Transformers Until one

Chapter Two - Part Twenty

"Sister, Sister!"
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the vast hallway. Tentacled aliens turned their heads to see a tall, slender figure rushing past them in panic. A door slammed open violently, causing many squid-like creatures to flinch in alarm.

The slender figure bolted straight toward the grand throne room, shouting breathlessly
"Something's happened, sister!"

A tall, imposing green figure turned at the sound of the voice, his cold eyes locking onto the newcomer.
"I've told you before, Voxirion," the voice was chillingly stern, "Do not call me brother. You are to address me as Queen Quintessa."
The Queen of the Quintessons reprimanded her younger sibling in a low, icy tone.

"My apologies, Your Majesty... But something terrible has happened on Cybertron! Our client—Sentinel Prime—he's dead!"

Silence fell over the throne room like a crashing wave. Then, a murmur of disbelief rose. Queen Quintessa sprang up from her throne, her eyes glowing red with rage.
"Who dares kill our pawn?!"
Her thunderous voice made the very walls tremble, fear rippling across the entire hall.

Suddenly, she grabbed Voxirion by the torso with her massive mechanical hand, lifting him off the ground.
"Ugh—Your Majesty... please, calm yourself!" Voxirion writhed in her grasp, gasping in pain.
"It... it was Megatron who killed him! And—there's more... There's a new Prime on Cybertron now! He's destroyed all our Dark Energon... and he's turning against us, Your Majesty!"

In the dim and solemn throne room, the Queen of the Quintessons stared at the trembling figure in her grip with icy calm.

"Everyone out. Now. And summon my siblings—immediately."
Her voice boomed with absolute command. The Quintessons surrounding them bowed deeply and hurriedly retreated.

The grand doors opened again, revealing three Quintesson figures entering silently.

"We heard you summoned us, sister," said one—a scientist among them.

Queen Quintessa released Voxirion, who collapsed to the floor. Fortunately, Zaka—the youngest sister—stepped in just in time to catch him.

"Thank you... Zaka," Voxirion said, panting heavily.

Queen Quintessa turned back to her siblings, speaking in a composed yet heavy voice:
"We've lost a key piece. We must formulate a new plan."

"Heh... That pawn was always unruly, wasn't he, sister?" quipped Elyzor, the crab-clawed Quintesson, with a mischievous laugh.

The Queen clenched her jaw, then snapped back furiously,
"It wasn't disobedience... he was killed! That's entirely different!"

Her siblings froze. All eyes widened in shock.

"What did you say?" said Selnor, the eldest and wisest, in disbelief.
"Something this major—and we're only hearing about it now?"

Voxirion answered hastily,
"It happened just recently, Brother Selnor. I received news that Sentinel was slain by Megatron... and now Cybertron is descending into chaos."

Heavy footsteps rang out, followed by the metallic rasp of a massive battle axe being raised.
"A war, you say!? Let me go down there and settle this myself!" Zaka exclaimed, her eyes glowing with battle-lust.

"Hold, little sister," said Quintessa, raising a hand.
"This is not the time to intervene directly."

"But... what about our plan to conquer Cybertron, sister?" Selnor asked with concern.

Quintessa closed her eyes and smiled coldly. She turned slowly to face a large window, gazing out into the star-strewn void.
"Ah... war. I've seen it more times than I can count..." she said wistfully.
"Sometimes, I even started it myself."

She chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with malice.

"This time... we won't strike directly. We'll infiltrate. We'll turn them against each other. The more confused and divided they are, the stronger we become."

She turned back to her siblings.

"We will cut off their supply of Dark Energon. We'll move through the shadows... let them destroy each other. And when the time is right, we'll seize the Emberstone for ourselves."

Standing by the window, hands folded behind her back, Queen Quintessa's cold gaze swept the stars, then turned to each of her siblings one by one.

"Zaka..." she called calmly.

The centaurian warrior halted and knelt instantly.

"Go to the war front on the Seventh Colony. Observe Cybertronian activity. Do not reveal yourself. Remain in the shadows. Listen... and await my command."

"Understood, Your Majesty." Zaka rose and departed quietly.

Quintessa turned to Elyzor, the crab-clawed schemer with his usual sly grin.

"Elyzor. Spread false news along the trade routes. Say that Megatron is amassing power to steal the Matrix. Say the Autobots killed Sentinel for control. Stoke hatred. Make sure they don't trust even their own."

"Heheheh... With pleasure. Rumors are my finest craft," Elyzor chuckled, bowing deeply before slinking away with his twisted form.

Quintessa turned to the eldest, Selnor, who stood calmly by a stone pillar.

"You. Calculate every variable in my plan. Chart escape routes, ambush points, and the optimal path to intercept the Emberstone when the time comes."

Selnor nodded, the third eye on his forehead whirring.
"I will have the infiltration model ready within two cycles."

"Good."

At last, her gaze fell on Voxirion, still clutching his stomach nearby.

"Vox... you are my voice. Travel to Cybertron's capital as a merchant. Get close to the new Matrix bearer. What is his name again?"

Voxirion swallowed hard.
"...Optimus Prime, Your Majesty."

"Ah... a name as stupid as every other Prime," she murmured with a cold smirk. Then, with a sweet, venomous tone, she continued:
"Make him trust you. Make him listen to you. And then... we will write his destiny with our own hands."

She turned back toward the window once more. The thick curtains stirred in the breeze. Though silent, the throne room now pulsed with a suffocating pressure from her final words.

"Go. Fulfill your roles, my siblings... as true Quintessons should."
Her voice rang firm and commanding.

"This war—we will not lose. For we are the shadows behind every battlefield, the puppeteers behind every war... since the beginning of time."

Queen Quintessa's laughter echoed through the chamber, resonating like a curse from an ancient god awakening the shadows to reclaim the cosmos.