Still in progress, I have completed I thru V and will post them all in due time. There will probably be about 12 in all. Enjoy and let me know what you think.



Eclipse and Bloodwake charged at one another, beaten and bruised, sparks glint off their blades. Each slashes at the other, quickly and ferociously. Two warriors at each other's throats. Fighting for the thing they prize over all else: their lives.

They clash again, desperately trying to force their blades through the other's. Bloodwake bares her teeth with rage as Eclipse stares back at her, his emotions hidden beneath what's left of his faceplate and visor.

Eclipse dictates, like a poet monk observing a grand medieval battle, "The Demon of war feeds upon our hatred. It beckons us to follow through with the hands we've played. It desires us to finish the fight, to let the blades fall and heads roll..."

"It lusts for our mutual demise."

Six years prior.

A dark hallway, layers of dust from ages long past gathered on it's shelves. A door slides open with some effort and in strolls a large figure. He lightly scrapes the sides of the wall as he slowly trods to his destination. He wipes some dust off with his left hand and begins tapping into the terminal below. With little effort it is unlocked and a small panel pops open, sending more dust to the floor. As he reaches for the contents alarms blare in the background. The figure looks up, his three-ended visor glowing red like the fires of a furnace. He looks down upon his prize and through it, as though to view the future. "...Freedom."

Eclipse awoke. Alone in darkness, his mind groggy. He struggled to stand up and he wearily placed a hand upon the wall, but it was not his own. He let out a sigh and looked around. Two small mechs lay on the other side of the floor. He slowly makes his way to their sides and observes them. They are undamaged, merely in a state of unconsciousness. He activated them. The duo stood to his waist and looked up at him, each had a visor like a "V", glowing a mean red. "Identify yourselves." Eclipse stated plainly. The two just stared back at him, unable to fully comprehend what he was asking. "I said identify yourselves." he said again, this time in a stricter tone. One looked to the other and they fell to their knees. They began drawing something in the filth encrusted floor. They were forming letters, at the end of one's finger it read "Pain." The other, "Pleasure."

"Pain and Pleasure?" he asked. The two nodded. "You two don't speak much. I can admire that." Eclipse shook off his thoughtful daze, "Where are we?" he asked.

Pain looked to Pleasure who shook his head.

"Perfect." Eclipse thought sarcastically

After some wandering Eclipse and the duo came to the inside of a cellar door. Eclipse pushed against the double doors but they wouldn't budge. He forcefully kicked it outward, metal twisted from the thrust and clattered to the ground outside. Eclipse rummaged through the scrap to find a shattered lock. It was engraved with the word "Condemned." Not surprised he let it fall back to the ground and took a look around. Nothing but heaps upon heaps of garbage and useless objects as far as the optic could see. "It beats Polyhex." he muttered to himself. Eclipse checked himself for anything useful, a few tools, a miniscule amount of energon and a lot of nothing. He divided the energon he had and handed out some pieces to Pain and Pleasure. "Here, we may need this...that is if your coming."

The duo looked back up at him and merely nodded. They took the strips of energon and looked at Eclipse, still holding his in his hand. He looked down and contemplated a few moments. Finally he stowed his share back into his effects. As he placed the energon strips inside a compartment in his forearm, he noticed something else. What appeared to be a panel. It looked like it was bent slightly so one could see beneath it. Curiously he peeled it back not to find wires or circuitry, but personality components instead! "Someone crafted a fake panel over the existing one to hide these here." he said aloud. "I wonder who they are? Or who I was." he commented whilst looking over his arms and legs which clearly wasn't his own. He let out a brief sigh. He thought for awhile longer before looking back to Pain and Pleasure. "Well, they won't be getting bodies anytime soon unless we can find the nearest city." He led them over a mound of scrap and onto a pathway, unsurprisingly filled with yet more scrap. "Can you two transform?" he asked.

They looked at each other for a moment. Pain tried first, successfully transforming into a mini dune-buggy. Pleasure transformed into a mini jet. Eclipse observed this and followed suit. His internal systems confirmed he had an alternate mode. The process of transformation was painful, excruciatingly so. Wings folded out from the sides of his back and landing gear touched the ground. His chest flipped up and backwards, snapping into place forming his cockpit. His legs spun and collapsed on each other, his back popped up and attached itself to his legs helping to form the thrusters. Finally his arms folded inward and settled into what used to be his chest. He was a large type of jet. Minus the terrible condition his paint was in, he was rather sleek. He was mostly black with a few gray accents and his wings were mounted further back then on a normal Tetrajet. In fact, he was no Tetrajet at all! "This is rather noticeable." he grumbled. His cockpit was a darkened black. There his scanners and various other systems were mounted. He put said scanners out and looked for the nearest signs of civilization. "I'm in serious need of a tune-up." he noted mentally.

After some searching, Eclipse settled upon a path. Just a few, very faded energy signatures in the sky heading in the same direction. Thats all there was. His engines coughed and shuttered before finally allowing him to lift off. Being freed from the ground, he hovered above the duo, "This way." he stated plainly. "I hope you two can keep up."

His thrusters flared lightly and he lurched forward and upward. Eclipse was shocked as Pleasure shot ahead of him like a bullet. His small engines screeching at a maddening pitch. He tore through the sky doing barrel rolls and flying circles around Eclipse. "Impressive." He was further shocked when Pain too, sped ahead of him on the ground. Like Pleasure, Pain was equipped with similar engines allowing him to tear massive paths through the scrap heaps with ease like a pressurized cannonball.

Eclipse climbed higher into the sky. His form should be capable of interstellar flight given the specs, but in his current condition, he was lucky to even be off the ground. It could be worse though, he could've had an alternate mode he wasn't familiar with instead. He looked out over the horizon. Mountains of scrap stretching into the distance...

Save for the wind rustling past him as he flew, it was quiet. Eclipse couldn't help but fall into deep thought and with it came memory. He thought about the disgusting lack of regard for life. He remembered his decision to leave their ranks. He even recalled a fewer, more pleasing memories with a former comrade. Those memories quickly turned sour as he remembered the treachery. The deceit. Those lies that led to his capture, to his comatose imprisonment. He gave an inner frown.

A beeping came in over his systems. It was Pleasure. Eclipse came from his horrid reminiscing and funneled his scanners to stretch further ahead. It was a city. Or at least what used to be a city. Now it just looked like...a slum.





Rundown's tires squealed as he fishtailed through the alleyways. His precious cargo bouncing in what little room his inner compartments could spare. Law enforcement followed behind him closely with their lights and sirens blaring. He tore down the backstreets, smashing through crates and dumpsters, flattening smaller objects as his tires tore through.

He could have easily outran them, but then again, that was less fun then the alternative. Rundown sped ahead as he led the enforcement officers down winding, barren corridors and back alleys. As he reached his destination, Rundown's engines roared with anticipation.

Finally he saw it up ahead. The alley opened up and thats just where he was heading. "Incoming!" he yelled. He exited the alley and transformed. His heels sparked and left skids as he came to a screeching halt. "I got it!" huffed Takedown. As the law enforcers entered the wide open space, a massive truck came from above, easily crushing the first wave of pursuers beneath his monstrous tires. Their hoods caved, their chassis groaned and buckled. Glass shattered and wheels went flying. The ground shuddered from the impact. The remaining officers transformed and gasped with surprise. They looked up at the towering monster before them.

"I hear you've been chasing my lil buddy." he snorted. Rundown waved from behind Takedown, a big grin covering his face.

"Y-your under arrest! Both of you!" one of the officers spoke up.

"Hmmm lets see. At least a stellar cycle for stealing that stuff. Ten minimum for assaulting an officer of the law..."

"I think thats permanent incarceration for killing them." Rundown interjected, he mimicked getting crushed, "Oh nooeesss, Im dead! Blarg!"

"Good point Rundown. So how about the rest of you officers frag off?"

"You idiot! You just said my name!"

"Ohhhh did I?" Takedown replied sarcastically. "Well then I guess that means we can't let you go." Takedown transformed. All eighteen wheels popped up, folded inward on top of one another, forming stacks of two and began flipping to various parts of his body. Four in each heel, four in each calve, the rest became mounted to his shoulders and back. His arms unfolded from his siding and twisted forward and his front end collapsed inward forming his chest. Finally his head was revealed and upon it a wicked smirk. "Sorry guys, hehe." he snickered.

Takedown slammed a fist into his palm.

"Thats enough!" one of the officers yelled. "Both of you will comply or we will be forced to use.."

"Force?" interrupted Rundown.

Takedown threw his head back, "Ah ok. Enough talk!" he lunged forward and snatched up one of the officers. With little effort he began pulling his arm from his shoulder. The officer screamed in agony as Takedown ripped wires, circuitry, gears and connectors until but a bare ball joint was visible. Bloodoil spurted from the wound.

The other officers gasped in horror. They ported their weapons from subspace and began opening fire, a few rounds bouncing off of Takedown's thick hide. Rundown shot forward and transformed. His acceleration was exhilarating. In the blink of an optic he was in front of two officers, he swung wide 180 degrees and simultaneously transformed, sweeping his leg with great momentum into the first officer's chest. His chassis cracked from the force and splintered. He flew backwards into a wall before collapsing. Rundown spun immediately and jumped. Utilizing the same momentum he swung his other leg, this time meeting the second officer's head. his neck joint snapped and his head flung violently to the side and he crumpled to the ground.

Takedown, still holding the body of the screaming, now completely armless officer laughed. "Not so threatening when your unarmed are you!?" with great strength he flung the officer up and then pummeled him into the ground. Bits of his body cracked and went flying. He lifted the officer again, leaving bloodoil splattered on the ground. Takedown then threw the officer into another.

Rundown dodged some fire and retaliated. He ported his rifle from subspace and fired with amazing accuracy. Three pulls of the trigger led to three decapitated officers. He fired energy bolts, intentionally aiming for their necks, a place that usually lacked armor. Bloodoil erupted like a geyser from their headless bodies as they fell to the ground.

"Hey don't take them all!" Takedown grunted as though he was offended. He leaped forward, the ground rumbling with his footsteps. He blocked some fire with his forearm and reared back with the other. He ran up to the officer and delivered a powerful backhand. The officer clanged off Takedown's armored forearm and flew back against the wall. In a daze, the officer groggily looked up to see a giant fist and nothing more as it pummeled him to scrap. Takedown repeatedly slammed his gargantuan fist into the officer's corpse until nothing but a bloody crater remained.

The last officer scrambled to escape. He started to transform just as his head was cut clean from his shoulders. His body finished the transformation sequence and his vehicle mode bounced against the ground, dead. The body rolled slowly into a wall, massive streams of bloodoil pouring from it's undercarriage.

"I told you not to take them all!" Takedown complained. "Your just jealous." Rundown countered. "Jealous that I was sooo much better then you during the fight!" he snickered.

"Yeah right. You wish. So what'd ya get?"

Rundown pulled a few cases from his compartments and opened them revealing some energon and some credits.

"Thats it!?"

"Whataya mean thats it!? If I had the aft you did I could fit a vorn's worth of stuff in here!"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Takedown asked angrily.

"...Your fat."

"Why I outta!" Takedown reared a fist back.

"Oh no, don't hurt your lil buddy!" Rundown laughed as he easily dodged.

After much bickering Rundown and Takedown took their normal crummy old seats within the same crummy old pub they always went to after a job well done. A crummy old drone set two large pitchers of low-grade upon their old crummy table. "See? It was enough to pay for this."

"Barely!" Takedown complained. "And what about tomorrow? Did you ever think about that?"

"Do I ever think about anything?" Rundown replied sarcastically.

Takedown nodded approvingly. "Well I do. The killing is all well and good but the tangible payout leaves much to be desired."

Rundown gulped down some low-grade and slammed the pitcher onto the table. He groaned. "Here we go again. Seriously, I steal stuff, then lead them to a trap, we kick their aftplates in, and we get enough credits and energon to live another day. What is there to complain about?"

"You know as well as I that all the fighting takes up more energy then we end up with afterwards."

"Maybe for you. I'm environment friendly." Rundown retorted as he took another swig.

"Serious time Rundown. Its time we start looking for more...lucrative work."

"What, you mean like try the bouncer gig again? Or night shift security? Can't wait."

Takedown slammed his pitcher into the table. "I know you feel it too Rundown. Not only are we getting gradually more drained but were getting bored. Slaggin' a bunch of officers is fun the first hundred times but now, I just don't know. Besides, what do you think is gonna happen when we can't kill 'em all? We'd be official fugitives."

"Were not already?"

"You ain't a fugitive unless your face is being shown on a wall." Takedown pointed to the opposite wall, a video screen at it's center , it was scrolling through wanted mechs, showing their profiles.

"Well what did you have in mind?" Rundown finally caved.

"I don't know."

"Then why are you talking! Frag!" Rundown threw his arms into the air.

Eclipse walked into the pub, it was the closest thing to where he landed. He approached the bar, Pain and Pleasure following closely behind. "Excuse me. I'm in need of...a navigator."

Rundown and Takedown overheard.

"Ehn? To where?" asked the barkeep.

"I need to find a few places and am...new to the area." he replied.

"Well I dunno what to tell ya. 'Fraid I can only help customers."

Eclipse sighed, he had no credits. Rundown quickly occupied the seat beside him before he could state this fact, "Pull up a stool friend," he grinned. "Yo keep, I got this one." he placed a few credits on the bar and bought Eclipse a mug of low-grade.

Takedown's jaw dropped. "Those were our last credits!" he thought.

Eclipse took the low-grade and eyed it. Some crud floated inside. He placed it back on the bar. "So where ya needin' to get to?" asked Rundown.

"I need to acquire...some...stuff." Eclipse wasn't sure how best to approach the situation. He needed to get some work done on himself, he also wanted to get Pain and Pleasure checked out. Furthermore he needed to find a protoform processing plant for the personality components in his possession.

"Stuff? Well then you've come to the right mech!" exclaimed Rundown.

"You came to me."

"Well, ugh. Yeah. Anyway, me and my accompli-err-companion are in some need of work, a change of pace if you will. That is if you can afford it."

"How much?" asked Eclipse.

Rundown began giving Eclipse the rundown, "Well of course there are initial expenses such as fuel and ammunition..."

"Ammunition?"

"For the protection you'll be no doubt paying for."

"I need no protection." replied Eclipse.

"Oh no? So your banged up chassis is lying?"

Eclipse sighed. He had no credits, but perhaps he could use this to his advantage. If he could swindle some repairs and find out where the closest protoform instillation is located, he should have no problem thereafter.

"Very well."

As Eclipse exited with Pain and Pleasure in tow, Rundown nudged Takedown. "Well? Whattaya think of that? You were bored, right?"

"Yes. And being a tour guide is sooo interesting." Takedown grumbled.

"Tour guide? I was thinkin' we could just kill him."

"Oh. Ok. You do remember what we talked about right?"

"Yeah, yeah. He said he'd pay us. We'll just kill him, and take his credits."

"How much do you think that that empty could possibly have Rundown. Maybe we just better do this, get paid, and let it go. I doubt he's much challenge anyway. Him or the midgets."

Rundown threw his arms in the air, "Your IMPOSSIBLE!"






Eclipse, Pain, Pleasure, Rundown and Takedown all stood outside of the pub in the near desolate streets of the slum.

"This place gives Dead End a bad name." Eclipse said dryly. He crossed his arms.

"No place like home." Rundown countered. He and Takedown both crossed their arms.

They stared at each other for a few silent moments.

Pain and Pleasure took notice and quickly stood beside Eclipse and crossed their arms.

Rundown's brow raised, "So are we gonna just stand here all day and stare at each other?"

"I'm waiting." replied Eclipse.

"For what?"

"Your the navigators, I'm waiting for you to lead the way." said Eclipse unamused.

Rundown let his arms drop in despair, "But you haven't told us where to go! I can't read your mind!" he whined.

"You said it yourself. Remember? About my banged up chassis. Me and my traveling companions require some work done."

"Oh! Well why didn't you just say so?"

Takedown rolled his optics. "Come on." he said. "I know just the place." Takedown turned and began walking down the street. The others followed. "Its not the greatest place for a oil change but they're cheap. And it looks to me that thats what your going to need."

"Indeed." agreed Eclipse.

"Um, one question?" Rundown interrupted. "Why don't we just drive there?"

Takedown sighed before addressing Eclipse, "My friend, are you capable?"

"Yes." replied Eclipse, "Though painfully so, but if it'll allow us to reach our destination quicker..." He slowly transformed. Pain and Pleasure followed up.

"Oh great. Aircraft." Rundown said annoyed. "Thats just perfect."

"What's wrong with aircraft?"

"Flying is overrated." replied Rundown.

"Jealous?" Eclipse transformed and continued walking. Pain and Pleasure again followed his lead.

"NO! Not at all!"

Takedown chuckled.

"If I may ask, what are the names of our guides?" Eclipse asked. "I'm afraid I didn't catch them back at that pub."

"You really are new aren't ya scrap heap?" Rundown ran over to an empty in a nearby alleyway. He snatched up the poor despondent mech, "Hey rustpile! Tell him who we are!"

".....got some spare credits for an old vet?"

"Don't make me kick your face through a wall!"

"Um, okay. Ugghhh, your Primus?"

Takedown started laughing hardily, "Yes! And I'm Unicron: The Chaos Bringer!"

Rundown dropped his head and threw the mech back to where he was. He walked back over to the group, "Okay, that wasn't a great example. But most everybody 'round here knows me as Rundown!" he boasted. "I'm the fastest, fiercest, flurry of fists of fury this side of Cybertron!"

"Yeah, and I'm the biggest mini-bot with a spark of gold." Takedown said sarcastically. "I'm Takedown."

Eclipse was almost sorry he asked. "Been together long?"

"You could say that." Takedown answered. "We've been partners since...nevermind. Were here."

The group stopped in front of a building about as run down as every other place in this Primus forsaken ghetto. Above it's garage door there was a crooked sign and upon it was a big red cross. It used to light up but it had apparently been busted by someone, bad. A large gaping hole was apparent in it's center.

"I did that." Rundown bragged with a thumb to his chest.

"Why?"

"Why not?"

Takedown walked up to the garage door and knocked.

"Who's there?!" came a voice from within.

"Stop with the tough act Skydancer, just come on out. I got some work for you."

"Takedown? Is that you?" The garage door opened and out stepped a medbot, a femme medbot. She was actually quite the sight. Completely out of place for this drab environment, she was almost radiant.

"Whattaya got?" she asked coldly.

"These mechs here need some work done." answered Takedown.

Skydancer looked over them from the doorway. "The two small ones look like they are in good shape. Tall, dark and rusty looks like he needs a going over, and the short one needs to be just tossed in the dumpster out back."

"Hey! I don't need anything from you, you wrench-wielding maniac! Don't make me put another hole in your sign!" Rundown screamed with rage.

Skydancer snickered. "You couldn't reach it if Takedown held you up."

Eclipse couldn't help but observe her as she traded insults with Rundown and Takedown laughed at his expense. She was a fine mold. She must have fallen far from someplace high in the heavens to land in a place like this. One thing he did notice however, was the long deep scar across the side of her face. Come to think of it, he started noticing alot of scars on her body. She had been through some rough times. He admired a strong mech, then again thats what put him in this situation to begin with.

"Are you done?" she asked.

Eclipse came from his daze, "Excuse me?"

"Are. You. Done? Would you like me to turn around and let you check out my turbocharger? Or are you gonna come in already!?" she yelled at him angrily. Apparently she took notice of his observation.

"Apologies." he stepped inside, Pain and Pleasure walked in after him.

Takedown leaned against the wall, Rundown took a seat nearby. "How long do you think this is gonna take?" he asked.

"Who cares? I'm in no rush." replied Takedown.

"But I'm booooored."

Without blinking or looking at him, Takedown reached over, grasped the top of Rundown's head and lifted him up and around to meet him face to face. Rundown hung from his head like a rag-doll. "Whats the big idea fatty?!"

"Look. Will you chill your processor and just wait already?"

"Fine! Just put me down!" Takedown dropped him and he landed on the ground with a clang.

Rundown scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off. He grumbled to himself, "Rusty bag 'o bolts, why I outta..." he took his seat, crossed his arms and pouted.

After a few moments of silence passed, Rundown was of course first to break it. "Did you see those two mini-bot looking guys?"

"Yeeeup."

"Those guys are creepy."

"How ya figure?"

"They copy almost everything that Rustwing guy does. Have you noticed?"

"Nope."

Takedown looked over at him, "Wait, Rustwing?"

"Well he didn't tell us his name."

"Gotcha. Rustwing it is then."

After a few cycles of waiting, the garage door began rolling up. Takedown pushed off the wall and stretched his joints a bit. "Ugh, finally eh Rundown? Rundown?"

Rundown was stretched out on the ground in a deep stasis nap. Takedown slapped his big hand over his forehead. "Why me?" He raised a leg into the air and smashed his foot into the ground. The tremors shocked Rundown.

He shot up, "Wha?! What!? Kill to win!" he gave a varied number of action poses and whipped out his rifle. It took him a few more seconds to realize what had happened.

"You done?" asked Takedown.

"You coulda just nudged me or something!" he complained.

"Mute it. They're done." Takedown twisted him around just as Eclipse stepped out. He was tall, statuesque and jet black. Around his joints he had red accents. No blue. Wait, they changed?

"Whats up with that?" asked Rundown.

"Beats me." replied Takedown.

The colors faded in and out dimly, switching colors slowly, hardly noticeable unless someone was paying attention. His visor was a dim crimson and he wore a faceplate over his mouth. Pain and Pleasure stepped out behind him, they remained unchanged aesthetically. Eclipse put his hands on his hips. Pain and Pleasure did also.

"See I told you." Rundown said motioning his head towards the trio.

"Creepy." observed Takedown. "Wheres Skydancer?"

"Inside." replied Eclipse. "Were done here. She said she wanted to be left alone."

Takedown gave a curious stare, "Thats it then? You paid her?"

"You could say that." Renewed in both body and confidence, Eclipse looked up. "Come, we must find a protoform processing plant."

"What?! The nearest one is nearly halfway across the planet! Besides, you owe us!" Rundown yelled.

"For what? Leading me a few blocks to a crummy medical outpost? I will reimburse you both when we arrive at this one last destination."

"But it'll take us forever to drive all the way to the closest one!"

Eclipse looked into the sky. "Then lets fly."

Pain transformed into his buggy mode. Pleasure jumped over him and transformed into jet mode. He landed on top of Pain and the two connected, their engines combined into a single unit.

"Thats a new one." Eclipse said. He looked back at Rundown and Takedown, "Time is wasting. Pain, Pleasure, can you do that with Rundown and Takedown?"

They disconnected and Pleasure transformed, he nodded.

"Then it's settled."

Rundown looked confused, "Settled what?!"

As Eclipse rocketed through the sky, his engines hummed with the power of a newly created mech. He felt good. Below, Takedown was just barely behind, miraculously keeping up thanks to Pleasure mounted to his roof. Pleasure's engines left a trail of fire behind them.

"Wahoo!!!"

Rundown zipped ahead of the group. Pain was attached to his roof as well, his power letting Rundown travel at breakneck speeds. "Now this is what I call a good time!" he yelled happily.

Takedown disagreed, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Eclipse let out an inner chuckle. A thought gnawed on the back of his mind, but that option would have to wait until later.

"Hey!" yelled Takedown through his comm system. "We didn't catch your guys' names!"

"I am Eclipse, and my companions are Pain, and Pleasure."

"Pain and Pleasure?" Takedown went silent for a bit before muttering to himself, "Creepy."

"Hey Rustwi-I mean Eclipse!"

"Yes Rundown?"

Rundown shot like a bolt of lightning further ahead of the group, "Told you flying was overrated!"



A ravaged battlefield. Inhospitable and desolate save for the smoking ruins and fires. The place was no longer useful strategically, but neither side would relinquish their footing on this land of craters and trenches. Raped of it's beauty, and robbed long ago of any worth, it's combatants fought ruthlessly, never ceasing, always looking for a way to destroy the other. Primus must have weeped for his creations.

Then he stood. Like an angel of death his shadow loomed far as he heaves his arms into the sky and roared with the fury of a supernova. With his spark a black hole and his compassion non-existent, he stepped into the explosion lit streets unopposed.

He was alone, defeated were his comrades mere moments ago. He was sick of their orders, sick of their rank and file. He left them in bloody heaps within the trenches. He single handedly destroyed every Decepticon assigned to this wretched place. And now the Autobots were next.

The destroyer stood above their bunker. He lumbered forward and burst through the reinforced wall, "UNTIL ALL ARE GONE!" he screamed.

The meager bots cried in surprise. They fired at him in desperation, yelled orders at one another. A few tried close range combat, they were the first to die. His shoulder mounted dual-barreled machine guys fired rapidly. Armor-piercing bullets criss-crossed in front of him, the high caliber firepower easily tore through the weaker Autobots. Their limbs ripped and their bloodoil instantly coagulated from the super-heated projectiles.

He swatted a few away and stepped on another.

Several missiles exploded on his chest. He growled. Two monster barrels folded out of his back and slid upward. They clicked into a lateral position and simultaneously fired! The missiles met their targets and exploded violently. Body parts flew.

A brave Autobot ran forth with a blade, and slashed at the beast's side. It pierced minimal armor. The behemoth snatched him up, then crushed the brave one's entire body with his bare hand. All that was heard was a brief gasp of pain, then death.

The others yelled retreat but it was no use. This monster of war was unleashed! His unbridled fury unmatched and impossible to overpower! His rage was unquenchable! The constraints of organized military were no more for now, he was the military!

The doom-bringer held up the final Autobot. The mech did not plead. He did not look away. He did not soil himself. The Autobot looked dead into his optics. "Who are you Decepticon?" he asked with steel nerves.

The destroyer then without pause twisted the Autobot's head from his body. Neck joints snapped, fluid lines burst and bloodoil sprayed over the monster's face. The bot's optics faded to black as the sickening sound of gurgling could be heard and bloodoil spurted from his opened mouth. The victor dropped the body, and held the poor Autobot's dead face to his own, a frozen emotion forever fixed upon his visage. It screamed agony back to the beast in a language only the dead and dying can hear. The beast stared into his blackened optics.

"I am Decepticon no more! I, AM, EVISCERATOR!!!"

He stirred. Sweet memories. Memories of destruction. How he loved them so. They were his friends, dear and near. He held to them tight.

Finally he awoke, "W-where am I?" he bellowed in a deep voice.

"Welcome back to the world of the living." replied a dark mech.

"Are you Decepticon?" asked Eviscerator.

"No. I am Eclipse."

Thresher hid in the shadows. Like a panther in the night he eased his way through the twisting labyrinthian corridors of Darkmount. He had to find his way to the canyons below where the smelting pools emptied themselves. He must escape this place. Here madness was bred by deceit and fear. The innocent suffer whilst the tyrannical sit upon thrones of bone. It made Thresher sick to his spark. They claim to be strong, but they aren't strong. They are nothing but fools.

Its not often someone succeeds in deserting the ranks of the Decepticons, but Thresher was no ordinary bot. His was stealth, strategy and intelligence. And he was willing to bet his blades that he could vanish from their midst.

He made his way to an engineering station, mostly devoid of anyone. A few mechs monitored the flow of the smelting pool as it drained into the canyons. He was near no mech's land. And thats just where he wanted to be.

Thresher silently stalked them. He slid up behind one and without warning flung his arm around his head, covering the entirety of his face. Thresher quickly tugged him back into the darkness where he put the mech into stasis with little effort.

He did the same to the next one.

Home free.

Or so he thought. As Thresher crossed the only exposed bit of land a siren blared. He had been spotted! Stealth was no longer a concern, he sprung forth with blurring speed. Sniper fire ricocheted against the ground around him. Some autogun fire began to sound and zig-zagged it's way towards him. Almost there. He dove!

Thresher barely made it. He began climbing down into the canyon as quick as he could. Autogun fire erupted just overhead. It was close. Soon a party would be after him.

He was nearly a fourth of the way down. It was exhausting. Even if he did get all the way down, he would have to cross the super heated contents below and then climb back up the other side. He sorely wished that he could fly right now.

He could hear the yelling from overhead. They were upon him.

Flyers dove down towards him yelling curses of traitor and deserter. They would not stop him. They threatened his freedom, he would not let this transgression pass.

As they fired upon him he ran up the cliff face and back flipped. As Thresher fell back he tossed out a few daggers composed of some type of cool metal. They spun rapidly before meeting their marks in the shoulders of a pursuer. They pierced the offender's armor and caused the surrounding area to grow cold and brittle before finally breaking apart! The mech cried in pain and surprise. He veered off, running like the coward he was.

The other continued his pursuit and fired haphazardly. Thresher twisted in free-fall, miraculously dodging every attack. It was almost as if he was a flier. He redirected his fall and flung a claw out. Thresher snatched a hand hold and used his momentum to fling himself upward, with every bit of power in his body he pushed himself upward. The enemy hunter yelled in surprise as Thresher suddenly appeared, directly in front of him.

Thresher locked his elbows out and his forearms unclasped His hands folded inward and his forearm split as a massive razor sharp claws shot forward. Like a mess of hooks and various blades, Thresher lashed out with the surprise weapons, his arms extended an extra ten feet and caught his pursuer in the sides. They cut into him, Thresher barely pulled outward and easily disemboweled the mech. The hunter screamed as his entrails were released to the open world. Thresher climbed up his back and pushed off, letting him spiral way down into the smelting pools below.

He caught himself on the cliff face again. Splattered with bloodoil, Thresher's wicked appendages coalesced to form his regular arms. He glared down at the poor mech as he impacted into the pools. He was dead long before he made the splash. In fact, he was dead mere astroseconds after Thresher had gutted him.

Voices from up above. How long would they keep this up before they left him alone? Probably never.

Four fliers this time, no problem. Thresher repeated his tactics, bouncing from hunter to cliff face, to hunter again, destroying them all. He was getting drained. As he finished them off another wave appeared and another was just reaching the edge of the cliff.

He repeated again and again. Cycles passed and Thresher finally reached the bottom. He stood on the edges of the smelting pool, he was battered and severely drained. A few pursuers landed beside him. One began clapping. "Very good Thresher. You should feel a sense of accomplishment. You've gotten further then any other deserter before. And you picked a unique escape route we weren't adequately prepared for. But alas, the optics of the loyal picked out the figure of the betrayer as he fled. Tell me Thresher. You don't approve of senseless killing, yet you slaughtered so many today. Is your freedom worth more then the cost of their lives?"

The weakened Thresher finally spoke, "Everyone should be free to choose. They chose to follow blindly, I chose to see."

"Spoken like a true poet, but this is no gallery for fine arts. This is a war we are fighting Thresher. You could come back Thresher. You will be punished but one with talents as spectacular as yours would surely be welcomed back in time. Should you choose."

"The path you offer is one of death." replied Thresher.

"But all other paths offer death as well. Namely your own." The hunter and his entourage lowered their weapons. They trained their sites on Thresher.

"Its time Thresher. Time to choose."

Thresher looked out upon the smelting pool before him. The heat singed his optics, the fumes invaded his intakes. He thought for a moment as he spread his arms wide...

Two hunters approached slowly, one from each side.

"I choose....."

They were in range.

"Freedom."

His arms shot out and extended! He sliced down with one, ripping one of the mech's weapons to bits, it took off his hands and parts of his forearms as well! Thresher spun rapidly and came in with an uppercut for the other mech, effectively tearing through his abdomen and chest, bloodoil erupted from the long gash and sprayed all around! All of this in but a few astroseconds. Thresher turned towards the smelting pools and ran, he leaped...

He should be feeling searing magma dissolve his armor, pour in through the breaches, and ultimately disintegrate him. It would take him away from all of this. All the war and senseless killing. It should be over. But he didn't feel the burning retribution. He felt numb. Hot air streamed over him.

His optics fluttered open for just a few seconds as he ascended. "Is this the Matrix?" he managed to voice weakly.

A face came into his view. He was being carried upwards and away from the smelting pools. They had caught him. The face had a smirk upon it.

"This is not the Matrix." it answered.

"This is The Pit!"

Thresher finally went into stasis, defeated.

He awoke again. But everything was different. Was he free? He hoped it was The Matrix.

"Where am I?" he asked.

Rundown leaned over him, "Why, The Pit of course!" he answered with a wicked grin.

Thresher stared back in disbelief, "...Slag."