Disclaimers:
Transformers are owned by Hasbro.
I make no
monetary profit from my fanfic/fanart.
Summary:
A story about Thundercracker - My third TF fanfic. {Since revised}
Rating -
PG
~~~~~~~~
IT'S
ONLY NATURAL
Optimus
Prime paced around the control room.
"We've
got to destroy that device," he said with concern.
"The
Decepticons are jamming and intercepting all our transmissions."
"All
right, Prime," said Hound, as he transformed into his 4WD army jeep mode.
He created a hologram on himself to look like the Stunticon Dead End and drove
to the Decepticon base.
Thinking
he was Dead End, he was allowed inside.
Hound
used his electronic voice synthesiser to sound like Dead End and he found out
where the Jammer was located.
Dead End,
Aka Hound walked to the room and saw the jammer. He quickly and quietly
disconnected it, placed it inside him and drove out of Decepticon headquarters,
and started to drive back to Autobot headquarters.
Meanwhile
Soundwave was monitoring Decepticon activity.
"Why
is Dead End on a route to Autobot headquarters?" he asked himself.
"What?"
came a startled voice.
Soundwave
whirled around in his seat to look directly at Dead End.
"The
jammer's gone!" Soundwave heard Megatron exclaim.
Soundwave
put two and two together in an instant.
"Impostor!"
he exclaimed, pointing at the Dead End, driving away.
Hound
dropped the Dead End hologram and they saw who it really was.
"Decepticons! After him!"
Starscream,
Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge flew after Hound.
He just
made it into Autobot headquarters, with the Decepticons blasting after him.
Hound gave the device to Optimus Prime.
The
Decepticons were worried what Megatron was going to do to them. There were six
of them chasing one Autobot ... And they had failed. They returned to
Decepticon headquarters in dismay.
"Where's
the jammer?" asked Megatron.
"Uh
... we ... we ... uh..." started Dirge.
"What?!
You failed?!" exclaimed Megatron. "You mean the six of you
failed to destroy one Autobot?! You disgust me! All of you!"
The
Decepticons cowered at Megatron's raging words. Starscream hated cowering
before others, but he was angry with himself and the others for their failure.
"With
that machine they can jam and intercept all our transmissions" growled
Megatron.
"We
have to retrieve it immediately!" exclaimed Starscream, hoping to get back
into Megatron's good books - not that he gave a broken wing for Megatron, but
being in the Deception leader's bad books was not a good place to be. He
started to go.
"Hold
it," ordered Megatron. "I give the orders here, Starscream. It'll be
much to risky to take it from them with force, since there are more of them
than us and they have new tight security."
"You
mean we sneak in?" asked Starscream with surprise.
Megatron
nodded.
"But
if we attack them," said Starscream, "that'll damage some of them and
we can seize the Jammer easily. Besides sneaking in is cowardly. You're not
afraid to attack, Megatron... are you?"
"ENOUGH!!"
roared Megatron, blasting Starscream in his stomach. "I cannot believe
your stupidity! We don't have the energy reserves to launch an attack as yet.
It'll be too risky. I'll go to Autobot headquarters and get the jammer.
Thundercracker you'll accompany me."
"Y
... Yes, Megatron."
"I
should be the one to go, Megatron," Starscream said, standing. "After
all, who-"
"Shut
up, Starscream," Skywarp snapped. "With your big mouth they'll detect
you before you get within 1000 kilometres of their base."
"How
dare you!" Starscream yelled, hitting Skywarp, to which the black jet
responded with a punch to Starscream's head, to which Starscream responded with
a -
"Shut
up, both of you!" Megatron snapped. "Thundercracker is accompanying
me and that is final."
Starscream
and Skywarp scowled at each other and went their separate ways.
Thundercracker
was a little frightened of Megatron, and wanted to do his best on this mission.
The two
Decepticons began to fly to Autobot headquarters. When they were nearly in
radar range, they flew very close to the ground to avoid radar detection. When
they were almost there, Megatron landed. Thundercracker transformed from his
F-15 jet mode and joined him. They walked into Autobot headquarters, through a
secret passage Laserbeak had discovered, being very careful not to be detected.
They walked around, trying to find the Jammer. Luckily for them, the Autobots
had gone out on patrol and Ratchet was helping extra casualties at the local
hospital from the recent earthquake.
Teletraan
I, the Autobots' computer sensed the presence of others. He knew it was too
early for the Autobots to return.
He didn't
want to sound his alarm because he was defenceless against an attack. He had to
lure them to the prison quarters where he could trap them until the Autobots
arrived. Teletraan began Leading the Two Decepticons on a wild goose chase and
lead them to believe where the Jammer 'was.'
"It's
in there," said Megatron.
He and
Thundercracker entered the room. All of a sudden the door slammed shut.
Teletraan I's voice sounded over the intercom.
"You
are now the Autobot's prisoners," he said.
Thundercracker
was frightened. He tried to blast the wall of the cell with his incendiary gun,
but no effect.
Megatron
said, "transform into your jet mode and see if your sonic boom can shatter
its walls."
Thundercracker
did so. Even though Megatron covered his audio sensors, the noise was
tremendous. The blue jet tried and again and again, almost deafening Megatron,
but it didn't work. Thundercracker transformed on his knees. He didn't know
what to do. He was frightened, but didn't want Megatron to know.
"How
can we get out of here?" he asked, standing.
Megatron
blasted the walls in vain with his fusion cannon. Thundercracker became more
frightened. He was so nervous, that when Megatron touched his hand, he jerked
it away.
"I
know you are frightened." said Megatron.
"I
am not!"
"Don't
lie to me Thundercracker. I am warning you, do not lie to me."
He
pointed his fusion cannon at Thundercracker, just for the effect.
Thundercracker
nodded emphatically, cursing himself for not hiding his fear better and He felt
stupid. He hadn't meant to lose control in front of Megatron ... It's just that
he was so scared ... It was only natural to be firghtened, in situations like these.
Thundercracker
regained control of himself and his composure. He didn't want to look at
Megatron.
"Learn
to control your fear," Megatron said, trying to be patient.
Thundercracker
nodded. "Sorry, Megatron," he said, silently wishing that Starscream
had been the one Megatron had taken on this mission. Thundercracker was not
only frightened of what the Autobots were going to do to him, but he did not
want to look a coward in Megatron's eyes. He chose not to say a word. In
situations like this, he wasn't a good conversationalist and usually bungled
his words. He stole a glance at Megatron. He told me to hide my fear. Is he
frightened at all I wonder? He hides it damn well if he is.
Teletraan
I informed the Autobots of the capture. Optimus Prime walked to the prison
quarters and saw Megatron glaring at him. As Megatron had told him,
Thundercracker tried his best to hide his fear.
"They
must've come after the Jammer," said Ironhide.
"Affirmative"
said Optimus. "But they're not going to get it."
Thundercracker
hoped the Autobots wouldn't destroy him. He said a silent prayer to Primus. He
was very nervous and jittery.
"I
grow impatient, Thundercracker..."
"I'm
trying my best, Megatron."
"It
isn't good enough."
"Well
you've had more experience than I have!" the blue Decepticon almost
yelled. "Give me a break!" Thundercracker grew instantly contrite.
"You
dare to raise your voice at me?" Megatron's voice was dangerously low.
"I'm
sorry, Megatron. Please, I lost control..."
Megatron
slapped him. Thundercracker was already frightened of what the Autobots were
going to do to him and Megatron wasn't making things any better. Megatron
turned blasted again and again and at the prison cell door and finally managed
to blast it open. He made Thundercracker go first, then followed. They snuck
around the headquarters trying to find the jammer. Thundercracker had the
jitters something fierce and Megatron would've loved to startle him, but it
might reveal their presence. Thundercracker gasped and jerked at every noise.
"Will
you shut up?" whispered Megatron angrily.
Thundercracker
nodded and tried to calm himself. They carried on sneaking about.
"We
mustn't sound the alarm," said Optimus Prime, after discovering the
Decepticons escape, "know we're after them. We have to sneak around very
quietly ourselves and recapture them. We also have to destroy the machine
before that get their hands on it."
"Okay,
chief," said Ironhide, "but it's gonna feel kinda' stupid sneakin'
around our own headquarters!"
Optimus
Prime laughed his soft, gentle, laugh.
"Go
on, Ironhide ..."
Ironhide
smiled and left with the others. Optimus went the opposite way with some other
Autobots.
Meanwhile,
Megatron and Thundercracker were still trying to locate the jammer.
"We
have to split up," Megatron said. "We'll have more of a chance of
finding it if we both go off in different directions."
"No...
no... I think it'll be better if we stick together..."
"What's
the matter? You afraid?" The question dripped with sarcasm.
Thundercracker
frowned. "No, I ..."
Megatron pushed
Thundercracker into a dark corridor. The blue jet had been frightened when he
was with Megatron. Now he was all alone ... But he set off to find the Jammer.
Suddenly, Thundercracker gasped and froze. He could hear some Autobots talking
about him and Megatron - how they'd escaped from the cell and were out to
recapture them. And they were coming down the corridor ... Quickly,
Thundercracker hid behind a metal slab. He tried very hard not to lose control
and somehow he managed to do it.
Meanwhile,
Megatron also heard Autobot voices talking about the escaped prisoners. He
jumped into a metal box and closed the lid. The Autobots walked past him.
Megatron's hands were shivering. Embarrassed, he willed them to stop and they
did.
Thundercracker
peered around the metal slab. The corridor was clear. He slipped out of his
hiding spot and tried to find the Jammer. He was sneaking along the side of the
wall of the corridor, not knowing there was someone else sneaking along the
other side ... At the end the two bumped into each other. They both gasped and
spun around. Thundercracker breathed with relief when he saw. Thundercracker
saw a flicker of relief on Megatron's face.
"Watch
it, you fool!" he snapped in a whisper.
"Sorry,
Megatron ..."
"You
go that way," Megatron, pointing down a lighter, larger corridor.
"I'll go this."
Suddenly,
they heard Autobot voices. Megatron quickly fled into a small room.
"Megatron!"
exclaimed Thundercracker, frightened.
He tried
to open the door, but Megatron had locked it.
"Let
me in ... Please ..."
There was
no answer. Thundercracker saw the Autobots coming. He started to run away. He
was terrified.
"Me
see Decepticon!" exclaimed Swoop.
Optimus
Prime fired after Thundercracker and damaged his incendiary guns. Thundercracker
let out a frightened noise and a gasp, but kept on running. It was a dead end.
Thundercracker stopped and was terrified. He transformed and flew over the
Autobots. Suddenly, the Aerialbots formed Superion and grabbed him.
Thundercracker screeched and transformed in Superion's hand. Thundercracker was
more than petrified. Superion could feel him shivering in his hand. Superion
put Thundercracker down.
"You'd
measure '10 on the Richter scale!" laughed the large Autobot.
Thundercracker
was too nervous to smile at Superion's little joke. Terrified, he looked at all
the Autobots around him.
"Where
is Megatron?" asked Optimus Prime.
Thundercracker
wanted to tell them where Megatron was, they were right outside the room, but
if he did, Megatron would kill him.
"We
split up. He's probably still sneaking around."
"You
came here looking for the Jammer didn't you?"
"Yes,"
replied Thundercracker. He was afraid to lie.
Megatron
found a monitoring camera in the room that he used to monitor Thundercracker.
He saw the Autobots taking him somewhere. Megatron was furious and cursed
himself. "I should've taken Starscream!"
The
Dinobots went with Thundercracker. The others went into the main control room
with Teletraan I.
The
Autobots with Thundercracker stopped at a room and opened the door. The jammer
was in there. Megatron stared at it through the camera. Why had the Autobots
taken him to the Jammer?
Slingshot
said, "would you rather us destroy you or the jammer?"
Thundercracker
gasped and swallowed. He was shivering.
"Well
what is it?" asked Slingshot.
The
Autobots pointed their weapons at Thundercracker.
"Don't
destroy me ..." said Thundercracker, frightened.
The
Autobots aimed their weapons at the Jammer and fired.
"Me,
Slag say you coward!" yelled Slag at Thundercracker.
"I'm
not a coward" said Thundercracker calmly. "I was just frightened
that's all. Wouldn't you be frightened if someone was going to destroy
you?"
"Not
know. Me, Slag still say you coward!"
"I
am not!" snapped Thundercracker.
Slag
pointed his high energy laser rifle at Thundercracker and fired. Thundercracker
moved quickly out of the way. Slag fired again, just as Thundercracker fled out
of the room with the Dinobots hot on his afterburners.
"Where
he go?" asked Slag angrily, looking at Sludge.
"Uh,
... Sludge not know ..."
Snarl and
Sludge went to join the other Autobots. Slag saw Thundercracker, fired at him
and shot Thundercracker's arm. Thundercracker let out a short yelp. Why
couldn't they leave him alone? He ran from Slag. Slag grabbed his hurt arm.
Slag was stronger than him and was hurting his arm.
Slag
yelled, "no escape Decepticon, Me Slag got you."
"No
... please don't fire ..." pleaded Thundercracker.
Grimlock
pointed his rocket launcher gun at Thundercracker, ready to fire.
Thundercracker
was frightened.
"No
... Please don't shoot ..."
Grimlock
fired at Thundercracker, although Slag was still holding Thundercracker,
Thundercracker jerked himself out of the way. Grimlock missed and nearly hit
Slag. Slag grabbed Thundercracker's other arm and held both his arms tightly.
He was hurting Thundercracker a lot. The Decepticon tried to struggle free.
Slag's grip was getting tighter and Grimlock was pointing his gun at him.
Thundercracker was frightened. He tried to struggle free.
Optimus
Prime walked out of the control room.
"That's
enough you two," he said angrily. "Let him go. There's no need to
torture him."
Slag let
Thundercracker flop to the floor and the Decepticon took the opportunity and
bolted.
"Me,
Slag, sorry," mumbled Slag to Optimus Prime.
"Me,
Grimlock too."
Thundercracker
bashed past them and ran outside Autobot headquarters. Megatron was there.
"They
got the jammer," he said, tiredly.
"You
look like they put you through a laser powered trash compactor."
"No,
just the Dinobots."
Megatron
almost smiled.
"I'm
sorry I failed you, Megatron. I wanted to get the jammer, but-"
Megatron
nodded. "Such things can't be helped at times."
Thundercracker
didn't hide his surprise. "Megatron?"
"Don't
take me the wrong way, Thundercracker - I despise failure, but even I know when
to be reasonable."
"Thank
you, Megatron."
"And
Thundercracker - not a word of this little conversation to anyone."
"You
got it."
The two
returned to Decepticon headquarters.
"If
I had accompanied Megatron, we would have had that jammer up and running by
now," Starscream said to Thundercracker.
"Just
be lucky I accompanied him. He'd've strangled you by now."
Starscream
grunted. Thundercracker smiled. It wasn't often he got the last word in where
Starscream was concerned.
Later
that day Thundercracker transformed and went flying. He often liked to go
flying on his own. He quite liked Earth and its people, although he kept that
to himself. He felt it was a pity that war could destroy it all. He had often
wondered why he had chosen to become a Decepticon. He wanted a purpose in life
and had felt this would get him there - but had it? What Thundercracker really
wanted was freedom and he had realised he was too much of a coward to admit it.
He did not want to defect and join the Autobots as some Decepticons had done -
and besides too much had happened between the two forces. Thundercracker knew
he would be too confused and worse of than where he was now if he did that. He
wanted to be free from the war, perhaps explore the universe, or maybe even
settle somewhere and start a new life.
"Has
anyone see Thundercracker?" Megatron asked. "I have not seen him for
quite a while."
"Come
to think of it, no," Ramjet said. "I haven't seen him since the day
you returned from Autobot headquarters. He later left to go flying."
"That
was two months ago. He should have returned by now."
"I
know," Skywarp said. "I kinda miss him."
"If
the Autobots had destroyed him, we would have known about it by now," Dirge
said. "And we would've located him if he was damaged."
"Agreed,"
Megatron conformed.
Skywarp
left the group. He knew exactly what his friend had done.
"Good
for you, Buddy," he said quietly. "I hope you find what you're
lookin' for. Maybe I'll join you someday."
Skywarp
looked at the viewscreen which showed the night sky and wished his friend well.
To this
day, Thundercracker has never returned.
*