And now to something completely different... but I am solving one of the mysteries here in.

Interlude IV

"Hook said he wants Skywarp on light duty for the next two orns," Starscream said. "Thundercracker is still out of it, but will be fit for duty as soon as he wakes."

Megatron waggled the stylus he was holding. No doubt this delayed one of his many schemes. "Very well. I'll have Soundwave's cassettes inspect this new defense grid. Dismissed." He picked up a datapad from his desk.

But. "Megatron?" Starscream tested.

"I'm awaiting a communication from Shockwave, Commander. I have very little time to indulge your pathetic insecurities tonight."

"Sir." Starscream snapped a salute and stalked out of his leader's office.

Insecurities, hah. Both of Starscream's trinemates were in medbay, a novelty in itself, so what if he didn't want to recharge in an empty room tonight? He didn't need comforting, they were going to be alright, after all. Just. Maybe a sign that this relationship was more than a way to fulfill Megatron's needs.

That hope was futile, as their fearless leader had just proved again. Starscream had considered calling it off more than once, but in the end, he didn't dare.

He squared his shoulders and made his way to Hook's medbay. Outside, a heap of green Seeker sat against the wall, knees drawn up and hugging them tightly. Paying his commander no notice whatsoever.

Starscream considered him. This had to be Wingstun, going by the auburn decal and the facemask. That mech had been crushing on Starscream something fierce ever since he'd arrived on base. It was weird to be ignored by him for once.

Deciding not to yell at the other yet, Starscream entered Hook's lair.

TC was still sleeping off the surgery; Skywarp was awake, bored, and not allowed to move until his left thruster was fully reconstructed. Starscream gave him a datapad with two vids on it, so he wouldn't bother the medics too much.

Before he left, Starscream waylaid Scavenger. "What's with the kid sitting in the hallway?"

"He still there?"

"Yes. Care to explain why he's behaving so unbecoming of a warrior?"

"Alacrity is dead, and it looks pretty bad for their third, too."

Arclight? That would explain things. "So why don't you let the kid sit with him?"

"Evidence says the Double A were bonded." Scavenger made a face. "And I bet you Wingstun knew."

Disciplinary measure, then.

"Besides, it's gonna take Arclight two, three orns to die, at least. Can't have the little slagger moping around here all the time."

"Of course. I'll talk to Wingstun, so we can turn off Arclight's fuel pump." No point in prolonging the inevitable.

Scavenger fidgeted. They'd probably considered it, but it didn't look too good on reports. Yet in the end, he pointed Starscream to the small isolation ward and bustled off, obviously not wanting any more part in this.

Starscream wandered outside and crouched in front of Wingstun. "Trine leader?"

The light behind the visor went out, then returned. "Sir!"

Starscream gave him room as he scrambled to his feet.

"Please forgive the infraction, sir."

"At ease. I've talked to Scavenger. I believe you now understand the rule about not having a bonded pair in a trine, do you?"

Wingstun looked at the floor, obviously too ashamed to make optic contact.

Starscream put a hand on the kid's forearm. "We have a decision to make. Right now, Arclight will be in agony because he's missing his bondmate. We can let things run their course, and his spark will dissipate on its own in a few orns. Or we disconnect his fuel pump and spare you both the waiting. Provided he agrees. But he'll have to know you support him in whatever he decides."

After a while, Wingstun sighed and nodded.

"Talk to Arclight, hmm? I'll take you to him."

It was difficult to rouse the dying mech to wakefulness, but once it was accomplished, Starscream left to let them discuss things in peace.

Eventually, the door opened and Wingstun peeked out. "Commander? He'd like to talk to you."

Right. Well, there was nothing for it now. Starscream went inside and sat on the berth to take Arclight's very cold hand.

"Commander," Arclight rasped. "I'm sorry I failed you."

Of course the fragging moron had failed, not only his commander, but his trine, too. Starscream offered a tight smile. "Apology accepted, soldier," he lied.

Arclight smiled in return and shuttered his optics.

The spark monitor's display changed to signal Arclight was in deep recharge. Wise medic had obviously decided to mute it, otherwise it would have blipped an alarm the entire time.

In the background, Wingstun's ventilation hitched in a sob.

"He agreed?" Starscream mouthed.

Wingstun nodded.

"Well. Sit with him."

Starscream moved to let Wingstun take his place. The kid gently lifted the limp hand and pressed it to his lips, rocking back and forth.

Trying and failing to imagine himself in the same place, Starscream went about removing the armor plates in Arclight's side that were protecting the pump. He then rifled through the cabinet in the ward, finding clamps, and applied them to Arclight's outgoing fuel lines.

Sensing the rising pressure, the pump stopped after a little while, and the sudden absence of its little sounds was screaming a silence that not even the hectic alarm of the pump monitor was able to fill.

Wingstun didn't seem to hear either, but Starscream had to switch off the monitor.

The spark monitor switched its yellow flashing diode to orange, and nearly half a joor later, it turned to red.

Arclight heaved a sigh and looked almost happy.

The little graph on the monitor's screen flatlined.

Starscream removed the clamps and reattached the armor.

The shell started pinging as it cooled down, and still Wingstun held on to that hand.

Another half a joor later, and Scavenger opened the door and threw Starscream a questioning glance.

Starscream nodded.

"Commander? Trine leader? We need this ward for an emergency."

Wingstun shook his head.

"Kid." Starscream put a steadying hand on Wingstun's back and went to extract Arclight's icy cool fingers from the kid's grip with the other. "Let them prepare him for the wake."

Suddenly, Starscream had his arms full of fellow Seeker, hiding his face in his shoulder. How old was he again? Too young to remember much before the war. And too young to be an effective trine leader, obviously.

"Get a grip, soldier. You can have TC's bunk for the night, but pull yourself together until we are there."

Wingstun did, and didn't even break down as they reached Starscream's quarters. He accepted some energon, and they simply sipped, sitting on TC's berth. Behind that mask lurked an oddly soft face.

"Why didn't you report them?" Starscream asked eventually.

Wingstun stared at his now empty cube. "There's nothing more important than the trine," he slightly misquoted the Seeker oath.

"There's nothing more important than your own sanity. They were bonded, they could have stood a rearrangement," which would have put them in separate trines.

"They begged me not to. Stupid. Should have made them." Wingstun's ventilation hitched, and he shook his head, as if that would keep the crying at bay.

Starscream reached out to pet his arm. He'd never been very good at this.

Wingstun, however, took it as an invitation for another hug, and Starscream caressed his helm until the shaking died down.

Eventually, Wingstun mumbled something and kissed Starscream's shoulder vent.

"Excuse me?"

Wingstun looked up at him. "Make it go away."

A thousand objections tumbled through Starscream's processor, and he grabbed the nearest. "It'll be only temporary."

"I know." Another kiss, teasing lightly.

They really shouldn't even consider this. But TC and Warp wouldn't blab, and no one would be the wiser.

Famous last words... One more long chapter plus an epilogue to go now, folks.