CHAPTER EIGHT
Crankcase was starting to miss the good old days of boredom.
As Obsidian frantically moved the Alchemor out of the Labyrinth's firing range, a blast came from the larger vessel, but not from any of its guns. Instead, it came from the bridge as a beam of purple energy blew a hole in the front of the vessel.
"Ha!" Misfire laughed. "They missed! Oh, the irony...."
"Shut your trap," Crankcase growled. He stomped over to Obsidian and put a hand on the general's shoulders. "Get us out of here! Quickly, while they're preoccupied!"
"Wait!" Spinister pointed out the viewport. "More stuff is happening!"
It was a blunt way of putting it, but indeed, there was more to behold. While the bridge continued to smoke, other sections of the ship began to detach, assuming the shape of other ships. Crankcase tensed, expecting them to come after the Alchemor. Instead, they did the opposite, jumping to hyperspace one by one, until all that was left was the husk that had once been the Labyrinth.
It was again thanks to Spinister's keen eye that they spotted bodies flying out of the bridge, some on their own power, others at the mere pull of the vacuum of space. Upon closer inspection, two of those floating out were none other than Fulcrum and Krok.
At Crankcase's urging, Obsidian flew the Alchemor towards the two Scavengers. Spinister and Misfire both flew out to retrieve their former comrades and soon returned with an elated Fulcrum and a mystified Krok.
"Boy, have I never been more glad to see you guys again!" Fulcrum said. "How did you guys all get here?"
"Through sheer contrivance," Misfire said, grinning. "And also, likewise."
Fulcrum glanced at him. "No hard feelings?"
"Nah. It's what Decepticons do anyway. We all have bizarre love-hate relationships with each other."
"I see you've made new friends in the meantime," Krok muttered, glancing between Flamewar and Obsidian.
Flamewar snorted. "'Friend' in the loosest sense of the word...."
"There's more than just her and copter-blades!" Misfire said. "We also found a Prime!"
Both Fulcrum and Krok tensed. "A Prime?"
"Well, he calls himself that." Misfire spun circles around his head. "Let's just say he's... yeah."
Krok exhaled from his vents. "Right. Anyway, we should get going before that... bot comes back to finish us off."
"What bot?" Crankcase asked.
Krok ignored him and stepped over to Obsidian. "Take us to Tebris Seven. I know someone there who can--"
"We're not leaving without Strika," the general interjected.
"Strika?"
"She was still on the Labyrinth," Obsidian murmured. "I don't know if she was on the bridge or...."
"We didn't see her on the bridge," Fulcrum said quietly. "I'm sure we would have noticed her."
"Are you calling his wife fat?" Misfire asked.
"No!" the K-Con said hastily. "I'm just saying... I mean, I'm pretty sure Krok or I would have recognized her."
"He has a point," Krok said to Obsidian. "I doubt Strika was on the bridge with us, and she definitely wasn't caught in the blast. She must have been on one of the other ships."
Obsidian's shoulders sagged. "Then why isn't she answering my call?"
"Could be something or someone is preventing her from doing so," Fulcrum suggested. "Just a thought."
"We have to go after them," Obsidian said. "I can't... I can't stand to...."
"Okay," Krok said. "We'll go after them."
"What?!" Crankcase exclaimed. "Are you for real?"
Krok nodded. "We Decepticons must look out for each other. That's something I used to always stand by, until recently...."
"No kidding?" Misfire muttered.
"...But now I realize the error in my drifting from my ideals. Together, we are far more stronger than we are apart."
Crankcase made a gagging sound. "Oh, god...."
"As the saying goes: United we stand, divided we--"
"Okay, we get it!" Flamewar snapped. "So where do we go now?"
Krok looked at Obsidian, who said, "The Labyrinth was on course for an uncharted system deep in the Neutral Territories."
"Can you get us there?"
"It'll take some time, but yes."
"Then let us not waste any more time."
"Wait," Spinister said. "What about the others floating out there? Should we bring them along to?"
Krok's expression darkened. "They're what got us into this mess, Spinister. Leave them."
"Still, we could use the extra numbers," Fulcrum said. "Just saying...."
"We still have plenty of former prisoners on board," Obsidian said. "They should prove to be enough."
Misfire grinned cheekily at Flamewar. "Heck, all we need is Miss Hot Stuff here to burn the place down with her super powers and good looks!"
Flamewar glared at him as she folded her arms. "I'm only sticking with you in the hopes that your endeavors lead me to Megatron."
Krok quirked an eye ridge at her. "Megatron?"
"Oh, that's right." Misfire chuckled sheepishly. "She's been imprisoned here for ten years. She doesn't... oh, dear."
Flamewar's optics flared. "What? What is it?"
"Can you guys take this outside?" Crankcase asked. "I'm not in the mood for being melted."
As Misfire escorted an agitated Flamewar, Krok crossed his arms as he looked to the stars. "Looks like the Scavengers are back in business."
"I thought you hated that name," Fulcrum said.
"I do. But it's who we are -- and the rest of the universe hates us for it."
* * *
"Can you guys understand what I'm saying?"
None of the Monstercons answered Nitro Zeus as they all floated in space. He knew they were all on the frequency, so they either a. were ignoring him or b. couldn't understand him. He was starting to bet on the former.
"Um... woof? That's the sound luponoids make, right? Or is that... no, yeah, that's what they sound like."
He continued to make various animal sounds in the hopes that at least one of them would respond. Then, just as he thought he was making progress by making Amphibboid noises, all nine Monstercons vanished before his optic.
"Hey, what? I thought we had something!"
That was when the black and silver mech he had seen earlier appeared before him.
"You again!" Nitro Zeus exclaimed. "Finally decided to come back for me, eh? Just couldn't resist my good looks or my charm or--"
The mech touched Nitro Zeus on the shoulder and all that was left floating in space was the empty husk of the Labyrinth.
* * *
The one who called himself Sentinel Prime stood alone in his subconsciousness.
Images flashed past him. Images from a past long forgotten. He saw faces of those who had long since passed. Cities that had long since fallen.
He saw the Fall of Aegiax.
He saw the Annexation of Protohex.
He saw the rise and fall of the Iron Armies.
He saw the murder of Nexus Prime and the exodus that followed.
Everything was blurred. Was this how he remembered it? Was this how things had gone down? Or had time taken out vital pieces; conflate and reduce certain events?
What he did know for sure was that he could hear a voice calling his name; a voice he had not heard in several millennia.
Infinitus.
"Master?" Sentinel gasped.
He has returned, Infinitus. He who was exiled.
"The Fallen...."
Yes, but he has reclaimed his forsaken name. He is gathering an army as we speak.
"What can I do, master?" Sentinel asked. "I am trapped within my own mind. I do not know how to awaken."
Patience. In due time, you will awaken. The ones you are in the custody of are en route to one of your fellow heralds. Once they reach their destination, I shall awaken you.
"But why not now? Why must I wait?"
But no answer came and Sentinel was again left to his thoughts.
I will not fail you, he swore to himself. I will see to it, master. The Primes shall rise again.
TO BE CONTINUED
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