Orion Pax stepped into the Security Control room.
Or what would eventually be the security room. Right now it looked like the aftermath of a rock concert. Wires hung from various openings in the walls, and thick power and data cables snaked their way across the floor between, under, over and around a plethora of tools and equipment. For the moment, only the main control units and displays had been hooked up, and around these three Autobot huddled.
Orion paused at the doorway, taking a moment to gaze around the room before starting towards the main controls, hopping wires and dodging technicians and security personnel as he went.
"Hey, chief!" An officer greeted him. "Watch the power cords. Tellegen says he'll throw us out if we trip over them one more time."
Orion smiled and acknowledged the Autobot with a wave of his hand. Tellegen was the head of the Tech division. They were the people responsible for turning the surrounding rooms into a work place for the Security devision, and Tellegen especially was known for making good on his threats.
"Think fast, Pax!"
Orion whirled in the direction of the shout, instinctively snatching the object out of the air.
"What's this?" he called after Killjoy, holding up the datapad he'd caught.
"Security grid report," the sergeant tossed over his shoulder before disappearing down a hallway.
Orion gave the pad a glance, then stored it in his pocket and continued his hazardous trek across the room. He would read it later, when he had some time. Right now he had orders to relay.
"Hey fellas," he greeted the three as he inserted himself into their circle. He focused on his team's head communication officer. "Wavelength, Zuke wants three of our boys to escort the Patrol Team that's heading out. Have them escort the team to the Foxtrot line, and make sure no one detects the team or backtracks them here."
The minibot nodded and moved to the communications area. Orion looked around, frowning slighty. "Where's CJ?"
The question was directed at Onyx, his second-in-command. The jet-black bot turned from his display with a smirk. "He's in the repair bay."
Orion blinked in surprise. "The repair bay? Whatever for?"
"Seems he got lost in the base, then ran into Silverbolt's door, which still isn't working. So he tried to punch it down -- made a pretty good dent, but his hand took the worst of it."
Orion shook his head in disbelief. "I'm going to go down to maintenance and have them do something about that door before it claims any more victims. What about the sensor test? Is it finished?"
"Almost." Onyx tapped his keyboard, and a wall display lit up with a map of the surrounding base. "We've got fair detection all around, but you can see problem spots in the southwest. They'll be clear sporadically, then blank the rest of the time."
"Hmm." Orion studied the layout carefully. "Those spots are a little too close for comfort. See if you can figure out what's causing them. Maybe we can work out a solution. How about the tunnel exploration?"
Zuke had created a team for the sole purpose of mapping out the tunnel system beneath the base, and Orion agreed that it was a good idea. Technically he wasn't responsible for the exploration team's results, but Zuke had already given him the go-ahead to use the tunnels as he saw fit.
Onyx worked some more controls, and the dispay was replaced with something that looked like a maze in 3D. Only a flat grid marking the base's location told Orion in which direction the surface lay.
"It's slow going; you can see that some of those tunnels are quite twisted. But they've got most of the immediate area down."
Orion rotated the map, examining the tunnels in relation to the base as he worked out his next order. "Send the team a memo; ask them if they could locate some tunnels leading to the surface, about, say... 50 klicks from the base, give or take a few. Look for one that connects right under the base. We don't want to have to run out in the open to get to our emergency exit."
"Yes, sir."
"Thanks, Onyx." Deciding he was done for now, Orion turned to walk away, then stumbled as his foot snagged on a power cord. It put up an instant's resistance before yanking out of the wall.
"Hehe... oops." Orion regained his balance, then visually traced the cord's other end to one of the makeshift offices and grinned nervously at his second. "I hope that wasn't important."
Onyx put a hand over his optics and shook his head in resignment.
There was a roar from the office and several curses followed, dashing what little hope Orion had. The unmistakable thick accent told Orion that he'd disturbed Tellegen the Tech King himself.
"I... think I'll go check on CJ," Orion told Onyx, and beat a hasty retreat towards the nearest exit.
"Da slaggin'!" Tellegen's roar boomed across the room as he stormed out of his office. "Whodunna dis time?!"
Orion glanced over his shoulder in time to see his second point calmly at his chief's retreating form. "He did, sir."
"Dat does it! Ye're banned for de next hundred megacycles, ya scrappin' littl'--"
Orion sprinted out the door with a speed he normally reserved for dodging bullets. "Thanks a lot, Onyx!"
"Scanners still show clear. We haven't picked up any Decepticon signals or seen any evidence that they've been around."
Transfan-80 stood with one hand on his helmet, his head held cocked as he listened intently to the reply. Nova was crouched a few yards behind him, guarding his back while he made the call to base. From what Trans had learned about Nova, the other took his duty seriously and fighting Decepticons even more so. As long as Nova had his back any 'con trying to get through would have a fight on his hands.
Heather was off to their right, stationed on an uprise in the terrain. The elevation would give her scanners an easier job of detecting any activity below.
"Yes," Transfan-80 nodded. "Will do. TFEighty out."
He dropped his hand to his rifle and shifted it into a comfortable two-handed grip as he turned to face Nova.
"All done?" The blue mech inquired, glancing over his shoulder at Transfan-80.
"Yup," Trans confirmed, walking up to join him. "Let's get going."
He radioed Heather and the two of them transformed and drove uphill to her position. As they approached she transformed and fell into formation as they went down the hill, continuing on their southernly travel.
Transfan-80 had had his misgivings about having Heather on the team. After all, their assignment was to scout and gather intel. That did require some level of stealth. It wouldn't do to have the enemy the loud sound of an engine half a klick away.
But Heather had surprised him with how quiet her engine was capable of being. As long as she was careful not to gun the engine, she explained to him, or have to haul something heavy she would be able to keep her engine to a purr.
Their drive was starting to look the same, far as they were from any nearby cities. Scarred terrain, pit-marks and impact craters that they would have to steer around. The occasional skeleton of a building would rise up, a bleak reminder of a past long forgotten. What was left of a road was little more than patches of shattered and twisted metal that was more of a hazard than a smooth way to travel. The Patrol Team stayed clear of it, preferring to travel off to the side where cover was more abundant if they had to duck.
*
Such a small thing, to be so significant. To be the key one need to create an awesome power of destruction.
At first he couldn't believe anyone would dare create a device that had such potential. But he had soon learned that their leader was crazy enough, mad enough, to think nothing of such an act. How one had gotten to be so mad and still be leader he was not sure. Maybe it was the fear of the madness that kept his soldiers from revolting. Or maybe they were mad themselves. He did not have time to observe and find the true cause.
They had finished it. And it would only be a matter of time before they hooked everything together and flipped the switch.
If only he could do something! But what? What could one in his condition do against such forces of madness? Perhaps if he was able to find help and lead them here something could be done. But how could he do that? In all the years he'd never figure out how to make himself seen, much less heard.
He couldn't stay anymore. The situation and his own inability to do anything about it was enough to drive him crazy. If he hadn't gone crazy cycles ago.
Turning in a random direction, he fled the ruined city of Algaru. But still he couldn't escape the question that kept echoing in his mind.
What could he do?
He couldn't go to the great city of Iacon or Polyhex. Early on he'd discovered that he had a limited range that did not extend far enough to be even close to any of the large cities. Just one large circle, the center being-
He shuddered and quickly steered his thoughts away. Whenever he started thinking about 'that' place, he inevitably started remembering what had happened there. What had taken place, the reason why he was like he was from that day, long ago.
So... he couldn't reach Iacon. There wasn't much he could do, short of entering a Transformer and sharing mind and body. But the only ones that seemed to be around were the Decepticons and he didn't relish the idea of sharing minds with a mad one and fighting for control.
Was there anything he could do?
He was a ways from the city limits when movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention and brought him to a halt. Turning, he saw three vehicles, moving fast across the landscape. One was large and pulling a trailer - a cargo hauler - and two smaller ones traveling beside and ahead of it.
Drones? Out here? he wondered, then mentally slapped himself. Cybertronians of this age had the ability to change their shape at will, living up to the name Transformers. One could no longer assume that a vehicle was just a drone anymore. Now it was more of a possibility that it was a living Transformer in an alt-mode instead of a drone.
So if they were not drones, could they be help?
Only one way to find out.
As fast as they were traveling, it was simple enough for him to warp over to them and stay beside them. There were some advantages to his condition, including being able to tell that these vehicles were indeed living beings and not machinery once he was close enough to them. Then he saw the large symbol adoring the side of the cargo hauler's trailer.
Autobots! Maybe there is some hope! But... why are they not heading towards the Decepticon camp?
His gaze fell on the red and black ground-hugging Transformer and sent out a mind probe. If he could just make a light enough connection to read the Autobot's surface thoughts he might learn something... There! So they were looking for Decepticons, but hadn't found any or had any knowledge of the camp that was now behind them. Now what?
Suddenly, an idea sprung to his mind.
Several deca-cycles ago a group of neutrals, explorers, had come through this way within his range. Bored and curious about them he'd stayed in their company. During that time, one of the members started complaining about a signal that kept appearing and disappearing on his sensors. At that time everyone had marked it off as a glitch and gone about their work.
But he had found out that that particular member had a better detection system than the others did and was, to his surprise, picking up a signal that he was giving out!
It took him several tries but he'd learn how to control the output of the signal at will. It had been useful when one of the members had gotten lost. He'd help the others find him by leading them with his signal.
Maybe... maybe he could do the same thing here!
Glancing around and getting his bearings, he raced back to the city. Finding the mad ones camp, he settled next to the object they were guarding and reached back to the Autobots with all his might.
Come on... See me... you have to see me...
*
Suddenly Transfan-80 came to a halt.
"Hold up!" he called, transforming and turning around to face behind them.
Nova and Heather quickly applied their brakes, sliding to a halt a few feet in front of Transfan and transformed.
"What is it?" Heather demanded, glancing around.
"I'm getting a signal on an isolated channel," Transfan replied slowly, concentrating on pinning down the elusive signal that kept flickering in and out of his sensors.
"You have a direction?" Danger not imminent, Nova's rifle dipped towards the ground as he activated his own scanners, trying to detect what Transfan-80 was detecting.
"It seems to be originating from... the northeast direction." Transfan-80 told them, pointing behind them and to the left. "I'd say... fifteen klicks away."
"Northeast?" Heather exclaimed. "We've been traveling southeast, why didn't we detect it before?"
"It's pretty faint," Nova informed her before Trans could reply, finally finding the signal. "I think I'm picking it up, but just barely. Trans?"
Transfan-80 shook his head. "I don't think I'm getting any more than you are, Nova. I'm not getting anything on the radio channels either, so no way to get a hint of what it may be."
"So... why didn't we detect it before?" Heather asked again, glancing between the two. She'd tried to find it but her detection systems weren't as finely tuned as Nova's or Transfan-80's were or as far-reaching. They were more suited for up close in the heat of battle.
Nova shrugged his broad shoulders. "No telling. We've been heading a little east ourselves so maybe we weren't close enough before. Or perhaps the terrain is preventing the signal from going north but not south."
"But you do have a point, Heather." Transfan-80 picked up on her underlying question "It could be some sort of trap set by the Decepticons to lure us. So knowing that the question is: do we check it out or keep going?"
"Well..." Heather took a moment to think, going through possible situations in her mind. "It is the first sign of life around here besides us. It would be a waste to not try and take a closer look at it."
Nova nodded in agreement. "We'll be alert for a trap. Knowing that one may be possible leaves us less vulnerable to one. Besides," He smiled and hefted his large rifle higher up. "I'd love to see them try."
The glint in Nova's eye made Transfan-80 feel sorry for any mech that dared crossed his path.
Almost.
"Alright. Let me give base an update and then we'll head out."
*
Hook punched the release button without bothering to take off the solid lock. Why go through the trouble of taking it off only to put it back on a minute later? He entered the cramped inside of the mobile container before the door had a chance to slide all the way open.
"Hold the door open." He commanded over his shoulder. He didn't like working in the dark or with dim light, and why should he have to?
"Uh, hehe, with what?" Mixmaster asked cluelessly as he followed behind Hook.
Hook sighed in exasperation. Why did he have to get stuck with the morons?
"Your hand? A foot? Heck, why don't you try using your head for once. Just do it before it closes!"
"Sheesh. Whatever," Mixmaster grumbled as he turned around and thrusted his foot into the door's track and crossed his arms sullenly. Hook was sure in a rotten mood today. Must have been all that delicate work he'd been doing on the master chip. "Why do I always get stuck holding the door?"
Hook didn't bother to reply as he turned sideways to squeeze past the pressurized containers holding the ingredients to their latest invention. The containers kept the gas under pressure and the metal in a state of liquid. The set of sorting drawers he was looking for was on floor level, squeezed between a gas and liquid container.
Hook hunkered down next to it, unlatched the drawer and carefully put in the chip he'd been carrying. He started to close it, but the meter on the liquid metal container beside him caught his optic and he paused before it was all the way closed. He straightened up, getting a better look at the readout.
"Hey, Mixmaster."
Mixmaster turned around lazily. "What?"
"Have you been stealing some of my metal?"
"What!" Mixmaster exclaimed, leaving the doorway to see what Hook was looking at. "I haven't been inside this container since the last time, and that was with you!"
Hook gestured to the meter, which showed a big red zero. "Well, obviously someone's been helping themselves to-"
~THUMP!~
Both Constructicons froze in the sudden darkness that the closed sliding door brought on.
"Mixmaster! I told you to keep the door open!" Hook snapped at the other as he switched on the headlights from his alt-mode.
"It's not my fault!" Mixmaster quickly retorted, throwing up a hand to protect his optics from the glare. No way he was letting Hook lay the blame on him!
Hook swore and made his way to the door and pressed the single inside button that was suppose to open it up.
Nothing happened.
Hook smacked at it again and then let out a string of curses when nothing happened. He whirled around and glared at Mixmaster. "Did you remember to take off the lock?" he growled.
Mixmaster squinted against the headlights. "No. You were the first one in so you were going to take it off."
"Me?! Don't you know it's the last person in line that does it!"
Mixmaster raised his voice to match Hook's, straightening up. "Well, no one told me!"
Hook snarled and slammed a fist into the button, caving it in. What idiot designed this thing without a keypad on the inside anyway?
"So, now what?" Mixmaster questioned innocently, all too willing to hint that it was all Hook's fault.
"Quiet!" Hook snapped at him, fuming. How in the world was he to get out of this mess without losing face in front of all those illiterate Decepticons?
*
"Looks like... six seekers and a few ground troops." Nova told the other two behind him as he peeked around the corner.
The signal had lead them into the ruins of some long forgotten city, they'd only had to traveled into the it a ways before the signal was overwhelmed by several other signals. And it hadn't been hard to figure out who's they were.
They had transformed and cautiously traveled the rest of the way on foot to where they were now, hiding behind the last building between them and the Decepticons several yards away in a clearing made by some high impact-damage weapon.
"Here, Trans, you take a look. I think some of the seekers are damaged but I'm not entirely sure."
Nova switched with Transfan-80 and waited while the other leaned around the corner.
"I think you right. It looks a little odd for damage, but that's all I can think it could be. It looks like their guarding something too... some sort of large container or - uh-oh!"
There was a yell from the Decepticon's direction and Transfan-80 jerked back behind the building as several bolts sizzled into the edge. "We've been spotted."
"Gee, you think?" Heather asked sarcastically, over the roar of engines. "Shall we pull back?"
"No. I want to try and get our hands on whatever they're guarding. It could give us an advantage." Trans tried to get another look, but quickly backed away. "And whatever it is it looks like they don't want us getting to it!"
"Then it looks like we're about to get messy," Nova commented with a predatory smile. "Just the way I like it!"
Shoving off from the wall he leaped past Transfan, holding down the trigger of his rifle and throwing a curtain of deadly return fire at the Decepticons. Hitting the ground, he rolled onto his knee without letting up, forcing the Decepticons to dodge behind cover before returning fire. Getting to his feet he charged forward, ducking behind a large piece of concrete at the last moment as laser fire struck the area he'd just vacated.
Heather bolted out after him, but instead cut across to the other side, firing her rifle with one hand till she dove into the empty doorway of a the building across the street.
"Seekers at eight o'clock!" Nova hollered over the firefight.
"On it!" Trans called back, diving out on the heels of Heather. Hitting the ground he rolled against one of the concrete waves that had been created by whatever weapon had hit the place long ago. He target one of the seekers that had risen into the air and were now diving back towards the ground and pulled the secondary trigger of his rifle, firing off his acid grenade with a surprisingly quiet whoomp.
The grenade seperated halfway to the target, the six shells spreading to strike the seeker in the engines and wings. Breaking on impact, the vicious acid contained within ate away at the Decepticon's armored skin, causing the engines to catch fire in the wrong places.
With his thrust gone and lift gone, the Decepticon flyer suddenly started losing altitude, falling down on his wingmate who was flying beneath him and sending them both into the ground.
"Cover me!" Transfan called to the other two. "I'm going to make a play for their mystery item!"
Heather and Nova shouted back acknowledgements. Leaping into the air, Transfan-80 transformed and hit the ground with his tires spinning. Weaving back and forth at full speed he ran right up against slopped barrier that a Decepticon was using for cover. Driving over it and into the air he transformed, flipping around to fire at the Decepticon and taking him out before he had landed on the ground.
Now that he was closer he could see it was a large container, looked like one of those containers used for storing stuff and moving. Defiantly too heavy for him to carry in either mode. He started running the rest of the way towards it, activating his comm.
"Heather! This things too big. I need you to come over here with your trailer."
"Be there pronto," Heather radioed back.
Tranfan had almost reached the container when a Seeker came screaming across the ground, firing at him. The rounds impacted all around him, exploding.
The explosion lifted him off his feet before slamming him back onto the ground, shaking his rifle from his grip as he tumbled. Shaking his head against the ringing in his ears and trying to regain his balance, Transfan-80 got to his knees and looked up as he heard a soft click.
His fluid chilled by several degrees as he found himself looking right into the barrel of a Decepticon gun.
I'm dead.
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