CHAPTER TWO: IN THE WRONG HANDS
For the first time in forever, the streets of Iacon were silent.
Civilians hid in their home, officers patrolled the streets...it was enough to make Red Alert even more paranoid than he usually was.
Quite ironic, he thought, considering I'm supposed to be Director of Security.
Suddenly, his communicator buzzed, making Red Alert jump slightly, and the voice of Autobot commander Ultra Magnus spoke through. "Red Alert, I need you back at Autobot Headquarters immediately."
"Sure thing, sir," Red Alert replied as he transformed into his Cybertronic vehicle form. He quietly added to himself, "Anywhere's better than here..."
As he drove off, the Director of Security failed to notice an observant watcher standing nearby...
* * *
Ultra Magnus stood on Autobot Headquarter's observation deck, gazing at the once magnificent city of Iacon. Although the reconstruction of it after the Ark's takeoff had gone well, it still did not capture the beauty Iacon had before the Decepticons' invasion at the start of the Great War.
Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the door opening behind him to allow Red Alert inside. "You wanted to see me, sir?" the security director asked.
Magnus turned to face him. "Indeed. I am calling a meeting with all heads of divisions in my office. But first, I need you to make sure everything in this base is secure and that there are no spy cameras or anything here."
Red Alert tilted his head in slight confusion. "Why?"
Magnus turned back grimly at the view of Iacon. "Because if any recording of the meeting fell into the wrong hands...it would mean all of our efforts were pointless."
* * *
Soon, all the heads of divisions had gathered at Ultra Magnus' office. Standing in a semi-circle were Red Alert, director of the Security Division; Perceptor, minister of the Science Division; First Aid, chief of the Medical Division; Highbrow, head of Cybertron Intelligence; and finally Ultra Magnus himself, head of Defense and deputy leader of the Autobots.
Once everyone had settled in, Magnus was the first to speak. "I am sure you have all heard of Project Omega, which the Ministry of Science has been working on. Well, Perceptor here has told me that we've faced an unfortunate setback."
The red and light blue Autobot known as Perceptor stepped forward to speak. "In order to activate Project Omega, we require the Omega Key. Unfortunately, it was lost after the death of Sentinel Prime."
"Any idea where it is now?" asked the azure and grey colored Highbrow.
"We do have one theory," Perceptor replied. After pausing for effect, he said, "The Decepticons may have it."
All of the councilors except Magnus stared at him in astonishment.
"But how?" First Aid asked. "Sentinel Prime did not carry the Omega Key with him when he fought Megatron...did he?"
"No, he did not," Perceptor said. "But it was being kept by the sage Alpha Trion..."
"And his office was attacked by Decepticon forces around that time," Highbrow finished for him. He held his chin in his hand. "Yes, it is likely they stole it then."
"So how do we get it back?" Red Alert asked. "It would be suicidal if we tried to sneak into Decepticon territory."
Ultra Magnus smirked. "Maybe for you. But not for an elite team of Autobots I have handpicked myself."
The door to Magnus' office opened and seven Autobots walked in, led by a burly Transformer colored in violet and orange.
"Allow me to present the Wreckers," Magnus announced. "They will get the job done."
* * *
The spy had seen and heard enough. Converting into his vehicle form, he traveled from the city of Iacon towards the dark realm known as Kaon, capital of the Decepticon Empire. It was there, long ago, that Megatron founded the Decepticons and started the civil war that now plagued Cybertron, beginning with the death of Sentinel Prime, last of the original Seven Primes.
As his thoughts drifted off, the spy failed to notice the looming figure that awaited him at Kaon's entrance.
"Stop." The spy came to a halt and transformed into his robot mode.
"Er, my apologies, sir," the spy said to the large Decepticon. "I have managed to record the meeting, just as you ordered."
"Very good," the Decepticon replied. "You do know Shockwave does not appreciate failures. Hand over the chip."
The spy reached behind his head and pulled out a tiny chip that held all that he had recorded of the meeting. He handed it to the Decepticon.
"Good work," the superior officer said. "Wait here until I return. If this info is valid, I will give you your next task. If it is not..."
The Decepticon leaned forward menacingly, glowering at the spy. "You will be the Pit's next guest."
The spy nodded, doing his best not to appear frightened. "Understood," he said as the Decepticon took off.
* * *
"...Allow me to present the Wreckers. They will get the job done."
The recording finished. Shockwave's single, yellow optic stared stoically at the screen of his monitor. When the Decepticon who gave it to him shifted, he snapped back to reality.
"Onslaught, tell your spy to keep an eye on these 'Wreckers,'" Shockwave said. "And if they come anywhere within eight feet of Kaon..."
Onslaught tilted his head. "Eliminate them?"
"More than that. Tear them apart."
* * *
"The Wreckers are on their way," Red Alert informed Ultra Magnus. "This does seem like a dangerous mission, heading into Decepticon territory..."
"Danger's part of the job," Magnus muttered. "The only thing I'm worried about is if they can get back or not."
Red Alert nodded in agreement. "By the way, one of Highbrow's agents recently told me that Alpha Trion was actually away when the 'Cons attacked his office."
"Yes, I was aware of that," Magnus replied. "Why?"
"Well, where is he?"
The Autobot commander thought for a moment, staring once again out at the view of Iacon. Finally, he said, "I have no idea, Red Alert. The last time I saw him, he spoke something about the Matrix..."
"You mean the Matrix of Leadership?" Red Alert scoffed. "That's just an old myth! Even a old 'bot like him wouldn't believe it. Wonder what got into him."
Magnus shrugged. "One can only imagine, Red Alert. One can only imagine...."
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