CHAPTER 23

Darkest Hour

"You... what?" Arcee whispered in disbelief.

Starscream did not say anymore. He didn't even look at Arcee. He just stared ahead of him, gaze set on something that wasn't there. His face expressed no emotion. No fear. No sadness. No anger. No guilt. Nothing. He just stared blankly in front of him, his mouth in a straight line and his optical ridges low and straight. His optics were their normal size and dilation. It was impossible to read his face. Even his wings were in their normal, high position, unable to show what he felt.

Arcee stared at the Seeker in disbelief. "You..." she repeated, then stopped herself and gazed at the Decepticons laughing by the Omega Lock, which was currently cyberforming Earth through the Space Bridge. "This isn't... We don't..."

Arcee's optics darted from Starscream to the Omega Lock and down at Jack, too upset over his planet being in danger to notice what was happening between his partner and the Seeker.

Arcee was out of her mind. She couldn't focus her anger on anything. She wasn't mad at Starscream. She was furious. She wanted to yell at him, attack him, give him a piece of her mind, avenge Cliffjumper. But with the imminent danger of Earth being cyberformed, the Decepticons having surrounded the Autobots and having full control over the Omega Lock, not to mention their human allies being in danger, there wasn't time to take it out on Starscream.

Which was exactly why he had chosen that moment to tell her. She was too confused to figure out who or what to focus her anger on. Starscream or Megatron. The death of Cliffjumper or the kidnapping of Jack. The past trauma or the present danger.

But Arcee did not have to find out. In the next moment, Optimus had converted his servo into a sword and slashed through one of the Vehicons surrounding them. The other bots looked on in surprise as Optimus stormed out from the Vehicon circle, heading for the Star Saber still planted in the ground. The Vehicons were too surprised to stop him but soon recollected themselves and started running after him.

Optimus pulled the Star Saber from the ground and swung it to wipe out the incoming Vehicon attackers. He began running towards Megatron, who had drawn his Dark Star Saber and prepared to meet Optimus in another confrontation.

But as Megatron swung his own sword, Optimus parried, causing Megatron to recoil. Optimus took advantage of the short amount of time to slice off Megatron's Prime arm, much to the shock of Megatron and the other Decepticons present.

While the remains of Megatron's arm sparked and leaked, Optimus wasted no time in running towards the Omega Lock at full speed, optics locked and objective clear.

Soundwave, Knock Out and Dreadwing began firing at Optimus, as did Skywarp and Thundercracker from the sides. Optimus, determined and completely focused on his mission, absentmindedly dodged the attacks with little effort, followed by jumping onto Dreadwing's face, using it to take off and lift the Star Saber into the air.

The Decepticons being unable to stop him, Optimus let out a roar and struck the Omega Lock with the Star Saber.

The impact caused a massive explosion, sending everyone in the area flying off to the sides. There was a great, bright light, blinding those who looked directly into it. The sound of the explosion was deafening, dulling the nearby bots' audio receptors. Several lost consciousness.

The white blast from the Omega Lock disappeared, as did the Space Bridge it had gone through. So did the light from the Omega Lock itself disappear.

Soon, the light faded and the sounds began returning to the various bots' audio receptors. Optimus and the other Autobots looked around them, gazing at the horror before them. The Omega Lock had been destroyed. The surrounding area was encased in flames, smoke and ashes. The Decepticons seemed to have been buried underneath the rubble.

"Optimus, can you read?" Ratchet's voice sounded from the comm.

"Ratchet," Optimus said in a sorrowful tone, "please open a Space Bridge."

Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, all holding their humans in the surprisingly intact pods, looked likewise sorrowful around at the aftermath of the Lock's destruction. Smokescreen appeared from the smoke cloud and couldn't believe his own optics. As Optimus stepped forth and sheathed the Star Saber, he looked around at his fellow Autobots' sorrowful gazes. They all grieved over the loss of the Lock, but they understood why he had done it. It had been the only way to save Earth.

Soon, a Space Bridge portal appeared before them. Arcee looked back at the others. Her gaze caught the glimpse of Starscream, lying buried underneath some of the rubble, seemingly unconscious. She looked back at the portal.

Without a word, Arcee turned and ran into the portal, followed by Bumblebee, Smokescreen, Bulkhead and Optimus.

Starscream regained consciousness and lifted himself from the ground, shaking the rubble off. As he got onto his servos and knees, he let out a lot of coughs and huffs, not only from the ash and dust filling the area around him, but also still the remaining grains of sand trapped in his ventilation system.

As Starscream opened his optics and looked up, he gasped in horror at the destruction of the Omega Lock. Flames surrounded him, the area beyond the Lock was concealed by the thick, black smoke clouds. Sparks and ash flew along in the hot breezes. The roar and rattle of the flames was the only thing he heard.

"Prime..." he whispered in disbelief. "What have you done...?"

Starscream heard a sound and looked to his left. The light from a Space Bridge portal disappeared almost immediately as he looked. His Spark skipped a beat. He looked around him. The Autobots were nowhere to be seen.

"No..." he whispered in shock. "No, no, no, no, no... NO! NO!"

Starscream scrambled to his pedes but fell down almost as soon as he had gotten onto them.

"No... You can't- They didn't-" he exclaimed and sat still on his servos and knees. "Why...? Why did you leave me behind...?"

His thoughts immediately went to his revelation to Arcee. Had she resented him so much she decided to leave him behind? Had the Autobots forgotten he was even there?

His thoughts went to Optimus. He had destroyed the Omega Lock. He had destroyed the only device that could restore their planet. The only thing that could bring Vos back.

The only thing that would allow Starscream to be reunited with Jetfire. And Optimus Prime had just destroyed it. Just like that. In a matter of seconds.

"Prime..." Starscream hissed with gritted denta, struggling to keep the pressure behind his optics under control. "You treacherous..."

Starscream felt something trickling down his right cheekplate and reached a servo to it. It stung, and as he looked at the claw, it was stained with blue Energon. His face had become scarred.

"Well, well, well," a familiar voice sounded behind Starscream, making him stiffen. "What do we have here? If it isn't the traitor."

Starscream looked up behind him and was met by Dreadwing's face. His angry, disgusted face.

Starscream's wings drooped, his eyebrows downcast and his optics narrowing in fear, gaze locked onto the much larger Seeker.

Instead of attacking him or saying anything else, Dreadwing simply grabbed Starscream on the back and began dragging him with him. Starscream got onto his pedes and followed without a fuss. He was too much in a conflicted state of mind to struggle this time.

Soon they arrived at a clearing where Soundwave, Thundercracker and Skywarp stood, Thundercracker ordering Knock Out to tend to the wounded Megatron. As Dreadwing arrived with Starscream, the other 'Cons averted their gazes to the smaller Seeker, frame slumped and expressing nothing but grief and anger.

Dreadwing threw Starscream on the ground before Megatron, who looked down at the captive. The warlord sneered at the Seeker.

"So, one was left behind," Megatron said with a mockingly pitiful tone. "I told you you would not escape again, Starscream."

Starscream lifted himself onto his servos and knees, wings still downcast, looking at the ground.

"Take me back," he said quietly.

Megatron lifted an optical ridge. "Come again?"

Starscream slowly lifted his gaze to Megatron. "Please let me serve you again," he said, a little louder, "Lord Megatron."

Megatron stared at the Seeker in silence for a while, trying to determine if he was being sincere or not. A moment later, the warlord let out a chuckle which soon turned into a malicious laughter, causing Knock Out to step back in concern. Megatron rose to his pedes, reaching his full height and towered over the smaller Starscream. Starscream stared with anticipation at the warlord, uncertain what his laughter meant.

"Please," Starscream repeated. "I'll even tell you where the Autobots' base is located."

"No need," Megatron replied, giving the Seeker a toothy smirk. "Because we already know where they live."

Starscream stared at Megatron in disbelief. His venting became quicker, which called on another cough attack. The surrounding Decepticons did not comment on the coughing, but simply kept their gazes on Megatron for what was to come next. Starscream soon got his coughing under control and looked back at the amused leader.

"But if you insist," Megatron continued, "then I shall allow you to participate in our invasion of the Autobots..." He walked forward, enveloping Starscream in his large shadow, before kneeling down at the crouching Seeker, anxious for what was to come next. "... as I claim Earth as our new world."

Starscream fought hard not to cringe as Megatron's face was inches away from his own, staring deep into his very Spark with that sharp smile and those piercing red optics of his. He couldn't stop himself from slightly shaking in fear, knowing the warlord could just end it right there and then.

Instead, however, Megatron grabbed Starscream's shoulder and lifted him onto his pedes, the latter letting out a yelp of surprise. Megatron rose back to his full height and turned to Soundwave.

"Open a Space Bridge," he ordered the silent mech. "We have some Autobots to squash."

In the Autobot base, Ratchet was surprised to see the Autobots return with depressed demeanors and the humans trapped in pods.

"The children?" Ratchet remarked in confusion. "What happened?"

Nobody said anything. They wouldn't even look at Ratchet. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee simply put the pods on the railings and proceeded to release the humans from their prisons. Ratchet looked between them, desperate for answers.

"Somebody say something," Ratchet demanded, getting concerned.

As Optimus emerged from the GroundBridge tunnel, Bulkhead paused in front of Ratchet with a sorrowful look.

"Optimus..." Bulkhead said, barely able to get the words out. "... destroyed the Omega Lock."

Ratchet looked shocked at Optimus with wide optics. "What...?" he said in disbelief. "You did-"

"What was necessary," Optimus interrupted him, having more control over his own voice. "There was no time for another prolonged battle. Not with Earth in imminent danger."

"So you destroyed the only device in any universe capable of restoring our home?" Ratchet spoke quietly, his voice wavering. "Optimus... we needed that."

Smokescreen stepped in front of Optimus, ready to defend him. "You weren't there, doc," Smokescreen said and pointed at him. "And it's not your place to second-guess a battlefield decision."

"It most certainly is!" Ratchet exclaimed. "There had to be another way!"

"It wasn't that simple, Ratchet," Jack protested from the railings, he and the other two humans having been freed.

"Megatron was using the Omega Lock to attack the Earth," Raf explained desperately.

"Optimus saved our planet!" Miko clarified.

"What about OUR planet?!" Ratchet yelled, unable to contain his emotions any longer. "All of our struggles and Energon spilled and countless sacrifices... for NOTHING?!"

"Right decision or wrong, what's done is done," Arcee said, her winglets downcast with sorrow. "But we have another problem here on this world. The 'Cons just changed the rules when they put Jack, Miko and Raf into play."

The kids looked around the room, noticing something was off.

"Wait... where's Starscream?" Jack noted.

The Autobots looked around, noticing their Seeker was missing.

"No..." Optimus said.

"Did we leave him behind?" Bulkhead remarked.

"Scrap!" Smokescreen exclaimed. "How the frag did we miss him?!"

"Did anyone see him back there?" Bumblebee bleeped and looked around.

Arcee didn't say anything. Not at first, at least. She stared into the floor, contemplating the situation. She let out a huffy sigh.

"He's the one who killed Cliffjumper," she announced to the others.

Starscream hadn't expected to be accepted back into the Decepticon fold so quickly after having just fought against them with the Autobot brand on his chest. He knew that. He had expected he would become yet another prisoner.

He had not expected to be thrown into a small, isolated room by Thundercracker as they prepared to return to Earth, however.

"Lord Megatron and the others are currently discussing what to do with you," Thundercracker said briefly. "Remain here for the next few cycles."

With that, Thundercracker closed the door shut, leaving Starscream in complete darkness, the only light coming from his own optics. It was a small, empty closet with barely any room to move or even turn around in. Not helpful against Starscream's fear of small, dark and enclosed spaces.

With nothing else to do, Starscream sat on the floor and thought about his current situation.

Megatron knew where the Autobots' base was located. They were heading for the base. Optimus had destroyed the Omega Lock, the only device capable of restoring Cybertron. The Autobots had left Starscream behind at Megatron's mercy. And the Autobots had just lost their only means of air support.

Arcee knew Starscream had killed Cliffjumper. And she would certainly tell the other Autobots. They would hate him, resent him. They would never take him back again. He could no longer associate himself with them. He had just lost all the respect and admiration of Optimus Prime that he had developed over the last three months. He resented Prime and the others for abandoning him, for dooming Cybertron to remain a lifeless husk.

At the same time, however, he felt no desire to kill any of them. Not even Prime or Arcee. And he felt no desire to have the children perish.

Despite his current hatred for them, he had become friends with the Autobots. He did not want any of them to die.

They did not know what was coming for them. By the time the Autobots were to realize they had been discovered, it would be too late. And being onboard the Nemesis, Starscream was unable to reach the base over the comm.

A sudden idea struck his mind. He didn't need to open a comm. There was a different solution to this.

Starscream quickly put two digits to his audio receptor and opened a high frequency channel, the only thing capable of reaching beyond the ship and base, but at the same time it would immediately give away his intentions to Megatron, as it was on a frequency only Transformers could hear, too high to reach human ears.

Almost as soon as he had opened the channel, the door opened and Thundercracker barged in. Starscream immediately closed the channel and pretended nothing had happened.

"Did you just try to contact the Autobots?" Thundercracker snarled at the smaller Seeker, knowing he was up to something.

"No," Starscream lied. "I was talking to myself..."

Thundercracker snorted but then rose back up. "It doesn't matter either way," he said. "The Nemesis doesn't allow Autobots to communicate electronically, remember? Your efforts are in vain, Starscream. Hm?" Thundercracker put a digit on his audio receptor, apparently receiving a comm. He nodded. "Understood. We're on our way."

The comm. seemingly having ended, Thundercracker removed his digit and gazed down at Starscream, looking at him with anticipation.

"You're lucky Lord Megatron seems to have a thing for you," Thundercracker said and grabbed Starscream's left shoulder, hauling him onto the floor. "Come on. The show is about to begin."

Starscream followed Thundercracker through the hallways, heading for the flight deck where they met with an army of Vehicon Fliers on deck, along with Skywarp and Dreadwing standing in front of them. Thundercracker brought Starscream over to Skywarp, and Starscream was placed in between his Trinemates, Dreadwing standing in front of Starscream, all staring up at Megatron, who gazed out over the view as the ship began descending to Earth. Soundwave stood on Megatron's right side while Knock Out stood on his left side.

Starscream stood with his gaze locked on Megatron, dreading the battle that was about to come.

Dreading the role he was going to play in it.

Everyone looked at Arcee, staring in disbelief.

"Arcee..." Optimus said, his shock barely present in his voice. "You did not..."

"I didn't see him," Arcee lied. "He told me just before you went for the Star Saber. The explosion came, and... I... I didn't..."

Something beeped in on the monitor. The Autobots diverted their attention from Arcee to the monitor.

"What is it?" Bulkhead asked.

Ratchet, still having hard to process all of this, looked at the monitor. He couldn't believe his own optics.

"It's a high frequency signal," Ratchet informed. "With an embedded message."

"From who?" Smokescreen asked.

Ratchet took another moment to look at the name displayed on the monitor.

"From Starscream."

Everyone stared at the monitor in disbelief, as Starscream's headshot was displayed with his name written in Decepticon Regular under it.

"What is he saying?" Jack asked concerned.

Ratchet stared at the message, also written in Decepticon Regular. It was a short message, only three words.

"They're coming. Run."

The Autobots glanced at each other, with a mix of worry and anticipation.

"What does he mean?" Smokescreen asked with concern.

"You don't think..." Bulkhead remarked.

Before they could put their thoughts into words, another transmission beeped in on the monitor, but this time from Agent Fowler.

"Prime!" Agent Fowler shouted through the comm. "The pentagon's preparing to go DEFCON One! I need to know what we're dealing with!"

The Autobots stared at the human on the screen in confusion.

"To what do you refer, Agent Fowler?" Optimus asked slowly.

"Maybe you should step outside and see for yourselves," Agent Fowler said ominously.

"Ratchet," Optimus said darkly. "Watch the children."

The children looked concerned at each other, as the Autobots went into the Autobot elevator and began going up.

Starscream waited several cycles with anticipation, staring between Megatron, Soundwave, Knock Out, Dreadwing and his Trinemates, all remaining silent as they began breaking through the clouds, descending to the canyon the Autobot base was situated in.

Something tall and dark appeared right in front of the ship. Starscream held back a gasp. Behind the clouds stood a thousand meter tall fortress, with spikes going out everywhere, dark, shiny and gloomy. Its size rivaled even the former Trypticon Station, which was even the very ship they were standing on at the moment, Starscream just remembered.

Megatron already knew where the base was before he arrived on Cybertron, Starscream thought anxiously. We were doomed from the beginning.

As the ship descended further, Starscream could catch just a glimpse of the cliff on which the base resided. He thought he could see a few dots standing on the platform. The Autobots must have received his message. But why were they coming out? Did they plan to fight Megatron's forces? Had they not understood his warning?

Starscream perked to attention as Megatron began speaking in front of them.

"Our opportunity to revive Cybertron has been lost," Megatron began his speech, "due to the treachery of Optimus Prime! But from our fortress of New Kaon, we will instead seize control of this world!"

Megatron turned around to look at his soldiers and rose his remaining arm into the air, bellowing his next words.

"DECEPTICONS! TRANSFORM AND RISE UP!"

Everyone on the flight deck threw their arms into the air, roaring with eager, pumped by the warlord's speech. Even Starscream felt his armor chilling of excitement at the warlord's words, momentarily forgetting he had ever been with the Autobots.

In the next moment, Dreadwing began running to the edge of the deck, initiating jet mode and led the rest to do the same. Thundercracker, Skywarp and Starscream, feeling enticed by Megatron's words, ran immediately behind the First Lieutenant and initiated jet mode as well as they descended from the Nemesis. Behind them, the Vehicon Fliers too initiated alternate mode and followed the Seekers in the aerial attack against the Autobot base. Behind them, Starscream heard the buzzing of incoming Insecticons. Megatron was putting his entire armada into this attack.

"ATTACK!" Dreadwing bellowed in the front.

The Seekers, Starscream included, and the Vehicons began firing upon the Autobots standing on the platform, who threw themselves to the sides and drew their own blasters, trying desperately to fight back their attackers.

As Starscream flew past the Autobots, he saw their shocked faces as they learned their Seeker had sided with the enemy. He could practically hear their curses thrown at him as he turned to continue the assault, his Trinemates on either side of him.

"It's good to have you back, Starscream," Thundercracker said briefly before they launched another attack on the Autobots.

Starscream didn't know what to feel in this situation. At the moment, he was just filled up with rage and hatred towards Optimus for destroying Cybertron's only hope, as well as for the Autobots as a whole having left him at the enemy's mercy, thus forcing him into rejoining Megatron or perish.

"You have to go, Prime!" Starscream shrieked as he launched a missile at the Autobots on the platform, just as Optimus launched a magic energy slash at the attacking Insecticons coming from the other side. "Go to the PITS!"

Starscream and his Trinemates flew past the Autobots yet again and turned to look at them from the side.

Go, Starscream thought, desperately trying not to scream. Run! Run to the ends of the Earth! Hide! Do not let Megatron get to you!

As the Trine turned to launch another attack, Optimus led his comrades to the platform, seemingly retreating. Starscream and his Trinemates launched more lasers at the Autobots, but Starscream deliberately missed them.

"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Starscream screamed as he flew past the disappearing Autobots once again, descending into their base. He flew away from the cliff and turned, this time just circling around, watching as the human Agent Fowler entered his helicopter and began firing alone at the Decepticon army.

Thundercracker and Skywarp didn't fail to notice Starscream having stopped his attacks.

"You have to keep attacking," Thundercracker warned Starscream. "Or Megatron will notice."

"Don't tell me what to do," Starscream hissed. As he caught sight of Dreadwing nearing their position, he mentally shook his head and turned his attention back to the cliff. "Fire! Don't let them escape!"

Inside the Autobot base, the walls, floor and ceiling were trembling, dust and sand falling from the ceiling.

"What's happening?" Jack asked with worry.

Optimus and the others returned to the command center, despair written all over their faces.

"What is going on out there?" Ratchet asked anxiously.

"The Decepticons have invaded Jasper," Optimus informed darkly.

"And Fowler seems to think he can hold them off," Bulkhead said.

"Starscream was with them," Arcee snarled. "He's returned to Megatron's ranks."

The children and Ratchet looked shocked at the information.

"No..." Miko whispered in disbelief.

"But why?" Raf asked, also in disbelief.

"Because he's a Decepticon," Bulkhead replied darkly, gaining everyone's attention. "He has always been a Decepticon. Like that old saying. Once a Decepticon, always a Decepticon."

The Autobots stood in silence for a moment, while the base seemed to pause in its trembling.

"He's not one of us," Arcee said darkly. "He's never been one of us. It was all just deception. Disgrace."

"He asked for trouble the moment he came," Bulkhead grumbled. "We should've known he lied to us from the beginning."

"I can't believe we let him fool us..." Bumblebee bleeped quietly.

"I knew he was up to something," Smokescreen commented lowly. "Damn agitator..."

"Prime! Reinforcements just arrived!" Agent Fowler's voice suddenly said from the comm., drawing the bots' attention away from Starscream's betrayal.

"Agent Fowler," Optimus said, "your military cannot prevail against the-"

"Didn't think I was gonna let Team Prime have all the fun, did ya?" a familiar voice sounded from the comm.

Bulkhead barked a laugh. "It's Jackie!" he rejoiced.

"Wheeljack?!" Ratchet exclaimed in surprise. "But, how did you-"

Wheeljack's face popped up on the monitor as he started speaking again. "Picked up a strange energy surge," Wheeljack informed. "Hope ya don't mind the company."

"No, it's just that after everything..." Ratchet trailed off. "Well..."

"We're still on the same team, doc," Wheeljack ensured him. "Always will be."

With that, the transmission ended and Wheeljack joined Agent Fowler in fighting back the Decepticon forces... which included Starscream. But the Autobots had more important things to worry about than their stray Seeker.

Optimus faced away from the others and thought in silence for a while, thinking about Starscream's words.

They're coming. Run.

You have to go, Prime. Go to the Pits!

Get out of my sight!

Despite everything, it seemed as if Starscream wanted the Autobots to live. He was telling them to run away. And by the looks of it, it seemed retreating was their only option now.

"Ratchet," Optimus said, having made his decision, "prepare to 'Bridge everyone out of here."

Ratchet stared at Optimus' back in disbelief. "We're abandoning the base?" he asked shocked.

Optimus finally turned to look at his comrades, his face deadly serious. "The base is lost," he declared. "Wheeljack and Agent Fowler can only buy us time to escape. Bumblebee, Rafael, you will depart first."

"Okay," Bumblebee bleeped.

"You're splitting us up?" Rafael asked in disbelief.

"Shouldn't we stick together?" Jack asked in agreement.

"All for one and one for all?" Miko asked uncertain.

"We must disperse to avoid capture," Optimus explained, "until we can regroup and launch a counterattack."

Optimus looked around at the worried expressions of his comrades.

"Survival is our only priority now," he said, feeling just as worried as everyone else.

Outside the base, the Autobot Wheeljack had just arrived in his ship, the Jackhammer, and was helping Agent Fowler delivering air support to the Autobots. Starscream's Spark raced faster as the white Autobot ship shot down several Vehicon troopers and Insecticons with ease.

"Wheeljack..." Starscream hissed lowly as he and his Trinemates darted around the sky to avoid Wheeljack and Agent Fowler's attacks against them, seeing Starscream had betrayed them.

"Hey, Starscream," Skywarp said as they regrouped and shook off the two attackers. "This is your chance!"

"My chance?" Starscream repeated confused. "To what?"

"To prove yourself to Lord Megatron," Thundercracker replied. "If you take down that Autobot ship by yourself, then he will most certainly accept you back as one of us again!"

Starscream mentally gulped. He hadn't taken that into account. That Wheeljack, of all bots, would appear and fight alongside the Autobots. Starscream had almost forgotten about him, mostly because he lived alone on Earth. He hated Wheeljack, he always had, but he didn't like the thought of having to take down one of the Autobots. But Thundercracker was right. Taking Wheeljack down would certainly prove his loyalty to Megatron, something he desperately needed right now.

The Autobots were on their own now. In the end, all that really mattered to Starscream was his own survival. And that was one thing the Autobots could not ensure him of anymore.

Even if he did decide to go rogue or rejoin the Autobots now, he was the one who Megatron could track down the easiest. Starscream turned into a jet. A form that was out of place anywhere except at a military base or in a certain route in the sky. He would not be able to hide from the humans. And he would not be able to survive if he couldn't fly. Even if he did fly, almost all the Decepticon warriors were flight frames, patrolling the skies of Earth at all times. He would be found out.

Starscream had no choice but to stay with the Decepticons, even if only for the time being. It was the only way. That's what Starscream kept telling himself, anyway.

And to stay with the Decepticons, he had to prove himself to Megatron.

By proving he was an Autobot no more.

"Spread out and flank him," Starscream hissed over the comm. to his Trinemates. "I'll handle this."

Thundercracker and Skywarp did as told and went to each side of Starscream, keeping a good distance between them. Wheeljack was currently chasing after two Vehicon Fliers, who both dispersed as they noticed the Trine coming after the Autobot. Starscream did not know if Wheeljack knew he was being chased, but even if he did, he could not get away, not with Thundercracker and Skywarp flanking him at the sides and Starscream coming at him from behind.

Starscream felt something crack inside of him as he locked onto Wheeljack and launched both his missiles.

Forgive me, Starscream thought, fighting not to scream out.

The missiles circled around each other as they followed the Jackhammer, Wheeljack having noticed he was being followed and fired upon. The Wrecker tried to shake off the missiles, but they were heat-seeking missiles. And the Jackhammer was simply not fast enough.

The missiles hit, and the Jackhammer caught fire and was sent off crashing towards the ground behind the cliff the Autobot base was resided in.

As Starscream flew over the Autobot base, following the Jackhammer's crashing with his radar, Thundercracker and Skywarp caught up to him.

"Now that's how you wreck a Wrecker!" Skywarp cackled merrily.

"Looks like I was wrong about you, Starscream," Thundercracker commented. "You never left us, did you?"

"Get down there and fetch the Autobot," Starscream grumbled over the comm. "Megatron will want proof of his demise."

They didn't leave right away.

"You sure you want us to leave you alone, sir?" Thundercracker asked uncertain.

"I'm not going anywhere, if that's what you're implying," Starscream hissed back. "I need to see this through to the end. But I don't want to look at either of you right now. So just... GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

Thundercracker and Skywarp decided to trust their Trine Commander and descended to the ground, following the Jackhammer's path of smoke, leading to the ship's crash site. Starscream felt ill, looking over the battlefield.

"What have I done...?" Starscream whispered to himself.

In the Autobot base, Bumblebee set off with Rafael safely tucked in his cabin, to a random location where the Decepticons wouldn't find them. The GroundBridge remained open, Ratchet simply changing its location for the next group to depart.

Bulkhead and Miko were the next to leave. Another tremor shook the base and caused some dust to fall from the ceiling.

"We haven't much time," Optimus said out loud.

Miko looked anxiously out at Jack from Bulkhead's cabin window. No words were spoken, but both were worried if they would ever see each other again.

Soon, Bulkhead started driving, Miko looking out at Jack, and the pair disappeared into the GroundBridge.

Afterwards, it was Jack and Arcee's turn. As Ratchet had changed the location of the GroundBridge to another point in the country, Jack put on his motorbike helmet and sat tightly as Arcee set off into the portal for the last time.

Next up was Smokescreen. Ratchet set the coordinates to another random location. Smokescreen turned to look at the commander and the medic. He gave them both a salute before initiating car mode and drove off into the portal.

Now there was only Optimus and Ratchet left. Another tremor shook the base around them. After changing to a new location, Ratchet looked up at Optimus with concern.

"What about you?" Ratchet asked with uncertainty.

Optimus took a moment before he answered. "I will ensure that the Decepticons cannot follow," Optimus announced.

Ratchet stared up at his leader in disbelief and shock. Optimus was going to sacrifice himself to save the others. Instead of saying anything, Ratchet sighed and walked on, heading for the GroundBridge portal. Before he entered, he stopped, but without looking back at Optimus. It would only make it harder to leave.

"I... never imagined it would end like this," Ratchet said quietly.

Ratchet walked through the portal, which disappeared behind him automatically. Optimus looked at the empty tunnel with a sorrowful gaze.

"Neither did I, old friend," Optimus said quietly to the air. He looked down at the GroundBridge controls and clenched his fists, determined to keep everyone safe.

Be safe, everyone, Optimus thought as he drew forth the Star Saber and prepared to destroy the controls. You too, Starscream.

Outside, Starscream watched as the Decepticons withdrew from the base, as the Nemesis began flying over the cliff. Megatron stood at the tip of the long spike at the front of the warship, watching over the battle. Starscream wondered if the warlord had witnessed Starscream destroying Wheeljack's ship.

From the corner of his radar system, Starscream saw Dreadwing flying in to join the smaller Seeker.

"You better back off, little one," Dreadwing warned. "You do not want to get caught in the crossfire."

Starscream held back a snarl and flew to the side with Dreadwing following him. They both turned and witnessed as the underside of the Nemesis began opening up, revealing a large cannon, pointing directly below at the Autobot base. Starscream knew what was about to happen, but he couldn't help but cringe at the sight.

The cannon began charging up with a pinkish red surge of energy, gathering up in a growing white energy ball at the bottom with a red tint. As the seconds passed, the ball grew larger and larger, building up more and more energy.

And then, a moment later, the cannon fired its blast.

Explosions blew off large chunks of rock on the cliff. Shockwaves sent dust off on the ground all around the cliff, forming huge gray clouds. As the clouds dispersed, the only thing to be seen was a broken cliff with large, roaring flames burning through the interior of the base.

Starscream felt a rush in his tanks at the sight of the Autobot base, destroyed. And with it, all his belongings in his room, his crown, his cape, his shoulder-pads, his drawing of himself, his jars with organs, his puzzles, his books, his list of Seekers...

His home. His friends. His sanctuary.

Autobot Outpost Omega-One was no more.

The Autobots were no more.

They were all gone.

And it was all Starscream's fault.

The sound of someone transforming and taking off to flight caught Starscream's attention. He saw Megatron taking off from the Nemesis and beginning to descend to the wreckage of the former Autobot base. Starscream noticed Dreadwing taking off to join his master's side, and decided to follow suit. Best to show Megatron whose side he was on.

The three Fliers made their way to a bare spot in the middle of the wreckage, and initiated bot mode, Dreadwing on Megatron's left side and Starscream on his right side. They rose up and looked down on the floor, gazing at the only intact thing from the base: the large Autobot insignia marked on the floor.

"This is the place, alright," Dreadwing commented at the insignia.

"This was the place," Megatron corrected his First Lieutenant.

"United we stand," Starscream said, gaining the other two's attention, "divided they fall."

Megatron chuckled by the silver Seeker's comment. "It's good to have you back with us, Starscream," Megatron said and returned his gaze to Dreadwing.

Starscream absently traced the scar on his right cheek. A scar to remind him of his evil deeds that day. Of all his evil deeds.

Born in grief, raised in hate. Helpless to defy his fate.

In the end, he was no less evil than Megatron.

Starscream let the Autobots run. They would let him live.

But he knew they would never forget what they could not forgive.

That he was the murderer of Cliffjumper. The betrayer of his people. A deceiver of his friends.

He was not one of them. Not anymore. He had never been one of them.

He was not of their kind.

His destiny had always been with the Decepticons.

He had made his decision. And there was no going back.

Still, there was that one question that nagged him.

Have I made the right decision...?