CHAPTER SEVEN
--Cybertron, the past--
Night had fallen over Iacon and curfew had already set in. From the balcony which he stood at, leaning over the railing, Prowl watched as street lights dwindled or extinguished, with only the distinguished places for the elite keeping themselves lit. He heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind him, but he did not turn to face their owner.
"Tumbler asked me to look for you," Optronix said. "He's gone with Shockwave to the J.A.A.T. to gather a team of specialists."
"So you're actually going through with this," Prowl muttered.
"I don't expert your approval--"
"Good!" Prowl snapped, whirling around to face Optronix. "Good, because you don't have it. You think that by breaking into the Grand Imperium and presenting him your findings on this... this conspiracy, that everything will end up okay. But it won't. It'll just make things worse."
"You're skeptical."
"I'm beyond that, Optronix. I think you're spark-raving mad. You think... you think that just because you're supposed to be next in line to become Prime, you can get away with anything. But the High Council controls the system here, not the Prime. If Proteus thinks you pose a threat, he'll do anything out of his way to be rid of you, regardless of your status."
"You think I don't know that?" Optronix said coldly. "Why else do you think I keep in close touch with people like Shockwave? Why else do you think I'm always looking over my shoulder?"
"The problem with that is, even when you look over your shoulder, you just keep on doing what's upsetting those watching you."
With that, Prowl brushed past Optronix, destined for the exit, until he stopped to give the Elite Guardsman one last look.
"Promise me something," the officer said. "I won't tell anyone of this little endeavor of yours if you keep him out of it. Send him home or at the very least have him stay behind... just keep him out of this."
He then walked off to leave the base, leaving a pensive Optronix in the moonlight.
--The Lost Light, present--
"All right, Skids!" Rewind said. "Time for you to make your entrance! But first, tell us about the J.A.A.T."
"The Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technologies was opened by Shockwave at the beginning of Guardian Prime's reign," Skids explained. "While on the outside it was just any other education institution, it also secretly served as a haven for outliers-- bots who possessed unique powers untied to their alt modes. In a Functionist-dominated world, we were constantly under prejudice."
"So what's your special power?" Swerve asked.
"I can learn any skill." Skids shrugged. "I admit it's not that impressive, especially when compared to Windcharger's magnet hands or Trailbreaker's forcefields."
"Nonetheless, your role is as important as anyone's," Rewind said. "Take us to the High Council Pavilions, Skids."
--The past--
Optronix stood on a lightweight maintenance basin, kept aloft by Windcharger's magnetic hands. With him stood the rest of his team-- Ratchet, Skids, and an outlier with the power to disrupt electricity, known to his friends by the nickname Glitch. Shockwave had returned to his Academy-- which was subsequently placed under high security-- while Avalon had elected to stay at Rodion HQ, with Tumbler watching over him.
"All right, here's the plan," Optronix said, once they were halfway towards the Pavilions. "I've had Roller hack into the Sky Spy network, so we shouldn't have to worry about being spotted outside of the Grand Imperium.
"Once we've landed on the roof, Windcharger will use his magnet hands to pry open an entryway through the ventilation ducts. We'll make our way towards the security control room, take out the guards there, and use Glitch's power to disable all of the cameras and automated defenses.
"Then, while Glitch keeps an optic on the monitors, I'll take Ratchet and Skids to find Sentinel Prime's quarters. Whatever patrolling guards we come across, Skids and I will take out while Ratchet picks the locks to Sentinel's quarters. Once we're in, I'll deliver our findings of the conspiracy to him."
Optronix folded his arms. "If all goes as planned, we leave as discreetly as we came and never speak of this again."
* * *
"All due respect, Councilor, I think you're taking a huge risk here," Tumbler said. "I mean, if Optronix's plan doesn't go as plan and the High Council finds out about your involvement...."
Avalon waved a dismissive hand. "You shouldn't worry too much about me. I have taken greater risks in the past. Besides, you are speaking with someone who has learned the Cyber-Ninja arts."
"You?" Tumbler exclaimed, bewildered.
Avalon smiled. "Of course. I am very good friends with Sensei Yoketron and he has given me some pointers in Circuit-Su and Metal--"
The councilor was cut off by a loud knock. Roller immediately got up from his station and brandished his gun, heading towards the door. Tumbler moved to intercept him.
"Roller, don't. It's probably--"
"I know who it is," Roller said. "They're probably going to get in either way. Get the councilor out of here and--"
The Autobot never finished his sentence for he was cut off by the entire wall exploding in his face. Standing in the midst of the smoke were three heavily armed mechs. The one in the lead, colored in violet and crimson, smirked.
"Best. Tip off. Ever."
* * *
Nightbeat groaned as his systems came back online. He could barely recall what had happened before he had been knocked out, but seeing as the last thing he could remember was a giant mech looming over him, it didn't require much imagination.
Once consciousness had fully returned to him, he realized that he was laying on a circuit slab, deprived of movement by stasis cuffs and an inhibitor claw. He was able to move his head at least and he looked up slightly to see what was going on.
The assassin he had been chasing and Gridlock were standing nearby, along with a third mech in blue and black. The insignia of the Elite Guard was visible on the latter's chest.
"--Trying to kill Ambassador Crosscut," the assassin was saying. "He put up quite a fight; I needed Gridlock to knock him out."
The Elite Guardsman crossed his arms. "You will forgive me for being skeptical, Bullet. Your reputation isn't exactly a clean one; both you and Gridlock have been in prison twice within the past six months."
Bullet shifted his feet. "Well then, consider this a case for my pardon?"
Before the Elite Guardsman could answer, Nightbeat said, "For what it's worth, I'm not that good of a fighter."
The three mechs spun to face the detective, surprised to see him awake. Gridlock moved to knock him out again but was stopped by the Guardsman.
"There's no need for that; he's no longer a threat. In fact...." The Autobot lifted an optic ridge. "I'd daresay he was never one in the first place."
"If you're looking for someone to arrest, Zeta, I can point you in the right direction," Nightbeat said. "And in case you're unsure, you can always ask Crosscut yourself."
"As a matter of fact, I've already called him here." Zeta shot a look at Bullet and Gridlock. "I'm sure all four of you will have quite the story to tell."
* * *
Optronix and his team had made their way to the control room and taken out the guards stationed there. While Skids dragged their unconscious forms into a nearby storage closet, Glitch accessed the main terminal to the security cameras, bringing up their footage on a hundred viewscreens.
"Sentinel's quarters is on this level," the orange mech said. "There are two guards standing outside and two auto-defense turrets inside. I've-- ow!-- already disabled the latter."
"Then we shall make our way to his quarters," Optronix said. "Any patrols to look out for?"
"Um, no, actually. It's all clear."
"Then let's roll."
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