Chapter Text
Thundercracker fought the temptation to pace. Every moment he spent preparing was another moment Prowl and Optimus could be imprisoned or worse. Every cycle spent getting things ready was another that the base got closer to running out of fuel. In the few cycles after communications were cut off, Arcee reduced rations further. She still hadn't said anything to the soldiers, and Thundercracker knew the moment she revealed it would be too late. But there was little he could do to convince Arcee to tell the truth, so he requested the Seekers not tell the few Autobots that still attempted to hunt with them about the fuel shortage or the communications blackout.
They were getting better. Not good enough, but better. More hunts returned something than not, but they still couldn't complete them independently. It was typically the Seekers of the group that dealt the final blow. That likely wouldn't change, but Thundercracker made his trinemates a promise. He couldn't break it.
The trees swayed gently in the wind, leaves rustling. Distant chatter reached his audials. The flock was just out of sight, giving his trinemates enough privacy to complain. Starscream leaned toward him, dentae bared.
"You're either joking or a fool," ka hissed.
Thundercracker turned toward kan. Kas wings lowered slightly, but ka stood tall. Thundercracker flicked his wings.
"I'm only a fool because I let them go alone," Thundercracker said. "There's something wrong. I'm the only one who can investigate."
Skywarp launched waz at him, wrapping waz arms around him. "You can't go. The flock needs you."
Thundercracker pushed wan away gently.
"Prowl needs me more," he said. "And if we don't find out what's going on, all of us will be in danger."
Starscream growled and shook kas helm. "You've kindled. This puts the litter in danger. Don't you realize that? Is some dirtkisser really worth—"
Anger rose in Thundercracker's spark. He rattled his wings. "That 'dirtkisser' is my creator! Prowl raised me. Wouldn't you do the same for your creators?"
Starscream bared kas dentae, kas plating flaring. Then, ka stepped back, kas wings drooping. "I…"
"I saw your memories," Thundercracker said. "I know you would. Please let me do this."
Starscream shook kas helm, taking another step back, and sighed. "If we don't go with you, we can't protect you. Please, at least take one of us."
"Or just send someone else instead!" Skywarp said.
Thundercracker needed to make them see how important this was.
"I can't send someone else. If you come with me and we get captured, then no one will be left to lead the Decepticons," Thundercracker said. "And no one will be able to rescue us."
Starscream threw kas helm back and growled. Ka leaned against a nearby tree. Skywarp fidgeted with waz claws as if wa wanted to speak, but didn't say anything. A new voice startled all three of them.
"No one, hm?"
Thundercracker whirled toward the voice. Black plating blended into the shadows of the trees. Thundercracker grimaced. He didn't want anyone to know until the moment he had to leave.
"How long have you been there?" Thundercracker asked.
"Long enough to hear that you're leaving," Blast said.
"Yes… I—I am."
Starscream hissed. "Not just you!"
Thundercracker widened his wings. "I already told you—"
"I can take care of it," Blast said.
Thundercracker froze. Beside him, Starscream did the same. Ka stared at Blast with a furrowed brow. Blast stared back, wings held high.
"You're carrying a litter," Blast said. "You shouldn't go alone. I can keep everything together while you're gone."
It was a perfect solution, but something nibbling at the back of Thundercracker's processor made him hesitate. There was no reason for it. He should just let Blast lead while they were gone.
"I don't want to burden you," Thundercracker said.
Blast shook nas helm. "It's not a burden. You helped me. Let me help you."
Thundercracker's spark warmed, but the hesitance remained. He glanced at his trinemates. Skywarp closed waz optics. Starscream tipped kas helm in Blast's direction. Thundercracker braced himself.
"Okay," he said.
!!!
Goodbyes to the Autobots were the easiest. Bulkhead sent him off with a warm hug. Arcee, ever distant, gave him a curt nod. He didn't attempt to speak with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. That left just one mech.
Thundercracker peered through the medbay door. There were no patients in the room, but Ratchet was rarely idle. He stood at one of the terminals, updating and organizing records. First Aid and the few other medical staff were on break, so this was the perfect moment to speak privately.
Thundercracker hesitated, lingering at the doorway. He forced himself to duck under it, but he didn't go low enough. His wings banged against the door—painless but loud. Ratchet pressed a button on the computer and it went dark.
"Thundercracker," he said.
"H—hi," Thundercracker stammered. He fidgeted. How was he supposed to do this? When he left before, it was facilitated.
Ratchet placed a hand on his hip. His stare, focused and intrigued, burned Thundercracker's plating. He tried not to shrink. Shaking himself out, he spoke again.
"I'm leaving," he said.
Ratchet frowned. "For where?"
Thundercracker's wings flicked. He fought not to look away. Autobots looked each other in the optics when they spoke.
"Iacon," he said. "Something is wrong and I need to find out what it is."
Ratchet hummed. "Is this about the communications blackout?"
Thundercracker flinched. How did Ratchet know?
"I have access to the network, you know," Ratchet said with a derisive snort. "I have to keep up with the latest research somehow. Most of the soldiers don't, so they wouldn't notice a thing, but the medical staff? We've only been keeping quiet because you have. We hoped there was a good reason."
He could answer that. It wasn't a question, but he could answer it.
"Arcee doesn't want anyone to panic," Thundercracker said.
Ratchet tutted. "There'll be panic regardless."
A small wave of relief rushed over Thundercracker. The longer Arcee delayed this, the larger the consequences would be. Did she think they wouldn't panic upon finding out there were no rations left? That waiting until they ran out was somehow better than just getting it out of the way? Or…
"I think she's afraid," Thundercracker said.
He tapped his claws against the counter. It wasn't easy. He didn't have a base's worth of soon-to-be starving mecha depending on him, but he knew what it was like to be carry difficult news. He still hadn't told anyone except Starscream and Hotlink's small group about his trine role. Starscream seemed to have accepted it now, but the others would probably react the way ka did at first, if not worse.
"Fear doesn't justify keeping this from everyone," Ratchet said. "They need to know. I'll talk to her."
Ratchet's definition of talking to someone was a stern, disapproving lecture with a wrench in his hand. He never used it—at least not on Thundercracker —but the fact he held it at all was not to be ignored. He definitely didn't envy Arcee.
"Right," Thundercracker said. "Well, um… I came here to say goodbye. Since I'm leaving."
He cringed. Why did he say it like that?
"When?" Ratchet asked.
Thundercracker shrugged. "As soon as I can. I already made arrangements with the flock, and Arcee knows. I just wanted to say goodbye to you first."
Ratchet's brow furrowed in a soft way. He reached for Thundercracker. Allowing himself to be grabbed, Thundercracker was guided into a gentle embrace.
"Don't get killed," Ratchet said. "I put a lot of effort into keeping you healthy."
Thundercracker laughed. As he pulled away, Ratchet grinned up at him. But a slight melancholy drifted on the air, betraying his expression.
"I'll try not to," Thundercracker said, turning away.
Just as he reached the doorway, a yell from Ratchet gave him pause. He turned back toward him.
"Your little friend never said goodbye," Ratchet said. "Didn't even tell me you were leaving."
Starscream wasn't the type of individual to really keep track of those things. Ka came and went as ka pleased, and seemed to forget that others might care about that. But Thundercracker didn't think Ratchet would mind.
"He isn't the most social mech," Thundercracker said sheepishly.
Ratchet snorted. "Understatement of the vorn. But he is coming with you, right? You're bonded."
Thundercracker nodded. "How do you…?"
Ratchet used large to refer to Starscream this time. Had something changed between them?
"You've barely been apart since you arrived, and your signals match," Ratchet said. "Tell him I'll miss my apprentice. And I'm already making plans for him to catch up on all the training time he'll be missing."
Something definitely had changed.
Thundercracker dipped his helm. "I will. Don't worry."
It was nice to know Starscream got along with someone.
!!!
Leaving the flock was much more difficult than Thundercracker anticipated. He wasn't leaving forever, but some part of his processor worried that he was. What if he never came home? What would happen to the flock then? They wouldn't listen to Blast forever. Maybe they would come searching, and then who knew what would happen. Or maybe they would scatter permanently.
Soundwave's hand landed on his arm, bringing him out of his thoughts. Na stared up at him. Thundercracker didn't say anything. Soundwave could hear thoughts. Na already knew.
"I'm going to miss you," Soundwave said quietly. "Skywarp, too."
Thundercracker pulled nam into a hug. Na hugged back, squeezing him. Thundercracker purred.
"We'll come back," Thundercracker said.
Soundwave scooted away, resettling beside him.
"But you're worried you won't," Soundwave said.
Thundercracker sighed. "The Magnus is the head of all Autobot government. Iacon is the most powerful Autobot city. Anything could happen to us. But I'll do everything I can to make it back."
"I know you will," Soundwave said.
Thundercracker's spark burned as Soundwave's visor met his optics. The air was filled with something warm and bright. Carefully picking it apart, Thundercracker identified it as love. His spark nearly broke.
Soundwave had so much faith in him. He had to prove it wasn't misplaced.
Blast approached. Windshear bounded from behind nam. The moment va grew close enough, va launched vaz at Thundercracker. He rolled onto his back, in part to engage in play but mainly to absorb the force of the hit. Va let out an amused trill.
"Got you!" Va said.
Windshear had grown so much. Blast could barely hold vam now. And it was nearly the vorn of vas role test. Thundercracker wouldn't be there to see it. His spark ached. There was so much he was going to miss.
But if he didn't go, the Autobots would starve. Prowl and Optimus would never come home. They would never learn what was truly going on in Iacon. He just wished he had more time.
"You did!" Thundercracker said, forcing himself to use a cheerful tone.
He flopped over. Windshear fell onto vas back with a noise of surprise. Then, va hopped onto vas pedes and skipped back to Blast's side. Vas playful demeanor lessened, vas wings drooping and a small frown forming on vas face.
"You're gonna go now," va said.
Thundercracker nodded. "We are."
Skywarp and Starscream had been quiet. They hung back, letting Thundercracker say his goodbyes. Between arranging everything, he hadn't had time yet. Skywarp had already gone on one last hunt with Soundwave. In typical fashion, Starscream hadn't said anything to anyone.
Windshear looked between them and Thundercracker.
"Tell the Autobots not to mess with us!" Va said.
Thundercracker reached out, patting vam on the helm. Va squeaked.
"We will," Thundercracker said.
Va squeaked again and ran around the other side of Blast, out of Thundercracker's reach. Blast chuckled. Na knelt.
"We just wanted to wish you luck," na said.
Thundercracker dipped his helm. "Thank you."
Blast smiled and got up, herding Windshear away. Soundwave got up to join them, but paused. Thundercracker followed nas gaze.
Ahead was bright yellow and bright red plating. No wings. Could it be…?
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe came into view. Thundercracker rose, widening his wings. They wouldn't try anything, but their last conversation had been anything but pleasant. Behind him, Starscream and Skywarp hissed. Sunstreaker raised his hands, showing his palms. Sideswipe curled in on himself. In his hands was a box. As Thundercracker glared at it, details started coming together. He forced his wings back into neutral position.
"Why are you here?" He asked.
From what Sideswipe was holding, he already knew. But he wanted to hear it directly from them.
"We told you we'd teach the little mech how to use a jetpack," Sunstreaker said with a shrug. "Figured we'd make good on our word, and he never comes to the base, so we came here."
Sideswipe fiddled with the jetpack, nearly dropping it. "We also heard you were leaving."
Thundercracker tilted his helm.
"You did," he said. "Why do you care? I thought I was just a mechanimal."
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe cringed.
"Look," Sunstreaker said. "We shouldn't have said that. You're still Thundercracker! You're just… all Seeker-y now. It's a big adjustment."
Thundercracker had always been a Seeker. He was scolded and punished for clawing at the walls, or hunting scraplets, or building a nest, or not wanting to sleep alone—things he later learned were natural. The only reason he didn't act like a Seeker before was that he wasn't allowed to. But he didn't say that. He knew it would just lead to another argument.
Thundercracker sighed.
"Thank you," he said.
At least Soundwave would get to fly.
!!!
It was easy to find. Thundercracker already filed the location away for later. No one had any idea he even searched for it. Although the terminals in the base were disconnected from the network, they had plenty of downloaded information. Bases didn't move overnight.
If anyone could help the Autobots, it would be other Autobots. Why Arcee hadn't asked for help before, he wasn't certain, but they needed it now. Thundercracker couldn't spend his journey worrying about whether the bots back at home would starve.
It wasn't far. That was what Thundercracker told himself as he took off. It wasn't far, and then he could take a break. His fault gauge was already complaining, and it had only been a breem since he last ate. With his newsparks nowhere near sustaining themselves, the spark spasms had only increased. Sunstorm told him they were developing their major fuel lines now, which was why he was so ravenously hungry.
They landed. Only a few moments, then Thundercracker could catch a turborat or something and make the hunger go away. But as a light flashed in the distance, he realized his mistake: these Autobots didn't know him.
Everything around him rippled. Nothing was below his pedes. Then, suddenly, he was on solid ground. Skywarp's arms were wrapped around him, fear making the air sting.
"Are the newsparks okay?" Skywarp said, voice frantic. "I've never teleported with a gravid Seeker before!"
Where Thundercracker just stood was a scorchmark. At the other side of it, Starscream bared kas dentae and rattled kas wings.
[{ID:THCR} Stop!]
Starscream froze. Ka glanced at Thundercracker, confusion wafting on the air, before turning back toward the Autobots. A few had gathered outside the base, bearing blasters and blunt weapons. Thundercracker stepped forward and threw out his arms.
"We don't want to fight!" He shouted in Common. "We have something important to tell you!"
The Autobots exchanged glances. Thundercracker prepared for the inevitable shocked shouting and repeated questions. But before any of that could occur, the doors of the base flew open. Wheeljack stood in the doorway.
"Hold your fire!" Wheeljack said, gesturing dramatically. "They're friendly!
The guards shuffled out of the way as Wheeljack walked through them. Thundercracker bit back a remark about how that was exactly what he just said as Wheeljack stopped before them.
"We need help," Thundercracker said. Technically… "I mean, the bots at Prowl's base need help. They were disconnected from the network and weren't given their stipend, so they can't buy supplies."
Wheeljack placed a hand on their chin and hummed. "Interesting."
"You helped before, so I was hoping you'd help again," Thundercracker said.
Wheeljack was silent, stroking the projection on their chin. Thundercracker faltered. Was forwarding the call a one-time thing? Had The Intermediary told them something about the base that would keep them from helping?
"We'll help!" Wheeljack shouted, raising their arm in the air. Starscream let out a quiet squawk and stepped out of hitting range. At a more typical volume, Wheeljack added, "We knew something was amiss, but it seems larger than I assumed."
Thundercracker nodded, trying not to show the sheer amount of relief that coursed through him at Wheeljack's declaration. "We think it's something bigger as well. We're trying to figure it out, but in the meantime…"
"Yes," Wheeljack said with a nod. "We'll let the others know. We should all be able to pitch in."
"Thank you," Thundercracker said.
With a dip of his helm and a quick goodbye, they were off. Thundercracker savored the petrorabbit they caught before they began their journey. Now, he knew that while they were gone, the Autobots wouldn't starve.
!!!
They took frequent breaks. Not just because Thundercracker needed to fuel frequently. Flying left him tired and at times, dizzy. He hadn't flown this far in a long time, let alone while gravid. One of these stops landed them in a peculiar place.
At first, Thundercracker assumed it was inhabited, and was tempted to fly over it. But Starscream pointed out that none of the lights were on. The city stretched out before them, dark and uninviting. Buildings were crumbled and cracked at the corners. In the center, one had collapsed entirely, coating what was once a large intersection in debris. They touched down in the center of this pile, as it was the largest open space.
Thundercracker nearly jumped as something skittered. He whipped toward it only to find nothing was there. A pebble laid on the ground, likely disturbed by their landing. He really should've expected that. The whole place seemed uninhabited. So why had he almost thought something was there?
After much investigation and bristling, Starscream led them into one of the buildings. Ka was confident it wouldn't fall overnight, unlike the last four ka checked. Thundercracker didn't bother pointing out that most of them looked like they would, and that there was a large crack spidering up the side of the one they were in. They were just resting for the night. It would be fine. He curled around his trinemates and slipped into recharge.
It was dark. Why was he awake? A scraping noise. Were those pedesteps? Thundercracker adjusted his optical feed. A tall figure came into focus. He blinked. It was gone.
Had he imagined it?
He went back into recharge.
In the morning, the moment was gone from his mind. His fuel gauge woke him. Groggily, He shook Starscream and Skywarp. Starscream hissed, slapping him in the face with all the force of a wet cyberkitten. Skywarp rose much more calmly, blinking at Thundercracker with wide optics.
"Let me guess," Skywarp said. "Hungry?"
"Yeah," Thundercracker said.
They rose together, stalking the ruined city. A few cybirds chirped—too small to be prey. Something skittered. A quiet scratching sound. Thundercracker followed it, searching for signs of movement.
Then, there! Thundercracker pounced. The turborat screeched as his claws pierced its armor. He slammed it down. Unable to resist, he severed one of its main fuel lines, nearly purring as he drank.
Ahead, something thumped. Thundercracker froze. A shadow stretched over the alleyway. With flared plating and widened wings, Thundercracker looked up. Piercing optics stared into his. Then, they were gone.
Carefully, Thundercracker extracted himself from the alley.
[{ID:THCR} I think I just saw a Seeker.]
The response was immediate.
[{ID:SKWP} scrap]
[{ID:STSC} Get over here right now.]
Thundercracker obeyed. Starscream pulled him behind kan, wings wide and dentae bared. Skywarp lingered close to both of them with lowered wings. Shaking himself out, Thundercracker assumed a defensive stance.
With a powerful whoosh, a Seeker landed in front of them. Another whoosh, and another at their side. Then, another. Before they could flee, they were surrounded.
The Seeker before them was a deep, mottled green that verged on gray with faint golden accents that may have once been beautiful but were now dull. They approached with an aura of calm that only set Thundercracker further on edge. Though smaller than Thundercracker, the Seeker's presence more than made up for their size. They stared down at the group with burning red optics.
"Intruders," the Seeker growled. "Why are you here?"
Thundercracker forced himself to lower his wings.
"We're just passing through," he said.
The Seeker narrowed their optics.
"Bot-raised," the Seeker hissed.
The Seekers that surrounded them murmured among themselves. Thundercracker caught a few snippets, but not enough to tell what they said.
"H—how did you know?" Thundercracker said.
"Your accent," the Seeker said. "It's familiar. Tell me, bot-raised: have you brought those monsters here?"
Thundercracker shook his helm. "No!"
The Seeker stepped closer.
"We don't tolerate bot-raised here," the Seeker spat. "They only bring trouble. You made a mistake when you came here."
The Seeker stepped back. The other Seekers came forward, reaching for him. Starscream leaped ahead of him, but was quickly pinned by a larger Seeker. Skywarp went down shortly after. Thundercracker kicked and clawed and thrashed, but being so low on fuel sapped his strength, and he was soon restrained. Two Seekers held him—one on each side—as the mottled Seeker approached again.
The mottled Seeker dug their claws into his chest. Panic seized Thundercracker, his spark spinning. The newsparks! He squirmed, but the Seekers held firm. No, no! The claws dug deeper. He wailed.
"Don't!"
Skywarp's cry split the air. The mottled Seeker ignored it.
"Na is gravid!" Skywarp yelled. "You can't kill nam! It'll kill the newsparks too!"
The mottled Seeker froze. Their optics drifted toward Skywarp. Everything was silent. Then, the claws were removed from Thundercracker's chest. The Seeker stepped back.
"Release them," the Seeker said.
Thundercracker fell to his knees. His spark was still spinning, and spinning, and spinning…
Everything was fuzzy. Sounds were muffled. Arms wrapped around him. Familiar magenta and pale purple plating. But his spark was still spinning so fast. Dizziness enveloped him. He swayed.
Red optics appeared in his vision. He scooted backward. Something was placed in his hands, forced into them until he held on. He felt along its edges. The turborat?
Another set of hands pried it away. A moment later, a small, flat object was pressed into his palm. His fingers curled around it. His hand was guided toward his mouth. He bit down. Metal crunched beneath his dentae.
Slowly, the world came into focus. A self-soothing purr rumbled in his chest. Starscream and Skywarp held him, attempting to calm him with purrs of their own. The mottled Seeker had backed away, staring with a scrunched olfactory ridge and a furrowed brow.
Thundercracker brought a hand to his chest. Divots were left where the mottled Seeker's claws sunk in, smearing his claws with energeon. But it hadn't reached his spark chamber. The newsparks were safe. Slowly, his purr died out.
"I apologize," the mottled Seeker said. "I wasn't aware the bot-raised was gravid."
Skywarp growled quietly. Starscream hissed.
"Eat slag," Starscream said. "Na said we were peaceful and you attacked anyway."
The mottled Seeker's wings flicked.
"Can you blame us?" The mottled Seeker said. "We have to defend our territory, and bot-raised often bring slayers with them."
Slayers? Was that their name for Autobots? Or was the Seeker referring to ones like Sentinel?
"There are no Autobots with us," Thundercracker said, his voice weak. He forced the next words to come out stronger. "And no Autobots following us. We were just stopping to rest and eat."
The mottled Seeker hummed. They took a step forward and knelt, scrutinizing Thundercracker. He fought not to flare his plating under their gaze.
"Where exactly are you heading? Especially in this state?" The mottled Seeker said. "Travel is dangerous for a gravid Seeker."
Thundercracker couldn't just say Iacon. That wouldn't make any sense to the Seeker. So what could he say? He would need to speak carefully.
"One of my creators went missing," Thundercracker said. "We think… ka—" He hesitated on the pronoun, unsure of how to refer to Prowl in Vosian. "—may have been captured. We're going to free kan."
The mottled Seeker hummed.
"Admirable," they said. "But a touch foolish. You can stay here."
The Seeker motioned toward the Seekers that surrounded them.
"We are the Reconian flock," they said. They placed a hand on their chest. "I am Lightframe."
Thundercracker didn't point out how ill-fitting that name was.
"Thank you," he said.
This was going to be a long cycle.