DMK: ARRRGH! This is GOING to be chapter four if it's the last thing I do! ::off having a conniption fit:: I'm getting tired of doing this!
Hotshot: Doing what? O.o;;
DMK: Writing a chapter and realizing it fits in much later in the story! I've got two later chapters all ready finished…I just have to fill in the gap. HELP MEEEEEE! ::falls down author's pit of despair::
Hotshot: .;; ::gets Smokescreen to drag her back up using his crane:: Okay, since DMK has been reduced to a gibbering pile of mush, I'll just kick off this chapter for you…AND ENJOY IT!
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Chapter 4
Sideswipe nearly fell out of his chair. "No way! You beat him?!" He looked up at Windracer with surprise.
"It was just barely, though…I don't even think he was trying his hardest…"
"A win's a win, you know! You shouldn't be so humble about it!"
That was when Hotshot chose to walk in, muttering furiously to himself. The two younger Transformers followed them with their optics curiously. He grabbed himself an Energon cube, scowled, and drank at it half-heartedly. Hotshot's optics were a dangerous shade of light blue, and no one wanted to mess with him right then. Windy looked across to Sideswipe, a 'What now?' expression on her face. The racecar Transformer shrugged subtly, just as confused as his surrogate sister.
The female's dragon tail twitched in slight agitation, and she mouthed, 'Well, do something!'.
Sideswipe's optics brightened, and he pointed to himself, asking silently, 'Who, me?'
Windracer rolled her optics in exasperation, as if saying 'No, the Queen of England, of course you!'.
Gulping, the younger mech stepped forward cautiously. "Uhh...bro?"
Hotshot's head snapped to look in their general direction, his frown still very visible. "What."
"Uhh...well-"
"What's up with you and Wheeljack?" Windracer interrupted flatly. "One minute you want him back as an Autobot, next you're acting like Megatron with his armor on too tight."
Hotshot brought his attention up to her, his look turning a bit more sour. "You think I should just welcome him back? After what he did to me an' Sideswipe? After he nearly killed you as a human HOW many times?" The femme didn't respond; she was busy processing what he'd just said. "Listen Windy, you don't know Wheeljack. I do. If ya know what's good for you, don't trust him. He'll stab you in the back, just like he did to me."
Windracer thought even more deeply about it. 'Okay...so he's nearly killed me a few times, I was in the way when I was a fleshie... And...and with Hotshot and Sideswipe... he was a 'con... he had to do it...' She tried convincing herself of Wheeljack's good, if misguided intentions. 'Plus...if I turn my back on him, there'll be no one at the base short of Optimus that'll treat him equally...he WILL go back to the 'Cons if that happens...And he saved my life once! My trust is the least I can offer him!'
"But bro...ya gotta remember, he saved her up on the moon. Why would he do that if he wasn't genuine about changing sides?" Sideswipe interrupted calmly.
Hotshot didn't even bat an optic. "He can act. Believe me, he can. I'll bet you anything it was just a show to get on our good sides."
That was it. Windy had taken enough bashing from her savior and new teammate. The dragonlike wings across her back folded tightly inward, and her tail twitched twice from obvious disdain. Starting forward, she began to leave the room.
"And where are you going?" Hotshot called to her as she left.
"Somewhere to think. The way you're bashing Wheeljack is driving me insane." She responded flatly.
"Sis!" Sideswipe stepped forward, but was stopped by Hotshot.
"Let her go. She'll learn the hard way about being so quick to trust someone..."
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Hallway, Autobot Base
Muttering furiously to herself, Windracer stomped down the desolate hall alone. Her small Minicon partner, however, came out of an adjacent room as she passed.
Hey! Where the slag are you going? the Minicon called to her.
"Somewhere. Hotshot got on my nerves again..."
Oh? What'd he do this time?
"Kept grilling Wheeljack for no real reason. I just gotta go shoot some targets or something..."
The Minicon stopped his pursuit of the femme, and watched her walk off, confused to no end...
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Wheeljack's Quarters, Autobot Base
...Hey, boss-man, is it safe to come out...?
"As safe as it'll get," Wheeljack replied. With a mental command, the wing-like armor across his back opened, and his Minicon, Windsheer, came tumbling out.
Cripes, I need a parachute when I do that...or a pillow... The miniature Transformer mumbled, rubbing his sore rear end. He got to his feet, and noticed the sleeping infant Transformer in the far corner of the room. Aha, so there he is. How's he doing?
"Well, he should be fine...he just got a bit roughed up by Megatron...nothing life-threatening." That's when it dawned on him: he was going to be dogmeat come the next mission. Instantly shuddering, the mech pictured various ways that his former commander would exact revenge upon him.
Just realized what we're in for, did you? Windsheer asked ruefully. Well, who cares. We oughta be fairly safe with the rest of the Autobots around...right?
Wheeljack scratched his chin, and sighed. "We probably will be. Though the biggest problem I think I'm going to have to face doesn't involve the Decepticons..."
You mean Hotshot?
The Autobot looked down at his partner, confused. "...How'd you guess?"
I scanned part of you when I was activated. I know ya like the back of m' hand....
"I figured that much..." He trailed off.
Windsheer sighed heavily. So you're really this worked up over the other Autobots?
"Yes, I'm really not too sure if I'm going to be trusted around here..." He sighed heavily, sitting down on his recharge bed wearily. Putting his elbows on his knees, he laced his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands. "It'll take a bit of doing..."
No kidding...say, let's go check out the rest of this base...Ya wanna? Windsheer headed to the door a bit excitedly.
But Wheeljack looked back at Raider and sighed. "I'm not too sure. What if he wakes up?"
Oh. Crud, good point. Well, I'll watch him, you go get to know this place. Wheeljack opened his mouth to speak. Don't worry, I'm sure.
The mech blinked at him and his slightly psychic powers, shook his head, grinned for the first time since Windracer had been in his company, and headed out of the room cautiously. He actually feared running into Hotshot alone...
TBC
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DMK: THERE! DONE! FINALLY! ::collapses onto a beanbag chair::
Hotshot: O.o;; but that was short…
DMK: don't worry, I divided up this one into two chappies….Mwahahahahahahaha…
Hotshot: what for? I was getting into it….
DMK: …. . . It'll make it seem like a long time has elapsed between now and when the good stuff starts… Anyway, I know this was bad, so can you be nice when flaming? Please?
Hotshot: they ain't gonna flame you…. ;; And if you do, I'll call up Energon Inferno to put the fires out. So just review nicely!
