This chapter will have Cyclonus and Whirl and I'm using the MTMTE comic versions of them. Cyclonus has both horns intact and Whirl has his pincer claws.
Chapter 10: Old Foes
The next morning, Bumblebee and Soundwave awoke at the same time still huddled together. They gave each other a morning kiss.
"Morning 'Wave." Bumblebee said.
"Morning Bee." Soundwave purred.
"Did you have that dream?"
"No, thank goodness."
They both sat up to stretch and yawn.
"You know, even though I got two more days to decide. I think either today or tomorrow I will choose." Soundwave said.
"Are you sure?"
"...I'm sure."
Bumblebee leaned against Soundwave's shoulder. Yep, it was about that time...the days went by quicker than they thought. Either Unicron would rein supreme and Cybertron goes dark...or Cybertron is restored and Unicron is defeated. Soundwave wondered what would happen to Unicron if he choose to protect.
"You know, you got the whole planet scared." Bumblebee said.
"Yeah, but reasons I would choose protect is because of my friends, family, adventures...the sparklings all over the planet..." Soundwave widened his optics at the last one.
"And you would choose destroy because?"
"Horrible bullies, abusive enforcers, bounty hunters...Thunderwing..." Soundwave growled at the last one.
"You know that Thunderwing is gonna want to fight you for the power right? You know like some kind of fist-fight?"
"Yeah, I can take him. I'll win."
"I just don't want you getting hurt."
"We all get hurt every once and awhile. Besides, fighting is pretty common for Cybertronians anyways."
"True. But still."
"I'll be fine, you just need to focus on helping the others."
"Wait...why would there be a big battle if all you had to do summon a choice right now. You can do it right now." Bumblebee said.
"I'd rather wait...I just think that's better. The military needs to see just how powerful I am." Soundwave clenched his claws into fists.
"And I just love how much power you have. That's one of the reasons I surrendered myself to you." Bumblebee purred scraping his claws down Soundwave's back.
"Sounds like someone wants to go at it right now." Soundwave bared his fangs.
Meanwhile Shockwave was receiving word from Bloodbath that Starscream had been attacked by Thunderwing but had killed the second commander in the process.
"Keep him safe...for I'm not sure if he'll be allowed to continue in this mission. If Thunderwing were to see him again...he'll be killed in a nanosecond." Shockwave sighed.
"Sir...I know feelings are not important right now but...Starscream will be hurt. He's been through so much, he can't just pack it up and go back to Kaon." Bloodbath sighed.
"I know...but...it's only to keep him safe."
"So if Soundwave chooses destroy...Starscream will just die without warning. Is that how he should go out?" Bloodbath said with anger.
"Well, I'll think about it."
Shockwave hung up and sighed. This is kinda his fault. After all, he and his old friend Whirl did bully Thunderwing to the point of insanity.
Many years ago...a young Thunderwing sat on the stairs of his house reading a data pad. Boy, did he love reading about SCI-FI stuff. He'd read it all day and night. Thunderwing only had a few friends and they would later work with him in the science fields. He had a best friend named Cyclonus who hung out with him almost every day. Cyclonus was also interested in science.
"Wow, I hope he doesn't die at the end." Thunderwing said as he was getting to the end of his story.
Coming up the sidewalk, a young Shockwave with his left arm intact and the crazy Whirl saw Thunderwing and chuckled.
"Ugh, it's that Thunderwing again. Always thinking he can come up with good ideas to help the planet. Pah, kid needs to learn more about fighting if he wants to survive out here. Let's go mess with him." Shockwave sneered to Whirl who agreed.
Thunderwing saw the familiar shadows of Shockwave and Whirl and sighed.
"Hey Thunder-aft." Shockwave teased.
Thunderwing shut off the data pad and looked up with a nervous expression.
"Hey Shockwave and Whirl, what do you want this time?" Thunderwing asked.
"Why do you always read? Apparently that all you got to do in life." Shockwave teased.
Thunderwing sighed and placed down the pad beside him.
"I got tons of stuff to do. But reading is my favorite." Thunderwing said.
Shockwave came closer and shoved him.
"Hey, why'd you shove me?" Thunderwing sneered.
"Because I know you won't fight back." Shockwave said while Whirl laughed.
Thunderwing always got assaulted by Shockwave and Whirl whether it be pushing, clawing or punching. Shockwave and Whirl constantly tried to pick a fight with him but Thunderwing never fought back. However, after this going on for years...Thunderwing had finally snapped. He stood up angrily.
"What makes you think I won't today?" Thunderwing bared his fangs.
"Go ahead mech, make my day." Shockwave cracked his knuckles.
Suddenly Shockwave is yanked back by Cyclonus.
"Shockwave back off, stop messing with him." Cyclonus said.
"Why do you hang around this loser?" Whirl asked.
"Because he's not a mean one-eyed creep like you two." Cyclonus growled at both of them.
"You wanna start something?" Shockwave challenged while Whirl faced Thunderwing.
Cyclonus punched Shockwave right in the eye cracking it.
"OW! ARGH! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" Shockwave snarled running away.
Cyclonus moved to Whirl.
"You wanna go next?"
Whirl looked at both mechs before giving up and running off after Shockwave.
"You okay?" Cyclonus asked.
"Yeah thanks for the save. I'm sorry I didn't use any of the fighting techniques you taught me." Thunderwing sighed.
"It's okay, don't worry. After all, it's a good thing I'm here or they'll both beat you up." Cyclonus smiled.
"Why do they hurt me? They always say I'll never do anything good for this planet. That I'll never have enough power to do anything."
"Don't worry, you'll do something no one will ever forget."
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
Shockwave thought he did deserve that crack to his eye. That reminded him...where did Whirl and Cyclonus go? The last time he saw them, they had moved out and communications between them had ended. Strange...
"Well, now I just need to find out where Jazz went." Shockwave said.
As he went downstairs, he saw Jazz was just coming in with a video camera.
"Jazz where have you been?" Shockwave asked.
"Well, being the idiots they are, Rampage, Razorclaw, Ransack and Chop Shop were literally fighting all night long and I set out a video camera to capture the whole thing." Jazz said.
"Who won?"
"They're all knocked out."
"Of course."
With the idiot group of four, their warehouse was trashed completely. Claw marks covered the walls, floors and ceilings. Cracks also were in the walls and the mechs themselves were heavily dented. None of them were awake and yet...nobody gave a shit.
"You should send me that video later." Shockwave said.
"No problem." Jazz snapped his claws.
Shockwave later regretfully tells Starscream that his role in the mission may be a risk today. If Thunderwing was to see him he would be killed instantly. And so, Starscream may have to return home. Starscream felt terrible...he had been through so much. He couldn't just leave. Optimus and the group had pulled over for a break making sure Starscream was fully fixed up but his spark was cold with sadness. The others could understand that Starscream was now just as wanted as Soundwave was. And now Thunderwing knew Bumblebee was alive...but not Goldbug. So...Bumblebee had to stay as Goldbug when they got to Tyger Pax.
"We're sorry Starscream...but it's only to keep you safe." Kenny said.
"I know but...when I was being attacked by him. I hit a nerve in him, something that reminded him about his childhood. But he wouldn't tell me about it. Guys, I think he's just hiding his feelings. I need to tell Shockwave about the past." Starscream said.
Well, as soon as I finish working on your com. link, then you can go and tell him." Thomas said.
"Did Shockwave know him or something?" Bloodbath asked.
"Yeah...but Shockwave was a bully."
"Oh...well just that could cause some tension." Thomas said.
A few minutes later...Warpath announced to Shockwave and Jazz that he and his army were heading out to meet with the other allies. When he left, Soundwave and Goldbug arrived at their warehouse but were exhausted.
"You two okay?" Jazz asked.
Soundwave and Goldbug looked at each other nervously and nodded. Shockwave and Jazz noticed they looked tired.
"Long night?" Shockwave asked.
"You can say that." Soundwave said.
Shockwave and Jazz didn't know exactly what they really meant and decided to dismiss the conversation and move on. Soundwave and Goldbug figured it was easy to hide their relationship from most of them. Though, they may not be able to keep it hidden for long.
"Boys uh...I was thinking about sending Starscream home where he's safe." Shockwave said.
Soundwave and Goldbug were shocked...send Starscream away? That can't happen!
"Why?" Goldbug asked.
"After being seriously injured by Thunderwing. It's best that he be sent back to Kaon." Shockwave said.
"No! You can't just send him back! He's a member of this team...and our friend." Soundwave argued.
"Thunderwing threatened to kill him as soon his he sets his optics on him again." Jazz said.
"SO WHAT? HE WANTS TO KILL ME TOO! I'M NOT LETTING HIM! WE'RE ALL WANTED EXCEPT GOLDBUG!" Soundwave yelled.
That seem to shut Shockwave and Jazz up. Soundwave was right, Starscream has proven to be a brave ally, heck he even killed the second commander without knowing he did at first. He survived Thunderwing's beating and was even able to escape him the first time. Shockwave sighed.
"Well what can we do?" Shockwave asked.
"He'll be fine...we're going to hide him with the rest of the army. Besides, he wants me and only me." Soundwave said.
"At least he won't recognize me." Goldbug said.
A few seconds later...they hear what sounded like a seeker outside. The doors opened to reveal a fixed up Starscream who looked rather angry. He looked over at Shockwave and stormed over to him.
"Shockwave we need to talk." Starscream growled.
"Uh sure what about?" Shockwave asked.
"Alone..." Starscream sneered walking away.
While Soundwave and Goldbug decided to check on the troublemakers, Shockwave and Starscream talked in a corner.
"When I talked to Thunderwing after he attacked me, he started to think of the past when I asked if he was bullied a lot as a child. Then I remember you telling me that you did bully him. What I want to know is...WHY?" Starscream demanded to know.
Shockwave was surprised and concerned. I couldn't say he didn't continued to bully Thunderwing even after Whirl and Cyclonus moved. In fact, things got more intense between them afterwards to the point where they finally did get into a fight and Shockwave beat him so brutally that enforcers had to pull him away. Luckily he wasn't arrested and instead warned never to go near Thunderwing again. That was the last time Thunderwing saw Shockwave and the enforcers invited Thunderwing to train early to become an enforcer. Later he trained in the military and eventually his amazing skills promoted him to commander. While Shockwave trained to become a bounty hunter assassin.
"I always thought his ideas would be bad and ruin Cybertron. That and he was logically weak and scared as a child. He needed to grow up fast and face that fact that life on Cybertron can be tough even for a sparkling. And now look what's happened, while I'll admit he is brave and strong now...his ideas and actions have caused Cybertron to cower and panic. He's too consumed with power." Shockwave explained.
Starscream didn't believe even half of he just said.
"Are you sure you're weren't just a jerk to him and jealous because he had ideas for the planet and YOU DIDN'T?" Starscream snarled.
"JEALOUS?" Shockwave leaned back in shock.
"Yeah, don't you realize this whole mess is YOUR FAULT!" Starscream yelled.
"HOW IS THIS MY FAULT?"
"YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS MESSED WITH HIM SO MUCH...YOU CORRUPTED HIS MIND! BECAUSE OF YOU, HE GOT SO MAD, HE WANTED TO HAVE SO MUCH POWER SO HE COULD USE IT ON YOU AND SHOW YOU JUST HOW POWERFUL HE IS. YES, SOME OF HIS IDEAS MAY BE EVIL LIKE DESTROYING OTHER PLANETS. BUT IT'S YOUR FAULT HE WANTS SO MUCH POWER. IF SOUNDWAVE DIES...YOU BASICALLY GOT HIM KILLED."
Shockwave was at a lost for words. Even without a full face, his emotions were a mix of shock, anger, and sadness. But Starscream wasn't done.
"AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CIRCUITS TO KICK ME OUT OF THIS MISSION! FIRST OF ALL, YOU DIDN'T FORCE ME TO COME WITH YOU. I CHOSE TO GO BECAUSE SOUNDWAVE NEEDED MY HELP! SECOND, I'M NOT DOING THIS FOR YOU, I'M DOING THIS FOR SOUNDWAVE AND BUMBLEBEE...MY FRIENDS! SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BIG GUN AND SHOVE UP YOUR FUCKING FAT ASS!"
Starscream clenched his claws into a fist and with so much force he shattered the glass on Shockwave's window chest. Shockwave fell down while Starscream stormed out of the warehouse and went to find the duo. Jazz had heard the whole thing and came downstairs seeing Shockwave sitting against the wall staring at the ground upset.
"He's pissed." Jazz muttered.
Meanwhile, Soundwave and Goldbug were too busy laughing at the troublemakers for their misfortune when Starscream walked in angrily.
"Whoa Starscream you okay?" Soundwave asked.
"No not really. Shockwave is such an ass-hole." Starscream said.
"What happened?" Goldbug asked.
"I believe he is to blame for this whole problem. You remember how he once told us when he bullied Thunderwing?"
"Yeah!" They both nodded.
"Well, I realized after my encounter with Thunderwing, that he only wanted people to like his ideas about changing Cybertron for the better. Yet, barely anyone listened to him and Shockwave believe him to be nothing more than an insane, evil and twisted mech. Shockwave basically changed him into what he is today...he screwed up his processor and turned Thunderwing's ideas into dangerous and evil ones. Thunderwing's knowledge to learn more about our planet and his want for power and bravery grew to the point where whoever had more power than him would be destroyed and he would take it...meaning Soundwave." Starscream explained.
"Wow...so if people were more nice to him..." Goldbug started.
"He wouldn't be terrorizing the planet..." Soundwave finished for him.
"Exactly...Thunderwing's mind is corrupted. Something needs to give...without killing him." Goldbug said.
That's when the troublemakers had an idea.
"Wait...I believe we know two mechs that could help us." Razorclaw asked.
"Who?" Goldbug asked.
"Cyclonus and Whirl." Ransack said.
"Who are they?" Soundwave asked.
"Cyclonus was Thunderwing's best friend and Whirl was Shockwave's best friend. They moved away while they were all little but they had moved to our town when we were all just sparklings. You don't remember Soundwave?" Rampage asked.
"No...I don't remember them at all." Soundwave rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, we can find them back in our town Tarn." Chop Shop said.
"Hey yeah...Soundwave, can't you teleport me, you and Starscream back there?" Goldbug asked.
"Yeah!" Soundwave said.
"Wait, if you can teleport...why not just teleport to Thunderwing's location and beat the slag out of him right now?" Rampage asked.
"Because it take more than me to get the job done."
With that, Soundwave ran data across his mask before a groundbridge opened up. He, Goldbug and Starscream walked through on the way to Tarn. Over the years, Whirl and Cyclonus still retained a rivalry but a less violent one. Whirl had been sent to jail for fighting with enforcers who picked on him for having one-optic. But they were so impressed with his fighting skills and jokes that they invited him to be part of the workforce which he accepted much to the anger of other criminals. Cyclonus went off to become a scientist and became rich, owning a mansion as well. He was well liked but he still watched out for any signs of Whirl. Both have heard about Soundwave's power and were curious as to the fate of their home. When the trio arrived, they decided to split up. Starscream went to find Cyclonus while the other two go find Whirl.
To be continued...