CHAPTER SEVEN
"We're nearing our destination," said the Steelhaven's navigator Wing Saber. "We should be exiting hyperspace in about two cycles."
Ultra Magnus nodded. Seated in his command chair on the bridge, he kept his optics glued to the twisting tunnel of hyperspace. What would be waiting for them on the other end? A fleet of Decepticon warships? A Titan? The Seething Moon?
He leaned forward in his seat. Whatever it would be, he just knew that they were in for a nasty surprise. Two minutes later, he was quickly proven correct.
Everyone on the Steelhaven's bridge gawked in astonishment at the large object that floated before them.
"Is that... what I think it is?" asked Jazz from the pilot seat.
Ultra Magnus sighed. "I'm afraid so. Trypticon Prison."
"What in Primus' name is it doing here?" Warpath exclaimed.
"It was teleported, remember?" Wing Saber said. "I don't know why the 'Cons would put it in the middle of outer space, though."
"It doesn't matter," Ultra Magnus said. "Trypticon Prison is not our main priority right now. Wing Saber, what is the nearest planet?"
"Lucifer, sir."
"Then we shall proceed to there. Cosmos, tell the Eight Track and Valiant to stay put until I order otherwise."
"Copy that," the green and yellow communications officer replied.
As the Steelhaven advanced towards the Decepticon-aligned world, Ultra Magnus gripped the handle of his trusted warhammer. For the first time in centuries, it would be seeing action once again.
Today was sure to be a hectic one.
* * *
Shoot. Drop. Roll. Shoot some more. Dodge. Back flip. Pew-pew-pew.That was all that was going through Whirl's head as he mowed down the Decepticons of Darkmount. For the first time in stellar cycles, he was doing what he did best, what he enjoyed the most.
Bang bang bang. Crouch down. Swing leg. Shoot over shoulder. Fun fun fun.
"Whirl!"
The one-eyed Autobot instantly froze, holding a Decepticon by the neck over the smelting pool. He turned his head and fixed his singular gaze on Topspin, who was pointing at him.
"What? Can't stand a little violence? Maybe you should have stayed-"
"No! Behind you!"
Whirl turned around in time to see Lord Straxus standing over him, axe raised towards the sky. As the warlord brought the weapon down, Whirl used the Decepticon he was holding as a shield so that the axe's blade skewered the hapless 'Con instead. With Straxus briefly distracted by this, Whirl converted into his helicopter form and flew off to assist his comrades in freeing the prisoners.
As he moved down the corridor, he could hear the noise of battle drawing closer and closer. If he had a mouth, Whirl would have grinned. This day just gets better and better.
* * *
"When you came in here, did you have a plan for getting out of here?"
Impactor cast a quick glance at Prowl as he fired his dual blasters at the Decepticon residents of Darkmount. "The plan was to get you guys out of here. We never really got further than that."
"And who came up with the plan?"
"Optronix."
Prowl ducked behind a large piece of debris as a hulking Decepticon with shoulder-mounted missile launchers unleashed his payload. "And where exactly is Optronix?" he called over the sound of explosions.
"Heck if I know," Impactor replied as he launched a harpoon from his arm, skewering the Decepticon's face. "He said he would be meeting up with us soon..."
As his voice trailed off, dread filled his spark. It apparently showed on his face, for Prowl then said, "What is it?"
"I think he's going after Straxus."
* * *
Straxus moved through the mess of corpses that littered his throne room, kicking several into the smelting pool down below. Every once in a while, he would come across one that still had a bit of life in them. This did nothing to change their fate.
By the time he had reached the chamber's entrance, the floor was clean save for the splatters of energon.
And the Autobot now standing behind him.
"Straxus."
The Lord High Governor of Darkmount turned to face the red and black Autobot. "Ah, yes. You are the one called Optronix... or is it Optimus Prime yet? I don't follow the events of Cybertron very well."
Optronix glared at him as he raised his blaster rifle at the tyrant's head. "Not Prime. Not yet," he said coldly. "Perhaps when I bring you and your fellow warlords to justice."
Straxus idly twirled his battle axe in his hands. "Although our meeting was a short one, I didn't have you pinned down as an ambitious one, one who craved power."
"That was before I realized how apathetic Sentinel Prime was to Cybertron's well-being." Optronix rested his finger on the gun's trigger. "Before I saw how willing so-called-legendary heroes like Ultra Magnus were to rather sit on their afterburners and let Decepticons run rampant in our streets."
Straxus smiled mirthlessly. "So you think that by murdering an innocent mech in cold-blood, Cybertron would hail you as the ruler they deserved."
Optronix scowled. "You are far from innocent. I saw you kicking those bodies- some which were still functioning- into your accursed smelting pool. You deserve to rot in the Pit!"
"And yet, Sentinel Prime spared Trannis' life on that day in Iacon, when the war ended."
Optronix' baleful gaze bore into Straxus' scarlet optics. "Because Sentinel didn't have the guts to do what was right."
With that, the Autobot pulled the trigger of his rifle... only to have the weapon slapped out of his hand by the quick-moving Straxus, letting it fall into the smelting pool. The tyrant then grabbed Optronix by the neck and held him over the lava that boiled below.
"You are indeed a bold one," Straxus said with a wicked grin. "No wonder you were chosen to replace Sentinel Prime as Cybertron's benevolent ruler."
He raised his other hand to his left audio receptor. "I don't hear you denying the 'ruler' part. Is the correct term not supposed to be simply leader? Or have things changed since I last visited Cybertron?"
To Optronix's visible surprise, Straxus pulled him back and dropped him onto the floor. Kneeling next to the Autobot, the warlord said, "You have potential, young one. You have the makings of a great leader, Autobot or Decepticon."
He closed his fist around Optronix's neck again.
"I believe you would be of great interest to the Decepticon cause."
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