A/N: Don't own.
Yes, finally an update to this story. Seems it decided to take a life of it's own and want to be longer than I had expected... lol
I m still gradually working on others as I go, putting updates to those that seem to get more attention than others. Much love to all my readers and reviewers! Sorry for the long wait.
Still have decided what story I should just get done and finish up, I will put up a Poll I think and see who wants what lol
If one could think of any word that Starscream was feeling, they would have failed. He stared with no expression whatsoever on his face as Optimus and Ratchet asked him about those playbacks and went along explaining that he, in fact, had really died. The scientist in him wanted to know how or why but he didn't ask. They all were rather uneasy having to explain events to him that had happened, and they really didn't want to talk about why he was on Earth or why he was trying to escape the planet.
"So you mean I died… for real?" Starscream's voice softened. Whether it was from confusion of realization, no one knew.
Ratchet nodded solemnly to the Seeker. It hurt his spark to remember those days, "But when you were re-sparked-"
"Wait," Starscream suddenly held a hand up, stopping the medic in his train of thought, "Re-sparked?" He knew what being sparked was, but re-sparked? That was new.
"Starscream, when I used the Matrix, as the last hope for Cybertronians, when the spark came to life, it was you. No one could figure it out, and for the most part, we all considered it a… second chance – a gift from Primus if you will."
Starscream stirred as he thought. If there had been gears running his brain, everyone would have surely heard them grinding. He went to speak, but caught himself, unsure of what to ask or what to say. A few times he had done this, and Ratchet caught onto it, "If you feel the need to ask, then ask,"
"Who's Megatron?" Starscream suddenly asked. If the Autobots and present ex-Decepticons could pale, now would have been the time to do so. There was no real reason for him to bring that name up.
Thundercracker walked up and placed a hand on the young Seeker's shoulder, "Can we talk about that another time?" He asked. His was voice pleading for Starscream to accept.
"Why…?" He drawled out, eyeing Thundercracker suspiciously, "His name keeps coming to me,"
"Because now is not the time, we are still on the verge of a new idea, think of how old you could be, Starscream!" He boasted, trying – using anything he could think of to get Starscream off of Megatron. No one wanted to step there, not yet.
"Starscream," Ratchet started, gaining the Seeker's attention immediately, "You have a gift, a very special gift. It's never been recorded ever in Cybertronian history." He paused, thinking of the right words, "I really can't think of any words to call what this is." Ratchet put a hand to the air, exasperated.
"I want to know the rest of my history, Ratchet," Starscream said with pleading optics.
"In due time, young one," Optimus' voice suddenly called, "first things first, alright?"
Starscream nodded.
In all the times Optimus hoped that no one would tell Starscream about his further past until he deemed it ready. Starscream was surely an Autobot, there was no denying that. He had already prayed the creed not to hurt humans on his own, and he figured that it would hold.
Starscream noticed the gathering eyes outside of the medical bay. He looked away from them, "We have an audience," he said simply.
Optimus' optics went to the door and he folded his arms. He had wondered how long it would take, "You know, Wheeljack might be able to help you with this new development," Optimus looked to Ratchet and Starscream.
Ratchet nodded as he reached over and shut the machine down, "I'll ask him about it later,"
Optimus nodded, then looked to Starscream, who seemed in depth of thought, "Starscream are you alright?" He asked.
Starscream looked up, "I need some time, I think," He stood up and headed for the door, pressing the button, only to get about 5 mechs to fall at his feet. Nosy slaggers. He snorted and stepped over him with his digigrade legs and continued down the hall. He felt Optimus' spark full of worry, and only sent back a promise that everything would be alright," After that Optimus seemed to calm and Starscream let a small smile cross his face as he headed to his personal quarters.
After Starscream was gone, Optimus gave Ratchet a worried look. The look was mirrored by his CMO. When he heard the rest getting to their feet who had been watching, he nodded at them, "Show is over," he said dully.
The rest slumped, but were still curious Wheeljack stepped forward, however, as the rest retreated. He wasn't sure if speaking was the best move at the moment so he stood silently, waiting for someone to say something – anything.
"Wheeljack, there's something I want to speak to you about," ratchet finally said, looking to his friend.
"What is it, Ratchet?"
The pair of seekers in the room decided to make their leave. Technical stuff just wasn't for them, and they knew if Ratchet and Wheeljack were gonna talk, their brains would hurt by time they were through jabbering.
Starscream stirred on his berth, considering what all had gone on to him today. The trip down memory lane served 2 purposes. Questions and tiredness. He laid back roughly, staring at the ceiling as thought coursed through his brain as energon did his lines. Of all the questions that wracked his mind, the question that bothered him the most was: Who is this Megatron person? And why did he constantly get nagging thoughts about that name?
"Wheeljack, just the person I wanted to see," Ratchet looked to the resident inventor, "there are a few things I require your help with,"
"Really? What would that be Ratch?"
"Well, we discovered an anomaly on Starscream, and thought you could help me piece things together,"
"What kind of an anomaly?"
Ratchet let a rough amount of air through his intakes, "I don't think you would believe me if I told you,"
"Try me," Wheeljack grinned. He was always up for a good challenge.
"Well," he started, "You know about what happened to Starscream many years ago, before he died… first,"
"yeah, I do, what does that have to do with some anomaly?"
"Because, Wheeljack," he leaned in closer to the CME, "Starscream, we think is ancient,"
Wheeljack was about laughing, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ratchet looked over at the other interested mechs before grunting, "All of you leave," He said, making shooing motions.
Not wanting to incur the Medic's wrath, they all left, pouting. When Ratchet was sure that no one would hear, he turned to the machine that Starscream was hooked up, "I have downloaded his memories into this machine. I want you to pay special attention to this," he pressed a button, fast forwarding the memory extraction to the end.
Wheeljack gawked as he watched the spark leave it's body and float away, not disappear like most should, "What is this?" He asked slowly.
"That, my friend, is Starscream's spark."
"Bu that's not possible…" Wheeljack stared a the floating spark paused, his finger going to his chin in thought, "It left? It didn't disappear?"
"Exactly," Ratchet confirmed.
"Has he always been able to do this?"
"I am not sure, but it's a high possibility,"
"So that means…" Wheeljack fell silent, his optics narrowing, "That, if he has always had this gift, he could very well be a lot older than any of us,"
Ratchet nodded, "Yes,"
"But Ratchet, you know what this means?"
Ratchet remained silent, unsure what to say about it.
"I want to run some tests on him – his spark." Wheeljack said with a hint of excitement.
"Not so fast, 'Jack," Optimus, who had been quiet, stepped forward, "He also asked who Megatron is. If he wants another memory extraction, it may tell him who he was before he died."
"That wouldn't be a good thing,"
"Actually, I don't think it will hold any bearing on how he is. He is changed."
"If we tell him, he might go just a little nuts. Here, we have been telling him that the Decepticons were vanquished a long while ago by those… Plasma cannons," Optimus sighed, "this is a lot for him to take in. I don't want to drop such… bombs on him so quickly. Let him get used to one thing at a time,"
Starscream brewed for about another hour before he sat up. He would find out why this name haunted him so much. He figured he could try his wing mates again or even Soundwave. But that bucket of bolts was tight lipped all of the time, and if he felt the need to keep things from Starscream, well by the stars, he didn't speak of it.
Perhaps another memory extraction was due. If they found out his most recent lives, they might be able to delve in deeper, at least he hoped they did.
He stood up slowly and headed for the door, a long sigh escaping his vents before he headed back to the med bay. When he got there, he saw Ratchet and Wheeljack talking. He stepped in quickly, "No, you're not running any tests on me until I get more answers," he deadpanned.
"Starscream, why are you back so soon?"
"I want to find out more. If you saw one of my… past lives," That sounded strange to say, "I want to see more,"
"Given your current condition, Starscream… I do-" Wheeljack started.
"Can it be done?" the Seeker interrupted, directing his attention to Ratchet.
"Possibly, but I am not for sure," Ratchet answered lowly.
"I want to try,"
"And what will it solve?"
Optimus stirred in his seat. Show him about the Decepticons? Show him that he was under the rule of Megatron? He wasn't too sure that this should go on, "Starscream, why don't you wait until morning?"
"Because," he started, "the name Megatron haunts me. I want to know why." His voice was rigid and Optimus picked it up, puckering an eye ridge at the Seeker. He wondered silently why Megatron's name was haunting him. But he remembered everything that Megatron had put him through. Granted Starscream wasn't the nicest of people, but he came to the conclusion that Megatron had done a lot to this poor fellow in his past.
Starscream sat down on the berth next to the machine which Ratchet fired up again, "Doing this so soon is not advised," The old medic spoke, giving a glare to Starscream.
"I don't care, Ratchet. I want to know what's going on. I just learn today that I am older than dirt, who knows where I truly came from? Who I was? Where I have been? Wouldn't you be just a little interested?"
Ratchet thought about it. Yes, he would want to know all of those things, too, if he found out he was old… really old, "Very well, Starscream," Ratchet agreed, reaching down for wires and pulling them and separating them. When he was done he reached to Starscream and flicked a hidden latch, exposing Starscream's sensitive spark. Under any other circumstances, Starscream would have been nervous, but he was in the presence of those he trusted and loved. He gave one final glance to the machine as it's readout confirmed connections and as it started to set him into stasis, he glanced at his creator, "Wish me luck," he said gently.
Optimus nodded. He really didn't like the idea of Starscream going through all of his past again, but it would also give answers. No one knew how far back the extraction could go, so this was walking into unknown territory.
As Starscream lost consciousness, Optimus looked to Ratchet then to Wheeljack, who had preferred to stay this time to observe. He was curious. This was all new territory for him and he wanted to find out as much as he could.
Optimus looked on. He knew this would be a great turning point for his beloved Seeker. He just hoped that Starscream would be able to handle what was yet to come.
Next Chappy: Lets all take a look into Starscream's past, why don't we?
