Love is a Battlefield

Chapter 12

-One month later

Ricochet flew over a desert in Arizona. She had come that way after passing over the Grand Canyon. She was quite taken by not only the size but the inherent beauty surrounding the area. She had come out that way simply for nothing more than sightseeing. Her brothers were out patroling for Decepticons and her cousin was, as usual, working in the Med Bay. Hoping her brothers would stay out of trouble, she continued on her way.

She had hoped this flight would get her processor off the cave in incident that had happened more than a month ago. Why did her thoughts still drift back to Starscream? Though she was currently dating Beachcomber, she didn't see him as anything more than a friend. She had been seeing him for months, making him the Autobot that she had dated the longest. However, when she got back to the Ark she was going to break up with him. She knew he would understand.

As she passed over a plateau she saw something that made her transform to robot mode and come to a sudden stop. There huddled in a shady area of the plateau was Starscream. As she slowly flew closer to him she noticed he was covered in many large dents and scratches. His left wrist was also severly dislocated. As she quietly came up beside him, she noticed he was making repairs to himself with a basic med kit.

Wondering what had happened to him and why he was out here she, out of concern, asked "Starscream? What happened? What are ya doing way out here?"

Upon hearing Ricochet's voice, Starscream dropped the medical tool he was using to tend to a large gash on his left shoulder. Then turning to face her, with a glare, growled "Is something wrong with your optics, Autobot? I am making repairs to myself."

"No nothin' is wrong with my optics, Starscream, I've noticed that you were tryin' ta repair yerself. And like I told ya before, my designation is Ricochet not Autobot. Is it really that hard ta call me by my designation?" she said and then asked "So if yer just makin' repairs ta yerself, why couldn't ya just do it back at the Nemesis? What are ya doin' all the way out here?"

With an annoyed glare Starscream sighed before he said "It's none of your business why I'm out here or how I became injured. So if you don't mind, Ricochet, go away and leave me alone."

There was something wrong Ricochet could feel it in her spark. She heard his sigh. It didn't sound like an annoyed sigh, it sounded more like he was distressed about something. So she stubbornly crossed her arms and said "No, Starscream, I'm not goin' anywhere. I won't just fly off and abandon someone who needs help."

"I don't need help! Especially from someone like you!" Starscream shouted, his wings flaring aggressively, as he pointed his right arm weapon at her.

"If I meant ya harm I would've taken ya down while I slowly approachin' ya or over a month ago when we were trapped in that cave. You also know I'll be able ta avoid yer shot." then she pointed at his arm and said "Seriously, look at yerself. You can't even keep yer arm steady."

Starscream looked at his arm and noticed that it was shaking. Lowering his arm she thought 'She has a point.'

"Fine, if you want to help then go ahead." he huffed picking up the dropped medical tool.

Ricochet knelt down, grabbed ahold of Starscream's left arm, and said "Maybe we should start by doin' something about yer dislocated wrist."

Stiffening at the initial contact he replied "Fine."

Ricochet took a firm but gentle hold of Starscream's left wrist then popped it back into place. Starscream screamed as his wrist popped back into place. Ricochet, who had temporarily turned off her audios, said "Sorry. Should've given ya time ta brace yerself."

Starscream glared at her as she let go of his arm. Then she asked "So ya gonna tell me how ya got in this condition?"

Starscream's wings drooped and his shoulders slumped. Then with a defeated sigh asked "Your not going to let this go are you?"

Ricochet shook her helm then said "I just wanna know 'cause ya shouldn't be all the way out here alone in the shape yer in."

Starscream couldn't explain it, but he could feel it in his spark that her concern for him was genuine. It was as if there was something different about this Autobot, something special. Even though he didn't understand it, the feeling was getting stronger with each encounter. Next thing he knew he, with some apprehension, said "It was Megatron. He was angry over his recent plans failing, and while I was working in my lab he came storming inside it. Next thing I knew, he struck me causing me to fall backwards onto the floor." he took a sharp intake of air through his nose before he continued "Instead of threatening to kill me, like he usually does, he preceeded to savagely beat me. I don't know how a retained consciousness but I saw him leave my lab. Then, though I was in pain, I pushed myself to my pedes, made my way out of the base, transformed, and took to the air. I don't know how and why but somehow I made my it all the way out here."

'All of Starscream's attempted take overs completely made sense now. In the beginning it may of been about power but she doubted it had anything to do with power now. He was scared and just wanted to feel safe again.' Ricochet thought as she watched Starscream make repairs to himself. She could feel her spark calling out to Starscream and she wanted to help him.

"I understand why ya keep trying to usurp Megatron. Yer afraid of him and ya think that if ya kill him, you'll have some measure of safety in yer life." Ricochet said causing Starscream to look her in the optics, with wings flared angrily, before he shouted "Fear Megatron! I do not fear Megatron! I, Starscream, fear no one!"

Ricochet sighed. Starscream's infamous ego and tough guy act was making itself present but somehow kept her patience and said "Starscream, there's no shame in being afraid of Megatron. Yer not the only being in the universe that fears him ya know.

Starscream snorted then replied "Hmph. What about you then, huh? Do you fear Megatron?"

"Yes, Starscream, I do fear Megatron. Not just what he could do ta me but what he could do to my family and friends here on Earth. Yet, I'm not afraid ta admit it." she said with a slight smile.

It seemed as if she could see right through him, but at some strange level he couldn't understand he felt comfortable and safe around her. What was stranger he felt as if he could trust her. "Okay I admit it. I am afraid of Megatron." Starscream said.

With the admittance of his fear it felt as if an enormous weight was lifted off his shoulders. Then he stated "When I kill Megatron and take command of the Decepticons, I won't have to fear or worry about him anymore."

"If ya could've killed Megatron, he would've been gone by now. Ya can't kill Megatron 'cause he's too powerful for ya to handle."

Starscream, who had done what he could for his injuries until he returned to the Nemesis, clenched his fists shaking them angrily before he stopped then sighed "I hate to admit it but your right. There's nothing I can do about it though." he then stood up and said "Thank you, Ricochet. I must be going before that slagger, Megatron, gets angry again." What about her made him trust and open up to her like he did? What made her so different that her very presence caused a strange, but not unpleasent, feeling to pulse through his spark?

'I wouldn't be so sure about bein' unable ta do nothing' Ricochet thought then said "Take care of yerself,Starscream, hopefully next time we see each other it won't be on the battlefield."

Starscream took to the air and transformed. Soon he was out of sight as he headed back towards the Nemesis.

'Shame we must fight one another. If only this war was over.' she thought shaking her helm. She then transformed and flew back towards the Ark. As she flew back a familiar feeling began pulsing through her spark. It was hard to believe but she seemed to be falling for Starscream. She decided she would keep this to herself, for now, until she was absolutely certain.