eugenesis-text

‘Are the containment facilities in order’
‘You could store twice the population of Cybertron in here. Jolup and Ryknia are still exploring. The place will
need a certain element of customisation, however, before we’re ready to start the injections.’
‘I will despatch engineering teams immediately. Contact Aquaria and order the first cache of Inhibitor
Chips.’
As the picture faded, Quantax caught himself smiling. It surprised him.
Phase two was underway. The frontier teams were slowly cleansing every square mile of the planet,
the Autobot Resistance was being slaughtered and Cybertron’s first concentration camp was about to be
filled. And as for this Matrix business…
A minor setback.
Fading embers rode air currents like cherry blossom, pink petals lulled from half-slagged robots. It was
daybreak, and although the Autobots and Quintessons were still fighting, their battle had become somewhat
bathetic. They were going through the motions, and while many people were still dying, it felt as if an
obligation was being fulfilled, as if it was just a case of each side pounding on and on and on until someone
gave up.
Prowl crouched and fired, pasting a twisting skin of Sharkticon body parts over a green-tinged
fireball. No good, though – another three rushed to take his place. He stared at his own threadbare army
and decided it was no good: the situation was officially hopeless.
Sideswipe sprinted towards him, taking a shortcut between two rows of Sharkticons. Wrists crossed,
he emptied his photon clips into their chests, and was glistening with oil by the time he reached his
commander.
‘I think there’s a way out of this, Prowl. We split the force – I’ll lead a covering squad up here while
you take the others below ground.’
‘Forget it. We’re not running.’
‘If we stay up here we will die. If we split up, half of us will survive, even if it’s just for another day.
Give me enough perimeter troops and I’ll give you enough time to get clear. Come on, Prowl - you’re
only arguing because it’s me standing here, not some member of High Command. In five seconds you’ll
have Perceptor recommending exactly the same strategy.’
‘But–’
‘Then it’s agreed.’ Sideswipe sent an inter-Autobot radio communication to the Autobots on the
outskirts of the battlefield. ‘If you are receiving this communication then stay your ground. We are splitting the force
and you have been chosen to provide covering support.’ He nodded to Prowl. ‘Your turn.’
Rev-Tone felt only the slightest crease of pain as the Sharkticon’s fist broke his visor. His world was
fragmented, halved and halved again, and when he fell to the ground steam jetted from his legs. A familiar
voice invaded his head as his aggressor levelled a blaster, leaned forward and exploded.
Quark walked through the smoke. ‘We’re even!’ He yanked him upright. ‘Did you get the internal
message Good – let’s go!’
Rev-Tone started running and stopped when he realised that Quark wasn’t following – in fact, they
were heading in opposite directions.
‘The drop-down hatch is this way, Quark! Come on!’
‘But Sidewipe’s orders–’
‘Sideswipe I’ve just had Prowl on the line telling us to head underground!’ Behind him, Autobots
were sprinting towards the bottom of the crater; those behind Quark were running for the perimeter. The
two robots suddenly found themselves stranded in a widening no-man’s land.
‘I’ve been chosen to stay behind.’ Quark almost sounded apologetic. ‘Sideswipe’s team.’
They stared at each other, waiting for the nod, for the flicker of acceptance. A Trident thudded into a
nearby patch of ground. They stood on the fringe of the explosion, oblivious.
Rev-Tone smiled behind the remains of his mouth grille.
‘What’s so funny’