At Carnation's command, Starscream inquired, "What? Why?"

Shiloh muttered, "What are you talking about? We don't ever do anything."

"I know that we don't, but you know that Decepticons take over this space whenever they please," Carnation said, wringing his hands.

"You made it sound like a common occurrence." Shiloh looked back to Starscream. "But they don't even disrupt us. It's safe here."

"For us, perhaps," Carnation countered. "But they might be suspicious of an unfamiliar face. If they barge in here, as they do at times-"

"You don't trust the guards we got now?"

"No," Carnation replied. "Decepticons will be as violent as they want to be in a pinch."

"I would protect him," Shiloh said. "Help him get out at the first sign of trouble. A warp around the corner…"

"I know you enjoy living a dangerous lifestyle, but you can't drag others into it. He can't take the risks you can. And what about his life signal? Don't you think Optimus will be upset when his signal suddenly vanishes?"

"It was only for a bit," Shiloh countered. "We were just going to get Steve and go. Show Moon' the place quickly. His phone's at my place, so it shouldn't be suspicious."

Starscream frowned. Perhaps the Autobots really were always noting his life signal's location, not just searching it up when they couldn't find him. In that case, it would look like he was either killed or doing crime right now.

He couldn't imagine that there was someone intently watching a screen for every minute. Nevertheless, Carnation was right that he shouldn't worry Optimus.

"Then we better hurry," Starscream decided. "In case we haven't yet been noticed."

He could apologize to Carnation later. Talking was only wasting their time.

They moved forward, but Carnation trailed them to ask, "I presume you are going to tell Steve."

"And?" Shiloh said, but not aggressively. "He won't tell anyone for the sake of…"

They were coming close now. The silver vehicon backed off as Starscream and Shiloh crept up to the group of sitting vehicons. Circumnavigating the couch, they singled out Steve from the back. Starscream stepped away as Shiloh approached the vehicon with the cloth bracelet. Putting his head over Steve's shoulder, he whispered something to him. The other vehicons looked over, but seemed not to hear anything or mind.

Steve stood and went around the couch, joining Shiloh and looking over to Starscream. He did not look excited, however, but still unsure.

"What do you mean?" Steve was heard. "He knows something?"

"Just come back with me." Shiloh walked ahead, directing the pair. "I obviously can't tell you here."

Starscream kept his mouth sealed and followed. He waved back at Carnation with a squeeze of guilt, but he soon departed as he had wanted anyway. In the halls, Shiloh teleported them back to his apartment with their new vehicon cohort.

Once the portal had closed, Shiloh peered around his home and found nothing amiss. He couldn't tell that Arcee had teleported through the locked door, placing video cameras within. Everything had been carefully placed in the same position they had left them.

Shiloh looked to Starscream. "Go ahead."

"He said Starscream was alive," Steve rushed. "But, that's impossible, isn't it? What do you know?"

"The news story was fabricated," Starscream started, already seeing this vehicon was growing excited in his hope. "Starscream didn't get impaled. He never died."

"How do you know that?" he gasped.

"It was a story made up by the High Council, Optimus, and others. The truth is Starscream tried to become powerful, and he forcefully absorbed an energy into his body. When they defeated him, he rendered comatose."

"What?" Steve jumped. "Where are they keeping him?"

Starscream wasn't sure how this vehicon would react to the final statement, seeing as he was grasping onto his words with trusting tension. There was a pleasant feeling of amusement to be kindling Steve's passion.

"They aren't exactly keeping him anywhere," Starscream told him. "They woke him, but he's forgotten his memories."

The vehicon jolted, remembering something. "Wait, that injured student… Optimus's…"

"Me," Starscream murmured. "I am Moonwing; I am Starscream."

It would have been interesting to see what emotions would have lit up on his face. The reaction was limited to the vehicon's body, which jumped then bounced on each foot. The vehicon's hands slapped against his own face and clawed down it.

"You're serious? No, I-I- seriously?"

"This is not a joke."

Starscream expected the vehicon to come closer, but Steve still kept his excitement at a distance. He retracted one hand from his face though, turning up the palm.

"Ar-are you okay?" Steve murmured. "Oh Primus, you're not dead…"

"I'm fine," Starscream said. "But, why does it matter to you?"

"What do you mean?" Steve gasped. "Do you really think no one cared about you?"

"You're the only vehicon this excited," Starscream replied. Even Carnation hadn't been too emotional to learn he was alive.

"B-but, how can I not be?" Steve whispered. "Am I the only one with optics? The only one who saw how you were treated and felt something?"

Starscream remembered his nightmares and thoughts. There was a touch of warmth that someone too, thought these events were awful.

Steve continued, "I saw you live for stellar cycles. Oh, they said you were selfish and terrible, but I never agreed. I researched you, going through the records, and stayed near you whenever I could. You didn't know me but…" He lifted his head. "I learned all about you. The elite flier who lived a strict military lifestyle. Status was everything to you. You were used to praise and being esteemed, so of course you were egotistic. You were the most powerful Air Commander- your job was to look ahead and lead."

Starscream stared in shocked silence. His words brought upon gossamer memories, but he still focused on the words of the present.

"So when you lost the other Seekers… You didn't notice it truly at first, but then you started to feel vulnerable. You weren't used to standing by yourself because Seekers are trained like that. You tried to manage on your own through cowardice and plotting. And of course, you were so vocal because you weren't used to the absence. You talk to yourself like you are explaining something to someone. I've heard you."

Starscream dipped his head and moved closer, but the vehicon moved back without knowing that he had.

"I've been on the warship for a while," Steve said. "Surviving, by luck… and seeing how scared you grew over the stellar cycles. You used to stand up to Megatron, and it hurt me to see you break. He could intimidate you, hit you… injure you. When you ran away, I was relieved and worried because of that. Then you came back and were safe… in a way."

Why had this vehicon prepared such an in-depth analysis about him? Starscream himself would have never found his past something to empathize with. His past self wouldn't have even made these self-discoveries, so how had a random vehicon among the war's thousands done it?

"But…" Steve sighed. "You don't remember any of this, do you? But… maybe- you do? How did you know you were him?"

"Because the memories are returning," Starscream murmured. "The High Council knows it too, and they admitted it to me. One day they will give me a private Trial."

Steve perked. "I am so glad that your memories are returning!"

"You are?"

"Of course," Steve sighed. "I-if they didn't, it would be like you were dead."

Starscream shuffled. He supposed it would have been like that.

Probably what everyone would have preferred anyway. That I was just Moonwing. Only Steve would really care. Shiloh and Carnation, like other vehicons, were just fine living their lives knowing that Starscream was dead…

But Steve had grieved for him and hadn't forgotten.

And Slipstream came back for me. She said something about Seekers being strongest together… So there are those who care about who I really am.

Steve also shuffled, but in worried discomfort. "I've said so much… I'm sorry if I've bothered you."

It seemed as though he had wanted to say a name, but didn't know what to say.

"No, you haven't," Starscream mumbled and looked back to him. "It's fine… and don't think of using any titles to me..."

He wants to say it to feel that I am alive.

"Just call me by my name. But in public, it will have to be Moonwing. You have to keep this secret for me. I need a clean reputation to keep living in this world."

"Of course…! I understand, St-Starscream."

The joyous warmth in him made it feel as though the blood in his body was glowing. Starscream smiled and breathed, "You care about me more than anyone, and you're but a stranger to me. As I am a stranger to you. How did it start, Steve? Why did you focus on me?"

He expected another explanation, but then Steve paused.

"I don't know," he mumbled, swaying slightly. "I just always did."

Shiloh finally spoke. "So you really don't have a reason?"

Steve shrugged slightly. "Ever since I was made, put in the Nemesis… I've known Starscream. I don't know when it happened. I don't have a reason for liking Starscream just like there's no reason to like other things. Favourite colours, songs… I can't explain it."

"I thought there was a story," Shiloh admitted.

Starscream asked, "There was nothing in particular I did?"

Steve shook his head. "I don't know why."

Somehow, it was extremely comforting. Someone cared for him for the sake of it. Steve moved as though embarrassed, so Starscream slid closer to comfort him. He couldn't touch the vehicon however, since he nervously moved back again, up to a wall.

"Why do you keep moving?" Starscream murmured.

Surprised, Steve stammered, "Oh, er…"

"Because I've killed vehicons before?"

"You… probably don't want to me around you."

Starscream said, "I'm different now, Steve. I don't think I'm superior to you or anyone."

Steve looked from Starscream to the other vehicon at his side.

"How did you come to feel that way?" Steve asked. "Even Autobots don't care about vehicons."

"For a while, my mind had the chance to be open since I couldn't remember old prejudices."

Starscream finally arrived at Steve's side, able to put a hand on his shoulder at last. A chill flowed through the vehicon.

"Why don't we be friends, Steve? With the War over and times changed, we have so much time to live and do as we please."

There was not a scratch of fear that he would fail the Trial. There was only a bright future in his spark with more than enough room for the devoted vehicon.

The touch had already exceeded Steve's expectations. Now, he was so stunned that he froze.

"I think you broke him," Shiloh commented.

Starscream breathed out a laugh. Steve stirred, returning to reality and fidgeting, unsure of what to do.

"You can give me your number," Starscream decided. "I always go out and do something every day, so just tell me what you like to do."

Steve gasped, "But you can't be serious, that you want to…"

The miner vehicon shrugged. "He hangs out with vehicons all the time. Really."

Starscream was flushed with tranquility. He wondered why his past life had never been filled with discovery of new friends, when it so obviously brought upon this nice emotion.

"My body is physically damaged," Starscream said. "Running is difficult while transforming is still impossible. If you ever want to-"

"I would gladly help you!" Steve exclaimed, then halted himself and spoke shyly. "I want you to get better, so if you want me to support you… I'm not busy. My hours are short where I work."

"Right," Shiloh encouraged him. "I'm busy with clubs and construction. You could take him out more than I can."

Starscream went and swiped his phone with a smirk. Steve would surely cave now. After a few precise taps, he passed the cell to Steve. "Go on then."

With trembling hands, Steve hesitantly took it from him. He still couldn't believe that this was what Starscream wanted.

"I'm sure there are many others who could help you train," Steve argued. "Besides me…"

"That may be, but I want you to do it. After all you said."

Steve quivered and put in his number. Handing it back to Starscream, he insisted again, "But I am only a vehicon…"

"There's no 'only'. Don't be absurd."

Thanks to the cameras in the room, the vehicons weren't the only ones to hear these moving words.

"How about we meet up tomorrow?" Starscream offered. "I have to attend that Newspark school, but not tomorrow. I have the time."

"Al-alright. I have t-time too…" Steve stuttered.

Shiloh said, "I guess we better get you home, 'Scream. Aren't you tired?"

Starscream was surprised by the switch to the nickname, but was pleased by it. He loved how Shiloh had so readily spread his usual informality with him, despite knowing who he was.

"Are you often tired?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Starscream exhaled. "I have to recharge daily, but not as much as before."

"You've never been up this late though," Shiloh pointed out. "You might be overtired."

"Mm, then…"

"I'll walk you home," Shiloh said.

"Thank you."

Starscream glanced at Steve, who was still so close to him. "I heard you live in Altihex. I suppose you must teleport all that way?"

Steve confessed with guilt, "I only want to use my portal gun for the club… I ought to pay at the station like anyone else."

Shiloh blew out a laugh. "In that case, be a legal citizen and come with us. The station's by his place."

They departed his apartment and entered the night of the surface world. It was true, that Starscream had never stayed up so late since his reformatting. The cold was worse now, and it bit him despite not seeming to bother the vehicons. It was more bearable as they kept walking, moving together in silence below the lights. Starscream was set in the middle, but Steve kept far enough away that he wouldn't accidentally brush against him.

When Starscream stared up at the speckled sky, he remembered the freedom he had been given. Once, he had been forbidden to go out at these hours. Now, he couldn't believe he had been given this. Even if he assumed that Arcee followed him on his night trips, he was amazed that he could enjoy the night undisturbed.

A longing bubbled up, and he sighed, "I can't wait to fly again."

"Do you remember what it was like?" Steve whispered.

"Yes," Starscream breathed. "I feel it in my frame. I can imagine the wind over my wings, the clouds below…"

"Sounds frightening," Shiloh commented. "A long way to fall."

"I wouldn't fall," Starscream said. His chest swelled at the certainty he felt.

"The records wrote that he was the most skilled," Steve spoke as though he was wearing a proud smile. "The most agile Seeker in the Air Command's history, although others would say that they were."

"Like who, Sky Commander Jetfire?" Shiloh threw in.

Starscream halted for a moment, forcing the vehicons to have to fall back.

"What's wrong?" Steve fretted.

"Nothing," Starscream answered, padding forward. "But after what you said and Jetfire… I remembered that it was true. Jetfire, I knew him well. He was also skilled."

He looked up again.

"I don't remember much more... but I think he was my friend, long ago. I don't want to think so much about it though. I might learn about the unpleasantries that occurred between us, which they undoubtedly did."

That night, no bot emerged from the darkness and threatened the trio. Starscream was eventually safely delivered to the Square, where the Elite Guards were eyeing up the vehicons with suspicion. It was incredibly late now, and Starscream finally felt his fatigue like a slap to the face.

He stopped and turned to them. Starscream concluded, "Thank you for tonight, Shiloh." Then to Steve, he said, "It was a pleasure to finally meet you. I am so glad that we could."

That you lived long enough for this.

"Rest well," Steve murmured with the utmost sincerity.

He waved to the vehicons before entering the heated lobby of the building. The warmth drove away the lingering cold, filling him with relief that the day was over. Much had been done, and it had been good. Now, he could lie down with that knowledge.

Starscream yanked himself up the stairs, then dragged himself to Optimus's door. It was unlocked. When Starscream entered, the room was filled with the comforting sounds of the quiet television. All was normal, as though there had been no disturbance in the peace before.

It seems that no one noticed my brief disappearance.

"Sorry I was out so late," Starscream breathed out to Optimus on his beeline to the berth. He unclamped his phone then flopped back onto the berth, drawing the chain blanket over himself. "I found this new friend…"

He was so tired and cozy in the heat that he could not continue. He drifted off while Optimus's blue eyes calmly watched him.

They knew that Starscream had walked into an illegal zone, but his behaviour upon his return revealed nothing amiss. Starscream rested, for now, but worry simmered in Optimus. For long, Starscream had been close to former Decepticons, and now it was only growing worse. With less restrictions, Starscream was straying and doing as he pleased.

Starscream had yet to display a single violent reaction, but the concern had grown due to Starscream's twitches and tosses every night. When he lacked control, the memories were randomly creeping back. Optimus had felt the burning heat of Starscream's body, especially of his head, when he groaned in his sleep from the headaches. Starscream was wearing away the energy in his mind, and there was no knowing what Starscream was remembering either. After what Starscream had done tonight though, he surely needed to be scanned again to see how far he had progressed.

Optimus wanted to have Starscream scanned more often, lest he go too far before they realized it. They had to pay close attention to Starscream's words and actions to judge how his memories affected his behaviour, but this too was no guarantee of being accurate. Starscream could perhaps be swayed overnight by one particular memory, of something Team Prime had done to him on Earth. One memory might be all it took. Then, Starscream might hide this knowledge if he regained his deceptive skills. It seemed that Starscream was honest in the present time, but they could be being tricked, since Starscream was aware of how they spied on him.

They had seen Starscream toss away his phone to whisper to Shiloh, in case he could be heard through it. Sometimes Starscream too, peeked back to see if he could spot a spy. He still seemed to be as kind and sensitive as Moonwing, but Optimus hoped that none of this was an act to complete a larger plan. He wanted Starscream to have this chance, but Starscream's actions made Optimus doubt him more than ever before.

Had he been too hopeful to begin this endeavor, as Ratchet had suggested? Perhaps, Starscream was really was unchangeable. Optimus wondered if Megatron's change had influenced him too much, giving him unreasonable hope for Starscream, who had always been untrustworthy to all factions. If Optimus had made a mistake, then someone could end up being injured or killed because of Optimus's choice to rehabilitate Starscream.

But Starscream, in his months as Moonwing, had given him so much hope. More than the alternative, Optimus wanted to believe that Starscream would truly strive for the goal of being a good Seeker officer.

Then, it could be as he had told Ratchet. Starscream could happily become a Seeker and use his skills to help the Autobot citizens of the planet.

Starscream slept in, but when he woke, he found Optimus ushering him up. Handed some energon, Starscream drank quickly and learned that Ratchet was waiting to perform a scan on his mind. Without touching anything else, Starscream willingly hurried and followed. But, it was with the stiff knowledge that he hadn't gotten away with what he had done.

They know what I did last night, but aren't saying it, Starscream thought. They likely don't want me to know how closely they are tracking me. But it is obvious. My every move is being noted.

Then, Starscream thought that he should try to ease them. He wouldn't return to the vehicon club ever again or go into any dead zones.

Starscream kept obediently silent, sitting on a medical berth and letting Ratchet do the scan. Peeking past them at the screens they then scrutinized, Starscream couldn't tell what changes had occurred. He still saw an obscene amount of light blue in his brain, and from their murmured discussion, it seemed that had been no substantial change. Though, it was logical. The amount of memories there were to recover was great, and the few he had recalled, he had shied away from.

He couldn't tell what Optimus was thinking or feeling on the way back. Starscream's thoughts wandered instead to the vehicon, Steve. As soon as he could, Starscream swept up his phone and connected with him, arranging to meet that day. Optimus didn't pressure Starscream and ask him where he went each time, but Starscream sensed that he was doing it to not be too controlling.

Even if Optimus knew the answer anyway, Starscream wanted to be kind and tell him his plans. Before he left, Starscream explained to Optimus that he would be exercising with a new vehicon he had met last night. Then, he hurried downstairs to find Steve in the square. Unsure and hiding out beside a pole, Steve had been waiting for him.

From his messages and current behaviour, it was evident that Steve felt unworthy of Starscream's attention. Determined to change that, Starscream waved Steve away from the shadows to come meet him halfway.

"I didn't think you would ever use my contact," Steve confessed, stopping out of his reach.

"Perhaps I was not a sincere character before, but my words are honest now."

"Then you want to run?"

"I do," Starscream replied. "But, have patience. I will be terribly slow."

Steve stammered with awkward grace, "I-I would never run out of patience… for you."

They soon pelted off, Starscream at first in front just because Steve did not feel permitted to be at his side. Starscream assured the vehicon, "Aren't we running together? I can't tell if I can't see you."

Steve silently joined him, and they found a slower pace that suited Starscream. It didn't take long after that for Steve to prove himself as a positive addition. From the first day, Steve was incredibly encouraging. Whenever Starscream seemed about to fall back into a walk, Steve edged him on. And he wasn't just saying empty words of cheer; the vehicon really believed that Starscream was capable of accomplishing anything.

He's seen me go through much worse, Starscream thought. I've been through war. I served Megatron. The pain I remembered is only a faction of it all, so surely, running is nothing in comparison.

There was also an urge to impress Steve, to make him proud of what he was becoming. The more they ran, the more Starscream felt that he improved due to Steve's encouragement that kept him from giving up. Steve also took it upon himself to keep inviting Starscream on more runs, asking him if he was recovered enough for more training. All this made it possible for Starscream to improve his physical condition so quickly.

Starscream started replacing his walks with Bulkhead with the runs with Steve, the more strenuous and least awkward activity. There was no escaping the habit, especially when Starscream revealed to Steve why he wanted to be fit.

"I'm going to enter the police academy in Fort Scyk, then choose to train as a Seeker."

"I want to go with you."

Starscream stared back at him, confused. Steve couldn't fly. Embarrassed, Steve clarified, "I mean for the years before splitting off into specializations…"

"You want to be a cop?" Starscream asked. It would be illogical for Steve to join, then leave before completing anything.

"I do want to be with you, but for a while I've also been looking for something else to do with my life. I think I could do this too, learning to fight and stopping criminals."

Everyone there would scoff at the idea of a vehicon cop. Him coming with me is a good idea. I can support him as well.

So they continued their routine of running, gradually strengthening Starscream's body and increasing his endurance. There was benefit for Steve too, who had never done much exercise before. Yet it didn't particularly matter what Starscream wanted to do. If he had wanted to paint instead, to practice medicine, then Steve would have been just as enthusiastic about supporting him. He was just content and mellow to be at the side of the former Decepticon second-in-command.

Shiloh was also great, even joining them if they jogged in the night hours. However, there was something unique about Steve. Starscream cared for them both, but the adoration Steve had was for all of Starscream, never dismissive of even the worst of him. This vehicon had swiftly become something special, and Starscream couldn't imagine being without him.

He had felt like this once with the Corvicon, Onyx, when they had used to see each other often. However, the connection with Steve had an extra dimension that increased Starscream's attachment to him. The more he cared for the vehicon though, the deeper was his worry. It had been proven that anyone could so easily be killed in this new world. Decepticons lingered, refusing to accept the new society. There were beatings, shootings- Steve could disappear as suddenly as two of his friends had.

And as Shiloh had said, vehicons were targets. Perceived as weak, they could be cornered on the streets if they walked alone. Starscream didn't want to think it, but since Steve couldn't fight, he would be easy to overtake. It was likely the same for most vehicons. Even their club was sometimes overtaken by Decepticons, and from what Carnation had said, Starscream understood that the vehicons of Cybertron were being bullied into submission.

I don't want anything to happen to Steve, Starscream fretted, whenever he was with Steve or alone. He's vulnerable, and… I don't know what I would do if he died. He has always cared so much for me, like no one else does. Maybe if I keep him close, he will be safer. Arcee might jump out like she does and protect us if someone tries to attack… But, maybe it isn't safe for anyone to be too close to me. Steve might be in more danger.

Starscream crumpled, conflicted. Steve was so happy to have him back, alive, so he wanted to see him as often as possible. Starscream felt sure that no matter what he remembered, he would never want to hurt him or any vehicon ever again. Nevertheless, there was a chance that someone else would hurt Steve, to take revenge on him over something Starscream had done in the past.

Please just let nothing bad happen to him.

And Starscream had thought it, due to his belief that there was nothing he could truly do to protect the vehicon.