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Hanger Bay

Seawing watched as his prisoner was loaded on the shuttle only to hear sounds of several pairs of footsteps and one particular set of Lord Scorponok. It put a smile on Seawing to be the first one out of the combiner assault squad to do as Lord Scorponok requested. The biggest bonus is he and his team will be able to get out of this floating rock and maybe into a more aquatic environment depending on where their commander believes the traitor scientist had went during his escape. It is obvious the scientist didn't care about his own creations unless he hoped they would had bought him time and crushed the Decepticons. If this was his plan, part of it worked but now the Cons have two gestalts at their control and with proper study which Scorponok is known for, they will have ways of creating more. Once their commander showed up, Seawing bowed before the leader.

"How majestic of a shot, Lord Scorponok. It seemed this newest gestalt of the crazy scientist had its fair share of problems. I believe you will create a much better model once you are able to examine all of the information and pieces. The Technobot Nosecone is already on board and strapped down very tightly in case the thought crossed his processor of escaping."

One of these days it will Seawing commanding not just the Seacons but the Decepticons as a whole. Until the time comes, he will play a humble servant to garner whatever advantage he can use later.

Overbite felt the prey on his shoulder start to struggle. Why couldn't he stay asleep?

Strafe wrote:"What the slaaaaaaaaa...?"

Overbite merely growled as they reached their destination. This wasn't were he was supposed to go. He needed water, he needed a good hunt. That traitorous scientist inflicted this punishment on them. Scorponok wouldn't let him get away with this, if not him, Snap Trap for sure wouldn't. The hunt would continue. A small grin passed over Overbite's face. And Jhiaxus would be the prey.

As he approached the shuttle, he saw his compatriot, Seawing.

Seawing wrote:"How majestic of a shot, Lord Scorponok. It seemed this newest gestalt of the crazy scientist had its fair share of problems. I believe you will create a much better model once you are able to examine all of the information and pieces. The Technobot Nosecone is already on board and strapped down very tightly in case the thought crossed his processor of escaping."

Overbite walked over to those loading the prisoner aboard the shuttle. That little brown nosing piece of scrap. Always try in to use his kiss-up tone of voice to make good with the higher ones, Hoping to get into and stay in their good graces. Wouldn't it be easier to be appointed to a position that likes you rather than earn it through combat? Seawing's ambitions to lead the Seacons was laughable to say the least.

Overbite checked to make sure his prey was secure, then turned to leave him in his mumbling mess to let the docs take care of him. He walked over to join his fellow Seacon, being careful not to approach Lord Scorponok directly. The loss of prey would no doubt make him angry, as it should. After all, a hunt isn't over until all the prey is down or dead.

Corridors

“Are being transported to the Semper Tyrannis. As are you,” came the unfeeling reply to Lightspeed's question. His optics focused in a little more intently on who was carrying him. Having found out, he could feel his prospects for survival diminishing. It was the Butcher of the Bogs, Snaptrap, a Decepticon who had decidedly earned his honorary title over the vorns.

Still, the response was not the worst news he could have heard. "Are dead" was what he supposed he had been bracing himself to hear. That was not the case. As such, hope lingered. Flickering ever more faintly.

“And what of yourself? Are you injured or in need of medical assistance? Describe how you are feeling,” Snaptrap continued, clearly having some questions of his own in mind now that the Technobot was conscious. Nothing on Lightspeed's visual sensor array was registering critical. Lots of incidental damages, but that was to be expected after what he had just been through. Given the forces that had been aligned against the gestalt form that had been forced upon them by the madmech Jhiaxus, some of the others would have certainly taken the brunt of those attacks if he had not.

"No significant injuries," Lightspeed said, carefully choosing his words and keeping any of the anger and sadness he was feeling out of his tone. There was no telling what kind of reply could provoke a mech like this and make matters worse. "No medical assistance needed."

Hangar

Skalor limped into the hangar bay, his injured Autobot "rescuee" being dragged haplessly in the wake of a dripping trail of various internal fluids, smearing it across his body as they went. He said nothing to the Seekers who were standing around assisting with the evacuation process and simply started to ascend one of the boarding ramps, the Autobot's head giving a noticeable *thunk* every time it went over an uneven surface.

Corridors- Bludgeon's Team

More Autobots and Decepticons arrived at the location of the fallen combiner, the area ebbing and flowing with with Ally and enemy alike.

Bludgeon was more than ready to go, though, the Electric Warrior never one for friendly conversation, started into motion to go to the space bridge and get off this rock.

His team falling in line behind him, he made his way through the those assembled.

--

Snarler, in his pig alt mode and busy paying more attention to what he was smelling rather than where he was going, bumped into Acid Storm and Nova Storm as they passed.

This roused the crude mech from his thoughts and gave a low growl to the Rainmakers.

---

Nightbird gently flicked her hand, hitting Snarler's back to get his attention and as ti say 'not now' to get the pig to back down. Now was not the time to start trouble... That could be done later... Now was for getting to the ship.

Amber optics slid towards the Rainmakers, though, as if sly smirk was hidden in the the depths of their glow. One might almost take it as a 'no trouble... For now' look.

---

Bomb Burst was a little more vocal, though, catching the accidental bump and Snarler's bristle. "Save it." He growled to Snarler.. and possibly Nova Storm and Acid Storm if they had thoughts to react.

Corridors- The Rainmakers

Acid Storm turned quickly when Snarler bumped into him. Optics dimmed slightly when Snarler looked to start trouble, but he simply watched as Bludgeon's Crew policed themselves.

He did find Nightbird's look a little perplexing, but didn't comment as he looked over to Nova Storm then to Ion Storm.

The Semper Tyrannis--Med Bay

“Kind of an odd one…I guess he can afford that…?” Firewire said in a way that was both an observation and a question. Reflector simply gave a slight shrug.

"It's served him well thus far. Who am I to correct his methods at this point?" the Surveillance Specialist said, tacking on a mirthless chuckle at the end. Truly, the survival of certain Decepticons had long ago stopped surprising him. Whether it be blind luck or the Hand of Primus himself on their destinies, Reflector was not one to intervene. His next comment seemed to catch the femme a little more off guard.

“Yeah, but Lord Scorponok isn’t exactly liable to kill me on a whim. But fine. I’ll go and see what I can do. You’re coming too though.”

"Welll...that is true," Reflector agreed, "but I made a similar calculation when I decided to allow Spinister to do his work. If it turned out well, Overlord may feel a little more beholden to our Lord Commander than if we simply patched him up within the impersonal confines of a cryonic regeneration chamber. Time will tell I suppose."

Obediently, since he had no pressing reason to object, Reflector began to follow Firewire over to the next berth. It was barely a moment later that Overlord's voice entered into the conversation. Not his and Spinister's.

Theirs.

Firewire froze, prompting Reflector to bump into her. He used the opportunity to nudge her forward. Given what Overlord had said, there was no going back now. There would be nowhere they could run if they had somehow made a bad impression. They needed to take their good will and lay it all out before the Phase Sixer.

"You can do this," Reflector urged, more quietly. As if that really mattered. Overlord could likely have overheard them if they were speaking in another room entirely.
___

“Spinister,” the brave little mech offered back as he continued his repairs.

Overlord considered himself to be a fairly good judge of a mechanoid's intentions, both in their words and in their deeds. It made playing the game that much more satisfying. Had he sensed a Decepticon who was correcting a member of the Warriors Elite for the sake of his own station and advancement within the ranks, Overlord was quite certain his switch would have flipped. This would no longer have been an interaction between a low-ranking grunt and a grateful superior. It would have been a countdown to whenever Overlord had finally decided he'd heard enough and then put a tortuous end to the mechanoid's existence.

But no, this was something so much richer. This was a brave little Decepticon who'd corrected him simply because he was....ha....correct, and then just as quickly returned to his work with nary another mention.

How truly refreshing.

Grinning, Overlord simply returned his attention to the occupants of the adjacent berth. The ones who were so curious as to the functioning of the fearsome warrior next door. Well, let it not be said that Overlord never satisfied the occasional curiosity.

“If I come over there to help, are you just gonna squish me? I’m not really in the mood. I just got squished. Unintentionally, but…that’s not the point!” the mech said. Overlord's exhaustive internal files voice-matched her as Firewire, an analyst within the ranks of the Decepticon intelligencia.

"Well now, I suppose that depends on the degree of your helpfulness. My files indicate that you're a data analyst. A lowly, undignified data analyst. Do you....like this reasonably helpful front-line grunt by the name of Spinister...have some additional, unmentioned medical training that I might find useful? I'll assume you do, otherwise Scorponok was not likely to have kept you so close by. Proceed, Firewire. Come closer. I seem to not be killing those with some degree of medical usefulness this day."

Semper Tyrannis – Medical Bay

"You can do this," Reflector urged, more quietly.

Well, it wasn’t like they had much choice in the matter anymore. Though, the gesture was appreciated. But Firewire couldn’t exactly peel her optics off of Overlord to thank him or even shoot Reflector an appreciative smile. Nope. She had to stare death in the optics. A far less pleasant sight than her equally vertically challenged friend.

"Well now, I suppose that depends on the degree of your helpfulness. My files indicate that you're a data analyst. A lowly, undignified data analyst."

Firewire’s face fell flat, her mouth tightening into a narrow line. Some minor irritation and annoyance flashed across her features but with something of an internal sigh and wishing she had been a little less curious about death incarnate, it went away as quickly as it appeared.

“Do you....like this reasonably helpful front-line grunt by the name of Spinister...have some additional, unmentioned medical training that I might find useful?”

Firewire opened her mouth.

“I'll assume you do, otherwise Scorponok was not likely to have kept you so close by. Proceed, Firewire. Come closer. I seem to not be killing those with some degree of medical usefulness this day."

And closed it again. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, but instead of voicing any of them, she let out a groan and covered her face. Honesty was one of her greatest assets, she thought. But if she said half of what she was thinking, she would probably die. This was not going to be easy. Firewire was so transparent! Still, now that he had asked her to come over, she was doomed. Doomed, doomed, doomed.

Might as well accept her fate.

Picking up her step stool and scurrying over to Overlord’s side, Firewire set it down and stepped up, looking down at the internals Spinister was absently working. She was actually impressed with what he’d done so far. Where had he picked this stuff up? Well, she probably ought to get to work as well. It was for Lord Scorponok, after all.

Grabbing a laser scalpel, Firewire leaned in to do some work in an area that Spinister had not yet touched before pausing, suddenly remembering who she was working on. Her optics darted over nervously.

“Er…uh…Yes. Data analyst,” Firewire began, for once not sure what to say, “But, uh, I’ve made myself useful to Lord Scorpynok as an assistant. Too.”

Moving back and starting her work, Firewire smiled faintly as she remembered when she first met him all those millennia ago. “It’s been an honor to work with him. He’s a genius. I’m learning a lot,” she muttered with something of a wistful sigh. “’Course, there’s always the danger of squishing…mm…yes. Underfoot would be the worst…To end up as ped-paste? No thank you.”

Finishing up a small fix, Firewire moved on to the next issue that she saw.

“I wish I could do more. Be an unstoppable…thing! Daring battles! Putting my life on the line for the cause! Glory in battle! I guess. I dunno. I’m not built for that, so I do what I can. Besides, I like technical stuff. I have a few projects of my own. Hopefully, one of them will lead to something big! And good. For everyone. I just…wanna…do my part, you know?”

She looked around at the others. Spinister was who she saw first. He just sort of glanced up when she caught his optic and glanced nervously from side to side before giving her a puzzled look. And then there was. Oh yeah. And Overlord. Firewire grimaced and tried to make herself smaller. Ah, she’d been…saying all of that out loud and…forgotten…temporarily.

“Uh…f-forget I said anything.”

Garrus 9 – Hangar

"No significant injuries. No medical assistance needed."

Good. The Autobot seemed capable of assessing his own condition. That likely meant that his mind was intact. His tone was careful. From what Snaptrap understood of the Technobots, this was a positive sign that neither of the more outspoken or otherwise notable Technobots had switched places with this one.

“Lightspeed. That is your designation, correct?” Snaptrap questioned, glancing down at him. “Know that if you attempt to reform Logicor in a foolish attempt to escape, I will tear your spark out myself.”

The Butcher paused to allow that to sink in as they entered the hangar. He spotted Skalor, Seawing, and Overbite. He was a bit surprised to see Skalor being so punctual but supposed it was more out of a desire to get back to the ship and be done with this. Tentakil was likely playing with someone he found. While Nautilator…well, he had only himself to blame if he was left behind.

>>”Nautilator, where are you? Get to the hangar and on a shuttle to the [i]Semper Tyrannis now.”<<[/i] His tone implied that there would be consequences for failing to swiftly comply. Changing course for a shuttle different from the one that Skalor was boarding, Snaptrap turned his attention back to his captive.

“Tell me about Logicor.”


Corridors

Blot’s shoulders slumped slightly as his master ignored him and instead stalked off toward the Autobot Scattershot and carrying him off. Rippersnapper’s jibe didn’t help his mood any. Blot snarled and snapped his massive jaws at Rippersnapper. He just wanted to wallow in the rejection that his master had bestowed on him. It hurt but if it was what the master deemed, Blot must’ve messed up somehow.

“Let’s go, Blot,” Rippersnapper said finally. “There’s no more food here for us. So, the sooner we’re off this rock the better.” The shark monster then looked back over his shoulder plate to see Sinnertwin fraggin’ around with some Autobot prisoners. “Come on, Sinner, we’re leaving! Sparkstalker and Hardshell can handle those fraggin’ Bots. Besides, we can’t eat ‘em, anyway.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Blot muttered dejectedly and trudged along in Rippersnapper’s wake.

"C'mon, Ripper!" he said teasingly to his teammate. "I wasn't gonna hurt them. Well, not too bad."

How were they so happy? The master had rejected all of them! Traitorous mechs. Always looking to hurt master.

“Hmph. They belong to master anyway.”

Corridors

”Heh.” Apeface chuckled as Snapdragon effortlessly made Brainstorm look like a total loser. Then again in the Horrorcon saboteur’s optics Brainstorm was a complete wimp, so it wasn’t all that surprising to find a jerk like Apeface being amused by Snapdragon’s equally jerk move.

Still, perhaps Brainstorm could save Afterburner. It was worth the shot. Gesturing the Hardshell led Insecticons to do as Cyclonus had told and walk their Autobot prisoners into the shuttles, the Horrorcon brute patted Snapdragon on the shoulder as a signal to easy up before addressing Brainstorm.

”Go on brainiac,” Apeface smirked while looming over the fallen scientist, ”Make yourself useful and maybe the boss won’t feed you and your friends to Terrorcons.”

Semper Tyrannis

Scorponok had paid no heed to the little Seacon bootlicker and had instead launched himself out of the hangar in his spaceship form - choosing a moment of solitude over a more energy efficient ride on board one of the shuttles. He needed it. All the frustration over having been left vulnerable by Jhiaxus’ betrayal had took its toll. Had he stayed in the presence of his own soldiers, there would have been no guarantee against him just knocking a bunch of them down in anger. Now, standing on the Tyrannis’ hangar deck, he turned his mind towards a far more pressing issue than brooding over something even he had no power to change for the better. He would have his revenge but right now he had a phase sixer to deal with before time window closed up on what he had in mind for Overlord.

Marching through the corridors of his great battleship, Scorponok made his way into the laboratory where he had arranged Overlord’s remains to be brought only to find the phase sixer being worked on by his underlings. The glare he shot at Reflector was nothing but full of disdain. He had been extremely specific over the handling of the phase sixer and yet there Overlord was. Conscious. Smirking arrogantly and playing his insufferable games with other Decepticons all the while while being the general pain in the aft he had always been.

”I see you survived the Omega Guardian,” Scorponok mockingly addressed the still partly molten remains of the one of the few Decepticons close to his own size, ”If barely.”

Scorponok had never liked the phase sixer. Megatron’s cause had never been what mattered to Overlord. Freedom, equality – they meant nothing to him. It had always been all about the thrill of the combat, showmanship and the entertainment circus that had developed around the pit fighting. Overlord’s whole elevation to the position he currently held had never made sense to Scorponok despite of his belief in Megatron knowing what he was doing. Overlord was too uncontrollable. Too unpredictable in his actions and almost as much of a danger towards his fellow Decepticons than he was towards the Autobots. A mad dog to be put down.

And he would have done so were it not for Megatron’s wishes. He had held this particular member of the Warrior’s Elite in his mercy before, this was hardly the first time. He had been part of the original group when its only members had been mighty Megatron and the three Decepticons that would later become Megatron’s most trusted generals - Deszaras, Gigatron and Scorponok himself. Heretech, Killmaster, Overlord, Sixshot and Sky Shadow were part of the 2nd generation of the said group. The inferior iteration if one were to ask Scorponok.

”So. Where do you see us going from here?” Scorponok asked as he sat down before Overlord on to a transforming command throne he had summoned. Leaning his chin against the tip of his claw, Scorponok observed the lunatic’s reaction with keen interest.

”You owe me your life. However wretched it may be. What is your bargain?”

Hangar Bay

When Cyclonus arrived within the confines of the hangar bay, there was a noticeable shift in the presence of the various Seekers and other rank-and-file Decepticons who were assisting with the evacuation process. All who noticed him stood a little more rigidly at attention as he passed by or worked a little more diligently at loading whatever crate of acquired material was being placed inside the various shuttle holds.

According to his internal monitors, the majority had done as they were instructed and diligently made their way to the primary battleship. He trusted the rest would come without any additional prodding from himself or anyone else in the command ranks: anyone so foolish deserved to be marooned here.

Approaching the nearest available shuttle, he looked back to see the Insecticons beginning to spill into the hangar, the horde of them carrying all of the various and sundry valuables that Scorponok had ordered be preserved from the amphitheater.

"Depart immediately," Cyclonus said as he ascended the ramp into the shuttle's passenger cabin. Several Decepticons looked up as he boarded and one quickly rose to his feet.

"Here, take my seat, my lord."

Cyclonus simply waved the gesture off. His mind was elsewhere--focused on the revenge they so richly deserved for Jhiaxus' betrayal.
___

“Lightspeed. That is your designation, correct? Know that if you attempt to reform Logicor in a foolish attempt to escape, I will tear your spark out myself,” Snaptrap pressed further, apparently content with the Technobot's previous answer.

"That's correct," Lightspeed said, almost saying "sir" out of habit but stopping himself before he did so. He did not intend to resist any questions or requests the Butcher made of him that did not compromise his moral code, but he was not going to offer the Seacon Commander any modicum of respect, either.

“Tell me about Logicor,” was Snaptrap's next question. Lightspeed pondered this a moment. What exactly was he wanting to know?

"I-I'm not sure what I can tell you. Obviously both sides have been trying to master gestalt technology ever since Jhiaxus did it way back when. Go figure it would be for that reason that your commander dug him out of his pit. He figured out something I'd sort of suspected in the back of my mind for a while now: I and the other Technobots are compatible with the process. So...he used us. I'm guessing that you and your team are compatible also. What exactly are you wanting to know?"

Garrus-9--Corridors

“Well, at least it’s over for now. And I’m sure that the- er. Lord Scorponok’s Decepticons will look after you and your friends. Make sure that you will come back out of it. Hopefully without so much of a fuss,” Umbra said as they walked, sometimes unsteadily, towards the hangar that would finally liberate Icepick and the other members of the Monstructor Six from this prison. The only real question was--were they simply leaving this prison in order to be transferred to another?

Icepick hoped not. He ruminated on Umbra's words for a bit. Hopefully Scorponok valued them more than Jhiaxus had. Hopefully he would give them a new life.

“For me, it seems like it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire. Not sure what’s gonna happen next…”

"I'm relying on a lot of hope right now. For both of us. It's not something I'm used to doing. But I know Scorponok well enough to know that he will want his revenge for what Jhiaxus did down there. If you can somehow help him get that revenge, I suspect a new life will be opened up for you. One better than the one we're being forced into."
___

“Hey Storms. Sorry about that…Didn’t think that we’d be facing off against the second one so soon after the first. You holding up okay?” Umbra asked, pulling Stormwrecker out of his thoughts as he trudged along with the others toward the hangar bay.

"Uhh....oh! Yeh. My gun," he said, taking the weapon back. "Heh. S'alright. As for me? I didn't think we were gonna live to be here talkin' like we are right now. Just goes t'show how surprised we both are. I can't complain."

Garrus 9--Corridors and into the Hanger

Nova heard exactly what his teammate said to him but what really bugged him was the possibility of breaking up this trine. He glared at Ion Storm and spoke in a dark but stern voice.

"I know that you have trouble due to your abilities but going on that tin can is our ticket out here and beats being in the caves!"

He then heard Snarler let out a low growl towards the three of them. His optics narrowed towards the pig and pointed a finger towards the annoying pig.

"Save it, Slagging Pig or you would be a roasted pig on the BBQ pit for the next Hawaiian luau!!"

He turned his attention back to Ion Storm who was still silent but he could see that he was a bit irritated. After a bit, he spoke in a quiet voice.

"Think about what I said. Hopefully, we will see you on that tin can because this trine is useless without all three of us."

He then headed into the hanger so that he could aboard a shuttle and get out of here. Once he aboard a shuttle, he looked back Ion Storm and Acid Storm while waiting to leave.

-------------------------------
Ion remained there and trying to get his lightning abilities back and under control while he heard Nova Storm speak to him. After Nova left his side, he quickly noticed that Acid Storm's optics were looking in his direction. He deeply sighed. After a bit, he saw that Nova was on a shuttle looking towards him and Acid Storm. For a bit, he looked towards Acid Storm and lightly sighed before heading towards the shuttle.

Hangar

Overbite watched Scorponok walk away, ignoring Seawing. Just as well. His fellow Seacon's tone irritated even himself, how much more would it irritated a commander who may have lost a very person target like Jhiaxus. It was no doubt in both his and Seawing's best interest to have a little distance from their high commander.

Familiar heavy thudding was heard. Overbite looked over in the direction of the footfalls, noticing his commander, Snaptrap, with a red Technobot on his shoulder. One of the few bots Overbite knew he had to concede to have a better hunting prowess than himself. He began to walk towards Snaptrap as the leader turned to walk out. Overbite took stock in his surroundings and Skalor was also aboard this shuttle with another Technobot.

Overbite realized the wisdom in his leader's decision and hurried along to catch up with him. This is when he noticed the Autobot he was carrying was conscious, and in much better condition than two on the other shuttle. Good, maybe the Butcher of the Bogs would get some useful info to continue the hunt with. Overbite mentally winced at the name and its history.

He came into earshot as Lightspeed finished answering a question.

Lightspeed wrote:"...suspected in the back of my mind for a while now: I and the other Technobots are compatible with the process. So...he used us. I'm guessing that you and your team are compatible also. What exactly are you wanting to know?"

The thought also made Overbite shiver. Combining... emerging minds with... with... Overbite shook his head. The idea was too overwhelming to think of. Their bodies may be compatible, sure. But it would take a common denominator... to keep a merged mind together like that, wouldn't it?

He spoke up quickly to report to his leader, "Sir, two of the Technobots are aboard the shuttle. Neither are a very conscience mind at the moment. The Terrorocons seemed to be taking care of the remaining two." He looked at Lightspeed and let out a small growl. "Seems as though your prey lives as well. They shall make a great assets in our next hunt, sir."

Garrus 9 - Hangar Bay

The lack of respect from Lightspeed did not bother Snatptrap. It wasn’t to be expected of Autobots. No, Autobots were baser creatures. Vermin. To be annihilated once their usefulness had come to an end. Mercifully, not many were useful. But this one was. For now. And so Snaptrap listened to him quite intently as he cooperated and answered his earlier query.

"I-I'm not sure what I can tell you. Obviously both sides have been trying to master gestalt technology ever since Jhiaxus did it way back when. Go figure it would be for that reason that your commander dug him out of his pit. He figured out something I'd sort of suspected in the back of my mind for a while now: I and the other Technobots are compatible with the process. So...he used us. I'm guessing that you and your team are compatible also. What exactly are you wanting to know?"

The Butcher’s amber optics flickered at that last bit about being compatible. He had suspected as much as well, but if that were the case…he needed to know more. Before Snaptrap could press further, Overbite approached. His optics flicked to his subordinate.

"Sir, two of the Technobots are aboard the shuttle. Neither are a very conscience mind at the moment. The Terrorocons seemed to be taking care of the remaining two." He looked at Lightspeed and let out a small growl. "Seems as though your prey lives as well. They shall make a great assets in our next hunt, sir."

Nodding almost imperceptibly to indicate that Overbite’s report was satisfactory, Snaptrap glanced down to Lightspeed neatly tucked under one of his arms. “They will, or they will be exterminated,” he replied flatly. It was not threat or fear tactics. It was fact, and Snaptrap’s tone treated as such. Cold, harsh fact.

“Now…Tell me what it was like as Logicor,” Snaptrap addressed the Technobot, “When you were merged. Be thorough.”

"I'm relying on a lot of hope right now. For both of us. It's not something I'm used to doing. But I know Scorponok well enough to know that he will want his revenge for what Jhiaxus did down there. If you can somehow help him get that revenge, I suspect a new life will be opened up for you. One better than the one we're being forced into."

Umbra frowned at Icepick’s suggestion. Help him? Scorponok was a titan. A giant. A veritable fortress in himself. What in Pit could she do to help him? Should she even? With the Autobots depending on her…What should she do? They hated her anyway. What was the point? There was no guarantee for any of them. Still…she’d come this far somehow by seizing opportunities as they presented themselves.

Going forward would probably be no different.

“Relying on hope sucks, but it’s gotten me…us…this far. I’ll take any opportunity presented to me. I just hope they do, heh,” Umbra chuckled weakly, keeping her voice low. She had gambled with Bludgeon. Gambled with Monstructor. Gambled all the way here. She could do it a bit longer, right? Yeah.

Primus, keep looking after me, won’t you? Umbra prayed silently as Stormwrecker spoke up.

"Heh. S'alright. As for me? I didn't think we were gonna live to be here talkin' like we are right now. Just goes t'show how surprised we both are. I can't complain."

“Heh, yeah. We better count our lucky stars,” Umbra said, giving him a friendly pat on the arm. “But I don’t think we’re able to relax just yet. Looks like we’re going to war…again.” She glanced forward as they reached the hangar, trying not to wince as she saw just the sheer volume of Decepticons. They were all boarding shuttles. She saw a few she knew, which was bad news for her.

Angling away from those she recognized to a more…unpopulated shuttle, Umbra tried to act natural. Like she belonged. While also using Stormwrecker’s size to shield her from view. Stepping up the boarding ramp, she made sure to help Icepick.

“Watch your step.”

Hangar:

"I tellsya, that ye oldie mech Jhiaxus er wutever 'as gots some 'splainin teh do!" said Triggerhappy as he boarded the shuttle. Slugslinger was lagging behind a tad, still regaining his balance.

"I don't think we will let him explain. I just want him dead," said Slugslinger as he followed behind with an expression of disgust in his face.

"But whatdee doo! We gotsa figure out how 'im even did et!" said Triggerhappy in response.

"Triggs," started Slugslinger in response back, "Just help me into a CR chamber."

Slugslinger stumbled slightly as he walked into the shuttle; still dizzy, and starting to feel some pain in his legs.

"GLADLY!" shouted Triggerhappy.

Triggerhappy then tripped over his own foot and landed face flat on the shuttle floor.

*CRASH*

"You know what... I think I'll help myself into one," said Slunglinger at that.

Corridors

From his position Lobe had not been able to see exactly what had occurred. But he was sure Synapse had wound up directly in the middle of the fray. The scientist took quick stock of the situation before he finally stepped out into the corridor, and after his comrade.

It wasn’t difficult to find the smaller mech, all Lobe needed to do was follow the trail of energon. He groaned lowly as he pressed forward.

“Easy, Synapse...” Lobe said as he caught up and moved into position on either side of the wounded Con. “...I’ve got you.” Lobe took hold of Synapse’s arms letting the little mech relax into his grip. “I’ll get you to a shuttle then have a look at you.”

The mech to Synapse’s right glanced over his shoulder as he guided his charge towards the shuttle bay. “Please tell me you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time and you weren’t intentionally hit.” He said with a hint of trepidation.

Semper Tyrannis – Med Bay

From the moment he entered the medical bay, not far behind Firewire, Krouns had made it his mission to stay as far away from Overlord as possible. Probably impossible to do, but one would certainly not fault him for trying.

While the little femme worked Kronus stayed within listening distance but out of optic sight. He still needed to get off this rock and Firewire was his ticket. Without her he’d probably be tossed back into his cell and forgotten about.

Kronus cringed inwardly at the thought of being strung back up in the maximum security ward.

Garrus-9 – Hangar Bay

From one location to another: Fortress Maximus’s penitentiary to Scorponok’s flagship. It was like being transferred to a different prison, Scowl thought. Surrounded by his comrades he might have been -- flanked, it seemed like -- the manner in which he was being escorted -- directed, arguably -- suggested the correlation between his suspicions and reality were closer to each other than the Monstercon was comfortable with.

Gotta stop being so negative, but it’s hard not to be when--

Enough. No more. Scowl had to preserve some optimism from this situation. He had to analyse it from a second angle in order to gain a better understanding of it. This pessimistic attitude that was covering him like a shroud needed to be pulled off and flung away.

Seriously, we form into Monstructor after a zillion vorns -- twice, Primus damn everything to the Pit -- probably kill a ton of our own brethren in the process, and then almost get wiped out from fighting another gestalt, some crazy ‘Bot thing. If that’s not--

Zip it. Just shut up.

Scowl sighed. For a moment, he wished he were back in his cell, lazing about on his cot, and tapping out moves on the wall while he and Icepick played Matrix. What could he say? He enjoyed that game, although the fun factor would’ve been higher if he’d had his voice to issue his moves rather than rapping his knuckles against a wall to do so like some mute fool.

Honestly? What’s wrong with me? I love Icepick and that game is good, but I don’t want to be stuck here until I turn into dust. Whatever’s coming next has to be better than being an eternal resident of Elba. Positivity, Scowl, positivity. And stop talking to yourself so much.

Scowl, resisting the negativity that clung to him and sought to draw the Monstercon down into its despairing depths, flashed a smile at Slog.

It wasn’t a beacon of hope, that smile, promising to cut through the darkness and find the light, but it was a decent start. It created motion that would gather speed, and that motion, hurtling along, would forge a path for which to travel on. The right path.

That was positive.

Semper Tyrannis--Med Bay

“Er…uh…Yes. Data analyst. But, uh, I’ve made myself useful to Lord Scorpynok as an assistant. Too. It’s been an honor to work with him. He’s a genius. I’m learning a lot,” she muttered with something of a wistful sigh. “’Course, there’s always the danger of squishing…mm…yes. Underfoot would be the worst…To end up as ped-paste? No thank you,” Firewire continued.

Ah. A nervous rambler.

Wonderful.

“I wish I could do more. Be an unstoppable…thing! Daring battles! Putting my life on the line for the cause! Glory in battle! I guess. I dunno. I’m not built for that, so I do what I can. Besides, I like technical stuff. I have a few projects of my own. Hopefully, one of them will lead to something big! And good. For everyone. I just…wanna…do my part, you know? Uh…f-forget I said anything.”

"Too late," Overlord sighed, leaning his scarred cranial unit back against the berth. "Be thankful I'm noticing some improvements to my condition. Otherwise I would have needed to end somebody's life for having to endure that."

Before Overlord could say anything further, a hulking but all too familiar figure entered the medical bay. Overlord's smirk returned.

”I see you survived the Omega Guardian. If barely,” Scorponok taunted, clearly trying to get a rise out of him. Better had tried and failed.

"I have a nasty little habit of doing exactly that, regardless of the circumstances," the Phase Sixer quipped back. "I see that the Omega Guardian survived you, also. Unless you're towing him behind the Tyrannis as we speak. Is he here? I'd love to chat."

Overlord chuckled, knowing full well that they would be having a different conversation entirely if Omega Supreme had managed to be imprisoned by the paranoid 2nd Fleet commander. Deciding not to linger on the matter, Overlord continued on.

"I hear tell of your intentions for me, Scorponok. You know I don't tend to deal well with micromanagement."

”So. Where do you see us going from here? You owe me your life. However wretched it may be. What is your bargain?”

"On that....we are in agreement. Primus only knows how much time it would have taken me to recuperate, had you simply left me marooned back on that rock. And I'm no fan of being in debt to any of my colleagues. So....the little walking-talking camera was correct when he said I'd feel compelled to owe you a boon for the efforts of your associates here to piece me back together again," Overlord stretched out a cyberskeletal hand, examining it idly. "So, my bargain is this--we accelerate and finish this little recuperative nightmare and in return I will set aside my own personal enjoyments for a while and assist you in accomplishing some goal. Megatron no doubt has given you a list longer than this ship. We find one that I am uniquely capable of completing and get it done. After that? I return to doing what I was made to do."

Corridors

Wildfly dragged himself towards the Hangar bay. Combining into Monstructor (twice) took a huge hit into his systems. He didn't know how much more he could sustain himself. Still, he wasn't gonna go down this easily. His thirst for mayhem returned. He needed to crash into something. Break something. Anything that wasn't Monstructor. His mind needed an escape.

He looked around at the destruction, the ruins of the battle. A chuckle escape his vocalisers. The chuckle brought with it a grin, and that grin turned into a laughter. The laughter got harder, his optics got wider, and a wave of maniacal madness overcame him. He laughed and laughed and walked in the direction he saw the others headed.

His laughter came back down to a giggle. Up ahead, he saw the hangar bay, with the ramp leading up. He approached the ramp, spotting Icepick and Umbra. He called out to them, "Hey, can't a mech get some company 'round here?!" Ever so slightly grinning and giggling in the meanwhile.



Tentakil had lumbered himself to where the Technobot Nosecone was strapped down. Having his tentacles folded up neatly on his back, he brought his optics to match the Technobot's. His near-suicidal attack on Logicor was... a disappointing failure, much to say the least. At least he would be able to get in on the Technobot's perspective. Nosecone seemed to be talking to himself. Or perhaps he was hallucinating.

Nosecone wrote:"Who or what are you? You seem to be made up of myself and my brothers."

He was right. Hallucinating. Clearly shook by the combiner process. Perhaps he had-

Nosecone wrote:"Wait, you are us but as one robot? How come I am now seeing damage all over you or us or whatever this is?"

As one robot? Was he... was he talking to a mental incarnation of the Technobot combiner? This would be interesting to note to someone who had expertise in the field. Too bad that traitorous scum... Jhiaxus... had left.

Nosecone's optics were starting to return to normal. Well, they appeared normal anyway, but it didn't seem like he was seeing anything the whole time. As his vision started to restore, Tentakil brought out his formalities.

"Ah, yes, how are you doing, my dear Autobot?" Tentakil inquired with his ever-so-gentle tone. "You seem to have taken quite the hit to your systems. Would you like to tell me how you are feeling? Is there any part of you that you feel injured?" His friendliness was just a mask - he needed to get to the bottom of the Autobot's mental processors.

Hangar

Nova Storm then heard Snarler let out a low growl towards the three of them. His optics narrowed towards the pig and pointed a finger towards the annoying pig.

"Save it, Slagging Pig or you would be a roasted pig on the BBQ pit for the next Hawaiian luau!!"

Snarler lifted his snout at Nova Storm's words. Piercing red optics locked on to the Rainmakers. He began his transformation sequence.

--

As a testament to Bomb Burst's insane speed and reaction time; the Vampire was between Snarler and Nova Storm before his teammate had finished transforming out of his alt mode. An energon dagger on his hand, nearly obscured as he held it at his waist, and somewhat behind his back. He was ready to strike and still a threat, just not overtly.

Optics drifted over to Acid Storm briefly before locking on to Nova Storm's optics.

"It was an accident, Rainmaker." Bomb Burst's voice was like velvet, with the bite of a warning under it, as Nova walked to the shuttle. "No need to threaten."

---

Snarler stood behind Bomb Burst a little irritated. The Pig was always up for a fight, and the Walking Ego just had to get between him and Nova Storm.

"Move it, Bats." Snarler warned Bomb Burst.

---

Bomb Burst didn't break his eye contact with Nova Storm, nor move like Snarler asked.

--

Bludgeon's attention went to Snarler and Bomb Burst, but he didn't react, simply remained with an uninterested look on his face plate, noting the subtle movements as Nightbird was nearly unnoticeably preparing to back up her commanding officer of need be.

Hangar

As Bludgeon's psychotic crew started rallying behind (or in front of) their teammate, Acid Storm prepared himself for the worst. Ready to back up Nova Storm if necessary.

He was more worried about Ion Storm, who usually lived up to his nickname of Stormy.

Garrus-9--Hangar Bay

Being carried was disconcerting enough. Being carried by a Decepticon even moreso. Then to have one of Snaptrap's more intimidating minions, the blasted sharkish creature, of all things--get so close he could practically taste the exhaust on his vocalizer....well, Lightspeed was about ready to pass out again. But he held on, despite the usual business of potentially impending extermination.

“Now…Tell me what it was like as Logicor. When you were merged. Be thorough,” Snaptrap pressed further. Clearly he realized that he and his team were going to be on that examination table sooner rather than later, just as the Technobots had been. Not on Garrus-9. But somewhere.

"Hmm....it was an odd sensation. When we imprisoned the Monstructor Six, the more technical and scientific Autobots took a look at the Monstercon files and interview accounts and spoke with them directly. They all talked about losing themselves when they became Monstructor. Like he replaced them. I don't know. Some of it read like a horror story. But when I was merged with the other Technobots....when we became 'Logicor'...I didn't feel that way at all. Something was driving me forward, but I was very much aware. A-And, sometimes it was like I couldn't move. I wanted to do something, but so did everybody else, so we started going through all these computations to find the optimized response. It was.....it was a mess, frankly. If this is the future of our war, it's going to be chaotic."

Corridors

"Go on brainiac,” Apeface smirked while looming over the fallen scientist, ”Make yourself useful and maybe the boss won’t feed you and your friends to Terrorcons.”

Brainstorm said nothing as the hulking Horrorcon retorted to his plea for trying to help Afterburner. He simply rolled over, recovered the best he could from that sucker punch, and stumbled over to the dying Afterburner. Without missing a beat, the biomechanical engineer dug his hands into the inner working mechanisms of the damaged Technobot, doing what he could to help fix up the damage despite having little to no tools or equipment with him for such injuries.

"Whirl,” he muttered under his breath to his fellow former Wrecker, “You see the princess anywhere?”

"Beats me." The cycloptic mech responded lowly as his singular optic scanned the area. He then turned and looked at his fellow Wrecker, or rather fellow former Wrecker. "I dunno, does my scanning face look suspicious?" He paused for a moment. The amber optic fixated in the center of this processor never flickering or moving as he maintained constant visual lock with Roadbuster. One of the joys of having no face; others couldn't tell if you were squinting or not! Maybe Roadbuster understood this too. He looked like a mech that didn't have facial features beneath that mask. Or maybe that is a mask... Come to think, has Whirl ever actually seen Roadbuster's true face? Does Roadbuster even have a true face?? Questions to ask later.

"Hey! Over here!" Brainstorm called out towards the wrecker-duo, trying to get their attention as well as the rest of the assembled Autobot prisoners. "Need a hand here!" Whirl shrugged and walked on over, squatting next to Afterburner's mangled chassis.

"Damn, that is some damage!" The heli-copter former chimed in noting the obvious. "I would've whistled for ya but hey, no mouth."

"Grab that fuel line there and pinch it." Brainstorm instructed before looking up towards Roadbuster. "I need scrap metal, little chunks about 'yay-big'. Either from the debris or anything you can find."

"Auughh..." Afterburner groaned. His processor was still trying to comprehend the situation. He could hear his fellow teammates still in the back of his head. Private thoughts, memories, screaming... Like having lived five separate lives all at once. "Sc-Scatter..."

-

Snapdragon was bemused at the sight of the Autobots trying to assist the broken Technobot. They had orders to keep them alive per Scorponok's commands, sure, but the way they all flocked to his mangled body... Weird... Let him bleed out, Snapdragon thought, at least then the interceptor would have another puddle to lather up in.

"Alright, let 'em at it." Snapdragon seconded Apeface's order to allow Brainstorm to fix Afterburner, "But I'm heading back." As the reptilian Horrorcon lumbered away from the scene, he noticed Synapse being tended to by Lobe. The good doctor looked as though he was injured and it appeared that Lobe was helping him up and along. "Heh, and you say I need a few sessions. You don't look like you'll be leaving Flatline's ward anytime soon."

Garrus 9 – Hangar Bay

"Hmm....it was an odd sensation. When we imprisoned the Monstructor Six, the more technical and scientific Autobots took a look at the Monstercon files and interview accounts and spoke with them directly. They all talked about losing themselves when they became Monstructor. Like he replaced them. I don't know. Some of it read like a horror story. But when I was merged with the other Technobots....when we became 'Logicor'...I didn't feel that way at all. Something was driving me forward, but I was very much aware. A-And, sometimes it was like I couldn't move. I wanted to do something, but so did everybody else, so we started going through all these computations to find the optimized response. It was.....it was a mess, frankly. If this is the future of our war, it's going to be chaotic."

“Hrm…” was all the immediate response that Lightspeed got from Snaptrap. In exchange for power, it seemed to come at the cost of loss of control. Additionally, it seemed like the gestalts themselves differed depending on the components used. So, there was no guarantee that if the Seacons underwent the process, it would be beneficial. In fact, it could be counterproductive if it were anything like the Monstercons.

However, once separated, the respective components seemed whole psychologically. Not shattered or jabbering wrecks. Control was an issue…Well, there were simple solutions for such problems. Rudimentary, but they could be effective. Such as a timer. Pushing those thoughts to the side for the moment, Snaptrap released Lightspeed abruptly, dropping him to the floor.

“You were aware of what you were doing while combined then,” he stated coldly, amber optics gleaming ominously, “You collectively chose your actions after combination.”