eugenesis-text

He may be ten thousand times more energy efficient than we are! What’s to stop him murdering us all in
our sleep’
‘Well he wouldn’t get his money, for one thing.’
‘We’re talking about someone who shot a fleeing Inferno in the back. He wasn’t motivated by
monetary gain then. He’s a killer, Magnus: he has killed and he will do so again. I’m not off-lining with
him around.’
Death’s Head approached them from the other side of the Bridge, having guessed exactly what they
were saying. Their conversation might as well have been broadcast in quadraphonic stereo.
‘Save the paranoia, yes I couldn’t shut myself down if I wanted to. Not your basic household
appliance. Don’t have an on/off switch.’
‘Then there’s only one thing for it,’ said Magnus, beckoning them both down the corridor.
A few moments later Death’s Head was locked in the science lab. He sat on a worktop and listened to
the muffled voices outside.
‘I’ve scrambled the release code. He’s sealed in ’til override.’
‘What if he punches his way through’
‘Impossible. That door would hold Galvatron.’
‘As long as he’s on board I won’t feel safe.’
‘There’s nothing else we can do. Come on.’
Back on the bridge, Ultra Magnus checked that everyone was off-line, took his place in the front row
and bowed his head. A shutdown command passed across his program files like a guillotine, severing all
connections.
Prowl dabbed his burning cheek and examined his fingertip: a scrawny speck of oil was racing down
its sinuous contours. He looked at his reflection in the corridor wall and saw the scratch on his chiselled
cheekbone (triple-laned, diagonal, frizzed with epidermal circuitry). Nano-filters were already sealing the
gash and stemming the lube-flow, but a tiny scar would remain.
The drills roared in the background. He looked at his aggressor through the gaps in his fingertips.
‘You hit me.’
‘Yes. I did.’ Kup was holding a grimy industrial drill in one hand and buzzing on the spot. ‘Actually
no, it was more of a slap.’
The shock still contorted Prowl’s facial muscles. He looked puzzled and alone.
‘Well what did you expect’ Kup quickly checked that none of the excavation team – Crossblades,
Triniad, Rephlex, Rad and Slapdash – had seen the blow. The five of them were too busy pummelling
Rodimus Prime’s medi-vault. ‘Well You come barging down the corridor, arms flailing, screaming
something about taking the Matrix from Rodimus. You shocked me, I reacted. What did you expect’
‘That’s a poor excuse and you know it. You didn’t even hear me out.’
‘What more is there to say’ Kup was straining to be heard above the drilling but did not move away
from the door. It was as if he and Prowl were standing in a wind tunnel, lashed with noise. ‘You know
what, Prowl You’re raving. First you snatch leadership and now you want the Matrix!’
‘I don’t want the Matrix for myself! I want to see if it can be used on the others – on our injured.’
‘Rodimus is injured!’
‘Look Kup…’ Prowl ran his hand over his head and shifted on the spot, wondering whether to
continue. ‘Rodimus isn’t going to make it. He isn’t. I’m sorry. I know that the Matrix is the only thing
keeping him alive right now, but it’s not enough to resuscitate him. You’re just delaying the —’
Kup threw the drill aside. ‘Go on. Finish what you were going to say.’
‘It’s just a matter of time before he dies.’
‘How can you say things like that’ Kup sounded genuine puzzled. ‘What is wrong with that
logician’s head of yours’
‘Just for once, Kup, forget about me and look around you. I have 50 Autobots who are going to die
unless I do something. The Matrix might be able to save them. They’re not comatose like Prime: they can
be repaired. Do I have to spell it out for you One life for 50. What do you say You assumed responsibility
for Prime – you decide.’