Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Chapter 132 Grey Samples

Shockwave stood outside the isolation field, his monocular optical lens reflecting the sample data—gray death.

"Initial samples of the Cybernic Plague have been completed."

His voice was steady: "It possesses the ability to corrode Cybertron's energy circulation system, neural transmission pathways, and basic self-repair modules. The propagation model is stable. Environmental survival time is longer than expected."

Megatron stood beside him, looking at the gray sample through the thick, transparent protective layer.

The sound waves stood at the rear, silently recording.

Starscream initially just crossed his arms, his expression indifferent, showing no surprise at what Shockwave had done again.

But as the lines of test data scrolled across the screen, his wings still tightened almost imperceptibly.

On the experimental screen, the simulated urban area was covered in gray.

The energy node went out, the medical station lost contact, the communication link broke, the body's reaction speed decreased, and the self-repair module was forced to restart and then failed again.

Shockwave continues to report.

"If deployed in the rear supply zone of the Autobots, it could cause widespread paralysis of the medical and transportation systems within thirteen cycles."

"If deployed in urban refuge networks, the dissemination efficiency will be further improved."

Red Spider sneered: "Efficient."

Shockwave turned to him: "The assessment is accurate."

I'm not complimenting you.

"Your semantic bias does not affect the data results."

Red Spider narrowed his eyes through his optical glasses, a cold sarcasm creeping into his voice: "So, the war has escalated to an even more ugly level now?"

Shockwave calmly stated, "That is not a valid parameter."

"Of course," Red Spider drawled, "in your world, corpses are only in a low-maintenance state."

The laboratory was deathly silent. Sound waves were being recorded. The roadblock leaned against the corner, and even Thunderclap kept its mouth tightly shut, a rare occurrence for it.

Megatron's gaze remained fixed on the container: "What about non-combat units?"

Shockwave responded quickly.

"This sample does not rely on faction identification. The diffusion effect depends on the target's structure, energy cycle status, and contact conditions."

"In other words," Starscream said softly, "it doesn't care whether it kills Autobots, Decepticons, or unfortunate civilians hiding in the Vault."

Shockwave did not deny: "Unnecessary losses can be reduced by selecting the deployment area."

The source of the authorization is clean and authoritative—an old list of judicial cooperation, a neutral business pass registration, authorization for medical supply transportation, temporary security permits for several cities, and a long-ago record of energy bar supply.

The Crystal City system verified the information three times before finally allowing it to pass.

AZ passed through the neutral agreement line, and its outer armor showed no obvious battlefield damage, appearing much the same as before.

His tone was calm, his expression composed, but he was more like a hidden weapon concealed in his sleeve—quiet, clean, and silent.

The hibernation chamber door opened, and Rumble and Confusion, as usual, looked up. Upon seeing AZ, they immediately became alert, even more so than when facing Black Widow.

AZ stopped at the doorway and smiled. "Don't look at me like that, I mean no harm."

He entered the hibernation chamber, keeping a safe distance.

The vector was lying in the hibernation pod.

"It's very interesting outside right now."

AZ began, as if reading a news report to her, "But it's definitely not a good thing."

He looked at her, quieter than usual:

"The city changed its flag, the defense line retreated, many machines shut up, and some machines learned to tell more beautiful lies."

"In the past, when people lied, they were somewhat worried about being caught by the judicial authorities. Now they are becoming more and more unscrupulous."

AZ raised his hand and uploaded a regular document to the outer filing layer of the Crystal City medical system.

[Medical Supply Route Backup]

[Source: Neutral Commercial Transportation Channel]

[Permissions: Reviewable]

The file is clean, logical, and contains no hidden attack programs.

After the Crystal City system checks and accepts the request, AZ looks at the confirmation prompt.

"Don't get me wrong," he said. "It's just to prevent the medical tower from starving one day."

Rumble and Confusion clearly didn't quite believe it.

AZ didn't mind and sat down next to the hibernation pod for a while, making a soft and quiet sound.

"I heard that some machines have recently developed a very quiet weapon."

"Once it's released, it will take care of the rest on its own."

He looked at the index vector.

"It's very convenient."

"Fortunately, it wasn't needed."

He simply lowered his optical lens and looked at the gravitational vector inside the hibernation pod.

"Many things are difficult to do when you're awake."

He said, "People need you to stand there."

He didn't say anything more.

AZ rarely positions itself in such a clear position.

He moves between battlefields, trade routes, judicial cooperation, city management, Decepticons, and Autobots.

No one knew who he was or what his purpose was.

He admires and respects vectors.

The rules she left behind protected many machines, but also restricted many others.

"You've left a lot of trouble."

AZ said with a slight smile, then paused and added, "But it's very useful."

He was quiet for a moment, as if he realized he had said too much, and then looked away.

You'd better wake up.

"What's needed outside is a mechanism that can make the order work again."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left.

The Crystal City system automatically displays visitor departure records, and AZ's permission records flash by.

For a moment, several identities from different sources overlapped in the system, like thin masks intertwining for a brief instant.

Soon, they were restored to a clean record.

Outside the medical tower, AZ walked through the neutral passage of Crystal City without looking back.

Outside of Cybertron's orbit, the Decepticons intercepted the outer beacon of a giant space station for the first time.

/Quick fact: The gray death was originally used in war, causing countless casualties.