All Hail Lord Starscream; Ruler of the Decepticons and Emperor of Cybertron.

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"Something is wrong with the sum of us that I can't seem to erase. How can I be the only one without a smile on my face? You're laughing out loud at just the thought of being alive; and I was wondering could I just be you tonight?"

Skywarp found it odd that a pathetic germ of an earth creature seemed to be the only one who understood how he felt as he listened to Matchbox 20. The song seemed to symbolize his feelings of humiliation and betrayal. The others would surely never look at him the same again. He was too loyal to the Decepticon cause to defect, but he was certain his alliances and friendships within had been mortally wounded.

He sat alone in his quarters listening to the song's lyrics. "This is the sound that I make. These are the words I chose. Somehow the right thing to say just won't come out." He knew he couldn't turn his back on Thundercracker. He had to confront the blue Seeker and repair the damage even if he wasn't sure how to word it.

Thundercracker knocked on Skywarp's door and entered without waiting for a response. Their friendship had been going on so long that invitation was unnecessary. He looked in on his friend who appeared gloomy, which was rather uncharacteristic of Skywarp.

"Skywarp? I have something that belongs to you." Thundercracker said in a calm and soothing voice.

Skywarp suddenly looked up and quickly shut down his computer. He was somewhat embarrassed by his fondness of human music. He wondered what Thundercracker would think of him if he knew.

Thundercracker held in his hand the tiny metal box that contained Skywarp's powerchip rectifier. He had refused to hand it over to the other Seeker until he had a chance to see that the Air Commander was not bluffing about his injuries.

"What is it?" Skywarp looked at the tiny metal box and muttered a quiet "thanks" as he took it. He opened his cockpit and returned the chip to its rightful place.

"Well, you gave it to me to keep safe. Sorry I could not give it to you earlier."

Skywarp sat in silence staring at the floor.

"I came to see you. You're acting odd." Thundercracker had grown increasingly concerned with Skywarp's well being.

Skywarp scoffed, "Gee, I wonder why?"

"I am wondering why you can't tell me." It was unusual for Skywarp to keep secrets from Thundercracker. Even when no words were spoken, they understood each other. After recent events, Thundercracker found it difficult to understand Skywarp.

Skywarp nervously rubbed his hands together. "Do you realize how humiliated I am right now?"

Thundercracker sighed. "I thought it would be this." He understood how proud Skywarp was. He was used to dishing out punishment, not receiving it.

Skywarp's bottom lip began to quiver. Thundercracker knelt so he was at the same level as Skywarp.

"Anything else? It's best to get it off your chest. You don't want to brood about it." Thundercracker knew this from experience. That was why he was so drawn to Skywarp. The jokes that Skywarp cracked often made Thundercracker forget his doubts and reservations.

Skywarp inhaled deeply as he tried to push the emotion aside. He hated feeling so weak, especially in Thundercracker's presence. "I don't know. I don't think I'm really up to talking right now."

"Ok then, perhaps I have something to say." Thundercracker's tone was firm. He was somewhat angry at Skywarp and wanted to put an end to his pity party. "I didn't know it was a big set up. Primus knows what is going on in our leader's mind."

Skywarp nodded silently. He knew that Thundercracker was concerned for him yet doubted that he could say anything to lay his fears to rest.

Thundercracker continued, "I don't know how many knew it was a set up; I think only Megatron knew unless he changed his mind at the last moment."

"Is there a point to your story?" Skywarp interjected his voice full of frustration. "Do you have any idea how I feel right now? Do you have any idea how humiliated I am right now? Do you have any idea what I've gone through today? No you don't!" Skywarp began to shout. He angrily turned away from Thundercracker. He hated being so crass with his dear friend but he was exasperated at feeling so devalued.

Thundercracker stood up dumbfounded. He could not remember Skywarp ever raising his voice at him. He was angry and hurt.

Skywarp sat back down with his back still to Thundercracker and began to rub his face. Thundercracker reached out and gently grabbed Skywarp's wing. "I have no idea what to say to you in such a circumstance." He was truly at a loss for words. He had never seen the normally cheerful Seeker so glum.

"Then don't say anything." Skywarp retorted bitterly.

"Skywarp I'm here to help you. How can I help you if you won't let me?" Thundercracker was at a loss. He had never been faced with these emotions before and had no idea how to console his friend.

"Maybe I don't need help. Maybe I just need to be left alone." Skywarp was confused by all of the emotions that flooded his processors. He felt trapped and wanted to escape.

"You can't go through that hell and not need help!" Thundercracker angrily raised his voice. He was becoming more and more frustrated with the black Seeker.

Skywarp shook his head. "Look TC, nothing you say or do is going to make this any better. I just need to be alone so I can sort things out. I'm not sure where my place is in the Decepticon ranks right now and I really don't know where I fit in on a social level." He did not know how to express his concerns for the future. He doubted that Thundercracker grasped the gravity of the situation.

"We are still the elite," Thundercracker stated proudly. "No, nothing I say will change what has happened to you. Nothing I can do will erase the horror you went through."

Skywarp looked pensively at his friend.

"We need to look forward, not back." He knew there was little he could say to make Skywarp forget the events of the day, but he hoped his words would at least put his mind at ease.

"Try telling that to all the others," Skywarp said bitterly. He saw how they looked at him as he returned to his quarters earlier that day. As he walked down the hall, the other Decepticons whispered to each other and looked at him as though he was an outsider who posed a threat to them.

"I don't think they see you any differently. They were all relieved." Thundercracker had noticed the difference in how the other Decepticons viewed Skywarp. Emotions toward him had changed, but if anything, Thundercracker believed they respected Skywarp more. There must have been a reason for Megatron's decision. Though the event was humiliating, he doubted that their leader would have spared anyone else as he did Skywarp.

"Yeah right." Skywarp scoffed.

Thundercracker ignored Skywarp's defensiveness and continued. "Dirge was confused but even he was relieved. Even Screamer was happy to see that you were ok. He interfered with Megatron's plans again..."

"Don't lie to me, Cracker." Skywarp became irritated at Thundercracker's feeble attempts to make him feel better.

Thundercracker shook his head in frustration, Skywarp was being awkward.

"I'm an idiot. I'm a goof. No one would care if I died." Skywarp sulked.

"No I disagree. I suppose I am just no one," Thundercracker's voice cracked with hurt. Skywarp realized what he was saying and was also distressed.

"I didn't mean anything. It's just that no one...other than you seems to give a frag about me." Skywarp looked at the floor as he tried to avoid the pained look on Thundercracker's face.

"Megatron said you were his most loyal and trusted servant. He would not say it if he did not mean it."

"But he still wouldn't think twice about turning me into slag," Skywarp pointed out.

"If it was Starscream in your position, he'd be dead." Thundercracker said hoping Skywarp could get the fact that he was appreciated through his thick skull.

"So, what's your point? Are you saying Megatron likes me or something?" Skywarp said sarcastically.

"Everyone likes you. What's not to like about you?" Thundercracker replied ignoring the cynicism.

"Ummm, I'm annoying." Skywarp over enunciated his words as though Thundercracker did not speak his language.

"Everyone expects it." Thundercracker tried to keep from laughing. Skywarp was often funny even if it was unintentional.

"I can't stand being serious all the time. It's boring." Skywarp confided.

"And everyone likes that relief. It breaks the monotony of this place. Hell, you wake up from "death" with a funny line. That broke the tension. This base would not have been the same without your humor."

Skywarp grinned wryly. "Yeah, I am pretty funny." The grin was soon replaced by a frown as he thought of the other Decepticons. "I still don't think I can face everyone, especially Screamer."

"Ah yes, Screamer, well give him a few days he'll be looking for you." Thundercracker was feeling at bit more at ease as he realized things were returning to normal…or at least as normal as things could be at Decepticon headquarters.

"Great, that's just what I need," Skywarp tensed as he thought of Starscream looking for him.

"I mean not after you. You humbled Starscream."

"Yeah well, I kinda felt like you two were ganging up on me earlier." Skywarp became defensive again.

"We weren't, Skywarp. He's my commander and he needed help." He snickered to himself as he realized he sounded like Skywarp the ever loyal soldier. "He told me this: 'I'd be more worried about Skywarp than my head right now, Thundercracker. He just went through a living hell.' He was more concerned for your welfare than his own."

"Head injuries do strange things to people." Skywarp shrugged.

"He did not know how bad his head was or why really for that matter." Thundercracker reasoned.

Skywarp exhaled sharply. "I get it. Everybody loves good ole Skywarp. I'm the life of the party."

"You are a party." Thundercracker said mockingly.

Skywarp rolled his optics and snickered at the poor excuse for a joke. "Look TC, I know you're trying to make me feel better, and it was working for a while there but I'm really confused right now and I think I'd rather be alone. If these weren't MY quarters I'd teleport out."

Thundercracker rubbed his face in frustration. "Yeah, that's just like you to teleport out when things get rough."

Skywarp's face softened. He looked around as though he suspected he was being watched. "Can I share something with you?"

"You can tell me anything you like," Thundercracker was a bit confused by Skywarp's sudden change in behavior.

Skywarp walked to his computer and turned it on.

"You know I hold your secrets," Thundercracker continued as he watched the dark Seeker. Skywarp looked at Thundercracker nervously. Thundercracker leaned over the dark Seeker's shoulder.

"Listen," Skywarp said as he uploaded a song by Fuel. "The sky was dark this morning. Not a bird in the trees, and silence hung suspicious like a blanket covered scream. You were gone and were not there for me and I cursed the sky and begged the sun to fall all over me..."

"That's how I feel right now," Skywarp said sadly. "I didn't know how to say it. Sometimes I can relate to these songs." Skywarp chuckled nervously as he awaited a response from his dear friend.

"This is the code Screamer was talking about?" Thundercracker said extremely perplexed.

"Yeah, he was singing a song to me." Skywarp stated as though it were a natural occurrence.

Thundercracker laughed. "I can't imagine Screamer singing. Nor would I want to hear him sing. But I think I can see what you mean." He was a little confused by Skywarp and Starscream's fascination with human music, but as he pondered the lyrics, he realized how angsty the song was. He wondered if humans had songs to match his emotions as well.

Skywarp and Thundercracker stood in silence as the song continued. "Till my eyes cried out, till my head is free from doubt till my lungs sigh right out, till I'm wiser."

"Skywarp, it's not like I had not tried to save you... if that's what you mean. I could not interfere. I did ask, I did beg, I pleaded." Thundercracker wanted to make sure his friend understood just how far he was willing to go for him.

"I know but I can't help the way I feel..."

Skywarp and Thundercracker were interrupted by TLC who began singing, "A scrub is a guy that thinks he's fly and is also known as a busta. Always talking about what he wants and just sits on his brokeass." Skywarp quickly shut down his computer and chuckled nervously.

"What?!" Thundercracker stepped back from the computer as though it had just exploded.

"Uh nothing," Skywarp said nervously as he fumbled with the computer.

"Heh, that sounds like Megatron, thinking he can fly but he does not have real wings." Thundercracker snickered. He disliked anything that was not a Seeker.

Skywarp rolled with laughter. "That's not what it means TC. It's uh... never mind."

Thundercracker shrugged.

"Thanks, I do feel a little better." Skywarp said shyly.

"I am glad you are, I will check in on Screamer to see how he is. Is there anything you want me to say to him?" Thundercracker asked as he turned to leave.

"Heh," Skywarp thought about what he'd like to say to Starscream. "Nah, I think he's heard 'blow it out your afterburner' enough from me," He chuckled.

"Ok then. If you need me, just teleport." Thundercracker chuckled as he left. "Why use doors when you can just teleport into someone's room and scare the slag out of them when they're in the middle of a recharge cycle?" He reminisced to himself. "No wonder I like him so much."

The room was very dimly lit by the light of the hall when Thundercracker stepped in. The only lights in the room were from the glow of running machines and Starscream's softly glowing red optics. He closed the door behind himself and the room darkened.

He reached for the light switch.

"No, Thundercracker, Hook wants the light out. He likes to keep me in the literal dark." Came Starscream's soft spoken words. "My head is still hammering, but not as bad as before."

"How are you doing?" Asked Thundercracker as he stepped nearer. He could make out Starscream's shadowy form propped up on the table.

"I'll live. However I am a little perturbed by Hook saying I might never fly again... I believe it will take more than one of Skywarp's punches to keep me grounded."

Thundercracker could identify with Starscream's angst. Seekers who ended up losing the ability to fly usually went mad or died.

"Hook wants me out of the air for two weeks. Megatron's going to have a slag fit. And after that he wants me on light flying until he is sure I can handle the speed without blacking out." Starscream's voice sounded very displeased as his optics flashed with his annoyance.

"Uh how is Skywarp fairing? He was a real charmer earlier." Starscream sounded both concerned and annoyed at the same time.

"He's taking it reasonably well; his morale seems to be shattered though." Thundercracker was very concerned for the well being of his friend. He had never seen Skywarp depressed. He hoped he would never see it again.

"Heh, I know that feeling. He now has the one required qualification that he needs, in order to replace me as an Air Commander..." Starscream said wryly. He had spent time thinking over the events of the day, attempting to piece broken bits of memory back into place. He had come up with one thought that had disturbed him slightly.

Thundercracker could see Starscream smiling from the red glow of his optics. "That qualification is? I don't quite follow."

Starscream chuckled malevolently. "He's been shot at by Megatron and survived. That is the qualification." Starscream chuckled again. "Megatron was not shooting him because he *tried* to kill me... He was shooting him because he *failed* to kill me. Skywarp, if he succeeded, would have been promoted, not executed." Starscream laughed and smiled. In the dim light he could see Thundercracker scowl. "I am only kidding, 'Cracker, I know how he feels and in some way now he should understand what I go through." The red Seeker attempted to make his reasoning sound more like a joke.

"That's not funny Screamer." Thundercracker admonished. But he wondered if there was a ring of truth to it. It happened often enough for an officer to get replaced by a more aggressive subordinate. Starscream had been trying to take Megatron out the same way for years. Would Starscream now view Skywarp as a threat to his position and life? There could be real worry there.

"Come now, Thundercracker, don't take me seriously. It was really only a bad joke." Murmured Starscream.

"Well, it wasn't very funny." Thundercracker said frustrated.

"I can't crack jokes as well as Skywarp." Chuckled Starscream. Which was true. Skywarp's jokes quite often eluded Starscream; the humor that Skywarp used was very low and often derogatory. It was not saying he did not always get his jokes but it was sometimes hard to tell the difference between a masterful comment and an insult.

Humor that Starscream could really appreciate often had to be subtle and dry, not slapstick. Sometimes it took an adept understanding of words and the spoken language to understand some of the higher, drier humor. Skywarp and most Decepticons did not have such education so it was pointless to try to make jokes of that nature, so Starscream often fielded sarcasm and quick retorts. This was understood by most but, much like Skywarp's jokes, it was often taken the wrong way. His attempt with sarcasm had been lost on Thundercracker.

"Heh, no one can crack jokes like Warp." Thundercracker chuckled at the thought of Skywarp's demented humor. "I think you should talk to him."

"I would if I was allowed to leave." Muttered Starscream. "There are a few things I need to ask him." He pulled himself into an upright position.

"You aren't supposed to get up off that table, right?" Inquired Thundercracker.

"Right." Starscream replied not sure why the question was asked.

Thundercracker walked over to the table and began to push it toward the door.

Starscream grabbed the edges of the table in surprise as his mouth dropped open. What was Thundercracker doing? Was he mad? "I am not supposed to even leave this room! The light! Hook warned me against the light!" Starscream protested as Thundercracker pushed him.

Hook had informed him that keeping in a darkened room would help keep the pain in his head down; that the light would also flood his neural net with too much information causing trouble in the damaged areas that his self repair systems would be operating in. Hook could reconnect neural pathways with keen precision, but only Starscream's repair systems could finish the job completely. Too much information would cause some of those pathways to heat up, melting the joins. There was another reason why Hook insisted in grounding him, his flying was often reckless. He loved aerobatics, flying high and diving down so fast that it occasionally caused him to black out or in a worse case scenario blow his guidance circuits.

"I can turn them off." Thundercracker continued to push the table and the frightened Seeker on it toward the door.

"Thundercracker, NO! Hook will flay me and you." Starscream knew Thundercracker was not frightened by Hook but it was the only threat he could think of.

Thundercracker stepped into the hallway and turned off the lights ignoring Starscream's protests. He continued to push him down the hall "You really need to talk to Warp... immediately."

"You're nuts!" Starscream shrieked as Thundercracker chuckled. He shot a glare up at the Blue Seeker who only smiled back at him. Starscream made a move to jump from the table but Thundercracker pressed the wriggling Seeker back down. "Let Skywarp come to me!" The protesting Seeker looked around and down the hall.

"That will never happen. Just shut up, stop struggling and enjoy the ride." Thundercracker was enjoying himself quite thoroughly. He almost wished Starscream was injured more often.

"This is embarrassing, please, Thundercracker, put me back." Starscream's optics darted back and forth at the other Decepticons who began to gather in the corridor to see what all the commotion was about.

Thundercracker ignored them. "Nope, we're almost there."

"I order you to take me back!" Starscream's voice became commanding.

"Your injury has caused you to be put on leave. You're not my commander right now."

"Who is your commander now?" Starscream asked irritated and concerned. A brief flash of worry had shot over him, had he been demoted? No, not possible. There was no one in the present force who could take his position. No one who had any of the natural leadership ability that he himself had.

"Not you." Thundercracker chimed.

Starscream scowled. "You lie!" He shrieked. The Seeker was pretty sure that the other was bluffing.

Thundercracker continued to push the Seeker toward Skywarp's room. "Shall I knock or do you want to do the honors?"

"Take me back! I am not sure I am ready to face him. He hates me." Starscream's voice had a hint of panic to it. His optics were large and fairly bright in his dark face. His mouth drew into a thin frown.

"Look Screamer, this issue has to be resolved. Warp doesn't hate anybody." Thundercracker consoled. He could not understand why Starscream was so agitated. He had tried to chase Skywarp down earlier. Now he wanted to avoid him as if he was infected with cosmic rust.

"Can't it wait a few days?" Starscream whined. "When I can see him under my own power?" He was very self-conscious about being pushed through the hall on a repair-bay gurney by Thundercracker. He was, by nature, independent and self reliant. If Thundercracker had only asked or insisted he would have walked down with him.

Thundercracker exhaled sharply. "You really are a coward Screamer. You're afraid of Skywarp?"

Starscream glowered at Thundercracker. He was insulted by the accusation. He was not a coward. "Uh, no, I'm not." He muttered weakly.

"Then let's go." Thundercracker motioned toward the door.

"NO!" Starscream spat his words out. He regretted his tone, knowing that Thundercracker was only trying to be helpful.

"Why? What's wrong?" The blue Seeker was becoming very annoyed.

"I mean, I can't think clearly still... What if I say something wrong? What if I offend Skywarp?" Starscream said pitifully digging for excuses.

"I'm sure I can clarify it for you." Thundercracker started to knock on the door.

"I'll make you fly with Dirge's lot." Starscream said threateningly.

"I can handle that. It's just a job. Your head really is messed up, Screamer. Now c'mon, what's the real reason you can't talk to Warp?" Thundercracker actually was somewhat frightened by Starscream's threat of Dirge. He found the dark Conehead rather disturbing.

"Uh..." Starscream whispered. "I think I am—ugh uncomfortable with this." Starscream attempted to compose himself. "Bah! I might as well face him if we are here now." He said sharply. There was going to be no way he could convince Thundercracker otherwise, he had lost the battle, he was going to face Skywarp whether he wanted to or not.

"Trust me; you have nothing to fear... Warp won't hurt you as long as I'm around." Thundercracker patted Starscream's shoulder as he tried to lay his fears to rest.

"That's what I am afraid of... I might have to ask you to leave. What I need to discuss might be personal. The fewer the better." The red Seeker slipped himself onto his side propping his head on a bright blue fist. He wore an annoyed expression.

Thundercracker looked astonished at Starscream's sudden courage.

"Well then, get a move on, before I change my mind." Starscream said angrily pointing to the door.

"Very well, let's go." Thundercracker knocked on the door and peeked inside. "Uh 'Warp, you have a visitor."

Skywarp was lying on his belly staring blankly at a data pad. He looked up at Thundercracker.

"Dim the light 'Cracker." Said Starscream shielding his optics as the brilliant glare from the room caused him to squint painfully.

"Geez, not him." Muttered Skywarp.

Thundercracker dimmed the lights. "Nice to see you too Warp." Starscream said with soft sarcasm.

Skywarp sat up and glared at Starscream. "What do you want?" He carelessly tossed the datapad aside onto a pile of what appeared to be rubbish.

The Air Commander grimaced at the cluttered surroundings. "Don't glare at me, Skywarp. Glare at Thundercracker, he was the one who dragged me protesting the whole way down." Starscream wagged his finger at Thundercracker, who simply grinned.

Thundercracker wheeled Starscream into the room plowing through the mess on the floor. "All right you two, it's time to settle this matter once and for all."

"Yes, I have to agree." He paused. "Something needs to be resolved. You and I can't keep fighting like this any more." Starscream watched Skywarp push himself upright into a sitting position.

"Megatron said there is to be no more fighting so I think you two need to bury the hatchet... and not into each other's skulls."

"Please don't mention that." Said Starscream painfully. Skywarp burst into a cruel laugh that pierced Starscream's audio sensors.

"I am ready to talk. I am disarmed." Starscream displayed his rifle-less arms as proof.

"Skywarp?" Thundercracker looked at the dark Seeker aggravated.

"Yeah, whatever. Go for it Screamer. Talk." Skywarp shrugged.

Thundercracker shook his head. "Stop being so fraggin defensive, Skywarp." Thundercracker looked over at Starscream who had propped himself on an elbow. "Screamer, what do you want to tell Skywarp?"

Starscream felt as if Thundercracker was talking to him as a human would talk to an erring child. "Primus, this is so infantile," Said Starscream disgustedly. "There is no point in wasting energy if he's not going to listen to me."

"Fine, I'll listen," Skywarp said in a not so convincing tone. Starscream scowled.

"Look, I'm real sick and tired of all this. I've worked with the two of you for a long time now... I know we've all had our differences in the past, but it's never been anything we couldn't fix. Now, figure out how you two are gonna fix this so we can return to normal." Thundercracker was exasperated. Enough was enough. He knew that Starscream and Skywarp wanted to talk but neither would climb off their high horses.

"I think, Thundercracker, that I might need to do this alone..." Starscream said uneasily. "And I want off this damned table."

"OK." Thundercracker prepared to help Starscream off of the table.

Starscream sat upright and glanced around room. He kicked his feet over the edge and unsteadily started to slide off. "I can't see a damn thing. Is there a chair in here?" His voice was disgusted.

"Uh sorry." Skywarp said embarrassed as he began to clean up the clutter.

"This place is, argh... How can you live like this? Ack.. Never mind. Skywarp, don't worry yourself." Starscream realized that he had never seen the inside of Skywarp's personal chamber. He regretted seeing it. He could not understand why a being would want to exist in such an environment. It was not that hard to keep things manageable. His own chambers were pristine. Everything was in place and kept as such. Humans had a saying that fit so well; 'cleanliness was next to godliness', and he had appearances to maintain.

Thundercracker laughed as he helped the unsteady Starscream into a chair. He had become so used to Skywarp's unkempt quarters that he didn't give it a second thought. He was amused at the ever so tidy Starscream's reaction to the filth. "Are you two gonna be ok if I leave?"

"We should be. Stay close by, Thundercracker, but don't eavesdrop." Starscream said sounding somewhat paranoid.

"Alright, you two behave. I'll let Hook know where you are." Thundercracker felt more at ease knowing the two were finally willing to discuss things.

"Hook's gonna have my hide." Whined Starscream with a slight shake of his head.

Thundercracker snickered as he tried to ignore Starscream's grumblings. He left the two Seekers to themselves. He hoped things would be resolved without any unnecessary energon shed.

Weak and Powerless Three Libras