CHAPTER 4

Starscream's log

Entry #11

Primus help me.

I have just escaped the Nemesis, and – get this – I found Optimus Prime himself, onboard the damn ship, as if he was another Decepticon!

In fact, I even saw the Decepticon sigil on his right shoulder! And he now calls himself Orion Pax!

He didn't seem to remember me, nor even ever being a Prime, an Autobot for that matter. He said he was doing research for Lord Megatron…

While I was trying to explain things to "Orion", a Vehicon patrol disturbed us, and their reactions and his showed me that he truly is on the Decepticons' side now. He did try to protect me, although rather decently and half-sparked. But he bought me enough time to transform and get out of that wretched place. But I didn't get the energon cubes I had taken from the storage room with me. I was too busy getting the Pit out of there.

Sadly, as I escaped the ship and got outside, I was shot in the rear and crashed into the woods.

I am now a sitting duck. My leg is leaking energon like crazy, and already being depleted from the stuff, I cannot afford to lose any more.

Remember how I said before that 'desperate times call for desperate measures'?

Well, this is another desperate time.

I have called the Autobots' medic, Ratchet. He's the only one who can help me right now. I need to get this wound stitched up, and in my current situation, there's nothing I can do by myself. In return for medical treatment, I have promised him important information. Surely the Autobots would want to know that their leader is now a Decepticon…

I hope he answers my call and does it soon.

I can't hold on much longer.

Starscream's log

Entry #12

Thank the AllSpark, Primus and whatever roams the Earth.

Though Ratchet broke his promise about coming alone and instead brought that clumsy Bulkhead with him, and despite the fact that the two of them almost left me to die – because apparently they already know about Prime's situation – I managed to convince them to stay and repair me, in exchange for information regarding Megatron's newly build space bridge. I still can't believe they actually finished building that thing without my supervision! How dare they?!

I also cannot believe what a lack of sympathy the Autobots have without their leader. Luckily, Ratchet got my leg patched up and gave me an energon injection. It really helped. Had I been a sentimental idiot, I would probably have said thank you. But why would I thank someone who almost left me to die a miserable death?

My energon worries are over for now, but it won't be long before my hunger returns. I must find shelter, even if only temporary.

Now that Megatron knows I'm alive, surely he'll try to find me. Which means I have to be extra careful.

Ugh, another cave. I'm getting sick of these caves. But I have no place else to stay. This'll have to do for now. I'll end this log now, and tomorrow, I will continue my search for energon, and perhaps also a new home.

"Wake up, sleepy-head."

Someone was pounding Starscream on the helm. He woke up in a jolt and saw the ugliest robot he had ever seen. A giant insect-fish hybrid into a robot, red and yellow-striped, two mouths and two pairs of green eyes – not optics, those were definitely organic eyes! Yuck!

"What in the name of Unicron are you?!" he exclaimed in revolt.

"Ah, you used just the right words," another, deep voice sounded. Behind the ugly insect-fish, stood a bulky blue mech, a cross between an elephant and a whale with a red visor on his face.

"Wha—Another one?!" Starscream pointed his arm-missiles at the intruders. "Who are you? What are you? Why do I keep running into freaks like you?"

"Careful what you say," a third, cold voice sounded from the opposite side of the blue mech. It was a red and green mech, consisting of lizard and dragonfly parts, with a yellow visor instead of optics. "We are called the Blendtrons, masters of devastation and chaos. I am Drancron."

"And I am Rartorata," the ugly insect-fish said in a rattling tone. His name is almost as ugly as his looks, Starscream thought.

"And I am the leader of the Blendtrons, Elphorca," the blue elephant-whale said.

Starscream took a moment to take in the names he had just heard. Then a thought struck him. "You wouldn't happen to be part of a group called the Heralds of Unicron, would you?"

"You catch on fast, little one," Rartorata cackled. "We are specially trained assassins, and we are on a mission to find someone."

"Not me?" Starscream whimpered defeated.

"No, no," Elphorca chuckled. "We're looking for a traitor."

"And that is not me, how…?"

"We don't give a scrap about Decepticon traitors," Drancron said. "We're looking for a Unicronian traitor."

"A…Unicronian…traitor?" Starscream repeated confused.

"Correct. We're looking for a bot named Nightbird. But then we found you sleeping in this cave here, and we thought, hey, why not invite him in on the fun?"

"Sideways and Thrust weren't exactly thrilled about the recent events," Elphorca grumbled. "And neither are we. Lord Unicron was supposed to awaken from his deep slumber, but thanks to your leader, Megatron, a blasphemist of the great Unicron's mighty blood, and that cursed Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, Unicron remains in slumber."

"Wait a second…those calamities…" Starscream said aloud to himself. "Those were caused by Unicron? But that means…"

"Yes," Rartorata said, as if reading Starscream's mind. "The Earth's core is our Lord Unicron. He was supposed to tear this filthy piece of rock off of him and rise to glory, but instead he must continue suffering, letting all these filthy organics stomp upon him with their unworthy feet! He must continue to stay in limbo, in his eternal slumber! Oh, if only there was something we could do to help our poor master…"

"We are doing something, remember?" Drancron said and hit Rartorata in the back of his large head. "We're capturing Nightbird to—"

"Hush!" Elphorca said. "We're not supposed to say anything near…one of them." He nodded towards Starscream, who looked on in confusion.

"Them? Who is them? I mean, who are them? I mean—" The Seeker growled and rose up. "You know what? I don't care! Just leave me alone and let me search for my own energon!"

The Blendtrons stepped aside and let Starscream exit the cave. "Fine, suit yourself," Rartorata said. "Just don't let any bears get to you! I hear they love eating little birds like you!" His comment was followed by an outburst of laughter among the Blendtrons. Starscream growled lowly, trying to ignore them. He transformed and took off.

Starscream's log

Entry #13

My thirteenth log. Huh. Seems like only yesterday that Airachnid abandoned me to the Autobots' mercy. But it has been almost three months since I became a rogue.

I managed to gather some scraps of energon from the abandoned mines, but altogether they only lasted through a single day. I don't get where this increased hunger for energon is coming from. Back when I lived onboard the Nemesis, I drank only a single cube twice a week. Now I feel like I need a whole cube every single day, and as I don't have that much energon at my disposal, that need is quite…difficult to live up to.

Now, according to human superstition, the number 13 is the number of bad luck. Why that is, I can't even imagine. There's no such thing as an unlucky number. Only the belief of bad luck actually causes it.

And believe me, I'm having a lot of bad luck lately.

I've currently teamed up with the human organization called MECH, the same fleshlings who once made off with Breakdown's right eyeball. They are like humanoid Decepticons!

Their leader, Silas, is trying to create his own Transformer, but he lacks the knowledge of Transformer biology. With my help, they should have a proper Transformer in no time. In return, I have (oh ever so desperately) requested them to help me in my search for energon. Until then, I have been allowed to stay at their base. I have to admit, it's nice to have some company that is neither Decepticon nor Herald of Unicron…even if they are fleshlings.

Most of the soldiers aren't fond of me, naturally. Silas neither. One of them does seem a bit interested in my notes though. Perhaps he is fascinated by how advanced Decepticon Regular is compared to their simple English language. Or perhaps he can actually read them (how would he though?) and finds my information in here valuable.

Oh, Primus, look at me. Now I'm worried about humans finding me competent. I really am screwed up, aren't I?

Good thing they can't read my thoughts. I pretend I have everything under control when it comes to my own well-being, but in reality…I'm scared.

I miss the Nemesis. I miss the Decepticons.

…

I miss Megatron.

I want to go home.

"Get to work," Silas commanded, as his soldiers had subdued the Seeker, who had just destroyed an important part of his research. "And make it quick!"

The soldiers had already begun drilling through Starscream's waist when one of them noticed something peculiar.

"What are those lights in his stomach?" he wondered.

"Are they his T-cog?" Silas demanded.

"Well, no, I don't think so, but…"

"Then ignore it! Get a move on!"

"Yessir!"

Starscream's log

Entry #14

NO!

PRIMUS! PLEASE! NO! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!

THOSE TREACHEROUS HUMANS! THOSE VILE BEASTS!

THEY TOOK MY T-COG! THEY TOOK MY WINGS!

I CAN'T FLY! I CAN'T USE MY LASERS! ALL I HAVE ARE MY MISSILES AND MY CLAWS!

WHAT AM I GONNA DO NOW?! PRIMUS, HELP ME!