CHAPTER TWO
"Attention, unidentified citizen!" Tumbler called after the black and purple jet he and his partners were pursuing. "You are under arrest for murder, fleeing from the scene of the crime, resisting arrest... he's not listening, is he?"
"Since when do they ever listen, Tumbler?" Prowl replied. "Just keep flying."
The trio continued their chase, following the jest as it flew past the Celestial Spires, around the Imperial Amphitheater, towards Trion Square....
"You sure he's our bot and we're not intruding on someone's innocent tour of Iacon?" Tumbler asked.
"Quiet," said the third of the trio, a young officer named Orion Pax. "I've got him in my sights."
"Try not to repeat your mistake from last time," Prowl said. "We're turning him in to the stockade, not the medical center."
"Right, right." Focusing on his target via his Skydart's mega-visor, Orion gripped the controls of his weapons and fired. Much to the surprise of his comrades- not to mention his own- a direct hit was scored on the flier and the black jet was sent plummeting towards the ground in Trion Square.
Orion grinned. "Got him. Pow-pow, he went down."
"A turn of phrase worthy of Sentinel Prime," Prowl muttered. "Come on, let's bring him in."
Landing their Skydarts in the center of Trion Square, the three officers made their way towards the black-winged mech. Much to Orion's relief, he was uninjured save for a broken right wing. Upon reaching the flier, Tumbler knelt down and helped the Cybertronian up to his feet.
"What's your name, son?" he asked.
"Skywarp," the mech hissed.
"Did you murder Councilor Decimus?"
No response.
Tumbler sighed. "Expected as much. Let's cuff him and take him to the chief, then."
While Prowl helped Tumbler with fixing a pair of stasis cuffs onto Skywarp, Orion opened a channel to their boss, Depth Charge.
"Hey, chief," he said. "We've caught the bot who killed Decimus. Calls himself Skywarp. Going by his build, I'd say he's a Seeker."
"A Seeker?" Depth Charge repeated. "Are the 'cons stirring up trouble?"
"Why would they be? It's been four thousand years since they lost the war. Why would they want revenge now?"
"Two thousand," Depth Charge corrected him. "And the 'cons have been vowing revenge ever since, kid."
"Right," Orion murmured. "Anyway, we'll be turning him in shortly."
"Good. No injuries or... collateral damage, I hope?"
"Just one broken wing, chief. And frankly, he deserved it. I've never seen such a reckless flier."
Depth Charge grunted. "We'll see about that."
* * *
If an off-worlder were to visit Cybertron, Kaon was the last place they would want to visit. Off all of the polities, it was the one with the least influence from the High Council and the highest criminal record. Here, crime lords and mobs reigned supreme while the council merely used its industrial resources.
For the most part, Kaon's streets were generally deserted during the day, so nothing stood in the way of the two Cybertronian vehicles as they made their way towards their hideout. Once they, they converted to their robot modes and entered the dimly lit building.
Inside, a deep, gruff voice greeted them. "Frenzy. Rumble. You have returned."
"Yeah, boss," Rumble grunted. "We've got what you wanted."
He gestured to Frenzy, who nonchalantly dropped his piece of luggage to the floor. The yellow-colored head rolled and touched the Boss' feet. Eyes the color of fire flared as he looked from the severed head to the two thugs.
"I said I wanted Councilor Momus alive," he growled.
"Did you?" Frenzy said flippantly. "If I recall correctly, your ordered us to set the Forum of Enlightenment aflame and bring Momus to you. But you didn't say in how many pieces."
"And yet what use can I find from a severed head?"
Frenzy shrugged. "I dunno, amusement? You could play lobbing with it."
The orange optics narrowed. "I do not take part in sports."
The blue mech threw up his hands into the air. "Well, then, you find a use for it, Motorbreath."
Suddenly, the Boss rose to his full height, his silhouette towering over the pair. A violet hand reached out from the shadows and grabbed Frenzy by the neck.
"I have tolerated your remarks in the past," the Boss muttered. "But I will not tolerate your facetious nature towards the only rule of our so-called-charter." He tightened his grip. "You refer to me only as Motormaster or simplified addresses of respect. Are we clear?"
Frenzy tried to nod but found it near impossible to do so.
"I don't think we are. What say we take you to Knock Out and decide for ourselves?"
Ignoring Frenzy's protests, Motormaster turned to Rumble and said, "Carry out the next task. We shall make do without Momus for the time being."
Rumble nodded and dashed out of the hideout without a word, not daring to think of the horrifying punishments his brother would receive.
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