Ch. 108

"Multiple fractures," Ratchet started, "burns and cauterization around the blaster shot. Cranial denting. Sprained arm, torn digit line..." he glared at Smokescreen, "and all that's just from you."

Smokescreen smiled, wincing when Breakdown tightened the slip on his arm, "Hey, what can I say? Protecting Scream costs a bit, huh?"

Ratchet grumbled, "Not to mention the Decepticons now know you are a part of this team. Your element of surprise is gone."

The white mech shook his helm, "No, no, we still have that. He thought I was Wheeljack."

"Jackie?" Bulkhead laughed, "Can't wait to tell him about that!"

Optimus stepped forward, taking inventory of the damage on his team, "That may be another consideration we will have to make. Bulkhead, would Wheeljack be willing to become a more permanent part of our team?"

The green mech shrugged, "Maybe? Jackie has his issues with authority, it'll be hard for him to get comfortable..."

The Prime nodded back, "Please get in touch with him and let him know that it may be helpful further down the line if he were more readily available," Bulkhead smiled and Optimus looked back over Ratchet's notes, "And how are Starscream's injuries?"

"Well, not terribly minor..." the medic confessed, scrolling through his notes, "Two stab wounds, some abrasions around his neck. I noted some overheat damage throughout his chassis. That was pretty minor on its own... Ah, and some dents on his servos and digits that seem smoothed over. That could be from the heat damage."

Optimus hummed lowly, "What could have caused this? A new weapon?"

Smokescreen perked up, "No, it was Starscream."

Ratchet frowned, "He did this to himself? How?" he glared at the seeker, who kept his optics trained on the ceiling, his mind deep in thought.

"I don't think that was intentional," the white mech shrugged, "Raf and I were in a tight squeeze. Scream got us out. He was all..." Smokescreen's optics widened in wonder, "he was moving so fast! It was like he was in ten different places at once! One spot here and then ZOOM! And when he was done there, then CRACK! And that bot? He couldn't keep up! Then Scream grabbed him and tossed him right out into the horizon! It was amazing!"

Ratchet grumbled but Optimus nodded, "Smokescreen, you witnessed all of this with your own optics?

Smokescreen nodded, "Raf saw it too. He was hiding under my arms."

Ratchet quickly went to his computer console, his COMM system calling Raf but Optimus stopped him, "Easy, old friend. Rafael has been through far too much this evening. Please, allow him to rest and we will talk to him when he is ready."

The medic glared, then sighed, "You're right..." he nodded more confidently, "No, you're right. I'll talk to Miko or Jack in the morning and ask them to check in on him before we discuss this..." he looked to Starscream, the seeker still silently staring up into the ceiling, "If what Smokescreen described is true-"

"Which it so totally is!"

Ratchet glared at him, "Then that means Starscream's power is increasing or he is activating parts of it that have lain dormant until truly needed. We were lucky this night," he turned back to his notes, "we could have lost Raf and Smokescreen if he hadn't been capable of such a feat."

Optimus nodded and looked back at Starscream, smiling gently when he saw those tired blue optics shutter quietly.

"You let him escape!"

Megatron's snarl echoed throughout the command deck. The drones didn't falter in their work and Dreadwing didn't flinch. This wasn't his chastisement he was witnessing.

But C.Y.L.A.S. was a trained soldier. He stood as tall as he could with his injuries, his servos folded neatly behind his back as he awaited what Megatron would unveil upon him.

The warlord stalked around him like a predator did an easy meal, his voice lowering to a hiss, "What made you think that you could handle his capture on your own?! Your failures only make clearer the value you hold to me, C.Y.L.A.S.! Not only did you miss catching my second, but Project: Damocles' activation codes were deleted!" he grabbed up the satellite's housing box, throwing it against a wall and letting the contents explode all over the deck; he pulled his servo back to strike him, "Two failures stacked against you! What have you left to save yourself?!"

C.Y.L.A.S. took a soft intake, "I have, Lord Megatron, a new understanding into Starscream's power. It has evolved."

Megatron stopped himself from hitting the disfigured mech and scowled, "Explain. Now."

C.Y.L.A.S. nodded, "Starscream entered a manic state of amazing speed and power during our fight. I had fatally injured the Autobot known as 'Wheeljack' and he became... enraged. His hits went beyond physical capability. His speed put his very form in multiple zones of existence at once. It also granted him an enormous well of strength to draw from and..." he grazed his digits against some of his burns, the metal smooth and fresh, "and the damage could have been far more extensive."

Megatron huffed, "Your injuries are of-"

"However," the disfigured seeker interrupted, "when Starscream removed me from the fight, actually threw me many miles away, I was able to witness for a brief moment a short in that power. He can only attain such strength and speed in short bursts. I can surmise from the experience that he has never done such a thing before. And, if I am correct, this weakened state will make him far more easier to capture."

Megatron frowned at first, then sneered, "Congratulations, C.Y.L.A.S. I am impressed..." he waved him off, "Go to the med bay and have yourself examined for any pressing wounds. I want you back here as soon as you're capable. I need you seated at the table so that we may plan our next move..."