Author's Note: Invictus is the sequel to Filia and Ancillam. If you have not read those two in order than do so immediately or else you will be very confused.
Invictus is filled with rapes, drinking, interfacing, BDSM, drama, slash, suspense, gruesome fights, torture, and mentions of prostitution, robots drugs, brothels, and addiction.
Have some tissues at the ready 'cause you might need them! And please, fav, leave reviews, and share with friends!
Cybertronian Units of Time (according to IDW):
Astrosecond ≈ .273 of a second
Breem ≈ 8.3 minutes
Cycle ≈ 1 hour 15 minutes
Decacycle ≈ 3 weeks
Joor ≈ hour
Klik ≈ 1.2 minutes
Megacycle ≈ 93 hours
Orbital cycle ≈ 1 Earth day
Orn ≈ 13 days
Stellar cycle ≈ 7.5 months
Vorn ≈ 83 years
Disclaimer: The Transformers universe, names, and characters are property of Hasbro.
OCs are created by me for the sole purpose of this story and any names or scenes similar to other fanfics are simply coincidental. Any ideas or names intentionally taken from other fanfics will be noted at the beginning of any chapters to which the occurrence shall take place.
Enjoy. :)
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
-Invictus, William Ernest Henley
Chapter 1
One Stellar Cycle After the Ending of Filia:
Pain. That's all there ever was these orbital cycles. From dusk to dawn, dawn to dusk. Insurmountable, unadulterated, nightmarish pain. Physical pain, emotional pain, pain of rejection, of regret, of tragedy, of sorrow, of beatings, of rapes, of a broken soul.
Gentle touches were long gone. Friendly vocalizers, a thing of the distant past. Smiles, laughter, humor, love, kisses, hugs, soft words, and hope… luxuries lost to him. No, only pain existed, only pain kept him going, only pain surrounded him.
The words he had read on the datapad she had left him… Always circulating through his processor. Only sorrow filled his broken spark. He couldn't continue on, and so had stopped trying.
He had accepted his place, and so was no longer Starscream. No, he was nothing. He was a failure to everyone. He wasn't worth anyone's time. He was a waste… a disgrace… a failure… He was nothing…
He panted softly, strong arms firmly wrapped around his waist holding him in place. His wings forever lowered, helm hung low, optics barely online. The clanking of their frames were the only sounds in the washroom. The conqueror's heated exhales gently beating against his nape, the painful, fierce, and fast thrusting into his frame, hurting him so.
He didn't cry. Not anymore. He had accepted his fate, his place in this world. He just allowed it to happen, never spoke, never did anything but submit. Everything he had ever fought for… gone. Destroyed. Forgotten.
He looked up, seeing them in the mirror. He looked so tiny… securely held by the tyrant, being used, unable, unwilling to fight back. His position now that of berth warmer.
He growled with gritted denta as his overload erupted through his systems, his servos grasping the arms wrapped around his waist. He panted, feeling the excess fluid leaking down his thighs before the thrusting resumed. Faster, harder… No consideration for his suffering, for his feelings. Just what the warlord wanted. What he felt like.
His sole purpose in life was to be here, beneath this grounder, used by this grounder, hurt by this grounder. He was not meant to have a happy life with a mate, with creations, with trinemates. No, he was just meant for this. Only this. Always this. Just this.
Starscream offlined his optics, defeated, conquered, dominated, submissive, vanquished, beaten… broken. Ripped apart, torn down, no more. Nothing more. Forever a slave to fate, forever a frag toy, forever a pathetic weakling. Forever conquered… Forever defeated… Forever broken… Forever tamed like a beaten beast… Forever his…
Or so, that's what he believed.
Thundercracker walked down the hallways of the control building, anyone not moving out of his way fast enough found themselves shoved into a wall or thrown to the floor. Everyone avoided the blue Seeker like humans avoided the plague. He was no longer the calm, quiet, and thoughtful Seeker, but now was like a grenade, just waiting for someone to pull the pin and set him off. A few had, and Hook was their new best friend after that.
Thundercracker stopped in front of the door to Megatron's office and sat down on the floor. He leaned against the wall, glaring at that forsaken door, his audio receptors picking up the distinct sounds of his trineleader crying in pain and moaning.
His wings twitched, trying to keep himself from doing anything that would only worsen the situation. If that was possible.
He and Skywarp rarely ever saw their trineleader in the last stellar cycle. Starscream had basically just moved in with Megatron, recharging with him, almost never leaving Megatron's residence. The few times he did step out he was either in Megatron's office, in medbay, or in his room back at his house.
He never spoke, never worked, never did anything but seemingly exist. He was always covered in dents, whip marks, damage from chains, and always so low on fuel.
Ever since returning to the house to find out that Dawnstar had left, the Air Commander basically had given up on life. He was on the edge of hopelessness before her departure, but after reading that datapad, after crying his optics out and screaming his spark away… he had been shoved over the edge and plummeted to the bottom.
They had searched for her. Oh, yes, his loyal Seekers had immediately set out and soon had checked under every scrap of metal in Kaon, but still had not seen her. After orns, it was determined that she had managed to escape the city, but Megatron had commanded that no Seeker was to leave the city. Orders had been given to guards to shoot on sight any Seekers who flew outside of the city walls, bringing their search to an abrupt halt.
Starscream was inconsolable. And now was no longer the Seeker Thundercracker and Skywarp had known for so long. He was more like a living corpse, with no purpose or will to continue on.
Thundercracker would have tried to sneak out his trineleader decacycles ago, but it was now near impossible to escape. No Seekers were to leave the city without risk of being shot, and Starscream was on the verge of tipping over to the side of death.
Thundercracker was desperate to get the Seekers away, but they needed help. More subtle help than Devastator charging through, since the Constructicons had made it clear they were with Starscream. No, they needed someone in control to do something.
But who would help a bunch of Seekers?
Thundercracker's optics glowed with the fires from hell when the door opened and Megatron stepped out. The two just watched each other, a silent death battle unfolding as it always did between them. Megatron finally smirked before turning and walking away.
Thundercracker's wings twitched, watching the ex-gladiator walk away. He leaped to his peds and rushed into the office, quickly approaching his trineleader. Starscream sat on the desk, trembling, optics offline, cycling air heavily as his systems cooled.
Thundercracker sat beside him, his gentle servos loving touching his trineleader, soon embracing him in a hug. Starscream didn't seem to notice, just kept shaking, silently weeping. Thundercracker kissed him on the cheekplates, then on the lip plates.
"I love you." Thundercracker said softly. "I'm going to take you home and give you some energon, alright love? Just get you away from him for a time." He paused just stroking his trinemate's arm. "You're cold." He vented a sigh. "Is your regulator damaged? Do you need to see Hook?"
No answer. Nothing. Just trembling. Just silence.
"It's alright. I got you. You can talk to me." He waited for a moment but still nothing. "I love you, Star. Hey, sweetie, can you say you love me? I just want to hear you talk again." He kissed his cheekplates again. "He's not here. He won't hurt you for talking. Say, 'I love you, TC.' Just that." Thundercracker paused to lift his trineleader's helm up and make him look at him. Faintly glowing optics powered on and focused on him. Thundercracker offered him a weak smile. "You're beautiful. Primus, I still can't believe I got to trine the most beautiful mech to ever be created." He kissed him on the lip plates again. He held his trineleader's helm, his thumbs stroking his dark cheekplates as he just studied him. "So beautiful."
Starscream kept trembling, his servo reaching to touch Thundercracker's faceplates. Thundercracker kissed his palm, smiling at his trinemate.
"That's it. It's me. Not him. Can you say you love me? Can I hear your vocalizer?"
"I-I lo-love you." Starscream stuttered, his vocalizer dry, weak, barely audible.
"That's a good mech." Thundercracker then kissed him on the lip plates. "I'm going to take you and get you all cleaned up, and give you some energon, and then I am going to take you to see Hook about your regulator, alright? And after that 'Warp and I are going to hug you, and kiss you, and tell you how much we love you."
Starscream didn't seem to really have heard him. His servo lowered, weakly feeling Thundercracker's chest piece, then his cockpit. He was still trembling, still silent.
"Yes, it's me. Are you having trouble focusing? I'll have Hook look at your optics, too."
Starscream's servo then reached for his own chest piece, touching just above where his spark was. He made a soft moaning sound in his throat before grabbing one of Thundercracker's servos and pressing it against his chest piece.
"Does it hurt there? What's wrong, love?"
"I-I fe-fe-feel- kzsht- hurt." Starscream said so weakly, his vocalizer momentarily giving out on him.
"It's from all the sparkbonding and your spark not being strong enough to handle it. I know, it hurts. I'll have Hook look at it. Hey, keep looking at me. Anything else?"
Starscream reach up and felt his trinemate's faceplates, trying to better focus on them, but his optics just couldn't. Thundercracker gently took his servos and kissed them on the knuckles.
"I'm going to carry you, alright love? I'm taking you home and going to make you feel better. Okay? Don't shake. Hey, who loves you?"
"Kzsht- Y-you a-and 'W-warp."
"That's right, love. And we are going to take good care of you. I know everything hurts. Hook will make you feel better. Here, I'm going to pick you up now, alright?" He said in the same soft, loving vocalizer as he stood up.
As if he were made of glass, Thundercracker picked up his trineleader and carried him bridal style out of the tyrant's office. Thundercracker swallowed, his trinemate felt so light, so vulnerable and weak. He held him close and kissed him on the brow.
"You know, you are so precious to me and 'Warp. We love you so much. We would never want to be with anyone else. You going into recharge on me? Alright, you can rest until we get home." Thundercracker said gently, trying to hold back his tears. It just tore him apart to see his brother like this.
He brought him back to their house and took him to Starscream's room. He set him down on a stool they had placed in the washroom, and turned on the water. Starscream's optics offlined as the comforting water sprayed on his back plates. Thundercracker then set to work wiping his trineleader clean, going slow and gently. He paused every so often to kiss him on the cheekplates, never stopping telling how much he loved him.
He finished cleaning and drying the Air Commander before leading him out of the washroom. He made him sit on his berth and gave him another kiss on the lip plates.
"I'm going to go downstairs and get your energon prepared, okay? After that we'll go see Hook." He paused to kiss him again. "I love you, Star. Who loves you?"
"Y-you- kzsht- luh-love me." He said quietly.
"And so does 'Warp. I'll be right back, sweetie." Thundercracker gave him a kiss on the brow before walking away.
Starscream watched him leave, his trembling now finally ceased. He looked around the room, nothing having changed since last time he was here. Nothing ever did…
He stood up and walked slowly around the room, his joints creaking and straining from lack of use and maintenance. His malfunctioning optics made it difficult for him to clearly make out everything, so he had to feel about, touching everything on the shelves, on the furniture.
He stopped when he was at his desk, feeling through the drawers as he opened them. Searching for something. He pulled out a datapad, held it close to his faceplates so he could make out the words, and then subspaced it. He went back to work going through the drawers looking for something else when his servos landed on something familiar. His digits wrapped around it and he pulled it out. He felt it all over, weighed it, studied it best he could with his underpowered optics.
He started to tremble again, coolant leaking from his optics. He staggered back before his knee joints gave out on him and he fell on his aft. He sat on the floor, shaking so hard, holding it up, swallowing.
It would be so easy…
Thundercracker opened the door and walked in, carrying the device for delivering energon to his trineleader. His optics widened and he tossed it aside, rushing to Starscream.
"No! Starscream, give me that!" The blue Seeker frantically exclaimed as he swiped the pistol away from where the tri colored Seeker held it to his lower jaw, pointing up.
Starscream didn't react, just clasped his servos together and continued trembling. Thundercracker subspaced the pistol before kissing Starscream on the cheekplates repeatedly.
"Don't ever even consider doing that." Thundercracker said sternly, coolant in his own optics as he embraced his trinemate and held him close. "Primus, don't ever do that again, Star. I love you, 'Warp loves you. We can't live without you. I'll get you away from him. Just, please, don't do that."
Starscream didn't say anything, just allowed Thundercracker to hold him, rocking him gently.
"Looks like some rust has collected on your vocalizer, Starscream." Hook said as he checked over the Seeker in an isolation room, those two being the only occupants. "Your optics won't be a difficult fix. Just need the light sensory replaced and enough energon powering them. I'll oil your joints this time, but you'll have to let Thundercracker keep up with it since I know you won't."
Starscream nodded his helm slowly, his wings drooping and optics barely online. Hook studied him for a moment before venting a sigh.
"Well, I suppose we better begin. Is there anything else bothering you, commander?"
Starscream reached up and touched his chest plates. Hook raised an optical ridge.
"Your spark hurts? Move your plates. Let me see."
Starscream did so, his trembling starting up. Usually opening his spark casing meant he was about to sparkbond, which meant pain, which meant he was with… him. He swallowed, keeping his optics on Hook to remind him that he was with Hook, not the other.
"Your spark isn't as bright as it should be… Nah uh, I'm not going to hurt you. Let me just see. Hmm, I can activate some pain dampeners so it doesn't hurt so much when you, ahem, when you have to, you know. Will make it easier until you… Well, anything else?"
Starscream slowly shook his helm.
"Alright. Lie down, commander. I will fix you right up and make you like new. Just, don't avoid me for another orn like that again. I'm your doctor and its my job to make sure you don't deactivate yourself."
Starscream slowly nodded his helm. Hook vented a tired sigh before connecting wires to the Seeker and putting him in a medically induced stasis lock.
The Next Orbital Cycle:
Starscream entered the Control Room, fully repaired and even repainted. He had not interfaced with Megatron last night due to being kept in medbay, and he did not want to return to the tyrant so soon. Nor did he wish to be around his trinemates or seen by anyone else. No one was ever in the Control Room. Well, almost no one.
Soundwave looked back at him for an astrosecond before returning to his work. Starscream's wings flicked, his servos wringing slowly. He approached the Communications Officer and stood by.
"Anything unusual to report?" He asked softly.
"Negative." Soundwave intoned.
Starscream nodded his helm slowly. He turned and leaned against a nearby console, just thinking. His thoughts turned where they always did: On his daughter. Her gorgeous faceplates, smiling at him. Her laughter, her energy, her adorableness. From a tiny sparkling that he could hold in one servo, to the grown femme she had become. He missed her. Primus, did he. But more so, he was worried for her. She was out there, somewhere, and he had no idea where.
He had failed her as a sire. If he hadn't she would still be here, safe and happy.
"Remember, all those stellar cycles ago, when Moonstar was still carrying Dawn, and I asked you if I would make a good creator?" Starscream asked so quietly, his vocalizer a little rough still. "And you said 'yes.'"
Soundwave turned to him, inclining his helm ever so slightly. Starscream swallowed.
"You were wrong. I didn't make a good creator. I was never meant to be a sire."
Soundwave just looked at him for a long moment. "Negative. Soundwave: Correct. Seeker Starscream's abilities as creator: Exceptional. Seeker Dawnstar's abilities to recognize good sire: Defective. Seeker Starscream: Good creator. Soundwave: Correct."
"And yet I am here… Alone. My daughter who ran away from me a stellar cycle ago."
"Dawnstar: Naïve. Selfish. Immature. Confused. Irrational."
Starscream bit his lower lip plate. "I just wish she would forgive me and come back. I wish she knew how much I love her."
"Processors of femmes: Difficult for mechs to understand."
Starscream nodded his helm slowly. "Damn, right."
Soundwave returned to his work, the two just minding their own business for almost a joor when Soundwave stood up and left. Starscream watched him leave from where he sat on a chair, not doing anything else but musing. It was almost a cycle later when the door opened and Megatron entered. Starscream looked up, beginning to shake so hard.
"Where were you last night?" The warlord demanded.
"I was in medbay. H-Hook was repairing me." Starscream said weakly.
"I see. Well, I suppose we have to catch up then." He lustfully smiled as he approached.
Starscream swallowed just before he was forced to stand. Megatron turned the chair around and pushed Starscream against the back of it.
"Lean over it. Do not let go." Megatron ordered as he took his position behind the Seeker.
Starscream did as instructed, holding the back of the chair and leaning forward. The cruel servos stroked his waist and hips, savoring the smooth plates of the Seeker. His codpiece slid aside, valve leaking fluids profusely. Megatron entered him and immediately started to thrust hard and fast. Starscream gasped, panting as he was taken.
He didn't cry, didn't moan, didn't make any sound other than pained gasps. He had become used to the pain, to the sensation, and now it was simply something he had to participate in every orbital cycle. Sometimes more than once.
He growled through his overload, gripping the chair a little tighter. Only a few astrosecond were given to him to pant before the thrusting continued. He lowered his helm, submissive and broken.
The door opened and Soundwave walked in, stopping when he say them. Starscream looked up, pleading and hopeless optics meeting the unreadable visor. Megatron didn't notice, his optics offline as he just enjoyed using his Seeker.
Soundwave cocked his helm ever so slightly to the side, studying the faceplates of the Decepticon SIC. How submissive he was, how beaten, how… conquered the once feared Air Commander had become.
His visor brightened when he heard it. Screams. A sparkling's cry. Begging. Someone being struck with a blunt object. Insults. Hurtful words. Calls for help. Vocalizer snapping from shouting all night long.
His helm cocked to the other side when emotions came to him. Fear. Horror. Hopelessness. Abandonment. Loneliness. Sorrow. Hate. Anger. Revenge. Pain. So much pain. Suffering…. Love. Belonging. Hope. Happiness. Grief. Sacrifice. Pain.
Then, the images appeared, flooding him. His optics widened behind his visor, realizing that for the first time Starscream had removed his firewalls, his protection. Everything was exposed. Soundwave was in his mind.
He grasped it, diving in, twisting, searching, analyzing, feeling the memories, the emotions, the sounds. They came at him like a tidal wave, breaking against him, shoving at him, wanting to be seen.
The nightmare of a sparkling-hood, seeing his carrier raped before his optics as he helplessly watched. The beatings if he tried to stop them, the pain. Onlining to find his carrier gone. The loneliness, the rejection, the desolation.
Running. Little legs running, stumbling, falling. Breaking free. Escaping. Living on the streets. Stealing. Surviving. Beaten. Locked away. Pleading. Begging. Alone.
Medbay. Friendly faces. Alone. Surviving. Academy. Rejection. Racing. Acceptance. Friend. Good friend. Happy. Pride. Love. Smiles. Cold. Blizzard. Screaming. Crying. Loneliness.
Blame. Rejection. War Academy. Alone. Seekers. Trining. Love. Happiness. Belonging. Idol. Hero. Decepticon. War. Pain. Fighting. Winning. Losing. Beatings. Discipline. Suffering. Lies. Anger. Hate. Resentment. Survival. Megatron. Rejection.
Slave. Property. Hate. Sparkling. Love. Happiness. Joy. Belonging. Hope. Tragedy, Lost. Grief. Sadness. Pain. Sacrifice. Pain. Suffering. Horrors. Torture. Broken. Conquered. Tamed. Beaten. His. Nothing.
Soundwave's visor brightened, having gone through all of Starscream's life story in just astroseconds. All the horrors and pain. The miserable existence that was the Air Commander's, only to have the only good stripped away from him and be turned into a broken, beaten, interface toy.
He saw Starscream for who he really was. The Seeker was still a Decepticon, only wanting to achieve the true Decepticon goal. Only wanting a family to love and they love him. Only wanting to be accepted. To not be despised.
He saw the true Starscream.
Above all the memories, emotions, and sounds he was struck with, one word kept returning. Kept throwing itself at him. Latched on and screamed at him to be heard.
"Help."
Soundwave slowly inclined his helm in silent acknowledgment before turning and walking away.
Starscream watched him go, not sure if he had done the right thing.
A Few Orbital Cycles Later:
Skywarp's thrusters clacked loudly as he walked down the corridors looking at the floor. He just wandered about these orbital cycles, not sure of what to do anymore. He was starting to not refuel properly himself, and thus was having trouble teleporting. He could sometimes, but most orbital cycles he could only do short jumps. So, instead he would just walk aimlessly about.
He suddenly collided with another mech, the two anticlimactically falling on their afts.
"Hey! Watch where you're going, Seeker!" The large grounder growled.
"Watch where you're going, bolts for a brain module!" Skywarp exclaimed as he scrambled to his peds.
"What you call me, pipsqueak?"
"Frag off. I don't have time to deal with slag like you." Skywarp growled as he started to walk away.
"Frag off? But fragging is all you Seekers are good for! That's how Starscream got his position. By fragging Megatron!"
Skywarp stopped, and slowly pivoted on a thruster heel to face the grounder. "What did you say about my trineleader?" He demanded dangerously.
"Oh, now do you have time to deal with me?" The grounder said mockingly.
Skywarp's optics narrowed. "Watch it, slag sucker. I rather not have to punch your faceplates inside out."
"You don't scare me, tiny."
"Slag off." Skywarp growled before turning and stomping away.
"I bet I could get Starscream to moan louder for me than he does for Megatron!" The grounder called out.
Skywarp's wings twitched. "I will not be provoked to fight. Go frag yourself."
"Coward! Come on, we're Decepticons! A little fighting is what we do."
"Shove a grenade up your aft."
"Violent, aren't we?"
"Just leave me alone!"
"Fine, be that way. Maybe I'll bump into Starscream and frag him senseless. Find out exactly how much he keeps to his designation." The grounder laughed.
Skywarp turned around. "You touch my brother and I will kill you!"
"Fine, I'll skip on the 'touching' part and go straight to the fragging." He gave a predatory smile.
And that was when Skywarp lost his self control. Activating his thruster heels, he slammed into the grounder and tackled him to the ground. The two started to wrestled, punching, kicking, even biting the other until a crowd started to grow around them.
Skywarp was furious that anyone would say such things about his trineleader. He was his brother, and it was his job to take care of him. So, he would.
Energon leaked from dented plates and tears over their frames, both refusing to give up. The larger mech suddenly got the advantage and pinned Skywarp to the ground. The Seeker couldn't escape, couldn't move away. The grounder then started to punch him in the faceplates, repeatedly, mercilessly. Skywarp cried from every brutal strike, trying to block the blows, but just couldn't.
No one was helping, no one was going to stop this fight. And even if Skywarp commed for help, by the time anyone arrived it would be too late. He was alone on this.
Skywarp pressed his servos against the grounder's chest piece and concentrated, trying to ignore the blows to ensure he did this just right with his lower fuel levels. His servos started to glow purple, disappearing before his optics, replaced by the grounder's chest piece.
The grounder's optics widened, clutching at his chest piece. Skywarp bit his lower lip plate, his optics narrowed. Then, his servos reappeared, holding the grounder's spark casing and several vital cables. He held them before the grounder as an evil smirk crept over his visage.
"Missing something?"
The grounder didn't move, his optics offlining before he collapsed to the side, the Seeker pushing him off. Skywarp stood up, tossing the empty spark chamber aside with the wires, his servos covered in energon.
"I just warped my servos in you. Bet you didn't like that, huh, afthelm!" He exclaimed with a furious kick to the deactivated mech's side. "And leave my trineleader alone!"
He pivoted on a heel and started to stomp away when servos grasped onto him. He looked up, his wings lowering when he saw Motormaster glaring down at him.
"He started it." Skywarp pointed out before he was suddenly dragged away.
Skywarp swallowed, his servos wringing as he was left alone with Megatron in the tyrant's office. Motormaster had just explained what he had witnessed and the ex-gladiator had dismissed him. Now, Skywarp was to face his punishment, something that used to always be done by Starscream.
"So, you just attacked and deactivated this mech?" Megatron asked slowly.
"He-he threatened Starscream, sir. I-I just lost control of myself and attacked. I didn't mean to deactivate him, but when he had me pinned to the ground… I reacted out of self defense. I didn't mean for it to escalate so." Skywarp explained quickly.
"Regardless if you meant it or not, you still deactivated a warrior, someone we need to fight the Autobots with, and now you will be punished for it."
Skywarp's wings drooped so low, looking like a kicked puppy. "Please, just lock me in the brig. D-don't beat me."
"I have something else planned for you." Megatron said ominously.
Skywarp swallowed, nervously wringing his servos. The door opened and Starscream entered.
"You summoned me, my lord?" The tri colored Seeker inquired softly, ignoring Skywarp's presence.
"I did. Your trinemate attacked and deactivated one of my warriors and so will be punished for it." Megatron explained nonchalantly, as if this happened every orbital cycle. "But, being your trinemate I know you rather not see him go through pain, but instead taking the beating for him."
"Please, don't hurt him in my stead." Skywarp said softly.
Starscream didn't say anything. Didn't react. He just waited for Megatron to move in and hurt him.
Megatron rose from his seat and approached. "Skywarp, tie Starscream to that wall."
"What?"
"Do it." Megatron growled.
Skywarp's optics filled with static. He took his trineleader's servo and slowly led him to the indicated wall. He grabbed the chains already attached to the wall and tied Starscream's servos above his helm, tightly securing him to the wall, facing it.
"Come here, Skywarp." Megatron ordered.
Skywarp did so, trembling when Megatron handed him the multi-tailed energon whip.
"W-what?" He stuttered in horror.
"Whip him. I will tell you when to stop."
"I-I can't! Please, he's my trinemate. My brother. I-I can't h-hurt him." He begged, coolant beginning to leak from his optics.
"Do not and I will only make his suffering worse." Megatron snapped.
"Please."
Skywarp yelped when Megatron backhanded him.
"Do it!" The tyrant roared.
Sobbing softly, Skywarp took the energon whip from Megatron and powered it on. He was trembling so hard, looking from it to his trineleader's exposed back.
"Please, please, don't make me do this." He cried, wiping away coolant.
Megatron grabbed his wing and maliciously bent it, causing Skywarp to shriek in pain.
"Would you rather me scourge him?" He said dangerously.
Skywarp swallowed. He took a step towards Starscream, shaking so hard. His optics white with static, he raised his arm. Starscream didn't make a sound when the first lash struck him, didn't move. Coolant continued to flow down Skywarp's cheekplates as he kept lashing his trineleader, being made to hit the back, wings, and aft.
Starscream remained silent, optics offline, as his plates were torn apart. After two breems he started to hiss in pain as his inner wires were now exposed. Skywarp only started to sob, just wanting to stop this.
Nearly a joor in and Starscream was crying out with every lash, his back plates almost nonexistent. Energon oozed out of the hundreds of whip marks on his frame, dripping and gathering in small puddles around his peds.
"Please," Skywarp begged again.
"I haven't said you could stop yet." Megatron snapped.
"H-he's low on fuel. He can't handle-"
"He can. Continue."
Skywarp wiped away coolant, softly sobbing as he turned to do so. He swung his arm and allowed another lash to tear across his beloved trinemate's torn back. He kept going for another breem until Megatron finally spoke.
"That's enough."
Skywarp immediately powered down the whip and threw it aside. He rushed over to his trineleader and untied him. Starscream collapsed to the ground, Skywarp grabbing him and pulling him onto his lap, cradling him as he held him close. Starscream's optics were barely online, not focusing on anything. Skywarp kissed his servo, coolant pouring out as he cried.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Scree. Please, don't be mad at me. I love you. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt you! Star, please, don't-don't go into stasis lock. Star, stay with me. Star! Please! I'm going to get you to Hook, okay? Just stay with me."
Skywarp hugged his trineleader close, concentrating all his remaining energy into his warp generator. In a flash of purple, the two disappeared and rematerialized inside of medbay.
Skywarp was screaming for help, bawling his optics out as he clung to his brother. Bonecrusher and Long Haul had to pry his servos off of Starscream as Scrapper, Hook, and Mixmaster removed the injured Seeker and carried him to a medberth. Skywarp covered his faceplates crying into his servos, feeling like a monster for what he had done to his trineleader.
Hook attached Starscream to an energon drip before setting to work repairing the damage. Scavenger and Scrapper cleaned off the wounded Seeker from energon, the only sound in the medbay of Skywarp's sobs.
Hook had been slightly hesitant to comm. Thundercracker, but finally did so. As expected, the blue Seeker barged in with barely contained fury, his frame emanating instant death to anyone who dare even look at his trinemates the wrong way.
"What happened?" He demanded with that deep, terrifying vocalizer of his.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It's my fault!" Skywarp wailed, looking up at Thundercracker as if he was expecting some type of blow to the faceplates.
"What is your fault? What happened?!"
"I k-killed someone. He threatened Star and I-I attacked him. He was going to kill me so I killed him. M-Megatron p-punished me by forcing me to-to use an energon whip on Star. I d-didn't want to. He made me keep hitting him! I-I'm sorry. I didn't want to do it." He said as he loudly sobbed.
Thundercracker's optics momentarily widened before narrowing again. He marched straight over to Starscream, leaving Skywarp still crying on the floor.
"Well?"
"He'll continue to function." Hook said. "If I hadn't repaired him the other orbital cycle I doubt he would have survived. But, thank Primus I'm good at my job."
"This is going too far." Thundercracker growled, his servo gently taking Starscream's.
Thundercracker just held his trineleader's limp servo, the Seeker oblivious to the events unfolding in his stasis locked form. Thundercracker pulled up a chair and sat there, watching Starscream's faceplates as Hook worked. After a bit, Skywarp finally managed to calm down enough to join Thundercracker, hugging him closely as he sat on his lap.
It was several breems later when an unexpected guest entered. Everyone stopped and turned to him, not sure why he had arrived. Thundercracker just shot him a disdained glare from the corner of his optics before returning his attention to Starscream.
"Seeker Thundercracker: Plans to leave with Seekers. Plan if unaided: Doomed to fail. Plan if assisted: Attainable." Soundwave intoned as he stood by, looking over Starscream's beaten frame.
"What are you blabbering about, jukebox?" Thundercracker growled, not looking at Soundwave.
Soundwave cocked his helm ever so slightly as he regarded Thundercracker. "Thundercracker's hostility towards Soundwave: Unnecessary. Soundwave: On Thundercracker's side. Soundwave: Assist Thundercracker. Seekers: Leave Kaon. Soundwave: Offers assistance."
"You help us? Last I checked you had a rivalry with our leader. How am I certain I can trust you." Thundercracker grunted.
"Seeker Starscream: Opened mind for Soundwave. Requested: Help. Soundwave: Acknowledged. Soundwave: Help."
"And what if you're lying?"
"Seeker Starscream: Keeps many secrets. Soundwave: Knows secrets. Starscream: Abused as youngling. Left alone by carrier. Had temporary romantic relationship with shuttle Skyfire prior to trining."
Thundercracker's optics widened and he twirled his helm around to stare at Soundwave. "The frag you just said?"
"Soundwave: Not lying. Seekers must leave: Tonight. Soundwave: Assist."
Thundercracker just eyed him for the longest moment, then he slowly inclined his helm. "I need to get in contact with every Seeker and send them a message."
Soundwave inclined his helm, his visor momentarily brightening.
Thundercracker rushed through the house with Skywarp subspacing all their necessary items. Thundercracker grabbed the device for giving Starscream energon, Skywarp grabbed energon, and weapons.
The two teleported back to the medbay where Hook was preparing Starscream for travel.
"He'll be in stasis lock for a while so it won't hurt while you drag him about." Hook said as he covered healing slabs all over the wounded areas.
"Just got a comm. call from Hotlink. Says they are ready." Thundercracker said.
::You ready, Soundwave?:: Thundercracker commed him.
::Soundwave: Ready.:: Soundwave answered back as he sat at his console in the Control Room, glowing, blue hologram screens surrounding him as his digits danced around, expertly pressing buttons, selecting commands, and manipulating the city to his will.
Ravage sat on his lap, calmly watching it all.
::Are we good to go?:: Thundercracker inquired.
Soundwave kept messing with the computers, holograms appearing, disappearing as he touched them, the only light in the room from their glow.
::Commence: Now.::
Thundercracker pressed two digits against the side of his helm and spoke into his comm. link. "Seekers. This is Thundercracker of the Elite Trine, Commander Starscream's trinemate. Commence operation 332015. Repeat. Commence operation 332015."
Seekers across Cybertron heard the order, Soundwave amplifying Thundercracker's comm. link so that he could reach them all. They knew what it meant. It was one of the first commands Starscream had informed them to do if things ever went… bad.
It meant they were leaving.
Soundwave pressed the necessary commands and the city went dark. All power, all cameras, all lights, all communications - except for the Seekers' - went out. Chaos would soon ensue, and the Seekers had to get out before then.
"Come on, we need to get him out!" Thundercracker exclaimed as he picked up Starscream bridal style and swiftly carried him out, Skywarp right behind him.
"We're coming too." Hook said suddenly.
"What? No. You will only slow us down." Thundercracker grunted.
"You go your way, Seeker, we'll go our. I'll find him. I have repaired him so many times I know the scent of his energon from anyone else's! Besides, I know where you plan on going."
"Whatever." Thundercracker said as he and Skywarp exited and walked down the hallways.
The roar of Seeker engines sounded all about, making their escape. Sonic booms tore through the night sky, signaling the departure of the flyers from the Decepticon base. Skywarp swallowed. He reached over and touched his trinemate's before they disappeared in a flash of purple.
"So, how much further?"
"Primus…"
"My peds hurt."
"I'm the one carrying Star and my peds are just fine."
"I'm hungry."
"You just refueled."
"I gotta pee!"
"What?"
"Something humans say to make long trips end."
"I don't think-Never mind…"
"I think I left the stove on."
"I think you need to be quiet."
"I forgot to turn off the light in my berthroom."
"Sky, please, stop complaining."
"Nooooo-oooo-oooooo-oo!"
Thundercracker rolled his optics, hoisting Starscream a little higher in his arms. Skywarp trailed behind, his arms and wings dangling as if he was absolutely exhausted.
They had been traveling for five orbital cycles now, being forced to stay on the ground since they couldn't fly fast enough with having to carry Starscream. And with their limited supplies, they couldn't just make Skywarp teleport them to the other side of the planet. No, the excess had to go to Starscream in order to keep him alive and healing from his damage.
The other Seekers had all made it out from all their bases across the planet. Back when Starscream had moved his family to Cybertron, he had pulled all his Seekers to the metal world in order for them to be close and able to guard Moonstar and Dawnstar. With their relative close proximity, it was also easier for them to escape, although they were now scattered about.
They were in hiding, waiting until they got the call to return to their leader wherever his new location might be. It was something Starscream had planned for, had hoped he never would have to order. But, the safety of his Seekers was above anythingt else, and he was willing to do what he had to to protect them.
Thundercracker stumbled over rubble as he walked through ruins. They were nearing their destination, and so he had to be alert. His optics darted everywhere, looking for a sign of hostility. But so far there was nothing.
The sun was high in the sky, beating its warming rays on the lonely travelers. Skywarp was groaning, Thundercracker's arm joints were creaking from constantly carrying Starscream's stasis locked form, and their thrusters were being damaged from debris.
Thundercracker stopped and jerked his helm up, narrowing his optics as he studied a tower, looking for a sniper. Skywarp didn't notice and bumped right into Thundercracker's back.
"Ow… Why you stop?"
"Thought I heard something."
"I heard nothing. Just the sounds of my empty tank processing nothing."
"Listen."
Skywarp raised an optical ridge and did so for a klik. "Yeah, it's just your imagination. I hear nothing and am picking nothing up on my scanners."
"We're not alone, 'Warp."
"Just some stray petrorabbits. No one's here but us and Screamer."
"We're being watched."
"You're paranoid." Skywarp said dismissively as he started to walk away. "It's the lack of energon and constant walking. Making you hallucinate. Just need some high grade and a few femmes, and then you'll be-" He stopped, optics widening as a barrel of a gun was held in his faceplates, aimed directly between his optics. "-Fine." He finished in a higher pitched voice.
"Told you." Thundercracker grumbled as Autobots appeared all around, their guns pointed at the Seekers.
"Can you like not point that at me?" Skywarp said as he pushed the gun away with a single digit.
"Well, well, well, what do we 'ave here?"
Thundercracker's optics flashed as he looked up at the black and white Autobot. His wings flicked, holding Starscream closer to his frame.
"A li''le odd ta see Seekers on da ground."
"We seek asylum. Please, we need a medic. We mean no harm. Just medical attention, some energon, and protection from the DJD." Thundercracker said, no fear or any emotion in his vocalizer.
"An' in return?" Jazz inquired as he crossed his arms.
Thundercracker's optics narrowed. "Information. And the might of the Seekers on your side."
Jazz eyed him for several astroseconds before smiling. "Follow me."
Skywarp stayed right next to Thundercracker as the two were led deeper into Iacon. Now stripped of their weapons, they were vulnerable, prisoners of the Autobots, but there was no turning back now. The Autobots could protect them. Help them heal their true leader, and things would improve.
Starscream stirred in his arms, groaned softly before falling back into recharge. Thundercracker pressed his brow against Starscream's before lovingly kissing the top of his helm.
"Almost there, love. Just rest a little longer." Thundercracker said softly.
"You sure they will help us?" Skywarp asked quietly.
"Yeah, 'Warp. They're help us." Thundercracker said, secretly hoping that he had not made a big mistake.
They entered a large building, the ground finally smooth beneath their thruster heels. Blue optics watched them past, whispers being said when they noticed the limp Air Commander.
Jazz led them through hallways, into an elevator, and through more hallways until he signaled for them to stop. The Autobots waited by the Elite Trine as the Autobot TIC trotted ahead towards a certain mech.
"Ooooooh Prowler! Ah brought ya somethin'!" Jazz practically sang it.
"It's not my creation cycle." Prowl said in the emotionless vocalizer of his.
"Consider it an early creation cycle gift!"
"Belated would be more appropriate."
"What!? Ya mean ah missed it? Why ya didn' tell me?"
"Reasons."
"Anywho, ah got ya something."
"What?"
"Looksee," Jazz smiled as he grabbed Prowl and made him turn around. "Ta-da! Seekers!"
"Is that Starscream?"
"Yee-yup!"
Prowl raised an optical ridge before marching over to the Decepticons. Thundercracker's optics narrowed, his wings raising as he held Starscream closer. The Autobot SIC stopped right in from of the larger mechs, scrutinizing them. He optics scanned over the still damaged form of Starscream, the once proud Seeker looking so small and helpless in the arms of his trinemate.
"Where did you find them?" Prowl inquired, as if the Seekers could not understand him, but were instead unintelligent beasts.
"Came ta us."
"Oh?"
"They wan' asylum."
"Really?" Prowl said looking at Jazz from the corner of his optic.
"Not to be rude, but my trineleader requires a medic. Now." Thundercracker said abruptly.
Prowl's optics narrowed. "What happened to him?"
"It's a long story. I prefer it if he told it. Now, a medic, please?" Thundercracker said obviously agitated.
Prowl eyed Thundercracker for a long, tense moment. His optics turned to Starscream for an astrosecond before reverting back to Thundercracker.
"Take Starscream to medbay and lock the others in the brig. Leave several guards with Ratchet."
"No. 'Warp and I will stay with our trineleader. You will not lock us away from him in some brig." Thundercracker snapped.
"Last I checked you were our prisoners and therefore had no rights." Prowl said in that monotone vocalizer of his, no concern for the Seekers' wellbeing.
"What? This is slag. We came to you for help, not to be treated like turbofoxes!"
"You will be treated as deemed appropriate until you are no longer considered a threat. You came to us and therefore willingly gave up your rights as free mechs in order to receive our hospitality."
"This isn't hospitality, this is-"
"Thunder…?" Starscream said softly as he started to online.
"Go back to recharge, Star. You're almost safe." Thundercracker quickly shushed him.
"It hurts… I… He'll take me… It hurts…"
"Go back to recharge. I'll wake you up in a bit. You need to rest. Hook wants you resting, remember?"
"Rest? I don't… rest…"
Thundercracker returned his optics to Prowl once his trineleader had drifted back off. "Medic. Now." He growled with gritted denta.
Prowl was about to say something when Jazz spoke up. "Ah'll take 'em all to medbay and they all can get checkups. Then we'll le' Ratch decide what ta do with 'em."
Prowl looked at him for a moment before speaking. "Alright. Make sure you don't assign Sideswipe as Starscream's guard, though."
Jazz cocked his helm before getting it. He smiled as he waved a digit at Prowl. "Riiiiiight." He then turned to the Seekers. "Alrighty, then. Let's get this show on da road!"
The door to medbay hissed open and Ratchet rolled his optics. "Sideswipe, if that is you again… I'm going to just kill you. I've shouldn't have to see you nine times in one-" He stopped when he had turned around and saw the Seekers. "Well, I would love to hear this story."
"Got some presents for ya, Ratch!" Jazz said with a large smile as he jabbed a thumb at the Seekers.
"I can see. Set him down on that medberth… Thundercracker. That's what it is."
"Yes, it is." Thundercracker replied as he did as instructed, gingerly setting his commander down.
"These two wan' ta watch ol' Screamer get fixed." Jazz said quietly to Ratchet as the Autobot medic retrieved his scanner. "Where can ah tie 'em off?"
"To those medberths. Should keep them out of my way." Ratchet grumbled.
"Bluestreak, Mirage, Streetwise, cuff 'em to the berths dere." Jazz instructed.
The mentioned 'bots did so, soon the two Seekers were securely restrained by chains tied to their wrists. Skywarp climbed over the medberth he was tied to and sat next to his trinemate on the other medberth. The two held servos as they watched Ratchet run a scanner over their brother.
Ratchet reviewed the results, raising an optical ridge. He then looked up at Thundercracker and Skywarp for a klik before looking back at the scanner.
"Streetwise, go get First Aid." Ratchet said slowly.
"Sure thing." Streetwise said before pivoting on a heel and walking out.
Ratchet reached over and began to manually remove Starscream's chest plates. Soon, the spark casing was exposed and Ratchet stopped, his shoulders sagging.
The dainty handwriting of Moonstar's still clearly visible on his spark casing revealing her designation. Next to it was another signature, rough, childish, with a little "heart" next to it. It read, "Dawnstar, Daddy's Precious Princess."
Ratchet exhaled heavily, knowing that Moonstar had long since past. The CMO removed more plating, seeing the poor state the Seeker was in. He retrieved the necessary equipment and inserted an energon drip into the Air Commander.
Jazz placed two digits against the side of his helm as he listened to a comm. call. "Alright, be right there." He said into it before turning to the others. "Apparently we 'ave more guests. Ah gotta go and see wha' dis ones about."
"You do that. I don't think this ones going anywhere anytime soon." Ratchet remarked.
Jazz gave a sharp nod of his helm before quickly exiting the medbay. After the door slid shut, everyone was just silent. The two Seekers quietly watched their trineleader worked on by the skilled medic, while the other Autobots watched the Seekers and whispered amongst themselves.
First Aid entered the medbay and went straight to Ratchet. Ratchet grumbled something to him and the young medic left to rummage through some datapads until he found the right one. He returned and handed it to Ratchet. The CMO snatched it away, read through some of it, handed it back, then resumed working on the tri colored Seeker. Thundercracker's optics narrowed when he noticed Ratchet kept having to read the datapad before doing something more on his trineleader.
"They are asking for asylum as well." Prowl informed Jazz as the latter approached.
"Surprised ta see 'em following the Seekers' example." Jazz commented.
"It is odd."
"I'm only to ask once more." Hook said as he held his servos up along with his gestaltmates as guns were aimed at them. "Take me to my patient, Starscream. I know he's here."
The door to medbay hissed open and the most unwelcomed of guests to the Autobot medbay entered.
"Hey, Ratch, I know this is the ninth time this orbital cycle, but you think you could fix my-" Sideswipe stopped, his optics widening when he saw the Seekers. "Where did they come from?"
"Sides, come over here." Bluestreak quickly waved him over.
Sideswipe just dumbly stared at Starscream. She really did look a lot like him… Then he snapped out of it and trotted over to the others.
"What's up?" He whispered as he pulled up a seat and sat down next to Bluestreak.
"They came asking for asylum."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"No way."
"Yes way."
"Was Dawnstar with them?"
"No, just them."
Sideswipe bit his lower lip plate. "He doesn't know, right?"
"I don't know. He's been knocked out the whole time he's been here."
"Good."
"Ratch is trying to repair him but I think there's a lot of internal damage." Bluestreak continued to whisper back.
"Weird."
"Yeah."
Starscream heard vocalizers speaking all around him, but couldn't discern who they were. Everything was dark… cold… dizzy… Then, he started to feel. He felt… servos touching him. Gentle servos. Not his servos. But, not his trinemates' servos. He knew their servos all too well. Perhaps Hook's? They were gentle like his… but they weren't touching him right. Hook had habits with his servos. These servos didn't occasionally tap against his plates in frustration. No, these were unknown servos. These were servos of someone he had never been touched by before… at least, not like this.
Then, he heard their vocalizers clearly, light began to be detected by his optics, barely onlining from lack of energon. The world was a bit fuzzy, but clear enough for him to recognize faceplates. Faceplates of… Autobots.
Starscream's optics widened as he tensed up. He felt servos grabbing his wrists, strapping him down as voices raised. He was on a berth… They were tying him to a berth… They were touching him… Megatron tied him to berths… Megatron touched him. He was going to be taken.
Panic. Raw, unadulterated panic swept over him. It wasn't rational, it was instinctual. Fight or flight response at its finest. He reacted to what his frame had become adjusted to knowing what would happen to him. He couldn't take it anymore, especially not by Autobots.
He kicked, managing to get a servo free from a unfinished job of tying it down, and reached to free the other servo. More shouting, more servos touching him, roughly grabbing him, trying to pull him back.
He yanked the energon drip out of his arm, kicking, squirming, his thrusters activated for but a moment temporary freeing him. He fell to the ground, scrambling, somehow getting to his peds, almost falling over his own thruster heels, trying to escape.
He didn't want to be taken, he didn't want them touching him. They were yelling, he was backed against a wall, they were nearing, he started to tremble.
"Please," He said softly, his wings lowered, seeing those lustful, blood red optics before him, not the blue ones. "Please, don't."
Ratchet roughly shoved Sideswipe and Mirage aside to stand in front of Starscream. "It's alright, Starscream. We're not going to hurt you." He said gently. "I just need to check you to make sure everything is alright."
"Please, please, don't… I…" He swallowed trembling even harder, his frame, conditioned to servos touching him roughly and being afraid, reacted how it had recently been taught to react. Starscream's optics widened. "Oh, Primus, not now, not now. Please, Primus…" He said quickly, frantically, as he held his legs together and lowered his servos, his valve leaking heavily, the fluid passing between transformation seams and down his thighs. "Please, please, stop."
Everyone's optics widened while Ratchet's only narrowed. "Back away, you idiots!" He ordered the other Autobots as he pushed them away. "Stand over there!"
The others did as ordered, quickly getting away from the medic before he could throw anything at them. Ratchet then turned back to the Seeker.
"It's alright, Starscream. I'm not going to hurt you." Ratchet said slowly, holding his servos up to placate the terrified Seeker. "I am just trying to fix you. You're damaged and I want to help."
"Please… It hurts… All of it… I don't… I can't… Please… Oh, Primus, stop leaking, stop it. Please." He kept saying, trying to cover himself up.
"I think I know what's going on. Here, let me help you."
"Stay away. Please… I… It hurts…"
"Starscream, he won't hurt you." Thundercracker called to him.
Starscream swiveled his helm to try and focus on his trinemates. He swallowed. "TC? I… Please…"
"Just, let the medic help you. He'll help you like Hook does. You can trust Hook, remember? Hook's nice, somewhat. He fixes you, not hurt you." Thundercracker said gently, pulling at his chains to be as close to Starscream as he could get.
"Hook? I… It hurts. Make it stop."
"Shhh, shhh, I know you're confused right now. I got you out like I promised I would. You're safe now, Star. Megatron is never going to hurt you again. Hey, look at me. Good mech. Go with Ratchet. Don't keep talking. Your vocalizer isn't done healing yet, remember? Need to take it easy."
"Yeah, Scree, you're safe now. We rescued you." Skywarp added.
"Rescued?"
"Come on, Starscream. I just need you to sit down over here." Ratchet said in that calming tone of his.
Starscream's wings twitched, hesitating for a moment before stepping forward. He paused, looking back at his trinemates before slowly making his way to the medberth. Trembling still, he sat down, not looking at anyone.
Ratchet patted his shoulder reassuringly before pressing a thumb on the Seeker's chin and making him open his mouth.
"Vocalizer isn't fully healed, eh? Let's have a look at it." He said as he unsubspaced a device and shined a light down the Seeker's mouth.
The medic's thumb just entered the Seeker mouth to force it a little wider so he could see better. Starscream's optics widened. Megatron always put his thumb in his mouth and hurt him. He was on a berth too. He was about to be taken. He reacted instinctively.
Ratchet yelped as he jerked his servo away from the Seeker suddenly biting down on it. Ratchet grumbled some pretty colorful curses as he inspected his hurt servo. Starscream's optics narrowed, his wings flicking.
Ratchet gave him a dirty glare. "I don't have slagging time for this scrap." He growled.
"Don't take it personally, Ratchet. He always gives medics a hard time." Thundercracker replied.
"I can see that…"
"Need us to hold him down?" Sideswipe offered.
"No. You idiots would only make it worse." Ratchet snapped. He then turned back to the Air Commander. "I don't want to be here fighting you, and you don't want to be fighting me. So how about you just lie down and let me work on you. Kapeesh?"
Starscream's wings flared. A silent "hell no" directed at the CMO. Ratchet wasn't an expert on the language of wings and what they represented with all of their little movements, but he had plenty of experience with doorwings. And they weren't all that much different when it came to the universal "go frag yourself" response.
Ratchet's optics narrowed. "Starscream, I'm only going to say this once…"
"Frag yourself." Starscream suddenly said venomously.
"OOOOooooOOOOOh!" Sideswipe said as he snapped his digits. "Oh, no he di-dn't!"
"Not. Helping. Sideswipe." Ratchet growled with gritted denta.
"I apologize for his poor behavior." Thundercracker said quickly. "It's how he makes friends. I'm serious. Just… Just give him a moment to calm down."
"Or, you could hand him over to me." Hook said as he entered with Sunstreaker, Jazz, and Prowl.
"Oh, thank Primus." Thundercracker sighed.
"What is he doing here?" Ratchet grunted.
"He demanded to come and work on Starscream himself. Claims that only he can properly repair Seekers." Prowl intoned.
"I doubt that. This Seeker is a mess." Ratchet said as he jabbed a digit at Starscream.
"Of course he is. You would be too if you refused to listen to your primary care physician." Hook said calmly as he was allowed to approach. "Starscream is my best, and worst, patient. Best in how often I see him and that he only trusts me to work on him, and worst in that he refuses to ever do as I tell him to."
"How do you explain all the internal damage in him?"
"Rather personal, don't you think?" Hook said before stopping in front of Starscream. He roughly forced the Seeker's mouth open, holding his jaw as the Constructicon inspected his mouth. "Will need to repair eight and nine, and looks like you made a new friend. Bit his servo?"
"He did." Ratchet grumbled.
"You get used to it. He does that quite a bit. Now, how's that vocalizer?"
"Hurts." Starscream said softly.
"And it will continue to do so if you raise your voice, but now since you are no longer around him it should be able to properly repair itself. Open up your chest. Good Seeker. Ah, everything as I had left it. Now, lie on the medberth for me so I can check your back plates."
Starscream glanced over at Ratchet before doing so. His entire back and wings still covered in the healing slabs, hiding the awful wounds. Hook quickly, and carefully, removed them, exposing the horrible whip marks. Blue optics widened, Skywarp looked away, not wanting to be reminded of what he had done to his brother.
"Healing nicely, as always." Hook commented. "Wing plates will need to be replaced, and so a few black plates. Does this hurt, commander?" Hook inquired as he put pressure on a section of Starscream's back.
"Yes. It all does."
"Pain dampeners going out, then. How are your optics?"
"Fuzzy."
"Will need to check those. Commander, do you feel anything else?"
Starscream bit his lower lip plate before answering. "It… All of it… hurts…"
Hook looked at him for a moment. "I understand." He then turned to Ratchet. "Is it possible to take him to an isolation room and work on him in private? My patient… would prefer it."
"I would prefer it if you did it here." Prowl interjected before Ratchet could speak.
"My patient is a rather private mech. It goes much easier for everyone if he gets his privacy." Hook replied.
"I don't care. Repair him enough so he won't deactivate in the brig. Anything undone you can finish tomorrow."
"No, you will not force my trineleader to suffer all because you're paranoid about us trying to escape!" Thundercracker roared, his wings raised threateningly. "He has gone through enough!"
"Prowl, Starscream is badly injured. I would prefer it if he at least spent tonight in my medbay." Ratchet said as he crossed his arms. "Hook can perform the primary repairs now, and tomorrow finish up on whatever is left."
"The medbay is not secure enough to hold Starscream." Prowl said in that cold, emotionless vocalizer of his, his optics narrowing as his doorwings raised.
"He isn't going anywhere. His thrusters are slag, he's too low on fuel to even be able to transform, he's unarmed, his joints are too stiff for him to move for very long, and his tank would be empty by the time he got outside if he did manage to escape." Ratchet grunted.
"Can we stay with him?" Skywarp blurted, his servos wringing.
Prowl glanced at them from the corner of his optic before reverting his attention back to the CMO. "Ratchet, deactivate Skywarp's warp generator and Thundercracker's sonic boom generator. Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, you two will escort them to the brig once Ratchet is finished. I will have Trailbreaker and Mirage take Hook away in four joors. Bluestreak, you have the first watch over Starscream. Ratchet, Starscream is to be locked in an isolation room, manacled, and secured to the medberth."
"Smiley, Starscream will not be able to handle that in his current mental state." Hook explained to the Autobot SIC.
"Too bad. Jazz, you and I must report all of this to Prime." He started to turn to leave but stopped. His optics momentarily brightened as he glared at Ratchet. "I mean it, Ratchet. I will not allow Starscream to escape all because you took pity on his wounds."
"These are no ordinary wounds, Prowl." Ratchet grumbled.
"I look forward to reading all about it in your report." Was the curt reply from the strategist.
Prowl pivoted on a heel and walked out. Jazz looked at Ratchet as he shrugged, then followed after Prowl.
"What did he shove up his tailpipe?" Skywarp remarked.
"Starscream won't be able to handle being alone and bond in aN isolation room." Hook said to Ratchet as he began to work on Starscream's back plates. "If he must spend the night so, let him be in stasis lock."
Ratchet eyed him for a moment before venting a sigh. "Seeker Claustrophobia?"
Hook didn't answer immediately. "That… and other concerns." HE vented his own sigh. "Doctor to doctor, my patient has been through some very… traumatizing experiences of late." He said softly so only Ratchet could hear. "His processor is not… is not registering things properly. He is terrified. He… he has severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and, well, triggers that set him off to the point he believes he's about to be put through much misery." He paused. "I am one of the few he feels comfortable enough with to allow to touch him, or for him to speak to."
"What happened?" Ratchet asked softly.
"I won't say. That's his decision."
"I think I have a good guess."
Hook looked up at him, his visor brightening. "You can't even imagine the half of it."
I wrote these thirty-two pages in one day...
So, the third and final part of this trilogy has begun. This is gonna be fun. ;)
You will learn a bit more of what's going on in Screamer's helm and why he's acting so around his trinemates, but it has to do with the abuse. He also talks little because not only does it hurt with his damaged vocalizer from screaming in pain all the time, but because Megatron would hurt him if he made too much sound.
Soundwave was willing to kill Megatron in the IDW G1 comics for going against the Decepticons, so I think he would be willing to help Starscream despite his loyalties to Megs. Plus, being inside of Screamer's mind and almost feeling the suffering himself. Yeah... That gotta make you sympathetic.
Prowl is such a prick. I love it and yet hate it. XD And Sideswipe is so gonna get his aft whooped when Starscream finds out what he did to his daughter. :P
Next chapter is gonna get deep.