CHAPTER 3
Starscream's log
Entry #4
I can't believe my luck.
Two Heralds of Unicron within the same mega-cycle, and both helped me dig through the mine that had caved in not long ago, after my – ahem – conflict with Lord Megatron. Can I even call him Lord anymore, now that I am not a Decepticon any longer? Well, I still wear my insignia, but those are hard to get rid of…
Anyway, these two mechs, Sideways and Thrust, they managed to help me gain access to a whole week's supply of energon! Thank the AllSpark!
As I left them with my arms full of energon, everything suddenly turned dark around me, despite being in the middle of the day. It seemed like a solar eclipse. Haven't seen one of those for eons.
I've decided to lay low for the time being, preserve my energon and wait for an opportunity. I have currently settled down in another abandoned cave, but the weather makes it an awful hideout. I'll find something better soon enough.
Starscream's log
Entry #5
I've never experienced such terrible weather during my entire stay on Earth. Three days have passed since I got help from Sideways and Thrust to gain more energon.
From my cave, I can see the dark and cloudy sky, I can hear thunder and see glimpses of lightning now and then, but I cannot see any rain. Quite strange, even for Earth weather.
Perhaps it'll settle down in a few mega-cycles.
Nothing to worry about.
Starscream's log
Entry #6
A tornado is on its way. I'm not sure if my cave can handle it.
Perhaps I should go deeper in, maybe even make the cave a bit deeper.
Actually, that's a terrible idea. I'll just sit the storm out and hope for the best.
Starscream's log
Entry #7
The tornado has passed. But now there's an earthquake. The ground is trembling all around me…
DEAR PRIMUS, MY CAVE IS COLLAPSING!
I GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!
Starscream's log
Entry #8
I have abandoned my cave. I brought what little remains of my energon supply that survived the cave-in. I estimate I have only two days' supply left…
I really should stop recording these logs when I should TRY TO GET THE HECK OUT OF THIS PLACE!
EVERYTHING IS CHAOS! EVERYTHING IS BEING TORN TO PIECES! IT'S AS IF THE WHOLE PLANET IS COMING APART!
LORD MEGATRON! PLEASE! HELP ME!
Starscream's log
Entry #9
I just barely managed to avoid getting sucked up by tornadoes, struck by lightning and pummeled down by flying trees, but finally I managed to find a somewhat safe place to stay while these calamities are taking place.
I've settled into the Harbinger, well, what's left of it anyway. Although it is situated underground, I can hear the earth tearing up around me. I searched it and confirmed that there is no energon aboard, just like I learned the first time I was here.
But that doesn't matter to me right now. What matters is that it's sheltering me from the chaos outside.
If I survive this catastrophe, I will make this place my new hideout.
I only have one energon crystal left. I'll save it for tomorrow.
Starscream's log
Entry #10
Primus be with me.
The calamities have finally settled down. No more tornadoes, no more earthquakes, no more thunder or lightning or missing rain. Everything is back to normal.
And I say that with sadness, because I am now once again without a home.
The Harbinger didn't survive the storm. It was slowly torn apart, piece by piece, until only the interior remained. Thankfully, it sheltered me long enough for the storm to settle down.
To make matters worse, however, I have just used up my last crystal.
My hunger will soon gnaw my fuel tank, I know it.
I need to find more energon. And a home.
I hope I'll meet up with some of those Heralds of Unicron again.
Maybe they can help me again.
Hopefully…
One month had passed since the natural disasters had settled down. Starscream had only found a few crystals within a couple of weeks, and each crystal only sustained him for about a day, before the hunger returned once again. This week had been the toughest by far, not finding even a single shard. His hunger was taking a toll on him, slowly draining the energon flowing through his veins instead, thus weakening him.
He had switched to jet mode, in an attempt to locate an energon mine, or perhaps the Nemesis. The Heralds of Unicron, even. He was so hungry that he was desperate enough to even ask the Autobots for help...but no, he hadn't sunk that low yet.
As Starscream flew through the sky in search for energon – or Sideways and Thrust – he wondered how things were going onboard the Nemesis.
Now that Starscream was gone, who would Megatron let out all his wrath on? Hopefully Airachnid, that glitch…
How was Knock Out doing? Was he still doing experiments with Breakdown? Of course they were. Those two were like Autobots and humans, attracted to each other like magnets. Yuck. Sentimental nonsense. The Seeker knew that he would never take a Conjunx Endura, mostly because nobody liked him, let alone loved him.
Nobody cared about him. Megatron hadn't even sent anyone out to search for him, as far as he knew. Starscream didn't know whether to feel relieved or concerned about this fact.
He was torn from his thoughts when a group of Vehicons flew by him, without even noting his presence. His spark made a jolt. They must be returning to the Nemesis…
Without hesitation, he followed them, a good distance behind so they wouldn't notice him, but close enough to find the current location of the airship. The Vehicons entered the ship's entrance, and Starscream followed close by, still without being noticed despite being right behind the Vehicons. They must have thought he was another Vehicon. Stupid drones.
He waited with going until they had disappeared from his sight, then he scurried through the hallways, stopping by each corner until he was sure no one was there. He arrived by the door to the storage room, but it was guarded by two Vehicon drones. Well, not that it was a problem. They were just Vehicons after all, anyone could take those out.
He stepped out from his hiding spot and walked casually towards the guards with his hands behind his back in a superior matter. When the Vehicons spotted him, they pointed their guns at him, but the Seeker did not back off.
"Starscream!" one of the Vehicons exclaimed.
"That's Commander Starscream," the Seeker corrected and approached them. "What's your malfunction? Lower those weapons immediately!"
The Vehicons looked uncertain at each other, then back at Starscream, weapons still pointed at him.
"I'm sorry, sir," the other Vehicon said, "but Lord Megatron ordered that you be taken into custody, should you ever return to the ship."
Starscream put on a surprised look. "What? Er, clearly there has been a mistake…"
Without warning, Starscream clawed the first Vehicon, his gun shooting the ceiling lamp, making the corridor flicker between light and darkness. He clawed the other one right through his spark chamber, instantly killing him. The other one fell to the floor, dead from his wounds. Starscream pulled out his claws, which were stained blue with the 'Con's energon.
Starscream looked at his victims. It wouldn't take long for the rest of the ship to be alert of his presence. He had to move quickly.
He grabbed four energon cubes, a decent amount, but it had to do for now. Despite the satisfaction the crystals gave him, there really wasn't anything like a good ol' energon cube. He walked out of the storage room and was about to exit the hallway when a patrol was nearing his position from behind.
Scrap! he thought and ran as fast as he could with his luggage, but he knew he wouldn't escape in time. Luckily, he found an unattended door and went through it without hesitation. He smiled. I'll just wait here until the coast is clear, then…
His smile faded as he saw that, not only was he not alone in the room, but the mech standing in front of him…impossible! The tall, bulky red and blue mech turned around and looked at him with his bright blue eyes.
"No!" He dropped the cubes and readied his arm-missiles at the bot. "Optimus Prime?!"