Agony. Complete and total agony. Yet the sensations were beyond the mere physical; they were deeper still. Starscream's subroutines rerouted themselves as blocked files surfaced and cleared. Memory fragments burst through as dormant circuitry activated themselves, cabling and wiring reformatting themselves to original specifications.

A dark haze within burned brighter until it disappeared in a burst of clarity. Everything that he was and had been came back to Starscream as who Megatron had made him, fizzled and died.

The anger was there even before his optics came on-line, the incredulity and disbelief, not that far behind. Images of his old self replayed in a flash as if a dream. So much of her was there, the young child morphing as she grew, body lengthening and curving. The way she looked at him changed with the memories as well. He recalled Alexis pinned underneath him, and Starscream felt her flesh against his digit. Felt every bit of how she felt about him, the old him that he had been not quite understanding what she meant to him, even as he struggled so desperately to keep it.

It was gone. The connection was severed, the bond broken and shattered and leaving him numb and processors empty. His spark clenched as did his digits, fury rising to the surface as he sat up on the berth, remembering that TC had actually shot him, beyond that had taken the girl. Checking his internal chronometer, Starscream found he had been out for days of excruciating reformatting that tired and drained.

Energy found him once more. He ignored the medic's warnings as he left the med bay, focusing on darker emotions as he went to his quarters. Doors sliding shut behind him, Starscream immediately focused on the blade that was leaning against the far wall. He had meant to give it to Megatron the day he had been shot, the weapon made up of the Dilion ore that had taken him over a year to acquire, now the strongest blade in the Decepticon army.

Picking it up, his hands wrapped around the hilt. He waved it before him, cutting it through the air it humming almost erotically of its promised danger and fulfillment of power. Starscream marveled momentarily at the perfect balance and intricate craftsmanship. But only for a moment. Already he was leaving his chambers. The sword still with him, the Seeker strolled boldly through the halls as it scraped menacingly against the slick surface. A thick gash was left in its wake, many a mech clearing out of his way as Starscream went to the bridge.

It was if time shot forward and suddenly there he was in front of Megatron, the new blade sticking out of his commander from where Starscream had thrust it. Thick energon flowed freely from the wound as he pushed it and twisted it further in, all the way through as he pinned the Decepticon leader to the command chair, inhibiting his movements entirety. It wasn't often that the Air Commander could remember having seen Megatron surprised, even with his memories now intact. But it was in front of Starscream now. Megatron's mouthpiece was open and optics bright, his servos whirling and grinding loudly as he reached and grabbed onto the Seeker, pulling him down to face level.

"Starscream."

He tried to grin, but he just wasn't feeling it. Revenge right in front of him, and so swiftly and all he could feel was the need to get it over with. Things needed to be done. Starscream's impatience grew.

"I am."

They both knew it was him, both knew he was more than just himself. But Starscream wanted Megatron to know with due certainty before he went permanently off-line. "I gave my life for you, Megatron. I sacrificed myself. And for that you turned me into a drone, made me betray and debase the only feeling of acceptance and love that I have ever known."

"Alexandra."

"Yes." Starscream hissed. Pulling the weapon out he thrust it back in, shoving it right above the spark chamber, knowing the immeasurable pain it would cause. Megatron convulsed as his optics dimmed. Starscream leaned in, and his vocals lowered. His words were for the Decepticon tyrant alone. "But know this, it was I that Alexis gave herself to. I, that had her purity and her heart, and in your own chambers. You thought well to send me away, but even as I returned she wanted nothing more but me."

"Lies!" Megatron bellowed, fury building as he struggled to get loose. But Starscream was in complete control, and it seemed his commander was realizing that far too late. His end was near and they both knew it. However, that didn't stop Megatron from sneering with disdain, from fighting him with what were to be his last words. "You were nothing! Capable of nothing that I..."

Removing his blade, he lifted his arms high. The Seeker delivered the last blow, not even permitting the Decepticon leader the dignity of finishing the statement. Megatron's head swiftly separated from his shoulder plates, as his commander, he who once upon a time the Seeker had sought such approval from, met his end. Starscream almost couldn't believe how utterly easy it had been. But his act had been unexpected and believed impossible. For he had been his most trusted soldier. And deliverance from Megatron's reformatting was believed impossible.

Turning around, some of the crew came out of their stupor as they armed themselves before approaching. Starscream thrust the blade down before him, digging it into the slick deck below.

"I am taking command of this ship," he said, arms crossing calmly across his cockpit as he scanned the group, preparing himself even as he came to terms with what he had just done. "If anyone wishes to challenge me, do so now. I am sure Megatron would enjoy his loyal followers keeping him company... deep in the pit."

Motion ceased. Optics diverted to the weapon that was covered in thick energon, and ready to spill some more. No one objected. The weapons were quickly put away and they dispersed.

"Good. Alter course immediately. We have a ship to find."

It took him over a year to locate her again. Finding the cargo ship hadn't been good enough. The human and her newly self-appointed guardian were long gone, Thundercracker taking her to parts unknown.

"They were headed to the third planet to the right from these coordinates. That is all I know," the Lengorian captain had clicked out nervously, his antennae twitching as Starscream lowered his primed weapon.

Earth, of course he should have known that. Alexis spoke much of the place, and it was her planet after all. The one that he had been part of ripping her away from, her emissary status between Autobots and humanity taken with it. Her purpose gone, even as she was left with an insubstantial replacement that did less than fill.

Creating a program, one that monitored all forms of human communications, even that of secret Autobot transmissions, he had it alert him to several keywords. More data coming through then he expected, Starscream narrowed it even further, finding soon enough that he was getting nowhere. Deploying scouts and spies, he gave them one task: find Thundercracker, a reward promised beyond even the most greediest Decepticon expectations.

And still, time passed.

Using it, he secured his position as head of the Decepticon army, one campaign after the next taking his attention as he expanded their territory. Megatron becoming less than a memory as he showed through in a manner that his kind could understand, that with him, through him, wealth and power were more attainable than ever before as he made the Decepticon presence felt in the Galaxy.

"Lord Starscream."

His optics were on the view screen. The blue planet below them rotated slowly, an acquired stealth module hiding them from anyone who might actually have looked. Starscream was giving the Autobots time to make assumptions about what his own plans were for them, giving them enough time to over analyze everything as they prepared for what they believed he was going to do. But they couldn't have known. For while he wasn't the old Starscream, neither was he the one who had worked with the Autobots all those years ago. He was full of ambitions, like none that he had had before.

"My Lord?"

Starscream averted his attention. He found a 'Con bent at the knee plate; head lowered enough to appear submissive as his optics remained steadily downcast. The Seeker realized then that he was feared, but maybe that was how it was destined to be.

"Speak," he commanded.

"I have located Thundercracker."

That got his attention. He cleared the bridge with the wave of his hand and then allowed the mech to stand.

"Tell me more, Viewfinder." His optics swept over the Decepticon. A sense of distrust rose to the surface, but that was expected, in the past the two had less than got along.

"I brought recorded data back with me. It will tell you all you need to know. I uploaded it to your private terminal."

"Very well. Dismissed," Starscream said, flicking his hand forward.

"The promised reward?" the spy interjected, arms crossing over his chassis as he planted his pediforms.

"Shall be given if it leads me to that which I seek," the Seeker answered indifferently.

"The human you mean?" There was a sly undercurrent to Viewfinder's tone that was acidic and rather expectant. Starscream admitted nothing. His emotions were stowed deeply away. Viewfinder kept speaking anyway, his words crashing out of him with subtle mockery. He was unaware what a precarious position he was putting himself into. "The others may be fooled, but I know full well it isn't your old buddy Thundercracker you seek."

Starscream leaned forward, thumping his digits impatiently against the throne's thick arms. His voice drifted, dangerously low yet reserved. "And just who have you told of this suspicion of yours?"

"No one, but if your Earth-based army knew of the real purpose behind their deployment, I know that more than a few would want to have a... word with you."

"I see you are up to your old ways." Starscream stepped down, standing above the blue mech as he stared derisively. "Megatron may have amused your little side bribes, but I will not stand for it. Even hint at trying to use anything against me again, and I will have you reformatted to be a waste-disposal unit. Do I make myself clear?"

The 'Con chuckled and his optics brightened. "And just how long do you think you are going to be able to remain in power? Megatron may be off-line but his followers are still here."

It was Starscream's turn to laugh. His blaster folded out and came into his hand as he aimed it at Viewfinder. "Perhaps then, we should make it one less, right now."

Fear was back in the spy's optics that Starscream was sure would be there for a while. Lowering his weapon after Viewfinder's hasty departure, he sat down in his command chair. He didn't give a slag if his Decepticons found out his real purpose, they would know of it soon enough. And they would serve him in spite of it or to the pit with them all.

The area that Starscream was now flying over was isolated, broken off and away from things. Hovering low, he circled the area again. Starscream spotted what he was looking for, a small house in the midst of it all. His scanners running over the perimeter, he found signs of Cybertronian upgrades and security installed. He could have avoided them, but he allowed himself to be scanned. He wanted his arrival to be announced, knowing full well who would come for him.

Thundercracker, his wingmate, his brother in arms, the keeper of her. He felt his programming glitch as he suddenly felt unnerved. Seeing her on the video that Viewfinder provided had stirred such emotion in him, the likes of which guided him there. Expectation and desire of attainment was at the forefront even as he thought of how she would react to seeing him again.

Landing a couple of miles away, afterburners lowering him down, grass burned underneath as he cut his engines. The Seeker crashed lightly onto the now dirt filled ground as he took his first step forward. And then a presence was felt, but he made no outwards sign of it, allowing the mech to come up behind him. A weapon pressed to his back panel and Starscream stopped.

"You shouldn't have come, Starscream."

"And what makes you think I would stay away, Thundercracker?" He turned around slowly.

Optics were burning upon him, and a weapon aimed with digits resting perilously upon the trigger. "Leave now. Before we both regret this," the blue Seeker seethed, such animosity and emotion in his usually placid vocals that it unsettled Starscream, but it did not dissuade him in the least.

"Not likely. You know why I am here."

TC tilted his head to the side, shoulder panels rising as he vented air. Thundercracker became even more guarded. His complete attention now on Starscream, the world merged to only the two of them.

"She wants nothing to do with you," Thundercracker stated more calmly, his strength of will boasting of his indomitable character, his vocals firm and full of unyielding conviction. "And I won't allow you to see her. You have no claim upon her."

Starscream huffed. And then a realization hit him that he had never truly considered. It bothered him. But what he said next betrayed nothing of his confusion, his inflections the very definition of calm and reason. "And I suppose you do?"

Thundercracker's free hand curled forward and thumped hard against his leg; his core temperature peaked. "I do," he said, with a conviction that had Starscream's systems churn with offense. A declaration of possession also subtly reveled in the words that had resentment growing as Starscream thought of all the two could have done in a year. "I plan to take her in the binding ways of humans, to mate..."

"Impossible," Starscream lashed out, finding himself chuckling darkly at the presumption and arrogance, "she belongs to me."

Thundercracker only raised an optic ridge, ever the stolid mech. "Things have changed since the last time you were on Earth. I have changed since last we met. Yes, she did love you, but only because of whom she thought you were when she was a child. Alexis is no longer a child, no longer..."

The blaster went flying as Starscream struck, fist making contact with Thundercracker's jaw plating. But his wingmate seemed to be expecting such an action as he pushed him away, sword drawn. Starscream pulled his own, the one that had secured his position and brought him such fleeting revenge. He had bestowed the designation of Phoenix upon the weapon after doing more studies of the planet Earth and familiarizing himself with much, including the humans' literature.

His attack may have been expected, but TC was overpowered as Starscream's superior blade met his, the blue Seeker's weapon breaking after only a couple of blows. His fist lashed out and Thundercracker went flying. His wingmate was prepared to continue the assault. But finding the tip of the deadly Phoenix at his delicate throat panel halted his efforts to rise.

"You shot me," Starscream seethed, hostility rising. "Actually tried to kill me. We both know I cannot let that pass." Despite his statement, he brought the weapon back and allowed Thundercracker to shift partially upwards. His vocals softened as he surveyed his wingmate. Starscream was not finished. "However, you inadvertently brought me back to life, and for that I will not kill you. Show yourself before me again and I will not show such mercy."

"Brought you back?"

No further illumination was needed. He saw the understanding dawn in Thundercracker's optics, even as Starscream's ped lashed down and made contact with his wingmate's canopy as it shattered. Leaning over, he dug under TC's cockpit. Talons finding purchase, he tugged and pulled out a yellow cable as he disabled the mech. He watched Thundercracker's optics dim.

"That's right, brother. I'm back," Starscream whispered gently, memories seeping through him of adventures and challenges the two had faced side by side. That too was another reason TC hadn't been terminated, for perhaps in time, despite his threat, the three unstoppable Seekers would fly side by side once more.

Walking away from the downed Seeker, the wind picked up as a familiar scent hit his olfactory sensors. Starscream's stride quickened and footsteps came closer. Starscream halted, now frozen as a small form came into view. Hair flew widely about before she pushed it out of the way, head tilting as she smiled before it died as he heard the human catch her breath. Alexis realized soon enough as she covered her eyes and blocked the bright sun that played tricks with his outer coloring, that he wasn't Thundercracker. Alexis' heart pitch and her flesh drained of blood. His optics immediately submerged in her overly large eyes as his spark responded to the sight and sound of her. Alexis was even more beautiful than Starscream had ever recalled. He saw the child he had known as she merged into the woman standing there, emotions climbing as his expectations of seeing her again were surpassed. He knew once more that the old him had no idea at all what she truly meant and would mean again.

"Alexis, I have returned."