Bot-3 Camp: Can't Sleep, Autobots Will Get Me...

[Dead End]

Dead End guessed at Scourge's line of questioning and asked, "Were you captured recently, or have your Decepticons all been defeated?"

That might explain why this Thundercracker hadn't been rescued, and the question might stress his re-programming less. He was obviously conflicted; the strain of re-programming was probably burning out his CPU and he would just grind to a halt one day, stripped for spare parts and left to rust.

At the enslaved Seeker's sudden glance around, Dead End checked his still-running radar. "No one out here but us, according to my radar. Not yet, anyway."

[Eye-fire]

Eye-Fire feels deep pangs of sympathy for Thundercracker. He knows what its like to be treated as less than a slave, or at least, he has studied the memory logs he has from before his reprogramming. He feels utterly sick in his energon converter when he plays those memories back.

He's not going to go all mushy and creep Thundercracker out though, Scourge apparently still wants to wring information out of him. Instead he keeps silent, but transmits to Scourge and Dead End.

//Sir, I have some experience in being a slave. I'll explain later, but perhaps it might do to for me to speak to him privately, gain his trust.// If Scourge does question him on the "slave" comment, he's ready to provide his full memory logs of that time.

[Sable Conolly]

Scourge is pleased, now. He's provoked a reaction - and quite a bit of information - out of this Thundercracker. The merest change in the slant of his optics and antennae shows his satisfaction.

He asks of Thundercracker, "What would you do to escape your current situation, then, if it displeases you?"

Scourge snarls at Eye-Fire over the radio, //Explain now. I dislike sending unknowns quantities into a delicate situation,// especially not when Thundercracker has really started stalking.

[Thundercracker-3]

"No, my Decepticons still fight," Thundercracker answers Dead End. "I... was captured some time ago, I no longer remember the exact date..." The reprogramming must have affected his memory banks somewhat, because while he remembers some aspects of his life before his capture, others are becoming fuzzy. "I don't know why a rescue hasn't been attempted... but in a way, I'm glad of that. I'm but one Seeker -- better I remain a prisoner than untold numbers of Decepticons fall before the Prime to free me."

His gaze shoots toward Eye-Fire briefly, wondering what the sniper wants, then he turns back to Scourge, regarding the black truck almost as if he's suddenly spoken an alien language. It's not that Thundercracker has never idly planned a potential escape, after all... but he's never seriously considered carrying the plan out. Maybe part of it's the reprogramming, but there's something deeper that somehow holds him back from seeking his freedom...

"I... I'll have to go into our history," he explains. "I don't know how similar it is to your Decepticons' history. It will take some time."

[Dead End]

"Hmm... I am supposed to be patrollling; that's why I found you," Dead End said. "However..."

// Scourge, sir--I really should continue my patrol. Shall I leave Thundercracker in your capable hands? //

Dead End looked expectantly at the big black truck-former.

[Eye-fire]

Eye-Fire transmits his memory logs, including visuals and subsequent reports made by the Decepticons who raided the lab he was being held to Scourge.

//As you can see sir, I spent my early days as a drone. It may not be exactly the same as a slave, but its probably not much different. With your permission, I'd like to "accidentally" transmit parts of those files to Thundercracker here. This might give him a little hope that we can help him and that he isn't quite alone in how he's suffered.//

[Sable Conolly]

"Why is it better that you remain a prisoner? Do you feel that you deserve to be punished? That you are unworthy of freedom?" Scourge gently, insidiously needles Thundercracker, trying to tease out the enslaved Seeker's neuroses.

Scourge sighs over the radio at Dead End, //So soon?// He is perhaps a bit petulant. //Very well.//

Scourge pinches the bridge of his nose and radios the sniper with, //...Eye-Fire, we are not in the business of giving the enemy intelligence for free. These Autobots are allies now, but do you really think that our esteemed leaders will not want to exterminate them, once they have served their purpose? Please refrain from unloading your life story on this Thundercracker.//

[Thundercracker-3]

Thundercracker flinches just a bit at Scourge's questions. Is this Scourge empathic or something? Because he was right on the mark...

"Our Decepticons... weren't always like your Autobots," he says quietly. "We were once ruthless and cruel, lovers of conquest and war. Our desire to conquer Cybertron nearly destroyed the planet. During the 'Golden Age...'" And yes, those quote marks are audible in his voice -- the Decepticons of his universe found that phrase laughable. "...we were kept subjugated by the Autobots, for fear that we would rise up again and restart the war." He drops his gaze to the ground. "Perhaps... our Autobots were not entirely in the wrong in their actions... perhaps it is still in us to be monsters..."

He doesn't look up, but he finally answers Scourge's question. "So yes. Yes, I'm unworthy of rescue." And he doesn't feel the need to clarify further. In his CPU, twisted around by the reprogramming and his own doubts, it makes sense.

[Dead End]

// Welll.... I suppose I could linger to make sure the situation is well in hand before I re-check the outer markers. // Dead End rather preferred Scourge's company to wandering around by himself in the bleak hills contemplating how soon he would look like the rusting piles of machinery out there.

"Now I am curious about these other Decepticons!" Dead End admitted. "What are they like? What do they do?"

[Sable Conolly]

OOC:Skipping Eye-Fire due to time-out.

---

//Perish the thought,// Scourge radios Dead End. //I would never drag a soldier from his rightful post.//

Scourge is a cruel, ruthless manipulator who can fake being friendly very convincingly. It'll pass for being empathic, one supposes. He stalks back and worth and comments softly, "Is it conquest to stabilise a war-torn region, to elevate a primitive society to our industrial level and merely ask that their debt to us be paid in return for the increase in their quality of life? I think you believe the Autobot propaganda too deeply, Thundercracker."

"We are not monsters for reaching out, for demanding a reasonable level of self-protection from outside forces that do not have our interests in mind, for questioning conventional doctrine."

"Who is the man who leads your forces, who will not see to it that his soldier is rescued? Who are your fellow soldiers, who care so little for you that they have done nothing?"

[Thundercracker-3]

Perhaps Thundercracker does believe the Autobot propaganda too deeply. Perhaps he tends to overthink things, even as a reprogrammed slave. And perhaps being Skyfire's pet has just further twisted his CPU into believing what he has feared to be true for so long. Just because something isn't true, after all, doesn't mean people still don't believe it.¹

"Our Decepticons fight to restore Cybertron," he replied. "To establish an Empire where Autobots and Decepticons can live in peace. I suppose it's an effort to repair the damage we did during the war so long ago..." He doesn't look up as he speaks, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground where Scourge is pacing. "We are a military race at our cores, but we do not wage needless war. Not anymore, at least."

To Scourge he replies "Before coming to Gillinan... or our Gillinan, anyhow... Megatron was our leader. But on Gillinan, Starscream took the mantle. The others?" He has to strain to remember. "Dead End was there... Shockwave..." He pauses. "Other Seekers... Skywarp? No, not Skywarp... I'm sorry. I can see their faces in my CPU... but I've lost their names. My memory... isn't what it used to be."

---

1. Paraphrased from Secondhand Lions

[Dead End]

"Dead End? There is another of... me?" Dead End sounded surprised; whether it was surprise that his counterpart still lived or that he had a counterpart at all was hard to say. "I suppose he finds this war pointless as well?"

"So, Starscream leads there as he does here." Dead End shifted his stance slightly; for the passive Stunticon, that was downright restless. "No doubt he was delighted to take over in a world without Megatron."

[Sable Conolly]

"Of course we don't wage needless wars. Just the needed ones," Scourge reassures. It just so happens that Scourge has a much looser definition of 'need' than this Thundercracker does,

"Is there another me?" Scourge inquires.

He wonders if Dead End is trying to provoke a contradiction out of Thundercracker or if Dead End genuinely expects their mirrors to be so similar.

[Thundercracker-3]

"There is a Dead End," Thundercracker replies. "But... he's actually very involved in the war. I think he fears that he'll die early, and wants to get everything done he can before he does so. And Starscream... he's never been eager for leadership. He took on the role, but reluctantly."

To Scourge he replies "Yes, there's another of you. A treasure hunter, if I remember correctly." His head cocks slightly at Scourge's comment that their Decepticons only fight needed wars. Perhaps these Decepticons aren't so different as he first thought? Perhaps?

[Dead End]

"He does?" Dead End sounded baffled. "But...what's the point?"

Dead End boggled silently at the idea of a Starscream that wasn't eager to lead. How could you call such a being Starscream? He hesitated to ask the next question, fearing the answer.

"What of Megatron? What was he like?"