V Stomping Grounds

[Grimlock]

The icy tundra, bare and windswept, sat under an overcast sky. One of Inverxe's common storms had just ravaged the plateau, forcing the few living things foolish enough to fester on the moon underground. An inconsistent sheet of soft snow still fell from the sky, coating rocks with a thin white film. A large mound broke the monotonous horizon. A blanket of ash and snow covered the cold corpse of an unknown creature. Forgotten, buried, whatever it had been would join the countless other nothings that lived and died on Inverxe. Perhaps that thought unsettled the metal corpse, because after countless hours in the cold, it stirred.

Red lights blinked to life along its chassis. Markings flared, leading up to a glowing symbol stamped onto its chest. Then its optics activated, a red visor hiding any sort of emotion. The creature shifted, displacing the ice and rock that had settled around it. It shook its head and looked around, mentally grasping for any shred of memory. As its vision swept over the barren land scape, a name occurred to it: Grimlock. Finally, somewhat collected, he started to stand. Grimlock's joints scraped, and servos whined as he fought the frozen buildup within his own body. He flexed his hands, feeling the synthetic muscle and cords beneath his shell shift back into place. The Autobot rolled his shoulders and noticed something else buried a few dozen feet away.

Much like him, his sword had been coated in ice and snow. It sat, cold and unused, upright in the plateau. Grimlock took a few uncertain steps towards his weapon, steadying himself as the ice shelf creaked. When he wrapped his hand around the blade, nothing happened. He had expected it to light up with Energon and react to the presence of its master, but he was left unsatisfied. Grimlock snarled and kicked the small portion of blade sticking up from the ice. There was a sharp crack that echoed across the plateau and the ice shelf rumbled for a moment before settling. Unbothered, Grimlock opened his comm channels and raised his voice.

"SWOOP? SLUG? WHERE ARE YOU?"

His resonant growl went unanswered.

Grimlock sighed and plopped down next to his sword. He remembered Shockwave and the console. he remembered fighting and killing. He remembered the taste of metal in his mouth and the mind-bending feeling of being folded in on himself inside the exploding Space Bridge. Grimlock reached over his shoulder and picked at something on his back. He yanked free a scrap of purple armor: a remnant of the limb he had torn off of Shockwave. Grimlock chuckled and stabbed the metal shard into the ice. Most likely, he had been teleported to some unknown corner of space by Shockwave's Space Bridge. The Autobot was angry, to say the least, but he was willing to relish the satisfaction that his team was safe and the Decepticons had lost that fight. Grimlock had won, Grimlock always won.

He brought both fists up and bonked himself on his head. frustrated with his own mind. Grimlock this, Grimlock that, he didn't used to talk like that... Did he? Stupid. Stupid Grimlock.

Something out in the cold screeched. Grimlock looked up and saw nothing but flat ice and a few small rocks. He stood up and continued to scan the horizon, something int he back of his head telling him he wasn't safe. He noted the four rocks that lined his vision, then glanced behind him to the other side of the shelf. Nothing. Looking back, he noticed there were only three rocks now. Another scream cut through the inhospitable silence of Inverxe. Grimlock's body tensed as he scrutinized what he could see through the snowblind haze. He didn't see any movement, but that didn't make him feel any better.

Grimlock reached for his sword again, turning away from the source of the screeching. He yanked, but to no avail. The blade was buried deep, and he was still too weak from his fight in Shockwave's lab to force it free. He turned back to notice that there were now seven rocks on the horizon... And they were all moving. Grimlock heard a horrible hiss behind him, and he spun around. On instinct, he grappled a large shadow that streaked across the corner of his vision. His claws dug into a writhing black mass which released a grating shriek. its elongated head ended in a set of chrome teeth. Grimlock brought the creature closer to his face to examine it and a second, smaller mouth darted out and narrowly missed his optics. He snarled, threw the beast away, and watched it scuttle into shadowy cracks in the plateau.

It wasn't an Insecticon. In fact, it wasn't made of metal at all. Grimlock was left baffled, leading him to forget about the other forms he had seen just seconds before crawling across the shelf towards him. The creatures pounced on him, swarming across his back and chest. They drove their tails deep into his armor and clawed at muscle cords in his joints. Grimlock stumbled and grabbed at the creatures, cursing. He threw them aside, but them kept getting up and sprinting back at him. Grimlock caught one by the tail and pulled, tearing the appendage from its body. It screamed and fell off of his shoulder. Another leapt at his face, but Grimlock caught its head in his massive hand. With hardly any effort, he crushed its skull and its body instantly went limp.

Thyen his hand started to burn. The burning grew in intensity, even after he dropped the headless corpse. Grimacing in pain, Grimlock started to scrape his open palm on the ice. Streaks of green sludge mixed with chunks of brain and flecks of molten metal colored the shelf. Acid, just like Insecticons. What kind of hell wouldn't let Grimlock kill things with his hands? He pushed past the searing pain in his hand and forced his way through the swarm of beasts towards his sword. They continued to scratch and prod him, and it was infuriating. They tried to drag the Autobot down, but he powered through their weight. He grabbed the grip of his sword with his uninjured hand and pulled. He heard another crack echo beyond the rabid screeching of the creatures that swarmed him, but the sword remained buried. he swung wildly, batting away more beasts, then grabbed the hilt with both hands. He roared as he felt raw pain receptors scrape against the hilt. With a feral bellow, Grimlock ripped his sword free. A massive split spiked out from where the blade had been sheathed in the ice. The shelf rumbled again and the creatures began to scatter.

Nearly feral with rage, Grimlock gripped his sword tightly. Its edge activated, bursting with red Energon. He began swinging with reckless abandon, slashing the creatures all around him. Blotches of acid peppered his shoulders and chest, but Grimlock hardly noticed. Verdant entrails coated the plateau and burned deep pits in the ice and stone. The rumbling worsened and the split in the shelf deepened. Grimlock brought his sword around with another roar and impaled one of the creatures in the back. He dragged his sword up, splitting the beast in half, and flung both parts of its corpse past the shelf and into the gorge beneath. The Energon along the blade hissed as acid sizzled against the plasma. The creatures made a full and hasty retreat, screeching the whole way. Grimlock howled in victory as they ran.

"Run! You can't hurt Grimlock! Me kill you ALL!"

He took a shaky step back, catching himself, and finally started to feel the agony of dozens of spots of acid all along his chassis. Grimlock grunted as he picked a severed tail from between his elbow joints and tossed it aside. The split in the shelf groaned and the ground beneath The Autobot continued to rumble. He started walking away from the edge of the shelf, only to find himself face to face with a battle line of the dome-headed creatures. They hissed and screeched as their line separated and allowed a larger creature to pass. It matched its brethren, but the domed skull was replaced with a robbed crest like a massive shield.

"Move, before you make Grimlock move you for you."

The lack of eloquence was lost on the creatures as they refused to budge. The shelf cracked again and Grimlock felt his body drop a few feet before the ice settled. The creatures watched him, unflinching. Grimlock growled and took a step forward only for the plateau to start collapsing. He fought for his footing, stumbling as the ground beneath him crumbled. Grimlock stabbed his sword down into the chunk of ice he was falling with as the shelf imploded. The creatures watched as the massive Cybertronian, covered in acid, plummeted down into the abyss.

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Gast tilted his head against the wind that howled deep in Inverxe's frozen caverns. He ran a small box along the frozen walls of the cave, intermittent beeps sounding from the machine. His rebreather rattled as he took a tired breath.

"Anything?"

Gast turned to face his companions and shook his head. "Nothing."

Closest to Gast, Sera shouldered her rifle and wiped icicles from her nose. "We should head back. I doubt we'll find anything out here. There's a reason nobody has tried mining this far out."

Gast nodded, dejected. "Perhaps you are correct."

His other companions spread out, checking the corners of the caves with their own scanners and tools. Gast removed his overladen backpack and dropped it next to a particularly large rock. He glanced at Sera and she nodded.

"Lets take a break, boys." Sera mimicked Gast and also placed down her pack.

They rested for a few minutes, trading some snacks and passing around a warm thermos. They avoided conversation. It was hard to foster lighthearted small talk when a Xenomorph or other unspoken horror could burst from the shadows at any second. Just as the survey team started packing up to return to base, they heard a crack and series of crashed echo throughout the cavern. Gast perked up instantly.

"Cave in? That could mean loose minerals!"

Sera shook her head. "Way too risky. There could be a second cave-in, or worse the sound attracts bugs."

"We've been out here for hours; it would be irresponsible to return to base with absolutely nothing." Gast threw his pack onto his back and started walking towards the sound. "Come on, ten more minutes and then we're gone."

Reluctantly, Gast's survey team followed. They navigated the dark gorge for several minutes before coming across a wide pit filled with loose ice and stone. Clearly, the shelf above them had broken free from the plateau and collapsed under its own weight. Ecstatic, Gast started pointing his scanner at every rock he came across.

"Jackpot, gentlemen!"

Sera shook her head and joined him. The sooner they cleared this cave-in, the sooner she could start heading back home. She hated it out here. Few were insane enough to survey these caves, and fewer still were insane enough to risk Xenomorphs for a handful of decent minerals. She told herself that scrip was scrip and that maybe she could finally afford a hot meal. As she pushed the rocks aside, she noticed something blinking beneath the ice. A red light flickered beneath a heavy pile of rubble. She started moving the stone, curiosity piqued. After she shifted enough debris, something gave way and the pile collapsed on itself. With the rubble moved, Sera gasped.

A hand, metallic and pockmarked with burnt patches of melted metal, stuck out from the rocks. Dim red lights pulsated along the gauntlet like a weakened heartbeat. Sera touched one of the massive fingers. Whatever this hand belonged to, it had to be nearly fifteen or twenty feet long. That was a lot of scrap, and a lot of hot meals. Gast crawled over the rubble and joined her, jaw agape behind his rebreather.

"And you wanted to go back," He taunted.

Sera didn't respond, she simply got back to digging.

 

[Grimlock]

Grimlock dreamed of home; the brutal pits in Kaon, the cheering of the crowd, the deafening sound of metal on metal as gladiators clashed. It was a comforting cacophony that calmed his audio receptors. Crashing steel, hissing pistons, and clamoring voices bled into his dream. It all seemed familiar, yet unnatural. Grimlock blinked his optics, the dream fading. The caterwaul of unchecked machinery, however, did not fade with it. He felt too heavy to move, so The Autobot flopped his head to the side to take in his new surroundings. Industrial constructs, their shifting parts melding in the ugliest yet most synchronized display of machinery Grimlock had ever seen. Tiny walkways lined the upper levels of the machines, far too small for any Cybertronian. The voices continued, and Grimlock flopped his head back around to face their source.

Much to his surprise, Grimlock was faced with a collection of tiny, bipedal beings wrapped in cloth and survival gear. His perspective made The Autobot realize that he was laying down, prone in a concrete clearing between the machinery. He tried to sit up, only to find he could not move his limbs. Grimlock growled and pulled violently at his restraints. Oversized chains, frayed nylon rope, and soldered steel straps made up his cobbled manacles. The tiny beings milling around him jumped back, clearly startled by the Autobot's movement. Grimlock grunted and grizzled as he tried to free himself.

"Nobody traps Grimlock and gets away with it! I'll crush you, break you, kill you! Let me go!" The Autobot roared in frustration, jets of heat spewing from exhaust ports along his back.

One of the tiny creatures raised their voice, calling out to their prisoner. "Grimlock? Is that your name?"

The small being pulled back on its hood, revealing a soft brown face. Much like the creatures on the plateau, it clearly was not made of metal. However, unlike those crunchy insects, it seemed squishy in nature. The being made a strange expression on its face which Grimlock best identified as a smile.

"Welcome to Inverxe, Grimlock. We are the Icelark Mining Coalition. We found you buried under rubble in a gorge several miles from here."

The last few details of his brawl with the screeching monsters on the ice shelf finally settled in Grimlock's mind. He glared angrily at the small man, too frustrated to speak. His captor stared thoughtfully at Grimlock, a strange empathy in his wet eyes.

"You're new here, aren't you? You don't recognize this place."

Grimlock snorted, the closest to a yes he could muster.

"Fascinating. You're the first of your kind I've ever met, in more ways than one. I never thought I'd encounter one of the Arbiters' chosen." The man hooked his thumbs into some of the straps on his survival suit. "I'm sorry to restrain you. We couldn't have known whether or not you were a threat."

"I am." Grimlock snarled.

The Autobot heaved and his makeshift chains shattered. He tore one arm free, rolled over to free his other hand, then sat up. He lurched forward, grabbing for the small man that had captured him. Still trapped at the feet, the man was able to scurry away as a series of panicked shouts rang out in the refinery. Tiny people scattered, and one of them shouted to open fire. Grimlock swung around and managed to grab onto the walkway above him. He tore it free of its housing, causing the men stationed on it to scramble away from the collapsing frame. He jammed the torn metal into the metal bindings holding down his legs, finally freeing himself. Infuriated, he stood up and roared.

"GRAAAHGH! Where am I? Where is my team!?" Grimlock stomped forward, shoving aside a large vat of coolant.

"Grimlock!" The small man, terror replacing the empathy in his eyes, threw up his hands. "We don't want to hurt you! We don't want to fight!"

Grimlock smashed his fist into the wall, denting the metal. "WHY NOT!?"

Another small creature stepped out, putting herself between the small man and Grimlock. "We thought you were scrap, but clearly we were wrong. Now we just need your help."

"... Help?"

"Yes," She said, her hand outstretched in an attempt to assuage the massive robot. "We need help."

Grimlock fought the anger burning him up from the inside and swallowed it. He relaxed his fists and took a deep breath, venting a cloud of steam. "How... How can I help?"

The woman pointed to Grimlock's wounds. "Those things you fought? They're called Xenomorphs. They swarm all over the ridges in this zone. We recently lost a survey station to a nearby hive. If you can clear them out, it would literally save our lives. And you can get your revenge in the process."

"Revenge?" Grimlock ruminated on this for a moment. "Yes... That would be nice. But I have to... I have to find my team."

The man stepped forward again, still shaking with fear. "Wherever you're from, Grimlock, you're not there anymore. You're in the Crossroads."

"Cross... Roads... No. No no, I need to go back!"

"I'm sorry Grimlock," The woman said sadly. "You can't."

The Autobot swayed in place for a few silent seconds as the reality of his situation sunk in. Eventually, the woman spoke again and introduced herself as Sera. With a motion backwards, she introduced the man as Gast. The next few hours were spent learning. Grimlock desperately tried to wrap his head around all the information Sera and Gast fed him, but it was all too much. Eventually he resigned to nodding and grunting and accepted he would never remember everything. He did learn that both the woman and the man were human, very different creatures from the Xenomorphs. Both, however, were classified as 'organic'. It was an entirely new form of life that Grimlock could have never imagined. Cybertron was populated exclusively by robots and made entirely of metal. These 'humans' defied everything he had ever known.

He also learned that The Icelark Mining Coalition was a small collective of daring young miners hoping to strike veins of rare and valuable minerals far out in the unexplored corners of Inverxe. Sera and Gast were two particularly intrepid surveyors who would chance journeys into the wastes in hopes of finding deposits deep beneath the moon's frozen surface. It was on one such expedition that Grimlock had been found and painstakingly dragged back to their outpost. The refinery was one of a few bases scattered across the tundra.

Eventually, the inundation of information came to an end and Grimlock was left with time to himself. Sera left to prepare for their journey to the lsot survey station while Gast shooed away the curious and wide-eyed soldiers and workers that gawked at Grimlock from behind the large machinery. The Autobot sat with his back against the wall and rested his elbows on his knees. He let the rest of his body relax as he meditated on his day.

It was a small solace to think that the destruction of the Space Bridge back on Cybertron had made a difference. Grimlock hoped that his team was safe, and that Swoop had managed to get everyone away from Shockwave's lab before it blew. He hoped they were slaughtering Decepticon cowards in droves. He hoped they thought about him. As Teh Autobot sat, lost in thought, his functions slowly shut down. After so much fighting, even a warrior like Grimlock needed to rest. maybe everything would make more sense when he reactivated.

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In the main office overlooking the refinery, Sera and Gast sat with several other surveyors. They discussed their plans and periodically glanced out the dusty window to make sure Grimlock was still around. It was still stunning to imagine such a massive machine as an individual with thoughts and emotions, let alone a whole planet of them. Gast cleared his throat and ran a finger along the jagged path he had drawn out on a large map splayed on the conference table.

"This is our best bet. We take this route often and we hardly ever see Xenos, Necros, or anything else." He looked around at the tense faces of his companions. "Its a long walk, but I think we should take the Rumbler."

"That hunk of junk is gonna break down halfway to the station." Sera sipped on a canteen, eyes scanning the path Gast had traced. "We should cut through the gulch north and come down from the mountain pass."

"Are you insane?" One of the other surveyors leaned forward and nervously stroked his beard. "We know for a fact that area is swarming."

"We do have Grimlock..." Gast chimed in.

"Besides," Sera asserted. "We need that station up now. We barely have enough fuel to keep this facility running. If we don't start getting readings soon we're gonna lose everything we've built out here."

"Would that be so bad?" Another surveyor grumbled from the back of the group, joined by a murmur of agreement.

"We've worked too hard, lost too much, and come too far to just give up." Gast balled up a fist and punctuated his statement by slamming down on the table. "We have Grimlock now. That thing is a walking tank. All we need is enough time to clear out any infestation in the building and get the fences back up and running. Then we're back in the game."

"So we trust this alien robot to watch our backs?"

"Trust is a strong word." Sera sighed, glancing out of the window at Grimlock sitting motionless against the wall. "But he's all we have. We're low on ammo, food, and fuel. We can't afford to pass up this chance."

The group mumbled to themselves for a few minutes. Eventually, Gast raised a hand.

"All in favor of taking the gorge, the Rumbler, and Grimlock to the survey station, say 'aye'."

After a long silence, more hands joined Gast's, including Sera's. a collective "Aye" rang out and the group lowered their hands.

"We're decided then." Gast looked back at the map and added a small metal block to the caravan he was simulating along their new route. "Lets talk logistics."

 

[Grimlock]

The march up to the ridge was demanding on Grimlock, but he refused to let the humans notice. Frost coated his joints, making every step a feat of strength, his acid wounds hadn't healed, and, try as he might, he couldn't find the strength to transform. Despite this, he led the caravan. His massive frame carved a swath through the deepening snow drifts that lined the crags. Biting winds brought with them a steady barrage of ice and snow. The Dinobot's optics could barely make out his own hand in front of him. He was relying entirely on Gast's directions which the human periodically shouted over the winds. Just behind Grimlock rattled the Rumbler, a massive APC seated on a set of treads. Gast, Sera, and the other surveyors were all huddled inside the vehicle's various compartments.

Sera kept her eyes glued to the motion tracker screen as the Rumbler continued along the ridge. Up until now, the only movement it showed was Grimlock stomping in the snow. Much to her terror, she started to notice small blips at the edge of the scanner. Sera waved over one of the other surveyors.

"I'm picking up some movement out there," she said shakily.

The surveyor bit his chapped lip. "It could just be artifacting from the storm. Sometimes the hail is dense enough to register."

Sera stood up and opened the weapons locker across from the motion tracker. She retrieved an energy rifle and a canister. Slapping the canister into place, she handed the rifle to the surveyor.

"We're not taking any chances." She turned to the cockpit. Gast! Warn Grimlock we might have company."

As the Rumbler ground to a halt, Grimlock did the same. He hefted his sword, the Energon humming along its edge the only light he had in the impenetrable blizzard. It was impossible to discern movement through the deluge of snow and dim shadows cast by the mountain range. Back in the Rumbler, Sera hadn't blinked as she watched more and more blips appear on the motion tracker. They were moving together. Some surveyors rushed to the guns that poked out from the sides of the Rumbler. Grimlock stared out at the ridge, his Spark flaring with synthetic adrenaline.

Then something began to peek out of the wall of whiteness. A tall, wide shadow formed. Its shield-like crest and snarling maw appeared first. A ridged tail whipped in and out of sight. The same creature Grimlock had locked sights with back on the plateau crept forward. Much to the Dinobot's discomfort, it stood up on its hind legs. Its body was comprised of a black carapace and cord-like structures that made the Cybertronian question if this thing was as organic as the humans claimed. In the Rumbler, Gast was hurriedly arming himself and the remaining surveyors when Sera gasped.

"Praetorian..."

"But..." Gast swallowed, his mouth going dry. "That means there's a-"

An ear-splitting shriek rang out across the ridge as the Xenomorph screeched. Grimlock redoubled his grip on his sword as smaller creatures poured out like a river around their leader. The Xenomorphs scuttled forward, screeching and snarling. The Rumbler opened fire. The air exploded with heat and sound as the high-caliber machine guns ripped apart the forward ranks of aliens. Grimlock charged forward as the Xenomorphs grew too close, sending them flying like bowling pins. He gave himself wholly to the fight, failing to notice the Praetorian stalking deliberately toward him.

Instead, Grimlock roared as he swing his sword with reckless abandon. He had learned from his last fight, doing his best to swing wide and away from his chassis. A noxious smell and hissing sound permeated the air as Xenomorph blood soaked into the ridge. Drones started to crawl up and onto Grimlock's back and shoulders. He shook his body violently, but it took some precision shooting from the Rumbler to tear the Xenomorphs off his body. When the Praetorian was finally close enough, it bellowed and charged. Dropping to all fours, it rammed its wide crest into Grimlock's stomach.

The Autobot reeled, giving the drones the chance they needed to swarm him again. He felt dozens of secondary mouths tearing metal from his chassis. Wires tore and fibers snapped as the drones ripped ferally into Grimlock's body. His vision went dark as they encompassed his head. The Dinobot nearly completely disappeared under a writhing pile of Xenomorphs. He lost his grip on his sword as the sheer weight of the aliens brought Grimlock to his knees. Where a weaker creature would have panicked, Grimlock was enraged. He fought with all his might, pressing up against the torrent of Xenomorphs. His body creaked as he struggled to stand despite the overwhelming weight. His optics were a cavalcade of warning lights as more and more damage registered.

Finally, with a primeval roar, Grimlock tore an arm free of the swarm. He felt something inside him click into place. His conversion cogs kicked in, causing his body to shift and twist. Plates separated and reconfigured. He slammed his fists down, scattering some of the drones, and his arms transformed into claws. His roar of anger became a thunder of rage. In seconds, an entirely new creature burst forth from the swarm. A plume of flame shot forward, incinerating the aliens trying to attack Grimlock. The flames swung around, sweeping the Rumbler and leaving smoldering corpses where drones used to be.

A cacophony of shrieks sounded the death bell for dozens of Xenomorphs as Grimlock broke free. His previously humanoid form had been abandoned. Now a massive sauropod, clad in steel and hatred, began to rampage along the ridge. He stomped indiscriminately forward, crushing more drones underfoot, and charged the Praetorian. His metal head slashed with the Xenomorph's bony crest and won. There was a sickening crack as the crest broke. A spray of acid and severed sinew colored the snow as the Praetorian tumbled backward.

It scrambled to retreat, but Grimlock stomped down and pinned its tail. Then, he opened his maw and breathed out a torrent of fire. The Praetorian screamed and writhed beneath the superheated onslaught. Its death throes warned its subordinates to scatter and the drones instantly abandoned the fight. They skittered back into the snow in every direction. When the Rumbler's guns finally quieted and the alien squealing fell silent. Grimlock stepped back to admire his handiwork. He transformed again, feeling a great weight lift as his mind cleared. Back to Robot Mode, he stomped over to the Rumbler and placed a tentative hand on its roof.

"Fight's over. Everyone okay?" He forced out the words as his body slowly came down from the ruch of his alternate form.

The hatch opened, revealing Gast sporting an expression of awe. "Th-that was incredible."

"Yeah." Grimlock felt a swell of pride. "Felt good to fight like that again. How much farther?"

"There." Gast tugged on his hood and pointed across the range. "That mountain houses the Station. We should see the emergency lights soon."

"Good." Grimlock turned away and began trudging through the snow again towards the station.

Gast returned to the inside of the Rumbler and climbed to the cockpit. Sera and the other surveyors sat in silence for a few moments. They huddled close to the viewports as the APC rolled past the charcoal remains of the Praetorian. Finally, Sera spoke.

"I feel like we need to address the... dinosaur in the room."

"No," Gast snapped. "No need to look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Ya know," Another surveyor spoke up. "NeVec would pay a fortune for a weapon like that. We could finally get our operation on the map."

"Hey, he's not just a weapon." Sera turned, disgusted. "Grimlock thinks, he talks, and he just saved your sorry ass."

"I'm just saying, we wouldn't need a miracle like him if we just had enough T-ENG to run our own Vital Suit, or at least a decent rig."

Sera pointed out the viewport at the mess of corpses outside. "You wanna tell the guy who just did that to a whole army of Xenos we're selling him for a better model?"

Clearly upset, the surveyor scoffed. "Don't be an asshole, we can do more of a trade."

"We need to be able to defend ourselves." Another surveyor spoke up, clearly shaken from the fight. "What happens if next expedition Grimlock isn't around?"

"So you think we should sell him to NeVec? They'll just slave him to some computer system and make life more of a nightmare for the little guys like us than it already is." Sera waved her hands around earnestly.

"Fuck, Sera, we almost just got eaten by Xenomorphs. Hell, there's a good chance there's a Queen out there, maybe even in the Fuel Station. Forgive us for being a bit nervous about our futures."

"Hey!" Gast shouted loud enough for everyone to feel the vibrations. "Stow it. Our only mission is to get that fuel station back online. That's how we get our operation on the map. We don't sell the people who help us, and we don't argue like children. Clear?"

A sober silence overtook the Rumbler for the remainder of the journey. Outside, Grimlock quietly hummed an old marching song Sludge had taught him as he carried on.