Thundercracker was unimpressed. And he could hardly believe that the mud ball of a planet they were now on was something that Starscream so aggressively wanted to return to.

And to work with the Autobots? He thought it some form of a twisted joke. Seeing it in action though, actually being a part of it and walking through their compound freely with many a puny human walking under pediform, was enough to wake him up to the reality he was in.

Starscream was decidedly fixed. Their purpose somehow infused with a new resolve that he had not witnessed in some mega-cycles. An excitement and enthusiasm behind it that could have one believing they actually stood a chance against Megatron. Thundercracker was still undecided on that part, but it was his duty to follow Starscream, and he saw no reason to doubt him yet.

Getting used to the overly colorful planet had been one thing, yet another to work with Autobots. And it was an entirely different concept that of the human femme; the one designated Alexis Rivers. The one Starscream was so enamored with.

TC tried to recall when he last saw his wingmate act thus toward a femme, but he couldn't, which marked the actions of his trinemate all the more due to its aberrant appearance. If it interfered with Starscream's duties as their commander, TC would have at least had a valid complaint, but Starscream was sharper and more cunning, things coming together like they hadn't in some time.

At first, Thundercracker decided on ignoring the odd interaction. He believed whatever attraction the human held for Starscream would pass. While he didn't understand the extent of what was going on, something told him it was far more complicated than he realized. He tried not to think about it, a rather strenuous task that seemed impossible. The girl was constantly sought out by Starscream, even brought back to their base many a time. The two were always preoccupied with one another.

Skywarp found it amusing. Thundercracker did not.

And how by Primus did he end up in the circumstance he was now facing? A task that was making his mainframe want to crash from the sheer torture. It was because he underestimated the femme and the influence she had over his wingmate.

When Starscream told him of his plans that involved Skywarp and himself, he gave them no way out. His gaze such that to even hint at the desire of not carrying out such an ordeal would have been foolhardy. That is why the three were now walking toward the area of activity, and why the Trine mixed rather well into the crowd of humans. For they were human as well, or at least the representation of ones.

That particular detail hadn't been an order, but a request. While Warp was getting a kick out of it, Thundercracker couldn't believe what they had come to.

But of course, he still spent more time than what had probably been necessary to get his holo-form just right. He was never a mech to go half way on something. While he believed he did an adequate job of making a human counterpart of himself, he still felt it entirely unnecessary and ultimately revolting. Especially when he activated it. How did the flesh creatures settle for such insignificant bodies? All that managed to look primarily identical in appearance. Warp got a good laugh when he took his first steps that Thundercracker had been little prepared for, but showed him how much he depended on his wings to maintain balance. Quickly compensating he managed not to make a complete fool of himself, but that didn't stop Skywarp from cackling from his near fall.

"Didn't you try practicing?"

Thundercracker's eyes became large in outrage at the suggestion, his fists clamping shut and landing hard against his flesh. He flinched, surprised when sharp pain shot through his legs.

"True to form and function," Skywarp said, coming up to him. "Starscream spared nothing. He wants every single sensation these humans feel, to be felt by us as well."

"The purpose?" he asked.

"Why would he make us take on this form at all? Or go with him tonight? He obviously wants us to learn about them." Skywarp smiled wide at that. A reaction that actually took over his entire human face as it expanded.

Staring, taking a good look at Skywarp, he saw his wingmate in the flesh creature. He had dark black hair that shined with undertones of purple and tanned flesh that radiated under the suit he was wearing. He still held a careless, rather flippant attitude that the unwise could interpret as unfocused. Finding out otherwise if they dared to challenge him. For despite appearances, he was anything but. Sometimes TC believed Warp enjoyed making others believe he was less than he really was. Then again, anyone foolish enough to underestimate any Seeker was asking for a punishment. Such a title was not bestowed on just any mech; it was earned.

Warp returned TC's stare. He looked Thundercracker over and analyzed his appearance.

"Your nose isn't you," he stated dryly.

"I could say the same about your choice of eye color," Thundercracker snapped back. His shoulders lifted as he became defensive. How they had fallen to even be discussing such a thing.

"What's wrong with brown?"

"Nothing, if you like dull."

Skywarp got a good chuckle out of that. "Well, if anyone could give a lesson on that subject..."

The two argued until Starscream appeared. The way he walked toward them with such aptitude showed his acclimation to such a form. Ten minutes later they headed to their destination, and the torturous task that their Supreme Air Commander forced upon them.

A party.

Many an eye landed on the three as they made their way through the humans. A clearing actually formed as they strutted confidently through. TC and Warp followed Starscream, who, ignoring the appreciative stares, fixed upon his purpose.

Thundercracker no longer needed to guess where they were headed or to whom. The girl was talking to someone when they arrived in the grassy field, a male who quickly excused himself when he became surrounded by the three dominating Decepticons. Even as humans they still had tremendous presence.

Warp and TC standing back, Starscream approached the femme. A look passed between the two that was dynamic as it was disturbing. She boldly stepped toward Starscream, putting her hands on his shoulders as she smiled wide.

"You look... wow," she told him as she eyed his suit. All three were wearing them, in different tones and styles, a thing that was required for the formal occasion, or as TC now interpreted, requested by the femme. A part of him fumed.

Turning toward them, Alexis acknowledged the two with a stiff downturn of her head before returning her attention back to Starscream. The two talked in low whispers, Skywarp and Thundercracker were as good as forgotten.

The girl was dressed differently. A dress, TC believed it was called, one that seemed to glide across her flesh as it bound strategically to her human curves. Her hair was pulled up and back and from the brief glance she spared him, her face was different as well. Alexis' eyes were shadowed and outlined; lips glossed, cheeks flushed with color.

TC was all ready to say something to Warp when he found himself alone. His wingmate already abandoned him for the festivities, undaunted in the least by the foreign celebration. He felt oddly betrayed. More so when Starscream suddenly disappeared and left him alone with the female.

She walked slowly forward. He felt his back stiffen sharply as his muscles stretched, his fingers curling strangely. Alexis looked up at him.

"Thundercracker?" she asked. It was the first time she directly spoke to TC. Her voice was soft and full of kindness. He spared her a glance before directing his attention away. To him, the female was of little concern.

Getting the idea, she made no further attempts at communication. Starscream returned and handed her a cup filled with liquid. Being how the galaxy was ironic and full of ceaseless humor, that was when someone just happened to bump into the girl. The beverage splashed and collided with Thundercracker, dark purple liquid immediately absorbed by the dark-gray suit he wore. But it only got worse. Suddenly, the femme was back, a cloth now in her hand. She apologized profusely, wiping at the liquid as she tried to halt its trail.

"Don't touch me," he lashed out, his voice barely above a whisper, but it held power of will behind it that had the femme backing away as if he pushed her. "I can take care of it myself."

His holo-form blinked off and then back on. The liquid hovered in the air before falling between them. He expected retaliation, but Alexis only looked at him, open, honest and unwavering, something that could be considered a challenge if there wasn't such genuine sincerity behind it. His insides stalled momentarily. He directed his attention elsewhere.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and she was ready to say something further when Starscream came beside the girl. Taking hold of her shoulder, he gave TC a rather scorching look.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"It was my fault. I bumped into him," Alexis explained.

TC wasn't expecting that, and he tried to recall the last time anyone around him willingly accepted the blame for something.

Starscream seemed to ease up a little from her words, but his gaze upon his wingmate turned malicious. "What are you standing there for? Get Alexis another drink. Now." He pointed past him where a table was set up by some bushes and under a large leafy tree, a crowd of humans swarming around it.

TC answered immediately and succinctly, "No."

Starscream stepped away from Alexis and moved forward. "What did you say?"

"I said no. I am nobody's slave, most certainly not a human's."

"You would defy me?"

"On this matter, yes."

The Supreme Seeker stared; his eyes lost behind the tight slits of his lids. Suddenly, Starscream was chuckling. "I guess I should expect no less from you. Nevertheless, I warn you now, be mindful of how you carry yourself around Alexis in the future. Her offense is my offense."

After the strange utterance of Starscream's, Thundercracker began to watch the femme. Before he had always been able to dismiss her, but there was something behind his wingmate's words, something powerfully binding and with a purpose, something new.

This wasn't just a dalliance on Starscream's part, yet TC was ill at ease to give it a definition, for a definition would have given it a form. The way his fellow Seeker treated her was also new. As if he actually respected the creature, as if he actually...

No, not Starscream. Starscream above them all was untouched by such weaknesses. She was obviously a means to an end, something required to get something done. Nothing more. Nothing less. And for now, nothing would convince Thundercracker otherwise.

He lost them. And somehow he knew it had been on purpose. The party was still in full swing. From the patches of conversation he overheard, Thundercracker gleaned that the main attraction was about to commence now that it was getting dark. Fireworks, or some pyrotechnics show that was supposed to be the fruition of the celebration, the mark of the fourth of that July.

TC was still looking for them fifteen minutes later and passed Warp some time ago. His wingmate appeared to be having fun and obviously enjoying himself as well, many a femme surrounding him. An invitation had been given from Skywarp to join him, but he declined before the request finished.

"Your loss," was Warps energetic reply. His amusement and non surprise of his refusal had been apparent over their shared link. "These human femmes seemed starved for attention, or perhaps just mine."

Thundercracker found them at last. Both were standing behind a small white building. Alexis was leaning against it, Starscream before her and pressing in close. They were doing something entirely odd. Their mouths were touching, an uncharacteristic gentleness behind Starscream's caress that spoke of reigned in control and unconventional patience.

TC wanted to know why. And what the purpose of the mouths touching were. Obviously, a form of pleasure, which made him question once more why Screamer didn't just take the femme if that is what he wanted. And did he want to try her as a human or a mech? And if as a human, how exactly did they consummate? And why in any form was Starscream holding back? That was not like him, not in the least. Suddenly, they pulled apart. Starscream whispered something to her that Thundercracker was unable to decipher.

His shoulders jerked up when Starscream's voice rang clear through their internally shared communication line.

"Stay with her until I return."

He wasn't exactly trying to be incognito, but he thought he hid himself better than that. Starscream walked by him, latching onto him immediately, a reproachful eyebrow rising.

Alexis was aware of him now. She started to walk toward his location. He saw hesitancy in her steps. Halfway there, she stopped. Someone called her name, and she reacted immediately. Turning around she walked in the opposite direction. Another human female joined her, along with two males. He scanned them. Only one held interest for Thundercracker, for like TC, he was a Cybertronian.

Staying where he was, Thundercracker watched the group. One of the males came closer to Alexis, affection and something else suddenly clearly marked on the girl's face. When the male spoke, Thundercracker placed him. There was no mistaking that the human was Prime's scout, Bumblebee.

"I said to stay with her." The words were said out loud this time. Turning, he found Starscream coming back. His attention was on the group of humans, a wave of jealousy sprouting from him so strong that even Thundercracker felt it.

"I did. You said nothing about how close."

Starscream huffed as he picked up his pace and joined the humans. He did another strange thing, grabbing hold of Alexis' arm, his fingers wandered lightly down it, until his hand wrapped around hers, fingers meeting as they intertwined. Starscream leaned in close and said something that had the girl nodding her head slowly before she was led off by Starscream.

"Return to base," Starscream ordered. "I have no further need of you, and you have tested my patience enough for one night."

Abruptly, the link closed; however, not as abruptly as Thundercracker shutting down his holo-form. Standing up on his pediforms, wings stretching out, he vowed never to be human again.