Fandom: Transformers G1
Pairing: Jazz/Ezara
Rating: PG
Codes: Het
Summary:
Wanderer's Home acr 2 pt 35: Assault and Rescue
"First Aid, Ratchet, do you have sufficient supplies?" Prowl barked out, guiding the preparations from just outside of the Ark. The two medics both nodded and he turned his attention to the ammo that was being loaded into Blades and Silverbolt.
"Everything's secured," Ironhide said before he could ask.
"Good," he nodded, turning towards Noitefel, who was supervising as Huffer was loaded with enough explosives to atomize a significant portion of the Ark if they were used correctly. "Caurun and the others should be here soon - can you take control of preparations while I brief them?"
"Yes," the Guard's tactician barely nodded, though it was exactly the response Prowl was expecting.
Prowl allowed himself half a nanoklik to enjoy the other's professional manner and how soothing it was before returning to his tasks. The meteor-like ship was already in the atmosphere, but out of respect for the rules Prowl had set down it would take nearly half a joor to reach the Ark and set down.
::Prowl, what is my next load?:: Skyfire asked as his large form banked for a landing.
::Spare weapons and ammunition,:: Prowl responded. ::Have you had any luck at duplicating the Nullifier for our use yet?::
::Negative. With a few orn of uninterrupted work, I could possibly have the ones we took useable by a similar Seeker-frame. That is as close as I am,:: Skyfire said as he landed near Blades and Silverbolt shortly before the pair took off.
"Load'm up!" Ironhide ordered at no one in particular and everyone of lesser rank.
::After this shipment, take up your position between the two points,:: Prowl ordered Skyfire. ::And good luck.::
::Will do. Prowl...:: Skyfire's voice was uncertain as he was loaded with equipment. ::Is it true that Stardancer and Skysong are among those returning today?::
::They are,:: Prowl agreed. ::Do you have issues with them?::
::Issues? Dear Primus no!:: Skyfire almost physically balked. ::They're who inspired me to become a scientist and explorer. They're heroes to three generations.::
::Well, you'll have the chance to meet them after this is all over - and maybe then they can get to know Starscream without the Forge twisting him,:: Prowl offered. ::They won't be along on the mission unless something goes very, very wrong though.::
::I think you will find them very capable warriors with the need arises,:: Skyfire assured him. ::And I'm off. Caurun's coming in.::
::Glad to hear it,:: Prowl nodded, watching the shuttle take off as Caurun's meteor-like ship came in for a landing, sending a brief message to Noitefel to let him know he was handling the greeting before he went over to meet them.
The first one to step outside was a mech his own height and of similar build with dusty rose paintjob, Jazz's infectious smile and bright blue optics so full of life it was difficult to believe he'd been dead for over nine ganon and was only a few days into his second chance.
"Welcome to Earth, Windsong," Prowl greeted him with an offer of a handshake that was easily taken. The handshake was firm, sure of itself.
"Thank you, Prowl," Windsong's melodic voice said as others began to pile out, the two Seekers visibly grateful to get out of the cramped confines of the small ship. "We are very grateful for the rescue."
"And we're grateful for your help," Prowl said sincerely, stepping back to give more space for the others. "You arrived just in time for the rescue mission, things aren't usually this insane around here," he said by way of apology.
"We heard bits," one of the two Seekers, her paint an elegant design of primary blue and gold with red highlights. "We are very ready to stretch our wings in a good fight."
"Skysong?" Prowl asked, waiting for a nod of confirmation. "I'm afraid that you won't be heading out just yet. Allow me to explain," he said, raising a hand to stall the objection he was sure would be coming from more than just them. "Right now, we have an assault on the Nemesis with most of our forces and two Gestalts. We also have the rescue mission going on at the actual target location. Either mission could go badly, or they could both go off without any trouble. I need reserves available to help with either one, depending on what happens."
He allowed himself a small moment of relief when both Seekers, the ones who seemed to have the most objection, appeared to accept his logic quickly.
"And a few bots to guard the base while the army is gone," the other Seeker femme, painted with a fire-themed pattern of gold, blue-white and red on a black base, spoke up. "I'm Stardancer," she offered a firm handshake to the SIC. "Who will we be answering to while the mission is on?"
"Blaster," Prowl said, nodding towards the bright orange mech who was helping with the loading. "He's not happy about staying behind, or being in command, so expect him to be on edge. He's not used to it, but he's quite capable. I expect that we'll be calling you in for air support, if anything, but hopefully you'll just be getting a call telling you to prep the med bay for incoming instead of anything else."
"Understood," Stardancer inclined her head politely to him. "We will be ready. Skysong and I are both competent field medics," she added. "We can handle low and medium damage so the real medics can focus on critical injuries."
"Excellent," Prowl didn't even hesitate to take their offer. "Report to Ratchet," he pointed the white and red mech out.
"Will do," Skysong grinned in delight at having something useful to do soon and led her bonded towards the CMO and medic with the excitable grace of a warrior-Seeker.
"Commander," Crashcourse, a giant of a dusty rose painted mech with much the same manner as Skjöldur, got his attention. "May we go?" he motioned towards Noitefel.
"Certainly," Prowl nodded slightly. "Dismissed," he said politely, prompting the three Guard to make a bee-line for their Captain, and left him with the other five. He could already tell that the two frontliners remembered him from their expressions, and his news that they'd miss out on the fight went down even less well. They'd bear as much watching as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. As he expected, the Intel officer, Nightstalker, was taking the order to remain behind much better.
"So, besides waiting for a call we hope won't come, is there anything we should be doing?" Nightstalker asked politely.
"Catch up on what's happened while you're out," he said seriously. "You've all been set up with basic security clearance and a data package that will fill you in," he explained.
The Seekers and Intel all nodded, liking the idea. Both frontliners looked rebellious but not enough to contest it yet.
"Caurun gave us all a map of the Ark and immediate area, so we just need to know where to go," Nightstalker offered to let him get back to work as quickly as possible. "Unless you want help with supplies."
"You're welcome to help, but first, your quarters will be here," he said, bringing up a map and indicating their rooms.
"Just point me at what needs doing," Nightstalker said with an eager hint in his voice.
"Agreed," Skysong nodded. "We're good with getting our hands dirty."
"If it means I don't have to sit for a few hours, count me in," Rollover grumbled.
"Ditto, spoilsport," Tailgater gave Prowl a less than happy look.
"If things don't go right, you'll have more than enough action," Prowl told them bluntly, knowing there wasn't time to work on instilling discipline in them now.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Starscream's indignant snarl echoed around the Nemesis' medical bay.
"He's in rare form," Skywarp chuckled darkly as they watched their trine leader verbally abuse the Constructicon from near the door.
"All back to normal," Thundercracker nodded in a relieved agreement.
The pair listened to their leader and medic snarl at each other for a moment longer before the klaxon blared.
"Incoming Autobot force," Dirge's voice echoed over the ship-wide speakers. "All Decepticons to battle stations."
"Looks like it's time to prove whether or not he's back up to snuff!" Skywarp grinned. "Idiots must think we've got Prime here!"
"Who cares?" Starscream was on them before they'd even managed to turn around and didn't slow down for them. "We have Autobots to crush!"
"Yap, he's back to normal," Skywarp laughed eagerly. "Wonder how many of'm are coming to get slagged?"
As they came out of the Nemesis and hit the sky, they saw the force coming towards them.
"I'd say about three-quarters of the Autobots left," Thundercracker observed.
"Devastator and Menasor will join the battle shortly," Dirge radioed as he his the air with the rest of the Rainmakers. "We'll destroy them!"
"We don't need those brainless brutes!" Starscream howled in rage and kicked in his afterburners. "All Seekers, fall in behind me. Melt the field!"
Blasters and bombs hit the field hard, taking the Autobots by surprise with the sheer force of the attack before the Aerialbots and other fighters with them took to the sky, opening fire, scattering the five Trines and keeping them separated.
"Did anybot see their medic or SIC?" Thundercracker asked as he and Starscream tried to gang up on Silverbolt.
"I've got 'em - they're damned hard to hit though," Skywarp radioed back.
::Star - break off, please,:: Skyfire called in, approaching the battlefield.
::Now why would I do that?:: the acidic reply came back, though Starscream did turn his attention towards his old partner.
::Two gestalts and practically every other Autobot on Earth here - do you really think you can beat them?:: Skyfire offered. ::Doesn't that mean anything?::
::We are Decepticons!:: Starscream raged and opened fire on his former partner. ::We do not lose. This is just fewer of your slime to clean up later.::
Skyfire twisted, dodging the shots easily.
::You're slow, Star - you're not at full ability. Please, let me get you away from here before they get you killed!::
::That's a better fate than what you offer,:: old pain, betrayal, rage, loss ... every emotion Starscream had felt since Skyfire had turned Autobot rumbled like a storm cloud behind the words and came with more weapons fire. ::If I'm slow enough for an Autobot to take me, then do it. He demanded, nearly howling. ::Shoot me. Kill me if you can.::
::You know I don't want to have to do that!:: Skyfire countered, though he started trying to get around behind his old partner.
::As if you could,:: Starscream snarled, his focus completely on the large white shuttle with red trim and the deadly dance they were in. That Skyfire had spoken the truth only fueled his rage.
Prowl met up with Bumblebee outside the freshly-constructed Decepticon base to get the latest update on what was going on inside.
Around and behind them were Ratchet, Trailbreaker, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Hoist, Huffer, Noitefel, Windsong, Crashcourse and Nightstalker. The three Guard were actually earning odd looks from the Terror Twins for eagerness and the heavy artillery Noitefel and Crashcourse were packing. Yet it was Nightstalker, only slightly taller than Prowl and build on a femme's frame despite being a mech, that had everyone present on edge. The matte-finish urban camouflage painted Intel officer looked much like his trainer, and carried an even worse reputation for not leaving anything alive in his wake.
"Remember," Ratchet said to all of them, "we're trying to get our people and get out as quickly as possible. We're not trying to do damage here - that's the other team's job."
"While Ratchet gives the 'don't kill anybody you don't have to' speech, why don't you fill me in on what's happened?" Prowl asked Bumblebee. "What's going on in there?"
"Whiplash found them," the yellow scout reported, his voice carrying the full weight of his relief. "As far as he can tell, they're all in good shape, just hooked into a big computer that Soundwave and Wingspan are ... were playing mother-hen to. He thinks it's a VR system they're inside. They IDed Triggerhappy, Quake, Runamuck, Ruckus and Reflector inside. I think it's the Windcrest Trine, but they buzzed by pretty fast a joor ago. If Whiplash lives up to his own standard, none of them will be on line when we get in."
"Get your tailpipes in here already!" Whiplash suddenly commed them on a secured frequency. "We've got fifteen Cons in various states of not able to fight and six Autobots in need of medical attention right now."
"Nightstalker, you're on point. Guard, take the lead, Ratchet, behind them. Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Nightshade, guard the rear," Prowl announced as he fell into place next to Ratchet with Bumblebee and Trailbreaker, his weapons ready. "Huffer, Hoist, prepare for hot evac when we get them out."
"Front door is open, security net down," Mirage's distinctively cultured voice spoke up over the comm next.
As they moved, Crashcourse in the lead of the main group, Noitefel and Windsong right behind him, Prowl got his first good look at the team in action. They moved smoothly, not a sound or obvious signal between them as they advanced at very close to a full run, weapons ready and bodies tensed for surprises. He could easily see that they had spent countless vorn training and in the field together, working to move with one mind.
Prowl's optics were sharp and ready for any attack, his cannons pivoting as they approached every corner. Every piece of intelligence he received as they moved was processed quickly, analyzing it, making adjustments to the plan as they approached the lab. It was eerily still. The back of his processor once again wondered how Shockwave was still alive when Whiplash could take a Decepticon facility with at least fifteen Cons in it and subdue them all without raising a single alarm. All with just himself and two others.
There were faint moans, louder groans and occasional weak cussing in the Decepticon dialect up ahead.
"Ratchet," Whiplash looked openly relieved when he appeared at the door. "Tread Bolt took a hard hit, his wing's nearly gone. I stopped the major leaks and killed pain reception, but he needs far more than what I can do here."
"I've got him," Ratchet confirmed, moving to help Tread Bolt. "How are the others?" He asked as he did basic triage, privately impressed with the quality of care the Intel agent had provided.
"In medical stasis and at various stages of waking up," Whiplash reported. "No injuries my scans reported, but very low on energy. I'm not sure what to make of Ezara's condition," he motioned to the stasis chamber with it's still pool of glittering metal.
"You could have left some for us," Sunstreaker grumbled, glaring at the collection of stasis-cuffed Cons the Intel agents had gathered.
"I don't believe in leaving anyone to raise the alarm," Whiplash shrugged. "Why don't you two head up to the command room? It'd be good to know if the Windcrests return before they ask to come in."
"On it," Sideswipe confirmed, taking his twin and leading him out.
"Any idea what's happened to them while they were here?" Prowl asked Whiplash from the door, still looking for signs of any more 'Cons.
"According to Wingspan," he motioned to the stasis-locked avian Con. "The VR had them as human in the near future, and had aliens banned from the planet. The main thing I've learned so far is that I'm not the first to hack in. What the other one was doing is less certain."
"How long will it take to rig the base for detonation?" Prowl asked after a few moments to process. "I don't want the Cons to ever use it again."
"Depends on who I get," Whiplash grinned at him with an evil glint in his optics. "Under two breems with Mirage, 'Stalker, 'Fel and 'Song."
"They're yours, if you can talk the Guards into leaving their charges right now," Prowl nodded.
"How long without us?" Noitefel asked evenly.
"Four to five breems," he answered even as Mirage and Nightstalker took off to start his rounds of setting explosives beyond the distraction plan charges they had placed while securing the base.
"Take Windsong," he motioned the entertainer to go.
"Thanks," Whiplash nodded and handed off a fair chunk of the subspaced explosives to the Guard before they headed out to finish the job.
"Jazz's up," Trailbreaker said with evident relief.
"Whip?" Jazz mumbled weakly, trying to turn his head to look for him.
"He's finishing the job right now, but he's here," Prowl promised. "Are you all right?" he asked, kneeling next to him.
"We figure out a way to bring 'em back to life and this one tries to get himself killed," Ratchet grumbled to himself as finished the initial field repairs on Tread Bolt and turned to these coming out of Stasis.
"Wasn't trying to," the transparent Seeker objected weakly. "Hate gettin' hurt."
"Low'n energon, still dragin' mah processors outa the sim," Jazz smiled up at Ratchet with something bordering on his usual flair. He pushed himself to a sitting position to look around. "Be careful wi'Zara. Shz gonna be whacked."
"Drink," Ratchet shoved a cube into Jazz's hand before turning to Prime. "Now."
"You too," Noitefel pressed an energon cube into Skjöldur hands as she struggled to get up. As soon as she downed it, he offered her a heavy riffle and helped her to her feet.
"Prowl," Prime said after a few moments to process what was happening. "Be ready, you might have to restrain her when she comes around," he explained briefly, motioning towards Ezara's stasis chamber, filled with shimmering liquid metal rather than her form, before he was given a second energon cube by Ratchet. Prowl nodded slightly, switching his blaster to stun, not quite sure what was going on yet, only that it meant he might be in for a fight.
Whippoorwill was up next, eager for the energon Ratchet offered her, though she was weak enough to need his help to get the first half of it down.
"When you're all ready, I think we can release Ezara," Ratchet said after a few moments to check the stasis field for any differences. "I'm going to bring down some secondary systems first."
He didn't even notice the tarantula-sized dark purple spider crawl down from the ceiling and slip into the stasis chamber as it began the sequence to bring its contents on-line rapidly.
"Apparently something has other ideas," Jazz watched as he was handed his weapons by Whiplash as soon as the other Intel officer came back in.
The fluid nanite mass began to congeal, energy flickering around it before a moment before a long legged, long necked lizard like creature lifted itself from the chamber and toppled to the floor somewhat clumsily. It found its feet and stood, the slender, featureless head swiveled towards Jazz and emitted a series of clicks and metal-on-metal grating sounds.
"Understood," Jazz nodded, then turned to Prime. "The Toe'Emirc are unprepared to move. He'll move her body until one of them can take control."
"Who's he?" Optimus asked, eyeing the featureless nanite lizard that stood nearly hip-height to him with it's head fully raised.
"A Ky'Wren, a specialized Tezita SpecOp," Jazz explained. "We keepin' the prisoners?" he motioned to the rather impressive collection of Cons.
"Or kill'm clean?" Nightstalker asked as he pulled an energized blade from subspace and took a step towards Soundwave.
"Keeping them," Prime said firmly as he stood, effectively halting Nightshade's advance. "I'm afraid I don't know everybody's names, but I'll get to the introductions after we're back at the Ark. Where is everybody else?" He asked Prowl. "I need to get back up to speed."
"Providing a distraction by attacking Nemesis," he answered smoothly as they worked out who of the prisoners could walk themselves and who needed to be carried. Despite his injuries, Tread Bolt insisted he could walk, just not fly.
"We'll need Skyfire for transport," Jazz spoke up when they finally began to move again. "I think we can all roll home, but they can't."
"If he's got Starscream down, I'll be glad to call him over," Prowl nodded slightly. "Skywarp retrieved him four days ago."
Jazz groaned and looked at Ratchet. "Just how scrambled is he?"
"Badly," Ratchet explained. "I'd just finished disengaging his processor and Spark Chamber from the power systems for his weapons, but there's going to be a lot of mental damage still there. The problem is that there's no telling what they did trying to 'fix' him," he muttered lowly.
Jazz shot a look at Whiplash and there was a barely perceptible flicker of tension between them before the older mech nodded.
"Go," Jazz's voice was tight.
Whiplash and Nightstalker all but bolted ahead, moving with a fluid grace few mechs outside the SpecOps attained.
"What just happened?" Prime asked Jazz, getting used to moving around as a bot as they worked their way towards the entrance with their prisoners.
"Whiplash and I worked out our rank, then they went to secure Starscream if Skyfire hasn't," Jazz summed it up quickly.
Prime nodded slightly, looking to Prowl even as he began to wonder at the changes Whiplash and Nightstalker brought in his TIC by being in the room. "I'm assuming you have others here to help move them."
"Huffer and Hoist are outside," Prowl confirmed, pausing to humor the two Guard in front as they checked the next corridor. "We can call Skyfire in from the battle. I was not expecting quite so many prisoners," he admitted.
The sound of running footsteps echoed up behind them, but no one had time to tense before Trailbreaker called up that it was just the twins.
"Whiplash and Nightstalker aren't much for leavin' witnesses," Jazz said cheerfully as they reached the entrance. "It's really only been six days?"
"You're entirely too cheerful about that," Prowl observed. "And yes - how long were you all in the simulator?"
"Most of a solar cycle," Jazz tried to put a more exact length to it and largely failed. "Nine or ten months."
"What all happened to you, at least in the short version? Or should I wait until a full debrief?" Prowl asked as they began loading the stasis-locked Decepticons in the trailer Huffer pulled around for them.
"We woke up human a few years in the future. Major events are few, but the big one is why we warned you about Ezara," he nodded towards the long-legged lizard-type creature that seemed to be supervising the prisoners. "She was well into a pregnancy when we woke up and hasn't had access to the calming affect of the others the entire time we were in there."
"And who knows how much of that is still going," Prowl sighed, air escaping through his vents. "Wonderful. Hopefully they'll be able to help her recover before her... friend... has to go again. I'm going to need to talk to him before then. Find out what the Pit he was doing there."
"That ah can tell ya," Jazz gave an easy laugh. "His job. Just like we have infiltrators, so do they. He'd be gatherin' info, and the past few days, trying to protect Ezara."
"Yes, but who was he?" Prowl pointed out. "His cover. If he has anybody else in there. Things that, believe it or not, we do need to know to make good plans that don't get the wrong mechs hurt or killed."
Jazz regarded the nanite form and cocked his head slightly. "Good luck there, Prowler. If you find out, you've managed to get intel ah can't."
"Have you tried talking to him for more than a few minutes?" Prowl pointed out. "He might be more willing to share information than Ezara - might actually have it."
"I haven't have any more contact than you," Jazz shrugged. "It's worth a try," he decided and walked over while the last of the prisoners, those who couldn't fit in the trailer Huffer was already hauling towards the Ark with the Twins and Trailbreaker and Bumblebee as escort.
He hadn't made it more than five steps when the featureless lizard morphed into the familiar features of Mitrix.
"Where is Starscream?" she demanded, her voice on edge and stressed.
"At the Nemesis," Prowl said. "They're bringing him back in as soon as possible," he added.
"I can call him back," she countered, not perfectly steady on her feet. "He must not be damaged."
"Call him back? How?" Prowl asked her. "Skyfire tried talking him down, but he wouldn't respond. If you have some sort of code we can transmit, I'll send it along to him - it'll be there before you are."
"I didn't have much time to install it; he's very complex. I have to give the command. It's tied to my voice and form," she shivered her entire form, settled and launched upwards, transforming into Ezara's jet form within a span of the ground. ::We'll meet you at the Ark,:: she radioed back, already barely visible in the sky by the time Skjöldur and Whippoorwill were airborne and after her at full speed.
::Skyfire,:: Prowl sent out quickly. ::Mitrix is on the way with shutdown commands for Starscream. Be ready to provide air cover for them both - no telling if she's in fighting shape yet, but I doubt she's at full capability. Same with Skjöldur and Whippoorwill when they arrive. They're both shaky. Until she's there, prevent him from being harmed.::
::Rodger,:: the shuttle responded. ::Everybody else out okay?::
::Affirmative, with prisoners. We could use a pick-up when you have Mitrix and Starscream back at the Ark.::
::Understood,:: Skyfire responded, his attention split between Starscream, the rest of the battle and the approaching Tezita. ::She's on radar now ... and the Cons just noticed her.::
Mitrix blasted by Skyfire, nearly clipped Starscream's wing as she buzzed him to get his full attention.
"Starscream. Ko't!" She called out in a strong, commanding voice. "Follow."
The effect on the sleek white and red Seeker was instantaneous. He broke away from his pursuit of Skyfire and powered his engines up to follow her almost strait into the stratosphere. It could have been a pursuit, until he went past strike range and settled his wing just behind hers.
"Good Seeker," she cooed her approval and swung around, heading down to the battle with Starscream still tight on her wing. ::Megatron!:: her radio-backed demand halted a good half of the fighting that was already winding down with the Autobots beginning to retreat, their job done.
::I'm not sure how you convinced him to follow you, but you won't keep him for long!:: Megatron responded bluntly as they swept close.
::Tell him, my pretty Star,:: she ordered calmly as they swung around to make another wide, slow pass.
::Core programming edit,:: the Seeker said, his voice lower and calmer than it had been in ten ganon, possibly far longer. It was almost sleepy in quality. ::I will obey her commands. I will return to her.::
Megatron didn't bother to respond - he simply raised his arm, his cannon glowing as he prepared a blast. His optics zoomed in as the rest of the Decepticons moved to block the Autobots who saw what he was trying to do.
::Star, to the Ark,:: Mitrix ordered calmly. ::All speed.::
Without hesitation, Starscream turned away, but not in time to escape before Megatron opened fire, a massive bolt of energy lancing through the sky at Mitrix and Starscream both. The only thing that stopped it from catching them was when Skyfire's engines flared, his angled body taking the blast. One of his wings was nearly disintegrated, his body spinning from the impact, but his energy-resistant surface deflected the blast enough to miss its intended targets.
"Bloody idiot Autobot," Mitrix growled, diving for the out of control shuttle while Starscream engaged his afterburners and disappeared inland.
Megatron focused on aiming at Mitrix, her path making no effort to evade, when something big and light colored hit him from behind at high speed. He tumbled from the impact, wondering what Ramjet was thinking, before he realized that it wasn't the insane Seeker.
"Slag it!" He snarled, transforming mid-tumble to let Skjoldur's massive frame continue above him, changing back as soon as he was able and trying to line up a shot even as memories of just how resistant she was came to mind. It was a rare bot who could take a full power blast square on, then calmly shoot back.
She was irritatingly maneuverable too, for such a heavily armored alt. By the time he targeted in her massive nose cannon was lined up on him and she opened fire.
Megatron's shot took out her shells, and he quickly moved to the side.
"Constructicons!" He bellowed. "Form Devastator!"
He knew she wouldn't be able to handle that sort of firepower - particularly not with Menasor. The Stunticons were probably ready to combine already, eager to let their full destructive potential loose.
He wasn't prepared to see her turn tail and fly off before Devastator could even form.
With both Decepticon gestalts formed on the field, Superion and Defensor were quick to form and cover the Autobot retreat.
Meanwhile, Mitrix was chasing Skyfire towards the ground. She got close enough to get a brief grip on him, slowing his descent - but it was too late to stop anything. He crashed hard, leaving a trail of smashed trees around the trench he dug up hitting in his shuttle form.
::Can't transform,:: he told her, his voice pained. ::Is Star safe?::
::He can dodge, you know,:: she chided him even as she landed on an undamaged part of his fuselage. ::Yes, he's safe. Headed for the Ark and well gone. Focus on something other than the pain,:: she instructed as he felt a strange warmth along his damaged circuits.
"He can, but didn't know if he knew he had to," Sky pointed out, focusing on the crash and analyzing it, something he'd done several times before. It wasn't the first time he'd ended up nose-first in the sod, just one of the first he'd been so badly damaged on the way there. "Those codes - are they a permanent part of him now?"
"Until his memory is wiped. I'll take it out then," she told him as she molded her nanites around the damage, filling in missing structures and shorting out the pain signals at their source. "Try now."
It clearly took some effort, and a few false-starts, but eventually he was able to change back. It actually didn't look like the damage was too severe, once he was changed back - the loss of the wing and attached components weren't major parts of his humanoid form. They were just parts that he needed to be able to move properly when he was shifting.
"Walking's going to be interesting, until I get back for repairs, but I should be all right," he said, favoring his mostly undamaged side.
~Transform and fly,~ Mitrix encouraged him. ~The repairs are strong enough and I'd like to get back to my subject before he gets too nervous or an Autobot shoots him.~
"Me too," Skyfire agreed, getting airborne before he transformed, leaving the last of the battle behind. "Are these a part of you?" He asked her as they started to fly back and realized that Whippoorwill and Skjöldur were right behind him.
~Yes. It's the fastest field repair possible. Nanites do anything I instruct them to, as long as I know how to form it.~
~I'll get them back to you as soon as I can.~ ::How are all of you holding up?:: He asked, getting into formation.
::A bit off balance, but intact,:: Whippoorwill responded. ::Have you decided whether to bond with Starscream again, before he's woken up?::
::At this point, I'm still not sure,:: he admitted. ::You know how big that could be.::
::Honestly, I don't,:: she said gently. ::It's not something that crossed my processors when I was free, and Guard can't.::
::She was talking about bonding with Starscream after a total reset,:: Skyfire said, his flight wavering a bit as the surprise hit him before he realized that Whippoorwill probably didn't realize they were talking about bonding without Starscream's consent. ::Without his being able to agree to it beforehand.::
He could feel Mitrix wanting to say something, but she held back for now.
::I thought he was only going to be wiped to just after you stasis-locked,:: Whippoorwill asked, her tone uncertain. ::To when you were still bonded from before.::
::I know, it just still feels... awkward, at least. Maybe over time I'll come to see it that way.::
::Is it because he hurt you, left you, when you woke up?:: she asked, her tone mildly curious.
::Part of it, perhaps,:: he admitted. ::I knew he had issues, but I never thought he'd go so completely over the deep end, and stay there so stubbornly.::
::Once he went through the Forge, it is my understanding he had little choice in staying, and even less in how far over the edge he fell,:: she tried to put it in a better light. ::It's probably more accurate to say he is damaged, and has been for a long time, than actually evil.::
::I know,:: Skyfire agreed. ::I hope the others can see that too. But they're the ones with nine ganon of fighting him, not me. Some days I almost wish they hadn't found me.::
::If they hadn't, Star would have been torn into little pieces by now,:: she reminded him. ::It's your knowledge of him before the Forge that convinced Ezara to have him fixed instead of destroyed.::
::There is that,:: he agreed as they approached the Ark. ::Ratchet's probably going to skin all three of us for my flying back,:: he chuckled ruefully, though most of his attention was on the agitated form of Starscream outside the entrance. Next to him stood Wheeljack, who seemed to be guarding him more from those inside than outside. The two Seeker femmes just in the entrance's shadow looked more like executioners than guards.
::Not with how close the Cons were,:: Skjöldur spoke simply.
::You'd have been captured if you'd tried to walk,:: Whippoorwill back her up.
~You can blame me,~ Mitrix offered, though there was amusement there too. ~You had a very competent healer and an engineer telling you to fly.~
Skyfire transformed mid-flight on the way down, landing near Starscream. It was obvious he wanted to go to him, but wasn't sure if he should with the openly hostile look his former partner was giving him.
"You arranged this, didn't you?" Starscream stalked three paces forward. "You talked her into scrambling my processors!"
~I'm leaving the pain inhibitors in place, but taking my nanites back,~ Mitrix warned him
. It was just enough warning to keep him from falling when he felt a large chunk of his right side slough off, and he backed away from Starscream slightly.
"I didn't even know she had done it," he said honestly.
The Seeker's glowing red eyes narrowed dangerously. His fits clenched in impotent rage. It was easy to see what he wanted to do, and that he was being inhibited. Which enraged him more was anyone's guess.
"Starscream," Mitrix spoke in the same tone as she had on the battlefield. It brought an almost instant change in him; emotions bled out and his frame relaxed, but his expression also went lax as most of his cognitive functions shut down. "Go with Wheeljack. I'll join you both when I've finished with the injured."
"Come on, Starscream," the inventor motioned him along and turned to the Ark's entrance, calmly sure that his charge would follow.
"I wish that wasn't necessary, but one does not kidnap a SIC and not expect him to be rescued," Mitrix apologized with her explanation. "Let's get you fixed up. Ratchet and First Aid will have plenty to do, light casualties or not."