Taking the Metro: Part 1
A fanfic by Bill T. Taylor
a.k.a. RedStreak
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The wreak of Superion toppled over the Arc De Triumph, taking a sizeable chunk of the famous Earthly structure down with him. Parisians ran screaming as the one hundred plus ton behemoth came toppling down on their once tranquil streets. The crash turned concrete into dust as the Autobot giant fell in utter defeat.
Defensor, standing nary a block away, could only look on as chaos reigned in a city known on this world for its peace, tranquility, and beauty. Now, thanks to the Decepticons, this city had become a battleground as it once was nearly a century ago by the humans’ calendar.
Superion could barely twitch as Menasor, Devastator, and Predaking all advanced upon the sole surviving Autobot Gestalt. Pounding his feet loudly, Devastator rushed upon Defensor, pulling back his fist for a powerhouse punch. Before the green and violet giant could deliver it, Defensor sideswiped his jaw with his large gun. It was enough to stun the Decepticon for a minute, but the battle was still an unfavorable two-to-one against the valiant Autobot.
Springer and Powerglide watched from afar at the Eiffel Tower. Already the battle was causing great damage to the human city, and with what limited forces there were on Earth it seemed more and more likely that Galvatron’s latest attempt at conquest would succeed…an event no living Autobot would allow.
“Oh Springer, this is bad, very, very bad!” Powerglide muttered fearfully.
“I know,” Springer admitted, “Superion’s down, and Defensor is up against three of the toughest Decepticons at once. Rodimus is on his way, but our only hope is that Ultra Magnus got our message at Autobot City.”
Powerglide shook his fist. “Well I’m not waiting around for hope!” On impulse, the flier leaped into the air and transformed into an airplane. His engines fired up, sending him soaring straight towards the Gestalt battle.
“Powerglide! No!” Springer vainly cried out.
By then Powerglide was already on the scene, circling around in the air as Menasor and Predaking started to wail on Defensor. Powerglide swooped at Menasor’s backside, firing blasters with a gold flickering light. The giant gave out a yell, turning his head and catching sight of the troublesome little speck. With a single wave of his arm, Menasor whacked Powerglide, sending him tumbling into the wild blue yonder.
Powerglide’s move provided a useful distraction for Defensor. His left arm free, Defensor raised up his rifle and aimed square on Menasor.
BOOM!
“Raaagh!” Menasor roared, plasma smoke rising from the gaping wound in his shoulder. Electrical sparks crackled from the blast as Menasor toppled backwards from the point-blank blast. As he crashed to the ground, Menasor broke up, his constitutive Stunticons also knocked cold.
Defensor’s smirk was short-lived. Predaking immediately seized his left wrist and forced his tremendous strength upon it. Defensor gritted his teeth in pain, the large rifle falling to the ground with a thud. Left too weak to resist, Defensor was hoisted into the air by Predaking. Then, before the eyes of Springer and fleeing Parisians, the huge Autobot was tossed nearly a mile, Defensor’s ravaged from crashing into the Eiffel Tower itself.
The tower gave out a sickening groan, its old iron beams screeching as the tower bent to one side with Defensor strewn about in broken pieces, his right arm and left leg off to his respective sides. The giant groaned, desperately trying to move, but he was too drained. With a final gasp, Defensor lost himself.
The Autobot giant transformed into the Protectobots. Blades, First Aid, Groove, and Streetwise woke up with a moan as blue-plated Hot Spot struggled to his feet. “We,” he grunted, leaning on one knee, “Can’t…give up…Protectobots! The humans are counting on us!”
With that, Hot Spot pulled out his blaster, aiming it up as Predaking moved toward the damaged tower. The other Protectobots joined him in arms, the whole lot firing their weapons on the malicious titan. Predaking hardly took notice, the tiny Autobot blasts little more than pinpricks to him and his super-alloy armor. He simply glanced down and looked upon them with his red, cyclopic visor.
Suddenly, a whirl of blades caught the audio receptors of the brute. Springer flew directly in his face, bold as ever. Transforming, Springer took out an energon grenade and yelled to Predaking, “Stuff this in your exhaust pipe and smoke it!” The grenade exploded, shattering Predaking’s eyes while blinding him at the same time.
In that split second where the giant was stunned, Springer fell towards the giant’s face, wielding his sword of Cybertronian steel. The blade plunged deep into Predaking, Springer yelling like a berserker as mech fluid from the Decepticon splashed him in the face. Predaking’s face oozing with oil and vital liquids, Springer deployed his built-in blasters.
“Here’s a little taste of the Pit for you, Predaking,” he said.
One blast was all it took to set the Decepticon Gestalt’s face aflame. Springer jumped away, transforming and flying off as Predaking stumbled about shrieking like a bat from Hell. Springer, hovering above the Protectobots, shouted “NOW!”
A huge volley of blaster fire went up, all directed at Predaking’s head. Six Autobots pulled every iota of energy from their sparks at the monster, determined to bring it down. Finally, in a pyrotechnic display that would honor the Americans, Predaking’s head exploded.
The giant’s body fell backwards, collapsing on a vacant street, smoke rising out of the base of its neck. Springer landed, returning to his robotic form as he and the Protectobots oversaw the carnage.
First Aid looked to the others with a stolid face. “As much as I’m against violence and destruction and fighting,” he began to say, “That was pretty awesome.”
A thunderous footstep shook the ground. A low growl filled the air. Hot Spot, Springer, and the other functioning Autobots looked up. “Oh…slag,” they all muttered.
Devastator had just come back online.
The ground exploded beneath them. One blast of Devastator’s monstrous gun threw the six Autobots away. They splashed into the Seine River, throwing up waves ten feet high along the shores. Devastator marched toward it with thoughts of playing with his new ‘toys’ for a while yet, carelessly crushing cars, trucks, and trees as he stormed the streets of Paris.
Springer and Hot Spot stood up from the water, the other Protectobots coughing water up. Looking to Hot Spot, Springer asked, “Ugh. Any chance on bringing Defensor back to take out that brute?”
Hot Spot shook his head. “Negative,” he said, glancing at his fellow teammates, “Too drained…of energy. Defensor…already took a lot of damage, and we’re no better. Not even enough…energy…to merge again, let alone…fight.” Sighing as he collapsed to his hands and knees, Hot Spot managed to say, “We’re all…as weak…as Zarkanian kittens now.”
Springer lowered his eyes, fear the worst. “It’s times like this I wish Prime was with us.”
Devastator was now looming over the shores of the Seine, spying the last Autobots wadding helplessly there. Boasting loudly, Devastator exclaimed, “Devastator enjoy destroying Autobots. Devastator…greatest…of Decepticons! Devastator…destroy!”
Springer turned his eyes on Devastator, his optics filled with terror as the giant Decepticon stood there. Nothing, except for a miracle, could save any of them now.
The water at the shores began to quiver. A tremble…and then a tremor. Blades saw this, watching as the ripples grew bigger and bigger. The other Protectobots noticed this too as a growing thunder rose in the air. Finally, Devastator gave pause, sensing something amiss….something….big.
The sky turned dark overhead. Slowly, Devastator turned around. A huge structure of metal loomed behind him where there was once nothing. No…not a building…a foot.
Springer smiled. “Metroplex.”
Metroplex stood astride the Seine River, the sheer mass of his body casting a shadow over nearly all over Paris, his height plotting out the sun itself at high noon. The Autobot so huge that he was Autobot City was here like a god summoned from Olympus.
Devastator, now reduced to a mere child’s height before Metroplex, was dumbfounded with fear…not that intelligence was once of his strong points in the beginning anyway. In vain he pointed his blaster up at the inconceivably huge Autobot, his wrist shaking nervously. Metroplex glanced down and frowned.
With one swoop of his huge hand, Metroplex snatched Devestator’s own weapon from the Decepticon’s own hands. Balling up his fist, Metroplex crushed the measly little gun, its energy core exploding in his palm like a bomb with purple smoke wafting from between his fingers. Opening his hand, all that remained was a pile of dust with not even a scratch on Metroplex himself or his hand.
“Not on my planet, Devastator,” Metroplex’s voice rumbled. His other hand snatched the diminutive titan, Devastator squirming like a captured ant, banging his fists and twitching his blocky legs to no avail. “Time to go back to Char, Decepticon!” Metroplex swung his arm back, building up for a long toss. Devastator’s red eyes went pale and his mouth dropped.
Two minutes later, all six of the Constructicons went sailing out of the Earth’s atmosphere, screaming as they flew past the Moon and on their way to deep space and ultimately Char.
Metroplex went down to one knee, still bigger than life from the view of mere mortals. Springer and the Protectobots looking up from the river, they saw Metroplex’s right torso plate opening downwards like a hatch. Inside and tall blue and red Autobot stepped forward, smiling down at his fellow ‘bots.
“Hey there Springer!” Ultra Magnus called, “Sorry for the wait but there was ocean between us and you.”
Smiling, Springer replied with a grin, “Thanks Springer! No problems here! We were just enjoying a nice dip in the water courtesy of Devastator. You should join us!”
The following day was not a happy one on the planet Char. Mixmaster and Scavenger squealed as they were flung down onto the cold metal floor. Hook, Bonecrusher, Long Haul, and Scrapper shivered as they stood beside their comrades.
From his silver throne Galvatron stood with a fiery glare in his eyes and a look of cold iron in his face. His angry voice rolling like a seething storm, the demented Decepticon commander blared, “YOU MORONS! VICTORY WAS AT HAND AND YOU LET IT ALL SLIP AWAY! RAGGGGGGH!”
Frustrated to the breaking point, Galvatron blasted a hole in the wall. All the Decepticons became all the wearier of their master’s temper, recalling a blast of that magnitude bringing down the nefarious Starscream just a year ago. Even in his madness, only a fool would dare to tempt the wrath of Galvatron.
“Mighty Galvatron,” Cyclonus tried to speak, “The battle was indeed going well, and considerable damage was inflicted upon the Autobots….”
“INFLICTED?” Galvatron turned his gaze upon Cyclonus, “It seems WE were the ones inflicted with more damage despite the favoring odds. Devastator’s a wreak, Menasor is down, and as for Predaking…” Galvatron grabbed Cyclonus by the neck, squeezing hard, “PREDAKING’S HEAD WAS BLOWN CLEAR OFF, JUST AS YOURS MIGHT BE CYCLONUS!”
As Cyclonus started to choke, Scourge stepped up, his jagged wings swaying from side to side. “Might I make a suggestion, Galvatron?”
Galvatron’s gold blaster was now in Scourge’s face, the Decepticon backing away in surprise. “It had better be a GOOD suggestion Scourge. My patience is thin with all the incompetence in my presence.”
“Of course, of course Galvatron!” Scourge said, eyeing the long dark tunnel of Galvatron’s weapon, “We could try turning the Autobot’s own ally against them!”
“What do you mean, Scourge?” Galvatron growled.
“Metroplex,” Scourge explained, “Metroplex was the reason we failed Galvatron. Even without the Autobots, he alone defends the planet Earth.”
“So what?” Scrapper grumbled, standing up before the Decepticon lieutenant, “We have our own city, Tripticon. And he’s not limited in range to one pitiful planet.”
“And still Metroplex checked your efforts, Scrapper, as he will ours,” Scourge replied. Turning back to Galvatron, Scourge elaborated, “But if we had his power in our ranks, the Autobots would be scrap beneath our feet.”
“And what do you suggest, Scourge?” Cyclonus spoke up, “Convincing him to join us? I’d like to see you fly up to his face and suggest that.”
“No,” Galvatron muttered, lowering his weapon, “Scourge for once has a…most useful idea. Turning Metroplex against the Autobots would be an asset to us; with his sheer force, we can accomplish what I was unable to do as Megatron years ago….”
As an evil smile grew on Galvatron’s face, Cyclonus, curious to know, asked, “And…that is?”
A darkened shadow forming on his face, Galvatron answered, “Conquer the planet Earth.”
At that same time, on planet Earth, Sky Lynx finally arrived with Rodimus Prime, Perceptor, and one unexpected arrival as well. On the western half of the American continent they landed, Metroplex and Autobot City back in their proper place with an open hanger ready to accept all new arrivals.
Ultra Magnus and Silverbolt were present to greet them. Sky Lynx’s door opened wide, Rodimus Prime stepping out in all the prestige of a great king. Ultra Magnus and Silverbolt eagerly went up to him, Magnus and Rodimus shaking hands there.
“It’s good to see you back, Rodimus,” Ultra Magnus said.
“It’s good to be back, Magnus,” replied Prime, “I’m sorry we missed the fight; I wish to hear all about it.”
Silverbolt reported, “It was a tough one Rodimus Prime. The Aerialbots and I are just recovering from the fight, as are the Protectobots, but we’re managing. Luckily Ultra Magnus was able to bring Metroplex just in time….”
Silverbolt, as well as Ultra Magnus, were unable to help noticing Pereceptor disembarking…as well as one other. The new ‘bot looked on sheepishly, nervous and timid.
“Say,” Silverbolt said, pointing towards the strange Autobot, “Who is the new guy? Fresh recruit from Cybertron?”
Rodimus Prime looked behind him, noticing his new protégée following behind. “Oh, this is our newest member to the Autobot team,” Rodimus said, putting a hand on the shy ‘bot, “Say hello to RedStreak.”
RedStreak looked up at Silverbolt and Ultra Magnus as the two approached him. As Ultra Magnus took his hand and shook it in a friendly manner, RedStreak stared long. For a split second, he thought he saw another form, superimposed over the Autobot’s. A flash of gold and silver, and then the form of a canine transformer with brown fur appeared.
“My name is Ultra Magnus, it’s good to great you, RedStreak,” Ultra Magnus applauded him.
“Yes, yes,” RedStreak said, trying to force the image from his mind, “It is, good to meet you.”
Silverbolt eagerly greeted RedStreak as well. “I know what it’s like to be the new guy, believe me,” he said, “I’m Silverbolt of the Aerialbots.”
“Silver…bolt?” RedStreak repeated. Another flash came, an even more bizarre looking transformer appearing; there were feathers, dark hair, and a narrow, beak-like face with wide yellow eyes. RedStreak grabbed the sides of his head and moaned, trying to get it out.
“Hey…” Silverbolt’s hand touched RedStreak’s shoulder, snapping him out of it. “Are you alright? Need a diagnostic drone?”
“Sorry,” RedStreak apologized, “I…I just keep getting these headaches. Not sure why.”
“Hmmm, maybe you should go to the repair bay. You may be suffering from a minor glitch in your neurotronics…though it shouldn’t be anything major,” Ultra Magus suggested, “Perhaps a software bug during your memory installation.”
“Right…right.” RedStreak hesitantly agreed, noticing the staring eyes on him.
As RedStreak walked off, Silverbolt and Ultra Magnus looked to Rodimus Prime with concern. “I apologize if he seems a little off, but have trust in him. He’s just as much an Autobot as any of us.”
Hours past and little else occurred in Autobot City. RedStreak sat atop a large scanner bed, flashing lights of instrumentation glowing around him. As he sat there perfectly still, he asked the computer, “Computer, summary of positronic deep scan. Any memory gaps, any circuit flaws?”
A beep from the monitor replied, “Negative; no discernable gaps in hard-core and shell memory; no circuit degradation present. Summary: all systems, neuotronic and otherwise, at one hundred percent capacity and within Autobot standards.”
“Slag,” mumbled RedStreak.
The doors opened. A small figure stepped in. “And what’s wrong about being at one hundred percent?”
“Nothing, except that I can’t find anything wrong with myself,” RedStreak told him. Getting up, RedStreak glanced over at the visitor. He was surprised. It wasn’t a transformer, but a person. “You’re…human, aren’t you?”
Smiling, the man replied, “I am. I’m Spike, Spike Witwhicky. Old friend of the Autobots, so I spend a lot of time around these parts.”
This human seemed surprisingly charming…for a human, or what RedStreak knew of humans anyway. “How old a friend? I’ve only been online for two point three solar cycles.”
Spike laughed. “A lot longer than you surprisingly. I’ve been on the Autobot team since Optimus Prime arrived with the Ark twenty-two years ago.”
“Optimus…Prime?” RedStreak asked, “Who was…Optimus…Prime?”
Spike smiled, but then took on a sad look. “A very old…and gone…friend.” He suddenly turned around, and slowly walked back out.
RedStreak was confused. “How can a man so nice turn so sad at that name?” he asked himself. Perhaps his circuitry was out of line. He needed an answer, one way or another. “Computer, tell me about Optimus Prime.”
The computer beeped erratically. “Unable to process inquiry. No data on ‘Optimus Prime’ available in my data banks.”
“No data on Prime?” RedStreak muttered. Of course, it was a simple diagnostic computer, not an archival mainframe. But where what other computer here would know. “Computer,” he made a second inquiry, “Where could I go to find out about…Optimus Prime?”
RedStreak waited, the diagnostic computer processing the request. “Additional data could be accessed from Metroplex Brain Vault. Clearance from upper personnel required to gain access. All other independent computers limited to diagnostic, repair, or security functions.”
One place to go at least. “Tell me how to get there,” RedStreak asked.
Outside, the sun had just finished setting, the red and majestic colors of dawn fading to deep blue. Two darkened vehicles descended from above, soaring just on the outskirts of Autobot City. One a sleek rocket plane, the second a bizarre alien hovercraft.
Cyclonus and Scourge transformed, landing with a soft crunch on the mountain foothills. In Scourge’s hands was a strange spheroid device with power outlets and switches here and there. In Cyclonus’ hands rested a blue tape deck marked with the Decepticon symbol.
“We’re here, now what?” Cyclonus grumbled.
Looking specifically on the tape player, Scourge spoke, “Soundwave, transform and I’ll explain your assignment.”
Sure enough the tape player leaped from Cyclonus and changed, growing into the huge blue spy. “Soundwave ready to receive instructions, Lieutenant Scourge. Ready to initiate Galvatron’s plan.”
“Lieutenant?” Cyclonus gritted his teeth at the thought.
Scourge handed Soundwave the sphere, which Soundwave promptly stowed inside his chest. “Now Soundwave, you and your Cassetticons must deliver this to Metroplex’s Brain Vault. Find his core processing console and make certain the device is installed directly into it. If successful, Metroplex will be ours to command!”
“And if you fail,” Cyclonus reminded to Scourge, “Galvatron will rip out your rusted innards and make Origami with your shell.”
Scourge frowned at Cyclonus. “For that snide remark, you’ll be the one to deliver Soundwave TO Metroplex…Cyclonus.”
“ME?” Cyclonus yelled, “THIS IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT!”
Scourge quickly drew his blaster, “AND YOU’RE UNDER MY COMMAND BY GALVATRON’S ORDERS, AND ANY DECEPTICON UPSTART IS SUBJECT TO TERMINATION BY HIS COMMANDER…by Decepticon law itself.”
Cyclonus’ hands were balled into fists. Were it not for his loyalty to Galvatron, he’d tear this joke apart. Soundwave transformed again, leaping back into Cyclonus’ hands again. Glaring at Scourge for a minute longer, Cyclonus leaped into the air and took off.
Cyclonus flew straight for the city, undaunted by the memory of the Gestalt’s defeat just days before. The roar of his engines echoed over the streets of Autobot City as he zoomed overhead. Alarms quickly started going off, the Autobots already aware of his presence.
The big black hanger door ahead began to open, with who knows how many soldiers waiting inside. “This is my chance,” Cyclonus reminded himself. As the door swung open, he fired his retrorockets, hovering for a few seconds in midair before the hanger entrance. Soundwave was spat out through a port in his body, landing inside without notice. Cyclonus then refired his thrusters and blasted away, targeted by the city guns, five Aerialbots, and Sky Lynx. “I’ll get you for this Scourge!” he promised.
The unnoticed tape deck flopped down deep inside. Springer raced by, Rodimus alongside him. “What’s going on Rodimus?” he asked.
“Cyclonus,” Rodimus Prime replied, “He’s attacking the city. We’ve got to find out why….”
Once the hall was clear, Soundwave made his transformation. He glanced around; making sure no one was near. Clicking on his tape deck button, he spoke, “Rumble, Frenzy, Ram-Bat, eject. Operation: infiltration.”
His chest opened, three large cassettes leaping out and unfolding into two small ‘bots and a bat. Frenzy, holding up Scourge’s device with much difficulty, grunted, “Man Soundwave, with this…ugh…thing shoved in there, there wasn’t much room!”
“Forget room! Let’s just get that crystal ball installed before the Autobots trash us!” Frenzy exclaimed.
“Ram-Bat,” Soundwave ordered, “Scout ahead towards brain vault. Locate core processing console.”
Squeaking, Ram-Bat flew off, fluttering frantically as he went through the various tunnels and corridors within Metroplex’s chest. Guided by electronics and his sonar, Ram-Bat zeroed in on the brain vault. He hovered in front of the massive door, scanning it and its security lock. The bat-bot then sensed something, someone approaching. Quickly he flew up, dangling from the ceiling with his clawed feet.
RedStreak walked to the brain vault door, unaware of the City’s unexpected guests. Secretly, Ram-Bat watched him, his data-banks unfamiliar with this Autobot.
“Access denied,” the security lock beeped.
“But I need Metroplex’s help,” RedStreak begged. The lock did not give. RedStreak shook his head. “Very well.” The Autobot kneeled before the lock. Two of his fingertips became drills. In minutes RedStreak removed one of the wall panels, exposing critical lines and circuitry being fed into the security lock.
With his other hand, RedStreak deployed a set of micro-clippers. Snipping wires, RedStreak muttered, “If you won’t let me in, I’ll just have to find a way in myself.”
Ram-Bat found this curious…but extremely fortuitous. He transformed, landing on RedStreak’s shoulder with a soft plop. RedStreak got up, wiping his hands clean of dust. “There. Luckily I was granted some electro-maintenance programming or else I’d never get in.” The heavy door opened without resistance, RedStreak walking into the very mind of Metroplex.
Computer monitors and consoles beeped and glowed all around RedStreak. “Wow, I don’t even recall Cybertron being this…this…electronic. I wonder where I can get some answers.”
“Errrr,” a loud voice grunted, “Unauthorized access to my brain! Unauthorized access to my….”
“Wait! Wait!” RedStreak yelled frantically, “Metroplex! I’m RedStreak! I’m an Autobot, like you. Now please, please calm down! I just need some help.”
Metroplex grumbled for a moment. “What kind of help do you need? Rodimus Prime approve of you to come here?”
RedStreak thought for a moment. “Well…not him…per say, but I was told…err, ordered to come here. Yes…I was ordered to access information regarding Optimus Prime. Now,” RedStreak humbly requested, “Can you help me with that?”
“Metroplex not online when Optimus Prime led the Autobots,” the rumbling giant said, “But there is data regarding him in my archival database. Perceptor installed it in my brain nine decacycles ago.”
“Well…how can I access it?” RedStreak asked.
A series of lights arranged in two parallel lines glowed, pointing toward a large gold and silver console with a huge display screen behind. The console itself came online, the hundreds of power cords linked to it glowing bright gold.
“You’re giving me access to your…your core processing console?” RedStreak said in surprise, “But…isn’t that linked to every one of your systems? I-I don’t want to accidentally damage you.”
“If Rodimus approved of you in here, then he’d only let someone qualified to use it enter; therefore, you are qualified to use my core processing console,” Metroplex stated.
Oh boy, thought RedStreak, I guess I’ll just have to be extra careful. As RedStreak stepped toward the console, the tiny cassette on his shoulder let out a soft beeping signal.
Several halls down, Soundwave heard it. “Decepticons,” he said to the Cassetticons, “Ram-Bat has successfully penetrated Brain Vault. Security systems down; opportunity to enter optimal.”
“Alright! Let’s go!” Frenzy cheered.
The console was something difficult to understand from RedStreak’s point of view. He punched in a few switches, twisted a few knobs. “Uh…uh…Metroplex, have I accessed the archival system yet?”
“No.”
RedStreak rolled his eyes. “Oooookay. Could you do me a favor and just grant me it?” A moment later, the giant screen came alive, hundreds of lines of text running up and down it. “Yes! Alright…now to find out about Optimus Prime.”
As RedStreak started to scroll through the archive, a voice yelled from behind. “What are you doing in here?” RedStreak turned around, seeing Spike running in. “This is the Brain Vault, not some library!”
“Spike!” RedStreak squeaked, “I was…just…checking through the archive under…under….”
“Under whose orders?” Spike asked.
RedStreak hesitated, guessing Spike knew the truth. Before he could answer, something moved on his shoulders. This large shrieking beast of metal sprang up, fluttering in RedStreak’s face; clawing, biting, attacking.
“Hand on Autobot!” Spike yelled, leaping up and wrapping his arms around Ram-Bat. Though small, Ram-Bat overpowered Spike easily, pinning him to the floor as his wings flapped and a fanged mouth hissed at him.
“Hang on Spike, I’m not going to let....” Then, in mid-sentence, RedStreak was cut short. “Oh no,” was all he could say.
Soundwave was before him, his tubular blaster and arm-mounted cannon aimed at on the Autobot. “Cease all movement, or be terminated,” Soundwave ordered. Turning to Ram-Bat, with Spike struggling beneath, Soundwave called, “Ram-Bat, return. Bring human subject. Operation: hostage taking.”
“NO!” RedStreak yelled. He jumped at Soundwave, knocking down the blue thug. “I WON’T LET YOU!”
Twin laser blasts blew a hole in RedStreak’s back plate, knocking him off of Soundwave’s chest. Frenzy and Rumble, holding their smoking blasters, glared at him.
“Nobody does that to Soundwave,” Rumble said. “Yeah! Nobody!” seconded Frenzy.
“Ignore Autobot,” Soundwave said, “Install control device into core processing console. Objective imperative.”
As RedStreak laid there unconscious, Rumble and Frenzy moved the device beside the console, quickly opening up panels and pulling wires out. Just as RedStreak’s optics began to flicker back on, the twins plugged in the last wire into the control device.
Inside the Brain Vault, lights changed from white and yellow to deep blue and purple, screens crackling and programs altering. “No…no!” RedStreak yelled, “Metroplex! Deactivate your core console!”
“Urrrrrr! Too…late! Decepticon…programming…taking hold! Unable to respond!” Metroplex grunted, “Will try…to help…Autobots!”
Elsewhere in Autobot, alarms again began to ring. “Autobots evacuate! Autobots evacuate!” Metroplex’s speakers rang, “Autobots evacuate!”
In one of several monitoring posts, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, and Springer were trying to make sense of things. “What’s going on? Why is Metroplex’s alarm system going off?”
Springer’s eyes widened as he stared at his screen. Decepticon icons were scrolling down with bits of cyber-text intertwined. “Decepticon programming! Metroplex’s core consciousness is being rewritten!” the Autobot declared, “Someone’s trying to turn Metroplex into a Decepticon!”
“I don’t believe it,” Ultra Magnus said, “Can you shut down the sequence from here?”
“No! I’m locked out!” Springer said, slamming his fist into the keyboard.
Rodimus Prime reached over and tried to type in his own codes. “I’m locked out as well, which means everyone else here’s in danger! No wonder Metroplex sounded his evacuation alarms…this city’s turning against us!”
As the three Autobots clustered around the control screen, a panel in the ceiling opened behind them. A mounted cannon emerged, charging up. Rodimus glanced behind him, jaws agape.
“Look out!” he yelled. He, Springer, and Magnus jumped, the console exploding. Ultra Magnus launched one of his shoulder missiles, taking out the cannon. “The defense systems have been reprogrammed as well! Rodimus, we’ve got to get out!”
Rodimus disagreed. “No! We can’t just abandon the city….”
In the Brain Vault, Ram-Bat flew over to Soundwave with Spike in his grasp. The Decepticon tape flew inside Soundwave, the larger Decepticon sealing him inside. Spike was now standing on the inside of Soundwave’s glass chest, pounding against it.
“Let him go!” RedStreak demanded, holding out his own red blaster.
Frenzy, Rumble, and Soundwave countered with theirs. “Soundwave, superior,” the Decepticon stated, “Autobot, inferior.”
Moments later, an explosion went off from the back of Metroplex’s head. RedStreak blasted out of the crater, screaming as he was launched towards the mountains over a mile away.
Kup met up with Silverbolt down one of the leg halls of Metroplex. “Silverbolt, what the heck is going on? I’ve been in sonic showers quieter than this!”
“Something’s wrong with Metroplex,” was all Silverbolt could say, “Everyone’s evacuating Autobot City. Quick, we’ve got to….”
The floors began to rumble, the two Autobots tossed to a wall. Outside, the various sections and parts of Autobot City were changing, folding up and stowing away as doors sealed up and weapons deployed. Two towers at the hub of the complex stretched out, becoming working arms as buildings further down became feet and legs.
“Slag, Metroplex’s transformation program’s online! We’ve got to run!” Silverbolt yelled.
The halls themselves were closing in, threatening to squeeze anyone left into a pulp. One open door to the outside remained, but massive panel were moving to close it off. Silverbolt quickly pulled out his gun, lodging it between them, jamming them in place for a moment.
“Quick Kup, just….”
Kup bluntly yelled, “Don’t have to tell THIS war veteran when to jump!” He leaped through, exiting through a port in Metroplex’s thigh. Silverbolt followed, dislodging his gun on the way out. The portal slammed shut just as Metroplex began to stir to life.
“Aw this is bad, very bad,” Silverbolt said, “Where’s Rodimus and Springer?”
“Never mind them! I just wanna know who did this!” Kup shook his fist.
Something stirred in the rocks behind them, amid the strewn boulders. Silverbolt and Kup moved them, finding a hand shaking. “Who’s this?” Kup asked, looking over the scared and badly beaten Autobot.
“It’s RedStreak! Rodimus’ new recruit! Man, he must have been blasted out by Metroplex’s defenses!” Silverbolt said, trying to hoist the Autobot from the rock.
RedStreak gasped. “It’s…it’s….”
“Hey! He’s still online!” Kup said.
“Yeah, but what’s he trying to say?” Silverbolt spoke up.
Softly, RedStreak mumbled, his face banged up, “It’s…my fault. It’s my…fault.”
To Be Continued…