CHAPTER TWO
"I can't believe this," Crankcase muttered.
"Me neither," Spinister said, standing at the back of the cell, his optics fixated on the wall. "I've been staring at this wall for more than five hours and nothing's happening."
Crankcase gritted his teeth. "You don't actually have heat vision, you moron. I was being sarcastic."
Spinister snorted. "Right, like I believe you, insolent mortal. You're just trying to pretend that you didn't slip up and reveal to me my secret power. I'm sure there's just something I'm missing."
"Yeah, a brain," Crankcase muttered, but Spinister did not seem to hear him, continuing to stare at the wall.
Outside, the cell pass the ray shield that prevented them from leaving, the Autobot guard that had been passing by stopped and save them a dirty look.
"I thought I told you two to be quiet."
"Yeah, you did," Crankcase said. "Many times."
"Then why aren't you--"
"Because I don't take orders from Autobots, you grease-licking, piston-sucking--"
The guard pressed a panel on his arm and Crankcase let out a scream as electricity coursed through his systems. When it had finished, he was a smoking heap on the floor, groaning as he tried and failed to get back up.
"Say that again?" the guard said, a humorless smirk on his face.
Crankcase's only response was to sputter.
"That's what I thought."
As the guard walked away, Spinister turned away from the wall, having been oblivious to the entire exchange. Upon seeing Crankcase's state, his optics went wide in awe.
"Did I do that?" He held up his hands, staring at them with a newfound sense of wonder. "By Primus... I really do have powers."
* * *
Much to Misfire's surprise, he was somehow still alive.
Of course, his whole body felt like hell, but that was pretty much his only indication to his systems still functioning. In a way, though, he couldn't help but feel... disappointed.
After all, this was the one and only Landslide, a legend amongst Decepticons. Or, at least, that was what Misfire had been told. To tell the truth, he didn't know anyone who had served under Landslide. Considering that and the fact no one had heard from him in over three hundred years, Misfire had begun to doubt the guy had even existed. But now that he knew he did, he wanted nothing more than to die at his hands, if only so he could brag to the others when they eventually joined him in the Afterspark.
Unfortunately, Landslide seemed to no longer be interested in him and was speaking to some other loser. His audio receptors were fragged thanks to the beating he got, but he could still pick up a few words. Not that it did him any good, though, for he could not think of a reasonable topic that would involve volcanic rocks, heads, and needles.
The two continued talking and at one point both of them glanced at him. Then Landslide sent the other bot away before walking back over to Misfire. The magenta Decepticon braced himself for the next round of beating, only to find that Landslide was releasing him from the slab he had been restrained to.
Misfire still could not hear very well, but he was pretty sure he heard Landslide congratulate him for something. In response, he cracked a grin.
"What can I say? Some of us are just that good."
He wasn't sure if the look Landslide gave him was one of contempt or pity.
--Troja Major--
"Ah yes, the Harbinger," Agonizer said, pulling a datapad from his collection. "Here we are. The only copy of its roster, drafted in Cycle 9701."
"9701?" Krok said as he took the datapad. "That would have been around the Cataclysm."
"Indeed!" Agonizer said. "After the Thunderwing incident, Megatron went on the defensive. He sent the Harbinger into deep space to keep its secret cargo out of reach. Not long after, all contact was lost by the time of the truce."
Krok looked over the list of names on the roster. Other than Crankcase and Payload, he didn't recognize a single one. While he perused it, Agonizer sat patiently at his desk, his optics constantly drifting back to the Requiem Blaster, which laid in front of him.
"You know," Agonizer murmured, steepling his fingers. "If I had known the Harbinger's cargo had been the Requiem Blaster, I would have sought it out much sooner."
"Why do you say that?" Fulcrum asked. "Do you have an interest in artifacts of the Thirteen?"
"Well, naturally," Agonizer said, sweeping his arm around his decorated office. "But the Requiem Blaster has long been an object of my desire. After all, it is -- was -- the weapon of our leader's namesake, not unlike the fusion cannon."
"Oh, really?" Fulcrum glanced at Krok, still reading the list. "Did you know about that, Krok?"
"No, and I don't care."
Agonizer cleared his throat. "Even so, I expect you are looking for a... rather large sum money for it."
"Correct." Krok lowered the datapad to meet Agonizer's eyes. "How does one million sound to you?"
The Curator's right optic twitched. "One... million?"
"I would ask for more, but since you're my friend...."
Agonizer chuckled weakly. "Right. Friend. Of course." He suddenly rose from his seat and began to head for a back room. "Wait here. I have a few calls to make." And with that, the Curator was gone.
Left alone with the Requiem Blaster, Fulcrum and Krok stared at the door Agonizer had just gone through. After a minute, the K-Con glanced at Krok.
"Do you think he's gonna... sell us out or something?"
"Agonizer is many things, but he's definitely not an idiot," Krok said. "He wouldn't dare try to pick a fight with us when we have the Requiem Blaster. He's probably just being stingy."
"I don't see why though. He seems to really care about this kind of stuff. I don't see why--"
"Quiet." Krok clicked the device in his clenched fist. "Someone's here."
Fulcrum looked around but saw no one but him and Krok. "What do you--"
Without warning, the door behind them was kicked open and a green frog-like robot lunged into the room. He pounced onto Krok, knocking him down, and stood on the monoformer as he scanned his surroundings with bulbous red eyes.
"Where is it?!" he bellowed. "Where is the Sphere of Doradus?!"
"A better question is, where's dis Agonizer friend o' yours?" said a blue mech with large horns, storming in with several other bots with animal-like features. "Did he know we would come and tailed out of here?"
"Oh, don't worry, Thunderhoof," replied a lupine bot. "He couldn't have gotten far." His optics fell on Fulcrum and a predatory grin crossed his canine features.
"You there. Fellow Decepticon. I don't suppose you've seen a bot named Agonizer around here, have you?"
Fulcrum said nothing, staring at the animalistic Decepticons in stunned silence. Next to him, Krok was getting back to his feet, the Amphiboid having moved on to the cabinets of artifacts placed throughout the room. The lupine Decepticon shifted his gaze to the monoformer.
"I know you," the Monstercon purred. "You're... is it Gatorface? No, wait, don't tell me... Gatoraider?"
"Krok. My name is Krok."
The 'Con snapped his fingers. "That was it! I knew it had something to do with reptiles."
Fulcrum glanced at Krok. "You know this guy?"
"Only in passing," Krok muttered. "He tried to stage a coup to take over the Decepticons after Megatron vanished. I was present during one of his rallies but ultimately didn't join. I figured he would fail... evidently, I was right."
The lupine bot chuckled. "Not my most shining moment, I will admit, but time has given me a chance to reflect on my past failures and help me prepare for future endeavors."
"So why are you here, Steel Jaw?" Krok asked, just as the Amphiboid knocked over a cabinet in rage. "Not to find Doradus, I hope."
At that moment, Agonizer emerged from the back room and shrieked upon saying the destroyed cabinet. "What in Primus' name?! Who let you all in here?!"
"We let ourselves in, grease-stain," said Thunderhoof, storming up to the Curator. "Now, you're coming with us."
"What? No!" Agonizer shook his head, stepping back. "I can't leave! I'm expecting someone! They'll be here any minute!"
"Tough," Thunderhoof growled, grabbing Agonizer by the arm. "Guess they'll just have to wait their turn."
As the elk-like Decepticon took Agonizer, Fulcrum and Krok found themselves being grabbed by a large ape-like bot.
"Hey!" Krok exclaimed. "What do you want with us?"
"Sorry, Krok, but I can't afford to have word of our operations spread. Besides...." Steel Jaw's optics moved over to the Requiem Blaster, still on Agonizer's table. "I get the feeling that you have quite the story to tell us."
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