Life of a Quintesson

Part 16.

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A few solar cycles had gone by, and lately I've noticed that Undertaker has been acting rather strange. He's been distant, quieter and seemingly more nervous. That was very unlike him, perhaps something happened amongst his friends or something. He had gone to work early today, said that he would be back early as the entire construction team was almost finished the structure they were building. I could speak with him about this odd behavior when he returns.

While he was out, I went out into the city myself later in the morning. I had decided to take a short break from my work and obtain something called a 'morning coffee' from Macaddams, Undertaker suggested I try one as it was the best coffee he's had. I personally don't know what this 'coffee' is, but was very willing to give it a try. From what I am told, it is composed of mostly oil with some energon as a type of 'sweetener'.

I walked out of Macaddams with my beverage in servo, steam rose from it indicating it was hot. I was warned that it could burn it was that warm, allowing it to cool was a better option than burning myself out of sheer stupidity. I began walking back to the warehouse, the drink should cool down during the time it takes to arrive back home. I wonder what Undertaker found so interesting about this beverage.

I also wonder what is bothering him, he is my...friend, after all. Millennia of trust issues and constantly looking over my shoulder made it difficult to trust anyone, and now finally having someone that I can trust is entirely new to me. He's been there for me whether I wanted him to be or not, I believe it is only fair that I do the same. Once again, a strange feeling for me.

About halfway back to the warehouse, I could feel that my drink had cooled down to a much more tolerable temperature. I lifted the cup to my lip plates and took a drink, it had a very appealing taste. Suddenly a bitter aftertaste hit me, catching me off guard. By Primus, that was certainly unexpected. Not bad, just unexpected. I continued to drink my morning coffee as I kept walking home.

My coffee was around 3/4 of the way gone when I stepped onto our property, I now know why Undertaker spoke highly of it. It was very good. I wonder why this never existed upon Quintessa, someone upon that dreadful world would like a sweet yet bitter treat every once in a while. Entering through the new automatic doorway to the warehouse, I was surprisingly met by Undertaker. We both startled the other as we both flinched upon seeing each other.

"Jeez Nex! Don't scare me like that. I was wondering where you went-"

He then saw the coffee in my servo.

"Ohhhh, you went and got a coffee? What do you think of it?" He asks.

Now he seemed to be acting like his usual self, which was strange.

"It's very good, the bitter aftertaste caught me off guard though."

"It did for me too the first time."

He started to walk away at a quick pace, perhaps now is the time to ask.

"Undertaker is something bothering you? You haven't been acting like yourself lately." I ask.

He suddenly halts, looking over his shoulder.

"Nope, I'm fine."

"Undertaker, I KNOW that's not true. You're very talkative and social, but as of late you have been distant and quiet."

"I'm fine Nex, really."

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Meanwhile in the laboratory down the corridor...

The Predacons brainwave activity increased to the level that was evidence of consciousness over the past few days, something that shouldn't be happening until she was fully developed. The majority of the young sparklings outside was rather minimum in comparison to what the Quintesson had designed so long ago.  But then the unexpected and unimaginable occurred.