Chapter Text
The Ark was tense.
It had been many many years since they had entered shut down.
All nearby crews had been recalled. Orders were given for no ships to come in or out. All non-essential crew were ordered to return to the Arks living quarters.
And, of course, the Nest had been completely locked down.
“What is going on, Kup!?” One mentor demanded.
“I told you. We’re under lock down. Direct order from-”
“You can’t keep us from them!”
“I don’t want to!” Kup said raising both his hands, “Look, you all know me. You know how seriously I take the safety of the small ones. I’m telling you, they’re all safest in the Nest right now.”
“If they’re so safe then why are we in lock down!?”
Kups jaw clenched. Answering that question honestly would cause a panic.
His pause only incensed the gathered mentors, caretakers, carriers, and sires.
“I heard a group of sparklings have gone missing!”
“Someone said the ship has been attacked!”
“I don’t care what orders you have I’m going in there and getting my bitty!”
Kup had had enough.
Before he could let the gathered bots have it, Ironhide chose that moment to arrive.
“Alright clear out the lot of you!” Ironhides booming voice reverberated around the hall, “We’re in lock down! That means go to your habs and stay there!”
“We’re not going anywhere until-”
“I SAID MOVE ALONG!”
Ironhides temper was legendary.
After the parents had cleared out, he addressed Kup, “Are ya finished lockin down the Nest, Sergeant?”
Kup sighed and ran a hand over the thick metal of the door behind him, “Yeah they’re all locked down. Wasn’t pleasant. Most of the smallest ones have never been in lock down before. They’re frightened.”
“They should be.” Ironhide answered grimly.
Normally Kup would have given any autobot a clap around the audials for that kind of defeatist talk. However, both he and Ironhide were some of the oldest bots on the ship and that alone earned some leeway. Besides, there were extenuating circumstances.
“Do you have any idea where Perceptor is?” Ironhide asked as they hustled down the halls.
A few bots hurried past them on their way to their habs, while a handful of nervous looking members of the security team saluted Ironhide as they passed.
“Why you askin?”
“With Wheeljack gone he’s acting head of the science department. I was supposed to collect him for the meeting but I’ve had people all over this slaggin ship and no ones seen him.” Ironhide growled, “I swear if he’s holed up in some corner gaffin about with one of his little projects again…”
Ironhide grabbed at the air in irritation.
“You’re dead wrong if you think Perceptor would act like that now.” Kup lightly admonished, “Or have you forgotten Hot Rods ones of the bots missing?”
He observed with some satisfaction that a look of shame flitted across Ironhide’s expression.
“He’ll be at the bridge already. I guarantee it.” Kup said, fishing through his subspace and pulling out a cygar. He slipped it into his mouth and savored the flavor of it.
He didn’t smoke cygars nearly as much as he used to. Before the Ark it hadn’t been uncommon for Kup to light one up after a long battle or even in the midst of a long stalemate. For many of his millions of years on various battlefields Kup’s cygars had easily been his most constant and stalwart companions. Even now he thought nothing of pulling one out and having a casual drag even in the presence of the Prime. Time and place meant little to the old war dog.
Except in the Nest.
In the Nest things were different.
Kups predictions about Perceptors whereabouts bore out. When the two arrived the minicon was already standing on a chair pouring over at least five different screens of information. All reading off data at a speed that made Ironhides processor spin.
“What are you-”
“Shut the door.” Perceptor curtly cut him off.
Ironhide grimaced.
Kup touched his arm. It was a quiet grounding gesture.
The sargeant shut the door behind them and then quietly moved across the bridge to where Perceptor was pouring over the screens.
“Perceptor.” Kups voice was careful, “how are you holding up?”
“I am ‘holding up’ as well as could be predicted under the current circumstances.” Perceptor responded robotically, “You need not even have asked.”
Not even a thank you for asking. That was not like Perceptor.
Kup pulled up a chair, “What are ya analyzin?”
“How this was allowed to happen.”
“I dunno if allowed is the right word here Perceptor.”
“There is no other proper word.” the minicon said coldly.
Kup sucked in air through his teeth and glanced at Ironhide who had taken up a soldier stance next to the door. However his vision was clearly digging into the back of Perceptors head.
Ironhide was the head of security when it came to the everyday running of the Ark. He’d had the final sign off on all the surveillance and protections surrounding the now disappeared autobot shuttle. The one Hot Rod, Perceptors precious little bitty, had been piloting.
Ho boy.
The idea of remaining in complete silence to prevent the tension from igniting was quickly dashed when Ironhide finally said, “If you have something to say, say it.”
Perceptors fingers had been busy clicking away on the console. They abruptly stopped.
“We ain’t got time for this passive aggressive slag. If you wanna tear into me just get it over with.”
Kup looked at Ironhide in horror, “Now see here-”
“Will it bring any of them back safely?” Perceptor asked coldly.
“It’ll clear the air.” Ironhide answered through clenched teeth, “Unless you’re chickening out?”
Perceptor looked over his shoulder and glared.
Kup tensed and readied his old joints to spring between them. Perceptor might be small, but Kup knew from experience how vicious the minicon could be in a fight. Interpersonal fighting was not what they needed right now.
“Am I to understand that you will argue that there was nothing that could have been done to prevent this?”
“No,” Ironhide growled, “I’m saying there ain’t no point in being a passive aggressive little shit.”
“Alright that’s enough!” Kup moved between them, “I know you both have someone you’re worried about but needlin each other like this ain’t helping!”
“I believe the Commander was speaking to me Kup.” Perceptor said warningly.
“Yeah, I suggest you get outta the way before you get hurt old friend.”
“I ain’t moving until the Prime gets here!” Kup raised both hands palm outwards towards each of them.
He glanced at Percpetor, “Blamin Ironhide ain’t gonna get Hot Rod back.”
Then Kup turned to Ironhide, “The same goes for Cliffjumper. Your both missin someone you love. You should be usin that to come together not fight.”
It didn’t stop the glares. But Perceptor wordlessly turned back towards his screen. And silence filled back into the room.
Kup sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Primus help us. Those kids better be okay.
Stasis cuffs.
Cliffjumper really wished he could meet the guy who created stasis cuffs. Not to beat the scrap outta him. No, no, no. Just to talk. Have a deep educated discussion about the pros and cons of creating a tech that could render almost any cybertronians unable to move with the only limitation being the size of the cuffs themselves. Then he’d beat the scrap outta him.
Or her.
He was an equal opportunity aft-kicker.
Cliffjumper hadn’t seen them used a lot. He’d really just heard about them needing to be used sometimes. Usually when someone like Whirl had one over the eight and started blasting in Swerves speakeasy all the adults pretended not to know about.
Having them used on himself was a different thing.
“Get. Off.” Cliffjumper growled.
The bird minicon didn’t pay him any mind. Not budging from its perch on the back of his head. He wanted to jerk his head hard enough to shake it off, but he just couldn’t seem to muster the strength.
“Look you flying scraplet if you don’t get offa me then the second I’m out of these cuffs I’ll-”
The minicon shifted its weight pushing Cliffjumpers face into the floor.
“You aren’t in the posiiton to make threats sparkling.” Laserbeak said casually, “Look, it’ll be better if you just shut up and behave. Most of the cons ain’t nearly as patient or as good at following orders as Soundwave and I. So if you don’t wanna wound up getting hurt, you should just shut that big mouth of yours.”
Cliffjumper growled but didn’t respond. Deep down he knew he was just making empty threats. But if he had no choice but to be a prisoner, he wasn’t going to make it easy. Especially as he felt the ships equilibrium shift and, glancing up from where he lay flat on the floor, saw the looming decepticon ship up ahead.
Despite himself, Cliffjumper tensed. He did his best to swallow his fear. If they were taking him to the same place they’d taken Bumblebee, he’d need to stay strong for his brother.
Skywarps boisterious guffaw eventually died down to something that might be considered a normal volume of laughter.
“Are you finished?” Thundercracker asked.
Skywarp chuckled, “It’s just funny! Are all the autobots younglings this small?”
Cliffjumper scowled. He’d have crossed his arms crossly if both his hands weren’t cuffed behind his back. He might have even kicked the seekers shin. Just as a show of defiance.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite manage that from under Thundercrackers arm.
Soundwave had handed him off to the two immediately after they’d arrived. As though Cliffjumper was some unwanted box of junk. Now he was being carried down the halls. Presumably to some cell.
“How am I supposed to know?” Thundercracker said disinterestedly, “Besides I don’t care.”
Skywarp frowned and looked down at Cliffjumper. Impulsively he jabbed a finger into Cliffjumpers cheek.
Cliffjumper growled.
“Skywarp,” Thundercracker warned, “Please stop taunting the prisoner.”
Skywarp ignored him and continued, “Hehe. He’s such a pathetic little bug. You sure this things a youngling? He looks more like a spark-”
Cliffjumper opened his mouth, turned his head, and bit hard on the finger.
Skywarp screeched and lashed out with his other hand.
The seekers talons raked across Cliffjumpers helm, nicking his cheeck, and drawing energon.
“Skywarp!” Thundercracker shouted, “I told you to stop!”
“It bit me!”
“That’s what you get for sticking your fingers in a prisoners face!”
Skywarp snarled as Cliffjumper stuck his tongue out at him.
“As for you,” Thundercracker jostled his prisoner, “I recommend you remember whose prisoner you are. Orders have been given not to kill you. I suggest you reflect on what that actually means.”
Cliffjumper glared. Mostly to try and hide how scared those words made him feel. He wasn’t stupid. He could pick up on the vague threat that was being implied.
“Here we are.”
They stopped at an ironclad door.
Skywarp opened it with a groan revealing the shimmering of an energy shield spanning the open doorway.
Thundercracker set him on the ground, but kept a tight grip on both of his arms. Skywarp went behind him and removed the cuffs. Cliffjumper had all of half a second to come up with some sort of badass escape plan. Unfortunately, he came up with nothing.
Instead he was shoved through the energy field and into the cell just beyond. The heavy metal door groaned to a close behind him. Followed by the clicking of the locks.
He wasn’t going to get back through there easily.
Instead Cliffjumper looked over his prison.
And his energon ran cold.
Laying on his stomach on the ground, lay the familiar yellow form of his brother. Both his fists were clenched into fists as his face was warped in an expression of pain. Over him some unknown bot in a heavy canvas cloak had one hand firmly on the mid point of Bumblebee’s back with the other bending the yellow minibots kibble.
With a roar of anger, Cliffjumper leapt.
“He left them both alive.” Starscream said coldly, “He spared our enemies. This just proves he doesn’t have what it takes, Lord Megatron.”
Megatron sat back in his chair and waited for Starscreams ceaseless babbling to finish.
He, once again, vaguely entertained the idea of reaching out and permanently silencing that voice for good. Crushing his voice box between his fingers before ripping out his core cables and leaving him to bleed out on the floor of the deck. Megatron took pleasure in the image.
Unfortunately, his mind also reminded him that following up on that fantasy would result in every seeker in the decepticon ranks turning on him. The likes of Thundercracker and Skywarp were far more loyal to him than Starscream was, but Megatron wasn’t foolish enough to think that their loyalty to him outweighed their loyalty to their insurgent ‘King’. No, killing Starscream was not an option. He was just going to have to be patient and wait until the damn fool got himself killed some other way. The way his shallow scheming was going, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
Until then, Starscream was of use. Not just because he was the linchpin that kept the seekers in line, but because his uniquely twisted mind could find the one straight route through a corkskrew.
As Starscreams report came to an end, Megatron rested his eyes on Soundwave, who was knelt before him in silence. He hadn’t interrupted any part of the tirade that Starscream had let loose upon their return. Megatron appreciated that. Ravage had done well in raising the boy to trust in his leaders intelligence.
All the same Megatron did fixate on one point.
“Do you have an explanation Soundwave?” He asked, “While I gave orders not to kill the younglings, that did not extend to either of the grown autobots. I gave you free reign to kill those two. I will admit I am pleased to hear that you managed to use one of the younglings to send the message. It will have a greater effect. However, that still begs the question.”
Megatron leaned forward in his chair.
“Why did you leave those two alive?”
Soundwave looked up. The moment of silence from Megatron was accepted as an invitation.
“Investment, Lord Megatron.”
Megatron raised an eyebrow and looked at Starscream who barely managed to pretend he hadn’t been glowering at the boy.
“Explain.”
Slowly Soundwave stood and moved forward.
“You dare to approach-” Starscream began, but Megatron waved him into silence.
Soundwave came to a stop before Megatrons chair. He then extended both of his arms outward. Offering them and his chassis for inspection.
Megatron looked.
The blue metal of Soundwaves arms and chassis were scorched black. Bits of the metal had actually melted somewhat.
“You have been injured?”
Soundwave nodded.
“Do you expect me to pity you?”
Soundwave shook his head.
“The young autobot,” Soundwave explained, “did this to me.”
“With what weapon?”
“No weapon.”
Megatrons brow raised in interest.
“Do you think us all fools?” Starscream scoffed, “What happened? Did you lie there as he lit a fire on your chassis?”
When the two didn’t even acknowledge him, Starscream seethed.
“You are implying something Soundwave. Come out with it!” Megatron commanded.
Soundwave bowed his head, “It is my belief he has an outlier Lord Megatron.”
“And this is why you spared him? You think we may make use of it?”
“Perhaps. But that is not the reason.” Soundwave replied, “It is investment into information that made me spare them, my lord.”
Megatron leaned back in his seat and looked thoughtful.
“Information?” He tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair, “Yes. I approve of this line of thinking.”
“Megatron!” Starscream screeched, “You can not be serious!”
Megatrons red eyes focused on Starscream intensely and corrected, “Lord Megatron.”
Starscream cowered, “O-of course! Lord Megatron! But I… sire, you approve of this!?”
“Naturally.” Megatron sneered, “We know nothing of what the autobots have been doing since the cowards fled cybertron. If they’ve begun gathering themselves an army of young outliers, then I want to know. Besides,” he grinned, “I should like to learn how our old enemies have gotten on in their absence. Their numbers. Their defenses. Their weaknesses. I think these two autobots may be convinced to share some of that information. Don’t you agree?”
He enjoyed watching as Starscreams natural instinct to be a contrarian warred with the open invitation to violently lord himself over their prisoners. The seeker king could be horribly creative when it came to extracting information.
“It may not be easy, Lord.” Starscream answered carefully, trying to hide his eagerness, “Wheeljack has a reputation for being stubborn.”
“Then start with the young one.”
Instinct took over as a wicked grin spread across Starscreams face.
“Not the young one.” Soundwaves voice cut through.
Starscreams returned to his usual snarl.
Megatrons gaze returned to Soundwave, “You disagree?”
Soundwave stepped back and knelt before Megatron.
“I want to deal with the young one myself Lord.” Soundwave said, “He was fierce when we fought.”
“But you came out victorious.”
“No.”
Megatron frowned, “What do you mean, no?”
“Laserbeak.” Soundwave replied, “He fired a tranquilizer into the back of his neck midway through.”
Laserbeak lowered his head in response.
“It was not his fault,” Soundwave hurried to add, “He was under orders to tranquilize the younglings. However, it means that my battle with the autobot did not end properly. I wish for a chance to establish my honor, lord.”
Megatron seemed to consider.
“No.”
Soundwaves head shot up. But he didn’t speak.
“Normally I would allow this.” Megatron explained, “However, right now our current operation takes precedent over your honor. The young autobot may be required as further leverage against Optimus Prime if he proves to be troublesome. You did well to deliver them to us alive. However, I can not indulge you any further than that. Too much is at stake Soundwave.”
Unwillingly, Soundwave bowed his head once more, “Yes, sire.”