Ultra Magnus & Hot Rod forced me to start writing a fic about them. *shakes fist* Anyway, managed to force the muse back in Starscream's direction to get you all another chapter. The ending's a little rough but I'm happy with the middle section. So it evens out I think.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Even if I don't reply I read & appreciate every one! :D

Chapter 8

Rumble huffed in the hallway outside of Starscream's personal quarters. This was the only place he hadn't looked yet for the flyer. He looked to the side and spotted a grate which he quickly removed and hopped inside. One of the benefits of being his size and a spy involved being able to basically get into any room on the Nemesis with little to no trouble. What was even funnier was most 'cons on the base didn't even realize that Rumble an' Frenzy could sneak in any time that they wanted.

Not that it helped him right now. Rumble growled as he looked down into the slightly-larger-than-normal quarters for the second in command. But it was still small and had no closets or private wash racks (Old Megs' was the only one with one of those...) so there was no where for a 'con to be out of sight if he was at home. Starscream wasn't in his room either, much to Rumble's annoyance. How could a bot that loud, that screechy and that annoying just disappear out of thin air? It didn't make any slagging sense!

Rumble made his way back out into the hallway. Starscream wasn't on the duty roster either so he still had to be in the Nemesis somewhere. Technically, Rumble could ask Soundwave to look for him telepathically, but Rumble's gut told him that was a bad idea. So, with few other options, Rumble resigned himself to wandering the ship in case he ran across the flighty seeker. Heck, Rumble would even be happy to run into one of Starscream's brothers because they were sure to at least know where he went!

Though, turning the corner of the hallway made Rumble think he had a better chance of finding Starscream. It was weird, but Starscream usually got along quite well with the triple-changers. Rumble wasn't sure he'd ever figure out how that worked. But, he'd be better off asking them than looking for Skywarp or Thundercracker. "Hey Blitzwing!"

The much larger bot tilted his head down to stare at the tiny minicon hailing him. Him and Astrotrain were due out in the field for space bridge guard duty. "What'cha want, squirt?" His dual-layered voice echoed slightly in the hallway. "I'm busy."

"You seen Starscream anywhere?" Rumble asked in what he hoped read 'I've got a message for him' and not 'I really want to see him right now.' "I've been lookin' for him."

"Starscream?" Blitzwing chuckled loudly before snorting. "You're out of luck."

Rumble flickered his optics to focus Blitzwing's sneer better. "Huh? What do ya' mean?"

Blitzwing nearly laughed at Rumble's look of disbelief. It was no secret Rumble'd been following around the Decepticon Second-in-Command lately. Him and Astrotrain had were having a laugh about it just the other day. "He won't be back at the base for at least a week."

"What!?" Rumble yelped.

Skywarp was happy.

Things just didn't get better than days like today: Thundercracker was feeling at his best and actually in a good mood for once. The weather outside was clear; winds optimum for flying. There wasn't a single sign of a single Autobrat in the area and the humans stayed out of this part of the desert. Skywarp's tank was full of sweet energon and the hum of engines was steady around him. The list could really go on and on. But what was the oil drizzled on an energon goodie that really topped off the day?

Starscream had set aside an entire week for nothing but learning new flight patterns with his team. The seekers were all still wondering how he had pulled off permission from Megatron, but then most of them decided they just didn't want to know. They got a free week to fly, do stunts and tag team without any actual missions or worry of being shot at. This was heaven for all of them and even Starscream looked like he was relaxed.

Skywarp was reading the datapad that had been given to him when he and Thundercracker arrived to learn his part in the formations and to take note of what Starscream and Thundercracker would be up to while they were in sync. He was smiling like an idiot, he knew. But it had just been so long since they were all together. Heck, even Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge were a few yards away with their own plans Starscream had thrown together. There was even the slightest chance that the Rainmakers would show up for a day with Shockwave's blessing later in the week. Skywarp couldn't remember the last time the entire elite seeker team was together, though he was sure it had something to do with the Aerialbots and their improved skills in the air.

It'd been ages since the Seekers had competition for the skies.

Skywarp was not only happy for the challenge, but it was forcing Starscream to play nice with his team once again. Thundercracker had called Skywarp clingy the last time he complained about Starscream not hanging out with them. The purple seeker just didn't get his friend sometime. Didn't he feel off when the whole team wasn't flying together? They were family; maybe closer even. Family members didn't have to like or tolerate each other, but they still stuck together. Which meant that 'Screamer belonged with him and Thundercracker. And maybe he could visit the other team once in a while but mostly he belonged with Skywarp and Thundercracker.

The purple flyer wondered what his chances were if he suggested they all move into a room together in the name of teamwork and coordination. Starscream was likely to shoot at him, but there was always the joy of seeing his face if he worked up the nerve to ask.

"Skywarp."

"Yeah, Thundercracker?" The teleporter looked up at his friend who was staring rather hard at his datapad. Starscream appeared to be ignoring them. "What's up?"

"Formation six." The blue seeker flipped the datapad around and pointed to Skywarp's part. "Does your personal instruction match this?"

Skywarp flipped through his own datapad and looked back at Thundercracker. It was always amazing that Starscream could do the same formation from three points of view. "I think so. Why?"

"Just checking." Thundercracker sighed and lightly hit the pad with the back of his hand. "That's going to cut it really close if we don't time it right."

Skywarp laughed and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry too much TC. Worst that happens is I get smacked by one of your thunder blasts because I'm too dumb to get out of the way."

Thundercracker did his best to glare and restrained himself from smacking Skywarp across his helm. "Then you should well aware of why I'm worried you're going to get your insides shattered."

"And that would be why we're out here practicing, now isn't it Thundercracker?" Starscream added in without missing a beat. Or bothering to look up from his own datapad. He wrote out all the moves personally and knew them by heart. But it's best to double check what was on the edge of his processor matched what was on paper. Just because he was a genius didn't mean he wasn't occasionally plagued by a typo. "I didn't design anything that I'm not positive you morons can pull off, so stop complaining."

"He's got a point TC. We've pulled timing maneuvers like this before." Skywarp nodded. "Remember some of the moves we did at the start of this war? We dropped jaws straight off their faces!"

"Yeah, on Cybertron." Thundercracker motioned with his arm. "Now we've got weather to deal with and sporadic conditions. And even you have to admit we've only had to start performing more difficult formations due to the Aerialbots showing up."

"And that's why 'Screamer made like ten formations instead of our usual three or four." Skywarp jumped to his feet. "You worry too much, Thundercracker."

"Alright, enough chit chat." Starscream straightened up from the rock he was leaning on. "Skywarp, go grab the idiots over there." He pointed behind him towards the others who had now given up on their datapads for wrestling. "We're going to start with the group maneuvers before breaking off into our individual teams."

"Okay!" Skywarp teleported from the spot leaving his trademark purple light behind him.

Thundercracker snorted when Skywarp practically appeared on top of Ramjet, knocking both Dirge and Thrust over, and turned to Starscream. "I take it your formations account for his give or take three feet teleporting?"

Starscream was holding his hand over his optics and running air through his vents slowly. It was going to be such a long week. This was the last time he bet Megatron anything. Especially when losing meant being banned from the base for a week. Who would have thought that stupid organic horse would pull ahead in the last race? At least he could save (most of) his pride by calling it a training week. Now if only he could hold onto his sanity. "As always."

"What's eatin' you Bro?" A small clang echoed in the room from where foot met aft.

"Huh? Nothing." Rumble muttered as he rubbed the spot where Frenzy kicked him. Couldn't he just be alone for a little bit? He was still upset Starscream didn't tell him he was leaving! "Just bored, I guess."

"Bored? If you were bored you'd be out makin' trouble and dragging me with you." Frenzy huffed and pointed an accusing servo. "You're sulking." Frenzy paused. "This have to do with the Seekers going off on their little vacation?"

Rumble stiffened. "Why would you say that?"

"Psh." Frenzy walked over to collapse down next to his twin. "I'm your brother. You really think you can hide stuff from me?"

"Not really." Rumble sighed.

"So. Starscream?" Frenzy paused. "I've gotta' admit. Your taste is a bit lacking, Bro."

"Don't say that!" Rumble huffed. "He's really smart and kinda' nice when he's not yelling or fighting with somebody."

"Whatever you say." Frenzy tilted his head. "Soundwave's not happy about it."

Rumble slunk down in on himself. "He knows, too, huh?"

"Duh."

"Have you, talked to him about it?" Rumble asked hesitantly. "I mean. Is he going to do something?"

"No, I haven't talked to him. But he's always glaring at Starscream and sighing at you." Frenzy muttered. "I doubt you'd noticed."

Rumble bit his lip. "I noticed."

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know, Frenz. I just, don't know."