The Energon Pub

PART 191

——“Your reign shall be far shorter than Starscream’s!” shouted Alpha Trion from his prone position on the floor. “Already you have one less moon left to rule.”
——Several Decepticons converged on the bound Prime, intent on stomping him into sheet metal.
——Galvatron forbid it. “No. Stand him up. I wish to hear what he has to say.”
——Cyclonus and Scourge each grabbed an arm and hoisted Alpha Trion to his feet.
——“The knowledge that you seek you will not gain from me, murderer.”
——Galvatron acknowledged Alpha Trion with a vicious backhand that sent some of his teeth clattering across the floor.
——“Where are your brothers hiding?” he demanded.
——“If I knew, I would not tell you.”
——“No matter. Scourge can track them across the galaxy. Where is the Covenant of Primus, then? Surely you know the whereabouts of that rusted old tome?”
——“My second reply is the same as my first.”
——“Annoying old Prime—!”
——Galvatron drew back his hand to strike him again, but Unicron’s voice gave him pause.
——”DO NOT INDULGE HIM. RIP OPEN HIS BELLY. THERE YOU WILL FIND THE COVENANT.”
——Galvatron delivered a single punch to Alpha Trion’s lower torso, bending the metal plate forged into an Autobot emblem that he bore across it. Next, he pried the plate off and plunged his hand into the Prime’s internals. Slotted horizontally between his fuel tank and T-Cog were where the tyrant’s fingers fell upon the Covenant. Galvatron snatched it out, snagging loose the accompanying Quill in a frizz of wires in the act.
——Alpha Trion disguised his discomfort as disdain while Galvatron perused its pristine pages.
——“Are you searching for a way to destroy your master?”
——“Silence, librarian!”
——“I refuse. The Quill, in tandem with the Covenant, can be weaponized to accomplish such a feat. Sadly, you—a reforged slave held in Unicron’s thrall—lack the autonomy to utilize them.”
——“Tell me what I must do, quickly! I wish to be free of—“
——“KILL HIM NOW, GALVATRON, OR YOU YOURSELF SHALL SUFFER!”
——“Yes. I obey… my master.”
——Galvatron grasped the book with two hands, held it high, then brought it down repeatedly over the top of Alpha Trion’s head until it was a compacted, lumpy mass level with the horn jutting from his brow.
——Alpha Trion glitched uncontrollably in a cloud of smoke created by his own overloading cerebral circuits. When it became apparent that his injuries would not be enough to end him, Galvatron tore the Quill from his torso and stabbed the elder Transformer straight through the Spark.
——The energy unleashed lit up the entire Hall of Records. After it subsided, Alpha Trion’s body crumbled to pieces before the astonished Decepticons’ faces. Cyclonus and Scourge stepped away from the graying pile of metal so that the crowd could get a clear view of what remained of the Autobots’ greatest advisor.
——Galvatron threw the Covenant up in the air and shot it. Its foil pages floated down upon his cheering soldiers, covering them like confetti.
——“Cyclonus! Scourge! To me!” commanded Galvatron. “We leave for Quintessa immediately. Our mission isn’t over until all the Primes meet with a similar fate!”

(to be continued)