CHAPTER SIX
Anode didn't get far from Parvus Oppidum before she was forced to land because of Wipe-Out losing his grip on her tailfin. After flying into a nearby village and reaching low enough for Wipe-Out to drop down, Anode and Lug transformed and turned back in the direction of Parvus. The Worldsweeper remained where it was over the town, having not altered position.
"I guess they don't want us dead that bad," Anode commented. "Otherwise, they'd be chasing after us."
"Please don't jinx it," Lug said exasperatedly. "I swear to Primus, if this turns out like the Ideji job...."
"Hey!"
All three bots turned to see a trio of Camiens walking up to them. The apparent leader of the group -- a tall green and orange bot -- approached them with a suspicious look on her face.
"We have rules on unannounced entry," the Camien said. "Didn't you see the security gate?"
"I'm sorry, we were distracted by the giant Decepticon warship," Anode retorted. "We'll try better next time."
"Are you with them?" asked a blue and red Camien. "The warship, I mean. Are you Decepticons?"
"No. Well, Lug and I aren't. Wipe-Out is, I think--"
"Not anymore!" Wipe-Out hastily interjected. "I quit that life! Honest! I just... haven't gotten around to covering my badge."
The green Camien narrowed her optics, her skepticism not once lessening. "Aileron," she said to a small black and white bot standing next to her. "Go fetch security. Maybe they're telling the truth, but we can't--"
"Wait!" The blue bot pointed to the sky. "Something's coming out of the ship!"
Anode and the others turned back around in time to see a number of shapes exiting the Worldsweeper, descending onto Parvus Oppidum. Lowering her goggles, Anode extended her visual range and was able to make out the shapes to be robotic animals, all swarming in on the defenseless town and bringing forth chaos and destruction.
"Oh, this is bad," she whispered.
"Understatement of the cycle, right there," Lug said under her breath.
--The Lost Light--
"I've got the scanners working again!" Signal Flare called from his seat on the bridge.
"Best news I've heard all day," Wing Saber said, walking over to him. "Anything to report?"
"Uh, I'm picking up two ships; one looks to be the Vis Vitalis and it's poised over the Citadel... where Star Saber and the others are."
Wing Saber frowned. "And the other one?"
"It's a Decepticon Worldsweeper, and it's attacking one of the frontier towns."
"Both ships we've dealt with this past deca-cycle," Big Bang grunted. "Which one do we tackle first?"
"We can't take on a Worldsweeper!" Skyblast exclaimed. "Those things can raze entire planets! Our ship can't withstand something like that!"
"We can't just sit by and let it destroy everything either," Big Bang countered. "So what do we do, Wing Saber?"
"Me?"
"With Star Saber and Ginrai absent, you're next in command. Do we rescue your brother or let Caminus burn?"
Wing Saber did not take long to answer. He surprised even himself.
* * *
"Everyone stand back! Get to shelter! That's an ord--"
Hot Shot's instructions were drowned out by a deafening roar as the Dire Wraith-mutated Thunderclash emerged from the crater he had made upon crashing into the ground. As Torchbearers, Cityspeakers, and other Camiens gathered into a defensive formation, Star Saber and his crew flew out from the Citadel.
While Stormshot opened fire, Drift jumped off of Star Saber's shuttle mode and plunged his sword into Thunderclash's back. As the mutant Autobot screamed in pain, Apelinq flew in on his hoverboard with Overhaul sitting on the front and the green bot fired a blast of energy into Thunderclash's chest. Once the Dire Wraith had fallen onto his knees, Hot Shot opened fire on him with his rotary cannon, joined shortly by his fellow Camiens and Autobots.
After dropping off Skids, Flareup and the others, Star Saber transformed and turned his attention to the Vis Vitalis, which continued to hover motionlessly in the sky. He couldn't help but wonder if this was all some kind of trap; if Thunderclash was merely toying with them.
Hearing Vector Prime transform and land behind him, Star Saber turned to the ancient bot. "Can you handle things from here?"
Vector Prime frowned at him. "Where are you going?"
"To the Vis Vitalis. Once Thunderclash has been subdued, I want you to use Rhisling and--"
"No." Vector grabbed Star Saber by the shoulder. "You and I both know who's taken over that ship. You alone are no match for any of the Destructons, let alone all of them."
"You got rid of Bruton easily," Star Saber pointed out.
"Yes, but...." Vector Prime sighed as he glanced at his sword. "If I were to place another Destructon in with him, they would surely figure out a way to escape. After all, they've already escaped one interdimensional prison...."
"So what do you suggest we do then?" Star Saber snapped. "Just let them burn Caminus to the ground?"
Before Vector could answer, there was the sound of thrusters as a giant white ship came flying through the atmosphere, guns ablaze as it fired on the Vis Vitalis. Everything on the ground came to a halt as the Lost Light collided with the Vis Vitalis, sending it hurtling towards the ground.
"Wing Saber, you idiot," Star Saber muttered.
"No joke," Skids said. "If Rodimus were here, he would be doing exactly that."
Every Autobot and Camien ran for cover as the Vis Vitalis made impact, generating a violent quake. Once everything had settled, Thunderclash was the first to recompose himself, rising to his feet and making his way over to his ship.
"Not exactly how I was planning to make my exit," he remarked to himself. "But perhaps another time."
Before anyone could stop him, Thunderclash placed a hand on the Vis Vitalis' hull, and both Autobot and ship vanished in a flash of light.
"What the heck!" Stormshot exclaimed. "Is there anything else he has to surprise us with?"
Although Star Saber had the same burgeoning question, he decided to shift his attention to more pressing matters. "Wing Saber," he spoke into his comm. "I hope you realize how stupid and dangerous that stunt was."
"Save the reprimands for later, bro," Wing Saber replied. "There's a Decepticon Worldsweeper razing the planet."
"A Worldsweeper? Like the one we found--?"
"Yup."
Star Saber knew there was no time to dwell on the many questions he had right now, as much as he wanted to. In short succession, he transformed and retrieved the others before taking off towards the Lost Light.
* * *
Rung had no idea where he was or why.
He knew he was in a cell, that much he was certain, but beyond that he was in the dark. Two Legislators stood guard outside while in the distance he could hear sounds of panic and mayhem. There was not much else to give him any indication as to where he was or what was happening.
Suddenly, a light filled the hallway and Rung could hear footsteps approaching his cell. He looked up to see a tall, regal-looking green bot with a flowing emerald cloak and a golden crown atop his red-plated face.
Rung's optics went wide. "Tyrest?"
The former Chief Justice grinned. "Surprised to see me? I'll admit, I've been rather preoccupied these past couple of years."
"What do you want with me? I'm just... I'm just--"
"A forgettable psychologist?" Tyrest chuckled. "Maybe so. But you also perform another function; a function that would be most useful to us."
Rung frowned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I know what you turn into. And the entire fate of the universe hinges on you transforming right now."
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