Chapter 18: Mein Herz Brennt

Promise I'll be kind

But I won't stop until that boy is mine

Baby you'll be famous

you down until you love me

Papa-paparazzi -Paparazzi, Lady Gaga

Thrust was always Megatron's favorite.

They were all created from Starscream's coding, and, with the help of Hook and Oil Slick, they were somewhat clones of the seeker. Skywarp, being the 'youngest clone', was never allowed beyond their quarters. His sister told him it was not safe beyond the hallway. He never really understood why, since Thrust always came back happy( then again, the sexual clone was always happy one way or another). According to his brother Thundercracker, they all seemed to have gotten a little of the seeker's emotions. He was unlucky enough to have gotten the seeker's fear, while Thundercracker got the seeker's pride. Ramjet was probably one of Starscream's habits instead of emotions, since he always lied one way or another, and Sunstorm always seemed to find something to praise about you. Slipstream was an anomalie, since she was a female, and nobody knew what she was supposed to be. As for Thrust... well, everybody knew what emotion HE got...

Thrust... Even his name seemed to have mirrored his personality...

Thrust was Starscream's sexual desire and lust. He was a dark red with dark grey instead of Starscream's grey and magenta. He looked like a slutty Starscream, and he acted so promiscuous around the older vampire, you almost wanted to drag him to a monastery to tame him. Maybe that was what Megatron secretly desired: A wanting, devoted Starscream that would never leave him for the world... Well, then again, they were all turned by him and could never leave him even if they wanted to...

He knew that they were created for the sole purpsoe of seeing if the seer traits could also be cloned. It seemed to have failed, but Megatron had seen another use for them, and they were made to be his personal harem slaves. Since he was the youngest, his only duties were basic household chores like cleaning and serving food, while his sister would cook and oversee the others, though she was never taken seriously. The other brothers were the 'pleasure' slaves, and depending on who was chosen that night, Megatron would either be in a very happy mood or just be the same as he was that morning. But if the older vampire was with Thrust, that morning after was always peaceful and tranquil. Those were the days Skywarp could relax for just a little moment.

Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end, and Thrust was killed in a freak accident involving a rockslide. Megatron seemed colder, for lack of a nicer word. He noticed that he was a lot more violent towards everyone, especially his harem. Even though he wasn't fully claimed, Skywarp was extremely loyal to his master, for fear of being hurt or killed. He had no one to trust, not even his own siblings.

It was Hell, but if he played his cards right, he'd be able to survive it.

"You had a vision, huh?" Starscream nodded slowly before sitting next to Lockdown. The were sighed sadly before leaning back.

"Primus... I really have my work cut out for me, huh?" Lockdown lazily scratched the back of his head.

"Why did you have to get yer mother's poweres, huh?" He joked. Starscream just shrugged, letting a little smile escape.

"Maybe it's because Primus likes fragging with you..."

"Could be..." They sat in a comfortable silence, with only a few statements thrown in from time to time. Lockdown couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Starscream. After all, he was a seer, one of the most powerful things anybody could ever have. And since it was Megatron who wanted him... Well, there was just no way of putting it nicely. Starscream would be slagged if he got captured. Without thinking, he gave the seeker a pat on the shoulder, who in turn gave him an understanding look, as if he read the werejaguar's mind. Just then, they heard the door open, and Sari's footsteps were heard entering the room. Her feet quickly pattered over to them, as if she could sense their depression. With some help from Starscream, Sari climbed up on the seeker's knee and sat there.

"Hi, Starscream! Are you okay?" He gave the girl a sad smile before sighing and petting her on the head.

"No... Just thinking about stuff..." Her face fell, eyes full of empathy. Suddenly thinking of something, she perked up and smiled.

"You know what always helped me whenever I was sad?"

"Okay, guys! And girl..." Sari said sheepishly as she glanced towards Blackarachnia. The spider just rolled her optics playfully and leaned on Bumblebee just to be annoying. Sari continued.

"So this game is called Flag Football. The basic goal is to get the ball to the other side by either catching it in the endzone or running to it with the ball in hand. You have to be holding it to score. If you drop it, it's dead, if your flag gets pulled off, then you have to do that whole 'hike' thing where either the ball dropped or where your flag was pulled, and if you go out of bounds, then it doesn't count. This is FLAG football, so you can't tackle. You can only pull off the flag of the other player..." Sari could hear Blitzwing sigh sadly before the jaguar growled at him. Lockdown took his optics off the vampire and looked down at the box he was holding.

"That why we got these bandanas in this box, kid?" Sari nodded.

"Yes, Lockdown. Well, I think that's all there is to the game, so Optimus, Lockdown, you guys are team captains, so pick your team! Ratchet and I will keep a lookout if you guys do something wrong..." A growl was heard, and Ratchet placed Sari on his shoulder.

"I don't remember signing up for this..." Sari giggled.

"Of course you did, Ratchet! When else can you see Bumblebee fail at catching a ball?" Realization hit the medic, and a sly grin emerged.

"Good point..." Lockdown and Optimus stood a few feet away from each other and began to pick their teams. Optimus went first, as a polite gesture from Lokdown.

"Well, I guess I'll choose Blitzwing..." Just as Optimus finished saying those words, Lockdown smirked mischieviously.

"Starscream!" He called out hurriedly. Blitzwing glared at the jaguar, who only smiled evilly at him. Starscream saw what was going on and sighed in embarrassment.

"Lockdown... You're having too much fun pushing his buttons..." The jaguar snorted, draping an arm over him as he called on Blackarachnia.

"What can I say? I love the adrenaline rush..." Starscream began to roll his optics, but widened when he felt the jaguar's lips graze his forehead. He could feel the anger and hatred course through the bond he had with the vampire.

"He's going to kill you, you know..." Lockdown glanced over at Blitzwing, then called Bumblebee, who went to ask Blackarachnia what was happening. Lockdown smiled again.

"You won't let that happen, right?" Hearing footsteps, the jaguar suddenly disappeared and Starscream found himself staring at Hothead's visors.

"Oh deary..." Sari's little sayings were beginning to get to him. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the vampire wrapped an arm around his waist, another hand found its way to his neck, and Blitzwing gave the seeker the most passionate kiss he had ever had outside the bedroom they shared. Hearing an 'ew' from Bumblebee, Starscream couldn't help but smile into the kiss and pull the vampire closer. After hearing Blackarachnia yell out that they had a game to play, Starscream pulled away, but not before giving the vampire a peck on the nose.

"Lockdown's not so bad... He brings us closer together, you know..." He said through their bond. Blitzwing let out a low, barely audible growl.

"I know, Star...but sometimes... zhat cat gets on mein nerves..."

"So does Bumblebee..."

"Ja, but he's young. He has an excuse..." Starscream shook his head as he laughed at the vampire's jealousy. He leaned in close to his audios.

"Really? Just because Bumblebee's young? Or because you're afraid Lockdown might steal me?" Before Blitzwing could answer, Starscream pecked him on the cheek.

"You should know by now that I like accents, and yours is by far the sexiest..." He let go of the larger mech and walked over to their side of the field. Lockdown appeared behind him, drinking the last of his high grade.

"So... got yer bondmate distracted with yer' romantic crud?" Starscream smirked.

"Oh yeah..."

Lockdown's team won by five points that day...

Cyclonus was pissed.

Okay, that was the understatement of the year.

Not only did his 'beloved' leader make him drag his aft down to earth to find Swindle, but now he had to haul the almost-dead vampire back home. This was not a good day, or week for that matter. Cyclonus growled before stopping his annoyed pacing in the woods and began walking back into the ship and contacting Megatron. The monitor lit up, and Megatron looked indifferent, even though he was pinning the blue seeker to the wall.

"What is it, Cyclonus?" the vampire stood straight.

"We have found Swindle, Master. However, he is not in the condition we had thought he would be in..." His accent seemed to have grown thicker the more nervous he was, and if he ever had to report bad news to Megatron, he would sound worse than Strika. Megatron let the blue seeker go and focused on the purple mech.

"What seems to be he problem?"

"He was drained... By a demon, we believe... He's alive, but barely..." Megatron seemed to think it over, running his hand over his chin in a pensive manner.

"Have your team bring him back, and I will have Hook start repairs on him, but before you come back, there is an important task you must do for me." Cyclonus bowed before him, getting on his knees and lowering his head.

"Of course, Master. Anything for you..." The older vampire smirked.

"Hook has finished the potion. All that we need for the spell is the seeker. You are one of my most skilled vampires and one of my best soldiers. I need you to go and get the seeker." Cyclonus nodded silently.

"And Blitzwing, Sir?" Megatron narrowed his optics.

"What about him?"

"What if I am to cross paths with the traitor?" Megatron fell silent. Cyclonus looked up, and found the mech smirking evilly.

"If he is anywhere near the area, kill him."

"Yes, Master..."

"Hey, Star-bot, do you ever miss flying?" Starscream looked up from an article he was reading on the monitor and locked optics with the yellow mech. After Bumblebee had said those words, a strong, sudden longing seemed to have dropped on him. He missed the wind beneath his wings, the dangerous-looking nosedives...

Most of all, he missed dancing in the clouds with Blitzwing...

"Well, now that you mention it, I kind of do... and now I shall be forever depressed because of that... What a horrid little 'bot you are..." He joked, sticking his tongue out. Bumblebee just snorted and went back to playing his videogame. Starscream's smile fell as he dwelled on Bumblebee's question. Turning off the monitor, the seeker got up from the desk and made his way towards his room, passing by Prowl. He opened his door, finding the vampire barely waking up from a small nap. He sat next to the triple-changer, not bothering to make small conversation.

"I want to fly again." He stated boldly. Blitzwing stared at him, as if he'd just said that he wanted to stab himself through the spark.

"Starscream you know very vell zhat ve cannot go flying as ve please. Earth has rules und regulations about zhat. Ve are only allowed to fly if zhere is an emergency, und ve are limited only to a small air space. Not only zhat, but zhere may be Decepticons out zhere, for all ve know." The seeker stared at him n disbelief before sighing in frustration and standing up.

"Blitzwing, aside from the dead vampire in that abandoned warehouse, You, me, and Li-Li are the only Decepticons here on earth. All the others are back near Cypbertron or on that stupid asteroid. I think you're being a bit too protective, Blitz..." The triple-changer got up, placing a hand on Starscream's cheek.

"Starscream... I almost lost you vonce... I don't vant anyzhing like zhat to happen again..." Starscream took his wrist gently and pulled his hand down slowly.

"I'll be fine, Blitzwing. I just need some air, or else I'll go crazy..."

"You don't know zhat, Star... Und it's not safe for you to be anyvhere by yourself..." Starscream narrowed his optics into a glare.

"First, you push me away from you because you might hurt me, and now you want me close because you think I can't take care of myself..."

"Nein, it's not zhat, Starscream! I know you can defend yourself. It's just zhat zhere may be somevone stronger zhan I am one day, und I von't be able to protect you..."

"Primus! I don't need anybody to keep a lookout for me every second of the day!" Blitzwing changed to Hothead and suddenly grabbed Starscream by the shoulders.

"Really, Starscream?! Last time, I left you for ten minutes, und Megatron fragging RAPED you! Don't you remember?" The seeker pulled away roughly, optics brimmed with tears.

"Of COURSE I remember, you glitch-head! I was THERE! I was the fragging victim, for crying out loud! I remember every fragging minute of it every fragging day... You're a fragging hypocrite, you know that?"

"Vhat?" The seeker did not bother to stop the tears fall down from his optics.

"You told me you didn't want to turn me because you wanted me to be free to make my own choice. Now, when I want to make my own choice, you just come and refuse me! You're a slagging hypocrite..." Blitzwing took Starscream by the shoulders again, gripping tighter this time.

"I am trying to PROTECT YOU! Zhis has nozhing to do vith free vill!"

"Let me go!" Starscream tried pulling away, but the vampire's grip was strong.

"I don't vant to lose you!" The seeker whimpered in pain as Blitzwing gripped harder.

"Blitzwing... Let go... Please... You're hurting me..." Starscream tried pushing the vampire away, but his grip tightened. He cried out in pain as the other's fingers bent the metal on his shoulders. The seeker brought up his hands in defense

"Damn it, Blitzwing, let me go!"

The world suddenly fell silent. Blitzwing changed back to Icy, optics widened as he stared at the startled seeker fallen on the ground. Starscream coughed, pushing himself up into a seated position. Blitzwing stepped back as Starscream brought up a hand to his bleeding lip. He locked optics with the triple-changer, and the heavy feeling of betrayal coursed through the bond like a flood.

"S-Starscream...?" The seeker's intakes grew heavier. Blitzwing could smell his fear.

"Wh-Why?"

"Starscream, I... I..." Starscream shook his head and got up, not bothering to control his crying.

"Leave me alone..." Blitzwing took a step forward, and the seeker ran out before he had a chance to apologize.

"Starscream!" He ran out into the hallway, trying to catch up with the seeker. Arriving in the living room, he was suddenly grabbed by the neck and shoved into the wall. He hadn't been pinned to the wall for some time, and the fact that it was Lockdown just made the experience much less enjoyable. Lockdown's optics were slitted, his own fangs were sticking out from his mouth, and claws were forming on his hands.

"Now you give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart right this second." As much as he hated weres, Blitzwing agreed with Lockdown for once. He deserved whatever the jaguar wanted to do with those deadly claws and sharp teeth. He tried swallowing in fear, but the grip on his neck was strong. He was suddenly released, and Lockdown turned into his quadrupedal form.

"You better find him, or so help me Primus..."

Starscream transformed into his bipedal form and landed into the small clearing in the forest. He sniffed, wiping the tears from his optics. What the Pit just happened back there?! What seemed to be just another heated argument turned into something ugly. He shuddered, remembering what happened. When he ran down the hallway and passed Lockdown, he didn't care if the jaguar would stop the vampire or maul him on the spot. All he wanted was to be alone. A small breeze blew through, and the seeker suddenly felt a wave of loneliness. He had closed the bond link so he could be alone for a while, but he soon found out that it wasn't as easy as he thought it'd be. He was so used to feeling the other's emotions that when he shut it tight, he felt empty inside. Sure, he was still extremely pissed at Blitzwing for hitting him and practically degrading him, but he couldn't help but miss him.

"Okay..."he muttered to himself. "Now what can I do fo a while until I have to go back?" The air suddenly felt colder, and when Starscream turned around, he saw Cyclonus standing a few feet away from him.

"Hello, Starscream..." He said. His accent made it sound like he purred the name when he said it. Starscream stiffened. Did they send Cyclonus to get him? The purple mech inched closer and reached for the seeker's head. Starscream flinched when Cyclonus gently ran a finger over his once-bleeding lip.

"Now, what happened that caused such lovely lips to bleed?" He asked as he smirked. Starscream gulped, backing away. There was something about Cyclonus's optics...

"Did he hurt you?" The mech's question caught him off-guard. Cyclonus's smirk widened and inched closer to the retreating seeker.

"Blitzwing always had a hard time controlling his emotions, especially after Megatron turned him..." The seeker turned around to run, but instead ran into the larger mech's chest. Cyclonus grabbed his wrist, and Starscream cried out.

"Let me go!" he tried raising his arm to use his null rays, but the vampire was extremely quick and tore off the weapons. Starscream cried out in pain and sank to his knees as he clutched his arms. He opened his link again, and sent so many cries for help he thought Blitzwing would be too overwhelmed with his emotions. Cyclonus grabbed him roughly by the scruff of his neck and pulled him up until they met optics.

"I don't see why Master needs a little slut like you... But I guess he really wants a seer..." Catching a glimpse of the seeker's bleeding arms, his fangs grew longer.

"I know Megatron wants you alive and in one piece, but I don't think he'd mind if I... sampled you..." he purred as he inched his face closer to the seeker's neck. Starscream tried to push away, swinging his legs to try to kick him off.

"Blitzwing!" He cried helplessly. Cyclonus growled.

"Your cries are useless. He won't come for-" Starscream fell on the grass, and a pair of strong arms helped him to his feet. Blitzwing was pissed, and currently in Hothead mode.

"Starscream, get avay from here as fast as you can... Ratchet should be in a nearby warehouse waiting to patch you up..." The seeker did as he was told and began to run away. The triple-changer turned and growled at Cyclonus.

"Vhat do you vant, Cyclonus?" The larger mech quickly picked himself up off the floor, cracking his neck.

"I'm here to collect something for Megatron, just like a loyal servant should do. Of course, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" He spat venomously. Blitzwing decided that was all the talk they needed because he pounced on the vampire and began attacking him. What began as a basic fist fight quickly turned into a deadly battle between the two vampires. Blitzwing panted as he held his open, bleeding side. Cyclonus popped his shoulder joint back in place.

"You were always slow..." It wasn't until Cyclonus used his speed ability and practically broke his spinal column that Blitzwing knew what he was going to do. The triple-changer fell to the ground face-first. The vampire had hit a pressure point, and all nerve control of his lwer and middle regions were gone. He felt a foot stomp on his back, and he roared in pain.

"...And you always yelled, too... Not to worry... These injuries will kill you, just long enough to know that Starscream was never yours to begin with..." In a flash, Cyclonus slammed his foot down on Blitzwing's upper back, causing the vampire to cough up energon.

The last thing Blitzwing could remember before he blacked out was Lockdown yelling out every swear word ever heard by Cybertronian kind.

Starscream was dragged into the very familiar throne room of Megatron and forced to kneel down by the very mech who kidnapped him. Looking up, he wished he hadn't, and met Megatron's cruel, dark optics. The vampire's lips curled into a nasty grin as he chuckled darkly.

"How lovely to see you again, my traitorous little seeker..."