Chapter 17: Skywarp's Confrontation
Been a bit. Got busy. Here's the next one. All better. Enjoy! :D
At the Autobot base, where things were usually less eventful than the Decepticon base, Optimus looked to where Starscream was exiting the building, "I take it Prowl has told you?" Following the Decepticon leader was said tactician, Jazz and Ironhide.
Starscream stopped with a snort, watching the other three pass him. "I stand corrected… you're the one making my life miserable, Prime. Your tactician just further proves I was right all along."
"Shockwave is as much of a threat as Megatron, Starscream. Why are you allowing him to make landfall?"
"Nothing like getting right to the point or anything…" Starscream's tailfins snapped in annoyance.
"Have you decided what you're going to do about him?"
"Actually, no," Starscream folded his arms defiantly; the unmistakable click of his mini-gun was heard as his claws crawled over it. "I think I would rather be surprised, to tell you the truth… We all know how that goes… What's another?"
To Optimus, it really didn't seem like Starscream was taking the situation seriously, especially with comments like that. "Why are you not taking this more seriously?" he asked, watching the stance on the Seeker.
"How much more serious do you want me to be? It's not like it's going to change anything, anyway. The lunatic is on his way here now as we speak."
"Have you decided what you will do if he rebels?"
"Kiss my aft good-bye in a one-on-one for leadership?" Starscream shrugged, sort of. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with him that trying to make him see reason won't make worse. I know a whole lot more than any of you Autobots do about him."
"You have Soundwave." Ironhide stated as if it was obvious who would back him up.
"So what? What makes you think she's going to save my aft?"
"Are you saying you don't trust Soundwave?"
Annoyed that they would ask such question, Starscream wrinkled his nose plates. "How did this conversation go from Shockwave to Soundwave, anyway? They may sound similar, but I am pretty sure they're not the same thing. She isn't the concern here…Shockwave is."
"You're right, she's not, and we need to know what you are going to do about him." Prowl stated.
Before Starscream could reply, Hot Rod showed up out of the blue, "Shockwave? Shockwave is coming here to Earth? Did I hear that right?" Jazz did not miss the look that came across his face.
"What's it to you, Autobot?" the Seeker glared over at him for his intrusion.
For a moment, Hot Rod didn't say anything at first, debating on telling them. Finally, he glanced Starscream straight in the optic and said, "Maybe it's about time you learn that not everything is as it looks. Shockwave is no ordinary Decepticon. In fact, he is no ordinary Cybertronian."
"Oh? Do enlighten," Starscream said unamused.
"If you're going up against him, please keep in mind that he is more than you ever thought possible. Myth have truth to them."
"Foreboding, keep it up," the Seeker grumbled.
Prowl and Starscream glanced at each other, finally they said at the same time, "What is that cryptic message supposed to mean?" Then, they glared at each other in frustration.
Hot Rod nodded as he replied, "It means, that Megatron was never Shockwave's true master. Megatron was only a means to his true master's end."
"And just who in the Pit is his master, for that matter, how do you know in the first place?" asked Starscream, wondering to himself why things can't just be simple.
Hot Rod mysteriously replied as he walked away, "Sufficient to say Cybertron is not the only planet to suffer from Shockwave's more curious lifestyle."
"Curious lifestyle?" Starscream echoed in confusion. What are you talking about…?" Starscream groaned. "I hate it when others are vague. I have to put up with that every day. I don't need it from you as well."
"Autobot confidentiality, Starscream." Hot Rod suddenly replied. "You're a Decepticon. I'm an Autobot." He knew this would only pique the Seeker's interest more. It was confirmed when Starscream's optics turned to question. He strutted away.
Prowl watched the exchange curiously. He, himself, wanted to know more about what was going on. He turned to Starscream and said, "I'll try to find out what I can about Hot Rod's past. It may just be something to rile you up,"
I disagree and I don't like it." Starscream wondered if Soundwave knew also. She seemed to know everything.
"Shockwave may accept your leadership also; you're not looking at this from both sides, Starscream." Prowl told the prattling mech.
Starscream stopped his rant and gave a good, hard look at Prowl. "Were you dropped on your head? Never mind, don't answer that." He wouldn't doubt that's where Prowl earned his glitch of constantly thinking in pure logic. The mech grunted in frustration. "Are we done here?"
"Starscream," Optimus then said, "If I may…"
He rolled his optics when the Autobot leader continued speaking. "Primus, you never shut up…"
At the Decepticon base, Skywarp landed first, followed by Thundercracker. They were greeted by Ramjet, who was curious how her Spark-check went. The femme took the data pad that Ratchet had given her and offered it to him roughly, "It's all on there." As soon as he took it, she walked past, headed for her quarters without another glance or word. He knew she was angry about something.
Ramjet watched her leave and asked Skywarp, who wasn't far behind, "What's up with her?"
Skywarp ignored the question, his optics never straying from the femme in front of him. "'Screamer is still at the Autobots' base."
Ramjet gave a curious glance toward the disappearing femme and Skywarp, "…I'll make a note of it – what's the matter with you?" Skywarp only gave him a hard look and stomped past him. It must have been a trine quarrel.
For a long while, Skywarp wondered about Thundercracker's reaction to her check. He didn't tell anyone it bothered him, and he hid it as well as he could. It was strange, something he hadn't felt from her before, and he never felt it again. How does one feel such fear and despair in one moment? Skywarp went to his quarters, finding Thundercracker there. She was sitting and cleaning in her joints and such. Only her optics looked up at the black Seeker. "What's bothering you?" She tried to pretend she didn't know, but deep down, she did.
Skywarp watched her groom a moment. He considered assisting, but decided against it. "Nothing," he replied.
"Liar," Thundercracker moved, a leg dangled from the berth and she was looking straight at him, "'Screamer's the only one good at that,"
Skywarp stared at her a long moment, unsure if he should even ask. Finally, choosing to breach the subject, he asked as bluntly as he could. "Why were you afraid of Ratchet? There was nothing to fear. 'Screamer wouldn't have endangered you or our Sparkling, 'Cracker."
Dread crept into the femme's Spark. She kind of figured he would ask. Looking away, she replied, "I wasn't afraid, 'Warp."
"And you call me a liar…" The black Seeker said evenly making Thundercracker look at him. "'Screamer and I both felt it. For a moment, you were terrified."
"Shut up," she warned.
Skywarp's optics narrowed, and his voice then turned accusing, "Something else you fail to tell us?"
Thundercracker looked down and frowned, then after a moment, she gave an annoyed glance to her friend. She stood up and walked toward him and then past him and went to leave.
Skywarp saw her intentions and grabbed for her. Catching her arm, he pulled her back to him and his grip tightened on her, "No more secrets, 'Cracker. What is going on?"
She was hoping he wouldn't go there. Thundercracker bristled in warning, looked at him, and then to her arm. With a quick yank, she pulled her arm free and hissed, "Fine!" She lashed him down their trine-link and said, "If you really must know, why don't you ask the youngling's second in command. She'll be glad to explain it all, I'm sure."
Surprise and concern crossed Skywarp's features when she yanked her arm free and pushed him away. He felt crestfallen that she refused to speak to him about it. He was to be her Spark-mate, and she still didn't want to talk. To him, they should have been able to speak about anything. "TC…" he said in a downtrodden whisper as she continued past him.
She ignored him and left.
"…What about Sixshot? He's like an army all unto 'imself." Jazz stated.
"What about him?" the Seeker asked with a hiked optic ridge.
"Well, won't he help you with Shockwave?"
"How in the pit should I know? He doesn't follow my orders…"
"So, you can't trust him?" Prowl asked, wondering why he kept him around if that were the case. "Doesn't that make you just a little nervous?"
He didn't trust Sixshot as far as he could throw him. It was his trust that Soundwave would keep the brute behaving himself. "I'm completely comfortable with the fact he could kill me at any time…"
"Why can't we jus' shoot Shockers outta the sky? Completely avoid it all…?"
"Why don't you just call in the public while you're at it?" Starscream scoffed. "That'll make a bang we don't want noticed."
"Sector Seven?" Optimus asked in slight surprise that Starscream would suggest such a thing.
"Please…" the Seeker rolled his optics. "You can't possibly think they're the only ones who want to dissect anything that befalls their planet… Blowing Shockwave up would make a pretty big explosion. Locals will see it. Slag will get real."
"Let's get back to the subject at hand, Starscrap. If the young punk is right, we don't want the trouble that Shockwave is going to likely bring, would be easier just to shoot 'im." Ironhide said.
Starscream glared at the weapon specialist, "What did you just call me?" His glare turned dark for a moment before looking to Optimus and saying, "Soundwave wants him to make landfall. She has good judgment…" He got raised optic ridges from everyone. In answer to their surprise, he said, "…Well that is why she is my second in command. I surely didn't put her there for her honesty or her… charming disposition…"
There was a snigger, clearly Jazz'. She couldn't help but burst into laughter. "She's gotta have charm in there somewhere for someone to wanna reproduce wit' her…" the small femme then shuddered as she thought about that a moment, "A charmin' Soundwave… Just thinkin' 'bout that makes my armor crawl…"
Skywarp hunted for Soundwave. He was determined to find out what Thundercracker was so upset about. It bothered him even more that she sent him to the telepath. He nearly barged into her quarters, finding Sixshot sitting and leaning on the wall with Ravage curled up on him. He looked around seeing Soundwave resting on the berth. Settling on the fact he would either end up with answers or mauled, the Seeker pointed to Soundwave. "You. Let's go. We need to talk,"
The femme looked to him; her annoyance at his intrusion was hidden behind her visor. She glared at Sixshot, then stood.
"Now," Skywarp glanced at Sixshot as the teal mech rose as well, and then back to Soundwave, "And alone,"
"He already knows." Soundwave replied.
"Where are we going?" Sixshot asked coolly.
"Somewhere more private," Skywarp turned for the door and walked out. Soundwave and Sixshot followed after. Everyone watched the three take off for the skies. The Seeker closed out his side of the link as they flew, making sure nothing spilt through to his trine while he talked to Soundwave. By Thundercracker's reaction, he already figured he was not going to like what he was going to hear.
He flew far enough away that there was no civilization and his link to his Trine, if anything went through, it would most surely be overlooked. He used the canyon he'd found as a way to help mask the link, just in case.
Sixshot walked to a large boulder and sat down to watch. "Whatever did you do to him?"
Soundwave ignored him, curious of the Seeker's outburst.
The black mech took a moment. Questioning Soundwave was still considered dangerous and stupid. "What did you do to her?"
"Who?" Soundwave asked. She could guess but wanted clarification.
"You're the slagging Psion, remember! You tell me!" Skywarp nearly yelled in a rare show of anger.
Behind her visor, her optic ridges rose. She was curious why he was acting in such a manner. Giving Skywarp a stern glare for speaking to her in such a manner, she said, "What makes you think I did anything?"
"Thundercracker." Skywarp growled. "She sent me to you… Obviously, you have something to tell me. So, let's hear it."
Oh, now she understood. She also did not wish to revisit such memories. As painful as it was for Thundercracker, it was just as much to her. The telepath's optics furrowed behind her visor. There was a deep growl hidden from the Seeker, however Sixshot snapped his head to look at her. She made sure Skywarp also felt her displeasure in having to speak of it, "I did what had to be done. Advice: Drop the subject."
Seemingly unafraid of the telepath's warning, Skywarp growled at her and stepped forward, challenging her. His voice took on a deadly calm. "What exactly did you do, Soundwave? Tell me why she was petrified of Ratchet and then sends me to you above of all, to explain."
Sixshot folded his arms and continued to watch. "Hey, I think he's mad at you…"
"I imagine you now know what happened to Thundercracker before the massacre," the femme said as she glanced at Sixshot then to Skywarp. "What that mech did…"
When they found Thundercracker, whom they believed to be a he at the time, it was dark… TC was hiding in a corner, covering his wounded chest with his hands. The femme-thought-mech had shied back from them, pressing himself against a wall in fear. He remembered seeing the broken armor and other metal on the ground. He had realized that Thundercracker was terrified of who was entering the room – not them exactly. Never had TC been frightened like that.
"I already know about that! what does that have to do with…" Skywarp stopped as his mind made the connection and his optics brightened in anger. Memories of the time they found Thundercracker after she went missing came to him. They had believed she was a he. It never crossed his mind about what that mech had really done to her. They killed him regardless. Fury was building in him just thinking about it. "What did he do, Soundwave?"
Sixshot saw the change in the Seeker and moved quietly to a standing position.
"He got her sparked." Soundwave answered honestly, seeing as there was no need to hide it now.
Skywarp shut his optics as he remembered just after they found at the time, him.
The youngling was steaming mad over something that day.
"Hey, you alright?" he had asked him.
"No." was the reply, "I'm not. Someone has been deliberately hurting him just enough that it wouldn't permanently damage him." He also remembered Starscream pointing out a superficial scar, "See this? These injuries are fresh, but never enough to do any lasting damage."
"What were they doing to him, 'Screamer?"
"I don't know." Starscream had whispered in reply.
Skywarp looked down in troubled confusion. He shook his head, "No…" The black Seeker refused to believe that something like that could be overlooked. "No," he shook his head again as he remembered, "you're lying… 'Screamer… He didn't see anything. He would have noticed." Skywarp said hesitantly, knowing full well how brilliant that idiot actually was. "He would have been a little confused, but he would have seen it… He's one of the brightest scientists of Cybertron. He'd had seen her Spark-port."
"It was very new and could be easily missed by the untrained optic not looking for it." Soundwave stated logically, "A medic would find it. As you well should know, her spark-port was almost removed, like most femmes at that time."
Skywarp shook his head as he realized Soundwave may have been telling the truth. "We tried to take her to see Hook." He said, working it out and remembering that day, "She didn't want to go. She fought us… Demanded that 'Screamer fix her up instead,"
Sadness washed over him, "…She knew 'Screamer wouldn't see it, didn't she? We blamed trauma on her odd changes in behavior. She wanted to keep it even though she was raped for it." Skywarp's optics snapped to the telepath's visor and flared dangerously, "And you… What did you do, Soundwave?"
"I did what needed to be done."
"Does Shockwave know about the Allspark?" Optimus asked.
"Either way, he's gonna find out, I'm sure." Starscream replied evasively.
"Does he know about the femmes and the Sparklings?"
"Pretty sure he's gonna find that out too."
"How many are coming with him?"
A shrug, "Guess you'll find out when they get here…"
"When are they coming?"
Another shrug, "Sometime soon, I'm sure."
"Where are they landing?"
"Close by, I imagine."
"Would you stop that!" Ironhide finally snapped. "Why can't you just answer a straight question?"
Starscream gave the weapon specialist a smug look. "You are Autobots. What makes you think I am going to give you all of my information? You might use it against my troops with your goody ways. I have to leave something to your dull imaginations."
Prowl was silent for a moment, finally he said, "Until we find out more about Hot Rod or Shockwave's real master, I suggest not mentioning this to anyone."
Starscream was silent for a moment as he thought about it, "Autobot and Decepticon?"
"Autobot and Decepticon," Optimus agreed.
"Very well. Now if you'll excuse me. I have stuff I gotta do…"
"What stuff?" Ironhide asked accusingly.
"Big-Bad-Scary-Evil Decepticon… stuff," Starscream sneered before he leapt into the air and left.
Optimus Prime stood with Ironhide, Jazz and Prowl, watching the jet become nothing but a speck in the air. Ironhide snorted in frustration. "Well, that went well, didn't it? We got absolutely no information! Why does he do that?"
"'Cause he's slicker than ya could ever be," Jazz laughed.
She stopped laughing at Ironhide's stern look and started backing when he started for her. Ironhide leapt into his Topkick form and Jazz spun up dirt as she took off nearly sideways in her Solstice form. "Femme or not your aft is mine!" the black mech called.
Optimus and Prowl watched them go. "Even as a femme Jazz makes it a point to make him mad to insane levels, a completely illogical pastime…"
"Hey… what are you doing here?" Teri had seen the Seeker come in for a landing and stop. She left the garage where she was working on an F-15 to greet her. Now she stood looking up at the nose of the very out-of-place F-22 that was parked in the middle of the tarmac at Nellis.
"I needed some time to think."
"And you chose to come here to do that thinking?"
The femme answered, "Skywarp firewalled his side of our link and disappeared. He isn't here?"
"No. Haven't seen him, either." Teri patted the jet on her air duct, "Let's get you into a hangar, I think there's one free at the other end of the runway." She reached for the ladder on the side of the femme and began climbing up. "You get that check done?"
"Yes,"
"Sorry I missed it, but you know Uncle Sam can be," Teri was only half in, half out of the cockpit as Thundercracker began to move. Teri rode her to where she pointed to an empty hangar. "There are no cameras in there, either. So, if you want to transform, I think you can,"
"Right here on this base? What if someone walks in?"
"I would hope you'd see them coming after all that way," Teri joked as she headed for a wing, sitting on the edge. She could almost feel distress radiating from the femme since she arrived, and it was why she offered the hangar. "So… care to tell me about it?"
"About what?"
"What's really bothering you…?"
"Is it really that obvious?"
"Come on, TC. I'm your friend. I should know when something isn't right," Without even thinking, her hand traced intricacies of Thundercracker's wing, inadvertently making the femme relax. She felt the Seeker vibrate under her.
"Memories have come back to bite me in the aft."
"How so?"
Wildlife scattered when Skywarp suddenly screeched in hatred. He darted for the telepath but before he could land a blow, he felt himself knocked backwards and on his aft. When he looked up, he expected to see Sixshot standing there, but only Soundwave's arm was out and she was looking down at him with the same stoic gaze. "Do not attack me."
Perhaps that was a dumb move. She was larger than he was, and he'd never tried to attack her before. For a moment, he remained sitting, only looking up at Soundwave in slight surprise. She was stronger than he gave her credit for. He went to stand, second guessing another attack. "What is wrong with you!"
"Nothing."
"How could you do such a horrible thing!" the Seeker yelled, infuriated.
"Don't' be a fool. Thundercracker would have been killed." The telepath answered coldly. "You know this."
Skywarp growled. "You managed to keep yours and yourself alive… what makes you think Thundercracker, a high ranking, Elite Seeker, couldn't?"
"My risk was not as severe as Thundercracker's."
"Oh really? How?"
"No one could be trusted then."
"Clearly the mech who sired your Sparklings could be trusted. What makes him so slagging special?" Anger rose in Skywarp ask he spoke, "Why do you think for one moment I or 'Screamer wouldn't have protected her? You took from her what little hope she had! It would have further proven the youngling's point!" He reached and pushed back on the femme in anger, who caught herself rather easily.
"None of you would have survived, Skywarp. Think rationally." Sixshot interrupted.
The Seeker continued on, as if he hadn't heard him. "You were around him… doing his dirty work for him all that time with yours…"
"Thundercracker's risk was assessed and dealt with accordingly." The telepath interrupted tersely. "Drop it now."
"And you tell me her risk would have been too high? You're a hypocrite. You were up Megatron's aft!"
"They were incorporated as drones. They're alive, but at a great cost." Soundwave stared until Skywarp became visibly agitated. It was that strange look that made the Seeker stop his questioning in his tracks. There was another growl and this time, Skywarp heard it. He knew when he was pushing too far.
"Drones…" Skywarp echoed in disgust as his gaze dropped. "So, since we're now on that subject…" He looked back up at her visor, his anger flaring again, "Who did sire your Sparklings, Soundwave? Primus himself?"
Soundwave only looked over to Sixshot. There was a smirk behind the teal mech's facemask as he shrugged."Skytrigger's famous last words… What's the worst that could happen?"
Skywarp's optics followed Soundwave's gaze suspiciously and Sixshot's visor rose, showing their deep hue.
"You've got to be slagging kidding me…" One designation came to mind… "Frenzy." The black Seeker's gaze locked on the assassin's. How hadn't he noticed before? His jaw dropped as he saw the blue and realization came to him. "What…! You!"
"Well, not quite Primus… but I guess close enough…" the teal mech paused and his optics flared dangerously, "Tell anyone, and I'll make sure your Sparkling never flies." Sixshot threatened evenly as his visor dropped.
Skywarp only stared in shock. He wasn't sure what to take in first… the very nasty threat or the fact Sixshot reproduced with Soundwave. Whom would he tell anyway? He wasn't even sure he believed it. "How is that possible?"
"That's a silly question."
"I mean… I thought you were – you know, engineered… made in a lab or something?"
"Well, I was implanted with extra weapons and a few other things, but the rest is all natural, I assure you."
Skywarp tried to speak, but it just wouldn't form what he wanted to say. Instead, he said. "Primus damned you…"
"Learn something new every day, eh?" Sixshot asked with a cheeky tone.
The Seeker looked to Soundwave then back to Sixshot. "That's just… What the pit? Ew,"
North of the Decepticon base, Prowl found Ratchet working on something or other with Wheeljack. He hesitated, but it wasn't the first time something felt weird, and he went to his friend about it. The last time he went to Ratchet, the coot discovered he had a sister. He wondered what today would bring.
Ratchet would be the best one to go to anyway since he was a medic. He also knew how to keep his trap shut. "Ratchet," he called, getting both mechs' attention. "I need to speak with you."
Wheeljack gave Ratchet a look and then nodded in Prowl's direction, "I got this, you go ahead,"
The CMO followed Prowl until they were in his med bay. Prowl closed the doors, "I have a strange question."
"You're not known for strangeness, what's wrong?" he asked in as professional as a manner he could doing his best not to smirk. He'd been watching him and Jazz for a while now.
"While Thundercracker was getting her Spark-check, Jazz had made a seat on me. She's been putting on this… 'show' for the others. I told her it was to talk to Starscream, but in all honesty, I had to push her away because something went through my Spark when she leaned on me."
Ratchet raised an optic ridge knowingly but hid his smirk well. "No doubt, it probably was her close proximity to you."
"What does that mean?"
Ratchet gave a quirked optic ridge. "Well… you're a mech, Jazz is a femme. I suppose it's only natural…"
"You're being evasive," Prowl accused quickly with narrowed optics.
With a chuckle Ratchet nodded and clapped the tactician on the shoulder as he led him to the door, "I guess I am, Prowl. Now, get outta here, you're fine."
The CMO, with a smug grin, headed back to working with Wheeljack.
In the hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, the F-22 rested while her pilot rested on her. "…My history has a much darker side," Thundercracker relinquished, "I thought it was done and gone, but that check with Ratchet… I lost my grip, and it flooded them."
"It's not like you to lose your grip, 'Thunder." Teri moved and lay down on the femme's wing, still petting it.
"I know. Skywarp is upset with me, and I am willing to bet the youngling is as well,"
"Why would they be upset at you?"
"Because I didn't tell them what was wrong, even though they knew something was. Skywarp asked and I sent him to Soundwave instead,"
At that, Teri bit her lip, "…Why?"
"Soundwave knows the truth and depending on how hurtful she feels like being, she may tell him,"
In the middle of no man's land, Sixshot only gave a very smug grin under his faceplate at the increasingly perplexed look on Skywarp's face. "Imagine that… even the creepy Soundwave gets…" the teal mech paused and looked at Soundwave, "Frisky,"
Soundwave glared at him; her visor flashed.
Skywarp scrunched up his face in slight disgust and confusion and then glanced at Soundwave. He then frowned and looked down. He wasn't sure what to make of that. It was no wonder Soundwave's Sparklings survived, having those two for creators… "Does the youngling know about that?"
"I'm sure the idea rattles around once in a while there in his mind." Sixshot answered with the same smug tone. "He really can't be that dense…"
That comment was rewarded with a raised, doubting optic ridge from Skywarp. "You're serious? Come on, Sixshot, he sparked a Sparkling and didn't even know it. I know how dense he can be."
Sixshot laughed, "Is that right?"
"Ask him sometime how Blacklight was conceived. He'll be happy to tell you. What I wanna know is why haven't you told him?" This time he looked to Soundwave expectantly.
Soundwave chose to remain silent "He hasn't asked." Sixshot was the one to answer making the Seeker look back at him. "I think Shockwave is on his mind more than who sparked who. I suggest keeping it that way. Your leader looks like he's about to pop. He's crazy enough as he is."
Skywarp frowned at Sixshot's comment. He remembered one night that 'Screamer was still awake and he felt something from him. It was fear, apprehensiveness. The young Seeker must have believed everyone was recharging and felt it all right to lower firewalls since it wouldn't flood anyone. "I think he's afraid,"
Soundwave looked up to the sky, then back to Skywarp, saying nothing.
"And so he should be," Sixshot agreed. "At least he's aware of what he's dealing with. It'll keep him on alert." Skywarp gave him a dirty look, but he didn't care. "If he's lucky, Shockwave won't do anything. Maybe complain a little… Just hope the others don't follow him if he decides he wants the 'Cons."
Skywarp shook his head, "They like him too much… They'll fight for him."
"That's not who I'm talking about…" the teal mech suddenly turned violently, several weapons emerging as he targeted on seemingly no one. Skywarp looked in the direction Sixshot was aiming.
At the AFB, the blue F-22 sighed, giving into the pleasurable and relaxing feelings her pilot was giving by petting her wing. Only Skywarp or Starscream was allowed to pet her wings like this, but Thundercracker allowed it. She needed it. "I hurt him,"
"You'll reconcile, I'm sure of it. You guys, as far as I know have a good history together. I'm sure this won't hurt your trine."
"But this is… big."
"Don't worry, huh? Trust them that they'll understand." Teri continued her ministrations on the femme's wing.
"It's not like that. Trines are full trust… and I broke it. Starscream could expel me."
Teri gave the Seeker a look of extreme doubt. "Do you really believe that?" she asked, tapping her heart, "In your spark?"
"No." Thundercracker answered honestly. "He's a dufus."
Teri laid down on her side as she giggled, lazily tracing the warm metal, "Maybe oming here helped the tension. Sometimes it does one good to get away for a while, 'Thunder. God knows we all need it. Though I don't think running away is the answer."
The femme didn't answer, and it wasn't like Teri was really expecting one. Thundercracker paid special attention to the soft touches of Teri's hand, completely forgetting her disappointment. It felt good. When she heard Teri speak, she didn't reply. Instead, she began to purr. Teri only smiled as she did so.
She did wonder how it was so easy to talk to the woman. She'd never felt comfortable speaking of such things even to her Trine-mates. She really didn't feel like talking right now, however; her pilot's company was enough.
Sixshot lowered his weapons when he saw who had landed. The Decepticon leader waited for the dust to clear, curious as to what was going on. He saw Skywarp first. "Well, there's one of you… Where's the other?" As he looked around for Thundercracker, he noticed who else was present. Three of the least he expected to see together in the middle of nowhere. "What's going on out here?" Not only did he feel like he was encroaching on something private, but there was cause for concern right now, especially with Skywarp's being firewalled and Sixshot standing right there.
Skywarp approached Starscream, "I was just getting ready to leave." He glanced back at Soundwave with a scowl before looking back to his leader straight, "Have you ever wondered why the Decepticon symbol looks like Soundwave?"
Starscream gave Skywarp a confused look, completely thrown off by his Trine-mate's question. "Huh?"
Skywarp only shrugged as he prepared to leave.
Starscream grabbed him before he could, looking to Soundwave and Sixshot, "What were you three talking about? It's about Shockwave, isn't it?" he looked to Skywarp for an answer. "Why is your side of the link firewalled? Thought I would find TC when I found you. But low and behold…"
"Would you calm down, already? We were just talking. Nothing wrong with that…" Skywarp defended awkwardly, "Wait… TC isn't at base?"
Starscream nearly screeched, "No! She isn't! You would have known if you hadn't firewalled and decided to have a jaunt to the middle of nowhere!"
"Why would she hide from us?"
"I could ask the same of you…" Starscream curled a loose fist in annoyance as he looked to Soundwave. "So?"
"That information is confidential."
Starscream knew that tone. He hated that tone. It was that 'keep-asking-and-die' tone. He had no idea how she used tones so effectively with such a monotonous voice, but she could. Maybe it was the fact her optics were always hidden. "I hate you."
Sixshot tilted his head, nearly laughing, "So tell me, Starscream, how did you conceive Blacklight?"
Starscream's optics went straight to Skywarp who gave a guilty smile. "You! So, this is what you were talking about? My sparkling?"
"No," Sixshot disagreed, getting Starscream's optics on him. "…I want to know how you conceived him."
Starscream frowned, "Hard tellin' not knowin', huh?"
Sixshot smirked. "I like this guy…"
"Hey Teri! You all right up there?" Jess called, looking up at the woman who was almost sleeping on the blue F-22's wing. Thundercracker heard him and onlined enough to see he was alone.
He tilted his head with a raised brow when said woman looked over at him, "Do you have any idea how weird it is to walk in and find you lying on a jet wing?"
"No more strange than you trying to explain to people you have a teleporting jet from outer space,"
"I haven't tried to tell anyone that!" Jess defended.
"Of course not, because no one would believe you." The woman stretched on the warm metal but didn't want to move.
"Go away," the jet muttered, "can't you see I hijacked this hangar for an evil purpose?"
"And what purpose would that be?
"We're recharging. Now shove off."
"Where's 'Warp? Thought he'd be warming your wing, not Teri."
Teri felt agitation rise in the femme and shook her head at him, mouthing 'Not now'.
Getting the hint, Jess went back to why he had come in the first place. "They're bringin' in a rig from Edwards and they're putting it in this hangar. You guys can't be…" he thought about what other people on the base might think seeing the two, "…in here."
Teri rose and rested her head in her hands, "You're serious, aren't you…" When Jess nodded, she yawned dramatically and sat up, "How long?"
"Couple of hours at most, which means they'll be getting this place ready, now both of you, scram…" the man waved his arms and moved to the side.
Soundwave looked to Sixshot, "It's time for you to leave." Sixshot nodded and turned, lifted into the air and disappeared.
Starscream watched him go and pointed, "What was that?"
"He is leaving,"
"Where is he going?"
"Destination: Unknown."
The Autobots' question about the rogue mech was answered. "Why?" Starscream waited for an answer he was sure he wasn't going to get. Taking a few more seconds, he turned to Skywarp, "Skywarp, help me find TC." He then glanced at Soundwave, "You get back to base, me and you need to have a little chat."
"As you wish, Commander," Soundwave droned as she lifted off the ground.
Prowl thought about the meeting with Starscream. It did rear some results, like the young leader stating how Soundwave wanted Shockwave to make landfall. Knowing what Shockwave could bring with him, Prowl turned to Optimus, "Sir, what purpose could Soundwave want with Shockwave landing if everything Hot Rod said was true? Does she know about him?"
"I don't know, Prowl. Our only option is to wait." It wasn't like the Autobots and Decepticons couldn't do away with him if necessary, "Did you find out anything else about Hot Rod?"
"Not, much, Optimus. His lineage is, funny enough, unknown, he was raised with his twin sister, Icy Road in sector X-60. Seems we have a stow away in the Autobots.
The Autobot leader frowned, "Seems so. That is right on the edge of unknown territory in Southern Hemisphere of Cybertron."
"Yes, sir. They were raised by Kup, I believe he helped Ironhide train recruits when the war started, I'll ask him about Kup as soon as he comes back from the Lennox farm."
"Has Hot Rod said anything else about Shockwave?"
"No," the tactician answered, "he is remaining silent."
That evening, Skywarp held Thundercracker a little tighter while they recharged. He didn't tell her that Soundwave admitted anything; he just hoped that their Sparkling would be born healthy.
Elsewhere, in the desert, a lone Autobot gazed at the moon in deep thought; finally, he sighed and shook his head with a frown before he transformed and headed back to base.
Sixshot being sent away must mean something!