Passing across the border into Maximal territory was a gradual process from the western Neutral side. The streets didn't look all that different at first; obviously the Maximals didn't watch this portion of the border quite so tightly as they would near a metropolis. However, the edge had more than its usual share of military depots and prisons, places set up by necessity when the Neutral land crime leaked over into the Maximal streets.
However, the prison Jynx passed by first seemed to be the center of unusual activity. An armored car marked with scientific logos was parked out front, and two tall guards were manhandling...a chihuahua?
'Oi!' Jynx thought to himself, 'zat's a mighty big escort for such a tiny poodle. But them guards are bearing Maximal logos. I think I'm moving a bit closer, to listen in some.' Jynx transformed into his lynx beast mode, and located a convenient shadow to creep closer in...
"Get him IN there and get a move on!" shouted the driver of the van. "You're running late, and Scanner is always EARLY!"
"Hey, do you have ANY idea how hard it is to get this stuff?" responded one of the guards, locking the prisoner inside the van. "If your labs had figured out the formula in the first place, we wouldn't have to have paid retail!"
"Can't help it; I just work there. Guess they figure he'll be no good at all if they don't wire him back up. Is he secure?"
"Twitchy ain't goin' anywhere," remarked the second guard, hitting the back door of the van for emphasis. "Take 'im away."
The van roared and sped off for the labs.
There was a silent thump as Jynx clung himself to the van. "There's sumthin'... vaguely familiar 'bout this poodle...." He thought to himself, "He reminds me of someone... An' what's this stuff bout' a formula? My curiosity is certainly aroused, and this dog is weird, smells of both Maximal, Predacon and neither... And High-O too, that stuff reeks. These guards look dumb. I can take 'em, but still need more info on where they're going...."
—AF, Mathijs de Jong
The bottom edge of the Cybertron sky had a rare teal cast above the north-face entrance of the Deus Academy. Within the steel hallways, magicians and elites concentrated on discovering the secrets of Transmetal II power, be it through designing artifacts, studying texts, or simple, raw, concentration. On the university lawn, telekinetics exercised their mind, and on the school's silvery steps, intellectuals among Predacons were in hot debate, questioning the natures of their own abilities. Above this bustling scene, the words "Deus Ex Machina" were carved in Predacon glyphs on a high crystal façade.
An iron walkway lit in blue neon marks the central road, the road by which Nightfall and her escort now approached. The mantis stopped the transport, and pushed the release for the doors. He held back the urge to wish his fellow agent luck, knowing nothing about the nature of her mission, but did NOT hold back the urge to steal another glance at her as she departed. Finally, looking back to the road, the driver drove off. Nightfall drew more than a few appriciative gazes as she approached the Academy.
She strode confidently up the main stairway, towards the enterance of the building. Looking around she spotted a reception area, and stepped up to the desk. "I am here to see Aspis."
Having been one of the many who gave Nightfall an appreciative glance, he was drawn from his reverie on a couch when she spoke his name. He stood up and walked over, clutching his precious laptop as if it were the only thing keeping him alive. Looking for all the world like the biggest dork of all time, he spoke to her. "Um...hi. I'm Aspis."
Nightfall turned, looking him up and down, her eyes settling just a bit below his eyes. "I am Nightfall, your escort. I believe you were expecting me?"
Aspis coughed a little. "Uh, yeah. I've been expecting you." He motioned to a hallway a little ways off: the cafeteria. "Would you like to have a cup and get acquainted, or is this strictly business?"
Nightfall smiled softly. "Well, unfortunately I've been told to get you to the Dark Dragon territory ASAP. I don't think my superiors will look kindly on a social break...."
He shrugged. "Okay, then. Where're we going? I have a feeling you've got a vehicle around here ready to take me somewhere?"
"No, but I can call one. We're to go to the Dark Dragon sector, and meet with a representative of the Predacon High Command. Other than that, I've been told nothing. If you're ready, I'll call up a transport for us."
"By all means, do whatever you need to do." He smiled and turns to the cafeteria, beginning to walk. "I, however, could do with a bit of stimulants in my system."
She followed, already calling up for a local transport. It would likely take a few moments anyway. "Make it quick, please. Our ride will be here soon."
"Ah, so I see you ARE warming up to me." He chuckled to himself and took a seat near the door, ordering his beverage from the console on the table.
Nightfall sat as well, but didn’t order a drink for herself. "Easy to do so, I suppose, since thermodynamically I'd have to go up to room temperature..."
Amusing, thought Aspis. "Oh, now that was just COLD, even coming from a Razor like yourself."
Nightfall chuckled. "Haven't you heard? We're all frigid ice maidens with no passion circuits." She smirked, looking out to the front entrance.
"Now, now, wasn't I supposed to be the cold one here?" He smiled, then unconsciously followed her gaze. "If you want to change the rules..." He faded out as he saw a vehicle pull up, very likely meant for them. "Ah, does our chariot arrive?" he asked as he quickly downed the rest of his drink.
The transport van was not the same as the first, quite clearly unmarked. The driver waited; spotting Nightfall, he signaled her forward.
Nightfall nodded. "That's our ride. We'd better get going. Maybe once things have settled down we can finish that drink."
—AF, CB, Karl Henke
While Velocity wasn't the sharpest sword in the armory, a fact which he acknowledged, he was pretty sure even the greatest thinkers on Cybertron would be as disoriented as he was at this recent turn of events. Velocity tried to piece things together from the scraps of conversation he'd heard, and what his suddenly blurred vision had been able to make out. Unfortunately, to do any sort of investigation one needed a fully functioning brain, not to mention actual skills in the field, and the Chihuahuabot had neither. All he could see around him was darkness, and all he could feel was the cold metal of the floor. He was in a dark cell. A dark cell that moved. Which could be a...van? A truck? A portable torture chamber? He glanced around furtively, but his limited vision told him that at least there were no visible instruments of torture in the vicinity. With a sigh of relief, the dog lay his twitching body down on the floor, forcing his mind to work. Those guards had said...something about orders, that blurry white flash—was it what he thought it was? He salivated at the thought. The guard had said something about giving it to him...hadn't he? But, if so, where was he being taken? The dog's memory circuits flashed...the labs. They were taking him to the labs, to do something that even the guard didn't know about. That didn't thrill Velocity much. Velocity's whimpers of panic grew into a miserable canine howl as he contemplated his assuredly dismal future.
The lab transport sped on its way, breaking the speed limit to reach the Maximal lab in time. The van screeched to a stop in front of a downed garage door, which raised at its approach. A Maximal lab assistant approached the van, addressing the driver first.
"You’re late," said the lab assistant. "Scanner’s waiting in Transmetal One. We’ll take the subject from here."
He walked around toward the back of the van.
With a sudden flash, Jynx leaped from the van, unleashed his claws and swiped at the closest Maximal guard, knocking him unconscious. He transformed into his robot mode, fired two rounds of blacklight, blinding the guard and the lab assistant, and emptied a round of his machine guns into the other guard, wounding him badly.
The lab assistant, still blinded from the blacklight, tried to run away, but tripped over the badly damaged body of the guard. "Please don't hurt me!" he said.
Jynx grinned.
"Don't worry," he said," I only fight with those who look ABLE to hurt me." "Now, would you mind tellin' me what the heck is goin' on with that poodle over there?"
The wounded guard shuddered slightly, and hit a panic button on his arm. Red lights flashed on the inside of the bay; the lab assistant stammered. "M...Maximal security. They didn’t tell me either!"
"Da-amn" Jynx said, "this place is gonna be crawling with guards soon!" He walked towards the twitching body of the Chihuahua. "Can you talk?" he asked, "or better yet, move?"
—LA, AF, MdJ
Embereyes stepped off of the lift, and found the observation area already occupied. Two other females from the downstairs department stood leaning over the railing, gazing out through the one-way glass at the Transmetallization tube. Wider than an R-Chamber, the tube reached from floor to ceiling, and was lined with a radiation-proof material that thickened its outer shell. Several serious-looking scientists below were busily adjusting machine calibrations. The female observers on the upper deck were gossiping as Embereyes approached.
"Busy day?" she asked them.
"We’re taking an energon break," remarked one of the ladies, a Persian cat.
"Haven’t you heard?" asked the other, a myna bird. "Kitfox is here today!"
"Purr," added the cat, pointedly.
Embereyes blinked. "Yes... I... I heard."
The processional of Maximals entered the room, the head researcher at the lead. "Yoo-hoo!" the myna screeched, blowing him a kiss. "We’re up here!!"
"He can’t see you," Embereyes muttered. "It’s a mirror."
"Hey, isn’t that YOUR pet, Labrat?" Persia asked, pointing at Goldstreak.
Go get dissected, Embereyes thought. "Not anymore. Kitfox transferred me."
"Ohmygosh he actually TALKED to you?" Maya sputtered. "What did he SAY?"
Embereyes ran over several possibilities in her head. Tell them the truth about Starscream? Never; let 'em think 'The Fox' was cute, smart, and interested. Or better yet... The mouse gave a freckled grin. "He said I was the cutest femme HERE."
—AF
Though Kitfox lead the other Maximals to the Transmetallization room, Scanner was stopped at the door by a call on his radio. "Sir, we have a problem in Bay Three."
Scanner gestured for one of his agents to follow, then apologized to the others. "Pardon me, gentlemen. It will only be a moment."
Kitfox gave the others a smug look, and shrugged.
—AF
Velocity stared at the giant catbot, his tail tucked between his legs, and his ears flicked back. That and his twitching body made him look a nervous wreck, and being one wouldn't help him now. Taking some deep, calming breaths, all he managed to come up with was a frightened whimper. Trying to calm himself down, he forced his fried brain to check out the area around him, seeing the downed guards and lab assistant, hearing the loud alarms. "Yes, I—I can walk," Velocity squeaked, in a partial bluff—he was not at all sure that he could. "But I'd like to know who I'm talkin' to, compadre."
This couldn't be a member of the Slagwires, could it? Or one of the few Blood Fires that hadn't gotten captured? He was quite sure this anonymous bot could not be a well-wisher in any way.
"Good." Jynx said, "We move." He looked at the dog, and wasn't sure what it was, but something gave him the creeps. I'm sure I know this poodle, or maybe it's just that disgusting High-O smell that gets on my nerves... he thought.
"I'm Jynx. I suggest we get out of here. Dunno what trouble you got with these geezers, but there's going to be a lot more of 'em soon. Trusting me is your best bet, and ya know it."
Velocity looked over at the catbot, Jynx, deciding he most likely was right. At least this bot had saved him from whatever cruel fate the Maximals were going to subject him to. His wariness disappearing somewhat, the dog gave a weak grin and tried to introduce himself. "I'm Velocity, and really, I have no idea what trouble I'm in either. I really didn't think that—"
"All right, freeze!"
Two more Maximal guards entered the delivery bay, heavy firearms trained on Jynx. Quickly behind them followed Scanner and his two Maximal Agents. It was a guard who had spoken, but the federal agent spoke next.
"Please, remain calm," Scanner directed. "Drop your weapons."
"Shi-itttt!" Jynx shouted. Looking at the nervous, half passed out chihuahua, Jynx figured they didn't have much of a chance in a battle. "Oi poodle," he whispered to the dog, "on the count of three, we run for it... At least I will..."
He slowly reached for his blacklight gun, while silently counting: 1...2...
What with the appearance of these new Maximals, the presence of heavy weaponry, and his withdrawal symptoms, Velocity was hard pressed to think of what to do. He could barely understand what this Jynx bot was doing here anyway. While his mind churned ineffectually, his sharp hearing caught Jynx's whisper to him. Forcing himself to take stock of the situation, he realized that if he ran with the catbot he most likely wouldn't get to far. No matter what the scientists were going to do to him, it couldn't be worse than what those guards would do to him if he tried to run. Besides, his faction had helped him out before—they'd taken him off the streets, and away from people that wanted to kill him. Why couldn't they help him now?
"Good luck, man," he whispered back to Jynx, deciding to be nice to this new accomplice in...crime? What were they trying to do anyway? "But I'll stay here. Mebbe they can help me figure out what's goin' on." He could only hope that whatever happened, the outcome would be favorable for him. And Jynx too, hopefully. He didn't seem like that bad a bot.
3!
Jynx fired a couple of rounds of his gun, hoping to stun the surrounding guards, and took a dash towards relative safety, or a dark shadow at least. As he turned around to see what his followers did, he saw the dog just sitting there. "Come on man, this is our last chance!" he shouted, "ya wanna be part of some freaky experiment?" The dog remained stationary...
"O shi—!!"
Dodging machine gun fire from the guards, who were unimpressed with his blacklight display, Jynx leaped towards a dark corner, transformed into beast mode in mid air, and landed face first in the dirt in a most unelegant fashion.
"Geez I hope they don't follow me!" he panted, "My energon is running low.... Why did that stupid poodle stay? I hope he's awright..."
One of the Maximal Agents turned to Scanner, and shook his head.
"It's on the downed guard." Scanner nodded once. "Follow him anyway, and keep a link up. Find out what he knows." He pointed to the lab guards, who were still confused by the turn of events. "Get the subject to the Transmetallization lab. We've wasted enough time and ammunition already."
As the guards moved in to remove Velocity from the truck, Scanner walked to the injured guard. He pulled a small black box from the guard's subspace storage, then looked back to the others. "When we're through, get these 'bots to an R-Chamber."
"Yessir."
The two guards lifted Velocity out of the back of the van. "You made a good choice," said Scanner to the still-shaking chihuahua. "Let him walk if he can."
A guard attempted to drop Velocity, but found it was easier NOT to force him to walk.
Meanwhile, Jynx made himself as small and hidden as he possibly could. Geez that was close... He thought man, they must really have a use for that dog... I kinda feel sorry for him.
As he moved his leg, which was uncomfortable, he felt a sudden rush of pain running through his right leg. He felt it becoming wet, and suddenly realized he was leaking plasma fluid. "Damn, they hit me!" He thought. Lemme see.... hmmm the wound isn't really deep. He transformed to his robotmode, not entirely without pain, and bandaged the wound. "No running for me until this is properly fixed. If they find me now, I'm really screwed..."
Unfortunately for Jynx, he was about to discover that Maximal Federal Agents have above-excellent hearing. As he tended to the wound, he was grabbed roughly around the back of his neck.
"You are under arrest, by order of the Maximal Council," said the agent, with a cold calm. Jynx noticed that, unlike his bat commander, the agent had an old-style vehicle mode, some kind of armored car.
A short pause, and the agent called Scanner on his communicator. "He has no information."
"Bring him to Transmetal One, and place a call to Magnaboss."
"Yes, sir."
—LA, MdJ, AF
For a war-torn feudal sector, Dark Dragon was currently quiet. In stark contrast to the cities they had passed through only a megacycle ago, this area had seen battle only recently. A tower of bronze was tipped upon its side, emptied of life and goods. A makeshift guard station sitting on the border's edge seemed deserted. To the north, tall sectioned towers still stood, posed proudly against the maroon sunset.
The Predacon transport stopped just south of the border, where the towers of the sector heart were nothing but a dark streak of forest on the horizon. As the truck halted, red-tinted street-lamps flashed on along the road. Those that were no longer standing flickered sadly, and died.
"This is as far as I can take you," said the driver of the van, releasing the doors. He pointed out to the north, where a lone pterodactyl was flying a patrol. "Keep watch for guards."
Nightfall nodded. "Thanks, we will." She looked around, nodding.
Aspis shrugged. "If you don't mind, I'm reverting to my beast mode." At the last words he turned into a long, lithe greenish-silver snake. "I find it much easier for sneaking around." He maneuvered himself so he was looking at Nightfall again. "Now, any clue where we go from here?"
"Well, I guess we keep quiet and keep to the ground... If we don't find our contact once we're over the border and into the territory, I'll call in for directions."
The transport left the two Predacons to their duty.
—AF, CB, KH