Ch. 118

Starscream wheezed out tiredly, stretching his arms up, "That was..."

"An amazing amount of progress?" Optimus offered as Ratchet pulled the patch from the back of his helm.

The seeker snorted, "I was going to say something closer to 'annoying' or 'bothersome' or... yes, something along those lines."

Ratchet frowned, "Soundwave and I monitored the whole session. If anything, it was progress, Starscream."

Starscream sat up, "Well, I thought it was annoying. I need to rest and relax my mind, not put it through the grind."

"Correction; Starscream's mental faculties: weakened. Starscream: begin work out montage."

Starscream scowled at Soundwave, "I will not be doing that."

"Then you'll have to have your sessions with Optimus and Soundwave," Ratchet huffed, "There's no other way around it. Your defenses are compromised. If you were caught, Megatron could easily retrieve any answer he wanted about you, your condition, about us."

"Starscream: reluctant to begin mental gymnastics."

The seeker crossed his arms, "Yes. I am. A cortical psychic patch is nearly impossible to fend off. When Megatron used it on me before, he had full access to everything."

Optimus smiled up at him, then stood, "But this time, we will not allow him that easy path. Should he capture any one of us, he will not be allowed to gain entry into our secrets."

"Optimus," Starscream sighed, "it's a lovely thought, but I think the only ones who can rightly attest to the power of a cortical patch is myself, Arcee and Bumblebee. We've actually been on the receiving end of some bad ones."

Ratchet nudged the seeker off his med berth, "And now we're going to prevent that sort of attack again. Now shoo, go bother Bulkhead or something."

Starscream glared at him, "Why Bulkhead?"

Ratchet glared back, "He knows what he did. Now, shoo. Both of you. Soundwave and I have to go over everyone's sessions again and decide where to proceed from here."

The seeker grumbled as he and Optimus were rushed away from the med bay, "Well, I'm glad that's over with."

"Starscream," the Prime began, "may I ask that we discuss how our session went?"

The seeker hissed gently, "No. I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

Starscream glanced at him briefly, "Because I don't like anyone delving into my secrets, Optimus. They are mine."

Optimus nodded, "I understand. If it is any consolation, I did not find any of your secrets."

The seeker turned on the Prime, poking him in the chest plate, "You weren't looking for my secrets."

Optimus shook his helm, smiling, "Indeed, I was not. I did not think it fair, nor wise, to stress you further by searching. You need to be encouraged to reaffirm your armor, not pick away at it with constant battering."

"Finally, someone who's almost on my side," Starscream frowned, "But you still think I should go through with these training regiments."

The Prime nodded again, "Of course I do. And I will help with whatever you need to ensure your mind is ready to combat any assault. So," he gestured to the base's exit, "may we take a walk outside and talk about our session?"

Starscream pouted, then frowned, then pouted again, but he couldn't think of a way out. After a moment, he scowled gently.

"I don't appreciate the persistence."

"And I am concerned for your wellbeing," Optimus gestured again, "Shall we?"

The seeker grumbled as he swiftly walked down the passageway that led out. He held onto some comfort that it would be just the two of them, with no one else prying into the mind-meld they shared, until he heard rushed pedfalls following after them.

"Hey guys! Wait for me!"

Starscream flinched and snarled, glaring back as Smokescreen came running after them, "This a party I can join in on?"

"Actually," the seeker hissed, "we are a bit busy-"

"Yes," Optimus interrupted, stepping aside, "We are going for a simple walk around the surrounding areas. I think it would be best to discuss our cortical psychic patch sessions to determine the best way to strengthen-"

"Optimus!" Ratchet called, "I need to confirm a few notes with you!"

The Prime looked back down then hall then shuttered his optics, "On second thought," he mused, "I think it would be better if you and Starscream spoke amongst yourselves."

Starscream's optics widened, his wings flat, "WHAT?! Are you TORTURING me right now?!"

Optimus smiled, "I will check on the pair of you later, but it seems my attention is needed with Ratchet and Soundwave. I will COMM you once I am finished here and I will join you after."

The seeker whined as the Prime walked back into the main room. He didn't want to sparkling-sit this dolt of a mech.

Smokescreen watched Optimus go and smiled, "Just you and me, Scream! So, how'd your session with Optimus go? I bet it was amazing! You got to patch into the mind of a Prime! Hey... hey wait!" the white mech ran after Starscream as the silver mech tried to slink away, "Optimus paired us up, you have to listen to his orders."

"He didn't 'pair us up'," the seeker snarled, "he merely suggested we should speak. I don't want to. I am ignoring his suggestion."

Starscream allowed his wings to stretch as the base door opened and the clouded sunlight blanketed the outside. The seeker was eager to escape this nuisance the Prime had left him with, but Smokescreen was a tough piece to be rid of. The mech followed him closely.

"Look, Scream- I mean, Starscream," he tried again, "I do actually want to talk to you. We got off on the wrong ped and I'm sorry about that. But don't you think we can bury the... how did Jack put it... bury the ratchet and move on?"

The seeker chuckled in surprise but hid it with a cough, "Hatchet, Smokescreen. The phrase is 'bury the hatchet'. If you bury Ratchet, he'll never forgive you. He's already hopping mad at Bulkhead for some reason."

Smokescreen stared at Starscream then sighed, "I really do want to talk."

"Fine," the seeker relented, turning back, "I am going to walk over there," he pointed, "towards those mountains. If you follow, we will talk. I can't promise it'll be about what you want, though."

Starscream began walking but Smokescreen took his arm and pulled him back, "I'll race you then."

The seeker snarled and pulled his arm away, "How dare you-"

"Race me and if I win, we talk about what I want," the white mech insisted, "I know I can beat you."

Starscream frowned, then smiled in amusement, "Fine, you little nuisance. I'll race you. But I intend to leave you in the wake of failure and frustrations."

Smokescreen smiled widely, "You're on."