I don't own Transformers Prime but this story is all mine!
Chapter 8
For the next couple of days Starscream went through the training regiment to help with his endurance, marksmanship, and combat skills. Bulkhead began to make it harder for the seeker by making him carry larger objects for exercise and more brutal 'dodge' sessions. Bumblebee helped Starscream to focus more by distracting him with whatever he could think of; scaring, throwing rocks, insults. Most of them went over his head until Bumblebee mentioned Arcee was coming which got the seekers attention but was disappointed to see that she was in fact not there. Arcee's training didn't change that much, she just fought with more ferocity and cunning than she did the day before.
Starscream and Arcee met at their usual training site, they stood a few feet away from each other and did a bow of respect before they got into combat position.
Arcee ran toward Starscream and jumped into the air and shot a devastating kick his way which was easily blocked by the seeker. Arcee did a back flip and landed away from him but then preceded to charge towards him throwing well aimed volleys of punches. Starscream blocked each one then nimbly swatted the last punch and began to turn the tides, Arcee found herself being pelted by punches that she was expertly blocking. Arcee tried to sweep Starscream from under his legs but he did a back flip landing on his hands then flipping again landing on his feet. Arcee activated her wrist blades and Starscream readied his claws, they ran towards each other and the sound of colliding metal ensued. They stood there with their arms crossing each others, one trying to over power the other. Their power struggle ended and they began swiping at each other and each collision was met with resistance, they were surrounded with sparks flying in all directions. Trying to change their approach they both swung a powerful roundhouse kick at their opponent, the kicks met in an 'x' arc and the struggle for power began again.
"Impressed?" Starscream smirked.
"Don't get cocky," Arcee scolded.
Starscream chuckled and the pair separated, with a powerful thrust of their weapons a loud clang was heard from the connection.
"What happened Arcee? You used to be able to knock me over no problem, you're not losing your touch are you?" Starscream gloated.
Ignoring that comment Arcee knocked Starscream's claws out of the way prepared to finish this, she rushed him but lost her footing and tripped into him. The sudden unexpected weight caused Starscream to fall onto his back carrying Arcee with him. Arcee landed on Starscream's chest, leaving their stupor they stared into each others eyes their faces merely inches apart. They began to lean towards each other slowly closing their eyes, it ended as soon as it began. Their eyes shot open realizing what they were about to do, Arcee stood up brushing some dust that accumulated off of her. Starscream did the same, an awkward silence came over them neither one wanting ask the other what almost transpired here.
"T-this looks l-like a good place to s-stop," Arcee flushed at her stuttering.
"Y-yeah s-sure," Starscream almost kicked himself at his stuttering as well.
Arcee began heading for base with Starscream in tow a few feet behind her at all times.
As they entered Starscream watched Arcee walking down the hall most likely heading towards her quarters. Starscream sighed and plopped himself against a wall in the main control room, he began thinking of a certain two-wheeled fem and what almost transpired.
'I can't believe we almost kiss-, NO! Everything was going so smoothly and now this happened! She probably hates me again after that incident. Besides it was an accident, it's not like I actually like her or anything! Right? ...Slag!' as Starscream pondered this Ratchet appeared with a small can of oil in his hands not noticing the seeker.
'She'd probably never return my feelings anyway. Primus! I've never been good at these sorta things,' Starscream watched Ratchet type some keys into the computer and suddenly had an idea.
Starscream got up and walked over to the medic "Hey Ratchet I have something I need to ask you."
"What's your question," Ratchet asked taking a sip of his oil.
"Well you see there's this fem and-" Ratchet choked on the oil and quickly spat it out.
"YOU LIKE ARC-!" Starscream quickly silenced Ratchet before he could say anymore.
"What are you doing? Do you want the whole base to find out?" Starscream demanded letting go of Ratchet.
"Sorry it just came as a surprise that's all," Ratchet said getting his composure.
"Why would it surprise you that much?" Starscream questioned.
"Uhhh, no reason," Ratchet said trying to avoid the question.
"Riiight, as I was saying I like her but I don't know what to do with these newly found feelings. Do you have any advice?" Starscream asked.
"Do I look like the kind of bot that knows these things?" Ratchet asked.
"I didn't have any other choice! Bulkhead would've pounded the slag out of me, Bumblebee is still too young to concern himself with these sorts of matters, and Optimus I feel would be too much like a father figure in this subject." Starscream explained. "So will you please help me?" Starscream pleaded with his signature puppy dog eyes.
Ratchet fidgeted under Starscream's gaze, already hating this conversation the moment he realized just where it was headed. Ratchet began thinking of a way to appease the seeker without getting him killed, Ratchet is not one to play matchmaker.
"Look you and Arcee seem to be very... close nowadays. The best thing you can do now is to tell her how you feel, worst thing she could say is no." Ratchet said.
Starscream mulled this over until growing a smile "Thanks Ratchet, your advice really helped."
Starscream thanked the medic one last time before exiting the main control room, Ratchet let out a sigh of relief now that the awkward conversation finally ended. Ratchet began typing away at the main computer until his eyes widened in horror.
'There is so much more worse things she could do than say no! I've doomed that mech.'
Later...
Starscream stood in his quarters which was nothing special but simple enough with a berth, work table, and a large mirror. Starscream stood in front of the mirror mentally preparing himself for meeting Arcee later. Starscream stood for a while admiring himself until he saw something strange, he got closer to the mirror and realized he had a scar on his right cheek. He began feeling it wondering where it came from, shrugging it off thinking he got it from his fight with the Vehicons Starscream exited his room. Starscream walked down the halls and stopped in front of Arcee's quarters, he stood there trying to muster up the courage to talk to her. After a while Starscream raised his hand and knocked three times, Starscream was greeted with silence. He placed his audio receptors to the door and listened, he heard petite footsteps heading towards the door and Starscream quickly composed himself.
The door slid open and Arcee stepped out with a questioning look, Starscream tried to look past her into her room but the door slid shut before he could make out anything.
"Can I help you?" Arcee asked crossing her arms.
Starscream flinched and began fidgeting around before being able to say a simple sentence.
"If you don't have anything to say than I'm leaving," Arcee began to head back into her room.
"Wait!" Starscream had Arcee's attention but found himself tongue-tied yet again. "I just want to talk, we haven't had a nice conversation in a while."
Arcee thought about it and it was true that last time they had their 'talks' was before Starscream's new training regiment.
"Fine," Arcee started walking in a random direction beckoning Starscream to follow. "So what do you want to talk about."
"First I just want to say I'm sorry for how our training session ended," Starscream said with his wings lowering in sadness.
Not even Arcee could deny that Starscream looked kind of cute when he did that, she couldn't resist comforting him when he was like this. At least before Starscream lost his memories she had a reason.
"It's okay really, it was my fault anyway I did trip," Arcee reassured the seeker.
"Well as an attempt to change the subject let us resume talking about you, you know so much about me yet I know so little about you." Starscream said.
"Well as I said before there's not much to tell, before the war I lived a quiet life in Iacon. I went to classes and learned circuit-sue aside from that I lived the life of a normal femme never having to worry about my future. When the war started I aligned myself with the Autobots, one time I was surrounded by Decepticons and I applied my acquired skills. Needless to say the Autobots were impressed and they sought me out," Arcee explained.
"I still can't believe all that has changed since I've been gone, how could all this happen?" Starscream asked.
"I don't know, no one knows how it all completely fell apart," Arcee answered.
"Please Arcee do you know anything that can help me remember my lost past?" Starscream asked.
Arcee was silent not knowing how to answer that, any slight slip up could bring back the Starscream that the Autobots loved to hate.
"I'm sorry, we found you in the forest in stasis-lock with a gaping whole in your chest. How you got into that state we don't know," Arcee lied.
Starscream sighed sadly not willing to persist any further. His mood shifted after realizing something.
'Now is a good time as ever.'
"Arcee, I have something important to tell you," Starscream said becoming more nervous.
"What is it?" Arcee asked seeing Starscream's nervous tension.
"Well you see I think I l-,"
"Starscream I need to speak with you," Optimus appeared.
Starscream greeted the Autobot leader with a shocked expression while Arcee was giving Starscream an incredulous stair.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Optimus asked.
"No not at all, Starscream was just about to tell me something," Arcee explained.
"I-it can wait, so Optimus what do you have to inform?" Starscream asked happy to change the subject.
"I believe you're ready to go on patrol by yourself and I need someone to take the next shift. If it's no trouble do you think you could do it?" Optimus asked.
"Yeah sure," Starscream answered heading for the exit of the base. Starscream saw Arcee's questioning glance "Don't worry we'll talk later."
Starscream exited the base and transformed flying into the night sky.
Starscream's patrol wasn't very eventful, as he was planning to head back to base something caught his attention. Various impressive sports cars in a row were revving their engines, curious Starscream did several laps around said cars to see what would ensue. A human female wearing not too concealing clothing from what he could guess appeared holding something. She waved a checkered flag and the drivers pushed their gas petals, the race was on. Starscream began following very intrigued, one particular vehicle with a red paint job and gold rimmed tires was doing very well. Another vehicle bumped into it and the red one retaliated by causing the other to crash. Starscream's curiosity was replaced with disgust as the red vehicle began decimating the rest of the competition.
Not being able to ignore what happened Starscream swooped in and used one of his wings to cut down a tree to the side of the road. The tree collapsed in front of the sports car just barely crushing it, Starscream laughed and began to head back to base until something else caught his eye.
"Hey watch the paint!" the vehicle began to morph, changing its form into a sleek robotic form.
Starscream transformed and landed in front of the unfamiliar mech pointing his missiles towards him.
"Freeze Decepti-scum!"
"Starscream? What are you doing here? It's me Knockout."
"I don't want to listen to whatever you have to say!" Starscream yelled.
"What are you going on about? Oh right I almost forgot, your still a little loopy after Megatron prodded around that twisted mind of yours." Knockout chuckled.
"What are you talking about? Do you have information about my past?" Starscream demanded.
"Depends who's asking" Knockout mulled.
"Tell me now!" Starscream flexed his claws.
Knockout flinched at hearing the horribly familiar sound of Starscream's extended claws.
"Oh no, not until you give me compensation," Knockout smirked.
"You aren't in any position to barter with me, just one comm will get you surrounded with the rest of the Autobots." Starscream smirked back.
"You actually joined them? You must be more out of it than I thought. No matter, what's stopping me from comming the Decepticons we do out number you," Knockout rebutted.
"Simple, I'm sure your leader is smart and hearing that you got into human affairs will not make him happy." Starscream chuckled at seeing the cons' eyes widen.
"S-so what, even if I avoid the possibility of getting in trouble with the boss I still won't tell you anything. So if you want me to comply you better listen to what I have to say," Knockout said enjoying Starscream's frustration.
"Fine what are your demands?" Starscream finally gave in.
"It's quiet simple really, your going to have to be a little patient that's all." Knockout explained.
"What! You will tell me now!" Starscream's anger was obvious.
"All in good time Scream. Right now though you have to make sure that none of the other Autobots know what transpired here. If any of them find out there will be major repercussions," Knockout explained.
"If you hurt her- er I mean them you will be sorry!" Starscream extended his claws in a threatening motion.
"All you have to do is comply and... wait a minute her? Oh now I get it, you've got a thing for the two-wheeler that explains it. So what, did you frag that yet?" Knockout laughed.
"Why yo-" Starscream was interrupted by a beep from his comm.
"Starscream are you finished?" Optimus' commanding voice asked.
"Remember Starscream keep this between you and me, your memories will come soon enough." Knockout said.
"Starscream?"
Starscream placed two fingers to his comm "Everything is..."
Starscream glared daggers at Knockout before saying "Under control, I'll be heading back to base soon." Starscream ended the call.
"Good, as I said before I will demand compensation for helping you. After you get your memories back I'll want something in exchange. Remember, all in good time," Knockout said before transforming and driving down the road.
Starscream stared at Knockout's fleeting silhouette before transforming and heading back to base.
Then he got a call.
"So Starscream what did you want to tell me?" Arcee's voice commed in.
"..."
"Starscream?"
"It was nothing important, see you back at base."
"Okay... see you back at base than."
After Arcee hung up Starscream let out a large sigh and sped up to base so this day would just end.
Meanwhile...
Knockout drove down the dirt road of the Nevada dessert annoyed just imagining what the dust would do his engine. Knockout began chuckling sinisterly.
'Until next time herr kommandant heh heh heh hehhh!'