Velocity gave Digit one last glance. Now he was thinking of all the classy ways he could have shrugged off the situation. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Well, he said he'd talk to her later. He could explain them then.
"Hey, you guys know what we're s'posda do?" Velocity asked, looking between the two of them. Or rather, looking and Jynx and looking way up at Snarler.
Snarler looked prety confused still. He had been sent to teach Jynx how to use the sensors, a task he had little skill at and had made a fool of himself. He was still fiddling with the controls, hoping to get the hang of them. If not for the help of Kitfox he dreaded to think what would have happened. He noted to himself that he must thank Kitfox sometime, so he turned around to thank him and discovered that he had already departed.
"Jynx, what is the current location of Kitfox?" he asked, pretending it was another test.
"Uhh-uhh. You jus' showed me, right?" Jynx said confusedly. "Ya push the thingamajig next to the watchamacallit, so the nice little light blinks on the screen thingie? It says here engineering, big guy!"
The chihuahuabot struggled to understand what Jynx meant. Looking at the computer, he realized it was much easier to understand than the catbot's ramblings. He scanned it over quickly and nodded to himself, tail wagging. He plopped down onto a seat beside the console, saying with slight smugness "'kay, I get it now, amigo. You need any help, just ask." He probably couldn't explain it any better than Jynx, however—his was more the familiarity of using computers for a long time, not actually learning much about them.
When Snarler finally got the answer he ran as fast as he could go to engineering. No one there. Doing another location scan, he noticed that Kitfox had moved to Silverquick's ready room.
Today is just getting worse and worse, he thought, as he realized Silverquick would know that he had let Kitfox get out of his sight already. He would have to rectify the situation of his various failures by performing the other tasks Silverquick had asked him to do. Heading over to a radio panel, he radioed Digit.
"Digit, please can you come to Computer Lab One? I have a task I need you to help me with."
"Certainly, Snarler. I'm on my way," came the response.
Snarler arrived at the computer lab to find Digit there.
"Thank you for coming," he said. "I need you to do me a few favors, but can you keep it quiet? I don't want Kitfox to find out what I'm doing."
Snarler then explained that he was to keep an eye on Kitfox and that Kitfox was to be given minor computer access, which he wanted Digit to program. He also wanted a complete log of everything Kitfox did while using the computer to be e-mailed to him daily. The last thing he wanted was for Digit to set up a silent alarm so that if Kitfox entered engineering he would be alerted immediately.
"That should please Silverquick," Snarler said to himself.
"Oh, and when you finish creating the program to send a log file to me...I was wondering if you could teach me some basic computer skills? I think I'll need them to understand the log files," said Snarler. "Oh, and, thanks."
Digit smiles. "No problem. It's very easy really. I'll have it setup in a few megacycles, and after that we can meet to go over the log file, ok?"
"Thanks," he said. "And while you're here, could you possibly teach me how to a few other tips and tricks?"
"Tips and tricks?" Digit asked, laughing. "Ok, we'll do that as well. I'll clear it with our Commander, to see if I am needed for anything else in the coming megacycles, and if not, I'll get right to it. Hope to see you during our next shift, all right, Snarler?"
—LA, MdJ, DT, DN
Tossing and turning, Jynx could again not get any sleep. A few hours after his 'sensor ops' training, which he barely understood, he'd expected to be tired. Of course, lying next to a snoring Chihuahua didn't help either.
Naturally, they were assigned the same, smallest bunk. Not that he really minded, though he would have preferred to be bunk buddies with the female Maximal. Unless she snored too.
Aw sod it! he thought, I'm gettin' out of here. He jumped out of his bed, and walked towards the door, which slid open. He heard a loud snoring coming from the bunk across, propably Krunch's. "Beast mode!" he said, and transformed into his lynx mode. He missed prowling the Zone, and this ship made him feel really uncomfortable. He kept having this urge to go outside. As he crept along the shadows of the ship, he noticed Kitfox in engineering doing something mysterious, Snarler keeping an eye on him, but trying very badly to make it look like he wasn't, Digit fiddling around with the computers on the bridge, and Viracide looking proud of being this ship's head honcho with the fish asleep. Great, two water creatures in charge. Jynx hated water.
After going about the ship for another while, he figured there was no fun to be had with the crew members. He went back to his bunk, and saw Velocity, running in his sleep. Running either from, or towards something, the dogbot grunted. Jynx gave him a push. "Yo, wake up little buddy!" he said. "We still gotta talk!"
—MdJ, LA
Velocity stood quite proudly on a podium, relating his findings of the new planet.
"And, it turns out that the purple color of the clouds is caused by discolored energon radiation. Krunch and Goldstreak just couldn't handle it, and they died horrible deaths. Any questions?"
"Can you take my job, Velocity?" asked Viracide.
"No, take mine!" cut in Silverquick. "And all my worldly possessions!"
"Can you date me and my friends, you hot hunk?!" squealed Digit, plus a whole bunch of good looking femmebots.
"Can I be part of your official fanclub?" pleaded Jynx, a plea which Snarler fervently echoed.
"Well, I have so many demands on my time already, but since you're all my friends, what the Pit! I'll do everything you want!" was Velocity's magnanimous decision. He was suddenly in beast mode, running towards a pile of money and a poster proudly bearing his name and face. Sitting on the pile of money were hot girls.
When suddenly...
Smack!
The money, fanclub poster, and girls disappeared, and he was lying in beast mode in a cold bunk. His orange optics blinked, and he shook his head, whimpering slightly as he imagined the horrible creature come to hurt him at this time of night. He opened his mouth to bark out a warning, but just then his ears caught what Jynx said. His head needed time to put the words together, though.
"Whuzza..huh? Talk?...Oh, yeah, I guess we never got to. I, uh, didn't know you were thinkin' this time of night, though." He yawned, trying to sound as polite as he could given the dream he had just lost. Just because Jynx was nocturnal didn't mean he was. "If you'd told me before, I prolly would be better suited to talkin' back, y'know what I mean?"
With another yawn, he made an effort to go first. "So...what's on yer processor, compadre?"
"Well, good morning little buddy." Jynx said, "Hope that wasn't too big a wake up." He grinned and noticed the Chihuahua obviously wasn't much of a nocturnal bot.
Mornin' already? Velocity thought. He shook his head again. By Primus, he was groggy! Still, he perked his ears upwards, trying to look attentive.
"But I'm afraid this isn't gonna be friendly banter." He paused, waiting for the words to sink in. "Y'see, most of these guys here prolly didn't notice, but I could smell that High-O stench of yers miles away."
Velocity winced slightly, turning his optics to his paws. Why did it bother him so much now? His addiction had never caused him a moment's pause before—now he was purposefully avoiding conversations with others about it. Of course, he'd never been on a high-profile, important mission before. Maximal explorers didn't do drugs. Only street trash did. And right now, only the fact that he was on this mission kept him from being street trash again.
"Well, first of all lemme tell ya a little story about mine. All my life, I've been left in the Zone to rot. Luckily, this old fogey Mecha found me, an' raised me. Well, sorta, I always was a bit big headed, so to speak. But anyways, I'm mighty thankful about that, but this isn't about him, ya know."
The dogbot looked sympathetically at his friend, but didn't voice anything. Jynx looked like he had something else to say.
"Y'see, there was this bot at our encampment, called Sunstreaker. He was my best friend and role model, ya know. I wanted ta be jus' like him. We did everything together. But lately, ya know, I noticed him not lookin' very well. So anyways, I found him one day, lying twitching in a corner, freakin' OD-in' on High-O. He didn't make it, no much medical support in the Zone, you know. But anyways I was asking around a bit, and heard he got his stuff from some gang named the Blood Fires. So uhmm I wanna get my revenge on them some day, so mebbe ya can help me, like, do ya know 'em?"
Jynx could've done one of two things—dropped a pile of brick on Velocity, or told him that. The effect would've been the same.
All the air whooshed out of Velocity and he huddled miserably, large ears pulled back and orange eyes taking on scared look. His metal body rattled and he bared his teeth nervously.
"B-b-blood Fires..." he repeated, with a high-pitched hyena-like laugh of pure terror. "I know that most of 'em were caught and put in jail, is what I heard on the news before I was taken in. Other than...than that, I..not much I can help yah with, I mean I'm sure there's still some left, but it ain't like you can get to 'im, since they've pro'lly gone into hiding back on Cybertron, y'know?" he babbled, with another squeal of laughter.
"And...and I'm sorry about yer friend, man," Velocity added quickly, deciding it was best for an immediate subject change. Unfortunately, his empathic abilities stopped right there.
"Yeah well, I figured about as much," Jynx said. "But still, ya know... I need to find the guy who sold ol' Streaker that stuff." He saw the dogbot being extremely nervous, but he wondered if it was because he was caught with his addiction, or something else.
Velocity's ears flicked back. The name wasn't ringing any bells; then again, he'd always been very bad with names. Living your life in a half-drugged haze doesn't do much for your memory. "Well, hate t'break it to yah, but they're prolly already in jail," he repeated his earlier statement, trying to get enough strength into his legs to get himself to move if he needed to.
"It ain't gonna happen to me, though. 'Cuz, 'cuz...I can be careful, and all it does is help me work better. So..." he trailed off weakly, glancing at the door.
"Yeah, that's what they all say. Ya know it always starts out that way, an' you're prolly in denial right now. But anyways, ya know, if you don't know nothin' we may as well drop it, OK?" "Let's go get some sleep, we still got some time before our shift." Jynx walked towards his bunk bed, and turned towards Velocity. "You jus' be careful, ya know. Ya don't need the stuff, jus' a little more faith in yer skills..."
Velocity gave an uncharacteristically bitter chuckle. "Yeah, right...believe me, whatever skills I got are nothin' without Enercrack to boost 'em." He lowered his voice to a mumble intended for his ears only. "Too small fer fightin', too dumb for real science, too pankicky for spyin'..." the dogbot sighed.
He didn't even bother pretending to try to go back to sleep—he knew he couldn't. His nerves were still shaking, and there was an uncomfortable twisting feeling in his stomach. He was hoping Jynx would fall asleep soon; he'd like to take a trip to the engineering lab.
—MdJ, LA
After spending her shift in engineering, Nightfall was starting to get bored... The ship was brand new, the Chief Engineer knew what he was doing, and the thing practically ran itself... Basically her job at the moment consisted of starting at the displays... After a few cycles, she was hoping for a core metldown to relieve the boredom.
And of course, that....fool Charmacon forbade her to do anything BUT that. He obviously wanted to be in charge, but didn't have the guts to stand up to Stormclaw. Of course, that was just smart, but apparently he'd decided to take out his inadequacies on her...
Well, at least it was over for now, she thought, stalking through the corridors. She decided to check at the bridge first, to see how the pursuit was going, and maybe talk to the rest of the crew.
Alpengeist was standing near the back of the bridge, looking out the armorplaz viewport. Nightfall wondered briefly why he wasn't seated, but then noticed none of the chairs would support his massive frame. There was a holographic overlay on the viewport, indicating their blissfully unaware quarry. Alpengeist noticed Nightfall's entry, and looked down at her. "The hunt is slow," he rumbled.
She nodded. "At least you've got a view, and can move around. I'm stuck babysitting the engines, which don't really need it at the moment..." She stretched a bit, looking at the Maximal ship. "I wonder if they know more than we do... Probably not, I get the feeling they're there to find things, so we can do what needs to be done..." She looked up at the big warrior. "So, we'll probably be in for a fight."
"I hope so," he replied. "Most Maximals are scientists or explorers, like their ancestors. Not many possess a true warrior spirit." Alpengeist said 'scientist' and 'explorer' like the words left a bad taste in his mouth. "And yes, perhaps there is more to life than combat...but it's all I know, and I like it that way."
Nightfall shrugged. "I do what I can. I wasn't born to combat; I fight and survive the best I can." She smiled a bit. "Fortunatly my birth did give me a few advantages."
Suddenly, a light on the bridge console began to flash. "Incoming message," read the viewscreen, in artful Predacon glyphs. "Text only." The message seemed to be originating from...the Maximal ship?
Charmacon, who had been relaying data sources of the ship's enviro scans to his own personal files, seemed to ignore the conversation between the two other Predacons but was in fact listening very carefully. As the screen flashed he looked up, and hit the receive message button, while continiung his tranfers. What could this be? he thought. We were supposed to be undetectible from the Maximal ship! Who screwed on our cloaking abilities? He eyed at Nightfall.
As Charmacon hit the button, the message sprang to life as an overlay on the Predacon bridge viewscreen.
Greetings to the cloaked ship.
You'll be happy to know, that, although this ship is equipped with the new Maximal standard Ax-Two Cloak-Piercing scanning equipment, the system has been entirely disabled. Consider it my contribution to what I believe is undoubtedly a sincere and noble Predacon effort.
If you want a better method of getting your bearings, our ship "Renegade" will be detouring to Kull Tan Trading Post in Predacon space before docking at Maximal Miltary Base Cerebros. It might benefit you to rendesvous with myself at the Post before heading off to the Maximal station. Magnaboss tends to get a little testy when his Predacons arrive ahead of schedule.
I have a feeling there's a particuar trick to this "King" mission, but to any assassins on board, do let me know how it all turns out. I have scores to settle myself, even if Shockwave doesn't want to get his hand dirty.
Next time, I will see you before you see me. If you see me at all.
The message was not signed.
Charmacon's eyes spread wide open. The Maximals had a traitor in their ranks? And it had given the Maximal ship's current heading? This had to be too good to be true! Charmacon's brain was working overtime! In between thinking of orders, processing this information and the validity of it, and his current download in progress, even he was a bit overwhelmed. He turned towards Paradox. "Paradox, it appears-s-s we have a new heading. Turn the ship towards-s-s the following coordinates-s-s." He relayed the coordinates of the Kull Tan Trading Post to the pilot.
Paradox pulled on the controls. He loved doing it manually. "Ha we'll get to slag slag slag those Maximals later I guess."
"Nightfall, I want you to go wake Lord S-s-stormclaw. I have just received information that will condone his-s-s awakening."
Nightfall nodded. "Of course." She turned, heading down to the Commander's quarters, knocking on the heavy door.
—CB, LB, MdJ, AF, BB
Krunch should have slept like a baby in the large bunk. He was pleased with himself that he was able to keep the bottom bunk for himself. The large Maximal had to mute his audio while he watched Snarler hoist himself into the upper bunk.
Peace-pipe probably would need a winch! he thought to himself.
As he laid awake in his bunk, the soldier decided to take a stroll. As he reached the upper observation deck, he pulled out his flask and lit one of his cigars. Looking out at the stars, Krunch spoke out.
"Alright, you stupid 'Cons! What are you waiting for? Start something already!" he taunted.
Viracide spashed his face with water. It felt good especally to him. His quarters were dim, as it was the night shift. His spark lit up the walls, however, throwing shadows in an eerie effect. Viracide was one of the few, if any, transparent Cybertronians.
He exited his quarters; it was his turn to watch over the bridge. On his way he noticed that most of the crew had already gone to bed. Aparently Viracide was a bit late. He sighed and moved on. He at least knew Silverqick was still awake, he hoped. Passing the obversation deck he was met by the odor of something odd. Something was burning! Viracide rushed in ready for action, halfway hoping he didn't set the ship on fire in his dreams or something. He knew his powers were stable, but he worried anyway. Instead of a bridge fire, he found Krunch, with some sort of burning stick in his mouth. He had heard of Energon Cigars, but never saw one before. Never in a sterile lab.
"You know I could have lit that for you," Viracide said, trying to make conversation.
Not taking his eyes off of the constellations, Krunch replied.
"Thanks, I'll remember that..." he said in a oddly calm voice. He took a pull from his flask and offered it over to Viracide, still without really looking at him.
"You know, when I look out at all the stars in the sky, it makes me realize how insignificant a big guy like me really is... I've always been the aggressive type. You know what I mean.... slag 'em all and let Primus sort out the sparks! But looking out at all of that, sure does has a humbling effect on me!" admitted Krunch. He then looked over at Viracide.
"You gonna drink or what?" he asked.
Viracide smiled and looked at the drink. "Well... no one lives forever." Viracide took the flask, and took a swallow. He returned it to Krunch. Viracide felt nothing. He probably couldn't be much affected by the stuff due to his resistance. Oh, well...doesn't taste that bad. he thought. Viracide then continued with the conversation.
"Well, those stars makes me think of how much there is to do. I mean how many of those things are we going to see? So much we're going to do! I don't know. I probably sound pretty stupid. I better get going to the bridge." Viracide smiled slightly and rubbed the back of his head.
Krunch took the flask back, inwardly impressed that Viracide didn't gag on the brew within. Most did. He called out to Viracide as he left to start his shift on the bridge.
"Hey, jelly-fish!" he said, his gruffness returning. "Thanks for stopping by!"
The sergeant turned back to his revelry in the skies.
Viracide looked back. "No problem." Viracide tried to think of a witty nickname for Krunch but nothing came to mind. So he smiled and went on. A while later he entered the bridge: no one else on it. So this is the graveyard shift, he thought. But he was used to working nights. It was probably his beast mide nature. He stared at the view screen, again looking at the stars.
One of those things could be it...
—JA, BB
Stormclaw remembered the Polyhex towers very clearly, but he had never been inside them before. That night, he learned that the interior was a maze of corridors and twisted halls. He was a Predacon, of the Decepticon Predacons, noble tiger, traveling the stale metal passageways. The tower belonged to Darkwave, and Darkwave liked shape and symbol and sound, but he did not like color, and he did not bother to turn on the lights. The tower had before belonged to Shockwave, and Shockwave liked utility and function, steel with no decoration. The tower had once been held by Megatron. And when Stormclaw emerged finally from the turns and twists of identical tunnels, it was Megatron, gunmetal silver, whom he saw, a still, silent monument upon a towering throne. The room was dark as death, and every place Stormclaw did not look, the darkness had living talons set to grab him.
With no words, Stormclaw transformed and stood on two legs, and spoke: "I have come for my orders, sir."
It was not Megatron, but the unseen spectre at his right that spoke first. His voice was light and calm, and Stormclaw looked into one unblinking eye. "We do not give orders to one such as you."
"You have your orders," spoke the spectre to the throne's left. His voice was not harsh, but sterile, electronic. He was Darkwave, or Soundwave...flat eyes that may not see, but ears strong enough to hear thoughts forming. "Now you act upon them."
"You have not told us where we are to go," Stormclaw protested, though he did not know where he found the courage.
"It simplifies things greatly," Shockwave responded.
"I would be more than HAPPY to lead you," said a voice from Stormclaw's back, and before he could turn to discern the source, both Shockwave and Soundwave raised hands and fired beams of light over Stormclaw's head to somewhere beyond. When Stormclaw turned, he saw a white figure absorb both blasts. Holes pierced and darkened the metal on the white 'bot's torso, and just as quickly, those fissures crackled, closed, and healed.
Starscream stepped forward before the throne, and brushed by Stormclaw, their shoulders at the same height. Immediately, Starscream kneeled. "Lord Megatron, I have come to make my report...about your world, and about your TRAITORS." Starscream rose to his feet and grabbed Shockwave roughly by the arm; the Maximal symbol on Shockwave's arm burned into Stormclaw's vision. "And most importantly, about those of us that still pretend to be Decepticons..." He looked at all his comrades first, and Stormclaw last... "In the DUST of these crumbling kingdoms!" Starscream put a fist into Megatron's face, and as the statue accepted the blow it revealed its true nature, decomposing instantly to ashes that scattered in clouds around Starscream's clean, white form. Starscream turned immediately and threw a handful of the dust into Stormclaw's eyes, blinding him, and causing him to stumble and choke.
When Stormclaw could see again, he was alone with Starscream, and had returned to his natural height. Starscream as Decepticon now towered over his Predacon serf. "Take me up on the offer, and I'll tell you everything you need to know," Starscream said smoothly. "Consider it my contribution."
"Darkwave warned me about you. You are not my High Commander."
"And what a shame. Who IS your High Commander?" Stormclaw thought he saw the shadow of his ancestral black dragon in the dust scattering in the air, but before he could speak again, Starscream was pushing into him, putting his hand on the Predacon symbol Stormclaw so proudly wore. "I wonder...why do they still call ME an infamous traitor?"
"I am no traitor!" Stormclaw's chest felt heavy; it ached. He did not want to see what was happening to him beneath Starscream's hand, so he refused to look down, but he could not quite meet the gaze of the Air Commander.
"Aren't you?" An acid pain shot through Stormclaw's spark. "We are all traitors SOME time. But how few of us are willing to admit it!"
"Never!"
In one smooth motion, Starscream tore the Predacon symbol from Stormclaw's chest, and laughed shrilly.
"NO!" Stormclaw immediately shouted... and woke to the soft knock at his door.
Nightfall waited, she thought she'd heard something... But she wasn't about to barge in; her commander might have a twitchy trigger finger. She knocked again, louder. "Commander Stormclaw?"
Inside his room, the haunted Predacon had awoken with a start, but now sat perfectly motionless. For a moment, all he did was scan his surroundings for movement, sound, anything. But all was silent. Instantly, his eyes were on the door.
"Enter," he stated coldly.
When Nightfall took a first step into the chamber after the door had opened under a soft hiss, she saw Stormclaw's back as a silhouette against the small window. The glowing light of a passing system's sun played strange shadows over the commander's face, and seemed to contort his features in a grim fashion.
Although the female Predacon could not notice it, Stormclaw was making great efforts to stay as calm and reserved as he did. She would not find out about this dream.
"What is it, Nightfall?" he questioned her.
"There's something you should see, Commander Stormclaw. We were... contacted from the Maximal ship." She shivered a bit as she watched him. The commander was intense, and she was glad he was on her side.
Stormclaw gazed at Nightfall. "By the Maximals?" Then he walked past her through the door, continuing his pace until he reached the bridge.
Without further ado, he demanded, "Charmacon, full report at once."
Nightfall followed the commander out, taking her place at the computer station.
"Certainly, Commander. We received a mes-s-s-sage from the Maximal S-s-ship. Either s-s-someone failed on the proper ins-s-stallation of our cloaking facilities-s-s, or s-s-someone knows-s-s we are out here. Either way, it appears-s-s as though the Maximals-s-s have a traitor on board, who jus-s-st relayed coordinates-s-s on where they are going to dock s-s-soon, namely a Predacon Kull Tan Trading Post. I already ordered Paradox to head us-s-s there. The complete mes-s-sage is on the viewing s-s-screen."
Stormclaw immediately scanned the monitor, reading the transmission. His face betrayed no reaction. "This is insanity," he stated calmly. "Who sent this?"
Before the others could respond to his question, he turned around, walked to his command chair and sat down. He glanced at his personal viewscreen, then said, "Charmacon, you already decided to alter our course? Please explain."
Charmacon looked puzzled. What a weird question by his commander! Stormclaw looked a bit confused. He probably had trouble with the transition from resting mode to active mode. "Lord S-s-stormclaw, don't you think it is-s-s our mis-s-s-sion to maintain a cours-s-se parallel to theirs-s-s? What if they decide to alter their cours-s-se afterwards-s-s, we might los-s-se them!"
Besides, he thought, Aren't I supposed to give orders in your absence? Or is my rank just decorative? Not a very efficient manner to run a mission... Lord Stormclaw! Incompetents...
Doesn't my subcommander realize this is a trap? Stormclaw wondered. So be it, then, they shall learn from it.
"Charmacon, contact the space station on a Predacon frequency. Find out how many Cybertrons are currently at the station, and if there are any visitors already. If it is just us and the Maximal ship, we shall not dock until they have resumed their journey. The risk would be too high."
Hmmmm... he didn't punish me for my insubordinance... He should grow a backbone; my former commander would have chewed me out.... But then again, he looks a Maximal mold. Perhaps he is... I should have guessed when Paradox and I were shown mercy back on Cybertron... Even though that was convenient at the time.
"Certainly, Commander, right away." Charmacon sent the message as Stormclaw ordered to the Trading Post, and awaited the reply.
—AF, CB, DN, MdJ