Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers or any of the characters mentioned in the story. They are trademarks of Hasbro and the other companies responsible for their creation. So pleeez don't sue me.
When We Where YoungChapter –15 Aftermath
"Look Headmaster, the War Ball Championship Tournament is very important to the Decepticons, yes?"
"Yes."
"Then I don't see how anyone would be angry with you in deciding to drop the charges on Blitzwing."
"Death's Head I can not just drop the charges on Blitzwing. He attacked a professor, a superior. If I were to drop the charges now, I would only be encouraging such behavior from the other students. In these dangerous times the Decepticons cannot afford to have their own War Academy collapse in on itself. You see we have to teach them to not channel their aggression towards each other. For if they do that, they have nothing left for the enemy. Also, in terms of punishment, I like to keep things equal. That keeps aggressions against the administration down as well." The Headmaster's voice was weary and irritated.
"Yes, but a victory at the Tournament would be another booster for this "ego trip war" of yours, yes?"
"Ego trip war?" The Headmaster looked a mixture of surprise, anger and amusement. "That's an interesting way of putting it?"
"Well I heard both sides and that's what it sounds like."
"Ah…...ha. Yes that's what most people think. The Autobots say they must conquer the evil that is the Decepticons. The Decepticons say that gaining control of the fatherland is the first step to conquering the universe for the glory of our race. Yes, it does sound like an ego trip doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"However, neither side wants to admit to how desperate it's gotten. The outcome of this war at this point in time, will decide which species survives. Victory is our only option. Losing will mean not only the loss of a war, but also the loss of our race's way of life." The Headmaster's weary amused look had turned dark and serious.
Death's Head didn't know what to say at this point.
"For the many Millennia of watching this war, I have never seen the stakes higher than what they are now. Let me tell you something more. The students here are being groomed to win this war, but either way it goes this generation will decide the war's outcome for the Decepticons. For better or for worse, the Decepticons fate is on their shoulders."
"I see."
"Actually, there is one way I could allow Blitzwing to play in the tournament without raising aggression of injustice amongst the academy populace. If a unanimous vote from both students and teachers say that Blitzwing should play in the tournament I shall allow him to do so. With this method, no one would have reason to accuse the administration of injustice because they chose it. I'll see what I can -----"
"Headmaster!" Mindwipe burst into the room, almost running into Death's Head as he did so.
"One of the students! Thundercracker! Was brutally attacked, he may not live!"
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"So let me get this slaggin straight!" Ramjet growled pacing around the Medcenter waiting room. "Our right forward has suffered a system crash because his brother, our goalkeeper, got all ripped up, we don't even know if our center forward is going to play and the Tournament is in a week and a half?!"
"Yep. That's about the size of it." Megatron answered calmly leaning back in one of the waiting room chairs. Soundwave sat quietly next to him, patching up some of the minor wounds Ravage sustained from attacking whatever it was that had assaulted Thundercracker.
Ramjet growled again and dropped into a chair next to an unusually quiet Blitzwing.
"I wonder how Thundercracker is doing? And I hope Skywarp gonna be ok." Starscream looked up at the white ceiling. After suffering a system crash Skywarp was taken back to the house by Dirge and Thrust. Scrapper had directed the other Constructicons to accompany them. Just in case Thundercracker's assailant aimed to go after Skywarp as well, not to mention Thrust and Dirge.
"Whoever his attacker was, sure did a number him." Scrapper sighed.
"What made 'Warp crash?" Ramjet's frustration hadn't lessened any.
"Thundercracker and Skywarp connection assessed. They are twins." Soundwave answered, not even looking up from adding the finishing touches on Ravage.
"Twins?!" Blitzwing raised an optic brow in confusion.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Ramjet looked equally confused.
"It has everything to do with it." It was Scrapper who answered. "Like combiners, twins seem to have an intuitive link. However, though they cannot read each other's minds whenever they wish, like combiner teams, they can feel each other's feelings. Also, I know if I saw all of my Constructicons in the same condition Skywarp saw Thundercracker, I'd probably suffer a system crash too."
"Obviously they share the same creator and were first activated at the exact same time." Shockwave stated. "The probability of the creation of twins is 1 in a million. Seriously, it only works on the first activation and it won't work if you are off in the activation time by even a millionth of a micro second."
"I didn't know Cracker and Warp were twins, I thought they were just brothers like me, Thrust and Dirge." Ramjet looked quizzically at Shockwave.
"I've noticed that Soundwave and Ravage seem to have a similar type of bond. Isn't that right Soundwave?" Megatron glanced over to the spot were the blue cassette deck had been sitting, except he wasn't sitting there anymore. "Soundwave?"
Starscream slapped his hand against forehead. "How does he do that?!"
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Soundwave walked silently through the campus streets with the newly repaired Ravage trotting at his heel. It was way past curfew, he knew he was breaking punishable rules. He also knew who had attacked Thundercracker, Ravage had seen it and informed him of both who and what it was. Now he had to get proof.
The Forensic Bots were already at the attack site when Soundwave arrived, the Headmaster and the Arial House Caretaker, Death's Head were there as well. Everyone was so busy with the crime scene they didn't notice the lone student out and about way past curfew.
Are you sure you spilled their energon?
Soundwave spoke without speaking.
Yes, the Shrapnel, the Kickback and the Bombshell combined threw me off and then started leaking over there.
Ravage's mind answered, as he led Soundwave around a corner and out of sight of the Forensic Bots.
*Sniff* The scent is still here. It is not the Thundercracker's or mine. The trail is still warm.
Ravage's confirming voice echoed in Soundwave's head. Soundwave nodded and answered.
If the trail is warm, then we must follow…
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Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing and Scrapper walked back toward their respective Houses. Ramjet had flown on ahead, while Shockwave volunteered to stand guard and keep them posted on Thundercracker's condition.
They had just turned a corner when Ravage came trotting up to them. The panzer ran directly up to them then turned and started heading back the direction it came, stopped and turned its head to look at them.
"Now what do you suppose he wants?" Scrapper raised an optic brow.
"And where's Soundwave?" Megatron said gravely.
Ravage seemed to perk up at the mention of his creator's name. He jumped slightly and again made for the direction from which he came.
Megatron followed Ravage's lead. The others, unsure of what to do, followed after Megatron.
"Where are we going?" Starscream asked running alongside Megatron.
"Wherever he goes." Megatron motioned toward Ravage.
"What for?" Blitzwing called indignantly.
"Because if Ravage came to us alone, then it means one of two things, either Soundwave is in trouble or he has found something!"
Ravage turned a corner into an alleyway and abruptly stopped. Megatron skidded to a halt almost stepping on Ravage. Scrapper, not expecting the sudden stop, crashed into Megatron who fortunately managed to keep his balance.
"Heh. Sorry." Scrapper shrugged, a little embarrassed at the chuckles from Blitzwing and Starscream.
"SHHH! It doesn't matter." Megatron hissed in a whisper as he walked slowly and silently following Ravage who was now in stalk/spy mode. The panzer's elegant paws made no sound when they hit the ground.
The four young Decepticons followed Ravage's lead as quietly as they could. They could hear voices from around the corner at the end of the alley. They slowly peeked around the corner.
"My apologies for Ravage's attack on you. He did not recognize you in your gestalt form. He thought your were an enemy intruder." Soundwave's calm monotone was unmistakable.
"That is quite all right, all right. Except he ruined our fun, our fun." Shrapnel's distinct speech pattern broke through the silence.
"Fun? You refer to attack on Thundercracker?" Soundwave's calm tone was unchanged.
"Fun is how Shrapnel prefers to frame it, however I see attacking Thundercracker as a way of teaching those War Ball hot heads a lesson in turning away good people." Bombshell hissed.
"Scrapper," Megatron whispered, "Go get the rest of your crew, we may need back up."
Scrapper nodded and silently ran off.
"So revenge on Thundercracker was enjoyment?" Said Soundwave dispassionately.
"Well, yes. Though---" Kickback frowned, his wings moving closer to his body. "Though ripping off his wings may have been a bit much."
"Silence Kickback, Kickback!" Snapped Shrapnel.
"Yes, who do you think you are? An Autobot?" Bombshell sneered.
"Now that's just cruel Bombshell." Kickback's frown grew more hurt.
"By the way Soundwave, we apologize for Blitzwing falsely accusing you tattling on him, when it was us. But we thank you for not saying anything."
Megatron and Starscream were holding Blitzwing back from running out there and strangling Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback.
"I can't believe Soundwave is in league with those guys!" Starscream hissed angrily.
"Silence you fool!" Megatron's voice was whisper, but still threatening. "Soundwave's a genius, he's getting them to confess everything."
Starscream looked slightly hurt at Megatron's insult, but kept silent.
"Heh. Too bad that Megatron had to come up with those new plays to win the Decepticon/Autobot game or our revenge might have ended there and spared Thundercracker some pain, pain." Shrapnel smirked.
"Did you sabotage them?" Soundwave's emotionless composure did not change.
"Well, sort of, of. All we did was borrow the team laptop and transmit the plays to the Autobot team, team." Shrapnel smirked.
"Shrapnel! Bombshell! Kickback!" Everyone turned to Venom running toward them. "I've been looking for you guys everywhere. It's way past curfew and I wanted to make sure to get you back to the before you cause any trouble."
"Venom, you're so overly suspicious. You should be careful of whose business you stick your antenna into." Bombshell hissed menacingly, Venom cautiously took a step back.
Seeing that Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback were busy talking with their comrade, Soundwave slowly and silently began to back away. It was then he found out too late that he had not stopped his recording device.
CLICK!
"You!" Shrapnel's face contorted with anger. "Very clever trick Soundwave, wave!"
"Too bad you won't live to tell it!" Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback combined into their gestalt form and lunged at Soundwave.
Just before the claws that had ripped Thundercracker apart reached Soundwave, a huge beam came from the adjacent alleyway and made a direct hit on the gestalt. It split up back into Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback.
Megatron, fusion cannon aimed and ready, walked out of the shadows from the adjacent alleyway, followed by an enraged Starscream and a sadistically grinning Blitzwing.
It didn't take a knock over the head to tell Venom that this was a bad situation, and he chose this time to slowly slip away. 'I knew those guys were in some kind of trouble.'
"You guys are gonna find that messin' with the War Ball team is going to end you up in a world o' hurt!" Blitzwing punched a fist into the palm of his other hand, as his grin turned into a fierce frown.
"You are lower than a pile of slag to do what you did to Thundercracker!" Starscream shrieked, brandishing his arm gun at them.
The three accused got to their feet and slid into fighting stances.
The two groups snarled and charged toward each other.
Before either side could fire a weapon, a big green barrier came down in between them. They looked up and saw it was a giant leg connected to a very big robot.
"ENOUGH!" The big robot shouted. "IT ENDS HERE! NO ONE CAN WITHSTAND THE MIGHT OF DEVASTATOR!!"
Devastator, as the robot called himself, lifted one of his massive feet and aimed it right over the heads of Shrapnel, Bombshell and Kickback.
"Get 'em Devastator! Smear their circuits all over the ground!" Shouted Blitzwing. A brutal smile spread across Devastator's face.
"Hold it right there Mr.!" Devastator stopped in mid stomp upon hearing the familiar voice. "I said you could help in their capture, not turn them into tiny pieces."
Everyone turned to see the Headmaster followed by Death's Head and some of the other campus authorities.
"Shrapnel! Bombshell! Kickback!" The Headmaster turned his attention to them. "If you come willingly no further harm will come to you, until judgement is made."
The accused nodded and slowly followed the campus authorities.
"Death's Head. Please escort these students back to their respective Houses." The Headmaster motioned toward Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing and Soundwave.
"Come you," Death's Head said to them. "It's way past your recharge time, yes?"
Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing and Soundwave nodded and silently followed Death's Head's lead.
"Um, Headmaster?" Devastator finally spoke up.
"Yes Devastator?" The Headmaster stopped, turned, and levitated up to look face to face at the green gestalt.
"Uh Sir, can I put my foot down now………?"
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I'm so sorry for the long wait, but I had my wisdom teeth removed, so I've been on this heavy narcotic pain medication for a while and I wanted to wait until I had recovered a little more before continuing this story. Plus, I'm simultaneously writing out a shorter Fanfic that stars Hook from the Constructicons. It's called "Fractured Mentality" I wrote it out on paper while I was under the heaviest pain killer drugs so we'll see how it comes out. Anyway keep those reviews coming, and don't worry you will find out Thundercracker's condition first thing in the next chapter.
Till next time.
-Vega Sailor