Court Marshal Pt. 1

A/n: okay people sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. As for most of the comments I received all of them were noted and taken into account. And yes I realized it a little late that Starscream was an f-22 instead of an F-18. But Starscream is trying to blend in on a low class carrier and most of the planes on it are less than F-22s so it works.

To the Copper Arabian: thanks for the insight I didn't know that, but for the purposes of the story she had to feel it.

The ness-ness… Kit would love the Starscream plushie and Starscream would groan in protest.

Rikku92: the cop car is Barricade.

Kit woke to the soft tapping on her door. Her head was still a bit sore. Rolling over she got out her headache medication and took some before getting up and going to the door. She didn't care who was at the door at the moment and her clothes were still rumpled from sleep.

"Who is it?"

"It's me Kit."

She sighed softly letting Storm Chaser into the room.

"You should get ready the trial begins soon."

"Right."

"Kit are you sure about Starscream?"

She groaned. "He's beating the crap out of you for no reason."

"He's trying to prove a point I think Storm Chaser. He's trying to get through my head that he's not my friend or ally, but I think it's a façade he's putting up to hide his true intentions."

"I don't like it either way."

"Storm Chaser stop being so protective I'm old enough to take care of myself. I know there is a chance that I'm entirely wrong but something tells me he wants a friend."

"I doubt it."

"I'll never know unless I talk to him and learn all that I can."

"Be careful Obsidian."

Kit shook her head at his brotherly instincts. That's why she could never see him more than a brother because of the annoying instincts to protect her like a child. Storm Chaser left the room to allow her to get ready. Finally leaving her room dressed in her best uniform she followed her companion to where they were holding the court marshal at. She sat towards the back knowing that even if they did call her as a witness she didn't want to be in striking range of Wild Card even though she wasn't scared of him. Leaning back her mind drifted towards the air field and wondered what the other three Decepticons were like. She had a bad feeling about all of this considering Starscream warned her away from them. Considering the circumstances Starscream was the bigger threat to her since he had no concern that he wasn't exactly being nice when they were flying. There was still a slight throb behind her eyes knowing that the hit to her head wasn't the cause as of this moment.

"Catalyst," she breathed softly.

Those dreams still haunted her. The one called Megatron kept calling her the catalyst. The more she was referred to that in her dreams the more she started to hate the word. Once this trial was over and Wild Card was stuck with a dishonorable discharge and kicked off the base she'd ask Starscream about the title Megatron bestowed upon her in her dreams. She hated to be the answer to anyone's problem. Leaning forward she rested her elbows on her knees and folded them in front of her. Her forehead rested on her folded hands. Her mind wandered to the trial. Kit knew that they'd ask her exactly what had happened up in the sky. Of course she'd have to reveal the fact that she's working with a Decepticon.

"Are you worried?" a familiar voice said from her left.

She looked up to see the commander of the U.S.S. Jackson. He had a grim look about him.

"Sir, they're going to ask me about Starscream."

"I know. However they will know that it is an assignment from the government that you are doing in concern with him."

"Wild Card is going to use that to his advantage though. He's going to make it out that I work with them against humanity. They'll court marshal me too if that was what Wild Card intends."

"It is an order so it can't be ignored."

"I know sir but that doesn't stop the fact that he's been apart of a group that destroyed a lot of human lives, and there is no telling what part the other three had in the fact."

"Three?"

"You didn't know?"

"No, I didn't. What are they?"

"Sir, I think it best that you remain oblivious to their forms and Starscream will handle them."

"Are you can be sure that…"

"That's what I'm here for isn't sir? To make sure we can trust these aliens?"

"Obsidian…"

"Sir I think there is something about me that keeps them from killing me or those I associate with."

"How did you come upon that conclusion?"

"If he wanted to kill me he could have let me crash that day or he could have flattened me anytime he wanted. So there is something about me that drives him to be at least remotely forgiving of my human nature."

"Be ready Obsidian trials ahead will be difficult."

"Yes sir."

"I think soon you'll be meeting the other aliens that ally themselves with humans."

Kit sighed heavily. It would only be a matter of time before she'd be forced to go to them she was sure of that. Once Starscream revealed her purpose to her she'd go from there. She was brought out of her musing by the shuffling of feet and the grousing of a familiar voice. Looking up she saw Wild Card being escorted in by two MPs. She yawned hugely as he looked her way. A snarl escaped his lips as he tried to go for her, but the MPs stopped him.

"When I go down Kit I'm taking you with me."

"With what charges?"

The MPs forced him away from her and sat him down in a chair. Twelve members of the jury came in and the bailiff called everyone to rise for the judges entry. They all were seated. Kit's mind wandered not exactly listening to the testimonies of each side. Her attention snapped forward however when someone stood beside her.

"You've been called to the witness stand Lt. Allender."

"Yes, sir."

She rose from her seat and fallowed the bailiff to the stand. She raised her hand and took her oath of truth. Most of the questions were based on what happened the two times she was abandoned. Then the state attorney asked her how she got back from the 2nd trip since her plane was obviously destroyed.

"Yes, tell them Kit what helped you get back that day," Wild Card sneered.

"Another jet found me and took me home," she stated.

It was the truth but not the entire truth.

"I don't see why you're defending him Kit his kind killed your brother."

"Leave my brother out of this."

She heard the gavel hit the desk at least three times before everything went silent.

"I want order in my court," she heard the judge snapped.

"Lt. Allender what are you hiding?" the state attorney asked.

"I was ordered to be partnered up with the Decepticon Starscream. He arrived on the U.S.S. Jackson a year ago and till recently was immobile with the exceptions of leaving the carrier for night flights. I have been commanded to evaluate the Decepticon to test his capabilities of rehabilitation."

She heard several gasps from the group. Bowing her head she knew that this probably was going to end her career in the naval air forces.

"No further questions."

The states attorney sat down and Wild Card's stood up. Kit sighed softly knowing that the next questions would be about her mission orders. She looked strait ahead and strayed to other things for a moment. She was startled from her thoughts when the attorney stood before her.

"What exactly were those mission orders Kit?"

"As I said, I'm a partner to a Decepticon and I am to evaluate his abilities of rehabilitation."

"I see, then why do you place your trust in it so easily?"

"I do not put my trust in him I just have my orders. In the end it's his choice to help or not but I am the belief that some people can change."

"He's not human and therefore how do you know he can change?"

"I am under orders therefore what I believe he can and cannot do is of his own and I cannot exactly say what it is that convinces me of that."

"No further questions."

"The witness is excused," the judge said to her.

She nodded and rose and returned to her seat towards the back. Leaning heavily against the backboards she closed her eyes and blocked out the rest of the trial. For once she didn't care what went on around her. Her mind once again drifted back towards the base and wondered if Starscream was fighting the other jet. Despite what Starscream had told her, she wanted to meet the other Decepticons and see if they too wanted to change. She knew that Starscream was being outwardly mean to save face with her companions but she could see through that façade easily. He was trying way too hard in her opinion. That made the façade even worse. She was sure if Starscream had ever been human that he would be a crappy actor. Her thoughts were again disrupted by the sound of wood hitting wood. Looking up the judge banged the gavel on the desk again.

"Court will adjourn again at 16:00 tomorrow afternoon."

"All rise," the bailiff called as the judge stood and walked out followed by the jury.

The MPs took away Wild Card. She rose and rubbed her forehead. Kit found herself walking back to her barracks without even realize it. With a heavy thump she crashed on her bed still in uniform. Exhaustion took over and darkness met her vision.

She woke sometime later and looked at her clock. It read 2:00 a.m. much to her annoyance. Getting up she changed into her sweat pants and a white t-shirt. Putting on her gym shoes she walked outside planning on visiting Starscream. Harsh words made her stop.

"Kill her already Starscream," she heard an unfamiliar voice yell. "Lord Megatron will rise soon and her purpose is no more."

"Shut up Barricade I'll kill her when I'm good and ready."

Her heart flared in hope for a moment.

"Her human heart had clouded your judgment and Lord Megatron when he rises will not like it."

"My judgment isn't clouded. She's the catalyst and her purpose will be done once all the Autobots are destroyed."

She realized Starscream was keeping her alive long enough to awaken their leader. She had been sure that Megatron had been destroyed in the confrontation five years ago. Kit realized that she'd be damned before she allowed them to use her like that. If she had to she'd play dirty and prove that no one could control her.

"Humans are weak and pathetic Starscream and you'd do well to remember that, and we don't need a pathetic human girl to help us."

"She brought Megatron back didn't she?"

"Lord Megatron," Barricade hissed in correction.

There were no more words after than and Kit turned her back and headed back towards her barracks deciding two could play at that game. She'd show Starscream not to mess with the human race and not all people were pathetic and weak. A human's will tended to make them stubborn and hard headed. Then she realized what had been said. If Megatron had indeed risen again somehow she'd have to let the right people know so word could be sent to the Autobots. Kit wasn't even sure how she had done it if she had done it at all. Maybe the Decepticon that Starscream had called Barricade had said that to get their enemies closer. By definition a catalyst was something that brought about a change or an important event to happen. Kit was sure that she was human and nothing exactly important about her but how could she do what they said if she herself didn't know exactly what she had done. An evil smirk graced her features knowing this was a perfect opportunity to bug the crap out of Starscream to get the answers that she needed. If she was the catalyst then she wanted to know what they wanted with her.

Had she been paying attention a pair of red had watched the entire play of emotions on her face. Stepping into the light of the moon a familiar helicopter Decepticon stood there. He looked towards where Starscream and Barricade had been and then back towards the humans' barracks. Shaking his head he knew this group was going to be in for a long haul.