Author's note. To make it clearer, when Ironhide asked Jazz not to target the Seeker Trine, he meant that they basically weren't to do something like go into their quarters and shoot them or anything like that.
Suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy and please review.
Sometime after speaking to Starscream, Ironhide got another call on his comm.
"Yeh?" he answered and received Jazz's voice in response.
"You ready to meet?" asked the Saboteur.
Ironhide glanced at Starscream who had spotted he was communicating and watching carefully. Ironhide sent him a reassuring smile before saying.
"Yeh, ah can meet yah just outside mah new quarters. That alright?"
"Sure," Jazz replied quietly and Ironhide could tell Jazz wasn't his usual jovial self. He probably wasn't entirely happy about the situation with Starscream but Ironhide hoped he'd get over it. "I'll be there in a few clicks."
"Right, ah'll see yah then," Ironhide replied before the connection was broken.
"That was Jazz," he said aloud to Starscream. "He wants tah meet outside mah quarters in just a few clicks."
"Right," Starscream said shortly, feigning disinterest.
"Is there anything else yah want me tah tell him?" Ironhide asked gently but Starscream just shrugged, meaning no.
"Well, ah'll just be outside and as soon as we're done, ah'll come back in," Ironhide assured him and he saw Starscream's posture relax ever so slightly.
They didn't say anything else to each other until there was a buzz at the door.
"That'll be Jazz," Ironhide stated, heading for the door while Starscream pulled his curtain across his side of the room. Clearly, he didn't want to even risk being seen by another Autobot.
Ironhide sighed; it was going to be very difficult to introduce the Seeker to the others, yet another thing they needed to work on. Opening the door, he found Jazz waiting for him with a rather serious expression.
"How's things?" Ironhide greeted as the door shut behind him with a hiss.
"Alright," Jazz sighed. "Considering this new development."
"Yeh," Ironhide said with a nod. "Ah know how hard this must be for yer."
"Do you?" Jazz questioned, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. "I'd never have thought I'd see the cycle when you were offering a con shelter. Optimus said that if we didn't accept this, you'd actually leave the Autobots."
"Well, ah hope it don't come to that," Ironhide said with a frown. "But ah made a promise Jazz and ah intend tah keep it. If yah could spend five clicks with him, yah'd see what ah mean."
"Hmm, when will I be able to see him?" Jazz questioned sardonically.
"Not yet," Ironhide stated firmly. "He can't bare tah see anyone bar meh."
"Isn't that a little convenient?" Jazz said automatically as Ironhide gave him a hard look.
"Mech was raped Jazz, only reason he lets meh near him is because ah saw it all. He ain't even seen Prahme and Ratchet yet, he can't bear facing anyone. It's not just his pride that's been hurt, he's feels worthless. So ah ain't letting anyone see him until ah find he's ready."
Jazz stared at him for a long moment before nodding.
"Alright, I get it. I have encountered raped Mechs and I do know most of them hide themselves away. And although it's a possibility, even I can't see Screamer faking a rape just to get to you."
"It weren't faked," Ironhide said, shaking his head. "Yah couldn't fake that, trust meh."
"I didn't think so," Jazz agreed. "If you hadn't witnessed the rape then maybe...but you did so I accept this isn't a trick. But I still don't like it."
"Ah know but ah have tah try and make this work," Ironhide said earnestly, vaguely wondering where all this conviction and protectiveness was coming from. Normally, he only got like this when it came to kids or humans...and humans were little more than kids in his optics.
"He has given meh some information tah help yah get in but he wants yah tah leave his Trine mates alone."
"We'll do our best," Jazz began but Ironhide said.
"Please Jazz, this is real important tah him and it'll show him he can trust yah guys. If he can trust yah, he'll open up tah yah and ya'll see he ain't a threat no more."
"Alright, I get it," Jazz conceded, holding up his hands. "We won't go near them, okay?"
"Okay," Ironhide said with a nod. "The intel sounds good, yah should be able to create a real mess there."
"We'll see," Jazz said as Ironhide sent him a data burst.
"Hmm," the saboteur and spy hummed, scrolling through the new data. "Well, it does look good, I'll give him that. We should be able to work with this although he could have given us more."
"There's a limit to what he can give yah," Ironhide explained. "Firstly, he doesn't really trust yah guys not tah destroy the whole place and also, there's Soundwave tah consider. He'll have that place wired up tight and if yah go too deep, he'll know yer there. Starscream said he didn't want tah confuse yah by giving yah too much dangerous intel."
As Jazz gave him a look, Ironhide added.
"All he wants if tah keep old Megs busy for a few cycles. Megatron ain't gonna be happy when he learns Starscream's staying here permanently, he won't be happy even if Starscream returns this instant. Surely yah can believe Starscream wants tah put Megatron's focus on something other than him?"
"I could," Jazz admitted with a nod. "Alright Hide, we'll give this our best shot and bring back what we can...you do know any weapons or plans will have to be turned over to Prime and the science department?"
"Ah understand," Ironhide said with a nod. "Just as long as they're kept safe."
This made Jazz chuckle sardonically before saying.
"I wouldn't worry about that, Hide, Perceptor and Wheeljack will want to make sure everything's copied down and kept safe."
"What about Skyfire?" Ironhide questioned, knowing the large Shuttle was also a scientist and well aware of weapons.
But Jazz was shaking his heads.
"He prefers to stay away from that side of things Hide. He might be an Autobot in name but he's a neutral at Spark. He's happy to help us with taxiing and protecting this planet and its inhabitants but he's not so keen on regularly confronting the Decepticons offensively. It's defensive all the way for him."
"Mech's fresh," Ironhide sighed. "He ain't been in this war long enough tah put aside his inner nature tah really fight. Unless this War ends, he'll become like us soon enough."
Jazz smiled grimly, they all become one of the same make after a few solar cycles of relentless fighting that wasn't going anywhere. Skyfire was certainly a novelty, his newest memories were of a thriving Cybertron, bursting with life and filled with Mechs, Femmes, Younglings and Sparklings. He knew nothing of the decay that had gripped Cybertron, the destruction of everything they'd ever known and the never ending violence and half rations. One thing Ironhide knew that Optimus had requested of the Shuttle, to record everything he'd known of Cybertron.
With many memories dimming of what life on Cybertron had been, Skyfire could provide valuable information of the past so that the future could remember. The Shuttle had agreed, rather depressed by his task but he would record everything he could recall. It wasn't just general life; there were also recipes, old trade routes, literature and many more. The subject might be rather depressing but there was much they could do with it that would produce a lot of good.
"I wonder," Jazz considered, glancing at the closed door. "Didn't he used to be partners with Screamer?"
"Yeh, ah think he did," Ironhide agreed, also glancing back. "Ah'm hoping that Skyfire might be one he'd be willing tah see and interact with. Be useful since Skyfire's a flier, he can protect Starscream better than me in thah air."
"That's true but I believe Screamer shot at him," Jazz pointed out. "Think Skyfire will be willing to overlook that?"
"Ah think so," Ironhide said. "He was real disappointed at being separated from Starscream, if he knows Starscream's here, ah think he'll come. But we'll see."
"Yeah," Jazz agreed before pushing himself off the wall. "I'd better head off then and debrief Mirage and Blaster. We'll be going in tonight when the Cons have powered down."
Ironhide smiled, it was a stroke of luck that the Decepticons had developed similar recharge patterns to them and the humans. They could easily go without several cycles of recharge but regular recharge was the best for keeping their systems at maximum capacity and in a war, this was vital. Even Mechs like Megatron needed to power down at some point, no matter how bloodthirsty or crazy they might be.
"Good luck Mech," he told Jazz, gripping his shoulder briefly. "Ya'll tackled worse."
"Be a walk in the park," Jazz laughed his old good natured self coming through. "Be seeing yah."
Ironhide nodded and waited until Jazz was out of sight before he went back into his quarters. Almost as soon as the door was closed and locked, Starscream was upon him.
"Where have you been...where did you go?" the Seeker demanded, clinging tightly to Ironhide's armour, feet pressed on Ironhide's tank area as he held tightly onto the red Mech's shoulders.
"Ah been just outside like ah said," Ironhide responded calmly, as his weapons systems powered down. Starscream was lucky about how Ironhide felt about him or he might have produced a weapon when the Seeker pounced. "Ah'm sorry if I kept yah waiting..."
"You've been gone for ages," the Seeker declared dramatically, still not letting go. "I thought you'd gone off and left me."
"Ah would never leave yah," Ironhide said firmly, awkwardly stepping away from the door. "But ah had a lot of things tah discuss with Jazz that ah couldn't rush."
"Well...you still should have been more considerate," Starscream chastised as he finally let go of Ironhide and stood with a pout on his face.
"Would yah rather ah invite Jazz in next time?" Ironhide questioned, causing Starscream to scowl.
"Now you're being stupid," Starscream muttered, turning away.
"Starscream," Ironhide said, gathering his patience. "Ah have tah see Mechs face tah face sometimes and if yah don't want them in here, then ah need tah go out there."
"But I want you to stay here," Starscream whined, almost stamping his foot in frustration.
"Now Starscream," the red Mech stated sternly. "We can't just hideaway here all the time, ah gotta get out sometimes and yer gonna have to get out at some point."
"No!" Starscream protested shrilly. "I'm not going out ever again; I will not have anyone laughing at me for letting Megatron..."
He choked, unable to finish that sentence.
"Anyway, I won't do it and you can't make me," he said defiantly as Ironhide gave him a sceptical look.
"Ah might not know much about fliers but ah do know yah can't lock yerself in a room forever. Eventually ya'll have tah get out and fly."
Starscream's lip trembled before he burst out hysterically.
"Slagger, I hate you!"
And with that, he rushed to his side of the room, throwing the curtain across before Ironhide heard him dashing into the washroom. He sighed heavily before rubbing his hand across his face; he never knew looking after someone could be so difficult. Was this what it was like to be a Creator? Ironhide was used to protecting others, he'd been a bodyguard his entire adult life and had trained long before that. However, while he'd been assigned bots who'd barely achieved their final upgrade and where very unsure of themselves, he'd never been given any Younglings to look after.
Starscream was an adult Mech but right now, he was very much acting like a child. Ironhide was unsure how to deal with him although he knew a lot of patience was required. But if Starscream insisted on throwing tantrums, how was he supposed to act. He didn't want to yell at the Seeker and risk scaring him but he didn't really know what else to do.
"Ratchet?" he called over the comm. after connecting to the Medic's channel. "I need some advice."
"On Starscream?" came the Medic's dry reply and Ironhide bit back a chuckle.
"Yeah, it's about him," he confirmed. "Ah was outside with Jazz and Starscream didn't react well tah meh taking a little while. He doesn't want meh leaving; in fact, he doesn't want either of us leaving this room ever. He screamed at meh when ah pointed out we had to go out sometime before locking himself in the washroom."
"So he's acting like a Youngling?" Ratchet questioned to which Ironhide said. "Basically yeh."
"Well, that's not unusual," Ratchet commented upon. "Regression's a common symptom of abuse and so wanting to lock yourself away from the rest of the world. With you and that room, he's created a safe cocoon for himself; it's going to be hard to get him to come out of that. It's too early to try to force him out yet but you will have to at some point. If he depends too much on that cocoon, he'll end up crippled. You need to get him used to the idea of going out and once you do get him out, just take baby steps, increasing the distance he's from that room and the amount of time he spends away with it."
"Right," Ironhide responded, committing that information to his memory banks. "Anything else?"
"Just remember to stay calm when dealing with him," the Medic advised. "I know it'll get tempting but don't yell at him or make any threatening moves. Especially do not physically punish or restrain him in any way unless he's a danger to himself or others. If he's really acting up, just ignore him until he speaks calmly to you, you don't want to be encouraging juvenile behaviour."
"Ah got it," Ironhide said gratefully. "Thanks Ratchet, that's a real help."
"No problem, let me know if there's anything else you need," Ratchet said before disconnecting.
Ironhide glanced at the washroom door, by the sounds of it, Starscream was indulging in another shower. Well, if it helped calm down the hysterical Seeker then he was all for it although he hoped Starscream didn't spend too much time in the washroom. Well, there was no immediate rush but they'd have to get out soon or they'd both be suffering from cabin fever. Ah well, baby steps...baby steps..."
He spent the next hour watching TV, starting to wonder how much of this he could tolerate watching. Finally, Starscream emerged looking dazzlingly clean and pristine. The Seeker strutted over to his berth and flopped down, grabbing a data pad as he did so. Ironhide cleared his throat and as the Seeker shot him an irritated look, said.
"Starscream would you be willing to meet some bots?"
"I've already met them," Starscream said contemptuously "Unless you have somehow managed to spirit some new recruits to this mud ball of a planet."
"Ah was thinking ya'll could meet some of my comrades on a friendlier basis."
"Like who?" Starscream sneered.
"Well," Ironhide said, wondering how on Cybertron could he say this delicately. "There's Bumblebee, he's a good kid."
"Why would I want to spend time with a brat," Starscream scoffed. "He hangs around with squishes; he probably will do nothing but regale us with tales of his pet humans."
"Alright, what about one of the Airealbots?" Ironhide now suggested.
"Those Sparklings, hah!" was Starscream's retort. "I have no time for them."
Ironhide bit back a retort about how Starscream currently had all the time in the world. Instead, he said.
"Alright then, what about one of the science bots like Wheeljack?"
"Amateur," Starscream said with a superior sniff. "He blows things up like a first year student."
"Perceptor then, he never blows things up," Ironhide tried.
"I have already been forced to deal with Shockwave and Soundwave, two of the dullest Mechs there is," Starscrean sneered. "I have no interest in encountering the Autobot variety."
Ironhide hid a smile; Perceptor could be rather...dry at times. A good Mech and a brilliant scientist but a rather dry bot especially as he often used ridiculously long words which tended to confuse others. Ironhide figured that Starscream was probably one of the few who could understand everything Perceptor said, and not just the meaning of certain words. However, it seemed Starscream wasn't in a mood to tolerate the other Mech so that left Ironhide with only one choice.
Well, he could mention Hound or Beachcomber but doubted Starscream would be keen to meet them either.
"Alright," he said, not sure how Starscream would take this. "What about...Skyfire?"
Instantly, the Seeker froze and a rather haunted look appeared on his face. There was silence before he shook his head, trembling slightly.
"Look," Ironhide said earnestly. "Ah know yah didn't part on the best of terms but ah know he misses yah. From what ah've seen, he's what tha humans call a gentle soul and ah think he'll only be happy yer away from that monster."
Starscream shook his head, trembling slightly.
"How do you expect me to face him?" he demanded unhappily. "He saw Megatron for what he was; he was able to get away from him. He'll pity me; he'll turn against me again..."
"He won't," Ironhide assured him. "He couldn't hack it as a Con, yah know he couldn't. He can barely fight as an Autobot, he's more like an ally than anything else."
Starscream shook his head again as he suddenly got off his berth and started to pace furiously about. Ironhide watched him for a few moments before saying.
"Ah know yah said Seeker culture looks...down on a Mech in your position but Skyfire's a Shuttle. Is that different?"
"...Yes," Starscream said shortly. "They can be powerful Mechs but their primary function is to safely transport others and their goods. Most have an innate sense of caring towards their fellow bots but...Skyfire takes this to extremes even for a Shuttle."
"See," Ironhide said, very glad that Shuttle culture was different from Seeker culture. "If he's even more caring than most, he ain't gonna turn against yah. Give him a chance, yah don't even have tah see him, yah can just speak with him."
"Over a comm?" Starscream questioned and Ironhide said.
"Well, ah was thinking he could come here and stay in mah section of the room. Ya'll can be behind yer curtain, safe and sound. Ah'd be here tah make sure nothing happened, yah wouldn't even have tah face him."
Starscream was still pacing furiously, while biting his lip at the same time. He was clearly indecisive about what he should do although Ironhide was glad he wasn't outright refusing the suggestion.
"Yah don't have tah rush into anything," he assured the agitated Seeker. "But if this worked, ah'm sure he could visit regularly, wouldn't that be good?"
"I...suppose it would be," Starscream said uncertainly before coming to a decision. "Fine...do what you want, I don't care."
"Thanks," Ironhide said with a smile as Starscream went over to his berth and flopped down. "Ah'll just give him a call."
Author's note. Skyfire visits in the next chapter but how does that go? And what about Jazz's mission? Find out next time, until then.