Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Running Away
"Rumble, Frenzy: Eject," Soundwave called out in his monotone voice as the battle raged on around him.
Great, what is it this time? Rumble thought as he prepared to transform into robot mode. I wonder if it's the Autobots, something broken around the base, or maybe we have to clean the water filtration system again…Ugh! I still remember all that disgusting algae! Oh, and the barnacles! Yuck! What's a guy gotta do to catch a break?
Rumble's thoughts were interrupted almost as quickly as they began as the Carrier's tape deck opened to allow him and his black and red brother Frenzy out to fight.
Rumble and Frenzy transformed to find themselves amid a chaotic desert battle with the Autobots...again. This was the third time in as many months, and for some reason it was always in the desert! Why did the Autobots always chase after them when they were in the slagging desert?!
"Okay bro, you hit 'em low, and I'll hit 'em high!" Frenzy shouted as he veered left; leaving Rumble to go right.
Frenzy went after Trailbreaker with his drills while Rumble went after Hoist with his pile drivers. Frenzy was having trouble counteracting the force fields of his foe, while Rumble was playing a glorified game of whack-a-mole trying to hit that stupid dark green tow truck!
They fought for about a breem with neither success or failure when Megatron ordered all of the Decepticons to retreat.
"Rumble, Frenzy: Return," Soundwave ordered.
"What? But we just got out!" Frenzy whined.
"Return: Now," Soundwave insisted.
Both cassette twins sighed together but complied with their master's orders. It had been the first time in almost a week they had been let out of the chest compartment and neither one was looking forward to another week in their cramped alt modes. When they returned they could feel rather than see the presence of Ravage and Laserbeak. Buzzsaw and Ratbat were in the repair wing after an unfortunate skirmish they had with a flock of buzzards.
"So, how was the battle?" Ravage asked mockingly.
"Shut up, that's how!" Rumble snapped.
"You didn't do any damage, did you?" Ravage asked, though he knew the answer because he had seen the whole thing.
"No," Frenzy admitted dejectedly, "I hate those Autobots!"
"I don't," Rumble said; surprising everyone.
"What?" The other three gasped in unison.
"How can I hate them?" Rumble asked, "They're the only reason we get to go outside and have any fun. Soundwave keeps us in the tape rack all day and all night! We're only let out to do chores or battle Autobots, and Autobots are way more fun than chores. We're adult-formed mechs, and yet we're treated like drones to be stored and used only when necessary!"
"Maybe if you didn't cause so much trouble when you were out, Soundwave would let you out more," Laserbeak pointed out.
"Nah, I agree with Rumble," Frenzy said, "Soundwave has been keeping us inside much more than usual. I don't like it."
"Me neither, and one day he'll be sorry!" Rumble declared to his cassette brethren.
The next day Rumble and Frenzy were actually let out of the tape deck, and abruptly given oil rags to wipe up a mess in the landing hangar. Both looked up at Soundwave with a mixture of angry and pouting faces.
"Rumble, Frenzy: Clean up stains left by purged fuel tanks."
Both mech collectively groaned at their new assignment. When did they become the fragging janitors? They were both sure this was Skywarp's doing. He was always getting himself overcharged and then trying to go off on his own to fly. Stupid Seeker and his stupid high grade energon!
Soundwave received a summons from Megatron and left the twin Cassetticons to their task. Frenzy pushed the oil rag on the ground with furious force, and that elbow grease was helping him finish his cleaning faster. Rumble looked at the ominous purple doors that led out of the hangar, and he gradually got an idea…
"Hey Frenzy, let's get out of here," Rumble said with a sly smirk.
"What are you talking about?" Frenzy asked as he cleaned up more dried fluids, "I don't want to get in trouble with Soundwave, or Megatron for that matter. If we leave our work to go wander the ship they might notice."
"No, you're still not gettin' it. I say we leave the ship," Rumble urged conspiratorially.
"What? Go AWOL? Are you joking? You're joking, right?" Frenzy asked frantically.
"No! I'm tired of being treated like a glorified Pokémon! I say we run away and prove what we're really capable of!" Rumble exclaimed fervently.
"A poking-what?" Frenzy asked; confused.
"Oh nevermind!" Rumble shouted, "Are you with me or not?"
"Well…" Truth was Frenzy was also tired of being treated like a slave, but he still didn't want to risk the wrath of his superiors. Still…It would be nice to go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted. They hadn't really had the chance to explore this mud ball of a planet much, and some of the things on it looked fun. Like rock concerts and sports! Rumble had a point...This might be their only chance to escape the monotony of the tape-rack/torture-chamber.
Frenzy nodded once and walked toward the door. Rumbled clapped his hands once in victory and ran for the hangar controls. He had watched Soundwave do this enough times that he felt confident he could operate the controls himself. His visor shone a bright scarlet red as he typed in the command keys that would lead to their freedom!
As Rumble worked the ship's controls he realized that they were still underwater, but he realized it too late! The ocean came rushing in on the twins as it filled the enclosed hangar!
They swam out of the hangar looking for all the world like men in scuba suits holding their breath. They were too heavy to swim to the surface, so they had to walk the rest of the way on the ocean floor until they made it to land.
Three days later they crawled onto the shore. Rumble and Frenzy both leaned this way and that to pour water out of the various openings in their bodies. Seaweed clung to their forms and Frenzy had a crab stuck to one of his digits. If this was freedom, then it was going to be a loooong journey.