Transformers Regenerated: Pax Cybertronia I, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Cybertron--

    "Yo yo yo! Blaster here coming at you live with the latest hit from Rosanna, straight from her new album Ky-Alexia and Back! You're listening to the Nexis AR97!"

    Blaster sighed happily as he leaned back in his seat, letting the music play. This was the life for him. Not fighting Decepticons, not going on quests; this. Listening to music, sharing music, and doing so without the cops knocking down your doors. Blaster couldn't remember the last time he was this happy... outside the past year, of course.

    Stretching his servos, Blaster looked around the rest of his station. His partner Eject was happily commentating on the Galactic Olympics; his sister Karmen was arguing with Slamdance over music preferences; and Soundwave and his crew were preoccupied with their own Decepticon-oriented station.

    Blaster had to admit that he never had Soundwave pegged as the type to host a radio program. Judging from their ratings however, it seemed he was doing a pretty decent job. Perhaps even the most non-emotive of bots had hidden depths.

    Shrugging to himself, Blaster was about to kick back and enjoy the music when his comm pinged. Seeing that the caller was Rodimus Prime, he immediately answered it.

    "What's up, boss-bot?"

    "Is Soundwave with you?"

    Blaster was taken aback by the question. "Uh, yeah, why?"

    "Can you get a hold of him for me? I need to talk with him."

    "Uh, yeah, sure thing." Still puzzled by the request, Blaster leaned over his work station and transferred the call.

*  *  *

    "Incoming call, boss," Ravage growled as the comm console lit up. "Looks like it's from Iacon."

    Soundwave nodded to the black cat-bot as he took the call. "Decepticon Radio is listening," he intoned.

    "Hey, Soundwave, it's Rodimus."

    "Rodimus?" Soundwave replied, taken aback. "This is an unexpected call."

    "I know, and I hate to bother you. However, we're having a bit of a situation down here in Iacon and you might be the only bot who can help."

    "I'm listening."

    Soundwave listened closely and patiently as the Prime recounted the incidents involving Guiltaur, Battletrap, and these so-called Ultracons. Upon hearing Ratbat's name, Soundwave tensed.

    "I was wondering when he would finally make his move," he muttered.

    "Yeah, I was just about to ask," Rodimus said. "What is the deal with Ratbat? I thought you kept all of your Mini-Cons close by."

    "Ratbat has always been something of a rogue agent. If he wasn't with me, then he was usually working with Shockwave, trying to goad or blackmail his former colleague. After Galvatron took over however, I lost my connection to him and my other partners." Soundwave glanced back at Ravage. "I've only been able to reconnect with some of them."

    "Well, I'm going to need you to put the effort towards reconnecting with Ratbat. Maybe then we'll have some idea as to what he's plotting."

    Soundwave frowned to himself. "I am not certain that would be possible. Ratbat is more... independent than the others. Even if I did succeed in establishing contact...." He trailed off, his mind wandering back to a time he'd prefer to forget.

    After a moment, Rodimus said, "Well, at least give it a shot, all right? I'll check in with you tomorrow."

    With that, the call ended. Soundwave sat in silence while Ravage watched him closely.

    "Are you going to do it?" the feline Decepticon asked.

    Soundwave lowered his head. "I don't know. I don't know if I should."

    Ravage sniffed. "If you ask me, that spawn of a glitch isn't worth the trouble, especially after how he treated us all when he was in power."

    "Perhaps not," Soundwave murmured, considering his companion's words. "Then again... perhaps it would be satisfactory to remind him that I still have a shred of control over him."

    Ravage waved a dismissive paw. "It's your choice. Don't let me stop you."

    Soundwave continued to sit in silence as he contemplated his next move. Then, he leaned forward in his seat and pressed his fingers against his temples....

*  *  *

    "So what's next on the agenda, boss?"

    Ratbat stirred from his resting place, opening a single optic to see Venom standing in front of him. "Is Scrapper finished yet?" the purple bat growled.

    "Uh, I don't think so," the Insecticon said, rubbing his head. "I was just asking 'cos Barrage and the others are itching for more action and--"

    "It would not serve us well to strike again so soon after our last," Ratbat snapped. "We will make our next move when I say we will. For now, let us rest."

    Venom grunted as he strode away. "Fine. Whatever."

    Ratbat waited until he was gone before shutting his optics again. Grumbling to himself, he shifted on his perch and--

    Ratbat.

    The former councilor squawked as he fell from the ceiling. He quickly flapped his wings to stop from crashing and regained his balance. Optics wide, his gaze darted around the room, trying to find the source of the voice.

    "Who's there?" he asked, his voice a deathly whisper.

    I am.

    Ratbat's eye twitched. "Soundwave...?"

    Not quite.

    Ratbat felt as if the whole room was closing in on him as the voice penetrated deeper into his mind.

    I have an offer for you, Ratbat. One that I believe would be very beneficial to all parties involved....

--Belruvia--

    "What do you mean you lost him?"

    "He was trans-warped away by the Destructons," Star Saber answered an incredulous Wing Saber. "Don't ask me how they got out. I know you were there for Optronix's campaign."

    "Yeah, Galaxy Convoy and I tangled with Bruton at Corcapsia," Wing Saber muttered, pacing back and forth. "This is big, bro. This is more than just another roadblock in our mythical quest. We've gotta warn Cybertron about this."

    "I know. Once we pick up you and Axe, we're heading back to Cybertron to tell Rodimus." Star Saber paused before saying, "How about you? Found anything else on that ship of horrors?"

    "I haven't, though I've yet to check in on Axe."

    "All right. Just hang in there until we get back."

    "Got it. See you then."

    After signing off, Wing Saber turned to head down to the engine rooms, where Axe said he would be. Walking past the organic flesh that coated the walls, he eventually reached the door to the engine rooms and pushed it open... to find Axe hanging from the ceiling. 

    His arms had been torn off and were holding him up by the shoulders. His optics had been clawed out and his spark chamber was completely blown open. Before Wing Saber could process the horrific sight, he sensed movement behind him. Drawing his two blades, he spun around and slashed at the hideous creature looming behind him.

    The bizarre scorpion-centaur hybrid shrieked as it reared up on its hind legs. Lashing out with its stinger tail, it struck Wing Saber in the chest, sending him crashing into a wall. He quickly recovered as the creature lunged again and thrust his blades into its chest. The creature screamed in agony before falling limp, sliding unceremoniously off the swords and onto the floor.

    After taking a moment to collect himself, Wing Saber stored his blades and performed a scan on the creature. Its race was not one he recognized and his databanks failed to glean any details on it.

    With a sigh, Wing Saber turned away from the hybrid and regarded Axe's strewn-up remains. He did not at all looked forward to explaining this to Star Saber could not help but dread what this meant for things to come....

--Cybertron--

    "The Destructons?" Rodimus Prime spoke the name with incredulity. He recognized the name from way back when, having closely followed accounts of the Destructon campaign through hacked broadcasts from the Nexis. And if memory served him, the Destructons had been summarily defeated and locked away in a prison they could never break free from.

    Now they were back. And had taken Omega Supreme.

    "We will be en route to Cybertron once we pick up Wing Saber and Axe from Belruvia," Star Saber went on, his face displayed on a viewscreen before Rodimus in the command center. "We also found something there that we'll need to go over with you."

    "Wonderful," Rodimus muttered. "I'm sorry your quest had to come to such an abrupt end, Star Saber."

    "It's no issue, Prime. Cybertron comes first."

    "Yeah, of course." Rodimus started to rub his neck awkwardly. "All right. See you in the end."

    Star Saber blinked. "Pardon?"

    "I said see you then." Without even looking back at the viewscreen, Rodimus signed himself off. Taking a step back, he regarded his reflection in the black screen... and couldn't help but notice his optics glow red for a second before returning to blue.

    That's odd, was all he thought of it before departing from the command center.

--Elsewhere--

    "Now where are we?" Guiltaur asked, looking around the deserted warehouse he found himself in. It was evidently not scaled for use by Cybertronians, given how small everything was.

    This is where the future begins, Optronix, the voice in his head told him. This is where you shall decide the fate of everything.

    "I really hope you're not being dramatic for the sake of being dramatic."

    I would not deceive you so, Optronix. Not when everything is hanging in the balance.

    Guiltaur frowned as he looked around the abandoned facility. "There's nothing here though. How can I save the universe without anything to work with?"

    Look closer and you will find your answer.

    Confused, Guiltaur ran a hand over the wall and accidentally pressed something. As a hidden door began to open, the fusion turned to look within... and grinned.

    "Oh yes. I can work with this."

*  *  *

    "The Omega Sentinel has been successfully retrieved," Medusa said as she slithered onto the bridge of the Vis Vitalis, Psychokhan at her side. "Bruton has been lost however. I don't know how we'll be able to rescue him."

    "In due time, Medusa," said the tall, looming figure at the helm. "What of our Autobot prisoner?"

    "He is in the process of being converted," said Psychokhan. "I have been told that the results will be far more seamless than previous attempts."

    "We shall see." Taking a sip from a glass of innermost energon, the leader of the Destructons gestured to the stars. "Right then. Next order of business: set a course for Earth. The Grand Architect has already provided me directions for the next stage of the plan."

    "Which would be?" Medusa hissed.

    Lord Imperious Delirious chuckled to himself as he seated himself in the command chair. "Assimilation."

TO BE CONTINUED