CHAPTER TWO
--The Lost Light--
"That's enough. No more for today."
"I beg to differ." Rung moved over to Fortress Maximus' bedside, gently pushing him back down. "We've barely even started."
The former warden of Garrus-9 scowled. "We've been at this for three hours now."
"Yes, and what have we accomplished in those three hours?" Rung asked, lifting an eyebrow. "You still haven't told me what happened at Garrus-9 and Garrus-16."
"I told you what happened. The Decepticons attacked and they slaughtered us. End of story."
"No, there must be more to it than that. I need details, Fort Max. First-hand accounts. You're the only bot who can give them to me."
Fort Max said nothing, staring at the ceiling above him.
Rung sighed as he sat back down in his chair. "Let's try a different approach. We'll start from the beginning: when, where, and how were you created?"
"How is that relevant?" Fort Max grunted.
"I understand it's a personal thing to ask," Rung said, reaching over and picking up a model craft from his desk. "But you're story of creation is different from most, I take it. You weren't always called Fortress Maximus, correct?"
"Right," Fort Max muttered. "I used to be called Cerebros. Cerebros of Stanix."
"Stanix," Rung murmured. "That city fell to the Decepticons early on in the war, didn't it?"
"If by early, you mean a century in, then yes. The 'Cons wanted Stanix since it had produced a hot spot and they wanted to take the sparks for themselves. A team of Autobots intercepted them and were able to recover some of the sparks -- mine included -- before being forced to retreat when the 'Cons threatened to destroy the hot spot."
"I see." Rung flipped the model over, frowning at the absence of a particular piece. "What after then? What was your first assignment during the war?"
Fort Max narrowed his optics as he struggled to remember. "My first assignment was... it was...."
A loud beeping sound cut him off. Rung sighed as he silenced the timer and stood up from his chair. "That's all the time we have for today. I'll see you again in twenty-four hours."
As Fort Max sat up and swung his legs over the berth, he gave Rung a pointed look. "I've heard that we've reached Caminus."
"So have I, and no, you're not going," Rung said sternly. "You are in no stable condition to--"
"To what? To meet and greet with people? It's not like we're heading into some kind of warzone. It's Caminus; they've never heard of war."
"That's a rather unfair generalization... but I see your point." Rung readjusted his spectacles as he thought over this. With a resigned sigh, he finally said, "Very well, you may go down to Caminus... on the condition that I accompany you."
"Fine by me." Fort Max got to his feet and started to head out the door, only to stop and look back at Rung. "What about Ariel? Isn't she your next patient?"
"Yes, but I suppose her session will have to wait until we leave Caminus. I'll ask Skids to bring her along as well -- she's under his care right now."
"Since I know you're going to ask: I had no idea about her," Fort Max said as he and Rung stepped out into the hall. "She wasn't part of the Garrus-9 staff and, to be honest, she doesn't strike me as someone who would work at Garrus-16 either."
"I find that understandable," Rung murmured. "She is somewhat... special."
Fort Max looked at him curiously. "In what way?"
Rung waved a dismissive hand. "Never mind. We should get down to the hangar bay before Rodimus leaves without us. He tends to get rather impatient...."
* * *
Rodimus was in no hurry to leave.
Normally he'd be jumping off the walls in excitement for finally reaching the first destination on their quest. A part of him still wanted to. But seeing Thunderclash's ship had killed his enjoyment faster than a fusion cannon to the face.
As such, he didn't particularly mind when Whirl got into a blazing row with Cyclonus while boarding the Rodpod. Or when Swerve "accidentally" left an oil mark on Ultra Magnus' leg. Or when Glyph nearly bit Nautica's head off for giving her and Tailgate a funny look. Or when Chromedome and Rewind got into an argument over who sat where. Or when Getaway gave Ratchet an unwanted bomp.
He didn't mind it at all. Anything that prolonged an encounter with Thunderclash was fine by him.
"And Nightbeat makes twenty," Ultra Magnus said after finishing his headcount. He grimaced at seeing so many unruly bots crowded together in one space, half of them those he strongly disliked. "Primus preserve me," he muttered. "If I don't go insane from this trip...."
"Hey, don't feel too bad," Rodimus said as he took the controls. "I'm right there with you."
"I thought you were looking forward to this visit."
"I was. I am."
Magnus frowned at him, raising an optic ridge. "Is this about Thunderclash?"
"No," Rodimus lied. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm just saying. Your mood's been dour ever since we spotted the Vis Vitalis." Magnus tilted his head. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"
"There's nothing to talk about," Rodimus muttered as he set about starting up the ship. "Look, it's nothing, all right? Let's just... let's just get this over with. We've had enough diversions already."
Magnus continued to stare at him concernedly but did not press the matter further. Eventually, he ended up striding over to separate Whirl and Cyclonus from each other again. The engines then started up and the Rodpod was soon out the hangar.
--Outpost One--
"That's enough. No more for today."
The torture device obediently retracted and Ricochet let out a weak whir from his damaged vocal processor. Through his equally broken optics, he could make out the shadowed form of his torturer hovering over him.
"Congratulations. We're finally making progress. You've given me quite a lot of info -- info that would be extremely useful and dangerous in Decepticon hands."
Ricochet tried to gather the strength to break free from his bonds but could not find it. His captor chuckled as a clawed hand gently stroked his face.
"But I am no Decepticon. I have no use for the details you have given me. I need something more juicy -- something that I can use against Prowl. Maybe tomorrow you'll do better."
A switch was hit and the binders around Ricochet's hands snapped open. As the Autobot dropped from the raised medical slab, a set of arms caught him and hauled him up, bringing him face to face with his captor. Ricochet forced his facial struts to form a sneer.
"May Mortilus have your spark," he growled.
"How touching," the hellspawn of a robot replied. "You think I still have one."
He then waved his hand and Ricochet was dragged out of the room, kicking and screaming all the way.
* * *
Artfire could hear people screaming.
He was alone in a dark room, bound to a raised slab. His guard had told him that his tormentor would be here shortly, after they were done with Ricochet. Artfire had been in the midst of praying for his friend when he first heard the screams.
A sudden tremor flipped the room on its side and the table Artfire was on was dislodged from the floor. One of his binders broke off and he was able to rid himself of his other restraints. Getting to his feet, he made his way towards the door, which had already been disconnected slightly. Once he had pried it all the way open, he was greeted by a rather peculiar sight.
A giant floating hand had all five fingers wrapped around a scared-looking Decepticon while another spoke panickedly into its comm.
"I repeat: we have an invader on Sector D1! Send backup immed--"
"I don't think so." In quick succession, the giant hand squeezed its victim until he popped before flipping over and changing into a twin-headed dragon, crushing the other bot beneath his feet. The dragon then let out a deafening roar as it called out the name of Artfire's captor.
"TARANTULAS! Come out here now before I tear this place apart with my bare hands!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." Descending from the ceiling on a strand of web was a giant arachnid, its eight eyes gleaming with malice as it came to directly face the dragon. "Patience has never been one of your stronger suits, has it, Gigatron?"
The dragon snarled. "You've deceived me, Tarantulas."
"Have I?" the arachnid said, feigning surprise. "Please, do enlighten me."
"You lied to me about Ragnarok. You said he would give me the power I sought, but I spent three months studying him and nothing! Nothing came about it!"
"Only three months?" Tarantulas chuckled. "Well, there's you're problem right there. I would've spent at least three years or--"
Suddenly, the dragon transformed into a hulking robot, grabbing the spider by the head and tearing it off of its web. As Tarantulas was thrown onto the ground, he changed into his robot mode as well and glared at Gigatron as he got to his feet.
"Right. I understand that you're upset. Perhaps we can talk this out. But before we do so...." He inclined his head to where Artfire was standing. Gigatron followed his gaze and narrowed his optics at the Autobot.
"I don't suppose you could show our guest to his room?"
Without further prompting, Gigatron returned to his dragon mode and the last thing Artfire saw was the enormous beast bearing down on him.
No comments:
Post a Comment