CHAPTER FOUR
"What if we get caught?"
"We're not going to get caught," replied the green bi-plane Lug was hanging from. "Now hurry up."
Lug tried not to think back to the many, many times Anode had made that claim only to be proven wrong and continued to cut the metal pole. Ununtrium was already rare in of itself, and even soft ununtrium went for billions of shanix these days. She couldn't fathom why a solitary temple in the middle of nowhere would just so happen to be made of ununtrium... but she knew it would pay off all of her and Anode's debts and then some. They would finally be happy.
"So, what do you think?" Anode asked over the sound of Lug's torch. "Luna 2 or Celestica Tetracornacapira?"
"Eh?"
"Where do you want to settle down? It doesn't make a difference to me; so long as you're happy."
Lug smiled to herself. "Well, I wouldn't mind moving back home, but I've also never been to Luna 2 before."
"Yes, you have."
She rolled her optics. "That doesn't count. I've never lived there, is what I'm saying." She fell silent for a moment as she resumed working before glancing up at the biplane. "What about you? Is there any special place you've always wanted to live in?"
"Well, I've already got two or three arrest warrants on Paradron," Anode replied. "And you can just forget about Translucentica Heights."
"You know, I don't think you've ever told me where you're from," Lug commented. "I know you used to live on Caminus... but you're not from there, are you?"
Anode was unusually quiet in her response. "No. No, I'm from Cybertron."
"But where on Cybertron?"
Anode sighed. "Nowhere I ever want to be again."
Lug was confused by this but got distracted as her torch finally cut through the pole. It clattered to the ground and rolled to the feet of a small blue bot, whom neither of them had noticed standing there before.
"Eh?" Lug regarded the bot curiously. "Who are you?"
"My name is Rubble," was the mech's soft response.
Anode flew herself and Lug down to the ground. "Never heard of you," the former said as she transformed.
"I suppose you wouldn't," Rubble replied. "I don't think anyone has."
Anode tilted her head at the bot. Lug thought she looked more intrigued by the bot than she herself was. "Do you know where we are?"
"No. I was hoping you would tell me."
"'Fraid not. Do you at least know where you're from?"
Rubble shook his head. "I don't remember anything, only waking up here." The bot raised a hand. "I was heading towards that... thing in the sky."
Anode and Lug turned their heads towards the giant Matrix hanging over the horizon.
"Huh," the former said. "I didn't realize that was there."
"You think there's anything valuable there?" Lug asked.
"It's a giant Matrix, Lug. You can't get more valuable than that." Anode turned back to Rubble and extended a hand. "Wanna come along?"
The mysterious bot was very quick to take her hand. "Absolutely."
Lug couldn't help but smile as she took Anode's other hand and the three of them walked towards the Matrix.
* * *
"The Afterspark? Are you sure?"
"Abso-posi-lutely," Swerve said as he and Tailgate drove in the direction of the giant Matrix. "You aren't?"
"No!" Tailgate said. "I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, except what Cyclonus has told me."
"Speaking of which, where is he?"
"I think that's him up there."
The two minibots sped up and soon reached the tall purple bot standing underneath the Matrix. To both of their surprise, Cyclonus was doing something neither of them had seen him do before: He was smiling.
"Cyclonus?" Tailgate changed to his robot mode and stepped up to him. "Are you all right?"
"Tailgate," Cyclonus said softly, "I've never been happier."
"Okay, I'm just a teense bit disturbed," Swerve murmured. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're happy. I'm happy you're happy. But--"
"Is this the Afterspark?" Tailgate asked the ancient warrior.
"Yes," Cyclonus answered with absolute certainty.
"Really? But how can you tell?"
"I suppose what you need is the right kind of sign."
Tailgate froze. The answer had not come from Cyclonus or Swerve... but from the great white figure now standing over him.
Swerve's hand went over his mouth. Cyclonus bowed his head in respect. Tailgate could only tremble where he stood as he stared in awe at the angelic figure before him.
"N-Nova Prime...?"
"It is about time we finally met, Tailgate," said Nova Prime, his booming voice pleasantly resounding in the minibot's audio receptors. "I have heard great things about you."
Tailgate's visor flashed. "Great... things?"
"I understand it was your life-long dream to serve on board the Ark. But you accomplished so much more than any of us have."
"I have?" Tailgate asked.
"He has?" Swerve echoed.
Nova Prime did not elaborate and instead opened his arms to Cyclonus and Tailgate. "Come, my friends. It is time to ascend."
"Uh," Swerve started to say, "I don't think you guys should--"
But neither of them were listening to him as they each grabbed one of Nova's arms. As the Prime began to spread his wings, Tailgate looked over at his friend.
"Don't worry about us, Swerve. Soon, it'll be your turn, too."
"No!" Swerve started to run towards them. "This isn't right! You can't--"
But the three of them were already lifting up towards the Matrix. Cyclonus and Tailgate both looked down at Swerve -- Cyclonus even smiled! -- as the Matrix began to envelop them in its light....
* * *
Whirl could tell something was wrong with the universe.
It wasn't the giant Matrix or the infinite plain that went nowhere, but the silence. The absolute, total silence... combined with the sight of Swerve on his knees in utter despair.
Whirl knew as much as anyone that Swerve and silence were like oil and water. If the mouthy minibot had been rendered speechless, then something really bad must have happened. Even if he didn't give a single frag, he knew he had to check on him.
The blue helicopter flew down and landed next to Swerve... and immediately received the sight of Cyclonus and Tailgate's lifeless gray husks.
Whirl could conjure no words as he stood next to Swerve. The most he could muster in terms of comforting gestures was to rest a claw on the minibot's shoulder. His single yellow optic regarded Cyclonus' dead body before dimming as he cursed the former Herald of Unicron.
You spawn of a glitch. I was just starting to like you.
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