Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

--Earth--

    With Scorponok defeated and the Decepticons having fled the scene, the Autobots returned to their base, where Ratchet set about getting Optimus' nerve circuits operating again. As he laid on a repair slab, the Autobot leader-- as well as the others-- looked to Sunstreaker expectantly.

    "So... mind filling us in?"

    Sunstreaker sighed as he slumped against a wall. "When those Machination guys brought me to their labs, they started... experimenting on me."

    "Experimenting?" Arcee asked.

    He nodded. "They took me apart, checked out my gears, all while I was still online... it was really disturbing. Then they made a... mental link of sorts to those drones of theirs, though all it was for was to make them stronger and fight better. It was... I really don't know how to describe it."

    "How did you get free?" his brother Sideswipe asked.

    Sunstreaker smirked. "Tell him, pal."

    Suddenly, his head detached from his torso, morphing before the Autobots' startled eyes. When it was finished, it was in the form of a two meter high being. When it removed its helmet, it revealed a head full of shaggy red hair.

    "Hunter?!" the Autobots exclaimed.

    He smiled. "That's me. I woke up in the middle of a brainwashing operation and broke free. I went through their labs and found Sunstreaker's head in one of them. When he told me everything he had found out about Machination's, er, machinations, I found out about the binary bonding process, which Scorponok had already gone through with the CEO."

    "So you went through the process with Sunstreaker?" Wheeljack asked.

    Hunter nodded. "It was the only way he-- or we, I should say-- could break free and sever the mental link with the drones."

    "Wow," Optimus murmured, slowly sitting up with his nerve systems restored. "I like that word. 'Wow.' It perfectly sums up my feelings on that story."

    Hunter laughed. "It is pretty wicked." He then put his helmet on and became Sunstreaker's head again. "Something we'll both have to get used to."

    "Well, with that out of the way...." Ratchet gave Optimus a meaningful look. "Any thoughts on what the Decepticons were after back there?"

    "My guess would be the same thing they were after in Arizona," Prime said. "Whatever that thing was--"

    "I think I know what it might be," Sunstreaker murmured, his arms crossed.

    "Well?" Ironhide said impatiently. "Tell us!"

    "It's called Ultra-Energon. The Machination folks have been holding it for a while, probably for a future experiment. It has a wonky signature; you can only detect it if you're really close to it or very far away from it, like in the air."

    "What can it do?" Prowl asked.

    "Make one utterly indestructible."

    "Yes, that's something the Decepticons would want their hands on," Optimus muttered. "It's practically got their name all over it."

    "So what do we do?" Bumblebee asked. "Storm the Nemesis and get it back?"

    All of the Autobots were silent. Then Prowl said, "I think I could make that work."

    Bumblebee stared at him. "You can?"

    The Autobot strategist smiled. "Sure. Just give me a few days; I'm sure I'll cook something up."

*  *  *

    Joshua Joyce watched as the headless form of Scorponok was lifted up and placed into a repair bay by Stinger and another Machination drone. Nearby, a team of medics were examining the damaged form of Abraham Dante, the Decepticon's Headmaster partner. Just by looking at him, he could already form his own conclusions.

    "He's dead, isn't he?" he said under his breath, heard only by Lyman, who stood next to him.

    Lyman sighed. "I'm afraid so. I suppose that leave Attinger in charge."

    "What about Scorponok?" Joshua motioned his head to the Decepticon.

    "He's still functioning, thankfully. Perhaps Attinger will replace Dante in more ways than one."

    Joshua smirked. "I don't see why not. He is, after all, the head of this organization."

    Both men laughed harshly at their cruel joke.

--Velocitron--

    "Nightbeat!"

    The Autobot detective did not respond to Elita's cry as he stood on the edge of a cliff. His nine teammates finally drove up to his position and transformed. Windblade was the first to reach him.

    "Nightbeat, what's going on? What are you doing?" She shook him. "Come on, answer me!"

    The detective did not. Windblade gave the others a worried look.

    "I don't know what's wrong with him. Maybe we should--"

    Before she could finish, the ground beneath them vanished and they fell into darkness. Swerve's scream was the loudest, ringing in everyone's ears, though it was mercifully ended when they all landed hard on rocky ground.

    "Okay," Strongarm grunted as she got to her feet. "What the blazes was that all about?"

    Elita got up and surveyed their new location. They were in a rocky field of sorts, devoid of life, although a city could be seen in the distance. Dark clouds clogged the sky and a cool breeze passed through the air.

    "Do you have any planets like this in your databanks, Rewind?" she asked the archivist.

    "Actually, I know this place," Glyph said. "It's Gorlam Prime. I studied it while I was learning at Drouhard University."

    "Did you learn about dead people there too?" Swerve asked, a shocked look plastered on his faceplate.

    Glyph looked at him in bemusement before following his gaze. She then gasped, as did Elita and the others.

    Approaching them was a tall figure. His red and silver armor-plating gleamed in the few rays of sunlight that leaked through the clouds. Two metal panels flowed behind him like a cape, while a small royal crest adorned his crimson helmet, giving him a regal appearance.

    His blue optics fell on the ten Autobots and he smiled. "Visitors. How wonderful. We almost never get any."

    Elita gawked at him. "You... you're supposed to be dead."

    A metal brow arched. "Am I?"

    "Yes. Megatron killed you, shot you dead in front of everyone."

    He laughed. "Clearly he did not do a very good job." He then beckoned them with his hand. "Come with me to the city. I promise you that everything will be explained."

    He then turned and began his trek back to the distant city. Left with little choice, Elita and her team followed the once and former-- and very much alive-- Autobot leader, Sentinel Prime.

TO BE CONTINUED