Chapter 96

-0-Autobot HQ, Autobot City, Mars

They walked outside, a couple of groups leaving for pre-arranged locations as Prime, Springer and Prowl watched. Walking toward the gates, Prime and Springer transformed as Prowl watched them go. When they'd disappeared into the distance, Prowl walked back to Ops Center to coordinate their defense.

-0-Thundercracker

He flew at top speed toward the heavily defended solar system that contained the solution to their predicament.

Or not.

Thundercracker had few illusions about what might take place but short of putting Starscream down there was nothing more he could do. None of the Seekers had any sway among the rank and file but Starscream. He did because he was Megatron's universally acknowledged personally chosen second-in-command. He was the acknowledged heir apparent because Megatron made it so. That Megatron wasn't here didn't matter. His hold over his faction transcended death or disappearance.

They still gave their allegiance to him no matter who stood at the helm of their faction. Starscream didn't have a chance if they turned on him. And given the Decepticon rule that only the strong could lead and they had to fight to keep their roles, it would be almost instantaneous, the challenge and dispatch to the Matrix of the big ailing Seeker. That his trine would have to fight, too, was assured by their cultural and factional rules. It would only be a matter of time before they were all dead.

Starscream had endured everything to reach the pinnacle of power and now that he had it he was slipping away in his processor, as if the achievement was the last possible blow in an endless parade of hurts to heavy to bear. The obsession with Prime was the last stop on the route to disaster that had been building since before the Fallen had been destroyed.

Megatron abused Starscream more than any other Decepticon. Starscream was the only mech in the Decepticons who had no fear of Megatron. He had to manage his behavior half the time to prevent the mercurial dictator from exploding but it was tactical. The beatings he took for Seekerkin or because Megatron refused to bear his own responsibility had become his badge of honor and added to his ferocious legend among the troops.

Many, if not most of the rank-and-file Decepticons feared Starscream almost as much as Megatron. Granted, Starscream had provoked half of the beatings he got, needling and pushing the big unstable dictator. He couldn't help it. Megatron was his obsession then. Prime was his obsession now.

It was as if Starscream needed something to hate, to torment and especially to torment him. Maybe the endless vorns, the endless eons of adversity with Megatron had finally caught up to him. Maybe Megatron had finally broken him at last. He wasn't here. No one knew where Megatron had gone. But he might as well be with them casting grief and fear with every glance, sharp word and physical blow.

Thundercracker shifted into a flight pattern that would put him past Saturn to use the gravitational well of that planet to push him toward Mars and the Autobots. No sense using more fuel than he needed to get where he was going.

It was all so sad, lonely and intensely worrying. Starscream wouldn't ever get the chance to be the leader of their faction on his own capable hook. All the sorrows, abuse, fear, and loathing, all the magnificently brave taunting and pointed goading had come to nothing. All his personal bravery, his unbelievably reckless gall and dubious risk taking were for nothing. If the grounders, the others like Shockwave had any idea of how diminished he was they would kill him on the spot. Then the Seekers would be slaughtered to the last one just to make sure that they wouldn't be an issue again.

Shockwave had no hesitation about doing what he decided must be done. He was halfway up Megatron's aft and had no spark nor conscience to most optics. What he did have was a coldly scientific mind and a burning ambition for power and leadership. There was nothing he wouldn't do to gain both.

They were all at risk.

Starscream was at risk but he didn't even know it. They had almost no place to go but to the Autobots because Megatron would hunt them to the ends of the universe. Prime was it but even that wasn't assured. A lot of suffering and hatred stood between the two sides, a chasm of energon and tears so vast that it might not be possible to traverse.

Thundercracker had no hope as he flew but he knew he had to try.

-0-At the meeting place

Prime and Springer sat on an outcropping of rocks and looked at the sky. It was a pale orange hue due to the sand content blowing through the world on winds that came and went with the seasons. Somewhere in the well between Mars and Jupiter, a lone Seeker was flying toward them. They were kept abreast of the situation by Prowl's updates.

Behind them and on all sides were squads of Autobots parked, awaiting the word to come forward. In the air making orbits around the planet were the Aerialbots flying in loose patterns, none of them more than nanokliks from the scene.

All of them waited.

-0-Thundercracker

He came into the upper atmosphere of Mars, his sensors reading the location of the Prime. He felt fear and despair pulse through him, his pride lying in tatters as he slowed his descent in a cautious arc toward the Prime. He was met with two Aerialbots, weapons online and sensors locked onto him. They flew alongside Thundercracker escorting him downward, then landed, rolling to a stop to transform.

Thundercracker, his colors covered in the gray paint that the Fallen had apparently preferred from the 'good old days' turned toward them, looking at them without any reaction on his handsome face.

Silverbolt taking the initiative stepped forward. "Thundercracker, offline your weapons or you can't go further."

Thundercracker nodded and complied as the Aerialbots scanned to confirm the actions, Together with the Aerialbots surrounding him, they walked toward Prime and Springer who sat nearby watching them approach.

Prime watched the Seeker, a proud elite member of the Decepticons walk toward him, every step heavy and weary. He looked worn and even though he tried to hold up his head he was clearly stressed and tired. His colors were missing, the blue and white that he'd worn every other time he'd seen Thundercracker was gone. It was true then. The Fallen required them to submit even down to the color of their chassis. It was sad and it was maddening. But it was also an opportunity and he was determined to take it if there was any chance for peace.

They reached the two and stopped. Thundercracker's expression was schooled to a neutrality that was admirable.

Prime waited a moment, then arose to walk toward the huge Seeker. He paused before the solemn faced powerful mech as Springer joined him. Prime watched the Seeker stare at the Wrecker, his thoughts his own. "Thundercracker, you asked to speak."

The Decepticon nodded, shifting on his peds with unconcealed anxiety. It was clearly an ordeal and Prime wasn't going to make it easy. "I'm glad that you came, Prime. I know you didn't have to. But I'm here in good faith."

"I am listening."

-0-Galloway

He sat in his home office, a phone call from Daniels just concluded. There had been a lot of activity on the base, much of it among the Autobots alone and they couldn't get any clear answers from them about it. There were also children, alien children among them and that was disconcerting as well. They were breeding here on Earth. How they did he couldn't speculate, the mere idea of it disturbing to him.

Rising to walk to the window, he looked out at the falling snow and wondered what he could do about making the information that Daniels provided to him almost daily an important part of his crusade. He was determined to make the Autobots leave the Earth. 'Earth for the Earthers' was a slogan that was coalescing around him and he considered using it for his campaign.

He'd have to talk to Nast, perhaps meet him at his house in Aspen, Colorado. Getting in a little skiing, perhaps have a fundraiser and network with the moneyed elite, that would be useful. Using his time in as many ways as he could all at the same time, that was the key to making his presence rise. Turning back, he settled in his seat by the fireplace once more and began to make phone calls to the usual suspects in the media. By the time he was done he would be on every single Sunday morning news program on television.

-0-Prime and Thundercracker

"I would like to discuss the terms you require so that the Seekers might surrender to you and seek asylum."

For a moment, Prime savored the words, the sensation of besting an elite force in the Decepticons filtering through his processor like a warm tide. They were formidable and Starscream was no coward. He fought hard and would think through things, figuring out what was feasible and what wasn't, leaving when it was clear that a win was not possible, something Megatron never would do. In that matter, Starscream was more tactical, less predictable and in many ways more dangerous.

Starscream had become Megatron's second for a damned good reason and thus, this was a major event, perhaps historical in its magnitude happening here on this dusty plain as the leader of Seekerkin sought terms. For all his flaws, Starscream was more coherent in his thinking and actions than Megatron had ever been. That was why he'd been kept around. Even though he was a schemer and a back stabber, Starscream was no one's fool.

"And Starscream? What does he think about this or does he even know?"

Thundercracker looked down, then up again with a haunted expression in his eyes. "I'd like to speak with you privately." He glanced at Springer. "Your bond ... I would prefer that he not be included."

Prime considered the request. "Springer is here because Starscream has made him an issue and nothing more."

"This is difficult," Thundercracker said. "If you want to make a pact with us I'd prefer to talk to you privately."

"I will record every word you say," Prime replied.

"I'm aware but I ask you to honor my request," he replied.

Prime thought a moment, then nodded. He turned to glance at Springer.

Springer nodded then walked back to the rocks to sit. The Aerialbots stepped back moving away as well.

Prime looked at them, then Thundercracker. "Very well."

"I'm here because we wish to seek asylum from you to live here in peace. Starscream ... is not himself. Our faction is unaware of that so far but they'll find out soon enough and then there will be tremendous trouble, perhaps even death," he said quietly. "Shockwave won't allow Starscream to lead the faction if he knew that he was ... incapable right now. He wouldn't hesitate to have him killed."

"You want to come to us," Prime said. "You do understand that our allies would want your helms on a platter. They have less compunction about retribution than we do."

"We have no other refuge," Thundercracker said honestly. "Starscream is not well, he's mentally ill. If you knew the life he's had all these eons with Megatron you might find it in your spark to allow a refuge for him and for us. He is extremely ill and can't make coherent decisions. When the faction finds out, they will hunt all of us to the death. We're prepared to give you our oath to lay down arms against you. All we ask is refuge and a chance tor recover ourselves. We won't be a force against you again, Prime. You have our word and so will the Matrix. You know we won't break that oath. It's over for our kin. We need refuge to gather them into the peace."

Prime considered that. "And Starscream ... he will go along with this?"

"It's not a matter for him to consider. We're going to take him out of the Nemesis and keep him away from Shockwave's minions. But we need a refuge. You'd be getting an elite veteran troop away from your enemy. We'll honor our oaths. You know we will."

"And your crimes on Earth," Prime said, "the humans will not easily forget or forgive."

"We'd like to stay here," Thundercracker said. "We don't wish to ever return to Earth."

"You will not be allowed to no matter what happens here," Prime said.

"We need to know, immediately if possible. There's no time. I can't stress that enough. It's going to be difficult to leave without them killing us but we're leaving, Prime," Thundercracker said. "Shockwave is getting close to knowing what's going on. I don't know how much longer we have before he makes his move. Starscream isn't returning his messages."

He glancing at the ground, his expression filled with pain and weariness. He looked up at Prime. "We're a trine. We're one. We can't let Starscream have no chance to be well, to find another way. We won't go down without a fight even if we die trying to save him. But we'd like sanctuary. We give you our oaths that we'll not lift arms against you again."

Prime looked at the Seeker, his memories of them coming one by one. He remember seeing them flying in the air over Iacon for the love of it, for the joy, like flocks of ravens flying for love and happiness. They were proud, ancient and elite. Now they were lost, hopeless and endangered. How much do we want to lose of ourselves he thought? How much must disappear because of Megatron? He looked at Thundercracker. "These are my terms for you to turn yourself into us here. If you fail anyone of them you will be turned away to face Shockwave. Do you agree?"

Thundercracker nodded, his expression falling into relief and weariness as his tension ebbed. "Yes, on my personal and clan honor," he said.

Then Prime explained to him what he would need for them to find refuge on Mars.

-0-Starscream

He sat staring at the heavens, at the stars above. They were so far away and he was here trapped on the ground. The sky called to him and he wanted to go but he was confused. He was weary and uncertain. Prime was some place. The Autobots were some place. He was here trapped on the ground, trapped in his own uncertainty and pain.

He was alone.

Sitting nearby, his face filled with his own suffering, Skywarp watched over Starscream as he waited for Thundercracker to come back. He was sure he would. The Autobots wouldn't break a flag of truce. They'd let him come back and then they'd know what to do. He thought about being free, of flying in a sky without danger, without hunger being his companion, of the freedom of being just another Seeker with his trine. He thought about the good days, the ones before the war when the three of them were just Cybertronians and not the leading edge of Megatron's sword.

He shook his head as Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust came to sit with him. Behind him in the control room, the comm system alerted. The flashing light was coming from Shockwave. He wanted to know what was happening. The night crew was let off, the grounders walking away sullenly and suspiciously. It would be all or nothing now, Skywarp thought. Either Prime would live up to his image and allow them refuge or by morning the lot of them would be dead.

The moon traversed the sky above as they sat below, lords of the sky trapped on the ground. They sat together waiting for Thundercracker and watched Starscream disappear into the sorrows of his memories, lost, alone and despairing.