Not seeming to get anywhere with Snarler, Krunch decided to relax a bit before being called back to the ship. Finding his way to the Station Club was easy enough, since the local soldiers were more than helpful as well as respectful to the sergeant's rank.
The station club was as official as the rest of the surroundings: walls spartan and well-lit, decorated in Maximal and Autobot symbols. The space behind the counter was only slightly dimmer, where a Maximal brown-bear bartender was trading jibes with some of the off-duty soldiers.
When the general walked in, Barricade behind him, a few of the soldiers tossed their leader salutes, which he politely returned. Jax then approached the bar and took a seat, ordered a couple of energons, and waited for the conversation to rise to a din.
"So," Jax finally said to Barricade. "About this crew?"
The large Maximal approached the bar next, and ordered his usual, a bottle of WheelJack Daniels. The sergeant did use a glass since he didn't want to come across as a complete barbarian by drinking from the bottle. As he nursed his drink, Krunch saw that Barricade and Jax were also at the bar discussing things. His hearing wasn't very good through all the noise in the club, so he couldn't make out anything they said. The best he could do was hope that the pair invited him to join them.
The noise was mostly in the corner where some odd type of contest was taking place. It was a drinking contest, and what was odd is that it was taking place in a Maximal station on one side sat the idiotic Predacon Paradox and on the other sat Viracide. But what made it actually acceptable in a maximal station is the fact that the drinks they were guzzling was well, water. Viracide had just finished his 34th glass while various Maximals were encouraging him including Goldstreak himself. Paradox picked his glass, but he hesitated know his receptors were just about full. He prefurred bloodwine or something, water was not his choice drink. Of course the only thing that allowed them to drink water in the first place were thier intgrated beast modes. Paradox dripped the water in his mouth but spit it out, he couldn't take it anymore. Viracide was victorious! He grabbed Paradox's spare change that he put on the table and recieved many pats on the back. Paxadox sliped away with his head low.
"Oh well well well, At least it was only water."
Barricade sat down and picked up his drink, toasting Jax before taking a chug. He put the glass down and spoke;
"I apologize, sir, for having to drag you here, but you never know who might be actively listening." Barricade leaned in and brought his toned down his vocal processor down a couple notches.
"So far, I've only met up with four of our visitors, not including the foxbot. Two Maxies and two Preds. The Predacons haven't done anything that warrants strict surviellance, though they do unnerve me, especially the TM2 snake. Don't know why; it's just a feeling." He paused to take another sip of the energon.
"Then there the maxies. One of them I bumped into while on the way to the office. Seemed quiet and wanted a little privacy to talk to the other M..." He paused as he spotted a familiar figure across the room.
"Well, well, well, speak of Unicron himself. There's the second right over there. Said his name was Sergeant Krunch, if I remember correctly. Looks like he wants to talk. What say you, sir?"
Jax nodded. It might not be a bad idea. He wasn't sure if he'd made the best first impression on the sergeant before. The truth was, he was simply a bit more nervous than most under the watchful eye. The din of the room made him feel somewhat better. Of course, he couldn't know at the moment what exactly Magnaboss was paying attention to...
—AF, DT, JA
Silverquick was seated at a small table in the station's Observation Lounge; it was relatively private (chosen thusly more for Stormclaw's benefit than his own), and it happened to afford a most spectacular view of the Mutara-type nebula that hung lazily in space half a parsec from the station. From his seat, Silverquick could just make out the asteroid cluster beyond the nebula, where he'd intended to meet Stormclaw after the briefing to discuss their respective missions. He'd changed his plans, however, after the briefing, as it appeared the Magnaboss was not only aware of both teams' missions, he had sanctioned both. Silverquick, therefore, felt it not at all inappropriate to talk to the Predacon commander while they were both here; that, and Silverquick never cared much for asteroids.
After a pause, the doors slid open, and the Predacon commander arrived. His black and red made stern contrasts to the station's pure white walls, and his footfalls were unusually soft upon the floor, so soft that Silverquick almost did not hear them enough to turn around. Without taking a seat, the lord stood regally overlooking the room, gazing out upon the nebula, and taking stock of the view before he addressed the Maximal.
"And now," he said, "You will tell me about your mission."
"Very well," Silverquick replied. "Enough idle chit-chat and down to business, then. Have a seat," he said, indicating a chair opposite his own. "After your communication to my ship, I'd thought to invite you to meet at one of those asteroids clustered past the nebula, as it seemed a suitably neutral location. However, it seems the Magnaboss is quite aware of both our missions, and, I feel, is the sanctioning authority behind them.
"I imagine your orders are similar to mine, in that we are to assess the possibility of Cybertronian life still existing on Nebulos. The impression I received from my briefing is that such a possibility is rather slim; my team's mission therefore is retrieval of honored Autobot dead." Silverquick lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone. "Given the, shall we say, eclectic nature of my crew, I'm inclined to believe the mission goals aren't quite that simple." He looked across the table, waiting.
Stormclaw stared silently throughout this speech, his optics probing, assessing the Maximal commander. Certainly, his crew was no threat, but, would their leader pose any kind of challenge?
Stormclaw realized, then, that the mission goals of the Maximals and Predacons were not aligned. After all, Darkwave had told him that "evidence" was to be destroyed. Stormclaw did not lower his voice as the Maximal had; rather, he simply responded. "From a Predacon point of view, something very shameful occured on the planet we are exploring: this...Nebulos. Experimentations. Am I correct?"
"During the Great War," Silverquick replied. "Autobots and Decepticons alike participated in procedures that integrated organics into their subsystems. It was these first steps that led to the Great Upgrade, and to Maximals and Predacons. If there was anything other than that, I'm not aware of it.
"Nebulos is described in data-tracks as a simple but habitable world, adversely affected by war as so many others are. The planet is now shrouded in a toxic purple haze, origin and composition unknown; it cannot be coincidence that most of my team, myself included, has protection against toxic agents.
"Still," he said, stretching, "we have our orders."
Stormclaw maintained his straight face throughout this explanation. Organic integrated components. And these were the abominations he was told to wipe out. Interesting. "Yes. You do have your orders. And I have mine to accompany you." Stormclaw rose from his seat already. "I thank you for passing this information on. We are also prepared to encounter and deal with these toxins. Our deceased ancestors are to be our responsibility. It seems, then, that all is in order, and we have no more to discuss."
But something was still burrowing its way around the back of his mind: the matter of the Air Commander. "Air Commander Starscream is no longer a member of your crew," Stormclaw said. It carried a question in it, a need for confirmation, though it was a statement.
"He was summoned by the Magnaboss, but he was never a part of our crew, just a passenger." Silverquick's face hardened at the thought: "a very troublesome passenger." Silverquick stood also, and offered his hand. "It seems we are each to set our respective houses in order, then; hopefully we'll not get in each other's way. My comm-channel will be open, just in case."
Stormclaw gave the outstretched hand a skeptical look, then, simply nodded his head toward the Maximal. "Very well. I look forward to meeting with you again."
Perhaps, even on the battlefield...Maximal...
The Predacon commander turned and left.
Silverquick watched the Predacon commander leave, and suppressed a chill. That's one mechanoid I'd not care to face in battle, he thought, but I fear I shall.
—LB, AF
Nightfall sighed, shaking her head. And they said the Maxie crew was a bunch of misfits... The turtle and Aspis were insane... She sighed, wondering if Paradox was still following her around... She just needed a drink, and she couldn't wait to see the expression on those stuck-up skidplates when she walked into their bar...
She let the doors open, standing in the doorway for a minute, looking around the room and letting the 'boys' get a good look at her. She sauntered over to the bar. "Since I'm doubting you have anything... Predacon, how about some of that Wheeljack Daniels?"
Krunch turned to find himself looking at a rather dangerous, yet extremely attractive looking Predacon female. Calling upon some lesser used protocols, Krunch retrieved a second glass and poured a drink for Nightfall and one for himself. Keeping a straight face, he pushed the glass in front of her.
"'Con or not, I hate to see a lady drink alone!" he said, waiting for a response.
She nodded. "Thanks big boy." She smiled, one yellow optic winking at him. "Nice chassis. Not the kind you usually see on a Maximal... Then again our commander is a tiger, go figure...."
Krunch muffled a chuckle at Nightfall's comment. Configuration alone didn't determine one's allegiance. Taking a closer look at Nightfall, the Dino-bot posed a more personal question, as he refilled her glass.
"I know what you mean, sweet-brakes! I was supposed to join the Dino-Bot Corps, but they were decommissioned the week I came off the assembly line! So what's your story? How did you come to being a fuzor? From what I hear, its mostly by accident, or was it your choice?"
She shrugged. "An experiment, I heard. Trying to make some home-brewed fuzors to see what would happen, since the original fuzors seemed to do pretty well. A group of us got picked for it when we were protoformed."
Velocity had managed to find his way to the club mostly by trial and error, but find it he did. He had unfortunately lost Jynx somewhere in his wanderings, but he had told the catbot of his mission: to find Krunch, so hopefully if Jynx saw the dinobot he could tell him Velocity wanted to speak with him.
The short Transmetal looked around, and quickly found that he was where he wanted to be. Krunch was there...only talking. To a Pred. Those two facts gave Velocity pause (as did the fact that he couldn't help oggling Nightfall just a bit), before he glanced about the rest of the room and made note of its other occupants. At least if he made an idiot out of himself, ionly Krunch and the Pred would really hear him. Velocity sighed, and slowly meandered over to the pair near the bar.
Jax, leading Barricade over to the sergeant's table, didn't want to interrupt the conversation too obviously. However, he couldn't help giving the Predacon a bit of a glare, reflexively, before he addressed Krunch. "Hello, sergeant. Everything all right for you so far?"
Krunch stood up to salute Jax.
"Fine, sir! Thanks for asking! I'd like to speak with you for a moment if you have the time?" asks the large Dino-bot. He then turns back to Nightfall.
"Excuse us for a minute, Sweet-brakes? This is business! If you wait for me, I promise to make it up to you!" he says with a grin, but not trying to sound too cocky.
Nightfall smiled, nodding, then nodding to the general. "General."
Jax nodded. "Absolutely, Sergeant. I hope I can address your concerns now that we're in a less official environment." He gestured Krunch to another table and had a seat.
"Well," he said after a short pause. "I know it all really smells, but, there you have it."
Krunch sat at the table with a serious look. He tried to speak in a low voice, hoping that what he had to say wouldn't carry.
"Sir, I'll be blunt about this! I have reason to believe that this is more than just a recovery mission for the 'Cons!" admitted the sergeant.
"Care to explain, soldier?" the general asked, intrigued.
"Well, I'm not sure how valid his information is, but I had an opportunity to speak with Kitfox during our trip here. He dropped hints that the 'Cons were out to murder the leader of the..... Powermasters, he called them.... if he survived on Nebulos! Now I didn't think too much about it until I saw one of their crew! Polar bear beast mode, a warrior called Alpengeist. I knew and worked with him when I was a mercenary! This guy is a killing machine, ruthless and efficient! He never took prisoners, always got carried away with the bloodlust thing! I put two and two together and figure this might really be trouble!" explained the Dino-bot.
"Look, sir, my cycles are numbered anyway. When this mission is over, all I have to look forward to is the inside of a stasis chamber, that is, if I come back with my chassis intact! I had to tell someone before my spark gets snuffed or they throw me back in the freezer!" added Krunch. He paused to finish his drink and poured himself another, which he downed quickly.
Never had Krunch laid all his cards on the table like this before. It made him feel very vulnerable. Right now, his central processor was analyzing two possible outcomes to this conversation. Either Jax was already corrupted by the 'Cons and siding with them, which meant Krunch was as good as snuffed already, or the general would believe his story and help him.
The general blinked, and his optics grew wide. For a moment, he shook his head, filled with skepticism, and unsure how to respond. When he finally did speak, it was as if all the life had drained out of his face, and all the energy out of his words. "The Powermasters. But that—that's just a legend..." He stumbled over his words. "But it all makes sense. The coverup...the Predacons..." He paused to collect himself, then said, "Sergeant, the leader of the Powermasters, if they did exist, is Optimus Prime."
"Slag it! I thought so!" said Krunch, proud of himself that he was right on with his hunch. Just then, there was an all-call on his commlink to return to the ship. Finishing his drink, the sargeant rose and spoke again to Jax.
"Sir, thanks for clearing things up! I know what I have to do now!" he said with a salute. Krunch didn't even feel the spirits that he had drunk earlier. In fact, his conversation with Jax was very sobering. He excitedly realized that he had a new objective that stayed within the parameters of his mission.
If Optimus Prime was still alive after all this time, then Krunch would risk his very existence to make sure that no harm would come to him. Quietly, as was usual for him lately, the Maximal soldier returned to the Renegade.
The soldier rushed off with confidence, but he left the general still in thought, still worried. ...Could a group of Predacons really...? He sighed, and stood up, returning to the table where he had left Barricade waiting. The Predacons were already on their way. Even if the station stopped them, Jaxtrin would have Shockwave to answer to. But there were other ways. If this Maximal team all had the information they really needed, they could stop the Predacons from completing their task.
Jax sat down next to Barricade, and took another furtive glance at the camera eye watching them from above. Confident that the din in the bar would drown their conversation, he began. "Lieutenant... A word, please. This won't take long."
—CB, JA, LA, AF
Viracide, sitting at a table with Goldstreak with an untouched drink in front of him, was playing with the change he won on the water drinking contest. Viracide downed the glass...and nothing happened. "I don't know, Goldstreak. People don't drink these things for the taste. I can't get drunk, even if I tried. All I could get, is full." Viracide was bored, and he was starting to run out of small talk. Then, he got an idea. "Hey, 'Streak, let's go see Magnaboss! I'm sure he'll want to see us, we're important warriors!" He said ecstatcally.
"Well, of course he will," the fuzor declared. "After all, Viracide and Goldstreak were chosen especially for this mission." Goldstreak rose from his seat with a flourish, and calmly marched out of the room. Blind as to what direction he should actually be going, he was certain he'd reach the Magnaboss' office regardless.
"Okay, Goldstreak, this way." Viracide looked on a station-map on the wall. "Okay, if we're here, then his office should be here." Viracide stepped ahead of Goldstreak and took the lead. "Who wouldn't give up the chance to see the leader of the Maximals? Hmmm... I wonder if he's talking to that Starscream guy?"
"Yes..." Goldstreak trailed off slightly. Starscream was...very important. To him, to the mission, to everyone. Yet he wasn't coming along. Goldstreak was convinced he could solve the mystery.
According to the map, the lift to the office was easy enough to find. It was solitary, designed to enter only the highest tower of the station. Because the Mangaboss was rarely physically here, it was rarely used, but, today, it was not only in use, but guarded by a very attentive soldier. He stopped both of the Maximals as they approached. "Halt there."
"Goldstreak and Viracide are here to speak to the Magnaboss. He is going to let us talk to him, of course?" Goldstreak almost demanded.
The guard paused. Two of the newcomers, and they wanted to speak to Magnaboss directly? "For what reason?"
"Reason? Do we need a reason?" Viracide glanced back at Goldstreak, "We're the greatest warriors on this Nebulos mission...and well... Maybe Magnaboss waant to give us some boss-like advice...or something." Viracide realized this may not work so he continued, "Well, he has the same power as Starscream..." Viracide said in refrence to Goldstreak.
"I can double-check it with you, sirs, but I can't promise..." the soldier began, but trailed off. "He has the... You're one of THOSE?" He stumbled backward.
"Goldstreak does not understand," the gryphon said, plainly.
"One of those— those—"
"The Magnaboss would thank you not to speak that name so casually," interrupted a very calm, aristocratic voice from the wall-mounted speaker system. At the sound, passersby near the elevator froze in place. "My advice to you is this," the speaker said. "Your starship boards in two megacycles. Your former passenger is in my custody. Your mission is clear, and it is simple. It would be unwise to disappoint me."
"Those.. Those... what? Fuzors?" Viracide thought for a moment then realized that may very well BE Magnaboss talking through the comm. "Wait, uh, Sir, what about...oops." Then he realized: mentioning Starscream may have been a bad idea. "...What I was saying is that maybe you want to see us. You know, to give us your blessing, or send-off, or something like that..."
"A 'blessing'?" Magnaboss seemed neither amused, nor confused, by this, and the question was designed to show Viracide just how foolish his request was. "I am in the practice of providing missions and funding. Not blessings. As for the one your friends wish to see, it intrigues me that the researcher has made such a favorable impression on all of you. Certainly he has gone beyond the call of duty this time. He has been locked down, and I will be personally returning him to the Predacons in short time. I do not believe it would benefit you, fuzor, to see your father in this state."
So casually was this fact delivered that it was very easy to miss. Goldstreak, however, did hear it, and it caused a panicked squawk to escape from his beakish mouth. He took a step back from the speaker on the wall, and the other soldiers took a step back from him. Shockwave's explanation continued, though Goldstreak was completely deafened to it, and it hit against numb aurals. "All guards, resume normal patterns. We will begin to ready the crews for their final destination."
The word "final" hit the air with impunity.
"Father..." Viracide felt out of place, he almost felt sorry for getting him into this. "...Goldstreak, well it's not that bad, I don't even know my father." Viracide knew there was still answers and it seemed Magnaboss want to shoo them off, "Wait Magnaboss, this isn't over yet, you know something, we want answers!
"I know many things, but you have received all the information I care to divulge. If not for my choosing you, both of you would still be trapped in a laboratory. Enjoy your newfound freedom while you still have it. If not, I will be happy to permanently escort you to Kitfox' current location," responded the 'boss, beginning to lose patience. "The Predacons are already preparing to board. If you want to match their pace, alert your crew."
Viracide galred at the speaker and he had the mind to blow the speaker into melted slag. But he had to do what he was told, and that wouldn't do much. He sent out a general message to the crew of the Renegade. "This is Viracide, we're leaving." Viracide wanted to do so much, but had no time. "We'll be back!" As he stormed out Viracide felt somewhat sorry for Starscream and for Goldstreak.
"Thank you, Viracide," responded Silverquick, "I was just about to suggest the same thing."
—BB, AF, LB
Charmacon's radio burst to life, resonating with the voice of his commander. "Subcommander, prepare the crew to board. We are leaving this traitor's den at once."
Charmacon jumped at the sound of his radio. He had been searching around the station for information modules, and had found out quite a great deal about Starscream and gis part in the Great War, at least the information that was availible to him. Though it had probably been tainted by Maxie interference, as Starscream couldn't have been the spineless traitor they described him to be.
"Yes-s-s, Lord S-s-stormclaw, I will inform the crew at once! Charmacon out!" he replied. Leave already? he thought. I still haven't seen Him! I need to ask fast. Where's Terrorpin?
"Terrorpin, report to me at once!" he said over the radio.
"ZZzz...zzz.... *hic* Zzzzzzz...." was the response. After finally having given up on finding information, the insane shelled reptile had drank himself silly, and was now laying plastered across the bar. He'd giggle and snicker once in a while, then return back to snoring. And every once in a while, he could be heard murmuring incoherent things, explanable only by the voices in his head.
With another loud snore, Terrorpin fell off the bar, transformed, and tucked into his shell, all before hitting the floor. There, he sat still, the snoring now more irritating than ever because of the echo.
"Terrorpin!" Charmacon shouted through his radio, "I need a confirmation of your Location NOW! Or perhaps-s-s you prefer staying on the Maxie s-s-station? I'm s-s-sure they have a 'need' for the likes-s-s of you here!"
Paradox was in the room when Terrorpin fell. He approached Terrorpin and spoke though his shell knowing that the comm-link would carry his voice over to Charmacon "Hey hey hey Lizard, Terrorpin is not advailable at the moment but if you would like to leave a message."
Nightfall shook her head. "I vote we leave him."
Terrorpin moved slightly and moaned once, disturbed by the continuing noise. The first thing that came to mind when he opened his eyes, was that his ingestion systems felt sore. The next, was that he could hardly see anything. The third, was that something was peeking it's head into HIS private shell!
His limbs thrust out of the shell in a hurry, knocking Paradox back. Then, the still-drunk reptile ran wildly around in circles, screaming at maximum volume. Something about demonic yellow rats and giant orange dinosaurs out to get him. And then... He ran smack into the bar counter.
"Ohhhh my head...." he slurred... "what the slaggin'...."
Aspis was sitting calmly at the bar, reading what little information he had managed to glean. All of it was really just confirmation, since his one good chance at real information had been ruined. The rest was still just speculation.
SPLOOSH! A glass of water, served in the regulation Cheap Synthetic Cups that every military installation were forced to use, exploded right in Aspis' face. Luckily, the snake managed to pull the files he was studying out of the way of the water. However, that left his face wide open.
He smacked Terrorpin over the head. "Half-bit!" he growled. "Just wake the rest of the way up, Charmacon's trying to talk to you."
"Whu?" the turtle said half-coherently. He blinked a few times, trying to concentrate and make out all the basics of the situation. Needless to say, it wasn't an easy task.
A moment later, he had sobered a bit, and tried to transform back to robot mode. After his body shifted itself to his robot mode, he sullenly glared at Aspis, then fell over. After snickering a moment, he reached his forearm back towards his body.
"You bellowed, your royal hiney?"
"Yes-s-s I did," Charmacon replied calmly, "I wonder if you would be s-s-so kind to get your s-s-shell over here, I require your.... 'as-s-sis-s-stance' on a precarious-s-s matter." Charmacon let go a slight hiss. "Oh, and inform Nightfall to round up the crew in about 3 clicks-s-s, that s-s-should be quite enough time. And, dear Terrorpin, S-S-SOBER THE S-S-SLAG UP OR I WILL EXTRACT YOUR S-S-SPARK WITH A RUSTY NEEDLE AND EAT IT FOR BREAKFAS-S-ST!!"
The snake almost choked on his drink at the threat coming through the communicator. It wouldn't have been nearly so comical if it weren't for the speech impediment. Aspis knew it wasn't nice to laugh at people with problems...but in no time flat, he was roaring, and started to walk back off to the ship.
"Mmmm.... needle... Heheheh..." the turtle slurred and stood gingerly. He looked over at Nightfall and snickered, then cleared his throat. "Charmacon said to get the zoo a feather in 3 licks.."
Now to go harass the stupid lizard.. he thought wryly and he stumbled out the door. Lucky for him, he was neither far from the Whisper, nor too drunk at the moment to recognize the distinct Predacon design. He snickered some more and meandered his way toward the large vessel. In truth, it was good for Charmacon—or bad—that he was too drunk to protest. Because if he had been sober under the threat of being left behind, he might've just taken himself up on that and downed another keg of Wheeljack Daniels.
—AF, MdJ, DW, BB, KH, CB
After his encounter with Magnaboss, Snarler was feeling a bit down, and was muttering alone to himself on the bridge. "How did he ever get so high and mighty why if he wasn't so afraid to be upgraded to Maximal size I'd show him not to treat people like cannon fodder, sending us on a suicide mission just so he can get revenge on someone from several hundred years ago I'll show him..."
Suddenly, a screen blinked on to show the rest of the crew were slowly boarding the ship. Snarler got out of the captain's chair and headed to his own chair to welcome the rest of the crew on. They weren't what he expected; that was for sure. Viracide and Goldstreak looked almost as pissed off as he did earlier, and Krunch looked like it was taking a modern miracle to allow him to walk straight. One too many Wheeljack Daniels he thought. "I'll have to get him a sign saying 'I'm asleep, not dead,'" Snarler thought, as he imagined what he might look like asleep.
Velocity had most definitely stayed away from Krunch's conversation with the Maximal General, and had been milling around the bar for a bit without drinking anything. At Viracide's order, he rushed onto the ship and rushed over to the sensor station, biting his lower lip to keep from shivering too obviously. And failing.
He looked over at Krunch, waiting to see if there was anyone else who wanted to talk with the suddenly-popular dinobot. However, Velocity reflected now that I've crashed, it might not be such a good idea to ask him anything. With that thought in mind the dogbot turned back to his station and left Krunch alone.
—DT, LA
"Man... What a load... I can't believe the commander's got me sitting outside here, waiting on him to finish his meeting with the Maxie..." Klaw-hammer, faithfully following orders, hadn't left Stormclaw's side until he had entered the room with Silverquick. Now, having waited for at least a few cycles, (maybe more, but Klaw-hammer had a small flask with him, so his timing wasn't exact), he was almost fed up with the whole affair.
"That's it. If Stormclaw... don't come out right now, I'm leaving!" Klaw-hammer got to his feet, and turned to leave. Just as he did, though, the door slid open and Stormclaw exited.
"Commander! I hope the meeting went well..." Klaw-hammer smiled sheepishly at being nearly caught abandoning post.
"Well enough," said the Predacon commander. "Some valuable information was gained. But we no longer have time to waste. Follow me back to Whisper, and we will board."
Stormclaw hoped that the other Predacons were prepared. Suddenly, it seemed as if the chase had become a race: a race the Predacons now needed to win.
—KCS, AF
Terrorpin made his way to the entrance of the massive Predacon vessel dubbed the Whisper. The last effects of his Wheeljack Daniels was wearing off, and he was more or less as sober as he normally was. A small headache lingered from the energon abuse, but pain wasn't something that was known to hold him back. Neither, of course, were entrances. He gave an exasperated sigh as he realized he was locked out and without the access code.
"Oh well." he said aloud as he withdrew a wire from within one of his shellplates. He then used one of his sharp, reptilian claws to pry off the panel beside the security device. After that, he attached his wire to the back of the interface, and began hacking the system.
Pfft... what low-grade systems... he smirked as the door hissed open. Even a moron like Pair-a-socks could break into this thing.
With the skill and precision used before, which was more along the lines of brute force, the transmetal II turtle replaced the hatch and stepped inside. As the door shut behind him, his optics searched the bridge for his supposed superior.
"Honneeyyyy I'm ho~ooommmee...!!" he chided.
Then, his red visor directed at and rested on the commander's chair. And who else should be sitting there but the freakin' lizard himself. Terrorpin held back a snarl and maintained his impossibly happy front.
Charmacon licked his mandables. "Good, good," he said, barely audible. "Time for you to make amends-s-s with your part of our bargain. After this-s-s, any loyalty you have will be yours-s-s to choos-s-se again, IF I s-s-should s-s-succeed. However, that will not be your concern."
Charmacon cloaked before continuing the conversation. When he spoke in cloaked mode, it sounded as though he was't entirely there, a litle bit dampened. "Follow my voice," he said, as they exited the Whisper and walked towards a large structure.
"You s-s-see this-s-s? This-s-s is where they keep HIM, I learned. That door over there is-s-s a minor entrance, but s-s-still guarded with cameras-s-s. However, they do not s-s-sseek heat, so they will not notice me in cloaked mode." Charmacon cackled. "You would not believe how bored s-s-some of thes-s-se Maxies-s-s are, and how willing they drop information when talking about Cybertron."
Charmacon planted an explosive near the doors panel. "Wave to the cameras-s-s, my dear turtle friend" he said, as he pushed the button on his remote, and the door exploded. "I s-s-sugges-s-st you run for the Maxies-s-s guards-s-s."
Terrorpin only had a second to ponder the sheer stupidity of Charmacon's actions. Shouldn't HE be the one blowing up doors while the invisible bafoon ran like a moron past the guards? He was the faster one. And then he realized exactly what it was that he was supposed to be doing, his mind still a bit slow from being drunk. HE was the diversion. That was the reason Charmacon had released his rank hold over him... because he was counting on Terrorpin getting caught by the guards, while he infiltrated Starscream's prison. Well, that wasn't gonna happen. No sirree Bob.
And without trying to give the freakin' lizard any eye contact, Terrorpin ran full speed toward a group of Maximal guards, who were on an Energon doughnut break. He ran right through them, plowing over a few and just knocking the others to the side.
"MWAHAHAHAAHA!!!! Hey gearheads!! Your mommas are Magnaboss' hos!! Darn good 'uns too!! Last night was fuuuuun......!!!"
After he had all of the large, enraged guards on his tail (And then some), the crazed Predacon began a merry tune.
"Put down that chainsaw and listen to me, it's time for us to join in the fight! It's time to let your babies grow up to be cowboys, it's time to let the bedbugs bite! You better put all your eggs in one basket.."
And so he continued singing, occasionally parodying a verse to take a potshot at one of the guards' mommas.
Charmacon was surprised at how well Terrorpin played his role. He half-expected to be betrayed by him, but obviously the element of surprise gave the turtle a 'correct insight.' Now, luckily, he will get himself blown up and rid us of a potential nuisance; it'll be perfect, yes!
Several Maximal guards rushed by towards the spot where Terrorpin was making a ruckus, and Charmacon slipped by them through the now blown-up door. Inside, Charmacon clung to a wall, and scurried over towards a ventilation grid. Making sure no one saw him, he went inside. The shaft was narrow, but Charmacon was sleak enough to move.
He crawled along for a while, and thought he saw something move. Maybe it was some kind of Alien, and his Chest almost Burst when he saw something slither by. Luckily, it was just a space rat. Charmacon actually had no clue on where to go, but hoped his willpower to reach Starscream was enough...
—DW, MdJ
The little talk with Jax had given plenty for Barricade to think about as he made his way to the docking bay, almost to the point that he didn't hear some crazed bot singing nearby. "Huh, guess some of the off-duty boys have hit the bottle one too many times," thought Barricade aloud. But there was no time for that. He had a mission to accomplish, and didn't have time to reprimand whoever it was making that din. And then, he at last arrived at the docking bay. Striding over and into the Maximal ship, he voiced aloud: "Who's the one in charge here?"
Viracide stood. "I am. I mean at least for the moment. Silverquick is in command usually, but he's not here, but he is coming..." Viracide shook his head. "Uh, what is it?"
Silverquick stepped on board the Renegade, several dozen trains of thought spinning around his head. He saw Viracide talking to a Maximal... one of Jax's guards, Silverquick remembered. "Who's our guest, Viracide?"
"I don't know. Some Maximal who got on our ship and starts asking for who's in charge. I thought you might know him." Viracide turned to the newcomer, "Okay, who are you, anyway?"
Krunch looked up from his station to see Barricade on the bridge talking with Viracide and Silverquick. Apparently, they were wondering why he was there.
"His name is Barricade! He's one of the General's men! If Jax sent him here, he's must have a legitimate reason!" said the sergeant, in a defending tone. As far as he was considered, Barricade was on the same page as Krunch, a fellow soldier that could follow orders. Not a subordinate, but a comrade.
Barricade cracked a small "thanks" smile toward Krunch's direction before turning back to Silverquick and giving him a quick salute. "As the sergeant said, the name's Barricade, and I'm here on an errand for General Jaxtrin. He has a little bit of curiousity itching at his processor and I have direct orders from him to tag along. That is if you have room for one more."
"Just as long as you're not housing an immortal Decepticon spark..." said Silverquick, letting that hang in the air for a moment before adding, "A joke; I'm sure the sergeant will be more than happy to explain later." Silverquick sized up the newest addition to his motley crew. Impressive, he thought. Nice to have a little more muscle.
Goldstreak balked considerably at Silverquick's first, throwaway comment, though he said nothing in response.
"Very well, then, welcome aboard," Silverquick continued. "Does the General have anything specific for you to accomplish, or are you here to observe?"
Shaking off the bewilderment caused by Silverquick's joke, Barricade spoke up. "Thank you sir, however, I'm presently not at liberty to answer your question." said Barricade before whispering, "for now....."
Silverquick caught Barricade's last comment, but decided not to respond; he was certain, as with everything else involving this mission, that he'd be told when it was deemed appropriate. Frustrating... "Very well, then." Turning to Viracide, he asked: "Are we all present, Viracide? I'd like to shove off within 15 cycles."
He looked back, "Snarler's here, Didgit and Orb never left the ship, there's Goldstreak, and umm Velocity and Jynx got aboard I believe." viracide thought for a moment, "Are you sure Barricade isn't bad news?"
"Now you're starting to sound like that slagging peace-pipe, Snarler! Look, like I said before, if Jax sent him, then he must be okay! And if you have a problem with that, then you have a problem with me!! Do you process??" said Krunch as he stood up from his console.
Snarler looked up at Krunch's comments, as if he suddenly felt Krunch's eyes burning a hole through him. "I have no problem, provided he is loyal to ths ship and crew, and won't betray us to 'his highness' up there," he said, pointing upwards in the direction of the station tower.
Snarler was still a bit annoyed at Magnaboss for denying him access to Kitfox, and was acting rather out of character. He really did need to change into his beast mode and get some proper rest, but the ship wasn't really large enough and he felt a bit awkward showing off his Predacon heritage on the station. Still, they would be on the planet soon: plenty of space to exercise his beast mode.
"Stand down, sergeant," Silverquick said gently. "Viracide's just playing Unicron's advocate, and after Kitfox, I can't fault him. Personally, I appreciate all the General's done for us, and I'm sure Barricade is worth his weight in energon. Make sure the team is all aboard, we leave in ten cycles."
"Aye, sir!" replied Krunch, then to Barricade, "Welcome aboard!"
The dinobot checked his console for spark signatures to make sure all were aboard, then reported again.
"As far as I can tell, sir, all present and accounted for!" he stated.
"Very well." Silverquick tabbed his commlink. "All personnel to flight stations; departure in ten cycles.
"Follow me to the bridge, gentlebots." Turning to Barricade, he asked, "Do you have skill in any shipboard positions?"
Looking at his new commander, Barricade apologized. "I'm sorry sir, but ships aren't my specialty. The only thing i've been on a ship was a passenger."
Velocity glanced over at the new bot, turned back to his console, and then turned and blinked again at Barricade as he entered the bridge.
"Uh, hey, the name's Velocity," the dogbot mumbled, waving a shivering hand. He cocked his head in canine curiosity—was this bot staying with them? Was he just here to inspect the ship? He looked over to Jynx to gauge the lynx's reaction.
Walking over to the small dogbot, Barricade shook Velocity's shaking hand.
"I'm Barricade, pleased to meet you," he said, gauging Velocity's reaction. "Let me guess. You want to know why I'm here, don't you?" he asked.
Velocity grinned slightly at the very large Maximal. "Pleased t'meet you too! And yeah, I was wonderin' that. You read my mind," he said.
The dogbot blinked at his own statement. "Yer a Transmetal 2—of course you can," he added, with a stacato giggle of nervousness.
"Barricade eh?" Jynx said. "What crime did you commit to be sent with us towards a death trap?"
Jynx grinned upon that last remark. "Anyways, I am Jynx. Pleased to meetcha. Always nice to see someone you can hide behind in a fire fight."
Viracide used to be the token TII around... Viracide just wondered how he came into being and what powers he had. Viracide decided to ask him later. "Well, Barricade, nice to have you aboard." Viracide looked to Silverquick. "If there are no other delays, I'm eager to get ahead of the Predacons."
"Thank you sir," said Barricade to Viracide before turning back to Velocity, "Well, little fella, just suffice to say that the general here is a bit curious as to what this is all about and thinks you might want a bit of help where you're going." Barricade's face turned serious and looked around a bit as if to see the Magnaboss's single eye staring at him. Especially if Jax's suspicions are right thought Barricade. Shaking it off, he turned to Jynx.
"Hide behind? My friend, you have no idea," he chuckled, remembering some of his earlier firefights where he was the only available cover. "Well, I'd better let you guys get back to your stations, or we'll never get out of this boring old scrap heap."
"Very well, Viracide. Open a channel to docking control."
The dogbot nodded, a forced grin on his face as his body increasing trembling. Jynx's comments about a death trap weren't sitting all too well with him. However, help (and cover) provided by a Transmetal 2 was always good.
"Help, hey, that's great!" the Transmetal said with a quick nod. He was about to ask just what exactly Barricade could do but Barricade's suggestion that he let them get back to their duty silenced him.
"Good t'have you on board," he said quickly, then turned back to his console. Looking at the buttons, he sighed. A boring old scrap heap sure sounded quite nice right about now.
—GD, BB, LB, JA, DT, LA, MdJ
The shaft came to an abrupt end at an almost-opaque grid... beyond that grid, darkness. It took all of Charmacon's leverage to push the grid away, and when it finally clattered to the floor, his optics took a moment to adjust. The only source of light in the room was the glow from energy restraints: and the prisoner in the tiny cell was restrained far beyond what would seem like logical need. His arms, waist and throat were locked on to the wall by purplish-white beams. His legs dangled slightly above the floor, and, with his arms above his head, it seemed that in fact his neck was bearing the weight of his entire body. The cell's outer door was not energy-based; just a thick, vaccuum-locked seal, and the tiny shaft had provided the room's only circulation. The prisoner seemed almost deactivated, unmoving from that position, but, at the sound of noise, Starscream opened those red optics, and flickered them over in Charmacon's direction. Silence.
Charmacon just stood there, eyeing Starscream. He had accomplished what he came for, and now only had to decide what was the next step. His brain module worked at full speed, and he knew what the most logical thing seemed. He had to get Starscream out of here. "Lord S-s-stars-s-scream" He whispered, "I have come to free you"
The red optics flickered, and the hands, held high up, twitched slightly. In a voice that sounded tired and strained, but wholly unmistakable, the prisoner choked, "Well.... be quick about it."
"My Liege..." Charmacon said, as he quickly made an assesment of how Starscream was restrained. The beams were hooked up to a large transmitter, and Charmacon tapped into the access panel. Standard Maximal security protocol. The Maxies here either believed no one would be stupid enough to free him, or knew he couldn't go anyware if they did.
They were mostly right, but they didn't count on the 'zealous nature' of Charmacon.
As it appeared, if he could keep the sytem busy while releasing the pressure on the beams, no one would notice the sudden increase upon the beams reflecting each other when Starscreams body was no longer there, at least not until a main system check up. Hopefully, the 15 click interval between these gave them enough time to get out of here. Charmacon hooked up to the beam emitter, whilst monitoring the check up interval. As it passed, Charmacon immediately ran a diagnostic program on the rooms climate control, which was accessed through the same panel, as he slowly decreased the beams pressure.
Starscream struggled, then, all at once, he fell to the floor as the bars dissipated. The metal of his body creaked as scars left by the cut of the energy bars knitted together. Starscream coughed. 'My leige?' That was a new one on him. ...Not that he didn't like it.
His strength regaining, Starscream stood to his full height: what there was of it. Upon a second glance, Charmacon found himself taller than the ancient. In honesty, the body Starscream wore was every bit Maximal, even branded with the fox-faced symbol on the breast. The healing cycle swiftly completed, the air commander was now in perfect condition.
"Shockwave DID say he was going to send me to the Predacons," Starscream said, assessing his savior. "I didn't think it would be this soon." A momentary panic passed over his optics, and he glanced toward the grate. "We have to get out of here. No time."
Charmacon used his superior memory to backtrack the way he came in, with Starscream following him, and still found an empty corridor where he accesed the ventilation shaft complex. Good, they still haven't discovered anything... He did hear lasers firing outside, and figured the Maximal guards still hadn't captured Terrorpin. "This-s-s way, my liege," he said, as he pointed towards the door.
The Transmetal II turtle, though, had completely forgotten about his role as diversion completely. He was simply having too much fun.
"C'mon, slowpokes!! Walk this way! Hehehe!!" he called, as he began doing something akin to a hunchback running. The guards, though, were too tired together. Many of them were fresh out of energon, and littered Terrorpin's path like limp bodies, desperately trying to tap their reserves to stay concious. The Predacon maniac, however, looked like he hadn't spent a single drop of energon. He was still raring to go, and hugely dissappointed in his chasers' performance.
"Ah, phooey on you guys..." he grumbled as he walked off. He'd had enough jollies for now, and he was bound to find some more later.
Meanwhile, Starscream stepped toward the door, then glanced back once at the Predacon who had lead him. "I've waited a long time to hear that compliment, you know. Perhaps the Predacons..." Suddenly the laser fire sounded a lot closer by. Starscream shifted into his beast mode, although he seemed to do so with some distaste. "You had better get out while you still have the chance. You have NO IDEA the trouble you've saved me... We'll exchange frequencies, and talk again when it's safe."
"Yes-s-s my Liege.. Our S-s-ship is-s-s the Whis-s-sper. It s-s-shouldn-t be to hard to mis-s-s-s, it's-s-s the only s-s-ship with a Predacon ins-s-signia. I s-s-sugges-s-st you make has-s-ste."
"Oh, and don't worry about me getting caught." Charmacon transformed to beast mode and engaged his cloak. His voice came from out of the void. "We s-s-shall rendez-vouz at the Whis-s-sper, my Liege." He then contacted Terrorpin on his radio. "Terrorpin! Are you coming, or do you enjoy playtime too much?"
Terrorpin looked behind himself and smirked at the collapsed bodies of the Maximal guards. "On my way. My toys are far from suitable playing condition anymore."
Just then, he heard—and felt, too—footprints approaching him from the front. "My... spider sense is.. tingling.." He snickered. The now too-cocky turtle turned around was face-to-belly with the single biggest Maximal he had ever seen. Two things occured to him. One, was that this guy was BIG and very strong-looking. The second was the he was that this Maximal was also a rather smelly boar.
After the second message entered Terrorpin's warped CPU, he lost it.
"It's Pork-zilla!!! RUN AWAY!!!!" he screamed in a bad Asian accent.
The giant guard blinked in awe as he watched the insane Predacon take off at speeds that were absurd for a turtle or, well, pretty much anything. It was then that the facts of the situation sank in to the behemoth's tiny, under-used CPU. With the terrifying cross between a pig's squeal and an enraged battle cry, the big pig pulled out what appeared to be half the station's artillery and gave chase.
As Terrorpin was running, he felt the ground begin to quake beneath him. And for some stupid reason, Terrorpin felt the urge to look back.
There, coming up faster than Terrorpin would've liked, was that same guard, with more guns than he had ever seen in one place at the same time EVER.
"He's gonna EAT ME!!!" The insane turtle yelled as he redoubled his speed, dodging laser fire.
But just as the Predacon ship was in sight, the giant porker stopped in his tracks. He took careful aim at Terrorpin... and fired.
"WHEEEEEE!!!!" The crazed turtle screamed as an explosion sent him flying toward the open hatch of the Predacon vessel. He grinned in a daze as he flew closer to the hatch, but then—
*SPLAT!*
....overshot the hatch and hit the hull above it.
The flattened Predacon fell down onto the boarding ramp and comically began shaking around like a dropped penny. The ramp then pulled him inside, and the Whisper's doors hissed shut.
—AF, MdJ, DW
The Maximal guards parted for the Predacons as they boarded, many of them all-too-pleased to be rid of their guests. Stormclaw sat upon the bridge, and ordered that the systems be checked and double-checked. Then, he gave the order to depart: "Paradox, punch in the coordinates for Nebulos."
Paradox looked back at the commander nodded his head and punched in the course. "I hope your glad glad glad I don't drink." Paradox said, thinking about Terrorpin. Paradox took the joystick; he always undocked manually, and he was one of the few that definitely could.
Nightfall took her post, shaking her head. "I wonder what the Maximals know..." She looked over. "They seem a motley crew, but unless Maximal high command are fools... If Magnaboss wished for there to be 'cannon fodder' for this trip, why select Maximals that might just as well try to stop us as do what they're told?" She was beginning to wonder if this mission was a good idea, especially her part in it.
—AF, BB, CB