Chapter 52: Mechanical Dinosaur Army?
"How interesting. What exactly happened on your planet? It seems that opening this door will give us a general idea, won't it?"
To be honest, Transformers were just as curious...especially about information not stored in Cybertron's databases.
For some reason, back when Optimus Prime was still the leader, Starscream had seen several similar markings on Cybertron, indicating that the Autobots once maintained facilities showing respect for the Decepticons' right to choose...such as restaurants jointly managed by Autobots and Decepticons.
But Megatron, without a doubt, was a close-minded Decepticon leader. After seizing control of Cybertron, the first thing he did was erase every trace of the Autobots from the planet...even those jointly operated establishments.
So what exactly had happened on this ancient civilization's planet? Why did they leave behind such strange legends for humans, and a stone gate bearing both Decepticon and Autobot symbols? It made Starscream feel like an archaeologist.
"Great Venerable One, the knowledge we possess has been passed down from generation to generation. You should have the key to open this gate!"
Over time, these Huns likely realized that while Starscream bore the Decepticon insignia, he couldn't clearly remember what had happened back then. Perhaps only by finding the original bearer of that mark could they uncover the truth.
"Very well! As always, I'll open the gate and investigate. Once it's safe, you can let your people in. After all, there are far too many things on this planet capable of defeating carbon-based beings like you!"
Starscream's strength and physical constitution were more than enough to adapt to most hostile environments on this planet. But these humans weren't so lucky. Whether the Huns...who seemed friendly toward the Decepticons...or the Eclipse ...who looked at them with hatred...none could survive more than three minutes without oxygen. And if they went without water for too long, they'd die within a week. It was truly baffling that nature had produced such a fragile race.
Contrary to the ancient legends that claimed a group of Autobot warriors once fought to protect these weak creatures, Starscream couldn't comprehend why. Were those Autobots simply bored?
"Beep beep! Welcome, unknown Transformer warrior! You are the first Decepticon to visit this base in nearly a thousand years!"
Well now...surprisingly, this millennia-old system wasn't so bad after all; at least its tone sounded friendly to Starscream. However, the humans standing behind the massive robot looked rather strange.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Whether due to dust or some toxic gas, the humans at the front...including the Hun priest...began coughing violently. Some even bent over and collapsed to the ground, their faces twisted in pain.
"Host, this underground fortress is filled with all kinds of gases but lacks the oxygen these humans need to survive. We'll have to keep this gate open for a while to let them breathe!"
As expected, without modern oxygen tanks or gas masks, ordinary humans couldn't enter. They had to wait for the outside air to slowly mix with the air inside the gate. Only when the oxygen concentration reached a safe level could they go in.
But Starscream couldn't wait. As long as he had enough energy, a Transformer could survive even in the vast vacuum of space...compared to them, the human body was pathetically weak.
"System, begin exploring this area from here. If the signal is strong enough, activate satellite projection. I need to quickly locate those three energy sources you mentioned. If they really are veteran Decepticons, I have no intention of sharing this secret with these humans!"
Although these humans claimed to be servants of the Decepticons, after communicating with the three Eclipse soldiers, Starscream had a strange feeling. He believed that these seemingly polite humans were actually using him to find some kind of powerful ancient weapon...most likely one left behind by Decepticons from a much older era.
Perhaps it was just a laser gun or cannon, but to these low-level creatures who only knew how to fight with blades, it would be nothing short of a divine weapon.
Did these tiny humans truly intend to use Starscream as a tool...or as a key...to unlock their dungeon?
In truth, Starscream preferred the Eclipse ; it seemed to be an instinct deeply rooted in his spark. However, seeing how diligently the Huns worked for him, as long as they didn't do anything outrageous, he wouldn't harm them.
"Host, there are two reaction points about 1,500 meters directly ahead...but they don't seem to belong to Skyfire. Judging by their energy signatures, they appear to be Autobots!"
Perfect. Remember the markings on that stone gate? It seemed that Decepticons and Autobots coexisted here. Indeed, as soon as Starscream entered, he detected two faint signals.
Transformers were different from humans; as long as their bodies remained intact and their sparks hadn't been completely extinguished, no matter how long they'd been inactive, they could be revived with sufficient energy.
The two signals detected by the Transformer system came from two Autobot warriors whose engines had stopped for unknown reasons. To see them as quickly as possible, Starscream chose the most direct...and brutal...method: blasting through the wall with laser cannons.
If carefully controlled, a Transformer's laser weapon could function like a high-powered drill, allowing for rapid excavation while avoiding internal metal reactions within the wall.
However, when the excavation was about one-third complete, Starscream froze in astonishment. The long mechanical tail and massive torso, with legs thicker than an elephant's, made him suspect...no, almost certain...of an impossible idea.
"Is that… a mechanical dinosaur buried down there?"
(End of Chapter)