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Chapter 7: I Talk To Tristan... That's about it. What? Something Crazy Can't Happen Every Chapter.

When Tristan got back from his TV shoot, he and Piper had a long talk inside his mansion. I arrived while it was in progress. I couldn't hear much from inside, but it seemed like it was a combination of anger, disappointment, pride, and tears.

After about an hour, Tristan came outside and found me sitting in the backyard.

"Is Piper not coming out?" I asked.

"No, she wanted some time to herself," Tristan answered, looking down at the ground. He sat next to me on a lawn chair.

"Oh..."

We just sat there for a bit. I could feel Tristan's sad aura surrounding us both.

"She was so close, too," Tristan murmured.

"I know, right? She made a mistake."

Tristan turned to me. "I wouldn't say that. I can't blame her for standing up for what she felt was right. But still, this is her fourth expulsion."

"It sounds like you don't know how to feel," I noted.

"That's exactly what it is," Tristan said.

It seemed like now might be a decent moment to change the topic. There was something I'd been meaning to ask Tristan about for a while. It was as good a time as any.

"Tristan. I've been wondering something."

"What's that?"

"Why don't you take on any Native American roles?" I asked.

Tristan was one of the most prominent Native American actors in the world. But for some reason, he'd never accepted any parts where he'd have to play a Native American character. Even when he was offered several million dollars.

Tristan gave me a soft smile and looked up at me. "Why do you insist on asking questions that hit too close to home?"

"I told you when we first met. I get bored easily."

He laughed. "Honestly. There are a few reasons. First off, it's easier to pretend I'm something I'm not."

"Yeah. I can understand that." I admitted, "I've had to do that a lot."

"What do you mean?"

"The other..." I paused. "Autobots. Some of them don't really appreciate my interest in human media." I explained, "I have to not bring it up or talk about it most of the time. I hate it. I wanna share my passions with them, but they never understand it. Easier to just fall in with the crowd.".

Especially if it meant a cannon blast from Megatron or getting beat up by some Deception higher up on the ladder than me.

Tristan looked perplexed. "I didn't think the Autobots would be like that."

I got nervous and gave a sheepish expression, "Oh! Well..." I stammered, "You know. The Autobots may be cool, but some of them are jerks. Especially this one guy, Prowl! He's all business and-"

"It's okay, Thundercracker, I get it," he said, giving a calming hand gesture. "Honestly, as glamorous as it looks, Hollywood is filled with some real jerks too."

"Yeah, I don't think Piper would agree with us," I muttered, remembering what she told me yesterday.

"She's never been the type to hide who she is." Tristan admitted, "She's always had that independent spirit, refusing to let anyone tell her who she is. I admire that about her."

"What's the second reason?" I asked, trying to get back to the original topic.

"That's a lot simpler. I don't want to be typecast." Tristan explained.

"Typecast?"

"You know how Adam West was stuck playing parodies of his original Batman role for most of his career?"

I laughed, "Yeah. They're funny."

Tristan returned the laugh, but his face took on a more serious look. "I don't want that to happen to me," he remarked. "I don't want to be known as 'Tristan Mclean, Native American actor'; I want to be 'Tristan McLean, the actor'."

"Hmm. Now that's a way you do sound like Piper." I noted.

Tristan was very intrigued when I said that, "How?"

"She's made it clear she doesn't want to be defined by being your daughter." I explained, "She wants to be known as herself.".

Tristan was silent again.

"It's amazing how different yet similar you two can be." I offered, "Have you told her any of this?"

Tristan was silent. "No. I haven't..." he said, probably realizing this for himself.

"You probably should," I told him.

Tristan didn't say anything but gave me a determined look and walked back inside the house.

I couldn't make out any specific words, but from what I could hear, this conversation between father and daughter seemed considerably happier.

One day after this, it was back to Decepticon business for me. At the moment, I was working on organizing some files, but that's when Skywarp appeared right behind me in a flash of purple light. I was so startled by his sudden appearance that I accidentally activated my leg thrusters.

With a cry of "Gah!" I flew up to the ceiling and hit my head before falling and landing on my back.

It hurt.

"Primus Skywarp!" I groaned, nursing my poor head, "Little warning with the teleport next time?!"

"Ah, suck it up, TC," he said, looking down at me. He offered me a friendly hand.

I sighed and took it. "Good to see you, SW." I greeted. Skywarp helped me get back up, and I dusted myself off. "You need me for something?"

"Just a question. We've been taking notice of your activities for the past few months."

I got nervous. If I could sweat, I would have broken out into a cold sweat. "You have?" I asked.

"Yeah. What's with all the visits to Malibu?" Skywap stared at me with suspicious eyes.

"What? I like spending time there!" I shouted, "I already had to deal with this from Soundwave; I don't need it from you too!"

Skywarp rolled his eyes. "Why are you getting so-" At that moment, Needlenose, another con, bumped into Skywarp.

Skywarp turned and glared at him. Needlenose was about to speak when Skywarp punched him in the face. When his fist made contact, it made a snapping sound.

"We're in the middle of something here, jerk!" Skywarp yelled. He grabbed Needlenose by the throat. "So why don't you say you're sorry?"

"Skywarp I just bumped into you." Needlenose protested

Skywarp didn't seem to care. He grabbed Needlenose and threw him against the wall. He put the back of Needlenose's head in his hands and began to slam it against the wall.

"Say you're sorry!" Skywarp repeated

"I'm sorry..." Needlenose said weakly.

"I didn't hear you!" Skywarp slammed Needlenose's face against the wall again. The sound of metal being bashed together echoed down the hallway.

I just stood there, watching the whole scene unfold right in front of me. I knew it wasn't fair. Skywarp was taking things to an extreme.

I could have intervened. I could have stopped Skywarp or just yelled at him to cut it out.

I didn't, though.

I didn't want Skywarp to turn on me.

Skywarp eventually stopped beating on Needlenose. He fell to the floor, an utter wreck with dents and scratches all over his body; he just sat still in pain and agony. I could hear him groaning in pain.

"That'll teach him," Skywarp muttered. He swerved back to me, "Now then. What were we talking about?"

I hesitated for a moment. My gaze went between Skywarp and Needlenose. "...You wanna go flying?" I asked

"Sounds great!" Skywarp said, and he raced off to the ground bridge room.

I focused back on Needlenose. He just lay there on the floor, looking pained. He looked up at me with pleading eyes.

I stared at him for a moment.

"TC, are you coming?!" Skywarp asked

"..Yeah." I turned away. "I'm coming"

I left Needlenose in his sorry state right there.

It was alright.

He could take it.

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