Even when the shock of Starscream's chosen location wore off, Thundercracker was still standing slack-jawed and gawking at the dilapidated city of Kaon. The streets where dark and littered with trash and debris, like no one cared anymore. True, the shops where open, but there was something not quite right here. The bots that inhabited the shops gave the two visitors points and leers, whispering to one another at the pair who clearly didn't belong. The words that best described this place where dirty and rude. Naturally, Starscream just had to pick this location for Primus knows why.

With the feelings of fear and anger, Thundercracker defensively hiked his wings up as high as they would go and took to the red and white seeker's side. He returned the questioning stares of the shop keepers with furrowed brows and a growl.

"Lighten up, Tc," Starscream demanded and placed a hand in comfort on his protective friends shoulder.

"Why did you take us here?" The blue mech questioned. "I would have taken you anywhere, and you choose this run down town full of castaway, no good disgusting bots?"

Starscream laughed. "Are you always this judgmental?" He continued to walk on, leading them deeper within the city. With reluctance, the defensive winged mech followed, keeping close to make sure nothing happened.

The two made their way deeper in the heart of the town. Unkempt mechs bustled from here to there, some arguing, others working the streets for secret sales. When one green mech approached the pair, asking if they where looking for some circuit boosters, Thundercracker pushed his was in front of Starscream, lips drawn back in a snarl, and stood there in a threatening posture. The drug dealer simply shied away and retreated back within the bustle of mechs.

"Come now, TC," Starscream spoke as he made his way in front again. "I can fend for myself, I am not some vulnerable little sparkling." He gingerly brushed his hand across his date's chest, frowning at the tense vibe dripping from the blue seeker. Starscream pouted. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, are you?"

"No," Thundercracker firmly said. "This place, Stars. I don't like it. It's not safe here-"

"You want to go back?" The red and white mech interrupted. "Because you are welcome to TC. I can continue on myself. Is that what you want?"

Thundercracker let out a frustrated but defeated sigh. "No Stars." He walked up and took the other's arm in his own. "I'll stay with you."

"Then stop being so aggressive," Starscream demanded. "We are not in Vos, and I would rather pass through as peacefully as possible. I don't want you causing a scene."

"Sorry," Thundercracker whispered and reached for his friends wings, stroking them gently for forgiveness. "I don't mean to, you know? This place. It just makes me on edge."

"I know, Tc." Starscream cooed. He reached for the other's hand, and with an encouraging smile, began to walk down the street once again. "Besides, we're almost there." He pointed to the building that loomed directly ahead of them.

"Can you tell me what we are attending now?"

"What, and ruin the surprise?" The smaller seeker looked up and smirked. "It will be a fun night, trust me."

With a little nod, Thundercracker allowed himself to be led toward the building. As they approached, the crowd of mechs became so dense they could no longer walk side by side but rather with one leading and the other following. Refusing to let go of Starscream's hand, the blue mech awkwardly tried to keep close.

They walked through the wide doorway and walked to the line waiting to get in. Thundercracker protectively wrapped his arm around Starscream, who surprisingly did not mind. The dense crowd pushed and invaded, but eventually they made their way to the entrance.

"Ten credits each," the mech barked, impatiently holding his hand out. Thundercracker slapped at Starscream's hand that was attempting to retrieve his credits from his storage compartment.

"I got it Stars," Thundercracker said as he handed the cashier the exact amount of credits. "Remember, I am taking you out on this date."

The mech took the credits and let them pass. The pair made their way to the arena, fighting the crowd to get a good spot. Starscream was called some dirty names as he pushed his way to the balcony railing while Thundercracker was anxiously right on his heels. Satisfied, Starscream reached into his compartment and retrieved a ratty flier.

"This will be a good spot," He said and opened the flier. "Right on time too."

"It already began," the blue flier remarked as he wrapped his arms around the other's torso. "Shouldn't we have come earlier?"

"No. I only want to see the main event." Starscream replied. "I am not interested in the other matches."

"So, this is the Gladiatorial Arena then?"

"The one and only." Starsceam said. "I heard this Megatronus is a really good fighter."

"Jeez," Thundercracker said as he watched the current battle between a beast-like bot that breathed fire and a giant flier, who had just had his wings ripped from his back. "Seems kind of barbaric to me."

Starscream nodded. "It's fun entertainment." He leaned back into the other's embrace and smiled.

"Whatever," Thundercracker replied, and kept his focus on his date- he found him much more entertaining then the brutes fighting. He placed a quick peck on Starscream's cheek and hugged him tighter.

"Get a room!" Some mech slurred from behind. Thundercracker instantly glared in that direction, ready to holler back, but it was Starscream who answered.

"Mind your own business," Starscream spat. "Just because you can't get any with that repulsive face of yours."

Thundercracker feared the insult would egg this mech on, but the horn blaring announced the end of this fight and the victory of the beast bot was celebrated with loud shouts and jeers. The arena was cleared of opponents- except for the parts of the loser, and the excitement of the crowd rose. When the announcement of the next match was made, the crowd went wild and pushed their way forward.

Thinking quickly, Thundercracker threw his hands down and grabbed the railing and braced with all his might to protect Starscream from getting squished. Mechs pushed at his back- one even pressed hard against his wing. He let out a growl as his claustrophobia kicked in overdrive. Thundercracker just hated how close every mech was to him, invading his personal space! If it weren't for being on a date, he would have just took off, leaving the crowded mess eating his contrail dust. However, he just gritted his teeth and stayed put.

Soon enough, the two fighters immerged into the arena. The one on the left was giant, solid red in color, and was introduced as Crusher. Crusher raised his massive fists in the air and bellowed out a vicious roar, mimicking the earlier cries of the crowd.

"Wow, he's huge!" Thundercracker exclaimed and Starscream only nodded his agreement.

Megatronus was announced, and, well, talk about disappointing, Thundercracker thought to himself. While this Megatronus was no small mech, he was merely half the size of Crusher. The silver warrior gave no impressive howl to announce his presence, but rather just stood there focusing on his opponent.

"That's him?" Thundercracker questioned. "And he is the one you are rooting for?"

"Yes," Starscream replied. "He is amazing."

"He is so tiny!" Thundercracker laughed. "There is no way he'll win. Crusher will pound him into scrap metal as soon as the match starts!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Starscream said, keeping his eyes on the arena. "You'd be surprised what good things can come in small sizes."

"Yeah Screamer, you should know, shorty," Thundercracker said as he slapped the red seekers aft playfully. "I'm rooting for Crusher."

A grimace appeared on Starscream's face, but turned to joy as the match began. "Care to make a wager then, Tc?"

"Sure."

"When Megatronus wins," Starscream spoke, "And ergo I win the bet, I want you to rub my pedes."

"OK, and when Crusher rips your silver warrior to pieces," Thundercracker said and licked his lips. " I want to see you suck my spike."

Starscream snickered at his friends bold request, but agreed to it. Both watched the match eagerly, calling out their cheers for their chosen one. The blue seeker would cry out when Crusher would take a brutal hit but shouted with joy when Megatronus was tossed against the wall. Starscream just let him gloat, but remained confident in his victory.

"Slag, Stars, I am gonna win for sure!" Thundercracker claimed. His hand found its way to Starscream's wing and he began to gently stroke the plating softly. He watched the fight with enthusiasm until he was distracted by what looked to be a purple haze forming at the balcony across the arena.

Snapping his attention away from the action, he focused on a mech. While he was sure the haze was imagined, the seeker standing there looking right back at him was no hallucination. What where the chances another seeker was present here? While these matches weren't banned, no seeker really traveled to the badlands of Kaon. The black and purple seeker looked as unkept as the other mechs of this city. Even from the distance away, Thundercracker could see the seekers wings where a bit tattered and his frame looked very thin. With the way the light reflected, the black and purple seeker's frame had to be dented up badly.

However, his staring was interrupted by Starscream throwing his hands in the air and shouting wildly. The whole arena was in an uproar and the pushing had started back up again. When Thundercracker looked back in the arena, he was shocked to see Megatronus standing over the defeated Crusher. In fact, he was rather awe struck.

"What?" Thundercracker whined.

"Guess I'll be getting my pedes rubbed after all." Starscream bragged.

"Wait, look up there," the blue flier said. "There's another seeker here."

"I know Tc. I saw him too." Starscream said, watching the back and purple seeker.

"I wonder why he is here."

"Probably the same reason we are, to watch the fights." Starscream replied, watching the mysterious seeker vanish into the crowd.

"Yeah, but he doesn't look so good." Thundercracker stated. "Looks beat up and not cared for."

"So?" the red and white seeker asked, and Thundercracker just shrugged. "Come on. Let's get going."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Thundercracker said. " I hate this place."

The pair of winged mechs made their way against the crowd to exit the building. This time, it was much easier then trying to get in. Thundercracker led his date through the crowd by his hand, careful to not loose him in the sea of mechs. Once they made it pact the exit doors, both immediately transformed and took to the skies. Thundercracker breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, he was out of that mess and was free in the open air and the two headed towards Vos to return home.