Sorry about the lateness of the chapter guys, I had college happen so that took a lot out of me. But I'm here now and with the next chapter.
IF you guys can find the heart please leave a review/comment, it does wonders when an author can actually see your thoughts on the story.
Also, I don't own Transformers Animated, that is all.
"Woah ho ho, check out all of the loot!" Scrapper said happily looking at all the mountains of oil.
"Yeah, that's a whole lotta oil Scrap." Mixmaster said proudly, before both he and Scrapper visibly drooped. "Too bad we can't have any."
Hightower was unloading the latest stock when he glanced at the two of them. He grabbed the trailer and walked it over to them.
"How come you guys can't have any of the oil, I thought it was made for drinking."
"Not according to Dirt Boss it isn't." Mixmaster said.
"Yeah he says that it's cutting into the profits to do that." Scrapper continued. Hightower glanced around and then blinked.
"That's not right to me, Oil's meant for drinking so it should be drank!"
Hightower went to go over and grab two barrels for the two, when a cerebro shell flew in from the doorway. Hightower had little time to even cry out for help. The shell dug into his forehead and stuck there.
"Oh no." Mixmaster said.
"Guys...I-I can't move!" Hightower called out.
"Easy big guy, just stop talking and-"
"Shut up, that's the first sensible thing I've heard ya say!" Dirt Boss shouted as he stormed in. Scrapper and Mixmaster both stepped back as he walked over to Hightower.
"So you think you can just "share" part of my profit!?" He snapped. "Do I look like some crankshaft charity!?"
"But they're your workers...they should.." Hightower said meekly. Dirt Boss cut him off by sending Hightowers own fist into his face.
"They get what I tell them they can get, they haven't done enough ta even earn a pint of oil!" Dirt Boss snapped.
He'd been extremely foul tempered after the events at the Fossil Fuel refinery. His temper was now shorter than it'd ever been before, and he hated it when people didn't follow his plans.
"Those two didn't follow through correctly the last time, and they got blown up!" Dirt Boss boomed. All the while he was talking, Hightower was beating himself up. Dirt Boss glanced at his hook cable and forced him to fire it.
"So unless you want me to do worse, you will not even consider losing a single drop of oil!" The hook clamped down hard onto the rafters at which point Hightower found his winch becoming active. With a startled cry he flew upwards and struck his head on a grider.
Scrapper and Mixmaster dove when he came back down, smashing hard into the floor. Hightower lay prone as Dirt Boss glanced at the two of them.
"Let that be your last warning." he snareld.
The two constructicons nodded as Dirt Boss turned around and left the room. But as he did he shouted out a reminder.
"Remember, one drop and yer history!"
The two of them sat there, frightened and slightly terrified. Hightowers groans assured them that he was still online but hurt.
"That was seriously messed up." The stunned Scrapper got out.
"You said a mouthful." Mixmaster responded.
It was at this time Scoop chose to walk by, still looking flustered from encountering Wreck Gar. He glanced into the room and stopped short. He eyed the nervous Scrapper and Mixmaster, and then the beaten up Hightower.
"What did you two do to him?" He asked.
"Hey, it wasn't us!" Scrapper said defensively. "He was trying to be nice and then Dirt Boss-" Scoop raised his hand to stop Scrapper before he continued.
"Is this really how he treats you?"
Hed known that the treatment the Constructicons got was bad, but this almost made what he'd suffered on Cybertron look good by comparison.
"Well, it wasn't this harsh when he first came around."Mixmaster said. Scoops frowned deepened even further and then he looked at all the oil.
"Does he even have a plan for all of this oil?"
"He says that he plans to make the humans pay for it back I guess."
"Then what, he can't use human currency for anything!" Scoop said. "If he were exporting it to Cybertron or some of the colonies then he might turn a profit."
"Wait so you're saying that this plan won't even work?" Mixmaster asked.
"His plan will assuredly fail, but mine won't." Scoop said, walking over to them. He noted that the two seemed apprehensive now.
"Eh was much as we'd like too...we're not so sure about the plan anymore Scoopy." Scrapper eyed Hightowers prone form nervously.
"You may not be sure, but I am." Mixmaster said defiantly.
"I'm sick of that runt pushing us around, not even letting us get droplets of oil." He said, walking up to Scoop. "I'm in all the way."
"Excellent, because I've decided to move things ahead." Scoop said.
"The humans are no doubt going to catch on, they're crafty creatures given that they helped the Autobots build a fake priestess."
Mixmaster nodded, though he was still lost as to what Scoop meant when he talked about the "priestess." Scrapper meanwhile stood back, but kept listening.
"Once they figure it out they will come for us, Scrapper I'm giving you the easy job."
"Aww but I liked that TV." Scrapper bemoaned.
"We'll get a new one, it's not like they're hard to get." Mixmaster replied.
"Precisely, and Mixmaster I need you to cover for Dirt Boss."
"Easy enough." Mixmaster folded his arms. "You pretty much keep to yourself till he needs you."
"Well just in case he needs me, cover." He said before turning away. Giving Hightower a glance as he moaned, he looked back at the two.
"If all goes well you'll have freedom, and all of that." He pointed at the oil and then walked out of the room. The two were left alone with Hightower as he started to come too.
"Oh man..what hit me guys?" He asked.
"Nothing pal, you just had an accident." Mixmaster said, walking over to help him up.
"Oh...I didn't damage anything did I?
As they helped him up, both of them had a lot on their minds. But one nagging thought kept hitting them. If Hightower and Scoop were friends, why were they told to leave him out of the plan?"
The very next day, bright and early, Scoop snuck out of the warehouse and headed into the city. His mission would be the same as the others, cause mayhem until the Autobots showed up. Only this time would be different.
Scoop headed downtown once more, staying in the side streets and on occasion switching to robot mode to stay hidden. He swiftly jumped down from a rooftop and stared out at the city.
"What to destroy this time…" he muttered to himself.
His optics travelled across the city, before they set themselves on city hall. It reminded him of the Metroplex on Cybertron, as well as the grand Iacon amphitheatre.
Deciding that the building would be as good a target as any, he armed his pistols and took off, running toward the building.
As he ran closer and closer to it, a loud "WoosH" entered his audials. He turned his head right as the rocket crashed into his chest.
Scoop fell onto the street, smoke trailing from the left vent on his chest. He glanced up to see the Detroit S.W.A.T team set up next to city hall.
Much to his anger, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Jazz were standing amongst the team.
"Did you really think after all of your attacks that someone wouldn't recognize your alt mode?" asked Ratchet.
"You were spotted almost immediately Scoop, surrender now and-" Optimus stepped forward, but then jumped back and spun to the right. Scoop had fired off a shot right at his head.
"I will not surrender or bow to you, you or these creatures!" Scoop declared.
"Be honest, did you really think asking him that would work?" Jazz asked Optimus.
"No but I thought I should try it anyway." Optimus stated.
Scoop was about to shoot again when another rocket struck him in the arm. This time it didn't hurt him but the jolt to his arm made him drop his pistol.
As he tried to stoop down and recover it, Ratchet used his magnets to snatch it away. As his pistol went sailing, Jazz rushed forward and strike Scoop with a kick.
Scoop then felt himself flying through the air. He hadn't expected this kind of retaliation, they were fighting harder.
He hit the ground and rolled, coming to a stop shortly afterwards. One thing was beginning to become clear.
The Autobots were angry. Another rocket struck him in the back, causing him to cry out. He seemed to be also incurring the wrath of the humans as well.
He got back to his peds before he opened fire in the general direction of the rockets. The SWAT team scattering
Ratchet picked up and threw another object at him, reacting quickly Scoop managed to grab it. He swung his arm in an arch and threw it toward the humans. With no time to lose, Optimus stepped forward and sliced the projectile in half.
Scoop was about to fire again when Ratchet grabbed the other pistol from his hand. Scoop watched helplessly as it went into the medic's grasp.
"You won't be needing this in the big house!" Ratchet said, crushing the weapon.
"How dare you, those are scared artifacts given to me by Wing himself!" Scoop snapped.
"Yeah and he probably got em at a corner store." jazz said, flying in and delivering another kick. Scoop felt the collision in his air intakes. With a wheeze he felt the air being forcibly pushed out.
He flew back and crashed into the side of a SWAT van. Scoop embedded himself into it's side before he crumpled forward.
Scoop could barely believe this. After all this...the Autobots had partially delivered the next phase of his plan to him.
That is..if he could get up.
The blow had scrambled his circuits and processor, which he was now trying to bring back under control. Deep down Scoop knew that the plan might backfire, but the rest of his mind was screaming at him.
He had to get up, this had to work, failure wasn't an option now. He was in far too deep to change anything. He glanced upwards, seeing Ratchet and Jazz drawing closer filled his spark with rage.
There could be no turning back now.
Right as they got near him, Jazz held up his hand to stop Ratchet. Scoop was visibly shaking and was giving them a death glare.
"Hold it, something's not right."
"Whaddya mean, we got him!"
"Exactly, we've got him but after all the crazy stunts e's pulled to escape us." Jazz glanced at Scoops prove form. "He's barly moving, something feels off.
Ratchet glanced at Scoop, and then back at Jazz. Another time and place he might say what Jazz was saying was scrap. But he knew better, all too better that cons pulled that trick all the time.
"Good call kid." Ratchet said.
Without warning, Scoop tore from the side of the van with a vicious cry and then attacked both Autobots. He grabbed their necks, and proceeded to chokeslam them into the pavement.
"Everybody step back!" Optimus Called out. The humans began to step back and he moved toward them.
Scoop glared at the prime, pushing his weight against Jazz and Ratchet's necks.
"Take another step and I will offline them!"
Optimus stared at Scoop for a moment, glancing at both Jazz and Ratchet. Ratchet looked back before his face became firm.
He had a plan.
Optimus looked up at Scoop and his expression became solemn. He pulled out his axe, but then bent down and sent it on the ground.
"Alright Scoop, let's talk." He said. "We don't have to go this route, let's just calm down."
"I am far beyond talking, after everything that you did to me, talking is the last thing on my processor!" Scoop smirked as he saw anger flash across the Primes face.
"Everything-you tried to kill Bumblebee and Sari!" Optimus said. "Not only that but you've put countless more lives in danger."
"Frankly your love for organic beings and false pretenses over your fellow Cybertronians disturbs me." Scoop said drly.
"I've fought your teammates and almost won and yet you didn't mention them. You love these organics more than your fellow CYbertronians, and one day it shall be your ruin!"
"We're Autobots, protecting life is-
No you are Autobots, the heralds of a false government, I am part of the greater cause!"
As Scoop started to go into a ramble, Ratchet and Jazz glanced at each other. Now was the time. Scoop had relaxed his hands hold on their necks, they need to get him off now.
"When the time comes, the old shall perish and a new leader shall rise up and use the Allspark to take control-AH!"
Scoop's words went unfinished as Jazz and Ratchet shoved him off themselves. He managed to keep himself balanced but not for long.
"I don't know about your "new leader" rising," Ratchet said. "But you're going for a fall!"
With that, he barreled forward and slammed into Scoop. Scoop stumbled and Ratchet finished it with another blow to his chest.
Scoop fell back, a crack forming in his armor. It was now his time tun unveil his plan. As he hit the ground his armor color suddenly flickered. The Autobots and humans watched in shock as orange became green, and yellow became purple.
Scoop snapped his head up, his optics shifting to a deep red hue.
"By the Allspark..you were a Decepticon all along?" Ratchet snapped.
"Woah wait, so he pulled a Wasp..and a Longarm on us?" Jazz asked in shock.
"I do not know what you are referring too, but I am no Decepticon." Scoop said as he struggled to stand. A low cough shook his frame and he spat out some energon.
"After you damaged me, Hightower went and found the first bots that could repair us."
Optimus looked over the colors and a memory flashed into his head. A pair of unruly newborns that Megatron had tricked into working for him with the promise of oil. Along with them, a forklift who had trouble with authority.
"Hightower went to the Constructicons didn't he?" He asked.
"They were the only ones who would take me in, you left us to die!" Scoop shouted.
"Last I remember, you flew the coop when things got rough."
Scoop vented his engine before he managed to get to a standing position. He suddenly thrust forward his arm and connected a fist into Optimus's faceplates. A "CRACK" soudned out as it connected, and both Optimus and Scoop were unsure if it was from his face, or the fist. The two of them both agreed that it had hurt though.
The punch made Optimus sprawl onto the ground, energon leaking from where he'd been hit. The shock of the moment faded fast as Jazz sprang into action.
Moving as quickly as possible, he attacked Scoop with his Nunchaku, slamming them into his head repeatedly. Scoop was unable to land a hit on Jazz as he pressed the attack.
"I didn't get a chance to show you all my moves last time." Jazz said tauntingly. "This time I think you deserve a full show!"
"You should use the skills given to you by the Allspark!" The response to that was very blunt as Jazz jumped back before leaping forward and delivering a kick into the side of Scoops head. Scoop's head snapped to the side and he felt his helmet crack from the blow. His body acted on reflex and transformed, landing on all four wheels as he hit the ground.
WIth a rev of his engine, he started to drive away from the scene. Only for Ratchet to use his magnets on his wheels.
"You're not getting away this time!" He snapped
Scoop did his best to roll forward and escape from Ratchet's grip. This attempt would prove futile however as Ratchet kept trying to pull him right back toward him. Ratchet struggled against Scoops pulled, digging his heels in though, he managed to keep a firm grip.
As he was pulling Back, Scoop hit upon an idea. Without warning he threw himself into reverse and raced backwards at full speed.
Ratchet had no time to get out of the way before Scoop hit him. Fortunately it wasn't the full force as just as Scoop barreled down upon him, Jazz leapt in to tackle him out of the way.
He just wasn't fast enough to stop himself and Ratchet from being clipped. The two of them were thrown into the front lawn of City Hall.
Due to the strike, Scoop spun a little before he kept on rolling back. The Autobots were injured and/or stunned, the time for his escape was now.
However, had he been paying closer attention to the humans, he might have spotted Fanzone hopping into his car.
Fanzone glanced up as Scoop drove into an alleyway and he smrked.
"No way that you're slipping into the shadows bub." He said.
He drove onto the street and into the alleyway, keeping his lights turned off. Fortunately for him it wasn't hard to keep up to Scoop. He was damaged and along with leaking oil and energon there was also the rumble of his engine.
Fanzone had to admit, he was a little impressed by Scoops tactics. Every so often he'd twist down another path and at one point he cut his engine and stayed silent. The wait was a long one, ten minutes dragged on into an hour but eventually he started to move once again
Eventually Scoop lead Fanzone to a large warehouse near the lakeside, but he didn't go into the main entrance.
Fanzone practically exploded from his car, a pen and paper in hand, along with a camera. He had a good feeling that this was the place they'd been looking for.
He ran as fast as his feet could carry, huffing and puffing the whole way. Scoop rounded the side of the warehouse and disappeared. Fanzone dashed around and peered as he transformed.
Scoop walked over and rapped his fist onto the door, grimacing as it still hurt from the fight. Before it opened he opened a panel on his chest and fiddled around with it.
As the door slid open, his colors reverted back to their bright orange and yellow. Scoop limped in and the warehouse closed up, despite Fanzones attempt to run in.
He made it to the door just as it closed, and as a result he collided with it. Stepping back and rubbing his head Fanzone gazed at the structure.
"Well, this looks like a challenge."
Whilst glancing around, his eyes fell upon an old ladder that ran from the ground and up to the roof. He ran over and started to climb his way up to the top.
"I dunno what's up there, but at least it gets me "CRACK!: ..somewhere." He pulled his hand back, and part of the ladder came off with it.
Between that and what came next was a very long pause. After that pause came the rattling of metal mixed in with screaming. Fanzone plummeted down and landed on his back, bits of the ladder crashing around him. Luckily he hadn't been injured but he was still in a bad predicament.
"Well isn't this great?" He muttered.
When he got to his feet, he was altered to the sound of the door sliding open again. Jumping to his feet, Fanzone pressed himself against the wall.
Scrapper lumbered out and then looked around before walking in his direction. He froze, not even daring to breathe.
Scrapper peered around the corner but then glanced around. For once luck had graced Fanzone and he wasn't noticed. Scrapper took notice of the broken ladder while Fanzone made a break for the currently open door, just making it inside before Scrapper turned around to head back in. He ducked around a corner as the lanky Constructicon rendered, slamming the door shut.
"Yo scrap!" Mixmaster called out. "You figure out what made that big noise?" called out Mixmaster from deeper within the building.
"Yeah looks like part of the palace collapsed, again." Scrapper shrugged
"Ah this place is always falling apart, we'll worry about it later."As he walked further towards Mixmaster's voice, Fanzone poked his head out once again.
"Alright big guys let's see what you've been up too."
Silently he followed behind Scrapper, making sure to try and keep within his shadow. As they walked he spotted a room full of oil barrels and tanks. Though filled with too small a phrase, stuffed to the brim would be more like it..Giving care to stay out of Scrapper's line of sight, he quickly stepped into the room.
Quickly raising his camera, his finger moved to the shutter and he clicked it...only for nothing to happen.
Fanzone blinked and then looked at the camera. An ERROR message flashed across the screen and so he shut it down and then restarted it. Once he again he tried to snap a photo, and got the same result. ERROR.
Sighing angrily, he set the camera down and ran back toward the hallway, only to find himself being forced to stop as a voice boomed down it.
"You're all a buncha screwloose BOLT BRAINS, if I had a better crew I'd dump ya into the lake!"
Fanzone made a run for the oil barrel. Just managing to get behind them as Dirt Boss stomped past, complaining the whole while. "You hear a noise but just assume that the place is falling apart?"
"Well it is an old building boss." Mixmaster said, trying to defend himself.
"SHut up ya mook, it could be a spy, or worse, a copper"
Fanzone froze when he heard Dirt Boss say that word, and he silently hoped that he hadn't actually been seen. His hope was somewhat fulfilled and dashed in the same instant as Dirt Boss turned to face the oil.
"Check out the stock and don't even think about drinking even a tiny bit!"
Fanzone pressed himself against the barrels before moving deeper into the stacks of oil. IF the pair spotted him, well he didn't know what to think. Mixmaster began to look around before glancing at Dirt Boss.
"Looks like it's all here-OW!" Dirt Boss pulled back his fist and sent it slamming into Mixmasters leg once again.
"You metal brained moron, you've got to do more than just look!" Dirt Boss punched Mixmaster in the knee, sending him downard.
He hit the floor and moved to grab his leg in pain. Dirt Boss slapped his hand and walked up to his chest. Grabbing his neck, he hauled Mixmaster up into a sitting position.
"Listen here and listen good, I want you to check every single one of those barrels and I'm gonna watch you!" Letting go, he allowed Mixmaster to fall to the ground. "If I see any outta place, or you takin samples then I'm gonna really show ya who's da boss!"
Mixmaster gave a simple nod and was allowed to get back to his feet. Doing his best not to let Dirt Boss hear him grumbling he walked over to the stack. Fanzone stiffened as he felt rushes of air from the movement.
He tried to move away and hide but Mixmaster was moving at a faster rate than he could imagine, within three minutes he was on top of Fanzone. He dared not moved as Mixmaster picked up the barrel next to him.
He was so close that he could hear Mixmaster muttering, "A small pile of bolts, dunno why we even let you push us around." He glanced around at the area , spotting nothing wary.
"Anything over there?" Dirt Boss boomed.
"Nothing yet, looks like it's all here!"
"Then get moving to the next pile!"
Fanzone half turned and breathed a sigh of relief as Mixmaster carefully set down the barrel. All he had to do was wait until Mixmaster left and-
*FLASH*
Mixmaster let out a panicked scream, dropping the barrel and shaking the entire stack. Fanzone didn't even have to look down to guess what had happened. His camera had finally decided to work again, with when he didn't need it.
"What the heck are you doing?"
"The fragging oil blinded me!" Mixmaster shouted, stumbling backward. Dirt Boss's expression changed from confusion to panic.
"Be careful or else-!"
His warning went unheard as Mixmaster fell backward and right into the massive stack of oil drums. The entire structure came crashing down on top of the hapless bot. Oil drums rolled everywhere and a couple of them even worse.
One of the ones that was unlucky enough to have burst was the same one the unlucky police captain was hiding behind.
Fanzone could only scream as he slid across the oily floor and right past Dirt Bosses feet. Luckily for him he was too focused on the disaster in front of him to notice. He slid out of the room before slamming into the wall. He let out a pathetic groan as he sat up and rubbed his head. More oil barrels fell down and rolled around and into the hallway.
The sound of more feet running toward him made him get up and take off running for the door. It was open this time but he couldn't see anyone.
He dashed outside and turned toward the side and froze. Seeing one of the biggest robots he'd ever seen.
Had he recognized the bot, he would have known it to be Hightower, who was checking over the ladder that he'd collapsed. He was humming to himself and a smile was on his face as he worked.
If he'd not been struck by pure panic, Fanzone would have noted how happy the big guy was. But he wasn't concerned with that and so he ducked back behind the wall. He hoped that the big guy would go away and he could make a break for his car.
HIghtower wasn't there for very long as Dirt Boss began shouting for someone to come in and help with cleanup. Hightower turned from the task at hand and then walked into the building, leaving Fanzone alone.
He looked around and tried to spot anymore of the Constructicons, fortunately there was a distinct lack of them in sight. Deciding that now was the time for him to move, he took off running in the direction of his car. All the while he kept out a watchful eye for anymore of Dirt Bosses crew.
None of the other Constructicons showed and he threw open his car door before pausing. He glanced at himself and then sighed angrily.
He was covered in oil, dirt, and who knows what else, and then he glanced at his car seat, and then himself once again.
He walked around back and opened the trunk. Within all of the other stuff, there was a pair of old sheets in case he needed to take a nap at the station. Grabbing one and walking back up front, he placed it over his seat and then sat down. Then he grabbed his radio.
"This is Captain Fanzone to all units, are the Autobots still at City Hall?"
"Yes Captain, Optimus Prime is answering questions to the press and mayor." Fanzone started his car, then glanced at the warehouse.
"Alright, tell Prime to stay there...there's been a break in the case."
"Both of them."
Captain Fanzone Police Detective...he should just stick to captain his attempts at detective skills stink.
Cya in the next chapter..which hopefully won't take a month to make!