Black Narcissus predicted the Autobots actions correctly. The poison spore test site was discovered. The Autobots were the ones who volunteered to investigate for G.U.N. They activated their battle masks as they investigated the area just in case their air intakes wouldn\u2019t be clogged. The air in the site was thick with a pale-green cloud of dust. Perceptor and Ratchet gave each Autobot there a test tube to gather a sample. Bumblebee had gathered his and sealed it before he leaned against a street sign to wipe his brow. The sign collapsed and Bumblebee fell. As he picked himself up, he checked the sample. No cracks were discovered in the test tube, so no chance of contamination. Blackarachnia was running her scanner over a site where she believed the spores came into being. After getting a reading, she confirmed the remains of a pod that exploded, scattering the spores over the area. Perceptor was in mobile lab mode, keeping his holo-form off in these conditions, and scanned the area with his microscope lens. A minute later, he assumed robot mode and waved Ratchet over. Ratchet jogged towards Perceptor. \u201cHow bad?\u201d he quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just say,\u201d replied Perceptor, \u201cgood call on the battle masks. The air is toxic, even for Cybertronians.\u201d Bumblebee and Blackarachnia came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt looks like the spores,\u201d reported Bumblebee, \u201cwhen left untreated for an hour, affect integrity of any object in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know this?\u201d asked Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve found evidence of such a claim,\u201d muttered Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese are NOT natural spores,\u201d continued Blackarachnia. \u201cThe pod I hypothesized exists. It exploded, scattering these spores to the winds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s too toxic for us,\u201d declared Ratchet, \u201cthen we need to quarantine this area. Bumblebee, tell Ultra Magnus to go ahead with setting up the containment dome. Make sure a decontamination air-lock is among the generators.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d bid Bumblebee. He called up Ultra Magnus, but it was riddled with static. After a few minutes, Bumblebee ended the call, hoping he got through. \u201cInterference,\u201d he elaborated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe spores must be the culprit,\u201d mused Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any case, we can\u2019t leave until the dome is up and running,\u201d remarked Ratchet. No sooner had he said that then the sky turned red with an energy dome. Perceptor looked at the shape of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA bit bigger than we asked for,\u201d he mused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProbably accounting for spreading,\u201d guessed Blackarachnia. A crisper call came through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRatchet, be advised,\u201d called Ultra Magnus\u2019 voice, \u201cthe air-lock is directly south of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Ultra Magnus,\u201d bid Ratchet. \u201cResearch team out.\u201d The call ended. \u201cWell then, to the air-lock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After an invasive decontamination at the air-lock, the Autobots returned to G.U.N headquarters for a combined research effort to understand the spores. Cosmo gave some insights to the Metarex mindset, so her allies understood her need to think on these matters. She was back at the soil patches behind the Autobot base, taking in some sun and nutrients from the soil, meditating to clear her mind. She heard a door chime. \u201cCome,\u201d she called. The door opened to reveal Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAm I interrupting?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHonestly, maybe having someone to talk to would help me,\u201d replied Cosmo. Sira sat by Cosmo and smoothed her dress. \u201cSira, right?\u201d recalled Cosmo. \u201cWe met at the lake when Megatron revealed the Metarex\u2019s involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d replied Sira. \u201cI don\u2019t believe I got your name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Cosmo of Greengate,\u201d introduced Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA pleasure to meet you, Cosmo of Greengate.\u201d greeted Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLikewise,\u201d returned Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d asked Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis whole poison spores thing,\u201d remarked Cosmo, \u201cthis isn\u2019t the usual Metarex warfare. This would make Yellow Zelkova feel like a coward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe their priorities have changed,\u201d suggested Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnlikely,\u201d countered Cosmo. \u201cI\u2019ve fought them for the entire length of the Seedrian\u2019s war against them. They always chant \u2018Eternal, Unyielding, Unchanging\u2019. Me, on the other hand, I\u2019ve changed bodies at a faster rate than most Seedrians at peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s not too personal,\u201d interjected Sira, \u201chow many bodies was that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTen,\u201d explained Cosmo. \u201cEach body, during the war, lasted about 5,000 years. Most Seedrians don\u2019t change their form until at least 10,000 years have passed for that body. Even so, my longest body, in that time frame, was about 7,000 years. It was my previous body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see,\u201d realized Sira. \u201cSo, you don\u2019t think the Metarex would change their M.O so quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot in the slightest,\u201d answered Cosmo. At that point, Optimus came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAm I disturbing something?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust some ruminating,\u201d replied Sira. \u201cCan we help you at all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve managed to find Scarship through his cloak,\u201d reported Optimus. Cosmo got out of the soil and dusted herself off as she and Sira entered the Command Center. An area in Mobian orbit was displayed on the screen. Topaz was there as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave we established contact?\u201d asked Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t made the attempt,\u201d answered Topaz. \u201cWe\u2019re about to launch a missile strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo one\u2019s launching anything!\u201d hissed Cosmo. \u201cBesides, the missiles won\u2019t scratch Scarship. Let me talk to the Metarex.\u201d She started typing in commands on the keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCosmo,\u201d interjected Teletraan, \u201cyou may be an ambassador, but you\u2019re not authorized to speak on behalf of Mobius. Topaz is better qualified for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got all the authorization I need,\u201d replied Cosmo as she continued keying in commands. \u201cI\u2019ve earned that a long time ago.\u201d She then opened a channel to the Metarex. \u201cCalling the Metarex Flagship, under Jurisdiction 2 of the Intergalactic Rules of Warfare! This is Ambassador Cosmo of Greengate!\u201d The Metarex Five appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCosmo, my daughter,\u201d chuckled Dark Oak. \u201cStill spewing the stale platitudes of change?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy God,\u201d gasped Sira. \u201cThey look like demons!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d snarked Optimus, \u201cTHAT\u2019S diplomatic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMetarex Five, tell me,\u201d called Cosmo, \u201csince when did you guys, especially you, Yellow Zelkova, turn the Metarex Empire into cowards?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHOW DARE YOU!!!\u201d bellowed Yellow Zelkova as he rushed at the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s even less diplomatic!\u201d snapped Optimus. \u201cI thought you were an ambassador!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCosmo, you impugn my honor!\u201d roared Yellow Zelkova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you even know what that means?\u201d quizzed Pale Bayleaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m actually glad he didn\u2019t say \u2018belittle\u2019,\u201d chuckled Cosmo. \u201cI would be all over that like a hive of slarnaks. But, seriously, poison spores? That\u2019s the weapon of a coward, and you know it. Dark Oak, you\u2019re in command of a ship that could reduce this planet to asteroids, yet you hold your position, just about to launch pods filled with poison spores so you could watch it die. Where\u2019s the fight in that? Where\u2019s the honor? Or\u2026is there something else I missed? This isn\u2019t the usual Metarex warfare. What are you five up to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were a General,\u201d argued Red Pine. \u201cDid you succeed in revealing your strategies to us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBesides, our choice of colonization is our business!\u201d shouted Yellow Zelkova. He then turned sheepish. \u201cEr\u2026oops,\u201d he mumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIDIOT!\u201d bellowed Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh HA!\u201d laughed Cosmo. \u201cSo, Chaar\u2019s got resource problems! Exhausted them, did we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSuch a suggestion,\u201d argued Dark Oak, \u201cis slanderous!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cWhy mention that dead-end world?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChaar was where we Seedrians exiled the Metarex to,\u201d explained Cosmo, \u201cafter the war. A war that had raged for 50,000 years. Fifty thousand years of bloodshed, and for what? Just satisfying your egos? Proving your so called superiority?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe ARE superior!\u201d boomed Dark Oak. He then got the Metarex chanting \u201cEternal! Unyielding! Unchanging!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, for the love of The First World Tree!\u201d sighed Cosmo as she switched the channel to one of Mobius\u2019 children\u2019s shows, similar to Sesame Street<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCosmo,\u201d snapped Optimus, \u201cI must insist that this dialogue be handled by official Mobius representation!\u201d Cosmo returned the image to Scarship\u2019s bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFinished?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou would not be so quick to ridicule,\u201d growled Dark Oak, \u201conce you\u2019ve seen our prize! Behold!\u201d He revealed a giant crystal with many galaxies inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t!\u201d hissed Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat kind of Planet Egg is that?!\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not ONE Planet Egg,\u201d replied Dark Oak. \u201cIt\u2019s many.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDark Oak intends to use the combined power of the Planet Eggs he stolen over the years,\u201d guessed Cosmo, \u201cto help the Metarex survive their world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMerely as a terraforming activator,\u201d explained Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why the spores exist,\u201d realized Cosmo. \u201cthey kill all life on the planet and await the energies of your combined Planet Egg.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThus activating the necessary energy sources for us to thrive,\u201d confirmed Dark Oak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt the cost of 7 billion people!\u201d snapped Sira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA bargain,\u201d dismissed Black Narcissus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was lenient with you until now,\u201d warned Cosmo. \u201cIt seems conflict is inevitable, but I still offer you one chance. Leave now, or we will stop you.\u201d Her answer was the laughter of the Metarex Five and the cessation of the transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, that concludes negotiations,\u201d muttered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have no choice then,\u201d replied Topaz. \u201cI\u2019m ordering the missile strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?! No!\u201d yelped Cosmo. \u201cThey won\u2019t scratch Scarship!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI recommend getting the Space Colony ARK\u2019s weapons online,\u201d declared Optimus. \u201cOur Ark<\/em> will assist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThose won\u2019t help!\u201d protested Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll rally the magic community,\u201d replied Sira. \u201cThe Metarex need to be beaten back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey have defenses against magic!\u201d snapped Cosmo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s meet at G.U.N HQ,\u201d suggested Optimus. \u201cI recommend somebody inform Aleena about this whole affair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll take care of informing Aleena,\u201d answered Topaz. A Ground Bridge opened for the Autobots and they stepped through to G.U.N HQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFOR THE BILLIONTH TIME,\u201d Cosmo shouted to try and convince them not to go through with the attack, \u201cYOU CAN\u2019T FIGHT THE METAREX!\u201d The attempt failed and Cosmo rolled her eyes as she followed the Autobots. \u201cStubborn single-forms!\u201d she hissed to herself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Black Narcissus predicted the Autobots actions correctly. The poison spore test site was discovered. The Autobots were the ones who volunteered to investigate for G.U.N. They activated their battle masks as they investigated the area just in case their air intakes wouldn\u2019t be clogged. The air in the site was thick with a pale-green cloud […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,232],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-8-growing-problems","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1541"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1542,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1541\/revisions\/1542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}