Ch. 222

"He barely fits through the docking bay doors," Ratchet hissed, glancing his optics from Optimus and Ultra Magnus to Predaking and the rest of the Ark crew excitedly talking amongst themselves, "and he takes up nearly my entire med bay! Whose idea was this?!"

"Mine," Optimus smiled, "old friend," he added, "This Predaking is not the same one described in Starscream's logs. I can assure you of that," the medic gave him a soft glare, but the Prime continued, "He is very compassionate and considerate. His creation was intended for a singular and nefarious purpose, a path he strayed from to pursue something far more noble. Predaking's care for Starscream has shown him a kinder world and in turn has created a sense of virtue in himself."

Ultra Magnus's gaze stayed affixed to the Predacon, "... While his size creates something of a problem..." he stopped himself and shook his helm, "I don't even know what to think anymore..."

The blue mech didn't say anything more and Optimus shuttered his optics gently and sighed, "You have the same feelings Ratchet has? About Starscream's power? And now bringing Predaking on board to side with us?"

Ultra Magnus kept his gaze on the Predacon, "I don't know. I simply don't know... I want to see reports of Predaking's history, but there are none. I want accounts of how he handles in battle, but they don't exist. I want some kind of validation for his work ethic and overall demeanor other than the word of a former Con, but I am forced to settle with what little I have..." he folded his servos behind his back, "All of this, every bit of it goes against everything I have been taught and driven to to keep order. None of this is organized, none of this..."

"What part of it is supposed to make sense?!" Ratchet hissed again, tapping against a datapad in his servo, "Starscream's spark allowed him to journey back so that he could change things! The conversation we're having now doesn't even make sense because we're not supposed to be having it! This creature shouldn't be here for more reasons than just Starscream's meddling! There's no amount of protocol or organization that can explain any of this!"

Optimus's optics flickered open and he frowned in thought, "... I understand your positions... both of you," he turned to Ratchet with a look that said more, "but you need to remember this: he had every opportunity to turn on everyone. He knew where the relics would be, whose bases would be where at which times, major events that could not be changed, and yet with all this pre-knowledge, he defied his first reaction to force the final outcome in his favor. Starscream had only one goal and he changed that goal when he included us in to all that he knew. Please," the Prime murmured, "trust that Starscream has done everything he could to turn the tide of these events, this war, to our favor. He, and our newest members, have risked death itself to prove that the fight they now fight is on our behalf. While it is true that the outcome of all that has been rewritten has not gone to Starscream's original plan, it is still a path worth pursuing. That is what it has always been: ending this war, finding peace for Cybertron. Mistakes were made along the way, events changed that could not have been foreseen. But after all we have survived through, can we find it in ourselves now to continue to trust Starscream, in his word and power, and keep fighting?"

Ratchet glared and shakily pointed a digit at the red mech, "You had a chance to end this fight," he growled, "when Starscream had you charged up on whatever energy he creates. You could have ended it then and you didn't."

Optimus blinked, "... Your feelings are not just directed at Starscream."

"How could they not be?!" the medic clenched his datapad tightly in a servo, "You talk about events? We've passed plenty of events and chances to stop all this and go home! That's a part of our end goal! Ending this war and reestablishing Cybertron! But every time we try to make sense of all of this-"

Ratchet stopped himself as his voice began to raise and he shook his helm, "No, I can't discuss this anymore," he forcibly shoved his datapad into Ultra Magnus's servos, the mech's once trapped gaze having been upon the medic for some time, "Do what you will. I need space..."

Ratchet walked off down a dark hall illuminated by nothing more than the stars and the moon from the ship's windows, his steps and shoulders as heavy as each other.

Optimus shook his helm sadly and sighed, "I wish it was far less complicated than all this."

Ultra Magnus nodded, "Agreed. But you are right, sir. We need to trust in... what we do have available. As incredibly unbelievable as it is..." he looked back at the med bay as Predaking laughed at something Bulkhead said, "Everything I've heard from you and your team, and from what I've seen on my own... I'd have a soldier written up for insubordination for writing reports that even come close to those stories... How is any of this supposed to be archived for the historical record?"

"Carefully, Magnus," Optimus answered, "for there will always be those who doubt the accuracy and still others who will seek Starscream as Megatron does. It will be best if the record of all of this be handled with discretion when it comes time to record them properly..." the Prime's optics narrowed as he scanned the face plates of everyone in the med bay and he turned to Magnus, "Where is Starscream?"

The blue mech looked into the bay, "... He was here just a moment ago. I didn't look away that long, did I?"

Ratchet grumbled lightly under an intake and rested his helm against the wall of the ship. He had walked until he couldn't hear the voices from the rest of his team, wanting as much solitude as possible. And he thought he had achieved this quite nicely until he heard a small sound, a muffled sobbing of sorts and a weak voice struggling to speak.

"I thought it was enough, why isn't it enough?"

The medic wanted to call out and ask who was with him, but held himself silent as he slowly came to a corner at the end of the hall and peeked around, his spark sinking when he saw Starscream huddled against one of the Ark's wide windows. He watched the seeker struggle to look at himself in the reflection and physically flinch as he turned away, tears streaming down his faceplate.

"The paint was supposed to fix this," he cried quietly, "I don't look like him anymore. I'm an Autobot, I'm not his second, I'm me, I'm an Autobot, I'm me, I'm me, I'm..."

The red and white mech covered his dark gray faceplate in his blue claws, growling into his sobs, "Why can't I stop crying? Why won't it stop?"

Ratchet slowly sunk to the floor as he listened, tears welling up in his own optics.

"Why does it all hurt?" Starscream continued, "I'm with them again, I'm with friends, and I can't even- why can't I even be with them right now, why is this-"

His words drowned under a choked sob and he curled in on himself, "Why can't he just stop? Why did he have to- why does it keep hurting?! Why did he have to do this to me?! Why couldn't he have just finished me?! Why did he make me into this, why did he-"

Starscream's voice suddenly became a shrill cry as his chassis shook in anguish. He backed himself against a wall, wings low and legs tight to his chest, as he cried into his servos. He felt someone slowly shuffle in beside him and when they pulled his frame against theirs, the seeker let them. Ratchet held onto the red and white mech carefully, keeping himself quiet but unable to stop his own tears from falling.

"Sir," a Vehicon reported from a minimally lit computer console, "all space travel connections have been established. The Nemesis is ready to prepare for further ascension."

Shockwave nodded, "As expected. Lord Megatron," he turned to address his leader as he sat upon his throne, "the Nemesis is capable of a singular bridge with the modifications installed. Shall we proceed with interstellar travel once we have reached the necessary distance to jump?"

Megatron's heated gaze bored into the purple mech, but it was not in anger, "Yes. Begin space bridge procedures. Have excess drones ready to attend to any sudden malfunctions. And Shockwave?"

Shockwave waited attentively, flickering his optic to show he was focused.

"COMM Bombshock. C.Y.L.A.S. still functions as a foot soldier, cannon fodder at best. We can allow no interruptions for this plan to become a reality," the warlord stood, "If C.Y.L.A.S. truly holds no sway over the Insecticons any longer, then he is better off left here on Earth with a chaperone than groveling at our peds."

"I will notify Bombshock of the changes in plans immediate-"

"Shockwave."

The purple mech quickly silenced.

Megatron smirked, "The Predacons as well," he stepped closer, "Leaving only Bombshock and C.Y.L.A.S. behind tells of simple abandonment. That we left with surrender in mind. Are the Predacons useful in our new course?"

Shockwave's optic stared straight ahead, "... Not based on current or slightly altered calculations, my liege."

"Good," Megatron stalked back to his throne, "Then anoint Bombshock as a commander among the four of them. Prepare them for a ground bridge back to Earth. They will have orders to seek out and destroy the Autobots if capable, but their larger goal will be to keep them distracted," he sneered as he sat himself down, "They best not make the mistake of thinking we will not return, Shockwave. And should they think us gone for good..."

The purple mech nodded, "Their hubris will be their downfall, my liege. Bombshock, C.Y.L.A.S. and the Predacons will keep the Autobots' attentions at bay while we finish construction unhindered."

"See that they are so," Megatron gestured lightly with his claws, "and ensure Bombshock has full control over his new pet," he added as Shockwave walked by.

The warlord stared out the command deck at the cracked visual screen that gave him a view of outside space and smirked, "You best not find yourself too comfortable upon my return..." he murmured, "It's only a matter of time," he chuckled, "only time, my dear Starscream..."