“…And so that’s why Cybertron only needed one moon anyway.”

“Uh-huh,” Moonhunter nodded, only half-listening. The barkeep never shut up, but he knew how to work wonders with energon. Besides, he and Bluestreak went way back, and the former Autobot was one of the few who knew Moonhunter’s secret and was his friend anyway. Heck, Moonhunter got his drinks for free here, so a little one-sided conversation was actually a relief.

“So why’d you sign up for this mission anyway?” Bluestreak asked, finally giving the hunched-over Maximal his first chance to speak up in almost a cycle. “Exploration isn’t what you usually sign up for.”

“Wanted a change of pace,” Moonhunter said. “You have any idea how depressing it gets chasing after the scum of the galaxy 24/7? I figure signing on to be a security officer for a bunch of eggheads will give me a chance to relax.”

“Security, on an exploration vessel? Why Moonhunter, haven’t you learned anything from Star Trek?”

“Hated that show. Always did, even before going out into space for real.”

“Not what you expected, huh?”

“Life never is.”

As if Fate wanted to prove him right, their conversation was interrupted by a large Maximal slamming himself down on the stool beside them and barking out his drink request. Moonhunter eyed the stranger as he did with everyone who came within ten meters of his body. His first reaction was to ask how he was going to drink anything with that strange assembly he had in place of a mouth, but wisely said something else. “Depth Charge, right?”

The stranger turned and looked down on him. “And you would be…?”

“I go by Moonhunter. Come tomorrow, I’ll be a security officer aboard the Axalon.”

“Moonhunter? Where have I heard that name… Wait. The Axalon!?”

“You know, I’m not too comfortable with that ‘special cargo’ of ours.”

“Yeah well if the slaggin’ Council had just listened to me, you wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

There was a pause in the conversation, one in which Moonhunter pondered an idea he had while Depth Charge poured his drink into the vents around his chin. “…Are you sure X can be killed?”

“I have a few theories.”

The former bounty hunter made a noise akin to a sigh, before pulling out a datachip and sliding it down the table discretely. “This is the transwarp wave signature of the Axalon,” he whispered. “Promise me one thing: If you can’t kill Protoform X, you’ll destroy whatever ship you have to prevent him from getting off wherever we strand him.”

Depth Charge looked at him with wild optics. Moonhunter knew that look all too well; the look of obsession, of hatred. It had almost consumed him in his life as a bounty hunter, which was why he wanted out. He had nothing positive in his life to live for. All Depth Charge had was revenge, and he would never be able to move on or start a new life until Protoform X was destroyed.

“Promise.”

“You got a deal,” the huge Maximal said as he took the datachip. “Mind if I ask why you’re helping me? Your standing with the Maximal Elders is precarious enough as it is. They don’t trust you.”

Moonhunter sneered. “I don’t trust them either. I never asked to become a Cybertronian, you know.”

“And being human’s better?”

Moonhunter stood up, ready to leave. “I am what I am,” he answered. “And if I have to live this life, I might as well make it good for something. Otherwise, there’s not much point either way.”