Transformers Regenerated: Pax Cybertronia V, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

    "What do ya mean you're not coming back, doc?"

    "Believe me when I say it's nothing personal, Swerve," Ratchet said as he went about packing his medical equipment. "I just need a change of pace is all. I served on the Lost Light for two months and they were a very eventful two months at that."

    "Yeah, I guess I'd feel that way if I got body-swapped with a loony bin," Swerve admitted. "But what about the quest?"

    "What quest? I thought you guys were searching for ores like the others."

    "Yeah, but... we might find something along the way!"

    Ratchet shook his head. "Regardless, I've never bought much into the concept of Cyberutopia and what not. Besides, you'll be in good hands; I hear First Aid and Velocity have already signed up."

    "Yeah...." Swerve frowned as he kicked the ground. "Still, it just feels weird not having the Old Guard around. Rodimus is a Prime, Magnus and Getaway are gone, Chromedome and Rewind have settled down... it's just strange, you know?"

    "Well, I'm sure you'll find someone new to harass," Ratchet said. "In any case, I wish you all good luck. And if the Knights do turn out to be real, I promise to wear a Matrix tattoo for an entire year."

    Swerve grinned at that. "Oh, I'll be treasuring that image for as long as I--"

    He was cut off by the sudden sound of alarms. Outside, several Autotroopers rushed by the medbay. Ratchet sighed as he closed his toolbox shut.

    "Never a quiet moment on this planet...."

*  *  *

    When the light had cleared, Viral was nowhere to be seen.

    After taking a moment to adjust his optical sensor, Shockwave reached over to his desk and shut off the alarms. He then turned back to the confused security bots standing in the doorway.

    "What happened here?" asked Strongarm.

    "Nothing to be concerned about," Shockwave said, although he himself was not quite certain of that. "Just a former pupil of mine trying to exact revenge."

    "Do your pupils normally explode in flashes of light?"

    Shockwave fixed Strongarm with a cool gaze. "You are dismissed, officer."

    Strongarm frowned but relented without question, motioning the Autotroopers to follow her. Once they were gone, Shockwave closed the door to his office before returning to his desk. He sat down and pressed a switch on his comm.

    "Fistfight, do you copy?"

    "Uh, yeah," came the nervous reply. "Loud and clear, boss."

    "What is your status?"

    "Uh, well, the Mausoleum's just been eaten by a buncha Insecticons. I think they were after the Ore-14 but Viral took the last sample I had. Plus, all of the remaining bodies have either been eaten or lost into space." Fistfight paused before saying, "But Depth Charge is here, so it's all good now."

    "This is... an unexpected outcome," Shockwave muttered. "We must find out why the Insecticons are after Ore-14."

    "I should also mention that I'm floating out here in space," Fistfight said. "So, anytime you could send someone to pick me up, that'd be great."

    Shockwave ignored him as he switched his comm to another channel. "Soundwave," he started, "I would like to make an important request of you...."

*  *  *

    Ratbat could feel Airachnid's baleful gaze as he paced around his chamber, circling the despondent Insecticons that had returned to him empty-handed. His fingers were wrapped around the hilt of his sword, but he did not draw it. Not yet.

    "I'm sure you realize that some form of punishment must be delivered," he said coldly as he passed behind Glowstrike and Saberhorn. "I cannot allow failures such as this to pass without retribution."

    "Let us track down the one who stole the ore then!" Glowstrike hissed. "How are we to please you when you won't give us the chance to?"

    "I gave you ample opportunity to please me!" Ratbat snapped. "Don't you dare shift blame onto me!"

    "What even is it that you want with this ore, Ratbat?" Airachnid asked, hanging from the ceiling on her web. "I thought all you wanted was control over Cybertron. How exactly does this ore and the Emberstone come into play?"

    Ratbat whirled to her. "I told you not to question that which you don't under--"

    He let out a startled cry as Airachnid suddenly lunged at him, tackling him to the ground and pinning his limbs with her spider legs. As the Ultracon leader struggled in vain, the Arachnicon extended needles from her fingers, a wicked gleam in her violet optics.

    "Then make me understand," she whispered as she plunged the needles into Ratbat's neck.

    He squirmed against her as all of his memories passed through his mind. Coming online in Polyhex. Serving as fuel auditor for Dynamic Energon. Being deemed alt-mode exempt. Climbing up the political ladder. Joining the High Council. Meeting Soundwave for the first time.

    Soundwave.

    Holding onto what little free will he had while in Airachnid's thrall, Ratbat accessed the one connection he had prayed would never be touched again and linked his mind with whom he had hoped to never hear from again.

    Soundwave, Ratbat transmitted, his signal weak.

    Ratbat. Soundwave sounded surprised in his response. Why are you contacting me?

    Need help. Being played. Ratbat convulsed as Airachnid dug deeper into his mind. Powers. At work.

    Airachnid narrowed her optics. "What are you doing?"

    Ratbat ignored her, struggling to maintain his connection. Sending... coordinates. Tell... Shockwave. Regenesis. Ores. Wrong hands. Catastrophe.

    What are you talking about? Soundwave inquired. Who are you being controlled by?

    Before Ratbat could answer, a black cloud shrouded his mind. He heard Airachnid cry out as she was forced out of his mind, skittering away from him as if he were some sort of virus. Perhaps there was some truth in that....

    "You shouldn't have done that, Ratbat," the voice in his head said. "That was a very big mistake."

    Piece by piece, Ratbat could feel every last shred of his consciousness disappear, his free will being eroded by the black cloud as it expanded further within his mind.

    "Still, there can be something we can salvage from this mess. But first...."

    The last thing Ratbat remembered was unsheathing his blade.

    "Let us rid ourselves of the burden of witnesses."

*  *  *

    Soundwave clutched his head as he braced himself against the wall of his quarters. He could not ascribe a single word to the harrowing feeling he had been left with after his connection with Ratbat was forcibly shattered.

    Never in a thousand years would Soundwave have admitted to liking Ratbat... but he had still been one of his Mini-Cons. His mental connection to the former Councilor had been just as strong as he had with Ravage or Laserbeak. But now that connection was gone. Ratbat was gone. All Soundwave had left now was a set of coordinates to the Ultracon hideout, which Ratbat had transmitted at the last minute.

    Whoever was behind this -- whoever it was that had been controlling Ratbat -- Soundwave was going to find them and bring an end to their plans. No matter the cost.

    As a Prime, he could do no less.