CHAPTER FOUR
Safe- for the time being- within his residence in Tyger Pax, Ratbat observed the battle below from his high-placed window. He had to admit that, despite the thousands of years since the Great War, the Autobots certainly still knew how to fight. Their skills still would not be enough to save them, of course.
Suddenly, all of the combatants out on the field stopped, looking off towards the distance. Mere seconds later, they were all scattering for cover, as if fleeing from an unseen danger.
"What's going on?" he demanded to no one in particular. "Why are they running?"
"Councilor," Soundwave said. "Devastator Winds detected. Approaching Tyger Pax at eighty miles per hour."
Dread struck Ratbat's spark. Managing to keep it out of his voice, he said, "Then we better get a move on. Prepare my shuttle."
"The shuttle will not be able to take off in time," Soundwave replied. "I suggest we take an alternate escape route."
Ratbat turned to face him, metal brows raised. "And what would that be?"
"First of all, adjustments must be made." Pressing a button near his shoulder, Soundwave commanded, "Laserbeak, Ravage, eject. Operation: Assimilation."
From his chest compartment emerged two mechanoid creatures- one avian, the other feline- who began to surround Ratbat, eying him menacingly.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ratbat demanded. "Are you threatening me?"
"Negative," Soundwave replied. "I am protecting you."
Before he could protest, the two mechanimals lunged at Ratbat and began to tear at him. In short order, darkness consumed him.
* * *
Livewire groaned as she dragged the immobile form of her comrade and mentor Strongbox through the underground tunnel the Guardians droids had made with their rockets. Whoever designed those stupid things with that much firepower should be thrown into a smelting pool, she thought bitterly.
Bringing herself and Strongbox to a halt, Livewire turned the older Autobot onto his back and opened up his spark chamber. It was faint and shrinking by the second, but the small orb of light that gave the Autobot life was still there.
Propping her partner against the wall of the tunnel, Livewire spoke to him, her voice trembling slightly. "Strongbox? Strongbox, can you hear me?"
The old Autobot groaned as he opened his eyes. Upon seeing Livewire, a faint smile crossed his face. "Always... were a persistent... kid, weren't you?"
Before Livewire could respond, Strongbox's optics widened as his gaze moved to something over her shoulder. "Behind you...."
Livewire turned in time to see two Seekers standing before her. Both were of the "conehead" variant, with one being blue and black and the other gray and burgundy. The latter grinned and nudged his partner with his elbow.
"Would you look at that, Dirge: two Autobots for the price of one."
The blue one called Dirge grunted. "Just kill them both so we can get on with our objective, Ramjet."
The gray one chuckled as he raised his arms and aimed his rocket launchers at Livewire and Strongbox. "Nighty-night," the conehead said as he fired his weapons.
Livewire closed her eyes and braced herself for death. However, before she knew it, she was on the ground, having been pushed down, and Strongbox was standing before her, a gaping hole in his abdomen. With the last remnant of his energy, Strongbox turned his head to Livewire and whispered, "Run."
With that, the old Autobot's body collapsed, devoid of life. Sparing no time to mourn his demise, Livewire converted into her street car form and drove off before the two Seekers could take pursuit.
* * *
The storm had suddenly stopped.
No one had been around to see it, for they had all either fled from Tyger Pax in time or perished during the tempest itself. The once-glorious city was now in ruins, save for a few structures that had been just barely outside the storm's reach.
Standing on a mesa that oversaw what was left of his home, Orion Pax felt an emotion he had only felt once before, when he had heard the news of his brother's death: despair.
In the midst of his mourning, Orion had almost failed to notice a hand falling upon his shoulder until its owner spoke.
"C'mon, kid," the elderly Elite Guardsman known as Kup said. "We've found Chromia and the other survivors. There's nothing else left for us."
Orion said nothing as he turned around and transformed into his truck mode. Once Kup had followed suit, the two of them drove off to catch up with the Elite Guard and the Autobots they had managed to rescue. After they had driven a few miles, the veteran Autobot decided to speak.
"I know the death of Optronix is still weighing down on ya'."
No response came from the other truck.
Kup sighed. "He was a great 'bot, y'know. Then again, him getting into the Elite Guard would've been proof enough."
Again, no response.
"But it's not like he hadn't made plenty of mistakes or blamed himself for situations that were out of his control. Dion and Kiloton -- the two 'bots he held dearest to him -- both fell under his command. I'd say you're lucky for that never happening to ya'."
"I lost my city," Orion finally said.
"But how the Pit would you have been able to stop that? It was a blasted storm! If anyone could stop a blasted storm, then we wouldn't need a meteorologist-bot!"
"It wasn't a storm."
"What?"
Orion suddenly screeched to a halt and shifted into his robot form. Kup stopped as well, swerving around to face him.
"Devastator Winds normally only occur around the equator," Orion said. "Tyger Pax isn't anywhere near there."
"What are you getting at, son?"
"I don't know. But I fell that there is more to this catastrophe than meets the eye."
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