NOTE: I don't own any of it... None.

Please enjoy this updated installment :)


Starscream gazed at the mech on the ground for a long moment in the stupor of finality, remembering the words that did this to him. 'Devour them all.' At first, he didn't know how he was supposed to take what he'd been told; choosing to ignore the words since he'd thought it was a dream at first anyway. It was the last thing he heard before he was reborn into a life that he never thought could even exist. He hated it and there was no escape, for he had tried.

Starscream leaned against the wall, feeling the numbing quickly take effect as his systems calmed once more. As his body stilled and with his vision no longer enshrouded by his bloodthirsty craving, he glanced at the item still in his grasp. He'd killed again. He looked over at the mech whose body lay on the ground not far from him to see if he knew them. Shock made him freeze in place and he was forced to stare longer than he would have liked at the gruesome sight before him. It crept up on his spark as he stared in disbelief at the one who had supplied him last. It began as a dull ache of sadness and then regret. No words could express how he was feeling at that given time. He'd felt sorry for the other times and others he'd come across, but not this bad. "No…" He choked on the simple word, the spikes of guilt lodging into his vocal processor. He wasn't sure he could live with this. It was too much. In fact, it was one of his best friends this time. Anger and shame at himself took over as he yelled out, "No, no, no! Not you!" Sadness washed him over at what he'd done, as he whimpered, "Not you…"

Up until that moment, life before was bearable. He usually got sensations before it hit, little hints, letting him know it was coming so he could escape and run away and not be seen… but not this time. That moment came on abruptly and without warning. He had brutally attacked an officer, his voracious appetite taking over him completely in a way that terrified him. It was so abrupt that he hadn't even had time to flee. It was so uncontrollable that when he attacked, he hadn't even known who he was destroying until it was too late… and it was too late.

Thundercracker was the closest friend he'd had besides Skywarp, and now… now he wore his fresh energon all over his body. He'd used his friend's life force to sustain himself because of what he found out later to be a curse. One of the myths to scare the younglings into behaving… He was unsure what to do now. Looking down at his body and knowing what he had done, he had finally had enough. The mech curled in and cried for the first time in a very, very long time. He could still remember the look on Thundercracker's face – the horror in his friend's optics, his confusion and hurt. He glanced over meekly, hoping it was all a nightmare and that Thundercracker would move, showing he was still alive. But he did not. His face was still contorted in the fear and confusion left behind by the attack.

What was he going to do? He was positive Skywarp would come. In fact, he was probably already on his way. What would he tell him? Starscream's optics fell to the ground below him as frustration grew. Alarmed at the sound of someone coming, he panicked and looked up for the source. 'No!'

Skywarp landed feeling uneasy, already knowing something was very wrong with the situation. It took him a moment to absorb what he was seeing. The black and purple Seeker didn't know what to make of the scene in front of him. Energon littered the area in a way that made him cringe in disgust. As he took in the area, his optics fell on the body and he froze in surprise and sadness.

Thundercracker was laying there dead, his chest torn to shreds and a fear on his face he'd never seen before. Having no idea Starscream was even nearby, he took a moment to wonder why his leader's beacon was not on when it should have been. He looked around and soon spied the other Seeker cowering next to the wall looking like he'd done something real bad. Ignoring his other wing mate for a moment, he dove for Thundercracker, hoping to find any signs of life.

Watching the hurt and anger in Skywarp, he didn't know what to say. "I… I'm sorry…" Starscream's voice was timid, almost a whisper.

The words made Skywarp look to him in question, ready to ask him what the hell had happened. Why was he sorry? "What happened to him?" The black mech stared at Thundercracker as he spoke, as if the body would answer him. In that moment, he realized he had seen these kinds of injuries before. He then looked towards Starscream in puzzlement, waiting for an answer from him. Adjusting his visuals to get a better view of his superior who looked absolutely terrified, Skywarp tried to speak, but the words would not form.

Feeling Skywarp's optics upon him, Starscream turned his optics from his gaze and started to move further away from his wing mates towards what little shadows were provided, which weren't enough to hide him from his friend or his inner turmoil. "You gotta believe me, 'Warp. I-I didn't mean it. I would have gotten away if I knew! He… he was the only one close, and I… and I…" he stuttered quietly with shame and sadness as he tried to feebly wipe away what energon was still on him, trying to explain more to himself as to what had happened. He sure didn't know. He deliberately stayed out of Skywarp's reach, afraid that once the other Seeker figured this out, he would come unglued on him and right now he couldn't protect himself or Skywarp, either, for that matter.

Not really listening to Starscream's incoherence, he couldn't help but notice Starscream's attempt to wipe fresh energon away in various places, more notably on his mouth as if he'd been eating it. He was blown away and it was a disgusting thought. Maybe it was spatter… Had they gotten into a fight? Had TC been attacked? Had Starscream attempted to save Thundercracker? Had he gotten this massive amount of their wing mate's lifeblood on his chassis while unsuccessfully trying to save him?

"'Who… who did this to him?" The black mech demanded harshly, unsure what to say, feeling overwhelmed at the moment from fear and shock. His mind was trying to figure out how this had happened. The more he looked, the more this was looking like one of those killings he'd heard so much about, but he didn't want to believe that Thundercracker could be succumbed to it.

Starscream was already mortified at what he'd done and Skywarp was making him feel even worse. "S-stop yelling. It wasn't my choice. Something went wrong. I can't…" He paused, at a loss for words, and then admitted, "It was me."

Since when did Starscream fumble over his words like that? He was also upset, Skywarp could tell so maybe that was why he acting so strange… "What do you mean 'It was me'?" Skywarp asked as he stared blankly, perhaps hoping for some form of joke, but none came. "What the hell are you talking about, Starscream?" Anger mixed with confusion shook over his voice. How dare he even try to joke about something like that at a time like this? Skywarp stepped closer to his commander. From this distance he could tell Starscream was shaking badly. Strangely, Starscream shuffled further away as if he were actually afraid of him. He could see energon glistening on him as he moved and he couldn't help but notice that something fell out of his hand.

Starscream had felt his claws go weak and looked at the item as it fell. A sad look crossed his face and he looked up at Skywarp. This would happen to him too if he didn't stay away. "Get back! Stay away from me!"

Skywarp froze and stared when his optics fell on the item Starscream dropped, unsure what to think when he saw what exactly it was. It was a spark casing. Confusion welled up in him at the sight. Just why did he have Thundercracker's spark system in his hands and energon all over him? Just what in the name of Primus had happened here? It wouldn't even cross his mind that his wing leader had actually killed Thundercracker. Maybe he'd hit his head or maybe they'd both been attacked and he thought Thundercracker had died because of something he'd done or failed to do. "You're really starting to worry me, 'Scream… Tell me what's going on here, please." Red optics looked right at Skywarp from the shadows as he said that. The black Seeker watched him look away in shame as their gaze met.

Starscream could see the black Seeker's anger growing and knew he was vulnerable because he was so shaken up by the ordeal. He didn't want Skywarp taking his anger out on him for killing TC and he didn't want to kill him either. It wouldn't be pleasant. "It's not safe here. It'd be better if you just go," he told him, backing further into what shadows the buildings had to offer, making him all but disappear where only his optics shown from the darkness. Things were becoming too risky. He didn't even want to chance Skywarp being around him. "You need to leave," his voice became soft and hurrying. "Please go. Just please, please go."

Was Starscream actually begging? He'd never begged anyone but Megatron, and that was to avoid being beaten. How unusual. "I…I can't Starscream! Was it the one everyone's been talking about? Do you know who it is?" Had Starscream confronted that strange killer? What did he know? Nothing made any sense! He needed to know what was going on! "Tell me what happened! I gotta know! Wh…who attacked you!?" Concerned for his friend and wing mate, Skywarp took a step toward him again, this time he was standing next to Thundercracker's leg. Instinctively he glanced down, then back toward Starscream, whose optics followed, watching his every move.

The SiC's voice then became dark and threatening, hoping to chase the black mech off, "N-no one attacked me! I attacked him! Me, you hear! I killed Thundercracker! Now get out of here!" In rage and regret, Starscream's fist struck the wall with such force it nearly buckled the small building next to him. He knew his time with Skywarp would be limited as well. Quickly picking up the spark system, he threw it violently at his wing mate. He would rather Skywarp hate him for the rest of his life than become his next victim.

Skywarp put his arms up, deflecting the thing that was thrown. He hadn't seen clearly what it was until it clanged on the ground, making him look. He was stunned once again, this time from being hit by such a thing. He shivered in revulsion. How dare Starscream do something so disgraceful! He couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing and he was so confused. Starscream was acting like some feral creature. He'd admitted to attacking and killing Thundercracker? How was that even possible? Thundercracker was stronger than him! "You're not making any sense, 'Scream!"

But for Starscream, reality was reality, and it lay as a blue form on the ground at not far from where he was trying to hide. Finally, he stood, accepting that Skywarp was not listening to him. If Skywarp wouldn't run, then he would. In fact, this might be his only chance to run. "Forget it and leave me alone!" With that, Starscream flew off.

Skywarp wasn't sure what exactly he was supposed to do. He watched Starscream disappear into the sky, then looked back at Thundercracker's body and wandered to where Starscream had been hiding, seeing if there were any clues as to what Starscream was talking about. There was no answer but energon on the ground. Starscream must have bumped his head a little harder than usual… there was just no way he could be that killer. However… if what Starscream said was true, his thoughts wanted to make Starscream that mysterious killer that everyone seemed to be frightened of.

He wouldn't believe it.

Somebody help me through this nightmare
I can't escape this hell