Chapter 8

Chameleon and the remaining Tactibots were training in the main sim room. Holographic images of many different Transformers and other robotic life forms surrounded them.

“Things just haven’t been the same since Novaburst departed” Ghost Stalker commented as she shot a flier from over-head.

Dark Star entered the sim room as the simulation deactivated.

“What the heck is going on?” Firestorm demanded to know. “We were in the middle of something!”

“Waitstate has put the ship on blue alert. The Doom Gaze is not far from our current location” Dark Star reported.

“Not this slag again” Starstorm grumbled.

Chameleon stepped forward. “Spectral Death comes, we knock them down, and then they come back for more. This whole situation has gotten rather pointless. Just have him call us when the real problems start.”

Chameleon walked up to the sensor pad to restart the simulation, but Dark Star blocked the way. “Now is not the time for games, we have real work to do.”

“Why don’t you go back to your glory hog Dark Force and leave us alone?” Chameleon scowled.

Dark Star did not react. “Every battle has its importance. If we underestimate the enemy, then our future lies in their hands. All of us are expected to report to our stations within 30 minutes.”

“Fine, we’ll go, but nothing is going to come of this” Chameleon insisted.

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Waitstate remained in stasis while he recharged in his quarters. The last encounter with Spectral Death was more than expected; this time he was going to be fully prepared.

Dreams were a rather undeveloped concept for the Transformers. They were said to not exist by many. However, Waitstate was deep within one, and it was most disturbing.

He stood on the bridge of the ship. The Doom Gaze was approaching on the view screen. Behind him Artifice was laying on a medical bed, reaching out, calling to him. “Please don’t leave me, I beg you” Artifice whimpered. Waitstate turned to look, but Artifice was not there. Instead, the surroundings had completely changed. Waitstate was floating in darkness. Xaraxus floated to him, cackling as he approached. Before he could think about what was happening, Waitstate saw his hand thrusting Artifice’s short blade into Xaraxus’ spark. Xaraxus looked up, smiling. “Perhaps you’re not such a disappointment after all!” Instead of deactivating, Xaraxus laughed. He kept laughing even as Waitstate drove the short blade in deeper. Eventually, his entire arm passed through Xaraxus’ chest, but it only made him laugh harder.

Gravix waited outside of Waitstate’s quarters. “Come on, the cycle finished two minutes ago.”

The door chime awakened Waitstate. “Who’s there?”

“I have news to report,” Gravix said into the comm.

Waitstate opened the doors to his quarters. “Is the Doom Gaze within visual range yet?” Waitstate asked.

“Negative. Their engines were pretty shot the last time, they probably didn’t have the time to fix them” Gravix reported. “Compared to the speed we’re traveling at, they’re at a virtual stand-still.”

“We’re not too far from the next station so we’ll still have time to get some supplies. Given our past history though, I’m only sending out a small shuttle, I want to keep a low profile,” Waitstate told him. “I’m going to take Artifice with me.”

“One last chance to get the truth from him,” Gravix commented in a smug manner. “I know he’s my brother, but as I said before something is seriously wrong with him.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just talk to him?” Waitstate asked. “I’ve managed to get a few things through to him, but you being his brother and all…”

Gravix shook his head. “That’s not how things work with us. Anyhow, I’ve found a passage in the Book that you might find useful.” Gravix did not want to tell Waitstate how distant he could be from his brother at times, both literally and figuratively.

“What might that be?” Waitstate asked.

Gravix opened the Book and pointed to a passage. “It’s a rather rough translation, but it says something to the effect of ‘the light shall hide.’ I can’t figure out the rest of the passage yet, but you wanted continued updates and I wasn’t sure when I’d get a hold of you next.”

“Uh, okay then.” Waitstate got up. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

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“Don’t you think it might be a bit dangerous, leaving the ship with the Doom Gaze approaching?” Artifice asked as he followed Waitstate into the shuttle.

“Nah, they don’t pose much of a threat, at least not any more. Heh, if only you could have seen how things were when you were gone. Anyhow, I wanted a chance to talk to you alone” Waitstate answered.

“Oh, what about?” Artifice asked and the shuttle door closed behind him.

“Some of the crew has had a few complaints about the way you’ve been acting recently.” Waitstate touched a few sensors on the console to open the docking bay doors. The shuttle then cruised out of the docking bay. “You realize I’ve been letting you get away with far more than I should have, more than I would have let anyone else get away with.”

Artifice threw his hands in the air. “Hey, I was dead, I think I’m entitled to a few imperfections!”

“I agree, believe me, but there’s more to it then that.” Waitstate turned to Artifice. “Some of the things you’ve told me don’t add up. You should know by now you don’t have to hide anything from me.”

“Heh, what makes you so sure about that?” Artifice scoffed.

Waitstate tilted his head. “We’ve been friends since Neutral Ground opened up on Cybertron. We used to talk about everything. I know we’ve talked a bit since you got back, but I also know there’s a lot you’re not telling me.”

“I thought you knew that there were things I wouldn’t tell anyone, even you” Artifice replied.

Waitstate nodded. “Yes, but I expect you, or anyone else on the Freedom, come to me to discuss any problems that affect the rest of the crew.”

“I have a lot of things I still need to deal with, I just want everyone to get off my back until I sort it out” Artifice replied angrily.

Waitstate slammed his fist on his console and stood up. “Damn you! You're going to tell me what's wrong, and you're going to tell me RIGHT NOW!"

There was a long pause. Artifice looked back at Waitstate coldly. After another long pause, he chuckled. “Such demands, such sternness. I never knew you had it in you old friend.” Artifice turned back to his console and touched a few sensors. “Perhaps you’re not such a disappointment after all.”

Waitstate walked back in silent horror. “No- it can’t be…”

“Oh but it can” Artifice laughed maniacally.

Waitstate activated his beamsabre. As he held it over Artifice, he could see the shadow he cast on the wall. The shape was most definitely not his own. “The truth. The light shall hide the truth.”

Xaraxus stood up and held out his phaser. “Yes Waitstate, and the truth is I now have a captive.”