Temerity
Part 24-Undisciplined
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
"Sometimes solutions aren't so simple,
Sometimes good bye's the only way."
--Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park
Temerity-Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness.
Hot Rod lay awake in his berth, not believing his own stupidity. He'd gone and done it--said it. And he meant it, even though he'd never admit it to anyone. He'd see it through to the end, no matter how it came down. And that Optimus was even willing to try made him question his sanity and reality in general. But at the same time, there was so much that made him want to run. . .except he wouldn't. Not anymore.
-----
Hot Rod transformed, his momentum carrying him forward. He turned as he skidded to a stop, onlining his weapons, taking a shot at Thundercracker as he dove straight at him.
:Slow, hot shot. You're going to have to do better than that to knock me out of the sky this time: Thundercracker said.
Hot Rod didn't answer, instead tried what he had before on the flyer, except instead of accessing his weapons systems, he accessed Thundercracker's own neural network.
:Not gonna work: Thundercracker said.
Suddenly, his altitude dipped and he yelped in surprise as Hot Rod forced him out of his vehicular mode. Thundercracker fought back, trying to transform, dropping more altitude. Then, as quickly as it happened, he had control over his own body again, transformed, gaining altitude.
Thundercracker made a sweep back, finding the reason why he was able to transform. Hot Rod was scuffling with Skywarp, who had appeared directly behind him, distracting him.
:OK you three, that's enough:
Skywarp paused, mid-punch, and Hot Rod let go of his throat as the former Decepticon helped him up.
They saw Kup driving up. :You're supposed to be chasing Hot Rod, not brawling:
:Stow it antique: Skywarp said.
:Hot Rod, you might wanna step out of the way:
At the same time he said it, Kup gunned his engine, Hot Rod's optics widened as he understood the ancient Autobot's intent, diving out of the way.
Unfortunately for Skywarp, he didn't. Kup drove straight at him, and Hot Rod winced as he heard the deafening crunch of metal on metal. Kup transformed, put a foot in Skywarp's throat, unspaced his sidearm, pointing it at the flyer's head.
"Never underestimate a groundpounder," Kup said. "Get up. Can you fly?"
Skywarp nodded.
"Get your aft back to base and let Ratchet take a look at you," Kup said.
They watched Skywarp disappear, and Kup turned his attention back to Hot Rod.
"He's denser than Sideswipe, and I didn't think that was possible," Kup said. "Call Thundercracker back. I've had enough of those two today. They get in any shots on you?"
"A few scratches," Hot Rod said. "Nothing that can't wait."
"Good. Head back to base," Kup said.
-----
Prime reluctantly steeled himself for what would be his third disciplinary meeting of the day. The first was Sideswipe, who, after being released from the med bay that morning, was guided by Prowl to his office for the incident the day before. Prowl was more angry about being forced to damage his own office than anything else, and annoyed Sideswipe didn't go straight to Prime's office after leaving the med bay. Unfortunately, due to another incident during that lecture, Prime wasn't able to come up with a suitable punishment for Sideswipe at that point.
The second meeting included both Prowl and Jazz. Funny, that one had been. Well, downright hilarious actually. Jazz, in a moment stupidity, as Prowl called it, grabbed Prowl's aft while passing through ops. Prowl's yelp of surprise was heard all over ops and even Prime stepped out of his own office to see what was going on. He'd been surprised to see Prowl yelling at Jazz, though, and hauled both his second and third in command for a lecture on protocol and decorum that he really felt was unnecessary, considering the source, but it seemed to placate Prowl, who was now contemplating asking about outlawing public displays of attention in ops.
And now, a third disciplinary meeting at any moment, something about a training exercise devolving into a brawl involving Hot Rod, Skywarp and Thundercracker. At least that was what Prowl said, but he was annoyed when he stepped into his leader's office to let him know.
Prime looked up, hearing shuffling feet and a muffled 'get in there or I will shove you in there in pieces' from Prowl and there was Kup standing in his door, Prowl's hand locked firmly on his shoulder, guiding the ancient Autobot into Prime's office.
"Kup?" Prime said, optic ridge raised in surprise. "What. . ."
"He's your disciplinary meeting," Prowl said. "Frankly, Kup, if I were you I'd be ashamed of myself. At your age. . ."
"My age? Sparkling, you'll be lucky if you live past the end of the day if you keep talking to me like that," Kup said. "Get your hands off me."
Kup shrugged away from Prowl, who backed off.
"Kup, just what did you do?" Prime asked.
"Broke the rules, according to Prowl there," Kup said.
Prime sat back, arms crossed, interested.
"You know I shot Sideswipe yesterday to bring him in," Kup said. "Not supposed to shoot a fellow Autobot, Prowl says. I should know better. And then, today, guess you haven't heard? Nothing from Ratchet in the past hour or two?"
Prime shook his head.
"OK then. . ." Kup trailed off. "We could save ourselves the trouble. I know what I did was wrong, won't do it again and I'm sorry?"
"Kup. . ."
"All right. Skywarp was brawling with Hot Rod instead of doing what I said. He called me an antique, and I. . .well, lost my temper and kind of. . .ran over him," Kup said.
"You. Ran over Skywarp?" Prime said.
"Yes."
"Now I know where Hot Rod gets his tactical knowledge. . ." Prime muttered.
"I heard that," Kup said.
Prime grinned, which Kup noticed, and it was not a good sign.
"So, old friend, what do you suggest we do about your lack of discipline?" Prime said.
"Forget about it and let me go back to my office?" Kup asked.
"Hardly," Prime said. "I think a fitting punishment will be patrol duty with Sideswipe for the next two weeks."
"What?"
"It'll give you the chance to instill some discipline," Prime said.
"I've been trying that for ages and it hasn't worked so far," Kup said. "You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?'Prime smiled.
"Smug bastard," Kup said. "Are we done?"
"Yes."
-----
Hot Rod sat in the rec room at table with Jazz, enjoying a little downtime, and Jazz's account of the aft-grabbing, which still had Prowl riled. And not to mention Bluestreak was still avoiding both Jazz and Prowl. The conversation lapsed for a second when Hot Rod saw Prime enter.
:Want to go for a drive?: Prime asked.
Hot Rod nearly choked on his energon, but then remembered his decision.
"You OK?" Jazz asked, seeing Prime. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Hot Rod said. "Gotta go."
Jazz cocked an optic ridge, then shrugged, watching Hot Rod follow Optimus outside.
--
The lake this time, because Optimus asked Hot Rod where he'd like to go, so he chose the spot Mikaela showed him. Now, the two sat side by side, watching the moon come up over the water.
"This planet is amazing, is it not?" Optimus asked.
"From what I've seen of it, yes," Hot Rod said.
"The diversity is. . ."
"I know," Hot Rod said. Prime was obviously flustered, so he decided to try and change the conversation.
"I heard you had to hand out some discipline today?" Hot Rod asked.
Optimus vented air, sighing.
"You have no idea," he said. "First Sideswipe for yesterday, then Prowl and Jazz and Kup. For a while there, I thought I was going to have to deal with you too until Kup clarified it for me. Prowl wasn't very specific, but then again, he was distracted all day."
"Guess getting one's aft grabbed will do that," Hot Rod said.
"I didn't think Prowl had that kind of vocal range," Optimus said, prompting a laugh from Hot Rod.
"So what is Prowl gonna do about it now?" Hot Rod asked.
"I think he's still clueless," Optimus said.
"Of course," Hot Rod said.
"And Prowl also lectured Kup before he handed him off to me, so it'll be a while before he cools down," Optimus said. "Maybe I need to mention to Ratchet how tense Prowl's been lately. . ."
Hot Rod grinned. "You're evil."
"I'm only looking out for the health and well-being of my second in command," Optimus said, trying to sound innocent.
"He'll be anything but healthy when Ratchet gets done with him," Hot Rod said.
Another sigh.
"True," Optimus said, leaning against Hot Rod until they were shoulder to shoulder, touching.
"Maybe Ratchet doesn't have enough to do," Hot Rod said. "You could always make him a tactical unit commander and give him Barricade, Thundercracker and Skywarp."
Prime stared at Hot Rod a second, then his shoulders started to heave, then he started to laugh, a full-blown laugh the likes Hot Rod had not heard from Optimus in a very, very, very long time. Hot Rod joined in, and Optimus put his arm around the younger mech's shoulders.
"I might have to give that some serious thought," Prime said. "Come. Let's return to base."