Trying to be an Autobot
"Chapter 5: Flight Deprivation"
By Leah King
Later that night…
Recharge did not come to Starscream that night. He paced his cell feverishly. Every hour that passed meant a more violent twitch in his wings and every paranoid thought snowballing into an even more paranoid thought. Starscream's mind was awhirl with argument.
"The walls…the walls were closer…weren't they? No! No. They were the same. They were…the same. Weren't they? I have to break out of here. It's the only way I can fight this madness! But…if I break out they'll cage me tighter. Oh yes. They'll stuff me in a box so tight I'll never break out. But…I'm already IN a box. Stasis-cuffed in a box."
The Seeker shut his optics and gripped his helmet with his claws, "Get a hold of yourself Starscream! You're the Supreme Air Commander! Not some waste who can't handle himself. You just have to recharge and think about something else. Yes. Something else. Those Autobot fools will not see you broken."
He vented slowly, trying to calm his fast fraying nerves. Though his wings spasmed his fuel pump was slowing down. With deeper venting he sat on his berth and rested his back and helmet against the wall.
"There…calm down. It's only been a day and half. You can make it." Starscream consoled himself.
That is until he opened his optics and saw thousands of Scraplets pouring out of the cracks in the ceiling.
…
Every Autobot bolted out of recharge the second the Energon curdling shriek ripped through the base. A calamity of metal and banging announced their unscheduled awakening as they fell out into the hallways outside their quarters. When their sensors cleared from the recharge induced fog there was no doubt whose scream it was. Prime was the first to rush to the storage corridor with his troops charging behind him. But when they arrived, the sight they beheld took them all by surprise.
The door to Starscream's cell was flayed open like a ragged can and there thrashing on the ground in the corridor was Starscream, screaming. With wild claws he slashed the air all around him, kicking his long legs into the walls, and rolling in a frantic panic as if he were being attacked. The only problem was there was nothing attacking Starscream. Every Autobot stood dumbfounded and disturbed by the sight of the Decepticon screaming and fighting some invisible force.
"SCRAPLETS! AHHHHHH! GET THEM OFF! GET THEM OFF! THEY'RE EATING MY WINGS! PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME! YAAAAAAA!" Starscream screeched in an octave that even seemed strained for him.
Optimus put up a hand and shouted firmly, "Starscream! STARSCREAM!"
"GET THEM OFF!" the Seeker screamed.
The Autobot leader looked to Ratchet who was already loading a power down syringe, "Hold him down!"
But that was easier said than done. Bumblebee and Prime moved in closer to the thrashing Seeker only to be greeted by slashing claws raking across their chest plates. Though tight in the corridor they tried to find a moment to pounce on the out of control Seeker. After several agonizing moments Starscream finally rolled away from Bumblebee, putting his deadly claws in a safer position. The yellow scout made a long squeal and pounced, pinning the Seeker to the floor. Prime moved in and held his legs.
"NOW Ratchet!"
The medic swooped in and found a fuel line in the back of Starscream's thigh. Starscream shouted some more but very quickly the power down serum did its work and he went into stasis. The Autobots breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"What…the frag." Arcee all but whispered.
"It seems you were correct about the Flight Deprivation." Ratchet admitted to Optimus, "Although I didn't think the hallucinating would come on so quickly."
"You mean he was hallucinating the Scraplets because he hasn't been let out to fly?" Bulkhead asked incredulously. "Seriously?"
Ratchet nodded, "I have been reading up on this Flight Deprivation. Only Seekers and most fliers are susceptible to its effects. It's no different than you or I being unable to transform into vehicle mode, except in flying models the need is much greater and much more psychologically damaging."
"So they just go crazy?" Arcee seemed amazed and somewhat disbelieving.
"Yes." Optimus confirmed, picking up Starscream's slender form, "During the war I was witness to a Seeker prisoner who was suffering from Flight Deprivation. His mind…did not survive the effects. I only hope we haven't condemned Starscream to the same fate."
"Is there a cure?"Bumblebee asked.
"Flight." Ratchet stated simply, "If he flies then his mind should stabilize."
"Ratchet, we need that inhibitor tonight." Optimus commanded, carrying Starscream to the med bay.
Though he was loath to help Starscream, Ratchet had no desire to see ANY mech, Decepticon or not, suffer the effects of processor decay.
…
Late the next morning…
Starscream groaned deeply, rising from his recharge. What a horrible nightmare; Scraplets all over him, devouring him alive! He suppressed a shudder. Then he realized he wasn't alone and startled upon seeing Ratchet nearby.
"What is going on?" Starscream asked cautiously.
"You've come out of the induced power down. Good."
The Seeker sat up from the medical berth and blinked, "You drugged me?"
"Given your frantic hallucination of Scraplets, it was the only way to calm you down." Ratchet explained, fiddling with a remote device.
Starscream gave a worried frown. So it wasn't a nightmare…he had hit the hallucination phase of Flight Deprivation. In one day?! If he was already at that stage then…
"I have to get out of here. Today. NOW." Starscream demanded as he slid off of the berth.
"All in good time Starscream." Ratchet said, not watching the Seeker as closely as he should.
Suddenly, the Decepticon lunged forward and forcibly put his claws under Ratchet's chin and against his neck. The medic gasped and spanned his arms disarmingly.
The red optics were deadly and brimming with psychosis, "You are going to uncuff me and open the Ground Bridge or the door to this base so I can fly or I am going to get VERY testy."
"Starscream. Calm down." Ratchet ordered firmly but in a calm voice.
"CALM! I am going to go insane in this prison because you ground rollers won't allow me the simple act of flight and you want me to be CALM?!" Starscream shouted angrily.
Ratchet wiggled the remote in his hand, "I was ABOUT to let you do JUST that."
Starscream hissed and viewed the remote suspiciously, "What is that?"
"This is the device that will enable you to have flying time and will allow US to trust you when you do. I was just calibrating it." Ratchet explained despite the razor blades poking his neck.
"And what device would that be?" Starscream asked.
"It is a telemetric restrictor with a distance inhibitor. It…"
But Ratchet was cut off by Starscream's own voice, "…Stops me from flying out of a designated range by disabling my thrusters if I go out too far." He paused and then growled, "What a horrid device!"
"Do you want to fly or not?" Ratchet boldly inquired. "Because THIS is the only way we're going to let you do this."
Starscream stared at the remote with vehemence. A remote control designed to crash him. But he didn't have much choice. Starscream decided dying while flying was better than dying on the ground locked in a cell.
Very abruptly he withdrew his claws from Ratchet's neck and backed away, "Very well."
Ratchet vented a sigh of relief and finished the calibration. He kept a wary optic on the unstable Seeker, debating whether he should report this incident to Optimus. Then again, Starscream's mind was nitroglycerine at this point. To deprive him of flight any longer would not benefit him or anyone. At that moment Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead arrived, Arcee holding the cuff key.
"Is it ready Ratchet?" Optimus asked.
"Yes." The medic stated evenly. He handed Optimus the remote, "I've set the range at a modest distance." He gave Starscream a view of the settings, "This is how far you are allowed to go. A warning will sound if you are close to that limit. But if you should decide to betray our trust, you can be brought down remotely. Understood."
The Seeker lowered his brows and growled, "Transparently."
With a curt nod Ratchet opened the Ground Bridge. Optimus turned to the Seeker and made a gesture to tell him to proceed to which Starscream briskly marched out in front through the swirling green portal. The Autobots followed him and they all noted Starscream's eager pace was similar to the children when school was released. When they arrived at the other side they found that Ratchet had selected a wooded place far away in an open meadow, nowhere near Jasper or any notable civilization for that matter. Starscream glanced around, his wings twitching noticeably. He turned and held up his wrists.
"If you would be so kind, my dear?" he purred at Arcee.
She shot him a dirty look and looked to Optimus.
He nodded, "Go ahead Arcee."
The femme produced the key card and Starscream's optics lit up with anticipation. She curtly stuck the key into the cuff lock and the mechanism clicked open. Not two seconds after the cuffs unlocked, Starscream leaped backward and into the air. His plates rippled and flipped as his wings snapped into his jet mode. With a roaring shriek the jet shot into the sky above. The Autobots watched him disappear into the blue, spinning in tight barrel rolls.
"Do you think this is the last we'll see of him?" Arcee asked with almost a bit of hope in her voice.
Bulkhead snorted, "Huh. We're not that lucky."
…
No one could see the smile spreading across Starscream's face, but it was there hidden inside his jet mode. The cold air caressing his ailerons and whistling through his vents made him feel unleashed and absolutely free. No claustrophobic walls crushing in on him. No roof threatening to crash down on his head. No restraining bonds of any kind. Just clear blue sky and the sensation of utter dominance. The sky was his element; it always had been since his academy days. On the ground amongst the ground rollers he felt awkward and in peril, like a grounded bird of prey. But in the sky, none could challenge him. He was Starscream, tyrant of the firmament, Supreme Air Commander. Oddly, he could remember a time when it wasn't so.
…
A very long time ago, the first week at the Cybertron War Academy training…
"Cadets! At attention!" the Flight Trainer Alclad barked sharply.
The young fliers all clicked their heels and raised their wings high as they had been instructed in basic training. Alclad was a green mech, tall and of medium girth, but his wings were as wide and sharp as any flier in his class. For the first week of their training Alclad had been their top instructor, barking orders and relaying different flight maneuvers to the new recruits. But, he had not allowed them the privilege of flight during their training.
"Flight, "he had said on the first day, "is for those who know how to use it. You may all have the body type of a flier but form is nothing without intuition; knowing how to execute your next maneuver accurately and without tearing yourself apart trying to do it. You cadets have not earned the privilege of flight and you will not earn that privilege until you have proven yourselves worthy."
This of course did not set well with many of the new recruits who were itching to fly and show off their skills; one of the more eager happened to be Starscream. Every day in Maneuvers and Flight Class he would all but tune out Alclad's lecture. He knew the maneuvers, he knew what needed to be done to achieve those death defying moves and survive. He'd been groomed since his sparking to fly and he wanted his chance to show what he had prepared all his life to do. But he was being held back by the tedious lectures. Finally class ended and he, Skyfire, Thundercracker, and Skywarp all made their way down to the Refuel Station of the Academy and sat at their designated table to refuel.
"I can't BELIEVE we won't be allowed to fly until next week! It is absolutely preposterous! These classes don't teach us anything." Starscream griped, not touching his Energon cube.
Skyfire was reading the text on his data pad, "I don't know, Starscream. I find these maneuvers fascinating. How they just come together and flow so seamlessly."
"Geek alert." Thundercracker scoffed.
Skywarp snickered, "I'm with you Scream. These classes bore me to stasis. The hand to hand stuff is pretty fun though."
"Don't call me that." Starscream said tiredly. "I KNOW all of this stuff. If Alclad would just let me fly I could skip all of this slag and get to what is really important."
"Which is?" Skyfire inquired.
Starscream stood up dramatically, "Moving up the ranks and becoming part of the Seeker Elite."
"You know only a handful of us will get there Starscream and there's what, five hundred fliers in our class alone? What are the chances of getting close with that kind of competition?" Thundercracker asked doubtfully.
Starscream sat down and fiddled with his cube of Energon, "You'll see. I'll get there."
Skywarp rolled his optics then perked his head to point behind them, "Oh hey guys, check it out! There's Rapida."
The three other cadets turned to see the femme Skywarp had indicated. They knew here by name of course. Rapida was two classes ahead of them and in the science field. She wasn't a flier but with her glittery blue-green armor, tiny feet, and silvery purple, pouted lips she was the interest of all mechs at the Academy. She was sitting with a mixed group of mechs and femmes; the center of attention.
Skywarp was talking while Thundercracker and Skyfire refueled and reluctantly listened. Starscream didn't hear a word his wingman was saying, instead he focused on Rapida. Lovely, beautiful, Rapida. Starscream allowed himself a swooning sigh, watching her every move and gesture. Perfection. That was Rapida. He'd almost give his wings to have her.
"Yoo-hoo! Cybertron to Scream!" Skywarp inquired, waving a hand to gain the love-struck Seeker's attention. "Whatcha lookin' at?"
The young cadet jerked, optics darting, "Uh…nothing. And don't call me that."
Skywarp smirked and elbowed Thundercracker, "Oh yeah, nothing. More like checkin' out Rapida hardcore."
"I was not!" Starscream raised his wings in a flustered manner. "I was…just thinking about our flight maneuver exam tomorrow."
The purple and black cadet snorted, "Or thinking about giving Rapida an exam" He lewdly thumped the underside of the table.
"Not true!" Starscream interjected strongly.
"Oh come on Scream. What mech here wouldn't want to exchange code with that fine piece of work? If I didn't have so many femmes already in line I'd…"
Thundercracker made a scoffing noise.
Skywarp gave him a cursory glance, "Something on your mind TC?"
The blue tinted flier rolled his optics, "Two femmes who said "hi" to you doesn't make a line to jump your intimacy circuit."
"Oh it was more than 'hi' TC. So much more. You could see it in their optics. They want a piece of this cadet."
Thundercracker sighed, "Why don't you just go over and talk to her Starscream."
Starscream gave a nervous laugh, "Talk to Rapida? That's absurd. I don't have the slightest interest in her."
"Please. Your optics get all soft and glowey when you look at her. Just talk to her and get it over with." Thundercracker stated evenly.
Skywarp smirked and pointed at Starscream, "Yeah. Go talk to her Scream."
The silver cadet twitched his wings and drummed his fingers on the table, "Well…what do I say?"
Immediately Skywarp leaned forward, hands gesturing, "I got it. Say this. Just walk up to her and say: "Rapida, you are the most beautiful femme in the Academy." Then take her hand and say, "Come fly with me…amongst the stars.""
Starscream frowned, "That's idiotic."
"But it might work." Skywarp shrugged.
Skyfire, whom had kept silent most of time, tapped Starscream's shoulder, "Just say hello. Maybe invite her to the Elite Academy Fliers Performance?"
Starscream looked at his classmate, thought a moment, and then took a deep intake, "Ok."
He stood slowly and timidly made his way toward the table where Rapida sat.
"Ten credits he blows it." Skywarp stated quietly.
"Ten credits she'll tell him to get lost." Thundercracker offered.
Skyfire just sat and watched.
As Starscream drew closer and closer, his intakes began opening and closing rapidly.
"Don't screw this up…don't screw this up…" Starscream kept up his mantra in his head.
Then after what felt like an eternity of minutes he was standing mere feet from his objective. Rapida was listening to one of the large mechs at the table telling some story of his latest achievements. Starscream felt his tanks turn. What was he supposed to say again? As he stood there silently, awkwardly, Rapida's yellow optics turned toward him and squinted with confusion.
"Something you need cadet?" she asked.
Her question made the others in her group look at Starscream as well, some none too friendly.
Starscream's wings dipped downward, "Uh…well…um…" he stammered.
"Speak up Rookie." a more seasoned red flier mech known as Contrail snorted curtly.
"Yes…well. H-Hello Rapida. I am-I am Starscream and I…I...just…well…" he fumbled.
One of the mechs called Bolster, a huge shouldered soldier class mech began mocking Starscream's nervous stammering.
"You're blowing it Starscream! BLOWING IT!" his head screamed.
Starscream sucked in a large intake and said quickly, "Rapida will you go with me to the EAFP?"
The femme blinked at him and then laughed. Not a cruel laugh per se, but rather a laugh one might give a boy child trying to ask a grown woman on a date. Of course this made the others at the table laugh with her...and Starscream shrink very small.
"She doesn't date rookies, Rookie." One of Rapida's femme friends named Tinna smirked.
The others kept laughing and shaking their heads as if Starscream's request was the most ridiculous thing they'd ever heard. Starscream's wings dropped down, wishing he could just disappear.
Contrail jumped down from his perch on the bench and placed a hand on Starscream's shoulder; turning him away, "Don't take it personal cadet. It's just…you're too raw for a femme like Rapida. She's looking for a mech with stature, a mech whose accomplished things in his life. Someone more like…me. Not like you." Starscream looked at the mech who just threw up his hands placating, "Just the way it is Rookie."
Dumbly, Starscream wandered back to his table the words and laughter echoing in his head. His friends watched him intently though he never looked at them.
"What happened Scream? You blow it or did she say no?" Skywarp none too tacitly asked.
Starscream snarled and stormed away, out of the refueling hall. His friends all looked at one another and hastily followed after him.
"Hey Scream! Wait up!" Skywarp called.
When they were out in the courtyard they finally caught up to Starscream.
"Starscream! Tell us what happened." Skyfire called.
Suddenly, the silver cadet whirled around, optics blazing with rage, "Happened?! What HAPPENED was I was seen as a joke! They made me look like a fool." He mimicked what Tinna had said, "'She doesn't date cadets.' Well if that's what she wants then I'm going to show her…I'll show all of them that THIS cadet is going to be the greatest Seeker this Academy has ever seen!" He gestured dramatically, "And when I have achieved my rightful place then they will see what I am capable of…oh yes, they will all remember the name Starscream!"
He vented harshly, optics still flashing. His classmates just stared at him a moment like they'd witnessed a meltdown.
…
Present day…
Starscream flew for well over an hour before the Autobots were signaling him to return. He seriously thought about telling them to get fragged but knowing they could crash him with the push of a button did nothing to bolster his confidence in that matter. Staring out at the seemingly endless sky with envy he wondered again if he could make it as a rogue. No Megatron. No Autobots dictating his every move. Just him, he sky, and his own agenda. Though it sounded nice the cons didn't: No protection, no resources, no fuel…
Aggravated but relieved, Starscream turned around and flew back to where he'd left the Autobots. Just for fun he flew as high as he could over their heads until he heard the warning beep of the inhibitor and then flipped to dive straight down at them. The sky screamed against his wingtips, protesting his harsh slicing through her blue depths. He was flying so fast his signature screeching almost became deafening. Even as the ground yawed up at him he could see the Autobots' faces grow worried. He smirked inwardly to himself. This is where they feared him…and so they should. Oh if only his guns were online…
Just as it looked like he would nose dive straight into the ground, Starscream gracefully arced upward mere feet above the Autobots' heads, transformed, and landed in front of them. His wings snapped back as he came out of his crouched position.
Bulkhead cocked his head, "What was that all about?"
Starscream strutted up to them, "Can't I ENJOY my flight a little?"
"Do you feel…better?" Optimus inquired.
The Seeker drew a long intake, "Much. But I would suggest you not deprive me for that long again."
Arcee curtly slapped the cuffs on his wrists again, "Don't screw up too badly and we'll consider it."
A/N: Ok. I've started to delve a bit into Starscream's past. Hasbro from what I've seen never really dives into his past which was what I found disappointing about the episode "Patch"…though it was funny as hell and actually enjoyable for a "Clip-i-sode". I thought the writers missed a terrific opportunity to show how Starscream joined up with Megatron which would've added SO much to this already astounding villain. IDW somewhat got into it with their comics but I've decided to write in flashbacks and bits and pieces of Starscream's past into this story.