CHAPTER SEVEN
Her restraints destroyed by the battle that had just broken out, Livewire scrambled for cover as fire raged everywhere. The Dynobots weren't called such for no reason; they were usually called for whenever heavy explosions were needed.
Then again, sometimes they made such explosions whenever they were bored out of their minds.
Taking cover behind a piece of machinery, Livewire watched the five raging mechs mow down the Constructicons... or at least at first. After a while, it didn't seem like the Dynobots were really targeting anything. They just wanted to wreak havoc.
"Is this awesome or what?"
A few feet away from her, Livewire saw the other Autobot who had been captured with her and Skar. Colored in red and blue, he seemed to be quite young and had a build that was a standard in the city-state Praxus. Catching her gaze, the young mech grinned.
"Name's Smokescreen," he said.
"Livewire," she replied. "And I might find this entertaining if we weren't stuck in the crossfire."
"Yeah, point taken." Dodging a stray rocket from one of the Dynobots, Smokescreen added, "We could escape through the opening they made."
"How?" Livewire asked. "They might accidentally step on us or- hey!"
She let out a yelp as she and Smokescreen were lifted up by a pair of tow cables and carried away by a red and gold jet.
"Thank you for choosing Dynobot Airlines," it said. "Please, er, 'hang on' while I carry you to safety."
Smokescreen grinned. "Do we get free energon goodies?"
The winged Dynobot flew them out of the entrance he and his comrades had made and dropped them out into Tyger Pax's neighboring settlement, Simfur.
"Now then," the Dynboot said, "please remain here while I scorch some Constructicon butt."
With that, the winged mech turned around and flew back down into the Constructicons' lair. Smokescreen then turned to Livewire, his grin even wider.
"Was that awesome or what?"
Livewire found herself smiling as well. "Totally."
* * *
Alpha Trion staggered back, weakened by a blow to his shoulder delivered by Optronix. He looked up to stare at his former student, who was slowly walking up to him, sword at the ready.
"It doesn't have to be like this," Optronix said. "Join me, side with the Decepticons, and no harm shall come to you."
Alpha Trion glared at him. "It's not my well-being that I fret for, but that of Cybertron and her people."
Optronix scowled. "Cybertron is already beyond repair, old man. The people who wounded her even more so."
He gestured at the historian with his sword. "But you... you are perhaps one of the few Cybertronians with a good spark and a brilliant mind. Your wisdom can put both Sentinel Prime and Trannis to shame."
"What about you? Have I put you to shame yet?" When Optronix did not respond, Alpha Trion straightened his stance and readied his sword. "Then perhaps it's time I teach you one last lesson."
The Autobot sage lunged, swinging his sword downward to severe Optronix's shoulder. His former student blocked the attack with his own blade. He then pushed Alpha Trion back and flung his sword like a throwing knife at the elder's head. Alpha Trion narrowly dodged the weapon, letting it stab the wall behind him.
Before he could regather himself for another attack, the old Autobot found himself staring down the barrel of Optronix's fusion cannon.
"I appreciate your desire to teach me further," the former student said. "But I am no longer in need of your guidance."
The barrel of the cannon flared purple and Alpha Trion saw darkness.
* * *
It wasn't exactly difficult for Orion Pax to figure out where Optronix was. Then again, that was what his brother wanted anyway.
As he drove towards Alpha Trion's School for Inquiring Sparks, he could make out two mechs- both Seekers- standing guard. One of them he recognized as Skywarp, whom he had helped capture several months ago. Skywarp's companion, a blue and black Seeker, spotted Orion first and aimed both of his arm-mounted null rays at him.
"Stop right there," he called out.
"I don't think so." Still moving at full speed, Orion converted into his robot mode and fired his ion blaster at the two Seekers, knocking them out unconscious. He then went through the large opening made into the building's entrance... and froze.
Crumpled on the floor, the armor-plating of his face blasted off- thus exposing the array of circuits underneath- was Alpha Trion. Standing over him, fusion cannon aimed at the old historian, was Optronix. Noticing his brother's arrival, Optronix looked up at him and smiled.
"Hello, Orion," he said. "I was wondering if I would ever find you."
"Optronix," Orion murmured, struggling to keep his voice steady. "Please, step away from Alpha Trion."
Grinning, Optronix took a step back but kept his cannon trained on the fallen Autobot.
"Move the cannon," Orion snapped.
The former Autobot did so, shifting his aim to his brother.
Orion held his hands up, as if hoping it would ward off the weapon and the fury of its wielder. "Brother... why are you doing this?"
Optronix's sinister grin grew wider. "Because I have seen what needs to be done. I know now what fate must befall Cybertron."
"And what would that be?"
"Peace through tyranny. In order to prevent further chaos and anarchy, an iron fist must be closed around Cybertron so that it does not fall apart."
Orion's optics narrowed. "But tighten the grip too much and that which you hold will be crushed."
Optronix let out a harsh laugh. "Don't try to act prudent, Orion. It'll most likely come off as pathetic."
Orion sighed. "I don't know nor understand what you're doing or why... but it needs to stop."
Optronix sneered. "I'd like to see you try."
Before Orion could respond, the fusion cannon fired and the next thing he knew, he was lying on the floor, smoke emitting from a gaping wound in his chest. His vision becoming bleary, he could barely make out Optronix as his brother stood over him, a sword in hand.
"I'm sorry it had to be this way, brother," he said. "But you've left me no choice."
The blade came down and Orion saw nothing but darkness ahead.
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