CHAPTER 8
The ship looked untouched when Samu finally located it. She stood still for a moment, studying the structure and then the area around it, her body tense and her senses on alert. She didn't know if anything was really there but if it was she would be ready for it. For all she knew somebody, maybe even her target, might be hiding close by waiting for her to return to finish her off.
After a moment she concluded that there was no threat and allowed herself to relax. She stepped into the ship taking off her helmet once inside. She stepped into the recharge berth and turned on the power. The lights in the ship came on and she settled back as her suit's power slowly climbed to full. As she waited, she tapped orders into the console built into the recharge area.
Bombs, Missles, and Power Ups confirmed. Adding to Suit Abilities Now.
She took her hand off the controls and smirked. This time he won't get away!
Starscream walked along too ticked off to pay attention to where he was going or care. He was too angry at Thundercracker to care about anything anymore and wouldn't have minded running into a threat just so he would have something to take his anger out on. The nerve of him! he thought, clenching his fist at his sides. How dare he call me fat! I'm not fat! He's just jealous! Him and Megatron. They're all jealous of me. They're all jealous and that's why they won't make me the leader. Megatron knows I'd make a better leader and that's why he won't let me. He's scared of me. The seeker smirked, enjoying his own thought, believing it to be true. Yes that has to be it and with good reason. He already knows what I'm capable of but he doesn't realize I am can do more, much more than that. He's only seen a taste of my power, power it took me years to gain. He'll soon see it and he'll realize just how wrong he was about me. His smirk grew into a smile as he thought about the scene, the feeling it giving him a very welcomed change. But first I should test it out on something.
He stopped and looked over his shoulder. Maybe on something I have already encountered...
After ten minutes had passed the computer informed the hunter that the recharge was complete. She turned off the system, and stepped out of the berth, doing a quick inventory of the upgrades to her suit. Everything seemed to be in order. Suit Energy at one hundred percent, bombs at one hundred percent, laser beams at one hundred percent. Missiles at one hundred percent. Good, she thought picking her helmet up off the floor. This should make things much simpler. That shrieky voiced jet isn't going to get the best of me this time. Not if I can help it. She stepped out of the ship and once again checked the distance between her and her target. He didn't seem to be running away this time. For some reason it seemed he was coming toward her. This was a surprise and a relief. Well I never had my target come to me before so this could be a good thing or a bad one. she checked the status of her suit again, smiling at the high energy marks. Maybe this will be easy.
She turned her head to the left, the direction the signature was coming from. "Well I'm not about to stand here and let my ship be vunerable," she said, already moving. "The last thing I need is that robot blasting it on me."
She climbed over some rocks, putting more distance between her and the ship and thus putting more distance between the robot and the ship. She was not dumb enough to wait for him to come to her. She could come to him and they'd meet half way. She jumped over another set of rocks, her eyes searching the desert for her prey. Because of his color choice he would stick out like a sore thumb. So don't even try sneaking up on me, she thought, her arm clicking. Because you can't!
She froze, her eyes picking up a shadow that didn't seem to belong. She focused on the shadow, her body tense and her breathing even. Soon it was apparent that whatever it was wasn't going to come to her and she relaxed slightly but only long enough to get moving. She didn't know what it was but she wasn't going to take any chances if it was what she was after.
Let's see what you are, she thought, carefully making her way to the spot.
As she neared it, she kept her eyes on the shadow. It still didn't move but she wasn't going to let her guard down. Something told her it wasn't anyhing but she wasn't taking any chances. It might be something it might be nothing. Either way I'm going to get a good look just to be sure.
A few more steps got her to a spot with a good vantage point. She put her back to the rock formation, which cast a shadow over her, and scooted along the wall, her head turned sideways. Okay, let's see what you are. A few more steps and she reached the end. Taking a deep breath she jumped out of the shadow and faced the area where the shadow was her gun aimed... and then lowered it. She almost laughed at herself when she realized that the shadow had been nothing more than mere rocks casting their shadow against more rocks. Well that was a waste.
She put her hands on her hips studying the shadow. "Well it could have been anything," she told herself. "and at least it lets me know that I'm getting more cautious. Maybe this time I won't make that mistake again." she turned from the rocks and the shadow that fooled her and stepped away from it, heading to another formation not too far away that had a staircase shape to it. She hopped the first two steps then went up the rest, stopping when she reached the top and scanning the desert from the higher elevation. Now she could see more of the area but she still couldn't see her target. He must still be a pretty good distance away, she thought, glancing back down at her scanner. The energy signal was getting closer. But not for long. Crouching down she opened a compartment in her suit and two small discs fell into her hand. She stood back up and looked around herself. If he comes this way I'd better be ready.
She jumped down from her perch.
Starscream stopped walking and checked his barings. This part of the desert looked the same as the desert he'd left behind. He sighed in frustration. Slag! It didn't help that the last time he had been this way it had been dark and he'd been running away from something and hadn't had the time to pay attention to the landscape, or even think about it. He hadn't expected to come this way again anyway. So why am I even bothering? he wondered. Maybe I shouldn't have let Thundercracker's words get to me. I should have gone back to the base with them but I can't now. They're gone. It was true. By the time he'd returned to the spot where he'd left them the other two jets had already left. Since his comlink was still damaged he couldn't get in contact with them and they couldn't contact him.
I can't believe they did such a thing! he thought frustrated, his mind still on their arguement. Megatron is going to hear about this once I get back! Those two aren't going to get away with leaving me here, not if I can help it!
He clenched his fists and looked around himself. "It doesn't help that I think I'm lost, I can't fly, I was stalked by something I might have killed but not sure, and I know Megatron will blame me for something once I get back! And I can't even find the ship it came in to destroy it!!" He angrily lifted his arm and shot large rock. The stone exploded, sending a shower of pebbles everywhere. He turned from that rock and fired at a few others, blowing them up too and sending shards of stone in every direction. Some pebbles plinked against his body but he gave them no thought. He was too ticked off at his recent bad luck to care. He spotted a large stone a pretty good distance away and ran up to it, grabbing it and lifting it off the ground. That's when he realized his mistake. It was too heavy!
The stone started pulling him backwards. Not wanting to fall over he threw the rock away and steadied himself. Once he regained his balance he stood still a moment, his optics centering on the stone he couldn't lift. Raising his arm he shot that stone too and when it exploded he dodged the debre and went off to find more.
Ten minutes later he was standing in the middle of piles of rubble, panting. As his optics took in the chaos he'd created he realized he felt a little better now that he'd taken his frustration out on something. Taking a few deep breaths he got enough air to stand up straight. He smiled to himself. Yeah he felt better. This little temper tantrum just told him what he needed to know about himself. Nobody was going to make him miserable anymore if he could help it. If Megatron only knew just how powerful I really am... he glanced at his null guns. He'd been built as a jet on Cybertron but the guns hadn't been a part of his original design, though they fit it very well. The upgrade he'd gotten when he'd become a Decepticon was something he'd never imagined when he was a scientist. They always made him feel important, especially after all the time, work, and trickory he'd done to get to the rank of second in command. Sometimes I wonder about that title. I wonder if he only gave it to me to keep an eye on me?
In the beginning when he'd first joined he'd made the mistake of opening his big mouth and saying he would be the next leader. Megatron had laughed it off, telling him he'd never get that rank and to just be happy he'd let him join in the first place. At that time the grey decepticon had some respect for him and had even told him he reminded him of himself when he was that age. Still the those words echoed his creators all too close and, thus ending any repect he might have had for the Decepticon commander, Starscream had vowed that he'd show both Megatron and Silverblade he could do anything he wanted. He was so close to that rank but until something happened to Megatron, like a permament death, that would never happen.
Sitting down on one of the rocks he didn't detroy he thought back to the day he'd gone to join the ranks... It was so long ago but the memory was crystal clear because it was so painful, literally.
Cybertron a few million years ago
It had been sometime after the war had started. Starscream had left Silverblade's lab a few days before and was wondering through the streets of Cybertron, trying to locate the place where Megatron was recrouting new soilders. So far he hadn't found the place and he started feeling lost. He'd never realy been on the actual planet before except for once a few years back when Silverblade had taken him to a convention. That's when he'd first heard about the Decepticons. At that time it had been just a rumor, same with the existance of Optimus Prime. The whole thing intriged him. When he'd asked his creator about it the older mech had told him not to worry about it.
"It's not anything for you to worry about, Starscream," he had told him. "If the Decepticons exist at all, they're probably just a few mechs that aren't satisfied with how the goverment works." He put his hand on the slightly smaller mechs shoulder. "It's best if you avoid such rabble."
Now he was looking for that 'rabble" but could't seem to find their location. Whenever he'd come across somebody who might know they'd refuse to answer so he had to look for it himself. He was not liking this. He'd noticed how some of the bots were looking at him. He knew why they were staring. He was a Neutral. A robot with no fraction. A robot who did not take sides. That was a very dangerous place to be. He smirked. It wouldn't last much longer, he'd make sure of that.
Eventually he found himself at a energon bar. He stood outside for a moment reading the name of the palce and wondering if he should go inside and ask about it. Maybe the bar tender would be able to tell him something? As luck would have it he saw a transformer with the signature purple marking of a Decepticon walk into the bar with a Neutral femme.
Perfect. This Decepticon might be able to point him in the right direction. Working up the courage he clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and stepped quickly into the bar before he changed his mind.
As soon as he stepped inside he felt all optics instantly turn on him. All chatter stopped as the bots in the bar, mostly Decepticons and a few neutral femmebots, turned to stare at him. He instantly felt what little courage he had had slipping away. Why do they all have to stare at me?! Why are they staring at me?
The only one who wasn't staring at him was the Decepticon he'd followed in. Swallowing hard he met everyone's gaze and spoke in what he hoped was a strong voice, though to his audio receptor's it sounded as weak as he felt. "I don't want any trouble," he began. "I am only here to ask a question."
A hulking bot, purple and yellow in color with a red sunglasses like optic visor stepped in front of him. "Ask away," he said, folding his arms.
Starscream knew instantly that he didn't like this bot who seemed to think towering over him would make him feel inferior. He tried to keep his voice even as he stated his business. "I-I'm looking for the place where Megatron is recruting soldiers."
The Decepticon snorted. "You?" he asked, a mocking tone in his voice. He laughed and so did others in the room. When the laughter died down the robot continued. "Why don't you run along home?" he asked, turning his finger in indication that Starscream should leave. "Why don't you come back one your voice is done changing?"
Starscream opened his mouth to say something as more laughter filled the room, then thought better of it and kept it shut. Speaking wouldn't help. His creator had given him another handicapt. A horrible voice that screeched badly when he was angry or upset and right now he was both. If he was calm his problem wasn't so bad but now...
The Decepticon gave him a nudge. "Run along and play with the other sparklings." he said, as more laughter followed his words..
Starscream deflected the finger that was poking him with indigantion. He had not come here to be poked or laughed at. Why did they have to do both? He'd always hated being laughed at and touched. He felt his temper rising, though he did to keep it under control. He didn't want or need a fight. He just wanted information. "Don't touch me."
The other bot poked him again, sensing he didn't like it. "Aren't we feisty?" he said. "You'd better leave before you get yourself in trouble. You wouldn't want anybody to get hurt would you?"
Starscream started to say. "I-"
"Because nobody here wants to lug your carcass out of here."
More laughter. Starscream's fists clenched even tighter. First laughed at then poked and now being told he was a weakling. That was the last straw. "Shut up!" he shouted, shoving the bot back.
The purple robot fell back onto a table behind him. A femme screamed as the table bent then broke under the mech's weight. Starscream sensed the mood in the bar change instantly . More bots stood up, all of them looking at him with murder in their identical red optics. He stepped back, putting up his hands. "Uh.. now.. there's no need for that," he began.
One bot, a purple and green construction make, glanced at all his buddy's "I think he's telling us what to do," he said.
Instantly all the Decepticons bots were on their feet. If there was one thing Decepticons hated more than Autobots it was smart alecky Neutrals bossing them around. The femmes moved out of the way. The bar tender didn't dare get involved. The only robot who didn't even look up was the one he'd followed in who seemed to be oblivious to the whole thing.
Starscream knew he was dead if he didn't get out of there. He turned to run but two more bots blocked the entrance. He was trapped. Slag! His optics scanned the room for any other escape route. There were none. That left him with only one choice. he'd would have to defend himself. That sort of thing was beyond his programming. Once again he cursed his creator up and down his mind for making him such a coward. If I die I hope my ghost comes back to haunt you! Hopefully that wouldn't happen. He didn't have a weapon so he'd make due with what he did have. His fists.
When he turned back to the other bots, two came up from behind and grabbed his arms, yanking them behind his back. Screams he'd been holding in came bursting out of his mouth as the other robots came at him, looking ready to tear off his limbs and share them amougst themselves. There was no way he was getting out of this alive. "No!" he shrieked, struggling in vain to break free. "Noo!"
The one he'd pushed was up now and pushing his way through the crowd. "Nobody touches him!" he was shouting. "He's mine! When I'm done with him his voice box won't be the only thing broken!" He shoved a bot aside. "Out of my way!"
The bots parted like the Red Sea, giving the purple robot some room. He stepped out of the crowd and towered over the smaller, now trembling, bot who'd been stupid enough to shove him. "You made a big mistake coming here," he said, grabbing the robot by the face. "You want to see what Decepticons do to people who cross them? I'll show you."
The fist seemed to come out of nowhere and crashed into the jet's face. He screamed in pain as the purple bot hit him again and again. Soon more robots joined in, punching, kicking, and making any kind of sport of him, laughing as he struggled to break free from the merciless grasp of the two robots holding his arms. This was something they didn't get to do often.
The young scientist mech screamed once more before another fist plunged into his throat cutting off the sound. One more blow knocked his head sideways and his optics blanked out for a moment. He fought to stay concious. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
He felt a hand on his face, jerking it upward. That purple robot was grinning at him mockingly. "You shouldn't have ever left the play ground kid," he said, raising his fist. "Time to say good bye to you pitiful existance, Neutral!"
"Enough!" a voice shouted
That fist stayed where it was. Starscream forced his optics to focus. The Decepticon he'd followed had gotten up and was now standing behind the his tormentor, holding onto his raised arm. The other Decepticon looked at the one who had grabbed hi, his face full of shock. "But-" he began.
"I said enough. Blitzwing," the robot said. He looked at all the blood thirtsy robots who had ganged up on the defenseless young mecha. "That goes for the rest of you! Go back to your drinks."
The Decepticons in the bar obeyed instantly but with much grumbling. Some shot dirty looks at the beaten up and limp young Neutral. The only two who didn't move where the ones holding Starscream's arms. Without their support he would have fallen since by then his legs no longer seemed to be able to support him.
The mech that had saved his life knelt down infront of him and put out his hand, lifting Starscream's drooping head with one finger. Starscream's optics flickered on and off and he tried to focus. The Decepticon's red optics looked into his own, as he asked. "What is your name?"
Starscream opened mis mouth and spoke in a voice tha twas more raspy than usualy thanks to the blow he'd recieved to his throat. It was a miracle he could talk at all. "Starscream," he slurred only half the word an intelligable sound.
The Mecha understood his slurred speech anyway. "Why did you come here, Starscream?" he asked.
"I want to become a Decepticon," he said his voice a little stronger.
The mech looked surprised at the answer. This young mech still wanted to become a Decepticon even after he'd been nearly torn to pieces by a whole mob of them? "Why?" the mech asked, sounding surprised and confused.
"I.." Stascream's voice faded and his optics flashed. No! I can't black out now! I have to tell him! He forced himself to speak, his voice as clear as he could get it. "Because I have something to prove."
The confused look on the mecha's face was the last thing he saw before his optics blinked out completely. His head drooped and he felt the mechs holding him finally let go of his arms. His body seemed to float to the hard metal floor. He couldn't have stopped himself from falling even if he wanted to, so he just let himself fall. His body hit the floor with a clang and he completely lost all awareness as the blackness enveloped his mind.
Earth Present Day
Yes that's how it had been, in all its painful detail. He glanced at his left arm, noticing the small scar groove that was a constant reminder of that first encounter with the fraction he now called his own. He'd been so young then. So foolish. He'd gone into that bar without even a plan and had gotten himself nearly killed only to be saved by the one mech he now wanted to overthrow. He smirked. Oh the irony. But that might explain why he was always treated so harshly. For some reason the thought made him smile. Even then I had my own agenda. He should have just let me die.
He stood up, shaking the memories aside. It was best not to think about it. He had something in the present to worry about. Something that was much more important than flashbacks about how much of a wimp he used to be.
The thing he should have dealt with the night it landed. That hunter's ship. If he destroyed it he'd be able to relax because he would no longer have a reminder of his brief encounter with that thing, whatever it was.
"So let's get to it," he told himself, looking around. "Now that I have calmed down I do recognize this area. That hunter's ship shouldn't be too far off."
He got moving.
A/N
I got this huge boat load of inspiration yesterday evening and that's where a huge chunk of this chapter came from. Like I said before I have never read the comics so if it's inaccurate I apologize, unless of course if they never explain his origins that far back, then I'm off the hook. Once again this is a chapter I enjoyed working on. I hope none of you want to kill me for this. I was planning on making him have a few flashbacks anyway.
