A Change of Spark
Chapter 2: The Stasis-Mod
It had been several weeks since Starscream changed sides. Auron found it amazing how fast time seemed to go by up on the moon.
Or was it just him?
Either way, it didn't feel so long ago to him. However, despite how much time had passed, Starscream refused to leave the remains of the Nemesis. Auron knew why.
While the Nemesis held many unpleasant memories, most involving Megatron hovering over him in a dark room with a multi-tailed energon whip, this ship was still familiar to Starscream. It was mostly fear of the unknown that kept him there. Auron could understand the younger Seeker's feelings.
He had just left everything he knew behind. He had defected from the Decepticons…A faction he had served for many vorns…Was now labeled a traitor by his own kind for doing what he believed was right. And worse yet to the fallen ex-Decepticon, he had sided himself with his enemies. Beings he had hated for millennium.
Auron could sense that the hate was not unjust. While he didn't know exactly, something horrible had happened to Starscream before he became a Decepticon…something unimaginably painful. And he believed the Autobots were the cause of his misery.
Auron on-lined his optics to stare at his apprentice, whom had busied himself with studying some materials he had taken from Earth. The older Seeker smiled a little. He found Starscream's need to figure out Earth and its life forms very amusing.
Although he knew the younger would never admit it to him, Starscream was truly fascinated by the humans. He only pretended to be revolted by them to keep up the persona of being a Decepticon at spark.
Auron knew that wasn't true. He also knew, deep in his spark, that if the younger Seeker opened up to these Autobots on Earth, who were outcasts among their people as well, they would be able to mend Starscream's destroyed spark. It was already clear that he had a soft spot for the younger member of the Autobot team; Bumblebee.
Deciding that he had meditated enough, Auron uncrossed his legs and leaped off the examination table. "I'm going to check on our Autobot friends, Starscream. I should return before two mega-cycles."
"They're not my friends," the younger stated flatly as he continued examining a small plant through a microscope.
Auron chuckled sadly.
Starscream truly had no idea how wrong he was.
XXX
Bulkhead was wandering around Dinobot Island, trying to find Prowl. He didn't understand it, one moment the ninja was right there in front of him, then the next moment, he was gone. However, he wasn't too upset about it. Prowl did this often, and after attending to whatever business he needed to take care of or completed their patrol rounds, he always came back to Bulkhead and they went back home.
He continued walking, his thunderous footsteps the only noise in the area.
Until he heard Prowl's voice. "Bulkhead! Help!"
The large Autobot froze and listened.
The ninja's voice reached his audios again. "Help!"
Bulkhead took off. Using his mass to break through the underbrush, he ran in the direction of Prowl's voice. Soon another noise, besides Prowl's voice came to Bulkhead's audios.
Weapons fire being the main thing.
Bulkhead finally reached a clearing where Prowl was dodging multiple blasts of ice and lasers, he found Blitzwing and Lugnut were the ones shooting at the ninja. Bulkhead made his fist into a wrecking ball as he yelled, "Hey!" He flung his wrecking ball toward the two Decepticons. "Pick on somebody your own size!"
Blitzwing leapt into the air and turned toward the large Autobot. Lugnut did not have much success in dodging the Autobot's attack. The wrecking ball hit the large Decepticon in the face, causing him to land flat on his back. Before Bulkhead could try getting the other Decepticon with his other servo, Blitzwing activated a mod around his wrist and a blue bold of lightning struck the large mech.
It didn't hurt in the slightest.
In fact, it kind of tickled.
Bulkhead opened his mouth to ask the triple-changer, who sold him the faulty mod, then his whole body suddenly went numb and he fell to the ground off-lined.
Prowl leapt toward the triple-changer, his shurikens out and poised to strike. Blitzwing did a mid-air flip to avoid him and sent the same blue bolt at him. Prowl was unconscious before he hit the ground.
Blitzwing landed beside Lugnut, who just beginning to push himself up from the ground, "It appears the bounty hunter came through," the triple-changer stated in icy mode. "This stasis-mod vorks vonderfully vell."
Lugnut looked at the two off-lined Autobots then looked at his comrade. "I still don't understand what our glorious leader wants with them."
"I vouldn't expect you to," Blitzwing stated coolly, taking two syringes from a compartment on his waist. He uncapped one and walked toward the fallen ninja. He bent down and moved his head to have better access to his neck.
"Just remember Megatron's orders," he continued, sticking the needle into Prowl's neck and filling the syringe one fourth of the way with the Autobot's energon blood. Blitzwing removed the needle and capped it. "Don't kill them or the others." He put the capped syringe back in his compartment and uncapped the still empty one before moving on to Bulkhead and performing the same process. "Ve vill need test subjects for his and the Professor's…latest project."
Once he had taken what he needed from the two Autobots, he and Lugnut transformed and flew toward their newest hideout.
XXX
Auron landed outside the Autobot base with grace no ground-pounder could imitate. Several days after Optimus had defeated Megatron, he gave the elder Seeker the location of their base. Seeing how they would be working together and all, it seemed only logical for the Seekers to know where to find them.
Auron walked inside the base. He found it amusing how much the Autobot's Earth home reminded him of his apprentice. Starscream knew the location of the base, but hadn't ever seen it. He hadn't left the Nemesis since Megatron was beaten.
Auron would eventually have to find a way to make him come down.
The Seeker saw Sari and Bumblebee sitting on the couch, playing what Sari called a "video game". Everyone else was either repairing the damage the Decepticons had done to the city or patrolling. And if Auron wasn't mistaken, Sari said she would be taking over Sumdac industries until they found her father. Thankfully, she wouldn't be starting that position for another few weeks because of all the damage the city had suffered. So she still had time to play with Bumblebee.
Both younglings looked up, then smiled and waved at him. "Hi Auron," Sari began cheerfully.
"What's up?" Bumblebee asked.
"Starscream for one," Auron answered, "He refuses to come down from that ship, no matter how many times I ask."
"Well, it saws in his file he's pretty stubborn."
Auron raised an optic ridge at Bumblebee's comment. "File?"
"Optimus thought it'd be a good idea to know a little more about 'Screamer. So he went looking for his file on Teletraan. And let me tell ya, he's got quite a history."
"Did it say anything about his life before he became a Decepticon?"
"No. Just talked about what he's done as a 'Con. Our computer doesn't have every single detail of every file. Just basic stuff we need to survive if we ever ran into any Decepticons. It would need a serious upgrade for the kind of info you want."
"…I see." Auron, despite knowing Starscream for fifty stellar-cycles, didn't know him very well. If fact, he knew about as much as the Autobots did. Starscream was a Decepticon traitor who had once, and probably still was, bent on destroying Megatron. He had no other allies but those he once called his enemies. They also knew a little of Starscream's service in the Decepticons. But everything else seemed to be shrouded in the shadow that was Starscream's past.
"May I still look at his file?"
Bumblebee shrugged as he and Sari continued playing their game and answered, "I'm sure boss-bot won't mind." The yellow mech jabbed a thumb over his shoulder and continued, "The file is on the computer in the back. Have fun."
The neutral Seeker walked in the direction the younger bot pointed in and easily found the computer. These Autobots never ceased to amaze him. They didn't have much, but continued to make do with what they had.
Not that they had much choice.
Like the Decepticons, they were stranded on this world, very far from home. They had to do everything they could in order to survive.
Auron's claws clicked as they hit the keys on the Autobots' main computer. He easily found Starscream's file. Bumblebee had been right. Starscream's file was miniscule. In fact, all the Decepticon files were.
The ex-Decepticon Seeker's files gave a very basic summary on Starscream. So basic, Auron knew for a fact that his apprentice would be deeply offended by it. The file also had some knowledge on how to defend against the once Air Commander. It was information on Seekers that everyone should've known. Such as aim for wings, wings joints, or thrusters when in the air. And go for the ankles when on the ground.
Auron felt a little disappointed that he was unable to find out anything new about Starscream before he became a Decepticon.
"I suppose I'm not meant to learn that much about him yet," he mumbled to himself. "Ah well. Life goes on."
At that moment he heard movement back in the living area of the Autobot base. Two mechs had entered from the outside. After a little more focus, he could tell that Optimus Prime and Ratchet were the two mechs who had come in.
Being the Guardian of the All Spark granted Auron many abilities that other Cybertronians did not possess. These abilities included being able to recognize a person's aura and being able to sense everything and everyone around him, when he concentrated and kept his sense open.
He closed Starscream's file before heading back to the living area to greet the newcomers. He wondered where Bulkhead and Prowl were. Auron couldn't sense them anywhere in the base.
As he entered the living area again, he heard Optimus ask, "Have they come back Bumblebee?"
The Seeker saw the young mech hit pause on his and Sari's game and look at his leader with concern and fear. "You mean you didn't find them?"
"Not a trace," Ratchet answered dismally.
Auron cleared his throat, getting the Autobots' attention and inquired, "If I may ask, what's going on?"
Optimus answered, "Prowl and Bulkhead are missing."
"They went to Dinobot Island and were supposed to be back over three hours ago," Sari explained, fear lacing her words. The tiny human hadn't exactly been herself since the disappearance of her father. And, from what he had been told, it was Auron's understanding that things weren't going too well at her home.
"You have searched the entire island?" Auron asked, looking from the human to the young Prime. Optimus shook his helm. "We tried, but the forests there are so think it's almost impossible for us to search for them in bipedal-mode let alone vehicle mode."
"What about their signals?"
"We tried contacting them and tracing their life signals," Ratchet answered, "But something there was jamming both."
Auron took in what both Autobots had to say before smiling and suggesting, "Perhaps you just need a few optics in the sky?"
Optimus shook his helm. "No Auron, you don't have to help. It's not your problem."
"You are all mine and Starscream's allies. Your problems are our problems as well. Besides, a little fresh air will do that Seeker good."
Optimus smiled. "Thanks Auron."
The elderly Seeker smiled, "It's my pleasure."
XXX
Starscream circled Dinobot Island from the skies, searching for the two missing Autobots.
The only real reason he was doing this was because Auron had asked him too…Actually…that wasn't entirely true…He was doing this because he felt like he owed Prime. He did save his life after all.
Primus above, what had he gotten himself into?
He had been asking himself that question ever since…Starscream felt a stinging sensation in his optics. He pushed down the tears, refusing to cry…And in order not to cry, he had to not remember. He tightened the lock that had loosened in that brief moment and he forced his spark in his self made cage. A prison of ice, stone, and steel that had taken vorns to form.
He didn't ever want to feel that way again.
It was weakness.
Weakness would only get him killed.
"Starscream?" The Seeker was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of Auron's voice. "I'm here," he answered, happy for the distraction. Whatever jammers had been causing the Autobots' communication failure had obviously worn off.
"Have you found them yet?" Auron asked.
"No. I don't see any…Wait…I think I've found something."
The younger Seeker spotted several trees that were missing large chunks of branches and leaves. Which was the only indication that a jet had flown through. And because of the large holes in the canopy, he could make out two easily recognizable mechs.
Prowl and Bulkhead.
He landed beside the Cyberninja and knelt down. He turned the lithe mech onto his back and placed his clawed servo over his chest plate. He felt the unconscious mech's spark pulse.
Starscream noticed a small needle hole wound on Prowl's neck. It appeared that something may have been injected into him. The Seeker checked Bulkhead and found the same sort of wound on his neck as well.
"I've found them," he informed his teacher. "But they're unconscious. And I think they've been drugged."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. They both have a needle hole on their neck."
"I'll bring Ratchet. Where are you?"
Starscream knew for a fact that he was horrible when it came to directions. He looked up, raised his arm and fired a powerful null blast.
"…I see you."
Starscream chuckled at the exasperated tone in Auron's voice as he sat on the ground. He crossed his legs and waited.
XXX
"Careful!" Ratchet exclaimed. Auron had nearly lost his grip on the mech and allowed him to fall toward the unforgiving ground. But the Seeker had caught his mistake in time and tightened his grip.
Since he had such a hard time driving through the forest, the Seeker thought it would be easier just to fly Ratchet where Starscream and the two Autobots were. The medic had only agreed because he wanted to make sure the other members of his team were alright. Most times he only liked flying when he was inside a ship. And he hated to be carried.
They reached their destination in less than a few klicks. The second Ratchet's peds touched the ground; he made his way to his teammates, his legs a little wobbly. While he looked them over, Auron sat beside his apprentice and took several things from his sub-space. Mostly Cybertronian herbs, a cloth, and a lighter. Starscream watched as his teacher cut snippets of different herbs onto the cloth with his claws. Once he had a little of each herb on the cloth, he put them back into his sub-space and wrapped the cloth around what he placed on it.
Starscream looked at Ratchet as he finished looking his teammates over. "Well?" he began. "What's wrong with them?"
Ratchet shook his helm. "I don't know. As far as I can tell, they haven't been injected with anything."
Starscream shrugged and inquired, "If they haven't been drugged, then why are they out cold?"
"I don't know," Ratchet repeated. "I don't know what knocked them out or why I can't on-line them."
"…What kind of medic are you?" Starscream asked with a smarmy tone.
Auron raised his hand and slapped the back of the younger Seeker's helm. "Ow!"
"Allow me to try," Auron began as if nothing had happened. Starscream rubbed the back of his helm, his ruby optics narrowing at his teacher. Ratchet, meanwhile, was laughing hard.
Auron lit the cloth with his lighter before standing up. Starscream held his breath as the older Seeker allowed the herbs to burn a moment. The younger remembered those herbs all too well. After blowing out the flame, Auron went to Prowl and held the cloth near his olfactory sensors.
The ninja gagged and coughed several times as he came to. Auron continued to Bulkhead and repeated the process of bringing him back to consciousness and received the same negative response. Once both were awake, the older Seeker asked, "Are you both alright?"
Bulkhead shook his helm and rubbed the needle wound on his neck as it began to sting. "Considering the fact we got our skid-plates handed to us by Blitzwing, I'd say we're good."
Starscream cocked an optic ridge, "How the slag did Blitzwing manage to scrap you both?"
"Starscream," Auron looked at his apprentice sternly before continuing, "There will be time for explanations later. We need to get them proper medical care at their base first."
"Well then, I guess there's no reason for me to stick around."
Auron grabbed his upper arm and shook his head. "No, not yet. Our friends need our help Starscream. We must assist them."
Starscream yanked his arm out of his teacher's grip and snarled lowly, "They. Are. Not. My. Friends."
Auron glared back at his apprentice, "They are your allies. And they are the only ones you can trust. But if you are so bent on proving how cold and empty your spark is; go. There's nothing I can do for you. Just go."
Starscream looked at the other Seeker with shock.
He didn't just hear that.
Did Auron just say…?
"I can't help someone who can't help themselves. Stop wasting my time and go!"
At that, Starscream left. He flew as fast as he could; anger and confusion clear on his face and his spark hurting. When Auron could no longer see his apprentice, the stern look left and was replaced with sadness. He turned to the astounded Autobots and explained, "He still needs time to adjust."
Prowl then asked, "Is he…no longer your apprentice?"
"No, he's still my student. But I'm sure that's not what he thinks. Once he clears his processor, he'll be back. I'm sure. Now, let's get you all home."
XXX
Soon after returning to the Autobot base and receiving medical treatment, Prowl and Bulkhead told Ratchet, Optimus, and Auron about the weapon Blitzwing had used on them. Ratchet looked over the results of another diagnostics scan and stated, "What I really want to know is what they did after they knocked you out. My scans say you haven't been drugged and that nothing was injected into you."
"…So…perhaps they took an energon sample?" Prowl asked.
Auron stroked his chin and answered, "If that is the case, what do they want with that?" The old Seeker's optics lit up slightly when he felt a familiar aura. He turned and walked toward the door.
"Auron," Optimus began, confusion evident on his features. "Where are you going?"
"Outside. Starscream's come back."
Optimus felt his spark leap for some odd reason. Ratchet had filled him in on the little disagreement between the two Seekers. So he thought it best to let them talk it out alone.
Auron looked up into the sky and saw his student coming in for a landing. The younger of the two was soon standing before his teacher. His head was bowed and his scarlet optics avoided Auron's icy blue ones.
"I'm…" Starscream fought to get the words out his vocalizer. "I'm…I'm sorry master…I shouldn't have left…Or snapped at you."
"Look at me Starscream," Auron said soothingly.
The younger Seeker did as his teacher asked. Starscream was surprised to meet with understanding and caring optics instead of angry, scornful ones.
"Starscream, I wasn't upset because you argued with me. I was disappointed that you would abandon your allies when they needed you. I can understand that you don't like them. But your fate is still tied to theirs now."
"…I'm sorry…I'm not used to…"
"To what my student?"
"…..To fighting beside Autobots. I've hated their kind for so long…It just seems…so unnatural to have anything to do with them now."
"…Why do you hate Autobots so much Starscream?"
The Seeker felt his spark wrench and nearly snap as memories, despite how hard he tried to bury them, clawed their way to his processor. Memories of a large shuttle-mech with deep, caring azure optics. Memories of an adorable seekerling taking wing for the first time and laughing happily.
He felt tears line his optics as other, more unpleasant things surfaced in his mind. Images of his home destroyed flashed before his optics. He also remembered standing in a graveyard, sobbing over two headstones. And a Seeker…an evil, cruel Seeker that had stolen everything for him.
'No!' Starscream stopped the memory before it could fully process. He wiped the moisture from his optics angrily before it could start streaming down his face. All the while, he cursed himself for showing such weakness.
Auron looked upon his apprentice with deep concern, before Starscream answered his previous question. "Let's just say they could've done something to make my life turn out differently and they didn't."
Auron nodded once in understanding and stated, "Perhaps…one day you can tell me more. But for the time being, these aren't the Autobots who did you wrong, are they?"
"…No."
"Then why blame them for things they have not done? One of them has even saved your life."
"…I know…I would like to help. I found this on my way here." Starscream opened his servo and revealed a fragment of the All Spark in his palm.
Auron smiled a little. This proved Starscream wasn't as cold as he pretended to be. He was trying to make up for his mistake.
"I'm sure Optimus will appreciate that. He could use some good news right now."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Apparently our Decepticon friends of been upgraded. How this is possible-"
"Lockdown." Starscream answered before the question left Auron's vocalizer. The younger Seeker walked toward the entrance as the elder one cocked an optic ridge. "Who?"
"Lockdown," Starscream explained as he entered the Autobot base. "He's a bounty hunter. However, he will sell a few mods if the price is right. I did a little business with him when I first arrived here. What did the mod do? I may be able to tell you which one the Decepticons have."
Before Auron could answer, Optimus entered the conversation. "According to Prowl and Bulkhead, Blitzwing was wearing the mod on his wrist. It shot some sort of blue lightning at them and knocked them into stasis."
Starscream groaned dismally. "A stasis-mod. Primus damn it I hate those things! Wonder how much Blitz had to pay for Lockdown to part with it."
"A stasis-mod?" Optimus inquired.
Starscream nodded, "But why didn't they kill your mechs when they had the chance? Primus knows that's what a Decepticon would do."
"According to Ratchet, they must have taken an energon sample from both Prowl and Bulkhead. We just don't know why."
"If I may ask," Auron began, "Why would they buy only one stasis-mod if they had the credits to get more?"
"Because Lockdown destroyed the rest," Starscream answered, "Megatron paid him a king's ransom several vorns ago to destroy a whole Autobot armory filled with them. Lockdown took one for himself."
"Okay, here's a dumb question," Ratchet stated, walking out of the med-bay. "Why not start making more of them? If the Decepticons were armed with those things, then Autobots would be history in a matter of months."
"My thoughts exactly," Starscream stated. "They must have something else in mind."
Optimus shook his head. "Whatever they're up to, destroying that mod in a top priority."
"But Optimus," Prowl walked from the med-bay, Bulkhead following close behind. "What about the energon samples they took from us?"
"We'll worry about that later. Right now we need to make sure the Decepticons can't make any more mods like that."
Starscream looked around, an optic ridge raised. "Hey, where's the yellow Autobot?"
Prowl looked toward the couch and only found Sari asleep. "That's a good question."
Auron gently nudged the girl awake with his knuckles. She stirred and groaned groggily. She finally sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Have you seen Bumblebee little one?" Auron asked.
Sari stretched and yawned before answering, "Yeah. He took off a couple minutes after you did. Said he was going to look in the forests around the city for Bulk and Prowl."
Prowl's optics widened behind his visor. "We have to find him. It's not safe for him to be out on his own."
"Why? Guys…what's going on?"
XXX
Optimus and the other ground-bound mechs searched the forests for their youngest member, while the Seekers flew overhead. Prowl was the only one on the team who could leap through the forest with ease. His spark pounded in his chest and his energon was rushing through his veins.
Bumblebee had better be alright.
If Blitzwing had so much as twisted a cable on his neck, Prowl swore to Primus he'd tear him apart. Although he still wasn't completely sure of his feelings for Bumblebee; he knew he cared deeply for the young mech. Bumblebee had somehow wriggled his way under Prowl's armor and found a place in his spark.
Prowl finally picked up on Bumblebee's energy signature. He increased his pace and ran in the direction he knew Bumblebee to be.
He found Blitzwing over the young bot's unconscious, battered form.
For a brief moment, Prowl lost it. He rammed into the triple-changer. Blitzwing yelped as he fell to the ground and was greatful that he had put the younger Autobot's energon sample in the safety of his subspace.
Prowl punched the larger mech in the face multiple times with strength not many knew he possessed. Blitzwing used his legs to fling the lithe form over his head then flipped onto his peds.
Prowl quickly recovered from being flung and sent out a distress signal as he poised himself for attack. Blitzwing paid him no mind. He knew better than to engage this Autobot because he was aware the other members of his team weren't far behind. As he fled into the forest, knowing the Autobots would give chase after him, he cursed himself for not activating his jammers.
Prowl forgot about the main objective of their mission. He had even seen the mod on Blitzwing's wrist. Instead of going after him, he went to Bumblebee and turned him onto his back.
The youngster had put up a fight. There were burns all over his armor as well as a few fragments of ice lodged in seems of his armor. The Cyberninja scoped the scout into his arms and cradled him close to his body.
"Optimus."
"We picked up your distress signal and are on the way. What happened?"
"Blitzwing got an energon sample from Bumblebee. He escaped and Bumblebee needs Ratchet now."
"He'll be there as fast as he can. Which way did Blitzwing go?"
"East."
"Okay. Starscream, Auron, Bulkhead and I will go after him. I'm sending Ratchet your way."
"Just tell him to hurry."
XXX
Several hours later…
Bumblebee on-lined in the safety of the Autobot base, pieces of his armor missing and his soft, vulnerable protoform skin exposed. Ratchet was either stitching up the protoform or putting some sort of pain reliever on it before wrapping them up.
Even after Ratchet said he'd be alright, Prowl still sat beside Bumblebee's berth and helped him. Bumblebee didn't mind in the least. He liked the positive attention he rarely got form the Cyberninja.
The other four mechs returned several mega-cycles after Bumblebee woke up. Optimus and Bulkhead transformed outside the base and the Seekers landed beside them. As Bulkhead and the elder Seeker went inside, Starscream grabbed Optimus by the shoulder and said, "Prime, I need to speak with you."
The Autobot leader turned and looked up into the taller Cybertronian's optics. Before Starscream, he had never seen a Seeker. He had only heard stories about them. The ground-bound mech was amazed and fascinated by both Starscream and Auron's ability to fly. He wished he could.
"What do you need Starscream?"
"…I found an All Spark fragment." He reached into his subspace and pulled said fragment out and offered it to Optimus. The younger of the two carefully plucked the fragment from the palm of the Seeker's clawed servo. He examined it, fascinated by its glow.
"Thanks…I'll put this somewhere safe."
Starscream looked down at the Autobot and Optimus looked up at him. Starscream was surprised to discover that for a ground-pounder, Prime was fairly easy on the optics. His optics, which reminded the Seeker of the sky he enjoyed flying in, shined in the moonlight and brought out his features more. He was actually…beautiful. Little did he know, the Autobot was thinking the same thing about him.
Optimus had always heard that Vosian Seekers were the most attractive creatures to ever take to the skies. He decided that those rumors didn't do Starscream justice.
Both Seeker and Autobot got a grip on reality at the same moment. Starscream's optics shined and he took a step away from the Prime and Optimus fought to keep a blush from coming to his features. Starscream cleared his throat and looked anywhere but at Optimus.
"Well…uh…I guess Auron and I should be on our way."
Optimus glanced up and interjected, "You don't have to." He tried his best not to look into the Seeker's angular, scarlet optics.
"What do you mean?" Starscream asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's late…You and Auron…could stay the night here."
"…Where would we be recharging?"
"We have spare rooms. This old factory had several empty spaces and Sari convinced us to make guest rooms…Never imagined we'd actually use them though."
Optimus was met with an amazing and rare sight. Starscream chuckled, but it lacked the bitterness and evil he was used to hearing, and the Seeker smiled. He didn't smirk and the smile lacked the sarcasm and evil that always seem to accompany it.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay the night…And…I suppose we'll be staying until we destroy that stasis-mod…"
"Yeah…"
For a long moment, it was silent again. This time, it was Optimus who broke it. "I'll show you and Auron to your rooms. Then Ratchet and I will take this to the ship."
He looked down at the fragment then back at Starscream. The Seeker's optics showed concern while his face remained impassive. "Are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"I won't be going alone. Besides, I'd think Blitzwing would want to lay low for a bit. Wouldn't he?"
"…If he believed himself in danger, perhaps…Just be careful…Wouldn't want him to get that fragment."
Why did he care what happened to the Autobot? He barely knew him. And yet…even now…the Seeker's spark was pounding in his chest. He hadn't felt this way since the first time he met…
'Curse my processor for always bringing up things I don't want to remember!'
"I'm tired. Which way to a room?" Starscream wanted to be in recharge as soon as possible. The sooner he left the world of reality the better.
Optimus smiled a little and led Starscream inside. He didn't fully understand Starscream. But he was seeing a softer side to him.
And it was side, he found, he actually liked.
XXX
Blitzwing flew for several mega-cycles until he was sure the Autobots weren't following him. As the sun set over the horizon, he went to an old mine that was now the Decepticon hideout.
The Hothead persona found it degrading that warriors such as themselves were forced to hide in the dirt. However, the Icy persona saw the reasoning in it. For Megatron's latest plan, they needed a place the Autobots would never suspect the Decepticons to be. The tunnels went far and deep into the earth. And they had enough space to accommodate them and their equipment.
Blitzwing entered and easily found his way to where Megatron was sitting on his throne. The large mech was still badly damaged from his encounter with Optimus and Starscream, but with Blitzwing and Professor Sumdac, he'd be back on his peds in no time.
The human was currently in a small cage. He was only put there when there was no one to keep an optic on him while he repaired Megatron. However, sometimes, when the Decepticon leader was up to watching him, he'd be let out to continue his work on Megatron. But most times, Megatron felt too exhausted to do so.
Megatron on-lined his optics when he heard Blitzwing's familiar ped-steps. "Blitzwing," he began in a hoarse tone. "You have returned. Did you acquire anymore energon samples?"
Blitzwing took a capped syringe from his subspace, presenting it to his leader before answering in his icy persona, "Only one, I'm afraid. Ze Autobot called Prowl attacked me before I could retrieve more."
"It matters not. Just as long as you didn't return empty handed."
Blitzwing bowed his head before moving to a section of the room where he did most of his work. He labeled the energon sample "Bumblebee" before removing the needle and laying it beside two others in a protective case. They were labeled "Prowl" and "Bulkhead".
"Three down," Megatron stated. "Tell me Blitzwing, have you seen any sign of the traitor?"
"Yes my lord. As jou suspected, Starscream lives."
"Good. My plan won't progress any further without him."
Blitzwing shifted uncomfortably as he tried to find a way to ask Megatron a question that had plagued his processor for several days. "Lord Megatron," he began, "I've been vondering…"
"Yes Blitzwing? Go on."
"…Vhy are ve doing this? Vhy not use the stasis mod to destroy the Autobots?"
Megatron glared at his soldier. "Are you questioning my judgment Blitzwing?"
"No, no! Not at all my lord…But…vith them gone, they could no longer interfere vith our plans."
"Blitzwing, you are not seeing the bigger picture. I am leaving the Autobots alive only long enough to destroy them later. Would you rather I use you to test my creation's abilities?"
"No my lord! I'm sorry! But…even if ve have the coding…ve need…ve vill still need the All Spark to give it life."
"The All Spark is still in existence Blitzwing. There are fragments of it everywhere on this pitiful world now. You just need to find one fragment and it will be enough. Now, go back out there and don't return until you have an All Spark fragment and the remaining energon samples."
"…Yes my lord." Without another word, Blitzwing left. Megatron might have been in a weakened state, but still, no one under his rank would dare to question him.
When the triple-changer had left, Megatron looked toward Lugnut, whom had been working around the base while Megatron and Blitzwing had their short conversation. "Is the incubation chamber ready, Lugnut?"
The large mech practically threw himself to the floor as he answered, "Yes mighty Megatron, it is."
"Good. Do you have the armor and weapons?"
"Yes my lord. All is prepared."
"Excellent." Megatron chuckled deep in his chest before off-lining his optics again and shutting down his systems in order to rest. He would need all his strength if he wanted to oversee his latest project.
XXX
It was strange underwater sometimes. The creatures underneath the water's surface were so different from the ones above on land. Not that Optimus ever got a good look at them. They always swam away whenever he or his teammates came close. And he always kept his focus on getting to Dinobot Island because of this.
The journey was much easier when the water was frozen, like it was now. But it was also very difficult not to slip and slide when in vehicle mode. However, eventually the ice gave way and they were driving under the water again. It didn't bother either Autobot much. They were used to these sort of things by now.
They reached their destination a mega-cycle after they went from ice to water. Now it was time for the more difficult task of getting to and on their ship.
Auron had suggested that the safest place to put the All Spark fragment was in its old casing. And the safest place for that was on the Autobots' ship which was still part of a mountain.
Optimus transformed once he and the medic were out the water and on land. "Are you sure it's a good idea to let Starscream stay at our base?" Ratchet asked for the hundredth time since Optimus told him the two Seekers would be spending the night at the base.
He sighed as he answered, "Yes Ratchet. Why are you so nervous about him?"
"Why aren't you? He did try to kill us and take the All Spark when we first met him after all. In fact, he very nearly killed you."
"But he saved our lives and helped us defeat Megatron."
"Out of necessity. You heard him yourself. He wasn't helping us, he was helping himself. For all we know, the second the opportunity arises, he could stab us in the back. Just like he did Megatron."
"…He gave his life to save mine before I dispersed the All Spark."
Ratchet froze. He hadn't heard the full story of Megatron's defeat before the All Spark came to be in its current state. "He what?"
Optimus turned to the medic and explained, "Megatron had the All Spark and was about to use it to destroy me. Starscream pushed me out of the way and took the full blast in the spark chamber. I used Sari's key to bring him back when his spark extinguished."
"…You didn't say anything about that."
"…Ratchet…do you know anything about Starscream before he became a Decepticon?"
"Sorry Prime. Medics weren't privy to that type of information. We only knew enough to defend ourselves against 'Cons if we ran into them. Why do you ask?"
"It's something Starscream said to me after I told him an Autobot wouldn't just let a person die."
"…What did he say?"
"He didn't believe me….He said, 'If only that were true'."
"Wonder what could happen to make him believe that."
Optimus shrugged before continuing on. In the day, Dinobot Island was beautiful…But at night, it just crept Optimus out, as the humans said. The sooner they put the fragment in its casing, the sooner they could go home. Ratchet walked closely beside the Prime, both keeping their senses open, in case Blitzwing showed his faces.
Neither noticed the pair of ruby red optics watching them from the shadows of the jungle and listening in on everything they said.
The Icy persona did a very rare thing as he heard Optimus and Ratchet's conversation. A smirk played onto his features.
They had no idea why Starscream hated the Autobots so much…They had no idea how Starscream got his position of second-in-command of the Decepticons.
He had to hold back a chuckle. He was here on business. And, according to his scans, the Prime had a fragment of the All Spark. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
The triple-changer activated his jammers then, like a hawk with its claws outstretched, Blitzwing powered up the stasis-mod, swopped down, and attacked his prey.
XXX
Auron was awake just as the sun rose above the horizon. Before his optics on-lined, he could sense that something was wrong.
He sat up in his berth and pushed off the warm fabrics the Autobots referred to as "blankets". They had kept him very warm during the cold night and the "pillow" had greatly relaxed his neck joints. He couldn't remember waking up and feeling so refreshed. But that didn't distract him from the disturbance he still felt.
He put his armor on and left the guest room the Autobots had allowed him to recharge in. The room next to his was where Starscream was staying. From what he could sense, the younger Seeker was having an uneasy recharge cycle. Since the first day he met Starscream, whenever the younger was in recharge, his sleep was troubled.
That's all he could ever feel from him.
Auron stretched out his senses throughout the base. Everyone present was still in recharge. Bulkhead was in his room. Prowl was in the med-bay with Bumblebee. And Sari was sleeping in another guest room.
So where were Optimus and Ratchet?
Had they not returned from their little errand last night?
With that thought in mind, the Seeker walked into his apprentice's room. No need to worry the others just yet. He and Starscream would send for help in they needed it.
Auron saw that Starscream had his armor in a neat pile in a corner of the room close to the berth. He was recharging on his side, his wings folded behind his back slightly to allow this, and he was facing the door. And his optics were not completely off-lined. They were on-lined enough to light the under edge of his optics and gave the appearance of being awake.
It was a hangover of spending so many vorns aboard a ship with Cybertronians who would not hesitate to kill their comrades in their recharge if they thought they would get away with it. The younger Seeker was so untrusting. But Auron still had hope. He had a feeling that someone would break through Starscream's shell and pull him out of his self-made prison.
The older Seeker grabbed the younger's bare shoulder and gently shook him awake. "Starscream, wake up."
Starscream groaned groggily as his scarlet optics on-lined completely. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked up at his teacher. "Auron? What's going on?"
Auron took a step back to allow his apprentice room to get up and then turned his back to give him some privacy. "It's Ratchet and Optimus."
"What about them?"
Auron heard a loud click as Starscream's chest armor was fastened in place. "I fear they never returned last night."
Starscream froze, his servo hovering above his shoulder holding his shoulder plating. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. They are nowhere in the base or around the immediate area."
Starscream horridly put on the rest of his armor, then was striding toward the door. "We've got to find them."
Auron paused for a brief nano-klick before smiling and following his apprentice outside. It appeared the softer and kinder side of Starscream's spark was beginning to shine through the prison it was encased in.
XXX
The sun was still peaking over the horizon when Auron and Starscream made it to Dinobot Island. "We should split up," Auron suggested. "We'll be able to cover more ground and find them faster."
"Is that such a good idea while Blitzwing has that stasis-mod?"
"Trust me, my apprentice. We will both be fine."
Starscream's frown deepened before he transformed and stated, "Keep your optics open." The two Seekers flew in different directions to search for their lost comrades.
Auron reached out and searched for the two missing Autobots with his other senses as well as his optics and scanners. It didn't take him long to pick up an energy signature. Auron smiled, "Ratchet." He flew towards the energy signature and soon began his decent.
The medic, like his comrades, was knocked out and had a needle hole wound on his neck. The only difference was the old Cybertronian had put up even more of a fight then even Bumblebee had. His armor was scorched and iced and a few pieces were missing.
Auron quickly created his herbal wake-up call and lit it. Ratchet coughed several times and groaned in pain as he breathed in the smoke. He tried to get up, but Auron rested his clawed servo on his chest and said, "Lie still me friend. You are badly hurt. What happened to you? And where's Optimus?"
Ratchet shook his head and answered hoarsely, "Blitzwing ambushed us. We tried using our comm.s to call for help, but they weren't working…Blitzwing must've activated jammers. Prime and I fought him, trying not to get hit…I told Prime to get to the ship and call for help. He refused to leave without me. We found an opening in the 'Con's defenses. I used my magnets to try and get the stasis-mod. But Blitzwing pulled away before I could. The fragger started attacking from the sky…"
Ratchet coughed a few times before continuing, "I got banged up pretty bad…He finally hit me with the mod. I managed to tell Prime to run before I blacked out…and…"
Auron rummaged around in his subspace, looking for anything he could use to help ease the mech's pain. He found what he was looking for. He took a silver plant with several leaves attached to each other from his subspace. "Here, eat this. It will help with the pain."
Ratchet obeyed and bit into the fern. "Now, what else happened?"
"Before…I went into stasis, I think I saw Prime damage the mod…That's all I remember."
"Hang in there Ratchet…I'll get Starscream. We'll find Optimus and return you both home."
Ratchet nodded, his optics were becoming heavy. Being a medic, he knew he hadn't suffered any life threatening injuries; but his repair systems were taking a lot out of him trying to fix everything.
Auron tried to comm. his apprentice, but couldn't get through to him. There was nothing but static…Something was jamming his signal. That didn't make any sense. Why would there be jammers activated?
...Unless Blitzwing was still present.
But if that were the case, why was he still here? He got Ratchet's genetic code and most likely had Optimus'. That would complete his collection of the Earth Autobot codes. Unless…
It suddenly clicked in Auron's mind. "Primus, I'm such a fool!"
"What?" Ratchet asked tiredly. "Blitzwing…He used you and Optimus to lure Starscream here."
"Why?"
"After he has yours and Optimus' coding, he has everyone on your team. He wants Starscream's coding as well."
"But what do the 'Cons want with our CNA?"
"I don't know…The mod no longer matters. We have to keep Blitzwing from getting an energon sample from Starscream."
"Go on. I'll shut down here…I'll be fine."
"…I'll return…I promise."
XXX
Meanwhile…
Starscream landed several klicks after he and Auron split up. The reason being that the light of the rising sun made something shine and it caught Starscream's attention.
The object in question had been Prime's battle ax. He picked it up and stared at it for a nano-klick before looking around. If Prime had been through here, the jungle brush would show some sign of being disturbed.
He found what he was looking for; several snapped twigs and partially crushed bushes in one direction. Starscream ran that way after putting the ax in his subspace.
The next thing he found was disturbing, but no doubt belonged to Prime. One of his antennas. He picked it up. The appendage was covered with energon blood where it had been snapped off.
Judging by how clean the break was, Prime hadn't been fighting when he lost this. Starscream growled. It didn't take much processor power to figure out what had happened.
Blitzwing had ambushed the Prime and his medic and was now leaving a trail to be followed. Not that the Seeker needed to follow it. He already knew exactly where the triple-changer was leading him.
He took to the skies and flew toward the Autobots' crashed ship.
XXX
Blitzwing smirked as he heard the roar of a harrier jet's engine.
It appeared he had been right about Starscream. He was becoming attached to these Autobots and he was reverting back to who he had once been before becoming a Decepticon.
"Blitzwing!" the Seeker roared as he landed in front of the triple changer. Blitzwing flinched as he caught sight of the look in Starscream's optics. There was a gleam in them he hadn't seen since the death of Megatron's first second-in-command. But he had nothing to worry about so long as he had the stasis-mod.
"I thought you'd come Starscream," he said casually, as if he was talking to an old friend.
Starscream's glare hardened and he all but snarled, "Where is Prime?"
Blitzwing pointed up. They both were standing under the Autobot ship. And attached to its hull, tied up with his own grapples, was a badly beaten Prime. The Autobot groaned in pain as he slowly began to come to.
Starscream snarled at the triple changer. "You would further injure an opponent even after he's down?"
"That's vhat ve Decepticons do Starscream. Or have you forgotten that? Have you forgotten the meaning of that symbol branded on your vings?"
The Seeker glanced at the purple emblem. "I haven't forgotten."
"Then vhy?" Blitzwing had to know. He had to know what was going through the Seeker's mind. He had to know why the jet-former had sided himself with their enemies. "Did you forget vhy ve fight the Autobots? Vhy you fight them? vhat they failed to do for your family?"
Starscream looked down at the ground and fought back the tears that threatened to leave him. "…I will never forget."
"Then tell me vhy Starscream. Vhy are you fighting with them?"
"…I don't know that myself."
Blitzwing looked at Starscream with confusion as the jet smirked. "Something tells me they can help me understand…"
"Understand vhat?" Starscream chuckled, "I don't know that either. But…they are my allies." Starscream looked up and glared at his ex-comrade. "And as long as I fight with them, I will help them and protect them."
Blitzwing shook his head. "You're still a Decepticon at spark. Vhy else vould you still vhere our mark?"
Starscream shrugged, "The mark stays for as long as I still need it. Now…" Starscream stood in an attack stance and stated, "Release Prime and surrender; and this progresses no further."
Blitzwing laughed as he stood ready. "Starscream, you know me better than that."
Starscream dug his heel into the ground. Both stood perfectly still, waiting for the other to strike. While Blitzwing searched for weaknesses, Starscream took in his environment and assets.
The stasis-mod on Blitzwing's wrist appeared to be damaged. There was a long slash that indicated Prime had hit it with his ax before being brought down. It wasn't enough to destroy it, obviously. But perhaps it was enough to weaken it.
Blitzwing attacked, bringing down his cannons suddenly and firing twin beams of ice. The frozen torrents nearly hit Starscream, but he leapt into the air and avoided the attack. He activated his thrusters and remained airborne.
Blitzwing continued firing up at Starscream and the Seeker gracefully dodged the ice beams. Starscream gunned his thrusters and flew towards the triple-changer. He remembered the job that needed to be accomplished; getting the stasis-mod and destroying it.
Blitzwing felt his spark stop as the jet-former came toward him. He remembered how the Seeker had nearly bested Megatron and knew for a fact that if Starscream got within his reach like he did with Megatron, he'd be beaten.
Blitzwing fired two ice beams at Starscream and almost at the same moment, fired the stasis-mod in the direction he knew the jet would turn to avoid the ice.
Starscream saw the blue lightning and instead of barrel rolling to the side, he pulled upward, avoiding both strikes. But Blitzwing thought ahead.
Before Starscream knew what had happened, his systems all shut down and he fell to the ground. He felt pain in his back and wings when he hit the hard earth and his processor stalled for a moment.
'Damn it!'
Just as he was pulling up, Blitzwing fired the mod again and got a hit. But the Seeker was right when he thought the damage Prime had caused weakened the weapon. He wasn't in stasis-lock. But he couldn't move any part of his body. He couldn't even twitch his little finger.
Blitzwing chuckled as he walked to the paralyzed Seeker. He kneeled down and stated, "I've studied your flight patterns enough to figure out vhat you vould do. Now…" The triple-changer reached into his subspace and pulled an energon dagger out and continued, "Tell me if this hurts."
Without warning, Blitzwing plunged the dagger into Starscream's unprotected side. Despite being paralyzed, his vocalizer found enough power to produce an audio splitting shriek. Blitzwing smirked, "I take that as a yes."
The triple-changer yanked the blade out and energon blood poured from the Seeker's new wound. Blitzwing took a syringe from his subspace and talked to Starscream as he looked it over. "I suppose you've figured out the reason as to vhy you haven't completely shut down. Your Autobot friend damaged the mod. But not to vorry. I can easily repair the damage."
Blitzwing practically shoved the needle of the syringe into Starscream's newest wound, drawing a hiss from the Seeker. Blitzwing shook his helm as he filled the syringe with Starscream's blood. "And don't even try calling for help. I activated jammers. No com. frequencies can be received or sent."
The triple changer capped the syringe before putting it in his subspace. "You vere a great Decepticon Starscream. Vhich is vhy I don't understand how you could betray us."
Starscream only glared coldly.
"Starscream!" Blitzwing glanced up as he caught sight of another Seeker.
'Auron no! Run! Get out of here!' Starscream shouted in his mind and tried to vocalize it, but couldn't. Auron landed several feet away from Blitzwing. His face was the mask of total calm, but a storm raged within his optics.
He flexed his wrists, getting his wrist blades to snap out and pointed one toward Blitzwing. "Step away from my apprentice and surrender the stasis-mod and genetic codes."
Blitzwing's face changed to Random and an evil cackle emerged from his vocalizer. "Not going to happen old Seeker."
Starscream struggled to get some control of his limbs. Auron didn't know how much more dangerous and blood thirsty Blitzwing was in Random-mode. The word animal always came to Starscream's mind.
Blitzwing lunged, not even bothering to fire his canons at the elder Seeker. Auron flipped above his head and landed behind him then quickly turned and slashed at the triple-changer.
Blitzwing yelped and did a back flip and aimed a high kick at Auron. The Seeker dodged and slashed at his leg at the knee. Blitzwing almost fell, but found his balance before doing so.
The Random face hissed angrily at the Seeker and fought hard to keep his Hothead persona down. He lunged once again and swung his arm to hit Auron with the brunt of it. Auron did a side flip then pounced at the triple changer, who ducked and turned to face his opponent.
Auron recovered from his miss quickly and remained crouched on the ground and displayed his blades at Blitzwing. The Random persona snarled and lunged forward again. Auron did a back flip, landing gracefully on his peds; from there it was hand to hand.
Blitzwing threw quick jabs and powerful punches as well as high and low kicks. Auron merely dodged and side-stepped the assault and smiled. "Just keep getting angrier and angrier. That's how all you Decepticons fight. You let rage fuel all your actions."
The enraged face let loose a roar of anger and frustration before firing a more deadly fire attack at his foe. Auron took to the air, avoiding the burning torrents of fire and continued speaking. "And for a time, that seems to work."
Auron barrel rolled out of the way of another fire beam then took a small ball from his subspace. He threw it at Blitzwing. The tiny ball exploded before the Hothead persona's optics and encased him in smoke. He couldn't see anything but he heard Auron finish, "Until you lose sight of everything else."
Blitzwing howled in pain as Auron's blades pierced him from behind. The Seeker had found a gap in his armor and had gone for it the moment he had the chance. He fell to the ground when Auron yanked his blades from his back.
The Seeker left the cloud of smoke; the mod could wait until he had attended to his apprentice. He flexed his wrists and the blades returned to their sheaths. He smiled down at Starscream as he walked towards him and stated, "Decepticons; they never expect the unexpected do they?"
He saw the relief in the younger's optics and couldn't help but smile wider. This only proved that Starscream cared a lot more than he let on.
A sudden pain caused the smile to fade, a howl of agony and surprise escaped his vocalizer. Blue lightning surrounded his being the last thing he saw was the look of panic and fear in Starscream's optics before he fell to the ground unconscious.
Blitzwing, icy persona in place, emerged from the smoke cloud. "Neutrals and Autobots never learn. Only turn your back on a corpse." He knelt down and pulled his energon dagger from the old Seeker's back then wiped the blood onto the jet's shoulder plating.
Starscream felt something inside himself. It was as if a match had been lit in his tanks and was now burning him alive. It boiled the energon in his lines and caused his spark pulse to speed up. Adrenaline rushed through his veins, giving him incredible strength and all he could see was Blitzwing lying a pool of his own blood. The flame grew and grew, seeming to burn everything it could reach. And then, something finally snapped.
Starscream released a shriek of rage that echoed all over Dinobot Island and caused many birds to scatter from their homes. Before Blitzwing knew what had happened, Starscream leaped at him and pinned to the ground.
Blitzwing looked at Starscream, knowing exactly what had happened.
Somehow, he had caused Starscream to go into a state known as Seeker rage. It was very rare for Seeker to enter this state and it was usually only triggered by unimaginable anger and rage or, for Seekers who actually learned to control this state, if a loved one who was in grave danger and there was no other way to protect them. During this state, a Seeker had increased speed and strength and was nearly impossible to defeat.
Blitzwing, before Starscream could firmly pin him to the ground, summoned all his strength and flipped backwards. This caused the Seeker to tumble over and off him, and gave the triple changer time to get some distance.
He flew into the sky while Starscream found his footing again. Then he looked up at Blitzwing, his fanged dentals bared and claws ready to slice the Decepticon to ribbons. The Seeker snarled before igniting his thrusters and flying toward the source of his rage.
Blitzwing fired the stasis-mod multiple times at the Seeker. He was terrified. The first and only time he had seen Starscream in Seeker rage, he had killed a Decepticon. A Decepticon that had better weapons, armor, and skill than Starscream had had at the time.
The blue lightning the mod fired hit Starscream several times, but only seemed to be making him angrier. He rammed into Blitzwing, sending him tumbling backwards in the air. Then he grabbed the triple-changer by his cannons and yanked, hard.
Blitzwing screamed in fear as his weapons were ripped from his back, exposing his bare protoform. Starscream's claws sank into the now exposed area, causing Blitzwing to shriek in intense pain.
"How dare you!" Starscream exclaimed, continuing to slash at the mech trying desperately to escape. "How dare you hurt my friends!"
Blitzwing tried to fire the stasis-mod again when he finally managed to get out of Starscream's grasp. But the Seeker used his increased speed to capture Blitzwing once again and punched him in the face. The force of the blow split the Icy persona's lip and cracked his left optic.
Starscream grabbed him by his extended arm then did a forward flip, forcing the triple changer to turn with him, before releasing his arm and kicking him on top of his helm. The attack was so powerful, Blitzwing's processor stalled for a klick. This caused his flight systems to off-line and he fell to the ground.
The Earth shook as the large Decepticon hit and the impact of his landing was enough to bring him out of his stupor. Blitzwing groaned, trying to regain some of his bearings. He was about to get up, until a clawed hand grabbed his arm and another yanked the stasis-mod from his wrist.
"Let's see how bad you are without your toy!"
Blitzwing looked up to see Starscream crush the mod with his enhanced strength. He dropped it to the ground then stomped on it, insuring that I could never be used again. He moved his ped from side to side, further crushing the delicate materials.
"I might not have my mod," Blitzwing began fearfully as he attempted to push himself away from the enraged Seeker. "But I know something about Seeker rage."
"Oh?" Starscream snarled as he pulled Prime's ax from his subspace, fully intending to cut Blitzwing down to size. "And what would that be?"
"Seeker rage only lasts a few klicks after it's triggered. And when Seeker rage ends, the Seeker is forced into stasis to recover from the stress their body underwent. And your time's up Starscream."
At Blitzwing's words, the rush of adrenaline stopped flowing through Starscream's veins. And the flame in his tanks was extinguished. Starscream groaned once before toppling over on his back and unwillingly went into stasis.
Blitzwing waited a nano-klick, then got up and glared down at the Seeker. His Icy persona was exchanged for the Hothead one. He bent down and picked up the ax Starscream had planned to use on him.
It was a good thing Megatron didn't give specifics about not killing the Decepticon traitor.
He raised the ax, ready to bring it down on Starscream's spark chamber. But before he could deal the final blow, he heard a noise that indicated a grappler being fired. Said grapple, wrapped around his raised arm. The owner of the grapple pulled causing Blitzwing to fall back down and the ax to fall from his grasp.
He looked to see Optimus picking up his ax. Blitzwing snarled and easily snapped the grapple line and stood up.
"Leave him alone," the Prime ordered.
Blitzwing's faces once again changed to Random. "Fine. I'll play with you instead!" The Decepticon ran toward the weakened Autobot, he'd take care of him, then finish off Starscream.
Optimus elongated the handle of ax and stood at the ready. He didn't move as the Decepticon came steadily nearer, he only waited and watched. When Blitzwing was close enough, Optimus aimed for along gash on his side and swung.
He hit home and an enraged and anguished howl escaped Blitzwing's vocalizer as the blade of the ax sank deeper into the wound. Optimus leaped up and planted a ped on Blitzwing's chest, then pulled back with all his strength. He did a back flip as his ax left the wound and made it larger and landed firmly on his peds.
Blitzwing fell to his knees, holding his wounded side. His icy persona replaced the Random one before he added pressure to the wound in an attempt to slow the bleeding. He picked up another Autobot frequency coming in his and Prime's direction.
He glanced up and saw the medic. He ran with a limp and when he saw the Decepticon, he activated both his magnets and pointed them at Blitzwing. The triple changer then felt a blade on his shoulder. He looked and saw Auron glaring down at him.
"Surrender," Optimus began breathlessly, still feeling a bit weakened. "You're outnumbered."
Blitzwing glared at the Prime before stating coolly, "You don't know Decepticons very vell, do you?"
Before his enemies could figure out what he meant, Blitzwing activated his flight systems and gunned his engine. He rammed into Prime, causing him to fall on his back.
Auron was about to give chase, when Optimus stopped him. "No Auron. Forget about him."
Ratchet and the Seeker helped the Prime stand back up. Auron looked at Ratchet seriously before stating, "I thought you said you were shutting down."
Ratchet chuckled. "I did. Then I heard your apprentice…Is he alright?"
Auron went his apprentice's side, then knelt down beside his prone from and answered, "He will be. Seeker rage is very draining. And the fact he triggered it while wounded didn't help either."
Optimus knelt on Starscream's other side and gently touched his arm. "We need to get him back to base. He needs medical attention."
"Not to point out the obvious Prime," Ratchet began, "But we all need medical attention."
Auron smiled a little, then looked toward the sky and frowned. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his tanks.
XXX
Megatron flexed his fingers, pleased that there was no pain in doing so as there had been for the past few weeks.
"Very good Professor," he commented, "You've reminded me of how useful you were to me."
Professor Sumdac said nothing and proceeded with his work on Megatron. He still had much to do. It was very quiet, other than the sounds of Lugnut's thunderous ped-steps as he moved around and worked on a certain device in another room.
The object he was working on was a large cylinder known as an incubation chamber. It was large enough to hold someone of the giant mech's size, but it was not meant to hold a prisoner. Oh no. It would serve an entirely different purpose. Several tubes, cables, and electronical gear was attached to and was inside the incubation chamber.
This tank would soon house Megatron's latest project.
The quiet was soon replaced by ragged breathing and loud, clumsy ped-steps. Megatron and Lugnut and the human looked up and watched a badly beaten Blitzwing stumble in and collapse on the ground.
Lugnut fought the impulse to run and help his partner. He knew it would greatly offend Megatron. The tyrant looked down and growled at the human, getting him to continue his work. Then his gaze returned to his subordinate.
"Blitzwing," Megatron began, "What happened to you?"
Blitzwing slowly raised himself, only to fall back down. He was losing energon at an alarming rate and would soon be forced into stasis if the flow didn't stop soon.
"S…Starscream…" he managed to gasp in Icy mode. "I somehow…managed to trigger his-" The triple changer entered a coughing fit. When energon blood started to come from his mouth with every cough, Lugnut took a step forward to assist. A glare from Megatron prevented him from doing anything more.
The coughing soon stopped and Blitzwing continued to tell what happened. "I got the genetic codes from the medic and Prime…I heard them (cough) speaking about…Starscream. I thought…I could lure him there using them. I vas right…but before I subdued Prime, he managed to damage…the stasis-mod. When Starscream…came it only paralyzed him instead of…putting him in stasis."
Blitzwing coughed several times again, then panted. Megatron's glare hardened. "Go on Blitzwing."
The triple changer swallowed and continued, "I got Starscream's genetic code when…the new Seeker that attacked Lugnut…the one they call Auron…attacked me…When I defeated him…Starscream went into…Seeker rage."
Megatron cocked an optic ridge. "Seeker rage? I haven't seen Starscream enter that state since he deactivated Wind Killer."
"It was…as powerful…as before…He did this to me…Before he could finish me…Seeker rage wore off…Then Prime attacked me…" No need to tell Megatron he had attempted to kill the Decepticon traitor. "Then the medic came…and the Seeker on-lined…I had no choice…but to flee."
"…Did you retrieve an All Spark fragment?"
Blitzwing coughed before reaching into his subspace and pulling out the fragment hidden there. "Prime…had it on…his person."
"Then today wasn't a total loss. Lugnut." The gigantic mech looked at his leader, prepared to follow any order given to him. "Help him."
Lugnut obyed and went to his partner's side. He helped the triple changer stand and slung his arm over his shoulder. Blitzwing limped as Lugnut led him to his workstation, knowing he wanted to go there first. He stat the fragment down and took the last three samples he had retrieved from his subspace.
He labeled them, "Prime", "Ratchet", and "Starscream". Unlike the other syringes with the Autobots' genetics that were filled only a fourth of the way, the syringe with Starscream's blood was completely filled.
He put the samples in their casing with the others. Then he limped to the back where Lugnut could attend to him.
Megatron felt a smile come to his lips. Yes, they had lost the stasis-mod. But it wasn't what mattered. What mattered was the genetic codes of his enemies and the fragment Blitzwing had retrieved.
As long as he had those, he would see this as a victory.
XXX
Several days later…
Starscream groaned as he on-lined.
The first thing he noticed was that he had a killer processor-ache and his side felt like a red hot brand was being pressed into it.
He on-lined his optics and soon found that was a bad idea. The bright lights above him not only momentarily blinded and stunned him, but also worsened his processor ache. He hissed and quickly off-lined his optics.
"Ahh, so you've chosen to return to the land of the living?" a familiar voice asked jokingly.
"Auron?" Starscream inquired, his voice was nothing more than a static filled whisper.
There was a light chuckle. "Yes. So, how do you feel Starscream?"
The younger Seeker answered as he on-lined his optics more slowly. "Like slag." When his optics on-lined, he found that Auron had turned down the light's setting.
"Ratchet," Auron called, "He's on-line."
"About time."
Starscream propped himself up on his elbows, then attempted to get up. The burning in his side increased, causing him to hiss painfully.
"Whoa there Flyboy," Ratchet began as Auron placed his servo on his apprentice's bare shoulder. "You need to take things slow."
Both older Cybertronians helped the younger sit up. For once, Starscream was too drained to deny their help. He looked from Auron to Ratchet; both had patches on their face where a few minor bruises and cuts were from their fight with Blitzwing.
Speaking of whom.
"I take it Blitzwing got away?"
"Not before trying to kill you," Auron answered as Ratchet began looking him over. "If it weren't for Optimus, you probably wouldn't be here right now."
"Prime?" Starscream took everything in as he talked to the medic and his teacher.
His chest and shoulder armor were gone along with his cockpit and null-rays. And his torso was wrapped with bandages that were stained pinkish-purple with his energon blood. The area with a big blood stain was where the burning pain was originating from.
He was back at the Autobot base most likely. Since, even if Auron managed to get him back to the remains of the Nemesis, he wouldn't have what he needed to heal his apprentice.
Auron spoke again, "Optimus escaped his bonds while you were battling Blitzwing. When you went into stasis, he stopped Blitzwing from killing you."
"…How long have I been out?"
Ratchet answered this time, "Nearly a week. That must've been some power trip you were on."
"…Seeker rage…always comes at a price."
Ratchet grunted then stated, "You check out alright. Now let's see how that cut on your side's doing."
"Cut" was putting it nicely. It was too deep to be a simple cut. Starscream lifted his arms a bit when the medic started unraveling the bandages around his torso.
"Where's my armor? And my null-rays?" Starscream didn't like being in his bare protoform. It made him feel exposed…and being without his weapons made him feel vulnerable.
"I put them in the room you stayed in," Auron answered, "I'll give them back to you when you have healed a bit more. Then we can be on our way when you're strong enough."
Ratchet threw away the old bandages and examined the gash. "It's healing up nicely. You got top of the line repair systems," he commented. He put a gel over the wound that made it burn more. But the pain slowly receded and was replaced with a cool, tingling feeling. The medic got fresh bandages and proceeded to rewrap Starscream's torso.
"Is there anything you need Starscream?" Auron asked.
The Seeker stared down blankly at his lap. The warm fabric that still covered his legs and waist seemed a whole lot more interesting than it should have.
Auron was about to leave with Ratchet, taking his students long silence as a no.
"Where is Prime?" Starscream suddenly asked, getting his teacher to pause.
"In the living area," he answered. A lump formed in Starscream's throat. He swallowed hard before saying, "May I see him? I'd like to speak with him."
Auron smiled a little and answered, "Of course Starscream."
XXX
Optimus, once Auron told him that Starscream had requested his presence, walked the short distance to the med-bay. He wondered what Starscream wanted.
The right side of the Prime's helm was bandaged. Mainly around his recently reattached antenna. He had patches in places where he had a few cuts and bruises and the larger wounds had been wrapped and were well hidden under his armor.
The Autobot stepped into the med-bay and saw Starscream staring at him. Scarlet and sky blue optics met and a silent understanding was made.
"Twice," Starscream stated calmly.
Optimus quirked an optic ridge. "I'm sorry?"
"Two times. That incident with Blitzwing was the second time you save my life."
Optimus chuckled nervously. "You needed help…"
It was silent for a long moment. Neither knew what to say to the other. Starscream was fighting within his mind about what to do now. All the while, Optimus was trying not to stare dumbly at the Seeker's well muscled protoform.
The Autobot was the one to break the silence. "You did a good job destroying the stasis-mod."
"…Amazing what can be accomplished during Seeker rage."
"…"
"…"
"…You were really scary." Optimus had no idea how to describe the Seeker during that moment of time. The only word he could find to describe Starscream and his actions was scary.
"…Seeker rage isn't meant for nice things."
"…"
"…Thank you…for saving my life."
Optimus looked at Starscream stunned. The Seeker cringed. The words he allowed to escape his vocalizer left a strange twinge on his glossa. It wasn't unpleasant, just…unfamiliar.
"You're…You're welcome Starscream."
"…Do we have any idea what Blitzwing wanted with our CAN?"
Optimus sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. "None whatsoever. And worse yet, he stole the fragment you gave me."
Starscream took in what the Prime had told him. After another long, uncomfortable silence, he finally stated, "So we've gained a victory…and suffered a defeat…Ahh!"
Starscream grasped his side as the burning pain suddenly returned with a vengeance. He nearly fell off the berth but found that Optimus had rushed over and caught him before he could topple over. He then helped him lay back down.
"You really should rest," Optimus encouraged, "You can worry about the Decepticons when you have your strength back."
Starscream chuckled tiredly. "Strangely enough, I agree with you…Optimus."
Once again, the Seeker surprised the Autobot. "Wow, you must really be out of it," he stated as Starscream's helm rested on the pillow on the berth.
The Seeker sighed as his optics off-lined, "Maybe so…maybe so."
Before either knew it, the Seeker was back in recharge.
And Optimus didn't know why, but he couldn't stop smiling.
Sorry it took so long to get this updated. It might be a while before I post the next chapter because of how I want this story to go. Any way, I hope you enjoy this very long chapter. Any one want to take a guess as to what Megatron's planning to do with Starscream's and the Autobots' CNA and the All Spark fragment?