A/N: This took longer to write than I expected, but I think it turned out great. I think the reason it took so long was because I was basically putting my experiences in losing someone close into characters I could relate to on some level. So this chapter was harder to write emotionally, but I like how it came about. All the while I was writing this chapter a song kept repeating in my head, its called You Are the Reason by Calum Scott I think it perfectly describes Starscream's ultimate feelings, but eh, what does someone whose never been on a real date know anyway? Any who, I hope you enjoy this chapter, now, its time to sleep...cuz I'm tired...ENJOY!

Chapter 10-Shattered and Forged

One Week Before Nerium's Arrival...

Megatron's POV

I stared at the screen in silence as the video was replayed once more. The explosion engulfing the entire screen before it cut. There was no denying it, no matter how much anyone wanted too.

No one could have survived that, especially at ground zero.

Moonfall...was dead.

I vented as I turned back to the rest of the Bridge, everyone was deadly silent, all focus was trained on me, looking to me for answers. My spark hardened, I shoved the welling emotions down, and walled it away behind barriers I had was so well versed in making.

Clearing my spark, I spoke up, "Decepticons, though this day has ended in defeat with the loss of one of our own, know this. Moonfall's sacrifice will not be in vain, we will rise above this! Our sparks may be torn, but they are not broken, so make her loss into something, turn the tide of this war! Not just for Moonfall's memory but all those who have fallen before her, Decepticons, be strong in the face of devastation and know that one day...VICTORY WILL BE OURS!"

A cheer roared out from my gathered Decepticons, there sparks steeled in resolve. But, not everyone cheered, Astraea remained silent and Starscream was nowhere to be seen. My SIC had been missing since we boarded the ship, locking himself away in his chambers and not letting anyone, even his trine, in.

It has only been a day since Moonfall's death and he seemed to take it worse than anyone on the ship.

I wondered how he could be bothered so much by it? What changed Starscream for him to actually care about someone other than himself? Why did her death rattle him when others did not, this was war, he knew it well and he knew no matter what, death was apart of it.

Maybe...something changed, but what?

This question I was going to answer for myself.

No One's POV

Starscream hadn't left his quarters ever since Moonfall's death the previous day. He knew he couldn't stay locked up for long, his master would summon him to his post sooner than later.

But Starscream couldn't bring himself to leave his chambers. His spark squeezed painful whenever he thought about leaving this room and not finding the femme anywhere on the ship. And, no matter what, his thoughts never drifted to far from said femme.

Like just how hours before it happened they spoke openly together, that when they sat here in this room, he could feel like he wouldn't be judged for his thoughts or words.

He remembered her voice so clearly, her smile, her generally presence she broad-casted. Moonfall was a femme that Starscream could see little pieces of himself in and that itself was a comfort, to be not the only one who struggled with fear.

Starscream didn't think it could happen, that he could form a bond with a grounder femme or any grounder for that matter. From when he was sparked from the Well all the way to his days in the military he had been told that Seekers were superior to other races of Cybertronians.

Now, with the passage of time and meeting Moonfall, he knew it was wrong.

Seekers weren't superior, they weren't special, they just were.

And Moonfall stood above them all, as a beacon of light in the darkness of war. Someone who faced the horrors of war beforehand and who willing turned away to try and redeem herself.

But now, she was gone.

One moment she was here, sitting with him and talking. The next...she was simply gone, like embers fading away in the wind.

Tears fell from his red optics, he hiccuped in the air and curled into a ball on his berth. A hole was there where one wasn't before in his spark, one that he knew could never be filled again.

No one could ever take her place, never.

His pain seemed endless, his shattered spark always roiled in pain now, and tears never seemed to end.

A darkness felt like it had fallen on him and without his light, his soft moonlight, he felt completely alone and lost.

Starscream stayed there for hours, until his optics could produce no more tears. His whole body ached now and the pain in his spark never relented for any relief.

He had long blocked his bonds to his brothers, he could feel them waiting to push through and speak with him but they wavered. His Comm link was buzzed many times but he never answered.

Starscream knew he would need to refuel soon, but he could find no appetite for Energon at the moment.

He shuddered a sigh, "Why…?" He asked in a mere whisper, "Moonfall...why did you have to die?"

Starscream tried to start crying again but he couldn't, only a hollow feeling encasing his chest and a gagging reflex kicking in making him sputter and cough.

He heaved in air back into his vents, trying to calm himself and making the gagging' stop. He stayed like that for awhile, focusing on venting in and out.

Suddenly, someone overriding the codes to his door entered the room before closing them behind him. He looked behind him, his bent over slouch on his berth giving him enough turning power to see the figure standing there with a cube of Energon.

Megatron, ever silent stood in front of him.

Starscream groaned slightly before pulling himself into a sitting position to at least address his master in the room.

"L-Lord Megatron, I-I can expl-"

"Stop, Starscream." Megatron said, cutting the Seeker off.

Starscream went silent as his master took a chair and sat in front of him with an unreadable expression. He pushed the Energon cube in front of him, towards the trembling seeker.

"Drink." Megatron commanded, wary of what was going on he slowly took the cube into his claws, but didn't drink it right away.

"I-I don't understand, w-why are you here?" Starscream asked, his strained optics narrowed at the mech.

For a moment, Megatron didn't say a word or even flinch, before he let out a long vent and his shoulders sagged. His optics softened and his expression became worn and saddened. Starscream hadn't seeing his master like this...since a long time ago.

"Starscream," Megatron started, "In all my time of knowing you, you have never let a death affect you as much as this one. I want to know why, what did Moonfall do to change you into this broken mess?"

The Seeker stared at his leader, he didn't understand what he meant by that.

"What are you talking about?" The seeker openly asked, "She did so much for us! For the cause, she shifted the dynamic of the whole ship!"

"That is not what I meant, Starscream." Megatron said, making Starscream even more confused. "I asked how she affected you, not the ship."

"How she affected me? Megatron, that grounder femme has done more than affect me, she's infected me! I know I shouldn't care about her death, but somehow she left an impression on me, on my spark. My very spark feels like it's shattering into a million pieces! It feels like there's a black hole where one wasn't there before, my very chassis hurts when her face, her voice, crosses through my thoughts!' Starscream ranted uncontrollably.

'I keep remembering the days, the hours before her death, I keep replaying the conversations we had. I keep thinking about how she was this light in the darkness and how now I feel lost, I feel like I just lost my guide! I keep seeing her, I keep feeling like her touch is dancing across my protoform. I don't know why she's infected me so much, but she has, and now she's gone…"

The room was silent, Starscream now staring at the Energon in his claws.

Then, Megatron said, "You've fallen for her, haven't you?"

Starscream's optics shot up, looking at his master who held a neutral expression. "W-What?!" He screeched.

Megatron held a sad smile, "You didn't realize it, didn't you? The way you speak of Moonfall is the way someone would speak about a loved one or a close companion."

Starscream fell silent, staring past him then back down, evaluating his exchanges with her. The times when he felt heat rising through his frame at her presence or voice...he thought it was a glitch, or a malfunction.

But looking back at it now, yes, he had seen her in a different light.

"I...feel even more lost now." Starscream sighed, the feelings of crushing depression coming down harder at the realization.

"I'm sorry, Starscream."

He paused, did his master just...apologize to him?

"What?" He asked for a second time.

"You have a right to be depressed at her death, I merely made it worse, I apologize for my words." Megatron clarified.

"B-But, you never…" Starscream's words trailed off.

"Moonfall has had an affect on all of us, Starscream."

They stayed silent for a moment before Megatron stood saying, "Drink that Energon and rest for the rest of the day. I understand if you don't want to return to your post right away, take all the time you need."

And with that, Megatron left the room.

Starscream stared at the door where his master went through, before looking down to the Energon again. Sighing he downed it quickly before rolling over and laying on his berth.

He closed his optics, and with a hole in his spark he finally rested, falling into a deep sleep, dreaming about the moonlight that beckoned him but he could never reach.


7 Days Later…

The Decepticons had fallen back into routine aboard the Nemesis. After spending 5 days mourning the loss of Moonfall, Starscream finally returned to his post as SIC. Much to the dismay of Astraea, who seemed to enjoy the missing presence of the Seeker.

Throughout the whole week, everyone somehow dealt with Moonfall's passing in one shape or form. Megatron focused on the next goal, as well as making sure the mines were producing enough for his army. Though deep down he mourned the loss of not only a soldier but a wise femme.

Soundwave seemed to take the death in stride, not even showing a hint of emotion about the femme's death. Then again, he didn't know her well and it seemed like he never really expressed his emotions at all. At least, not in the open.

Shockwave seemed to not care for the femme, never having meeting her before his arrival he had no qualms about her death. Though he was intrigued about the stories he heard from his master and others about her heritage and skills.

Knockout and Breakdown were in the same boat, while not mourning her loss as greatly as Starscream, they still missed her. She was someone who mixed the whole balance up and added spice to their boring lives. It was fun having another grounder that wasn't a drone to talk too.

Thundercracker and Skywarp seemed more or less the same as the previously mentioned. But with Starscream taking it worse than anyone, they seemed to take more of a depressed mood, even if they were blocked from reading his spark and emotions.

Astraea...well she was enjoying the hell out of it. She relished in 'that glitch's demise', and as such she wasn't currently popular on the ship, with anyone. Even Shockwave and Soundwave had more class then that, so it made Astraea feel like the odd femme out, and she cursed Moonfall even more for her misfortunes.

Some of the drones, including those she fought with, were also upset at her demise but kept it to themselves. More over the whole drone population didn't even care, it was something they were desensitized to in their very code.

But now, it had been a week since her death and initial sting of it seemed to fade, if only slightly.

Megatron knew everyone needed action, something to keep their spirits up from thinking of all the bad that had befallen them recently, so he came up with a plan.

He gathered Soundwave, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp on the Bridge to enact this plan of his.

"I want you four to retrieve a warrior that has been in stasis here on Earth, he could be a valuable asset to our forces."

Starscream's optics narrowed, "And why collect him now, after everything?"

"He had a mission, but now, I need him for the new directive for our next steps in this war. Don't question it, just do it." Megatron growled, Starscream huffed but remained silent.

Thundercracker then asked, "So, who are we retrieving, milord?"

Megatron smirked, "One of my most loyal officers, or well, one half of the duo, Skyquake."

"I heard of him!" Skywarp mused in excitement, "He and his brother, Dreadwing, were bots who could toe to toe with the Prime! So cool!"

"Indeed, and now we need him back among us, now get going I want no further delays." Megatron said, turning his back to them as the four made their way out.

The door slid shut behind him and Starscream growled to himself.

"Something wrong, Screamer?" Skywarp asked with slightly concerned optics.

"...Nothing." Starscream said, "Let's get this over with."

He stomped off ahead of the three other mechs, Thundercracker looked to his brother with concern before follow their eldest brother together. Soundwave stood their as the three mechs went off towards the Flight Deck.

Soundwave's POV

I never thought I would see the day that Starscream could be so...caring? About death, I mean, someone else's death mind you. I thought the mech was completely nonredeemable, with his constant screams for power and recognition.

Honestly, this new personality change was welcomed.

I began to walk down the halls, grabbing an Energon cube that we would need for awakening Skyquake's frame.

'Do you feel that?' Laserbeak asked through our bond.

I was confused, 'What's wrong, my sweetspark?' I asked.

'I don't know, but something is coming, I can feel it.' He replied back in a nervous chirp.

I sent calming waves to reassure him and met back up with the Seeker trine to get this over with.


No One's POV

The four aerial mechs soared over the Nevada desert on their way to the long forgotten Decepticon. Each of them were silent, more so than usual, as tensions ran high. This was the first real step after the defeat at the Spacebridge.

Starscream was the most irritably of them all, to him, it felt like Moonfall was being replaced! He shimmered in rage at his Master's hypocritical nature, showing understanding one moment and then turning around and replacing her with some Con who hadn't been seen since the major battles of Cybertron.

His spark, had gone through the most change out of all the Decepticons.

Once filled with hope and warmth that Moonfall brought, it was now cold and more dead than before he met her. Nothing mattered anymore, this war was pointless, this cause was useless and his Lord...was a waste of space.

Dark thoughts once suppressed just by Moonfall's existence now came back with a vengeance and he readily accepted them. Thoughts and plans flowed through his processor as a new scheme came together, this one using this warrior to his benefit, to tearing down the old and bringing in the new, him, Starscream, the rightful leader of the Decepticons.

Finally they reached their destination, a canyon in the Nevada desert. Coming down they landed and transformed, standing before a rock face that appeared just like the rest of the canyon wall.

"Skyquake, one of the most loyal of Megatron's soldiers, now here, ripe for the taking." Starscream said with a devious undertone.

His brothers looked at him, with Skywarp asking, "Star? What are you thinking?"

Starscream walked up to the wall, "What else, my brother, the future."

"Starscream, are you trying too…." Thundercracker couldn't finish his thought as his elder brother's optics stared at him.

All that the two younger brothers saw was emptiness, anger, and most disturbing, a lust for power. He turned back to wall, holding out his servo to Soundwave.

"The cube…" He asked, with only the slightest hesitation, the silent mech handed over the Energon cube.

The seeker held the cube up and a slot opened, revealing where the Energon should be placed. He placed it in and right away lines of Energon alit the metal sarcophagus, the rock broke apart as it was revealed and a crack whipped through the air as the metal came apart to reveal a frame in the shade of the sarcophagus .

Suddenly, blazing red optics came online and the lumbering seeker stepped from his resting place smashing his fist in the air before leering over the now Commander.

"Awaken, warrior. Rise and serve your new master!" Starscream exclaimed.

The larger seeker scowled, "Skyquake serves only one master."

Starscream smiled wickedly, "Excellent. Your loyalty and devotion will set a fine example for the troops. No need to be timid, Skyquake, you may bow."

"You fail to grasp my meaning. I am here on a mission, assigned to me by my one master: Megatron." Skyquake said, narrowing optics further.

Starscream screeched in anger, "Your Master is nothing more than a hypocritical coward that should be-"

"Starscream, that's enough!" Thundercracker boomed, making Skyquake now aware of the other mechs standing there. "Is this how it is? You going back to those horrid ways?!"

"Yeah, why are you doing this?!" Skywarp said, worry ebbing into the sparkbond they shared, Thundercracker's emotions as well came as a torrent making the elder seeker cringe.

Violently he shoved a wall between them both, making both his younger brothers gasp in pain and shock.

"Stay out of my way." Starscream growled lowly, almost sound animalistic as his optics flared a deep blood red with rage and determination.

"Hmph, you should work out your family issues, coward. Now, Soundwave, what mission has Lord Megatron has-" Skyquake was cut off.

"SKYQUAKE!" A new voice called, looking over in shock and surprise emerged two figures.

They were recognizable, the Last of the Primes stood tall and proud while beside him was his ever loyal scout. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee stood several paces away from the group of the Decepticons, not noticed by any Con but the silent one was a glint of the barrel, behind the Bots, of someone who had Betrayed their position.

"Optimus Prime, the last time I saw you was at the Battle for Technar, I was ordered to destroy you." Skyquake boomed with sinister delight.

"That was the past, Skyquake, I offer you a chance, to end the war peacefully." He pleaded only to receive a laugh from the large mech.

"You are foolish as always, Prime."

Starscream, seeing the growing tension, "Hm, I may be willing to agree to peace terms Prime, if you merely bowed before me?" A devilish grin crossing face.

Skyquake turned to him with anger, "Again!? Bow to this!" He knocked the seeker back into the wall face before pulling his sword and charging the Prime and Scout.

Thundercracker and Skywarp ran to their brothers side, even if he kept up his walls against their bonds. Lifting him to his feet they climbed up the cliffs to the top of the canyon as the battle between Skyquake and the Autobots went on.

"Star, are you alright?" Skywarp asked as they reached the top.

Starscream pushed them away, standing to his peds and peering down at the now three visible Autobots, the third hidden from all but one of their visions, a new femme to the ranks that none knew the name of, which took Soundwave by surprise as he silently took notes on her.

But as the Commander of the Seekers looked down at the fighting Autobots all he saw was cattle that needed to be killed. Maybe when they were dead, she would be avenged, and not just them, but Megatron too. Starscream wondered how far he would have to go to feel like her life was avenged, would he stop at the Autobots and their pets as well his Master?

...He wondered...if he had to kill everyone...for her to be avenged.

Did he have to kill...Soundwave? What about his brothers? Or Knockout and Breakdown? Maybe even the whole of humanity?

Hmm...yes...maybe...they all need to die ...then I can die and...and be with her again…

Suddenly a servo was on his shoulder, looking back he saw Soundwave with an antenna coming out of his back, clearly, he had picked something of interest up. But what caught his optic was his brother's expressions behind him, filled with horror and shock.

Starscream realized they had torn through his walls…they heard what his feeling and thinking.

Soundwave though, he directed attention on him, drawing Starscream away from his brothers as he again walled them off even harder this time. Soundwave showed on his face a pinpoint of energy, spark energy, floating in the wreckage of the Space Bridge.

The Commander's spark stopped in his chest...it couldn't be…

"A-Are you sure?" He asked in a whisper, Soundwave only nodded.

Looking back to the fight Starscream scowled, that was a distraction. Taking to the air swiftly he transformed and shot straight up towards the heavens, his brothers and Soundwave following suit. He could still feel them gnawing at the walls but he ignored it.

That empty feeling was still there, but now, there was a sliver of hope.

They soared for what felt like an eternity until they reached the outer reaches of the atmosphere and entered true space. Quickly they came upon the wreckage, only for Soundwave to lose the signal. They stopped, transforming and floating before the wreckage.

"Can you retrace it, Soundwave?" Thundercracker said in a strict commanding voice.

He negatively nodded.

Starscream felt his hope fade away, and the black hole replacing it. He stared into the wreckage, his optics narrowing again. Then...he felt something.

The ghost of servos danced across his metal, touching where his protoform slightly exposed. A shiver ran down his spine and through his spark, and felt a presence holding him and he knew...she smiled as she whispered into his audio.

"Starscream...come find me...I need you to find me...so that I can heal what has been shattered." He felt her servos run from his shoulders and too his spark as he felt her shift in front of him.

There, floating in the vastness of space back lighted by her namesake, was Moonfall. Her entire being glowed with light purple light, her optics deep purple, a pleased and sad smile gracing her lips. Her helmet was now gone, in its place was red hair made of fine wires that covered her right eye but floated in space.

Her armor was different, more refined and on her left side chest was the crest of the Decepticons but something was different about it, it had wings.

"...Moonfall…" He whispered, his brothers looked at him questioningly as he stared at the moon, Soundwave trying to contact the Nemesis but also noticed his sudden strange behavior.

But he only saw her, and she whispered, "Yes, Starscream, I will lead you to me. But only you can hear me, my Star, come to me, bring me home, there we will converse."

She disappeared into a single purple light it transformed into a necklace made of a purple crystal surrounded by a silver inlay and chain. He grabbed it and hid it in his servo before transforming and diving into the field of metal.

His brothers called out but he ignored them, soon, the three other mechs gave chase. He weaved through the metal, the gem necklace he held growing warmer, leading the way.

Until he finally crested the final metal piece and he stopped, transforming at what he saw, the others doing the same.

Floating there, suspended in space, was Moonfall. Her armor broken, torn and scorched, her optics offline and some parts of her clearly missing and a dim glow of purple coming from a hole in her chest. But what struck them the most, was the femme that held her helm in a caring pose.

She was a small thing, smaller than Moonfall, with striking golden optics, light green spikes growing from her helm, her armor jet black with verdant green highlights. Her wheels in her shoulders and hips and strapped to her back was a curved sword covered in a red substance.

Strangely, a golden plate rested on her chassis, almost looking like an earth bird. Her protoform a olive color with swirl tattoos on her checks, spikes everywhere on her form making her intimidating to look at.

She stared at them for a moment, and broke the silence, "You gonna help me care for this poor spark or are you just going to stand there like a bunch of dead trees?"

Still in shock Starscream heard a whisper in his audio, amused laughter as Moonfall said, "Do as she says for now, my Star, she means well."

And he did as he was told.