CHAPTER SEVEN
--The Warworld--
"My liege, they're here," the Decepticon known as Jallguar informed Deathsaurus as he entered the throne room. "They've just docked in the hangar."
"Wonderful." Rising from his throne, Deathsaurus motioned to a nearby mech. "Killbison, the crate. Now."
While the gold Decepticon handed the crate to the warlord, Leozack said, "My liege, are you sure you don't want myself or one of the others to do the deed?"
"No, no," Deathsaurus said with a sadistic grin. "I want to see Tarn's expression when I turn the tables on him."
Turning back to Jallguar, the warlord said, "Does Esmeral have them occupied now?"
"Yes, my liege."
"Then let us not keep them waiting."
* * *
"I do apologize for the mess. It's difficult keeping a warlord tidy when it's home to over five hundred Decepticons."
Tarn said nothing as he and his four teammates followed the blue and silver femme known as Esmeral. Unlike her Conjunx Endura, the Decepticon viceroy had a far less fearsome appearance with a more streamlined look for her armor. Were it not for her red eyes and hidden nature, she could have easily passed for an Autobot.
"My sparkmate should be here shortly," Esmeral went on. "He's getting things ready for you."
"Are we not heading for his throne room?" Tarn asked.
Esmeral smiled. "If you think the hangar is messy enough, his room is even worse. No, he'll be meeting us here; I take it your visit will be a short one?"
Tarn narrowed his eyes. "We were actually planning to stay a bit longer, if you would allow us."
"In that case... Lyzack?" Esmeral turned to a winged white and teal femme. "Would you please prepare our guests some refreshments? Guyhawk, Drillhorn, go fetch some seats and a table."
"Are you certain we cannot move to the throne room?" Tarn asked. "All we ask for us an audience with Deathsaurus."
Esmeral's smile was a bit too bright to possibly be genuine. "My sparkmate prefers to make his guests feel comfortable as possible before getting down to business."
Before Tarn could protest further, the three Decepticons Esmeral had sent out returned with a table, chairs, and drinks and the five D.J.D. were quickly ushered to them.
"Make yourselves at home," Esmeral said with an overly cheery tone. "Deathsaurus will be right with you."
With that, the viceroy left and the five enforcers were left alone in the hangar with their drinks and a silent, watchful Lyzack.
"I still say we tear this blasted place apart," Tesarus grumbled.
"Now, now," Tarn said. "We want this meeting to be an amicable one."
"Something tells me Deathsaurus is planning to be anything but amicable," Helex said.
"Oh, I don't doubt that. In fact, I took it into account before coming here."
Vos inquired him in Old Cybertronian.
"We wait, Vos," Tarn said calmly. "We wait."
--Talrus--
"So all we do is knock?"
The eight Autobots-- plus Viral-- stood outside the Garrus-16 facility. From the outside, the place still looked intact, with no signs of any struggle. It just looked dead, with no light emitting from the inside.
"Looks like no one's home," Getaway said, already turning back to leave. "Show's over. Back to the Rodpod."
"Not so fast, slick," Windblade said, grabbing the escape artist's arm. "A bot like you, I'd expect you to have a thick exterior. Go ahead and knock, Skids."
With some reluctance, Skids rapped his fist on the door... which instantly fell from its connectors after the third hit. Beyond it, there was only darkness filling an empty hallway.
"Okay, Viral, you're our eyes," Rodimus said as he and the others turned on their helmet lights. "And remember, if you purposely leads us into a trap, Whirl's got a gun trained on you."
"You Autobots certainly are the masters at persuasion," Viral said dryly as he stepped into the facility with the others close behind him.
They were less than halfway down the hall when a loud clang sounded up ahead, bringing all nine bots to a halt.
"What the slag was that?" Whirl whispered loudly, gripping his gun.
"Probably one of the freed prisoners," Viral murmured. "They were experimented on by the Decepticons who took over, gaining animal-like appearances for their robot modes."
"Why?" Windblade asked. "Why would anyone do something like that? Or better yet, who is behind all of this?"
"Gigatron, one of the last warlords. His sanity has... slipped over the years and he's deluded himself into thinking he is the herald of some great entity, whom the natives of Animatron worship."
"So he's given these Decepticon beastly designs to reflect that?" Nautica asked.
"Exactly. And, needless to say, some of the results...."
Another loud clang sounded and a monstrous shadow moved down the hallway.
"...Are nothing short of terrifying."
--Warworld--
"I do apologize for having kept you waiting," Deathsaurus said as he entered the hangar, holding a crate underneath his arm. "I trust that Esmeral has made you feel at home?"
"Indeed," Tarn said, rising from his seat. "Now then, a private word with you, perhaps?"
"Why certainly," the warlord said before handing Tarn the crate. "But first, please accept this gift as a gesture of goodwill, from one Decepticon to another."
Tarn let out a harsh laugh. "Goodwill? Among Decepticons? Even from a rogue like you, Deathsaurus, I find that hard to buy."
"Nevertheless, I would greatly appreciate it if you accepted it."
Hesitantly, Tarn took the crate. While keeping an eye on Deathsaurus, he lifted the crate's lid... and found nothing.
"It's empty," he murmured.
Deathsaurus grinned. "Like you said, goodwill does not exist among Decepticons. Thus, there was nothing in the box."
"Ah. You are hilarious."
"I've always thought so," the warlord chuckled. "So, you wish to have a word with me in private?"
"Yes, if it's not too much trouble."
"Hardly." Deathsaurus motioned for Tarn and his teammates to follow him. "This way, to my throne room."
The five Decepticon enforcers followed the warlord, though not without a sense of caution. Upon entering the throne room, they found what Tarn presumed to be the entirety of Deathsaurus' forces, numbering over five hundred. Each and every one of them were watching the newcomers intently.
"I thought I said I wanted a word in private," Tarn growled.
"Indeed you did," Deathsaurus said calmly. "Unfortunately, we can't all have what we want in life."
Suddenly, Tarn stopped dead in his tracks and he collapsed to his knees. The others were about to come to his aid only to be hit with the same mysterious affliction.
"I lied when I said the crate was empty," Deathsaurus said in a deadly hiss. "In truth, I had a scientist of mine create an invisible toxin that siphons away the mutated nucleon that makes you stronger than most Decepticons."
"How... did you know?" Tarn grunted as he felt his energy slowly but surely leave him.
"I've been part of the Decepticon Empire since its foundation. How could I not?" With a cruel grin, Deathsaurus motioned with his hand and all five hundred of his forces came forward. "Now then, if you are so willing... I do believe some home entertainment is in order."
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