CHAPTER FIVE
-Aquatron-
"I've been to Energon banquets before, but this is...." Bumblebee's voice trailed off as he stared at the Energon meals and oil beverages stretched out before them on a table, if stood on its end, could touch the sky.
"Ridiculous?" Ironhide said.
"Amazing."
Sky-Byte chuckled. "Yes, I suppose it would be to visitors. But we have these banquets practically every week." He gestured to a few empty seats to the far end. "Our leader, the Curator, will be sitting there, so if you would like to speak to him...."
Jazz nodded his thanks and led the others to the end of the table, passing by several Aquatronians.
"You know," Spiral murmured. "I wouldn't mind living here. It's very peaceful."
"Speak for yourself," Ironhide muttered. "I wouldn't be able to abide hanging out with these fish-people."
"As if we'd think better of you land-dwellers."
Ironhide recognized that voice. He cried out as he whipped out his arm cannons and aimed them wildly at the seated diners.
"Show yourself, Megatron! You ain't gettin' away easily this time!"
"Er, Ironhide?" Arcee said. "That wasn't Megatron."
"Then who...?" Ironhide looked down and saw a turquoise and gray mech glaring up at him. "Oh."
"The name's Nautilator, actually. Not Megatron. I'm sorry to disappoint you."
A look of embarrassment crossed Ironhide's face as he put away his cannons. "Er, no, I'm sorry. I was just... I need to replenish my energon tanks, that's all."
With that, he hurried past the other Autobots and took a seat at the very edge, away from the other Aquatronians. As soon as Jazz and the rest had sat down, a large pairs of doors swung open to admit a stout, slightly portly mech, colored in blue and white with a golden tint. His green optics widened cheerfully upon seeing the newcomers.
"Ah, we have visitors! How splendid." He took his seat at the end of the table, next to the Autobots. He offered his hand to Jazz. "I am the Curator, leader of Aquatron. And you are?"
"Jazz, and these are my fellow Autobots Ironhide, Perceptor, Seaspray, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Spiral." He shook the offered hand. "We... have a favor to ask of you."
"Certainly! But first, let us enjoy our feast. There are fifty different types of Energon here, as well as a few organic delicacies."
"Organic...." A disgusted look crossed Ironhide's face this time. "Oh, yeah. This planet has fun written all over it."
-Earth-
"I've found him."
Even in his beast mode, Thundertron managed a sneer. "How can you be so sure? I don't see him."
"Well," Axer said, "he is charging towards us."
Sure enough, a large purple and green Transformer came crashing through the woods, his massive claws bared and his stinger tail guns primed to fire. His red visor gleamed with fury as his mout twisted into a sadistic grin.
"Well, you certainly are not any Decepticons I recognize," Scorponok said. "I would think that Megatron would send some formidable opponents."
"We are not Decepticons," Thundertron snarled, transforming to robot mode with the rest. "We are Star Seekers, and it is you that we seek."
Scorponok smirked. "Ah, yes, I've heard of you pirates. Seeking out every opportunity to wipe out every last Cybertronian. I am one such opportunity, aren't I?"
Thundertron scowled. "As much as it pains me to admit, we are not looking to kill you. We wish to... recruit you."
Scorponok belted out a harsh laugh. "Recruit me? Why would I join the likes of you? I already have my own plans underway here."
The Star Seeker captain opened his mouth to retort but Cannonball stepped in front of him.
"I'm sure we can reach a compromise," the Star Seeker first mate said. "Perhaps if you joined us, we could make ourselves home here and assist in your experiments."
"What?!" Thundertron bellowed, storming towards Cannonball. "I refuse to reside on a pathetic organic world!"
Ignoring him, Scorponok smirked. "A tempting offer, but one I must decline. I have no use for allies, least of all pirates I cannot trust. Besides, I already have minions here. They will be more than enough."
Before Cannonball could respond, Thundertron shoved him aside and stormed up to Scorponok. "Enough of this. You should know why we're asking you to join us. You have a piece of it. A piece of the AllSpark."
Scorponok smiled mirthlessly. "Correct, and I haven no plans on giving it up to anyone."
Thundertron sneered as he unsheathed his battle sword. "Is that your final answer?"
Scorponok merely flexed his mighty claws, the tip of his stinger tail sparking.
"So be it."
-Unknown-
Zero percent.
Xeros' heart raced. He had been gone for a mere three minutes to help secure another prisoner only to return and find this. The "zero percent" could only mean two things: either the subject was dead or....
Xeros turned around to face the secured Optimus Prime and froze. The Autobot leader's red and blue color scheme had faded away, replaced by black and gray with teal highlights. Blue-tinted windows had become a shade of scarlet and his optics flared with the color of fire.
The very fact that the subject was awake made Xeros fear for his life.
He backed away from the dark Optimus, holding up his tentacle arms as if it would ward him off. It did not.
"Please," Xeros murmured. "I- I can explain this, Optimus Prime. I--"
"There is no Optimus," the former captive snarled. "There is only me."
Xeros' eyes darted around. No sign of the Bailiffs or Sharkticons. He looked up pleadingly at the Cybertronian now looming over him.
"Please... the real Optimus Prime would not kill a defenseless person."
Harsh laughter emitted from his aggressor. "That's because I am not Optimus Prime. I... am Nemesis Prime."
A blade extruded from his left arm and Xeros soon knew nothing.
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