NSNV Ch.8 (Aka. 7 1/2)
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TWO TIMES TROUBLE
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The Bermuda triangle is not a happy place. If you manage to ignore the unpredictable weather, you would have to worry about the magnetic 'dead space' that caused compasses and interments to malfunction ending in many a aircrafts disappearance, and occasional sneaker reefs renowned for sinking ships. That area of the planet is a very, very unpleasant place to be…if you were human that is.
Fortunately for the inhabitants of one small Bermudian island they did not suffer from such a disgusting malady. Counter to the usual view Starscream was quite pleased with the current location of what he had dubbed headquarters for the time being, and of course as usual very pleased with himself.
The afore mentioned Lord of the deceipticons was currently overseeing the repairs to the shells of their re-acquired fallen comrades in their new base of operations. The place they now called 'home' mainly consisted of a refurbished old airstrip complete with plane bunker, long forgotten by warring governments and now quite well hidden with overgrown foliage.
While Starscream silently stood by and watched the equally stoic Soundwave work, not all the locals were so composed. He had arrived back at the base only moments before the current time, and was pleasantly surprised at the headway in repairs Shockwave had managed in the short space of time he had been out surveying the territory.
Thundercracker and Skywarp were 'hanging' out on the opposite side of the hanger in a second 'room', partly. The 'brothers' were doing their slaging best to keep from having to…well…do anything that resembled work.
Because the two seekers had been of great use during the earlier salvage, and because he was in a pleasant mood at the moment, Starscream was willing to ignore his brothers current slothfulness…for the time being.
However, just because he was willing to let the laziness slide …didn't mean he was going to let his wingmates know that. It was always a good idea to keep those around you in line, especially if you liked them.Because killing those you got along with left an unsatisfying after pulse, unlike the thrill and dominating rush crushing a true enemy brought. Starscream left what was being referred to as the 'lab/medbay' and entered the main part of the hanger.
And as soon as he entered the common area Starscream was greeted by the faint sounds of what those filthy descendants of primates called 'music' originating from the spot where his brothers leaned against the far wall. The culprit was obvious to Starscream; Thundercracker couldn't keep his wings from vibrating slightly with restrained laughter while Skywarp gave the other Mech an amused but slightly puzzled raise of his optics.
"Isn't that what the humans call a 'wedding march?" Skywarp asked wondering why his brother had chosen that particular sound byte while bighting back his own chuckle and glancing at Starscream just in time to watch a smile curve across his approaching brother's face.
Knowing as always that Starscream smiling could be a good or a very, very bad thing…and when it came to his brother the line between the two options was often a wickedly thin one, Skywarp stiffened and considered warning Thundercracker. He didn't have time to though.
Thundercracker opened his mouth to respond to Skywarp's question of his choice, but any reply was cut short before leaving his vocal possessor as Starscream walked up to the pair with that pleasant smile on his features and spoke.
"It's good to be back." He said in a silky, rather pleasant tone…before punching the hapless Mech and sending his brother staggering into the wall with the sound of metal grinding against metal.
"Don't ever do that again." Starscream drawled at Thundercracker optics narrowing slightly, but an amused smile still on his features while he watched Thundercracker shake his head to clear the fuzzing static out of his visual array and recover his stance.
To an outsider it would have seemed harsh, but by Decepticon standers, Thundercracker had gotten off easy that time with what barely constituted a reprimand, let alone true punishment. Starscream may tolerate more from his seeker brothers than he would allow from others, but there was a definite line not to cross...even for them.
Showing that kind of disrespect infront of others now that he was Lord of the Decepticons was one of those No-No's, and that blow was mearly a gentle brotherly reminder that next time things would be conciderably less pleasent for Thundercraker...or Skywarp for that matter.
Skywarp's slightly metallic snickering filled the following moment of silence as Blitzwing and Scorpinoc glanced over in reaction to the sudden apparent 'discipline' going on in the far corner, but they wisely said nothing and went back to their own tasks.
Although Skywarp knew it was probably not the brightest idea, the purple and silver Mech had never been one for taking the smartest course of action. So that would explain his choice of taking that very second to start humming the melody to the song 'Be it ever so Humble, there's No place like home' .
Starscream chuckled in reaction to the humming, red eyes brightening maliciously as he turned to give his second 'brother' the same brand of 'welcome' that Thundercracker had received. As Skywarp was taunting Thundercraker and not directly insulting Starscream, he didn't feel the need to do anything harsher than the same level of 'gentle admonishment'.
But instead of the blow landing on Skywarp the purple tinted seeker's formed blurred out of existence only to reappear on the opposite side of Thundercracker farther away from Starscream's easy reach. Thundercracker had been expecting something like that however, and Skywarp found himself acquainted forcibly with Thundercraker's fist instead.
"Scrap no! If I'M going to get hit, your sure as Slag gonna get yours!" the blue tinted seeker snapped in triumph as Skywarp went flying to the side then stood with a petulant look and smirk as he reagusted his neck servos, one that promised a prank in the future as retribution for Thundercraker's action.
The disturbing sound of Starscream's chuckle filled the base for a moment, obviously he had enjoyed watching the actions of the other two seekers. Starsceam had missed his 'brothers, not that he would ever admit it openly. He felt...uneasy...without the two of them at his sides.
Whatever other action Starscream may have taken to discipline his 'brothers' for the current line of questionable humor, it would remain unknown because the moment was broken up quite suddenly by Barricade barreling into the headquarters careening to a stop mere feet from hitting Starscream.
"Starscream…" the black and white Mech started to say, only to be forcibly cut off by a now un-smiling and borderline snarling Starscream.
"It's Lord Starscream Barricade, it would serve you well to remember that."
The irritated leader reminded barricade with the air of bairly restrained malevolence.
"Of course,… Lord Starscream." Barricade managed stiffly in response, the air almost cracking with tension before something broke Barricade's current optic lock with the angered seeker.
Soundwave had entered the room, and upon seeing the mangled remains of Frenzy resting on top a canvas covered crate the Communications Expert had carefully scooped up the pile of twisted metal and circuitry with one hand, the fingers of the other hand splitting multiple times displaying an array of fine instruments that were immediately applied to the small Mech's destroyed form.
Barricade involuntarily stiffened, fighting down a surge of anger and possessiveness. Although Frenzy had been his counterpart for the last little while, the minicon had not always been his partner, but rather Soundwave's first and foremost.
So the purple Mech had every right to do whatever he wished to Frenzy's remains. Although Barricade was at a loss as to just what Soundwave was doing to the horrific mess that was once the miniature hacker.
That question was answered for Barricade in a mere matter of clicks when Barricade was stunned to watch something he would have sworn was imposable…Frenzy twitching, then springing to life in Soundwave's hand furiously chattering on in Cybertronian and saying several things that would have stripped the finish from the metal walls if they could have.
Although Soundwave was infamous for his apparent lack of emotion and aggravating monotone, Barricade would have sworn for a nanoclick he saw the Mech show something akin to a smile before the usual cold mask slid back into place.
Starscream for his part was quite annoyed at the while affair. It was a bad idea to barrel into the base, interrupt your leader, and then promptly get distracted by something else once you have his attention.
"Do you have something to say to me Barricade? Or did you merely feel the need to announce your return to the base in the most annoying way possible? If that is the case it would be terribly rude of me as a Leader not to welcome you back in a manner befitting now wouldn't it? "
Barricade instantly refocused on Starscream. He may not have liked, or respected the other Mech but he was well aware of the damage Starscream was capable of dishing out once angered. "No Lord Starscream, I have important information to relay." He assured in a crisp but carefully controlled tone.
"Well go on than." Starscream said coldly folding his arms and fixing Barricade with smoldering red optics "Report." He ordered pronouncing the last word so the t sound was especially crisp letting it be know he was still quite irritated and this had better be good. Otherwise Soundwave would have another subject that was in need of repair very shortly.
The next several minutes passed with a sort of suspended belief as Barricade gave his report. All of it, from his attack on the yellow autobot and fight with Prowl to the apparent miraculous revival of the fallen Autobot at the hands of Ladiesman 127.
Starscream was having more than a little trouble believing what the smaller Decepticon was telling him, leading him to the question of if his underling's cerebral cortex had sustained damage recently.
Starscream broke the silence that followed Barricade's report with a bark of laughter that shook his frame "I think perhaps Barricade, that you must not have inflicted quite as much damage on the little Autobot as you thought." He sneered.
Barricade's optics darkened in anger, and something less readable but just as cold. He was more than a little angry at the assumption that he had assessed the damage to the autbot wrongly. Barricade had not obtained the title of 'The Scout Killer' by 'missassesing' how much damage his targets took during battle.
"I highly doubt that…considering I almost ripped out his Spark Core!" the insulted Mech hissed holding out the handful of wires, servos and other inner workings that had come from the sensitive inner workings of Bumblebee. Components that were integral to sustaining transformer life-force.
The laughter stopped. There was silence for a long moment as everyone in the room looked intently from what Barricade was presenting for inspection, and their leaders expression and body language. Starscream shifted his weight after his intense gaze finally shifted from Barricade's fist, to the room in general.
A sadistic smirk the devil himself would have been proud to call his own slid across Starscream's features as he shifted his weight back on his heals and with an ominous drawl announced with an almost purring quality to his tone "Maybe…this human killer of Megatron can still be of great use to me…"
And now for a Christmas present to all my reviewers! A bonus mini-chapter!
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On the interstate a little ways out from Tranqulity–
A familiar seimi rolls along, behind the wheel a rather relaxed middle-aged trucker with piercing, blue eyes is sits. His lightly tanned features show a certain calm confidence and wisdom that comes with age and hard lessons learned. Optimus found a certain sort of enjoyment in these moments when he was out on the road with earth's varied countryside views unfolding in front of him.
He had spent several cycles working on his holoform, changing and adding to the image of his Avatar. The Autobot leader was not satisfied with the holoform until he could use the 'trucker' persona with confidence that nothing would seem out of place and give the little native organics cause for alarm or unease when passing him on the road.
At the moment Optimus was having a rather pleasant conversation with Prowl, communicating back and forth over the tight com signal used for Autobots exclusively. It utilized the almost spiritual energy link that bound the tight-knit fighting force together.
"It is good to have you back Prowl. I'm on my way to the meeting as we speak; I should arrive in a mater of clicks."
A half laugh, half growl came back to Optimus over the comm. "I feel I have been denied, imperative, need to know information Optimus." Prowl informed his leader in a dryly sarcastic tone, still unsettled by the enormity of what he had seen with Bumblebee and his human charge. He was eager to receive a full debriefing.
Optimus agreed with a good natured chuckle, and was ready to add a playful comment to the mix when his rear sensors flashed an alarm and Prime immediately became all business as an object traveling at high speeds towards him was registered.
He calculated that said object was a vehicle due to the apparent shape and mass, however, Optimus also picked up something else. Something that filled him with a swell of joy and a pang of irritation at the same moment.
The flame-red 2008 Lamborghini that nearly sideswiped Optimus was going around one hundred and fifty miles an hour, and quite recklessly zigzagging about the interstate with an alarmingly smooth sense of ease for a human vehicle at such high speeds.
Prowl was alarmed by the sudden silence on Optimus's end and spoke up asking if Prime was alright, and if he required backup of any kind.
The holoform narrowed its blue eyes slightly in thought "Negative Prowl, I am unharmed and do not need assistance. If I am not mistaken…I believe I was nearly sideswiped a nano-click ago…..by Sideswipe.."
The conversation was cut off once more as Optimus had to make a minor correction as a as Optimus scanned the car in front of him more thoroughly wanting to confirm his growing suspicion.
A Sun-gold hued Lamborghini with black highlighting buzzed past Optimus, and then gunned it putting on another burst of speed to pass it's flame hued brother model ahead on the road. And then Optimus KNEW what it was he was dealing with.
The cars in front started a 'game' of tag, both cars apparently fighting for front position darting back and forth across the road tailgating one another, and becoming smaller as they put distance between themselves and the flame-painted semi.
"Really….We landed in separate locations around the same time. I lost track of them in the city. It is good to know those two are not causing chaos somewhere notable." Prowl commented sounding relived and annoyed at the same time, the same as Prime felt.
"Understood." Optimus sent back "Continue to the meeting, WE will meet you there." With that Optimus signed off the link and detached the trailer he was currently hauling.
Then with a wicked glint in the Holoform's eyes the semi accelerated using his nitro, quickly gaining ground on the unsuspecting sport cars still playing all over the road. The twins were side by side, each trying to get in front of the other by accelerating as little as possible to achieve that one foot distance.
A loud honk directly behind them was the only warning before the Semi they had passed threatened to go BETWEEN them if they liked it or not.This caused to spin out, braking out and off then skidding to a stop to either side of the road, transforming as they did so.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YOU SLAGGING IDIOT?! YOU COULD HAVE SCRATCHED MY PAINTJOB YOU STUPID HU…." Sunstreaker bellowed..trailing off as the Semi started to transform.
"PRIMUS!" Sideswipe yelped.
"Optimus…" Sunstreaker murmered his optics widening.
"Prime." Sideswipe finished.
"Slag it all!" Sunstreaker his shooting his brother a glance.
"Run for it!" Sideswipe suggested helpfully and they started to transform planning to turn tail and lay low until things blew over.
They didn't make it very far.
"FRONT AND CENTER!" Optimus barked using the full force of his commanding voice.
There was the barest of pauses before the Twins…. slunk….up to Optimus saluting and twitching slightly.
"Transform. Activate your Holoforms and follow me….appropriately. We have a meeting" Optimus let his stern gaze rest on the pair a few moments longer before walking back to his flatbed and transforming than hooking up and settling to controlled dive once again.
It was only silent for a few minutes before the irritating sounds of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe reached his audios apparently arguing over just who's fault it was they got caught.
"If you hadden't nearly ran him off the…"
"Well, YOU'RE the one who picked THIS stretch of ground to race…."
"Well I'm not the one who failed to Reco…"
"Well WE would have gotten away if…."
"MANDATORY SILENCE!" Optimus ordered over the comm. Silencing the bickering twins while barely smothering the urge to heave a long suffering sigh. This was going to be a long meeting.
'….got us caught again…'
'….did not…you…'
Optimus felt his Holoform twitch in response to his growing annoyance as the faint sounds of a whispered argument trickled over the comm.
The twins decided it was in their best interest to shut up for the rest of the way however when a very LOUD horn was honked directly behind them, nearly up their afts.
When Prime tells you to shut up in that kind of way, you shut the frag up while you still have the ability to speak! The brothers shot each other a silent look. It was going to be one heck of a meeting….
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