Author's note. Still a good response to this story which helped with this chapter.
Suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy and please review.
Ironhide held Starscream as he sobbed his optics out, knowing it was a lot to take in. For now, Starscream had accepted his situation but chances were, that wouldn't last. Even though Megatron had abused him, Starscream would struggle with leaving with the Decepticons and would end up being desperate to rejoin them. Each time this happened, Ironhide would need to be there, carefully convincing Starscream that going back to the Nemesis was a bad idea.
But words weren't enough; he had to show Starscream that he was better off at the Ark. He wanted Starscream to actually want to be here and not just because there was no other option. He knew that wasn't going to happen overnight or anytime soon but he did hope it would be the end result. Ironhide continued to hold Starscream close, offering as much comfort as he could.
Finally, Starscream started to calm down, his sobs dying down until he was just clinging to Ironhide. Soft little whimpering noises could be heard coming from the Seeker but Ironhide just continued to gently stroke his back, avoiding the sensitive wings. Once he was sure Starscream was calm, he said.
"Ah've got Energon here if yah need any. We've also our own wash room if yah need tah use it."
"I want Energon," Starscream said immediately.
"Okay, ah'll get yah some," Ironhide said softly, slowly releasing the Seeker and letting him collapse back onto the berth.
As he walked over to the Energon dispenser, he was amazed at how calm he was. Comforting and looking after a Decepticon who was a victim of abuse, it was sort of boggling his processor. He never would have suspected a couple of months ago that he'd be doing anything like this but he was and it appeared to be going pretty well. Once he reached the dispenser, he grabbed a couple of cubes because he was starting to feel hungry himself.
It felt like the High Grade he'd had earlier had been completely burned up and now he needed to refuel again. He knew that Seekers needed a lot of fuel so he was glad for the good quality of the Autobots supply. There were advantages to living hear a semi active volcano and also being able to produce Energon using solar power. Working with the humans meant they could easily do this in peace and also meant they didn't need to steal any.
"One cube or two?" Ironhide questioned, he didn't know when Starscream at last ate.
"...Two," Starscream said after a moment's pause and Ironhide started filling up three cubes.
"Alright, here they are," Ironhide said softly, walking back over with the cubes and Starscream eagerly snatched his share and started gulping down the first cube feverishly.
"Watch it, yah might purge," Ironhide warned.
"I don't purge," Starscream snapped back, barely pausing in his gulping. Maybe he was worried it might be taken away.
"If yer sure," Ironhide said with a shrug as he started to sip at his, it was something to fill the silence anyway.
"I am," Starscream said stiffly before throwing his head back and gulping the last of the Energon in the first cube before starting on the next one.
"We've got a TV," Ironhide said as way of conversation. "If there's any shows yah like, we can probably look them up."
"Shows?" Starscream said with an air of superiority. "You mean that pathetic excuse for entertainment that humans have?"
"Yeh, that," Ironhide said with a nod. "They do have science channels and stuff."
"Ha, mere Sparkling basics," Starscream sneered.
"Some are nature ones," Ironhide pointed out. "Beachcomber and Hound watch those, yah can't know all the creatures on this planet."
"I am not interested in miserable flesh creatures," Starscream said with a sniff. "They are disgusting, worthless things that do nothing useful."
"Which have gotten the better of yah on occasion," Ironhide pointed out rather coolly.
"Dumb luck," Starscream retorted as he finished the second cube.
"If they're so dumb, why do yah stay here?" Ironhide asked in exasperation.
"Because while the inhabitants are worthless, their planet is not," Starscream said as though it was obvious. "It is so rich in energy, if it could be harvested, it would propel Cybertron back into the Golden Age..."
"Assuming Megatron doesn't waste it trying tah destroy us," Ironhide cut in. "We want tah power Cybertron to but we want tah do it in a sustainable way. If the Decepticons carry on the way they are, yah'll end up having tah go tah another planet after yah've squandered all the energy here."
"Well, if you Autobots would just surrender, we wouldn't need to use the energy to destroy you," Starscream said in a rather childish tone of voice.
"Surrender? Why?" Ironhide said in disbelief. "You Cons ain't nowhere near tah beating us. And why would we surrender when we'll either be executed or turned intah slaves?"
"You'd survive," Starscream growled. "Most Decepticons survived being little more than slaves to the Senate and Autobot council. Megatron only started his little rebellion because he and others were kicked out of the only, however menial, job they ever had. All that was left to him was gladiator fights and you saw what happened with that."
"Ah ain't saying what they did was right," Ironhide said with a growl. "But as the humans say 'two wrongs don't make a right', yah do what they did and how long before we rise up against yah? Just becomes one damn viscous cycle."
Ironhide looked at Starscream seriously and said.
"That's why we're fighting, tah change all that. We don't want that damn caste system anymore, we want a united Cybertron."
"Tch," Starscream snorted with disbelief. "You really believe that drivel your precious Prime spouts?"
"Ah do if as it so happens," Ironhide said simply. "All us Autobots have come from different backgrounds, including some who were abused by the old system. We've even got a few nobles and yet everyone has managed to find a balance and learn to work with each other. It ain't been easy but we've managed it and we continue to grow as a team."
As Starscream scowled, Ironhide couldn't resist pointing out.
"How else have we managed to beat ya'll?"
"Because you're stupid, soft Autobots," Starscream retorted, looking more annoyed than ever.
"We stupid, soft Autobots have been beating yah smart, tough Cons?" Ironhide said wryly. "Makes perfect sense."
"Oh...go away," Starscream snapped, crossing his arms and glaring at the opposite wall.
"Okay," Ironhide said with a shrug, getting up and moving to his side of the room, pressing a button so that the curtain activated and slide across until Starscream had his own separate area.
Ironhide heard a slight explanation of surprise but Starscream raised no other protest. The red Mech was extremely glad that Prime had thought up this, being able to give each other space was essential for this to work. He decided to relax on his berth and read for a bit, allow things to cool between them. Although, it wasn't as heated as it could have been, Starscream hadn't screamed or really used any bad insults. Frankly, for the Seeker, it was more like grumblings that real venom.
He heard a bit of shuffling from behind the screen, and then a slight huff. There were some data pads on Starscream's side, mostly scientific ones that their science department didn't mind lending or giving up. He hoped they were the kind Starscream would enjoy until they could get more at least.
A little ping in his processor reminded him that the human national news was starting soon, something he enjoyed watching. So, he grabbed the remote and switched the TV on which was in his half of the room. The TV was situated on the wall but it was possible to move it across to Starscream's side, just in case the Seeker ever wanted to watch something Ironhide didn't.
He relaxed in his berth as the show began with the usual theme tune and logo. The headlines were pretty general, no major bad news of any sort. It was especially nice that the Decepticons hadn't caused any trouble recently, Ironhide always hating hearing about Decepticon related incidents, particularly the ones where people got hurt. With a small smile, he listened to the different headlines and watched the footage, almost forgetting about the Seeker.
There was a sudden rustling and he turned his head slightly to see Starscream peering suspiciously from behind the screen curtain. Ironhide tried not to smile too much as he continued watching his programme. It would be nice if Starscream ended up enjoying watching the news but it wasn't necessary.
"What dribble is this?" Starscream couldn't help but ask.
"News...like the pod casts we used to receive back on Cybertron. Ah like tah keep up tah date on what's happening."
"On human activities? Why would you want to keep up to date with that?" Starscream demanded.
"Because sometimes they give us clues tah what you guys are up tah," Ironhide said with a shrug. "And sometimes, we can help them even if we just send a single bot tah deal with the issue or problem."
"Why?" Starscream asked as though he didn't understand why the Autobots would do such a thing.
"Why not?" Ironhide chuckled. "The humans are our hosts, they've down a lot tah make us feel at home here. We like them and because we can, we help them with stuff. Apart from anything else, it means we don't get too much grief from them."
"But you do get some?" Starscream said quickly, latching onto this point.
"Yeh, but that's a minority," Ironhide said with a shrug. "Yer always gonna get those suspicious of yah, no matter what we do. It's just grumblings and we don't pay those no mind."
"You could just make them your slaves," Starscream suggested and Ironhide resisted the urge to snap and get angry.
"We could but we've all seen firsthand what mere slaves can do," he said quietly. "Besides, many of them would weaken and fall ill, meaning we'd end up having massive deaths which would end up creating a whole load of problems. Frankly, if yah look at it logically, we get everything we want anyway and we don't have tah worry about looking after the humans. And there are a lot of perks tah having them as friends."
"Like what?" Starscream asked his optics narrowed but not sounding as sneering or arrogant as usual.
"Well, they've taught us a lot of fun games and pastimes. For instance, Blaster and Jazz love going tah concerts and those wouldn't be half as good if the humans were forced tah perform. We can go through their towns and countires without having tah worry what the local population is up to. We also don't have tah feed them, organise living quarters, guarding them, all that nonsense. What we're doing right now is a hell of a lot easier."
"Humph," Starscream muttered as Ironhide added.
"Ah ain't asking yah tah love them or anything like that. Some of the bots here aren't that keen on humans but they just spend as little time with them as possible. If yah see a human, just avoid them, don't confront of them. And we'll make sure they don't bother you."
Starscream snorted before disappearing back behind his curtain and a few moments later, Ironhide heard the wash room door open and close. The red Mech sighed; changing Starscream's processor over humans would be a tough challenge. Mainly because he liked the humans a lot and it wasn't easy hearing Starscream talk so contemptuously of them.
But at least they had had a discussion of sorts and not an all out argument. Starscream had sounded almost curious about Ironhide's point of view. Maybe it was the Seeker's way of making an attempt of forming a friendship between them; he'd need to ask Skyfire about that. He could be totally wrong; it might just be that the Seeker was still so upset over his abuse that he just couldn't summon the energy to be viscous.
The national news was over and now the local news was being reported but Ironhide was only half watching. He felt nervous of the coming hours, Starscream would suffer withdrawal symptoms from leaving the Decepticons and despite Megatron, would want to go back. The red Mech had to remain strong, even if Starscream didn't join the Autobots, in the long and short term; he was better off leaving the Decepticons. Megatron wouldn't stop raping him and he would slowly but surely be destroyed.
"Primus guide me," he murmured as he sank back against his berth.
Later that night
Optimus stood in front of Telatran One, having been told by Red Alert that there was a call from the Decepticon base. The Prime hadn't been expecting a call this soon but perhaps Megatron had been keeping a closer optic on his victim than any of them could have guessed. He knew he needed to avoid mentioning Ironhide, he didn't want his loyal solider targeted.
In taking some air to cool his systems, he pressed a button on the console and was greeted by Megatron's cold expression. Megatron was a Mech who rarely smiled and normally when he did, it was something of a cruel smirk. Optimus doubted that Megatron would be doing any smiling this cycle.
"Prime," Megatron began coldly. "I believe you have one of my soldiers and neglected to inform me of this fact."
"What makes you say that?" Optimus asked evenly, avoiding the question.
"Soundwave," Megatron shot back, obviously in no mood to verbally spar. "What are you doing with him Prime?"
"I'm not doing anything to him," Optimus replied calmly. "I imagine he's resting now, Ratchet had him earlier."
"Your medic," Megatron said flatly.
"Yes Megatron, my medic," Optimus said coolly. "We both know why Starscream required a medic."
"And?" Megatron stated, clearly not bothered in the least that Optimus knew what had happened.
"And you have made a serious mistake," Optimus told him.
"Have I?" Megatron said. "I don't believe it is any of your business Prime, or why you even care."
"I care because Starscream is a being you hurt in one of the worst ways possible," Optimus growled. "He may be a Decepticon but he deserves better than that."
"That worthless traitor?" Megatron said with a slight snort. "Whatever you say Prime. When are you releasing him or are you wanting something in return?"
"Starscream...is staying with us," Optimus stated. "Where he will be safe from you."
"Of his own free will?" questioned Megatron with narrowed optics.
"Yes," Optimus stated, there was no point pretending they were holding him captive.
"Then you will pass a message onto him," Megatron commanded. "If he does not get his worthless aft back here within the next three cycles, then he is a traitor to the Decepticon cause and will be treated accordingly."
"Unless," Megatron added. "You are lying about Starscream willing staying with you, in which case I will take steps to retrieve him."
"He is here of his own free will," Optimus stated firmly. "I would never force him to stay but he does not want anything to do with you Megatron."
"We shall see," Megatron said with a stony expression. "And do not forget to tell him what I said, if he does not wish a repeat of this last night's events, he would do well to remember his place."
"I will tell him what you said," Optimus said, burning at the hint that Starscream would be raped again if Megatron ever got his servos on him.
Megatron gave him a look of cold amusement but without smiling.
"Goodbye Prime, think very carefully about what you are doing," the grey Mech warned before cutting the connection.
Optimus sighed, he knew this was the right thing to do but Megatron would now focus on taking his Seeker back. Things were truly never going to be the same again.
Author's note. How does Ironhide and Starscream's first day go? Find out next time, until then.