Disclaimer – "Transformers" and all related characters, events, and concepts belong to Hasbro, Takara, and any other related owners/distributors/producers. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters.

"Independence Day"
by DragonDancer5150

Chapter 4

An hour later, Wheeljack finished closing up Skywarp's access panels while Ratchet put away the last of his tools. Thundercracker had been hovering the entire time, to the point that Ratchet had to push him back more than once, threatening to have Ironhide – who was stationed at the door – physically remove him if he didn't let the medic do his job. To his credit, the looming Seeker did as told.

For his part, Wheeljack had kept his vocalizer silent and done his work, assisting his best friend as he'd done for countless vorns now. He was just thankful that Thundercracker had allowed them to knock Skywarp back out with signal suppressant. The work had promised to be painful and they didn't need the Seeker – either Seeker – reacting defensively on reflex. The choices had been to knock the flier out or restrain him. Thundercracker had refused to see his trinemate bound down by an Autobot. To be honest, Wheeljack couldn't say he blamed him.

"Well?" Thundercracker asked after a tense moment.

Ratchet threw him a glance over his shoulder. "He should regain consciousness any minute. He'd be best to take it easy for a day maybe, but he'll be fine."

Though the blue Seeker obviously tried to hide it, Wheeljack caught the look of relief that crossed his face.

Skywarp stirred just then, groaning as he shifted to sit up. "Ow . . . what happened?" He onlined his optics, which instantly went bright with alarm as they took in the room and landed on Wheeljack. He brought up an arm as its rifle whirred to life.

Wheeljack backpedaled fast, and both Ratchet and Ironhide started to close in from where they were standing, but Thundercracker was already right there, grabbing and yanking down on his arm. "'Warp, stop! You're fine. Power down, now."

Skywarp nearly wilted with relief. "TC! Where . . . where are we?" The tone of his voice and the look he threw around the room said he knew, or guessed, and hoped he was wrong.

Thundercracker drew a deep cycle of air through his vents, also turning to face the other three. "In the Autobots' Ark, in the med-bay. You were injured and needed medical attention." His stance next to the berth was a protective one, and the question that hung with the thick tension in the air was clear.

The work was done, and Skywarp would be okay. What was to be done with the two Decepticons now?

Wheeljack glanced at Ironhide, who by the scowl on his face would have one of several weapons out and ready in a sparkpulse if either Seeker so much as twitched. For himself, Wheeljack had subspaced his shoulder cannon for the surgery, but he could bring it back out fairly quickly. He sincerely hoped, however, that he didn't have to.

Ratchet merely stepped between Ironhide and Thundercracker. "If either one of you tears up my med-bay, I will take it out on your hides. Both of you." To Wheeljack's surprise, he watched Thundercracker relent – some – at the words, and Ratchet nodded, turning more fully to Ironhide. "Let Optimus know that-"

"-that Skywarp's awake." Ironhide nodded. "Already done. He's on his way."

At the words, both Seekers tensed again. Thundercracker's optics narrowed. "I was promised that we would not be taken prisoner."

"No, he promised that you wouldn't be taken prisoner," Ironhide clarified.

Thundercracker growled. "And Skywarp?"

Ratchet grunted dismissively. "Could leave right now, if he chose to. I checked his warp engines, just to be sure, and they're fine."

It was Skywarp's turn to get defensive. "Not without Thundercracker!"

"No one is going anywhere," Optimus interjected as he strode in through the door. "At least not right away."

Wheeljack admittedly relaxed at the arrival of his Prime even as he watched both Seekers go positively rigid. Skywarp scrambled off the repair berth to face the powerful mech on his own two feet, though Thundercracker had to steady him for just an instant before he managed to recover.

Thundercracker snarled. "You are a mech of your word, Optimus Prime! I do not like you and I do not agree with your views, but I do know that much about you. You gave your word of honor!"

Optimus raised a placating hand, his voice even. "And I have not broken it, Thundercracker. I just want to talk." His gaze shifted to Skywarp. "I recognize that you were not attacking us earlier, Skywarp, and I do not expect you to believe me, but I promise you that it had not been our intention to attack you either. There was an accident with the control mechanism for the fireworks while we were trying to power it down so that they didn't fire on you." Skywarp looked to Thundercracker for confirmation, and seemed to accept Optimus's explanation when the other replied with a terse nod. Optimus continued. "Why are you here? What were you after?"

Skywarp shrugged. "Just looking for some fun. We'd heard the humans would be blowing off explosives, and we wanted to see."

"You wanted to see," Thundercracker corrected with a grimace of irritation.

"Whatever. We were in the area and thought we'd come see what you guys were up to." He glanced at Wheeljack, jabbing a thumb his direction. "Wondered if your Mr. Boom was making a wreck of the place now that he had an excuse to."

Wheeljack bristled but kept his silence at a look from Optimus.

"And teleporting into the middle of our fireworks display?" the Prime wanted to know.

Thundercracker huffed, turning his grimace fully on his trinemate. "His usual idiotic impulsiveness."

"Shut up, TC." Skywarp threw the other a matching glare – though it had barely half the strength of the blue jet's – before turning back to Optimus with a shrug. "Had an idea, wanted to see if I could pull it off." He grinned. "And I did! Until that . . . malfunction of yours." He threw another look at Wheeljack.

Wheeljack stiffened again. "Listen, pal, that was not my fault! That was-"

"Wheeljack." Optimus didn't raise his voice, but the admonishment had just enough edge to it to quiet the engineer.

Wheeljack subsided with a bit of a flinch, glancing at Ironhide. The other had the grace to meet his look with one of silent apology. They could discuss what had happened later. But for now, the moment called for solidarity in the face of opponents.

"So you were . . . essentially playing with us." Optimus's tone was something of a question, but in that way that said he thought he understood the situation correctly and just wanted confirmation.

Skywarp shrugged again. "Yeah, basically. Seemed like fun at the time."

Thundercracker visibly repressed the urge to plant his face into one hand in long-suffering reaction. Instead, he focused on Optimus. "We have established that we did not come here to harm you, and you have righted the harm done to us. Now keep your word."

Optimus studied the two for a beat longer, then nodded. "Very well. This way."