Chapter Twelve
Bluestreak sat in the rec room, doorwings low on his back and turning away everyone who came over to see if he was okay. He was only slightly surprised to see an energon cube placed in front of him, thinking it to be the red and blue Datsun he said, "No thank you, Smokescreen."
"You need to keep your strength up." A feminine voice said.
Surprised by the voice the grey Datsun looked up and was surprised to see who was standing at his table a small smile on their face. "Storm?" why was the femme jet leader here and smiling at him? Surely she would be angry at what he said to his mother. Bluestreak sighed at what he had just thought looking away from the jet.
Seeing the despair and sadness enter the young mech's optics Storm moved to sit next to him placing a hand on his shoulder. "It is not your fault Lightning got hurt, it is mine."
Confused Bluestreak looked up at her "how can it not be my fault? I…I told her that…"
"She was injured by Thundercracker who was looking for me. He may not like fighting against me but it…settles his spark I guess to see me in battles, in a way to him it means that I'm okay." She started to explain "because I was not there and Starlight was busy being…chased by Skywarp he had homed in on Lightning no doubt demanding where I was. Seeing as she knew how I hated being…associated with him she refused to tell him anything."
"She was protecting you." Bluestreak suddenly said in awe.
The white and ocean blue jet gave a nod, "I have known Lightning for many years and although she comes across as a kind soft-sparked femme she is very protective of Starlight and I, knowing what we have been through."
The Datsun looked back down at the table, "you wouldn't have been injured if I hadn't of said what I did. Lightning would never have run off, you wouldn't have gone after her and gotten hurt by Starscream and Thundercracker wouldn't have nearly killed her."
Storm sighed trying hard not to flinch at the gunner's comment, it only made the guilt she felt at not being there worse. She took a look around the rec room gauging how many mechs were about before looking back at the mech and whispering in his audio "she loves and forgives you." Seeing the mech's head shoot straight up she continued "and so do Starlight and I." he looked over at her in utter surprise and she gave him a soft smile as she gently ran the back of her fingers down his cheek "I suppose you could call us surrogate mothers if you will." She chuckled softly. "And please do forgive Starlight for slapping you, sometimes she can be so much like Skywarp it's scary." Looking away at the table.
Bluestreak gradually moved to touch his cheek where the femme had stroked trying hard to comprehend everything the jet was telling him. "But how can you…I…"
Storm giggled and looked back at the mech, "the three of us had a long chat after we all got back from kicking Starscream's aft. We know all about what happened, how you were told about who Lightning and Sunstreaker really were to you and how that aft had rudely told you he…well, let's not go into that." Seeing the sadness enter the Datsun's optics at remembering what Sunstreaker had told him. "How you felt abandoned that she couldn't come to see you as she was dealing with Starlight's…problem. It was probably hard to think straight, you had a million and one different emotions swirling around in you it was confusing."
"How did you..." Bluestreak asked amazed she knew exactly how he had felt back then.
"Kinda went through the same thing myself once." She confided in him. "With all that going on within you it was no wonder you turned on her and said what you did. After that both Starlight and I agreed with Lightning that if she ever can't get to you when you need her we would be right there for you, so you'd never feel abandoned again."
Stunned by her words the Datsun couldn't help the tears that began falling from his optics, "she really does love me, doesn't she?"
"More than life itself, you mean everything to her Bluestreak. More than Prowl and Smokescreen, more than Skyfire, heck even more than Starlight and I. She'd do anything to make sure you were happy and safe." Storm was most surprised when Bluestreak hugged her burying his head in her shoulder as stifled sobs came out. Gradually the jet returned the hug softly stroking the mechs back in an attempt to offer comfort. "That's it, Little One, let it all out." She said quietly ignoring all the stares she was receiving at the odd scene of her being soft and gentle.
"Are you quite sure about that, Ratchet?" Optimus asked.
"I wish I wasn't but it would seem that without him Starlight may never regain consciousness again."
"And Lightning?" Optimus asked looking over at the blue-grey femme who now had a full set of wings and trying not to dwell on the fact that he might not see Starlight's smiling face again.
"She should be up and about tomorrow." Ratchet replied noting how the semi had changed the subject.
"I'm sure everyone will be pleased to hear that. Has Storm been to see either of them?" looking back at the medic.
The ambulance sighed, "I'm afraid not." Suddenly beeping went off from Starlight's monitors and the medic rushed over.
The Autobot leader watched with sad optics as Ratchet frantically worked on the light yellow femme. If Starlight died he had no doubt that Starscream would be thrilled that Skywarp had, not only killed his sister but dealt a huge blow to the jet team. If this was the way Storm reacted over Starlight in critical condition he'd hate to see what would happen if she died. In all honesty he had been half expecting the jet leader to track down the black seeker with murderous intent, it would seem that the bond between the two femmes was deeper than he thought. He walked out of the medbay absently heading for his office as he thought Ratchet's words through. 'It would seem that without him Starlight may never regain consciousness again.' He knew that Skywarp still cared about her as Jazz had told him about the encounter he had with the two seekers when he and Storm were returning to the Ark, the question was did he care enough to come into an Autobot base to help save her life or did he already believe she was dead? Would it again raise questions about both Starlight and Storm's loyalty to the Autobots? He began to remember the conversation he had with the light yellow femme when Lightning had been captured by Starscream.
"You called me Solarflare, no-one's ever called me that aside from Storm when she was angry with me." Starlight said still shocked. "Are you angry with me?"
"No, you are within your right to be angry at Bluestreak's words and go to Lightning's aid. Though have you considered that Starscream may be using her to get to the two of you?" Optimus told her gently.
The jet sighed and looked away, "I know he is, we both do. Starscream is afraid that we'll have…more control over Skywarp and Thundercracker than he does. Not that he has much control over anything anyway." She joked slightly. "But Lightning didn't ask for any of this, she's too kind of a femme to have this happen. To be rebuked because of us, of who we are, she's helped us through so much and doesn't expect anything in return. She's helped Storm through her separation with Thundercracker, even though Storm would never admit to me or anyone else that she misses him terribly, and me with my own fears. I just…" she placed a hand over her spark and gently rubbed it at.
"You also miss your brother." He said tenderly seeing her action. He gave a small smile behind his faceplate upon seeing her look at him worriedly. "I will not tell anyone." He assured. Starlight's optics drifted down to her wrist which was still in the semi's grip he let her go knowing the jet would not be running out after her teammates.
The light yellow femme sighed and walked over to the desk stopping in front of it "Storm would kill me if she knew but I can't help it, he's my twin. Had he not been, had we been sparked like Lazer and Thundercracker I'm sure I wouldn't care less about him." She said not realising she'd used Storm's real name her hands slowly becoming fists. "But we weren't and I can't help pain of sorrow in my spark whenever I see him." A tear fell from the femme's cheek as fists shook in frustration. "I just can't…" she whispered out.
Optimus walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder feeling the jet flinch under him expecting some kind of angry response at what she had just revealed, he gave it a small squeeze in reassurance. "How long have you kept these feeling to yourself?" he asked.
"Too long. I've tried to take my mind off them by keeping myself doing other things but they're always there and…well, you've seen what happens when I can't control them anymore."
"Starlight." He saw her tense ready for harsh words, it made him wonder if anyone had spoken kindly to the femme about this to get the reactions he was getting "I cannot imagine what it would be like to always feel like you have a piece of you missing, even if it is just a tiny part. Both you and Storm have been through much ridicule for being who you are and I am truly sorry for that. If for any reason you feel you need to talk to someone about Skywarp and what he meant to you, I shall be happy to listen."
Starlight turned to the Autobot leader in complete and utter shock. Here was a mech that had devoted virtually all his life to fighting the tyranny of Megatron and his Decepticons, was still fighting them, and yet he was willing to listen to her talk about someone who was in that very faction.
He had remembered how close he had come to stroking the jet's cheek in her shocked state, he decided then and there that no matter if the black seeker co-operated or not he would be saving Starlight's life.
Megatron sat in the command centre, a dark and foreboding look on his face. He had seen the…strange behaviour of both Skywarp and Thundercracker in their battle at the artic, as much as they tried to hide it, and it made him curious. Could the two seekers have some kind of connection with those Autobot jets? He snarled causing mechs in the vicinity to cringe and hope the Decepticon leader's anger was not directed at them. Skywarp seemed to be…moping in the trine quarters since he virtually shot the light yellow jet down and his treacherous second-in-command seemed to be overjoyed about it. It would seem the three of them were keeping a very dangerous secret, one that could possibly destroy his army from the inside. The silver mech stood and stormed out much to the relief of others in the room that they had 'survived' the warlord's anger unscathed.
Megatron stormed down the corridors of the Nemesis seething, mechs gave him a wide berth when they saw him coming not wanting to get in the way of the unfortunate Decepticon that had incurred the silver mech's wrath, though most of them couldn't help but wonder what Starscream had done to frag off the Decepticon leader this time. Forcing his way into his command trine's grouped quarters he saw Thundercracker sitting and reading a datapad slightly surprised to see him then said boredly "Starscream's not here." Before going back to his reading. Megatron was about to snap that he didn't care where that aft was when the sound of a door opening caught his attention, looking over he saw the mech of his rage.
Skywarp barely had time to react before Megatron threw him against the wall his hand around his neck. Thundercracker went over to help his trinemate only to have a fusion cannon pointed at his head the mech snarling at him. Slag. Was all he could think, he knew that this meant, their leader had figured out there was some connection between them and the Autobot jets.
Megatron turned his attention back to Skywarp who now had his hands around the warlord's wrist trying to relive some of the pressure on his neck.
"You will tell me what your connection to those Autobots is." He growled.
Seeing as Skywarp could barely speak Thundercracker said, "Why would we have anything to do with slagging Autobots?" he saw the mech's cannon began to charge up.
"Tell me!" Megatron bellowed as he hit the black seeker's head against the wall.
"I will tell you since these idiots refuse to." Another voice interrupted catching everyone's attention. Megaton narrowed his optics at the mech wondering just how truthful they would be.
The blue seeker also narrowed his optics at the mech, trust Starscream to want to save his own aft. He thought bitterly.
"Two of the Autobot jets are their sisters." The air commander revealed. A small squeak was heard from Skywarp as the grip around his neck tighten. "It has caused great distrust among their ranks seeing as the femmes tried to keep it a secret."
"And when were you planning on revealing this information, Starscream." The Decepticon leader seethed.
"You asked me to stop those jets, I saw no reason to inform you of every detail." Starscream replied almost smirking. The seeker almost shrieked as Megatron let go of Skywarp, who slumped to the floor inhaling deeply, and curled his hand around his neck.
Thundercracker stood rooted to the spot, he wanted to go over and check on his trinemate but knew the slightest movement would redirect the silver mech's attention.
"You are a fool, Starscream." Megatron said "those jets proved their allegiance by destroying that infernal machine you have only strengthen them!"
"N-not so, M-Megatron." The tricoloured seeker squeaked out. "One of them is dead causing the other two distress and disadvantage to the Autobots."
"You'd better be right about that, or you will not like the consequences." The silver mech seethed letting the seeker go and storm out.
Like I don't know what they are already. He thought bitterly as he gently rubbed his neck.
"Why did you tell him?" a voice snapped.
The air commander looked over and saw his blue trinemate tending their other. "I was saving your afts as usual." He grumped crossing his arms across his chest.
"The slag you were." Thundercracker shot back annoyed.
"It's not going to be easy, Prime. Skywarp and Thundercracker will no doubt be on high alert expecting some outlash at what happened to Starlight." Skyfire told the semi.
"I agree with Skyfire, especially if they see me." Storm agreed. "And even if he agrees, which I doubt, how are we going to get him here without Starscream sticking his nose in."
"Or you chasing after him if he insults her or says any degrading comments." The white jet said looking at the femme.
"Okay so that wasn't one of my finest moments I agree." The white and ocean blue femme said remembering the incident that happened a month ago. "But the mech was asking for it, no-one hurts Lightning." Folding her arms across her chest and looking away from the two mechs and missing the stunned look the jet's face.
"How is Lightning doing, Storm?" Optimus deliberately asked the leerjet.
"Between all the time Bluestreak and Sunstreaker spend with her I wouldn't know, barely get to see her now." Sadness slipping into Storm's annoyed tone. She looked over in surprise when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"She misses you." Skyfire told her gently. "Even said that she couldn't believe you hadn't kicked Skywarp's aft for what he did to Starlight." Making the femme chuckle slightly.
"I had other, more important, things on my mind than tracking the slagger down. I think she'll understand after he tells her." A small smile creeping on her face.
"He?" Skyfire asked confused.
"Storm." Optimus said gaining both flyers attention and bringing the conversation back on topic.
"You've got to be kidding me." Storm said at the look the semi was giving her. "You want me to…use Thundercracker against Starscream? Have you lost your mind, Prime? I don't want anything to do with him."
"If we cannot lure Skywarp to the Ark then Thundercracker will be our only way to distract Starscream." Optimus explained. He knew it would hurt the jet leader to use her brother like that after what Starlight had told him 'she misses him terribly.' But he could see no other way to lure the black seeker.
"You have a good point there, Prime." Skyfire agreed thinking about it.
"What? No way, nope, sorry not doing it. There is no way you're getting me to talk to that fragger."
"Not even to save Starlight's life." Optimus stated only to receive a glare and growl from the leerjet.
