Author's Notes: It seems lately that I have too many ideas and not enough time, so I set up a poll on my profile to ask you guys which of my plot bunnies I should focus on next. I hope you'll vote, because I've got 4 ideas to decide from. Thank you for all your support! Please review, favorite, and follow :)
Chapter 12
Happy Anniversary
Trailbreaker didn't want that overgrown cockroach any closer to him than necessary, so he put up a force field to keep the disgusting Insecticon leader away from him! It seemed to be working, but Shrapnel was smarter than he looked.
"I can wait wait," Shrapnel said as he sat down in front of Trailbreaker, "You will run out of energy soon enough, and when you do we'll be there to rip your force field generator out from your rusting carcass!"
Trailbreaker gulped. He knew as well as they did that he couldn't keep this up forever. He only hoped the Autobots would notice he was gone before his power cells ran dry. He wondered if it would buy him time if he kept them talking…
"I have to say Kickback, this is a wonderful anniversary present present," Shrapnel commended his friend as he set aside a crate of ketchup for the occasion.
"Anniversary?" Trailbreaker asked in an effort to start a conversation.
"Yes! Today is the two year anniversary of the deaths of our first clones clones," Shrapnel replied in a deceptively sweet tone, "You know, the ones you killed killed!"
Trailbreaker's visor went wide, and he knew then exactly why he had been taken by Kickback. This wasn't just hunger...This was revenge!
Meanwhile, Bombshell was raiding every scientific device from Megatron's lab that wasn't glued down! The robot slave had been a failure thanks to Starscream's sabotage (what else was new?). While Megatron chased after his wayward SIC with his cronies Bombshell had flown back to the Decepticons' temporary headquarters and stole a bunch of equipment for his own use.
Despite the volatile nature of their relationship, Bombshell really did enjoy hanging out with the other Decepticons. Oh, he didn't actually enjoy their company, but he did love the ability to work on scientific projects. The more time he spent with his surly allies, the more knowledge he regained from his past life on Cybertron.
Bombshell loved living the simple life of an Insecticon, but he also missed the perks that came from civilization. He loved hacking into processors and making other mechs his slaves, and he loved perfecting the bodies of his patients (whether they were willing participants or not). He was the type of mech that would look at the Human Centipede movie and think it was a human Gestalt unit's origin story. Yeah, he still wasn't playing with a full deck.
As he bagged up some laser scalpels and subspaced more processor chips, he got a comm transmission from Kickback.
/Bombshell, where are you?/ Kickback asked the question as a rebuke, /Shrapnel has just finished setting the table! By the time you get here the Autobot will be ice cold and taste like a used Pinto!/
/Keep your transistors on! I'm coming!/ Bombshell groused, /I just need to finish up here in the lab. Oh, by the way! I have a great new invention you guys will want to see! Look forward to it!/
/Well we can't see it if you don't come back!/ Kickback snapped impatiently, /We even have ketchup and barbecue sauce. Oh, and if you want I think I know where you can find some rusty water to wash him down with./
/We can talk about it when I get back!/ Bombshell replied, /Just keep him alive until I get there! I want to examine his force field generator while it's still fresh...Bombshell out!/
"Is Bombshell going to bring some spare metal metal?" Shrapnel asked, "Making more clones would be the perfect way to cap off this celebration celebration!"
"I don't know," Kickback replied, "It didn't come up."
Trailbreaker was starting to get weak, and he didn't know how much longer he could hold out. He tried to break his restraints, but they were fastened tight and wouldn't budge no matter what he did. His force field was starting to flicker, and soon it would give out completely. Then he would be at the Insecticons' nonexistent mercy.
"Look! The shield is weakening!" Kickback exclaimed as he looked at Trailbreaker with predatory glee.
"Did you get the rust water from the cave cave?" Shrapnel asked, "Bombshell will want it."
"Not yet, but I can get it now," Kickback replied.
"Don't just stand there then then!" Shrapnel ordered, "Hop to it!"
Kickback transformed into his bug mode and flew away to get the water while the Insecticon commander stayed behind to watch their prisoner.
Trailbreaker's visor seemed to blink in time with his force field. Such a useful sigma ability, but Shrapnel knew it couldn't stand up against his patience. More often than not Trailbreaker was the one to kill their clones, and he was also the one that killed them the first time. To have vengeance after so long, well...He would have to think of an enemy to serve on a silver platter for Kickback to repay him.
Bombshell touched down just as the last of Trailbreaker's shield gave way! Trailbreaker was offline in a matter of seconds! The Autobot's systems had forced themselves into a temporary stasis lock to conserve what little energy he had left.
"It's about time you got here got here here!" Shrapnel bellowed, "You take out any parts you want for your experiments, but leave his spark for me me! I want to feel it's warmth before it goes out out!"
"Wait, before we kill him, I want to test my new invention on him first!" Bombshell insisted.
"Alright, but hurry up!" Shrapnel snapped; eager to feed before his own systems gave out like the Autobot's.
Bombshell positioned the Autobot so he could have a clean shot of him. Trailbreaker was still out cold, so he offered no resistance. Bombshell removed his leg and arm cuffs before he stepped back five paces. Bombshell then aimed the gun turret on his head and fired a grenade at Trailbreaker!
Trailbreaker's body broke into several large pieces! His spark was still functioning, but barely. He wouldn't last but a few minutes in such a condition, and with no new body in sight it looked hopeless.
"That's not a new invention invention!" Shrapnel contested, "You've always had a grenade launcher launcher!"
"The grenade is not my invention," Bombshell replied; unperturbed, "This is!"
He then pulled out a small device that was no bigger than the center of Bombshell's palm. He ran his index finger over it a few times to get the settings just right, and then he shot the pieces of Trailbreaker with the invention; putting him miraculously back together again!
"Amazing amazing!" Shrapnel gasped.
"Yes, now even if we're blasted into oblivion we can still survive!" Bombshell bragged as he put his new little invention in his subspace, "I plan on implanting these into our helms, but who knows when I'll have time. Megatron certainly does seem to need a lot of help."
Trailbreaker, meanwhile, was starting to regain consciousness. The device had not only put him back together but had also given him a slight energy boost. Still, it wasn't enough to escape on, and soon those mechanical bugs would remember him and eat him. The situation really did look hopeless for Trailbreaker.
The group then heard something coming from the bushes, but assumed it was Kickback coming back with the rusty water. Only when Shrapnel suddenly fell to the ground with a sickening crunch did anyone suspect something was wrong! An invisible force moved away from Shrapnel's unconscious body, and Bombshell knew then there was only one mech it could be...
Bombshell turned his head every which way to aim for the source of the attack, but he couldn't find the enemy and thus had no one to shoot. He stood there turning around for almost a minute before he was shot in the chest and offlined!
When they were both out cold Mirage uncloaked himself. Trailbreaker was so happy to see him, and together they made their escape!
Kickback arrived just in time to see Shrapnel and Bombshell waking up after their impromptu visit from the Autobot spy. Kickback felt like a bad watchdog that let a burglar run off with all the furniture. He sat down on the mud floor of the hollowed out boulder/spaceship and sulked.
"Stupid Mirage!" Bombshell grumbled, "I remember when he was nothing but our slave! He was good at his job then, too. Maybe we should adopt him."
"That's not funny funny!" Shrapnel bonked Bombshell on the head to emphasize his point.
"Aw, I'm sorry Shrapnel," Kickback said miserably, "I just wanted you to be happy. I just hoped that this would avenge the deaths of our clones and give you peace of mind for making more sparklings."
"It's alright, Kickback. I understand understand," Shrapnel said consolingly, "Happy anniversary, you slaggers."
Shrapnel then did something he normally would never do. He hugged his fellow Insecticons.
