Leaning on his leader heavily, Ultra Magnus was helped to a berth. Ratchet looked over with a worried expression clouding his faceplates.

"Ratchet, prepare the med bay." Optimus ordered. Ratchet obeyed, bringing his tools to Ultra Magnus' side.

"Of course, old friend. What happened?"

"Im not sure. We were talking and he suddenly collapsed."

"Dont sugar coat it commander," The Sub Commander groaned, being set down, "I fainted."

"Let me run some scans." Ratchet said. "Have you been fueling regularly?"

"I have." He answered the CMO, resting his head down and closing his optics.

"We'll wait for the scans, make sure your firewalls are secure." Magnus nodded and grunts.

"All right, out with it. You're hiding something."

"Ive been doing a lot of recon work with out permission. It could just be that I'm over-exerting myself." He said with a sigh.

"That would explain those headaches you mentioned to me." Optimus chimed in.

"The scans are coming back normal. Where have you been patrolling?"

"Close to the base. I went out for a drive one night and heard a noise, so I've been doing extra patrols since."

"What kind of a noise?" Ratchet said with a frown.

"It was a dull thump, I think. Why?"

Ratchet growled silently "The scans aren't showing anything and I'm wondering if you were exposed to something."

"Like what?" Magnus asked, frowning deeper.

"We don't know everything about this organic planet or what it could possibly do to us. Also since Shockwave's return to the Decepticons, who knows what THAT one has come up with." Ratchet stares at the scanner. "Let me try one more test." He slowly runs a scanner down Magnus' chestplates and stares at the scanner. One optic ridge rises and he looks up at

Optimus and Magnus."Is there something either, or both of you want to tell me?"

"No." Magnus said quickly.

Optimus looked thoroughly confused. "Both of…? Oh…"

"Its not the commander's!" Magnus yelped, his face heating up.

"So, Commander, who should I ask to join us?"

"It's… It's Starscream's…"

Ratchet stood unmoving, even his ventilations ceased. Ultra Magnus dropped his gaze to the floor as Prime looked from him to

the medic. Slowly Ratchet unfroze, his fingers closing on the handle of his favorite wrench.

"Starscream." His voiced sounded strangled. "Second in Command of the Decepticons and their Air Commander? that Starscream?"

"Yes…" Tears start to come to his eyes, and he curses his new hormonal state. Ratchet is quiet as he taps the wrench against his lip plates.

"We may have a very big problem on our servos. We may have to consider the possibility that Starscream is already aware of your condition. Seekers are coded on sparklings and sparked carriers. If that's the case, nothing and no 'Bot will stop him from finding Magnus and his sparklet. I can use the secret embedded frequency he has used to contact us.

"Optimus, Magnus, what do you say?"

"I believe things will get very dangerous if we don't contact him right away." Optimus offered.

"It … wouldn't hurt to contact him." Magnus mumbled.

Ratchet types the secure channel access code.

"This is Autobot outpost Omega One contacting Starscream. Are you receiving?"

"Depends." Starscream sneered. "Are you calling to offer me your absolute and unconditional surrender?"

"No," Ratchet growled.

"Then I can't hear you."

"Then you will remain unaware of the rather surprising developments regarding Ultra Magnus."

"Why would I care about whatever is wrong with Magnus?"

"Starscream, we know about the two of you, and Magnus is facing a serious medical issue. I will relay coordinates to you where to meet to discuss this. If you are not there, we will take it to mean you truly do not care."

Ratchet cuts the com before Starscream can answer and turns back to Optimus and Magnus.

"Im coming with you." Magnus said, standing.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Starscream sat back and stared at the wall of his lab, beaker slipping from his grasp to the counter.

Slagging Autobot Medic. Why should he care what's wrong with Ultra Magnus? He's Starscream, Winglord of Vos. Vos, a painful knot laced his spark. How long had it been since his home had fallen? Closing his optics he could still see the shimmering spires that graced the sky. It would do him no good to wallow in the memories of what had been.

Shaking his helm, Starscream continued his inner grumbling. He is Air Commander, Second-In-Command of the exalted Decepticon Army. An army that had little to no respect for him, thanks in large part to their insufferable fool of a leader. Megatron used every opportunity to undermine, insult and belittle Starscream. As though it were the Air Commanders fault the war had descended into a never ending stalemate.

Slapping his servo on the counter, Starscream shoved the chair he was in back and began pacing. No, this wasn't about Megatron. This was about that stupid Medic and his message. Come find out what's wrong with Ultra Magnus or don't.

Ultra Magnus. Forget the Autobot commander. Sure, he and Magnus were fragging on the sly, but that certainly didn't mean he cared about the Autobot. No, the two were just taking what pleasure they could find from each other in this processor numbing war.

So what if Magnus listened to him when he talked about science and his studies from the Academy. It meant nothing that Magnus had been the first gentle, affectionate touch Starscream had felt since his beloved trinemates had fallen millennia ago.

Squeezing his optics closed, Starscream battled the fluid rapidly filling them at the thought of Skywarp and Thundercracker. He should have offlined with them.

The two had also listened to ramble on about his studies, his new invention, flying. Neither had ever mocked or ridiculed him. Sure, they had teased him, but always with great affection.

The end of them had been the end of gentle, teasing, and affection…until Magnus. He wasn't even sure how the two had started up with each other. One click they were exchange laser blasts, the next circuits.

Whatever was wrong with the Autobot was serious enough that he had wanted the other Autotbots to contact Starscream. That alone set his wings rigid.

Clicking his talons on the counter he commed Knockout.

"Yes, Her Commadant."

"Knockout, I am need of gypsum, quartz and pulverized limestone. Do you have any in your stores?"

"No. I don't even believe we have any on board."

"Figures. Very well."

"Soundwave, I will be offship for the forseeable future. I am in need of vital minerals and there is no way I'm trusting those fool Eradicons with the task. Morons, the lot of them."

Understood.

Starscream left his lab and walked down the corridors of the Nemesis, his field bristling like jagged razors. The few Eradicons and Insecticons he passed gave him a wide path. When he reached the deck, he launched himself, transforming as he fell. His only thought was one he refused to acknowledge. Please don't let me lose Magnus too.