Disclaimer: 'Transformers' and all related media, merchandise and trademarks do not belong to me and I won't any money from using them in this fiction. They belong to their respective companies. Any original characters or concepts in this story that are from other fictions are used with direct permission from the authors in question.
Spark Eater
Prologue: Imprinting
Earth. 20th September 2005
There was a time when the grounds of Cybertron weren't dark with the ashes of the millions of burned, extinguished sparks.
Actually, before the war came devastating everything on its way, there was a time when the planet itself would seem a live creature made up by metal, shining and reflecting the faint tingling of the stars all around its form.
But that was a memory long forgotten. As well as the feeling to fly in the rushing wind across the skies of his home planet. His wings felt all but heavy through the steady, sickening still air of the atmosphere while he soared over the ruins.
The Seeker let out a rasping, high-pitched shriek.
Primus. Everytime I get back this place seems worse than before.
It irritated him to no end how his powerful, roaring engines would meet the numb sensation of the nothingness around him, but it irritated him even more the simple idea that, despite his will, he couldn't push himself to full power.
To claim command over what remains of the Decepticon Army is the only slagging reason worth for my return here, frag it- one of his scanners abruptly started to beeping faintly.
He barrel-rolled, just to try and shrug off that tedious feeling of heaviness, pointing his nose to the ground and bending down with a twist. A booming sonic wave erupted from his sleek form, scanning and recording the details that surrounded him, sending back to him an overview of the land below.
Old craters scattered here and there, where old explosions had left only cold holes; dust; old buildings almost unrecognizable; dust; smashed columns; a claw-like pylaster almost eroded from time. Dust. Again. And- six hundred feet above the shadowy, glowing fog that swallowed the surface of Cybertron, invisible traces of heat that rose in swirls.
It didn't take too much to identify the body.
Almost covered from the fluttering mist, the protoform was laying in an awkward angle on the dirt. A thin coat of ice-like crystals covered its whole frame, melting only immediately near the hole in its chassis.
The smell of burned metal and wires, as well as the fluids that were slowly filling the gape where the spark chamber of the mech once had been, was obnoxious. He suppressed a disgusted growl and took again for the sky, gaining height second by second.
He settled the his internal scanners on the traces of the still warm plasma burst that had taken the life of the now dead carcass.
With the Autobots gone, scattered around the galaxy- some to flee from their enemies, other probably still searching for the Allspark- Cybertron was like a ghost, fluttering mute in the space: except for eventual survivals and very few other creatures, no one inhabited it anymore- and that was what made it the perfect refuge for the remaining Decepticon troops.
Hiding among the leftovers of the age-long war or in the old mines, alone or in small groups, but still an almost constant presence on their lost world.
And being the Decepticons, by nature and birthright, a race that didn't care at all for weakling and companionship, finding victims of the fight that often bursted among their ranking wasn't so uncommon.
Although it was such a waste.
Suddenly, a new noise buzzed through the air.
At first he couldn't almost recognize the source of it. But soon the initial growling, crackling sound grew louder and louder as the sleek, light form of an alien aircraft emerged from the shadows of the horizon. The deep blue paintjob gleamed darkly under the faint light of the nearest star.
The Air Commander let out an hiss in satisfaction as the sound reached the limits and exploded in the booming, thundering ear-splitting roar that had earned his wingmate the name of Thundercraker; so many Autobots cowered in dread at the thought of the flier when the battle for the Allspark was still on Cybertron- and oh, how many memories.
The thrill of destruction, the screeches of mirth that echoed as the ground pounders were left exposed to the fire of his trine.
His own shriek detonated in the heavens.
He didn't care for the strange, high-pitched, faint noise that was ringing under the deep rumble of his brother until it became louder, louder, louder, LOUDER-
The body fell with a deaf thump right in the blood-stained grass, shivering.
He didn't know that humans could emit sound so high.
He tried to shake the disturbing shrill that was coming from the small figure somewhere near his claw off of his audio receptors. His instinct was starting to make its way inside his processor, commanding him to do something to just end the hideous noise. It would be so, oh so simple- just pick up the fleshbag and squish it. Carve a hole in its body. Off-line. Won't be making any sound anymore. Do it!
The Seeker hissed loudly, jaw clenched so hard the metal could be heard screeching. The human was on his knees and hands, struggling to balance itself enough to crawl away from him, but it was so obvious that it was so slow. He could end this before it was able to see the incoming threat. One of his long, thin talon twitched, moving towards the shaking, petite frame, looming over the earthling for a moment before coming down, cutting the texture of the clothes.
Another screech erupted from the small creature's mouth as it hit the ground, one hand gripping its chest; only, this time- and with utterly horror- the Seeker felt his own scratchy voice raising up in a shriek as a flash of burning white light sent a jolt of agonizing pain up his arm and through his chest, digging in the deepest reaches of his inner spark.
Oh, no. No, no, no, slag it all! That couldn't be!
The pain tingled brutally for many, interminable seconds and then slowly decreased, allowing him to suck in air through his vent. Images flashed briefly inside his processor- the booming sound of Thundercraker engine, the heat signature of four, five Cybertronian not so far from them.
He grumbled, moving his hand from his chassis to his cranium- and grumbled even more when the human slowly mimicked his movement, still trembling, its head so close to the grassy ground that the dark, short fur on it- hair- soon was splashed with the mixture of blood and mud splattered on the ground. He couldn't see its features, but he knew. It was seeing the same memory he had came across a second before, and slag, it was only confirming his suspicions.
And it was only-their-fault.
They're SO gonna pay for this. Once I've finished with them they'll wish to be off-lined so hard they will begging me to put an end to their miserable existence and send them to the Pit! He snarled, letting out a string of curses in his own language. Not only his wingmates had betrayed him, both as a leader and as a companion- because of them now he had only one slagging half of his spark. The other half…well, it was clear where it was now.
The Seeker bared his teeth and growled softly, watching the fleshbag as it unsteadily raised on his own feet and casted a glance up on him. A surge of disgust flashed in his mind: it smelled of sweat and fear; its clothes where torn in many points, leaving bare stripes of flesh, but at a quick glance no one could tell where the fabric ended and the skin started, for the dirt covered both.
A femme. And quite young, too. Her body was far from resembling one of the adults of her species. Primus, of all the slagging curse I got the worst.
Yet, there couldn't be mistakes: he was bound to it. Even if he refused to accept that there was a communication between their mind, the two equal-looking, pale scars that crossed both his chassis and the human's chest, emerging from what remained of his burned, shredded shirt were the obvious signal of it. As well as that other particular. Which human on Earth would have one normal, dark brown eyes while the other was glowing, a faint red shadow casted upon it?
She made a small step back, swaying visibly on her feet: - W-what was that? - she murmured weakly. Her voice didn't sound high and piercing anymore- hoarse, unsteady, and with some kind of accent.
Femme, youngling and plus she's a complete idiot. Or crazy. Instead of running like any other of his species there she was, asking stupid questions! Never mind. He raised his claws again, hissing, with full intention to smash her. Bond or not, stupidity was a reason worth to kill her right there.
His spark jerked in his chest before he could even lock sight on his target. The fist went down and hit the ground hard, barely missing her. The girl fell on his back with a yelp, cursing when a talon hammered in the dirt –just an inch from her leg.
He could feel her heart rate increase and the smell of her fear growing stronger- and couldn't help but let out a mocking chuckle. That's it. Fear me!
He couldn't hurt her, right, but that didn't mean he couldn't try to scare her off. And keep her in line.
The teenager cursed through clenched teeth, pressing her hands on the grass to try and get on her feet again. The Seeker pointed menacingly a claw to he stomach, careful not to touch the hideously tender flesh, forcing her to lay back again.
"Stay where you are, organic." he spat out with venom. "It's the only place you're fit for". A smirk grew on his face when her eyes stared back at him, filled with surprise at first- and then narrowing when the meaning of the words hit her.
"Stronzo..." she muttered under her breath. Definitely not English. Her fingers balled into tiny fists as he towered on her. She winced slightly, but had enough gut to answer: " Y-you can't kill me. "
Oh, so pathetic! He laughed mockingly, optics burning with amusement:"And tell me, where did you pick that idea?" he shot back, baring his teeth.
The human moved suddenly, raising her arm with something in her palm- a rock. Instead of delivering a strike on the living metal that now surrounded her she aimed to her own leg, without hesitation, and before he could even think to stop her the Seeker howled and jerked back as a sharp shot of pain surged through his bird-like leg.
Ok, so apparently she wasn't so stupid as he had thought, slag her to the Pit. He snarled and shot her a glare when a faint shadow of a smile appeared on those pale lips.
"Don't you dare laughing at me, you insect!" he hissed. " I cannot kill you, right, but it is still I who has the upper hand. Another insolence like this and I'll teach you the true meaning of pain right here and now, bond or not."
It worked. The ghost of the small smile vanished and the girl's face crumpled in a white, nervous mask covered in dirt.
She took in a deep breath, lowering her gaze on the surface. He felt a wave reaching the bond, and slowly the anger and panic vanished. The girl kept her eyes pointed on the ground:"Can I stand up?" she asked.
"Absolutely not."
"Afraid I might smash a rock on my toe or something else?"
He growled.
" You'd better not." The Cybertronian slowly crouched back letting out a loud snort, optics still planted in her discordant colored eyes:" And don't try ever again to use the bond to hurt me. It's a sign of disrespect for the connection."
She gritted her teeth, but managed to stay calm:" I wasn't the one who wanted this so called "bond". " she answered back, her voice flat. Despite her accent she could talk English smoothly, without apparent difficulties.
"But you are within its power now, so show me respect. Others of my own kind would have already squished you."
- And you didn't think to do it just some moments ago. - she murmured under her breath.
The Seeker sneered: " I did, but that would be just too easy, considering that it is your fault if we ended in this situation…"
She stared at him, mouth agape:" What? "
He ignored her:" …so, I think I'm going to keep you. Since I'm unable to move you will do that for me and keep me informed, starting from now." She tried to reply, but he poked her just above the belly to stop her. Hard enough to knock out her breath. "It's the least you can do to repair your stupidity. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be imprinted to a slagging human." he growled threateningly.
"But…"
"No "but". You will obey me." he snarled, making her jump. A cruel smile curved his liplates. "You live not far away from here, do you?" He purred softly. His spark pulsed with triumph when she paled. Wincing with repulsion he gently traced small circles on the bare flesh that emerged from the border of her shirt. "Why don't we put it like this- you behave and make yourself an useful pet, so I won't be forced to step on your refuge."
No answers.
Slowly, the talons crawled back. The human remained still for a few seconds, her now void gaze down, then she settled back on her feet in a mechanic movement and stand where she was, not moving.
He let out a small chuckle: "Wise choice. Now, my radar are damaged and unable to identify my position. Where are we?"
She chewed a bit on her bottom lips, before an answer came out of her mouth: " A cave. Near Tranquillity, in California."
Tranquillity…wasn't it the location of that boy? The one with the coordinates of the Allspark? His spark quivered lightly. That would mean having the Autobots around- and in his conditions there was no way he could fight them and make it through:" You go to…- a quick flip on the World Wide Web to find the right word- …school."
"I will start frequenting it from Monday, yes."
"Fine. I need you to find out informations about a human named Samuel James Witwicky. Keep him under watch. Strictly."
The girl looked at him with the corner of the eye:" Do you know him?"
The Seeker shrugged off the question with a huff:" That doesn't concern you. Find the boy, discover everything you can on him. This is all you have to do." he lowered his gaze on her frame. " Think you can handle it, human?"
"It's Cassandra."
"I didn't ask for your designation." he cut her off. He started to turn her back at the still form, painfully dragging himself towards the woods- out of sight.
Cassandra bit her lip again, repressing a nasty remark, took a couple of seconds to let the harsh answer to slide away; her shoulder didn't relaxed:"What about yours?"
He looked back at her:"What?"
Your designation.
A pause.
"Starscream."
Author's note: Hello there and welcome to the first chapter of Spark Eater! I hope everyone liked this prologue as much as I enjoyed to write it. Please, note that this is the first fanfiction I've ever writed in English- which for me is a foreign language, since I'm Italian-. If you find mistakes, point it out- I'll correct them immediately. Feel free to leave a review to ask any questions, make suggestions or tell me what you thought of it!
Bellatrix. Sauciata
