Transformers Regenerated: Lost Light VI, Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

--The Lost Light--

    "No, no, no! Faster! More intense!"

    Crosscut fumed as he stormed onto the stage. This display of anger caused some of the actors on stage to back away, fearful of what their director was going to do.

    "Pincher, you're supposed to be fighting Smokescreen, not awkwardly wrestling with him. Throw some punches, be rough, get down and dirty."

    "Hey, I didn't sign up to be a punching dummy," Smokescreen protested. "My role is small enough as is."

    Crosscut stepped towards the blue and red bot and glared at him. When Smokescreen did not back down, the director said, "Fine. I guess I'll just have Rad do it then."

    Smokescreen blinked before finally stepping back, grousing a half-hearted, "Fine, whatever."

    Satisfied, Crosscut then moved on to his next cause of grief: a grinning, wide-eyed Clutch sitting on a set piece that was meant to be a bench of sorts.

    Crosscut huffed as he stood before the self-proclaimed Swerve fanboy. "Clutch, you're supposed to be Pincher and Smokescreen's best friend. You don't want them to fight. You're telling them to stop."

    "I did," Clutch said, not breaking from his smile. "I said my lines, didn't I?"

    "Yes, but you shouldn't be grinning when you say them! You're supposed to be distraught, dismayed by this conflict!" Crosscut then ran a hand over his faceplate, knowing he was going to regret even asking: "Why are you smiling anyway?"

    "Because I've never been in a play before! This is my big break! I'm going to be famous!"

    Crosscut started to say something but then stopped himself. He would have to choose his words carefully if he wanted to get anywhere with this.

    "Yes, I understand that," he finally said. "But if you want to be a famous actor, then you have to be a good one. And a good actor always hides his emotions."

    "Got it," Clutch said, still smiling. "I'll do my best."

    Crosscut severely doubted that, but he decided to let the matter rest. Besides, there was yet another thing of consternation for him to handle and he turned to Sprocket, his camerabot, to express it.

    "Where the slag is Tailgate with those props? He should have been here half an hour ago!"

    "If I were to wager a guess, I'd say he's probably with his girlfriend," Sprocket muttered.

    "Girlfriend?" Crosscut asked. "What's a girlfriend? What is that word? I don't know that word. Stop using words I don't know. I'm the playwright here, not you."

    "Girlfriend, sparkmate, Conjunx Endura-to-be, whatever. Point is, I have yet to see him without that blue femme clinging onto him. It's... bizarre, to say the least."

    Crosscut huffed, rolling his eyes. "Fine. I guess we'll just have to make do for--"

    "ATTENTION, ATTENTION!" An ear-splitting voice clamored from the intercom, causing everyone to cover their audio-receptors. "ALL HANDS, REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BRIDGE! RODIMUS HAS AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE! REPEAT: ALL HANDS--"

    "Gah, who's bright idea was it to make Siren the PA system?" Smokescreen griped. 

    "Who cares?" Crosscut muttered, already walking off the stage. "Let's just go before I lose my hearing as well as my mind."

*  *  *

    "Glyph?"

    "Hmm?"

    "What are you doing?"

    Glyph lifted her head up from Tailgate's shoulder, her optics twinkling as she smiled at him. "Cuddling you."

    "What's a cuddle?"

    "It's what couples do when they love each other."

    "Really? I don't see Chromedome and Rewind do this."

    Glyph giggled, a melodious sound that Tailgate always enjoyed for some reason. "That's 'cause it's a private thing, silly. It's not meant to be seen by others."

    "Why not?" Tailgate asked, suddenly anxious. "Will we get punished if we get caught?"

    "No...." She rested her head on his shoulder again, closing her optics blissfully. "It's just something best shared alone by two."

    "Oh. I see." Tailgate fell silent for some time, savoring this special moment as he laid on his recharge slab with Glyph at his side. He then titled his head towards her and said, "Glyph?"

    "Mmm-hmm?"

    "Remember that time when you... when I was cured of Cybercrosis and you... did that thing?"

    Glyph lifted her head to look at him. "You mean when I kissed you?"

    "Yeah, that." Tailgate looked back at her sheepishly. "Do you think you could... do that again?"

    A bright smile curved across her gold faceplate. "Of course."

    She then leaned into him, bringing her face closer to his....

    "ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ALL HANDS, REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BRIDGE!"

    Glyph sighed as she pulled away, though she kept her smile as she got off the recharge slab. "Maybe later," she said as she sauntered out of the hab suite. Tailgate followed her closely, only to stop when he saw a tall, violet mech coming down the corridor, his red optics set on the couple.

    "Oh, uh, hi, Cyclonus," Tailgate said, waving at his roommate. "How's it goin'?"

    "What were you two doing in there?" Cyclonus growled.

    "Nothing. Just talking."

    "Talking counts as doing something."

    "Well, it was just that. Just talking."

    "So that's what they're calling it now. Why were you 'talking' in our hab suite rather than somewhere else?"

    "Would it make a difference?"

    Cyclonus sneered. "Yes. It would mean I would not severely hurt you right now."

    Tailgate stared at the ancient mech, fearing that he was actually about to hurt him. Whether he was or not, he was stopped from doing so by a green and orange mech bumping into him.

    "Oi, keep a move on, mates," Hoist said as he walked down the hall. "Wouldn't want to keep Rodimus waiting now, would we?"

    Cyclonus simply grunted, giving Tailgate and Glyph one last glare before following after Hoist. Tailgate did not dare to move until Glyph pulled at his arm.

    "Come on," she murmured. "Let's go."

*  *  *

    "Slapdash... Waverider... Dipstick... Gears...."

    Rodimus let out an audible sigh of exasperation. "Do you really have to do this?"

    Ultra Magnus shushed him before continuing. "Hound... Chromedome... Grapple... Pipes...."

    While Magnus continued his headcount of everyone on the bridge, Rodimus looked over to Drift, standing by his side. "Have you got my speech prepared?"

    Drift nodded. "I've transmitted it to your processor already."

    "Ah, thank you." Rodimus waited until Magnus was done before stepping up to address the two hundred odd bots standing before him.

    "Everyone, I have fantastic news to share! Progress has been made! After the countless detours we have made over the two past weeks, we have finally reached the first destination on our map: Caminus!

    "For those who don't know, Caminus is one of the first thirteen Cybertronian colony worlds, said to have been discovered by Solus Prime herself. Many Camiens prescribe to the Way of the Flame, a religion that idolizes Solus and her fellow Primes and, yes, the Knights of Cybertron.

    "From what Drift and our resident Camien Windblade have told me, the Mistress of Flame -- Caminus' leader -- is said to bear knowledge of the Knights that no Cybertronian alive has. As such, she is paramount to the future of our quest.

    "So stand tall and keep your chins up! We may have gone through some tough times so far, but I assure you things can only look up from here. So with that out of the way... till all are one!"

    The gathered crew (save for Cyclonus) echoed him. As Rodimus turned back to face Caminus, visible through the viewport, he frowned upon seeing another spacecraft coming into view portside. Its deco was white and blue with yellow accents.

    "Please tell me that's not who I think it is."

    Mainframe leaned over the sensor screen and studied it. He then looked back at Rodimus. "It's the Vis Vitalis."

    "I said 'please.'"

    "The Vis Vitalis?" Ultra Magnus repeated. "That's Thunderclash's ship."

    "Pretty please. With an iron bolt on top."

    "What luck!" Drift said cheerily. "I've heard great things about Thunderclash. Maybe with his help, we can finish this quest in no time!"

    Tuning both mechs out, Rodimus said to Mainframe, "Just take us towards Caminus."

    "Are you sure you don't want to hail them?" Blaster asked. "Let them know of our presence?"

    "No."

    While Mainframe flew the ship forward, Rodimus seated himself int the command chair and made an irritated noise. In the matter of seconds, this day had become the best and worst of his life.