Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo my friends! Here is last chapter's follow up! Not too proud of this chapter though, it's really just a filler. Next chapter will get back on track with the TFP storyline.
Also, this story has reached over 7,000 views! Once again, my thanks are out to everyone who has reviewed, faved, and followed. Your support for this fanfic is so much appreciated!
Without further ado...
ENJOY!
The Prowler
Crossfire's disappearance had quite the uproar among the warship. When the dark blue returned battered and fuming, a drone had informed him that Shadowsaber had summoned him.
At the current moment, Crossfire stood within the command bridge at attention, Shadowsaber circling around him like a predator stalking wounded prey. Ironic really, Crossfire sees himself as a lethal predator, but his leader is an apex predator. Thunderhoof, Fracture, Burnout, and Underbite stood at the other side of the room, all of them watching with anticipation. It was always fun to see someone else get maimed by Shadowsaber.
"You left the Prowler, without my permission." The blood red femme growled in a statement, not a question.
"Yes, Lady Shadowsaber." Crossfire replied, not at all intimidated, even as Shadowsaber continued to stalk around him.
"And from Betawave's surveillance, you engaged the one known as Steelstrike." She added.
"Yes, Lady Shadowsaber."
"And you did not call for back up when you began your attack."
"No, Lady Shadowsaber."
"And pray tell, dear Crossfire, why didn't you call for backup so you could better handle the situation?" Shadowsaber didn't give him the chance to reply when she roughly shoved him to the floor. "Explain yourself!" She snarled.
Crossfire didn't dare to move from his spot on the floor. Had he been naïve, he might believe Shadowsaber may have cared about him. But he knew better. In her optics, he was a simple tool, something that can be thrown out once its usefulness runs out, which is one of the reasons why Crossfire wants out of the ranks. "I didn't mean to leave without permission. I guess my old habits still have a hold on me. And as for why I didn't call for reinforcements, my… eagerness overtook me. Surely you feel the same way when you engage Megatron."
The anticipation within Burnout, Fracture, Thunderhoof, and Underbite increased. Shadowsaber leered down at Crossfire, then chuckled. "Your brazen behavior amuses me, Crossfire." She said, then glared. "However," without warning, Shadowsaber grabbed Crossfire by the chest plate and wrenched him forward, growling, "If I need to clarify to you who is in charge here, I will not hesitate to do it. I know of the sly glances you shoot me when you think I'm none the wiser. Steeljaw gave me the same looks, each of them foreboding treason. And I do not take kindly to traitors." She shoved him back, standing tall and rolled her shoulders. "Report to the med bay with Burnout." She glanced back, glaring at the red and black mech, who flinched when they made optic contact. Then finally, Shadowsaber walked around Crossfire as the dark blue mech lifted himself back on his pedes.
Crossfire gave Shadowsaber a quick glare, not caring if she knew. He then turned and stormed out the command bridge, Burnout, Fracture, Thunderhoof, and Underbite following behind. Once they were out in the hall, Burnout laughed loudly. "Oh man, I thought she was gonna pound you to scrap like she did with Steeljaw!" He cackled a bit more, then yelped and ducked behind Underbite when Crossfire released an animalistic growl.
"Choose your next words carefully, Burnout, or you'll be the one who needs repairs." The dark blue mech snarled in warning, his claws coveting the spill of Burnout's energon.
"Someone's mad. Could it be because you didn't catch your prey?" Fracture teased tauntingly.
A fist then met Fracture's faceplate, sending him crashing into the wall next to him. The purple mech slid down onto the floor. Shaking off the pain, Fracture glared at Crossfire, who had his own glare on his faceplate. Scoffing, Crossfire walked off as Fracture lifted himself up from the floor.
Crossfire walked the halls of the Prowler, making his way toward the med bay, not bothering to wait up for Burnout. The dark mech blue clenched his servos angrily, the rage boiling within him threatening to be unleashed. He had come so close to terminating Steelstrike, and her little pet human. But of course, Starscream, Valkyrie, and that wretched Airachnid had to dive in and deny him the glory of ripping out Steelstrike's spark.'
"She won't be so lucky next time." He vowed, clenching his servos even tighter. "The next time we cross paths, Steelstrike, only one of us is walking away. And that will be me." He finished as he approached the med bay. The doors opened and Crossfire walked in. He approached the medical berth and begrudgingly laid on it, impatiently awaiting the arrival of Burnout.
Decepticon Base
The silo doors opened, and Knockout drove in. "And here we are." He announced to his occupants as he drove further into the tunnel. Once he reached the command center, he rolled his passenger side window, allowing Sierra to get a better look at the other members of Team Decepticon. The girl's eyes took in the forms of Starscream, Valkyrie, Airachnid, Quickbolt, Shockwave, Breakdown, and Soundwave.
Knockout came to a halt, opening his doors to allow Jack and Sierra to get out. Once they were, the red medic shifted into bipedal mode. "There's a lot more of you." Sierra said as her eyes darted from Decepticon to Decepticon.
"Again, you are taking this very well." Jack commented, slightly surprised.
"Well, like I said, first impressions do you wonders." Sierra explained.
"Hi, Sierra." A small voice said.
The girl looked up at a platform, and to her surprise, she saw Raf and Miko. "Raf, Miko? You two know about this as well?"
"Raf found out the same night as me. Miko found out the next day." Jack explained.
"Yeah! We're here to help the Cons kick the Structs off our planet!" Miko exclaimed excitedly.
Sierra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She is very well aware of Miko's antics. Heavy footsteps shook the floor. Jack and Sierra turned around and were greeted by Megatron's towering form. The Decepticon leader looked down upon Sierra with a soft and warm look. "Greetings, Sierra. I am Megatron, leader of the Decepticons."
"Decepticons… sounds like a scary name, no offense." Sierra commented.
Megatron smiled. "As I once explained to Jack, Miko, and Rafael, do not let our name frighten you. It was given to us by our enemies, the Destructicons, as a means of demonizing us. But we wear it as the embodiment of our goal, to ensure freedom for all sentient life forms. Now, you must be wondering why we and the Destructicons are here on your planet." Sierra nodded, and Megatron continued. "We are here because our home world, Cybertron, is no longer inhabitable, devastated by centuries of civil war. This conflict, which continues on to this day, was first fought over political idealism, then shifted over to the control of the energon supply, the fuel and life blood of all cybertronians."
Sierra took a minute to process this information before speaking. "Okay, but what will happen to me now?"
"Now that you know of our existence, you will need to be protected from our enemies in the inevitable event they come after you. But before I assign you a guardian, introductions should be an order." Megatron turned his attention to the others. "Decepticons, please introduce yourselves."
Starscream was the first to go. "I am Starscream, second in command of the Decepticons." The seeker proudly stated, holding a clenched servo to his chest plate.
Valkyrie was next. "The name's Valkyrie. I'm the one that keeps Screamer here in check."
"Valkyrie! You know I hate that blasted nickname!" Starscream whined. The female seeker giggled and winked at him. The male seeker shot Miko a quick glare, the one who had given him that cursed nickname, and the young girl giggled.
"Airachnid." The spider like femme introduced herself.
"Breakdown." The Stunticon and former Wrecker said.
"Call me Quickbolt." The young scout gave his name.
Sierra blinked once. "What?"
"He said 'Call me Quickbolt'." Raf translated.
Sierra looked at the young boy in surprise. "You can understand him?"
"Yeah, though I don't know why." Raf explained, smiling at his Decepticon guardian.
"I am Shockwave, Decepticon science officer." The scientist gave his introduction.
"Soundwave: Decepticon communications officer." The light blue mech looked down as his chest plate. "Laserbeak: eject. Operation: Introduction." By his command, Laserbeak flew off Soundwave's chest and flew through the air around Sierra and the girl followed the Minicon with her eyes as Laserbeak returned to Soundwave.
Sierra then noticed someone was missing. "Where's Steelstrike?"
Instantly, the atmosphere became somber. "Is she…" Jack trailed off, not wanting to believe it.
"No, Jack. Steelstrike is fine." Megatron relieved the boy of his worries, looking to the medical section of the command center.
Jack and Sierra looked that way to see Steelstrike laying the medical berth, unconscious. But her condition has greatly improved. The previously exposed sections of her wounds have now been sealed, and her frame shined brighter than usual. No doubt Knockout decided to give Steelstrike some polishing. "Knockout and Breakdown have managed to stabilize her. All we can do know is wait for her to wake up." Starscream gently said.
Jack barely registered the seeker's words. His face was a flurry of emotions; sadness, anger, and a host of others. Sadness for seeing Steelstrike like this. Anger at Crossfire for doing this to her, and anger at himself for not being able to do anything.
Seeing his conflicted expression, Sierra took Jack's hand into her own, hoping it provided some comfort.
"So!" Miko's shouting voice made Jack and Sierra flinch as the girl came running down the stair case. "You two are finally bumping hips now!"
"Miko!" Jack scolded, blushing, as was Sierra.
"What?!" Miko exclaimed casually. "It's about time, especially since you kept giving him puppy dog eyes." She said the last part to Sierra.
"I did not give him puppy dog eyes." The older girl denied, her blush intensifying.
"Oh, don't even try it!" Miko said.
Before further conversation could continue, a soft groan could be heard. Instantly, everyone snapped their heads and helms to the medical center, just as Steelstrike opened her optics and slowly sat up on the berth.
"Oh, thank Primus!" Starscream praised as he and the others came over to greet their awakened comrade.
Steelstrike blinked twice, desperately trying to remember the recent events. Then it hit her like a rock. She was driving to the restaurant Jack and Sierra planned to dine at for their date, then Crossfire attacked, showing that despicable grin on his faceplate that she absolutely loathes. She remembers fighting, then her world went black.
"Welcome back, Steelstrike." Valkyrie's voice brought the silver femme out of her thoughts.
Steelstrike looked up and smiled at her friends. "It's gonna take more than that to put me down." Chuckles erupted throughout the Decepticons.
"It sure will." Breakdown agreed, lightly patting the two wheeler on the shoulder.
Steelstrike's smile widened, then it widened more when her optics locked onto Jack. "Hey, partner."
Jack smiled in relief. "Hey."
Steelstrike's attention then went to Sierra, who had a look of gratitude on her face. "So, welcome to the fold." The silver two wheeler said.
Sierra smiled. "Thank you, Steelstrike. For what you did last night." The girl said. Steelstrike returned the smile.
"Now." Megatron began, drawing everyone's attention. "It is time to address the last topic of our discussion." The gladiator turned his attention to the red medic. "Knockout, being how Shockwave is a cybertronian tank and the rest of us are fliers, you will watch over Sierra."
"Ten four, Big M." Knockout gave a two digit salute, then turned his attention to Sierra with a smile, and the girl gave her own smile.
Breakdown smirked, an amusing thought coming. "Sierra." The Stunticon said, earning the girl's attention. "Make sure you don't let anything happen to Knockout's paint job."
"I take pride in keeping my illustrious finish clean and pristine." Knockout preened proudly, gesturing to his shiny frame.
"And sometimes he likes to give us some polishing once in a while." Steelstrike spoke up, pointing to her silver frame, which was shining brighter than usual, and Knockout chuckled.
"Your welcome." The red medic bowed.
Sierra shook her head in amusement. These… robots are just like humans. They can feel, they have emotions. She might just enjoy the company of her newly appointed guardian, though she's trying to figure out how she will explain to her mother how she managed to buy an Aston Martin.
Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Sierra turned her attention to Jack. "Um, Jack, would you like to reschedule our date for tonight?"
Jack smiled, blushing. "I would like that."
Sierra gave her own smile, blushing as well. Miko giggled, pointing to the pair. "She's giving him the puppy dog eyes again!"
"Miko!" Jack, Sierra, and Raf exclaimed.
As always, thank you for reading! Please leave a review, and until next time, have an awesome day!