Chapter Seventeen

Starscream awoke from his short recharge a few minutes later. He gently picked up Swindle in one servo before he stood up still holding his halogear. He walked out of the med bay and into the living room area. He shuttered his optics confused as to why it seemed everyone besides Bumblebee, Arcee, and Bulkhead were waiting for him by the human tv.

Ratchet looked over at Starscream and walked over to him. "You still look horrible Starscream. You should sit down."

Optimus grimanced. "I agree."

Starscream sighed and allowed Ratchet to help him sit down without waking Swindle. "You all seem... inquisitive. Is there anything you wish to inquire of me?"

Ratchet tutted. "Oh bop bop bop. Let me check your vitals and then we can talk."

Starscream nodded. "Very well. I will allow it. After all I do need to speak to you all."

Ratchet ran a scanner over Starscream's body and received a small blip on the monitor giving a small warning for the seeker's body. Ratchet frowned when he seen the warning but said nothing yet knowing that Starscream would tell him soon enough.

Optimus spoke up. "Starscream. The children have informed me of your dream. Would you elaborate for me please?"

Starscream gently laid Swindle down beside him to rest a bit more while he held his halogear in his servos twiddling with it. He vented as he watched Ratchet mess with the scanner. "...It was a void at first." He paused letting it sink into their processors. "Then the warm soft voice came. At first I didn't know what was going on and panicked."

Miko snorted, while Jack lightly glared at her.

Starscream continued. "Primus spoke to me." He paused again to think back to the dream. "He told me to... trust you. To tell you... of my past... and my... troubles." He continued to stare at his halogear in his servos. "I told him I would... try. After Megatron... well you can understand my hesitation to trust anyone."

Optimus nodded. "I understand the hardships you suffered under Megatron's hand. I would be humbled to listen to your tale Starscream."

Starscream stared at his halogear. "I used to have... a trine. Two brothers. Skywarp and Thundercracker." Starscream smiled softly at the names of his trinemates. "During the war, the three of us were inseperable. At least... until Megatron made me his commander." Starscream pressed the button on his halogear, watching as an image of him and his trinemates stood laughing together side by side. He stared longingly at the image, lost in his memories. "Skywarp was boisterous and loud. Mostly obnoxious with his teleporting ability." Starscream chuckled. "Thundercracker was calm, collected, strong, and loyal to only us. He always hated Megatron."

Optimus listened quietly with Ratchet and the human children as Starscream continued.

"Warp and I well... I believed Megatron would truly change Cybertron for the better, while Warp just liked him cause he was a gladiator. He loved watching the fights. I just loved science. I wanted nothing to do with the war but... I was the best flier. Being an Energon Seeker was an easy job at first until we were recruited to fight. We should've seen it coming, you know? Megatron's betrayal to Vos. Killing so many innocent Seekers. We didn't even know it was him then. We had thought it was someone else. When Megatron went to kill our planet's core, that was when Megatron truly betrayed our trust, when I found out what he did." Starscream's servos clenched in anger.

Optimus shuttered his optics in sadness as he listened.

"He killed him. Megatron killed Thundercracker. He was the only one who could've stood a chance at killing Megatron, so he killed him. Warp and I felt it." He lifted a servo unconsciously to his spark chamber. "Watching my whole battalion die didn't help it either."

Swindle woke during the story and listened to the story being told. To him, it was his second time listening.

Starscream vented deeply. "Skywarp died not too long after that. He was killed in battle. He gave up fighting so he let his opponent run him through. I wasn't fast enough to stop him." Starscream closed his halogear. "To this day, Megatron uses Thundercrackers Tcog and Skywarps wings. One day I will get them back. He bragged to me once that he holds their spark chambers some place only he knows of. To find them has been my goal for vorns." He shook his helm out of his thoughts of depression and anger and stood up. "That's only a portion of my truth. But you deserved that much."

Swindle beeped up at Starscream sadly. He stood up and hugged Starscream's servo.

Starscream looked down at his companion. He smiled slightly and picked him up so he could jump to his shoulder. He looked up at Optimus. "That's all for today. Will I be able to stretch my limbs soon?"

Optimus nodded. "So long as someone is to escort you in case you collapse again."

Starscream frowned. "Very well."

Jack spoke this time. "You should get some rest Starscream. You look like you should."

Starscream nodded and moved to stand up to leave the room. He stumbled for a second feeling lightheaded.

Swindle beeped in surprise and worry.

Ratchet, since he was closest, caught Starscream by his chassis to steady him.

Starscream looked startled for a second and looked up at Ratchet in surprise. He didn't expect Ratchet to help him at all.

Ratchet tutted. "Oh bop bop bop. Don't be so surprised, a doctor always helps his patients."

Starscream nodded and allowed Ratchet to take him back to the med bay.

Sorry I haven't updated lately guys. I've been reading alot of good fanfics and I've been super tired more than usual. My chest has been hurting alot lately too but I've been ignoring it. I've also been helping a friend try to get an eventual girlfriend cause he's been really down lately and pretty much needs someone else to talk to besides me. My birthdays coming up and somehow I get the feeling that theres gonna be another storm this year on my bday. Happens every year. Oh also I haven't been writing or drawing and painting because I haven't had anything hit me yet. Don't worry guys if your patient enough I'll try to update again soon enough after i write up the new chapter. (Or at least write more to it.) Good luck guys and have a great year!