Transformers Regenerated: Pax Cybertronia IV, Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

--The Lost Light--

    "Are we alive? Please tell me we're alive."

    "I still can't tell the floor from the ceiling, but all signs point to 'yes.'" Windblade groaned as her visual sensors constantly refocused themselves. "Also, we've landed in the ocean."

    "Yeah, I see that now," Rodimus Prime said, staring at the vast blue bay outside. He uneasily rose from his seat before moving a hand to his comm. "Ratchet? Velovity? You guys okay back there?"

    "I'm fine," Ratchet replied. "Nickel is still trying to get Velocity back up. What the hell just happened?"

    "No idea," Rodimus muttered, glancing out the viewport. "All I know is that there's a giant Decepticon standing in the ocean."

    "It's more than just him," said Windblade. "I'm seeing a bunch of other bots -- I think most of them are Star Seekers, although... wait." She leaned forward in her seat, pointing to an approaching battleship. "Out there. I think that's... Broadside?"

    "Must be some bots from Springer's team," Rodimus said. "Let's bring them aboard... then we can deal with tall, dark and handsome."

*  *  *

    "Please tell me I'm dreamin'."

    "'Fraid not," Stakeout muttered, locked in his car mode as he was carried away by a large black and gold hovercraft. "Otherwise, I would be too."

    Agent Fowler sighed as he laid his head back on the car seat. "I was gonna retire, y'know. I'd been wanting to for a while. But the Director twisted my arm and so... here I am."

    "I'm sorry you got pulled into all of this."

    Fowler snorted. "Pal, I've been roped up in this for the last three years. Your apology is very late comin'."

    "Well," Stakeout said wryly, "I've never been a very punctual bot."

    Fowler had to laugh at that. "Heh. Good one."

    Both of them fell silent as the hovercraft slowly made it to shore. Outside, Fowler could see other robots trying to swim their way; a few even needed assistance from bots with aquatic alt modes. Fowler would have found it amusing under different circumstances.

    Heck with it, he thought. It's funny now.

    "Seems to me even these guys have no idea what the hell's goin' on," he commented.

    "I think they do," Stakeout replied. "I just don't think they were prepared for it."

    "So we're still screwed?"

    "Oh, definitely. But at least we won't be screwed as according to their plan."

    Fowler considered this for a minute. "Yeah," he said with a shrug. "Guess that's better than nothing."

*  *  *

    "I won't let go, Ferak. I won't--"

    "Shut up, Tornado," the white jet growled as it circled around the looming form of Tidal Wave. "I'm trying to think."

    "The least Leo Prime could have done was give us a bit of warning!" squawked the pteranodon Brimstone, flapping his wings as he observed the non-aerial Star Seekers floating in the ocean. "Now Cannonball's dead as well as Stronghorn. Who are we supposed to follow now besides that Maximal scumbag?"

    "I call dibs!" cackled another pterosaurian Star Seeker.

    "In your Syk-fueled dreams, Backslash," Ferak muttered. "Maybe we should just find another ship and leave this rock."

    Brimstone gave him a questioning look. "And just where are we going to find another ship?"

    "There's one." Tornado pointed to a large white spacecraft floating in the waters. "We can just take that one."

    "It's probably filled with Autobots," Ferak said.

    "Well...." Brimstone eyed the numerous Dread Pirates swarming around nearby. "We have the numbers."

    "And the guns," Tornado added.

    "And the bloodlust!" shrilled Backslash.

    "All right, fine." Ferak would have smirked were he in robot mode. "You've twisted my arm."

*  *  *

    "Thanks for the pickup," Broadside said as he, Arcee and Twin Twist were brought onto the bridge of the Lost Light. "Now I hope you guys have a plan for dealing with that behemoth."

    "Believe me, we're working on that bit," Rodimus replied. "We still haven't heard back from Star Saber and his team. They went to that Onyx tower."

    "I'm still trying to get a hold of Springer and the others," said Twin Twist. "All I know is that my bro's still alive."

    "How do you know that?" asked Arcee.

    Twin Twist waved off the question. "I just do. So how about we call in Fort Max from space? I'm sure he can just sit on that guy and be done with it."

    "That would cause needless destruction," said Elita-One. "Besides, our comms are still scrambled from that frequency. It'll be a while before we can get a signal to the others."

    "Too bad," Windblade said. "Because it sure looks like we're going to need the extra help."

    The others all turned to face the viewport and were greeted with the sight of several dozen Star Seekers making their way towards the Lost Light... and none of them looked like they were coming in peace.

    "Aw, come on!" Rodimus exclaimed. "We had nothing to do with them losing their ship!"

    "I think they're coming to take our ship," Elita said. "Do we have any weapons systems we can bring online?"

    Before Windblade could respond, a number of aerial Dread Pirates shot towards the Lost Light and began firing upon the ship; some of them even began dropping others onto the top hull.

    "Looks like we'll have to serve as the weapons systems," Rodimus said over the thrum of gunfire. "Elita, you, Windblade and Drift go out with the Wreckers. I'll call up Chromedome and Brainstorm to see if they can get us moving again."

    "And maybe try calling Fort Max again?" Twin Twist suggested. "'Cos I really think we could use him right now."

    "We'll see," Rodimus replied as blaster fire scratched the viewport. "Now get out there and wreck them."

*  *  *

    "Leo Prime? This is Stockade. We've made it to shore. Are you and the others at the tower?"

    Nothing but silence came from Stockade's comm. The former general growled as he stomped his foot on the sand, startling some of the other Mayhem members.

    "Something isn't right here. No one warned us about the signal beforehand. There's no sign of any of the Chimeracons or Monstercons... just what exactly is going on here?"

    "I'll tell you what's going on."

    Stockade and the others turned to see a gray wolf limping up to them, patches of his fur missing to expose metal and circuitry.

    "Complete and utter mayhem."

    "Carnivac," Stockade growled. "What happened to you? Where are Prime and the others?"

    "The Wreckers attacked," Carnivac replied. "Leo Prime lost it. Steel Jaw sent out the frequency against orders. All of them were captured by Scorponok."

    "Scorponok?! What's he doing here on Earth?"

    "I don't know." Carnivac looked towards the Onyx tower. "But whatever he's planning... it's sure to throw a spanner into our plans."

    "Then let's tear it all down!" bellowed a gray and green bulldozer. "It's us against one! He doesn't stand a chance!"

    Carnivac shook his head. "Scorponok is a one-bot-army, Steamhammer. He would just tear us to shreds."

    "Not if we use what we've already got," Smolder said, gesturing to the stationary Tidal Wave.

    "You can't be serious," Carnivac growled. "If we use him now, when Prime hasn't even established operations, it'll screw everything up!'

    "It's a bit late for that now, I'm afraid," Stockade said. "We are at a point of no return. The plan is as good as dead."

    The former general turned to the dormant Tidal Wave, a newfound spark of determination in his posture.

    "Now... let there be chaos."