Chapter 2

First step to Hell

Awkward footsteps guided Starscream toward one of Astrotrain's windows. Walking without the balance of his wings was still a difficult task, but his new body seemed to adapt fast and every new step he took was more firm than the previous one. Although that detail couldn't be more unimportant at that moment; all his attention was focused on the uncertain fate awaiting him once he arrived at the Decepticon Headquarters. He could feel his panic raising, seriously threatening his sanity.

"No…" he whispered to himself, "I can't…"

Skywarp and Thundercracker glanced at each other, divided between repugnance and pity. It was so hard to recognize their trine leader in that flesh creature…

"Starscream?" Thundercracker cautiously asked.

"I can't go back!" was the altered reply. "Not like this!"

"Well, we can always vaporize you, if you prefer."

"Shut up, Astrotrain."

"Your attitude is starting to repulse me beyond my limits, Thundercracker. You sound like a pathetic Autobot."

Clenched fists and a deep frown were barely able to express the anger and frustration Starscream was feeling. Listening to his comrades argue was a boring routine he was very used to, but in that moment it sounded so unbearable. The entire Universe was collapsing around him and those idiots were not being helpful at all.

"Would you shut your rusty vocalizers?! I can't go back looking like this, don't you understand?! I'm a fragging phenomenon… a joke!!"

"I totally agree with you," Astrotrain seconded.

"If the others see me like this… they will terminate me… there is no way I can survive…"

"Come on, Screamer, don't be such a paranoid freak. Maybe you can become our pet… some sort of bad luck charm, you know?" Skywarp said.

"Warp, I mean it… you better shut up."

"What, TC? I'm just trying to make him feel better."

"Obviously you are not succeeding."

Confirming Thundercracker's words, Starscream truly looked depressed, as never before. He seemed absent, lost in his own fear and disgust… totally and utterly defeated.

"Starscream may be right," Thundercracker continued. "What are his chances of survival if we take him to the Nemesis in such a defenseless condition?"

"Do you mean before or after everybody finishes laughing at him, if they ever finish, that is?"

"I'm serious, Warp. Think about it; everybody has unfinished quarrels with Starscream. There is no Decepticon who wouldn't take the opportunity to damage him given his current state."

"Yep, and I'm one of them…" Astrotrain agreed.

"True, but there is no other way to help him," Skywarp said, ignoring the Triplechanger's words. "If Megatron takes pity on him, perhaps he can order Mixmaster or Soundwave to develop a formula from that sample of the Well of Transformation you collected from Screamer's head… I guess… I don't know… I'm not a scientist geek…"

"Oh, please!!" Starscream cried. "Megatron showing any consideration to me? The blasted rustbucket will step on me as soon as he sees me!"

"Have some faith in him, Screamer," Skywarp continued. "Perhaps he will laugh so much at you that he will allow you to remain functioning, like a pet or something."

"I won't be anybody's pet!!"

"Would you stop talking nonsense, you fools?" Astrotrain said. "Soundwave is requesting our status and estimated time of arrival."

"I think the best course of action is to request a private audience with Megatron to explain him what happened," Thundercracker said.

"Too late for that," Astrotrain happily informed. "Ten breems ago I sent a message to Blitzwing informing him the good news. And guess what? I just received confirmation that the entire Nemesis crew is waiting for our arrival."

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Starscream cried. "You micro-brained maniac, you have condemned me!"

"Stop barking, dog. You condemned yourself when you were stupid enough to fall into that well. Besides, it's better for everybody to know what happened before they see you turned into the repulsive flesh bag that you are now. Actually, I did you a favour."

"And I'll make sure to show you my gratitude, Astrotrain. When I recover my body, I swear I will make you pay for every one of your insults, do you understand?"

"Yeah, right. You will never recover your body, accept it. You are a human creature just like all the others, a total weakling. I'm more worried about the germs you are certainly carrying than your childish threats."

Starscream tried to breathe as deep as he could. Calming down was impossible but he was aware that in his current state he couldn't cause in the Triplechanger anything more than repugnance. Besides, in that moment he had much bigger problems to contend with than vengeance. His survival, for example.

"Skywarp…" he said, trying to relax his voice.

"What?"

"Amongst the junk you carry in your sub pockets, I suppose you don't have anything to cover my body…"

"Your supposition is correct."

"That's what I thought…"

Starscream closed his eyes with frustration. He wasn't sure if he would be strong enough to survive the humiliation that was growing every astro second closer. Maybe Astrotrain was right, and it would have been better to be tossed into space. At least there nobody would have mocked him.

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Starscream's green eyes stared blankly out at the organic world beyond as the shuttle form of Astrotrain landed gracefully upon the Nemesis' landing platform. A cold sweat had well and truly settled upon his body, and he could feel the beads of liquid pooling on his fragile skin, making him feel sticky; dirty.

His world was closing in on him; his power, his strength, his mechood... everything had been stripped away in an instant and replaced with the most excruciating humiliation and disgust. Being transformed into a human, a filthy, unworthy organic creature, was bad enough, but the situation that couldn't possibly get worse was about to do exactly that.

His comrades were waiting.

As was Megatron.

And probably, his death.

"Hey, looks as though we've got a welcoming party," Astrotrain said cheerfully as he silenced his engines and pulled to a stop, "mind you, I would have expected a better turn out."

"Oh, what are those fraggers doing here?" Thundercracker groaned as he spotted the two Cassetticons bounding around the platform like petro rabbits on high grade, "That's all we need..."

Starscream turned his head and looked up at his subordinate; Primus he seemed so tall now. "Let me guess," he sighed with a dishevelled tone, "the whole Pit-spawned army's out waiting for me, right?"

"No," Skywarp informed him, "just Rumble and Frenzy..."

"Great..."

"Well guys, are we ready to do this?" Skywarp asked, a sudden veil of nervousness dampening his normally boisterous personality somewhat. He looked over at Thundercracker, and then down at his leader.

Starscream's newfound body seemed to be betraying him; every muscle, every limb, was shivering despite his best efforts to control them. Fear, unlike anything he had ever before experienced, had taken hold of his heart and was crushing it, challenging its virgin rhythm with a choking grip.

He shook his head. It was all he could do.

"Starscream... it's time to go..." Thundercracker said as he lowered himself onto one knee, trying his best to level with the terrified human.

"N...no..." Starscream whispered in response.

"I know you're frightened, but we can't put it off any longer..."

"I... can't..."

Thundercracker looked up at Skywarp, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. "I can carry you in if it makes it easier... or Warp could teleport you in...?"

"I'm completely capable of walking, thank you..." Starscream responded shortly, but his voice lacked its usual acid.

"Well, then, we've got to go in..." Thundercracker stood up and moved towards Astrotrain's opening hatch; Starscream remained where he stood.

"Oh for Primus' sake! Just get on with it you pathetic meat bag!" Astrotrain spat, his patience waning rapidly. "If you don't get out of my cargo unit NOW, I will transform and let you fall out of me. And you can bet your shiny little aft that your pathetic excuse for a body wouldn't survive a fall like that!"

"Shut up, Astroaft!" Skywarp cried, thumping a fist against one of Astrotrain's bulkheads, "It's bad enough as it is without you adding to it."

"What's the matter, Warpy? You scared you're gonna get you're aft kicked by Megatron when he finds out that you've done? Well I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure that with all that prior warning he's already come up with a lovely punishment for you, so you won't have too much longer to wait before you're permanently deactivated and this will be nothing more a bad memory."

"Shut your fragging vocaliser, afthole, you're just as screwed as we are!"

"Pffft... I don't think so."

"SHUT UP!" Starscream cried, frustration finally getting the better of his terror. "I'm going, ok, so just shut up and make sure no one fragging steps on me, alright?!"

His three companions watched on in silence as Starscream slowly made his way to the threshold, the dull thud of his bare feet against the steely floor the only sound challenging the rasping of his panicked breaths.

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As the human Seeker felt the sun caressing his flesh for the first time, he was certain it was the prelude to the unyielding cold of death. There was no other explanation for the ironic cheerfulness the warmth seemed to represent; even the accursed star was mocking him.

He took another step closer to the entrance of the base. And another. His organic eyes were focused on nothing more than that entranceway, his resolve on remaining calm, steady.

And then it happened. Something struck him on the back, cold and hard, driving the air from his lungs and throwing him unceremoniously to the ground.

"Ohh, slag... sorry Starscream!" Rumble stammered through a fit laughter, "I just thought, with you being practically the same height as me now, that I'd give you a friendly pat on the back...!"

"Oh geez, just break the slagger!" Frenzy snorted, doubled over.

Starscream simply gasped in response, quickly learning the painful lesson of what suffocation felt like to a human.

"What do you two slag-suckers want?" Thundercracker spat as he cautiously lifted Starscream to his feet again; totally oblivious to the angry limbs flailing at him in an attempt to shoo him away.

"Megatron sent us," Rumble said, attempting somewhat poorly to regain his sobriety, "he wants you guys down in the Command Centre, pronto."

"Yeah, and ya better get there quick," Frenzy continued, "'cos if ya keep 'im waiting I think he's gonna explode. I don't think I've ever seen him so pissed!"

"Yeah ya have," Rumble said playfully, "remember that time when we thought it would be a good idea to weld a cover over the barrel of his fusion cannon...?"

"Oh... yeah... You guys better fraggin run."

"Is Megatron alone?" Starscream finally spoke, his voice weak, deflated, "I don't think I can face him, let alone the others..."

"Primus, it talks!" Frenzy exclaimed, returning his attention to the naked human before him, "So what does it feel like to be human, Screamer?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Starscream responded.

"Awww, c'mon Starscream, it could be worse."

"I don't see how."

"There are lots of things worse than being human," Frenzy said, placing a hand on Starscream's shoulder, "there's insects, and microbes, and bacteria..."

"Frenzy, I'd shut up if I were you," Skywarp warned him, watching Starscream's demeanour sink further into the depths of despair.

"I was only tryin' to cheer him up."

"Weeeell, if this lovely reunion of morons is done, I think it's about time we went in, don't you," Astrotrain said sarcastically, making his way into the base. "Are you slaggers coming, or am I gonna have send Megatron up here to meet you?"

Panic returned to Starscream, his eyes wide with terror. "I can't do this... I can't face them all... I can't... I..."

Suddenly he couldn't breathe, his lungs screaming for air, this throat refusing to let it pass. His chest began to burn as he gasped frantically, the world around him began to spin, the universe closing in around him.

"Woah, relax Screamer," Rumble said, taking hold of Starscream's shoulders, his visor level with those green organic eyes. "I think ya gotta keep breathin' if you wanna keep functioning."

Starscream closed his eyes, allowing himself to be submerged momentarily in darkness. He focused on his lungs... telling them to settle, to cast aside the spasms that were beginning to rise within. He shifted his attention to his throat; commanding it to open again, to allow passage to the air he so desperately needed. And then he inhaled.

And again.

And again.

He opened his eyes, and found the red visor of Rumble still fixated upon him. It was unnerving, not only to be under such scrutiny, but to be faced with that almost felt like compassion. And more surprisingly, concern from that Pit-spawned slagger in particular.

Starscream wondered if he were perhaps hallucinating... but he knew deep down it was real. All too real.

"You didn't answer my question before," he said weakly, "is Megatron alone, or am I going to have to face the entire army?"

"He's not alone... but I don't think everyone is in the Command Centre yet, I think there are a fair few waitin' down in the corridor..."

"I'm not ready to face some kind of perverted walk of shame... " Starscream finally spoke, his shoulders slumping even further, "Skywarp, can you teleport me to the Command Centre..."

"You got it, Screamer."

Starscream sighed, looking down at his feeble body as he did so. Why was the entire universe so against him? It wasn't fair.

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Hundreds of thousands of vorns of war had immunized the Decepticons against surprises, but not a single one of them was ready to see the human male that was supposed to be their Aerospace Commander. After looking in shocking silence at the anxious creature that had his head bowed and his hands at his crotch, the mockery started; first as some awkward laughs, and then as a frank display of scathing guffaws.

Thrust approached and grabbed the human by an ankle. "Is this Starscream? This?" he asked as he shook what seemed like an ordinary terrestrial animal to him.

"Put me down this instant, you idiot, it's an order!!!" Starscream cried, much more furious than frightened.

Thrust ignored the irate screams and lifted Starscream to his face.

"Throw it here, Thrust. I want to take a look too," Vortex said.

"So do I. It will be perfect specimen for organic experimentation," Mixmaster added.

"It??!! I'm not a slagging animal, frag it!!!" Starscream yelled, shaking as hard as he could from the Conehead's grip. Of course, his efforts were useless.

From his throne, Megatron had his narrowed optics fixated on the creature that was supposed to be his Second in Command. The harsh face of the Decepticon leader seemed not to share the general gibberish that the sudden novelty was causing.

"Is he really completely human, Soundwave?" he finally said, silencing the rest of the Decepticons with the pure sound of his voice.

"Initial scannings indicate so, but more specific proofs must be taken in order to provide an accurate diagnostic."

"Take care of that, then. The Well of Transformation can have failures in completely transforming the structure of a living being, according to the mental waves of said being at the moment of the transformation. It happened with Rumble, when he was turned into a tree. According to your report, he suffered a very imprecise mutation."

"Affirmative. Rumble's mental patterns were confused, and the Well of Transformation decoded them in an equivalent manner."

"Don't remind me of that!" Rumble complained. "Those were the worst astro seconds of my entire life."

Dirge pointed his finger toward Starscream. "Starscream's transformation had failures too. See? He's defective," he said.

"What do you mean?" Blast Off asked.

"He has three legs."

"Three? I only see two."

"Take a closer look, everybody," Dirge continued approaching Starscream, who remained hanging upside down, his right ankle firmly held by Thrust. "There are these two legs, and a third one in the middle that didn't develop, much smaller than the other two."

Immediately, Starscream uselessly attempted to cover his inner thighs with his hands, a very hard task considering Thrust's ungentle grip and the pressure of gravity.

"That is not a leg!" the young man cried.

"Then what is it?" Reflector asked.

"That's not of your concern!"

"I know what it is!! See the finger like thing and the flesh bag? Those are his intimate circuitry," Frenzy cheerfully informed the throng, happy to know something the others didn't.

"His intimate circuitry? That small thing? How degrading," Onslaught disdainfully spat.

"It is NOT small!" Starscream instinctively protested, his face red, a combination of fury and shame. He certainly wasn't enjoying the fact that certain parts of his new physiognomy were suddenly the focus of everybody's attention.

"I would say it's kind of big, for a human of course," Rumble said, talking like an expert.

"Yeah, but not that big. Some porn stars have bigger sizes," Frenzy added.

"I bet if we were to mate him with some human femme we would see his real dimensions…"

"FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT AN ANIMAL!!"

"What do you know, scraplets?" Hook asked the Cassetticon twins, ignoring Starscream's rant.

"What, you're not gonna tell us you've never seen human pornographic films, are you Hook?" Rumble asked.

"Watching organic creatures copulating is not part of my professional interests."

"Well then, you are so boring."

"The runts are right," Drag Strip said. "All of you morons wouldn't believe the importance the humans give to their mating rituals. They practically don't think about anything else."

"You say that because you Stunticons are obsessed with terrestrial culture. What else could be expected from fake Cybertronians such as yourselves?" Scrapper spat.

"Did you just insult us, Constructicon?" Motormaster growled.

"If the miniature processor you have functions, I highly recommend you to activate it."

"You are finished, junk pile!" Wildrider shouted as he materialized his scattershot gun.

"ENOUGH!"

The incoming fight was immediately stopped by Megatron's authoritarian voice.

"Put Starscream down, Thrust, and don't break him… yet," he ordered. His voice was strangely calm and neutral, which was potentially dangerous.

The Conehead Seeker obeyed. He got on one knee and pushed Starscream to the front. The young human jolted forward for some seconds before stopping with a thud.

"Be careful, you idiot!!" Starscream complained, rubbing his sore buttocks.

"I was," Thrust replied.

"I'm made of flesh now, you imbecile! Practically everything hurts me!"

"Ah, the drama queen…"

"You slagging pit melting face fragger…!" Starscream yelled as he got up from the floor with his fists clenched to their limits, but he almost fell again when a heavy foot stomped behind him.

Starscream turned around, only to find the dangerously close figure of Megatron. Once again assaulted by modesty, the former Seeker hurriedly placed his hands on his inseam.

"Why do you always get yourself into these situations, Starscream?" Megatron asked, staring at the human the same way he would have stared at an insect.

"It's not that I precisely asked for this to happen, Megatron!" was the indignant answer.

Megatron sighed and put a tired hand on his face. "And precisely now, when I needed your aerial unit complete… You stupid fool; I should crush you right now!!"

"It was Skywarp's fault!!" Starscream hurried to say. "He destroyed the Well of Transformation! It should be him the receiver of your fury, not me!! It should be him that's trapped in a flesh body!"

Megatron's furious optics fixated on the black and purple Seeker.

"NO!! T-that's not true, Megatron! I… I accidentally blew up the Well of Transformation, indeed, but… but Starscream fell in it because of his own stupidity! It was totally his mistake! I assure you, my leader…"

"Liar! If you and Thundercracker had covered me as I ordered you to, I wouldn't be a meat bag now!!" Starscream yelled, suddenly forgetting about his obvious disadvantages and running toward his black and purple wingmate, kicking his shin as hard as he could.

"Ha! I barely felt that," Skywarp mocked as Starscream jumped back, grabbing his right foot with both hands.

"You will regret this Skywarp, I swear you will!" Starscream managed to say within groans of pain.

"Silence!" Megatron interrupted the quarrel. "Why is that every time I send you micro-brained morons to some vital mission you come back only with excuses?! And this time you bring me not only excuses, but this joke of Subcommander?"

Starscream continued jumping back until he unceremoniously fell on his buttocks, still holding his sore foot.

"I've had enough of your stupidities for today! Skywarp, Thundercracker, take this… thing out of my sight and don't you dare show your faces until I summon you again!"

Thundercracker hurried to pick up Starscream and followed Skywarp, who had already teleported out before reaching the door.

To be continued.


Petitions to comfort Starscream are being received at the hangar of the Nemesis. Send your application if you dare. Yeah, despite the danger of being crushed, there is a HUGE line of fangirls awaiting… including the authors of this story of course :oD

Let us know if you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you guys for your support!