Best Laid Plans, Chapter Six
Title: Best Laid Plans
Series: Pre-ROTF
Rating: T
Summary: Demolisher arrives on Earth too late, and Sideways brings with him more trouble than he's worth.
A/N: Warning, massive wall of radio chatter incoming!
Uploading transmissions queue.
Primary contact: Scrapper. Priority: High.
Connecting to primary contact...
“- I said I'd get to it in a moment.”
“I'm sorry?”
“Oh, my apologies Demolisher, wrong channel.”
“What do you mean wrong channel? Scrapper, I can hear you and Demolisher now.”
“Rampage, get off this frequency.”
“Hey, I was here fir-”
Static.
“Honestly. Demolisher, we'll be arriving on Earth in less than 10 hours. What is your current location?”
“South of Nag Hammadi, Egypt.”
“A bit of a ways off. We're making landfall in North America - Newfoundland to be exact. Considering we're out of range of the Earth satellites, we could use whatever information you've collected on this planet.”
“Sure, I'll upload what I've got right now. I've got some alt mode recs for you as well. Depending on where you land, it's not always easy to find something right away.”
“Appreciated. Are you alone?”
“No. I've been traveling with Barricade, Wheelie and Sideways. We've only just found Scorponok.”
“Good, good...”
“Scrapper?”
“I am sorry, Demolisher. I'm stretched a bit thin at the moment. Have you had any trouble with the local Autobots? Communications have not been the best between Earth and Cybertron.”
“I've noticed. And no, we've managed to stay under the radar. According to Barricade, they've been cooperating with the American military.”
“We've gathered as much. While the humans are primitive, they have proven to be a considerable threat. Even more so with Prime declaring the planet a veritable Autobot haven.”
“Don't remind me. While I'm glad you're all coming, what's the occasion?”
“Our primary mission is that of riving Lord Megatron. In order to do that, however, we must find the location of the Allspark shard, as well as Lord Megatron's body. The lack of information coming out of your position is making everyone on Cybertron impatient.”
“Where did this shard come from anyways? Barricade mentioned it once before.”
“Well, it was Barricade that discovered it to begin with. Apparently Prime handed the shard over to the American military for, ah, 'safe keeping'. It seems Barricade's intel gathering methods have suffered since the Autobots hooked their claws into the human communications network.”
“That's more than I've learned from him since I arrived. So all we know is that the humans have the Allspark shard and Lord Megatron's corpse?”
“Among other minor details, that is correct. What is your current assignment?”
“I don't have a current assignment, Scrapper. We've been sightseeing for months now.”
“... you've received no orders whatsoever?”
“The last thing I heard was 'orders pending' from you. All I got out of Barricade was that Soundwave was coming with more Decepticons, per the Fallen's orders.”
“Well, that is incredibly dated news. I assure you, once we're squared away on Earth, I will see to it that all of these inane loose ends are wrapped up.”
“It still astounds me that more hasn't been done on Earth before now.”
“May be you shouldn't be such a whiner, Demo, you've scared everyone off.”
“Rampage, I told you to get off this frequency.”
“Yeah, yeah...”
“Anyways... Demolisher, we can gladly blame Starscream for the delay. I cannot adequately express my eagerness to restore Lord Megatron as the rightful leader of our faction. Now, before we're interrupted again, is there anything else we need to discuss?”
“There is one last thing. I have something of a... problem.”
“How disappointing. Demolisher, usually you're so well behaved.”
“Ha ha. I am sorry to push this on you, but it has the potential to become a serious problem.”
“What is it?”
“Sideways. When he arrived, he was carrying a parasite that was consuming all of his Energon. In order to keep him alive, I had to carry him like a drone, and initiated a host/symbiote program. Long story short, the parasite is gone, but the symbiote connection did not fully sever. There are no longer any hardlines, but I can still feel him.”
“...”
“Scrapper?”
“Forgive me, Demolisher, I'm trying to filter seventeen different requests, complaints and commands at once, including preventing Mixmaster from deviating off course. I am not ignoring you. Give me a moment.”
“...”
“What do you mean, you 'feel' him?”
“I've never had a drone before, but I'm assuming that's what's happening. It's strongest when he experiences extreme emotions or is in considerable pain, and those emotions are broadcasted right through my processor. Since he's something of a magnet for trouble, it happens more often than I like.”
“Upload every line of code that you wrote, as well as the diagnostic scans you ran on the link. Did you record the data exchange during the symbiosis? I'll need that as well. Ah, and every instance in which you 'felt' it, so I can correlate and assess. Does he know?”
“I haven't told him, and he hasn't made any indication that he knows.”
“Keep it that way, in case he turns out to be the manipulative type. Have you used the link for anything, or is it just the unwelcome data uploads?”
“I... used it to calm him down a few times.”
“Another charity case, then? Demolisher, one of these days that's going to bite you in the aft. Actually, it already has, judging by what you've gotten yourself into.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Well, I'll look into it. In the meantime, you might want to talk to Scavenger. He's been waiting quite patiently to speak with you.”
“I know. And thanks.”
“...”
“...”
“...Rampage?”
“No, Scavenger. Just me.”
“Oh, good. I think Long Haul managed to distract Rampage enough to keep him from eavesdropping.”
“And what about you?”
“Ah, well... should I be worried about Sideways replacing me?”
“What do you think?”
“Just checking. I'm sorry things have been rough for you on Earth. We're all so relieved to have the Fallen back in our ranks. Hightower says it was worth the hassle just to see the look on Starscream's face when he found out he wasn't replacing Megatron.”
“I'd've liked to have seen that. Listen, I sent Scrapper some recommendations for alt modes. With any luck, the model I've chosen for you is available where you make landfall. It took me forever to find something suitable, as most Earth vehicles are small.”
“Wow, thanks! So, what have you been doing on Earth this whole time?”
“We've been waiting for Soundwave's arrival for weeks now. How is that you've beaten him here?”
“What? But - Soundwave left for Earth long before we did! In fact, Scrapper has to stop to see him before entering the atmosphere anyways!”
“...Soundwave has been here the entire time?”
“I can't believe he hasn't contacted you! Oh, there must be some sort of mistake, or -”
“-or he likes spying on his subordinates when he doesn't need them. Either way, I don't feel any better about it.”
“I'll let Scrapper know - he really hasn't said anything?”
“Not unless he's been speaking with Barricade, who will only take the time to tell me where to stick my alternator.”
“Oh. Sounds like he'd get along with Rampage.”
“I think they'd kill each other.”
“Long Haul, then?”
“No, Barricade has very low tolerance for griping. He might get on with Overload, if only because they'd ignore each other.”
“Hm. Well, I don't -”
“...Scavenger?”
“Oh, Demolisher, I've got to go. Scrapper says we need a communications blackout because there's an Autobot ship nearby.”
“Be careful. See you soon.”
“...”
“...”
Signal lost. Transmission terminated.
A/N: Bit of a filler chapter, but there were some things that needed to be said.
Series: Pre-ROTF
Rating: T
Summary: Demolisher arrives on Earth too late, and Sideways brings with him more trouble than he's worth.
A/N: Warning, massive wall of radio chatter incoming!
Uploading transmissions queue.
Primary contact: Scrapper. Priority: High.
Connecting to primary contact...
“- I said I'd get to it in a moment.”
“I'm sorry?”
“Oh, my apologies Demolisher, wrong channel.”
“What do you mean wrong channel? Scrapper, I can hear you and Demolisher now.”
“Rampage, get off this frequency.”
“Hey, I was here fir-”
Static.
“Honestly. Demolisher, we'll be arriving on Earth in less than 10 hours. What is your current location?”
“South of Nag Hammadi, Egypt.”
“A bit of a ways off. We're making landfall in North America - Newfoundland to be exact. Considering we're out of range of the Earth satellites, we could use whatever information you've collected on this planet.”
“Sure, I'll upload what I've got right now. I've got some alt mode recs for you as well. Depending on where you land, it's not always easy to find something right away.”
“Appreciated. Are you alone?”
“No. I've been traveling with Barricade, Wheelie and Sideways. We've only just found Scorponok.”
“Good, good...”
“Scrapper?”
“I am sorry, Demolisher. I'm stretched a bit thin at the moment. Have you had any trouble with the local Autobots? Communications have not been the best between Earth and Cybertron.”
“I've noticed. And no, we've managed to stay under the radar. According to Barricade, they've been cooperating with the American military.”
“We've gathered as much. While the humans are primitive, they have proven to be a considerable threat. Even more so with Prime declaring the planet a veritable Autobot haven.”
“Don't remind me. While I'm glad you're all coming, what's the occasion?”
“Our primary mission is that of riving Lord Megatron. In order to do that, however, we must find the location of the Allspark shard, as well as Lord Megatron's body. The lack of information coming out of your position is making everyone on Cybertron impatient.”
“Where did this shard come from anyways? Barricade mentioned it once before.”
“Well, it was Barricade that discovered it to begin with. Apparently Prime handed the shard over to the American military for, ah, 'safe keeping'. It seems Barricade's intel gathering methods have suffered since the Autobots hooked their claws into the human communications network.”
“That's more than I've learned from him since I arrived. So all we know is that the humans have the Allspark shard and Lord Megatron's corpse?”
“Among other minor details, that is correct. What is your current assignment?”
“I don't have a current assignment, Scrapper. We've been sightseeing for months now.”
“... you've received no orders whatsoever?”
“The last thing I heard was 'orders pending' from you. All I got out of Barricade was that Soundwave was coming with more Decepticons, per the Fallen's orders.”
“Well, that is incredibly dated news. I assure you, once we're squared away on Earth, I will see to it that all of these inane loose ends are wrapped up.”
“It still astounds me that more hasn't been done on Earth before now.”
“May be you shouldn't be such a whiner, Demo, you've scared everyone off.”
“Rampage, I told you to get off this frequency.”
“Yeah, yeah...”
“Anyways... Demolisher, we can gladly blame Starscream for the delay. I cannot adequately express my eagerness to restore Lord Megatron as the rightful leader of our faction. Now, before we're interrupted again, is there anything else we need to discuss?”
“There is one last thing. I have something of a... problem.”
“How disappointing. Demolisher, usually you're so well behaved.”
“Ha ha. I am sorry to push this on you, but it has the potential to become a serious problem.”
“What is it?”
“Sideways. When he arrived, he was carrying a parasite that was consuming all of his Energon. In order to keep him alive, I had to carry him like a drone, and initiated a host/symbiote program. Long story short, the parasite is gone, but the symbiote connection did not fully sever. There are no longer any hardlines, but I can still feel him.”
“...”
“Scrapper?”
“Forgive me, Demolisher, I'm trying to filter seventeen different requests, complaints and commands at once, including preventing Mixmaster from deviating off course. I am not ignoring you. Give me a moment.”
“...”
“What do you mean, you 'feel' him?”
“I've never had a drone before, but I'm assuming that's what's happening. It's strongest when he experiences extreme emotions or is in considerable pain, and those emotions are broadcasted right through my processor. Since he's something of a magnet for trouble, it happens more often than I like.”
“Upload every line of code that you wrote, as well as the diagnostic scans you ran on the link. Did you record the data exchange during the symbiosis? I'll need that as well. Ah, and every instance in which you 'felt' it, so I can correlate and assess. Does he know?”
“I haven't told him, and he hasn't made any indication that he knows.”
“Keep it that way, in case he turns out to be the manipulative type. Have you used the link for anything, or is it just the unwelcome data uploads?”
“I... used it to calm him down a few times.”
“Another charity case, then? Demolisher, one of these days that's going to bite you in the aft. Actually, it already has, judging by what you've gotten yourself into.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Well, I'll look into it. In the meantime, you might want to talk to Scavenger. He's been waiting quite patiently to speak with you.”
“I know. And thanks.”
“...”
“...”
“...Rampage?”
“No, Scavenger. Just me.”
“Oh, good. I think Long Haul managed to distract Rampage enough to keep him from eavesdropping.”
“And what about you?”
“Ah, well... should I be worried about Sideways replacing me?”
“What do you think?”
“Just checking. I'm sorry things have been rough for you on Earth. We're all so relieved to have the Fallen back in our ranks. Hightower says it was worth the hassle just to see the look on Starscream's face when he found out he wasn't replacing Megatron.”
“I'd've liked to have seen that. Listen, I sent Scrapper some recommendations for alt modes. With any luck, the model I've chosen for you is available where you make landfall. It took me forever to find something suitable, as most Earth vehicles are small.”
“Wow, thanks! So, what have you been doing on Earth this whole time?”
“We've been waiting for Soundwave's arrival for weeks now. How is that you've beaten him here?”
“What? But - Soundwave left for Earth long before we did! In fact, Scrapper has to stop to see him before entering the atmosphere anyways!”
“...Soundwave has been here the entire time?”
“I can't believe he hasn't contacted you! Oh, there must be some sort of mistake, or -”
“-or he likes spying on his subordinates when he doesn't need them. Either way, I don't feel any better about it.”
“I'll let Scrapper know - he really hasn't said anything?”
“Not unless he's been speaking with Barricade, who will only take the time to tell me where to stick my alternator.”
“Oh. Sounds like he'd get along with Rampage.”
“I think they'd kill each other.”
“Long Haul, then?”
“No, Barricade has very low tolerance for griping. He might get on with Overload, if only because they'd ignore each other.”
“Hm. Well, I don't -”
“...Scavenger?”
“Oh, Demolisher, I've got to go. Scrapper says we need a communications blackout because there's an Autobot ship nearby.”
“Be careful. See you soon.”
“...”
“...”
Signal lost. Transmission terminated.
A/N: Bit of a filler chapter, but there were some things that needed to be said.