CHAPTER EIGHT
--Earth--
Military tanks were hardly a common sight on the highway, but that was the least of Brawl's concerns. As long as the humans got out of his way, he couldn't care less.
Driving alongside him were Megatron-- or "Optronix", rather-- and Barricade, while Starscream, Blitzwing, and Lugnut flew overhead. Blackout had already gone ahead to herald their arrival at the human base.
The flames rising in the distance told them all that he had succeeded in that.
"Effective as ever, that Blackout," Starscream said. "I believe we should repay him by giving him a hand. Lugnut, Blitzwing, would you like to be the first to give the honors?"
"With pleasure," the jet bomber growled as it shot forward with its cackling wing-mate close behind.
* * *
"Human-made Transformers?" Had he been in robot mode, Optimus Prime would have looked baffled by what Arcee and Bumblebee had just told him.
"Well, it certainly didn't look or even transform like any bot I know," Arcee replied.
"This is worse than I feared," Optimus murmured. "We should find where this Machination is located, and quick."
"Way ahead of you, Prime," Jazz said over his radio. "I think I've just found them. Sending you the coordinates now."
"Are you sure it's Machination?"
"Well, I'm getting strong energon readings...."
"Good enough," Optimus said as he and the Autobots sped forward.
* * *
When Blackout had arrived at the Machination base, he wasn't expecting much in the form of resistance. A few tanks here, some missile launchers there, but nothing he couldn't handle. Transformers that could alter their molecular structure at will to change shape... that was something new.
They weren't utterly invincible, though; they could only dodge attacks they saw coming, mainly in the form of blaster shots. Spinning blades, on the other hand, was a challenge for them.
As he shredded a small white robot to pieces, Blackout saw a larger one in navy blue charging towards him. He unfurled a cannon from his chest and fired it. While it did little to harm the drone, it did impede its assault, allowing the Decepticon to finish it off with his blades.
Hearing the roar of engines, Blackout looked up to see Lugnut and Blitzwing approaching. About slagging time.
The two Decepticons transformed and Lugnut came down with his "explosive punch" arm prepared. Blackout moved to get out of the way only to see the big lug be whisked away by a large shape, which moved in a blur.
Blackout froze. Very few things were as big as Lugnut, let alone big enough to physically move him. Only one such Cybertronian came to mind, and there was no way they could have been here on Earth.
He was proven wrong when that same Cybertronian appeared before him. Blackout could only utter his name before he too was taken out.
* * *
"He's left the base?"
Most of the panic in dispatching the Machination drones in response to
the Decepticons' attack had died down, allowing Joshua to have a normal
conversation with one of the operatives. Now it was his turn to feel
anxious.
"Yes, sir," Doctor Lyman Smith said. "About ten minutes ago. He said something about taking matters into his own hands."
Joshua's face blanched. He knew that their leader-- the true mastermind
behind Machination-- was binary-bonded to the organizations' founder,
Abraham Dante. Over the decades of their bond, they had grown to rely on
each other in more ways than one. While becoming meshed with
Cybertronian technology had allowed Dante to live well over a hundred,
that did not make him immortal. If something serious were to happen to
one, it would leave the other in critical condition... and Machination
would be in ruin.
"Did he take any drones with him?" Joshua finally asked.
"Nearly all of them," Lyman said. "I hope he knows what he's doing."
"Of course he does," Joshua said, though he was trying more to assure
himself. As a dozen worst-case scenarios ran through his head, he barely
noticed another scientist running up to him.
"Sir!" Doctor Chang called, her black hair disheveled. "N.B.E.-18 has escaped!"
Joshua gaped at her. "Impossible. What about the kid?"
"He's gone as well. I don't know what happened--"
"Sound the alarm," he interjected. "Send out whatever drones we have left to find them."
And pray that this is just all part of our mastermind's plan, he finished to himself.
* * *
The twelve Autobots, having rejoined, burst through the front gates of Machination's headquarters. A trio of tanks came to confront them, followed by five sports cars that "transformed" in the same way Arcee and Bumblebee's opponent had.
Morphing from his truck form, Optimus Prime lunged at one of the drones and quickly severed it in half with his axe. Sideswipe and Arcee handled the other four while Ironhide and Bulkhead took out the tanks.
"Not much of a welcoming party," Sideswipe commented when nothing else attacked them. His statement was punctuated by sounds of battle coming from nearby.
"Think the Decepticons might be in on this?" Hot Rod asked Optimus.
Before Prime could answer him, the defeated form of Starscream flew past them, crashing into a wall.
"If I were to wager a guess? Yes, I do think so," Optimus said.
Starscream groaned as he rubbed his head. Upon seeing the Autobots, he scowled. "Great. As if my day couldn't get any worse."
Optimus sighed. "Starscream, I'll do you a favor by not asking you why you're here. Instead, I'll ask you this: what the spark is going on?"
Starscream grunted as he got to his feet. "That's something you should ask him," he said, motioning his head forward.
The Autobots looked to see a large mech storming up to them, colored in purple and green. His massive claws were clenched and he grinned with the hunger of a murderer, his visor gleaming with malice.
Optimus narrowed his eyes. "Scorponok."
"Prime," the rogue Decepticon replied, spreading his arms. "It's been a while. Do you like what I've built up so far?"
"Would you care to explain what exactly this is?"
Scorponok chuckled. "Innovation. Evolution. Mixing of cultures. It can be called many things."
"It is also a violation of the Code of Interplanetary Conflict," Prime said darkly.
The rogue Decepticon waved a dismissive claw. "As if anyone's cared about that in this war. How is that going, by the way?"
"Still going on, from what I can tell," Optimus said, glaring at Starscream.
Scorponok grinned menacingly. "Good. Because I'm itching to use my army."
As if on cue, a group of automobile drove up behind him, morphing into their robot modes.
"And my army is itching for a fight."
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