Archive of Our Own ^beta

    It's going to be all right, Tailgate. No one's going to hurt you.

 

    He could still remember the soothing words of his caretaker as if they had been spoken only yesterday. When he had first been forged, he was absolutely terrified of everything around him. Only the calm, sweet voice of his caretaker could quell those fears.

 

    And now, sitting against an underground cave wall, with both of his legs missing, he really wished his guardian was here.

 

    Happy thoughts, Tailgate. Happy thoughts are key. Just like Rungian therapy; find your happy place.

 

    He groaned. Obviously his mind was totally oblivious to what had just happened. How could he have been so dumb? Taking a shortcut across the Mitteous Plateau, the most fragile terrain of all of Cybertron... if he hadn't taken his little detour, he would have reached the Ark by now.

 

    Great, he thought bitterly. Without him, the voyage was doomed.

 

    Moaning in despair, his attention turned to the energon rations he had been transporting. Suddenly, an idea lit in his mind: if he could crawl towards the energon, he could detonate them and blast himself out. Of course, given his condition, it could take anywhere from a minute to a day to reach the energon. But with his chronometer damaged, it hardly made a difference. And if he did miss the Ark's launch, he could at least get word out to the ship to pick him up.

 

    Tailgate chuckled to himself as he began to crawl towards the energon. Maybe he wasn't so dumb after all.

*  *  *

    To say that Chromedome was not happy with this loose alliance between the Autobots and the Decepticons would have been an understatement.

 

    It wasn't just that the 'Cons acted all acted "high-and-mighty" and regarded anyone who wasn't one of their own as inferiors- though that certainly was a factor. But it was also because the one Decepticon he had to be teamed up with was responsible for the deaths of at least twelve people he knew. 

 

    And was joking about it.

 

    "I've killed more Autobots than you can count on both hands in less time than this 'pick-up' is taking," muttered the Decepticon known as Shellshock. "That skinny friend of yours sure is taking his sweet little time."

 

    "His name is Rewind," Chromedome said bitterly. "If you're gonna be stuck with us, at least take the time to know our names and remember them."

 

    Shellshock sneered. "You wouldn't want that to happen. If I remember the name of someone, that means they're marked for death, and I'm going to put their name on the same plaque their head's gonna be on. So if you ever hear me utter your name- or your friend's- then you'd better start running. Not that you'd get far."

 

    If Chromedome had a pair of optics rather than a visor, he would have rolled them. He actually would have tolerated this alliance a bit more if these 'Cons weren't so talkative. 

 

    Activating the communicator on his right arm, Chromedome said, "Rewind, how are things going in there?"

 

    "Slow, Domey," came the reply. "Whoever last owned Darkmount's archives loved encrypting even last thing... even a recipe of baked energon pie."

 

    Chromedome sighed. Their mission had been to visit the ruins of Darkmount (the old one in Polyhex, not the new one on Lucifer) and download its archives if they were still intact. Neither Chromedome, Rewind or Shellshock were told why they would be downloading the archives.

 

    "Well, try to hurry it up, buddy," Chromedome then said. "This place creeps me out at night and the Fallen could be watching us from who knows where."

 

    "I'll try, Domey. Rewind out."

 

    As he ended the connection, Chromedome heard a snort and he glanced at Shellshock, was was visibly chuckling.

 

    "'Domey,' huh?" the Decepticon said. "Is that a common nickname for you?"

 

    "Call me that and you'll be marked for death."

*  *  *

    Sifting through Darkmount's datalogs, trying to decipher them, Rewind couldn't help but wonder why hand the others had been sent here. The temporarily-united Autobots and Decepticons' goal was to find the being who called himself the Fallen and put a stop to his machinations. And so far none of what he was finding looked useful to that specific situation.

 

    Battle plans for the Fifth Battle of Polyhex, schematics for the Death Dagger, a secret message from Trannis... all of this had been made during the First Great War many millennia ago and was now obsolete. 

 

    He was half-considering bringing this seemingly futile endeavor to a stop when he crossed something that piqued his interest: a personal document created by Darkmount's former ruler himself, Straxus. Seeing that it was the most heavily encrypted thing he had come across so far, Rewind decided to download it into his personal memory banks so that more skilled intelligence agents could decipher it.

 

    After another twenty minutes, he found nothing else of use and so decided to stop his work there. At the same time, his communicator beeped and he answered it to hear Chromedome speak.

 

    "You done yet, Rewind?"

 

    "All done, Domey," Rewind said. "Only found one thing of use though."

 

    "That's fine, just as long as we can get it to High Command, and fast."

 

    "Why the rush? Does the Fallen have turbofoxes prowling on us?"

 

    "Not turbofoxes," Chromedome muttered. "More like two unaligned fliers tracking us."

 

    Rewind felt his spark drop. "Oh."

    Tailgate groaned as he inched closer to the energon rations in his trailer. This escape of his would be going faster if he didn't keep passing out. He had half the mind to run a diagnosis on his systems to figure out the problem, but felt too weak to do so. Instead, he simply continued to crawl towards the trailer.

 

    Stay focused. Keep calm. You're nearly there.

 

    After passing out for about the sixth time in an hour, he awoke with a worried thought: what if this plan failed? What if he was doomed to be stuck down here forever?

 

    No, he told himself. Keep calm. You're gonna make it, Tailgate.

 

    Besides, he reminded himself, he was too important to just be ignored, forgotten about. It was, after all, him who convinced the Prime to disembark from Cybertron. He was a champion kick-boxer, one of Omega Supreme's top students, a graduate of the Ibex School of Epistemology. He had a reputation proceeding him!

 

    He once again reached for the energon... and collapsed once more.

*  *  *

    "Retrieval Team to Watchout Team. We've got trouble."

 

    Lifting herself up, Windblade peered over her hiding spot and grimaced. Heading towards Chromedome, Rewind, and Shellshock's position were two fliers- one black and maroon, the other violet and gray.

 

    "Wonderful," she muttered. "Hang in there, Chromedome. Red Wing and I are on the way."

 

    "Last one there eats my dust!" Red Wing cackled as he transformed into his jet mode and took off towards the two mysterious fliers.

 

    Windblade rolled her eyes as she did the same. Of all the Seekers she had to be paired up with, it had to be the one whose personality not even his fellow Decepticons could tolerate.

 

    Advancing towards the unidentified pair, she got a lock on the purple jet and fired, scoring a hit on their left wing. A pained cry emitted from the flier as it plummeted towards the ground, crashing headfirst into a small building.

 

    "Amateur," she heard Red Wing scoff. "Shooting down a rookie is no amazing feat."

 

    "How do you know it was a rookie?" Windblade retorted. "Do you have files on every single flier on Cybertron?"

 

    "I recognized that particular one," the Seeker snapped back. "His name's Bugly and-"

 

    He was cut off by a barrage of fire coming from two separate directions. The assault was enough to tear off both of the Seeker's wings, causing him to crash as well. Windblade quickly morphed to her robot mode, landing with more grace, and unsheathed her energy-sword as she searched for the source of the attack.

 

    Approaching her position were Chromedome, Rewind, and Shellshock, who transformed from their vehicle modes and bore their weapons as well, forming a defensive circle with Windblade around the fallen Red Wing.

 

    "I don't see the black flier anymore," Rewind said quietly, hiding behind Chromedome's leg for he lacked weapons of his own. "Did you guys shoot him down?"

 

    "No," Windblade said. "He vanished after I shot down Bugly. He could be-"

 

    "There he is," Shellshock grunted, raising his multi-barreled cannon towards a far-away winged figure. "I've got him."

 

    Just as he was about to fire, Shellshock suddenly swung his large cannon and hit Chromedome with it, sending him flying onto his back.

 

    "Hey!" Rewind shouted, rushing to Chromedome's aid. "What the scrap was that for?"

 

    "I didn't mean to do that!" Shellshock snapped, trying to return his aim to the winged figure. "It's like someone invisible hand pushed me!"

 

    "It's Mindwipe," Chromedome muttered as he stood up. "That's his trick; he can hypnotize people and control them."

 

    "Well, I don't feel hypnotized! How can he get a lock on me?"

 

    "Your mind is like an open book, Shellshock," an eerie voice spoke out, echoing all around them. "You announce your next move before you perform it. You let people know that they're going to die by merely saying their name."

 

    "You're next, Mindwipe!" Shellshock bellowed, swinging his cannon all around him. "I'll kill you with my bare hands if I have to! I'll-"

 

    In the midst of swinging his weapon, the barrel of his cannon ended up pressing against his head and, against his will, he fired it. As his smoldering, headless corpse fell to the ground, the crashed jet form of Red Wing morphed into robot mode, moving around in a daze.

 

    "Ugh. What-?" The Seeker's eyes fell upon Shellshock's corpse and fury contorted his features as he looked back up at the Autobots. "Oh, so much for an alliance, eh? Well, in that case-"

 

    "Shut up," Windblade hissed, hitting him in the face with the hilt of her sword. "We need to get out of here. I can support a certain amount of weight, so when I turn into jet mode, you cling onto my back while Chromedome and Rewind hold onto my tail fin."

 

    "Well, what are you waiting for?" Red Wing snapped. "Transform and fly out!"

 

    "But what if you get shot down like Red Wing?" Rewind asked Windblade as she converted into her jet mode. "That attack came out of nowhere and-"

 

    "Got any better ideas?" Windblade said sharply. "Just grab on already."

*  *  *

    "They're getting away," Mindwipe hissed as the three Autobots and single Decepticon fled from the scene. "Why do we not take pursuit?"

 

    "I already told you," the mech standing next to him growled. "Our purpose is to scare them. We want them to report to their superiors about us. That way, they will eventually send out our targets one-by-one, straight into our hands, not knowing what they are doing."

 

    Mindwipe narrowed his eyes. "But that fem-bot was one of our targets as well. Why don't we capture her now?"

 

    "We will eventually. For now, recover Bugly and return to the hideout. I will commence the next act and draw out our next victim."

 

    The winged hypnotist eyed his leader skeptically but did not question him further, instead moving to carry out his orders. He knew better than to question the Fallen's chosen herald.

    The stream of data reflected in his visor, Highbrow closely scrutinized the heavily-encrypted info Rewind had recovered from Polyhex. Standing on either side of him were Ultra Magnus and, much to his discomfort, Shockwave, both observing the data with him.

 

    "Straxus clearly treasured this particular piece of data more than anything," Highbrow mused aloud. "It would take forever to decipher hit."

 

    "Straxus is still among your forces, is he not?" Ultra Magnus asked Shockwave.

 

    The mono-eyed Decepticon shook his head. "Lord Megatron dispatched him and other warlords to worlds far away from New Kaon to stall any attempts to overthrow him. No one knows his current location but Megatron himself."

 

    Ultra Magnus raised an eyebrow. "I would think someone as highly ranked as you would have the privilege to know such information."

 

    "Our command hierarchy is not exactly similar to yours, Autobot."

 

    Highbrow cleared his throat, hoping to diffuse the tension. "So, er, how do you propose we figure this out?"

 

    "I believe we can save this until another day," Shockwave said dismissively. "I highly doubt it is relevant to our conflict with the Fallen."

 

    "I... agree," Ultra Magnus muttered. "We should attend to that piece of info later and continue our search for the Fallen."

 

    Highbrow frowned. "But what if Straxus does know something about the Fallen? This could be vital data."

 

    "Straxus never believed in such myths," Shockwave said. "Part of why he did not accompany Nova Prime on the original Ark despite having been part of his inner circle; he did not believe in what Nova ventured for." 

 

    Highbrow looked doubtfully at the one-eyed Decepticon but merely shrugged in consent. Once the two leaders had left his side however, he opened a private comm channel to one of his agents, whom he thought would be ideal in handling a case like this.

 

    "Nightbeat, I have a job for you...."

*  *  *

    Hardhead grunted as his Decepticon opponent slammed her fist into his abdomen. Staggering back, he tried to regather his thoughts quickly before the 'Con could attack again. As the massive tank of a Cybertronian threw another punch, Hardhead dodged it by jumping to the side.

 

    Watching the fight from nearby, a spindly, maroon-colored Decepticon cackled. "So much for being the 'toughest Autobot ever.' How 'bout bein' the lamest Autobot ever?"

 

    Hardhead scowled. "No one asked you, Roadkill."

 

    "And no one asked you to pick a fight with me," growled his opponent Blockade, the smokestacks on her shoulders blowing out steam. "And yet you consider us to be the oppressors."

 

    "I wasn't trying to pick fights, just wanted a challenge is all. A little fighting practice never hurt  anyone."

 

    "Except the loser." Blockade charged and rammed into Hardhead, sending the latter flying off his feet and landing hard on the ground. As he scrambled to get up, the larger Cybertronian pummeled him with her mighty fists, preventing him from rising.

 

    "Okay," he shouted in between punches. "I concede. You win. Just stop pounding me!"

 

    "What's the matter?" Blockade said tauntingly. "Whatever happened to Mr. Toughest Autobot Ever?"

 

    "He was waiting for an opportunity."

 

    Before Blockade could react, a cannon folded out of Hardhead's right shoulder and fired a missile into her face. The silver and black 'Con reared back as she recoiled from the attack. At the same time, Roadkill jumped in between the two combatants and unfurled his saw-flail.

 

    "Wanna play dirty, eh?" he cackled. "Fine by me!"

 

    "That's enough fighting for one day."

 

    The three combatants turned to see a blue and yellow mech standing there, hands planted firmly on his hips.

 

    Smirking, Hardhead said, "Hey there, Nightbeat. What's up?"

 

    Frowning, Nightbeat said, "Picking fights, I see."

 

    "Challenges," Roadkill said with a maniacal grin. "And if you don't mind, we would like to finish this one here."

 

    "Not today," Nightbeat said coolly. "If you don't mind, Hardhead, I'd like to speak with you."

 

    The large green Autobot shrugged. "Okay."

 

    The two Autobots moved away from Blockade and Roadkill, and once the troublesome duo were out of hearing range, Hardhead said quietly to Nightbeat, "So, what's up?"

 

    "Highbrow wants to find out Straxus' current whereabouts," Nightbeat replied. "Apparently he's not on Cybertron with Shockwave's forces, nor on Lucifer, but somewhere else in the galaxy."

 

    "Not even Shockwave knows where he is?"

 

    The detective 'bot shook his head. "Only Megatron does, and he sent Straxus away shortly after the war broke out. Who knows what he's been up to since then."

 

    Hardhead slowly nodded. "So you need me to help find him?"

 

    "You and others. There's a good chance Straxus is cooking up something to take out Megatron and I cannot begin to fathom handling this on my own."

 

    Hardhead cracked a grin. "Then you can count me in. Who else is coming along?"

 

    Nightbeat returned the smile. "That's kind of why I need you; to be a recruiter."

*  *  *

    "Are the charges ready?"

 

    The Pyrobot he had hired nervously nodded his head. "Y-yes, sir. They're all primed for detonation."

 

    "Excellent," Bludgeon hissed, rising from the cross-legged meditative position he had been in. "I am grateful for your services, though I have no way to repay you...."

 

    "Th-there's no need," the Pyrobot said. "Really. I just want to go home...."

 

    "'Home?'" Bludgeon spoke the word with spite. "This isn't our home anymore. Why else would we have ravaged and torn it apart so much?"

 

    Before the Pyrobot could respond, Bludgeon unsheathed a blade and plunged it through the mech's chest and into his spark.

 

    "We don't belong here anymore," Bludgeon murmured into his audio receptor. "Cybertron doesn't want us."

 

    As the Pyrobot's lifeless corpse slid off his blade, Bludgeon brought out the detonator connected to the bombs placed around Nova Point, one of the few remaining structures still standing in the once-beautiful city of Iacon.

 

    "Let it burn."

    "I'm feeling a bit of 'deja vu' here," Brainstorm muttered. "And not in a good way."

 

    The self-proclaimed Autobot Genius moved about his (rather small) lab within the new Autobot HQ while Nightbeat and Hardhead watched him. Brainstorm was clearly not as comfortable here as he was at Kimia Facility, where he had more access to materials. But like a lot of Kimia's personnel, he had been recalled here for assistance in sustaining Cybertron after the Cataclysm.

 

    "Look," Nightbeat said, "I'm really sorry to bother you, but we need someone clever who can get us out of stick situations."

 

    "And I would love to do just that," Brainstorm replied in a not-so-sincere tone. "But I'm pretty busy at the moment."

 

    Hardhead scoffed. "What could possibly be more worth your time? A magic wand that can restore Cybertron, end this war, and make Megatron deliver us presents while wearing a frilly Nebulan maid outfit?"

 

    "Not... exactly," Brainstorm said, giving him an odd look. "I mean... it's not a wand, but it could be able to do those things....."

 

    Nightbeat sighed, rubbing his temple. "So, are you in or out?"

 

    Before the self-certified genius could reply, the ground shook violently. Nightbeat pushed past Hardhead and Brainstorm to reach the latter's window. Outside was a scene that would hardly make his day better.

 

    Nova Point was on fire.

*  *  *

    "So it just exploded? Just like that?"

 

    Standing before the flaming tower with several Protectobots, Inferno solemnly nodded. "Like someone threw a bunch of grenades from within. Should we head in there to find what exactly caused it?"

 

    Hot Spot, chief of the Protectobots, shook his head. "Too dangerous. Besides, this place has been around for as long as anyone can remember and hasn't been used since Declaration Day. I doubt anyone would've been inside to cause it or-"

 

    "Help! Help me!" a voice cried out from inside the building.

 

    His optics dilated. Spoke too soon.

 

    Pushing past the other Protectobots, ignoring their protesting calls, Hot Spot rushed into the tower, bracing the raging flames.

 

    "Help!" He followed the cry up a set of spiraling metal stairs, which threatened to break apart with each step he took. Upon reaching the final step, the entire staircase collapsed behind him, robbing him of an escape path.

 

    The key word being an, of course. He had jumped out of plenty windows before.

 

    "Help me!" The cries were getting closer. He traced them to the Observation Bay and and rushed to it, only to find the entrance wedged close. With all of his might, he threw his body against the door until it finally broke open.

 

    Just as he staggered into the room, a large figure emerged from the flames and seized him by the neck.

 

    "Help me," it hissed before Hot Spot was consumed by darkness.

*  *  *

    "Hot Spot? Chief, come in!"

 

    Inferno looked frantically from his comlink to the blazing tower. "I've lost him. He's not responding."

 

    "Blades, fly up there and see if you can spot him," Heatwave ordered.

 

    The red helicopter bot nodded as he transformed into his alt mode and hovered up towards the peak of the tower. He soon reported, "No sign of him."

 

    "Frag," Heatwave muttered. "Let's clear the area. This place is about to fall on top of us."

 

    As the Protectobots began to evacuate the vicinity, Inferno could have sworn he caught the silhouette of a figure moving through the flames, but the urgent calls from Heatwave and the others diverted his attention.

*  *  *

    "That's another one down," Bugly muttered, still wincing from his earlier crash. "How many to go?"

 

    "Seven," Bludgeon replied as he, Bugly, and Mindwipe traveled through a passage deep underneath Cybertron, dragging the unconscious Hot Spot. "The Fallen is no doubt growing impatient with our progress. He has already captured four in roughly the same amount of time we have captured merely one."

 

    Bugly sneered. "Have you seriously been keeping track?"

 

    Bludgeon stopped only to shoot him a glare. When Bugly's optics dilated in fear and he took backed off from him, Bludgeon turned around and resumed walking.

 

    The three of them eventually reached a circular chamber. At its center was a large, golden plate which their master, the Fallen, stood atop. Connected to the plate were thirteen capsules, three of which were filled with captured Cybertronians. While the rest were vacant, there was one in particular that caught Bludgeon's notice.

 

    "Grimlock is missing," he muttered.

 

    "No, he isn't," the Fallen said, his ancient voice resonating throughout the chamber. "I have sent him away to the Jungle Planet to... properly tap into his primal spirit. He will be back with us shortly."

 

    Bludgeon grunted as he unceremoniously dropped Hot Spot to the ground. "Anyway, here's another to add to the collection. I understand that our progress is slow going."

 

    "Yes, it certainly is," the Fallen said coldly. "I expected better from the three of you."

 

    "We actually had the opportunity to catch another of our targets earlier," Bugly said bitterly. "But Bludgeon had us let her escape."

 

    Bludgeon whirled towards Bugly, ready to tear his companion apart, when the Fallen used his telekinetic powers to turn him back around without laying a hand on him.

 

    "Is that so?" the fiery being hissed. "In that case, Bugly, you may handle the target Bludgeon allowed to escape. Mindwipe, you shall handle the one known as Jetfire. Make haste. Time is short."

 

    Once Bugly and Mindwipe had quickly transformed and taken off from the chamber, the Fallen returned his attention to Bludgeon, who, for once, was cowed by his presence.

 

    "As for you, Bludgeon... you and I shall handle a target together."

 

    Bludgeon nodded curtly. "Who would that be?"

 

    "A member of the Circle of Light named Ginrai. Shall we go to Theophany and procure him?"

 

    "Of course, master."

 

    Without another word, the Fallen placed a hand on his shoulder and they were gone.

    "I can assure you, Shockwave, that we had nothing to do with Nova Point's bombing."

 

    "You can say that a thousand times, and I will still remain unconvinced."

 

    Ultra Magnus sighed in exasperation. With each act the Fallen and his party committed, the Autobot and Decepticons' alliance grew more and more tense. It didn't help that their latest target was a famous Decepticon landmark.

 

    "Look, Shockwave," he said sternly, leaning across his desk. "I am just as upset as you are about this incident. Nova Point was a historic landmark even before Trannis' big speech, and it is an absolute shame to see it wiped out. It's clear that the Fallen- or someone working for him- was behind this."

 

    "There is certainly a seventy-five percent chance that that is the case," Shockwave said. "But the twenty-five percent suggests that your Autobots destroyed it to provoke us."

 

    Ultra Magnus felt his mouth fall open, unable to believe what he was hearing.

 

    "Why do you even care?" he murmured. "How can Nova Point mean anything to you? You weren't with the Decepticons on Declaration Day; you were still one of us, serving on the High Council."

 

    Shockwave was silent for a moment before saying quietly, "I am not speaking for myself when I provide these statistics, Ultra Magnus. Like you said, I couldn't care less about Nova Point. But some Decepticons might think differently."

 

    "Ah," Ultra Magnus murmured, leaning back into his seat. "You're saying that some Decepticons might break off from the alliance."

 

    Shockwave nodded. "For every Starscream, there is a Lugnut. I would be on the look out, if I were you."

 

    "I see. Well, then, thank you for the warning." Ultra Magnus then narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the violet-armored Decepticon. "Why aren't you still with us?"

 

    If Shockwave had been taken aback by the sudden question, he did not show it. "Why would I still be with you?"

 

    "You were one of the very few councilors not corrupted by power... and now you are one of Megatron's top generals. What changed?"

 

    "I did," was all Shockwave said before leaving Magnus' office.

*  *  *

    "So pretty much everyone said no?"

 

    Standing with Nightbeat outside the closed-down Maccadam's Old Oil House, Hardhead nodded. "Everyone on your list at least. Brainstorm's too busy with his top secret project, Chromia wasn't interested, Hotlink just laughed in my face...."

 

    "What about Windblade?" Nightbeat asked.

 

    "Couldn't find her. Chromia said I might find her with the Aerialbots, but they told me that they hadn't seen her... or Jetfire."

 

    Nightbeat frowned. "Oh, no...."

 

    "Think it means something?"

 

    "Think about it, Hardhead. Grimlock, Alpha Trion, Beta Maxx, Hot Spot, and now Windblade and Jetfire... there must be some sort of theme going on here."

 

    "Well, I'm not seeing it," Hardhead muttered. "The only think they have in common is that they're Autobots... and have red in their color scheme."

 

    "It must be something beyond that," Nightbeat said. "Perhaps its connected to Alpha Trion; that bot is a total mystery."

 

    "There's tons of rumors about him. Some say he's one of the Knights of Cybertron, others think he's a descendant of the Thirteen."

 

    "Things like that won't do us any good." As soon as he said that, something clicked in Nightbeat's head.

 

    Thirteen. The Fallen. Descendant.

 

    No doubt seeing the smirk creeping up on his face, Hardhead said, "Uh-oh. He's got an idea...."

 

    "I think we should pay Emirate Xaaron a visit."

 

    "...And he's lost me." 

*  *  *

    Night had fallen on Crystal City.

 

    Not the Crystal City that had once stood on Cybertron. Sure, it looked the same, with its spotless, magnificent buildings, gleaming in the moonlight... but it was not the one Ginrai had visited frequently on Cybertron. Of course, that Crystal City was long gone.

 

    Sitting next to him on a ledge that overlooked the city, Ginrai's stalwart companion and apprentice Wing Dagger said, "Why don't you trust him?"

 

    Ginrai did not so much as glance at him. "Who? The new guy?"

 

    "His name is Drift," Wing Dagger said. "And he's not really new since he's been with us for nearly seven years."

 

    "I don't see him as one of us," Ginrai said irritably. "He's little more than a hanger-on. And who knows if he's planning on summoning his Decepticon friends here."

 

    Wing Dagger opened his mouth, about ready to retort, when he and Ginrai noticed a flash of light down below. Exchanging glances, the two of them got up and gracefully dropped down from the ledge. Before they could touch ground, Ginrai suddenly felt himself hoisted up in the air by his feet, while Wing Dagger was sent crashing into a building.

 

    As Ginrai was slowly lowered down, his assailant came into view. Tall and heavily armed, the stranger was armored in all-black with strands of flame surrounding his body. His similarly fiery eyes bore into Ginrai's as their faces became level.

 

    "So, this is one of Dai Atlas' apprentices," the stranger murmured. "I am not impressed."

 

    Ginrai glared at him as he struggled to release himself from the invisible hold on him. "Who the Pit are you?"

 

    "I am the Fallen. You are my captive. It's as simple as that."

 

    Ginrai was about to snap at him, as well as struggle against the Fallen's unseen grip, when Crystal City suddenly vanished all around them and was replaced by a dark chamber. He then let out a yell as he was dropped into a capsule of sorts.

 

    "Do not bother struggling," the Fallen said as he moved to close the capsule. "You will never see the light again."

 

    Ginrai let out a series of curses and expletives at his captor but was forever silenced as the lid slammed shut.

    Emirate Xaaron had been rather eager to talk about the Thirteen when Nightbeat had visited him, and even went as far to provide him with the entire story of them (which he already knew), but the detective ultimately got what he needed.

 

    "According to the Thirteen belief system," he said to Hardhead as they stood outside HQ, "Cybertronians are separated into thirteen categories, each representing an aspect of one of the original Primes. For example, those with scientific qualities are 'descended' from Quintus Prime. Those with primal instincts are descended from Onyx Prime."

 

    "What a load of scrap metal," Hardhead muttered.

 

    "Shut up," Nightbeat snapped. "Anyway, let's look at those the Fallen's already captured and use that system. Alpha Trion's likely a Sigma descendant, being a historian."

 

    "I guess Windblade would be a Solus," Hardhead grumbled, grudgingly going along with this. "Only because she's the only female out of the group so far."

 

    "Grimlock, obviously an Onyx. That Triple Changer who broke out- Blitzwing, was it?- would probably be an Amalgamous, since few 'bots have more than two modes.

 

    "Beta Maxx is a Micronus, right? Being a Mini-Con and all. And what about Hot Spot and Jetfire?"

 

    Nightbeat shrugged. "Those two have got me stumped. And I can't think of anyone who could be a Prima or a Vector descendent."

 

    "What about a Quintus? There's plenty of scientists out there."

 

    "Jetfire would probably fit that bill. Anyway, that leaves at least six- or five, rather, since the Fallen's got himself- to still be captured." Nightbeat sighed. "And it literally could be anyone."

 

    "Well, maybe we could be next," Hardhead said. "Then I would gladly bash the Fallen's head in and get some answers to leak out with his energon."

 

    Nightbeat smirked. "Good luck with that."

*  *  *

    "I'm surprised your head's still connected to your shoulders," Bugly said to Bludgeon as the latter rejoined him and Mindwipe upon returning from Theophany with the Fallen. "I would think that, after melting your face, that would be the next punishment."

 

    Bludgeon responded by backhanding Bugly across the face. As the winged one recoiled from the attack, Bludgeon said, "Quiet. I'm sure the Fallen has our next assignment planned."

 

    "Indeed I have," the Fallen said, suddenly appearing behind him. "Only four remain now. If you manage to capture the primary one, I can easily procure the other three, and then we may be able to proceed with the Unbinding."

 

    "Will the primary be difficult to capture?" asked Mindwipe.

 

    "In a way," the Fallen replied. "Rather than go out and capture him, you shall instead lure him to us."

 

    "For what purpose?" Bludgeon asked.

 

    The Fallen glared at him. "Why question my orders when it is simple enough to merely follow them?"

 

    Bludgeon said nothing, knowing his place.

 

    "As such," the Fallen continued, "your next task is simple: find the primary target and lure him to this chamber. Employ whatever means are necessary, as long as he's alive when he reaches here."

 

    Recovered from Bludgeon's reprimand, Bugly grinned wickedly. "Now this is what I signed up for."

*  *  *

    "We've received a distress signal."

 

    Moving through the (rather crowded) command center, Sergeant Kup walked up to the Autobot officer's station, leaning forward to view his monitor.

 

    "Where from?" Kup asked.

 

    "Close to the Mitteous Plateau, towards Rivets Field."

 

    Kup looked towards Ultra Magnus, who had just entered the room, and waved him over. The Autobot commander viewed the monitor for a moment before speaking.

 

    "I'll take a squad over to investigate."

 

    Kup stared at him skeptically. "With all due respect, sir, I believe I shoulder handle it. You're too valuable as a leader to lose if this turns out to be a trap."

 

    "Which is why I'm leaving you in charge in case something does happened."

 

    The veteran's mouth fell agape, taken aback by the statement. Ultra Magnus turned to leave the command center, but Kup placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

 

    "Did ya not hear that last part, kid?" Kup said quietly. "I said this could be a trap."

 

    "I heard you loud and clear, sergeant," Magnus replied. "It is in all likelihood a trap, no doubt set up by the Fallen. Which is why I'm heading out to put a stop to him and his plans once and for all."

 

    "And if you die in the process?"

 

    "Like I said, things will fall to you."

 

    Kup sighed, knowing that there was no point in arguing. Nodding grudgingly, he said, "Good luck then. Any chance the immortal Ultra Magnus will make a return, if worse comes to worse?"

 

    Magnus grimaced. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

*  *  *

    "Did you get the call?"

 

    "Yes," Nightbeat said as he drove alongside Hardhead through Iacon's ruins. "Apparently there's been a distress signal near Rivets Field. Magnus needs some help to investigate."

 

    "Think this is the Fallen's doing?"

 

    "I know it is."

 

    The pair came to a stop on the outskirts of the city, where Ultra Magnus and other Autobots awaited... as well as Shockwave and a few Decepticons.

 

    "Oh, spark," Hardhead muttered, spotting Blockade and Roadkill among the 'Cons. "Any chance I can drop out?"

 

    "Probably not," Nightbeat said as he and his partner transformed into their robot mode.

 

    Noticing their arrival, Ultra Magnus said, "I'm glad you two could make it, and just in time to; we're all set to go. Any questions before we go?"

 

    "Yeah, just one," Hardhead said, ignoring Nightbeat's warning glare. He nodded at Shockwave and his Decepticons. "What are they doing here?"

 

    "What does it look like?" Blockade growled. "We want a piece of the action, too."

 

    "Indeed," Shockwave said coldly. "It should not come as a surprise, Autobot, that we wish to see this conflict to the end as much as you do."

 

    Ultra Magnus nodded, giving Hardhead a stern look. "Any further objections?"

 

    Hardhead shook his head soberly. "No, sir."

 

    "Then let's roll out."

    He had been out again- with no idea on how long- but he was inching closer now, only a couple of feet away from the energon now.

 

    Come on, Tailgate. You can do it! You're a bomb disposal expert for the Primal Vanguard! This is nothing compared to-

 

    He never finished that thought, for he had passed out once again.

*  *  *

    "Is this the place, Pyro?"

 

    "I believe so, sir," the Autobot fire truck said to Ultra Magnus as they arrived at the Mitteous Plateau. "Strange, though. I don't see anyone."

 

    "It is clearly a trap," Shockwave said as he morphed from his fighter mode. "And we are no doubt about to spring it."

 

    Once they were all in robot mode, the twelve-bot team of Autobots and Decepticons stood in one place for a while, waiting for a hint of said trap. Ultra Magnus then broke the silence by saying, "Hardhead, step out there until something happens."

 

    The green Autobot smirked. "This is because I'm the most durable here and not because of the Chrome Alloy Pie Incident, right?"

 

    "Just go."

 

    Still smiling, Hardhead stepped ahead of everyone else... and was abruptly shot square in the chest.

 

    "Ambush!" Ultra Magnus cried as he and the others bore their weapons.

 

    Appearing out of nowhere, no doubt deactivating a piece of cloaking technology, was a strongly-built green and orange mech, wielding a blade in one hand and lugging a cannon barrel on his back. Narrowing his scarlet eyes, he charged.

*  *  *

    "So are we just going to be spectators, or are we going to actually take part in the action?"

 

    Mindwipe ignored Bugly as they watched Bludgeon clash with the Autobots and Decepticons, while being hidden by their cloaking devices. It could not be denied that Bludgeon was a great warrior, fighting with such ferocity and easily dispatching two Autobots already.

 

    Seeing this reminded Mindwipe that he would do well to never cross Bludgeon.

 

    "I said, so are we-"

 

    "I heard what you said," Mindwipe hissed at Bugly. "We will attack when it is appropriate. Just wait for my command."

 

    Bugly grudgingly complied and the two of them continued to watch the fight from afar. Bludgeon's opponents were now firing at him from all sides, and although his agility allowed him to easily dodge the shots, it was clear that he had little room to attack.

 

    "Now."

 

    The words had barely emitted from Mindwipe's voice box when Bugly revealed himself and charged into the battle. Mindwipe shortly followed suit, looking forward to their inevitable victory.

*  *  *

    "Cerebros, can I borrow you for a bit?"

 

    Brainstorm saw the Autobot officer, stationed in the command center, tense slightly. Cerebros had known this moment would come and had doubtlessly dreaded it. Nonetheless, he nodded silently and followed the scientist out of the room.

 

    As they headed for the main lab, Brainstorm felt a surge of excitement that contrasted Cerebros' fear. For about two years had this project- Project Maximus, he called it- been in the works, and now it was finally going to see its culmination.

 

    One of the few projects Brainstorm had come up with that High Command and the Ethics Committee had actually approved of, Project Maximus involved selecting an Autobot who was completely selfless and brave but lacked the physical strength to prove himself, and subjecting him to a procedure that gave him that strength. Out of a thousand selfish and hardened Autobots, Cerebros fit the bill.

 

    Upon reaching the lab, Brainstorm turned to look Cerebros square in the optic. "You ready for this?"

 

    "Not really," Cerebros murmured. "But I suppose there's no sense in trying to delay the inevitable."

 

    Brainstorm slapped him on the back. "Atta, boy. Let's go in, then."

*  *  *

    "Nightbeat and Roadkill are down!"

 

    Ultra Magnus could barely comprehend Pyro's cry as Bludgeon threw his entire body at him. Unable to avoid him in time, the two mechs collided and fell to the ground, wrestling with each other. Despite his better efforts, Magnus soon found himself staring at the business end of Bludgeon's blade.

 

    "And so the legend ends," the warrior hissed. "So that a new one may begin."

 

    "Don't count on it." Appearing behind Bludgeon, Blockade lunged and wrapped her huge arms around him, wrenching him off of Ultra Magnus. The Autobot commander got back to his feet and recovered his blaster, aiming it at Bludgeon's face.

 

    The warrior's two comrades, Bugly and Mindwipe, seemed to have noticed what had just happened, for they had stopped fighting and were staring at the scene.

 

    "I'm only going to say this once," Ultra Magnus growled to them. "Surrender now or your comrade here bites it."

 

    Bugly sneered. "Since when did you Autobots start issuing death threats?"

 

    "Since your boss crossed the line for me."

 

    "My death would mean nothing," Bludgeon snarled. "The Unbinding is already underway. There is nothing you can do to stop it."

 

    "Would help if you told us what this Unbinding is," muttered the Decepticon Seeker Slipstream.

 

    "It is the end and the beginning for our world. Everything shall be undone so that Cybertron may be reborn."

 

    "Yeah, that's not informative in the least," Hardhead said, having recovered from Bludgeon's initial attack. "I say we offline him now so he doesn't cause us anymore trouble."

 

    Bludgeon smirked. "Do as you please. Our work here is done."

 

    "What work?" Blockade growled, tightening her hold around the warrior. "Ambush us and get your tailpipes kicked?"

 

    "Say," Slipstream murmured. "Where's that Optimus Prime lookalike you Autobots had?"

 

    Ultra Magnus frowned and turned to look. Pyro, along with Bugly and Mindwipe, were gone.

*  *  *

    "And so it begins," the Fallen said as he closed Pyro's capsule. "The energy of thirteen sparks, all descended from the first to be born. Together, they shall form the key that once locked the seal... and shall now reopen it."

 

    As he spoke, he moved himself towards the last capsule and slowly lowered himself into it.

 

    "Soon, Primus shall be reawakened and at last end his eternal conflict with his equal. Then, and only then, shall all become one."

 

    At his beckoning, the capsule began to close.

 

    "And the darkest hour shall come upon us."

    Mindwipe and Bugly watched in awe as the thirteen capsules crackled with energy. Through tubes connecting the containers to the golden circle in the chamber's center, they could see the spark energy of each captive flowing through them towards the circle.

    "Slag it, slag it, slag it," Brainstorm cursed to himself. "Of all the times for Kup to take pretty much everyone on a suicide mission, he had to pick now when we're in the middle of an important operation!"

 

    "Stay focused, Brainstorm," one of his fellow scientists said. "Eighty-one percent complete."

 

    "I mean, this would be the perfect opportunity! Could you imagine? Fortress Maximus versus the Fallen. I would pay fifty Shanix to see that."

 

    "Uh-huh. Ninety-two percent complete."

 

    "Man... life stinks sometimes."

 

    "Tell me about it. One hundred percent complete."

 

    The scientists in the lab all stepped back as the large container Cerebros had been placed in slowly opened. Where once had been a small, gray-colored Autobot was now a burly mech bristling with weaponry.

 

    Brainstorm grinned with glee underneath his mouthplate. "Never before have I been so proud."

*  *  *

    Two Decepticons wailed as the Fallen sent them flying with his telekinesis. The ancient being then unleashed a jet of flame, scorching a trio of Autobots and turning them to dust.

 

    "This is child's play," the Fallen muttered. "You can throw anything at me- an army, an Omega Guardian, a Titan- and I will still come on top of your cold corpses as the victor."

 

    "Yeah, sure," Kup muttered as he fired his rifle. "Just another line from the Book for Megalomaniac Wannabe Overlords."

 

    "Have you got a copy?" Wing Saber wisecracked as he charged towards the Fallen with his dual blades. With a mere gesture from the ancient robot, he was instantly hoisted up into the air and thrown into a group of Seekers.

 

    "Imbeciles," the Fallen growled. "How can you not see that your defeat is inevitable? You cannot possibly stop me, so why bother fighting?"

 

    "We're not gonna stop," Kup said as he aimed his gun directly at the Fallen's head. "So why bother arguing?"

 

    Before he could pill the trigger, an invisible force suddenly twisted the gun's barrel, causing it to explode in Kup's face. As the veteran Autobot recoiled, the Fallen fired his arm and sent him sprawling back.

 

    "I am finished with this," the Fallen murmured, his hands now crackling with energy. "I offered you a choice and you have made the fateful decision. Prepare for the consequences."

 

    However, just as he was about to unleash his full power, the ground beneath his feet began to tremble slightly. As the quakes grew stronger, the Fallen froze and lowered his arms, looking down at the ground.

 

    "Primus...?" was all he said before a blast of energy consumed him.

*  *  *

    Freedom! Tailgate's spark filled with elation as light shone through the opening he had made for himself. Hearing voices from outside, he called out for help and soon enough, two mechs were helping him out of the pit.

 

    "I can't thank you enough!' he said to his rescuers. "I haven't missed the launch, have I? Has the Ark taken off yet?"

 

    "The Ark?" said a brown bot. "I'm afraid you've missed that, pal. How did you end up there, anyway?"

 

    "It's a long story. I-" Tailgate suddenly stopped as his optics drifted towards a smoking husk. Realizing that it was a body, he cried out, "By the Primal Pantheon! Did I do that?!"

 

    Distraught, he fell out of the mech's arms, clutching his head. "Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy- I killed him! By the Underbase, I killed him!"

 

    With that, he collapsed and passed out once again.

*  *  *

    Just like that, it was over.

 

    Having returned to the surface from the underground chamber, Ultra Magnus watched as the Autobots rescued from the chamber, as well as the strange one responsible for the Fallen's apparent demise, were loaded onto an armored transport, while a team of medics examined the Fallen's lifeless husk.

 

    As Kup walked up to him, Magnus said, "You disobeyed my orders."

 

    The veteran grunted. "And?"

 

    "...Thank you."

 

    The older Autobot smirked. "Don't mention it. When you're a stickler for rules and orders, you need to have someone who's the opposite, close by your side."

 

    Magnus returned the smirk. "If that were the case, I'd have picked someone like Springer."

 

    Kup chuckled as he placed a cy-gar in his mouth. After a moment, he then said, "I saw Grimlock among those rescued from the chamber, but not the other Dynobots or Sky Lynx. Any ideas where they are?"

 

    "If I had, I wouldn't still be standing here. Right now, my primary concern is on how long our peace with the Decepticons will continue to last."

 

    "I didn't know it was peace in the first place," Kup murmured as he glanced at Shockwave, who was busy conversing with his fellow Decepticons. "Just keep your guns handing and your trigger finger itching."

 

    At that moment, Shockwave himself began to approach the two Autobots and Ultra Magnus turned to face him, keeping his hand close to his blaster. For a while, the two of them were silent, until the one-eyed Decepticon finally spoke.

 

    "Consider our conflict over, Ultra Magnus."

 

    Magnus blinked, taken aback. "What?"

 

    Shockwave gestured at the few hundred Autobots and Decepticons that were present. "This is all we have. If one faction or the other wins, what then? There is nothing left of Cybertron for the Decepticons to rule, or for you to protect. To continue waging such a useless conflict would be illogical."

 

    Magnus nodded. "I'm glad we can agree on that. So where does this leave either of us?"

 

    "I shall take my forces back to New Kaon and reside there. You are free to attempt reconstruction here, however futile it may be, but do not expect further help from us."

 

    Magnus smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

 

    "One last thing," Shockwave said, lowering his voice. "If Megatron ever returns... I cannot guarantee that our peace will continue to last."

 

    "And I can guarantee you that we'll be ready for that."

 

    Nodding curtly, the mono-eyed Decepticon turned and led his comrades away. Ultra Magnus watched them until they vanished beyond the horizon....

    "So he's dead then," Ultra Magnus said.

 

    "I'm not sure how anyone could have survived a blast like that," Ambulon replied, having just finished examining the Fallen's corpse. "But yes, he's dead. No spark readings, no operating functions, nothing. He's dead."

 

    "Can we put him through a grinder just to make sure?" Wing Saber said sardonically.

 

    Ambulon smirked. "If you're up to it, sure. But I assure you that he won't be coming back as a Terrorcon or anything."

 

    "Either way, we can't have him taking up space in the morgue," Magnus said. "You are free to dispose of him, Wing Saber."

 

    Once the flier had left with the charred husk, Magnus said to the medic, "How are our formerly-captured comrades fairing?"

 

    "Better," Ambulon said. "Most of them have woken up, save for Alpha Trion and Grimlock. Though, uh, we've noticed something strange about the latter."

 

    "What?"

 

    "His alt mode seems to have changed to that of a beast."

 

    "That is... very intriguing."

 

    Ambulon nodded in agreement. "Fixit is keeping a watch over him. He'll no doubt be a bit unhappy when he wakes up."

 

    "I wouldn't expect anything less from him."

*  *  *

    "You're not still worked up about Fortress Maximus not seeing any action, are you?"

 

    "Of course I am!" Brainstorm snapped at Glyph, one of his fellow scientists. "Even more so not that I hear that the war is pretty much over! Now whose tailpipe will he be able to kick?"

 

    Glyph tapped her fingers together. "Well, I'm sure there are some rogue Decepticons out there...."

 

    Brainstorm scoffed. "Yeah, that we have a forty percent chance of ever meeting."

 

    "Hey, can someone help me out with this guy?" Swerve called out to them, standing next to the small mech whom had inadvertently killed the Fallen. "He's about ready to have a spark attack!"

 

    The two scientists rushed over to him, along with the medic Meltdown, and attempted to calm him down.

 

    "It's okay," Meltdown said soothingly. "You're among friends. No one's going to hurt you."

 

    "But I killed him!" the young mech exclaimed, his blue visor flashing. "I killed someone without meaning to!"

 

    "It's okay. He was just about to kill even more people. What you did was a good thing."

 

    "It... was?"

 

    "Yes," Glyph said calmly, putting a hand on his arm. "In fact, some might even consider you a hero."

 

    "A... hero?" No longer filled with panic, the mech then proudly said, "Well, of course! A champion kick-boxer like me deserves nothing less!""

 

    "So everyone lives happily ever after," Brainstorm said flippantly, turning to leave. "La-dee-slagging-dah."

 

    Once he had left, the mech went to a more modest tone. "Anyway... my name's Tailgate. Just so you know...."

 

    "I'm Swerve. A kick-boxer, huh? Didn't that sport went out of a style a few thousand years ago...?"

 

    "My name's Glyph. I study history and... stuff."

 

    "Meltdown," the doctor said as he began scans on Tailgate. "I fix stuff."

 

    Tailgate nodded. "Nice to meet you all. Too bad I missed the launch, though. When he gets back, Nova Prime isn't going to be happy with me."

 

    All three Autobots stared at him in disbelief.

 

    "Nova Prime?" Glyph murmured. "Um, I hate to tell you this, but-"

 

    "Wait!" Swerve said before lowering his voice to a whisper that only Glyph could hear. "I'll give you half of my energon rations forever if you let me tell him."

 

    Glyph hesitated before sighing. "Just put it to him nicely."

 

    With a wide grin, Swerve went up to Tailgate and put a hand on the white mech's shoulder. "Ah, my dear Tailgate. Have you ever woke up from recharge only to find that your chronometer stopped working, leaving you completely unaware of how much time you spent oversleeping?"

 

    Tailgate tilted his head. "Uh, I don't believe so. Where is this going, Swerve?"

 

    Smiling ruefully, Swerve leaned forward and whispered something into Tailgate's audio receptor.

 

    "SIX THOUSAND YEARS?!"

*  *  *

    "You don't feel the least bit bothered about carrying a corpse through the base?"

 

    Wing Saber grinned at Chromedome as the two Autobots headed for the trash compactor. "A bit, but I figure it's no worse than reading the memories of dead people."

 

    "Not funny."

 

    Wing Saber shrugged. "Truth hurts, pal."

 

    "You're starting to sound like Rewind."

 

    "Good. Means that someone's looking out for you."

 

    The two of them finally reached the trash compactor and Chromedome moved to open the hatch leading into it, giving Wing Saber a mock salute.

 

    "Torpedoes away, captain."

 

    Grinning, Wing Saber went to dispose of the Fallen's corpse... only to realize that it was no longer there.

 

    He cried out in terror, stumbling back and landing on his rear end. "I- what the- did you see- wah?"

 

    "I saw it, but I can't believe it," Chromedome said, his stance rigid in shock. "I... I think we should alert someone about this."

 

    "Think anyone will believe us?" Wing Saber asked. "I mean, I'm somewhat of a joker sometimes, so-"

 

    "We have to tell someone! Corpses just don't disappear like that. They just don't."

 

    Wing Saber sighed. "Can this day get any weirder?"

*  *  *

    "The war may be over for now, Kup, but I'm not particularly in a joking mood."

 

    Kup shook his head. "Neither am I, nor is Chromedome known for pulling pranks. He said to me, in a very alarmed tone, that the Fallen's corpse has vanished."

 

    Ultra Magnus rubbed his forehead. "That mech can still pull tricks from his bag even in death. Telekinesis, teleportation, postmortem vanishing... what's next, possession?"

 

    Before Kup could respond, Magnus' communicator buzzed and he answered it. "Yes?"

 

    "Sir, we have a situation."

 

    Another one? Magnus sighed. "What is it?"

 

    "Prisoners Bludgeon, Bugly, and Mindwipe are gone, with no signs of a breakout."

 

    Magnus looked at Kup, who wore the same exact grimace on his face as he did. For the longest time, neither of them spoke....

*  *  *

    When Bludgeon had first met the Fallen, he had been offered a glimpse of the arcane powers which he carried. Never once would he had been able to imagine something even more eldritch than what he had seen.

 

    Until now.

 

    Words could not describe his feelings on the world which he, Bugly, and Mindwipe now stood on, if it could even be called that. Bizarre, warped shapes surrounded them as they walked. The screaming ground was made up of corpses- Cybertronian and otherwise- and their faces stared up at them, their lifeless eyes seeming to follow them as they moved.

 

    "And so the Chaos Trinity returns."

 

    The trio came to a stop at the sound of the ancient sounding voice. Appearing before them were two mechs- one violet and dark gray, the other blue and white.

 

    "Do any of you care to explain this?" the latter asked, gesturing at the ground. Bludgeon looked down and saw that the Fallen's seemingly lifeless body was now intermixed with the others, staring at his former follower.

 

    Bludgeon suppressed a shudder. "Ah, yes. Our master has been... tragically killed. We were unable to save him, for we were not expecting the attack."

 

    The blue one frowned. "Tragic, indeed. Especially for you."

 

    "Well, what were we supposed to do?" Bugly snapped. "We had just gotten our tailpipes handed to us and-"

 

    "Excuses will do you no good. The consequences for your failures remain the same. Cyclonus?"

 

    As the violet one unsheathed a blade, Bludgeon closed his eyes in acceptance of his fate. In mere seconds, he heard Bugly and Mindwipe cry out as they were cut down and braced himself for his own demise. After a few minutes, when he found himself still functioning, he opened his eyes to see Cyclonus' blade mere inches from his face. It was then the blue one who spoke.

 

    "As for you, Bludgeon... our leader has taken a special interest in you. As such, we would like to offer you a position within our ranks."

 

    "Or else death by refusal?"

 

    The blue one smiled mirthlessly. "Correct."

 

    Bludgeon nodded. "Then I accept."

 

    "Excellent. In that case, welcome... to the Heralds of Unicron."