Bionicle Alternatives: Wall of History -- The Toa Mangai

In a similar vein to my Star Wars Chronicles series (with the Darksiders and Jedi Archives segments), I've decided to write some things to flesh out my Bionicle fanon universe, starting with the infamous Toa Mangai.

THE TOA MANGAI

    When the Kanohi Dragon was unleashed upon Metru Nui by the Dark Hunters, Turaga Dume summoned for help. Eleven Toa answered the call, coming from all corners of the Matoran Universe to defend the City of Legends from the threat of the Kanohi Dragon. After a month-long battle, the Toa defeated the Rahi beast and drove the Dark Hunters off Metru Nui. Rather than return to their homelands, the Toa agreed to remain on Metru Nui to protect it from future threats. In return, Turaga Dume dubbed them the Toa Mangai, after the Matoran word for "protector."

    Over the course of the next few centuries however, the Toa Mangai began to break apart. After Toa Tuyet was banished for murdering Matoran and Toa Nidhiki betrayed the team to the Dark Hunters, the other members were mysteriously killed one-by-one, eventually leaving Toa Lhikan as the sole surviving member. In order to create more defenders of Metru Nui, Lhikan imbued his Toa energy into six Toa Stones and delivered them to six Matoran, creating the Toa Metru. As a Turaga, Lhikan would join the Toa Metru in confronting Makuta Teridax and ended up sacrificing his life to save Toa Vakama.

LHIKAN, Toa of Fire

    A Ta-Matoran Crafter from the Northern Continent, Lhikan first met Dume over 17,000 years ago when the then-Toa of Fire saved his life during a Protocarin attack on his village. Seeing potential in the young Ta-Matoran, Dume arranged for Lhikan to receive a Toa Stone, which transformed him into a Toa of Fire.

    Seven thousand years ago, the novice Toa Lhikan was part of a team assigned with guarding the Makoki Stone. When the fortress was attacked by the Frostelus, Lhikan's leader ordered him to flee and warn others of what had happened. When Lhikan returned to find his team dead and the Makoki Stone gone, he vowed to never run from danger ever again. Thus, when Turaga Dume sent the call to defend Metru Nui from the Kanohi Dragon, Lhikan was the first to answer the call.

    Toa Lhikan wore a Great Hau, the Mask of Shielding, and wielded a pair of Fire Greatswords.

NIDHIKI, Toa of Air

    Nidhiki began life as a Le-Matoran living on the Tren Krom Peninsula. Because of his homeland's inhospitable nature, Nidhiki was forced to strike from the shadows in order to survive. At some point, he was transformed into a Toa of Air and would later answer the call to Metru Nui.

    During the Toa-Dark Hunter War, Toa Nidhiki was coerced into helping the Dark Hunters in exchange for leadership of Metru Nui. Enticed by his visions of conquest, Nidhiki led his fellow Toa into an ambush only to have the tables turned on him by Lhikan, who had discovered his treachery and arranged for a counter-ambush. Disgraced by his teammates, Nidhiki was forced to leave with the Dark Hunters. The Shadowed One would later have him mutated into a monstrous form so as to keep the fallen Toa in check and prevent him from betraying his allies again.

    As a Toa, Nidhiki wore a Great Volitak, the Mask of Stealth, and wielded an Air Scythe.

TUYET, Toa of Water
    As a Matoran, Tuyet lived in the Ga-Wahi region of her home island Kora Nui, located south of Dagor Nui. She spent many years hearing tales of the Toa Dagor and dreamed of one day meeting them. After becoming a Toa, she learned from her Turaga elder Barresh about the existence of the Nui Stone, a powerful artifact that could absorb Toa Power. Hungry for its power, Tuyet stole the Nui Stone before leaving Kora Nui to fight the Kanohi Dragon.

    Five hundred years later, Tuyet realized that the Dark Hunters were coming after her for the Nui Stone. To ward them off, she began murdering Matoran and framing the Dark Hunters for their deaths, hoping that her teammates Lhikan and Nidhiki would scare them off. However, the other two Toa soon uncovered her plot and defeated her. Tuyet was subsequently imprisoned in the Coliseum before being taken away to the Pit by Botar.

    Toa Tuyet wore a Great Mask of Intangibility and wielded a Barbed Broadsword.

NAHO, Toa of Water
   Like Lhikan, Naho hailed from the Northern Continent before becoming a Toa. After the Toa Mangai had settled in Metru Nui, Naho became the most liked of the two Toa of Water living in Ga-Metru as the Ga-Matoran found Tuyet too distant. In particular, Naho had a close friendship with the teacher Nokama, who would later honor Naho by naming a beach on the island of Mata Nui after her.

    During the Toa-Dark Hunter War, Naho was sent to the nearby island of Kangaro to request reinforcement and returned with an army of Toa, driving the Dark Hunters off Metru Nui. Years later, after Turaga Dume had been impersonated by Makuta Teridax, Naho was sent on an off-island mission, where she was killed by the Dark Hunter Eliminator.

    Toa Naho wore a Great Huna, the Mask of Concealment.

IRUS, Toa of Ice
   Irus was not a trusting soul. Even as a Ko-Matoran living on the Tren Krom Peninsula, Irus was always distrusting of his fellow villagers. Together with Nidhiki, he answered the call to Metru Nui and became one of four Toa of Ice in the Toa Mangai. He frequently clashed with Nidhiki, who hated it when Irus used his mask to detect him. Like most of the Toa Mangai, he was killed by Eliminator during an off-island mission.

    Toa Irus wore a Great Rode, the Mask of Truth.

ARKTUS, Toa of Ice
   Unlike most Ice-types, who tend to be uptight and aloof, Arktus was a more jovial and spirited soul. Because of this, the Ko-Matoran of Metru Nui found him difficult to relate with and Arktus often found himself feeling unwelcome in Ko-Metru. As such, he tended to accept missions that took him away from Metru Nui. During one of these missions, set up as a ruse by Makuta Teridax, Arktus was killed by the Dark Hunter Eliminator.

    Toa Arktus wore a Great Calix, the Mask of Fate.

BAARU, Toa of Ice
    Like his brother Sorru, Baaru was a silent type, rarely speaking and interacting with his fellow Toa. He would often spend his time in the Knowledge Towers of Ko-Metru, studying with Ko-Matoran scholars. He would later be killed by Eliminator.

    Toa Baaru wore a Great Kaukau, the Mask of Water Breathing.

SORRU, Toa of Ice
    Like his brother Baaru, Sorru was a quiet one, rarely interacting with his fellow Toa. Along with Baaru, he would spend his time studying with Ko-Matoran scholars in Ko-Metru. He would later be killed by Eliminator.

    Toa Sorru wore a Great Mask of Conjuring.

MARN, Toa of Earth
   Marn had been a Toa longer than any of the other Toa Mangai, having known Dume personally back when the Turaga of Metru Nui was a Toa himself. As the wisest and most experienced Toa on the team, Lhikan made him deputy leader of the Toa Mangai after he had refused to take full leadership of the team. When Makuta Teridax impersonated Turaga Dume, he sent Marn and Toa Tiron to close the Sea Gates to Metru Nui, where they were killed by Eliminator.

    Toa Marn wore a Great Kakama, the Mask of Speed.

TIRONN, Toa of Stone
   Hailing from Dagor Nui, Tironn had been a simple Po-Matoran craftsman when Dume and the Toa Dagor defended his homeland. After Dume became a Turaga, Tironn received a Toa Stone from his idol and was transformed into a Toa. When Metru Nui called for help, Tironn was one of the first to respond, flying straight away to the City of Legends to battle the Kanohi Dragon. Years later, when Turaga Dume -- in fact Makuta in disguise -- ordered the Sea Gates to be closed, Tironn obeyed the order without question and was subsequently killed by Eliminator.

    Toa Tironn wore a Great Kadin, the Mask of Flight.

PALAMA, Toa of Plant Life
   Also hailing from Dagor Nui, Palama was just as eager to lend a hand to Turaga Dume and followed his friend Tironn to Metru Nui. After the Toa Mangai were named the protectors of Metru Nui, Palama settled in Ga-Metru along with Toa Naho and Tuyet, as he felt the Ga-Matoran were closer to nature than the rest of the Matoran. He was later killed by Eliminator during a mission off-land.

    Toa Palama wore a Great Mask of Healing.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I decided to take some liberties with the Toa Mangai's names, giving them more original names rather than after locations on Mata Nui, if only to make my version of the Toa Mangai more unique. The exception to this is Marn (from Marn Tunnels), because I really couldn't think of a better name or modification

That said, some of the Mangai's names are modifications of Mata Nui location names, such as Tironn (Tiro Canyon) and Palama (Lake Pala).

The idea that Naho had swam to Lesovikk's homeland (named Kangaro here) during the Toa-Dark Hunter War was inspired by a headcanon on the Custom Bionicle Wiki's Tumblr (found here).

Bionicle Alternatives: Empire of Makuta V, Chapter Five

Yay, two chapters in one day.

CHAPTER FIVE

100,000 years ago

“Where are they? Where have you sent them?”

“Karzahni. They will find much happiness in Karzahni.”

Toa Lesovikk stared at the blabbering mess in front of him. Once, not so long ago, he had seen Turaga Orlan as one of if not the wisest being in the universe. Always ready with a few words of wisdom to impart on the Matoran of Kangaro, Orlan was someone many had looked up to, including Lesovikk. To see him like this, muttering incoherent nonsense, was a surreal sight. Having already lost his teammates and now his friends, Lesovikk was ready to wake up from this bad dream.

But it wasn’t a dream. No matter how much he wished it so, the scene was not going to change.

Shock and grief were washed away by a sudden wave of anger. Clenching his fists, Lesovikk stormed over to Orlan and grabbed him by his ceremonial robes, hoisting him to his feet. He stared into the eyes behind the Turaga’s brown Mask of Telekinesis, searching for a shred of sanity.

“Why did you do it?” the Toa of Air growled.

The Turaga threw his head back and laughed. Lesovikk’s rage only increased as he started to shake the elder.

“WHY DID YOU DO IT?!”

Laughter was his only response. It echoed all around the hut they were in, ringing in Lesovikk’s ears.

He threw Orlan to the ground, looking down at him with anger and disgust. Still the Turaga laughed, as if this was all some big joke he had pulled off.

Realizing that he was not going to get anything from the elder, Lesovikk turned and stormed out of the hut. The mad Turaga’s cackling followed him all the way to the shore. He could still hear it in the distance even as he boarded his boat and set off into the Silver Sea.

Present day

“Let’s see… what mask would best suit you?”

Takua sat slumped against the wall of a dark chamber, too weak to move. A few feet away, his blue Kanohi Pakari laid shattered on the ground, having been stepped on by Karzahni after the mad tyrant had forcibly removed it from Takua’s face. Already he could feel his energy quickly slipping away, threatening to throw him into a deep coma.

“Ah! Here we go.”

Just as darkness began to envelop his vision, Takua felt something fall over his face, filling him with energy once more. He looked up to see Karzahni standing over him, regarding him with the look of a proud craftsman.

“There. Now your new life can begin.”

Takua ran a hand over his new mask, feeling its sharp edges. It was not a design he recognized; it certainly wasn’t something Vakama or Nuhrii would have made. Whatever type of mask it was, it didn’t at all feel right on his face. Whereas his original mask felt like a natural part of his body (even though it never really fit properly), this one felt like an obstruction. His body screamed for him to take it off, but he knew doing so would only upset Karzahni and more than likely earn him a swift death. He would have to grin and bear it if he wanted to find a way off this cursed island.

First, however, he would need to rescue the Rahaga (and the Toa Metru, if they were still alive). To do that, he would have to wait until Karzahni wasn’t paying any attention to him....

“Now then, off to work with you,” Karzahni said, opening a door that led back out into the hellish landscape. “The forges require attendance. Go.”

Figuring that the best tactic for now was to feign obedience, Takua dutifully marched out of the chamber. He could feel Karzahni’s gaze on him as he made his way towards an open forge, where dozens of Matoran were hard at work. The moment he picked up a hammer, he heard the door slam and turned to see that Karzahni was gone. Knowing it would be foolish to make a move now, he joined the other Matoran and began striking his hammer against a piece of heated metal.

Not paying much attention to whatever he was making, Takua spared a moment to regard his coworkers. The one standing next to him was a green Le-Matoran with a strange mask and haunted red eyes. Their movements seemed almost robotic as they repeatedly banged their tool against metal. Never once did they stop to gather their strength or do anything other than the task at hand. It was as if they were trapped in an eternal loop, doomed to work for the rest of their lives.

Takua grimaced as he realized that that was most likely the idea. For all he knew, these Matoran could have been here for thousands of years.

He cleared his throat, hoping to get the Le-Matoran to stop and look up at him. This did nothing, so Takua decided to speak up instead. “So, what’s your name?”

The Le-Matoran glanced at him for the briefest of seconds but just as quickly returned to work, remaining silent. Takua frowned and looked over at the others. He was surprised to see the one that had “greeted” him and the Rahaga earlier among them, hard at work as all of the others were.

“Hey, you!” Takua called over to him.

The strange Matoran affixed his shadowed eyes upon him, his expression unreadable as ever. “Don’t speak,” he said in a deadly whisper. “Just work.”

“I never got your name. You do have a name, don’t you?”

“Don’t speak. Just work.”

Takua was starting to grow impatient. What had Karzahni done to these Matoran to reduce them to such a state?

“This is ridiculous,” he said, making sure he was loud enough to be heard over the clanking of metal. “No Matoran should be forced to live like this. Why would a Turaga send anyone to a horrible place like this?”

“Quiet,” the Matoran with the haunted mask said. “He will hear you.”

“Good! Let him hear me. It’s about time someone finally spoke up and gave him a piece of their mind.”

“You wouldn’t be the first,” murmured the other Matoran. “It won’t end well for you.”

“We’ll see about that,” Takua said.

“Yes, we shall.”

A hand grabbed Takua by the shoulder and turned him around, bringing him face-to-face with Karzahni. The green and purple tyrant glared down at him, a nasty scowl on his hideous mask. It flashed with energy and Takua was sent spiraling into another world.

Metru Nui laid in ruins. The Coliseum, once the proud centerpiece of the City of Legends, had been reduced to rubble.

Matoran mindlessly marched to the orders of Makuta and his Rahkshi enforcers. Vahki patrolled every corner of each Metru, ensuring that its denizens were hard at work.

The Toa and Turaga were all dead. Anyone who dared to defy Makuta were granted the same fate. Jaller, Hewkii, Nokama… they tried to resist, but were killed for their efforts. Their bodies were taken to the furnaces of Ta-Metru and melted down for raw materials.

The rest of the universe was no better off. The Brotherhood of Makuta were in complete dominance of the universe, turning it into a world of darkness.

Prayers to the Great Spirit went unanswered. No one, not even Mata Nui, could save them now.

The vision ended as soon as it had began. Takua stumbled back, nearly falling into the forge. His heart pounded against his chest as he tried to catch his breath. He tried to convince himself that it wasn’t real; that it was just a trick Karzahni was pulling on him.

But the very prospect of what he had just witnessed had sufficiently chilled him. The fire of defiance that he had felt just minutes ago had been extinguished, leaving an empty feeling of dread in its place.

Karzahni grinned sadistically. “Now that you have been properly disciplined, perhaps now you would like to return to work.”

It wasn’t so much a suggestion as it was an order. Takua’s body seemed to act on its own as he picked up his hammer again and turned back to the forge. The fires of the furnace danced as a chilly breeze passed over them.

In the distance, he heard the screech of a Rahi beast. It sounded not unlike the Manas crabs that had assailed him and the others earlier, except it sounded as if it was in pain.

Karzahni went still as he listened to these sounds, which were already becoming louder and more numerous. His eyes roamed the landscape of his realm as he scanned it with his mind. The wind started to pick up, causing his cape to billow behind him.

There were new arrivals to his land, Karzahni could tell. Yet none of them were Matoran.

Takua looked up to see a tornado raging across the land of Karzahni, carrying dozens of Manas crabs in its throes. As the Rahi were thrown in various directions, the tornado tore through the buildings and sculptures that dominated the land, reducing them to rubble. As the vortex continued its rampage, a green-armored figure descended from it and landed atop Karzahni’s fortress. At first, Takua thought it was Toa Orkahm, but the figure’s mask and armor were unlike any he had seen before. As the Toa of Air brandished a silver blade, his red eyes flashed behind his lime-green mask, regarding Karzahni with a look of utter hatred.

“Karzahni,” the Toa cried, his voice as loud as the raging tornado. “You will pay for what you have done.”

“I don’t even know who you are,” Karzahni replied, sounding genuinely perplexed.

“You will.”

With that, Toa Lesovikk jumped from the top of the fortress and prepared to deliver his vengeance.

Transformers Regenerated: Pax Cybertronia XII, Chapter Eight

CONVERGING PATHS

“Lower your weapons,” Fearstorm said. “We would like to make you an offer.”

“Release our friend,” Nautica shot back. “We would like to shoot you in the face.”

“Hardly the warm welcome we were expecting,” Fearstorm muttered. He gestured at the restrained Skids in his and Viral’s clutches. “We are offering you the release of your friend, on the condition that you return to us what is ours.”

“Rung is our friend, too,” said Nightbeat, keeping his gun pointed at the Vehicon’s head. “They’re both staying with us, while you two can kindly take a trip to the scrapheap.”

Fearstorm glared at him. “You realize that you Autobots would be no challenge for us, yes? Viral and I can easily dispatch all seven of you and take Rung for ourselves.”

Skids chuckled at this, despite his predicament. “Oh, so you’re not going to tell them how easily I dispatched you?”

“Silence!” Fearstorm snarled, striking the Autobot across the head.

Thunderclash smirked. “Well, if that’s the case, it would seem the odds are easily in our favor. You two really have no room to wager.”

“Is that right?” A gun unfurled from the Vehicon’s arm as he pressed it against Skids’ head. “Because I think I have plenty of room to wager!”

“Just shoot him in the head,” Skids said, not at all bothered by the gun barrel in his face. “It’s his main weak spot.”

“You are playing with fire, Autobot,” Fearstorm growled at him. “Don’t think for a nanosecond that I won’t—”

The Vehicon abruptly went silent as he moved with a start. He dropped his gun arm away from Skids as he straightened up, a look of shock emanating from his faceplate.

“No,” he murmured.

“I hear it, too,” said Viral.

“It can’t be… he’s dead, isn’t he?”

All of the Autobots exchanged confused looks, not daring to move their weapons away from the pair. “Do I dare ask what’s going on?” said Nightbeat.

Viral inclined his head to look at Fearstorm. “Is this part of the plan? Does the Grand Architect want us all to—?”

“The message doesn’t apply to us,” Fearstorm was quick to interject. “We aren’t Decepticons anymore. Unless this is so the Grand Architect can clear the board, so to speak….”

“All right, I’ve had enough of this,” Whirl said as he immediately unloaded his guns on the two. Thunderclash quickly grabbed Skids and pulled him out of the line of fire while Fearstorm and Viral were blasted back into the hallway. As Fearstorm was about to return fire, Viral suddenly grabbed him and the two of them vanished in a flash of light.

Just as the ex-Wrecker had ceased fire, a voice crackled over the intercom. “Autobots, we’ve arrived at Verenya,” came the voice of Elita-One. “Meet me at the command center as soon as possible.”

“Well,” Nightbeat said as he freed Skids from his stasis cuffs. “That was certainly… an experience.”

“What do you think it was that the two of them heard?” Nautica asked.

“Who can say?” Thunderclash said, already heading out of the lab. “Let’s not keep Elita waiting.”

As the others began to follow him, Skids walked over to Rung and slapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, Eyebrows! Didn’t think I was gonna leave you, did you?”

Rung smiled weakly. “Well, we were all about to come and rescue you….”

“At least I saved you the trouble.” Skids then tilted his head, his optic ridges furrowing in concern. “Hey, what’s the matter? You don’t seem too happy.”

Rung shook his head. “This… this all feels too easy. Why did Fearstorm and Viral retreat so quickly when it was me they were after?”

Skids shrugged. “Wish I could tell you. Do you even know why they’re after you?”

“I haven’t yet pieced it together,” Rung said solemnly. “However, I think I’ve finally figured out what my function is.”

“And what is that?”

“Wait until we get to the command center,” Rung replied. “It will be easier to explain when we get there.”

“Whatever you say, Eyebrows,” Skids said. “Whatever you say.”

*  *  *

“You idiot!” Fearstorm wrestled free from Viral’s grip, pushing him to the ground. The two of them had teleported outside of Metroplex and onto the earth below. The giant Titan hovered over them as it made its way towards a city in the distance.

“We almost had him!” the Vehicon growled. “We could have taken advantage of the Autobots’ confusion and grabbed Rung then and there! Now Tyrest will kill us both for sure!”

“Something isn’t right, Fearstorm,” Viral replied, calm despite the fact Fearstorm’s hand was wrapped around his neck. “Megatron is dead; how can he be speaking to us now?”

“He’s died before, hasn’t he? At least, that’s what I heard. Besides, it’s not as if any of us saw us die.”

Viral had no argument for that. Still, he craved a logical explanation for all that was happening and wasn’t going to allow anyone to stop him. “We should contact Tyrest, tell him what’s happening.”

“And be punished for our prolonged failure? No thanks.” Fearstorm tightened his grip. “Take us back now before I rip out your Transwarp drive and go back there myself.”

“Except they will be on the defensive now. If we go back, they will gun us down without a second thought.”

“I’d rather die at their hands than from whatever Tyrest or the Grand Architect have in store for us,” Fearstorm muttered.

Before Viral could reply, a flash of light caught his optical sensors. Both he and Fearstorm turned to see a tall metal figure materialize out of thin air. Plated in black armor with teal highlights and red-tinted windows on his chest, the newcomer seemed to disregard the two of them as he looked up at Metroplex before turning his gaze towards the city of Verenya.

“Interesting,” he murmured to himself. “This may complicate matters.”

“I’m sorry, but just who do you think you are?” Fearstorm asked, letting go of Viral to fully face the stranger.

The black bot glanced at him, regarding him with disinterest. “Who’s asking?”

“Someone you would be wise not to cross.”

The stranger laughed. “Oh, that’s just adorable. I bet that sounded more intimidating in your head, didn’t it?”

Fearstorm fumed as he rolled his hands into fists. “Answer the question before I—”

“The name’s Scourge. I would love to stick around and get to know you better, but I have a very important task to complete.”

“You’re not going anywhere!” Fearstorm roared as he lunged at Scourge… but the black truck bot was gone in another flash of light before he could even make contact and he landed face-first onto the ground.

As the silver Vehicon got up, furiously wiping dirt from his face, Viral looked towards Verenya, where Scourge was sure to have teleported to. “We should go after him.”

Fearstorm glared at him. “Oh, so you’re willing to go after some wannabe loser but you’re not willing to fulfill the vital mission that our superiors gave us?”

“Scorponok and his forces are there,” Viral replied. “That’s where they’re keeping the Talisman. If that is what this Scourge character is after, then stopping him is just as vital as retrieving Rung.”

“Uh-huh. If that’s the case then, when do you plan on actually getting Rung?”

“Soon. Right now, this is our most immediate priority. I’m sure the Grand Architect would understand.”

“You don’t know the Grand Architect any better than I do, which isn’t very much.” Fearstorm huffed as he shook his head in exasperation. “But I know now there’s no point in trying to reason with you.”

He reluctantly extended an arm and Viral grabbed it, teleporting them both to Verenya.

*  *  *

“You heard that, didn’t you?”

“Yup.”

“What do you think it means?”

“Dunno.”

Jazz listened as the two Decepticons went back and forth in their riveting conversation. Scorponok and the others had left the chamber to investigate something occurring outside, leaving just him and these two bozos. Whatever was going on, his guards didn’t have much more than a mild interest in it, leaving him utterly in the dark.

One of the Decepticons, a black and silver bot who went by the name of Treadshot, groaned as he stretched his arms, causing pistons to creak and snap. “Spark, this is so boring. Why did Banzai-Tron have me stay here and not, like... someone other than me?”

“You can ask him when he comes back,” replied the other guard, a gray and blue bot with a red helmet. Jazz believed his name was Take-Off or something. “I don’t know why you’re asking me.”

“It’s called a rhetorical question, moron. I wasn’t asking you.”

“Whatever,” Take-Off muttered, revving lowly in irritation. He looked towards the tunnel leading out of the chamber. “What’s taking Dropkick so long?”

“Probably got lost. That guy couldn’t find his way to a recharge slab without Shatter giving him directions.”

“Do you think one of us should check on him?”

Treadshot shook his head. “I don’t give a crap about him. He still owes me 10,000 Shanix.”

Suddenly, Jazz could hear the pattering of feet echoing from down the tunnel. They sounded like they were approaching fast… and that there was more than one bot approaching.

The two Decepticons seemed to pick up on this as well as they both drew their weapons. At that moment, two figures appeared in the tunnel’s entryway and neither of them were Dropkick. Treadshot deployed a launcher from his shoulder and fired a missile at the approaching Autobots. Mirage and Cliffjumper jumped aside to dodge the projectile before firing their guns. While Treadshot returned fire, Take-Off grabbed Jazz by the stasis cuffs and dragged him forward, bringing him in clear view of the other two Autobots.

“Hold your fire!” Take-Off cried as he pressed his gun against Jazz’s head. “Or else I send your friend to the scrapyard.”

The two Autobots immediately ceased fire. Take-Off grinned, satisfied with the position he had put himself in.

“That’s more like it. Now drop your weapons and put your hands behind your heads.”

Cliffjumper and Mirage exchanged glances with one another, their faces unreadable. The latter then turned back to the Decepticons and lowered his gun, but did not drop it.

“How about we negotiate?”

Cliffjumper shot him a confused glance. Even Treadshot and Take-Off were taken aback. “Negotiate?” the former repeated.

“You let our friend go and I can make both of you wealthier than your wildest dreams.”

Take-Off laughed. “Hold on. Are you… are you seriously offering to pay us?”

“I’m what they call ‘old money,’ pal,” Mirage replied. “Back on Cybertron, before the war, I owned one of the biggest estates in all of Translucentica Heights. Even some of the High Council’s most prestigious members couldn’t have said the same.”

“Yeah, well, that was over a thousand years ago. You wouldn’t have all that money now.”

Mirage smiled. “On the contrary, you will find that I have more than enough to my name.”

He then brought out a small projector and turned it on, bringing up a holographic display of a very large number with over ten digits in it. The two Decepticons stared at the sum in awe.

“Dude,” Treadshot murmured, “we could buy all of the casinos on Monacus with that.”

“He’s bluffing,” Take-Off said even as he continued to stare at the number. “There’s no way a lowly Autobot like him could have more money than a Prime.”

“But what if he isn’t? We wouldn’t have to work for Scorponok anymore and be treated like crap.”

As the pair debated between themselves, they both failed to notice Cliffjumper as the small red Autobot darted past them and came up from behind, jumping onto Treadshot’s back. As the large Decepticon flailed in surprise, Cliffjumper unloaded his gun on Take-Off’s head, taking him out of commission. He then tore off Treadshot’s shoulder launcher before jumping off and firing the launcher. The blast sent Treadshot flying back as the recoil did the same to the smaller Cliffjumper. The Decepticon crashed into the nearest wall and was knocked offline by the impact, his red visor fading to black.

While Cliffjumper tried to get his bearings back, Mirage rushed over to Jazz and removed the stasis cuffs around his wrists. “How’s that for a rescue?” the blue and white Autobot asked with a smirk.

Jazz chuckled as he got up on his feet. “It’s one for the books, I’ll give you that.”

“Do you really have that much money?” Cliffjumper asked.

Mirage shook his head. “I honestly have no idea. That was just the amount I had before the war started.”

Cliffjumper scowled. “That was still incredibly arrogant and boastful of you.”

“You’re probably right.”

“All right, cut the chatter, you two,” Jazz said. “I think there’s some fun brewing outside… and I’m kinda itching to get a piece of it.”