Hello, beautiful people! How're you doing? Hope you're doing fine!
I've officially finished another chapter, so I'm in a very good mood. Is it too obvious? XD
Hi, again, Gst! Thanks for your reviews!
Now, about the surveillance thing in the fic; it's true that I didn't made Knock Out evacuate the hospital... because I didn't thought about it at the moment. However, I said that the Autobots held a long debate after the Velocitronian woke up, so they might've decided to keep watch over the building during it. Anyway, remember that, in the show, Optimus and the others were warned about many Decepticon attacks by Fowler, when they were supposed to be in a war... and looking after Megatron and his army...
And about Ratchet's and Knock Out's talk, I setted it at late night when everybody else was sleeping (they were supposed to be asleep too), but their worries (Rathet over all the things that were going on, Knock Out about his glitch becoming a public thing) didn't let them. They were just looking to calm down to be capable to recharge in peace.
As to why I decided to use Megatron's medic as my main character, the only answer that I can come up with is: because I saw an opportunity for a story. I mean, the character had no backstory, whatsoever, was a deficient warrior during the show (used as comical relief), and he was the only 'Con who switched sides (and the only one, besides Breakdown, who doesn't have the faction symbol). Also, he grew into me along the show.
It mades me happy that you liked the story, though you don't like the character. It means that I must've done something right! Haha!
Well, let's go back to our bussiness. This chapter will take place on Cybertron!
Warning: English isn't my mother language, so there might be some grammar mistakes. Sorry.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers franchise, nor its characters. It is a registered trademark of Hasbro.
TWENTY: New Discoveries
Prowl's processor was aching as if a hydraulic press was trying to break it. Not only was he dealing with the Council, who was looking for any excuse they could find to fire commander Ultra Magnus, but he was also helping the suspended police enforcer in complete secrecy. The decryption of the files he downloaded at Darkmount was taking longer than expected, and, honestly, he was starting to consider to hire a clerk, if it would make things move faster… The night before, his little brother, Side Burn, called to check up on him; of course that the cop tried to bluff him, saying that everything was fine, but a bad covered yawn told the younger bot that something was definitely out of place. "This job is going to kill me…" He thought, while taking a long, long sip of his Energon.
The white and black bot was at a newly opened bar, not too far, nor too close to the police department. It was the only place where he could work on the decryption without worry of being followed. Yes, he was also starting to feel that the Council put a tail on him; and, though many would believe he was developing some paranoia, the fact that, two days ago, Ultra Magnus told him not to meet with him for a while only confirmed his fears: they were under surveillance. "Well, they can follow me as far as they want… I know how to cover my tracks." He thought, while taking another sip of his drink, with his eyes fixed on his datapad. It took him weeks, but he has decoded part of the text. Not much, but something was better than nothing. However, there was a word that was troubling him; it was a name, actually, one that was mentioned many times in the Intel he download, and that he was sure he heard before, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. "If I search for it in the police mainframe, the Council will know that I'm still investigating Shockwave, and helping commander Ultra Magnus." He realized, as he considered his options.
Prowl knew that to access the police database from inside would be suicidal (at least for his career as police enforcer), but, unfortunately for the Council, he was one of the Triplets… Grinning, the bot sub-spaced the datapad, paid for his drink, and exited the bar, while calling for his brothers, asking them to meet at X-Brawn's apartment.
The three of them were well-known long and wide because they were triplets, not twins. Spark-twins are usually two; they can look alike or not, but they are only two, not three. The medics never knew how was it possible for them to have born from the same spark, especially because their bodies matured at different pace. But there was no doubt that they were triplets, their sparks didn't lie, nor their genetic print.
Of course that the oldest brother was confused by the sudden call, but he received his siblings, nevertheless. Side Burn arrived shortly after Prowl, saying that he couldn't stay long, because he had to go back to the Academy before the next class starts. The cop smiled.
"Good, because that's where I need to go." He said.
"Wait, what?" The blue brother said, startled.
"I need remote access to the police mainframe, and the Academy has one."
"Remote access? Why? Did you get fired or something?" X-Brawn asked, worried for the middle brother, who has been in a difficult position the past few weeks.
"What?! No! Nothing like that! Calm down, X. Everything's fine, I promise." Prowl assured him, while placing a hand on his older brother's right shoulder. "But I've been working on a case that doesn't count with the Council's approval, so…"
"Wait! Hold on!" Side Burn interrupted him, while leaning closer to the white and black bot, who was slightly taller than him. "Does this has anything to do with your little incursion on Darkmount?"
The cop's silence said it all.
"Prowl! Are you out of your mind?!" The elder snapped at his sibling, who flinched at the sudden yell. "You spent five solar-cycles lying on a stretcher after that!" He reminded him, pointing at the cop's chest with his index finger. "If Ultra Magnus has suicidal tendencies, then that's his problem! But, if you're risking your life because of him, then I…!"
"But he's right!" The middle brother shout back, startling the other two. His eyebrows were frowned and his fists were clenched. He was decided to finish the mission, one way or another; and not even X-Brawn would stop him. "He's right about Shockwave, about the Seekers, about those criminals having ulterior intentions; he's right about everything! I only need proofs, but the Council will not help, because Earth isn't among our colonies! And, if they find out that I'm still investigating that mad scientist…!"
"So that's why you need the Academy's access?" Side Burn suddenly wondered, earning his brothers attention. The cop lowered his gaze, relaxing.
The Elite Guard sighed and scratched the back of his neck, recognizing the admiration on Prowl's eyes; it was the same face he made when he entered the Academy and met with Sentinel Prime and Alpha Trion. If any of them were still alive, and came up to him, asking for assistance… No. He wouldn't doubt it either, he would've jumped into action without thinking. And, besides, Prowl has always been the more logical of the three, so he must've his reasons to behave this way, doesn't he? He should trust his brother, right? He should help him, shouldn't he? Also, if not, those runaway Decepticons would attack an innocent species (which he has never seen, but he heard the stories from Smokescreen, and he saw the love in his friend's eyes whenever he talked about that planet…). As an Elite Guard, he swore to serve and protect the innocent, so…
After settling his thoughts, Side Burn agreed to help his brother, who gave him a flash-drive for him to copy whatever information he could find. The blue and yellow mech arched an eyebrow, and looked at the cop quizzically. Information about what? He didn't say what he needed, and, honestly, he assumed that Prowl would come with him…
"I can't… Security cameras. I helped to install them myself. Trust me, there's no such thing as blind spots…" The law enforcer explained. "But, don't worry. Just keep your commlink open in our personal frequency, and I will guide you through this mission." He added, patting his younger brother's shoulder.
"Okay… I guess…" Side Burn mumbled, not really sure about this, and starting to have second thoughts already…
But, again, it was Prowl and he could trust him. So, sighing, he sub-spaced the flash-drive. In five kliks he would've to leave the house and return to the Academy; but he decided to stay as long as he could. Meanwhile, he started to plan how to justify the little research that he was about to perform. Even when it wasn't the Police Department's system, the Academy's mainframe kept a data log of every single piece of information that was copied or investigated. If someone asked him why he was nosing around the war files, what would he say to sound convincing? He sure couldn't say that he was surfing the records because he was bored… That was more Prowl's style, not his. Whenever he felt bored, he hit the road, and drove downtown to some bar. He couldn't say that he was slacking around either; first, because the chairman would kick him out of the Academy; second, because Hot Rod could say that he was lying and keeping secrets. That orange and yellow warrior knew him too well (after all, they were best buddies)… Side Burn knew that he would've to be extremely cautious around him, or his mission could be discovered.
Meanwhile, Prowl turned to look at his older brother with an ashamed look.
"Now, I need a really big favor from you, X…" He started.
"Let me guess…" The green brother interrupted him, raising a hand for emphasis. "You need me as alibi, in case someone suspects of you, don't you?" He snorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Sorry, I know this is not like you… or me… But it's the only way to elude the Council's interference." Prowl apologized to X-Brawn, who was the first person in teach him to be honest and respectful of the laws.
The eldest triplet sighed and massaged his forehead, trying to process this scene: Prowl, the kind of guy who follows the rulebook until its last consequences, was now asking their help to do something that was bordering the illegal? X-Brawn was almost sure that he was having a nightmare. It was either that, or he crossed some sort of dimensional barrier and ended in some alternative universe where up was down, and left was right…
Grunting, he looked at his siblings: both of them were ready to go, and complete the mission, with or without his help. Prowl was decided, and so was Side Burn. If that was the case, what did it matter his opinion? He knew this two guys; he practically raised them!
"… I need a drink…" The green mech said, surrendering, and walking past his brothers, towards the kitchen.
Prowl, though feeling bad for X-Brawn, knowing that he just disappointed him, sighed relieved to know that the oldest triplet was in. With the three of them working together, the Council will never stop him from helping the commander to finish the mission.
"Okay, here's the plan: I'll remain within X's vision the whole day, understood? If someone asks, you say that the three of us decided to have lunch together today, but that you had to leave sooner, due to your obligations at the Academy." The middle brother started to explain to the youngest one.
"Got it!" Then, a doubt crossed his mind and his face: "But, what if the chairman surprises me when downloading the data?"
"Seriously, Side? How many times you made up excuses for us, whenever you got in trouble?" Prowl asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It became your special ability, if you ask me…" X-Brawn commented, reappearing with a small bottle of high-grade in hand, and resting his weight against the kitchen's doorframe.
The youngest triplet made a grimace, placing his fists at the sides of his hip.
"Is not the same, guys! You haven't meet that old creep! He's like the son that Unicron and the Terrorcons never had!" Side Burn complained, pure horror in his face.
The older brothers shared a surprised look at that description… and burst out in a loud laugh at the chairman's description. This mock wasn't exactly appreciated by the youngest brother, who left the apartment saying that he was late for the next class already; that he would be back by the sunset.
After a joor of driving, Side Burn reached the Academy's entrance. The voice of Prowl was constant through the commlink, thing that was starting to get on his nerves. Seriously, couldn't he just leave him alone five kliks? He knew what he was doing! He was an Elite Guard! He would finish the mission no matter what!
Of course that, when a good-looking femme of nice curves and a stunning red armor appeared walking down the street, the young mech's mind suddenly became unable to think, and Prowl's voice became nothing but a buzz in the background. Completely forgetting the task to fulfill, the young warrior flirted to the femme, who chuckled and walked right past him.
"Where have you been my whole life?" He mused out loud, never looking away from her armor.
At this point, she sighed and turned to look at him with a smirk on the lips and an eyebrow arched.
"Sorry, kid. Not my type." She said, winking an eye, and walked away.
«Side Burn! Come back to reality! This is important! » Prowl's voice roared through the commlink.
"Bro, I think I'm in love…" The Elite Guard said, while walking through the Academy's doors.
«And this chick is different from the last three thousand because…? » X-Brawn wondered, completely eavesdropping into the conversation of his brothers.
«X, we both know this is no different from the others. Side can't see beyond a shiny red platting… » The middle brother commented.
Entering one of the elevators, the younger triplet felt somewhat offended by the comments, and growled out loud, making sure that his insensitive brothers heard it. His only answer was a sigh from Prowl and a chuckle from X-Brawn.
So he liked femmes with red armors. Big deal! It wasn't his fault that his two brothers never felt attracted to anyone! He had a type, that's all… Crossing his arms and frowning, Side Burn decided to have a little chat about the matter with Prowl and X-Brawn once he was out of there.
Once at the level where the mainframe that contained the historical records was, the blue mech walked out of the elevator, and inserted the lock's code to enter the room. Seemed that everything was going just fine… At least this far. Nor signs of Hot Rod, nor the chairman. "Good. We're good…" He thought, while closing the door behind him, and starting the system.
Everyone who worked at the Academy, or was a student there, had an access code to the mainframe. It was changed after an amount of solar-cycles, so only the personal and current trainees knew it. Side Burn among them, as a trainer.
Taking a long intake to calm his nerves, the blue mech connected the flash-drive.
"Alright, bro. We're in. What do I have to search for?" He asked.
«Go to the war records, look for a ship called Black Moon. I think I have heard that name before, but I can't remember… » The middle brother said.
"Ok… I'm searching…" Side Burn said, while scanning the ships' files. Suddenly, a result was shown on the screen. "Huh… There's only one match: a prison ship that belonged to the 'Cons. Is that the one you're looking for?" He asked.
«Huh… Could be… Download the file anyway. I want to know what makes it so special. » Prowl said.
"You got it. I'll be with you, guys, before afternoon. I'll give you the flash-drive then." The Elite Guard announced to his brothers.
«Thanks. Oh, and, Side Burn? Good job. »
He didn't knew what was weirder: that he was in the records room, or that Prowl actually congratulated him…
Ultra Magnus was at his place, trying to act normal, knowing that he had eyes and ears spying on him all the time, when the message from Prowl came in. The kid found something, and wanted to talk with him; sighing, the commander reminded him that a personal meeting would end up in a disaster for both of them, but the police enforcer didn't want to listen. According to him, it was risky to keep talking through their commlink; they had to meet at somewhere safe. The Wrecker tried to resist the urge of find out what new information this young warrior had, but, in the end, his impulses were stronger than his will, and, for so, they decided to meet in the only place where the Council didn't have power: near the Well of the AllSpark.
The blue bot wasn't surprised when he found his subordinate already at the meeting spot, scanning the surroundings, making sure that nobody else was around. They seemed to be safe, maybe because not many bots liked to go there; Ultra Magnus liked to think that it was out of respect, because that was the spot where everything started, where the first cybertronians were born… Or, maybe, because it was the very place where Optimus, the last Prime, sacrificed himself, in order to save their race. He would never knew which was the ultimate reason, but he appreciated that everyone showed some respect, either to the grave of his good friend, or to the newborns that were still inside of their hatches around the well.
Yet, his reasons to be there were very different: Prowl promised him some new information about their case, and that was it. However, he wanted to know how he got the Intel without alerting the Council's spies… Only then Ultra Magnus learned about the cop's younger brother, Side Burn, who was one of the few Elite Guards who survived the war, next to Smokescreen and another cadet called Hot Rod. Since the three of them were helping at the Academy, they had full access to its mainframe… which contained as much information about the war as the police department's system.
"Among the things I've already decrypted there was this ship's name… Black Moon. I knew I heard it somewhere else, so I searched it on the war historical records." Prowl explained while activating a datapad, and looking for a particular entry. Once he found it, he handled it to the blue bot, who started to read it immediately. "It was a prison ship, from the Decepticons faction. It was loaded with dozens of Autobots who were captured at the battlefront."
"Yeah, I heard about it. But it was destroyed as it prepared to jump out of the planet's orbit during the exodus." The Wrecker said, arching an eyebrow, not understanding why Shockwave would be interested in an old wrecked spaceship which whereabouts nobody knew… "In fact, Jetfire's squadron took it down."
"I know, I read the files." Prowl stated with a shrug. "But, what I've noticed is a discrepancy between our database and Shockwave's." He added, while pointing at the paragraph in which he found said discrepancies. "Apparently, Megatron's scientist hid something on that ship; something that was meant to be kept from the Autobots who raided his labs a couple days after he moved his experiments into the Black Moon, which's location was unknown to us back then." Then, he crossed his arms. "However, such behavior suggest that Shockwave counted with…"
"An informant." Ultra Magnus completed for his subordinated, who simply nodded.
The rest of the document was still encrypted, and it would take a long time to be readable; but this was more than enough by the moment. At least they had something to offer to the Autobots who were back on Earth… Earth! Of course! So that's where the spaceship crashed! Scrap! If this information was true, then he needed to warn the others immediately! But how?
With the Council watching him day and night, Ultra Magnus could not even sneeze without their knowing. Biting his lip, he concluded that the only one who could send the message was Prowl, or, at least, one of his brothers; otherwise, he was exposing Ratchet and the others to be labeled as conspirators in some sort of crazy plan to take over the political power on Cybertron… or something like that. He knew well that that was the real reason why the Councilmen didn't like him; because, being the famous Ultra Magnus, many liked him better than the actual regime. They were afraid of losing their place at the Council Chamber, ignoring that the blue bot was a warrior… not a politician… Last thing he wanted was their job.
The cop, all the same, was also incapable of sending a message to another planet without being suspected of treason (thanks to his closeness to the Wrecker, no doubt). Fortunately, he knew someone who didn't have that problem…
Hot Rod was sitting at the Academy's mainframe's control room, bored, watching the security cameras footage, when Side Burn entered in a rush, begging the former bot to give him some privacy for a couple minutes. The orange bot arched an eyebrow, and, smiling devilishly, he reaffirmed his position on the chair before challenge the younger bot to force him to leave. The blue Elite Guard tried to reason with his friend, saying that he wasn't kidding, that it was an emergency.
"Then urgently force me to… Agh!" Before he could finish his sentence, Side Burn grabbed the chair and, shaking it, drop the young orange bot, who fell on his butt with a loud thud. "Ouch! That hurt!" He complained, while rubbing his aft… and his sore pride… "What's going on? What's the big emergency?" He wondered, while getting up.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you!" Side Burn apologized, while typing in a real hurry, thing that called Hot Rod's attention. "Really, man! Just give me five klicks alone!" He pleaded when he noticed that his friend was still standing next to him, like some sort of statue.
The orange bot, offended, huffed and crossed his arms, before yell a loud "Fine!" and walk away, closing the door behind him. It was painful for Side Burn to know that he just hurt his friend's trust, but he didn't have much of a choice. His brother was still waiting at the other end of his commlink, and they didn't have much time; he would figure how to apologize with the other Elite Guard later, right now he had an urgent message to write.
"Okay, Prowl, I'm here. Tell me what to say." He announced.
And, then, he started to write.
The next morning, the middle brother of the triplets was, also, under surveillance by order of the Council; he was suspected of conspire against the head of Cybertron. However, those old rusty bots didn't count with his brothers doing, who made the measure public, stating that the cop didn't do anything wrong according to the law.
In a couple days, the whole planet suspected that their new rulers were either tyrants or paranoids…
That's all for now!
Let me know what you think, guys! It makes me happy to see your interest!
Bye!