CHAPTER TWO
--Combatron--
While the "higher-ups" were left to discuss handling matters with the colonies, the other Autobots were left to mingle, meeting up with those they had not seen in forever. Skids was not among those socializing, however; he hardly knew anyone outside of the Secret Service, and those he did know he wasn't exactly on friendly terms with.
Though there was one that begged to differ.
Skids sensed Getaway's approach before the white Autobot plopped himself next to where he was sitting. Not turning to look at the escapologist, Skids let out a quiet sigh.
"So... we're supposed to be partners."
"Buddies is more like it." Getaway shrugged. "But if you want to use the more professional sounding word, then--"
"Only one problem: I don't remember having ever seen you in my entire life."
Getaway scratched his chin. "I think I might know why that is. Do you happen to have a gap in your memory?"
Skids turned to look at him. "Yes, actually. How did you know?"
"I didn't, really, but I have my theories. See, two months ago, we were sent by the Secret Service to take out Chief Justice Tyrest."
Skids' optics widened. "'Take out' Tyrest? As in, assassinate him?"
"No, no, no. I know it sounds like it, but... just hear me out," Getaway said. "We had initially been sent to find out where Tyrest had gone to and what he was up to. When we found him on Gigantion, we discovered that he was in league with some folks who were up to no good-- the Heralds of Unicron, as it would turn out. Since the Boss had given us orders to take Tyrest out if it turned out he was out of line, we had to bring out the big guns."
"Still sounds like an assassination job to me," Skids muttered.
"Hey, I'm not finished yet. The guns we had were each loaded with only two bullets; one was to plant a foreign thought into Tyrest's brain module and get him to 'reconsider' his actions. However, Tyrest somehow detected the thought and sent his Legislators after us."
"The 'nineteen-eighty-four' bots."
"Yup. Paragraph nineteen, subsection four of the Autobot Code deals with thought warfare."
Skids rubbed the bridge of his nose, struggling to comprehend this. "Then what happened?"
"Well, the Legislators ended up capturing me, but you were able to escape on board a shuttle," Getaway said. "A shuttle made of Legislators."
"Yeah, I found that out for myself. So, why have I forgotten all this?"
"My guess is that you used the gun's second bullet on yourself. The bullet was a blank, meant to erase certain vital information from your processor in case you were interrogated."
"But I still remember most of the things about the Secret Service; I've only forgotten about you and the Tyrest business."
Getaway shrugged. "You must have done a rush job or got interrupted. Only thing I can think of."
Skids sighed. "Well then... thanks. Thanks for filling in the blanks. I would have hated to die as a partial amnesiac."
"Yeah, that would have been a bummer." Getaway was silent for a moment, before saying, "So... what have you been up to while I was roasting in the V.V.H.?"
"Well...."
--Metroplex--
"The Circle of Light would take top priority in terms of recruiting," Prowl said to the rest of the Autobot convocation, which included Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Elita-One, Grimlock, Springer, Kup, and Jetfire. "They are the most knowledgeable of the Primal Prophecies and such; as much as I am a disbeliever, such knowledge may be of some use to us against Unicron."
"Agreed," Magnus said. "Unfortunately, Dai Atlas and his followers are some of the most sour when it comes to relations. I don't believe anyone's heard from them since the Exodus."
"Drift and Star Saber were both Circle members," Optimus said. "Perhaps they can help make negotiations with Dai Atlas go smoother."
"Given Drift's dark past and Star Saber's former connection with the Heralds, I somewhat doubt that," Prowl said with obvious disdain. "However, given our limited options, I suppose we have no better choice."
"What about Animatron?" Jetfire asked. "Ever since our campaign there, the Maximals have been rather bitter towards us."
"Me, Grimlock, know Leo Prime," Grimlock growled. "Dinobots and I can handle negotiations with him."
Prowl opened his mouth to object but Optimus silenced him with the raise of a hand.
"Very well, Grimlock," the Autobot leader said. "You shall handle Animatron. Velocitron and Junkion I'm sure will willingly side with us. Aquatron is a possibility... then there's Archon."
"Metalhawk's colony," Magnus muttered.
"Correct. From what I've heard, it is one of the most densely populated of the colony worlds, matched only by Velocitron and Theophany. It's essentially become a second Cybertron."
"The only problem is that Metalhawk is no better than Dai Atlas when it comes to how he views us," Elita said.
"Which is why I will be leading the team to Archon," Optimus said. "In case we fail to restore Cybertron, Archon may be our next best option for a new home, and I will need to convince Metalhawk to allow such a thing."
"I know Metalhawk well," Magnus said. "I can help you with negotiations."
Tapping his fingers on the table, Optimus glanced at Elita before looking back at Magnus. "Actually, Magnus, you will not be accompanying me to Archon."
Magnus raised an optic ridge. "Oh? Where will I be headed then?"
"To Theophany. With Elita's crew."
"Ah. With 'bots like Whirl and Swerve on board. Not to mention ex-Decepticons like Drift."
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
Magnus exhaled slightly. "No. Not at all."
"Good. In that, we're all set."
As the members of the assembly began to exit the meeting chamber, the communications officer Blaster rushed in, an agitated look on his face.
"Prime, there's an incoming call," the red and yellow Autobot said with great urgency.
"From where?" Optimus asked.
"New Kaon."
All of the Autobots froze. While Optimus stared at Blaster in surprise, Kup laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't answer it, lad. It's probably a--"
"Take me to the communications room," Optimus said to Blaster, shrugging off the veteran's hand. Ignoring the others' protests, Prime followed Blaster to his work station and immediately walked up to the main grid. In a few minutes, an all-too-familiar visage filled the screen.
"Megatron," Optimus said flatly.
"Prime," Megatron replied in equal manner.
Optimus waited until Blaster had left the room and closed the door behind him before speaking again. "What do you want?"
Silence preceded Megatron's response. "A truce."
Optimus let out a bitter laugh, startling the Decepticon leader. "You can't be serious. After a millennia of war, after so many deaths and so much despair, is that really what you want now?"
"Yes," Megatron said with complete seriousness. "I have come to realize that our conflict has lost all of its meaning; even more so now that these Heralds have ruined everything."
Optimus folded his arms. "I must admit that I agree. But can an alliance between our factions truly work."
"Perhaps not in theory. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Let our battle against Unicron test that theory."
Optimus mulled over the offer for a moment. Firmly meeting his brother's gaze, he finally said, "I'll get back to you in a few megacycles. I'll need to prepare all of my bots for such an alliance and the forthcoming battle."
"You are not alone in that," Megatron said before ending the connection.
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