Leaving Earth was more of an occasion for Thundercracker than it ever should have been. He didn't have anything to do with deploying the Telan canisters that had been genetically altered to kill only the humans on the planet and leave it inhospitable for them. But he was the one that provided Megatron with the Intel needed in knowing where to place the deadly apparatuses for maximum coverage. He knew that when the gas spread, the starting points lining up exactly to the information he had provided the Decepticon leader.
Starscream had known. But he never fully illuminated his wingmates of what was to come. The patches of humanity's rebellion and retaliation must have been more than reported for Megatron to take such drastic measures.
Some of the humans made it. Calculating the escaping Autobot ships that weren't destroyed and how many each one could hold, he figured out the small percentage of those that had survived the once seven billion. Another species destroyed, another world tainted, all so Megatron could scrape what resources the planet had accumulated.
TC always felt a sense of accomplishment when they moved onto their next mission. But as he watched out the viewport from their ship Supremacy and saw the once vibrant blue and green orb painted black with death and sucked of a chance of life for humanity, he felt... altered, felt tired and something else, something dangerous and personal.
"This is what you waited for, right? Us leaving?" The medic came up alongside him, his optics scanning the Autobot ships that burned and crashed, some reentering Earth's atmosphere before exploding in a vibrant light show. "This is what you wanted?" he asked with barely hidden revulsion.
Not answering, Thundercracker kept his optics fixed forward, watching as another Autobot ship was destroyed. The last one it seemed, for the rest had managed to escape, not that that meant they were free. Decepticon forces broke off and followed after. Megatron had prepared for every contingency, making sure the Autobot's that assisted the humans paid for their interference with barrels of Energon and mountains of resources.
"I did exactly as you told me concerning the human," Rivet informed the Seeker when the two found themselves alone in the corridor.
"And Starscream?"
"I told him the Autobots rescued her. Even managed to provided evidence, which even I would have believed if presented with. Plus, the fact that the ground-level access was open while preparations were made for our departure..."
Thundercracker interrupted, moving along to the important point. "And helping me, what do you want in return?" His optics left the viewport as he turned to face the medic.
Thundercracker had only worked with the medic since their arrival on Earth over two years ago. He was an unconventional and uncommon Decepticon. And being forced back into service by Starscream seemed to give the Con a different view on things. He was loyal but not committed. He did his job well, but lacked genuine motivation. He knew Starscream had rescued the doctor from some pit of a prison on the disreputable Rifor-Telon Prison Moon, but that was not enough to make the Decepticon follow their cause blindly.
"Yes, I do want something," Rivet responded with surety, his optics rising and falling in line with TC's. He waited until a batch of Decepticon soldiers passed and then moved a little closer, his vocals lowering so that only the Seeker could hear. "I want out of this." He made a sweeping motion with his hand toward the remains of the battle that littered the space before them. "I want my freedom."
"Freedom, you don't need me for that. You want to leave. Leave."
The medic huffed and frowned hard. "I see that Starscream doesn't inform you of everything. But you must know I don't want to be here. So the price is getting me away from here."
"Fine," Thundercracker replied. The task seemed easy enough.
"When?" Rivet asked with subtle anxiety.
"Soon."
The medic moved closer, close enough that his armor scratched against Thundercracker's side. "I freed Alexis, don't forget that. I won't."
With those last words that could have been a threat, the medic left Thundercracker standing there. Turning back around to the viewport, the Seeker watched the planet Earth get smaller and smaller until the blackened orb merged with the surrounding space.
"Kill them, kill them all," Starscream ordered with enthusiasm.
The problem was that he was talking to Thundercracker, who, after landing and burning a couple of the organic dwellings of the insect-like inhabitants, found that after watching the Rinchachts run and flee, screech and beg that the emotion he had been unable to place during their departure from Earth made itself known.
Dissent.
He realized at that moment that he had felt it before but never acknowledged it. And now as the Rinchachts were rounded up and forced onto their many legs, their antennae twitching and their harmonic vocals hindered by pleas and cries for their lives, yet again things fell apart for the Seeker. This time though, he wasn't stuck in the disarray. Who he was and what he was about molded into something new while his thoughts cleared and settled Thundercracker's reality into uncharted territory.
He didn't want to do it anymore. He no longer cared about the Decepticon cause, no longer wanted to be a part of it. He was more than chaos and destruction, more than just an instrument to further Megatron's resources and reputation. He was not an automaton. He may have allowed himself to upgrade into one, but it was not how he was going to continue or end. He could think for himself, act for himself and believe for and by himself.
"No," Thundercracker said.
"What?" Starscream screeched with disbelief, his voice disturbed and shocked.
"No. No more," TC said again. Things suddenly clear, his voice rang strong. "Megatron wants this planet so badly, let him subdue it. I will no longer be his tool."
Starscream tried to approach him, but the fire launcher that emerged from Thundercracker's right servo prevented it. Drawing a line on the dry ground, he provided cover, allowing the surprised Rinchachts to make an escape.
Fire dying and smoke clearing, Starscream's blazing optics said it all. "You're malfunctioning, TC," the Supreme Air commander managed to say with a modicum of calm. "I won't mention what you have just done, if you relinquish your weapon and return to Supremacy for a full look over."
"Nothing is wrong with me, Starscream, not anymore."
The Supreme Air Commander vanquished the show of ease and twitched with violent agitation. When he spoke this time, his terse words were an order, "Relinquish your weapon, return to the ship, or I will not only drop you right here, but personally hand you over to Megatron for... reevaluation."
"I'll take him back," Skywarp landed behind Thundercracker, picking the entire exchange up over their link. "Come on, TC."
"On one condition," Thundercracker demanded, his words directed at Starscream, who his optics had not lost sight of.
"Which is?" Starscream asked shortly, his optics burning bright and his wings rising high behind his backpanel. He crossed his arms over his cockpit, showing his displeasure from the whole exchange.
"Cancel this attack on the Rinchachts, tell Megaton they didn't have enough Energon to make up for the expenses of attainment."
"And if I don't?"
"Then we part here."
Starscream momentarily considered it. He didn't look happy about it and didn't try to hide it. He glanced over at Skywarp before answering.
"Fine then," he acquiesced unwillingly. "This planet suddenly isn't worth it."
Opening a com line to his troops, Starscream ordered the battle to an end.
"You haven't been the same since Earth," Starscream said. He shot down his Energon, it gushed and overflowed onto the table. The three Seekers had the break room to themselves. It was a somber occasion, and the barrel of High grade had hardly been touched. "Megatron will have questions."
"You can handle them," Thundercracker responded, both knowing Starscream had plenty of practice from his own deceptions regarding the Decepticon Commander.
"So you're really going to leave us," Skywarp spoke up, the already present frown on his face growing. "I mean..."
"Temporarily," Starscream interjected. "And he is to return when I need him, or when his presence is required. And if your malfunctions have anything to do with the human female who may or may not have survived, know that I blame her for many things, things that will not be forgotten," the Supreme Seeker warned with fervor.
"She has nothing to do with this."
"You better hope that she does not. For I will not tolerate any..."
Thundercracker interrupted. He wasn't going to speak about her any further. "I am taking Rivet with me."
"For what purpose?" Starscream inquired, his already strained tone turning bitter and suspicious.
"No purpose. I just am."
"No," Starscream shook his head, his digits digging and bending that mug of High grade Energon that he had picked up. "I am not done with that Decepticon. He owes me, and I will not release him until his debt to me is paid off!" the Seeker said with a fit of malice.
"How much?" Thundercracker asked, unaffected by the outburst.
"It's not about creds, it's about what he did. What he tried to get away with. He is mine."
"How much?" Thundercracker repeated again.
Starscream smiled, it wasn't pleasant. "Yes, you want the medic. Want him badly." A flicker of light danced along the edge of the Supreme Air Commander's optics, a smirk rising as if he had figured something out. "You are always one for paying off your debts, aren't you, TC?" He pushed the Energon away and leaned across the table, the smile growing into an unhidden revelation. "Tell me, are you in debt to the medic?" He shifted in his seat before leaning casually back to survey his wingmate better. "What could the medic possibly have done to have you speaking up for him? My circuits just fizzle with trying to figure out."
Skywarp watched the two with confusion. "What is going on here? What does he..."
Starscream cut his wingmate off, a cred amount named, an astronomical one. Skywarp choked on the High Grade he had been trying to drink. The thick liquid spewed across the table and plastered Starscream's cockpit.
The Supreme Air Commander wiped himself off with a nearby rag, his sneer growing before falling into a malicious frown when Thundercracker agreed.
"We are going, now." Thundercracker barged into the medical lab, astounding Rivet from whatever he had been working on.
The doctor was perplexed but filled with expectation "Now? Right now?"
"Grab what you can carry, and meet me on my ship."
"No need," the medic said, dropping his tools. "There is nothing here I want to take with me."
They left the room. The medic followed until he picked up his pace and joined Thundercracker along his side.
"You know this is too easy. Starscream must have things planned."
"He usually does," he confirmed quietly. But he would deal with that later. Now that things were settled, he was ready to leave.
"Are you going to find her?" Rivet asked with sudden curiosity.
Thundercracker kept his optics focused on the corridor before him and answered with one firm yet extremely terse word, "No."