Chapter 2

I.

Megatron gave them instructions and departed for Cybertron to deal with Shockwave. The instant he was gone, Starscream found an excuse to disappear and contacted Skyfire to give him the pre-arranged signal. He returned to the conference room and he motioned Soundwave over.

“I want to have a word with you” he told him. “In the ready room”.

Turning to Astrotrain, he said “When I’m done, I’ll meet with you and the others". Astrotrain nodded.

When Soundwave and Starscream were in the ready room alone, he turned on him

“Do you want to explain yourself?”

“I do not understand” he replied in his monotone.

“You know what I mean. Why didn’t you tell Megatron what Shockwave was doing?”

“Shockwave convinced Megatron” he replied..

“Yes, but he listens to you. Again, why were you silent?”

“You had proof. I did not”.

Starscream was incredulous. “He nearly executed me!” Starscream shrieked, his optics flashing.

“But he did not”.

Soundwave was an enigma, but Starscream knew Soundwave liked playing all angles. He’d follow whoever was in command. Right now, he was in command.

“I’ll be watching you, Soundwave” Starscream warned. “Very carefully”.

Soundwave exhibited no emotion. It irritated Starscream but he needed him, at least until Megatron had been neutralized. He debated whether to kill him now or later. He decided not to; he’d have to deal with the Casetticons. Maybe later, he decided. Soundwave might still be useful.

“You can go now”, he said, dismissing him.

He called Astrotrain in.

“Are they ready?”

“Yes”.

“All of them?”

“All of them except the Constructicons” Astrotrain informed him..

“We’ll deal with them when the time comes. You’ll be in charge of operations. Thundercracker will be my second again”

“Is it time yet?”

“Almost. Get Thundercracker and Skywarp in here. I have an errand for them”.

Astrotrain left. He looked around; this was Megatron’s room. Soon, he thought, it will be mine. All of it.

Skywarp and Thundercracker came in.

They stared at Starscream, sitting in Megatron’s chair.

“Sit down”, he told him.

They sat down without taking their eyes off Starscream.

“Thundercracker, I’ve been thinking; maybe I was too harsh on you”.

Thundercracker’s optics widened in shock. It’s not like him to admit he’s wrong. He wants something. He waited.

“How would you like to have your old job back?”

What should he do? He looked at Skywarp. He was looking straight ahead.

“Sure”, he answered. “But what about Astrotrain?”

“Oh, he’s doing something else. Well, how about it?”

“Yes, I would like my old job back”.

“Then it’s settled. Of course, you have to do something for me”.

Here it comes.

He told both of them. Thundercracker was speechless.

“Well?"

He couldn’t answer.

“He’ll do it” Skywarp said, answering as he looked at him. “Right?”

“Yes, I’ll do it” he agreed, in a daze.

“Fine. Take this message to the Autobots”.

Thundercracker was about to protest when Skywarp took it from Starscream.

“Anything else?” Skywarp asked.

“Don’t mention this to anyone. Report back to me when you’re done”.

He scrutinized Thundercracker. Skywarp kicked him.

“Yes, Commander”, Thundercracker replied.

He saw them off with Astrotrain.

“How did you make out with Thundercracker?” Astrotrain asked him..

“Skywarp’s working on him. He’ll straighten him out.”

“What now?”

“We wait for the Autobots to do all the work” Starscream replied “They won’t know what hit them”.

II.

Springer was not a happy bot. He nearly choked during his meeting with Elita; still, orders were orders. Now, during the mission briefing, he saw the same look of shock and revulsion on the faces of his platoon.

“Are you sure that’s what she said?” Broadside demanded, his voice incredulous.

“Yeah”.

“And the big guy himself signed off on it?” Sandstorm asked.

“Yeah..

“I don’t fragging believe it”.

“Well, believe it. It’s a done deal”.

Roadbuster looked at Springer. If that’s what the orders were, that’s what they were. All he wanted to know was when and how.

“What’s the plan here?”

“Go in, hit them hard and don’t give ‘em any time to breathe. Oh, and destroy that little army of Shocky’s.”

The Seeker clones distressed them; apparently it had disturbed their enemy as well, to the point that they were working with each other.

“Anything else?” Springer asked, wanting to get the bitching out of the way before he went into the details.

Roadbuster grinned.

“What do we with Shockwave?”

Springer smiled.

“Whatever we can. If he doesn’t surrender, he’s to be eliminated”.

“You mean terminated”, Roadbuster said, wanting to make sure.

“Whatever”.

“Well, all right then. Let’s do it.”

III.

Thundercracker and Skywarp having delivered their message to the Autobots, returned to base to wait and argued with each other. Astrotrain and Starscream were in the ready room going over recent events, monitoring Cybertron and waiting for Megatron to confront Shockwave. Optimus Prime and Prowl were doing the same in the Ark. On Cybertron, Elita-One positioned her operatives and waited for a sign. The Wreckers were waiting for the go-ahead. Even Megatron was waiting, as drones left to summon Shockwave.

Only Shockwave, unaware of what about to happen, was not waiting; he was in his laboratory when a drone announced that Megatron was waiting to see him.

I wanted to write more but I’ve been putting too much off. Let me know if you liked it or didn’t. Thanks!