CHAPTER THREE
--The Lost Light--
"You weren't followed, were you?"
Bluestreak sighed as he stepped into Swerve's bar. "No, Red Alert, I wasn't followed. In fact, I never came across anyone on my way here."
"They're Decepticons, Bluestreak," Red Alert said as he closed the door behind his fellow Autobot. "They have their ways. They're always listening. Always watching."
"I still don't get why we're even hiding like scaredy kylons," said Hoist, leaning against the bar. He gestured at the twenty odd Autobots that were present. "I mean, look at us. They're only six and we're, like, what, two hundred strong or somethin', all around?"
"One hundred and eighty nine," Red Alert said grimly. "At least ten of us are dead or unaccounted for. Polaris, Hyperion, Deftwing... and those were just from Megatron alone."
"Okay, so we just need a good strategy. No biggie. We're Autobots, aren't we? Nothin' we can't handle."
"Hoist, I think you're missing Red's point," said Inferno. "It's Megatron. It's not just some wannabe upstart but the real deal. The big fish. Mega-frikkin'-tron."
"No it isn't. It can't be." Hoist shook his head. "Megatron's dead, mate. Blew up in Unicron he did, Prime said so himself. You don't expect me to believe he's suddenly back from the dead, do you?"
"I saw him with my own two optical sensors, Hoist," Red Alert said. "It was him, one hundred percent. From the red of his optics to the sheen of his plating. A perfect replication."
"Who's to say it isn't just that?" asked Sunstreaker. "A replica or something. Maybe someone's just a really huge fan of Megatron and modeled themselves after him. Lord knows there's plenty of crazies out there."
"Even so, he's sure as Pit as deadly as the real thing," Red Alert muttered. "Taking him down definitely won't be easy. We need an edge, and I'm not sure--"
"Hey, guys?" A blue head poked up from behind the bar, starling Hoist.
"Primon's gas tank, Huffer!" the green mech exclaimed, clutching his chest. "Don't do scrap like that! Some of us have got weak sparks!"
"Sorry," Huffer grumbled, rolling his optics. "I hadn't realized everyone had forgotten my existence."
"Huffer," Red Alert said, looking warily at the orange and blue bot. "What are you doing back there?"
"Nothing illegal, I swear," Huffer replied. "Just lookin' to see what Swerve had back here -- was always curious. Not much to talk about though, really. Just some special fuel, some contraband holovids, a deactivated Legislator, a cover--"
"Contraband what?!" Red Alert exclaimed.
"Whoa, whoa, back up," Bluestreak said. "Did you just say 'legislator?' Are you saying we have lawmakers on this ship?"
"No, no, it's those giant bots that Chief Justice What's-His-Face had," Huffer said. "Tailgate told me they invaded the Lost Light one time and I know there's a lot of their parts in the oil reservoir...."
"So how does Swerve have one intact and why does he have it behind the bar?" Inferno asked.
Huffer returned with a half-smirk. "Ain't that the question of the cycle?"
Red Alert crossed his arms. "Okay, so we have that. Any chance you can bring it back online and reprogram it to not kill us?"
"Could take some time to rewire it, but I think I can manage it," Huffer said. "No promises though."
"Eh, no rush," Bluestreak said, shrugging. "So far it seems like we're the last thing on the 'Cons minds."
"That's what they want us to think," Red Alert growled. "They want to lure us into a false sense of security."
"Tell you what, mate," Hoist said. "I'll give you fifteen Shanix if one of us gets blown up by a 'Con within the next ten hours."
"What if you're the one that gets blown up?" Huffer asked snidely.
"Don't worry, it's coming from your account."
"Oi!"
* * *
The mech who went by the name Megatron stared out the viewport of the bridge, counting the stars that greeted his gaze. Space had always wondered him; so many planets were out there, so many star systems. Galaxies even. Maybe even universes. All of it unexplored, ripe for conquest.
Then he remembered it had already been seen and conquered before -- by himself, in fact. Or rather, someone else who had been him, had bore his name.
It was still all too much for him to comprehend. He had been told -- and his memory banks confirmed as much -- that he was a clone of Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. He was created in the event that, should Megatron perish, he would be activated to take his place.
But something about this backstory rang... false. Vague memories floated through his processor of a different life, one that contradicted the one he had been given. He remembered the name "Doomshot" and identified with it. Others such as "Ominus" and "Infinitus" cropped up, but he could not determine any meaning from them.
Alas, he was in no position to give it any more thought. He had a mission -- supposedly. He was not yet aware of the details, but he had been told to be prepared by the small one who called himself Shockwave. In spite of the grandeur that came with his name, Megatron found himself subservient to someone else -- someone who, despite his size, seemed to possess full control over everything.
"Lord Megatron?"
Distracted from his sight-seeing, Megatron turned to regard the black and silver mech known as Soundblaster. Distinguished by the red screen on his chest and inexpressive faceplate, Soundblaster was said to be the clone of a Decepticon who had been starkly loyal to the original Megatron. In the small amount of time the new Megatron had come to know him, Soundblaster had yet to show any signs of divergence.
"Yes, Soundblaster?" Megatron said, still finding the sound of his own voice difficult to adjust to.
"Shockwave has returned."
At this, Megatron turned around fully to see the diminutive purple mech in question step onto the bridge, his single yellow optics regarding each and every bot present carefully. The Autobots that they had been holding captive since taking over the bridge glared at the Decepticon as he walked by. Behind him, another clone Decepticon dragged in a yellow and red Autobot, battered and beaten.
Optics narrowed, Megatron looked from the Autobot to Shockwave before saying, "Who is this?"
"His name is Powerflash. He was one of the Autobots who happened upon my stasis pod," Shockwave said. "The other one is still hiding somewhere."
"Why are either of them of any importance?" Megatron asked.
"The other one is of particular interest to me," Shockwave replied. "I believe he is in fact a former operative of ours. This one can lead us to him."
"I won't tell you anything, Decepti-creeps," Powerflash retorted.
"That remains to be seen." Turning back to Megatron, Shockwave said, "Would you like me to extract the desired info from him, or would you prefer Soundblaster to do so?"
Megatron stared at him. "Why are you asking--"
"You are our leader, Megatron. You are the one to give orders."
"I don't see what difference--"
"Me or Soundblaster, Megatron. Me or Soundblaster."
Megatron was silent for a long time, looking back and forth between the two Decepticons. Finally, he closed his optics and sighed. "Soundblaster."
The black Decepticon nodded. "As you command, Megatron."
Soundblaster then stepped over to the Autobot and got to work. It took everything in Megatron's being to not shield his eyes from the carnage that ensued or to turn down his audio sensors to tune out the screams. Coming up to stand beside him, Shockwave looked up at Megatron, his sole optics glowing brightly.
"Well done."
"I haven't even done anything," Megatron said quietly.
"You gave your first order, albeit one to someone who would throw himself off the edge of Nova Point if you had told him to. Had it been someone more... rebellious, you would have been forced to take more action."
Megatron continued to watch as Soundblaster dug deep into the Autobot's exposed cranium, extracting data from his processor. Finally, the black Decepticon pulled out and turned to face his leader.
"The lab. He's in the lab."
Shockwave nodded before looking up at Megatron. "Orders, my liege?"
Megatron was silent only for a short moment before giving his next command. "Find him."
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