CHAPTER ONE
--152 years ago (Cycle 9664)--
"Is he back yet?"
"Nope." The green and white Decepticon soldier -- Wingspan, Sixshot believed his name was -- barely even glanced at his monitor before leaning back in his seat, a bored look on his face. "Nothing but radio silence. Same it's been for a while now."
Sixshot growled in frustration. "What is he even doing down there? What could possibly on that rock that would take up his time for nearly three deca-cycles while leaving us sitting in the dark?"
Of course, Sixshot already knew part of the answer to that question, even though the others didn't. Even so, he couldn't fathom how Scorponok could be taking so long to get back to them, regardless of whatever he had discovered.
"Do you think he's dead?" asked Snapdragon. "Maybe we could just leave him here."
"And risk him coming back to rip our heads off?" retorted his fellow Horrorcon Apeface. "Nuh-uh. I've seen him in the gladiator pits before. Guy's ruthless as all hell."
Sixshot was silent as he contemplated their options. On the one hand, his first instinct was to just take the Semper Tyrannis back to New Kaon and tell Megatron that Scorponok had perished. He doubt Megatron would care enough to investigate the claims and no one would be the wiser.
But on the other hand, there was nothing Sixshot hated more than underhanded stunts and tactics. True, he was a Decepticon, who were known for such feats. But he was also an adherent to the Six Clan's code of honor... regardless of his own expulsion. If Scorponok was indeed dead, he was going to make sure of it himself, even if it meant sealing his own fate.
Finally, after a moment's consideration, Sixshot turned to Weirdwolf, who still sat at the ship's controls. "I'm leaving things to you, Weirdwolf. Take the Semper Tyrannis back to New Kaon as soon as I'm gone."
"Wait, what?" Weirdwolf looked baffled as he turned to the Six Changer. "Where are you--"
"If Megatron or anyone asks, I turned against Scorponok and we both perished in combat." Sixshot did not once look back as he stormed off the bridge. "Those are my final orders to you. See to it that you follow it to the letter."
If there was one thing about being a Decepticon, it was that he had full faith they would do just that.
--Now--
"I really hope you have a plan to fix this."
Garrison Blackrock could hear the giant robot turn around, feeling its baleful gaze on him.
"And why, pray tell, am I the one expected to handle our current situation?" the machine growled.
"Because you're the giant robot and not me." Blackrock gestured at the titanic figure standing in the middle of Monterey Bay. "I would think this would be your expertise."
Scorponok stormed over to Blackrock, anger etched onto his face. "Understand this, Blackrock: our alliance is merely one of convenience. You provide me with the supplies I need, and I help you facilitate your own scheme. Nowhere in our agreement am I obligated to solve all of your problems."
"How is this my problem?" Blackrock snapped, whirling on the Decepticon. "I have nothing to do with these guys. I--"
"They were clearly after your technology. Whether or not they have some personal vendetta against you is not my concern. My concern is in the Autobots uncovering my operations."
Blackrock looked back out the window. "Well, their ship landed in the ocean near where that thing is. Maybe it'll preoccupy itself with them and give us time to think of something."
"I hope so, Blackrock, for your sake," Scorponok said. "Failure is an option few can afford with their lives."
* * *
"Sari? You okay?"
Sari groaned as she came back to consciousness. Her head still felt like it was made of bricks and her ears were still ringing, but she could at least make out Jack and the others standing over her in concern.
"What happened?" she muttered.
"We crashed and you started screaming," said Miko. "You were clutching your ears and... freaking out."
"Crashed?" Sari looked over to see Charlie standing near a yellow Volkswagen Beetle, frantically checking its engine. "But isn't... can't these robots drive themselves?"
"They can and they usually do," said Verity. "I don't know what's gotten into Bumblebee here... though I still don't think he's actually--"
Suddenly, the car began to transform, causing Charlie to jump back. After reshaping into his robot mode, Bumblebee collapsed onto the ground and rubbed his head, an act which Sari realized she was mimicking.
"'Bee?" Charlie stepped towards the yellow Autobot. "Are you okay?"
"I've been better," he replied.
"What happened back there? You just started swerving around and...."
"I got hit with some sort of frequency," Bumblebee explained. "It was really loud and scrambled all of my sensors."
"That's what I heard too," Sari said, sitting up. "It was like a huge blast of... of white noise or something."
Bumblebee frowned at her. "You heard it too? But...."
"We didn't hear it," Jack said. Raf and Miko shook their heads as well. Verity quirked an eyebrow as she looked between Sari and Bumblebee.
"Call me crazy, but I can't be the only one who thinks there's a connection here."
Bumblebee rose to his feet. "In any case, we need to go back."
"Are you crazy?" Miko exclaimed. "Those giant robots nearly killed us!"
"Sorry, let me correct myself: I need to go back." Bumblebee pointed to the six humans. "You guys need to stay here, where it should -- hopefully -- be safe. I need to get to the bottom of this."
"'Bee, no," Charlie protested. "You can't go back there alone! Those... those monsters nearly tore you apart."
"Only because they had a head start." Bumblebee allowed a brief smile to pass over his face before kneeling down in front of his human companion. "Charlie, I know this'll be hard to take in -- believe me, this'll pain me as much as it will you -- but... this very well may be goodbye."
"'Bee... you don't have to do this."
"I do. As an Autobot and your guardian... I must stop these Decepticons once and for all."
"But there are already other Autobots here. Can't you just let them--"
Bumblebee shook his head. "It is my duty to help them. Even if they're not comrades I'm familiar with, they are nonetheless my comrades."
Charlie opened her mouth to protest again but stopped as she saw a black semi truck with red-tinted windows appear from around the corner. Seeing the vehicle as well, Bumblebee changed back just as the truck rolled to a halt. Sari and the others quickly realized no driver sat in the vehicle's seats.
"Well, well," the truck rumbled. "This is interesting."
Bumblebee flashed his headlights at the mysterious vehicle. "Who are you?"
"No need to get hostile. I come in peace."
"Are you an Autobot or a Decepticon?"
"It's funny you ask that," the truck said as it started to transform. Its rear extended out to form legs while its elongated cab split into shoulders and arms. As the resulting robot stood to its full height, Bumblebee converted into his own robot mode.
"Optimus...?" he murmured.
The black bot chuckled. "As you can see, I'm a bit of both... and as far as names go, you can call me Scourge."
"What do you want from us?" Charlie asked.
"Well, I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation." Scourge's red optics gleamed with mischief. "I take it there's a certain tower you need help breaking into...?"
THE POWERS THAT BE
Part 4: Open Circle
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