Decepticon Island (TF Aligned continuity AU)

TEAM BONDING PART 3

Time passed, yet Steeljaw and Bumblebee remained at odds. Bumblebee tried reaching out to the Ex-Con, but it's difficult to come to an understanding when one party doesn't know the full story. In the case of the Lieutenant, he only knows a part of Steeljaw's history: the revolutionary who escaped the prison ship Alchemor after it crash-landed on Earth, constantly coming to blows with the B-Team.

He doesn't even know the other half of the story. Not that he or anyone else deserves the need to know. That information is private. My past is none of their business.

Thinking about that time, that part of his life... Steeljaw sighed, pausing in his work on a piece of equipment to gingerly rub closed optics.

HE is certainly NOT their business!

Before Steeljaw could delve deeper into his memory banks, there was a knock at the door. He sighed again and pushed himself up and away from his workstation. He walked over to the double doors and opened them. He is promptly greeted by a mass of yellow and black.

"You need something, Lieutenant?" Steeljaw asked.

"You sound about as tired as you look," Bumblebee observed, tilting his helm. "Busy?"

"Yes, so unless you have something important to tell me, I suggest you go away and leave me alone for a while."

"Steeljaw, you've been keeping to yourself since..."

"Care to get to the point, Lieutenant?"

". . . We've come across another planet that we're planning to explore. Just wanted to let you know."

Steeljaw stares at Bumblebee with an unreadable expression. He shakes his helm, and without uttering a single sound, walks past his rival, closing and locking the door on his way out.

"You're still mad at me for what happened on Polaris, aren't you?" Bumblebee said.

Steeljaw didn't answer.

---

After a quick, surprisingly under control briefing, the four mechs leave the ship in Moonracer's capable servos and start exploring. The planet – Phoria – resembles Earth's temperate rainforests, drenched in perpetual twilight. Peaceful sounds emanating from every twist and turn are nothing short of soothing. Everything about this place could lull one to sleep...

---

Steeljaw opens his optics, uncertain of how much time has passed. He feels so refreshed, so relaxed, so...

Wait, where are the others?

Seeing no signs of Bumblebee, Knockout, or Starscream anywhere, Steeljaw tries to get in contact with Moonracer, but she doesn't answer. He tries a few more times, all ending in the same result. This raises his suspicions, and they only continue to grow when he attempts to pick up the scents of the missing mechs.

Nothing.

Fully alert, Steeljaw begins his hunt for answers.

There is something wrong with this place.

"Eh, Steel, what're you lookin' for?"

Steeljaw froze.

"C'mon, Steel, I haven't ripped a battalion apart in a while now! When're you gonna stop thinkin' so we can start fightin'?"