Chapter 6: Trine

Skywarp followed Starscream and Thundercracker back to the Royal Aerie in a daze. Unlike when following the two Enforcers, they did not walk; they flew. Thundercracker was a strong, solid presence to his right. Starscream flew ahead. Skywarp could tell the white and red Seeker was slowing himself down for them. It showed in the way the Winglord intermittently twisted himself into tight, fast corkscrews as they flew.

The purple Seeker would have gleefully joined in most orns, but at the time, he was too stunned, too shocked, to do much more than keep himself in the air.

The guards at the Royal Aerie saluted as they landed. Skywarp stumbled as he followed the Winglord and the Wing Second.

He couldn't help puffing his armor out in embarrassment. Of course he would trip.

He didn't take in much of the palace as he was led to the Royal Suite. He just followed.

Then he was being gathered up into strong, blue arms, pressed against a warm chassis, with another, smaller chassis pressed up against his side.

Thundercracker. Hugging him and Starscream at the same time.

For a moment, he remained stiff. Then he slowly relaxed. Their fields wove together, entwining until it was almost impossible to distinguish where one ended and the other began. And, unlike how he might have felt this close to anyone else, he felt... right. Like he fit here. Like this was where he was supposed to be.

He relaxed even more, his optics dimming and his engine idling in a low pur.

"Next orn," Starscream murmured next to him. "Next orn, we fly, and we become Trine."

"I like the sound of that," Thundercracker rumbled.

Skywarp just chirped happily and snuggled closer to his Trine.

. . .oOo.

As promised, the next orn, the three Seekers gathered on the very top of the Royal Aerie the next orn. The Elder Seekers were gathered on a balcony a few levels below. They, along with whoever happened to look up at the time, would witness the bonding of the Winglord's Trine.

They took off together and soared up and up into the sky. High enough that they would be little more than shadows against the brightness for those observing.

There they looped around and around each other, brushing wings, tracing hands over each others' armor. Skywarp felt like he was vibrating in the air. They flew so perfectly together. As though they had flown side by side since they were sparklings. Starscream was clearly the fastest, the most nimble, Thundercracker the strongest. Skywarp added a bit of spontaneity and unpredictability to their flight pattern.

Together, they would be - they were - unbeatable, uncontestable.

Their flight lasted for a joor before they finally finished dancing and began to rise.

Higher and higher they flew, until they were almost out of the atmosphere. There they stopped and hovered.

::Ready?:: Starscream asked with a grin.

The other two Seekers nodded, matching grins spread over their faces. They were ready for this, even having only known their third for only an orn.

Chest plates parted slowly, easily, and the three drifted together. Their sparks sent out searching tendrils, and, within klicks, the bright orbs of light were intertwined.

They fell together. Slowly at first, then faster. Flickers of flame danced around their frames as they dropped back through the atmosphere, though they did not get hot enough to cause any damage. Lower and lower, closer and closer to the ground, their sparks still entwined, they fell.

Eventually they pulled apart, sparks separating, thrusters roaring to life again, wings twitching and fluttering.

They spiraled around each other as they swooped out, just above the highest spires of Vos.

~Yes!~ one of them screamed across their new bond, and the other two sent back their agreement. For if they flew well together before, they flew as one now. Thundercracker could feel what it was like to dip and swoop and twirl as the lighter frames did. Starscream could feel the sheer jolt and joy of a warp. Skywarp could feel the strong confidence that came with being the steadiest, largest frame in the sky.

And because they knew exactly what the others were thinking and feeling and doing, they could do exactly what was needed to stay close, to stay side-by-side, to fly together in perfect formation.

Two words whispered quietly through the bond. Trine. Finally.