OKAY SO, this is the 3rd time I've revised this crap fic. I've been working on it since like 2010 and yea h
"We're all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars" -Oscar Wilde
Starscream was never one to give up on anything. He was always filled with determination that everyone else could only dream of. That was what he was known for, essentially being too stubborn.
But one day he gave up on trying to be himself. When he witnessed another seeker's death, he was reminded that the seekers were manufactured for whatever purpose their creators wanted. They were merely machines, void of emotion. No one but him reacted to his old trinemate's sudden death. It created a twisted feeling in his spark. It separated him apart from the others.
But Starscream knew he was destined to be who he wanted to be, not how someone else wanted him to be. He realized that long before the others. He was the odd one.
Then he got into Iacon Academy. His days there were harsh and extremely difficult for him to deal with. Everyone on Cybertron knew seekers weren't supposed to attend classes, it was a ridiculous concept. It was even rare for regular fliers to get in, much less a seeker. How Starscream did it was a mystery.
The only one Starscream had beside him during those days was Skywarp, until he met another mech.
Skyfire.
Soon after that however, Skywarp left the planet to join the guard and Thundercracker move halfway across the planet. Starscream drifted away from social interactions as he buried himself in scientific research. He wasn't heard from again in a long time.
CHAPTER ONE
Skyfire tried again and again to contact Starscream. All efforts failed.
The seeker sat at his study, his chin resting on his hands as he propped himself up. He had a look of pure determination on his face as he stared at the information displayed to him by his data pad. His optics locked on his phone as he heard the vibrating noise. He knew it was Skyfire calling him again, but he ignored it. He couldn't talk to him. He couldn't talk to anyone anymore. Just being away from everyone for so long created anxiety within him which made it difficult to converse with anyone now.
Skyfire opted to leave Starscream alone. He attended classes and went with his friends, wondering when Starscream would contact him again. He always carried his phone with him, hoping he would hear something from the seeker.
After nine months, Skyfire stopped sneaking his phone into class. He made some good friends in his class, but they rarely talked outside of the Academy. He wasn't interested in having a new best friend. He patiently waited for Starscream to return.
Months turned into years. The day that Skywarp and TC left was the last day Skyfire ever heard from Starscream again.
That was until six years later. Skyfire's cell rang as he was writing. The ring startled him and he hesitantly reached for it. He picked it up to check the caller ID.
It was him. It was Starscream.
Skyfire answered his phone immediately and it seemed that Starscream wanted to meet up with him. The seeker forgot to give a location, but Skyfire had a slim idea where his friend was regardless.
The shuttle landed just outside an old apartment complex that had seen better days. It was rusted and seemed to have lost its color. Skyfire only hoped that Starscream didn't match his dwelling. Without the apartment keepers best renter, he ran himself out of business trying to jack prices up. Within months, the complex was abandoned. Skyfire had a hunch that his friend would have returned to occupy the empty space.
He made his way up to the door that was labeled with '117'. If Starscream was anywhere, he would be here. Skyfire smile to himself, remembering Tennessine as his friend's favorite element. Why was it Tennessine? Skyfire would never be able to tell you.
He opened the door and saw that the inside was actually cleaner than the outside. He didn't say anything until he got up the stairs to Starscream's old room.
"Hello? 'Screamer?" He called. As he rounded the corner, a familiar red, white, and blue seeker turned to greet him.
"Skyfire! It's good to see you again." He shook his friend's hand. Skyfire observed Starscream and noticed that he was perfectly fine. He worried for nothing. Glancing around, he saw that Starscream had posters displaying different galaxies and planets. They littered the walls. Almost as if the seeker had been planning something for six years. Skyfire frowned.
"I see you've been busy with…" He didn't know what Starscream was doing, but it looked unhealthy. As if this is what he was obsessing with for so many years. It looked well thought out though. Impressive even.
"Aeronautics and interplanetary travel," The seeker finished for him as he paced beside a wall covered in charts and directions, "I've studied the terrain and make up of a planet that caught my eye a while ago."
Skyfire could only stare as he examined the map. It looked to be a layout of a galaxy he had never seen before, but then he read the title out loud,
"The Milky Way Galaxy," A memory clicked, "Starscream, we talked about this years ago." He reminded his friend. Starscream waved him off,
"Yes, yes, I know. We researched Earth to the best of our ability that year."
"Yes…" Skyfire's voice held confusion. He watched the seeker sit down and turn on a data pad. He remembered that was the year of the incident with Thundercracker leaving his brothers. They had cut their study short that day and never looked back.
"I've been researching that new element that you had mentioned so long ago." Suddenly, the data pad lit up and displayed a holographic projection in front of the two fliers. Skyfire sat down across from Starscream and leaned forward. The seeker used his digits to input a password, bringing up more coordinates.
"I have written down everything that is needed to make a trip to Earth, stay a few days, and come back. Before classes start up again of course."
"You're asking me to come with you then?" Skyfire inquired. Starscream steepled his digits.
"Yes, I am asking you to come with me," He stood up from his seat and put his servos behind his back, "I know I haven't been...fair," He paused, "But I know I need someone to accompany me on this trip. I can't go alone."
Skyfire sighed and sat back in his chair. He closed his optics for a moment to think. Starscream turned around after he didn't hear a response.
"What, are you recharging?" He snorted. Skyfire sat back up and rolled his optics.
"If you must know, I'm contemplating."
"What could you possibly be contemplating? You're the one who wanted to go all those years ago." He reminded. The shuttle let out a sigh.
"Starscream," He began, "You have basically been missing off the face of Cybertron for six years and now you want to travel to another planet to disappear again?" His voice was laced with concern and annoyance. Why did his friend want to leave so suddenly and so badly? Skyfire wasn't notified of Starscream's actions prior to their meeting, so what did the seeker want exactly?
"I-" Starscream paused for a moment to think of a way to explain things. Skyfire crossed his servos and waited. He was tired of trying to read Starscream. He wanted straight answers.
"Skywarp has been hurt." Ah. There it was. Starscream didn't want to sugar coat it anymore, apparently.
"Hurt? Isn't he with the Elite Guard? Very rarely is anyone injured in that squad." Skyfire observed from the past. They seemed like capable fighters?
"It seems that during their last mission to Moon Base I, there was a critical station error. Fuel tanks exploded or something, but he's okay. He's stable.. for now." Was his lazy explanation.
"For now…" Skyfire repeated, "What does this have to do with going to Earth?" He was impatient now and urged Starscream to give answers.
"I studied the healing properties of the element we observed on Earth. Skywarp's injuries are life threatening and untreatable. I'm thinking that perhaps the element could help. There is a possibility it could be used to heal Cybertronians, but I'm not positive…" His voice trailed off as he sat in his chair spinning. He suddenly stopped however, and faced Skyfire,
"That's where you come in. I need someone to help me make the journey to Earth." The seeker held a servo in front of Skyfire, "And not just as transportation, but as a friend."
"Deal?" A small smile formed on Starscream's face. Skyfire was hesitant, but sighed and shook his servo.
"Deal."
"Perfect!" The seeker jumped from his chair. Skyfire said nothing as he watched Starscream grab papers, notebooks, tools, and other things. He didn't know how long his friend had been planning this trip for. He didn't know how long it's been since Skywarp had been hurt either. He just didn't know how long the seeker had been alone.
As Starscream prepared, Skyfire let him know that he was going to the Academy to pick up a few things for himself. He kept extensive research of the element from before, but still he had no idea what the element was capable of.