Ch. 103

Starscream laughed loudly, leaning down to speak more clearly into Jack's phone, "You have fought Decepticons, traveled through the ground bridge, and aided in saving the world multiple times. And you're not here because you're grounded?"

Miko held in a giggle, "Well, when you put it that way, Screamer..."

The seeker glared at her and she smiled, "Hey, Bulkhead is Bulk, Bumblebee is 'Bee, and Arcee is 'Cee. You're Screamer."

He rolled his optics, standing up straighter as he huffed.

"Look, I'm sorry guys," Raf sighed over the phone, "but until I get these grades up, I'm off Team Prime."

The phone cut and Miko pouted, "Aw, just when we gain one we lose another."

Starscream smirked, "Yes, and this one has been around far longer and knows the ropes."

Smokescreen frowned as he walked in with Bulkhead, "I get it, that's aimed at me. Nice, Scream, well played."

The seeker's wings twitched and he growled, "Starscream," he warned, "or I will hurt you."

The younger mech balled his servos into fists but Bulkhead held him back, "Hey, hey, enough of that," he glared back at Starscream, "from both of you. It's meeting day, so be nice or I'll make sure Optimus puts you two on scouting duty together. Then you two can rough it."

Starscream made a disgusted face and he turned away. Smokescreen just crossed his arms and walked to the furthest part of the room, his faceplates brightening as Optimus walked in with the rest of the bots.

"Starscream," the Prime smiled, "Soundwave informs me that today is the beginning of an event. Is there something we should be preparing for?"

The seeker let out an amused chuckle and shook his helm, gesturing to Breakdown, "With him still being alive? No. What was supposed to happen won't now."

Breakdown frowned, "And you're going to tell me what this is now, right?"

Starscream shook his helm, "This is the part where I insist Knockout hush you so you won't ask these sorts of questions."

The red medic smirked and covered his partner's optics with his servo, "Just cover his optics and he calms down."

"That's not how I operate, doc."

Optimus watched the seeker carefully, "Are you certain? There will be nothing we must prepare for?"

Starscream shrugged, "I don't know. Silas was supposed to get... it was just gross."

Miko gasped excitedly, "Really?! Like what?"

The silver mech leaned down next to her, "Like a talking tapeworm taking over your whole body."

Arcee frowned, "Starscream, really?"

Bumblebee shuddered and whirled as Miko gagged, "Ew! That's more than nasty!"

"It's more than just wrong," Starscream agreed, "And aren't we lucky Silas doesn't have access to a chassis to mess with?"

It was his energy signature, no doubt about it. But it was different. Not entirely what Dreadwing was expecting. Perhaps he had suffered damages that rendered his energy output at a different frequency than normal?

The blue seeker sighed and looked up from the monitors, "Lord Megatron, Starscream's signature has appeared on screen, albeit corrupted."

Megatron's optics widened, "Are you certain?"

Dreadwing nodded, "My lord, I suggest we investigate with caution. The Autobots know you seek Starscream, this could be a trap set to destroy you."

The warlord growled, but finally relented, "Fine. Then you will go and retrieve him. Bring him here, alive. And I want not an unnecessary mark on him, Dreadwing."

The seeker nodded, bowing before he left, "I will do as you command, Lord Megatron."

Dreadwing was no fool, not this time. He couldn't dare harm Starscream now. His leader's obsession with his silver predecessor was at its limit. And the power he witnessed was undeniable. With that kind of power, the Decepticons would easily decimate the Autobot forces. Cybertron would be theirs for the taking.

The seeker quickly enlisted four Eradicons as he powered up the ground bridge, the portal humming to life and spiriting him and his soldiers out into the desert. The smoldering pieces of a base surrounded them, smoke covering their lines of sight, but a noise from one of the buildings caught their attention. The five mechs charged their weapons and watched as a hulking and somewhat familiar form slowly made its way out from the side of an unsteady, burning building. It was dragging something large behind it.

"Starscream!" Dreadwing ordered firmly, "You are to come with-"

The form stopped and two optics, one red and one purple, glared at the blue seeker.

Dreadwing felt himself involuntarily step back, "Starscream...? What happened to you?"

The Starscream-esque mech chuckled, "Therein lies a tale, which won't be nearly as interesting to Megatron as this," the disfigured seeker didn't bother lifting the large box, settling for tapping on it gently, "So, take me to your leader."

Dreadwing stared at him, confusion overtaking him as the mech before him sneered. This wasn't Starscream. Not even in the slightest.