Ep 1.5 Changeling (Closed)

[Deleted]

(Week 1, day 3, day after Unwelcome Party)

He was free.

Freshly repaired and waiting for new orders other than lie down and recover, Smokescreen lay on his back on the med-berth and marveled over this simple fact. He had done it. He was free. He'd made it to the Autobot forces. Just like he'd always told himself for the past...way too many fragging vorns stuck in that containment pod. A shiver went through the young Bot. He'd told himself that so many times that the words had lost meaning to him. When he'd first come to realize his situation, he'd hoped -believed- that the Autobots would rescue them. An entire prison ship full of 'Bots, why wouldn't they? Then the vorns had dragged on past and that hope, a bright small spark had slowly withered as his energon reserves had gradually trickled away.

Help had never come.

In the end, he'd only made it out alive due to his own ingenuity and infinite patience. Banking it all on that small, brief chance...it had worked. That was all that should matter, right? Smokescreen was free, he was with the Bots, he was safe, he could start putting his imprisonment behind him.

Right?

It might have been only the cycle before when he'd landed on this strange alien world but Smokescreen was quickly realizing that while he might have left the Avengeance behind, it had not left him. Habits engrained after vorns in a containment pod, listening to the dark underbelly of a deep space chop-shop were not so easily shrugged off. The young Autobot had laid awake as Ratchet had conducted his repairs and fixed that hole in his side, stubbornly refusing to allow himself to fall offline though the medic had assured him it would be okay. Smokescreen had smiled cheerfully and assured the doc he was fine thank you very much but had refused to power down.

The conviction that he'd be broken down and turned into spare parts was far too strong to ignore. It had been the reality he'd lived with trapped in the dark in his containment pod. When he'd finally fell into recharge, it was the near stasis sleep he'd used back aboard the Avengeance. Almost every system completely switched off in order to conserve energon, though part of his processor and audials still alert and awake in case anything came his way.

He didn't know these people. They were Autobots, yes. And on the Avengeance, being an Autobot meant you were just a spare source of energon and components. Decepticons were the ones to be wary of, they were the ones who scavenged bodies. Smokescreen shouldn't have anything to fear from a Bot. He shouldn't. He told himself so many things in the dark to keep his spirits bolstered, all the stuff he'd get up to when he was free, the battle stories his cohort had told him, the lessons he'd learned at the Elite Guard, what he would do if he ever met Optimus Prime. His faith and belief in the Autobot's cause had never flagged even as his hope for rescue had dwindled. His thoughts had eventually taken a mantra. Decepticons were bad and evil and they harvested Autobots for spare parts. Autobots were good, Autobots were noble...

...Autobots didn't stare at Ratchet, a mech who had done nothing but help them, and wonder to themselves how much energon they could get out of the medic's frame if they had to. Which components they could rip out and harvest take that were compatible with their own frame. Autobots didn't. They didn't. Which would make him…?

Completely startled, Smokescreen sat up and stared blankly at the ceiling, unnerved and utterly horrified by the path his thoughts had unconsciously taken. He felt cold and sick to his very spark. To escape, he'd had to learn so much about the Avengeance and its demented crew. Their way of life. The mentality and reasoning behind their twisted thoughts and actions. Every aspect to the prison ship. Everything. He'd lived so long in the darkness that he'd forgotten what the light looked like.

Smokescreen may have escaped and left the Avengeance long behind him. But something dark from the ship had slithered inside him and escaped with him.

[Optimus Prime]

It was day two after the confrontation with MECH, and while the team had gotten away with minimal physical injuries? The recoil from what had been seen had yet to fully settle for Optimus. He just... was having such a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that the humans could do something so brutal. No... he understood it... he could see how it could happen... He was no fool. MECH likely didn’t even recognize them as true living begins, and treated them just as sufficiently advanced technology that was ready to be ripped apart and harvested.

Humans had not had any active contact from planets outside of their own, and their first sobering dose of reality? Was gifted by life forms that replicated things that they owned and created. They had no frame of reference to think of them as anything but machines, and machines? In their eyes? Can be reverse engineered and pulled apart...

Optimus had remained in the Med Bay with Air Raid and Ratchet for as long as he had been capable of doing so. He just... he needed to try to help in some way; he needed to try to bring Air Raid back to the conscious world, where they could act without MECH's influence. The base would shield against outside signals coming and going through their walls, and as such? To the deranged humans? Air Raid likely just... vanished from the very planet he went through the Ground Bridge.

The only signals that could go out as far as he knew? Were encrypted comm lines for communicating when out scouting, encryptions that have since been updated and set to new formulas courtesy of Red Alert.

Always vigilant, always mindful, Red was taking into account Mech could know the prior encryptions from Air Raid himself to get a signal in. Granted... they may have only been good for about a week after Air Raid was initially captured... the security director prone to overreact and assume they were compromised to validate a change. The team barely ever had the same comm codes for more than a week before things got shuffled... But alas... It may have worked out in their favor for once?...

Nonetheless, Optimus didn't have much beyond basic Medical skills, and because of it? Ratchet had eventually pushed him out to effectively get the heck out of the way, much to the Prime's dismay. Then again... Optimus was surprised he managed to try to help as long as he did before getting kicked out. Then again, there were other duties to think about, namely this mystery soldier they had just obtained.

All Optimus knew about them? Was that they had trained under the Elite Guard due to their shoulder emblem, and that their codes were horrendously out of date. It is because of this? He knew he needed to speak to the new recruit, inform them of basics of this world, and what it entailed to be here. He also needed to check to make sure they were recovering well. The Prime didn't really get a chance to see the extent of the injuries, and had since been too wound up with dealing with Air Raid to revisit the issue.

Poor Smokescreen's entrance had been overshadowed.

Heavy footfalls were the first sign that Optimus was approaching the Medical Bay once more, each step an almost hollow clunk that could not be helped due to his size and weight. As such, the soldier would have plenty of warning, before he entered into the area cautiously, at first just making sure he was even awake. Seeing Smokescreen was indeed alert and not in recharge to recover? He stepped fully into the room, and stood off to the side so he was not blocking the doorway.

"I trust your injuries are doing well?"

He spoke calmly, addressing if the newcomer was in any pain first, before he would continue onward.

[Deleted]

The sounds of footsteps broke Smokescreen from his reverie. Optimus Prime, he was quick to deduce. He'd automatically catalogued both Ratchet and the Prime's footsteps. Sound, sound had been the only tool at his disposal aboard the Avengeance. He'd learnt to listen well and even now, he was developing a profile for counted as normal noise at the Omega base and what didn't. The young Bot had barely gotten any recharge when he'd powered himself down, each unfamiliar noise had him flinching back online.

Ratchet had been working on the aerial. And that sound, tools striking metal as they explored and examined Air Raid's frame and the extent of the damage, medical instruments being dropped and exchanged for new ones, it had sent him back to the Aveangance. Listening as parts were being harvested. Autobot components being inserted into Decepticon frames.

Smokescreen had remained awake as Ratchet's investigations continued. He was silent, he kept extremely still and his frame could have easily been mistaken to be in recharge. The sounds did not disturb him, to him they were merely a reminder that his life had been at stake and he couldn't afford to give himself away, lest he share the same fate.

Now, Optimus Prime was approaching the med-bay again. Smokescreen roused himself, the unsettling thoughts dismissed from his processor as he eagerly awaited to catch sight of his idol. He'd heard so much about this mech, from the Autobot soldiers that had raised him to the history texts he'd read during his Elite guard training. Even that old mech who'd pulled him out of Iacon's rubble had spoken warmly of the Prime. A mighty warrior, brave and courageous, he was unflinching kind and respectful to all sentients. It was the warrior part though, that Smokescreen's young mind had seized upon and idolized . He wanted to be a great hero like the Prime.

...his start on this path...hadn't gone very well…

Unwillingly, his mind briefly flicked back to when he'd gotten out of the containment. When Smokescreen was finally free to explore the ship he'd spent so much time getting to intimately know through his audials alone.

He'd counted the pods.

One hundred and fifty of them.

All full at some point. And had been refilled as the Avengeance came across the odd Autobot or neutral.

If only he'd gotten free just a little sooner…

Smokescreen ruthlessly shoved the thoughts back. Nothing could be done now. Nothing could be changed. There was no point on dwelling on it. He'd done what he had to, to survive. His mission to escape the Avengeance had been successful and that was the end to the story.

Optimus Prime appeared in the door of the med-bay. The young Autobot's optic brightened in surprise when he realized Prime was addressing him. He'd thought Optimus was here to see the deranged aerial. Surely Smokescreen didn't rank as highly as the Prime's priorities as one of his own soldiers. Or maybe-well, Smokescreen had always thought he was destined for greatness. Had told himself as such so many times when he'd been trapped in his pod. Maybe Prime had recognised that, the potential in him!

"Optimus Prime-! Sir!" he stammered. The hole in his side had been fixed and an energon drip had brought up his levels. Real energon. Stuff that hadn't come out of someone else's fuel lines. Smokescreen had never been so relieved. That drip had been stowed away now and Smokesreen had been waiting for someone to come and tell him what was going to happen next. The idea that Prime would even do it never occurred to him.

The young Autobot lurched to his pedes, straightened up and sharply threw a salute. He hadn't been unable to pay his respects yesterday but he would do so now. "-uh. Yes. Yes, Doc Ratchet fixed me up. I'm good. Ready for duty, sir!"

[Optimus Prime]

Now that Optimus actually had a chance to observe and study the Autobot more so than initial injury? As well as trying to get his codes for verification? He could now tell just how young the mech seemed. They definitely had to have been one of the last sparked, as there was just something in the way they moved and their expressions that shrieked of young inexperience. But with the war having gone as long as it had? How was such a thing maintained? How were they not jaded and bitter?

Before he could continue, before he could note anything more however, like the extent of the mech's mended injuries, the soldier had thrown himself to his feet. It was as if a fire alarm had suddenly sounded and it was time to evacuate. The enthusiastic velocity would be alarming on its own, only to be followed up by a straight posture and a thrown up salute.

Salutes made... Optimus so uncomfortable... He knew he was the Prime, he knew he had the Matrix of Leadership. Even before he had become a full Prime? He had become a general of sorts trying to organize the function of squads and fighters out on the field. He knew if the roles were reversed? He himself would be happily saluting higher ups as a sign of respect. However? When he was the target? It just seemed so awkward, almost like he didn’t feel he deserved them even if intellectually he knew he... did? Even if that was a self centered thing to think?

Optimus' expressions remained neutral, despite the slight alarm of the soldier throwing himself to his feet, and the subsequent awkwardness. As such, he merely nodded his helm down once in acknowledgement. It was a wordless notion that Smokescreen could go at ease, and did not need to retain such a formal stance in his presence.

"Let me be first to welcome you to Earth."

As Optimus stated this, he held out his right hand in order to shake hands in a more proper greeting. He also hoped it would break down some of the formality in play. While he appreciated the respect, and didn’t really want people to be overly lax to a point of nonsense around him? He was not Ultra Magnus and did not need an extremely formal approach.

"There are many things that need to be spoken of, but foremost, how did you find your way to this world? In a Decepticon shuttle no less."

It was something that he knew he needed to address soon, as once Wheeljack had told him exactly what the shuttle had been? It was a bit of a red flag. He would not preemptively judge, but he would be a bit cautious until he had all the facts.

[Deleted]

Smokescreen relaxed back from his stiff stance. He returned Prime's offered handshake enthusiastically. Who would turn down an opportunity to shake Prime's servo? "It's an honor to be here, sir." And a surprise. There had been times...there had been so many times when he'd given up hope…

The young Autobot's grin flickered only for a moment before he released his grip and backed up, giving Prime his full attention. Then, he grew somber when Optimus addressed him again. The Decepticon escape pod, yeah, he could see that wasn't exactly the best thing to show up in. Smokescreen lowered his gaze as his processor raced, wondering where to even start. The Avengeance? Getting seperated from the Autobot forces back on Cybertron?

"That's a...long story Prime. Heh," Smokescreen gave a sheepish laugh. "One I wasn't even awake for most of it. Got captured on my way to an evac point during the Exodus. Next thing I know, waking up aboard a Decepticon prison ship when it stumbled into an asteroid field. Impact out knocked the cable keeping me in enforced stasis. Then I-" lay awake, listened to them harvest the prisoners for spare parts and energon, hoping someone would save them all.- "-Managed to the guards the slip." One guard, it had been one guard because as they ran low on prisoners, they'd turned upon each other. "Had heard the guards talking, they'd been hearing comm chatter, that there were new frontlines for the war." That they refused to go back to. "Got in an escape pod, set myself the co-ordinates. Next thing, I'm hitting solid ground. Hard."

Smokescreen looked back up again and gave a shrug. "You know the story from there. Got attacked by those weird copters. Thought I could handle 'em. Called for help when the aerial showed up, thought he was a Con. Is he gonna be alright? He walked into a few of my shots before he got me but even before that, he was pretty...well, messed up."

That was an understatement. Smokescreen was a pretty easy going bot and he'd been quick to realize that something had been done to the Autobot who'd attacked him. Maybe it was some sort of Decepticon plot? The why didn't matter, Air Raid hadn't been in his right mind, no point holding a grudge against him.

[Optimus Prime]

Once his hand was released, the limb pulled back to lightly fold upon his lower spine with its pair. It was a somewhat formal stance, but not as ridged as it could be, though his helm remained upright while shoulders were pulled back. He instinctively just took on such a position, a stance of control and power that had been drilled into him through the excessively long time he had been a Prime. Though... it left him towering over Smokescreen who barely reached what would be the end of his 'sternum'.

Optimus remained respectfully silent as the soldier spoke, letting him tell his story with no interruptions or preemptive responses to disrupt what he had to say. He did not like the sound of a prison ship, but it did not seem to have impacted the young mech as much as it actually had. To Optimus? Smokescreen seemed almost... unphased, probably stuck in stases unaware for the majority of what had transpired. This was a relief, even if it was false concepts.

"You are lucky to have gotten away unharmed."

Stated simply, though his tone held the slightest inflection of earnest truth. He was immensely thankful whenever he did hear of Cybertronian escaping such places. While he would wish they never had gotten there to begin with? This was the next best thing instead of the death that the majority had to endure.

What Smokescreen said next, caused Optimus to pause. His helm turned a faint amount, while optics slid over to peer in the general direction of the screens that separated the impromptu quarantine from the rest of the Medical Bay. The corners of his mouth tightened a bit, as if wanting to frown at having to think about Air Raid once more, or perhaps? It was because of MECH itself. The pure frustration they wrought mixed with their brutal savagery.

"Air Raid... is... quite unwell, but we have a very skilled Medic looking after him."

He was confident in Ratchet's skills, but... they were not on Cybertron. The Medic didn’t have access to all the tools he needed, and there was no telling what the savages did to Air Raid's internals. Optimus did not want to consider the fact the individual may be too far gone, but... it was sadly something he had to try to mentally prepare for, less he be caught off guard which wasn't something he let happen often.

"Earth is inhabited by small organics called Humans. The vast majority are not ready to know of our presence, and because of this, we adapt our Alt-Modes to blend into the populace. Some are aware despite efforts, and do come to the outpost. You would do well to watch your step."

A small bit of a warning, not mean toned, but... definitely putting importance behind his last words. He would not tolerate one of the children or Fowler being stepped on in any way. Even if they survived? And just got... a broken leg or... however they'd manage to survive... it would not be acceptable.

"MECH is the designation of a faction. These Humans aim to dissect our kind for their own technological advancements. What you witnessed upon landing was their next step, controlling and corrupting one of our soldiers..."

Optimus turned fully away from viewing the concealed area of the Medical Bay, in order to look back down at Smokescreen.

"Departing from the Omega Base alone is expressly prohibited because of this. I will not risk losing more to their hand by simple neglect."

Another 'this is really emphasized and shouldn’t be challenged' sort of statement. Everyone on base had to depart in pairs of two battle ready mech at any given time. Ideally? Three incase MECH was upping their game. Either way, he paused to let Smokescreen catch up or ask questions before he would move on.

[Deleted]

Smokescreen remained quiet, his attention smartly focused on the information being delivered to him. Organic aliens. Never seen any but cool. Got it. Autobots were remaining covert but did have contact with a few of the natives. Small, so don't step on them. Got it.

MECH, a faction that dissected Cybertronians. Smokescreen's pleasant smile faltered as his expression grew grave. His gaze followed Optimus's to the corner in which Air Raid resided. The Autobot's doors flared as he shuddered. Nope, not got it. Really, really not-

They'd done that to Air Raid. Revulsion crawled through Smokescreen's spark. They had taken control of the aerial, used him like a puppet. And they would have- they would have done the same to him if he hadn't called for help. How crazy was that, escape one prison only to narrow avoid get dragged into another. A worse one by the sounds of it. Least before he only had to worry 'bout dying and his parts being harvested, not his frame being highjacked and used against his will. Though, remembering what Air Raid had looked like, the harvesting components part might not be off the table.

Hysteria built in Smokescreen. A planet, a planet full of these little butchers, no- no. Only a small number of them knew about the bots. Small number, he had to focus on that. Even if he was caught between the urge to find an immediate way off planet or to exterminate them all with extreme vengeance. Heroes, Smokescreen reminded himself sharply, didn't run. They didn't indiscriminately slaughter other sentients either. And Smokescreen was going to be a hero.

"If you don't mind me asking sir, what are our offensive plans regarding the MECH threat?" Smokescreen asked. His optics had narrowed and he held himself ready, as if waiting to be let loose to attack their distant enemy.

Smokescreen was too fresh from his ordeal. Trapped inside his pod, he'd been unable to stop the slaughter. All he could do was rage helplessly and watch. Now though, now he had targets for those vorns of grief and anger.

Killing MECH had better be one of Prime's plans for the immediate future.

[Optimus Prime]

Smokescreen was immensely lucky he didn’t get captured. If he had not have commed? If he didn't try to reach out for aid? Then he would most likely be in MECH's hands, being ripped apart and who knows what else. But dwelling on that was not going to accomplish much, and as such Optimus kept his gaze now locked upon the young soldier.

What was asked of him next caused Optimus to pause and consider just what he should say. The subject was a very iffy one, with so many things to consider... so much that could go wrong. He had their own people to regard, their needs, and seeking justice for what had been done to Air Raid. The first impulse? Is to try to hunt down MECH and rip Cybertronian tech from them to try to confiscate and scatter their populace. Though... some would want the extermination of posts... the complete slaughter of the MECH encampments.

Optimus did not feel comfortable with that. It is true MECH were butchers, savages that deserved to be disbanded for their crimes against his people, but... murdering them outright? Such slaughter appalled him at a core level, and while he himself has killed, much to his dismay, could he validate a clean sweep? Even if he was more lax with the concept of execution, was it even their place?

This was Earth, not Cybetron. They had ruined their own planet by means of war, vengeance, and chaos. Earth is not theirs to act freely upon; it is not theirs to impose their own justice and rules to. MECH was a creation of the human race, and would exist with, or without, his people's appearance on this world. The humans would impose their own retribution upon them with their own social rules and standards. It was not right for his people, who likely had vastly different concepts of what warranted what, to push their own justice.

But this WAS his Autobots, his own species. They were being mutilated and harmed, and at what point is a line crossed? At what point is enough harm done that it no longer matters WHAT the humans want? When did it become something that he had to act at and disregard Fowler and the government he worked for to uphold their own basic rights? Was this point already breached? It seemed possible with Air Raid...

Optimus' expression hardened a bit, these thoughts swarming in the back of his processor.

"Locating outposts are our first goal upon the subject of MECH. They are scattered, and clearing one encampment is but a setback, more so than a fix."

He spoke clearly, knowing Smokescreen needed all the details he could to catch up. While Optimus wasn't going to spell everything out, much can be gleamed from his choice wording. Everything else? He could ask others for more detail. Though he did leave some aspects vague, like what 'clearing' meant.

"Our primary concern is removing Cybertronian technology from MECH's control, both Autobot, and Decepticon, as well as seeking means to rectify the damages they have already brought upon us."

He felt need to elude to the fact that Smokescreen may be tasked to help save a Decepticon from MECH, if such a situation presented itself again. Bulkhead had issues with that concept, and while he eventually came around to overcome such obstacles? It could be something of a trigger for the new soldier. Optimus would never force him to help if that occurred again, but making sure it was known that there was a possibility that may come up? Could save a shocked argument from occurring. Hopefully.

[Deleted]

Smokescreen hadn't been sure if he was overstepping his bounds like that, demanding to know what Prime was planning. He'd held himself tightly with nervous energy as the great mech in front of him gave his question careful consideration. Smokescreen gave himself a shake, a full body flick from his head to even his doors as he tried to get himself under control.

Get yourself together, soldier.

It would be fine. Prime would have a plan. He needed to...not dwell on this. On any of this. He needed to think rationally. Take a step back. Different situation. Different enemies. Rules were different for other species. There was the Tyrest Accord and such to think about it. They couldn't simply attack this MECH like they were the Decepticons, no matter how much Smokescreen would rather otherwise.

How worrying that he had to keep reminding himself of how an Autobot would act. Just how far had his time on the Avengeance led him astray? Smokescreen glanced down at his clenched fists and forced himself to relax. His judgment probably...wasn't the best right now.

Never make a decision out of anger.

Prime would know what to do. If Smokescreen couldn't currently trust in his own thinking then the young Autobot could rely at least on his leader. Smokescreen waited for further instruction from Prime. When Prime eventually spoke, Smokescreen found himself nodding in agreement...for the first part. Locating the enemy encampments, clearing them. Good. Though what Prime meant by clearing was...open to interpretation, Smokescreen supposed. Removing Cybertronian technology? That made sense. If they'd been able to do that to Air Raid, Smokescreen didn't even want to know what they could do given the opportunity to study more Cybertronian technology. Both Autobot and Decepticon…? No, not the Decepticons...

Smokescreen pressed his lip plates together. He wanted to-to protest. Argue with this command. That's just the Avengeance talking. Don't let it control you. Don't. No one deserves to be used like that. No one. Not even Decepticons. Even though they DO deserve it. Think. MECH will only learn how to hurt the Autobots better if we leave Decepticons in their grasp.

The young Autobot exvented in resignation. He could see the logic behind the orders. But right now, emotionally he couldn't move past it or comply. His commanding officer needed to know this now and not in the future.

"Optimus Prime, sir?" Smokescreen began quietly. His expression was grave, troubled. "Respectfully requesting permission to decline any future missions involving recovery of Decepticon...resources from MECH. I think I'm emotionally unfit for such a task. For any task involving MECH, in fact." A shudder went through him and he shook his head. A light mocking laugh escaped from him directed at himself. He'd been so certain of himself all this time, you know? Smokescreen had always hoped that he was going to meet his hero. He'd be of help, he'd be of use to Prime. And the first thing that comes up, when he's finally made it to the Autobot forces and ready for active duty and here he is, turning Optimus Prime down.

Smokescreen wanted to desperately take back his words. But he was certain in this, he couldn't be relied upon, not for this matter. It was the right thing to do to speak up now, no matter how much it felt like he was letting the Prime down.

[Optimus Prime]

When Smokescreen replied, Optimus was not particularly surprised at the request to not aid Decepticons. He knew well that everyone had their own grudges, and some? Simply would be unable to traverse over this hurdle. But the second part? The request to not be involved with any missions related to MECH? That bit stood out to him. What could have occurred in this Autobot's past, to make the threat of MECH hold that much weight? Enough weight to make one who had trained with the Elite Guard back down?

"You will not be forced to do so."

Optimus could tell Smokescreen was anxious, and he hoped that it would soon pass for his sake. This base was a safe environment, and there was no need to be wary or wound up with stress within its confines. Granted, that could be a false statement. He could be completely wrong in this regard. Who knows if this mech had any triggers? He may seem stable, but was there something traumatic in play like some of the issues with Fortress Maximus?

The Prime's tactics changed sharply then. Instead of trying to catch Smokescreen up on Earth and what it entailed exactly? He now steered towards trying to analyze this Autobot a bit more. He needed to be aware if he was dealing with a ticking time bomb, or if they just got 'freaked out' at the idea of witnessing more of MECH's work firsthand.

He would not blame them for the latter, they had witnessed Air Raid first hand and just what kind of horrors could befall them if they were to get caught. In fact? There is a decent chance most everyone on base would be unnerved at that prospect, or just profoundly arrogant to think it could not occur to them. But they had to stand strong; they had to fight despite the risks, as if they did not? Then there would be no victory.

"Is there more that needs to be declared?"

He inquired this with a slight edge to his words to show it was serious and not be simply brushed aside. But while there was this important overlay, there was still a bit of a caring element. Optimus' voice was odd in this way, able to convey much with its tone to be somehow commanding, yet reassuring at the same time. This question was very important though, and he didn’t want Smokescreen to not put thought behind a reply.

This reply could equate to small minor requests, or it could reveal huge glaring flaws that would need to be worked around. Smokescreen would, either way, be given plenty of time to debate over this question.

[Deleted]

Smokescreen was relieved that his request was taken seriously. He wanted to be out there, proving himself in battle, proving himself to Prime. But, if he couldn't trust himself out in the field, he'd be no help to anyone, his teammates or Prime. This was better. He let his shoulders fall in relief. He was grateful that his request had been taken seriously, that Prime had listened to him and taken in his concerns into account.

It was because of this, when Optimus asked if there was more, that Smokescreen gave the question some thought before he decided that the Prime could be trusted with the heavy burden the young Autobot was struggling to keep his head above. If anything...the fate of the other prisoners deserved to be recognized. Not remain an unsolved mystery for their comrades. His mission to escape the Avengeance would not be complete until he finished this one last task.

"Optimus," he began tiredly. "The Avengeance. The prison ship. It could hold a total of one hundred and fifty prisoners at full capacity. And it did, all that and more. Mostly Autobots but a few neutrals. When they couldn't find energon, the Decepticons used us, the prisoners. Harvested us for spare parts and fuel." His fists clenched as his voice grew bitter. "I couldn't save anyone. I had to listen while they tore us apart. By the time I got out-" his optics returned to the Prime's face and he gave a small, dismissive shrug. "There wasn't much left. Nothing to identify any of the bodies. I never knew who the others were. Didn't really get a chance to, everyone else being in stasis. No survivors. Just me."

There was something hollow and vacant in the way Smokescreen spoke. Resigned acceptance, that this was what his world had been reduced to and yet beneath it shimmered repressed feeling. An unstable cocktail of emotion that had taken root deep within. The young Autobot was trying so desperately to hold onto his training and behave like the soldier he was supposed to be. But his training had been inadequate in this regard, had failed to prepare him for the truly dark and dirty side of war.

Smokescreen vented roughly, giving himself another shake. His servos trembled before he forcefully calmed himself. The mission was over. He'd reported to his commanding officer. It was over. It was done.

If only he could make himself believe that.

[Optimus Prime]

There were a few things Optimus could have guessed may be said, but the Avengeance? Was definitely not what he had anticipated. The mention of the prison ship pulled his attention sharply forward. True, he had been listening before, but he always had side calculations going on, trying to anticipate, trying to figure out a course of action, but no... With the mention of that ship? Everything else was shoved aside, and his focus latched down abruptly.

He had known of some of the prison ships out there, this particular one having been listed, but they were always out of his capabilities to do anything about. To try to send forces to infiltrate and free the captives? It would have ended with massive losses of soldiers and resources with no guarantee of success. It is because of this? He had to make the nauseating call to not send out such teams that would have been led to their deaths. It was a tactical decision in war, statistically sound, and any in his position with the numbers on hand would have been forced to follow the same conclusion... but that didn’t make it any easier.

He always wanted to know what happened, he hoped something would occur to assist those that fell into the Decepticon clutches... Perhaps a side group such as the Wreckers taking it upon themselves... but the reports faded away... leaving just a open wound with no closure. But now? Now he was getting it, and it was not what he wanted to hear.

One hundred and fifty prisoners trapped in such a place.

One hundred and fifty Cybertronian.

One hundred and fifty.

The words almost echoed in his processor, as the corners of his mouth tightened in a restrained grimace he didn’t permit to form fully. But as upsetting as it was to hear how many prisoners had been captured? What followed hit him a lot harder. The Decepticons were ripping his people apart, harvesting their mechanics and Energon at their leisure. It was excessively cruel, and he had to wonder why they wouldn't just... kill... the Autobots on board, and then harvest when the time rolled around. As even in stasis? They had to use minimal Energon... To leave them alive? It was just torture for the cruel and twisted sake of torture.

This explained why MECH was a sore spot for Smokescreen instantly, as this soldier had to endure knowing what was going on. KNOWING that Decepticons were cannibalizing them and that at any given moment? They could be next in line to be slaughtered. Next to be pulled apart.

No survivors...

One hundred and fifty...

Optimus pulled himself back from his thoughts abruptly. He could sift through this information on the side, or even hold off until later. For now? His primary focus had to be on Smokescreen, and trying to assist in any way to get him stable in this new environment. It is because of this, once he had finished speaking? Optimus reached his hand forward to plant it lightly upon the smaller Autobot's shoulder in a reassuring motion.

"The past, cannot be changed, all we can do is look upon future goals."

If looked at analytically? His words alone could seem dismissive and cold. However, with the tone in which he stated them? And the solemn look in his optics? It was apparent it was a far deeper sentiment laced with his own experiences. While he had never undergone a scenario like Smokescreen, and could never fully empathize on the same level? He had his own demons in his past he had to try to get over. A new one was added tonight! The guilt of not going to help the prisoners!

...joy

After he stated this, his arm pulled back, and he rose back to his full height. There was a shift in his stance a moment later, before his helm turned and subsequently the rest of his frame rotated around, permitting him to face the doorway so he could take a few steps. It almost appeared as if he was closing off this meeting abruptly, but then he spoke.

"I believe you no longer need-" want "-to be within this area. Follow me."

Optimus would start to depart, but would pause near the doorway to make sure Smokescreen was following.

[Deleted]

Smokescreen hadn't been certain what Optimus's response was gonna say. Part of the mech had been expecting blame because no matter how much he knew, intellectually speaking, that he was not responsible for what had happened aboard the Avengeance nor there was anything more he could have done, he still felt guilty that his best had not been enough.

So, Prime's words? They were a relief, echoing the thoughts he'd been giving himself. Smokescreen couldn't change the past and he couldn't get caught up wondering if there was more that he could have done. It would help no one and accomplish nothing. The servo on his shoulder reinforced that conviction. Prime wasn't disappointed in him and right now, Smokescreen seized upon this with relief. That was all that was important at this moment. That was all he could handle.

"Thanks you, Prime," he said hoarsely. Smokescreen followed the big mech when prompted to, with something akin to relief. He didn't really want to be in the med-bay anymore.

"Where are we going?"

[Optimus Prime]

Once Optimus was sure that Smokescreen was following, and not protesting leaving the Medical Bay, his helm turned back about to peer ahead of him. He stepped out into the hallway, and immediately hooked a left to begin down the corridor, each footfall creating a faint echo of sound to bounce across the concrete and metal. He would no longer peer over his shoulder or pause to make sure the soldier was following. If Smokescreen were to depart off course? He would be able to tell simply by footfalls alone. However he didn’t think any of it would be necessary. With how eagerly Smokescreen saluted? He was willing to bet he would remain on course and not wonder off.

The Prime did not immediately reply to the question at hand, but instead thought about where exactly he was taking the other mech. Oh no, he knew WHAT his goal was, he knew what the outcome would be, but he just had to check a few memories to recall what areas were still open. It was after he did some rooting around he came to a conclusion, continuing down the hall.

"You will require a place to call your own."

Optimus finally replied to the question after those few passing moments, following the curve of the hallway that would lead them to the main hanger if they were to follow it to its end. Soon there was a branch off of the path, a bit smaller than the expansive primary corridor in width and height. The moment Optimus turned down it, the lights flickered online, no one having been through it recently. On either side were multiple doorways, each with a rough keypad of sorts cobbled together with mismatches of machinery.

"Allotted space is restricted, so we must make do with what we have."

It was a sideways method to preemptively warn Smokescreen that while he was getting his own quarters? It really wasn't anything to be too excited about. They all had to accommodate to the meager room the Omega Base provided. Humans thought it was immense, to them? This base was. With his colossal hallways and huge open rooms. However to their kind? It just felt... tiny... in a lot of areas, even more so for the mech that were particularly tall like Optimus himself. It made housing the influx of occupants a bit of a challenge.

After a short bit down the hallway, he stopped, and turned about face in front of one of the doorways. His internal records told him this one was unoccupied, and appropriate for one of Smokescreen's frame size. Some Mech simply HAD to have larger areas to accommodate them, and they had to puzzle everyone together so a tank didn’t end up stuck in a room more fit for a two wheeler.

Optimus reached forth, and pressed the primary open button. If it was coded to someone? If he had made a mistake? It would not open as the correct code had not been put in. Instead? The doorway slid aside with a hiss to reveal the room. The Prime simply moved to the side, not entering in since it wasn't 'his'.

"The lock should be standard, and able to be coded to preference. If issues are had, Red Alert is in charge of security and can handle such things."

Blue optics pulled away from the cobbled together lock, to look over at Smokescreen once more. His arms? Had lowered down to his sides while he had traversed the hallways, though now pulled back to rest loosely folded at his lower back. It was almost habit in a way, it keeping his stance almost formal forcibly, despite the fact he would have remained as such with or without the action.

"Integration is your top priority."

Normally he would be looking for skills that the new soldiers can do, to try to get them a task as soon as possible. With their limited numbers? Getting new help is a boon, and often within the first couple days individuals would already be sent out to scout, or sent to perform repairs or work around the base However? With the fact Smokescreen escaped a prison ship? His priority would be simply to stabilize and try to interact with others to mesh into a social situation once more.

There was more to it than that though...

Optimus would make sure Red Alert was aware of this new recruits past. If anyone could pick up on a potential dangerous situation? It would be that highly attentive individual. He wanted to be sure this wasn't something like Fortress Maximus where there were some violent triggers that could cause issues if not handled properly. He needed to know if Smokescreen was stable, without outright letting it be known he was under scrutiny.

[Deleted]

Free from the depressing atmosphere of the medbay, Smokescreen followed Prime with wide optics. His worldly experiences were limited. From his training in the Elite Guard, being posted to Iacon, then being pulled out of the rubble only to be captured later and then waking up aboard the Avengeance...he'd lived in short bursts only. Brief moments of being awake and actually mobile.

So his head swivelled round curiously, noting every little mundane item that made up the Omega base. It didn't resemble anything he recalled seeing back on Cybertron. It also helped distract him thoroughly from his dark thoughts and he was feeling more like himself. A human sized door. The piping up above him. Between trying to keep an optic on everything and an optic to keep track of Prime -Prime! He was never going to get tired of saying that- Smokescreen's head was constantly bobbing back and forth as he trotted after the big mech, right on his heels.

Was that...was that...fans! A ventilation system. That's what he was hearing.

"You will require a place to call your own."

Smokescreen almost stumbled to a stop. A place of his.. A place of his own? For a long moment he dumbly regarded this as he trotted after Optimus. What would he do with...? Oh. Oh yeah. Memory dimly clicked, his Elite Guard days. Sharing dorms and then eventually gaining his own quarters as he'd advanced through training. It had been so long ago, almost another lifetime ago, that the idea of having his own space again was kinda novel.

They took a turn down a new corridor, lights flickering on at their approach. Doors on either side of this new corridor at regular intervals hinted that they were living quarters.

"Allotted space is restricted, so we must make do with what we have."

The young Autobot gave an awkward laugh. "I'm sure it'll be fine, Prime," he assured Optimus. No, really, he'd take whatever he could get. Anything would be better than a containment pod.

Prime drew to a halt in front of a door and keyed it open. Eagerly, Smokescreen poked his head in the door frame, past Optimus. It didn't look small to him. There was enough space for a berth and for a bot to pace around and it was more than enough. A smile was already growing on Smokescreen's face as he listened to Prime's instructions.

"This is great. Thank you sir!" he breathed, pulling his head back to look at his commanding officer. "No, seriously, this is more than enough space. I -uh. Seem to have a thing about getting stuck in stasis pods. Not just aboard the Avengeance!" his grin faltered for a moment then he pushed on past and sheepishly added, "Even back on Cybertron. I got buried in a stasis pod in the rubble back when Iacon fell."

Smokescreen was caught between his desire to go and explore his new space or stick around by the doorframe near Prime. He rocked back on his heels and settled by the door. The room wasn't going anywhere. Prime was.