Chapter two: Carter and Prowl
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WELCOME BACK, MY FRIENDS!
This one took to long to finish.
Shame on me. TT^TT
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Prowl, the Second In Command of the entire Autobot forces, rubbed his chevron irritably; trying his best to stave off the glitch that oh so wanted to manifest. In front of him was a Data-pad, one of many stacked to his left and right. This particular one contained the information about Autobot requests for human-made items. Such as Autobot Hound asking for an exotic plant, or Wheeljack and his request for a Bull (denied). However, the bot was currently nursing his helm after reading the request the twins sent him.
'Why in Primus' name would the twins need 400 inflatable Humans?' having looked up exactly what the Item is and what it's sometimes used for, he deduced that the plastic inflatable must be apart of some sort of prank, and therefore must NOT reach their servos. He denied the request and set the now completed tablet aside.
His internal chronometer told in that it was twelve o'seven, reminding him that he needed to refuel.
He vented softly, pulling another tablet from the mountainous pile. Unfortunately, he was a few days behind in paperwork, and the few breem he would spend refueling would be much better spent if he just stayed in his office and continued to work.
Mind made up, Prowl continued to sort, fill out, approve, deny, and delete the data-pads, depending on the information that was in them.
His scheduled lunch time came and passed, and he still continued to work. A few breems had passed, his systems periodically reporting his energon levels as he sorted more of the tablets. He was so focused on the "paperwork" that when his office door opened of his own accord, his Battle Computer shot online; the programming almost caused him to draw his acid rifle on reflex. His main function went back to idle when the only thing he saw was two stacked cubes of energon, a familiar human next to them.
"You missed your refueling again Prowl." they accused, their usual brown hair a brilliant white, signifying her half inorganic form "You know that's one of the reasons why you glitch so often, so why do you keep doing it?"
"In order to prevent back up, the paperwork must be done on time every day," he replied calmly, "it would be logical if I used every moment of my free time to get as far as I can Carter."
"Refueling is not a free time activity. It's apart of your everyday life! Your schedule! You shouldn't put aside something so vitally important to your well-being for the paperwork!"
"I don't really seem to have a choice." Prowl said neutrally, grabbing another tablet from the pile and going through it. Carter fumed a bit at his lack of interest in his health.
"Oh? And why not?"
"The bot scheduled to be my assistant today was coerced into an activity approved by Prime. And he has yet to return."
She scowled, "who was it! I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind!"
Prowl snorted at my comment, finishing the tablet in his hand and getting a new one, "It was Jazz."
Whatever planned on coming out of her mouth next was cut off as it clicked shut, 'oh… it had to be the one bot who would be willing to terrify someone for twelve hours straight.' "...Crap… I'm sorry Prowl. I sent Jazz after Hot Rod after he flung me off of his roof."
The data-pad he held within his servos dropped onto his desk with a click-clack, "...Repeat that statement."
"I'm fine. You know that the impact wouldn't hurt me too bad." Carter soothed, picking up the energon cubes, "I snuck onto Rod's roof when they sped through a dust cloud and startled him when I asked what they were doing. He braked faster than I gave him credit for, resulting in me getting flung off when I continued moving forward." she stopped next to his desk, putting one of the cubed containers down before gently throwing the other up; The other one followed next.
Via a Ladder placed for humans, she scaled the side on Prowl's desk so that she could see him face to face. "Jazz checked up on me after I made the impact to the earth, and then proceeded to terrify the one who dared harm his charge. No doubt that by the time he's done, Rod's Flames will be replaced with fluffy pink clouds…" trailing off, Carter quickly pushing a sealed energon cube in Prowl's servos before he could pick up the Data-pad he dropped.
He shot her an exasperated look, before gently prying it open. As the Autobot SIC refueled, the Guardian looked at the stacks of data-pads in thought. "So… do you need any help?"
Prowl stilled, pulling the half-empty cube from his metal mouth, "you do not have to volunteer for an activity you find monotonous."
Carter snorted, "I don't think anyone enjoys doing paperwork Prowl. Besides, I'm not volunteering because I like paperwork. But because you look like you need the help." she gestured to the massive pile of tablets, "that's a lot of work for one mind, even if it's a super-powered cybertronian one."
Prowl still wasn't convinced, "do you not already have an excessive amount yourself?"
She winced, yeah… she was a little bit behind…. "Yeah, but I can always do that a bit later." Carter quickly tapped into the data of a few tablets, "besides, yours are due much sooner than mine."
Prowl was silent, "... you do not have the correct energon signature to authorize any of these documents."
The Guardian smiled, "you just let me worry about that. Now!" she rubbed her hands together, "let's get to work!" she proceeded to meticulously grab multiple tablets and shrink them via a button on the side.
Using a some donated nanites, wheeljack was able to create tablets that could switch between cybertronian size and human size. Sometimes the humans use the tablets as giant flat-screen TVs instead of their actual function, but other than that, they were the most used item to transfer data between humans and cybertronians. Sideswipe suspects that the humans are just sadistically obsessed with paperwork and that they might force the concept of paperwork upon any sentient race they come across.
After stealing a little under half of the massive stack, Carter moved to a clear corner of the desk before flopping down and working on her first data-pad.
It wasn't until a few datapads in, that Prowl asked Carter a question.
"... you are forging Jazz's signature aren't you."
"...maybe."
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Meanwhile, halfway across the base, trouble was a-brewin'.
"The fuuun has ARIIIIIIIVED!" Sideswipe sang as he slid into his shared quarters. Already in the room was his twin brother and their shared girlfriend, Shiftframe. As the same soul in two bodies, the bros came as a two-for-one package deal.
"Why hello there my ladylove." he purred, sliding up to press his forehead against hers in the cybertronian form of a kiss, "thou tis of the brightest of suns, awaiting the one who'd besto'est a Tender kiss upon the lips of thine fair lady." he pecked her lip components gently.
Shiftframe laughed, "did something good happen while you were away?"
"Unfortunately not my love," Sideswipe sighed pitifully, pulling shift closer, "but alas! I have decided the receiver of our next prank!"
"It'll probably screw us over won't it?" Sunstreaker asked from his berth, car wax in one servo and a buffer in the other.
"When does it not?" Shift asked rhetorically.
"Seriously guys. This's gonna be great!" the red twin said enthusiastically.
"You said that last time-" the yellow one started.
"-And then we had to scrub the tarmac by servo." their mate/girlfriend finished, disengaging herself from the red twin before moving to help the yellow one buff the scuffs he couldn't reach. Sideswipe wilted at the abandonment.
For a few minutes, the trio sat in moderate silence. The only noises heard being the buffer, the whirring from their shifting joints, and the occasional vent from the bots. Sides took the time to think. "how to get them to help… how to get them to help…"
"...we'll be targeting Carter." he offered hopefully.
"And get the prank redirected at us threefold? No thanks." his twin replied, shifting his armor a bit so that his gal could buff the harder to reach areas.
"...it'll involve paint?" Sunny twitched but still made no move to support his brother.
It continued like that for about half an hour, Sides pitching an idea or any Pros to his better halves while they retort with a Con and a rejection.
The red Lambo wasn't giving up.
Sideswipe reached into his subspace and pulled out a few of his prized possessions. He silently made his way to the grooming duo, taking a seat on the berth. They didn't acknowledge him.
First, he slid a few cubes of sealed high-grade energon; they moved slightly away from him.
Next, he placed down some homemade energon goodies. But still, they refused to give in.
Finally, the red twin inhaled, It's time to take out the big guns.
He carefully slid some coppery colored rods toward his companions, making extra sure to gently rub them first so that the sweet's protective edible mineral covering allowed the scent to waft to their olfactory sensors.
Then he waited.
They still did not acknowledge him.
But when the scent of the now rare cybertronian delight known as "Rust sticks" reached their olfactories, they both twitched.
They lasted only thirty seconds.
"Fine," Sunstreaker grumbled, snatching the treats and alcohol.
"What do we have to do?" Shift asked, grudgingly slipping the mineral rod into her mouth.
Sideswipe cheered.
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Meanwhile
"...hn, my twin senses are tingling."
Inferno snorted, "perhaps you should go and get your processor checked."
Red Alert scowled, "I'm serious! Those two are up to something."
"They're always up to something"
"Of course they are! The damn pit spawns. They're probably are planning another base-wide prank!" the paranoid security director began to frantically review the patrol schedules, the twin's most recent order requests, recent conversations with both humans and fellow bots, recent trips to human cities, the type of energon they've been recently consuming. Anything that could help him prevent the oncoming apocalypse. "Remember the time they set off those dreaded paint bombs all over the base? Cameras blinded, organics and bots covered in hideous shades of color, the organics poisoned reactions to the chemicals in the compound, not to mention the numerous amounts of energon tainted with the taste of the foul concoction for the next 3 orns. We were completely open for Decepticon attack that day! It set back Prime's political schedule a whole 13 orns! I CANNOT allow that to happen again!"
The firetruck sighed, "Red, the delay in Prime's schedule was not your fault and you know it."
"But I could have prevented it! Could've followed the twins with the cameras and reported their actions to the higher-ups!" Red Alert began to twitch and fidget as his processor began to create multiple imaginary ways that he could have prevented the cluster frag that the orns following the horrid prank were. This continued for a few more nano-kliks until his helm began to inevitably smoke as it overworked itself; His actions were becoming more erratic and jerky.
Inferno frowned, "Red, you have to calm down. Less you glitch in the middle of your long aft shift. Then I'll have to escort you to the medbay due to the complete negligence of your health."
The fire-rescue vehicle snapped his gaze to his closest friend, the smoke ceasing to be produced, "you're right! I'll need to stock up on energon and-" he grimaced, "visit the medbay for a quick checkup. I'll need to be in optimal condition if I am to do extended surveillance on the pit spawns before their attempt to cause anarchy throughout the base." the mech suddenly stood up, making his way to the door, "Hold the fort Inferno, I'll be back within a few human hours."
The firetruck jolted at his friend's sudden movement, "Now Red, that's not what I-" began the protest, but the door was already sliding shut behind the security director. "...meant." the mech sighed, activating his comm systems as he settled in Red Alert's abandoned seat.
"Inferno! What's happening my mech?"
"Hey Blaster, can you spare Rewind for a few hours? Red's run off to prepare for a long-term observation of the twin's lifestyle."
"His 'twin senses' set off?" the communications officer asked knowingly.
"Yup."
"Sorry to hear that ma'dude. He's on his way now, ETA two clicks."
"Thanks."
"Anything for a brotha." the line clicked off, and Inferno cleared an area on the cluttered desk for his incoming assistant. Once that was done, the firetruck reclined on his friend's well worn-in chair.
For an organic-made item, this thing was surprisingly comfortable...
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Hey guys, sorry for the wait, the next chapter should come out much sooner next time.
