by Raven Guard » Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:19 pm
Thundercracker saw his optics looked brighter, a hard glitter making them stand out. He was close enough to feel his fury, unaware his anger was just as evident. On the stage, the solitary figure of Soundwave also noticed and took note of the trine.
The assembly was dismissed, with the exception of the first term cadets. They were taken back to their rooms to retrieve the few possessions they owned and then escorted out. The three Seekers stood outside with Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge, another trine they referred to derisively as the Coneheads.
“Well?” Ramjet asked, breaking the stunned silence. “What do we do now?”
“This is it-we’re screwed. All of us. If we…” Dirge was in a panic.
“Shut up!” Thrust shouted at him. Dirge always irritated him. Pessimistic even during the best of times, he didn’t want to listen to him whine when he was still trying to absorb the shock of their dismissal.
“When do we get our stipends?” Starscream asked.
“I was told the credits should be available within two solar cycles.” Thrust said.
“Not good enough. Go back and insist you be given yours now”.
“What? You think they’ll do it if we ask nicely?” Thrust asked sarcastically.
The hard glint came back and there was an edge in Starscream’s voice that hadn’t been there before.
“No. Don’t ask; demand you be given your stipends. We have nothing to lose. We’re not cadets anymore, remember?”
He began to walk away. “Wait!” Thundercracker yelled after him. “Where are you going?”
“To the Science Academy. My position isn’t tied to the War Academy’s budget.” He looked at him and whispered into his audio.
“After you get the stipends, ask to go to your office. Tell them you forgot something, anything, just get in. Take ‘Warp with you.” He looked into his optics for emphasis.
“Take everything and anything you can sell”
“You want me to steal?” Thundercracker had never stolen anything before. Of the three, he was the most ethical. With a determination and intensity that was almost feral, he bore down on Thundercracker.
“We’re on our own now. Our survival comes first”.
He drew back.
“Wait for me at the tavern. And lose the Coneheads.”
Thundercracker nodded as he walked away.
The five Seekers weren’t the only cadets demanding their stipends. The forced leave had taken everyone by surprise, even the Academy staff. The besieged clerks were at a loss on how to deal with the confused and increasingly frustrated former cadets, who by now formed a formidable crowd. Finally, after a contentious round of negotiations between the Senate and the Academy's administrators, the funds were released. After verifying the credits, they gathered in the lobby.
“Well, we’ll see you around” Thundercracker said as he and Skywarp left.
“Where are you going?” Ramjet asked.
“I left some things in my office. Stay in touch” he said, not really caring if they did or not.
Skywarp hurried after him. “What did you leave in your office?” he asked, knowing it was a ruse.
Thundercracker grabbed him.
“Keep your voice down!” he whispered. “Listen up, this is the plan…”
Explaining what Starscream told him, he noticed Skywarp’s optics brightening.
“That should be easy. The femme that works at the desk is my friend.”
Now it was Thundercracker’s turn to be surprised.
“Your friend?”
“Well, more than a friend.”
“What do you mean, more than a friend?”
Skywarp looked at him. Hadn’t he noticed?
“Look, she’s a very good friend and sometimes we…”
Thundercracker waited. Sighing, he stopped him and whispered into his audio.
“Really? But you just met her!”
“Starscream’s right, you need to get out more. Look, there she is” Skywarp told him.
They approached the pale green femme who looked happy to see Skywarp.
“I just heard the news! What will you do?” she cried as she put her arms around Skywarp and embraced him.
“I’ll think of something” Skywarp said. Thundercracker looked away, wishing he’d hurry up.
“You remember TC, right?”
The femme looked at him. She didn’t.
“He left some data pads behind and really needs to get them. They belong to some geek at the Science Academy.”
“Sure, go ahead. But don’t tell anyone I let you in. I could get in trouble”.
“We won’t say a word. We’ll talk when I come back”
They walked in and noticed the place was deserted; everyone was in emergency meetings, discussing the funding cuts. Together, the two Seekers ransacked the place. Before leaving, Thundercracker remembered Starscream mentioned a project he was working on with someone from his department involving power chip rectifiers. While the technology was new, it was rumored to be very valuable. He slipped into the laboratory and took the box with the chips.
“Let’s go” he told Skywarp. “And don’t waste time with that femme”.
“Hey, I have to stay on her good side.”
“Whatever. Just remember, we don’t want to get caught.”
“Fine”.
They made their way out without being detected. As soon as they were out of sight, they began running when Skywarp stopped.
“What is it?” Thundercracker asked him.
“Why are we running?”
“The faster we leave, the better.”
“Yeah, so why run? Why not fly? I mean, who cares what we do, right? We’re on our own.”
Skywarp was right, Thundercracker thought. They had been cast out without a thought, to satisfy a greedy senator’s whim. Smiling in agreement, they transformed and flew to their destination.
They arrived at the tavern to find Starscream staring at the empty energon cube in his hands, contemplating their next move.
“Well?” he said, not looking up.
“We did it” Thundercracker said as Skywarp went off to get the cheapest high-grade the tavern sold.
“What did you get?”