Transformers Regenerated: Origins - A Pirate's Life

Chronology: Cycle 9704 (AD 1904) (three years after Volume XI)
EDITED 6/24/2018 Changed Ferak's story

A PIRATE'S LIFE

--The Tidal Wave--

    In the three years that had followed Thundertron's demise at Scorponok's hand, Axer found himself enjoying the Star Seekers' company more than he ever had in the past. He owed much of that to Cannonball becoming captain and allowing more Cybertronians on board, primarily ex-Decepticons, giving Axer someone to talk to.

    Regardless, there was one Star Seeker whom he was the most friendly with, though only because they were friendly with pretty much everyone. Known only by the name of Thunderlane (despite his bestial alt mode), the old mech ran the oil pit bar on board the Tidal Wave. Having been with the Star Seekers since the beginning, he was an endless repository for stories. And Axer happened to be a captive audience for them.

    As Axer seated himself at the counter, Thunderlane flashed him a grin. "What'll it be, lad? The usual?"

    "Actually, I'm in the mood for some Nightmare Fuel." Axer dropped a few credits on the counter. "And maybe a tale of yours, if you're fine with that."

    Thunderlane laughed as he prepared Axer's beverage. "You're the only one who listens so of course I'm fine with it. What do ya want to know?"

    "How did Thundertron come to lead the Star Seekers?"

    Thunderlane's face darkened as he handed the ex-Decepticon his drink. "Aye, now that is quite the tale. Let's see... it all started over nine hundred years ago, give or take, when someone else was commandin' the Tidal Wave."

    "Who?" 

    "Cannonball. Oh, but not the one you know, rather someone with his name. Thundertron had been his first mate, up until then...."

--Toruin, 985 years ago--

    "Arr! These Genericons don't know when to let up!" Cannonball the Fourth bellowed as he fired his arm cannon from the boarding ramp of the Tidal Wave. The massive ship was trapped in the sky of Toruin, having been caught by a tractor beam.

    At his side was Thundertron, deflecting fire with his sword. "Maybe if you didn't murder their king, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

    The captain sneered. "Let's see you do better, beastie. You probably would have done the same, being the savage beast that you are!"

    "Yes, I might have," Thundertron snarled. "But I would have planned it out, consider the consequences, weighed my options, and do a much more thorough job!"

    Cannonball snorted. "A pity, then, that you are not captain."

    "That can be easily remedied."

    Cannonball never had the chance to react to this statement before he was sent plummeting towards the ground. As he landed hard on his back, he saw his former first mate close the boarding ramp behind him. Moments later, the Tidal Wave's outer guns fired at the tractor beam generator, destroying it, before taking for the skies. Cannonball opened his mouth to let loose a string of curses, but fell silent when a crowd of angered Toruin natives surrounded him....

--Present--

    "He pushed him off?"

    Thunderlane nodded. "And from that point forward, Thundertron had total reign on the Tidal Wave. He had all of the Cybertronians on board-- and any who tried to join afterwards-- executed... with one exception."

    "The current Cannonball."

    "Right on, lad." Thunderlane moved to serve a white mech who had just sat down next to Axer. "Hard to believe though, isn't it? All it took was a simple push to end-- at the time, of course-- the legacy of captains which had lasted for thousands of years."

    "Thank Primus it didn't last," muttered the mech next to Axer. "Otherwise, Tornado and I would still be moseying around asteroid fields."

    Axer turned to face him. "I know you. You're Ferak, right? Inventor of the Nightmare Engine?"

    "My reputation precedes me," the ex-Decepticon grunted. "What's it to ya', pal?"

    "Well, what the slag are you doing in a joint like this? I thought you died at Pova with the rest of Squadron X."

    Ferak smirked. "I would've if I hadn't done the smart thing and ran. Me and Tornado tailed out as soon as the Wreckers showed up. Macabre never got the chance to shoot us down when Impactor started pummeling him. We wandered the stars for spark knows how long until we were picked up by you guys a year ago."

    Axer nodded. "So how are you liking it here so far?"

    Ferak shrugged. "Eh, I've been on worse ships. The Pale Fire was nothing special... though I've been meaning to ask: is it just me, or does this ship look like it could--"

    "All hands on deck!" the gruff voice of first mate Stronghorn sounded through the intercom. "Repeat: All hands on deck! We need reinforcements here on the bridge."

    Axer frowned. "Are we under attack?"

    Thunderlane shook his head. "Don't reckon so, lad. If it's on the bridge, then our captain's probably just havin' trouble with negotiations...."

*  *  *

    "You loathsome cretin!" 

    All optics watched as the black-armored femme hoisted Cannonball up in the air, an impressive feat given her more slender form than his bulky build. "You chiseled me!"

    "So I gave you 650 Shanix instead of 700." Cannonball managed a grin despite the femme's choke-hold on him. "I'm sure you'll get by; a beauty like you probably has it easy."

    Flamewar's optics blazed hatefully. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

    "My first guess would be the High Duchess of Vestum, but you're not quite ugly enough."

    Infuriated by this statement, Flamewar prepared to claw at the captain's face but was suddenly tackled from behind by two identical mechs in white and aqua green. They wrenched the crazed femme away from Cannonball and pinned her arms behind her back.

    Massaging his neck, Cannonball smirked at Flamewar. "You're a fierce one, lassie, I'll give you that. We could use someone with your ferocity; you'd fit right in."

    Flamewar sneered at him. "My loyalty lies only with the Decepticon Empire!"

    Cannonball shrugged nonchalantly. "Your loss. It was a pleasure doing business with you, milady. Cutback, Lockpick, take her away."

    As the two clones left the bridge with Flamewar, Axer stepped from the crowd that had gathered to watch the spat.

    "Er, is everything under control, cap'n?"

    "Everything is just dandy!" Cannonball said, taking a swig from a can of energon. "Now get back to work, ye scaly wags! Set sail for Athenia!"

    As they headed for their stations, Axer whispered to Ferak, "So, any second thoughts yet?"

    Ferak grinned wickedly. "You kidding? This pirate's life is just right for me!"

    Axer returned the smile. "On that, we can agree on."

FIN

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Below is the original version of Ferak and Tornado's story.
---

    "Well, what the slag are you doing in a joint like this?"

    Ferak smirked. "Simple, kid; when the Nightmare Engine didn't do as well as planned at Clemency, I wasn't willing to suffer whatever punishment Megatron or Macabre had in mind for me, so I took flight."

    "And Tornado went with you?"

    "Nah, I met up with him about forty years ago. Apparently Macabre and his gang had a little run in with our arch-enemies, the Wreckers. Things weren't looking so hot for Squadron X, so Tornado made a run for it. I then ran into him on Hedonia and we fared the space lanes until we ran into you guys last year."