Chapter 6

Skywarp watched nervously as Starscream and Megatron snarled at one another over something. It was a common sight, sure, but there was something about the way Starscream was holding his wings that made her fueltank uneasy. He was too tense, too wound-up, too…something. Sure, his disguise was an uppity brat, but this was too close to her older sister to be safe.

"That isn't how it works," Starscream hissed, watching Megatron too keenly for anyone to bypass. It was not like him at all and Skywarp was growing more and more agitated.

Megatron let out a warning growl that made the other occupants of the room draw away, Thundercracker, though weakened, grabbed Skywarp's elbow to draw her away. Her wings were starting to bob in agitation and she wanted to race to Starscream's side to defend him. What else was a sibling supposed to do?

Soundwave's visor flashed warningly across the room, meant for Skywarp and the two bristling commanders, if the sudden twitches were any indication. Megatron gave Soundwave a glare and told him to keep out. Starscream was strangely silent.

Skywarp was seriously starting to contemplate teleporting Starscream away before he said something foolish, but her multi-coloured sibling beat her to it.

"Even you are not stupid enough to send the mechs into a situation like this, Megatron," Starscream stated coldly. "There are too many variables and Shockwave isn't even sure if his little toy can work proper…!"

The crack of metal striking metal drew gasps of surprise. Starscream spun from the force of Megatron's backhanded swing and crouched against the ground. Thundercracker had loosened his grip a little bit, stunned by the energon that rolled off of Starscream's busted derma and the look of outright shock on his face.

"You would do well to remember your place, Starscream," Megatron growled. He turned towards Soundwave, who had not flinched from Megatron's attack as per usual. "Prepare the battle plans."

Skywarp's optics were trained on Starscream as he trembled for a moment. Her spark froze as she watched Starscream's optics recede to her familiar azure blue and she knew that it was over. Starscream stood up slowly and a small dagger slid down to balance delicately on her middle digit.

"You're right, Megatron," she stated in her screechy voice. "I should remember my place."

She spun at around with stunning speed and the dagger was lodged in Megatron's lower back as if it had sprouted there. He howled in shocked pain and turned to shoot her, only for Starscream to dodge his fusion cannon far more nimbly than she had ever shown herself capable of doing. The soldiers stared in disbelief as Starscream closed the distance between them in a split-second and drove a second blade into Megatron's stomach, making him spit energon in surprise. She leant in close and she nipped Megatron's dermas tauntingly.

"I am your assassin," Starscream purred in her rich, musical voice.

Soundwave lunged for her as the blade that was supposed to be driven between Megatron's optics emerged from below her wings. Skywarp darted forward, shoving a wide-mouthed Breakdown out of her way, and activated her thrusters to get between Starscream and Soundwave.

They collided and went down in a pile. Skywarp clawed at Soundwave's face, spitting angrily as Starscream struggled with the onslaught of Cassetteicons suddenly attacking her. Pain bloomed through her mind as Soundwave telepathy lashed out and she forced herself away to keep the worst of it from striking her. Megatron had managed to pull the dagger out of his back and was staring at it as if he did not believe Starscream had really hit him with it.

"Skywarp," Thundercracker's voice called hoarsely from the crowd as she and Starscream slammed their wings together to keep an optic on Soundwave, Megatron, and the Cassetteicons. "What are you doing?"

She gave him a look, smiling sadly at his confused face. "Sorry," she replied with a shrug before she slapped her hand against Starscream's hip just as Lazerbeak dropped towards them. "Switch!"

She and Starscream spun with practiced ease and Lazerbeak's claws scratched against her arm. Reaching up, she caught the little Decepticon by the head and threw him forcefully against Megatron's head. Ducking under Buzzsaw, Skywarp bared her dentas and crouched close to the ground. She glanced over curiously as Soundwave hit the console with enough force to shatter the screens and leave a Soundwave-shaped impression on the thick equipment.

Starscream was just straightening when Megatron let out a bellow.

"Why are you just standing there? Seize those traitors!"

The other soldiers looked confused and gave Skywarp and Starscream uneasy looks. Skywarp smirked and rested her hands on her hips and let out a laugh.

"I do believe they are confused, oh grand one," she grinned at Megatron before leaping away as someone shot at her. "En garde, my good soldier!"

Onslaught narrowed his optics and took a threatening step forward. Starscream's hand was on Skywarp's, pulling her backwards just enough to get her point across.

"Let's go, Sky," she growled.

"Right away, mia sorella," Skywarp replied as she focused on the sky far above them.

"Skywarp, what are you doing?" Thundercracker shouted just as her teleportation circuitry fired up.

"Sorry," she repeated with a small shrug and let her hologram fall just as she teleported away. "Guess I lied."

Starscream bolted for the sky as soon as they solidified, dragging Skywarp up behind her a good mile before her thrusters finally ignited. The next joor was confusing. The thrill of fighting wore away and left her too much room to just cry. The Cons were behind them somewhere, the comm-link buzzing with their furious shouts to track them down. Loudest of all, for her at least, was Thundercracker demanding co-ordinates.

When they finally arrived at the Autobot base and where greeted by a lot of rifles and terrified looking mechs, Skywarp stumbled slightly and ended up in a heap on the ground. The night sky above twinkled mischievously down at her, but she could not bring herself to care.

Just a few joors ago she and Thundercracker had sat on the tower and snuggled. Thundercracker had asked how they were supposed to make this work when they only knew how to be friends and she had replied that they would figure it out. He had nuzzled her and she had stupidly whispered that she would never leave him. She had lied, flat out lied, and her spark was wailing pitifully for the mech that she could not have because she was an idiot.

Starscream walking with someone, a hand on her hip as she spoke. Her familiar, controlled movements and calm inflictions so different from the eons that she had served as Megatron's right-hand mech that it was like staring at a total stranger. Then her optics rolled in annoyance and Skywarp let out a shaky laugh.

"Can we come in please?" she asked sweetly. "I need to collapse on a berth before my processor fails completely. Oh, and Jazz needs to be updated on the current score between Onslaught and Brawl; Onslaught's winning."

"Whoo! Called it!" Jazz laughed as he walked over and offered her a hand. "Welcome back, kiddo."

Skywarp reached up to accept the helping hand and leant on his shoulder as she got her feet under her. The other Autobots were giving her unsure looks and she waved weakly.

"Don't mind me, just going to go collapse in a spare room and recharge for a month," she chirped as she flopped a little too heavy on Jazz and almost took him to the ground.

Jazz, quickly stabilizing himself, started walking towards the base, whistling softly before he was tackled by a red and yellow blur. Skywarp squeaked as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker hoisted her over their heads and let out a shout as they charged into the base.

"THE PRANKSTER TRINE IS BACK IN ACTION!"

Starscream rested against her mate's chest and nuzzled him slowly. Skyfire's hand rolled over her wings, massaging the quivering appendages as she relaxed slowly. He smiled briefly, feeling his mate's confusion and misery through their bond.

"Star?" he asked gently. "I felt it, you know."

Starscream touched her split derma and sighed sadly. "I…he…I should have been used to it by now," she whispered quietly.

Skyfire kissed her gently and rolled onto his side so that Starscream could tuck herself under his chin and hide her face. "No one ever gets used to abuse, fake or not," he soothed.

"Finalize the trine with a mech that didn't even know me," Starscream laughed hollowly. "What was I thinking? I was supposed to kill the slagger, not fall in love and invite him into my trine."

Skyfire did not say a word, letting his mate find comfort in his arms. He would not have minded Starscream bringing Megatron into the trine; the vorns of abuse were mostly for show and Starscream was resilient regardless of what part she was acting. Even he could not figure out why Megatron's backhand had struck such a low nerve when she's had limbs shot off when they first met each other and were much more cordial towards the other.

Whatever had caused her to lash out and finally try to end him, it had gotten her and Skywarp out of there. Skyfire let out a low sigh as he rested his head on his pillow and pulled Starscream closer to him.

"Vorns are missing from my processor," he whispered gently. "You have changed and I've…."

"If you finish that sentence in any way other than 'I love you' I will kick you off the berth and make you recharge in the rec room," Starscream warned as she tried to wrap her arms around his massive chest. "I've already told you that Unicron's heralds couldn't drag me away from you."

Blushing a little, Skyfire nodded and kissed Starscream's wings. "I love you," he agreed. "Now get some recharge; you've earned it."

Letting out a low murmur of agreement, Starscream curled into her mate's chassis and initiated her recharge cycle.

Thundercracker stood with his head bowed to Megatron as the Constructicons fixed up his injures. The Decepticon leader's optics were on the floor, not even acknowledging his last Seeker's presence. He let out a low hiss as Mixmaster pulled a piece of fragmented dagger for his back and finally looked up.

"And you had no inclination of your trinemates' treachery?" he demanded.

Thundercracker's wings twitched where they were folded down against his back. "None, my lord."

Megatron let out a low growl as Scrapper sealed up the wound on his stomach. "Regardless of how little I find that believable, I trust your word, Thundercracker," he stated calmly. "But, do ensure that you are extra vicious when you face them in battle. You are dismissed."

Thundercracker bowed at the waist and left the medbay. Megatron waved the Constructicons off but motioned for Hook to remain and finish with the wound on his back. The head of the Constructicons worked silently to pick the last pieces of debris from the warlord's back until Megatron let out a low growl.

"You said that if and when they finally broke that I would not be the wiser," he snapped.

"I did not think they would go out in such a blaze," Hook replied as he began to seal the wound. "I knew them from their sparklinghood, my lord, and neither had the lean towards showy displays. They are efficient, but this…. I believe Starscream did not appreciate being backhanded for her opinion and caution."

Megatron curled a hand into a fist. "I will make her pay for this," he snarled.

"For finally getting her head on straight and attempting to complete her mission?" Hook asked dryly. "Even you cannot be that angry with the soldier you have such strong affection for."

Megatron gave Hook a withering look, but the medic simply lifted an optic ridge. If anyone else had spoken to him like that, they would be out cold on the floor. But Hook was different. Hanging his head after a moment, Megatron rose to his feet.

"This is war," he stated simply. "I have to do what must be done to win."

"If you want my opinion," Hook smirked as he stood up and wiped his hands clean on a cloth. "I don't think they will stay with the Autobots for long."

"Oh?" Megatron snorted sceptically.

"They have been with us for almost the entirety of the war, my lord," Hook shook his head. "Do you think they really hold any of the Autobots' ideals in their sparks after they have fired on their own? No, I don't think they will be there for long." Shrugging a shoulder, he turned around. "Besides, I'm sure Skyfire will want to jump you too to see if you would make a good trinemate."

Megatron gave Hook a look of confusion as the medic vanished into his office. With only a small shudder of outright fear for his sanity, he turned and started walking tiredly towards his room and his awaiting berth.