Understood

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Chapter 28

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Tailgate put the finishing touches to his plating before heading out for the night. It was an endless cycle of combat. He would go out with pristine plating and come home covered with scuffs and scratches and small dents. And they had to be taken care of. A battered mech was not an attractive mech, and one had to stay attractive to lure in the better customers. But damage to one's appearance was a fact of the job.

There came the sound of several jets from the balcony next door. Their neighbors, a trine of seekers, had just come home. The three flyboys looked upon them with some disdain for being grounders, but were pleasant enough. The three were quiet, save for their arrivals and exits. The three roared in and out of their apartment at all hours.

The front door opened just as Tailgate headed to the energon dispenser for his evening fill up.

Swerve came in with three other mechs, all with West Kaon Third Munitions Factory Department #7 badges on their shoulders. "Hey! Tailgate!" called Swerve. "I'm glad you're still here. These are some of the other guys in my department." He pointed at the three in sequence. "Boulder, Dash, and that's Chase heading for the energon."

"Hey, I'm drained. Long shift, you know," laughed the red mech. "You don't mind, do you?"

Swerve laughed. "Of course not. Just save some room for high-grade."

"Hey Swerve," said the yellow-brown mech introduced as Boulder as he sat upon the couch. "You didn't tell us your roomie was so cute. Pretty even..."

Both Swerve and Tailgate laughed lightly.

"So how close are you two? Because if you aren't..." The bulky mech grinned at the blue and white minibot.

"Hands off, Boulder," Swerve cautioned playfully.

Boulder sighed with half-feigned disappointment. "Such a shame. Well if things change between you two, let me know."

Tailgate handed Chase a full cup of energon. "Here you are."

"Thank you."

"He's so gracious too..."

"Boulder..."

The brown mech laughed. "I didn't take you for the jealous sort, Swerve."

"Maybe I am," he laughed as he took a seat beside Boulder.

Tailgate downed the energon he'd poured for himself and made for the door. "See you later, Swerve."

"Have a good night, dear," Swerve said pointedly.

"You're leaving? We just got here," said Chase.

"I work... ah... I..." Tailgate stuttered.

"He works the night shift over in Kaon Bridges," lied Swerve quickly.

"Well that's too bad. Thought we might have a game of Quintesson Poker since there were five of us."

"Oh... that would be nice, but I need to work.." said Tailgate. "Sorry to leave just as the party's starting." He took a quick look in the mirror by the door and then headed out with a wave "Have fun everyone! Without me. Sorry." Tailgate headed off quickly.

Outside of the apartment building, Tailgate transformed with a sigh and headed off for Overdock.

Maybe he should have stayed. Swerve's friends from work seemed pretty nice, and he'd heard all three mentioned before. He'd laughed when a red mech named Chase had been mentioned. There was always a red or blue mech named Chase.

But work called. Rent would be due soon, and he didn't have quite enough to cover his share. Repairs to a leaking ankle strut had taken a big chunk out of his income this deca-cycle. And it had been his turn to fill the energon dispenser.

By the time he got to Seventh Cycle Street, Tailgate was fretting enough that his fingers were twitching. He transformed and took up his post in front of the Old Kaon Tavern, showrooming his freshly-polished frame. And happily it wasn't long before a needy Decepticon wandered over, red visor scanning him up and down. "Got a couple cycles?" he asked.

"All yours, if you're interested," said the minibot, gesturing to himself suggestively. He leaned back upon the the streetlight's post.

"How about seven-hundred credits for two cycles?" asked the mech.

"Perfect," Tailgate agreed. "You've been around here before. You knew what I was going to ask."

"I've gotten used to things down here." The mech—some sort of tank-former—looked over at the Swinging Gate. "How about a drink and then go upstairs."

"If you're buying," smiled Tailgate, flashing his nice lips.

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"Understood" continues in Chapter 29

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