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Serendipity	By : AkashaEmily Category: S through Z > Transformers (Movie Only) > Transformers (Movie Only) Views: 5248 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters of the Transformers franchise as well as the franchise itself are licensed and owned by Hasbro. I do this for entertainment purposes only and do not profit AT ALL- monetarily or otherwise- from the writting of these stories.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Disclaimer: All recognizable
characters of the Transformers franchise as well as the franchise itself are
licensed and owned by Hasbro. I own nothing and make absolutely no profit-
monetarily or otherwise- from the posting of this story in any way, shape or
form.

Measurements
Hic- mile or kilometer (From the G1 continuity)
Hectometer- a metric unit of length equal to 100
meters
Cycle- minute
Nanoklick- second
Joor- hour

Language notes
Assume that when the mechs are talking amongst
themselves that they are speaking their native language unless otherwise noted.
In situations where multiple languages are present during a conversation, bold
type (i.e., �Cybertronian�) will be
used to indicate the language.
�Hi�� =
speaking
~*Hi*~� =
trine link/bond talking
::Hi::�� = radio

A/N: Thank you Mars
for reviewing. It meant a lot. Please enjoy the chapter.

Serendipity Chapter
4

�� Skywarp
roused feeling considerably better than he had before recharging. Flipping
through the crowd of alerts waiting for him on his HUD, he was pleased to find
out that, not only had the pod�s software been installed with no errors but his
systems had adapted and were now back to running at their normal rates. There
was also a new icon on his HUD that, when triggered, pulled up a detailed graphical
display of a human body with areas lit to indicate damage. Curious, Skywarp selected
a highlighted limb and received both a damage report and a repair status
notation.
�� Well that was�nifty, in a really gross kinda way� Skywarp thought, disturbed as he watched the
graphic�s heart beat and the blood flow, the latter color-coded to indicate the
level of oxygen saturation. The longer he watched it though, the more familiar
it became, and, finally giving into his curiosity, Skywarp explored the
graphic, watching the areas light-up, getting read-outs of the brain�s low electrical
activity and high opioid-like chemical saturation
level. A quick alert informed him that he would need more supplies if the was
going to keep the pod at its current refresh rate and Skywarp set a reminder to
head back to Earth before everything ran out. After one last perusal of the
graphic, the Seeker dismissed it but instead of vanishing altogether, it
instead minimized to a considerably smaller window that took up residence in
the lower right hand corner of his HUD, feeding him a constant stream of information
about Sam�s status. �
Arching his dorsal
line lazily, Skywarp onlined his optics, clicking
happily, luxuriating in the sensation of just feeling so damn good. It felt as if a mild electrical
current was being run through every fluid line, making his systems tingle, his
sensornet veritably humming with pleasure, and Skywarp heard himself giggle as
he stretched his arms wide. His digits touched familiar armor plating and the
Seeker automatically rolled his head in the appropriate direction, smiling happily
at Starscream until the sight made his good mood retreat significantly
Dry cleansing cloths sliding off
his armor, Skywarp sat up and frowned at the state of the other Seeker�s
disrepair. It was hard to gauge the full extent because Starscream was laying
dorsal side up but Skywarp could see the gunky build
up of used oil and smell the soured hydraulic fluid clogging up the cabling
along the back of the Air Commander�s legs and knees. Both Starscream�s wings
and engine mounts were scuffed and scratched, as if he�d been laying on his
back for long periods on a dirty floor, which was weird because the Seeker
hated exposing his ventral plating unless necessary. Skywarp spied dried blue
smears on the berth under the other Seeker and further investigation revealed
that there was a thick layer of the material coating Starscream�s front acting
as an adhesive. A quick scan of the molecular make up of the goo told Skywarp
what it was and, for a moment, he teetered emotionally between pity and
revulsion before the latter won out.
Primus,
would it have offlined you to visit a washrack before
crawling into my berth? Disgusted, Skywarp picked up some
of the cleaning cloths scattered around him and slid quietly off the berth,
heading directly to the maintenance facility and soaking the cloth in cleanser.
Bringing the dripping mass back to the berth, he wedged the strips of cloth as
far under each side of Starscream as he could before fetching a chair. As he
waited for the solvent to work and unglue the other enough so that Skywarp
could get him into the maintenance area, the teleporter retrieved a few
cleaning tools from a subspace pocket and began working on clearing the gunk
he�d spotted earlier.
Why in the Pit Starscream didn�t
just invest in a small self repair bot like his
trine-mates Skywarp didn�t understand. Primus knew the Air Commander was vain
enough to have a personal army of the slagging things.
Half a joor
later, Starscream stirred, and the sudden abrupt awareness of what the Air
Commander was feeling emotionally crashed into Skywarp as their bond
automatically opened, triggered to their close physical proximity. A massive
swell of despair, depression and sorrow slammed into his spark, the emotional
tide so completely opposite from Skywarp�s own buoyant emotional state that the
assault literally knocked him off his chair, sending his tools scattering as he
hit the floor, his intake fans clicking on and buzzing loudly in response to
the phantom pain.
Mentally reeling, Skywarp
scrambled to close the link and shut the other out. It took several cycles for Skywarp
to gather himself but he did eventually manage to crawl to the berth and use
the metal lip to pull his frame up.
��Primus, what happened?� Skywarp�s vocalizer fritzed,
making his voice thin and strained. The look in the silver Seeker�s optics made
Skywarp place a hand on Starscream�s back, seeking and trying to impart comfort
with the gesture as the dark Seeker braced himself and warily re-opened the
bond between them. �Why are you so sad?�
~*I
can�t do it anymore.*~
Starscream�s facial plates scrunched up, making him look lost. ~*They keep dying
no matter what I do!*~
Even after preparing himself for
the emotional onslaught, having the link open made it hard for Skywarp to
separate himself from his trine-mate. He narrowed it, keeping it open just
enough so they could communicate with only a trickle of emotion threading
through. When he was sure that the other Seeker�s emotions wouldn�t overwhelm
his own, the teleporter resumed his previous position on the berth and forcibly
dragged the Starscream�s frame on top of his own.
He wrapped an arm tightly around
Starscream�s waist and let his free hand roam to tease over the exposed wings
and the engine mounts, lingering until the latter switched on with a soft whirl
of turbines. Skywarp nuzzled the Air Commander�s audio finial, then the cables in his neck as Starscream relaxed enough to
let the teleporter near the vulnerable spot.
Physical contact with one another
was soothing and reassuring for Trines, a wordless demonstration of trust and
care, and the more mentally wound up a trine-mate was, the more they would seek
out the remaining pair, craving close contact. Most times it would lead to
interfacing but Skywarp doubted that Starscream would welcome the idea given
the emotional turmoil still leaking through from his side of the bond. That was
okay though; interfacing brought all barriers crashing down until everything
lay naked to each partner and Skywarp had his own secret to hide. Later though,
after Sam was no longer an issue, Skywarp planned to overload Starscream into
the next orn, longer if Thundercracker joined them in the meantime.
��I�m proud of you.� Skywarp said, feeling the
other jerk in surprise as first shame then murderous anger emanated from
Starscream. The darker Seeker just ignored it, maintaining his peaceful state
of mind as he continued to pet his now squirming trine-mate. �You�re so strong,
�Screamer and you fight so hard� Anyone else would�ve thought they were a waste
and let the sparklings die. You didn�t! You fought for them, still fight for
them, and I am so, so proud of you!�
Starscream remained rigid against
him, emotions warring with one another from one extreme to the other in a
chaotic mix, but Skywarp simply began running his hand over the other�s wings
again, wiggling his fingers under the flaps, teasing against the wiring there
lightly. In response, the Air Commander�s vents cycled on loudly, drawing more
air in, and Skywarp could hear Starscream�s fuel pump increase its rhythm.
�It�s hard caring for the
sparklings.� The teleporter murmured gently, prying open the bond a bit,
wanting the other feel his sincerity, his confidence in Starscream�s ability to
find an answer, to get through this. �I know because I can feel how hard you
take each death, know how it hurts right down to the
spark but�� Skywarp nuzzled the thick collar armor and soothed both hands over
the other, making a circuit from Starscream�s head down to his pelvic plating. �I
also know it would hurt you worse if you abandoned them to starve to death just
because you were in pain.�
�I�m not as smart as you or
Thundercracker. I just don�t have the software to help with the technical stuff
but I know you can do this and I�ll help even if all I can do is give you a cuddle.� Skywarp stilled his hands and simply
held the other close. We�re Trine, three parts of a whole. We support each
other, through Primus or the Pit. Call me before it gets to be so overwhelming
next time!�
Nodding mutely, Starscream
shuddered and buried his head in the other�s shoulder assembly, armor plates
rattling in a cascade of noise as he clung to Skywarp tightly, as if afraid the
other would vanish, a real possibility given Skywarp�s abilities. As it was
however considering the tacky mess between them, if the teleporter did warp,
Starscream would be coming along for the ride whether he wanted to or not and
the realization of this made Skywarp smile in amusement.
�Do you need to
recharge some more?�
Skywarp asked, his hands roaming again, touching and teasing anything his
fingers brushed. In response, Starscream shook his head and, because Skywarp
could feel the other gathering himself in preparation of the day, he gently
closed the bond between them to give the other privacy. ��Kay.
Then let�s head for the maintenance room because I think I accidentally glued
us together... �
�You what?! Skywarp you
fragger!� Starscream tried to pull away and made a noise of distaste
when he couldn�t. He glared down at the other and made a move to smack him.
�I know, but you love me anyway.�
Skywarp ducked his head away, grinning as his trine-mate attempted to pry them
apart.
�I suppose I do.� Managing to put
several inches of distance between them, Starscream vented loudly, making
sounds of irritation, but he smiled, his optics no longer looking lost, and
that was all Skywarp cared about.
�Good!� And with a wicked glint
in his optics, Skywarp wrapped his arms around the other again, pulling
Starscream back against him and undoing all the other�s work at separation. The
Air Commander squawked then began cursing, smacking at the teleporter to make
him let go as Skywarp simply laughed and kept shouting, �Remember! You said you
love me! Ouch! Remember you love me!��
______________________

�� It
doesn�t look like food.� Wheelie stated, picking up
Mikaela�s fork and poking at the confection, making it jiggle. �You know, it�s
almost hypnotic the way it moves��
�� I
know.� Mikaela murmured in reply, voice muffled because she was resting her
chin on her arms, gaze intent on the little dome of lime green Jell-O on the
plate in front of her. She poked it, hard, and watched its wobbly response, frowning
to herself because no matter how much she played with it, the Jell-O wasn�t
giving her any answers.
Though they had been innocuous at
the time, both Leo�s comment about Jell-O and Wheelie�s idea of cushioning haunted
her with a persistence that was disturbing. Part of her was thoroughly
convinced that, somehow, by studying something similar in design, she�d
understand list of stolen goods and how it all related to the Decepticons
abducting Sam. It all had to be connected, all of it, and the young women now
felt compelled to understand the desert that seemed more toy than food item.
Unfortunately, playing with
Jell-O hadn�t revealed any insights into a reason why Decepticons would want
something like it and, in irritation, Mikaela began pressing the little dome
flat with the palm of her hand.
�So, uh,� Wheelie began, cocking
his head to one side as he watched her crush the desert. �What do you wanna do next after, you know, you�re done playing with
your food here?�
�Still plenty
of places to explore.�
She said, straightening and grabbing a napkin to wipe green goo from her hand. �And
since it�s an island, there�s always the beach.� Wheelie muttered darkly about
gears and sand not mixing. �Or we could keep working on the list��
�Fat lot of
good that�s doing us.�
The small mech huffed dejectedly. The sad part was that he was correct; even
though they now knew what each item was and what it was used for, they were no
closer to finding any answers. Ratchet had been the one to help them identify
everything but even he was stumped as to why the Decepticons would want any of
it. The pervading fear had been that it was all for some new weapon but
Ironhide had denied that, running the list of items through every possible
combination and comparing it to the formulae of every chemical weapon known to
both man and Cybertronian. So it wasn�t a weapon, at least none that anyone had
encountered before, but that was far from comforting to say the least.
None of it gave them a clue about
where Sam was, either.
Mood sour, Mikaela picked up her
tray and walked to the cafeteria�s nearest trashcan to dump the contents.
Initially she had been ecstatic to be going to N.E.S.T. headquarters but now she
felt like a prisoner, trapped on the small island, unable to leave even to chase
down leads because she was technically a civilian. It was maddening and
infuriating but Lennox had said in no uncertain terms that she was not to leave
the island under any circumstances and Optimus was backing the captain every
step of the way.
Protective
custody my ass!
Slamming
the cleared tray on top of the wastebasket, Mikaela stalked from the cafeteria,
Wheelie a comforting presence at her back as she decided to play her final
card. There was one person on this base that everyone feared, that nobody dared
to cross, and it just so happened that he had a soft spot for her. Turning down
the hallway to the infirmary, Mikaela decided to appeal her case to
Ratchet.�

______________________________

A curious combination of relief,
jealousy and mild anxiety flowed continuously through their link and Skywarp,
perched on a rolling chair, cocked his head to one side as he watched
Starscream- his silver armor so clean he glowed in the light from the pods-
bustle purposefully about the hatchery.
�So,� Skywarp drawled, a finger
idly doodling meaningless designs on the back of Starscream�s wing as the Air
Commander came within arm�s reach.�Megatron did good while babysitting?�
��Baby�sitting?�� Starscream
repeated slowly, looking up from making notes on the data pad in his grasp. �What
is this �baby� and why would one sit on it?�
�It�s, uh, no you don�t actually
sit�� Skywarp honestly tried to keep his amusement concealed but knew he failed
when his trine-mate scowled. �A baby is the human equivalent of our
sparklings-�
�And they sit on them?!� Starscream asked, genuinely appalled. �Primitive backwater organics! Why would they sit on their
young?! It is a wonder they have not doomed themselves to extinction with their
stupidity� Why are you laughing? Skywarp, get off the floor and answer my
question! I demand an answer so stop
laughing you idiot!�
Skywarp could only hug his chest,
his intakes hurting as they heaved, his vocalizer shorting out, as he sprawled
on his back on the floor, grinning up at his trine-mate. ~*No, �Screamer, they don�t actually sit on them. It�s a term they use
to describe instances when parents- progenitors- must have their sparklings
cared for by a proxy!*~
Optics narrowed, Starscream
became thoughtful as he considered this information. �Yes, Megatron did very
well fulfilling my role during my absence.�
�You don�t sound happy.� Skywarp
murmured gently, trailing his hand gently up and down the other�s shin plating
as he spoke through the bond. ~*Are you
upset that he had no problems with the sparklings?*~
~*No!
Lord Megatron�*~
Emotions all tangled in a knot, Starscream shifted from foot to foot, one hand
groping at the air as if he could pull a viable argument from it. Skywarp
trilled soothingly, continuing to run his hand up and down the Air Commander�s
leg, content to wait for an answer.� ~*I� No! A little�Yes�?*~
Skywarp nodded, unsurprised and
simply accepting of the answer as he turned his head to look up at the ceiling,
reaching up with his unoccupied hand to gently touch the rounded ridge of one
talon to the underside of the closest pod. �They look like little stars, little
suns.� ��
�I
know.� Starscream murmured softly but through the bond a grief tainted image of
lights simply vanishing floated, prompting Skywarp to carefully get to his feet
and cross the minimal distance separating the two Seekers physically.
�It will
be okay.� The teleporter said, pulling the other into a tight hug and nuzzling
Starscream�s closest audio finial as he trilled lowly, the sound sending a
vibration through their thoracic cavities. �Everything else works, right? It�s
only the energon that�s a problem, right? So all we need to do is find some and
the sparklings are all good!�
Starscream�s
intakes cycled loudly in a sigh and he patted Skywarp on the head in a
blatantly patronizing manner but through the bond anger roiled, prickling at
the darker Seeker�s spark like needles. �Yes, �Warp, all we need to do is find
some energon. Why don�t you go get some from the mountainous pile we have outside?�
Skywarp
stuck his lower labial plating out in a pout as he pulled back enough to look
the other in the optic. �No need to get angry. I was just trying to sum up the
problem��
�I
know.� Starscream vented again, armor plates fluttering in a cascade as he
tried to calm down. Skywarp waited, listening to the clicks and hum as the Air
Commander ran through a system�s check. �Your assessment is correct; there are
no problems with the sparklings other than providing them all with enough
energon to develop properly. This is little comfort however since we are
currently stuck in a solar system with no energon and no means for refining it
enough even if he we did have some.�
Optics
on the pods, Skywarp hummed in thought as he pulled the other close again,
swaying them both gently from side to side. �Energon�s
just a fuel, right? What about other fuels? Could we use other fuels?�
Starscream�s
head thunked loudly onto Skywarp�s shoulder assembly
as he spoke, his tone saying plainly that he was reaching the end of his
patience talking about this. �We would still need to refine it.�
�Okay,
so if we found a suitable fuel and refined it, could we use it then?� Skywarp
persisted, unwilling to let the subject go. �
The Air Commander pushed at him,
the bond slamming shut between them as Starscream tried to pull away both
physically and emotionally. �The sparklings are fragile and their delicate
systems are only able to use highly refined energon. Anything else would be
poisonous and terminate them all. Now, you�re getting underfoot. Have you
killed Witwicky yet?�
Skywarp had been dreading this
moment. If he lied, his trine-mate would sense it immediately and so he chose
his words carefully as he stepped away, one pede scuffing the floor. �Uh� Not
exactly��
�Good.� Starscream said, striding
away, his attention back on his data pad and the pods.
The teleporter stared after him,
somehow knowing he was not going to like where this conversation went.
�Good?��
�Yes,� And when Starscream turned
around, his expression was absolutely feral. �When you find him, comm. me and
then teleport him right here, to me, so that I can watch his organic flesh
explode!�
Starscream could be a spiteful,
vengeful thing at times when he felt wronged. The same could be said about all
three Seekers but the level of violence and brutality in the images that suddenly
assaulted Skywarp through the bond was overwhelming! And Primus, the rage! The sheer hatred and overwhelming
anger that boiled through the link bordered on pure madness! It made Skywarp
grabbed his cranial plating as his emotional circuits began to overheat from
the effort to process it all.
Where had that level of bloodlust
come from and how could Starscream handle it with such casual ease when Skywarp
could feel himself begin to fritz from the strain of just that little glimpse?
He had never been afraid of
Starscream before but, in that moment, Skywarp�s spark quailed in absolute
terror because no sane mech could exist in such a headspace without becoming
psychotic!
Thundercracker!
Thundercracker
was smarter than Skywarp- he would know what to do! Hastily Skywarp shut the
bond between himself and Starscream then strained to reach out to
Thundercracker, sending his fear screaming down the link along with a quick
plea for help about their trine-mate�s tenuous grip on sanity. He didn�t
receive a verbal reply, just a dim stab of surprise, but Skywarp knew that
Thundercracker would respond properly once he was able.
��Skywarp, what is wrong?� Starscream asked,
all traces of malice disappearing as if it had never been. He frowned and
approached, and Skywarp retreated as fast as he could away, optics never
leaving the other as the Air Commander slowly pursued. The chase ended in the
doorway to the hatchery as Starscream stopped just inside the doorway and
cocked his head at Skywarp standing in the corridor outside. �Skywarp what is
the matter?�
�I, uh,� The darker Seeker
struggled to come up with an excuse that would legitimately allow him to get
away from the other. �I just remembered I had something to do. I�ll see you
later!�
He waved at the other and left,
having to fight not to either teleport or run as he hurried down the hallway
and�ran right into Megatron. Again. Skywarp groaned
before he could stop himself, rubbing his cranial plating where it had
connected with the other�s chest armor as he sank to one knee in a low bow. �I
apologize, my Lord.�
And then he waited because that
was the only safe option.
�Get up, Skywarp.� Megatron
growled, plainly irritated. The Seeker stood as fast as possible but that did
nothing to clear the annoyance from Megatron�s expression and Skywarp mentally
braced himself for the pain to begin as the Decepticon Leader�s hand came down�And
merely settled firmly on the teleporter�s shoulder assembly. No crushing
followed- using his grip, Megatron merely steered the Seeker down an off-shoot
from the main corridor they had been in until the pair reached an airlock.
No air to vibrate meant no
screaming could be heard and Skywarp couldn�t fight the shiver the thought sent
through him as his fuel pump increased its tempo, raising his overall fluid
pressure. On his HUD, the icon for the pod began to flash, an alert appearing
that warned him of the negative aspects of the action on Sam.
Stupid
squishy! Skywarp
thought angrily as he dismissed the alert, warp drive primed for escape as he
watched his leader for any indication of attack. As fragile as a sparkling�
An idea began to form in his
processor but before it could solidify into something tangible, Megatron began
speaking.
�Grindor has been located by
N.E.S.T. and a team is moving in to terminate him.� A set of coordinates
appeared on Skywarp�s HUD via the Decepticon comm.net, quickly followed by
several more sets. �Soundwave has located several others as well. Head to Earth
and bring them all back here before the Autobots find them.�
��Yes, sir.� Skywarp agreed, confused as
Megatron spurred him forward with a light pat on his shoulder. Weirded out by
the significantly non-homicidal behavior, he stepped into the airlock warily,
wirelessly triggering the system and listening to the inner door hermetically
seal itself behind him before the outer door spiraled open. The vast empty red
plains of Mars stretched out before him, dust puffing up as he walked into the
sun-scorched expanse, and in the distance Skywarp could see a massive dust
storm brewing.
It was entirely possible that
Soundwave had already alerted Megatron to the storm heading their way but, just
to be sure, Skywarp radioed his leader anyway. ::My
Lord, a storm is approaching the base several hics
wide. I estimate that it will reach the base in roughly two joors.
I should be able to get everyone back here safely within the time window but if
I am delayed, I will be unable to return until the storm passes.::
He didn�t expect an answer and
practically jumped when he received one. ::How� much of a danger does the storm pose?::
Skywarp wasn�t sure in what
capacity Megatron meant but he tried to sum it up to hit all the major points,
one pede toeing the ground. This was� bizarre. ::Well,
the storm is generating enough electrostatic electricity to cause lightening
strikes which is kicking up even more dust. The dust itself is corrosive and
I�d recommend shutting down the ventilation system temporarily or at least
increase the sensitivity level internal scrubbers to keep it away from the
pods. If the storm gets bad enough- and really, I think it�s going to be
because I�m looking at a tornado a hectometer tall- we could lose
communications and proximity sensors for a while so the base�ll
literally be blind and deaf.::
::Will
the storm interfere with your teleportation ability?:: Megatron asked. His tone
was mild, not irritated as Skywarp had feared, and the Seeker felt himself
strangely disturbed by the almost-concerned lilt.
::It,
uh, could, my Lord.:: If Skywarp had had the ability, he would have been
sweating. ::If the landing ground significantly
changes in ways that I am unaware or unable to account for, I and my passenger
could reappear partially inside an object.::
He�s had a few near misses in the
past and had bad memory purges for vorns after each time of reappearing half in
and half out of a bulkhead. It would be a horrible way to terminate, slow and
painful depending on exactly how he rematerialized, and was the top place
holder on Skywarp�s personal list of Ways Never to Terminate.
::Then
you had best get a move on.:: Megatron said in that mild tone.
Taking the statement as a veiled
threat, Skywarp pulled up the first set of coordinates, altered them slightly
before locking in his destination and vanished from the surface of Mars.

With a crack! Skywarp appeared a thousand feet in the air above Grindor�s
location and fired his thrusters to remain hovering in the air. He watched with
some amusement as several humans on the rooftop dressed in black jumped,
scattering for cover behind low partitions and skylights.
::Make them any jumpier and they�re going to start shooting.:: Grindor
grumbled unhappily, rotor blades twitching though the rest of him remained
still as he sat in his altmode atop the roof of the
building.
Rolling his shoulder assemblies
in a shrug, Skywarp landed gently on the roof, cocking his head as he peered
over the side and looked at the building�s sign. �Hey Grindor, what�s a �Macy�s�?�
�Skywarp?!�
Skywarp automatically looked for
the source of the voice then trilled in delight when he found the owner looking
out from behind the housing for one of the building�s large air conditioning
unit.
�Arcee!!� He waved at her excitedly at the
small blue form and ignored Grindor�s groan of disgust. �Hi, Arcee! I didn�t know you were here, too!�
Clicking and whirling, the faux
helicopter transformed into his bipedal mode, armor plates fluttering and
locking into place as he came to stand beside the Seeker. �Megatron know you�re out without supervision?�
�Hey!�
Skywarp shoved
him in the chest. �No need to be mean! I
came to help but I didn�t know Arcee was gonna be here! I was just told that some
bird house nest thing was!�
�How
in the name of Primus are you still online?� Grindor put a hand to his cranial plating, his free
hand rising to point his forearm machine gun at Arcee. �N.E.S.T. is a military collaboration between Earth�s governments and
the Autobots. If N.E.S.T. is around, a �Bot is sure
to be here, too. Now, whatever your history is with her, forget it because
she�s your enemy.�
Skywarp frowned at the other Decepticon
and grabbed the weapon, forcing it skyward before turning to look at Arcee and
the group of humans near her again mournfully. �Hey, Arcee, I got to go. It was nice seeing you again. Maybe we can go
flying again later?�
Emerging fully from her hiding
spot, the smaller mech rolled forward cautiously, approaching them. ��Warp, I�m sorry but I can�t let you leave
here. If you come quietly, though, I�m sure Optimus will be lenient.�
Skywarp visibly wilted,
disappointed, and Grindor awkwardly patted the Seeker�s head.
�It�s
a war, Skywarp.� The
helicopter�s tone was patient and gentle. �There
is no time out and there is no playing with the enemy. We�re Decepticons and she�s
an Autobot and you can�t play with them like you did before the war. Didn�t
Starscream or Thundercracker explain this to you?�
�I
forgot.� Skywarp
said sullenly because he honestly had forgotten, just for a moment,
that they were all trying to kill one another. He hadn�t seen Arcee
since the conflict began on Cybertron and had never seen her in combat. She had
a lot of modifications now, had to have in order to support all that weaponry
and armor protecting her petite frame. She had always been small and light,
traits Skywarp had always liked about her because it made her easier to carry,
easier to go flying with. Seeing her so unexpectedly had brought up all the
good memories from before the war and it made his spark ache with sadness from
the realization that those times were truly gone now, never to be repeated due
to the animosity between the two factions.
Depressed, he cycled his intakes
loudly as he tightened his grip on Grindor�s arm just as Arcee and the N.E.S.T.
team charged toward them and teleported the other to the base without another
word.
�I
know it�s hard��
Grindor began once the reappeared on Mars but Skywarp shoved him toward the
outer airlock door.
�Save
it!� Skywarp snapped
harshly before pulling up the next set of coordinates on his HUD and teleporting
away.
Getting Grindor had taken only
ten cycles but Skywarp felt compelled to hurry with his task. He had initially
assumed that the storm would pass in a few joors but
further reading on the subject proved that some storms on Mars lasted for
several terrestrial months and he had no desire to be separated from Starscream
for such a length of time even if it meant being cooped up inside a tin can of
a base.� He collected Hightower, Overload
and Hook with little fanfare, simply warped in next to them, grabbed hold of
his target and waved at the Autobots as he warped out. At each location, the
N.E.S.T. teams were still moving into position so no battle was actively
underway, thankfully, which made Skywarp�s job all the easier.�
He was not so lucky when he tried
to retrieve Scavenger, however, who did not seem to be fairing well after being
separated from the rest of his gestalt.
�Scavenger,� Skywarp said gently, following
behind the twitchy smaller mech through the narrow pathways winding between the
piles of assorted junk cluttering up the large barn that Scavenger had claimed
as a home. ��You can�t stay here! Just pick a few of your
favorites already��
�No!
I won�t leave them!�
The mech stopped and picked up� something, cuddling it protectively as if afraid Skywarp would take it away at any second. �It�s mine! They�re mine! I won�t go and
you can�t make me!�
Skywarp�s left supraorbital ridge
rose as the right dipped and he pressed his labial plates together to stop the
contradiction forming in his vocalizer. He did allow himself to fold his arms
across his thoracic cavity, though, and simply stared at Scavenger silently
until the other ducked his head with a whine.
In-venting loudly, Skywarp picked
up what appeared to be a small cargo container and held it out to him. �We will be leaving in half a joor. Pick out what possessions you absolutely cannot live
without and place them in this for transport. If it cannot fit then it cannot
come and if you fight me on this Scavenger you get nothing. One joor! Take it or leave it.�
�But,
but�� Scavenger
took the container. �But
what about Mixmaster?�
�He�s
here? Where?� Skywarp�s optic scanned the area for the missing
Constructicon. If Mixmaster was here, then Starscream�s records were wrong and
Devastator could still be formed. It was odd though; �Screamer was usually very
thorough when taking account of who had been terminated and had cursed loudly
about the loss that even Megatron had corroborated. �
�Here!� Scavenger burbled, running off
and quickly being lost to sight behind an impressive stack of forks nearly as
tall as Skywarp. With a sigh, the Seeker plodded forward carefully, his arms
raised high as he made his way to the other end of the warehouse where
Scavenger was standing next to a large cement mixer. �Look �mixer! It�s Skywarp and he�s here to take us to base. Say hi
Mixmaster!�
A quick scan revealed that it was
nothing but an ordinary Earth vehicle. �Uh��
�He�s
just shy.� Scavenger
said apologetically, grinning a little crookedly at the teleporter as he
swatted the mixer�s grill. Skywarp wondered if he even realized that he�d
dented the metal inward. �He�ll talk
later, once we�re all at base. So, half a joor
huh? �Kay!�
Cargo container held in his
shovel like-hand, Scavenger scurried off and disappeared into one of the larger
piles, causing a minor avalanche of dented bicycles, tin cans, broken tools and
various other unidentifiable objects to fall. Several other nearby piles
quivered ominously and Skywarp promptly decided that waiting inside would be
hazardous to his continued functioning. Moving quickly but carefully, the
teleporter beat a hasty retreat into the hot afternoon sun.
He nearly tripped over a well-fed
four legged animal that had come to nibble at the stack of plant matter near
the barn�s entrance. In a less than graceful display of balance, Skywarp
managed to shift his weight back in time to raise his leading foot enough to
bypass the animal safely as he stepped over it. Proving that it was more
intelligent than the Cybertronian would have given it credit for, the animal
didn�t panic or attempt to flee as he passed overhead though it did turn to
look at him as the jet squatted down close by.
The animal paused in its chewing,
raised its snout and made a low noise.
Curious, Skywarp cocked his head
and mimicked the sound.
The animal seemed to take this as
an invitation and came closer, its sturdy black and white mass not even a fraction
of the Seeker�s considerable bulk. It sniffed at his talons and chin when he leaned in to scan it and made that sound again
when he ran a finger along its spine. Growing more confident with how to handle
the animal, Skywarp returned the sound as he pet the creature with firmer
strokes along its bristly skin, startled when the animal moved forward to press
itself against his shin armor. He could feel its heart beating, the thermal
sensors of his armor detecting the warmth the beast emitted, and after much
thought decided he wasn�t bothered by the sensation of either. Skywarp
stretched his wings, fanning them out and enjoying the warm light that bathed
his dark armor. It felt good- relaxing- and, after a quick proximity scan, the
Seeker locked his knee servos to remain upright as he soaked the radiation into
his cold frame.
�You�re
a good cow,� He
told the animal after checking the image against animals on the internet. The
animal made that low sound again, leaning more solidly against the Seeker. �Even if you do have a
parasite.�
�It�s
not a parasite!� Scavenger
protested, peering out of the barn. �Melosa�s
gonna have a baby, just like Alicia!�
�Who�s
Alicia?� �Skywarp asked just as a proximity sensor was
tripped, alerting him that a human was quickly approaching the barn in a flat
bed truck.
Scavenger came out of the barn
completely at her approach, ducking slightly through the doorway and waving. �That�s Alicia. She owns this property and
sells my artwork.�
The truck turned to the right
several yards away then began backing up slowly toward the barn, the cow and
the pair of Cybertronians positioned near the building. The vehicle came to a
stop, the engine cutting out and ticking as it cooled, and out of the cab
stepped a petite woman, dark haired woman. She was dressed in a set of
overalls, the cloth smeared with grease and stretched prominently over the area
of her stomach. Fearlessly, she walked right up to Scavenger and leaned against
his shin, eying Skywarp curiously before craning her neck to look up the long
line of the Constructicon�s body and speaking in a language Skywarp hadn�t
encountered yet. Scavenger responded, his vocalizer easily mimicking the
necessary accents to converse with the human, and tired of being left out of
the conversation, the Seeker poked around the internet until he found the
appropriate language program.
After checking for viruses, he
uploaded the software and translated the conversation, a bit surprised at the
easy familiarity between them as they discussed a recent transaction Alicia had
brokered for one of Scavenger�s pieces.
�And this is Skywarp! He�s a jet
and he�s new to Earth so don�t laugh but he thinks you and Melosa have
parasites!� Scavenger rambled, clicking and snickering. Without warning, the
excavator dipped down to scoop the human up into his hand and though the
movement was quick, it was carried out with obvious care for the fragile
organic creature. Alicia seemed to take it all in stride, leaning back into the
Cybertronian�s grasp as she was held out to Skywarp who took her warily, using
both hands to hold her since he�d nearly dropped Sam by using only one.
�Hi.� Skywarp said uncertainly in
greeting, scanning her then shifting his optics to look at Scavenger as she
watched, clearly amused. On the ground, he felt Melosa straighten and amble
away toward a patch of grass near the other side of the barn. �I know a baby is
the term they use for their young but why is it inside her and not in a pod?�
The Constructicon leaned over
them, smiling at Alicia before laying a finger very lightly on the bulge in her
form. �Humans carry their young internally!
They don�t need pods because the mother�s body provides everything their
sparklings need to grow! Isn�t it fascinating? Oh, here, you can feel it
kicking!�
Actually, it was surprisingly interesting.
Skywarp could not only feel the baby kicking but also heat its heartbeat, a
quick flutter that was nearly completely hidden by its mothers. After a moment
of fiddling with his visual display, he scanned her again and was able to watch
the baby moving around.
Cocking his head, Skywarp
frowned. �Why does it have three legs? Aren�t they only supposed to have two?�
�Three�� Scavenger repeated then
let out a loud unhappy whine. �Aw, �Warp, you spoiled the surprise!�
�So,� Alicia said, smoothing her
hands over the bulge with obvious affection. �David it is then.�
�What?� Skywarp asked, confused,
looking from human to mech. �What does its designation have to do with the
number of legs it has?�
Alicia laughed and patted
Skywarp�s palm, smiling up at him. �It�s a gender thing. Don�t worry about it
and thank you for telling me. Scavenger wouldn�t tell me if the baby was a boy
or a girl.�
�Did it matter if it was one or
the other?� Skywarp asked, still confused about the entire issue and hating it.
The human tilted her head, lips
pursing as she took a moment to think then shook her head. �No,
not really. I�d love either equally.�
Still not understanding, Skywarp
nodded, handing her carefully back to Scavenger before standing and cycling his
vents loudly. The half a joor he�d given as a time
limit was almost up but it was clear that Scavenger was going to need more time
to say good bye to his human companion. Wondering when he�d become so
soft-sparked, the decided to give Scavenger more time while Skywarp went to
collect his remaining targets instead. He should still have enough time before
the storm hit to allow the delay but he probably shouldn�t push it, not when
months of separation was the price�
An alert popped up, reminding him
that he had to get supplies for Sam. Well, Pit,
if he was going to get everything he needed and find everyone before the storm
overtook the base, Skywarp was going to have to get going immediately.�
��You have thirty cycles, Scavenger. I�ll be
back in a bit. Nice meeting you Alicia.� Skywarp folded his wings back into their original
placement, unlocked his knee servos, and called up the next set of coordinates
before vanishing.
__________________________

Considering that they were all on
an island with only limited places to go, it took a surprisingly long time to
find Ratchet.
�No.�
Mikaela couldn�t help it- she
stomped her foot as she glared up at Ratchet hard enough that should have
caused the larger mech to burst into flames. This was unbelievable! �What do
you mean, no?�
�I mean no.� Ratchet said calmly,
never looking away from the shiny metal table he was currently scrubbing down.
�If both Lennox and Optimus have ordered you to remain here, then it is for
your benefit and safety.�
�Now you�ve done it�� Wheelie
muttered from where he sat off to the side atop a toolbox. The young mech
rolled his head and then rested it heavily in his small hands. �You just had to
be condescending.�
�I was not condescending�
Mikaela! Put that down!� Ratchet had turned slightly to be able to look at the
former Decepticon and, in doing so, spotted the young woman as she walked over
to an array of tools the CMO had laid out and picked up a heavy duty battery
powered drill. Mikaela ignored the order, instead fastening a large bit in the
machine as she spoke, casually pocketing a few more.
Though her tone remained calm and
business-like, her insides seemed to burn with anger, her pulse pounding so
hard it was threatening to give her a headache. The sensation was familiar and,
in its own way, reassuring but part of her was simply stunned that her body was
priming itself to do battle against Autobots.
��I flew across the country- again- to find Sam
because you guys pulled Bumblebee away for an assignment. I thought that once
I�d met up with you guys, we�d chase down the lead I even brought you. Instead,
I�ve been sidelined because I�m a mechanic, not a soldier, and that has somehow
made me a prisoner on this island now that the Decepticons have resurfaced. I
understand that stopping the Decepticons is important- I�m all for killing them
and Megatron- but that doesn�t mean I�m going to allow Sam to get lost in the
priority shuffle. You guys go kill Decepticons, I�ll
go back to New Jersey and turn Princeton inside out to make sure the
Decepticons didn�t set up camp there. Would be like the buggers- bet the
engineering department wouldn�t even notice.�
She heard rather than saw Ratchet
fold his arms over his chest. �And the drill? How is
that going to help you leave the island or find Sam?�
�Drills are very useful.� Mikaela
smiled sweetly and, out the corner of her eye, she saw Wheelie dive behind his
seat for cover. �For instance, I can use it to remove the mounts for a door
which makes the lock keeping me trapped useless. Also, a drill can be a very
effective information gathering method.�
�Mikaela!� It was clear that Ratchet was
less than approving of her last comment.
She looked up at him defiantly.
�I am not an Autobot Ratchet. I�m human and we have a tendency to use violence
very effectively when we want something. Besides, not like it would be the
first time I�ve used tools for things they weren�t intended.�
�Wait,� Ratchet�s optics
shuttered off as he pinched the bridge of his nose. �You are going to unscrew
your way off Diego Garcia then rescue Sam from whoever has him, be they humans
or Decepticons, armed only with a drill?�
�You�re right. Can I borrow your
electric hand saw?�
�No.� His voice was firm.
�Fine.� Mikaela rolled her eyes at him
then waved dismissively. �See you later, Ratch.
Thanks to my list- which no one seems to think is of any help now that we know
it�s not a weapon- I�ve got a kleptomaniac teleporting Decepticon to go find, a
university to tear apart and a boyfriend to rescue��
Though she was familiar with the
Cybertronians, Mikaela had forgotten how fast
one of them could move, especially the bigger, bulkier mechs like Ratchet. She
barely even heard him before he was suddenly in front of her, barring her path.
�Why do you think the Decepticon responsible for Sam�s disappearance is capable
of teleportation?�
Mikaela craned her neck and
pulled the trigger on the drill absently, making it spin as she debated her
answer. �Wheelie gave me the idea after Leo picked us up at the airport. He
said that the times of the thefts are too close together but not close enough
to be a coordinated Decepticon attack and I remembered how Jetfire
got us from the U.S. to Egypt in ten seconds.�
�Wheelie did?� Ratchet�s
attention shifted momentarily to the mech in question. Realizing he was being
stared at, the small mech came out of his hiding spot.
�Yeah. So?� The picture of petulance
with his arms crossed over his chest, Wheelie glared at the CMO challengingly
even as his armor rattled from fear.
Making the drill bit twirl again,
Mikaela drew Ratchet�s attention back to her. �I take it you know who I�m
looking for?�
For a horrible moment, she
thought he wouldn�t tell her, that he would deliberately withhold the
information in some misguided attempt to protect her just like Lennox and
Optimus. But then Ratchet vented loudly and bent down, offering her his hand.
She held out for a minute but eventually did climb into his palm and, once she
was settled, he carried her over to the table he�d been polishing when they
came in. Once she was seated on the surface, Ratchet took a seat as well.
�The ability is very rare and was
even before the war began. Currently, there are only two possible Decepticons
still online capable of teleporting and only one of them would be foolish
enough to grab Sam.�
Far below, Wheelie groaned.
�Please don�t let it be who I think it is. Primus, please!�
Finding the sound weirdly
soothing, Mikaela triggered the drill again, her expression grim as her heart
pounded. She licked her suddenly dry lips, flashbacks of the final battle in Egypt
haunting her. �I don�t care how bad-ass he is. If he�s got Sam, then he better
look out for me.�
�And your
drill.�
Ratchet said seriously, making Mikaela frown up at him because she knew he was
making fun of her.
�See how you like it when I drill
holes in your hydraulic lines! No fluid means you can�t run away!�
�Yeah, but the Decepticon your
hunting can fly.� Wheelie said, his voice startlingly
close. Mikaela leaned forward slightly and discovered that he was in the
process of climbing Ratchet�s leg to reach the table. With a final heave and a
twist, he landed on the surface with a clatter and sprawled out in the space
between them. �You�re thinking of �Warp, right? He�s a jet, Warrior Goddess,
and there ain�t no drill bit
long enough to reach him once he�s airborne. Sorry.�
�So his name�s Warp?� She asked.
It was a fitting name for a teleporter.
�Nah, its Skywarp, and he�s an ass!� The small Decepticon scooted closer and
Mikaela picked him up, setting him on her lap. She spun his tires, ignoring it
as he arched against her and made happy, contented
chirps.�
�Skywarp is�� Ratchet vented air
again loudly and shrugged. �Skywarp is� different than most Decepticons. He is
a reckless and unpredictable fighter who only listens to his trine-mates
Starscream and Thundercracker and though he himself holds no rank, he�s
considered one of the Decepticon Army�s greatest tactical assets but is also
one of their biggest liabilities because he is curious and not terribly
bright.�
�Okay�He�s a jock with ADD,
essentially. I can work with that.� Mikaela said, one eyebrow raising as she nodded. Funny how the things you learned
socially in high school came in handy. Turning fully to Ratchet, she focused
her full attention on him as she considered her next problem. �So tell me Obi
Wan, how do you trap a Cybertronian Houdini?�
Ratchet stared at her dubiously as
Wheelie snickered.
______________________

It was somehow very fitting that
Onslaught, a tactician to his core, take up residence on a military
instillation even if it was in the middle of a winter wonderland. Onslaught,
already in bipedal mode, nodded politely in greeting as Skywarp touched down
just outside the reinforced bunker. His pedes, warm from his heel thrusters,
melted the snow he landed on and Skywarp paused, wiggling his tarsals in the fluffy whiteness, enjoying the feel of the
resulting rush of water against the heated metal.
�Hey, Onslaught!� Skywarp grinned, waving. He
wandered over to the other who stood in the low doorway where he would be
partially shielded in the event of an attack and, mindful of his own strength, put a hand on the other�s smaller shoulder in a
friendly greeting. �Enjoying your visit
to Earth? Oh! Hey a squishy! Hi, Squishy!�
In typical Onslaught fashion, the
Combatacon Leader, merely moved his pede carefully to fully reveal the human
standing beside him. Wanting a better look at him, Skywarp had to step back
before he crouched down, his armor plates clattering as he completed the
careful balancing act of displacing his mass. Doing so made the Seeker a very
large, very vulnerable target, but Skywarp didn�t worry about it, knowing that
Onslaught would protect him because Onslaught was good like that. It was one of
the reasons Skywarp liked the mech.
Though paling considerably, to
the human�s credit, it didn�t move as Skywarp�s hand neared. The Decepticon
triggered a scan, cross referencing the information with what data he already
had in his processor, and compared the male in front of him with the only other
human male he had run across, concluding that Onslaught�s companion was older,
taller and had more muscle mass than Sam did. Sam, however, had more hair and
Skywarp brushed the ridge of his foretalon against
the human�s nearly shorn head in curiosity.
Withdrawing his hand, Skywarp
absently placed it over his spark chamber, talons tapping gently against the
armor as he triggered the icon for the pod. Consulting the image that
immediately took over his HUD, Skywarp made some minor modifications to the
chemical mix Sam was suspended in and activated the pod�s refresh cycle just as
his reminder about picking up replacement supplies activated. The teleporter
vented in mild irritation and through the graphic of Sam�s healing body,
Skywarp saw Onslaught�s human jump.
�Sorry.� Skywarp apologized, minimizing
the display. A notification informed him that Onslaught had sent him a data
burst and, curious, he opened and uploaded it, grinning at the other mech in
thanks for the language bundle. Switching over to Russian, Skywarp apologized
again. �Sorry. Just remembered something I had to do. So! You�re a friend of
Onslaught�s?�
The human nodded sharply and
Skywarp watched muscles in his jaw and shoulders work as the human stood tall
and saluted.
The Seeker couldn�t help his own
smile but he saluted right back, copying the gesture exactly. �Me, too. He�s very selective, you know, so feel very
special. Has special needs.�
Skywarp winked, one optic
shuttering closed before opening once more, and watched with amusement as the
human�s expression teetered between pride and fear of the insinuation.
�Don�t
tease him.�
Onslaught ordered. �We have a team of
hostiles coming up from the south. Are you here as back-up or evac?�
�Evac.�
Skywarp said,
optics remaining on the human. �So, is this a military base only or do you have
a science department?�
�Skywarp.� Just that one word, full of
warning.
The Seeker frowned as he stood,
putting his hands on his pelvic plating as he towered over the other mech,
folding his arms over his chest plates, for once using their height difference
to his advantage. �I need some stuff.
Since I�m here it doesn�t hurt to see if I can save myself a trip.�
�What
do you need and what�s it for?�
�Working on a project.� Skywarp sent Onslaught a list of
items with the necessary amounts and rolled both shoulder assemblies
expansively. �Running
low on supplies.�
Onslaught clicked in surprise but
made no further comment on the matter. Instead he turned and spoke to the human
beside him, who simply nodded before saluting to both mechs and striding
purposefully away.
�This anything to do with the sparklings?� The Combatacon asked after a few
cycles had passed in silence. Astute- that was Onslaught.
The Seeker looked skyward and
absently put a hand over his spark chamber, talons tapping lightly. �Not really.�
�Don�t
want to say anything in case it doesn�t work, huh?�
Skywarp looked at him sharply
then let his shoulders sag, wings dipping. Onslaught patted the Seeker�s
forearm in understanding and the pair lapsed back into silence as then both
monitored the movements of the approaching hostiles.
Onslaught�s human returned five
cycles later pulling a cart whose wheels needed lubricating very badly if the
awful shrieking was any indication. Still, for one little cart to make that
much noise shouldn�t be possible and, putting a hand on the ground to steady
himself, Skywarp bent until he could peek through the doorway past Onslaught�s
thick bulk. He was right- it wasn�t just one cart making all
that racket. Behind the lead cart was a line of other carts, all loaded
with supplies and Skywarp could hear himself clicking in surprise as all the
items he needed were brought to him. �Well,
if I�d known it was that easy, I would have done this earlier! I love this
planet!�
�Not
so fast, �Warp.� Onslaught said even as he moved to allow the humans
down the ramp leading to the small loading dock just to the right of the
entrance to the bunker. �This is a
transaction. What can you give them in exchange?�
�What�s
the total value?� Skywarp
asked, taking a seat on the ground directly in front of the dock. Onslaught
gave him an estimate and the teleporter clicked in thought, talons idly
scratching his cheek plating as he thought about what he could use to pay with.
He began emptying his subspace pockets, hunting through the junk he�d managed
to accumulate over untold millennia, trying to find anything that the humans
could use or be entertained by. It took a long time but finally all his pockets
were empty and Skywarp couldn�t help but stare at the veritable landfill he�d
been carrying around.
�Wow.
And I gave Scrapper such a hard time earlier for his collection!� Oh course, thinking of the other
mech reminded him that the time limit he had set was nearly up.
Onslaught�s optics scanned over
the mess for a long moment before returning to stare at Skywarp. �Is this a teleporter thing?�
�Uh, not exactly.� Skywarp said sheepishly,
watching as two new humans strode out of the building and came to stand on the
loading dock. One looked to be a soldier of high rank and the other�had to be a
scientist because he was practically jumping in excitement as he looked at the
mess then vaulted over the railing recklessly. Alarmed, the Seeker
automatically caught the soft creature before it could impale itself on a
Quintesson sports trophy. Fishing the large object out of the pile, Skywarp
placed it in his palm next to the human who eagerly began examining it. After
ensuring that the human was alright, the teleporter moved his hand closer to
his chest so that warm exhaust air fell around the squishy. �But when one pocket fills up, I can just
generate another so that�s what I�ve been doing.�
Optics shuttered, Onslaught shook
his head.
�So
this one,�
Skywarp gestured to the human in his hand. �Is
happy with the trophy but what about the others? What do they consider
valuable?�
�They�re
very interested in our weapons tech but don�t give them any.� Skywarp nodded in understanding-
if they had to go to war with the humans then arming them with weapons that
could punch through Cybertronian armor was a bad idea. �Beyond that, minor protection and science
tech.�
Skywarp clicked in thought, free
hand moving through the piles with care, occasionally pausing to lift and
consider an item, either putting it aside or placing it back where he found it
according to the sounds the human in his hand made. When the selection pile was
about as big as Skywarp�s palm, he set his occupied hand down next to it to
allow the scientist to examine items without having to sit in the snow.
��Is
that a Quatar board?� Onslaught asked, watching the
scientist fiddle with the item then yip in surprise when the holographic game
activated. Skywarp nodded absently, beginning the annoying task of cleaning up
his mess by subspacing things again. �I think he likes it.�
�As long as he�s willing to trade, not a problem.�
Skywarp said, when the last of the unwanted item had vanished. �Wanna broker?
I�m not very good at it and we�re on a time limit.�
Onslaught�s ventilation cycled on
but he turned to talk to the humans while Skywarp showed the scientist how to
set up the game board. The two began a game and, by the time the Seeker allowed
the human to win, Onslaught had reached an agreement with the human official.
�You
let him win.� Onslaught
said, his tone approving as Skywarp placed his payment and the scientist on one
of the carts and began subspacing his purchases.
Though he would still have to go collect a few items, the Russians had very
kindly supplied him with the vast majority of it even if not all in the
quantities he needed. Still though, this was a small facility from what he
could see and anything they would willingly spare was very helpful. Making a
note to research an appropriate gift for the next time he visited, Skywarp
finished and climbed laboriously to his feet.
�I
want them to like me.�
Skywarp shrugged and held out his hand. �May have to come see them again. So, ready to go? It�s getting rather crowded here and I have to go
collect Scavenger because his joor�s almost up. Oh,
and Ironhide is about to go all �Rambo� on us.�
�Ducking, Onslaught stepped through the bunker
doorway just as Ironhide stepped out of the forest, arm cannons humming
menacingly, the N.E.S.T. soldiers spreading out along the tree line, ready to
attack.
::Don�t move. They won�t fire.:: Onslaught radioed, following his
own advice and maintaining a relaxed posture as he spoke aloud. �So, what�s a �Rambo�?�
��::But we can take them!:: Skywarp argued, more from habit
than from an actual desire for combat. �Well,
Rambo is this guy who�s apparently very fond of just charging into a situation,
guns blazing.�
�Ah.�
Onslaught
grunted, still not moving. ::They can�t fire or unless we become a threat. Too great a
risk of an International Incident.::
Skywarp clicked, nodding as he
switched over to Russian. �So, Ironhide! Digging Earth?�
Ironhide glared venomously at the
Seeker in response to the joke.
�Well I see your sense of humor
hasn�t improved over the eons.� Skywarp shrugged and checked his chronometer,
cursing quietly. Turning to the humans peering from the doorway, he dipped his
head in acknowledgement and said very formally, �It was a pleasure meeting you.
Thank you for allowing my companion to seek shelter here.�
He earned an unhappy nod from the
military official and turned to face Onslaught, placing his hand lightly on the
smaller mech�s shoulder just as one of the human�s at
Ironhide�s feet shouted something in another language. Curious, Skywarp
recorded it, used the internet to find the appropriate language software for
translation and played back the audio just as Ironhide posed his own question
in Cybertronian.
Idly scratching his chest
plating, Skywarp cocked his head as he considered his response, all too aware
of Onslaught staring at him while he replied in English in an aggrieved tone, �I have done nothing to harm your �Sam.��
�But you have seen him.� Ironhide
said grimly, cannons humming just a little louder. �Where is he?�
�He�s safe.� Skywarp said
evasively, feigning disinterest as he examined his talons as he inwardly
snickered at the Autobot. It was always so
much fun messing with them, especially with one as infamously touchy as
Ironhide, and to be in such a situation where Ironhide couldn�t shoot and
Skywarp could be as obnoxious as he wanted to? Oh, it was an opportunity the
Seeker simply couldn�t let go! �For now, at any rate, but really if you�re that
concerned about his welfare, you shouldn�t have left him alone.�
Two of the N.E.S.T. soldiers in
particular bristled at the admonishment and a quick scan confirmed that these
two were the ones Starscream had mentioned in the combat files, Captain William
Lennox and Master Sergeant Robert Epps. If they were concerned for Sam�s
welfare, then maybe these were the young human�s parental units that human
culture seemed to make such a fuss over. Funny- Sam didn�t look much like
either of them beyond gender��
�Who�s Sam?� Onslaught asked
casually, watching the Autobot and playing along.
��Oh,� Skywarp said, holding up his hand and
measuring out Sam�s approximate height with his fingers. �Human
youngling about this tall, skinny, easily damaged, prone to glitching in cold
temperatures.�
�What have you done to him?!�
Lennox demanded and Ironhide had to actually hold the human back by putting a
pede in the Captain�s path.
�Nothing.� Skywarp said sincerely. He held
three digits up, the rest tucked under close to his palm in mimicry of the Boy
Scout salute. �I solemnly swear I have not harmed your youngling. I had nothing
to do with the car.�
�What car?!� Lennox yelled.
Openly grinning, Skywarp looked
down at his wrist pointedly while on his HUD he checked his power levels.
�Well, would you look at the time! I�d love to stay
and chat, but, you know how it is- places to be, people to torment.� He waved
with his free hand and his other tightened pointedly on Onslaught as he pulled
up the next set of coordinates. �It was fun meeting you! Toodle-oo!�
Ironhide roared in frustration
and the N.E.S.T. team began shouting but the noise was easily drowned out by
the loud crack! of
Skywarp teleporting away.

�
A/N: Ugh, I really am long winded
aren�t I? *Sigh* Skip to what interests you if this is a bit much.

�Arcee�:Since in the 2009 movie all three of
the cycle triplets are referred to as a collective �Arcee� I�ll be doing the
same in this story. I read in an article that -despite the cookie-cutter
simplicity of only their colors being different- each cycle Autobot originally
was actually supposed to be a unique �female� transformer from the G1 series,
namely Elita-1, Chromia, and Arcee, but that this
idea was cut from the movie during final editing so all three collectively
became �Arcee.� Also, for those who may have missed it (and I was one until I rewatched the movie), one of the Arcee units does survive
Egypt intact, namely the blue one (who would have been Elita-1 if no
alterations were made). Now, whether Arcee is, like, �intact� and all there
after getting two thirds of her spark blown away (because how else would you
explain 1 Cybertronian in 3 bodies?), that�s a whole other issue.

A plea: I�m gonna ask for a lot of
leeway with the Decepticons simply because there are varying reports as to who
dies and who lives and who� kinda disappears off the
plot from the movie and I�ve been banging my head against a wall trying to sort
it all out, especially when in the end all of a sudden all those generic
cardboard cut-out Decepticons appear. There�s only names for the well known
ones and during the fight scenes (which are really awesome, don�t get me wrong)
it�s easy to lose track of everyone so please just go with it.

Rules: On another note, since Bay can�t
even keep to his own damn rules, I sometimes will be
playing fast and loose with a few of them as well though not without purpose.
One of these will be the Devastator Gestalt. As fans of the G1 cartoon may
know, Devastator is actually formed by six mechs (Scrapper, Hook, Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Long Haul, and Mixmaster) collectively referred to as the-
dysfunctional- Constructicons. Now, as far as I know, these are the true core
of the gestalt but Bay also added in Rampage,
Hightower, Overload and Scrapmetal as being part of
the group as well. Since there is no �spare� member, all members need to be
present to combine in order to create Devastator� which means technically since
they killed Bonecrusher in the first movie� and Bumblebee kills Rampage while
Leo and Simmons face off with Devastator� Yeah. So, fast and loose with the
rules it is. In the 2009 movie, the only member of the gestalt who we can
really assume is dead is Mixmaster (the cement truck that forms the head)
thanks to the Navy�s railgun. There is no further
mention of the Constructicons beyond the whole �Devastator is dead� line and,
though this is admittedly true (no head= no Devastator) for this story we are
going to assume that, at some point, the rest of the component mechs escaped
Egypt and managed to stay hidden.

Gestalts: Now, because the gestalts literally
have to work together in order to perform, I think it�s safe to say that yeah,
their overall behavior is going to be a little different when compared to the
solitary mechs like Megatron or Grindor. In fact, allowing for personality
differences, I think that the gestalts would have more in common behaviorally
with Trines or other group bonders. Whether this is healthy or not is debatable
but, considering the overall cut-throat nature of the Decepticon culture, I
believe that this would be a considerable survival trait. By the same token,
however, I think a driving need for company and a co-dependent relationship
could be their greatest weakness.

Decepticons being nice?
Whatever side of the fence
you are on though, when these moments come up, please don�t tear into me for
it. Occasionally, these Decepticons may seem to act like Autobots in that they
are tolerant of or possibly benevolent toward humans but, while Autobots will
behave so in the spirit of cooperation and true benevolence, Decepticons will
do so in as a result of a cost/benefit analysis favoring it. They are still
Decepticons and just because they call you an ally doesn�t mean they won�t
throw you under a bus for their benefit. That being said however, I imagine
that there is a wide spectrum concerning how strongly each Decepticon holds to
their bonds of loyalty to Megatron and �the cause.� Some are going to follow it
unto death while some� not so much. Remember, either through his charisma or
sheer brutality Megatron was the unifying piece that held everyone together.
Once he died, there was no more glue so large portions of the army not directly
under the Fallen�s thumb probably turned upon
themselves in massive power struggles. On Earth, any surviving Decepticon would
most likely have gone to ground as a protection member and, over the years
between movies, those who weren�t so good at hiding would have been found by
the Autobots and N.E.S.T after the organization was finalized. The way I figure
it, it takes about two years for the Fallen to do enough damage control to gain
control once again of the army as a whole so that he can begin his attack by
for the 2009 movie. So, now that Megatron�s back again, essentially stuck on a
little piddly red dust ball in what boils down to a
nursery base, What�s going to happen to the
unsupervised Decepticons spread throughout the galaxy?��

Seeker Appearance: Though this story has been filed
under �movies� I�m going more with the G1 body type design for the Seekers. I�m
sorry if that really annoys people but the more I look at movie Starscream, the
more it reinforces the idea that he�s a chicken. I have no idea why! He talks
and all I hear is �bawk, bawk,
baaaawk.� It�s�incredibly distracting to say the
least and since Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker all look alike except
for color� The final straw was dinner a couple nights ago where I was eating
chicken nuggets from McD�s and editing and one of
them kinda looked like movie Starscream, just
tiny�and deep fired� I damn near choked on the fries I�d been eating at the
time. Wasn�t hungry after that, had to take a break from writing, too.�

That being said, I�m sure that no matter what I say,
everyone is going to have their own personal view of how these characters work
and that is absolutely fine by me. This is just mine is all I�m saying.
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