eugenesis-text

‘Excellent.’ Prowl turned back to Rodimus. ‘So the next High Command meeting is in two hours,
okay Top of the agenda is tomorrow’s troop inspection. Red Alert’s still worried about an aerial blitz and
I’ve had Thunderclash banging on about defence grids all afternoon.’
Rodimus nodded. ‘Anything else’
Prowl looked at his databoard, despite having memorised every last shred of data. ‘Let’s see…
Perceptor has details of alleged Decepticon activity on the Kalis/Tyrest border and I’m expecting an update
on Emyrissus. Mirage and Ratchet should be back in about an hour, so I’ve pencilled in the verdict under
any other business.’
Rodimus looked at Nightbeat. ‘Have you finished that report on Longtooth’ He was handed the
disc. ‘Excellent. Prowl, put this on the agenda too.’
‘Yes, commander.’ Prowl marched off, tapping his databoard.
‘So,’ said Nightbeat, as casually as he could, ‘Why am I here’
‘You’re the detective,’ said Rodimus. ‘Why do you think you’re here’
‘I’m beginning to think it’s because you wanted to keep an eye on me; to give me the little jobs no
one else wanted.’
‘Wrong on both counts.’
‘Rodimus, I’ve been here over a day now. I’ve been shown into my quarters, given a routine
investigation and generally left alone, and—’
‘And I thought that’s what you liked: a dark office, mountains of casework, solitude…’
‘Yes, but I had all that at Delphi. No one’s had the decency to tell me why I was brought here. Not
even Siren.’ He followed Prime into a vacuum lift. ‘Look, I’ll make it simple. Question one: am I in Iacon
for a reason’
‘Yes.’
‘Question two: what is it’
Rodimus laughed. ‘I have you in mind for a particular mission. Only seven other people know the
details. I’ve scheduled a meeting after the troop inspection and I want you to attend. You’ll get your
answers then.’
The lift slowed down and they stepped into a basement that resembled the inside of a dirty oven.
‘Why can’t you tell me now Don’t you trust me’
‘It’s not a question of trust, it’s a question of safety.’
‘Whose safety’
‘Your own. What you don’t know can’t hurt you, as they say. If Galvatron got wind of what we’ve
discovered he’d do anything – anything – to find out more.’ Prime reached into a puddle, pulled open a
hatch and dropped down into a utility duct. ‘I have a responsibility to those under my command,’ he
continued. ‘In one day I should have all the information I need. Bear with me.’
‘As long as I get an explanation. Soon.’
‘Come on. I’ve dragged you this far – you might as well visit AMC1 with me.’
They set off down the utility duct, knee-deep in Iaconian detritus: petrolene and energon scum, lubespill
and discharge. The surface was taut and shrunken, like dry skin. Like everything else that couldn’t be
loaded and fired, the network of subterranean ducts had, over the years, fallen into disrepair; now, they
were little more than Cybertron’s tea-stained intestines, bunched and coiled beneath each of the major citystates.
Nightbeat saw a lime-green letter ‘A’ on the wall, its slanting legs testing the water. Markings such as
these were originally intended to guide soldiers home, to Autobase. Now, they were simply a map of
defeat. Every piece of graffiti led to a gutted HQ, or a flight of stairs that stalled mid-way, or a vacuum lift
that poked into a crater.
Rodimus stopped moving.
‘What is it’ whispered Nightbeat.
‘I just heard something. Don’t move.’
Rodimus moved so stealthily that his boots barely disturbed the water. Nightbeat watched him dive
into the clearing up ahead and tensed for inevitable screech of gunfire.
It didn’t come.
Instead, Rodimus shouted, ‘Quark! What the hell are you doing down here’