lithone: chapter 7

7/31/2019 Lithone: Chapter 7

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Lithone: Chapter 7Later on, Thesys still wasn't feeling any better. He tried to busy himself bycleaning the pulse phaser arrays that Bika had built for him, what seemed likean eternity ago. At least back then he was still in a role that he felt suited him,

just the science ofcer of an exploratory ship. He recalled the moment whenthe Alafex had entered the system, and that little jump in his spark that he felt,wondering if any adventure lay in wait. He almost had to laugh at himselfnow.

His cabin door bell rung. Yes?

The door slid open, and Sideswipe entered with a breeze of enthusiasm. Hey,Junior, quit waxing your hand cannon! We're waiting for you!

What? Is it time already? According to Thesys's internal chronometer therewas still a megacycle to go before the departure time.

Yeah, it's time! Let's get movin'! Sideswipe grabbed Thesys's arm andhauled him up to his feet. Now, try to contain your excitement. I can tellyou're just dying to get into the action!

Ah, a joke. Thesys tried to laugh. Oh, you noticed? As they headed off,Thesys silently set his chronometer ahead one megacycle. Great, another timelapse. Something else to worry about, when I get a chance.

It wasn't long before Thesys, Starstreak, Rodimus Prime, Sideswipe andSunstreaker were standing on the surface of the planetoid. Above them, hugechunks of metal and rock, left behind by the Lithonian arrangers, lazilydrifted in orbit. Thesys watched as Jetre ew away, dodging this way andthat to avoid the debris.

The local terrain was surprisingly smooth for having been created by simpleaccretion. Still, there were pits here and there, and crags of metal and stone,hundreds of meters tall, were scattered in all directions. Everything had adark gray color, yet reected the starlight well due to the high metal contentand inexplicable sheen. In one direction, visible beyond the horizon, were thetwo great horns that had grown up around the pod's impact site. It was quiet,although every so often there was a distant thud as a chunk of material fellout of orbit and smashed into the planetoid.

With a couple of blips, Rodimus keyed into his wrist comm. Perceptor, can

you hear me? Are you getting all these readings?Perceptor's voice was faint. Yes, Rodimus, I am. Still, I think I shall requirethe enhanced gravimetric and photoresonaic sensor assemblies installed onThesys in order to formulate a useful hypothesis regarding them.

Rodimus stared quizzically at his wrist. Thesys, he said atly. Get overhere. I think Perceptor needs something from you.

Thesys jogged over as the rest of the team scanned the horizon. Yes,Captain? Rodimus's comm unit was the only one strong enough to get asignal through to the Bazgaron.

Ah, Thesys. Use your gravimetric and photoresonaic sensor assemblies tosweep the area for anomalous readings.


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Yes, sir, Thesys replied. He transformed into walker mode and extendedsensor assemblies from his analysis deck with a whirr and click. After amoment, he reported back. I think I have something, Captain. Um, RodimusPrime, sir, uh, I need to jack into your comm.

Rodimus looked bored. What? Oh, sure, here, he extended his arm. Thesys

extended a thin cable from his cabin and plugged into Rodimus's comm. Hethen began sending the data across, which was uplinked from there foranalysis by Perceptor and the Technobots.

It wasn't long before the captain reported his results. Yes, this is denitelysomething. Computron has determined that the readings in the sub-gammaelectromagnetic band are characteristic of Unicron, at least according torecords dating from our prior encounter with him. He and I both suggest thatyou locate the source of these emissions; it is most likely a vital part ofUnicron.

Good job, Perceptor, Rodimus replied. Keep monitoring our situation and

if you come up with anything else let me know. He clicked off, then turnedto Thesys as he retracted the comm cable. OK, Thesys, which way?

Thesys converted back to robot mode, then gestured. By chance it was towardthe horns. That way, sir. The source is actually underground in thatdirection.

Rodimus slapped Thesys on the shoulder. He nearly knocked over the juniorofcer, but didn't notice. Good work. We'll travel on the surface as long aswe can. Autobots, transform and roll out! He converted into vehicle mode.Sideswipe and Sunstreaker followed suit and revved their engines. Starstreakhopped up and folded into starghter mode.

Thesys just stood there, feeling a little pathetic and looking the part. Hemeekly lifted a nger. Um, sir? I think I need a ride or something. Mymaximum speed is, well, not quite as fast as you guys.

Oh, sorry, Thesys. Rodimus laughed. Here, hop on. Actually, you shouldswitch back and keep those sensor thingies going so we stay on course.

Thesys hopped up on Rodimus Prime's trailer. He transformed and grabbedon with all six legs. As they all headed off, Thesys extended the sensors again,and felt a sudden rush of pride. He was actually being helpful on this mission.Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

A few hours later, the group was walking through tunnels under theplanetoid's surface. At rst the tunnel walls had been mostly random bands ofrock and metal, but a while back they had become smooth nished surfaces,with lights running along them, supported with elegant trusses. There was nodoubt that Unicron was shaping the planetoid swiftly, despite the shambledappearance of the surface.

Thesys was the only one of them in vehicle mode now, constantly scanning asthey went. The rest were in robot mode, walking carefully, weapons drawn,looking about. Rodimus had also been regularly checking his comm andmaking sure he could still get in touch with Perceptor and the outside. Not

that it would help much if they got into trouble.Rodimus's comm twittered, and Perceptor started speaking with urgency.


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Rodimus, I have important information. I took the liberty of asking Jetre toscan the rest of the planet for the energy signature that you have beenfollowing. He reports an extremely large concentration of it, but not anywherenear your location. In fact, Jetre could not even detect the source you have

been seeking. Has Thesys picked up any other readings?

Rodimus stopped. Thesys, Perceptor wants to know if you have picked upany other readings.

Thesys replied, No, sir, it's been just this one set. It's been getting strongerthis whole time. I don't register anything else out of the ordinary.

Perceptor, Rodimus asked, that really strong signal you mentioned. CanJetre detect it near where we are? Is that signal source blocked from ussomehow?

Jetre can detect that source all around the planetoid and at some distancefrom it as well. If it is blocked, it is not apparent from his vantage point.

Now Rodimus was thinking out loud. So it sounds like we should be able topick up the signal, but we can't. So something is blocking it. But nothing isblocking it from Jetre, and he's been all over, so it's just getting blocked fromus. And we're just getting this signal ... oh, slag.

Autobots! Transform! Let's get back to the surface pronto! It's a trap! Hetransformed and yelled to Thesys. Get on, kid, we gotta move! Thesysconverted to robot mode so that he could scramble on top of Rodimus's traileragain. The rest of the party turned around and transformed into their vehiclemodes.

Right on cue, a deep voice boomed through the tunnel. Rodimus Prime. It isa displeasure to see you again, although I have been expecting you. It appearsyou have guessed my little game. Ah well. I would ask, then, that rather thanattempt to escape, you continue your trek; this will minimize the discomfortyou and your companions will experience. There was a metallic lashingnoise from the way back, and a swarm of tentacles appeared, blocking thepassage. Each writhing tentacle was topped with a jagged claw.

Never, Unicron! Rodimus cried. Autobots, get ready to ram through! Thegrowls and whines of revving engines lled the tunnel.

Atop Rodimus, Thesys suddenly remembered his weaponry. Sir! I have abetter idea! Let me clear the way! He converted to walker mode again,gripped the trailer, and mounted his pulse phasers on his deck. He started

ring into the swarm, shredding the tentacles apart with a urry of shots fromhis cannons.

Beautiful! Let's roll! Rodimus yelled, and the Autobots drove single lethrough the opening Thesys had created. He continued ring, tunnelingthrough the swarm, while Starstreak helped out with his own blasters. Soonthey were in a dense thicket of wriggling, silvery vines. A thin layer ofshredding metal and sparks, created by the weapons re from Thesys andStarstreak, kept the vines at bay.

Unicron chuckled. I anticipated that you would not follow my suggestion.No matter. You will not escape. I will have my prize. The tentacles thrived

with renewed vigor and ensnared Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. The brotherstransformed to robot mode and unsheathed their energy blades from their


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forearms. They started slicing with great efciency, until the tentaclesmanaged to wrap around their forearms. They hung helpless as they wereslowly pulled away from the group.

Starstreak transformed and dropped behind Rodimus. He started blastingaway, trying to free the twins. Keep going! he yelled to them. Without

Starstreak's supporting re, the swarm quickly closed behind him, and Thesysand Rodimus were suddenly alone in the chaos. They continued chargingthrough, cutting a path as they went.

Out from the side a claw snapped out, and knocked Thesys off the trailer andinto the swarm. He kept ring, but the tentacles pushed his guns against theceiling of the tunnel, so they shot uselessly into solid metal. He transformedand tried to get control of his arms and cannons, but he was panicking andthe tentacles were too strong. He heard Rodimus transform and call out tohim. Thesys tried to respond, but he was choked off by a cable stretched tightacross his neck. The lashing sound closed in on him, and he was completelyenveloped. Everything turned dark, and he fell into stasis lock.

When he awoke, he was on the surface of the planetoid, face up. Rocks oatedby silently against a crisp starry sky. He sat up and looked around. As far ashe could tell, it was the same spot where they had been dropped off by Jetre.The rest of the expedition was there too, also just waking up. All exceptRodimus. He was nowhere in sight.

Denitely uncool, Sunstreaker muttered as he got to his feet. It'll takemegacycles to get all these scratches out of my nish. ... Hey, where'sRodimus?

I don't think he's here, Thesys replied worriedly. He sluggishly transformedand started scanning. I can't detect him anywhere! While he continued toscan and the other Autobots recovered, he wondered why Unicron hadreturned the rest of them to the surface, mostly intact.

That question slipped his mind as a ship came into view overhead. It wassmall, and decorated with colored stripes similar to the Lithonian commandship. By the time it landed, the Autobots had pulled themselves to their feet.

The ship's side hatch opened, and Tarsen, Zurell, and several Lithoniantroopers stepped out. The troopers fanned out with sidearms at the ready.

Tarsen spoke. Autobots. The Decepticons informed us that you had come

down to the planet without Lithonian approval. We are here to take you backto your ship. You have violated the monitoring agreement, and so you are toleave this system, immediately. Behind him, Zurell bowed his head, wincingand grinding his masticators.

But we can't leave now! Sideswipe objected, arms open pleadingly.Rodimus Prime is missing! We have to nd him!

Tarsen grunted. We will try to locate him when we get the opportunity.Please step into the shuttle now. He turned slightly toward the door of theshuttle. Sunstreaker and Starstreak were about to reach for their sidearms, butSideswipe waved them off. Reluctantly, the Autobots climbed on board at

Lithonian gunpoint.The shuttle alighted from the surface and began its ascent. The Autobots were


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all silent except Sideswipe, who was whispering into his comm. Most likelytelling Perceptor the bad news, Thesys thought. He turned to the nearestwindow, gazing out as the ship passed by the oating moonlets around theplanetoid. His spark sank as he started noticing Sweeps and Armadans, yingpatrol. It seemed the Decepticons were staking their claim already.

Lithone: Chapter 7 2006, 2011 Bill Havanki

Transformers and related terms are trademarks of Hasbro Inc. andTakara Ltd.

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lithone: chapter 7

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