1: ONE SMALL STEP
--Cybertron, during the war--
--Cybertron, during the war--
"Mesothulas, we need to talk."
A purple metal head poked out from a bunch of machinery as a hulking figure clad in black armor entered the lab. As the newcomer removed their helmet, revealing a blue-eyed faceplate, Mesothulas stood up from his work.
"Ah, Prowl. You're just in time. I have something to--"
"It can wait," Prowl said. "We need to talk."
"About what? The weather? The latest Speedia results? What, Prowl? What do you want to talk about?"
Prowl sighed, not meeting his gaze. "It's about... Carpessa."
At this, Mesothulas' optics widened. "The neutral city?" He strode over to Prowl. "Did it work? Is the city...?"
"Gone." Prowl said the word with great difficulty. "Carpessa has been destroyed."
Mesothulas threw his arms up triumphantly. "Yes! I knew it would work! I told you it would, didn't I, Prowl?"
"Fourteen hundred and thirty-eight."
The scientist blinked. "Eh?"
"Fourteen hundred and thirty-eight were killed by the Decepti-Bomb," Prowl said. "Fourteen hundred and thirty-eight innocent neutrals--"
"No one is innocent in this, Prowl," Mesothulas coolly interjected. "Surely you're just as aware of that as I am."
"Yes, but...." Prowl sighed again as he clenched his fist. "These were people, Mesothulas. Just like you and me. And we've killed them all just to make a message -- to show them the evils of the Decepticons."
"It got through, didn't it? The message?"
"Yes... all of the survivors have enlisted into the Autobots."
"Then why are you so upset?" Mesothulas asked. "It's what you wanted, wasn't it? Is Zeta Prime not satisfied with the results?"
"He is... which is why I'm here." Prowl looked back up at Mesothulas. "He wants you to make more."
"Does he?" Mesothulas rubbed his hands together. "Let me guess: you're about to tell me not to."
"Prime doesn't yet have full approval of the Council, so it wouldn't necessarily be considered a transgression. If it's all right with you, then--"
"Prowl," Mesothulas cut him off, tilting his head. "What makes you think I don't want to do this?"
Prowl stared at him nonplussed. "What?"
"I've been inspired, Prowl. You've inspired me. The Decepti-Bomb, the stasis bullets, the spark extractors... all of this is progress, Prowl. Progress in advancing our technology to its optimum."
"You're beginning to sound like Thunderwing." Prowl frowned in disapproval.
"Bah!" Mesothulas spat. "As if that fool could ever hope to accomplish what I have." He then grabbed Prowl by the arm, ignoring his protests. "Come on. I want to show you something naughty."
The scientist dragged him to a corner in the lab, where Prowl saw what looked to be some sort of gate. Before Mesothulas could say anything, the police bot immediately determined what it was.
"No... I thought we--"
"Yes, I know," Mesothulas said, letting go of Prowl's arm as he approached the portal. "But I just couldn't help myself, Prowl. I had to see if I could do it. I had to see if I could achieve the impossible."
"Mesothulas, if High Command finds out about--"
"Say hello to Ostaros."
Prowl fell silent as Mesothulas pulled out a small green robot from behind the portal. The innocent, vulnerable-looking bot wobbled slightly on its two legs, as if it was still learning to walk. Upon seeing Prowl, the robot smiled sweetly at him.
Prowl blinked in complete bemusement. "What is it?"
"Not what; who," Mesothulas corrected him. "His name is Ostaros."
"Yes, but... how?"
"Your response is exactly the one I was hoping for," Mesothulas said, giddy. "Ostaros here is the very first artificial Cybertronian. His spark is held by a synthesized copy of the Matrix's energy field. Indistinguishable from the genuine article. This is the next step, Prowl. The next step to our race's evolution."
Prowl stared at Ostaros, his face unreadable. Then, without any further acknowledgment to the robot, he turned back to the portal. "And this?"
Visibly irked by his partner's lack of interest, Mesothulas sighed. "Yes. The Noisemaze. Like I said, I just couldn't help myself."
"If Zeta Prime gets word of this--"
"He'll be happy, won't he? I mean, something like this is right up his alley."
"I know," Prowl murmured as he stared into the arch. "Which is why I don't like it."
* * *
"Carpessa was a tragic loss for us all."
The camera drones did a remarkable job in capturing Zeta Prime's image. Even through the small viewscreen one could see the sun gleaming off his gold faceplate.
"Fourteen hundred and thirty-eight neutrals were killed by the Decepticons' weapon. This only strengthens the rumors that the Decepticons have sent down forces from Pyrovar to harbor in the city of Tyrest, southwest of Carpessa. The High Council has permitted me to send special forces to monitor the city-state."
The sole patron of the Rust Bucket -- and the only one watching the broadcast -- started to feel drowsy. It was probably unwise of him to have downed ten tanks of Visco. Then again, it wouldn't be the first stupid thing he had ever done.
He tried to refocus on the viewscreen, as Zeta Prime was still speaking, but by then the screen had already gone black.
"Time's up," the barkeep grunted, the pistons in his arms creaking as he lowered the remote. "If you want to watch more, that's another fiver."
The patron groaned but decided not to pay for another five minutes. It would just be more of the same scrap that Prime always spouted. The same scrap he had been spouting for the past four years.
He didn't know what it was the others had seen in Zeta. Before the attack, they had been with him in being against the Autobots' grandstanding and empty altruism. But after Carpessa's destruction, almost everyone he knew was signing up for the Autobots. Even Rollout, who had to have been Zeta's most harshest critic, had said that the Autobots were a better alternative than the Decepticons.
"At least the Autobots don't destroy cities," Rollout had said.
Not yet, the patron bitterly thought to himself.
As he continued to work on what was left of his drink, he heard the door to the bar open, followed by quick footsteps.
"Evening, Rusty."
The rusted barkeep only grunted while the newcomer took a seat next to the patron. It took the latter a moment to recognize the gray mech but when he did, he felt a sense of elation.
"Take-Off?" he slurred.
The red-helmeted mech turned to him and, upon seeing his face, smiled. "Oh, hey. It's... Skyjack, isn't it?"
"Skyfall," he corrected. "I thought you had been deployed to the Salvvatan system."
Take-Off blinked. "Huh? Oh. Yeah, I, uh... I'm on leave."
"Really? I thought I just heard that Salvvatan Five had been taken by the 'Cons. Would think the Autobots would need all the bots they could get."
"Right. Uh...." Take-Off turned to Rusty and made a motion with his hand. Without a word, the bartender vanished into the back. After a moment, Take-Off leaned towards a confused Skyfall.
"I've... heard about Carpessa," he murmured.
Skyfall blinked. "Um... okay? I mean, I appreciate the concern, but I'm already over it."
"Okay, great, but you've gotta listen to me." Take-Off's tone was even more hushed now and he was looking over his shoulder, even though no one else was in the bar. "They're lying to you."
"Who's lying to me?"
"The Autobots, Zeta Prime, the High Council, everyone. The Decepticons did not destroy Carpessa."
"What?" Skyfall exclaimed. "How do you know this?"
Take-Off was silent for a moment. Then, carefully, he removed his Autobot badge.
Beneath it was the Decepticon insignia.
"I'm part of the deployment here on Cybertron," he whispered to a shocked Skyfall. "We have yet to make any tactical move against any city on Cybertron, so I know for a fact that Carpessa was not our doing. This is all just a ploy of Zeta Prime's to get more cannon fodder. Fearmongering taken to the extreme."
Skyfall was too shocked to form any sort of response. After a moment, he finally cleared his throat. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"About what?"
"Everything."
Take-Off hesitated before answering. "I can prove it to you, but it would be on one condition."
"What's that?"
"You see... I'm on a recruitment drive. For the Decepticons. That's why I'm here."
"So you want to recruit me?"
"If you say no, then I understand. I won't try to pressure you into it."
"You won't kill me if I say no?" Skyfall asked.
Take-Off hesitated again. "I won't, no," he said carefully.
Skyfall fell silent as he considered the offer. While he had no love for the Autobots, he never had a reason to like the Decepticons either. But if what Take-Off was saying was true, then the 'Cons may very be the better alternative.
"Okay," he finally said. "Count me in."
Take-Off smiled. "Glad to hear it. I promise that you won't regret your choice."
I sure hope not, Skyfall thought. Wouldn't be great if both factions were equally capable of deception....
ALL THAT GLITTERS
Coda: A Light That Never Goes Out
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