Trains, Planes, and Autobots
Summary Fic Part 9
((this ones gonna be a bit longer))
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Bumblebee is speeding down the highway with Thrash following closely. Bee radios Nightshade and asks if they can see the three decepticons from the air. Nightshade responds that they have not yet spotted any of the cars.
Bee sighs and thanks Nightshade asking that they continue keeping an eye out. He then grumbles about having gotten a late start.
Alex tries to reassure Bumblebee saying that they're bound to catch up to Breakdown sooner or later. Especially with the other working on finding out who he looked up. With any luck, they can figure out where hes going and will be able to catch up at the location.
Bumblebee says that he doesnt want it to come to that. He knows Optimus ordered him not to confront Breakdown, but Bee wants a chance to talk to him before things get too out of hand.
Thrash pulls up alongside Bee and casually asks how he and Breakdown know each other. Admitting that ever since Breakdown "got Bee caught" he's been wanting to know.
Bee repeats that Breakdown didn't "get me caught" and in fact rescued him from being taken in by GHOST.
Thrash just reminds him that he was only there to help Breakdown in the first place so it amounts to the same thing.
Bee gets a little heated and asks if Thrash is just going to disregard everything he has to say about Breakdown.
Thrash backs off a bit and asks Bumblebee why hes getting so upset.
Bumblebee calms down a little and apologizes. He knows Thrash, Ratchet, and everyone else is just concerned but its difficult for Bumblebee to fully give up on Brakdown.
Thrash asks if he can tell him about it as its "just you, me, and the open road." though after a moment adds "oh and nightshade and dad too I guess"
Nightshade reveals they've been listening in by piping in that they would ALSO very much like to hear more about Bumblebees history with Breakdown.
Bumblebee caves and tries to begin only to be interrupted by Alex asking that, if they're going to have a story time if it'd be possible for them to go through a drive thru so he could get a soda first.
This is met wtih silence by all three of the bots. Alex gets the hint, apologizes and tells Bee to carry on.
Bumblebee explains that he and Breakdown were amongst the last hundred or so few bots "born" on cybertron before the loss of the allspark. Breakdown being one of the last bots constructed and Bumblebee being one of the last forged.
Nightshade interrupts and asks for clarification on what "constructed and forged" means. Bumblebee is about to explain when Thrash interrupts and begs Nightshade not to make him sit through another lecture. Saying that theyre on a mission and they've alerady learned enough about "history and junk". He just wants to know about Breakdown.
Bumblebee asks if he's going to be allowed to tell his story.
Nightshade apologizes and asks that he go on ahead.
Bee tells him that while they both emerged around the same time Breakdown is a bit older than him. Kinda like how Thrash is older than Nightshade.
It didn't take long for the two to meet as, since there weren't that many other cybertronians in their "generation" and they all were more or less thrown together. He and breakdown both shared a love for racing and would sneak out frequently to race each other in the open air outside the cities. Occasionally they'd even play hooky from their official duties. Breakdown a bit more than bumblebee.
They were both workers to begin with. Neither were particularly happy about the work they were doing and would complain to each other. Bee was careful not to be heard while Breakdown... Well breakdown was never very good at careful. He got caught and scolded more than once.
Bee confesses that Breakdown always enjoyed doing things, well, dangerously.
Thrash enthuses that he can see why. He admits that the way Bee talks makes him think that young Bee must've lived so "excitedly".
Bee reflects that Ratchet was almost definitely right about Breakdown being a potentially bad influence.
Out loud he tells Thrash that he wouldn't have liked growing up like he and Breakdown had. Things weren't exactly... Luxurious for them.
Nightshade asks if Breakdowns dissatisfaction and his love of danger were why he joined the decepticons.
Bumblebee admits he doesn't fully know. Breakdown and he... Well they sorta wound up separated for a time. During that time things were escalating as the Decepticons formed and gained members until eventually fighting broke out.
During all the craziness Bumblebee met Optimus and, thanks to him, Bee saw the importance of what the Autobots were trying to preserve. So he wound up working with Optimus and the others.
Eventually he did meet up with Breakdown again.
Wearing a decepticon badge.
Bumblebee admits that at first he thought he had to rescue Breakdown from the decepticons. Thinking his friend had been forced into joining or otherwise tricked.
However Breakdown made it very clear that joining them was entirely his own choice and even tried just as hard to get Bumblebee to leave the autobots and join up with him. As the war raged on and things got worse they were both forced to recognize that they were on opposite sides of the war and went their seperate ways.
Thrash asks if he was angry that Breakdown became a decepticon and Bumblebee admits that he was a little but mostly he was hurt and confused. He and Breakdown had had a lot in common before the war and it had surprised him that his old friend, someone who was almost a brother to him, could make such a different decision. When they became stranded on earth and the war more or less ended Bee had hoped Breakdown would leave the decepticons and join back up with him. If only to make life a bit easier on himself.
However he never did.
Bumblebee never really stopped thinking of Breakdown as his friend, and when he caught up with him during races after the war, he was pleased to find that Breakdown seemed to feel the same. Not that it changed what had already happened between them. He insists Breakdown is just a "reckless idiot" whose not really that bad. He can be selfish and doesnt have the best opinion of humanity, but he never, on his own, went out of his way to harm humanity.
Nightshade quietly points out that Ratchet had mentioned that the "Menasor" that Breakdown formed into, had caused a lot of destruction.
Bumblebee hesitates before admitting that that was true. However he chalks it up to the influence of the other stunticons. Combiners are a combination of several minds after all. Breakdown would be at a 4-1 disadvantage. He wouldn't have participated in any of that normally.
None of the others respond.
Bumblebee repeats that he wouldn't.
Alex breaks the tension by asking if anyone wants to listen to his roadtrip playlist.
Bumblebee lets out a deep sigh.
After a moment he admits that, yeah actually, he could go for that right now.
---
Back at the Malto's Ratchet is deadpanning a repeated explanation of combiners that he had given the day before yesterday. Hashtag is 'directing' the re-enactment and having Mo, Robbie, and Schloder fill in for Thrash, Twitch, and Nightshade and herself as Breakdown.
Hashtag tries to get Ratchet to get more into the acting but one glare from him makes her back off.
Hashtag asks Jawbreaker if he can remember during what part of the explanation he saw Breakdown looking up the mystery bot. Jawbreaker thinks about it and says that he thinks it was either in the middle of the explanation or near the end.
Robbie says that makes sense as it'd mean most of them would be concentrated on Ratchet rather than the computer. He asks if Ratchet can remember how long the explanation ran on. The medic says that it couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes. Robbie says that that means he couldn't have been looking at the file for very long and wonders aloud if that would have given him enough time to make a copy.
Ratchet thinks about it and says that its unlikely.
Robbie concludes that that must mean Breakdown was looking for a specific piece of information since reading the whole file would have taken too much time.
Jawbreaker asks why that matters, and Robbie says that it means that the person Breakdown looked up had to be someone he didn't need the complete file about.
Ratchet says that that is a reasonable thing to assume. When looking up the Stunticons, he recalls Breakdown was largely looking into their status, who was and wasn't captured, etc. So its possible he may have been looking for the same information about the bot he looked up.
Hashtag also points out that he must have also known his name in order to look it up. So did that imply it was someone he knew?
Ratchet hums and says that its not guranteed as a lot of the autobots and decepticons only know about one another via reputation. However the idea that Breakdown would be more likely to look up and seek out a con he was already associated with made sense. He says that if all other attempts to discover the individual fails they can speak to Megatron and ask if he can recall which cons were close to Breakdown outside of the Stunticons.
Schloder sighs and says that its a lot of speculation but not getting them any closer to a name.
Mo suggests that, for now, they just sit Jawbreaker in front of the screen and start flipping through the files one at a time until they find the one they're looking for. Or at the very least write down the name of every red colored con.
Hashtag groans that that would take forever. But Robbie says that it might be all they could do for now. At least until they can get more information.
Ratchet says that that might be all they can hope for.
Ratchet suddenly hears Wheeljack over the comms and excuses himself to take the call.
Jawbreaker sits down clearly disheartened. Mo asks if hes alright, and Jawbreaker responds that no, he isn't. He says that Twitch, Thrash, and Nightshade could all be in danger on their missions while hes sitting here failing to remember information that could help them all. He feels anxious and upset with himself for not saying something the moment he saw Breakdown accessing the console. Robbie tells him he had no way of knowing it was something sneaky and it was an honest mistake. He and Mo were gone at the time Breakdown came to the house, but points out that Breakdown succeeded in fooling Bumblebee so its no surprise Jawbreakder didn't register him as a threat.
Jawbreaker confesses that hes still a bit surprised about that. Breakdown was so relaxed and friendly when he was there. Bumblebee clearly trusted him. And he knows Bee wouldn't have let him anywhere near him if he'd thought Breakdown was any danger to the terrans.
Mo suggests there might still be a chance that what Breakdown was doing was actually harmless, but Robbie shoots it down. Saying that its too much to believe that Breakdown just coincidentally came there to look up the other stunticons in the database when just months before Motormaster had gotten out of prison. Mo acknowledges that tis unlikely but not impossible. Robbie just sighs at his sisters insistence.
Ratchet returns and tells them he's spoken to Wheeljack and has some good news to report to their two "teams" in the field.
---
Dorothy looks out of the window from Megatrons cockpit and reminices that it reminds her of how he'd fly her around during the war. Megatron reflects that they were good times and tells Dorothy frankly that so far shes still the only human hes allowed to ride along in his alt mode in this way. Dot points out that hes airlifted several people in the past, but Megatron argues its not the same thing.
Carrying humans during a combat or emergency scenario is different from riding with her casually like this.
She thinks about it and agrees that she can see why the thought might make him uncomfortable. After all she wouldn't want people just riding around inside her body wily nily. Megatron laughs and tells her he doesnt mind it if its her since he knows he can trust her.
Dorothy pauses and ask if she can ask Megatron an extremely personal question. One that might make him uncomfortable.
Megatron gives her the go ahead and Dorothy carefully asks Megatron if hes ever had a relationship like the one Ratchet described to her; a conjunx endura.
Megatron stammers a bit and says that that IS a very personal question.
She apologizes and tells him he doesn't have to answer if he doesn't want to.
Megatron sighs and tells her its alright. He admits that there had been bots in his past whom he could have imagined himself developing such a relationship with, but that they never came to be. His cause and his vision had always come first before anything else to him, and he expected the same thing from his men and comrades during the war. He had long since forbidden any of the decepticons from fraternizing with each other.
Dorothy is surprised and asks to clarify if he really banned them from ever getting married.
Megatron replies affirmatively but defends his decision by pointing out that the Decepticons were not a pre-existing military group. There was no such ban on relationships back when they were just another political faction on prewar cybertron, but once the fighting broke out Megatron knew he needed to impose discipline onto his followers. Hence the ban.
He points out that he never made any secret about forbidding conjunxing when he recruited cons into the cause. They all knew what they were getting into when they signed up.
Megatron says that even knowing what he does now, and realizing all the mistakes hes made, he still feels that forbidding the Decepticons from conjunxing was the right decision.
The Conjunx Endura can be a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. But it introduced the possibility for heavy emotional conflict. He feared that the cons might make decisions detrimental to the war effort or even endanger entire teams and platoons, if they were too emotionally invested in a singular person. He tells her to imagine if a higher officer prioritized the safety of one group of cons over another because their conjunx was amongst them and how that could cost a lot of unnecessary losses as a result.
Dorothy begrudingly admits that she can see why he might feel that would be necessary. All the same, being a former soldier herself who is married and in love, she can't help but feel it was unfair.
Megatron acknowledges this, but also tells her such deep feelings are rare among their kind. Deep friendships, yes. Familial ties, yes. But romance is something most cybertronians never find.
Dot wonders if Megatron was more open to seeking something like that out now that the war was over and GHOST was gone.
Megatron handwaves the idea. Most of the cybertronians he could have ever considered such a relationship with were either dead, now hated him, on the other side of the universe, or otherwise... Besides, he was an old bot now. Fantasies about things like romance were for younger bots with more time on their hands.
His job, right now, was to ensure the safety of their species on Earth so that future generations like the Terrans would have a chance at such a thing for themselves.
Dorothy just hums in response and looks out the window down where Optimus was driving along the highway.
She radios in to ask how Twitch was doing riding along in Optimus' trailer. (She tried flying alongside for as long as she could but found she couldn't keep up with Optimus and Megatrons speeds for the long term)
Twitch responds that shes fine, though she wishes Optimus had a better road trip playlist.
Optimus, sounding offended, says he has a great road trip playlist!
Twitch groans and says hes played "Dare" three times already.
Megatron just responds that he LOVES that song!*
Dot tells Twitch to hang on as they should be arriving at their destination in just another hour or so.
She stops when she notices Megatron is receiving a message. When she takes the call its Ratchet calling in.
She asks if everything is alright back at the house, and Ratchet affirms its fine if a little dull. He reports that they've sadly made no progress on identify their mystery bot.
However, he tells them that Wheeljack has gotten back with him, and that his most recent project is ready for a test drive.
Optimus responds positively to the news.
Dorothy asks what this "project" is.
Optimus explains that he had set Wheeljack on attempting to create a downgraded version of groundbridge tech. After what happened with GHOST he wanted to try and have a system in place for emergency exists or to call in back up.
Ratchet says that unfortunately they had to stop using it until now because the default tech ate up too much energon. And attempts at reverse engineering the technology on Earth had seen little success. However, Ratchet says sardonically, thanks to GHOSTS secret little project that nearly wiped them all out, they made great strides on making a small scale groundbridge that was compatible with human technology and didn't guzzle energon.
Unfortunately the tradeoff is that this downgraded ground bridge will likely be weaker. Only being able to transport a handful of bots at a time, and only being able to remain open for a short window of time. Worse yet its efficacy is limited by distance. The farther away the target the weaker it is.
Optimus says that thats somewhat disappointing but that its still a great stride. Assuming, of course, that it works.
Ratchet scoffs and says that he's going to make sure Wheeljacks the one who tests it. Though he tells him that if they DO send one their way, to make sure to send Megatron in first.
Optimus says Ratchets name warningly. Ratchet says he was kidding, and Megatron scoffs to himself.
Feeling a bit of tension rising, Twitch cuts in and asks if Ratchet has told bumblebees group. If this stuff works it could cut their travel time by, like, a lot.
Ratchet tells her he was going to contact bumblebee next with the information while also collecting an update on the Breakdown situation. But he wanted to call Optimus and co first in case things with Deadend either go south or they need a bridge to bring him in.
Dorothy says thank you in an overly polite voice and Ratchet signs off.
A moment of silence passes before Twitch asks what that was about.
Dot says it was kind of rude and she doesnt appreciate Ratchets humor.
Megatron simply tells her that Ratchet doesn't like him, to which Optimus sighs and asks Megatron not to take it personally. Megatron asks how exactly hes not supposed to take it personally.
Twitch asks why Ratchet doesnt like Megatron.
Megatron says that Ratchet had been an autobot for longer than he and Optimus had been alive, and between forming the decepticons and one thing and another, he has never forgiven Megatron for his part in the war.
Optimus apologizes but says that Ratchet HAS accepted Megatron as one of them now, but that hes also stubborn and that it can take a long loooong while for him to change his tune towards someone. Frankly the fact that hes gotten used to Megs after just 15 years is a bit impressive.
Dorothy says Optimus talks about him like hes his stubborn old grandfather.
Optimus chuckles awkwardly and admits that hes known Ratchet since before he was even a Prime, and that he had more than a little influence on him as a young bot.
Twitch is surprised and says that that must make Ratchet, like, really really old. She asks exactly how old he is.
Dot reprimands Twitch, telling her its a rude question to ask.
Megatron agrees, though putting in a pot shot by adding that he and Optimus "aren't nearly THAT old"
Optimus says "NOW whose being rude?"
---
Breakdown and the Con Bros have stopped at a Truck stop where they're resting out of sight downing some of the energon they'd brought with them. While drinking Swindle says, while taking stock, that they'll likely have to leave the highway down the line to hunt down somewhere to steal energy. He asks Breakdown if he knows where there are any powerplants or dams or something that they could use to collect Energon.
breakdown doesnt seem to hear him as hes swirling his energon and seems to just be staring into space.
Hardtop asks if Breakdown heard him.
Breakdown blinks and seems to come back to himself. Apologizing and asking them to repeat the question.
Swindle and Hardtop share a look and ask if Breakdowns "head is in the game". Breakdown says that of course he is, he was just thinking things through.
Hardtop says that, in that case, breakdown must know where theres a place they can collect Energon.
Breakdown hesitates. He says that wherever they get it they'll want to be sneaky. They don't want to attract any attention by attacking humans or blowing junk up.
Swindle says that hes thinking too hard. So long as they drive fast enough after grabbing the energon nobody would know it was them so their methods hardly matter.
Breakdown growls and points out that, given Hardtop got arrested during a failed heist, they should be more careful. Hardtop gets in Breakdowns face and dares him to say that again. The two stare each other down before Breakdown laughs and says that his attempts at being intimidation were "nothing" compared to the people he used to drive with.
The sudden laugh throws both Con Bros for a loop giving breakdown a chance to change the subject and say that, since he doesnt have GPS and his paper map likely won't pinpoint powerplants for them, he'll leave finding sources of energy to the pair of them, and even let them carry out the raid on the condition that they don't attract attention, don't hurt any humans, or damage any buildings. Get in, get the energon, and then get out. Deal?
The Con Bros agree, and clarify that while they're working together that doesnt mean Breakdown gets to order them around.
Breakdown raises his hands and agrees. But begs that they listen to him about not attracting attention or causing damage. He wants to deliver them to "the good doctor" in good condition after all.
Swindle says suspiciously that he still hasn't told them who this doctor hes taking them to see is. How do they know he's legit?
Breakdown tells him cryptically that he knows he's legit. Explaining that after the stunticons were disbanded he was sent to work in the med bay where made the acquiantance with this doctor. As far as he knows he managed to evade getting captured by GHOST, and has been living largely under the radar for the past 15 years.
Hardtop demands to know his name but Breakdown refuses. Explaining that medics sympathetic to the cons were rare even during the war. If this trip somehow goes wrong, if they get captured by humans or autobots or whatever, breakdown doesnt want either of them using information about the medic to win leniency for themselves.
Swindle turns it around and asks why HE can be trusted not to sell the medic out.
Breakdown goes quiet and looks off for a moment before quietly saying that he'll never sell him out. Even if the autobots or humans kill him.
This shocks Swindle and Hardtop enough that they end the questions right then and there.
Breakdown tells them to finish off their energon because the moment they're done they're hitting the road again.
---
((
*This is the darkest transformers joke I have made thus far. If you know, you know.
))
