CHAPTER FOUR
--The Tidal Wave--
"This one's waking up."
"The one with the chin?"
"Yeah. Funny; now that you mention it, it does look a bit abnormally large."
Fulcrum's optics came back online for him to see two mechs standing over him. One of them, a gray and yellow beast flier, immediately grabbed him by the stasis cuffs and pulled him up to his feet. As the Star Seeker dragged him towards a door, Fulcrum caught a glimpse of Krok and the others slumped against the wall, unconscious.
"Keep watch over these four, Ferak," the black mech said. "Let me know when the next one wakes up."
The pirate then opened the door and Fulcrum was brought onto the bridge, where he found over a dozen Star Seekers crewing the ship. The flier pulled him directly over to the captain of the Tidal Wave, seated up on his bronze-colored throne.
"Ah, hello, Brimstone," the pirate leader said as he grinned at Fulcrum. "And who do we have here?"
"One of the Decepticons Cruellock's team captured," Brimstone said as he released Fulcrum at the captain's feet. "The others are still in stasis, including the one we're presuming to be the leader."
"And how do you know this one isn't?"
"Well... frankly, captain, he doesn't look the part. I mean, Ferak told me his build matches the K-Class -- meaning he's a suicide bomber, who obviously failed to do his job. And, well... just look at him."
"Remember, Brimstone, they're called Decepticons for a reason." The captain leaned back in his seat and folded his hands. "Tell me, Decepticon, what is your name and purpose?"
"M-my name is Fulcrum. I'm a scavenger."
The captain frowned. "A scavenger? You mean you scrounge for spare parts?"
"Yes, all across the galaxy. It's not an easy life, I'll grant you, but it is what it is."
"So you're a pirate, basically... just without the style."
"Yes, and the numbers," Fulcrum muttered. "Although, when we found out we were in your clutches, I advocated for us to join you--"
The captain belted out a harsh laugh, startling Fulcrum. "Is that right? From the sounds of it, your friends didn't show much enthusiasm."
"Yes, well, I never said they agreed with me...."
The captain chuckled again. "You're a clever one, lad. But cleverness alone won't make you a Star Seeker. Surely you had some use in the Decepticon army before becoming a scavenger."
Fulcrum frowned. "Uh, to tell you the truth--"
Before he could finish, the Star Seeker known as Ferak walked onto the bridge, dragging the now-conscious Krok and Misfire behind him.
"These two came back online," he muttered, dropping the Decepticons onto the deck. "And if anyone asks, I don't know them."
With that, he left the bridge with Brimstone, leaving the three Scavengers with the captain. The latter had suddenly become silent, staring coolly at Krok in particular.
"Ugh, some welcoming committee," Misfire said as he gave the bridge a displeased look. "I wasn't exactly expecting a 'Novic Medal ceremony' but I've seen places in the Dead End better looking than this."
"Um, Misfire?" Fulcrum said, glancing nervously at the captain. "I'd keep your comments to yourself in front of these guys."
However, the captain showed no sign of having heard Misfire, still staring coldly at Krok. The Scavenger leader met his gaze and returned it.
"Krok," the captain growled.
"Headshot," Krok replied.
"That's not my name anymore," the captain snapped. "It's no longer who I am. You may refer to me as Cannonball."
"Ah, yes. I thought I recognized your new color scheme. Carrying on the legacy, are you? The Decepticon lifestyle too glorified for your liking?"
Cannonball smirked in a way that made Krok's fists curl. "Better than yours, from what I've gathered. Unless scavenging is now consider glorifying these days."
Krok's optics narrowed and Fulcrum thought he was going to lash out at the pirate captain. However, before anything could come about, there was a loud crash against the door, which then opened to allow Spinister's banged up form to tumble in, followed by Brimstone, Ferak, another Star Seeker, and a restrained Crankcase.
"Apologies for the interruption," Brimstone said. "Someone woke up a little cranky."
"Evidently," Cannonball said. "Well then, now that the gang is all here, it's time to get down to business."
"What do you want, Cannonball?" Krok asked, saying the name with thinly-veiled disdain.
"Answers. Details." Cannonball leaned forward, smiling menacingly. "The whereabouts of the Harbinger."
Five blank expressions were his only reaction.
Cannonball looked from one Scavenger to the other, still expecting some sort of response. When he got none, his smile was replaced by a scowl. "The Harbinger? Decepticon warship? Anyone?"
"How in the Pit would we know where it is?" Misfire asked. "It could be a wreck on Goo for all we know."
"That's the point," Cannonball said. "It's been lost for centuries. It could be a wreck, it could still be floating around in space; nobody knows. But the more we know about it, the closer we can get to it."
"What interest do you have in a Decepticon ship?" Fulcrum asked. "Why this specific one?"
"If you knew anything about the ship, you wouldn't be asking that." Cannonball leaned back, folding his hands. "If none of you have anything useful to tell us, then there's an airlock waiting for you. If you give us nothing but falsehoods, then there's a smelting chamber waiting for you, so choose your words wisely... and quickly. My patience is starting to run thin."
Fulcrum glanced at the others, seeing that they were all at as much of a loss as he was... except for Crankcase. He was frowning, which wasn't anything unusual, but he also appeared to be preparing to speak, albeit undecided whether to do so or not.
When he finally did, no one was prepared for what he said.
"I know where it is."
The other Scavengers stared at him in bemusement while Cannonball looked at him expectantly. "Well?" he said. "Where is it?"
"I can give you the coordinates," Crankcase said. "But I have a condition."
Cannonball sneered. "You are in no position to have one."
"I'm pretty sure I do," Crankcase said with a glare. "I also have a remote connected to a bomb on our ship. One press of a button and everything goes boom."
The captain scoffed. "I think you're bluffing."
"Am I?" Crankcase asked and Cannonball locked optics with him. The two went off into a stare-down, one which Fulcrum didn't expect to go over well. However, much to his and the others' surprise, Crankcase maintained his tough expression and Cannonball backed down.
"You may still be bluffing," the captain muttered. "But considering you're the first person to give me any kind of lead on this, I would be remiss to turn down such an opportunity. What is your condition?"
"That we get paid the same value as the thing you seek."
"You know then what it is I seek?"
"Of course I do. Because I've been on the Harbinger. I know what it carries. And I know why you want it."
Cannonball mulled over his words before saying, "Very well. We have a deal. Axer?"
The Star Seeker who had arrived with Brimstone and Ferak stood to attention. "Captain?"
"Find these mechs some living quarters to make them comfortable. I feel we're in for one heck of a ride."
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