Cities burned and crumbled to dust: the longer the Autobots waited and didn't come out, the more the Decepticons raged, wanting to lure them out. Thundercracker didn't mind smashing buildings, but killing people? They were helpless, pathetic, and posed no threat. Thundercracker didn't want to kill them.

So he picked you up, saving you from a burning, collapsing building. Soundwave insisted that he kill you: Humans aren't worth leaving alive. Thundercracker had a hard time convincing his brothers that you were just a toy for his amusement. Did he really think that? No. But what else could he say to convince them not to hurt you?

He pitied you as the strong pities the weak. As payment for your protection, you told him about people - now he knew more about their social structure, their social hierarchy and themselves. Your stories were curious and whiled away his time.

You sat on the sandy shore, washed by the waves. Thundercracker couldn't go down into the ocean to Nemesis - at least not with you. Humans were so... Fragile. They couldn't even breathe underwater. Maybe he should have let you go instead of keeping you close, but what if you fell into Decepticon hands again? He wouldn't save you a second time.

So he listened in silence as you told him the sad story of how your parents had died before your eyes. It sounded... unpleasant. Thundercracker didn't want the Decepticons to needlessly destroy someone so helpless and pathetic, but what could he do to stop them? All he could do was try to support you, and even that was not going well.

"I don't want Decepticons killing people when you can't even threaten us, but all I can do is save your life." Thundercracker looked out at the ocean as you sat on his palm. It was ironic that you felt safe with him, even though he was a Decepticon. "I'm sorry,"