Chapter Text
It didn't take long for Soundwave to be discovered. Thundercracker woke, his fans running slightly faster than usual. Windshear was gone from his chestplates, likely retrieved while he was asleep. When Blast had come to drop vam off, Soundwave startled nam, which led to an awkward explanation. But Blast had simply accepted that Soundwave was a newspark—Autobot or not—and moved on.
Skywarp, on the other hand, had not. Wa didn't complain, but whenever wa entered the burrow, wa hesitated. Wa stayed pressed against the furthest wall, watching Soundwave warily. It irritated Thundercracker, but he couldn't blame wan. Autobots had killed Skywarp's birth flock, and now there was an Autobot living inside of their burrow.
Except, as Thundercracker stretched and scanned the burrow, Soundwave wasn't inside. Thundercracker shot up. He launched himself out of the burrow, drawing a groggy cry from Starscream as ka was disturbed. Thundercracker searched the Seekers gathered outside, his spark pulsing. They stared at a fixed point, wings wide and dentae bared. Thundercracker followed their collective gaze.
Megatron stood in the center of the valley. Ka scowled, baring kas teeth. Kas growl rumbled through Thundercracker's plating. Before kan was Soundwave, staring up as if nothing was amiss. Megatron raised kas hand, claws at the ready.
Thundercracker darted forward. He crouched above Soundwave, flaring his wings for maximum coverage. The Winglord stared down at him with narrowed optics.
"So you're the one that brought this… thing here," Megatron said.
"Va is a newspark," Thundercracker growled. "Don't hurt vam."
He knew he should be afraid. Megatron had taken him down effortlessly before. But if he backed down now, the Winglord would kill Soundwave. That was the only thing Thundercracker was certain of.
Megatron growled, flexing kas claws. Thundercracker summoned his roar, but didn't activate it. The Winglord paused, kas scowl relaxing into a frown. Ka stepped back.
"I told you not to use your ability in the camp," Megatron said.
Thundercracker growled again, letting the hum of his ability back it—enough to shake the air around them, but not enough to cause damage. Megatron stepped back again, optics widening for a fraction of a moment. Was the Winglord afraid of his ability?
Thundercracker activated it further. The ground began to ripple. Megatron backed away with a grimace. Shaking off disbelief, Thundercracker straightened himself. Was he winning?
Megatron turned away.
"Fine," ka growled. "You can keep the little beast. When your coding resettles, you won't want it anymore anyway."
Coding…? Thundercracker ignored that remark. He would've protected Soundwave whether he was coming off of Data Hunger or not. The Winglord just didn't understand.
At the very least, Soundwave was safe now.
!!!
Thundercracker lagged behind, his fans whirring. He was running hot, but he tried to justify it to himself: he'd just chased after a particularly swift turbofox. The fact that it got away was unusual, but everyone had off days. He just… hadn't had one this off before.
He forced himself to keep going as his systems begged him to pause. The urge to land and curl up somewhere was growing harder and harder to resist. But the flight back to the camp was mercifully short. He ignored Skywarp and Starscream's glances and headed straight for the burrow, sitting against the wall of the nest.
Soundwave stared up at him. Thundercracker motioned him closer. Eagerly, the sparkling crawled into his lap. The lack of concern for his lost parents and his quickness to show Thundercracker affection was a bit concerning, but Thundercracker didn't have the processing power to contemplate it at the moment.
"You're nice," Soundwave mumbled. "That's why."
Thundercracker pulled him closer. Soundwave leaned into him. Starscream and Skywarp entered the burrow. Before ka sat, Starscream laid the bodies of two petrorabbits on the floor. Straightening up, Soundwave's focus fell to the petrorabbits.
Thundercracker leaned forward. Mimicking what Starscream had shown him several times, he dug out and severed one of the petrorabbits' major fuel lines. He handed it off to Soundwave. He didn't have a mouth, so Soundwave popped open his wrist panel and attached the fuel line to his intake, siphoning the energeon.
The Seekers waited a few moments for Soundwave to take his fill before beginning their meal. As Thundercracker chewed on a scute, finally quieting his complaining fuel gauge one bite at a time, he wondered what the difference between line energeon and the energeon the Autobots drank actually was.
"It smells a lot different," Soundwave said.
Thundercracker startled. Did he say that out loud?
"You don't say things out loud," Soundwave said. "You say them in your head. All of the Seekers do. You're like me."
But they were speaking…
Soundwave's shoulders slumped. "Are you not like me?"
Starscream paused mid-bite with a casual, condescending hiss. "Dirtkissers can't hear Vosian. Their audials are defective."
Then how was Soundwave hearing them?
"I hear thoughts," Soundwave said. "Yours are in Common so I know what you're saying. But theirs aren't. Seekers don't open their mouths when they talk, so I thought maybe…"
"We could hear thoughts too," Thundercracker finished. He shook his helm. "No, Soundwave. We can't."
Was that why he was so willing to come with them?
Soundwave slumped, burying his face in Thundercracker's plating. Thundercracker shifted his meal to his other hand, using the free one to rub Soundwave's plating. The air grew heavy and cold as Soundwave's disappointment leaked out. He mumbled something.
"What?" Thundercracker said, leaning down.
Soundwave withdrew just enough to make himself heard. "Are you going to throw me out now?"
Thundercracker's wings raised.
"No!" He said. "Why would you think that?"
Soundwave buried himself in Thundercracker's plating again. He didn't answer. The more Soundwave spoke, the less Thundercracker liked what he heard.
"Can I get the rundown on whatever just happened?" Skywarp asked. Wa was pressed against the wall, as per usual.
Starscream flicked kas wings. Thundercracker hadn't noticed it before, but kas gaze hadn't left Soundwave since the sparkling started talking. Now, it fell toward Skywarp.
"Little thing was rejected by its parents," Starscream said. "It can read minds."
"Va," Thundercracker corrected.
Starscream snorted. "It. It's a dirtkisser."
Anger rose in Thundercracker before he could stop it. Soundwave was a mech, not an object! Before he could think of a better alternative, Thundercracker reached over, smacking Starscream gently on the helm like he'd seen Sunstorm do before.
Starscream froze. Kas wings lowered. Ka averted kas gaze. Skywarp snickered.
"Va," Starscream mumbled.
Clearly, a tap on the helm was some form of Seeker discipline. Thundercracker would have to remember that. He would definitely need it. There was no immediately convincing Starscream to change kas mind about Autobots, but ensuring sure ka didn't make Soundwave feel unwelcome by calling him an object was a more pressing matter.
Skywarp crept closer. Anxiety hovered on the air, intertwined with a profound sadness. Wa stared down at Soundwave.
"Va was rejected because of vas ability," Skywarp said quietly.
Soundwave withdrew just enough from Thundercracker's plating to stare up at Skywarp. Wa flinched backward before shaking waz and inching forward again. Wa reached out, waz hand hovering just shy of touching Soundwave.
"Will va bite me if I touch vam?" Skywarp said.
Thundercracker glanced at Soundwave.
"Will you bite Skywarp?" He asked.
Soundwave tilted his helm. "No?"
"Va says no," Thundercracker translated.
Skywarp closed the gap and petted Soundwave's helm. Soundwave sat still, confusion in the air. Scooting closer, Skywarp shifted waz hand downward so wa was rubbing his shoulders instead. Waz motions were hesitant, and wa reached behind Soundwave at first, as if searching for wings.
Soundwave pushed himself away from Thundercracker. Skywarp froze. Slowly, Soundwave crept forward into Skywarp's lap. With wide optics, Skywarp stared down at him, stunned. Then, wa wrapped waz arm around him.
"You have a packet for the language va speaks, right?" Skywarp asked.
Before Thundercracker could respond, Starscream interrupted.
"Just give vam the Vosian one," ka said. "Va will need to learn it anyway."
That was true…
"Hey Soundwave," Thundercracker said, waiting for Soundwave to turn toward him before continuing. "Do you want to be able to understand the other Seekers? I can give you a language packet."
Soundwave looked down at his wrist panel. He rubbed it. Silence passed.
"Yes," he said quietly.
He offered his arm, the panel slowly opening. Thundercracker opened his as well and took Soundwave's arm gently in his hands. Carefully, he connected his cord to Soundwave's port.
The response was immediate: full access. Sparklings didn't have firewalls. Soundwave shuddered. Thundercracker nearly rethought giving him the packet. With no firewalls to keep him where he didn't belong, this would be a lot trickier.
But eventually, he found it. Thundercracker sent a bundle of files in a specially formatted request. Soundwave's systems accepted it without a scan. Right. No firewalls. After it was unpacked, Thundercracker retreated, detaching himself from Soundwave as quickly as possible.
"Can you see it?" Thundercracker asked.
Soundwave tilted his helm. "I can."
"Then let's see if it works," Thundercracker said. He thought in Common—Soundwave said that. So, he needed someone who thought in Vosian. He motioned to Skywarp, switching to Vosian. "Can you say something? Anything you want to."
Skywarp clicked a couple of times, then spoke. "Um… Petrorabbits taste better than turbofoxes."
"Petrorabbits…" Soundwave paused, his olfactory ridge crinkling. "Taste better than… turbofoxes."
Skywarp's optics darted from Soundwave to Thundercracker. "Did va say it?"
Thundercracker nodded.
In the end, Skywarp was given the Common packet as well—wa couldn't translate Soundwave alone, and Soundwave wasn't capable of making the sounds Vosian required. With communication established between all occupants of the burrow, there was a lot less fear to go around.
!!!
Thundercracker was woken by squirming. Next to him, Starscream rolled over with a hiss that turned into a quiet groan. Ka clambered out of the burrow, unaware that ka woke Thundercracker. Careful not to wake anyone else, Thundercracker sat up, waiting for Starscream to return. With the others asleep, he finally had the opportunity to ask ka about Megatron.
A few moments later, Starscream returned, wings low and discomfort on the air. Ka paused at the entrance of the burrow as kas optics landed on Thundercracker. With a sigh, ka sat beside him.
"I woke you," ka mumbled.
"Not the first time," Thundercracker said. "I have something to ask you."
Starscream leaned against the wall. Ka made a show of casually examining kas claws, but the tension in the air gave kan away.
"Ask it, then," Starscream said.
"Well…" Thundercracker paused. Would Starscream be angry with him for telling the truth? They weren't trined yet, so ka could call off the courtship. But would ka really do that? "I courted you for a… specific reason."
"Everyone courts anyone for a reason," Starscream said.
Maybe ka wouldn't be upset after all.
"I need to take out Megatron," Thundercracker said, the words tumbling out of his vocalizer. "You're the only Seeker in the flock I've seen willing to try."
Starscream's wings flicked. Ka went still. Then, a grin spread across kas face. Ka laughed.
"I knew you were different!" Ka said. "We can take him out together. Challenges don't have to be one on one. But I have to be the one to kill kan."
Thundercracker hadn't expected such an immediate turn. Maybe he should have, considering what others said about Starscream. He shook off his surprise and forced himself to focus on the task at hand: planning to remove Megatron from power.
"Why?" Thundercracker asked, but even as he asked, the answer came to him.
"I'm going to be Winglord," Starscream said. "Not you. So I have to be the one to strike the final blow, unless you'd like to be on the other side of my swords."
Right. Winglord was a lifelong position. Thundercracker had already guessed that. But now other pieces were sliding into place—the Seeker who killed the Winglord became the next one. That was why Megatron was Winglord now.
"I don't have any interest in being Winglord," Thundercracker said. "But… what are you going to do after you're Winglord?"
Starscream grinned wider, a purr starting up. It rumbled so loudly that Thundercracker could barely hear kas words.
"Rule the Decepticons, obviously," Starscream said. "I'll make them praise me, worship me, and when I'm done making them kiss my pedes, they'll fight for me. I'll take over all of the other flocks, finally uniting all Seekers. Then, the Autobots will cower before our might and surrender!"
Thundercracker… didn't know what to make of that. It was the sort of thing a sparkling would say while playing pretend. But he couldn't just say that. He needed Starscream on his side. Maybe, when the time came, if he made some suggestions, they would be listened to…
Starscream looked at him expectantly.
"That's… a very ambitious set of plans," Thundercracker said.
Starscream flicked kas wing. Kas face fell.
"You don't think I can do it, do you?" Ka said, kas purr dying.
"I—"
"You don't," Starscream said. "No one thinks I can. But I'm going to do it, and everyone that ever doubted me will regret it."
Leaves crunched beneath Thundercracker's claws as he dug them into the nest. Anger seared the air, but the discomfort from before lingered beneath it, intensifying with every passing moment.
"What if the Autobots don't surrender?" Thundercracker asked.
Starscream stared blankly at him. Kas wings twitched. Then, ka growled.
"They will," ka hissed. "They have to."
"But what if they don't?" Thundercracker repeated.
Starscream stammered. It was exactly as Thundercracker suspected: ka didn't know what ka would do if the Autobots didn't surrender. Ka probably hadn't thought through kas plan at all. And as Prowl often told Thundercracker, even the most meticulous plans unraveled when faced with reality. A plan as simplistic as this one was bound to fail.
Megatron needed to be taken out, but how much better was the alternative?
Starscream bared kas dentae, leaning forward. "They—"
Ka cut kaz off with a stifled gasp. The discomfort in the air crescendoed. Starscream flung kaz out of the burrow. Thundercracker watched kan fly away, making no move to pursue kan. If ka took off for the reason he assumed, all it would do was embarrass them both.
Eventually, Starscream returned. Ka shuffled into the burrow and sat beside Thundercracker. Silently, ka pulled kas knees to kas chest. Shutting kas optics, ka buried kas face in kas knees.
"Are you okay?" Thundercracker asked.
"I'm fine," Starscream mumbled. "Nothing I haven't dealt with before."
Pain hung on the air as Starscream hunched. Thundercracker scooted closer, his plating brushing against kas. He reached over, pulling Starscream close to him. Ka went limp, allowing Thundercracker to manipulate kan however he pleased.
It was an odd response. Sunstorm said Thundercracker was supposedly a Spark for going limp like that. But Starscream was a Claw. Starscream squirmed, and Thundercracker was reminded of a more pressing matter.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked.
"Not unless you can replace my solvent tank," Starscream grumbled, leaning into him.
Maybe Ratchet could, but there was no way Starscream would come with him all the way to the base. Thundercracker hadn't even gotten a comm installed before he left. Maybe he should have, because it would've let him call Ratchet to ask.
"What's wrong with it?" Thundercracker said.
"It doesn't make enough solvents," Starscream said. "Or maybe none at all at this point. It used to work better than this."
Without solvents, Starscream wouldn't be able to process fuel. Kas smaller stature and waste issues suddenly made a lot more sense. The story Blast gave of Starscream's sudden failure to thrive as a seekerling also made more sense with that context—ka stopped being able to process fuel, so ka was starving.
The powder made from the solvent tanks of mechanimals was a replacement for what kas tank should've been producing. That was why ka took the powder during meals.
"What if you made peace with the Autobots?" Thundercracker asked.
Starscream nuzzled him. Ka stared ahead.
"They would never accept," Starscream said. "That's why we need a show of force."
Thundercracker reached over and stroked kas wing. A quiet purr rumbled from Starscream's engine.
"But if you could," Thundercracker said. "Would you?"
Starscream closed kas optics. "Being known as the one to finally end this fruitless war and bring prosperity back to the Seekers? I'd consider it no matter what the method, even if I had to play nice with dirtkissers."
That was good enough.
!!!
The cycle passed as usual. Thundercracker and his trinemates-to-be rose from the burrow. Thundercracker bade Soundwave a quick goodbye before they took off to hunt. They returned with enough prey to share with Blast and Windshear, and cautiously allowed Thrust to join their huddle. But just from their morning routine, Thundercracker was already tired.
His fans were still running faster than usual, but it wasn't enough for him to worry. Though, he could do without the pressing desire to lay down and curl up. As he finished up the last bite of his meal, his spark spasmed. He brought a hand to his chest, willing the odd sensation to go away. By the time it faded, the others were finished eating as well.
So, Thundercracker began the next portion of their routine. He pounced on Starscream, pinning kan. As always, Starscream went limp, allowing him to clean his wings. Skywarp was already on the ground when he finished, waiting waz turn. Thrust called Dirge and Ramjet over to do the same as Blast cleaned Windshear's wings, the seekerling letting out protesting squeaks. When Thundercracker was done with Skywarp's wings, he moved on to Soundwave's plating. The sparkling always sat eerily still throughout, not even making a sound—a major contrast to Windshear's complaints.
After that, they lounged, soaking up the sun on one of the few cycles Megatron hadn't ordered them to do anything. Soundwave called Laserbeak and Ratbat over. The two mechanimals flew around, performing tricks for a delighted Windshear. After a particularly straining set of tricks, Laserbeak settled on Windshear's waiting arm. Ratbat sat on Soundwave's shoulder.
The sun warmed Thundercracker's plating. The comforting warmth begged him to recharge, but he couldn't. Nerves held true relaxation at bay as he clawed at the dirt.
He glanced at Starscream. Ka smiled at him. Thundercracker nodded.
Eventually, they had to do something other than lay in the sun. Thundercracker stretched as others around him stood. He rose to his pedes, taking a few steps.
His helm grew fuzzy. Darkness crept in from the corners of his vision. His spark pulsed. He staggered, his knees growing weak.
"Thundercracker!"
Skywarp's alarmed call came from beside him. Wa pressed into him, doing waz best to support him. Thrust came up on his other side, taking the brunt of his weight. Thundercracker closed his optics as the world spun, a gyroscopic error entering his logs.
But as suddenly as the weakness and dizziness came, it subsided. Thundercracker opened his optics and forced himself to stand tall. Gently, he pushed Thrust and Skywarp away.
"I'm okay," he said.
He had no idea what that was. Did it have anything to do with his spark spasms? Did he have a virus? He must, if this was happening. He'd just see Sunstorm after… yes. After. He'd see nam after.
"Are you sure?" Skywarp asked quietly.
"I'm sure," Thundercracker said.
It was a problem for later. The day continued to pass as usual. Thundercracker still kept having waves of tiredness and the occasional spark spasm, but they were easy to ignore. Nothing like the lightheadedness happened again. Eventually, the group split apart, its members retiring to their burrows to nap. Thundercracker waited until Soundwave and Skywarp were asleep before rising.
He tapped Starscream's shoulder. Ka rose immediately—ka hadn't even fallen asleep. With a grin, ka led him forward. They split off after exiting the burrow, with Starscream sneaking along the edges of the burrows as Thundercracker marched up the middle. He knelt before the Winglord's burrow as Starscream crouched at the other side of it only a leap away.
"I wish to speak with you," Thundercracker said.
Optics flashed at the back of the burrow. Slowly, Megatron emerged. Ka stood tall, kas shadow exaggerated by the setting sun.
"What is it?" Ka said.
Starscream leaped, unsheathing kas wing swords. Thundercracker sprung backward as Megatron fell. But before Starscream could strike, Megatron turned, throwing Starscream off of kan. The swords fell from Starscream's hands.
Megatron growled and grabbed the nearest one, raising it. Ka stabbed it into Starscream's wing, drawing a pained cry. Anger burned Thundercracker's fuel lines as he charged forward, tackling Megatron. He clawed at kan, thinking little beyond doing as much damage as possible.
A force slammed into him, sending him rolling down the hill. Megatron's tan trinemate stared down at him, waz teeth bared. Thundercracker hissed. He flared his wings. The trinemate flared them back.
A cry drew Thundercracker's attention. Megatron stalked toward Starscream as ka struggled, kas wing pinned to the ground by kas own sword. With a growl and a leap, Thundercracker launched himself in Starscream's direction, pulling the sword out as he flew over kan.
Starscream rose, but it was already too late. Megatron's massive fist swung, hitting Starscream's helm with a crack. Starscream squirmed away, putting kan in range of Megatron's next blow: a powerful kick to the helm ka had just struck. Energeon dripped from the corner of Starscream's mouth as ka fell to the side.
Megatron raised kas hands and slammed them down. A powerful clang consumed the air. Starscream's helm was forced downward. Kas optics fuzzed out, pupils no longer visible—if ka was conscious at all, ka wasn't seeing.
Panic gripped Thundercracker's spark, freezing his fuel lines. Even if they could win—which they definitely couldn't—Starscream wasn't in any position to deal the final blow. But Megatron didn't request for Starscream to yield. Instead, ka leaned down, snarling.
"It's time I end this once and for all," ka said, jamming the cannon on kas arm into Starscream's helm. "You have been a nuisance long enough, and now you're a source of corruption."
The cannon hummed ominously, glowing as it prepared to fire. Thundercracker strode forward, then froze. He couldn't let Starscream die, but how could he stop this?
There was only one option.
"We yield!" Thundercracker shouted. "Please don't kill kan! We yield!"
Megatron paused. Ka rose, turning toward Thundercracker. Thundercracker wilted under kas burning gaze, attempting to make himself as small as possible. Megatron grunted, satisfied, and kicked Starscream's side, flipping kan over.
"If either of you attempt to challenge me again," ka said. "I will kill kan."
Starscream groaned, struggling to right kaz. The moment Megatron turned away, Thundercracker rushed toward Starscream, hoisting kan into his arms. Ka clung to him, kas optics still fuzzy and unfocused, but kas pupils had returned.
"I think he knocked my gyros out of place," Starscream mumbled. "Everything is spinning."
Megatron had probably done that and more. Energeon still dripped from kas mouth, and wept from wounds on kas helm and chin. Holding Starscream as closely to his chest as he could, Thundercracker crept into Sunstorm's burrow, hoping Sunstorm was there. Luckily, na was.
Sunstorm turned toward him, optics widening as they landed on Starscream. Na motioned for Thundercracker to place kan on the floor. As Thundercracker laid kan down, ka squirmed. But as soon as ka was out of Thundercracker's arms, ka flattened kaz to the floor and closed kas optics.
Sunstorm pursed nas lips and laid a hand on the back of Starscream's helm.
"Your gyroscopic sensors are out of alignment," Sunstorm said.
"I could've told you that," Starscream said. "Can barely tell where I am."
Sunstorm hummed. "You were always clever, sibling."
Starscream scoffed. Sunstorm ignored it, continuing to examine kas helm. Then, na forced kas helm upward, staring into kas optics. Starscream flinched away.
"You bit your tongue," Sunstorm said. "Please let me see it."
Starscream rolled kas optics and opened kas mouth, allowing Sunstorm to look inside. There was a wound on the side of kas tongue large enough that Thundercracker could see it from where he was sitting. No wonder there was so much blood coming from kas mouth…
"It will heal," Sunstorm said. "As will the processor damage and gyroscopic misalignment. You're skilled at healing. Truly, it's a marvel how well you recover after being injured so frequently and severely."
Starscream pulled away and hissed. Ka pressed kaz to the floor again.
"Can you just say what you mean for once?" Ka growled. "Why does every admonishment have to be phrased as a backhanded compliment?"
Sunstorm's wings raised. "Sibling, I—"
"Shut up!" Starscream said. "See? I just told you to shut up. Is that so hard? You can't just call me stupid for fighting Megatron like everyone else does? You have to tell me how utterly skilled I am at being injured instead?"
Sunstorm stared down at kan. Nas wings twitched. Then, na turned toward Thundercracker.
"Kas gyroscopic sensors may take a few days to realign," na said. "Ka will likely need help walking in the meantime. Don't let kan fly until ka can walk on kas own."
Thundercracker nodded. "O-okay."
Sunstorm hummed. Na headed toward the other side of the burrow, leaving Starscream on the floor. Thundercracker scooted toward kan. He leaned down to scoop Starscream up when his spark spasmed. He went still, waiting until it passed. This one was mercifully brief.
"A-actually," Thundercracker said, pausing as Sunstorm turned back toward him. "Can you, um… can you take a look at me, too?"
"Of course," Sunstorm said, a small smile forming on nas face. Nas optics scanned his frame. "You don't seem injured. What exactly do you want looked at?"
Thundercracker brought a hand to his chest. "My spark. It feels… strange."
Sunstorm hummed. Slowly, na reached forward. Thundercracker forced himself to stay still as nas hand landed on his chest beside his own. Sunstorm closed nas optics. Nas smile grew wider. Na pulled away.
"You've kindled!" Na said cheerfully.