Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga V, Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

   Located within the Quintesson Pan-Galactic Co-Prosperity Sphere's territory, the bleak world of Monacus was a haven for gamblers, criminals, and all sorts of low-lives. Not to mention bounty hunters.

   Avoiding the death glares from the numerous alien residents of Monacus' district Sheol, Windblade quickly figured that Cybertronians were not a welcome sight here. Nonetheless, she was certain of at least one other Cybertronian who visited Monacus from time to time. Entering a casino marked as Gyconi's Gambling Corner, Windblade moved through a crowd of Urtuskians, Skuxxoids, and Torkuli before finally reaching the table that was her destination.

   "It was about time you got here," said Devcon. "I was just about ready to leave this dump. It reeks of Ick-yak droppings in here."

   Windblade smirked as she sat across from him. "Perhaps if you deactivated your olfactory sensors, it wouldn't be so bad."

   The blue and red Autobot bounty hunter grunted. "Perhaps, but it wouldn't get rid of these grubby aliens."

   "Right. So, about the job...."

   "Not one for small talk, eh?" Devcon placed his arms on the table and leaned on them. "You say there's a Decepticon- a specific one- that you want dead because...."

   "Because he killed my master," Windblade said coldly. "And yours."

   Devcon blinked. "Yoketron? You know... you know who killed him?"

   Windblade nodded. "A Decepticon named Deadlock. Far as I know, he's currently the second-in-command of a 'Con named Turmoil."

   "Turmoil?" Devcon said in a loud whisper. "You seriously want me to mess with one of Megatron best and scariest commanders and his lieutenant? There's not enough credits in the galaxy to convince me to risk my afterburner like that."

   "Well, luckily, you don't have to worry about that," Windblade said. "I just need you to help me find Deadlock. I'm killing him myself."

   "Is that so?" Devcon scratched his chin. "You're crazier than I thought; confronting a scary Decepticon and defying the Autobot Code. But who am I to deter you from your vengeful quest?"

   "Nothing can deter me," Windblade said coldly. "Yoketron was like a father to me and I must avenge his death."

   "Yeah, just try not to get your self killed in the process." Devcon then drained the can of oil he had been leaving unattended before saying, "My ship's waiting outside. Let's go find this Spawn of Mortilus."

*  *  *

    The Sojourner's Passage-- Azimuth's vessel-- had taken off from Cybertron and the "Titan Explorers", as Swerve wished to call themselves, were well on their way to visit the Titan Azimuth had discovered. As the crew of six all sat in the ship's cockpit, it was Jolt who voiced the question on everyone's minds.

    "How did you find the Titan, Azimuth?"

    The old Autobot hesitated only briefly before speaking. "Not long after I had disbanded the Patterners, I disembarked from Cybertron to pursue my life-long dream of exploring the universe's endless wonders. While in the middle of this, I detected a strong energon signal in this uncharted system. I eventually followed it to a moon orbiting a ringed gas giant. It was on that moon that I found the Titan."

    "So the Titan was generating the energon signature?" Perceptor asked.

    Azimuth nodded. "I believe so."

    "But if the signature was so strong, then... could it still be alive?"

    Azimuth shrugged. "It's hard to say. It never awoke while I was examining it."

    "Man, the more I hear about this, the less I can wait to get there!" Swerve exclaimed. "How much longer now?"

    Azimuth smiled as she brought the ship out of hyperspace. "We're here."

    Perceptor, Swerve, Glyph, Jolt, and Livewire all stared in astonishment at the sight that greeted them. Sprawled on the surface of a moon was indeed a Titan. Thousands-of-years-worth of rust corroded its armor plating. Wires and gears were exposed in crevices in its armors. Its mouth hung open in frozen anguish while long-dead optics glistened with the stars it laid under.

    The long silence which hung over the six Autobots was broken by an excited Swerve. "I don't care what happens to us; this quest just made it to the Top Ten!"

*  *  *

    Turmoil and his team had decided to stay on Dabola while Shockwave and his team explored the Titan's remains. However, no more than twelve hours had passed when the scientists returned.

    "There is nothing of interest to be found," Shockwave reported to Turmoil and Scrapper. "Little more than torn out gears and wires. Nothing that Lord Megatron could use for Trypticon."

    "What could possibly be out there that could tear apart a Titan?" asked Deadlock, standing at Turmoil's side.

    "Another Titan, perhaps," Shockwave said. "However, I do not care enough about such myths to hypothesis why a Titan would perform such an act."

    Deadlock opened his mouth to speak again but was cut off by a curt hand gesture from Turmoil.

    "If that is the case, then we have no further reason to stay here," the commander said. "If it's all the same to you, my crew and I shall be off."

    As the Decepticons parted ways, Deadlock said to Turmoil, "Where to now?"

    "Taros Seven," Turmoil replied. "We are to take Killmaster there and assist a fellow Warriors Elite in battle."

    Deadlock blinked. "You mean there's already one of them there? Why do they even need help then?"

    "Because they're up against one of the only things the Autobots can successfully throw at them."

    "And what would that be?"

    "The Wreckers."