"AHEM!"
In one of the smaller doorways stood a slim yet compact mech around Bumblebee's size, with rust red, dark brown, and white armor. His red/orange optics were half closed, half open, but nothing about his body language suggested that he was tired.
"If I'm interrupting something important…"
SLIPSTREAM: NO!
The femme wrenched herself free of Sunstorm's grasp and hurried over to the mech.
SLIPSTREAM: Please, for my sanity, stay!
The mech shrugged his shoulder plates, then let his gaze wander over to the newcomers.
"I suppose that busted little ship you want me to fix belongs to them?"
SLIPSTREAM: Yes.
The mech hummed in acknowledgment.
BUMBLEBEE: Wait, our ship survived?
"Barely functional, but surprisingly still intact. It'll take a while to repair, and even longer before it's safe to take it out again, so you will be stuck with us for a while."
BUMBLEBEE: We'll manage. Thank you.
SLIPSTREAM: Yes. Thank you, Dead End.
DEAD END: Just doing my job.
His red/orange optics looked over the newcomers once more, eventually settling on Knockout.
DEAD END: Something about you seems familiar.
The red medic stiffened. He certainly never saw this mech before in his life. Not from a time that he could recall, anyway.
KNOCKOUT: Sorry, but you must have me confused with someone else.
DEAD END: Hmm… mind telling me your name?
Knockout fumbled. He didn't expect the response he received, thus, he was unsure of how to respond himself.
BUMBLEBEE: Knockout, his name is Knockout. I'm Bumblebee, this is Steeljaw, and that's Starscream over there.
Dead End dipped his helm at each of the addressed mechs. After Starscream, his optics alit with their own spark, one of realization. He turned back to Knockout.
DEAD END: Ah, now I remember where I've heard of ya! Breakdown used to talk about you all the time!
The unexpected answer nearly made Knockout pass out.
KNOCKOUT: You… you knew Breakdown?
DEAD END: Yeah. Good mech. We were part of Motormaster's Stunticon gang back in the day with a couple other mechs. Anyway, I heard about what happened to him. My condolences. May not have seen him in a long time, but if the two of you were together till the end, I guess I didn't have to worry about him changing much.
The red medic was on the verge of tears. Correction, he was crying, wiping away the drops that fell down his faceplate.
KNOCKOUT: Thank you… and if it's any consolation, the one who killed him is offline.
DEAD END: Good.
SLIPSTREAM: Is that all, Dead End?
The former Stunticon once again scanned the newcomers. This time, he fixated on Steeljaw.
DEAD END: Looks like you had a bad chord.
Having become used to Earth language, it took Steeljaw a minute to register the word.
STEELJAW: You have no idea.
DEAD END: Right. Well, I ain't a doc for the processor, but that doesn't mean I can't fix ya.
STEELJAW: You're a medic?
DEAD END: Legally, no, but I've managed to keep the injured functioning, so I wouldn't worry.
Steeljaw and the others looked unconvinced.
SLIPSTREAM: Trust me when I say that Dead End knows exactly what he's doing. He may not have had proper training…
WRECK-GAR: But he does have experience! Oh, you should hear all the stories! He has quite the impressive haul of tales to tell!
SUNSTORM: And he's put me back together more times than I can count!
Everyone was now looking at Sunstorm, who still clung to Starscream.
SUNSTORM: What?
SLIPSTREAM: Anyway, the point of the matter is that you can trust Dead End.
Steeljaw seemed hesitant about following a stranger to another part of the ship, away from the others, but this isn't the Tidal Wave anymore. No one here will hurt him. He was safe.
BUMBLEBEE: You okay, Steeljaw?
STEELJAW: Yeah, fine.
BUMBLEBEE: Alright. How about you go with Dead End and get fixed up? I'll be here if you need anything.
Steeljaw nodded his helm, a small smile forming. He joined Dead End, and the two mechs left.
WRECK-GAR: Thundertron tortured him, didn't he?
Bumblebee sighed and turned a solemn look onto Wreck-Gar. The normally cheerful Junkion looked back with a similar expression.
BUMBLEBEE: Steeljaw tried not to let them get to him, but they injected him with an overdose of some sort of fear serum, and it affected him worse than any of us thought it would.
Wreck-Gar shook his helm and vented.
WRECK-GAR: I'm sorry for what happened to all of you. Junkion was once under Thundertron's control, and we all were on the receiving end of such violence. I was happy beyond belief when you Autobots stopped to help us, but we weren't exactly pleased when the Decepticons showed-up.
BUMBLEBEE: Well, I'm glad that we could help, and, please, accept my apology for what happened with the Decepticons. We didn't mean for you to get involved.
The Junkion smiled and patted the smaller mech on his shoulder plate.
WRECK-GAR: Apology accepted.
Bumblebee returned the smile and nodded.
STARSCREAM: I'd hate to interrupt, but can someone remove this annoyance from me?
SUNSTORM: But I don't want to leave! I want to stay with you!
STARSCREAM: You can do that without being attached to me!
SUNSTORM: But Scream!
STARSCREAM: Sunstorm, I mean it. Get. Off.
SUNSTORM: Scream…
STARSCREAM: Release me, or I will tear your arms off!
Starscream's twin was quiet for a moment.
SUNSTORM: Only if you say you know what.
In a flash, Starscream jumped to his pedes.
STARSCREAM: That's it! You're coming off!
SUNSTORM: No! Not unless you say it!
STARSCREAM: I am not saying it!
SUNSTORM: But it's so simple!
STARSCREAM: It's embarrassing!
SUNSTORM: You embarrass yourself all the time!
That just made Knockout, Bumblebee, Slipstream and Wreck-Gar completely lose it. The four of them burst out laughing.
STARSCREAM: Let's see how well you hold onto things without arms!
SUNSTORM: I still have legs!
STARSCREAM: I fragging hate you!
SUNSTORM: I love you, too, Scream!
STARSCREAM: You are so annoying!
SUNSTORM: Now you're just repeating yourself.
STARSCREAM: Grr… SUNSTORM!
SUNSTORM: STARSCREAM!
The twins were soon a writhing mess of claws and wings. Starscream didn't know that he managed to detach Sunstorm from his frame, as he was a little too preoccupied with trying to strangle him.
Heavy ped steps approaching the bridge forced the two to stop fighting, and the other four to calm down. Wreck-Gar and Slipstream flipped on the serious switch in a spark beat. The sudden change alarmed the others.
BUMBLEBEE: Wreck-Gar? Slipstream? Is something wrong?
SLIPSTREAM: No.
KNOCKOUT: You sure?
SLIPSTREAM: Yes.
Starscream was just about to ask his sister what had gotten into her when the heavy steps suddenly stopped.
"Fodder told me we had guests."
Starscream flinched. He recognized that deep voice. He cursed himself for not recognizing those heavy steps when he stood up and away from Sunstorm and turned around. Standing in the doorway, straight ahead, was a very familiar purple and gray cyclops.
SLIPSTREAM: If they're a problem for you, Shockwave, I can always throw them out.
Shockwave didn't immediately answer, his single optic locked onto Starscream. The only sign he gave of hearing the femme was a twitch of his antenna.
This time, it wasn't Knockout and Bumblebee who were out of the loop; Wreck-Gar, Slipstream, and Sunstorm were quiet and confused. They didn't know about Starscream and Shockwave's history.
KNOCKOUT: Oh! Wreck-Gar, Slipstream, I know we already owe you a lot for saving us, but we need to ask you for a huge favor!
WRECK-GAR: Of course! What do you need?
KNOCKOUT: Well… uh… we really should check our ship's travel data, first. Think we can do that?
SLIPSTREAM: Maybe. How about you tell us this favor of yours while I show you the way to your ship? Or, what's left of it.
KNOCKOUT: Sounds good!
Slipstream led the way out of the bridge, Knockout, Bumblebee, and Wreck-Gar tailing her.
SUNSTORM: See you later, Scream!
The mech waved to his brother before rushing after the others.
.
. .
. . .
SHOCKWAVE: Starscream.
STARSCREAM: Hello, Shockwave. You appear to be doing well, since the last time I saw you.
The Seeker noticed Shockwave's servo clench. He stiffened, afraid of what might happen, but he knew he couldn't avoid this forever.
SHOCKWAVE: If you have something to say, logically, it would be best if you say what's on your processor right now.
STARSCREAM: Sorry. I just… I don't know how to word this.
SHOCKWAVE: You mean to make an apology.
STARSCREAM: Was that a question? That didn't exactly sound like a question.
SHOCKWAVE: More of a statement to progress your processing of information and reaching a timely and logical conclusion, which you will then iterate to me.
STARSCREAM: As an apology.
The Seeker mulled over the words and chuckled. Shockwave tilted his helm.
STARSCREAM: You are certainly unique, Shockwave. Honestly, I kind of missed that. Never thought I would miss you of all mechs. You annoyed the scrap out of me, drove me mad with how much Megatron preferred you over me…
SHOCKWAVE: That thinking was most illogical, because the way you behaved was also illogical.
Starscream chuckled, again, and approached Shockwave.
STARSCREAM: You're even insulting me, and yet, I'm not mad.
The Seeker stopped just in front of the cyclops and smiled.
Not a grin.
Not a smirk.
A genuine smile.
Shockwave's helm tilted even more. To say he was confused was an understatement.
SHOCKWAVE: What is wrong with you?
Starscream laughed.
Not malicious.
Not tired.
Actual happiness.
He closed the distance between the two and wrapped his arms around Shockwave, embracing his old companion.
SHOCKWAVE: It is logical to assume that you severely damaged your processor, Starscream. This is not you.
Starscream's laugh was muffled by Shockwave's shoulder plating.
STARSCREAM: Oh, just shut up, you big lug!
Unsure of what to do, Shockwave remained still and silent, while his processor was running a mile a minute trying to decipher what in the name of Primus is going on with the silver Seeker.
STARSCREAM: You know, I haven't stopped thinking about you. The time we spent together. I regret leaving you behind. I really, truly do, Shockwave. You did so much for me without complaint, and while I didn't like you…
SHOCKWAVE: You don't like anyone.
STARSCREAM: I do now.
.
. .
. . .
SHOCKWAVE: I beg your pardon?
Starscream pulled out of the hug and backed up a step. He gingerly placed a servo on either side of Shockwave's helm, careful not to poke anything sensitive. His pair of red optics remained fixed on the one in front of him.
STARSCREAM: I'm sorry for abandoning you, Shockwave.
.
. .
. . .
.
. .
. . .
SHOCKWAVE: Apology… accepted.