ask-smokescreen:

mightymegatron:

::…::

There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.

::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::

Smokescreen probably should have given more warning, but he drops his energon, and keeps his servos up, showing he means no harm.

“Huh- I think I can tell.” He’s keeping his servos up, looking over at Megatron, and to the eradicons strapped to the wall. “They don’t look too ill- why are they in cuffs?”

Another thought.

“It’s not cybonic plague, is it?”

Data’s optics flick nervously from the warlord looming over them to Smokescreen, not lowering her weapon.

“And if it isn’t? What would you do?”

ask-smokescreen:

mightymegatron:

::…::

There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.

::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::

::That’s fine- I’ll be on my way if you send me your coordinates-!::

Smokescreen’s genuinely surprised the coordinates actually came- so backup is needed, right?

It doesn’t take too long for him to grab a bridge to the coordinates, bringing along some med-grade.

::No I won’t be sending any-::

There is a very startled gasp on her end of the comm line as a bridge opens up in the bay of the shuttle. Smokescreen will find a blaster leveled at him, with an annoyed-looking Megatron strapped to the wall and three eradicons lined up against another wall, in stasis cuffs.

“It’s… It’s been a weird day.”

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

mightymegatron:

::…::

There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.

::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::

::No, it was not, we are not in need of aid and- STAY THERE, DON’T YOU DARE MOVE.::

::Uhhh- um. What did- okay, what’s going on there?::

He’s gonna ping for coordinates.

::Slag… Sorry I… I didn’t mean to yell. I just need to… need to figure things out.::

She doesn’t notice the ping, and so cannot override the ship’s automatic transmission of the coordinates.

ask-smokescreen:

mightymegatron:

::…::

There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.

::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::

::… Was that Megs in the background? Is he doing okay, there? What’s going on- did you guys get attacked? Seriously, I can help you out if you need help! Just send me your coordinates.::

::No, it was not, we are not in need of aid and- STAY THERE, DON’T YOU DARE MOVE.::

::…::

There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.

::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

::I… I do know. And I wish there were more like you. More allied ‘bots that… that didn’t buy into Megatron’s change of spark.::

::Listen, with all this chatter, I’ve probably already got someone on my tail. There’s something… Something I need to do. For the good of everyone or just for my piece of mind, I don’t know… But you’re probably not going to hear from me again.::

::I’m sorry about Optimus. I should have been there.::

::… Yeah. I know what you mean::

::Someone on your- what are you doing, exactly? Seriously, what’s going on-?::

Should have been there? He doesn’t even know that that’s supposed to mean. ::Nothing would’ve changed, probably- I wish I could change it, but- ::

::The less you know the better, Smokescreen. Really. …I hope that when things are settled, you’ll stay. I have to go now, there’s not much time before they figure me out.::

::Be a good solider. Keep fighting.::

Unable to figure out how to disconnect the ship, the comm channel is left open, but much quieter as Data leaves the console.

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

::Fine you know what? Forget him. I care. You’re going to get hurt if you get involved anymore with this than you already are. I can’t let that happen.::

::I’m sure you could get me that cure but that’s not the point. If you help me, if you come here, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble later. I’m willing to take this on myself. No one else has to get hurt, ok?::

::How would I get hurt? And- why do you care so much? You haven’t met me face to face yet- You know I’m an Autobot, right?::

::Wait, why would I be in trouble, later? You know, I’ll probably end up in trouble somehow regardless of what I do. So I should help you. There’s no reason you have to go at this alone, right?::

::I… I do know. And I wish there were more like you. More allied ‘bots that… that didn’t buy into Megatron’s change of spark.::

::Listen, with all this chatter, I’ve probably already got someone on my tail. There’s something… Something I need to do. For the good of everyone or just for my piece of mind, I don’t know… But you’re probably not going to hear from me again.::

::I’m sorry about Optimus. I should have been there.::

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

::H-he knows! I’m sure he does, just… just give me a minute to think…::

::I know you’re trying to help, I understand. But I’m trying to help too… There are just some things I need to fix. I’m not bringing the shuttle back yet. I’m sorry.::

::I really doubt he actually cares, but thanks anyway. But I can give you a klik for thinking. I can be in and out of there without anyone noticing, you know. And I can navigate that ship, too.::

::Fine you know what? Forget him. I care. You’re going to get hurt if you get involved anymore with this than you already are. I can’t let that happen.::

::I’m sure you could get me that cure but that’s not the point. If you help me, if you come here, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble later. I’m willing to take this on myself. No one else has to get hurt, ok?::

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

::Do not get on that ship. I don’t think the drones were infected, and even if they were, I would still have a few more days to administer anything.::

::L-lord Megatron’s orders. Do not endanger yourself.::

::But wouldn’t it be best to get something in as soon as possible, just in case?::

::Oh- Megs cares about my safety now? I kinda doubt that. And he’d know better than almost anyone else how good I am at snagging things.::

Still, despite him arguing, he hasn’t actually done anything yet.

::H-he knows! I’m sure he does, just… just give me a minute to think…::

::I know you’re trying to help, I understand. But I’m trying to help too… There are just some things I need to fix. I’m not bringing the shuttle back yet. I’m sorry.::

ask-smokescreen:

mighty-megatron:

::Because I am… I am trying to help you. Please. I’ll.. I’ll bring the shuttle back and face the consequences, but there is something I have to do before that. The drones will be fine, I promise.::

::Okay, Smokescreen?::

::Trying to help me? How? I’m trying to help you! … Consequences?::

Well, that certainly didn’t sound ominous at all.

::Mmm. I still want to get on that warship. You’re gonna have to go into more detail, I think.::

::Do not get on that ship. I don’t think the drones were infected, and even if they were, I would still have a few more days to administer anything.::

::L-lord Megatron’s orders. Do not endanger yourself.::