Ch. 57

Starscream paced, remembering what he could; what had happened before and what he had changed. He groaned at his arrogance. He had changed too much. Now he just wasn't sure...

"Start at the beginning," Fowler said sharply as he crossed his arms, "and I better like the explanation."

The seeker was nervous. He had so many optics and eyes on him. He knew he had friendly individuals among them all, but it was still too much. Starscream looked to focus on one of them, just one, and found he was looking at Bumblebee.

"Well, it's pretty much my fault."

Bumblebee whirled, asking why.

Fowler scoffed, "I figured as much."

The seeker shook his helm, his servos raised, "No, no, not like that. It's... why is this so difficult?"

Optimus stepped forward, "Start where it went wrong."

Starscream knew exactly what the Prime meant and sighed, pointing at Bulkhead, "He was supposed to save Breakdown from MECH the first time. Not me. Not the rest of you."

Bulkhead laughed, "What me? Yeah, right!"

"Oh no, you did. But you didn't get there fast enough," Starscream smiled, a sick feeling overcoming him the more he spoke, "They carved out Breakdown's right optic first before cracking open his chest plate. That's where this was all supposed to begin."

"But you changed it," Ratchet murmured, "by stopping them from examining Breakdown."

The seeker scowled, "I had hoped that would deter them, or maybe I could kill Silas before he could do anything more, but-" he stopped and just growled, looking back to Bumblebee, "And then there was what happened to us..."

The yellow mech shuddered, beeping that things must have changed.

Starscream laughed, "Yes! Yes, they did... They weren't interested in catching me or you when they laid their trap. They just wanted your t-cog. They had learned enough from Breakdown for that. I watched them take it from you and followed them to the warehouse in the woods. They were... building their own Cybertronian, or the best they could muster. I thought, since I had no alliance, that I could join with them. You and I ended up fighting rather badly. You got your t-cog back. And they took mine instead. They used it to build... ah..." he slowly looked over at Optimus and coughed, "Well, the replica was apparently very realistic. They just never bothered to give it a proper paint job..."

Miko perked up, "Whoa, a second Optimus? A Nemesis Prime?"

The seeker nodded, "Yes. But it seems that my pre-knowledge of all this, which led me to changing it, has forced them to create their 'false Cybertronian' using other materials..."

Ratchet frowned, "And inspiration from a different model. Agent Fowler, did MECH's robot transform on site?"

The man shook his head, "Reports say no."

"MECH's lack of access to a t-cog has limited their false replica's distance of travel, whether or not they have alternate means of transporting it," Optimus surmised, "Regardless, we cannot allow them to keep such a creation, especially if they are using it to harm innocent humans."

Arcee crossed her arms, "We're rolling out?"

Starscream growled, "We are doing so much more than 'rolling out'. When I get my claws on Silas-" he snarled angrily, calming only when Bumblebee beeped to him.

The scout told him not to worry, saying they would make sure to bring MECH to justice.

Fowler started heading back to the elevator, "It doesn't matter how you bots handle this," he informed them, "the Pentagon wants results. And since my reports have been detailing Starscream as a part of your faction, and he's the one they think went rogue..."

The seeker stiffened, glaring, "Let me guess, they want my neck on the chopping block."

The man didn't confirm the analysis; he took out his phone, "I'm going topside to make a call. I'm going to try to straighten this out, but you bots better move fast. All military personnel have been given the order to neutralize any and all Cybertronian life forms."

The elevator doors closed and Optimus looked down at his team, "While Agent Fowler explains the situation to his superiors, we should begin surveillance. Ratchet, bring up a map of the base and the area surrounding it," Ratchet didn't move and the Prime's optics shuttered in a blink, "Ratchet?"

The medic was staring at Starscream, shrugging, "I'm wondering if we even need to do much of an investigation."

The seeker frowned, "No, we really should. Especially if this is their first attack. Optimus is right, bring up a map. Maybe from what I know was supposed to happen, we can determine if their base is still in the same location."

Optimus smiled and looked up at the screen, "Ratchet, if you would please?"

Ratchet nodded, typing in to bring up a map, "Here is the base that was attacked," he highlighted a section of the map, then branched out, "Did they make any other assaults in the 'previous timeline'?"

Starscream nodded, "Yes, just one. With their false replica of Optimus, they attempted to annihilate Agent Fowler first. When they didn't succeed, they went after the base," he pointed, "Here. This is the bridge where they initially tested their robot," he pointed again, down some distance away at a large factory compound, "This is abandoned. This is where Bumblebee finds them hiding out."

The yellow mech beeped and whirred, saying that should be the first place they investigate.

"Agreed," Optimus nodded, "Ratchet?"

The medic typed into the ground bridge, pulling the lever, "Already on it."

The portal opened and Optimus pointed in, "Autobots, let's roll out!"

Optimus and the team transformed, driving through the ground bridge. Starscream didn't move but Ratchet kept the bridge open.

"You've left it open," the seeker noted.

Ratchet nodded, "Yes. For you. Optimus said 'roll out'. It doesn't have to just mean with wheels."

The seeker's wings twitched and he ran through the bridge as he transformed, flying out into the dark of night, the rest of the Autobot team just below him on a quiet and deserted road.

Starscream felt a ping on his COMM and he answered, "See anything?"

"Nothing yet," Optimus informed him, "Arcee and Bumblebee are going to pull away to reach the location before myself and Bulkhead. Can you fly around the facility to look for any movement?"

The seeker's jet engine roared loudly as he pushed harder, flying passed the vehicles below, "I'll report anything I find."

The Prime responded back, "Be careful."

Starscream flew quickly and saw the facility ahead of him. Even if something did happen, Arcee and Bumblebee were maybe a minute behind him. He still didn't want to take much of a chance. The seeker dipped low and fast, circling once. Lights were either dimmed or nonexistent. There were no signs of activity, but that meant nothing at face value.

Starscream turned hard and transformed just outside the entrance of the facility, landing in front of Arcee and Bumblebee as the two approached in bot mode, "No movement. But it's not hard for roaches to scatter and hide..."

Bumblebee beeped, saying they should wait for Optimus and Bulkhead to arrive.

The seeker nodded, but turned to Arcee, "What do you think?"

The femme smirked, "I think MECH has an unhealthy obsession with you. And if they want to catch you, we should have the whole team ready to take them down."

Starscream chuckled as Arcee transformed her servos into blasters and peeked into the compound, "They are obsessed, aren't they? Too bad they aren't a legion of followers, I'd accept that."

The femme pouted for him, "No they aren't. How tragic for you. They just think you're precognitive and want to use you to overthrow the government."

"They're nothing but lunatics!" the seeker hissed, "I am not precognitive! They just won't listen! Maybe I'm not speaking the same language they are!"

Bumblebee patted his arm, whirring gently in assurance as Bulkhead and Optimus drove up and transformed.

"Status report?" the Prime asked.

Arcee nodded, still watching the entrance, "No movement, no sign. That doesn't mean anything though."

Optimus hummed, "The four of you, pair up. Now that MECH has a false replica of Starscream, we must be sure to keep our guards up."

The seeker shook his helm, "It'll take longer for us to find them. Besides, they haven't seen me recently," he pointed to his optics, "If you see red, shoot."

Bulkhead held in a chuckle, "They look nice."

Starscream glared, "Don't push it."

Optimus nodded, "Then each of you, be careful. If you find anything, alert the rest of the team.

"Let's move out."

Silas watched from a screen and smirked at the video feed as the bots separated and began to explore the facility, "Well, well, what a surprise."

He looked up at the silhouette of his fake Starscream off to the side, chuckling, "Well played, Starscream. I'm impressed. But I'm done messing around," he situated himself into his seat and activated a set of controls, taking hold of them, "I don't care what it takes," the optics of the robot switched on, glowing a bright red, "MECH is in need of your services. Tonight, we will not have the option of letting you escape again."