CHAPTER ONE
--Autobot City, Earth--
"Is something troubling you, Rodimus?"
The red and orange bot kept his back turned to Optimus Prime, arms folded as he stared out the window. Below, Autobots were still hard at work on getting Autobot City up to standards. Seeing as it was made from the Titan Metrotitan, it had looked a little worse for wear due to the Terrorcons' assault on Theophany several months ago. Only a month had passed since landing and already it was looking light years better....
"Rodimus?"
The former captain of the Lost Light exvented, still not turning to face Optimus. "It's been one month, Prime."
"Yes?"
"Look, I understand why you needed me to inform Cybertron of everything that's happened and to get things up and running here."
"And yet...."
Rodimus finally turned around to face the Autobot leader, who was seated at his desk. "Chromedome is still missing, Prime. A month has gone by and we still don't know where or when he is. He could be meddling with the universe itself for all we know!"
Optimus steepled his fingers. "And how do you suggest we even try to look for him?"
"I don't know, but sitting on our afts certainly isn't doing anything!" Rodimus snapped. "I apologize for my language, but I can't just stand around doing nothing when one of my crew is possibly -- most likely -- definitely in danger!"
"I understand, Rodimus," Optimus said evenly. "Believe me, I do. But before we can even begin to spend our resources, we need to know what direction we're putting them in. For that, we need to have an idea on where -- or when, as you say -- Chromedome could be."
"Rewind thinks he's gone after Dominus Ambus," Rodimus muttered.
"Dominus Ambus? As in the Ambus Test Dominus?"
"Yup. He used to be Rewind's sparkmate before he went missing. He and Chromedome have spent centuries searching for him; even the Necrobot wasn't sure of his true fate. When we found those of the Necrobot's Disappeared in stasis, Dominus wasn't among them. So Chromedome took Brainstorm's time case and... vanished."
Optimus kept silent as he listened to Rodimus. Once the younger Autobot was finished, Prime lifted his head up to stare at him. "Does Prowl know about any of this?"
Rodimus blinked. "What?"
"Prowl. Have you spoken to him about this?"
"I -- no. I haven't spoken to him at all since Necroworld. Why?"
"I may be leader of the Autobots, but even I don't know every single bot who's served under my command," Optimus said, rising up. "But Prowl does. The Secret Service maintains a comprehensive database of every Autobot, active or inactive. If anyone knows where Dominus may be, it's Prowl."
"Um, right. Good." Rodimus refrained from showing his displeasure in having to speak with Prowl. He didn't get along well with authority figures in general, but Prime at least was relaxed and reasonable. Prowl, not so much. "Where will I find him?" he then asked.
"In the command center with Agent Fowler. Let me know if you find out anything."
"Yeah, sure," Rodimus muttered, turning to leave. "I'm sure he'll be a wealth of information...."
* * *
"You seem troubled, Agent Fowler."
William Fowler tightened his grip on the railing of the mobile platform he was on. He kept his eyes fixed on the giant screen in front of him, repeatedly telling himself to not look down. He could feel the Autobot Prowl staring at him, regarding him like some curious specimen.
"You seem to be displaying symptoms of anxiety," Prowl observed. "Do you require medical attention?"
"No!" Fowler snapped. "I'm fine. Just... never been on a hovering platform before."
"Wheeljack assures me it is completely stable."
"Yeah. Yeah, I bet he does." Fowler took a deep breath before nodding to the screen, which was currently on a map of the United Kingdom. "Why we looking at the Brits?"
"Our Sky Spies have detected traces of Cybertronian signatures around this area," Prowl explained. "We're still trying to pinpoint the exact location."
Fowler chewed on his lip. "I've heard scuttlebutt of an old coot who lives down there. Claims to be an Earl of some kind. He's been in Sector Seven's hair for years."
"How so?"
"He frequently pesters museums across the globe for their exhibits, claiming them to be 'alien invaders.' No one's ever believed him, of course, but we've had to silence him once or twice."
"What's his name?"
"Edmund Burton. Sir Edmund Burton," Fowler corrected himself. "Last anyone's heard from him was four years ago when he kicked up a fuss at the Royal Wedding."
"I have no idea what that is," Prowl stated.
Fowler waved a hand. "It's not important."
"Yeah, what is important is a fellow Autobot's well-being."
Prowl and Fowler both turned to see a red and orange bot briskly enter the command center, his eyes fixed on the former.
"Rodimus," Prowl said coolly. "What seems to be the matter?"
Rodimus regarded him with an equal amount of iciness. "Dominus Ambus is what's the matter."
Prowl's posture stiffened. Fowler hadn't even realized robots could do that.
"What about Dominus Ambus?" the police car bot asked, his voice frighteningly quiet.
"You would know, wouldn't you?" Rodimus went on, sounding borderline interrogative. "About what happened to him, where he could've gone."
"Rodimus, Dominus Ambus has been missing for nearly half a millennium. If I knew, then--"
"Then what? I wouldn't be asking? Sorry, but that defense doesn't work when you're concerned, Prowl. You keep secrets like Dinobots keep grudges."
Fowler wasn't sure whether or not to speak at this point. Instead, he simply crossed his arms and watched things unfold. At least it kept his mind off the platform.
"What are you insinuating?" Prowl demanded.
"I'm saying that you and your Secret Service have done some shady scrap," Rodimus replied. "Does Tyrest ring any bells?"
"Okay, fine. But why do you think I would know about Dominus Ambus?"
"You know every Autobot, active or not. Even if you don't know where he is, wouldn't you at least know where he last was?"
Prowl stared at Rodimus for a moment, his optics clearly searching the latter's face. Finally, with an even tone, he said, "Dominus Ambus is dead."
Rodimus smirked. "Wrong. The Necrobot had him listed as one of his Disappeared. If he was dead, the Necrobot would know."
"Then he knows more than I do," Prowl said, shaking his head. "I haven't heard from Dominus in six years."
"Oh yeah? Where was he then?"
"Behind enemy lines. He was our mole in the Decepticon Justice Division."
Rodimus froze. "You mean... Dominus is Agent 113?"
Prowl lifted an optic ridge. "You're aware of Agent 113?"
"Yeah... we found one of his messages in Swerve's shoulder. It's how we found the Necrobot's planet in the first place." Rodimus took a step back, still looking dumbfounded. "This is... this is heavy. Rewind's not going to like this one bit."
Prowl's mouth fell open. His entire frame seemed to stiffen again. After a moment, he said, "This has to do with Chromedome, doesn't it?"
"Brilliant," Rodimus said dryly. "Your detective skills are on par with Nightbeat's."
Prowl nodded. "All right. I see where you're going with this." He turned to Fowler. "Do you mind if I leave?"
Fowler glanced up at him, not at all sure what in the name of Abe Lincoln was going on. "Not as long as you show me how to get down from this thing," he said, suddenly realizing how sweaty his palms had become. "I think I'll hurl if I stay up here a minute longer...."
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