All's Fair
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Almost 2230. Damn it, Sunstreaker thought. He was going to miss the party. Not that there'd be much to miss, just high grade and the usual antics. The fun would really begin when Prowl and Jazz came back. . .But he'd been hoping to ambush Prime, possibly after the party.
He paced, knowing it would annoy the Decepticons in the cell next door. Oh how he wanted to turn them loose and kick some aft. And wipe that grin off Skywarp's face. Skywarp's expression hadn't changed since he'd gotten thrown in next to him and Thundercracker, who was ignoring them both.
"Got a problem?" Sunstreaker finally asked.
"Just wondering what's got you so uptight, goldie," Skywarp said.
"None of your business," Sunstreaker said.
"Somebody mess up that pretty paint job?" Skywarp goaded.
"Shut up," Sunstreaker said. "Before I shut you up."
"Oh yeah?" Skywarp said.
"Would you two shut up? You sound like a couple of sparklings," Thundercracker said.
Both Autobot and Seeker glared at Thundercracker.
So much for their evening's entertainment. But Skywarp settled back on his berth, still grinning. He'd made a little inroads with Prime that day. He had no reason to complain.
-----
Blaster had the tunes going in the rec room and the high grade was flowing. Most everyone off duty was there, celebrating the bonding of their second and third in command. Sunstreaker was conspicuously absent because he was in the brig; Kup was in ops keeping an eye on things and he'd tapped Hot Rod and Springer for patrol just because he could.
Even Ultra Magnus was in the rec room, enjoying himself, although he was playing wingman to Prime, trying to keep him from doing anything stupid like the last time he'd indulged in high grade. Normally, Optimus was the picture of moderation in all things (except fighting) but lately, Ultra Magnus knew his friend needed every opportunity to unwind.
"Have a good nap today?" Ultra Magnus said, taking a sip of energon.
Prime shot Ultra Magnus a look.
"Ratchet was only looking out for you," Ultra Magnus said.
"I've had about enough lately of Ratchet 'looking out' for me, thank you very much," Prime said.
"You were drinking in your quarters after you woke up, weren't you?" Ultra Magnus said.
"So what if I was?"
Prime was getting snarky. Great.
"Maybe you should. . ."
"I don't need you telling me what to do," Prime said.
"I wasn't. . .I was going to make a suggestion, but forget it," Ultra Magnus said.
"And the suggestion was?" Prime asked.
"Going back to your quarters and sleeping it off," Ultra Magnus said.
"Later," Prime said, perking up when he saw Arcee enter the rec room. The femme smiled when she saw him looking her way, came over to their table.
And the exchange did not go unnoticed. A mech across the room frowned, but turned back to his friends.
-----
Springer and Hot Rod had run their patrol, decided to take a break. They were sitting up at the Lookout Mountain observation platform. Hot Rod decided it was time to find out what was bothering Springer.
"So, why didn't you show up for duty today?" Hot Rod asked.
Springer glared, but figured he did owe his friend an explanation. Normally, he was the one dragging a reason for truancy out of Hot Rod, which was usually Arcee.
"Had a few things to take care of," Springer said.
"Like what?" Hot Rod said. "Spring, whatever it is. . ."
He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "C'mon, you know you can tell me."
"It's Arcee," Springer said.
"What about her? So you haven't seen her much in the past couple of days, neither have I," Hot Rod said. "We've all been busy. . ."
He trailed off when he saw the look in Springer's optics. "That's not it, is it?"
"Hardly," Springer said. "I saw her coming out of Prime's quarters the other night."
Hot Rod snapped back as if he'd been struck.
"What?"
"Yeah," Springer said. "I haven't had a chance to talk to her about it. . ."
"Do you. . .do you really think. . ." Hot Rod said.
"I don't know," Springer said. "We both know it's her choice, always has been. But this is Prime we're talking about. No offense, Rodi, but he outclasses us both."
"I know," Hot Rod said. "But at least if we're going to get outclassed and thrown over, at least it's by the best, right?"
He said the last with a grin.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Springer said. "But if she has made up her mind, it's not going to make it any easier to accept."
"No. . .it won't," Hot Rod said. "C'mon. Let's make another sweep before we head back."
-----
Megatron was bored out of his mind. He sat in the Nemesis' control room, all alone. The mighty lord of the Decepicons sighed. What the hell had happened? Had he lost his touch? Well, obviously not from the way his troops were quaking in fear each time they saw him, trying to avoid him when they were off duty. At least that was what he was telling himself.
Even Soundwave was trying to ignore him now, especially after he caught him trying to use Frenzy and Rumble for target practice. Starscream's absence was the most annoying matter of all. He hated to admit it, but he needed Starscream. And Megatron would sell his soul to the Chaos-bringer before he ever admitted it. But Starscream kept him on his toes, provided a challenge he needed.
Damn Skywarp. Megatron had finally gotten it out of Dirge that the crazed Seeker had left because of his battle acrobatics, which were actually a mating display. Laserbeak had provided the information that his elite Seeker trine was indeed in the Autobot brig, so Skywarp's display had been for an Autobot. Although which Autobot he had yet to figure out and when he did, Megatron was going to rip out their spark and dance on their corpse. It was probably one of those Aerialbots, he snorted. Poor flyers and hardly worthy of one of his Seekers. The second in command, Prowl? At least he had status, as did the third in command, Jazz. The medic? The one the Autobots called Hatchet to his back? Megatron could understand if it was him. That one was truly worthy of being a Decepticon. Prime? Megatron threw back his head and laughed out loud at that. It would be a cold day in the Pit before one of his Decepticons desired the noble Autobot leader.
Megatron stood, deciding it was time to do something about getting his Seekers back. The Autobot who lured them away would pay.
