Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga VIII, Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

   To Optimus Prime and his Autobots, the Speedia 500 had ended extremely quickly, with Nitro being the victor. Of course, going by the reactions from other Velocitronians, it had actually been long and suspenseful. Either way, Optimus at last had his chance to speak with Velocitron's leader.

   Letting Hot Rod and the others to stay behind and meet with their old comrade Blurr, Optimus slowly approached Nitro, who was meeting and greeting with fans and news people. After waiting a few minutes for the crowd to disperse, Optimus carefully said, "Nitro?"

   Not turning to face him, Nitro said, "Sorry, not taking anymore autographs right now. Try again-"

   "I'm not here for an autograph, Nitro."

   At this, the Velocitronian leader whirled around to face him and narrowed his eyes. "Ah. Well, if it isn't Optimus Prime. What brings you here to Velocitron?"

   "Quite a few things," Optimus replied. "First of all, I would like to apologize for bringing your world under threat during the Asphalt Wars."

   To his surprise, Nitro smiled slightly. "Heh, I'm not the one who needs to be apologized to about that."

   Optimus raised an eyebrow. "Then who does?"

   "My predecessor, Double Clutch." Nitro sighed. "Don't ask me why, but he handled the conflict the worst. He had put a lot of faith into you when you succeeded Zeta Prime, whom he wasn't much fond of. Then the war happened and...."

   "I understand," Optimus said. "Where can I find Double Clutch?"

   Nitro shrugged. "You'd need to ask around. He's pretty much shielded himself away from public eye ever since I beat him in the Speedia 500."

   "Hm, and Spiral said that Excellion was a 'sore loser.'"

   Nitro laughed. "Oh, you haven't even met Excellion yet. You won't know the very meaning of 'sore loser' until you have. Mark my words."

*  *  *

   Makeshift had lucked out; while his persona's "boyfriend" was among the crowds of people wanting to get an autograph from Nitro, he excused himself by returning to work, but was in actuality returning to his ship to change into a different body.

   Once he was back on his cloaked ship, he immediately shifted into his true form and went to retrieve the corpse. At that moment, his communicator rang- no doubt Megatron calling to check on his progress.

   "Oh, great Primus, of all the-" Cursing to himself, the spy answered the call. "Agent Triple-Seven, here. What is it, Lord Megatron?"

   "It's been nearly two mega-cycles," Megatron growled. "Why have I not received the Ark's signature yet?"

   Makeshift bit back a sharp retort. "My apologies, my lord. I rant into an... unforeseen inconvenience."

   "Then make it right this time," the Decepticon leader snarled. "I grow tired of waiting."

   "Understood, my lord. It will be done."

   Ending the connection, the spy began to swear in Old Cybertronian, Neocybex, Nebulanese, and all of the languages he could think of off the top of his head. He was better than this, he knew. Perhaps he required a different approach.

   He searched his internal databanks for a previous form he had adopted in the past. Perhaps if he took the color scheme of one and applied it to another....

   Makeshift grinned as he morphed into his new form. Perfect.

*  *  *

   Ultra Magnus awoke to find himself alive, surprisingly. Granted, his body ached like Pit, but he could tell that he was still functioning properly.

   Craning his head up, he found that he was still in the Victory's hangar bay, though Shockwave was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a lone Vehicon stood guard. As Magnus slowly got up, the trooper moved with a start.

   "Oh, sweet Mortilus," the Vehicon murmured. "The rumors were true; you are immortal!"

   "Well, I'm still not immune to pain," Magnus grunted. Storming up to the Vehicon, he growled, "Where is Shockwave?"

   "On the bridge, but I can't let you go there!" The Vehicon cowered in Magnus' presence. "He'd scrap me if I did that!"

   Magnus glowered at him. "I'll scrap you all the same, so ask yourself: who would you rather die at the hands at?"

   As the Vehicon attempted to stammer a response, Ultra Magnus grabbed him by the neck and threw him into a wall before storming down the corridor for the elevator that led to the bridge. He was barely a few feet away when the doors slid open to reveal Shockwave.

   "Believe me when I say this," the one-eyed Decepticon said coldly. "I am actually glad you survived."

   Magnus moved to attack only to be suddenly restrained by metal arms extruding from the walls.

   "That way," Shockwave went on, "I can find out what exactly makes you immortal."

   Ultra Magnus scowled. "Then believe me when I say that you'll only be disappointed."

   "I am prepared for that," Shockwave said quietly. "I can hardly recall the last time I was pleased with something."

   Suddenly, the Victory shuddered violently, nearly knocking the two mechs off their feet. Regathering himself, Shockwave barked into his comlink, "Slipstream! What is going on?"

   "We're under attack, sir," Magnus heard Slipstream reply. "Courtesy of the Dynobots."

   Keeping his gaze on Ultra Magnus, who found himself fighting back a smirk again, Shockwave said, "Deploy the Eradicons."

   Slipstream acknowledged the order and ended the connection. At that moment, Ultra Magnus broke free from his restraints and lunged at Shockwave, sending them both crashing into the elevator. The Decepticon commander snarled as he extracted a blade from his right arm and plunged it into the left side of Magnus' chest. The Elite Guardsman winced at the pain but continued his assault, pummeling Shockwave's face with his large fists.

   The mono-eyed Decepticon attempted to fire his arm cannon, but it did nothing to halt the attack. Only when Shockwave stopped moving did he stop.

   As the ship shuddered again, Ultra Magnus stepped back, appalled with himself. It would be a long time before he would move away from the scene.