The Energon Pub

Garrus-9--Mines

When Tentakil revealed himself once more after his latest, erm, distraction...it was with a distinctly satisfied look on his face. That poor miner never had any idea what was coming. Always better that way. And those Insecticlones sure were handy in cleaning up any refuse.

Now he'd wandered back to reunite with his fellow Seacons and overheard some snippets of conversation that were none too disappointing.

"...I haven’t. I was just thinking…might be a good idea for us to hunt those guys down and make sure they’re not up to anything. So, you know, Snaptrap doesn’t murder us if they just happen to be. And by us, I mean you."

Ooh. Hunting, you say? Tentakil liked a good hunt.

“You like the hunting thing, right Overbite? It’s all you, buddy! Let’s get goin’."

"Oh, I think we all like the 'hunting thing'," Tentakil said cheerfully, creeping up behind Skalor as he invited himself along on whatever this was. "By all means. Let's."

Garrus-9 – Mines

Skalor advanced straight to the point. Overbite appreciated that, because the stench he perpetually emanated, almost a physical force on its own, defeated the undersea terminator's tolerance every time he encountered it. His olfactory unit was more sensitive than that of his comrades', given the predatory nature of his function and the edge his heightened senses endowed him with. Mere kliks in close company with Skalor made him want to purge his tanks.

Not hate on his team-mate. He just stank. Like fragging slag.

Skalor went on to explain his purpose for desiring Overbite's presence. He brought up the Autobots they'd taken captive from Nebulos and suggested he and Overbite search for them to stop them from being a nuisance, as silly, clueless Autobots did when they were presented with an opportunity to do so if they'd been captured. Quite the pests, they were.

The mines were enormous, and the Decepticons couldn't cover them in their entirety. Certitude could be built from the collected scraps of possibility growing in the Autobots' minds. Plans could be hatched and put into motion. And difficulties could arise from this—if it was allowed to go unchecked. Neither Overbite nor Skalor would give the oil stains a thumbs-up to become a problem.

Snaptrap was a problem, too. Or rather—according to Skalor, which was concerning—the rage he would unleash upon Overbite for failing to locate and contain the Autobots the Seacon suspected were up to something. He would be successful. Whatever these rust buckets were doing, Overbite would see it come to an end.

“You like the hunting thing, right Overbite? It’s all you, buddy!” Skalor cheered with false enthusiasm, clapping his teammate on the back with a filthy hand. “Let’s get goin’.”

It was all him. No “pressure”, then. It felt like Skalor was trying to crush him under an immense weight, but Overbite wouldn't submit to it. He had this. Hunting was his thing, as his caring team-mate had called it.

“Sure is,” he said to Skalor, wincing somewhat when Skalor's disgusting actuator touched his back-plating.

He'd have said more, but the stench... It kind of... Yes... Purge... No, stay down...

"Oh, I think we all like the 'hunting thing'," Tentakil said cheerfully, creeping up behind Skalor as he invited himself along on whatever this was. "By all means. Let's."

Overbite nodded to Tentakil, surprised but pleased he could join their hunt. His inclusion could mean the difference between pressing an advantage against the Autobots or having an advantage pressed against them. On the whole, he was a welcome addition.

Skalor marched on. Overbite marched with him, but at a distance to keep the worst of his foul smelling fluids away from him. It didn't help.

Overbite coughed, the pungent smell of Skalor attacking his olfactory unit again. “When did you last clean yourself? About a hundred vorns ago or something?”

Garrus-9 Central – Amphitheatre

Clawing through the depths of anxiety and terror hadn't been easy. To reach the surface, to battle past the torturous currents seeking to snare him and drown him in the nightmare, Wildfly had to remind himself that reality had reasserted itself. Monstructor was gone. It was gone. Monstructor was gone.

Silently, he clenched his fists, and allowed his gaze to latch onto the floor. There it stayed, like he did, paralysed by the horrific union Monstructor activated in him, like the flick of a switch. This always happened after he merged into that monster. Once separated, Wildfly's perception was skewed: he couldn't define what was real and what was not. He needed a few moments to calm down. He needed to realise that Monstructor was gone.

He heard a voice addressing the Monstercons. Scorponok's, he thought, but he sustained the rigid position he'd set himself in. Conveniently secreted in between a couple of operating slabs Monstructor had overturned, Wildfly didn't want Scorponok to see the fear written on his face-plate. The story it told demanded no verbal support for it to be understood with further clarity.

Scorponok might have been their liberator, but that did not encourage Wildfly's assurance to replace his fear so speedily. Monstructor might have been sealed away as much as it was considered feasible, but it still freaked him the Pit out. His fear, despite being justified, was a weakness that should not be on display, in his opinion.

Somebody else then spoke. Out of the corner of his optic, Wildfly noticed Icepick—with that little femme, Firewire, standing beside him—as he climbed onto a slab. He immediately looked for Slog, and found him. The Monstercon leader appeared to be fine with this, with Icepick jumping onto the slab. As per usual, it took Wildfly the longest to recover from a merging and, as a result, he missed things the others did not. He hated that, but that was how the dice rolled. Piece of slag.

Getting to his pedes, Wildfly shuffled over to Slog. He said nothing to him—instead watching Icepick and Firewire. He guessed he, too, would be sitting on a slab soon enough. Again.

Garrus-9 – Amphitheatre

There had to be a God. Somewhere, somehow there was a God watching over him. Great. Now he’d have to rethink becoming religious. Kronus made a low sucking sound and rolled his head slightly. He was alive and now he had to thank some God he had no belief in...maybe.

Of course there was Lord Scorponok who was the actual live person present who brought the towering behemoth to its knees. So no God, only powerful ‘Cons. That’s a relief.

Once Monstructor was on its knees the gestalt broke apart into its separate pieces…each Monstercon now seemingly helpless on the floor. Yeah right, Kronus took a slight step back away from the small group.

“Come here and stay. Try not to get in Lord Scorponok’s way,”

The thief quickly looked over to the squirt who was pointing to a spot beside her. Kronus let out a snort and crossed his arms over his chestplate, yet he didn’t move.

“Also try to stay out of his way too,” she added, pointing to Jhiaxus.

“Listen up short-round. I have no intention of getting in anyone’s way, least of all the one person who came up with that…that thing.” He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb at Slog and his group. “And I’m certainly not going to get in the way of the one guy who seems to be able to control it either.” He lowered his arms slowly and placed them against the terminal as he leaned up heavily against it.

Firewire let out a huff and glanced over to Kronus. “Don’t worry, okay? Lord Scorpy’s got it under control. Oh, but you can eat Gizmo here if he does anything stupid.”

Kronus shot Firewire a sideways glance, his optics narrowed slightly. Was that hint of concern in her voice? “I’m not worried. Not anymore at least.” He looked up at Gizmo, or was it Gadget, and smiled. “I’m not partial to eating others. I prefer things I’m accustomed to…” He looked back down at Firewire, “But if he does do anything stupid I’ll be happy to become a connoisseur.” Kronus flicked his optic off and on quickly.

“C’mon, bolts for brains, let’s go. We gotta check up on the Monstercons. Unless you’re scared,” Firewire quipped with a mischievous grin.

“Scared?! HA!” Kronus placed a hand lightly on his abdomen and bent over slightly. “As long as he’s here…” he rose back up and pointed in Scorponok’s direction, “I’ve no problem being in the same room with them.” For now. He added mentally. With that he pushed off the terminal and followed directly behind the diminutive femme. He also raised thumb nervously to his mouth and instinctively began to chew...

Garrus-9 – Central Wing Corridors

Lobe had to admit, traversing the distance from the Semper Tyrannis to the prison facility via the space bridge much more convenient then taking, say, a shuttle or even using the Autobots’ antiquated travel via orbital bounce. This method left no after effects, something Lobe was quite thankful for.

Several moments had passed as both he and Synapse trekked through the corridors within G9, as their enemies had so eloquently christened the place. He remained quiet and simply took in the carnage…bodies, rubble and the like littered the corridors.

A smile crossed Lobe’s face as he took in the destruction. It seemed that Lord Scorponok’s men had a wonderful time taking the place on his behalf.

“Such a spectacle, wouldn’t you say?” Lobe questioned from Synapse’s right as he gestured from the psychotherapist’s left. “Perhaps some of Lord Scorponok’s men had too much fun claiming this facility in the name of the Decepticons.” To Synapse’s right Lobe chuckled while he continued to speak from his left. “Dare I say some may have breezed through those ‘Bots with glee and vigor.” Lobe looked over at the shorter mech and smiled. "You may have more patients on your hands if they're deemed...how shall I say, liabilities due to cerebro-malfunctions."

At that the mech to the left stopped while the one of the right continued to chuckle lightly. “Now, shall we find your patient and my specimens?” To the right Lobe stopped his chuckling and clapped his hands together in anticipation. “We’ll probably have plenty of luck with my part of the hunt wherever Lord Scorponok has decided to take the Autobot prisoners." The cerebro-scientist clapped Synapse on the shoulder, “What say you, old friend? Think we can find me a few live ones? Mmmmhaahaa!”

Garrus-9 – Amphitheatre

"Poor chaps." said Gadget, as he looked at the Monstercons with concern.

Gadget looked at Firewire and said, "If you require assistance with anything medically, feel free to bug me." Gadget smiled, "I'll work with Slog right now."

Garrus-9 Central--Amphitheater

”Jhiaxus, I salute you! You truly are as devious as the legends rumored. To create this?! And to hide component pieces of your vamparc ribbon into the Monstercons themselves only for the weapon to be realized in their combined form?! Hah! Looks like Zeta Prime and his Omega Destructors were nothing but imitations of what you had already pioneered!” Scorponok exclaimed, a heretofore absent express of almost--jubilation in his voice. It was certainly a side of the mech that the praetor had not yet seen.

And this is just the beginning, Jhiaxus thought, ruefully, his mind still swarmed with the endless possibilities of being thrust millions of years into the future and suddenly having access to all the evolutionary and technological advances that had surely taken place during the time of his incapacitation.

”But enough of this. I will not suffer this violation against me any longer than necessary,” Scorponok continued, and with a jolt, Jhiaxus watched as his great creation was forcibly ripped apart once more. His expression--and his rage--almost broke. To stand in the presence of a being like Monstructor and then to consciously choose to remove it? Jhiaxus could not fathom the justifications. But he kept his demeanor passive and emotionless.

”I see that Decepticon science still has much to benefit from you. This bodes well for our continued partnership.”

"Oh yes," Jhiaxus sighed wistfully. "As great as that one is, he is but a template. The ones to come will put an end to this petty war once and for all. None shall stand against their collective might. 'Till all are one. All are one...... All...are one. All are one..."

As Jhiaxus trailed off, his gaze returned to the holoscreens in front of him. Logicor would be next and he wanted to be sure that everything was in readiness. The Technobots needed to be prepared to step through the door that was being opened before them. And with his final ministrations over each of them, they soon would be.

Garrus-9 – Command Center

"Well then, we'll just have to see to it that you're the first to tickle its control panel when the time comes. I'm sure our mighty provider Scorponok will have no objections,"

Cipher looked over to the hypnotist and smiled broadly. What he could...no, what he would do with the information trapped deep within the Aequitas machine. So much had gone on under the Autobots’ own noses he was sure the resulting backlash from the trial transcripts would fracture the faction enough for the Decepticons to win this war with one fell swoop.

But he’d have to wait until he could get his hands on that infernal machine.

Cipher’s easy smiled turned into something a little more twisted.

"Have you had your fill of this ruin? Perhaps Lord Scorponok has fared better in his progress. Perhaps he's received word from the Tracker and is preparing a second wave to lay claim to Aequitas even as we speak!"

“I am more than ready to leave.” The cryptologist moved from the terminal he was stationed at. “Wouldn’t it be simply marvelous if our Hunter has found our elusive quarry?” Cipher clapped his hands together and rubbed them enthusiastically. It truly would be superb.

“Let’s get going. I don’t want to miss a thing. Especially if Scourge has news of Omega Supreme’s whereabouts.” That said Cipher slipped passed Mindwipe but not before he gripped the other’s wrist and started to tug him along gently.

Garrus 9 - Mine Ventilation Shafts

Phobos crawled in the shafts, his cloak on, it didn't make him invisible but it hid him from radar. He isn't called an assassin for nothing, he got in and no one noticed.

"A prison that houses bots and cons. I could have some real fun with this."

Phobos has been stranded on this place for as long as he can remember, he must've crash landed and somehow reached an extremely high velocity doing it.

"Deimos...I know exactly what you would've done..."

Phobos knew exactly what he would've done, break and enter. Then Phobos would have to go through all the trouble of persuading him not to do that. Deimos was unique, one of the cons that would rather choose an automobile over an aircraft. That, fortunately, helped them in some situations. He lost Deimos in an unfortunate mission were Phobos also lost his vocalizer. They're both nearly completely opposite but were somehow binded together by the unknown force of friendship, and Phobos isn't very sentient. As long as Phobos can remember, he has been unable to feel much emotion.

"So who actually runs this place if it houses bots and cons?" Thought Phobos, imitating Deimos.

Phobos knew someone would find him soon, so he exited the ventilation shaft and entered the mines. He liked to get straight to the point.

"Come get me bots."

For an assassin, he never usually acted like one. He likes to stay in the shadows but tries to be spotted, he thinks it is more of a challenge that way.

Garrus-9--Mines

>>”Copy that, Pointblank. It’s a long way up. Don’t suppose you know where I might come out? If it’s not in the cell blocks, then I don’t really know it. I wasn’t here long before…all this happened.”<<

Well good. At least they had managed to stay in comm contact. They were risking enough as it was. If they lost the ability to for Umbra to relay what was going on, this whole thing would be that much more likely to go up in flames.

>>"Standby,"<< Pointblank commed back. He then looked to the others. "Where exactly do we think this tunnel is gonna lead? I hope we didn't just send this femme into Scorponok Central. Never a Technobot around when you need one. They know this place forwards and backwards."

Garrus-9 – Mines

"Oh, I think we all like the 'hunting thing'.”

Shivers ran down the putrid fish’s spinal column as the Seacons’ resident psycho creeped up behind him. Skalor turned to look at the cheerful Tentakil, his hand over his spark. “Give a mech some warning, ‘Kil! Fraggin’ pit…” He shook his head. Tentakil wasn’t wrong though. Skalor enjoyed the hunt as much as the rest of them. It was about the only thing he’d take the initiative on. As he had this time too.

"By all means. Let's."

“Oh goodie,” Skalor grumbled as Tentakil invited himself along. Not that Skalor particularly minded. It just…He could never really be sure what Tentakil was thinking. The Seacon would give his comrades the same smile that he gave an Autobot before killing him. It was a little unsettling. Still, Tentakil never had killed any of them, and Snaptrap never seemed worried about it. If the boss man trusted Tentakil then it was a pretty safe bet that the rest of them were fine too.

Skalor paused in his march to find the Autobots to look over to Overbite who had distanced himself from him quite a bit. It didn’t hurt Skalor’s feelings. In fact, it brought a toothy grin to his grimy faceplate.

“When did you last clean yourself? About a hundred vorns ago or something?”

“Ha! Or something,” Skalor chuckled, taking actual pride in his filth. “Hey, ‘Bite, maybe you should take the lead. So I don’t get in the way of you…sniffin’ the Bots out or whatever you do?” He cast his optics around the mines. Oh where, oh where were those little Autobots? The Seacons were coming…

Darkened Depths of the Garrus Mines

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:
Phobos knew someone would find him soon, so he exited the ventilation shaft and entered the mines. He liked to get straight to the point.


For an assassin, he never usually acted like one. He likes to stay in the shadows but tries to be spotted, he thinks it is more of a challenge that way.

The faint sound of guns being powered down could be heard from the shadows surrounding Phobos' position. "You almost got yourself killed there..." a voice said softly from the shadows to Phobos, just before one of Bomb Burst's assassins emerged from the shadow's depths.

>>"Nightbird..."<< he sent a silent communication to the ninja. >>"We found a Con."<<

Outside the Command Center

Though Nightbird made no movements to betray her irritation, her return message contained an irritated overtone. >>"So?"<< She replied to the assassin, glad he didn't contact Bomb Burst who would have been more irritated.

Depths of Garrus

>>"Looks like an assassin..."<< He answered Nightbird.

>>"Bit noisy though."<< Added in another assassin.

Outside the Command Center

A bit perplexing, Nightbird didn't realize any were missing to be found. >>"Were we missing someone?"<<

>>"No."<< Bomb Burst broke in letting them all know he had been listening in all along.

>>"Ask him where he came from. Find out if he's one of ours."<< She told the assassin. >>"You damn assassins all look alike to me, who would notice if one of you wandered off?"<<

The Vampire's optics drifted over to Nightbird who was smirking under her battle mask.

Depths of the Mines

A slight sigh at the knowledge their vampiric leader was listening in, and the assassin looked to the newcomer. "So, before we do something rash like shoot you, what's your name and who's your commanding officer... friend?

Garrus 9 - Mines

"That's more like it"

Phobos drew his energon blade and pointed it at the shadows. He used his enhanced optics to make out the con in the dark. He backed away as he realised who they looked like. He lowered his blade.

"An assassin?"

Phobos took off his faceplate, revealing his damaged vocalizer. He wanted to make sure he was on good terms with the con, he could see it was sending transmissions. It may be a bit too reckless to fight fire with fire right now.

Depths of the Mines

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:
Phobos took off his faceplate, revealing his damaged vocalizer. He wanted to make sure he was on good terms with the con, he could see it was sending transmissions. It may be a bit too reckless to fight fire with fire right now.

"Scrap, can't talk, huh?" The assassin that had been doing all the talking said. He looked to the others in the shadows with a shrug. "Do you have any way to communicate or should we just assume you're hostile and shoot?"

Outside the Command Center

>>"There's no shooting anyone at the moment."<< Nightbird said, she had been listening in.

Garrus 9 - Mines

Phobos took a sphere item from his canopy and threw it at the con. It landed on its wrist and attached itself to it. Phobos then sent a text transmission to the con.

>>I have other ways, sorry about the gadget. Had to hack into your comlink.<<

Phobos then put his faceplate back on and took the sphere off of the cons wrist. He sent another transmission.

>>First things first, who are you?<<

Mines

Guns were powered up again as Phobos opened his canopy and threw the sphere at the assassin.

The look of shock quickly left his faceplate as he received the message from Phobos.

"There would have been an easier way of doing that." The assassin said. "Who I am doesn't matter. Who I work for does."

Outside the Command Center

Bomb Burst's rule was anonymity for his rank and file under his command. He understood that for them to properly do their jobs, they had to be uknown, and that was where he came into play, he and Nightbird ended up well known, they could afford the luxury of introducing themselves where those they commanded couldn't. So they were never to give out their names until a certain familiarity was achieved.

This meant Nightbird was already uneasy Phobos was asking who they are. >>"I'm on my way."<< She sent to them as her optics went to Bomb Burst from unspoken permission.

He nodded. But then her optics went to Bludgeon.

---

>>"No, just go."<< The Vampire sent to her.

---

>>"Hang out, I'm on my way."<< She sent off to the assassins and started, without a word out loud, for the mines.

Mines

"Second in command will handle the introductions." The assassin said stepping back to not block Phobos, not wanting him to feel like they were keeping him.

Garrus 9 - Mines

>>Hiding your identity, interesting tactic. Although, not too unique. My name's Phobos, nobody commands me. I'm a mercenary. Now, we better clear things up pretty quickly, or I'm gonna treat you all as hostile. I won't hesitate to do it either.<<

Phobos took a shoulder plate off his shoulder which revealed the Decepticon insignia hidden beneath it.

>>Doesn't mean I'm not loyal to the Decepticon cause.<< Phobos grinned underneath his faceplate.

>>Now that I've introduced myself, were's your second in command? Still trying to avoid me?<<

Mines

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:
>>Hiding your identity, interesting tactic. Although, not too unique. My name's Phobos, nobody commands me. I'm a mercenary. Now, we better clear things up pretty quickly, or I'm gonna treat you all as hostile. I won't hesitate to do it either.<<

"We don'the need to be unique, we need to stay unknown." The assassin said then nodded slightly at the introduction. "You can get hostile, but the Boss doesn't take kindly to that. He's likely to get a touch upset." He said to Phobos.

One of the other assassins chuckled. "That's putting it politely." He said.


The first one gave the second one a 'hush you' look and Phobos was reveling his insignia. He nodded slightly again before responding to the question on Nightbird's whereabouts. "Give her a chance to get here, she's a good clip out." He said.


--

>>"Almost there..."<< Nightbird sent.

--

"She says she's almost here." The assassin said, trying to keep conversation going hoping to keep the situation under control. "Well, so you're a mercenary, not very uncommon around here, doesn't mean someone doesn't pay you..."

Before the assassin could go any further, he was interrupted by Nightbird's silent communique that she had arrived and the line of questioning he was going down was to be dropped.

-

Nightbird approached in perfect silence, slipping out of the shadows behind Phobos. Though her sai were attached to her wrists and katakana were all sheathed, she still looked at the ready for an attack. Her yellow optics took in every dwtail of this stranger and she slightly motioned for the assassins to back off into the shadows.

"I have no need to avoid anyone, mercenary Phobos." She finally said to him. "Avoiding you would indicate that I have some fear of you. Which I do not. I am Nightbird. This unit has a policy that those under our command do not give out names, they don't exist for all intents and purposes."

Garrus 9 - Mines

Phobos rolled his optics at the remark of "Doesn't mean someone doesn't pay you." When Nightbird arrived and started examining him, he followed her optics also taking note of her weapons and her yellow optics. When Nightbird introduced herself, Phobos sent a transmission.

>>What's a group of assassins doing in a prison like this? If that's what it still is.<<

Corridors near command centre

The former Empirion captain's gaze swung from Stranglehold and Octopounch back to Cyclonus. His optics lazy and unfocused for a split second as he recalled who had been destroyed at his hands. Both optics locked on to the purple warrior like a missile lock as he replied.

"No one of consequence mainly guards who thought it was worth testing their own inadequacies"

Corridors near Command Center

"No one of consequence mainly guards who thought it was worth testing their own inadequacies," the Captain of the Empirion reported. Cyclonus nodded absently, expecting nothing other than Bludgeon's usual efficiency in how he dealt with such situations. Thus, there was little reason to inquire about their current status.

"Good work nonetheless. It would not do for any remnant to mount a resistance at this stage, entertaining though it might be."

Cyclonus seemed to lose himself in his thoughts for a few moments, but just a few, before he looked up once more.

"Our task now is to ensure Fortress Maximus is securely transferred to the amphitheater. We will stake his psyche with the depth of his defeat. He'll never look Optimus Prime in the optic or accept another command assignment when he sees what has become of his loyal Technobots."

The purple warrior turned and headed for the central med bay, which was not incredibly far from their current position. Arriving, he stepped inside to find one of their medics--Flatline--at work alongside several Seekers that were milling about the area under the guise of providing security. Layabouts. It was unfortunate that so many of the Sweeps were otherwise assigned. But in the midst of them all stood the true prize, restrained heavily against an operating berth: Fortress Maximus; Autobot general, commanding officer of the Steelhaven and Warden of Garrus-9. Now? The most decorated Autobot prisoner to now find himself in Decepticon captivity. Scorponok undoubtedly had extensive plans for the use of his prized captive.

"Is the prisoner ready for transfer?" Cyclonus asked Flatline as he calmly approached the significantly larger Autobot, a cursory glance at the equipment nearby indicating that he had received steady infusions of energy. Just enough to keep him out of stasis.

"I would have enjoyed defeating you on the field of battle," Cyclonus said, looking up into the faintly-flickering optics of Maximus. "This will have to suffice."

Mines

[BW] Rainmaker wrote:>>What's a group of assassins doing in a prison like this? If that's what it still is.<<

"We were part of the force that liberated the prison." She replied curtly as she turned and started into motion, raising her hand up a bit making a slight motion to him to follow. "Who is your target?" She very bluntly. "A mercenary, who appears to possibly be an assassin, I must assume you are here to kill someone."

Garrus-9 – Mines

“Ha! Or something.”

The predictable answer. Overbite expected no less. Having bombarded Skalor with the same question over and over again—and over and over again, and over and over again—he and his team-mate had fallen into a comical routine where the punchline emitted by Skalor hadn't lost any of its nonchalance.

Overbite: “So, Skalor, buddy ol' pal, when are you gonna set up a date with water and those cleaning products?”

Skalor: “The what now?”

Overbite: “The water...and the...the products. Okay, look, you smell, all right? When did you last clean yourself? About a hundred vorns ago or something?”

Skalor: “Ha! Or something.”

Audience laugh and clap.

“Hey, ‘Bite, maybe you should take the lead. So I don’t get in the way of you…sniffin’ the Bots out or whatever you do?”

Overbite smiled. Now he was talking. “It would be my pleasure.”

Taking the lead, he gestured to Skalor and Tentakil to follow. He would find these Autobots, and they would punish them for being bothersome. Amalgamating his freeze beam blaster, Skalor's putridity, and Tentakil's tentacles into a developing fantasy Overbite had formulating in his core processor, he shivered with anticipation as he imagined wielding those weapons simultaneously on the Autobots. The agony and humiliation. Pure bliss.

“Gentlemechs. This way, please. We have 'Bots to hunt.”

Garrus 9 - Mines

When Nightbird signalled Phobos to follow her, he did as she ordered.

"I must assume you are here to kill someone."

Phobos nodded his head at Nightbird.

>>Indeed...but I crash landed here and forgot who my target was. So, liberated the prison? You cons run the place now? I'd like to meet some of them.<<

Phobos grinned underneath his faceplate again.

>>It would be a pleasure.<<

Mines


"Umm... convenient, forgot your target." Nightbird muttered as she lead Phobos through the mines. "You'll pardon me for being skeptical, however, I will assume you are telling the truth, to some degree."

They were particularly alone at the moment, normally at least one assassin would be tailing from the shadows, but Nightbird made point to dismiss them all. However it was a test to see what Phobos would do... how he would react with her not being at a numbers advantage. She wanted to know if he was brazen enough to try to pit his skills against hers or patient enough to wait 5o see what situation she lead him into.

"You will be meeting other Cons soon enough." She said. "Unfortunately the lively point has passed and we're finishing up the cleaning up."

Garrus 9 – Corridors

“Such a spectacle, wouldn’t you say?” The Lobe on his right questioned.

Synapse uttered a soft sigh, frowning. “I suppose,” he replied. He didn’t quite share his companion’s taste for carnage.

"You may have more patients on your hands if they're deemed...how shall I say, liabilities due to cerebro-malfunctions."

“I should hope not,” Synapse stated, eyeing the Lobe to his left. “Though I take distinct pride in helping my fellow Decepticons, the fewer that need my help, the better.” The avian Decepticon adjusted his wings, wrapped around his shoulders like a cloak, with an unhappy expression. Yet there were those that refused or shied away from his help. It troubled him. He shook his head to clear it. No sense in dwelling on thoughts he could do nothing about.

“Now, shall we find your patient and my specimens?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Synapse managed with a smile, shaking off his brooding thoughts. They would, of course, have the best luck finding Lobe’s specimens wherever Lord Scorponok had decided to keep the Autobots. However, Synapse didn’t want to trouble Scorponok again for something so trivial. They could find their way on their own. Surely, there would be Sweeps or Seekers about to point them in the proper direction.

“What say you, old friend? Think we can find me a few live ones? Mmmmhaahaa!”

“Quite sure,” Synapse said with a nod, “But first, let us make a stop at the psychotherapist’s office. Perhaps there are some records left behind. Hm, it may be difficult for my patient to find us then…Ah, I’ll just constantly transmit our position to him. Yes, that’ll work!” Synapse opened the comm link to Deadlock once more.

>>”Deadlock? I’m transmitting my current coordinates to you. I’ll keep the link open so it will update persistently. My associate and I have some matters to attend to while we’re down here and would be so indebted to you if you could come to us.”<<

“There, all set. Come, I think I’ve an idea of where we’re going.”

Rung’s Office

“Oh bother,” Synapse said as he rifled through the desk and various drawers. “It’s all gone.” The records had all been taken away whenever the previous psychotherapist had vacated the premises. Part of Synapse was disappointed, of course, but another was quite pleased. The confidentiality between therapist and patient was a bond not to be taken lightly, and this therapist seemed to recognize that. It did mean that Synapse would have to go through the trouble of reassessing the Decepticon prisoners that had been released, but he didn’t mind all that much.

He shook his head and looked at Lobe with a slight shrug. “I can’t say I hadn’t expected as much.” Moving toward the door, Synapse pushed it open, looking back at Lobe as he did. “Well, on to collect your specimens. Shall we?”

Synapse froze suddenly. His head slowly turned as did his optics to face forward. He was looking down the barrel of a gun. Three actually. Autobots. He opened his mouth to speak but the Bot in front of him jerked the barrel and shook his head slowly. He gestured for Synapse to step forward, which he did stiffly. Synapse was no warrior. Surprised in this way, there was nothing he could do. He could only marvel at his luck.

Surely, his luck was out to kill him this time. In a prisoner seized by Lord Scorponok, patrolled by Sweeps, Seekers, and whoever else was roaming about, three Autobots had managed to encounter him. Three. Synapse sighed inwardly and gazed toward the office that held Lobe. The Autobots were awaiting his exit from the room as well. Of course they were. Synapse felt just awful that Lobe had the misfortune to be tangled up in his luck.