Before the Autobots could go anywhere they needed to plan their strategy. Rodimus wished for the billionth time in the last five minutes that he had assembled an actual hierarchy and found a strategist, instead of letting things go wherever they flowed. A clump of arguing Autobots sat in front of him and NO ONE had any viable suggestions.
"We could go in the back door."
"Ships have back doors?"
"Charge up the front!"
"What are you, a Dinobot? What kind of puerile scenario would that serve?" Perceptor looked up and apologized. Rodimus didn't hear it; he was searching the now-sullen Matrix for ideas. It was pouting. Rodimus was going to rescue his Sweetie, and it was furious for being told to shut up when it protested. Now it refused to help. ('And this is supposed to be the most powerful object in the Universe,' Prime snorted.)
(We heard that.)
('Then help!' he retorted.)
(We're processing.)
('Could you process a little faster?')
"Rodimus, what if we split off into different teams and attacked from various corners a few cycles after you went up to the front door like they want?"
"What if it's a trap?"
"What if the back door is a trap?" replied Ultra Magnus, wondering who invited Perceptor's evil twin to this meeting. He had shot down every single idea, claiming the best line of offense was to let Roddy give them a fake Matrix. This was greeted with less respect than the propositions he rejected.
Rodimus stood up. "Ultra Magnus, your plan might work. Except that I want a team going with me when I go in, because no matter what they say, the Quintessons know I'm going to bring my army. Sometimes the most obvious move is the least expected."
"Are you sure, kid?" Kup finally spoke up. "I don't think there's any good way to do this."
Rodimus Prime nodded in acceptance. "That's what The Matrix said. I'm only taking volunteers, because this is too dangerous for anyone who's not ready for the consequences. Who will come with me?" Springer, Jazz, Blurr, and Perceptor's hands shot up, as did Ultra Magnus, Arcee, and Kup's. Rodimus took the first four and they planned the rest of the attack.
On Dinobot Island there is an inactive volcano that stoically sits and waits for the end of the world. It is a mile high, a mile wide, and groaning under the weight of all of the imperious egos that filled the spiral-shaped ship on it's flattest area.
Snarl did not really get what was going on around him. The Quintessons tended to use larger words than what he was acclimated to hearing. Quintesson guns impeded his charging Galvatron, who at the moment inspected their bodies to see where their 'secret powers' were. He was annoying. He handled them like a dog show judge, pulling, poking, and prodding areas best left alone. The minute he began to invade Sludge's personal space Snarl objected.
"You leave me Snarl's best friend alone!" he spoke in a tone worthy of his namesake. Galvatron, always unpredictable at best, ignored the aggressive Dinobot until his scan was finished. The purple mech, optics squinting maliciously, walked over and backhanded the Stegosaurus hard enough to knock him against Grimlock without uttering a word. He then moved to his last victim, Slag, still in Dinobot mode, but his angry march halted in surprise over something Snarl didn't see.
Beyond the Dinobots stood Cyclonus, Scourge, and the sneaky Swindle. Cyclonus hated dealing with Quintessons; it was distasteful, it was beneath the might and honor that made the Decepticons feared throughout the galaxy, but Galvatron had it in his CPU that these burdensome beasts could annihilate the Autobots for them. Now they waited for Rodimus to release his troops to save the love of his life, which was one of these Dinobots but none of them were sure which one. Swindle swore that it was the Pteronadon, but none of them would tell, and their mind probes proved inconclusive. To emphasize his point (and irritate an already volatile Glavatron's temper) the jeep kept pointing to a crayon scribble that looked like a primitive cave drawing, claiming it was the flying Dinobot. No one could decipher the illustration, causing the Quintessons to be uncertain so they kidnapped all five.
"We Decepticons loathe to collaborate, but should this particular device work..." Cyclonus interrupted his uncharitable remark when he realized it had been five minutes and it was time to see what his leader was doing. A quick perusal found him engaged in a staring contest with Slag, the Triceratops. Both were scowling. "Mighty Galvatron?" he asked, bracing himself for the unknown.
"I want this one," Galvatron demanded, his gaze interlocked with the Autobot's. One of the five-faced aliens intervened.
"Negative." The Quintessons were sick of Galvatron already. "We need all of them."
"I WANT THIS ONE!" he screamed, pointing his finger at it as he stomped over to the rest of the group.
"Mighty one," Cyclonus faltered, wondering what kind of melee would result from his leader's whims this time. "We must proceed outside of the ship with the Quintessons if we wish to destroy Prime."
Galvatron looked back at the object of his desires and saw it covertly nod in agreement. "Another time," he barked, begrudgingly turning back to his minions. "Until then, Dinobot...beware."
Slag looked unimpressed as Galvatron allowed his second in command to lead him away. The Megatron he knew had changed; not for the better. "Some things lost forever," he muttered. Swoop sympathetically patted him on the shoulder.
Together the villains floated/walked out of the spaceship to observe the departure. A few warriors and a legion of Sharkticons accompanied the Dinobots-as well as a surprise-into orbit over earth to await the Autobot rescue mission. Galvatron watched the ship go up for about thirty seconds before he focused his attention on shooting the tops of any trees in the valley below them.
"Where did you find a record of this energy source?" Cyclonus demanded. He was stymied as to the purpose of this place. There were active volcanoes, tar pits, Dinosaurs, all of it teeming with untapped energy that for some reason the previous Decepticons had failed to recover. Quintessons had no use for earth; who had told them about the island?
"A...project we have been working on revealed the potential of this spot and its connection to the Dinobots," one of the monsters craftily worded. Cyclonus was curious, but Galvatron snorted out something uncalled-for about them resurrecting the dead to learn their secrets. The Quintessons exchanged glances (or maybe they rotated heads), merely cruelly chuckling
Galvatron did not laugh. He was assembling the Sweeps to scout the area and to take Swindle for his appraisal skills. Scourge, not much of a scientist to begin with, was to look for any potential problems with the island. When asked why he was looking a gift horse in the mouth, Galvatron scowled.
"This is no gift. I want to see what I'm accepting before the final transaction."
If the Quintessons were worried they did not have a face for it. They sent the team out with their blessing and waited for their minion's signal that Rodimus Prime was aboard.
Metroplex is a large sprawling community of Autobots. He is also a warrior. Many forget this, except for Rodimus Prime, who told him recent events and placed him in charge of himself. Should any mini-bots, soldiers, etc., object, they would have Prime to answer to. Should any Decepticons attack he was to notify Rodimus immediately. Should his leg itch, he could scratch it.
Metroplex laughed at the feeble joke, a gentle rumble that knocked Bumblebee over. "I will not fail you, Prime."
Rodimus shifted uneasily. He didn't want to leave this place to confront Swoop. If the Dinobot was as upset as the other four, which was likely given the gestalt mentality they all had, he would be sent away with his spark duller and the guilt of Autobot casualties for a pointless skirmish. Arcee had reassured him countless times during his panic attacks that he would be fine, and that they were all behind him, and loved him, but Rodimus felt the pain of inadequacy pounce on him like a Predacon on one of Blaster's unarmed tapes. Bumblebee was tapping him on the back to tell him his telecom was ringing.
"We're ready, Prime." Springer sounded so formal. It didn't seem like him, adding to the unreality of this entire mission. Rodimus boarded Sky Lynx with Jazz, Springer, Perceptor, and Blurr. Already hidden from scanners, waiting on Omega Supreme were Blaster, Arcee, Kup, Bumblebee, and Ultra Magnus. Superion and Computron waited alongside, ready to take off the moment their commander gave the word.
Rodimus sat on a chair and tried to think of anything but Swoop. Their last real conversation still haunted him. Swoop asked if they could be 'best friends,' the Dinobot designation for sparkmates. Roddy, still adamant about keeping his nightly stints under wraps, had been less than enthusiastic. He argued that he would get in trouble, since Prime was supposed to be single.
"Optimus Prime not single," Swoop replied, crayon sketching a giant irregular circle that would represent Rodimus in alt mode. "He have best friend here."
Rodimus was startled. "How do you know that?"
No reply. Merely a smile as he zigzagged his yellow crayon across the circle.
"Swoop," Rodimus tilted his head. "I can't be your best friend. I'm sorry."
"You Rodimus Prime not be me Swoop's best friend?" His whole face drooped.
He had said no. Now it was back to haunt him with a vengeance.
"Uh oh," Jazz noticed a few blips on the screen. "Prime, you're not gonna like this."
"Decepticons?" asked Springer, seated next to the black and white mech. They'd argued over the music selection for the entire journey.
Ultra Magnus spoke over the radio. "We'll handle this, Rodimus."
Sky Lynx's velvety voice had more news. "Prime, I believe there is a rear entrance we can forcefully enter-" (ignoring the giggles from Jazz and Springer) "-on this ship!"
"Let's go." Rodimus really didn't want to do this. He launched himself out of Sky Lynx and sailed over to the Quintesson vessel with the other three at his heels.
Hidden in the throne room of the Quintesson ship the Dinobots stood chained as their guards wasted firepower blasting holes in the ship's interior walls for entertainment. Grimlock spoke to his followers over their internal radios.
"They not planning to use ship again," he grunted.
Slag growled. "It Decepticon bomb, like us Dinobots think. Me Slag work on it."
From his corner Swoop sighed. "He not come."
"No need him!" Snarl retorted. "Us Dinobots fine!" Sludge took pity on Swoop, who looked dejected.
"He come. Rod-ee-moose Prime say so," the Apatasaurus soothed.
"No." Grimlock actually moved his face away from the mechs with weapons to glare at Sludge for encouraging Swoop. "Rod-ee-moose Prime done with Swoop. Swoop done with Rod-ee-moose Prime. No more hurt."
"No more hurt," chorused his loyal crew. Swoop stared at the smooth metal of the giant bomb they were strapped to with absent-minded melancholy.
"No more hurt," he sighed, defeated.
Arcee watched the green, maroon, blue, black and white lump that was the Dinobot's rescue team disappear behind the spiral-shaped ship. She had no idea what Springer was thinking as he helped his former crush liberate somebody else. Was he jealous, or did he laugh at himself, as he had with the other failed relationships? She was sure it was the latter of the two. Springer was slow to anger, quick to forgive, and even quicker to joke.
"Everybody out!" called Kup, turning his internal radio on. "We've got Decepticons to fight!"
"Whoo-hoo!" called Blaster, releasing his tapes. They jumped out of Omega Supreme to land on the Moon, where Devastator, Menasor, and Predaking awaited with a few triple changers. Sweeps darted overhead, firing at anything they could get their scopes targeted onto. Arcee hit the surface of the planet in car mode and rolled out of their way, Bumblebee helping her lead them away from those still free-falling. Soundwave stepped out of his hiding place in a crater.
"Surprise: intentional. Escape plans: erroneous." He emitted waves to disrupt their processing while releasing his own tapes. Blaster was nearby, countering with his own weapons.
"Soundwave's tune is old! Hear some solid gold! That's a fact, jack!" The two grappled, foes as old as the satellite they stood on, their tapes hissing and snarling at their feet. Bumblebee held Ravage off while something crackled on their radios.
"Arcee! We need ya, kid!" It was Kup, stuck trying to hold off Predaking and the triple changers with Ultra Magnus while Sky Lynx took on the Sweeps.
"Coming!" she called, worried already. They were grievously outnumbered. 'Hurry up, Rodimus!'
Getting through the backdoor was easy enough. Fire laser, hold trigger down, and peel steel. Jazz had done it before. Unlike Kup, he didn't bother to detail the background story behind his knowledge, which was too bad because it was a funny little anecdote...
Maybe the hundreds of Sharkticons coming their way in the giant pit they had accidentally wandered into would like to hear the story. Jazz laughed to himself over that idea.
"Roddy, Jazz and Blurr can take these guys," explained Springer, transforming. "You and Perceptor get on! Jazz, I'll be back!"
Jazz watched him leave as he checked his blaster. It was low on ammo, thanks to its service as a can opener. "Take your time!" he called gamely, seeing a whisk of blue before Blurr took off to begin his attack. "This calls for a little fighting music." He decided to play a favorite of Blurr's. That's great it starts with an earthquake...
Springer carried the scientist and Rodimus over the mass of Sharkticons to a higher platform, where - jackpot! - the Dinobots stood in energon chains, facing the giant bomb they were attached to. This was a special touch only Quintessons liked to do, preferring their victims to see death coming. Springer dumped them off and flew back down to help Jazz and Blurr, who had energetically begun a new song.
"Fuel?" Springer asked, facing Jazz but slightly off to the right as he shot at the Sharkticons behind his friend. Jazz laughed at the hint. The two rotated outward, now facing away.
"Blurr likes how fast they rock. I was thinking of playing Outkast."
"Bombs over Baghdad?" he guessed, smiling as the sparkly beginning preamble to the hard driving beat and fast talking began. (CUE UP THE PLAYER, BOYS AND GIRLS, IT'S FIGHTIN' MUSIC! Read it fast enough and it fits.) Jazz grinned and crouched low to avoid a Sharkticon tail, pushing Springer down with him.
Springer stood up quickly and pulled out another weapon. "Blurr! Fight number 57!" the green mech called out.
"Gotitgotitfightnumber5757Icanremeberthat!"
"Ready?" Jazz asked, as Springer transformed.
"1-2-3-Yeah!"
Jazz jumped up, grabbing a spot on Springer's undercarriage, shooting as the helicopter rose. Springer spun quickly in circles, glad Jazz had good aim. Underneath them Blurr wove his way among the flock, thinning out those trying to take cover from the two in the sky. There were confused Sharkticons finding themselves tripping over bodies of comrades who were running for their lives a minute ago...and the NOISE!
The Sharkticons were not going to give up that easily. They quickly headed for the area away from the flying menace in such a massive exodus Blurr got out of their way, squealing for Jazz to stop shooting before someone got hurt, namely Blurr. Jazz released his grip on his transportation and chased after the Sharkticons, Blurr passing him. A Sharkticon ran towards Jazz from behind at a 45 degree angle.
Jazz's blaster picked that exact moment to fail him. His upper half was twisted partially while trying to fight off an almost impenetrable walking pair of jaws. Jazz stopped running, braced himself for the impact, but still flew across the room when the Sharkticon hit him. He collided with a nearby wall with a grin on his face. The attacker didn't see it, because the business end of Blurr's gun had made the assault on Jazz a moot point.
"Thanks!"
Tied up, looking exhausted, miserable, and dirty, stood Swoop. It took all of Roddy's self control to keep from leaping in the air and landing on top of him in happiness. None of the Dinobots looked particularly pleased to see them.
Don't pull the thang out, unless to plan to bang. Bombs over Baghdad...Yeah
Perceptor hurried over to release the prisoners while Rodimus summoned the courage he'd lost momentarily at the sight of his beloved. Four of the five turned to face their leader with wrathful grimaces immediately hidden as they transformed into Dinobot mode. Swoop refused to look at him, directing Perceptor to the back of the bomb. At the sight of this Rodimus spring into action. He made a move to go after them but was thwarted by Slag's fire breath.
"That had better be a cheerful greeting," Rodimus snarled darkly. The Dinobot fighting stance as a response told him it was not.
Uno, Dos, Tres, it's on
"You Rod-ee-moose stay away from Swoop!" roared Grimlock. "You bad!"
"Stay away! Stay away!" the other three chanted.
"I can't believe this. Swoop!" he called, trying again to get near him and receiving blasts from his opponents for his trouble. "Swoop, talk to me!"
He was not making much headway, between the shots and the fact that Swoop had kidnapped Perceptor and made a break for it. Rodimus flipped, slipped, and crawled his way around the Dino-fire to find himself at a livid Tyrannosaurus Rex's giant feet. Grimlock towered over his Autobot leader with a ferocity he saved for their enemies. "You Rod-ee-moose one. Dinobots many. Us Dinobots stop you Rod-ee-moose," he declared, jaws snapping Rodimus Prime's gun to smithereens.
Rodimus brought his second blaster from subspace and turned it on. "If I have to fight every single one of you to get to him, I will." To the pit with the special relationship he'd built with them, if at the first weak moment they tried to melt him down for scrap.
Grimlock relished the challenge. "You kill us first."
Roddy charged. "No problem!"
Hold up, slow up, stop, control.
The enemy stopped running to face them and forced Jazz to improvise. He punched and kicked; his piece de resistance was grabbing a Sharkticon tail to fend off his attackers by swinging one of them to knock a few of the others. That didn't work when the giant set of feet caught their balance easily. Springer threw the only weapon he could spare at his friend: part of his 'copter blade. Grinning, Jazz swung the heavy metal plank at the Sharkticons in time to the music. Springer produced the other plank and attacked a few meters from his fighting double.
Don't pull the thang out, unless to plan to bang. Bombs over Baghdad...Oh, Yeah
Outside, Ultra Magnus, Kup, and Arcee were having a terrible time keeping Predaking at bay. Now that Computron had been riddled with shots, there were not enough combining Transformers to fight the Decepticon giants, and the Predacon menace was beating the slag out of Magnus' troops.
Omega Supreme had carried Devastator away and had not been seen since. Blaster defeated Soundwave and his minions and now all five of them had the remaining triple changer (one had fled) occupied. Sky Lynx dragged the Sweeps into space, leaving the Autobots not as crowded but still grossly overrun.
Instrumental
"We need a plan!" yelled Bumblebee.
"I'm open to suggestions!" called Ultra Magnus, bringing out his second round of ammunition. The cliff they were hiding behind had long been shot apart and they were on the verge of being stomped on.
"How about 'run for it'?" Arcee screamed as Predaking's lower left appendage smashed their solid protection. They did just that.
"Excellent! Annihilate them, Predaking!" Galvatron watched them via King Kam, as Swindle called it. The perspective of the gestalt was accessible to the Decepticon leader as he sipped recently-harvested energon on Dinobot Island. Cyclonus scowled. Nothing about this island was stable, a fact the multi-faceted Quintessons neglected to mention. If Scourge could calculate this, then it must have been even more obvious to the Decepticons before them. He had to get his lord out of here. The grumbling of the Quintessons as they continuously pressed a button on a remote control did not alleviate his growing apprehension, either.
"Mighty Galvatron, we must render aid to our minions." Cyclonus stood up after being punched for his troubles and dusted himself off. Messy, this planet was. His leader continued to glower at his second-in-command menacingly.
"We will render aid when they require it, not before," he snarled. "That is part of my plan, Cyclonus, a realization you would come to faster if you obeyed me instead of considering me an imbecile."
The rabbit-eared Decepticon bowed and apologized. The Quintessons refrained from commentary, instead asking which ship would come to retrieve them once his plan was completed.
"Astrotrain," Galvatron responded, imbibing the rest of his beverage. "Should any of my underlings speak again, you have my permission to shoot them." Onscreen, the Autobots had disappeared from Predaking's scanners.
Where are they? There was only silence, until...
Bob your head, rag top.
Rodimus was having a bad time with the Dinobots. They spared no delicacies in destroying their leader, and though Roddy fought back, Dinobot exoskeletons are difficult to damage. His best method was to get them to hit each other accidentally. Transforming into vehicle mode, Rodimus had them chasing after him as he maneuvered his way around the terrible lizards.
"You Rod-ee-moose Prime lousy leader! You run from us Dinobots!" Now Slag was taunting him, fire nipping at Roddy's tailpipe.
"I'm here to talk to Swoop! Swoop!" He was concentrating so hard on trying to find the missing Dinobot he missed Sludge heading him off and stomping on his hood hard enough to pierce it with his claws. "AUGH!"
"Look out!" Jazz ducked before both a racing Blurr and a leaping Springer ran into him as he rushed towards the nearby wall to protect himself. Fight number 57 was too complicated for him and he kept getting in the way.
Power music. Electric revival.
"I'm moving, man! Gimme a minute!" the saboteur responded frantically. "I can't see any of ya!"
Blurr raced by, Doppler effect of his speech making him more perceptible than silent-but-deadly Springer. Jazz laughed out loud over that.
Fight number 57 was no laughing matter: Springer was jumping around the room, landing at random places that confused the enemy so that they never knew where he was until he'd leapt away. Meanwhile, Blurr was going in the opposite direction of whatever pattern Springer had devised, both meeting together to massacre Sharkticons in BOTH directions of the spot Springer landed, causing double the destruction. Jazz tried to stay out of their way, but the two were bouncing off the walls and ceiling as they fought.
It finally occurred to one of the Sharkticons to go after the only VISIBLE mech in the room, halting Springer and Blurr's killing spree the second Jazz called to them that they might have a problem. Springer halted his hop to see the enemy dogpile on top of Jazz. Blurr reacted a split second faster, firing at the mound first.
"Hey! I'm still under here!" Jazz called as Springer dove in a mech and pulled him out in alt mode. "I like your helicopter self," he complimented cheerfully as the goons below him fried.
"Arewedoneyet'causeI'mgettingboredtheseSharkticons'causethere'stoomany!ImeanIcantakeanarmythat'seasytokillbutthisisridiculouswhatdoyouthinkSpringer?"
All three looked around at the devastation below them. "We did TOO good a job, Blurr. I can't see anything from the smoke and debris. Wait a second, I'll clean it up." Dropping Jazz, the helicopter leaned in enough to allow his blades to blow everything in front of him into a corner. Nothing was left. "We're done. Let's find Rodimus."
...from out of the sky fell the Autobots, landing on Predaking's head with loud cheering. Sky Lynx was back from his victory over the Sweeps to render aid, as was the happy Omega Supreme. The large Gestalt tilted the back of is head to drop them from their perches but it was too late; they were gripping his neck and head, shooting any part of his body with tenacity. Now he couldn't straighten his head to see them better.
"Things are looking up!" called Arcee.
"Boo!" came the response.
End of song
Rodimus had been severely injured but continued rolling to find Swoop long after his tires were flat. "Swoop!" he called, vocalizer scratchy from the abuse. The halls were dark here, all pointing to darker corridors, leaving Rodimus at a loss. The Dinobots had not stopped chasing after him either, giving him no time to deliberate these hallways.
"Swoop! Sweetie! Please! I need to talk to you!" Nothing but echoes. "I don't want to hide you and me from the Autobots anymore. I love you!"
The only response he received was unwelcome. "You not nice to Swoop. You not listen to me Grimlock. You sorry now."
Rodimus tried to transform and failed. He could hear the heavy footsteps behind him slow down, not because they were tired or giving up, but because their prey was so pathetic. He finally succeeded leaving his alternate mode, crawling in the empty halls. He reached into his subspace compartment and pulled out the picture Swoop had drawn of them, but when he stumbled it fluttered out of his hand and wafted down the hall into the dark abyss before him.
"Swoop. I'm not perfect. I was...stupid. Scared of too many things. I didn't know what I was doing with Springer, but there's no doubt in my mind now. I am SO sorry." The Dinobots stopped their pursuit, looming over him like storm clouds. Four pairs of blue optics scowled at him in the gloom. Snarl spoke up first.
"You have Matrix. You still Prime. You say yourself, Prime stay single."
The Matrix had not been any help in this situation, telling him to get up and flee the ship with everyone, since anyone could tell that bomb was remote-controlled and if they hadn't died a fiery death yet they would at any moment. To help him win back Swoop, The Matrix had been silent. Now it indignantly reminded him to reiterate the responsibilities of the Chosen One to these simple yet perceptive creatures.
Rodimus Prime had had enough. He was leaking energon everywhere. He was in pain. There was no sign of Swoop. He could see Springer, Blurr, and Jazz running up to them, stopping when Slag informed them that one more step and Rodimus would be fancy red sheet metal. They halted in their tracks only when their leader raised his hand to signal them to wait.
"If I must choose between being the Autobot leader and being with Swoop," he creaked, prying open his punctured chest, "then I choose to be with Swoop. I don't want The Matrix, you can have it." He tossed it to the floor, where it slid beyond the group to a new pair of feet. Rodimus looked deep into a newly-emerged fifth set of blue optics as he shrunk to Hot Rod, losing half of his remaining strength in the process. The Matrix sent one last thought as it was kicked aside. (Excellent work, Prime. You've learned the true way without our prompting. We're proud of you. 'You mean you were telling me the opposite thing to get me to do the right thing?' he thought, supposing he should be upset but wasn't. 'Indeed. We're the most powerful thing in the Universe. We know what works with each Prime.') It was humorous. Really, if only he hadn't been pounded into a new alt mode to learn it. Swoop hurried to him.
"Sweetie!" Swoop squealed, scooping up his beloved. Hot Rod laughed weakly.
"You're right. It's a dumb nickname."
"It perfect." The Dinobot gave him the crushing hug his sub-group was famous for. "Swoop still you Roddy's Sweetie."
Springer's jaw hung slack, more than slightly off to the left as his processor finally caught up with reality. "Sweetie? He dumped me for a Sweetie!"
Jazz tried not to laugh and failed. "It's not that bad, man. No, wait, I take it back." He started to guffaw.
Hot Rod let a tear slide down his face as an enormous amount of pain sent him offline. Swoop accidentally let him drop, realized what happened, and called for Perceptor. Timidly the mech asked if he could get out of microscope mode now.
"Get over here!" called Sludge, relieved Swoop had forgiven Hot Rod.
"What about the bomb?" Jazz asked. "We're gonna be back on earth WITHOUT Sky Lynx if we don't split!"
Slag, uncharacteristically shy, produced a few parts. Sludge explained, while interrupted by Snarl and translated by Perceptor, that Slag had rearranged the trip mechanisms to make the circuits incomplete. The bomb would not be set off unless the Quintessons attempted to repair its interior.
"Howdidyoufigurethatout?Nooffensebutyouaren'tmyfirstchoiceinbombrepair-" Blurr wondered. Slag growled, shutting him up.
"Megatron taught me."
Springer's jaw almost hit the floor. "I must be in an another universe," he said, the same time Jazz proclaimed he didn't just hear that. He heard Sky Lynx radioing them to inform them that the Decepticons had retreated and that Astrotrain was on his way up there with a shipment of disgruntled Quintessons, therefore it might be a decent solution to leave.
"Me, Grimlock-ee-moose Prime, new Autobot leader, order everyone out! Us Autobots let Decepticons blow up ship!" Grimlock held the Matrix aloft as he pronounced his orders with a solemnity Charlton Heston would have been proud of. Swoop, Hot Rod cradled in his arms, started the parade, with Blurr racing ahead on the offer to make sure that ALL of the Sharkticons were gone. Slag, Snarl, and Sludge lumbered after them, with Springer and Jazz being hustled out by their new 'Prime' while he attempted to talk to his acquired accessory. "Opt-ee-moose Prime! It me, Grimlock! Can you hear me?"
Jazz was laughing so hard he was doubled over. Springer continued to shake his head at nothing in particular, finally snickering with Jazz. And during Blurr's fussing and the snarling of his fellow Dinobots Swoop looked down at his unconscious friend offline and kissed his sleeping face.
Galvatron turned to Cyclonus, furious his lackey had been correct about the whole situation. "Cast them out," he ordered.
"Yes, my lord," droned the pink/purple mech, trying not to smirk as he hoisted one of the heavier Quintessons. Tentacles flailed.
"You'll regret this, Decepticon! We created you!"
"I regret nothing but allowing you my time!" he snapped, watching the wounded Sweeps throw the Quintessons into space, allowing them to glide in the direction of their ship. "Your plan failed, your bomb malfunctioned, and I didn't get to have that Dinobot!" Galvatron turned to storm down to his chambers and paused in front of Cyclonus.
"Thirty astro-minutes from now, I expect you on my recharge plate with energon," he commanded. Astrotrain gave an audible groan of disgust but couldn't say much, even though this would go on inside of him.
"Yes, mighty one," his second-in-command simpered, barely hiding his amusement. He loved it when a plan didn't come together.
Metroplex was quiet for a Saturday night. Jazz strolled back from the memorial garden and listened to the muted activity behind closed doors. Arcee was watching 'Walker, Texas Ranger' reruns in the commissary with Red Alert and Blurr, sipping energon as they made rude comments about the triteness of the show. Ultra Magnus and Kup played cards in the Dinobot rumpus room. Kup had become a pinochle addict since he first came to earth, and Ultra Magnus was off-duty that night. Four Dinobots (and a bored Tracks) sat around the card table, listening to Kup tell stories while they munched on popcorn.
"That stuff's bad for your teeth," Jazz told them. Worse for their systems, being inorganic.
"Us Dinobots floss," their leader proclaimed. Jazz chuckled as he took off for more adventure.
Wheelie and Daniel were making preparations to explore Metroplex's head. Now that things were back to normal, Daniel and Wheelie were ready to follow through on the plans they had secured permission for a week ago. Jazz walked them as far as the training facility before he stopped to check out the party going on inside.
Music blared. (Powerman 5000's "When World's Collide.") Blaster had a bo staff and was trying to take on Rewind and Bumblebee at the same time. He was losing, especially since the mini-bots were tag-teaming to gain the advantage.
"Jazz! My man with pizzazz! Help out your brother, I ain't got no other!" Blaster laughingly pleaded as his tapes tackled him, tickling him mercilessly. Jazz shook his head, telling him he looked like he had the situation under control.
In med bay First Aid was on duty, watching over Rodimus as he slept. Swoop had pushed a gurney next to his and was cuddling with him, hand on his replaced chestplate (Matrix returned), kissing him whenever the patient woke up. The Dinobot waved to Jazz as he walked by, and the black and white mech returned the gesture.As Jazz passed by Rodimus' office door he could hear rock playing softly through the walls. Aerosmith, obviously, singing "Pink." He smiled to himself and knocked. "Come in."
"Working late, huh?" asked the Porsche. Springer was looking over one of the hundreds of datapads on the desk that needed their attention...yesterday. He grunted in response.
"OfficeMax Prime is still on duty, as long as Rodimus' vacation lasts," he explained, filing what he had and picking up another. "If recovering from a Dinobot attack is a vacation. I wanted to talk to you about something: it seems Roddy finally realized he needed a second-in-command."
Devious smile apparent, Jazz shrugged. "I don't know who told him that. All I said was that he'd better come up with a back-up plan the next time something happens to Sweetie."
Springer returned the grin. "Right. I'm third in the hierarchy, with Kup. He told me I could choose our direct underlings. Since you're not doing anything, I told him you could use the extra work."
He would be away from Red Alert. That was enough. "Hey man, thanks." They smiled at each other for a few minutes, before the silence became uncomfortable. Springer turned back to his work, inviting Jazz to pull up a chair if he wanted to. Jazz didn't. He stared at the handsome green face in front of him and considered the mystique that would probably annoy him until his curiosity was satisfied. That was when the Porsche decided to lean over the desk, place his hands around Springer's face and kiss him.
It was abrupt, not covering his lips quite right; and brief, only lasting a few seconds before Jazz pulled away with a sad expression of disappointment. Springer saved him the trouble of explanation.
"I'm not Prowl."
"No." He replied, moving away and trying to regain his dignity. The whole impulse had opened a Pandora's box of problems. Still, hope lingered...
"I never will be, buddy. We'll have to either live with that or pretend nothing ever happened. Here," he said, handing him yet another datapad while his deep voice kept the double meaning apparent, "keep me company."
Jazz looked at the earnest face, slowly pulled up a chair and sat down, uneasy. Keep him company. That sounded simple enough. Jazz might even be able to dig that, once he got used to Springer's idea of what made good music. His mischievous smile reappeared. "I will, if you let me change the CD." He ducked the flying datapad and lunged for the player while Springer hollered 'Get away from there!'
Rodimus Prime had many fears in his young life. Decepticons. The deaths of everyone around him. Being a good leader. His own faults. None of these had gripped him as ruthlessly as the fear of Swoop never forgiving him. That fear had almost paralyzed him, frightening The Matrix enough to cause its mental assault, which hadn't helped. Thank Primus for his friends. They had been there when he needed them, especially Springer.
Springer...Roddy looked over at Swoop asleep on the gurney next to him. He owed Springer an apology. There had been mixed signals, refusals to acknowledge the truth, and a desperation to be normal impeding his judgement. Swoop awoke again and leaned over to kiss him. He had been doing that all night. Rodimus looked into the glowing optics that caressed him in the lightless med bay and felt all of his fears melt like steel, becoming a warm happiness strengthening his core instead of immobilizing him.
"Sweetie," he said in the dark, pausing for the objection. None. Rodimus continued. "Stay."
"Me Swoop you Roddy's best friend. Me stay." The optics squinted delightedly at Rodimus' sigh of relief. A hand reached out for him in the dark, drawing him close.
