CHAPTER TWO
--Cybertron--
"Optimus Prime is dead."
Rodimus Prime stood before the gathered members of the High Council as he uttered these words, carefully watching their expressions. From the Eukarian seats, Tigatron and Airazor looked the most distressed, as the latter had been an Autobot before joining the Maximals. Similarly, Moonracer of Velocitron looked crestfallen while Knock Out, to his credit, looked surprised at the very least.
Sitting in for the people of Carcer, Obsidian and Strika dolefully bowed their heads; although they had been Decepticons during Optimus' tenure as Autobot leader, the two veterans still held respect for the Prime, having served under the previous bearer of the title for thousands of years. And although they had only joined the Council recently, Devisiens Fireshot and Vanquish looked as shocked as Camien delegate Windblade and Theophany representative Dai Atlas.
That only left Starscream and Shockwave, representatives of the Decepticon Remnant. Shockwave, of course, was as unreadable as ever while Starscream... was expressionless; not so much as a smirk had twitched onto the Seeker's face. Rodimus supposed that was a feat in of itself.
After letting the news sink in for a moment, he turned to Elita-One, who had been given the news well before anyone else. Her expression remained mournful as she briefly met Rodimus' gaze before looking back down at the floor.
Returning his attention to the council, Rodimus continued. "Ratchet suspects that the cause of death was his temporary body being incompatible with his spark. He and his team are still examining him."
"So what are we going to tell the public?" asked Dai Atlas. "I doubt anyone was expecting this. This news may shake all of Cybertron."
"We have to say something," Windblade said. "It would be disingenous to hide something like this from the public."
"It would be remarkably easy to do so," Starscream commented. "Trust me, lying is easy when you're good at it."
"We're not hiding this from the public," Elita-One insisted. "We simply need to figure out how to tell them."
"I say just cut to the chase," Knock Out said. "Optimus Prime has passed away. He will be remembered by all. There, done."
"It's not as simple as that, Knock Out," Tigatron said. "Optimus Prime was hardly old for a Cybertronian. Dai Atlas sits among us and is older than any of us. It would not make sense for him to pass on so soon."
"Then we tell them what Ratchet told Rodimus."
"Only that would bring our medics' effectiveness into question." Elita sighed as she shook her head. "There's simply no easy way to put this, is there?"
"I suggest we wait," Shockwave said. "At least until we have made a more conclusive examination of Optimus Prime's condition."
Rodimus couldn't help but smirk ever so slightly. When one wasn't on opposite sides of him, Shockwave's logic was rather sound.
"I concur," said Dai Atlas, who was followed by the others with similar agreements. "Now then... that still leaves us with the situation regarding our recent escapee."
"The Security Force is handling that as we speak," Rodimus said. "Iacon has been placed under lock-down until we can determine Guiltaur's location. Until then... all we can do is wait."
"And what about Omega Supreme?" Moonracer asked. "If Iacon is under lock-down, who can we send to help Cosmos bring him back?"
Rodimus smiled. "Oh, don't worry. I think I know someone I can call."
--Belruvia--
"Big Bang, you know how much I hate swearing, so I'm going to put this as gently as possible." Star Saber narrowly avoided the business end of a Driller worm's maw as he drove his sword through the beast, cleanly slicing it in half. "Please... hang the frag up. I'm kind of busy at the moment."
Big Bang said something in response but Star Saber couldn't hear him over the wail of two Drillers emerging from beneath the mountains. Almost on cue, a group of Autobot fliers swooped in and fired upon the giant mechanical creatures, eliciting angered howls of pain.
As the fliers continued their assault, Star Saber heard the rumble of an engine as Ginrai drove up to join him, transforming from his truck mode.
"Apelinq says he's located their nest. It's about four thousand feet underground and there are a lot of them down there. Orders?"
Star Saber grimaced. "It would take forever to eradicate them one by one. And to destroy the nest outright would cause turmoil for the planet."
"Not like Belruvia's got much in terms of indigenous life," Ginrai said. "Just space-slugs and... more space-slugs."
"Even so, there must be a better way to--"
Before Star Saber could finish, the Driller worms suddenly let out another wail as they began to turn away from their Autobot attackers, burrowing themselves back into the ground. Star Saber found this to be strange. From what Devcon had told him about the Drillers, which were once docile creatures if undisturbed, the Decepticons had reprogrammed them to be relentless when faced with Autobots. They never stopped until anyone or anything that wasn't a Decepticon was destroyed.
Why, then, were they retreating?
With things having quieted down for now, Star Saber was able to hear the persistent ping of his comm, which he begrudgingly answered.
"All right, Big Bang. What is it?"
"Rodimus Prime is on the line for you," Big Bang replied. "Says it's urgent."
"Put him on then." Star Saber glanced at Ginrai and said, "Regroup with the others and keep an optic out for any Drillers."
As Ginrai departed, Star Saber returned to his comm. "Prime?"
"Hey, Saber," Rodimus said. "How goes the quest? Making any progress?"
"Uh... somewhat."
"Are you in the middle of doing so?"
Star Saber sighed. "Not really."
"Great, 'cos I'm gonna ask you to make a little detour. You've heard of Omega Supreme, right?"
"Yes?"
"Well, someone's found him in the Muta-Gaath Nebula and needs help bringing him back to Cybertron. Think you can do that?"
"Uh...." Star Saber looked up at the Lost Light, which hovered in the sky above. "The Lost Light's not that big, Rodimus."
"Who said anything about the Lost Light? You still have Vector Prime on your crew, don't you?"
Star Saber slowly nodded, seeing where Rodimus was going with this. "Yes...?"
"And you know how his sword can open portals."
"Ah. I understand now." He didn't quite have the spark to tell Rodimus that he and Vector Prime were not currently on the best of speaking terms. Instead, he simply said, "I'll see what we can do."
"Great! Just get back to me as soon as possible."
After the call had ended, Star Saber turned around to see Ginrai walking back to him, a grim expression on his face.
"You should come see this."
Star Saber frowned. "More Drillers?"
"Worse. Follow me."
Star Saber did so, transforming and flying after the truck as Ginrai led him across the mountain range from where the Drillers had emerged. It wasn't long before they reached what it was Ginrai and the others had found... and right away it made Star Saber break his vow of swearing once again.
The Decepticon Worldsweeper jutted out from the ground like an unwanted growth, a giant symbol embedded into the earth. From its worn down hull, it seemed like it had been there for quite some time.
"Since when were the 'Cons ever on Belruvia?" asked Axe as Star Saber and Ginrai rejoined him and the others.
"As far as I know, they never were," said Wing Saber. "And I was there for most of the Driller campaign. I don't recall Belruvia ever being involved."
"So what do we do? Do we explore it?"
All eyes were on Star Saber now. The captain inclined his head as he mulled over their options. In less than fifteen minutes, they had been presented with two separate detours to their quest. Which one would they go down?
After a long, pressing minute, he made up his mind.
"Let's go in."
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