Protihex-City state

[Towreck]

Towreck looked up from the artifact he had in his hand when he heard talk of Shadow leaving. "Oh, the lurker left? Good....I didn't want him to know of what I found." He said, holding up the artifact. He then opened up his storage compartment, and showed the parchments to everyone. "I found these in a very old, what looked to be sacred room sitting in the Armory. It had writing all over the room, these three maps, and a few pieces of paper with ancient cybertronian written all over them." He said, walking over and placing them down. "Now sure what it says or what the maps are for...so I figured someone here could possibly read them." He said, looking to laser. "Laser, think you can make out this stuff?" He asked.

"I should also mentioned that the room talked of the cube, had a statue of Primus in there...and for some reason, as I touched this aritfact here...the word 'Iota' flashed through my mind....does it ring a bell to anyone?" He further inquired.

[Laser]

Laser stood up from way he lay, examining the medics work. "Excellent job, Jumper. You have my thanks." It was good to be back on his feet again. He was just about to make a security check around the parameter when Towreck spoke.

The Guardian listened attentively, not letting a single word get past him. He couldn't believe what Towreck had found. He stepped to his quickly, taking the artifacts set on the table and quickly examining them. "Remarkable....Iota...". Laser knew exactly what this was all about. He looked at Towreck inquisitively. "How familiar are you with the history of the Allspark...?"

************

Beam arrived in Sector 3 after a long and tiresome trip. She sluggishly did her work with the security and the electricity, and then the Bureau of Records caught her eye. Conflict was in her mind like a ruthless tornado. She was talking to the Painted Bomber, but there was a small factor bugging her...

She went in.

Diving into the records, she searched for anything linking her to the Painted Bomber.

"Search, Painted Bomber."
No results.

"Search, Aeron."

2 results. Tread, Aeron, and Clink, Aeron.

She selected Aeron Clink's file, recognizing the tattoos and smiling mugshot. "Incarcerated....1500 years ago!? Wow...." She kept searching, and the files kept coming....countless media files archiving Aeron's criminal career.

"The Painted Bomber strikes again in Helex with a vengeance--"

"--Has truly proven him or herself a force to be reckoned with--"

"Today the Painted Bomber has made the top of Cybertron's Blacklists as both the moth famous and wanted criminal of the era--"

"--the most horrible seen of radioactive detonation known to date, and authorities fear there is only more to come--"

Beam shut off the media files and took a breather. This was all too much. Why was Aeron still here if no one else was? She started searching about Protihex's history, but nothing worth noting came up. Finally, she kept prying though Aeron's file, and found a video labeled: ORDER 56:
*******

A stern looking bot with a thick visor was on the screen, accompanied by many other associates. He smoke in an annoying, and pissed off voice. "Today we witness the execution of Order 56. The prisoner is T433. We have called forth Sharp, Guardian of Accuracy, to witness the deed today. Thank you for coming, sir."

A tall, purple bot with glowing blue eyes nodded silently from the audience.

The annoying bot stepped aside to reveal Aeron strapped to a chair, looking around calmly at everyone there. "Aeron Clink," he began, "You are sentenced to death by lethal injection on account of your crimes. Do you have any final words?"

Aeron blew a smoke bubble in the doctor's face. He laughed at the reaction. "You have no idea how long I've been holding dat in, doc'."

"....Proceed with the injection."

And he was injected....

Beam screamed and ripped the file off of the drive. She couldn't believe this. This had happened over a thousand years ago! There was no way...

She started the video again, and watched as Aeron slowly died, twitching and squirming. And then she noticed the eyes..as they transcended from a flashy red into a cold, lifeless black.

The same cold, lifeless black his eyes were today.

[Towreck]

Towreck thought hard. "Hrm, Allspark. Well I know its the item that created life, making cybertronians...and I believe Primus had a hand in crafting as well. And that without the Allspark, all life would be lost." Towreck said, rubbing the back of his head. "That's all I can remember hearing about it..." He added.

[Laser]

Laser nodded. "Indeed. However there is history in these artifacts that better explain the Cube and it's origins."

He clutched one of the artifacts and held it in his hand. "History...that is better experienced firsthand." He plugged the piece into a small compartment in the back of his skull, activating the data file. "Uploading."

An incredible projection materialized in front of them. One that filled the entire room, turning the dingy, dark medical bay to a brilliant, sandy plain. Laser walked through the incredible illusion, the sand reacting to his steps and the heat radiating from his body. One could look about and see the endless horizon, and go to it...but they would only find an illusion...

"Ancient Cybertron, circa 5 million years ago..." A large bot came trudging over a dune, looking over his shoulder, and beckoning others to follow. Behind him came smaller bots, each with tools and heaving big heavy parts. There body styles were as ancient as they came, and they, too, seemed worried.

"The man you are looking at is the great Alpha Trion," Laser began. "He has gathered people here for one reason and one reason only. To protect the Cube. We will return to this later--transitioning--" The projection flipped into a diagram of the AllSpark. "The Allspark is a device of unexplained energy, defying laws of conservation. It is older than anything, even Vector Sigma. And me." That was a joke, but Laser's delivery was so poor he doubt anyone would have gotten it. He transitioned to a scene of arguing primes, emphasizing on the looks Prima, Solus, and Alpha Trion shared. "The Thirteen argued frequently, but one topic that brought them great grief was the future of Cybertronian energy and renewable resources. The Allspark was this ultimate resource, Towreck. Trion knew this was the answer, be he dared not share it lest her intrigued The Liege Maximo..." Laser walked up to The Fallen, who was grinning in his chair like the devil he was. Laser brought his hand up and slowly crushed The Fallen's neck, slowly killing him. "If only...." Laser whispered. "Alpha Trion and the others knew they had to protect their most powerful artifacts from Maximo and his followers. Both the Matrix of Leadership and the Allspark." He transitioned to the foremost scene, where Alpha Trion's workers had progressed greatly, building a tomb deep into the earth. "The plan was to bury the Cube into the most protected depths of the planet. Not the center. It would be far too obvious. And definitely not the accursed bowels of the Undergrid. However, several bogus vaults were made as to trick thieves...and misinformed Decepticons into an untimely doom." He switched off the projection and turned back to Towreck.

"Until recently the exact Location of the Cube was unknown. But research strongly supports the idea that the Iota Vault is the resting place of the Allspark." He gestured to the data. "And if it isn't, there is definitely enough evidence here to support the theory that there is something of value there. Something that can help us." Picking up the papers Towreck found, he frowned at them. "I don't understand...if they are directing us to the Iota Vault, why more than one map?" Then it dawned on him. Changing the hue of his eye color, he shone a special, delicate beacon through the papers, portraying several ancient symbols and patterns. He read them quickly. "This is something we learn as Guardians, entrusted to us by the Primes," he explained as he worked. When he was finished, he sat down the papers.

"I see...." He thought for a moment. "It is not enough to have a key...but one must know a pattern, a combination of some sorts. That is how one accesses the treasure of Iota--granted that would be the appropriate vault." He warned them. "There is great peril at every corner...booby traps are set and we will need to watch for the Decepticon threat. Not only that, the Thetacons, a cult existing since I was a boy in one way or another, are patiently waiting...hiding in the background near every vault for someone to open it and then unlock it's depths with the pattern...the combination...."

"...Our dilemma...I don't know this combination. I can try to decipher it from this information but it could take cycles. There are only two ways to acquire what we need quickly. We could retrieve it from Vector Sigma (an action next to impossible), or..." He made sure to gain eye contact with everyone to make sure they knew he was serious.

"...We would need a Prime..."

[Cutlass Rebooted]

Lost in his notes for the moment Tecton looks up when Laser starts the projection, suddenly intrigued. He walks forwards just behind Volca.
Watching and listening (at least a little) Cutlass puts away the bottle now with only one thing on his mind. Treasure hunt.
"This sounds to me like this is gunna be a treasure hunt." He smiles. "And I already have a ship. Not sure if we can fit everyone on board yet, but we'll give it a go!" Cutlass beams getting quite carried away, and apparently ignoring the Laser's last statement about needing a Prime. "Starport! I didn't even know you were there you're being so quiet. You're going to help me ready the ship..." He practically drags Starport out the door with him.
"That's not all we'll be needing Cutlass!" Volca calls after him, ignored she sighs. "Might as well leave him to it..." She mutters frustrated at his ignorance.
Tecton rests a hand on Volca's shoulder. "Pirates..." Not wishing to say anything further about them he looks up to Laser. "Any idea as to the identity and whereabouts of any Primes?"

[Rexacon]

"Optimus Prime."

Vibro stood up as Laser had finished his speech on the allspark and its origins. Walking towards outside, Vibro did not want to waste time. The bots have been repaired which means they have to get to the vault.

"However, he has disappeared since the Iacon battle. I fear, Megatron had gotten him or they are both lost. Either way, we should not waste time. I have received a vision about this and the future is not good. Tecton and Starport, get the ship ready. Once its ready, we leave."

[concentratedrandom]

Most of Starport’s memories in Protihex were hazy, but they were lively and joyful. How long ago did these memories take place? Many of his friends from then had rusted and fallen offline. It was hard to recall events from so long ago. Starport really felt old thinking about the past so much since he got to the city. Suddenly, Cutlass’s voice shook and shattered his dream, sending Starport back into reality. He started to follow the bot, letting him pull whichever direction he wanted.

“Readying your ship, I can help you with that. I know I’m not the smartest bot, but being a spaceship myself, I know what a ship needs to run. Where are you planning to ship off to anyways?”

[Laser]

Laser was getting increasingly annoyed with Vibro.

"Stop." He commanded. "Slow down. You just said Optimus is missing. I know this to be true as well. Trying to find the poor devil and drag him to Iota would only be wasting time and risking our lives. Because if he is alive, Megatron will be nearby with his troops...and we will all but exterminated. We need to actually form a plan before we act. This is dangerous business Vibro. Optimus Prime is most likely dead. If we go looking for him, we could fall into danger. If we find him and then bring him back to the vault, the Decepticons will have most likely found it and will have surrounded the area."

Laser began thoughtfully twirling an artifact in his hands. "I may know a way to get what we need....two ways actually. One surefire way, and one way that has a fifty percent chance of working. Vibro...in this vision, did you see anything? Did you talk to anyone?"

*************
An incredible evil was afoot.

Beam had learned the truth about Aeron. She was afraid. But she needed to confront him--tell him that she would not be toyed with.

That is why she entered.

"Aeron?" She called out. "Aeron? Where are you?"

No answer. Worse, the high security cell was empty.

"Ohmigod ohmigod--"

"--Hey."

"SHIT!" Beam jumped backwards, frightened by the sight of Aeron, standing his full 24 feet, clear as day in front of her. His tattoos even extended down his legs. "Aeron...I know the truth about you! I've learned--"

"--I know." He interrupted. "You've learned quite a bit about me." He took a long drag from his blunt, and flicked it to the side. "And I think it's time I encourage ya to stop snoopin' around in t'ings you don't understand..."

....

[DarkXenith]

"Finally,"[/color] Jumpstart muttered as Laser called the crowd to some sort of order, "A mech with more'n an iota've sense in his CPU! Primus, seriously, fresh outta repairs an' the lotta ya wanna go runnin' off half-clocked on some fraggin' treasure hunt?! What are ya? Fresh outta Idiot Academy? Can I run a sanity check here f' ten klicks - please?"[/color]

Crossing his arms, the medic gave a further derisive snort and shake of the head. It was all well and good that Towreck had found this 'magical' object of apparently great significance and that Laser recognised it and authenticated it with his begrudgingly impressive holographic display. Something niggled at the medic though and he had to voice it:

"Think about this f' a nano. Doesn't one've you think that this is jus' a lil too convenient? Seriously. We get our afts kicked high an' dry outta Iacon - our own fraggin' city stronghold - an' not even a solar later this turns up on our fraggin' doorstep in a place that ain't seen a single livin' spark in who knows how long? C'mon! Put the slaggin' pieces t'gether....this has got trap written all over it in about nine different dialects. The last thing we do now is go careenin' off on one like a Junkion in a scrapyard into a hole in the ground lookin' f' the meanin' of life. What's more, we ain't gonna find a Prime've any description any time soon. If y' gonna insist on this crazy-aft idea, might I suggest a plannin' meetin' or somethin' first off?!"[/color]

Of course, Jumpstart knew the legends surrounding creation and the Allspark as well as the next mech, moreso in some instances, but he didn't take them as 'gospel' truth like some did. The scientist in him demanded proof before he'd agree to put any stock in an artifact of this nature or in the apparent 'vision' of a mech who'd been knocking on heaven's door up until a few moments ago. This whole idea needed thoroughly vetting and planning out in detail before he'd even consider it to be viable, nevermind safe.

[Cutlass Rebooted]

Tecton wasn't expecting expecting the answer from Vibro or the order following. "I think Cutlass has that covered." He suddenly remembered that he had left a lot of his equipment in one of the other rooms on board the ship, most of which is fragile. "On second thoughts I better go with them..." He quickly darts out the door after them.
And I think I'll stay here... Volca thinks to herself sitting back and listening to what the others have to say.

"You weren't listening to a word that Laser said were you?" Cutlass was about to start explaining when Tecton appears next to them.
"Oh you're helping too Teccie?"
"There's some equipment in one of the rooms that I need to move, I didn't want to risk you breaking it."
"I wouldn't have broken it!"
"In the interest of my research I'm not willing to take that chance, and the ship is this way Cutlass." Tecton flies up towards the ship, landing next it he decloaks it.
"Show off... He knows I can't fly..." He jumps up grabbing part of what used to be a staircase at the side of a building.
"You might as well catch up to him." The damaged staircase starts to creak as he hangs from it. "Uh oh..." He scrambles up it onto the roof. He transforms and prepares to leap in his alt. mode across to the ship. "This'll be the only way I can fly!" Laughing he speeds across and off the roof landing with a sideways skid on the next roof just inches from the ship.