Chap 9
Roosting
Your circuits are buzzing. Whatever liquid they used to revive you makes you feel like you're experiencing a sugar rush, which is loads better than the grogginess you felt earlier. You can still feel a bit of the liquid seeping into your seams, each drop adds another supercharged kick to your systems.
Your subsystems are all coming back online at full power, which allows your processor to finally compute all the happenings you've experienced recently. You hadn't even noticed that you'd been working on low power for so long and now feeling fully charged allows you to focus on the important things slipping from your processor.
Like getting a full run-down on your current biomechanical body from Ratchet. Or telling the Seekers to bring you back home to Earth. Or yelling at the Autobots for kidnapping you in the first place. Or any of the hundreds of unanswered questions that are pinging about your now mechanical brain.
The worst part about being in this hyper-powered state is realising how much was actually missing. Being on low power in this mechanical body meant that your fuel lines had prioritised certain functions over others; namely keeping more physical attributes functional for survival rather than computing power. You know this based on a quick schematics summary that had popped up on your HUD as soon as you woke up.
Now that you are fully charged, you notice that there are several gaps in your memory. Not huge ones, and none since you'd transformed, but important things from before are missing.
You wrack your brain trying to remember specifics. There are bits and pieces of information you still have, mostly pictures and memories, but certain specific, important things are missing. Like the name of the city you grew up in, or what your favourite food was and what it tasted like. Most worryingly, you try to think if you could remember having siblings, or parents or a family. But that only brings more panic to your overcharged systems when you realise you don't know.
You can't remember. These are important things that you should know. But somewhere along the line, your computer brain had considered these unimportant pieces of information and erased them. Similar to a laptop erasing cookies or old passwords.
But these were your memories, your human memories, not files. These were the only things that tied metal you and past you together, and they were being erased. You hadn't even realised it was happening, and by now you weren't sure how much was already lost.
There was a part of you that tried to remember these facts, even going so far as to convince yourself that you remembered, but you couldn't be sure. Every piece of information felt made up or false, and you didn't know what was real. Did you have a sister? A brother? All the information swirling around your processor felt too much and not enough at the same time.
You want to scream at Ratchet, blame him for everything that is happening to you. Doctors are supposed to help people, and the longer you are in this body the less like people you are. Your metallic shell was scrubbing away the memory of who you were, and you don't even know when it started, let alone how to stop it.
Luckily for your supercharged state, it means that right now your processor has more than enough juice to compute the necessary steps that can hopefully slow your ongoing descent into panic.
Facing Ratchet alone is nerve wracking, but facing this new unknown within you is much more terrifying. You know that he has some of the answers you need, and you are gonna get them from him no matter what you have to do.
You know you need to speak with him alone because, well, you still aren't brave enough to ask if Ratchet had already told Skywarp all about how you were made. About who you were. About how you are different. So even though it's scary talking to the doctor alone, you can sort of convince yourself that there is a chance that neither Seeker knows of your (former) condition.
You want to tell them yourself. Full honesty. When the time is right. But with that fear still within you as Skywarp left you alone with Ratchet, you hope it isn't too late to tell him yourself after.
Ratchet's blue stare is penetrating. The intensity of the blue light shines with eagerness and repressed feelings. Even from your lower vantage point on the ground, you can see how his servos are clenched at his sides, tight and unmoving. If you weren't scared out of your mind, he might even look nervous. He doesn't take a step forward or make a move to speak first, so you take your chance.
"How am I different?" You're proud of your voice for not shaking. You feel like a million pieces of jello.
Ratchet flickers his optics, clearly caught off guard. "Different? You're not–"
"How am I different from other Cybertronians? What makes me different from the Terrans you knew?" You're not going to let him change the subject. You have to know now.
He blinks again, clearly this is not how he thought this conversation would go. "Those are two very different questions, little one. Why do you ask?"
"If I'm different, shouldn't I know how my own body works?"
Ratchet ponders, clearly your question makes some sense. "True." His tone has an edge of dismissiveness that makes you want to grind your denta. You try to keep it together.
"Optmius and I mentioned before that you were created by the Emberstone, yes?" You nod, remembering the conversation that felt like it happened so long ago. "The Emberstone acts as a catalyst to organic material, changing biological matter into mechanical matter so that it can be processed easier. It was made as a failsafe in case Cybtertron was no longer capable of supporting mechanical life."
You squint, following along. You had been prepared for a complicated explanation, and so far you were still understanding. The overcharged state of your processor is no doubt helping with your comprehension.
Ratchet continues. "When the Emberstone made contact with Earth's biosphere, it completed its designated coding. It changed the surrounding liquid into an energy-rich material, which in turn resulted in the creation of both you and the Terrans."
Nodding, most of this information is already known to you. But the biggest question still remains.
"But how did the Terrans and I end up different?"
Ratchet's optics shift, suddenly nervous to meet your gaze. When he looks back his blue optics are soft, and almost pitiful.
"The Terrans came into being when the Malto siblings made contact with the Emberstone directly, resulting in their Cybertronian siblings. But you made contact with the Emberstone charged liquid, which holds the same cybernetic material as cybermatter; quite literally the building blocks of all Cybertronian life. You made contact with pure liquid cybermatter; as far as my studies have shown you must have been covered in it at the time of transformation. Thus once you made contact with the Emberstone, you were already fully immersed in the charged cybermatter. From what I can discern, the Emberstone must have perceived you as a perfect starting block for a Cybertronian protoform; arms, legs, head, and all."
Your circuits are already overheating from this onslaught of information. So, basically what he is saying is that you were created by accident. No higher power made you for any kind of reason, you are literally just some weird happenstance.
Trying to make sense of his words, and trying not to spiral into a panic attack, you break his explanation down into simpler words.
"So basically what you're saying is…Emberstone plus human equals Terran. But Emberstone plus Emberstone water plus human…equals me." You point to yourself limply, the metal tip of your finger making a small metallic clink against your chest armour. It sounds as hollow as you feel.
Ratchet still looks sad. "To put it simply, yes." You can't bear to meet his optics now. "If my hypothesis is correct, that might be exactly what happened. Though we are also unsure if your age was a factor in determining the success of the transformation, as your previous state was at an ideal age for your current frame size. It's my hypothesis that due to the fact that humans around your age undergo a similar state of changeability, the Emberstone merely facilitated the change according to its own code." He rambles on further a bit, but you aren't listening.
You look down at your shiny silver hands and a brief gleam of your green optics shine in the metal back at you. There is so much to think about, and Ratchet's overbearing staring isn't helping.
Without looking back up at him, spark fluttering in anxiety, you blurt out. "Can I be alone for a while? I need some time to think."
He takes a step forward, clearly against the idea. You can feel he has things to say to you as well, but anything more will have you spiral further into a panic attack. Right now, you are at the shocked and frozen stage, but it would take so little to tip you over the edge down to a full-blown meltdown.
He has enough foresight to not to force the issue. He mutely assents and takes a step to leave. You doubt he'll go far, he obviously still has things he wants to say, but he gives you your moment alone. The berth room door shuts behind him as he exits into the hallway, and you're left alone with your thoughts, blessedly and agonisingly quiet.
Your processor is swimming with information, pop-ups swarming your vision making it difficult to focus on the ship's floor. You try to ground yourself unsuccessfully, and you actually feel dizzy, which is new for you in this body. No amount of shaking your head gets the many windows in your HUD to disappear.
An accident. You don't even remember why you entered the cave with the Emberstone. Why were you there in the first place? What could have prompted you to enter a half-sunken hole in the ground in the middle of nowhere Witwicky?
If you went back there now, would anybody recognize you? Is anyone looking for you? You don't remember what you looked like before all this. Did you have black hair or brown hair? What were you wearing before it melded permanently into this alien body? Were you alone or was someone out there looking for you desperately while you were out here in space? Was there any way you could be changed back? Would your memories come back if you did?
Oh god, your name. You hadn't told anyone, and now it is so far away locked up in your processor that you have trouble accessing it. Maybe it too, is already gone.
Fighting tears, you feel so heavy. The nest of blankets looks inviting, but you stop your walk towards it with a dark thought; it looks inviting to an alien, not a human kid. Your logic centre screams at you to seek comfort with larger beings with warm servos, but the remaining panicking human part of your brain is louder.
You need to think. You need to vent. And nobody on board this ship is safe to do that with. Not even the Seekers. Nobody on board this ship is safe enough to open your feelings to without severe consequences. Everyone seems to have separate agendas, and you can't tell which ones are in your favour.
Stupid alien instincts. Stupid giant robot aliens. Stupid automatic survival memory deletion system.
There isn't even a place on this stupid ship where you can vent in peace. This was the first time you have been left alone on this ship, and you know deep down that Ratchet won't be far. Every single alien here has some sort of weird hang up with your presence aboard the ship, and you are tired of being treated like some sideshow attraction.
Maybe it is better to get the conversation over with Ratchet sooner rather than later. Your systems have transferred your panicked energy to anger, and you are ready to let it out on someone. Knowing Ratchet is definitely on the other side of the door, you quickly make up your mind to face him, and approach the entrance. It hasn't been long since you'd asked him to leave.
The door, now that you're close enough to observe it, is rather unremarkable. All of the doors aboard the ship are automatic, probably equipped with some sort of internal recognition system. You are briefly worried that it won't open for you given that it's used to much bigger titans venturing these hallways, but as you approach the doors open easily and you're left to face a suspiciously open hallway. Ratchet is nowhere to be seen.
You briefly consider contacting Skywarp over comms the moment you see that you're by yourself, but pause after a thought. When was the last time you were alone like this? It must have been when you were left alone for days in the shipping container. You hadn't been truly alone then; any of the Autobots would happily communicate with you over comms (as busy as they were at the time kidnapping you) but this is a different kind of alone.
Walking a little farther, you pass the nearby dorms where the other occupants of the ship are housed for the duration of the voyage. You have no idea how far in space you are, or how close to the destination, but other than seeing the green Autobot peek out at you when you were first brought to your current room, you haven't seen anyone using this space.
Peering around the corner, it's just as empty as the hallway. The room has the feeling of a locker room, with each of the closed doors assigned to the Autobots working aboard the ship. It's silent inside, and you pass the dorms without incident. Nobody seems to be home.
Ratchet was like, actually gone. When you asked for time alone he straight up left left. Some of the rage within you simmers; there isn't going to be a confrontation like you had expected. He probably wanted to talk about you running away to the Seekers (away from him), but you had been too wound up at the time to fully explain your situation. Running away from Ratchet was a necessary evil, as you now know that he was involved in your kidnapping. (no matter how nice and eager to please you he acted)
Confident that you can comm Skywarp or Starscream if you have any kind of problem and they'll come running, you take it upon yourself to do something you haven't had the chance to do yet; explore an alien spaceship.
Sure you'd seen a few corridors and rooms alongside the Seekers, but you haven't had the opportunity to explore by yourself. Something within you tingles unpleasantly at the prospect, but you are undeterred. This is a good opportunity to get your mind off of the many changes and revelations you've experienced, and who knows? Maybe you'll find a nice little hideaway if things go downhill.
You travel further down the corridor, trying to remember the way to the cargo bay. You had been pretty sleepy earlier when you were carried down there, and you feel like it's a good starting point to your exploration. All of the hallways look the same once you pass the dorm area, and there are no signs on the walls dictating what direction you are headed. Vaguely you begin to think maybe this isn't such a good idea, but taking one step forward at a time you try to focus on your task without focusing on any potential consequences.
The more you walk, the more you realise it takes so much longer to walk on your own legs than it did being carried. These hallways are clearly made with longer strides in mind, and by the time you begin to feel that vague sort of 'descending' sensation, you feel as though you've been walking for a good, long while.
The first door you come across looks the same as any of the others. You approach it hesitantly hoping it'll open the same as your berth room doors, but it remains stubbornly shut. You hadn't considered this possibility. Maybe the doors don't all open automatically, or maybe this one is locked for a reason.
Either way, you venture further into the bowels of the ship and come across a few more locked doors and a crossroads that looks vaguely familiar. You think that the way to the left is towards the cargo hold, and the way to the right somewhere you've never been. Pausing only for a moment to map out your progress on an internal map, you turn to the left and make a note to try the right path afterwards, if you get an opportunity.
After venturing a bit farther down the nondescript corridors, you encounter a door that opens cheerfully at your approach, and you're delighted to find that it is the cargo hold. It's completely devoid of any Cybertronian life (save for your own), and you bite back a shiver at the memory of being left alone in a place similar to this. Taking a few steadying breaths, you steer clear of the Energon stockpiles that are arranged in organised piles around the hangar. The acrid taste is still lingering on your tongue (a glossa, your internal dictionary chimes) and you have no desire to go back for a second tasting. There are still remnants of the substance coating your inner fuel lines.
This cargo hold is vast, making you question how big this ship actually is by human standards. The shipping crates are all uniform and unassuming with their old chipped paint and slightly rusted corners, but they make the room seem larger than it is; it's difficult to tell what's wall and what's container. Everything has a rough welded together quality to it. The ceilings are always high, vaulted in order to accommodate the giant aliens. It makes the rooms seem so much bigger from your low vantage. You wonder if you'll ever stop feeling small.
After wandering around slowly for a while, you come across a sight that makes your spark sink. Laying on top of a few storage containers like a makeshift tomb is the unmoving form of Thundercracker; his blue paint still holding onto its muted bits of colour even after all this time. It's faded for sure, you remember it being a vibrant, pure blue, but now it looks the same as the last time you saw him; a powdery hue leaning towards slate grey.
He's so still, but you can almost convince yourself he's sleeping. You didn't get to know him the same way you are getting to know his brothers, and they rarely talk about him. He was only ever mentioned once, after you brought him up. You desperately wish things hadn't happened the way they did.
Starscream and Skywarp don't blame you for his death. They make sure you know that even as your processor tries to convince you otherwise. You wish you could know him as you know the others, but thanks to your recklessness now you'd never get that chance.
You aren't revulsed by the lifeless alien body in front of you, weirdly. It should be macabre, being this close to what is considered a gigantic dead body. But perhaps that kind of revulsion was removed with that human part of you alongside those memories, having no place in your new metal body.
There's some part of you that wants to be even closer to him, to touch him, and be near him. One of his servos is even low enough to the ground that you can easily reach it, and you take a step forward without thinking. You touch your fingertips to his palm and instead of feeling sad, you almost feel comforted.
He's cold, as you can expect from lifeless metal that's been hanging out in a cargo hold for days, but a familiar rush of affection zips along your systems as you make contact with him. It's a similar feeling to when you touch the other Seekers; some sort of internal connection that draws you together, a feeling of contentness. You're not sure what it is, but at the very least it feels nice.
Taking a seat next to his massive servo, you press your back up against his thumb and tilt your head back, allowing some of the tension to leak from your body. Your wings fold comfortably between his massive fingers and you try to remember the last time he held you, the only memory you share with him. You're still beyond stressed, there's no doubt about that, but something about being here with Thundercracker makes you feel a little more whole, and a little more comfortable.
Your vocal processor starts talking before you even know what you're saying. Your voice cuts through the silence of the room, and it echoes off of the metal containers surrounding you.
Emotions spill out of you without restriction, and once you start you find it's difficult to stop. It feels good to finally get it all out, talking about your worries and your fears, about how scared you are and how you feel like you're betraying yourself every time you're having fun. Thundercracker's body doesn't respond, of course, but you feel better imagining that he's listening intently.
You talk about your regrets, how you wish you could get to know him and thanking him for saving you during the fight. Who knows what would have happened to you if he wasn't there. Your optics fight back a few tears as you stop repressing your feelings by talking about it, the literal consequence of your actions supporting your back as you spill your feelings.
It's weird and macabre in a way, but you've dealt with so much garbage lately that this is one of the less weird things that has happened. Besides, no one is here to judge you. Thundercracker's corpse is a great listener, and spilling your deepest fears like this makes your spark feel lighter with every word you manage to choke out. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.
You talk about how you're losing your memories, and how you barely remember your own name anymore. You talk about regrets of things you had never gotten to do, and with a sad thought you're unsure if maybe the memories of potentially doing those things are gone as well. Your body trembles from your wingtips to your fingertips, and you're unsure if it's the cooling temperature of the room or your body trying to shake out some of your inner tension.
The overcharged feeling you felt earlier is dissipating to a more manageable state; you no longer feel like you're about to jump out of your skin (er, armour), and the emotions dwelling within are coming out easier and easier. It feels cathartic, finally talking about all these things that you had been keeping bottled up. You're a kid for goodness' sake! You shouldn't be worried about these things! But in this moment, sitting on the floor of an alien spaceship with a gigantic body at your back, you can't even remember the usual things that you should be worrying about. School? Class? Homework? All of those things seem so foreign to the you now.
By now your face is wet, tears coming and going, fingers wet too from rubbing your leaking optics. You feel a lot better though. With a brief, cheerful thought, maybe you'll be able to come back here if you get a chance to sneak away again. Being here with Thundercracker feels right, in some weird way, and you hope that you don't get into trouble with his brothers by being here. Alien culture is weird and you're never sure if you're committing any social taboos, but nobody's told you otherwise yet.
You tuck a little closer into Thundercracker's servo, as if the mere proximity makes you feel warmer in the chill of the cargo hold. You won't stay here much longer, as you've already lingered long enough, but this small moment of peace is nice. You don't get that same lonely feeling that you did in the cargo room from before; even Thundercracker's body is better company than just you, yourself, and I.
There's no sleepy feeling, but you do feel your body relax. Maybe you'll call Skywarp when you feel up to it. But for now you feel safe where you are.
At first Thundercracker thought he was imagining the gentle feeling of the Seekerling's EM field entering the cargo hold. They had been down here earlier with his Trine when they had attempted to refuel the little one, and he had listened worriedly when things had gone wrong. He was present for Optimus Prime's and Starscream's argument, cataloguing the information as quickly as he was picking up on it, and he was just as shocked to hear about the sparkling's incidental creation as Starscream was.
The Emberstone was barely a thought in his mind before this, but to learn that it was capable of creating new life in this way? Thundercracker wasn't a scientific mech by any means, but this was entirely a world-shattering development if the Emberstone was able to create Cybertronian life from basically nothing. All of a sudden the dying hope he had for the Autobot's mission surged into life. Maybe it was possible to bring Cybertron back to its former glory. Perhaps their race could be saved after all?
After they left, he had slipped back into a light recharge that was interrupted when he heard the doors open, and at first he had presumed it was one of his brothers coming back to give him further information. Imagine his surprise when it was the Seekerlet, alone, and without anyone accompanying them.
He monitored as they wandered around a bit, shivering a little in the chill of the room. Thundercracker wondered if they even noticed. He was happy to note that their energy levels were much better than the last time they'd been down here. It was evident that whatever fuel they needed had been administered successfully and that they were feeling much better.
Hearing their small steps in the room made Thundercracker want to stand up and hold the little one to stop their shivers. His brothers loved tormenting him with video feeds and comments wherever the sparkling was involved, and he had to admit that he was envious of their ability to interact with them while he was stuck down here pretending to be offline.
The jealous feeling was tampered by images of the sparkling's smiling face, clearly happy to spend time with the Seekers. He was particularly fond of the video of the little one being tossed into the air, clearly having the time of their life; their wings flared and ready for flight. That file had been tucked away into a specific folder in his memory banks for easier access and had received a lot of watch time in this interim period.
Thundercracker could tell when the sparkling had spotted him, their steps faltering and freezing in place. He had to use every bit of his self control to remain perfectly still, and not to let any of his EM field leak out which could give him away.
The Seekerlet walked a little closer and, blessed Primus, touched his servo. The jolt of connection sent a wave of information to his processor, namely the current physical status of the youngling at his side. They were slightly overcharged, which was to be expected after a long drought of running on low energy, but he could still feel the last vestiges of flight sickness in their personal frequency. It was almost gone now, almost indistinguishable, but Thundercracker knew with time and his brother's efforts, it would be gone in no time.
He had to manually stop himself from rebooting when they took a seat next to his servo and nestled up inside his lowered palm. The feeling of their back strut leaking minute amounts of warmth into his system made all the waiting and watching through his brother's feeds seem worth it. They were here, they were fine, and Thundercracker would protect them no matter what happened.
When they spoke, he could feel the catharsis in their words. So he lay still and listened.
"Hey, Thundercracker. It's nice to finally meet you in person, I guess." The sparkling's tone was quiet, pensive. "Well, if you can count this as in person. I mean, you're here I guess. But you're also not 'here', you know? And we've met before but…Sorry, I guess I'm not making any real sense."
"I've gotten to know your brothers a bit on this trip. Nobody really asked me if I wanted to be here, but I can say that they've definitely been the highlight. It feels kinda wrong for you not to be there, which is weird right? I know we didn't ever get to have a real conversation, but I can definitely feel something missing when we're all together. Is that a robot thing? There's still so many things that are weird to me."
"They're fun, and I like them. But it feels wrong to be having fun with them when I'm the reason you're not there with them. And I should be doing other things, more important things than playing catch with two giant aliens."
They paused, as if waiting for him to respond. All of Thundercracker's self control was focused on keeping still.
"They told me they don't blame me for what happened to you, but I still feel bad about it. If it wasn't for me–" They choked, tiny tremors rippling through their body like an electric charge. Thundercracker fought his own coding not to move, he wanted nothing more than to scoop them up and stop their tears. This was a ruse! He was fine! But the Seekerlet thought it was all their fault. He was a wire's width away from blowing the whole operation.
"They don't blame me, and I know it's stupid to consider it. But I can tell they miss you even if they don't show it. I can tell they try not to talk about you in front of me because it makes them feel bad. They're really good at hiding what they're feeling. I guess that's a robot thing, or maybe a Seeker thing, I dunno."
"I guess what I want to say is, thanks for saving me. I don't think I would have made it out ok during the fight if it wasn't for you. You took the fall for me while I–" A quiet sniffle escaped their intake. "Sorry, I know I shouldn't be crying so easily. I've got to get it together if I ever want to make it back home." Another sniffle.
Thundercracker's spark went out to the youngling, but he was also confused. Optimus had said that the little one was created by the Emberstone. Did that mean 'home' was the Emberstone? Or Earth where they were created? He could do nothing but listen and hope the answers would be revealed.
"It's stupid right? All I've done is stumble from one mess into the next, and I don't even remember how I got into the first mess in the first place." They let out a condescending laugh aimed at themself. Thundercracker felt it like a stab in the spark. "I can't even remember my own name, isn't that sad? Or my favourite food, or where I went to school, or even if I have parents or a family." They clenched their servos and brought them up to their helm, beating it softly. The metallic clangs echoed throughout the chamber. "I'm just some lost little freak that everyone keeps making plans for. Nobody asked me if I wanted to be here, and nobody is helping me for just my sake."
"Everyone has their own idea of what they want me to do. But they're also not telling me what it is they want me to do. I'm so confused!" Their sobs turned heavier. "I just want to go home! But now I don't even remember where home is!"
Thundercracker's processor was a swirl of emotions. He was distraught over the little one's mental well-being; clearly they were severely distressed. But he was also perplexed. They spoke about losing their memories, but also spoke of things that were odd and foreign to him. Like they somehow lost memories of events that happened before the Emberstone? Did they…were they something else before they were changed?
"I don't even know if I'm me anymore. There's so little of me left from before that I'm afraid the next time I wake up I'm going to be a whole new person." Tears were really falling now. "What am I? Some sort of human kid turned alien freak? What did I do to deserve this? I can't even remember what kind of person I used to be. The more I look around in my head the more I find missing."
A human kid. That's what they called themself. They were a human child before they were changed into a sparkling?
Thundercracker's thoughts were reeling at this information. The Emberstone hadn't created a sparkling from nothing, it had used a human child as a template.
Optimus must have known. And that medic too. Thundercracker went over the recording of Optimus and Starscream's conversation from earlier. Not once had he mentioned the sparkling's previous form. He had kept this information a secret, even as he was preaching honesty. Inwardly, Thundercracker snarled.
"I don't even know where I belong anymore. Everything is so strange, but I'm the strangest thing here." The sparkling's cries died down slightly to an occasional hiccup. Thundercracker's spark throbbed with repressed emotion.
"I'm glad to have your brothers though. Even though they don't know about me, I think I can tell them. Even if they don't like me that much afterwards." Another sniffle. "I want to tell them myself. I'm really scared Optimus already told them, but it should be my story to tell." They rubbed their optics of some of the remaining tears. "But I'm scared. I'm scared they won't help me if I tell them about what I was before. I get the feeling Starscream doesn't like humans much. I don't know how he'll react."
"But I've made up my mind. I just hope I'm not too late." Thundercracker felt a tiny pat on his thumb, the motion making his spark swell with affection for the little one.
"I'll tell them the truth. And whatever happens after that…" They paused, hesitant. "I just hope it goes over well." Their voice was so quiet, he almost didn't hear. "I don't know what I'll do if they don't…"
The sparkling made a move to stand, their residual warmth already cooling on his palm. Taking a knee, they stood to their full but tiny height and gave his servo one last pat before leaving. "Thanks for listening, Thundercracker. I'll try to come back if I can. Wish me luck." And then they walked away.
Thundercracker waited two full astroseconds before he commed his brothers.
: How could you both leave them alone?:
: What?: Came Starscream's snarled reply. : I left them with Skywarp, what do you mean alone?:
: They were just here in the cargo with me: Thundercracker responded blandly, carefully trying to organise his thoughts.
Skywarp chimed in. : They asked that I leave them with Ratchet in our berth. They said they'd comm me to come get them if there was trouble.:
: Then how are they in the cargo bay?: Starscream sounded furious. : And you left them alone with the medic? What kind of imbecile–:
: They're not here anymore, they just left.: Thundercracker cut in. :They're wandering the corridors by themself, you better go get them right now or I'm getting up.:
: I'll get them, don't you dare move.: Starscream replied. : It'll be a risk to all of us if the mission goes awry before we arrive on Cybertron. Especially since we know the sparkling needs a specific fuel source that so far we can only find aboard this ship.:
: We've got bigger issues to deal with at the moment, though finding the sparkling is still top priority. Just wait til I–:
: Which is all your fault, 'Warp.: Starscream cut in, annoyed. : See if I ever leave them in your care ever again after this.:
: I'm on route to your location, TC: Skywarp ignored their Trine leader. : Don't worry, I'll find them.:
: Listen, while they were here they told me something–:
: They spoke to you? Did you blow our cover?: Starscream's piercing attention was on Thundercracker now.
: No! Listen, they were just here just speaking out loud. I didn't move or say a word. But listen, they mentioned something important that Prime kept from you.:
: I'm not surprised he's keeping secrets.: Starscream scoffed. : But he did just promise to bequeath all sparkling related inquiries. You're telling me he already went back on his word?: He mused darkly, his tone scathing.
: Yes, but you've got to listen to me. And you've got to promise that what I tell you doesn't change anything.:
: Thundercracker, get to the point! I can feel how uneasy you are, just spit it out already!:
: What's going on? Are they ok? Are they hurt?: Skywarp butted in worriedly.
: They weren't always a sparkling!: Thundercracker blurted.
For a moment there was silence on either end.
: …what are you saying, TC?:
He paused before responding. : They were an Earthling before. The Emberstone changed them. A human child.:
Starscream didn't respond. Silence crept for a few astroseconds until Skywarp spoke up softly. : …So they have no Sire nor Carrier. The Emberstone is their Creator.: His tone gradually upticked in cheer. : Don't you see? This is great news! They have no prior claim, they can be ours! They already chose us!:
: Shut up you fool.: Came Starscream's raspy voice. : This changes everything.:
: Starscream you promised–: Thundercracker cut in.
: I promised nothing. But it doesn't change the fact that they are a sparkling here and now, and a Seekerling no less. We will proceed with this knowledge delicately, but I need time to process.: He paused. : It doesn't matter. Their safety is still our highest priority, with acquiring control over the Emberstone being our secondary mission. We can still achieve both goals, so don't lose focus!:
: Starscream. I need to know that the little one will still be safe in your care.: Thundercracker measured his voice carefully, knowing his brother's temper well.
It didn't go over well.
: How dare you, Thundercracker!: Starscream became enraged. : To presume I would sink so low after one small detail. It is within our very code the revulsion in harming any sparkling. I would sooner carve out my own spark than ever stoop so low. They may have been sparked a human but they are one us now! One of the last Seekers in existence and the ward of the Command Trine. How dare you presume I would be the cause of their harm after one minute detail.: He hissed. :Do you really think so low of me, brother?:
: No, Starscream. I just needed to hear you say it.: Came Thundercracker's response. : I know your distaste for humans none better, and I needed to know that this information doesn't change how you treat them.:
Skywarp chimed in. : TC, we would never let anything happen to them. It doesn't matter how they started, but they're with us now. That's what matters. Maybe Primus made them a Seeker for a reason? Maybe after all this, they were meant to be with us from the start.:
Skywarp's words made Thundercracker's spark feel lighter, and he could tell that the words helped temper Starscream's mood as well. They were all in agreement that the sparkling would always be safe with the Trine, and that was what truly mattered. Any other thoughts could wait.
: Then…: Thundercracker started. : What was the issue then, Starscream? What is it that you still needed to process?:
: All of the designations I had carefully prepared are useless now.: He spat. : If they were sparked on Earth then they have more of a tie to the planet than I had previously thought. I'll have to start a whole new list. The one I had previously prepared is worse than scrap now.:
Thundercracker felt so much better hearing his brother's words. Skywarp even laughed over the comm. : Really Screamer? All of this anger was because the designations you picked out don't fit anymore?: The tone of the call was suddenly more jovial. : Aww, I didn't know you had it in you.:
: Silence you idiot! None of these celestial names will fit anymore. I have to start completely from scratch. What did you think I was doing while you both were recharging?:
Thundercracker had to laugh. He didn't know why he was so worried. He was glad to know that the sparkling wouldn't have any issue once they revealed their 'secret' to the Trine. He felt lighter knowing that nothing would change. Thundercracker did feel a little bad for revealing the secret himself, but it had been important. If his brothers didn't accept the little Seeker with this new knowledge, then he would have had to make a drastic decision. He was thankful that the reveal (on his part) had gone smoothly.
: Now go and find them, Skywarp or I swear to Primus that this Trine will find themselves short one brother. And luckily, we have a replacement in training in case you fall out of line.:
: I'm going, I'm going!: Skywarp's response was unbothered. : I'll find them in no time. I'm already on route.:
: Good. And comm us once you retrieve them.: Starscream's order was curt, and without another word he cut the call.
Thundercracker's body relaxed a little one would be fine. Once they revealed their origins, maybe Starscream would allow him to 'slip up' and reveal himself in secret. A secret for a secret seemed like a fair trade in his mind. And all that talk of losing memories could be discussed later. For now, it was important to ensure the little one was safe, and he knew his brothers were the best on board in ensuring that.
Slipping back into a semi-stasis lock, Thundercracker drifted slightly, ready to respond as soon as they retrieved their small charge.
Skywarp might be right. It felt a little too good to be true that the Seekerling might have been created just for them. But maybe Primus really was looking out for them, and their luck was turning around.
It's official, you have no idea where you are.
At first when you exited the cargo bay everything had looked familiar. And with a confident step you walked through the halls assured that it would be easy to make your way back by yourself. But after a few turns you realise that all the hallways looked the same.
Feeling cathartic after spilling your guts to Thundercracker's corpse, you remind yourself that you're practically an adult, and you can make your way back without having to call any giant sized robot to carry you back to your room. Each confident step leads you further and further into the bowels of the ship, but without any signage, you are more confident after a while that you were well and truly lost.
You walk until you realise the slope of the corridors wasn't ascending like you expect; which would have been a sure way to tell you were walking in the right direction. As they continue to descend, your confidence slowly fades. Each wall and floor tile looks the same, and there are no distinguishing marks that tell you that you are going in the right direction. Any of the doors you pass are either few and far between or they are locked. Worse yet, you haven't come across a single person while you have been walking, making you believe you are heading into some lesser used part of the ship.
With thoughts of turning back and giving up this adventure, you come across a split in the path that looks slightly familiar. But which way was it back to the berth room?
Suddenly, you realise why it looks familiar. Or at least, you hope this is the same one you're thinking of. It looks like the corridor near the split that led down to the cargo bay! You must've walked a full circle trying to get back here, and the relief that you feel in your systems is palpable.
The route off to the left you're confident is the way back to the berth room. Straight ahead is the previously unexplored area, which, now that you're looking, looks to be mostly a dead end except for a single door at the end.
You'll just check it out quickly and then make your way back. Better to flesh out your internal map a little more in case you get lost later, right?
Making the decision, you walk down the hallway towards the door, and as you expect it does not open at your approach. You're just about to turn back when you hear a new voice you don't recognize coming from the other side.
"Are you real?" Comes a deep voice.
"Huh?" You startle. You didn't expect someone to be on the other side of the door.
"You sound real. Where did you come from? I half believed you were some Autobot trick when I saw you on the battlefield." This person had been present at the fight. You don't know what they look like, but you've met, or you're pretty sure you've at least been introduced to, all the Autobots on this ship. This guy doesn't sound like they were a friend to the Autobots.
"Who're you?" You ask. "Are you a friend of the Seekers?"
"Hah!" Replies the voice. "Those brothers don't have any friends. When you've known them as long as I have, you learn that the hard way."
Your interest is piqued. This person knew the brothers! Maybe you can learn a little something new about them.
But first-"Why are you in there? Are you hurt?" You can't help but wonder if the Autobots just left this person alone like they did you.
"Me? I'm certainly not functioning optimally, but I've had worse than this. I can't believe I'm talking to you. Where did you come from?" The voice changes the subject, maybe they're uncomfortable talking about their own injuries.
You ignore the question in favour of your own. "What's your name? Er, your designation?"
"I'm Barricade. How in Primus' name did you get aboard this ship?"
"Optimus took me." You reply, mumbling a little. The subject is still sore to you.
"Those slaggers. They oughta be punished for this." The voice, Barricade, growled. You vaguely remember the large black mech you saw at the battle, and you fight back a shiver. This must be him.
"Can you get out?" You ask timidly. You want some reassurance that you're safe on the other side of this door.
"Those blasted Autobots locked me in here. I don't suppose you have access to let me out?"
You shake your head before you realise he probably can't see you. "Sorry, I don't."
"What're you doin' all by yourself? Are you in trouble or somethin'?" Barricade's voice takes a tone of curiosity.
"Mm-mm." You reply. "Just walking around. I didn't know you were here. Sorry." You feel the need to apologise, but you don't know why. You can't stop yourself. "So you're not an Autobot then?"
Barricade guffaws as if it's the funniest thing he's ever heard. "Hah! Me? An Autobot? Definitely not. I'm a Decepticon through and through, no matter what Megatron decides to do."
There's another new name mixed in with a familiar title. You're pretty sure you remember from the comics that the Decepticons are the enemies of the Autobots. Are the Seeker brothers Decepticons too? But Barricade and them are not friends. All these alien politics are confusing.
Barricade takes your pondering silence as an opportunity to keep talking. "Still, I can't believe you're here. I thought the last sparkling had been erased when the war started." His tone makes you slightly uncomfortable. Optimus had told you that you were the first new Seeker since the war started, but the word sparkling kept turning up whenever you were involved.
"Barricade, what's a sparkling?" Your question clearly catches him off guard.
"What's a sparkling? You're a sparkling! A youngling, a first frame Cybertronian! Though you might be second frame, I can't get a good look at you through this door."
A youngling. Like a child? Did these robots all consider you some sort of kid robot?
All of a sudden a bunch of things clicked into place. The looks you get whenever one of the Autobots or the Seekers look at you, the way they baby you as if you are too young to do things by yourself. All this time you thought they did this because you are smaller than them, not because they considered you a child of their kind.
Will this change how the Seekers see you after you tell them about yourself? Your spark swells with dread at the consideration.
"Hey! Hey are you ok? Your energy field is going crazy." You can hear Barricade's huge fist pound the door once, making you jump.
"W-what? What are you talking about?"
"Your EM field. You don't know about that either? Primus, how young are you?" His voice is gruff with worry. "Don't worry. Once I get out of here–"
His chatter is interrupted by the sound of heavy pedes behind you down the hallway. You turn excitedly expecting one of the Seekers, but are instead met with the sight of Optimus Prime catching a glimpse of you from the other end of the hallway.
He turns his pedes and walks right toward you. And there's nowhere else to go.
"There you are, little one. You had us all worried."
