Nacelle plays the footage from Shadeweaver's meeting with Skywarp again and again while studying the black and purple seeker closely.
It is a relief that Skywarp has held out, but he can see the weariness in the seeker's optics. He is clearly not getting a sufficient healthy recharge, which is a regular method used to weaken the victim.
Torrent arrives, and Nacelle pauses the footage with a sigh.
If what the operative leader says to Skywarp is true, then all of his hard work with Thundercracker has been ruined.
He can only hope that some of it, if not all of it, are lies, and that Thundercracker is able to use some of the coping strategies he has taught the blue seeker to withstand the syndicate's sadistic methods of coercive persuasion.
And he still doesn't understand why Torrent is so interested in the two seekers.
Why did he want Skywarp's warp-gate?
And more importantly, why is the syndicate's operative leader so obsessed with Thundercracker?
::Prowl, can I get access to Thundercracker's files?::
::Which ones?::
::All of them.::
"And here we have Thundercracker, this year's winner of the Golden Star for his outstanding work on documenting the corruption among the politicians at the top of our society. Give him a warm welcome."
"Thank you, Blaster. It has been overwhelming." Thundercracker says as he enters the stage and sits down in the chair across from the host.
"There have been several major stories this year. Tell me, did you expect to win?"
"Not at all. As you say, were I up against some worthy candidates. But the good people of Cybertron decided that my documentary deserved to win. And I am grateful for the support I have received." Thundercracker answers, and his whole attitude radiates a strong sense of self-esteem as well as an remarkable self-assuredness as he looks into the camera transmitting the interview.
Nacelle pauses the clip.
It is the only footage depicting who Thundercracker had been before he went missing.
And there is a radical difference.
Why?
Prolonged captivity or massive psychological stress rarely causes people to change their identity as completely as Thundercracker has.
When he looks at the clip, it is as if he sees a completely different person.
According to the recorded sessions with a psychiatrist, that occurred a few days after his liberation, the blue seeker is unable to recall anything from the time before the breeding facility, while there is no physical damages to his processor that indicates a case of retrograde amnesia.
It is a mystery he has to solve, if he is to help Thundercracker recover.
He looks at the date of the interview and notices that it took place half a year before the blue seeker went missing.
What if Thundercracker had discovered the existence of the syndicate and had begun to investigate it?
It is easy to imagine how the syndicate would react if they found out an investigative journalist were researching their shady businesses.
But why keep him as a slave instead of killing him?
The members of the syndicate are not afraid to show their power and send a clear message to anyone that may stand in their way.
So why not kill the one that threatened to reveal them?
In a sudden moment of clarity, a terrible thought occurs to him.
Could it be...
Primus!
He searches frantically after the datapad with Shadeweaver's reconnaissance in the mess on his desk and fast forward to the moment when Torrent enters the recording.
With his new realization, he listens intently to the conversation between Torrent and Skywarp.
...an old lover?
It would explain so much.
How Thundercracker discovered the existence the syndicate, and why Torrent is so obsessed with Thundercracker that he risked everything to get a hold on the blue seeker.
It still doesn't give him an answer as to why Thundercracker has changed personality, but it is a start.
He is certain that his hypothesis is true, but they will only find out for sure, if they delve into the possible relationship between the syndicate's operative leader and Thundercracker.
How, when and where did Thundercracker get into contact with Torrent, and how did their relationship develop?
It also explains Torrent's unhealthy interest in Skywarp.
Jealousy is a dangerous thing in the mind of a powerful criminal.
"How are you feeling today, Skywarp?"
Skywarp narrows his optics at the sight of Torrent's insufferable expression of smugness when the operative leader walks into the room.
"It is still a NO." He answers defiantly and stares into Torrent's cold and calculated optics with a strength he didn't have before Shadeweaver's visit.
Their interaction has been the same whenever Torrent has visited him, and is always followed up by a new dose of drugs that distorts his reality at a degree, where only the operative leader's visits are an anchor to reality.
His talk with Shadeweaver has despite how brief it was, however, grounded him mentally and emotionally and has given him another anchor to reality to lean against.
The hope of rescue pulses strongly in his spark and he knows that he needs to hold out for a little longer.
Just a little longer...
"What a shame." Torrent tuts in fake annoyance and turns around to look at someone outside the door, "Did you hear that, my dear? He still doesn't want to be with you."
Thundercracker steps through the door, and Skywarp fills with shock when the blue seeker comfortably leans against Torrent.
"You vile-...!" He has no words to describe the hate, that he feels in that moment.
"What have you done?!"
"Me?" Torrent looks affectionately down at Thundercracker, "Nothing that he didn't want me to do."
"Liar!"
Thundercracker remains passive, seemingly not even realizing that they are talking about him, and he willingly allows Torrent to kiss him in front of Skywarp. The kiss is dominant and passionate, and the message behind it is impossible to misunderstand.
"Why don't you show him your new tattoo?"
Thundercracker obediently turns around, and Torrent proudly presents the engraved identification code located between the blue wings.
A silver star beside the number 391.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?"
Skywarp feels like purging.
"I will let you have some time together. Thundercracker wanted to see you, and he has been so well-behaved that he deserved a reward." Torrent says and leaves the room.
The door closes, and Thundercracker's demeanor changes instantly.
Awareness returns to the blue seeker's optics while his field expands and fills with emotion.
Skywarp is so surprised by the change, that he doesn't know what to do when Thundercracker suddenly is beside his berth and leans down to kiss him affectionately.
"I love you."
He begins to cry at the words and reciprocates the gentle loving kiss.
"I have missed you so much." He whispers hoarsely.
"You need to listen to me." Thundercracker whispers urgently, "Torrent is close to killing you because you won't submit to him, and I don't want you to die. You have to submit to him!"
"No, no, Thundercracker. Listen to me. An reconnaissance officer was here yesterday." He whispers soothingly in response, "The Joint Investigation Unit knows where we are and they will come for us. Everything is going to be okay."
"It is too late, Skywarp." Thundercracker murmurs sorrowful, "I'm apparently too dangerous to be allowed to stay here. Torrent is sending me away today, and our only chance to stay together is if you submit to his will."
"You do realize what he wants me to do, right?" Skywarp growls.
"He wants you to spark me, but if that is what it takes to keep you alive, then I will do it willingly."
Skywarp stares into Thundercracker's desperate optics with conflicted feelings.
If he doesn't submit to Torrent, then he is going to lose Thundercracker, but the thought of submitting to the will of the syndicate is abhorrent.
"I can't live without you. If you die, then..." Tears fall from Thundercracker's optics, "...I don't want to live anymore."
Primus!
Was this Torrent's sadistic plan all along?
To have Thundercracker break him?
Suddenly he feels extremely emotionally drained.
The despairing look in Thundercracker's optics is impossible to withstand, and he accepts his defeat with a deep weary sigh.
He will have to congratulate Torrent with a successful manipulation, because how can he refuse, when Thundercracker so desperately asks him to do it?