Notes: Yep, this is gonna be at least three parts. I get the feeling it'll be four - the actual hook-up in the next part and p-n-p smut for the last part.
You're welcome.
Even though a quarter-vorn had passed since the last time he'd seen her – still not entirely pleased with the world in general but content enough to allow her elder brothers to take her back to Vos – but Rumble recognized the white and red seeker the instant she walked through the door.
The minibot felt a curious mental nudge from his twin and responded with a ping basically saying I'll tell you later. His entire family unit – creators and co-creations both – had been persecuted on several levels over the past few vorns, and Shockwave had finally declared that he'd had enough. When he told his mate and creations that he planned to join the resistance movement, an action that would guarantee his final fall from the Science Council's graces, Soundwave had not only supported the decision but stated he would do likewise. The telepath had been shunned many times over for his talents, and putting them to use could only serve to benefit the movement.
As non-mechanoid builds, Ravage and the younger twins dealt with being treated as if they were no more than drones, while the elder twins had to deal with the usual prejudices held towards minibots. Not a one of them hesitated to follow in their creators' steps and joined the resistance as well.
So, in all honesty, Rumble shouldn't have felt a moment of shock seeing Starscream and her brothers – what were their names again? Thunder and Sky, something like that – given the way seekers were generally treated by the main population. Yet there it was anyway, a sudden jolt in his spark as the femme strode in with a confidence she'd been lacking at their first meeting and stopping next to Megatron as if she belonged there.
Megatron gave a brief nod as the siblings took up position in a full-trine pattern by the war lord before he spoke. "As you all know by now, the senate and their representatives have been raising the intensity of their actions against the lower castes of Cybertron," he stated coolly. "The fires are still raging in Kaon, and the chance of finding anymore survivors is minimal at best. All cities hailing a significant population of military-builds are at risk, and some cities affiliated with those may also be targeted." He paused and nodded towards the trine at his side. "Starscream has been appointed as my air commander, should the need for aerial superiority arise, and her brothers Skywarp and Thundercracker round out the primary trine."
"With all due respect, sir," a seeker sporting a slightly different build than the primary trine called out from somewhere on Rumble's right – he thought the mech's name was Ramjet or something similar – "but up until now Vos has remained safely secluded from Cyberton-proper. We only deal with Praxus as a rule."
Starscream replied, her voice void of any inflection: "That was before the senate declared war on Vos. Their armies stormed the city under cover of darkness and razed it to the ground."
"Those of us who got out headed here," the blue seeker – Thundercracker – continued. "There aren't many of us, only ten trines, but more than the senate will be pleased about considering their apparent targets of the attack."
"Query: please explain final statement," Soundwave requested, only a split astrosecond before Rumble could voice the question himself.
Skywarp scowled. "All but five femmes out of the entire seeker nation were killed in the attack. One of those is still a sparkling, and one of those was already here in Tarn."
A harsh gasp was the only sound in the heavy silence that followed, coming from the sole femme in the now-secondary trine. Dirge then turned and buried her face against Astrotrain's chest-plating, the triple changer wrapping his arms securely around his bondmate. Ramjet and Thrust shifted minutely closer to their trine-sibling in a show of comfort and support.
"You said that affiliate cities are also at risk," a mech of Praxian build stated, a frown marring his features. "How long do you think Praxus has?"
"We overheard them discussing the attack as we fled," Starscream reported, the slightest hint of something akin to anger beginning to build in her voice. "The attack is slated for tonight. They intend to leave no survivors... and pin the blame on Vos and her seekers."
This statement caused the room to explode into sound, mechs and femmes all arguing at once. Some were proclaiming that there was no way the public would believe that the seekers would attack Praxus, while still others argued that the citizens of Praxus should be warned. The Praxian who had spoken was frowning, ice-blue optics furious as he moved a few steps closer to the primary trine.
Rumble inexplicably found himself taking a few steps as well, subtly slipping himself between the Praxian and Starscream.
"Is there no way to warn the city council in advance?" the Praxian asked, directing the question to the femme.
"We tried," Skywarp answered in his sister's stead, curious garnet optics drifting to the minibot for a moment. "All lines of communication into the city are blocked. They won't know what hit them, and the mechs working under the Prime will believe whatever the senate tells them regarding the attack."
"No blame lies on Sentinel Prime in this matter," Megatron added. "He only knows what the council tells him, and his views strongly mirror our own. I honestly won't be surprised if someone from the senate has him assassinated and charges us with the crime."
"Then perhaps we should give the senate exactly what they don't want out of the Praxus attack," the Praxian-build mused, looking thoughtful.
"What would that be?" Shockwave asked politely from Megatron's opposite side.
Cool blue optics glinted with amusement. "A survivor."
Megatron turned his own gaze to the Praxian, one optic ridge raised slightly. "And how would you suggest we go about doing that? And why?"
"The senate is expecting to kill every mech and femme within the city, likely for the same reasons they attempted to wipe out the Vosian femmes," the young mech noted. "When – not if – Prime sends in a team searching for survivors, it will be shortly after the attack. A survivor, even one with amnesia and a phobia regarding the attackers on his city, will provide Prime's unit something to rally around. And the senate wouldn't be foolish enough to go after someone they... missed when he's surrounded by trained soldiers."
Starscream nodded thoughtfully. "The only problem is we'll have to have you and our fastest flyer close by during the raid in order to get you in and get himself away."
"Fastest flyer nothing, sparklet," Skywarp cut in. "You might be faster on the wing, but I can 'port in and out much faster."
"You've explained how, now tell me why," the silver mech ordered.
"You've said yourself that the chances are good that Sentinel Prime will be assassinated," the Praxian said. "Which means this is the best – and possibly only – chance we may ever have to slip a spy into any of their armies."
Megatron smiled slightly and gave a sharp nod. "As soon as night falls, you and Skywarp depart immediately for Praxus. Inform Soundwave when you've reached the city and kill all communication channels save for the encoded one that he gives you."
"As you command, sir," the young mech replied with a brief bow.
"Remain here. As there is no further business to discuss at this time, the rest of you are dismissed."
The room emptied out quickly, every mech and femme returning to their previous tasks. The only ones left behind were Rumble and his family, the air commander and her brothers, Megatron, and the Praxian mech.
"You realize this is a dangerous operation you are undertaking," the commander said evenly, optics locked on the younger mech's faceplate.
"I do," he replied. "I owe it to those who won't be prepared for the attack, to be in a position to avenge them and bring down the senate from the inside. Or, at the very least, supply information and misinformation where it's needed."
"Once you're inside, it could be vorns before we can recover you," Shockwave pointed out.
"I'm aware of that. I'm still willing to take the chance."
"Observation: decision final," Soundwave noted. "Bluestreak: will continue course of action whether approval is granted or not at this point."
"Amnesia and a seeker phobia?" Thundercracker asked, sounding oddly amused.
"You would be amazed at how easily I can start babbling," the Praxian, now identified as Bluestreak, replied dryly. "And for how long I can go on about nothing. This will be sparkling's play."
"Well then," Starscream remarked, "I suppose the only thing left to say is safe journey and may smooth roads rise to meet you, clan-brother."
Bluestreak grinned and replied, "Clear skies and may fair winds carry you on the wing, clan-sister."
Rumble wasn't sure what that the words meant, but he did understand the odd lurch in his spark when Starscream smiled at the Praxian's words. He sent a brief nudge to his carrier-creator – I need to speak to you about something when we're done here – and slid a few steps closer to his brothers.
It may have been a quarter-vorn since he'd last set optics on Starscream, but apparently that phrase about absence making the spark grow fonder was well-founded. What other reason than fledgling affection towards the seeker could there be for her momentary contentment making him happy as well?
to be continued
End Note: So... show of hands, who wants a p-n-p smut epilogue for these two?
