there's a million&one ways
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A/N: me + flu = early update?
replies:
autobot alythia,, that just cracked me up, lmao. xD
inspire165,, that's one game i would never play with him. i enjoy my life too much to risk throwing it away, lol. hmmmm... how would he react to a hug? -ponders-
cadence barrick,, o.o -pokes tail- weird. -continues to poke tail-
yuki hikari,, wish i was in your place. && great question! :x you'll have to read to find the answer though.
ever free,, three smiley faces!? omg! :D :D :D :D
tlcoopi7,, well about that . . . -is put back into writing cage by thundercracker-
robot521,, winner winner chicken dinner! :D &&you're right on the money. x3
pairings: starscreamxannabelle vs. ironhidexannabelle; what a twisted little triangle of love.
disclaimer: i do not own transformers or any of them; they are rightfully copy-writed to their respectful owners.
"this-is-cybertronian-and-it-s-a-pain-to-type"
"this is com-link, or whatever the heck it is called these days."
centurion = 100 cybertronian years
cybertronian year = 932 earth days
orbital cycle = thirteen cybertronian hours
cybertronian hour = eight and a third earth hours
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Anna shrugged. "There's not much to it," she stated plainly. He beckoned with his left hand to continue to explain. "I mean - it's just a nickname. I don't see why you want me to explain it or anything for that matter, Twenty-two."
He rolled his eyes. 'Humans,' he thought bitterly. 'Stupid creatures.' He cleared his vocalizer, and then explained, "I cannot be much clearer that I was earlier." She gave him a stubborn look. She didn't quite get it, but he enjoyed seeing her sit uncomfortably in front of him. He felt a sense of empowerment. With minimal movement of his left arm, he took his hand and scooted the human closer to him. She kept a poker face, but her raised heart beat old a different story. "You," He glowered down at her. "will answer all my question. You will be truthful when you answer. And you will comply." He noticed her mouth begin to open. "And any resistance will be met with no information regarding Jetfire and I."
She stood up, and threw her hands down. "Screw it if you're going to be that strict," Anna retorted. "I'm not going to do it now."
"So you're going to change your mind just like that?" Starscream inquired.
Anna nodded. "Yup," she stated. "And you know why?" She didn't wait for him to come up with a snarky answer. "Because I'm a woman." The human pointed to herself with her thumb. "And I'm allowed to change my mind like that." She snapped her fingers. "So if you excuse me, Twenty-two, I must be going." Annabelle walked around his hand, but her efforts were cut short. Starscream curled his fingers around her puny body, securing her in his grip.
He lifted her close to his face. The seeker opened his fingers enough so that she could stand. He watched amusingly as she used his fingers as supports. "Fleshy," he stated. Anna lifted her head to watch him. She couldn't wait to whip his smug smirk off his face. "You're in my domain, and at my mercy." Anna smiled like a child who had a secret to tell. She shook her head in opposition. "No?" he questioned. Starscream acted surprise. "Then," he said, as if seeing the light. "Then I could squish you and you would - "
"Scream," she finished.
"What?" Starscream asked furiously.
"I could scream," Anna elaborated. She smirked, feeling that the tides were turning in her favor. "And you die," she stated simply. The human nodded with her head towards the camera in the corner. Starscream turned his head to see the camera. "And I know you have better things to do than die today," she added. He turned his head around, only to see his own smirk (miniature size) spreading across her face. "Seeing as we are at a stalemate, Twenty-two, I propose a truce. . . for tonight at least."
"And what makes you think I'll agree to a truce?" he asked bitterly. She took in a deep breath, and opened her mouth. "Okay," Starscream added quickly. He hated to admit it, but he did have plans that only he could full fill; though sinking to such level was enough to wish he was dead. 'Not even Megatron had to sink to such low levels,' he thought angrily. The seeker leveled his hand, and released his grip. "So what are the boundaries?" he inquired regretfully.
She held up her index finger. "One," Anna stated. "You will not toss, throw, push, or do anything where I could possibly get hurt. If I wish to be lifted up, I will ask you." She raised her middled finger to make two. "We will both answer the questions truthfully." He rolled his eyes, but it was a good enough answer for the human. "Three." Anna raised another finger. "You may only ask one question at a time. Four - "
"Will you just hurry the slag up?" the seeker lashed out. "I'm starting to rust."
"Four," Anna repeated in calm, but firm tone. "If at anytime either one of us wishes to stop, then we will both stop, say our goodbyes, and be each on his or her own merry way."
It was an odd rule, but Starscream didn't complain. It could become of use later. "Agreed," he promised. He let his fingers go limp, and he lowered his hand to the ground; but she went just the opposite way. "What are you doing?" Starscream asked as she crawled up his arms. He ground his dental plates together. The feeling of human hands touching his circuits was degrading.
Anna rolled her eyes. "I don't like being stared down at," she answered. "And quite frankly, I wouldn't put it pass you to "accidentally" roll over me." Starscream pulled her off his arm. "Hey!" she reminded. "I said no violent actions!" He muttered, but Anna couldn't make out the words. He placed her as gently as he could on his wing. "Thanks," she said, unsure of how to interpret his actions.
"Just don't moved around a whole lot," he huffed. He bought his hand back down. The seeker irritatingly placed his head on his arm. He flinched as she plopped herself down. "I said be gentle!" he snapped in a whiny voice. Huffing, Starscream closed his optics. He could the exact outline of the human's warm-blooded body. The delicate sensors could easily pick up on her heartbeat. "I'm going to go first," he established.
"No you aren't!" Anna protested. She rolled onto her belly. She lazily hung her arms off his wings. "You already went! Remember the whole "what are you doing" thing?"
"That doesn't count!" he protested.
"You wanna bet?" she commented confidently. Anna cracked her knuckles. On cue, Starscream flinched at the irritating, painful sounding pop. A wicked smile spread across her face. "Let's analyze what happened, Twenty-two. After the truce, you promptly asked me "What are you doing". And I answered truthfully." The seeker turned his head around enough to give a dirty glare. She grinned in response. "Thus," the human concluded. "It is my turn."
He turned his head away. Under general circumstances, he would've disagreed and fought back, but knowing her . . . she'd threaten him using some pathetic threat. He couldn't risk any chance of being off-lined yet. "You planned this," Starscream complained.
She made a beeping sound. "Wrong," Anna stated. "I don't plan things out -- I just take advantage of a good opportunity." He muttered underneath his breath, but she couldn't make out the words. Laying her head on her arms, Anna let her eyes lay on his head. "Tell me," she asked innocently. "What's your happiest memory like?"
For once, the answer was clear. "The day I was accepted into Iacon's new exploration program," Starscream answered. "Both Prime and Megatron were there, along with several members from the Council of Ancients." He closed his optics to savor the memory of standing on a balcony above some of the most influential Cybertronians of his time. The feeling of success was wonderful. "I was congratulated by many of them personally after the ceremony. Megatron himself said I had great potential. He said that if I ever decided to leave the exploration program, that he would give me a position as his scientific advisor." His face was grim. Remembering happy times was more painful than pleasant. 'It was also the last time he ever praised me,' he thought.
"How long ago was that?" the human inquired.
"Well before I met Skyfire," he said solemnly. He sighed. It seemed so very long ago since that day. It felt like he was someone else as he recalled his old self. "What about you?" he asked as he put her in the spotlight. "What's your happiest memory?"
She sifted through her memories, trying to pinpoint a single memory. "I don't know," she mumbled. "It'd probably be the day after Jetfire came though. It was the first time I ever got to fly." Her words perked his attention. "It was the most amazing feeling. Staring down at the world, and seeing how small it was. . . there's nothing like it." Anna smiled at Starscream. "You're a lucky one," she added. "Being able to fly on your own - " The human looked up at the ceiling. She could only imagine what it felt like to fly through space and watch all the stars twinkle. "It's got to be amazing."
"It is," the seeker confirmed. "In all my years, I have found there is no better way to relax than to fly."
"It must suck to be stuck indoors then," Anna said, half joking.
"It does. . ." His tone, which was usually sour, held a painful and grim truth. Unlike him, the human did not know what it meant to lose the one hobby that brought him joy. She'd never know what it meant to fly or free. The seeker wasn't mad, but pitied the human. They'd never know what true freedom felt like. 'Sad,' he thought.
"Cheer up," the human said. "It'll be okay."
"Cheer up!?!" Starscream repeated, sounding astonished. "How the hell am I suppose to cheer up when I'm in an enemy base, capture, and having to baby-sit you or face death?!" He whipped his head around, nearly tearing an already fragile hydraulic out. "Cheering up is about the last thing I need!" Anna gripped his wing edge. There was no telling what he'd do if he lost his temper. "But oh!" he mocked. "I guess you wouldn't understand since you seem to think this is a big game!" He moved his arm to a predatory position.
"You think I'm playing a game?" she asked.
"I don't know what to think of you!" the seeker retorted. "I bought your story about reviving me to keep your so-called "family" together. Okay, that's done and over. Now why you keep coming in to pester me, I can only begin to imagine." He growled before shoving himself into a sitting position. Anna struggled to hold onto the edge of his wing. "Have you ever met a decepticon before?" he asked bitterly.
"No," she stated frankly.
"Well," he said critically. "Let me tell you a thing or two about decepticons. We are and foremost exterminators; which translates to being killing machines to you and the autobots." Starscream reached around the top of his wing, and plucked the insect off. The last thing he needed was to stare a human's bodily fluids. "Secondly," he hissed. He curled his fingers around her body. Annabelle could smell the bitter sweet gasoline traces of energon as he talked. She breathed through her mouth to avoid the awful smell. "Decepticons don't care about pitiful emotions and your pathetic and insignificant problems. Unlike your two kinds, we solve problems -- not discuss them like a bunch of politicians."
"Oh," Anna said. "So you answer with brute force." She nodded, pretending to understand. "How very intelligent. Perhaps that's the reason why your faction lost the cube in the first place." She tapped her index finger against her chin. "Maybe if you'd use your "intelligent" processing unit and logic chip for once, you would've been able to obtain the cube."
She was mocking him. She was playing his game, and doing a good enough job to ruffle his circuits. The smug smile on her face was tempting him to whip it off her face for good. "I am nothing like those brainless, killing obsessed brutes," he claimed in a raspy voice.
"So you're the exception," the human stated. "Interesting."
"What's so interesting?" he demanded.
"You," Anna replied frankly. She leaned against his index finger. He loathed how she acted as if she owned him. "You say your the exception, but claim to be like the others; which leaves me wonder if you're afraid to admit your either different or exactly the same. You mention about how you want to destroy me, but don't; thus implying your a coward. You also say you don't care about our pitiful ways, but your clearly curious." She cast him a weary look, and checked to make sure he was following along. "You're also a bit on edge when I speak; meaning you must perceive me as a threat to some degree. You - "
"Are you done yet?" Starscream growled callously. He shook her off his finger, sending her stumbling. The human caught herself, and proceeded to straighten herself out. There was Prowl-like strictness about her scowl that he instantly recognized. Humans were very expressive with their faces; which he found quite amusing.
"I'm speaking," she criticized. "Now shut your mouth, and listen up."
"Well get to the point before I begin to rust," he sneered.
Anna narrowed her gaze. He had less patience than both the twins combined. "My point is," she stated clearly. "Is why, if you're the exception, did you join the decepticons?"
"That's a complicated answer," Starscream said. He shifted his gaze away from the human and towards the door. He was truly surprised that no one had shown up to claim their human.
"Well then let me use my turn to ask you this," Anna returned. She paused, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Why did you join the decepticons?"
Starscream sighed. He truly felt that he should hate the human. What kind of creature probed into another creature's personal business? He dropped his hand to the table, and uncurled his fingers. "I think it's time you left," he suggested firmly.
Anna stepped off his hand. She faced the doorway with her head held high; though inside she was gravely disappointed. She looked over at her shoulder at him. Starscream kept a stern gaze on her, and his mouth was clamp tightly shut. "Can I ask one more question?"
He rolled his eyes. "Why not?" the mech answered tiredly.
"Do you regret becoming a decepticon?"
He looked down at his damaged leg. His eyes traced the outlines of the dents in his armor. The answer should've been straight forward or at the very least a quick lie, but instead he found himself staring idiotically at his leg. If he was going to lie, the seeker had missed his chance. "I don't really have time to think about whether or not I regret a decision," he stated.
She turned around. "You've got the time now," Anna commented. The human waited, hoping he would speak, but the seeker never looked up nor made any notion that he was going to speak soon. She exhaled deep breath. The walked away with heavier foot steps. 'Some fun this was,' she thought sarcastically to herself. Anna swung her legs over the table, ad wrapped them around the a thick circuit. "Night, Twenty-two," she said.
"There are somedays that I do regret joining the decepticons," he muttered weakly.
Anna caught herself before she could slid down to the floor. "What?" she inquired.
Starscream looked at her. "There are somedays I do regret being a decepticon," he repeated. The human smiled, but he kept a stern face. "Now get your ass over here, fleshy," he barked. He outstretched his hand, and the human latched onto his finger. The seeker brought her back to him. He sat her on his thigh.
"Why'd you change your mind?" she question.
"I believe it's my turn," the mech reminded. She smiled, seeming to enjoy his sudden mood swing. He rested his hand next to her body to insure she couldn't escape, but he doubted she would try to run away. The human was already spread across his upper thigh, and used his chest as a head rest. There was calm aura surrounding the human as she casted him as lazy gaze. It strange to seeker how she seemed so natural laying on his leg. 'It's from all that domestication,' he thought. Still, it amazed him how such a feisty creature could be calm. There was no lashes, or harsh words just silence. 'Better not disturb a recharging scorponok though. . .' "Since your so keen on digging into personal business," Starscream probed. "Then why don't you tell me your best trait."
"That's not a question," Anna reprehended.
Starscream sighed. Even when she was "relaxed" the human wanted to pick on the tiny details. "Fine," he said in rough voice. "What's your best trait?"
"Physical or personable?"
"Personable."
'Dammit,' she thought. The female's eyes flicked to the ceiling. Right off the bat, she could've answered with the words 'feisty' or 'fun', but they were dull; and more importantly they weren't her best trait -- though Jetfire and the twins would strongly disagree. Staring at the ceiling, she recalled the days when she used to pretend she was an explorer like Jetfire. "Pretend," Anna muttered.
"What?" Starscream inquired. "You're words are muffled."
"My best trait is that I can pretend," she repeated. "Everything can be wrong, but I can pretend everything is alright. And when even when I know someone's gonna get hurt, I can pretend like I don't know."
"That's ignorance," the seeker criticized.
"But sometimes ignorance is the only thing that holds our lives together," Anna spoke.
He rolled his eyes. "Now you're starting to sound like a philosopher.
"It'd be a first," the human replied weakly. The tiny cheesy smile on her face faded. "If I was a decepticon, what would you think of me?" Anna inquired.
An unusual question, but he didn't hesitate. "I think I'd have to kill you then," the mech answered frankly.
"Thanks," the girl said, taking it as a compliment.
"That's the first time anyone has ever taken a threat as a compliment," Starscream stated matter-of-factly. She smiled, but more curiously there was reddish tint to her cheeks. 'Humans called it blushing,' he recalled. "Hypothetically speaking," the seeker suggested. "Then what would you think of me if I were an autobot?"
Anna flashed a weary look. "Full answer?" she asked hesitantly.
"Full answer."
She nodded. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Anna stated for the record. Starscream's face was hard to read. There was mixture of curiosity and suspiciousness, but there was a pinch of genuine thrown in. "You'd be an asshole that I would have fun bothering," the human explained. "If left alone, you and I would most likely start world war three over something stupid: like who Jetfire liked more. I'd probably hate your guts."
"Sounds like fun," he said sarcastically.
"But," she added. "I'd pretend that I enjoyed your company just so that you would take me out to fly. So I'd kiss your ass, and keep my snarky remarks to a minimum."
"Flying?" he questioned.
"Don't get me started," Anna suggested.
Now she had him in a grip. His curiosity was becoming too much for him to handle. "Why not?" he asked before he thought.
She gave him a glare similar to someone joking about killing you. "Because I could go on, and on, and on about how cool flying is and such," Anna answered. "And on, and on, and on, and - "
"I get it," he interrupted.
Putting her childish behavior behind her, Anna yawned. She wasn't sure what time it was, but it had to be getting late. 'Or it's from the all the excitement.' "What's your worst personable trait?" she inquired.
"You loved finding out the worst in someone don't you?" he recoiled.
"Just answer the question, Twenty-two," Anna replied firmly.
The mech casually examined the room as he debated his worst trait. Starscream had been told his temper was awful, but it wasn't his worst trait -- his temper he considered to be a good trait since it always led to work getting done. Lying, was a good trait, and so was his ability to manipulate. "My ambition," he finally answered. She looked unconvinced. "Many close allies have said my ambition will be the death of everyone -- including me," he added. "Which is just the opposite of what I'm trying to do."
"What are you trying to do?" the human inquired.
"I'm trying to make up for everyone's mistakes," he stated simply, but with a solemn truth. There was a longer silence that followed, and as Annabelle watched him, she could see his face have a human-like sadness to it. His optics dimmed, but never went offline; he had the gaze that so many soldiers had when they came home -- the thousand yard stare. Anna gently stroke the exposed circuits without setting alarm warnings off. He blinked, but didn't look at her. "That's why those two have to die," the seeker muttered.
"Who?" she asked.
"Prime and Megatron," he answered. Starscream stared intently into her eyes. "Make no mistake, those two will be the end of all of us. I've seen it." Anna watched wearily as he curled his free hand into a tight fist. "Megatron cannot see passed his own agenda, but Prime . . . he values the lives of other species over his own race. Prime's trust and guilt will eventually be his demise." He relaxed, trying to keep himself from wasting valuable energon on stressful worries. Starscream looked towards the doorway. "I am a fighter," he stated firmly. "But that doesn't mean I look for my fights."
"What do you mean?" Anna inquired.
"A fighter's job is only done correctly when there is peace," the mech replied.
"That sounds quite honorable coming from a decepticon," she commented. "And I thought you guys were killers."
"Most of them are," he said quickly with a dry voice. "But there is a difference between the heat of a battle and pure joy from killing." There was sleazy smirk on her face. "What are you smirking at, fleshy?"
"You," the girl answered honestly. "You're like a twisted version of an autobot." He sneered in repulsion. "I mean it in a good way, Twenty-two."
"Why are you here?" he asked suddenly; he shifted the subject before he would lose his temper over such a comparison.
"Well," she started. Anna reached into her pocket. Her fingers searched for the delicate instrument before pulling out the circuit welder. "I came to return this before Ratchet murders my dog." The seeker nodded. He remembered seeing the four-legged organic come storming in and rushing away just as quickly. "But I'd be lying if that was my only reason for coming," the human added.
"Then let me rephrase the question: what are you really doing here?"
She shrugged. "Call it intuition, but you seem like a lonely soul," Anna explained. He glared at her, but kept his tongue silenced. The human folded her arms across her chest, and crossed her feet at her ankles. She blinked severely times before the seeker was able to confirm that she was avoiding the question. "I . . ." Annabelle glanced at the doorway. 'Empty.' "I just don't feel comfortable around the others right now, Starscream." The tip of her voice was laced with truth and dreariness. There was obviously more behind it.
'Always is,' he thought bitterly.
It was odd that she would come to him, but she had come to him first about the reason behind his rebirth; so he wasn't totally caught off guard as he had been the first time. The last time she had called him by his formal name, she had meant it as a sign of peace. Was this a sign of peace as well? "It's your turn," Starscream reminded.
"Who do you miss most right now?" Anna asked.
The answer was painfully obvious to him, but he couldn't answer one way or another without betraying one of them. Skyfire had been his first member of his family, and by all rights, would always be part of his family; but he hadn't lied when he had explained that Skywarp and Thundercracker were his brothers. There loyalties to one another weren't built upon trust (like he brotherhood with Skyfire), but from an unspoken and unusual code. Together the trio had gone to hell and back, and Starscream suppose by that right they were brothers. Unlike Skyfire, only they would understand the nightmares that would forever linger in his spark. "My family," he answered cooly.
She nodded. "I can relate," the human muttered. Anna looked up to him. "Can I ask you something totally unrelated?"
"Yes you may," the seeker corrected.
"What's - " Annabelle was cut off when Starscream curled his hand around her. She was about to protest when he raised a finger. She fell silent, and watched as he whipped his head towards the doorway. The mech heard the sound of approaching feet before she did, but neither could see the shadow until the autobot stood in the doorway. Anna bit her lip, and looked down at the table.
Starscream's finger curled around the human's body protectively. He'd be damned if his old brother would try to take away his entertainment. "What do you want, Skyfire?" the seeker asked callously. "I haven't done anything wrong." He turned his angled his body away from the approaching mech. His circuits tensed when the autobot came to a halt three feet away from the table.
"Starscream," he stated in a dialect that Anna didn't understand. The hush tone made his voice husky. "There-is-life-outside-my-world--but-like-the-life-that-attacked-us-before-the-war-this-life-is-hostile---they-will-not-respond-to-negotiations-because-they-do-not-understand-my-language-and-see-my-words-as-threats---they-will-not-stop-till-they-have-what-they-want--but-I-fear-they-want-more-than-what-they-say-they-want---"
His optics intelligently followed along. He held his head regally. "You-seek-my-guidance---" the mech answered.
He shook his head. "You-know-them-too-well--and-even-call-yourself-part-of-them---If-you-go--will-you-tell-them-in-their-native-tongue-that-I-do-not-regret-what-my-spark-tells-me--but-that-I-do-regret-sacrificing-a-star-so-close-to-our-own---" Starscream nodded. "Do-not-touch-the-ground-then---" The azure optics darted Annabelle. "No-sacrifice-shall-be-made-if-another-sacrifice-happens-before-the-neighboring-star---"
"There-shall-be-no-sacrifice-before-hand---" the seeker reassured. He scooted the human closer to his chest. "Just-exchanges-of-rumors---"
"And-only-rumors---" Jetfire reinforced. "For-nothing-shall-go-unnoticed---For-you-recall-the-great-tragedy-that-be-fell-us-soon-after-the-war-began---There-will-be-no-repeats-of-history---Your-spark-will-be-the-only-to-feel-the-pain-this-time---"
"I-too-held-the-pain---" Starscream clarified.
"You-hid-it-well---"
"Only-because-there-are-too-many-who-would-try-to-steal-and-sell-it---"
Jetfire took a step back. He was shocked that such a genuine and sincere statement came from the seeker. His mouth was partially opened, but no sound came out of it. He dropped his head. The mech knew how the inner working of the decepticon system worked, but he had forgotten. "I'm sorry," he muttered.
"You should think before you speak next time," the decepticon criticized. The autobot turned away, and didn't looked back. The echoes of his footsteps faded as he turned around the corner, but stopped outside the room. Jetfire leaned against the wall and listened. Starscream released his grip on the human, and overall relaxed without Jetfire in the room.
"What was that?" Anna inquired. "Pig-latin or something?"
"Something like that," he muttered. He looked towards the human. "What were you going to say earlier, fleshy?" The human groaned. She hit the back of her head lightly against his exposed chest.
"Would it kill you to call me by my name for once, Twenty-two?" Anna asked.
"Probably," the seeker admitted. He took a deep breath. His right hand found the high-grad energon, and he promptly opened it. It was amazing how quickly his body had used the energon from earlier. 'Just a little,' the mech thought. Anna made gaging sound as the seeker brought the energon to his mouth. He winced at the strong, pungent taste. Starscream had forgotten just how strong high-grade energon was. He happily placed the container down. "What?" he barked.
Anna held her nose close. "Can I grab you a mint or something?" she asked. He childishly breathed on her. The human held her breath; which made the seeker chuckle. Unlike humans who had to digest alcoholic drinks, the high-grade energon was immediately absorbed into the body's systems. Starscream could already feel the effects of the high-grade. She huffed, and gave him a death glare.
"Keep your fleshy mints to yourself," he retorted. He took another sip, just to watch her reaction. He smiled in amusement. "You are quite the interesting fleshy," he commented. "Especially your reaction to energon. For something so common to our species, you are very much appalled by it."
"I didn't used to be so appalled by it," Anna informed.
"Then what happened?" Starscream asked.
"That's a story for another day," she answered.
"It must be pretty bad if your smiling like that," the seeker reasoned. Anna looked away, but nodded. "Since it's my turn -- " The human rolled her eyes. "Why don't you humor me with a secret -- one that you've never told to anyone."
The human closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Which secret should I tell you?" she pondered aloud. Starscream tapped the table impatiently. "Hmmm, or should I humor you with funny secret that would make you never take Ironhide seriously again?" The mech took another sip of his energon to vent his impatience. "If I tell you a certain secret, will you promise to keep it a secret, Starscream?" she asked genuinely.
"Must be good if your talking like this," he said slyly. "But yes, I'll keep it a secret."
Anna looked at him with a humble smile. "I think you should defect to the autobots," she explained. Starscream snorted. "That way we can talk like this more often."
"Pathetic," the seeker mumbled.
The human shrugged. "You wanted to know any secret," she snapped. Annabelle pointed towards him. "So don't give my that "pathetic" attitude. You should've been more specific." She folded her arms. "Since your into secrets, I wanna know your most embarrassing secret."
"Okay," he replied in a monotone. Starscream grabbed the dark container. He swirled the florescent magenta-colored liquid around. He brought it to his lips, before chugging the rest of the liquid down. His eyes winced as the potent smell. The seeker whirled himself around so that he leaned against the wall. "That might be difficult to answer since I'm immune to such situations," he answered confidently. The human sighed, but not surprised by his answer. "But since I'm in a good mood, I'll search my memory chip for any situations."
Anna rolled her eyes. "You aren't going to get out of this," she mumbled.
"I know," he replied. "And I swear on my spark I'll tell you, if I find one."
"You better," the human retorted. "Or I'm going to grab my special shotgun."
He chuckled off her threat. He took a deep, refreshing breath as he felt the high-grade energon's effects begin to settle in. He felt the human roll over onto her side, and place her head on his energon fuel line. Starscream felt her wrap her arms around the line. Warnings went off along the sensitive fuel line, and his instincts were to shove her off; but he let her stay.
"You're getting warmer," Anna noted.
"It's from the energon," he answered lazily. "My systems are absorbing it quickly." She nodded. The seeker held himself still, still fighting the urge to push her off. Starscream covered her with his hand, taking the edge off. The mech closed his eyes. Every hot breath she breathed was amplified. He ground his dental plates together. 'Just my luck,' he thought bitterly. It was a unique experience, feeling the workings of her body. While he had been able to detect her heartbeat, he hadn't felt it beat. Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
As the minutes dragged out, he noted how her breathing deepened, but slowed. The rate of her heartbeat slowed to a peaceful pace. He lifted his index finger to see her slipping into recharge. He automatically smirked. 'For such a feisty thing, you're pretty innocent looking when you sleep,' Starscream thought. 'It's amazing you can shut your mouth as well.' "Fleshy," he whispered. She groaned at the disturbance. Anna half-opened her tired eyes. The human attempted to speak, but it came out as a incoherent words. "I found my embarrassing secret," he said softly. The human gave a minute nod before closing her eyes. "You know what it is?" Anna didn't move. 'Probably too tired.' "I actually half-way enjoyed myself this evening, Annabelle." She buried her head against his circuits more.
Starscream let out a deep breath. He could feel his systems shut down. His optics were the first to go offline, and before he lost his motor skills, the seeker carefully removed the circuit welder. He placed it next to him the table. Then his thoughts became slower and harder to form. "You aren't half-bad for a human," he added in groggy tone. "Not perfect, but not - not too . . ." He finally (against his will) slipped into recharge. His head fell forward, and mouth slightly gaping. It was so much like the old Starscream.
Jetfire stepped forward into the room. His optics darted to the camera in the corner. He'd analyze the data later when he got time. He sighed, watching Starscream. His eyes protectively glowered at the hand covering Annabelle. 'You should've grabbed her when you have the chance,' he criticized; but he had been thrilled to hear Starscream not totally enraged. The autobot picked up the empty cans of energon. "Just like old times," he muttered. He closed Starscream's mouth. "Just don't let Ironhide see you," he suggested.
He placed the empty cans on the shelf as he re-entered the monitoring room. Ratchet was just as he left him: busily staring at the screen, and compiling it into logical and useful data. "Well, he drank it all," Jetfire established.
"That's good," said an exhausted Ratchet.
The mech stared at the blue screens in front of Ratchet. "What are we going to do about him?" he questioned.
"I don't know," he answered. "We'll worry about him after we get Sides back."
'If only it were that simple.' He nodded. "Did you relay the information to Optimus?"
"Yes I did," the medic answered confidently.
"I'm going to go help then," Jetfire stated. The medic didn't fight Jetfire. The autobot moved down the halls at a furious pace. 'I can't believe I'm doing this,' he thought. He ran his hand down his face. The mech stopped briefly at the medical bay. Starscream was still sleeping with Anna. "The things I do for you," he muttered.
The doors parted, and immediately a roar of thunder greet Jetfire. He stepped into the rain, and took to the skies. No air craft would be flying; which the lowered the risk he would be spot by human civilians. The mech climbed through the clouds till he was out of the storm. "Optimus, this is Jetfire," he called. "I'm going to be late just to see if we might've missed a clue. My connection will be limited because of the storm."
"Sounds good, Jetfire," Optimus replied. "And be safe."
"Will do." The mech groaned. 'Why does everyone believe me so easily?' he asked himself. Jetfire dropped his connection to autobot frequency. The autobot hesitated before switching frequencies. 'Please let this be quick, Primus,' he begged. He accelerated to the speed of sound without any worries of any human hearing the loud boom of his engines. "Thundercracker, this Jetfire," he called. "We need to talk."
"About time," came a husky reply. "I'll relay the coordinates to you." There was pause, and Jetfire took a deep breath. "And this time, be there."
"Yes, sir."
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A/N,, brownie points to anyone who actually understood at least part of jetfire's and starscream's dialect. xD