Title: What it Means

Fandom: Transformers

Pairings: Well….blinksblinks Thundercracker and Skywarp are Companions and wingmates, Starscream used to be their wingmate, and I have an unhealthy fascination with the Screaming One and Megatron. Does this count?

Summary: A conversation with Starscream and Megatron leaves Thundercracker with more questions then answers.

Notes: I'm borrowing an idea I've seen in numerous fics starring Screamer, and that's that he had a bad experience in stasis mode, a long period of time where he spent with his mind free of stasis, trapped in what is comparable to a total sensory deprivation chamber. This left him with an understandable fear of stasis mode. The first time I read this was Wayward's fanfiction, but I've seen it in so many others, I don't know if it's canon, or if everyone just loved Wayward's idea so much they decided to use it for themselves. I just thought I'd mention it, just in case.

This chapter is almost double the length of either of the previous two. I was motivated by the positive responses I've received thus far. Thanks for the feedback!

Date Posted: Sunday, March 27, 2005

Part 3

It took another five standard earth hours before Hook proclaimed that Thundercracker's internal repair system was ready to do his own recalibrations and he was fit to leave, effectively banishing him from the repair bay. Thundercracker was more then happy to escape the antics of the gestalt – as his repairs had come closer to finishing, interest had begun to wane among the Constructicons. This was never a good thing; overhearing Scavenger's idle suggestions on how to 'improve' Thundercrackers radio system by adding an earth construct known as an CD player had led him to agree with Hook's diagnosis, and he had fled the repair bay with as much dignity as he could muster.

This led to him crashing headfirst into Skywarp who, true to Longhaul's word, had been wearing a path in the floor outside. Skywarp's optics lit up at the sight of his wingmate, armored fingers clamping down onto TC's newly repaired arms.

"You're alive!"

"Of course I'm alive," Thundercracker replied tersely. "Seekers don't die easily."

"'Course we don't," Skywarp nodded his head vigorously. "But you looked like total scrap, dude."

Stupid earth slang. He had forgotten Skywarp's fondness for the flesh-creature's speech patterns. Thundercracker ignored it and began walking down the hall. His goal was his own quarters where he decided he was going to drink his allotted ration of energon cubes until he passed out on his own recharge bed. Hopefully when he woke up, his initial view of the world – and the commanding officers inhabiting it – would have returned to normal.

"TC, hold up a minute." Skywarp still had a hand on his arm. Thundercracker turned and blinked his optics once in surprise by what he saw.

Skywarp was practically radiating concern for him. His eyes were fixated on the blue and purple seeker like he expected Thundercracker to expire right there in the hallway, despite Hook's diagnosis. "'Warp?"

"I just…you almost terminated." Skywarp's vocal unit seemed to tremble slightly. "I could feel it, you know? I was worried."

Thundercracker mentally smacked himself for being an idiot and he wrapped a comforting arm around Skywarp's shoulders with an ease that spoke of years of familiarity. Just because he was distracted by recent revelations about the Decepticon leaders, didn't excuse his treatment of his wingmate who had apparently spent the last nineteen hours pacing the floor outside the repair bay.

"Let's get a drink," he prodded the other seeker gently, and Skywarp visibly relaxed a fraction, nodding his assent and walking with him to the Seeker's rooms.

Decepticon headquarters, not quite as elaborate as what they had known during the old days on Cybertron, nonetheless were set up the same way they used to be. With the exception of Shockwave and his troops manning Cybertron, the Combaticons who were content to stay in their own desert base, and the original Insecticons who were in Bali, all of the Decepticons in Megatron's army had their own personal space.

Megatron, Soundwave and Starscream's quarters were the largest, located in the more secure areas underground with the repair bay and the main communications room. As part of the elite chain of command, Thundercracker, Skywarp and the Coneheads – Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge – as well as the Constructicons were located one level up.

The remaining Decepticons including the triple-chargers Blitzwing and Astrotrain, the Stunticons (when they weren't out actively disobeying orders) and numerous drones or 'canon fodder' as Starscream had been known to call them, were spread out all over the rest of the base.

In the event of an Autobot attack, they would be the first line of defense, before the fliers. It made sense, as the ground troops were hardier, and equipped with more firepower then the lighter aerial squads. The drawback was their noticeable lack of speed and overall intelligence. It showed the importance and the value Megatron placed on his soldiers, and Thundercracker had always been proud of his elite status.

As he neared the lift that would take him and Skywarp to their floor, he found himself pausing, turning to face in the direction of Starscream's quarters. He was overcome by a sudden urge to go over and knock on the door and see for himself what had become of the Seeker leader who had apparently saved his life. The urge was swiftly throttled by his common sense who reminded him that the Seeker was most likely not alone, if Hook had been telling the truth. Thundercracker had just been released from repair bay. He had no desire to be returned there via Megatron's fusion cannon if he disturbed something that was known to be dangerous, intimate and/or both.

"TC? You okay?" Skywarp was peering at him quizzically, still radiating that concern that Thundercracker found both annoying and endearing.

"I'm fine. Just...thinking." A thought occurred to Thundercracker and he glanced at his partner. "Warp, do you remember our days at the War Academy?"

It was almost a rhetorical question. A Cybertronium's memory was pretty much guaranteed to be perfect provided one's memory banks weren't damaged or altered by enemy factions. Skywarp's concern gave way to confusion even as he nodded. "Of course I do. Why?"

"Do you remember what Starscream was like back then?"

Skywarp snorted. It was an interesting sound coming from a being that didn't breathe. "Cocky. Vain. Arrogant. And he hasn't changed much."

"He was proud of his achievements, yes," Thundercracker said dryly. "But so was – so is everyone else. I seem to recall a certain 'Con being escorted to the infirmary on an almost weekly basis because he had to challenge everyone who initially thought his special ability was useless in battle."

"Call me an advanced load transporter," Skywarp sniffed. "I showed them."

"I rest my case."

"Why are you asking about Screamer anyway?" His wingmate eyed him curiously. "Does this have to do with the energy transfer he did?"

Thundercracker looked at him in surprise. "Who told you?"

"Scavenger was bored. He decided to tell me a story." Skywarp's tone was innocent.

"Uh-huh. Pull the other turret and it sprays daisies instead of bullets." Thundercracker knuckled his wingmate on his helmet. "Spill it."

"I owe him half of my next energon allotment," the teleported confessed, ducking away from the gentle assault with a grin. "Like I said, I was worried about you."

"No wonder you were so eager to come sponge a drink off me," Thundercracker mused. Skywarp smacked his wing playfully.

"Shut up. What about Starscream?"

"Aah, slag it… I was just wondering…" Thundercracker trailed off, his optics dimming slightly as he thought. "I mean, we all know Starscream is a lot different today then he was then, right?"

"He's a hell of a lot noisier, if that's what you mean."

"That's a given." The two Seekers exchanged small grins. The third member of their group wasn't nicknamed 'the Screamer' for nothing. "I'm just trying to figure out why he would do what he did for me."

"You mean, would the Starscream of old have done the same thing?" Skywarp guessed. "I think you've got it backwards, TC. I think the Starscream of old would have done the transfer without question. Well, he would have whined about it, informed you that you were in his debt for the rest of your life, and proceed to lord it over you for all eternity, but he would have done it. What I can't believe is that the Starscream we all know and annoy today saved your life. I mean, he's left others behind before."

"That's what I was thinking," Thundercracker nodded. It was times like this that he was reminded of just why he was happy to have Skywarp as a wingmate. A joker and a carefree spirit at heart, he nonetheless understood what was going on TC's head, sometimes better then even Thundercracker himself. "I'm wondering what kind of favor he's gonna call in on this one."

"Ouch." Skywarp winced. "I'd be worried too. Glad it's not me."

"Oh gee, thanks."

A noise from ahead of them drew their attention. Starscream's door slid open and Megatron stepped out. The two Seeker jets froze mutely as their leader's scanners registered their presence almost immediately, and his head swung to face the two of them.

"Megatron," Thundercracker and Skywarp chorused in reverent fear, bowing their heads automatically. After a minute, they looked up. Megatron waved his hand dismissively, but his optics lingered on TC.

"Thundercracker," he rasped. " I see you're back to what passes for normal."

"Yes sir." Thundercracker responded. The Decepticon leader looked almost…dare he even think it…haggard. Even his fusion cannon looked like it was drooping slightly. But his stance was steady and his eyes burned holes through him and Skywarp.

"Summon Scrapper and Hook to Starscream's chamber for repairs."

Thundercracker and Skywarp slammed their fists to their chests in automatic salute. Megatron turned and began to make his way to his own quarters where Thundercracker assumed his leader was due for a recharge of his own. Still, he couldn't help but wonder something, and his impulse overrode his common sense for once.

"Lord Megatron?"

His leader paused, turning to glare at him. Thundercracker could easily read the unspoken; this had better be GOOD, in his eyes.

"Sir, did Starscream say why he…did what he did?"

Megatron raised an eye ridge. "You question his motives."

"Yes sir. I mean, no sir!" Thundercracker doubled back on his own words in an attempt to avoid saying anything that could be deemed as offensive towards the Decepticon commanders. Megatron and Starscream argued and fought like earth cats and dogs – another one of Skywarp's ludicrous earth sayings – but the fact remained that Starscream was still Air Commander, and that position alone was worthy of respect, regardless of who filled it. "I mean…never mind sir. It's unimportant."

Megatron smirked. "Would you have rather he left you behind? By all rights he should have. You were shot down by that idiot aerial-wannabe Hangglide, were you not? That's hardly a befitting end for an Elite Decepticon."

Thundercracker fumed internally but remained calm. "Yes sir."

Megatron shrugged as he turned around. "You will have to ask him yourself. Though I'd imagine he'll tell you it's in his job description." A harsh laugh escaped the Decepticon leader as he disappeared down the hallway.

Thundercracker glanced at Skywarp and saw the same confused look in his optics. Skywarp caught his look and held up his hands. "I have no idea, TC."

"Yeah." A beat. "Guess we better get Hook and Scrapper then."

"I'll go," Skywarp volunteered. He nodded at Starscream's unlocked chamber door. "Why don't you just duck in there and make sure he's not dead or something while I get them? Maybe have a chat to pass the time?"

"Assuming of course he doesn't use the last of his energy to blast me into pieces so tiny even the Constructicons can't put me together again, for daring to enter his room," Thundercracker sighed. "Get going, 'Warp."

"Sure thing, Humpty." With that confounding statement, Skywarp giggled and darted down the hallway.

Thundercracker rolled his optics, but was thankful anyway. Warp could have 'ported directly to the repair bay and back again with Hook and Scrapper. In this way, he was giving Thundercracker his chance to talk to the Air Commander.

Thundercracker eyed the door warily, like he was expecting Starscream to have rigged some kind of attack system to register anyone other then Megatron trying to get in. Not even Starscream would risk getting killed by Megatron for something like that. After a minute of fidgeting in the hallway, Thundercracker resolutely stalked up to the door. After all, he reasoned, he's injured. He can't kill me right now, and by the time he's able to, he'll have calmed down.

Right?

Thundercracker pushed open the door and stepped inside, systems and sensors alert for an ambush. There was nothing, save for the familiar humming sound of a recharge unit in action. Of course. He just had an energy transfer – he's in stasis mode now. Thundercracker crept closer to the limp form of the Air Commander until he was standing over him, looking down silently.

Now that he wasn't curled up like he had been back at the cliffs, Thundercracker could see the residual damage from the power plant battle. Strafing fire burns marred his red and silver coloring, and a few blasted areas showed that some replacement metal was going to have to be welded on. He couldn't see where the rerouting Hook had hinted at was located, but then again, he didn't really know what to look for either.

It was starting to sink in that he truly owed his life to Starscream. There were very few other Decepticons outside of the Constructicons who would have had the mechanical and medical knowledge to save his life. It was times like this that Thundercracker was reminded of Starscream's primary function before the war. He had been a scientist. A brilliant one at that – heralded as one of the brightest minds to ever graduate the Cybertronium Science Academy. It was doubly noticeable because of his design, something Thundercracker kept forgetting.

Starscream, like Skywarp and Thundercracker himself, was a Seeker. Seekers were built for war, for stealth and air attacks. They were fast, deadly and intelligent, excellent spies and soldiers for war. Their creators had intended for their original function before the war to be a defense force against other races Cybertron was starting to come into contact with. Peace was of primary importance, but even the elders knew that they had to have a proper defense in place. When the war started, the Seekers, having the most experience in their field, immediately became the Elite of Megatron's army.

Starscream was different. Built for speed and stealth, he also possessed an anomaly that served him so well as to make him a scientist. His capacity for learning and adapting was unlimited. His intelligence levels scored higher then any other Seeker before him, and his very mindset from the beginning was to question everything he came into contact with – unheard of in a soldier. But it was the perfect mindset for a scientist.

Being truly one of a kind, it was no wonder that Megatron initially sought out the unique Seeker for the position of Air Commander. It was odd, Thundercracker realized, that he could somehow recall a point when Megatron and Starscream actually seemed to have gotten along. But that couldn't be right.

Starscream was famous for the number of times he'd actually attacked Megatron or outright threatened him and his role as leader. The fact that Starscream was still alive was shocking, and drilled home how even Megatron knew there was something about Starscream that was indispensable or irreplaceable.

Thundercracker was so deep in his musings that it came as a shock when Starscream's optics opened and focused on him.

"What…are you…doing here?" he croaked.

Was everyone's vocal unit malfunctioning today?

"Just making sure you don't die before Hook and Scrapper get here," he said casually, scanning the Seeker again. Starscream rolled his optics.

"Sure you are," he drawled weakly. "And you have…no questions at all…about what happened…"

Thundercracker froze. Starscream chuckled hoarsely.

"I wasn't in stasis, fool. I heard everything you and our mighty leader had to say out there."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Curiosity," Starscream said, obviously amused at Thundercracker's discomfort at having been overheard. "I wondered…if you were too cowardly…to come right out…and ask me."

"Well, since you put it that way," TC allowed. He folded his arms and looked the red, silver and blue seeker in the optics. "Why did you save my life?"

"Are you…angry…that I did?" Even more amusement. Thundercracker growled.

"I'm just wondering what would motivate you to save the life of a Decepticon when you've left us behind for dead so many times before." Oh no. He wasn't angry at all. Nope, not him.

"Absurd," Starscream coughed. "There have been no casualties under my command."

"Thanks to whom?" Thundercracker glared. "I've had to rescue half the coneheads on at least a dozen different missions, and if it wasn't for Devastator stopping an Autobot aerial attack, Astrotrain would have been blasted to smithereens on two different occasions. All because you called retreat and took off without waiting to see if you could help with a rescue."

"Like I said," Starscream repeated with a smirk. "No casualties."

Thundercracker threw his hands in the air and turned away in disgust. About to leave, he was halted by Starscream's voice once again.

" Tell me…do you know anything…about my scanners?"

"Only that I assume they're somewhat similar to the ones found on any Seeker design," Thundercracker grumped out in response.

"Incorrect assumption…idiot.." Starscream would have been laughing if he had the energon to spare; Thundercracker was sure of it. "They are of my own design…and capable of…significantly further range…and assessments."

"So?" How does one design his own scanners? His design structure is decided by his creator…

"So you know…nothing," Starscream shrugged. "Get out…of my quarters."

Thundercracker was intrigued, but it was obvious that what little energy Starscream had was draining away fast. Against his better judgment, he turned back around and assessed the Air Commander again. "Why aren't you in stasis mode?"

Starscream's optics darkened. "Get out!"

Knowing better then to push his luck, Thundercracker shrugged and headed for the door. Hook and Scrapper, who were protesting to be being herded like earth cattle by a manic Skywarp, met him in the entrance. He stepped aside to let them pass through. Skywarp watched them bicker all the way over to Starscream's berth. Skywarp raised an eye ridge and Thundercracker could easily read the silent questions: Did you talk to him? What did he say?

Thundercracker shrugged. Really, the conversation had just seemed to confuse him more, but the last comments Starscream had made at least gave him something to work with. It looked like he had a date with a data computer.

The low murmur of voices behind him caught at his audio receptors and he turned slightly. Hook and Scavenger were bickering over the best starting place, and he overheard Hook speaking to Starscream.

"I assume you won't be going into stasis, as usual?" The lifter mech queried.

"You assume correctly. Get started." Starscream's optics closed, as if to ready himself for the work ahead.

"It's gonna hurt."

"Doesn't it always?" Came the enigmatic reply from the Seeker, and the Constructicons shrugged before settling down to business.

Watching for a few seconds, Thundercracker couldn't believe what he'd heard, or what his optics were telling him he was seeing. The delicate and powerful sensors possessed by transformers, relayed many types of information as accurately as the human nervous system, and one of the signals transformers were quite capable of feeling, was pain. Stasis mode was akin to being drugged, Skywarp had said once; the act of numbing one's pain receptors so that nothing could be felt. Without stasis mode, repairs could be felt as keenly as a blade slicing through human flesh.

What possible reason could Starscream have for refusing stasis mode? What kind of warped mind would want to remain conscious through such a huge repair job? Starscream was looking at hours of pain, and from Hook's words, he concluded that this was not the first time Starscream had refused to go into stasis mode for repairs. It wasn't logical. Then again, why would any of this make sense? Why would Megatron perform a highly dangerous and intimate energy transfusion with someone who actively tried to thwart his leadership? Why would Starscream make that comment about his scanning system?

Why, why, why, why, why.

More puzzles on top of the mystery he was already caught up in, and Thundercracker was beginning to curse his own curiosity. Skywarp was poking him in the shoulder.

"Is he really going to be awake while they're rummaging through his carapace like that?" he asked, looking a little sick. Thundercracker shrugged, glancing back at the recharge bed and the 'Cons huddled around it.

"Guess so."

"I think I want that drink now, TC."

"Me too," Thundercracker decided, and let his wingmate lead him back to his own room. The mystery could wait until after recharge. After all, it wasn't like Starscream was going anywhere, anytime soon.