Trigger Warning: PTSD!
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Flashback – beginning
No!
Stop it!
Leave him alone!
Don't harm him, please!
I swear, I'll do anything!
Flashback – end
"Just… Just let him go."
The three medics solemnly look on as their patient twists and turns and whimpers in recharge.
"Should we wake him?" Moonracer asked.
"I don't think that's such a good idea, but then again, I've never had to deal with this kind of situation before," Dead End admitted.
"Well, if it has anything to do with what I think is going on within his processor right now, then I believe we should snap him out of it," Knockout concluded, already approaching the restless Sandstorm. He reached out and started shaking him. "Come on, Sandstorm, wake up."
"Um, Knockout?" Moonracer questioned, both she and Dead End eying the red medic.
"No worries, Moonracer! I'm a…"
Before Knockout could finish, Sandstorm jolted awake, his vents circulating erratically.
"Whoa! Sandstorm, it's alright! You're safe!"
"What… What do you mean I'm safe?" Sandstorm cried, frame rigid and servos gripping the berth so tight it started to dent.
Knockout didn't add on to his reassurances. Clearly, Sandstorm had no idea where he was.
Sandstorm's optics recalibrated and took in his surroundings. They lit-up in surprise when he noticed Knockout standing next to him.
"Knockout?"
"Like I said, Sandstorm, you're safe," Knockout reiterated, smiling and relaxing as well. He gestured to his companions. "And before you freak out, these are my friends Moonracer and Dead End."
Sandstorm scanned the other two bots, fearing that they may be a threat. Just because Knockout trusts them, doesn't mean that he will, too. Speaking of…
"What do you mean I'm safe?" Sandstorm repeated. "Where am I?"
Knockout exchanged looks with his fellow medics, which unsettled their patient.
"Well?"
"Listen, Sandstorm, it's not that I can't or won't tell you anything…" Knockout explained. "It's just that, you know, I wasn't the one who rescued you, and I think it would be better if you heard what happened from the one who did bring you aboard."
"And who would that be, exactly?"
"Starscream, believe it or not."
Silence.
"Can one of your friends bring him here?" Sandstorm asked.
"I… I guess," Knockout stammered, glancing at his comrades over his shoulder plate. "If either of you knows where he is?"
"Yeah, that won't be a problem!" Dead End chuckled.
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Dead End strode through the halls of the Daytrader until he arrived at one of the many locked doors that led into a set of guest quarters. Grinning, he raises a fist and knocks, then takes a step back and waits. Not long, as a heavy-set approaches the door and opens it.
"Hello, Shockwave," Dead End greeted. "Have a good recharge?"
"Short, as I had work to attend to, but yes," Shockwave replied.
"Of course you were working. Anyway, I was hoping I could borrow Starscream."
Shockwave didn't respond, most likely caught off-guard by the request.
"He is here, isn't he? I doubt it would have been easy detaching him when he looked so comfortable, so I assumed you had no choice but to bring him back to your room."
The sound of something moving caused both mechs to look inside the room. A winged, silver frame can be seen shifting on the berth in the far corner.
"Whoever's there, I will shoot you for interrupting my beauty sleep," Starscream threatened, voice muffled by the extremely comfortable blanket Shockwave found and gave to him…
Out of consideration for himself.
Starscream wouldn't stop complaining about something being wrong with Shockwave's berth unless he did something non-violent about it.
"And risk your sister's fury? I don't think so," Dead End retorted, crossing his arms.
"Ugh, fine!" Starscream groaned. He rolled out of bed and stretched before striding over to Dead End and Shockwave. "So, what do you want?"
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"SANDSTORM!"
The small flight-frame and his medics were startled by Starscream careening into the med-bay.
"By the Allspark, Starscream, are you trying to give us spark-attacks?" Knockout snapped.
"I heard Sandstorm's awake! Is he okay?" Starscream persisted.
"You mean aside from being scared half to death?"
Starscream ignored Knockout and looked to Sandstorm.
"I didn't scare you that bad, did I?"
"I… It's fine," Sandstorm vented, loosening-up a little. "I just thought you were Thundertron or one of the others barging in to attack me, again."
Starscream's spark sank, the weight of what would normally be considered a harmless, out of the blue scare, falling upon him.
"I'm sorry," Starscream apologized, walking over to the smaller flight-frame. "I should have known what I just did would have triggered you to react in such a way, since I, too, had to suffer at the servos of a monster."
"I know," Sandstorm said. He shook his helm and locked optics with Starscream. "Anyway, can you tell me what happened after you rescued me?"
– one story recounted later –
"Then Shockwave dragged me out of here and I was forced to recharge somewhere else until you sent for me…"
"Bringing us here," Sandstorm finished. "Thank you, Starscream."
The silver Seeker fidgeted and stumbled over his words, not used to receiving positive reinforcement of any kind.
"It was the least any of us could do after you helped us," Knockout spoke in his friend's stead.
"Anything to stick it to Thundertron…"
Sandstorm smiled a sad smile and hugged himself.
"And to remind me of who I used to be."
The mood turned solemn once again. Starscream and Knockout nearly forgot that Sandstorm had a whole different life before he was forced to work for the Star Seekers. Moonracer didn't know all the details, but she knew enough to not ask any questions.
"You're still going to uphold your promise, right? To help me find my spark mate?"
"Of course I am!" Starscream exclaimed, both surprised yet unsurprised that Sandstorm didn't trust him to keep his word. "I did promise, didn't I?"
"Starscream and promise being used in the same sentence is a perfect example of mutual exclusivity," Knockout spoke, unable to resist a jab at the silver Seeker. Said Seeker was just about to make a retort…
"Excuse me, but do we even know where to find Sandstorm's spark mate?" Moonracer interrupted, her voice loud and firm.
Silence.
"I think I might know where he is."
– one quantum warp drive jump later –
The ship jerked to a halt, and this time, everyone was prepared for the rough landing.
"Everyone alright?" Wreck-Gar asked, looking around at the bots on the bridge. A resounding 'yes' followed. "Phew! That's a relief."
"It'll be a relief if the one we're looking for is actually here," Slipstream hissed. She shifted her glare to Sandstorm. "You better be damn sure of yourself, because if we just wasted a jump to Chaar of all planets…"
"Now, now, love, no need to threaten the little flier. I know you would've done the same thing if you were in his position."
Slipstream still looked pissed, but she relented to her conjunx's wishes.
"Very well. I just don't want us to stick around here any longer than we have to. Chaar is a Pit-spawned death trap. I don't know anyone who would want to spend more than a quarter cycle on this planet, assuming they even live that long."
"Is there a chance that I can back out of the search now?" Knockout immediately asked. "I mean, the last time I went out on a search, I fell into a hole."
"Oh, get over it, Knockout!" Starscream snapped, turning on the red medic. "Sandstorm and I are not going out there alone!"
"If I may suggest, I was thinking of only bringing along fliers," Sandstorm interjected. "Around here, it would be safer to search from the sky. Much safer."
"Agreed, especially since the locals of Chaar are underground, ambush predators," Slipstream added, causing Knockout and a few other grounders to shudder in fear. She ignored them and patched into the communication system.
{Rainmakers, this is Slipstream! Report to the hangar immediately! Don't keep me waiting!}
Slipstream then walked out of the bridge, grabbing Starscream with one servo, Sandstorm in the other, and dragging both behind her while ignoring their protests.
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All of the fliers, minus Sunstorm, were out canvasing Chaar, searching for any sign of Sandstorm's spark mate. Slipstream wanted to split up, but after what happened last time, Acid Storm and Nova Storm were adamant about sticking together. So, they compromised: the Rainmakers went one way, and the rest went the other way.
Starscream and Slipstream flew circles around Sandstorm, as his copter mode was nowhere near as fast as their jet forms. Not that he cared, as his sole focus was on finding his spark mate.
SLIPSTREAM: {Either of you see anything?}
The femme sounded irritated. Sandstorm couldn't blame her. This search was beginning to frustrate even him.
SANDSTORM: {No…}
STARSCREAM: {But that doesn't mean we're giving up! Don't tell me you're planning on leaving someone behind, Slipstream?}
The teal jet shot around and rammed Starscream.
SLIPSTREAM: {That was completely uncalled for! I would never leave someone behind!}
Sandstorm tuned the siblings out as they bickered. A ping alerting them to an incoming call ceased the sibling argument and simultaneously gained Sandstorm's attention.
SLIPSTREAM: {What?}
ACID STORM: {In a bad mood, are we?}
SLIPSTREAM: {Starscream is already close to filling his daily quota for annoying me, so whatever you have to report better be pretty damn important.}
ACID STORM: {I think we may have found Sandstorm's mech.}
Sandstorm slammed to a halt and hovered in mid-air, processing the message.
SLIPSTREAM: {Where?}
ACID STORM: {We circled back to see if we missed anything, and were just about to fly in a different direction when we spotted someone hiding among the cliffs near where the ship is currently grounded.}
STARSCREAM: {He's all the way back there? Do the others know?}
ACID STORM: {I contacted Wreck-Gar. He'll keep everyone on-board until Slipstream says otherwise.}
SLIPSTREAM: {Good. Keep a close optic on him. We'll be there soon.}
ACID STORM: {Copy that, Slipstream.}
The call dropped and Slipstream was off. Starscream was about to follow when he noticed Sandstorm hadn't moved. He flew over and hovered beside him.
"Hey, Sandstorm, you hear all that? We have to go," Starscream said, gently nudging the copter with his wing tip.
"Huh? Oh, yes, of course," Sandstorm spluttered, regaining his sentience.
"You alright?"
"I… I'll let you know."
Sandstorm rushed after Slipstream. Starscream looked on, concerned, but floating around wasn't helping anyone. He cleared his processor and followed the other two fliers.
SANDSTORM: {Hey, Slipstream, am I able to get in contact with the Rainmakers, or do I have to connect through you?}
SLIPSTREAM: {We're all linked, Sandstorm. It'll just take the others a klik due to being further away.}
NOVA STORM: {Sometimes less if you get a good signal!}
ION STORM: {Because of me!}
ACID STORM: {Need something, Slipstream?}
SLIPSTREAM: {Not me. Sandstorm.}
ACID STORM: {Okay?}
SANDSTORM: {I should have asked this earlier, but I was a little out of it.}
STARSCREAM: {A little?}
SANDSTORM: {Doesn't matter! The point is, I need to know what he looks like.}
NOVA STORM: {Frag, I knew we were forgetting something!}
SLIPSTREAM: {By the Primes, Nova. Acid Storm, describe the target.}
STARSCREAM: {We are not going to kill or abduct him! Use different terminology!}
SLIPSTREAM: {Maybe I will when I beat your aft later!}
ION STORM: {Guys, can we please not fight?}
ACID STORM: {Especially when I'm trying to concentrate!}
When the leader of the Rainmakers is close to losing his temper, everyone knows to shut up.
ACID STORM: {He looks to be around Starscream's size. Maybe a little bigger…}
NOVA STORM: {By bigger, he means taller!}
ACID STORM: {Thank you, Nova!}
NOVA STORM: {Sorry. Couldn't help myself!}
ACID STORM: {Continuing on! He has wings and purple plating.}
SANDSTORM: {Anything else? Optic color? Unusual features?}
STARSCREAM: {Unusual features? What kind of mech are we looking for?}
ACID STORM: {Well, unless sparkly red jewels are a part of his frame, his optics are definitely red…}
Acid Storm trailed off, not finishing his sentence. Starscream, Slipstream, and Sandstorm were almost upon the Rainmakers, but they couldn't wait any longer for an answer.
SLIPSTREAM: {What?}
ACID STORM: {I can't really tell from here, but I think he has tires on his legs…}
Sandstorm darted forward faster than anyone thought possible of him in copter mode, nearly landing right on top of Acid Storm in his haste.
"Wings and tires? Like a triple-changer?" Sandstorm stressed, startling the lead Rainmaker.
"Yes, exactly like that," Acid Storm replied.
"Triple-changers? Really?" Starscream questioned, transforming just behind the two. "I knew a few of them during the War, and they were all MIA."
"Did the database tell you that?" Slipstream countered after transformation. "Last I checked, I was listed as KIA…"
"Because we thought you were dead!"
"If you just put in a little bit more time and effort…"
"Here we go again," Nova Storm huffed. The siblings ignored her, and Sandstorm was ignoring everyone, except the mech that remained hidden below them.
A light nudge startled him.
"Hey, that the mech you're looking for?" Acid Storm asked, keeping his voice low and calm.
"It looks like him…" Sandstorm stopped, the thought of his next words paining him to say. "But I don't know."
"Have to talk first, huh?"
Sandstorm nodded. Acid Storm scanned the mech beside him before turning back to the quarreling siblings.
"Slipstream!"
"What?" The femme was just nanokliks from snapping Starscream's neck.
"Call Wreck-Gar and tell him to open the hangar. Have him send a few bots out, about the size of a scouting party."
Everyone looked at Acid Storm like he was a Quintesson with multiple heads. Still, Slipstream knew better than to question someone as intelligent as Acid Storm, so she complied and relayed his message to Wreck-Gar. The hangar opens and out comes a small portion of the crew.
"Now what?" Slipstream asked.
Acid Storm answered by transforming and jetting down to the assembled bots. The remaining fliers took a moment to register what just happened before, one-by-one, they all transformed and flew down after the lead Rainmaker.
"What's going on?" Bumblebee asked once everyone had gathered. "I thought we weren't supposed to be out here because of the dangerous creatures underground?"
"Then be relieved to know that if something bad does happen, I am not to blame," Starscream said, waving his servo in Acid Storm's direction. "Blame him."
Bumblebee raised an optical ridge.
"Well, you said you found someone. Is it Sandstorm's spark mate?"
"Don't know," Acid Storm shrugged.
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"Exactly what I said. While all the descriptors Sandstorm gave me match, he says he won't be sure until he talks to them."
Bumblebee looked between the two flight-frames. Acid Storm remained stoic, possessing complete control over his emotions. Sandstorm was trying to be that, but the stress of everything is weighing him down. All he wants is to find his spark mate and live in peace.
"Uh, excuse me?"
Not recognizing the voice, they all turn around and see the mech from before. Taller than Starscream, with a unique frame capable of transforming into both a grounder and a flier. His optics are a brilliant bright red that stand out against purple and black plating. He is holding a pistol, locked and loaded, but doesn't seem too keen on starting a fight. If anything, he looked afraid, and was just preparing to defend himself if necessary.
"I… I overheard you say something about Sandstorm."
The mech slowly inched closer to the group.
"I had a very special friend named Sandstorm a long time ago, and I was wondering if maybe I could talk to them? To see if it's the same one?"
The closer he got, the more nervous he became.
"I… I know it's a weird request, but… but I need to know if… if…"
Sandstorm couldn't take it anymore. This is the mech he's been looking for. The mech he sacrificed himself to protect. The love of his life.
"Octane!"
Sandstorm pushed past the bots surrounding him to be front and center. At first, the mech looked like he'd seen a ghost. He stared at Sandstorm, his processor drifting off into another world. Sandstorm didn't mind, patiently waiting for Octane to regain his senses, which didn't take as long as everyone else thought. Not that they had the spark to interrupt the moment.
"Sandstorm, is that really you?"
Unable to hold himself back, Sandstorm made a mad-dash for Octane and jumped into his arms.
"Bless the stars, Octane, I missed you so much!" Sandstorm cried. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Me? What about you? Are you alright? What happened? And why are you so small and skinny?" Octane fussed.
"Just shut up and enjoy the moment, please! It's been way too long."
Octane never stopped worrying, but he did cease in his frantic analysis of Sandstorm's physical health and held him tight, crying in the crook of his neck. Everyone else stood back, appreciating the tender moment from a distance.
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"Alright, enough's enough. Let's get off this planet before we become some subterranean creature's next meal."
Slipstream ushered everyone inside the Daytrader. They all followed, with Starscream and Octane – carrying Sandstorm – trailing only slightly behind.
"Commander Starscream…" Octane started.
"You can drop the commander part, Octane," Starscream interrupted. "No need for such formalities anymore, especially with the War over."
"Oh, okay. Sorry."
"It's alright. I understand."
"You do?"
Starscream didn't blame the triple-changer for not believing him. He knows he's well-known for his lies, deceit, and treachery. So he shrugged the skepticism off and laughed.
"Believe it or not, yes, I do. Now, let's get you to the med-bay. Primus only knows when you last saw a medic. Or at the very least one with a valid license."
Starscream escorted the reunited couple to the med-bay, where all three medics were standing around, acting as if they didn't just have their sparks tugged at.
"Doctors!" Starscream greeted, strolling into the room. Two out of three medical officers faced the new arrivals.
"Hi, Starscream!" Moonracer waved over. He waved back.
"Something the matter, Screamer?" Knockout teased.
Octane was appalled that someone would dare risk the former Air Commander's wrath, but was beyond surprised when all Starscream reacted with was an irritated vent.
"Seriously, Knockout, aren't you ever going to get tired of that?" Starscream asked.
"Nope!" The red medic declared proudly. "You know, you really should know better by now, Screamer!"
"I really should. Anyway, care to give Octane here a check-up? Primus knows when he last had a proper one."
"Pick a berth and we'll be with you in a moment," Dead End said.
"Thank you," Octane vented, voice barely audible. He chose a berth close to the medics and settled upon its surface, being careful not to jostle Sandstorm too much in the process. "Thank you all so much! If there's anything I can do to repay you…"
"Whoa whoa whoa, slow down! You don't have to do anything for us! If anything, we're even!" Knockout held his servos up to get the other to stop. Octane raised an optical ridge, confusion written all over his faceplate.
"How?"
"I'll explain later," Sandstorm reassured.
"Oh, okay."
Silence.
"But, I still want to help. I feel like I owe you regardless. Please, isn't there something I can do?"
Sandstorm tightened his grip on his spark mate. Starscream and Knockout shared a look, unsure of how they could possibly get Octane to drop the subject. Meanwhile, Moonracer appeared deep in thought, her sights firmly set on the triple-changer.
"Were you on Chaar this whole time?"
Octane flinched, not wanting to be reminded of the time/space gap between him and Sandstorm.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring-up bad memories. But, can you please answer my question?"
Silence.
"No."
Immediately, Moonracer gave Octane a great big hug.
"I feel like I'm missing something," Octane choked-out.
"Moonracer, what is up with you?" Knockout questioned. The femme released Octane and spun on her heel to face her team-mates.
"Don't tell me you forgot!" Moonracer exclaimed. "It's the whole reason you, Starscream, Steeljaw, and Bumblebee are all out here in the first place!"
Silence.
"Oh, right!"
It took longer than it should have for Knockout and Starscream to figure out where Moonracer was going with this. The femme stared at the red medic and the silver Seeker, then face-palmed.
"Un-fragging-believable."