"Redemption"  Part 5
by Ivy Bohnlein



     Cyclonus resurfaced from his rest-cycle slowly, his mind already
reviewing the previous day's events.  He had awakened this way for so long
that it had become reflex - reviewing past battles; the names of the
wounded and the dead.  But on this day, the events that came to mind were
decidedly out of the ordinary.  
     He looked around, assuring himself that he truly was back in the
comforting austerity of his quarters in Darkmount.  On Cybertron - the
world that had had given him life and purpose.  He looked over into the
corner for Flamediver, the young Cybertronian who had been so awed by
Darkmount the day before, and found that his guest had already
disappeared.  Cyclonus frowned.  Galvatron was only beginning to accept
the notion that they were truly from the future, and Flamediver could be
in danger on his own.  The boy was perfectly capable of caring for himself
in a fight, of course... but how could he know what to expect from a few
unscrupulous medics with an itch to see future technology in action?  If
Flamediver wasn't careful, he could end up dissected.
     Cyclonus pulled himself to his feet, wrapping his invisible cloak of
responsibility across his shoulders as he did so.  The passing millennia
had taught him self-reliance and a measure of confidence that he had once
lacked.  In the past, he had merely carried out directives, preferring to
rely on someone else to make the decisions, and to bear the guilt when
those decisions proved incorrect.  Someone like Galvatron.
     Cyclonus sighed wearily.  Galvatron.  He had forgotten how... With a
mental shrug, he excised words like stubborn, insane, and manic, and began
his thought anew.  He had forgotten how singleminded his former leader
could be.  Especially when the Decepticon commander was convinced that he
was correct.
     Fortunately, he was well on his way toward accepting Cyclonus'
explanation for what had happened.  That grudging acceptance of their
legitimacy had taken more information than Cyclonus had wished to reveal,
however, and a glimpse of some of their advanced technology.  Flamediver
must have felt like a science exhibit, but he had borne it with good
grace.  Cyclonus felt a stirring of pride and reflected that the
Decepticons investigating Flamediver must have been as interesting to
their subject as he was to them.
     Well, it was time to ensure that his young charge still remained in
one piece.  He also needed to contact Rodimus for a status report, and
begin working on what was, to him, his most important mission.  He had to
prevent Galvatron from repeating the mistake that had cost the
Cybertronians everything.
     One decision, made in haste and against the urgings of his advisors,
had cost Galvatron his life and ensured that he would forever be
remembered as Galvatron the Mad.  One decision had annihilated half of the
Decepticons on Cybertron.
     One decision that he had to prevent.
     Cyclonus left his quarters and moved briskly down the corridors,
searching for Galvatron.  A few passing Decepticons regarded him oddly,
perhaps noting the changes that had been wrought by millions of years of
warfare.  Others looked at him but didn't see him at all, instead merely
acknowledging one of the fixtures of Darkmount.  
     He found Flamediver first.  He was in a small alcove, sitting and
talking eagerly to... or rather, *at* Soundwave.  Oddly, the
communications officer didn't appear irritated by the intrusion.  Instead,
he listened impassively, and even occasionally offered a comment in
exchange.
     Flamediver noticed Cyclonus' entrance first, and half-rose with a
smile. "Greetings, commander."
     "Greetings, Flamediver. Soundwave," Cyclonus intoned.
     Soundwave merely inclined his head in acknowledgment, his golden
optic band gleaming.
     "Any word from the others?" Cyclonus asked.
     "No report received.  Autobot radio transmissions indicate that they
are in pursuit of Sky Lynx."
     So the Primitives' commander had managed to escape early capture.
That could add a considerable amount of complication to an already touchy
mission.  "Understood," Cyclonus replied curtly.
     "Shouldn't we be helping them?" Flamediver asked.
     Cyclonus frowned sourly.  "We're not likely to gain much support from
the Decepticons for an Autobot endeavor."
     Flamediver's expression showed clearly that he didn't understand.
"But catching Sky Lynx would serve the good of everyone.  And if we
cooperate..."
     Cyclonus cut him off with a wave of a hand.  "We must first convince
Galvatron that it will indeed serve the common good."
     "And then we gotta show him that the danger's enough to make him
cooperate with Rodimus.  He doesn't go in for that alliance stuff, you
know."  Ramjet's voice preceded him into the room as the white seeker
stepped in with a smile.  "Glad I finally found the rest of you guys."
     "But when the whole planet is threatened, those kinds of
disagreements have to be put aside," Flamediver argued passionately.
     "You know that," Ramjet said casually, leaning up against a wall.
"And I know that.  But does *Galvatron* know that?"
     A dark, sibilant hiss followed the words as a large shadow detached
from the corridor.  "Does Galvatron know *what*?" the Decepticon commander
demanded.
     Ramjet straightened immediately.  "It was merely an idle thought,
lord Galvatron."
     Galvatron's gaze pierced each one of them in turn.  "And I would know
the context of that 'idle' thought.  What is it that I refuse to
acknowledge?"
     The other Decepticons recognized the sharp edge of anger buried just
beneath the surface of the question, but Flamediver did not.  He rose to
his feet and reasoned, "We have to cooperate with the Autobots.  The whole
planet is threatened, and unless the whole planet rises as one to meet the
threat, everything will be lost."
     Galvatron's face darkened, making his red optics seem to glow
brighter in contrast.  "Are you suggesting that I *require* the aid of
those simpering, moralistic refugees from the scrap heap?"
     "The boy is correct," Soundwave said evenly, rising to his feet
beside Flamediver.  "We have information that you do not.  To disregard
that information willingly is to fail."
     "I do not need the help of Autobots!" Galvatron spat.
     Cyclonus spread his hands and lowered his gaze slightly, wondering
even as he did so why the position of submission came to him so naturally
in Galvatron's presence.  "Please, my lord, do not dismiss the idea.  The
Autobots can at least offer additional targets and extra firepower.  In a
full scale assault..."
     "Whatassault?" Galvatron demanded.  "I see no evidence of any
rebellion.  In fact, I see no reason to believe any of your story.  You
have come in here with an outrageous tale, one that your counterparts
*conveniently* cannot confirm or deny, and no evidence.  And now you urge
cooperation with Autobots when the might of the Decepticon empire is
sufficient to deal with any outside threat."
     "You are a fool, consumed by your own pride," Soundwave said, his
tone pitched low and on the verge of menace. 
     The words rang in the silence like a slap to the face, and Galvatron
looked at him in outraged disbelief.
     "Soundwave," Cyclonus said sharply, feeling the situation begin to
slip irrevocably out of his hands.
     "Your mad stubbornness cost countless Decepticon lives.  You would
not cooperate to find a cure; you would not join a mutual attack.
Instead, you gave the Primitives the weapon they wanted, and you destroyed
the Decepticons forever.  I lost Ravage and Laserbeak to Sky Lynx, but I
lost Rumble and Frenzy because of your incompetence and your overwhelming
ego."  The tenor of Soundwave's voice did not change, remaining modulated
in that same cold, minor note.  "And if you will not learn from the lesson
of your mistakes, then I will prevent you from making them again.  By
force if necessary."
     And with that, Soundwave suddenly had his shoulder cannon and his
missile launcher aimed at Galvatron's head.  As Galvatron spluttered in
rage, Cyclonus shook off his own shock at Soundwave's unusual vehemence.
All of this time, Soundwave must have blamed Galvatron for his loss,
allowing his private pain to sublimate into hatred.
     "Stand down, Soundwave," Cyclonus barked, his voice reverberating in
the small chamber.  "That is an order!"
     Soundwave lowered his weapon under the force of the command, but his
gaze remained locked on Galvatron.
     "Galvatron," Cyclonus began, successfully shifting the Decepticon's
murderous rage in his direction, "I cannot agree with Soundwave's methods,
but his point is valid.  In our timeline, your decisions have caused a
great deal of misery.  Enough to cause this change in Soundwave.  But if
you listen to us, and learn from what we have seen, that may be averted
and Cybertron may be saved."
     Galvatron regarded him with stunned outrage.  When he spoke, his
voice was frighteningly casual.  "I may yet need you, so I will not
destroy you on the spot.  But unless you get out of my sight immediately,
I may not be able to keep that promise."
     Cyclonus calmly gauged the ire in Galvatron's face and the menacing
coldness of his voice, and nodded.  "Come, Cybertronians.  You've all
accomplished quite enough for one day."
     Ramjet, Soundwave, and Flamediver followed Cyclonus from the small
niche, their echoing footsteps the only noise that accompanied them
through the corridors.  Cyclonus suspected that the silence would be
short-lived, however, and was soon proven correct.
     As soon as Galvatron was out of earshot, Flamediver broke the quiet
with a frustrated growl.  "I can't believe he just, just - dismissed us!
Without even considering what we had to say!"
     Ramjet glared over his shoulder at Soundwave.  "Mister congeniality
here didn't exactly give him much cause.  How could you pull a *gun* on
him?"
     "It was an opportunity I have awaited since his death," Soundwave
replied impassively.
     "It was an opportunity that could have gotten us all killed,"
Cyclonus grated, turning to face his followers.  They all stopped behind
him, focusing their optics on his face.  "We are back in Darkmount now,
and pursuing old vengeances will bring us no closer to changing the course
of history, a goal that should be foremost in your minds at all times.  Is
that clear?"
     "Yes, Cyclonus," Soundwave intoned, and was echoed by the others.
     Cyclonus nodded curtly.  "Good.  Now, as for you Flamediver, the
sooner you realize that this is *not* the Cybertronian army, and that
Galvatron will *not* lead in the same manner as Rodimus, the safer you
will be.  Galvatron is fully capable of destroying you to prove a point,
and I suggest that you behave accordingly."
     "Why would anyone follow a leader like that?" Flamediver muttered.
     "He is brilliant," Cyclonus told him, hoping his other troops would
remain silent. 
     A vain hope.
     "He is ruthless to the brink of insanity," Soundwave added.
     Ramjet shrugged.  "To the brink, or beyond.  And he's got a lot of
firepower to back up his orders."
     "That's not loyalty, though," Flamediver protested.  "That's just
fear."
     "It is enough."  Cyclonus turned to proceed down the corridor once
more.  "Now come, we have plans to discuss."
     When they were gathered in Cyclonus' quarters, he regarded them all
once more.  "Despite what happened in the corridor, we must concentrate on
making Galvatron believe us and accept our counsel.  That way, when the
final crisis comes, he will act on our advice."
     "Why rely on that? Why not act now and start ripping out wires?"
Ramjet asked.
     Flamediver nodded to his fellow seeker.  "Yeah, Galvatron seems like
the weak link in any chain of events that we try to establish.  His
actions are just too unpredictable."
     "I will attempt to convince him myself," Cyclonus told them firmly.
"If that fails, then we can consider your plan of sabotage."
     Soundwave's head suddenly tilted up.  "Whiz is attempting to
establish a secure connection on frequency 407.3K.  Response?"
     "Patch her through into my terminal," Cyclonus agreed.  Soundwave
jumped into the air, compacting and folding in upon himself.  He smoothly
fitted himself into an input slot in the terminal, and the screen crackled
to life.
     Whiz stood staring into the screen, the intensity of her cold blue
gaze making her face seem even more lifeless by comparison.  "Cyclonus,"
she said in greeting, then turned to look offscreen.  "The connection is
secure, Rodimus."
     The Cybertronians' leader stepped into view as Whiz faded into the
background.  "Glad to see that you're all still together."
     Ramjet muttered, "No thanks to Soundwave."  Flamediver jabbed him
with an elbow in response, though Rodimus didn't appear to notice.
     "There have been only minor disturbances," Cyclonus reported.  "We
are still moving along according to plan."
     "Plans may have to change somewhat," Rodimus said wearily.  "Somehow,
Sky Lynx must have found out that we were here to stop him.  He's left
Cybertron."
     "Soundwave came to that conclusion from monitoring your radio
frequencies.  I do not believe that Galvatron will be amenable to
assisting in the hunt," Cyclonus said, politically understating the
situation.
     Rodimus cracked a smile.  "I haven't forgotten *everything* about the
past.  Actually, it's better that some of us remain here on Cybertron.
You can alert the troops if he tries to return, and monitor the
progression of the rebellion.  I don't know if it will continue to spread
with Sky Lynx off-planet, but I don't want to be unprepared."
     Flamediver made a non-committal noise, and Cyclonus looked at him
sharply.  When he turned back to the screen, he said, "Understood,
Rodimus.  We will keep our eyes on the Decepticon Primitives."
     "Good.  How much progress are you making with your other objectives?"
Rodimus asked.
     Cyclonus shook his head.  "I'm attempting to gain Galvatron's
confidence before I approach him about anything else.  I don't want any
more setbacks."
     Rodimus quirked an optic ridge at Cyclonus' mention of setbacks, but
asked no further questions.  "All right then.  I'll leave this in your
hands, Cyclonus, but if you need any assistance, have Soundwave contact
us."
     "We will," Cyclonus agreed somberly.  "Darkmount, out."

[cont.]


 
     Previous Part    -    Whizdom Central    -    Next Part