-Rumble POV-
Just another morning.
Uncomfortable bed, maddening silence, the dread of facing the day that awaited me. All things I'd become accustomed to over the last few weeks.
My optics fought to stay closed, clinging to the foolish hope of remaining safe from the cruel world beyond the bed.
But my processor knew I wouldn't be undisturbed for very much longer. I could already hear my active roommate moving around the space.
I forced one optic to open, my blurry, half awake vision slowly clearing up until I could make out the bright Crimson griffin across the room doing chin ups on a makeshift bar.
My brother, abnormally capable early in the morning, insisted on being prepared for the day.
My optic fell closed again as I sighed softly, laying for a moment of contemplation before gradually sitting up and stepping off the cold metal slab that served as a poor excuse for a bed.
I tugged my rucksack out from beneath the bed, unzipping it and unpacking a rifle I'd crafted myself.
It was lined with a deep blue that mirrored my own colors, customized to fold into a compact shape when not in use.
Returning to the rucksack, I dug out my datapad and a midnight black combat strap harness before zipping and stowing it again.
I tapped my datapad on and searched through its contents, finding my music player and scrolling through a list of human songs I'd compiled.
I then unclipped two audio receptor buds and situated them in place, pressing play and allowing the waves of music to take over my processor.
Billy Joel - Pressure. That delightful synth rhythm coaxed my processor out of sleep and soothed my racing thoughts, to a degree.
It was preferable to the natural ambient sounds of my surroundings, that was certain. I situated the datapad and rifle into their designated slots, then equipped the combat harness and tightened the straps around my shoulders.
With the harness in place, my rifle was secured to my back and easily accessible by reaching over my shoulder and my datapad was safely secured to my chest.
I stepped around my obnoxiously exercising brother and moved out into the hallway, stretching my wings as much as I could in the cramped space.
Gradually I made my way down the narrow halls, passing by dozens of doors leading to rooms identical to the one I had just left, with the exception of the occupants of course.
I kept my gaze on the floor ahead of me, my expression blank, my stance neutral and unsuspecting. That was how you survive here.
The hall led to a large open room, the same bland, slate gray walls as the hallways making it feel confined even if larger.
I moved through the room, keeping my blank gaze down even as I passed by the other bots. Most were like me, just trying to exist, but some were perpetually on the edge of a rage fest and didn't take much to set off.
Mind you, it wasn't fear that kept me playing docile, rather the fact that the resulting discipline administered for in-fighting was not pleasant for either the victor or loser.
It was better to lay low and keep to yourself, we all knew that. I walked the same path I had every morning, finding the table among the line that typically became my seat.
As I approached, I noticed a group of bots sat at the usually empty table. One I recognized, a younger kid that had no place being here.
The others were encircling him, I didn't need to hear their words to understand what was happening. The kid looked up at me as I approached, the larger of the bots turning to look at me in the optics as I had stopped directly behind him.
His demeanor changed instantly as he found himself face to face with me, he recoiled just slightly, speaking to me with his words muted by my song.
I blinked slowly, my expression not changing in the slightest. I was quite tall for a Predacon, being nearly equal height to most bipeds in the room.
The bot slowly slid sideways out of the seat, stepping back from me as if I had a weapon trained on him. The other bots followed suit as I took my seat at the now clear table, the kid offering a muted 'thank you' as he returned to his food tray.
I sighed softly, my gaze now on the table in front of me, lingering for a moment before my optics drifted closed. I rested one paw on the table, my claws effortlessly tapping out the rhythm of the synth that filled my head.
The only way I got by each day, disappearing into my music, drowning out the world I was stuck in, daydreaming of the one I wished to carve for myself.
Abruptly, my music was interrupted and the real world cut in.
My optics opened as one of my audio buds was removed by the bot that now stood beside me, uncomfortably close.
"Whatcha got here?" the bot asked, tucking the audio bud in and sampling the music.
I glanced over at him, seeing he was a newcomer. A jet black Dragon with purple and silver detailing, and a sleek mouthguard covering his jaws and about half of his snout.
The dragon bopped his head slightly to the rhythm of the music, before handing the bud back to me and sitting himself in the chair beside me.
"I hear this place is real' dull. Glad I met someone with an interesting music taste." he added.
I didn't respond, but took my audio bud and clicked it back into its place on my datapad, leaving one side of my hearing open.
"Dull is the preference around here." I answered simply, looking back down at the table.
"That's boring," the Dragon replied, a somewhat immature tone to his voice, "Who likes being dull?"
I didn't bother responding, Kaz, the kid across from me, also staying silent. The Dragon watched the Griffin for a moment, his optics narrowing curiously.
"You're a chatty one, aren't you?" he stated sarcastically.
"You certainly are." I responded, pausing my music, unable to enjoy it anymore. I removed the other audio bud and clicked it in its slot on my datapad.
"I'm just excited for my first day of Super Soldier Sleepaway Camp." the Dragon responded, "I wonder who my bunkie is."
I glanced over at Kaz, sharing a mutual expression with him before we both looked back at the dragon. This guy couldn't be serious.
"What's wrong? Is it the guard?" the Dragon questioned, reaching up and raking his talons across the metal piece covering half of his face, "They made me wear it. I guess biting a mech's optic out is frowned upon in this establishment."
He paused for a moment before breaking into laughter, lightly punching my shoulder in a playful way, "I'm joking! Jeez, compose yourself there Sergeant Giggles."
Not taking the silence and unwavering expression as a hint, the Dragon settled into his seat and looked around the room. I returned my gaze to the table, only a moment of peace and quiet passing before the dreaded buzzing tore through the room.
The large cell style door at the front of the room slid open, a few armed bots stepping in.
"LINE EM UP!" The lead bot shouted into the room, "We're movin' out in 10!"
Bots in the room all moved to the far wall, lining up as instructed. Kaz hesitated before joining the lineup, I took my place as well.
"First mission already?" The dragon questioned, following me, "Straight to business, I like it."
The line moved single file through another hallway, bots being separated and sent into individual rooms in organized groups that had been selected.
I was sectioned off along with my brother and the Dragon, along with Kaz and a few others I didn't know very well.
I moved with my group, all of us taking a seat in a small, dark room with a projector displaying a map on the wall. One of the armed bots came in and started listing off objectives and what not, my processor disinterested in any of it.
I stared blankly at the projected image, the bot's words muffled and distant to my audio receptors. My brother, Ruvik, tapped my shoulder subtly, signaling my lack of attention wasn't going unnoticed.
"Rumble," the bot at the front of the room barked my name, "Care to recap the information I've just shared with you?"
His optics studied me, a sly smirk on his faceplate as he was certain he'd caught me.
"Of course sir," I responded, adding the respectful 'sir' even though the disinterested tone was apparent, "We're infiltrating an enemy base to uncover information regarding the project they've been working on for the last few months. There are 5 teams, we're number 4, and each team will drop in at different points surrounding the base."
"Our task is to make our way to the North side of the base while the other teams draw the most fire from defenses. We'll be entering via the Main Garage and locating a ventilation shaft to access and disable the Defense Systems from within, allowing the remaining teams to charge the front entrance."
The bot stiffened up, his expression shifting as i finished.
"Did I leave anything out, sir?" I added, probably against better judgment, earning a few scattered chuckles around the room.
The bot scowled at me, nodding silently and flicking off the projector.
"Gear up, meet at the Dropship," he muttered, taking a few steps to the door before stopping, noticing no one had followed him.
"MOVE!"
