... I read
this. Ensuing bunny spawned by it mutated into something that probably barely resembles the original. Is it unbelievable? Maybe. Ending was a little rushed. Bunny was rather impatient.
Title: Seekers and Datsuns
'Verse: G1 Transformers.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: ... slash, right at the very end. Canon deviation.
It was on a routine patrol that he saw them, and the idea first took root in his CPU. The three Autobots were racing each other, or rather, two were racing, their third seemed to be resigned to tagging along and making sure they didn’t cause too much trouble.
Funny, that third reminded him a little of himself, always babysitting his trinemates.
Ah. It seemed like the third had had enough (and here he could empathise), and was pouring on the speed, leaving the other two in his dust. A playful blare of sirens (and here he goggled. Playful and this mech did not go together. He actually stalled, but thankfully was high up enough to avoid becoming seeker pancake, and he really needed to stop listening to ‘Warp’s prattle about human language and its expressions), and the challenge was thrown down.
Thundercracker stared. The three on the ground didn’t notice him, caught up in their game. The once lagging Autobot was now driving circles around his friends, and in return they interwove their paths with his. The speed and slickness of the moves all three were carrying out brought to mind the aerial tricks he, Skywarp and Starscream pulled for fun, just to test themselves and refine their flying skills.
Then he stared some more as the leading mech transformed, using the momentum built up to push himself in a leap over a pretty respectably sized barrier (one that hadn’t been there the last time he’d flown over, he suspected that it, and all the other obstacles he now noticed had been set up for the sole purpose of these mechs’ little joyride), before landing as a car once more (and vicariously he felt the mech’s satisfaction). His tri- his friends followed suit, each adding their own little touch of flair to the manoeuvre.
Shaking his head, he flew on with his patrol, the laughter of one of the mechs clear in his audios. He’d tell ‘Warp about this, but maybe not Starscream. No harm. They weren’t near the base, and they weren’t doing anything particularly suspicious.
= = =
It was on guard duty that he saw them, and what Thundercracker had mentioned seemed to mesh with his observations. Three autobots, silently moving towards the base, one of them slightly behind the others as if being protected.
Funny, that third reminded him a little of himself, the still somewhat coddled member of his trine.
Ah. But the third was no pushover, he was behind for a reason, just as he himself often flew behind his trinemates. The position distracted others from him, and allowed him to hit hard and fast, especially with his abilities. Just like this third hit hard and fast with his rifle, taking down the sentry mechs within the space of a breem. He commed in the breach and the hunt was on for the three.
Skywarp stared. The other ‘Cons didn’t seem to be able to locate the three, moving swiftly about the perimeter of the base. The sniper was downing mechs left right and centre, and the other two were laying cover fire and distracting their foes. The way they moved in unison, eerily in sync reminded him of how his trine attacked from the air, each move smooth and coordinated to bring about the greatest mayhem and destruction.
Then he stared some more as the sniper grinned and cracked some joke, dinging Astrotrain in the aft (he grinned too, because, well, he really didn’t like the mech all that much anyway, unrefined brute. He suspected that the hit was in revenge for the mech’s cruel treatment of the last Autobot he’d gotten his servos on), before dropping the mech, putting him out of the fight. His tri- his partners grinned back with a viciousness a Decepticon could almost appreciate.
Shaking his head, he swooped in to attack them, but was thrown off by clouds of noxious smoke. He wouldn’t tell Star’ about this, maybe Thundercracker. No harm. It looked like a mere payback mission, and no other Autobots were in sight.
= = =
It was in battle that he saw them, and his trinemates’ thoughts that filtered through their bond (he’d started blocking it after... things, and Megatron) made him pause. The three Autobots fought as a group, one falling back on occasion as if to get the jump on their opponents.
Funny, that third reminded him a little of himself, always setting up and using the sneak attack.
Ah. Now the third made his move. An obscuring fog blanketed the three, and when it cleared the three were gone. Bewildered he searched for them, but then had to pull off a frantic roll to avoid getting shot down (where had that come from?). But from what he’d seen, the three reacted to attacks like his trine did, working together to eliminate their opponents. But before he could consider this further a blast slammed him into the ground.
Starscream stared. The other Autobots didn’t seem to notice as Megatron bore down on him, rage and madness incandescent in his optics. The sneakiest of the three did, and stopped mid battle to stare in shock, drawing the attention of the other two. They approached cautiously, using the cover of blasted rubble and the occasional puff of obscuring smoke, like how his trine used cloud cover to sneak upon unwary mechs.
Then he stared some more as the diversionary mech snarled and shot at his trinemates, drawing their notice to his predicament. Some part of his processor still not gibbering in confusion and fear snickered; he often did the same to get their attention. His trinemates hurtled towards him, and he could see the Autobot’s expression oh so clearly as the barrel of Megatron’s cannon pressed him further into the ground. The Autobot’s tri- the Autobot’s comrades bore matching expressions of surprise, shock and horror.
Shaking his head, he tried to question his leader one last time, but was cut off by the surprising commands of the Autobot SIC to Thundercracker and Skywarp. Megatron was suddenly attacked by two Seekers and two ‘Bots, and he came to no more harm.
= = =
It was after that battle that he saw them, huddled close to each other, reassuring themselves of one of their own’s safety and continued existence. The care they showed each other reminded him of his own group of frame-kin mechs, all three of whom were close by.
Funny, how he’d never realised how much his three interacted like the trine before him.
Ah. Their leader made his move, limping forward, hands spread out in the sign for parley. But the motion was not directed towards him. By his side, a mech walked forward to grip those arms firmly, murmuring soft words he could not hear, and probably didn’t need to. It looked like a private thing. And scanning the information available to him through the Matrix he realised it was a trine only thing.
Optimus stared. The other Autobots finally noticed and gathered ‘round, watching as one trine welcomed another into their ranks. Each member of the two groups met a counterpart, Smokescreen going to Skywarp, and Bluestreak going to Thundercracker. Doorwings flickered in a comforting, welcoming manner, and jet wings replied with gratitude and growing hope.
Then he stared some more as both Starscream and Prowl embraced, and the Seeker was led before him, his trinemates falling into place behind, just as another pair of ‘winged’ mechs did so for Prowl. Understanding what his Second wanted, he knelt to take the flier’s hands, and heard out the former Decepticon’s plea for sanctuary, and the promise of the services of his trine in battle and out of it. He smiled as he gently refused, watching the confusion blossom in the six mechs' optics.
Shaking his head, he told the Seekers they could pledge themselves to Prowl and his trine first. And later, once they truly decided to be Autobots, they would be. For now, they had sanctuary, and no Autobot would deal them harm.
= = =
The Seekers had been with them for nearly a year, going through all the troubles and inconveniences and oddly enough, amusement (the image of three jets dog-piling a stunned Skyfire was priceless) such an integration entailed, when it happened. Bluestreak had collapsed in Sunstreaker’s arms, and was in the med bay getting fussed over by Prowl and Smokescreen when the jets ran in as well. Upon further inquiry, they were stunned to find the gunner with sparkling, and furthermore, that the gunner was bearing the sparkling Seeker style.
Prowl and Smokescreen had been confused as to why the jets were so surprised. They had described the Datsuns as a trine, had they not? The jets were confused as to why the Datsuns were not surprised. They had called them a trine, true, but not because they were Seekers. All five had turned death glares onto one now very intimidated Lamborghini clutching the grey mech like a security blanket.
Sighing, Starscream took it upon himself to clarify, and found that the Datsuns truly were a trine in all senses except for the ability to take flight. A shortfall of seeker frames and the fact that Megatron was pressing all fliers into his army had prompted them to opt for their current forms.
When queried about the need for flight, Smokescreen had smirked, letting the fliers in on a little secret. They were the fastest mechs in the Autobots not custom built for speed, and racing each other more than satiated the need.
When queried about the need for open space and sky, Prowl had raised an optic ridge and asked them just whose initial base was at the bottom of the fragging ocean.
After all the assembled had recovered from the shock of hearing Prowl swear, Bluestreak was asked why, if he obviously knew what kind of hell he would be putting himself through with carrying a sparkling, did he agree to interface in the first place, to which the mech had simply smiled and snuggled closer to Sunstreaker, saying that he didn’t kiss and tell.
After the jets had gotten very overcharged to wipe that image from their processors, and recovered from their hangovers, they approached Optimus Prime to formally swear in as Autobots.
A week later, Starscream was smirking as he watched a second flier trine land outside the Ark.