Saber looked up. “And what news is that?” He asked, curious now.

 

"140? Is that a lot?" Windbreaker asked.

"Sure." Siren replied, looking really cool. He walked forwards and up to the counter "Should I pay you or someone else?"

---

"Yeah, yeah. Have a nice one, Clench." Brawn replied, walking out of bar.

 

General Optimus Prime was in the OZSA headquarters, going through folders upon folders about offworlder documentation. Right now, while Commander Cheetor was out, he was employed as head of the department.

"Planetary analysis... Zone administartion... Airspace permits..." he read out loud "No. Where's the damn Offworld Arrivals Archive?"

((@Devaron9 you could potentially RP as Clampdown here, if you want))

---

"I'm letting you out until further notice because Commander Cheetor is out and because we can do nothing about your universe of origin. For now you are free to go but once we have something about you, we'll call you. Understand?" Captain Snapdragon explained.

---

"Alright then!" Scourge cheerfully exclaimed "Let me show you your rooms. Follow me, please."

The blue Sweep walked from behind the counter and walked towards the stairs which were to his right. After going up two floors, with the stairs leading to a fourth floor even, he walked to rooms 317 and 318.

"These are your rooms, they're practically the same. But in one of the rooms, there will be a spare bed." Scourge chuckled before taking out two metallic silver cars with red barcode on them "And these are the cards to your rooms. The stamping is unique to each one and trying to replicate them in any way will result in your arrest. So please, be respectful to our establishment."

---

Clench waited until Brawn has left the bar before turning to Nacelle.

"Next time, don't let him enter, no matter what! I'm now going back to my business and I don't want to be bothered."

"Understood , sir." the Seeker replied.

The black mech walked down the hallway beside the bar and, after a left turn, got in his office.

"Excuse me about that confrontation. Where were we? Ah yes, you joining my show."

Bighorn grunted.

"Please follow me." Clench opened the door and walked to an empty wall.

He placed his hand on it and the wall split, revealing a hidden pathway behind it.

 

Elita, nervously, takes one of the cards.

 

Siren quickly snatched the other one.

"Everything shall remain as you leave it." the silver mech replied.

"What's up, Elita?" Windbreaker whispered to the femme.

---

Brawn walked out of the building and walked down an alley next to it. He took out a hook and threw it at the roof of the establishment. It landed on the top and attached itself to the edge of the roof. Once Brawn was sure the rope was secured, he began climbing to the top. From there he looked for a way in without getting noticed.

---

Jumpforce soon found himself in front of a place called Widow's Cafe Cybertronian.

"Up to now I haven't located anything on the list." the mech commed his employer "I'm in front of some kind of a bar, down at level 40."

((@Devaron9))

---

After unsuccessfully following after Cheetor and Swerve, Drop-Kick found himself back around zone 3.

"What now?" he wondered.

 

"Great," Stampy replied.

 

Soundwave sat in his chair as Rumble produced a holographic feed sent from Ratbat.

"There were rumours of Voin Scavengers slipping through the cracks of reality here to scavenge" said Soundwave. "Some sighting located a few here. They may have some parts, or at least direct you. I think it's clear to use any means at your disposable."

---

"Great" said Grimlock. "What's the quickest way down?"

---

Clampdown entered the room, hearing General Optimus yelling.

"Apologies, sir, I couldn't overhear you annoyed" said Clampdown. "I haven't found either of the fugitives, but I had to return to imprison an Octane from the Primax cluster for smuggling eggs from his home universes version of Planet SR388. I believe he was trying to sell it to a Swindle or a Demus, but no evidence seems to suggest which. Anyway, what seems to be wrong, sir."

 

"I-I wanted the one with one bed, so I didn't have to share with either of you." She replies out loud. "What's wrong with that?"

"Should've hired me when I offered you my services, Clench!" Windblade yells within Clench's earshot. "I'd have given him a permanent deterrent!" By deterrent, she means "injury."

--- --- ---

​

As Speeder waits for Goldbug to arrive, he feels nauseous all of a sudden. Getting out of his booth in Scourge's and stumbling to his feet, the young 'mech wheezes and heaves. This odd episode is no sickness, no. As Speeder seems to recover, a figure appears before his eyes. It is a femme, her metallic body covered with oily, dripping-wet, jet-black feathers. Her arms are cuffed and her legs shackled.

"I must be seeing things. You're not real." He says the moment he sees her. However, he can't but feel that he knows this "hallucination" of his. Something about her, obscured as she is by the feathers, is familiar. "But I already look crazy, talking to myself, anyhow. What do you have to say?"

"Descend to Level 8. Find the Menagerie." She rasps. Speeder gasps. The voice is the same as Adrestia's from earlier, but almost devoid of emotion. He is well and truly disturbed by the vision, its reality or lack thereof no longer mattering to him. He is rapt with attention, listening to every word it utters. "Free me from this place, Hyas. Believe in dark wings and dark words."

With that, reality reasserts itself. As soon as she came, the femme disappears. "Wait, Addy!" Speeder shouts. And, the patrons of Scourge's are giving Speeder a number of funny looks. But as they do so, Speeder can't help but notice a single black feather on the floor.​

 

"Very well." Scourge replied. The mechanoid then walked down the stairs and out of view.

When the Sweep finally got down to the bar, his optics went through the new arrival.

"Hello there! Welcome to Scourge's Sweeping Tavern. What may I serve you?" he greeted the confused Speeder.

---

Windy waved everyone goodbye and transformed into her minitrain alternate mode and drove off.

"The fastest way according to my navigational data of our surroundings, there should be some kind of lifts to the lower levels. Otherwise we could use tunnels but they're only good for vehicular mechs." Prowl 2 replied.

"Maybe we should go for the elevators, what do you think Grimlock?"

---

"Ah Clamp Down... I'm really sorry for you to hear and have experienced my frustration. I'm actually looking to the Offworlder Arrivals Archive, especially the section for today's arrivals." Gen. Optimus Prime replied "Any news from Commander Cheetor? After all, it's getting late."

---

Clench led Bighorn deep underground. The staircase ended in a fully windowed room, from which one could observe the whole underground establishment.

"Welcome to the Pit!" Clench extended his arms.

That room had stairs leading to the ground, which had seats filled with people observing the boxing ring in the center. Around the walls were also loges. Almost all of the seats were full with people, all watching the brawl between a dark blue and silver bulky mech with a red face and yellow optics and a white and blue mech who looked young compared to his opponent.

"From where did all these people come?" Bighorn asked.

"There's another entrance. The one we utilized is personally for me and people close to me. The other one is through a shop across the street, which I also own." the mech chuckled "I own the whole block, that's why there's a huge underground arena here. Everyone is my eyes and ears, nothing can be hidden from me."

 

"Get me a pint of Connie Reb, if you please," He says. Removing a metal case from his magnetic mounts on his left skirt-plate, Speeder opens it and removes several Shanix notes. "Here, have your payment. Thank you."

The moment Scourge's back is turned, Speeder hunkers down and picks up the black feather.

"I'm coming." He says quietly to himself. Rising to his feet, Speeder sits back down. "Just hold on."

--- --- ---

Deep down in Level 8, lies the Menagerie. This is the main holding place for anything or anyone that the Transtechs cannot abide being at large in their city, but are either unable or find unconscionable to kill. It doubles as an sanitarium, keeping particularly insane (and powerful) individuals under lock and key at all hours of the day. Its external design is made chiefly out of duracrete and plasteel, being surprisingly brutalist in comparison to its surroundings, and indeed, the Nexus as a whole.

"You can't keep me here forever." Nemesis says through the view-slit in her cell. Writings are scrawled on the wall, almost illegible. While spacious, it is dark. "My cycle of death and rebirth is prophesized by the Covenant. It is the will of Primus."

"Sure we can." A rough voice replies. Outside, a 'mech in olive green armor stands guard - a Turmoil. "Your ravings about this "Destroyer" provide enough reason to keep you here, even if you weren't shape-strong. Now shut up."

"Brute." She mutters. Turning her back to the cell door, Nemesis seethes quietly. "This is the yuga of strife, it seems."

 

"Voin Scavengers? I haven't heard of them." Jumpforce replied "Though... what am I exactly looking for? You said parts. But what parts?"

---

"Nothing?" Siren asked.

"No. I didn't mean that." Windbreaker replied "What I meant is that you looked troubled. Is anything wrong?"

---

Brawn located a small hatch on the roof that he forcefully opened. Once he got inside, the mech looked around and saw that he was in a small storage room. He opened his G.P.S with a map of the building's inside. Somehow he managed to get hold of the interrior map of the establishment. Brawn knew exactly where to head for, the hidden door to the Pit.

((@CyberRavager You could state what Brawn sees on the map, if you want.))

 

"Other than what I've told you, no."

--- ---- ---

Speeder, meanwhile, is making full use of his influence. Identifying patrons of Combatronian origin in the dim halls of Scourge's by their livery, their unit insignias, and uniform body design, he opens up his metal case of Shanix and goes to work recruiting them.

"Y'see, the Royal Family has need of your services," He says to a Bludgeon whose audio receptors are covered by headphones, but who otherwise is quite aware of his surroundings. The Bludgeon bears the distinctive Equinoid's head of the 2nd Mechanized Cavalry Division on his shoulder. "You and the others are needed for a special mission."

He points to a Backstop, an elderly Banzai-Tron, a Yoketron, and a female Whirl from Galdex 823.16 standing behind him. In addition, he slides a few notes towards the Bludgeon. "I don't need your money, o Prince. Keep it." Bludgeon stares at the shanix, pushing it back. "But I'll gladly serve."

"Thank you." Speeder responds. "A few Combatronians can easily overcome whatever the foe -" He says, referring to the OZSA. "Has at their disposal."

"Kill. Evil. Immediately." The Bludgeon utters an old motto of the 2nd Cav. It is inscribed in Combatronian runes on his unit insignia. "That's what we're here to do, after all."

 

Goldbug finally arriver at the tavern. He saw Speeder who just got served his drink.

"Hey..." he muttered, having ran to here "What's troubling you?"

---

Brawn's map had a pretty good layout of Clench's bar. There was the main bar room, a storage room, office rooms and restrooms among others.

---

Really close to Drop-Kick's location was Swerve's bar, which was now a burnt pule of rubble. Police were all around the place and Commander Cheetor was taking note of the damages. A couple of the police officers were looking for clues and indicators of who the culprit was.

---

"What are you looking for?" Clench asked Bighorn "Fighting or watching?"

"Whichever pays most. If I'm to inhabit this world, I would need funds."

Clench chuckled.

"If you're a fighter and a damn well at that, I'll personally find you the best place to stay under my wing. If you become Clench's friend, then your life will be settled."

 

"It would seem that my arrival here is more predetermined than I'd like. The hand of the Lord of Light is funny like that." He sardonically says, with downturned eyes. Raising his head, he looks over to his small squad of Combatronians, who are enjoying drinks together at another table. "I had a vision, you see. A cry for help from Level 8." Speeder elaborates to Goldbug. It is unlikely that Goldbug, being a mere guide, would know about the Menagerie. Nonetheless, he shows Goldbug the feather. "This is a Krabat Raven's feather. They have them on Combatron - tiny creatures, almost impossible to catch. It's a rite of passage to track one, catch it with your bare hands and break its neck. Naturally, such a creature would not exist here - proof of the vision's reality, if you will."

A awkward pause follows at this statement.

"That was dark." He notes. "We're not all barbarians, I promise."

 

"I think we passed something resembling a lift hub a few blocks back" Grimlock said, Transforming into his beast mode. "Anyone who's puny legs or whatever you have can't take you fast, climb on."

---

"Nothing yet, sir" said Clampdown. "Only the usual reports in from my colleagues on the street."

---

"Ratbat provided you a specific list" Soundwave said. "Core systems and mechanisms for functioning mechanimal-like drones."

 

Stampy climbed on, having no other ideas as to what to do without knowing where the box store was.

 

Brawn sneaked from hallway to hallway, heading for the hidden path that will lead him to the Pit. Right now it wasn't about the bounty, which would also be a good bonus, but he was after what his employer ordered him to do.

---

Drop-Kick took notice of the crime scene and slowly walked towards the burnt bar.

---

"Sure." Jumpforce replied.

After some time passed, he came across a couple of
small cloaked alien beings with yellow eyes.

"Hey there..." he approached them.

((@CyberRavager @Devaron9 if anyone would like to RP these guys))

 

Elita has just settled into her room at Scourge's. Thumping onto the bed, the large femme turns herself over to finally get some shut-optic.

--- --- ---

Back in the Menagerie, somebody is feeling talkative. "Tell me, Turmoil." Nemesis speaks. Her voice is usually devoid of emotion, but for once, she is tremulous. Her eye turns a milky white as she talks. "Do you know what's it like in the void between worlds? Oh, of course you don't."

"What does it matter?" Turmoil asks. Though he would deny it, he is intrigued by his prisoner. "On that note, what are you talking about?"

"It matters more than you know. It's how I had my revelation." She answers. Raising her index finger towards the ceiling, she continues. "My revelation of being The Preserver, Kalki."

"Kalki, from the Covenant? The Nemesis? The Rider on the Pale Equinoid?" He asks of her skeptically. "That Kalki? You're nuttier than I thought."

 

Goldbug looked with a really confused look on his face.

"Excuse me, what?! I can't understand a word you're saying."

---

Inferno and Prowl 2 transformed and headed for the lift.

---

"Still nothing on the offworlder cases from earlier?" Gen. Optimus Prime asked.

---

"Step back, citizen." one of the OSZA officers stated, preventing Drop-Kick from getting closer.

---

The creatures took out some small black blasters and zapped Jumpforce, paralyzing his inner workings.

 

Speeder merely throws his head back with laughter. "Y'see those Combatronians over there?" He says in a hushed voice once he stops, pointing at the small group's table. "We're all going down to Level 8 to find something called the Menagerie. This vision of mine told me to do it."