CHAPTER 6: OF WHEELS AND WINGS
The next morning, Slipstream woke up in the medical bay, lying on a makeshift bed. Jeopardy had made significant progress the previous night, repairing her lubrication module and working on the temperature regulator, but he had advised her to remain in the medical bay until he could gather the proper supplies to fully repair her leg and replace her damaged temperature regulator. He had stepped out to handle those issues, leaving her alone.
At least, she thought she was alone, until she heard the sound of footsteps and saw Impulse wandering into the bay. "Heyo, how you holding up?" he greeted with his usual boisterous energy.
"I'm alright," she said, though still adjusting to everything that had happened.
"Yeah, sorry about pointing that big gun at you yesterday," Impulse said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Just been a while since we've seen some action around here. Guess I got a bit overenthusiastic. Oh wait, almost forgot." He shot his hand out for a handshake, his enthusiasm unabated. "I'm Impulse."
"Slipstream," she replied, cautiously shaking his hand. "Did we… know each other before?"
"Oh, nah," Impulse replied, shaking his head with a laugh. "I never got to fight the Seekers. You guys were mostly in the North. I was stationed in the South of Cybertron. But my buddy Jazz got transferred to Iacon, so you probably met him."
"Cybertron?" Slipstream repeated, the word rolling off her tongue like a distant memory, just out of reach.
"Oh scrap, it's that bad, huh?" Impulse realized. "Cybertron, you know, the planet we come from?"
Slipstream nodded hesitantly. "When Jeopardy looked at my black box, it said I came from Crystal City."
Impulse's optics widened in surprise. "No way! You're from Crystal?!" He sounded almost reverent, as if he'd just heard something amazing.
"Is that… good?" Slipstream asked, unsure how to interpret his reaction.
"Hell yeah it's good!" Impulse exclaimed, full of excitement. "Crystal City's, like, one of the richest places on Cybertron. You know, the Fortress of Opulence? They practically bankrolled the entire Autobot Army."
"Wow," Slipstream replied, taking in the information. Though the memories were still a blur, hearing about Crystal City stirred something deep inside her, faint echoes of a past life she couldn't quite grasp.
"Man," Impulse went on, "how does a Seeker end up coming out of Crystal City?"
"What's a Seeker?" Slipstream asked, still struggling to piece together what she'd lost.
"Only some of the most feared Decepticons to ever take to the skies," Impulse replied, eyes gleaming. "Those guys were brutal. What I wouldn't give to kick their afts! When I still had contact with Jazz, he would go on and on about all the cool stuff he was doing, and it almost always involved Seekers. Ugh, so jealous!"
Slipstream sat silent, unsure how to respond to that. A sense of unease flickered through her spark, but she couldn't reconcile the thought with the emptiness in her memory.
Noticing her silence, Impulse quickly added, "Oh, don't worry about it! You're alright in my book. That is, if I had a book."
"Thank you… I think?" Slipstream responded, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face despite her confusion. Impulse's odd charm seemed to have that effect.
"So, how much of Earth have you seen so far?" Impulse asked, leaning against the medical bay's wall with his usual boundless energy.
"Not much," Slipstream replied, her voice tinged with a bit of resignation.
"Yeah, me neither. But I REALLY want to. But Jeopardy says it's 'not the right time' and that I'm 'a PR nightmare when we already have a strained relationship with the U.S. Government.' I mean, who does he think I am? Yeah, I'm a bit of a klutz, but I only wanna look around. And I've only dropped a building on someone ONE time, just ONCE. Yet suddenly I'm a pariah." Impulse threw his arms up in exasperation. "Such bullscrap, right?"
"At least you get to walk around…" Slipstream said, gesturing to her still-unrepaired leg.
"Ooh, bum leg?" Impulse asked, suddenly sympathetic.
"Yeah."
Impulse's face lit up as if a light bulb went off in his head. "Hold on, I think I got some stuff we can do in here. Be right back!" he said, rushing out of the room with excitement.
A few moments later, he returned, lugging in a microwave under one arm.
"Ok, so the way you play this game," Impulse began, setting the microwave on the floor, "is you stick your finger in the microwave while it's on, and you see how long you can last before it explodes."
Slipstream blinked. "My finger or the microwave?"
"The microwave! So far, my record is seven seconds." He grinned proudly. Without any further explanation, Impulse stuck his metal finger into the microwave and switched it on. The appliance hummed ominously before BOOM! The microwave exploded, sending sparks flying everywhere. "Hey, eight seconds! New record!" he declared triumphantly, shaking off the debris.
Before Slipstream could process what just happened, Agent Simmons stormed into the room, looking frazzled. "Impulse, did you— what did you do to the microwave!? "
"Just showing Slipstream a game I like to play." Impulse shrugged, completely nonchalant.
Simmons looked ready to pull his hair out. "Is that where they keep going!?"
"Yeah."
"You aren't supposed to— stop sticking your fingers in microwaves! " Simmons yelled, his patience hanging by a thread.
"Why not?"
"Because I need to heat up lunch, you buffoon!" Simmons snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration before storming back out, muttering under his breath.
Impulse turned back to Slipstream with a hopeful grin. "Well, I'm sure we can find something else to do."
Jeopardy entered the medical bay with a toolbox in hand and a focused expression. "Alright, I've finished my work. We can begin restoring your leg function." After a few adjustments, he attached a device inside her lower leg. "This splint should help support your leg while you walk. Though, I recommend not going faster than a speed walk for now."
Slipstream looked down at the splint, flexing her leg slightly. "So I can get off the bed now?"
"Yeah," Jeopardy confirmed, "and the splint should be able to come off in a few solar cycles if everything goes well."
Impulse, who had been lingering nearby, suddenly lit up. "Oh, you have to come with me! We've got to check out the city!" Without waiting for any further approval, he rushed forward and pulled Slipstream off the bed, already buzzing with excitement. "This is going to be awesome!"
"Impulse," Jeopardy began, concerned for his overenthusiastic companion.
Impulse grinned sheepishly, "Jeopardy, come on, I'll have her back by sundown. I promise, I won't break anything important. You know… in her or in the city."
Slipstream smiled, eager for a change of pace. "I'd really like to get out of here. It's been pretty boring just laying in the medical bay."
Jeopardy sighed, weighing the risks. Finally, after a moment of thought, he relented. "Alright. But remember, every interaction with the humans is a chance to make or break our standing here."
" AWESOME! " Impulse shouted, practically bouncing on his heels. "Come on, Slipstream! This is gonna be so fun!" With that, he grabbed her hand and practically dragged her toward the exit. As they passed by, Jeopardy gave Slipstream an encouraging look, mouthing the words Good luck before they disappeared out of the base.
Impulse rushed out of the base, with Slipstream tailing behind him, "Smell that air, Slip! Can't you just drink it in like fresh oil? HAHA!" he yelled, transforming into his M-ATV alt-mode and driving away. "GET READY CHICAGO, IMPULSE IS READY FOR ACTION!"
Slipstream, confused by Impulse's sudden transformation, called after him, "Wait, how did you do that?"
"Do what?" Impulse asked, turning around and driving back to her.
"That thing where you get small."
"Transforming?" Impulse chuckled, transforming back into bot form. "No way, you forgot how to transform?"
"I guess so."
"Oh, it is SO easy," Impulse explained. "You've got a T-Cog inside you, right around here." He circled his finger around her abdomen. "Just focus on turning it on."
Slipstream concentrated, and after a few shaky moments, her form shifted. In a flash, she transformed into a sleek Cybertronian jet, hovering in front of Impulse.
"Hey, I did it!" she exclaimed.
"Awesome! Now try moving around!"
Cautiously, Slipstream began to drift forward, her thrusters softly humming as she hovered.
"Think you can go higher?" Impulse asked, excitedly watching her get the hang of it.
"I… I don't know. Let me try something." She activated her vertical thrusters, but before she could fully gauge the power, they kicked in too fast. She shot up into the sky, panicking. "Woah, too fast, too high!" she shouted, struggling to deactivate them. In her panic, she shut off everything, transforming mid-air as she began plummeting toward the base.
Desperately, she tried to reactivate her thrusters, but it was too late. She crashed through the thin roof of the base, falling right into the middle of the room. Slipstream activated her thrusters just in time to stop herself from hitting the ground, floating inches above the floor.
She glanced around, seeing Stormsurge standing nearby, covered in dust and staring wide-eyed at the spectacle.
"Sorry, Stormsurge… did I hurt you?" Slipstream asked, voice full of concern.
"N-n-no, you're… you're fine," Stormsurge stammered, still trying to process the chaos.
Jeopardy rushed in, having heard the loud crash. "What happened—oh."
Slipstream looked up at him, beaming. "Hey, Jeopardy, I can fly now."
Jeopardy sighed, glancing at the hole in the roof, and then at the dust-covered Stormsurge. "I can see that. Great job, Slipstream. Storm, you okay?"
"Uh, no," Stormsurge muttered, visibly shaken.
Jeopardy turned to Slipstream, forcing a reassuring smile. "Slipstream, why don't you… uh, maybe step outside for a bit while I help Storm out."
"Okay," Slipstream agreed sheepishly, floating back up and through the hole she'd just made.
As soon as she was out, Impulse appeared behind Jeopardy, clearly disappointed. "Aw man, I missed it," he joked. He looked at Stormsurge, still recovering from the shock, and then back at the hole in the roof. "But hey, Storm, look on the bright side, now you've got a sunroof!"
After their chaotic start, Impulse and Slipstream finally left Goose Island, deciding to walk into the heart of Chicago instead of flying or transforming. They followed the river for about an hour, their massive frames casting long shadows as they strolled into the city. Soon, they found themselves in Millennium Park, standing amid the vibrant green grass and pathways, the city's towering skyscrapers looming all around them like walls hemming in the serene patches of nature.
"Wow, this is a lot of green," Impulse marveled, looking around.
Slipstream, however, was fixated on the colossal buildings. They stood like sentinels, their windows reflecting the sunlight as they seemed to reach endlessly into the sky. She squinted up at the tall structures, tilting her head in fascination.
"Hey, do you think I could get up those?" Slipstream asked, her optic sensors zeroing in on one of the tallest buildings.
Impulse followed her gaze, grinning. "I don't see why not. Oh, you think they'd let me climb that big one?" He asked, nodding toward the Sears Tower.
Slipstream laughed softly. "I don't think so."
Undeterred, Impulse wandered off toward a shiny, reflective structure, the iconic Bean. He stared at his distorted reflection, his optics narrowing in confusion. "Woah, I look wonky," Impulse said, reaching out to tap the surface with his finger.
Slipstream joined him, looking at her reflection for the first time. The surface of the Bean curved her form, bending her features into surreal shapes. "Is… is that what I look like?" she asked, sounding unsure.
Impulse glanced at Slipstream's reflection, then looked back at her. "Nah, your forehead's a lot smaller," he corrected, a grin spreading across his face.
Slipstream raised a brow, looking at him. "That's… a compliment?"
"Yeah, totally," Impulse said, nodding. "You look way less... bendy in real life."
Then Slipstream heard, and felt, the thunderous roar of engines above them. Impulse, always quick to react, whipped out his minigun, "Decepticons!" he yelled, excitement clear in his voice as he aimed it at the sky. However, when the blue and orange fighter jets came into view, his shoulders slumped. "Ah, it's just the humans," he muttered, disappointed.
Slipstream, on the other hand, was captivated by the jets. Her optics followed their graceful maneuvers as they streaked across the sky, perfectly synchronized. Something about their speed, their movement through the air, mesmerized her. Suddenly, her optics flickered like a camera taking a snapshot, and for a moment, she stood perfectly still. She didn't fully understand what had just happened, but something fundamental had changed in her systems, almost like a memory fragment unlocking, or an instinctual connection clicking into place.
Impulse noticed her transfixed gaze and grinned. "Hey, you know what would be cool?" he asked, nudging her arm. "You should try flying up with those guys."
Slipstream hesitated, but the idea intrigued her. These humans… they flew so fast, so effortlessly. She had only just begun to grasp flight herself, but the pull to join them was irresistible. Nodding, she activated her thrusters and shot into the sky, leaving Millennium Park far behind. The thrill of breaking free from the ground again filled her with an exhilaration she hadn't fully realized until now.
As she ascended, she focused on transforming again. This time, it was different, more intuitive. Her form shifted effortlessly into one of the jets she had just scanned, her body melding into its sleek shape with newfound ease. It felt natural, as though she had unlocked a part of herself that had been hidden away. Her old Cybertronian alt-mode had felt cumbersome, foreign, but this, this was a revelation. She was the jet now, seamlessly becoming one with the air around her.
She fell into formation with the Blue Angels, her movements fluid as she mimicked their precise maneuvers, tailing them as they darted through the sky over Chicago. Through some unknown mechanism in her new form, she could hear their comms chatter. The pilots were baffled, their voices buzzing through the frequency.
"Uh, command, do we have an extra jet in formation?"
"Negative, squad leader, what are you seeing up there?"
"There's something flying with us, but it's not one of ours. No markings, no transponder—"
Slipstream paid little mind to their confusion, too caught up in the sheer joy of flying. She pushed herself to accelerate, surging ahead of the lead jet and pulling away from the squadron. She felt the wind whipping around her, the city below shrinking as she soared higher, higher, until she was alone in the sky, with nothing but the endless horizon and clouds to greet her.
Looking down at the world below, with all of Chicago sprawled out beneath her like a patchwork of lights and steel, two simple but profound questions echoed in her mind:
How fast can I go? How high can I go?
As Slipstream soared through the skies above Chicago, the static in her ears crackled and then, out of nowhere, Impulse's voice broke through, "Hey, is this working?"
Slipstream blinked in confusion, momentarily disoriented. "How are you in my head?" she asked, her tone both curious and unsettled.
"I linked up to your commlink," Impulse replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Pretty cool, right?"
"This feels really weird," she admitted, her optics narrowing as she tried to adjust to this sudden invasion of her sense of hearing.
"Eh, you'll get used to it. So, how does it feel up there?" Impulse's voice buzzed through, his usual enthusiasm unshaken.
Slipstream couldn't help but smile a little. "Exhilarating," she admitted. She hadn't expected to enjoy flight as much as she did, but something about being up here, so free, so unbound, felt incredible.
"Great! Hey, I've got a cool idea. You think you could pick me up?"
Slipstream tilted her head in confusion. "Why?" she asked, though her curiosity was piqued.
"Just trust me. Come get me, this is gonna be awesome."
She sighed, knowing full well that whatever "awesome" idea Impulse had in mind could very well end in chaos. "Alright," she agreed. With that, she banked back towards Millennium Park, where Impulse was already waiting on the ground, waving up at her like a kid calling for a ride.
Hovering above him, she transformed back into her robot mode, lowering herself enough to grab Impulse with one back up into the sky, her thrusters roared as they ascended over the city once again.
"Alright, what now?" Slipstream asked, a mix of anticipation and apprehension in her voice.
"Okay, now fly up really high and over the lake," Impulse instructed, excited.
Slipstream arched an optic ridge. "Over the lake?" She glanced towards Lake Michigan, glittering in the distance.
"Just trust me."
"Fine..." She agreed, though not without suspicion. She flew higher and higher, the sprawling city giving way to the glistening expanse of Lake Michigan. They were now hovering high above Navy Pier. The wind whistled past them, the water below an endless stretch of deep blue.
"Alright, we're here. Now what?" she asked.
"Now..." Impulse started, and before she could even register what was happening, he shook himself free from her grip.
"IMPULSE!" Slipstream panicked, reaching out instinctively to catch him again, but it was too late. She stayed hovering in the air, hands covering her mouth as she muttered, "Oh my… I killed him."
"CANNONBALL!" Impulse yelled gleefully as he descended, arms tucked in and spinning in the air like a missile. Slipstream watched in shock as she saw him hurtling toward the lake.
With a colossal splash, Impulse collided with the water, sending an enormous geyser shooting up into the air. The wave that followed was so massive that it washed over the shore of Chicago, soaking the walkways along Navy Pier. Slipstream, still hovering, even got a bit of water splashed on her from the sheer force of the impact.
She landed on the pier, peering over the edge of the water, scanning for any sign of Impulse. For a long moment, there was nothing but ripples spreading out across the lake.
Suddenly, Impulse's voice crackled through the commlink again, though it sounded muffled, clearly speaking from underwater. "Hey Slip, turns out I sink. I'm walking on the bottom of Lake Michigan, so... yeah, it's gonna take me a bit to climb up."
Slipstream could barely suppress a laugh as she shook her head, glancing at the massive ripple still making its way toward the city.
Back at the base, Jeopardy found Hermit Crab working in a new room that was beginning to take shape, filled with intricate machinery and scattered tools. "I talked to Simmons," Jeopardy began, leaning casually against the doorframe, "He says a crew will come by next week to fix the ceiling in Stormsurge's room."
"Good," Hermit muttered without looking up from his work.
Jeopardy stepped in closer, observing what Hermit was assembling. "What are you working on?"
"Building a ground bridge," Hermit replied, adjusting a panel on the machine.
Jeopardy's optics widened. "A ground bridge? How'd you manage to figure that out?"
Hermit gave a small, smug smile. "When I was studying for my doctorate in engineering, I had to take a course on space bridge maintenance and construction. Basically memorized the whole process. Ground bridges are just a scaled-down version of space bridge technology."
Jeopardy peered closer at the complex array of circuits, cables, and components Hermit was meticulously putting together. "Where'd you even get the materials?"
"Still sourcing them," Hermit explained, wiping some residue from his hands. "Turns out this planet hasn't figured out how to synthesize destronium. I'm hoping to get the wreck of our ship brought here so I can salvage parts from it."
"Well, maybe today you can take a break from that and come check out the city," Jeopardy suggested. "I was going to see if Stormsurge wanted to tag along."
"No, thank you," Hermit said flatly. "I'd rather do this."
"You sure?" Jeopardy asked, his tone lightly teasing. "The ground bridge isn't going anywhere. You could use a change of pace."
"Oh yeah, you can go be tourists," Hermit responded with a wry smile, "I'll be here being productive."
Jeopardy folded his arms, giving Hermit a knowing look. "I'm sensing some bitterness."
Hermit sighed, shaking his head slightly as he went back to tinkering. "We should be preparing for an incursion, not sightseeing."
Jeopardy chuckled. "Hermit, we've been cooped up for weeks. Don't you think we deserve a little time to explore the world we're on?"
"There's a difference between leisure time and neglecting the work that keeps us alive," Hermit replied sharply, tightening a bolt. "While I'd prefer leaving this rock entirely, that's not an option right now. So, defense is our next best thing."
"I think you, of all people, need a break," Jeopardy countered, stepping closer. "You've been working nonstop since we got here."
Hermit waved him off, still focused on his work. "I enjoy my technical projects. They keep me occupied. Idle hands are of no use to anyone."
Jeopardy sighed. "Look, I'm not saying you can't enjoy your work. But spending all your time on space bridges—"
"Ground bridges," Hermit corrected without missing a beat.
"—and all this other stuff isn't exactly healthy," Jeopardy continued. "Come out, hang out with us, explore humanity a little. I think you could really benefit from some cultural exchange."
"The only thing I'm interested in exchanging with humans is materials," Hermit grumbled, focusing even more intently on his machinery.
Jeopardy smirked, his optics lighting up with an idea. "Maybe I should have you and Slipstream do some team-building exercises."
That got Hermit's attention. He looked up, eyes narrowed. "No, no, you can't make me do that. You don't have that power."
Jeopardy raised a brow, his voice mock-serious. "I mean, we DID elect me leader. And Slipstream does want you to like her. Hmm…"
Hermit let out a long, resigned sigh. "Alright, alright. I'll spend a megacycle outside the base, but nothing more."
Jeopardy grinned. "Thank you for being so reasonable. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go check up on Stormsurge."
As Jeopardy turned to leave, Hermit called after him. "Just don't expect this to go far."
Jeopardy chuckled as he walked out. "Baby steps, Hermit. Baby steps."
Jeopardy found Stormsurge in the atrium, standing quietly by one of the windows, watching the city skyline in the distance.
"Hey, Storm," he called out as he approached, "got a sec?"
She turned and nodded. "Sure, what's up?"
"I was thinking of checking out more of the city," Jeopardy said casually. "Figured you'd want to tag along."
Stormsurge gave a small smile, her optics softening. "I would like to get out. But why would you want me to go with you?" She asked, having assumed he would go out alone.
Jeopardy shrugged with a smile of his own. "Because you're my friend, and I value your company."
Stormsurge blinked at that, a bit surprised, but grateful nonetheless. "Um, okay. What did you want to see?"
"Not sure, just figured we could walk into the city and see what it has to offer. You comfortable with that?"
She nodded, her expression relaxing. "Yeah, we can do that."
With that, they left the base and began following the river south, heading deeper into the heart of Chicago.
As they walked, Jeopardy turned to her. "So, other than Slipstream falling through your ceiling, how are you feeling?"
"A lot better, actually. Why?"
"Just checking in," Jeopardy said, his tone light but genuine. "It's important to monitor your continued recovery."
"Anything else, Dr. Jeopardy?" she teased with a playful smirk.
Jeopardy chuckled, shaking his head. "That's the first time anyone's ever called me a doctor."
"It's a fitting title," Stormsurge replied. "You're practically my personal physician."
"Well," Jeopardy began, "I hope you don't mind me giving a little more attention to Slipstream now."
"Oh, not at all, I'm not the jealous type," she assured him.
Jeopardy glanced at her. "How do you feel about her, by the way?"
Stormsurge paused for a moment, thinking. "Aside from her falling through my ceiling," she chuckled lightly, "I'll be honest, I'm cautiously optimistic about her. I mean, it's strange, having a Decepticon around, but… I don't know. There's something different about her."
"It's still early days," Jeopardy said. "She'll get better."
"Yeah," Stormsurge nodded, her gaze distant as she considered it. "That's what I'm hoping. Plus," she added, looking back at him with a soft smile, "it'll be nice having another femme around."
Jeopardy grinned. "Yeah, I thought you might appreciate that."
"Do you mind if I ask you something personal?" Stormsurge asked, her tone a little more thoughtful as they walked.
"Sure," Jeopardy said, glancing at her.
"Why do you do all this? Why not stick to the warrior caste? Why willingly become an outcast to pursue medicine?"
Jeopardy paused, reflecting on her question before answering. "I suppose I was just spawned with a softer spark," he began. "When I first started training under First Aid, I took an oath: to heal the wounded, care for the injured, and to take no life. And I did that because I believe in it. I didn't want to be a killer."
"So that's why you let me come with you?"
"Yes, and it's why I revived Slipstream. My oath applies to all sentient life, regardless of species, allegiance, or creed," Jeopardy explained. After a brief pause, he turned the conversation. "And now I have a question for you: If we knew each other before the War, do you think we could've been friends?"
Stormsurge seemed to ponder this for a while. "Us meeting would've been unlikely," she said thoughtfully, "but I'd say it's possible. Why?"
"Just a hypothetical," Jeopardy replied. "If I'm being perfectly honest, you're pretty much the first person I can comfortably call a friend."
"Me? Why?" Stormsurge asked, surprised. "Why not Hermit?"
"Hermit's… well, he and I are going through a rough spot. You and I have been through hell, physically and mentally, and that forges a bond. Plus," he added with a small smile, "you're the first femme to look at me and not immediately be disgusted or try to get away."
"Well," Stormsurge replied, her voice softer, "when I met you, you were the first person I'd spoken to in 1,000 years."
Jeopardy thought for a moment before speaking again. "There's an irony in a socially stunted outcast being the one to bring you out of your isolation."
"Better you than any of the other lead-headed warriors back in Kalis," she remarked.
"Ain't that the truth," Jeopardy agreed, sharing a smile with her as they walked on, feeling the weight of their shared history ease just a little in that moment.
Back at the base, Hermit Crab had decided to take a break from his work on the ground bridge, honoring his promise to Jeopardy to spend one megacycle outside. He wasn't one to break a deal, despite his reservations. Peeking out the door, Hermit glanced around cautiously before transforming into his compact vehicle mode, blending into the city's traffic as he drove off Goose Island. The hum of the engine and the rhythm of the streets gave him time to reflect.
He missed Iacon, specifically the labs beneath the Great Dome. During the War, those labs had been his sanctuary, a place where he could stay out of the conflict and use his scientific knowledge constructively. It wasn't that he was a pacifist; it was that he knew his strengths. He wasn't a fighter, and in war, not knowing how to fight meant you lost. Badly.
When the fighting in Iacon drew too close, Hermit had gotten out. He'd had too many near misses with death, mainly from Seeker strikes and raids on the city's infrastructure. Transferring seemed like the right decision at the time, but he'd underestimated how bad things were elsewhere. He should've done more research, he never would've chosen Kalis if he had. By the time he realized how deep he'd thrown himself into a warzone, it was too late.
And now, because of that mistake, he was here. Stranded on the edge of the known galaxy, marooned on a small, strange planet with no way off-world. Surrounded by organics, primitive creatures in comparison to Cybertronians. He didn't understand why Jeopardy seemed so eager to distract him with this idea of a "cultural exchange." Didn't Jeopardy see the bigger picture? They weren't a team built for combat; they were barely holding things together as it was. Their only real chance at survival was preparation, building defenses, reinforcing the base, finishing the ground bridge as a means of escape if they ever needed it.
Lately, Hermit had begun to question Jeopardy's judgment. Bringing Slipstream into their fold felt like inviting disaster. Sure, she had amnesia, but that didn't erase who she was, a Seeker, a war criminal by nature. Jeopardy seemed to believe this would all work out, but Hermit saw it as a dangerous gamble. He hoped it was just a phase, a passing sentiment that would fade once the weight of their reality settled back in.
But if Jeopardy didn't come around soon, if he continued to indulge in distractions while their survival hung in the balance, Hermit knew he'd have to intervene. He couldn't allow the team to drift into oblivion, not when he could still build them the tools they needed to survive. And if that meant challenging Jeopardy's decisions, then so be it.
Meanwhile, Impulse finally emerged from the water, dragging himself onto the street from the Chicago River. He lay on the ground, spitting up water. "Ugh, I am never drinking water again."
"Enjoyed your swim?" Slipstream asked, landing gracefully beside him, a playful smile on her face.
"I felt like I was down there for forever," Impulse groaned, rolling onto his back.
"Felt the same up here," Slipstream replied.
"Just tell me one thing," Impulse said, turning his head toward her, "Was the splash really cool?"
Slipstream grinned, "Yeah, it was HUGE. You got a lot of stuff wet."
"AWESOME!" Impulse shouted, pumping his fists, "Totally worth it!"
"But next time, a little warning would be nice," Slipstream added. "I thought you were going to die."
"Slip, you never have to worry about me," Impulse assured her with a chuckle. "Look at how thick my armor is! I'm basically invincible."
"I guess…" Slipstream conceded, though a hint of concern lingered. "But still, a little warning would be nice."
"Definitely, definitely," Impulse nodded, pushing himself up. "So, what else did you wanna check out?"
"I don't know, maybe—" Slipstream started, but suddenly stopped as a garbage truck rumbled past, releasing thick fumes. She inhaled the scent, her face scrunching up as her nose twitched. "Ah… ah…" She reared up for a sneeze.
With a loud "ACHOO!" she sneezed, and to her horror, two null rays involuntarily emerged from her forearms.
"Woah! You still have null rays!" Impulse exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.
Slipstream looked down, startled by the weapons now protruding from her arms. "Ah! What are these?!"
"Null rays, classic Seeker weapons!" Impulse explained, marveling at the energy pulsing from the barrels.
"Weapons? What do they do?" Slipstream asked, growing more anxious by the second.
"Uh, you know, weapon stuff… like… killing."
"I don't want to kill anything! How do I get rid of them?" Slipstream frantically asked, trying to shake them off.
"I dunno, try sneezing again."
"What's sneezing?"
"The thing you did with your nose and the yelling. Here, lemme help." Impulse said, rubbing the bottom of her nose.
"Impulse, what are you—" she began, but then felt another sneeze coming. "Ah… ah… it's working—"
"ACHOO!"
This time, instead of retracting, the null rays fired. Her right null ray hit a street lamp, sending it crashing down onto a car in the street with a loud bang. Her left null ray, unfortunately, struck Impulse square in the foot, causing him to jump back with a yelp.
"Oh Impulse! I'm SO sorry!" Slipstream quickly apologized, staring at the damage she'd unintentionally caused.
As Slipstream looked around, she saw the humans nearby getting increasingly frightened and angry. They pointed, yelled, and started backing away from her and Impulse. "Sorry, sorry, I'm still new to this!" Slipstream quickly apologized, but it only made the humans more terrified, especially as her null rays remained pointed at them. Realizing her mistake, she began to panic. "Oh, uh, sorry, I'm not going to hurt you! I just... uh... Impulse, please help me!"
"Uh... what if you try thinking really hard about them going away?" Impulse suggested, not entirely sure how to help.
Slipstream focused hard, willing the null rays to retract into her arms, but nothing happened.
"Hmm, that usually works," Impulse mumbled, scratching his head. Then he spotted something. "Oh hey, Jeopardy!" he yelled as Jeopardy and Stormsurge finally arrived downtown.
"Jeopardy!" Slipstream called out, turning toward him, accidentally aiming her null rays in his direction. Jeopardy instinctively stepped in front of Stormsurge, who flinched at the sight of the weapons.
"Slipstream, why do you have those out?" Jeopardy asked, quickly assessing the situation.
"I don't know!" Slipstream said, panicked. "I sneezed and they popped out. Now I can't get rid of them!"
"Alright, just stay calm and don't make any sudden movements," Jeopardy instructed, carefully approaching her to avoid any more accidental discharges. He began inspecting the null rays. "Looks like you've already had an accident with these."
"How'd you figure that out?" Impulse asked innocently.
Jeopardy pointed at the streetlamp that had fallen onto a smashed car.
"Well... that could've already been there," Impulse suggested, trying to downplay it.
"Also, your foot is bleeding," Jeopardy noted, motioning to Impulse's leaking energon.
"Oh yeah..." Impulse mumbled, looking down at his damaged foot.
Jeopardy returned his focus to Slipstream, trying to manually retract the null rays. "Hmm... the extension mechanism is jammed."
"Can you fix it?" Slipstream asked, worried.
"Not here. I'll need to remove them for now to prevent any more misfires."
"You can't remove her null rays!" Impulse protested. "That'd be like taking off her wings! Plus, they're SO cool. What if the Decepticons show up? She needs them."
"It's not permanent," Jeopardy reassured him. "We'll reattach them later." After a few careful adjustments, Jeopardy successfully removed the null rays from Slipstream's arms. "There. We'll fix these back at the base," he said, gesturing for Slipstream to follow him. "Sorry, Storm, gotta cut this short. Duty calls."
"It's alright, I understand," Stormsurge said, not taking it personally.
"And hey, while you're gone, I can show Stormsurge my new nap spot by the Art Institute," Impulse added, still limping.
"The Art Institute?" Stormsurge's interest was piqued, VERY piqued.
"Oh yeah, it's this big building full of weirdly shaped rocks and colors by the parks full of weird shapes and metal stuff and rocks," Impulse said enthusiastically.
"Show me," Stormsurge said, eager to see the place for herself.
"Okay, follow me!" Impulse said, leading the way, already forgetting about his injured foot.
Back at the base, Jeopardy brought Slipstream into the medical bay and began inspecting the mechanisms in her forearms. He carefully examined the jammed components of the null ray extenders, working with precision to free the mechanism. After some time, he finally figured it out. With a soft click, the extended pieces retracted back into her forearms, and the arm panels closed smoothly again.
"Alright, now try to do what triggered the mechanism before, and I'll reattach the null rays," Jeopardy instructed.
Slipstream focused, this time willing the mechanisms to activate without any accidents. The null ray compartments opened properly, extending just as they were meant to. Satisfied, Jeopardy reattached the null rays, and Slipstream practiced retracting them smoothly back into her forearms.
"There. Everything's working as it should now," Jeopardy said, giving her a nod. "But remember, don't bring them out unless it's absolutely necessary. These aren't toys, they're deadly weapons."
"I get it," Slipstream agreed, her voice calm but serious.
Jeopardy glanced at her leg, his medic's instinct kicking in. "How's your leg holding up?"
"Feeling better," she responded, flexing her foot slightly to show the improvement.
"How about your arm?"
"Not as sore as before."She answered, trying to form a fist, now it closed slightly more than last time.
"Any issues with body temperature?" Jeopardy asked, as she still lacked a functioning temperature regulator.
"It's a bit chilly, but I don't feel very uncomfortable."
"That's fortunate, I should be done with your replacement regulator tomorrow morning."
Then, she hesitated before speaking again. "Sorry about what happened downtown."
Jeopardy waved it off. "No worries. This is just your second day. Things will keep getting better. What matters is no one was severely hurt."
Slipstream sighed. "Everyone seemed scared of me, like they thought I was dangerous. But... we're not dangerous, right?"
Jeopardy paused, weighing his response carefully. "Not inherently. But we do have to be careful where we step, literally and figuratively. These people have never seen anything like us, Slipstream. And people tend to fear what they don't understand. We have a responsibility to be mindful of how our actions affect them. On this world, we are titans."
Slipstream grew quiet, absorbing his words. The weight of her newfound existence among fragile, unfamiliar beings settled in. She wasn't just learning how to fly or navigate her new life, she was learning how to live responsibly in a world that wasn't hers.
"Well, I won't keep you long. Repairs are done. Go on, Impulse is probably waiting for you," Jeopardy said as he wrapped up his work. Slipstream gave him a grateful nod and turned to leave the medical bay, but as she approached the exit, she found herself blocked by Agent Simmons, his stern expression unyielding.
"You two want to explain what's going on?" Simmons asked.
Jeopardy stepped forward. "You're going to have to be more specific."
"First, HER being here," Simmons gestured sharply at Slipstream. "Second, the incident downtown,"
Jeopardy remained calm, but his voice was firm. "Slipstream is still adjusting to life here. What happened downtown was an accident."
Simmons scoffed. "Tell that to the media. What you call a simple accident, we call negligent discharge and wanton damage to public and private property. I think General Brice would like to know how a Decepticon somehow turned good overnight."
Jeopardy's optics narrowed. "Slipstream is no longer a Decepticon, and I will not tolerate her being treated as such."
Simmons took a step closer, his eyes hard. "Maybe we should bring her in for a proper vetting. Figure out what's really going on inside that processor of hers. For everyone's safety."
Jeopardy didn't flinch. Instead, he bent down, lowering himself to Simmons' level, his massive frame casting a long shadow over the agent. "Listen well, Simmons. Any threats or actions against Slipstream or anyone under my command will not be tolerated. If you want her, you'll have to go through me."
The tension hung thick in the air as the two locked eyes, the silence like a taut wire ready to snap.
"Is that so?" Simmons asked, his tone low, yet challenging.
"Verily," Jeopardy replied, his voice unwavering.
They stood there, locked in a silent standoff for a few moments longer, neither willing to back down. Finally, Simmons broke the silence, his voice dripping with cold formality. "I will report these developments and the incident downtown to my superiors."
"And the result?" Jeopardy asked, his optics still fixed on Simmons.
"Likely a slap on the wrist for now. But make no mistake," Simmons warned, his eyes narrowing. "If she becomes a problem, there WILL be consequences."
Jeopardy straightened, his expression resolute. "Rest assured, Simmons. That day will never come."
Simmons gave a final, skeptical look before turning to walk away. "We'll see about that," he muttered over his shoulder, leaving Jeopardy and Slipstream behind.
That evening, as dusk settled over the Chicago skyline, Hermit Crab quietly drove into the base, hoping no one would notice his extended absence. Transforming into his robot mode, he tried to slip unnoticed into his workshop, but before he could get far, Jeopardy's voice rang out from behind him.
"I thought I noticed something missing," Jeopardy said with a teasing grin.
Hermit froze, already formulating an excuse. "It's not what it looks like."
"Looks like you were out for a long time," Jeopardy continued, clearly amused. "I got here around, hmm, 4 in the afternoon. So, at minimum, you've been out for what, five megacycles? What happened to 'just a megacycle, but nothing more'?" He added, mockingly.
Hermit sighed. "I got sidetracked."
Jeopardy raised an optic brow. "What kind of sidetracked?"
"I found a local university south of here. It was... enlightening."
Jeopardy's teasing grin widened. "Just glad you talked to someone. Makes you think humans aren't such primitive organics, right?"
Hermit gave him a flat look. "No, but speaking to them on what they consider 'theoretical physics' is... interesting."
Jeopardy's smile softened, a hint of pride showing through. "Look at you, engaging with humanity."
Hermit, not amused, asked bluntly, "What's wrong with your face?"
Jeopardy chuckled. "Admit it, you enjoyed humanity."
"I engaged in scientific discourse," Hermit clarified, his tone defensive.
"And you learned from them."
"We conversed. Learning implies I discovered something new. I did not."
Jeopardy shook his head, still amused. "Come on, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I'm not ashamed," Hermit grumbled, already turning to his workbench. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ground bridge to finish."
"Yeah, yeah," Jeopardy said, waving it off. "But seriously, this is progress. You can't hide from it."
Hermit hesitated for a moment, before resuming his tinkering. "I prefer progress in my work. So if you'll excuse me, solitude is required for optimal performance."
Jeopardy smiled, stepping back towards the door. "Alright, just wanted to check in. Proud of you, Hermit."
Hermit grumbled something under his breath, but even in his silence, Jeopardy could tell the sentiment had gotten through.