Starscream, Thundercracker knew, could be unpredictable. It seemed embedded in his matrix. Along with an irrational reasoning that on more than one occasion had led the Trine into predicaments that could have been easily avoided. But Starscream, even if he would never in a million mega-cycles admit it himself, was a rather emotional Seeker, led by his own emotions to the point that they could dictate his next moves.
Thundercracker always believed that if their Supreme Air Commander ever got the ability to separate his emotional protocols from his reasoning matrix; he would have beaten Megatron long ago. No longer allowing his anger and hostility toward the Decepticon leader cloud his, what could be, and usually was, acute, calculated judgment.
For the past month, Starscream had become increasingly hostile, watchful and just to throw something different into the mix, rather taciturn. Skywarp was even starting to joke that Thundercracker was losing his monopoly on least words used.
TC put it down to Megatron's arrival. But the Decepticon leader coming and going and no incident following had that reasoning stunted. Optics diverging and colliding with Starscream's, Thundercracker saw something there that was directed at him. Unable to filter the Air Commander's emotional capacity, he stared right back. Starscream shifted. A blunt, full forced accusatory expression disappeared so quickly that Thundercracker almost believed he hadn't even seen it. But now, as TC looked back, Starscream's rather terse manner had been more pointed in his direction.
"The Autobots are on Earth?" Starscream repeated what Thundercracker had just said, a momentary pause taken as his optics wandered over to Skywarp and then fell back on the blue Seeker. "And where exactly did you get this data from when Megatron isn't aware of such an outcome?"
The corner of Starscream's mouthpiece lifted. There was an expectation in the way his digits tapped slowly against the edge of the table, an inarticulate amusement in the livened way he straightened upwards.
"I picked up their signal relays when I was traveling," Thundercracker informed calmly.
"Really? How unusual. Considering that I have flown over this planet more times than even our deployed sentinel drones. Do you have coordinates?" Starscream inquired.
"No. I was unable to pinpoint them."
"How inefficient of you, Thundercracker." Starscream chastised, a critical look thrown his way.
"You would prefer I didn't tell you until I knew their exact whereabouts?"
Starscream's optic ridges lifted. "That is unnecessary now. We will find the Autobots. We will destroy them." The Supreme Air Commander smiled, an undefinable triumph in the expression. "What do you say? Feel up to a pursuit?"
With the strange way that Starscream was acting, some relief came when after months of research, building and finally implementing, he was able to compact the holo-generator into a small device that was easily hidden along his frame, one that could be activated seamlessly and smoothly.
So even being away from the base, he could drift into Timothy. But being an overly cautious individual, he had to careful in how he used the device. The three Seeker's hunt for the Autobots was turning into Starscream's next obsession and thrill that would not be denied nor put off. Skywarp and Thundercracker forced to drop everything as they followed the Supreme Seeker across the planet, pursuing faint Autobot signals that led to nowhere.
TC didn't understand why Starscream wanted them to specifically locate the Autobots, when he could have given that task to his underlings. But more and more he got the vague impression that the Supreme Seeker was keeping an optic on him. And the suspicion that someone had accessed his first-generation holo-generator reemerged. More and more he was believing it had been Starscream. Which, if were true, meant caution, no matter how carefully executed, would serve no purpose. For if Screamer knew what he was up to and hadn't said anything of yet, danger awaited Thundercracker, one that could have been easily sidetracked if he gave the girl up.
He couldn't.
Forsaking recharge time, he went back to his carefully played illusion.
He was betraying more than just his commander, but his very programming. Reaching the human's haven, TC almost appreciated the ingenious method in which they hid their camp. It was an abandoned military base, in plain view and for all optics to see. Yet, even if it was now hidden by Cybertronian holographic shadows and fake sensory output, it was rather curious that they were even capable of thinking up such a thing. Few Decepticons would think to look in an area that had already been dealt with. Or believe that humans would dare to return where such violent destruction of a one side battle had taken place.
Taken underground, they entered a vast garage that was filled with vehicles along with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, who were waiting for the arriving humans. Thundercracker didn't even have to perform a scan to know that those two Autobots were the only ones there.
Short introductions made, they were shown around. He counted twenty-three humans in various stages of growth, more kids than adults, and most of the adults looking as far away from combat ready as a non-affiliated Cybertronian ready to choose sides.
When they came to the weapon's stash, Thundercracker was impressed by its vastness. By appearances not only had they been left with enough to down a sizable armada but had collected more as well.
"What do you think?"
They had only been on the base for a couple of hours. Alexis and he had been separated when each was shown to their room. Finding her in a makeshift cafeteria later, he joined her. Sitting across from the table, he watched Alexis watch the people that were littered around them, coming and going, moving and talking.
"Even with the sizable ordinance that they have collected, they wouldn't even last a day," Thundercracker let her know.
"Maybe right now they wouldn't, but in time and with training..." Alexis said, her words hopeful and optimistic. "And with your help."
Crossing his arms over his chest, he huffed, "I have more important things to do, than train a bunch of civilians."
Alexis' gaze came sharply back toward him; her mouth pinched tightly. "If that is the way you feel, then there is no need for you to stay, is there?" she said with affront. "I mean, what other purpose is there now, but to fight for our planet?"
He leaned across the table. "And this is your plan? To fight?"
She shook her head, firm in her intentions. "I belong with my brother. This resistance may seem infantile to you, but where you see failure, I see a chance to survive for more than just survival's sake."
Thundercracker was aggravated with her intentions. And yet, what had he expected? Being with her as long as he had been, he knew she was not one to let things pass. She may have been soft-hearted, even rather docile in appearances, but that only hid a rather aggressive nature that Thundercracker was sure she hadn't really tapped into.
If she didn't have a suspicion of the Autobots, he knew she would have surely joined up with them readily. As it was, she stuck to Josh and Timothy, slowly meeting some other humans as she branched out. The Autobots were training the humans, not only in weapons but hand to hand combat. A rather ridiculous course that as far as Thundercracker could tell, was really only done so that the two Autobots could show off their dubious skills. Humans didn't need to learn how to fight. They needed to learn how to kill.
Josh learned from the Autobots and passed the knowledge along to his sister. Thundercracker standing idly by, he watched the two train in the upper part of the garage. TC felt the Autobots arrival before they appeared. And as the yellow and red Lamborghinis parked, Alexis tried to ignore them, her actions suddenly stiff.
Engines shutting off, the two Autobots appeared as their human counterparts. The twins were nearly identical in appearances, except in their manner of dress. Both were so clean and precise in appearance, that they looked flagrantly conspicuous. Obviously, they weren't going for the reality factor, for even TC knew that humans, no matter what state they were in, or at least none that he had ever encountered, looked that polished.
The two leaned casually against the far side of the wall and watched the siblings perform warm-up exercises. While Josh was leading her toward something else, Alexis seemed intent on stretching in a different manner. Hands going here and there, she lifted and stretched up a leg and an arm, extending and pushing toward the tall ceiling. Her inhalation fixed into steady breaths and Alexis continued the rather elegant display of what, after doing a quick scan of one of her positions, he recognized as a variation of ta-chi and yoga.
But Thundercracker wasn't the only one watching. And he could see the twins attention had shifted to the female sibling, and her now prominently displayed, lithe form. Both of their eyes shifted and rested on her bare feet, an oddity that caused them to talk among each other with a chatter of voices that annoyed.
Sunstreaker came forward. Walking around the pair, he stood directly in front of Alexis. He tsked softly before scoffing openly.
"Idiotic human. What the slag do you think you are doing? You think you can warm up when a Decepticon is on your tailpipe? Think you can get anywhere when you don't even have on the appropriate armor? Just how far do you think you are going to get in any terrain without your feet covered? You're pathetic enough without exposing your weaknesses."
Alexis paused mid stretch. Josh stepped forward in his sister's defense.
"That's harsh, Sunstreaker."
The Autobot ignored Josh's words and homed in on Alexis with more severity.
"You want to train? You train with us." Sunstreaker pointed at his inflated chest. "Your brother may be sufficient enough in scouting, gathering of supplies and finding even more fleshlings for us to protect, but it is our duty to put you pathetic excuse for warriors into shape, and your brother is far from qualified. And what better way to learn but the best fraggin' warriors in the whole Autobot army. Prime didn't send us here because of our inefficiency. We are known for getting results, in any which way we can."
Alexis responded, her tone low yet charged with subtle malevolence, "And yet the Decepticons have been here for almost two years. Where were you mighty warriors then?"
Thundercracker swallowed back a chuckle. He rarely got to see Alexis' aggressive side, but it always proved stimulating when he did.
Sunstreaker took on a prominent frown, eyes lost between the slits of his eyelids. "If you humans knew how to take care of your own planet, there would be no reason for us to be here at all," the Autobot shot back with equal aggression, his gaze once more darting over the female.
"How were we to know that a bunch of alien robots were out there just waiting to invade?" Alexis threw back at him. Her mouth pushed tightly together as she twisted her hands before crossing her arms across her chest.
Sunstreaker shook his head and chuckled. "The likelihood was obviously possible. The fact that you fleshbags didn't see it coming, shows how obtuse your culture really is and how..."
An audience was growing. The rising voices of Sunstreaker and Alexis had pulled the humans that had been working in the area and nearby, toward their area of the garage.
"Sunny don't say it..." Sideswipe interjected. Coming behind his brother, he grabbed to his shoulder and tried to pull him back and away. Sunstreaker refused to budge.
The Autobot went on, vocal level dropping so that only those near Alexis could hear. "...you humans deserved to be destroyed. And the fact that we came to help you at all... " He paused, lifted a brow and let a half grin invade the side of his mouth. "...you should, you should be grateful, more than that... should be down before us, worshiping us at the gods we obviously are."
Alexis took a shocked step backwards. Sunstreaker clamped down on her wrist and pulled her back toward him. Josh quickly acted as he pushed the Autobot away and off his sister, conflict written on his face as his hands twisted into tight fists.
An excuse rising, Thundercracker used it. Forcing Sunstreaker around, he did what Josh seemed unable to, his fist making contact with the Autobot. He stood above the downed Autobot, waiting for the next move to take place. But Sideswipe stepped in again, mindful of the now very verbal audience of nearby humans. They crowd may not have heard the worst of Sunstreaker's words, but by the sound of the human's chatter that TC picked up, the Autobots already had a notorious reputation.
Sideswipe pulled his brother up. Thundercracker was disappointed that it wasn't going to be taken any further; however, by the look Sunstreaker and Sideswipe threw his way before they parted, he knew it wasn't over. For now, it was enough that Sunstreaker believed a mere human had gotten the better of him. TC's mouth curved slightly up.
"Are you okay?" Thundercracker asked of Alexis, but it was the brother who answered.
"Fine," Josh said shortly. But when he spoke he was looking at his sister. "I suppose you think me foolish. But believe me, Alexis, they just have a lot they are forced to deal with right now. I know they are a little self oriented, but they do mean well and have taught us much. Believe me when I say that is the first time I have ever heard Sunstreaker talk like that... he couldn't have meant it."
Thundercracker was pleased. He did not want Alexis to accept the Autobots, or even be around them. But with the way they acted, or for that matter, Sunstreaker acted; he was sure he had nothing to worry about.
Or so he thought.
The very next day while wandering to Alexis' quarters, he found Alexis already outside. She was leaning against the door frame, Sunstreaker standing uncomfortably before her as he said something. Done, he left. Crossing Thundercracker's path, the Autobot glared before his mouth twisted into a sneer.
"What did he have to say?" Thundercracker asked Alexis when he reached her.
"Well, I think he just apologized."
"You're not sure?"
She laughed softly and her features softened. "I think that's as close as he's going to get. He probably didn't even mean it, but, well, he did try," she said, that kindness of hers reaching for an optimistic view. "Perhaps they aren't all that bad, Timothy. I mean..." She shut the door behind her and pulled Thundercracker along. "I think maybe they do mean well. And even if they don't want to be here... at least, I don't know, at least they bothered to show up? They didn't have to."
"They are just under orders by this Optimus Prime. Do not think this is anything personal for them."
"Perhaps it would be better if it wasn't," she told him, frowning deeply.
It was several days later, the two walking idly through the base, when Thundercracker broke the peaceful silence.
"I have been thinking, Alexis."
"Oh?" she smiled up at him with encouragement.
"I have decided that I will train you."
"A civilian?" she teased. "I'm honored. But really..." She stopped. "I have also been doing some thinking. And well, I am going to have to start trusting these Autobots sometime, and I might as well start by being trained by them. Josh says they are rather hard in their methods, but I can always get you to beat them up again if they try anything."
Catching his look, she smiled wide. "I'm just kidding, Tim. But I will never forget the expression on Sunstreaker's face when you managed to deck him one." Alexis lightly laughed at the memory. "Guess all of us humans aren't so obtuse," she joked.
The mood ruined, and the humor lost on him; Thundercracker internally shuddered. If she knew he wasn't even human... He would never see her again. Not like this, not like it was between them. Stopping her, Thundercracker stared down into her eyes. He wanted to keep her like that, her skin flushing, her expression switching between confusion and affection before settling for the latter.
He bent toward her and spoke softly, "I will always protect you for as long as you allow."
Alexis nodded her head. The two stared at one another until the sound of footsteps approaching from behind shook them out of the moment. Grabbing onto her hand, as intrusive as it was, he knew what it could mean for the humans. His pseudo heart raced and warmed when she didn't let go.