EDITED 1/2/15 Decided to not make Roller a rookie (or "one of the new guys"). He and Orion have served longer than that.
CHAPTER FIVE
"So, you want me to lead a team of Autobots into the depths of Kaon and find at least one criminal out of, what, hundreds?"
"It's not like you have a hot date or something, is it?" Depth Charge sardonically replied on Optronix's comlink. "Look, Optronix, I'm not asking for much."
"No, you're asking for a lot," Optronix snapped. He had been walking down one of the corridors within Fortress Maximus, the Elite Guard's headquarters, when Depth Charge had contacted him. After accepting the call, he had moved into an adjacent corridor so that he would be out of the way of others.
Sighing, he went on. "I know how you think, Depth Charge. You're going to ask me to take a team of less-experience 'bots into the black pit of Cybertron itself."
"Wow, you're good," Depth Charge said flatly.
Optronix frowned. "Couldn't you have found someone else to do this?"
"I could have. But they wouldn't have been as good as you."
The Elite Guardsman sighed again. "All right, fine. I'll do it."
"Good. Checkpoint will brief you at his office."
"I'll be on my way, then."
Moving out of the hall, Optronix converted into his truck mode and took off, wondering if this was really a test for his "Primehood"....
* * *
The rally had been successful. The Constructicons were now part of the plan. When Motormaster had received this info, he instantly contacted the Mastermind to find out the next course of action. After an hour of waiting, he finally got a response.
"Motormaster."
"Mastermind," Motormaster growled. "I have good news. Bonecrusher has successfully rallied the Constructicons to our cause."
"It does not surprise me. They were aligned with the Decepticons during the Great War. They wouldn't shy from doing so again."
"Indeed." Motormaster pressed his fingertips together. "What's next?"
"How far are the Autobots in their investigation of Momus and Decimus' deaths?"
"Skywarp's been captured and I've been told that the Autobot have just begun investigating Momus' death and Bonecrusher's escape."
"In that case, Councilor Ratbat is the next target... but not to be assassinated."
"Is he trustworthy?"
"If you knew as much of his history as I did, you would not need to ask that."
Motormaster grunted. "What's the plan, then?"
"The Constructicon foreman, Dirt Boss, is to plant a cerebro-shell into the councilor's head and use it to control him and find out all of the Elite Guard's security exploits. That way, we will figure out how to eliminate our primary objective."
"The Prime," Motormaster said. "Would it not be simple enough to ask the councilor to do this himself? He is, as you say, trustworthy."
"If it was that simple, would I be asking this of you?"
"Point taken. I will see to the mission."
"I trust that you will, Motormaster," the Mastermind muttered. "I am taking every risk possible in trusting you."
* * *
"I'm glad you could make it, Optronix," Checkpoint said as he rose from his desk to greet the Elite Guardsman. "I took it from Depth Charge that you weren't overly enthusiastic about doing this."
"I just don't want to lead anyone to their deaths," Optronix muttered. "So, where's my team?"
"This way." Checkpoint led Optronix to a room adjacent to his office. Inside sat six Autobots, mostly ones he didn't recognize... save for one.
"Orion?"
The red and blue mech looked up at his older brother. Smiling, he said, "Hey, Optronix. How's it going?"
Optronix said nothing to him, instead turning to Checkpoint. "I'm out."
The white and black Autobot blinked. "What? Why?"
"There's no way am I leading my younger brother into the pits of Kaon," Optronix snapped. "Find someone else to do it."
Checkpoint frowned. "Easier said than done. You were specifically chosen to undertake this mission."
"By who?" Optronix asked bitterly. "Ultra Magnus?"
The Iaconian chief shook his head. "Sentinel Prime."
The name gave the adamant Elite Guardsman pause. So it was true; Optronix was being shaped to succeed Sentinel Prime... perhaps by the Prime himself. And this was to be his first test....
With a heavy sigh, he said, "All right. I'll do it."
Checkpoint smiled. "Good. In that case, I suppose now's a good time as any to get to know your team."
He gestured to a white and red mech, who looked as if he converted into an ambulance. "This is chief medical officer Ratchet, graduate of the Protihex Medical Mechanics University."
Ratchet dipped his red helmet at Optronix. "A pleasure, sir."
Checkpoint then indicated a large, dark gray and orange mech. "This is Roller. He'll be serving as your team's muscle."
Roller merely grunted acknowledgement, shifting his mass uncomfortably in his small seat.
"This is Arcee and her sister, Elita-One," Checkpoint then said, gesturing to two femmes. "They are both skilled in martial arts and stealth operations-"
"Ooh! Ooh!" A yellow Autobot jumped out of his seat. "So am I!"
The chief grunted. "And lastly, this is Bumblebee. The youngest of them all, not to mention the fastest."
"If I wanted fast, I would've gotten Blurr," Optronix muttered.
"Yeah, but I'm sure as Pit not gonna distract him from the Speedia 500." Checkpoint took a step back with Optronix to observe the six Autobots. "So, there's your team. Not having any second thoughts now, are you?"
Optronix shook his head. "Someone's gonna have to deal with them eventually. It might as well be me."
Checkpoint laughed, slapping him on the back. "That's the spirit! There's a Mark II Armored Convoy waiting for you outside. Good luck."
"Thanks," Optronix murmured, looking again at his team. "We're definitely going to need it."
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