05.01.2015 Views

Eye in the Sky - Transformers Collectors' Club

Eye in the Sky - Transformers Collectors' Club

Eye in the Sky - Transformers Collectors' Club

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

“Shut up, Beachcomber.” Goldbug merely sniffed and turned his attention back to Rodimus “So you have an <strong>in</strong>festation.<br />

Congratulations. Vape <strong>the</strong>m all.”<br />

“Will you wait a fragg<strong>in</strong>’ cycle Have you looked at <strong>the</strong> planet we’s on It a<strong>in</strong>’t noth<strong>in</strong>’ like what we thought it was! I<br />

caught what happened as my pod was fall<strong>in</strong>’… <strong>the</strong> Decepticons got nuked! Shot down out of high orbit by <strong>the</strong> humans!”<br />

The Autobots turned to each o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> shock. Only Goldbug stayed still, his gaze leveled at Rodimus.<br />

“These three kids know <strong>the</strong> planet… and better yet, <strong>the</strong>y knows how <strong>the</strong> government works, cuz <strong>the</strong>y’re like us!”<br />

“What a revolt<strong>in</strong>g thought,” Goldbug growled.<br />

“They’s crim<strong>in</strong>als! They tried to steal me!” Rodimus laughed. “There a<strong>in</strong>’t noth<strong>in</strong>’ more qu<strong>in</strong>tespecially Autobot than<br />

that!”<br />

“Lad’s got a po<strong>in</strong>t,” Big Daddy hummed, black armor gleam<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> harsh light. “Theft is a good old-fashioned<br />

Autobot faction value.”<br />

Rodimus looked at <strong>the</strong> crew carefully. “Look, why don’t we all go back to <strong>the</strong> Ark an’ talk I gots me a killer plan…”<br />

Large portions of <strong>the</strong> Ark were <strong>in</strong> shambles or filled with seawater. There was no question <strong>the</strong> craft would never fly<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>, even if <strong>the</strong>y could somehow dredge it up from <strong>the</strong> ocean depths. The Autobots that had made it through <strong>the</strong> wreck<br />

function<strong>in</strong>g were busy shor<strong>in</strong>g up walls, work<strong>in</strong>g pumps, and search<strong>in</strong>g out o<strong>the</strong>r Autobots who’d been knocked offl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> crash. They had managed to rig <strong>the</strong> ship’s board<strong>in</strong>g tube to burrow <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> cliff wall, allow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to drill a tunnel to<br />

<strong>the</strong> surface.<br />

Wheeljack and Blaster cast nasty glares at Rodimus as he entered <strong>the</strong> bridge, followed quickly by Goldbug and <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

“Oh. He iss back,” Blaster snorted as he returned to his work. “How vunderful.”<br />

Wheeljack nodded at Goldbug. “We’ve only got about 35% of <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> bridge functions operat<strong>in</strong>g. At least 80% of <strong>the</strong><br />

ship is still <strong>in</strong>accessible. We found six more ‘bots, all of <strong>the</strong>m are <strong>in</strong> emergency stasis now. And a box of Scrounges.”<br />

“Old ship held up pretty well consider<strong>in</strong>’,” Rodimus mused, assess<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> damage. “I’ll be scrappeded if we’s stay<strong>in</strong>’<br />

long, tho. I been scout<strong>in</strong>’ out some new bases, an’ I th<strong>in</strong>k I found some nice ones.”<br />

A loud, distorted tone echoed through <strong>the</strong> bridge. Goldbug, never pull<strong>in</strong>g his gaze from Rodimus, waved a hand idly.<br />

“Wheeljack, open <strong>the</strong> airlock.”<br />

A few moments later, <strong>the</strong> bridge’s ma<strong>in</strong> door rumbled open, reveal<strong>in</strong>g a hulk<strong>in</strong>g, hunched-over form. A number of<br />

human-sized knapsacks and bags nestled <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> creature’s long, claw-like arms.<br />

“You weren’t <strong>the</strong> only one… scout<strong>in</strong>g,” Goldbug growled at Rodimus as <strong>the</strong> blue-and-black mach<strong>in</strong>e lumbered <strong>in</strong>.<br />

“The ocean floor here is littered with ru<strong>in</strong>ed cities. There must be energy, weapons, someth<strong>in</strong>g we can use. Welcome back,<br />

Seaspray. What have you found”<br />

“The first treasures, salvaged from <strong>the</strong> ebon depths, <strong>the</strong> eternal night of-”<br />

“Yes, yes, whatever. Get on with it.”<br />

The monster made a disappo<strong>in</strong>ted-sound<strong>in</strong>g burbl<strong>in</strong>g noise, unceremoniously dropp<strong>in</strong>g his cargo. Among <strong>the</strong> wet impacts<br />

of canvas was <strong>the</strong> cold, sharp clang of metal on metal. The last bag to drop, a heavy blue-and-white gym bag, popped open<br />

as it fell. The bag disgorged a torrent of water-logged bundles of greenish paper.<br />

“These were prized from <strong>the</strong> cold bosom of <strong>the</strong> unforgiv<strong>in</strong>g br<strong>in</strong>y-” He caught Goldbug’s glare and paused. “I… found<br />

<strong>the</strong>se beh<strong>in</strong>d strong vaulted doors. Such precautions <strong>in</strong>dicate value… yet no warm<strong>in</strong>g energy do <strong>the</strong>y give. I am vexed.”<br />

“Oh, it sure gives me a warm feel<strong>in</strong>g! It’s money!” Spike howled. The three humans waded <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> flood of bills,<br />

scoop<strong>in</strong>g what <strong>the</strong>y could <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong>ir arms. “You musta found a sunken bank or cash depository! Millions <strong>in</strong> untraceable<br />

cash!”<br />

Rodimus kneeled, scoop<strong>in</strong>g up some of <strong>the</strong> haul g<strong>in</strong>gerly with his buzzsaw-hand. “What’s money”<br />

“What’s money! What do you bots do when you need to gas up”<br />

8

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!