My Madness, My Saving Sanity

Chapter Twenty Two: The Plot

By: Nightelfcrawler

Author's note: While this is G1 based, I've made Starscream a blend of his G1 and Armada personalities just because I find the dichotomy of it fascinating. It takes place in no particular timeline, following no particular events. Also, please review politely. If you haven't something nice to say, keep it to yourself please. Also, I despise nitpicking, please don't make comments about grammar or single spelling mistakes. Enjoy the story, don't be picky.

Further note: I have officially finished the story, so I'll be posting the chapters quicker now. Once done here, it's on to the How it Will Be story I've been working on. Anyone with ideas they might like to see, feel free to email them to me! I have the plot down, but I would welcome any input for things people might like implemented in the story.

- - - - - - -

"What's on your mind, Starscream?" Optimus said as they finally reached the privacy of his office.

The air commander simply strode straight over towards the windows adorning the Autobot Commanders' sanctuary. He stopped to stare outside admiring the bright daylight illuminating the desert scenery. When he spoke, it was in a lower more reserved tone. "This whole… experience… has given me some perspective on my goals in life."

"Has it now." Optimus said quietly, choosing to sit down in his chair, regarding Starscream quietly. "In what way exactly?"

Starscream was silent for a while, his brow furrowed as he stared up at the sky with an unreadable expression. Then abruptly he turned, optics boring into Optimus' own. "We spoke before of my goals, as my wing mates relate to me. Those have not changed. However, they have strengthened. More than ever now, I wish to put a stop to Megatron once and for all. In order to do that, I realize now that I have to put aside any differences we've had in the past, so we can work together." His optics burned more intensely with a sharp azure flame. "I've waffled on doing this for some time now, but I'm ready. Will you accept my squad in your forces as an independent faction working with you?"

If Optimus showed any disappointment, he hid it well. "You still do not wish to join our fation?"

Starscream snorted. "Optimus, as much as I respect you as a leader, I know you also respect me as a warrior." He folded his arms over his chest, null-rays standing out even more with that motion. "There is no way I can ever work under someone ever again, not after my experience with Megatron. I was his second-in-command, and I cannot go back to being some underling with others overseeing me, nor can I allow myself to be ordered around. I will lead my wing mates under your umbrella as long as our goals co-incide, because to be frank we need each other. I know things that you cannot possibly know about the Decepticons, my bretheren and I are the top elite warriors that Megatron had at his command, no longer. Our services will extend to the Autobots so long as our goals meld. After that however…" He trailed off thoughtfully. "…I cannot say, however I can at least tell you I have no desire to fight against any of you again." He shook his head darkly, optics cool. "I can never be an Autobot. Our ideals just don't mesh. But we can work together, so long as you recognize me as an equal leader of an allied faction."

"That I believe I can do." Optimus said weaving his fingers together over his desk. "I have seen you lead your team into battles both before you joined our side and after. I can understand your desire to lead your own group, and given how both my team and yours co-operate, I think it's a better idea for you to lead them and not be forced to issue or obey orders from our own ranks. However…" He leaned forward, optics intense. "I also know of your impulsiveness. I warn you, if you do anything to endanger the lives of any of my men, then our allied forces might be in danger of being dissolved."

Starsream smirked at that. "That I believe I can do."

- - - - - - -

"So… we're not gonna have to become Autobots?"

"Not in the slightest."

"Sweet." Skywarp leaned back, kicking his chair off it's front legs to lean against the wall, lifting his high-grade above his head. "I'll drink to that."

"One thing I don't get though." Thundercracker said, slowly sipping his own drink. "If you've got this immortal spark thing, what the pit does that mean for us?"

"Worried?" Starscream asked dryly, swirling his cube as he stared into it distantly, a small smirk on his lips.

"Well… worry isn't really the best word. Concerned more like it. I think this explains how we saved 'Warp's life… but if you can't die, and our sparks are linked to you, does that mean WE'RE immortal too?"

Starscream's optics snapped upwards. "Primus help us all if I'm stuck with you two frag-heads for eternity."

Thundercracker sighed and shook his head. "So… all these past lives were carried with the spark? I don't get that, sparks can't store memories right?"

"It can, but it's difficult. Spark imprinting is very specific." Skyfire offered. "It makes sense that only certain critical data would carry over, not individual day to day memories. Some mechs can carry over strong memories with their spark, remembering things that were recalled after being transplanted into a new body, even with a destroyed CPU."

"Dude… that makes you REALLY old…!"

Starscream shot Skywarp a scathing look. "Yes 'Warp. I'm as ancient as Primus."

"Well you always had dillusions of grandure, I suppose now we know it wasn't really dillusions. After all this time thinking you were God, now we find out YOU WERE RIGHT!" He slapped a fist to his head.

"No, they were still dillusions…" Thundercracker grinned. "…just cause he's too stubborn to die doesn't make him a god."

Starscream merely snorted and rolled his optics. "No, it just means you can never be rid of me."

"Primus help us all!"

The group chuckled amongst themselves, enjoying their beverages. "So…" Skywarp said after a long moment of silence. "What are we going to do now that we're um.. partnering with the Autosc—er… bots."

"Simple." Starscream said, and in one smooth gulp downed the rest of his drink. "…we take Megatron down once and for all."

The three glanced uncertainly at each other. "Yeah. Like we haven't heard that before."

Starscream just glared darkly at Skywarp who buried his optics in his drink before he could be chewed out further. Thundercracker just shook his head, letting Skyfire be the voice of reason. "You have a horrible track record on trying to do away with him, as I hear. How do you plan to do this?"

Starscream studied his empty cube for a moment before he spoke slowly and deliberately. "You're telling me that SOUNDWAVE out of all mechs… helped you retrieve my backup data simply due to the fact he doesn't want Megatron in control anymore?"

"Yup."

"Seems that way."

Starscream frowned. "I don't understand that. Soundwave has never been anything BUT loyal to Megatron, then suddenly he's kissing MY ass?"

"Seems like it." Skywarp downed a shot of high-grade with a wide grin. "You wanted to be LORD of the Decepticons, don't turn it down."

"I want it on my own terms." Starscream muttered, running a thumb along the top of his drink. "I have never and will never trust Soundwave. He's so straight that he's crooked. You can't trust him. He always has his own adgenda. He's been loyal to Megatron simply because he was the strongest leader to follow, the most powerful to respect. Soundwave's never been a leader, he's always a follower. But he always has his own reasons… he craves power behind the scenes."

"Who cares what his adgenda is. If he's willing to help us take down Meggy, let's use him."

"There's no USING Soundwave. He uses us." Starscream pointed out, grimacing. "The moment we finish the job, IF we finish the job, he'll turn on us and take us out."

"Somehow I don't think so." Thundercracker mused, thoughtfully staring into his own drink. "Soundwave may have an adgenda, but he's always been honest to a fault. He said specifically he thought you were a better leader than Megatron. He also said he'd help us take him out. Let's not worry about what he plans afterwards, let's just take advantage of the fact that he's willing to help us."

"You frankly can't trust any of 'em anyway. But what other chance are we going to get? We wanna take him down anyway, right?"

"Most definitely." Starscream's fist tightened around his glass as his gaze narrowed.

"So… let's use this to our advantage. How often are you going to get a telepath with a whole army of cassettes and Megatron's complete trust to just offer his help to you?" Thundercracker leaned forward, optics bright. "Besides… he already said that Megatron's not operating on all six cylinders anymore, if you know what I mean…"

Starscream smiled slowly. "So we use that to our advantage… and Soundwave covers our tracks."

"Exactly."

Starscream stood up. "Then let's get started."

- - - - - -

Two pair of resentful optics were glaring at him. One pair was watching him with amusement. "You've GOT to be joking." Thundercracker said dryly, glaring darkly at his wing commander. "You've lost it, you know that? There's no WAY this will work."

"I actually think the plan is quite brilliant." Skyfire murmered. "And I think it's crazy enough that it might just work."

"Says the mech who doesn't have to put his life on the line." Skywarp muttered. "You do realize if I'm found out, I'm toast, right?"

Starscream merely smirked smugly and shoved a bucket of white paint at him. "Stop bitching and get painting."

Skywarp muttered something that no doubt was not for his commanders ears, dunked the brush into the paint and slapped it right across Starscream's face, optics and all.

"HEY!"

The coughing sputter of protest sprayed white paint across his dark chassis, but Skywarp just smirked. "Serves you right, glitch."

"Turn around so he won't be tempted." Thundercracker advised, lifting his bucket of white paint and getting to work on the backside of Starscream's wings. "You do realize that this is going to be much more tedious to re-do all the pinstriping later?"

"I'll worry about that when the time comes."

"At least it doesn't completely cover it up." Skyfire mused, watching from the side as the two seekers worked hard to paint their commander all white. "It should be there enough to still see, giving it the effect you're looking for."

"That's the plan. And it'll wash off in a few weeks." Starscream grunted, as he fought to stay still against the tickling bristles brushing at his wings. "I'm not idiodic enough to permanently give myself an angelic look."

"Primus only knows you're a wolf in sheeps' clothing."

"Up your exhaust."

"But honestly… you really think this plan will work out?" Thundercracker paused in his work to meet optics with his commander as Starscream wiped white paint off his crystal facits with his thumb. "I mean… you've had some good plans in the past and they've never come through, what makes you think this one will work?"

Starscream rolled his optics. "Really… you have to ask? The reason my plans failed in the past is because I had ignorant idiots following my instructions, who then decided they didn't agree with the plan and jumped ship before it could be finished!" An annoyed glare crossed Starscream's face. "Now… and I know I will regret saying this, I have mindlessly loyal drones who will do ANYTHING for their commander, even if they don't agree with his plans…. And they're at my full disposal." An almost feral grin passed over Starscream's facial plates as his lips grimaced into a smirk. "These Autobots follow orders. They will not deviate from the plan, unlike the Decepticon fools. This will work, for that reason alone."

"As much as I hate to agree with him…" Skywarp snickered. "I have to say he's right there. The others ARE idiots."

"Says the pot…"

"Huh?"

"Point made."

"Starscream?" Wheeljack's familiar face poked around the corner of the hallway into the storage room where the four fliers were situated.

"Bit busy right now, 'Jack. What is it?" Starscream called over his shoulder as the two seekers paused, paintbrushes in hand to stare at the intruding inventor.

"Oh, just letting you know that the initial prototype is finished. I've tested it out, and it appears sound. We'll give it a full test, and if it works we'll get to work cloning it."

"Excellent." Starscream grinned even more widely, blue optics glinting with sinister glee. "Megatron will have NO clue what hit him until it's too late."