Warpath || A Transformers Prime Fanfiction

~⚝Prologue - Below the Surface⚝~

       The quiet hum of Cybertronian machinery filled the hidden chamber, a place known only to three bots who had made it their sanctuary. It was a small, almost cramped cavern in the woods, where the noise of war and the demands of loyalty couldn't reach them. Here, they were just themselves—no factions, no orders, just friends.

       The rogue leaned back against a stack of crates, filling in the silence. "You know, if Starscream knew about this, he'd probably short-circuit from the shock."

       "Let him try," the Decepticon chuckled, adjusting his seated position on the cavern floor. "I'd like to see him take on all three of us. He wouldn't stand a chance."

       An Autobot scout, standing by the entrance with their optics scanning the area, glanced back at the pair. "If Starscream had half a processor, he'd know better than to come after us." Their voice was calm but edged with a playful tone. "But let's not tempt fate."

       "Aw, c'mon, Stormwatch," the rogue teased, nudging them with her elbow. "Don't tell me you're worried about ol' Screamer. We've gotten away with this for ages now." She crossed her legs, still leaning against the wall. "Besides. He's no Megatron." She plopped to the ground next to the Decepticon, nudging his arm with her foot.

       "I'm not worried, Gearshift," Stormwatch replied, though there was a flicker of amusement in their usually stoic demeanor. "I just like to be prepared. Unlike someone who thinks she's invincible."

       Gearshift grinned, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. But hey, when you've got skills like mine, it's hard not to be a little overconfident."

       The Decepticon snorted, leaning back with a smirk. "A little? Please, 'Shift, you practically ooze confidence. It's a wonder your head doesn't get stuck in doorways."

       "Oh, ha-ha," She shot back, rolling her optics. "At least I  don't spend my days playing errand boy for a glorified paperweight, Crossfire." She poked him in the chest.

       "Glorified is not the term I'd use to describe that blowhard," He snickered, whacking her hand away with a soft metallic tang.

       Stormwatch stepped forward, a smirk on their face. "Alright, settle down, you two. No one's getting caught, and no one's getting their heads stuck anywhere. Not on my watch."

       As the laughter died down, Gearshift's tone grew a bit more serious, though her smile remained. "You know, I'm really glad we found each other. I don't know what I'd do without you two."

       Crossfire grinned, settling back comfortably. "We're glad you found us too, 'Shift. Wouldn't be the same without your cocky attitude keeping us in line."

       Stormwatch nodded in agreement, their gaze softening. "Wherever this war takes us, we stick together. That's the deal."

       "Seriously though," She continued, waving a dismissive hand, her tone light, "what would we do if we actually got caught? I mean, we can't exactly explain away an Autobot, a Decepticon, and a rogue having tea parties in the woods."

       Crossfire smirked. "Easy. I'd just blame it all on you two and make a run for it."

       Gearshift rolled her optics. "Typical. Leave it to you to run at the first sign of trouble."

       "Run? Nah," he shot back. "I'd saunter out with style. Maybe throw in a 'see you never' over my shoulder." He made a motion like he was flipping his imaginary hair.

       Stormwatch chuckled softly, leaning against the entrance, clearly enjoying the exchange. "And where would you go? Starscream's good at holding grudges. He'd hunt you down eventually."

       He shrugged. "Eh, I'd figure something out. Probably hole up somewhere nice and quiet. Maybe find a new crew that isn't so...dramatic."

       Gearshift grinned. "Good luck with that. I hear there's a real shortage of drama-free Decepticons these days."

       "We could always just let him run off and deal with his own mess," Stormwatch added, a teasing glint in their optics. "But where's the fun in that?"

       "Exactly," She agreed, nudging him again. "We're in this together, whether you like it or not. No ditching us, even for your so-called 'style'."

       He huffed, though a smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, alright. But if we ever do get caught, you're the one explaining this to the Screamer. I'm not getting turned into scrap metal for your crazy plans."

       "Deal," She replied with a wink. "But let's be honest—we'd never get caught. We're too good for that."

       Stormwatch nodded. "I'd have to agree. We've managed to keep this up for a while now. Why stop when we're ahead?"

       He chuckled. "Fine. Just remember, when the day comes, I expect you both to have my back."

       Gearshift grinned, sharing a look with Stormwatch. "Always. It's not like anything could break us apart, right?"

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||That's it for the prologue. Thanks so much for reading! I can't wait to see where this journey takes us! If you want to read this on different sites (AO3 and FanFiction.net), check out my profile for links!||

Total Word Count: 786