"So, Thundercracker," booms Optimus 
Prime, "I hear that you wish to join us."

   The addressed, very much unnerved in the presence of his 'greatest
enemy,'  stammers and stutters a bit before replying.

   "Um, yes, well, I... uh, well,... I do."

   "I see."  The towering Autobot commander strides across the room,
towards a chair in the center of the bridge, seemingly reserved for him. 
As he takes his seat, he is quickly surrounded by several Autobots; some
that Thundercracker recognizes, and some that he doesn't.  Most notable is
Ironhide, who keeps close to his leader, but does not take his menacing
glare off of the prisoner at all.   As Thundercracker struggles to
maintain composure under this hostile scrutiny, Optimus Prime gives out
directions.

   "Blaster, brief Ultra Magnus on this situation and patch him into these
proceedings.  Ditto for Grimlock.  Red Alert, tighten up security-make
sure that this isn't some elaborate, albeit original, diversion. 
Perceptor, prepare the polygraph device.  This should prove interesting,
at the very least."

   The Autobots scurry about at his words, but the contemptuous glares do
not let up.  This group of Autobots here seems to be the braintrust, and
Thundercracker marvels somewhat at this spectacle.  He is watching the
Autobot hierarchy at work; the lofty superiors are doing their jobs
without a hint of condescension to each other or the lesser warriors, in
preparation to hold court.  Several members of this braintrust move to
pull seats nearer to Optimus Prime's chair, apparently in preparation to
hear what the prisoner has to say, and that prompts him to try and
remember how many times he had ever actually spoken one-on-one with
Megatron.

   "Magnus, standby and receive these proceedings.  You may continue with
your tasks at hand."

   "Understood, Prime."

   --*It can't have been more than ten.  All I seem to remember are
screams and cackles.  He spoke to me once or twice when he recruited me,
and maybe he offered some twisted congratulations when he accepted me into
the army.  But outside of that, I don't think he has spoken to me for any
other reason than to give me orders.  Over eight million years.  I can't
believe it's taken me this long to do anything about it.*-- 

   "Grimlock, standby and receive these proceedings.  You may continue
with your tasks at hand."  

   "Bullshit."

   "Grimlock-"

   "Nothing Decepticon says will convince me of honesty.  Got more
important things to do than listen to lies.  Grimlock out."

   Optimus Prime lets out an exasperated sigh.  "I expected as much. 
Let's get this underway, then, shall we?  Perceptor?"

   The unnerving laugh fades once again from Thundercracker's head as the
red and blue scientist moves towards him, carrying the polygraph device. 
He has seen a similar device in the interrogation rooms in Decepticon
Headquarters, but the one being placed on his head has a much less
sinister appearance to it.  Perceptor fastens the connections tightly to
his pressure points.

   "Preparations complete, Prime."

   "Thank you," booms the commander.  "All right, Decepticon.  Will you
kindly tell us your name and function?"

   "My name is Thundercracker.  I am... I was formerly a warrior in what
was known as the Decepticon Aerial Elite."   

   "State your business here."

   "I.... I wish to become an Autobot."  The words ring in
Thundercracker's mind, noting the odd feeling of hearing them aloud. 
Optimus Prime gives a slight roll of his fingers, indicating that
Thundercracker should elaborate.  "I have been... overwhelmed of late with
doubts about the Decepticon ideology and purpose, ever since I witnessed a
Decepticon--Thrust, another member of the Elite--fall cruelly and
mindlessly victim to another Decepticon--Octane, maybe you know of him. 
He's a real self-serving bastard--I'd like nothing better than to just
wrap my hands around that pompous neck of his and just--"

   Thundercracker looks up, and notices the stern faces of the Autobots
before him, and decides that personal debts of vengeance are probably not
what they want to hear at this moment.

   "But anyway.  I've haven't always been too keen on Megatron's cause and
our so-called manifest destiny or whatever, but until now I've lacked
the... conviction and the courage to act on my beliefs.  But this most
recent atrocity was the clincher.  The sense of... of WRONG just became
too much for me.  I had to get away."

   Jazz shifts in his seat, and then asks, "So, what brought you here?"

   "Well," Thundercracker continues, "I was talking with Dead End--I don't
know if you know him--about all these thoughts that were circling around
in my head, and we both thought that perhaps we could try to right some of
the countless wrongs we've done in the name of the Decepticons.  We
thought that maybe... maybe we could find a sense of purpose with the
Autobots."

   "Oh, purpose is not to be found here."
   
   The occupants of the bridge look collectively over to the door behind
Thundercracker, where Trailbreaker is leaning, listening to the
proceedings with his weapon at the ready.

   "What was that, Trailbreaker?" Optimus Prime asks.

   "Oh, nothin', Prime.  Don't worry about it.  Go ahead."

   The Autobot braintrust slowly shifts its gaze back to the
interrogation.  A light blue and black Autobot raises his hand slightly,
indicating that he has a question.

   "Yes, Hotspot?"  Optimus Prime calls.

   "Yes, um," Hotspot says, rocking back and forth in his seat, radiating
nervous energy.  "I was wondering where this 'Dead End' character is.  Why
isn't he here on trial with you?"

   Thundercracker grows solemn as he answers.  "There was a... skirmish
with Soundwave, who wasn't too pleased to discover my treasonous plans. 
Dead End was taken away; I don't know what happened to him.  But I smoked
Soundwave and made a break for it, and got away by the chrome of my
tailwings."  He chuckles slightly after saying this, in an attempt to
lighten the mood in the room and to assuage some of the guilt he feels for
the Stunticon's unknown fate.

   "So you are actively WANTED by the Decepticons?" Hotspot continues.

   "You could say that, yes.  But their hunt for me turned up empty,
seeing as how I took down the four guys they sent after me.  You should
have seen it.  First I just dropped back and--"

   "We can hear your glorious tales of battle at another time,
Thundercracker," Optimus Prime states tersely, filling the addressed with
a feeling of stupidity about his nervous babbling.  "Any further
questions?"

   Ironhide leans forward.  "What do you got ta show us that can convince
us thatchyer not yankin' our chains here?  Cuz, ta be honest, I don't see
how you expect us ta just ferget about all the shit you've done to us and
all the hell you put us through, no matter how weepy 'n' apoluhgetic you
may get."

   Thundercracker turns to the Autobot scientist that stands near him. 
"Have I lied yet, Perceptor?"

   Perceptor's gaze lingers on Thundercracker for a moment in an
almost-scowl, and then he slowly scans the readouts of the polygraph
device.  "I calculate a 98 percent chance that what he says is
legitimate."

   Ironhide scoffs.  "That still leaves two lyin' little percentage
points.  I ain't persuaded."

   "Wait!" Thundercracker shouts excitedly after a bolt of remembrance. 
"I can offer you a portion of the next Decepticon raid plans!"

   The Autobots perk up noticeably at this remark.

   "Yes!  I was just encoded with them before this all went down!  I
haven't even looked at them yet!"

   Perceptor answers the unasked question.  "He seems to be speaking true."

   "Of course I'm speaking true!" Thundercracker barks.  "Listen, I am
willing to subject myself to any sort of initiation or interrogation you
all see fit, simply because I KNOW the Decepticons are wrong and, last
time I checked, you guys FIGHT the Decepticons at every turn.  Do what you
will, but I'm here to make amends.  If you don't want my help, so be it. 
But I think I would be much more valuable as an ally than as nothing, and
I hope you think the same."

   He steps back for a moment, somewhat amazed at himself.  The bridge
falls silent as these words echo throughout its cavernous walls.  Optimus
Prime waves the rest of his braintrust towards him, and long discussion
takes place just out of Thundercracker's audio range.  The interrogated
leans up against a wall as Perceptor begins to remove the polygraph device
from his head.  He glances over towards Trailbreaker, who's optics are
locked onto him, shaking his head.

   "Pretty convincing show, there, Flyboy."

   "Do you believe me now?"

   "Didn't say that, now, did I?"

   Thundercracker looks at the Autobot quizzically as Perceptor finishes
the detachments and walks off.  At the sound of Optimus Prime's voice, the
defendant turns back to face the braintrust, who have all resumed their
positions, some grumbling to themselves.  The ever-grim visage of the
Autobot commander surveys the being before him for a few eternal minutes,
and finally, he speaks.

   "Thundercracker," he says, and then pauses for another forever-moment. 
"It has been decided that you will be granted clemency for your crimes
against sentient beings throughout the galaxy, but under strict
conditions.  Your weaponry will be offline until such time as we deem
appropriate, and you will be under constant surveillance.  Selected
Autobots will serve shifts as your probation officers.  Trailbreaker here
will take the first shift, and a schedule will be worked out presently."

   Thundercracker listens to his new leader speak, and cannot decide
whether to smile or to grimace at this news.  Granted, it is not tyranny
anymore, but it certainly isn't freedom, either.  Trailbreaker curses
softly to himself when he hears his name mentioned for watchdog duty, and
Thundercracker feels a pit within himself begin to swell.  

   "I assume you understand why these extreme restrictions are being
imposed upon you, Thundercracker," Optimus Prime booms.  "Despite your
bold words and your seeming repentance, it will take some time before any
of the Autobots, myself included, can truly feel that they trust you." 
Another pause.  "You have a lot of making up to do."

   The Decepticon turncoat stands in silence as Optimus Prime's voice
echoes throughout the bridge of the Ark.  After a few moments,
Thundercracker realizes that this silence is the cue for him to respond.

   "So," he asks, "I am an Autobot now?"

   "Well, you're certainly not a Decepticon anymore," Optimus Prime says.

   "I'll believe that when I see it," Trailbreaker interjects, moving once
again towards his prisoner.  "Come on, Cracker, let's get goin'."

   Thundercracker stands motionless for a few moments, wrapped in a
feeling that isn't quite awe or amazement.  Trailbreaker's prods shake him
from his thoughts long enough for him to offer some meager thanks to the
braintrust for tolerating his presence.  As the doors open again to take
him back out to the corridors of the Ark, he once again feels the pressure
of Trailbreaker's weapon against his back, and he wonders where the joy
is.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | reddit | newsvine | furl | google | yahoo | technorati