Vehicon Chapter 4. Squawk Talk Reporting for Duty!
Disclaimer: Transformers is owned by Hasbro.
I don't understand. How did this happen? I buried the Mcguffin! I abandoned it in a giant hole! So why? Why is it now a bird calling me Master!? I'm staring at this hammer sitting in the middle of this dirt road while freaking out internally.
"Squawk? Mistress Overclock? Is something wrong? Squawk!" '
Yeah, Several things are wrong, One of them being you calling me Mistress! The silence was stifling as snow began to slowly fall from the sky. After a minute 'Squawk Talk' as it calls itself made a beeping noise.
"Squawk! Oh! I understand now! Mistress Overclock wants me to Dock for future use! Alright! I'm Docking now. Squawk!"
Docking? What in the Pits of Kaon is Docking!?
The Hammer transformed back into the bird and it flew right at me!
"EEEK!"
I screamed as I blocked my face with my three arms, I don't wanna die! But instead of the jarring impact I expected, I instead heard a transforming sound, and something heavy attached itself to my left shoulder. What? I lowered my arms and turned my head to see that I now had a massive Boombox resting on my left shoulder in the same spot my claw was on my right.
It was big, deeply resembling the hammer's head but now the turbines were now speakers and its long haft was now bent at 90-degree angles to be its handle. What was this the 80s?
'Squawk! SquawkTalk is now docked! What is your next order Mistress Overclock? Squawk!'
Gah! I jumped as the bird hammer's voice came over a private comm channel that up until just now I didn't even know existed! Which should have been impossible since I've done so many scans of my systems when I was trying to get rid of the Coordinates!
Maybe because it was a completely closed channel or maybe because of the whiplash from so many things happening at once I didn't understand I shouted to Squawk Talk through the channel.
'You know what I want? I want an explanation and I want it now! What are you! Why are you following me! Why are you a bird! Why are you a Boombox!? And why do you speak Russian!?'
'Squawk! As you command! I am Squawk Talk! I am your Minicon Communications officer and your weapon! I am following you because My purpose, my very reason to exist, is to aid you in all communication-related matters and act as your weapon for any others! Squawk!'
'I'm a bird due to it being the first being I scanned upon gaining Sentience. I don't know why I am a Boombox but I think it's neat! I can speak so loudly now! Listen!' Immediately the Russian National anthem began playing at Ear rape levels right next to my audio receptors!
'TOO LOUD' I screamed across the channel as I fell over to try and get away from the ear rape but alas, it was attached to my shoulder! It shut off instantly and Squawk Talk apologized.
'Squawk! Sorry Mistress! I'll make sure to redirect the sound away from your audio receptors in the future! Squawk!'
I lifted my visor just so I could glare at my 'Communications' officer.
'Why do I need a Communications officer?'
'Squawk! You said it yourself! You wanted someone else to translate for you, correct? So here I am! Your faithful and loyal Translator bot!'
Wait a second, that's right. I slowly stood back up as I replayed my memory of my trip to Russia. I complained about wishing someone else could learn languages for me because I didn't want to spend the week needed to learn!
'So you were created so that I wouldn't have to learn other languages?' Squawk Talk sounded proud as he confirmed this.
'Squawk! Of course! I can process all visual and audio input into whatever language you desire! I already know Russian, English, and Spanish! I am even at this moment using our Transwarp Relay to learn more from the human communication network Squawk!'
Transwarp Relay? So that's what my Wifi is called! Neat!
'Does this mean that I don't have to worry about language anything now and can just let you do it?'
'Squawk! Absolutely! Squawk!'
I then had an even better thought.
'And if I wanted you to speak to other people for me?'
'It would be my pleasure Mistress to be your voice Squawk!'
Can this be? Is this the fabled 'Extrovert friend' I've heard of in legend? Yes! No more talking to strangers! No more trying to muster up the courage to speak up! Who cares if it's a McGuffin? It's now MY McGuffin and it's my ticket to a perfect Neet life!
I smiled widely and patted my mouthpiece friend.
'Then I'll leave all social interaction to you!'
Squawk Talk was vibrating on my shoulder in excitement
'Squawk! You can count on me, Mistress!'
Oh yes, I will. And the best part? Technically, he is an IRL friend so Radical can stop bugging me about it!
'Now, let's get out of this forest!' I transformed back into my Garbage truck mode and Squawk Talk ended up attached to my Cabin like a siren.
'Would you like me to play some Russian music while you drive my mistress?'
'WOULD I!?'
Thus, me and my trusty parrot merrily drove through the woods while teaching the entire forest what good Russian music sounded like.
2 weeks later.
Well, that was fun. We played Ear Rape Russian beats until we arrived at our first town and I had Squawk mute himself while in the many towns we visited and unmuted when we were away from humans.
'Wow! So many humans! Why are they staring at us? Aren't garbage trucks common? Maybe they really need their garbage taken out? What do you think, Mistress?'
Well, mostly. Turns out Squawk is a giant chatterbox! He just won't shut up! I've muted our comms so many times yet when I tune back in he's talking about an entirely different topic! If it wasn't for him speaking through the special hidden comm channel I would have been paralyzed!
Usually, if no one says anything it means they are ignoring you but nope! He takes it as permission to keep talking!
'Shut up and start learning Greek or something!'
'Good idea Mistress!'
He then went quiet as I muted him with a sigh of relief. He could send a request to be unmuted but after the fifth time he did this I told him to only do this in an actual emergency and he thankfully kept that.
I took in the looks of the locals who were whispering and staring at me and I had to agree with Squawk. Why are they staring so much? I don't look much different than a Russian Garbage truck so what's up? I had gone through plenty of towns just fine so why is Moscow different? I used the connection to Squawk to have him translate for me and I finally figured it out.
My License plate! It's still in English! I figured this out just as a Police car flared its lights and siren. Great, Just perfect! I gotta get out of here! I accelerated making the police car rush to keep up and I used the maps of Moscow to find the Airport. I plotted a course to the first place I could think of which was Greece. 'Let's lose this guy!' I first used my superior Tech skills alongside my Trans warp relay to find the Cops radio channel and I jammed it! I then slowed down to get the cop on my right side and I used my side arm to flip his car!
It tumbled a few times and landed on its back and I saw him get out so I knew he wasn't too injured. I then kept driving until I reached a nearby field where I wasn't under detection and I transformed into Jet mode and blasted toward Greece! I unmuted the comm between me and Squawk alongside the jamming to hear him ask.
'Mistress? Why did we leave Moscow?'
'Because they figured out my License plate was American! And a cop showed up and I had to escape. So We're heading for Greece.'
Squawk seemed jazzed at the idea. 'Really? So that's why you wanted me to learn Greek. Mistress! Don't worry! I shall have it learned by the time we arrive!'
'Great, now shut up. I'm gonna message Radical.'
I told Radical about Squawk with the guise of a very loud roommate I had to get to afford my new place and Radical was so happy to hear I made a friend. Though I mainly talked to Radical so I could complain about how much of a Chatterbox he was.
OverClock: Hey Radical! You won't believe what just happened! I got pulled over by a Cop!
Radical Quiver: Pulled over? What happened!?
Overclock: Turns out my License plate expired! Can you believe that!? Thankfully I was able to call my new boss and now I'm off to drop off my truck. How are you doing?
Radical: Doing fine, You really shouldn't be texting while driving! What if you hit someone?!
OverClock: Oh silly Radical, I've long since perfected Speech to Text! It even does emojis! š
Radical: Oh, that's good to hear! But how are you replying to me?
Overclock: Text to Speech!
Radical: Makes sense. Anyway, My friend Miko is in big trouble! She's been getting into Detention and using Barry to bail!
Overclock: Wow, using the ex-military guy to skip out on Detention. She's quite bold.
Radical: I hope that she stops but with her it's unlikely. How's ChatterBox doing?
OverClock: As insufferable as always, I get it, you're a Language nut but do you really have to do it out loud? Have you ever been woken up by a dude screaming at you in German? NOT FUN
Radical: But you like him don't you? He orders stuff for you and you don't have to talk to people. I thought you liked that.
Overclock: Well, yeah but it's still annoying! And aren't you getting bold, Assuming that I'm dating the man I'm sharing an apartment with? š
Radical: No! That's not what I meant!
Overclock: Lol I know, Don't worry, You're just too easy to tease!
Radical: Hold on, Something's come up. I'll chat with you later!
Overclock: Sure, Bye!
Hmm it should be 5 PM in the States right now. I guess Miko's back from detention. Not that it really matters. Okay, so where do I want to visit first? Hmm, decisions decisions.
2 hours later.
I found a nice place to land on top of a large cliff face standing above the Theatre of an old Greek city. Which while having some excavation equipment was deserted and a fair distance away from any humans and touched down. Since I had been in Vehicle mode for so long I decided to turn into Robot mode and do some stretches. With my arms stretching above me, my left hand pulling my right wrist I yawned.
"Mmngh, It's good to get the chance to stretch my limbs. How about you Squawk?"
At my words Squawk took on his Beast mode and stretched his wings as well.
"Yes, Mistress! It's good to move around! Can I do some flying around?"
I shrugged.
"Go ahead, There's no one nearby."
"Great! Bye!"
With a few flaps, he rose into the air and began enjoying himself in the afternoon light. As for me? I leaned back on the ground and soaked up the sun's rays with my helmet down and played some Hades. What? I have all the time in the world and I can stretch while playing, or after. Don't judge me. After about 10 minutes, however, I heard a sound that made my Spark freeze.
What was that sound? The same sound I heard when the mine was destroyed. A Land Bridge! What!? I scrambled to my knees and carefully, inched my head over the cliff into the Theatre and there it was. A Green portal shone in the air and a Green truck busted out of it after a few moments. A human girl stepped out and Bulkhead the Wrecker stood up!
WHY IS HE HERE!?
He pulled something out, an Energon Scanner? Don't tell me. I used my own Energon Scanner I had turned off and yep, There was an Energon Mine! Great, the one place in all of Greece that I decided to park at turns out to be where Slagging Bulkhead was to find Energon! I didn't need the stuff and neither did Squawk Talk since he could digest energy-rich materials as well. I couldn't hear what they were saying as I was quite a ways up but with the aid of my mask's Directional Microphone and zoom function. I fixed that problem.
"I'm here to scout for Energon, You are here to do your History paper."
"What? You tricked me Bulk? Not cool!"
The Girl was Asian with pink highlights in her hair and dressed like a Punk. This must be one of the Humans that works with the Auto bots. What's the deal with them working with children? I got it when it was a show as wish fulfillment but in real life, it made no sense! Then again, I am an alien robot who turns into a garbage truck and my pet Parrot is a boombox. I have no room to talk.
Let's just hope that they don't notice me. Better let Squawk know what is happening so he can avoid detection.
'Squawk!'
'Yes Mistress! I'm almost back!'
'NO! Don't come back! There are Autobots here! If you show up they'll know I'm here!'
My bad luck got worse as the Human of all things spotted the Golden Idiot that called itself my Communications Officer.
"Uh, Bulk? Does Greece have giant gold mecha birds?"
SCRAP! Bulkhead looked up and saw Squawk Talk who seemed to gain a Braincell and made a hasty retreat in the same direction he came, his thruster/ gun things flaring.
'I'll make sure not to reveal your location, Mistress!'
'Good! Just keep flying that way until I tell you otherwise!'
'Yes!'
Bulkhead frowned heavily as he shook his head.
"No, they don't. And it's flying away. We might already be compromised! Let's get what we need and get out of here."
"Yes! No homework!"
The human was put on Bulkhead's shoulder as he approached a Mural that the human took a picture of. I zoomed in on the picture which was of some Greek god holding a golden orb. No way, Is that an Energon Extractor!?
Now, for those in the audience who have no idea what that is, I'll explain. An Energon Extractor is the ultimate Energon Mining tool! Energon mining is quite intensive between scanning, collecting, transporting, and refining. Also, the smaller bits might not be worth the effort to mine but the Extractor could extract even the smallest traces of Energon! Doesn't matter if it was just one drop in a boulder it could get it! All while remaining small, light, and stable.
It was considered the holy grail of mining bots and us Vehicon Miners fantasized about having one! And if there's one in this painting then it must be here on Earth! And I want it! I carefully slinked away from the cliff, climbing down the opposite side while I searched the internet for anything resembling it in Greece and I quickly got a match! Geez, these humans actually put it in a Museum? And of course, it's in the US! Drat! I really wanted it! Even if I push myself to the limit I won't make it in time for me to grab it! Curse you humanity for stealing slag that isn't yours! Sigh, I really want a ground bridge. If I had one then I would've gotten the Harvester!
I was then greeted with the sound of something breaking and I paused my climb down. I didn't move until I heard the sound of a Ground Bridge opening and then closing. Once that happened I relaxed and used the Comms to speak to Squawk Talk.
'They're gone. You can come back now.'
'Yes Mistress!'
He began making his way back and he got there around the time I finished climbing down the mountain. When he landed on my left arm I promptly bopped him in the head!
"Ow! What was that for Master!?"
"You almost brought the Autobots right to me! We can't fight them! They're hardened soldiers and I'm a Miner and you're less than a month old! We'll be dead in seconds! The next time I call you when you are scouting DO NOT instantly come back! Wait until I finish talking before you do anything! Is that understood!?"
My stress pierced through my shyness and Squawk Talk winced. "Yes, Master."
"Good, Now let's get out of here."
I took on my Vehicle mode and tuned in to the Decepticon channels so I could at least get the play-by-play of whatever happens with the Extractor.
The nearby town wasn't much but it had a fuel pump so I and Squawk Talk could top off our reserves. When he's connected to me I can transfer Energon to him via the Dock so neither of us had to reveal ourselves to feed.
'What would you like to do, Mistress?'
'Guess we can take in the sights.' My answer was filled with disappointment as we drove around but I was still unhappy. I really wanted that harvester! Not like I actually needed it but I just wanted to use it once!
I wanna see a chunk of Energon that would have taken hours to process into a usable form be done in minutes! The sheer convenience of it! Hold on, that mural. It's just sitting there, right? No one gonna care if Iā¦.get a souvenir right? Yes, if I can't have the real thing then I at least want a painting of it!
'Change of plans Squawk Talk, We're going back to the ruins.'
As I began the drive to the ruins Squawk Talk asked.
'Why Mistress?'
'Because if I can't have the real thing then I want a drawn version!'
'As you command Mistress.' Good, now let's get that souvenir!
It was dark when I got back to the ruins and that's when a message went out through the Decepticon channel.
'The Energon harvester has been claimed for the Decepticon cause! Lord Starscream will be testing it shortly!'
Oh, so the Decepticons got it. Whelp, just another reason to avoid them since they can just suck out my Energon. Now, where is that mural? I took on Robot mode and Squawk Talk flew over to where the Mural was, Or at least where it USED to be.
"Mistress, The Mural is destroyed!'"
I stared blankly at the giant hole in the wall where the Mural used to be.
"That's just perfect. I can't even get a souvenir! Alright. Let's get out here."
Squawk Talk docked onto my shoulder and just before I transformed into Vehicle mode I was greeted with a swirling Land Bridge portal on the other side of the Ruins! Scrap! I panicked and took on my Vehicle mode just as A Vehicon ground warrior, a Red Decepticon with a vehicle mode, A large blue Decepticon with a Vehicle mode, and Starscream himself emerged from it!
And he's holding the Energon Harvester! Okay, act cool. They haven't seen you yet and as long as you don't reveal yourself they'll just think you're a garbage truck. Think garbage truck thoughts! Of course, as I was mentally chanting this I was still watching them. It's so rare for a non-Vehicon to have a ground mode so for two named Decepticons to have them was quite odd. I think I recognize who they are from the Comm chatter.
The Red one must be Knockout, a medical bot who enjoys cutting up bots more than fixing them. The large one is his partner Breakdown, the muscle, and also the medical assistant to Knockout. The chatter did mention that they were here to treat Megatron. Yeah, Megatron Survived. He's near death, but he's alive. Like Megatron would die right as things got interesting.
Anyway, back to the present. I watched as Starscream began monologuing about why dig up mountains when all the Energon he could need was right here. Yeah, we know, What a tool. Knockout and Breakdown pointed out that they are the ones to bring him the harvester and Starscream didn't hesitate to blast the Vehicon behind them! Oh, Primus! To my mounting horror the Vehcon was struck by the harvester and his Energon, his very lifeblood, was ripped from his body! The Vehicon weakly raised an arm out towards Starscream, as if he was trying to beg him to stop before the beam ended and he fell dead. I didn't hear the next exchange as I stared blankly at the Vehicon corpse.
Why? Wasn't he one of your own? I get killing if they attack you or you're on opposing sides but this? He was your soldier! He would have laid down his life in battle for you! And yet, You ripped out his Spark just to prove a point that didn't even matter!?
I felt a burning in my chest the longer I stared at the body that would surely be scrapped for spare parts like every other killed Vehicon and I grew angry, no, I was furious! So not even the Warrior Caste mattered? Are all Vehicons just toys and tools to you!? I heard a low humming as Squawk Talk's speaker turbines began to slowly turn, flickers of blue lightning arcing over them.
'Mistress, Do you wish to fight them?'
Me? Fight them? The idea was insanity! How could I fight three named Decepticons? I would need a miracle to pull that of-⦠Is that Bulkhead trying to sneak up on them? The Bot who was the same size as me was indeed trying to slip down the slope to get close enough to take down Starscream, who was too busy harvesting some Energon against a wall to notice. Yes! If he attacks them then I can use the confusion and get out of here! Why fight when someone else can for you? Come on Bulkhead! You can do it!
"CRASH!"
A pot broke under Bulkhead's foot and Breakdown and Knockout both instantly turned to look at him. "
"Aw Scrap."
Both me and Bulkhead said at the same time right before the two terrors rushed to bring him down. Of course the moment I am actually rooting for an Autobot he messes up! Not fair! I call hax! Oh, he actually has this handled pretty well. With a well-timed duck down he made Breakdown knockout Knockout! He then grabbed Knockout's lightning prod and used it to bring down Breakdown! Awesome! Go Bulkhead!
He turned to face Starscream just have him turn the Energon harvester on him! No! Bulkhead fell to his hands and knees as a thick stream of Energon was ripped from him via the Harvester.
Just like the Vehicon.
Before I could process everything I heard an engine roar and a loud horn blare as Starscream suddenly looked much closer than before.
Why is that? Whose headlights were reflecting off of his shocked face?
"WHAT?!"
Starscream yelped right before a purple Garbage truck traveling at 50 miles an hour slammed into his left side, sending him flying while its side arm snatched the Energon harvester from the air before it hit the ground. It was only after I was holding the Harvester that I realized with intense shock that it was me who was the garbage truck who just ran over the leader of the Decepticons! SCRAP! Why did I do that!?
I glanced over to see Bulkhead shakily getting up to his feet, surprise on his face.
"Who are you?"
Nope! Nope Nope nope! I'm not doing this!
'Squawk Talk! Take the Harvester and fly as fast as you can to draw them away from me! I'll grab the Body and meet back up with you later!'
'My First Mission? I won't let you down mistress!'
I threw the Harvester into the air as Squawk Talk took on his bird form and shouted aloud.
"Squawk Talk Reporting for Duty!"
He then grabbed the Harvester in his talons and towards Starscream taunted. "Catch me if you Can! Squawk!"
He then blasted his engines and rapidly left the ruins. At the same time, I spun around and drove towards the corpse of the Vehicon and grabbed it as I drove past, dumping it into my bin and booking it!
"WAIT, Stop!"
I saw Bulkhead reach out towards me as a land Bridge opened and the Slagging Autobots came out, guns blazing. No way! I don't wanna die! The Decepticons took one look at the Autobots, then towards me, and last at Squawk Talk before both simultaneously decided that discretion was the better side of valor and drove off.
Starscream angrily transformed, intent on catching up to Sqawktalk but I couldn't focus on that now as Bumblebee was chasing me! Scrap! Why is he following me!? The Harvester is the other way!
'Mistress! Starscream is gaining on me! What should I do!?'
'Circle back around! Get the Autobots between you and Starscream and he'll back off! If that doesn't work drop the Harvester on their heads!'
I hate the idea of giving up the Harvester but if I had to choose who got it then the Autobots were the lesser of the two evils and maybe they would destroy each other. Speaking of evils, I need Bumblebee off me! I turned my sidearm into a turret and while one mind drove the other began shooting at him!
Instantly he began doing evasive action as he tried to remain on my tail! Sucks for him but I realized I could use my mental mind to aim the turret! I was too freaked out during the escape from the mountain to think of this so now face my concentrated fury! This continued for about a minute before my reinforcements arrived.
"BACK OFF FROM MY MISTRESS!"
SquawkTalk Shrieked as he blasted BumbleBee with his sonic weapons located in his wing turbines, the Harvester still gripped in his talons. Between my turret and Squawk Talk's attacks, we managed to get him to spin out and that allowed me to escape through the ruins! Squawk Talk to swoop down and drop the Harvester into my bin before docking
'Mission Complete Mistress! Starscream bailed as soon as I flew past the Autobots.'
'Yes! I knew Starscream was too cowardly to follow you through them! Let's get out of here!'
I switched to Jet mode and we happily blasted off again!
Third Person View Bulkhead.
Bulkhead felt a cold emptiness the moment the Harvester struck him. It was like his strength was being devoured by ravenous Scraplets and the shock of it all made him fall to his hands and knees.
"You're a big one, This might take a while."
Starscream had a sadistic smile as he ripped out Bulkhead's Energon and Bulkhead was just about to force himself up to destroy the Harvester when he heard a loud car horn blare out from the left and he turned his head to see a large purple, side loading garbage truck rush at Starscream.
Starscream barely had enough time to scream "WHAT!?" before he was sent flying away. the Harvester deactivated as it was launched out of his hands. As it was mid-air it was then caught by the claw of the Garbage Truck which stopped moving.
With his Energon no longer being sapped, Bulkhead slowly pushed himself off the ground, his mind racing as he tried to recognize the bot that just saved him.
"Who are you?"
He asked, surprise coloring his face and tone which garnered an immediate reaction from the unknown Bot. The Sidearm flung the Harvester into the air and at the same moment the gold and blue siren on the Cabin transformed into the same gold bird Miko and he saw hours ago! It grabbed the Harvester and it said in a Russian Accent.
"Squawk Talk Reporting for Duty!"
Its red eyes glared at Starscream who was quickly getting back onto his feet before taunting.
"Catch me if you can! Squawk!"
The bird blasted off to the right while the Garbage Truck spun around in a tight U-turn and drove the other way!
"Wait! Stop!"
Bulkhead shouted out to the Bot who had just saved his life but they didn't answer and soon Breakdown and Knockout were back up and ready to fight some more. Starscream for his part transformed with a curse as he began chasing down the Bird but at the same time Bulkhead shouted the Land Bridge opened and Team Prime came out.
Bumblebee heard Bulkhead shout so he wasted no time chasing after the Garbage truck as the Cons began to retreat. Seeing his fellow Autobots made Bulkhead sigh in relief before his team surrounded him and Arcee asked.
"Bulkhead! Are you okay? Where's the Harvester?"
"Ugh, I could be doing better, Starscream hit me with the Harvester and it was awful, Felt like I was being eaten from the inside out. I would have been scrap if that Garbage Truck didn't send Starscream flying.
"Garbage Truck?"
Arcee asked and Bulkhead lifted himself up.
"Yeah, They snagged the Harvester then their Bird Minicon grabbed it and flew one way while they went the other!"
"I can see the Minicon."
Optimus calmly said as the Autobots turned to see the gold bird flying right at them, making dodging maneuvers while Starscream shot at it.
"Give me my Harvester you stupid Bird!"
"Never!"
The Bird retorted and as it approached Bulkhead was able to see the Decepticon emblem on its chest and he shouted in disbelief.
"Wait, It's a Decepticon? Why would a Decepticon Save me?"
"Why indeed."
Optimus said to himself before he gave an order.
"Autobots! Provide covering fire for the Minicon!"
Team Prime promptly began firing at Starscream who screamed.
"Cursed Autobots! Why aren't you shooting at the bird!?"
Starscream was forced to pull away and the Bird flew over them saying.
"Thank you! Squawk!"
Before the Autobots could reply back it was already gone.
"Why did we help the Decepticon? It just flew away with the Harvester!"
Arcee challenged Optimus on this who activated his comm link.
"Bumblebee, Do you have a visual on the Garbage Truck?" Bumblebee confirmed this before reporting that he was being attacked by the truck that was using the same turret that the Decepticon who stole the Iacon Relic used! This news didn't seem to surprise Optimus who said.
"As I suspected. Pull back Bumblebee and prepare to Ground Bridge."
Bumblebee then informed Optimus that a bird minicon opened fire on him while shouting at him to retreat which Bumblebee was quite okay with doing so he let himself spin out and drove back to the ruins. Optimus then asked Bulkhead a Question.
"Bulkhead, Did the Garbage truck retreat without attacking you?"
Bulkhead nodded as he used Arcee to support himself.
"Yeah, They saved my life. Don't understand why since they are a Con but that doesn't change the fact they saved my life."
"Indeed Bulkhead. And I'll answer Arcee's question with another question. How many Decepticons do we know on Earth that aren't allied to Starscream and are prone to running away without fighting?"
Both Autobots' optics widened as they made the same connection Optimus did. "The Sparkling!?"
Optimus nodded as Bumblebee drove up and transformed back and began beeping at Optimus.
"Yes Bumblebee, I came to the same conclusion. I was already suspicious but Bumblebee reported that the Truck had the same turret that the Sparkling used against the Seeker which alongside them avoiding combat if possible confirmed my suspicion."
Bulkhead wanted to speak up but Optimus stopped him.
"We can talk more back at base. I must inform Ratchet of this development."
Soon the Autobots were back in the base and before Ratchet could even ask how it went Bulkhead shouted.
"How can that Garbage Truck be the Sparkling!? I thought that she was a Plane, not a garbage Truck!"
"The Sparkling? What does that have to do with the Harvester?"
Ratchet asked and Optimus answered both of their questions.
"The Harvester was taken by the Sparkling who had gained both a Garbage Truck Vehicle mode and an avian Minicon named Squawk Talk. As for why they got rid of their Jet mode I assume it must be to better hide amongst the humans."
Bumblebee spoke and Ratchet agreed.
"Your Right Bumblebee. If she is trying to hide amongst the humans then that means that with the Harvester they don't need to worry about running out of Energon. But where did she get her hands on a Minicon?"
Bulkhead had the answer to that one.
"The Iacon Relic. It wasn't a Relic but a Minicon in stasis!"
Ratchet finally noticed that Bulkhead was limping and he asked frustrated.
"What happened to you?" He did a scan and then rushed to get an IV ready. "Your Energon levels are 40% lower than they should be. We need to get you an Energon Infusion Stat."
Bulkhead let Ratchet lay him down as he said
"Starscream used the Harvester on me, I would have been drained dry if the Sparkling didn't ram him with her vehicle mode."
Ratchet hooked Bulkhead up to the glowing blue IV and Optimus spoke.
"And that act of selflessness proves that though they bear the mark of a Decepticon, their sparks shine with the light of any Autobot.
" Ratchet. Once you are done treating Bulkhead, open a ground bridge into the towns surrounding the location of the mural. They lack both an aerial mode or a land bridge so they couldn't have gotten far." He looked away, as if he was watching something no one else could see. "We must not let the Harvester, the Sparkling, or her Minicon fall into Decepticon hands."
Third Person POV the Nemesis
"ANOTHER Rogue Decepticon!? First one steals the Relic and now another takes the Harvester!? Does no one respect my rule!?"
Starscream was ranting to Soundwave who once again reported that they couldn't find the rogue Decepticon as none of his sensors were there. Starscream was not happy with this and he clenched his fists in anger.
"Blast! With Megatron out of commission is another group trying to take his place? Unacceptable!"
He then gave an order to Soundwave.
"From now on, any Decepticon who isn't with us will be shot on sight! If they don't come here themselves and join us then they are against us!"
The orders were quickly relayed throughout the chain of command and the new policy was put into effect. A few hours later, in a deep ravine, the one it was talking about learned about it and sighed as she finished digging and stood in a giant hole in the ground.
"On the plus side, they didn't connect my jet mode with my Vehicle mode. On the negative side, they'll attack any Decepticon not with them on sight. No more freebies or chances to run."
Overclock's Minicon was sitting on a boulder and squawking.
"Don't worry Mistress! I'll make sure to keep you safe!"
Overclock lifted up her visor to smile at her bird before she nodded to the ground.
"Alright, this should be deep enough."
She lifted herself out of the large hole revealing next to the hole was a giant open coffin made from stone. Inside this Coffin with its am and laser cannon crossed over their chest was the Vehicon who died when its Energon was ripped out of it. Overclock looked sad as she stared at the body. She put her right hand with its missing finger on its head and softly caressed it.
"You don't know me and I don't know you but we both are Vehicons. And because of that, I want to give you a proper burial, so here."
She removed from her chassis a small blue shard and placed it in its hand and clapped its claws around it.
"I got this when I left my mine behind and I think if I get rid of it the nightmares will stop. This funeral isn't just for you but for the miners who died back then."
She then grew frustrated.
"AUH! I suck at talking! I'm skipping to the end. Blah Blah Blah May your spark join the well of sparks Amen!"
She then grabbed the long granite lid and slid it over the top and she slid the whole thing to lay flat in the hole and filled it back up.
"There! Never doing that again! Come on Squawk! Let's go to Paris."
"Oui Oui Mistress!"
The pair then blasted off leaving the grave behind. A pity, for if they had stayed just a few minutes later they might have heard the faint sound of scratching claws on stone.
Author's Note: HO HO HO! A second gift for all the good bots and cons who still stuck around to read this story! I hope you all liked it and don't worry, the next chapter is about 80% done so the Sunday after Christmas you will be freed from the dreaded curse known as a Cliffhanger!
