Yes. I did end this chapter where I ended it. You are now hearing copious amounts of evil laughter as thanks for reading, reviewing (over 100!! For Rumble x Starscream! Who would'a thunk it?) & generally be awesome.

Chapter 13

Thundercracker had always danced with the idea of defecting to the Autobots. It wasn't a secret, really, considering he'd always fairly disapproved of some of his side's less honorable tendencies. Most of the time he could brush it under the rug and just accept the choice he made all those years ago to 'just do and stop thinking' as Skywarp suggested. However, upon realizing his latest assignment to furthering the great Decepticon cause was to follow around his Air Commander and figure out who he was fragging like some freaking fleshy soap opera – defecting was seeming like a perfectly valid option.

At least Autobots just watched soap operas; Thundercracker was living one.

The blue seeker wondered if Megatron was bored. That was the only explanation for getting involved in this. Thundercracker doubted jealousy was a factor considering he'd never had a problem with Starscream getting around before. Besides, if Megatron wanted to interface with Starscream he'd just do it – it's not like the Air Commander would say no. Not to mention they really hadn't attacked the Autobots recently and he didn't think that Hoover Dam thing in the works counted so maybe it really was just boredom. Boredom always was to blame for Thundercracker's troubles.

"Did you need something?"

Thundercracker jerked at the scratchy voice staring at him, optics annoyed. Apparently he had been standing in the door of Starscream's lab for a bit longer than he realized. His commander appeared to be cleaning his weapons instead of tinkering with science for once. Which meant he was in a bad mood. Thundercracker noted a dent just under his cockpit and realized that maybe this really was just another skiff between Megatron and Starscream. "Just wanted to know if the Hover Dam attack had been mapped out, yet."

"No, not yet." Starscream huffed and turned back to his null ray. At least one of his teammates could concentrate on work once in a while. Thundercracker was sensible that way. "Our glorious leader is still reviewing the data we collected on patrol."

"Ah, alright." Thundercracker continued staring. How the frag was he going to breech this question without making the mood worse? "So, we've got time on our hands then?"

"I suppose." Starscream answered slowly; Thundercracker was close to fidgeting. Starscream wondered if the list of 'cons who wanted something from him would ever end? He couldn't help the slight whine of annoyance in his vocalizer when he answered. "Was there something you were hoping to ask permission for?"

Think! Thundercracker was screaming at himself. He needed an excuse to be around Starscream more often and see who he was acting different around. Tell tale signs he was messing around with more than his mates. His wing mates. That was it! "I was hoping the three of us could go out flying?"

Starscream stared. "Flying?"

"To relieve stress?" Thundercracker attempted and took a precautious step back. "I mean, the three of us have been so busy I think it'd be good to get out and just let loose without training or missions in the way. And you know how Skywarp likes to taunt other jets."

Starscream snorted; more team building. No wonder Thundercracker was acting odd – Skywarp probably bullied him into dragging Starscream out with them. Well, Starscream had his own plans for his free time that involved a little pay back on a certain pipsqueak. "You two go have fun. I have my own ways of relieving stress, thank-you."

It was Thundercracker's turn to stare. That smug tone of voice, the little lift of his wings from the back and that smirk. It could not possibly be this easy. "Oh really? With who?"

"That," Starscream paused and clicked a panel back into place on his weapon having fully cleaned out the inside. He was now proud to say his Null Ray was dirt free and operating at full capacity. Starscream smirked at his now curious, team mate and couldn't help the teasing. "Is a secret."

"Well it certainly isn't me or 'Warp." Thundercracker pushed and tried to think of other mechs Starscream occasionally hung out with that could act as potentials. "What, you running around with the triple changers finally?"

"Those idiots? Of course not." Starscream started to laugh and replace the weapon on his arm. Thundercracker was full out frowning now. It was funny enough that Starscream was starting to loose the grip on his foul, motivating, mood. "You can't possibly be jealous?" Starscream stopped and looked up. "Or perhaps you're being jealous on behalf of someone else?"

"Never mind." Thundercracker looked towards the ceiling. This was going no where fast and he did not want to bring Skywarp into the discussion. "I'll see you at the raid."

Starscream gave a little wave, happy to know he was no longer going to be annoyed by an awkward team mate and Thundercracker sighed to himself as he stepped out into the hallway. That had been a disaster; he must have been crazy to just ask directly – even with such an opportune opening. The blue flyer straightened and headed down the hallway. Maybe he could get Buzzsaw to spy for him.

Thundercracker moaned into his energon cube with no motivation to actually drink the fuel. Soundwave had apparently found out about Megatron's orders (no surprise; stupid telepaths…) and refused to allow Thundercracker access to his cassettes. Frenzy had whispered something to him about Rumble playing hooky and the blue Seeker wisely removed himself from the communications officer's presence. Fast enough he could have given Skywarp's teleporting a run for its money, really. And speaking of his clingy brother…

"Spill it, TC." Skywarp demanded, face inches from his friend's. Thundercracker was hiding something and unlike his dear commander, Skywarp was free to pester him for answers. He pushed the cube of energon aside and poked a yellow cockpit with his servo. "What's up?"

"Nothing." A quick, short response. Thundercracker pushed himself back from his nosy friend and tried to escape their shared quarters. He was better at hiding his little issues than this. Skywarp should not have noticed. Thundercracker wondered if there was a free position open in the Autobots once again. That couldn't be a healthy line of thought. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine." Skywarp stressed. Thundercracker had been jittery and stressed and pulling the same disappearing acts as Starscream. But more importantly, when he was around, TC was sighing like ten times more than usual and Skywarp wanted some answers! "You've been acting weird since you were summoned to Megatron's quarters so I want to know what happened in there now!"

Thundercracker nearly growled and decided to go for a half-truth and hopefully steer Skywarp away from a possibly upsetting assignment. Starscream ditching them for work and his lab was tolerable. Ditching for someone else's company, not so much as of late. "Nothing happened. Our leader had a question about Starscream. I answered, it's done."

"What question?" Skywarp pressed face trying to follow with TC's as he looked away.

Thundercracker stalled for a slight second. "I don't even remember, it wasn't important. Standard Megatron and Starscream bickering like usual." Thundercracker shrugged and watched as Skywarp narrowed his optics before latching onto his arm. "Hey! What are you-"

A flash of purple found Thundercracker outside of the ship and into the water surrounding their home base. Skywarp smirked when his friend sucked in a throat full of said water and teleported again this time hovering over the green waves. He held Thundercracker's arms tight behind his back as the water dripped off his surface and purged from his insides. "What was the question, TC?"

"Are you insane!?" Thundercracker shrieked as soon as his throat was clear of water and fought to release his arms. "Let me go right-" He was interrupted yet again by a mouthful of freezing water instantly, familiar purple glow still in his eyesight. The air greeted him again just as instantly. Skywarp was dunking him in the water! "What is this!? Water torture teleporting style!?"

"Needs a different name, but yes." Skywarp growled and listened to his teleporter whine in his internals. A soft humming ready for multiple use. "I don't like it when you keep secrets! Now what's bothering you!"

"You!" Thundercracker freed and arm and elbowed the overreacting seeker knowing he left a dent. Suddenly free, he activated his thrusters and shoved at Skywarp. "What is your deal!?"

"My deal!?" Skywarp snarled right back and shoved Thundercracker back a foot. "Starscream can't be found anywhere now that he's back from our trip and now you're keeping secrets and lying to me! We had a great week together and now it seems like we all took twenty paces backwards! That's what my deal is!"

"Where did all this come from!?" Thundercracker groaned and felt his processor begin to ache. Maybe Skywarp was glitching or hit his head on something teleporting. This was getting ridiculous. "Starscream hasn't changed at all! This is nothing new Skywarp and it's never bothered you before! He's been pulling this frag since Cybertron! What has got you so worked up all of a sudden!?"

"I don't know!" Skywarp yelled out finally and dropped his arms at his sides. "I just, I just get this feeling that something's different this time and I don't like it. I, Decepticons don't do the whole teamwork thing but we've still got teams! How am I supposed to stand up to the triple changers or the Incecticons or Soundwave's freaking cassettes or any of the combiner teams or anybody else all by myself!? We're the Seekers! A team!"

"You're not by yourself, Skywarp." Thundercracker sighed and put a hand to his head wondering how to handle this situation. Maybe he should have just told him what was going on in the first place. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah, TC?" Skywarp snarled. "For how long?"

Thundercracker jerked when Skywarp teleported away, the anger on his face still recognizable even in that tiny instant. It really just was not his week.

Rumble was avoiding Soundwave. Not unusual considering what had happened a few days ago, but it was still noticeable. He had ducked and weaved through corridors and had Frenzy playing look-out when he went to recharge. The cassette figured he had one more day before Soundwave started to really take issue with his absence so he should make it count. Rumble couldn't help the grin on his face as he headed towards the back lab. After his performance last time there was no way Starscream wouldn't be up for another go.

Rumble pushed into the lab with a slight smile and noticed the lights were off. The cassette straightened and took the few steps into the room before the door shut behind him. Huh. The cassette wondered where 'Screamer had disappeared. He was always in his lab when he was avoiding the troops. Everything appeared to be in the right place, so the cassette went ahead and called out to make sure the flyer wasn't there taking a quick recharge or something. "Hey! 'Screamer! You in here hidin'?"

"Don't call me that."

Rumble felt the electric charge flood all of his circuits simultaneously before he found himself on his back twitching, slightly. His entire little body felt like it was on fire and it hurt to pump fuel. Rumble couldn't move. Not even a servo. A pair of blue peds entered his vision and Rumble winced as he followed them up a familiar, sleek red and white body. Null Ray to the back. Didn't see that comin'… "Name fits 'ya so well, though."

Starscream scoffed and kicked Rumble's ped lightly as the cassette laid out sprawled before him. So cute and defenseless on the ground; just where Starscream wanted him. Alone in the lab, door now firmly locked via remote, Starscream had all the time in the world to take advantage. "You're hardly in a position to be talking back at the moment."

The cassette didn't want to admit he was feeling nervous; but Rumble was feeling nervous. Starscream was full out glaring and his optics were glowing quite menacingly in the still very dark room. Yeah, the cassette was feeling nervous. Rumble fought the urge to contact Soundwave via his internal comm. "So," he swallowed. "What's with the uh, paralysis?"

"To keep you put for your punishment." Starscream smirked. Null ray at the lowest setting. Perfect for keeping a slippery little cassette in place. Any higher of a setting and he would have shorted the squirt out. "You didn't think you were going to get away with it did you?"

"Uh…" Rumble trailed off. Something wasn't quite clicking into place. Starscream had been in such a good mood last time they met. Now he looked ready to murder something. What had happened in between to ruin that high? Rumble managed to get the question that was bothering him most out, however. "Get away with what?"

"Your little assault a few days ago." Starscream growled, teeth showing in the snarl. Starscream crossed his arms and placed a ped on Rumble's chest and dug his heel in. "Don't tell me you've forgotten me already?"

"What!?" Rumble yelped at the sudden pressure on his chest. Apparently paralysis didn't stop you from feeling outside influences. Rumble was really fighting the urge to call Soundwave. Especially with Starscream leering down at him like he wanted to dissect him. "You were totally into that! You left the room with a bigger after glow than I had!"

"That hardly matters." Starscream let a small smile fall on his face as Rumble's grew more horrified. "Skills in the berth aside, after I calmed down I had time to think things through and I came to the conclusion you need to be put in your place, Rumble. At the end of the cycle, you still attacked a superior officer quite violently in his personal quarters." He leant over the now slightly shaking cassette, the glow from his optics lighting up Rumble's face. Starscream was well aware his face was murderous. "And you left a dent."

"Ah frag." Rumble had a feeling crushing on a bipolar psychotic seeker wasn't his best idea.