Domain

Chapter 1

The ship stuck out like a sore thumb in space – a large, blue-gray and silver mass slowly moving through the dark expanse, reaching closer to its destination. At the flight controls was Deseeus, blankly staring out the windshield. It was quite boring here, as their prisoners made no notion of wanting to speak to them, and HE demanded they hurry to a specific location.

Deseeus huffed a bored sigh and shuttered their optic. Their thoughts wandered, thinking back to the mind-controlled bot that had caused them so much trouble until now. One of their lost heralds, Bumblebee. He now remained under constant surveillance in a cell, separated from the others. He didn't need Energon, recharge, or... anything, really. The Dark Energon provided enough fuel to last deca-vorns.

"Wrath, Unicron requires your presence."

The voice made Deseeus' optic flash online, and they turned to look at Cyclonus. Though he was the one to speak, he didn't face them. The red-orange bot sighed, then slowly stood and left the bridge.

"Someone take control while I am away." They called over their shoulder.

No one replied. Deseeus didn't expect an answer, anyways.

They strutted through the empty halls of the ship, occasionally passing Scourge's huntsmen. They quickly reached the sort-of throne room, where they and the Galvatron-Nemesis creature brought Starscream to meet their master face-to-face. In the throne sat Deseeus' master – the opposite of Primus, the Dark Allspark, Unicron. At least, his Cybertronian form. His planet-form was a whole universe away. That made it easier for Deseeus to look him in the optic, at least.

"STEP FORWARD." He commanded.

Deseeus felt their pedes move, one after the other, outside of their will. When they finally stopped, the red-orange bot felt their body be forced into a kneel. Their frame shook at this lack of control, but they couldn't do anything about it. They just kept their gaze at the ground, seeing the steps up to the throne, but not HIM.

"WRATH," Unicron began, "I CONGRATULATE YOU ON COMPLETING YOUR MISSION AT LAST."

Deseeus was barely surprised at the praise. Still, they couldn't help the smirk that spread across their derma.

"HOWEVER, YOUR DESTINY IS STILL FAR FROM YOU." He continued, "BEFORE, MY OBJECTIVE WAS TO PERSUADE MY LOST HERALDS TO ASSIST US. THE MORE THE MERRIER, AS THEY SAY, CORRECT?"

"Yes, Master." Deseeus replied, lifting their helm and meeting their gaze with their master's, "What has changed in our plans?"

"I SENSED A POWER WITHIN THE ONE THEY CALL BUMBLEBEE." Unicron said, "A POWER THAT IS ACTIVELY FIGHTING AGAINST MY CONTROL."

Deseeus was thoroughly surprised. Sure, they've been taken aback or taken off-guard in the past, but it was nothing like this. A chill up their backstrut and optic wide, the emotion was evident. Not that they'd ever admit it.

"What? How?" They hissed.

"THE ONLY THING CAPABLE OF DEFEATING ME, OR MAKING MY CONTROL SLIP, IS THAT OF PRIMUS HIMSELF, OR HIS PRODIGY." The gold and gray bot explained, "IT IS DORMANT WITHIN BUMBLEBEE, BUT I BELIEVE WE CAN USE IT TO OUR BENEFIT."

Unicron stood from his throne and started climbing down the steps. Each pedefall shook the ground beneath Deseeus, but they felt no fear. Their master stopped before them, optic keeping its watchful gaze and never blinking.

"RISE."

The order was followed immediately, though it reminded Deseeus of their lack of control. The two still stared at each other, never faltering.