"You looking for something?"

To find Skywarp waiting for him outside the slave quarters was unexpected. Yet the fact that Thundercracker was down there himself wasn't exactly common either.

"Perhaps your slave?" Skywarp added to his initial question.

A raised optic ridge was Thundercracker's only response.

Pulling himself off the wall that Warp had been leaning too casually against, his wingmate took a step forward. He analyzed TC as if he was trying to compute his actions.

"I could ask you the same thing," Thundercracker spoke.

"Me?" Skywarp shrugged it off, smiling ever so slightly. "I just wanted to know what you were up to. You appeared quite determined."

TC said nothing. To speak would have been unwise. He brushed past his fellow Seeker, ready to make an exit. However, Warp had other ideas.

"Starscream took her."

He stopped at that. Skywarp knew immediately he was hooked, as he betrayed what his own silence couldn't hide. Thundercracker was only gone a few weeks. Just long enough to make a report to Megatron, to update some maps that were in need of correction, and survey some viable land for expansion. Yet when he returned the human whom he did not allow himself to think about even once during his absence was no where to be found or seen and not responding to his summons. He searched everywhere. As a very last resort he went down to the human area for a visual sweep, frightening many of the creatures during his impromptu appearance.

He turned around, knowing he just needed to wait. Warp was many things but keeping things to himself or for that matter, letting anything pass was not in his character.

"It was just a talk." Skywarp shrugged his shoulders, wings rising upwards a tick before dropping back down. "Starscream wanted to know if I thought your views on slaves have changed, and well..."

"What did you tell him?"

"Oh you know, nothing much except..." He shook his head, peering at Thundercracker. "You gotta admit TC; you may not be the most talkative of us all, but you do have a way of broadcasting your intent."

"What did you tell him?" he repeated again his tone turning gruff.

"I told him I didn't know what you felt about the slaves in general, however, about your slave..." Skywarp cringed, smiling in the uneasy way of the guilty. "I sorta told him what I felt through our link when you were around the human. How you felt nothing. Nothing at all."

Of course he felt nothing. Because he purposely filtered it through their shared link, not wanting either of them to even have an inkling the emotions the human managed to stir in him. But it wasn't the only time he did such a thing or his wingmates to him. Everything among the Trine was not always shared. No matter what others thought, privacy among the Seekers was needed sometimes.

"So how does this correspond to Starscream taking my slave?"

"Oh you know how Starscream is, TC, and I sort of elaborated on how you actually tolerate your little human pet and..."

There was once a time when Skywarp wouldn't have even bothered coming to him. Once a time when he would have let TC run headlong into the slag that his wingmate had inadvertently or purposely created just to entertain himself. Fortunately, his wingmate had matured a little as their bond and shared experiences allowed them a close friendship that was past their affiliation.

"Where is she?"

The smile that spilled onto Skywarp's face was filled with mischief. Thundercracker's question seemed to confirm whatever the Seeker believed he thought of the human.

Skywarp gushed forth, "The only reason I have told you all this is because I know that in the rare times you get attached to something that you can get quite serious even for you. Starscream started to show attention to your slave when you left, and something happened, something that had him throwing her in the brig."

"What?"

Warp shook his head. "I don't know. Kinda strange that he didn't just terminate her don't you think? What I do know is that it has put Starscream in quite a mood even for him."

"How long has she been in there?" TC inquired.

"Four days."

Skywarp blocked his path when Thundercracker started to move. Words of caution commenced, "I didn't tell you this for my health. I told it to you for yours. Forget the slave. It's as good as dead, and if not that then Starscream obviously has some purpose for it, and you know how he gets when others interrupt."

The blue Seeker found it ironic that Warp had the audacity to offer him advice after he just admitted that what had happened was in part his fault. Found it ironic still that he thought he could even prevent him from moving for while both were equal in size, Thundercracker far outweighed his fellow Elite Seeker in combat experience.

Thundercracker, however, did not find any irony in the fact that Skywarp had let his mouthpiece run amuck. In the earlier days Skywarp was known for his rather annoying vocal enthusiasm for Megatron's command, which he continued even when the Decepticon leader wasn't around. When that was forcibly stopped, he substituted it for stirring trouble with rumors and speculation. It had been so long since Thundercracker found himself at the other end of it that he had almost forgotten about that annoying troublesome quality.

Straightening, optics surging, he left Skywarp. Knowing if he had been anyone else that did such a reckless thing to him, that mech wouldn't have been left standing there with the ability of watching him leave.

Now knowing where the girl was he found his systems stilling as he went to his quarters. Sitting down on his berth he debated on how to proceed.

At this point confronting Starscream would do no good except to confirm what Warp had probably told him. That is if Skywarp didn't already rush back to his fellow Seeker and inform Starscream of TC's reaction. The trickster nature of his wingmate was not always easily contained, and despite his outward manner he could still, and most often did enjoy creating scenarios as he sat back and watched them unfold with delight and anticipation.

Yet he didn't believe that was the case this time. In fact, he had more than enough experience with Warp that he knew he didn't tell him all that for nothing, but to prepare him. But why would Skywarp think that a slave dying would affect him no matter what he supposedly thought of her?

There was more to it. Something he wasn't seeing. Something that had not been revealed. He reclined back on the berth, settling upon it with the intent to recharge. To act immediately would have been the nature of a rash individual, something he most certainly was not.

He would wait. Use his patience against his wingmates as he allowed time to pass them by. Just enough that they would be distracted when he made his next move.

TC knew their routines. Recharging he came back online at just the right time. Screamer and Warp would now be off duty, distracted in whatever activity they found. His absence while obviously noticed would not be that unusual.

It felt rather strange walking through the base. The familiar corridors and hallways took on a whole new appearance as with stealth that he was created with came into play. Thundercracker made his way to the brig undetected, easily getting past the guard on duty. He made a mental note to discipline the derelict soldier at a later date.

Having all the security codes he quickly made his way through. The area while vast was not used much at the moment, even now the only occupants were a couple Decepticons that were being punished, or as he now knew a human as well. It wasn't difficult to find her for she was the only organic there. Alexis' cell door wasn't even locked, not that the human could have moved it anyway. Pushing the door open he walked cautiously inside.

Her readings were so faint yet Thundercracker found her immediately. Stopping from moving forward any further, he leaned down, optics scanning the human. Her vitals were all wrong, her main life organ pumping out a rhythm that was hollow and so dim.

"What have you done, human, to bring this upon you?"

The human wasn't dying but even he could see that weakened state she was in. Her body was being forced her into some sort of stasis lock to conserve what little energy Alexis had left. Skywarp was right. He wasn't prone to getting attached to anything. But the human below him now knew without any further denial, had, however, unexpectedly managed to get through his firewalls.

Routes suddenly entered his processor, one chosen as he scooped the small human into his hand before placing her gently inside his cockpit. It was easier to leave the cell block then to enter it. A back passage was used as he quickly found himself at the far south of the compound.

Taking the human out of him once he reached outside, Thundercracker returned to the base, collecting an odd item here and there before returning. Once more, he placed Alexis inside him. Taking off he left the base far behind.

She was already reviving. After removing the disciplinary ankle band Thundercracker had to give her a stimulant that the slaves in the mining camps were by now extremely familiar with. He gave her antibiotics as well, further compounds that Decepticon medics had created. Substances that were known for their miraculous capabilities on the humans as they boosted them with energy even as they healed. Of course, he knew with it was supposed to come dependency, but he made sure the dosage he administered was just enough to allow her a starting chance.

For he decided to free her.

It wasn't an easy decision nor a logical one. But whatever she did Starscream obviously wanted her to suffer, in all likelihoods die, and that outcome was not one he was ready to allow. Not when he had a choice.

Her body was moving, her hands pushing and traveling across the wood that lined her sides. She groaned, head shifting, mouth opening as she exhaled shakily. In moments she would be awake. It was then that he knew his departure was at hand. Leaning down his digit tentatively touched her arm, lingering momentarily before he pulled away.

Taking off, boosters gently lifted him skywards and away.

Starscream was not happy. No, Starscream was furious even as he tried to appear unaffected. But TC knew and even felt different. It had been some time since Thundercracker saw his fellow Seeker in such a state, his oncoming manic disposition putting everyone on edge. Those that could made a hasty retreat out of the throne room that was building with hostility.

"Repeat what you said," Starscream ordered, managing to pull back some of his fury as he stretched backwards on his throne chair.

"I said there is no reason to look for the human. I killed her." Thundercracker's calm manner brought back the tension in the room.

"The reason?" the Supreme Air commander queried of the human. The oddity of the question was highly conspicuous even as somehow TC had been expecting it.

"Skywarp told me she defied you," Thundercracker half lied. A part of him hoped to draw further illumination on the subject out of his wingmate. However, it only had the opposite effect.

Starscream glared at Warp before returning his attention back to Thundercracker. It was then that TC noticed it was only the Seekers left in the room, everyone else obviously not inane enough to stay.

"I had her punishment well under hand," the Supreme Air Commander said, a hidden delight floating through his tone before being covered with irritation.

"Of my slave..."

"What are you getting at? Don't try to be evasive with me, Thundercracker, you insult my intelligence."

"You gave the creature to me. It was mine to do with as I pleased," TC finally stated openly. His tone was strong yet detached, an affront from his wingmates actions causing his words to be tainted with aggression.

"And did you?" Starscream asked curtly, he leaned forward with livened anticipation. "Did you do as you pleased?"

"Yes. I killed her."

That was not what Starscream had been asking. All three knew it. The Supreme Air Commander seemed to think for a moment on whether or not to pursue it. Thundercracker felt their link broaden, Starscream aggressively using the Trine's bond to scan him. He allowed it already prepared. Starscream reigned in his anger with trained expertise as an enigmatic smile curved upwards. That was when TC knew he had accepted it.

"I suppose you want another slave now?" Again that tone of voice appeared, a lustful vigor in the words that made Starscream's optics surge from their utterance.

"No. It isn't worth the effort," Thundercracker groused.

The two looked at one another; the hostility was still there as it bounced back and forth between them.

Skywarp brought it to an end. Stepping before the two, he smiled uncertainly. "Hey what's the fuss? It was only a slave."

Starscream's optics did not leave Thundercracker's as they brightened with intensity.

"Yes," the Supreme Air Commander hissed, "only a slave."