by Stormtalon » Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:54 pm
Scourge, the black and red dragon soared past the towers toward a green and grey gryphon. Grimwing roared from his perch on a domed tower. Scourge spiraled down giving an inquisitive growl.
“Smell,” Grimwing answered.
Scourge lowered his snout to sniff the dome of blue ferrocrete.
“Faint and stale, but unmistakable. Shockwave was here.”
The roof was seamless with no panel or entry hatch. It didn’t matter to Scourge. A couple of wing beats and he hovered above the dome. Grimwing dove off the roof as Scourge reared back and loosed a searing fire blast. The ferrocrete blistered, bubbled, and then melted away. The hole was too small for his dragon mode so Scourge transformed.
“Wait here,” Scourge ordered Grimwing as he slipped in.
The area beneath the hole was charred, but the rest of the room remained undamaged. He recognized some hyper-evolution tubes against the back wall and a CNA extractor next to that.
Scourge looked for a terminal. Each of lab had at least one, with notes on experiments conducted in the facility. Luck continued to favor him. The terminal was close by and online. A quick scan of the directory revealed files and folder names that meant nothing to him: Space Bridge mechanics, Cortical Psychic Patch procedure and Enemies List. He finally came to a directory he did recognize: Dinobot conversion.
Scourge opened that one. Since his fight with Grimlock, Scourge knew he’d need a strategy to win the inevitable rematch. He wasn’t the inferior half-breed Scourge took him for.
Scourge opened the first video log. Shockwave appeared on the left half of a split screen as a transcript scrolled on the right half.
Entry 1:
My further studies into prehistoric Cybertronian life is on hold until the completion of Lord Megatron’s latest project: engineering a super-solider for the front line. I recommended the Preda-clones used in our off world operations, but this suggestion was rejected. Megatron wants soldiers with the strength of a Predacon, but enough intelligence to follow orders.
From autopsies on the failed Preda-clones, I’ve learned a lot about their physiology. I believe it is possible to construct and graft Predacon components onto a modern Cybertronian; thereby creating the super-soldiers we need.
Scourge opened the second entry: only notes. He skipped down to the next video on entry 10.
Entry 10:
We will begin our first test shortly. I have cultured a Predacon arm and will graft it onto a volunteer. If successful, the subject should experience a 10% increase in strength.
Entry 11:
The experiment failed. Initial autopsy shows the grafted limb drew too much energon too rapidly from the test subject. The sensory feedback passed all parameters. Judging by the subject’s reaction, it was extremely painful. I will study this further before proceeding again.
This didn’t horrify Scourge. Shockwave was nothing if not unfeeling and calculating. What interested Scourge were the other Predacon clones mentioned. The off-world ones were the remains he helped dig up on Earth. But what befell the failed Predacons here on Cybertron? There were hundreds of entries. Scourge skipped to the middle of the pack.
Entry 430:
The prisoners tested remarkably well on resilience. They may be the first to survive the process. I believe the organic codes from the alien life forms are the key. The Predacon CNA is very aggressive in rewriting the CNA of modern Cybertronians. The organic ‘seed’ code counters this hostile takeover. We shall test this theory on the Autobot Sludge.
Sludge? Scourge recalled that name in the battle of Helix. He was the long-necked beast they fought in the canyon. Scourge checked the last entry and stopped. The time stamped on the entry was only a couple of days ago!
Entry 928:
Circumstances have forced me to take this action. With most of the Vehicons captured and Starscream being Starscream, I am must create my own allies for my operations. I have resurrected Project Dinobot using Forged volunteers. I will proceed directly to phase two, passing the prototype stage and going into the production line.
Production line? Did he make more Dinobots?
That’s when a door opened behind him and a low growl rumbled from within.
* * *
In Starscream’s mind, the ‘Rise of the Second Decepticon Empire’ was well underway. He valiantly led his new troops to a safe haven where they gather returning Decepticons into a strike force. Then, he would ruthlessly destroy Optimus Prime and claim a recovered Cybertron for himself. The Autobots would be rounded up and eliminated at his leisure. This epic entertained him all the way to the Stratodome.
Headwind broke into Starscream’s reverie.
“Ah, commander? Looks like someone is already there.”
Tailwind spoke up, “I spot two more creatures in the area.”
Starscream adjusted his scanners. He spotted a large green and grey beast sitting atop one of the towers.
“Well, well, well,” Starscream said. “It looks like our new home needs some fumigation.”
“Are those things…Insecticons?” Tailwind asked.
“Predacons, actually. Treacherous beasts,” Starscream answered.
“Can they reason?” Headwind asked. “Perhaps we can ally with them and bolster our ranks.”
“Predacons are too dangerous to live. We attack! Now!”
Starscream dove at the gryphon.
Headwind gave a suffering sigh. “No strategy. Tailwind, shadow our leader. Cross and I will take the next one, when we are finished with them, we’ll converge on the last target.”
Headwind and Cross banked toward the target by the west tower. Tailwind followed Starscream to the south tower.
* * *
Two beasts stalked into the lab. One looked like Grimlock’s beast mode only much smaller; white skinned and a blue horn on his nose. The other was a stegosaurus like Snarl but green instead of red and gold.
“An intruder,” the white dino let out in a slow, rumbling breath.
“Soon to be a dead intruder,” the green stego quipped before charging.
Scourge dodged and the green dinosaur crashed into a hyper-evolution tube.
The white one lunged in for a bite. Scourge threw a right cross connecting with his jaw. The stego swept Scourge’s leg with his spiked tail. He quickly rolled to his side avoiding a powerful white foot stomping.
An explosion rocked the lab. It came from outside. Scourge heard Grimwing roar. He looked up through the burn hole and spotted Grimwing flying off, chased by two jets one of them very familiar.
“Starscream!”
Scourge leapt for hole, but the white Ceratosaurus clamped on his leg and pulled him down.
“Hold him, Overkill,” the green stego ordered.
He whipped his barbed tail around for a chest cracker. Scourge heaved to his right pulling Overkill into the path of the tail. It struck the white one’s neck and flank. Overkill gave a yelp, releasing Scourge.
“Watch it! Slugfest!”
Overkill realized his didn’t have Scourge any more. Scourge just grinned at that them and transformed into a mighty dragon. He towered over the two dinos.
Scourge claw-swiped Overkill and leapt over the green stego, Slugfest. He tried for the hole in the ceiling, but as a dragon he was too big. If he wanted out he’d have to defeat these two. Scourge bared his fangs and barreled in.
* * *
Continued in Part Three
