eugenesis-text

‘If you look closely, you’ll see Doubleheader’s chest plate splitting open. There’s the bomb.
Thunderclash and Red Alert have just noticed what’s happening.’
He skipped through the footage, jumping from one image to another. The screen went white and he
froze the film. ‘This is the first explosion, the one that did Prime the most damage. It actually triggered a
chain reaction.’ He skipped a few more frames, until Prime’s remains were tent-pegged to the crater slope.
Thunderclash was curled up but still intact. ‘Remember that this all happened in a few seconds. In real life,
what follows registered as nothing more than a series of flashes.’
He prodded the picture forward and a new ball of light appeared near the base of the crater. It faded
to reveal a new figure, obscured by smoke, who lurched forward and slammed something into
Thunderclash’s back. Another flash, and when that had faded so had Thunderclash and the visitor.
Nightbeat froze the film and turned to his audience. ‘And that is what happened,’ he said proudly.
‘Nice work,’ said Prowl.
Sideswipe looked around, exasperated. ‘Did we all just see the same thing Because what I got from
that exercise was some blurred guy slapping Thunderclash on the back.’
‘Rewind the footage to that moment, Nightbeat’ said Prowl. ‘And give us your theories.’
‘Well, it seems that Thunderclash was abducted. This figure here - his abductor - must have used a
personal teleporter to get in and out.’
‘Yes,’ said Prowl. ‘But who is he The smoke covers his face.’
‘He’s obviously a Decepticon,’ said Sideswipe matter-of-factly.
‘Maybe not,’ said Nightbeat. ‘Why would the Decepticons send an abductor when their deep-plant
plans to blow his cover And why Thunderclash Why take him Why not kill him’
‘Your point is noted,’ said Prowl. ‘But if not the Decepticons, then who’
They turned as one as the door burst open and Chromedome stumbled inside. He was cradling a
block of machinery – machinery that had shoulders, a torso, a frail head and a name: Emyrissus.
‘I found him near holo-hatch four,’ said Chromedome, carrying the Micromaster’s remains to the
roundtable.
‘Is he dead’ Prowl’s every instinct screamed ‘yes’, but he had to ask.
‘I managed to revive him, but he wouldn’t let me take him to AMC1. He insisted on being brought
here.’ Chromedome looked down at the robot in his arms. ‘He said there was something that you needed
to know.’
Emyrissus let out a weak electronic squeal and jerked his head. Prowl was already on his feet. ‘What
did you want to tell me, Emyrissus’
‘Saw sum – saw sum – saw something… a kw… a kw…’ The syllables fell from his lips with the force
of a dying breath.
‘You saw something at Darkmount’
‘Glvtrn.’
‘What did Galvatron do’
‘Nuh. Nuh.’ Emyrissus’ voice fought hard to escape his lips. ‘Tuk hm. They tuk hm.’
‘Where’s the patient!’
Search and Rescue crashed into the chamber loaded with energon pads and resuscitators. Prowl stalled
them with an outstretched arm. ‘Don’t move! We need him conscious!’
The command clearly worried Chromedome, who was about to hand the Micromaster over. Prowl
gripped his arm.
‘Who took Galvatron, Emyrissus Who took him’
Chromedome looked over his shoulder. The medics were ready to pounce. ‘Prowl, perhaps we
should—’
‘Who took him’
‘Kwi… kwi…’
‘Please commander, let us through.’
‘Stay back!’
‘Emyrissus!’ Nightbeat pointed to the blurred figure on screen. ‘Was it this person Did this person
take Galvatron’
‘Y – y – y – y – y – y – y…’
Prowl bent in close. ‘Who are these people, Emyrissus’