Author's Note: Forgive me for taking so long! I intend to finish the story very soon. Within the next few months. Thanks again for staying faithful!

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers.

Chapter 17: Descendant pt. 1

Waking slowly, Starscream filtered through the layers of grogginess that hung over his processor. His tiny body was throbbing, one thunderous wave after the other as he tried to achieve consciousness. The memories floated back into his processor, like poison as they flashed before the youngling's optics. Optimus' last blip of emotion was still fresh—full of terror, of helplessness. Only few times before had the elder reflected his feelings towards the youngling, and this time seemed to be the worst. He fully knew why.

The small one stirred, the sensation of warm metal beneath his frame reassuring. There were soft murmurs as he tried to wake up, and were abruptly silenced when he attempted to sit straight.

"Starscream," a gentle voice said, one that seemed to have fear and relief laced within it simultaneously. "Thank Primus you're awake."

The youngling groaned, allowing his weakened body to collapse against Bumblebee's warm arms. At least he wasn't here alone—the worst thing Starscream could imagine. This pitch-black place, where he could only see the Autobot's sapphire orbs and feel his gentle arms around him and folded legs beneath him, it kept the youngling from falling into a trance of fear.

"Do you know where we are?" Bumblebee asked while rubbing the sparkling's back.

"Why bother asking him if we don't know?" a different voice threw back curtly, making Starscream jump as he whirled around to see who had made the remark. Four sharp, crimson optics glared through the darkness, sending tendrils of alarm down the youngling's spinal cords. Barricade.

Despite the Decepticon's intimidating appearance, however, Starscream was nonetheless thankful that he was there as well.

"Because, he usually knows," responded Bumblebee with a tinge of frustration in it. "You shouldn't underestimate him just because of his age."

This time, the Decepticon chose to respond with an unconvinced snort, letting his optics drift off to the right of him. He seemed less than enthused to be where they were presently—but Starscream was confused, because upon his reflection, Barricade had jumped after them. Deciding not to pursue it, the youngling asked, "Can you see?"

"We're in some filthy, humid cavern," sneered Barricade, batting his hand across the floor and a non-too-appealing sound following. It was a slushy sound like whatever they were sitting in was a mucky, thick and nasty environment.

Starscream scowled as he felt his spark sink. He brought this upon them—upon them all. He should've told Optimus and all of them when the chance came, but he'd been so afraid by their reaction, he couldn't bring himself to do it…and now look what happened. Guilt enveloped his tiny spark, a guilt so great that he wished everything in the world that he could turn back time. Now, it might be too late.

"We're in Unicron," he murmured, optics cast downward as the other two in the room snapped their attention toward the tiny 'bot. "This is my entire fault. If only I had said something sooner…"

"Are you saying that you knew he was coming?" growled Barricade, his Decepticon attitude overlooking the fact he was a sparkling.

Starscream flinched. "Not then. I didn't think that he would do it then when everyone was around. I didn't want anyone to hate me because of what I did."

"And what was that?" continued the Decepticon, not hindering on his tone as it bit down into the sensitive spark of the younger.

"Hey," Bumblebee intercepted, "getting angry at him won't change anything or do anything to help us out. We just need for him to tell us what's going on—without your snide remarks."

Of course Barricade felt stood up, but nevertheless kept his trap shut at the Autobrat's point. If Starscream got frightened, he would simply retreat into himself and then they wouldn't figure anything out. Especially with why they were inside Unicron—which was revolting in itself.

"No, Bee, he should be, for what I did," Starscream said, shuttering his optics closed, now feeling obligated to spill everything. "I've done a lot wrong. I didn't tell Optimus or you, or anyone, because I knew if I did I'd be hated forever."

"You don't know—"

"No, you don't!" the youngling cried, leaping off Bumblebee's lap and into the soiled substance that layered the floor, backing out of his reach. "None of this would've happened if I hadn't been so fragging weak!"

There was a brief silence, Barriacde's optics roving over to the Autobot's, expectant. Bumblebee began to feel a knot of dread form in his chest—he did not like the sound of this, and certainly not to where it might lead. It would break the sparks of everyone who had come to love Starscream, and the youngling knew this. However, none of this would be resolved if it wasn't brought out into the open. Starscream's optics were glistening with tears, but Bumblebee proceeded to ask, "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" the youngling began, turning his gaze away in shame, "if I didn't say yes to what Unicron had told me. But…they were my creators! I had no choice!" Quietness filled the room once more, before Starscream's optics turned in front of him again. This time, his tone was level, intent on telling the story all the way through, despite his spark screaming him not to. "Back when me and my creators were running away from Megatron, when Blackbird was chasing after us…everybody thinks that he's the one that killed them, but that's a lie.

"HE came to me when my opi first got injured battling Blackbird. He came back alive, but he was really hurt and almost died for my dani and me. Then, the Monster came to me in a dream, telling me that he would protect them from Blackbird and Megatron, but he couldn't do it by himself. He needed my body so that his powers could come into our world. So I said I would do it, but when I did, he's the one that deactivated my creators…" then, his voice cracked, tears flowing down his small cheeks like rivers, "using me!"

Bumblebee's spark panged a horror so great that he immediately caught the sparkling, capturing him in his arms while the youngling sobbed and cried. The Autobot had never heard something so cruel, not even the worst times of war. Even Barricade responded with nothing, reserving to himself as his optics had become mere slits—rage boiling in their crimson depths. For a long while, Bumblebee held Starscream, cradling him while he waited for the cries to bubbled down to quiet hiccups.

"And then, when Blackbird saw what happened, he helped me stop," the youngling continued despite the wound that had been seared opened, "he helped me learn to control my voice, and let me stay with him as my new opi. But then, Unicron killed him, too!"

This was getting to be too much for the little one as his little body rocked with tremors. Bumblebee couldn't have possibly imagined going through such horrifying experiences at such a young age. "Starscream, maybe you should—"

"No!" he choked, half sobbing. "I need to say it! You need to know! After Blackbird's died, I didn't know what to do. I just walked and walked and walked, until suddenly I was in the crater on Earth. When Optimus found me, it was just like getting my opi back, and I had to stay with him or else I knew I wouldn't be able to live. And then, when I met the rest of the Autobots, it seemed okay because they were soldiers that could defend themselves. But then when they learned of my singing abilities, it seemed like everything was happening all over again!

"I never wanted all this. I just wanted my opi and dani to be safe! I didn't mean to hurt anyone, and now everyone might be in danger because of me!" Starscream cried, never before telling someone of his crime. "All because I was too weak!"

Then, there was the only sound of his crying, the screaming emotions of his spark. as Bumblebee starred down at him, helpless and unsure. Starscream never felt worse—how could he have possibly involved all the ones he loved and that loved him? Betrayal was certainly better than this, better than coming to realization that the child that they had brought into their homes, their lives and their sparks was actually a monster, one that had caused so much destruction. He knew now that he would never be forgiven.

"Starscream," Bumblebee stated, tone curt as it demanded his attention. The youngling couldn't help but glance at the elder, attempting to prepare himself for the worst. "You know, it wasn't just you that put something on risk here."

The sparkling was surprised, unknowing of what to say while he felt something that he'd never felt before—the connection of their relation, Bumblebee's being Optimus' creation, and his brother, Lucious' being Starscream. Perhaps it was always there, but never before had been touched. Yet now, the golden Autobot's intentions were clear, and the youngling couldn't help but be faintly reminded of Optimus' brilliant spark as he contacted his cousin's.

"We wanted to be your friends, your surrogate creators, mechs and femmes that you could trust. You got caught up in all lot of the present demise, which wasn't fair to you at all, but we still took that chance. We love you more than you'll know, and there wouldn't be one Transformer on our team that wouldn't be considered any less than you. What you've done in the past can always, always be fixed in the future. In the optics of our creator, Primus, we are all equal, no matter our place in society, no matter our social background, no matter what we've done to get where we are, no matter how much pain or happiness we've caused.

"You gave a lot of smiles and joy to Optimus and the rest of us when we had almost forgotten what we were fighting for—brought out a lot of good from where bad once was, and allowed mechs to heal that we would've thought was beyond our help. In the end, Starscream," the golden scout murmured, and for some reason, Starscream thought that he could hear his opi saying those same words: "you've let a change come about that we'd never thought would come. A good change."

"And I can hear voices now," Barricade added with sarcasm drenched in his voice.

Bumblebee snorted down his laughter, an odd expression replacing the pained one that covered Starscream's faceplates. "You just totally ruined my pick-up speech."

"You were going to ramble on forever if I didn't stop you," the Decepticon huffed, rolling his four optics. "Anyways, we need to get out of here."

"You really…" whispered the youngling, an arm curling around the scout's neck, "don't blame me?"

Bumblebee smiled and hugged Starscream tight, the smaller nestling his face into the elder's neck. "We never did."

The little flier said nothing, yet the trembling in his frame began to dwindle, the tears that covered his faceplates dried, and the golden Autobot realized that Starscream needed to release those emotions for a long time. Not only release them, but to also be reassured that it was never his fault to begin with. He was searching for that the moment Optimus had picked him out of that crater.

"We love you so much," Bumblebee murmured, rubbing circles in Starscream's back, "and we always will."

"I love you, too," he whispered, the great weight on his spark lifting and allowing him to finally breathe.

A blossom of light blinded the three, their optics instantly converting the sudden change. Everything was bleached white, Starscream yelping in surprise and in fear while digging into the confinements of Bumblebee's safe arms. The scout tightened his hold on the youngling, jumping to his feet in an altered position. Barricade followed suit as they searched their environment for any immediate threats.

Three pairs of optics fell upon a single, dark figure that was across the far chamber. Starscream's eyes widened upon seeing said stature, fear engrossing his features as he took in each detail. The mech was a harsh violet color, his body outline thin and slender with accompanying neon green optics evenly gazing at the three across from him.

"My, my," he said coolly, looking at them like they were mice in a trap, "what do we have here?"

"Who are you supposed to be?" Barricade muttered, unimpressed at the bold entrance.

"It's him," whispered the youngling as tremors shook his tiny body, "the mech that came to me in my dream."

Bumblebee scowled. "Unicron."

The ancient, evil mech strode forward, casual as though he was approaching an old friend rather than two highly skilled warriors of their respective factions; two warriors that were protecting a youngling, a youngling that could perhaps be one of the last, no less. However, going against a powerhouse nicknamed the "Planet-Eater", "Dark God", and "Chaos Bringer" could shake an army of even the sturdiest mechs. Yet, Bumblebee remained strong, even as his spark slammed against its casing. He wished that Optimus was here—hells, he wished everyone was here. But there was no point in wishing, for they weren't, and he had to use what was present.

"It's nice to see you again," Unicron said in a slow, sultry tone, "…Starscream."

The youngling whimpered as he ducked into the golden scout's shoulder, wrapping a tiny arm around the Autobot's neck. The voice sent shudders down the sparkling's spinal cords, the smooth words sliding into his audio receptors and tainting the innocent thoughts within.

Unicron's expression didn't waver, although he said a falsely hurt tone, "Oh, Starscream, is that how you greet me after such a long time? Pity."

"Why did you bring us here?" Bumblebee all but demanded.

"Why do you think?" the Chaos Bringer asked as he proceeded with the nonchalant façade he had before. "Do you really think I returned Starscream to his youth simply because the Autobots needed to have something to spoil? I gave Starscream those powers for other reasons of my own." When the pair said nothing, Unicron continued: "The Transformers were always my twin brother's greatest and most loved creations. Don't you think it'd be funny if I used those creations to destroy everything of this universe? Ironic, isn't it?"

"By using a child," Barricade said evenly, yet something in his optics told of a deeper emotion.

The opposing mech's smirk pulled further across his features, turning them twisted and grotesque. "By using Starscream."

The youngling clenched Bumblebee all the tighter, the pain of sheer guilt radiating off his spark so strong that it gripped the scout's in a harsh hold. Although the two were very much different, they still shared family ties that no-one could break, not even Primus himself. Bumblebee felt a wash of protectiveness overcome in less than a klik. Every word that Unicron uttered seemed to just strengthen his resolve to protect Starscream—to keep him safe and bring him back to their opiluk alive.

"I'll never allow you to do such a thing!" the golden Autobot exclaimed.

Unicron seemed to anticipate such a remark. "Unfortunately for you," he returned, lifting his right hand vertically into the air, "the only one that could hold me back now would be Starscream's little brother, Skywarp."

"I thought Skywarp was his cousin," stated Barricade.

"Proves how little you know, despite having my oh-so-mighty older brother in your processor," the Death Bringer sneered, making the Decepticon growl in frustration. "Thundercracker is Starscream's cousin. How could that little brat have the power to counteract Starscream's ability if he was not of immediate relation? Without knowing Starscream's thoughts, he couldn't possibly anticipate the energy field's projections, let alone control them. The two are brothers, and even they did not know until I just said so."

The two elders glanced at Starscream, who seemed unemotional at the realization. However, the youngling was anything but unfazed. It made so much sense. Skywarp seemed all the more important to him now, all the annoying tactics he used to get attention, the support he gave whenever Starscream couldn't bring himself back on his feet. They were small things at the time, yet they meant everything to him now. How could he have let this happen to his own brother?!

"You didn't give Skywarp his powers," Bumblebee murmured, returning his unsettling gaze to the opposing one.

Unicron snorted. "Of course not. Primus couldn't bear seeing such an innocent pawn be played with. Naturally he interfered, but with them apart, it won't matter."

"You shouldn't underestimate a scattered army," snarled the Decepticon, "they'll find us, no matter how far across the galaxy we are."

A freakish smile came across the ancient one's face, make both Bumblebee and Barricade shiver in their armor. The arm he had held up in the air meshed into a cluster of tentacles which then, within a mere klik, had grabbed Starscream and snatched him away from his caretaker's grip.

"Starscream!" cried the scout as his spark screamed in horror.

The youngling was crushed within the grip, electricity arching between the individual silver tentacles. "Bee, help me!" he gasped, his tone swathed in fear. "Please, Bumblebee!"

"Release him!" the Autobot raged, dark blue optics tinted with flecks of red. Barricade caught his arm before he could even approach Unicron, keeping him at a safe distance. "Let me go, damned Decepticon!"

"Shut up and listen to me!" Barricade snapped, aware that the mech across from them was delighted at the golden scout's fury.

"While you two bicker," Unicron muttered, seizing Starscream all the tighter, "I'll think I'll be off to finish off the rest of creation. I would suggest spending your last few moments doing something useful with yourselves."

From the floor, tentacles separated from their original shape as they enveloped the Decepticon and Autobot, keeping them bound back-to-back. They tried to struggle as sparks flew into the air, a surge of bright blue making them both screech out in pain. Starscream gasped, optics wide with horror as he watched his beloved guardians collapse into raw exhaustion from the attack, his spark throbbing in helplessness.

"No, don't hurt them! I promise to do whatever you ask, just don't hurt them!" cried the youngling, streaks of purple flowing down his faceplates. "I beg of you!"

"Be quiet," Unicron growled, glowering at him as he clenched the small form of the flier and glowing arcs of electricity bent over him. He, too, was consumed in a brief moment of agonizing pain while the two across the room started in alarm. The angelic, screaming voice echoed through the halls with a thunderous explosion, the Planet-Eater making a pleased expression. "Ah, listen to that voice. A voice so beautiful it can shake the very Matrix."

Starscream didn't listen to the slithery voice of Unicron, didn't notice as Bumblebee jerked against his restraints in a futile attempt to reach him, or the infuriated shriek Barricade released. Rather, he dived out through space and time, going as far as he could, stretching as far out as his little spark could take him. There it was—within the darkness and the pain, the hopelessness and the fear, Optimus Prime's spark was calling out for his. Its golden, brilliant warmth beckoned him, a promise for his rescue.

OPTIMUS!!

--

"Starscream!" the commander of the Autobots gasped, optics snapping up.

The attention of the room immediately turned to Optimus Prime, the optics of Autobot and Decepticon alike wide with confusion and surprise. The elder breathed heavily, standing straight from his near-lunge into what he thought was a large room. With Starscream. Starscream…who was only but an arm's length away from returning back to safety. To his guardians.

"What was that?" Blackout muttered, unimpressed with the sudden outburst.

Megatron scowled harshly, orbs becoming mere slits of red as he said, "Starscream sent a transmitting signal. Can you retrace it, Prime?"

"Yes," said the commander, moving through the throng of 'bots so quickly he almost knocked a few over. "We can get there, their position is about an orn away from Cybertron."

"Then I suggest going to Cybertron," Megatron said while following his elder brother, who stopped abruptly to look at him. There was a brief moment of thought before the commander nodded, appealing to the logic portion of his processor. Part of him just want to forget them all and retrieve his frightened and helpless youngling. However, they'd never win against Unicron like that. They needed to plan. To organize. To calculate and approach the mission with an objective mind.

The leader had that, until Starscream had screamed out his name in such aching need that Prime wanted now, more than ever, just to slag everyone and do it himself. But he knew he couldn't, and trying to do it on his own would get him killed.

"Commander?" Prowl murmured next to him.

"To Cybertron," stated Optimus, his ancient blue depths hard as core. "We will gather our forces and prepare for Unicron's attack. Continue trying to reach Bumblebee and Barricade until something—anything—responds."

"How do you know that Unicron's gonna go to Cybertron?" Ironhide asked.

"Because…" murmured Megatron, glancing at the weapons specialist before his gaze settled on Prime, "He will be there."

--

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long for me to update. I feel horrible about it. I lost the beginning of this chapter, so I had to write it all over again. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it still. I'm worried that I didn't get Unicron in character. He was difficult to write.

Read and review, please.