Chapter Text
The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, the crosswinds non-existent, the airspace clear, and Starscream was on supply delivery duty.
Again.
Irritation seeped into his trine bond as he complained to the only ones in hundreds of miles who were around to listen.
::Why does Prime not understand that seekers are constructed for fighting and acrobatics, not cross-ocean delivery duty?::
While Knockout and Sunstreaker took pride in their polish, they could never fully compete with the superiority of a flight frame. Starscream tilted in the wind to demonstrate his sleek wings and crisp paint. The sunlight glinted beautifully off of it, one of the only tolerable things about this planet.
::What about this screams delivery bot? Prime's a truck. He's literally made to deliver.::
::He can fly? But he's a truck, though? I didn't think they could fly?:: asked Skywarp, broadcasting confusion.
:: He's also the Prime:: said Thundercracker in a slightly chiding tone that made Starscream bristle.
::Are you saying that he can fly because he's a Prime?::
::No, he cannot suddenly fly!:: Starscream snapped. If he were in root mode, he'd roll his optics. In the air, he settled for an annoyed wiggle of his wings. ::But they are made for delivery. We are Seekers. Noble war machines. A truck is beneath us.::
::Especially when we're in the air:: Skywarp added. ::Then the truck is indeed beneath us. ... Get it?::
Starscream fought the urge to howl in frustration. ::How of all the Seeker trines in the galaxy did I get stuck with you two morons?::
::Just lucky, I guess!:: Skywarp replied cheerfully.
::And because you would have gotten yourself killed without us:: added Thundercracker.
Starscream chose not to justify that remark. Instead, he turned his valid complaints towards a different source. ::Even if Prime didn't know better, Megatron did. The audacity of Megatron to even agree to such a request. The Lord High Commander should know my worth as Winglord!::
::Did you ever consider that he agreed because you are Winglord and the most capable?:: asked Thundercracker.
::Of course, I'm the most capable. But that doesn't mean I need to do the work. There are other flight types and other seekers.::
::This is important work, delivering this kind of supplies, though:: Thundercracker pointed out. ::And the area is an island, so it's not like Optimus could go himself. They likely asked us because they knew we could see it through.::
:: That's not the point! The point is that with our ranks, we should be allowed some delegation!:: Starscream insisted. ::Time to relax and unwind a bit. Or maybe do other more engaging work like hunting down MECH::
::DO we have any idea where MECH is so we can hunt them down?:: Skywarp asked curiously.
::Again, NOT the point!::
Skywarp playfully wiggled his wings. ::Think we're going to see any fleshies?:: He never could keep focused for long.
::Unfortunately.::
:: They'll be there to collect the supplies once we unload.:: explained Thundercracker.
::And do nothing else:: snipped Starscream. :: You'd assume they could demonstrate some proper gratitude for our aid. A cleaned off runway. Coolant. Tools, if we need to adjust things.::
And what had they gotten so far? Scrap! Scrap and that disgusting excuse for fuel that humans used to power their vehicles instead of energon. Sometimes other planes were even coming in, hogging precious space and forcing the trine to remain airborne until the runway was cleared.
::It might not be their fault,:: Thundercracker pointed out. ::They are in crisis. They don't have resources-::
::And we're bringing those resources! Is it too much to ask for something to at least clean ourselves with when we arrive?::
:Bu–::
Before Skywarp could finish his likely idiotic comment, Starscream hit his thrusters, blasting forward for half a mile to burn off frustration. He swooped through the air, demonstrating his supreme skill. This was what he ought to be doing.
Starscream fired a few rounds of his null rays, relishing the heat and power they brought. Sky superiority, that's what Seekers offered. Not delivering supplies to pathetic aliens like a commoner.
However, his solitude didn't last long. A loud ZWAP, and then Skywarp teleported directly in front of him. Starscream screeched as he dived to avoid hitting his trine member. :: Don't teleport in front of me! How many times do I have to say that? Do you want to crash?::
::You left us behind:: pouted Skywarp. ::I just wanted you to slow down so TC could catch up.::
::Maybe I wanted the solitude, did you consider that?:: But Starscream did ease up on his speed, long enough for Thundercracker to catch up and slip back into trine position.
They flew on in silence, but it didn't improve Starscream's mood. Far below, waves rippled across the Pacific Ocean. It was disgusting. Why any creature would choose to dwell on a planet with so much rust-inducing liquid was beyond him. Even worse was to settle on a tiny patch of land surrounded by it. Yet that was where they were soaring towards.
Japan had been one of the most organized post-apocalyptic governments and proved willing to distribute aid to the inhabitants of their island and those surrounding it. The land mass also served as a convenient landing point. As such, they proved a critical ally to the Autobots. These reasons had been, unfortunately, explained to Starscream over and over, as though he weren't a brilliant scientist and politician capable of grasping the simplest concepts.
As the shore came into view, Starscream's mood continued to sour. The base they were to land at was not far away, but he didn't have high expectations that these organic aliens would prove themselves more capable than in the past. He paid no attention to the crumpled, destroyed cities or the tiny specks of humans pointing at the sky. All of it was beneath him.
::I think it's just ahead.:: Thundercracker noted, his field radiating with some excitement.
Primus help him, Thundercracker was excited to see these weird, squishy fleshies. Nevermind that the conditions were going to be awful, the runway-
Starscream nearly screeched to a halt when he realized that he was looking down a clear runway. In fact, it had been powerwashed before their arrival. He could see the water reflecting the sun as they approached.
Hmph. It was about time the humans started giving them a proper welcome!
::Initiate landing formation:: he ordered his trine, and they began to descend.
They landed with the grace befitting the elite trine, Thundercracker and Skywarp flanking him. Reluctantly, Starscream noted that the newly cleaned asphalt felt good on his landing gear. Far better than he had thought humans capable of.
::This is nice:: Thundercracker remarked. He was always too easily impressed.
Still, it gave Starscream some hope. He had been submitting suggestions for improvement, and had so far seen very little. Perhaps they'd finally recognized the wisdom.
A human crew stood waiting as they landed, but maintained an appropriate distance. Their tiny optics widened as they took in Starscream and his trine's splendor.
::They're so small:: said Thundercracker.
::And squishy looking.:: added Skywarp, frame twitching like he wanted to transform and pick one up.
::Do not touch them.:: Starscream hissed, wings flaring at the thought of disgusting, organic oils smeared over his trine mate.
The humans looked up at them in awe, which only grew as Starscream shifted into his true mode and looked them all down. Little pests. He had seen scrap mice that were more impressive.
One of the humans stepped forward and dropped into a respectful bow. "We thank you for your assistance." Still in the bow, they added, "If you would honor us by unloading the cargo, we will ensure that it reaches its intended destination. Truly, we are grateful for the aid you have chosen to give our species."
Starscream had been against it. But nooooo, they were supposed to help these glitch mice. Help them rebuild this planet. Starscream didn't see the point. They couldn't be expected to give them a proper welcome, how were they supposed to rebuild a whole planet they broke-
"In the meantime, we have the supplies you requested." The small human gestured off to the side, where cans of coolant were waiting, polishing cloths were folded neatly, and there was even some oil for joint greasing.
Finally! It was about time they were shown some due deference!
Over the trine link, he gave a sharp nudge to transform. Skywarp eagerly engaged his t-cog, stretching his legs and bending over to stare at the fleshies.
Thundercracker placed a warning servo on Skywarp's back strut. ::Remember they're fragile.::
:: They'll also be a pain to clean out of your pede.::
Plus, there'd be an outcry from the humans, Prime would be upset, Megatron would drop pointed remarks, and Starscream would be lectured for not controlling his trine.
"Where do you need the supplies?" he said, striding forward. Skywarp's coolant levels could use a top off, and Thundercracker had a splotch on his armor that had been rattling Starscream the last 100 miles. The sooner they gave the humans what they wanted, the sooner they could indulge.
"Right here!" one of them said, smiling from ear to ear. "You have no idea what this means. Medicine, food, substances to clean our homes-"
"Yes, yes, all the basics you fleshies need," Starscream nodded, rolling his eyes. "Just show me where to put it so we can get this over with.
Meanwhile, Thundercracker was bending down to look at the humans more closely. A couple stepped closer, their awe and curiosity equal to Thundercracker's.
::Starscream, one has advanced optics and specs! Another has longer cranial hair, which means he has to have a fragile helm that requires a cushion!::
Skywarp held back a snort as he pointed to a bespectacled human and another with shoulder-length cranial hair.
::Yes, Thundercracker, exactly. You should tell that to Ratchet to inform him!::
Ignoring his trine, Starcream led by example and began unloading. First from the hidden compartments on his frame, and then his subspace. Thankfully, his trine followed suit.
As the pile of supplies increased, one of the humans' optics began to leak.
::Eww, it's dripping? Is it okay? Does it need a medic?::
::No, no those are tears!:: Thundercracker assured them. ::They make them when they are sad.::
::Why would they be sad? We're giving them what they need.::
::Maybe they caught some of Skywarp's exhaust. That would make anyone sad::
::HEY!::
Starscream continued to unload as one of the humans kept leaking from their optics, and another hugged him. All of this over some medicine and food? Humans were weird.
One by one, the humans dropped into deep bows. "Thank you," they said. "Your assistance will save many lives."
"No problem," said Skywarp with a sharp grin. "Does that mean we can crack open that coolant now?"
"Of course. We were requested to prepare these supplies for you."
"Frag, yes," cheered Skywarp, snatching a can of coolant.
Both he and Thundercracker went to the coolant while Starscream looked around. Clean runway, coolants...
Finally, someone was listening to his demands. It was about time.
"Hmph, it took you, humans, long enough to have something prepared for us in return for our efforts," Starscream remarked.
"Ah, that was the new coordinator," the crying human explained.
New? There was a new one? He had thought that the old one had suddenly learned competence. Maybe got a new upgrade?
"After you made the last one break down into tears, this new one took over. She's young, but she's efficient."
::You made them leak?:: asked Thundercracker. His field pressed disapproval.
::I didn't hit them or harm them in any way. I simply lodged reasonable complaints.::
Skywarp sniggered, and Starscream resisted the urge to smack him.
"Were the changes to your liking?" asked the human.
Starscream tilted his wings, "They were... acceptable."
"Good, I'm sure she'll be pleased-"
"There is always still room for improvement, of course," Starscream added. It wouldn't be good for the humans to grow complacent when they were only now demonstrating competence.
"Yes, we understand," the human assured him. "It's the least we can do for all the help you've given us today. You have given us hope again for our families. However, we can help, just tell us!"
With that, they began loading the supplies onto trollies and loading them into trucks, leaving the seekers to relax before their return flight. Starscream grabbed a polishing cloth and started rubbing at Thundercracker's armor, determined to remove the disgusting splotch before they left. It wasn't proper for one of his trine to look sloppy.
Thundercracker bent slightly to allow Starscream better access, but his optics remained fixed on the humans, his EM field filled with curiosity. ::Do you think they'd be cuddly? With that squishy frame, they'd seem nice to hug.::
Skywarp's wings perked. :: That's what they say about the human sparklings!::
::I keep asking to try hugging one, but they keep telling me no:: Thundercracker complained. ::Bumblebee keeps hogging the sparkling to himself, even though he's in his protoframe now.::
::You could practice on the humans, maybe, to be prepared for the sparklings?:: Skywarp suggested. ::So that way you don't squish or crush them.::
Thundercracker looked pleased at the idea while Starscream rolled his optics.
::You are both ridiculous. There is no point in admiring the sparklings in this squishy form. It is only once they are in their frames that they are cute to look at.::
::I don't know. They say the new human sparkling Wheel is really cute.:: said Skywarp with obvious longing.
Wheel. An embarrassment of a name.
::Go hug that sparkling if you're so desperate.::
Skywarp's wings drooped. ::I would, but Acid Storm said Ironhide is his guardian.::
Starscream and Thundercracker both paused, filled with a joint purpose to save their trine. ::Warp, whatever you do, do not mess with Ironhide's sparkling.::
::But... but a sparkling...::
::We do not NEED a sparkling!:: Starscream reminded him. ::We are a trine of Seekers, the greatest warriors of Cybertron! We have no need of a little whiny mouth to ground us for ages. We just need the skies and winds!::
The thought of sitting down and playing nursemaid to a newborn bot who could barely stand and talk... it was something so beneath him he didn't want to consider it. He didn't care how cute they were at first; sparklings were nothing but work and trouble.
No matter that they hadn't seen seeker sparklings in hundreds of vorns. Or that they would be adorable to watch soar through the sky. Or that even Shockwave appeared emotionally attached to his sparkling. Starscream didn't need one.
He threw down the polishing rag with more force than necessary, and grumbled as Skywarp rubbed oil into his wing hinges.
::But it would be cute:: Thundercracker insisted. ::We could raise one together! Teach them how to fly. How to transform... we could have a tiny jet flying with us in the skies.::
Of course, Thundercracker took one look at the humans and got sparkling fever. Starscream didn't know why he bothered.
::I think it would be fun:: Skywarp agreed. ::And it would mean fewer missions, Starscream. They don't send out the Guardians nearly as much for missions, so they can care for the little ones!"
::Prime isn't having sparklings retrieved until they perfect the conversion process. The only exceptions are if the sparkling is critical.::
:: We'd just have to find one.::
Starscream rolled his optics. ::While this primitive mudball has sparklings, it doesn't mean they're hiding behind every rock. The likelihood of us encountering one is slim.::
With that, he cracked open his own can of coolant. It was... surprisingly refreshing.
Give credit where credit was due, the humans managed to not mess up this time. Perhaps there was hope for this species of rodents after all.