OK, so I finished the infamous part from this chapter. It was very difficult for me to figure out where I was taking this and in the end the only parts that I feel flow well or are even written remotely decent are the Waspinator moments. I really feel I gave him some much needed characterization that was lacking in
BW and
BM. The next part will be the final piece of this chapter, before a heavy action/rescue chapter that will occur after. While I feel this part was forced I do feel it will pave the way for what is to come.
I also wanna add, that in the coming days I'm going to be going through the entire story giving some much needed rewrites. There are a lot of type o's, plot errors, and holes that need to be corrected as well as a bit of dialog overhaul. If any of you are reading earlier parts of even re-reading and notice these things please PM me with the details as to where and what so I can correct them. Thanks:
Breaking Even Part 4:
Dreadwing, Cheetor and the others arrived quickly at Obsidians location. Silverbolt had arrived not long before as even he was shocked by the situation. Obsidian and Silverbolt were both facing away looking at the ground as the others joined them. Looking down at the ground in front of them was Shockblast immobilized. It wasn't that Obsidian had managed to defeat Shockblast that had them in awe, but was the fact that Shockblast, completely intact, was like a metal blue statue. She was still online, but in deep stasis, showing no sign of coming out anytime soon.
"Atlus! What happened to her?!" Dreadwing couldn't believe his optics.
"The weapon of Vector Sigma," Obsidian replied still looking at Shockblast.
Dreadwing scoffed. "Haha, very funny. Now what really happened?" He said turning his attention to Obsidian.
"He's not kidding," Rattrap couldn't think of a quip at the current situation. He wished he could have such a weapon, remembering back to the Spark Wars.
"You mean to say there really is a weapon of Vector Sigma?!" Dreadwing asked bewildered.
"It's not so much a weapon as it's a modification to your own weapon systems. Megatron implemented it into his generals and and drones towards the end of the spark wars. I would figure with the change in the time streams that the download would have been deleted, but it would seem that instead it is uploaded into the spark, much like my key download," Obsidian explained calmly.
"It would appear that these alternate events are becoming truth more an more as the solar cycles pass." Rhinox commented before his eyes widened at a thought. "Wait! If you still have this download, would that mean that Thrust or Waspinator would have it?!" They all suddenly looked at one another in dread.
"Blackarachnia!" They said in unison.
The door to hotel room Blackarachnia and Thrust were staying in was blasted open by Cheetor and company. They stormed in ready to take down any threat to Blackarachnia. What they found were a very surprised Blackarachnia and Thrust who were waiting calmly for the others to return. They stood defensively as Silverbolt entered first blaster aimed towards Thrust who cowered behind Blackarachnia.
"What the...?! Silverbolt?! What are you doing?!" It seemed Blackarachnia was almost defending Thrust, her arms spread out her body hiding his view.
"Stand aside, my love. I will not let this snivelling Vehicon endanger you any longer," Silverbolt continued to approach blaster extended as Thrust began to shiver. A trait that was not known of him.
"Ohhh, what Waspinator do?! Waspinator not hurt spiderbot!" That voice and speech pattern were all too familair as all the Maximals lowered their weapons.
"Waspinator! When did you awaken?!" Silverbolt questioned holstering his rifle and approaching. Waspinator moved from behind Blackarachnia, relaxing a little.
"Not long ago. Waspinator wake up in strange room alone with spiderbot. Batbot having stasis nap. Waspinator and spiderbot been talking," Waspinator explained.
"Talking about?" Silverbolt asked, a brow raised.
"I was trying to get the identity of the bot that brought him back to Cybertron from Earth," Blackarachnia answered quickly relieving Silverbolts suspisions.
"Any luck?" Obsidian approached curious of her findings.
"None. He just won't crack," Blackarachnia replied in disappointment.
"Didn't you try your seductive charms?" Rattrap questioned figuring that would be the first approach she'd use.
"Come now, Rattrap. Blackarachnia would never use her charms on...," Silverbolt started to say before Blackarachnia interjected.
"That was the first thing I tried." Silverbolt stared in shock, jaw dropped at her answer. "He resisted as if he wasn't even attracted to me. Whoever brought him back instilled quite a bit of fear into him."
"Spiderbot would likely please Waspinator at least a little while before scarybot would rip Waspinator limb from limb. A little pleasure not worth going offline," Waspinator explained.
"At least he has his priorities straight," Cheetor half joked.
"I can't believe this. After all these stellar cycles you're still attempting seduction? Can I not trust you to act like a Maximal?" Silverbolt turned away feeling betrayed.
"Silverbolt! Don't make this any bigger than it needs to be. I was trying get some answered solved. If you've noticed things have changed drastically for all of us and if I could find out who's threatening him I might even be able to find out how the streams altered. Besides, its not like I kissed him or anything," Blackarachnia attempted to defend herself.
"Oh, not yet, but that's how it starts," Silverbolt added folding his arms and turning his back to her in spite.
"Silverbolt don't be like that!" Blackarachnia snapped as Cheetor stepped up to get things under control.
"Silverbolt, you're reading way to much into this. None of us would doubt her loyalty to you. Under the circumstances what she attempted is logical. Besides, we're not here to resolve any troubles you two are having. We came to verify if Thrust has the weapon of Vector Sigma," Cheetor reminded them.
"Why would Thrust still have that?" Blackarachnia asked stepping back from Waspinator nervously.
"Because I still do and recently used it without realizing it," Obsidian answered.
"What Vector Sigma weapon do?" Waspinator wondered aloud.
"Turns anything it hits into a living statue of sorts. Or that's how it appears," Dreadwing replied, Waspinator taking a moment to think about it before understanding what he meant.
"Waspinator not have weapon like that. Waspinator would remember," Waspinator became a bit worried he might be arrested again, this time for something he was sure he wasn't guilty of.
"At the HQ we have ways of determining for certain," Dreadwing added, Waspinator backing up really concerned.
"How will you manage that?" Obsidian asked curiously.
"Cross reference datatracks with weapon systems. Quick process. Completely harmless," Dreadwing wing explained. Waspinator looked around as if no one cared how he felt about this.
"And how do we know you won't try to take the weapon for yourselves? How can we trust you?" Blackarachnia questioned.
"That wouldn't be a possiblity. There is no skematic for the weapon as its more a diversion of power from multiple systems. The systems open a portal in which the weapon fires through. While it doesn't exist in a host who can use it there still is a possibility we can cross reference his datatracks with my own to determine if he can use it," Obsidian clarified, attempting to ease any suspisions of Dreadwings potential motives. Waspinator finally stepped forward expressing his feeling.
"Waspinator not like this! Does no one care how Waspinator feel?! Sure, Waspinator Predacon! Waspinator even serve Megatron in Beast Wars and in Spark Wars! Waspinator know he have personality and identity issues but Waspinator not dumb! Waspinator's life string of bad luck! Bullied, pushed around, underestimated, questioned, and blown up all the time! But Waspinator still here, still kicking! So at least treat Waspinator like sentient lifeform and not some drone!" The entire group looked at the Predacon in shock and from many there was sympathy in their optics, including Rattrap who actually had a statue of Waspinator in his quarters on the Nexus from his collection of parts optained from the Beast Wars.
"So why serve Megatron? He was the one who mistreated you the most," Blackarachnia asked, feeling compasionate for a change.
"Megatron promise Waspinator glory. Give Waspinator purpose. On Cybertron Waspinator nothing but dumb henchman. Waspinator see chance to be something more, only to still be treated like dumb henchman. Waspinator still hope. Never give up quest to make something of self," Waspinator explained.
"And so you let others manipulate you, feeling as if they might actually respect you. You still served an evil cause however." Silverbolt added no longer concerned with Blackarachnia's previous charming of Waspinator.
"What evil and good anyway? Life not black and white. Just shades of grey. Some decisions worse than others but one see good in his own choices. Waspinator know you understand. You and Rampage befriend one so different and misunderstood yet both serve opposite causes," Waspinator noted remembering Transmutate, feeling like she was. Silverbolt only looked down remembering the sacrifice of his fallen friend.
"I hate to break this up but there still is the matter of analyzing his datatracks...," Dreadwing interrupted realizing last minute what Waspinators interjection was all about, "...provided, of course, you would agree Waspinator." Waspinator smiled and nodded finally feeling at least a little respect.
"I, too, agree with said procedure." Added Obsidian, whom knew his datatracks were necessary as well.
"Any reason why you're willing to trust this guy so easily?" Rattrap glared at Obsidian trying to figure him out.
"I have my reasons, yes, but I cannot share them at this time. Just understand that I have my loyalties in the right place. Whatever your decisions may be I will follow and stand by them," For once Rattrap saw Obsidians words as genuine.
"I think we should focus on getting Cyberwolf and Bountyclaw back before it's too late. Something tells me those that abducted them don't plan on keeping them online for very long," Rhinox stressed to the group feeling this distraction had gone on long enough.
"You needn't worry. I believe a quick death would be too kind a punishment for those two in Scourges optics. He's not fond those who don't pay their debts off on time. The security chief and I have been trying to ochestrate a raid on his casino for sometime but at every attempt he sneaks out at the slightest sign of potential trouble. He's been waiting to wipe those two out for a while. I'm sure he'll be distracted wanting to watch those two die slowly. Perhaps you'd care to join us? You're all quite skillful and I'm sure the security chief would appreciate your assistance," Dreadwings offer was the only legal way they could rescue Bountyclaw and Cyberwolf.
"When do you plan to raid his casino?" Cheetor asked ready to accept the offer.
"Tonight, when his casino will be at its busiest. He'll least expect it then. In the meantime we can analyze Waspinators datatracks and brief you on our plan," Dreadwing explained.
"Can Waspinator come?" Waspinator asked to the surprise of the group.
"Something tells me you'll probably just get in the way. I mean no offense." Silverbolt answered.
"But that not fair! Waspinator not useless!" Waspinator pleaded.
"You know what? Let him come. Something tells me he will be useful," Rattrap said, the group once again surpised. Cheetor thought he almost saw a bit of a smirk.
"We'll discuss this at HQ. For now I say we get you all briefed. Someone should go wake the kid," Dreadwing turned for the door as the others soon followed.
