Ch. 46

The two mechs walked for nearly an hour in silence. Every twig snap was a MECH soldier with an electrical pulse gun, every wind gust was a MECH helicopter closing in. Starscream grimaced when he saw his energon reserves drop a percentage. Ten percent was something he didn't want to see right now.

Bumblebee noticed the look on his faceplates and beeped to ask what was wrong.

The seeker grumbled, "I'm one percent away from single digits. Is your COMM working yet?"

The scout checked, then double checked, whirring sadly for a 'no'.

Starscream growled. He had his ground bridge remote still hidden away on the underside of his thigh plating. But after his chassis had been given such a bad shock, he doubted the thing would function perfectly. And even if it did, he didn't want Bumblebee to know he had it. Not yet.

Bumblebee beeped at the seeker, asking if his COMM worked.

The seeker shrugged, "Well, my systems say it hasn't been damaged."

The scout whirled loudly, asking why he didn't just call for help.

Starscream scoffed, "Really?! Give out my personal COMM channel?! Well, one: I don't have the frequency for any of the other Autobots or their base, and two: it's my PERSONAL COMM! I don't need the lot of you always trying to call me or use it to pinpoint my location!"

As soon as he said it, the seeker knew how ridiculous it sounded. The look Bumblebee was giving him said enough.

With a loud sigh and a growl, he relented and opened his COMM, "Fine. Give me... Bulkhead's frequency."

The scout sighed excitedly and pinged him over a quick, short range COMM with the information. The seeker groaned and applied the frequency to his COMM, calling out with a hint of dread in his voice.

"Bulkhead? Are you reading me?"

There was a pause, then a rushed response, "Scream? How'd you get my frequency? Look, this isn't the best time, we're dealing with a crisis right now."

Starscream rolled his optics, "Yes, I know, I got roped into it."

Bumblebee beeped loudly into the COMM, startling the seeker, and earning a loud laugh from the other side of the COMM; Primus, there was no way to get away from the noise.

"'Bee! You got 'Bee! Guys! He's alright, Scream has him!"

Starscream snarled, "No, 'Scream' does NOT have him! We escaped from MECH and are moving east from their location. We need either a bridge or back up."

"You'll get both! Just send your coordinates."

The seeker was regretting this decision. He still had ten percent of his energon left. He was really only here because Bumblebee needed the support. Starscream gave over his coordinates and unconsciously whimpered when a bridge opened just in front of them.

Frag it, not today he wasn't. The seeker moved to step back, but Bumblebee caught him, whirring gently that it was all right. But to Starscream, it most certainly was NOT all right. He calculated his chances of avoiding stasis lock if he transformed and flew as fast as he could to a small energon pocket nearly two hours away. He'd probably be able to intake enough of the raw material to buy him enough time to fly to the Harbinger and make his necessary repairs. He also needed to check that his bridge remote still worked. Being stuck in the Autobot base would prevent him from doing that.

Bulkhead was the first to come running from the ground bridge, his arms opened wide, "'Bee! You yellow sight for sore optics!" he grabbed the scout up in a hug, effectively freeing the seeker.

Bumblebee beeped happily and returned the gesture, whirring and whirling when he saw Optimus and Ratchet come through the bridge to greet him.

Now was the silver mech's chance... Just slip away...

"Scream!"

Starscream froze.

"Don't think you're getting away from this!" Bulkhead laughed, setting the scout down to grab the seeker in a hug just as tight.

Starscream felt his optics widen in horror and his dentals grit down tightly as his mouth made a look of surprise and disgust. He couldn't handle this. It was too much.

But he felt a wave of calm overtake him as he growled deeply, "Put me down. Take three large steps back."

The green mech chuckled as he complied, setting him down, "Alright, alright, fair enough."

Ratchet bustled passed Bulkhead, grumbling as he began to look Bumblebee over, "Of all the things you two had to get mixed up in, it had to be MECH didn't it?"

The yellow mech beeped that it wasn't their fault; that MECH had ambushed him and when Starscream came to help, they pushed in reinforcements.

The medic waved him off, looking Starscream over next, "Well, you're lucky that you're still standing! I'll have to run a full systems check for the both of you when we get back, but so far the only damage I see is Starscream's optical discoloration."

The seeker frowned, flinching away, "Discoloration? What are you talking about?"

Bumblebee shrugged and beeped, saying he hadn't wanted to tell him because it didn't seem important.

Ratchet took hold of Starscream's helm to look closer, "In your left optic. You have a ring of yellow or gold surrounding the red."

Starscream pushed the medic's servos away, "I can see just fine! Primus, why is it the left optic getting all the attention?!"

Ratchet huffed and took up his tool kit, "Regardless, I'll have to take a look. Now let's get both of you back. The children have been incessant."

The seeker flinched. He had already told Bumblebee he still wasn't ready. And looking into the ground bridge before him, he knew that statement was still ringing true.

Optimus finally stepped forward to rest a servo on Starscream's shoulder, "Are you ready?"

Starscream shook his helm violently and stepped back, "No... no, I can't. Net yet."

The Prime smiled gently, "It is alright to be afraid."

"Afraid?! I'm not afraid! I'm-" the seeker hesitated, then grumbled, "I'm... just not ready."

Ratchet frowned, "Well when will you be?"

Starscream glared, stepping back again, "I don't know. I don't. Soon."

The medic looked frustrated, "You can't keep this up. You're not safe from MECH and certainly not from the Decepticons. And if one of them doesn't get you, the elements surely will."

The seeker's wings flared up, "I managed just fine before, I think I'm more than capable the second time around, don't you?!"

Ratchet looked taken aback. Bulkhead and Bumblebee stayed quiet while Optimus just watched as Starscream's expression changed from fury to shock. He was saying too much again.

He trembled and scuttled back, "I have to go," Bumblebee whirled sadly for him to stay but the seeker, growled, "No! I'm sorry!"

Within seconds, Starscream transformed and flew as hard as he could just to get away. Optimus looked down at Bumblebee as the scout beeped softly, telling them that he would come back. He knew the seeker would.