A/N: So in the last chapter I warned I wouldn't be able to update or write much this week due to personal loss, but unfortunately it seems something new has arisen to steal writing time away from me. So apologies for slow future chapters too but I will do my best to keep on making the time to write.
It was a relatively quick journey through the desert even with new weight and new company.
Back at the base, Galvatrons optics darted around harshly as he tried to take in every last detail as Cyclonus lead him to a specific hangar.
One Raf had darted into, deciding it was more important to 'put them away' first before handling the little bits of debris his vehicle held.
The door to the hangar creaked open, still protesting the sudden use after so long.
Cyclonus smiled as he heard a soft 'oooh' from Galvatron, thinking how he didn't need to act so much, his lack of knowledge of anything Earth related would provide ample cover; he just needed to remember their name and story.
Calmly and proudly Cyclonus lead Galvatron into the hangar grinning before preparing to give a rather silly announcement of 'Welcome!' but it was interrupted.
"DECEPTICON!" An unfamiliar voice yelled, "Get behind me, Raf!"
Whirling around they came face to face with another human with dark fur on its head this time, he stood protectively in front of Raf, glaring angrily at them.
Galvatron managed to rebut Cyclonus's earlier thought as his immediate reaction was to growl and let his engine rumble at the new 'threat' even if he had taken a step back.
"Jack wait!" Raf tried to interject but this 'Jack' human seemed less than willing to hear their tale.
"This one looks different!" Galvatron hissed pulling Cyclonus back by his hand, making him suddenly aware they were still holding hands, "This one looks different! I bet THIS is the acid-spitting variation!"
"What?" Unintentionally the sudden display and talking threw the new human off guard as he stood upright looking more confused than angry as he took in the sight of them.
"I told you none of us can spit acid OR slime!" Raf quickly used the distraction to put himself between the new human and them "Jack, this is Warnado, and his friend Shockdrive" He introduced them "They're refugee's, they left the war"
"And why should I believe that! That one's still wearing the Decepticon badge!" Jack tried getting Raf behind him again but Raf managed to hold his ground.
"Of course he would, the last group of living beings we met WERE Decepticons!" Cyclonus hissed "It's easier to pretend we're still one of them than explain we deserted them and the war itself!"
Jack seemed to step back a bit, undeniable logic in his statement.
"Still, why should we believe you?" He wasn't totally sold.
"Jack, we can't, not fully" Raf turned to face Jack and Cyclonus kept a lid on the little hiss he was close to making frustrated that his efforts had not served him as well as he thought, "But neither one made any attempt to flee or attack me, AND they're offering to help move their ship back here AWAY from potential unwanted interlopers"
Cyclonus relaxed he had earned a little bit of trust from the one.
"Could all be lies to keep us fooled, they are named DECEPT-icons." Jack still was not trusting.
"Yes, I am aware of that" Raf was rubbing the side of his head, Cyclonus frowned again.
"Isn't it a bit rude to talk about us while we're here?" He crossed his arms at them making sure his frown was part of a more 'hurt' expression than annoyed, "Even more reason for us to leave as soon as possible"
"What? You're leaving?" Jack quizzed.
"Yes! Because we want to be free from the stigma of Decepticons! And clearly, it's still here!" Cyclonus twisted his body slightly so he was more turned away from the humans pouting angrily "We'll repair our ship and leave!"
"Jaaack" Raf sighed "I know no one's going to trust anyone after just one afternoon, but we need to get that ship here and out of anyone's way! And it'll be much easier with their help than just us two"
"Yeah… That makes sense" Jack relented at the truth in his words but still cast them a suspicious glare.
Cyclonus refused to look back at him.
"Oh," Galvatron suddenly let go of his hand shyly, before putting his hands on his chest peeling off his Decepticon symbol.
He looked around the room for a few moments before slapping it onto the wall next to him.
"Great, so that's part of the decor now?" Jack seemed unimpressed at the symbol now practically looking down over everyone in the room. Cyclonus thought it a bit odd to say, especially when a few of the leftover Autobot parts had their symbol still etched on.
"Little thing this place would've needed a sense of decor in the first place" Galvatron folded his arms.
"Well, this went as well as can be expected" Raf seemed to sigh, "I think if Miko were still here and not back home, she'd have set up interrogation room already" The remark seemed to elicit a small smirk from Jack as they talked about this other.
"What? There's more of you!?" Galvatron blurted out.
"This is their planet Shockdrive" Cyclonus made a point of saying the name again.
"Now your wing, I promised to see what I could do to repair it" Raf was walking towards them making some kind of gesture with his hands.
"What? Raf! Repair them? Really?" Jack caught up with his friend and grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Yes, Jack. Repair. I promised because I don't want to judge unfairly. I mean the war is over, remember that's why the Autobots left Earth" Raf removed Jack's hand.
"Yet they still wear the Decepticon insignia no matter their reasoning, nor have they gone to Cybertron! Didn't that creep of a Decepticon medic join with the Autobots and go to Cybertron with them? Why not them?" Jack was intent to argue.
"If only it were that simple" Cyclonus huffed breaking the two humans apart and bringing attention back to them.
"Well I'm sure we can all talk this stuff out later, but first we retrieve the ship, which will be easier with THEIR help and even easier if they're disguised as vehicles!" Raf yelled shutting everyone up, before gesturing to a berth that was in the base.
It was a bit small and from here Cyclonus could see that lying down on it would be very demeaning.
Damn trust gaining atrocities, he'd have to grin and bear it.
"Wasn't that where the Autobots tried to interrogate Soundwave?" Jack seemed to delight in putting out that bit of information watching them carefully to gauge their reactions.
Thankfully Galvatron was looking the other way and Cyclonus had long since learnt how to keep a straight face.
"Explains why it's so small" He retorted.
Biting back a sigh Cyclonus straddled the berth, only for Galvatron to fail in stifling a small giggle to which Cyclonus gave a clear grumble and Galvatron held his hands up in a minute apology.
By the time Cyclonus had actually settled on it his arms, legs and head were all drooping over the side of the berth.
"This base was meant to be temporary" Raf offered apologetically.
Cyclonus gave him a grunt in response.
