Chronicles of the Doomcat
Part Eleven: Other Vocations
By: Miss Special
It was 0355 hours. The Maximals were closing in on the moon. The Doomcat was counting the number of times Gulo cursed to herself. So far the count was at 336, give or take an expletive.
"Slaggit!"
"Three hundred thirty-seven."
"Would you stop that?!"
"Make me."
"You'd better be glad you've got that wall protecting you."
"Not really. I could take you with my eyes closed and both arms tied behind my back."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Me too."
"We're docked," Cheetor announced. Rattrap, in beast mode, and Spirit filed out of the ship, quickly seeking cover. They easily made their way to a command console, since no one was expecting a rat and cat to be sneaking around.
Spirit sat sentry while Rattrap transformed and hacked into the security systems.
Cheetor and the others bided their time, waiting for the signal. None of them noticed the pilot cautiously get to the communications console and turn it on. No one heard him whisper into it, sending out a warning to the moon base.
Gulo angrily adjusted a wire.
"By the Pit…." she growled, when the wire wouldn't stay in place.
Destroyer Angel didn't hear her. She was too busy watching what was materializing in front of her.
It started as what looked like dark dust. It started forming from the bottom up- paws, tail, body, wings, head, ears, eyes, and nose.
It was a canine, with the build of a wolf, colored midnight blue, with gray wings.
"Doomhound," Destroyer Angel acknowledged. She herself had never seen one, but she knew what they were. They served as messengers between Vok- similar in concept to a Doomcat, but insubstantial and relatively powerless. Much cheaper and easier to produce than a Doomcat, especially since they didn't need a Spark. The lack of Spark also meant they couldn't transform.
"Are you Destroyer?"
"Yes," the Doomcat automatically replied, responding to programmed command protocol.
"What are you doing over there?" Gulo demanded, not looking up from the cannon. "Are you talking to yourself?"
Ignoring her, the Doomhound said, "I have orders for you. You are needed."
"What do they want me to do?"
"The war is over-"
"War?"
"You know about the war, don't you?"
"Yes, but tell me anyways." She had no idea about any war, but the Doomhound could be her ticket out of there.
"Two sides of the Vok argued and fought. The war is over, but their fighting has taken its toll. You are to report to Earth."
"Why? What did they do?"
"Five black holes are threatening several systems, including Earth's solar system."
"Five? I don't think I can handle five black holes on my own."
"There is an amplifier on Earth. You know that."
"Wait… Amplifier?" Destroyer Angel knew what an amplifier did. It focused a Doomcat's abilities, multiplying its power tenfold. But the Doomcat needed to be able to access its abilities, and Destroyer Angel couldn't.
No need to tell the Doomhound now.
"Okay, mister Doomhound," she said, mimicking Derpolitzt. "Get me out of here."
"But… I cannot! You are the Doomcat, you have the power."
"Hrm. Hey, Gulo, do you have that thing fixed yet?"
"Just about. Why, are you suddenly ready to accept your fate?"
"I don't feel like getting into a discussion about me and fate, just tell me when it's finished."
"Whatever."
The lights blacked out, and red ones turned on it their place.
"Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!" the PA system boomed.
"SLAG!" Gulo abandoned the Doomcat Destroyer and ran out of the room.
"Hey!" Angel called after her. "Grr… Alright, Doomhound, get over there and finish the cannon."
The Doomhound deformed and slipped between the glass and the floor to the other side. He reformed, went to the cannon, and looked lost.
"I… I do not know how to work this."
"Flip that switch," Angel ordered, remembering how Gulo had done it. "Now, aim it over here." She transformed to beast mode, making herself as small as possible. "Make sure the beam'll go through the glass and a few walls. Tell me when it powers up."
"It's ready."
"Push the button."
Though he wasn't sure it was a good idea, the Doomhound pushed the button. The cannon fired a huge beam that shattered the glass, and cut holes into several other rooms. He couldn't see the Doomcat through all the smoke and dust.
"Well done, Doomhound!" Rubble moved, and Destroyer Angel sat up, flexing her wings. "What's your name?"
"Halifax," the Doomhound automatically replied.
"Alright, Halifax, let's get out of here." Destroyer Angel jumped through a hole in a wall made by the Doomcat Destroyer.
"Slag!" Rattrap exclaimed when the lights turned off. He and Spirit hurried to the ship. Cheetor was coming out as they approached.
"Did you get the defense systems offline?" he asked.
"Yeah, but they know we're here."
"That doesn't matter. Alright, everyone!" The remaining Maximals jumped to attention. "Let's go!"
Destroyer Angel was five rooms away from her cell when she realized she had no idea where she was going.
"Hey, Halifax."
"Yes?"
"Don't suppose you know how to get out of here."
"You are a Doomcat. You always know your path."
"That's assuming I'm using my power, which would use energy I need to take apart black holes."
"Forgive me, Destroyer. I do not know the way out."
"No problem. We'll wing it."
"Perhaps if we ask one of the life forms?"
"Good idea." Angel ran into the nearest populated room, stopping dead in her tracks when she came in contact with Derpolitzt's legs.
Her enemy looked down at her, his face not betraying anything he felt.
"Well, what do we have here?" The Doomcat grinned, transforming. "No glass wall to protect you? What a lovely opportunity for me."
"I see you have a friend," Derpolitzt said. He was either trying to avert attention or was interested in the Doomhound's possible military applications.
"Derpolitzt, this is Halifax, though you shall address him as mister Doomhound, since you don't address me by my proper name."
"Destroyer," the Doomhound said, looking nervous. "Time is of the essence."
"Sorry, Halifax. Alright, Derpolitzt, which way is the quickest way out?"
"You destruction, of course."
A slug across the face sent Derpolitzt flying across the room.
"I do not have time for your petty games." The Doomcat's metallic voice echoed off the walls. "You will answer, or I will rip your Spark apart."
"And what is the point of your escape?" Derpolitzt sneered, showing no fear.
"I'm going to save Earth."
"What do I care about a planet full of fleshies?"
The Doomhound sat down, looking superior.
"A black hole is threatening your planet as well, Maximal. Would you have the responsibility of the loss of your home resting on your shoulders?"
"Hold on," Destroyer Angel stared at Halifax. "Cybertron's in danger?"
"Yes."
"Alright, Derpolitzt, talk or spend an eternity in the Pit." Angel spread her wings and glared at him menacingly. Derpolitzt just looked at her like she was trash.
"Halifax," Destroyer Angel said, "Step outside. I don't want you getting hurt." The Doomhound obeyed.
In reality, Halifax was in very little danger. Destroyer Angel just didn't want him watching what she was about to do, because she didn't know if it would work.
In the past, she had tried using her power, and failed. But, truthfully, she hadn't tried that hard.
Now seemed like a good time to put a little effort into it.
Standing stock-still, she closed her eyes and let her arms fall to her sides. She concentrated on everything around her, concentrating on what they were made of. She concentrated on her Spark, willing energy from it to her surroundings.
The room shook. Test tubes rattled, computers froze. Derpolitzt realized what she was doing.
You will tell me how to leave this place.
He didn't hear the voice. It wasn't in his head, either. But he knew she "said" it.
"I-I'll give you a m-map," he stammered. He was witnessing the power of the Doomcat. And it terrified him.
He scrambled on all fours (he couldn't stand- the Doomcat wouldn't let him), grabbed something, and offered it to her.
The shaking and rattling stopped. Destroyer Angel's eyes opened, and she took the map from him. She left the room without a word.
"You destroyed him?" Halifax asked, walking beside her.
"No. He's a waste of time." Actually, that demonstration was about all she could muster. If she wanted to kill him, she would've had to do it with her hands. Paws, actually. She had to muster her will to stay in robot mode. "I've got what we need, anyways."
"Where is your armor? And your sword?"
"I don't know. I won't be needing them."
"Where are we going?"
"The docking bay."
"Down this hall!" Spirit told En.
"How do you know she's that way?" Everyone had split up into groups to hopefully increase their chances of finding Angel.
"I don't. But people are running from this direction, so it seems like a good idea."
"Okay."
"Destroyer, why have you stopped?"
Destroyer Angel was staring down a hall, at the backs of two cats who seemed to be looking for someone.
Spirit and Entropy.
She could get their attention. But that would make things hard. They wouldn't want her following the Doomhound to Earth.
"It's this way," she said, running.
En turned around.
"Hey, isn't that…?"
"What?" Spirit looked behind her.
"I thought I saw Angel, but I guess it was just a shadow."
"Oh."
"That's our ticket out of here." Angel pointed to the supply ship the Maximals had come on. She and the Doomhound entered, finding the crew mostly offline. The captain and pilot were gathered around a console, trying to decide what to do.
"We should leave while we have the chance. Who knows when that bunch will be back?"
"If we leave, we will be abandoning our duties. We must defend this base."
"Good morning, gentlemen."
The pilot and captain turned, staring at the dark femme.
"This is a hijacking," the femme said amiably.
"Not again," the captain groaned. This was all too familiar.
"There's only two of them," the pilot observed. "We can fight them."
The femme smiled and ruffled her wings.
"You don't want to fight me. I'm the Doomcat. And this," she gestured to the winged canine at her side, "is the Doomhound. Now, if you would please undock from this station so we can be on our way, this whole ordeal will be over much faster."
Captain and pilot looked at each other, wishing they had called in sick instead of coming to work that day.
"Hey, Spirit!" En called, putting his head out of the room he was investigating. "I found something!"
"En, I told you, Angel doesn't have footprints, she has pawprints."
"No, this is different."
"What, then?"
En gestured to the pile of rubble near the gaping hole in the wall.
"Ah, destruction," Spirit observed. "Angel must not be far off."
"What do we do now?"
"Get everyone in here and follow the debris."
"Does this ship have a transwarp drive?" Destroyer Angel asked as the ship left the moon.
"No," the pilot sighed. All he wanted to do was go home. "This ship is only equipped to transport personnel and supplies from Cybertron to this moon."
"Slag. Okay, then, we're landing at the spaceport."
"Of course we are," the pilot grumbled.
The Doomcat would've shared her newly devised plan with Halifax, but she didn't want anyone to overhear. They'd commandeer another transport ship- one with a transwarp drive- and get to Earth that way.
"I've found someone!" Cheetor said, gesturing to a spot under a desk. He helped the bot up.
"You!" Spirit hissed.
Derpolitzt saw the small cat and grinned.
"You know him?" Blackarachnia asked Spirit.
"He's the slaggin'-" Spirit caught herself mid-insult. "He's the detestable bot who captured me. And he's the guy who went after Angel."
Cheetor grabbed Derpolitzt by the shoulders. "What did you do with her? Where is she?"
Derpolitzt laughed, "How convenient! How ironic! You're too late!"
"Too late?" Cheetor asked, shaking Derpolitzt, who answered only with insane laughter.
"Cheetor, if I may?" Entropy asked. Cheetor handed the insane bot to En.
En was able to get Derpolitzt to stand still just long enough to slam his fist into Derpolitzt's face, sending the smaller bot sprawling.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Entropy demanded. Spirit, who had never seen En angry before, backed away.
"She's gone," laughed Derpolitzt. "She's gone with the Doomhound, and Cybertron is doomed. Doomed by the Doombeasts! Doomed, doomed…."
"Doomhound? Cybertron is doomed?" Cheetor shook his head. "Spirit, do you know anything about this?"
"I haven't the faintest clue."
"Well, it's obvious she isn't here anymore."
"She's saving Earth," Derpolitzt sniggered.
"Earth?" Spirit's ears drooped. "This has 'Vok' written all over it."
"Now we know where to go, anyways."
"What should we do with that?" Nightscream asked, pointing to the laughing wreck on the floor.
"Leave him," Cheetor replied. "He's bad enough as he is."
"Alright, Halifax," the Doomcat said, jumping out of the transport ship the instant it was finished landing. "We need to find a ship with a transwarp drive now."
"Understood, Destroyer."
"Hey, where's the ship?" En wondered when the Maximals got to the docking bay. Their escape ship was gone. Angel probably took it.
"Um, Cheetor, how are we going to get out of here?" Spirit sat down, not knowing what to do.
"I figured the ship would still be here."
"We're all gonna die."
"Shut up, Rattrap," the Maximals chorused.
"Hey, here comes a ship!" En exclaimed, heartened.
"That looks like a- ohhh, slag." Spirit buried her head in her paws.
"Like a what?"
"It's a transport ship."
"Yay! We can hijack another one!"
"Not this one."
"Why not?"
"That ship's carrying infantry."
"Why would they come here?"
"Because someone's tried to get in AND the Doomcat's escaped. They're here to contain the problem."
"Orders, Cheetor?" Silverbolt asked.
Cheetor looked around, trying to get a handle on the situation.
Angel wasn't here anymore. There was no way they could get away. There was no reason to fight.
"Surrender," he said, putting his hands up. The rest of the Maximals followed suit.
End Part 11.