RID:Trust Exercises
Hello everyone! Just a quick announcement: I finally found a job! Woop Woop! I've been busy the last four days working so I won't be able to update as frequently, but I will update...so don't think I've forgotten. :) Hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Guest: I'm glad! Here's more for you. :)
snake screamer: Thank YOu !
Devastator215: Thank you! I'm glad you think so! I plan to go all the way to the end. :) I love your quote. It's very inspirational! :)
AllSpark Princess: I'm glad you think so. I'm hoping to make her as awesome as my other OC, Solarstorm. :)
Izzy-dragon-rider: That's the perfect analagy to describe them! Don't worry, I won't tell him. LOl! Poor Sideswipe, now he has to worry about the parents. Your right, I bet Strongarm is his kid.
DJ Jazzy: Thank You! :D
After much squabbling, arguing, and fighting amonst Sideswipe, Strongarm, and I Bee decided that everyone needs to go through trust exercieses. I absolutely hate trust exercises cause it gives people a chance to get back at you if you've made them mad. Strongarm is pretty much always mad at me so it won't end up well.
Bee took us to a clearing away from the scrapyard, just incase. Best not to break anything of Dennys if we can help it.
Since theres an uneven number of us, Sideswipe, Strongarm, and I have to take turns. Unfortunately, Strongarm and I are up first and shes the one to fall first. We get into position and before she falls she glares at me. "You better not drop me."
I'm almost tempted to let her fall just to get back at her, but I'd rather spite her instead. So when she falls I catch her, and I even do so two more times. "Guess you should trust me more huh?"
She glares at me as we switch positions. However, when I fall she doesn't catch me! I get up and glare at her. "Your supposed to catch me!"
"I wasn't ready." She replies but I know she's lying.
"Yes you were." Sideswipe tells on her.
"Shut up. Now do it again." She says.
I get into position again and fall again...and wouldn't you know it she doesn't catch me...again.
"What's your excuse that time!" I ask angrily.
"Let's do it one more time." She says ignoring my question.
"No way! I'm not falling again." I state.
"...I promise I won't drop you this time." She insists.
Against my better judgement I fall again, but at least this time she catches me. I quickly move away. "Your turn Sideswipe." I say as I pass him.
"Oh great." He says sarcastically. He then gets into position and falls...and falls...and falls. None of those times does she ever catch him. "That's it! I'm done!" It's your turn."
"Actually I believe it would be best if you two had more practice." She protests.
"Just do it." I tell her.
She reluctantly turns her back to Sideswipe and falls, and doesn't get caught and hits the ground rather roughly. She gets up and angrily says, "Sideswipe, your supposed to catch me, thats the whole point of a trust exercise...URG! Now my com units all busted."
"OH sorry. Maybe when it was my turn you shouldn't have let me fall. Three-times-in-a-row." He accentuates.
"That's because you weren't falling correctly." She replies snootly.
"Or maybe your not a good partner." I add.
She scoffs at that and says, "Or maybe your just difficult to work with."
"Im difficult to work with? Your the definition of difficult miss I have to wip out my code for everything." I reply.
"I happen to be a constant study so that I may keep myself knowledgable on the code and don't fall behind on it like you do." She states.
"Speaking of falling why don't you demonstrate how to fall the right way, your dictatorship." Sideswipe hisses while giving her a shove.
She growls and hits him back, and then he hits her, and the process is repeated. It's actually quite entertaining.
"Hey knock it off." Bee says sternly. "These exercises are important."
We look and see Grimlock with Bee in his arms bridle style.
"Yeah, why can't you guys take anything seriously?" Grimlock asks still grinning wide.
Sideswipe, Strongarm, and I can't hold in our laughter.
Bee is let down as he says,"If we're gonna work together to recapture all the escaped Decepticons we have to learn to trust each other."
"I do trust Sideswipe...to mess up." Strongarm says smugly.
Sideswipe immediately starts grappling with her.
Their banter is interrupted by Fixit addressing everyone. "Fixit to Bumblebee, Hope, Strongarm, and Grim-Grim-Grim-Grim-"
"Go ahead Fixit." Bee interrupts.
"Can you circle back to the scrapyard? Theres something I need to show you."
"On our way. Lets see if we can all make it back in one piece." Bee says before driving off.
"Don't feel bad. It's not that easy to be a model teammate like me." Grimlock brags.
I can't help but laugh at him. So, we all transform and head back to the scrapyard with Sideswipe and Strongarm shoving each other the whole way.
Once we get there we go to the command center when Fixit is waiting on us. "Search instruments have located a cluster of fugitive signals near here and appears there might be intact stasis pods as well."
"Some easy captures would be nice." Bee mutters.
Suddenly a voice comes from the monitors. "Mayday mayday."
"Oh, we're intercepting an Earth based radio signal." Fixit says.
"This is captain of oil tanker off coast of Crown City. We are under attack by what appears to be a shark, but is bigger than any I've seen and it looks to be made of metal." The human continues.
"Decepticon." Strongarm states.
"My crew has evacuated on the life boats. Please, send assistance immediately." The human finishes.
"The Alchemors prisoner manifest lists a Sharkticon aboard. Heres your capture device sir. It will work this time." Fixit says and tosses the device to Bee.
"Are you sure?" Bee asks.
Fixit chuckles. "Not really."
Bee looks very annoyed with that and says, "Denny do you have a boat Grimlock and I can tow to the water?"
"Take your pick." Denny replies while pointing to his supply of boats.
"You and the dinobot?" Strongarm asks like she can't believe it.
"Grimlock proved to me earlier to me today that he can be trusted in a field situation that requires teamwork. You three will check out those fugitive signals. Together." He orders, all the while with Grimlock dancing behind him. But he straightens when Bee looks at him.
"Yeah, work on that teamwork." Grimlock tells us before walking off with Bee.
"The stasis pods are grid 4-0-23 sector 76-50. Oh, and bring me back something will you? Like a rock or a soil sample or-"
Sideswipe cuts him off by transforming and taking off. I thank Fixit before I follow suit. "You've really gotta work on your manners." I scold playfully.
"Oh come on. Even you can't listen to him for long." Sideswipe replies.
"The point is to at least pretend your listening." I joke.
"Alright you two follow me." Strongarm interrupts.
"Why should we listen to you?" Sideswipe asks annoyed.
"Because I know where they are." She replies.
Sideswipe goes to argue but I interrupt. "Let her lead the way. If she says she knows then we have to trust her. That is the whole point of this after all."
He's reluctant but agrees, but the peace doesn't last long. "This is the total opposite of the right way." He says to her.
"You wouldn't know the right way if it hit you in the optics." She replies.
We all stop and transform. "Your never gonna treat me as an equal are you?" Sideswipe yells at her.
"And your never gonna take me seriously are you?" She asks.
"Urg! I'll com you when I find something...on second thought I'll com Hope since she doesn't treat me like scrap!" He then runs off.
"We can't split up! Lieutenant Bumblebee was very specific!...Sideswipe? Sideswipe! Stupid com unit." She grips.
"IT's almost unhealthy the amount of times you two argue." I say.
"I wouldn't have a problem if he would be more respectful to authortiy." She replies.
"Well you don't exactly respect him either so what do you expect." I say.
"I really don't want to have this conversation, least of all with you." She snaps.
I surpress my urge to snap at her back. "Whatever. I'll check out this way." I don't even give her a chance to reply. I decide to walk to hopefully calm down better. I end up walking for a good ten minutes while muttering angrily. "That uptight code reader needs to take that rod out of her aft...makes me so mad. Urg!"
I stop my muttering when I come across stasis pods. I make sure to really keep my optic on my surroundings as I walk futher through the trees. I hear a snap and walk towards the noise with my gun ready just incase.
The trees clear up as I reach a clearing and across the way is someone standing over a stasis pod. I cock my head to the side trying to determine if their friend or foe. The first thing I notice is the tail. When I see the mech, has to be with that build, raise his servo ready to hit the pod I act. "Freeze!"
The mech turns to me at the command. The first thing I see are the strange yet interesting audio receptors. They resemble this planets creatures called wolves. I've never seen a mech like him before, and I have to admit to finding him handsome.
He looks confused at first but when he gets a good look at me he smiles and walks towards me. "Well hello sister. Did you fall out of the sky too? I'm so glad we found each other."
"Sister? I think you have me confused with someone else." I reply with my gun still aimed at him.
He lets out an amused chuckle. "When I say sister I was merely referring to you being Cybertronian."
"Oh, well I guess that makes sense." I mutter.
"So, is there a name that goes with the lovely femme I see before me?" He asks walking a little closer.
I can't help the blush that makes its way to my face at his compliment, but that doesn't make me lower my gun. "It's Hope."
"Hope...having the faith that worries and tensions shall pass to make room for positive expectations. What a truely lovely name." He replies sweetly as he stands in front of me.
My optics widen at his description of my name. I've never hear it said so elequently before. "Oh, um. Thank you...So, are you going to tell me who you are?"
"Oh pardon my manners miss Hope. I am Steeljaw and it is a pleasure to make your acquantince." He replies with a bow. He doesn't even seem put off by the fact that I have a gun pointing at him.
"I hate to assume, but are you a prisoner from the Alchemor?" I ask, not that he would probably be honest.
"Oh dear, your confused. I wasn't a prisoner on that ship. I was a guard." He replies.
My confusion shows as I say," Fixit never said anything about a guard being on the Alchemor."
"Fixit, yes...well he wouldn't have known. I was in stasis also. My pod programmed to wake in case of a riot." He explains.
I look at him in confusion and then notice the Decepticon logos on his shoulders, but I also notice that they've been scratched through, with what looks to be his claws. This really gets me thinking. Surely if he was a true Decepticon he would have attacked me already. Plus why else would the logos be scratched through?
I lower my gun as I ask," What about the logos?"
He chuckles again. "You've been well trained, asking excellent questions. The logo is meant to confuse the prisoners. Would make gaining their trust easier that way."
I put my gun away. "Alright. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt mr. Steeljaw."
"Your trust will not be misplaced." He states."So what are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Actually I'm-" I'm interrupted by Strongarm walking into the clearing and when she sees Steeljaw she immediately raises her weapon.
"Strongarm wait!"
"Oh, a friend of yours? It eases my spark to know that you are not here alone." Steeljaw says.
"Don't come any closer to her Decepticon." She orders.
"Of course, your confused. I was actually a guard aboard the ship, in stasis. My pod programmed to waken if a riot happened." Steeljaw explains to her.
"Then why do you have a Decepticon logo?" She asks.
"You and miss Hope must have trained together since she asked the same question. As I've told her it is meant to confuse the other GWARR!" He ends up growling and lunging at her knocking the gun out of her hand.
She immedately tries using her com. "This is Strongarm! Hope and I are under attack!"
He goes to punch her but I grab his arm. "Leave her alone!"
His tail, something I didn't consider, wraps around my waist and flings me into some trees.
Strongarm kicks at him as she continues her com. "My position is-woah!"
Steeljaw ends up catching her kick, slamming her into the ground, and then roughly tossing her into a giant rock, knocking her out.
With him distracted I run at him and try to kick him, but he somehow anticipates it and catches my leg. "You glitch! Let go!" I then try to contact everyone. "This is Hope. I'm in need of back-"
I'm forced to stop talking by the pain of the blow by my audio receptor. Not only does my com stop working but I fall to the ground as I feel energon flow from the wound. The last thing I hear is an "I'm sorry" before everything goes black.
When I come to my vision is a bit blurry but thankfully clears up. The first thing I notice is that I'm in some sort of shelter made of trees. I then see Strongarm uncounscious next to me. I try to reach for her but my arms are trapped to my sides with a chain.
I move my head to get a better idea of where I am but hiss at the pain that runs through it. I shut my optics to try to alievate it.
That's when I feel something wet and cold press to the wound on the side of my head. I open my optics and quickly move away when I see that its Steeljaw.
"Easy now. Easy. Let me clean your wound." He says gently.
"You mean the one you gave me." I ask angrily.
Whether sincere or not he looks regretful. "I sincerely apologize for causing you harm. It was not my intention."
"Find it hard to believe you after you've lied to me." I reply.
"I'm sorry that I decieved you, but I didn't know if I could trust you. Just as you were unsure if you could trust me." He states.
"And now I know I can't cause not only did you lie but you attacked me and my teammate." I argue.
"I am sorry that I have not given you a reason to trust me, but if you will allow it I shall win back your trust." He says softly.
I stay silent and glare at him.
"Now, may I finish cleaning your wound?" He asks holding up the cloth again.
"No. It hurts to be touched." I reply while pushing up against the back of the shelter.
"If it's not cleaned now it could cause problems later...please." He lightly pleads.
His gaze is so pitiful that I reluctantly nod.
He smiles then grabs my chin and tilts my head to have better access to the wound. He dabs the wet cloth to the wound, but I flinch and hiss.
He pulls back for a moment. "I'm sorry it hurts but it must be done." He then goes back to cleaning until all the spilt energon is gone.
"There, all done. Now doesn't that feel better?" He asks.
I remain silent.
He sighs but before he can reply Strongarm starts stirring and wakes up looking confused, but clears up when she sees Steeljaw.
Steeljaw lightly chuckles and says, "You two still don't understand. I want to help you. I'm sorry I lied. I didn't know if I could trust you..."
"So are you really a Decepticon? And no lies." I ask.
He sighs. "Yes I am a Decepticon, but I've changed."
"Into a kidnapping Decepticon?!" Strongarm replies sharply.
"I apologize for the things I've done. I can never go back to Cybertron. I'd be locked up just the way you wanted to jail me, before I could explain anything. At least miss Hope was willing to listen to me and give me a chance."
"I was just-"
"But on this planet I can begin anew, with fellow prisoners who feel the same way. In peace. Now is that so wrong?" Steeljaw asks pitifully.
"If thats true then your going about it the wrong way. Attacking us won't do you any good." I state.
"I understand and I regret having to do so. You must understand that being in stasis tends to make one leary of others." He explains.
"But then again words go a long way. Before I found out you were lying I was willing to listen to you explain." I add.
"That you were, and I am forever impressed with your willingness to give chances. You are a gem among stones." He replies.
"Besides, giving chances isn't up to us. Hope and I are just cadets. Our superior officer would have to be the one to-"
Steeljaw interrupts her. "I would love to meet your superior officer, and the rest of your squadron. How many of you are there? Where are you based?"
"Don't tell him. He could be lying again." I tell her.
Steeljaw leans in closer to me until theres only a few inches between us. "Please Hope. Belive me when I say that all I want is peace. I merely wish to meet with your superior officer in hopes of coming to some sort of agreement. Don't you think that would be best?"
Unfortunately his words do make sense, but I'm very reluctant to believe him. "I get what you mean. I do, but you attacking us has left me leary."
"Which is completely understandable." He then cups my cheek with one of his servos. "But I can change that." He leans back to a respectable distance. "So may I know where your stationed?"
"We're just over by the-wait, How do we know this isn't a trick?" Strongarm asks.
Suddenly a mechs voice says, "I see you've found a couple of Autobots."
I look and see a familiar form step out from behind a tree into the shadow. However, he has a glow in the dark Decepticon symbol painted on his chest. "Can I get in on a little payback?" He asks making his voice deeper.
Steeljaw seems to believe the painted symbol. "Gretting brother. I'm Steeljaw, and you are?"
"Oh, I'm. I'm...Grim...Bee." Sideswipe stutters. Apparentely he didn't expect to be asked his name.
"I'm glad you are free Grimbee. Step into the light and join me." Steeljaw replies.
"But uh, what happend to your mark then...brother?" Sideswipe asks.
"I destroyed it and its tracking mechanism. The Autobots mustn't capture me before I can prove to them that I've reformed. I want to live here now, peacefully. As I'm sure you do too."
I hear something next to me and see that its Russell. I nudge Strongarm so she notices as well. He sneaks up to us with a crowbar.
"Get out!" Strongarm whispers.
"Go." I add.
He just keeps coming. Since I'm closer he tries to help me first.
"Me? No no. I'd never give up doing crime things. No, besides I hate the Autobots. Especially know it all cadets. Am I right?" Sideswipe tells Steeljaw.
"Oh cadets can be wonderful. If used properly. Tell me more about yourself ...Grimbee. How were you captured?" Steeljaw asks.
Sideswipe gets nervous. "How was I captured? Well it uh...it was a dark and stormy night."
At that point Russell gets the lock off the chains. Unfortunately Steeljaw hears it and growls.
Russell tries to run but Steeljaw blocks him. "What are you? Besides strange."
"look whose talking!" Russell yells while running through Steeljaws legs.
"Don't go near him! Brother." Sideswipe yells sarcastically.
"Tretchery. How like you Autobots." Steeljaw leaps at Sideswipe and Sideswipe meets him halfway. The two fight while Strongarm and I try to get out of our chains.
Sideswipe leads him away by the time they circle back Strongarm and I are out of our chains. Sideswipe leads Steeljaw towards us and at the last second moves away so she and I can kick him together.
He slams into a tree but makes it fall at Russell.
I run up to him and grab him before the tree can fall on him. "Thanks." He says.
"Your welcome." I reply.
Sideswipe walks up to us and we notice that Steeljaw is no where to be seen.
"Have a bad feeling we're gonna see that con again." Sideswipe states.
"I hope so." Strongarm adds.
We drive back to the scrapyard and we are greeted by Fixit. "Cadet Hope, cadet Strongarm your okay!"
"Why wouldn't they be okay?" Bee asks walking up with Grimlock whose carrying a barrel.
"Hope and I were having a communications difficulity earlier lieutenant. Nothing serious." Strongarm replies.
"Anything to report?" Bee asks.
"We found some open pods sir." She says.
"Plus a Decepticon." I add.
"He calls himself Steeljaw. Says he wants to live peacefully on this planet with like minded Decepticons, but he got unpeaceful with us real quick." Sideswipe finishes.
"Can't wait to meet him. I'll go put this one away, and I'll do it gently." Grimlock says before walking towards a pod.
"If he's lying about going straight we could be looking at a Decepticon army trying to take over this planet." Strongarm states.
"It's all the more reason to wrap these fugitives up fast. I'll have Fixit prep a report on Steeljaws background. He's now on the top of our most wanted list...Good intel noobies. Apparently I can send you into the field together." Bee comments before walking away.
"Thanks Russell. You really saved my spark out there." Strongarm tells Russell.
"Uhhh, your welcome." Russell replies unsurely.
Sideswipe gets angry at that. "What?! I put my gears on the line for you too you know! Fine! Your never gonna-Ahh!"
Sideswipe ends up slipping and falling, and what do you know Strongarm actually catches him.
"Thanks and don't get cocky." She let's him up and walks away.
"That first step we talked about in the woods; I think its been taken." Russell tells Sidesewipe before going to his dad.
I laugh at Sideswipes stunned expression but then wince when the pain in my helm comes back. It stated hurting again once all the excitment wore off and we we're heading back here. Thankfully no one noticed.
I decide to slip away so no one will ask. I manage to make it to a secluded area when I see Sideswipe walk up to me. "What'd you run off for?"
"Oh um, no reason. Had a stressful day and just wanted to calm down." I reply.
"Yeah that it was...I don't suppose he hurt you did he?" He asks.
"Um, well..." I really don't wanna lie so I just be honest. "Actually yeah. He kinda smacked his claws into the side of my head."
He immediately gets angry and gently grabs my face to examine the wound. "That filthy Con. I should hunt him down and rip him apart."
"Don't Sideswipe. Its okay. It's not that bad. He even cleaned it up when I woke back up." I reply.
"Don't defend him. He was in the wrong for attacking you. Especially since you gave him a chance." He says sternly.
On the way back to the scrapyard I told him and Strongarm everything that happened. Needless to say they weren't happy.
"It's really not that big of a deal. By tomorrow it will be a lot better." I say.
He keeps examining as he says, "That may be, but you should probably get Fixit to look at it. Just to be on the safe side."
"Yes carrier." I joke.
He laughs and lets go of my face. "Hey uh, listen. I'm...a...glad your okay. Today could have gone a lot worse."
"That reminds me. I'd like to thank you." I say.
"OH, that's okay. You don't have to-woah!" I catch him by surprise when I wrap my arms around his waist in a hug.
"Thank you for saving me-us today. I really appreciate it. Don't know how being with Steeljaw would have played out if you hadn't come along." I mumble into his chest.
He wraps his arms around me and hugs back. "Anytime...you can trust me on that."
"I already do." I reply.
Hope ya'll liked it. Until next time!