BOOM!
The ship sways, vibrations reverberating throughout the vessel. Starscream and Knockout are sent falling on their afts. Moonracer, Steeljaw, and Bumblebee dig their pedes into the floor, attempting to keep themselves in place.
"Blasted Pits, what is going on now?" Starscream cursed.
"Well, either we hit another storm, or we're being attacked, again," Knockout guessed.
"I hope it's the former," Bumblebee said.
"I hope it's the latter," Steeljaw said at the exact same time.
"What? Why?"
"Because I feel like tearing someone apart and I can't do that here."
"Steeljaw, you aren't killing anyone."
"Why not?" Phantomjaw asked, leaning against the open door.
"What do you mean by why not?" Bumblebee asked, incredulous. "We don't need to kill, simple as that!"
"Speak for yourself," Steeljaw grumbled, moving to join his brother.
"Steeljaw, I'm serious!"
"I know, Lieutenant. Unfortunately."
Steeljaw and Phantomjaw left. The others followed, once they regained their footing. They had to stop every so often on their way to the bridge to make room for hordes of hustling-bustling Vehicons, and it didn't take long before a familiar, neutral/red figure nearly ran right past them.
"Wait, Fodder!" Starscream called out. The mech skidded to a halt and backtracked. "What's going on?"
"Ship's under attack, duh!" Fodder retorted. "If it was Sunstorm's bad piloting, then we wouldn't be freaking out like this!"
"My brother is really that bad at flying a ship?"
"Starscream!" Knockout snapped.
"Right, off topic. Do you know who's attacking us?"
Fodder quit jogging in place and stood still. He looked at each of them before speaking.
"Our old friends, the Star Seekers."
The mechs' optics widened as fear overtook them.
"I have to stay out of the fight this time, Shockwave's orders, so kick their afts for me, okay?"
"Gladly," Moonracer hissed.
Satisfied, Fodder nodded and rushed off.
"Ah, Moonracer…" Bumblebee tried to reach out to the femme.
"Bee, don't!" Knockout warned.
"But…"
"Trust me, it's better if you don't say anything right now."
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Knockout, Bumblebee, and Starscream are on the bridge with Wreck-Gar, Sunstorm, and Shockwave. Moonracer excused herself earlier to collect a couple things before joining the fight. Neither one of the three was stupid enough to try and stop her.
"Where is everyone?" Knockout asked, scanning the room for anyone else.
"Steeljaw and his brother went with Slipstream to get rid of our unwelcome guests while Fodder and the Vehicons attend to damages," Wreck-Gar explained. "They just left, so you should catch up to them quickly enough."
"Well, we're here to help," Bumblebee stated, already running out of the room. "Knockout, Starscream, let's go!"
Knockout double-checked to make sure he had his Energon prod before tailing Bumblebee. Starscream was just about to rush off, too, until someone stopped him.
"Starscream."
The silver Seeker turned around and was surprised by who grabbed him.
"Shockwave?"
Of all the bots to delay him…
"Do you need something?" Starscream asked.
"Don't do anything illogical," Shockwave ordered. "I already had to put you back together after the Predacons, and while I have extra servos around to assist, I would rather not go through that again."
The scientist's words left Starscream speechless.
"You're telling me to be careful?"
"Yes."
Starscream smirked and leaned closer.
"Are you saying that you will be worried about me?"
He was immediately shoved out the door.
"Logically speaking, you should keep from talking so much," Shockwave said, already turning back to his terminal. "Based on past experiences, you are more likely to survive that way."
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"Hello, little Lupicon. Miss me?"
He wasn't entirely sure how he would feel or what he would do if he ever came across Thundertron and the Star Seekers again, but now, standing before them, being taunted by them, Steeljaw didn't feel scared. Okay, he would be lying if he didn't hold a little fear for the ones who tortured him, – in more ways than one – but those memories also fueled his rage. His anger and fury outweighs any fear he has by a large margin.
"Don't tell me you forgot already? How could you after I left such an impression?"
"Don't flatter yourself," Steeljaw huffed.
"Oh, I sense you're still defiant. I…"
And not a moment too soon did Bumblebee and Knockout finally arrive.
"We're here!" Bumblebee announced.
"You guys haven't started killing each other yet?" Knockout asked, confused.
"Knockout!"
"What? Just because the no killing rule applies to us, doesn't mean it applies to them as well."
"I know that!"
Their argument was cut short by a very familiar pair of mechs laughing.
"Seems like they haven't changed much, which I can honestly say I appreciate," Brimstone chuckled from beside Cannonball. "It would be so boring if you were all doom and gloom."
"Yup, same old same old, no fun at all," Cannonball agreed.
"Unlike Sandstorm, the arrogant little traitor."
Steeljaw, Bumblebee, and Knockout froze. Thundertron laughed at their reactions.
"Ah, yes, our dear little pilot. It didn't take us long…"
"You mean me," Starquest interrupted, appearing out of nowhere. Thundertron didn't yell at his First Mate, as he was having way too much fun at the moment to care.
"Yes, you, of course. It didn't take long for Starquest to figure out what really happened. You didn't escape because of a stray shot. Sandstorm let you all escape. Too bad, really. He did everything I asked in order to protect his lover, but then we kept the lot of you online…"
Thundertron never got to finish. Steeljaw made sure of that as he lunged at the Captain, digging his claws into his armor and fangs into his neck.
"Okay, then, time for Round Two!" Slipstream stated, immediately going after Starquest.
"Ready for another beat-down?" Brimstone challenged. Both him and Cannonball encircled the remaining two bots.
"You're the one who's getting beaten down today, Brimstone!" Bumblebee pushed back, while Knockout brought out his Energon prod and activated it.
"We'll see about that. Cannonball, you get the little red one."
"On it!" Cannonball piped.
"I think not."
It was Phantomjaw, appearing out of nowhere, as always.
"What the… how did… where did you come from?" Brimstone stammered, utterly baffled.
"All unimportant," Phantomjaw dismissed. "What is important is that I haven't fought in such a long time. I'm afraid I may be a bit rusty. Care to do a mech a solid?"
It took Brimstone a hot minute to snap himself out of his trance.
"Correction: Cannonball, you get him, and I'll handle these two on my own."
"You got it, Brimstone!"
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Starscream overheard the part about Sandstorm and decided to go look for him, to make sure he's alright. He didn't feel right about leaving him behind the first time. Then again, his believed to be dead sister turns up, alive, along with his long lost twin brother, not to mention the whole conjunx-endura thing, and his feelings for Shockwave…
Long story short: things are a mess for Starscream.
Being careful to avoid attracting unwanted attention, Starscream snuck past the fighting, through the door, and into the adjoining corridor. He uploaded the partial map he constructed of the ship, using it as a guide to find his way around. His first – and only – stop is the Planetarium, in which he has to blow the door down due to it being locked. Succeeding, he enters and looks to his right, where he's expecting to see…
"Who's there?"
Despite how weak it sounded, the voice was familiar enough to recognize.
"Sandstorm, is that you?" Starscream asked.
"Star… Starscream?" Sandstorm rasped.
"Yes, it's me. I thought you said my voice is unmistakable?"
"Better to be safe than sorry."
"Where are you?"
"Just follow the trail."
Trail? What trail?
At second glance, something worrisome catches Starscream's attention. Energon, scattered all across the floor. He swallowed his fear and followed the glowing blue substance to its source, his optics immediately widening in horror. Sandstorm lay tied-up and beaten on the floor, covered helm to ped in Energon, both dried and fresh.
"By the Allspark," Starscream gasped. "Sandstorm, how…"
"Because, I'm his best pilot," Sandstorm answered, a grim smile forming. "After Starquest found out what I had done, they told Thundertron. He didn't care what the others did to me, so long as I remained alive. Despite my treachery, I am too valuable to him. He won't let me go."
He chokes, vocalizer cracking.
"Thundertron will never let me go."
"Well, too bad for him," Starscream grumbled, approaching Sandstorm. "I am not leaving you behind, and if Thundertron wants you back, then let him try. I will make him regret it."
Sandstorm whimpers.
"I need to leave. I need to see my spark mate again."
"I'm sure we can make that happen," Starscream reassured.
"Promise?"
"I swear on the sparks of every bot on the Daytrader that we will do anything and everything we can to get you back to the love of your life."
Sandstorm closed his optics and let his frame go limp. Not wasting anymore time, Starscream gently grabbed the smaller flight-frame and carried him bridal style to safety.
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"FOR THE LOVE OF…"
Frustrated and furious beyond belief, Thundertron grabbed Steeljaw by the neck and shoved him against the wall. The resounding clang was so loud that it caused all other fights to stop.
"FINALLY!" Thundertron roared, panting from the unexpected amount of energy he just spent trying to apprehend his little plaything. "You're certainly tougher than you look."
"Easy to underestimate someone when you have them locked up," Steeljaw growled, clawing at the servo that held him in place.
"True, but even then you showed surprising resilience."
"I have been through more than you could possibly imagine, and most of it was worse than what you did to me."
"Which part? Cannonball and Brimstone's interrogation, or my moment of fragging, overloaded bliss?"
Steeljaw felt like he'd just been stabbed through the spark. His companions were appalled by the gall that Thundertron had to bring up the atrocity he committed.
"Ah, did I hit a little soft spot?" Thundertron taunted.
"Maybe, but like I said, I've been through worse," Steeljaw said, remaining strong. "I will get over it, especially after I separate your helm from the rest of your frame, then pull you apart piece by piece until there is nothing left."
Steeljaw flinched as the pressure on his neck increased. His fear came flooding back, hitting him like a wave when he felt the Captain's frame press up against his.
"Still defiant?" Thundertron mused, raising his free servo and stroking the side of Steeljaw's faceplate. "Well, let's see how long you can keep that act going while… GAH!"
Thundertron cried out and let Steeljaw go. He landed not so gently, but he wasn't paying attention. Everyone's focus is on Thundertron, and the fact that he is now missing a servo.
"Don't. You. Dare."
The room fell dead silent. When they looked up, they saw Moonracer standing in the doorway, and she did not look happy.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE JUST DONE?" Thundertron seethed.
"I severed one of your limbs, and I didn't even need to enter the room to do it," Moonracer answered, her tone uncharacteristically low and cold. She brought out a pistol and pointed it at Thundertron.
"If I could hit you from a distance with what would normally be a close combat weapon, well, let's just say I can and will kill you without a second thought if you even try to move from where you stand right now. Remain there and let us go, and I promise not to make your punishment fatal. However, by the end of it, you will be wishing, hoping, praying that I take you offline, and even if you do, I won't kill you, because you deserve to feel the pain, the hurt, the anger. All that you have inflicted upon others, so shall I now inflict upon you."
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Once they somehow managed to escape the clutches of fear that held them in that room, in that moment, Slipstream, Bumblebee, Knockout, and the Lupicon brothers returned to the Daytrader, where they were promptly greeted by Wreck-Gar and Shockwave. They wanted to know what happened, but they didn't get any answers. They weren't going to for a while as they sat around waiting for Moonracer to return, attempting to come to terms with what just happened with her.
And so they waited…
And waited…
And continued to wait.
"Where is Starscream?" Shockwave asked, breaking the tense silence.
Bumblebee and Knockout flinched.
"Oh scrap, I don't know! I don't remember seeing him with us. Did you?" Knockout exclaimed, looking at Bumblebee.
"If he was, he wasn't fighting. I definitely would have remembered that," Bumblebee responded, looking at Knockout.
If Shockwave had a normal face, it would be pinched in anger and frustration right about now.
"You mean you lost him?" Shockwave demanded.
"Well, not exactly," Knockout tried to reason.
Fortunately for the red medic, he is saved by the proverbial bell.
"KNOCKOUT!"
Moonracer ran over to the group, carrying her weapons in her arms, optics full of urgency.
"Moonracer, what happened? Are you alright? What's going on?" Knockout stressed, looking over his friend for any injuries. She's covered in Energon, but none of it is leaking from her.
"No time to explain! We need to get to the med-bay, now!"
Knockout didn't need convincing. The second the medics rounded the corner, Starscream appeared, holding someone in his arms. Bumblebee and Steeljaw recognized them immediately.
"Sandstorm?"
Bumblebee and Steeljaw listened to Starscream attentively, horrified by what the silver Seeker had seen and heard, as they accompanied him and Sandstorm to the med-bay, where all three medics were anxiously awaiting their arrival. Dead End took Sandstorm away from Starscream and settled him on the berth they had set-up. Knockout removed his restraints and Moonracer attached sensors to his frame.
"Is he going to be alright?" Bumblebee asked.
"Won't know until we get to work," Dead End answered simply. He approached Bumblebee and Starscream and started pushing them out of the room. "So it's time for you to leave!"
"I'm staying," Starscream stated, breaking away from Dead End.
"Sorry, but we can't have any…"
"I'm not leaving him behind again!"
Silence.
"Starscream can stay," Knockout said. Dead End turned to protest, but the red medic wasn't finished. "So long as he remains silent and out of the way, I don't mind. Besides, we can't waste anymore time arguing."
"Agreed," Moonracer supported.
Dead End, far from pleased about being outvoted, but understanding the urgency of the situation, relented to the two younger medics.
"Very well…"
The ex-Stunticon turned back to Bumblebee and Steeljaw, who had remained standing in the doorway the whole time.
"But you two? Out!"
Bumblebee didn't need further convincing. The only thing worse than getting on one medic's bad side was irritating a room full of them.
The med-bay doors automatically closed and locked behind Bumblebee after he exited the room.
"Can't believe it," Bumblebee thought aloud. "This is the second mech Starscream seems to regret abandoning. Or maybe it's the third?"
Bumblebee spared his companion a quick glance. Adding onto his already full plate of worries and grievances, Steeljaw appeared greatly disturbed. Remembering what happened earlier, what almost happened again, and in front of an audience no less?
"Lieutenant."
Steeljaw's voice broke the other mech out of his trance.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I must've spaced out for a bit there," Bumblebee apologized, rubbing the back of his helm. "Anyway, I was just wondering how you're handling things?"
Every part of Steeljaw's frame stiffened, flashes of fear and anger flitting across his optics.
"I'm doing fine," Steeljaw growled, looking away from the mech standing beside him. He curled his claws tightly around his arms and tail around his pedes.
Bumblebee recoiled slightly, genuinely feeling bad for Steeljaw. No one deserved to go through what he had to.
"Hey, Steeljaw…" Bumblebee started, but was interrupted.
"I'm not in the mood, Bumblebee," Steeljaw hissed the yellow and black mech's name. Not his designation, his name, something he rarely if ever did. "I don't want to talk about it."
Not waiting for a response, Steeljaw left.
Primus, this is going to be difficult, Bumblebee thought, staring solemnly at where Steeljaw was standing only moments ago. He vents a sigh of frustration and turns back to the med-bay doors.
Especially when it looks like there just might be two of them now.
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The mechs and femme on the other side of the door were not privy to what just occurred, as they were busy repairing Sandstorm, who was in a sorry state. Starscream sat in the berth across from the smaller flight-frame, just staring at him, silent and unmoving. Knockout had to pause in his work repeatedly to try and rile up Starscream. Nothing came of his attempts.
At the end of the day, the three medics determined that they were finished with what they could do, believing Sandstorm's self-repair system will take care of everything else. Again, Knockout tried to get Starscream to move or say something, and still, he didn't respond. Seeing that the silver Seeker won't be moving anytime soon, Dead End decides it's best to leave him be for now, and leads the younger medics out of med-bay.
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The med-bay doors slide open and someone enters.
"Go away," Starscream growled half-heartedly, seriously not in the mood or mindset to actually put forth any aggression. Whoever it was kept walking until they stopped right by him.
Starscream remained as he was for a bit, but the stranger had yet to say anything. Getting fed-up, he just had to open his mouth.
"Honestly, do you simpletons not know how to take… AH!"
He immediately regretted sassing the bot once he saw who it was.
"Shockwave! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you!"
The scientist was unfazed. He stood extremely close to Starscream, holding an Energon cube in his free servo.
"Did you bring this for me?"
Shockwave didn't say anything. His body language expressed that he's relaxed, suggesting that he is more than willing to stay with Starscream.
"Well, I guess thanks are in order. Just don't go boasting about this. I don't want the others to think I'm going soft on you, which I'm not! It's only because I'm too exhausted to care today."
Shockwave remained as statuesque as ever. It irritated Starscream, but he still drank, slowly, cupping the cube in both servos. Every other sip, he spared a glance at Shockwave.
Why is he still here? Waiting for me to finish the cube? Check on Sandstorm for the others? Or both? As the humans say, kill two birds with one stone. But then… why is…
His frame tenses.
What is wrong with me?
Something touched Starscream's shoulder plate, startling him out of his inner turmoil. Jumping slightly, he faces Shockwave.
"Uh, do you need something?" Starscream asked, his plating heating and spark pulsing.
All Shockwave has to do is dip his helm a little. Starscream follows his direction and chirps in surprise when he notices that his clenched claws are starting to crack the Energon cube.
"Oh, my bad!"
To avoid a mess, Starscream downs the rest of the cube. He sets it to the side and relaxes.
"Thank you, Shockwave."
Silence.
"Starscream."
"Hm?"
"Are you alright?"
Of course not! I'm exhausted beyond belief, dammit!
"You're the scientist. What do you think?"
Shockwave didn't answer. He didn't even need to ask the question in the first place. Both him and Starscream know that, and yet, he did. Some small part of Shockwave felt that he should ask the question Are you alright?
Why he did that, for Starscream of all mechs, Shockwave has yet to figure out. Or rather, he knows, and has yet to come to terms with the answer.
Despite the lack of expression, Starscream can tell when Shockwave is stuck, and right now, that is all he is. The silver Seeker finds this funny and laughs.
"My-oh-my, those processing gears of yours must be working overtime. It's amazing, though, isn't it? That something that seems so simple is actually quite complicated. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, complicated is the most logical term to utilize in such a description," Shockwave concurred. Starscream smiled, then yawned. "Starscream, you are not well. You should retire to your room and get some rest."
Unfortunately, Starscream retained his vow from earlier.
"I'm not sure if the others told you, Shockwave, but I'm not leaving Sandstorm."
"They did."
Before Starscream could say another word, Shockwave grabbed him, and once he was secured in his arms, turned around and walked out of the med-bay.
"Shockwave, what are you doing? Put me down this instant!" Starscream demanded, flailing in the other's grasp.
"Cease your struggle, Starscream," Shockwave reprimanded. "If you keep kicking, you may set-off my arm cannon. I don't believe I need to explain the end result."
"Ugh, I hate it when you're right!" Starscream commented, settling into the hold. He curled against the other's chassis, relishing in the warmth it radiated. "Who knew you were so warm?"
"Just don't move too much, especially your legs."
"I know, I know. Don't activate your weaponized arm, got it. Yeesh, you really think I'm that stupid? Don't answer that!"
Silence.
"If the modification fits."
"I hate you."
"Then why do you still allow me to carry you?"
Silence.
"We'll finish this discussion later."
"In private, logically speaking."
"Of course."