CHAPTER FOUR
--Earthbase--
"Axalon to Earthbase, requesting permission to land."
"Permission granted, Axalon," Jetfire said, pressing a button at the main console to bring up the visage of Primal Major on the viewscreen. "We received your transmission earlier, about what happened at Eukaris."
"Distressing, isn't it?" Primal replied, his face grim. "Have you passed the message on to the others?"
"We're still waiting to hear back from the Lost Light. Cybertron's already gotten it and is mobilizing to deal with whatever this threat is."
"And how about you guys? Any suspicious activity yet?"
Jetfire shook his head. "No, but knowing our luck, it's only a matter of time. We're still scouring for samples of Ore-13, as well as investigating this whole Onyx business."
"Onyx?" Primal asked, raising an optical ridge.
"A human corporation that's been using Cybertronian tech," Jetfire explained. "The most we know is that Scorponok is -- was involved with them."
Primal rubbed his chin. "Curious name, though. Makes me wonder if there's any connection to Onyx Prime. Come to think of it, I don't think anyone's heard from him, Nexus or Delta Magnus since they left to pursue Liege Maximo."
"Indeed," Jetfire murmured. "I can only hope that we'll soon get the answers we--"
He was abruptly cut off by the flash of a warning light on the console. He quickly changed screens and was given the map of an Eastern European region, with a blinking red dot indicating Cybertronian activity; unwanted Cybertronian activity, to be precise.
"Me and my big mouth," Jetfire muttered, raising a hand to his comm. "Elita, we've got activity in a city called Verenya. Looks to be Decepticons. Sending you coordinates now."
"Decepticons?" Primal inquired. "I thought things were cool with them now."
"Not with all 'Cons. Could be rogue Monstercons... maybe even Predacons."
"If it's Predacons, then my crew and I've got experience in dealing with them. Send us the coordinates and maybe we can lend a hand."
Jetfire nodded. "Will do. Good luck out there."
--Verenya, Schleteva--
The off-road truck's engines softly rumbled as it came to a stop alongside a cliff edge, which oversaw the thriving city of Verenya. Crowds of humans bustled through the streets, blissfully unaware of the alien robot observing them.
This had to be the place; that much Steel Jaw was certain. While Leo Prime had been scheming, Steel Jaw had been spending the past year conducting extensive research into the Talisman's whereabouts and had deduced it to be in this very location. Where exactly in this location, he wasn't quite sure yet. But he wouldn't mind tearing the city apart until he found it.
Suddenly, his scanner pinged and he adjusted his optical sensors to see a claw-shaped ship descending from the sky. It was cloaked, but his modified sensors allowed him to see it as clear as day. Judging by its model, it appeared to be a modified Transwarp cruiser, most likely of Decepticon design.
So he had competition to deal with. The rest of his Pack had vanished along with the rest of Mayhem, leaving him on his own. But that had never stopped him before; he would find a way to adapt to this situation.
Grinning mentally, Steel Jaw revved his engine and drove into the city.
* * *
"Yow! Look at 'em squishies!"
The cobra head angled itself over its scorpion body, peering through the foliage of the forest. The inhabited city was situated just on the edge of the wilderness, its cheerful citizens going about their business as if there wasn't a hideous Fuzor watching them, poised to kill.
Of course, Gnashteeth had said not to kill anyone; not until they had pinpointed the exact location of the Talisman. Quickstrike would wait, but he personally could not care less about this "mystical artifact" scrap. As long as he got to catch some prey....
Suddenly, he noticed a green flash of light as a portal materialized in the middle of the city. From that portal came a bunch of automobiles and trucks, zipping past Quickstrike, followed by a jet and... a dinosaur. A freaking dinosaur.
The Autobots were here. No doubt they were either here for the Talisman, or to deal with Quickstrike and his fellow Predacons. Or both. Most likely both.
"Er, boss?" the Fuzor said into his comm. "We've got--"
"I am aware, Quickstrike," Gnashteeth snarled back. "Keep them preoccupied, will you? I can't risk letting them ruin everything."
Quickstrike chuckled as he snapped his claws in anticipation. "Oh, I can do that fer you, boss. You can count on it."
* * *
"Stay alert, Autobots," Elita-One said as she and her six-bot team transformed to their robots modes, startling the populace of Verenya. "Scanners indicate the Predacons are very nearby."
"What would they even want in a place like this?" Sideswipe asked, looking around the small city. "I'm not picking up energon readings or anything."
Without warning, Goldwheels staggered forward, bumping into Strongarm. Bumblebee moved over to help him as the others watched on in concern.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Bumblebee asked his lookalike.
Goldwheels groaned as he rubbed his helm. "I... I don't know. I'm sensing something strange about this place. Strange yet familiar."
"For the royalty!"
The Autobots quickly ran for cover as blaster fire rained down upon them. Flying over the city were a number of Predacons, led by a propeller-powered fire ant. As Elita and the others returned fire, Bumblebee glanced at Goldwheels.
"Was that what you were sensing?"
Goldwheels shook his head. "No, it's something else. Something--"
He suddenly let out a scream as he fell to his knees, clutching his head. Before Bumblebee could figure out what was afflicting his lookalike, a blaster bolt struck him in the back and knocked him down as well."
"Ohhh! Waspinator had that shot!"
"You were taking forever," hissed a black and gold Predacon, sauntering over to the downed Autobots.
"Waspinator has been waiting entire life for his revenge!" snapped the green wasp-bot. "Bumble-Bot is Waspinator's worst enemy! Waspinator must be the one to kill him!"
"He's still alive, if it matters to you that much." Blackarachnia grabbed Bumblebee by the head and roughly lifted him up. "Just don't--"
Out of nowhere, a blaster bolt fired and blasted Waspinator to pieces. Blackarachnia looked up only to let go of Bumblebee and retreat as gunfire hailed upon her. Bumblebee felt the ground shake as a large brown and green rhinoceros-bot landed next to him and helped him up.
"Did anyone order a cavalry?" Rhinox asked.
"Thanks, but it's Goldwheels who really needs help," Bumblebee said, only to see that Goldwheels was back on his feet... and aiming his weapon at them.
"Goldwheels? What are you doing?"
The Autobot who was once thought to be Bumblebee said nothing as the barrel of his weapon glowed and unleashed a blast of energy onto his namesake....
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