Author's note. Heh, good guesses on the three muggers, everyone got Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. However, I had Tracks in mind for the third as he's sort of streetwise and can fly, hence the mention of wings.
However, thinking about it, I don't think he actually has door wings, his wings appear when he wants to fly. So yeah, sorry about not being very clear on the description, the ones suggested were very good.
The song 'Shadowland' comes from the Broadway's The Lion King, and I highly recommend it.
"Fatshe leso lea halalela," means 'the land of our ancestors is holy.'
I don't own Transformers or anything from The Lion King.
Enjoy and please review.
Thundercracker walked home in a complete daze the data crystal clutched tightly in one hand. He simply could not believe what had just happened, it had been so surreal, so...incredible.
His systems were buzzing, not just because he'd seemingly had the first decent meal in a long time, but because of his emotions. He'd gone from happy to utter despair and then to overwhelming hope. He almost couldn't stand, his limbs were shaking so much thanks to the emotional upheavals he'd undergone.
"Primus," he muttered softly as he hurried along, he needed to keep moving so that he didn't collapse.
He only dimly wondered what Starscream was going to say, he was on fire to get home and see his beloved brothers again. So he lightly jogged, his previous aches and pains gone, for now at least.
Soon, he had reached the right street and was right outside the apartment block. He hurried inside and up the crumbling stairs, taking two at a time. He didn't stop until he was right at the top.
He stood posed outside the door to their apartment. The next while was not going to be easy, he had lost Skywarp's precious medicine, the thing they had worked so hard to earn. In a few, brutal moments, their hard work had gone up in smoke, mostly likely to be used on illegal High Grade.
But the moment could not be prolonged so with a heavy sigh, he unlocked the door and entered.
"Thundercracker,"
He heard the cry and gave a small, sad smile as Starscream came rushing over to him. He was swept up into a tight hug by his younger brother and he hugged back, grief and hope threatening to overcome him again.
"Thank Primus, you were so long," Starscream finally said, releasing him only to grin into his brother's face.
"Were you forced to wait long for it?"
"A little," Thundercracker admitted, the medic had been very busy but had got to the blue Seeker as quickly as he could.
"Ah well, never mind, at least your here," Starscream continued, still smiling.
"If you just give it to me, I'll give it to Warp while you have a nice lie down..."
But then his voice trailed away as Thundercracker looked serious and sad.
"There is no medicine, Starscream," Thundercracker said gently, knowing it was better not to sugar coat it.
"I...I don't understand," Starscream said slowly, the smile fading fast from his face.
"Did Ratchet not have any? Must we save up some more?"
"No, he had it alright," Thundercracker said bitterly. "And I bought it with the credits we had and I was taking it home. But..."
He stopped, his voice nearly cracking before he composed himself. He said in a voice that only shook a little bit.
"I was attacker, Starscream, by some young thugs."
"And?" Starscream whispered, his voice almost a hiss of dread and suspicion.
"They took it all," Thundercracker whispered, his Spark aching with regret and pain.
"No," Starscream said, his voice so quiet, Thundercracker barely heard him.
Starscream took a step back from Thundercracker, shaking his head, unable to believe what he'd just heard.
"I'm so sorry, Star," Thundercracker said as tears started to fall from his face.
Tears were falling down Starscream's face but he didn't notice. He took another step back.
"All our hard work,"
"I know,"
"All the hours, the extra time,"
"I'm sorry,"
"I stole things,"
"Starscream...,"
"ALL FOR NOTHING!" Starscream howled, smacking his fists off both sides of his head.
He screamed in absolute rage about all he had done, all he had sacrificed to save their brother. He punched the wall, he jumped up and down, ranting all the time about how unfair it was. But Thundercracker knew why Starscream was being like this and it had nothing to do with selfishness.
He had put his Spark into working hard enough to buy Warp his medicine and it had all been for nought. He thought their brother would die, slowly and painfully and that there was nothing they could do about it.
Before his young brother could injure himself further, Thundercracker had seized hold of him and held him tight. Starscream struggled violently, still screaming.
"Let me go, let me go."
"I can't," Thundercracker sobbed, holding his brother close. "I don't want two hurt brothers."
"Oh, oh, Primus," Starscream gasped, now sobbing into Thundercracker's arms.
"Shh, shh," Thundercracker said softly, stroking his wings gently, comforting the red Seeker.
"All hope isn't lost, yet."
"How can you say that?" Starscream gasped.
"We have nothing left...,"
"We have hope," Thundercracker said firmly. "And something more, a chance to save Skywarp."
"But how...?"
"I had a vision, a gift from Primus," Thundercracker said quietly and Starscream pushed himself back so he could stare disbelievingly into his brother's face.
"From Primus?"
"I know how it sounds," Thundercracker said with a chuckle.
"But it's true, I prayed to him, poured my Spark out to him and he answered."
He held up the crystal he had nearly forgotten about.
"This will lead us to the cure for Skywarp."
Starscream reached out a hand, still looking like he thought his brother was crazy and touched the crystal. And gasped in shock.
A glow illuminated his body, a bright blue light that blinded Thundercracker for a moment. When he recovered, he saw Starscream now holding the crystal, staring as though he couldn't believe it.
"I...I don't feel hungry anymore," he whispered.
"It healed me too," Thundercracker said earnestly.
Starscream suddenly looked very hopeful.
"Do you think...?"
"No Starscream, it can't cure Skywarp," Thundercracker said sadly, shaking his head. "It can probably give his energy levels a boost but his strength will still drain away."
"No, this crystals true purpose is to take us to the Temple of the AllSpark."
He explained what he had been shown and told.
"So you see, we must get there somehow."
"But, but surely it is so far away?" Starscream said as Thundercracker shook his head.
"It's not that far, it would only take maybe a cycle or two, if we find transport."
"I don't know," Starscream said softly. "We...none of us has ever left Cybertron."
"Fatshe leso lea halalela,"
"Fatshe leso lea halalela,"
"Shadowland,"
"The leaves have fallen,"
"This shadowed land,"
"This was our home,"
Thundercracker gave a humourless chuckle.
"You make it sound as though none of us could bear to leave our world. But oh Starscream, it has changed so much, and not for the better."
"The river's dry."
"The ground has broken,"
"So I must go,"
"Now, I must go,"
"What is there truly for us here?" Thundercracker questioned softly. "Apart from each other."
He sighed and then chuckled.
"It's funny how I never thought of this before, leaving Cybertron. But now I would seriously consider it."
"But where would we go, what would we do?" Starscream asked, his face a mask of confusion and wonder.
"And where the journey may lead me,"
"Let your prayers be my guide,"
"I cannot stay here, my family,"
"But I'll remember my pride,"
"Where ever we wanted," Thundercracker said, his optics shining. "I know it's always been your dream to reach out and truly touch the stars, this is your chance to do that. Think about it Starscream, seeing new worlds, meeting new people,"
Starscream thought about it carefully and slowly an expression of excitement spread across his face. Next to his dream of studying as a proper scientist, he had always wanted to do space travel, any kind of space travel, even deep.
What places they could visit, discover. They could find worlds that were purely organic and learn how some species thrived. And he'd have his two brothers by his side, to share in it all.
But then he remembered Warp and his dreams crumbled.
"I have no choice,"
"I will find my way,"
"Lea halalela,"
"Warp," he said in a horse voice. "We have to save Warp first, before we can dream."
"That we do," Thundercracker said fiercely. "And we will."
"Take this prayer,"
"What lies out there?"
"Lea halalela,"
"I-I'm scared, TC," Starscream suddenly said, hugging Thundercracker tightly as he buried his face into his brother's chassis.
"And where the journey may lead you,"
"Let this prayer be your guide,"
"Though it may take you so far away,"
"Always remember your pride,"
"I am too," Thundercracker said softly.
"But I believe we can do this, for Warp, our dearest brother, we can do this."
"And where the journey may lead me,"
"Let this prayer be my guide,"
"Though it may take me so far away,"
"I'll always remember my pride,"
"Do you know how we can get there Starscream?" Thundercracker now asked. "Because I don't."
He paused and then said softly.
"The old Mech said you would have a way."
Starscream thought about this and then he slowly said.
"I...think I know of a way. You see, I have a friend, he does slag work like me when he could be so much more. Anyway, his form is that of a Shuttle and if he was only fitted with the right equipment, he could make it into space."
"He's mostly used to either lift or transport heavy loads. But I talk to him, he has a brilliant mind and I know he'd give anything to leave this place."
The next moment, Starscream found himself in an even bigger hug than he had been in before. His cheek was kissed and nuzzled as Thundercracker said.
"Oh my brother, I knew you'd find a way."
"And where the journey may lead you,"
"Let this prayer be your guide,"
"Though it may take you so far away,"
"Always remember your pride,"
"TC," he said, slightly grumpily, he hated being treated like a Sparkling.
But his brother didn't care and continued to do it. Finally he stopped and with a board smile on his face, said.
"You must talk to your friend tomorrow Starscream, see if he will help us. But be discreet, we don't want everyone finding out about this."
"I'm not an idiot," Starscream said with a roll of his optics. "I'll be careful."
He now glanced at Thundercracker and said softly.
"But not tonight, let's get to bed."
"Alright," Thundercracker nodded and the two Seekers stood up and made their way to their bedroom.
Skywarp was sleeping soundly under some blankets. They got in either side of him and snuggled up together. He sighed happily and murmured in his sleep as they held him close.
Their plan may have changed but their goal had not. One way or another, they would cure their brother.
Somehow.
To be continued.
Author's note. In the next chapter, plans are made but Skywarp slowly becomes weaker. Can the brothers find the help they need for this journey? Find out next time, until then.