Chapter 28
Assumptions
The Autobot Vehicons were gathered around the human's recreational area watching TV with Jack and Raf. Everyone was into the show about organic versions of a cyberhound and a turbo fox fighting to remain best friends. Bluestreak was crying, and so was Raf. One Vehicon wasn't paying attention to the movie however, and that was Skywarp.
Normally Skywarp loved movies, but tonight something was bothering him. Miko had volunteered to help Bulkhead and Smokescreen rotate inventory in the stock room. Miko never volunteered to do actual work! Skywarp knew what the reason was though. It was the same reason why she left early the other day, and why she was hanging so close to Chromia and Ironhide last week. She was avoiding him. Ever since finding out he was a Decepticon, Miko didn't want to spend any time alone with Skywarp.
The movie ended and the rest of the group got into a discussion about how sad it was and how unfair life was to the main characters. Skywarp wasn't listening however. He had his own friend drifting away from him, and he didn't like it. He was tired of being ignored for a solid two weeks straight, and he wasn't going to take it anymore. He was going to talk to Miko and figure out what the slag was going on.
Starscream had hoped curing Frenzy would mean that Soundwave could be convinced to join him as an ally against Megatron. He had hoped that Megatron had hurt Frenzy on purpose and that it would sway Soundwave's opinion of the tyrannical ruler. After Frenzy explained what really happened though, he wasn't sure what was going to happen.
One thing that stood out to Starscream was that Frenzy had befriended and even tried to save an Autobot. That was treason, and if Frenzy's stupid actions got him turned into a drone then he deserved his fate. Starscream didn't say this out loud however. He and Thundercracker were low on both energon and troops, and Starscream's new t-cog was still recovering. If he wasn't afraid of Soundwave before, he certainly feared the silent mech now.
Soundwave and Frenzy had gone into one of the unused personal quarters on the Harbinger, and had been in there for over an hour. Soundwave didn't speak to others, so Starscream didn't know what they could possibly be doing in there for so long. A spark bond would allow them to communicate with one another, but that wouldn't take so long either. Starscream knew they were most likely catching up, but he also wondered if they were planning his execution. After all, Megatron most likely wanted him dead.
Would Soundwave even listen to Megatron anymore though? Probably. Soundwave was loyal to a fault, and he had known about the Vehicon project ever since its inception. He probably wouldn't allow something small like an accident to dampen his zeal for the Decepticon warlord. Besides, Soundwave had Frenzy back. He had no reason to be angry over the loss anymore. Just Starscream's rotten luck.
Starscream then looked over to the other side of the control room. Thundercracker was looking over a data pad and then looking up at the monitor. He was probably comparing notes on how Frenzy's processor rebooted compared to his own. Starscream still had a hard time reconciling that the mech within that grey mass-produced body was in fact his trine brother.
Starscream sighed then and turned away from Thundercracker. He had been given a gift, and he knew it. He knew that it was nothing short of a miracle that he and his brother found each other again. He also knew that Soundwave was likely celebrating the return of his symbiote as well. Starscream still couldn't help but feel incomplete however. It still wasn't the same, and never would be again. Without Skywarp they would never truly be a trine, and it wasn't like Skywarp was still alive somewhere. He died in battle. He was truly gone. Starscream still wondered if he and Thundercracker could ever pick up the pieces of their lives and be a real family again.
The door then opened to reveal Soundwave and Frenzy, and Starscream turned just in time to see Soundwave hovering over him; his tentacles ready to strike. Frenzy overpowered Thundercracker before the Eradicon could figure out what was happening, Laserbeak dislodged from Soundwave's chassis and locked the door, and Soundwave used his tentacles to shock Starscream into stasis lock! It was barely even a fight at all for the host and his symbiotes.
"Alright, yeah! Just like old times!" Frenzy cheered.
"We've got them," Soundwave said in Breakdown's voice, and then in Airachinid's voice said, "Megatron will be pleased."
Miko walked to the artifact rooms to snoop around while she was on a break. Lifting boxes and moving stuff with the 'Bots wasn't exactly as much fun as she'd hoped, but at least it got her out of seeing The Fox & The Hound. As she got close to the room with the polarity gauntlet and phase shifter stored within, she saw a Vehicon walking up to her quickly. Since she couldn't tell them apart right away she wasn't sure who it was.
"Bluestreak?" Miko guessed.
"Guess again, pig tails," Skywarp replied crossly, "Miko, why are you avoiding me?"
"Oh, Skywarp," Miko sighed in disappointment, "Look, I've got work to do-"
"Beryllium scrap," Skywarp cursed, "You never do work around here, and then all of a sudden you're going for employee of the month! What gives? I joined the Autobots, and I've been as nice to you as ever, so why are you treating me like I have cosmic rust?"
"Yeah right!" Miko suddenly snapped back, "How am I supposed to know you really want to be an Autobot? For all I know you're just trying to get our secrets before you go back to your boyfriend Megatron!"
"Okay, you got me, I don't want to be an Autobot!" Skywarp yelled defensively, "But would you? I mean sure, I don't want to be here, but I am here. Isn't that enough? I do my job, and I stay in my place. Isn't that what those functionalists want? Isn't it good enough that I don't get in anybody's way? I'm not a Decepticon anymore, Miko. I can't be. Megatron clipped my wings, and I can never forgive him for that."
"Well if you don't wanna be a Decepticon or an Autobot then why are you staying here?" Miko asked.
"You think Prime will just let me leave?" Skywarp shot back, "He's keeping me here for the same reason you're avoiding me, because he doesn't trust me. I don't see why that matters though. I'm a Vehicon. If I go back to the Nemesis I'll be killed or else...operated on. Miko...I don't wanna lose myself again. Even if my life wasn't good, it was still mine. Even if everyone judged me for what I was, even if they still do, I would rather have that than be a zombie."
"I never thought of Vehicons as zombies before all this happened," Miko replied in a calmer tone of voice than before, "I guess that makes the Autobots zombie hunters."
"No Miko, it makes them murderers," Skywarp corrected her, "They still killed people. They didn't know those were people though, and that's Megatron's fault. Ugh! I can't believe everything led up to this. I wish Screamer and TC were here to talk to about this. They're smarter than me. They would probably be able to make sense of it all. I can't though. All I can do is my job."
"Screamer? You mean Starscream? That guy freaks me out," Miko commented.
"You're not the first one to say that," Skywarp replied with a smirk in his tone, "Screamer freaked everybody out, especially functionalists. Grounders thought they knew everything about seekers just by looking at us. Starscream was completely different than everything they knew, and because of that they kept him down."
"You've said that term before, seekers," Miko noted, "Does that mean flier?"
"Not exactly," Skywarp replied, "I mean, seekers are fliers, but there are other fliers besides us. I dunno. We're a frame type, but I don't think humans have frame types so I don't know what to compare it to. Seekers all look similar, and all lived in the same city-state, and were all expected to behave a certain way. I don't know if your species has a word for that."
"Well, maybe race would work," Miko suggested.
"Race? But I'm not allowed to leave the compound!" Skywarp whined, misunderstanding what she meant.
"No Skywarp, a race is a group of people," Miko clarified for him, "Like, I'm Japanese, and that's considered a nationality, which is a type of race...uh, I think. I wasn't really paying attention in social studies. Heh heh..."
"So do other frame-races make assumptions about you because of it?" Skywarp asked curiously.
"Well, kinda," Miko replied hesitantly, "The thing is I grew up in Japan, so I was always like everybody else. I never thought of myself as being stereotyped or anything; I was just normal. Then I came to America looking for adventure. For most of my time here it was just desert and school work. Eugh! One thing I learned though is that in America everybody assumes Japanese people are smart and like to watch anime. Neither of those things is true about me, so I've disappointed a lot of uninformed classmates."
"I think you're smart," Skywarp shrugged.
"Thanks, but I mean book smart. I can't live up to something like that. School is boring! It could be worse though. For some people discrimination is pretty bad. The worst I ever got was some idiot who thought I knew karate. I mean, I do like to watch martial arts, but mountain climbing is really my sport. It was annoying though when the guy started making those HIYA noises. What an idiot."
"Yeah, well for seekers it was the opposite," Skywarp explained, "Everyone thought we were stupid because we were built for war. We weren't allowed to do things that required a lot of processing power. People thought seekers were deceitful, dumb, had a hive mind, didn't feel pain anywhere except our wings, created dozens of sparklings that grew up to be unruly, and so on and so on. Starscream though, he wanted to be different. He and TC were both smart, but TC was more philosophical whereas Screamer was book smart. He tried over and over again to get into Iacon Science Academy so he could be a scientist, but they never let him in. To this day Screamer will tell people he's a scientist, but he never got a degree."
"Starscream as a science nerd? I don't see it," Miko remarked.
"No one did, that was the problem. Starscream joined Megatron and convinced us to do the same because he felt like every Cybertronian should be given a chance to pursue their dreams. Truth was he just wanted to pursue his dream, but if it helped others then that was okay too. I hate to admit it, but I fit a lot of the seeker stereotypes. I am dumb, and I do like to fight, and I do pretty much whatever my superiors say. I'm not proud of it, but I'm what most people think of when they think of a seeker. At least I was...until I lost my wings."
"So why didn't you join the Autobots first then?" Miko asked, "Optimus says freedom is a cinch for all beings, or something like that."
"He wasn't Prime then, and even after he became Prime it was too little too late," Skywarp told her, "Starscream wanted to follow Megatron, and I did whatever my brothers wanted. I guess I believed all that talk about the strong dominating the weak too, but I've never been too political. I just wanted to smash things and make my trine happy, and I did that for more vorns than I can count. Even now there isn't a whole lot I believe in. Why should I? The world ended, so what are we even still fighting over? The dust? Being alive is enough for me now. No one will ever put the seekers down again...because there aren't that many seekers left."
"Yeesh, way to bring down the mood, Crywarp," Miko remarked as she crossed her arms, "Cybertron might be gone, but that doesn't mean life is over. You can make a new life here on earth, just like the Autobots are doing."
"Yeah, I know," Skywarp replied as he sat down on the floor next to Miko, "I wish I could fly again. Maybe someday I will. Until then, I can learn to like it here. I mean, the Autobrats haven't been as rude or mean as I expected them to be. Jazz is even still nice. I guess being a Vehicon means he and I have a certain understanding of each other. Bluestreak's pretty cool too. Of course you're still my best friend, but don't tell them that. I don't want things to get awkward."
"I'm your best friend?" Miko asked skeptically, "Even after I accused you of being a traitor?"
"You're just worried about your team. I would be too," Skywarp replied, unfazed, "So you don't fit your stereotype, huh? I guess that makes Raf the more typical Japaney person."
"Japanese," Miko chuckled, "And Raf is Latino, Skywarp."
"Oh. How can you tell?" Skywarp asked obliviously as he stood up, "Humans have so little variation. I mean, no cannons, no wings, no extra limbs, no extra eyes, no tires, nothing! How am I supposed to tell?"
"Honestly? I think you're better off if you can't," Miko replied with a smile as she walked down the corridor with her Vehicon friend in tow.
Starscream had known it was a bad idea from the beginning to allow Soundwave aboard the Harbinger. He awoke to find himself in the brig on board the Nemesis, with Thundercracker in the same cell as him. He hadn't seen anyone else yet, and Thundercracker was still asleep. It made the room very quiet, and the silence was driving Starscream mad. He knew they were probably going to die, and the waiting was making the experience even more nerve wracking.
As he awaited his ultimate fate, Starscream looked over at his Eradicon brother with pure regret. Not regret that he had found him, but regret that giving Thundercracker his memory back would cost them both their lives. It didn't seem fair to be reunited with TC only to lose him again. It also occurred to Starscream, deep down inside, that it wasn't fair for Thundercracker to die for his trine leader's actions.
The silence was suddenly interrupted by the sound of pede steps off in the distance. Calmly walking down the hall was none other than Megatron himself, flanked by Soundwave and a Vehicon that was most likely Frenzy. Starscream's energon boiled with hatred for the traitorous communications officer. Starscream gave him back his symbiote, and this was the thanks he got? For all he cared Soundwave could rot in the pit.
"Ah, Starscream. I see you're back from your journey. Tell me, did you enjoy your time away? Committing treason against the Decepticon empire?" Megatron asked in a deceptively caring tone.
"M-M-Master! It wasn't treason!" Starscream lied, "It was, um, information gathering! Yes! I wanted to discover the secrets of the Autobots and report back to you."
"And what did you find?" Megatron inquired, though it was clear he wasn't really interested.
"Uh...nothing," Starscream admitted, "I couldn't get close to their base. I knew if I returned a failure you would be angry with me. I couldn't live with the shame."
"You haven't had a problem living with shame for the past few centuries," Megatron deadpanned, "So why should it matter to you now?"
Before Starscream could answer Megatron opened the cell and entered; closing the door behind him. Starscream backed away, knowing he was likely going to be beaten by the seething warlord.
"Please forgive me, Master!" Starscream shouted desperately, "I'll do anything you want! Accept any lowly position! Just please take me back!"
"You wish to rejoin the Decepticons? After all you've done against me!?" Megatron asked heatedly, finally losing his calm demeanor, "Why should I even consider sparing your worthless pitiful life? I've executed subordinates for far less than your betrayals! What gives you the right to ask for mercy now?"
"Megatron," Knockout's voice called out, but it was actually Soundwave's recording.
"Yes Soundwave?" Megatron replied, trying to keep himself calm for his friend.
Then in Megatron's spliced voice Soundwave said "Need...Frenzy to get...new body. Send Knockout away."
"Ah yes, I can understand that you would want privacy to repair your symbiote," Megatron replied consolingly, "It also wouldn't do us any good to have anyone outside the command team to know of our little...Vehicon problem. I must admit I don't know how long we can keep this debacle a secret. More and more of them are acting erratically, most likely from defective submission chips. If something isn't done soon I could lose most of my remaining army."
"Megatron!" Starscream suddenly piped up, and Megatron scowled at the interrupting seeker, "Master, I know how to fix this. I know what went wrong with the processor blockers, and I can develop a new stronger chip to keep Vehicon processors suppressed."
"Let me guess, in exchange for this technology you want back into the Decepticon ranks," Megatron replied flatly.
"For information this valuable? That's not enough," Starscream stated; finally in control of the bargaining.
"Oh? And what makes you think I even want your help with this?" Megatron scoffed.
"You don't want my help; you need my help," Starscream declared, "What I ask is well within your means, I assure you. In exchange for the permanent erasure of a Vehicon's identity, I only ask that my brother Thundercracker be rebuilt into a new body, and that we both be allowed to survive. Soundwave can build his symbiote a body. Surely he can also rebuild Thundercracker."
"Thundercracker, eh? That explains why you were captured with an Eradicon drone," Megatron commented, "Very well, you give me the key to controlling these wayward Vehicons and I shall reinstate both of you as Decepticons. Do understand though that Dreadwing is my second in command and shall remain so. You will be fourth."
"Fourth!?" Starscream screeched indignantly, but upon seeing Megatron's glare backtracked and said, "Um, a most generous decision, Master."
"Good," Megatron growled at his former SIC, "Shame I couldn't execute you today Starscream, but I suppose finding new ways to be useful is an admirable trait in a Decepticon. Soundwave, take the seekers and Frenzy to the medbay, and keep Knockout away from the area until you are finished with the reconstruction of my 'new' Decepticons."
Soundwave nodded dutifully and unlocked the cell so that Megatron, Starscream, and a now conscious Thundercracker could exit. Thundercracker didn't catch the entire conversation, but he heard enough to know that Starscream had surrendered, they weren't going to die, and that their rebellion was essentially over.
Knockout was polishing some of his now empty beakers while listening to Cylas scream curses at him in the background. It had mostly been an uneventful day of testing and revenge. Most of the Vehicons stayed away these days, and a more competent medic would have insisted on their physicals. Knockout however was just glad they weren't bothering him. The mass hysteria of the drones was just one more thing to complicate the Decepticon medic's life.
Cylas threatened to eviscerate Knockout for what he had done to him, and Knockout just sighed miserably. Breakdown's body might be there, but Breakdown wasn't. That big bruiser might not have been Knockout's first choice of friend in his pre-war life, but he was the best friend a mech could have.
Knockout was a social mech by nature, and when he was young he enjoyed the company of others and the sports they played. He loved racing, he loved annoying older mechs, and he cherished every single person in his life. He looked around the medbay, so cold and dark, and wondered how he ended up so alone.
"Do you hear me, Knockout? Dead! D-E-D, dead!" Cylas shouted; crazed by whatever chemical Knockout had recently injected him with.
"You misspelled dead," Knockout pointed out tauntingly, "Makes sense though. My research shows your human brain has suffered impact damage. That would explain why you thought living in a corpse was a good idea."
"I didn't do this," Cylas snarled, "I didn't ask for this! All I wanted was to be like you, to be strong. I am a Titan! I should be feared! Fear me!"
Knockout snorted laughter and then turned away from the raving prisoner. Outwardly Knockout knew how to keep his good humor, but inside the pain was still fresh. He was torturing himself by keeping Breakdown's body around, but he didn't care. His own brother's severed helm was under his berth. Knockout didn't mind keeping macabre reminders of his loved ones in his living space.
The door opened, and Knockout was surprised to see that it was Soundwave and Starscream, flanked by a Vehicon and Eradicon.
"Let me guess, Starscream is here for a lethal injection?" Knockout quipped, "I must say that's more hands-off than I expected from Megatron."
"Knockout. Leave," Soundwave replied using Megatron's voice, and then in Starscream's voice said, "I need this workspace! Get out!"
"What? You're kicking me out of my own medbay?" Knockout huffed.
In Airachnid's voice Soundwave replied, "Megatron's orders."
"Seriously," Knockout replied flatly, "Ugh, fine! Take it! Take it all! See if I care if I'm given some well-deserved time off. Now you can listen to that horrible parasite scream in pain every two minutes! You get to work, and I'm going to take the first nap I've been allowed to take in twenty five vorns!"
With that tirade Knockout walked out of the room and down the hall. As he left the medbay he couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. He was used to being unappreciated as a soldier, but to be replaced as a medic by two mechs with no experience? That said more to him than words ever could. Day by day it seemed Megatron grew to hate Knockout more and more, and it all started when Starscream left. At least with Starscream back, maybe Knockout could go back to being invisible again.
Meanwhile, in the medbay, Soundwave strapped down Frenzy and Thundercracker for their surgeries. Each one looked up at the ceiling as all drones were trained to do, and Soundwave administered a code that would knock them out.
As he drifted off to recharge, Thundercracker wondered why he was doing this. The Decepticons did this to him. Why would he dedicate himself to their cause all over again after they treated him like dirt? As he lost consciousness this question still lingered in his processor.