9. Book Reading
Forwards Time Skip - Ark 22
Sunstreaker almost doesn't react fast enough. There's no one else around and he has let his guard down. He doesn't even hear the footfalls of the approaching mech. He does hear the hiss of an opening door, however, and he jumps, nearly falling off the back of the berth. He catches himself and looks up just in time to see the red form of Ironhide shuffling in. He's torn for a moment between standing up and demanding to know what the 'bot is doing there or simply ducking down and hoping he isn't seen. And then he spots the datapad lying on the stand next to him.
"Sunstreaker?"
Sunstreaker glances up from the datapad.
"What are you doing here?" Ironhide asks. He's standing in the doorway looking a little unsure of himself.
"What's it look like?" Sunstreaker says, doing his best to sound annoyed—which he is, just not for the right reason.
Ironhide doesn't reply at first. He's still looking around as if expecting a Decepticon to leap out of the shadows.
"I never figured you for a reading type," he finally says.
"Good for you."
Sunstreaker tries to casually lean back against the equipment stand but it shifts and one of Ratchet's tools clatters to the floor. Sunstreaker curses to himself and places the datapad on the berth and stoops down to pick the clamp up. When he stands back up Ironhide is looking at him with a strange expression.
"Any particular reason you come to the med bay to read?" the officer asks. His optics drift down to the still form of the red and black mech lying on the berth right behind Sunstreaker.
"Only quiet place," Sunstreaker says. "Fragging Tracks and those mini-freaks took up the simulators and Jazz is hogging the rec. room."
"Uh huh."
Sunstreaker wonders how long they'll put him in the brig for shooting a senior officer. Probably a while.
Ironhide shifts a little and then squares his shoulders. "You haven't seen Ratchet in here, have you?"
"No."
"Oh. Well, if you do could you tell him that Prowl's trying to get a hold of him?"
"Whatever."
Ironhide glances down one last time. Sunstreaker forces himself to stay still and not bristle; he goes back to staring at the datapad. Then the old mech nods once and the doors hiss open.
"Oh, and Sunstreaker?"
Sunstreaker looks up.
"I hear it helps if you turn the datapad on," Ironhide says and walks out.
Hells bells. They went and dorked with the categories. (And here I was hoping to cash in on the surge of interest after the new movie came out.) Ah, tragedy. Anyway.
Sunstreaker: Glad you like it. I think that when Sunstreaker is in a good mood (as rarely as that happens) he gets a bigger, well, "high" I guess, than Sideswipe.
cmdrtekk: Thank you!
Elita One: Yeah he was.
blood shifter: There were a lot of gladiator fights, and Megatron wasn't in every, single one. Besides, this isn't the first fight they (or, at least, Sunstreaker) have been to.
Thing With No Talent: I was kind of wondering if I was pushing Sunstreaker's character a little too far, but everyone seemed to find it okay. Woot for good cringing! You really did help. I was reading your review and mulling over it and it was like, EPIPHANY. But that comes later.
Trapped in Reality: I've been worried about that. It's not in chronological order (for the most part) and I've been trying to make it as coherent as possible. But I've rearranged some later chapters so they make more sense (since they tie-in to each other). I too love the twins (you know, in case that wasn't blatantly obvious). Thanks for the compliments; they're a real treat.
You guys are awesome!