Chapter 8: Friend Trouble
The next day, there were many posters being put up around the city about the next monster truck rally race and Moonstriker was excited about it. They were held twice every year. This one was taking place at the end of the week. Moonstriker and Scanner were out for a walk around downtown when they noticed the posters. Moonsstriker smiled.
"Man I can't believe it's here already!" Moonstriker said reading the info.
"You monster mechs are lucky, you get to do all the dirty and loud stuff! All the dirt, the fans, the noise, the violence, the pain!" Scanner calmed himself down after all that.
"Yeah well, you may not be a monster truck, but mabye you just need to switch to some monster tires, then you would be set! Think about it, a monster medic!" Moonstriker said picturing it himself.
"Yeah, that wouldn't be a bad idea!" Scanner thought. "By the way, aren't you supposed to go to work?"
"Nah, we have different shifts, my next one is tomorrow. What about you?"
"I'm on break! I got to be back at the hospital in 10 minutes."
Just then, they were about to past by the police station where Barricade is seen coming out. Barricade was about to walk their way but when he spotted them he stared in horror. When Moonstriker and Scanner noticed him, Barricade backed up a bit and transformed. His tires squealed as he did a burnout and took off past them without a word.
"That was strange!" Scanner said.
"Yeah, Shockwave really must have messed him up, he looked horrified!" Moonstriker said.
"Dude, we're huge! He wouldn't stand a chance!" Scanner said. "Even Shockwave is bigger, his height reaches to your shoulder!"
"I wonder what Shockwave is doing right now!" Moonstriker wondered.
Speaking of Shockwave, he was just entering the ASTC building and proceeding towards the elevator. Cerebros was just entering too and ran to catch up just as Shockwave pressed the button.
"Hey Shockwave wait up!" Cerebros called out just in time.
The two entered the elevator and they decided to have a chat. Despite the building only having 10 floors, they seemed to be going slow making the way up take longer. But it did beat the stairs. They enjoyed the silence and how big the space was inside the elevator.
"So Shockwave, what did you think of yesterday?" Cerebros asked.
"It was actually pretty enjoyable, finally I'm able to express my opinions in science and mabye my own ideas for inventions." Shockwave said.
"Yeah, don't worry, you're going to fit in just fine!" Cerebros assured.
"Thanks, as long as Starscream leaves me alone!" Shockwave said.
"Tell me about it, that guy is annoying. He loves to try and start fights with me and Brainstorm. In fact, he and Brainstorm argue and fight all the time. I hate fighting, I see no point. I don't like to be apart of it and I just wish it was never thought of!" Cerebros said.
"I agree with you, I don't like it either! But...if someone tries to fight you, you can't just let them smack you around. You got to take your chances and fight back if nessesary. Like with me, 2 days ago Barricade tried to fight me, I knew he wasn't going to leave me alone..so I struck him in the face making him run away." Shockwave explained.
"Oh yeah, news about that had spread. I'm dreadfully sorry about that brutal moment many years ago! It served them right for what they did!" Cerebros said.
"Thanks, but I only got revenge on Barricade. In fact, I wasn't even finished with him but he ran. I still got Prowl to deal with. Trust me, the young and weak Shockwave they once knew is gone...this Shockwave is much more powerful and braver than back then." Shockwave said.
"I've seen that with some mechs, when they are young they seem like they are weak, but when they grow...they become one of the toughest bots on the planet. Like Optimus, he's huge and very strong!" Cerebros commented.
"I know!" Shockwave chuckled. "So...what would you do if Starscream or anyone else challenges you and there is no escape?"
"I guess then I will no choice but to fight...but it hasn't ever happend to me yet so I will be alright!" Cerebros said. "Wait...do you hear that?"
The elevator stops at the tenth floor and scuffling can be heard behind the door. The two brace themselves for what was there. As the doors opened, they see Starscream and Brainstorm fighting. Soundwave was trying to separate them.
"LITTLE HELP?" Soundwave asked as he is accidently tackled by the two!
"There they go again!" Cerebros sighed.
Shockwave raised his claws and shot an electricity blast from them shocking only Starscream. Starscream was blasted into a wall. Cerebros and Soundwave helped up a still angry Brainstorm. Starscream's only actual injury was a dent beside his mouth that leaked energon. Brainstorm only suffered a dent on his chest and scratched paint. Starscream recovered and growled at Shockwave.
"You got some nerve!" Starscream said walking towards Shockwave.
"Hey look why don't you just back off!" Shockwave demanded once Starscream got literally in his face.
"Why don't you make me?" Starscream challenged.
Shockwave's fists clenched tightly. He just wanted to pound the seeker's face in, but he remembered he was at work and wasn't trying to get fired already. The others watched as he unclenched his fists. Soundwave steps in between them.
"STARSCREAM WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Soundwave snarled.
"Nothing, I'm just a little cranky!" Starscream said lowering his anger.
"A little?" Brainstorm said walking up beside Shockwave.
"Whatever, I'm going back to work!" Starscream sneered and walked away.
"So...what happened?" Shockwave asked.
"He was insulting other workers below us, then he insulted me and Cerebros only because we trust you!" Brainstorm said now fully relaxed.
"That Starscream is going to find himself in a lot of pain one day!" Shockwave shook his head.
"Yeah, he's lucky we just stopped fighting, I was just warming up on him!" Brainstorm said.
Later on at break, all the workers where talking and laughing about different things. Shockwave sat with Brainstorn, Cerebros and Soundwave. Starscream of course sat with others. There was one mech that the others always invited to sit with them, his name was Wheeljack. He always had a crazy idea in mind but they usually led to explosions. He had already met Shockwave and were good friends now.
"Hey guys I just thought of an awesome invention...and this one shouldn't explode." Wheeljack said.
"Oh really? What is it this time?" Soundwave asked.
"Well, I thought about making some kind of device that could merge two mech to form one of the monster mechs. You know like Shockwave's dad!" Wheeljack said.
"Really? Why?" Shockwave asked.
"I think it would be cool for all of us to become monster mechs, think of what amazing strength and power we would have!" Wheeljack said picturing it.
"Well...who would sacrifice themselves to merge?" Cerebros said. "I certainly wouldn't!"
"I guess I would have to ask around!" Wheeljack said.
"Wheeljack, your crazy!" Brainstorm chuckled.
"Crazy with ideas!" Wheeljack smirked.
That night, Starscream was flying home. The air felt nice going against his wings and it wasn't really windy. He soared through the air just hoping to get home soon before it gets too late. What happened next completely took him by surprise. He felt a blast hit him from under. He growled in pain as another blast hit his wings and sent him going down. Starscream transformed and landed in a empty street on his chest. His gripped his chest as it started to leak energon. He looked up to see his attacker, it was Prowl. Starscream knew Prowl hated seekers, especially him and his brothers. One day, Prowl playfully shot at them with his blaster just to tease them. Little did he know he messed with the wrong trio of seekers. Starscream's brothers, Thundercracker and SkyWarp ganged up on Prowl and beat him up. Starscream didn't want to be part of it, so he stayed back. However, Prowl remembered his face and wanted revenge but never got it. But now, Starscream was caught in his path.
"Starscream, I remember you! You just let your brothers beat on me! Thought you could get away with that?" Prowl sneered.
"But, I was afraid, I didn't want to hurt you!" Starscream nervously said getting up.
"Should've ran away before I recognized you!" Prowl said advancing towards him.
Starscream held up his claws in defense. Prowl still came closer.
"Prowl please, don't do this!" Starscream said keeping his claws up.
Prowl had backed Starscream into a wall and grinned.
"Now then, let's get this started!" Prowl snarled before proceeding to beat the seeker.
Starscream tried to swipe his claws at Prowl but only was able to swipe Prowl's shoulders. Starscream's optics dimmed after a few more blows. Starscream prayed to Primus that someone would see this and save him. His prayer was answered when Prowl was stopped by tap on his shoulder. Prowl turned around to see none other than Shockwave himself.
"SHOCKWAVE? YOU'RE STILL AROUND?" Prowl snarled releasing Starscream.
Shockwave was very angry and his optic glowed a dark red.
"I have been wanting to find you for a long time!" Shockwave snarled.
"What! Just so you can get your aft beat?" Prowl sneered.
Starscream's optics were dimming even more now! He was able to look up though and notice Shockwave.
"S-s-shockwave?" Starscream struggled to say as energon spat out of his mouth.
"I believe it's you who's going to get your aft beat, just like Barricade!" Shockwave snarled.
"Oh yeah...hit me!" Prowl challenged.
Shockwave did so sending Prowl straight into the wall that Starscream was once up against. Shockwave didn't even give Prowl a chance to move and he kept bashing Prowl's face in. Shockwave broke Prowl's visor revealing his optics and he kept punching him. Starscream was trying his best to stay awake. Shockwave was enraged with everytihng the enforcers have done. His anger made him remember the things they did. The alley beating, locking him in the dumpster, breaking Moonstriker's window and now beating up Starscream. He took his full anger out on Prowl. Once he was finished, Shockwave left Prowl's stasis body on the ground. He proceeded to pick up Starscream who looked weakily up at him!
"Shockwave...you...s-s-saved m-m-me!" Starscream said clutching Shockwave's shoulder.
"Don't worry Starscream, I'll get you some help!" Shockwave said lifting Starscream over his left shoulder.
"Thank you Shockwave, I'm sorry for mistreating you..." Was all Starscream could say before he passed out!
Shockwave called Scanner to see if he could take him in. He took one last look at Prowl who was still knocked out.
"Told you I would get you back!" Shockwave sneered.
To be continued...