Chapter 6: Arrested!
Elsewhere, on the planet Cybertron, Whirl had arrived on the streets of Iacon and had started making her way towards the home of her father, Whirl Sr., and his team, the Wreckers, which was also her home as well, as she had spent the first years of her life there. At said location, Whirl Sr., Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Springer were engaged in a friendly game of cyber-poker. Ultra Magnus, the Wreckers' leader and the Vice Chair of the Autobot High Council, was spending time with his daughter, Strongarm, who just so happened visiting them at the time. However, their game was interrupted by Whirl stepping inside. Whirl Sr. immediately noticed.
"Oh, hey, Junior, you're back early." he said to his daughter. "We weren't expecting you to come visit us for another two weeks."
Rather than returning her father's greeting, Whirl just dropped her bag and ran off. Whirl Sr. was surprised indeed, as were Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Springer.
"Wow. I've never seen her act like that before." said Springer.
"Yeah, and she looked upset about something." added Wheeljack.
"Plus, she looked like she was about to cry." Bulkhead pointed out. "I don't know about you guys, but I think we should check it out."
"I couldn't have said that better myself." agreed Whirl Sr. as he got up from his seat.
The four Wreckers then abandoned their game and went in the direction the younger Whirl had gone. They soon came to the door of her old room. There, they could make out the sound of someone crying.
"Uh oh..." said Wheeljack. "I don't like the sound of that."
Whirl Sr. knocked on the door. It opened, and there stood a teary-eyed Whirl, who immediately threw her arms around her father.
"Junior, what happened?" asked Whirl Sr. as he returned his daughter's hug. "Why are you crying?"
It was then that Springer noticed something different about the younger Whirl, that being the absence of her badge.
"And where's your badge?" he asked. "You didn't lose it, did you?"
Whirl, after inviting her father and his three friends to have a sit-down, tearfully explained the whole situation about her expulsion from the Academy due to their belief that she had been the one who stole the Matrix of Leadership. It should go without saying that the four Wreckers were angered to no end at this news.
"This is absolutely ridiculous!" said Whirl Sr.
"Who do those dumbasses think they are?!" growled Wheeljack. "How could they be so stupid to accuse such a sweet little angel like Junior of such a horrible crime?!"
"I know, right?!" continued Springer. "Something has to be done about this!"
Bulkhead smacked his knuckles together.
"Somebody just asked to get their asses kicked..." he decided.
But at that moment, Magnus and Strongarm returned, and they could hear the whole commotion.
"What's going on, Father?" asked Strongarm.
"I do not know, Strongarm." replied Magnus. "But I suppose there's only one way to find out. Wreckers, assemble!"
Whirl Sr., Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Springer heard Magnus calling them, and they brought Whirl over. Magnus and Strongarm were very surprised to see her, even more so when they noticed her badge was missing.
"What in the name of Primus is going on here?" asked Magnus.
Whirl Sr. explained to Magnus and Strongarm what had happened with the younger Whirl. Both were not pleased.
"That's absurd!" said Strongarm. "Why would they do that?! What did she even do to deserve such a thing?!"
But all of a sudden, Magnus thought of something.
"I think Junior's fears about that "Wrangle" fellow getting revenge on her have just been realized." he said with a sigh. "I thought this day would never come..."
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and when Magnus answered, he was greeted by Kup, a former Wrecker and an Autobot war veteran who had since been elected as the sheriff of the whole Iacon polity. Two Autobot troopers were with him.
"Hello, Kup." said Magnus. "What can I do for you?"
"Is Whirl Jr. here?" Kup asked.
"Yes, she is." nodded Magnus. "Junior! It's for you!"
"What is it, Uncle Magnus?" Whirl asked as she came forward.
One of the Autobot troopers then put Whirl in stasis cuffs. This shocked her to the core, same with Magnus, Strongarm, and the other Wreckers.
"Wha...what?!" she gasped.
"Whirl Jr., by order of the High Council, you are under arrest for stealing the Matrix of Leadership." Kup then said.
Magnus, Strongarm, and the other Wreckers could not believe what they just heard.
"Kup...you can't be serious!" gasped Whirl Sr.
"I really wish I wasn't, Big Whirl." Kup sighed. "But, orders are orders."
"That is right." said a familiar voice.
It was Optimus. He had accompanied Kup and his troops.
"As much as I'd like to think your daughter truly is innocent, every possibility must be considered." he said.
Optimus then looked at Whirl in sympathy.
"I am very sorry to have to do this, Little Whirl..." he sighed.
"It's okay, Optimus." Whirl smiled bittersweetly. "I understand."
Optimus then looked at Kup.
"I'll stay behind." he said. "You go on ahead."
Kup nodded, and he and his troops escorted Whirl away. Optimus and looked at the Wreckers and Strongarm.
"And yet, something tells me this whole situation is more than meets the eye." Optimus then said.
"How so?" asked Strongarm.
"I have this feeling in my spark that Wrangle is not telling the whole truth." Optimus explained. "In fact, he may not be telling the truth at all."
"What do you mean?" asked Bulkhead.
"Call it a hunch." said Optimus. "But for now, I must report to the High Council Chambers to prepare for the coming trial. Magnus, come with me."
"Yes, Prime." Magnus nodded.
With that, Optimus and Magnus stepped outside, transformed into vehicle mode, and drove off, leaving the other Wreckers and Strongarm by themselves.
"You know, I'm beginning to think Prime might be onto something." said Springer.
"You think so?" asked Bulkhead.
"I know so." said Springer.
"So do I." agreed Strongarm. "In fact, I'm gonna head on over to the Academy on Earth and try and find out what really happened."
"Good call, Strongarm." said Whirl Sr. "Anything to help prove my baby girl's innocence."
With that, Strongarm transformed into her vehicle mode and drove off to find a Space Bridge.
"Hang on, Little Sister." Strongarm said. "Big Sister's gonna help you out."
Meanwhile, Whirl was sitting in a jail cell, feeling absolutely miserable.
"First I get expelled from the Academy, and now I get thrown in jail?" she thought out loud. "This has to be one of the worst days of my whole life!"
Whirl then sighed.
"Could things possibly get any worse than they already have?" she asked.
End Of Chapter 6
