The Predacons, their commander to their front, stepped out of the relatively sparse docking bay and entered the body of the station. At once they were assailed by scents and lights: a veritable bazaar of trading, conversing, drinking, and gambling. A marketplace was set up along the walls of the main gallery, with booths made of rusted crates. Near the center, an arena, temporarily marked off with pieces of broken star-cycles, attracted a rowdy group of pirates betting on drone-versus-drone combat. The yellow lights on the rounded ceiling flickered at intervals. Long hallways forking off from the main area were lit more dimly, in shades of pink and green neon. The air was strewn through with smoke, and the conversation swirled it around in a choppy din.
A quartet of shapely females, conversing in subtle vulgarities, lingered by the entry arch. As the commander approached, one of them parted with the others, and addressed him. She was a butterfly, with royal blue wings folded around her thighs like a skirt. "Welcome to Kull Tan, my Lord. I've been sent to inform you that Thief Boss Balt has extended an invitation for you to join him for dinner in his personal hall this evening. There will be entertainment, also..." She looked over to the other dancers, and one of them, in a false display of shyness, hid her face behind a dragonfly-wing fan. "The invitation of course is extended to your subcommander, if you like. We hope you'll accept our hospitality and stay as long as you wish."
Stormclaw showed no sign of emotion at the females' curved beauty. He eyed the butterfly, then gave a slow nod.
"I shall honor the invitation. Tell Boss Balt I shall join him for dinner."
Then both the Predacon Commander and the femmes looked at Charmacon.
"As-s-s much as-s-s I would like, ladies-s-s..." A drip of fluid fell from his tongue and hit the ground. "I have s-s-some more pres-s-s-sing matters-s-s to attend to..."
At this reply, Stormclaw kept his eyes on Charmacon a few seconds longer, then looked away.
"Let us be on our way, then," he spoke to the female.
As the Commander was accosted, Nightfall slipped past. He'd said they had freedom to roam, and she doubted he'd have any further orders for them once they were in... She'd returned to her quarters for her computer, she'd decided to take advantage of the relative privacy of the station to make her report away from prying eyes.
First, however, she wanted to get a look at the condition of the Maximal ship and its crew. Querying the station computer, at least what little of it could grind some gears together and respond, she tried to work out where the ship and its crew were docked. She discovered that the Maximal ship was still approaching, cleared to dock in proximity to their own ship. She headed that way, hoping to see the Maximal ship on its approach, and using the system to find a few good observation points.
The dock's inner airlock opened, and the Maximal ship drifted inside. The ship was in need of some repair, and shattered windows on the observation deck were bolted over with emergency plates.
Nightfall looked over the ship as it came in, noting the relatively minor damage to it. She also got as close as she could to the main airlock when it was docked, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Maximal crew as they emerged. Hopefully they'd think her nothing more than another curious Predacon come to see the spectacle.
As Charmacon approached the dock where the Maximal ship was docking, he saw Nightfall already standing there. "Well now Nightfall," he said, "You certainly s-s-sneaked away pretty unnoticed. I like that." He eyed the female Predacon, hoping to get a reaction. "S-s-so, you are as-s-s-ses-s-sing the s-s-situation as-s-s well?"
She turned, mildly suprised to see the Subcommander had turned down the invitation. "Yes, Subcommander. The ship appears to be in good condition, only minor damage... I am concerned about their anti-cloaking sensors. If they become operational again, stealth will avail us little... And if they discover the traitor among them..." She shrugged, turning back to the viewport. "Also, if I can get close to the crew...." She smiled, looking back at him. "Perhaps I can discover what they know about their mission..."
"I s-s-see the s-s-surpris-s-sed look on your face. Curious-s-s as-s-s t why I turned down the offer for the entertainment? Frankly, thos-s-se bots-s-s may be attractive, but lack a certain, how s-s-shall I put it? Clas-s-s-s, that's-s-s it." "But anyway, it s-s-seems-s-s our objectives-s-s match. I too was-s-s planning on s-s-singling one out, and attempting a download. With my cloaking powers-s-s it s-s-should be no problem at all... Care to join forces-s-s?"
Nightfall nodded. "Of course. What is your plan, Subcommander?" She turned back to him, giving him her full attention.
"Well now, I s-s-sugges-s-st we single one out. All Maxies-s-s are pretty naive. How about you lure one into a s-s-secluded area. I will follow you in my cloak. Then, when you s-s-seduce him, I will grab him and attempt a download."
Nightfall smiled softly. "Nothing I haven't done before..." She looked to the ship. "Now to find one...."
Meanwhile, Aspis wandered off to find something interesting to do. Eventually, he wanted to find out what happened to the Maximals, as well, and probably find out what was going on in this station and beyond, but first...he just HAD to see the new holo games for sale. One of the new human shoot-em-ups looked promising, with realistic splorching sounds built in!
Paradox stepped forward and looked at all the sight and sounds of the station. However, he was quite dissappionted that he wasn't invited to the commander's party. But Paradox had other plans: GAMBLING! Paradox looked at the crew and asked "Hey Hey Hey anyone want to join me in a few games at the card tables? I feel lucky lucky lucky today!" Paradox started to walk away, counting the energon chips he had with him.
—AF, MdJ, CB, KH, BB
The Maximal ship slid into the dock, and the crew, some still fresh from the R-chamber, departed, blinking at the change in lighting. Moltor saw it his place to keep his pace in stride with Silverquick, but, at home as soon as he set his feet upon the worn metal surface of the docking bay, he quickly took the lead. He looked around, first to the Maximal ship with its broken deck, then the contrasting tight-edged black of a midsized Predacon cruiser. Finally, he stopped to admire the clean lines of the dock's newest arrival, the cloaking warbird.
"Just as a warning," Moltor said to the Maximals, "your Maximal credits are no good here. You'll trade in energon or goods if you don't want to be laughed at. Or injured."
"The Boss is expecting a dignitary," he added, pointing to the new ship, "so don't raise any trouble..." He glared over at Snarler... "and don’t try to REFORM us."
The comment appeared to go over the top of Snarler's head as he barely gave it a second thought. "I'll see you guys around. I just want to explore a bit," said Snarler, as he headed off to the gaming area.
The smaller dinosaur pirate drug a much larger, unconscious Predacon down the Renegade's ramp. He paused, stopped to catch his breath, and gave Moltor a quick salute. The commander gestured him inside, and a few other Predacons helped the remaining wounded thieves in through the arch.
"You'll be leaving your turncoat in his cage?" Moltor asked Silverquick.
"Absolutely," Silverquick replied. "He'll stay there until we reach our destination." He looked up at the Predacon. "As commander of this station, could you tell me where I might acquire some scientific items?"
Moltor seemed amused. "Science. There is a research specialist on board that excels in..." Moltor considered his wording... "experimental techniques. He may have something along those lines."
Viracide spoke up. "And I assume that I'm still to stay aboard? It's better that way anyway. I have no idea of how many friends Splitounge has on that station," Viracide said to the commander. Inside, Viracide knew it was the prefect time to talk to him—Starscream. Yes, Viracide believed him. Viracide barely had any idea of who Starscream was anyway, and maybe that was why...
The dogbot stared around the area in his slightly larger robot mode. The ships didn't interest him much—already his nose could detect faint smells of energon cigars and booze coming from what he assumed was the main area of the deck. It smelled so much like what he knew that for a minute he was immobilized with terror. Home had...never been that fun a place for him. His sharp ears caught Viracide's comment, and he tried to reassure his friend while reassuring himself.
"Don't worry, with a 'dignitary' here, all the Preds'll wanna keep their skidplates in line," he said, forcing a grin. "Bad things'll happen to 'em if they don't." He made a slicing motion across his throat with one finger, complete with the disturbingly gory sound-effects of someone choking on their own mech-fluid. It's as if he'd heard that sound before. He staggered about and clasped his hands to his neck for dramatic effect, before remembering that the same thing could happen to him if he wasn't a good little dog.
Quickly shutting up, Velocity looked around nervously. While Velocity had some amount of skills, he had very little in the way of actual goods, and one of these bots had to have something he desperately wanted.
—AF, LB, DT, BB, LA
Kitfox paced on the inside of his tiny Maximal cell. Even for a small 'bot like him, it was only a few steps from one side to the other; a 'bot like Krunch, who had so eagerly tossed him inside, wouldn't even have room to stretch. It wasn't fair; he'd been hoping to escape with the pirates. If only they had listened to him...
But he'd planted other seeds, which he reviewed in his mind. Goldstreak had enough information to be curious. Jynx might be willing to talk again. Or, even, the commander of the Predacon ship...it was a long-shot, but he might try to locate him.
But when Kitfox saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and glanced up through the red energy bars, it was the translucent form of Viracide that was the first to pay him a visit. Hmmm...or...this could work.
Viracide walked into the brig. He silently stood near the cell that Kitfox was kept in. "So...Starscream." Viracide sort of lost himself there, but then he remembered what he found on the computer. "You know the data tracks don't have too much info on Starscream. All it says it that you where in the Great War. Well, actually it didn't really say that; I had to sort of read between the lines. But I hear you said you were a Decepticon back there."
Viracide realized he may be boring the prisoner, so he went to the meat of the discussion. "Well, where it comes down to it, I believe you. Maybe that's because I'm so young, or I know very little of Starscream." Viracide looked straight at his eyes. Kitfox responded by returning the gaze, and his red optics seemed to sink into his face as he smiled.
"They said that you talked for a moment in the fight," Viracide continued. "A device was built in you, I would have to guess. Well, I won't be able to give you a writing pad, so..." Viracide stopped for a moment to catch his breath and build the suspense. "This might hurt a little, so make sure to hold your throat again." Viracide closed his eyes for a moment and focused his mind. He then brought up his pyrokenitic powers as he extended a slight combust toward Kitfox's throat.
Kitfox watched as Viracide's optics began to glow, cold and blue through the red glow of the bars. Before he could bring a hand up to his neck, he felt it explode in a rush of pale fire. He screamed, and doubled over, then looked up at Viracide. Malice built in his gaze, but already he felt his throat attempting to heal. He pushed his hand into the gap, and stood straight.
"That was original," Starscream admitted. "You're wise to believe me. I AM the Air Commander Starscream. I think the matter of my resilience is evidence ENOUGH of my identity. My throat will seal again, so let's not waste words. If you want answers, you'll have to give me the answers I want. But you can ask the first question."
Viracide knew Kitfox was right; they would have to talk fast. So there was no time for small talk, time to cut to the chase. "Tell me why we have to drop you off at that station. And what may be waiting for us there. You were in an awful hurry to leave with those pirates."
"Nothing dangerous is waiting for YOU there, if you don't cause trouble. But the Magnaboss is waiting for ME there. Of course I wanted to escape...and I wanted this DEVICE removed!" Starscream gathered his composure. "Now it's my turn to ask a question. The world, King Four. Silverquick wouldn't tell me what he knew about it. What do YOU know?"
Viracide slightly smiled and chuckled. "Geeez, you would be surprised on how little the second in command actually knows... I don't know anything about King Four. Maybe you could ask me some questions on Transmetal II's. I know a lot about those." Viracide wanted to go on his question, "But the Magnaboss is waiting for you; we're going to meet Magnaboss. Hmmmm. Why is Magnaboss going to meet you?"
"YOU won't meet Magnaboss, if you're lucky. But I work for him." Starscream changed the subject. "You don't know ANYTHING? Nothing? Can you get me a copy of the pirates' star-charts? If I could compare them to the Maximal charts, I might be able to derive the location..."
"You're really set on finding out about King Four. Well, I suppose it would be harmless to pick up some of the pirate's star-charts. But it's up to Silverquick if you get to view them or not."
Starscream twitched. Silverquick suspected him; he would never allow him to look at the charts. But it was worth a try... It wasn't just Four that interested him, it was the entire List.
—AF, BB
Skitterbug kept his counter under an overhang, in the shade, and a safe distance from the blue neon of the bar. The brown and black of his heavyset frame blended into the shadows, and insect legs along his robot arms scraped against the wall. He was a roach, and the dim yellow lamps, thick smoke, and dirty atmosphere suited him just fine.
He touched a card onto the grimy table in front of him. "Oh. And the dealer has twenty-one. What a shame." He reached over with a thin copper hand, and scraped a pile of blue energon nuggets over onto his side of the table, and quickly off into a drawer he had opened beside him. "That cleans you out, doesn't it?"
He looked up with his beady red optics at the Predacon across the counter, trying to make his expression as guileless as possible. The unfortunate gambler was one of the larger pirates, a blue and brown crab called Klaw-hammer, and his expression made it clear that he was unhappy to be departed from recently acquired treasure. He could easily pound Skitterbug into the ground, if he had known how badly the roach was cheating. Lucky for Skitterbug, none of the Transmetal IIs aboard Kull Tan, Klaw-hammer among them, could read minds.
Skitterbug squinted through the crowd, trying to pick out another target. A blur of white near the entrance caught his attention for a moment. Hmmm...I think I know that bear, he thought, though with his poor vision under light he wasn't entirely sure. Then, he saw Paradox approaching the table, counting a meager handfull of glowing coin. Jackpot. "New arrival?" he asked Paradox, beckoning him forward. "Care to try your luck?"
Paradox noticed the dealer talking to him, "OH OH Oh that's what I came here for!" Paradox sat down ready for action, "All right lets start small, because that's all I have." Paradox gave a slight smile.
"Squish, don't tell me you're trying to steal from these Preds that don't know you, now!" Klaw-hammer slammed his closed pincer, the larger one, down onto the little roach's gambling table.
"Hey, you! Other bug... Don't gamble with this cheat." Klaw-hammer looked at Paradox a little more closely.
"Cheat!" Skitterbug looked offended. "I never cheat." ...And suddenly, the depth of the other Predacon's insult occured to him. "SQUISH? Listen. We'll play a practice hand, and I'll deal face-up. If that isn't enough—" But Skitterbug was interrupted by Klaw-hammer, as the blustering crab made pains to introduce himself.
"Say, you're new on board, aren't you? The name's Klaw-hammer, and I've never seen you before. There's talk going around the Post about a group of Preds being led by a noble. That you guys?"
Paradox stood up and backed away from the table, "Thanks for the warning warning warning, pal" Paradox said to Klaw-hammer. "Stormclaw is a noble I guess guess guess. So I suppose that's us you're talking about. I'm the pilot of the ship, name's Paradox." Paradox extended his hand, "So uh where are the good good good card tables?"
Klaw-hammer reached over with his smaller pincer and carefully shook Paradox's hand.
"You'd be surprised how many of these seedy places there are on the ship. Ol' Squish here only has the good drinks as his claim to fame. C'mon, I'll take you to another one I know, but only if I get a cut of the winnings!"
Skitterbug huffed as the pair wandered off. "Another sucker, down the drain..." he muttered. Well, one was protoformed every minute. Until another wandered by, maybe he'd double-check on that bear sighting.
Klaw-hammer slapped his knee with one of his pincers, laughing. Eventually, he calmed himself down enough to speak again.
"Hoo... I really get a kick outta some of my jokes... C'mon, Paradox y'said your name was? Never met a pilot before..."
The two of them exited as Klaw-hammer continues chatting. He led Paradox to another little place he knew.
Paradox thought for a moment and started to laugh, "CUT, Crab, I get it! Sure Sure Sure you can have some, but only if I win something." Paradox was quite pleased he was already on his way to some of the action.
"Here's the place, Paradox." Klaw-hammer motioned to a large, rather well-lit area. It was obviously a bit more up-town than the last gambling establishment.
"Hey hey, Klaw-hammer, long time no see! Where you been hiding yourself!" A large, praying mantis TM waved at Klaw-hammer from behind a card table. He was a bright emerald green with splashes of red on his underbelly.
"Whaddaya know, it's one of my regular dealers. Lemme introduce ya. This here's Paradox. I want you to treat him good." And with that, Klaw-hammer left Paradox at the Mantis' card table and moved over to proposition a lovely femmebot in the corner.
Paradox looked back and smiled at the girls. Then he turned his attention to the game. "Ahhh females," he said with a slight snarl. Paradox looked at his hand, not good. But he had one chance. "Do you have any fives?"
—AF, BB, K.C. Styers
The females had been concerned to see so many pirates injured on the Maximal raid. After Royalle flitted off to report to the Thief Boss—and help Splitongue into the R-bath—their gossiping increased to a high tide.
"Is that one of the Maximal crew?" asked the dragonfly, Emerald, as Krunch stepped into the main hall of the Post.
"Looks like it," responded one of the others, a silver and gold cobra. "Hmmmm...he's...tall." She smiled.
The third, a slender pink salamander, waved her hand. "I wouldn't go NEAR a Maximal. Who knows WHERE they've been?"
"Nicer places than HERE," Emerald suggested.
"That's more my color," the salamander responded, pointing off in Klaw-hammer's direction as the tall Predacon approached. She waved.
"If he hasn't lost all his money gambling again..." her collegue mentioned.
"Ohhhh...lookie!" Emerald saw Velocity enter and take in the sights. He looked skittish. And...something else was off... "...Is he drunk?"
"No...look at his hands shake. Maxie uppers," said the cobra.
"Well, you're the expert." Emerald fanned herself again, and winked in Vel's direction. "I think he's kinda cute."
Velocity immediately looked behind him to see if the Predacon's wink had been directed at him and not someone else. Seeing no one else by him, he forced his ears and tail to rise, and puffed his chest out. The trick about Preds was to look as confident as possible, even with shaking hands and shifty eyes.
He quickly scampered towards the dragonfly femme, taking great cares to keep as far away as possible from the crab Pred that was talking to one of the girl's friends.
"Ladies..." The large Pred came over and presented himself for inspection. "What's going down over here? Anything ol' Klaw-hammer should be interested in? Hmmm?" He gave the salamander an extra look since she's the one who waved at him.
She sighed. "They're just scouting Maximals..."
"Maximals have money," the cobra hissed.
"I'm sure this one can handle the cover charge." The pink 'bot took a few steps in Klaw-hammer's direction. "Hmm?"
"Cover charge? Uhh..." Klaw-hammer began to look really flustered. "I lost all my last haul to Squish at Blackjack..." He hangs his head in shame. "But, me and my new buddy Paradox are working on winning a few over at the card table!" He pointed behind him towards the mantis' table.
"Ohhh..." She sighed, in exaggerated disappointment. "Why don't you come back and see me after you've won a few hands? I can show you a little something I learned to do with MINE." She put a finger in her mouth, looked at him through the top of her eyes, then turned away. He didn't play if he didn't pay. Royalle had real theiving skills, but most of the girls here had to make their living in a different sort of profession.
Grinning stupidly at Emerald, Velocity gave a sloppy salute in greeting as he flicked his gaze to the stern cobra. He was quite happy to keep most of his attention on the dragonfly girl.
"Senorita! How goes it at this fine establishment?" he asked, with a broad hand gesture. He could waste a few minutes before he really had to search for some High-O—he wasn't about to crash that very second. Besides, these ladies might know something about where the illegal goods were sold.
"Fine establishment?" Emerald laughed. "That's a funny way of putting it. You're looking for company. Hm?" She dropped her fan to her side, and gave Velocity a coy look.
"He's looking to get high," said the cobra girl. "Ever tried Serpent's Kiss, pup? First nibble's free."
"Slaggin' Maxies... Comin' into our station and takin' our femmes..." Klaw-hammer muttered under his breath, wandering back to the table.
Velocity gave one of his loud, nervous laughs at Emerald, scuffing his feet and looking rather boyish. He turned his attention more to the cobra girl, working his little memory to the max.
"Eh, never tried it before. Made it, though." Velocity had little fear of discovery at this Trading Post—on Cybertron there were about as many drug gangs with Maximals in them as there were neutral sectors. He could take a certain amount of pride in his shady credentials with this crowd, as he felt more comfortable around them.
"I prefer stimulants that pump up the body, rather than short out yer mind, y'know?" Velocity continued, looking the cobra over, forcing his nervousness into a pit in his stomach. He had to stay cool. "You...wouldn't have any of those, wouldja?" He sniffed, trying to catch the scent of High-O anywhere on her.
"And without 'em, I don't think my 'company' would be much good, diosita," he said, getting up the courage to talk to Emerald, and even wink roguishly at her.
"I—I've never had any of that stuff, either," Emerald said, a little curious. "...High-O, right?"
"It's Decepticon rocket-fuel," responded the cobra. "A good batch is very pricey...at least on THIS station. I'm afraid I don't have the formula. But Balt would certainly be interested..." Like any good little junkie, the pup seemed eager for his fix, but Fangkiss knew from his expression he was uncomfortable around her. An idea began to form, evident in her eyes as she spoke again. "A mixer, are you? Do you have the formula?"
The Maximal dogbot nodded at Emerald in his enthusiastic manner. "Heh, an' here I thought a classy lady like you wouldn't know much about it," he said, with a chuckle. He was laying the flattery on a bit thick, but Emerald was the first girl who'd shown interest in him for some time. Why not let her know he appreciated it, even if he couldn't pay?
"Yeah, High-O, Uppers, Enercrack—whatever name y'give it, it makes yah faster than lightspeed and packin' a pretty punch."
His expression fell at as the cobra told him the cost. Pricey—and he didn't even have any energon coins on him. His ears perked up as Fangkiss mentioned the name of someone who might help him.
"Yeah, I'm a mixer," he said, with a slight grin. No need to hide that fact. "Got th'formula in here," he said, tapping his head.
"So, where's this..eh, Balt, was it?" he asked, scanning the area.
"I'm not suggesting that the Thief Boss is going to meet with a Maximal squeak-toy. I'm just saying that I would be interested in..." The entire plan finally gelled in the snake's head. "Listen...why don't you let Emerald here take you back to my room? I keep a minilab in the top drawer." She looked to the younger Predacon. "You know where."
"Yes, but—" Emerald would admit to having inspected the lab before, "but I don't know how to use it."
"But he does. Don't you, pup? Just take six units from my stash. He can keep half of what he makes, if he leaves a copy of the formula with me. Oh, wait..." Fangkiss paused. "Take seven units. You and he ought to test the first batch. Right?"
"You mean it?"
"Certainly. Is that agreeable to you, canine?"
The dogbot thought for a moment, his little brain churning and whirring. Predacons were a tricky bunch...but this seemed genuine enough. She'd let him make something, he'd give her the formula to do it again. As it always was with plans others made for him, Velocity couldn't find a fault with the one before him.
There was something nagging at him, though, and he couldn't quite place it. He dismissed it as his general uneasiness around Predacons.
"Sounds great!" the chihuahua said, his tail wagging happily. "Don't worry, I can work with whatever you got. Thank you very much for your help, senora!" he said to Fangkiss, with a perky wave. He glanced around to make sure no Maximals were looking for him, and found no one. He could afford to disappear for a bit.
"Very well...lead the way, mi diosita!" he turned quickly to Emerald, with a broad grin.
—AF, LA, KCS
Krunch stepped into the Post and took in a deep breath. His olfactory sensors processed the air and found it satisfactory, not that it really would have harmed him since most 'bots could survive in the vacuum of space.
"AHHHH, there's nothing like the stale smell of a Predacon Outpost to make you appreciate working in tight quarters with you slack-jaws!" he said to no one in particular, but hoped Snarler heard it. He also had to stifle a laugh when Moltor gave the warning to the Stego-bot about trying to reform them. Krunch had to admit that he was thinking the same thing. Before breaking from the group, the sergeant turned to Silverquick.
"Sir, when are we planning to leave? I need to know how much time I have to check out this rat-trap!" he asked of Silverquick.
Just then, a smaller bot came sauntering up to Krunch with a lovely femm-bot on each arm.
"Somebody mention my name?" asked the abnoxious-sounding bot.
"BEAT IT, PUNK!! You're not in this episode!!!" warned Krunch as he drew his Plasma Cannon and stuck the barrel right between the small bot's optics.
"That's it, goils! We're all gonna die!" squeaked the bot, then disappered into the crowd. Krunch holstered his weapon and continued on into Kull Tan.
"Cameos!!! I can't stand Cameos!!!!" mumbled Krunch.
Ignoring the absurdity, Silverquick responded to the question. "Not too long, Krunch," he answered. "We may have earned a certain measure of respect by successfully fighting off the Predacon boarders, but I fear our welcome will prove short-lived; therefore, I don't intend to wear it out. We'll be here just a few megacycles." Silverquick looked around, surveying their immediate surroundings. He'd been told he could find the scientist he was seeking in one of the halls to his left... They looked dark, forboding. "Keep your commlink open, sergeant."
"I'll do that, sir........" replied Krunch. His voice trailed off as his optics caught sight of the Predacon femmes. They were obviously checking him out and exchanging opinions.
A couple of megacycles? Not enough time for both work and play! thought the soldier. Krunch seriously thought about forgoing his shopping spree, but decided against it. He looked again at the Predacon femmes and shook his head slightly. Who knows where they've been? The last thing I need is an interface virus shutting down my primaries!
Krunch walked among the Predacons and didn't feel intimidated by them at all. In fact, he almost wanted someone to challenge him, but no one did. It wasn't like the Preds gave him a wide berth or anything... they just ignored him, as if he fit in with the crowd. Silently he continued browsing the shops for that something special.
Alpengeist put down the plasma holocauster he'd been examining as his audio receptors perked. I know that overbearing voice... He turned around, and sure enough...
"Lizardbreath!" he roared, clapping the big Maximal on the shoulderplate. "What brings you to this Pit-cursed place?"
Krunch never thought in a million solar cycles that anyone would know him here. But sure enough, there was. It took a few nanoclicks to recall the 'bot, and he replied.
"ALPO!! You sorry looking, flea-bitten, excuse for a slag pile! I should ask you the same question!! What have you been up to?" asked the soldier.
As Krunch waited for a reply, he notices a weapon on the display table that he had been needing for a long time, but couldn't get as standard issue, a Quasar Cannon!! Hefting the larger weapon in his hands, he quickly found the balance point to hold it one-handed and immediately took a liking to it.
"I kinda wandered after we got outta Rancid's Roughnecks," said Alpengeist. "Then, about half a stellar cycle ago, I picked up a sweet gig on Cybertron, and so now I'm onna mission. Some kinda pursuit and capture thing. The commander likes me, though!" He joined Krunch in admiring the selection of weapons. "This place here," he said, "has some really sweet stuff, but the owner tends to overprice. I'm sure someone of your, uh, stature could negotiate a better deal."
"I wonder whatever happened to Captain Rancid? When it came to close-quarter combat, he made Grimlock look like a Rock-em Sock-em Robot!" laughed Krunch heartily, then waxed philosophical.
"Me? I've been on ice for a while, until they needed me for this mission! I feel more like a baby-sitter to these rookie skid-plates! As to the prices, I'm not too worried!" admitted the sergeant. Krunch opened a compartment on his wrist and withdrew a gleaming platinum computer strip. He slid the strip through the reader on the weapon's shop counter and the owner's optics brightened. Apparently, his energon account had grown some interest while he was in stasis.
"Oh my, will there be anything else, Sergeant? I'm running a special on Null-Rays today....." offered the proprietor anxiously.
"MUTE IT! I got what I want!" retorted Krunch as he took the Quasar Cannon into his possession, stowing it with his Plasma Cannon. It was a little cramped for now but he'd be doing some cosmetic work on the weapons later, once they got under way. He turned back to Alpengeist.
"Let's get a drink before I shove off again! The ship I'm on serves nothing but swill!" said Krunch.
"Oh yeah! I haven't had any good brew since we were pinned down in that tavern on Altron 7. By the Pit, we had a good time that week; woulda been better if the beernuts hadn't run out after two days!" Alpengeist laughed heartily. "C'mon, I know a good little hole 'round the corner, and the drinks are on me!"
—JA, LB