Transformers: Honour - Issue #3

Panel One:
Swindle stands nervously in an alleyway. He’s looking around for someone.

Panel Two:
An optical visor shines out of the darkness behind Swindle, who is startled by the voice.

Shadow: Swindle.

Swindle: Wheh!

Panel Three:
Shadow emerges from the darkness as Swindle regains his composure.

Shadow: I’m glad our lines of communication are still open.

Swindle: Nice to see you, too.

Shadow (2): Did you bring what I asked for?

Panel Four:
Swindle rifles around in a subspace pocket behind his back.

Swindle: Straight down to business, huh? You used to be fun.

Shadow: Did you-

Swindle (2): Of course I did -- what do you take me for?

Panel Five:
Swindle pulls out two small spherical devices and hands them to Shadow.

Swindle: You sure you got the funds? From what I saw, the kid’s repair bill won’t be cheap.

Panel Six:
A close-up of hands as Shadow hands Swindle a small bag, filled with Credits.

Shadow: Is this enough?

Swindle: For you, just.

Panel One:
Shadow mover away but Swindle chases after him.

Swindle: Hey, listen. Take care of yourself, yeah?

Panel Two:
Swindle comes into stride beside Shadow as they continue down the alleyway.

Swindle: There ain’t many of our vintage left and I don’t really want to be the last.

Shadow: We haven’t survived this long without being careful.

Swindle (2): I know, but there are bots out there that’d love nothing more than to have our heads over their mantelpiece, you know what I mean?

Panel Three:
Swindle grabs Shadow to stop him.

Shadow: Sounds no different to the war.

Swindle: Well it is. It’s personal.

Panel Four:
Shadow places a consoling hand on Swindle’s shoulder.

Shadow: Is that a conscience in there, Swindle? A curious acquisition for an arms dealer.

Panel Five:
Shadow turns and heads down an alleyway, disappearing into the darkness.

Swindle: Arms dealing is illegal.

Shadow: An old friend said that illegal was just another word for expensive.

Swindle (2): Everyone needs a motto.

Panel One:
Dinobot’s body is lying on a table in a workshop. A dirty looking engineer, Techlor, is mending the large gouge in Dinobot’s chest from the fight. Dinobot is still offline. Shadow watches on.

Techlor: I’m no expert, but maybe you should tell him to stop blocking hits with his face.

Panel Two:
Shadow produces the two small devices he got from Swindle and passes them to Techlor.

Shadow: Do you know where these go?

Techlor: Sure.

Panel Three:
As Shadow goes to move away from the table, Techlor makes a small gesture to clear his throat.

Techlor: Heh-hmm.

Panel Four:
A close-up as Shadow places a small stack of Credits on the table besides Dinobot’s body.

Techlor: Makes the world go round.

Shadow: Just get it done.

Panel Five:
Shadow leaves the workshop. Techlor calls after him.

Techlor: This whole thing would go quicker if you gave me a hand.

Shadow: My presence has been requested elsewhere.

Panel One:
Shadow stands politely before Cryotek’s throne. Cryotek lounges. Two thugs stand on either side of the throne.

Shadow: He will make a full recovery.

Cryotek: Ah, good. He is of course welcome to use my personal CR Tank to help buff out those finer dings and scratches.

Shadow (2): The offer is most kind, but I doubt you brought me here simply to enquire about his condition.

Panel Two:
Cryotek presses a button on his throne. A wall covered in ornate cabinets is illuminated.

Cryotek: True. I wanted to show you something.

SFX: BIP

Panel Three:
Inside the cabinets are G1-scale weapons - iconic weapons from some of Cybertron’s greatest warriors. Prime’s Ion Blaster. Soundwave’s shoulder Cannon. Blaster’s Blaster. Etc.

Cryotek: A few... blasts from the past, as it were.

Panel Four:
Shadow places his hands on the glass of one particular cabinet.

Shadow: Where did you get that?

Panel One:
A wider shot reveals the cabinet Shadow is looking into holds a large Sword.

Cryotek: Oh, that old thing? I happened upon it in a game of chance. Why, do you know it?

Panel Two:
Cryotek’s face is reflected in the glass of the cabinet. He is smiling.

Cryotek: Ah, but of course -- Bludgeon was an old friend of yours.
Link Panel: Who knows how many Autobots -- and Decepticons -- came to their end at its.

Panel Three:
Cryotek walks away from the cabinet, with a small smirk on his face.

Cryotek: I keep it as a reminder of a simpler time. Less back-stabbing and more, well…
Link Panel: There is an elegance to it, don’t you think?

Panel Four:
A close-up of Shadow’s cloaked face, still transfixed by the sword.

Cryotek: It seems we’re both in possession of something quite valuable, especially to the other, hm?

Panel One:
A panel of black.

Dinobot: I lost.

Shadow: Yes.

SFX: Thwack

Dinobot (2): Ergh…

Panel Two:
Another panel of black.

Dinobot: What’s happening?!

SFX: Thwack

Shadow: Defend yourself.

Dinobot (2): I can’t... I can’t see!

Panel Three:
We are in Shadow’s chamber. Shadow stands, uncloaked, holding a large rod, which he hits Dinobot with. Dinobot is moving awkwardly, arms stretched out. His optics are black. Behind Dinobot is a sword with its tip dug into the floor.

Shadow: No excuses.

SFX: Thwack

Dinobot: Erghh…

Panel Four:
Dinobot is still flailing around, blind.

Dinobot: Is it permanent?

Shadow: No, now find your weapon and defend yourself.

Dinobot (2): But I-

Panel Five:
Shadow trips Dinobot, sending him crashing to the floor, landing next to the sword.

SFX: Thwack

Dinobot: Erghh…

Panel One:
Dinobot blindly feels around on the ground for a weapon. The sword is so close.

Shadow: He means to recruit you.

Dinobot: For what? You said he wasn’t a leader.

Shadow (2): His personal guard is made up of ex-fighters, pulled from the ring while they can still function.

Panel Two:
Shadow stands calmly while Dinobot continues to crawl on the floor in search.

Shadow: The sword was an offer -- a trade -- but I didn’t bite.
Link Panel: You are capable of so much more than thuggery. If nothing else, remember than when I’m gone.

Panel Three:
Dinobot, with one hand finally around the handle of the sword, turned his head towards where Shadow’s voice was coming from.

Dinobot: Gone?

Shadow: If I won’t let him have you, he’ll orchestrate my… removal.

Panel Four:
Dinobot stood up, with sword ready.

Shadow: Good. Now, why did you lose?

Dinobot: He was bigger than me.

Panel Five:
Shadow easily moved around Dinobot, hitting him on the back.

Shadow: No.

SFX: Thwack

Panel One:
Dinobot made a large swipe behind himself, but Shadow had moved again.

Dinobot: Stronger.

Shadow: No.

Panel Two:
Shadow hit Dinobot right between the eyes with the end of the rod.

SFX: Thwack

Panel Three:
Dinobot made another wild swing with the sword, hitting nothing but air.

Shadow: Your reliance on a blaster is your weakness.

Dinobot: How is this helping?!

Panel Four:
Dinobot lowered his head, trying to calm himself. Shadow looked on, patiently.

Shadow: Silence your mind. Look within yourself. And then...

Panel Five:
A similar angle as above, but we’ve zoomed in on just Dinobot, who raises his head and his posture is much more confident. His eyes now glow green.

Shadow: ... you will see.

Panel One:
In Cryotek’s throne room, Cryotek sits casually in his throne. Before him are Dinobot and Shadow (cloaked), as well as Scutter, a diminutive trainer. Megalith is a at desk beside the throne, and the two usually heavies are at either side.

Cryotek: Now, gentlemen, the matter seems to be straightforward.
Link Panel: A bet was made, the fight commenced, a victor rose -- but now we’re... here.

Panel Two:
Megalith handed Cryotek data-pad.

Scutter: His fighter had some upgrades since his last fight.

Cryotek: As is required, the fighter’s technical details were provided prior to the bout, and as you can see...

Panel Three:
Cryotek held up the data-pad to Scutter’s face, which showed the optical laser devices.

Cryotek: As you can see, optical lasers are clearly mentioned in the specifications -- and impressive specification they are, too.
Link Panel: If you neglected to read them, the fault lies with you.

Panel Four:
Cryotek leaned down to glare at Scutter.

Scutter: I swear it wasn’t in the techs. He musta forged ‘em afterwards! I’d bet everything on that fight!

Cryotek: Never bet more than you’re prepared to lose, Scutter -- that’s a very important lesson to have learnt.
Link Panel: You have two days to pay or I will become reinvolved.

Panel Five:
Cryotek held up a hand as if to usher Shadow and Dinobot from the room without leaving his seat. Dinobot and Shadow are already on their way out. Scutter watched them leave.

Cryotek: I’m sorry you had to be dragged in for this petty matter.

Shadow: I am thankful it has been dealt with swiftly.

Cryotek (2): Compliments again to your fighter.

Panel One:
Cryotek’s attention turned to Scutter again, who remained fix to the spot.

Cryotek: What now, Scutter?

Scutter: You know who that is, don’t you?

Cryotek (2): Of course I do.

Panel Two:
Scutter leaned in nervously, as if hoping that Megalith and the guards wouldn’t hear.

Scutter: I hear you’re the bot to talk to about organising… disappearances? Well if you make that piece of scum vanish, I’ll pay ya double what I owed him.
Link Panel: I’ll even throw in a stake in my fighter -- he’s only lost three times in his ten fights!

Cryotek: Oh, impressive.

Panel Three:
Cryotek sat up slightly in his chair.

Cryotek: But am I to understand that you are attempting to solicit the assassination of a fellow Cybertronian? That’s an imprisonable offence. But how about this...

Panel Four:
Cryotek leant down to go nose to nose with Scutter, glaring at the diminutive bot.

Cryotek: I can facilitate your request by passing it on to certain associates. In return, you will pay me four times the amount you owe.
Link Panel: And you can keep full control of your pitiful combatant.

Panel Five:
Scutter now looks really nervous as he tries to leave but Cryotek stands up.

Scutter: Eh, just forget it.

Cryotek: Forget it? I’m not in the business of forgetting. So may I suggest that you take my offer, or I might be compelled to inform the authorities of your trading in dirty oils.

Scutter (2): I got out of that years ago!

Cryotek (2): I have information that says otherwise.

Panel One:
Cryotek towers over Scutter.

Cryotek: You have one day to find the money, or the same associates that were to look for our mutual friend might arrive at your door.
Link PNL: Now get out.

Panel Two:
As Scutter makes for the door as fast as his legs can carry him, Cryotek turns with arms outstretched, as if in a small celebration.

Cryotek: That works out quite well, wouldn’t you say? Why kill our cloaked friend for free when I can be paid to do it?

Panel Three:
Cryotek retakes his seat, pompous as ever.

Cryotek: Then -- with his mentor suddenly out of the picture -- who would I be not to step in and help the impressionable young Predacon, and become the new influence in his future.
Link PNL: Oh, Cryotek, you are so very good.

Panel Four:
Cryotek turned his head to speak to Megalith.

Cryotek: What information have you intercepted about the explosion at the Maximal colony?

Megalith: The story appears legitimate. The Maximals delved too deep for the Energon, causing instability in the mine and a chain reaction through supports for the structure.

Panel Five:
A close-up of Megalith’s screen, which has a picture of a Spark on it and a large red ‘CLASSIFIED’ banner across it.

Cryotek: Fascinating, I’m sure. Get back to work.

Megalith: Fascinating, yes…

Panel One:
Dinobot walks through a busy Cybertronian street. He gets some looks from Maximal passers-by who feel threatened by his large frame. Dinobot simply glares back.

Panel Two:
A small, grey bot runs into Dinobot, accidentally. He’s roughly half Dinobot’s size.

Rattle: Eeegh...

Dinobot: Urrgh.

Panel Three:
Rattle gives Dinobot a good shunt in the abdomen with his elbow as he carries on walking.

Rattle: Move it, ya big lunk.

Dinobot: Rrrggg...

Panel Four:
The sound of an explosion down the alley Dinobot was originally headed to draws his attention. Maximals begin to run in the opposite direction.

SFX: KRA-SHOOOM

Panel Five:
Dinobot runs down the alleyway. There is smoke coming out of a doorway.

Panel One:
Dinobot barrels down the stairs into Shadow’s training room but is stopped at the bottom by a Maximal Security Officer pointing a blaster at him.

Officer: Hold it there!

Commander (OS): Hmm, the plot thickens.

Panel Two:
An angle from behind Dinobot looking into the room. Shadow is at the far end of the room, lying on the floor, clearly damaged. He has two Maximal Officers pointing their blasters at him. There is a smoking wreck of what was a robot in the middle of the room. Parts of the bot are littered all over the room, as if the bot had exploded. The room is a mess with Shadow’s weapons and training gear strewn around the room. The Commander of the Maximal Officers looks at Dinobot but points to Shadow.

Commander: Do you know this bot?

Dinobot: I...

Shadow: He is my student.

Panel Three:
An angle from down beside Shadow, looking up towards the Commander. The Commander looks back at Shadow while giving the dead bot’s body (or what’s left of it) a small kick.

Commander: Your student? Interesting. And what tricks would an old dog like you be teaching?
Link Panel: This kind of thing?

SFX: Ktch

Panel Four:
The Commander and Dinobot glare at each other. The Officer still has his blaster pointed at Dinobot.

Dinobot: I heard an explosion and came to help.

Commander: I find that a little hard to believe, because in my experience, Preds run away from loud noises.

Shadow: His bravery is a credit to him.

Commander (2): That’s enough out of you.

Panel Five:
The Commander turns around to move towards the smoking wreck once again.

Commander: We received a tip-off that something like this was going down -- but from where I’m standing, it didn’t just go down, it went all over the place.

Panel One:
The Commander signals the two Officers standing over Shadow, who have holstered their weapons and have each grabbed an arm of Shadow, holding him with his arms outstretched.

Shadow: You have your quarry. He had no part in this.

Commander: Get him on his feet.

Panel Two:
Shadow slams the two Officers together by violently bringing his arms together.

Shadow: Finally.

SFX: GRRNK

Panel Three:
Shadow uses the momentum of throwing the two offline Officers backwards to propel himself forward and into the air towards the Commander, who stands frozen on the spot.

Commander: Wha...?

Panel Four:
From an angle looking over Dinobot’s shoulder. The Officer watching him had turned around to look at the commotion. With the Officer distracted, Dinobot has grabbed the arm of the Officer that was holding the blaster. With Dinobot’s other arm, he delivers the Officer a heavy punch to the face, so much so that the Officer’s arm that Dinobot is holding has detached. In the background, Shadow is about to kick the Commander in the head.

SFX: DNN

Panel Five:
Shadow lands a heavy kick to the Commander’s head, rendering him offline as he falls.

SFX: KKSSHH

Panel One:
Dinobot throws down the dismembered limb as he walks towards Shadow. Shadow is slightly unsteady on his feet as a result from the damage from the earlier fight.

Dinobot: Cryotek.

Shadow: He’s now the least of my concerns.

Panel Two:
Shadow pulls a panel of the wall sideways, revealing a small hiding place. Dinobot moves to pick up a very familiar looking sword off the ground.

Shadow: Another 20 Officers are about to pour down those stairs, and I will be surrendering to them.

Dinobot: We can take them!

Panel Three:
Shadow points into the hiding spot while holding onto the door for support.

Shadow: I’m in no condition. Now hide yourself.

Dinobot: Hide? In the face of battle?

Shadow (2): You must pick your battles, and this one is not worth fighting.

Panel Four:
Dinobot turns from Shadow and stands stoically, sword in hand, ready for attackers. Shadow looms up behind Dinobot, with an arm poised ready to bring down on the back of Dinobot’s head.

Dinobot: But you’re innocent!

Shadow: I am guilty of much worse. Perhaps it’s time for me to pay penance.
Link Panel: I am sorry, Dinobot.

Panel Five:
A panel of blackness.

SFX: KNCH

Panel One:
Councillor Stralis stands in the midst of the caged arenas where the raid took place in Issue #2. The wire on the side of the cage where Dinobot and his opponent cut a hole to escape is still visible. Stralis is standing near the hole. A voice calls out to Stralis.

Cryotek (OS): It doesn’t look much in the light of day...

Panel Two:
Cryotek, flanked by two of his thugs, descend the aisle amongst the seating in the stands.

Cryotek: But believe me, the atmosphere in here can be electric.
Link Panel: To what do I owe the pleasure, Councillor?

Panel Three:
Cryotek and his goons have made it onto the floor of the arena and walk around the side of the cage towards Stralis. Stralis looks angry.

Stralis: I think you know.

Cryotek: I see. You’ve come to vent.

Panel Four:
Cryotek stretched his arms wide, as if to show off the splendour of the arena.

Cryotek: Well, you’re in the right place.
Link Panel: Perhaps we’ll see you at an upcoming fight. Measures could be put in place to maintain your anonymity.

Panel Five:
Stralis examines the hole in the wire, with its ragged ends jutting outwards.

Stralis: We had a deal.

Cryotek: We have a deal.
Link Panel: I keep the Predacon populace distracted while the Maximals build a prosperous society around them -- a Cyberutopia from which the Predacons will no doubt one day be expelled.

Panel One:
At the feet of Stralis is a dried pool of Energon from where the Maximal Officer was killed by Dinobot’s opponent.

Stralis: No deaths. That was the deal.

Cryotek: Accidents happen.

Panel Two:
Stralis crossed his arms and stared straight at Cryotek.

Stralis: Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t shut this all down right now?

Panel Three:
Cryotek stepped forward. He was a head taller than Stralis, and made him feel every inch of it, but Stralis didn’t take a backwards step.

Cryotek: You wouldn’t dare -- It carries too much momentum.

Panel Four:
Cryotek leant down to go nose to nose with Stralis. They exchanged glare.

Cryotek: Where would all the rage go? Back onto the streets? What would happen to your precious status quo then?

Stralis: You can’t scare a stain away.

Panel Five:
Cryotek walked past Stralis. Stralis was now surrounded, with Cryotek behind him and the goons in front of him.

Cryotek: I see. So how much will it cost to rebalance our status quo?

Panel One:
A voice from up in the seating drew the attention of Cryotek and his two goons, who looked over their shoulders to see who it was coming from.

Victus (OS): That depends.

Panel Two:
Officer Victus, from the Maximal Security Force, descended the aisle between the seats. He has his hand behind his back, reaching into a subspace pocket.

Victus: This morning, I received a curious little package from an anonymous sender. After it was scanned and found not to be a bomb -- you can never be too careful -- I opened it to discover...

Panel Three:
Victus walks around the cage towards Cryotek and Stralis, holing up a data pad.

Victus: This.
Link Panel: And judging by the wonderful things I found on it, I’d say someone had a grudge against you, Cryotek.

Panel Four:
Victus begins scrolling on the data pad, looking through all the information it contains.

Victus: Stolen freight manifests. Account details...

Cryotek: You have nothing on-

Victus (2): Wait, wait...

Panel Five:
Victus holds up the data tablet which plays an audio file.

Victus: This is my favourite bit.

Audio File: Oh, Cryotek, you are so very good.

Panel One:
An extreme close-up of Cryotek’s eyes, narrowed in rage.

Cryotek: Megalith...

Panel Two:
Victus tucks the data pad back in his subspace pocket with one hand, while gesturing casually up into the stands with his other hand.

Victus: I’ve never liked the little deal you setup with Stralis’ predecessors, so you could imagine my delight when information pertaining to an assassination -- with your fingerprints all over it -- fell onto my desk.
Link Panel: So as I said, it depends...

Panel Three:
Up in the stands surrounding the entire perimitre are Maximal Security Officers with their blasters drawn. The goons raise their hands in surrender.

Victus: It depends if you’ve got enough for all of us.

Panel Four:
Cryotek’s goons raise their hands in surrender. Cryotek makes fists in his rage. Stralis and Victus look on with small smiles on their faces. The Security Officers begin to descend down the aisle.

Stralis: It’s over, Cryotek.

Panel Five:
An angle from directly above. As Security Officers swoop down the aisles, Cryotek roars upwards, fists raised in rage.

Cryotek: MEGALITH!

Panel One:
Dinobot kicks open the doors to Cryotek’s throne room. The doors almost fly off their hinges from the force of the kick. Dinobot has his sword in hand as he roars with rage.

Dinobot: CRYOTEK!

Megalith (OS): I’m afraid you’re too late.

Panel Two:
With Dinobot fully energised in the foreground, Megalith sits calmly on the bottom step of Cryotek’s throne. The room is otherwise deserted and the room stripped bare.

Megalith: Cryotek is in Maximal custody.
Link Panel: It would appear word of his downfall spread quickly, too. Scavengers have already taken everything.
Link Panel: Well, almost.

Panel Three:
Megalith stands and puts a hand on the arm of the throne.

Megalith: I should apologise, Dinobot. I received word of the hit on Shadow too late to affect a more efficient outcome.

Panel Four:
(Flashback) Backlash stands near the alleyway that leads to Shadow’s lair. This shot takes place a minute before Dinobot walks by. Backlash gives a sly look around. One of his large claws is slightly ajar and a pair of bee-like eyes glows inside.

Dialogue (Megalith): I sent an associate of mine -- Backlash -- to try to intercept the would-be assassin.

Panel Five:
(Flashback) Megalith reclines in Cryotek’s throne, speaking into the commlink on the armrest. Megalith is smiling.

Dialogue (Megalith): But fearing I was already too late, I did the only other thing I could to try to circumvent the situation.

Panel One:
Back in the present, Megalith hangs his head in shame.

Megalith: I was the one that tipped off Maximal Security.
Link Panel: I believed myself to be doing the right thing. I hope you can forgive me.

Panel Two:
Dinobot has a puzzled look on his face.

Dinobot: The explosion...

Megalith: Hm? What of it?

Dinobot (2): Shadow had no device capable of creating such a blast.

Panel Three:
(Flashback) In Shadow’s lair, as Shadow faces off against the assassin, a small bee-looking-drone flies down the stairs and attaches itself to the front of the assassin’s torso.

Dialogue (Megalith): Maybe he was able to turn one of the assassin’s toys against him.

Panel Four:
(Flashback) The assassin tries to tear the drone off his chest, but Shadow is clearly against the idea.

Dialogue (Megalith): Perhaps, in this situation, it was kill...

Panel Five:
(Flashback) The drone explodes, destroying the assassin. Shadow is thrown back from the blast.

Dialogue (Megalith): ... or be killed.

Panel One:
Back in the present, Megalith puts an arm around Dinobot’s shoulder as the two bots walk towards the door.

Megalith: Both becoming homeless and losing the guidance of a mentor on the same day. It’s almost as if fate has pushed our paths together.

Dinobot: You wouldn’t presume to take Cryotek’s place?

Megalith (2): Me? No. While theft may be a necessity, I have bigger plans.
Link Panel: Unfortunately, Cryotek will no doubt have rolled over by now -- trying to implicate as many others as possible to soften his fall.

Panel Two:
The two figures walk down a grand spiral staircase.

Dinobot: That will lead them to you.

Megalith: Yes, both Backlash and I may need to assume new names. Perhaps we’ll take a leaf from your book and appropriate some classically-inspired titles -- something to instil some fear back into Maximal sparks.

Dinobot (2): You sound like you already have something in mind.

Panel Three:
The two figures walk out a doorway into a Cybertronian street.

Megalith: Hahahaha! Yes...
Link Panel: So, as one chapter of our lives comes to an end, the next begins. Tell me, Dinobot, what do you know...

Panel Four:
This panel takes up as much room on the page as possible. The two figures walk down a street which is headed straight for a sunset. The sun is right on the horizon. Inside the sun’s glow are markings similar to those seen on the Golden Disk launched on the Voyager probe.

Megalith: ... of the Golden Disk.

--- End Issue #3 ---
--- End Transformers: Honour ---