Authors' Note: Don't own anything! Well except Rhythm, and Redline. blinks am I missing anything DC? Don't think so, ANY-who, check out the bottom for Lady Jet's and DesCat's replies to your reviews!
Semi Charmed Life
Chapter 3
Prime walked over to Prowl's station thinking deeply over his short conversation with the Hunter Rhythm. Prowl looked up from his stack of data pads and rose an optic ridge.
"Optimus? Is there something wrong?" Prowl spoke plainly. Prime's brow furrowed and he sighed deeply.
"I need you to do some research for me, Prowl. We've gotten a name on the Hunter. His name is Rhythm home city-state of Demircon. I know a lot of the files were lost in the raid, but perhaps there are some back ups in Iacon." Prowl sat back and crossed his one arm across his bulky chest while resting his elbow on it and his chin on the tips of his forefinger and thumb.
"It seems logical. Iacon is the capital after all. It would make sense to have backups in case of emergencies. Lost identities are a danger to the planet. I'll get on it right away, sir." Prime nodded as Prowl moved his chair to his computer and began to type away furiously at the keys, linking up to the main hub in Iacon.
Prime left for his quarters and office and ran the face of the hunter in his mind again. The helmet and general frame of a Decepticon. Even the manufactured parts were of Decepticon line. But the face and the green eyes. Green was such a rare optical color; usually only used for neutrals. It was possible that Rhythm was a proud ex-Decepticon; but no. Something in Prime's gut told him there was something unique about Rhythm. Perhaps he could call up an old hunter friend.
Prime sat down at his desk and typed up a link to a neutral hub near the outskirts of the Di-Theta planetary system. There might not be much information on Hunters, but there was always a number to reach them. The name he was looking for came up on the search and he punched in the number. Devcon knew his way around the Hunter's realm. Perhaps he knew something about Rhythm.
"This is Devcon, what can I do you for?" the image of a blue helmeted mech came onto the computer screen. The mech blinked and grinned. "Prime! It's been a while. Got a problem on your hands? Must be something for you to be calling me." Devcon smiled genuinely and relaxed on the screen.
"Devcon," Prime nodded as he addressed the mech. "I need to know something about one of your comrades. He's a hunter, black coloring; he says his name is Rhythm. Possibly from Demircon. Know anything?" The blue mech frowned and leaned forward.
"Don't get mixed up with him, Prime. Rhythm works for mainly Bot's like yourself; but he has a temper, and a mean streak. His name around here is Grim-Reaper. He doesn't do captures and returns. He tends to work the darker end of things. His coloring says "Dead or Alive", but he's mostly the former. Why do you ask?" Prime frowned and lowered his voice.
"He's here on Earth, possibly for a job, but he won't say who he's after. I expected that much. Ratchet seems to think he's hiding something, and so do I. Thanks for the warning though. If you can find anything out for me Devcon, I can send some credits your way. No rush, but I'd like a bit of history," Prime said softly, not wanting any of his men to hear him talking with a hunter.
"You can keep the credits, it's been dead around here anyway. I'll get you some information. But next time you come my way, you pick up the tab, all right?" A smirk crossed the blue mech's face. Prime chuckled and nodded.
"All right. Contact me if you find anything. Prime out." Before he cut the connection he saw Devcon give a respectful salute.
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"Looks like you could use a new paint job there Rhythm." The flier glanced up at his name being called only to see the boxy white and red medic come through the door. The mech had been nice enough to him, aside from a jab here and there about damage but nothing more than that. He would not have suspected such… well no one was ever very nice to him and it threw him off balance.
"Yeah, suppose I could." Rhythm picked at a chip in his paint on his arm like he was uninterested. In all reality, he's needed a new paint job for longer than he cared to admit.
"Well then get your sorry aft over here and pick out a color. I don't read minds, kid." Ratchet huffed, bringing up the computer, watching the seeker out of the corner of his vision. He had an inkling as to who the mysterious seeker was, name aside, but nothing concrete. If he could just get to the seeker without upsetting him; if he pushed too hard Rhythm would shutdown.
Wings dropped down to his side he made his way over to the screen, searching though the colors. He needed black… but perhaps… perhaps he would take up the traditional color from back home.
"I'll take these two."
Ratchet raised an optic ridge. Just what he had predicted. "Black and white, huh? Ya know, we have a few around here with the same colors."
"Demirconians?" One wing twitched slightly.
"I know one of them is, but Prowl's from Iacon." The medic said, trying his best to keep his back to the seeker so he wouldn't come across as needling for information. That was the last thing the seeker needed right now. Besides, if Ratchet could play his cards right, Rhythm would tell him everything he needed to know.
Rhythm kept his optics glued on the screen, staring at the myriad colors on the screen, his face awash of the colors reflecting on his face. "What 'bout th' other one? What's his name?"
Ratchet shrugged, "Just one of the special ops officers. So, you from Demircon?"
The flier made a sound in his throat, much like a human snort. "Kinda obvious aint it? Th' accent gives it away." He turned away from the screen for a moment, facing the medic. "Why?" The wing twitched again. Ratchet some how didn't like where this conversation was headed, time to switch tactics.
Which of course, was Ratchet's specialty. Blunt and to the point.
"You remind me of someone that's why. Look kid, I aint out to get ya I just got to know." The medic paused, turning around to face him, his brow furrowed and mouth sealed tightly. "Who the slag are you? And this time- tell me the truth."
"Why should I tell ya anythin', medic." Rhythm snarled, his hands clenching into fists. He didn't like the idea of some old mech snooping, especially with a history like his. The last thing he needed was for them to find out what he was…
Ratchet took a step forward, putting only a few feet between them. "Either you tell me or I'll reprogram you into a microwave." His voice deadpan in that creepy way that Sideswipe was so familiar with.
The flier opened his mouth and clamp it shut again. The medic wasn't going to get him to spill it that easily. Leaning forward just slightly, he looked the medic optic to optic. "I'd love t' see ya try." He flexed his wings out wide again and turned his back on the medic.
"Trust me, I've done it before." Ratchet crossed his arms over his boxy squared chest with a huff of irritation. Rhythm was like a black flying version of Sunstreaker without the vanity problem. "Now, did you want that paint job or are you going to stomp your foot like a five year old."
Another twitch. "Yeah fine, medic."
"My name is Ratchet, not 'medic'," Ratchet held back his urge to throttle the young seeker. He reminded him way too much of Sunstreaker… but then, there was something else about the flier that reminded him of someone else too… someone from a long time ago…
"Fine, Ratchet then."
The CMO bristled again, but pushed it away, going to the machine and pulling out the tools. Out of the corner of his optics, he watched as the seeker brushed off the recharge berth before settling his weight upon it, kicking up his feet to scoot back farther.
Redline.
That was where he knew him! Redline's creation! Ratchet mentally slapped himself. How did he not notice before? Redline, the young femme medic from back on Cybertron- she moved just like Rhythm, had the same optic color, acted just like him… the way Rhythm brushed off the berth… Redline did that too.
But then… Didn't Redline have two creations?
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Lady Jet's Replies:
MariaShadow: Thanks! Yeah we figured it would be best if Ryth did that. Thanks! and yeah him running into Jazz for the first time is gonna be fun ;)
TruebornChaos: Thanks again! and the Chain-smoker thing was my idea. shrug I couldn't think of anything to descrive him for! O:-)
Draange: People really do seem to like him. nod
Master Solo: Oh yeah! More starscream coming up! Poooor boys...MWAHHAAHAHAHAHAHA! (Evil Laugh (tm))
Hunter: Yeah, DC suggested the accent of all Demircons to be the same. Sortta like accents around the US and other countries. wierd aint it? ;)
DesCat's Replies:
MariaShadow: Thankie! Yeah, LJ's a genious when it comes to describing chars and that was her twist on our dear sweet Rhythm. Geeze, he's only been around for what, five years or so LJ? Oh yeah… Ryth will run into poor Jazzy here soon. ;)
TrueBornChaos: Yeah he's a sunshine alright… More like a sunburn actually…
Draange: I'm glad! Thankie :D
Master Solo: All I can saw is… pooooor Starscream… yeah he's coming up…. Thanks!
Whirly: Thanks! Yeah they all sound the same. Jynx is the only one who doesn't have the accent and that's because she didn't live in Demircon until she was older. More on that story later. Thanks again!