New Fanfiction: Shockwave's New Club
Summary: Shockwave really wants to get elected into the Society of Galaxy Leadership and takes nearly the entire Decepticon faction with him to the group's convention. Side story: Ravage and Laserbeak butt helms while holding down the Decepticon Underwater Base.
Notes: This story is set after "The Intergalactic Incident,", (unpublished), and before "I Need a Hero," and "If Only You Knew." It is also set after the events based on the comic book "All Hail Megatron," Issue 12 (Thundercracker and Skywarp scene, specifically), that have been included in this AU. While no specific year is given in order not to date the story, it 'might' be set around 1994.
As for the AU, Shockwave is the Caretaker President of Cybertron; Megatron and Starscream had been Bonded for around six weeks, and Soundwave has five Cassettes since this was before Ratbat was born. This story is also set prior to the birth of Megatron and Starscream's triplet sons.
In addition, the Society members and leaders of the other planets are written without any physical descriptions on purpose, so you, the audiences, have permission to imagine them as you see fit.
Chapter 1:
Before the Convention: MARS Airport: Saturday Evening:
"This has always been a lifelong dream of mine," Shockwave mused as he looked out the window of the spaceship, "and it's finally happening."
The Annual Convention of the Society of Galaxy Leadership would take place over the period of eight days, on the planet of Athenia, in which the leaders of intergalactic planets gather, along with their delegations, to discuss and enact programs in order to better their respective planets and the entire galaxy as a whole. Every ten years, the Society holds elections of their officers, and this year, Shockwave, Caretaker President of Cybertron, planned to run for office.
But there would no doubt be stiff competition for the coveted positions, and the purple Cannon-Former was not taking any chances. Working with Megatron and Soundwave, he arranged for the majority of the Decepticons to be delegates at the convention, hoping to ensure his election.
And so, on this Saturday evening, citizens of multiple planets boarded the Intergalactic AirBus, bound for a twelve-hour flight to Athenia.
Shockwave sat at the window seat, an empty seat next to him awaited his loyal bodyguard, George, who stayed outside until the last minute in order to smoke another cigarette; across the aisle was Megatron, next to him was Starscream, and they had been Bonded for a little over an Earth month and were still very affectionate in public; next to them was Thundercracker, who was reading his datapad novel series he had brought with him, and then Skywarp, who was listening to his Walkman, jamming to the music; across the next aisle was Soundwave, with Rumble and Frenzy fighting for the window in one seat; his youngest Cassette, Buzzsaw, slept in his sparkling carrier by Soundwave's pedes. Behind their seats were most of the Decepticon army: The Coneheads: Dirge, Ramjet, and Thrust; The Triple Changers: Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Octane; the Stunticons: Breakdown, Dead End, Dragstrip, Motormaster, and Wildrider; The Combaticons: Blast Off, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, and Vortex. Back on their Earth-based Decepticon Underwater Base, Ravage was left in charge, along with Laserbeak, the Constructicons, and the Reflector triplets.
"I love you, my Starscream," Megatron smiled broadly at his Second-in-Command, whom he had finally Bonded to just six weeks earlier, "isn't this nice? Our first trip as Bondmates."
"Does that make this our honeymoon?" the red and white Seeker teased, "You still owe me one, you know."
They laced their digits together and leaned towards each other for a kiss.
Shockwave continued to speak in a hopeful tone, "I can't even remember how long I've wanted to join the Board of the Society of Galaxy Leadership, and now—" he turned and saw that Megatron wasn't listening to him. "Megatron?" he asked nervously.
"Eh?" Megatron looked at him now, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were talking to George." Starscream leaned against Megatron's shoulder, listening as well.
Shockwave leaned over the empty seat, "I'm just so excited over this convention! My circuits haven't been this lit since…well, I can't even remember!"
"Well, I'm happy for you," Megatron shrugged a bit, "I admit, I never cared for clubs, but we'll back you up, Shock."
Soundwave checked his remote access device, "Ravage: Status report."
"All is well, Father," Ravage sat at the Computer Consul in the Control Room, in Soundwave's usual swivel chair, monitoring all the cameras, "the Constructions are continuing their remodel of Megatron and Starscream's quarters, and Laserbeak is about to depart for the Ark."
"Our ETA is twelve hours from our destination," Soundwave told him, "Keep me posted."
But as Soundwave was talking, a flight attendant came over and tapped his device, "Put that away; we're about to depart." Soundwave glared at the rather rude youngling before addressing Ravage again, "Sorry Ravage, I'll call you when we reach Athenia."
"Very well, Father," the Cat signed off.
Laserbeak came into the Control Room now, "Is that Father?"
"He just signed off," Ravage stated rather coldly, not bothering to take his optics off the monitors.
"And you did not bother to inform me?" Laserbeak was indignant, "I had wanted to discuss pertinent information with him prior to the liftoff of the AirBus."
"Father will call back when they reach Athenia," Ravage remarked.
"The next time," Laserbeak slammed his tapes on the Computer Consul, "I am to be informed of any correspondence immediately!"
"Look, Twenty!" Ravage growled, "I'm in charge for the next eight days! Unless you want to spend the majority of that time in the brig, you'll keep your attitude in check!"
The two Cassettes stared each other down for ten minutes. This was war.
Back on the AirBus, Skywarp was singing, rather loudly, to his human friend's new single, "You know very well…Who you are…Don't let 'em hold you down…Reach for the stars …"
Thundercracker preferred reading, ignoring his younger brother's bouncing in the seat to the beats, "Just hope I loaded enough books onto my tablet to get me through this week in dullsville."
"This planet is supposed to have some lovely mountains and rivers," Starscream whispered to his eldest brother, "we have to sneak away at some point and go exploring."
Astrotrain, who was sitting directly behind Megatron, tipped his friend on the shoulder, "Megs, helms up."
Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots, entered the AirBus now, headed towards the First-Class section, along with the Earth delegation.
"What the slag's HE doing here?!" Megatron growled lowly before standing, "Stay here, guys."
The former Gladiator approached his former friend and counterpart, "Prime," was all he had to say.
"Megatron!" Optimus Prime was happy to be traveling together, putting his hand out for a shake, "Congratulations again on your Bonding."
Megatron only offered two digits to shake back, "Hmph, I suppose I should say thank you for that rice cooker." But he got right to the point, "Why are you going to Athenia?"
"I'm part of the Earth delegation," Prime explained, "you're going as well?"
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself," Megatron scoffed, "representing your meatbags and their dirtball planet when you're just as much a Cybertronian as I am!"
"It's part of my commitment to the United Nations," Prime explained.
"Just keep your distance," Megatron warned before heading back to where the Decepticons were sitting in the Coach section.
"Optimus Prime is a delegate too?" Soundwave observed as Megatron conferred with him, "This should be interesting."
"Keep an optic on him, Soundwave," Megatron whispered lowly, "maybe if he's with his Earth buddies, the other Autobots will just bumble around on Earth, and we can get a few side jobs done."
Soundwave, "Affirmative, Megatron."
Then the same flight attendant came over, "Sir, we are taking off soon!"
"I put my device away," Soundwave told him, getting annoyed.
"I wasn't speaking to you!" the flight attendant barked, looking at Megatron, "Please return to your seat, Sir!"
"Suuuure," Megatron glared at the youngling before nodding to Soundwave and returning to his seat.
George, Shockwave's Chief of Security, was the last one to board the AirBus, "Sorry, Boss," he told Shockwave as he sat down next to him, "had to get my last cigarette before this twelve-hour trip!"
"That's fine, George," Shockwave was still extremely happy with everything, "I appreciate you and all the Decepticons for doing this. I can't tell you what this means to me!"
The flight was long and dull; Starscream fell asleep on Megatron's shoulder; Skywarp fell asleep on Thundercracker's shoulder; Rumble and Frenzy never settled down even for a moment, much to the annoyance of their Sire, and Megatron stayed on high alert, staring at the curtain that separated their section from the higher classes, ready if Optimus Prime dared to appear.
The Cybertronian delegation disembarked from the AirBus, everyone with their carry-on language; Megatron did a helm count: 22 delegates, plus Shockwave's bodyguard and three of Soundwave's Cassettes. The Tapedeck immediately checked in with Ravage back home on Earth; George immediately lit a cigarette and took a puff, having abstained for the last twelve hours.
"Alright, Decepticons," Megatron addressed his team, "let's get this farce over with; the sooner we get to the hotel, the sooner these eight days can be over with." The lack of enthusiasm was palpable.
The group walked through the massive airport, with Shockwave being absolutely giddy with anticipation for the convention.
Starscream playfully kissed Megatron as they walked.
A random traveler sneered at them, "Foolish creature." It was unclear if the traveler was referring to the newlywed's open display of affection or the fact that a Seeker was before him.
Starscream huffed his vents, refusing to let it bother him; Megatron put his arm around his new Bondmate protectively. He realized quickly that the other parts of the universe that typically converge in any airport are not always as enlightened as Earth and Cybertron.
Megatron addressed his soldiers as they all walked, "Decepticons: Stay Vigeant of any threats! Walk in pairs and groups! Remember, we're not at home."
Megatron walked with his arm around Starscream's shoulder; Thundercracker pulled Skywarp closer and held onto his arm; Soundwave juggled his carry-on bags with Buzzsaw's sparkling carrier all the while keeping a firm grip on Rumble, who had Frenzy in a choke hold while they walked; Astrotrain, Blitzwing, and Octane kept their chassises between their faction and the surrounding crowd; the Coneheads walked in step with each other; the two gestalt teams walked together, and all the while, Shockwave walked in front of them all, talking about how glorious this convention was going to be.
"Athenia is absolutely lovely thus far," the Cannon-Former marveled, "just look at these glorious skylights!"
George lit another cigarette as they walked, not paying attention.
"George! Come on!" Soundwave scolded the bodyguard, "Watch Shockwave!"
"HEY!" George barked back, "YOU MIND?! I just got off a slagging twelve-hour flight with no smokes, and I need to make up for it!"
And while a brigade of limousines took the respective convention delegations to the hotel, the Decepticons took the local city bus.