\u201cYou\u2019re telling me that Thunderhoof disobeyed me and put a hit on the D.J.D\u2019s assassin?!\u201d Starscream demanded of Skywarp the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe assassin\u2019s Nightbird. Despair not,\u201d assured Skywarp. \u201cI\u2019m actually due to visit Thunderhoof. Besides, he\u2019s become an annoyance. Last I heard, he\u2019s chatting with his little ninja after she let her target get away. I just need to tell them they\u2019re going after an\u2026innocent bot, as determined by police.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you can take care of this problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd have fun while doing so yet get the results you want. That reminds me, do you want him dead or alive?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDead. He\u2019s too much of a loose cannon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd his little assassin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026She may be of use. It was brought to my attention that her husband is on Cybertron, within Megatron\u2019s faction of Decepticons. Word gets out of you taking care of the Thunderhoof Mafia\u2019s head and Megatron loses an ally, pinning the blame on Nightbird and her husband.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGotcha. All right, see you later, barring any Autobot interference.\u201d Skywarp then ran across the runway that served as the balcony to Starscream\u2019s home and jumped, transforming to jet mode, and taking off towards the north. Sunstorm then came out of the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must spare nothing as we destroy the Autobot heathens!\u201d urged the Covenant-thumper. \u201cYou have the Heart of Cybertron! Its full power must be unleashed and-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, no, that won\u2019t be necessary,\u201d replied Starscream. \u201cModeration MUST be exercised here. I mean, yes, I can feel the Heart\u2019s power coursing through my circuits-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll need every bit of it, Starscream!\u201d called a new voice. The two Seekers turned to see Optimus and his team after they burst into the room! \u201cAutobots, ATTACK!\u201d called Optimus. Sonic opened with a spin-dash to Starscream\u2019s face and temporarily knocked him silly. He recovered quickly to see Sunstorm duck behind a couch to avoid the weapons fire. Starscream rolled his optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, I guess moderation\u2019s out the window if YOU\u2019RE gonna be a home invader, Floptimus Prime!\u201d He then fired magenta lightning from both hands and struck Optimus square in the chest, sending him sprawling into a wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPRIME!\u201d called Rattrap. Thankfully, his paint didn\u2019t fade to gunmetal gray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Autobots!\u201d taunted Starscream. \u201cFollow your leaders orders and ATTACK!\u201d He fired again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh man, this is bad!\u201d gulped Rattrap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s only one alternative; ATTACK!\u201d snarled Slash. \u201cWe storm his position and-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re on the wrong wavelength there, Lizard-lips! WE RUN!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh yes? And just where do we run, Rodent?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnywhere but here! He\u2019ll blow us away if we attack!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll blow us away if we just stand here!\u201d growled Grimlock. \u201cCHARGE!\u201d Everyone rushed at Starscream, only for him to fire a blast that knocked everyone to the floor. Sonic got himself ready to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHope I get lucky!\u201d he wished himself. He ran around Starscream, creating a tornado with the Seeker in the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, running around, hoping to deprive me, a robot, of air,\u201d Starscream purred. \u201cA cunning strategy. \u2026No, wait, what\u2019s the opposite of cunning?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStupid?!\u201d asked Sunstorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the word!\u201d Starscream then fired a small blast at the floor, scorching Sonic. Shahra spotted him and raised her hands. She used her magic to lift Sonic out of the way and then healed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks, Shahra,\u201d panted Sonic. \u201cNow go help Optimus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight, Mas\u2026Sonic.\u201d Shahra then headed to Optimus and healed him. His optics flicked back online. \u201cPrime, can you hear me?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be okay, Shahra,\u201d replied Optimus. He then saw how badly the battle was going. \u201cNo! The reports were right! He\u2019s got the Heart of Cybertron! We\u2019ll be slaughtered! We need time to fall back!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour wish is granted!\u201d called Shahra. She fired a cloud of smoke at Starscream and Sunstorm. Shots then escaped from the cloud with no way to aim them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCAN\u2019T SEE!\u201d shrieked Starscream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAIM FOR THE CEILING!\u201d ordered Optimus. Everyone shot at the ceiling and made it out of Starscream\u2019s home while Starscream and Sunstorm were buried under the ceiling\u2019s rubble. Once they made it outside, everyone caught their breath. \u201cThat should hold them for a while,\u201d panted Optimus. He then turned to Grimlock. \u201cDamage report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all banged up,\u201d reported Grimlock. \u201cWe could use some repair time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShahra, get us out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGot it!\u201d replied Shahra. A golden cloud surrounded everyone, and they all vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Thunderhoof, a Decepticon with moose-antlers on his head and the alt-mode kibble of a tractor, was talking to Nightbird. \u201cYouse tellin\u2019 me dat you let Deadlock get away?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t \u2018let her get away\u2019, Thunderblast got in my way!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEy yo, youse better talk right about her, capisce? I get upset real easy, see? Nothin\u2019 upsets me more dan some broad talkin\u2019 bad about my doll!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know, right? A ninja should be more respectful to a client\u2019s main squeeze,\u201d remarked a new voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYouse should listen to dat guy, he\u2026\u201d Thunderhoof then realized who it was and saw Skywarp! \u201c\u2026EY YO!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOU?!\u201d snarled Nightbird as she drew her sai!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, Vito Corleone and Uzumaki Hinata!\u201d laughed Skywarp. \u201cMake a scene and summon the press, why don\u2019t you? What a photo-op! The Mafia Mech, the Cyber-kunoichi, and their wacky Seeker pal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYouse ain\u2019t no friend of mine!\u201d Skywarp\u2019s face fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, Thunderhoof!\u201d he protested. \u201cI\u2019m crushed! How the high and mighty forget! Don\u2019t you remember? You, Young Nightbird here, me, and the rest of the gang?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEy yo, what\u2019re youse talkin\u2019 about?! I never met \u2018em OR you! I worked for Cryotek! I didn\u2019t know what he was doin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, but you knew about it afterwards! And put it to good use, I see! Why else would you be seeking Starscream\u2019s favor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026What do ya want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo find out why you disobeyed Starscream and put a hit on Deadlock!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAin\u2019t ya read da news?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThunderhoof\u2019s right,\u201d remarked Nightbird. \u201cThat drifter killed the D.J.D!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBZT! Wrong!\u201d replied Skywarp. \u201cIt ain\u2019t Deadlock. Nope, nope, nope! That\u2019s why Starscream said no hits on her! I\u2019ve seen the guy, and I do mean GUY! He looks more like a Praxian, nowhere near as cute as Deadlock!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYouse sayin\u2019 it\u2019s someone else?\u201d asked Thunderhoof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah. Someone who wouldn\u2019t mind seeing our old pals out of the way.\u201d Skywarp then gasped as if a horrible thought struck him. \u201cMaybe\u2026gulp, sob, me too! That\u2019s when I thought about YOU, Boss Thunderhoof! An important, upstanding mech like you would find it\u2026awkward if certain secrets were revealed about his past?\u201d Thunderhoof then looked nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait a cycle here, youse ain\u2019t sayin\u2019 I<\/em>-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, believe it or not, I\u2019m saying you ordered that hit to keep the guy quiet and all those secrets locked away.\u201d Just then, Thunderhoof\u2019s intercom buzzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Thunderhoof, Nightbird\u2019s husband is on the line,\u201d reported his secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, that\u2019s right, you got a hubby!\u201d Skywarp remarked to Nightbird. He then pressed the accept button, then held a finger to his lips to both of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Y..Yes, sir?\u201d asked Thunderhoof to the person on the other end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThunderhoof, I came to call about Operation: Chamber Breach,\u201d rasped the familiar voice of Megatron. Skywarp goggled, then looked to Nightbird as she nodded in confirmation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Er, we hit a bit of a snag,\u201d gulped Thunderhoof to Megatron. \u201cNothin\u2019 dat can\u2019t be cleaned up, but it needs to be on da down-low. It might make us later dan projected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow late?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly a couple a\u2019 cycles at worst!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026That\u2019s fine.\u201d Nightbird\u2019s face then relaxed as she ducked down. \u201cNow, I would advise you to keep your head down!\u201d Thunderhoof heard the roar of jet engines getting closer, then went as flat to the floor as possible while Megatron burst through the window in jet mode, clotheslining Skywarp and then transforming while grabbing Skywarp\u2019s neck. \u201cAny words you wish to say to him?\u201d asked Megatron. Thunderhoof got up and dusted himself off before he began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid ya really t\u2019ink de idea to put a hit on Deadlock was all my idea?!\u201d he snarled. \u201cMegatron got a mnemosurgeon to examine da stiffs\u2019 memories!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHold on, a mnemosurgeon AFTER death?!\u201d argued Skywarp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, the individual details were sketchy,\u201d remarked Megatron, \u201cbut we strung them together and pieced together what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDey sent me da reports and badda bing, badda boom, I placed da hit on Deadlock, since Starscream wasn\u2019t too keen on following up on a concerned citizen\u2019s needs. So, I remembered da ol\u2019 sayin\u2019 \u2018Always bet on da leader,\u2019 and told Megatron about what youse guys was havin\u2019 me do!\u201d Skywarp teleported out of Megatron\u2019s grip, then fired his weapons before transforming and flying out of the building. \u201cEY YO!\u201d snapped Thunderhoof. Megatron looked out the hole in the wall and growled. He then relaxed and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThunderhoof, you are to be rewarded for your loyalty. Perhaps a new office nearer to Kaon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEy yo, dat ain\u2019t a bad idea! Thanks, Lord Megatron. Oh, and Nightbird, about what I said before we were rudely interrupted-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe both worked on that script, Thunderhoof,\u201d reminded Nightbird. \u201cYour life is still yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks for bein\u2019 understandin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, Thunderhoof, about that snag\u2026\u201d mused Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike I said, it\u2019s only gonna put us back by two cycles at worst. We\u2019ll still get inside before the day is out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent! Despite this set back, we\u2019ll still breach the Vector Sigma Chamber before the Solstice!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou\u2019re telling me that Thunderhoof disobeyed me and put a hit on the D.J.D\u2019s assassin?!\u201d Starscream demanded of Skywarp the next day. \u201cThe assassin\u2019s Nightbird. Despair not,\u201d assured Skywarp. \u201cI\u2019m actually due to visit Thunderhoof. Besides, he\u2019s become an annoyance. Last I heard, he\u2019s chatting with his little ninja after she let her target get […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1152,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,683],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-4947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-22-battles-of-cybertron","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4947"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4948,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4947\/revisions\/4948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}