Author's Note: Wow...first story posted in...forever. This has actually been sitting on my computer for a quite a while now, but I didn't want to post it until it was finished or else I'd catch up with myself and never be done with it. But I did it! This story is now fully written and it's just a matter of spacing out the posting dates! If you like it, review and you'll get the next part sooner. -wink wink- There's three of them, by the way; each a little longer than the previous one, so don't be too displeased with the length...or lack thereof.
And I apologize to Laserbeak and Thunderckracker fans...please don't come after me with pitchforks and torches for this. ):
Speaking of torches... Flamers, while regretfully beyond my power to abolish completely, will be cheerfully ignored and their spiteful little flames will be used to make yummy s'mores, which I will serve to all helpful (and happy) reviewers! Thank you~
Disclaimer: All is owned by Hasbro, I'm just the nerd who decided to mess with their characters.
Flyaway
Part I
The barren landscape of the now-dead Cybertron offered no comfort to the lone Cassettes sitting some miles off of the Decepticon base, and it gave no condolences to the anguished mech walking away; it only gave the Cassette a feeling of icy bitterness and despair. Rumble clutched Laserbeak close to his chest as he watched the metal condor's killer walk away. He was confused, he was hurt, he wanted to know what was going on…and still he was not sure as to what drove him to call after the traitorous mech.
"Th-Thundercracker!"
The blue Seeker stopped and turned slowly to glare at the tiny Cassette. Rumble suddenly found he had nothing to say and bowed his head. The Seeker scowled as he whirled around and continued on his way.
The little blue Cassette made a noise like a sigh and his shoulders slumped; what was going on? Rumble gazed down at his fallen brother—Laserbeak was no Frenzy, but a brother nonetheless—hugged him tightly for a moment, and then let him go. Filled with resolve, Rumble gently lay down the condor's body and ran after the wayward Seeker.
"Thundercracker!" he called out again, but this time his voice did not shake. "Hey Thundercracker, wait!"
The blue Seeker did not stop or even hint that he'd heard the Cassette's calls.
"Slaggit TC! What's wrong with you!" Rumble screamed in frustration.
At this, Thundercracker halted abruptly.
"For the past few cycles you've been actin' real funny, TC! And now you've…you've killed Laserbeak! What do I tell Da- Soundwave?"
"Nothing!" barked Thundercracker, as he wheeled about to glare hatefully at Rumble. "There is nothing wrong with me! And you will tell Soundwave nothing! Nothing!"
"The Pit I will!" yelped Rumble. "I'm telling him everything! You…you can't do this TC, you can't kill a comrade, you can't abandon your faction, and you can't turn your back on this war!"
Thundercracker snarled at the Cassette and spun on his heel, he kept walking; his pace was brisk and his movements jaunty. There must be something really bothering him if he's forgotten that he can fly, thought Rumble as he watched the Seeker stalk away.
"Hold on now, TC!" shouted Rumble, running after the Seeker once again. "Tell me what's goin' on!"
And for the third time, Thundercracker whipped around to face the persistent blue Cassette. At the same time, he charged his arm-mounted blasters and pointed them in Rumble's face.
"Back off," he warned, "or you'll get the same as Laserbeak!"
"I'll back off when you tell me what's goin' on!" snapped Rumble, not showing how unnerved he was at having a gun shoved in his face. "If you leave…what about Starscream and Skywarp? They're you're brothers! How will they feel if you just up and leave them! They can't fight this war without you!"
The hard mask that the Seeker had kept firmly in place softened slightly, a trickle of pain leaked into his guarded red optics. He hesitated, before simply stating, "I'm sick of it all," and then backed up, transformed swiftly, and rocketed away.
Rumble stood there, not knowing exactly how to feel, but…less confused than he had been previously. Bowing his head, Rumble trudged back to where he had left the body of his brother, thinking hard about what had just transpired. So Thundercracker was sick of it? Sick of what? The war, no doubt. It was the only reasonable answer, but the Seeker had never shown any displeasure about the war before, until today when he'd shot Laserbeak. It hadn't been expected; it had been so sudden and abrupt. What made things worse was that Thundercracker had been miles from the base when he'd killed the condor, so no one had been around to witness it. No one except Rumble.
He'd felt his brother's distress and had gone to see what was the matter; he had arrived just in time to see Thundercracker fire and start to walk away.
"I'm sorry Laserbeak," Rumble whispered as he carefully scooped up the condor's broken body. He stood there for a moment, staring at Laserbeak's dull optics as if he could somehow will the light to return to them. When nothing happened, Rumble's spark gained weight in his chassis and he dropped his head in bitter sorrow. "Scrap," he rasped, speaking agonizingly to himself, "what do I tell Buzzsaw? And Soundwave? He'll be furious!"
With a final glance at Thundercracker's retreating form, Rumble trudged back to the base, his spark a ten-ton heap of anguish solidified.
End Note: If you're too upset with me, I'm here with a friendly little reminder to review~ That little button there is so pretty isn't it? Just so click-able!
Oh yeah...I should mention... I've always pictured Soundwave and the Cassettes as having a sort of father/son type bond, in case you were wondering about that little "What do I tell Da- Soundwave?" bit... Same with Seekers actually, not with Soundwave, I mean; but I've also always imagined them as brothers to each other. Not serious brothers as in "same creator" or whatnot, but more like "brothers in arms" or something along those lines...
Now that I'm done babbling, go back to that pretty review button! It's calling to you, don't ignore it~ Please~
