I split the ending into an epilogue for itself.
A sparkbeat quivered under his fingertips. Starscream's legs shifted over the ground as he pressed harder into his neck, cornering the flutter of life. With a gasp, he wrapped his hands gently around his throat, half-feeling for the pulse and half-hugging himself. Then he ran his hands over everything, along every limb and surface he could reach, and he choked in realization that everything was the same. All that he lacked was his red missiles and Decepticon insignia, but his body was his, one and whole.
The flood of feelings rooted him to the spot. After the light from the Well had faded, Starscream still sat to feel his real, warm body. Through so much emotion, it was even difficult to think, but Starscream realized that he could remember everything. Flashes of his past lit up his mind to comfort him: days of his youth training to be a Seeker, and the bad memories equally cheered him- memories of war, of Megatron, and of the Predacons. Just to have his past made him overjoyed, for he was still him.
He was Starscream to the core, not a spark that shed the identity to wear another. At this moment, he felt euphoric, but soon the feeling would be replaced. The light from the Well had been seen; Starscream broke out of his reverie when he heard the rumble of vehicles leaving the Nemesis.
Starscream snapped his head back and saw Autobots driving toward him. He was alive again, now in their world, the world of imprisonment and pain. He hopped up and wobbled, wondering if the Autobots would be so terrified of him that they would lock him away.
They wouldn't… Starscream told himself, remembering the time he had taken to make it up to the Autobots. He had tried to be useful and act peaceful, and yet, being alive was such a shock that Starscream was crushed with fear. There was no turning invisible now or zipping away as fast as light.
They could capture me.
He did not want to make a mistake now with his precious life. Starscream jerked one way then another, knowing that if he ran, he would not be hurt and he would have freedom. That was a certainty, but staying meant a chance of-
No more hesitation! his spark screamed. Starscream transformed and blasted off before he fully understood why he reacted. Then it became clear: hesitation had been the death of him before, when he had believed the Predacons would have mercy. He burned the fresh energon within him to put on more speed, and he spiraled into the clouds for cover.
The moisture ran over his wings with a refreshing touch. Nostalgia swept over his fearful spark, letting him have some joy in this mad flight. Once he was far away, he settled down in an abandoned building. Starscream knelt over the floor and scratched the dust, affirming that he was here, before he collapsed and stared at the stars through a hole.
"I live," he whispered. It almost felt like he had never been a spirit, as though he had successfully just escaped the Predacons. He squeezed his knees, promising silently that he would not let harm come to this body. Then the silence dragged on, and after an hour of holding himself, Starscream became more aware.
Cliffjumper!
His eyes rounded with sadness. Cliffjumper had joined the Allspark while Starscream had not, but it did not seem fair now that only he was special. He wanted Cliffjumper here more than ever to share this joy with him, but he was gone now and more distant than those stars. His spark ached with Arcee's pain, then with the added grief that he had caused this. Starscream missed him so terribly that his wings crashed to the floor and he forgot to be happy.
Starscream sat long in exhaustion, peering at the sky through the hole above. As he did, there was a snap of a wing beat. He jolted and a squeak caught in his throat. Before he heard the flap repeat itself, he was quaking. His eyes scanned for exits, knowing that the one in the ceiling was about to be covered.
Predaking landed over the roof and stretched out his neck to peer through the hole. A fanged face filled the view, spotting Starscream just as he tore out a side hole. The jet passed so close that Predaking felt the heat of his trail, and too afraid to scream, Starscream silently pelted away into the sky.
Part of Starscream understood that Predaking did not want to hurt him, but the sight of the Predacon brought upon trauma that a ghost could not feel. When untouchable, Starscream could only hate the Predacons, not fear them. Now, he felt his vulnerability anew and the rumble underfoot from the movements of the great beast. He saw claws and teeth which were not past objects of hate, but now possible future bringers of pain.
Starscream rushed away and found a new hiding spot once he had gained some distance. Yet he knew that Predaking was tracking him, so it was only a matter of time before he returned. A shiver ran down his back. Starscream did not want to run and knew that going back was the logical thing to do, but he just could not control himself.
He wanted someone, but he could not think of anyone to go to that did not spark a degree of fear. What if the Autobots voted to imprison him? What if Shockwave wanted to experiment on him? What if Knockout turned him in? Maybe Megatron would want to hurt him for what he did… if Soundwave did not first on Megatron's behalf.
Starscream thought of the Aerialbots and hung his head in shame. He had done nothing to make up for harming them, so his fellow Seekers would certainly shun him and turn him in as well.
Ripclaw would have been the best choice, if he was not so terrified of the Predacon hunting him now. Starscream remembered her beast form and how it would compare to him. Of course she did not want to hurt him and never had, but the trauma affecting him made it impossible to separate her from the other Predacons.
Starscream gripped himself tighter to make up for the fact that no one was comforting him.
He did not know what to do, thus ended up resting in spot until he heard the distant flap of wings. It did not come closer this time, and Starscream heard the sound of multiple transformations then Predaking's voice.
"Starscream? It is alright, Starscream. We have not come to harm you."
A voice relaxed him a bit, for it took away from the Predaconness. He glanced out of the building and saw all four Predacons staring toward him. They were still so large- he ducked back inside and held his hand over his chest.
He heard Ripclaw calling gently. Then, her slow footsteps crunching and her claws digging into metal as she climbed up toward him. Starscream stood on the verge of fleeing, but the soothing voice kept reassuring him. Ripclaw squeezed into the room and knelt on both knees so that she would be shorter.
"I do not want to scare you," Ripclaw murmured, noticing how his eyes watched her claws instead of her face. "I know it is frightening, being among us again. You do not want to be hurt."
She beckoned him to come closer, then opened her arms. Starscream did not move, but at least his wings had relaxed slightly.
"Come back to the ship," Ripclaw murmured. "They want to welcome you."
Starscream breathed, "Me?"
"Yes, they will forgive you, Starscream. They will not do anything to you."
Ripclaw chanced a step closer, but he did not dash out. Starscream seemed more calm, so she stepped closer again. That was the limit. He hopped outside, transformed, and flew high over the heads of the other Predacons. This time, however, in the direction of the warship.
She is not lying, he knew. Nevertheless, he wondered if she had misjudged the Autobots. Who would want him back, even if he had never demonstrated his power? Starscream got far ahead of the Predacons and landed in front of the Nemesis where it lay. It seemed the Autobots had waited been waiting and counting on the Predacons, for at once, they poured out. Then even before they were close, his foot fell back at the sight of their numbers. Worst of all, Soundwave and Shockwave were among them, the faceless bots conveying some disturbing emotions.
Soundwave did not trust him; he inclined forward and watched him intently. The red orb of Shockwave's eye studied him, and Starscream imagined that he was thinking of opening up his chest to experiment on his spark. As he passed his eyes over the group, his wings pressed inwards. At least they understood his nervousness, and stopped to allow him some distance.
"Starscream," Arcee said. In truth, he felt somewhat better that she was speaking first instead of Ultra Magnus or Bumblebee.
"I did not know this would happen," Starscream murmured. "I thought…"
"It's fine. Now that you're back, let's try to figure out what happens now."
He closed his eyes and nodded again, throat tight.
To not be too direct, Arcee asked him, "Are you happy to be back?"
"... I don't know yet."
"We're not going to do anything to you, Starscream. If you want, we will allow you to do the same thing as Megatron and the others. You can live peacefully among us and help in reconstruction."
Starscream remembered his fierce jealousy when he saw Megatron live his embarrassing, new life. He still wanted it, but he felt dragged to the ground just by seeing the looks on everyone's faces. Even Arcee had stiffness in her expression, cautiously working her words because no one wanted Starscream on the loose.
Ultra Magnus and Ratchet glared at him in outright disgust, but the other Autobots were, Starscream realized, just afraid of him.
I was right. No one really wants me here… I am not truly being welcomed, just managed.
Quietly, Starscream agreed to live however they wished. First, he hesitated, then he trudged into the Nemesis to settle in.
They gave him time to be alone, or rather, time for themselves to accept his presence. Starscream shut himself in his original room and crawled over his berth. There, he anxiously dug his claws into the metal, unaware of the damage he was causing. Later, a knock came at the door, and he leapt up in alarm.
Starscream crept closer. "Who is there?"
"Me," came Knockout's muffled call.
Starscream opened the door, and saw that he was alone.
"You left Megatron to see me?" Starscream murmured.
"Megatron's fine…"
Knockout grabbed onto his arms and affirmed that they were solid. Starscream jolted, but then restrained himself from kicking Knockout. The doctor's eyes marvelled at his restored body, and he began to stammer, "Sorry, it's just after I saw this body… you know, and after I put it all back together… How is this possible?"
"You aren't going to experiment on me, are you?" Starscream stared, checking for signs of interest.
"Ha! No, but I do need to take a look at you. I have to see if everything's really the same…"
Knockout beckoned him to follow him, but Starscream tiptoed into the hall and muttered, "Shockwave isn't about, is he?"
"Oh, so you are actually worried about that!" Knockout laughed. "And rightfully so, I bet."
Starscream heard other footsteps and realized that someone had been nearby to keep an eye on him. He slipped in behind Knockout, using him as a barrier between him and Bulkhead's massive form. When they neared the med bay, Starscream leapt back around the corner after glimpsing Shockwave and Soundwave. With that, he spun around and trotted as silently as he could away.
However, Soundwave had seen him and had begun walking down the hall. Starscream heard the lightest, quick patters, and his spark drummed. Knockout hurried after Starscream in concern, but his pursuing footsteps only stressed Starscream further.
"Relax, Starscream!" Knockout puffed out. "No one will get you here."
Then came Bulkhead, now with Bumblebee, walking briskly down the hall toward him. Their expressions and bodies were tense because of Starscream's erratic behaviour. For Starscream, the halls were tightening as bots crowded his exits either way. Like a drifting shadow, Soundwave had appeared at the corner and stood behind him, staring.
Starscream shook until he moved. When he tore past the Autobots, they hollered and gave chase. He transformed then to gain distance, tearing ahead in the halls he knew. However, a figure squared himself before him, and Starscream transformed just before he slammed into Ultra Magnus. Starscream slid too close, tried to hop away, but a hand snatched his wingtip and dragged him back.
Frantic claws turned on Ultra Magnus. There was a yell and blood, but Starscream did not look once he was free. He zipped past Ultra Magnus and finally jetted outside.
The Predacons were on the roof, and Starscream's spark lurched at their sudden appearance. He swerved around them, hearing their startled cries as he burst out. The fresh fear powered him on into the distance, but eventually, he would come back the next time he was persuaded.
Ripclaw had found him, and Starscream returned with a worse feeling knotting up his insides. Now, the others only had more reason to hate him. Faces were harder than before, especially Ultra Magnus'.
"I am sorry," Starscream choked out. "I was overwhelmed… I need time to adjust, alone, and outside… I swear that I will do my best and aid the construction effort…"
No one seemed to truly understand and forgive him. Still, they were so afraid of his power that it was all they could see. They wanted to control him, but had to do it carefully to not anger him. So they allowed him to stay outside, but Starscream was tracked. His spark signal was the same, they had realized, and could be found.
A Predacon or a bot would often creep near whatever hiding place he was using, just to make sure he was not up to anything. Several of them tried to visit him and talk to him, but he forgot which ones in the haze of fear. Starscream could not stand the strained faces and dialogue as everyone tried to manage him, and the individuals melted into one piercing thought in his mind:
They do not want me here.
It seemed the most logical thing. Of course their lives would be easier if he were gone. They would not have to watch themselves, worried that he might die again and attack them with renewed fury. Perhaps some of them had cared about his spirit, urging him to the Allspark for his own sake. But now, since he had not done what they expected, his existence was an embarrassment.
Their eyes said, Why is he back? He should not be here. They had mentally prepared for a future without Starscream. But the worst thing he imagined in their eyes: Why him, instead of Cliffjumper?
For Cliffjumper, they would have thrown a celebration; Starscream only received awkward interactions.
Ripclaw left him some energon, but it was tasteless.
Starscream flew aimlessly and never could sleep when he tried. He did not feel completely safe anytime he landed, for his head was filled with images of bots stealing up on him. No place was perfect: he wanted exits to flee, but the more holes there were, the more likely he would be seen or reached.
One evening as the sun set, Knockout found him. He looked him up and down, then proclaimed, "You look exhausted."
"I am," Starscream murmured.
"This isn't good for you. I think it is time you come inside, and I promise, I will take care of you. You can have a room all to yourself, and no one you don't want to see can come in."
He was so tired of running that he wearily agreed. Knockout took his arm to guide him, but Starscream twitched at the touch. Starscream wondered if he was holding him just because he was worried he would run again and take more days to tame.
It seemed that this idea of Knockout's had been everyone's plan, for Starscream saw no one when he was escorted into the Nemesis.
"You know what you need?" Knockout piped up. "A hot oil bath and a polish!"
Starscream blinked dully at his enthusiasm. When he slipped into a full bath, however, his spark lifted a bit. Nothing so pleasant had touched him in his days of new life, so he dropped his guard and sank into the heat. Meanwhile, Knockout left him alone and waited in the hall until Starscream emerged on his own time.
He still moved cautiously with Knockout, so unlike how they had once strolled these halls leisurely together. Starscream nearly stopped when he noticed that they were heading straight to the med bay, but Knockout assured him, "I moved Megatron over. The whole room's yours."
Inside, Starscream was asked to lie down onto the middle berth. Knockout felt Starscream's eyes on him, turned from his supplies, and murmured, "You aren't afraid of me too, are you?"
"No," Starscream replied.
"Then why are you acting so… weird?"
Starscream knew why. He remembered how eager Knockout had looked when they had trapped his spirit, ready to destroy him. It hurt so much that Knockout had wanted him gone, and now, Starscream could not help but wonder if Knockout really wanted him here.
"Don't you trust your doctor?" Knockout asked. "I mean, I've done an organ transplant on you, arm surgery…"
"I do not think you will hurt me," Starscream stated.
Knockout shrugged, but cast a questioning glance at him. If it was not fear this time, then he wondered what was affecting Starscream.
He gave Starscream some energon, who drank it and still did not find it as sweet as he remembered. Then Knockout began to buff Starscream, but noticed that he was tense for a long while. Slowly though, the polishing had a massaging effect and relaxed him. Starscream's eyes began to shut, but when Knockout asked him to roll over, he was suddenly wide awake. Reluctantly, he turned his back to Knockout and tried to push down the memories of his wings getting torn. After some time massaging his wings, Knockout guided Starscream to sleep, head resting over crossed arms.
When Starscream floated into lighter sleep, he realized he was sleeping, and jolted awake in alarm.
"How are you feeling?" Knockout asked.
Starscream flipped around, noticed that his body did feel rested, but still weighted and shaky. The same mood from before swept over him, like an incurable sickness.
"Fine," Starscream replied.
"You don't look it. I think you need some more rest."
Starscream sighed. Knockout was right, and Starscream felt like he had not gotten much rest at all. It might have been no more than an hour, but he did not care to ask because he was too cautious to fall asleep just yet.
"Where is everyone?" Starscream asked. "Have you been talking to them?"
"Most are probably on board, but honestly, they just left me to do this in peace. Well, I assume they are close by, but no one wants to crowd you. They think it is better to go slow and have you talk with one bot and someone you know better and trust."
Starscream squinted and analyzed him. When he wondered, Out of everyone I know, do I trust Knockout the most?, he realized that it was true, despite his feelings. Knockout had never intimidated him, and Starscream did not have to watch what Knockout's hands were doing.
Although, Megatron is the one I know the best. I have not known Knockout long enough to really get to know him.
"Anyway," Knockout went on. "There is something else that I think will help you, to ease the stress during the roughest days until things get easier."
"What is it?" Starscream asked.
"Just a little something I can give you that numbs your fear centre."
"I am not certain…" Starscream replied. "I want to stay in control of myself."
Knockout shook his head. "No, it isn't like that. You have control over your actions and know what you want and don't want. All it does is take down your stress to something healthier. Taking the medication will not change who you are."
His face looked so sincere that Starscream thought it over. Maybe it was for the best, since his emotions ran ahead of himself in this shocking period. He was alarming the Autobots and already betraying their trust when he did not mean to. Moreover, he was too wary to even sleep.
"I should then," he murmured. "I think it would be best for us all."
"You don't need to worry about it." Knockout walked across the room to paw through a container. "Even I've taken it before."
He pulled out a metal box so soon that Starscream knew that he had brought the medication in preparation.
"When did you take it?" Starscream could not help but be curious.
"Oh, well…" Knockout frowned. "A long time ago. Sometimes, there are just times where you can't feel better because what's weighing down on you hasn't gone away. I never thought of it as a weak way out, just as something to keep me stronger as I got through it."
Starscream realized that he had never pictured Knockout before his arrival on the warship. He did not even know how old Knockout was, since he sometimes acted young, though he must have been older to be skilled in complicated operations. He could have been forged historical periods ahead of Starscream and lived an unimaginable life. For all he knew, Knockout could have even come from a colony planet. After all, he seemed so loosely attached to the Decepticons and did not even wear a Decepticon insignia.
He really did not know Knockout like he knew Megatron.
When the syringe slid into him, Starscream did not flinch.
"Once every three solar cycles," Knockout said.
Starscream nodded as his arm felt like it was being filled with warm, heavy plastic. He knew it could not possibly be working so fast, but he already felt less angry with Knockout. It was confusing that Knockout could seem so nice while he had wanted him destroyed.
"You're acting mopey again. What's on your mind, 'Screamer?"
He sighed, deciding not to hold it in any longer. "Do you want me here, Knockout, or are you just pretending?"
"What now? Pretending?"
"I saw your expression when I was to be destroyed."
"Oh…" Knockout looked down. "I am sorry. I didn't know you were still there. I just… I was so afraid of you. I didn't see you, but some kind of demonic thing. I should have known it was still you, that you could have been changed if only you were understood."
Starscream looked to the side, trying to hide the hurt in his expression.
"Look," Knockout murmured guiltily. "I think a lot of us regret our approach. But I can seriously tell you that I am glad that you are back."
"Why?"
"I guess you don't want to believe me, or rather, it's too hard to."
"I think I made a mistake," Starscream muttered. "I wished for this, and did not consider how hard it would be living in a world where everyone wants you gone."
"I know what you need."
"What is it this ti-"
Knockout leaned into the berth and tugged him into a hug. At once, Starscream was silenced. After he was sure that this was happening, Starscream tentatively placed his arms back around Knockout. It was much better now that he could feel again, to touch an actual body and be squeezed back. Warm solidity hooked him to the moment and let him know that he was both trusted and protected.
"It's good to have you back," Knockout murmured. "Welcome home."
"What am I going to do?" Starscream poured out. "How can I live with everyone else on the planet? They will all act strange, even if they never try to kill me. I will not fit in anywhere, and no Seeker would ever trust me to have power again. And what can I do if I cannot be a Seeker?-"
"Hush now, 'Scream," Knockout interrupted. "Things will get better. If there is one thing I know about bots- they spend more time worrying about themselves than others. Soon, they are going to forget about you and live their own lives as society is rebuilt. One day, Cybertron will be busy with bots and tourists and no one will have time to think of the War or you. I imagine that since the Air Command took such a big hit, there won't be many Seekers coming back. It will be filled with a new generation of Seekers who have no personal reason to hate you."
"Jetfire or Silverbolt will take over," Starscream murmured, sliding back. "They will remember to hate me."
"Come now, they won't be angry forever. Stick around and stay out of trouble, and they might think of letting you join them."
"Why would they want me after-"
"Because having a scary aberrant on your side has its perks."
Starscream frowned. Knockout nudged him. "What? A Seeker who's not afraid of flying into risk of death because he can just come back? Not to mention a clever strategist and possibly the most agile and skilled flier in the historical records?"
Starscream could not help smirking and pushing him back.
"A-ha! A smile!" Knockout cried.
"Such obvious flattery."
"Doesn't stop you from liking it, does it?"
Starscream tried to wipe his face clean, and Knockout reclaimed his seriousness.
"I mean it though," he said. "They will forgive you."
"If that happens… What will I do until then?" Starscream sighed.
"Construction?"
Starscream shivered. "Now that I think about it, it sounds like a terrible idea to put me alongside the vehicons. Half of them would faint and the other half would run off. My presence would just be a harmful distraction."
"Once society is starting to get functional, we'll find you a job. Or if all else fails, you can be my assistant. I am definitely going to open up my own studio of sorts. Body modifications and detailing, hmm, either in Iacon or Kaon."
"Thank you… I mean it," Starscream sighed. "All these days, I kept worrying about where I could fit in if I could not be a Seeker. Who would accept me…"
"Everything will work out," Knockout said. "But until I get my own studio, who cares if we lounge around here? There's no money yet. Sleep, relax. Let's see what happens."
The word sleep made his body remember the days without rest all at once. His eyes drooped and he leaned back into the berth. Had he been alone, he would have been too cautious to rest. But he felt safe with Knockout watching, his spark relaxing because he knew that this was not an act.
"The Predacons asked to see you, but… it's up to you, of course."
Starscream sighed and rubbed circles on his head. He had just woken up from a check-up, where Knockout had taken a look at him with Shockwave. The lingering scientist had been frightening, and clearly his curiosity needed to be satisfied. In the end, it was for the best that Knockout was there to control everything.
"You can start with one of them, that nice one," Knockout suggested.
Starscream agreed, and Ripclaw was let in. He shrunk a bit when her large body strolled in, and he still was watchful of her claws. To his relief, his spark did not pound out of control and give him tunnelvision.
"Starscream! How are you? Oh, look at you!" she gasped.
He looked brighter, finely polished, energized, and rested. She stepped closer in admiration, then apologized when she saw him tensing up.
"Oh, sorry, sorry…"
He did not seem as distressed as before. Ripclaw tested padding closer, making it all the way to the berth beside Knockout without him running.
"Oh my goodness! I am so happy that you trust me so much," she laughed in delight. "Can I touch you?"
While her face was naturally frightening to behold, her friendly personality outshone it. Ripclaw seemed so eager to touch him that he breathed, "Alright."
She inhaled in excitement and curled her claws. Starscream leaned away, but stayed on the berth. The back of her fingers rubbed his shoulder in a soothing circle, then dared do the same to his wing.
"Oh, you are so brave," Ripclaw murmured. "I am proud of you."
He was beginning to relax.
"Can I hold you?"
Starscream felt his spark give a start, and he tried to control it.
She never did anything to me. Ripclaw always supported me and is very kind. This Predacon will not hurt me.
After he consented, she carefully moved her thick arms around him. It was hard to watch himself be enclosed, so he closed his eyes and tried to focus on how gentle the metal was. His energon began to rush when he felt himself be dragged toward her. He had not expected this, and he might have scratched her in fear without the medication.
I am safe, it is okay. I am okay…
The Predacon sat on the floor and placed him into her lap. When he was clutched and surrounded by warmth, he relaxed and felt at once protected, not threatened, by the beast. Ripclaw could feel him loosen up as he thought to himself, Perhaps being a Predacon can mean something else.
Ripclaw purred, "Aww, you know, you are pretty cute."
Knockout snorted very loud, then cackled as Starscream exploded out of her grasp.
"Annnnd that's enough of that," Knockout wheezed.
"What? What is wrong?" Ripclaw's eyes widened in innocence.
"Nothing," Knockout grinned. "In fact, you're just helping Starscream feel more like himself."
Starscream had stumbled away to his feet, straightening his wings and trying to look dignified. There was an indignant and mature expression on his face as he tried to recover.
"He is okay?"
"He's fine," Knockout answered. "But I think his ego needs to heal, so you should probably leave him in peace."
"Oh, well, as long as he is okay…"
Ripclaw backed out. After she was gone, Knockout would not stop laughing. Starscream groaned and wanted to dash out for a flight, but could not after his surgery.
Starscream decided to give construction a try regardless, just to get out and expose himself to others. He hoped Knockout was right, that others would forget him over time and worry about themselves. Unfortunately, there was no change in the entire week Starscream mingled.
He tried to master the Soundwave technique of moving without being noticed, but eyes were always on him. Bodies shifted away whenever he entered an area, more than just the vehicons', as many more Cybertronians returned from space and heard the story.
A former Decepticon once called him out and approached him threateningly, but his friend snatched his shoulder and gasped, "No, mate, you don't want to make him mad! He'll come for you, you know, after he…" Then the following whispers frightened the aggressor into fleeing.
At least Starscream had no fear of being attacked. As for Megatron, he did not show his face while he recovered and walked to regain strength. Soundwave stayed with him, but Shockwave however, had unintentionally caused the most trouble. Enraged dinobots heard he was being sheltered and came to terminate him, then met a defense wall of furious Predacons. The bloody fight only halted when they found out that Shockwave had left in the chaos. He had teleported away, but the Predacons hid the fact from the Dinobots that they could track him. Starscream only heard of what had happened when he got back, since the roaring had terrified him into spending a night away.
It was horrifying to see the marks on Ripclaw caused by the Dinobots, to know that there were more terrifying beasts that might equal the Predacons in strength. She was burnt and scratched as thought it had been other Predacons she was fighting, but Starscream realized that her venom had been kept out of the battle no matter how vicious it got.
In Shockwave's disappearance, Megatron and Soundwave wondered if they would be the next targets of some vengeful Autobots. Starscream was never comfortable around Megatron and left when he was near, so he was alarmed when Megatron asked to visit him directly.
"We received word from Shockwave through the Predacons," Megatron rumbled as Starscream shrunk up. "He is leaving Cybertron. Soundwave and I intend to go with him."
Starscream became less nervous in his surprise. "You are leaving?"
"It was an idea we originally considered," Megatron replied. "We should have acted upon it sooner. It appears that the world is not ready for us, and it needs time to forget the severity of our actions."
The word forget caught Starscream's attention.
"How long will you be gone?" Starscream asked.
Megatron hesitated, as though they had not thought it through. "Perhaps a century. If we are still met with hostility upon our return to Cybertron, we will spend further time away."
"Did you decide where you will go?"
"It would be dangerous to reveal our destination. However"- Megatron looked to them both- "I would inform you if either of you agreed to join us."
Knockout's reply was instant. "I think I'm fine right here. No one is angry with me. And leave Cybertron for some other random, distant planet in the galaxy? I'll pass, thank you."
Megatron and Soundwave looked to Starscream, sensing his consideration. Noticing his pause, Knockout stared at him in dismay.
He could run from his discomfort, but Starscream knew he did not have to since no one dared harm him. It would just be easier to leave Cybertron and the bots who wished he didn't exist. On the other hand, to be alone with Megatron, Shockwave, and Soundwave frightened him. It might be like the cold life on the warship, where no one cared about him and would turn on him if he stepped out of line. Soundwave would be watching him, and Shockwave might be lurking, wanting to conduct experiments…
Starscream felt that he was getting ahead of himself. It would not be that bad if he was being invited. A band of outcasts who only had each other, building a little home far away. They would have the muscle of Megatron and Shockwave, then the cleverness of the scientist and spy. Life might be interesting, and perhaps enough time would help them understand that they shared similar feelings.
To Knockout, Starscream murmured, "Are you sure that you do not want to…?"
"Stay, Starscream," Knockout replied. "You aren't in danger here."
Here, he had Knockout and Ripclaw. There, there would be no Predacons or crowds that feared him, no societal pressure or responsibilities. A thought then let Starscream decide. He realized that he had already taken the easy route before: each time he clung to a stronger figure- Megatron or Unicron, to make decisions for him. If he followed Megatron now, would he become just as dependent as before? And what kind of life was he living, following Megatron across the universe time and time again?
It was time to stand up and try to fight for his better life, even if it was going to be hard and frightening. Fate had a way of leaping into Starscream's life at the worst times, however. The floors and walls rumbled and everyone stumbled as the warship lifted into flight. As they looked around, baffled, the alarms began to blare.
Starscream clenched his fists, refusing to let the question hang in the air.
"I will stay!" he called out, mostly to Knockout. The doctor locked gazes with him and beamed, then they focused on worrying about what was happening.
Knockout and Starscream ran ahead of Megatron and Soundwave, transformed, and hurried to the front. Starscream was the first to arrive, and he stared at the fidgeting Bumblebee and Ratchet.
"What is happening?" he demanded.
The warship plowed over the clouds on a beeline toward Iacon. To the side of the window, Ultra Magnus' ship flew. Whatever the news was, it was so horrible that they forgot to be disgusted with Starscream.
"We are not certain" Ratchet growled. "It does not sound good. A large ship carrying Minicons went to recolonize the moon, and now it is returning under Airachnid's control."
"Airachnid? What?"
"She demands that we surrender, or else she will release a plague that will wipe out everyone on Cybertron."
"A plague? Wait… hold on. Oh no…" Starscream's eyes expanded. "I know what is happening."
They whipped their heads back at him.
"The Decepticons sent Airachnid and all her Insecticons off the warship," Starscream rushed. "It was at the time we had an incident, a plague that destroyed half our crew by turning them into energon-sucking Terrorcons. It was passed along by a single bite, but we thought we had stopped its spread. If she claims to have possession of it, then that means her Insecticons are infected but she is able to control them!"
"A single bite?" Bumblebee gasped.
"If she coordinates them, that plague could spread impossibly fast. We have to terminate all of them, which can only be done by shooting them through the spark."
Knockout burst in. "I'm here! What is happening?"
"The Terrorcon disease." Starscream whirled around. "It is back."
"Vampire zombies!" Knockout yelped. "Not again, I thought we-"
Starscream turned back to the horrified Autobots. "We need to blast the Insecticons out of the sky before they spread. Just one left alive would be disastrous for this world… And we must stop Airachnid, or else the hive will be more dangerous."
"The Aerialbots are on their way," Ratchet muttered. "But if one bite will infect them, then they need to be wary of combining into a larger target."
"Where is the spacecraft?" Starscream asked. "Are the Insecticons still within it?"
Ratchet turned to the side to reveal the blip on the screen they were approaching.
Bumblebee said, "She will see us coming; she will release them before we can shoot. We need to be ready with fliers in the sky."
"It will be hard to shoot through their plating into sparks," Starscream added. "We could instead have the fliers shoot their wings to crash into the ground. Then, the others can fight there and finish them off."
"I like that plan," Bumblebee proclaimed. "Ratchet, call everyone! The refugees both Autobot and Decepticon, but tell the troopers to go home! They could make it worse. All fliers in the sky, and everyone else to cover the streets!"
Ratchet worked as swiftly as he could, and everyone gave him complete silence to explain the predicament. However, all eyes were locked on the signal they were approaching. Then, they raised their faces to the window until the smudge of a distant spaceship was seen.
Starscream inhaled internally. For a Minicon-owned ship, it was massive. He twitched, imagining the undead bodies squirming within and trying to remember how many Insecticons there had been before. Ratchet and Ultra Magnus opened fire the moment they saw it, but then the back end of the ship dropped open and the swarm escaped like a black explosion.
"Fire!" Knockout hollered. "Fire!"
They did, regardless of his cries. Shots beamed through the cloud just as Predacon forms swooped over the window and blasted fire. Starscream watched them soar on, and froze as he imagined just what would happen if one of them was caught, killed, and infected.
A final black shape sped out of the spacecraft, leaving the transport flying straight for them. Ratchet swerved in the time that they had, heaving the warship out of the way and throwing everyone off their feet. While he spared the Nemesis from damage, Knockout fell into under the catwalk and Starscream dug claws into the floor.
"That was Airachnid!" Starscream called.
Ratchet frantically tried to both shoot and send in portals for faraway Cybertronians. Starscream saw Seekers zip out toward the swarm, shooting ahead and striking down individual dots. Watching, he felt his spark and wings quiver with a need to go out and join them. He snapped away, racing out of the room and past Megatron and Soundwave. Then, his feet stopped pounding as he transformed and ripped through the halls.
I can help. I am a flier, I should be out there-
Passion flooded him with energy and burnt away the fear.
I will stop her. I can get through the Terrorcons.
Starscream burst outside and swerved around the ship, shooting off like an arrow toward the swarm. The other fliers were looping back constantly, trying to keep their distance while dropping Insecticons for the army on the ground. The four Predacons were split, all trying different angles to get around the swarm to Airachnid, the lone bot they had heard about. Their fire melted wings easily, felling them faster than the Seekers could. As Starscream fired, he searched with the Predacons for Airachnid.
They did not know what she looked like, but Starscream searched for the spinning of her helicopter blades. He zipped past Ripclaw, weaving his smaller body through the outer ranks of Insecticons. Sucking tubes extended and snapped at him, missing in his speed.
She must be in the thick of them, hiding.
He circled, scanning for an opening to go in deeper.
I can take a risk. The others can't.
Then, he heard a muffled growl behind him and a sudden silence. He snapped around to face the sound, then saw Ripclaw plummet through the air. All he could was watch for a moment in confusion, taking in the white wrapping her wings and muzzle. Then, it clicked as he spotted Airachnid, hidden and pressed against the back of one undead Insecticon.
She leapt off just then, diving for the descending Predacon. In the thick of battle, no one caught the moment and Starscream had almost missed it himself. Fate prodded him again, this time insisting that it was not here to thwart him. It screamed at Starscream now that the moment was his.
He shot down faster than Airachnid, the air slicing with a screech as he came down. She tossed her head back in surprise, spotted him, and transformed before she was struck. With a shuddering boom, Ripclaw crashed into a building and collapsed a level. Wall and floor crumpled over the Predacon as she slipped to the ground to be buried and trapped. At that time, Airachnid swerved and flew, abandoning the Predacon to dodge Starscream and mentally call for back-up.
There was no escaping his speed. Despite his lack of powerful missiles, his blasts shocked her precisely and halted her. Hollering in pain, she transformed reflexively and struck a rooftop. As she rolled, web shot from her hands in hopes of catching his wings. Starscream spun sideways to evade the shots, then he dipped down as Airachnid fell off the building.
She scrambled onto her hands and knees as Starscream slammed down onto his feet. Airachnid stared up into a blaster heated in her face. Then, she snarled in ire before he proclaimed, "Call off the Insecticons, Airachnid. I know you are controlling their infected minds. Stop them now."
As he stared into her furious face, it cracked open. Starscream was so startled to see the change that he was slow to yank back, and the teeth of the tube snapped onto his blaster. With a yowl, he yanked it off and scrambled back, but she was already lunging.
She was not dead, but he had not expected this. Her cruel face was now an indescribable horror, of thirsty eyes, glowing veins, and teeth. That face rushed at him as Airachnid leapt, shooting the tube at his neck and crashing into his body. He screamed as he fell back and felt the teeth pierce a neck tube. His hands grabbed and tried to shove, but at once the tube sucked with painful pressure, ripping a hole and drawing blood rapidly into her body.
His vision and hearing began to dim, but he felt her weight on him and knew where she was. Gasping, he swiped his claws over her in desperation, but as strength failed him, his arms dropped ineffectively. Now, all he could see was black as he fought to stay conscious. In a few more seconds, he will lose too much energon and perish. A few seconds after, and his body would be completely drained.
If I die…
There was no time to complete the thought, but he meant to wonder if he would be able to come back again. Who had allowed his return? While his spark was abnormal, surely only Primus could have recreated his exact body. Perhaps Starscream could not return infinitely, but only if his creator allowed it...
Starscream dragged his hands up his chest, then collectively shot his fingers straight up where he assumed Airachnid's tube was. The tips sank through metal and something soft, then Starscream heard a gasp. The tube slid away, weight rolled off him, and there was a quiet thud.
Slowly, he sat up and blinked until he received blurry vision. Airachnid lay beside him, throat punctured by claws and gushing energon. As blood continued to trickle out his own neck, Starscream leaned over her and stabbed his hands into her spark chamber. She jerked, then collapsed, tube and hands splayed out to the sun. After the light faded from her eyes, it did not restart, for she was never to rise again.
His hands slid out as he fell back. Starscream crumpled onto his side, shivering and feeling suddenly frigid. The energon was hot though, still running out from his neck like lines of lava.
I'm losing too much.
He reached up and tried to pinch the tube closed, but to no avail. While lying, Starscream transformed an arm and fired past his neck, trying to use the heat of the blasts to melt the tube. His mouth flapped as he called in a fading whisper for help.
I am going to die. What will happen? I don't want to die, so soon…
He felt even colder.
Go to the Allspark right away. You might be reborn.
Starscream felt the loss of feeling but also a strange tingling throughout his body.
Let go. It is over.
Even if someone was racing to him and yelling, Starscream would not have heard, for his senses were nearly gone now.
What if I do not return this time… If I spoiled my one chance?
You will be fine. Leave this body.
Starscream felt dizzy as though he was in motion, and the tingling feeling now intensified and felt like bugs crawling through his drained tubes. Something heavy curled up in his gut, and he felt bloated and on the verge of vomiting.
No, I think the disease is taking over-
Suddenly, he felt so light and empty. The feeling was unbearable, and he needed to be filled. Energon… He needed energon, now. The thirst was so strong, he needed to drink sweet energon, so much energon, hot energon…
Starscream's body shambled forward, and he barely recognized the feel of his feet over the ground. He was on the move, but he could not see where he was going.
Energon, delicious energ- No! I am dying, it is taking me over!
You want to stay now and taste it. You are unbearable thirsty and empty inside, but imagine fresh energon filling you. You must find it now.
Starscream's body halted, flexing its claws.
No, this is wrong, he thought. Something is…
It was familiar, that crawling almost living presence within him. Then it struck him at once. His thoughts, saying in second-person- they were not his own thoughts. Within the disease was dark energon, and now within his body yet again was-
You! Starscream screeched internally. Get out of my body!
There was no being to tackle, but Starscream's spark brightened in resistance. Through the blackness and his dim senses, Starscream clawed for control of his body and began to see a light.
The taint of dark energon saw through his memories and remembered how Starscream had failed him. It uttered, You are too late. I will steal one life today.
No! he yowled mentally and fought to wrench back his moving body. As he regained more feeling, he could feel himself pinning a struggling bot under him. The tube within him itched to slide out and strike. Already, his mouth was stretched wider than it could have gone before, fangs protruding through the metal. Starscream felt them gnash together as he tried to refuse, then he felt them open again as the dark energon fought back.
You do not control me! You will not force me to do this!
The specks of infection swirled around his spark chamber, looking for openings. However, the light was growing stronger, pushing them back.
Be gone!
His vision snapped into clarity and Starscream let out a long gasp. Now, he felt everything, his claws embedded into Smokescreen's shoulders and his quivering back under his legs. The young Autobot's face was turned and right below him, one blue eye wide in terror and staring up at his fangs.
"Smokescreen," he breathed. He imagined his energon rushing in fear, and the thirst urged him to bite and swallow his blood. With great effort, he forced himself to release Smokescreen.
"Quick," Starscream hissed. "Before I lose control and hurt anyone… Shoot me, Smokescreen."
The young Autobot gazed at him and hesitated. Starscream blinked, frowning slightly in confusion. What was holding him back? He had just nearly killed him, and he likely wanted Starscream gone anyway. Was he afraid of angering him?
"Shoot me, now," he groaned. "You must. I hear Unicron and he is trying to use this body..."
Smokescreen transformed an arm into a blaster, slowly aiming it for his chest. When Starscream shifted closer, Smokescreen flinched but let Starscream place the blaster over his spark chamber. Then, Starscream gazed into Smokescreen's eyes and realized there was regret in them.
He does not want to hurt or kill me…
In that moment, he felt warm with hope.
Smokescreen has a good spark. He could be a great friend, if I am lucky enough to have him.
"It is okay," Starscream sighed to him. "I am already dead."
Smokescreen nodded subtly, and the blue of his concerned eyes was the last thing Starscream saw before he fired.