Child Of Order, Children of Chaos

By Matt "Talon" Kirkby

    "Great work back on Cybertron."
    "Yeah, could you have been any more obvious in screwing up?"
    "Command could have sent a stasis-locked henkbug and gotten better results."
    "I have neither time nor interest in listening to your ramblings about things which do not concern you!" Lightning snapped at the technicians as they moved towards the shuttle to check it over after its recent mission.
    "Hey, Megatron wants the scouts to report to him in person!" one of the techs called out as Lightning headed towards the hanger bay doors.
    "Yeah, yeah.' Lightning let the hanger interior doors hiss closed behind him, the technicians' laughter still echoing in his audio receptors.

    Morgaynalas stared at the trio of mechs labouring to repair some mechanical device. They were arguing in their language and she did not bother to translate it-her bio-armour was recording the conversation for the other Masters to listen to back on Eden when she made her report, but she was sickened enough just by being present on a planet infested by the mechs without having to listen to them. The things she did for Primus....

    Soundwave adjusted the console one final time and then he deactivated it. "This is not proceeding as envisioned."
Terrorvving set his half-drained energon cube onto the table. "Why ever not? he asked. "I have overseen many invasions in my career, Soundwave. Megatron's new empire consists of almost two dozen planets which have been conquered in the last decade and a half. What makes this one any different?"
    "It is Cybertron."
    "I suppose...."
    Soundwave held up one of the datacards from the pile atop the computer console. "The previous attempts at securing our homeworld was a rather spectacular failure." "I understood that the Disciples were responsible for that debacle."
    "They were."
    "So this our chance to avenge our defeat." After that boast, Terrorwing frowned. "It would appear, then, that we are not destined to easily rule our homeworld. The millennia of the Great War, the Exile after Klo, and now these Disciples of Primus."
    "Indeed," Soundwave agreed. "Megatron grows impatient with these continued failures. He wishes Cybertron to be secured, to erase the stain from his honour."
    "A most noble goal for any mechanoid," the warlord announced. "The Grey Legion will be highly honoured to assist with this conquest." He drank more of his cube. "Are those numbers accurate?" he demanded as he picked up one of the datapads.
    "As good as the scouts could be."
    "That many ships could cause some serious difficulties with our attack" Over two hundred battleships had been detected in varying orbits around Cybertron, according to the scouting parties. "Ground forces estimated in excess of twenty-five million troopers? Ground-based weaponry of unknown types and capabilities located near lawn, Polyhex, and Ibex. Limited Disciples garrisons emplaced on both moons?" Terrorwing shook his head. "Are you certain the scouts are reporting truthfully? I observed some of them upon their return to the Dark Glory and I am not impressed."
    "You are a stem taskmaster, Warlord, and not easily impressed by anyone," Soundwave replied. "From your comments, I assume you refer to one scout in particular?"
    "Mostly." Terrorwing sighed. "Telepathic showoff."
    Light rippled through Soundwave's optic band-his version of an amused smile. Terrorwing was one of the few mechs who could so easily joke about his talent.
    "Lightning?"
    "He tops my list of Decepticons requiring additional training."
    "What is your worst complaint against him?"
    "He's...he's .... " Terrorwing's voice trailed off in disgust. "I do not trust him!" he snapped at last. "You are not required to work with him."
    "No, only to base a planetary assault upon information supplied by him. To risk the lives of my Legion on said information." Terrorwing drained the last of his cube. "I have studied his past record-and those of many other new generation Decepticons-and I refuse to have him serving in or near my Legion."
    "That is your privilege, Warlord," Soundwave agreed.
    "It is indeed." Terrorwing sighed and picked up another datacrystal. "Now, we really need some type of strategy to present to Megatron. I have an idea for a way to divert most of the orbiting starships...."
            *            *            *
    A gleaming metal world ...a seemingly endless cityscape of towers and spires, all shining crystalline glass and metallic alloys.
    Gleaming, mechanical perfection.
    Sterile.
    Disgusting.
    Morgaynalas winced. This rape was worse than any of the Masters had feared! Not content with merely infesting planets, now the Mechs sought to convert bounteous nature itself into their own sterile image.
    Militant Prime was right, she thought. The Jihad is long overdue!
    Her green eyes narrowed as she watched as a convoy of tracked vehicles rumbled past her hiding place. The abominations were loud and noisy. A herd of brontaurs were so much quieter.
    Lightning wandered through a deserted corridor of the Dark Glory. He was surrounded by petty-minded fools! They saw the Disciples in control and Cybertron and they plotted to overthrow them and create their own world order... none of them--Decepticon or Disciple--saw the potential in chaos!
    "Hey, Lightning!"
    He stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Yes?"
    The red-blue Decepticon saluted, squaring his upswept wings. "Lieutenant Skysprint, Twenty-Fifth Aerospace Corps."
    "And?"
    "I'm a huge fan of yours, Lightning."
    "Are you?" Lightning was surprised. ..this was not something he had expected to hear.
    "Yes, of course. The entire Twenty-Fifth is. We've studied all of your exploits." Skysprint smiled. "The espionage missions against Cybertron. The hijacking of the Autobot shuttle. The way you defeated Ultra Magnus. Even the way you helped manipulate Galvatron and Shockwave under Megatron's orders. A masterpiece!"
    "There is a point of some kind to this gushing adoration?"
    The Twenty-Fifth is looking to expand our ranks.. .and we want you to join us! As a unit commander of course."
    ightning's optics sparkled. "Really?"
    kysprint saw the look on the other's faceplates. "Of course. You're perfect for our team."
    Come into my quarters then, Skysprint." Lightning gestured down the corridor. "We must discuss this tempting offer of yours in greater detail." He smiled. "Yes, most tempting indeed... .this could be just what f was looking for...." Sparks flickered around his fingertips.
    
    With a flex of bioarmour and a touch of telekinesis, Morgaynalas leapt from the back of a tracked vehicle to land atop a crate. She landed without a sound and froze, unmoving, as two mechs walked past. Their heads were just below the top of the crate.
    "...see that the last of the cargopods has arrived here," one of the mechs was saying in what Morgaylanas recognized as Terran standard.
    "They are all arriving on schedule, Director."
    Then direct the spaceport crews to prepare the shuttles for launching. I want the freighters loaded and dispatched within the megacycle. I want to make a good impression on the inspection teams rom Mercer:"
    The Chancellor's bi-annual report, Director?"
    Precisely. I do not wish for that pompous bureaucrat to have anything to complain now. After all," he added in a lower tone, "Mercer is still taking flak over the Autobot raid against Dnema a few months ago."
    Morgaylanas's green eyes narrowed. "Hmmm...."
            *            *            *
    Anything else to report?" Megatron asked his assembled officers. Overall, it had been a routine briefing with no major emergencies or unpleasant news to report. Mainly it had been a rough discussion of plans for the upcoming attack on Cybertron...now that the analysts had had a few days to study the scouting reports.
    The only thing of note," Frostwing announced, "is that there was a brawl in storage bay four sixteen. Two members of the Twenty-Fifth Aerospace Corps had a disagreement and tried to settle it with laser daggers."
    "And?" Terrorwing prompted.
    "They both died of injuries sustained during the duel.' She shrugged. "I don't know what it was about, but the fight was pretty furious."
    "Should we be alarmed by this incident?"
    "Hardly, Megatron." Frostwing sounded offended by the question. "One small fight between two Decepticons out of a crew of over seven hundred and fifty thousand is hardly a serious threat to the Empire."
    "I agree," Megatron said. "We are a warrior race. The occasional outburst of tension is hardly unexpected."
    "The Grey Legion does not have any such outbursts," Terrorwing growled-ignoring the amused looks from the other commanders present. "I see no reason to allow other units to possess such a lack of restraint."
    "Very true, Warlord." Megatron nodded. "Perhaps I should assign you to overseeing the re-training of my warriors?" He paused as a few of the assembled officers chuckled--even Terrorwing smiled at that suggestion.
            *            *            *
    Lightning wandered into a lounge just as a squad of troops left it. Lightning ignored them--for they were simply more of the weak-minded sheep Megatron called an army.
    Skysprint stood near one of the viewports. "It's got a wonderful view," he called. "The volcanos
are bright tonight."
    Lightning glanced through the viewport at the planet around which the Dark Glory currently orbited. Entire continents were simply huge volcanos, the night-darkened surface lit by the fiery glow of molten rock. "It is destruction and creation combined.. .a beautiful embodiment of chaos!" "Pure and unfettered chaos."
    "Boundless and limitless."
    "Like us?"
    "Yes, Skysprint, much like us." Lightning grinned as Skysprint giggled. "We need to talk. I think that it is time to expand our ranks still further...."

    Green eyes stared through the ventilation grating as the two mechs conversed. Morgaylanas mentally ran through a meditation exercise, trying to calm herself and regain her normal mental balance. She felt wrong.
    And she had good reason.
    She was Primus alone knew how many lightyears from Eden, trapped on an immense mechanical starship crewed by hundreds of thousands of soulless mechs.
    What would Militant Prime think of me? she wondered. Her mission had been to simply scout out one of the planets known to be inhabited by the mechs and report back on its condition.. .she was not authorized to expand her efforts. This infiltration of a mech ship-the aptly--named Dark Glory--was a spur-of-the-moment choice.. .a choice made by instinct after overhearing the Director of the spaceport, a mental directive from Lord Primus Himself perhaps.
    Or merely a moment of insanity by one lone member of his Holy Fist?
    She stared back across the lounge to the viewport and hellish planet beyond. ..were the mechs planning such a fate for Eden?
            *            *            *
    "We have reports of rioting on deck seven."
    "Dispatch a security team." Frostwing gave the order without thinking. "Weapons on stun." "Copy that."
    "Problems, Frostwing?"
    "A minor disturbance on deck seven."
    "Another one?" Soundwave asked.
    She nodded, still staring at the tactical display which dominated one wall. "We will need to secure the perimeter of our landing zones once we invade Cybertron," she said. "I can supply security teams, but I'm going to have to conscript a lot of ordinary warriors for the duty. With your permission, Megatron?"
    "Of course," he nodded. "There have been a lot of disturbances lately," he said, turning the discussion away from the coming invasion and back to the current state of the Dark Glory.
    "Yes, Commander." A frown wrinkled her faceplates as she admitted that fact. "Violent incidents have increased thirty per cent in the last week."
    "And what why is that?"
    "I currently have no idea," she admitted. "My staff are making inquiries and conducting investigations but so far we have no clues."
    "Intensify your efforts." He idly glanced at a small ventilation duct-some of the lower ranked Decepticons were complaining about hearing something scuttling about inside them ...an infestation of vermin perhaps.
    "Of course, Commander."
    Megatron nodded. "And now turning our attentions back to Cybertron? I believe that Terrorwing had some plan to offer?"
    The warlord nodded. "Indeed, I do."
            *            *            *
    "Analysis of internal surveillance camera footage indicates the presence of Lightning and/or Skysprint at or in the vicinity of more than ninety-five per cent of the recent disturbances."
    Frostwing looked at the analyst. "Thank you for your efforts," she said. "You have it all in writing?" She accepted the data crystal carefully--as if afraid it would break. "Excellent." This was evidence enough for her ...at last it was time--past time--for Lightning to meet with a rather unfortunate--and quite fatal--accident. "Surveillance," she said as she tapped her comlink. "Where is Lightning?"
    "Deck three, section one thirty-two."
    The coldness of interstellar space suddenly raced through her circuitry. "Megatron's quarters." Suddenly she had a very bad feeling...

    Lightning eyed the doorway with a pleased grin on his faceplates. Amazing what some spare parts, some free time, and a some chemical engineering could come up with. He giggled softly. The Descari were merely a foolish organic race, but they certainly knew how to blow things up with style! Just have to set the timer up and then BOOM.
    Voices echoed from just around a bend in the corridor.
    "Slag!" He couldn't afford to be seen in this area! No, not at all. Lightning scurried down the corridor to an open niche which held the statue of some ancient Decepticon Warlord and he concealed himself within.
    "Slag!" he hissed. He had never finished setting the timer properly... "Idiot!" he called himself.
    "Fool!"

    "The internal security cameras are out?" Frostwing repeated into her comlink. "We've been experiencing intermittent failures for several days, Commander. Just in nonessential and low-security areas of the Glory."
    "And no one thought to inform me?"
    "Maintenance believes it is only a random fluctuation in the-"
    "Spare me the technobabble!" she snapped angrily. "Coordinate the glitches with Lightning's recent movements."
    "Copy that."
    "Scan the records for Lightning's last known location and then have security seal that section off."

    "...reports of vermin in the ventilation system. No doubt slipping onboard through some of the recent supply shipments. I tell you, Soundwave, some of the colonial administrators simply do not grasp the simplicity of basic quarantine procedures." Megatron sighed as he rounded the corner and the door to his quarters came into sight. "I want the system purged.. .that should deal with any vermin."
    "Understood, Megatron."
"And then--" Megatron broke off at the sound of running footsteps. "What's that?" Soundwave moved to shield his leader from the approaching runner.
    Frostwing rounded the corner. "Megatron!" she shouted and then the corridor exploded.

    "Not quite as planned, but certainly still a blast." Lightning chuckled as the smoke slowly cleared from the hallway. He stepped out of hiding.

    Peering through a ventilation duct, Morganlaynas watched the white/blue mechanoid move towards the debris which now partially choked the corridor.

    "How tragic.. .our beloved Commander, the main communications officer, and an unlamented security busybody, all killed in such a tragic accident. These power couplings simply do not stand up to everyday usage like the designers promised..." Mock sadness tinged Lightning's voice. "How can we go on?" he asked over the wail of alarms-apparently some of the Dark Glory's security systems were still functioning. "The chaos of uncertainty will sweep through our ranks ...civil war beckons to the various warlords!" He laughed aloud. "I might even have to take over running the show!"
    "Over my rusting carcass!" Megatron bellowed as he heaved himself to his feet and sending debris flying.
    Lightning gasped.
    "That may have been your biggest mistake yet," Frostwing growled as she struggled to her feet. "But you--I--the bomb--"
    "Lightning, you are under arrest," Frostwing snapped. "Treason. Attempted assassination. Sabotage. The murder of my security officer!" Bluewind....
    "Why can't you just die!" Lightning shouted. Electricity leapt from his fingers.
    Soundwave tackled Megatron, knocking them both to the ground as the electrical bolts crackled past them.
    Frostwing removed her rifle from subspace and unleashed a barrage of plasma bolts.
    Lightning dodged the hail of fire--somehow--and fled down the corridor, screaming curses.
    "His ass-module is mine!" Frostwing screamed as she gave chase. Megatron and Soundwave exchanged glances--Frostwing simply did not behave like that!
    "I would hate to be in his foot-modules."
    "Indeed. Soundwave, issue a level one security alert... but warn the teams that Frostwing is to bring him down personally. I will not deny her her vengeance. And summon a damage control team to repair this mess." There was movement in the vents! "And fumigate this ship!"
    Soundwave nodded. "As you command."

    How had things gone so badly? Lightning wondered being chased by an irate Frostwing through the Dark Glory was not part of his plans! No, not at all!
    Plasma bolts hurtled past him.
    "She's getting entirely too close with that thing!" he muttered. "She's gonna hit some innocent bystander." Speaking of which.. .why were there no innocent bystanders around? Why were the corridors deserted? Lightning tapped his comlink. "Skysprint, it is time!"

    "Level one security alert is now in effect," a voice echoed over the intercom. "This is not a drill."
    Running through one of the long corridors, Frostwing heard the message and smiled--clever of Megatron to empty the hallways of personnel.. .no innocents to get caught in the crossfire, no potential hostages to complicate things. "Make my job--"
    A fist slammed into her chin, knocking her backwards.
    A foot kicked her torso.
    Frostwing growled and punched back. Clumsy, she thought angrily. "I'm gonna--" she slammed her fist into her assailant, "--enjoy this."
    "Temper, temper." Lightning grinned as he punched her again--energy crackling around his fingers and then surging into her circuitry as he struck. "And now, Frostie, it is time for you witness the end of your pathetic existence." He looked down at the security officer laying sprawled at his feet-he really had expected her to put up more of a fight. "Shall I simply kill you ...or would you rather I liberated your mind from the confines which keep our race fettered?"
    "I'd rather die!" she gasped at him.
    I can arrange that."
    Frostwing struggled to her feet and slammed her fist into his faceplates. "This really annoys me!" he snapped at her, his optics blazing. "And you are annoying me!" she replied.
    "Curse you!" Lightning kicked her one more time and then turned and ran.

    Grim-faced armoured troops sealed off the bridge. The main hatch was closed and locked, with guards stationed inside and out.
    The bridge crew exchanged nervous looks at the display of firepower the guards carried. Calls for security echoed through the comm-system.
    "Status report!" Terrorwing snapped as he looked at the tactical displays.
    Nightracer looked coldly at him. "Your Legionnaires have sealed off the bridge, primary fire control, MedBay, and hanger bays two, three, and five."
    "The other hangers?" He ignored her tone.
    "Cryon reported heavy combat near the main hanger bay. There is a firefight in progress there."
    "Route additional units to support him." Terrorwing's expression was furious. "Mutiny!" he boomed out, his voice strong with disgust. "Nothing short of treason by an entire battalion!"
    "It is shocking," Commo agreed as she took over the communications' console. "Security has sealed off Engineering. Warlord, we have reports of fighting near Megatron's quarters! Internal security cameras are non-functional. Local communications are jammed."
    "Route Starfall into Megatron's area. Secure that deck and find the commander! As long as he lives the rebellion cannot succeed."
    Commo nodded. "Understood."
    "We have a hull breach on deck eight. Cause unknown"
    "Security reports rioting on decks six, seven, and nine." Casing shook his head. "There are disturbances reported all over the ship! Security is being overwhelmed."
    "Do you have orders?" Nightracer asked.
    "Indeed. Enough of this nonsense...it is time for a strong mech to take charge of things." The warlord moved to Commo's side and stabbed the intercom with his finger. "This is Terrorwing," his voice boomed throughout the ship like that of a vengeful god. "I am hereby issuing a class one security alert. Members of the Twenty-Fifth Aerospace Corps are rebelling against Lord Megatron. I am now taking steps to eliminate them." He ignored the looks the bridge crew were giving him and his Legionnaires.
"All members of the Grey Legion are to report to me at once for their orders. All personnel are ordered to remain in their quarters or at duty stations. Anyone located in the hallways following this message will be subject to arrest on sight. Anyone who resists or fails to comply will be shot."

    Exploit grinned as her commander's voice echoed throughout the Dark Glory like some vengeful god. "You heard him...we're cleared to fire at will." She clicked her rifle to its lethal setting. "Move out."

    Lightning ran again., first the failed bomb, then Frostwing had beaten him in combat, and now this announcement by Terrorwing...maybe he couldn't win after all. "But I have other plans," he muttered bitterly. "One last grasp at glory!" His desperate laughter echoed through the corridors as he ran.

    "Starfall to Terrorwing...approaching section one thirty-two. We have encountered resistance already ...two Legionnaires down." The whine of weapons fire came from ahead. "Sounds like trouble ahead."
    "Understood. ..may you succeed in your mission."
    "I shall, Warlord." Starfall keyed off the comlink, then motioned to his squad. 'Come on." He led his team around a corner.
    At least a dozen Decepticons were attacking a hastily-erected barricade--debris from an earlier explosion.
    "Looks like we aren't needed at all.' Starfall winced as a blast of proto-fusion knocked a mech flying. "Assist Lord Megatron!"
    The Legionnaires opened fire, weaponry tearing into the traitors from behind.
In the sudden silence after the last traitor had fallen, Starfall carefully looked around the corner of the corridor again. "Lord Megatron, we are here to assist you." He glanced at Soundwave and the small army of Cassetticons who were standing with their weapons ready. "Not that you need much help it would appear."
    Megatron chuckled wearily. "No, it would appear not."
    "You are without injury?"
    "I am fine." Megatron looked battered, but his optics were blazing with anger. 'Status report."
    Starfall snapped to full attention. "Legionnaires have been sent to garrison the most vital areas of the Dark Glory. At last report, we were still trying to secure the main hanger bay and most of the lower decks. Members of the Twenty-Fifth are in open revolt throughout the ship. Terrorwing does not see any logic to their attacks or movements ...it is as if the entire Corps just went insane!"
    Megatron nodded grimly. "They have."
    "We heard the intercom," Soundwave added.
    "Terrorwing seized the bridge and issued a shoot-to-kill order?"
    "Yes, Megatron."
    "Things must be desperate then," Megatron said softly. "Escort me to the bridge." Starfall nodded. "At once."

    "Security breach, level nineteen."
    "Engineering deck!" Frostwing lunged into a lifttube and keyed the destination. "Security to Engineering."

    Ignoring the bodies of fallen engineers and technicians, Lightning stared at the reactor core. "1 always wanted to go out with a bang." He stared at the core-light pulsing through the armoured and shielded ports as particles of matter and anti-matter annihilated each other in potent explosions.
    "And kill how many more Decepticons?"
    Lightning turned around, a twisted smile on his faceplates. "I applaud your persistence, Frostwing. I admire your devotion to duty." He waved. "And I shall mourn your death." Frostwing snapped up her rifle and fired.
    Two Decepticons fell from a catwalk with plasma burns scoring their armour.
    Another mech jump at her from behind, a computer console and she flattened him with a single punch.
    "You're dead!" Skysprint shouted. "Everyone is dead!" He opened fire with his last pistol.
    Frostwing dodged the hail of laserfire and squeezed off one shot of her own.
    Skysprint stopped firing to stare at the hole in his chestplate. "But this isn't how it is supposed to end," he told her. And then he collapsed to the deck.
    "So much for your flunkies," Frostwing said. "And now for you."
    "But what about my grand plan?" Lightning asked, not even giving his fallen comrades a glance. "Don't you care about what I plan for the Decepticons?"
    "Making more of us into your twisted friends?" She gestured to the mechs she had killed. "Let me guess.. .you're gonna blow up the ship?"
    "Yes."
    "Hardly original...I would've expected something more grand from such a masterful mind as yourself."
    "Well, my muse isn't speaking to me just now," Lightning growled. Then he chuckled as he stared at the plasma rifle aimed directly at his midsection. "Oh, please.. .go ahead and shoot me, Frostie." He giggled. "Miss me and you'll probably hit something important-you will responsible for blowing the Dark Glory into the next cycle!"
    Frostwing snarled. "Then I just won't miss."
    "But you'll kill me," Lightning said in a soft, frightened voice.
    "We have no choice left to us," he continued in a stronger tone. "I love you ...and this is the only way we can triumph."
    "Why do you always talk me into doing these bad things?" the weak voice pleaded.
    "Because you need someone strong to tell you what to do ...to keep you safe." A throwing star stabbed into his arm.     "Owww!"
    "I don't need my rifle to take you down."
    Lightning glared at her. "Then let us end this!" he snapped. "Now!" He threw himself at the security officer and she met his attack with her own.

    From a perch atop a coolant pipe, Morganlaynas watched the two mechs fight each other. The male was more aggressive but the female was matching him blow for blow. Her sword met the bar in his hand--he had snatched it up from a table--with loud clangs. The male was evil.. .she could sense it within him. But both mechs were evil ...all mechs were evil.

    Lightning fired his foot thrusters and leapt atop a catwalk. Frostwing followed him.
    The two continued to trade blows, Lightning slowly backing away from the irate security commander.
    At last Lightning struck, slamming his fist into Frostwing's face and knocking her backwards. As she stumbled, he slammed the metal pipe onto her shoulder, smashing delicate circuitry, and then sliced the edge of one of her own throwing stars across her back.
    She slipped and fell over the catwalk's narrow railing. With a desperate reach, she grabbed the edge of the catwalk with her one good hand and hung there. ..dangling helplessly. She looked up, into Lightning's mocking sneer.
    "You are beaten!" he told her. "I would offer you a helping hand but I fear you would not trust me." He grinned. "So I shall simply have to otherwise amuse myself." He turned back towards the primary reactor. "Don't worry, Frostie, you won't be hanging there for long."
    Frostwing struggled but was unable to pull herself up.
    Even her thrusters were offline, disabled by Lightning's slash with the star ...if she lost her grip, she would plunge to the floor far below...a fall which would likely prove fatal even to a TransFormer. And she couldn't keep up her grip for long....
    "All I have to do," Lightning was saying as he approached one of the computer access consoles, "is set up a simple program in the containment grid ...a cascade failure which will result in a rather large and powerful explosion.
    "Of course, I and my selected followers will be gone by then.. .leaving these foolish weak-minded sheep to their fate. We will be rescued and tell our sad story to Mercer. . .about how the Glory suffered some horrendous accident and was destroyed." He giggled. "And then we shall simply have to start anew.. .liberate some new minds to join us." More laughter. "And then we shall spread chaos throughout the galaxy!"
    Frostwing continued struggling.
    She strained and pulled herself up. She strained. ..and she struggled. ..and she felt herself lift onto the platform. How, she did not know--something seemed to lift her. "It's over, Lightning!"
    He turned. "You still struggling to stop me?" he asked in a bored tone. `How tiresome." He
grinned. "You are trying to stop me ...and you are going to fail!" He held up a small plasma torch. "All
right, I shall finish you quickly and then finish setting up my computer program." Frostwing limped forward.
    "I don't know how you climbed back up, but I am going to make certain that you fall this time!" He flicked the torch on.
    Frostwing swung her sword towards him. He blocked it. "You are finished," she grunted. She slammed her fist into his chest.
    Lightning grunted and held up his hand. Electricity crackled around his fingers. He gestured and Frostwing stumbled backwards and the energy surged through her body. "Scream my dear!" he hissed as she writhed under the assault. "Scream for me!"
    And then he felt searing pain surge through his circuits. "Gah!" he cried out.
    "Die, abomination!" a shrill voice shouted in Terran Standard.
Lightning spotted a small fleshling--its body encased in reptilian armour--which gestured at him and threw a small bolt of energy from its fingers. "Insignificant worm!" he snarled. "How dare you attack me?" He sent a bolt of electricity crackling after it-and it agilely leapt aside. "I shall teach you mess with me!"
    "Hey Lightning!"
    "Huh--" he began and turned in time to see Frostwing thrust the plasma torch--the one he did not even realize that he had dropped--into his face.
    The main doors hissed open and security officers raced into the room, weapons held at the
ready.
    Frostwing looked down at the body of the former Decepticon. He lay sprawled on the deckplates, a startled and yet amused smile on what was left of his face.
    A smear of something red was oozing out from under his helmet--no doubt some lubricant leaking from his injuries. Nothing important.
    Frostwing turned to the approaching security officers and painfully straightened. She would keep up a strong facade for her staff. ..until she could get to Medbay. "Status report! I want to know how the riots are going," she ordered in a strong tone.          "And get a technician to check the reactor's containment field! Lightning was trying to rig a cascade failure."