Cheetor sighed and stretched as he finally reached what was passing for his room these days. Little more than a miniature cave off-shooting from the cavern the Ark was currently resting in, but it would suffice. It was this or risk permanently screwing up the timeline by disturbing the dust bunnies in the Autobot ship, after all. He could've explained exactly why that theory was wrong, but it would have raised questions as to where he had attained such knowledge.
And questions weren't what he needed right now.
He smiled to himself as he sat down on his "bed" with a few data discs to read; this was really getting to be fun. The murderous glares Silverbolt had shot him on the way back to the Ark, the knowing looks shared between Rhinox and Rattrap, too perfect! He'd had to concentrate on maintaining his "wounded puppy dog" look and more than once had almost ruined it by laughing aloud. They had no idea. Playing up to Blackarachnia had been a stroke of genius, though he'd have to watch himself around her. The Predacon femme was sharp. It made him wonder how on Earth she had hooked up with the Fuzor. Oh well, leave them to their little soap opera. Blackarachnia was attractive, but as far as he was concerned she couldn't hold a candle to a certain tech waiting for him back on Cybertron. Speaking of which...
Beep. Beep. Beep. The soft electronic alert sounded and he immediately leaped up and snatched a small console off of his "shelves." Right on time. He hit a button and tucked the thing into a side compartment before quickly exiting his room. He barely acknowledged Rattrap's greeting as he passed the smaller Maximal and hurried out the massive blast doors before anyone else noticed him. He ignored Silverbolt's frosty glare and changed to beast mode, taking off before the Fuzor could voice any questions.
"Think I'll do a little star gazing, catch ya' later!" he called over his shoulder. He set down on a nearby peak a few mintues later. Well within sensor range, and yet out of sight of any prying optics. He transformed again and removed the device, setting it down on the ground. Immediately, a satellite receiver unfolded and aimed itself at the sky. A few seconds later, the alert sounded again and he grinned as he settled himself on the ground before the miniscule screen. A face resolved itself, only slightly distorted by the immense time and distance the signal was travelling through and Cheetor's grin widened. Large aquamarine optics set in an almost elfin silver face regarded him with equal happiness before settling into cool professional detachment.
"Report, Agent."
"As you've probably noticed, the crew of the Axalon succeeded in preventing the destruction of Prime. We've moved operations into the volcano itself to defend it against further attacks."
"Threat assessment?"
"All in my reports, but right now I think the situation is under control." Cheetor inserted one of the data discs into the proper receptacle and began uploading his report directly to the female's computer. "What Rhinox wouldn't give to get his hands on this baby," he mused to himself as the satellite linkup beamed the information through space and time themselves. The same anomaly that had sent them to this point in the past was now operating as a window to his superiors, allowing him to stay in contact with Cybertron.
As advanced as the linkup was, however, it still took a bloody long time. Fortunately, he had a pleasant diversion.
"Officialites over?" he asked playfully. The female nodded, her lips curving into an angellic smile. "Then how's it goin', Beautiful?"
"Pretty good, actually. My schematics for the new shuttle are being reviewed by the higher-ups, looks like I might get the go-ahead to build it. I miss you."
"I miss you, too."
"Seriously, 'Chaser, you're safe?"
"I think so. If there have been time variations, I haven't been able to detect them. Don't worry, love. I'll be fine."
"I still wish you'd have let me come with you. Or given the whole assignment to someone else!"
"I'm the only one qualified to work with these kinds of temporal mechanics, Artemis. You know that."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it." The device in front of Cheetor beeped again, letting him know that the reports had been transmitted. On screen, Artemis sighed heavily. "Slag it, I never have time to talk to you."
"The price we pay, Beautiful. Got any new orders for me?"
"Not really. Download as much as you can from the Ark's mainframe. Our records are rather spotty. Let us know the minute you detect any time variations. As for your orders regarding the crew of the Axalon..."
"I know. And don't worry, I don't have a problem with it. If someone finds out about me, I'll terminate them." Cheetor's face hardened for a moment. "It would be a pleasure in a few cases."
"I thought you liked Optimus."
"Not him, though he is getting a little tiresome. Silver-dolt's giving me grief. If we weren't outnumbered, I'd see to it he had a little accident."
"Watch out for Depth Charge."
"Oh yeah, like I'm really gonna let my guard slip around that guy! He'd tear me apart if he found out I'm working for the folks that let Protoform X loose on the colony!"
"We had no idea Protoform X was that powerful."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'd better go before someone comes out to find me. I love you."
"I love you too. Oh hey! Tell your partner his orders still stand as well. Move up the schedule if he can."
"Will do. Agent Starchaser, signing off." Cheetor/Starchaser closed down the transmitter, feeling slightly melancholy. He lived for his conversations with Artemis, but at the same time they only served to remind him just how far away she was. And just how isolated he was. If the others ever found out...the Agency wouldn't be able to protect him from their wrath. Of course, if he played his part right, they woudn't find out. It had gotten easier over the months. Optimus and the others trusted Cheetor implicitly; he was everyone's kid brother.
And one of the most highly trained operatives within Cybertron's deadliest organization.
Sometimes he was a little afraid of the Agency's power. Megatron hadn't known what he was getting into when he had planned to steal the Golden Disk, but the Agency had. Megatron had no way of knowing it, but he had secured Cybertron's future when he had stolen that disk. After all, if he hadn't then he, his crew, and the Axalon would never have landed on Earth. They would never have angered the aliens enough to fire on the planet, stabilizing the Energon that would have destroyed the Autobots long before they awoke, even within the Ark. The Maximals and Predacons were simply playing out a script that had been written long before there were Maximals and Predacons. He should know, he had set it in motion.
What a shocker it had been, to find his own logs buried deep within Teletran-1's archives, warning the Agency of what was to come. Warning himself to make sure he got the slag on the Axalon. Interesting. But a shocker.
Hours later, Cheetor exited the room Teletran-1 was housed in, carefully tucking his newly filled data discs out of sight. the techs at the Agency would have a field day with some of the stuff he had found. He slipped out of the ark silently, through a back door he had "installed" as soon as they had moved into the cavern. Time to get back to playing the annoying kid, the greenhorn. He passed Rhinox on his way back to his room, smirking to himself as the big Maximal wrestled with yet another computer problem. He could have told Rhinox how to fix it in about ten cycles flat. But Cheetor didn't know that kind of stuff. Cheetor was a wet behind the ears rookie. He'd play his part, let them go on dismissing him as a dumb kid, never once showing them his true nature. Never letting the cold-blooded killer he could be show in his eyes. He could be here a long time.
It would be too bad if he had to kill the only people he could converse with.
He entered his room and thumbed his satellite linkup on one more time, opening a secure channel to his fellow Agent. Boy, and he thought his character was misleading. He was answered shortly by the grinning face of his partner on this mission, and best friend.
"Hey Wasp-man. New orders...."
