eugenesis-text

‘What about the casualties The medivault is full of Decep— full of your men.’
‘I’ve prepared ships to ferry our wounded.’
‘Why go now It seems an inappropriate time.’
‘You should be grateful we’re not draining precious resources.’ He did not wait for a response. ‘I’ve
spoken to Sygnet and Wheeljack. They have enough information to create a counter-Inhibitor Chip that
can be implanted in the escapees. It will transmit a blocking frequency and stave off paralysis.’
‘A counter-chip could take weeks to prepare. What happens in the meantime’
‘I gather that Mirage is loading your troops into stasis pods as we speak. Onslaught is recommending
voluntary shutdown to my men. My Decepticons.’
‘And then it’s off to the Fortress,’ Perceptor smiled humourlessly. ‘At least you found yourself a brand
new base.’
‘I suggest you do the same.’ Soundwave moved towards the door. ‘Leave Delphi as soon as possible.’
‘Is that a threat or a warning’
‘Advice. Friendly advice.’
‘Wait! You can’t just up and leave. What about the Alliance’
Soundwave hovered in the doorway. ‘I… cannot comment. If Galvatron is still alive, the decision
rests with him.’
‘But if Galvatron’s dead, and you are in command…’
‘Then our war is over.’
The medivault door swung open. Ratchet’s arms hung limply by his sides. Oil dripped down his
chest.
‘Nightbeat’s dead.’
Wheeljack brushed his fingers across a flatbed sensor-screen and made alterations to the Inhibitor
print. Every so often he fumbled below the desk to snuff a spark-fire in his thigh. His wounds could wait:
there was work to be done. As he worked he chatted to Sygnet, who was tidying up in the background.
‘No, it’s a shame about the Ark. The old bird’s been good to us: blasting paths through asteroid fields,
being wedged under a volcano for four million years, rock-hopping from Cybertron to Earth to
Cybertron… I’ll miss it.’
Sygnet muttered something into the recharge belt he was folding up.
‘Anyway,’ Wheeljack continued. ‘I suppose it’ll be nice to move on.’ He tapped the sensorscreen
enthusiastically. ‘Throw some new designs together, build a better starship. I’ve always thought “The
Axalon” had a nice ring to it. What do you think’
‘Yeah. Whatever.’
‘But first things first. If these alternations work out we should have our Anti-Inhibitor prototype
ready within two weeks. Manufacturing could prove a problem, but I’m sure we’ll work something out,
right Maybe some duodurillium mould or reflexive microwiring.’ He pushed harder on the sensorscreen as
a touch-pad refused to react. ‘Pass me a thermal screwdriver, will you’ His arm hung in mid-air. ‘Sygnet’
He turned to see Sygnet walking into the corridor and ran after him.
‘Where are you going’
‘Soundwave called us in. Heard it on Internal. We’re heading back to Polyhex.’
‘You’re re-joining the Decepticons!’
‘Re-joining I never left. Hey, it was you that asked me to tag along, not the other way around. I’m
sorry. This was an alliance of convenience.’
Wheeljack held up his hands and shook his head. ‘Don’t give me that. Don’t insult me. These things
are never just about convenience: you wanted to be an Autobot again. Admit it!’
Sygnet shrugged. ‘Maybe I did. When you’re fighting an alien invasion you gotta ask yourself which
side you’d rather have watching your back.’
‘Autobot, Decepticon, Autobot, Decepticon. Do you get your kicks playing defector’
‘I’ve only defected once, and that was four million years ago, when I became a Decepticon.
Nothing’s changed. I’m still your enemy.’
‘But that’s just it! You… you’re not my enemy. I can’t see you waste the rest of your life.’