Chapter 20
A Surprising Commonality

Section Specific Warnings: Astoria and Epiphanies. D=

OoOoOoOo

Thundercracker stared at the little vid screen that Wheeljack had made him. He didn't know that name of the human drama that was playing on it, but it was absolutely fascinating...like much of the television he watched with Wheeljack. He would often sneak off to the mechs lab and they would watch the human invention for hours, mostly during the middle of the day when Jazz and Prowl were busy working.

It was a guilty pleasure, and one that he was not ready to admit or share with his bondmates. He could imagine their reaction. So...Wheeljack made him the little device and when he couldn't nip off to see the inventor he could watch on his own. Wheeljack said he was quickly becoming a 'couch potato', whatever that meant. Which was why he was wandering down the deserted hall at that moment.

"Hello!"

He stopped, and looked around frowning as he saw nothing.

"Hey! Down here!"

Thundercracker looked down at the little fleshling obviously trying to get his attention. There always seemed to be so any in the ark that he could never keep them straight. THey all looked the same to him, but this one was definitely not one of the usual crew.

"You're Thundercracker, aren't you?" He blinked down at the awkward creature, it waddled as it walked. It's belly extended, large and round in front of it-her he finally amended to himself. Definitely a her.

"Yes-I am. Why?"

She smiled, "Oh, good. I was curious. Powerglide had mentioned you." She flushed, turning red. "He said-well he said a lot of thing. He talks a lot, but yeah, I'm Astoria. Power-glide and I-" she shrugs, "Doesn't matter. I just thought you might want to talk." she patted her stomach. "And I won't lie, I was more than a bit curious. I mean...you are male."

Thundercracker stared at her a few kliks trying to puzzle out what she was saying, and implying,"He told you I was carrying?" It wasn't exactly a secret, but he wasn't sure how he felt about the motormouth talking about him, and then the rest of her words sank in. She was carrying too, clearly. Carrying and involved with an Autobot. It wasn't something that would have been tolerated in the Decepticon ranks. Xenophobia was the standard in that faction.
"Well, yes. It's exactly why I'm curious, being pregnant. It's with a donor, since you know. It doesn't matter. He's still excited. It will be ours despite all of that. I drive him a bit crazy-" Her lips curled up into an amused smile. "I guess I drive him more than a bit crazy, but I just love him so much."

Thundercracker blinked down at Astoria, not quite knowing what to say. He had never met such a strange creature. He had had little enough interaction with humans, even here-soap operas notwithstanding. He had not so much avoided them-more that he had not had a real reason to seek them out. Their smallness and fragility made him nervous, and hurting one even by accident made him nervous. In spite of Jazz and Prowl he still stelt as though his place on the ark was tenuous at best. He couldn't risk being thrown out, not with the safety of his sparkling in question. "You-I see. Does it hurt? I mean the-um-you seemed very stretched out."

"I could ask you the same thing." She smiled, hand resting lightly on her stomach. "It...is a gift. I think so at least. I'm hoping for more. I always wanted a big family. I was an only child you see, and my father...he really didn't' have a lot of time for me. I don't want my children growing up that way. I want them to know they are loved, and they will be." She gave him a brittle smile, "Even when I'm gone I know he will take care of them, and my grandchildren, and their grandchildren. I won't lie. It hurts knowing that I will be gone in the blink of an eye to you, but he loves me. Like...really loves me. It makes it easier."

Thundercracker nodded, and watched the little fleshling. He couldn't' help but feel sorry for her. No matter what they did it would end in tragedy. "You are lucky then. Not everyone finds their sparkmate. It sounds like you have found yours though. Primus has blessed you both, surely."

"You crazy Dame, I have been looking for you everywhere!" A rather exasperated Powerglide said as he came down the hall, finally spotting Astoria. He gave the other flier a civil nod. "The Doctor said bed rest, I don't think that means wandering down the hallways?"

Astoria let out a little trickle of laughter. "Oh, I am fine, you worry-wart." Her lips curled into an amused little grin as she said it, and she let him lead her away. She gave Thundercracker a backwards wave, "It was nice talking to you! We should do it again some time."

"We should," Thundercracker said, his optics widening as he watched them go. He wasn't sure what to make of it all. Humans were very much like his own people, which he found both odd and surprising. He was still in a daze as he walked towards Wheeljack's lab and slipped inside. He settled in in front of the giant television, and it wasn't long before Wheeljack joined him.

"You okay, buddy?" the inventor asked, his helmfins flashing amber.

Thundercracker took the remote, and turned it on before answering. He stared at the screen unseeing. "I'm fine. I just had a strange conversation in the hallway with Powerglide's mate."

"Mmm...Astoria? She is something," Wheeljack laughed.

"Something...yes. They are a lot like us," Thundercracker said. "Megatron always droned on about how they are inferior, but they really aren't. They think and they feel." He hunched his shoulders. "I've killed them and never thought about it. They are like us."

Wheeljack pet the seekers armor gently. "They are. I know it is a lot to take in, and it's hard to change old thinking patterns. I know this has all been very overwhelming for you, but you have to know I'm always here if you need to talk...and so are your mates."

Thundercracker's wings quivered, and his optics dimmed, "I know. It is a lot to take in. Too much sometimes." He turned his attention back to the television, and leaned back against the couch. "I feel overwhelmed sometimes. Lost. Cast adrift."

"Now you are just being melodramatic."

Thundercracker gave him a little smile. Maybe he was, but at least he was in good company.