Transformers Regenerated: Lost Light VI, Chapter Seven

It's about that tiiiime! Back at it again with another legit food review! Let's peep this out.

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Caminus--

    "Your move."

    Ariel narrowed her optics as she studied the pieces of the board laid out before her. Skids sat across from her, arms folded over his chest and he waited patiently for her to act.

    Her hand started to move towards the Quarg piece but then stopped, biting her lip as she thought better of it. After a moment of contemplation, she instead moved the Vig, immediately glancing up at Skids expectantly. The Autobot nodded approvingly and Ariel grinned triumphantly.

    The two of them continued their game of Fullstasis, all while Rapid Run watched them from where she stood, leaning against the door-frame. She couldn't help but smile behind her mouthplate, finding Ariel's innocence and interaction with Skids endearing. She could hardly bring herself to say a word or otherwise make her presence known, lest she break the concentration of either player.

    Eventually, Ariel executed a move with her Korg piece which made Skids throw his arms up in the air. "Ah! I've been vanquished!"

    Ariel's optics went wide. "I... I won?"

    "Yes! You have foiled my plans! I am defeated!"

    Ariel jumped out of her seat and thrust her arms up in the air. "Yes! I won! I won!"

    Skids chuckled as he started to put the game board and its pieces away. "You sure did. Not bad for a first game."

    "She sure seemed to pick up on it fast," Rapid Run said, stepping into the ship. "Can't say I've seen such a quick learner."

    Skids snorted. "Eh, she takes after me in that respect."

    "Oh." Rapid Run tilted her head. "Is she your sparkling?"

    "What? No. What gave you that--" Skids stopped himself, shaking his head. "That's not what I meant. I meant she was like me in that we both learn skills quickly. It's just a trait we have in common. Nothing... nothing like that."

    There was a short, awkward silence as Skids finished putting away the Fullstasis game and Ariel continued reveling in her victory. Then, Rapid Run got a call on her comm and she answered it.

    "Rapid Run here." She listened to the call for a minute; when she answered, she glanced at Skids. "Are you sure? His mods aren't removable. Afterburner wouldn't--" She was cut off by the caller and she made a disgruntled sound. "Okay, okay. But if he gets mad... all right. Yes, I understand. Okay. We'll be there asap."

    She then ended the call and looked at Skids. "You're in luck. Overcast said it's okay for you to enter the Citadel-- provided I stay with you at all times."

    "Why the change in mind?" Skids asked.

    "Apparently your captain really needs your guns -- even if just to wave them around."

    "Did he say why?"

    "Nope. Although I did hear a lot of screaming."

    Skids frowned as he stood up. "Let's go. Now."

*  *  *

    Overcast winced as he readjusted his audio sensors, which had been offset by Rodimus' screaming. "If you're quite done," the white and blue Camien muttered. "Perhaps now we can think rationally instead of--"

    Rodimus grabbed Overcast by the shoulders and started shaking him. "Are you mad? Are you slag-licking mad?"

    "Language," Ultra Magnus rumbled.

    Rodimus ignored him, still staring at Overcast as if he had sprouted a new head. "Pharma. The Pharma. Blue, white, and red with wings. Right? Right?"

    "I was told he was a revered medic on Cybertron," Overcast said carefully, glancing at Velocity.

    Rodimus released him and let out a harsh, sharp laugh. "Ha! Pharma. Revered. Good thing Ratchet isn't around to hear that."

    Overcast exchanged looks with Velocity, who shared his bafflement on her face. "Am I missing something important here?"

    "Yes. Yes, you are." Rodimus patted Overcast on the shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look. "Buddy, Pharma is a nutcase. A real screwhead. A true psychopath. A Decepticon without the badge."

    "What? Are you serious? Are you for real?" Overcast looked up at Ultra Magnus. "He's not for real, is he? Please tell me--"

    "He is," Magnus said. "Pharma is a convicted murderer, having killed his own patients to hold up a bargain with the Decepticons."

    At this, Velocity gasped and Overcast bowed his head. "Is that right?" the latter muttered. "Well, in that case... we should probably do something about that. I'll call Afterburner and--"

    "Wait," Rodimus interjected. "If it's not too much trouble... do you think you can call Rapid Run to bring Skids? I know about your rules on guns, but...."

    "Why do you need him?" Overcast asked.

    "I just feel safer with him around. Especially with a bot like Pharma running around."

    Overcast considered for a moment before nodding. "All right. I'll give her the go ahead. I'll just need to sort things out with Afterburner later."

    While Overcast went to make the call, the door to the medbay opened and two mechs -- one being Rung -- walked in.

    "I'm here," the other mech said. "Where is the patient?"

    "In stasis," Velocity said. "Roadmaster, uh, put him to sleep."

    "Ah." The spindly white and blue mech looked up at the bulky femme standing by Skyfall. "He's probably going to be out for a while then--"

    Suddenly, Skyfall shot up from his berth and let out a scream. Rodimus screamed as well, as did Velocity and Roadmaster. The latter winded up to punch him again but was stopped by Ultra Magnus.

    "Wait! He hasn't done anything yet! We should keep him awake so we can--"

    At that moment, however, Skyfall did do something. Once he had stopped screaming, the colors of his armor plating started to change: crimson became black and white red. His visor and mouthplate both retracted, revealing a golden face with red optics. To top off his already fearsome new look, his Autobot insignia faded away and was replaced by a Decepticon one.

    As Rodimus and the others all stared at him slack-jawed, Skyfall looked from one bot to the other, his face at work trying to form a reaction.

    "Where... am I?" he muttered, rubbing his head. "Where's Kick-Off and Over-Run?" He then looked down at himself, causing him to look even more confused. "And why am I... oh no."

    He moved to get off of his berth but was pushed back down roughly by Ultra Magnus, who scowled. "You have the right to remain silent," the larger Autobot growled. "And completely still."

    "No, wait," Skyfall protested. "You don't understand. I--"

    "Overcast, I'd make a few more calls if I were you," Rodimus called back to the Camien. "I'd say we have a larger situation on our hands...."

*  *  *

    "Augh, this music." Nightbeat's hands fell over his audio sensors as the repetitive techno tracks played loudly all across the Grand Hall, mechs and femmes dancing to it. "I'd rather listen to Swerve all day instead of this garbage."

    "Hey, man, don't diss the classics!" piped a blue and red Camien retrieving fuel from the engex distillery next to him. "Rosanna's one of the greatest singers of all time!"

    "I don't care," Nightbeat said, trying to keep his voice even. "I don't like it. I want it to stop."

    The Camien sneered at him. "You're all the more free to leave the room then. The procession isn't for another two hours."

    As the irritable mech walked away with his drink, Nightbeat mulled over his options. He could leave -- he wanted to leave -- but two things stopped him from doing so: one was the fact that he knew nowhere else to go to, and the other being he didn't want to leave without telling anyone -- and everyone else was presently preoccupied.

    Swerve was running a bar (big surprise), Nautica was fraternizing, Chromedome and Rewind were dancing, Tailgate and Glyph were cuddling, Cyclonus and Whirl were sulking (not together, of course), Getaway was flirting, Riptide was doing nothing of note, and spark knew where Rung, Ratchet, and Windblade had gotten to.

    Although he wouldn't consider himself friends with anyone here, he just couldn't bring himself to abandon them. If he were to wander off and get into trouble, who would know what had befallen him?

    Forcing himself to grin and bear the godawful music, Nightbeat reached over to fetch some engex....

    And then the music stopped.

    And then the lights went out.