The glass was broken, fluid dampening the ground. Starscream gaped at the sight, blinking as he realized what the sound of something breaking was. He was unsure exactly if a wild beast was any better than thinking they had been found. The seeker gave Shockwave a look, haughty and disdainful as his wings flicked. "Was it escaping part of your plan?"
Shockwave surveyed the scene, calm as ever. "A minor set back."
Starscream glared at him. "Minor? It broke out!" he snapped. "What are we supposed to do now?"
"We move." Shockwave said calmly. "This location was compromised already due to Darksteel and Skylynx engaging with the Autobots. We are going to relocate and continue with the plan as scheduled."
"And what," Starscream gestured irritatedly at the last Predacon chamber, "are we just supposed to haul her along with us?"
"Yes." Shockwave said bluntly, and Starscream blinked. The scientist glanced over his shoulder. "Grimwing," he called, and the ursagryph came walking down the hall obdiently, still in beast mode, "assist me in preparing to transport Cindersaur." The beast nodded, and went to stand in front of the tube, but glanced over at the broken chamber.
Starscream vented deeply. "And what about the rest of the so-called plan? Are you planning on reprogramming Lazerback to obey you like Predaking?"
"It is the only logical course of action." Shockwave explained, and Grimwing looked at him, wings twitching. "They are assets to be reclaimed, and should re-education prove ineffective, completely scrapping them would be the only option, and I would start again."
"And what about Ripclaw? What if he can't be reprogrammed? You gonna scrap him too?" Starscream muttered, hoping the answer was 'yes' just because of spite.
"No. He would be too valuable. Should he prove uncooperative or unruly, and resist re-education, he will simply be sedated." Shockwave said. "Only his body is needed, not his mind."
Grimwing's claws were tapping against the ground, not moving but looking around as though agitated.
"Would you stop that racket?" Starscream snapped, and the beast growled low in its throat but settled down.
"Starscream, go inform the other Predacons we will be moving; I shall need to install the co-ordinates before we evacuate." Shockwave said.
The seeker rolled his optics, but made his way down to the area where the other beasts resided. Inside the room, Skystalker and Circuit were glaring at each other, while Darksteel and Skylynx seemed to defer to the blue and white dragon more out of fear. "Hey!" he called, and as one they all looked at him; Starscream resisted shuddering. This was creepier than he realized. "Shockwave wants you all in the lab, we're moving out."
Starscream barely has the time to pull flat against the wall before Circuit came barreling out of the room, her beast mode's slick movements almost slithering along the floor in her rush. Skystalker walked out in root mode, haughty as he didn't even spare Starscream a glance while the two lackeys skulked sullenly after him.
The seeker glared at the group as a whole. Rotten bunch of-he jumped as screeching rang out, strange bird-like squakes and shrills. He furrowed his optic ridges as he rushed back to the lab, shoving past Darksteel and Skylyx as a bizarre, small black and bird-like creature was jumping up and down, serrated wings flapping. "What...is that?"
Grimwing seemed to glare at him, and in one motion he transformed into root mode as he scooped up the creature. He held it securely in his servos, wings still flapping but its beak kept closed. "He." his voice was low, smooth, and more eloquent than Starscream expected. Grimwing glanced at Shockwave, bowing his head for a moment. "I apologize if Blackbeak startled you, but I was not sure myself if he was truly anything."
"Fascinating, this...creature must have been split from your form as you developed." Shockwave said, his tone still even, not giving one way or the other if he was 'startled.' "When we have reached our next destinaton, I would be interesting in studying."
The strange creature struggled even more, and Grimwing tensed. "O-of course." he said quietly.
Shockwave inclined his head, and brought up the files on the console. "Hold out your data cables," he instructed the Predacons, "and be on your way."
"What about my mission?" Skystalker questioned as he plugged his cable line into the plug. He was pushed out of the way by Circuit as she did the same.
"You may resume when you have come up with an eighty percent chance of sucess." Shockwave replied.
Skystalker stared at him, and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I understand."
"Grimwing, calm your homunculi before you set out. I expect you to handle Cindersaur carefully as she has not yet completed incubating." Shockwave said.
Grimwing vented deeply. "I will treat my sister well."
Shockwave inclined his head. "Then set out once you have our destination."
Grimwing frowned, optics glancing away for a moment. A hard glint appeared in his gaze. "Yes, I will not forget."
a
Jack stared up at the ceiling, once more lying against the wall in root mode. He'd been bored by his 'house arrest', but at least he'd had Ratchet to alleviate it. Now he didn't have that. Miko and Raf were spending time with their families most likely. He was beginning to memorize the cracks on the tiles above him, and Jack shook his head. I need to get out of here, maybe Fowler can pull a few strings. An hour, even half-an-hour at that, he didn't mind.
Footsteps echoed outside, and the scent wafted inside, alerting him to his mother's incoming prescence. Jack smiled, but it faltered as he heard another set, quicker and he caught Fowler's scent as well.
"Uh, June, can we talk for a moment?"
"I was going to see Jack, can we talk on the way?"
"Er, sure." Jack furrowed his ridges. His foggy memories of Fowler did not paint the man as 'nervous'.
The wolf Predacon tilted his head, helm fins twitching as he focused on their voices. Something niggled at the back of his mind, but he couldn't place it.
"So, um," Fowler started awkwardly, "I know you've been worried about Jack, but, well, have you been looking after yourself? You've gotten better since he's been back, but while he was gone-"
"I'm fine." June cut in quickly, but Jack's spark twisted. "Jack is here, he's safe, that's all that matters. You're concern is appreciated, but there's nothing to talk about."
Fowler was silent for a moment. "Okay then, but...just putting it out there, the coffe's not as bad as you think here, if you-er-ever wanna to grab a cup to drink," he coughed awkwardly, "just saying."
June paused, but when she spoke, Jack could almost picture the slight smile on her face. "I...thank you for your offer."
"Right." Fowler replied.
Jack couldn't help himself. He craned his neck, leaning down to peer around the edge of the door. Fowler was already walking away, but June did have a small smile on her face. When she turned forward and saw him, her face flushed as she sprinted into the room.
"How much did you hear?" she asked.
Jack tilted his head as he sat back up. "All of it." he replied, furrowing his ridges before he smiled a little. "He thinks you."
"I know," June murmured, "and we had a moment and all during-well, thing's have been a bit hectic with everything still going on."
Jack wasn't sure if that was code for 'I'm worried about my robot son' or just stress from being an on-site nurse. "I'll admit it; I still have a hard time remembering some things, but I know that Fowler's a good guy-which, it's escaping me, but that just feels like a big deal-so, if you know," it was awkward, trying to be the supportive one, "I'm an adult now, so you can...er, go...be happy?"
June stared at him, and her expression slowly shifted into incredulty before she started laughing. She placed a hand on her chest as she doubled over, and when she quieted her chuckles, she grinned up at him. "Thank you, Jack, I've really needed that." she giggled. She wiped away an escaped tear. "At least I'd know you approve," she smiled again, and patted his ankle, "but for now it's still too soon."
"Okay, then what do you wanna do in the mean time?" Jack questioned.
June lifted herself to sit on his ankle, and Jack shifted his pede so she could use the edge to steady herself. "Can we just talk?"
Jack blinked, but he found himself smiling. "Sure, does it matter about what?"
"No," June leaned against him, "I just wanna keep believing you're really here."
Jack's spark twisted again, and he hurried to think of something. "Well, I talked with Ratchet, and Smokescreen. I'm still hoping I'll get to speak to Arcee, but I think everyone else is busy. Dr. Keen is really nice, and she's letting me talk at my own pace, doesn't pry, and..."
Jack didn't know how long they talked for, but it could have been hours and he wouldn't have cared. Being with his mother, just talking like everything was normal again-he missed this.
