The Re-Creation Of Starscream
Chapter 10: Aftermath
Warnings: mention of non-con (not graphic).
Once back in the medbay Red Alert wasted no time in ordering his patient to a berth. The Seeker had obviously obtained new injuries while fighting with Megatron earlier and would need to have them looked at. Of course this also made him think about the…surprise announcements the Decepticon Warlord had thrown out before departing. The knowledge that Starscream was Megatron's and Optimus's Creation was definitely going to cause more than a little discord among the ranks. Even if Optimus hadn't known about Starscream there were now going to be legal ramifications to consider. Legally, Prime could claim custody if he wanted to but that was something Red Alert didn't really want to think about right now; after all, he had a patient to tend to.
Starscream climbed onto the berth with no protest, his optics dimming slightly as he processed the events of the day. Optimus Prime was his co-Creator. The leader of the Autobots was the Creator of the Decepticon second-in-command. The Decepticon gossip lines would be buzzing for years about this, he just knew it. Speculation about his relationship with Megatron would be taken to new heights, especially as it was common knowledge that the two of them had shared a berth on more than one occasion and he knew those rumors had reached the Autobots as well.
Neither Creator wanted him. Megatron was a given; he hadn't been that surprised when the Decepticon Warlord had denounced him publically although it had still stung a little. But Optimus…now that had hurt. The Autobot had a reputation for being soft-sparked but at the same time it was understandable. The Autobots and Decepticons had been fighting each other since before the Seeker first came online and to the Prime Starscream was probably nothing more than a bad reminder of his mortal enemy.
"This is going to be painful," Red Alert's voice cut through his thoughts. "Would you like me to give you a sedative?"
Foggy memories of things done to him while he was unaware flashed before his optics. "No," Starscream said quietly. "I've suffered worse pain before."
"All right," the medic sighed reluctantly as he began working on Starscream's back.
His wings were dented but hopefully they could be pounded out again although he might have to let the Seeker handle that part himself. A few of his spinal struts had been twisted; repairing them would require minor surgery. Otherwise the only other injuries were some scratches and dents at least physically. Red Alert couldn't even begin to imagine the emotional and psychological damage that had been done today. He hesitated for just a second then rested a hand on the red arm.
"Are you okay?"
"The pain is minimal," Starscream replied.
"I mean; emotionally. I imagine that must have been quite a shock what Megatron told you."
Starscream stiffened slightly. "I always knew that he hated me for some reason; now I know it's because I'm too much like…him."
"If it's any consolation I don't think that's a bad thing," Red Alert smiled reassuringly.
Starscream glared at him. "I've spent my entire life trying to destroy the Autobots so I could get Megatron's approval and now I find out that I'm related to the fragging Prime of all mechs? It's…confusing."
"I certainly understand that," Red Alert sighed then decided that it might be best if he changed the topic of their conversation. "Starscream, when you arrived you had suffered injuries to your interfacing equipment; some of them were quite old."
"Where is this going?"
"I would like permission to examine your spark if I may."
"Why?" the Seeker was tensing, ready to make a break for it if necessary.
"Because you're not full grown yet and spark merging, even if it consensual, could damage your spark," Red Alert replied, also ready to move out of the way if his patient got frightened enough.
Starscream hesitated. No one had ever really expressed a concern for his well being before, except maybe Cyclonus and Demolisher on the rare occasion when they shared a berth. "You'll stop if I want you to?"
"Yes I promise."
"Fine," the Seeker sighed then rolled over on his back, his chest armor already sliding back.
Red Alert had to stifle a wince once he saw the scars and gouges on the dim green orb. He picked up one of his scanners and ran it over the spark. "This might feel slightly unpleasant," he warned, "but it should help it heal."
Starscream simply nodded, obviously uncomfortable and embarrassed about baring such an intimate part of his body while he was still online. He didn't even flinch when a red laser flitted over his spark, closing up some of the more shallow gouges. Of course being victim to a forced spark merging was bound to be more painful than this so Red Alert didn't say anything.
When Optimus came online again he was staring at his own ceiling. Now that was odd. The last thing he remembered was facing down Megatron while…oh. Starscream. Now he remembered and he wished he didn't.
"You okay?" Scavenger asked from his seat at Optimus's desk.
"I can't believe that Starscream is my Creation," he said dazedly.
"Are you still stuck on that? Don't make me put you in stasis again," the older mech warned. "It's bad enough you were doing that on the battlefield, I don't want you doing it here too."
"Where's Starscream?"
"In the medbay; Red Alert's repairing him again."
"Did you know Megatron raped him?" Optimus wasn't sure why he was asking, just that he needed to know.
Scavenger hesitated. "There were…rumors," he said carefully. "I wasn't at their base for very long but on more than one occasion I did catch them leaving each other's quarters. When I asked the other Decepticons confirmed that they did that a lot. Of course I did suspect that it might not be entirely consensual after I saw Megatron beat the slag out of Starscream for the tenth time but it wasn't my place to interfere. Even if Starscream was underage I thought I was the only one who realized that. If I had known that he was yours I would have made leave with me."
"I doubt he would have gone," Optimus sighed as he sat up. "Even after the mini-Cons brought him all he wanted to do was return to the Decepticons. I doubt that's changed even now."
"He might have. Didn't you ever wonder how Hot Shot wound back on Earth after he and Sideways went to the Decepticon base?"
"No," Optimus blinked. "I just assumed that you sent him back."
Scavenger shook his head. "I was going to but by the time I got there someone else was already there…"
Scavenger sighed heavily as he made his way back to where they had left the young Autobot. Megatron had cursed all of his soldiers out before sending them their separate ways for letting an Autobot get that close. He really wanted nothing more than to get some recharge but knew that he should help Hot Shot get back to Earth otherwise Optimus would be annoyed with him. To his eternal surprise, however, the Autobot wasn't there anymore. Idly he wondered if the idiot had tried crawling back to the warp gate by himself but quickly dismissed the idea.
"Idiot," a familiar raspy voice hissed from behind a nearby rock.
Scavenger took a quick look and could only stare once he realized that Starscream was patching up the worst of Hot Shot's wounds.
"You have to be really dumb to attack us here by yourself but you didn't realize you were alone, did you? You should've known better than to trust a newcomer that much but I guess Autobots are stupid like that. Of course Megatron is an idiot too; he doesn't realize that we have a traitor here as well and that he welcomed him with open arms." The Seeker fell silent as he stood up and began dragging the unconscious Autobot across the ground, all the way back to the warp gate where he entered in a set of coordinates and their prisoner vanished.
Scavenger could only watch in shock as Starscream exited the room.
"He knew you were a spy?" Optimus questioned.
"Apparently. Despite what Megatron says Starscream really is a good second-in-command. I'll wager he knows everything that goes on in the army, far more than even Megatron does."
"He would be a valuable ally if he defected."
"He's also your Creation, Optimus, don't forget that. I'll stop by and check on you later." With that Scavenger walked out, leaving Optimus with his thoughts.
A/N: Hope you guys liked! Last chapter until the end of the week probably. Let me know what you think! Please read and review!