After the de-brief and handing in their reports, the twins headed back to the dorm while Jazz went off to try and find Nightwatch. The brothers didn't argue, knowing the black and white was doing one of the things that he was best at- helping others.
Thankfully, or perhaps regrettably, Deck was nowhere to be found as the warriors made their way back to the dorm. After the stress of the mission they could have done with a little relaxation, but neither Ultra Magnus nor Ferric would have approved of using the heavy artillery unit as a punching bag.
However, the dorm was already occupied by the time the twins returned.
Shadow sat on one of the bottom bunks, slowly whittling a short metal bar with a laser scalpel, while Talon was perched on the crossbar, head tucked under one wing as he recharged. Judging by the small pile of shavings at Shadow's feet, she'd been at it for some time.
"Oh, uh, sorry, we'll go." Sideswipe apologised, trying to back out the door without bumping into his twin.
"No, it's okay. Come in." Shadow replied quietly, subspacing the 'scalpel and the remains of the bar. The twins glanced at each other, shrugged in unison and entered, making a beeline for their bunk.
That was when Sunstreaker noticed a pair of legs sticking out from behind one of the workbenches. "Who's that?" He asked, gesturing in the direction of the legs.
"Reverb, one of Sharps' friends." Shadow replied. "He overcharged on energon, needed someplace safe to pass out."
"Right." Sunstreaker decided it was best to let the matter drop at that.
Shadow listlessly roamed around the dorm for an hour or so, sifting through the myriad of things scattered around the room and checking on Reverb every now and then. Jazz hadn't turned up yet, so the twins dozed most of the time. Shadow eventually returned to her berth and stared at the bottom of the bunk above hers for a while. Talon didn't stir.
Sideswipe decided that he'd had enough of the silence, so he rolled onto his side and ventured a question that had been nagging at the both of them for some time now. "Hey Shadow?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"What's the deal with Deck and Jazz? Is it a rivalry, or a pride thing? And what does Deck do here anyway, other than insult people?"
Shadow sat up and looked over at them, one corner of her mouth twitching in a smile. "I was wondering when you'd ask." She said. "Truth be told, I don't know much." She offered a half shrug. "Most of it was before my time here. By then Jazz had already left the Black Ops. My best guess is that it's only partly a pride thing."
She had their full attention now.
"Deck's our short-term infiltration unit." Shadow began. "He's the best we've got. If there's a convoy or garrison that's got something we want, he's the mech we send in." She grimaced slightly. "It's probably the only reason why he hasn't been slagged yet. But the thing is that position used to be held by Jazz."
"So Deck's jealous about being second choice?" Sunstreaker asked.
"Not quite. Did Jazz warn you about some of the 'bots around here?"
"Yup." Sideswipe nodded.
"Well, Deck's one of 'em, obviously." She shifted position slightly. "He and Jazz used to be good buddies. They were a combat team for a while as well. As far as I can tell, when Jazz told Deck he was getting out, Deck objected to the idea. They fought, and Jazz pretty much wiped the floor with him."
"So, let me get this straight." Sideswipe started ticking issues off on his fingers. "Deck's embarrassed that he got smeared by a guy half his size, he feels betrayed because his best friend left the unit, and he doesn't like it that he was second choice for the job?"
"That pretty much sums it up." Shadow nodded. "The insults and whatnot are his way of getting revenge."
"But it was six millennia ago!" Sideswipe protested. The idea of holding a grudge that long just didn't make any sense to him.
"So?" Shadow asked. "Deck's not normal. He probably remembers it like it was last solar cycle."
The twins leaned out of their bunks and exchanged a look.
Sunstreaker shrugged. "I still don't get it."
"Join the club." Shadow replied. Her radio warbled and she touched one hand to the side of her head for a moment. "That was Nightwatch. I'll be back later." She said, prodding Talon into wakefulness. The avian fluttered up onto her wrist and the two quietly left.