[ti]Ep 3[/ti]No Good Deed… [Closed]

[Starscream]

Episode 3 | Week 4 | Day 1
Early Morning
-

Starscream couldn’t help but smile as he peered down at a datapad. A single, taloned digit scrolled absently down its surface as he scanned the Cybertronian text in silence.

The past week had been lucrative indeed, what with the return of Skywarp to their ranks, and a few more pieces of Megatron’s precious weapon located and now within their holds. While the latter was advantageous for his own self-interests more so than their absent Warlord’s, it wasn’t why he was in an uncharacteristically good mood.

It was yesterday that was the pinnacle of their good fortune, and the reason he’d been smiling since.

Plans that’d been months in the making had come to fruition at long last, resulting in the successful capture of an Autobot, and a valuable one at that. While the other faction still had Ratchet among their ranks, by all accounts - and they were first hand, at that - he was in no place to be doing much of anything in regards to medical aid.

Patch was crucial to the Autobots, more so now than ever before; as a team without a medic were in simply no position to argue or take risks, and Windshield had done well indeed in his role of luring her out. While only a select few among the Decepticon ranks knew of Patch’s existence - something that would not change unless something drastic happened - the acting CMO would be critical for their plans in the coming days.

Of course, while she was a little worse for wear, Flatline had done well in getting her stable. Impressive work, considering her initial state - for a moment there he assumed her lost, which would’ve been… unfortunate.

While he had plans to go and speak with the prisoner now that things had hopefully settled some, for now he found himself at his desk, taking a moment to read through some of the more in-depth reports the infiltrator had given them.

The room itself was quiet, save for the ambient hum of various pieces of machinery within Blackridge Hold. A noise that was familiar to them all, to the point it was probably mostly ignored. The desk at which the Seeker sat was far tidier than previous weeks - while it was still littered with datapads, the strange looking arms were absent from its surface, as were the various Energon cubes.

He had not yet gone to retrieve his ration for the day, opting instead to start his day with work.

[Thundercracker]

They said if one was to walk into the den of the devourer, one best have an offering to gain the monster’s good graces and keep them from destroying you. Though in Thundercracker’s case, he figured he had already been destroyed by Starscream so long ago...

The rumor going around the base was that the former Winglord was happy. Thundercracker had been quite surprised when he heard it, thinking it was quite improbable for Starscream to be happy before he settled on the idea that Starscream was probably just really pleased with himself for the moment, but that one day it would vanish like a puff of smoke and his former trinemate would just go back to being the scheming, unsatisfied glitch that he had become.

That meant Thundercracker had to move fast in order to get what he wanted.

Because when Starscream had lost his loyalty, Thundercracker had shifted his loyalty to someone else.

As he moved through the hallway he kept the energon cube tucked away under his arm, not necessarily trying to hide it but rather to avoid advertising what he was carrying. He wasn’t worried about anyone stopping him, but the less questions asked about this was probably for the best.

He came to the outer door of Starscream’s little office, took a deep intake then pounded on the door twice.

“Starscream. It’s me. We need to talk.”

Into the den of the devourer was putting it mildly.

[Starscream]

The silence and relative calm were abruptly cut into by two heavy knocks.

While the silver Seeker did not jump at the noise, being unfortunately used to such interruptions - the uncharacteristic smile shifted into a gentle frown as he turned his gaze from the datapad to the door itself. A frown that deepened upon hearing just who it was on the other side.

Thundercracker.

The last time he and his brother had been in this room it’d turned south relatively quickly. With Skywarp back among their ranks, at least one accusation by Thundercracker had been proven false, and while they had maintained some distance since their Trinemate’s arrival? Clearly something was worth bringing up at this hour that for some could be considered far, far too early.

Venting out a gentle sigh, he carefully set the datapad down - though made no motions of turning it off. The information it held on its screen was not important; estimated numbers of the Autobots, should Thundercracker happen to notice it.

He did not move further, not rising into a stand, nor leaning back further in his chair. His wings remained in a neutral, comfortable position - and the frown that’d graced his features had relaxed into a look of familiar indifference. Both servos settled on the desk itself, one claw tap-tapping absently.

For a moment, he wondered just what this could be about. Thundercracker would probably not be too thrilled by the news of an Autobot prisoner, though there was absolutely no way he could’ve known about such things. Flatline was sworn to secrecy, Windshield knew better than to talk, the various troopers that’d been involved… well, they weren’t that foolish.

Soundwave? Never in a million years.

He’d let the silence linger a few seconds - not enough to be rude by any means, though any longer and he was certain his brother would find issue with it.

Another sigh, before he spoke - his voice just loud enough to be heard.

“Come in, Thundercracker.”

[Thundercracker]

There was a long silence before he heard anything. Starscream was probably shifting around top secret documents or something to make sure vital information wasn’t seen by those who didn’t need to know. At least, that is what Thundercracker hoped deep down. He knew he hadn’t been exactly fair to Starscream earlier, so it might be that the silver seeker was debating letting him in or not...

So when he was let in after those few moments, Thundercracker breathed a sigh of relief and quietly entered the room, making sure to shut the door behind him.

“Heard you were up late...” Thundercracker began before walking up to the desk, optics not leaving Starscream as he did so. Once he was there he would pause, then set the energon cube down on the desk for Starscream and take a few steps back towards the wall.

“...and you know Warp would cry for a month if you offlined yourself by not fueling up when you needed it.” He finished, leaning the back of his chassis up against the wall and folding his arms across his chest, his wings hiked up slightly in a nervous position that betrayed the anxious feeling in his spark. Not that he was afraid of being in the same room as Starscream, far from it.

No, this was about the errand he was on.

He was worried that this would go the same way that it had gone last time he had tried to take those arms from Starscream.

[Starscream]

“Did you now?”

The question was paired with a quiet hum as his attention settled on the other mech as he made his way into the room. Even despite their differences, Thundercracker knew him well even now - and was no doubt familiar with his various patterns and routines which had barely changed in all these years. Old habits died hard after all, and Starscream had never been one for sleeping. Feeling it to be a waste of time, he got enough rest to keep himself going and to avoid any incessant nagging from their CMO, but he was never down for very long.

He had far, far too much to do.

Assuming that Thundercracker was merely referencing those old familiarities, he would not question further, nor dwell on his words. Despite the events of yesterday going very well indeed, the silver Seeker had kept mostly to himself the evening prior. Plans had been put in motion, and they had the upper hand.

He intended to keep it that way.

His optics followed the other Seeker as he moved forward, watching with mild interest almost as the energon cube was gently sat down. His lip twitched ever so slightly at the gesture, even if a smile did not fully form. It was as Thundercracker moved toward the wall that he eased back some in the chair - though no immediate motions were made to take the offered ration.

A gentle chuckle escaped him at the words spoken, shaking his helm.

“That he would. Though I assume that is not the reason you are here - and so early at that.”

Nobody brought good news at this hour, and while nothing seemed to be outwardly bothering Thundercracker, he was obviously here for a reason.

[Thundercracker]

He’d almost forgotten how good Starscream was at seeing through obvious bullscrap.

Almost.

Thundercracker let out a gentle, almost amused chuckle at Starscream’s words before staring down at the floor and shaking his head as a small smile crept his faceplate. Suddenly it felt much like old times back in Vos before the universe had been turned on its head. “Can’t bullscrap a professional bullscrapper, can ya?” Thundercracker said softly before looking up at Starscream with that smile before it faded away and Thundercracker turned serious again.

“Do you know what became of me after I left you and Skywarp?” Thundercracker began simply, inclining his head to look back down at the ground as if he was trying to avoid painful memories from appearing all over again. “I went to a front line unit, whose main job was to provide close air support for the poor grunts that were in the trenches. Even though it wasn’t where Megatron and Prime were squaring off, anti-flyer fire was still quite thick. Many of us never came back, some of us never made it past the first mission.”

There was a pause before the blue mech continued.

“Fortunately for us, Primus in his infinite mercy saw fit to provide those who managed to limp back to base after the day’s sorties a damn fine medical officer. Sure he was old and crotchety, but he worked his damn hardest to patch up whoever came across his table. He didn’t save everyone, but he saved those he could given the circumstances.”

Thundercracker looked up again after speaking, letting that information hang in the air before revealing the point to all of this.

“I owe him my life.”

[Starscream]

It was at Thundercracker’s words that the silver Seeker finally smiled. It was weak, tired almost - but it was there, if only for a moment. A glimpse into how things had once been, a reminder of how much things had changed.

“Mm, no - you can’t.”

As the other Seeker turned serious, gaze dropping to the floor, it was then that Starscream leaned forward to carefully pluck the energon cube up as he once again eased back in the chair. Idly swirling the contents of the cube, he listened as Thundercracker spoke.

He wouldn’t answer the question that’d been asked with a verbal response, though would shake his helm. He didn’t know where Thundercracker had gone once he’d abandoned both Skywarp and himself, though with everything going on at the time it wasn’t as if he could really stop and think about such things. In rare moments of quiet, he had dwelled over the betrayal, of course he had, even up until recent days when the other Seeker had returned he had found himself wondering what’d become of him.

Though that was about as far as his thoughts had gone. Thundercracker had made his choice, and as long as the other mech was still alive wherever he was, that’s all that mattered in the end.

Peering into the energon for a moment, it was then he took a sip. He let the silence linger for a moment as he thought, looking over and across at the other mech.

He did not know the medic of which Thundercracker spoke of, nor did he have knowledge of the particular group he had been with. While he oversaw many units, - especially those in air support - the one that his brother had been assigned to had nothing to do with him, something that’d no doubt been arranged by the other Seeker upon his departure.

This was evidently leading to something, though he still was unsure as to exactly what.

“What does that have to do with me?”

[Thundercracker]

So...Starscream hadn’t put the pieces together yet.

Thundercracker let his gaze settle on his former trine mate and brother, not speaking for a long moment as well. Should beat around the bush, try to let Starscream come to the correct answer himself. No, if this was to have the effect and the outcome that Thundercracker wanted, he didn’t have time to try and spoon feed clues and information to the former scientist/Winglord of Vos.

“It wouldn’t have had anything to do with you Starscream...”

Thundercracker slowly straightened upright from his leaning position on the wall, his wings hiking up as the feelings of anger and indignation came back at having seen Flatline's arms on Starscream’s desk like a damn trophy.

“...but you decided to remove Flatline’s arms as a ‘punishment’.”

That had been Starscream’s stated reason for the removal of Flatline's two extra arms. However, deep down Thundercracker suspected that it had either been Starscream attempting to cover his own aft in front of Megatron, or he had fallen further than Thundercracker had thought possible. He remembered all too well the look on the former Winglord’s face after Megatron had removed the voice box from that Autobot scout...

“I owe Flatline my spark multiple times over. I’m here to get his arms back from you, Starscream.”

[Starscream]

The single sip of Energon would be all that was taken for now, the silver Seeker setting the cube down onto his desk once more as Thundercracker spoke. He would not interject as the other Seeker explained a little more, though would lean back just slightly on the chair as his wings shifted some behind himself.

“Those arms are not yours to gift back!” he grumbled this, shaking his helm as his red optics narrowed, staring up at Thundercracker as he moved.

“Do you know why I removed them to begin with? Considering what Megatron or anyone else would’ve done in response to what Flatline did, he got let off easy!”

Should Thundercracker feel indebted to Flatline, that was his own burden to bear. He’d had plenty of time to find some way of thanking him, and this gift of ‘convenience’ would not be granted so easily.

Especially as the arms were currently nowhere in sight.

[Thundercracker]

So, Starscream wasn’t going to just hand the arms back over.

That was fine.

“It doesn’t matter to me what reason you had for removing them, Starscream.” Thundercracker replied quietly as he stepped forward towards the other seeker’s desk. Eventually, he would be directly across from Starscream, keeping the desk between the two of them. With deliberate motion, Thundercracker set both his servos on the desk, palms flat against the material and leaned forward, keeping his voice even and low.

“What matters to me is what you’ve become, Starscream.”

No amount of bluster was going to break through to the silver seekers spark, no matter how righteous the indignation was.

“You say that the punishment was much less than what Megatron would have done. Is that really who you want to be like, Starscream?”

He made sure to use the silver seekers name, and made damn sure not to raise his voice at all.

“Megatron is not loved, he is feared. Is that what you really want, Starscream? To be feared and never loved?”

[Starscream]

“Why? Afraid to learn that it may have been justified?”

His words were just as quiet as Thundercracker’s, though they were paired with a tell-tale twitch of irritation from his wings. He did not move as his brother did, remaining seated as he watched the other Seeker lean on the desk itself. Tilting his helm upward, his optics would not break from those of the other mech.

A gentle tsk escaped him at Thundercracker’s next words. Another twitch of a wing, he shifted just slightly on the chair, easing a little more upright compared to the almost relaxed posture from earlier - though his gaze did not break nor falter.

“That’s rich, considering you all but abandoned Skywarp and I. You do not know what I’ve become, given you haven’t been around to see it first hand!”

One servo curled into a fist at this, lowering onto the desk - though not with enough force to be considered a smack, or even a sign of aggression.

Thundercracker had no right to speak of such things, he had not been there to see how Starscream had taken the Decepticons and led them when Megatron had abandoned them for his own gains. From seeking Dark Energon shortly after their arrival to this planet, to searching for his precious Hymn pieces when the Nemesis had been lost - and now. It’d been Starscream who had controlled things, pulled them up from practically nothing, and moved forward - leading them to the here and now at Blackridge Hold.

Thundercracker was clinging to the past - a past that’d long since been and gone. Yet here he was acting as if they were right back in that moment before he’d left. While some things were probably the same, far more things had changed.

At the mention of Megatron, that fist that’d settled gently onto the desk would lift, slamming down as he pushed himself up into a sudden stand. The Energon in the cube would slosh, though not quite to the point of spilling. Wings flaring behind himself, Starscream stared up at his brother, optics narrowed.

“I showed compassion when I could’ve taken his very spark! Megatron would’ve taken his life without hesitation for what he did, and should he return I am sure I will end up paying for this kindness.” his own voice was rising some, though at the question he would pause. For a moment, and it was a quick one at that, his optics would shift from those of the other mech.

Then, he would look back.

“As for what I want-” he started, growling as both servos splayed on the desk - a deep invent taken as he refound his composure, wings pulling in tight, before moving to be at rest.

“Love? A pathetic concept! I want neither - I want respect - and should you have been around to have half a clue what was going on you would know this! You cannot return after so long and expect things to be the same as they once were, Thundercracker!”

[Thundercracker]

“Nothing Flatline could have done would justify having his arms removed and kept as a trophy.” Thundercracker said after a long moment, taking special care to keep his voice even and low despite the anger that was boiling in his spark, causing his wings to raise up in irritation at Starcream’s stubbornness despite his best efforts to keep his emotions under control.

“So is that what this is about? You turned into a monster because I left you and Skywarp?”

Thundercracker kept his gaze focused on Starscream but watched that servo that had turned into a fist on the desk, remembering how effective Starscream could be with those claws. “I might not have been there to witness it for myself, but I heard plenty of testimonials about what you have become.” he replied.

The second that fist slammed down into the table, Thundercracker tensed visibly as Starscream spoke, ready for an onslaught that never came. He relaxed slightly when it was clear to him that Starscream had no intention of physically attacking him, just keeping up the verbal tirade. So Thundercracker remained quiet until Starscream finished talking, though his dentia ground together silently at Starscream continued justification of how Megatron was worse.

“Respect, Starscream?” he said quietly once the silver mech had finished speaking. “If that’s what you want, then you’re going about it all wrong. You honestly think anybody here really respects Megatron besides Soundwave? No, because he terrifies everyone like the sadistic tyrant he is! And anyone who doesn’t admit that is either delusional or a liar!” Despite his best efforts Thundercracker couldn’t help but raise his voice as he continued to hold Starscream’s gaze, but after he spoke he calmed himself down a bit, allowing his wings to droop into a more relaxed posture.

“Look...I know things can’t be what they were. Our home is gone, so are many of our friends...but...”

He looked down at the desk for a moment, then back up to Starscream.

“...but you don’t have to be the bad guy, Starscream.”

[Starscream]

“A trophy?!”

He squawked this almost, pushing himself up into a stand as one servo gestured to the room, though his narrowed optics did not leave Thundercracker.

“Do you see them on display for all to see? Were they out in the open hanging above my door upon your arrival to Blackridge Hold?!” he grit his denta as he spoke, trying to keep his cool despite the almost ridiculous accusation.

“He cost us the Nemesis because of his own pettiness! Lost us everything we had worked toward here on this planet to the point we had to practically start over! If it weren’t for Pyrotech and I, we would have NOTHING!”

Shaking his helm, his wings flared at the last word, twitching in a display of irritation. He listened as his brother spoke, listened to the word he used.

“A monster? A monster, Thundercracker? Seeking recognition and a position that I am worthy of is hardly befitting of the word.” his voice lowered. “I am no monster. If you think I fell to pieces after you abandoned us, you are mistaken.”

He had. At first, anyway - just as he had when Jetfire had done the same. But there had been no point lamenting on what was lost and so he had been quick to busy himself with whatever work needed to be done. Thundercracker could make his own decisions and choices, and it spoke volumes that he deserted them with such callousness.

The fact that Thundercracker was so willing to listen to testimonial from others and accept it as fact was frustrating in itself, and it was then that the silver Seeker stared down at his desk, almost as if momentarily lost for words.

“I did what I had to for the Decepticon cause. If you were around, you would’ve known that. If you cared, you would’ve been here to see that.” his voice softened considerably as he turned his attention back to the other Seeker.

He’d done a lot of awful things. Things that benefitted only himself at times, admittedly - but who hadn’t in this war. It was fight, or be forgotten amidst a sea of others clamoring for his position - others who were willing to do almost anything to take it. 

“You cannot accuse me of being a monster, when you were only looking out for yourself as well. Skywarp may not know of the finer details, but I do.”

Oh yes, he had learned well after the fact that Thundercracker had sought out Megatron himself for a different assignment back then. It was not by random, convenient chance that he had been moved, no. He had wanted it.

He tsk’d at the mention of the word respect, claws scraping gently against the surface of the desk.

“You think me giving Flatline’s arms back - or, letting you give them back - will earn me the respect I supposedly crave? Have you not been paying attention to how this works, Thundercracker?” he snarled this.

Even despite taking charge of the Decepticons for a third time, and saving them from the fall of the Nemesis and the terrible loss that'd come with that, those that blindly followed Megatron vastly outnumbered those that didn’t. Even if the Warlord perished he was certain things would not change.

[Thundercracker]

Looking around, Thundercracker realized he misspoke. Sure, the arms might have been on Starscream’s desk previously, but now they were definitely nowhere to be seen. He remained quiet as Starscream's verbal tirade continued on, only speaking once Starscream finished explaining how Flatline cost them the Nemesis.

“Fine, you didn’t keep them as a trophy! But you still went too far, Starscream!”

So that was it. Ever since he’d known Starscream, the silver seeker had been obsessed with ‘claiming his just rewards’. He could never go without praise and recognition, and if he didn’t get what he thought he deserved he would be miserable to deal with for at least a century.

But as Thundercracker listened, he couldn’t help but feel only pity for the other seeker. His expressions softened somewhat and his wings came down from their hiked up position.

“I never said anything about me giving them back. I was hoping that you would do it yourself.”

Thundercracker let out an intake of air he had been holding, his wings drooping further and further downward before he turned towards the door.

“I guess I was mistaken after all. Keep the energon.” he said quietly.

[Starscream]

“Too far?” he growled, “Ending his very life would’ve been too far!”

He wasn’t sure what Thundercracker even wanted from him. The punishment had been just, and quite honestly fair considering the severity of what the other mech had done. It had not hindered Flatline from working, nor had it stopped him from living. He had not denied him medical aid after the fact, nor had it been brought up again as it’d been considered over and done with. The medic had killed countless of their own due to his actions, costing them the Nemesis and countless irreplaceable items and equipment.

He’d been let off lightly.

Gawking some at his brother as he spoke, he tsk’d as he shook his helm.

“What?! One of the very first things you said upon entering the room was that you were here to take them from me! Just what is it that you want from me here?!”

His expression and tone were ones of confusion. Just what was Thundercracker’s plan here? Soften him up with the kind act of bringing him a ration before slamming him for things that’d been over for months now because he couldn’t think of a way to repay the medic for things done back on Cybertron? It certainly seemed to be the case. 

In an opposite motion to the other Seeker, Starscream’s wings hiked up as the other mech turned. Pushing off into a walk, he aimed to cut Thundercracker off - blocking the doorway so he could not simply leave, at least not without going through him first.

“For what it’s worth, Thundercracker-” he hissed the name, “-they are with Knock Out getting repaired after our last altercation so that I can return them in one piece. Maybe I’ve changed more than you realize or care to admit.”

Thundercracker was blind and foolish. Clinging to a past that everyone but him had seemingly moved on from, and there was no way the silver Seeker was allowing him to simply walk away without acknowledging this fact.