A New Dawn - Transformers Prime (4)

Chapter Twenty-Five

  Scribes. Something I'd read about in the books before, but never really thought about. Not thoroughly. They were completely loyal to their goddess, granted slight powers even in exchange for being the eyes of their goddess. In times when the goddess' powers were in use, the scribe's eyes would record what happened for the universe's records. That was how there was so much information in Cleona's athenaeum; each of her champion's scribes had kept track of everything.

  Mathias was... unnerving. He was human sized, but towered over me, even taller than Tempest had been. Most of his exterior with gold edges that swirled with live powers, and his eyes flashed between gold and purple. He had a pair of swords strapped to his back, and one of his guns was unsheathed, aimed at me. I could feel Valilorna's presence on him, which made me sick to my stomach as her presence within me grew stronger.

  "Now you have met us all," Valilorna said gleefully. "I cannot wait to add you to our family."

  Not happening.

  "You look stunned, little champion," Mathias' voice was low, and there was a glimmer of amusement in his tone. "Never met a scribe before?"

  "There's a first time for everything," I said, trying to hide my uncertainty. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn turn his gun to Mathias, expression fierce.

  "You and your lackey are doing well," The scribe said, looking over the situation. "Considering your lack of resources and experience. Splitting up and attacking on two fronts... not bad. Not good enough, but not bad."

  Still not good enough. Won't ever be good enough.

  Shut up.

  "I didn't think scribes were kept around to keep talking," I shot back, ignoring the voices in my head. Maybe I should get therapy at this point.

  He smiled, sending chills down my spine. "You don't know much, do you, little champion?"

  I narrowed my eyes. "Try me."

  "You thought these were the only troops I have here? I have the entire area surrounded. When I heard your Autobots had arrived at the three other locations, I knew you would be the only one to come here. The moment you entered the building and split up with your other two slaves, I called in my reinforcements," His smile grew as my heart dropped and I paled. "You can feel it, can't you? I'll give you a moment, reach out with your powers, little champion. You've made a grave mistake, one that is going to cost you dearly."

  My heart raced with new panic as I kept my gaze fixed on Mathias and reached out with my powers. I saw Finn trying to get my attention, but I couldn't look at him, not as I realized Mathias was right.

  There was an entire ring of Cybertronians surrounding the facility. They were cutting off the civilians, and I sensed two figures standing between the Cybertronians and the humans. Miko and Jack.

  Fear pounded through me. I'd made a mistake, a very serious mistake. Instead of scoping the territory, I charged right in. Now my best friends were facing almost a dozen Cybertronians alone. The assumption was that Tempest's followers would be spread thin. That assumption was far from true and I should have known.

  I should have known. I shouldhaveknownIshouldhave-

Mathias' chuckle cut through my panic, getting my attention again. "You aren't much of an opponent, little champion. A pest, yes, but not a challenge. We've been able to capture this one-" He indicated towards Finn, who glared at him. "Easily. We've been able to track your patrols. We've been able to outmaneuver all of your efforts to figure out what we're up to. You're in over your head. You don't have the powers to stop us." He tsked. "Cleona must be so disappointed."

  That's when I snapped. A massive blast of silver dust suddenly left my hand, aimed right at Mathias. He ducked, but the other Cybertronians in the room began moving towards me, though I didn't let them get far. Before I could blink, two more blasts of silver tore through the Cybertronians as Finn's gun began to fire at Mathias, who was sent stumbling back.

  "Bullets infused with Cleona's powers," The scribe said from behind the arm he'd raised to block the oncoming fire. "Crafty. Not good enough, though."

  Not good enough.

  Anger burned through me and the next blast of silver didn't miss the scribe. Mathias was slammed into the hall behind him, and I didn't hesitate before following after him.

  "Finn, contact the base," I ordered as I passed him. "Get backup and then go help Miko and Jack."

  "Amanda," He caught my elbow, tugging me back. "You can't fight him alone."

  I snatched my arm away. "Just go!"

  He blinked in surprise. I'd never yelled at him like that, and this stunned him. I didn't dwell on it though, taking that opportunity to chase after the scribe, who was now getting to his feet. Silver wisps rose on his chest, but he smiled.

  "That's more like it," Mathias said, standing to face me. "Now I see the fire in you, little champion. Embrace that anger, don't fight it-"

  "Stop telling me what to do!" I shouted, raising my hands again as silver dust collected.

  "Then make me."

  My next blast was so powerful that even my own vision flashed silver, and my ears began to ring. I didn't see anything for a moment, and when it cleared, I saw what I'd done. Eyes wide, I saw that I blew Mathias back so hard that it torn right through the facility. The building groaned and creaked around me as my earing returned, and that's when I realized they were yelling at me through the comm earpiece.

  "Amanda! Amanda, respond!" Raf's voice was sharp, cutting through my horror.

  "I'm fine," I didn't recognize my hollow voice.

  "Well get out of there! The building is about to collapse!"

  His words didn't register at first, then a chunk of the ceiling fell in front of me. That snapped me out of it, and I spun around, running out of the facility as fast as I could. Only a couple seconds after I made it out, the building gave its final groan before a large portion of the ceiling caved in. Around me was a battle, between Tempest's Cybertronians and the Autobots, plus Finn, Miko, and Jack. But I couldn't bring myself to join in. The only weapon I had left were my powers and I couldn't use them again, not after I just lost control like that.

  Luckily, I didn't have to. Tempest's followers must have gotten an order to retreat, because they trickled away. Soon, it was only us. Finn was the first one to turn to me, causing the others to do the same.

  "Amanda... what happened?"