Maelstrom Chapter 37
Pilgrimage 1 Part A
Author's note: This story is part of a LONG series called Maelstrom. It is strictly Gen. 1 - sorry, but that was all that was out when I started writing back in the late 1980's. It began as a fan-publication so the first chapters are in the form of a comic book! If you have not read the nine original Maelstrom Comics and the preceding text stories, I strongly suggest you do. This is a complex universe. They can be found at http// illmatar. deviantart. com (I have put double spaces between the URL here or FF . Net eats the link.) The comics and art which accompanies this series are there.
Most chapters of this series contain strong language and violence. Rated M for adult themes! Really! Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Critiques adored! This scene contains strong language, violence, and sex. Rated M for adult themes!
Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Story and OC characters are mine. Critiques adored!
Maelstrom Chapter 37
Pilgrimage 1
Part C
Continued from Part B
Maelstrom:
Malice was feeling grateful her powers were nearly back to full strength as Lancer's surged out of control and sent lightning against the bubble Malice was containing her with. Talon remarked the effect looked like one of those dumb lightning machines they sold at the mall.
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Earth:
First Aid finished his second checkup on Arcee for the day and pronounced her fine. She hugged him in gratitude and solace.
Hotspot convened his ailing team and did his best to explain why their absent brother had to remain a stranger with mixed results. Streetwise seized on the knowledge that First Aid didn't WANT to be gone but had to, and that was enough for him. He was the most persistent pressing for more information, but also was the most content when Hotspot couldn't give him any. Streetwise even felt a bit proud of First Aid for being tapped for such a high level post.
Groove was another matter. Although he expressed relief First Aid wasn't angry with them, he grew even more depressed that their team was unlikely to be whole again soon - if ever.
Blades just transferred his anger to the command staff.
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Char:
Cyclonus and Galvatron walked back to the command center. They passed a few of the Stunticons as they did.
"I still don't see the point of it," Dead End was saying.
"Yeah! Who needs the competition?" Wildrider cracked.
"Don't you see? It would be useful for gaining loyal personnel... someone loyal to you as their life-source rather than ...." Breakdown's voice trailed off as the two ranking 'Cons walked past. His wide optics betrayed carefully controlled panic.
Neither officer acknowledged him, but neither forgot what they had almost heard either.
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Cybertron:
"What in the hell were you thinking?!" Rodimus Prime roared at his partner who just brushed past him and went to his office to sit at his desk.
"That your reputation has been mangled past all recognition! Kup brought it to my attention and Rodi, it is BAD. We wanted to deflect attention from your activities not destroy any credibility you ever had!" Optimus snapped as he threw himself into his chair.
Rodimus drew back a bit and looked to Kup for confirmation. The security chief nodded and brought up a series of video clips from some of the less reputable networks. The veteran knew Rodimus was likely to be doubtful, so he picked some good ones, starting with a fine bit of reporting on secret orgies between Rodi, Arcee, and Elita. Rodimus folded his arms across his chest and watched without a word, but his optics got greener as the clips progressed.
"You're saying the Paradronians are buying this?" he finally growled.
"Even some of the enlisted Autobots who've served with you are buying it Rodimus. It's so widespread...." Kup said apologetically.
Rodimus looked at Kup sharply. "Wow...that's special...Didn't take much did it?"
"Don't take it personally," Optimus started.
"You want to let me know how not to? I don't care one way or the other what the Paradronians think of me! They don't know me, but you would at least think the Autobots I've worked with would give me the benefit of the doubt! I've spent the last seven years up to my spoiler in blood and shit and they think I've been getting cozy with every femme in the quadrant! Including Elita and Arcee!" Rodimus snarled. He glanced at Elita. She wore an expression like a mushroom cloud. His headache got worse again.
"Rodimus you never protested any of it! They are assuming your silence means agreement! Besides, we think Vector Sigma might have been encouraging the rumors. We already know it worked against your acceptance as leader...this might just be another way to undermine you! I had to do something!" Optimus insisted.
"Fine. I agree, but you DIDN'T have to tell them about Lancer," Rodimus griped. "You're just lucky she's on the Maelstrom...she's having a fit!"
"I didn't tell them about HER per se, I just said you had a serious relationship. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I didn't have lots of time to contemplate my responses!" Optimus defended.
Rodimus glared at his partner and then at the monitors around them - where the networks were showing Optimus tearing into human diplomats about their breeding practices.
"Your mouth has run away with you!" Rodimus stated.
"They were trying to tell US how many young we could have. You would have done the same thing!" Optimus challenged.
"Which is precisely why YOU are in charge of the diplomacy! I've never seen you act like this! What were you thinking?! Really Op, have you lost it or what?"
"Lost it? Did I ever HAVE it? I'm not sorry for ANYTHING I said Rodi! If the humans don't like us pointing out their disgusting complacency towards each others' suffering then maybe they should DO something about it! Our trading partners have been using us for years and I'm done with that too. As for you and your mate, I'm sorry but you are my partner and I will not be ignoring any more slander! You can promote your frivolous off-duty image if you need to, but for them to imply that you are violating Springer's friendship by trysting with Arcee, or that you would ever consider siring young without supporting them is too much! They are insulting Arcee and Elita in the process! You are a Prime! That has to stand for something! As for what I was thinking who knows? I've had Vector Sigma in my head so often I'm not sure if anything is mine to think with!"
Rodimus frowned at his partner. Everything Optimus said was merely truth, but the last admission was the most telling. He felt sick suddenly, realizing they had left Optimus to fend for himself when his mind was surely in turmoil.
"OK. Fine. It's out now anyway and I'll just have to deal with it, but are you all right?" Rodimus asked.
"NO! I'm not! I've got holes in my mind, an assassin for a partner, and another for a mate! Both of you give me the surges every time you sneak up on me...and now MAGNUS is starting to walk quietly too! It's unnatural! KC's dead. I've got Jazz throwing things around my office, Perceptor's in a complete funk, and Springer says we need to go to Earth to deal with the Protectobots because they can't handle losing First Aid! I'm getting propositions from Paradronian femmes who want a Prime's offspring. I've got news people trying to break into my trailer to interview Roller. Swoop is going to get us sued if he drops one more worker at Metroplex into the moat and Grimlock has decided tossing humans with microphones around with his teeth is a new sport!"
"Err..." Rodimus got out, trying to decide which of those complaints to address first, but that was as far as he got.
Optimus Prime, stoic, composed Autobot Commander, lost any trace of composure or stoicism.
He stood up, pounded on his desk, and launched into a non-stop string of grievances and complaints dating back nine million years. He went on for the better part of an hour without pause or interruption about everything from Gear's complaining, to Huffer's whining, to Sunstreaker's vanity.
"And where did Ironhide get a Texas accent? He had it on Cybertron before we ever came to Earth!" Optimus roared, gesturing wildly with both hands over his head. "I about overloaded when I found a whole segment of Earth's population that talked like that! Then there's Slag! I feel guilty every time I have to call him by name! What WERE Ratchet and Wheeljack thinking naming that poor Dinobot a cuss-word? No wonder he's always cranky!"
Optimus went on to tell Rodimus a few things about his paint job, and Magnus a few things about his never-ending inspections and reports. On and on he ranted and the four of them stood there, afraid to move, as Optimus got millions of years of repressed afflictions off his chest.
Finally Rodimus dared move enough to catch Elita's optics and was a bit surprised at what he saw there...laughter. He could see from her optics that her neutral expression was forced and cracking. He couldn't help himself and when she noticed him looking at her, he flashed a quick grin and then put a serious "leader face" back on.
Elita bit her lip. Not a single thing Optimus was saying surprised her and she felt the rant was long overdue. Plus, she couldn't help it. She thought in his fury and indignation, that her mate was damned cute.
Magnus refused to look at Rodimus which told the young Prime that Magnus was close to cracking too. Only Kup looked genuinely worried.
When Optimus finally stopped to think for a second, Rodimus asked impertinently, "Better now?"
Optimus snagged his rifle off his desk, caught himself, and simply threw it at his partner.
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Char:
Cyclonus paced the command center, lost in thought.
All around him discipline was unraveling. Rumble and Frenzy were brawling with each other almost at his feet. Usually this would have resulted in a sharp word, or at least a sharp kick to separate them. He didn't care what they did off-duty but the command center was supposed to be all business.
Today Cyclonus didn't seem to see or hear them. (They would both end up regretting that. They always counted on someone breaking them up so that neither would have to concede defeat, but Soundwave was recharging and Galvatron liked to watch them fight. This fight lasted much longer than most and both ended up in repair bay.)
Galvatron was being unusually quiet. He watched his second pace back and forth - not unlike Adder did when Viper was pacing.
Cyclonus barely noticed that either, although one part of his mind was always watchful and wary of a change in his leader's mood.
Nothing was adding up.
Nothing at all.
Why would the Autobots have risked their lives to take something from Viper? What could she possibly have had? If it was so important why hadn't they come for it right after she defected? Had they simply not noticed until now? What had they done to disrupt the femme's mind?
Rodimus' attack on her seemed so brutal...so...personal. So very unlike a Prime.
News from Cybertron was getting weirder too.
First there were "news" reports that Rodimus was being spotted all over Cybertron starting fights and enticing femmes. Cyclonus immediately decided that these rumors were being used as cover - since he knew full well the only femme Rodimus had his hands on that day was Viper.
If these rumors were hiding Rodi's actions this week, were all the other reports cover as well? If so, where had Rodimus been? What had he been doing?
Just as Cyclonus was making up his mind that all of the rumors were a carefully crafted ruse, Optimus Prime got on camera and blew the cover, denouncing the rumors and threatening to bring charges against anyone making a false report. He even went so far as to claim Rodimus had a near-mate already.
If so, the reporters were asking, who was she and why wasn't she coming forward?
Cyclonus wondered too. He would have assumed any femme who landed a Prime would want to show off her achievement. Surely it would gain her favors and influence and might dissuade other femmes with notions of snaring Cybertron's heir apparent.
Then, for no reason he could name, Cyclonus wondered about the strange report Soundwave had given them...of an invisible robot he had found just before Rodimus snuck up on him. Rodimus....snuck up on Soundwave. Cyclonus had such a hard time computing that fact that he'd almost forgotten what Soundwave was telling them. That there had been a fourth intruder - invisible, feminine, and sporting a human heart-beat.
Could Rodimus' secret girlfriend be organic?
That was just too disgusting.
What had brought Galvatron down though? What had Soundwave found? If she was human it might explain the secrecy, but if she was human.... Cyclonus shook his head and felt foolish. Obviously he was glitching to pursue that line of thought. Optimus Prime was acting downright erratic, the Paradronians were restless, the Autobots were scrambling, the humans were grumbling, and here he was speculating on Rodimus Prime's love life?
Cyclonus shook his head again and straightened. What he needed was information, and he wasn't going to get it on Char.
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Cybertron:
"Yes, of course he was telling the truth," Rodimus said impatiently to the cameras following him. He made them run to keep up with him, since he obviously wasn't going to stop. "Who do you think he is? Swindle?"
Blitzwing, who was trying to clear a path for him, turned and grinned appreciatively at that one, although for the first time since joining the Autobots, he was seriously thinking of stepping on a few humans. Accidentally, of course.
"But then why are there so many reports from people claiming to have...er...spent the night with you?" Even the Paradronian reporters were having trouble keeping up as he made sadistic use of his long stride. The humans were positively gasping trying to match his brisk walk with all of their equipment.
"I dunno. Maybe you should ask them," Rodimus said, with a hint of a sneer. "It's amazing how much fun I've been having when I'm not around. I sure wish I could remember...oh wait! I wasn't there."
"All these years and you've never said a word on the subject and now we're supposed to believe you've had no hand in it?" This from the candy-colored femme Optimus had confronted earlier.
Rodimus stopped and did a good job looking angry. "What I say and what people will believe have no relationship with each other. We could present irrefutable proof I wasn't anywhere near Cybertron this week and people would still believe what they want. I am no stranger to a good time, sue me, but I do not cheat with my friends' mates and I would never just use people the way so many of you like to believe. Would the Matrix choose someone like that? Would it?"
He drew himself up and continued, "Besides, do you really think I'm stupid enough to mess with Prime's mate? Do you think she'd let me? Forget about what Optimus would do! Have you seen that femme in action? After millions of years being separated but loyal, do you seriously think she's gonna mess around with me? I'm young enough to be her son! Do you think I would have survived even making an improper suggestion? For everyone's safety, let's be clear...she is livid about these so called 'reports.' Elita is not going to press charges on the next person who insinuates she's unfaithful to Optimus - she is going to SET charges. Big ones. Arcee will help, if she doesn't just blast someone first. Are you people nuts? Don't you know who you're dealing with?"
"That rumor has been circulating for years...why would they be getting upset about it now?"
"Yeah...um. No offense to you network...actually...go ahead and take offense, I'm sure she won't mind, but like, Elita One, Autobot warrior, doesn't like, ya know....watch your crap. Ever. Oo...neither do I. I haven't asked Arcee, but I'm fairly certain with all the work I dump on her on a daily basis she's had to give up gossip shows along with her slagging manicures. Wait...Autobots don't get manicures...I wonder what she's been up to all these years...it's not like there's a war going on! Hmm?"
"There's no cause for being rude!" Licity protested.
"Oh really?" Rodimus simpered, "I did some checking, you sherbert-colored bitch, and some of those lovely three-some rumors were posted under YOUR internet alias! Ah...don't ask me how I know...a good hacker keeps his secrets. Now...you want to tell me to my face how you 'witnessed' me violate the trust and the mates of my friend and my partner? I've got proof it was you and I've got proof of where I was and where they both were. Do it again and I may pay you a personal visit where we can redefine your idea of 'rude'."
The Paradronian stammered and knew she would soon find herself under scrutiny. It wasn't a pleasant thought.
Rodimus went on as if she didn't exist. "I always knew there'd be gossip, especially since so many people find me unorthodox. Optimus and I talked about it a long time ago and on his advise I decided to ignore it. Arguing about it seemed more likely to lend credence to a lot of the rumors. We thought the talk would fizzle out. Guess we were wrong. I'm always busy, and honestly I didn't even hear most of what was being said. It seems lots of people have nothing better to do than talk about this stuff. I am not one of those people."
"What about this supposed femme Optimus Prime mentioned?" Licity demanded. (The others were unusually quiet. They were deciding to let these two interact on their own since most of them were now planning to make their fellow reporter PART of their stories.)
Rodimus frowned. "What about her? She's a private person. She doesn't like attention, and she doesn't like a lot of nasty gossip. Gee...I wonder why?" Rodimus said coldly. "I will say I feel sorry for anyone who tries to invade our privacy. I am angry with this mess. She is worse, believe me. You would be putting her life in danger and trust me, she will not take kindly to that."
"Will you officially bond with her? Will there be offspring?"
"I'm sorry. Which part of 'None of your business?' am I being vague about here?" Rodimus asked.
"We have a right to know!"
"No, you don't. My kids...if and when I decide to have them will be targets of everything from the Decepticons to vultures like you. You heard me. Vultures. Optimus is right about one thing. If anyone comes up with another unfounded report about my private life I'm pressing charges. I've already been hit with a paternity suit and the femme in question isn't even with spark. She is, however, in detention. Believe me, now more than ever if I ever have a child they will be state secrets, just to spare them from having to put up with this kind of circus. OO...and while I'm on the subject, you'd best watch your step with Arcee and Springer's kid too. You've got OPTIMUS Prime having tantrums with this nonsense...and he's the patient one. I've got the nasty temper, remember?"
"Is that a threat?" an Earth reporter asked shrilly.
"Um...lemme think. Yup," Rodimus said. "Done now. Go away."
If anything the swarm of questioners crowded closer.
Rodimus threw Blitzwing a look and they both transformed. Blitzwing tried tank mode first but when they didn't move he took to the air and circled around behind Rodimus' vehicle mode. Diving low, he barely cleared Rodimus' roof and hood. Blitz was clearly going too fast to stop and even the most stubborn reporters dove out of the way, clearing a path for Rodimus who gunned his engine hard the instant he had open road. He left them with an unnecessarily nasty cloud of exhaust and earned several of them large fines from the ECC for words they shouldn't have used on air.
Enlisted Autobots on Earth and Cybertron watched in amazement. They were a bit shocked, but those that had been harboring doubts felt both relieved and a bit guilty for doubting. Then the cheering started.
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Maelstrom:
Watching from on board the ship, Shellshock smiled grimly. He finished packing up the last of the extensive notes he and Spike had thrown together and prepared to leave for Cybertron. Spike was already there, visiting Carly at the hospital.
"You gotta admit, the boy has style," Talon mused.
"*TK*" Pagan clacked.
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Char:
Cyclonus waited until he got a rare break in his schedule - one where two of his off shifts happened to come back to back. He made some off- hand remark to Scourge about needing to get out of the base to think. True enough, but he wouldn't be tromping through the ruins of Char like Scourge would expect.
As soon as he had walked far enough to avoid being seen or heard, he transformed, and headed for Cybertron.
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Cybertron:
"Well, that solves one part of this mess," Rodimus said smugly, coming into the Command Center with a sadistic grin on his face.
"You are delusional if you think that's going to end it," Optimus remarked. He was holding his temples again.
"It won't solve it, but it will open the door for counter-arguments," Rodimus said. "With Sigma out of the picture it will be harder for people to get suckered, and with us threatening charges there will be a sudden drop in claims too."
"I hope you're right," Optimus said.
"Uh-huh. Why are you holding your head?"
"I have another headache," Optimus confessed.
"Again?"
"I found another implant," the senior Prime said softly.
Rodimus sighed and sat down on the edge of Optimus' desk. "If it makes you feel any better, I've found a few too."
"Why would I feel better about that? We've got to patch up your reputation Rodi. I afraid by the time I'm done pulling Vector Sigma's meddling out of my mind there won't be anything left to think with," Optimus said weakly.
"You'll be fine," Rodimus assured him. "At least the self-destruct program seems to be a one time thing."
"I feel so violated," Optimus confessed.
Rodimus grimaced and didn't answer but for the first time in a very long time Optimus felt the Matrix respond to his partner. The elder Prime took strength from Rodi's understanding and compassion. Had it really been so long since Rodimus had projected these emotions or was it just that Optimus had ignored such whispers in the last few years?
For his part, Rodimus didn't sense anything, but he did notice that at least Optimus was confiding in him, instead of turning on him.
"You'll be fine," he repeated as if in prayer.
"So who do we want to upset next?" Optimus asked with resignation.
"Well, I thought maybe it was the Protectobot's turn. I talked to Springer. I'm not sure I like the way he handled Hotspot but given how we've been behaving I suppose Spring-o only has our sterling examples to go by," Rodimus said ruefully.
"Maybe you and Magnus should go without me. I don't trust my own judgement right now," Optimus said.
Rodimus evaluated him uncertainly. "Are you too ill, or are you just second guessing yourself?""
Optimus glared at him.
"Well?" Rodimus asked.
"I'm not that ill, but I have reason to question my judgement," Optimus said.
"Then you're going. Wallowing in self-doubt never got me anywhere, so let's just skip that part shall we?"
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A few short hours later, and Magnus joined them outside of Protectobot HQ, currently in Miami. Magnus had informed Hotspot to make sure all of the team was there, but hadn't told him why. Hotspot wasn't stupid and prepared for a long-overdo official visit...from Magnus. The Protectobot leader was in for a surprise.
"I've had enough of Miami," Rodimus sighed. "Too much traffic."
Magnus growled assent, and punched the door buzzer with an oversized digit.
Streetwise answered, took one look at all three of the top commanders looming in the doorway and froze.
"Um....Hotspot...." he managed.
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First Aid looked up from where he was irritably reorganizing Metroplex's med-lab. Pipes obviously had different standards than he did for "well-placed and well-stocked" medical supplies. The list of things that were running low (in First Aid's opinion) was distressingly long. He didn't get direct feed-back from his brothers very often, but he knew shock when it hit him.
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Cybertron:
Cyclonus' feet touched down lightly on Cybertron's surface for the first time in years, unseen, unheard.
His home was looking beautiful, he admitted reluctantly to himself. Say what you want about the cowardly Paradronian Autobots, they could spiff up a place in a hurry. Last he'd been in this sector, it had been uninhabitable.
Now it glowed with lights from many residences and businesses.
The Decepticon second didn't know how fortunate he was to be here undiscovered. Two weeks ago, he would never have left Char without KC sending up red-flags in advance. The Autobot command staff would either have concocted an emergency for him to deal with or arranged for an Autobot patrol to "stumble upon" him and chase him home. Even if he had made it as far as Cybertron, Vector Sigma's security cameras would have picked up on him instantly and he would have been swarmed at once.
KC was dead. Vector Sigma was dead. Its cameras operated, but no one was watching and Cybertron was open to intrusion in a way it hadn't been since Rodimus returned home human. It was Cyc's one opportunity to invade and he was taking it unwittingly.
Cyclonus waited patiently in the shadows for a break in the nearly constant foot traffic on the surface. Finally getting one after nearly an hour of kneeling, he slipped into the tunnels under Iacon.
Continued in Part D