Chapter 4!
Breakdown strolled through the hall, weaving his way through the Vehicons. He had taken a break from the lab, attempting to relax and tell himself nothing was wrong.
But yet, he knew something was. With Deathstrike.
The assassin was acting stranger than usual. He was weak, that Breakdown knew, as a result of his injuries acquired from the crash, but there was—
Come to think of it—where was Deathstrike's ship? He strongly hoped no one had taken it or destroyed it without Deathstrike's approval, despite it being heavily damaged from the crash. Breakdown knew Deathstrike would go berserker insane if anyone so much as touched his ship without his permission.
"You." He addressed an Eradicon with huge wings. "What do you know of my partner's ship?"
The Eradicon turned, taking in the warrior before him. "Your partner is Deathstrike, correct?" His voice was deep and emotionless. Many of them were programmed that way.
"Yes."
"Time of arrival and crash?" He turned to a computer console before him.
"A few orns ago, when there was a high temperature in the area."
"We are currently above Colorado of the United States, North America." He began to type at an incredible speed that could rival Soundwave's. "Your crash site was above Jasper, Nevada, in a rocky desert area with little to no population." He paused, reorganizing the information in his processor. "Your ship is in the docking bay, guarded by Air Force Eradicons B-03 and 6-09." He faced the warrior.
Breakdown nodded in acknowledgment. "What is your designation?"
"My designation is Longscar." True to his name, black scars scored the Vehicon's faceplate, as well as his servos, neck, and chest.
"How long have you been working here?"
"Very long, sir. Long before you arrived." Longscar's voice became colder. This was not a topic he favored.
Well, then. "Your assistance is appreciated."
The Eradicon nodded and turned away to begin working once more.
"Deathstrike, I know where your ship is," Breakdown stated as he entered the lab.
No one answered.
It was strangely quiet, even for Deathstrike.
"Deathstrike?" He slowed his pace, turning his scanners on high. Deathstrike's signal was enhanced in a bizarre way, and it had been so for centuries. He had modified Breakdown's scanners should anything happen—and idea he had laughed at, but now…
"Deathstrike!" His scanner couldn't pick up the assassin's signal. Where was he?
Wait.
He was exhausted and ravenous, but did not want to let it out. Where would he go?
Meditation.
He ran to the room in the back of the lab, the room where the assassin had built himself in order to restrain himself when he did not have the needed energy.
The large black door towered before him. Should he knock? He was concerned for Deathstrike's health, but whenever he locked himself up, it was all too obvious he desired to be alone.
"Deathstrike?"
There was no answer.
Breakdown leaned against the door, scanners on so high he could already feel a massive processor ache coming on. He knew Deathstrike was in here. Whenever he'd bothered the assassin on the ship, he'd had to be cautious, as he would most likely get hit with whatever Deathstrike had available, which included the floor itself.
Gathering his strength and courage, Breakdown entered and open command.
Starscream stood at the head of the room, Soundwave at his side. He was a little unnerved. At least when he had been Megatron's shadow, there had been something to feel. Next to Soundwave, there was nothing, nothing at all. The SIC never showed emotion. Maybe it would be better how to determine how he felt if he could see him, see how he looks.
Looks…
How—
Starscream recognized the look in Deathstrike's gaze. The wild, violent hunger and insanity…
It had been released. There was no stopping it now.
Blackgarnet noticed the lieutenant shift nervously. "What is the trouble now?"
"Do you not hear it?" Starscream tilted his helm. "Did you not receive the distress comm?" Out of the corner of his optic, he saw Deathstrike's servos unfold, claws lengthening to razor points rivaling Megatron's.
Hurry, his mind urged. Time is not in your favor.
"They must have excluded you again," he stated. "There has been an explosion in the Energon stores. You are needed." He ushered the warrior out of the lab, ignoring the nagging sensation that the weapons specialist would kill him later.
/Breakdown. You are needed./
/What do you need?/ the warrior stated, sounding otherwise engaged.
/Deathstrike./
/Primus, did he get loose again? Lord Megatron will have my head./
/No, he has not, but he is on the verge of doing so./
/Alright, Commander, I'm nearly there./ The line disabled.
He faced the assassin, who met his gaze, his black and red optics an inferno straight from the Pit. Claws extended, he stared at the lieutenant, taking in his every move with the alertness of a predator. The medic Decepticon was gone, leaving a feral, ravenous Decepticon who would, if freed, destroy any Cybertronian in his way.
"Commander." Breakdown appeared in the doorway, his yellow gaze blazing in the dim light. "Where is he?"
"Still here. Don't just stand there, get in here!"
Breakdown smirked and entered. He froze when he saw Deathstrike, his grin disappearing. "He's never been this bad before. What did you do?"
"I did nothing."
Breakdown faced him, his pupil-less optics burning. "Commander, I mean no disrespect, but I know when I am being lied to."
"You accuse me of lying? How dare you!"
"No disrespect, Commander." Breakdown slowly approached the assassin, who snarled, optics narrowing.
"Easy there." Breakdown kept his servos raised as his subspace opened. He slowly reached in, taking out a vial of a dark substance. "Deathstrike, I know you're still in there. Fight it. You control it, not the other way around." He approached cautiously, and it seemed to be going well enough for the lieutenant to leave, lingering nonchalantly in the hall, weapons ready should anything happen.
A shout sounded, followed by snarling and crashing.
What in Primus' name?
Back in the lab, Breakdown was glaring, one servo over a massive slash in his side. Energon poured from the wound. The massive Decepticon's chest armor was shredded, Energon covering it like a new paintjob. Nearby, Deathstrike was on the floor, motionless and seemingly unconscious.
"What in Primus' name happened?!" the lieutenant roared, wings flaring high.
Breakdown coughed harshly, pressing his servos hard into their covered wounds, attempting to staunch the Energon flow. "He anticipated my moves. Full-out attacked."
"Did he…?"
"No. I...gave him…sedative before he could." Breakdown leaned against a wall, and Starscream saw how much energy had been taken from the warrior.
"How could I have been so stupid?"
The lieutenant started. "I'm—sorry?"
"It was a mistake, bringing him here. So many targets—so many victims—all able to be ended, in too little time. It'd be too little, too late."
Late…
Too late…
"—Commander?"
He opened his optics. Before him stood Blackstand and Longscar. Soundwave stood nearby, half-blended into the shadows.
"Commander, are you alright?" Blackstand questioned.
Starscream hesitated ever so slightly, and Soundwave moved closer on silent pedes. His presence merely aggravated the Seeker, but he bit back a growl of irritation. It would only incense the spy's logic circuits.
"A processor ache, that is all." The fact was true; these blackouts made him feel as if Breakdown had smashed his helm in a couple of hundred times.
"Are you certain, sir?" Longscar said, staring intensely at his superior.
"Yes." The room lurched, but he kept himself steady. "I will head to my berth."
"Sir, the meeting—?"
"Soundwave can run it." The Seeker sensed their uneasiness, and he turned to glare at them, noticing that the spy had vanished. "I do not care for your legends. Listen to him and follow orders."
He turned and left, leaving two very confused soldiers.
For those of you who have read Longscar's bio on my profile, I know it says he is a Seeker. I said Eradicon in this because it gives you a better picture of him. He is taller and stronger than the average Seeker, seemingly emotionless...yeah. Check him out on my profile if you have not already.