The Energon Pub

"What do we have over here? A lost Autobot prisoner. This is awfully long way away from the mines isn’t it... Pointblank?”

Garrus 9 Mines

Frag, just frag,

Nightbeat's suspicions were correct. It was not clear.

Frag, frag, frag, frag

The self proclaimed detective prepared to begin his descent. When he looked down he saw Highbrow gesture to the others to move down.

They 'bots farthest down know he thought Well that's good at any rate

Nightbeat looked up once more to ensure he and the others were still unseen by the Insecticons and began his descent.

Mines

"What do we have over here? A lost Autobot prisoner. ... This is awfully long way from the mines isn't it... Pointblank?"

"And you're a far way from whatever hellhole of a pit you call a Hive." Whirl's voice called out as he reached the top of his climb and fixated his stolen seeker rifle towards the Insecticon horde building up at the top. "Say, haven't I already killed the lot of you already? You all seem to share the same face." The weapon in Whirl's claws began to hum as he set his sights on the big one, Hardshell or something. "Oh look at me. Mr. Pot, meet Kettle."

"Whirl!" Brainstorm cried out, rushing over to the ex-wrecker's side before he could do anything stupid once again. He kept his voice low so only he and the blue heli-former could hear the exchange. "Need I remind you we're out numbered and trying to get out of here? We don't have the capabilities to gun our way through them all."

"Not with that attitude!"

"Look," Brainstorm said as he turned to the Insecticon horde, "I dunno if you've seen the scrap that's hitting the fan yet, but Jhiaxus, that guy your 'leader' woke up, is currently running around with two giant combiners through this facility. I don't know about you, but we gotta do something about them. Otherwise none of us are leaving these mines." The teal and white engineer then pulled up footage he was able to get ahold of from when he accessed Skymauler's processor. He froze the frames of both Monstructor and Logicor stampeding through the facility. He turned the data-screen fastened to his arm towards Hardshell and the others so that they could see the results for themselves.

Corridors

"My-my aching processor..." Scowl whimpered in a hushed tone not often heard from. "Slooog? Did we- Did we beat him?"

Corridors - Elsewhere

Snapdragon stationed himself slightly behind Apeface as the simian Horrorcon was taking command of the situation. The interceptor held his pistols tight as the sound grew closer down the hall. That was until.

"Have no fear, brothers, I come in peace."

Oh that was rich. Triggerhappy and peace being in the same sentence. Snapdragon almost laughed at the thought.

"It's only Triggerhappy." The reptilian Horrorcon growled as he slowly lowered his weapon, former Autobot energon still trickling down his chassis giving him a bright magenta hue. "Something smells off about him though... Since when has Triggs been one about dropping his guns and preaching peace?"

At the rear of the party, while everyone had their optics fixated down the corridor towards where Triggerhappy emerged from, Deadlock took a few quiet steps back away from he group before he quietly slipped into an adjacent corridor. Once clear frombtheir line of sight, Deadlock took off back into the facility. His destination; uncertain, just away from where he was to clear his mind. The doctor be damned, sometimes you didn't need an expert to tell you something may not be clicking right in the processor. Sometimes you need to emphasize the "self" in "self-discovery"...

Garrus-9 – Near Primary Mineshaft

Sparkstalker’s face immediately and instinctively crinkled at the sight of a stray Autobot. Thought to use the confusion to his advantage and escape, did he? Well, his little entourage would take care of them. Such a shame too. He had hoped it would be someone actually useful. Sparkstalker let out a little sigh. Well, the Insecticons would take care of things. Or, so he thought, until another Autobot chimed in. And another.

“My, the vermin are crawling out of the seams,” he muttered lowly under his breath.

Rather bored with the Autobots’ antics, Sparkstalker looked to Hardshell, about to goad him to get on with their extermination when something piqued his interested. That Brainstorm character knew what was going on? How? Pushing forward through the very armed Insecticons, Sparkstalker took a closer look at the footage that the Autobot was displayed.

“How…how did you get this?” Not that it mattered at the moment. They certainly had bigger sharkticons to fry if this was all true. Jhiaxus…would explain the communications black-out if he had turned against them. Sparkstalker shuddered to think what damage he could do if he really wished to. Seeing as the guards down in the mines couldn’t do their jobs, they couldn’t just send these lot back down. Perhaps they’d have some use as living shields in the least. Better them than any Decepticon forces. Sparkstalker’s first priority was getting back in touch with high command. So it was to the amphitheater they went, he supposed.

Sparkstalker retreated back a few steps, opening a comm to Hardshell. >>”We can’t leave them here. And we can’t kill the blue one with the claws. I suggest we bring them along to the amphitheatre. If indeed there are monstrosities strolling about, it would nice to have shields that did not cost us anything. They may also have more information to share with us.”<<


Corridors

Synapse knew that mech. He knew him! Out of coincidence or chance, it was Triggerhappy. Though, Synapse had to admit, he was acting uncharacteristically…peaceable. Even going so far as to drop his weapons to the ground. What was happening to him? Pushing past his two Horrorcon patients/guards/comrades/friends, Synapse tentatively approached Triggerhappy, hands held up cautiously.

“Triggerhappy? Are you alright?”

He glanced back at the Horrorcons, knowing that their mission was urgent. Triggerhappy and Deadlock both had to be put on the backburner as much as he detested that fact. “Listen to me, Triggerhappy. Something terrible is happening. Why don’t you come along with us? Holster your weapons. We have to press on to the amphitheater and to Lord Scorponok. Do you understand?”

Garrus-9 – Corridors

"How'd you do that?"

To that Umbra could only shrug tiredly. She didn’t know how exactly Icepick and the others had overcome Monstructor or how her pleading helped them. She wasn’t a scientist. Umbra was just so grateful to have her friend back from that monster. As Icepick accepted and leaned on her for support, she did her best to brace herself and provide some solidity.

"No....quite the opposite. It controls us. It always has. Normally we're gone. Our conscious selves...gone. But in that moment, I was there. I think we all were. And when I resisted, the others joined me. And, well...."

“You did it,” Umbra said with a faint smile at Icepick.

"When I was in the amphitheater, I saw what Jhiaxus wants, what he's doing. We all did. 'All are one'. His millions of vorns in isolation have driven him insane. We have to stop him!"

“All are one? You mean…” Umbra’s optics widened. It didn’t take much to guess at what that could mean, having viewed his handiwork first hand. But…but…how even? How did he plan to do something like that? She glanced over to one of the other Monstercons as he spoke up, adding his own input.

“I-I mean, alright. But…how…do we plan to get to him? Where did he go? Is he still here?”

“No, he is not,” Slog said, staggering forward. “To pursue him and ultimately stop his madness, we may have to look to our fellow Decepticons. There is, after all, a fleet outside.”

Attempting to take another step forward, Slog collapsed. His body felt numb. Not to mention that as much as Monstructor affected Wildfly physically, Slog bore much of the mental toll for his teammates. No, but he had to keep going for them. As much as this feeling of…dread, of doom, of…horror and anger threatened to crush him, he needed to keep going. For them.

Slog struggled, trying to get his hands and knees back under him once more to rise.

Corridors:

“Listen to me, Triggerhappy. Something terrible is happening. Why don’t you come along with us? Holster your weapons. We have to press on to the amphitheater and to Lord Scorponok. Do you understand?”

Synapse was oh so ignorant. He was speaking to the wrong spark. The wrong soul.

"Terrible indeed, Synapse," said Triggerhappy, "For the uninformed."

He then picked his weapons back up and holstered them as Synapse had suggested. Sensing confusion from the other parties, Triggerhappy decided to continue as he could.

"Yes, uninformed. Stooped. I would explain, but I'm afraid my time i-kk"

Triggerhappy's head started to twitch again, and his optics began to flash randomly. He grabbed his head with his hands.

"Iff yo-you listen clozly historry will speak ffor you."

And at that, Triggerhappy's optics then visibly switched to yellow as they were originally. Staring into space as it were, he was once again stiff as a board.

Garrus-9 – Corridors

Or…perhaps…Triggerhappy could not wait. He was acting hugely peculiar. And it was worrying Synapse terribly for more than one reason. Glancing back at the Horrorcons once more, Synapse was at least relieved when Triggerhappy holstered his weapons. Relieved and concerned. It wasn’t like him. Uninformed? What on Cybertron was he going on about?

Reaching out to steady Triggerhappy as he had some kind of attack, Synapse glanced back at Apeface, Snapdragon and the other Decepticons. “Go ahead without us, will you? It seems this can’t wait. Deadlock, I-“

Synapse frowned, glancing around. “Deadlock?”

Garrus-9 – Corridors:

Slugslinger had become more calm. He finally was at ease after some discussion about what's happening rather than worrying that it was all a trick. Still though, something else suddenly entered his mind that worried him...

"Triggerhappy! I- I need to go check on him! He's highly unstable, and I fear he's wondering the halls!"

Slugslinger put his weapons back into a holstered position.

"Umbra, I- well, I can assume that you're the one I should ask, but can I please go see what Triggs is up to before joining the rest of you back for Logicor? It- it shouldn't be long! I hope..."

Garrus-9 – Corridors:

Everything was fading in and out. The world spinning around Triggerhappy. Watching the world fall darker and darker. But then, everything came into slight focus again.

"HEH! HEYA DOC! WAZAP?" shouted Triggerhappy back to his supposed "normal" self. However, this part of him was only a fracture of his mind. The fuller self is who was speaking before.

Triggerhappy lost his balance and fell against the wall of the corridor. A sickening twist of the room it was. His fuller self needed to say one more thing. Just... one more thing.

His optics turned once again from yellow to red, and Triggerhappy began to once again speak.

"F- Find Slugslinger, Synapse. He knows all so well what I mean. Yes, he has the knowledge of my condition, yet not the discernment of truth which I desire."

Garrus-9 - Corridors

”Oookay.” Was pretty much all Apeface had to say when his group of Decepticons finally came optic to optic with the source of noises around the corner. Triggerhappy, a hapless fool if there ever was one. And clearly, he was acting way more crazy than the Horrorcon could recall ever seeing the oddjob act before. Too many unattended hits to head he wagered.

"It's only Triggerhappy." The reptilian Horrorcon growled as he slowly lowered his weapon, former Autobot energon still trickling down his chassis giving him a bright magenta hue. "Something smells off about him though... Since when has Triggs been one about dropping his guns and preaching peace?"

”Since when he has been anything but… well, that?” Apeface replied back to Snapdragon after listening Triggerhappy spew out his particular nonsense. Triggerhappy was nothing more than inconvenience to him right now. The only question was whether to deal with the crazy gunner violently right now and let the medics piece him back together later - or trust Synapse to handle him. Apeface certainly didn’t need another lunatic to look after right now, one that might even end up shooting them in the back by the looks of it.

“Go ahead without us, will you? It seems this can’t wait. Deadlock, I-“

Synapse frowned, glancing around. “Deadlock?”

Deadlock gone. Great. Apeface had a feeling that would end up biting them back in the end. Deadlock would have been an asset here, a seasoned warrior if a damned stubborn one. Prone to do things in his own way. This was hardly a convenient time for a damned mental breakdown. Or in this case, two of them. Turning his emotionless, protection plate and visor covered visage to face Synapse who in turn was glancing back at him Apeface just shook his head before looking back at the Seacons.

”I am going to trust you judgment here Synapse. Grab one of the Seacons if you need back up. The rest of you are coming with me.”

”C’mon people, let’s move!” Apeface stated out with authority in his voice that defied his usual easy going behavior and set out of jog towards the amphitheater. ”We have bigger fish to fry!”

Garrus-9 – Near Primary Mineshaft

"And you're a far way from whatever hellhole of a pit you call a Hive. Say, haven't I already killed the lot of you already? You all seem to share the same face. Oh look at me. Mr. Pot, meet Kettle."

”Oh please Whirl. You and what army? I have one of my own. I don’t see yours anywhere.” Hardshell snarled, his own weapons powering up while group of his clones joined up with Ransack’s stalked to surround the mining shaft. ”You wouldn’t even be the first wrecker I have offed.”

"Whirl!"

The one identified as Brainstorm cried out, rushing over to the one eyed Autobot’s side to hold him down before the situation blew up on their faces. Whirl on the other hand didn’t seem all that appreciative of the scientist’s help given the exclamation of his own.

"Not with that attitude!"

Hardshell and Ransack along with their diaclones merely stared back at the Autobots, unflinching and ready to act.

"Look," Brainstorm said as he turned to the Insecticon horde, "I dunno if you've seen the scrap that's hitting the fan yet, but Jhiaxus, that guy your 'leader' woke up, is currently running around with two giant combiners through this facility. I don't know about you, but we gotta do something about them. Otherwise none of us are leaving these mines." The teal and white engineer then pulled up footage he was able to get ahold of from when he accessed Skymauler's processor. He froze the frames of both Monstructor and Logicor stampeding through the facility. He turned the data-screen fastened to his arm towards Hardshell and the others so that they could see the results for themselves.

Hardshell just stared at the footage. There it was all again. He had already received it from Kickback and Apeface but it was still as hard to believe as it had been the first time out. It had been the sole reason he had moved to seek Sparkstalker out of the Rig he had been studying even if he had kept the Firecon in the dark so far. They needed brains to solve this, not guns. The warrior types could keep the combiners busy but Bombshell and the others had already failed deactivating the EMP device that had knocked all the Decepticons in the amphitheater out – including mighty Scorponok himself. Perhaps. Perhaps there would be use for Brainstorm if not for these others.

”While I question why you need to do anything about them, they certainly create a considerable problem to us.” Hardshell hissed, his optics burning in clear indication of danger towards the Autobots.

>>”We can’t leave them here. And we can’t kill the blue one with the claws. I suggest we bring them along to the amphitheatre. If indeed there are monstrosities strolling about, it would nice to have shields that did not cost us anything. They may also have more information to share with us.”<<

>>”We cannot. But accidents happen Sparkstalker. We need only one of them.”<< Hardshell replied back to Sparkstalker’s communication. He was aware of the order by Megatron regarding the loudmouthed madbot called Whirl but he wasn’t too keen on following it. >>”But I suppose he will be more agreeable if we do spare his companions. For now.”<<

”Sparkstalker seems to value your councel Brainstorm. Lower your weapons and we will talk.”

Garrus-9-–Near Primary Mineshaft

Pointblank had been at a loss for words as Hardshell and his crew demanded an explanation. Fortunately, whatever words Pointblank had lost, Whirl and his sudden arrival on the scene found them. Pointblank had steeled himself. It could all go to slag right here and now.

Brainstorm's sense, however, helped keep that from happening. Pointblank watched the chatter between his allies and the Decepticons, careful not to say anything that could upset the powder keg they were standing on. With Whirl around, there was already more than enough risk of that happening.

”Sparkstalker seems to value your councel Brainstorm. Lower your weapons and we will talk,” Hardshell said, seeming to indicate that he had no immediate desire to execute them all where they stood. Pointblank did as the Decepticon said and motioned for the others to do the same.

"Can we talk on the way? It seems like the world is falling apart...maybe literally."

Garrus-9-–Primary Mineshaft:

Highbrow, still clinging to the wall, couldn't believe it! They were going up! Fools! All fools the lot of them!

...then again, they were not dead yet, so they seemed to be doing something correctly. Highbrow motioned silently to Nightbeat above asking "should we ascend, or descend?"

((OOC-I've been sick way more this semester than I've ever been in my life, lol. That I work with little petri dishes is inevitably part of it, but it's certainly delayed things beyond what I would have wanted. I haven't ever considered myself a posting taskmaster and I have no intention of becoming one now just to keep things moving, so instead I'm going to tinker with Jhiaxus' methods just a bit to steer the ship back on course towards the finale.))

Garrus-9 Central--Amphitheater

Within the grand high walls of the prison's amphitheater, the lights grew dim. There was a collective shudder that went through the remainder of the functioning Insecticons. Other Decepticons that had kept themselves at bay from the impaled form of Scorponok and the curious device that had incapacitated so many of their brethren looked at each other in confusion.

"What oddness is this is this?" Shrapnel hissed at Kickback.

"I...know not, friend," Kickback said, equally curious as to what just happened. "Perhaps the power is failing. We might-"

But before Kickback could speak any further, a wispy, holographic representation of Jhiaxus' upper torso appeared. It flickered with the static of an impure transmission signal.

"My dear Decepticon liberators....particularly you, o' mighty gladiator of an age gone by....it pains me greatly to have resorted to such deception in order to aid my departure. I wish the transition to your next phase of existence could have come naturally. Willingly. In another time, perhaps you all would have understood my desires. Nevertheless, I will be coming for you. Soon. And to have you in such a state is unacceptable. Prepare yourselves as you see fit. All...are.....one......."

As Jhiaxus' voice faded, the static-laden digital image vanished and the rod that lay embedded in Scorponok's rear knee joint powered down before shutting off completely.
___

Within Cyclonus' aching body, he suddenly felt a wave of...release. It was odd, given that he had been a prisoner within his own body for what felt like an eternity, even though only an infinitesimal fraction of his Cybertronian life had passed by.

When he willed his arm to move, the blocky structure gradually transformed. Then the transformation continued until he lay prostrate on the floor of the amphitheater in his bot mode, looking up through the transparent dome into the vast expanse of space above them. As he did, his optics flickered brightly and one word escaped his vocalizer.

"Treachery..."

Amphitheater

Equilibrium returning, the agonizing pain and sensory blackout caused by Jhiaxus’ device were easing up. Easing up just enough for the Decepticon leader witness Jhiaxus’ holographic message himself even if just barely. The fact the device had not done any permanent damage was a small miracle of its own to him, though he had a good reason to assume this was planned from the beginning. The device had been meant only to disable him for long enough for Jhiaxus to make his escape.

Such hubris.

Scorponok would have no more of it. Jhiaxus should have dealt the fatal blow when he had the chance. He wouldn’t get another one. All are one his aft plate. He was going to tear Jhiaxus apart and crush the leftovers.

”Huuuurk...”

Reaching down behind his knee, Scorponok’s claw secured grip of the EMP device and proceeded to pull it off his joint. Seconds later it was snapped in two by the enormous Decepticon applying just tiny bit more pressure towards the spike in anger. Regrettable, better option would have been to study it but he wasn’t exactly thinking straight right now.

Optics burning in murderous anger, Scorponok forced himself back to his feet, feeling still somewhat out of it. It could have been so much worse. Despite of his endurance and resistance against electrical attacks, his internal systems weren’t that different from other Cybertronians, just capable of channeling was more power than most. All more the reason Jhiaxus had only meant to incapacitate him.

Most Decepticons were still lying on the floor in various states of mistransformation, many likely in need of medical attention. Some, like Cyclonus were stirring up on the other hand.

”AAAAEERRRGH!” Letting out a primal scream full of rage and hatred, Scorponok took few limping steps towards one of the many machines Jhiaxus had left behind and with a swipe of his massive arm smashed the machine into scrap.

Spotting Kickback and Shrapnel standing tall near the main entrance of amphitheater from the corner of his optic, the gargantuan warlord turned his attention towards the much smaller Decepticons.

”YOU! GET ME A SITUATION REPORT! NOW! WHAT ELSE DID HE DO?!”

Garrus-9-Primary Mineshaft

Great thought Nightbeat This is just great The blue and yellow Autobot was not optimistic about the result their attempted escape. He looked down to see Highbrow gesturing at him.

"should we ascend, or descend?"

Nightbeat considered this, but his consideration was brief. For though going up could prove to be the correct decision, it could also seal their fates and cause them to be reimprisoned... in the best case. Nightbeat was sure that descent was the only option that could be beneficial to the Autobots in the shaft and even to Brainstorm and the others who did reach the top. Nightbeat motioned downwards to Highbrow.

"Descend"

Garrus-9-Primary Mineshaft:

Scared, Highbrow awaited Nightbeat's response. Finally however, he responded.

"Descend"

Good grief. It was a choice between a scary option, and a REALLY scary option. At least Nightbeat chose the lesser of the two.

Slowly and methodically, Highbrow made his way down as the others did the same. Careful to move as ones above talked or made noise to avoid being noticed. If we are seen doing this, we are DEAD.

Amphitheatre


Bludgeon’s anger welled up as the Insecticons entered the amphitheatre​, though could do nothing to help their fellow Decepticons.

Laid helpless by a wretched old fool. A weak fool.

His anger spiked to epic levels as the hologram of the Fool crackled to life. Yet unable to move, desiring to set in motion, he could do nothing but silently suffer in pain.

---

The rest of Bludgeon's crew was experiencing similar feelings, yet in their own way.

Nightbird was cursing, each jolt of pain increasing her anger, desperately though, her processor was turning over one word.. 'calm'.

Calm came to her as Jhiaxus voice broke through. From her vantage point she couldn't see the broadcast, but she heard him just fine. However, his words perplexed her. He felt he had the right to determine their fates?

When the broadcast finished and Jhiaxus’ device deactivated, she stirred, a soft moan… the only sound she let escape besides the grinding as she carefully started to transform into her robot mode, hampered by the particularly well armored and thus heavy pig on top of her.

---

Snarler heard Nightbird stirring and he made the attempts to move off of her, as the transmission from Jhiaxus ended. Though the simple mech didn't understand what it was Jhiaxus was talking about, it didn't sound like something he’d like.

Without even a grunt, despite the pain, the tough as titanium tracker transformed into his alt mode, the massive pig pawed lightly at the floor before stepping cautiously over Nightbird to sniff 'The Chief’.

“Chief.” He snorted trying to determine Bludgeon's situation.

---

Skullgrin began to feel the paralyzing effects of the emp fall off and with a roar from pain, he began the transformation to his robot mode.

--

Bomb Burst’s optics had been fading in and out through the duration of the emp’s effects. His sensors and systems a total mess from it, he could barely keep anything operating in normal parameters until the device was shut off.

A momentary relief, though truly just momentarily,came over him as he forced himself back into one mode, painfully but silently.

He rebooted all his sensors quickly as he stood, the tall lithe frame rose in fluid motion to stand on.his 'tip toes’ and stretch his mangled form.

He had not been listening to Jhiaxus’ unnecessarily wordy speech about evolution. Nightbird, however had him up to speed on that as soon as his comms were online.

He seemingly casually watched Nightbird​, Snarler, and Bludgeon from his shadows, Nightbird twitching her fingers rhythmically as she tried to work the static out if her systems… Snarler trying to rouse Bludgeon, Bludgeon finally rising with a slightly pained expression.

He scanned through the dim light of the amphitheatre with ease from his enhanced low light vision. Noting as others began moving, but that was the extent of his concern.

'Master Bludgeon.’ he sent over silent communication, that only the team could hear. Not a question, a simple statement that would go no further yet spoke volumes.

Snarler gave a slight signal that he had heard​, flicking optics to the darkened depths the assassin was concealed in.

--

Bludgeon, finally standing, also took a quick scan of the amphitheatre before his optics fell on Scorponok’s roaring form.

He said nothing at first, assuming any word might bring the huge Decepticon’s wrath down on him before throwing caution to the wind.

“Where is that wretched old fool…” Bludgeon finally growled.

Amphitheater

The remaining, functional Insecticons watched the broadcast by the aged scientist with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety. There was no telling what the insane mech could still do to them from this distance if he so desired. His desires, however, seemed to be directed elsewhere. To Kickback's great surprise, Jhiaxus released the Decepticons just as easily as he had incapacitated them. His parting words notably ominous, but knowing Scorponok as Kickback did, it would matter little--if at all. Restoring Scorponok's ability to transform would prove to be the worst miscalculation the scientist could have possibly made, in his view. He supposed only time would prove his suspicions true or not.

Kickback watched with some measure of restrained mirth as Bombshell struggled to transform and crawl away from the others. But his enjoyment of the surroundings did not last long, as Scorponok's attention quickly turned to he and Shrapnel--the two mechanoids best poised to have some form of actionable intelligence for the imposing Second Fleet Commander. Fortunately, Kickback had no intentions of disappointing.

”YOU! GET ME A SITUATION REPORT! NOW! WHAT ELSE DID HE DO?!” the commander roared. Kickback was far more than passingly familiar with the typical wrath levels of Decepticon commanders, so he was not phased by the warlord's anger. It was directed at the situation, not him, after all. '

"He absconded from the prison as soon as he left the amphitheater. He left his two monsters behind, but thus far they have made no outwardly aggressive moves. Until that transmission, we had neither seen nor heard anything from him. I've been in private communication with Reflector aboard the Tyrannis and he doesn't know where he bounced once he accessed our technology. He covered his tracks well."

Garrus 9 - Amphitheater.


Chopshops knowledge of science came mostly from what he could steal, what this mad scientist was harping on about was strange, and piqued his interest with opportunity of possible heist.

Chopshop joined his brother insecticons were Scorpnok had been immobilized. He waited quietly while Scorpnok shouted orders, When Kickback had finished his debriefing, Chopshop saluted his sloppy salute. Chopshop handed Scorpnok a data slate containing details of the commandeered autobot ships, the two modified autobot ships, "King scorpion" and "Iron stag" and a list of documents and videos data mined from within Garrus 9. he then winked at his commander, requiring no further praise, and steeped back into line.

Amphitheatre

Pure, unadulterated rage consumed him. As the effects of Jhiaxus’s device wore off, Snaptrap slammed his fist into the floor, forcing his body to obey his commands. It reverted fully to robot mode as he rose to his feet. He had been utterly helpless. Powerless. To do or stop anything. They all could have perished under one of Jhaixus’s monstrousities’ pedes without so much as a whimper. And it burned at his very spark.

To be rendered so entirely useless. Especially when he had been so close to terminating that vile scientist and crushing his spark in his grasp.

Where Lord Scorponok’s fury boiled on the surface of the warlord, Snaptrap’s anger was more subtle but still very present in every fiber of his being. It suffused his every minute motion. Where some roared or growled and hissed, the butcher of the bogs was silent. Noting that Scorponok did not require anything immediate from him, he moved to where Nautilator still lay on his examination slab.

He tore his subordinate free of his restraints with ease, smoldering amber optics turning to Seawing. He was uninjured as well. Good. Testing his comm, he sent an order to the rest of the team.

>>”Report immediately to the amphitheatre,”<< his tone betrayed his cold, calculated fury. The only other time that he had sounded such, he had earned the title “Butcher of the Bogs.”

Stepping forward, away from his troops, Snaptrap listened intently as Kickback gave his report. Chopshop had a bit to add. Then, Snaptrap turned toward the second fleet commander.

“Lord Scorponok,” he began, “I have failed you. I accept whatever punishment you choose for me. However,” he paused, his golden optics flickered malevolently, “Allow me to atone by assisting you in retrieving the scientist’s head.”


Spinister jerked to life rather violently the instant Jhiaxus’s field wore off. He grunted softly in pain, hands going to inspect his body as he struggled to get his parts back where they were supposed to belong. He flinched when a scream tore through the amphitheater, instantly lifting his gun up to the source. Lord Scorponok.

He lowered his weapon just as quickly, watching as their master’s rage shook the very walls of the prison. Carefully, he transformed the bits of his body, one by one, into their proper shapes, giving them a sometimes painful push with his hands.

There were others in worse shape than he was if the hole in the wall was any indication. He ought to do something.


Consciousness briefly washed back into Firewire. There was pain. A great deal of it. Her limbs felt heavy and her vision wasn’t the greatest. Red optics flickered back online dully as she glanced around. Everything sounded so far away. Lord Scorpy…was nearby…shouting? Saying something. Firewire strained her audios but she couldn’t make it out.

Glancing to her side, Firewire got a glimpsed of what the issue might be. Ah. Part of her had been crushed. What had happened…? Oh. Right.

“J..Jhiaxus…” she uttered faintly.

As soon as the name had passed her vocalizer, Firewire felt her body giving out. Systems shut down one by one. Her optics grew dim.

>>”Go…get im…lord…scor…”<<

…


“Frag,” Stranglehold cursed as the paralysis/transforming thing stopped. That had been some dirty slag. Underhanded as scrap. He thought only Cons were supposed to do that. Not bots or…whatever that old codger had been. “Fraggit,” he growled as he slowly pushed himself up, freezing up as he heard a horrendous roar.

His head shot up in time to catch Scorponok utterly destroying a machine. Ugh. Wouldn’t want to be the object of his wrath. Nah, Stranglehold was going to shut it in a very rare instance. Didn’t feel like becoming minced scrap today.

Garrus 9 – Central – Corridors

Umbra wasn’t exactly sold on finding other Decepticons, but the way Slog presented it…they didn’t really have a lot of options. What was going to happen to Skyhammer if they went to the other Cons? Things had been going well so far, but…That felt like pressing their luck to its limits. As Slugslinger approached, her optics went over to him.

“What?” was her dumb-founded response.

Since when did she become the one to ask? What? She frowned but jerked her head at the corridor where they’d come from. “Uh, sure, go ahead, I guess.” Logicor. Primus, she didn’t even want to consider an actual fight with one of those titans. She glanced at Icepick and the monstercons briefly. And she didn’t much care for bringing back the other monster to fight this one. They’d been working together after all.

But Icepick and his friends wanted to stop Jhiaxus. Only thing was, Umbra wasn’t sure if she could join them. She was still an Autobot. Sort of. And…she couldn’t just abandon Skyhammer. She looked at Icepick and Stormwrecker. “Uh…you think there’s any chance that if we met up with the rest of the Cons…they’d react poorly to me or…the Monstercons…or Skyhammer there?”


Ah, well. Synapse had never encountered a case quite like this before. Triggerhappy was going from loony to very eloquent in the span of a few astroseconds. Taking the mech by the hand, he tugged gently. “Come on, Triggerhappy, let’s find Slugslinger then,” he said softly. It seemed they would be tagging along behind Apeface and the others for the time being at least.

Though, Triggerhappy’s behavior was more than passingly concerning. Leading him along gently and slowly, he knew that Apeface’s group would likely run into Slugslinger well before he and Triggerhappy did, but at least they would point Slugslinger in the right direction hopefully.


“Oh slag!” Skalor stopped dead in his very forced and reluctant jog behind the Horrorcons. “It’s the boss!” He picked up the pace, hurrying over to Apeface who was at the head of the group. “Apeface! The boss was in the amphitheatre! He wants us to go there and…uh…” Skalor sent back a quick acknowledgement so that Snaptrap didn’t think he was being ignored.

“He don’t sound too happy…”

Skalor had actually never heard Snaptrap this pissed off before. Primus, what had happened in the amphitheatre? He only hoped that he didn’t take it out on them.


Near Primary Mineshaft

>>”We cannot. But accidents happen Sparkstalker. We need only one of them.”<< Hardshell replied back to Sparkstalker’s communication. He was aware of the order by Megatron regarding the loudmouthed madbot called Whirl but he wasn’t too keen on following it. >>”But I suppose he will be more agreeable if we do spare his companions. For now.”<<

Truth be told, Sparkstalker kind of liked Hardshell’s line of thinking, but he did also have a point. Autobots were so much more cooperative when you had their comrades to threaten. A shame. Oh well, they could just exterminate them when they were finished with them. It was all the same really. Sparkstalker glanced to Pointblank as he suggested they ‘walk and talk’.

Glancing to the mineshaft behind the Autobots, Sparkstalker wondered if that was really all of the Autobots. They’d come out in quick succession, and he found it hard to believe that only three had decided to take advantage of the chaos to escape. He glanced to Hardshell and Ransack.

>>”Check the mineshaft. There may be more of them, and I’d rather have an optic on any wayward Autobots rather than be surprised later.”<<

“Of course, of course,” Sparkstalker said agreeably. “So start talking.”

Garrus 9 – Central - Corridors:

Quickly as Umbra answered, Slugslinger darted off towards the halls they came from. He needed to find Triggerhappy, and fast. Though, transformation might not be a smart thing at this time. Better stay to the ground.

As he ran down after a while of wondering the halls, the first mechs he saw were Apeface, Snapdragon, and a couple others. Slugslinger slowed to a stop before then asking them, "Uh, excuse me sirs, have you by any chance seen a crazy lunatic known as Triggerhappy wondering around? He... requires attention."

Time wasa tickin', and Slugslinger needed to know fast. Though, the Horrorcons in their minds seemed to be discussing something more important amongst themselves, Slugslinger needed all the help he could get.

Near Primary Mineshaft

>>”Check the mineshaft. There may be more of them, and I’d rather have an optic on any wayward Autobots rather than be surprised later.”<<

As Hardshell’s and Ransack’s diaclone soldiers closed on the Autobots to round them up to be escorted to the Amphitheater while Sparkstalker was initiating his talk with the Autobots – Hardshell continued to communicate with Sparkstalker through their private comm-link.

>>”Already ahead of you. Autobots tend to have... a blind spot when it comes to size changing range of Insecticons.”<< Hardshell replied smugly back to Sparkstalker, continuing, >>”The situation though, has changed. I have heard reports from my brethen in the Amphitheater. Our people are waking up, Commander Scorponok, Cyclonus, few others, many are wounded though. This does rise the question. do we still need these Autobots?”<<

Meanwhile within the mineshaft...

”You. Ascend.” A gruff voice addressed Highbrow and Nightbeat from below. A voice that was not going to listen to any objections or give any more warnings. No, the lethal Insecticon known as Barrage was known to shoot first and ask questions later. And right now only Hardshell’s command was keeping him and dozen of his clones from pulling the trigger.

Garrus-9-Primary Mine Shaft

FRAG Nightbeat thought FRAG, FRAG, FRAG. They had been found, if they did not ascend their fates were sealed. They had to ascend. There were no two ways about it. They had to ascend. Nightbeat nodded downwards to the other Autobots in the hope that they too would accept this fact, and began moving back up the shaft.

Garrus-9 - Primary Mineshaft:

Awful. Terrible. Humiliating. These were all words that entered Highbrow's mind as he and his companions were told to climb up by one of the Insecticons. With not much time to consider, the only rational answer was to obey. Again, humiliating. Would much rather fight until I die rather than be killed later and helplessly. But then again, opportunity might appear later, and I am not ridiculous. No, I am intelligent.

Highbrow ascended presumably along with the other Autobots clinging to the wall. Though, he preferred not to look down at this time to avoid irritating the Insecticon freak of Cybertronian kind with slowing down.