A/N: I've had most of this written for quite awhile now, but I needed to get to a certain point in my other story before I could post this one. Hope you enjoy youngling Seeker antics!
Chapter 7 – Spare Parts
Thundercracker and Starscream were already sitting on the front stoop when Skywarp came barreling down the street with a box tucked under one arm. He might have thought he was being discrete about the package, but in his over exuberance it appeared like he had just stolen the box. The black youngling skidded to a stop in front of the others and shoved the box into the red youngling's lap. "I got everything we need."
Starscream stared at the box for a moment, puzzled as to what Skywarp meant. "For what?"
The black mech huffed in annoyance and sat down next to the red mech. "The comlink system! You said you were going to make them!"
Starscream looked up at him and shook his head. "Noooo. I did not say I was going to make them. You volunteered me to make them."
"Eh, technicalities." The black youngling shrugged as he reached over and opened the box. "I got everything you would need to make them."
The red mech looked inside the box at the myriad of springs, grease covered gears, stripped bolts, different lengths of wire and other bits of strange kibble. "I don't think this stuff will make a comlink system, 'Warp."
Thundercracker peered into the box as well. "It's just a box of old junk."
Skywarp's face fell. "But 'Screamer is smart… he can do it. Can't you, 'Screamer?"
The youngling pulled a cog with missing teeth from the box. "I, uh…"
"I know you can do it, 'Screamer." The black mech urged his friend.
"Where did you get all of this anyway, 'Warp?" The blue mech pulled out a lopsided spring and eyed it strangely.
"My father-creator's closet. He thinks I can't get in, but I can. He keeps all sorts of things in there, like his weapons from the war and those data pads he's always reading."
Thundercracker nearly jumped off the stoop, his purple optics wide in alarm. "You didn't bring any of his weapons, did you?"
"Pfft. No. Most of them are bigger than I am… but the cluster grenades, I brought some of those. I thought 'Screamer could use some of them for the comlink system."
The blue youngling fell off the steps this time and back peddled across the sidewalk trying to put as much distance between him and the box.
Skywarp started to grin evilly. "What's wrong, TC? You look like you're about to purge your fuel tank." He reached into the box and started to rummage through it. "Here. I brought a lot of them, we can play catch while 'Screamer is working."
Starscream carefully tried to scoot the box out of his lap, his own optics as wide as Thundercracker's. He knew from reading the medical texts that explosive devices like grenades were ninety-five percent lethal to mechanoids.
"Aha! Found one!" Skywarp pulled his hand out of the box quickly as the other two tried to get up and run away. Thundercracker was hit in the shoulder with a large greasy bolt and a piston ring smacked Starscream's arm. Both younglings yelped and Skywarp flopped heavily down on the stoop his small arms wrapped around his midriff, his body convulsing from the laughter. "Hahaha! I got you two glitch-mice good!"
Two sets of angry purple optics turned to glare at the laughing black youngling. Small hands dipped into the box of junk, pulling out impromptu missiles and pelting Skywarp with them. Yet he still rolled on the ground laughing even with the greasy junk raining down on his body. In a matter of nano-seconds the stoop was covered with the kibble and the black youngling was trying to rein in his laughing fit.
Thundercracker sat back down on the stoop, glaring at Skywarp. "That wasn't funny, 'Warp."
"You're right, that wasn't funny" The offending mech tried to stifle another round of giggles. "It was fraggin' hilarious!"
Starscream dropped the box on the next step down. "'Warp. I don't know how to make a comlink system and even if I did, I don't think any of this stuff can be used for it."
The black youngling started to pick up the greasy kibble. "So what do you need to make them?"
A loud martyred sigh came from the red mech. "I. Don't. Know. How many times to I have to say it, 'Warp? I don't know how to make them."
Skywarp cocked his head to the side. "But you know a lot about computers and how stuff works, why don't you just make the comlinks from what you already know?"
"Because I -"
The red youngling looked to the blue mech who only shook his head. "Don't look at me. He's dead set on this and you know once he gets an idea he won't stop pestering us about it."
"I know you can do it, 'Screamer."
The red youngling put his head into his greasy hands and shuttered his optics. He stayed like that for a few minutes until a worried Thundercracker gently shook his shoulder. "You okay, 'Screamer?"
Starscream nodded, his optics coming back online, "Hand me that data pad."
--
In under a jour and with data pad in hand, the three stood in front of the locked door to the forbidden closet.
"I don't think this is a good idea, 'Warp. You said he keeps weapons in here and you're not supposed to go in there and what if he comes home? I don't want him to call my mother-creator and get in trouble." Thundercracker looked nervously between the two mechs.
"Don't be a glitch-mouse, TC. Besides he never goes in here unless he's getting more of those holopads with the pictures of the femmes. He won't even know that anything is gone." Skywarp procured a flat-head spanner and started to jimmy the lock.
There was a loud click and the forbidden door swung open revealing its treasures to the three sparklings. It was a small room more than a closet, with most of the walls covered with different weapons ranging from simple guns to exotic blades. Thundercracker stepped away from the door, his conscious now telling him this wasn't just a bad idea: this was a dangerous idea. "I don't think…"
"Whatever, TC. You want to be a robo-chicken, fine. But we're going to get stuff for the comlinks, right 'Screamer?" Skywarp grabbed the red mech's arm and dragged him inside the forbidden room before the youngling could protest.
Halfway into the room Starscream stopped, amazed at the amount of gear that was neatly stacked and organized around them. "Look at all the technical manuals…" He walked over to a sturdy bookcase and pulled out a pad about battle armor designs. He accessed the pad and skimmed through the first pages, his optics drinking up the design specs for properly equipping protoforms with the most effective armor. His optics drifted up to the shelf and scanned the titles organized there. "'Advanced Energon Weapon Design and Creation', 'Advanced Wraith Technology', 'Assimilating Alien Technology', 'The CEG Survival Guide for Off-World Expeditions', 'Cryptography and Ciphers', 'Guide to Wraith Weaponry', 'Hand-to-Hand Battle Techniques', 'Identification Guide of Alien Ships', 'Protoform Formatting', 'P.O.W. Mind Partitioning Programming', 'Wraith-Class Field Medic Handbook', 'Wraith and Cybertronian Battlefield Sign Language', 'Wraith Protoform Camouflage'… What is a 'wraith'?"
Skywarp had been digging through a crate of unknown gear. "Wraiths are an elite fighting force."
"I've never heard of them. What branch of the Guard are they in?" Thundercracker was in the doorway, curious but cautiously watching the others.
The black youngling stood up with a new box of strange kibble. "They aren't. They're the covert operations force."
"Covert operations? Like spies?"
"Yeah kinda. But they do more than just spy on the enemy. They know all about weapons and explosives and survival." Skywarp put the new box to one side and moved over to another one. "They know all sorts of stuff."
"Including how to put alarms on doors and sneak up on misbehaving sparklings." The air shimmered in the middle of the room and Stealthshadow appeared, his arms over his chest and giving Skywarp a reproving look. "How many times have I told you to stay out of here?"
Skywarp sighed at getting caught and looked away from his father-creator. "A lot of times…"
The worldly green optics swung around to look at a completely petrified Starscream clinging tightly to a data pad and then to a horrified Thundercracker who had moved out of the doorway. "You weren't a very good lookout, Thundercracker."
The horrified optics of the blue mech nearly popped out of his face. "But I-"
No one will trust a warrior in a battle if he leaves his comrades behind. And trusting your comrades is essential if you want to stay alive. Those words rang true to the black youngling. "…He wasn't a look out. He didn't want to come in or open the door." Skywarp scuffed a foot against the floor sullenly.
Worldly green optics turned their gaze onto the trembling red youngling who was trying to hide behind the data pad. "And your excuse?"
"…I dragged him in here. He saw the data pads and didn't touch anything. It's my fault they're even here." The black youngling half-heartedly kicked at a nearby box.
The older flier looked back and forth between the other two. "Is that true?"
The frightened younglings didn't move.
The flier shuttered his optics and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What are you doing in here, Skywarp?"
"…Just looking for stuff."
"What stuff? Because if I find out that you even touched one of the guns-"
"No one touched any guns. We needed- I needed stuff to build a comlink system." The youngling shuffled uncomfortably in his spot.
The flier gazed at the three younglings in disbelief. "You need a comlink?"
"We- we- we were going to build our own." Starscream stuttered in a voice three octaves higher than usual.
"A comlink?" He glanced around at the sparklings again. "Why do I not believe you? None of you could build a working comlink."
"It's the truth. 'Screamer could. He's fixed our grease guns a lot and made new nozzles for them." Skywarp gave a worried look to his father-creator and then to Starscream. "Show him the data pad."
A very shaky red hand lifted up his data pad. The flier took it from him, flipping it on and reading over the contents quickly. Worldly green optics glanced up at the red youngling, "This doesn't have specs for a comlink."
Starscream gave a weak nod. "It's just a basic concept…"
The flier looked at the data pad again, and then back at the youngling. "You designed this?"
Starscream looked at the floor.
He stepped around the youngling and scanned the bookcase before pulling out two data pads and handing them to the still trembling Starscream. "Read over those and then bring me your design. You have until this time tomorrow to complete it, and if you are serious about the comlink system I'll help you get the parts for them."
--
Blue and black forms sat huddled around Starscream as he worked, accessing the reference data pads and adjusting and correcting the specifications for their comlink system. His self-esteem was bolstered by Stealthshadow's interest in his scribbled design, but the time limit on completing it was starting to wear on him. Add his friend's close proximity and over eagerness and the little mech was starting to feel claustrophobic. "I can't work like this if you two won't give me some room! I can barely see the data pads!"
Thundercracker backed away from Starscream, but Skywarp still hovered over the red mech. The blue youngling started to flick the forehead of the black one with his fingers until he got a reaction. "Move back, 'Warp. He said he can't work with us right over him."
Begrudgingly, the black mech moved away from Starscream with a martyred sigh. "How much longer until you're done, 'Screamer?"
The red youngling muttered. "I'd be further along if you'd stop asking me that."
The blue mech stood up and walked across the stoop. "Come on, 'Warp. Let's do something to stay out of his way."
"Like?"
Thundercracker grinned as he pulled Skywarp to his feet. "We'll be right back, 'Screamer, so you can work in peace."
The two younglings received a grunt and a half wave from the red mech. They took that response as a blessing to leave and the blue youngling dragged the other across the street. Running over to Thundercracker's house, they pushed the door open and bounded through the front room. The blue youngling glanced about before he finally saw what he was looking for and dove enthusiastically for it. He held up his treasure for his friend to see. "Look at this!"
Skywarp stared at the data pad in awe, "'Greatest Battles of the Guardian Fliers.'" He grabbed the pad from Thundercracker, "Where did you get this?"
The blue youngling gave his friend a triumphant look, "My mother-creator got it for me," He flicked the data pad on and pointed to the table of contents. "It even has diagrams about the maneuvers."
The two younglings stood there in the middle of the room reading from different pages as they flipped through the text. They were so wrapped up in the data pad that they were unaware that Starscream had entered, his data pads clutched closely to his chest as if he was worried some one would try to steal them from him. He peered over their shoulders at the text, his optics glancing at the descriptions of aerial fighting techniques.
"You think we can fly like that, TC?"
Thundercracker and Skywarp jumped in surprise at hearing Starscream's voice. The red mech grinned and gingerly held out the data pad. "It's done."
Skywarp 'whooped' loudly as he grabbed a hold of his friends by their shoulders and dragged them out of the house and down the street. "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN COMLINKS!"
--
Stealthshadow took the data pad from the excited red youngling with a knowing smirk. The sparkling was smart, there was no doubt about that; but all younglings had grand dreams and loved to play make-believe. He would humor the three and promise to help them build a toy comlink, or he could be mean and tell them that it would take awhile to get the parts, and keep that lie up until they lost interest.
He flipped the pad on with a grin, "Well lets see what you've got here."
Ready to make the first comments about how it was a good start, he scanned the first page… and stopped abruptly. In the most fastidious handwriting he had ever seen was the blueprint for a close-circuited and completely functional comlink system. The design was elegant with equations for a constant roaming digital frequency modulation – perfect for thwarting cyberspies from hacking into private communications channels. It would make ciphering obsolete.
He glanced up suspiciously at the three smiling younglings, his optics finally resting on Starscream. He was smart, but not smart enough to design this. He must have found and copied this design from another data pad. "Good try, but you shouldn't be passing off someone else's work as your own. Where did you get this from?"
The smile on Starscream's face fell, "I- I didn't copy it…"
Skywarp got angry, "He's been working on that all day! We watched him and he didn't cheat on it!"
Thundercracker watched as Skywarp stood up to his father-creator and Starscream fold in on himself. The red youngling had been so excited about the faith that the flier had put into him… He put his hand on his friend's shoulder trying to distract the youngling from the accusation of cheating. He had never spoken back to an adult before, but this instance called for it. "Forget about what he says and thinks, 'Screamer. We know you didn't cheat or copy it." He cast a glance up at Skywarp's father-creator whose attention he had drawn. "We know just how smart you are. Just save the data pad until we get into the Academy."
Worldly green optics widened at the outburst from Thundercracker. The near violent outburst from his own youngling was to be expected, but the backtalk from the calm blue youngling was quite startling.
The flier moved towards the forbidden room, unlocking the door and entering the small room wordlessly. There was one way he could find out if the design was somewhat original. It had been a few years since he had used the Wraith Ultranet, but a handful of security updates would give him access to any recorded information, whether it was from the Academies or the government.
He inserted the data pad into the Ultranet scanner and turned to look at the three younglings: Skywarp glared daggers at him while Thundercracker was attempting to pull a despondent Starscream towards the door. The black flier pointed at them and commanded them to place their afts at the table. He realized as he watched them sit down that Skywarp seemed to always sit at Starscream's right while Thundercracker sat at his left, as if they were already taking point in a triad position... or protecting him.
The Ultranet scans came back empty and worldly green optics turned to peer at Starscream and the other younglings – if the sparkling was this intelligent now, who knows what he could become later in life. Actually, with Starscream's intelligence, Thundercracker's passion, and Skywarp's exuberance, all three younglings could be the most impressive triad Cybertron ever produced.
The flier brought the data pad over to the table and set it down. "Starscream, look at me."
Scared purple optics glance up briefly before dipping back down to the floor.
He sighed. "I want you to tell me the truth. Did you really design this?"
The smallest nod came from the youngling.
The black flier shook his head, "This is slaggin' brilliant."
Purple optics widened at the comment and Starscream looked up into worldly green optics – the need for recognition and praise for accomplishing something was very evident in his face.
"I want to show it to a buddy of mine - and don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't steal the design. He should be able to tell me what you would need to make these." Purple optics widened even more. Nebula was right; the youngling desperately needed a positive role model. "When I bring back what we need to make these, I want to store these designs in the closet, at least until you three get to the Academy. We don't need these to fall into some entrepreneur's hands."
Skywarp started to shake Starscream's arm rapidly. "We're going to have our own comlink! I knew you could do this, 'Screamer!"
--
The black flier opened the door to the Guardian Flier's recreation center with the three younglings in tow. He waved in greeting to a few of the mechs there as he led them over to an empty room with mats covering the floors. He put his hands on his hips and smirked at the three. "This is your first day at boot camp, femmes. You are going to learn to hate me and wish your creator had never sparked you."
Skywarp snickered. "You already wish that."
Worldly green optics brightened and a wicked grin spread over the flier's faceplate. "Okay, femme. You just volunteered yourself for the first exercise. Front and center, now."
The bored black youngling slouched over to where his father-creator had pointed.
The flier knelt down to be on a level with the youngling. "Alright, femme. Try to hit me with your best shot."
Skywarp popped his knuckles with a smirk, "Get ready to meet Primus."
The older mech held his hands out and motioned the youngling to 'bring it'.
The youngling lunged for his father-creator, his little right fist balled up for his attack…
And the older mech caught it easily in his hand. "You have to do better than that, femme."
Skywarp stepped back with both fists now balled up and his jaw clenched tightly. With a growl he lunged at the flier again and was pushed back with ease. "Hmmm, maybe they got the sparklings mixed up at the clinic because I'd think my creation would actually be able to throw a punch."
The black youngling snarled and threw himself at his creator. The larger mech held his hand out and kept the angry youngling at bay, smirking at how Skywarp blustered furiously. "Looks like I have my work cut out for me if this is how all three of you try to fight."
Skywarp backed off and then barreled at the flier, who even though he was still on his knees, slid to one side and let his youngling land face first on the mat.
"A lot of work."
