"Ow! Fixit that hurt!" Jetstorm complained as the other Mini-Con tended to his wounds.
"Apologies Jetstorm, I'll try to be car-car-car-careful."
"You are lucky to have escaped with your life still intact," Drift scolded the Mini-Con, "A few bruises should make you think in future battles."
"I apologize Master."
"Just be sure to use your head next time."
"Yes master," Jetstorm bowed his helm, "Oh, that reminds me our opponent said that she had a message for all of us."
"What kind of message?" Bumblebee asks stepping towards the small bot.
"She wanted me to inform you guys that Strongarm is safe, Steeljaw has her locked up in his room where nobody can find her."
Bumblebee vents out a sigh of relief, "Thank Primus. But it still makes me uneasy that she's locked up in a room with Steeljaw."
"Are you sure it's not a trick to throw us off? I mean, why didn't she tell us all this the last time we spoke with her and asked her questions?" Sideswipe asked.
"I strongly believe Metalsound still has the spark of an Autobot and she's looking out for Strongarm. She no doubt was looking for the right way to tell us where no Decepticon could hear anything she says," Optimus replied as he joined the group.
"I can understand that, but there were no Decepticons around when we were questioning her," Sideswipe protests.
"None that we could see. It's good that she wanted to stay cautious," Bumblebee counters before looking concerned, "But that means Strongarm's on Decepticon Island, so far in it would be impossible to get to her. If one of the other 'Cons does manage to discover her she'll be killed."
Strongarm groaned softly as she woke up, when she opened her optics she was face to face with Steeljaw. She lays there watching him for a while, he looked so peaceful. It was a little hard to tell the time save for the orange glow coming from the nearby window. After a while Steeljaw started waking up, he opened his optics and looked at Strongarm, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you. Did you?"
"Yes," he replied with a warm smile.
There was a little bit of awkward silence for a while, "What time is it?" Strongarm asked breaking the silence.
"Not sure, but I'm betting sometime in the morning. I'm rather surprised you're not pushing me away."
"I figured you deserve a second chance," Strongarm had a feeling that Steeljaw didn't know that Metalsound was visiting her while he was gone.
"And what helped you come to that conclusion?"
"Well, I've had nothing to do but to think. I figured since you acted the way you did, you may want a chance to explain. I know you've already explained it, but is there anything else that I need to know?"
"Not that I can think of."
"What did Saberhorn want?"
"He wanted to know why I've been staying in my room so much lately."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him I find it easier to think when I'm alone and laying down."
"He bought it, just like that?"
"Yep."
"Is there anyone else in charge besides him?"
"Yes, a femme 'Con name Glowstrike," he says with a slight growl.
"Glowstrike? I've never heard of her."
"No, you wouldn't. Why all the questions?"
"Just wondering, I've got nothing else to do here."
:: Steeljaw, I need to have a word with you. :: Saberhorn cuts in over the comlink,:: Now! ::
After giving out a little agitated sigh he answered,:: I'm on my way. :: After he hung up he looked at Strongarm, "We'll continue this later."
"Right," Strongarm responded.
Steeljaw gets up and walks out of the room closing and locking the door behind him.
Saberhorn was waiting for Steeljaw, he could hear growls from the side. Glancing over he could see the Predacon struggling under one of the Chompazoid's paws, "You've only brought this on yourself," he told her. He did not see the smirk on Glowstrike's face, it was only meant for Metalsound to see.
Steeljaw walks into the room and sees it all, "What's going on?"
"Glowstrike told me about their mission from yesterday, apparently Metalsound had turned on her in the midst of fighting the Autobots," Saberhorn replied, "Show him Glowstrike."
Gladly. The red femme withdrew her servo from her shoulder, revealing a nasty bite mark.
Steeljaw looks at the mark then at Metalsound, "Why Metalsound?"
Metalsound just looked away from Steeljaw, unable to respond. She knew what was coming, she was just bracing herself for it, "I shouldn't have to explain myself to anyone, especially since no one can trust a Predacon."
"Metalsound, you can tell me what happened."
Closing her optics for a moment she slowly turned to him with a cold look, "Why don't you ask her then?" She seethed, "You know me Steeljaw, I wouldn't attack unless provoked or if I felt threatened."
"That is true," he looks at Glowstrike, "She would not attack unless she was provoked into it so you must have done something."
"Shouldn't it be obvious? She feels threatened by me, my position. So she thought she could have me get captured by the Autobots. Luckily I managed to escape," Glowstrike countered calmly, "And you know what happened to the last bot who planned a rebellion. Don't you, Steeljaw?"
"Yes, I remember. But why would she feel threatened by you or your position?"
"Maybe she wants to be the only femme on board, so she can have whoever she wants."
Metalsound growled at the red femme, baring her fangs at her.
"And why would she want that? From my understanding, she's not even into any of these 'Cons around here."
"But there is, my betrothed Thunderhoof," she jumped back when the wolf started snarling, clawing at the floor trying to get out from under the Chompizoid that was holding her down.
"You see?"
The Chompizoid had to put another paw on Metalsound as she started to get out, "Stay away from Thunderhoof!" She snarled.
Thunderhoof then comes running in, "I heard you're holding Metalsound!" He looked around and found her on the floor underneath a Chompizoid, "Eyo, why are you holding her!?"
"Thunderhoof just leave. Now! I'll be fine," Metalsound assured him. She didn't want him to see, she didn't want him to get caught in the crossfire.
"She's here because she nearly got Glowstrike captured by the Autobots, old chap. Leave us," Saberhorn ordered.
"No! She's my mate so it's my business what happens to her!"
"Your mate?" Steeljaw asks looking at Thunderhoof surprised.
"Yes, my mate!"
Metalsound would have facepalmed if she could, she didn't want anyone to know this yet.
Glowstrike looks at Thunderhoof in shock, "What!? But I was supposed to be your mate!"
Metalsound growled at the femme, "Stay away from him!" She hissed, "Thunderhoof go now! I'll be alright."
"No way Glowstrike, after I've seen your true colors and how you really are I would never have become your mate, in fact, I was already getting ready to break it all off!"
"And when did you two become mates?!"
"That's none of your concern," Metalsound snarled.
"It doesn't matter. Why would you become mates with a traitor anyway?" Glowstrike challenged.
"Because I love her!"
"Really? Would you still love her if she was mates with Soundwave?"
Metalsound's blood ran cold, that wasn't true. She looked at Thunderhoof but before she could speak the Chompizoid put its paw on her muzzle to keep her from talking anymore.
"What makes you think she's mates with Soundwave?"
"She's been alone for quite a while since she first came here, and she's rather attached to him."
"Yeah she likes him but it doesn't mean she's mated with him!"
Metalsound whined loudly trying to get the Chompizoid off, "Then why is he always watching her? Whenever she was alone he was right there."
"Exactly how do you know that?"
"We have these things called security cameras, you should watch them sometime. Sadly Soundwave deleted any evidence that could have been caught."
"So? That doesn't mean they're mates. I have read up on wolves and I know that they can mate only once and have one mate for the rest of their lives, if she really mated with Soundwave then she wouldn't have been able to mate with me."
"But Predacons can have more than one mate if they choose to. Even if one of them is a secret mate."
Metalsound snarled loudly as she electrocuted the Chompizoid, causing it to roar in pain, "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
With her own roar, she bit Glowstrike on her wounded shoulder, this time using her electricity. Screaming in pain Glowstrike looked at the three mechs, "This is why... she attacked me! Because I knew how unfaithful she was to the Decepticons," she struggled to tell.
"Metalsound, stop now!" Both Steeljaw and Thunderhoof yell out.
Saberhorn kicks Metalsound off of Glowstrike, sending her crashing into the wall, "Are you alright Glowstrike?"
"Yeah," she struggled to get up, as did Metalsound who was still glaring at the femme.
"There shall be severe punishment for that! What shall we give her Glowstrike?"
"Why not have her look after the Mini-Cons?"
"Or she could work with the Mini-Cons. Yes, she'll be a slave like the Mini-Cons and work on fixing up the Alchemor. Take her!" Saberhorn orders the Chompizoid who does so.
Metalsound didn't struggle this time, she gave one last glance to Thunderhoof and Steeljaw before she was out of sight. Thunderhoof growled before he also left, he wanted to make sure that his mate was alright.
"You, bring in a Mini-Con to fix up Glowstrike, old chap," Saberhorn orders another guard who was present. The guard ran out to fetch a Mini-Con, "Can you believe she did such a thing Steeljaw?" Saberhorn asks Steeljaw with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"I never would have thought she would go that far," Steeljaw replied, still in shock at the sudden change in behavior.
"Yes, neither did I. That is all Steeljaw, you may leave now."
Steeljaw left, heading to the Decepticon Hunter vault to think for a while.
