Chapter 8: Back to the space station

Waitstate turned to Ruse. "Ruse, feel like taking a small crew with you on your shuttle?"

Ruse shook his head. "I’m not going to fly my baby into a trap, but I’d gladly take a LONAC shuttle."

"That’s understandable. Most of the systems are still good, it seems that the sabotage was done after everything had been fixed. We'll only be needing a few parts for the Freedom" Waitstate informed Ruse.

"Great, it'll be a short trip then" Ruse said with excitement.

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A short while later, the shuttle docked at the station.

"We thought this place was empty before, look at it now" Ruse commented. It was true, the once overly busy space station was now empty, not one soul in site.

Scamp was shaken but he dare not show it. "Our ship sabotaged, the space station empty. Somebody is planning a big surprise."

"Let's split up. I know there's strength in numbers, but we'll never cover the whole station unless we do." The order made Waitstate feel uneasy. Ordering companions to search a giant station alone when danger was immanent would make anyone feel the same.

After the crewmembers disappeared from sight, Ruse made his way to his bartering area. He didn't know much of the station, so he stuck to the area. It was completely vacant. Ruse pulled out his handgun and looked around. Suddenly, there was a noise. He turned around, and saw a shadow running off in the distance. Ruse chased after the shadow, following it around the corner. Whatever it was, he had lost it. Looking up, he discovered something amazing.

"Oh wow, this place is just like the old trading post." Ruse didn't even think to question the amount of activity.

The area was littered with traders of all sorts. Almost immediately, Ruse starting viewing the goods at other trader's booths.

A voice came from behind Ruse. "Hey old buddy, long time no see!"

Ruse turned around and was greeted by a familiar face. "Perafax, it's been too long!"

"Ah, new framework I see" Perafax said scanning Ruse.

"Heh, yeah" Ruse agreed. After thinking for a moment, Ruse said "Wait, how did you even recognize me? You never saw me in this body."

Perafax thought for a moment but kept smiling. "Oh, I've known you for ages. A new fitting can't hide your personality. Besides, I know how much you like looking at alien weaponry."

Perafax pointed with his hand at the table before Ruse. Sure enough, it was covered with weapons from all over the quadrant. Ruse had not noticed the table there, but just accepted it for what it seemed to be.

"So, how have you been? We've got a millennia of time to catch up on," Ruse said smiling.

Perafax smiled and put his hand on Ruse's shoulder. "We'll have plenty of time for that on our way to main post."

"Main post?" Ruse looked back through the space station and saw nothing. "Well, I guess it can't hurt."

There was an odd sensation filling Ruse. It was something more than déjà vu. It over-powered him making it seem as if he were in a daze. The surroundings were too familiar, and Perafax showing up the way he did seemed a bit unusual.

"So what are you doing back in these parts?" Perafax asked.

"Oh, I got stranded here with a bunch of other Transformers. I'm part of the neutral faction LONAC now," Ruse said confidently.

"Huh? What are you talking about? If you're not part of the Autobots anymore, what are you doing wearing their symbol?"

Ruse looked down at his chest. Sure enough, there was an Autobot symbol.

"You sure you're feeling okay?" Perafax asked.

"Now that you ask, not really" Ruse replied, very confused. He couldn't grasp what was going on, but continued walking with Perafax anyway.

"Here we are!" Perafax announced.

Ruse and Perafax both walked into a tent.

"What the hell is this?" Ruse shouted. Instead of entering a trader's large tent, he was standing in the judgement hall where he was discharged from the Autobots.

"Oh come on now Ruse, you're only getting exactly what you deserve," Perafax said with a big grin.