eugenesis-text

‘Kwi – kwi – Quintessonzzzzzzzzzz…’
The Micromaster’s optics faded and his voice whirl-pooled into silence. Search and Rescue
stretchered him down the corridor without another word, leaving Chromedome to stare at his chest, which
resembled a butcher’s apron.
Prowl was already pacing around the table. ‘The Quintessons have abducted the leader of the
Decepticons’
‘And, it seems, his perceived counterpart,’ said Perceptor, gesturing to the screen. ‘It would appear
that they have taken Thunderclash too.’
‘Chromedome,’ said Prowl. ‘I want you to let Siren know what’s happened. Patch through to
Autobot City, too. ‘Tell them to be on their guard.’
‘Mirage and Ratchet still haven’t arrived,’ said Sideswipe. ‘You think there’s a connection, Prowl’
‘I don’t know.’
Chromedome left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Nightbeat took a chance and slipped into Kup’s chair, sensing the impending discussion.
Prowl was the last to sit down. ‘I would welcome any comments,’ he said quietly.
‘I thought all the Quintessons were dead.’
‘We just drove them off planet, Sideswipe. There was always the possibility of another invasion.’
‘It’d hardly call this an invasion. They’re just picking us off one by one.’
‘To teleport in and out like that, they’d have to be close by,’ said Perceptor.
If he had been able, Prowl would have turned a shade paler. ‘We don’t have the troops or the
hardware to repel another Quintesson assault,’ he said, looking across the table. ‘You’re keeping quiet,
Nightbeat. What are you thinking’
‘I’m thinking that we should tell the Decepticons. Warn them. They probably think that we’re
behind Galvatron’s disappearance.’ He looked at three stony faces. ‘Hey, two minutes ago we were all ready
to blame them for Thunderclash’s death.’
‘It might be wise to do as he says,’ said Perceptor.
‘No,’ said Prowl. ‘They wouldn’t believe us. If they’d buzzed us two minutes ago denying their
involvement would we have believed them Besides, sending the Decepticons a direct transmission is
tantamount to giving them our address. They’ll trace any message back to its source.’
‘I seem to recall,’ said Nightbeat, ‘that last time round we joined forces with Soundwave to defeat the
Quintessons.’
‘They haven’t attacked us yet! I’m not making a deal with the devil on the strength of a maybe.’
‘Then what do we do Stretch out and wait’
‘Quite the opposite: we plan and prepare. I want every Autobot across Cybertron ready to defend
himself.’
Prowl was interrupted by an incoming message. Chromedome’s head and shoulders appeared on a
monitor screen. ‘Commander, I’ve warned Siren of the potential threat but I can’t reach Autobot City. I think the
sub-space message was waylaid in transit.’
‘Could the City’s communications be down’ asked Prowl.
‘Possible, although it’s probably just a glitch. You remember how long it took to patch you through to Magnus
before.’
‘Keep me updated.’
Chromedome remained on screen.
‘Is there something else’
‘Yes. Emyrissus died en route to AMC1.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ Prowl nodded as if to back up his statement. ‘I’ll have Cremator make the
necessary recycling arrangements.’ His eyes were drawn to the spot where Chromedome had stood cradling
the Micromaster in his arms, and he remembered what Optimus always used to say: one death is one too
many. ‘Perceptor, I’d like to speak to you in private for a moment,’ he said, heading for a side room.
Sideswipe watched them go. ‘Don’t look so surprised, Nightbeat,’ he said, somewhat bitterly. ‘There
are secrets even in High Command.’
After a warm and uneasy silence the strategist and the scientist reappeared.