The Re-Creation Of Starscream
Chapter 7: Confrontation
It took some doing but Red Alert finally managed to convince Starscream to lie back down on the berth while he went and talked to Prime again.
"How's he doing?" Prime asked once Red Alert had sat down.
"That depends on who you ask," Red Alert groaned. "According to Starscream he is just fine and ready to go back to the Decepticons. On the other hand I think he should stay for a while but that's just my professional and personal opinion."
"He wants to go back?" Optimus looked startled, as if shocked that anyone could want to return to a place where they had been abused.
"Unfortunately," the medic sighed. "I've managed to convince him to stay for a couple of days so his injuries can heal but he seems set on leaving after that."
"Why?"
"I…can't answer that, Prime. Patient-doctor confidentiality clause and all that," Red Alert said quickly.
Optimus narrowed his optics suspiciously but he didn't push it. "Is there any way we can keep him here? I don't like the idea of him returning to Megatron."
"Neither do I but the only way I can think of would probably be if the mini-Cons wanted to stay here. Starscream seems to care about them a great deal but I suspect they have a lot to talk about first. Prime, I would like to keep the exact reason for Starscream's presence on the base to be kept a secret."
"Understood," Optimus nodded. "Do you think it would be possible for me to talk to him? Perhaps I can convince him to stay."
"I'll see what I can do but I can't promise anything. I thought I might show him around later if that's all right with you."
"I don't see any harm in that. Keep me updated on how he's doing, Red Alert."
"Will do, sir," Red Alert stood then left.
Starscream was uncharacteristically quiet when Red Alert returned and he stayed that way for several hours despite the medic's attempts to get him to talk. The Seeker simply ignored him and remained curled up in a fetal position, the mini-Cons perched on various parts of his body. They didn't speak either although, judging by the way their optics flashed and their wings trembled and engines rumbled they were having a private, internal conversation. At one point Starscream reached a hand up and petted all of them soothingly before returning to his fetal position.
"I'm going to refuel," Red Alert announced. "Would the five of you like to accompany me?"
"What will the other Autobots say?" Starscream asked quietly.
"Nothing," Red Alert said firmly. "They know that you're here and I'm hoping that Prime's already had a talk with them about behaving themselves."
Starscream hesitated, his orange optics sweeping over Red Alert, as though searching for something.
"I'm pretty sure your mini-Cons are getting thirsty by now," the medic continued.
"Very well," Starscream said at last as he began to sit up, the mini-Cons already searching for new positions on his shoulders.
Red Alert felt slightly elated at his minor victory but forced himself not to show any emotion. The more comfortable Starscream felt here the more likely he was to remain. He waited until the Seeker was standing then walked out of the medbay, leading the way to what the humans had dubbed the dining room. Of course, he reflected upon entering, perhaps he should have called ahead to let Prime know they were coming.
Hot Shot, Sideswipe and Blurr immediately jumped to their feet, weapons at the ready. Jetfire got up as well but he seemed more intent on stopping the other three than anything else. The only ones who hadn't moved were Scavenger and Smokescreen. Starscream tensed and hurriedly ducked behind Red Alert, his hands moving protectively over the mini-Cons.
"Stand down, soldiers," Optimus stated firmly as he entered the room. "Starscream is our guest and you will treat him as such."
"Sorry, Optimus," Hot Shot apologized. "Old habits and all that."
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to," the Autobot leader pointed out.
"We're sorry, Starscream," Hot Shot said.
The Seeker looked surprised then hesitantly nodded. "It's all right. If you were at our base I have no doubt that we would react the same way."
"Assuming Cyclonus didn't accidently shoot you all first," Scavenger snorted.
Starscream glowered at the temporary Decepticon. "Cyclonus is merely a little over enthusiastic," he hissed. "That's not his fault; it's his programming."
"Just like it's in your programming to betray Megatron?" Scavenger smirked.
"And here I thought Hot Shot would be the problem," Jetfire muttered.
"Okay you two knock it off," Hot Shot said with authority in his voice.
"Keep it up and I'll take you on first," Starscream hissed.
"Yeah right," the yellow sports car snorted. "Like you'll ever be able to beat me, Starscream."
"Actually, Hot Shot, if you're ever going to win against Starscream this will probably be the only time you ever have to do it," Scavenger spoke up.
"Hey! I've beaten him before!" was the outraged reply.
"Congratulations, you've managed to defeat a half grown Seeker running at forty-five percent optimal capacity. Good going," Scavenger's voice was laced with sarcasm.
"What do you mean 'half grown'?" Optimus asked sharply.
"How did you know I'm not an adult?" Starscream demanded, stepping out from behind Red Alert, his wings twitching.
"Because I've seen full grown Seekers fight before and you are most definitely not one. They are completely unbeatable not to mention the fact that you don't have a Trine yet."
"You mean to tell me that all this time I've been fighting someone younger than me?" Hot Shot yelped.
"And I've been beating you too," Starscream sneered. "Even at forty-five percent optimal capacity. Just wait until I'm full grown and then we'll see who wins."
"Assuming you even live that long," Scavenger chimed in, earning himself another glare from the Seeker.
"Hold on," Optimus held up a hand. "Are you telling me that all of the Decepticons are running on less than half of their optimal capacity?" he looked oddly enraged at the statement.
"Actually it's just me," Starscream admitted. "Everyone else gets to run at sixty-five or so but no higher. Megatron's probably the only one who runs at one hundred percent."
"Well while you're here, Starscream, you are welcome to help yourself to as much energon as you and the mini-Cons need," Optimus said.
"Uh, thanks," the Seeker sounded surprised and more than a little wary as he eyed the much bigger mech.
Red Alert decided that it was time to hurry this conversation up. He could sense that his patient felt more than a little uneasy surrounded by his enemies so he guided them over to a table while he retrieved the energon. Starscream eyed the energon warily and scanned it, obviously checking for contaminants before allowing the mini-Cons to drink it.
"Has anyone ever poisoned your energon?" Hot Shot asked from the next table.
Red Alert turned and glared at the younger mech. He really needed to learn to keep his mouth shut!
"A few times," Starscream replied, making a face at the taste.
"Why?"
"We need to go," Red Alert said quickly. He could sense Starscream's growing agitation and wanted nothing more than to avoid a fight.
Optimus seemed to share his opinion because he moved to stand behind Hot Shot, a large hand resting on the yellow shoulder. "Starscream is our guest. While he is here he will be left alone. He is not our enemy and he won't be treated like one, is that understood?"
"So is he defecting?" Smokescreen asked.
"Never!" Starscream declared, one hand already going to his wing sword.
"We're back to the medbay right now," Red Alert said firmly.
Starscream hissed at the other Autobots but followed the medic out of the room, his mini-Cons making rude gestures as they left.
"So if he's not defecting then why is he here?" Hot Shot asked.
"Megatron beat him up again?" Scavenger asked casually.
"You could say that," Optimus sighed. "He's staying with us for a few days until he's completely healed and if I hear about anymore confrontations like this one then I will not be happy."
"Yes, sir," everyone said in unison.
A/N: Okay I know this chapter isn't my best but I'm much better at writing out stuff like the last two chapters, instead of this. I promise the next one will be much better. Please read and review!
