Chapter 1
The loud whirring of fans, whimpers and the noise of a metal frame writhing on a metal berth filled the darkened berthroom. Starscream groaned, onlining his dim orange optics as he struggled to awaken from recharge. The red and white mech flinched when he heard his comms flare to life, a sharp, loud voice shouting down it.
"STARSCREAM!"
Resetting his voice box, he answered,
"Yes sir?"
"Ger down here this instant! You are late!"
Before the seeker could apologise, the comm link abruptly cut off. Starscream sighed and unsteadily got to his feet. His mini-con beeped in earnest, finally getting the seekers' attention.
"I'm alright, Swindle. Just got up too quickly."
Unsatisfied with the answer, he went to shout after the young mech but found the seeker had already left his berthroom, making his way down the corridor towards his leaders' throne room.
Starscream took a deep intake and squared his shoulders before making his way into the room, ignoring the other set of optics on him. He bowed to one knee immediately as Megatrons' furious optics met his.
"Sorry sir, I did not realise the tim-"
He bit back a whimper as Megatron suddenly pounced towards him, dragging him to his feet by his left wing.
"Obviously" the Decepticon leader growled into his audio receptors.
Once his wing was released, he quickly steadied himself as his legs threatened to buckle. His wings lowered and optics averted, he was happy to show submission when he like scrap. He could feel his teammates optics on him but he fought to ignore it, it was hard enough to pay attention to Megatrons latest plans. He barely bit back a yelp as he suddenly found himself face to face with his aggitated leader once again,
"Did you get all that, Starscream?"
The seeker couldn't stop a flinch resulting from the quiet, hissed, question.
"Yes sir"
He keep his gaze to the floor, waiting for Megatron gave them the permission to be excused.
Barking out his orders, Megatron watched his troops leave but found Demolisher still lingered about the doorway,
"What is it Demolisher?"
"With all due respect sir, I think...well believe, eh-"
"Spit it OUT!"
"Sorry! I believe Starscream has contracted a virus."
Megatron scoffed, marching past the tank transformer.
Demolisher sighed at the now empty room. He just hoped Starscream would hold up, at least until the end of the battle.
Starscream dodged another round of fire, panting and yelping as his wings were clipped. His frame felt as though it was on fire, his chest heaving, his fans desperate to cool his systems. The seeker desperately searched the battlefield for his teammates but found nothing, just barren wasteland. He whimpered, finding out his communication system was offline. Finding a place to hide, he curled up into himself, listening to the quieting battlefield.
He came online quickly. Shallow, painful intakes nearling stalling at the sound of large footsteps approaching his hiding place. The seeker barely managed to hold back the whimpers when the familiar enraged face of his leader came into view. He couldn't decide what would have been worse, Megatron finding him or some Autobot.
"Si-"
"Shut it, Starscream!"
The enraged Decepticon leader stormed closer but stopped abruptly. To his surprise, and to Starscream's horror, the seekers intakes hitched loudly, harshly. Starscream dropped his wings low, fighting back the whimpers that bubbled up inside him. He suddenly felt the need to purge. Diverting his optics, he failed to notice Megatrons softening demeanor.
Starscream was still young, much younger than his other soldiers, therefore still having that effect on Transformers. Even Decepticons found it harder to harm the young but not impossible, as Megatron knew. He studied the fliers' frame.
He noted the dim and glazed orange optics, the moisture dotted on his frame, fans whirring loudly, shallow, gasping intakes. Demolisher was right.
Megatron reached for Starscream's arm and dragged him to his feet. At the sudden movement, Starscream groaned, his optics offling, his frame going limp as he was lost to the darkness. The larger mech scowled at the now unconscious seeker. The commander onlined his comm link and demanded a warp gate to be opened, glancing down at the overly warm Starscream.
