Right Of Succession.
Chapter Five.
"Okay, are we all ready and clear on what we are all doing?" Sam/Sparkhands asked.
"Yes, but I am confused as to why you have stated there are to be no human casualties. Why should we care about a few squishies?" asked Skywarp. Sam was about to answer when Starscream rounded on his wingbrother.
"Has your processor glitched or were you just not listening? Sparkhands was a human before he became one of us. He knows how humans think, and warned us that while the theft of fuel and supplies might provoke retaliation after a few such incidents, the killing of their own will prompt swift and severe punitive actions after the first such incident. Even after the one battle at Mission City we risk that, but to kill more on another attack will see an escalation in the military's action against us. Scare them by all means, with luck they will call upon the Autobots to help and that is when you move in as agreed, but do not harm or kill any of them! They may only be squishies, but now they know our weaknesses, they are dangerous!"
"Yes, Starscream." Said Skywarp, still looking disgruntled.
"Any more questions?" Sam/Sparkhands asked. When there was no further comment, he said "Then let's get on with this."
Starscream nodded and ordered his trine into the air. Sam motioned Soundwave to move the ground forces out, then waited for an all-clear from Starscream before switching to his sleek alien jet form and using cloud cover to disguise him as he headed for the same fuel depot that the rest of the Decepticons were headed for. Several of the ground vehicles were towing tanks and containers they could use to tow away fuel, for although it was not the primary reason for this attack, they may as well get the fuel while they could.
As those towing the fuel containers slid over by the storage tanks and yards full of drums, the others and the fliers began shooting around the area and taking low-powered shots at the tops of buildings to keep the humans from noticing the pilfering of the fuel too soon. They were careful not to fire at any place where fuel was stored or processed, but cause a certain amount of general panic amongst the humans, some of who ran screaming from the buildings. Several of these were picked up by Payload and Dropkick, who carefully kept them from running off.
Sam/Sparkhands satisfied himself by buzzing the buildings, his communications array listening for any form of communication from the humans in the base. There were a couple of pulses, and Sam did not block them, but did analyse their content. The first, Sam found, was a request for help from the American Military. Slag! This could be dangerous. He ordered those with fuel to take what they had and leave, making for the Decepticon base. Then he analysed the second transmission, which was, as he had hoped, a request for Autobot assistance.
He ordered all the ground forces, bar Dropkick and Payload, who were still guarding their human captives, to head back for the base, their task was done. He and the trine continued to buzz the depot, and as he had hoped, it was the Autobots who arrived first. The trine and Sam/Sparkhands immediately switched to a higher altitude the moment they realised the Twins were there: none of then fancied being jet-judoed.
The twins unfolded first, then Jazz and Bumblebee, followed quickly by Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Ironhide. Cliffjumper moved to mirror Bumblebee and Sam/Sparkhands suspected Mirage was somewhere about: although there was no sign of the blue and white mech, with Mirage that did not mean he wasn't there. Okay, now they could leave.
He databurst Payload and Dropkick to release their human prisoners and leave, then he and the trine headed up for the cloud cover. Once the clouds were concealing them, Skywarp winked out.
A few moments later, he received a comm. from Skywarp. Mission accomplished, Leader Sparkhands. Acknowledging Skywarp's comm. with a pleased blip, Sam/Sparkhands then commed Starscream and Thundercracker to inform them, and they all headed back to the base.
Upon his arrival, Sam/Sparkhands praised the ground forces and then checked on the fuel, pleased to find that both ground and air fuel had been secured, which would keep them going for a little longer. He allowed everybody to fill their tanks, knowing that being so sated would make them happier and more biddable. It would also serve to reinforce the results-equals-rewards mindset he was trying to steer them towards. He then took Soundwave and Starscream, his two seconds, to see to the next matter – their new guest.
He commed Skywarp to find out what cell their guest had been given, and was glad to find it was the biggest. He took a barrel of the fuel he knew the prisoner could use, for he did want to reinforce the carrot approach rather than that of the stick. Plus, he wanted something from this one, and as such needed him at optimum efficiency, which a tank full of fuel would likely contribute towards.
He signalled the door to open and stepped in, Soundwave and Starscream right behind him.
"Greetings, I hope your travel arrangements were not too uncomfortable." He said.
"Get slagged! It seems warping makes me unwell!" Ratchet spoke back sourly from where he was sat in the corner of the cell. Sam/Sparkhands noted the oily patch on the floor and realised guiltily that 'unwell' meant that Ratchet had purged his tanks.
Starscream bristled and aimed one of his arm cannons at the medic.
"You address Sparkhands with more respect, Autobot scum!" he stated. Sam/Sparkhands hurriedly pushed Starscream's arm down.
"No, Starscream, I have taken worse than that from Trent, I can take a few insults, particularly when I need this medic's help. After all, I think none of us are at our most gracious when a prisoner in the enemy camp." He said.
"What sort of help do you want?" Ratchet asked.
"I have heard it said that you treat any who are in need, regardless of faction." Sam/Sparkhands asked. "Is this true?"
"Of course it's true! Any medic worth his energon will do the same." Ratchet told him.
"We have no medic of our own." Sam/Sparkhands told him. "I want you to check my men and treat them for any injuries that you can in the field. You can start with myself and my two seconds, Air Commander Starscream and Ground Commander Soundwave. But first, you should refuel and if you need to, rest. We are not unreasonable, after all." He indicated the fuel barrel, offered the refuelling wand attached by a piece of tubing to it. Ratchet took it.
"Next time, you could just ask, you know." He said, putting the wand tip into his fuel intake valve and sighing as the fuel began to flow. "It will save you the trouble and keep my fuel where it belongs." He said.
"That is not our way." Stated Starscream.
"Then maybe that needs to change?" Sam/Sparkhands said. "After all, why risk getting shot at to get what is freely offered anyway? We can think about it, but for now, how are you?"
Ratchet removed the wand tip from his valve and handed it back.
"Half-full, feeling better and ready to start." He said.
"You don't want to fill up completely?" Sam/Sparkhands asked in surprise.
"A full tank makes me sluggish." Ratchet said. "Fuel or no, it's extra weight. I'm fine on a half tank." He turned to Soundwave and began scanning.
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Six hours later, Ratchet had scanned everyone and repaired all in need of repair.
"Thank you." Said Sam/Sparkhands. "How can I reward you?" Ratchet gave a snort of disgust.
"I'm a medic. I don't need rewarding for doing my job!" he growled.
"All the same, it was an uncomfortable experience to get here, at least. Starscream and Thundercracker will fly you almost to your base after nightfall, we cannot just let you see the way to our base, after all." Sam/Sparkhands said. "Hmm, it seems a medic's usual reward is more work."
"If you must reward me, do it by trying to avoid getting damaged too soon or too badly. And call me if anyone does!" Ratchet grumbled.
Sam/Sparkhands brought his head up.
"I have an idea." He said, bringing one hand to hover about a foot above the other. "What better gift for a medic than the gift of life?"
"You mean letting him live is his reward?" asked Starscream, but Sam/Sparkhands shook his head and shuttered his optics. Everyone went silent as blue light shone between his hands, then faded to reveal the tiny form of a small mech. Sam/Sparkhands walked forwards to place the sparkling in the astonished medic's hands. Ratchet hugged it to him as Starscream and Thundercracker moved over to wrap their arms around him securely, ready for flight.
"Thank you." said Ratchet dazedly, as the two Seekers began firing their thrusters. As they bore him off into the sky, Sam/Sparkhands turned to find Skywarp stood before him head bowed, arms out in a gesture of respect. This was unusual, shallow as the bow was, they usually gave respect of this kind to none but a higher-ranking Seeker.
"Skywarp?" Sam/Sparkhands asked in confusion.
"Sparkhands, I do not mean to be impertinent, but what would any of us be able to do to receive the reward of a sparkling of our own?" the Seeker asked, and he could see the longing in Skywarp's optics.
Surprised, for he had not realised that any of them might wish a youngling to raise, Sam/Sparkhands brought his hands back up as the blue light began to form again.
"Skywarp, I think your actions today justify such a reward." He said.