EDITED 2/3/2015 Changed Preditron's name to Gigatron, since I see him as looking like RID Megatron and that name is better associated with that character (being his Japanese name).
CHAPTER NINE
Roller and Bumblebee followed Scrounge to the warehouse which the gold Autobot had described. Upon their arrival, the three of them transformed into their robot forms and cautiously approached the building. Sneaking around the corner, they found two mechs guarding the entrance.
"Great," Roller muttered. "How are we going to get in?"
Before Scrounge could answer, the sound of roaring engines drew their attention to the motorcade of vehicles that were driving up the entrance. In the lead was a black truck carrying a large trailer. Strapped on top of the trailer, much to Roller's disbelief, were Optronix, Orion, and the others.
"Aw, scrap," Bumblebee murmured. "This is bad."
"Understatement of the year, kid," Roller grunted.
Detaching itself from the trailer, the truck morphed into its burly robot form and regarded the two guards coldly.
"You are relieved of your shift," he said. "You are to come with me inside, along with Drag Strip and Wildrider, while the others stand guard."
"Thank Mortilus," one of the guards said dryly. "I was just ready to shoot either myself or Breakdown because of his incessant chattering."
Their boss snorted. "Whatever, Dead End. Just carry our guests inside."
The gloomy guard strode over to the trailer which held Optronix and the others and dragged it into the warehouse, leaving the remaining for members of the motorcade outside.
"Okay, this is very bad," Scrounge said. "Guess it's time for Plan B."
"Plan B?" Roller asked.
"I've got a special arm, remember? I was built to be a spy."
The gold 'bot began searching the wall he and the other two stood beside. Upon finding a wide enough crevice, he extended the two forefingers of his left hand and they detached from his arm along thin wires.
As he and Bumblebee watched him preform this trick, Roller felt a twinge of jealousy. "How come none of us can do that?"
* * *
"Make yourself comfortable," the Stunticon Wildrider said as he pushed Orion to the ground to sit alongside Optronix, Elita, Arcee, and Ratchet, all five of them rendered immobile by the mode locks they had been affixed with.
Before them, Motormaster walked up to what Orion assumed was a holographic projector of sorts. As the Stunticon leader entered a series of codes into the device's computer, Orion took the opportunity to speak.
"Is this meeting really necessary?"
Motormaster did not answer him. Instead, he said to the one called Breakdown, "Fix them all with mouth clamps and only lower them when I say so."
The jittery Stunticon did as ordered and the five Autobots were soon rendered speechless as well immobile. These guys sure came prepared, Orion thought.
Motormaster soon stepped away from the projector and grinned wickedly at the Autobots. "Allow me to introduce you all to the wrongfully defeated, rightful rulers of Cybertron... the esteemed Warlords of the Decepticon Empire!"
As if on cue, five holographic figures emitted from the projector, towering even over Motormaster. Large and imposing, they fit every description Orion had heard of the Decepticons.
"Why have you contacted us, Motormaster?" one of the warlords asked. "You know that we have pressing matters to attend to."
"My apologies, Lord Gigatron," Motormaster said. "I would simply like you to meet a certain noteworthy Autobot."
"Bah!" snapped the warlord to Gigatron's left. "What need have we of Autobots?"
"Patience, Deathsaurus," said the warlord who stood in the center of the group of five. "Let us hear him out. Speak, Motormaster."
The Stunticon leader gestured at Optronix, much to latter and his companions' surprise. "This is the Autobot who calls himself Optronix, though I've been told that he is to succeed Sentinel Prime as Cybertron's leader."
The optics of everyone present except Motormaster widened. Surprise and intrigue sparked in the leader warlord's eyes.
"And just how did you come across this information?" he asked. "Is this news public?"
"No, Lord Trannis," Motormaster replied. "I was told as much by my benefactor. You might know him."
He turned to stare at Optronix. "In fact, a name has already been decided for him to take on: Optimus Prime. A reference, no doubt, to the High Council's optimism for the next Prime to bring Cybertron totally under their ruthless control."
He then returned to the warlords. "Which is why I have called you here, my lords. Indulge him with the ideals of the Decepticons. Tell him what you wanted- and continue to desire- for Cybertron's future. Shape him into the leader we- and all of Cybertron- wants him to be."
"Over my cold, offline husk," a faint voice called.
Before anyone could determine its source, the wall at the end of the room- to the Autobots' right- suddenly became a storm of debris as it exploded. Charging out of the smoke was Roller, who instantly collided with Motormaster and slammed him into the hologram projector, causing the warlords' images to disperse.
As he stepped back from the Stunticon leader, Roller grinned. "Hex, next time you get a hideout, which you won't, make sure to put guards on all sides. When I'm around, anything can become an entrance."
Scowling, Motormaster bellowed to his Stunticons, "Seize him!"
As the four Stunticons charged towards Roller, Orion almost failed to notice Bumblebee and a gold Autobot climb through the entrance Roller had made and move to free him and the others.
"We didn't accidentally kill anyone, did we?" the gold one asked.
"No, Scrounge," Optronix said once his mouth clamp was removed. Free from his restraints, he brought out his primary blaster rifle. "Now, if you don't mind, we have some 'cons to beat up."
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