Living with Autobots.
Chapter Ten.
"So he came to my school under the guise of a vehicle sent by SecDef Keller to request my help," Sam said, taking up the story. "I knew it was him, but I didn't know that he was gonna take me to his Base and keep me, and he fooled all the humans involved," Sam said. "Anyway, first he claimed me as a pet, but I made a few sensible suggestions about how not to get humans too pissed when taking fuel, and he elected me as Soundwave's Assistant Tactical Officer." He paused, and then continued as he saw some of the femmes jumping ahead and making conclusions he feared would be incorrect.
"Starscream said it would be a good idea, as it gave me status, and I was able to suggest ideas that led to the fewest human casualties, and a bit later I became a sort of nurse to their medic, adding a bit more authority to me."
"But your name is Sam," said Firestar. "They asked for Swiftstrike, not Sam." It was Elita who smiled at her ward, and then turned to speak to Sam.
"I would assume he was given the name by the Decepticons, which must mean that he earned it. 'Swiftstrike' suggests a quick attack, so who did you fight to earn your name?"
"Skywarp," he said. "He had caught Bumblebee, and he was grousing that because I had announced something called 'Spark-bonding' to 'Bee that I had robbed him of what he felt was his rightful kill." He ignored the significant looks the femmes exchanged amongst themselves when he mentioned Spark-bonding with 'Bee and carried on talking.
"I got pissed about that so I guess I sassed him, and he cried insult on me, saying that if I refused, I could not claim any rank, that I was simply a pet to be chastised, by him as Starscream was not present." He paused, and then continued.
"Skywarp called for a duel, and I cried insult on him, in turn, and accepted the duel. The medic made rules, first was that Skywarp could not warp, secondly that I be given a weapon as I had none built in, third that it not be to the death, and fourth that Skywarp have one arm immobilised. You see, I had a broken arm from an unpleasant encounter with a mech called Swindle, so Skywarp having two arms free would be an unfair advantage." He looked up to be sure Optimus didn't want to interrupt, but instead of speaking he nodded, so Sam continued talking.
"I was given a laser scalpel, and at first I wondered at how I could defeat him, being six times smaller than him. I was fast enough to get out of his way, but my energy was limited and finite, so sooner or later, unless I did something, I'd be caught. Then I realised that at my height, I could reach his ankles. I used the laser scalpel to cut through the cables that controlled his feet, the equivalent of cutting the Achilles tendon on a human. The action is sometimes referred to as hamstringing." He paused for breath, than continued to speak.
"Anyway, once he was on the floor I let him pick me up and I cut through the wrist tendons. He stayed down for fifteen seconds, so I won. Starscream came in at the end, was pissed that Skywarp had disobeyed his edict that I was not to be harmed, as duelling could have hurt me. But the rest of the Decepticons began chanting, which got me nervous, but Starscream held me up and said I had a new name, Swiftstrike, that I had earned it."
"It's an old Cybertronian custom," Chromia said, and Sam nodded.
"Yeah, Starscream told me that, and banned anyone else duelling with me as he felt it was too dangerous. But they wanted to hold with custom, so they chose to call me by that. I accept it because they won't allow me to use my old name, my 'sparkling name' as their medic called it." He stopped for breath again, and then carried on.
"So yeah, it's me they're asking for, and I guess I'd better see what they want."
Optimus contacted the control room, speaking aloud so everyone could hear.
"Tell them that they may come in, we will all drink some of Ratchet's energon, which will also be provided to them so they can conserve their own, Swiftstrike will be there shortly." He cut the com, and then looking at the femmes, he said "Starscream's attempts to brew energon have been less than successful. In case Starscream's efforts are what has been brought by them, it is best if we use Ratchet's, we at least know that is drinkable."
"I guess you should go," Elita said. "I guess we femmes should stay hidden for now, but if you have to reveal our existence to strike a deal or something, then do so."
Nodding his assent, he picked up Mikaela while Bumblebee picked up Sam, and they left the Prime's office.
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As Bumblebee walked in, Starscream's optics zeroed in on Sam, and he said "Here he is, carried in his bonded's hands." He was, as Mirage had told them, with Barricade and Soundwave, but Sam saw that the bronze mech known as Dr Syn was also present.
Starscream stepped forward, bowed, and said "Assistant Tactical Officer Swiftstrike, I wish to discuss ideas you suggested earlier, about working for humans to earn fuel. As our fuel supplies are dwindling, we thought it might be a pertinent idea to investigate this option that, although we find it distasteful, we may have to adopt." He paused, looking over at Optimus, who stood behind and to one side of Bumblebee. "I am surprised that you allow yourselves to be used like slaves to obtain basic fuel," the Seeker said. "Is that why you defend them, do they have you held in servitude to them?"
"We are not used like slaves," Optimus said. "We are given fuel in order to complete our task, and are paid a good rate for doing the task as well. In addition, we can choose what we will do. We are not, after all, incapable of refusing work or rates we do not wish to take."
"You mean – we can approach different groups of humans rather than the American military?" Starscream asked. Sam interjected at this point, deciding that if they had wanted his help, he had better do so before Optimus said it all for him.
"Well yes, as long as you don't work for enemies of our country, if you sign a peace agreement, and then attack us or one of our allies for another country, that'd be wrong and would piss a lot of people off. You might even be seen as untrustworthy, which could mean that getting another treaty with America, or any other country, could be difficult. But yes, there are lots of occupations available in and out of the Military," he said. "For example, in the Military, you could agree to do reconnaissance sweeps, or even perform at them for air displays, or be used to train their new pilots, help them swiften their reflexes. If training against you, who can act faster than some humans think, their own reflexes will be faster, and an enemy pilot's positively slow! Even in the Military, you have the option to pick and choose what you want to do. Think of it, given fuel to fly AND getting paid for it!" He turned to Soundwave. "You could intercept and decode any signals the Military would be worried about. Or interpret their spy-satellite or reconnaissance craft quicker than they can themselves."
"Hmm, sounds good for me, my wing brothers, probably for Soundwave and maybe Wreckage," Starscream said, while Soundwave inclined his head in assent, "but what about my other grounders. Will they have to take military alts as well?"
"Well, not necessarily," Sam said. "Dropkick could be a Military transport if he wants, but Barricade could work with civil defence, he already has the right alt, he could join the police and chase down criminals." He looked at Barricade, who gave him a small, toothy smile that Sam took as agreement. "And Payload already has his security van, he could set up his own guaranteed delivery security company, or he could be used to take prisoners to and from the station, or to and from prisons, or from prison to court."
He turned to look at the bronze medic who stood by Starscream." Dr Syn, you and Headfixer could, maybe, set up a car hire service, actually hire out cars, or yourselves sometimes, to take humans to and from places. In fact, Headfixer already has a similar colour to be a cab. Or he cpo;us set up one of those plces that scans prolpe and tells them if they've got a risk of heart disease or something, I know your scand are more effective than ours. He could even team up with a human in the know." He looked around, sweeping the Decepticon contingent with his gaze. "You all could!"
"I assume that such an agreement would necessitate a treaty with not just the humans, but with the Autobots," Starscream said. "You have explained the benefits of being at peace with the Humans, but I see no additional benefits of being at peace with those we have warred with for so long to achieve equality with them."
"This will ensure equality!" Sam cried, seeing the chance for long-term peace risking slipping away. "The Autobots do it, so you can too, you'll both be in the same position that way!" He noticed Optimus' optics dim and then brighten, saw Optimus make a small head-motion towards the closed door, and hoped that Optimus had contacted whom he thought he had contacted, as he continued.
"I have just been informed that the Autobots are willing even to share their biggest asset with you, if it will ensure peace," Sam said, "though I believe there will be rules, but they are rules that the Autobots themselves must follow. If you want equality, you must accept the downside of that as well as the upside."
"What asset is this? What have you been hiding from us, and why would such actions motivate us to trust you enough to form a binding peace with you as well as the humans?" Starscream asked.
"As we only landed yesterday, I don't think the Prime has exactly been 'holding out' on you," said a voice from the doorway. Every optic turned to see Arcee and Firestar standing in the doorway, both in what could only be described as provocative poses.
"In fact, as Elita went straight to the Prime and likely wore him out, I doubt he had time to think straight, let alone tell you that we were here," Firestar said with a wink and a saucy smile.
Starscream, his eyes riveted to the curvaceous forms of the femmes in the doorway, said, "And we would be allowed the same rights of access, to court and flatter you and any others who are with you, as the Autobots?"
"Has not your own Assistant Tactical Officer just told you so?" Arcee said smoothly. "You will have the same rights of access to us as long as you also obey the restrictions that we femmes have also imposed upon the Autobots. Your rights and restrictions will be identical to those we have imposed on the mech Autobots. If you give me your com code, I can databurst them to you."
Starscream emitted a sound that resembled bad static interference on a TV in a storm, but must have been his com code, for a moment after it occurred, Arcee's optics dipped as they did when sending a com and then brightened again, and then after a couple of heartbeats, Starscream said "I agree. I will send it to all my mechs to confirm their agreement, but until then, I call, on my authority as Decepticon leader, a ceasefire that will last exactly seventy-two human hours." He nodded.
"I cannot see my mechs disagreeing, but they may need time to think it over. However, the presence of the Autobot femmes changes everything. May I ask how many you number?"
"We number six in total, although I have reason to believe more may be on their way," Arcee replied.
"Very well," Starscream agreed, lacing his hands together and moving them close to Bumblebee's. "Assistant Tactical Officer, may I convey you back to our Base?"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Sam said. "Did I agree to go with you?"
Starscream levelled a slightly confused ruby gaze on him.
"Have you obtained a rank within the Autobot forces, human?" Starscream asked,
"Um, well, no," Sam said.
"Then your own Military have given you a military rank?" Starscream asked.
"Well, no, but – " Sam said, when Starscream cut him off.
"From what I know of you, you will want to be there. From what I understand of your Military, they will only permit you there if you either have a rank or position of imortance. We are the only participants who have given you a rank, none of the other have. If you want to be there, you must be there with us, helping us to negotiate a fair settlement." Starscream paused, allowing Sam to absorb the information. Then he continued speaking.
"We also need you there to advise us, as we have little experience with dealing or negotiating with humans. As a human yourself, you will have some idea which we will not." He paused. "So, Assistant Tactical Officer Swiftstrike, will you come with us and be included, or refuse, and be excluded. And maybe set us all up to fail?"
Sam paused, then said "When you put it that way, then you should debrief me, Leader Starscream." Standing up, he stepped from Bumblebee's hands to Starscream's. Bumblebee's optics widened and wavered a little, but he gave no other outward sign of his emotions. Sam leaned over to touch one of 'Bee's index fingers comfortingly.
"It's okay, Bee, maybe my participation can cement a more permanent peace."
Bumblebee nodded, as Optimus said "I hope so, Sam, I really hope so. We will all see you in seventy-two hours, give or take a few minutes."
"Swiftstrike, my cockpit and canopy are relatively unchanged between alt and robot mode. Please climb in." Sam did so, nodding to Bumblebee and Optimus reassuringly.
The four Decepticons, one with a human in tow, moved out. Starscream waited to give the grounders a few minutes before he took off, Bumblebee and Optimus watching.
"No other peace treaties attempted have ever succeeded for very long," Optimus said. "I hope Sam can make the difference."
Bumblebee nodded in mute agreement as they watched Starscream's afterburners fire in the cerulean blue sky.