Important Information
"Blah" Speaking
::Blah:: comm. link
'Blah'bonded speech
'Blah' thinking
Astrosecond- 2.5 earth Seconds
Klik- 150 earth seconds/ 2.5 earth Minutes
Orn- 150 earth minutes/ 2.5 earth Hours
Joor- 60 earth hours/2.5 earth Days
Metacycle- 17.5 earth days/2.5 earth Weeks
Vorn- 10 earth weeks/2.5 earth months
Stellercycle-30 earth months/2.5 years
Breem-slang for a moment/minute.
Night Cycle: star down to star up
Day Cycle: Star up to star down
Authors Note: Update time! I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter, but here we go. I do hope you guys enjoy.
As always, thank you to my beta DarknessRising10.
And thank you to DarknessRising10, Daenerys Starcatcher, Crimson Hope, Wanderling, Pikke Wood and Sofie for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I own only my OC's, nothing else.
()()()
Sunstreaker smirked to himself in both amusement and smugness as his finely tuned sensors followed the small car thief while she 'worked'. Her form of work was of course, boosting cars, but who was he to judge?
The former gladiator had followed Danny as she easily stole a yellow Camaro and Sunstreaker had watched her as she slid up to the car, popping the door with frighteningly practised ease.
The frontliner let the theft pass, he didn't particularly care that Danny had stolen the car for he had better things to worry about, like getting the glitch back home. Knowing that he had a better chance of catching her if he could corner her in a building, Sunstreaker let the thief take her little prize.
Besides, he had argued to himself, he had done far worse in his misspent youth. A simple stolen vehicle was nothing to the crimes he had committed in the past.
Pushing away the thought, Sunstreaker forced himself to focus on the job at servo; following Danny and catching her. He would follow her, at a safe distance, ensuring that Danny and her stolen car were just on the peripheral of his senses, allowing him to follow without being seen. The smugness crept through Sunstreaker's lines. He would follow Danny back to wherever she was working out of, find her little base of operations and snatch her right from it.
Automatically, as it was second nature to him, Sunstreaker reached out to his twin, to share the sense of victory that flooded his spark. The frontliner would soon have Danny, and would soon be bringing her home; showing everyone he wasn't as useless as they all thought him to be.
Sunstreaker would show his twin he could be trusted with such a delicate task, and that he wasn't the monster that half the Ark assumed he was. The insecurities that constantly bombarded the golden hued frontliner suddenly crept up in his processor as he followed Danny; he wasn't the monster they all thought him to be!
Dismay and distress flared within Sunstreaker, sharp and hot when he reached out for his other half and was met by the ice cold blocks. Sideswipe, his own twin, the other half of his spark was still ignoring him, still blocking him out just as everyone else did.
To make it all the worse, Sideswipe was doing it because he was mad at him, hurt by Sunstreaker's own actions. Actions, that Sunstreaker only took to ensure the little glitchling that he was currently following understood who Sideswipe truly belonged to.
The crimson plated twin could play with the stupid human all he wanted, but at the end of the day Sideswipe was still Sunstreaker's twin, Sunstreaker's other half, not some playmate to Danny. Yet, Sunstreaker thought with hurt weighing heavily in his spark, Sideswipe had chosen Danny over him.
Pain, the kind that Sunstreaker wasn't used to dealing with, wasn't able to cope with on his own, spread through his spark, causing his engine to hitch. His alt form slowed momentarily, losing Danny before he sped back up to find her in his sensors again.
Sideswipe was all Sunstreaker had as a friend. Prowl and Jazz were more like parental figures to the twins, Prowl more so than the Autobot TIC, although both where always there when the twins really needed them, like any good parent would be. Yet, Prowl wasn't the kind who would want to do something he would call 'fun' or 'exciting'.
Prowl and Jazz were the creators they never had, not the friends Sunstreaker had trouble making. Most in the Ark thought of the golden frontliner as a manic, crazy with a blood lust that was far worse than any Decepticon. It was only half true, but Sunstreaker was forced to live with the mask that others forced him to wear.
No one wanted to hang out with Sunstreaker, half thought they would end up dead before the day was through. It was okay though, because Sunstreaker always had his art to concentrate on, and his twin to rankle him when he needed it.
They had just as much fun together as they fought with each other. Or at least the twins had, until Danny came along and Sideswipe started to ignore him in favour of the human femme. It hurt that his twin had chosen the human over him; had forgotten him and left him alone just like everyone else did.
It burned at his spark that Sideswipe had dropped him so easily, ate at him, and the fact that Danny was human made it all the worse.
With a feral snarl, the former gladiator forced all thoughts away that had to do with his twin, shutting his emotions away with them. They would only get in his way as he tried to capture and take Danny home.
Following the thief to the smaller roads along the outskirts of the city, he watched as she pulled into a small parking lot with a single dingy building. It was a squat, grey building with two large bay doors. Oddly, the thick doors appeared fresh and new, the steel shining in the morning light, sticking out like a sore thumb on the grungy building. Beyond the ugly building, stacks of flat cars were piled high, scrap metal reaching for the sky, as though in some eerie race to see which pile could become the tallest first.
Pulling over to the side of the road, far enough that Danny wouldn't notice him unless she was looking for him, Sunstreaker observed her as she got out of the stolen car with ease. She moved as though nothing was amiss, as though she belonged there and that the car belonged to her.
A junk yard, he suddenly realized. Danny was at a junk yard, and was more than likely working for a chop shop.
Watching as the thief walked, strutted, to the building, Sunstreaker carefully rolled forward, the smugness returning. He could see Epps' black motorcycle parked up, hidden in the shadow of the ugly building.
He had the little glitch trapped now, and she had no way to escape this time. Watching as Danny knocked on the large bay door, pounding on the new steel with her tiny fist before she was let inside by an unknown male human.
As Danny disappeared into the building, Sunstreaker transformed, his lean, strong frame standing tall over the squat building. His polished finish sparkling in the sun in ways the door never would be able to. His perpetual frown set firmly on his face, Sunstreaker forced his shoulders to loosen, allowed his mind to slip closer to a combat ready state, just in case Danny tried to run again. It wouldn't take much to catch the femme now that he had her cornered, had her trapped.
He stalked to the building, frown growing into a scowl as he closed in on the bay doors, knowing this was a complete waste of time. He had better things to do than drag the brat home. Nearing the building, Sunstreaker could hear voices, laughing human voices coming through the thin walls of the building.
Snarling to himself, Sunstreaker took a knee by the bay door before he dug thick blunt digits into the softer steel. Balling his servo into a fist, the metal curled around his digits as it gave way, screeching and screaming as it did.
A human, maybe two, screamed within the building as he tore the large bay door right off its hinges, the tracks of the door ripping off with it. The Autobot tossed the wide, thick steel over a single shoulder with the flick of a wrist, the thin steal tracks flailing behind the sheet metal like flags.
With a disgruntled snarl, Sunstreaker crouched lower to peer inside the chop shop, five humans plastered themselves against the far wall, their small eyes wide in shock as they stared up at him, skin pale in shock.
One of them whimpered, a female, while the scent of urine suddenly filled the air, causing Sunstreaker to snarl in disgust. One of the males, one of the larger ones with sandy hair, had just urinated himself, the hot liquid seeping down his leg, soaking through his jeans.
The Autobot snarled again, icy optics sliding away from the small group of humans that huddled as far from him as they possibly could, their terror stinking as strongly as the piss that wafted around them, stopping on the single human that didn't cower from him.
Danny leaned against the wooden work table, a hip cocked against it, arms crossed as she glared up at the frontliner. Her lips were pulled down into a hard frown while her brown eyes, dark and angry, were on the golden frontliner.
Sunstreaker's cold gaze held hers, not backing down, his own snarl silent on his lips.
Heaving a sigh, Danny turned from him, plucking a bottle of gold tequila from the table and she poured herself a shot. "Really Sunstreaker? Is knocking too human for you? Had to come barging in during my celebratory drink, and ruin it?" The human rolled her eyes at him whilst giving a deep, annoyed sigh before she licked her wrist.
Snorting as the human femme began to sprinkle salt on her bared wrist, Sunstreaker huffed. "I hardly have time to understand your celebrations Danny." His helm canting as he watched her pick up a bright green lime, the frontliner snorted. "I've just come to collect you. So have your little drink and let's go."
Danny huffed a dry laugh, an amused smirk spreading across her face. "I'm not going home with you Sunstreaker, I have work to do."
She then licked her wrist and shot the alcohol back in one hard gulp. In a swift movement she quickly sunk her teeth into the lime in her hand, sucking the juice from it. The whole act made Sunstreaker's plating crawl as he watched her drop the lime's husk onto the table with the others.
"I don't care what you have to do Danny, we're going home." The former gladiator snapped, not bothering to hide the disgust that was so evident in his tone.
Moving another bottle, one that read kerosene further away from her bottle of tequila, Danny poured another shot, the air of confidence never once leaving the human. "No, I'm not."
Danny's tone was calm and it instantly set the frontliner on edge; the femme was never calm like this, unless she was up to something.
"D-Danny. You know this thing?" one of the shaky voices from the humans plastered against the wall called out.
Sunstreaker snarled at being called a thing, his upper lip pulled into an angry snarl. Danny beat Sunstreaker to the verbal spar before he had the chance to say anything. "Him. I know him Brandon. He's not a thing!"
The gold warrior gave Danny a wary look as she herself looked surprised that she had defended the frontliner so vigorously. Danny gave herself a small, mental shake, turning her attention back to the shot as she sprinkled more salt onto her wrist. "Well I like his brother."
Danny's small head tipped up to Sunstreaker and a look of amusement spread across her face. "Why is it that Sides is one of the coolest dudes I've ever met, and you're an asshole?"
Giving the femme a flat look, Sunstreaker kept his tone equally as flat and unemotional as he hid the hurt under a layer of ice and anger. "What can I say? He got all the personality."
The brown eyed women gave a huff of a dry laugh again before she proceeded to repeat the tequila ritual. Slamming her empty shot glass onto the wooden table, harder than necessary, Danny turned her body so that her back was to the frontliner.
Sunstreaker could see her hands moving, doing something while the other pairs of human eyes remained pinned on him, and he had no idea as to what she could be up to. "Listen Sunny, just leave me be. I'm going to come home once I've done all my contracts and I'll be fine, despite what Callie thinks. Go home and spend time with Sides, he misses you, and tell the others you couldn't find me."
Brown eyes peered over her leather covered shoulder, watching his face. "You won't get hurt that way."
His grip on the roof suddenly increased, causing the beams to squeal as they strained, his anger growing, bubbling. "First of all glitch, don't call me Sunny. Second, I was ordered to bring you home and I never fail the Prime." There was a burst of pride at that truth. "And lastly, what could you possibly do to me?"
Danny's cold eyes held his icy optics for a beat longer before she sighed, turning her attention back to the bottle of tequila. When she spoke, she did not address Sunstreaker. "Brandon, can you grab the fire extinguisher?"
The dark haired male, with the light grey eyes and shaky voice, who couldn't take his eyes from the golden Autobot, responded to Danny's odd request. "The…the fire extinguisher?
Danny nodded as she pulled her hair into a high pony tail. "Yeah, that one." Her small head nodded to the tall red fire extinguisher at the corner of the building.
Moving on wobbly legs, Brandon stayed plastered against the wall as he shuffled to the corner of the building, never taking his eyes from Sunstreaker. The frontliner glowered at the back of Danny's small head, wondering what she was up to.
Brandon picked up the large red fire extinguisher before slipping to Danny's side, eyes still glued to the giant being. "What do you want with the extinguisher?"
"I want you to put out the fire." She simply replied, her small hands continuing to work at what Sunstreaker could not see.
Canting his helm in confusion at her odd words, the Autobot felt his battle protocols rise to a battle ready state, purely out of habit. He forced it down, forced himself away from the killing edge with a deep vent. After all, Danny was just a human, what could she possibly do to him armed with only a half bottle of tequila?
The male that Danny called 'Brandon' blinked at her, dumbfounded and stupid, in Sunstreaker's humble opinion. "W…what fire?"
Sunstreaker watched as Danny's small head tipped up to stare back at the dark haired male. "Where's the money for the Camaro?"
Brandon blinked at her again. "Over there on the table." His pale face tipping to the black satchel that sat on the end of the wooden table. The car thief followed the boy's directional nod, her brown eyes falling on her payment for the stolen goods.
"Perfect." Came her brisk response. "I should be back in a few days with the Corvette."
Brandon glanced back at her, before going back to an equally confused Sunstreaker. "S…sure thing Danny. Few days." The male paused, grey eyes dropping to the side. "So, what fire do you need me to put out?"
Heaving a sigh, Danny's shoulders twitched beneath her leather jacket moments before a soft click echoed in an alarming way, driving Sunstreaker a step closer to the killing edge. The human femme suddenly spun around to face him, and Sunstreaker wasn't prepared for what he saw.
The thief's face was cold and impassive as she held the Molotov cocktail that she had made from the tequila bottle and kerosene, orange fire crawling up the grey shop rag she had stuffed in the top. Sunstreaker felt himself go cold with shock, thinking there was no way the little glitch would throw that. There was just no way she would have the ball bearings to do it.
Would she?
Optics icing over, Sunstreaker glared at the human. "Danny, don't you fu-"
The dirty human curse was cut off, died in his throat, as the thief threw the bottle of burning liquid at him, aiming low, away from his face. The bottle sailed through the air, the fire trailing behind the bottle like a comet's tail, aimed for his shoulder.
Sunstreaker's optics followed the bottle, raising his arm to cover his face, protecting what was most vulnerable. The bottle smashed on his forearm, throwing kerosene and fire across his golden plating, causing his paint to bubble and pain to sear across his arm.
Jerking back, a pain filled cry ripped from Sunstreaker's throat as the fire spread up to his elbow and down to his wrist; his once perfect paint job blackened and bubbled as the fire spread. He didn't dare to try and bat the fire out, fear that he'd only spread it onto his servos kept Sunstreaker frozen.
So concentrated on the spreading fire, keeping his panic from rising, Sunstreaker barely heard Danny's voice shout out. "That fire Brandon! Put it out as soon as I'm clear!"
From the corner of his optics he saw Danny run for the satchel, tossing it over her shoulder as she bolted for the exit. Slipping between Sunstreaker's large legs and the torn bay door, Danny darted for Epps' stolen bike.
He hardly heard the bike start, nor did he see her leave as he concentrated on the spreading fire on his arm. Cold foam spread across his arm just as suddenly as the fire caught, coating his destroyed finish from elbow to wrist.
The whole situation happened in a matter of seconds; one moment Danny was there the next she was gone. The foam from the extinguisher spattered across his cheek and nose as he turned just in time to watch Danny pull Epps' bike back onto the road, a black and brown blur as she fled from him.
Rage suddenly replaced the shock; black, blinding rage with the growing need to smear the human that had the audacity to throw fire at him growing with it. Shucking off the heavy, sticky foam from his arm, an animalistic snarl bubbled from his chest, Sunstreaker pinned the human with the fire extinguisher with a cold glare.
The human called Brandon swallowed hard, his breathing hitching as Sunstreaker could literally pin point the very moment panic took over. Foam continued to drip from the fire extinguisher as his grey eyes widened and his mouth fell open again.
Glancing down at his ruined arm, the pain dulling to an ache and what was left of the paint flaking off in a black crust, Sunstreaker snarled again, his anger clear in the noise that rumbled from his throat. "Where is she heading?"
The humans all pressed themselves harder against the wall they plastered themselves against, Brandon's shaky hold on the fire extinguisher causing him to nearly drop it.
"Where!" Sunstreaker roared. The want, the sheer need to kill something overtaking all thought.
"Freemont Street. Danny's heading for Freemont Street. She's working for a group of Interns looking for another Corvette." The only female in the group suddenly shouted, jumping away from the wall in her haste to sell Danny out.
The boys in the garage all gave her a look, shocked at what she had done. Her bare shoulders shrugged, a frown pulling hard on her pink lips. "What? I'm not getting shot by a robot for that bitch." Her head tipped towards him, brown hair falling into her face. "Let Danny deal with her own problems."
Engine rumbling low and angry, EM lashing out aggressively, beyond angry at what Danny had done, beyond hurt that his own twin would choose to hang out with a human like her, Sunstreaker gave the humans one last warning. "If any of you talk about this, any of this! I'll burn your garage to the ground."
Not what a good, noble Autobot would say or do, but Sunstreaker was too angry to comprehend his threat. "Do you understand me?"
The small heads bobbed in a nod, knowing that the Autobot wasn't lying, knew that he truly would burn their building to the ground, just to prove he could.
With nothing but another snarl, Sunstreaker stood and turned away from the doorless bay, storming back to the road he had come from, foam and smoke still trailing from his arm. Too angry and focused on finding and destroying Danny in any way he could, Sunstreaker didn't bother to clean his arm off any more than he already had as he dropped back into his alt form.
Squealing black tires, and thick plumes of smoke pooling from under his alt forms undercarriage, Sunstreaker took off, leaving the dirty parking lot behind. With his sole focus on finding Danny so he could go home, he didn't notice the black motorbike parked down the street, its rider nowhere to be seen.
()()()
Down turned white wings twitched along white hips as Silverbolt marched down the orange halls of the Ark, trying to exude the air of confidence that a good commander should have. Yet on the inside, Silverbolt's tanks knotted and his spark burned with nerves in his chest.
Behind him Fireflight hummed an off key tune, nearly skipping as he walked beside Skydive. From behind Fireflight and Skydive, Slingshot and Air Raid brought up the rear, bickering as they always did.
Huffing loudly, Slingshot crossed his arms tightly over his wide chest, the bond open and humming with the same nervousness that Silverbolt felt. "This is stupid!" Slingshot huffed angrily, his square helm shooting up to look at the ceiling bullishly. "We don't need any help, we're fine."
Silverbolt glanced over his shoulder, his ever patient frown tipped to his younger gestalt mate. "We do need help." The Aerialbots commander said placidly, knowing with all his spark that this is what they had to do, if they ever wanted to improve.
Glancing down at his fidgeting digits, Fireflight's soft voice spoke up from behind. "Even Skyfire thinks this is a bad idea. Asking...them."
Shoulders squaring, gathering his courage in the same way he would when he was forced to fly at great heights, Silverbolt cleared his throat. "I know Flight. But Skyfire is a bit, ah, bias to the situation."
That was the most delicate way Silverbolt could put the awkward dance between Starscream and Skyfire as they both did their very best to ignore each other, and pretend the other simply didn't exist.
Fireflight's wings drooped a little further on his back, not liking to think ill of one of the few fliers stranded on Earth, especially Skyfire who had always made the overly young Aerialbots feel welcome when few others had. Yet, Silverbolt had argued with his team, their need was greater than any personal issue Skyfire may have.
Coming to Optimus Prime's office, his team at his back, Silverbolt took a deep intake of air and knocked on his leader's door. The few moments it took for Optimus to open the door and beckon, felt abnormally long to Silverbolt while forcing himself to not fidget as he waited.
Crossing to his commander's desk, Silverbolt stood before the Prime, back straight and shoulders squared as his team clustered behind him. Optimus' kind blue optics looked up at the young commander, his digits interlacing on his desk. "What can I do for you Silverbolt?"
The kindly spoken words put the flier at ease, reminding him that this was Optimus Prime, one of the best, if not the best leader the Autobots had ever had. The Prime would not mock or scoff at Silverbolt's fearful request.
Clearing his throat, and after a false start, Silverbolt outlined what he wanted, and his hope that the Prime would help him achieve their goal.
"We, we need help Optimus." The Aerial commander started, a bit hesitantly. "Too often my team has gotten out of bad situation with nothing but luck and it's only a matter of time that one of us gets killed."
Blue optics flickered in distress as the thought of one of the Aerialbots dying, raced through Optimus' processor. Just as quickly the Prime hid his distress, the fact that it could so easily become a reality was gone in an instant. "I think you don't give your team enough credit Silverbolt," from behind him the other four members of his gestalt perked up with pride. "You all have more skill and know how than even you realise."
Slingshot leaned a little closer to his commander, the smugness in his tone oozing in every word. "Told ya!"
Silverbolt brushed his team mate off, ignoring him. "We're inexperienced Optimus." Came the Aerialbot's firm reply. "And we need help, training that only other fliers can give us."
Fireflight shifted uncomfortably, as did Skydive, while Silverbolt continued. "I…I want Starscream to take over the role of Aerial commander here on Earth, and to have him train us."
Optimus blinked at the quickly spoken words that suddenly burst from the young Aerial. Helm canting, Optimus considered Silverbolt's request, could understand why he had come to him with this request, and Optimus allowed Silverbolt to continue.
Keeping his blue optics firm on his leader's face, Silverbolt managed to keep his voice from shaking, but only just. "Starscream has a vast amount of experience, something that none of us have. He's survived eons of air combat, has led seekers into battle and is a master strategist."
Glancing down, Optimus considered Silverbolt's words. The Prime knew that training with Starscream, and likely his trine, would be tough as Optimus was sure that the Decepticon wouldn't take the same kind of slack that the others would. Yet, having Starscream take of the Aerialbots training would in fact help Starscream integrate amongst the Autobots a little more, as well as giving him something else to do other than sit through boring Commanders meetings.
It would also give the younglings the training they so desperately needed whilst at the same time putting more than only two mechs willingly under Starscream's command.
Clearing his throat, Optimus looked up at Silverbolt, holding his gaze firmly. "You realise Silverbolt, that if Starscream does agree to this, his training and expectations will be much higher and harsher than any Autobot?"
Slingshot scowled from behind his gestalt leader, but said nothing. "Yes sir, we do."
Optimus considered the request again, wondering how long it had taken the Aerialbots to gather the courage to ask, before giving his answer. "Very well Silverbolt. I shall ask Starscream if he would be willing to take over as Aerial commander and train you. If he agrees to this, I suggest that you learn what you can from him Silverbolt, despite his prickly nature, Starscream is a fountain of information."
"You will continue to be the Aerialbot commander, but you will have to take orders from Starscream as a unit within his fliers." Despite there really being only two flier groups. "However Silverbolt, if anything Starscream does seems too harsh, cruel even, I expect you to come straight to me. Understand?"
Relief spread through the young commander and the tenseness that Silverbolt had been holding seemed to flow from his frame, his shoulders loosening as he relaxed. "Yes sir. Of course."
"If Thundercracker and Skywarp take part in your training, I expect all five of you to listen to what they have to say. Is that understood?"
Five helms nodded, some with far more exuberance than others and Optimus nodded in return. "Very well Silverbolt, I shall speak to Starscream and see if he would be willing to take on this responsibility."
With a shy smile spreading over white face plates, Silverbolt gave the Prime a lopsided grin. "Thank you Optimus."
With a final nod, the Concorde turned and ushered his gestalt from the Prime's office. The door had not even shut when Fireflight suddenly laughed, high and happy, his voice loud and excited. "We're going to be trained by seekers!"
The door slid shut before Optimus could hear anyone else's response, causing the Prime to sigh and shake his helm. The Aerialbots requesting Starscream's help was a bonus for him, all he had to do was figure out a way to convince the prickly Decepticon that working with a lot of untrained younglings was a good idea.
()()()
Under the peaceful starry sky, a warm desert wind teasing at tense white wings while Starscream growled low in his throat, his crimson optics narrowed on a cluster of rocks digging in the sand. Around the untouched boulders, blackened earth and craters littered the ground while the boulders stood tall, mocking him in their untouched beauty.
Liz's high, happy laugh echoed through the night, the bright neon glow from her laptop shining brightly in the distance, giving Starscream her exact location; it would be stupidly easy for him to kill her. To point his blaster in her direction, take aim and burn her away to nothing.
Shaking the dark thought form his helm, Starscream knew he wouldn't do it, couldn't bear to do it. It would crush Mia, betray Optimus and kill Hound. But most of all it would jeopardize the safety of his trine and everything they were trying to do here.
Tamping down on his rage, Starscream knew that he was only projecting his own anger, annoyance, at the small fleshling and her happy Autobot friend. Hound was no doubt with her, laughing at whatever had made the little fleshing laugh. Their happiness set Starscream's denta on edge, made him grit them until metal shavings flaked in his mouth. It wasn't fair that they could be so happy, and he so miserable.
Venting deeply, calming himself as much as he could, Starscream forced his emotions away, concentrating as he raised his arm, his null ray replaced with a blaster, and took aim at the rocks he had painstakingly gathered.
Taking aim, Starscream shot at the boulders, his rage bubbling up at the last minute, redding out his vision. The laser blast went wide, the earth beside the boulders exploding in a mass of dust and rock, the boulders that he aimed for standing untouched again, mocking him in their wholeness.
Liz's laughter in the distance felt like salt on the wounds as Starscream stared dumbfounded at the untouched boulders. How could he have missed such a large target at such a close range? The numbed shock wore off nearly instantly, the bubbling rage replacing it.
He bit back the snarl and contained the ragged scream that begged to be released with a hard swallow. In his spark he understood why he couldn't concentrate, why his focus was elsewhere, and it just made him all the angrier.
The meeting between Thundercracker, Hoist and Grapple had gone well, very well in fact. The two Autobots had been more than happy to help the seeker, and before Starscream could utter the words Vosairian flier, the plan had snowballed to include Hound, Trailbreaker, Prowl, Jazz, Sideswipe, Ratchet, Ironhide, Liz, Mia, Epps, Lennox and Aleyah.
It had been Prowl who had, just as the Prime had said he would, come up with the appropriate budget they needed, as well as the excuse to Mearing; the black and white Autobot had insisted that mucking out stalls would be the perfect punishment detail for wayward soldiers and rowdy Autobots.
Hoist and Grapple had put together a plan for the barn and paddocks and how they would hook up a water system that would fill the reservoirs automatically. The barn and paddocks would be finished prior to the seekers hanger, but even Starscream didn't make a fuss about it since Thundercracker had worked so hard to pull the plan together.
Hound had been included to help make riding trails and pick out the right kinds of plants and grass the horses would need to survive living in the dessert, Trailbreaker helping his little green friend. Researching plants, Starscream suspected, was what Liz was helping Hound with in the warm dessert night.
Thundercracker had wanted so badly for the whole plan to be a surprise to Callie and Lucy, that he had somehow convinced Ironhide to keep Lucy entertained during the barns constructed. It was no small miracle that Ratchet had been convinced to teach Callie about Cybertronion anatomy, telling her that if she was going to be living with them for the time being, she might as well learn to be useful to them. It would keep Callie busy and not missing Thundercracker while he helped the others construct the barn.
Sideswipe, after serving his time in the brig, had agreed to help, in part because he was bored with his twin away chasing his little human around Vegas, and in part to help Skywarp, his pranking ally. As well as the humans they were doing it for, Callie and Lucy, they were hoping to bring back a measure of happiness, a small amount of normality.
The whole thing had gone ridiculously well and yet again everything had fallen in place for Thundercracker, like it always seemed to. The blue seeker always seemed to have the world bend to his will, when he focused on something, when he wanted something bad enough he would see that he got it.
Thundercracker had wanted to bond with Skywarp and they had done it, even though their lives would be on the line for just showing emotions. He had wanted to join the Autobots, and here they were. Thundercracker wanted Callie to have her dumb animals back, and a plan had already been plotted out to achieve that goal.
Thundercracker always got what he wanted and by proxy, so did Skywarp. Yet Starscream, who had only wanted to belong to his trine, felt he would never even get that.
A bolt of lust that didn't belong to Starscream shot through the seeker, the root cause of the seeker's anger, of his hurt. A victory frag, is what Sideswipe had called it, had told Skywarp to have some fun with his mate, alone time for the pair of them.
Starscream snarled, aiming for the rocks again, using the heat of his blaster to distract him from his anger, wishing it didn't hurt so much when his trine mates left him to pursue their own feelings. Laser fire, bright light that burst from the end of his weapon, erupted as his rage drove him to act. It helped him focus on his blocks, enforce them, keeping Thundercracker and Skywarp out while they touched and played, openly loved each other like only a bonded pair could.
Drained and tired, Starscream panted as he glared at the rocks, still untouched by his angry frenzy of violence, all the earth around it blackened and pock marked from his attack.
A broken screech, high and angry, ripped from Starscream chest as his blinding rage shook him to the core. Nothing ever went right for him, nothing! Not even a simple round of target practice had gone as it should. Frame trembling from the sudden rush of anger and hatred towards the stupid rocks, Starscream screeched again, raising his arm with the intention to fire again. He would see the rocks reduced to pebbles before the night was up.
So entranced in his anger, so focused on his motionless target, Starscream didn't hear the heavy footsteps of a large frame behind him, didn't sense the calm EM field flaring softly against his own ragged one. Blinding rage was a dangerous place to be, it would cause warriors to lose sight of their surroundings.
The heavy, yet gentle servo to his wide glossy red shoulder startled Starscream, reminding him of one of the first lessons he had learnt when he joined the Decepticons; never let your guard down.
Fear shot through Starscream, the fear of Megatron, the fear that a mech larger than him was touching him. Acting purely on instinct, the seeker snarled as he whirled around to face his attacker, denta bared in a hiss, blaster raised to shoot at close range.
Confused blue optics blinked down at the seeker, cobalt servos rising in surrender as he focused on the barrel of the seeker's weapon. "My apologies Starscream, I did not mean to startle you."
Wings drooped with his shoulders as he relaxed when blue and not crimson optics stared back down at him. He tore the weapon from Optimus Prime's face, his wildly pulsing spark calming as he reeled his EM back in as he directed his anger at the Prime.
"What are you doing here!" he snarled, not bothering to take in the fact that this was Optimus Prime's base, his house.
Servos lowering to his sides, palms up to show Starscream they were empty and non-threatening. "I just wanted to speak with you Starscream." He paused as he took in the seeker's appearance, his panting anger as he glared. Helm canting, voice full of concern, the Autobot was helpless to ask. "Starscream are you alright?"
A wary look crossed the seeker's face, the anger that was ever present momentarily forgotten in favour of confusion. "I'm fine." The Decepticon said slowly, eyeing up the Prime suspiciously, his frame fidgeting as he looked ready to run.
Glancing at the untouched rocks, Optimus' blue optics slid back to the crimson ones that shone out from under a dark helm. Slowly, uncertain if aid was either wanted or would be appreciated, Optimus' deep voice rumbled. "Starscream, are you in need of assistance?"
Snarling, indignation flaring through Starscream's EM, his wings sweeping high as his armour clamped tight to his frame, crimson optics narrowed. "I don't need your help Prime!"
Again, blue optics drifted to the outcrop of rocks, untouched and whole. Slipping back to hold the Decepticon's optics, Optimus calmly said. "Your target would suggest otherwise."
Shocked, Starscream stared up at the Prime, unsure of what he could say to that, not used to the Prime's sarcasm. Annoyed, the seeker snarled and shoved the Prime further away from him as his optics became angry slits, his EM flaring in his annoyance. "I don't need you Prime! I have managed to survive this long without being coddled by you! I don't need your blasted help!"
Servos rose again in surrender as Optimus allowed Starscream his rant, letting him blow off his anger. "I apologise Starscream, I was only trying to tease you. I didn't mean to offend."
An angry growl was his only response from the seeker, blood red optics shining with suppressed hurt. "What makes you think you've offended me?" Came the angry hiss.
Resisting the urge to sigh, Optimus forced himself to relax, forced his EM to project calmness over the irate seeker. "Starscream, may I help you?"
Huffing an annoyed sigh, the seeker crossed his arms over the cockpit of his chest, protecting the yellow glass that guarded his spark. "How could you possibly help me Prime?"
Taking a slow step forward Optimus kept his EM calm and soothing, pressing against, but not invading, Starscream's field. "Turn around Starscream, and focus on your target."
The seeker's face contorted into an almost there snarl, the tip of an exposed canine denta peeking out from a plump lower lip. After a moment of hesitation, with one last dirty look thrown at the Prime, Starscream did as he was asked and turned to glower at the outcrop of rocks.
"Now what?" the seeker snarled; the opposite to Optimus's gentle sarcasm.
Optimus took another step forward, his chest nearly pressing against Starscream's back and the seeker could feel the heat from the other's frame, from the large engine that lay between the Prime's chest and spark. White wings suddenly shuddered on the seeker's back at the close proximity of the Prime, relishing in the Prime's calm field.
The seeker fought the urge to lean into the Prime's warm frame, tried not to imagine what those large servos would feel like gently caressing his trembling wings, soothing them while the Prime explored their wide expansions.
Crimson optics flared in shock and surprise, and Starscream wondered where in the Pit had that thought had come from. The seeker shook his helm and quickly dismissed the thought, blamed it on lack of intimate attachment for so long combined with the sudden need of his trine mates to 'face each other over every flat surface.
Starscream could feel Optimus hesitate behind him, the large frame going still as he paused in thought. "Is this alright Starscream?"
The seeker could hear concern in the other's voice as the Prime hesitated, obviously wondering if the close proximity really was welcome. "It's fine." Starscream choked out, clearing his throat, forcing his usual sarcastic sneer. "What now Yoda?"
Optimus paused behind the seeker once again, amusement filling the air between them. "I'm surprised you know that reference."
Shrugging at the Prime's soft words, Starscream growled. "Skywarp watches Star Wars. I've managed to pick up a few things." The seeker spat, not nearly as annoyed as he sounded.
A smile crossed the Prime's hidden mouth while he pressed a large servo to the back of the seeker's back. "Take a deep vent Starscream and offline your optics."
Snarling, the seeker shot a sour look over his shoulder to the Prime before he turned back to stare at the rocks. Off lining his optics, the seeker took a deep vent before he huffed its release.
From behind the seeker, Optimus' voice rumbled. "Take another vent Starscream, and let it go slowly."
Internally rolling his optics, Starscream did as he was asked and taking a vent, he slowly released it through his nose.
"Let your frame relax. Feel it in your toe plates and your digits. Relax up from your servos and pedes to your wrists and ankles. Feel it move down your wings to your back and through your chest."
Starscream did as the Prime asked, he slowly relaxed and released the hard ball of unease and tension he had unknowingly carried with him. He felt his frame go lax under the Autobot's gentle words and soothing EM field, with the warm servo pressed into his back.
Gently, Optimus' other servo moved to grasp Starscream's wrist, the commanders large servo dwarfing the seekers. The Autobot eased the seeker's arm up, raising the blaster that was currently hooked into his arm. "Keep venting Starscream, slow and deep."
The words were soft and soothing to the Decepticon's audios; a distorted voice that lulled him further into relaxation, a source of comfort to the seeker during his overly emotional moment.
"Now online your optics and focus on your target." Optimus said gently, his servos still in place, one at a wrist and one at Starscream's back.
Crimson optics blinked online, instantly focusing as optics narrowing on the rocks that served as his target. The Autobot's servo finally drew away from his wrist, and a small part of Starscream mourned the loss of contact as Optimus's calm voice said "Fire."
Starscream didn't hesitate, his sole focus on the rocks as he took aim and fired. The boulders exploded in a shower of dirt and pebbles, spraying in all directions as they were destroyed. A dark mouth dropped open as a fierce joy shot through Starscream at the successful destruction of the target.
Starscream wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all; he was a seasoned warrior and should have been able to hit those rocks with no help at all. Yet, as it always seemed to, his emotion got in his way, made something that should have been easy far more difficult than it needed to be. It had been Optimus' calming presence and steady EM that had helped him achieve his simple goal.
Containing his laughter, Starscream forced himself to straighten with a satisfied smirk. Optimus stood back, the pride that flushed through the other's EM was embarrassing to the seeker for the simple deed done.
"Well done Starscream. Well done." Optimus gently praised as he removed his servo from the seeker's lower back as he gently patted the bright red shoulder plate.
Huffing, forcing himself to sound more annoyed, Starscream turned from the mild destruction to glower at the Prime. "What do you want?" The seeker snapped, disregarding what the Autobot had just done for him.
Taken aback, Optimus forced himself not to react to the sudden change in the Decepticon's demeanour, the seeker's sudden blocking and posturing. He simply rolled with it, years with the twins preparing for most attitudes and bad ideas.
Shoulders shifting back, holding the seeker's crimson optics, despite the seemingly bubbling anger that always seemed to be surrounding Starscream, Optimus explained why he had come looking for him. "I had an interesting conversation with Silverbolt."
Confusion crossed the seeker's dark face, dark brows drawing down in confusion. "The leader of your baby jets?"
Optimus nodded, continuing. "He feels they are lacking proper training. That, given time, their luck will run out and that a member of his gestalt will die."
Starscream blinked at his new leader, his gaze open, his optics a mixture of confusion and comprehension. Crossing his arms back over his cockpit, Starscream leaned back a little as he regarded the Prime. "Well." The seeker started. "He'd be right. There may be hope for that youngling yet if he understands how pathetic they are."
"That's not quite what I said." Optimus started, but was quickly cut off with a huff of an over exaggerated sigh and an optic roll.
"You didn't have to, but it's the truth." Starscream snapped. "Those baby jets of yours are undertrained, can barley fly at times,"
"That's not true at all!" Optimus interrupted, causing Starscream to laugh.
"Prime!" He scoffed. "I once saw Fireflight fly into a wall chasing a butterfly in the middle of a battle field."
"He's just...young."
"He and the others are undisciplined. They do not understand their true nature and what they can truly accomplish, and they never will, not without help. The only thing those little jets have going for them, the only thing that has kept them alive, is their ability to combine. Without that, they would have died long ago."
Optimus shifted, unnerved by what the seeker had just said, knowing in his spark that the Aerialbots lives hung in the balance of the outcome of this conversation. Behind his battle mask, the Prime licked his lips, picking out the proper words he needed to convince the seeker. "They are untrained. A lot of that has to do with my failings to find them a proper teacher."
The truth stung, but Optimus was not one to shuck off duty and responsibility. The Aerials had come to him for help, and the semi-truck would do all he could for his Autobots. "Yet I am trying to rectify the mistakes I have made that have affected their lives."
Confusion crossed over the seeker's face, but Starscream stayed blessedly silent and allowed Optimus to continue. "The Aerialbots need a proper air commander to guide them through battle and train them for it. What Silverbolt lacks in experience he makes up for in spirit, but not even that equates to the eons of knowledge you have Starscream."
Acknowledgement started to flood the seeker's crimson optics, an understanding at what the Prime was hinting at. The strong arms that were folded over the seekers chest slowly uncurled as Starscream's jaw began to drop.
"Starscream, Silverbolt has requested you become the Aerial commander. He wants you to teach them what you know and prepare them for battle."
Starscream blinked at the Prime. "Your baby jets want me to teach them how to fight properly?" The dumbfounded shock was clear in the seeker's tone as uncertainty flittered through the fliers EM.
Nodding, the Prime's soft blue optics held the Decepticon's, his calm EM pushing out towards the other. "They do. Silverbolt knows that they are inexperienced and need the training. He is willing to sacrifice his leadership as Aerial commander, although he will remain the Aerialbot commander, in order to obtain the training he and his gestalt so desperately need."
Old feelings of needing power, the need to fight for power, rose from Starscream's tanks, and the old instinct to fight Megatron at every turn to attain his desire, spread through his frame like a wild fire. It made Starscream feel hot under his plating, like an invisible beast was scratching at his spark.
Swallowing hard, Starscream gave himself a mental shake, drawing himself from that dark desire, wishing desperately that his trine mates were not being intimate with each other so that he could open the bonds wide and greedily take the comfort they always provided. Instead, Starscream fed from the Prime's calm EM, the feeling that the other trusted him far more than any other, filtering through to the seeker. It calmed him down, made him feel important, not so left out; a feeling his trine had accidently roused within him so often.
"I..." Starscream tried to start, giving his helm a soft shake. "Do your baby jets even realize what they are in store for?"
A deep, friendly chuckle rumbled from the Prime, right from his chest, his engine revving high in his amusement. It was the kind of laugh that Starscream only recalled from memory, the kind of laugh that came right from the spark. "I'm afraid not Starscream. But I believe that training with a proper air commander and a proper unit would do them some good. Teach them humility, at the very least."
Hesitating, Starscream knew that if this had been Megatron, there would have been some kind of price to pay for that position of power. Before, with Megatron, he would have jumped at the chance to lead a gestalt as powerful as the one Prime presented to him, and he would have attempted to pose a coup to overthrow Megatron once and for all.
Yet, this was not Megatron and there would be no too high price for the level of trust the Prime was willing to place with him. Optimus Prime honestly wanted his help, needed his help to protect his Autobots; mechs who were now Starscream's allies.
Humbled by the level of trust the Prime was willing to place in him, him, of all mechs, Starscream hesitated. He was trying, for his trine as much as himself, to be different. To do things differently than before, to once and for all kill Megatron, the black scourge that had darkened so many lives for so long.
"I will have to think on it." Starscream said slowly, knowing that he should speak to Thundercracker. His lieutenant, of all mechs, would listen to how he felt, would try to understand where he was coming from; would be the only voice of reason in their chaotic, if not unnerving new world. "Make sure that my trine is okay with this as well."
Nodding Optimus took a step back, his EM moving out of reach of Starscream's and the seeker minutely lamented the loss of contact, confusing the seeker. The tri-colored mech chalked this unexpected wanting up to the backlash of feelings from his trine mates.
"Of course Starscream." Optimus' gentle voice rumbled; an ever constant in Starscream's new life. "Perhaps we can also discuss in further detail, the barn and the progress on your hanger as well, once you have spoken to your trine."
Nodding, Starscream suddenly found his voice, fighting to get its usual sneer back into place. "That'd be fine Prime. I'm sure Skywarp and Thundercracker won't mind the baby sitting duty."
Dismayed, wondering if he was doing the right thing by allowing Silverbolt's request, Optimus canted his helm. "Starscream, it's not baby-"
Again the seeker waved the Prime off as he brushed past him, heading back to the Ark. Starscream fought with himself to not stay by the Prime's side, and his warm frame, while he waited for his trine mates to finish.
He didn't dare drop the blocks, not quite yet as the trine leader knew they were hardly started yet. Forcing himself to keep walking, Starscream left the comfort of the Prime's EM and calm presence and went to the empty nothing of the Ark.
Optimus sighed, shoulders drooping as he watched the retreating back of the seeker, not sure what the stirring in his chest meant or why his spark reached out for the seeker. Optimus couldn't be sure why he was so bitterly disappointed that Starscream didn't stay.
()()()
Mirage watched, invisible and silent as his mate laughed with the small human. Liz was perched on his thick green knee, her lap top perched dangerously on her own knobby knees as she pointed out yet another dessert flower that they could plant along the trails.
Hound's happy laugh, much deeper but just as joyful, rang out with the human's, and Mirage felt a bolt of loss pierce his spark. When he had begun courting the green tracker, the spy understood that, unlike himself, Hound had a lot of friends, that he made friends very easily and trusted far too many.
Mirage was not used to sharing, had not had to during his time as a high born noble, and had no one to really share with during his early years as an Autobot either.
Sharing Hound with Trailbreaker was bad enough, but expected. The pair had been friends for eons and Mirage was not going to ask his lover to drop his best friend for him. Venting a deep sigh, the noble let his helm drop to his knees, glowering at the little human that seemed to have stolen his mate's attention.
Now it seemed that Mirage would be forced to share Hound with yet another creature, dividing the tracker's already limited time further. Scowling, Mirage was beginning to believe that these humans and their stupid horses were a waste of time and space. Without them at least, he would still be spending time with Hound.
The tracker would now be curled with him, settling down after a long day. He would certainly not be laughing and excited over a stupid little flower with a stupid little human.
Mirage tried to fight the jealousy that swelled, and failed miserably in his attempt. Heaving a sigh, the spy's spark spiralled down into loneliness.
To Be Continued.