CHAPTER THREE
Sideways couldn't tell if she was dead or not. The fact that she was thinking this at all -- or thinking, period -- should have been confirmation enough. But there were many factors working against that, such as her internal clock no longer showing the time as well as the fact that she had just been vaporized by a Worldsweeper.
Oh, and the giant Matrix of Leadership hovering in the sky was another thing.
Between the over-sized talisman and the featureless metal plain that went unto infinity, Sideways had a pretty good idea as to where she was, or where she was supposed to be at least. It more or less matched the descriptions Cyclonus would give the place whenever he went on one of his spiels. Problem was, she simply could not believe it. It was impossible. And yet, she couldn't think of a sound argument to dispute it....
Once all of her motor systems had properly rebooted, Sideways began to pick herself up from the ground. As she did, the sound of an engine announced the arrival of a blue hatchback, which began to drive towards her. Realizing it would be useless to avoid it, Sideways remained put as the hatchback transformed to robot mode.
"Hey," Skids said. "About time I've found someone else in this... place."
Sideways merely grunted in response. Skids tilted his head, regarding her curiously.
"Sorry... what was your name, again?"
She shrugged. "Take your pick. Doubleface, Rollbar, Rapid Run... I've probably had others, but it's been so long I can hardly remember them."
Skids' expression darkened. He opened his mouth to speak, but Sideways cut him off with a raise of her hand.
"Relax. I don't have any beef with you; not anymore. Besides, what difference does it make now?"
Skids seemed to consider this for a moment. "I suppose you're right," he eventually said. "I also shouldn't be surprised to see you again, given your track record."
Sideways snorted. "And Scourge said I was unpredictable...."
The two stood in silence for some time, unsure of what to say or even do at this point. The Matrix continued to loom over them ominously, casting its blue light on them. Sideways watched Skids try and contact his crewmates but to no avail. It was becoming increasingly apparent that they were well and truly alone.
"That's it," Skids finally said as he transformed back to his car form. "I'm gonna go looking for them."
"That could very well take an eternity," Sideways remarked.
"You've got better things to do?"
The ex-Herald of Unicron rolled her eyes before changing shape as well. Without further comment, she followed Skids down the infinite landscape, their path still illuminated by the giant Matrix.
* * *
"All I'm saying -- and it's absolutely your right to not believe me -- is that I'm pretty sure this is the Afterspark."
"Well, I'm glad you gave me permission," said Nightbeat. "'Cos I sure as hell don't believe you."
Drift sighed but did not argue as the two of them drove along the featureless plain. He was used to having these kinds of conversations with Ratchet, and as much as disagreed with the atheist medic, he found their exchanges to be pleasantly challenging. Although Nightbeat was also a skeptic, he seemed to be less hardset in his views and often appeared apathetic to such subjects.
In any case, Drift couldn't think of any other reasonable explanation as to where they were. The Worldsweeper had killed them and they were now in limbo, waiting to ascend. He almost wished he had someone to tell him how incredibly wrong he was....
"I think I see Brainstorm and Nautica up ahead," Nightbeat said, breaking Drift from his thoughts. The two Autobots sped up to join their crewmates, meeting them halfway.
"Ah, good. The Great Detective is here," said Brainstorm. "Mind helping us solve this mystery?"
"Well, Drift thinks we're dead and that this is the afterlife," Nightbeat replied. "I don't have enough evidence to strongly support or ruthlessly destroy his theory."
"Well, it's no afterlife to me," Nautica said. "The Way of Flame asserts that, upon our deaths, our sparks return to Solus' Forge beneath the Primal Wellspring before being reincarnated."
"And do you believe that?"
Nautica shrugged. "Can't say I do. I've always been a kind of agnostic."
Nightbeat rubbed his chin, already falling into detective mode. "So far all we've found is a giant Matrix hovering somewhere up north. As far as I'm concerned, that's not enough proof to say this is the Afterspark."
"What would change your mind then?" asked Drift.
"I don't know. Something really out of nowhere that couldn't be explained any other way. Something like--"
"Hello, Drift."
All four Autobots froze at the voice. One by one, they slowly turned around to see a tall bot standing before them; adorned in white, black, and gold plating.
"Master Yoketron...?" Drift murmured, his entire frame stiffened with shock.
The old Cyber-Ninja nodded, extending a hand to his former student. "Do not be frightened, my friend. I am not here to hurt you."
"But... but I killed you! I--"
"You did what you had to do. It is on the path of a Cyber-Ninja to make decisions we do not want to make." Yoketron smiled warmly. "I do not blame you, Drift. In fact... I could not be more proud."
Too astonished to even speak, Drift could only take Yoketron's hand and allow his former teacher to lead him away from his flabbergasted friends, guiding him towards the giant Matrix.
* * *
"Anything yet?"
"Nothing," Star Saber muttered, flying across the expanding plain alongside Wing Saber. "Comms are still dead. I wouldn't be surprised if we were the only ones here."
"Do you think we're dead?" Wing Saber asked.
"I don't feel dead. Why?"
"Well, I mean, we were vaporized. Granted, we've survived worse, so--"
"Wait." Star Saber angled himself downward. "I see someone down there, under the Matrix."
Wing Saber followed him and the pair transformed as they landed. Standing there beneath the Matrix, staring up at the giant talisman, was an orange and yellow bot. A content smile was on his face.
"Scoop?" Star Saber tentatively stepped up to the former Wrecker. "Are you all right?"
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine, captain," Scoop calmly replied. "In fact, I've never been better."
"Do you know where we are?" Wing Saber asked. "Have you seen any of the others yet?"
"You're the first ones I've seen so far. But I know exactly where we are." Scoop gestured up at the Matrix. "This is the Afterspark."
Star Saber frowned. "Why do you think that?"
"I don't think it, captain; I know it. All of this, everything I've been through since I was brought back to life, has been leading to this very moment."
The two brothers exchanged bemused looks. "What are you talking about?" Wing Saber questioned him.
"It's simple really," Scoop said as if it really was that simple. "Primus was giving me a glimpse into how the world has been since my death. He's given me a chance to make amends and tie up loose ends. And now...."
Above him, the Matrix began to glow as bright as a star.
"...now he's finally ready to take me back."
Star Saber and his brother could only watch with alarm as Scoop was lifted up into the air by an invisible force. As he drew closer to the Matrix, his chest was torn asunder and his spark was pulled free of its chamber. The small blue orb ascended into the massive Matrix above while his now-lifeless body plummeted to the ground, leaving the two Saber to stare at it in utter horror.
"If that's how God loves us," Wing Saber murmured, "I never want to see him mad."
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