Children of the Primes
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Been a while I bet you're tired of hearing that like I'm tired of relearning Docx. Let see I've had to move had my work destroyed and as much of that sounds like an excuse it mostly is. I've had a while to piece back my life and it's been plenty stressful not to get back into. While it would have been fun to try to do this over the phone or app I can happily report I am behind a screen again. God I don't know what it is about a keyboard but life is just so much easier with. So damn easy. Well on that cheery note let's get to what you're really here for.
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Ch. 17
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The debris flew at Makeshift in slow motion. He didn't know what was more sad, the throw or the sorry excuse for a Lob Ball. He caught it with little effort as he stared down the enigma before him.
"Great catch buddy!"
Then there was the overbearing mech. Wheeljack's old partner was loud and excitable. He was not prepared for how close they were. In all honesty, if there was any in this line of work, no report could prepare him for the kind of friendship Bulkhead was trying to endear him with. He had to be careful.
"So you're not Jazz?"
"For the last time-" The mechling huffed whether it was from straining, anger, or actual exertion he didn't care enough to find out. "No." He grunted and slid back as he caught the return pass. It was pathetic how he had allowed his facade to fall for a moment. The visage before him was nearly identical to the renowned Autobot, save for one difference.
The mech lacked his favored visor and his frame wasn't silver, it was a metallic black. He had to fight back a snarl. All he could feel after his initial shock was frustration. This bumbling fool had nearly cost him the mission.
Worse. That constant reminder seemed to linger no matter how he tried to bury it. He swore he could hear it in his voice. So far none were wiser.
"I've only heard of him by reputation and I gotta say you could pass as his spark twin."
"Really?"
"Didn't I tell you." Cliffjumper rounded on him. "Spittin image of yer old man." Cliffjumper dotted on the little mech, Hijacker he had to remind himself, much like Bulkhead had attached his frame to himself. Though he didn't miss the steely look the two wheeler would fix on them as she stood against the opposite wall. "Hmm." Maybe he could use that. For now he'd keep digging.
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"Mind giving me a break." He had to roll his shoulders to dull the ache, playing catch with Wheeljack was like standing in front of a cannon. Instead of taking the punishment he opted to join the others. Miko was playing her guitar and wailing like a banshee while Raf taught Bee how to dance the robot. He was so caught up in the moment that he didn't realize Arcee had kicked off the wall until she joined him.
"Enjoying the party?" She asked evenly. He didn't have to face her to tell she was annoyed with him so he continued to watch his friends.
"Look, just get it out of your system."
"What?"
"I can tell you're not a fan of me."
"It's not that it just." He did turn to her this time just to watch her face twist as she tried to voice her mind. He gave her the time he needed. A small part of him knew 'this' had been building and would need to be sorted.
"I haven't been the biggest fan of change." She stated. "First I'm shacked up with Jack now I can't even park in the garage with you there."
Guilt twisted in his heart, or spark as Ratchet called it. Hopefully mom and Optimus could gather everyone together soon for the big reveal. He felt comfortable with them now that he didn't have to fear becoming a science project.
"For what it's worth, thanks for not transforming there when mom was freaking out." She quirked an eyebrow at him, her social que that it was his turn to carry the conversation.
"I didn't exactly have a normal life." He couldn't help but laugh, "any interaction I have is made through vehicle mode and I can't exactly roll up and chat with people."
That earned him a small chuckle out of Arcee and she looked less rigid for it. They watched the group continue the party as they chatted.
"I wanted more and I would act out sometimes. It caused a bunch of drama, but in those moments I couldn't help but feel. I don't know free. It's hard to explain."
"Hard to express yourself on a planet like this. I won't reprimand you about what you've done but Optimus might say something."
He appreciated the warning and took it for the heads up it was. The Bots probably understood his situation best after all. They could only interact through the world through Fowler. Aside from him they had no real connection to the world. Except for the war with the Decepticons. Yeah that's an even crappier situation, he could help but think out loud.
"Crappier?"
"Oh umm. Crap like scrap."
"Like Cybertronian waste?"
"Yea." He weakly supplied. Hoping she would accept that. He'd rather not get into the specifics of comparing slang. Waste on Cybertronian was more than likely vastly different from human waste. Luckily a distraction was provided as Ratchet wailed at the antics of Bulkhead and Wheeljack.
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Makeshift was getting tired of this charade. Opening the ground bridge for Commander Starscream and burying the Autobots in a sea of drones seemed simple enough. Much like all the seekers' half baked plans. Even if they did not succeed in the eradication of the enemy they could flush them out of hiding and cripple them by destroying their base of operations. A plan made simpler with a hostage he thought as he eyed the humans.
All plans came to a halt however as the blasted medic powered down the ground bridge. Apparently it was faulty and damaged, and he was not stupid enough to use such equipment to carry out his plan. He shuddered, to think the Autobots were so desperate for another comrade that they would risk their own lives, his own life was at risk just stepping through it. He would not be doing that again.
"Hey what's going on with you?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, stirred from his own thoughts. Trying to hide his annoyance from the jovial mech.
"It just seems like you're not yourself."
This time he did snarl, no longer hiding his feelings, maybe he could ham it up and leave the shielding of their base. "I've been stuck in a can for too long. We should go topside before I go stir crazy"
"I have patrol in the morning. You can come with."
"Let's go now."
"And break up the party. Come on, the gang's loving you. You gotta tell them about the Battle of Dark Mount Pass."
"You tell it. You're better at it." He searched the room for any excuse to get away from this oaf until his eyes landed on the humans. "How about Miko here shows me the rest of your base?"
The human began to buzz with incessant questions that he could not even keep track of. At the very least she'd be a perfect bargaining chip if things didn't go his way. There was however a problem with that plan.
"Do you mind giving me the tour as well."
"Sure!"
Miko chimed enthusiastically as he suppressed the urge to growl his frustrations.
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"So that's pretty much it. Energon stockpile. Power generator. Armory. Everything you need to blow the joint sky high." Miko joked pointing out each room and what purpose that filled from her new perch.
"Please stop."
It was adorable how close Jack was to his 'big brother', or was it the other way around she'd have to ask. Not now though. Definitely not now as she did not want to have to walk under the giants feet. She was confident she could keep up, it was just.
Walking is for chumps.
She got to ride on the shoulders of literal giants. Maybe she should talk to Bulkhead. She was sure her guardian would be cool with it.
Focus brain!
Where was she? Right comparison of Jack and bigger Jack she joked. "Soooo, Hijacker is it a family name or did it just sound cool in your head?" Good brain that seems like a safe place to start.
The world seemed to roll almost as her ride came to a halt turning to face her. She had to dig in to keep from falling as she caught the surprise on his face. "Ugh it's a family name." He supplied rather weakly.
"Lame."
"I'm serious."
"My grandfather's name was Jackson, apparently." Came a whiny defensive tone.
"Apparently?"
"Never met him."
A quiet oh slipped passed her lips as she thought about that. Before her brain could catch up with her mouth she pressed on.
"What about your dad er Jack's dad?"
"Never met em."
His tone was not angry but being this close to his face she could tell it was not a happy subject. Yikes, she'd have to tiptoe around that subject if and whenever it came up. Hopefully the day after never she didn't want to offend her newest bestie now.
"So it's just been the three of you then?" She probed gently.
"Well yeah," he stammered a bit. "It's been odd lately. Learning you're not the only one of your kind amongst other things."
"Other things?"
What could be bigger than the Cybertronians for crying out loud. She didn't take him for being the mysterious type but did he seriously have to be cryptic.
"Mom tried to explain the birds and the bees to me."
Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Oh scrap, please go back to back to being cryptic her brain supplied as she nearly lost her seat. Hijacker adjust to keep her from tumbling laughing all the while.
"Yea that was my reaction too. I don't think it matters where you come from but I believe teens everywhere can feel they're brains begin to fry when their parents start that conversation."
Fry? Try scramble. She groaned thinking of her own parents in Tokyo and wondered who she had to thank for avoiding that disaster. Hold up.
"Wait, did you say our age?"
"I'm sixteen? We're both sixteen right?"
"Impossible"
Miko recalled she was doing this tour for Wheeljack but was surprised this was the first word he actually let out seeing as he chose to stay silent the whole time. Craning her head around to get a good look at their befuddled companion she saw a range of motions play across his face. It was honestly the most expressive he had been since coming into base. Looking at him now she wished he'd go back to his go with the flow attitude from before.
"There is no possible way. A mechling of your size. Surely you must be older."
"No, why?"
"With your given age you should still be considered a sparkling not-" He gestured wildly at Hijack chassis completely baffled.
"You OK?"
"Could do with some air." Wheeljack vented deeply. His retort was a little too sharp for her ears, but Hijack either didn't show it or chose not to comment as he continued down the tour.
"There's a track not too far from here if you wanna burn some rubber."
The way his eyes bore into them as he stared them down made her itch. She knew that Wheeljack and Bulkhead were best buds but honestly something about the lone wolf was starting to feel off.
"You know, racing. Overheard you talking to Bulk about hitting the road."
"Ugh, please tell me you're nothing like Knockout."
"I don't know who that is, but Uncle Cliff seems to think I'm the next Blurr."
Miko couldn't quite hold back as she silently squealed over how cute that sounded. On the other end of the spectrum Wheeljack simply huffed with annoyance.
"Of course he'd compare you to that terror."
"You met him? It sounded like he was some retired celebrity the way he's hyped up."
"I only know of him by reputation and believe me he didn't stay retired. You mentioned something about a track?"
"Just a few miles down the highway. About the only thing exciting in our little town."
Miko couldn't help but pipe up in annoyance at that even as Wheeljack chuckled. She had grown somewhat attached to this 'little town' as Hijacker put it. After all it's the Bots called home.
"This town got a name speedy?"
"Jasper, the entertainment capital of America, though I don't suppose that means anything to you."
"Can't say that it does."
Wheeljack finally seemed to crack a smile as the tour came to an end and they circled back. The whole group was there and Bulkhead seemed ready to pick up where they started as he eyed the three of them.
"Wheeljack, I was telling the guys all about you and me. At the Battle of Dark Mount Pass."
"That's a heck of a story."
"Yep," Bulkhead popped the p just before his eyes took on an agitated look. "Tell it."
"Talk talk talk. How about after we go off-roading?" Miko tried to break the tension that seemed to be ebbing off of her guardian.
"Miko stay out of this." Bulkhead's tone had Hijacker backpedaling. The others tried to step in but Bulkhead wouldn't have it. "Tell it!"
"Fine. You wanna live in the past Bulkhead. The Wreckers were trapped between a Decepticon patrol and a smelting pit. The Cons were viscous bearing down on us with everything they had. Me and Bulkhead engaged the enemy, left them for scrap. Then I made us a way out using their backsides as stepping stones to cross the molten metal." Looking around the room and taking in everything as he reported until his eyes landed on Bulkhead. "Innit that how it happened?"
"Yeah. That's exactly how it happened. Except for one little thing. I wasn't there." Wheeljack looked taken aback as all eyes landed on him, but Bulkhead was not done as he laid accusations at his friends feet. "I'd already left the Wreckers to join up with Optimus, but you wouldn't know that if all you did was access Wheeljack's public service record."
"Bulkhead what does that have to do with-" She couldn't even finish her question as she felt herself thrown from her perch. Her tumble was rough, almost as bad as Bulkhead's first dune bash. As she reorientated herself she realized she was in the hands of Hijacker. Looking up she could see that Hijacker was held in a hold and Wheeljack's blaster was squared against his head.
"Back off or I'll melt him into Slag!" Wheeljack threatened as he backed up towards the ground bridge controls. Dragging Hijacker and Miko in toe. Bulkhead was furious but Cliffjumper looked like he was about to explode as Arcee held him back.
"Decepticon coward! Let the kids go and face me."
"Don't fret. Plenty of fighting to come."
"Is there even a real Wheeljack?" Hijacker added his own two cents but winced. From where she was standing she swore she could feel the barrel warming up.
"Oh indeed and I imagine that Starscream is making sport of him."
That gravelly voice of his set her teeth on edge. She wished there was something she could do but for once it seemed like she was going to have to take a step back as the hostage situation fully dawned on her. She hated it but her thoughts on the matter where but on hold as a ping broke the uneasy silence.
"Let's get this party started." Not Wheeljack whooped.
The glow of the ground bridge bathed them and she tried to prepare herself for whatever came. There was no way she could prepare herself for what came next. JUst as Wheeljack's imposter turned to greet his comrades his face collided with a knee. Her balance in Hijacker's hands was disturbed as he broke free. As she righted herself she looked to see Not Wheeljack and was greeted with another Wheeljack. "I'd shut that hole before the stink comes through."
Ratchet wasted no time powering down the ground bridge. Bulkhead slammed his hands together as he pumped himself up for the melee he was about to enter only to be stopped. "Ugly's mine." The Mech's circled one another, sizing the other up.
"Which one is the real Wheeljack?"
"Ugh I lost track."
There was a flurry of steel as sword met sword. The clash seemed like one of those epic scenes in the action films she had enjoyed. The one thing that those movies didn't portray is how that clash would grate on the ears. She swore that the sound was equal to if not greater than the loudest metal that she loved so much. Still her attention was drawn unblinkingly to the two titans that fought.
Wheeljack disarmed Wheeljack only for Wheeljack to disarm him. With a rebuff he quickly followed up grabbing him by the hand and pulling himself up into his face to deliver a blow with his knee. Wheeljack staggered back from his double and collapsed.
"That's my Jackie." Bulkhead couldn't help but boast. Smiling from ear to ear she watched as her guardian dealt with the 'trash'. Once again her balance was checked as Hijacker seemed to deflate.
"Maybe we don't tell mom about this."
She couldn't help but laugh.
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So there was a little comment about Wheeljack's voice and I want to agree with that comment. Wheeljack doesn't sound like that because it's not Wheeljack. Before we get into Makeshift's ability or professionalism, remember Starscream commented that it was not perfect. He walked into a scenario he was prepared for in the show and in the story he was thrown a curveball. Besides most Cons are spiteful and carry grudges so it's not too hard to imagine.
Ok so this has been dragged out for too long and I started in January. January! Can you believe it. I wish I could blame this on stress or my hands are full but honestly I've been bogged down with other projects. Non writing ones. Needed a new outlet to channel my creativity through or I swear I was going to explode. Though if you must know it has been a challenge this past year after losing my apartment, small drama aside, I am back on my feet and so long as there are people who enjoy the work I put out I'm going to continue to try. Slow as that might be. He said looking at four other stories he has on paper. Some day!
