Disclaimer: BW belong to HASBRO.
A/N: Thanks so much to the people who regularly comment! Without you I don't know where this story would be going. Probably to the recycle bin because I would be writing it horribly without encouragement and advice. I'm not getting enough comments though. Have I mentioned that constructive criticism is welcomed?
Chapter five
Several plans move forward
Dedicated to my cat Betty for no reason except that she likes sitting on top of my computer and watching me type. And sometimes stepping on the keyboard to help with the story. I appreciate the effort, Babes.
Once upon a time Rampage would have said something to the femme who was carefully stepping around him to set her equipment. Now he considered that a foolish waste of energy. Not that he wouldn't be answered. Unlike Dr. Chillcold, Dr. Clearcut didn't completely ignore the existence of his mind. But she liked to play games with it. And she was the only 'bot Rampage had met who was better at this than he was. Come to think of it, he had probably learned mind games from her. He would probably stand a chance if he could make her fear him but as it was he had no way of proving just how dangerous he was. As much as he liked to believe his mere presence was horrifying, the truth was that bad reputation and appropriate atmosphere did half of the job when he wanted to scare someone to death. His smile that made your fluids freeze was mostly a myth. As even Starlet had reasoned during their encounter smiles couldn't kill. And here he hadn't yet created a reputation to rely on. So he preferred to stay silent because if he talked the femme would effectively use his own words against him. He was starting to lose control far too often during conversations lately. First with Starlet and then with Depth Charge. He wouldn't risk that with Clearcut.
Meanwhile she was humming to herself as she started connecting various cables to him. At one point she made a cut across his chest and slipped something in, attaching it to his spark. He clenched his teeth and fists but otherwise stayed silent. It wasn't that bad yet which probably meant she had something worse in store.
Eventually she turned to the small screen and keyboard that accompanied the device typed a few instructions and pressed a button. Rampage's body jerked once and then went limp.
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What was going on? Starlet had been locked in her room for days now. No tests, no procedures, nothing. The cell next to her had been silent for some time too. Not that it wasn't comforting not hear screams all the time but it was not nice not to know what was going on. Had they moved him somewhere? Or… Would she still be alive if he was dead?
No, she was sure he was still there.
Suddenly her vision clouded. Images she couldn't recognize burst behind her optics and she quickly sat on the bed in order not to fall.
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Finally! Finally I got some time alone! No assignment for me today! I used the opportunity to quickly slip out of the facility and to the living area of the city to find a helpful person with a communication system. I would finally be able to get trough to my father!
Yet I was worried. The reason why I was left unsupervised was that Dr. Clearcut seemed too preoccupied today to care about me at all. She was stuck in front of her computer reading file after file, a small smile playing on her lips. At one point she ordered for no one to disturb her and locked the door. I couldn't help but wonder what she could have done to her prisoners to make her that excited. Whatever it was it had to be something she hadn't consulted Dr. Chillcold about because he was looking at her suspiciously as much as his face ever showed any expression. The prospect that she had done something even he wouldn't have allowed set a heavy weight on my spark and I increased my speed. I finally stopped in front of a large house with a pretty mosaic covering its front yard. Cybertronians liked arranging those the same way humans liked arranging their gardens. My ringing was answered by a young mech who took one look at me and grinned.
"You're looking for me, right?"
I suppressed the instinct to roll my optics (yes, I was able to do that, it was a trick with their light) and put on my most charming smile instead.
"Could I please use you communicator?"
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That's the infamous "boss" Vapor keeps going on and on about? But this guy is ridiculous!
Mind Game kept repeating that in her head throughout the conversation which was taking place in an overly dramatic-looking, dimly lit underground hall. A relatively large robot was sitting on something that was perhaps the cheapest equivalent of a throne he had managed to find and was regularly squeezing a rubber toy the noise from which was getting on her nerves.
No wonder our faction lost the war. – she thought humourlessly while they were going trough the oh-so-boring routine of "What's in it for me".
"For the hundredth time, when the current people in power are exposed as criminals there will be chaos and confusion for a while. Then you can lead your rebellion or whatever your top-secret plan is and you'll have a chance of success at least slightly higher than zero. That's what you can gain from helping me. And no, I will not tell you how to find the information you need before I'm sure both me and my daughter are safe."
"Hmm, after all, I would not miss an opportunity to help a fellow Predacon in need, noo." The "boss" said. "Perhaps we could come to an agreement, yesss."
I don't know how Vapor bears to listen to this guy all the time, noo.
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It was all a big mistake. Someone would soon find out and they would free him.
Optimus was pacing the length of his cell.
But it was all so unclear! Was Mind Game really just a criminal? Was she working for the Predacon rebels as the media claimed? Did she even really have a daughter? But what if all she had said was true? What if the government was corrupt? What if…
A guard stopped in front of the bars.
"You have a visitor."
Optimus followed the 'bot to a small windowless room where another transformer awaited him. He recognized him as one of the Elders.
Well, that's either good news or a lot of trouble for me.
