Chapter 8
Scavenging
Of all the difficulties the Constructicons experienced working on the Nemesis, this was the part Hook hated the most. Megatron had summoned the titular combiner team to the bridge, and now he and Starscream were grilling Scrapper and Hook on the condition of Scavenger.
"Fatal?" Megatron spat the word with all the disdain of a picky child being forced to eat vegetables, "Don't give me that! If Scavenger dies then Devastator dies! It's your job to keep this ship and its crew functional, so fix him now!"
"We can't, Lord Megatron," Scrapper replied as diplomatically as he could, "He needs anti-rust gel, but we simply don't have any."
"Nonsense!" Megatron bellowed, "Mixmaster, concocting chemicals is your job. Why don't we have rust gel?"
"Be-be-be-because it requires cybermatter as a base, and earth doesn't have it," Mixmaster explained, "We can-can-can't even requisition it from Cybertron. Space bridge bridge technology requires energon to function, and so do we! So, no way to make the anti-rust cr-cream."
"Personally I think we should just let Scavenger die," Starscream remarked from beside Megatron, "Devastator requires too much power, so it's impractical to use such a weapon against the Autobots at this time. Besides, one less mouth to fuel means the rest of us might survive."
Megatron then backhanded Starscream and sent him falling to the floor with a satisfying thunk.
"Silence, Starscream!" Megatron shouted indignantly, "We need soldiers if we are to defeat the Autobots, and we need Devastator to hold our advantage. The Autobots have two combiners, whereas we have three. We lose Devastator, and we lose our best warrior. Do you understand?"
"If I were leader we wouldn't be dealing with this famine right now!" Starscream shrieked, "I would have defeated Optimus Prime eons ago!"
This resulted in Megatron kicking Starscream across the bridge, and then running after the irritating seeker to continue the pounding. The Constructions merely watched this take place without commenting; continuing their professionalism despite wanting to snicker.
/I'm recording this for Long Haul,/ Bonecrusher said over the spark bond, /This should make berth-side duty more bearable. Heh heh.../
/It isn't right for Starscream to speak so disrespectfully of Scavenger,/ Hook huffed to the others, /One less mouth to fuel my optic! The only reason Scavenger is dying is because he was too considerate to take his rightful ration instead of that rusted swill under his berth. I would cheer Megatron on to rip off Starscream's wings, except I don't have time to reattach them./
When Megatron and Starscream returned to speak with the Constructicons Starscream was sporting a few new dents but was otherwise no worse for wear. Scrapper stepped forward to represent his brethren and hoped that Megatron's next request would be reasonable. No such luck.
"I want you to synthesize an artificial form of cybermatter for our future use," Megatron ordered.
"That's not possible, master!" Mixmaster protested, "I've looked into into it. Cybermatter is too complex to be recreated. We need need need the real deal, but we can't get it."
"So you are saying Scavenger is lost to us?" Megatron asked severely.
"We do not wish it so, Lord Megatron," Scrapper replied solemnly, "But we have no way to repair him. All we can do is wait for...the inevitable."
"Very well," Megatron nodded, "Inform me when he has been terminated, and then we will research candidates for a replacement."
"Replacement?" Scrapper parroted before he could think, "But sir! Shockwave himself designed our combiner mode. Without him there's no way to properly format a new mech to replace Scavenger."
"I built the Stunticons from the ground up, I can build a right arm," Megatron growled, an edge to his voice daring further protest, "Dismissed."
The Constructicons left the debriefing with heavy sparks. Not only would they lose Scavenger, but they would have to be permanently connected with a new mech. It could be anyone of an appropriate size not already in a combiner team. What if they got a Conehead? Or Astrotrain? Or worse! Starscream?
When they made it back to the medbay they told Long Haul everything that had happened, and he looked equally uncomfortable with the notion but tried not to let it show.
"Well...we all learned to like each other. Maybe we can accept the new guy too," Long Haul simpered.
"This is outrageous!" Scrapper snapped furiously as he balled his fists, "Scavenger is still alive! He ain't even cold yet and Megatron wants us to just forget him and find a replacement! I won't do it!"
"I doubt we'll get to choose our new arm," Hook pointed out, "Megatron will likely choose for us. I don't want this anymore than you do, but we must do what is necessary to keep ourselves alive. Optimus Prime and his ilk won't rest until everyone on Cybertron is exactly like them. Soft, weak, and cowardly. We must remain strong and willing to do whatever it takes to win. When Scavenger wakes up, if he ever wakes up, nobody tells him. I want his final moments to be as peaceful and happy as we can make them."
Just then the door swooshed open, and Hook feared it would be Starscream whining about his dents and dings, but it turned out to merely be Breakdown coming in for his shift.
"I brought a pair of scissors from my room," Breakdown said humbly, "I don't know what they can be used for, but maybe they'll help with...something."
"Put them on the tray," Hook instructed, "We were just talking about Megatron's decree."
"Did he figure out a way to save Scavenger?" Breakdown asked hopefully.
"No such luck," Hook sighed, "When Scavenger offlines we are to report to Megatron to find a replacement for him. To rebuild Devastator."
"They can do that?" Breakdown asked worriedly, "Don't tell Motormaster! He'd kill me if he found out he could get a new brother! He hates that I'm such a coward."
"Coward? The mech that stormed the Autobots and retrieved our supplies? Now where did Motormaster get such a ridiculous notion?" Hook asked with a playful smile, "Breakdown, you're not a coward. You are the unsung hero of the Nemesis. Because of your efforts I was able to save Blast Off's life yesterday. That med grade kept Bruticus alive."
"I didn't know about that," Breakdown told him, "So, if Scavenger lives will Megatron still replace him?"
"He won't live without the anti-rust gel," Hook reminded him, "And we have no means to obtain it. Listen, we're going to need extra tarp to keep Scavenger warm. Go to the supply closet and get ten of them. That way we can change one when it gets dirty."
"Yes, sir," Breakdown nodded.
As Breakdown walked down the various hallways he couldn't help but think about the situation. Scavenger was dying, he needed rust cream, Megatron would replace him if he died, they had no rust cream. The problem was Scavenger's body breaking down. His name was Breakdown. No, no, no! This train of thought was getting him nowhere!
As Breakdown reached for the supply closet door, a thought suddenly struck him. They had no rust cream because he failed to grab any when he was in the Autobot base, but the Autobots probably had rust cream because none of them had turned to rust yet. In fact, Perceptor invented a way to prevent Cosmic Rust, the deadliest disease to ever hit the Cybertronian race. The Autobots knew about this stuff. The answer still remained in their base. Dead End was in their base. He was a prisoner.
Wait, that was it!
Breakdown abandoned the closet without getting the blankets. He ran all the way to his room and locked the door behind him. He pulled up the loose metallic floorboard and pulled out a cube of energon, only three quarters full, that he had been hoarding. Then he comm'ed Swindle.
/What can I do for you?/ Swindle replied, still all-business and all smiles despite the crisis.
/Do you have anti-rust cream?/ Breakdown asked hurriedly.
/No. Nobody does. I heard about Scavenger. Poor stiff./
/Is this line secure?/ Breakdown demanded to know.
/Of course. All of my lines are secure. It's better for business./
/I need to patch a comm out to the Autobot base. Can you do that?/
/What's in it for me?/
/A cube of energon, almost full. I've been saving it./
/Wow, this must be some call!/ Swindle remarked.
/It is to me. Can you do it?/ Breakdown asked; trying not to sound as annoyed as he was.
/Which Autobot? I have the comm frequency for 37 of them./
/Do you have First Aid?/
/Sure. Kid's frequency is about as secure as a wind sock hanging by dental floss. I'll let you make your call, but if you don't give me that cube by the end of the orn I'll tell Megatron all about your recent activity./
/You'll get the fragging cube, now hurry up and patch me through!/
/Yeesh! You Stunticons sure are testy! One moment.../
Breakdown waited nervously as the static-filled silence dragged on. He hoped Swindle was telling the truth and was able to help. He also hoped this blackmail material didn't follow him for the rest of his life. If his risk saved Scavenger though, it would be worth it.
/Hello? Who is this?/ First Aid's voice responded over the comm, /Hello?/
/First Aid? This is Breakdown. The Decepticon. Don't hang up./
/Breakdown! Don't worry, Dead End is alive and well,/ First Aid assured him, /If you want to get him back we only ask-/
/No,/ Breakdown said abruptly, /Listen mech, one of our troops is dying, and we need anti-rust cream if he's going to pull through. I know most of you Autobots don't care about that, but I also know you're not most Autobots. You respect life in a way I've never seen before. Frankly it's a little weird./
/A Decepticon is dying?/ First Aid asked in concern, /What will anti-rust cream do? That's just for when a piece of armor gets rusty./
/The patient drank rusted energon./
/What!? I didn't even know energon could be contaminated with rust!/ First Aid exclaimed in shock, /I'll sneak you some. How much do you need?/
/I don't know. I'm still in training,/ Breakdown admitted, /His whole body is falling apart, and even his fuel lines are rust-covered./
/How is that even possible?/ First Aid gasped, /Tell me where to meet you, and I'll bring as much anti-rust gel as I can. This is just a truce, okay? I know we're still enemies, but that's no way for anyone to die, even someone evil."
Breakdown had to bite down on his glossa to keep from cursing him out. Scavenger was not evil! Those sanctimonious Autobots! Breakdown wouldn't have resorted to this alliance at all, but this was an emergency.
/Meet me on the sandbar about fifteen miles from shore on Laguna Beach,/ Breakdown instructed, /That way no squishes will get in our way. I know how it frags you off when we step on those little pests. I can bring you some books to pay you back. I don't read so good so it doesn't matter to me./
/I don't require payment,/ First Aid replied sympathetically, /I just want to help. I'll see you in two hours./
/Great. See you then./
Breakdown shut off his comm, and then grabbed his cube and tucked it in his subspace. He would give it to Swindle on the way, and then meet with First Aid to get the medicine. He just hoped Hook would understand why it was taking so long to bring back the blankets.
First Aid managed to rent a boat from a human on the marina to make it out to the sandbar. He sometimes wished he could fly like his brother Blades, but when it came to the life of a patient he would make do with whatever he had to get the job done. He was nervous about meeting Breakdown for the second time, but not quite as nervous as he had been the first time. Breakdown seemed sincere in wanting to help his comrades, and First Aid of all mechs could understand such feelings.
When First Aid got to the designated meeting area Breakdown was already there, his expression stern. First Aid could tell there would be no idle chit-chat, which worked for him just fine. He didn't really want to associate with the enemy after all; he just wanted to make this transaction as quick as possible.
"You got the stuff?" Breakdown asked stiffly.
"Yes, right here," First Aid replied as he pulled a barrel of the anti-rust cream out of his subspace, "I know this is a lot, but I figured you might need more for next time. If Ratchet asks where it went I'll just play dumb."
"Good," Breakdown nodded, "Give it over."
First Aid obliged, and Breakdown opened the barrel to check for the supply. It was there, just as promised. Breakdown nodded approvingly and then closed the barrel before storing it in his own subspace.
"Listen, uh, thanks...for your help, I mean," Breakdown replied awkwardly.
"I'm happy to do it," First Aid assured him, "I just hope your friend gets better."
"Me too," Breakdown replied, "And I hope there are no hard feelings."
"For what?" First Aid asked.
"For this."
Breakdown then pulled his rifle out of subspace and shot First Aid in the leg! First Aid cried out in pain as he fell, and then looked up at Breakdown in shock.
"What are you doing!?" First Aid asked in panic.
"What I have to," Breakdown replied soberly.
Breakdown then pulled out another device, this time a medical grade stunner, and tapped it against First Aid's processor. The young mech fell over unconscious before he could figure out what was going on, and Breakdown quickly scooped him up in his arms for the trip back to the Nemesis.
Breakdown had accomplished half of his mission to make things right. He had the anti-rust cream to save Scavenger, but there was still one member of the team in trouble. Dead End was still a prisoner of the Autobots, and Breakdown needed leverage to get him back. A useful chump like First Aid would make a perfect hostage to make sure his brother was returned to the Decepticons.
