Fit the Second, Part III

The Autobot crew stayed for a few days. One who enjoyed the stay very much was the Autobot known as Sandstorm. His processor was very obviously fried from a few contraband bought from Beachcomber too many. But he was in touch with nature. He was fascinated by organic life. He took care of Magnificus' prized bird even. He felt like he was home. He almost felt like he wanted to stay. Stay until his spark burned out. But it would burn out in happiness and satisfaction.

In the private oilhouse that Magnificus had set up in the lower level of his sprawling mansion, black gold flowed. The crew of the Lost Light sang and drank. Things were good. Too good. Tailgate, Chromedome, and Brainstorm sat in a corner, talking of the wonders of the universe, despite the fact Chromedome, whom sober was reserved and abrasive, was quite the talker.

"Ya know, tell me more." Tailgate said, who in his young age didn't take part in such actions as drinking oil.

"Tell'm about the time you sent your head rolling." Chromedome let out a chortle.

"There's this Nebulon colleague of mine... We did this hairbrained idea I came up with him... I don't even remember what it was, but that's how I ended up a disembodied head." Brainstorm's body drank the oil with a straw through the socket that was once where his head joined.

The gallery upstairs was silent. Suddenly the silence broke. A cracking noise began to echo through the hall. The statues, once white alien granite, crumbled to reveal the visages of sadistic Cybertronians (and a large Kremzeek).

Giga grumbled, chewing the sliver of iron between his teeth. “That was the most uncomfortable two days of my life.”

“Suck it up, loverboy.” Mega pulled out one of her blades, feeling the sharp edge on her fingertip.

Spinister kicked the white detritus around him, while the old, grouchy Skyquake took a puff of his long cygarette. “Are we gonna kick some Autobot tailpipe or what?”

“Sacrebleu, Skykvake. Calm your self-uh.”

Mega looked at her wrist mounted scanner. “They’re in the basement. Let’s get ready for an ambush.”

As the joyous gathering continued, the door to the room began to squeak, as electric fingers pulled the door off the wall. The large Kremzeek walks in and rips a bot standing by the door in half.

Spinister whistles. “Calm down, garçon.” The Kremzeek kneels, and Spinister pats its head.

Magnificus looks to Rodimus. “The tractor beam wasn’t malfunctioning. I pulled you down here for a purpose. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Kup realizes what’s going on. “You sold us out, you lying Decepticreep son-of-a--”

Giga pulls the large proton cannon from his back, and shoots Magnificus. Magnificus falls to the floor, a large circular hole shot into his chest.

Rodimus loads his bow. “I thought the Decepticon cause was dead and gone in this sector of the universe.”

Mega scoffs. “Of course it is. We don’t report to Megatron. We don’t report to anyone but ourselves.” Giga puts his arm around Mega and they kiss.

Tailgate in the distance thinks to himself. “Didn’t Magnificus say they were split from the same--” A look of disgust comes across his faceplate.

An angry, drunken Kup takes a puff, then pulls his cosmic sawed-off from his backpack. “Then state your intent or we’ll violate the T-T-T-Tyrest Accord.” He burps.

“Profit. Melt down any lost travelers for scrap. Well, I won’t melt you down. That’s Skyquake’s job. Or, if we capture you alive of course, sell you for ‘scientific purposes’.” Mega states in a nasty tone.

Rodimus squints his optics. “Not if I’ve got anything to say about it. Autobots, initiate Plan…” He drunkenly hesitates, looking around. “RUN!”

Rodimus jumps in the air, and initiates his spoiler-mounted rocket boosters. He flys low to the ground towards the Decepticons and the Kremzeek, bowling over the 5, then transforming into his car form. The Lost Light crew present in the basement transform and follow after Rodimus.

“Follow zem!” Spinister commands the Kremzeek as in splits into a hundred smaller Kremzeeks.

Sandstorm turns a corner, and finds the Decepticons standing before him. He tries to step back before they notice him. Skyquake turns around, and grabs him.“Got you.”

“Mega grinds her teeth. We’ve got one. Good enough for now.” She speaks into her wrist scanner. “Beam us out of here, Liege Centuro.”

The four Decepticons and Sandstorm disintegrate, transporting to an unknown destination.

The Autobots blast up the mansion’s grand staircase and out the door as Kremzeeks give chase. Kup transforms back into robot mode, takes 3 shots at the Kremzeeks, then transforms back into vehicle mode and gains speed. Reflector drones in the trees take shots at the Autobots below. One armed with a rocket launcher incapacitates a number of passing bots.

Kup yells at Skids. “Pick up speed, slaggit!”

Skids yells, “I don’t have the wheels for this terrain!” A Reflector drone shoots Skids in the rear. “OKAY YES I DO!” Skids speeds up.

A thunderous, zapping noise echos. The loud footsteps of a hundred Kremzeeks give chase.

As Rodimus drives through the jungle, the landing site of the Lost Light becomes visible in the brush. From the landing bay door, Rhynox and Unitron hold off the Reflector drones. Rodimus drives in, drifts, then transforms, with Kup second, Skids third, and the rest of the crew following. The ship begins to take off.

Rodimus barks incensed, “Skids, status report!”

“Three casualties sir, one missing-in-action.”

“Who’s missing?”

“Sandstorm.”

“Scrap.” Rodimus lets out a deep sigh.

The Lost Light takes off, the bay door closing. A single Kremzeek hangs off the closing door, but Rhynox shoots it off with a single shot from his chaingun, falling to the ground below.

Tailgate looks wide-eyed. “Well! That was fun!”