Summary: Starscream could be a better 'bot. Jetfire tries to tell him that, but we all know the Air Commander is spiteful and stubborn. (Jetfire and Starscream bro-ship)
"You don't have to do this."
The seeker's red optics flicked up to meet bright blue ones.
"Yes, I do."
"Starscream-"
"Nothing you can say will change my mind, Jetfire. The Decepticons will establish a new order on Cybertron, and you would do well to choose the winning team."
"The Decepticons are killers!" Jetfire took a step forward, grabbing Starscream by the shoulders. "Murderers!"
The seeker brushed off the grip, slipping out of reach. "The Decepticons are willing to do what it takes to get results, unlike the Autobots," he sneered.
Jetfire's optics dimmed slightly, "have you fallen so far?"
Starscream scoffed, "I have simply grown wiser, having been exposed to the true truth by-"
"By a deranged gladiator who extinguishes the sparks of others for sport." Jetfire finished, optics narrowed.
"The events of Lord Megatron's past were simply grooming for the task that lay ahead." Starscream replied, sounding thoroughly disinterested. "He is seeking to eliminate this poisoned council, and lead Cybertron into a new golden age."
"He wants to conquer Cybertron! There will be no free will! We'll all have to follow and suffer punishments by his hands!" Jetfire's optics flashed, "why can't you see that?!"
"The only way to keep order is through conquering," Starscream leered, "and you are a bigger fool than I thought if you don't realize that."
"We're fighting to make the world a better place, Starscream! You can't have order when all are oppressed by a raving mad tyrant!"
"If you believe Lord Megatron to be mad for his tactics and beliefs, then-"
"He's brainwashed you," Jetfire's optics flooded with emotion, and his tanks twisted.
This wasn't Starscream. This couldn't be Starscream.
"I have merely been enlightened, my dear Jetfire. Lord Megatron has shown me the future-"
"If you think this will end well for you, you're wrong." He frowned, "you're better than this, Starscream!"
"No," the seeker responded. "I'm sure this will go precisely the way I intend."
The Autobot turned away in disgust, "then for your sake, I hope it does."
"Ah, we meet again, Jetfire."
"We don't have to fight, Starscream."
Starscream snorted, "not fight? My dear Jetfire, we are in the middle of a battle." He gestured widely.
Although the mechs around them were clashing together in a mad frenzy for bloodshed, time seemed to slow down around them, like they were standing in a time bubble.
"You can help us! It's not too late!" Jetfire pleaded.
"I made my decision, Jetfire, and you did as well." Starscream replied, crossing his arms.
Jetfire opened his mouth to reply, but paused as he raised a servo to his helm to accept a communication. His optics dimmed as he listened to the orders, hesitantly lowering his hand.
"Duty calls," purred Starscream. "Run away, while you still have forces to run away with."
Jetfire turned away, "you could be better than this, Starscream. There's no need for more death." He threw these parting words over his shoulder, swiftly transforming into his alt-mode and jetting away.
"You're wrong," Starscream muttered, watching as his form slowly shrank into the distance.
His blood red optics narrowed as he stared distastefully at the rising plume of blue striped smoke of the resulting energon explosion.
At the very least, they wouldn't be leaving empty handed.
You're better than this.
"The energon, it's worthless to me now." A low growl of annoyance built up in his vocalizer, either from the loss of a potential fueling source, or from the reminder of the words of someone he no longer associated with.
No matter, he thought to himself, there are still various other locations, and this is but a minor inconvenience.
His helm tilted to the side as he heard the whooshing of the lift as it emerged with two vehicons and the Autobot known as Cliffjumper.
Fortunately, the one who caused the minor inconvenience won't be around for much longer. He turned around, watching as they dragged the Autobot to him, throwing Cliffjumper forward slightly, jolting his body.
"'Scream, it's been a while," he coughed, energon spilling from his lips, landing on the ramp with a barely audible splash. "So, where's your master?"
His wings hiked up on his indignation, a surge of rage causing his vision to glare as red as the color of his own optics.
"Never mind him. I am my own master." His claws drew back, ready to strike.
There's no need for more death.
You're wrong, he thought, and I will make each and every one of your precious Autobot friends feel my wrath so that you will finally learn.
His arm shot forward in a blur of motion.
He allowed himself a smirk of triumph as he heard the Autobot cry out.
His smirk deepened, almost in a crazed fashion, as he saw a flash of shock, perhaps fear in the Autobot's optics as his talons dug deep into Cliffjumper's chest.
"Any more questions?" He sneered, leaning in close.
Cliffjumper groaned, mouth agape as he lowered his unfocused gaze, trying to look at the area Starscream had chosen to damage. He watched as his own energon dripped and bubbled out of the wound.
Watched as it stained the flooring.
Watched as Starscream ripped his knife-like servos out of his chassis.
His optics dimmed, warnings flashing up on his H.U.D.
He felt his spark shrinking, systems shutting down one after the other.
I'm sorry, 'Cee. Take care of the 'bots for me, would you?
He pitched forward, landing with a crash on the ship's bridge.
The Autobot known as Cliffjumper was no more.
The feeling of triumph didn't last as long as he wanted, or as he had hoped it would.
"Clean that up," Starscream ordered, waving a servo at the corpse.
You could be better than this…
He shook his helm.
Oh, how wrong Jetfire was. If only he could see him now...
"Starscream?"
The seeker raised his helm to gaze at the assembly gathered above him.
Despite himself, his spark seemed to stall momentarily as his audio receptors registered who had spoken and sat directly ahead of him. "Ah, Jetfire," it was a poor attempt at a cool, collected composure.
"What do you plead?" A councilman interrupted, shooting Jetfire a look, who ignored it.
"Guilty," his mouth plates peeled back to reveal sharp dentae in a predatory smile.
"Let's review the evidence of your crimes. The data was collected from your cortical psychic patch as well as video feed from the Decepticon warship The Nemesis, a ship that I'm sure you are familiar with."
"Yes," replied the seeker impatiently. "I would say I'm familiar with that particular vessel."
The councilman ignored him, activating the video feed, supplying his own commentary of which Starscream tuned out.
His optics were focused on the white and red seeker staring at the video with an increasingly horrified expression.
He wasn't sure of the questions asked of him which he answered with an indifferent air, or the debate of his sentence occurring around him. His optics were pinned on Jetfire, who refused to meet his gaze.
"Well?" Boomed a high ranking official of whom Starscream neither cared about nor knew. "What do you have to say for yourself, murderer?!"
Starscream glanced over dismissively, before returning his gaze to Jetfire.
"I know someone who thought I could be better than I am," he began, watching as Jetfire jerked, startled.
Blue optics met red.
"But they were wrong," Starscream broke the optic contact, staring defiantly at the councilmen around him in turn. "So condemn me."
"Very well. Starscream, former Air Commander of the Energon Seekers and former second-in-command to the Decepticon Army, you have received the penalty of life imprisonment in a solitary cell. Count yourself lucky that you escaped the death penalty, and are even permitted to have visitors."
Not the sentence he deserved, but he saw Jetfire sag with relief.
As the security escorted him out of the chamber to his new cell, Starscream couldn't help but wonder if his former friend had a hand in the light sentence.
His processor flashed backwards, to a conversation that he thought he had long forgotten.
No, I'm sure this will go precisely the way I intend.
Then for your sake, I hope it does.
Perhaps it had, and he wondered how this sentence would affect his future.
Background info universe wise for this chapter: I wrote this as a mashup of TFP and RID15.
I mentally picked Jetfire's voice to be his WFC 'cuz, ya know, the accent and I've never really written him before so this was a fun venture. And 'Screamer's just got his TFP/RID15 voice because I freakin' love Steve Blum's voice acting.
So, what'd you guys think about this chapter? Good, bad, somewhere in between?
Lemme know!
As always, requests are open!
I'm currently working on a request by coolgirl5912 from Ao3 that will be a sequel to RID: Small spaces. Our little Sunshine boy is gonna make an appearance, because who doesn't love writing Lambo twin angst/fluff?
Sorry this is a day late, by the way! I got wrapped up in school work and didn't get a chance to edit/post until today!
Psst.. Special thanks to slyside for the review! Good luck with those little hellions, dear, and remember to get some rest!
~The Queen of Blades