CHAPTER FIVE

The Craving

***

Starscream's red optics were nearly bugged out of his helmet. "E-Emma? Is that…really you?"

I nodded, as I finally managed to close my chest plate.

"Em…my scanners were right (of course they are, they never lie)…they said Decepticon, but…wow…I mean…you look…" Screamer struggled to find the right words for it. He took a few steps forward.

I did too, with Bee trailing after me. I could read his thoughts – he was both wary and angry.

"How about – a freak of nature with fangs?" I asked, finally opening my mouth to reveal the freakish jaws in question.

To my complete surprise, Starscream laughed. "Are you kidding!? They make you look gorgeous!"

My optics widened in surprise.

Behind me, Bee clenched his fists angrily. "That's a fairly controversial opinion, Starscream." He said in an even voice.

Screamer seemed to suddenly realise that Bee was there. "Oh…Bumblebee…" His red optics narrowed. "So, you were the first to spark with her in her new body?"

"She chose it." Bee replied smoothly.

Like I wasn't even there!

I coughed. "Uh, excuse me, but can I say something?"

Both of them switched their gazes to me instantly. "Fire away." They said in unison, and then they grimaced.

I went on anyway. "Over the past three years, I have met giant robots, two separate factions and one thing they're all after – me." Forgetting my dear Bia for a moment… "I have found out I'm part robot and, now, I am completely robot."

"And might I add you look stunning." Starscream interrupted me.

"Shut up seeker." Bee snapped. "I haven't forgotten how you tricked her into marrying you!"

"She could've said no." Screamer replied.

"Both of you shut up or I'll weld your afts to a volcano crater!" I threatened. The two mechs had the wisdom to zip it then. "Now," I continued. "Not only am I a robot, but I'm a vampire robot – and I have a strange, unquenched thirst to bite someone, because I didn't get my fix from Wasp." My optics seemed to glow then. "Which is why I'm leaving you two to sort this out once and for all – because if I hang around any longer, I willdrain both of your life energy right out of you, and I don't want to do that!"

Both Bee and Star were staring at me in total shock, stunned into silence – for once.

I moved forward, and then said: "I love you both – now, if you both love me back, then you'll make my decision for me, because I cannot do it." And I changed into my jet mode and shot into the sky so fast not even the legendary Blurr could've caught up with me.

I had to get to the city fairly quickly, and I did it all so fast that one minute the steps outside of the Detroit Public Library were empty, and the next I was standing there, having phased from jet-form to robot-form to holoform all in one swift movement.

Despite the worries that now flooded through my mind, I had to smirk and say: "Man I'm good…"

I also realised that my craving was growing…it was that craving…

"Oh good Primus, I don't believe it." I muttered, and then I went walking in search of my desire.

*

Starscream's P.O.V:

I glared at Bumblebee, and he glared right back at me. The sun was setting over Detroit behind me, but a new sun seemed to have risen in Bumblebee's optics.

Of course – since he had merged sparks with my spark mate…

"You have ten humans seconds before I take you offline, spark-mate-stealer." I hissed angrily, and then called him something in Cybertronian.

Bumblebee didn't miss a beat but, when he spoke, he said the last thing I'd expected him to say. "She loves you, you know."

My mouth fell open. "She what?"

"She loves you," He repeated straight away, in a clear and strong voice. "If she didn't, then she would have found a way to unweld that wedding ring you gave her off of her finger – but she didn't, and that's because she cares about you. Emma loves you, Starscream."

I didn't know what to say to that.

But, the yellow Autobot wasn't finished yet. "However…she also loves me. A lot. She cares about us both in the same way, and it's tearing her up inside to be torn between us. She doesn't know it (and I hope she never find out), but I hacked into her memory servo during our…ah…time together…"

I clenched my teeth and said nothing.

"And this is what she had to say about you, seeker." Bumblebee cleared his throat, and then played back a recording of Emma's exact voice.

"I don't know why, but I'm in love with two mechs at the same time – I mean really in love. Truly, madly, deeply. I've really gone off the deep end now. I mean, Screamer is one of them, or at least he used to be. He's a Decepticon – but I love him. He's trying to kill my Autobot family – but I love him. He wishes to one day rule Cybertron – but I love him. I care about him. I feel warm and safe when I'm with him. I love his proud and arrogant nature, and the way he carries me when I'm unable to walk by myself. I love his devil-may-care attitude, and the way he doesn't care at all about what he does. He's…I dunno, such a bad-aft bot, and I never saw myself falling for someone like that…until I met him. I am hopelessly, and irrevocably in love with Starscream, with Star, with Screamer – and I don't know what to do about it."

"Well I do," I said, finally finding my voice. "She should ditch you, Autobot, and be my spark mate exclusively."

Bumblebee didn't like that idea one bit, but he had other things on his CPU. "Ah, wait, there's more…" He said, and I could tell by his tone of voice that he was hearing the second part of these thoughts for the first time…

*

Bumblebee's P.O.V:

Trust that bloody seeker to want Em all to himself, especially after hearing what she'd thought about him.

What she thought next, however, made it my turn to glow with happiness.

"I realised it the first time I ever laid eyes on him – I am in love with the Autobot Bumblebee. I mean, it's really no surprise. I could hear my heart pounding every time I looked at him. It took all of my courage to lie across his alte mode to pose for that picture…" I blushed, remembering the picture in question (refer to chapter ten A Change Of Alliances in part two of A Different Kind Of Spark). "But…I love him. I love him SO MUCH. I love his eyes…uh, optics…I love how he's so handsome no matter what form he's in…oh Primus, I LOVE Bumblebee! When we sing together…and when he holds me at night and sings his lullabies to me softly, I just feel like the luckiest being in the universe. When we skipped school together…he can be so bad but he's so good. He's got a spark of gold, and he's just so…gorgeous! I feel so warm and secure when I'm with him – he'll protect me from the Decepticons who're trying to capture me. I am in love with Bumblebee, my Bee-Bee. Oh Primus, what should I do? I can't live without Bee-Bee…or Screamer. Help me…"

My spark just about broke as the thoughts ended. Em was in pain because of this, and unless Starscream and I reached some kind of a conclusion, then she would continue to be hurting.

I noticed Starscream eyeing me warily.

He'd figured it out too.

Oh slag.

*

"Who would've guessed I could find a place that serves dry pasta like this?" I said out loud, as I left the restaurant, having paid with money I'd snagged from Screamer.

I walked out onto the slightly busy street…and something made me look to my left.

An explosion took place, followed by a series of multiple crashes, and then the sound of screeching tires.

Familiar, screeching tires.

"What the slag..?" I gasped, as an old black ute drove up the wrong side of the road, screeching to a stop half on the footpath in front of me. "I-Ironhide!?" How did he get here to America!?

"Get in Princess!" He shouted, as another explosion rocked the city of Detroit.

I hesitated.

"NOW!!!!"

I complied, jumping in as Ironhide sped off again. He strapped me in and said: "We're in for a bumpy ride, Princess."

"Why?" I whispered. "What do they want?" My hands were shaking.

"They want you, Princess," He snarled, as he took a sharp turn onto Café Street. People screamed and hurried to get out of our way. "And that thing you left us all panicking behind to go and retrieve!"

I gasped, and clutched the neck pouch hanging from my neck. "The Matrix! You mean..?" I gulped.

If he could've, Ironhide would've nodded. "Yes – The Fallen has risen."

***

Meg: Has everyone seen Transformers the first movie?

Everyone: Yes.

Meg: Good – because I drew inspiration from that…somewhat. Let's just say, get out the tissues, minna.

Emma: Why?

Meg: You'll see!