Sanity
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers.
Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. And to Deceptigirl thanks for the spelling correction.
This is insane, Starscream decided. Here they were in the control room supposed to be getting briefed on the current situation, and their plans. And the speaker, or Soundwave, was doing a very good job; it was the audience that was the problem. The only ones that seemed to be paying attention were Shockwave, Ultra Magnus, and Red Alert; everyone else was lost in his own world. Both Galvatron and Optimus looked exuhsted, depressed and keep glancing at the other only to look away when their optics locked onto the others, all of which Starscream thought was very, very strange. Demolisher looked normal but with a quick glance at a very annoyed Cyclonus, he knew that wasn't the case. Wheeljack was in a corner impassive as always, but the thing that was surprising was that Hoist was standing right next to him. 'Since when were those two friends?' Starscream wondered silently. Looking over, he noticed Scavenger propped up against a wall sleeping, silently for once in his life and Sideswipe gently poking his arm to see just how deep a sleeper he was. Turning his head he saw Rampage and Springer propping each other up, both exhausted from moving storage boxes from one room to another, their punishment. He also saw Jetfire trying his best not to fall into recharge, and utterly failing. Then he turned to the only other three flyers in the room. Two of which were talking quietly, the third looked as if ten billion tons had been dropped on his shoulders. 'That's Thundercracker for you, exultant flyer, and worrier extraordinar.' Starscream thought. Turning back he saw Hotshot looking into space with a blank look. Beside him Blurr stood trying to pay attention but it was obvious he was worried. Turning to look beside him where Sideways stood, he was sent a, what he translated to, "What the pit's going on?!" look, obviously he had noticed they lack of sanity as well. Starscream could only shake his head; this would have to wait until later.
Walking down the halls of the base, Sideways wondered what was going on, most everyone was acting extremely strange. The briefing was over and everyone had disappeared to carry on with their own business. Even Starscream had vanished, or so Sideways thought. Suddenly a hand clamped around his wrist and pulled him into a storage room. Regaining his balance he looked at Starscream stunned. "What was that for?!" Sideways demanded. "Shhhhh" Starscream hissed. Then talking as low as his vocal processor would allow he explained to Sideways his actions, "Something's wrong and we need to find out what." "Okay but why the secrecy?" Sideways asked talking low as well. "I don't think Unicron is involved, but I don't want to take a chance." Starscream replied. Sideways nodded and asked, "So what's the plan?" "Jetfire first, that is if he's still awake." Starscream started. "Well he's just tired, all he needs is to recharge." Sideways said. Starscream shook his head, "In the short time I've known him I've noticed he takes care of himself, meaning he doesn't let himself get rundown. We find out what's wrong with him, and then we take them in pairs, Demolisher and Cyclonus first. I think the only problem with them is that they had a fight. Next Hoist and Wheeljack, something weird is defiantly going on if Hoist is hanging around with Wheeljack. Then you get to go talk to Hotshot while I try and talk Blurr down from the heights of a mental breakdown." "W-w-what?!?" Sideways yelped, earning him a glare. "Why do I have to talk to him?" Sideways continued quieting down. "Because you and Thrust are the reason he's like this, and Thrust's off somewhere with Skywarp. Besides if I did send Thrust all he would do is go on about stars, which would end in Hotshot throttling him. So you're the logical choice." Starscream said smiling. "Gee thanks, I feel so much better now." Sideways muttered. Starscream ignored his last comment and continued in a sarcastic tone, "Then we will find the mighty leaders." "I wonder what's wrong with them." Sideways said more to himself then Starscream. 'I have a pretty good idea.' Starscream thought to himself along with how his life keeps getting stranger and stranger.
"But Starscream this is.... oh." Sideways said, before falling silent. At the moment, they were in Jetfire's quarters. Starscream insisting there was no need to use the chime and Sideways insisting it was rude to just barge in had argued outside for a few moments before Starscream had given up and gone in with Sideways following disagreeing all the way. They had entered the room only to find Jetfire asleep, giving Sideways an "I told you so" look Starscream went about trying to wake the shuttle up. That task proved to be more difficult than either had originally thought. It took screaming in his audio sensors by both of them and Comettor to get him to open his optic to a slit. "Jetfire-" Starscream started. "Five more cycles." Jetfire interrupted falling back into recharge. "ARGHHHH!!!!" Starscream yelled and lunged for him. Luckily Jetfire had a Transformer of patience to hold the crazed jet back. "Starscream! Calm down!" Sideways ordered. Calming himself, Starscream turned and walked towards the door, "We'll have to come back when he's at least halfconscience." Sideways shook his head and followed.
As the chime rang to their room, Demolisher went to get it, glad for the distraction. Ever since the other night, Cyclonus had been giving him the cold shoulder. "Oh Starscream! Um hi Sideways." Demolisher said glancing at Cyclonus who had turned to glare at the door. Starscream pushed past Demolisher and dragged both him and Sideways into the room, with numerous warnings about being rude all of which were ignored. "Hey! Do you mind?! You ha-" Cyclonus started. Starscream interrupted, "Yes I mind! If you haven't noticed there are very few sane Transformers left in this base. So get over whatever little fight you two had and makeup, unless it's something that's bigger then this war, which I doubt, it really doesn't matter." With that he grabbed a stunned Sideways and stormed out leaving the two alone to work out their problem.
"Starscream don't you think you were a little harsh? And where are we going? And would you let go of me?!" Sideways snapped. Letting go he replied without missing a beat, "No I don't, the lounge, and sorry." As they entered, Starscream spotted both Wheeljack and Hoist in a corner table talking. Marching over to them stopping in front of the table he asked, "What is going on?" Wheeljack glanced from Sideways to Starscream before answering, "I don't know what you're talking about." "Look, we just want to know if something's wrong." Sideways said. Hoist looked uncomfortable and was silent for a moment before replying, "Nothing's wrong, we just don't trust you." Sideways just nodded sadly and walked away. Starscream watched him a minuet before turning to the table's occupants and saying rather icily, "Thank you." Then turned and followed Sideways. Still standing in the lounge, Starscream came up behind Sideways and asked, "Are you all right?" "Yes I'm fine." Sideways said without much emotion. They were quiet for a few moments then pointing to a certain spot Starscream said, "Look." Searching for what Starscream would find so interesting, he did not like what he saw. "That's Blurr isn't it?" Sideways asked, unenthusiastically. Starscream nodded and started making his way over to him.
Sideways stopped in front of Hotshot's quarters; he was not looking forward to this. It wasn't that he didn't like the yellow, or more correctly yellow, red, and black, sports car. Quite the contrary in fact, in the brief glimpses he saw when he was on earth Hotshot had been extremely nice to him. But thanks to Unicron, he was forced to betray him. He gathered his courage and rang the chime. "Come in." was the tired reply. Willing his feet to work, he walked into what he was sure was his certain doom. He was expecting to be pummeled, to be shot, to be strangled, and any other sort of violence. He was not expecting what came next. "I was wondering when you were going to come." Hotshot said without even looking up from where he was sitting on the recharge bed. Positive Hotshot had mistaken him for someone else he replied, "You were waiting for me?" Lifting his head Hotshot replied, "Yes." Sideways stood shocked while Hotshot stood up and came to stand in front of him. "I just have one question." Hotshot said. "Y-yes?" Sideways managed out. "Why did you try so hard to convince me not to trade the star saber for your safety?" Hotshot asked with a seriousness that made Sideways even more uncomfortable than he already was. Summoning what little courage he had left Sideways answered, "Because you trusted me." After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence Hotshot shook his head and smiled, "I don't know why but I believe you." Sideways smiled with relief and looked his renewed friend in the optics.
"They're coming out." Blurr said. He and Starscream were standing outside their quarters waiting to see if Sideways could regain Hotshot's trust. "And?" Starscream asked impatiently knowing Blurr could tell what his mate was feeling. Before Blurr could reply however, the door slid open as Sideways walked out followed by Hotshot. Starscream looked at them both carefully; they didn't look mad or upset in fact they looked rather happy. Which caused Starscream, with great shock, to feel a twinge of jealousy that of which he quickly pushed aside. "So you're friends again?" Starscream asked rather tartly, resting his gaze on Hotshot and avoiding looking at Sideways. Hotshot nodded and was about to say something but was cut off before he even formed his sentence. "Good, than call Optimus and tell him to go to the control room." Starscream said walking away, calling Galvatron to ask him to do the same.
Gathered in the control room was everyone minus Jetfire, who was still most likely sleeping, and Galvatron, for whom they were waiting. It seemed even though no one told them and it was none of their business that they thought they should be here for this now public meeting. "What is this all about?" Galvatron boomed as he entered, coming to stand a good distance away from Optimus. Now normally Starscream would respect another Transformers right to privacy about this kind of matter but at this moment, after running around trying to return sanity to the base and trying to push the memory of the uncomfortable feeling towards Sideways to the furthest part of his CPU, he probably couldn't of cared less. "This is about Prime and your little lovers quarrel." Starscream said willing his thinning patience to hold out just a little longer. At this comment everyone but Starscream's optics widened as they turned to stare at the two leaders waiting for them to deny this accusation. Recovering from his shock Galvatron scowled and snapped, "Everyone out except for Starscream!" There were numerous complaints and questions as everyone filed out of the room. "Starscream?" Sideways asked before he left. "Go see if Jetfire is awake yet. If he is, see what's going on." Starscream said quietly. Sideways just nodded and left as Starscream walked up to the two leaders who were now staring intently at him. "How did you find out?" Galvatron demanded. Starscream just smirked and replied, "Galvatron you should know by now that you can't keep secrets from me, I always find them out." The smirk quickly slipped from his face as he continued, "And now something's happened, what?" Galvatron growled and snapped, "That's none of your business!" Optimus stood silently feeling guilty knowing that this was his fault. "Maybe not, but it's Prime's and your jobs to keep everything in order and that's not happening while you two are fighting" Starscream snapped right back before stalking out of the control room.
While the argument is happening
Sideways quickly moved down the hall towards Jetfire's room, but stopped as a voice behind him called his name. Turning he smiled as he saw who it was. "Hey where are you going?" Hotshot asked as he and Blurr caught up with him. "Starscream told me to go check on Jetfire; he says he's been acting strange." Sideways replied. "Ya, now that you mention it Jets has been looking exhausted lately." Hotshot said thoughtfully then continued, "Blurr and I will go with you." Sideways just nodded and they made their way to his quarters. When they reached their destination, Sideways decided to forgo the chime in case Jetfire was still asleep; it turns out he wasn't. "You know there is a thing called a chime," he snapped as they came in shutting off the consol he was at and turning towards them. "Whoa, sorry, we just wanted to see what was going on." Hotshot said in defense. "Nothing's going on, just go away." Jetfire said turning back around. As they left his quarters Sideways started back to the control room but was stopped as Hotshot asked him where he was going. "I need to find Starscream." Sideways replied. "Don't bother" Rampage said coming by, "He stormed out of here a while ago." "Thank you." Sideways said and went to find him.
Here he was, sitting in his quarters feeling sorry for himself, and why not? It was, after all, his fault that this had happened, everything Starscream said rang true. The sound of his door chime rang making him jump. "Come in.," he said sounding tired. "Optimus we have to talk." Galvatron stated walking in making Optimus jump again. "Galvatron what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise. "What now I'm not welcome?" Galvatron asked giving Optimus a critical look. "N-no it's not that it's not that, it's just...." He looked down at his feet before continuing, "This is all my fault." At this Galvatron gave an exasperated look and said, "Optimus it's not all your fault...I...perhaps overreacted." Optimus smiled a little under his facemask. "So we're friends?" Galvatron asked not looking at Optimus' face still annoyed at having to admit he was wrong. "No." was the reply. Galvatron looked up in shock but was meet with a kiss. "We're more." Optimus said when he pulled away, Galvatron just smiled.
"Why?" Demolisher asked. "Why what?" Cyclonus asked not paying much attention. At the moment he was fiddling with a motor of some sort. "Why are you still mad at me?" Demolisher asked more specifically. Cyclonus glanced at him before turning his attention back to his object. Demolisher waited in silence for a few moments before bursting out, "Cyclonus!" This time he put what he was doing down and turned his attention to Demolisher. "What?" Cyclonus asked. "Why are you still mad at me?" Demolisher asked again. "I'm not." was the reply. "What?" Demolisher asked confused. "I'm not still mad at you." Confirmed Cyclonus. "Then why-" Demolisher started. Cyclonus gave a psychotic giggle and replied, "Because it's fun to make you upset."
He had just driven up and was now watching him. He knew Starscream would come here; the junkyard was quickly becoming both their favorite spot. "So what happened with Jetfire?" Starscream asked snapping Sideways out of his thoughts. "He snapped at us an-" Sideways started but Starscream cut in, "Us?" "Hotshot, Blurr and I- Starscream what's wrong?" Sideways asked feeling his friend had become more and more distant. "Nothing, continue." Was the cold response. "Not until you tell me what's wrong." Sideways said stubbornly. "Never mind just forget it." Starscream said quietly then transformed and flew away. "Starscream." Sideways said watching him go.