lithone: chapter 11

7/31/2019 Lithone: Chapter 11

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Lithone: Chapter 11The trip down into the planetoid was uneventful. Thesys kept the party ontrack and heading towards the Unicron signal, as they came to call it. Their

journey alternated between tunnels burrowed by Twin Twist and existing

passageways formed by Unicron, such as the one they traveled through now.So far they had not triggered any defense mechanisms, so either they hadbeen careful, or lucky, or Unicron was too busy with other matters ... or hewas simply ignoring them.

Meanwhile, Thesys had begun tracking the cause of his bouts of stasis lock, asKup had pretty much ordered him to. It appeared that, as Bika had guessed,Thesys did lose time from these episodes, as he had needed to reset hischronometer again from the last one. It also appeared that, as everyone hadtold him, he was communicating to the Decepticons while locked up,informing them of the Autobots' plans. This explained how they knew aboutthe rst ill-fated trip to the planetoid, as well as how they knew that the

Alafex was heading to the planetoid for a second time.When Thesys realized how he had inadvertently sabotaged their cause, hewas ashamed. He described his ndings to the crew as they descended, andtried to apologize. The crew unanimously agreed that it was most assuredly aDecepticon plot, and urged him to keep guring out why it had happened.While he felt the rest of the crew still trusted him, he sensed that Kup did not,yet.

Even while Thesys was busy tracking the Unicron signal and hunting for theroot of his narcolepsy, he still had processor time left to chat with Natalie,who was riding along in his cockpit. He could have done just as well without

the distraction, but it seemed to make Natalie feel better in what must havebeen to her a very surreal situation.

As if to seek comfort, Natalie had been talking about her family, especially herfather, Daniel. My dad was never around much when I was growing up. Hewas always shuttling to Cybertron to see Rodimus Prime or off to Portland tosee Grandpa. I wish that he had been around more. I took this job with youguys mostly in order to get closer to him, although he thought I might cometo appreciate what he had been doing for all those years.

If I may say so, I think you have always been a little distrustful of us,Thesys commented, as gently as he could, realizing the irony of his owncurrent situation. From what you've said, I can understand why, eventhough Autobots don't really have a parent-child social structure. So has thisexperience helped you gain appreciation for what your father has done?

Natalie shivered as she looked at the subterranean nightmare around them.Oh yeah. I think Dad and I have a lot to talk about when I see him ... if I seehim ... She started feeling depressed again, so she changed the subject.

Anyway, back to your problem. We're guessing that the rst time you had'lost time' was when you went off to the supply closet while you wereworking with Bika and me. Now, assuming that this is the work of theDecepticons, something probably happened to you in between when wefound Ravage sneaking around the Lithone ship, and your trip to the closet.

Does that make sense?Indeed it does. He replied. Let me think ... we chased Ravage around, and


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he slammed me into a wall. Then we went up one level chasing him and Inearly got sliced to scrap by Buzzsaw. This reminiscing was turningembarrassing. Then we ducked into that equipment closet and I found Siren

Oh yeah, Natalie interrupted, she really took a liking to you. And you to

her, I do believe. You looked like you were on cloud nine when she talked toyou in that voice of hers. I guess her name is pretty appropriate.

Thesys thought he understood the cloud nine expression, but got it wrongfor the most part. It certainly was cloudy when she talked ... somethingabout her voice, when she spoke, the words seem to originate from within mycore circuitry, and it interfered with my command pathways so that I couldn'ttalk or move. He thought for a second. That gives me an idea. Let me checkwhat she really said to me. I'll initiate another diagnostic program, this timeoriginating from my auditory processors, looking for any anomalies in thetracks around that time. And at once he did.

Sounds like a good idea to me, Natalie replied, mostly understanding whathe was talking about. Hey, look at the captain up there. It really looks like heknows what he is doing. He seems to be more condent than usual.

Well, it may help that we are traveling with an armed guard. As much as Ihate to admit it, I wouldn't have any condence right now without them.

C'mon, don't sell yourself short! I've been watching you through all of this,and I can tell you're becoming more condent all by yourself.

A synthesized huff was Thesys's reply.

I'm serious! she encouraged. Then her tone became singsong, And I'm notthe only one who's noticed. I think a certain pilot has been checking youout...

Thesys became ustered, although inside his spark uttered a little. Now,Natalie, this is not the time to bring up that sort of thing. The human smileddevilishly as Thesys tried to avoid where this path of conversation would leadto. We're on an important mission that demands our atten hold on ... mydiagnostics just hit on something interesting.

After a moment, the report from the program was collated and analyzed.Thesys declared, I have determined the cause of my problem. Kup?

The elder Autobot approached from behind, ducking to avoid the ceilingsupports. What is it, kid? Are we going off course?

No. My diagnostics have been successful. I have discovered a viral controlprogram infecting my command pathways. It left traces of its entry in myauditory system, which leads me to conclude that the Decepticon Sireninfected me with it when I discovered her on the Lithonian command vessel.

A vocal virus, Kup pondered. I bet she learned that trick from Soundwave.Have you started disinfection?

I will, but I think it will take some time. The virus seems to be very wellconstructed, and very eager to survive and spread. I need to be careful. It's agood thing that I discovered it now, or I think I would have started infecting

everyone else.Finally, some good news, Kup grumbled, although with relief. All right,


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kid. Can you at least keep it from seizing up your circuits again?

I hope so. I'll keep you informed. And you can tell Twin Twist he needs tostart drilling again.

While the interior of the planetoid remained peaceful, war raged outside.Ultra Magnus and Kup had guessed correctly; the Lithones had decided tohang back and stay out of the ghting between the Autobot and Decepticonforces. Overall the battle was proceeding in favor of the Autobots, whoselarge battleships and cruisers, with the help of Jetre and the Aerialbots, wereable to handle the otillas of weaker Armadans and Sweeps. The Autobotships were even putting up a good ght with the fearsome DecepticonPrometheus cruisers.

Ultra Magnus observed the course of the battle from the bridge of the Bentefor,and decided it was time to orchestrate their victory. All right, let's see whatthis ship can do. Pilot! Engage the Dominion! Jazz, take up position at markone-ve-zero and get ready to activate your primary weapon!

I read you loud and clear, Ultra, Jazz communicated from on board theBazgaron. You set her up, and I'll knock her down!

In the Decepticon eet, besides the Prometheus cruisers, there were only a fewcapital ships, and the Dominion was clearly the largest of them all. TheBentefor came about and lumbered ahead, ring full volleys from its batteries.

Come now, Ultra Magnus, a voice sounded from the comm, I was hopingwe could settle our differences personally. Very well. I shall crack the shell ofyour precious ship myself, and then you will be forced to face me withhonor!

Scourge, converted into his Sweep mode, bore down on the Bentefor withblinding speed, and quickly knocked out several of the battleship's guns withhis blasters. Although minuscule compared with the massive ship, theDecepticon's skill was making up for the size difference.

I won't fall for any of your tricks, Scourge! Ultra Magnus countered.Whatever vendetta you have against me will have to wait! Still, Scourgewas quickly hobbling his ship's weapons. Jetre! I need you to escort theBentefor and get Scourge off my back!

Sorry, General, the air commander replied over the comm, amid abackground of laser re and vapor bursts. Unh! I'm a little busy at themoment!

I read you, Jetre. Aerialbots! Can any of you disengage to distract Scourge?A chorus of negatives returned to him from the entire team.

Ultra Magnus was at a loss. He turned, and saw his bodyguard, Snarl, seatedin the corner, bufng his backplates. Well, the general thought, it's worth ashot.

Snarl! I need you to get out there and distract Scourge until we can close inon the Dominion!

The Dinobot hadn't been paying close attention, and looked up hazily. He

stood, and spoke slowly. Me, Snarl, not sure how to help Ultra Magnus. Mecannot y as good as Decepticons in space.


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Ultra Magnus was wondering whether any of his soldiers really felt likefollowing his orders much anymore. He thought quickly, then replied withencouragement to his slow-witted cohort. You are correct, Snarl. But inspace, the rays of the sun are very strong. You will be very powerful. If youtell Scourge that, he will slow down to try to beat you.

Snarl considered that strategy. And considered some more. The bridge shookwith the force of an explosion close by, but he still stood thinking.

Snarl?!

Hmmmm ... if Snarl make fun of Decepticon, then Decepticon attack Snarl.And Snarl stronger than any Decepticon. Hmmm. Ultra Magnus, you smartleader!

But no longer a patient one. OK, Snarl, thank you. Now get out there beforeit's too late!

OK, Snarl replied. Then, in a manner much quicker than his mental

processing, the Dinobot ran to the bridge's emergency airlock, and jettisonedhimself away from the ship.

Outside, Snarl could feel the sunlight on his back and in his tail-wings. UltraMagnus was right. It felt good, and his power was growing. Decepticon he half-sung. Scooorge me, Snarl, want toght you. You weak, Snarl strong.Snarl beat stupid Decepticon.

Scourge quickly answered, but not to Snarl. What sort of insult is this, UltraMagnus? Is this blathering idiot your champion? You will have to do betterthan that!

Where stupid Decepticon? Decepticon afraid of Snarl. Fight Snarl! Coastingover the hull of the Bentefor, Snarl located Scourge completing a pass and ewtowards him. He unsheathed his gun and started shooting. Do not run,stupid Decepticon. Fight Snarl,powerful Snarl!

By Vector Sigma, this Autobot vexes me! Scourge cried. Very well, I willght you, if only to shut you up! He turned and rocketed directly at theDinobot, unleashing a barrage of laser re.

Yay! Decepticon ght Snarl! Snarl transformed into his alternate mode, astegosaurus. He hung in space rather ineffectively, legs dangling in thevacuum. However, Scourge's blasts ricocheted harmlessly off his armor-plated

hide, so he didn't need to move too much; all Snarl had to do was swing histail to knock Scourge aside as he tried to zoom by.

Scourge reeled off, and switched to robot mode to stabilize himself.Impudent fool! I'll tear you apart! Spreading his batlike wings wide, he ew

back to engage Snarl.

Decepticon silly! Him too weak to hurt Snarl! The Dinobot transformedback to robot mode and caught Scourge, and they grasped hand to hand in atest of strength. Snarl, with the boost of solar power, was indeed muchstronger, and Scourge started to buckle under his might.

As Scourge's attention was focused on Snarl, and the Bentefor prepared to takeon the Dominion, the other Autobot battleship had slipped off to the side and


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was lining up to re its primary weapon. Jazz dgeted in the captain's chairas the Bazgaron arduously rotated to point at the Dominion.

Jazz recalled the briengs he attended about this new battleship design backat Autobot Headquarters on Cybertron. The most controversial feature of thenew design was the primary weapon, a super-powerful photon cannon whose

barrel ran along the spine of the ship. Although no one doubted its power, themore seasoned Autobots wondered how useful it would be in combat,especially since it required precise aiming and a large target, and because itdrew power directly from the engine reactors to re, rendering the shipimmobile for a time.

Despite its risks, hopefully the weapon would be useful right now, Jazzfretted. Man, this is taking way too long. How can we hit anything if this tubtakes forever to aim at it? Somethin' is gonna happen, and this won't work, Iknow it!

There was a loud crash, and the ship listed to the side. The controls on the

bridge of the Bazgaron shorted out and Jazz was thrown from his seat intopitch black. In a kilocycle the emergency lights switched on, revealing thebridge and the ship's crew in disarray. Jazz crawled back to the captain's chairand peered into the small comm screen, which was still functional due to itsseparate power supply. The screen showed the view from the bow, with theDominion sliding off center as the ship turned. Jazz ipped to differentcameras around the ship, all of which showed nothing, until he stopped onone with the answer he was looking for.

The orange and black hulk of Predaking loomed over the starboard side of theship, and his massive sword stuck out gruesomely from the ship's hull. Jazzwatched helplessly as the Decepticon combiner began to methodically tear his

ship to shreds, sending shockwaves through the bridge with each blow.Holy slagscrappers! Where did that thing come from? Somebody get it offus! Ultra! Jetre! Somebody! he yelled into the comm.

We're coming, Jazz! came the voice of Silverbolt. Since Ultra Magnus hadlast called on them, the Aerialbots had managed to clear out most of theiropposition. They turned in unison towards the Bazgaron, taking up formationwith Silverbolt in the middle. Aerialbots, unite! Their jets cut out, and asthey coasted each of them transformed and swiftly united into Superion. Heswung his arms up and with renewed power ew towards Predaking and theAutobot battleship.

Predaking was not alone however. Shockwave had returned with him, alongwith Soundwave and the Combaticons, who had already combined intoBruticus. While the newly-arrived Decepticon generals veered off to chaseafter the Bentefor, Bruticus moved to intercept Superion.

The Autobot gestalt noticed the strategy but wasn't too concerned. He wascomposed of experienced aircraft while Bruticus only boasted a helicopterand an outdated space shuttle. The two behemoths closed on each other.

Bruticus smash Autobots! All Autobots! the Decepticon groaned as heapproached.

Try it, Superion retorted. They were about to collide, and at the last moment

Superion broke apart into his ve component craft, all of which opened reon the exposed Bruticus simultaneously. The combiner was wracked with re


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and explosions, and hurdled past the Aerialbots as they deftly dodged aroundhis smoking hulk. Just as smoothly as he had come apart, Superionreassembled himself and continued untouched to rescue Jazz and his ship.Left behind, the gravely damaged Bruticus burst into pieces, and theCombaticons oated helplessly off.

In a moment Superion was upon Predaking, careening into him and knockingboth of them off the Bazgaron. The two giants grappled, while Shockwave andSoundwave continued towards Ultra Magnus aboard the Bentefor. TheDominion, for its part, was veering off and awaiting the newly arrivedDecepticons. Back on the bridge of the Bentefor, Ultra Magnus saw his plansunraveling.

Lithone: Chapter 11 2006, 2011 Bill Havanki

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lithone: chapter 11

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