Tie-Grabber and Machbreaker heave the chest, starting to move it towards the forge.
“Oh you would have loved their boss then. A real chum fellow.” Tie-Grabber said.
Machbreaker thought for a moment. “Autobot? Shell cracking was Rumble’s hobby. How were they friends?”
“Who knows, don’t care.” Tie-Grabber responds.
“But why are these guys so dangerous?”
Clawshot asked as they followed.
“It was your highest honor to be Megatron’s handpicked cannon fodder?” Backbreaker says. “Sure, the Wreckers lost guys all the time, but we didn’t consider 'em disposable.”
Zed crashes onto Oddball, and knocking the bots blades out of the walls of the chute and causing him to fall.
“A Destron was not disposable. They were sent to do what no one else could. Operations far too dangerous for any normal squadron. It was often that through these individuals that we were able to make our largest leaps in progress. I would know… As I was the last Destron elected before Megatron’s demise.”
Railfire replied sorrowfully.
The two would tumble down through the chute, and if Oddball was unable to catch himself, they would both fall into a dumpster outside the compound.
" 'Course you were," Backbreaker sighs.
Oddball manages to stab his blade into the wall just before he tumbles out of the chute, his feet dangling above the dumpster. He looks down at Zed.
“Its a long story, if you’re willing to listen.”
Zed fell into the dumpster. Scrap metal and empty energon cubes crunched beneath him.
“Ow!”
He exclaimed.
“Theta is gonna pay for this.”
He grumbled.
“Juliana was a fluke, but that’s because they were playing around. Their boss was some sort of super computer, they were his goons to execute his plans. Back in the war, they tore through Decepticons likes an Energon Cube. They ruined several of our missions, almost like they knew everything we were going to do. Probably even more than I know.”
Tie-Grabber pauses. “Ever hear of a Decepticon called Bridgade?”
“Can’t say we have.”
Ramjet said.
“He was a big tank bulk who used a bridge as his weapon. A large metal bridge. Used it as a shield, smashed and impaled dozens of Autobots with it at once, even got it upgraded later as a functioning and short one-way space bridge. These chumps killed him and the other Decepticons with him by themselves.” Tie-Grabber said.
“Primus. They’re really no joke.”
Clawshot said.
“So the sooner we burn them, the better.”
Ramjet replied.
Machbreaker remained quiet, processing what Tie-Grabber had said. He knew Bridgade had been killed, but not the circumstances outside of it being Autobots. It was always Autobots. And there were few bulks that they would have tolerated in their freed state. Though in his reflection, he also realizes that their captives were quiet.
Too quite.
Surely, they would gloat about such a kill right? It’s not like his brother really sold the story all that well. Why didn’t they chime in? Unless…
A horn busts through the button of the chest, ripping out a decent strip. Soon followed by a missile launcher coming out.
…they were working on escape the whole time.
Machbreaker barely yells out a warning as a missile fires at the ground beneath them. It may not be a direct hit, but the resulting explosion would be enough to catch them all. Meanwhile, the gang of data discs are protected by their own prison.
Ramjet and Clawshot are thrown to the side, while the box is thrown into the air, before hitting the ground. The hole they opened facing the floor.
“How about we just chuck 'em down the closest trash chute and be done with this!”
Clawshot said, thoroughly irritated.
Backbreaker shrugs and leans against a workbench.
“Sure,” he says.
Oddball doesn’t comment. Carefully, he climbs down the chute and sets one foot on the edge of the dumpster.
"It happened shortly after a mission to earth turned to catastrophy. In mere days our entire squadron was torn apart, and I was believed to be the sole survivor.
“Megatron recognized our failure. But in it, he saw opportunity. He offered me a way to atone for the shame brought my comrades. The day he summoned me… It is one I shall never forget…”
The Great War - Decepticon High Command
Railfire walked down the long hall leading to the throne chamber. Magnum Guard seekers lined either side, standing in ready attention. Their gaze followed him, but they did not move. With every step he could feel their judgement weighing on him.
When he walked into the main chamber, he could see Megatron sitting on a throne, leveled well above where the swordsman stood. To Megatron’s right was Soundwave, chief officer of communication and strategy. To his left was Starscream, chief officer of military affairs. And to Starscream’s left stood Shockwave, chief officer of scientific endeavors.
Railfire took a knee, humbled in the presence of his superiors.
“Stand warrior. I haven’t summoned you for punishment. Instead, I bring you an offer.”
Megatron said. His voice was cold, his tone that which demanded respect and attention. Railfire hesitantly stood to his feet, looking up at his leader.
“Your mission on earth was a disaster. Yet despite all odds, you survived. I see much potential in you soldier. In order to make up for the failure of your compatriots, I shall give you an offer you cannot refuse. Become my next Destron, and be the one to directly carry out my will.”
Railfire was stunned. Nearly speechless. But he managed to quickly compose himself. Putting an arm across his chest and bowing his head.
“Of course my lord. It would be an honor.”
He looked back up.
“Tell me, what is my mission?”
Soundwave then took a step forward. He held out an open hand palm up, and a holographic projection appeared. It was that of a blue planet with thin rings, circling its vertical axis.
“Destination: The ice planet Neptune, located in the Sol System. Our outpost on this planet has been compromised. Giving the autobots complete control of the star system.”
“Thank you Soundwave.”
Megatron said. With a wave of his hand the blue decepticon stepped back.
“As I’m sure you’re aware, the autobots have grown far too powerful since their alliance with the humans.”
Megatron continued.
“This is why we have struggled to maintain a foothold in earth’s star system. With this final outpost overtaken, the consequences could mean the end for us. Your mission is to go there, and liberate it of autobot troops. And if necessary, destroy the structure entirely.”
Starscream then stepped forward.
“I will offer my top seekers, as well as a dropship to get you there. But once you reach your target destination, you’re on your own. The dangers you face are perilous. Suicidal. You will die.”
The seeker commander said firmly.
“But in death, you shall bring glory to the decepticons, and will be honored accordingly.”
Megatron said.
Railfire bowed once again.
“Thank you Lord Megatron. I am humbled by what you ask of me. I promise I shall not fail you again.”
In the first time since his capture, Oddball could see the greater city outside of the colosseum. It was a bustling metropolis of shining towers and flashing signs. Aircraft of all kinds flew every which way, kept in neat and rigid lines of traffic. It was all a sight to behold.
But before Oddball could completely take it in, he would feel something metal slap around his wrist. Zed had attached one end of a pair of handcuffs to the cybertronian, while the other end was attached to his own wrist.
“There! Now you won’t be going anywhere you’re not supposed to. Now I gotta drag you back inside. Iota is gonna kill me if he finds out you got out.”
Backbreaker listens as Railfire tells his story.
“So what was the alternative?” he asks. “I mean, what if you said no? Not that you would’ve, I imagine, but what would happen if someone did turn down the offer?”
Oddball looks pleadingly down at Zed, dilating his round eyes to their maximum width. He cocks his head to the side with a strategic blink.
“The honor of Destron was one that had never been refused. At least, not to my knowledge. Though I can imagine what may happen if someone ever did. To be a Destron is to act out the will of Megatron. So to deny such an offer, would be to deny Megatron directly. An offence that very few lived to regret.”
“Oh for the queen’s sake you’ve got to be kidding me.”
Zed grumbled.
“Fine, fine. If we go sight seeing for a bit, will you promise to come back willingly and not make this difficult?”
“Ah. It was an offer you literally couldn’t refuse,” Backbreaker remarks. “You know, for us Autobots, that was just an expression.”
Oddball nods his head and hops into the dumpster, emitting a happy electronic whine.
“Indeed. But as I said, no one ever even considered such a thing. To be named Destron was an unbelievable honor. Even now, after so much time and regret, I cannot bring myself to remove its mark.”
Railfire grabbed the left side of his chest plate and pulled it aside, revealing a specialized insignia underneath.
Zed was forcefully pulled down, landing face first on the ground.
“Ow!”
He exclaimed. He got to his feet and dusted himself off with his free hand.
“Alright. What do you wanna see first? There’s the Queen’s Theater, the Rat Pits, at least two dozen casinos. Though, you don’t have any money, so those are out.”
Zed stated. Though he didn’t sound particularly eager for any of it.
“You do you,” Backbreaker offers. “I still got my Autobot insignia on.”
Oddball weighs his options. His true intention was to do some reconnaissance for the resistance. Anything with a queen’s name on it had to be important, so the theater piqued his interest…
…but the Rat Pits were a mystery. What did they entail?
"Zwoop-zweep! he warbles to Zed, asking to see the Rat Pits.
Machbreaker and Tie-Grabber are also thrown away from the box. Though as they get back up and Clawshot complains, the box is forcibly knocked onto its face, the bottom now becoming a side. The hole burst forth larger and RAM bust through with his horns. And it is soon revealed that he is being held onto the front of Busdrive by Overclock as a makeshift battering-ram.
As the trio breaks out the chest, they skirt around the Minicons, tires squealing excited as they turn. Overclock repositions himself as to get a better seat on Busdrive, pulling RAM up while doing so. The goat fires a couple warning missiles at the ground near the Minicons as they then race forward to get elsewhere in the facility.
“Oh come on, I thought you said we were fun! And you want playtime to end so soon!” Overclock teases as they’re getting away.
Tie-Grabber swears something as he gets up and leaps to avoid the other missiles. Though the explosion does still rock him enough to stumble his landing. Tie-Grabber slams his hook at the ground in frustration and transforms. He wheels after them as fast as he can, but he never was built for speed.
Machbreaker on the other hand, always the faster one, transforms and rockets after the escaping data discs. They may have head start, but he was a literal rocket.
