Author's note. Just to warn you all, this chapter contains an abuse flashback, so if you don't like, don't read.
Sorry for taking so long once again, but since I'm working so much I don't have much time to write. Anyway, I hope you all like this.
With thanks to Brithe Avennee for her character of Fibers.
Enjoy and please review.
Soundwave carefully approached the crash site of the supposed meteorite. He hadn't encountered any Autobots which suggested they weren't aware of the crash. But it wasn't really surprising, after all, he doubted he or any of the other Decepticons would have spotted it for their base. It just so happened that he had been out and about.
The burning smell of oil, metal and wood hit his sensors as he entered the clearing the burning fireball had created. Everything was black with the impact and there were a few remaining pieces of organic material burning but it didn't concern him. What interested him was the small, still glowing white hot space pod right in front of him.
Despite it's size, it looked like only a human could exist in it and even then be cramped, it clearly had been space worthy. It almost resembled a missile with it's long, sleek body which would have propelled it through space at a very high rate.
Soundwave's curiosity about what this pod contained was by now very aroused.
He quickly made his way forward, even as the hot metal cooled. The charred vegetation crumbled under his foot as he walked. He checked he still had his gun handy, it was safely stored in sub space. You never knew what a mysterious space craft could contain.
He carefully examined the container in front of him, silently contemplating how he was going to open it. But suddenly, there was a loud hissing noise and with a puff of smoke, the space craft cracked and started to open.
He watched impassively as this happened.
With a final puff, the metal plates separated and Soundwave was able to see what was inside. Though his face mask and visor hid his expression, he couldn't help but make a small noise of surprise.
A small white face stared up at him with unblinking yellow optics.
Starscream's POV.
Dream/Flashback.
Starscream trembled as he waited on the berth, soft moans escaping through his gag. Megatron had captured him some time ago, by covering his mouth to prevent cries before injecting a mild sedative. This meant that the Seeker was conscious but completely limp and helpless.
He could only watch as he was picked up and carried in his leader's arms, all the way to that room. Once there, Megatron carefully placed him on the berth and stripped him of his armour. As Starscream lay naked and helpless, Megatron leant down smirking and said.
"You look lovely, my darling little Star,"
Starscream had made a feeble sound of protest, his limbs shaking slightly, indicating that he was regaining use of them. Megatron merely chuckled and that was when he had bound and gagged the powerless Seeker to the berth before leaving him there.
Starscream hadn't been left very long, his internal chrome reassured him of that. But the breems seemed to drag on, as he whimpered and vainly tugged on his bonds.
Megatron had forced him to kneel and had then bound his hands to the headboard of the berth. Starscream was forced to remain in this highly uncomfortable position while he waited for Megatron to come and take him. And he knew exactly how Megatron was going to do that.
He shifted slightly, trying to loosen the muscles in his sore, stiff back but it wasn't much help. His feet weren't bound together but both had a shackle that joined to the end of the berth making sure Starscream couldn't change his position.
His forehead rested against the headboard as he struggled to control his emotions. He hated this, he utterly hated this but there wasn't anything he could do about it. He had tried running, he had tried hiding, he had even tried killing his abuser. But nothing had worked and he had no one to turn to.
A bystander might ask why he did not enlist the help of his Trine mates. But even though Megatron had never directly threatened them, Starscream knew what would happen if he ever told. And he would die before he allowed them to endure that form of Spark breaking torture.
Suddenly he heard a noise behind him, it was a door opening. He painfully twisted his head round and saw Megatron standing there, smirking.
Starscream whimpered with fear as Megatron started making his easy way over, his hand already rubbing his Cod Piece. And then Megatron was there, climbing onto the berth, right behind the trembling Seeker.
"No,"
"Hmmm, my little whore," Megatron murmured as he nuzzled Starscream's lower back.
"Please,"
Megatron started to rub his sides, grinding his body against Starscream's.
"Don't…"
He felt kisses grace his bare protoform and they made him weep with the knowledge of expectant pain.
"I don't want…."
He felt Megatron purr as he drew back slightly from Starscream in order to remove his straining Cod Piece. Starscream felt Megatron get on top of him, grip his hips and position himself outside of the Seeker's Port.
"No, no, no, noooooooooooooo!"
End of Dream/Flashback.
He came awake in an instant, screaming the fear he had not been able to express through the gag, and thrashing violently. But there were things holding him down, he couldn't get the image of Megatron about to rape him out of his head.
His scream was loud enough that several objects vibrated ominously but he didn't notice this. He shot upwards, nearly falling off the berth he was on as he bawled his pain and fear.
His scream ended and so did his tears but he was unable to calm down. His Spark, oh his Spark, it was beating against his chest, beating like it was about to smash through. His mouth worked but no sound came out, his optics were bulging as he fought to squash the rising panic within him.
"Oh, oh, oh, OH,"
Waves of emotions were coursing through his body, so much so that he felt like he was going to purge. It was just too much, all of it, he was going to die, he was sure of it.
"Oh Primus, oh Primus,"
He couldn't breath, he was choking on his own fear, it felt like his Spark was going to explode.
"Starscream, Starscream!"
A voice…someone was calling his name but he couldn't focus on it, all he could do was fight the looming fear and pain that was trying to take him over. His vision was going black, he was going to die, he was going to die, he was…..
"Starscream!"
His optics flew open and he stared at the sight of…..Skyfire. He blinked, this couldn't be real, Skyfire was lost, lost to the ice so long ago. But no, he was here and he was clutching Starscream's hands and looking very worried.
Starscream breathed in and then he breathed out, his Spark was still fluttering madly even as he dumbly stared at his old friend. He…he was utterly confused, what was going on.
"Starscream," Skyfire now said gently, stroking his hand gently. "Are you alright."
"I…I.." Starscream stuttered, had Skyfire rescued him from Megatron.
He glanced down at his body, checking for signs of abuse. But though there was an ache of phantom pain in his Port, he knew it was just form the dream. His systems were assuring him he hadn't interfaced recently.
Seeing Starscream's confusion, Skyfire quickly said.
"Were you having a bad dream Starscream, about…Megatron?"
Starscream looked up at him and nodded, his red optics wide.
"Do you remember where you are Starscream?" Skyfire now asked as he saw how confused Starscream still was.
Starscream frowned and glanced around the room, his optics widening in surprise. Orange walls, that could only mean….he was in the Autobot base. Had he been captured, and why couldn't he remember?
"I…I'm in the Autobot base," he said slowly. "But why."
"Oh Starscream," Skyfire said softly as he lent forward and hugged the Seeker.
"You've been with us for over a week," he whispered softly. "You….you left the Decepticons and….Megatron."
"Megatron?"
Starscream trembled as he said this, the fear clear in his voice.
"Yes Starscream," Skyfire said gently, releasing him so he could look him in the optic.
"But we've been protecting you, keeping him from hurting you again. And I won't let him hurt you ever again."
Starscream blinked slowly as he took this in. The expression on his face turned to a hopeful one.
"R-really? You promise?"
"I promise," Skyfire said gently before adding. "And look who's here to protect you as well."
Starscream followed where Skyfire was indicating and gasped. Standing right in front of him was his beloved Trine, Skywarp and Thundercracker. He gaped for a moment before asking softly.
"Warp, TC?"
"Yeah, it's us Screamer," Skywarp said with a weak grin.
Thundercracker leant forward and took his hand.
"We'll always be there for you Starscream."
Starscream grinned, his Spark swelling with happiness. His three favourite bots in the whole universe were here now, with him. And they promised to look after him, oh he had wanted this so much.
He suddenly lunged forward and seized all three in a huge hug.
"I love you all, I love you all so much, and I never want you to leave."
"Aw, you'll never get rid of us, Screamer," Skywarp laughed. "You know that, even if you try to leave, we'll follow, we'll hunt you down and smother you with hugs."
Starscream giggled and hugged them even tighter.
"Um, what's wrong with him?" Skywarp now asked over the comm to Ratchet.
"It's the trauma," Ratchet replied with a sigh. "He's reverted back to a child like state of mind in order to cope."
"How long will that last?" Thundercracker asked quietly.
"Unknown," Ratchet replied regretfully. "But I'm afraid when he does go back to his normal state, there's going to be a crisis. And we still don't know everything Megatron said or did to him while he had him."
As Thundercracker mentally acknowledged this, Ratchet added.
"For now, all you can do is be there for him, it'll help if he feels safe."
The Medic sighed as Starscream continued to nuzzle into his Trine and his intended. It was always going to be hard and but soon the real work would begin. He could only hope Elita's group could make it and soon to Earth.
Soundwave's POV.
The large blue Mech strolled into the Nemesis, a small form clinging tightly to his chest. A few Decepticons glanced curiously at what the TIC was holding but a glare from the silent tape player silenced any questions they had.
What they could see though was that the little thing was a Femme, in fact many though she was a Sparkling by the way she trembled and hid her face. Soundwave ignored the stares and carried on towards his quarters.
He planned to settle this young Femme and take her along to Hook's later. It was still to early to go and see him, and the Femme did not seem to be in a desperate need for medical attention.
Finally, he reached his quarters and entered.
"Hey boss," Frenzy called lazily from his and Rumble's berth.
The two were up surprisingly early, but then again, both loved to hear about his, encounters with the Atuobot Blaster. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw were soundly asleep as was Ratbat but Ravage was active, lightly washing a paw.
Ravage looked up as Soundwave walked over to their set of berths, and raised an optic at the sight of the little Femme. Meanwhile, Rumble rolled over to say with a yawn.
"So, how did it…..? Holy Primus!"
This woke Frenzy up who sat up, rubbing his optics before gaping at Soundwave.
"Who's that?" he blurted out as the Femme hid her face.
"Designation, Fibers," Soundwave informed them as he sat down on his berth, settling the Femme in his lap.
She was a strange little thing to be sure. Her body was that of a white Seeker with the normal feminine round thighs and triangular calves that you would expect. Her chestplate and crotchplate were black with purple stripes while her waist area was grey. Her little feet were black and so were her forearms but her hands were white.
Her wings were more like the Shuttle Skyfire's wings and were white with black stripes that ran to her upper arms. Her white face with it's yellow optics were what you would expect to see in a young Femme with a black and purple helm with a V shaped front.
However, she had some rather unusual features on her helm in the form of grey 'elf' style ears which made her look almost feline.
Soundwave examined her with interest, it didn't matter to him is she was slightly different. Those 'ears' could mean she had some interesting abilities.
He wasn't entirely sure what he was going to do with Fibers. He didn't want to entrust her to any of the other Decepticons but at the same time, he wasn't inclined to hand her over to the Autobots. They had enough on their plate, without this fragile Femme to look after.
He hadn't been able to get much out of her so far, except her name. When the space pod had first opened and she had seen him, she had tried to hide. It had taken a little bit of telepathy to coax her from it and even then, she hadn't been willing to answer any of his questions.
Finally, he had asked her what her name was.
She had met his visor briefly before frowning slightly and glancing away. It was almost as though she was trying to think of something. Finally, and in a very small voice, she had replied.
He had then informed her that he was going to be taking her back to his base and she had accepted this without much protest. She had neither fraction insignia or optics, but he had a nagging feeling that overlooking this, she had no real knowledge of the War.
Of course now that he had brought her here, the only question was what to do now?
He was aware of Rumble and Frenzy moving closer, looking the newcomer up and down. She shied away from their gazes, though her face remained fairly expressionless. It was clear she didn't show her true emotions normally but Soundwave could easily sense the fear coming from her.
Finally, his young creations finished looking over her and grinned.
"All right," Rumble said gleefully. "You've brought us a sister."
The little Femme's optics widened at this statement, it had clearly been the last thing she had been expecting. But as Soundwave briefly glanced at her, he saw a briefest flash of...hope in those yellow optics.
"Hi," Frenzy now said, before Soundwave could protest Rumble's statement. "I'm Frenzy and this goofball is Rumble."
"Hey, who's the goofball?" Rumble demanded, shoving Frenzy and the two started wrestling together.
Fibers watched, wide eyed as she carried on clinging to Soundwave. Ravage rolled his optics and said.
"Try not to overwhelm the poor Femme any more than you already have."
As the twins glared mutinously at their elder brother, Fibers followed their gaze. She spotted the large panther but didn't ask the obvious question.
"Designation, Ravage," Soundwave supplied for her and she briefly gave her a timidly grateful look.
"So," Frenzy now said with a very sly look. "How did your meeting with Blaster go?"
"Yeah," Rumble added with a grin. "Did you get any smooching done?"
"Irrelevant," Soundwave replied stiffly making them groan in disappointment but they were still grinning at the implication that there had been.
"It is time for bed," Soundwave now announced, laying done with the little Femme pressed close to his chest.
Ravage purred and leapt up to snuggle beside Soundwave, after giving Fibers a quick lick. The little Femme squeaked in surprise and warily eyed the large silver cat. However, she relaxed as she saw the big cat fully intended to sleep and settled against Soundwave's chest.
She didn't move as Rumble and Frenzy joined her, though her body went slightly stiff. But it seemed she could sense there was no ill intent in their actions and after a while, relaxed again.
Soundwave idly stroked her head as she drifted off, his mind mulling over Rumble's early statement.
He'd always wanted a daughter.
Author's note. The next chapter continues with what's happening in the Med Bay as Skyfire, Thundercracker and Skywarp try to help Starscream. But how does this go? Find out next time, until then.