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CHAPTER FOUR: A SPY IN THE MIDST, BUT NO ONE BELIEVES IT
Later in the day, Hot Rod stood with Kup and Springer on the outer wall overlooking the forested landscape. He was furious right now, because they didn't believe him. He had told Kup about that day in the training room, when Animus had used an advanced fighting move to defeat him, but Kup laughed. Hot Rod tried desperately to get him to listen, but Kup clearly thought Animus was ok. When Springer walked by, Kup told him of Hot Rod's suspicions and the two of them began to tease Hot Rod about being paranoid.
"Just stop it already, will you!" Hot Rod begged. "I'm telling you the guy is a Decepticon spy or something. I just graduated from the Academy, like he says he did, and I was never taught anything like that."
"Maybe he was telling the truth about it just being beginner's luck. I have seen many rookies take to fighting like second nature like that, it's really nothing suspicious." Kup said as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
Springer nodded. "Yeah, and he seems normal to me. I haven't seen him do anything questionable since we met him."
"But I did!"
"That's another problem, Hot Rod. You're the only person who thinks they saw this. I've trained with him, and he seemed very much like an Academy graduate." said Kup.
"Have you checked to see if he really is from the Academy?" Hot Rod asked. "He may have forged those credentials he gave you."
Kup shook his head in disbelief at Hot Rod's suspicions. "Look, kid, if you're that worried, I'll look him up, ok?"
"Yes! Thank you."
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Kup mumbled to himself as he pushed himself off the wall and led the way into the archive room of Autobot City.
He went to a computer, pulled up the files for the Autobot Academy, and searched for the list of students who had graduated recently. The files were alphabetically organized, so it didn't take long for Kup to find the entry for Animus.
"Look it, here, Hot Rod. There's his name, right on the list along with many others. Still think he's a spy?" Kup stepped back from the screen so Hot Rod could read the file himself. It was just like all the other entries: it listed his name, when he applied, when he graduated, his skills and the things he still hadn't mastered, and it even listed his assignment to Autobot City. Hot Rod couldn't understand it. If he was a spy, how was this possible? Was he really just being paranoid?
"Now, let's all just forget about this suspicion of Animus, all right? The kid's clean, nothing suspicious in the least." Kup ordered before shutting the program down and turning for the door.
Springer shook his head. "Yep, if that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will." He also left the room, leaving Hot Rod alone and completely confused.
In the next room over, a tense Animus relaxed in relief. He had just barely finished hacking into the archives and changing them when he heard someone approaching. He quickly finished adding the file, turned everything off, and ducked into a small storage room before Kup, Hot Rod, and Springer stepped in.
He just convinced Kup and Springer that there was nothing suspicious going on by that file, and he was sure everyone else would also be equally convinced if Hot Rod ever brought up the situation again. Now, all he had to do to retain his cover was to stay careful and alert, and never, ever get cocky again. If he allowed that again, he may not be able to fix it a second time.
He waited for Hot Rod to leave the room before slipping out of the closet and heading out himself. Before he closed the door behind him, he made sure that he left everything the same way it had been when he first arrived. Satisfied that he had, he closed the door and headed out once again to try and locate Optimus Prime. This job would have to be completed quickly.
Later that day, Animus was informed that Optimus would be joining the training session to give advice and lesson. Animus waited impatiently until that time, and he was one of the first to arrive. When all the new recruits were there, Optimus Prime stepped in. He told them that they were going to fight him one on one today. Animus waited his turn, knowing that this would be a perfect time to ascertain the Autobot leader's strengths. He watched until his turn came up. When it did, he stepped up onto the fighting ring hesitantly, maintaining his guise as an Autobot rookie. He took a stance in front of Optimus, ready for his attack.
"Be quick!" Optimus warned before charging the assassin. Animus ducked out of the way and took a ready stance again.
"Impressive," Optimus said after he turned back around to face his opponent. "You were fast on your feet there, but let's see if you can keep it up."
Animus did a superb job at pretending to be just another Academy graduate this time. No one expected anything, and he got to see just how strong Optimus was, so he was better prepared for when the time came to finish his job. Optimus finished the fight by flipping Animus over in a swinging kick to the back of his legs. It was almost too fast that Animus almost didn't detect it, but true to his part, he acted as if the move caught him completely off guard.
"You did well," Optimus congratulated as he helped the green bot to his feet, "I can see you becoming a skilled fighter in our war against the Decepticons."
Optimus turned from Animus to the next trainee in line, which happened to be Hot Rod.
"I want to go again." Animus declared. Optimus turned his head back to him, amusement clearly showing in his eyes.
"Maybe later, Animus." He said. "Right now, I have to keep on schedule."
"So, later? When you're free?"
"We'll see," Optimus promised. Animus nodded and stepped off the training area, letting Hot Rod take his turn. As they passed, they glanced at each other and their optics met. Animus smiled friendly, but Hot Rod's frown grew deeper. That bot was going to cause him trouble; Animus could feel it in his circuits.
True to his word, Optimus did meet with Animus again for training, and each time, Animus would wait for that opportunity when they were completely alone, but the opportunity never came. There was always somebody; mostly that somebody was Hot Rod. The week was slowly coming to a close, and Animus knew that his master, Maelstrom, would contact him if he did not complete his job on the prearranged date that had been agreed upon with Megatron. Maelstrom was a very strict master, a match to Megatron himself. Animus knew what would happen to him if he didn't complete his assignment or didn't complete it on time. On occasion Animus had been punished for failing, but it had been a long time since he had failed anything. He was afraid to fail again.
That night, just as Animus had feared, he was contacted. He was lying on his berth, staring at the wall across the room, sorting through plans in his processor. If only a storm would come, he would use his abilities as a Storm-Breaker to destroy Optimus that way, but as it was, there was no storm in the forecast for the next few days. Then it would be too late and passed his deadline. He knew Maelstrom would want him back aboard his command ship on that deadline, so there was no use waiting for that storm. He also knew that attacking Optimus right out was foolish. There were always so many Autobots around; he would be dead before he dealt the Autobot leader much damage. He also ruled out sniping. For all his skill as a fighter, his aim with a weapon was nonexistent. Storm-Breakers didn't rely on weapons as a whole. There were a few skilled as snipers, but they were few indeed. Animus knew if he could not think of another plan, shooting Optimus was his last option, and he knew that actually getting a clean shot was iffy at best. No, he had to think of something better than that. But what?
It was then that his long distance transmitter buzzed to life. He jumped up and opened his foot locker at the end of his berth. He pulled the hand-held communicator out and adjusted a few settings until a face was clear on the view screen. He grimaced once he recognized who it was that contacted him.
"Arrowhead, are you insane? Do you know how risky it is contacting me like this?" Animus hissed at the one bot he hated more than Maelstrom: his brother Arrowhead, first officer to Maelstrom.
"I am only doing as our great master so orders, brother." Arrowhead informed. "I know this could have you discovered and also killed, but neither Maelstrom nor I really care about that at this moment. The due date swiftly approaches, oh brother of mine, and you have yet to notify us of the success of your mission."
"You know very well that I do not make contact until I have finished a job. Why are you checking up on me? There are still two more Earth days until deadline!"
"Yes, but our glorious master—and your current employer—grow impatient with the long wait."
"I'm having difficulties."
"Difficulties? One of the finest assassins among the Storm-Breakers is having difficulties? My, my, losing your touch, little brother?" Arrowhead grinned, and his yellow optics shrank to mere slits, a habit of his when he is enjoying another's plights, or when he knows he struck a nerve.
Animus' engines revved in anger, something resembling an angry growl. "I will have my mission completed soon. If you think you're so high and mighty, why don't you get out in the field and redden your servos with the blood of your prey?"
"Oh, please," Arrowhead scoffed, "someone has to stay behind and be the brains."
Once again, Animus' engines roared.
Arrowhead laughed. "We will be arriving later tomorrow. Maelstrom himself wants to see why the assassin he recommended is failing in his work. Meet us at the location we will send you in the morning. If you value your hide, you will have the job completed by then. Maelstrom is not amused with your lack of progress. So, for your sake, brother, do get on with it."
"Like you care," Animus hissed.
"You're right, I don't." With that, Arrowhead ended the transmission and the viewer went blank. Animus knelt there seething for a long time. He hated Arrowhead. It was he who betrayed him, just so he could get the much coveted second-in-command position; a position Animus was considered for, and he would never forgive his brother for all the things he had done after that. Taking the second-in-command position was just the beginning. After that, Arrowhead did everything he could to beat Animus down. He had to fight extra hard to remain at the top, and now, he risked getting Animus found out by the Autobots. What if he hadn't used a secure channel? What if the Autobots were monitoring all transmissions? It was too risky to contact him that way.
The next day, Animus was hanging out on the recreation room. That was where most of the Autobots were when they were off duty, and he needed to find a way to get Optimus alone. Right now, he didn't see Optimus, but he figured someone would know where to find him.
"So, how's your training with Optimus coming along?" Animus turned his head to identify who had asked him the question and saw Springer. He smiled. Time for another acting job.
"It's going great! I've learned more in the past few days than in all my time at the Academy!" he lied.
"I hear ya. Optimus says you're pretty good too."
Animus located the owner of the other voice and saw it was Jazz, one of Optimus' highest and most trusted officers.
"Well, I'm just average." Animus said with mock humility. Would they be surprised if they ever found out the measure of his true skill? "But Optimus has really taught me a lot. I've never had an instructor with so much patience and wisdom as Optimus." Here Animus wasn't really lying. As a Storm-Breaker, Animus didn't really have an instructor. He was taught the basics, and then thrust into danger to learn, and hopefully survive. Only the strongest and fastest ever made it long.
"Yeah, I want to hear all about it," said a red Autobot known as Sideswipe, "hey, how about you come with us to the countryside and tell us all about it, huh? Spike wants to teach us how to do something the humans call 'fishing' which sounds very boring to me. So maybe if you come and tell us what you're learning while Spike is showing us whatever, the day won't be a complete waste."
"You want me to come?" Animus said with genuine disbelief. When he was with the Storm-Breakers, everyone was on their own, no one ever thought of hanging out with anybody, so he was a little puzzled at the invitation.
"Of course!" Springer agreed, clapping Animus on the back. "It's going to be a small group anyway. The more the merrier, right?"
"Well, when are you going?" Animus asked, remembering Arrowhead's warning that Maelstrom would be arriving sometime later that day.
"This afternoon," Sideswipe answered.
Maybe this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak off to meet his master. He could easily slip away from the group while they were busy learning this 'fishing' thing from the human Spike. He nodded his head.
"Yeah, I think I will come. I've wanted to get out of the base anyway."
"I'll go too." Hot Rod stepped up just then, from the corner where he had been observing Animus. Animus inwardly groaned. This kid just wouldn't give up! He hadn't done anything since that day to alert suspicion, and even Kup had told Hot Rod to leave Animus alone. Did he ever listen to orders?
This chapter was a but longer, so I hope people didn't get bored of it. In the next chapter, things start to heat up. I won't tell how, but someone does get into a bit of trouble. ;)
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