CHAPTER FIVE
--Luna 1--
Rampage skittered through the underground passage in his crab mode, virtually blind as he navigated through the dark labyrinth. His only guidance was the energon readings he was picking up with his enhanced sensors. Something was down here, and he was going to find out what.
He hated having to leave Ariel behind, but he had already dragged her into danger once before. Besides, she was capable enough without him. He knew she would be fine.
He also knew that Depth Charge was right behind him, and what would be waiting for him when finally got to the end of the tunnel, regardless of what else he would fine.
In spite of all that, Rampage pressed onward.
* * *
"Decepticons. Why did it have to be Decepticons?"
Skids grimaced as he, Dion, and the others watched Lockdown and his band take their captive Autobots to Metroplex, leaving behind the late Impactor and several Junkion pieces. Once the 'Cons were gone, the six bots emerged from their hiding place and walked over to the remaining wreckage.
"I don't understand," Chromedome murmured. "What interest would someone like Lockdown have in Luna One?"
"He's a bounty hunter, isn't he?" Dion asked. "Maybe someone hired him."
"Yeah, but who?"
"Boltax," Skids said.
Vector Prime tensed at the mention of this name. WALL-E also perked his head up, having been present when Skids and the others had met the alternate Boltax.
"Did you say Boltax?" Vector Prime asked.
"Yeah. He's the reason we came here. Depth Charge told us he had taken up residence on Luna One." Skids glanced back at the ancient Prime. "Do you know him?"
"Not personally, but it is a name I am familiar with. And if he is indeed here, then that means...."
Vector trailed off as he diverted his gaze to the Junkion pieces scattered around. Some of them were beginning to reassemble themselves... but there were also some that were moving away from the rest, as if trying to separate themselves from the other Junkions. Vector watched them for a moment... before pushing Skids and the others out of the way.
"Stand back."
Skids frowned. "Why?"
His question was immediately answered as a large figure materialized before them in a flash of light. The Junkion parts instantly reassembled into a distinguishable figure before merging with the blue and red being.
Vector Prime's expression darkened as the fully-merged combiner stood before him. "Nexus Prime."
"Vector Prime." Yellow optics flashed from a red helmet as the gestalt smirked. "I'm surprised you've come out of your little dimensional space. What's pushed you to finally take on an active role in our affairs?"
"Nexus, you don't realize what's at stake here. The Matrix has fallen into the wrong hands, and the current bearer seeks to wreak havoc across the universe. We can't waste time in petty spats; we must band together as brothers once more."
"I agree." Nexus extended a hand to him. "Onyx and the others may not accept you into our alliance -- especially not Liege or Megatronus -- but I can persuade them to change their minds. We could use someone with your powers, Vector."
Vector shook his head. "That's not what I meant. There are forces at work, I can sense it, and they're using Thunderwing for something. And we're all going to pay the price."
Nexus sneered. "And who could these forces possibly be? And why should I believe any of what you say?"
Vector said nothing, instead directing his gaze to the sky. Nexus followed his line of sight, and smiled.
"Ah," he said as he beheld the fleet of Titans in the sky. "Punctual as always."
* * *
With the help of Scamper's acute familiarity (which he had had thousands of years to accumulate), Brainstorm and his party navigated through Metroplex's labyrinth halls, avoiding patrolling Vehicons and Terrorbots. According to Scamper, the brig which held the captive Circle of Light was guarded by two Overcharge soldiers; to get past them, they would need to find a Vehicon to reprogram and control remotely so they could pass themselves off as 'prisoners.'
It was the classic "sneak in, break out" scheme. Naturally, Brainstorm had no patience for it.
As he raked his processor for a better, more original method (that wouldn't result in shunting them all to some alternate universe), the group turned a corner only to run into three Vehicons.
"Aw scrap, so much for that plan!" Swerve exclaimed, already turning to flee. "Hope you have a backup plan, Scamper, cos--"
"Wait!" said the lead Vehicon, a jet drone in purple. "It's me, Cyclonus!"
"Cyclonus?" Tailgate pushed his way to the front of the group. "Is that really you? What happened?"
"Whirl and I were captured," Cyclonus explained. "These robots extracted our sparks and placed them in these drone bodies."
"Convenient then that they picked bodies that matched your alt modes and color schemes," Brainstorm remarked.
The blue copter drone stared at the Autobots before glancing at Cyclonus. "Do these guys seriously not know any other blue helicopters?"
Cyclonus sighed as he shook his head. "This is Rotorbolt. Whirl is right here."
He gestured to the yellow and green tank drone, who simply intoned: "Pulverize."
Rung frowned. "Is he...?"
"His personality's been overridden," Cyclonus said morosely. "I was able to fight it, but... apparently he was not as successful."
The other Lost Lighters fell silent as they mournfully regarded the drone that had once been their crewmate. After a moment of silence had passed, Rotorbolt broke it with a drawn out sigh.
"I shouldn't need to remind you of the alarms that are still ringing, I hope."
"Oh, so you were the reason behind that," Brainstorm said. "Figures."
"So where are you all headed?" Cyclonus asked.
"The brig," Scamper answered. "We need to break the Circle of Light out."
"The Circle of Light?" Rotorbolt rolled his optics. "Oh, joy."
Scamper glanced at him. "Who even are you? I don't recall seeing the Terrorbots using anyone beside Circle members and Junkions for Vehicons."
Rotorbolt waved a hand. "A story for another time. Let's just get this over with."
Rung looked to Scamper. "You think they'll work for your plan?"
"Actually...." Scamper began to grin. "I think they've given me a better one."
* * *
"Please tell me you've got this handled, Getaway," Nautica muttered as she and the rest of Elita's team -- as well as the surviving Wreckers -- were pushed through a long narrow hall.
"I don't work well under pressure," Getaway grunted back.
"Quiet," a green and orange Insecticon barked as he bashed Getaway's head with his gun.
At the head of the procession, Lockdown said, "Easy with our guests, Venom. Boltax said he wanted these particular ones in good condition before we presented them."
"Boltax?" Elita asked. "Boltax is behind all this?"
Lockdown sneered back at her. "Depends on what you mean by 'all this.'"
"Was this all supposed to be one big trap? Did Depth Charge lead us here just so we could get captured?"
"Here's an idea." Up ahead, a large pair of doors began to open. "How about you ask him yourself?"
The Autobots all shuttered their optics as they were instantly hit by reflective gold walls. Once they had adjusted to the sudden brightness, they were brought into a wide chamber with decorative tiles and a surfeit of gold.
Standing at the end of the room, cast in equally gold plating and a cascading cape far longer than his body, was the bot himself. His arms and legs were long and lanky, and his arm joints creaked as he raised them in greeting.
"Welcome, children," High Circuitmaster Boltax addressed them, his voice sounding older than the stars. "Welcome home."
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