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Garrus 9 - Quartermaster's Locker and Armory

"We are here on behalf of our commanding officer, Bomb Burst. He is requesting we take you to him."

Octopunch's optics flickered as the assassin informed him and his friend. The salvager was at a loss for words at how opportune a moment this was for he and his fellow Decepticon. Here their quest was to rearm themselves and locate their former captain, Bludgeon. Then low and behold these idiots come marching in and provide a direct route to their lost captain.

"Ah! Perfect! Take us to Bludgeon. You know where he is right? Hm?" Octopunch's colleague asked without wasting a second more.

"Aye! Lead they way you eels." The multicolored Decepticon commanded with a wave of his pointed actuators. "Well don't sit around now, get moving!"

Garrus 9 - Amphitheater

"This isn't some test, some upgrade gave them," Deadlock barked as his optics lifted from Jhiaxus' logs and up towards the towering Commander, "he experimented on them like animals! Our own kind, ripped from their homes and torn open so that he could create...create that thing!"

From his slab, Afrerburner turned his audio sensor to the sound of a fanatic warrior hollering towards his superior. The Technobot grinned at the ruckus, music to his ears.

"Scorponok, he's a monster... I know in our ranks that means almost nothing, but- but this..." Deadlock stuttered to find the right word to describe what he was seeing before him.

Garrus 9 - Mines

Brainstorm had no time to react to the Technobot commander's sudden throttle as he was pinned up against the rock wall.

"Listen carefully Brainstorm... I will explain this once and once time only." Scattershot proclaimed as he loosened his grip on the biomechanical engineer before five sabbac cards ejected from his wrist compartment. Brainstorm rubbed the back of his processor to feel for any dents that may just been implanted into his frame after being thrown against the sedimentary wall behind him.

"Down, Right, Left, Down and finally Left. Do not forget this combination Brainstorm. Follow it as if your function and spark depends on it... because if your damn crazy theory proves correct, it may very well depend on what is discovered there."

"My theory?" The teal and white engineer tried to recall as Scattershot returned the cards to their storage compartment. "Wait, Scattershot what do you mea-"

"You had better succeed in this Brainstorm, because if Nosecone's stunt goes for not, I am going to be very VERY irritated."

Scattershot then pivoted away to peer out the edge of the occupied tunnel. Brainstorm tried to fathom a response for the Technobot commander, but was soon relieved of his company as he went off towards the incoming Terrorcons.

"Down, right, left, down, left... Four, seven, six, three... Is thirteen or something else?" Brainstorm peered out from the edge of the tunnel to gaze upon Scattershot try and defuse the situation, only to catch sight of Hungrrr laughing in his face towards his attempt. The Autobot engineer picked up his pickax and turned back into the tunnel. Scattershot was doing his part, now it's time for Brainstorm to do his. All he had to do was stay hidden and remain inconspicuous until the Terrorcons left, then he could go and acquire his fellow brothers-in-arms to assist in this exploration endeavor. But for the time being, he had appearances to maintain. He brought up the crude digging equipment above his processor before letting gravity take over and forced the pointed end into the mineral deposit.

"Down, right, left, down, left... Four, seven, six, three, something... Down, right, left, down-"

Garrus 9 - Enroute to Command Center

The trek towards Bludgeon's supposed location was beginning to grow tiresome to the Decepticon salvager. His trigger finger was beginning to grow itchy having been deprived by the sweeps and these assassins back at the quartermaster's armory when he originally thought they were Autobots. Perhaps a harpoon-bolt to this assassin's processor would satisfy the itch. No, with Octopunch's reputation it would only enhance his urge for plundering, he'd have to take the next assassin. Then the next... Then the next one after that...

"We're almost there." One of the bat's illusive lackeys announced, breaking Octopunch's train of thought. The multicolored squid-former budged his way through the masses with Stranglehold hopefully following just behind in his wake. Time to get some answers, but more importantly find out who liberated the prisoners so Octopunch could win his earning of shannix from Stranglehold.

As Octopunch enclosed on the door, the sweep standing guard turned to the side to allow the group to enter. The door to the prison command center opened slowly with a sharp hiss. The smell of brimstone, charred metal, and ash tickled at the salvager's olfactory sensors. It reminded him of the earlier days in the war when he was stationed on planets more suited to his preferred aquatic atmosphere. Wrestling down patrol craft in the salty seas of Aquatos, sinking fuel tankers off the Golden Coast on Hydros 7, oh how it took him back. As Octopunch strode into the room, he was approached by one of the Bat's lesser underlings.

"Octopunch, Stranglehold, my superior would like to see-"

"Screw your superior! Where's Bludgeon at?!"

Weapons Locker

>>"How close are you to actually getting Octopunch and Stranglehold into motion and to me?"<< Bomb Burst's irritated communique came through just as Octopunch answered.

"Aye! Lead they way you eels." The multicolored Decepticon commanded with a wave of his pointed actuators. "Well don't sit around now, get moving!"

>>"We are underway now, sir."<< The first assassin reported back to Bomb Burst as he started in motion, not needing waste any more words on the pair they were escorting.

Garrus 9 Corridor Network

The guard was just not willing at all to give up any information on the communications problem and Bomb Burst was feeling he was wasting too much time. With news coming back that Octopunch and Stranglehold were finally on their way, the Vampire was a little less... on edge. Something was finally going right. He tilted his head a bit as he looked at the uncooperative guard. "Right... I see what we're going to have to do here." He growled in his happy growl at the guard. "You, my tasty little friend, are going to be an example..." He leaned down, the fangs dangerously close to the guard's throat. But his optics went to the guard he had pushed away. "Last chance..." He muttered.

Again he was met with less than positive responses and much swearing. This was getting old. "That's your choice then." He said and the fangs thrust into the guards throat, very gently, and very expertly, finding the guard's vocal processor. Quickly he jerked his head back, cleanly ripping out the vocals with one swift, energon soaked, motion. The guards screams were silenced almost as quickly as they started.

Optics went back to the other guard. "You can still save its life, even if it's too late to save it's voice..." He suggested, but still, the guard was uncooperative. "Have it your way." The Vampire said as he spat out the vocals and then sunk his fangs into the side of the guard's neck.

Despite not being able to allow the guard to scream, he did put up a lovely struggle. It was a shame the guard was low on energon and his little treat didn't last long before the final shudder before dying.

To say the least, there were assassins everywhere. Or at least they had been moving themselves back towards their commanding officer. Finding one near by to send out to greet the arriving Decepticons was not hard. While he was busy feeding off the guard he sent one out to stall time for him to finish should the wayward party finally arrive.

The Vampire wanted to spend some time savoring the meal and letting the meal's friend squirm, but he was cut short by the silent message that the assassins were arriving with Octopunch and Stranglehold. He sighed. Well, at least the guard would squirm as he waited now that the two stragglers had finally caught up. He looked at the remaining guard with his comrade's energon dripping down his chin. "I have business... think about what just happened here and decide if it's worth holding out on the information I want." He said as he heard his minion greet the two crew members.
"Octopunch, Stranglehold, my superior would like to see-" He heard his assassin saying in the Command Center.
"Screw your superior! Where's Bludgeon at?!" The somewhat familiar voice of Octopunch yelled at the assassin.

The Vampire sighed. >>"Don't tangle with them."<< He said to his team. >>"Just take them on in to Bludgeon."<< He looked at the other guard and stood. >>Bludgeon, Octopunch and Stranglehold have arrived with the weapons, they're being brought to you.<< With that, he headed for the hole that used to be a wall (before it met Snarler), in a very unhurried pace, now that Bludgeon's and Snarler's weapon were about to be in their possession, he felt a bit more relaxed.Bonus points for actually managing to get Octopunch and Snarler to them without casualties.

The Semper Tyrannis--Bridge

“Taking damage? Can't you even use a drill right you slagging landlubber?!"

"I am using the equipment precisely as it was designed to-" Reflector began, but before he could even finish his rationalization, Finback had barked on...

“Then switch to the laser cutters instead of breaking up our equipment your thrice damned fool! Our wage is nowhere big enough of to pay that damage bill you are going to get us if you break those fraggin' drills!"

Reflector's optics narrowed. Thrice-damned. What an abhorrent insult, to him of all mechanoids. The Surveillance Specialist's hands glided over a new set of commands on the terminal.

On the surface below, the twisting drills ground slowly to a halt and underwent a secondary transformation: the laser-cutters that the captain of the Tyrannis had requested began to jut outward from the sides of the drill extenders. This was not the first time that the ship had needed to extract valuable resources from complicated environments.

The intensely-focused lasers began to slice though the remaining Elban substrata and Autobot construction materials with ease. Reflector cautiously pushed the drills closer to their intended target: the precious Rig. It was not Aequitas, by any stretch of the imagination, but it would certainly provide its own wealth of resources.

"Laser-progression successful. Engaging tertiary transformation sequence in order to extract the Rig structure."
___

Garrus-9--Command Center

Mindwipe's observations regarding the less than functional status of one of Megatron's Warriors Elite hadn't elicited so much as a chuckle of amusement from the cryptologist. Curious. But perhaps not excessively so. He had come to know Cipher well enough to know that when his mind was focused on a particular end, little else mattered.

“Not at all."

“Aequitas. I had hoped to plunder its contents. To reveal just what the Autobots have to hide."

Ahh...of course. That was indeed a mighty prize to have been snatched from Scorponok's, and thus Cipher's, grip. Though the machine was no specialty of Mindwipe's by any means, even minimally programmed Cybertronians knew the basic history of the Aequitas trials. Standing in the presence of that awesome construct had been a reflective moment for Mindwipe. he could only imagine what the experience had been like for one of Cipher's specialty.

“I know what happened in that chamber. I’ve already seen it. The physical evidence that’s stored on Aequitas would serve as proof to what I’ve claimed. Now…I’ve been denied…again."

"A temporary denial only, Cipher. Scorponok will want that machine for the advancement of the empire. I can only guess what lengths he will go to in order to reacquire it. And you will undoubtedly be first in line to be granted access once he has."

Of course, Mindwipe didn't know how comforting his words would be. This was clearly a time of frustration for the cryptologist. Nevertheless, he would offer what minimal verbal comforts he could.

“The Autobots are not infallible, my dear Mindwipe. Even their most loyal soldiers are capable of horrific atrocities. They don’t know it yet but there are monsters among them."

At Cipher's initial point, Mindwipe smirked. He certainly need not be convinced of that. The Autobots had their flaws and they were many. But...and he couldn't put a precise finger on it...there was something more to what Cipher said as he continued on. Mindwipe was practically tingling as he attempted to assess the implications of Cipher's statement.

"Who?" Mindwipe asked, the wheels in his mind turning excitedly over the possibilities of whom Cipher could be referring. "Prowl is certainly no lost son of Primus. The Wreckers can be especially heinous. Let's see...who else...hmm..."

Skullgrin simply followed Snarler, not really knowing what to do. He just stayed a few steps behind, making sure he didn't get in the way. Snarler wasn't the brightest, but he applied brute force almost as effectively as Skullgrin.

Garrus 9 – Weapons Locker

The bat’s stooges burst out into laughter. They said some things afterward, but Stranglehold didn’t exactly hear them. There was a sort of roaring in his audios. The kind caused by rage. ‘Course, after a moment or two, he calmed down. He tucked Snarler’s gear under his arm and tossed the business end of both maces over his other shoulder. Octopunch was quick to pipe up and in a moment they were on their way. All the while, Stranglehold maintained an extremely annoyed expression on his faceplate.

Corridor Network

As Stranglehold plodded along beside Octopunch, he glanced around at the destruction caused by the Decepticon attack. So much for home sweet home. Good riddance. He couldn’t wait to get off this desolate dust ball and back into the action. Smashing Autobot heads. Nothing sounded as good as that. And to be back at it with Octo and Bludge? Nothin’ better.

As one of the bat’s minions announced that they were almost there, Stranglehold swept in the area behind Octopunch. The command center was a wreck. Everything in the corridors seemed like a slight skirmish compared to the destruction here. Someone dropped a bomb in here. Stranglehold breathed it in. The scent of death and ash. Primus, he had missed it.

One of the bat’s underlings approached Octo. "Octopunch, Stranglehold, my superior would like to see-"

"Screw your superior! Where's Bludgeon at?!"

The orange enforcer smirked, glancing around for Bludgeon or Bomb-Burst. Seeing neither, he shrugged and grabbed one of the assassins that had escorted them by the head. “Ya know, I was waitin’ on the Bat-freak to do this, but I guess he ain’t gonna show.” He crushed the assassin’s head in his hand like a grape, fluids spurting everywhere as he tossed the body at the other two escorts with one hand. One of them was quick enough to get out of the way, but the other one got clobbered and toppled over onto the ground. Stranglehold was upon him almost immediately, his foot not so delicately placed on the assassin’s head.

“What are you-“

Squelch!

Head neatly crushed under foot and his anger finally sated, the enforcer cast his optics around the command center. “BLUDGEON! BLUDGE!” he boomed, using his loudest stage volume, which really wasn’t too far off from his regular volume. He fell quiet for a moment to listen for some kind of response while walking forward and tapping Octopunch on the shoulder.

“C’mon, let’s go, he can’t be much farther, ‘Punch.”

Garrus-9 - Snarlers Wake/Power plant

Bludgeon entered the power station shortly after Snarler and Skullgrin the siege warrior was more a hanger on than a credible asset to Snarler. But Bludgeon couldn't be too careful after the appearance of Omega Supreme he wasn't taking chances at some other fairytale autobot making an appearance like Dai Atlas or Impactor hiding about the place.

"Skullgrin direct your attention to finding a data station Cyclonus requires us to aid in the search for the mysterious communications blackout, I do not intend to let him down"

Bludgeon was about to move further into the power station as a familiar holler brought the shudder of irritation through his frame.

"BLUDGEON! BLUDGE!"

Stranglehold that could only mean one thing that Octopunch who was infinitely more useful was nearby his aquatic mode could be used to search the power plant water coolant tanks for any hidden goodies.

Picking a rock up he turned on his heel sending a brief data packet to Snarler to continue securing the power station without trashing the consoles.

As he made his way back to the command centre he spotted the burly brawler stood shouting his mouth off. Bludgeon tested the weight of the rock in his hand it was adequate for the task with a deft flick of his wrist he threw the rock at Stranglehold.

Then followed quicker than his bulky form should move appearing in the door way soon after the rock. He appeared from the gloom like a ghost smoke wreathing his form like a spectral wraith he stepped back into the command centre. What he saw dismayed him Stranglehold had apparently decided to stomp on one of Bomb bursts assets by extension his assets and the Metallikato master was not pleased.

"Octopunch I believe you have something that belongs to me"

Bludgeon simply held out his hand and awaited the return of his sword his head however turned to Stranglehold. As he spoke to the brawler his voice never raised above a whisper but the intent was clear cross me at your peril.

"Next time you have the urge to destroy something Stranglehold. Do not decide that one of my assets is expendable or I shall decide that you are expendable and send you up against Omega Supreme alone!"

Garrus 9 Corridor Network


“Ya know, I was waitin’ on the Bat-freak to do this, but I guess he ain’t gonna show." Bomb Burst heard Stranglehold speak, not yet in visual range he was a little perplexed by the comment. He had very little contact previously with Stranglehold so he had no idea what the mentally inferior Con was alluding to. He lightly shook his head telling himself not to try too figure out dull witted muscle thought processes, he'd just end up getting a processor-ache.

The crunch of metal made him stop in his tracks and then metal bodies hitting each other prompted the reflex actions of pulling out his axe and freezing in place, his visor slid down to protect his vision. He resisted the reflex to take to the shadows. Intuition told him what was likely going on. >>"Did Stranglehold attack?"<< He asked silently over the comm.

The remaining assassins answered affirmatively, sounding a bit shocked.

"You've got to be kidding me..." The Vampire growled just as the sound of Stranglehold stomping on the head of another of his assassins echoed through his audio receptors. >>"Get out of sight!"<< He silently ordered the remaining two before they could meet similar ends, though judging from the sounds, Stranglehold was done.

He didn't put away his axe, but did start back into motion with a much more hurried pace. He absolutely could not make sense of what Stranglehold had said, let alone done. “Ya know, I was waitin’ on the Bat-freak to do this.. kept echoing through his head.

Bludgeon's approach did not escape his attention despite how distracted he was. His trajectory was clear and The Vampire was in that path. With a bow of his head, lowering his weapon, and not a word, he backed out of the way so that his commander would rightfully go first. He fell in step a respectable distance behind Bludgeon.

The Vampire, energon still dripping down his chin and actuators from his latest meal, stepped through the hole and into the Command Center as Bludgeon spoke to the two newcomers. His axe was still out, yet in a non threatening position, held in one hand with the head pointed to the floor. He was not here to pick a fight... he wanted answers.

"Next time you have the urge to destroy something Stranglehold. Do not decide that one of my assets is expendable or I shall decide that you are expendable and send you up against Omega Supreme alone!"

The Vampire did not interrupt, did not even nod in agreement, his own turn would come as soon as Bludgeon was done with Stranglehold. He did, however, put his intense gaze on the culprit. Once his commanding officer was done, he took his turn.

"You were waiting for the Bat-freak, why?" He growled. "Why was it that since I could not be here you felt it necessary took the lives of my soldiers?"

He took a moment to collect himself before he could lose his cool. "I was the one who brought you here." He finally said. "You'd still be wandering around this slag hole if it weren't for me. This is how you thank me? They were about to take you to Bludgeon. They didn't even have their weapons out. They were no threat. You had no provocation to attack them." All that didn't really matter as much, Stranglehold was Stranglehold, no accounting for him, what prompted the attack was far more important to the Vampire. "Exactly why were you waiting for me?" He growled.

Garrus 9: The Mines - Level 1 Gamma Section

Small powdery mounds of rust exploded into an ever billowing cloud as the hefty foot of the Autobot Ranger came down upon their summits. The clouds would swirl slowly in the lower gravity of the passage as the weak life support filters began to exude their limited influences. After a moment the billows of rust and fragments of shattered stone and ground ash began to disperse into thin low hanging mists that hovered above the rough cut stone path.

"It is... an improvement." Pyro spoke in a distant tone as he one again drew up his right leg and pressed it down into the foot print of ground rock. This time the force was greater and the rock fractured slightly under his immense strength. Slowly and deliberately his optics turned from the battered mismatching plate of armor that surrounded his recently repaired hip... if one could consider it truly repaired. For the last cycle or so, he and his recent accomplice... a small medic by the name of Amaranth, had scoured the level in search of materials that would be suitable in repairing the Autobot ranger.

It had been a grizzly task, of that Pyro would never argue. The fact was that he was running on precious few options. Since their temporary team up a few sections towards the newer portions of the mines, Pyro and Amaranth had steadily made their way towards the outlying sectors. He had pulled from his memory banks the brief discussion that had taken place within the brig of the Semper Tyrannis during their initial and rather disheartening transit from Nebulos to this workmech's paradise. It was almost innocent in how the topic had come to pass, a desire to find some sort of hole to reinforce once they were freed. A place to mount a resistance... initially Pyro had found the idea of resistance in that manner absurd. The fact was, Optimus would never hide and allow others to suffer while he was sequestered and sheltered, so neither would he.

But the more he had thought about that discussion and more specifically the known faults of Elba and the Garrus 9 facility, the more he began to think about other opportunities to better their present situation. It also stood to reason that given the age of the facility in which they were now prisoners, there were systems and infrastructure that were equally as ancient. Thus he and his unlikely partner had begun a covert search for one possible access point to the ancient networks of pipes and conduits that were retained.

During their search, Amaranth had literally stumbled over the corpse of a fallen Decepticon Bruiser. Its head had been crushed by a cave in and its spark chamber was as cold as the shard of stalagmite that punctured its chest. She examined the body to determine whether or not the corpse had any intelligence on it. However, her efforts proved fruitless as the simple shift of the soldier's shoulder revealed a powerful transformation inhibitor chip bolted to its soft connection joint. Once her initial examination had been conducted, the medic turned her attention to more practical applications of the find.

It was an hour or so later since the salvage operation and transplant had begun. Without the benefit of anesthetic or modern tools, Amaranth had taken the corpse's pristine hip joint and painstakingly used its parts to rebuild the damaged leg of her large companion. "I do not believe that it will function fully. But given that your leg was operating at below even fifty percent, any sort of relief should be taken as a blessing."

"I quite agree," Pyro flexed his leg again before finally allowing it to press further into the dirt and testing its stability and capability to endure his weight. "I do not believe transformation will be a pleasant experience either. Though given the current circumstances..." His voice trailed off. A sound in the near distance caused him to pause.

"Get behind the bend and stay down." He reached for his primitive digging instrument and prepared it for a strike. As Amaranth disappeared behind partially cannibalized body, a single foot came around the bend.

Pyro was forced to catch himself mid swing and divert the bladed edge of the ax straight into the hard basalt surface. He allowed the dust to settle as the force of the impact dislodged sediment and debris from the old cut ceiling. "Roadbuster?"

Semper Tyrannis – Bridge

"Laser-progression successful. Engaging tertiary transformation sequence in order to extract the Rig structure."

“That's a good matey!” Finback cheered, rubbing the palms of his hands together within his life support tank, his disposition clearly having changed from the earlier anger he had projected towards Reflector. If the old sailor was quick to anger, he was also quick to forget it as well unlike some other Decepticons.

“Now haul the loot in!”

Semper Tyrannis – Bridge

"Sabotage huh could be fun, but I would prefer to wallow in that grease bath for the next couple of cycles"

Apeface turned to look at the reptilian Horrorcon and shrugged his shoulders, “Suit yourself. As far as I am concerned you have earned your grease bath.”

A mischievous grin rose to his bestial face, “I can deal with this, sabotage has always been more of my thing anyway.”

“Unless of course you want to search for Autobot stragglers!” Apeface hollered as be bounced off towards the ship's hangar like only someone with extreme level of agility could, using walls as much as the floor itself to both speed up his journey and to make it more entertaining.

Garrus 9 – Amphitheater

"Far too many," Jhiaxus said from the heights of his observation chair, one holoscreen after another blinking into existence as Jhiaxus worked. "But within the Rig, I had no shortage of time to think. To modify. And thus I will. So shall it be,""

“Undoubtedly.” Scorponok remarked – right now being more interested in what had disturbed Deadlock so.

"This isn't some test, some upgrade gave them," Deadlock barked as his optics lifted from Jhiaxus' logs and up towards the towering Commander, "he experimented on them like animals! Our own kind, ripped from their homes and torn open so that he could create...create that thing! Scorponok, he's a monster... I know in our ranks that means almost nothing, but- but this..." Deadlock stuttered to find the right word to describe what he was seeing before him.

As Deadlock ranted, Scorponok moved next to the warrior, wanting to see the logs himself. “Steel yourself soldier. Your shrieking dishonors us both.”

There they were. Jhiaxus' open logs that Deadlock had managed to stumble on. It was a true research journal, as could be expected from a master scientist such as Jhiaxus. Cold. Logical. Efficient. Thorough. And Scorponok processed it all in matter on seconds, going far deeper into the records than Deadlock had, recording a visual copy of the information for his personal use. And he understood. The information here alone was enough for Scorponok to create another Monstructor himself. Another unstable monster who might as well turn against all of them. Perhaps Jhiaxus in his arrogance had thought himself so much beyond the intellectual capacity of the later generations of Cybertronians or gladiators that he had done practically nothing to veil his research data from prying eyes present in the amphitheater. That suited Scorponok just fine. It was now matter of making use of Jhiaxus' still working brain module to perfect the process.

The atrocities themselves were trivial to the warlord at this point. There was nothing that Scorponok had not witnessed before. He had seen it happen before Megatron's revolution. He had seen it taking place during Megatron's reign as the leader of Decepticon Empire despite of their original intentions. He even had had an access to stolen Autobot documents which had confirmed their ancient enemy being no better than the Decepticons they reviled. And he was guilty of similar crimes himself even if he tried to justify it with war and through use of captured enemies as test subjects.

And Deadlock? How many he had killed in cold blood? How many civilians he had murdered in the name of the Decepticons? How many organic life form infested space stations they had razed across the galaxy? Cities? Even planets? Had Deadlock finally grown a conscience? Was he becoming a liability? He would not stop Scorponok from bringing the war to the end by any means necessary. It was the only way for them to know peace again. The only way that could justify their past actions.

“You are distressed. I am relieving you of you duties for now. I am scheduling you an appointment with a pair of specialists. They will come to you.”

>>”Bombshell, have Kickback and Venom meet with Deadlock and make an evaluation of his mental state.”<< Scorponok privately radioed the most competent if treacherous of his Insecticons. >>”He may have become a liability. If our resident therapists cannot solve the situation through talking, make use of your cerebro shells.”<<

Garrus 9's Command Center (For A Moment)

While waiting for Stranglehold to answer his questions, Bomb Burst heard some not so subtle, not so quiet, sounds of a mostly incapacitated Autobot attempting to escape. Like it could get very far...
He frowned, optics still locked on the object of his fury. He would get the answers, but right now, duty called. And he would not let Bludgeon down yet again.

"I have business." He brusquely said. Since the Autobot was only along the wall they were on the other side of, it wouldn't take him long to get back there. "I still expect a timely answer to my questions." He reminded the brute as he moved silently back into the gloomy depths of dust and smoke.

The guard had managed to make it halfway down the room, towards the next room that lead closer to Snarler and Skullgrin. It appeared he was going to try to make it through, obviously not realizing that was even more perilous than remaining where he was, at least, perilous at this moment. Curious that it didn't attempt to go out into the corridors where they entered the maze of rooms from. The Vampire quickly made it through the room and stood over the guard with a stern look. "I'm no longer in the mood to play." He said. "If I don't get the information I want, which I know you have, I will kill you. Very painfully, and take as long as I possibly can... because we aren't going anywhere unless you tell us where the jamming equipment is." He drew out dagger to punctuate his point.

"You're going to kill me anyway..." The guard spat out then laughed a rusty sounding laugh. "I know you... I remember you....You're the parasite we had in our prison at the beginning of the war."

With aid from that laugh, which proved very familiar, The Vampire's mind flashed back to the torturous time he had spent imprisoned by the Autobots at the start of the war, back before he had even chosen a side. Shackled, cuffed, with a clamp around his head to keep him from opening his mouth as the Autobots rightfully feared what those fangs could do. Mocked, and tortured by not being allowed to feed, forced to try to conform to what the Bots felt was acceptable fuel intake methods, even though it had been proven over and over there was no other method of refueling he could manage.

"What, do you want a cookie?" The Predator asked in his usual deadpan he used when dealing with the enemy... and well, just about everyone.

"Bludgeon's pet vampire now... how fitting...."

The Predator paused a moment, the guard had struck a nerve there, but he shrugged. "You won't be able to provoke me into killing you before I get what I want to know." He said. "Though I admit I am becoming bored. But that still won't speed up the process, just make it infinitely more painful. My idea of fun, you see."

"You didn't like being called a pet." The guard taunted with a bit of a grin realizing that he had gotten the Predator's weak spot.

Garrus-9--Mines

Watching the Terrorcons do their work was quite mesmerizing. Even moreso was the very real possibility that they were going to leave behind some Techno-scraps to munch on. Mmmmmmm.

>>”Bombshell, have Kickback and Venom meet with Deadlock and make an evaluation of his mental state. He may have become a liability. If our resident therapists cannot solve the situation through talking, make use of your cerebro shells."<<

Bombshell twitched. A communique direct from Scorponok? That was certainly a rarity. And the subject matter? That was even more delectable. One of their own potentially questioning their loyalties, perhaps? Questioning his existence? So many things could lead a Decepticon to becoming a liability in the eyes of his commander. Bombshell, for his part, had carefully maneuvered his way around ever being seen in such a light, but not every Decepticon was a skilled as he in that regard.

>>"Ehhhh, at once mighty Scorponok. They will be en route."<<

Scorponok, either unwittingly or quite intentionally, had put Bombshell in something of a command predicament. If strict protocols were being followed, Venom was the one who should have received that transmission. Though...the fact that it had been Bombshell, perhaps now was his time to strike and solidify leadership of the Insecticons under his claw. Yes. Yes yes. It most certainly was. If Venom had any qualms, he could take it up with Scorponok himself.

>>"Kickback...Venom...you are both to report to the amphitheater with haste. It seems Deadlock is in need of an, ehhh, psychological assessment. Let me know what you find. I may well need to follow up."<<

Kickback and Shrapnel both chittered at the transmission, even though Shrapnel was only listening in to the Insecticon frequency.

>>"My. That's curious,"<< Kickback transmitted in return. >>"But far be it from me to question an order like that."<<

And just as quickly, he was off, scurrying along the walls of the mines toward the mine shaft that would eventually lead him back up to the core areas of the prison.
___

From an inconspicuous corner, Tentakil observed the interactions both between the Terrorcons and the Technobots as well as those between his fearsome commander and the very much equally fearsome commander of the Terrorcons.

"I would hate to see that get out of hand," Tentakil said softly.

The Garrus 9 Maze of Corridors Networks


"You didn't like being called a pet."

"No, would you?" Bomb Burst asked a touch condescendingly. "But make no mistake, I'd rather be Bludgeon's pet than forced to conform to a brainwashed Autobot world. Bludgeon treats me much better than the Autobots did while you had me imprisoned. He brings me to my favorite kind of food simply because I am useful. He may not like what I am, but he rewards me for the job I do without forcing me to conform..."

The guard opened his mouth to say something else, but The Vampire was not willing to drag this out any further. He was back down on top of the guard before it could blink, dagger to it's side. "I won't kill you, but I will make you hurt until I get what I want. Tell me..." He whispered hoarsely.
The guard shook his head and the dagger plunged into his side. "Tell me..."

"No." The guard said in a very strained tone. The Vampire twisted the blade. The guard screamed in agony.

"Ooo screaming..." He said happily with a wicked smile. The screaming quickly muffled to a whimper as the guard didn't want to encourage the Vampire. "Tut tut... let's get back to the screaming, shall we?" He whispered into the guard's audios as he leaned down. He placed clawed actuators on the guards optics. One pressed down on the left optic, harder and harder until it shattered with a sickening crack. The guard was screaming again and The Vampire tapped on the other optic as he picked up his axe. "I'm going to have a look inside your head, want me to show you what I find?"

"Don't...." The guard whimpered.

"Tell me." He said sitting up, straddling the guard.

"No."

The Vampire raised his axe, slamming it down hard on the helmet of the guard where the helmet met the faceplate, cracking the guards armor on his head. "Tell me... or I open you up..."

"ALL RIGHT!" The guard finally broke, unable to hold out any longer. "The main communications array... it has some jamming equipment in there for emergencies. Behind a secure access panel, but you have to have the right codes and clearances to get to it, you never will be able to."

The Vampire tilted his head and pondered if the truth had been told or not. He was pretty sure he had. >>"I'm certain you heard that, Master."<< He sent over the comm to Bludgeon without a word out loud for the guard to hear. He smirked at the guard, though. "We don't need codes, we brought The Pig." He said as he waved his hand at the hole through the nigh impenetrable wall, then bared the fangs and sunk them into the guard's neck.
The guard began screaming... again, reminding The Vampire that he was told not to allow that. Begrudgingly, a slender, clawed actuator punctured the guard's throat, silencing the screams.

Skullgrin watched as Bomb-burst did his work.

"Disgusting." he muttered to himself.

He looked back in Snarler's direction, then at Bomb-burst.

"Are you finished?" he asked, with more than a little contempt in his voice.

Garrus 9 Corridor Network

When Bomb Burst was feeding, it was difficult to get him to stop. It was then that the savage beast inside him really took control and he was not the sophisticated yet sadistic, Decepticon everyone knew. Especially lately, with his contact with Autobots limited and his desire to hunt, torture, and kill repressed out of necessity. He had been skirting the edges of his more feral side outside the Aequitas Chamber, but after controlling his temper with Stranglehold and finishing extracting the information from the guard, the first bite he took he lost his battle of control his impulses.

"Are you finished?" Skullgrin's voice cut through the Vampire's focus. The Hunter had picked a bad time to get irritated with the Vampire.

The Vampire snapped his head up, extracting the fangs, and the energon from the still alive and conscious guard dripped onto it's own face. There was a wild look in The Vampire's optics though, one that would give all but the bravest mechs pause to step back. But the Vampire didn't doubt that Skullgrin was brave enough to face down he as a savage beast. He hissed at Skullgrin as a warning to back off as he moved forward a bit to protect his meal, he didn't trust anyone not to take his energon vessel from him.

Garrus-9 Command Centre

Bludgeon awaited the return of his sword the electric warrior listened into Bomb burst's interrogation. The scream brought a brief scowl to the face of Bludgeon who had pretty much stated no screaming thou the look and the feeling of anger was quelled by a will of absolute neutronium. Then he heard the nugget of information he'd been sent to find.

"The main communications array... it has some jamming equipment in there for emergencies. Behind a secure access panel, but you have to have the right codes and clearances to get to it, you never will be able to."

Bomb burst asked the irrelevant question of if he'd heard or not but Bludgeon was already opening a communications channel to Cyclonus.

"Cyclonus the main communications array is equipped with emergency jamming equipment of some description respectfully asking your orders of how to proceed"

It galled Bludgeon to be subservient to Cyclonus but seeing as it was Scorponok himself who placed the Metallikato master in the purple war machine's orbit so it paid to behave.

it was then that Bludgeon's pale yellow optics swung around to descend on Bomb Burst boring into the vampires frame "did I not give you instructions to not make your victims scream?"
Bomb burst had reverted to his more feral instincts as was proven by the blue warrior hissing at Skullgrin then taking a step forward to protect his meal.

The energon dripping from his fangs did little to worry Bludgeon as he looked the vampire straight in the optics daring him to challenge his authority again.

"You do understand me Bomb Burst, Control Your Self!"

Garrus 9 - Command Center

Octopunch grinned a most wicked smile beneath the tentacled visage that lied behind his pressurized helmet. The sight of Stranglehold losing his patience and temperament all at once, oh how it reminded him of the good old days before the duo was incarcerated in this Autobot-driven hellhole.

The salvager lifted his rifle back up and took aim towards the next assassin down the line, ready to follow Stranglehold's lead in "punishing" these lying cutthroats for not taking them directly to Bludgeon like they said they would. A harpoon loaded in the chamber and his actuator wrapped tightly around the trigger, Octopunch nearly had his first kill in vorns dead in his sights before a wayward rock came barreling out from the shadows. What followed the rock was someone the multicolored Decepticon was expecting, but was still left speechless upon his entrance.

The Boss.

"Octopunch I believe you have something that belongs to me." The electric warrior stated with his arm held out and his optics fixated on Strangledhold.

"Yes, yes of course." The salvager managed to reply has he removed his lot of confiscated weapons from his back. Bludgeon's signature sword was not hard to distinguish from his collection and he quickly wrapped his hands around the blade's handle and sheath before approaching his former commander and presenting him with his separated weapon.

Garrus 9 - Amphitheater

Deadlock's words apparently made no heed on the warlord as he quickly read over the information in front on him and commanding the warrior to quick with his outbursts.

"You are distressed. I am relieving you of your duties for now. I am scheduling you a appointment with a pair of specialists. They will come to you."

Relieved? This is madness! Deadlock was about to usher a full retort against his vastly superior Commander, full knowing that ushering anything more could provoke the wrath of the mighty scorpion-former. Deadlock was lucky this little outburst of his wasn't met with Scorponok's anger for questioning his intentions, many other mechs who have or would have done the same are usually crushed in his claws or plastered into the floor under his gargantuan boot.

There was no doubt in the warrior's mind that Scorponok no longer trusted his true intentions. The black and white Decepticon wished he could have defended himself, told the warlord how he too is guilty of killing hundreds across the universe. But in Deadlock's case he had terminated his foes quickly and painlessly. What Jhiaxus was doing was purely tortuous, positively inhumane, horrendous to the core.

"Very well..." Deadlock responded barely restraining his anger before grabbing his rifle and walking away from the terminal, finding himself a spot to sit down upon a heap of rubble while he awaited his "evaluation".

-

Nautilator let loose a yawn before bringing his processor back as far possible agains the slab he was laying upon. His reserves weren't running short anytime soon thanks to the experimental process hooking up an IV and continuously pumping synthetic energon into his systems. He could hardly remember the last time he was able to actually recharge his systems and the thought of a quick snooze sounded quite nice. Only problem was the occasional scream one of the captured sweeps or insecticon drones would release as Jhiaxus worked.

"Oh my place is in the sea. Swim to the bottom, what treasures await for me? I-"

"What in the hell are you doing?!" Afrerburner exclaimed cutting the neighboring Seacon off.

"Just... Singing..." Nautilator responded, unsure of how and if he should have responded given Lord Scorponok's previous response to him.

"Well cut it out! Bad enough I'm stuck in this torture chamber with Big and Clawful back there while the fossil uses us as his newest playthings, really don't need the singing tuna to drive me to madness."

Nautilator rolled his optics at the Technobot gunner. That's twice now this has happened, his credibility wasn't looking so good if he keeps this up.

The lobster-former's optics flickered to a whole new light as the thought of his credibility echoed in his processor. Somehow the thought of Snaptrap hearing about the events taking place in this room entered his psyche which could only mean one thing was guranteed; Punishment. He had to warn his boss before he found out, he had to check in with him so he could rightfully explain his actions before he walked in! In panic, the excavator withered in his restraints trying to free his arm so that he could activate the comm device fixated on the side of his helm. He wriggled and tugged in the restraints but found no such luck in becoming remotely close to freeing himself.

The lobster-former then tilted his head towards his shoulder armoring, trying his best to use his armor to activate the device. The Seacon excavator slammed his head against his restrained shoulder several times, actually more like a solid 37 times but who's counting, before he could hear the faint static of his comm device opened back up. Delighted and hoping his channel with the rest of his Seacon brethren was still active, Nautilator cleared his vocalized as his processor was hard-pressed against his shoulder.

>>"Psssst... Does anybody copy? Snaptrap? Seawing? Overbite? Hello?"<<

Garrus 9 Corridor Network/Command Center

"did I not give you instructions to not make your victims scream?"

Bomb Burst looked up at Bludgeon, it was impossible not to feel the anger transmitted through the Electric Warrior's glare. But he simply stared and didn't answer as a million things were running through his head which he was having temporary trouble sorting out.

"You do understand me Bomb Burst, Control Your Self!"

As Bludgeon locked optics with his, The Vampire held the stare for just a fraction of a second... as acknowledgement not aggression. He very much sensed the dare in his master's optics. He very well knew he was being put in his place, either at the moment or if he were insane enough to challenge Bludgeon's authority over him.
He was not insane enough to challenge Bludgeon. The thought never even entered his mind no matter how territorial he was feeling with his meal right there.

He relaxed his posture, retreating back a bit, putting space between the prone guard and himself, no longer protecting his prize. He sat back instead of keeping himself ready to strike. His posture clearly conveying that he was submitting to Bludgeon's authority. "My apologies, Master." He said a bit softly, though clearly heard. "I ahh... I was caught up in the moment, with the screaming, I'm sorry, I should have remembered sooner." He hung his head and slid back further away from his victim, his way of indicating he would no longer touch the guard, Bludgeon was there, and of course it was his to do with as he pleased, not the Vampire's toy. "It was unacceptable behavior..." He paused a moment. "I had not intended on embarrassing you earlier either, my misstep then was unacceptable as well.”

He had no desire to justify his actions, any of them, at the Aequitas Chamber or his actions here but it was the perfect time to apologize for that initial incident as well. "I am prepared to receive whatever punishment you desire, when you desire..."
He left it at that, hoping that his apology worked to lessen the anger of Bludgeon, at least a little bit. Unlike his apology earlier when they were in the Aequitas Chamber with Skorponok, where he wasn’t sure what he had done, Bludgeon reminding him of his oath and reinforcing that he was in charge, enlightened the Vampire on his failings and insubordination. He now mentally worked on keeping himself under control as he still wanted Bludgeon's toy.. the guard... desperately wanted it... but would not touch it.

Control yourself.

Skullgrin couldn't help but look at Bomb-burst with a slight bit of pity. Though The Vampire was a fearless warrior, succumbing to his most basic instincts was a weakness that he shouldn't allow. Self-control was a most important trait of an effective warrior. But then again, Skullgrin thought, no need to be a hypocrite. He then gave a slight smile, as he was sure the feeding gave Bomb-burst the same elation that Skullgrin got from beating that Autobot to death with his bare hands. Skullgrin told himself that he could have stopped at any time. But could he?

Shaking the thought from his head, he turned to Bludgeon.

"Now what?"

Garrus 9 Corridor Network/Hidden Mess Hall

There was explosions, machine gun fire and brutal smackdowns being delivered, and Snarler having the time of his life in the mess hall not 100 meters from where his team members stood on the other side. Between them, a giant hole he had made in the wall with his drill. The view into the room had been blocked with darkness and smoke - Snarler never needed light to fight in - but was periodically lit up by the muzzle flash of heavy weaponry.

Despite not having amazing audio abilities, even over the din he could clearly hear the faffing of his comrades as they fawned over Bludgeon, jockeying pointlessly for position whilst he was busy clearing the chamber, but he was getting bored doing it alone, he was a team fighter and the Chief got mad if he hogged all the fun.

Finally Skullgrin gave him the prompt he needed; "Now what?"

"You get your goat-headed aft in 'ere and get killin' before I finish this lot off myself!?" He yelled through the thick cloud, but with a last burst of machine gun fire from his chaingun tail there was silence. "Oh, too late..."

A stillness crept into the room as it sounded like it was all over. Accrid smoke still billowed from the chamber but the quiet was gently broken by the sound of a single sliding door and the occasional spark of rent autoscrap. The dark room held no clues as to who had just entered or left the chamber, until the serenity was smashed by a loud, ecstatic roar...

"Reinforcements? Awesome! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

Garrus 9 Corridor Network


Bomb Burst's attention was subconsciously drawn to Skullgrin's slight smile. Being so hopelessly unsocial he wasn't sure what the Warrior meant by it, but didn't have a chance to dwell as the room next to them exploded with a Pig at work.
Snarler's shouting for Skullgrin's help did bring a very, very slight smile to The Vampire's face. While looking at Skullgrin, he flicked his head in the direction of Snarler as an indicator it might be best to go help out the Pig, he'd rather face Bludgeon's wrath alone anyhow.

Checking that Octopunch and Stranglehold had remained in the Command Center, he mentally sighed with relief. The worst thing that could happen right now is if Stranglehold had decided he'd actually answer The Vampire's queries as to why he had so stupidly done what he had done. He was still desperately fighting to bring himself back under control, he was still extremely angry about the unauthorized deaths of his assassins. It was a very personal insult to him, a 'slap in the face' as it were.

Garrus-9 Command Centre

Bludgeon took the proffered sword from Octopunch with a nod of gratitude sliding the blade from its confinement he took a moment to examine the blade. Created eons ago by an armourer long since deceased the craftsmanship that had gone into the blade was exquisite various runes and sigils where engraved along its blade most of them lost to the mists of time. It had served the Metallikato master well for as long as he could remember with it returned Bludgeon was complete.

in his other hand he looked at the temporary replacement it was placed into the ground tip first as his optics swung back to Bomb Burst he saw the predator was backing away from his meal.

"It was unacceptable behavior..." He paused a moment. "I had not intended on embarrassing you earlier either, my misstep then was unacceptable as well."

Bludgeon looked at the guard in front of him stepping forward he executed the Guard with a single stroke of his returned sword.

"Consider this a demonstration of my patients eroding next time it shall not be an Autobot I strike"

"Now what?"

The interruption came from the vocal emitters of Skullgrin who was supposed to be helping Snarler thou before he could reply Snarler started whooping with joy as reinforcements arrived. Bludgeon's yellow optics descended on Skullgrin the same nonplussed look stamped on his face.

"We await orders from Cyclonus, but seeing as some practice has entered his area I think it will be a good opportunity to test returned weapons and stretch limbs"

Bludgeon watched as Bomb Burst vanished into the gloom heading after Snarler as he spoke softly

"Cry havoc and let slip the Dogs of War"

Bludgeon followed the predator into the gloom intent on taking on whatever had just made an appearance in Snarler's presence.

Bomb Burst's crimson optics briefly caught in Bludgeon's yellow optics with a slight nod acknowledging the Electric Warrior's warning. His attention turned to watching the precious energon spill out from the guard, puddle, and drift away on the floor.

Surprisingly, a cocky half grin slipped briefly across his face. It was now over. With the guard dead, he no longer desired it's energon. Or what remained after draining from Bludgeon's precise sword stroke. No mistake, he was disappointed he couldn't finish off the guard, but he did not back away from it in front of Bludgeon without considering the possibly that exactly what had happened would happen. He assumed it would go that way.

He had gotten off lightly, though. The proverbial ball was in his court now, he had to make sure that he strove to be everything Bludgeon expected out of his warriors. Bludgeon didn't suffer fools, he had spent long enough in Bludgeon's service to know that and know what was expected of him.

Whereas most would be inclined to sit there sniveling and offering up empty promises and hollow gratitude, the Vampire did none of that. It was one behavior he did know about, he had seen his victims engage in it often and it did not suit him. So with a quick nod and a soft "I understand." he closed the matter. He had already conveyed his remorse and apologies to his master and they were both done.

"We await orders from Cyclonus, but seeing as some practice has entered his area I think it will be a good opportunity to test returned weapons and stretch limbs"
This was all he needed to hear Bludgeon say and silently he was in motion. He always strove to have Snarler's back. The Pig was fearless (almost to the point of insanity), and the Vampire respected that. He had let down the Warg when The Emperion was lost to the Autobots by not being present in the crew, he would be damned to not let him down again.

He entered the dark, gloomy room. Again things were at his advantage with his vision. Where as most would be suffering or just randomly shooting as Snarler was, The Vampire could see everything clearly. But the visor had to go down, Snarler's chaingun's muzzle flashes were a problem. "Pick a side, Snarler... they're everywhere. I'll take the other." He looked over to the Pig. "Stranglehold has the rest of your weapons."

Skullgrin looked at Bludgeon, then at Bomb-burst, then into the hole in the wall that Snarler had made and used a little while ago.

"I'm supposed to help...him?" he asked with a bit of incredulity. "Like he needs it."

Without looking back at Bludgeon, and not waiting for an answer, Skullgrin stepped through the hole in the wall and started towards Snarler's position, fists raised and arms ready to swing. If it's a fight Bludgeon wanted, Skullgrin would be only happy to oblige. Who knows, maybe his superior and fellow warriors might learn something about hand-to-hand combat and pure brutality. Maybe Bomb-burst might stop kissing other bots on the neck after beating them, and Bludgeon will stop his fancy prancing with a sword during fights and actually square up and face down an enemy, if they see how it's properly done.

Command Center

Silently, three Decepticons slipped into the Command Center to join the remaining two assassins that had managed to survive Stranglehold's killing spree.

Not a word was spoken, even on private channels, as everyone knew already what to do and how to do it quickly.

They all approached the bodies of their comrades, quickly removing data slugs from the memory cores from the two and determined if the possibility of removing the bodies completely was viable at this point.

>>"Optics on those two, Cyclonus isn't likely to give a scrap about us cleaning up our mess."<< The one in charge said without a word spoken out loud, and a slight motion to the Stranglehold and Octopunch. Nods and silent affirmative responses followed.

Despite having entered silently, the assassins made no attempt to hide themselves, they stood in plain sight to collect their fallen, they just did it all with silence and deadly efficiency that came naturally to their kind.

The rest of the assassins delivered the data slugs to their leader, then quietly exited with the bodies of the two assassins, however, their leader stayed behind. Before the last assassin left, he handed over two swords that he had taken off their fallen brother in arms. She took them with a nod.

>>"Bomb Burst, sir. We cleaned up the mess."<< Was sent silently to Bomb Burst.

"Not now, Nightbird!!!!!!!!!" Came a shouted reply from a couple rooms down from the Spy's position.

Nightbird simply stood there with a grimace on her faceplate though it was obscured by her mask. >>"Bite me, sir." << Her caustic reply returned to her commanding officer.

>>"I will make note to do that as soon as I'm done."<< The Vampire responded back.

>>"Promises, promises."<< Nightbird replied.

>>"Birdy, get out of sight then deliver me the cores once we dispose of these guards."<< Came the Vampire's answer, conotating his mood was lighter all things considered, even the insults had been reduced to good natured teasing.

>>"Save one for me, then, sir."<< Nightbird answered as she turned for the door and made her exit.

>>"Little chance of that..."<< The Vampire growled in his happy growl.