- Cybertron
Iacon
Maximum Security Holding Facility
Looking around the room at the stasis cells that held what was left of his team Bun-Bun wondered not for the first time what he was going to say to them once he revived them.
Tracer & Disillusioned would take it the hardest initially. They were used to him playing straight with them. They’ll likely never trust him fully again.
“What have I done”
“What you’ve done” the wolflike security officer in front of him bellowed, trying and failing to intimidate the rabbit “What you’ve done is to launch an incursion into Autobot territory and attack a well respected maximal without provocation. Unfortunately for you, you’ve also underestimated the might and co-ordination of the Autobot Alliance!”
Oh look out we’ve got a badass over here. What a maroon.
“Now, little bunny, you and your misguided followers will taste the full might of Autobot justice! You will be put into stasis until such time as you can be transferred into protoforms and then shall be rehabilitated under my expert tutelage to be fine upstanding members of society.”
Bun laughed. “Amazing. Every word of what you just said is wrong. Are you really even still an officer here? I figured they would’ve busted you down to janitor after my last break out.”
“Why you stinkin’ muffler huffer…”Growling the officer rushed forward a couple steps.
“That’s enough.” A larger Autobot Bun had never seen before walked into the room, dismissing the still snarling officer from the room with a wave of her hand. “Mr. Bun-Bun. I hope you’re comfortable. I would give you the cell you're accustomed to but it's still being rebuilt from your previous visit.”
Walking over to inspect the stasis cells she continued. “You’ve assembled a fine team, though it's a shame half of it is missing. Terrible timing that little internal insurrection of yours. You Decepticons probably would have easily overrun us if you could have held things together.”
“Are you going somewhere with this? Or do you just like hearing yourself talk like Ol’ Fleabutt?”
“Direct & irreverent as always. Though we’ve never met I feel as though I know you from my time spent studying your dossier and from interviewing any Autobots who have had contact with you. Very well let's get to the point.”
Walking back to the seat Bun-Bun was strapped to she checked the restraints before sitting across the table from him.
“Despite what you may think about us the Bots are not stupid. Neither are we weak nor cowardly. But what do suffer from what was once described as ‘a distinct tactical deficiency.’ We would like to work on fixing that problem and that is where you come in. We would like you to do what others seem to believe you were doing all along: Defect.”
“Heh… Listen toots. I know I have a reputation for being vain & cocky but not even I am so deluded as to think my joining you would help you overpower the Cons.”
The larger Bot leaned forward, paused a moment, then seemed to think better of something and continued
“Yes, that would be a foolish belief indeed. As I said, we Autobots are not stupid. What we want from you is knowledge and experience. As part of the RDD you understand how to co-ordinate with other teams to increase overall effectiveness during territorial struggles, an area we have been lacking in as of late. Add to that you are largely responsible for the resurgence of their battle research, and you have even managed to acquire the assistance of some Autobots. What we want from you is to share your knowledge in these areas and train our troops while fighting alongside them.”
“And what exactly do I get for helping you out. Don’t give some BS about my freedom or dumb threats about being locked up. We both know I can get out of here easily especially once the RDD realize…”
“The RDD will not be coming for you. Neither will any of the unaligned teams.” The Autobot produced a pad and pushed it across the table so the rabbit could see the data displayed “It would appear you have burned a few bridges lately. Psychout seems to be more than a little upset at your hijacking of his network and the Cons that followed you are starting to understand the amount of misinformation you feed them to continue fighting. You are alone Bun-Bun. An outcast. What I’m offering you is protection from your former allies that won’t hesitate to attack you now and assurances that the Autobots will not. Unless provoked of course.”
Studying the pad a for a few more moments the rabbits ears drooped.
“Fine. What are the terms?”
“The terms are simple and non-negotiable. You and your comrades will forfeit any Decepticon tech you have including your current forms. You will be provided with new bodies of your choice pending council approval. You will be on probation until such time as the council is convinced it is no longer needed. You will accept Autobot liaisons into your team. Results of all further experiments you conduct will presented to the council. You will act as tactical & research advisor when council requests it.”
“That all?”
“Just one last thing. I will be one of those liaisons and if you ever call me ‘toots’ again I have no problem sending you back to the Cons in very small pieces. The name is Sideslip. Learn it.” without saying another word or looking back she walked out leaving the Bunny alone with his thoughts and the data pad.
“Quite a piece of work. Ain’t she Psychout?”
Ejecting out of the datapad and transforming, the cassetticon made himself at home in the newly vacated seat. “I’m sure you’ll grow on her. Too late to back out of our deal now.”
“Yes. About our deal. I’ve held up my end. I let myself get caught and convincingly turned Bot so that I could help bolster their side of the war and increase your war profits. What about your side of things?”
“I’ve got your old troops in storage at your base which will stay in lock down all comfy cozy on Neo Kaon should you return.”
“WHEN I return. I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. The data I gather doing experiments from this side of the war better be worth it or I swear to Tammuz I will modelock you, fill you with Kenny G music, and let you play in a locked room for a couple hundred years.”
“Trust me. When this is over we’ll both come out winners. Now if you excuse me I gotta make my exit. You think you got it bad, you don’t wanna know where I’m gonna have to stick myself to get outta here. Later.”
Left alone for real this time just waiting for his inevitable reformatting he considered again all of his former teammates that he’d betrayed for this scheme… the ones in this room most of all.
“What have I done.”
In his heart though he knows the answer. He did what he had to do for the future.
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Congratulations Autobots!
You’ve won the tie breaker in the 1 Week(end sometimes) Wars that Wingz & I started 10 months ago. Feels longer, so much has happened since then. Even though she couldn't participate much this time around due to RL it's always a pleasure working with Wingz. She's got great ideas and is wonderful asset to the community here.
And now, Autobots, for your prize you get possibly the worst kept secret in recent HMW history: Me
When I originally pitched this idea to Wingz the plan was that the loser would get me as punishment (assuming the Bots would fight harder with the threat of me joining them over their heads but things evolved lol)
I've been told that once Burn feels it's time I shall be switched over.
I want to thank Burn for this and for the nice surprise of the event specific missions.
Also a special thanks to Ryan for giving Burn the tools and leeway to do what he thinks helps the game & makes it more fun for us.
I'm really excited for the return of the Campaign for Cybertron and hope that this trend of events with real in-game support & implications continues.
And finally thanks to all that participated. Without people playing and adding ideas in the thread it wouldn't have been nearly as fun and the story wouldn't have evolved as it did.