TRANSFORMERS | Dread

VI

Wheeljack was still sitting on the bench in front of his bunk. He was staring directly at where Ultra Magnus had been standing but the commander had already exited the room. There was just an empty space. Bulkhead and Pyro were standing on either side of their sitting comrade unsure of what to say. Wheeljack then started to tap his hip grenade again making the two Wreckers uneasy,

"Jackie." Bulkhead started, placing a bulky comforting hand on Wheeljack's shoulder,

"Don't worry Bulk I'm fine." Wheeljack replied,

"That obviously means he's not fine." Pyro stated,

"I totally agree with what the commander said." Wheeljack said,

"That obviously means the commander made a horeshit call." Pyro translated,

"And I'm just gonna sit here like the commander ordered,"

"That obviously means he's gonna try something that could get us all killed-

"Give me a break Pyro; I'm thinking here." Wheeljack snapped.

Ultra Magnus had told all of them to stay put while Impactor, Moonracer, Ruination, Rotostorm, and Quick Switch were out in the Technahar fields trying to uncover the findings of a Decepticon vessel. Who knows how many Decepticons were tracking that vessel, the group of Wreckers could see themselves neck deep in scrap unless someone did something rash.

To Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus only thought logically. Sure he could swing his giant hammer and shoot his over-sized rifle well; but his decisions and battle strategies were too coordinated and too thought out. Simplicity was their way out of this predicament; right now the simplest strategy was to investigate where the ship had crashed and continue from there.

"Jackie you and I both know that we need to go aid Impactor but you and I also both know disobeying the commander's orders is insubordination." Bulkhead reasoned,

"Didn't you hear shoulder pads over there? We're all at fault for this, we've all committed the crime, so technically speaking we've all committed insubordination." Wheeljack responded,

Pyro and Bulkhead exchanged glances,

"That still doesn't change the fact we would be doubling the offenses against the commander, against the High Council..." Bulkhead looked down at the floor, and then resumed his train of thought, "Against Optimus,"

"Oh don't give me that shit Bulk, over here thinking Prime's the real deal. He's just like all the other commanders. Let's just hope he has a bit more sense than shoulder pads." Wheeljack bitterly responded,

Bulkhead was about to respond but Wheeljack had a bit more to add,

"But it's not like I can wait for Prime's orders. We can't afford to wait at all." Wheeljack stood up and stretched his joints for a quick second, "He's probably busy picking another Decepticon capital to blow up." He retorted,

"Oh come on you're not still upset we weren't chosen for the Darkmount mission are you?" Pyro asked,

"Oh no no no, absolutely not. Nope. Not. At. All." Wheeljack said while Bulkhead and Pyro exhanged some more glances. "I will say this." Wheeljack turned to face his two comrades,

"Had we gone, Straxus would still be dead, Rodimus wouldn't be recovering from extensive surgery, and Sky Garry would still be training those dorky ninjas at the dojo." Wheeljack answered. Bulkhead shot Wheeljack a look to stop while he's ahead, "But wait, we didn't go. Ultra Magnus said it wasn't a mission for us. Watch the same thing happen here, Ultra Magnus will come back and say Impactor's recovery isn't a mission for us; he'll say Prime is sending the Arcee twins and a couple of tiny cruisers with pellet guns." Wheeljack added,