Chapter 16
Starscream's optics onlined lazily. He felt stiff, sore, and still tired despite getting enough recharge. He felt a strong arm tightening around his waist, reminding him where he had spent the night. Deep, slow exhales caressed his nape, the low grumble of an engine was the only sound in the dreary room.
Carefully, Starscream removed the powerful limb from around his waist, and pulled his legs out from under the other's. He sat up, wings lowered, as he pressed his knees against his chest piece and hugged them.
Coolant leaked from his optics as he just waited. Megatron would online soon and then he would take the Seeker. After that, Starscream would be free for the rest of the orbital cycle until night. He couldn't just leave now, for if he did the tyrant would be furious that he did not get permission first.
No, he was stuck here, waiting to be hurt.
His wings raised slightly when Megatron stirred. He started to tremble when he felt the cruel servos touching his waist, then moving to touch other parts of his frame. He swallowed when Megatron sat up, coolant leaking out faster when he was suddenly forced to get onto his servos and knees. The ebony servos gripped his waist, Megatron positioning himself behind the Seeker. He softly sobbed when he was entered and the thrusting begun, his optics offlining.
Starscream returned to his house, trying to ignore the stares of all the mechs he passed. He entered the house, relieved to see that his trinemates were not present. He didn't want them to see him so freshly released from Megatron.
He climbed the stairs and entered his berthroom, quickly walking to the washroom. Slowly, he turned on the water and began to cleanse himself from Megatron's touch, wiping away coolant tears. He placed a servo on his abdominal plating, just over the gestation tank before venting a soft sigh.
After he had finished, he walked to his desk and sat down. He unsubspaced the datapad he always carried on him and onlined in. Coolant leaked as he looked through the thousands of images of his mate and daughter. The three of them so happy, smiling, and everything just right. The pictures of Dawnstar hugging him and kissing him throughout her growing stages.
He stopped and began to sob when he came to the final images. The ones they took of Moonstar proudly announcing her carrying by doing silly things with his trinemates. One of her standing, smiling broadly and holding a sign that read "I'm sparked," while Starscream was in the background seemingly in stasis lock as his trinemates stood over him. Another one was of Moonstar leaning over a bucket, supposedly purging her fuel tank as Starscream stood by holding a sign that read "We're expecting."
But the one that tore him apart the most was the simplest. It was of him and Moonstar standing, their lip plates locked in a passionate kiss, optics offline, two of their servos clasped together while the other two rested over her abdominal plating.
He offlined the datapad and quickly subspaced it as he cried. He rested his elbows on the desk and burrowed his faceplates in his servos, uncontrollably bawling. Coolant poured from his optics and leaked out from between digits, dripping onto the desk and leaving small puddles.
It took him several kliks to calm down and remove his servos from his visage. He unsubspaced a cloth and wiped his cheekplates and optics dry, still cycling air heavily. He tossed the cloth aside, only for it to hit a precariously stacked datapad and cause the device to topple over. It collapsed onto a small box containing various items before slipping over the edge and clattering to the floor.
Starscream reached down and retrieved the datapad, neatly stacking it with the others. He then began to place the objects back into the box before stopping to study a small energon knife. It was the one he had given Moonstar so long ago for her to use whenever needed. Something they had found in the remains of the ship she had perished on.
He powered it on, studying its purplish glow. A custom blade to match her coloration. Only the best for his precious Moonstar.
Coolant began to leak from his optics again, his servos trembling slightly. He swallowed, remembering how he had failed his mate, their daughter, and now even his own trinemates. He was worthless as a leader, a mate, and a sire. He couldn't even protect the ones he loved, why should the other Seekers follow him?
He was filthy, whoring himself out to get his way. Subjecting his trinemates to watch it and have to deal with his always ill self. They were better off with someone else as a trineleader. Someone who hadn't been a homeless youngling on the streets, who had only made everyone who was around him lives worse.
He was pathetic, worthless, useless, unclean, and a disgrace to all Seekers. And he hated it. He hated everything he had done, everyone who he cared about he had hurt. He had raped his perfect mate and caused her so much misery. He deserved what he was going through. But above all, he hated himself.
He wasn't sure why the urge came over him, but he acted upon it. Maybe it was just too much to hold in, or he actually enjoyed pain. Whatever the reason, the next thing he knew he was carving into his arm with the knife. Cutting, slicing, and lacerating as energon oozed from the wounds. More coolant poured from his static filled optics, quiet sobs escaping his vocalizer.
The more he cut the angrier he became, and the more violent he was towards his own frame. He sliced deeper, faster, angrier. He kept going until he seemed to finally come to his senses and toss the knife away, jumping back as he did so.
He clutched his damaged arm as he slowly walked backwards until he bumped into the wall. He started to sob, his optics offlining before he slid to the floor and just wept.
Thundercracker opened the cabinet doors by the energon dispenser in the entertainment room and pulled out the required equipment to refuel his trineleader. He set everything down on the table, filled the jug with the necessary amount of energon, then connected the sterilized parts. Once done, he left it to go retrieve his trinemate.
The blue Seeker scaled the stairs and approached the door to Starscream's berthroom. He quickly rapped his knuckles against the door before calling.
"Hey, Star, sweetspark, it's time to get your morning energon." He paused, listening for an answer. He rolled his optics when there was none and quickly set to hacking the doorlock. He entered the dark berthroom, making his way to the washroom where he heard the water running. "Star, hey, I called you, sweetie."
"What is it?" Starscream asked softly, his frame turned just so Thundercracker couldn't see the damaged arm.
"Time for you to refuel." He paused. "You feel alright, love? Well, as alright as you can be."
"I'm fine." He said almost in a whisper.
Thundercracker just watched him for a bit before speaking. "Okay. I'll be waiting downstairs."
"I'm not hungry."
"You have to refuel, Star. I'm not dragging a corpse out of this hellhole."
"I'm fine."
"Like slag you are. Come on." He reached forward and grabbed Starscream's undamaged wrist, pulling him to follow.
"Thunder, I'm fine. I don't need-"
"Not another word." Thundercracker grunted as practically dragged Starscream out of his berthroom and down the stairs.
"TC, please." Starscream said softly as he was lead to the table with the equipment for refueling him.
"If you would take it like you should than I wouldn't have to be doing this." Thundercracker stated as he picked up the device.
Starscream turned his body just so, so that Thundercracker couldn't see the abused arm. Thundercracker turned around and took the other arm, manually moving plates so that he could connect a syringe to the main fuel line within. Energon began to steady pump into the Air Commander as the blue trinemate loving stroked his arm with one servo while the other held it steady.
After a klik, the jug was empty and Thundercracker proceeded to remove the syringe, pressing a thumb against the wound until it stopped leaking. He then folded back the plates and pressed a kiss to Starscream's cheekplates.
"There you go, sweetie." He said gently before pecking another kiss to Starscream's lip plates. "Don't worry, Star. I'll get you away from him. I'll get you and the other Seekers to safety."
Starscream slowly nodded his helm. Thundercracker's wings lowered. He reached forward and quickly took both of Starscream's servos in his, surprised that Starscream jerked his left away.
"Star, I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know." He swallowed.
"I just want to kiss you and hold you. Don't push me away anymore."
"I'm not."
"You are. Starscream, we're trinemates. We took vows, made vows to each other. I still remember everything I said to you and 'Warp and everything you guys said to me."
"I remember it all too." Starscream said softly.
"Sometimes I feel like you don't. Star, we swore that we would never keep secrets from each other or push each other away. Please, tell me what's wrong. What's going on in your processor?"
"TC, I-" Starscream swallowed as coolant began to leak from his optics. "I love you and 'Warp. I could never not love you two. But, some things I just have to do on my own."
"Star, you don't have to go through this alone. I'm going to get us away from here, alright? We'll go to the Autobots and you can begin healing. This will all be behind us." As he spoke, his servo lowered and grabbed Starscream's, holding firmly when the Air Commander tried to pull away.
"Please," Starscream said in almost a whisper as he tried to get away.
"Star, don't try to-" He stopped when his optics caught the glimmer of wet energon dripping from Starscream's arm. His optics narrowed and he forced Starscream's arm up to inspect the injuries. "What is this?"
"TC, please…" Starscream said so quietly, weakly pulling at the stronger Seeker's iron-like hold.
"Who cut you, Star?" He said dangerously, his wings hiking.
"Please, let it go. I'm fine."
"This was just done. Why are you trying to hide-" He paused, realization dawning upon him. He turned wide optics to his trineleader. "Star, you didn't…?"
"Please, TC, let me go." Starscream said in the same tone.
Thundercracker's optics narrowed. "Why are you damaging yourself?! Starscream, look at me. Why did you cut yourself?!"
"Please, TC. I-I don't need an interrogation."
"As if starving yourself wasn't enough you now feel the need to carve into your frame? Stop trying to escape! Star, I am not playing around." He growled.
"I can't handle this right now, TC. Please, let me go." He said weakly, coolant still flowing from his static filled optics.
"You slagging cut yourself and you expect me to drop it?"
"You're hurting me. Please, let go."
"It wouldn't hurt if you hadn't cut yourself, now would it?"
"Stop throwing all your anger at me! I can't handle this right now. Please, TC, let me go. Please, let go of me." He whimpered as he continued to weakly pull away.
"I am about to throw a lot more than just 'anger' at you."
"Why are you two shouting?" Skywarp inquired anxiously from the stairs.
"Back to your room!" Thundercracker roared as he jabbed a digit for Skywarp to do so.
"Why?" Skywarp ask softly, his wings lowering and servos wringing.
"Because this doesn't concern you."
"It doesn't concern you either!" Starscream shouted as he refused to give up on his attempts of escape.
"Please, stop fighting!"
"We're not fighting!" Thundercracker exclaimed.
"You are!" Skywarp bellowed, coolant beginning to leak from his optics. "I hate it when you fight! Trine don't fight!"
"Skywarp, just… go back to your room. Star and I need to have a talk."
"We do not!" Starscream growled as he grabbed at Thundercracker's servo still holding him.
"We do." Thundercracker said sternly to his trineleader. "'Warp, go to you room. Star, you are coming to mine."
"Why is he going to your room?" Skywarp asked softly.
"So we can talk in private. It's not about you, 'Warp."
"Then, what is it about?"
"I'll tell you later, 'Warp. Just… just not right now. Okay?"
Skywarp swallowed. "Okay." He said in almost a whisper as he nodded his helm slowly.
The black and purple Seeker turned and walked back up the stairs. Thundercracker waited until he heard the door shut to Skywarp's berthroom before dragging Starscream up the stairs as well. He lead Starscream to his berthroom and shoved him in before shutting and locking the door behind them.
"Sit on the berth." Thundercracker ordered as he approached a storage unit in a corner of the room.
Starscream optics narrowed before he vented an exasperated sigh. He walked to the berth and sat down, his wings twitching in annoyance. Thundercracker pulled out a medkit from a cabinet and made his way to his trineleader. He sat down beside him, took the damaged arm, and began to clean it with a cloth soaked in a sterilizing liquid.
"Why did you feel the need to do this?" Thundercracker finally asked after a long, uncomfortable klik.
Starscream looked down, chewing his lower lip plate as he thought. "I don't know why I did it." He finally answer in a soft voice.
"Don't know or won't tell?"
"You're not very good at this comforting thing."
"You're not very good at taking care of yourself."
"You're an aft."
"You made me one."
"Why did I trine a slagger like you? Oh yeah, because you were hot. Should have considered possible grouchiness due to aging."
Thundercracker smirked. "I sometimes wonder why I trined you, but then I remember."
"That you were desperate like me?" Starscream grunted.
"That you were the most beautiful, stunning, amazing, sexiest, and perfect mech, Seeker or not, that I had ever laid optics on. You were, and still are, skilled, brilliant, fast, athletic, a great warrior, an outstanding strategist, amazing in berth, and all around the best I could ever ask for." He looked up at Starscream who was still looking down. "And above all: Because I love you." He then leaned over and pressed a kiss to Starscream's cheekplates.
Starscream quickly wiped away coolant that was leaking from his optics. Thundercracker kissed him again before returning his attention to the damaged arm. He set aside the cleaning cloth and pulled out a small welder.
"I'm far from perfect." Starscream said so softly.
"We all are, but you're close to it to me."
"I'm a failure."
Thundercracker looked up at him. "You are not, Starscream. Don't ever think like that. You haven't failed anything."
"I failed my Conjunx Endura, my daughter, my trine, my Seekers, my best friend… myself."
"You didn't fail Moonstar. The Autobots killed her, not you. Your daughter is simply a brat. You haven't failed me, 'Warp, or the other Seekers, and you had no control with what happened to Jetfire."
"Skyfire."
"Whatever his designation is."
"I couldn't find him in that blizzard. I should have never separated from him. If he hadn't been-"
"That was ages ago. Let it go."
"I can't. He could have been lost forever instead of just thousands of vorns. Primus, because of me he has missed out on so much." Starscream's optics began to turn white with static.
"Star, love, you can't keep holding onto things like that. Besides, he left you. He doesn't deserve to be cried over."
"You never knew him."
"Don't need to to see that he was not worth your time."
"Are you done yet?" Starscream demanded suddenly.
Thundercracker vented a sigh. "I'm sorry if I upset you just now."
"You did more than simply 'upset' me. That's enough! You're going to weld my entire arm."
"Stop squirming. Star, please, hold still."
"I'm fine."
"I'm almost done."
The two were silent for a bit before Thundercracker spoke up again. "Star, you still haven't answered why you cut yourself."
"I just… did. I don't want to talk anymore about it." He said softly.
Thundercracker finally released his arm before kissing his trineleader on the cheekplates. "Alright, I won't bother you anymore about it, sweetspark. But, please, don't do this again. Just… just come talk to me or 'Warp if you feel… if you need someone. Star, look at me. 'Warp and I love you. We love you so, so very much. We will do anything for you. You're our brother, our leader. We trust and love you. If you tell us to shoot ourselves in the helm we will do it without hesitation. Don't cry, love. Hey, keep your optics on me. I love you and I'm going to get you away from him. Just… just hold on until then."
Starscream swallowed, nodding his helm slowly. Thundercracker offered him a small smile before kissing his leader on the lip plates. He embraced him in a tight hug and just held him close.
"Even if I knew how things would end up all those vorns ago, I would still trine you." Thundercracker said softly. "I love you, Star."
"Love you too, TC." Starscream said quietly.
Thundercracker held him a little closer. He felt so much smaller, vulnerable, and more fragile than ever. Thundercracker reset his optics when they started to become white. He had to be strong for his trine. Starscream may think that only he had to be, but they all had to be strong for each other. That was what trines did.
Starscream made his way to medbay, ignoring all the looks that the other Decepticons gave him. He palmed open the door and entered, walking straight to the back. He stopped in the doorway to the small office and rapped his knuckles against the doorframe.
"May I enter?" The Seeker inquired.
"You're my superior. You tell me." Hook said as he sat at his desk, not looking up at the Air Commander.
"Yes, but I'm in your domain. I hear mechs lose limbs when they don't play by your rules." Starscream replied as he approached the desk.
Hook grinned, his optics still focused down. "Certain Seekers who don't take proper care of themselves lose their limbs. And on occasion my gestaltmates. Primarily gestaltmates who take my Shanix to buy something from Swindle without informing me beforehand. Especially when they are buying utter slag."
"You got a klik?"
Hook finally looked up. "Two, actually. What is it, Commander?"
"Something just came up that I would like…" He made a sound as if to clear his vocalizer. "Would like to talk about."
Hook cocked his helm slightly, his arms crossing. "Medical issues or personal?"
"A bit of both, I suppose. Primarily the latter." Starscream said softly.
"Shut the door."
Starscream did so and returned to the desk. Hook gestured him to take a seat to which the Seeker did. Hook leaned forward onto his desk and studied the flyer for a moment before speaking.
"What happened, Starscream?" He asked gently.
Starscream vented a sigh, his wings drooping and optics offlining. He raised his arm and presented the newly welded limb to the medic. Hook's trained servos took the limb and with the gentleness of a skilled medic inspected it, a thumb running across to feel the rough job Thundercracker did.
"These go pretty deep. Energon blade. All curved in the same direction." He looked up at Starscream. "Why did you do this to yourself?"
Starscream swallowed. "I felt… angry at myself." He said in almost a whisper.
"Why?"
"I have failed everyone in my life. My trinemates, my daughter, my mate… I sold my own frame to Megatron just to achieve a goal. I just… I am tired of it all."
"How did you fail your trinemates? Last I saw they were madly in love with you and were willing to spend all night recharging on the floor by you in the CR chamber."
Starscream was silent for a few astroseconds before continuing. "The other orbital cycle… Megatron forced them to watch him take me." Hook swallowed. "Skywarp was crying the entire time and I felt… I felt, and still do, like a failed leader. I was dominated in front of them like a turbofox. Forced to bend beneath another mech and shown my place in front of them." He swallowed. "I am not a traditional trineleader, but Seeker trines would almost always use interfacing as a means to show dominance. Establish hierarchy within the trine. Not just as a means for bonding. I never felt the need to do that with my trinemates, so we would bond however we pleased, with no regards of dominating the other. For Megatron to have done that to me like that in front of my trine… He showed that I was not worthy to be their leader. That I was beneath him. That they were to follow him, not me. Do they actually believe that? No. But the fact remains that he dominated me in front of my brothers. It is… shameful. Humiliating that a grounder did that to me." He vented a sigh. "Skywarp was inconsolable afterwards. I held him until he cried himself to recharge." He was silent for a moment. "You always knew they loved me and I loved them, right?"
Hook gave a small smile. "It was painfully obvious. The way you guys were always in medbay together standing guard over the other. How your trinemates were always present for when you onlined after intensive care. How happy Skywarp was and how you tried to hide your own joy. I saw it. I knew it. But, isn't that what Seeker trines are supposed to be like? I've done plenty of research on Seekers ever since the first time I had to weld your aft back together, and everything claimed that a trine that wasn't crazy about each other was doomed to fail. And you three certainly have not failed."
Starscream smiled faintly at that last part before it disappeared. "He knows now. I tried to hide it for so long, but now…" He exhaled heavily. "He knows and will hurt them to get to be." He looked up at Hook. "That's why I have failed them. They are in danger because I let it slip that I can't live without those two slagging idiots constantly fragging up my life. That I love them even if they can't tell their helms from their afts half of the time."
"Do they know that he knows?"
"No. That's another thing I have failed as a trineleader. I keep secrets from my trine. Far too many…"
"But, if it's for their benefit, it's not failing them."
"Perhaps. Or I am simply a coward when it comes to admitting certain topics."
"A coward would not have stepped in front of Megatron's fusion canon to save his daughter nor admit that he was wrong. You're anything but a coward, Starscream. I also think you exaggerate when degrading yourself. Moonstar, Dawnstar, Skywarp, and Thundercracker all love you. If you were as bad as you put yourself to be, why would they still be by your side? If Moonstar hadn't been murdered she would be here, regardless of what happened. Starscream, don't hurt yourself. You have nothing to be ashamed or angered about. Slag happens and we gotta get through it. You're better than most. Not everyone has trinemates to be by their side through the highs and lows like you do."
Starscream nodded his helm slowly, his optics looking down at his damaged arm. Hook watched him for a silent moment.
"Next time you feel like hurting yourself or blaming yourself for something: Stop and think about your trinemates. They don't want to see you hurt, and you want them to be happy. Think about Moonstar. She would want you to fight on."
Starscream swallowed. "Yeah, she would."
Hook offered him a small smile. "Good. Now, unfortunately I have to wrestle the Stunticons in for their checkup, so must end our talk." He paused. "Is there anything else, Starscream?"
Starscream slowly shook his helm. "No. I have to leave as well." He said quietly as he stood.
"Come back anytime, Commander. My door is always unlocked."
Starscream didn't look back as he exited the medic's office. He exhaled slowly, anxious about what the future still planned for him and his Seekers.
Several Orbital Cycles Later:
Starscream made his way through the hallways with his trinemates in formation behind him. His wings lowered, servos wringing, and looking at the ground as he walked, while his trinemates had their wings hiked up and looked ready to dismember anyone who so much as looked at their trineleader the wrong way.
Starscream stopped in front of the forsaken door, trembling as he swallowed.
"Thanks for… for walking me here." He said in almost a whisper, not looking back at them.
Thundercracker placed a servo on the Air Commander's shoulder. "Soon, sweetspark." He said quietly.
Starscream nodded his helm slowly before palming the door open and entering. It shut in his trinemates' faceplates, leaving them alone in the hallway. Skywarp's wings lowered and coolant began to pool in his optics. Thundercracker started to pace, his servos clasped behind his back.
It wasn't long before they heard the muffled sounds of their beloved trineleader being used and hurt from within. Skywarp begun to sob, coolant now leaking down his cheekplates as his optics filled with static. Thundercracker's servos balled so tightly that his digits dented his palms. His jaws clenched, optics narrowed, and wings twitched with barely restrained fury.
They heard Starscream cry through his first overload before the sounds resumed. Again and again they heard him overload for twelve times before there was silence. After a few kliks the door hissed open and their trinemate exited. He didn't look at them, trembling so hard, his wings rattling on his back, and optics offlined. Thundercracker summoned a cloth from subspace and began to clean his trineleader of trans fluids between his legs. Skywarp wiped away his coolant tears before unsubspacing his own cloth and wiping away the energon from whip marks and damaged plates. The two just silently worked, ceasing when they heard Starscream's quiet sobs, coolant leaking from his offline optics.
"'Warp, teleport us to Star's room." Thundercracker said softly.
Skywarp nodded before doing so. The Elite Trine rematerialized in Starscream's berthroom where Starscream's sobs became louder as he hugged himself. Thundercracker placed a servo under Starscream's mandible and lifted his chin up before kissing his trineleader on the lip plates. He just kept kissing, his trineleader's sobs now muffled as he hugged him, holding him close.
"We love you, Star. We're here for you." Thundercracker said softly, looking at the tri colored Seeker in the optics. "We're gonna get through this. You'll see."
Starscream didn't say anything, just reverted his optics away, still crying softly. Skywarp moved in and kissed his trineleader on the lip plates as well.
"You're the best, Star. I don't care what happens, I wouldn't want to be with anyone but you." The black Seeker stated quietly.
Starscream nodded his helm slowly before reaching out to hug them both. They embraced him in a tight hug, lovingly stroking his back as he cried.
Skywarp and Thundercracker always walked him to Megatron's office or quarters every orbital cycle and waited outside for him. Thundercracker wanted Starscream to know that they loved him and would always be there for him, so decided to start this new routine. Skywarp was still unaware that Starscream had cut himself, and Thundercracker preferred to keep it that way. The black Seeker was still unnerved after having to watch Starscream be taken by Megatron, and hearing it every orbital cycle wasn't helping.
Sometimes, they would wait through the entire night outside Megatron's quarters until Starscream was released after having been made to spend the night with the tyrant. Starscream was always exhausted and near tears or sobbing softly when he was freed. One time he was mumbling, "I'm not weak. I'm not weak. I'm not." Over and over again.
His trinemates did what they could for him. They cleaned him, hugged him, kissed him, and tried to show that they loved him no matter what. And Dawnstar's unwillingness to be loving towards her sire was not helping. She wasn't mean or said nasty things, but she still refused to tell him that she loved him and that was tearing the brokensparked creator apart.
It was almost an orn into this new routine when things took a terrible turn.
Starscream stopped in front of the door to his attacker's office. He palmed it open as always and entered, his trinemates standing just behind him.
"About time you've arrived, Starscream." Megatron grunted from where he sat.
"I apologize if my timing is later than usual." Starscream said softly, not making optic contact with the warlord.
Megatron looked passed him to focus his optics on the other two Seekers. Starscream started to reach to close the door when Megatron spoke.
"Wait." Starscream stopped and looked up. "Thundercracker, Skywarp, since you two seem so eager of late to be around your trineleader, why don't you join us."
Starscream's optics widened. "My lord, please don't-"
"What have I told you about disobeying me, Starscream?" Megatron growled dangerously.
Starscream instantly became silent, trembling as he swallowed. He looked back at his trinemates, Skywarp in tears and Thundercracker giving Megatron more than just a murderous glare.
"Enter, Thundercracker, Skywarp, and shut the door behind you." Megatron ordered.
They hesitated before doing so, Thundercracker palming the door shut. Megatron rose from his desk and approached the Air Commander. Starscream offered no resistance as he was grabbed by the arm and lead closer to the desk. Megatron forced the Seeker to his knees before speaking.
"Why don't you show your precious trinemates all your new tricks?" He said sardonically as he gestured for the Seeker to do so. "And you two: Do not look away." He snapped at the others.
Coolant began to leak from Starscream's optics, not wanting to do this in front of his brothers. But he had to or else they, Dawnstar, and his Seekers would be hurt or killed. He swallowed before reaching shaking servos forward and touching Megatron's codpiece. He began to rub, trembling so hard all over, his wings rattling against his back plates.
Megatron's codpiece folded aside and the blue servos started to stroke the large spike. Skywarp grabbed Thundercracker's servo, squeezing tightly as he forced himself to watch. Thundercracker's jaws were so tightly clenched that the hydraulics were being strained and began to hurt.
Starscream brought his face closer, making himself open his mouth wide. He choked back a sob when he placed it inside and started to suck and run his glossa over it. He offlined his optics, not wanting to see his trinemates or Megatron. He kept mouthing, licking, and pleasuring the tyrant until he felt the grounder's overload coming.
He jerked his faceplates away when his mouth was filled with too much fluid, it still splattering over his visage. He looked up at Megatron before swallowing it all, just as was expected of him.
His wings lowered, absolutely humiliated to have had done that in front of trinemates. He didn't fight when Megatron grabbed him and forced him to stand, nor when he was thrown against the desk. Megatron's servo pushed his helm down, pinning him to the desktop as the tyrant prepared to enter him. He gasped when he was penetrated, and softly whimpered as he was thrust into. The desk was rattling from the force of the humping, the flyer digging his digits into the surface.
He couldn't hold it in any longer and started to cry as he was taken, making Skywarp even more unsettled and Thundercracker angrier. His chest piece folded away with Megatron's and the two savagely sparkbonded when they overloaded. Starscream was softly sobbing, keeping his optics offline. The cruel servos began to touch his waist, hips, back, and wings. Feeling him, savoring the touch of him beneath the tyrant.
"Why don't you tell your trinemates what you tell me?" Megatron maliciously said softly in the Seeker's audio receptor.
Starscream looked back at him, inhaling air quickly almost like an organic sniffing as he tried to cool his systems down. "I-" He swallowed, his vocalizer weak and brittle. "I am yours, Mighty Megatron. In every way."
"What else?"
Starscream gave his superior a pleading look before continuing. "I won't fight you ever again. I am yours, for now and always."
"And?"
"Do what you want to me. I am yours. Nothing else. I-" He swallowed again, trying to force back loud sobs. "I am nothing. I am your willing and humble servant. I am yours to do as you so desire to."
"Don't forget the other important part." Megatron smiled evilly, enjoying this cruel game.
"Take me. Use me as you please. Lay your servos on me. I won't fight you. I'm yours." He said between sobs, unable to keep it in any longer.
"Yes, you are mine, Starscream." Megatron said darkly before starting his thrusting again.
Starscream just cried, trying to hold it back, but unable to. Skywarp was crying as well, clinging to Thundercracker now. Thundercracker was just imagining all the horrible ways he was going to destroy Megatron.
Megatron suddenly slammed Starscream's faceplates into the desktop causing the Seeker to yelp.
"Shut up." He growled, his thrusts becoming fiercer with his growing rage.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Starscream whimpered, trying to calm himself down, but just couldn't.
Megatron slammed his Second's face into the desk again, and again, and again, but it didn't help to quiet the Seeker. He pulled out, grumbling something as he approached a shelving unit and took some items off it. Starscream's wings lowered, not wanting this to be done in front of his trinemates as well.
Megatron grabbed Starscream and spun him around to face him when he suddenly stopped. An evil smirk spread over his visage as his optics turned to the other Seekers.
"Skywarp, come here." He motioned for the black Seeker to do so.
"W-what?" Skywarp said softly.
"Get over here." The grounder snapped.
Skywarp swallowed, releasing his blue trinemate and cautiously approaching. When he was beside the ex-gladiator, Megatron handed him a cloth and thick cable.
"Gag your trineleader for me." He instructed.
"What? I-I can't do that. He-he's-" Skywarp stuttered.
"Do it or else." Megatron growled.
"But, Megatron, I can't hurt him! He's my brother! Please, I-"
"Skywarp, do as he says." Starscream said suddenly, his vocalizer firm.
"But, Star…"
"That's an order."
Skywarp's lower lip plate trembled, his optics filling with static before he took another step closer to his trineleader. Coolant began to leak anew as he gently placed the cloth into Starscream's mouth, pushing it far back. Then, he slowly put the cable in, stepping behind the tri colored Seeker to tie it behind his helm.
"Tighter." Megatron grunted.
"But, it'll hurt him." Skywarp said softly.
"Tighter." Megatron growled.
Skywarp swallowed, doing so. Starscream bit down on the cable as it began to dig into the corners of his mouth.
"Tighter." Megatron ordered again.
Skywarp wiped away coolant before doing so, making it so tight that the hydraulics in Starscream's jaws strain and hurt, the corners of his mouth denting and lazily leaking energon from small tears.
Megatron then handed him a blindfold, and Skywarp slowly blindfolded his trineleader. Megatron then turned Starscream around and pushed him to lie his front across the desk.
"Thundercracker, come over here." Megatron commanded.
Thundercracker's wings twitched, his narrowed optics momentarily brightening before he stomped over. Megatron gestured for him to stand on the other side of the desk in front of Starscream.
"Hold him down." Megatron ordered as he positioned himself behind Starscream.
Thundercracker gave the gray grounder a look that promised instant death, his fists shaking with his barely contained fury.
::Do as he says, Thunder.:: Starscream commed him. ::That's an order.::
::This is ridiculous, Star. This fragging, creation-of-a-pleasurebot, piece of-::
::Please, just do as he says. Don't argue with me.::
Thundercracker's wings flicked in agitation before he reached down and grabbed his trineleader's wrists. He pulled them closer to him and pinned them against the desktop.
Starscream moaned as Megatron entered him and started to thrust. Thundercracker's murderous optics locked onto Megatron's victorious ones, a silent battle between the two just over the Air Commander. Starscream's servos twisted until Thundercracker held them, silently comforting him as he was raped. The blue Seeker never looked away from Megatron, never shuttered his optics, never lowered his aggressively raised wings.
Starscream's servos squeezed his trinemate's when his overload came, the excess energy surging and tickling Thundercracker's servos. Starscream whimpered softly before his muffled yelps sounded when Megatron resumed his thrusting.
Megatron overloaded Starscream ten more times before finally pulling out. Thundercracker watched him with narrowed optics as the tyrant walked past and towards the back of the office. Thundercracker turned back to Starscream and quickly removed the gag and then the blindfold. He kissed his trineleader on the lip plates before studying him.
"I'm sorry, sweetspark." He said gently as he held Starscream's mandible.
"I'm fine." Starscream said quietly.
"Can we go now?" Skywarp inquired in a low voice.
"Not yet." Megatron said as he approached, carrying more items.
Starscream's wings lowered. "My lord?"
Megatron handed Thundercracker manacles, chains, and a strange device. "Tie Starscream on his knees and put this on him."
"Megatron, he is exhausted. His systems can't-" Thundercracker started.
"He's fine. You heard him. Now, do as you are told or else."
"This is-"
"TC, just do as he says." Starscream said suddenly. "Just get this over with so we can leave with no additional injuries."
Thundercracker eyed him for a moment before capitulating. He circled around the desk until he was beside Starscream. He handcuffed his trineleader's wrists behind his back before making him get to his knees. He took the chains and tied his ankles together, then tied his wrists to his ankles. Thundercracker took the device and positioned it onto his trineleader's face, forcing his mouth open and placing the "hooks" inside. Starscream's mouth was effectively held open, unable to close or move it.
"Skywarp, keep his helm up." Megatron instructed.
Skywarp swallowed before walking over and bending down beside Starscream. He gently placed a servo on Starscream's mandible and the other on the back of his helm, forcing him to look up.
Megatron then handed Thundercracker a bucket of brownish, grease-filled liquid. Thundercracker looked from the bucket, to his trineleader, then to Megatron.
"No, I won't do it!" Thundercracker exclaimed, taking a step back from the tyrant. "I will not torture my brother!"
"Fine, but I imagine he rather have you do it than me." Megatron said with a shrug before stepping in front of Starscream.
Starscream's optics widened, the bucket being tilted just over his open mouth. Skywarp was crying, not sure if he should obey Megatron and stay, or teleport his trineleader away.
The brown liquid started to pour out and into the Air Commander's mouth. He twitched, making horrible gurgling sounds as too much liquid entered too quickly down his throat. Thundercracker watched for an astrosecond before stepping forward.
"Stop it! Fine, I'll do it! Give me that!" He snapped as he snatched the bucket away.
Megatron took a step back, smiling as he crossed his arms. Thundercracker lifted the bucket up, his expression softening when he saw his trineleader's optics. Slowly, he poured the liquid down Starscream's mouth, stopping every so often so Starscream could swallow and catch up.
When the bucket was finally emptied, Thundercracker threw it aside like a vile poison before bending down and quickly removing the device from Starscream's mouth. Starscream coughed and gagged, panting heavily while Skywarp untied him.
"Now, you may leave." Megatron said calmly as he gestured towards the door.
Thundercracker shot him a deathly glare, then kissed his trineleader on the cheekplates before helping him to his peds. Skywarp wasted no time and immediately teleported the three to the medbay, just in time for Starscream to purge his fuel tank all over the floor.
"Primus, Starscream!" Hook exclaimed from where he was working on a medically induced stasis locked Hun-Gurrr. He set aside his tools and rushed over. "What happened?"
"We'll explain that after you help him." Thundercracker said quickly, his optics narrowed.
Hook lead them to a medberth where the two Seekers helped the third to sit atop of. Starscream clutched his abdominal plates before purging again.
"Scrapper, don't just stand there! Get a bucket!" Hook shouted at his leader.
"Bucket, right." Scrapper replied before running to the backroom.
"Did you eat toxic waste?! That smells horrible! No, don't fight it. Keep purging." Hook said as he stood by. "Mixmaster, get a sample of that and figure out what I'm dealing with. Scavenger, Long Haul, Bonecrusher, clean up my medbay! You two-" He jabbed a digit at the Seekers. "Sit your afts over there and out of my way!"
Everyone did as ordered, Skywarp and Thundercracker sitting down on some chairs against the wall. Scrapper returned with a bucket and handed it to the ill mech. Starscream took it just in time for another violent purge.
"Dammit, how much did you swallow!?" Hook groused as he ran a scanner over Starscream.
"I think my tank is going to explode." Starscream groaned, curling in on himself from the pain.
"Keep purging, commander. You'll feel better once it is out."
"I don't think even tha-" He suddenly purged again, making horrible retching sounds in the metal bucket.
"Just cycle air. Keep your systems cool."
"I wish I had the tank of a Terrorcon…" Starscream pitifully moaned into the bucket.
"And then eat everything in sight? You certainly do not." Hook said as he placed his servos on his hips.
"I feel… I think I'm dying…"
"You'll live. Just purge for me."
"That was the weirdest thing I think you've ever said to me…"
"Lift your helm out of the bucket."
Starscream did so and Hook placed a servo on Starscream's neck. He began to feel around before finding what he was looking for. He gently removed a small plate and pressed his thumb beneath it.
"Do not purge on me." He ordered before putting pressure with his thumb on the sensitive node.
Starscream felt the horrible gagging sensation in his throat causing him to instinctively purge again. Hook scanned him, shook his head at the results, then repeated the process. Starscream purged again, and again, and again from Hook's manipulation of his frame until all the brown liquid had been dispelled. Hook then connected Starscream to an energon drip to slowly introduce energon back into his upset fuel tank.
"So, you going to tell me what happened?" Hook inquired as he scribbled notes on a datapad.
"I'll give you a hint. It's big. It's gray. It has the aggression of a sharkticon. And acts like a male turbofox surrounded by females in heat whenever it's around me." Starscream said softly.
Hook looked up at him. "He made you swallow waste and grease?"
"Yes… He tied me and forced it down." Starscream swallowed.
Hook vented a tired sigh before subspacing his datapad. "Do you want to go talk about it?" He asked quietly.
Starscream shook his helm. "Not right now." He said in almost a whisper, not looking at the Constructicon.
"Well, if you change your processor, I'll be here."
Starscream nodded his helm slowly. "May I leave, now?"
"Let me give Thundercracker some instructions first and then you will be free to go. Alright?"
"Yes, doctor."
Hook turned and approached Thundercracker and Skywarp.
"I want you to refuel him two thirds of the way full then make him get some recharge. If he doesn't, knock him upside the helm with a hammer or something. He needs to rest after that." Hook instructed strictly.
"Don't worry, I will make sure he does as you say." Thundercracker said.
"Yes, well, you seem to be doing a marvelous job at getting him to take those antidepressant programs." Hook sarcastically replied.
"He's a stubborn-aft. I'm trying."
"You need to try harder. He needs something before he starts to get-" He paused and look over at Skywarp for a moment before returning his optics to Thundercracker. "Before he has considerations to take matters into his own servos very drastically and we are all painting black bands around our arms."
"I understand, Hook. I'm trying." Thundercracker said a little softer, understanding that suicidal thoughts may not be far off in his trineleader's processor now since he had taken to self harming himself.
"Good. Try to get him started tonight. The sooner the better."
"Yes, doctor."
"Alright, you may take his stubborn aft back to your place."
Thundercracker and Skywarp stood up and walked over to their trineleader. Skywarp touched his trinemates' shoulders before teleporting them away. They reappeared inside their house before Starscream suddenly shoved them away.
"Star, what's wrong, love?" Thundercracker asked quickly as Starscream slowly backed away from them.
"Please, just, stay away from me." He said softly, coolant beginning to leak out, his wings drooping behind him. "Don't come with me. He'll-he'll only make you do more to me. I don't-don't want you to have to see me taken again. Please, just-just stay away from me."
Thundercracker marched straight over and grabbed Starscream's wrists, pulling him close. "Star, look at me! We are not leaving you. Don't you see this is what he wants? He wants us to break up. Star, dammit, look at me." Thundercracker growled. Starscream did so slowly, his optics filled with static. "We're not leaving you. We love you, Starscream."
"He'll make you watch… Please, let me go. I can't-I can't let him hurt you. Please, Thunder, let me go." Starscream pleaded with a brittle vocalizer as he weakly fought to free himself.
"Forget about us, you need to think about yourself. Star, you need to take care of yourself. I can't get us out if I need to drag Hook with us to keep you alive. You're taking your antidepressant programs, you're going to drink energon, and you're going to get some proper recharge."
"I-I can't…" He said in almost a whisper, still trying to get away.
"Why not? Star, look at me. Why not?"
"Please, let me go."
"Starscream, Primus, please stop shaking." He vented a sigh before pulling Starscream close and embracing him in a hug. "Sky and I love you, Star. I'm sorry all of this has happened. I'm sorry about earlier. I should have done something, but I just wasn't sure what I could have done to not make the situation worse. I'm so sorry."
"If you hadn't had done what he wanted he would have hurt you. You did the right thing." Starscream said quietly.
"Hurting you is never 'the right thing.' Star, 'Warp and I can take care of ourselves. You need to think about you."
"I-I can't. Please," He started to try and free himself but Thundercracker grabbed his upper arms and held him in place. "TC, please, I'm filthy. Don't-don't touch me."
Thundercracker grabbed his mandible and firmly kissed his trineleader on the lip plates for a long, silent klik.
"Please, Star, take care of yourself. You're not weak or filthy. You're brave, beautiful, intelligent, strong, skilled, amazing… Don't ever think you are not. You're the best."
"Yeah, Scree." Skywarp said softly as he approached. "You're the best trineleader I could ever ask for. You're the best anything I could ask for."
Starscream swallowed, not looking at his trinemates. Thundercracker watched him for a moment before sighing.
"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up and then you are going to take some of the antidepressant programs before recharge. And you are not fighting me. Got it?" He said sternly.
Starscream nodded his helm slowly, still not looking up. Thundercracker released him and started to walk to the stairs when Starscream suddenly grabbed his servo and pulled him closer.
"Please, please don't leave me. I'm sorry for saying that. Please, don't leave me." Starscream begged as coolant poured his optics, trembling terribly.
"We're not leaving you, Star. I promise."
"I'm always gonna be here for you, Screamer." Skywarp smiled faintly at him. "Don't worry."
"Come on, Star. You need to rest." Thundercracker said as he gently led his trineleader to the washroom.
Starscream walked to Megatron's residence alone after making it clear to his trinemates he didn't want them escorting him any longer. The Air Commander put in the code and entered, wasting no time in going to the berthroom. His wings lowered as low as they could go when ebony servos gripped his shoulders and led him to the berth.
Starscream placed his servos onto the berthtop and leaned over it, allowing Megatron to do as he pleased. His optics offlined as the cruel servos touched him, stroked his waist, hips, back, abdominal plates, and chest piece. Feeling him, savoring his smooth, thin plates, and perfect curves. Starscream swallowed, hating those touches and the lustful desire they represented.
Starscream's codpiece slid aside, already leaking fluids. Megatron quickly entered him and immediately set a fast, hard pace. His servos grasped Starscream's hips and held him in place as he was mercilessly pounded into. Starscream gasped pained moans, his digits digging into the berthtop as he panted.
He felt his systems beginning to overheat, Megatron's servos so tight around him that they were denting his plates, and the warm exhales of the tyrant caressed his nape. Starscream just looked down at the berthtop, silently submitting to his fate.
His chest plates folded away out of their own accord, Megatron's following suite, before the two savagely sparkbonded. Starscream moaned when he was filled with Megatron's fluids, the excess leaking out and down his thighs.
As always, Megatron started right back up, not giving his Seeker any respite. Starscream continued with his gasping moans, just wanting this to be over with.
"You're pathetic, Starscream." Megatron grunted as he continued to fiercely hump his Second. "Selling yourself to save your whoring brat. Taking the punishments of your idiot trinemates. You're weak. A pathetic excuse for a Decepticon. Are you still a Decepticon, Starscream? You certainly don't act the part. Joining with an Autobot whore, breeding with it. It's an embarrassment to the Decepticons."
"I'm not weak." Starscream said softly.
"Not weak? Then why are you here? Beneath me, submissive like a beaten turbofox. You're weak, Starscream, and you know it."
"I'm not. I am not beaten."
"You really think your trinemates care about you? You think it's worth taking their beatings? Yesterday they seemed so willing to help in your suffering. If they truly cared for you wouldn't they step forward and offer to take your beatings?"
"I'm the trineleader. It's my job to take beatings. Not theirs." Starscream said in almost a whisper, coolant pooling in his optics.
"And what of your daughter? Has she thanked you for saving her worthless life? Has she shown any gratitude? Tell me, Starscream, is all this worth it? Is whoring yourself out worth it in order to protect your ungrateful brat?"
"She's my daughter. I'll do anything for her."
"That still doesn't answer my question. Is it worth it?" Megatron demanded.
Starscream swallowed, pausing for a moment to just pant before answering. "Anything that keeps her or my trinemates safe is worth it."
"So you say now. How much longer will your trinemates tolerate having to force you to refuel, to deal with your constant whining and no longer being a use for their own desires. They only stayed by your side because you are good for fragging, and could provide for them a place in the Decepticon army. But now, you are just an unwanted burden to them. Soon they will simply cast you aside and let you rust."
"No, no they won't." Starscream said in almost a whisper, shaking his helm slowly.
"You're weak, Starscream. Pathetic. A waste of metal and energon. Your only purpose is to be fragged."
He paused to thrust harder and faster into his Seeker until they overloaded, once again sparkbonding. Starscream cried through his climax, trembling as he panted.
"What did you say you were again, Starscream?" Megatron asked darkly into his Second's audio receptor.
Starscream swallowed, hesitating before answering. "I am yours, Mighty Megatron." He said so quietly.
"And?"
"Do as you please to me. I am yours. I am yours for now and always."
"You are mine, Starscream. You are also nothing. Say it. Say you are nothing."
"I'm nothing. I am yours. I am nothing." Starscream said as coolant began to leak from his optics.
"You're weak. Pathetic. An embarrassment to the Decepticons. Say it. Say what you are."
Starscream offlined his optics. "I'm weak, pathetic, and an embarrassment to the Decepticons. I'm nothing." He swallowed. "I am yours, Mighty Megatron."
Megatron started to thrust into the Seeker again before continuing with his psychological abuse. "You're trinemates do not care for you. If they did then why are you here, suffering alone? Why have they never tried to ease your pain throughout the vorns? They only encouraged it. They don't see you how you see them. Say that they don't care for you. Say it, Starscream."
Soft sobs escaped Starscream's vocalizer before he forced himself to speak. "M-my trinemates don't c-care for me."
"What else?"
"I am yours. I'm yours in every way."
"You're mine, Starscream. Not theirs, not anyone else's. Mine. Because no one else cares for a pathetic, weak, slagheap like you. Not your Seekers, not your trinemates, and certainly not your daughter. You're only purpose in life is to be fragged. What is your purpose, Starscream? Say it."
Starscream wiped coolant off of his optics. "I am only good for fragging. I'm nothing… I am yours, Mighty Megatron."
Megatron smiled a small, victorious smile. "That's right, Starscream." He said gently, caressing the Seeker's wings with his ebony servos. "You are mine."
Starscream softly cried, trembling as he was continuously thrust into. Megatron suddenly pulled out, eliciting a gasp from the Air Commander, before walking towards the desk. Starscream didn't move from his position, just continued sobbing as coolant leaked from his optics and down his cheekplates.
Megatron returned and reentered the Seeker, resuming his thrusting. A large servo grasped a wing as the other brought a small energon knife to it. Starscream flinched at the abnormal action, not sure what was happening to his wing.
"My lord?" He asked quietly, trying to look back.
"What are you, Starscream? Repeat it all to me." Megatron said almost casually.
Starscream swallowed. "I am yours, Mighty Megatron. I am nothing. I'm weak… Pathetic… an embarrassment to the Decepticons." He paused to cycle air heavily. "My trinemates don't care for me… I am only good for fragging… I am yours."
"That's right, Starscream. And I will make sure you do not forget."
"My lord?"
Megatron then began to carve into the Seeker's wings with the energon knife, ignoring the horrible shrieks of pain.
Starscream walked down the hallways making his way to medbay. He didn't look at anyone he passed, just trying to keep from crying. Everyone stopped and looked back at him, some with surprise, others laughing and pointing.
The Air Commander's wings had been carved into with Cybertronian glyphs saying things like, "whore," "slut," "weak," "pathetic," "failure," "worthless," "embarrassment to the Decepticons," "useless," "lame," "good only for fragging," "glitch," "berth warmer," and "wench."
He just wanted to get away from those optics staring at him, that laughter following him, the mockery of it all. If not for him the Decepticons wouldn't be where they were, a powerful force to be feared, and yet here he was being publically humiliated by the one he had once considered an idol.
He didn't see the mech who started it, nor knew half the ones who joined in. The tri colored Seeker was suddenly struck by a ball of greasy waste against his side. He turned around to see who had been so disrespectful when a decent sized piece of metal made forceful contact with his helm. He staggered backwards, ready to defend himself while an uproar of laughter sounded all around. More blunt objects, thrown waste, and fists soon joined in as those who despised him took their chance to attack him.
He was took low on fuel to fly or fight back, instead behind forced to simply block the hundreds of blows that rained down on him. He was knocked to the ground, kicks now being added to the mix. He cried out in pain from every brutal hit, searing pain from his wings erupting into his systems.
He wasn't sure how long it was before he heard shots being fired followed by the sound of thrusters. His now damaged optics were suddenly blinded by light when his attackers were forced to back away. Familiar thruster heels landed all around him, vocalizers he trusted speaking to him, loyal servos touching him.
He was lifted up, barely able to stand as he was helped to his peds and led away. Colorful and protectively held wings surrounded him, stayed by him until they reached the medbay.
Hook looked up when the medbay door opened and the rescuers rushed in with the damaged Air Commander.
"Hook! He's hurt!" Bitstream exclaimed as he and Sunstorm carried Starscream to a medberth.
"What happened?!" Hook demanded as he ran over.
"Fragging, waste of metal, spike-sucking, worthless grounders is what happened." Nacelle growled as he stood by the door with his arm guns still smoking. "No offense."
"None taken." Hook replied as he inspected the damage to the hurt Seeker.
"Hotlink, call Thundercracker and Skywarp." Contrail ordered.
"I'm going back out there and finishing off the others." Slipstream grumbled as she marched to do so.
Dirge grabbed her arm. "Stay here. We need to guard him."
"The others are dealing with the rest." Ramjet pointed out.
The door hissed open and Acid Storm stepped in covered in energon. "Well, it is certainly a mess out there. But I do believe they will think differently before attacking our leader."
"Got them all already?" Thrust inquired.
"Unfortunately, no, but they are being hunted down. There's quite a pile of new parts out there for you, Hook." He said cheerily to the Constructicon. "And no autopsy required! I can tell you how they died."
"Well, that will certainly save me some time." Hook grunted as he worked on stopping Starscream from leaking.
"Hook… Please…" Starscream said weakly, trembling slightly.
"Stay calm, commander. You're safe now. I'm going to fix you right up."
"It hurts… My wings… Please…"
"I'll deal with them as soon as I fix your front. You are leaking pretty bad. Just concentrate on cycling air."
The door was suddenly forced apart and Thundercracker marched in looking as if he was about to murder anything that moved. Skywarp was right behind him, nervously wringing his servos.
"What happened?" The blue Seeker demanded with a vocalizer of ice.
"He was attacked by savage grounders for apparently no reason. We rushed in to help as soon as we heard." Contrail explained, not concerned for Thundercracker's murderous glare.
"I heard chanting about beating up a 'fake officer' and rushed over to see what was happening." Bitstream said. "When I figured out it was Starscream I commed Hotlink who commed everyone else."
"And what of the attackers?"
"Deactivated or soon too be." Contrail said. "It was pretty rowdy, Thundercracker."
"Why did they do this?"
"I have a theory." Hook grunted.
"What is it?" Thundercracker said as he walked over.
Hook and Sunstorm gently helped Starscream to roll over onto his front where his damaged wings were now visible. Thundercracker's servos balled into fists, denting his palms and causing them to leak.
"TC, don't do anything stupid." Starscream said softly. "Please, stay with me."
Thundercracker eyed him for a long, silent klik before lowering his wings and reaching for his trineleader's servo. He bent down beside him and rested his brow against Starscream's.
"I'm going to kill him." He whispered with gritted denta.
"He'll destroy you. And even if you do manage that all his blind followers will be after you. No, if anyone is to take him out it has to be me. I know how to persuade the masses and manipulate them." Starscream whispered back.
"This isn't politics, anymore. This is a feeding frenzy of sharkticons."
Starscream managed a faint smile. "Is there really a difference?"
"It's not funny, Star. You were attacked by the other Decepticons. He-he carved those… things onto your wings. Star, this has to end."
"My Seekers are removing the threat. Fear will be instilled once again."
"Like hell it will…"
"TC, just… just let me handle this. I don't want you hurt."
"Like seeing you like this doesn't hurt me."
"I can handle it. Don't start. TC, please, just concentrate on getting out, not seeking revenge. That's my department."
"Why are you such a stubborn glitch?"
"Isn't that why you love me?" Starscream offered his trinemate a small smile.
"Hmm, one of the reasons."
Thundercracker then leaned closer and kissed his trineleader on the lip plates. Starscream kissed back, his thoughts wondering elsewhere. What if his trinemate's really didn't care for him? No, they did care for him. They were always there for him and always will be.
Right?
Several Orbital Cycles Later:
Starscream, now fully healed, made his way to Megatron's office to keep to the deal as usual. All those who he passed remained silent, some giving him bitter glares while others seemed a bit nervous about saying anything. They were not eager to be attacked by his Seekers after so many had been deactivated last time. Energon blood still stained much of that hallway…
Starscream palmed open the door and entered, his winged instantly drooping.
"I am here, Mighty Megatron." He said softly as he approached the tyrant.
Megatron tossed the datapad he was perusing through down onto his desktop before turning furious optics onto his Second. Starscream swallowed.
"Sixty-eight. Does that number mean anything to you, Starscream?" He demanded.
Starscream's servos began to wring. "I am afraid I do not follow, my lord."
"Your Seekers deactivated sixty-eight of my mechs. Sixty-eight, Starscream!"
"My leader, they were defending me. I was-was attacked by those grounders and was overwhelmed. I couldn't fight back and my Seekers came to my rescue." He swallowed again. "I-I'll deal with them."
"How? By taking their punishment and then ignoring the issue?" Megatron snapped.
"I'll sentence them to brig time."
"Brig time? Seems like a light sentence given to how many of my warriors they murdered."
"Being locked away is not a light sentence to a Seeker."
"I have a better idea. How about I hand out the punishment. Sounds good to you?" He said sardonically.
"Please, Megatron, I-"
"Silence." Megatron snapped as he stood. "Stand against that wall."
Starscream started to tremble, but did as he was ordered, going to where Megatron had pointed. He stood by the indicated wall and waited for Megatron to approached with chains. The tyrant tightly bond the Seeker's wrist together before securely tethering him to the wall by a metal bar that had been placed there just for this purpose.
Starscream looked back at Megatron, waiting for the attack, but nothing happened. Instead, Megatron walked away and leaned against his desk.
"My lord?" Starscream asked softly.
"What is it, Starscream?" Megatron grumbled.
"I am… I thought I was to be punished."
Megatron smiled evilly. "I just commed your idiot trinemate, Thundercracker. Once he arrives you will be."
Starscream's optics widened. "Please, Megatron, leave him out of this! He had nothing to do with that attack. Please, I beg of you."
"Shut up. Another word out of you and I will double what I have planned for him."
Coolant began to leak out of Starscream's optics as he weakly pulled at the chains. He was trembling all over, hoping that Thundercracker would not walk through that door. But in a few kliks he soon did.
"You summoned me, Megatron?" Thundercracker grunted, his optics narrowed and wings raised high. He stopped when he saw Starscream chained to the wall, looking as if he was about to have a panic attack. "What's going on?"
"Lock the door, Thundercracker." Megatron ordered.
Thundercracker eyed him for a long moment before finally doing so. Megatron then gestured for the blue Seeker to approach. Thundercracker flicked his wings in agitation, but did so. The ex-gladiator roughly chained his wrists together before tethering him to a hook on the ceiling, forcing his arms above his helm. Thundercracker yanked at the chains, but he was securely held, unable to move about. He was made to face Starscream, the tri colored Seeker trying his best not to cry.
Megatron retrieved the multi-tailed energon whip he used to punish Starscream from a shelf and stepped behind Thundercracker. Thundercracker swallowed, trying to hide his fear of being whipped. He had never been struck by an energon whip before, nor ever punished by the tyrant.
"Please, don't use that one on him. He hasn't built resistance to it." Starscream pleaded, his vocalizer brittle. "He's never been lashed before. He-he won't be able to handle it."
"I thought I told you to shut up." Megatron ordered harshly.
Starscream swallowed, then turned his attention to his trinemate. "I'm sorry, Thundercracker. I'm so sorry. He knows." Coolant began to leak down faster now from the Air Commander's optics. "Just-just keep your optics on mine. Don't-don't think about the pain. Think about being far away from here, tearing off Megatron's helm, and being with your trine."
"Why am I being punished? What have I done?" Thundercracker demanded of Megatron, trying not to sound as anxious as he was.
"You? Nothing other than being disrespectful. No, you are receiving Starscream's punishment since he does not react favorably to it." Megatron replied almost nonchalantly as he powered on the energon whip.
Thundercracker tensed, suddenly becoming terrified of what was about to happen. Starscream just kept shaking his helm as he softly sobbed.
"AHHHH!" Thundercracker cried when the first lash struck him across the back plates, sending searing pain coursing through his systems.
He twitched, instinctively pulling at his chains in desperation to jump away from the torturer. He cried again and again as the lashes rained down across his back, wings, and aft, jerking at his binds. Starscream just helplessly watched, feeling like he had failed his trine and that he deserved to be there, taking that flogging.
After a few kliks Thundercracker's cries began to lessen as he started to struggle to stay online, his systems dangerously overheated and on the verge of going into shock. After a hundred lashes Megatron powered down the whip and set it down on his desk. He stepped in front of Thundercracker and grabbed the Seeker by the chin, forcing him to look up.
"Pathetic. Only a hundred lashes and you are already about to offline. Well, it appears that Starscream is still the strongest when it comes to being scourged. I was just starting to enjoy myself."
Thundercracker just panted, too busy fighting off going into stasis lock to react to the warlord's harsh words. Megatron walked away and approached Starscream. He grabbed the Air Commander and roughly forced him to turn sideways to Thundercracker. He grabbed the Seeker's waist and positioned himself to penetrate. Starscream kept his optics on Thundercracker, watching his trinemate panting, trembling, dangling from the chains that now supported him. The energon oozing down his wings and legs, gathering in little puddles on the floor as it dripped.
Starscream gasped as he was entered and the thrusting commenced. An ebony servo grasped his neck, forcing his helm up and holding him close to Megatron.
"Do you think he will still care for you after this?" Megatron said quietly into Starscream's audio receptor so that Thundercracker could not hear. Starscream swallowed and Megatron smiled when he felt it. "He wastes his time caring for a pathetic, weak slagheap like you only to end up taking your punishments. It won't be long before he and Skywarp leave you. And then you will be all alone for your daughter certainly won't stay around for you. None of your Seekers will."
Starscream began to tremble, more coolant leaking out as his optics turned white with static. He whimpered as he was humped, pitifully watching his trinemate from the corner of his optic.
Starscream sat by Thundercracker's medberth crying. The blue Seeker was in recharge after finally being allowed to go see Hook. Starscream had to practically drag him to medbay, which was no easy task with his low fuel levels. Hook had fixed him up quickly after getting over his initial shock of seeing Thundercracker bearing the whip marks instead of the Air Commander.
Now, Starscream just stayed by his trinemate's side, feeling like more than just a failure. He felt as if he had just allowed Megatron to abuse his brother, and not do anything to stop it. He felt like Thundercracker was going to be furious with him when he onlined, and maybe leave him…
No, he would never leave him. They were a trine. Trines didn't break up. But, they had been fighting a lot… and Thundercracker had been punished for Starscream's mistake. Maybe… Maybe he would leave him. Why would anyone want a trineleader who couldn't defend his own trine or mate? A trineleader who sold his own frame… A trineleader who was nothing but a pathetic whore. A weak, useless, disgrace to the Decepticons.
No, those were Megatron's words. He wasn't weak. He wasn't a disgrace! Was he? He did sell himself. He was a whore. He was a disgrace. He was pathetic. He didn't deserve his trinemates. They deserved better than a filthy whore like him…
Starscream covered his faceplates and cried, the psychological toll of Megatron's abuse slowly tearing through him and causing him to feel as if it was all true.
Perhaps Megatron was right?
Five Orbital Cycles Later:
Dawnstar walked out of her room and started to go down the stairs when she heard a loud bang, She stopped, placing her servos on the wall and listening to the shouting below.
"Dammit! This is just… Dammit!" Thundercracker's furious vocalizer bellowed, the obvious sound of a table being flipped soon following afterwards.
"TC, calm down." Skywarp's anxious vocalizer said. "You're going to hurt yourself."
"Hurt myself?! He cut himself, again! He's hurting himself!"
"What to you mean 'again?'"
Thundercracker sighed. "I found cut marks on his arm some orbital cycles ago. He is not refueling, not recharging, not doing his work, not doing anything but crying and cutting himself! All because that brat of his decided to go frag some Autobots!"
Dawnstar swallowed, now realizing who they were talking about. She clenched her jaws, not having been aware of exactly how bad her sire's condition truly was. He was cutting himself?
"He's going to end up being suicidal if this slag doesn't come to an end." Thundercracker continued.
"Please don't say that."
"Sky, you know it's true. You saw him last night! He's barely holding himself together! He's not doing anything to help himself and I don't know how much longer I can hold out. Primus, I feel like it was a mistake to keep Dawnstar. She has only ruined everything and is destroying our trineleader!"
Dawnstar felt as if someone had just stabbed her in the spark. She started to tremble, coolant pooling in her optics from her "uncle's" cruel words.
"You don't mean that."
"Look around, Skywarp. What has that brat ever done for Starscream besides set him on the path of self destruction? If not for her he would have been able to get over Moonstar's deactivation and not be preparing his deathberth. If he deactivates it will be because of Dawnstar."
Dawnstar couldn't take anymore. She turned and rushed back into her berthroom, shutting the door and throwing herself onto her berth where she burrowed her helm into her arms and cried. She couldn't believe that she was killing her own sire. She didn't want him to die. She may not trust him, but that didn't mean she wanted him to deactivate. She wanted to be best friends again and everything be different between them. But, maybe this wasn't meant to be.
Why was this happening? First her carrier and now she was going to lose her sire? She couldn't take it. He needed to live. He had to be there for her and see her get a trine, get a mate, and have her own family. He had promised that he would always be there for her, so why was he killing himself?
She had to do something to save him, but what could she do if she was the problem? She was trying to be nice to him again. She was joking with him these orbital cycles and smiling a lot. Why wasn't that enough to show that she still cared for him? Maybe she should just leave him alone.
Wait, that was it. She should just leave. He would then get a break from her and therefore stop hurting himself from having to deal with her, and Thundercracker would be happy since he hated her. Skywarp might be the only one saddened by her absence, but he had his trinemates to help him. He'll be fine.
She wiped the coolant from her optics, now certain of what she must do.
"Yeah, but without Dawn, Moonstar would have still been a slave. We would have never seen Star smile again or see him happy. He loves Dawn, and I think things will get better between them." Skywarp said as his blue trinemate still paced before him, the innocent table upside-down by the wall.
Thundercracker rubbed a servo over his temples. "I know," He said softly. "But she is still the reason Megatron is raping him."
"I know, but, once we get out-"
"Which who-slagging-knows when that will be. He is spending more time in medbay these orbital cycles than ever before. We can't trek him across half the planet when he's so ill. He can't fly because he refuses to refuel. He won't be able to walk far because of that, and he's always injured. Primus, if he doesn't get his slag together soon…"
"We'll get him out. He's tough. he'll make it." Skywarp said softly.
"Yeah, he certainly is." Thundercracker said softly.
Dawnstar onlined the next orbital cycle and exited her room. She walked down the stairs just in time to see Starscream preparing to leave.
"Dad! Wait!" She called to him, quickly running down the stairs and towards him.
"Yes, princess?" He inquired as he turned around to face her.
She embraced him in a tight hug and just held him. He hesitated before hugging her back. He kissed her brow, holding her a little tighter.
"You're the best sire, even if you're a complete aft." She said softly before kissing him on the cheekplates.
He smiled. "I try."
"You're awesome. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
"I won't, sweetspark." He kissed her brow again. "Love you, Dawnstar."
"I know, daddy." She said quietly.
He swallowed, once again not hearing her say that she loved him back. "Maybe later we can doing something together?"
She bit her lower lip plate. "Yeah, sure, dad."
He kissed her cheekplates and gave her a loving squeeze. "I have to go now, princess. I love you so, so much." He kissed her brow again. "See you later, sweetspark."
"Seeya, dad."
He hesitated before finally releasing her and walking away. He had to make sure Megatron wouldn't go after her, and so had to leave to be cruelly taken.
Dawnstar watched him leave before turning and running to her room. With coolant tears leaking from her optics, she subspaced all her property, some energon cubes, and her pistol. She took a datapad and wrote a long, final message to her sire, and set it on her berth where it would be easily found.
She opened the window, climbed out, transformed, and flew away, never to return to that house. She told herself that this was for everyone's good. Her sire would be free of her and could heal, Thundercracker would be joyful that she was gone, and she would be free and on her own.
She had no idea that her actions would be cutting the last thread that held her sire's broken spark together.
End of Filia
Beginning of Invictus
Jetfire is his actual designation, but after the live action films ruined him I prefer to go by Skyfire.
Psychological abuse is probably worse than physical abuse in that it's harder to heal from. At least, in my own experience it seems that way. Megatron doesn't realize he is using Starscream's biggest fear of being left alone by his trinemates. He has placed the seed of doubt into Starscream's processor and now it's only going to grow.
Starscream is hated by most, so if the Decepticons who hate him see a chance to attack him, they would go for it. They certainly took that chance in the IDW comics.
I never cut myself, but a good friend of mine used to. I kind of went off a bit of how she felt, plus some of what I read others felt when they self harmed themselves. I also have a character from my own stories who will cut himself, and he mostly does it simply because he hates himself and life. Lots of "fun" emotions and thoughts to delve into and write about...
Yes, Dawnstar just ran away. AGAIN. (facepalm) Will that femme never learn...?
So, Invictus is next. It is the third and final part of this trilogy and will not be so depressing. Thundercracker is going to get them all out in an epic escape, Starscream will heal from his abuse, and the Air Commander will get his revenge on Megatron. Not to mention he will find out all those Autobots who had interfaced with his baby girl and attack them. And there will be some awesome interactions between him and certain Autobots.
And please go to the next "chapter" and read that and tell me what you think! :) I look forward to writing that for you guys.