CHAPTER 15
Starscream set the GroundBridge coordinates to the location of the Decepticon signal on the monitor. He knew it was dangerous to go out without his Apex Armor, especially since he had no energon left in the Harbinger, meaning injuries would be a too dangerous risk to take. However, the signal of a new Decepticon dispatch signal hinted that they were looking for yet another relic – one perhaps even more formidable than the mighty Apex Armor. And he was more than willing to retrieve it.
Before he left, he brought with him one of the two doses of red energon that he had prepared. He wasn't certain he would use it right away, but in case he misused the first dose, he still had the second one as a back-up – one he had to use very wisely. Plus, it would give him a good indication of how long it would last, and if there were any side-effects he had to be cautious of.
As he went through the portal, he arrived in a temperate forest with orange and red autumn leaves. It was late afternoon, and the pale yellow sky gave him a better view on the area than other times he had been in forests, at night. He definitely preferred daytime.
"Alright," he said to himself. "Let's see what my Decepticon brethren have uncovered this time…"
Before even taking a step forward, a loud explosion sounded from nearby, followed by several other explosions occurring around in the area. Starscream was taken by surprise by the sudden assault, but wasted no time in running away from the explosions. He ran frantically between the burning trees and felt explosion after explosion behind his back, one of them knocking him over. A tree fell down on him, hindering him unable to move.
As he tried to get free, he suddenly saw a pair of figures jump over him and run off, away from the flames, one big and one small. He recognized the figures as Bulkhead and Smokescreen, the Autobots. Were they the cause of the explosions?
No, explosions seem to be more in Dreadwing's area…
They completely ignored him; they were so focused on getting away that they hadn't even seen him. As the explosions subsided and the fire spread around him, making breathing a difficult task, he used all his strength to lift the log high enough for him to quickly crawl out, before letting it go again. He ran off in the direction he had seen the Autobots take, until he arrived in a scorched glade.
He had been correct before; Bulkhead was about to engage Dreadwing in hand-to-hand combat, while Smokescreen ran off somewhere, after Bulkhead threw a tracking device over to him. Not wanting to stick around with the battling mechs, Starscream decided to follow the young recruit.
He followed the mech to a rocky hill, where he had laid his tracking system on a rock and began removing other rocks. Starscream hid himself behind some trees and flinched as one last explosion sounded from the area where Bulkhead and Dreadwing were fighting.
As Smokescreen continued to remove the rocks, Starscream pulled forth his red energon dose.
Whatever he found, I need it, he thought and injected the red energon into his arm.
Time seemed to slow down, by every small movement the Seeker made. He watched as Smokescreen removed the last rocks, unveiling a vessel of sorts. He walked out from his hiding spot and watched as basically the whole world around him stopped moving.
"Interesting," he mused to himself, as he walked past the still Smokescreen, slowly, very slowly, picking the vessel up. "So this is hyper-speed. I had thought I would be going faster, instead of them going slower. Oh well, I guess it works either way. Now get done with that, Autobot! I want to see what's inside…"
Starscream walked back and forth impatiently, only stopping to watch a few times. It seemed to take forever for Smokescreen to open up the vessel, revealing a large, rusty, ancient-looking key of sorts. Starscream looked wondrous at the artifact for a while, still while the world around him was in slow-motion, and Smokescreen still took no notice of his presence.
"Well, it's not exactly an Apex Armor," Starscream said and walked away towards the trees, wanting to try something. "But given all the fuss, it seems important some way or another. And if it is important…" He took a run-up. "I want it!"
He dashed forward, completely stopping time around him with his hyper-speed. As he approached Smokescreen, he knocked him on the head and watched as the Autobot slowly fell on the ground. The Seeker grabbed the key in mid-air – an easy task, as it was basically just floating peacefully in the air, ready to be grabbed – and laughed at the unconscious recruit, still falling to the ground.
"This was so easy, it was almost boring," he snickered and walked off, as he heard a voice – "Sssssssmmmmmmmooooooohhhhh…" – coming from behind the trees. He grunted and nudged his arms and legs as he found himself a spot further up on the hill to hide; apparently it wasn't a good idea to run during hyper-speed. It felt like his limbs were about to fall apart.
He decided to stand completely still – well, as still as he possibly could, anyway – as Bulkhead exited the forest and walked towards Smokescreen – collapsed on the ground but regaining consciousness as the Wrecker approached him – to be able to hear better what they were saying. Since the hyper-speed was still in effect, their voices were still slow and blurry, but it was easier to decipher than before.
"Ssmmookkeessccrreeeenn … wwaakkee … uupp…" Bulkhead said in slow-motion.
After a while, the young Autobot said: "Ww-wwhhaatt … hhaappppeenneedd…?"
"Tthhaatt'ss … wwhhaatt … II … wwaannnnaa … kknnooww…"
About a cycle later – at least that's what it felt like for the Seeker – Smokescreen had finally gotten back on his legs and started slowly and dopily looking around.
"Tthhee … Oommeeggaa … Kkeeyy…" A long pause. "II … hhaadd … iitt…" Another long pause. "Uunnttiill … ssoommeetthhiinngg … hhiitt … mmee … ffrroomm … bbeehhiinndd…"
Omega Key, huh? Starscream thought in his mind – he almost looked at the relic, but then remembered how it would slow time even more. He decided to wait – for however long he had to – until they let loose a little more information on this relic in his servo.
"Ddrreeaaddwwiinngg … mmuussttaa … hhaadd … bbaacckk-uupp…" A long pause, followed by Bulkhead slowly shifting his gaze at the tracking device. "Tthhaatt … rreelliicc'ss … lloonngg … ggoonnee…" Another long pause – Starscream sighed in annoyance – and Bulkhead seemed to activate his comm. "Rraattcchheett … wwee … nneeeedd … aa … bbrriiddggee…"
"II…" Smokescreen said after a short while. "II … ttoolldd … Ooppttiimmuuss … II'dd … rreettuurrnn … wwiitthh … tthhaatt … kkeeyy…"
Then, there was silence for several cycles, much to the Seeker's irritation.
Speak up already, Autobots! I don't have all day, and I don't know how much longer this red energon is going to last!
After several cycles, a green light emerged behind them, and Starscream got to witness in slow-motion how a GroundBridge portal formed. It would be fascinating if it wasn't for his impatience to know what this key was so important for. Then, finally, Bulkhead broke the silence and granted Starscream's wish.
"Lliisstteenn … kkiidd …" Short pause."Aallpphhaa … Ttrriioonn … ssaaiidd … wwee … nneeeedd … aall … ffoouurr … kkeeyyss … ttoo …"
Starscream held his breath, completely concentrated on the next words.
"…rreessttoorree … Ccyybbeerrttrroonn … rreemmeemmbbeerr…?"
His spark made a jolt, but kept listening for more, as he watched them slowly walk into the portal.
"Wwee … jjuusstt … nneedd … ttoo … hhaanngg … oonn … ttoo … tthhee … oonnee … tthhaatt … wwee … hhaavvee…" The Seeker listened to the last bit of words Bulkhead said as the twosome walked through the portal and disappeared from sight. "…ffiinndd … aa … wwaayy … ttoo … ggeett … tthhee … ootthheerrss … bbaacckk … ffrroomm … Mmeeggaattrroonn…"
As the GroundBridge disappeared, Starscream finally saw privilege to move again and looked at the Omega Key in his servo.
"The promise of a new Cybertron…" he said fascinated to himself, "…in the palm of my hand." An idea got into his head, and he smiled gleefully. "When I obtain all four."
He walked off into the forest, noting the effect of the red energon was still going; fallen leaves hung still in the air, as if a thin thread from the tree was holding them still. He wasn't certain how much time had passed in the real world, but it felt like at least half a mega-cycle had passed in the hyper-speed world.
He had just considered his options of simply walking back to the Harbinger, when a figure walked in front of him – in his own speed. He recognized the figure as Drancron, the Blendtron whose tongue was as sharp as his teeth. Starscream was confused and looked at the leaves again. They were still frozen in place. But Drancron seemed to move around in the same proportion as the Seeker himself. But how? Did the Heralds of Unicron own their own stash of red energon?
He had just decided with himself that it was merely a hallucination and started walking again, when Drancron spoke – in fluent, regular speed: "What's up, Screamer?"
Starscream stopped and looked the Herald directly in the visor. "How…how can you see me? How can I understand you? I should be moving at hyper-speed! Look at those leaves!" He pointed at the still-frozen leaves in the air.
"I see them," Drancron replied casually. "And yes, you are moving at hyper-speed. So do I. And before you ask, no, I don't have any red energon, none of us Heralds do. I just happen to have the power of hyper-speed."
"Where are your…companions?" the Seeker asked, referring to Elphorca and Rartorata, finding it strange to meet a lone Blendtron, as they always seemed to be together.
"They don't have hyper-speed, dummy," the lizard-dragonfly replied rudely, "so of course they can't keep up with me when I go into hyper-mode."
"Well…" Starscream continued, trying to ignore the insult. "Then what are you doing here?"
"What else? Making sure you're okay. We noticed you had opened a GroundBridge to this location, and the others said I would be the fastest one to get here, and here I am."
Starscream growled and clenched his fists. "You know what? I am getting sick and tired of you Heralds of Unicron! You keep disturbing me when I don't need you, and when I do need you, you're nowhere to be found! I am done with Nightbird, I am finished with you Blendtrons, Thrust, Sideways, and especially that weirdo Creop Trivem!"
Drancron blinked. "Excuse me, what did you say?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Starscream said sarcastically. "Did I insult you? Please make sure to tell your mighty and great and wise companions to—"
"Shut up," Drancron snapped. "What was that last name you said?"
"Creop Trivem?" Starscream repeated stumped.
"Yeah. Who's that?"
Starscream seemed even more confused than by the whole hyper-speed thing. "You know, Creop. Tall guy, dark, creepy, sometimes speaks in rhythms?"
Drancron crossed his arms. "Nope. Don't know him."
"Well, you have to. He's got the same insignia you all have." Starscream pointed at the yellow Unicron insignia on Drancron's arm.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Drancron said, "but there is no Herald of Unicron called Creop Trivem. Heck, there doesn't exist anyone named Creop Trivem. We've run the files back in the future, and we never stumbled upon such a weird name. Whoever this mech you're speaking of is, he doesn't exist, never did, never will."
Starscream was left with a mixed feeling of confusion, ignorance and unease, as Drancron parted ways with him, deciding the Seeker was okay. He didn't even notice the effects of the red energon had finally worn off; the leaves were yet again falling from the trees, the wind was once again blowing, and the clouds continued to move across the sky. He speculated like crazy as he fetched his remote.
If Creop Trivem wasn't a Herald of Unicron, but had the Unicron insignia, and didn't have any files of even existing…then what was he? Who was he?
As Starscream returned to the Harbinger, he plotted over what to do with his newly claimed relic.
"Individually, each of these so-called 'Omega Keys' is useless. Yet, possessing even a single one grants me tremendous negotiating power with either Autobots or Decepticons."
He walked over to his deceased clone, who was still hanging on the wall, staring blankly downward with black optics. He pondered and plotted, and an intriguing idea came to him.
"Still…imagine if I manage to acquire the other three." An image of a restored Cybertron formed in his mind, with him as the new ruler of the renewed world.
"I could revive Cybertron! And cease the throne as Starscream the First, Supreme Overlord, and Emperor of Destruction!"
He laughed maniacally, but then stopped as a hurtful realization came to him.
"Ohhh…but unlike Megatron, I lack the necessary infrastructure to enforce such a reign. No warship, no army! Only my miga laboratory finds, a GroundBridge remote control, a single remaining dose of red energon, and you," he added to the dead clone, "old friend." Not to mention that my regular energon supply has completely vanished. And without the Apex Armor and only one dose of red energon left, I cannot afford to go on another raid.
"But, I would all too gladly trade this," he said while looking at the Omega Key in his palm, "simply to be restored to my former glory."