Disclaimer: I only own my OCs. Vox belongs to a friend.
Authoress: Okay, no killing me allowed. I've been super busy and stressed and that is why this is so late.
Lizzie: I didn't say anything at all.
Authoress:...I know. But, good news is that this is done and I have a rough outline into season two already worked out. The part that takes so long
Lizzie: *interrupts* is the little details. We know. But, I got to say that I don't like the title of this chapter much.
Authoress: *shrugs* Can't help that. The story must go on, as much as we might not like to see some parts.
Chapter 20: Mistrust
Paul's 1st P.O.V.
"Shit!" I couldn't help but yell out as I narrowly dodged a follow-up attack by Flamewar. I had been dodging one of Pitch's strikes but her soliform snuck in after his and narrowly missed knocking a few teeth out.
My reaction caused Felicity, Flamewar's soliform, to smirk before she shook her head. "Come now, Paul. After all this training that we have worked so hard to give you, you should always know to be on the lookout for surprise att...ack!" Flamewar let out a gag as Ashland slammed the back of his heel into her soliform's gut and flung her back.
Ashland, otherwise known as Zarron's soliform, smirked and stepped back toward me in a fighting position before saying, "Should probably take your own advice Felicity and not get distracted on the battlefield." He then raised his arms to block what was supposed to be a sneak attack from Sam, Sentinel's soliform.
Right now, as could probably be assumed, Zarron, whose soliform was Ashland Vale, was helping me in my training session against Sam Major, who was Sentinel's soliform, Felicity Wade, Flamewar's soliform, and Percy Chandler, Pitch's soliform. Unfortunately, Cliffjumper was out on patrol with Blurr right now or he would be in here and making this a more even fight. But, I really couldn't complain much. Ashland seemed to be just as proficient in fighting with his soliform as he was in his actual bot form and that made this training go by with fewer bruises for me.
Quickly dodging to the right, I stuck out my right leg and made Sam fall over it before getting some distance between the two of us while making sure I had tabs on the other three that were my opponents. Seemed like that was Ashland's idea as well as we both ended up with our backs facing each other. "How are you doing Ashland?" I asked my ally as the other three started to regroup.
He took a glance at me out of the corner of his eye before saying, "I think I have another round in me if you do." He then cast a quick glance at our opponents before saying, "What should our plan be going in?"
This was new. Ashland almost never asked me what I wanted to do going against these three. Instead, he usually told me his plan, which was normally pretty sound, before we went for the attack...or the defense if they regrouped faster. Well, I didn't want to waste this opportunity and so I took a closer glance at our opponents.
My first instinct, and a strategy we used often, was to attack Sam and Percy and then balance between the two of us in staving off Felicity's sneak attacks. But, they would be expecting that. Plus, I wasn't a twig of a person...for a human right now, and I could probably hold my own against Sam. While that would leave Percy open, I was sure that our best plan would be for Ashland to take on Felicity. Pitch's attacks wouldn't come nearly as fast as Felicity's would and we would stand a better chance at deflecting those as they came our way.
"I'll take Sam. You work on keeping Felicity away and we can both balance out taking on Percy. If one of us looks to be in trouble, we switch back to our tried and true method of keeping Percy and Sam on our radar at all times." While I was sure that my strategy was alright, it was always best to give a fallback strategy just in case something went wrong.
The studying look that Ashland gave me was weird but I held back from saying anything as he gave a nod and changed his stance to get ready to attack. If we were going to implement my attack, we would have to move quickly. "Sounds good." Was his simple response before launching at Felicity. That seemed to catch the three of them off guard since Felicity had already been separating herself...possibly for a sneak attack of their own.
Not to be outdone, I took their distraction to my and launched myself at Sam, who barely got his arms in time to deflect my first punch. However, he was not ready for my immediate follow-up and he flinched as my fist connected with his right ribcage. He took a few steps back and glared at me before launching at me. I took a step back and dodged his first swing and used my left hand to deflect his second swing before digging my elbow into his gut.
My adrenaline started to pulse as I suddenly felt my feet start to come out from under me. Damn, I left my legs open with that! Once I was on my back, I brought up my arms and used them to stop Sam's foot from crushing a few of my ribs. I was sure that Nurse Darby would not be happy if I had to come to her ER to get some broken ribs patched.
I flinched as a feeling of air rushing past the top of my head hit me and, as I threw Sam off me and quickly stood, I realized that Percy had gotten behind me, seeing me as the injured party out of the two of us, and tried to attack me. But, what caused him to miss?
"Hope you all don't mind me joining this little training session." I looked to my left and was surprised to see a soliform I hadn't seen before, but from the sound of the vocals, I knew who it was. The six foot one, tanned young man with short white hair with a light green streak and a white workout outfit with red and white markings had to be Wheeljack. Since when did he want to work with his soliform. He was usually more into working on his actual bot form.
Since it looked like we were at another impasse, Ashland joined Wheeljack's soliform and me as we stood slightly back, staring at the opposition. But, while we did, I was surprised when Wheeljack, who was standing in the middle, held out a fist to Ashland and even more surprised when Ashland actually fist-bumped Wheeljack. What the frag happened to make those two such close friends!? This didn't make a fragging bit of sense! "So, what are we supposed to call you in your soliform?" Ashland asked Wheeljack as the three in front of us continued to study Wheeljack's soliform.
Speaking on that, however. "Warren. Warren Jones is the soliform's full name but you can just call me Warren." Wheel...Warren spoke before he got into a battle-ready position and faced toward the trio in front of us.
Instead of starting a fight, however, Percy seemed to study Warren before saying, "I think it's time for Sentinel and me to go on patrol to look for some energon mines." The three of them then vanished, having turned off their soliforms. Not like I didn't see that coming. If the odds changed against them during these training sessions, they seemed to find some way out of continuing.
Wheeljack's soliform joining was a big surprise...and not just to him. While I knew that Zarron and Wheeljack were becoming fast friends...somehow...it was still strange seeing him here. Wheeljack, who seemed amused at their reaction, shook his head before saying, "Great, the first time I use this thing and the competition goes running."
He and Zarron then exchanged a look, that seemed to mean something even though I wasn't sure what it was before Zarron nodded and said, "Well, I had better get back to my chassis. I have some research to do and I shouldn't delay it any longer. Until next time." He then nodded toward the two of us before his soliform disappeared.
And that left just Warren and me. "Well," Wheeljack started with a look around. "I guess I should get used to this form and you are the only human at the base right now to really give me a servo...hand with that. Willing to help me out here Paul?"
Well, he did just prevent me from taking a massive head injury. So, I guess I should do this for him. "Sure. What do you want to do?" I asked him as I grabbed the towel I had set to the side and wrapped it around my neck before taking the bottle of water I had next to it and taking a drink.
He looked at me curiously before motioning down the hall. "I better take it easy here at first and just walk around. This height difference feels a bit weird."
Seemed reasonable enough, though I held back on mentioning that he was about to go into a fight in this new form without a second thought. "Sure." I responded before walking next to him. The two of us then began to walk down the hall. As we did, though, that bit I held back came to the top. "If you are feeling off with the height difference, then why were you about to fight against the other soliforms with me and Zarron's soliform?" I asked him as we continued to walk.
Wheeljack, who seemed to be studying the difference in view from a human height, turned to look at me as I asked that. Once I was done, he stopped, which caused me to stop, before he spoke. "Battle is the same. Doesn't matter what form you are in." He held a very serious look before he shrugged as he continued. "Plus, we were all the same height so it was probably easier to think of me fighting them like that as fighting them in my bot form. This though, walking the same halls that I do in my chassis...it feels different."
I guess that made sense. I was still iffy about that response but I couldn't argue it now. Plus, he had just helped me. Shouldn't be insulting the bot that had just helped me. "So, why did you go in there just now? You haven't used your soliform before and that wasn't exactly the best time for tips and tricks in hiding as a human."
He raised an eyebrow at me before shaking his head. "That fight was weighed against you and Ashland. Two bigger fighters and a speed fighter against a speed fighter and a bigger fighter? Still leaves a big fighter to give you trouble. Figured since Cliffjumper wasn't in there, that I should give you a hand." He then stared at me before asking a question of his own. "Paul, you're an adult in your species. You should know when the odds are unfair like that to back out. That's especially with who you are fighting." He cast a dark look at that before he continued. "Why do you do the training with them despite all of that?"
It was my turn to raise an eyebrow before I continued to walk forward and answered him. "Why do I do it?" I then took a second to pause get my thoughts in order before continuing. "Well, fighting fair isn't really preparing myself for what I might face. Sure, there will be times where it will be just one on one. But, this kind of training helps me be ready for the unexpected." My mind flashed to Lizzie breaking away from me. "And it helps me keep moving forward despite the odds."
"Hmph." Wheeljack let out. "You know Paul, you have more in you then you let on. " Oh Wheeljack, if only you knew how true that was.
Since Wheeljack seemed to be in a talkative mood, however, I decided that it was high time I get some background on the shifty trio that I had just been fighting. More specifically, the one bot that Lizzie had created that seemed against me. Pitch. "Warren, you seem to know Percy from before you came here to Earth. Can you tell me about that?"
Please lady luck let him answer this for me. Please! Knowing about Pitch in this dimension would be a large relief. A part of me was still worried that beings like Pitch and Zarron were in this dimension. They weren't my creations, technically. They were Lizzie's creations. So, she had a lot of their basic dimensional psyche down to a science. That was an advantage that she had on me. But, I was around more bots that had served with him and that would get me a better view on how he was like here. Lizzie knew how her creations acted in her broad sense, but I would have a better grasp on how to interact with them.
She couldn't top that.
"Percy huh?" Wheeljack repeated before he looked forward. What sounded like an annoyed sigh left the Wrecker's soliform before he started talking. "He's never been one to care much about his comrades. The only good thing I can say is that he is worse against the 'Cons with his attitude than his own faction. But, that isn't by much. There were a few times he and his group of buddies rubbed us Wreckers the wrong way and we got close to some pretty serious fighting. But, that was back then." He then shook his soliform head as we entered the main hub before saying, "Well, that was a good exercise in this thing for now. I think I'll start using it more for those training sessions. Better let me know when the next one is so I can get some work in too." His soliform then disappeared.
As he returned to his chassis, however, I thought back to how he ended his story on Pitch. From the sound of his voice, I couldn't tell what would happen if Pitch rubbed him the wrong way here on Earth and it made me nervous...and that was especially since Wheeljack was now going to be there during my training. While I felt safer with the Autobots than I ever would with the Decepticons, I knew that tensions were rising and it would only be a matter of time before those tensions clashed. I wasn't sure I wanted to be to close to that when it happened.
When I arrived in the main room, I was surprised that the bots were hopping like there was a fire. Guess something must have just happened to send the bots into this sort of tizzy. Since the kids were at school, I was going to have to wait for somebot to talk to fill me in on the information that I wanted.
"Where is the signal at again?" Signal? What signal were they talking about? I looked between Blurr, who had asked the question, and everybot else as they looked at the monitors.
"Here." Ratchet pointed toward where the coordinates blinked on the screen. "The signal is underground so we will have to be careful with who we send. This could be a supply of some much-needed energon and we cannot fail in getting it." Right, because even though the Autobots had the energon harvester, the increased number of troops from the original timeline was still causing a massive strain on the Autobot energon reserves.
I then paid attention as Optimus started to speak. "That sounds like a sound goal old friend." He then turned to the others. "Arcee, Flamewar, Pitch, Zarron, Blurr, and Wheeljack, you will accompany me to the coordinates. The rest of you will remain on standby."
They all seemed in agreement, though I noticed that Zarron seemed to stay close to Wheeljack and both Wheeljack and Zarron were sending looks at Flamewar and Pitch. Something told me that this was not going to turn out well and, as the bridge started to power up, I made a rash decision. While this would normally not be a good idea, I knew that sneaking with the group would help me get a better feel of the situation during this part of the timeline. I was fighting at least one unknown enemy in the form of the other humanoid on the Nemesis with Lizzie and I had to have as much information as possible for each step.
Thankfully, it didn't seem like anyone noticed me slip behind the team through the ground bridge. Plus, with the limited energon supply, I doubted that they were going to be sending me back right away.
Thundercracker's 1st P.O.V.
Frag my life.
Normally, I liked to think of myself as a lucky sort of mech. I usually didn't get many assignments that would find me offline and I didn't make too many enemies. I kept my helm down when needed and worked hard to make sure that I wasn't mixed up in trouble and that my loyalty to Lord Megatron and his cause was firm.
"Are you the slower of your trine? Didn't think seekers were slow walkers."
So how did I draw the short straw and end up on Airachnid's 'make-up' test of loyalty mission? It didn't make sense and honestly, I was just hoping that I would be able to stay online. I knew that, the other night cycle, Starscream had mentioned that he was worried about one of us having to come with Airachnid for this. A part of me, of course, wishes it wasn't me here right now. I was ready to crack my helm open against the walls of the ship so I wouldn't pop Airachnids right off that spindly chassis of hers.
But, the other part of me is glad that I was the one chosen and not Skywarp or 'Scream. Between the three of us, I was honestly the most level helmed. Skywarp would probably cause her to offline him just by him getting on her nerves. Starscream, on the other servo, would probably get irritated by her to the point where he would make a verbal jab at her and fall for her taunting and get in trouble himself. So, I was the only one left to take on the task of watching Airachnid through her trial.
"I didn't realize that hunters were so talkative." I mumbled once she was out of range.
While I wanted nothing more than to say that loud enough for her to hear, I remembered the outright worried look on Lizzie's face when I had been about to turn to follow Airachnid through the ground bridge. Usually, Lizzie kept her expression schooled when it came to what she was feeling. Those of us that are close to her can read her even through the disguised air she put up and thought that we couldn't read.
But no, this was different. It was like she couldn't even hide the immense worry she was feeling. I was pretty sure that anybot who was looking saw Lizzie's worried look toward me. Hopefully, that wouldn't put her neutrality she should have as a strategist at risk. But, if somebot questioned Lizzie on her decisiveness in creating the best strategies, then I was sure she would pull through.
But, the fact that she showed that much concern was also a comforting thought. I knew that many of us on Lizzie's side were worried about her confrontations with Airachnid and Astrotrain. This worry reassured me that she really did understand the danger that at least Airachnid placed on her. This secondary test, though, should help Lizzie for a while.
"It seems like you have finally decided to catch up with me." Airachnid's voice caused me to focus as she was focused on an old monitor.
And my alert status went to the highest and so I decided that it was time to question her. "What are you doing?" I trusted her about as far as I could throw Blitzwing and her being alone at a console was not something that I wanted to take a risk in.
She looked at me in a mocking way before continuing. "Accessing the cargo manifest...or didn't your brother think to do that during his thorough search?"
While I wanted to defend my brother at that, I knew that this was really Airachnid's test and that meant that she needed to be tested, not doing the testing. "Idiot." Didn't mean that I had to be nice about it. "The ship's systems haven't been activated for eons. The Autobots could detect its energy signature."
But, she didn't seem to care about that as she seemed to study the screen in front of her before she smirked and said, "Ah, here it is. Section 23." She then started to move off, without messing with the monitor, before saying, "Are you going to come or are you seekers only good for fighting in the air?"
I growled internally at that before I moved to follow behind the femme. She was leaving the monitor on but I couldn't let her out of my sight and turn off the monitor. So, I had to follow the femme. Plus, it was usually wise to not allow the hunter femme out of my sight. "The sooner we are done the better." I muttered low to myself. I was ready to get back to the Nemesis and away from this psychotic femme.
The two of us continued to move down the hall and, after a while, I smirked as Airachnid was stopped by a wall of dirt in front of her. Yeah, if she would have actually looked up any information on the Nemesis before we left while we had the chance, then she would have known that the Harbinger had been under attack when it had entered this atmosphere and then split apart into two pieces in the air. There was this half, which we came to first, and there was a second half.
"Section 23 should be right about here!" She growled out in anger, her servos clenching in anger before she continued. "The ship just ends!" From the hissing sound in her voice, she must have not been very happy. "It must have broken in half during the crash." She then seemed to pause as she thought. "Or in the air."
I shook my helm at her observation. If she would have done proper research on the Nemesis before coming, she wouldn't be in this situation. "If you performed actual research," I started as she started to glare toward me. I was on the dangerous ground but the point of my testing her was to push her to her limit...no matter how much danger those times could put me in...like right now. "you would have learned that an Autobot battalion shot the Harbinger out of the sky."
"How far away is the other half?" She snarled at me as she took an almost feral stance against me.
While my frantically beating spark was telling me to just tell her, a part of this mission was for how she could get information before and prepare for what was ahead of her. She had known she was coming to the Harbinger and had not done any of the necessary research to provide any support as she should. She was supposed to be the 'information' leader of the mission, yet she had done none of the research.
So, since I was more afraid of Lord Megatron than I was of Airachnid, I decided to push her further. "I'm afraid that information is still on the Nemesis. My job was to find out about the terrain between whatever landscapes I knew of. However, it was supposed to be yours to find out where the two halves of the ship were located and make sure that we don't get compromised on the mission by the enemy." I was pretty sure that my outward appearance was much more controlled than my inward one...which was freaking out like a bot in a room of scraplets.
"What are you…" She started with her optics wide before she narrowed them and hissed in a challenge. "You're trying to make me look like a fool before Lord Megatron! Have me return empty-servoed while you locate the weapon yourself!" She looked on edge to attack.
"How dare you accuse me!" I challenged her. This was her make-up test. If I wanted to interfere with that, which I really couldn't care less because then that would put me in danger of being under scrutiny, Lord Megatron would have Vox and Soundwave digging into my movements on the ship to see if I was really trying to interfere and I would get caught. I'm not an idiot! "You are nothing but a scavenger...an opportunist! I live to serve Lord Megatron and the Decepticon cause. Your only master is yourself."
She did not take kindly to that and, before I could even counter her, Airachnid had me webbed to the ground so I couldn't move.
She was then right in front of me before she spoke. "You won't live to serve anybot if you don't tell me where to find the rest of this ship." I gave her a hard look in return before she leaned closer. "Now."
I could hear the threat in her voice so I decided that living another solar was needed. "A few clicks north of here, through a stone arch." She then smirked and let go before starting to walk away. "Where are you going? Release me now!" I yelled after her.
She, in turn, smirked at me before saying, "When I have the weapon in servo...that is, if I can find my way back without my guide." She then started to walk off.
This wasn't good at all. With Airachnid's blunder earlier, the Autobots would be here soon...if they weren't already. "This is not funny, Airachnid. Come back here right now and cut me loose!" She kept on walking away. "Airachnid, that is an order!" I was her evaluator on this and that meant that I could give her orders. "Airachnid!" Silence. And the femme was gone.
Scrap this wasn't good. Now I was going to be stuck here and, thanks to the depth underground we were, I wasn't going to get a signal out for a pickup from the Nemesis.
"Surrender." Nevermind. That was the sound of Optimus Prime. That meant that the Autobots were here and, if Airachnid didn't cut me free, then I was going to be a prisoner of the Autobots! If I was hoping for a rescue, then I would have been very disappointed when the spider just walked above me and started to tunnel her way out.
Looking back to the Autobots following, I saw that Arcee and the other two-wheeler known as Zarron were giving chase to the spider femme. Great. Hope they caught her and turned her into mashed metal. Anyways, I took in the other Autobots around me and saw that, besides their leader, there were Pitch, Wheeljack, Flamewar, and Blurr. Joy. I was either going to be killed by the two wild cards Pitch and Flamewar, or who knows what else by the others. Lizzie was going to have my helm for getting into trouble like this.
While their leader ran back the way they came, probably to help the two two-wheelers who were chasing Airachnid, I felt myself picked up and I shot a glare at the Wrecker as he did so. At least I wasn't stuck to the ground now. Though, with how many Autobots were around me, I didn't see me getting away anytime soon...if I could at all.
"Move it!" The one called Flamewar barked before shoving my shoulder. Fragging femme.
I let out a growl but started to move forward. I was now a prisoner of the enemy and my one objective was to remain online. "No need to use force." I grumbled as we moved toward an exit. Once we were back outside, I saw that Airachnid was gone, probably going after the weapon, and I was alone surrounded by the enemy.
This was fan-fragging-tastic.
"Thundercracker, what's your condition?~Starscream." It was hard not to flinch in surprise when I suddenly got that message from Starscream. Were they watching all of this?
"Airachnid used me as a fall-bot to distract the Autobots while she escaped to go after the weapon and now I'm their captive. What does the Coordinator say I should do?~Thundercracker." I sent back to him as the Autobots started to regroup. Hopefully, Lizzie would get me an answer through Starscream soon or answering the Autobots was going to be awkward.
"Thundercracker, this is Coordinator. Act like you are fully cooperating with the Autobots and lead them to the second half of the ship. Say that you aren't betraying the Decepticons but want Airachnid to get her own for leaving you in this situation. They will get nervous around you and will want to ask what you want for helping them. If you want, you can even kick off the conversation with them to throw them off their game. Troops will come to the second location when the time is right to retrieve both you and Airachnid. Stay alive.~Coordinator." I would have been shocked that Lizzie responded on her own frequency if I didn't know that Soundwave had set her helmet up with her own frequency and she could use speech-to-text technology to speak the words she wanted to send to us and it signed it Coordinator just in case the enemy got into our private comms.
"You got it, Coordinator.~Thundercracker." I responded to her before I was pushed to my knees in front of the Autobots, who were circling me. It made me uncomfortable but, as Coordinator suggested, I decided to start this off and throw them off their games."I'll tell you where Airachnid went."
The Autobots looked wary at that, and off their game like Lizzie guessed they would be, before the one called Wheeljack asked, "Is that right? And what do you want in return?" And here is the tip-for-tap that Lizzie was expecting. Sometimes, that human was too good at predicting the Autobots. Of course, they didn't make it that hard.
So I answered the Autobot. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I want to be on your side and I'm not betraying the Decepticon cause. However, Airachnid has betrayed me in leaving me here to be captured by you and I want her to get what is coming to her. Our goals are aligned for now." Seemed like a decent answer.
However, the Autobots didn't look convinced. "Isn't ratting out one of your own the same as a betrayal?" The one called Zarron asked me with a studying look. Something seemed off about that Autobot, but I wasn't sure if it was a bad 'off' yet.
"No. Being in the Decepticons allows me to take retribution against Airachnid for leaving me to be captured by you without a way to defend myself and get away. This is my way of doing so. I don't plan on informing you of any Decepticon plans or saying any information that could hurt the Decepticon cause. I just want that femme to get what is coming to her." Instead of doubt, I actually saw what looked like a flash of understanding cross the two-wheeler's faceplate. I was going to ask Soundwave if he had more information on that Autobot once I got back to the Nemesis.
Also, just because I seemed to have convinced Zarron of my goals, that didn't mean that the rest of the Autobots were ready to accept them. "Yeah, right." Pitch started before he shook his helm. "And I've been lobbing with the Fallen." Wouldn't surprise me if that scraplet lobbed with the Fallen.
But, I couldn't say otherwise for now. I was, unfortunately, at their mercy for now. "She abandoned me, left me for scrap. So, why not give her up?" I drove my point with a hard stare directly at their Prime. It was risky since this was a mech who regularly battled with Lord Megatron.
After the Autobots seemed to have their little meeting, leaving the two-wheeler Zarron to watch me, they all seemed to turn to me and, from their looks, it seemed like they were going to take me up on my offer. I hoped that the fragging spider looked surprised when she saw the Autobots show up so soon to take her down a few pegs.
Wheeljack's 1st P.O.V.
"Be still, my beating spark." I said out loud in surprise as we pulled through the arch that Thundercracker had directed us too and, sure enough, he had been telling the truth. Never thought I'd see the solar where a Decepticon was telling the truth.
"What do you know?" Flamewar snapped at me. "Could still be a trap."
While I wanted to argue with the femme, now didn't seem like the time. We were going into dangerous territory and we didn't know what Airachnid was after in this ship since Thundercracker refused to say if he knew or not. That, in my opinion, just showed me more that he was actually telling the truth. He told us that he wasn't going to be betraying the Decepticons during this, so whatever Airachnid was after was something that Megatron and the Decepticons wanted as well.
"Rise and shine, 'Crackey." I heard Pitch taunt our prisoner before pulling him out of Optimus' trailer. I even flinched as Thundercracker hit the ground on his wings, slightly bending them. He was cooperating and that seemed excessive. "We're here." Pitch said as he pushed a glaring Thundercracker toward us, causing the seeker to fall to his knees.
"Where's the ship?" Blurr asked the Decepticon.
Said Decepticon motioned toward the stone arch...well the best he seemed able to with his cuffs on, before saying, "It's through the arch, among the stones." He then smirked before saying, "I'm sure that even you Autobots couldn't miss it."
While it looked like Pitch wanted to hit him, the truck mech didn't get the chance as Optimus started to speak. "Blurr, Pitch, Flamewar, Arcee, Zarron; you are with me." Prime then turned to me before saying, "Wheeljack, remain with our prisoner."
Great.
But, it was better than the alternative of having to go into the field with Pitch and Flamewar. I knew that they bothered Zarron and I knew that they bothered me as well. I'd rather stay on prisoner duty alone than have to be with them. It might be wrong to think that, but I didn't care.
"You got it Optimus." I said with a nod, though I wasn't very enthusiastic about it.
Optimus stared at me for a few nanos before he nodded and said, "Autobots, roll out." The others then transformed and followed our leader toward the other half of the ship, and Airachnid.
Once they were gone, however, I turned and looked at Thundercracker and I noticed that something seemed off. For being a prisoner of the enemy, he seemed a little too relaxed. Was his getting captured planned? Thinking back on the situation we came up on, I doubted that. But, with the Decepticons, you never really did know what they were thinking.
And that was especially lately.
For a reason that none of us had been able to figure out yet, the Decepticons were acting much less...Decepticon-ish, than they normally did. They weren't just using their drones as cannon-fodder, they were rescuing their own when they were in trouble and they worked more closely as a unit than they ever did. Of course, this little bit with Airachnid and Thundercracker here wasn't adding to this weird stuff but the way that Thundercracker was acting definitely was.
You know what, since Paul had to be sent back to the base since he was found by Blurr sneaking along the treeline before we came underground, I guess I could see if Thundercracker would give me any information about the human they had. "So, going to tell me anything about the condition of the human girl you all are keeping up in your ship? Lizzie's her name if you don't know it."
To my surprise, Thundercracker slipped a small glare at me before his expression returned to normal and he shook his helm. "No."
"Why not? The human can't be that important to you 'Cons so come on. Give me just a little something I can say to her boss. He worries about her." I tried to push at the seeker.
But, I wasn't destined to get anywhere with that as he simply glared at me before saying, "No." The seeker then started to fidget, which got me nervous, before he said, "Is the clamp really necessary? It's really giving me a crick."
Now it was my turn to shoot him a look, this one asking if he was really asking me that, before I said, "I can shove you back in the trailer."
That caused the seeker to glare at me and turn so he wasn't facing me. Great. Now he wasn't going to talk to me. This was going to be a boring watch that was for sure. "I'm not really so bad, you know." I jumped when Thundercracker suddenly said that. What was he going on about?
So, I figured I'd push him a little. "Tell it to someone who cares."
"Isn't that what the Autobots are supposed to be known for? The faction that cares?" He shot back at me with a serious look.
And that statement caused me to freeze. I hated to admit it, but he was right. Autobots were always preaching about equality and fairness for all, that we cared about any who were suffering and would be there for others when they wanted to talk. True, I wasn't exactly the 'model' Autobot, but some of the stuff those old infomercials would talk about was part of the reason I joined the Autobots. They were a faction that was supposed to care for those around them...even at times those who were different from us or had different views.
But lately, from what I had seen here on Earth at least, those roles seemed to be shifting. Here were the Decepticons, taking care of their own and putting the safety of their soldiers above the success of the mission, though they had been doing a lot of succeeding lately. On the other side, the Autobot side...technically my side, we had Zarron here doing internal affairs work because Autobots here on Earth, those right under the command of the Prime, might be traitors to the Autobots. Here, we had bots that I wouldn't trust to talk to, let alone put my spark in their servos during battle.
I shook my helm out of those thoughts when I heard the sound of a rocket and had to jump back to avoid getting hit. In response, I took out my own blaster and started to fire shots at the area where the shots had come from. After a few clicks of fire going back at forth, the other side stopped and the sand cleared up enough so I could see what was going on.
What I saw, though, just caused me to add another item to the list of the non-Decepticon way that the Decepticons were acting. Helping Thundercracker get out of the servo cuffs, since the wing cuffs were already removed, was Starscream and he seemed to be lecturing the other seeker. On the cliffs where the shots had been fired at were drones and the third bot of Starscream's trine, Skywarp, who I were guessing had shot at me before.
They had performed a rescue operation while I was the only Autobot around guarding him. Thundercracker must have been using the private comm system while he was keeping me distracted. However, they didn't take advantage that I was alone to offline me or seriously injure me. While I doubted that the drones would do much against me, I knew that Skywarp was another matter and, since Thundercracker was now free, they could have a three on one advantage on me.
Yet, the drones and Skywarp were simply regrouping with Thundercracker and Skywarp while they looked on at me with a strange look. "Let's go." Starscream simply said before they turned to the now open ground bridge behind them and started to walk through it.
I couldn't help but stare dumbfounded at where the Decepticons had been standing. I honestly probably looked like a scraplet looking at organic matter. But this was weird. Not to brag, but I was probably on a few 'Con top Autobot to offline lists and here I was, definitely outnumbered and they might have even had a chance against me.
But they just left. What the frag was going on with the Decepticons these solars?
"Where is the prisoner?"
The sound of the question snapped me out of my stupor and I turned to see the other Autobots coming. Pitch, who was the one who addressed me, was glaring as he walked over to me. Great, now I had to deal with this idiot? Once they were over to me, I shook me helm at him. "The 'Cons sent a rescue party for him and I was pinned down. Nothing I could really do about it."
"Nothing you could do about it?" Flamewar started at me. "You could have meched up and,"
"Enough." Flamewar paused as Optimus intervened. Good for her that he did. Otherwise, I would have had some choice words for the glitch as well. She was getting on my last nerves and I was tired of her. "There was nothing that any of us could have done to change what has happened. We were unprepared for the intervention of the rest of the Decepticons on both sides of the situation."
Both sides? Did that mean that, "The Decepticons showed up when we had Airachnid cornered and Blitzwing took her through their groundbridge while Shockwave and Breakdown fought us back. They got the immobilizer too." Zarron replied rather calmly as he looked to me. I could see a look of understanding in his optics and, if I wasn't mistaken a little look of mischief. Guess he enjoyed stopping the false pride train that Flamewar and Pitch were trying to ride.
"Guess we all let them get away. Glad I meched up and admitted that at least." I agreed with Zarron while taking a jab at Flamewar for the comment she had been making to me before Optimus interrupted.
"Why you," Flamewar started.
However, Optimus was just in time to interrupt again. "Autobots, it is time we return to base. When we return, get some rest." Even I could hear the tone in his voice that said to drop everything. Well, I was ending with a win so I'd listen.
Once we got through the bridge, I saw that Paul was in the human area. He was asleep on the couch but I could see that it wasn't a restful sleep. Made me wish that I could have found something out for him. Something to make that crazy human worry less. I noticed that he hadn't been asking about his employee, Lizzie, whenever we came back from missions that the Decepticons were involved with. He snuck with, yes, but he didn't talk about his concern for Lizzie to anyone except maybe Miko.
Hopefully, with more training sessions in the future, I could get Paul to open up a little. There was too much stress on his human brain and I wasn't sure how long it would take it for it to crash on him. Shaking my helm, I walked over to the area and picked up the human. His room was on the way to my own and I could go into my soliform when I arrived and take him inside. While the human's pride might be injured slightly, I was sure he would feel better sleeping the rest of his recharge in his own berth then on the couch.
Lizzie's 1st P.O.V.
"You left Thundercracker with the Autobots? Do you have any notion of the consequences of your blunder?!" I wanted to smirk as Lord Megatron ripped Airachnid a new one. She had messed up on her test and, normally, I wouldn't have hesitated in allowing myself a smirk at this victory in our non-physical war.
But, I couldn't be bothered to at the moment. Internally, I was shaking with relief. I had been so terrified, frightened even, when Lord Megatron assigned Thundercracker to go with Airachnid to the Harbinger to retrieve the immobilizer. I know that I screwed up at that point, letting my worry show on my face, but I couldn't help it.
In the original timeline, this was the episode where Starscream betrayed the Decepticons and then escaped the Autobots and became neutral, which caused its own problems. But, this was a completely different timeline now. Thundercracker could be going on this mission and, honestly, he probably had a high chance of not coming back to us online.
"But, my lordship, it was Thundercracker's incompetence that almost cost us the immobilizer." I barely heard Airachnid try to argue. Pathetic really that she tried to blame Thundercracker for this mistake when she clearly left him to the mercy of the Autobots and, with Pitch and Flamewar having been present with the Autobots, that had made my concern for Thundercracker's safety even higher. I was more than relieved when Starscream had reported that he, Skywarp, and the drones we had sent with them were able to rescue Thundercracker.
"I don't care about some trinket." Lord Megatron growled at the hunter femme and I paid attention. It was never a good idea to not pay attention when he spoke. "One of my top lieutenants was a prisoner of the enemy, and if it wasn't for the intervention of Lizzie, would have remained as such. Do you not comprehend what that means?" He was not happy in the slightest and Airachnid was being hit hard for her blunder. While this was in no means a failure, unfortunately, on her part, this would restrict Airachnid to a sort of 'house arrest' for a time until Lord Megatron was ready to test her again. "That could have meant that all Decepticon intelligence that Thundercracker had access to could have been at servo's length of the Autobots!"
He was not happy and his saying that reminded me at just what danger Thundercracker was in during that mission. If I was not asked to be here for this by Lord Megatron, I would already be on my way to Thundercracker to check on him. I felt like I was shaking internally at this worry that had been building up inside of me since the beginning of this test. But, I had to restrain myself. I had to stay in a stoic form while watching Lord Megatron reprimand Airachnid. I had to give witness to this since I was the main target for Airachnid and the reason that she was tested both of these times and Astrotrain was tested that once.
I heard Lord Megatron tell Airachnid of her ship arrest before she seemed to hesitate before bowing her helm. "Yes...my Lord."
"You are dismissed to your quarters." Lord Megatron demanded her. She nodded and turned, though I definitely did not miss the glare that she sent towards me, before she left the bridge. "You are dismissed from here as well Lizzie." Lord Megatron addressed me.
In return, I bowed to him. "As you wish Lord Megatron." Then, I made sure to calmly leave the bridge, once my helmet was back on since I now wore it when not in the presence of Lord Megatron or Soundwave.
Once the door to the bridge was closed behind me, I didn't waste a nano and crawled up at top speed to the vent. Once it was opened, I swung inside, shut the grate behind me, and ran down the vent toward Starscream's room at top speed. I knew that was where Thundercracker would be and, even though this would be taken as a sign of weakness, I didn't give a scrap. I had to see with my own eyes, inspect with my own hands, that Thundercracker was really alright.
So many bad things could have come out of this and, while there were definitely some close calls from what Thundercracker had reported to Lord Megatron before he had gone to Starscream's room, not much could have gone better here. But, I had to see him up close. Bots knew how to hide injuries from a distance and I wanted to make sure, up close and personal, that he was alright.
It didn't take me long before I reached the grate to Starscream's room. I didn't even hesitate as I crashed through it with a jump and started to fall toward the surprised mechs below me. Primus be fragged about holding back on my emotions right now. I needed this. Once I landed on the berth next to T.C., which was a miracle on its own, I didn't hesitate in ripping off my helmet and throwing it aside. As it hit the berth, I raced up to Thundercracker's arm and hugged it the best I could.
I felt tears of relief flood down my face as I did but I didn't care. I had been so scared...so worried. Not only was it my job as a strategist to make sure that everybot came back online...even if it wasn't my mission plan being used, but I also found myself looking at my fellow Decepticons as a family.
...Well, not Airachnid or Astrotrain but the point was there.
From behind me, I heard Skywarp let out a small teasing laugh. "What's this? The Coordinator is letting her guard down for a bit?"
To my surprise, though I didn't stop letting the tears fall, Starscream also took this moment to tease me. "You know, if this is the reaction we get out of you for going on dangerous missions, maybe I should go on,"
"Don't even joke like that!" I snapped at him, my arms shaking as I held onto Thundercracker's arm. "You have no idea how much I worry! Yes I get to go on some missions, but you have no idea what it's like to be me. To watch all of you leave each time for a mission and fear that you aren't coming back. This," I then let out a hiccup as I stuttered over my words. I wasn't used to vomiting my words like this. "I don't like worrying that you all aren't coming back. It hurts. I...I…"
I felt Thundercracker lean against the wall by his berth but I didn't pay attention until I suddenly felt arms wrap around my shoulders. Not tightly though, so I could turn and see Thundercracker's soliform, Terrance, standing there giving me a hug. Out of the corners of my eyes, I saw Starscream's soliform, Stewart, and Skywarp's soliform, called Sawyer, coming over to me.
I started to cry more as the other two joined Terrance in hugging me. I knew I shouldn't be allowing myself to feel like this, to show so much emotion in the open, but I had been so scared when Thundercracker left for that mission, and even more so when he had told Starscream that he was captured by the Autobots. I had been terrified. That was especially since they had Pitch and Flamewar there with them.
"Hey, don't start crying again Lizzie." Terrance laughed as the three of them were around me. I pushed my head into his chest, definitely not ready to stop crying, before he sighed. "Look, Lizzie. You have every right to worry, and we're sorry for giving you a hard time. We just think that you've been pushing yourself too much lately."
I chuckled at that but felt my eyes growing heavy. All the stress of the solar were finally hitting me and it was hard to stay awake.
"Ah, and I think you need some recharge." Stewart laughed at me.
While I wanted to pout at Stewart laughing at me, I was too tired to argue and felt myself slump slightly against their soliform bodies, which were surprisingly warm. "Mhm." I mumbled as a response as I got comfy against Terrance'ssoliform. I felt my feet leave the floor, though I was really too tired to panic, and heard a new voice before my vision went dark and sleep found me.
Authoress: *tears* That was so adorable! I want to snuggle with seeker soliforms!
Starscream: *shakes helm* You need to snap out of that Authoress. You have more important duties to start in on.
Authoress: *confused* What do you mean?
Thundercracker: *motions to laptop* How about another chapter. We don't know as much as you do, Authoress, but something is telling me that you are building up to something.
Authoress: *slips a smirk* A few things actually. *walks away*
Skywarp: *Had warped in when she said that* Something tells me that isn't good.
AN: So here is the next chapter! I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did! We get to see some fun in this chapter with the Autobots, and a practice session with the Autobots to boot! If I remember correctly right now (and I am too cold and lazy to go looking back through to see if I have already done one) this is my first showing of what Paul's training sessions with the Autobots are like. Then, with the Decepticons, we see the tests.
I do feel like I have to do some explaining on that. The reason that Airachnid is getting so many tests, whereas Lizzie only had her one, is because Airachnid has been an official member of the Decepticons for a good deal longer than Lizzie was during her test. Though, I have to say that the spider is definitely pushing the envelope on what she is going to get away with. While we didn't see Astrotrain during this, I have to say that he has to be careful even though he is not in the same trouble boat that Airachnid is in.
Okay, and I have to say this again, I loved the scene at the end with Lizzie and the Seekers! Lizzie has really come to care for every bot on the Nemesis (outside of Airachnid and Astrotrain obviously) and she was scared when Thundercracker was sent with Airachnid. The knowledge that she had from the show and the lack of knowledge she had in this changed world caused Lizzie to break down and she just needed a hug! *enjoys cuddles!*
Next chapter is going to have some tensions with the Autobots and a peek into Zarron and a little of his past. Should bring some more information out about his character in this. Not much will actually be seen with the Decepticons and Lizzie on the episode side of things, but I have at least one really interesting scene planned with Lizzie and another soliform at the end of the chapter. Last thing I'll say about that is that it might show you some about where I am planning events to lead eventually.
Now, for the names of the next chapters!
Chapter 21: K.I.S.S - T.M.I
Chapter 22: How to Deal with Pressure - Stronger, Faster
Chapter 23: ...? (Do I need to explain?)
Oh, one more note I want to make about the chapter names. As we near the end of season 1, I will not reveal the names for the chapters for season 2 until I post the first chapter of season 2, which will be chapter 26. So, as the chapters come to a close, you won't be seeing three (technically two) listed. Just wanted to give you a helms up!
Now, I guess that is all for now! Plese review if you have a spare click! I even like just the word 'hi' if you don't know what to put. Lets me know you are there. XD Until next time, TTYL! *sings about unleashing the magic*