Optimusprimus001: Alright, I think you guys know the drill... Tf owned by Hasbro, HK-47 owned by Lucas arts... If you haven't reviewed yet, you need help... For that matter, So does Jetfire.
Jetfire: Hey, If I'm as sane as you are... then it means we're BOTH crazy! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!...
Optimusprimus001: ...
Jetfire: ...what? Its not a crime to laugh...
Optimusprimus001: um yeah... Hope you guys enjoy the newest chapter! (drags Jetfire down the hallway to Red Alert) Would you look at his processors please?
Red Alert: Now what did he do?
Jetfire: (panicks) I DIDN'T DO IT!
Optimusprimus001 & Red Alert: ...?
Jetfire: JUST POST THE CHAPTER ALREADY!
7. Questions
He could feel it. The streaks of grey energy were beginning to gather again as he watched Optimus, who was stringing out various curses at Jetfire. For all the good it was doing, seeing as the flying mech was now above the ceiling and couldn't hear him. He knew something bothering the millenia-old Autobot Leader, but he wasnt one for psychology- that was Red Alert's job. He'd much prefer to cheer everyone else up rather than baffle them with scientific theories that wouldn't help cheer anyone up. That was his job- well, aside from racing, it was. Racing was his life off of the battlefield and out of the kitchen back home. But now, he decided Optimus probably needed someone to break out some jokes for a few smiles, maybe even a laugh or two. With that thought in his mind, he started to say something-
"Nothing drastic, eh?" came Vector Prime's query, and as Hot Shot watched, Optimus swept a rock up off the ground and launched it at Vector Prime at an amazing amount of speed and force. Or not... Hot Shot sighed. Maybe it'd be better to wait for Jetfire to come back. Glancing in the direction the Air Commander had gone, half hoping that by some miracle the perky mech would suddenly appear right then, Hot Shot sat down on the ground. Might as well check my equipment... Opening up some panels in his arms, he began running checks on some of his systems. I really need to get Red to look at my fifth drive later, he decided. It was damaged by that grip-thing a few days ago...
His train of thought was interrupted with a soft, "Would you mind if I asked you some questions?" Turning to his left, he found that it was the femmebot that they'd been fighting with earlier. He smiled slightly and said, "Well, sure. I don't see why not. Although..." Hot Shot tilted his head slightly before continuing, "A name would be nice to call you by..."
"Shiori... It's Shiori," the femmebot told him, sitting down near him and folding her legs underneath her. "I don't really understand what you guys are doing down here. We're in the middle of a war. You didn't say you were Autobots, and I'm still not sure that you are."
"We're Autobots all right, I'll tell ya that!" he laughed, before frowning as he gave the implied question some thought. "To tell you the truth, I don't really know what we're doing here. Even Optimus hasn't told us." What are we doing here? Are we supposed to change time, or is Optimus just trying to balance himself? I may never find out...
"Okay, so let me get this straight- you're all Autobots?" Shiori asked. He could see that she was trying to rephrase her questions so that he could understand what she wanted to know.
"No, I guess not all of us are... There's only one of us that isn't an Autobot- well... (how should I put this...?) at least not a full one. I don't know what his story is really. Only that he was second in command of the Decepticons for several years. I guess he had enough sense in him to the point where he got tired of obeying the Decepticon leader so he left. All of us keep an eye on him since he joined us," Hot Shot paused. "He can be a good friend when he wants to be. The real question is 'how long will the friendship last?' "
"About as long as you're willing to believe it exists," Starscream's voice growled from behind him. Hot Shot leapt to his feet in suprise.
"How long have you been there!" he demanded. He got a typical sneer from the seeker.
"Long enough to know what she wants."
"Yeah? Then why you explain it to her?" Hot Shot suggested furiously. Starscream looked away and said, "She didn't ask me, she asked you."
"So what! You clearly know more than I do, why don't you talk to her anyways?" Starscream gave him a cold look. Man! This guy is near impossible to get through to! Hot Shot thought. Shiori got to her feet and put her hands on her hips.
"Why don't both of you talk to me?" she calmly suggested. Hot Shot looked over his shoulder at her. Like he'd do that... Then, to his amazement, he watched as Starscream glanced at her before blushing and looking away. Starscream muttered something and walked away from both of them. Hot Shot watched him go, confused. What in the world was THAT about?
"Should've known he'd walk off on me," Shiori sighed. "Works every time he wants to hide something from me..."
Hot Shot turned towards her. "You know him?" he asked, amazed that she would recognize him. Shiori nodded and said, " Of course I know him. He's my bondmate."
Hot Shot stared at her. Her... bondmate? He never mentioned being bonded to anyone... He looked back over his shoulder at the seeker, who was standing in the center of the room, looking up at the hole Jetfire had gone through earlier with an odd look on his face. Then again... She is an Autobot... And knowing what Megatron can be like- it's understandable as to why he wouldn't tell anyone. He looked back at Shiori with growing respect.
"It must be hard to keep that hidden. I won't tell anyone," he promised. Shiori nodded her thanks before resuming her questioning.
"So let me get this straight- if I wanted to find anything out, I'd have to talk to Optimus, right?"
"Yeah. Although I can't garuntee you'll get a straight answer from him either..."
Shiori laughed as she started towards Optimus. "I still have a few secrets yet to be told that'll help me with that."...
Shiori: Oh goody. You told the lot of them that I'm married!... YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GOING TO!
Starscream: ... Did I not get a choice in this either?
Optimusprimus001: Shut up. You can freak out in chapter 8 when shiori gets kidnapped.
Shiori & Starscream: WHAT!
Optimusprimus001: Uhm... yeah... please Review guys! I'm posting chapter 8 Saturday!
