Author's note. How does Starscream and Skyfire's big fall out go? Read on to find out.
Warning for cussing and Starscream yelling.
Enjoy and please review.
The Nemesis.
"Well, Starscream, do you have news?"
Megatron asked this question as he sat on his throne, one feet resting on his knee. He had an impatient expression on his face and didn't look like he was in the mood to be messed around with. Not that it was ever a good idea to mess with him.
There were quite a few Mechs in the room, including his Officers, Starscream's Trine and a few other grunts. They were all watching as Starscream stood to attention in front of his leader, wondering what the reply would be.
Despite the fact Starscream had been keeping watch at the Ark for a while now, he still hadn't come up with anything good. Even the news that the Autobot Femmes were on Earth wasn't much, the Space Bridge Guards had already told Megatron they'd gotten through when Starscream had informed him of this development.
So Megatron wasn't in the best of moods with his SIC, he was failing his allocated task. And Megatron did not tolerate failure.
Starscream offered a small smirk as he said.
"I do indeed might leader, news I think you will be very interested in."
Megatron arched a brow.
"Oh? And what, pray tell, is this interesting news you've found out?"
"The Autobots Ironhide and Chromia are expecting," Starscream said without preamble, causing several Mechs to gasp.
"Expecting," Megatron repeated, looking mild surprised.
"Indeed Megatron," Starscream sneered as he added. "Twins."
There was a lot of muttering about this, including an audible comment that went.
"Just what we need, more Autobot twins."
"Enough," Megatron said, holding up a hand and everyone fell silent. He now turned his attention back on Starscream.
"How did you find out about this?"
Starscream grinned.
"The fools were practically shouting the news throughout the Ark, it wasn't hard, Megatron."
Megatron gave a small nod, a smile curling around his lips.
"Well, well, this is very interesting news."
Skywarp tried not to snigger at this.
"The only question is, what shall we do with this information?" Megatron said slowly.
"Maybe if we got hold of that Femme, we could hold her and her Sparklings to ransom," a young Decepticon suggested eagerly.
Starscream felt a cold weight height his tank. Normally, that sort of idea wouldn't affect him but now? Now he was a parent with a Sparkling and mate on the other side. However, Megatron was looking very thoughtful at this.
"Or maybe...," he finally said, an evil smile gracing his features.
"We can take those Sparklings and raise them as Decepticons."
There were sounds of agreement as nearly everyone cheered this idea. Starscream grimaced but tried to look pleased. It wouldn't do him any good if Megatron was to suspect at this stage.
"You done well Starscream," Megatron now said as he turned back to Starscream.
"As a reward, you no longer have to spy on the Ark,"
"Thank you Megatron," Starscream said, trying to sound revealed but he was of course, disappointed. This meant he would have a good excuse to go there.
"You may also have some time off," Megatron added, knowing this would really make his Seeker happy.
"Thank you, mighty Megatron," Starscream said, this time with much more conviction.
"Three cycles," Megatron said, feeling generous. "After that time, you will resume normal duties."
Starscream eagerly nodded his agreement, no way was he going to argue when Megarton was being generous. Three whole cycles!
Oh yes, he'd use the time he'd been giving well. And he knew just who he was going to spend it with.
A month later.
Skyfire sighed happily as he gave Icefire a bath. Normally, he wouldn't be as this was only the morning but Icefire had been playing with his paints and gotten very messy. Still, the Sparkling was very proud of his magnificent artwork with its bright colours so Skyfire was too.
A lot had happened since Ironhide and Chromia had first announced the good news. Starscream had been able to spend some serious time with his Sparkling after Optimus had given permission for the Seeker to live with Skyfire. The Seeker hadn't left his mate's and Sparkling's side, so no one worried about him spying.
He was just so caught up with enjoying his little son, he didn't even spare a thought for the other Autobots. They had a grand time of it with Starscream learning for the first time what it was like caring for a Sparkling. Nevertheless, he took to the job well and by the end of it, was convinced he was fully qualified.
Icefire had been very depressed when his Sire had to leave, but the other Autobots managed to distract him. Chromia and Ironhide in particular wanted to spend time with him, learning what it took to look after Sparklings. Icefire loved the extra attention and Skyfire got a break so it worked for everyone.
"Now, now, Icefire," Skyfire scolded with a laugh as his son tried to splash water everywhere.
"You don't want to give your Amma more work, do you?"
Icefire merely gurgled happily as he did an extra big splash. Skyfire sighed as he mopped up, Starscream was much better at the discipline than he was. He just didn't have the Spark to wipe the happy look from Icefire's face, so he was fairly easy going. Though if Icefire went too far with his wilfulness, then Skyfire would reprimand him.
But he was suddenly broken out of his thoughts by an alarm call.
"That doesn't sound good," Skyfire said as he drew Icefire out of his little bath tub and into a nice fluffy towel.
Wrapping his Sparkling up and then laying him carefully on his chest, Skyfire rushed to see what was happening. Everywhere, Mechs were running about, all with a job in mind. Skyfire made his way to the Control Room where Prime and his Officers were discussing the situation.
"Megatron had attacked a plant on a rather remote piece of coastline," Prowl was saying as Skyfire joined them.
"It's going to be difficult to reach there, there's only a single track road and apparently it's pretty beat up. The main road is much further away and we would have to go around a large plantation to reach it and by the time we got there, it could be too late for the humans."
"What if I take you?" Skyfire asked as Icefire snuggled on his shoulder, ready for a nap.
They all looked at him, most of them very hopeful.
"That would certainly be a huge help Skyfire," Optimus began. "But we wouldn't want to take you from your son...,"
"Its fine Optimus," Skyfire said firmly before adding with a smile.
"Besides, he needs a nap and I was wondering if Chromia could take him for a bit?"
He directed this question at Ironhide who grinned.
"It'll be the highlight of her day, Skyfire," he said with a grin. "She's going stir crazy not being allowed to do anything, she'd be delighted."
As Chromia was carrying such a precious cargo, she had been taken off field duty and had to work behind a desk. Needless to say, she was going out of her mind with boredom, not to mention she was mad she couldn't shoot any enemy Mechs.
Skyfire didn't like to leave his Sparkling but he didn't want to let the Autobots struggle to get to this battle, Especially as it sounded a lot of innocent humans were in danger.
Ever since Spike, Sparkplug and Carly had gifted that huge teddy to Icefire, he'd become very friendly with them. Icefire was surprisingly good with them, seemingly knowing he couldn't be rough. He hoped Icefire would grow up loving all things organic like he did.
Well, he hoped Icefire loved all kinds of life in general. He didn't want him ending up as a bitter Decepticon.
"Thanks Ironhide," he now said to the red Mech before turning to Optimus.
"Megatron will probably wonder why I don't help you in any case, so I'm defiantly going."
And go he did, with most of the Autobots inside him with a few taking up the rear on the road. They had also brought the Arielbots to provide cover while Skyfire landed and unloaded his passengers.
Skyfire flew them all the way and somehow made it to the ground without being shot down. It was easy, they were being fired upon by all sides. The Autobots all scattered, rushing off to personally engage the Autobots.
Skyfire ducked between some rocks before scoping out the plant.
It looked very badly damaged, this would take a lot of work. But what drew his optics were the humans huddling for cover as they tried to avoid being blasted or stepped on. He had to do something, he had to get them out of here.
But as he started towards them, something happened that stopped him dead and froze his Spark with horror.
It was Starscream, laughing as he rained fire down on the Autobots. Skyfire felt sick as he saw this, how could he do this to those who had been so kind to him? But that wasn't what shocked him the most, what happened next was.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Starscream sneered as he ripped away a collapsed door to find four humans under it.
They tried to run but he simply shot up the ground around them, causing them to fall back down, screaming. Starscream laughed before swooping down and grabbing one in his claws. Squeezing the poor human, he said maliciously.
"My, you're all so filthy, the lot of you. Maybe a little dip will clean you."
And he raised his arm, preparing to propel the human off the high cliff and into the churning water below. And that's when Skyfire saw red.
One moment, Starscream was about to throw, the next, he found his arm in a painful, vice like grip. Squawking with pain, he turned and to his utter shock, saw Skyfire standing there, a look of fury on his face.
"S-Skyfire?" he began but Skyfire didn't give him a chance to continue.
"Put...the...human...down," Skyfire ordered in a voice of cold fury. "Now!"
Starscream was so shocked, he did as told when Skyfire released his arm. The human quickly run away with his fellows, not wanting to be near these two Goliaths if they started fighting. Starscream was still staring at Skyfire who couldn't speak, he was so angry.
"Skyfire, w-why are you acting like this?" Starscream stuttered, he'd never seen his mate like this.
"How dare you try to hurt these humans," Skyfire hissed, glaring down at Starscream from his full height.
"How dare you play with their lives in so careless a fashion, have you no shame?"
"What are you talking about?" Starscream said, now getting annoyed. "They're just humans, it's not as though I was trying to throw an Autobot away."
"No but you would given half the chance," Skyfire said in frustration, his voice beginning to rise now.
"So what if I did," Starscream snarled back. "They're worthless pieces of scrap who deserve everything we give them."
"They happen to be my friends," Skyfire growled. "Just as I happen to be one of them."
"And why are you one of them, their weak...," Starscream began but Skyfire overrode him with a roar.
"Because I don't believe in murder and pillaging, that's why."
The battle had gone strangely quiet as everyone became aware of the growing storm a few feet away. Even Optimus and Megatron had paused to see what would happen.
"How can you justify what you do, Starscream? You glorify killing and stealing, not to mention torture."
"It is for the good of Cybertron," Starscream screamed back.
"We will build an empire greater than anything this Universe has ever seen and we will never return to the decrepit rotten old ways of the Autobot Council."
"At least they didn't endorse slavery," Skyfire yelled back, looming over Starscream who simply shrieked back.
"Ha, the working class might as well have been slaves for all the rights they had. You, like them, are an utter hypocrite."
"At least I have kept my ideals," Skyfire snarled right back.
"Unlike you who once would never have tortured innocent creatures in such a way. You're worse than the old Council."
"Don't you dare compare me to them, you iced up pile of scrap," Sarscream screeched back.
"Why you pile of slag,"
"Ingrate! Moronic fool!"
"Simpering coward!"
"Your one to talk," Starscream retorted. "You went with those pathetic Bots who just spout slag about peace and love. You make me sick."
"Then that makes two of us," Skyfire roared back. "How did I ever love you when you treat others like this?"
"Search me," Starscream sneered. "Only you would get so worked up about worthless squishies,"
"Now you listen to me," Skyfire hissed so that only Starscream could hear.
"Our son happens to like humans and I will not have him hurt by seeing you treat them like their nothing."
"They are nothing," Starscream hissed before snarling loudly so that everyone could hear.
"And you have no authority to tell me what to do..."
"I am dominant," Skyfire screamed with all his might.
"Good come back," Ironhide muttered to Optimus who was frowning sadly.
"You will do as I say Starscream or you will regret it," Skyfire growled as Starscream actually looked a little fearful.
"If I hear or see you hurting another human ever again, I shall collar you to my berth."
Skyfire then turned on his heel, stormed away. Starscream stood there for a moment, gaping after Starscram. And then.
"Fine, go ahead, run away like you always do," he bawled at the retreated Shuttle.
"See if I care, I hope I never see your worthless hide ever again."
And he turned and transformed before shooting off into the air. A moment later, SKkyfire had done the same thing, except he flew off in the opposite direction.
Both Autobots and Decepticons stared after them, not moving. They were utterly shocked by what had happened. But unbeknownst to any of them, Megatron was doing some serious thinking.
Sure, he was just as surprised as the rest but he couldn't help but think this meant something. Something very important.
And one way or another, he would find out what that was.
Author's note. This...is...Sparta. Hee, I just can't get the image of Skyfire yelling that out of my head now. Oh well. In the next chapter, find out what the aftermath of the fight is. Until then.