CHAPTER FOUR
"I'm feeling a bit of 'deja vu' here," Brainstorm muttered. "And not in a good way."
The self-proclaimed Autobot Genius moved about his (rather small) lab within the new Autobot HQ while Nightbeat and Hardhead watched him. Brainstorm was clearly not as comfortable here as he was at Kimia Facility, where he had more access to materials. But like a lot of Kimia's personnel, he had been recalled here for assistance in sustaining Cybertron after the Cataclysm.
"Look," Nightbeat said, "I'm really sorry to bother you, but we need someone clever who can get us out of stick situations."
"And I would love to do just that," Brainstorm replied in a not-so-sincere tone. "But I'm pretty busy at the moment."
Hardhead scoffed. "What could possibly be more worth your time? A magic wand that can restore Cybertron, end this war, and make Megatron deliver us presents while wearing a frilly Nebulan maid outfit?"
"Not... exactly," Brainstorm said, giving him an odd look. "I mean... it's not a wand, but it could be able to do those things....."
Nightbeat sighed, rubbing his temple. "So, are you in or out?"
Before the self-certified genius could reply, the ground shook violently. Nightbeat pushed past Hardhead and Brainstorm to reach the latter's window. Outside was a scene that would hardly make his day better.
Nova Point was on fire.
* * *
"So it just exploded? Just like that?"
Standing before the flaming tower with several Protectobots, Inferno solemnly nodded. "Like someone threw a bunch of grenades from within. Should we head in there to find what exactly caused it?"
Hot Spot, chief of the Protectobots, shook his head. "Too dangerous. Besides, this place has been around for as long as anyone can remember and hasn't been used since Declaration Day. I doubt anyone would've been inside to cause it or-"
"Help! Help me!" a voice cried out from inside the building.
His optics dilated. Spoke too soon.
Pushing past the other Protectobots, ignoring their protesting calls, Hot Spot rushed into the tower, bracing the raging flames.
"Help!" He followed the cry up a set of spiraling metal stairs, which threatened to break apart with each step he took. Upon reaching the final step, the entire staircase collapsed behind him, robbing him of an escape path.
The key word being an, of course. He had jumped out of plenty windows before.
"Help me!" The cries were getting closer. He traced them to the Observation Bay and and rushed to it, only to find the entrance wedged close. With all of his might, he threw his body against the door until it finally broke open.
Just as he staggered into the room, a large figure emerged from the flames and seized him by the neck.
"Help me," it hissed before Hot Spot was consumed by darkness.
* * *
"Hot Spot? Chief, come in!"
Inferno looked frantically from his comlink to the blazing tower. "I've lost him. He's not responding."
"Blades, fly up there and see if you can spot him," Heatwave ordered.
The red helicopter bot nodded as he transformed into his alt mode and hovered up towards the peak of the tower. He soon reported, "No sign of him."
"Frag," Heatwave muttered. "Let's clear the area. This place is about to fall on top of us."
As the Protectobots began to evacuate the vicinity, Inferno could have sworn he caught the silhouette of a figure moving through the flames, but the urgent calls from Heatwave and the others diverted his attention.
* * *
"That's another one down," Bugly muttered, still wincing from his earlier crash. "How many to go?"
"Seven," Bludgeon replied as he, Bugly, and Mindwipe traveled through a passage deep underneath Cybertron, dragging the unconscious Hot Spot. "The Fallen is no doubt growing impatient with our progress. He has already captured four in roughly the same amount of time we have captured merely one."
Bugly sneered. "Have you seriously been keeping track?"
Bludgeon stopped only to shoot him a glare. When Bugly's optics dilated in fear and he took backed off from him, Bludgeon turned around and resumed walking.
The three of them eventually reached a circular chamber. At its center was a large, golden plate which their master, the Fallen, stood atop. Connected to the plate were thirteen capsules, three of which were filled with captured Cybertronians. While the rest were vacant, there was one in particular that caught Bludgeon's notice.
"Grimlock is missing," he muttered.
"No, he isn't," the Fallen said, his ancient voice resonating throughout the chamber. "I have sent him away to the Jungle Planet to... properly tap into his primal spirit. He will be back with us shortly."
Bludgeon grunted as he unceremoniously dropped Hot Spot to the ground. "Anyway, here's another to add to the collection. I understand that our progress is slow going."
"Yes, it certainly is," the Fallen said coldly. "I expected better from the three of you."
"We actually had the opportunity to catch another of our targets earlier," Bugly said bitterly. "But Bludgeon had us let her escape."
Bludgeon whirled towards Bugly, ready to tear his companion apart, when the Fallen used his telekinetic powers to turn him back around without laying a hand on him.
"Is that so?" the fiery being hissed. "In that case, Bugly, you may handle the target Bludgeon allowed to escape. Mindwipe, you shall handle the one known as Jetfire. Make haste. Time is short."
Once Bugly and Mindwipe had quickly transformed and taken off from the chamber, the Fallen returned his attention to Bludgeon, who, for once, was cowed by his presence.
"As for you, Bludgeon... you and I shall handle a target together."
Bludgeon nodded curtly. "Who would that be?"
"A member of the Circle of Light named Ginrai. Shall we go to Theophany and procure him?"
"Of course, master."
Without another word, the Fallen placed a hand on his shoulder and they were gone.
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