D-14's surveillance room is deserted save for the night watch on duty.
The live feed from various locations within the rehabilitation facility fills the many screens in front of him while the equipment monitoring the telemetries carried by the clients frequently flicker with feedback.
Nothing worth investigating.
An alert will go off if he needs to interfere.
Alone, with no one to disturb him, the guard establishes a long-range connection.
On a screen behind him flashes a news feed.
BREAKING NEWS!
The Joint Investigation Unit averts attack on a psychiatric hospital!
A reporter stands in front of the psychiatric hospital, pointing at something out of view while interviewing healthcare staff about the situation.
::Any update?::
::Update! I'll give you an update when you have explained to me how this could happen!:: He growls, pointing heatedly at the news feed behind him for emphasis.
::Somehow they knew everything about our plan to attack. Everyone got wiped out. The Joint Investigation Unit will not get anything usable out of their corpses.::
::And the leak?::
::Not identified yet, but our undercover operation appears still to be safe.::
::Are you sure that we haven't become compromised?::
::Positive.::
::I guess the Joint Investigation Unit would have hit the rehabilitation facilities we operate at if they knew we were here.::
::Now I need that update.::
::It is the usual,:: The guard scoffs. ::Crying carriers who can't accept that life is hard and weak sires lacking any will to fight.::
::Someone did something I didn't like and now I can't function!:: He imitates derisively, causing his contact within the Syndicate to let out a deep, rambunctious laughter.
::There is something that might be of interest, though.:: He adds thoughtfully when the laughter has died down.
His contact leans forward on the screen, optics full of keen interest.
::Do tell.::
::We got this new seeker some time ago. A carrier with pretty flirtatious wings and a pert aft.::
::A slave?::
::No.:: The guard answers with a condescending smirk. ::A freaking psychiatrist.::
::And you think he is worth taking into consideration?::
::Too risky as of now, but later on...::
::I understand. And now that we are on the topic. Are there any of our former acquaintances at D-14 that we should welcome back into the fold?::
"Skywarp..." Thundercracker stares at him hesitatingly, "...what are you doing?"
Skywarp smiles sheepishly.
"I thought you would like this."
His arms move for emphasis, the sound of the chains around both of his wrists rattling.
"You thought..." The incredulity in the blue seeker's voice has his smile faltering.
There is a deep sigh, and Skywarp's spark fills with dread.
"I can't be with you, Skywarp," Thundercracker says, his optics full of pain and sorrow. "I'm too damaged. You wouldn't want to be with me if you knew everything I've been through."
"I don't care! I just-..."
"You don't know me."
"Then give me the chance to do so!" Skywarp pleads desperately, his optics bright with fear when Thundercracker turns around and leaves him.
"Please!"
"Don't go!"
"I love you!"
"I love you!" He utters in absolute desperation as he wakes from the nightmare to the familiar sight of his berth room.
His frame is running hot from the horror of the nightmare but also from an unfulfilled charge coursing through his systems, and he grudgingly releases his spike.
If there is one thing he has learned from the group therapy, then it is that sex is the safest topic for them to talk about.
The relaxed discussions keep them from thinking about all the horrible things they have had to do to survive their time as slaves.
And everyone can participate in the recurring good-natured arguments about which carrier currently stationed at the rehabilitation facility they wouldn't hesitate to be together with.
Yet, it has also confronted him with his inner desires, and refusing to be left out, he had shared his thoughts about Thundercracker. For the first time he had put words on what he feels for the blue seeker. It had opened a floodgate, and the positive responses he had received from the others had reassured him that what he feels is okay.
It is okay to be attracted to Thundercracker.
It is okay to feel lust for the blue seeker.
There is nothing to be ashamed of.
And thus, without a single trace of guilt, he imagines the erotic sight of Thundercracker radiating pure lust while the blue seeker slowly sinks onto his rigid spike.
"So beautiful. So tight." He says with a groan of lust while he rapidly works himself towards overload with his hand around his spike.
His visualization of Thundercracker begins to ride him painfully slow, and the blue wings go rigid in a magnificent sight of sexual pleasure when a forward movement stimulates the carrier's anterior node.
"Yes! Take me! Use me!"
A devastating smile plays on the blue seeker's lips, and then the valve clenches around his spike, bringing him dangerously close to overload.
"Frag!" He breathes, and his hand increases its pace.
The thought of Thundercracker's domineering lips against his is what finally triggers his overload. While he is caught in the pleasure from the overload, he is suddenly a victim to his processor's sinful whims as the memory of Thundercracker's 'cold' overload fills his mind. And against his will, it triggers a second overload that knocks the air out of him at its intensity.
Slowly recovering from the dual-overload, he stares horrified up at the ceiling.
If the others knew how close he had been with Thundercracker, if they learned that the blue seeker had overloaded against him, then they would be envious of him, but all he wants is to forget.
Forget that catastrophic moment where everything went wrong between them and go back to the silent, harmless interaction through their fields.
He didn't want to hurt Thundercracker, but for some reason, he had.
Why else had the blue seeker suddenly reacted with a spark-deep fear?
To achieve overload by the memory fills him with a deep self-loathing.
Maybe Nacelle is right.
They are too close.
He is too dangerous.
The only mercy is that his imagination of Thundercracker never will be afraid of him.