Author's Notes: I wanted to put my own spin on Starscream being captured by the Autobots in the Shattered Glass universe; a common premise, I know, but maybe I have something new to bring to the table. I'm incorporating a little more of Starscream's backstory from the SG comics than I have before, but like my other SG fics, I'm imagining the Transformers: Prime characters as I write this. I really do love that show too much. However, you can imagine it in any continuity that you want, despite some strictly Prime-based elements. I haven't quite decided yet, but Jack, Miko, and Raf might make an appearance, and other stuff like that.

As usual, Transformers and its characters don't belong to me. I'd love a Starscream plushie, though.

Clipped Wings
By Annie-chan
Chapter One: Captured

Starscream sliced through the air, the wind howling around his audials as he flew. He was on his way back from a reconnaissance mission, having nothing of importance to report. No readings to suggest buried energon that could be mined, and also no Autobot activity in the area.

It was turning out to be an altogether unremarkable day.

He was flying much lower and slower than usual, mainly to alleviate his boredom by observing the ground below. The area was uninhabited by humans, mostly scrubland interspersed with sprays of trees here and there. It wasn't the prettiest landscape he had ever seen, but there certainly was enough to look at. Occasionally he'd even spot some wildlife. Unfortunately, said wildlife was often in the process of fleeing, startled by the unfamiliar sound of his engines.

Starscream sighed inwardly. He would love to study the flora and fauna of this planet up close, but that was currently not a possibility. First and foremost, his duties as Megatron's first lieutenant left little time for him to indulge his scientific side, something that had grieved him for quite some time, and he could not in good conscience relinquish his duties in order to pursue his passion for knowledge. He was too personally invested in this war to do that. There was just too much at stake for him to throw it all away, especially for such selfish reasons. He owed it to his subordinates and his bondmate to see this war through to its conclusion.

He was distracted from his thoughts by a sudden ping coming across his internal comm unit. Someone was hailing him over a public frequency. When he checked who the salutation was from, his ember sputtered in shock.

Optimus Prime.

He was immediately perplexed. Why was the Autobot leader calling him? There was no reason for them to speak to each other. None that Starscream wanted to consider, at least.

Movement below caught his optics. Looking down again, he saw that there was a semi-truck traveling beneath him, going in the same direction and more or less keeping pace. His ember fluttered again when he realized that he recognized that particular truck.

Optimus Prime was shadowing him from the ground. So much for no Autobot activity in the area. Where in the Pit had he come from?

Really, Starscream should just ignore the enemy leader and continue on to Megatron's ship. He was capable of speeds far above what any ground vehicle, even a Cybertronian one, was capable of. He could leave Optimus in the dust, no problem. In his gut, Starscream knew that was the wisest course of action. There was no good reason he should pay any attention to the Prime at this moment.

He found himself slowing anyway. Against his better judgment, he began searching for a suitable landing spot. Optimus had contacted him just like anyone else would. Unassuming, non-forceful, over a public channel. It was not something Starscream had experienced before from the enemy commander. What if…what if he really should stop? Maybe this was important…

His sharp optics spied a clear place to land, and he put on an extra burst of speed. He had to give Optimus plenty of time to stop without running into him or zipping past. Reaching his destination, he pulled up sharply in an overhead flip, transformed into his bipedal form, and dropped to the ground.

Optimus transformed right after he did, skidding to a halt in a cloud of dust about two hundred feet from the seeker.

Starscream stood stalk still as the Prime emerged from the dust cloud, his pedefalls heavy upon the rocky ground. The familiar details of his bulk came more into focus as he approached, and a feeling of dread settled in Starscream's fuel tank. What are you doing, you idiot?! he berated himself. Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea…

"Starscream," Optimus said, almost sighing the seeker's designation. A shiver passed through Starscream's sensornet. It sounded as if the Prime were speaking to a lovemate, not an enemy combatant.

"Optronix," he replied, keeping his voice steady. He gave a curt nod, acknowledging the other mech.

Optimus stopped, then cycled a sigh, shaking his helm. "How many times must I tell you? That is not my designation anymore."

"It is who you will always be to me." In all honesty, Starscream wasn't quite sure why he continued to call the Prime by his original designation. He suspected that it was an unconscious effort to show contempt for the Autobot commander without being obviously disrespectful. It was as if he were saying, I refuse to acknowledge you as a Prime.

"Nostalgia, Starscream?" The seeker could tell that he was smiling beneath his battle mask. "Something you indulge in often?"

"Why did you hail me?" Starscream cut in. He would not let Optimus dredge up unwelcome memories. He had to stay alert. A much larger, much stronger enemy mech was only a few short steps away from him, after all.

"I wanted to see you," was the Prime's simple, unembellished answer. His red optics were glowing. There was something akin to affection in his gaze, which he raked down Starscream's lithe form unashamedly.

Starscream's vents stalled. Primus below, not this. He really didn't need this right now. Not from Optimus Prime, of all mechs. "Why?" was all he managed to say out loud, even after resetting his vocalizer twice.

Optimus tilted his helm, as if curious. "Why did you stop?"

Starscream's wings hiked up, his optics widening. He had no answer. The feeling of dread had not dissipated; if anything, it had gotten stronger. Run, you idiot, a voice in his processor urged. Fly away now and don't look back.

"I supposed I'm a fool," Optimus said after a moment, a rueful smile in his voice. "I keep hoping against hope that I will someday bring you over to where you rightfully belong."

"I am where I belong," Starscream snapped, scowling. "You really are a fool if you think there is any way in the Pit that I will ever join you. After everything you've done?! Not just to Cybertron, but to my people?! To me personally?!" He was shaking, his servos clenched into fists, optics narrowed.

Optimus shook his helm, cycling a sigh. "Oh, Starscream, I had such high hopes for you, but then you threw in your lot with the Decepticons. They will never learn to appreciate the great gift you've given them. Your genius, your beauty, your courage…you squander your potential among those soft-embered weaklings!"

"I 'threw in my lot' with them because they saved me from you!" Starscream all but screeched at the Autobot before him. "You destroyed my city, murdered my people, and made me watch! Then you kept me caged and tormented for cycles upon cycles! All because I had the ball bearings to reject you! So many innocents have suffered, so many have died because of your Pit-spawned pride!" His voice broke, vocalizer faltering under the force of his emotions. He was shaking so badly his dentals rattled. "You ruined any chance you had to win me to your side before I ever met Megatron!"

"Your beloved bondmate," Optimus sneered, his tone mocking. "Tell me, my little princeling: when he frags you, is it ever me that you see, that you feel? Do you ever think of all those times that you warmed my berth?"

Starscream choked. Only once, only the first time, was he ever willing. Every other time…

This had gotten out of servo. He knew that this was a bad idea!

"I don't have to listen to this!" he hissed, and turned away. He couldn't let the Prime see the tears beginning to gather in his optics.

"Starscream!" Optimus roared, starting forward. "Don't you dare turn your backplates on me again!"

Starscream's pedes left the ground, he initiated his transformation sequence…

…something small impacted his chassis, and then his world dissolved into pain.

Optimus Prime watched impassively as Starscream dropped to the ground, shrieking at the top of his vocalizer. His chassis reverted back to its bipedal mode; the pain of an interrupted transformation sequence was surely drowned out by the far greater pain firing through the seeker's sensornet. White and blue bolts of electricity crawled over his convulsing frame.

After about five klicks, he collapsed to the dirt, shivering violently. Smoke began to rise from underneath his plating, the distinct odor of charred circuitry rising as well. His optics were wide and unseeing, one of them flickering, on the brink of failing entirely. Stray charge continued to crackle over his chassis, popping and crackling audibly.

Optimus hadn't consciously made the decision to fire the shock dart. He had seen Starscream about to take off and leave him behind—again—and had acted on impulse. He couldn't say that he regretted the action, however. It had proven quite effective; Starscream wasn't going anywhere now.

Though, as he walked over to the downed seeker, he saw that the damage was quite extensive. It hadn't just shocked him, it had nearly electrocuted him. The darts Wheeljack had supplied him with had clearly been calibrated for mechs much larger than Starscream.

Optimus could have killed the other mech without meaning to. That would definitely have made him angry. He would have to have a word with Wheeljack about being more forthcoming about his inventions' capabilities.

He crouched down, bending over the seeker, gripping his chin and making their optics meet. Starscream appeared to attempt to speak, but all that his vocalizer emitted was a painful-sounding burst of static, sparks lighting up his intake briefly. Ocular lubricant dripped down his faceplates, and he gurgled pitifully, the closest his ravaged chassis could get to sobbing in pain and fear.

Optimus brushed Starscream's tears away with deceptive gentleness. Smiling behind his battle mask, satisfied that his captive was entirely at his mercy, he activated his comm unit.

"Ratchet, ready your medical bay and send a ground bridge to my coordinates. I am bringing a very special guest back with me."

To be continued…