Fool Leader Vote

Quickstrike went into the most official looking building he could find in the neutral town near the Decepticon base. The city of Exolesco, if you could call it a city, surprisingly had a bank.  It was hard to imagine that a town built in ruins on a dying planet could keep such a thing secure. Quickstrike had not heard of the location having any robberies, and it seemed well guarded.

The place had a guard at every teller window. The small Decepticon could feel a lot of optics on him. Quickstrike was sure someone with a Decepticon faction symbol would be a concern for the establishment. Despite his smaller than average Cybertronian size, three other bots there let him go ahead in line without he even asking. He had not even tried to be intimidating.

When Quickstrike could go up to a teller window the guard there gave him a look. His wings twitched  a bit as he then spoke to the teller, "I'm not here to cause any trouble. Its not like there is an information desk around this town so I thought this would be the best place to ask... does this town have any type of leader? mayor?"

"Mayor?" the teller seemed confused by that term. It reminded Quickstrike that such human earth terms may not be used on Cybertron.

"Just... who runs the town? I need to talk to them. I have information," Quickstrike replied, ignoring the glare from the guard that was at least three times taller than him. At least the teller was about his height. The bank teller still looked confused by Quickstrike's question.

"I guess, the head of our bank?" the teller gave the guard at her window a glance like she wasn't sure of that answer.

"Well, who provides the energon for the town?" Quickstrike tried asking his question differently.

"The bank purchases about 80% of the energon in this town. And then the businesses buy it from us," the teller explained.

"So, can I talk to who runs the bank? Trust me, I have important information for him," Quickstrike left it at that.  The teller gave the guard a glance again. The guard nodded back as the teller then left the window to go to a room in the back. Quickstrike saw her go out of sight behind a door.

"No one here is going to trust you," the guard said to Quickstrike. The bug bot just shrugged.

"I understand that. I really do," the smaller bot muttered in response. After an awkward moment of silence the teller came back up to her window.

"She will meet you upstairs. Guards should be down in a moment to escort you up," the teller told Quickstrike. He just nodded in returned and left the window, heading to a nearby staircase. He waited at the bottom for the guards like he had been told. He was quite surprised when he saw six guards come down the stairs for just little bot like him. While he wore a Decepticon logo he currently had no visible weapons.

Quickstrike was glad the guards did not put their hands on him. They just lead him up the stairs with two in front, two in the back, and one at each side of him. It didn't make him nervous, it just proved to him why a bank could survive out here. These neutrals weren't taking any chances.

He was lead to a room where there was yet another four guards. Other then there now being ten guards on this level, the room look light a regular office. A regular office that could fit ten guards.

There was a femme sitting at a desk to the side of the room. She got up from her seat as Quickstrike arrived. She was a seeker build and taller than that usual build by a head or so. Light caught on her iridescent white armor that reminded Quickstrike of opal stones back on Earth.

"Go ahead and have a seat," she said as she gestured to a seat in front of her desk.  Quickstrike sat down politely. The femme then sat back down on her seat, "You have some information for me?"

"I'm not a merchant bot, but I have an opportunity to get anything the town needs for a short period of time. Energon, and some medical supplies and weapons," Quickstrike offered quite confidently.

"Interesting. I assume you're not doing this out of the kindness of your own spark. What do you want in return?" the seeker asked.

"A scouter ship. Something small and basic. One passenger. And it has to be space worthy," Quickstrike said as he adjusted himself in the seat. It was meant for a much bigger bot and at a slanted angle that made it hard to stay still.

"I see. So you're planning to put in a 'resignation' with your current.. place of employment?" the seeker asked curiously, giving a moment glance to Quickstrike's Decepticon insignia.

"Not quite. I just need to lay low while other things are taking place," Quickstrike answered calmly.

"While your offer for physical supplies is appreciated," the supposedly leader of the town started to make an offer of her own, "Any information you have may be useful to me as well."

"What kind of information?" Quickstrike raised an optic brow.

"What is going on at that little ole' Decepticon base?" the seeker asked as she looked Quickstrike straight in the optics.

"The usual Decepticon things," he replied back straight face. The Seeker made a 'tsk' noise in reply. She shifted back in her seat and watched Quickstrike for a moment. He just gave her a confused look back.

"What makes a unarmed young organic mini bot feel comfortable walking in a heavily armed place? You're not even nervous at all. That just makes me believe you know something that would be worth a lot to me," the seeker answered. Her yellow optics narrowed as she watched Quickstrike's reaction.

"I told you I just want a ship. I can get you supplies in trade. Just let me know what physical items you want," he stated a bit agitated now. It was true he could be calm in unusual situations like this. There were ten guards in the room that could take him out if possible, but he was not worried. He knew he could bluff himself in with the Decepticon faction logo on his chest alone.  The Seeker that may indeed run the whole town just kept an icy stare on him a moment. Her face then warmed up again and smiled.

"Bring me whatever you can get then. A good mix of everything, alright? Weapons, medical supplies, whatever you're little servos can grab. Come with it any time here. We're always open. And I'll get you you're ship," The seeker replied as she stood up. Quickstrike was now suspicious but stood as well when she offered her hand to shake. The techorganic shook the seeker's hand before she walked him to the office door, "My boys don't need to walk you out do they? You seem like a well behaved gentlebot."

Quickstrike only made a noise in response to that, not denying or agreeing, "I'll get what I can and be right back. And you will have a ship ready for me?"

"Of course. And not anything small like you're asking for. I'm sure something with a few rooms and space for a few friends would be more suitable for you," She smiled nicely. Quickstrike wasn't sure what to make of this. He was certain if he did come back there would be a trap for him. On the other hand he really wanted to get away while the whole thing about the Commanders being gone had blown over. He knew a small organic bot like him didn't stand a chance of all anarchy broke loose. The banker bot's smile only got wider.

"I'll be back," Quickstrike replied before heading out the door and down the stairs back to the main bank area.

The seeker started humming to herself as she headed back to her desk, starting to pull up a datapad that had a comm line already open on it, "Ooooh Chief, I have some great news for you. I do believe none of the main 'Cons are at their base now. Not by choice. If you wanted to take any action now would be the best time."