering everything from weapons and rare energon crystals to strange trinkets tied to Cybertronian mythology. Children—young sparklings—dashed between the adults, their laughter echoing as they played tag beneath the towering watchtowers, where Vechicons stood guard. Some drones moved with an air of menace, their frames bristling with weaponry as they proudly bear the Decepticon insignias. Others, clearly civilians, had more streamlined builds and went about their daily lives. Artists spray-painted graffiti onto steel walls, their work bold and defiant. Blacksmiths hammered away at anvils fashioned from shattered Autobot weaponry, sparks flying in rhythmic bursts. Street performers twirled sparking energon hoops, drawing a small crowd with their dazzling displays.
It wasn't a fortress or a prison.
It was a city—alive and thriving while the planet itself was dead.
"I'll be honest, I didn't expect this," Lizzy muttered, her voice softening as she took it all in. "I thought Kaon was supposed to be some grim, military hellhole. But…"
"It's still a military zone," Onslaught's voice echoed through the vehicle as they continued to drive through the bustling streets. "If you've got sharp optics, you'll notice the watchtowers, hidden sniper nests, motor pools, weapon caches—the whole setup. Everything here screams readiness for combat at a moment's notice. But even soldiers need homes, and homes need people. This isn't Iacon; we don't waste resources pretending things are pristine."
"Maybe it's the constant getting nearly shot at finally getting to me, but… this doesn't seem like such a bad place to live," Lizzy admitted, with Doll giving a shrug in silent agreement. Though their attention shifted from the bustling city back to Uzi, who was currently acting about a quarter of her age.
Much like a child at their favorite theme park, the short drone's excitement was barely contained as she moved from one side of the vehicle to the other, pressing her face against the narrow window slits in an attempt to take in every detail of the entire city at once. "This is incredible… Look at the banners! That forge over there is melting down Autobot transport vehicles for metal—that's so cool! Oh my Primus, there's a place that just has to have plasma conductors! I need that for my gun mode. I've been making my own parts, but now I could just—Wait, is that a freaking security sentry? I thought all of those were lost after the Battle of Zeta Prime! Oh, and what about—"
Her words became a long blur, a continuous mess of references to historical events one after another, as she refused to sit in place.
"—Oh! That's where they started the Headmasters program, man, that was a weird one. Oh and that is the facility where they did the pretender project, that was even more weird! Ha! Oh, I can remember the documents of how well that went when they tried to—"
"Hey, loser," Lizzy interrupted sharply, snapping Uzi's attention from her flood of admiration. "You see anywhere we could find a new energon chip?"
Uzi paused, blinking in confusion at the question as she glanced over her shoulder to look at the other girl. "The wha—"
"You know, the little thing that the entire colony needs to survive?" Lizzy clarified, narrowing her eyes just a little.
It took a moment, but the pieces finally clicked. "Oh! Scrap, you're right." Uzi smacked her fist lightly against her temple as she looked back through the window slits towards the outside again. "Okay, my bad—get the energon chip, then head back. Easy. We can totally do that... after a grand tour or two... or six."
"You keep mentioning something about a energon chip." Brawl's deep voice rumbled, cutting through Thad's constant muttering as the larger drone glanced back. "Why would you ruts need something like that?"
"Ours broke," Lizzy explained flatly while rolling her eyes. "The colony had one that kept the whole place running for a while, but... well, it finally gave out on us."
"(When we left, everyone was literally voting on how to kill each other,)" Doll chimed in, her tone unnervingly calm as ever. "(They'll still be debating for at least three weeks, so we do have time.)"
Brawl's orange visor gleamed as he turned toward the back of the vehicle. The design of his armored helmet made it impossible to see his face, but his confusion was palpable. "And your people didn't have a backup? Or a way to fix it?" he asked, incredulous.
Though her gaze remained fixed outside, Uzi did chim in. "Yeah, the adults in our colony are kind of stupid," As she spoke, she pulled her backpack from her shoulders and began to rummage through it. Once more, she pulled out her pack of energon goodies. "But don't worry—once we come back with a new chip, I'm sure they'll change their tune about wanting to stay NAILs. I know my dad is gonna flip out when he sees us—"
"What in the oily hell are you eating?" Brawl asked suddenly, his voice filled with curiosity.
Uzi froze, a greenish stick of energon halfway to her mouth. "Uh... energon goodie?" she answered, her tone uncertain.
"Why is it green ?"
Uzi blinked, confusion easily written all over her face. "...Because energon is green?"
Lizzy leaned forward, her brow furrowed as she also began to question the large Drone. "Yeah, all energon is green. Why?"
Brawl's tone turned stern as he began to move from his seat. "No, it isn't. Energon comes in blue, yellow, red, pink, orange, and even a rainbow of colors—but not just green."
"Um, dude, all our energon is green," Thad called out nervously from his seat, barely visible behind Brawl's massive frame. "Maybe our colony just makes it a little differently—"
Brawl took a step towards Uzi and held out his hand towards her. "Alright, give me one. I'll see for myself." Uzi muttered how she hated how much she was giving out her food, but did relent as she placed a single energon stick in his large hand. The three girls watched as the front of his helmet would open, revealing his mouth as he took a single bite from the 'goodie'.
Not even a full minute later, Onslaught was forced to pull over as Brawl rushed out of the vehicle and began dry-heaving onto the floor. The Colony Drones followed, each of them in shock at such a sudden visceral reactions.
"What in the pits happened?" Blast Off asked as he descended, transforming out of his small space shuttle vehicle mode mid-flight and landing smoothly upon the ground. Having opted to make the trip his own way while everyone else rode in Onslaught. "Brawl, I step away to stretch my wings, and I come back to find you looking like you walked in on Starscream taking an oil bath."
"What's an oil bath?" Thad would ask, glancing towards the girls who each gave him a shrug in confusion.
"Ugh…" The large Drone could only whine, as he cradled his abdomen. "I think a whole new Great War is happening in my energy tank." Onslaught sighed deeply, as he stood near-by in robot mode. He dragged a hand down his face as he attempted to keep himself calm. "You brats are so lucky we're near somewhere familiar," he grumbled before gesturing toward a large, rugged building at the end of the street. Its exterior was plastered with garish neon signs and numerous Decepticon insignias. A flickering sign above the entrance read:
SWINDLE'S
"Where deals are in disguise!"
"Well, this looks like a rad place," Thad said, trying to sound enthusiastic over the sound of Brawl's gagging. "It's a bummer to look at, so it must be a cool hang out spot."
"It's a bar that smells like someone is constantly burning rubber bags of garbage inside of it, it isn't 'cool' in the slightest," Onslaught corrected the young drone, before turning his attention to his only fit comrade. "Blast Off, while I deal with—" Onslaught paused to look at Brawl, who was currently unleashing a colorful stream of energon from his mouth like a river. "My idiot friend, who thought eating poison was a good idea, I want you to take the kids inside the bar and watch them. Maybe give them something good to eat."
"Aye, sir!" Blast Off said, immediately giving a salute, though he winced as he saw Brawl again vomit another pool of energon. "Dude, come on, at least try not to do it on the snow. You're gonna attract mini-con roaches."
Uzi gave a scoff, as she munched on another energon stick. Not at all having as bad of a reaction as the Decepticon warrior somehow. "I know it's super processed stuff but like it isn't that bad." She said, before suddenly her goodies were snatched from her hand as Onslaught began to look at them. "What is with everyone taking my food today?"
"Energon Chips are meant to last, at most, four years. How long did yours run?" Onslaught asked, while taking one of the sticks from the container to look at them. The question was directed towards Uzi, but she seemed to struggle when it came to giving an answer. Muttering only a "uhhh" as she looked off to the side, trying and failing to come up with a rough estimate. "Really? " Lizzy interjected, with sheer disbelief. "You can remember any random battle that took place millions of years ago as long as someone wore a purple logo, but you can't remember simple facts about the colony's own history—where we live? I thought you were a history nerd."
Uzi crossed her arms and pouted, muttering how their history wasn't nearly as interesting as the Decepticons. "Why don't you explain it then?"
"What do I look like, an exposition-bot? Do I have to explain everything every time when you can't do it?"
"(For Sigma's sake…)" With a roll of her eyes, Doll stepped forward and began to speak for the others."(Our colony dates as far back as when the Great Evaluation started. When news came that the planet was dying.)"
Onslaught hummed, holding a hand to his chin as he began to recollect. "Right, I remember. Many colonies started around that time, most left the planet, but I did hear that some stayed behind and hid themselves in stasis."
With a nod of her head, Doll elaborated. "(Correct. Our people did exactly that, and up until around 20 mega-cycles ago, they slept.)"
"And of course that means your energon chip was running the entire time, Vector Sigma, how are any of you even functioning?" Onslaught paused to take a calming breath. "We will deal with that later, especially because you have been basically eating and drinking poison your entire lives."
"Really? I mean, it can't be that bad—" Thad tried to point out, but he stopped as Brawl fell over—the large drone now on his side. "Oh my Primus, my insides are on fire, Ugh!" He shouted, moments before once more a flood of energon vomited from his mouth.
Blast Off was quick to hassle the younger drones away at that point. "Okay, doing as the boss says!" He turned each of them towards the bar and began shoving. "I mean, Shockwave is terrifying anyway, so I'll be honest we weren't exactly in the biggest rush to go meet him. But look on the bright side, you kids get to see one of the best spots in all of Kaon, a real must go kind of place, a place where everybody knows your name—because they stole your date information while you were passed out drunk."
"What was that last part?" Lizzy tried to ask, but Blast Off would continue to push the four teens through the door of the bar, right before following them in.
"Never-mind that, Vortex, I'm hom–ly scrap!"
Swindle's was exactly what any of them could have expected. It was a perfect emulation of the seedy establishments seen in human media, where scum and villainy gathered to drink and socialize. The acrid smell of burnt circuitry and stale energon hit the young drones' olfactory sensors like a slap, and their visors immediately fogged up from the thick exhaust hanging in the air. On the left side of the entrance, a long bar counter stretched into the haze. It was sticky with who-knows-what and littered with empty energon cubes. Scattered tables and booths were occupied by grungy older drones, all nursing drinks or betting on various games—some played in person, others on small holo-screens. To the right, rows of deadly-looking weapons gleamed dimly under flickering lights. Each one was secured behind an energy field, with a cardboard cutout of a grinning drone posted at the front. The cutout featured a large speech bubble that read: "Do not touch without paying first, or you will fry."
But the most shocking feature of the bar wasn't the smell or the weapons. It was the drone—one who looked exactly like the cardboard cutout—hanging from the ceiling with a noose tied around his neck. The sight was so startling that it caused the colony drones to freeze in place, with wide-hollow-eyes. "Vortex, what the hell?!" Blast Off shouted as he turned to a female drone sitting lazily behind the bar counter.
"Huh?" She barely glanced up from her task of balancing a house of cards on the sticky counter. "Oh, yeah. Swindle's trying to kill himself. You want a drink?"
The sheer casualness of her words snapped Thad out of his shock. His optics widened further, his face a mix of disbelief and concern as he turned toward the drone dangling from the ceiling. "Uh… is he okay? Should we… should we help him?"
Above them, Swindle groaned dramatically, his voice dripping with theatrical despair. "Don't try and stop me…" Lizzy was the only one to visibly react, having lowered her hands, shifting from a look of horror to one of semi-disappointment, muttering "Oh, he's alive" just barley under her breath. Swindle's optics flickered briefly in her direction. "I lost all my money in an online children's card game," he lamented. "I might as well be dead. I'm broke!"
Vortex shrugged as she carefully balanced another card on her carefully made stack. "I told him. Running a Blue-Eyes deck was a terrible idea in this meta."
"I wanted to screw the rules and have the money!" Swindle wailed, "But the rules screwed me, and now I have no money!"
A smile seemed to creep its way upon Doll's face. "(Morally ambiguous drones that seem incredibly suicidal at times… almost feels like home.)"
Blast Off pinched the bridge of his helmet and groaned in exasperation. "Vector Sigma, Swindle, I brought new recruits here! Have some dignity!"
Suddenly re-energized, Swindle's optics lit up as he looked down at the group. "Wait. Do they have any money? I take republic credits, bits, schmeckles, Monopoly money, Shanix... Diamonds are good too."
Uzi, looking very uncomfortable, stammered, "Uh… not really. Our colony works on a trade system—" "Then you can bite my shiny metal license plate!" Swindle snarled, cutting her off with a dramatic wave of his fist. But just as he raised it, the noose snapped. With an undignified clunk , Swindle hit the floor face-first. The impact echoed through the bar as he groaned, lying in a heap. Slowly, he picked himself up, rubbing his cracked visor with a tired and irritated sigh. "Scrap… I knew I should've gotten that extended warranty."
Thad took a step forward, concern written across his face. "Uh… so, do you, like, need someone to talk to, or—"
"Shut up," Swindle muttered, staggering toward the bar and collapsing onto a stool. "Vortex, pour me a double. And grab these 'recruits' a menu if they're staying. Weapons, drinks, or info—it's all for sale." He then dropped his face down along the bar counter, his optics closed as he took a deep breath of sheer contempt.
"Aye-aye, 'boss,'" Vortex said while she gave a lazy salute and turned to the group, her helmet opening to reveal a smirking face. "Welcome to Swindle's. First time here?"
Lizzy crossed her arms, smirking back. "Definitely the last time if it's always like this."
"What, and miss this top-tier entertainment? Wait, do I need to check IDs? Do we even do that?" Vortex mused, glancing back toward Swindle, only to receive a groan in response from the the down headed 'Con. "...Okay, I'll just assume you kids can handle your energon."
"Trust me. They can," Blast Off muttered, rolling his optics as he headed toward the backroom. "I'm gonna make them some food. If they offer you a stick of energon, please don't eat it."
Vortex scoffed, clearly annoyed. "Conjunx Endura or not, you don't get to tell me what I put in my mouth!" She proclaimed, throwing her arms in the air in a rebellious attitude. "I stick my tongue in it; I get a say," Blast Off shot back smoothly, disappearing into what looked like a kitchen area as the door hissed shut behind him. "Oh, I've got a spot where you can stick it, and—" Vortex suddenly paused, realizing the audience she was addressing. "I forgot there were sparklings in front of me."
She turned her yellow optics toward the group, taking in Uzi and Lizzy recoiling in disgust, Thad looking thoroughly embarrassed, and Doll… who just smiled knowingly. "(By all means, continue,)" Doll said with an air of amusement.
"Vortex, remember, this is a family establishment," Swindle grumbled from his seat before adding, "And that's just gross to say out loud, young lady."
"Oh, really ?" Vortex retorted, tapping her fingers along the bar counter. "Don't you owe Dad like 500 Shanix? How are you gonna pay him back without any money?" She lean closer to the yellow armored drone, as if to further push her point, and that seemed enough to make Swindle promptly slumped forward, letting his head thunk against the counter once more. "Yeah, that's what I thought," Vortex said smugly before turning back to the group. "Okay, a double for you," she gestured toward Swindle, "and for you kids?"
The bar buzzed with life, a chaotic symphony of energon machinery humming, cubes clattering, and drones either laughing or shouting. In one corner, Doll sat at a rickety table surrounded by a rowdy crowd of cheering and chanting older drones. A drinking competition was in full swing, and Doll, unbothered by the raucous atmosphere, lifted her energon cube—thick, glowing pink, and faintly humming in her hands.
"(You call this a drink?)" she quipped dryly, her tone laced with mockery as she examined the cube. Across from her sat two competitors: a burly blue-and-gray tank drone already teetering on his chair, and a wiry scout with glowing green optics, who looked like he regretted even entering the competition. Doll tilted her head slightly, then, in one smooth motion, tipped the cube back and downed it in less than two seconds. The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter as she slammed the empty cube onto the table with an audible clang. "(I think wiper fluid would kick harder,)" she said, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. Her visor gleamed in the dim barlight, and the Decepticon emblem stitched onto her cheerleader crop top caught the light as she gestured for another round.
The tank drone groaned, barely lifting his next cube before muttering, "I'm out," and slumping forward onto the table, unconscious. The scout didn't even bother making an excuse—he slunk away quietly, defeated. Doll stretched lazily, folding her hands behind her head. "(Ah… just like home,)" she said with a smirk, basking in the crowd's cheers as they chanted her name.
At a booth nearby, Lizzy and Thad sat across from each other, nearly empty plates in front of them, left with the smallest of crumbs. Thad stared at the remnants of his meal, his optics unusually bright. "That was…" he began, his voice cracking slightly as he searched for the right words. "I mean, I've never tasted anything like it."
Lizzy nodded, discreetly dabbing at her optics with a napkin. The Decepticon emblem stitched onto her cheerleader outfit seemed to shin in the dim light, oddly fitting against the background of the bar. "Real food," she murmured, her voice soft and tinged with a rare emotion of gratitude. "Like, actual food. No wonder they thought we lived on poison."
Thad ran a finger absently over the Decepticon insignia stitched onto his vest, his voice filled with awe. "No wonder so many join these guys. They've got master chefs or something. I don't think I can go back to what we had before. I'd starve before tasting anything green again."
Lizzy placed a hand over the boy's, nodding earnestly. "Thad, I will literally kill someone if I'm even offered that green scrap again."
Blast Off smiled down at them as he hurried over and set a third helping of food between them. "See, most people say I can't cook worth a damn," he admitted, though there was a warmth in his tone. "But I'm glad to know someone actually appreciates what I make. Not even my own conjunx does that. Eat up, kids. Good, healthier energon will keep your processors sharp and your bodies running smoother than ever. Might even make you think you can take on the Autobot army!"
"...Are you a prophet of Primus?" Lizzy asked, her tone awestruck. She and Thad stared in reverence at the greasy, half-burnt serving of ener-dogs and rhodium chips. Moments later, they were eating, their optics bright with pure joy as they savored the taste of the food. Both seemed transported to sheer heaven by the simple meal.
Within, in the far back of the bar, the chaotic noise outside softened into the faint hum of tools and the crackle of sparks. Behind a doorway labeled [PRIVATE OFFICE, KEEP OUT UNLESS YOU HAVE MONEY], Vortex was hard at work. She perched on a barstool by a cluttered workbench, her hands deftly tinkering with components as she leaned over her latest project. Next to her sat Swindle, slumped drunkenly against the wall with his chest compartment lazily popped open, giving Vortex full access to his internal storage.
"And like… you're sure he isn't gonna notice all this stuff is missing?" Uzi asked, her voice curious but wary. She sat upon the workbench, not in her usual robot-mode but her gun-mode.
A newly crafted one.
Where her old frame had looked haphazard and cobbled together, this version was sleek and polished. The weapon now featured a proper stock and an ergonomic handle beneath its barrel. Its smooth, professional finish left none of the amateurous, sci-fi augmentations she had once worn over her clothing were visible anymore. They've all been successfully integrated within her being now.
"Oh, he's totally gonna freak out when he checks his inventory," Vortex replied nonchalantly, not bothering to look up from her work. "But I don't care." With one final adjustment, she clicked a small component into place and stepped back, grinning with satisfaction as she held up the hyper-augmented Uzi with pride. The weapon exuded a polished, lethal energy that hadn't been there before. "Alright, I'm done. You've had some decent upgrades already, but they were all exposed and messy. Seriously, if you want to be a proper Decepticon, you've got to look the part—sleek, deadly, not like you got all your parts from a scrapyard."
With a loud grumble, the gun shook in the Decepticon's hands. "I did cobble myself together in a scrapyard. It's not like my colony gave me much to work with." Uzi correct, clearly annoyed at that fact being brought up.
Vortex chuckled, entirely unfazed by the irritation in Uzi's voice. "Well, welcome to the big leagues, short stack. We don't do half-measures here." She stepped back to give Uzi some space, admiring her handiwork with a smug grin. "Besides making you look presentable, I also moved your firing mechanism to your arm, so you can shoot without fully transforming. Though, fair warning—your firepower won't hit as hard without that fancy Mini-Con tech you've got. Other than that, how you feeling, kid?" Vortex pulled back her arm and tossed the weapon in the air.
"Terrorize!" At Uzi's vocal command, the gun sprang into the air. The faint hum of a T-Cog activating filled the room as she shifted into her robot mode. Her clothing no-longer covered with wires and lights, that would generate her power—leaving her looking in what would be her usual style of dress, as the Decepticon symbol now was stitched proudly on both of her shoulders, and along her back. She stretched herself experimentally, her optics bright with satisfaction. "Oh, that's so much better," she said, flexing her hands. "And I don't need to worry about the exploding problem anymore, right?"
Vortex smirked. "Please. I like to think I'm at least somewhat of a professional," she said while holding her hands on her hips moments before suddenly one of her blades flex and nearly knocked over the entire workbench, and send tools flying to fall over Swindle's body. "...I meant to do that."
"And yet you won't tell me why you're doing this for me," Uzi pointed out, glancing skeptically toward the still-unconscious Swindle. "Not that I'm complaining, but I get the feeling something like this would normally cost a lot."
Vortex shrugged, once more acting nonchalantly. "Eh, I don't sweat the details," she said. "Call it a welcoming gift. You're technically not a Decepticon yet—not until Shockwave gives the official okay—but come on… you killed Impactor."
"...Yeah," Uzi mumbled, her optics dimming slightly as she glanced down at her leg, which was no longer stained with inner energon—a wet rag thankfully solved that. "Hey, what's the deal with your dad and Impactor, anyway? When I told him about it, he got really quiet. I figured it was some kind of old grudge, but what's the story there?"
Vortex's expression faltered for a moment, her yellow eyes darting away as she leaned back against the workbench. "It's just a personal thing," she said, her tone suddenly more reserved. "Don't worry too much about it. The guy's dead, and my dad's alive. That's all that matters." She pushed off the bench and changed the subject, her usual cocky grin returning. "Hey, you wanna go up to the roof and do some target practice?"
Uzi gave her own grind, as suddenly green sparks covered her person. Her safety having been turned off. "Hell yeah!"
Nightfall would descend again across Cybertron, blanketing the metallic landscape in its familiar, artificial twilight. The neon lights of Swindle's bar flickered lazily, casting a hazy, warm glow over the interior. The low hum of quiet conversation mingled with the occasional clink of metal mugs and energon cubes, filling the space with a soothing ambiance. The bar had settled into a tranquil lull, though many of the patrons remained. Some hadn't left since morning. In one of the booths, the teens had claimed a corner to rest. Doll sat with both arms wrapped protectively around Thad and Lizzy, the three of them tangled together in a comfortable mess of limbs. Their visors flickered faintly, displaying the soft glow of [ Sleep Mode ] messages in their natural optic colors. Lizzy's head leaned against Doll's shoulder, her light snores barely audible. Thad clutched a half-empty plate of energon-based food in one hand, the other arm dangling limply over the edge of the booth.
Opposite them, resting motionlessly on the table, was Uzi in her gun mode. Faint, rhythmic mechanical clicks from her core were the only indication that she was peacefully offline—or even sentient at all.
Nearby, at a table scattered with colorful playing cards, Blast Off leaned back in his chair, cradling his hand of cards with one confident hand. "Geez," he remarked, glancing over at the sleeping teens. "Did those kids get any rest before they showed up here?"
Vortex rolled her optics as she placed another card on the pile. "Who knows? You know how it is. Best to let them sleep while they can."
"Ha!" Swindle crowed as he slapped a card down triumphantly. "Draw two, Blast—"
"Draw two."
"Draw two, glitch."
Both Blast Off and Vortex dropped their own cards onto the pile in unison, their grins widening as Swindle's face fell. "Aw, come on!" He groaned, reaching for the deck to draw six cards. "Who's the genius that came up with the stupid rule that those stack?!"
Vortex snickered as Blast Off wordlessly placed another card on the pile. "Maybe you just have terrible luck with card games. Ever think it's a sign from Primus to quit while you're ahead?" she teased, dropping her own card onto the table.
"No, I'm turning this around—wait. Oh, for shock's sake!" Swindle groaned, his optics flaring with frustration as he looked at the pile and saw what was placed down. "You skipped me!" Vortex burst into full-blown laughter, and even Blast Off struggled to hold back a snicker. "Sorry, man," Blast Off managed, his tone laden with mock sympathy. "Maybe next time you'll—" The doors to the bar slammed open with a resounding clang, cutting off the banter in an instant.
A gust of cold wind swept through the room as Onslaught and Brawl stormed in, their frames taut with urgency. Though their faces were hidden beneath their helmets, their body language spoke volumes—something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Combaticons… rise," Onslaught commanded, his voice sharp and unwavering.
Blast Off and Vortex exchanged a glance, their relaxed demeanor vanishing in a split second. Both pushed back from the table and stood, their movements precise and alert. The easy grins and playful banter were gone, replaced with steely professionalism. Even Swindle, who had been sulking over the card game moments before, silently slid his cards onto the table and straightened up. His posture was unnervingly calm now, his optics sharp. "What's the sitch, boss?" he asked, his voice surprisingly measured.
"We have a Code O," Onslaught said grimly.
The reaction was immediate. A ripple of gasps ran through the bar's patrons, cutting through the usual hum of conversation. Several drones hastily downed the remains of their drinks and slipped out through the back entrance. Others froze where they sat, their optics darting nervously between the Combaticons. A few braver—or perhaps more foolhardy—drones began arming themselves, their frames stiff with tension.
"Code O," Blast Off muttered, his optics narrowing dangerously. "That hasn't happened since—" "Since the last time he got bored," Onslaught interjected curtly, cutting him off.
Even Vortex, usually the first to crack a joke, was now deadly serious. The blades of her vehicle mode twitched at the ready, gleaming under the flickering bar lights. She turned to Onslaught, her voice steady but low with anticipation. "What's the play, Dad?" Before Onslaught could answer, a loud metallic thud rang out from the booth where the teens were sleeping. The impact jolted Doll awake, her optics snapping online instantly. Her grip on Thad and Lizzy tightened as her reflexes kicked in. Beside her, Uzi, still in gun mode, let out a tiny mechanical click, her systems reacting instinctively as she disengaged her safety causing green sparks to coat her frame.
"Wake up, you poison-drinking rats!" Brawl's voice boomed, his massive hand had slammed down onto the table with enough force to shake the whole booth. "We got ourselves a big problem."
Lizzy's optics flickered open, a mix of grogginess and irritation flashing across her face. "What the shock is going on?" she snapped, quickly scanning the room. The sight before her was unsettling—tables were being flipped over and used as makeshift barricades, and some drones huddled together for comfort while others frantically set up choke points.
"Of course," Thad could be heard mumbling as he was also forcing himself awake. "Just when it looked like things were gonna get better."
Onslaught's voice cut through the noise, "Get up," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He had already moved to one of the bar's windows, unholstering a blaster from his hip, his optics narrowing as he scanned the outside world. "We're leaving, right now."
Doll didn't question, her instincts kicking in as she helped Lizzy and Thad to their feet. The sound of Uzi's T-cog whirring echoed in the background as she leapt from the table and shifted into her robot mode with practiced ease. She shook her head, disoriented but quickly focused. Her optics scanned the room, taking in the same unsettling scene Lizzy and Thad had just noticed—the tense faces of the patrons, weapons being drawn, and the palpable sense of unease. "What's going on?" Uzi asked, her voice a mix of confusion and concern. The tightness in the air made her uneasy, so she attempted to mimic the Combaticons as they seemed stoic and ready for war. "Are the Autobots attacking?"
Brawl stepped aside, clearing a path toward the front entrance. His usual gruff tone was uncharacteristically sober as he answered. "Were it only so easy," he muttered darkly. "Overlord is loose."