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headless_seeker// Midnight, report to the observation deck at once. // Shockwave's command was as unexpected as it was preemptory.
"What the--?" The large black Decepticon jet jerked his head up at the unexpected radio message. // Ah, acknowledged, sir. I'll be right up. //
Midnight set down the datapad he'd been contemplating; yet another transfer request, and hurried to the turbo-lift that led to the topmost level of Darkmount--the Observation Deck that looked out over the towers of Polyhex and beyond.
"Observation deck--that means Ole Shocky's got a bigwig, sure 'nuff," Midnight muttered. He almost yanked the sliding doors open in his hurry--
Then stopped dead as soon as he stepped through the door.
"You've been holding out on me, Shockwave," said a familiar, gravelly voice. The tall, gleaming silver robot standing next to Shockwave was utterly unmistakable. Megatron!
Oh scrap, I am in deep slag now. Midnight straightened up, strode forward and saluted. "Midnight reporting as ordered, sir."
"A rather impressive tech spec. Loyal and obedient, too," Megatron observed. There was something almost predatory in the way he looked Midnight up and down. "So this is the warrior who has been trying to get a transfer out of Polyhex for the last five years! Starscream certainly missed a bet." He chuckled evilly.
"I needed a heavy unit to defend strategic resources here," Shockwave said, his tone almost.. petulant? Midnight's optics widened imperceptibly. Maybe he wasn't the one in trouble this time.
"Not any more. The Autobots have been pushed off Cybertron, and I need all the heavy units available to keep pressure on the moon bases." Megatron looked directly at Midnight. "Can you lead a squadron?"
"Yes, sir! Who, and what's the target, sir?" Midnight saluted again.
Megatron smiled, pleased indeed. "I need a new commander for the 4th Air Group. You'll be replacing Cadence, who managed to get himself killed yesterday, and you'll report to Starscream. Immediately." The supreme leader of the Decepticons leaned intimidatingly close to Midnight. "Don't forget where your loyalties lie," he said in a harsh whisper.
Megatron straightened up. "Dismissed, warrior!"
Midnight, mindful of protocol, saluted and withdrew; he couldn't resist a quick glance at Shockwave. The big purple gun-former was, as ever, impossible to read--but Shockwave turned his head and glanced back, and for an instant, they locked gazes.
Databurst. Modulated laser transmission, completely private to Midnight, compressed under private key--something to be deciphered later. But for now, as Midnight hurried to his quarters to gather up what few possessions he had and valued--for now, there was but one thought.
Goodbye Polyhex, and good riddance!
"What the--?" The large black Decepticon jet jerked his head up at the unexpected radio message. // Ah, acknowledged, sir. I'll be right up. //
Midnight set down the datapad he'd been contemplating; yet another transfer request, and hurried to the turbo-lift that led to the topmost level of Darkmount--the Observation Deck that looked out over the towers of Polyhex and beyond.
"Observation deck--that means Ole Shocky's got a bigwig, sure 'nuff," Midnight muttered. He almost yanked the sliding doors open in his hurry--
Then stopped dead as soon as he stepped through the door.
"You've been holding out on me, Shockwave," said a familiar, gravelly voice. The tall, gleaming silver robot standing next to Shockwave was utterly unmistakable. Megatron!
Oh scrap, I am in deep slag now. Midnight straightened up, strode forward and saluted. "Midnight reporting as ordered, sir."
"A rather impressive tech spec. Loyal and obedient, too," Megatron observed. There was something almost predatory in the way he looked Midnight up and down. "So this is the warrior who has been trying to get a transfer out of Polyhex for the last five years! Starscream certainly missed a bet." He chuckled evilly.
"I needed a heavy unit to defend strategic resources here," Shockwave said, his tone almost.. petulant? Midnight's optics widened imperceptibly. Maybe he wasn't the one in trouble this time.
"Not any more. The Autobots have been pushed off Cybertron, and I need all the heavy units available to keep pressure on the moon bases." Megatron looked directly at Midnight. "Can you lead a squadron?"
"Yes, sir! Who, and what's the target, sir?" Midnight saluted again.
Megatron smiled, pleased indeed. "I need a new commander for the 4th Air Group. You'll be replacing Cadence, who managed to get himself killed yesterday, and you'll report to Starscream. Immediately." The supreme leader of the Decepticons leaned intimidatingly close to Midnight. "Don't forget where your loyalties lie," he said in a harsh whisper.
Megatron straightened up. "Dismissed, warrior!"
Midnight, mindful of protocol, saluted and withdrew; he couldn't resist a quick glance at Shockwave. The big purple gun-former was, as ever, impossible to read--but Shockwave turned his head and glanced back, and for an instant, they locked gazes.
Databurst. Modulated laser transmission, completely private to Midnight, compressed under private key--something to be deciphered later. But for now, as Midnight hurried to his quarters to gather up what few possessions he had and valued--for now, there was but one thought.
Goodbye Polyhex, and good riddance!
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(no subject)
7/6/07 16:23 (UTC)Midnight: I can no longer protect you; you are Megatron's now. Serve him loyally, and for your own protection, stay out of Starscream's schemes! Megatron will not dispense with the Air Commander, but he will dispose of anyone else foolish enough to turn against him. Avoid antagonizing Starscream; he is vindictive and will expend anyone who gets in his way.
.... Huh. Shockwave kept me around Polyhex to protect me? I started getting mad--I'm a Decepticon warrior, and don't need 'protecting', slaggit! Then I started thinking a bit, and realized what Shocky was talking about. I'm a good enough fighter and an okay leader--some days better than okay, and I wasn't going to remain in obscurity forever. The High Command is a dangerous place to live, and Shockwave was right--I didn't want to get caught in the crossfire between Starscream and Megatron!
The only way to avoid being noticed would have been some creative incompetence, and that just isn't me. Seriously. I got enough problems convincing some people I'm competent without trying to be deliberately incompetent!
(no subject)
7/6/07 19:44 (UTC)Yeah, sometimes I'm a bit dense. Seriously.
Now it bothered me that I'd been in such a hurry to get away from Polyhex--and away from Shockwave. It wasn't so much Polyhex, though--just the Smelting Pits. I'd had enough of those. Would have rather hung around the Darkmount defending the place, but Darkmount had plenty of defenses its own self. The Pits, though, were a 'strategic resource', and I've already been over that ground enough. But still...
Hope Shocky knows it isn't him I'm trying to get away from. It was the sameness, and the stink of the Smelting Pools that I had to get away from.