Transformers Regenerated: Lost Light V, Chapter Eight

EDITED 6/13/2018 Reworked some of Viral's speech to patch a continuity conflict with the previous part.

CHAPTER EIGHT

--Garrus-16, outside--

    "I don't mean to freak anyone out," Hound said as he and the others stood atop the prison facility. "But according to this scanner, we're standing directly over the source of the energy reading."

    "I've found a hatch nearby," Rewind said. "So whenever you guys are--"

    "Hold it," Trailbreaker said, getting down and pressing audio sensor against the roof. "I hear noises. Bad noises."

    "Please be more specific," Drift said exasperatedly. 

    "I hear a voice -- a big, deep, growling voice -- and it's saying something over and over."

    "Can you just tell us already?" Riptide snapped. "I hate it when people act all vague and cryptic."

    "I'm sorry, it's too muffled. Can't make it out." Trailbreaker got back to his feet and looked at Drift. "What do you think? Do we take the risk or just go in the other way?"

    "You do realize that with each second we waste here, the more likely it is that Rodimus and the others are dead by now," Cyclonus said pointedly. "I'm not disapproving, mind you, but I thought you Autobots were more willing to risk your lives than this."

    "He has a point," Chromedome said, disgruntled. "By killing time, we could be killing Rodimus and the others. We have to make a choice, and fast."

    The group of eight were silent for a moment. Then, with a shrug of the shoulders, Trailbreaker said, "Blame it on the Nightmare Fuel, but I say we go into the attic. YOLO."

    "'Yo-lo?'" Riptide asked.

    "You only live once. Human phrase."

    "Ah. In no way is that reassuring."

    "I don't think it was supposed to." Walking over to the hatch, Trailbreaker opened it and turned to the others. "So who's with me?"

    The others looked at each other for a moment before, with some reluctance on Riptide's part, following Trailbreaker into the attic.

--Inside--

    "Wait just a spark-slaggin' second," Skids said, which was pretty much the only thing he could do now that he, Ratchet, and Ariel were surrounded by Decepticons. "Do you mean to tell me that 'Tap-Out' had been a 'Con all along -- even when we first encountered him?"

    Overlord chuckled. "We needed something to distract you with, to keep you all in one place. Otherwise, Viral would not have been able to play his part."

    "But the message... Tap-Out said he had been trying to warn us away from here."

    "The original Tap-Out, yes. When we found out about his transmissions, we decided to use it to our advantage, resending them after breaking them up enough to lure you here."A sadistic grin crossed the Decepticon's face. "A lovely tribute to his memory, wouldn't you agree?"

    Skids scowled as he racked his mind for an escape plan. Unlike the three he had defeated earlier, the Decepticons Overlord had brought with him were nothing short of intimidating. Resembling fearsome creatures from Buffaloids to Sharkticons, Skids knew that they would be more than enough of a challenge for him, especially when Ratchet and Ariel were unarmed.

    "Well?" Overlord said, bringing Skids' attention back to him. "Any last quips before you die?"

    "Quip this."

    Aiming his guns, Skids fired them at Overlord, only to see the plasma pellets bounce off of him harmlessly.

    "Adorable." With a raise of his hand, Overlord's Decepticons bared their claws and weapons. "My turn now."

*  *  *

    "Your inaction speaks volumes, Viral," the floating hand that was Gigatron said, tightening its deadly grip on Kick-Off. "Do you not care for the life of this Autobot?"

    "Why would I?" Viral asked. "His life means nothing to me."

    A dark laugh emitted from the hand as Kick-Off's chassis strained against its pressing fingers."Of course it doesn't. No one's life matters to you, Viral. You are the genesis of what the likes of Megatron and Shockwave ended up being: you care for nothing in the world but power, and everyone is merely your pawn -- a tool to get what you want.

    "And you know what? I can respect that. I see myself in you. You have the makings of a great Decepticon. With the right amount of ambition and intelligence, you could have all the power in the universe."

    "Except power isn't what I want," Viral muttered.

    "Then what? Why else would you play Windtrail to betray Shockwave? What else were you planning to do with a fleet of dreadnoughts if not to conquer Cybertron?"

    "Because it was never about betraying Shockwave. It was about impressing him."

    At this, Gigatron lessened his grip on Kick-Off, who managed a bemused look at Viral. "What?" the warlord said.

    "Out of all the students at the Academy of Advanced Technologies, I was perhaps the least popular," Viral went on. "My abilities as an outlier were looked over in favor of someone with similar powers over electricity and I was expected to simply follow his lead. I was always in somebody's shadow, whether it be Shockwave's or Damus'.

    "I only joined the Decepticons because it was the only place I could find a sense of belonging. When I found out that Shockwave had joined, I once again made fruitless attempts to gain favor from him. But the only time he noticed me was when he needed cannon fodder for Windtrail's endeavor. It was by then that I had had enough of being ignored and hijacked the operation so that Shockwave would at last acknowledge me."

    "I see," Gigatron murmured. "Such a pity. I had expected great things from you, Viral. But it would appear you are not the prospective Decepticon I had hoped you to be. Tell me, have you gained anything from telling me your life story?"

    "As it happens, yes," Viral said. "I bought myself some time."

    Before Gigatron had time to react, a blaster shot struck his giant hand form, causing him to release Kick-Off as he growled in pain. The warlord then took on the appearance of a two-headed dragon, pinning the Autobot down while his dual heads roared furiously. 

    "Who dares fire on Gigatron? Who dares trifle with the Dark God of Destruction?"

    "I do."

    Stumbling into the room, his body covered in patchworks and exposed exoskeleton, was Fortress Maximus. Two giant guns were in his hands and his crimson optics glowed cold and empty.

    "Wh--what?" Gigatron stuttered. "How... how could this be? How are you still functioning?"

    "See, this is what bugs me." Noticing that Maximus' mouth wasn't moving, Viral realized that the voice belonged to the Autobot Brainstorm, standing out of sight. "I can get people not trusting me for 'switching sides.' I can understand it if they hate me for nearly destroying the universe just because I lost someone I loved. But if for one second someone underestimates my genius...."

    Fortress Maximus raised both of his guns and fired them at Gigatron, sending the dragon sprawling back.

    "Then there will be Chaos to pay."

    Gigatron growled as he got back up, now in robot mode. Baring his claws, he lunged at Fortress Maximus, who shielded himself with his arms. As the warlord proceeded to claw at the Autobot, Viral turned back to the computer stations and started what he had set out to do.

    As he went through the security footage in search of the prison blocks, he landed on one transmitting from a room he had not been aware of: an attic, home to a single Cybertronian lifeform. However, it was no ordinary Cybertronian, and just who exactly it was left him staring at the screen, horrified beyond belief.

    He hungers....

    "Hey, what are you waiting for, 'Con?" Kick-Off said from behind him, back on his feet. "Get the frikkin' cells open!"

    Thinks himself as the reincarnation of an Animatronian figure....

    "You know what? Just let me do it." Kick-Off stepped forward and pushed Viral aside.

    Dark God of Destruction....

    Kick-Off's hands moved towards the controls to the cells... only to stop midway towards them. After taking a few minutes to process what had just happened, the Autobot looked down at the energon-drenched blade-like arm jutting from his midsection. He then looked at Viral, coughing up energon which splattered across the Decepticon's visor.

    "Frag... you...."

    Viral said nothing as he extracted his arm, letting Kick-Off's body crumple to the floor. Then, turning towards Gigatron -- still preoccupied with Fortress Maximus -- he made his move.

    This may very well end in tears, Viral thought as he lunged for Gigatron's back. But I never had anything to lose anyway.

    He landed onto the oblivious warlord... and then the world went white.