Starscream rubbed his arm, the pain shooting up through his veins. He grimaced, and stood up, his legs wobbly. He couldn't believe Megatron was sending him on recon. He growled, and walked towards the back of the ship. As if he had time to do recon for Megatron!
Starscream thought about the energon harvester. It looked different than the first one they had tried to steal. It was darker, and had different symbols on it. It must be ancient Cybertronian, as he couldn't read it and neither could Megatron. Starscream felt the pain shoot up his arm again, and stopped. He leaned against the wall.
What did that Decepticon mean by curse?
Ever since the black liquid had seeped into his veins, Starscream had been feeling pains in his arms, and around his wings. He stood up, and continued walking towards the back of the ship. There was no point in telling Megatron. The Decepticon Lord wouldn't give a slag, just brush it off. Starscream stopped at the back of the ship, and hit the button to open the doors. He might just be sore from flying too much, and fighting the Autobots. Starscream transformed, and flew out of the ship.
Besides, what was the worse that could happen to him?
"Arcee, we're going to need a ground bridge soon," Optimus said, as Bumblebee and Ratchet looked around.
"Roger that Optimus. The ground bridge will be ready soon," Arcee said, and he turned to them.
"What do you suggest we do Ratchet?"
"We make sure we didn't get contaminated by the energon, and then we figure out what the Decepticons would want with the distributor," Ratchet said, and the ground bridge appeared.
"Click Buzz. Chirp."
"That is true Bumblebee. Megatron might have thought it was an energon harvester," Optimus said, as they walked through the ground bridge, "If he doesn't know what it actually is, then it will be bad for both Autobots and Decepticons."
They entered back into their base, which was well hidden from the Decepticons or any curious humans. The blue bot switched off the bridge, and turned to them, "So?" Arcee asked, walking over to them. Ratchet walked over to his area, as he deemed it, and took out a scanning device. He pointed it at Optimus, then Bumblebee, then himself.
"We're fine. No contamination."
"Contaminatin?" Bulkhead asked, "Like, cybertronian plague?"
"Tainted energon," Ratchet said darkly, and walked over to his computer. He began typing on the screen, and looking over the history of Cybertron, "It says that tainted energon was kept in an isolated planet, far from Cybertron, but one of the bots who went over to check the infected ones got infected with it. He brought it back to Cybertron, and infected part of the planet," Everyone looked at him, "Optimus, we need to get that distributor from Megatron and destroy it, or else," Optimus nodded, and turned to his fellow Autobots.
"Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead. You are to come with me, and we are going to look for the Decepticon warship. Ratchet will stay here, and try to track it," Ratchet nodded, and activated the ground bridge.
"Be safe Optimus," Ratchet said, as they transformed and drove into the ground bridge.
Starscream flew over the vast terrain, seeing nothing but dirt and rocks. This mad him angry, and he lowered, getting close the ground. At the same moment, a pain went through his wings, and he cried out in pain, slamming into the ground. He was forced to transform in order to save his wings from being damaged. Starscream slammed into the side of a cliff, pain shooting through his wings. He groaned, and shook his helm.
That was a hard landing.
Starscream looked around, and saw nothing but dirt and rocks once again. He grabbed into the side of the cliff, and pulled himself up. Starscream tried to transform, but the pain in his wings was red hot now. He cried out again, and collasped, his legs giving out. Starscream looked up, and opened a com link.
"This is Commander Starscream, requesting an immediate ground bridge to my current location," he said, dragging himself on the ground. There was no answer on the other end, "Soundwave! Activate the ground bridge! I need medical help!" Once again there was no answer.
Starscream looked around, and pulled himself over to a rock. He reached up, and tried to pull himself up on the rock, but the pain shot through his arms, "Gahh!" he yelled, and slid back down on the ground.
Starscream rolled over, wincing as he lid on his wings. Think Starscream, he thought, the gears in his mind working overtime. His cooling vents were also working overtime as his core temperature had started to climb drastically.
Ratchet had heard the loud bang, and stopped typing on the computer. He activated the ground bridge, and went outside of the base, taking the control with him.
Ratchet looked around, the sky starting to get dark. He squinted, but saw nothing. Ratchet heard a groan, and turned around. He spotted an arm, and began to walk closer, fully alert. The arm moved, and Ratchet pointed his cannon at the arm. He heard a groan again, and slowly stepped around the cliff.
What he saw was unexpected.
Starscream was lying on the ground, energon leaking from his joints. Ratchet leaned in close, and saw that Starscream's optics were still online, "Starscream?" he asked. The Seeker turned his helm, and his optics went wide.
"Medic..." his voice was raspy. Ratchet took a step back, just in case Starscream was faking and attacked him.
Starscream was very unpredictable.
"Help..." the raspy voice said. Ratchet looked around.
"This is a trap."
"No..." Starscream wheezed, "Help...please..." Ratchet looked around, and walked over to the fallen Decepticon. He knelt down, and examined Starscream's body.
Parts of his armour was discolored, and parts looked like it was rusting. Ratchet saw energon leaking from his joints, and also that is was discolored as well. Ratchet looked into Starscream's optics, "You have to tell the truth. No Decepticons are going to show up when I help you up and attack me."
"I...promise..." Starscream wheezed again. Ratchet nodded, and placed one of Starscream's arms around his neck, then lifted the Decepticon off the ground. Starscream moaned in pain, and Ratchet took out the control to the ground bridge.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered, and ground bridged Starscream and himself inside the Autobot base.
Ratchet placed Starscream down on the examination table, and pulled out his scanner again. He pointed it at Starscream, and the readings went through the roof, "Tainted energon," he whispered, and turned back to his computer, plugging the information in. He heard Starscream's raspy breathing, and the cooling vents working overtime to cool the Seeker. Ratchet walked over to him, and looked at his optics.
They were dull instead of bright.
Ratchet walked back over to the computer, and looked at the screen.
"Ratchet, requesting ground bridge," came Optimus' voice through his com link. Ratchet looked back at Starscream, then at the screen.
He picked up Starscream, and brought him to his private area. Ratchet placed Starscream on the examination table in his room, and flicked on the lights, "One moment Optimus," he said, and left his room, shutting the door.
Ratchet walked over to the ground bridge, and activated it. The four bots, along with the three humans walked through, "Any luck?" Ratchet asked. Optimus shook his head, and walked over to the computer.
"Still researching tainted energon?" Ratchet turned to the screen. He forgot that he left that up.
"Uh, yes," he walked over to the screen, and exited the file. Miko and Jack went straight to their video games, while Raf and Bumblebee sat in the corner, looking at Raf's computer, "Optimus, can I talk to you in private?" Ratchet asked. Optimus nodded, and Ratchet motioned for Optimus to follow him. Bulkhead looked up from watching Miko and Jack race, and looked at Arcee.
"What's up with Ratch?"
Ratchet led Optimus to his private study, "There is a reason why I'm researching tainted energon. It's to find a cure," he said, and opened his door slightly, "Before you say anything, he asked for my help," With that, Ratchet opened the door all the way, and flicked on the lights.
Optimus saw Starscream lying on the table, and heard his raspy breaths, "But...Ratchet..."
"He's infected with tainted energon," Ratchet said, and walked over to Starscream, Optimus behind him. The Seeker managed to turn his helm, and saw Optimus standing over him, "I know he's a Decepticon, and I feel the same way about them as you do, but I highly call it fair to harm him when he's in this kind of state," Optimus' optics scanned over the Decepticon's body, taking in the damage done by the energon, "And, like I already said, he asked for my help."
"Then help we shall," Optimus said, and walked over to the screens, "The others can't know about this. It will just be between me and you. Megatron won't come looking for him, as he will be preoccupied by the distributor, and trying to get it work. I will help you in anyway possible with the research."
"I plan to keep him in here," Ratchet said. Optimus nodded. He knew as well as Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead not to go into Ratchet's private study.
Bulkhead had the dents to prove it too.
"Good. And we will help him in secret."