The Energon Pub

Amphitheater

Snaptrap was being his usual high and mighty attitude about respect. Decepticons don't know much about respect but plenty about fear. Seawing did bring his gun up against this new abomination standing before him but didn't bother putting his finger on the trigger. Seawing half way expected the giant to fall apart due to poor craftsmanship. When some of his more trigger happy comrades open fire on this Logicor, Seawing actually waited on the Butcher to see what he would do. When the Butcher did nothing Seawing lowered his guard which was a mistake. In the next moment chaos broke out with Lord Scorponok falling to his knees, a shock wave hitting everyone and somehow the Butcher able to do something when everyone else including Seawing was on the floor. He was able to see Hungrr of the Terrorcons being booted by this Logicor which Seawing would have chuckled if movement was possible. As it was, part of his animal form had replaced his robotic form with sparks and pain overflowing his entire body. At least there was some pleasure watching one commander get booted and his own falling to the same effect as himself. A part of him admired the way the old crazy scientist been able to bring everyone down including Scorponok. This would be a great opportunity to claim leadership of the fleet especially since it seems the two giants aren't affected. Biggest problem is Seawing was also being affected which meant he'll want to rip out the scientist's spark once Seawing was able to move again.

Garrus 9 - Amphitheater

What was this? What's happening?! Every servo and every piston froze in place. From the thuggish Octopunch to even the nimble Banzai-Tron, whatever Jhiaxus just released seemed to have affected the entire room save for the old mech himself and his newest creations.

"Gah! Ca-Can't move!" Octopunch snarled as he tried to force himself to gaze over at his partner in crime. "St-Strang-hold... What in-the pit?!"

Garrus 9 - Miners Respite

The datapad the engineer had fastened to his forearm immediately lit up to life, Brainstorm's Amber optics drawn to the screen as his latest "creation" finally produced results.

"Well I'll be damned, that actually worked!" He congratulated himself as he began to wipe away some dust from the screen. The teal and white Autobot then keyed in a few more commands on the datapad before the screened displayed a visual of his repurposed cerebro-shell was transmitting.

"Man...man...I dunno what I can do from here."

Brainstorm couldn't recognize the voice that spoke, but maybe his newest toy could gather some more information on its new-

"What in the pits..." The engineer muttered as he froze in his spot and stared at his monitor, and then through the monitor of the unbeknownst seeker was peering at. It had only been a few moments since Brainstorm and the other Autobot prisoners were in that very amphitheater, and now Jhiaxus stood over Scorponok with not just one, but two working gestalts. And was that- Oh Primus... Scattershot... He and his team were- they're the second gestalt.

"Highbrow, somethings going down and it's not looking good. We gotta find the others and quickly. Grab what you can and let's go!"

Garrus 9 - Mines

"...Do collapse this cavern and we can head out."

"Heh, music to my audio receptors." The reptilian Horrorcon stated with a wicked grin hiding behind his mouthplate as he cracked the joints in his knuckles. He turned towards the rock formation beside him and began to throw massive punches into the wall of minerals. The structural integrity of the cavity surrounding the "dig site" was weakening with each jab the thuggish Horrorcon tossed at it. Once the cavern began to slowly deposit rock and silt from the ceiling above, Snapdragon took a few steps back and drew his pistols. Without missing a beat in his mayhem, the interceptor began to fire rapidly at the cavern overhead, opening the rock formation ever further to bury the explosive Apeface just planted.

The ground around the two Horrorcons began to shake a little further as Snapdragon's destruction was beginning to grow from the increase of falling rock. "That oughtta do it."

Mines - Elsewhere

Whirl snatched the comm device from Pointblank's actuators with and put it up against the side of his elongated processor. He tried to listen on what Umbra was saying but only heard gasps and muttering on his end. She left the line open, the faint sound of other voices in the room were being picked up by her receiver. The cycloptic Wrecker huffed a heavy sigh, as if he were figuratively blowing the dust off his vocalizer's volume control settings to lower his tone to a rarely used whisper.

>>"What's with the heaving and hawing up there, princess?"<<

Garrus-9 Central--Amphitheater

Inconveniences. Certain ones were bound to arise. Jhiaxus had expected no less. But he also expected both his newest and his oldest creation to be able to successfully deal with them when they arose.

The primary amongst those inconveniences appeared to be the fearsome commander of the Terrorcons. Jhiaxus' expression darkened as the beastlike mech reached for his primary weapon. He, like the rest of them, was inconsequential. He trusted his technology to do its work, either at the electromagnetic level or at the hands of the Cybertronian titans of evolution that stood beside him as he began to exit the amphitheater. Logicor, however, clearly calculated that a threat existed. Jhiaxus turned to watch as the Terrorcon was fiercely punted into the next chamber of the prison. Sneering happily, Jhiaxus limped over to the fallen form of Scorponok.

"The future is mine, gladiator. As it was always destined to be," the praetor said, before proceeding to lurch forward, almost collapsing to the floor. He steadied himself against Monstructor's leg as the aged mech continued to retch violently. Oil and other fluids poured from Jhiaxus' mouth, along with several tiny, cybernetic arachnids. Two of them carried a small device, a device that the gladiator and his little imp would surely recognize.

With a final heave, Jhiaxus slowly rose to his normal standing posture as the tiny drones scurried along his arm and ultimately deposited the device that was meant to control him into the palm of his hand.

"And I have no further use for this," he taunted, crushing the device between two digits before turning away and examining the amphitheater.

"You do not see, but you will. All are one. Heh. Heheh. All are one."

Entering another series of access codes, the primary doors began to transform and expand, allowing for much larger beings to exit the facility. Such a fascinating room. The warden of this facility had likely made the prison adaptable to shipbuilding and repairs for his precious Steelhaven. The fool clearly had no idea what other uses it could be put toward. That had been the underestimation of Jhiaxus all along, from Autobot and Decepticon alike. But they would soon see the futility in their little war. The futility in their badges and allegiances.

"Come," Jhiaxus said to the two glowering gestalts as he continued to limp forward. Monstructor's baleful gaze had settled on Jhiaxus temporarily before looking upon the other of his kind...this "Logicor". He took the first position along the praetor's right side as Logicor settled in behind and the three mechanoids proceeded to exit the amphitheater.

Garrus-9 Central--Med Bay

“Would you look at that…the warden is there. Along with…Sco- Lord Scorponok…I even see Lord Bludgeon…Others I recognize too…”

"Yeah. The whole shebang," Skymauler nodded.

“That guy? What guy? Heh, I’m afraid I did too, seeing as I was locked up here.”

"That one," Skymauler said, pointing back to the incapacitated form of Skyhammer. He didn't know the Autobot, but he definitely liked his name. He couldn't help but wonder if whoever had been involved in his cold construction had been inspired by it. "He took a beating on Nebulos, but his systems have been keeping him from going offline. I think they did a little work on him. Not much though."

With Skymauler's attention on Skyhammer, he didn't notice some of the more recent happenings on the screen. Umbra did.

“What the…L-Lord Scorponok just collapsed! Everyone did! Except those…oh, Primus, Icepick…is that you…?”

Skymauler whipped around.

"What in the slag?!" he said as his jaw dropped.

This wasn't good.

No...wait...this was good. He had to play it slick, though. Couldn't go giving away his ulterior allegiances to just anyone.

"W-What...I dunno what to do. We c-can't stop those t-things!" he said, a somewhat shaky digit pointing at the two oversized monsters that were in the process of leaving the amphitheater.

Amphitheater

Bludgeon had an odd sensation of something was about to go amiss, however, it was so faint and vague he could not place what was causing it.

As the monstrosity called Logicor rose to height he regarded it absently. This show of power impressed him not, he didn't try to pretend it did. All that mattered to him was action.

---

Nightbird was in the same frame of mind as Bludgeon. Failing to be impressed by this amalgamation before them, though aware of it's power and purpose... and what it meant to the Cybertronian race. She did draw her katana, carefully grasping them as to be ready for danger.

---

>>"Scrap."<< Bomb Burst muttered near silently in the comms.

---

Nightbird's head turned towards the shadows her commander had disappeared in, but she could not pick him out. He was pinging his GPS location to her so she knew where he was at least. >>"Are we impressed, Sir?"<< She silently commed back.

---

No response came back from Bomb Burst, which was to be expected. The assassin was busy studying the combiner, attempting to locate weak points; as was natural for assassins to do; but not having much luck at this angle finding any.

His focus much more on Logicor; and then Monstructor as it came into being once again; than on Nightbird's teasing. A million things were turning over in his processors... the path they lead down was not one he liked. >>"No... not impressed, exactly."<< He responded as he moved a bit through the shadows, silently stalking the amalgamations. >>"Though it is quite the feat, I will kill myself before I will ever let them make me become part of one of those. This is not evolution... it's torture. Phobos... come."<< He finished with an order to their other assassin to join him in the shadows.

---
Snarler came out of his bestial form, rising to his robotic height to better see. He snorted. "Dey not makin' us do dat, are dey, Boss?" He asked.
---

Bludgeon followed Nightbird's gaze to the shadows as Bomb Burst and then Snarler spoke. He shook his head slightly at Snarler. He couldn't blame the Vampire in the least for not desiring to be part of an experiment of Jhaxus'. The Vampire struggled far too much trying to deal with their race without being forcibly combined into one being with them.

And honestly, he didn't care for the thought of being combined either.

His attention went back to the spectacle before them as Monstructor combined. "Fools..." He muttered out loud as Jhaxus went into motion, lunging for Scorponok.

The old mech was faster than even he could react, especially at this distance. Bludgeon was first shocked by Jhaxus' speed, then more 'shocked' by what came next.

As the EMP wave shot through the room, Bludgeon's optics snapped towards Scorponk. What treachery was this?

Which was the last thought he could manage before the wave of pain hit him, forcing him into a partial transformation as the others were experiencing.

He tried to overcome it, tried to move himself, transform back to complete robot mode, but he could not. He wanted very much to snag the old mech as he left with his monsters, but he was stopped cold.

---

Nightbird reacted possibly a moment sooner than Bludgeon did to Jhaxus' movements. But, of course, there was nothing she could do either. Her transformation sequence triggered as she moved towards Bludgeon, instinctively trying to protect her commander's master. She fell to the floor with an "oof", Snarler falling on top of her as he partially transformed as well.

---

Snarler had the same instinct as Nightbird, wanting to protect Bludgeon, and also stymied by the emp wave, shouting out with frustration. And Skullgrin also had no time to react.

---

Bomb Burst had a bit more time to react, despite it not doing him any good. He turned to find somewhere shielded, but the amphitheater was just not meant as that type of shelter. He let out a loud roar of anger and pain, as his transformation sequence triggered taking him as well to a state of partial transformation.

---

"Bomb Burst, stop him!" Bludgeon shouted the order as he fell to the floor, despite hearing the assassin shout out. "Recover and get him!" again he ordered.

Garrus 9 - Amphitheatre

>>"Phobos, come"<<

Phobos' mind had been wandering while he stood motionless in the entryway to the Amphitheatre. He was fantasising on his longing to destroy Pyromaniac, the killer of his Partner, Deimos. He quickly snapped back to conscious when Bomb Burst had ordered him to follow him into the Amphitheatre. Snarler, Nightbird and Bludgeon stood with him as he entered the room. Phobos didn't join them though, he lurked behind because of his dislike of being near large groups. Phobos noticed that something in front of them was rising slowly, it looked like a combiner. It towered over the group and silently watched them.

Combiners, what a waste of time...

Phobos observed the rest of the room. The other combiner, Monstructor, was stationed behind Logicor and Scorponok was next to what looked like an orange seeker. What happened next was a blur, first the seeker lunged at Scorponok and then an EMP blast hit the room. Phobos quickly transformed and started flying up to the ceiling, except he wasn't fast enough. The EMP blast hit him and he started to partially transform back to robot mode, he hit back down to the ground with a thud. He couldn't move and was stuck in a position of great pain.

Garrus 9 - Mines

”Yeah, that will do Snaps.” Apeface said somewhat absentmindedly in response to Snapdragon's words and actions. Having turned into his robot form, the simian Decepticon saboteur was holding his finger tips against the side of his head, clearly in an attempt to amplify a comm-link signal.

”Something is wrong,” he finally said, turning to look at Snapdragon, his faceplate hiding the concerned look behind it. ”I am trying to hail Commander but I am getting no reply. Just static.”

”Try to reach him. See if it is just me. I am going to try hailing Reflector,” Apeface continued and activated his long range transmission module, letting a small communications terminal accompanied by an amplifier and an antenna pop open from behind the armor plating on his left arm.

>>”Apeface to Reflector, I have prepared the CORE but neither Commander Scorponok or Cyclonus are responding. We are going blind here. Requesting a sit-rep ASAP.”<<

Garrus-9--Mines

Pointblank paid no heed when Whirl snatched the comm device away from him. His attention was had been pulled away from their current circumstances to the fact that the Insecticons were leaving the mines en masse.

"Wonder where they're going..." he mumbled.
___

The sudden change in the mine population was not lost on the proprietor of the Greasepit, either. Goldrush watched with mild curiosity as a veritable swarm of those Insecti-things took their summary leave of the mines. To where? Well, that was certainly the question.

Not all of the Decepticons had suddenly taken leave of the area however. There was still a Seeker or three. Plus those two rather brutish looking fellows. Apedragon and Snapface.

Certainly worth keeping a closer optic on...

Garrus-9 – Amphitheater

Man, this whole experience is really weird, Strafe thought to himself. Wait a second. Why am I seeing Nosecone's memories? And now Lightspeed's? Hey, look, there's Afterburner's ex. Hold on, what is Scattershot doing? Man, that's just creepy. What was in that engex I had last night?

Strafe was currently combined with his fellow Technobots as Logicor at the Garrus-9 Ampitheather in Decepticon captivity. They had been experimented on by Jhiaxus to form this monstrosity.

While Strafe was deep in thought, he noticed something was happening. He opened his eyes, and was a first person view of himself kicking a tiny Hun-grr across the Ampitheather. Strange, he mused. I'm not doing that. At least, I don't think I am.

Garrus-9 – Central – Med Bay

>>"What's with the heaving and hawing up there, princess?"<<

The familiar voice of the Ex-Wrecker brought Umbra out of her stunned daze. They needed to know. This…this was good for them. Not great for the Decepticons. But good for the Autobots. Maybe they could use this to escape…Whether or not it was good for her? Well…she didn’t quite know. But she needed to answer Whirl in any case. How to go about answering him was another matter altogether.

"W-What...I dunno what to do. We c-can't stop those t-things!" he said, a somewhat shaky digit pointing at the two oversized monsters that were in the process of leaving the amphitheater.

“Well, with the vast majority of the Decepticons including Lord Scorponok incapacitated,” Umbra said, stepping back from the monitor and speaking loud enough so that she hoped Whirl would be able to hear her clearly. She rubbed her chin, glancing to the monitors, her gaze lingering on Monstructor. She shook her head, stepping forward and wagging her finger at Skymauler. “Don’t call them ‘things’! One of those things has…is…a friend of mine…”

“The other one…looks...are those the Technobots? But then…who is that smaller mech still standing?” Umbra’s optics narrowed then widened slightly in a panic. “Uh…they’re leaving…they are leaving the amphitheatre…That’s…hrm. That’s not good. That’s really not good.”

Umbra glanced over to the Bot that Skymauler had indicated earlier. “I have a really good or a really terrible idea…” She glanced over to Skymauler. “What if we…reactivate that guy…? It’s kinda…a matter of survival…and…well, it’d be nice to have some heavy hitting back-up. You know, if we can convince him not to…just…well…”

Tenting her fingers nervously and looking back to Skymauler, Umbra bit her lip slightly. “It’s a bad idea, isn’t it?”

Garrus 9 – Miner’s Respite

"Highbrow, somethings going down and it's not looking good. We gotta find the others and quickly. Grab what you can and let's go!"

“Yes, yes, so demanding!” Highbrow grumbled as he scooped up his own project. “You’ll be glad to know that I’ve constructed a sophisticated device from mere scraps.” Exiting the little miner’s respite with a cautious glance outside, Highbrow hurried out, his device in his arms. “Oh, but evading the attention of the multitudes of Insecticons might prove a…”

With a narrowed visor, Highbrow fell silent as he noted a distinct lack of Insecticon diaclones scurrying about. The miner’s respite had been removed from them…but as he stepped further and further away from their private sanctuary, he noticed a distinct lack of them. Tucking himself behind a corner, he peeked around a corner to spot a few, but they were scurrying away with a good deal of purpose.

“It vaguely seems like…the Insecticons are vacating the premises…” Highbrow muttered to Brainstorm. Of course, there would undoubtedly be sweeps and seekers lingering. But this behavior was odd. Highbrow glanced back at his scientific cohort. “You said something was occurring? What…exactly is ‘something’?”

Garrus-9 Central--Med Bay

"Well, with the vast majority of the Decepticons including Lord Scorponok incapacitated,” the femme stated, drawing an obvious conclusion. Skymauler nodded. While his insides were doing backflips, he couldn't let it show on the outside. It was too risky. Still, he needed to find some way to help the imprisoned Autobots capitalize on this cluster.

“Don’t call them ‘things’! One of those things has…is…a friend of mine…” Umbra chastised, prompting Skymauler to hold up his hands innocently.

"Whoa, hey....sorry...didn't know."

“The other one…looks...are those the Technobots? But then…who is that smaller mech still standing? Uh…they’re leaving…they are leaving the amphitheatre…That’s…hrm. That’s not good. That’s really not good. I have a really good or a really terrible idea…What if we…reactivate that guy…? It’s kinda…a matter of survival…and…well, it’d be nice to have some heavy hitting back-up. You know, if we can convince him not to…just…well…It’s a bad idea, isn’t it?”

"Jhiaxus," Skymauler said, pointing up at the smaller mech that Umbra had been indicating on the screen. "I'd only read about him in holofiles until Commander Scorponok released him. Seems glitched. But..."

Skymauler's audio receptors perked up to the approaching sound of metal clanging hard against metal--oversized footsteps. They were coming this way! What would the scientist do if he found them--unaffected by EMP-whatever-it-was?

"Shhhhh....maybe he's not coming here," Skymauler said in hushed tones, even as the massive steps drew closer and closer.

He then looked over at Skyhammer and then back at Umbra. In his mind, bringing Skyhammer back to functioning status was about the best idea he'd ever heard in his life! But...he couldn't act that excited about it. 'Con. Evil 'Con. Play it cool.

"Uhh...hmmm....yeah....I think, under these dire circumstances, Lord Scorponok would approve," Skymauler said, looking to Umbra and the other mech he didn't recognize for validation.

"Hrm, yeh, definitely," Stormwrecker whispered back.

Semper Tyrannis--Bridge

Reflector was still having no luck attempting to reach Scorponok. He was going to begin randomly comming every Decepticon on the battle roster when one of them saved him the trouble.

>>”Apeface to Reflector, I have prepared the CORE but neither Commander Scorponok or Cyclonus are responding. We are going blind here. Requesting a sit-rep ASAP.”<<

So...whatever was occurring down there, it was not a complete communications blackout.

>>"I read you Apeface. I am having no success reaching the commander either. I recommend direct investigation while I attempt to resolve the issue from my end. Perhaps....wait, I'm receiving a secondary comm."<<

Reflector activated the frequency, but the voice waiting to greet him was not one he had been expecting.

>>"Decepticon designate 'Reflector' I believe, yes? Prepare to accept my orbital bounce,"<< Jhiaxus said, no discernible inflection in his voice one way or the other.

>>"Praetor Jhiaxus, I have been attempting to make contact with High Commander Scorponok. My efforts are thus far unsuccessful. Perhaps you can...elucidate?"<<

There was a pause on the other end of the line, momentary but noticeable.

>>"...yes....the formation of Logicor has created certain technological....'glitches'. Unfortunate. So unfortunate. Though I will be able to resolve them from your end. I will arrive momentarily and resolve this temporary impediment."<<

Reflector eyed the screen warily. He had heard nothing of potential complications that might arise from this newest warrior for Scorponok's army; however, this science was far beyond him. He could not afford to impede mighty Scorponok's efforts whether the situation was unorthodox or not.

>>"Acknowledged."<<

Garrus 9 - Mines

>>"I read you Apeface. I am having no success reaching the commander either. I recommend direct investigation while I attempt to resolve the issue from my end. Perhaps....wait, I'm receiving a secondary comm."<<

>>”Who is it?<< Apeface immediately demanded to know but instead of waiting for an answer he gave out to his impatience.

>>"Frag it Reflector, we are compromised. I am taking over down here. Protocol zero-one-one-gamma. Do not do anything without clearance from a higher ranking fleet officer until you hear back from me or I will have you end up on DJD's list personally. And just in case, NO - Jhiaxus is not a higher ranking fleet officer.”<< The Horrorcon saboteur transmitted and turned to face Snapdragon with as worried look on his face as his masked face could portray.

”Nothing. The fleet haven't been able to regain connection to Commander. Cyclonus is silent. Hun-Gurrr is silent. Snaptrap, Hardshell and Banzai-Tron as well,” he spoke out and gestured Snapdragon to follow him as he headed towards the mine exit with haste.

While running towards the mine shaft, Apeface activated another comm-link, this time to a very specific Insecticon – one that was at supposedly member of Decepticon Secret Service unknown to other Insecticons.

>>”Apeface to Kickback. Protocol zero-one-one-gamma. We have a communications blackout within the prison. Relay all available video feeds from your diaclones to the fleet command hub without a delay.”<<

Garrus-9 Central

Lightspeed felt a profound sense of disequilibrium? Perhaps? Something akin to that. He felt as if he was in control and yet he decidedly knew that he was not. It was a completely foreign sensation. He could still see, but he was looking through a set of eyes that were not entirely his own.

Man, this whole experience is really weird Wait a second. Why am I seeing Nosecone's memories? And now Lightspeed's? Hey, look, there's Afterburner's ex. Hold on, what is Scattershot doing? Man, that's just creepy. What was in that engex I had last night?

Thoughts. But not his thoughts? Strange.

Wait....no...somehow in this combined form they must somehow be able to pick up on each others thoughts? Was that how it worked for Monstructor as well, or was each combination process different? It was impossible to know. But one thing he knew for sure was that he profoundly hated being under the thrall of this madmech. And yet he had no way to stop it.

Strange. I'm not doing that. At least, I don't think I am, his Technobot brother thought "out loud", so to speak, after the combined form of Logicor had kicked the brutal Terrorcon commander across the room and then proceeded to depart the area with Jhiaxus.

Me either, Lightspeed thought, hoping his thoughts could be picked up by the others just as easily as Strafe's. I don't think we have much choice. But...we haven't lost ourselves entirely to this gestalt machination. There may be something to that.
___

Semper Tyrannis--Corridors approaching Bounce Chamber

The third of Reflector's three components had hurried to the bounce chamber with all due haste in order to assist with facilitating whatever the next phase of Scorponok's plan entailed, as well as to aid Jhiaxus in overcoming this communications glitch.

>>”Who is it?<<

Before Reflector could even get a response in, Apeface continued.

>>"Frag it Reflector, we are compromised. I am taking over down here. Protocol zero-one-one-gamma. Do not do anything without clearance from a higher ranking fleet officer until you hear back from me or I will have you end up on DJD's list personally. And just in case, NO - Jhiaxus is not a higher ranking fleet officer.”<<

Compromised? By whom? What in the name of Primus was going on down there. First the comms blackout with Omega Supreme and now.....this......

Reflector's gait slowed as he approached the bounce chamber doors. He entered the access code and when the doors slid open, he found Jhiaxus standing at the master control panel of the ship's space bridge.

"Perfect timing."
___

Garrus-9 Central--Bounce Chamber

Approximately a breem before....

Jhiaxus limped weakly into the bounce chamber of the prison. With the authorization from the petty little Decepticon tool, another link in the chain to his ultimate success was in place.

"Ensure that none follow," Jhiaxus said, looking up at the two monstrous combiners that had kept pace with him along the corridors of the prison. "I will come for you. You will see. All are one....hehehhhh, hehehehhehhhh."

When he activated the tech, he was immediately bounced up to the chamber of the Decepticon flagship. The bounce process had no ill effects on him...nothing that time had not already done to him, at any rate. He looked around, familiarizing himself with the layout of the room. Advanced technology, certainly, but nothing he that was foreign to his extensive body of knowledge. And there, to one side, the spacebridge. The key to his final phase.

He approached it slowly, but once he arrived, his hands were quick across the command console, bringing up the spatial coordinates of his fortress on offbeat world of LV-117. He had accomplished so much from within those aged walls. It was only fitting that he complete his transcendence there. Cybertron would have a Guiding Hand again.

As he finished entering the coordinates, the doors to the bounce chamber opened, and the little toolbot that had answered him from the ship appeared on the other side. Jhiaxus eyed him derisively for a moment.

"Perfect timing," Jhiaxus said coldly. Reflector clearly did not know what to make of that statement, stepping tentatively further into the room.

"Apeface says that we have been compromised," Reflector said. Jhiaxus sneered, slowly hobbling over to Reflector, putting his hands on the smaller mech's shoulder joints.

"You were from the beginning," Jhiaxus scoffed, before sending a massive surge of energy coursing through Reflector's system. The smaller mech dropped to the ground, his optics flashing erratically as Jhiaxus hobbled over to the space bridge platform.

His coordinates set, the platform began to hiss and churn with energy as Jhiaxus stepped aboard, and then in a crackling flash of reds and oranges and whites, he was gone.

Garrus-9 – Central – Med Bay

“Jhiaxus," Skymauler said, pointing up at the smaller mech that Umbra had been indicating on the screen. "I'd only read about him in holofiles until Commander Scorponok released him. Seems glitched. But..."

“Jhiaxus? I…the scientist who served by Nova Prime back in the day? But…but…he’s been…I mean. He was gone, right?” Umbra asked before her eyes widened at the sound of extremely heavy footfalls. They sounded a little like the warden’s footsteps. Only. Umbra didn’t think that it was the warden. Or Scorponok. Not good. This was. Wow. Not great. They were getting closer too. That was worse.

"Uhh...hmmm....yeah....I think, under these dire circumstances, Lord Scorponok would approve," Skymauler said, looking to Umbra and the other mech he didn't recognize for validation.

"Hrm, yeh, definitely," Stormwrecker whispered back.

While Umbra was glad that the two Decepticons supported her plan – she hadn’t expected them to jump on it so readily – it left it to her to actually reactivate him. Umbra nodded.

”Okay, so…um. You two keep watch, and I’ll go wake him up. Hope he doesn’t smash my face in. That would be bad. And loud,” Umbra whispered, fidgeting nervously. She left Skymauler and Stormwrecker to it as she hurried – quietly – over to the back of the medical bay where Skyhammer rested. Primus, a lot of ‘Sky’ names, weren’t there? And ones that started with ‘S’.

Umbra’s fingers raced across the console, setting it so that Skyhammer would get a mega-infusion of energon. Looking over his injured frame, she also added in a few stimulants. Just a few that would jolt the Autobot awake with some vigor. Of course, there’d be a high and then a low, but if it woke him up and kept him from feeling much pain for a while, all the better. She unlocked the restraints on the slab and readied herself to deliver the additive-infused energon to the Autobot.

She jammed the confirmation on the console and moved over to where Skyhammer’s head rested, covering his mouth with both of her hands, hoping stifle any noises he might make as he awoke. ”Here goes nothing…C’mon…wake up…”

Garrus-9 – Central – Med Bay

A sudden charge of energon. Skyhammer's optics lit up. His whole body jolted briefly in reaction of being powered properly again after so long time. A stark contrast to the dullness of sedation he had been pacified with for who knows how long. His internal chronometer suggested that bit more than an orn had passed since the Decepticon fleet led by Scorponok had broken the normal infiltration protocols and taken both the Nebulans and the Autobot infiltration unit he had been in charge of by surprise. Could it be right? Where was he? And most importantly, what had happened? Everything after the battle with Snapdragon was blurry at best.

Then came the pain. His wounds were still there. Cauterized at best, repaired only to bare minimum to stop him from bleeding out. He struggled to scream but someone was cowering his mouth. With both of her hands. A feminine figure using a facial cover. Very Decepticon like. Stay calm, assess the situation. And act accordingly. From the the corner of his optics he could spot two other figures. A seeker shaped one and another, different, bulkier. One thing was in common however. They were both sporting Decepticon insignias. Why would Decepticons wake him up and attempt to stifle possible noises he might make? And why he was not restrained?

Act. Ask questions later. Skyhammer spun to action. Using his newly regained strength and a diffusion technique to take hold of Umbra, lock her arm behind her back and make her a living shield between himself and the two other Decepticons. The Decepticons had taken away his weapons but surprisingly enough he couldn't spot anything on Umbra either. What was this about?

Having lost his faceplate to Snapdragon, Skyhammer's current face was rather ghoulish sight, something he decided he might be able intimidate these Decepticons with. It wasn't like he was armed. All he had was this femme in his mercy and he didn't even know who the slag she was.

”Drop your weapons or I swear to you I will snap her neck,” he hissed, keeping his voice low, staring at Skymauler and Stormwrecker with his uncovered optics. ”Who are you? Where in the pit I am and what the slag is happening here?”


Semper Tyrannis – Bridge

”Reflector, what just happened in the hangar? All video feeds from there went black,” Finback wheezed, turning to look at the Reflector unit that had remained in the bridge after one of the two whom had been present on the ship had moved away.

”I lost connection to Bugly in mid-sentence. He tried to report an unscheduled orbital bounce.”

Garrus-9 Central – Corridors Near Medical Ward

Sadly, Lobe had not sprung upon the chance to take down the Autobots. So the odd party had been moving through the prison with extreme care. The tension in the three Autobots, however, was lessened a bit by the psychotherapist traveling with them who had been gabbering – quietly – non-stop.

“So you wanted to be a…oh, what’s the proper term…commentator…yes! That. For the racing circuits?” Synapse asked one of the Bots.

“Well, yeah, I mean. That woulda been the life. Just think of it, you-“

“Shh!” One of the other Bots, Synapse had heard him referred to as Breacher, shushed the Bot – Flasher – chatting with Synapse.

“What? Can’t you see I’m talking-“

“Shh!” Breacher snapped, pressing back against the wall. The other two Bots followed suit, forcing Synapse and Lobe to comply.

“What is it?” asked Flasher.

“You hear that?”

The Autobots were silent for a moment as a very low, very distinct sound boomed through the prison. Rhythmic. Repetitive. Very much akin to-

“Footsteps?” the third Autobot – Antic – asked.

“But what’s that big? Sounds like two sets of them too…”

Synapse frowned. Was it Lord Scorponok? The footsteps were very similar to the massive fleet commander’s own. Not that Synapse could honestly tell who people were by their footsteps. Lord Scorponok just had the most distinctive of the Decepticons in the Second Fleet by virtue of his sheer size. But there were two. One was most certainly not Fortress Maximus. The footsteps would be much more rapid and uneven if those two were fighting. And there would be more than just footsteps.

So perhaps…the Monstructor Six. Scorponok and the Monstructor Six? Synapse did not know. While he had been loathe to call on Scorponok for assistance before…perhaps more was in motion than Synapse understood at the moment. He did not want to let his situation hamper the Decepticon warlord. So…Synapse tried to comm Scorponok. Only. There was no response. Troubling. And vaguely distressing. He tried Cyclonus. Nothing. More worrying. He went down a list of Decepticons, trying to contact someone.

>>”Apeface, do you read me? Please respond.”<<

“Who do you think it is?” asked Flasher.

“I dunno,” Antic clutched his gun more tightly, “But I know it won’t be good news for us if they catch us out in the open.”

“Right, we should move…” Breacher mumbled, peeking out around the bend.

“Perhaps to the medical bay?” Synapse suggested.

The three Autobots looked over to their prisoner suspiciously.

“Why do you say that?” Flasher asked.

“The Cons have probably already taken that.”

“Well, yes, probably,” Synapse admitted, “But if they haven’t, it is full of supplies. And if they have, they’re likely keeping some injured Autobots there. You might be able to recruit them to your cause as it were,” Synapse provided. He left out the fact that the Medical Bay was more than likely guarded. Hopefully there’d be enough posted there for them to be able to make a dash for it.

“Yeah…okay, worth a shot,” Antic said, nodding to Breacher and Flasher. “It gets us moving at least.”

Garrus-9 - Mines

“What in Pit is goin’ on around here…?” Skalor asked, scratching his head as masses of Insecticons began to migrate toward the mine exit. The lazy Seacon had been lounging on the floor of the mine. Not the most comfortable spot, but he’d been on his feet for a while. Suited him fine. He looked toward Overbite. “Any orders from the boss?”

Overbite shook his head, glancing about as the Insecticons moved out en masse. “No…but couldn’t hurt to get a sit rep from the big guy,” the hunter commented as he attempted to hail their commander.

“Wait, nooooo…that might mean actual work for us…” Skalor groaned.

Glancing over to Skalor, Overbite rolled his optics. “What a shame that would be.” A few moments of silence passed as Overbite’s optics narrowed. “Hm. I can’t reach him,” he said slowly, “That’s strange.”

“Let’s not question it! It’s a sign! He wants us to leave him alone,” Skalor stated, nodding sagely.

“No, I don’t like this…I can’t reach Cyclonus either. I’ll try Lord Scorponok.”

“For the love of Primus, don’t bother him. Snaptrap’s gonna kill you,” Skalor growled out, climbing to his feet.

“No response from him either…”

“Ack! Now you’ve done it. Wait. No one’s responding? What about Seawing?”

“Nothing.”

Sighing and glancing about unhappily, Skalor gestured to Overbite. “Well, I guess we should do something. You’re Snaptrap’s second. You figure it out.”

“Hrm…” Overbite crossed his arms over his chest. “Well the Insecticons seem to know something. Maybe we should talk to one. Tentakil? If you would…” Gesturing for the Seacon psychopath to do his thing, Overbite stood to the side.

Garrus 9 - Mines

"What the frag is going on around here?" Snapdragon inquired as he chased after Apeface's departure from the mine shaft. The ground shook above them for a few moments, small streams of dust and debris fell from above and coated Snapdragon's armor. "I doubt they turned their comms off just to throw a celebration."

Elsewhere in the mines

"Jhiaxus." Brainstorm quickly responded towards Highbrow's "what is something?" inquiry. "He seems to have disabled most of the Decepticons alongside Monstructor and whatever he's turned the Technobots into!"

The teal and white engineer then looked to his arm-mounted display module, through the optics of an unknown seeker back up in the med bay.

>>"Drop your weapons or I swear to you I will snap her neck!"<<

"No... it can't be..."

>>"Who are you? Where in he pit am I and what the slag is happening here?"<<

"Highbrow look!" Brainstorm gestured to his forearm, "It's Skyhammer! He's awake!"

Further in the mines

"Wai-wai-wait! Hold it for a sec you gear-jammers!" Whirl called out towards his fellow Autobots. He paused in his tracks and held a claw to the communicator against the side of his helm. It wasn't Umbra's voice... Sounded much more masculine, heroic even. Maybe not Optimus Prime-levels of heroism, but close.

>>"-or I swear to you I will snap her neck!"<<

The wrecker tossed Pointblank the communicator and bettered his grip on the stolen seeker laser the group had acquired. "You recognize him?"

Garrus 9 - Corridor network

First there were footsteps, then silence, then more footsteps. Deadlock continued to find himself looking up towards the ceiling, trying to locate the source of the monstrous booms and quakes he could feel through the floor.

Where are you doc... The black and warrior kept asking internally as he trekked through the abandoned hallways. Scorponok had ordered that estranged owl to meet up with Deadlock, yet the astrocycles kept passing and no word came through on where he was. The medical ward was probably the best place to check...

"...But I know it won't be good news if they catch us out on the open."

Deadlock threw himself against the closest wall and rounded the corner, his crimson optics scanning around for whoever just spoke up. He clutched his rifle tight as he peeked around the corner, spotting three, maybe four figures on the far side of the hall.

"Bots..." Deadlock cursed under his breath when he took notice to their insignias. He took a quick look around and saw a few Autobot corpses strung about. Quickly and quietly he flipped the chassises over in search for their Autobrand. Most were damaged and torn during the raid and would contrast Deadlock's less than tattered appearance. They'd recognize him as a fake immediately. Oh well, the least damaged of the bunch would have to suffice. A few scratches might be easier to lie about. The black and white Decepticon removed the insignia and did his best to secure it over the glowing, violet Decepticon one fixated on his chest plate.

"AY!" Deadlock hollered from down the hallway, bringing his rifle up to aim. One of the Autobot's down the corridor was practically dancing around the sight of his weapon from here, had to steady it should they turn on him quick. "Friend or foe?!"

Garrus-9 Mines:

>>"Drop your weapons or I swear to you I will snap her neck!"<<

>>"Who are you? Where in he pit am I and what the slag is happening here?"<<

"Highbrow look!" Brainstorm gestured to his forearm, "It's Skyhammer! He's awake!"

"No, certainly not..." said Highbrow as he then looked at the small screen, "Impossible. Why would Decepticons wake him up only to direly endanger themselves?"

After pausing a bit to think, Highbrow spoke again, "I suspect some rivalry or something of the sort amongst the Decepticons in this expanse. Those Decepticons in that vicinity seem to have awoken him out of fear of a much more gargantuan danger."

Highbrow then stroked his chin, and then said, "I have a quite plausible theory that Jhiaxus may not be on Scorponok's side like we assumed. The plan is quite brilliant if it is actually correct. He has the mind, and Scorponok's team have the equipment. He could have used them to his advantage to build his long-desired army, or something of the sort. Either that or he might have been used there under force until he found a suitable time to escape; but that seems less like his mentality, however."

Garrus-9 Central--Med Bay

”Drop your weapons or I swear to you I will snap her neck. Who are you? Where in the pit I am and what the slag is happening here?”

Skymauler's optics flashed in a momentary panic as Skyhammer seemed to leap suddenly into action. Welll...he could certainly see why he was a commandery-type. Even in these compromised circumstances, he took charge as best he could. He;d do Optimus Prime proud no doubt.

But still, the whole situation left the "Seeker" in somewhat of a jam regarding how best to handle this situation. Here he was standing with a fellow Autobot who was threatening to end the functional life of a Decepticon if he didn't drop his weapons. What did Skymauler care if Skyhammer followed through on his threat? That was the trouble. He didn't.

Still, he couldn't just drop cover right now. Things were still too wonky.

"Right. Riiiight. Easy there, champ. Things are going to the Pit on a rocket sled right now, no need to make things any worse," Skymauler said as he reached over to deactivate each of his arm cannons. Annoying things. He didn't see why they seemed to be such standard-issue equipment on most Seekers.
___

Stormwrecker, too, held up his hands at Skyhammer's sudden taking of the femme as a hostage, doing his best to indicate he wasn't a threat.

The Autobot had asked a question and the Seeker had only half-answered it. Stormwrecker figured it best to keep talking and not make the situation any worse.

"Uh, yeh, I dunno what all you've missed, but uh it looks like the old scientist from forever ago turned on the 'Cons and shut 'em all down in the big room there," Stormwrecker said, pointing at one of the monitors. He then pointed to the other one, where two massive gestalts were standing ominously outside a closed door.

"Then he went in there."
___

Garrus-9--Mines

Pointblank was more than on the edge of his seat listening to the back and forth between Whirl, Highbrow and Brainstorm. What in the slaggin' slag was going on up there? He nodded as Highbrow offered up a pretty cogent explanation for Jhiaxus' actions....even for a madmech, most of it made sense.

More importantly, though, it seemed as if Brainstorm's little technological innovation was actually getting them somewhere. Umbra hadn't been slagged yet. That was definitely a positive. Well, probably a positive. He hadn't fully made up his mind about her yet. Anything that got them a little closer to getting out of this rock prison was a good thing.

Pointblank caught the communicator while still looking at the same screen Brainstorm was showing Highbrow. Holy slag on a stick! It was Skyhammer! Functional! Pointblank could hardly believe it. But before he had too long to really appreciate it, the view shifted and Pointblank was staring at two bewildered-looking Decepticons. It sounded like Skyhammer had just taken her hostage with all that "snap her neck" business.

"You recognize him?" Whirl asked.

"Frag yeah! That's the chief of the whole Nebulos mission! I...wow...I thought he was a goner. The Decepticons took him down hard. He's a solid glitch, though. Would've taken a lot."

Pointblank then cranked up the volume on the comm.

"Hey! Heyyyyyy! 'Hammer man! You're alive! Hahahahah. if you can hear me, don't snap that femme's neck. She's on our side. I think."

Garrus-9 Mines:

"Hey! Heyyyyyy! 'Hammer man! You're alive! Hahahahah. if you can hear me, don't snap that femme's neck. She's on our side. I think."

Highbrow quickly grabbed the comm and turned it down.

"Have you blown a gasket, Pointblank?!" said Highbrow, "What if there are other Decepticons in their vicinity that hear your voice, you buffoon! You are announcing our presence!"

Highbrow then sighed and analyzed who the others in the room with him were, "Who am I kidding. I am the sole particular here that isn't at least marginally a screwball."

Garrus-9 – Central – Med Bay

"Right. Riiiight. Easy there, champ. Things are going to the Pit on a rocket sled right now, no need to make things any worse,"

”That makes no slagging sense 'con!” Skyhammer barked at the Decepticon sporting an easily recognizable seeker design. Before he could continue with anything really, the other Decepticon spoke up.

"Uh, yeh, I dunno what all you've missed, but uh it looks like the old scientist from forever ago turned on the 'Cons and shut 'em all down in the big room there," Stormwrecker said, pointing at one of the monitors. He then pointed to the other one, where two massive gestalts were standing ominously outside a closed door. "Then he went in there."

”Old Scientist? Who? Shockwave?” Skyhammer demanded to know, turning just enough to be able to look at the monitor Stormwrecker was pointing at without losing the two Decepticons from his sight.

The first picture was certainly a sight to sore optics. Dozens of Decepticons writhing in agony in a large amphitheater that looked rather familiar despite of changes made to it. Cyclonus, Snaptrap and many others and best of all the culprit of Nebulos' downfall – Scorponok. As his optics switched to the next screen he went pale. Or would have if that had been possible. Giants. Grotesque giants made out of multiple different Cybertronians by the looks of it. What the slag was going on here?

”Garrus-9? Last thing I remember was the Horrorcon bashing me through a steel beam back in Koraja,” he spoke up quietly before his bare optics flared up again and he turned back towards the Decepticons, ”What in the abyss are those?! Oh Primus... Technobots?! You aren't answering my questions! Start making some sense now!”

>>"Hey! Heyyyyyy! 'Hammer man! You're alive! Hahahahah. if you can hear me, don't snap that femme's neck. She's on our side. I think."<<

A communication attempt. Coming from the femme's communicator? Garbled, he couldn't really make much out of it. It even ended abruptly but he did recognize the voice. ”Pointblank? Do you copy?”

Garrus-9 – Mines

"What the frag is going on around here?" Snapdragon inquired as he chased after Apeface's departure from the mine shaft. The ground shook above them for a few moments, small streams of dust and debris fell from above and coated Snapdragon's armor. "I doubt they turned their comms off just to throw a celebration."

”I don't know Snaps!” Apeface hollered back at his fellow Horrorcon and entered the elevator, pulling up the gun he had taken from Treadshot. ”And on that I wholesparkedly agree, this isn't normal. An Autobot trick? A coup against Commander? Jhiaxus betraying us? Yeah, got no fragging idea but I intend to find out.”

>>”Dammit Kickback! Answer me!”<< Frustrated Apeface yelled into his communicator as he blasted his way through the elevator roof so he could fly up the mine shaft faster. Instead he received a communication from someone else altogether.

>>”Apeface, do you read me? Please respond.”<<

Synapse? What the slag? Apeface thought as he heard psychologist's voice. Well, at least he was hearing back from someone. >>”I hear you Synapse, what is it? You have any idea what the frag is happening here?! I can't reach any member of the High Command.”<<

Garrus-9--Corridors

All around them, the stench of battle hung thick. Discarded weapons and discarded limbs lay here and there in every direction of the prison. In other circumstances, the Insecticons would have been tempted to feast on such delectable remains, but there was too much afoot to indulge just now.

Ahead lay the amphitheater, and all was largely quiet. Bombshell and the others could hear muffled groans and occasional cries from the closed off room, but little else. Certainly nothing that would incentivize them to go further.

"Wait...someone's trying to reach me," Kickback said, prompting Bombshell and Shrapnel to halt their progress and turn to look at him. The small horde of diaclones that were skittering along in their wake began to climb the walls and otherwise occupy themselves without specific direction from their originals.

>>”Apeface to Kickback. Protocol zero-one-one-gamma. We have a communications blackout within the prison. Relay all available video feeds from your diaclones to the fleet command hub without a delay.”<<

Kickback's optics narrowed. That was certainly a curiously timed deployment of that particular security protocol. He was an Insecticon, to be sure. But his work over the vorns had lead Megatron to find additional uses for him.

"What is it, Kickback?" Bombshell hissed. Kickback looked at him, clearly having no desire to discuss classified intelligence protocols, but clearly needing to give his Insecticon comrade something to chew on, as it were.

"I wouldn't proceed any further, for the time being....the amphitheater is compromised."

"Compromised how how?" Shrapnel asked.

"I'm not sure yet....but it could affect us all. Be patient...I'm attempting to learn more," Kickback said, hoping it would mollify the others' curiosity for the time being.

>>”Dammit Kickback! Answer me!”<< the Horrorcon had blurted into his comm once more.

Sigh.

>>"Yes, I read you, Apeface. I'm working to get some of them in position now. What's going on in the amphitheater? My diaclones in there blacked out. I can't sense anything. I'm sure it's the same for the others."<<
___

Garrus-9 Central--Med Bay

”That makes no slagging sense 'con!” Skyhammer barked. Skymauler couldn't help but grin, even though it quickly vanished.

"Well, certainly not gonna argue with that," he said, still attempting to avoid escalating the situation any further. The other 'con seemed to give him some more to work with.

”Old Scientist? Who? Shockwave?”

"No no no...the old guy that trained him," Stormwrecker clarified. Had some sorta science academy named after him...confraggit if I can remember his name right now."

”Garrus-9? Last thing I remember was the Horrorcon bashing me through a steel beam back in Koraja. What in the abyss are those?! Oh Primus... Technobots?! You aren't answering my questions! Start making some sense now!” Skyhammer raged on. Skymauler could see that they were rapidly losing control of the situation.

"Hey! I'm tryin'!" Skymauler pleaded, looking to the screen. "Those things! That's what the old guy's been working on ever since Scorponok busted him outta the Rig! He's usin' Autobots! He's usin' Decepticons! No one's safe!"
___

Garrus-9--Mines

Pointblank held up a hand to silence Highbrow's protests. Yes, he knew he was taking some risks, but after they had come this far, some risks were worth it.

"Yeah, I get it....the situation's far from ideal. I'm doing the best I can with what I got right now," Pointblank said, returning his attention to Brainstorm's communications setup.

>>”Pointblank? Do you copy?”<< Skyhammer commed back. Pointblank sighed in relief. He had to give Brainstorm credit. This was some pretty impressive--and creepy--technology.

>>"Yeah, I copy! I can hear you and see what you're seeing. Don't ask how, I'll explain later. That mech you're holding, she's on our side...I think...anyway, she was down here with us in the mines. We sent her up to try and get you up and running again. Looks like mission accomplished on that front, but it looks like everything else is going to the Pit, so I'm not sure how much better off we are now than we were a few breems ago anyway."<<

Pointblank was really unaccustomed to talking this much. He felt like he'd somehow been possessed by Bluestreak. Still, timing was critical. Pointblank couldn't imagine they had a whole lot to work with. He looked to the others down in the mines with him.

"Skyhammer's back online. What exactly is step two in this mess?"