Cliffjumper thought that leading Starscream elsewhere would help alleviate the stress of all that had happened. Once they were outside and far from the Nemesis, he calmed down as expected. Starscream went quiet and stroked himself, radiating relief and an air of peacefulness that Cliffjumper mistook to be acceptance of death.

"Do you want to depart with me to the Allspark?"

Starscream did not snap at him, but still there was a firmness in his voice.

"No… Not now. I can still interact with this world, so perhaps I ought to stay for a while."

"It isn't the same as living," Cliffjumper mumbled.

"I know." Starscream rested his chin onto his knees. "I did not wish to stay to entertain a dream. I thought that I might be able to help the others and make up for what I have done. Then… I will go when light shines upon their memory of me."

"I will wait for you, Starscream. Until you are ready."

Starscream turned his head to him. "Thank you."

"You know, that's what Skyquake did for Dreadwing," Cliffjumper said. "He wanted to wait for however long it would take until Dreadwing passed. Poor guy, Skyquake. I mean, he always grumbled to me how he hated you. But it was sad. Dreadwing believed Skyquake had already joined the Allspark, but Skyquake was always there. And then, Dreadwing died much sooner than anyone expected."

"They must have hated me."

"Ohhh yes. So much. But it's alright, Starscream. Time goes on."

"I would have tried to do something if they were still alive."

Cliffjumper prodded him to lighten the mood. "There were a lot of grouchy vehicons too, after Autobots killed them."

"Does everyone leave so swiftly?" Starscream nearly interrupted, the question slipping out of him. Then, his expression dropped with melancholy.

"Usually," Cliffjumper replied slowly. "Yes… They feel the Allspark and want its comfort. Makeshift left quickly, all the vehicons, but Breakdown stayed for a little while. He wanted to watch everyone, but then… it hurt him too much to not be a part of anything anymore. He joined the Allspark just before the Autobot base was blown up."

"So he saw the human using his body."

"Yeah… That was horrifying for him too."

Starscream sighed, "It is fortunate that he did not see how I changed his corpse into an energon-sucking Terrorcon." Then he jolted. "Cliffjumper, you saw your animated… I am so sorry. It was my fault."

"Don't worry about it anymore," he repeated. "It's in the past."

"It must have been horrible to see yourself become that thing."

Cliffjumper pressed him casually, but when the sparks touched, Starscream could feel that Cliffjumper was truly not bothered anymore.

"Death is almost always horrible," Cliffjumper said. "Even you saw yourself in a terrible state."

Starscream sank down. "Did you ever see anyone else?"

"Let's see..." Cliffjumper looked up. "Insecticons? Very angry. Tried to keep attacking those that killed them."

"Hmm," Starscream replied. "Did you ever see Soundwave?"

"Soundwave? Nope. What makes you think he is dead?"

"Well, he has not been around. If he survived the final battle, and the Autobots did not imprison him… then where is he? Had he escaped, he would have sought me and Shockwave. Soundwave certainly would have made an appearance now, doing all that he could to avenge Megatron and take over that warship."

"That is a fair point. But if Soundwave died, the Autobots would have mentioned it by now too, don't you think?"

"That is true." Starscream's eyes brightened with a growing idea. "Soundwave is probably alive, somewhere. On Earth? I don't know, but he is important to Megatron... Perhaps if I find him, I could make up for some of what I have done to Megatron."

"Now there's an idea!"

Starscream stood up. "One of those Autobots must have seen him during the fight. Maybe they have an idea of what happened to him?"

Cliffjumper nodded encouragingly.

"Hold on," Starscream gasped. "On Earth… On Earth, there are still hundreds of vehicon miners! They've been forgotten, but they are still in those mines, all recorded on the Nemesis. They are probably still alive, but they won't be once they run out of energon. With the Nemesis back in the air, I could prompt the Autobots to pick them up and bring them here. I could make amends with the vehicons I haunted."

He started pacing with excitement.

"And that would double the work force!"

"Look at you go," Cliffjumper laughed, "when you put your clever mind into doing some good."

Starscream halted and stared at him.

"What?" Cliffjumper blinked.

"I have just thought of something else I could do."

Cliffjumper waved at him. "Well, go on then and say it! I'm dying to know."

Starscream rubbed his hands together, then told him.

Starscream felt too embarrassed to appear before the Autobots as a whole so soon after terrorizing them. Yet if there was one of them he could go to, it was Arcee. He waited for the awkward hours to pass as everyone realized that Starscream's reign of terror was over and that life could resume. Unicron and the relics were locked up in the vault onboard. They sent the vehicons home and the Aerialbots with them, then flew the warship back and searched for any poor, new Cybertronians who might have been forged during the chaos. There was one, who they immediately passed on to the developing city of New Spark.

Then, the Decepticon refugees who had flown in earlier had needed some explaining. They had been hanging in Kaon and when no one showed up to lead them to work, they had lazed about smoking. The Autobots said that they encountered some "problems", but Starscream knew that vehicon gossip would eventually reach every bot on Cybertron. Overtime, the world would know of his power, but how he would be remembered might depend on what he did now.

Injuries were patched up, but Megatron was returned to the med bay to stay. Shockwave stuck around from Riplaw's plea for his scientific help, and the Predacons had apparently missed him. When they fell asleep, however, he walked around the Nemesis, stealing tools and supplies for himself by using the remote-control groundbridge.

Starscream had been waiting for the exhausted Autobots to go to sleep. Once they had, he bent over Arcee's body, grasped Cliffjumper's arm, then reached for her spark.

Starscream's voice came into the dream. "Arcee?"

She turned and the scene faded to the dull grey of a normal Cybertronian environment. Regardless, it was a setting of blossoming joy when she saw Cliffjumper at Starscream's side.

"Hey, 'Cee." Cliffjumper smiled and his eyes twinkled. "Nice to finally say 'hi'."

"Cliff?" she gasped. "Is that you?"

Starscream faded himself out of sight, but he was naturally still there in the fabric of the dreamscape, watching. There was no other way for Cliffjumper to be here otherwise, connected with his spark now as he was. Arcee bounded into Cliffjumper's arms, the words gushing out.

"Are you real? Is it you?"

"It is, of course it is. I've been waiting," Cliffjumper answered. "But I couldn't talk to you until Starscream helped bring me here."

"Starscream?" Her voice grew sluggish. "Starscream brought you…"

Both Starscream and Cliffjumper were expelled from the dream when Arcee became too aware.

"Scrap!" Starscream gasped.

He should have known better. How could a reunion and talk occur without Arcee becoming too conscious? Now, she sat up in the berth and blinked, looking around. There had to be something he could do for her, but others slept around Arcee, so he did not want to speak and wake them.

Near the door in the dim light, Arcee saw a silhouette and the glow of red eyes. The other day, this would have terrified her, and even now there was a prick of fear despite her trust in him. After the eye contact, however, the red lights turned to the side and the figure strolled through the door.

Arcee slipped out of the berth and padded into the hall after Starscream. Ahead, she could see him walking with almost the full colours and solidity of a living bot. Starscream glanced back, then kept moving on without making a sound. He found them an empty hall out of earshot, then turned to her.

"Cliffjumper is with me," Starscream murmured. "He has always been among us, even if you cannot perceive him."

"Right now?" Her eyes widened with emotion.

Starscream exhaled, understanding that joy and pain would come to these two, and that he was the cause of it all. He replied in a weak voice, "He is beside me."

Starscream tilted his head left to where Cliffjumper stood and clasped his hands tightly.

"If you wish to speak," Starscream concluded, "then I will tell you all that he says."

Immediately, she burst out, "Cliffjumper?"

Starscream glanced at Cliffjumper, hoping that he would say things to verify that it was him, that Starscream just wasn't fooling Arcee. In an instant, she might think Starscream was trying to be kind, but that Cliffjumper was not really there at all. Thankfully, the Autobot understood and nodded at Starscream.

Starscream stared at the empty air. "He says… he has another story for you."

It should have been expected that a free conversation between the two would have been long-winded. Cliffjumper rambled on, forcing Starscream to interpret countless sentences of random fun, but in the end, Starscream realized that it was better this way. It was not Cliffjumper's intention to be soppy, because that would just hurt Arcee, so he changed the direction and let them have this time together when neither had imagined they ever would again.

Starscream noticed how quickly he was forgotten despite being the interpreter, but he accepted it. Meekly lowering his head, he voiced the stories and the jokes, and he believed that Arcee heard Cliffjumper's voice although it was Starscream's own. The way she stared at the spot with such care almost made it seem like she could see him. Cliffjumper too seemed to have forgotten Starscream, staring into Arcee's eyes without any side glances at him.

I am doing a good thing, he thought, and yet, it hurt so much. Uniting them, Starscream now saw how pure a friendship could be and understood that he had never had this. Even he could not go to Knockout and expect this joy and love- this was the sort of thing that had to be built with time and kindness in life. Yet for the sake of Arcee and Cliffjumper, he swallowed back his pain and copied the chippiness of Cliffjumper's dialogue.

Starscream stood although he was exhausted, speaking through the hours. His eyes gazed past Arcee, unfocused, then he blinked when Cliffjumper asked a question, he interpreted it, but there followed silence.

"Do you think we could do this again?"

Starscream refocused and noticed both were looking at him.

"Hmm? Oh! Well, I don't see any reason why not. I will still be around for a bit longer…"

Arcee now regarded Starscream instead of the space beside him. "When will you go to the Allspark?"

He shrugged and murmured, "I wanted to stay until I could redeem myself. With my power, I could serve you."

Arcee answered gently, "If you wish to go, don't hold back."

"No, I want to stay. There are a few things I could do, but I will need your help."

"What is it?"

"For one, could you fly to Earth with the Nemesis? I recalled all the vehicons stranded there… The active mines are logged, so you can find them and bring them here."

"The miners… we forgot about them." She nodded quickly. "Yes, we can get on that in the morning. What else?"

"Do you, by any chance, have any idea of what has become of Soundwave?"

"Soundwave…" Arcee looked up as she thought. "I am not sure. I heard that the children took care of him."

"Those humans?" Starscream furrowed his brows. "And what exactly, did they do?"

Arcee shrugged. "To be honest, so much was going on that I forgot to ask, and then, I forgot entirely when we came home. Raf likely teleported him to the Arctic."

Starscream snorted. "Soundwave just would have teleported himself back. They must have done something else."

"So you want to find him? Well then, I could easily just ask them for you."

"Yes, thank you. I believe that Soundwave will support Megatron's choice and cease to be your enemy. But I wish to do this for Megatron, you see… It is the only thing I can give him."

"When we go to Earth, I'll get in touch with the children and find out for you."

Starscream thanked her again.

Arcee glanced back to Cliffjumper. "I missed talking to you, Cliff. And it means a lot to me just to know that you were there, that you could hear everything I said. I had always hoped that you could."

"And I can't wait to talk to you again, 'Cee," Cliffjumper, then Starscream, replied. "I'm glad that we could. Just this one time means everything to me."

Arcee said, "Thank you, Starscream."

Cliffjumper also thanked him, and to receive the credit warmed Starscream and let him know that they had not truly ignored him.

Everyone said their goodbyes, then Starscream vanished from sight at last, sighing when he could relax. He followed her into the hall, then rounded the corner to be surprised with her at the sight of Bumblebee and Smokescreen.

"Sorry!" Smokescreen stammered. "We heard the door open when you left…"

"Oh, so you were there the whole time?" she answered, but not with anger.

"We were," Bumblebee admitted. "When you started talking to Cliffjumper… I just could not leave. I knew it was him; I could hear him in the way he spoke… I missed him too."

"I couldn't tear myself away," Smokescreen sighed. "I never got to meet the guy, and I always wished I had gotten to know him like you guys. When I listened, I felt I got to know what he was like."

Arcee dropped tired shoulders and smiled at them. "Then perhaps, everyone should come next time. So we can all talk to him."

To Cliffjumper, not me, Starscream thought, but he felt content that he could do something for the Autobots.

When morning came, everyone gathered at the front apart from Megatron, who was resting. They had expected that something related to Starscream had happened, then found their instincts right when Arcee described her visit. Hearing about Cliffjumper made the other Autobots overjoyed, then everyone agreed to follow Starscream's suggestions.

The former Decepticons and Predacons went away so that they would not cause distraction, with Knockout to Megatron while the Predacons and Shockwave opted to leave. Starscream wondered if they would discuss cloning more Predacons, but he stayed with the Autobots unseen as they traveled to Earth. There, they contacted the humans then teleported the three to their location.

At the sight of them, Starscream grimaced in disgust.

"Humans aren't that bad, 'Screamer," Cliffjumper laughed.

"I will never like the vermin."

"Yesh, that's harsh, judging their race like that. Didn't you have that attitude about the Predacons before?"

Starscream glanced at him. "What makes you think that I like the Predacons now?"

Cliffjumper blinked. "But…"

"I am not going to kill them," Starscream muttered. "But I certainly do not like them."

Cliffjumper shuffled his feet. "I suppose that is good enough… Those three hurt you so much, and yet… I hope you don't despise the entire race. Ripclaw was so kind to you."

To his relief, Starscream nodded. "Yes… That Predacon is different than the others."

"She is still a Predacon," Cliffjumper said. "If there were more Predacons, maybe you would see that others could be just as naturally kind as her."

"Perhaps."

Starscream dropped the subject as the humans and Autobots got over their excitement and down to business.

Arcee looked to Raf and asked him, "We remember at the battle for the new Omega Lock, you had a plan to take care of Soundwave. We knew you succeeded, but we never learned what that plan was."

The young human explained that they had spawned another portal to transport Soundwave into another dimension. Once Starscream heard of this, he cried to Cliffjumper, "What? He has been left in another dimension, where he can touch nothing at all- how inconsiderate are these humans? He will die there, and Lazerbeak as well!"

The Nemesis was currently on route to the nearest energon mine. Starscream quivered in desperation when he noticed that the Autobots had not realized the urgency. He wanted to appear and call out, but he imagined Miko getting excited about his spirit, being generally annoying as she tried to touch him and cried all kinds of questions.

But we have to start searching for Soundwave now. Someone has to go after him… I will go.

Starscream went behind the door, solidified himself the best that he could, then pressed the button. He strolled inside and cleared his throat, trying the best he could to look like a living bot across the catwalk.

The humans snapped their heads back and the Autobots jolted behind them. Starscream tried to appear collected as though he belonged there, stifling his embarrassment to be back before them all so soon. All the blue eyes felt like they were burning him, so he rushed, "Send me into the alternate dimension. I can travel the fastest. I will find Soundwave."

Miko shouted, "What? What is he doing here? Is he with you? When did this happen?"

Shut up, shut up. Starscream shot her a glare.

To see anger on the phantom's face made Bulkhead nervous. He hurried forward and blocked Miko's path with a hand just as she started to jog to Starscream in interest.

"Leave him be…" Bulkhead rumbled, but his worried tone made Jack glance back at Starscream. Something was not right; he could tell. For some reason, Starscream was here acting like an Autobot, but the others seemed afraid of him although they never had been in the past.

Arcee answered him, "Alright."

I'm trusting you, Starscream replied through his gaze. Don't trap me in that dimension, Autobot.

Her eyes replied that he would be alright.

Thank Primus they are Autobots, he thought. They actually wanted to help Soundwave, and they would not imprison Starscream now even though it would guarantee their safety from him.

"We will open a portal every joor," Arcee said. "By the spacebridge. How does that sound?"

"Good, but we must get to it," Starscream uttered. "Soundwave needs energon, if it is not already too late."

Now the eyes of the Autobots widened as they finally understood the predicament.

Ultra Magnus stopped the ship and opened two portals outside so that everyone would be safe from its draw. Starscream exited the room as a living bot would, then was glad when the doors shut and the humans could not longer gawk at him. Then, he hurried outside and shot toward the portals that opened behind the ship.

A strange feeling gripped him the moment he flew through the third portal in the middle. As the spark entered another dimension, his body felt like living, angry static. His appearance blurred and fuzzed, screaming at the wrongness of being here. Starscream gasped and glanced at the portal, wondering if he would have to race back before he was destroyed.

However, he was not in pain and he was still intact. As uncomfortable as he felt, he would be fine. Starscream sighed, tapped his chin, and wondered where to start looking.

What if he is on Cybertron instead of Earth? he worried. No, probably not lying around on Cybertron. Maybe on the ship? Yes, he might have been here the whole time, watching everything transpire.

While Starscream zipped through the Nemesis calling his name, he was amused. Starscream had been the unseen spirit, but he never imagined it possible that there could be someone else, invisible to even him. However, after he rushed through every room in the warship without finding Soundwave, Starscream was no longer amused and now only worried.

Where do I look now?

Starscream stood and tried to think of what Soundwave would do.

Let's see… he would have been on the warship during the fight. He would have watched us, when Megatron died, and when the Autobots flew back to Cybertron. So maybe he did return to Cybertron to see what they would do… Oh but, why would he wander off the ship? Why not stay here?

"Was there really no way for him to connect with the warship? He couldn't have made two new portals for himself and walked out?"

Those humans know about the dimension because they seem to have been in it. How did the Autobots find them? Did they contact them somehow?

Starscream felt almost sure that Soundwave could have done something to get out. Maybe he already had and no one knew it- no, if he were out, then he would have showed up by now!

It did not add up. If the humans got out, that meant that they were somehow able to call for help. Now, there was no way that they were more creative than Soundwave. Soundwave would have contacted them… if he could.

What if… he did not follow the warship to Cybertron. If he was on Earth, then he would have been far from the warship… unable to create portals through the commands.

Soundwave might have been… stranded here.

Oh.

Soundwave… went after Megatron's body. And then everyone flew away.

Starscream then grabbed himself in horror.

"Megatron fell into the ocean… If Soundwave is down there, I will never be able to find him!"

No, wait. If Soundwave was with Megatron, he should have seen Megatron rise again. He would have tried to follow him… But Megatron must have teleported or gone at a sonic speed to get to Cybertron as fast as he did. Soundwave would not have been able to keep up.

"So if not the ocean… then where?"

Where would Soundwave go? Would he wait? Yes! He would want the warship to come back so he could try to use the commands to create portals. And the best place to find the warship would be the spacebridge!

Starscream dashed up through the sky, harmlessly zipping through the atmosphere.

But then… he thought as he flew. Why wasn't Soundwave on board even though the warship just flew right through the spacebridge? If he were waiting, he should have seen…

Dread filled his spark as he came closer to the currently quiet spacebridge on the dark side of the moon. If Soundwave was not around now, then this could mean that they were too late. Starscream did not want to think it, that Soundwave might just be lying dead somewhere because no one came back in time for him to save himself. Such news he did not want to return with.

Starscream anxiously looked around himself, afraid of what he would find. It did not take him long, flying over the dark side of the moon before he located a dark shape, lying over the surface to face the spacebridge.

Soundwave… It's Soundwave…

Starscream landed and knelt at his side. His fuzzy fingers waved over the dark visor, begging for a reaction. However, there was none. Soundwave was not aware of him and did not rise, just as he had not been aware of the spacebridge portal opening at last.

He had waited too long.

"No, come on." Starscream found himself choking. It was not just about losing his chance to make up with Megatron, but a feeling of personal loss within him. He had known Soundwave for so long and had never imagined him dead.

Starscream took his shoulders and shook him, but Soundwave flopped without stirring to life.

"You cannot be…"

Starscream tried to check his pulse, but he was unable to feel things even if he could touch them.

Soundwave…

He shook him again and called his name.

He was not bad… Soundwave never really hurt me. He ratted me out to Megatron, but he was loyal. He was never cruel…

"Soundwave."

Maybe his spirit has already gone to the Allspark… It got out of here, leaving behind this-

No, Soundwave can't be…

Soundwave still did not move; Lazerbeak lay immobile in his chest.

Starscream stopped shaking him and his arms fell limp at his sides.

So this is it… Soundwave is dead. And now… I have to tell them.

He did not think he would have the strength to carry the body up to the spacebridge, so someone else would have to collect him. Starscream lay back and whined, forced now to wait for the portal to take him back. Although he felt no temperature, his spark felt chilled to lie with Soundwave's body and stare up toward the spacebridge he had watched until death.

It would not be too long, and when the portal back opened, he reluctantly soared through it and left Soundwave behind. Starscream was glad that the humans were gone, but it was ever the more difficult to make his report.

"Soundwave is… offline," he murmured. "I found his body on the moon, facing the spacebridge."

There was a slow and distraught inhale from the Autobots.

"No," Bumblebee whispered. "This is our fault, all our fault… We should have remembered him."

The horrified and grieved Autobots took it upon themselves to quickly retrieve his body. With Starscream's help, they shot portals closer and closer until Bulkhead came out right beside Soundwave. Then at last, the cold bot was collected, cradled like fragile bones in Bulkhead's arms back through the portal.

Ratchet hurried up to Bulkhead. "Let me see."

The doctor had been quiet during the report of Soundwave's death. Now, something bright remained in his eyes as he approached Soundwave, but Starscream did not realize it was hope at first. His scanner passed over Soundwave from head to feet and back, and Bulkhead murmured, "How long has he-"

"Soundwave is not dead!" Ratchet proclaimed. "He is in emergency stasis lock."

"What?" everyone gasped.

"He requires energon, now!"

All was understood. The Autobots stampeded toward the med bay, and while Ratchet ran into the room with Megatron, Bulkhead placed Soundwave down on a berth in the adjacent room. Soon after, Ratchet wheeled in two energon drips with Knockout trailing him and asking questions.

"What happened? Who was hurt-" Then, Knockout entered the room with him and saw. "Soundwave! Oh my, it's Soundwave!"

Ratchet stabbed the needle into Soundwave chest beside his neck, deciding that his arms were too thin. Then, he jabbed the other drip into Lazerbeak, so that now, a steady flow of energon trickled into their deprived bodies.

"There," Ratchet sighed, at last explaining, "Stasis lock is the natural last resort for energon-deprived bots to save energy. Soundwave would have only awoken on the verge of death to seek out energon, but he was otherwise waiting to be aided. He should come around soon."

Bumblebee added, "The vehicon miners need to be rescued, before they end up the same way."

Arcee snapped to attention, running back to pilot the ship to Earth and their next destination. Ultra Magnus walked out after her, but the other Autobots were too excited to see Soundwave recover, so they remained ringed around him.

At that time, Starscream stepped through the wall into Megatron's room. There was no one left guarding him, and Starscream noticed him clench up as he approached.

"What is happening?" Megatron rumbled, trying to hide his fear.

Before, Starscream had been delighted that Megatron had grown afraid of him. Now, however, guilt flooded him. Torturing Megatron had resolved most of the pain for all that Megatron had done to him, but Starscream did not want this distrust and hate to remain after he departed. Especially since Megatron could easily pass his feelings to future generations of Cybertronians so that everyone would be glad when Starscream was gone.

"I am not here to hurt you," Starscream murmured, flashing his eyes to the side. "I swear to you… I came to make amends."

Megatron blinked back.

"I found Soundwave for you," he carried on softly. "He was trapped in another dimension, almost starved to death. I rescued him. He is in the room beside yours… I hope, I was hoping that… it would please you…"

"Thank you, Starscream."

Starscream nervously glanced back at him then noticed genuine gratitude on his face. Never in his time as a Decepticon had he done something for Megatron that had made him look so relieved. Sometimes, a devious plan made him grin, but this was sparkfelt. Megatron's face was soft like a normal bot's, and not at all like a tyrant's or even a former tyrant's.

Like one of the Autobot's.

Megatron sat up and swung his legs over the berth. Starscream gasped as Megatron set himself on his injured legs and limped forward, grabbing everything that he could. Hugging the wall, he fought for every inch until he made it to the adjacent room. His appearance startled the Autobots, but they made a path for him when they realized what he had come for.

Soundwave was just coming to. Lazerbeak had recovered first and popped out of his chest to now wait and lie over him with wings outstretched. Already, Soundwave's fingers and legs were twitching; Megatron stepped away from the door and immediately crumpled. Starscream stared when Bulkhead caught him, then allowed Megatron to lean against him to get to Soundwave's berth.

By the Allspark… Starscream thought while watching them.

Soundwave lifted his head, and Starscream disappeared in a flash. His wings dropped down as Soundwave sat up, glancing around with groggy turns of his head. He noticed Megatron, then the energon drip, then Megatron again and his different appearance. The way he jolted indicated that he was surprised and gaining consciousness. Now, he turned his head and took in all the Autobots and Knockout staring at him.

Starscream shook and watched Megatron reassure Soundwave that he was alright now. Then, a hand fell over Starscream's shoulder- a warm one that he could feel. Cliffjumper, who he had forgotten was there, now murmured to him, "'Scream, what's wrong?"

Holding onto his own arm, Starscream choked, "I swear that I am happy for them. I swear, I really am-"

"Okay, okay, I believe you. But… no, what is upsetting you then?"

"Just… seeing them. It is like Megatron is just one of them now, an Autobot. And everyone is so happy for Soundwave, even though he has not done anything for them yet…"

"Oh, Starscream…" Cliffjumper started to understand before he said it.

"I want to be on that berth, Cliffjumper," Starscream whispered. "I want them to take care of me like that. But I don't ever think any of them would have been so happy to have rescued me. Look at Megatron… He never… would have cared about me like that. I know I was not loyal, but… but there is no one who would have…"

Cliffjumper turned him away and hugged him to his chest. He wanted to say his usual words of comfort, that everything would be okay and that time moved on and bots forgave… but none of those words fit this situation because Starscream was right. He had no one who would have loved him like this, thus Cliffjumper felt incredibly sorry for Starscream. Because even though Starscream felt that these arms wanted to comfort him, as a bot, Starscream was not loved or even liked by Cliffjumper.

And while touching Cliffjumper's spark, Starscream could also hear his thoughts, although Cliffjumper had not meant to share them.

He needs to join the Allspark. Clinging to this life will bring him too much pain, and he needs a new one so that he can finally experience this.

Starscream shot away from him, feeling as though his spark was being torn in all directions now by emotions.

"No!" he cried. "That is not fair- I cannot leave. I cannot have lived my entire life and then disappear forever, without this life ever experiencing that."

He pointed back at the celebration without looking. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he knew that there was no helping it. Like he had realized at Cliffjumper and Arcee's reunion, true friendship was built over a long time and many bonding memories. Starscream felt sure that because of his past and his reign of terror as a spirit, no one would be willing to develop a relationship with him. And a spirit could not be cared for like Soundwave. No one could fuss over his health, worry if he was hurt, and if someone even wanted to hug Starscream again… he would never feel their touch.

Cliffjumper's eyes were round in concern when Starscream went dead silent.

"Fine…" he murmured.

"What?" Cliffjumper said.

Starscream squeezed his eyes shut as more misty tears sprang from the corners.

"I said fine. I will go to the Allspark with you, Cliffjumper. I can see that I will never be happy here! This life is doomed to misery, and there is nothing I can do. I just want to know what happiness is. I will forget how I suffered and all the bad that I did in the Allspark. I do not want to be Starscream anymore."

Starscream snapped away; Cliffjumper grabbed him.

"Now? But Starscream, if you are sure, don't you want to say goodbye?"

"To whom? They essentially said their farewells the other day and urged me to join the Allspark. 'For my own good'. They do not want me here. And… what does it matter if I am remembered favourably or not? In the next life that I may have, I will not care anymore about Starscream! I should not care now when I will just forget someday."

"Everyone just wants you to find peace now," Cliffjumper murmured. "I see that you are very upset… and I don't want to hurt you by saying this, but maybe it is best that you join the Allspark. This suffering is too much for any spark to bear."

Starscream could not answer.

"I will be right beside you."

Then, Starscream murmured. "You need to say goodbye."

Cliffjumper paused.

"I am going." Starscream spun to face him. "But not right now. I will help you say goodbye, and then we will go."

Cliffjumper gasped, and then his face flooded with emotion. He dove into Starscream and squeezed him.

"Thank you, Starscream, thank you so much…"

Starscream was quiet again.

"You know." Cliffjumper patted his back. "You… are good, Starscream, and I think the others will know it now. I think you will be remembered in a good way."

The pain in his spark eased a little when Cliffjumper said this. Starscream's shoulders sank and he sighed, "I suppose it would not be fair to rush you just after swearing that you could meet with the others. You need more time to say all that you wish to. So, perhaps… five more meetings? Ten?"

"Wow, thank you, 'Scream. That is very nice of you, but ten might be too much for you. Five works. That will be plenty of time."

Starscream flicked his eyes back to Megatron and Soundwave, felt the clenching of his spark, then padded away. It would be hard to survive several more days with this decision weighing over him, the fear of finality and the unknown. Had it not been for Cliffjumper, he would have already dashed to the Well of Allsparks and thrown himself in to spare himself from the agony.

"Where are you going?" Cliffjumper followed in behind him.

"I want to see a few things again…" Starscream looked to the ceiling. "Although… I suppose there is no point, is there? Since I will ultimately forget."

"Let's go look," Cliffjumper cut in with enthusiasm.

Starscream shrugged and peeked behind them down the hall. Cliffjumper saw him frown when he saw no one searching for him after he had left.

"Well, if you don't mind me coming with," added Cliffjumper.

Starscream gave no answer, but he had not shoved him away. In the end, they travelled to the ruins of Vos and sat in the ashes, watching the shifting light. There, Cliffjumper stayed respectfully silent while Starscream drowned in memories.

All the vehicons on Earth had been happily returned to Cybertron, where they joined their brethren. The Autobots had tried to inform them that this had been Starscream's idea, but the vehicons had not truly listened, or perhaps, they had not been able to believe it. This disappointment was forgotten at least, in the distraction of Starscream's visitors and the Cliffjumper meeting hours.

The first visitors had been the four Predacons, who asked the Autobots if Starscream was still here. Smokescreen had replied, "Oh, he's probably hanging around here somewhere, I'm sure."

Since Starscream had seen the Predacons and followed them, he had been standing in the room unseen. After Smokescreen's words, Starscream faded into sight and unintentionally made them jump out of their metal.

"Starscream," Predaking rumbled after settling down.

The events of his capture and the after made Starscream tingle with embarrassment. Already, he regretted showing himself. He did not know how to greet Predaking back, since it felt unnatural to be polite to one's brutal murderer. There was no summoning up the energy even for insincere politeness, but Starscream wanted to know what they had come to say.

Predaking said, "Again, I only wish I could make up for what I have done."

Starscream glanced away and thought, So they are just here to apologize again?

Predaking noticed his expression and asked, "Are you well today, Starscream?"

He would have scoffed if he had the strength to. Instead, Starscream muttered, "I am fine."

Cliffjumper stared at him with wrinkled brows. "Don't you want to tell them the truth?"

No, Starscream thought. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time. I don't want to even think about it; I cannot bear the pain again.

"Well, Starscream," Ripclaw said, knowing that it was hard for the others to ask. "We know you want to stay around, so perhaps we could spend some time together and get to know each other. And since you can interact with things, we could try to help you feel like things have gone back to normal."

Starscream stared at them until Darksteel shifted in discomfort. Then, he said, "So, you would like me to pretend to be alive."

That was the idea, but they did not understand why he had said it with what sounded like bitterness.

"I am sorry," Predaking replied. "I thought it was what you wanted. We did not mean to offend you."

Ripclaw was perplexed. "Did you not want to stay so that you could continue being yourself here? Since you can be seen, heard, and touch things… you have a unique ability. You can be a special sort of bot that no one can hurt."

Cliffjumper murmured, "Tell them that you are leaving, Starscream."

They will argue with me.

Starscream could still see all the marks he had inflicted on Predaking. Internally he sighed, then faded out of sight. As the Predacons gasped, Cliffjumper scolded him.

"What are you doing?"

Starscream murmured, "I don't want to get into this."

"What? They are trying to be nice to you-"

"They want to become friends with me."

"And that's bad?" Cliffjumper asked.

It is. It is because it is painful and I am leaving soon.

Starscream sighed, "Could you for once… cease arguing with me?"

With wings down and body slumped, Starscream truly looked defeated. Cliffjumper regretted pushing him again, for sometimes it was hard to understand that Starscream's needs were different than his. Autobots often frowned upon selfishness to the point that self-interest was put into the shade. Yet Starscream's self-interest was not evil, it was just to protect himself.

The Predacons looked for him and called, but there was no response. Cliffjumper would never have left them, for they seemed distraught at Starscream's abrupt disappearance.

"I do not understand how you do it," Starscream later told Cliffjumper. "You interact with me as though I have done nothing to you. Since those Predacons revealed the truth of that night, I do not know how I should treat them. It seems impossible that anyone could become friends with someone who had done something so horrible you... even if it was an accident. No one should be able to look back and joke that such a thing had happened. It would always be there, lingering in our minds in every interaction."

"I don't think that's true. I mean, right now you might think that forgiveness is impossible because what happened is so fresh on your mind. However, I think a big part of forgiveness is just forgetting. If you had been around as long as me, you would forget how painful that night had been. It would be easier to stop hating them."

"I would have needed a lot of time," Starscream replied. "Away from them, as well."

It is hard to look at their hands. It must have been that way for you too. Starscream put his now behind his back.

Starscream decided not to speak to the Predacons again before his passing to the Allspark, for he did not wish to say goodbye to them. He imagined guilt-torn faces, who would beg for him to stay only so they would not feel the depth of his absence and how they had stolen a life.

More meetings with Cliffjumper had been arranged, and that very night, the fourth one was completed. At the end of it, Starscream finally revealed to the Autobots that Cliffjumper would be leaving after the fifth meeting. They would have the time to prepare all that they wanted to say to Cliffjumper before then.

"Starscream, you aren't going to tell them that you are going too?" Cliffjumper murmured as everyone reacted with sorrow to the news.

Starscream shook his head. He did not want to see their emotions, which he imagined would be either encouragement or relief. To see others agree that this was the best for him would upset him, for he hated that it was the truth. To see others happy that the dangerous spirit was leaving hurt him more, since Starscream wished they wanted him.

I should tell one of them, at least, or else they will keep looking for me. Arcee? No, she had wanted him to leave before, so Starscream did not want to see her encouraging, blue eyes. Besides, her mourning of Cliffjumper would drown out her feelings for him. Someone else… Knockout?

Starscream almost decided it, then realized that Knockout had looked so relieved when Starscream had been caught in the trap. His facial expression had said how much he had wanted Starscream to be destroyed. While Starscream had haunted them, it still wounded him that Knockout had wanted him to be exterminated.

Megatron moved; he wanted to help me… Starscream shook his head. Now I am being too desperate. Megatron never cared about me, or else he would not have tortured me. He only moved out of instinct, since I was begging like I did in the past…

But he looked sad to see me in that trap-

He obviously does not care about me! Not like Soundwave, not like Soundwave. I am only thinking this because I wish that someone would care for me like that. However, no one does. This is wishful thinking.

Starscream did not sigh, for Cliffjumper never left his side these days, and the Autobot would have asked him if he was alright.

Well, if I have to tell them, then Megatron should be a good choice. I do not believe he would encourage my decision, since he is not a spiritual bot focused on mental well-being. And after all that has happened, he will not hate me and want to be rid of me. I am sure he would tolerate me if I stayed, so he could be the impartial figure I need.

Jetfire had come looking for Starscream, but the Autobots had told him that Starscream had not been responding when called for.

"But is he still here?"

"He is," Bumblebee had said. "Although there is no telling if he is here right now, he has just not gone to the Allspark yet."

Yet, yet indeed. Starscream looked at their faces and thought how strange it was that he was going to forget them. The bitterness and sadness would wash away, but if only that could have happened without his very self washing away with them.

Cliffjumper was mentally preparing himself for his last meeting, and although he had sworn he was ready for the Allspark, finding all the words was stressing him. He did not want to forget a single thing or leave his friends in too much pain.

"This doesn't feel real," Cliffjumper had sighed. "That I am here right now, and then I will soon be gone. Preparing for my goodbye is making me overthink it."

"I understand. We cannot conceptualize forgetting everything."

"Right, all these things we see right now, all the bots we know- they will all be new to us in the next life."

"If there is a next life," Starscream murmured.

"Even if there is none," Cliffjumper said, "we know that the Allspark is full of knowledge. At least that part is clear in our history. They say that all the memories of old sparks stay there, so if we are stuck there, then at least we can live thousands or millions of other lives. It would be nice to experience things I never have before."

"Like what?" Starscream asked.

"Hmm, like flight?"

"You can fly right now," he pointed out.

"No, it isn't the same, and you said that too. I mean, what would it be like to transform into something with wings and blast through the air? Is it cold because the sky is cold, or warm because my body is working? How is turbulence? It seems frightening to a ground bot like me, but it might be fun."

Cliffjumper was glad to see that Starscream had taken interest and smiled slightly.

"Haven't you ever wondered what driving feels like, 'Scream?"

"I suppose I did, although I had always thought flight was the superior mode of transportation."

"I bet you wondered why we were so crazy about it."

"Personally, I wondered about Knockout, since we could have changed him with our technology and yet, the stubborn bot still chose driving."

"I hope you are reborn as a ground bot," Cliffjumper jested. "You will understand then."

Starscream chuckled.

"I'll explain it," Cliffjumper went on.

Starscream's smile faded. "There is no point, Cliffjumper. I will forget this."

"Oh, come on. Let this life have a little fun before you go!" Cliffjumper grinned. "What kind of attitude is that? If you got another life, imagine if you were like 'oh no, there's no point in learning anything or having any fun because I'm just gonna forget it all when I die'."

Teasing Starscream made the two of them feel better.

"Fine then," Starscream gave in. "Tell me what is so attractive about driving."

"Alright! Well see, I always felt so safe and snug against Cybertron, close to home. I loved the feel of familiar land underneath me. Then, there was action too- racing through the mazes of streets, swerving and eating up the distance. There is nothing like knowing a place and using that knowledge to best someone in a race. It's exhilarating!"

"Aren't you afraid you will crash?"

"Oh no, when you're a master at it, you just feel better for conquering death. Don't you feel that way too, zipping around blasts in the air?"

"Yes, I do. However, I understand all that you are saying because I had the same experiences in flight. Since flying is fastest and you can easily escape or get anywhere you wish, I do not understand why anyone would prefer the ground. The sky is freedom; the ground is binding."

Cliffjumper replied, "Well, for us the sky is cold and the ground is home. It looks lonely up there, and dangerous. Crashing on the ground is one thing, but if something happened to you up there- that's the end of it."

Starscream had never imagined the sky as a cold and distant place before. He turned his head in consideration.

Cliffjumper continued, "It would be cool to go anywhere you wanted, like, if I wanted to be on top of a building, I could just be there in seconds. But the sky just feels so empty! You aren't attached to anything. It seems lonely."

"It isn't lonely… usually," Starscream sighed. "But now that you say it, I think I did feel lonely when by myself. Seekers always flied with others, and I felt happier when I had vehicons backing me, after my lieutenants died. It was more than just wanting back-up… Did you never feel lonely, driving alone?"

"Oh, no," Cliffjumper replied. "It's relaxing, like meditation. Especially on a long road on your way home, the sunset warm on your metal…"

"I used to fly alone to clear my mind," Starscream said. "But not for long. Even though I often longed for the sky, returning to solid ground was a comfort for me."

"Everyone wants a home."

"Although," Starscream laughed softly as he thought of something. "Underground, I could never do. Or if I was inside a building or the Nemesis for too long. Even if there are tunnels or halls I can fly through, I feel trapped if I am closed off from the sky."

"Right," Cliffjumper understood. "You are used to a lot of room and options for getting away. The removal of 'up' scares your kind."

Starscream's eyes glinted with a bit of pride. "Megatron never felt that way, since he was made into a flier. He did not have the instinct and was not bothered by tunnels or the inside. However, all Seekers hate restraint."

"I remember when Team Prime put a clamp around your wings!" Cliffjumper laughed. "You looked so peeved the moment it locked."

"Well of course."

Cliffjumper chuckled and held out his hand. "Well, 'Scream, if you want to know what it's like to have tires instead of wings, I can show you."

Starscream grasped him to be pulled into that sunset memory Cliffjumper had described.

Countless drives had pounded the feel of the terrain into his body until even Earth felt like home. The grain of gravel undertire rumbled into his frame, as warm as the summer air. He already knew how the wind would feel over his body before he made that turn up ahead. Then, it was one straight road to the base, and while driving it, he felt like a part of both the way home and home itself.

"What did you think?" Cliffjumper asked.

Starscream had emerged from the memory with a dreamy look on his face.

"It was as nice as you described it."

"So you wouldn't mind being forged like one of us?"

"I could be happy like that," Starscream said. "But right now, I would never give up my wings for tires. I could not go against my instincts."

"I hope I cheered you up a bit. Although you are going, your life as Starscream right now is not meaningless. I am going to have a great time with my friends before I go, and I am going to enjoy every second even if I forget it!"

Before they would go, Starscream extended his hand to him. "Wait, Cliffjumper. Would you perhaps… like to see what flying is like?"

At Cliffjumper's final meeting, no one learned that Starscream was departing. It was a time reserved for Cliffjumper and only Cliffjumper, while Starscream kept his plans between them.

I will tell Megatron in his sleep, he had said. We will depart around midnight.

The Autobots tried their best to be cheerful, since Cliffjumper did not want to see them frown or cry. However, as they neared the end of their arranged time, the Autobots began to get emotional. Thankfully, the strong figure of Ultra Magnus was there to hold them together, since even Cliffjumper was struggling invisibly beside Starscream. They needed a logical voice to say that all would be alright, when even Ratchet, who had known Cliffjumper well, was affected at the prospect of losing him again.

It was another bonus that Starscream was speaking for Cliffjumper, so that the Autobots did not have to hear Cliffjumper's distress themselves. And Starscream tried to use his powers of deception, to hide his own feelings and appear collected so that Cliffjumper sounded stronger than he really was. Nevertheless, Starscream felt sorrow in himself from all these bots mourning and promising to miss their friend, which was something he would never get.

"I love you all," Cliffjumper murmured, Starscream repeating him more steadily. "Goodbye, and let's hope for a second life where we can all be friends again."

Starscream felt like his spark had cracked at those words.

Yes, if only we could live again and regain everything we had lost…

It was supposed to be easier for them, since they had time now to say goodbye- closure instead of sudden loss. At the time, everyone looked all the worse for it. Cliffjumper shook and sobbed out of their sight after Starscream had concluded. This made Starscream jump, since for so long, Cliffjumper had been the reassuring and calm one. Now, he needed someone to step into that role temporarily.

"I… believe that they will be alright," Starscream told him. "It is hard right now, but they will realize that you will be happy."

Cliffjumper sighed and stilled. "Thanks, 'Scream. You're right. We'll be just fine."

We.

For once, Starscream did not feel sad about his departure.

Yes, we will be alright.

Now, it was time for Starscream. As Megatron was still injured, he was often resting out of boredom. In the med bay, Soundwave watched over him like a new guard, seeming not to trust Starscream after he had heard all about him. Knockout was also there, but he was focused on himself, no longer clutching a weapon and fearing the coming of a vengeful ghost. It was almost as if he had forgotten Megatron as he stood, twisting and grunting to reach a spot with his buffer.

Starscream breathed a laugh. Once he had been furious that life was going on without him, but it was nice to see the return of peace. Knockout was content just being himself, although nothing ever lasted forever. Some day, Knockout wouldn't be here, but making his journey to the Allspark. Yet for as long as he lived, it was beautiful that he was enjoying every moment.

If only we could have been friends.

Before Starscream reached into Megatron's chest, he thought, I guess since I chose to do a dream, it did not matter who I came to. No one will have time to argue with me... but I suppose it is only fitting that I return to you.

He entered Megatron's dream and knew that he would have to be swift before he woke him.

Megatron saw the figure approaching him, and the countless years of glaring and grabbing had made Megatron completely familiar with the points and curves of Starscream. Even through thick fog and a great distance, Megatron could have growled to someone, "Starscream is coming". So he knew even before the shape had all its colours that it was him.

"Megatron." Starscream spoke with calm. His eyes were tranquil in red, no longer rageful with murderous purple. "I am leaving now."

Dream-Megatron did not grasp the situation yet, but would once he woke.

"And where is it, that you are leaving for?"

"The Allspark, Megatron. Please tell the others that I am going now, with Cliffjumper."

"What?"

The dreamscape began to become unsteady.

"And tell the Predacons to forget about me. Everyone can; I will be fine."

Starscream pulled out of the dream, backing away and watching Megatron shift and grumble in his sleep. Then, Megatron's eyes snapped open and he shoved himself up into a seated position. The others started, watching him and waiting for an explanation.

"Starscream," Megatron began. "He visited me…"

But by then, Starscream had grasped onto Cliffjumper's arm to leave the living to their own affairs. He felt pulled through space, saw blackness, then reappeared with the other spirit at the edge of the Well of Allsparks.

"What just happened?" Starscream gasped. "That teleportation, which you have done before…"

"Ah," Cliffjumper chuckled. "You never figured it out because you always rejected the pull of the Allspark. Do you feel it now?"

Starscream went quiet and relaxed, then realized that he could feel a gentle tugging in the direction of the Well.

"I know we can travel at the speed of light," Cliffjumper explained. "But imagine if you're a bot who died thousands of lightyears away. You'd still be travelling with nothing to do for all that time. Fortunately, this dimension is different. No matter how far away you are, you can hop right over to the Allspark."

"I do not follow."

"Imagine something soft, like Earth cloth. That is space. Now imagine you folded that cloth up"- Cliffjumper moved his finger in a wavy motion- "you could press a needle right through the whole thing to get to the other side. We are that needle, able to pass through the layers."

"I see."

Cliffjumper turned to him. "Are you truly ready, 'Scream? You can turn back now if you want more time. No one has to know."

Starscream shook his head. "I am ready."

They peered into the hole.

"How about on three? No go, just on three."

Starscream huffed in amusement.

"Fine," he agreed.

"Alright, 'Scream. One…"

This is happening.

Cliffjumper left long pauses, looking at Starscream's face as the other spark stared into the hole. He gave him every opportunity to turn back.

"Two…"

Starscream's spark pulsed with the numbers.

Am I really ready? I am afraid, but I have to do this… I will be fine. I will be happy again…

Cliffjumper held onto his arm.

Or for the first time.

"Three."

They leapt down and dropped, but not from the strength of gravity. The two sparks travelled together, bonded by touch and dragged lower as they gave in to the pull of the Allspark. And the further they descended, the stronger the draw was. However, the pressure was not frightening like the pull of the energon trap had been for Starscream. It was comforting, like being yanked into an embrace.

I forgive you, Starscream, Cliffjumper told him through thought. I learned about you by watching your life. I wish I could have learned more.

Starscream thought back, I hope that we are reborn, and that we can be friends in the next life, Cliffjumper.

A faint, blue glow warmed the walls of the tunnels, and it was a light that they could feel like cotton over their tired sparks. Falling closer, the light grew stronger, reaching for them and welcoming them with equal love. Starscream and Cliffjumper relaxed, no longer feeling the need to see anymore. They listened to the soft voices that they had begun to hear, to words they could not yet make out but knew were friendly.

The Allspark was never something to fear, Starscream realized.

Their sparks felt warmer, and they let out final sighs.

Goodbye, Starscream.

Goodbye, Cliffjumper.

He felt Cliffjumper shift away from him as the light accepted him, but just as Starscream felt it embracing him, he thought, If only though, I could have made Starscream a better bot. I hope this life can be used as a lesson, something I can remember instinctively to live a better life if I get another…

A blinding, white light surrounded him. Starscream looked through it and listened for voices, but they had gone silent. Then, he found that he could look no longer, for his eyes were stinging from the brightness.

Why does this hurt? he panicked. What is happening?

Starscream felt himself rising away from the warm feeling.

No! Why am I going upward? Am I being rejected? Am I still tainted by Unicron?

Then, it dawned upon Starscream that he had felt pain, true pain, and not in his whole body but in a specific spot.

"Cliffjumper?" he called.

There was no response as a beam of light exited the Well of Allsparks.