Thundercracker was not paying attention to what he was saying.

That realization was what had Starscream turning toward his wingmate, finding the blue Seeker focused elsewhere. He followed Thundercracker's line of vision and found what arrested TC's attention. He was observing some of the newly captured slaves who were huddled in the corner. No, Thundercracker shifting his gaze as one of them moved, he saw it was actually one of the creatures in particular.

That was even more unusual. For while his brother in arms did not object to his acquiring the human slaves, he was the only one who refused to get involved in their attainment and utilization of them.

Starscream found a grin flowing smoothly onto his features. An idea formed.

"Barricade," he said, shifting on his throne chair. The black-and-white Con came forward. He bowed low enough but did not placate himself as much as he would have if the Air Commander had been Megatron. This time Starscream ignored the hunter's subtle challenge. Starscream knew why the scout had been sent. He would have been a fool if he didn't. Megatron didn't send his favorite hunter just because he believed Starscream needed more ground support.

"Bring me that slave." A digit bent as he pointed to the human he spoke of. The creatures should have already been processed. If he wasn't distracted by his sudden purpose, someone would have paid the penalty.

Soon enough, the organic was brought before them, tossed not so lightly on the ground below. Starscream waved the hunter away. He did not miss the way Thundercracker's shoulder panels jerked while his suspicion-filled optics changed course before landing on Starscream.

"What is with this?" Skywarp asked from beside him. Stepping down from where he had been standing beside Starscream, he peered at the human bundle below.

"It is Thundercracker's new slave," Starscream informed him of the obvious. A rather nefarious delight came when he noticed TC's growing discomfort. The impassive Thundercracker could be riled when one knew how. Starscream never got bored with trying.

The purple Seeker shifted on his pediforms, glancing at the two before he backed up and sat down on the steps leading up to the throne chairs. Skywarp perked up, watching the exchange between his wingmates with much interest, his head darting back and forth as the two traded words.

"I did not ask for one. I do not want it," TC said, his vocals low, obviously not wanting any of the other Cons to overhear.

"You shall have it, Thundercracker. It is a gift. You would not refuse me, would you?" There was a challenge in his words. Starscream's expectation grew. Even with his trinemate there was a limit to his tolerance.

"I wouldn't know what to do with it," TC groused. He no longer looked at the organic as if it was an offense in itself, a diversionary tactic that did not discourage Starscream in the least but only strengthened his resolve.

"Use it. Break it. Toss it around. I don't care. They are easily replaceable." The Supreme Air Commander lifted an optic ridge, swiping his hand forward and down. "Go ahead. Take it," he eagerly encouraged.

For a nano-click or two, Starscream believed TC was going to refuse. However, he knew he won when after he was shot a rather blazing look, the blue Seeker went toward the creature, picking it up as he exited the throne room.

Starscream felt a victory of sorts. Thundercracker taking a slave was the first true sign that his brother was acclimating. Earth fallen, they still needed to keep the inhabitants in line. And it was encouraging to see that TC was finally willing to participate.

Earth wasn't much different from some of the other planets the Decepticons conquered. Perhaps a little brighter, more water, humidity and always changing weather, and even more indigenous beings than usual: the humans.

Thundercracker's introduction to humanity had been when Megatron brought the world leaders together, executing them for everyone to see. Red liquid burst forth as it readily drained from the creatures' laser holed bodies, the humans slumping, rolling and dropping down. Screams and yells followed from the astonished crowd before they too brought down the wrath of Megatron. It was a messy occasion all around.

Two months was all it took until Earth was under Megatron's large digit. The planet was split up into sections as some of his subordinates were given a section to rule. Starscream, of course, made sure he got the biggest chunk of all. Wasting no time, he built a base and settled himself commander over more than before.

And Starscream, Thundercracker knew, got pleasure out of tormenting the humans and rounding up many as he forced them to do his bidding. Some, he sent to mines, the unwanted to camps and a few randomly chosen as personal slaves.

Thundercracker, however, held no interest for the humans. The fact that they allowed themselves to be conquered showed of their lack of intelligence and ingenuity. He most certainly did not want to be served by the inferior fleshbags. Not that that stopped any of the other Cons.

Skywarp said they were privileged to be slaves. Most of the humans left alive were scattered across the planet, fighting among themselves for survival. But taken in by them, they were sheltered and fed and given the noble purpose of serving the Decepticons.

He had already been stationed on the planet for a year. Yet still, Thundercracker was avidly waiting for the order to depart. However, there he was once again. Starscream was sitting on his overly ostentatious throne, TC leaning against the far wall, his wingmate boasting of all they had accomplished and what they were about to do. Thundercracker found himself drifting. He had heard it all before. Eradicate this. Dominate that. Acquire more. Build up their strength. The undertone of it all, for the ones who really knew the Air Commander and could decipher between the lines, was the conclusion of it all: the downfall of Megatron. A goal that Starscream exceeded the obsession mark on some time ago.

A new batch of slaves was brought in. Thundercracker didn't usually take notice of such a routine event, but out of boredom, his optics slid toward the creatures.

The humans were acting as they always did, panicking and crying, some still and withdrawn, all frightened. His wandering gaze stopped when he found eyes latching onto his optics and holding firm, drawing his attention in even as he felt a level of outrage. It was the first time he had made optic contact with any of them. Not that there hadn't been a lack of opportunity, but in truth, the humans were of little consequence.

Thundercracker waited for the creature to advert its gaze, to look away and falter. Few dared to look at a Decepticon head on. It was an unwritten rule. More than a few humans had lost their life due to the impudence. Straightening up and stretching to his full height, wings rising, he stood tall. TC knew that to them, he was quite an impressive sight and one to be feared.

Yes, there was fear in those tiny orbs of vision. He saw that clearly. However, the mutual contact was not broken. The eyes opened wide, bursting with other emotions that were universally identifiable: anger, contempt, rebellion.

That caught his attention. The creature seemed to realize what was it was conveying, fear building even as its head fell down, visual contact broken.

Thundercracker should have terminated it right then. Instead, he found his vision zooming back forward as he studied the creature more fully. It was huddled with the rest of its kind, caged in by the vigilant slave trappers and obviously mindful of the dangerous weaponry that each of those Cons had and were prepared to use, should any of the humans be stupid enough to try anything. Arms wrapped in front of its body, back pushed tightly against the wall; it was so very still. When it shifted and stretched over an hour later was when he realized the thing was a female. When he first arrived on the planet, TC didn't know how to tell the things apart, let alone that there were different genders, but now it was easier.

Her clothes were a mess, shirt torn, patches of dried blood here and there that spoke of unseen injuries. She had obviously fought against being captured. TC knew he shouldn't have kept watching her. Knew he had far more important things to do.

Listening to what Starscream was saying for one.

And then she looked up, found his optics, and once more they were staring at one another. It didn't last as long as the first time. As soon as their gazes collided, she pulled back and shifted her view elsewhere. Hunching toward her legs, she tried to make herself invisible.

The first time was perhaps inevitable. The second time she looked upon him was defying the odds. Again, the thought that he was supposed to kill the creature entered his processor. Another thought came that bypassed and erased the other.

Perhaps humans weren't such a cowardly lot after all.

Not even ten minutes later the creature was in Thundercracker's palm, a gift from Starscream.

TC was far from pleased.

Thundercracker dropped her off at the slave quarters, instructions given that she was to be cleaned up. She was returned an hour later, put down in front of him on his workstation. She was trembling, her head downcast. Damp brownish red hair curtained before her head, blocking her face.

"I am Thundercracker, Air Commander in the Decepticon forces. You now belong to me," he started, expecting something but the creature only flinched. She curled forward and tried to fold into her body.

"Human?"

TC's digit came forward and tapped her, a little more roughly than he intended for the creature went sprawling to the side. She quickly recovered. Pushing her legs back underneath her tiny body, her head remained bowed low.

"Am I to be your slave?" she finally spoke. The words were quiet, yet disturbed with bitter emotions.

"That or I can send you to the mines or one of the camps. It makes little difference."

At first, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. She was suddenly laughing, a queer sounding eruption that ended as abruptly as it started. She inhaled sharply. The area underneath her head and hair colored with small droplets.

"Mines are death. Camps are death. Slavery is death. You are right. There is no difference." Her tone of voice was soft, bitterness attached to it that she failed to hide.

Yet again, the creature stole his attention. He felt a sense of primal power fill his circuit relays. The domination over the unusual organic felt somehow satisfying. Thundercracker was starting to understand the appeal.

He already decided to keep the creature.

She started to unfold her body, head lifting upwards. For a nano-click, he thought she was going to risk looking at him once more. At the last moment, she diverted her attention to the side instead. She had obviously been properly informed of how her masters were to be treated. But it did allow Thundercracker to get a proper look at the human. Her flesh was ashen, frame small and rather insignificant under the uniform provided, and as all humanoid organics, she appeared to be equipped with nothing extremely striking or anything unique.

"Look at me, human," he ordered.

Begrudgingly, she did as she was told. And that was when he caught sight of her eyes. In the darkness of the throne room, he did not bother deciphering them any clearer. But he saw them with clarity now, a greenish hue of sorts that was currently void of readable emotions, hindered by liquid that pooled in their depths.

"You are leaking. You were to be checked for malfunctions before you were brought here," he voiced with agitation. Thundercracker leaned down and peered closer.

"I was," she cringed at his nearness, angling her head to the side and away from his penetrating optics. Scanners showed her life organ picking up its already steady pace, a rupture of thumping commencing that resounded through his audio receptors.

"I was, my Lord," he corrected.

She flinched, mouth tightening. "I was, my Lord," the girl repeated back slowly.

"Then why are you leaking?" Thundercracker asked of the creature. His optics swept over her form while searching for further irregularities.

"It is a natural occurrence for all humans... my Lord," she whispered, voice garbled. "I will try not to let it happen again." With that she resolutely wiped her eyes off with the back of her hand.

"Be sure that it does not. I have enough to contend with, without a human losing bio fluids in my quarters." He picked her up without warning and placed the creature below his pediforms and before the door. Swiping his hand before a sensory panel, it slid open. "Now, leave me. Do not return until I summon you." TC noticed the way she peered out into the hallway, even noticed the telltale signs of her body language.

"Escape is impossible. Death, however, is always an option," Thundercracker let her know.

By the slumping of her shoulders, the human understood him clearly. She stepped out of his chambers and turned toward the slave quarters. Her steps were slow yet steady. She didn't look back.