Author's Notes: My, my, my is this story not interesting enough fellow readers? Come now, surely there are fans of the Decepticons who want to see their lighter sides, their personal not seen on camera camaraderie and all that. Ah well, perhaps with three chapters up I'll receive more reviews now that there's more to review.
Some of you may still be wondering what's going to happen next, how these Decepticons are going to stay out of trouble long enough to reach the events of Iron & Grace,well who said they had to stay out of trouble? But if you're looking for a rip roaring no hs barred battle like the one at the end of the movie, that might have to wait a little while.
As usual: Bold is Cybertronian
Itallics, inner thoughts, inner dialogue or soon to be classified as FLASHBACKS! That's right, in a few chapters more you get to go back to the beginning and start seeing what went down prior to the events of this summers blockbuster event Michael Bays' TRANSFORMERS! Anyway, without further ado I present to you...
Chapter Three: Surprise Guests are such a nuissance when they crash the party OR Plottings (Take your pick)
SOCCENT Qatar, a desert base at one point before the Decepticons tried to hack into secure data and determine the whereabouts of the Allspark. There had been few survivors and they had long since left this grueling place, now the sands crept ever closer determined to reclaim the base, but the sands weren't the only thing. Metallic in nature and approximately six times the size of an ordinary scorpion the Decepticon Scorponok was using Qatar as a temporary repair facility.
Due to the Sabot rounds his tail had fallen off three segments down from the tip, and a lot of holes had been made in his armor. Having had no time to regroup with Blackout for pickup he instead found himself here licking his wounds, and he didn't like it. True intense heat destroyed their ability to regenerate damages, but this proved a temporary development when given the chance to escape the deadly shower, Scorponok even now was beginning to regenerate the piece of tail lost to the humans.
He excelled at preying upon lesser creatures and the enemy, but that wasn't his mission now, he was to wait for pickup even if it never came. Several nearby articles of debris revealed recent damages brought on by the rage at the sensation of Blackouts' death, being a partner Decepticon much like Frenzy he had been a close companion. In fact Scorponok had been the only Decepticon Blackout ever trusted, naturally he had been enraged and incapable of expressing his genuine pain at the loss of his friend, yes even Decepticons had friends though they rarely advertised it.
Some like Starscream; enjoyed taking advantage of friendships, maybe that was why Blackout had despised him so much. Unable to speak Scorponok had nevertheless been able to communicate with Blackout; they'd devised a clever method that even stumped the long absent Soundwave. The sudden sounds of helicopter blades filled the animalistic Decepticon with irrational hope, but it was only Incinerator, making himself visible Scorponok waited memories not his own playing back as he reviewed the last moments of Blackout. The image of a man on a motorcycle was captured at the periphery of Blackouts' optic sensors, zooming in he saw and remembered the image of his prey from the desert, the one he'd almost killed. He would not forget nor would he rest until this prey was hunted and Blackouts' death avenged.
The armored car traveling in downtown Chicago was not the typical Brinks security, in fact no one recognized the companies name on the side of the vehicle as it lumbered up the street, but no one really cared. It was such a typical sight in the day to day traffic scene that nobody even gave it a second glance, had they known that this particular armored car was actually a sixteen foot tall alien robot in disguise they might have been more impressed.
Payload was supposed to be searching for Autobots, but he'd rather blow off some of the decidedly unwanted emotions now present. Cybertron had been a beautiful world once, but then Prime tossed the Allspark into space without bothering to think about the repercussions. Megatrons' ultimate goal may have been a little insane to most of the Decepticons given nothing more then a casual glance during the war by the leader, but they could not deny their innate desire to dominate and conquer. Earth wasn't a home he'd care to keep, true its energy reserves were incredible, most humans didn't even notice the potential resources of this world. What fools. He thought, still he missed Cybertron and now it seemed to be little more then a dead world.
"Starscream to all Decepticons, report to my location immediately." The voice cut in over the communications channel reserved for Decepticons, What could he want now? Payload grumbled to himself.
"Payload reporting, acknowledged."
In the middle of a train yard outside Dallas proper a lumbering giant of a vehicle rolled to a stop, Wreckage was infuriated by the interruption to his search, but he'd lost Primes' signal anyway.
"Wreckage inbound ETA, two hours." Fortune seemed to be smiling on him, Starscream was actually close by.
The red sportscar who borrowed heavily from a multitude of designs and the Saleen cruiser traveling out of Tranquility both received the call as the traffic light turned red.
"This is Swindle, understood." The red car revved his engine and sped through the intersection nearly hitting a Porsche; Barricade kicked his sirens on and sped after him as though giving chase.
"Barricade to Starscream, good to hear you survived too." He mocked his alien language and tone of voice incapable of relaying the true level of sarcasm he was attempting to convey.
The MIG-29 and Osprey helicopter swooped lazily out of the glow created by the setting sun, inside the Osprey Scorponok did his best to remain standing, Incinerator just didn't have a proper storage compartment for him.
"Dreadwing here, why not go back to the ship?"
"Who cares, let's hurry up before he sends Thundercracker after us." Incinerator retorted annoyed by the stupid question.
The low riding pickup splashed mud at the feet of a trio of campers as he drove off-road, the message had reached him of course, but he was starting to question his continued subservience to the cause. With Megatron gone what was the point of staying on this disgusting dirtball of a planet? He'd much rather go back to Cybertron and sit around until he deactivated then waste away here, but it'd take too long to get back anyway.
"This better be important." He complained. "I should be there when I get there, Dropkick out." He added in a bored tone of voice.
The grey dune buggy with Sector Seven markings started up and a holographic driver appeared, pulling out of the driveway from across the street where the massive Topkick rested the female driver smiled.
"Hardtop to Starscream I have interesting news to report." He reported the Decepticon spy laughed ignoring the ogling college driver next to him, messing with these humans on a psychological level was just too much fun. Hence his programming of a female driver and vocal patterns into his holomatrix, it was amazing how a little cleavage could make the males of this planet act like the animals they were.
Winking at the male driver Hardtop turned the gun mounted on his rear section and aimed it at the car; peeling out in fear at the strange mixed signals Hardtop watched as he tried to get as far away as fast as possible and laughed in a disturbing sultry toned voice at the males reaction. Switching lanes he headed for the meeting spot, but he was going to have to find that foolish male again and screw around with his mental state further in the future.
Thundercracker stood next to Starscream and Shockwave in an abandoned oil field, according to information gleaned from the World Wide Web a company called Arbco had run the place until recently when the wells ran dry. Thundercracker had only gotten the information in order to make certain no Humans interrupted this meeting; according to Starscream it would be very important.
Shockwave looked different now that he at last had come down to Earth; having scanned a vehicle mode he'd reconfigured and even bulked up in the shoulders and legs to accommodate the transform. He had opted to become a triple changer now, possessing two vehicle modes alongside his robotic one, Thundercracker was slightly put off by this, for not many could maintain multiple alternate forms without losing some sense of self.
"How long?" Starscream demanded. Shockwave examined a device in his hand lone optic blinking.
"Eighteen Earth Hours." He replied. "When they're scattered across the continent it does take time." He reminded.
"I know." Starscream snapped, it was then the first began to arrive. Dreadwing swooped down and landed in robot mode followed by Scorponok who had been dumped out of Incinerator along with the remains of the others rather unceremoniously.
"Show some respect." Thundercracker chastised as the Osprey reverted to robot mode and landed.
"Frag it T." Incinerator shot back.
"Shockwave see if Bonecrusher can be repaired, I want him conscious for this." Starscream ordered. "And Incinerator cut out the Humanisms." He glowered the Decepticon aerial unit shot him the equivalent to a smile and backed up. Silently Scorponok collected Blackouts' remains and guarded over them, Shockwave approached Bonecrusher the hulking brute was relatively intact due to being retrieved by a Sector Seven team prior to dumping. One optic hung out of the head, which lay twisted beside the body, Prime had done precious little to damage the hate filled Decepticon too preoccupied with the safety of his precious fleshling pet.
"His spark is intact; it will take me two Cycles to repair the optics and a mega cycle for reattaching the head." He reported.
"Fine, fine whatever… I don't suppose Blackout or Devastator are salvageable?" Starscream wondered pessimism in his tone, Shockwave examined the others. The military had sliced them up for easier disposal most likely, Shockwave was thorough yet fast.
"Structurally I could rebuild them, but their sparks are not present. Logic dictates it would be a waste of resources." He proclaimed tossing Devastator's head to the ground.
"It was worth a shot." The Decepticon leader muttered to himself.
"There's an anomalous energy reading from Megatron." Thundercracker spoke up in shock. All optics turned to the last of the dead.
"What!" Starscream exclaimed nervously, Shockwave ran his fingers through the cooled yet still liquid mess of Megatrons chest.
"Allspark energy residue clings to his superstructure." He informed. "It is as I hypothesized upon first learning of the cause of Death, Megatrons' spark may have been terminated. However a remnant of the intense energies inherent to the Allspark remains, with possession of the shard and sufficient quantities of Energon reintegration and restoration of the cube is theoretically possible." Hope passed through the optics of all Decepticons present, hope for a future revitalized Cybertron and the birth of new generations. Without Megatron however would the Decepticons choose to continue the war, their lust for power had dwindled as time passed yet it had never truly faded away.
"So what's the plan?" Dreadwing asked turning to Starscream.
"You'll find out when we're all here." He replied coldly. "Now Shockwave get Bonecrusher on his feet, perhaps this time he won't be taken out ten seconds into the battle." He commented with a snide smirk, always one to point out the flaws in others and ignore his own Starscream wasn't a popular leader, but no one else wanted the job. At least for the time being.
The light was unexpected after so long in darkness and the howl of rage startled a Coyote nearby, it was a cry so inhuman as to be unrecognizable from any creature on this planet. Leaping to his feet Bonecrusher towered above most of those present, his optics glowing darkly he looked around expecting to find Prime.
"Loud isn't he." Dreadwing remarked with a laugh, Bonecrusher smashed his arm into the shorter Decepticons' chest.
"Keep away from me." He growled hatred filling his tone, turning he caught sight of Megatron and stormed up to the body. He looked deep into the dull lifeless optics of his leader and burst into laughter, the others eyed him warily. "How do you feel now?" He asked darkly kicking the corpse and dislodging a few small pieces of armor.
"Bonecrusher you should respect the dead more." Thundercracker chastised with a frown.
"Stow it shrimp." Bonecrusher snapped moving to glare down at the mostly blue Decepticon. "I don't need to follow any more orders now that Megatron's dead." He stated arms crossed, Starscream glowered up at the other Decepticon and eyed Shockwave briefly; the cyclopean triple changer nodded and tapped a panel on his wrist. Energy crackled all over Bonecrushers' body causing him to cry out in pain and forcing him to his knees, Starscream smirked darkly and strutted before the kneeling Decepticon.
"You may hate all of us, but you will not be operating on your own." He stated. "I didn't ask Shockwave to repair you just so you can get scrapped again. We'll need your muscle to defeat the Autobots and restore the Allspark, so I had Shockwave install a failsafe device to make you compliant." Bonecrusher glared up at Starscream through the pain, Dreadwing, Incinerator, Thundercracker, Scorponok and Wreckage eyed this scene with varying degrees of disgust, bemusement or silent rage at the sheer audacity of Starscream.
"You'll pay for this Starscream." Bonecrusher vowed.
"Sure I will." The Decepticon leader smirked.
"So what's the big deal, why'd you call me back?" Dropkick demanded pulling up to the awkward silence amongst his comrades.
"Apparently we'll find out when everyone shows up." Dreadwing informed with an indifferent shrug.
"Then let's get started." Swindle spoke up as he, Barricade and Payload joined the others.
"Where's Hardtop?" Shockwave wondered.
"I've been here some time." The Decepticon dune buggy stated his holographic driver leaning against the drivers' side door. "Just didn't feel like announcing my presence as though we were sparklings at roll call." He added with a sneer, Starscream smiled and moved to stand in front of one of the abandoned drilling machines.
"Since you're all here then by all means time to reveal the master plan." He remarked in a mocking tone. Before he could say another word a convoy of Sector Seven vehicles arrived unloading the remnants of the organizations agents, weapons drawn, the Decepticons eyed this display in shock some of them drawing weapons.
"Surrender hostiles and we'll consider leniency." Agent Simmons ordered through a megaphone, Starscream laughed standing definitely before the humans.
"Did I miss something, why aren't we tearing these fleshlings to shreds?" Incinerator demanded cocking his weapon. Agent Simmons also appeared confused his colleagues were standing as stiff as boards their weapons limp in their hands, Starscream knelt before the human coming face to face with the former captor of Megatron.
"These puny insects are no threat to us, they were disbanded a week and a half ago. He's not even part of the government sanctioned organizations any more." He proclaimed gaze falling on Simmons' SUV briefly, Barricade approached the human curiously circling him with a look of disinterest.
"And to think they thought the Autobots were a threat, ha. Compared to us they're pushovers." He scoffed switching to English so the insult would be recognized by the human, Frenzy cackled manically and grabbed the gun out of Simmons' hand.
"Hey!" He exclaimed. "What are you waiting for, attack." He ordered. His men didn't react, or attack; in fact they almost resembled mannequins. "What is this, a mutiny people? Evil alien robots are standing right in front of us; we're supposed to be stopping them."
"You should have told the Autobots you were coming." Barricade remarked having picked up on the obvious. "Then we could have finished you all off together."
"I don't… Ouch!" Simmons cried slapping at something that stung the back of his neck, glancing around briefly trying to find the source his eyes suddenly glossed over and he stood as still as the others. "What are your orders Commander Starscream?"
"Why, take your gun back from Frenzy of course. If you can." He ordered, Simmons snarled and leapt at the unsuspecting Decepticon. He started scrambling for his gun deftly attempting to overpower the hyperactive Decepticon.
"Starscream would you care to explain what is going on?" Shockwave asked for the group. In response to the question the SUV Simmons had been driving began to transform startling everyone with exception to Starscream, Barricade and the mannequin agents, the SUV became a bulky looking robot who smiled mischievously and flipped Starscream a corny salute.
"How ya doin' Mates?" He asked in a thickly accented tone of voice.
"When the slag did you get here?" Dreadwing demanded marching up to the former SUV and poking him in the chest with one of his thruster-turned missile launchers.
"He wasn't on the Nemesis." Payload pointed out disquietly.
"He arrived three days prior to the battle." Starscream revealed with a chuckle. "So we had him infiltrate Sector Seven, but then this idiot." He indicated the still struggling Simmons. Hardtop's optics narrowed, this was the reason why he'd been pulled off the Sector Seven assignment. "Started dogging Bumblebee and the Witwicky brat so he failed to get us to the Allspark sooner."
"Don't blame me; at least Prime didn't rip me apart." He chastised eyeing Bonecrusher pointedly.
"Tell me you've found some." Starscream interjected before Bonecrusher could tear their newfound ally apart.
"I found some." He parroted with a smirk.
"Excellent, time to begin Phase One." Starscream proclaimed clasping a hand on the former SUVs' shoulder. "And the Autobots are going to hate us for it." He added knowingly leaving his soldiers still in the dark.
To Be Continued
Oh dear, what could Phase One possbly be? Be here in seven to find out, I'll be trying to keep this going for weekly updates, but I make no promises so don't be surprised if I'm a little late.