CHAPTER THREE
"Nickel, iron, cobalt, chrome."
The welding robot paused in his work. His optical sensors darted around, searching for the source of the eerie voice. He then turned his head around; no one was with him on the Axiom's hull besides the supplier robot. SUPPLY-R looked bored and impassive as always, but for all BURN-E knew, his partner could be pulling a prank.
Eying his friend warily, BURN-E returned to work. Barely a minute later, the voice spoke again: "He'll eat your soul."
BURN-E yelped before whirling to face SUPPLY-R, beeping to him in the binary code language all Axiom robots were accustomed to. Stop it!
SUPPLY-R looked down at him innocently. Stop what?
That... that voice thing! BURN-E waved his arms widely. The eating souls thing!
What's a soul?
I don't know, but... it sounded creepy when you said it!
I didn't say anything.
BURN-E merely huffed before turning back to his work, welding another panel on the communications array shut. It was the Captain's hopes that this device would summon the rest of the BnL ships back to Earth, since the Axiom's own communications system had been mysteriously disabled....
"Turn your spark to stone."
BURN-E spun to face SUPPLY-R again, optics twitching. This isn't funny.
Do you hear me laughing?
The welder bot pointed his claw hand accusingly at the supplier bot. Admit it! You're the one doing that creepy voice!
I don't even know what you're--
"Nickel, iron, cobalt, chrome."
Both robots froze, fully aware now that neither of them was responsible for the voice. A shadow fell over them and BURN-E turned to see the figure of his nightmare.
"Run, little robot, run away home."
* * *
"Eee-vah?" WALL-E poked his outside his truck, where he found EVE helping other robots maintain care for the plants beginning to emerge on Earth. "Where... Skids?"
The probe robot turned to face him, an inquisitive look on her face-screen. "Can't find him?" she hummed.
WALL-E shook his head. "Gone."
EVE looked around, seeing no sign of their new-found Autobot friend either. She then took off, utilizing the scanning feature that was customary to her model. WALL-E trailed after her, anxious to find Skids.
After several minutes of searching, the two robots arrived at the landing site of the Axiom. The massive ship loomed over them, its silver hull gleaming in the sunlight. It hadn't seen much use in the months following its return to Earth, serving more as a reminder of what humanity had been through and a historic monument for future generations to witness. However, it's last Captain had recently ordered a communications array to be constructed so that the other BnL starliners could be summoned back to Earth.
EVE's sensors suddenly pinged. She abruptly came to a stop, causing WALL-E to nearly bump into her. She then tugged at his arm while pointing at the ship straight ahead.
"Axiom."
WALL-E's metal brows raised as he looked at her questioningly. "Huh?"
"Skids. At Axiom."
He turned to the ship with a curious expression. Why would Skids be at the Axiom? Were its decks even big enough to accommodate his large size? Then again, he was no bigger than the WALL-A units that used to work the garbage compactor area.
Exchanging curious glances, the two robots headed for the ship.
* * *
"Rise and shine."
Skids gasped as he was jolted awake-- literally. Energon prod in hand, Fearstorm walked past him and stood off to the side. Moving in the darkness of the room was a tall, winged mech in silver and red. When he spoke, the mech carried a lilting Vos accent in his voice. It was a voice Skids recognized all too well.
"How nice of you to join me, Skids," Windtrail said. "I am moments away from the endgame of my plan."
Skids smirked. "What plan? I thought you were just taking some sort of time traveling tour or something--"
"Don't mock me!" the Decepticon snapped, instantly loosing his confident tone. "You couldn't even begin to comprehend my plan! Its layers are thicker than your skull!"
Skids shivered mockingly. "Ooh, I'm trembling with fear. Seriously, Windtrail, you're no better than that teleporting Seeker-- Skywarp, right? You've got a special, incredibly useful power-- in your case, Transwarping at will-- and you have no idea how to use it properly."
"I do so know how to use it! What do you think I've been doing with it this past century?"
"Nine centuries, you mean." Skids chuckled to himself. "Sorry, time traveling joke. I'm sure you'd get it."
"I do so get it, and it is not the least bit funny!" Windtrail snapped. "Regardless of how long its been, I've finally gathered everything I need for my plan! ...Well, almost everything."
Skids smirked. "Oh, really? And just what exactly is your plan?"
"Ha! Like I'd tell you the details of my plan before I'm even finished with it! I'm not that stupid of a villain!"
"Could have fooled me...." Skids muttered.
"Enough! Fearstorm, tell Viral to retrieve the next part of the plan. Then... see what you can get out of our Autobot friend here."
The Vehicon chuckled. "With pleasure, boss."
Skids inclined his head towards Windtrail. "Are you expecting me to talk?"
"Of course not!" Windtrail laughed. "I'm expecting you to die."
Skids shook his head. "Wow, you're a walking cliche, aren't you?"
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