Author's note. So, how does Megatron take the news that Starscream is now with the Autobots? Read on to find out.
If anyone has any suggestions, don't hesitate to give them to me.
By the way, one of my best friends has just published the first chapter of a story she and me wrote together. Please check it out and review it, it hasn't gotten many reviews yet.
It's called 'Music and Medicine' and is published under Prowsgirl.
Enjoy and please review.
Optimus watched as the three Seekers flew away, once again taking away his beloved mate. And although sad, it was more bittersweet than anything else. This time she hadn't been snatched from her berth, and he'd had a chance to say a proper goodbye.
And Skywarp had promised to let them all meet again soon, probably at a different location. This day had gone so well, so hopefully Megatron wouldn't be adverse to another one. So long as he didn't object to the presence of a certain Sparkling with the Autobots.
"You sure this is a good idea?" he softly asked Starscream who was nuzzled against his chest as he watched his friends and Trine disappear.
"There's still time to change your mind, Starscream."
The little Seeker shook his head.
"No, this is the right choice."
He looked up at Optimus with wide optics.
"Unless you want to get rid of me?"
"It's not that Starscream," Optimus said gently as the Seekers grew ever distant.
"But you're going to be the only Sparkling on our base, you'll probably get very lonely."
"I can handle it," Starscream said softly. "It's not like I haven't before."
Optimus looked down at Starscream, brow furrowed. But he didn't pursue the issue, just hugged Starscream a little closer.
"I'll do everything to make sure you're happy with us Starscream," he said softly as he cupped the back of the red and white Sparkling's head.
"I-I know," Starscream stuttered softly before burying his face against Optimus's armour.
Optimus sighed and glanced over towards his men. They were still mostly staring out to sea, but the Seekers had already disappeared.
"Let's go home," Optimus said gently and everyone nodded.
They weren't sure what they thought about having a Decepticon Sparkling on the base but they were willing to give it a go.
Meanwhile, back on the Nemesis.
"So, I see you've returned," Megatron drawled as the little group made their way out of the launching platform.
With a quick nod to their leader, Ramjet left them, heading to the Rec Room for some well deserved Energon. Skywarp smiled as he cradled a very sleepy Ratchet and Chromia in his arms. Thundercracker was holding Elita against his shoulder as he led Ironhide and Skyfire into the corridor.
"Yes sir, we have," Skywarp said tiredly, but happily.
Megatron gave a tight smirk but then he frowned as his optics roved over the little group. He had spotted that one was missing.
"Where is my brat of a Second?" he asked slowly, his optics glinting.
"Ah," Skywarp said with a small gulp. "Well, see, the thing is..."
His voice trailed off as he tried to work out how to tell Megatron. The silence dragged on as Megatron's mouth thinned into a very thin line.
"Starscream's with the Autobots," Thundercracker eventually said as the silence got painful.
"What?" Megatron roared, waking up the sleepy Sparklings.
"Hey, leave off," Chromia whined, burying her face against Skywarp's chest. "I'm sleepy."
"You let the Autobots take him," Megatron snarled, taking a threatening step towards Skywarp.
But before Skywarp or Thundercracker couls say anything, Skyfire piped up.
"He wanted to stay, he made them leave him behind."
Megatron rounded on the small Shuttle with a snarl.
"Wanted to stay? Wanted to stay? And why the frag did he want to stay?"
"Because you're so mean," Skyfire snapped back, standing his ground against the angry Decepticon leader.
"And he didn't want to give you a chance to pick on him, and probably spank him. So he asked Optimus if he could live with him for a while."
Megatron was literally shaking with rage at this point and actually looked like he was likely to strike Skyfire.
"Uh, we better go sir, long day and all that," Skywarp quickly stammered, as he hoisted Ratchet more firmly in his arms so he could grab Skyfire's hand and start leading him away.
"I gotta give them their Energon, then have a nap and then a bath, you understand," he said before exiting as rapidly as possible, Thundercracker on his heels.
Megatron was left fuming in the empty corridor, so enraged that he couldn't speak. But that didn't last long.
"STARSCREAM!"
At the Ark.
"Aw, look at the little fellow, all tuckered out," Jazz said with a big grin as they neared the Ark.
Optimus smiled behind his mask as he glanced down at the small bundle he was holding. Starscream was snuggled against his chest, sleeping soundly. The little Seeker was utterly exhausted after their day at the beach and would need a long recharge.
"You'll probably need to wake him soon," Prowl commented upon as they entered the Ark.
"It's not good for Sparklings to go into long recharge without any Energon."
"I'll ask First Aid about that," Optimus said softly as Starscream gave a small murmur.
"I know Sparklings need special Energon but I don't know how to make it."
"You're about to learn, that's for sure," Hound quipped as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe angrily stalked past, sand and seaweed stuck to their armour.
"This is going to take hours and hours to get rid of," Sideswipe bemoaned, trying to brush some of the worst off himself.
"I'll need a new paint job for sure," Sunstreaker whined. "And a good wax on top of that."
The other Autobots chuckled as the twins rushed away to the Wash Racks. They could be really vain at times.
"Where you going to put him, sir?" Hound asked softly, being careful not to wake the sleeping Sparkling.
"He'll sleep with me," Optimus said firmly.
"I said I would look after him, and that's what I'm going to do."
He lifted Starscream up and cradled him against his shoulder. With a grin, Jazz led the others to the Rec Room while Optimus headed in the direction of the Med Bay. But he found he had company, in the form of Swoop.
The large Dinobot walked silently beside the Autobot leader, while the little Seeker slept. The Dinobots quarters were near the Med Bay so that Ratchet could easily attend to them if there was a problem. But Swoop wasn't silent for long.
"Me Swoop liked seeing him Ratchet again."
"I'm sure and Ratchet enjoyed seeing you as well," Optimus said with a chuckle.
"Yes," Swoop said slowly before adding.
"Him Grimlock and other Dinobots will be happy to learn him Ratchet okay."
There was a brief pause and then Swoop added.
"But us Dinobots still want him Ratchet back, and not as little Sparkling."
"I'd like that as well, Swoop," Optimus said seriously. "I'd like all of them back as adults. But there's nothing I can do at the moment."
Swoop nodded but still said.
"We Dinobots will think of something."
And abruptly, he turned down another corridor, the one that led to his quarters. Optimus paused, staring after Swoop before continuing on his way. He knew that Swoop was absolutely serious and that the Dinobots would try something if the other Autobots didn't.
But he didn't need to worry about that for now, he had a Sparkling to take care of.
"Optimus," First Aid said with surprise as Optimus entered.
Ever since Ratchet had been taken, First Aid had assumed all his duties with some help from Wheeljack. It was a lot for the young Medic to take on but luckily nobody had suffered anything serious injuries so far. This meant that First Aid hadn't been overwhelmed but he was still slightly in shock about the loss of his mentor.
"Hello First Aid, I have a patient for you," Optimus greeted kindly as First Aid's optics widened at the sight of Starscream still sleeping soundly.
"Is he injured?" First Aid asked in alarm, hurrying over.
"No, no, nothing like that," Optimus quickly assured him.
"But I need to feed him I put him down for the night and I need special Energon for that."
First Aid's expression relaxed and he even managed a small smile.
"Ah, you need the proper formula, don't you?"
As Optimus nodded, First Aid got to work, quickly heading over to a cabinet to find the right things.
As he started mixing the formula for Starscream, the Seekerling himself shifted in Optimus's grasp, cuddling closer. Optimus smiled behind his mask and started to gently nudge Starscream.
"Wake up Starscream, you need your night time Energon."
"Mmm," Starscream grumbled, burying deeper into Optimus's armour.
"Come on now," Optimus said firmly, continuing to gently shake Starscream until he started to wake.
"Mmmm, don't wanna get up, wanna sleep,"
"I know you do and you can as soon as you've eaten," Optimus said with a light chuckle as Starscream opened his optics.
"Hmm, daddy?" he murmured softly, causing First Aid to stare.
"Yes, it's me Optimus," the red and blue Mech said softly as the Sparkling rubbed his optics.
"And it's time for your Energon."
"Energon?" Starscream said eagerly.
"Really, for me?"
"Of course," Optimus said as First Aid passed him a bottle full of Energon.
"I hope you'll take it like a good Mechling."
Starscream grinned eagerly and held out his hand for the bottle and Optimus obliged. Starscream shoved it into his mouth and started to suck greedily as Optimus held the end. First Aid stood anxiously to one side, watching as Starscream drank.
"I hope I did it right, I haven't had much practice," he confessed softly.
"I'm sure it's fine," Optimus said reassuringly.
As Starscream paused for a quick breath, Optimus asked.
"It is fine, isn't it Starscream?"
"Ah huh," Starscream mumbled while nodding.
He then went back to eagerly sucking his Energon down.
"Careful," First Aid warned.
"If he drinks it to fast, he could purge."
"Yes, slow down Starscream," Optimus said firmly.
"There's plenty of Energon for you, you don't need to gulp it so fast."
He tugged the bottle slightly, trying to encourage Starscream to go slow. Starscream's optics shifted in uneasy fashion but he obeyed and slowed down. He didn't want to sick up all this precious Energon.
"That's it," Optimus said with a smile in his voice. "Nice and slow Starscream."
"Yes, daddy," Starscream said as he finished his Energon.
However, his little face twisted and he suddenly looked a little strange.
"Sir, you need to help him burp, he'll have trapped air in his tanks," First Aid quickly said as he spotted this.
Optimus quickly popped the bottle onto the table before placing Starscream over his shoulder. Gently but firmly he patted the little Seeker's back until he expelled the trap wind.
"Sorry," Starscream said meekly as he let out a loud burp.
"Don't worry about it Starscream," Optimus chuckled before turning to First Aid.
"Thank you First Aid for all your help. Perhaps you could make up some more for the morning?"
First Aid smiled.
"It would be a pleasure, sir," he said and he went back over to his work station.
Optimus resettled Starscream in his arms, the Seekerling was smiling softly.
"Thanks daddy."
"My pleasure," Optimus replied softly.
"My pleasure."
The Nemesis.
Megatron glared down at the little group that was splashing around in the large tub filled with very soapy water. After a good rage about, he had finally calmed down to a mere simmering anger. As he glared down at Skywarp, the Seeker smiled sheepishly and said.
"Uh, hi sir. Um, can we help you?"
Before Megatron could speak, Elita said.
"Maybe he wants to come in for a bath, I think he needs one."
All the Sparklings laughed while Megatron's optic twitched. Thundercracker shook his head, the last thing Megatron needed was to be made even angrier. Skywarp meanwhile gently scolded them.
"Elita darling, no naughtiness now," he said sternly but Elita only giggled.
Megatron closed his optics for a moment, doing his best not to lose his temper. It wouldn't do to let mere Sparklings visibly upset him.
"I'd like to hear your no doubt good reason for leaving Starscream with Prime."
"Well sir," Skywarp said helplessly as he absentmindedly washed Ironhide's little body.
"It's like Skyfire said earlier, Starscream demanded that he stay."
"He didn't want to lose the Mechs respect," Thundercracker added before Skywarp could say anything.
"He thought it would be difficult for the others to see him as a Sparkling when he's meant to be Second and that this would solve that problem."
Megatron snorted derisively.
"Lose their respect indeed. Well, if Starscream wishes to remain with those soft Sparked fools, then he shall."
He turned and started walking away, however, he hadn't finished.
"Let's see how long it takes till Prime can't take it anymore and begs me to take him back."
He let out a nasty cold chuckle as he left the room.
"I think Starscream had the wight idea," Ratchet said grimly as he snuggled up to Thundercracker.
Thundercracker sighed.
"Sometimes, you may be right," he said softly.
He wondered is the Autobots really could cope with Starscream, whose past was filled with darkness and pain.
Author's note. Find out how Starscream get's on with Optimus and the other Autobots, the whole of the next chapter will be focused on this. Until then.