Before we start off, thanks for reviews and such, I read them all. To make it clear to any who is confused, I am fairly unknowledgeable concerning the Transformers Universe as a whole. I know Transformers Prime/Beast Wars and that's it, I know very little of other universes. As a result, the character backstories you are used to may be different from what you know, in that respect I am altering the universe. Additionally, if you do not like the story I don't much care, I know where I'm going with this and playing around with some ideas in my head right now as to what happens, there will be good action in due course. Once again, thanks for the first chapter feedback.
...
Arcee watched carefully as Ultra Magnus stared at her for a second before leaning back in his seat and blinking his optics twice. In all the years Arcee had known Ultra Magnus he had not changed one bit. When Optimus had passed on the team had turned to his automatic second in command and Magnus had taken the burden although he hadn't been twice as excited about it as Arcee had expected him to be. It was sometimes to forget Magnus had emotions too and when Optimus had gone Magnus had lost a friend too. It was through Magnus and Magnus alone that Cybertron had been able to rebuild itself and remain intact, it was through Magnus alone that order and justice had remained strong on Cybertron. Arcee watched as the grand mech frowned and then tapped his large fingers together before looking over her shoulder.
"Let me get this straight."
"Of course," Arcee nodded feeling herself quaking slightly and reprimanding herself for it. She was not scared of Ultra Magnus.
"Just for the record," Magnus said slowly leaning forwards slightly and rubbing his helm with his gigantic hand, "I had… Starscream put under your jurisdiction over a vorn ago, I expected an immediate report but I let it slide, I know you and him don't have the best history. Next thing I hear of you, you're here asking for him to be let out."
"Magnus… I know it may sound like a bad idea-"
"Bad idea?" snapped Magnus suddenly his optics glaring into her and she stood her ground, "it's possibly the worst idea I've ever heard."
"He deserves this."
"Deserves it? Arcee, do you remember what he did? What crimes he committed? He's Starscream. We can't trust him."
"We let all those other decepticons in."
"That's different."
"How? How are Knock Out and Starscream any different?"
"By the all spark, Arcee, now you're defending him?"
"No! Just answer the question!"
"Knock Out is the most valued medic on this entire planet, he's saved thousands with his work here. Starscream can claim to have killed as many as Knock Out's saved. I trust Knock Out."
"You wouldn't of ever trusted Knock Out if we hadn't given him a chance, if Optimus hadn't given him a chance… give Starscream one."
"The conditions are much different," snapped Magnus seriously, clenching his hands, "when Optimus laid his trust in Knock Out this planet hadn't even begun to revive itself. I was sceptical in Knock Out, but we needed a medic and Knock Out was ready to help, so I let it run. He let us remove his insignia and he agreed to step in line, something he proved time and time again. Knock Out never killed any of us. He never killed Cliffjumper, not like Starscream did." That was a low blow if ever Arcee had felt one and it hit hard. She could remember Cliffjumper almost like yesterday, she'd forced herself to. She wouldn't allow herself to let those who died just be left in the past, she needed to remember the sacrifices and she couldn't let them just fade away. Starscream had killed Cliff but that was in the past and for some reason… she wanted to trust Starscream.
"We can't hide him in the dungeons forever."
"Why not? Only commanders are allowed to open the cells."
"We're not the only commanders in the military now, Magnus."
"None of the others have a reason to go down there."
"They might Magnus, and when they see Starscream and he tells them everything, what's going to stop another war?" Arcee whispered her optics blazing and Magnus rose slowly as his glare grew darker.
"Are you threatening me, commander?"
"No, sir, I'm telling you what could happen. If he's freed he may step in line, we can control him."
"We can't trust him."
"Optimus was going to, once. You weren't there but Starscream was going to join us."
"Was that before or after you're little disagreement with him?" growled Magnus and Arcee's optics widened, "Bumblebee made a report on it, one I read. You weren't so eager to forgive him then Arcee, what's changed?"
"Sir," Arcee tried with a clenching of her optics, "I know this is hard to understand but we need to give Starscream a chance, we can't just keep burying our past like it never happened. We need to move on, we're never going to achieve that if Starscream is locked up in one of our cells. Please, sir, let me at least try." She watched as Ultra Magnus's optics softened a bit before he sighed slowly and glanced about before looking back to her.
"If I do this, and understand I most certainly do not, I don't want to hear even a squeak out of him. I don't ever want to hear his name and I don't ever want to find out he's caused trouble. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," she felt elated, she'd won.
"There's more. This will be on your head Arcee, like I said, it was different with the rest. Before Cybertron was hardly even established and the others could blend in. Starscream won't have that luxury. He's the only mech capable of flight on the planet, since the all spark has given us all mechs and femmes that can't fly. He cannot fly whilst on this planet." Arcee nodded to this eager to leave but it seemed Magnus was not done.
"Another thing, obviously his insignia needs to go, we can't have people asking what a decepticon is."
"Yes sir, of course."
"Lastly, he'll be staying with you." This caused Arcee's core to pause before crashing.
"What?"
"Like I said, I can't trust him, none of us can. If he tells even one mech what he knows then it could unravel everything we've worked to create, our very home would snap around us. I need a close eye on him and since you're putting your neck on the line for him, I don't see why you can't be the one to watch him."
"But… but he's Starscream, sir!"
"I know, hence the security," Magnus said smiling slightly as she gaped at him, "you'll be armed, he won't. I don't see the problem."
"Sir-"
"If you don't agree to this condition then he isn't going anywhere," Magnus spoke a small smile on his face, "it's your choice Arcee. Leave him or live with him, now if you excuse me, I have work to do." And just like that Ultra Magnus left a very angry Arcee behind in his office.
…
"I didn't think you'd do it, you know." Arcee tried to block out the sound of Starscream's voice as she escorted him towards the medical bay. She had gone to his cell and released him after her chat with Magnus and although Starscream was still cuffed his legs were now allowed to move, allowing him to be mobile. Arcee had refused any other guards, they may see his insignia, and so escorted him alone personally. So far Starsream hadn't done anything but this was Starscream, he was probably biding his time.
"Did you not?" Arcee replied to Starscream's earlier comment.
"Oh no, I expected to be left to rot in that cell for a good few more vorns before anyone remembered I was down there."
"You're lucky you were wrong."
"Yes, I suppose so… how long is this corridor? Why did you Autobots have to remake all your long corridors?"
"For the record Starscream the Decepticons don't exist anymore, neither do the Autobots, we're all cybertronians now."
"You still wear your mark," Starscream noted looking to the Autobot insignia.
"It's been made a mark for those in the armed forces, not an emblem to display sides."
"And I suppose the miners get to wear the Decepticon insignia?"
"The miners don't wear anything," Arcee said glancing at the Decepticon over her shoulder, he was tall but unlike all other mechs she saw he was also very thin, his frame screamed agility.
"This is how it all started before, the high and mighty throwing aside the weak."
"Do you want to go back in your cell?" snapped Arcee whirling round and there was that odd Starscream again, the one who looked vulnerable and scared before suddenly he was back again, a small smirk emerging.
"No."
"Then shut up, we're here." She opened the door and Starscream walked in in front of her before the doors sealed shut.
"Ah, Starscream, so nice of you to pop by." Knock Out said standing by the berth, a cutting utensil in hand. His red colour scheme shone brightly in the light and it showed just how run down Starscream was. His once silvers were now grey and the scars that lined his body now looked far deeper than they had in the cell, his red optics searing into Knock Out as they narrowed. Knock Out's own red optics seemed remarkably dull in comparison. Arcee had called for Knock Out specially knowing he was the only doctor who knew about the Decepticons and knew Starscream but as Starscream's clawed fists clenched she sensed this might have been a bad idea.
"I didn't just voluntarily pop in, Knock Out."
"Really? Could have fooled me. How are you Cee?" asked Knock Out turning his optics to her and she smiled. After she had grown to trust the medic they had become firm friends.
"Not bad, yourself?"
"Never better."
"Am I missing something vitally important here?" snarled Starscream his optics practically blazing as he gazed at Knock Out.
"Nothing but friendship, take a seat Starscream."
"Friendship? You're enemies!" almost screamed Starscream as he looked between them and Knock Out's smile faded.
"Starscream, that was a long time ago, the world changed while you were gone."
"What do you mean the world changed?" snarled Starscream stalking towards Knock Out, "you were a Decepticon. Our medic! And whilst I was some chew toy for the Predacon beasts you happily snuggled up next to Autobot femmes? How very noble of you Knock Out, what a way to treat your commander."
"I changed sides Starscream and then Megatron was gone. There wasn't a point fighting anymore Starscream. Instead of fighting against Autobots I worked with them to fight for the survival of our home, I can proudly say I've done my part in that."
"Now that's sweet," Starscream sniggered his optics filled with fury, "tell me, do you like telling yourself that pretty little lie? Do you like remembering how you betrayed us?"
"I didn't betray anyone Starscream, the rest of the Decepticons came and optionally joined us, if anything you're the one that's betrayed us… how does that feel by the way? The last Decepticon… must be awfully lonely… yet again, that's why you're changing sides now, isn't it Starscream?" Arcee thought Starscream would strike then as his fists somehow clenched harder but watched in astonishment as he sat on the berth.
"Get this over with," he hissed closing his optics and lying back. Knock Out shot a small look of surprise at Arcee and she shrugged before he smiled and brought out some equipment.
"Alright then Starscream, I'll be getting rid of that insignia first and then I'll take care of these scratches, they seem a lot worse than Arcee told me…
…
She spent most of the day watching Starscream get fixed up. She watched in slight glee as the Decepticon insignia was removed but found herself confused as the procedure continued. She watched as Knock Out fixed countless injuries, many very deep, and although Starscream sometimes moved he did not make a sound, this wasn't the same Starscream she'd always known. This one was stronger.
When the process was over night had no doubt fallen and Knock Out looked as tied as she felt as he lay down his equipment and sighed.
"Well, it took a lot longer than expected but you're all fixed up Starscream. Not much I could do about your paint other than recoat it, although you're not going to fit in well here, everyone else prefers greens and reds. You don't get silver and grey."
"I'll do fine," Starscream spoke as he rose from the berth, and she saw he was indeed fixed, his wings flexing slightly before resting comfortably on his back.
"Welcome to Cybertron, Starscream. If you need anything, you know where to find me Cee."
"Will do Knock Out, thanks," she replied smiling as Starscream followed her out from the med bay. During the operation the cuffs had been removed but Starscream had not made a single aggressive move, something that boggled her as they came to the door out to the open.
"This is it?" she turned to see Starscream looking oddly at her.
"Yes."
"Is it everything that it used to be?"
"Yes… and no…" she admitted watching his optics bore into her.
"What's different?"
"Why don't you come and find out?" she asked before leading him outside. She stood aside by the door and slowly waited for Starscream to emerge out into the dimly lit sky and the bright lights of the city. She watched as Starscream's optics slowly widened and his wings twitched slightly.
"It's… it's real…" he breathed marvelling at the sight before him and Arcee smiled slightly.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"I don't know, when I was with the Predacons I never got to see this and then when I was brought in I was unconscious… I thought that maybe you were holding me on the Nemesis all of this time." Arcee glanced to the mech by her who seemed dazed by the city. Her reactions kicked in when his wings flexed.
"No flying."
"What?" hissed Starscream, his red optics swirling round to her dangerously and she stood strong.
"Since the planet's rebirth not a single seeker has been born, not a single mech capable of flight." She almost could see something in Starscream shatter as she said this.
"What do you mean? There must be others."
"No, there's not," Arcee guaranteed strictly, "if you go about flying, everyone will know you're different."
"What about the Vehicons? Half of them can fly."
"They donated their T-cogs, they can never transform again." Starscream's optics narrowed carefully.
"Will that happen to me?"
"Not if you keep in line and don't do anything stupid." She watched as Starscream inspected her before looking back out at the city.
"Is there anywhere to get a drink in this city?"
"Of course."
"Do you fancy a drink, Arcee?" she turned to look out at the city and then back at Starscream who was grinning slightly.
"Alright, lets go, Screamer."
"Don't ever call me that again."
...
What we thinking? If neither Knock Out or Magnus were how you envisioned then let me stress this is some time after the war's conclusion, they've becoming slightly different people. ALSO for the record, I don't know many Cybertronian terms so most will just be told in terms of human terms of time and distance, although I'll do my best to keep to it. Read and Review please, love feedback.