After dinner, most of the teachers headed up to their room to rest for the day. The only exceptions were Jazz and Onslaught, who took time to clean up the area for their side. "So," Jazz began, hoping to start a conversation, "how long you think we're going to be trapped here?"
"We should've been out earlier today. They know where we went and I know several of us made obligations to contact people on the outside. At the very least, we should be hearing people trying to get us out. Why are we hearing nothing outside?" Onslaught asked.
"Are you still hoping that the Autobots and Decepticons are going to get you out?" Monobear asked suddenly, appearing out of nowhere. The two mechs looked shocked before putting a grim face on.
"They should. Nothing has been going on outside that could cause this," Jazz said.
"But, it like, oh whatever you are said, why haven't they attempted to get you out yet? You think they would care about you. Or maybe they don't care at all about you," the bear taunted.
"I have never been as tempted to crush something before as I am now," Onslaught threaten.
"Ah, ah, ah, remember? No violence against the headmaster unless you want to be punished," the bear reminded.
"I know, otherwise you would be nothing but an impression on the ground right now."
"Oh, you are an eager bunch. I might not have to even do anything before you start killing," the bear cheered.
"Honestly, what is with your obsession with killing?" Jazz asked.
"Killing? I don't care about that. All I care about is one thing: despair," the bear informed him.
"Despair?"
"Yes! And what's more despair inducing than getting the best of the best and cause them to kill each other! You all are the hope of the future generations. How will people react when they start killing each other?" the bear lectured, leaving on an ominous note before disappearing. The two mechs looked at each other.
"That settles it," Onslaught said, "we cannot let that bear win."
"Thanks for letting me recharge with you," Rewind said to Chromedome as they entered his room.
"No problem. I don't blame you at all," Chromedome replied.
"Yeah. I just don't feel safe sleeping by myself. What if someone breaks in?" Rewind questioned.
"That depends on whether anyone wants to follow rule 7," Chromedome reminded him, closing the door.
"Yes, but let's be honest. Someone is going to want to get out sooner or later and kill someone and I know it's not going to be you, so we'll be safer together," Rewind cynically rebutted.
"Rewind, quit being cynical. That's my job," Chromedome joked, taking seat on the bed and gesturing for Rewind to come next to him. Rewind complied, taking his place next to him.
"I don't know why I'm so nervous," Rewind confessed, "but I don't think all of us are going to make it out of this building alive."
"I know. I feel the same," Chromedome admitted as well.
"I hope Optimus and everyone else can get us out of here and prove us wrong."
"As do I," laying down on the berth and gesturing for Rewind to do the same. He complied, laying next to him. "Rewind," Chromedome began, "as long as I am alive, no one will hurt you. Do you understand?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now get some sleep. You're going to need it tomorrow," Chromedome ordered.
"Alright. Good night."
"Good night to you as well."
"This is ridiculous," Swindle complained as he lay in a chair in one of the lounge room. "Does this bear really expect us to just go and off each other?"
"He seemed pretty adamant about it," Blast Off commented.
"Hmpf, whatever. Not like anybody going to take a little half-pint bear seriously," Smokescreen shrugged it off from the side, taking a drink of low-grade.
"Half-pint!" Monobear complained, appearing right next to Smokescreen. "Who are you calling half-pint!" the bear asked, getting in his face.
"I'm calling you a half-pint," Smokescreen answered, looking him straight in the eye.
"Hmpf, bunch of bastards you are. Insulting their headmaster so openly like that," the bear chastised.
"Maybe if you didn't come off as a complete aft and didn't tell us to kill each other, we might act a little differently to you," Swindle remarked from the side, drawing the ire of the bear.
"Oh, come on, from half-pint, to half-pint, we got to work together. We're both mocked for being short, so let's kill them," the bear coaxed.
"Uh, no," Swindle answered, going back to laying in his chair and ignoring him.
"Alright, how about you big guy?" Monobear asked, heading over to Blast Off.
"Leave," Blast Off ordered.
"Alright, alright sourpusses. You all are no fun," the bear said disappointingly before walking out the door.
"Well, that was fun."
"Agreed."
"Alright. This should do. Now we got to let this rest for the night," Mixmaster told his fellow scientists as he finished the acid.
"Good. We'll be out of here by tomorrow," Perceptor said happily.
"Are we sure this will work?" Shockwave asked.
"If it's metal, it'll melt," Mixmaster chanted.
"Good. We will test it tomorrow," Shockwave announced.
Ratchet lay on his bed, thinking about what today did to him and what he could do. As much as Ratchet would love it for Optimus to come and save them, he knew that if they wanted to, they would have already. It was up to them to defeat the headmaster and find a way out of the building. They had to do that while also making sure no one would listen to the bear and kill someone in an attempt to escape. It was a difficult task, but one that he knew they could do if they just keep calm, and not fall for any of the tricks that were laid out for them. Ratchet knew he wouldn't fall for any of them and he hoped no one else was thinking about falling for them.
But, he knew that one of them was already thinking of murder.
"This is an announcement," Monobear said, causing Ratchet to jump from his bed. Did someone already commit murder? "It is now 10 pm." Oh, thank Primus, Ratchet thought as he laid back down. "Please rest peacefully."
"Yeah, right," Ratchet muttered silently as he drifted off into recharge mode.
End of Prologue
Teachers alive: 30