I couldn't go back to the Decepticons, they would kill me, or worse.

I can't just leave that Autobots, I'm still a fragging target!

I can't go back to Cybertron..cause it's just a rust ball at this point.

I can't even go back to my tr-

..frag.

...maybe I can just stay in stasis.

They don't need me.

They'll win.

It's fine.

Everything is fine.


Ratchet POV:

I yell one thing at a would be Decepticon and he has a..Panic attack? Shutdown?? MENTAL BREAKDOWN???

Whatever he's having it isn't healthy.

His entire body is shaking, wings n' all. Whatever mental stability StarScream has isn't very stable. He isn't erratic per say, but his systems are overheating. Fragger isn't breathing correctly!

Before he can melt himself I put him into stasis. Primus..how did his previous medic even deal with him?

I'll have to explain this to Optimus.

He isn't going to like this.

How was I supposed to know the Cold Construct Flight Form who's been snuffing sparks since the start of the war..would have a breakdown just cause I yelled at him?

Altho it could've been something else that triggered this.

Whatever made StarScream start acting different must have been..

..What did happen?


Optimus POV:

Ratchet informs me he snapped at StarScream, usually this would not be a problem. Unfortunately this is not usually. StarScream is well know for having a comeback and returning a verbal jab with a stab laced with poison.

According to Ratchet he got very quiet, then his entire body began to shake.

While the shaking wasn't a big problem the incorrect respiration was causing his systems to overheat rapidly, this is why Ratchet put him into stasis.

Ratchet is unsure what triggered this reaction, the words or the volume. We can't be certain.

I imagine it was not one thing that triggered this reaction, I am not a psychiatrist, but StarScream carried a physically harmful chemical in his cockpit, woke up in our base and more than likely cannot return to the Deceptions even if he wanted to.

I'm not sure if Unicron had any hand in it.

I doubt he didn't.

It seems he was under a critically large amount of stress.

Even if he was my enemy, that amount of stress might as well be torture.


It feels like the world is shaking.

I'm not standing.

More like floating.

Almost like space..

It's...purple.

"You won't get rid of me for long"

frag.

"I'll be back"

I know..

"I'll be sure to spend lots of time with you~"

no thanks.

"Don't you want to speak with me? Primus's favored bird"

I'm not fond of that title..

Can't I just have a nightmare about Megatron instead?

"You can't ignore me forever~"

The purple grows brighter, closer, it almost reaches out.

Like a living being.

"I'll have you yet little bird"

...please leave me alone.


StarScream POV:

ugh..my sensors sluggishly return my consciousness. Kill a god and he visits you in your dreams. Not a lesson I thought I'd learn.

When did I go into stasis?..

Did the medic force me into stasis??

Why?

"Oh good you're awake." When did that fragger get so close?!

I must've jumped, damned Autobot medic laughed.

"You had some kind of malfunction. Any idea what triggered it?" He said that far too casually for my taste.

I don't know.

What was it I was thinking about?

...wait

"Okay so you seem to have remembered the trigger, great. Stop focusing on it! Or I'll put you in stasis again!" The medic grabs my wrist to show me my own shivering hand.

huh?

Why?

what?

"I'll call Optimus, he wanted to discuss something with you." My breathing is slightly too fast, frag all, I do retain the trauma's of my..er

Past?

Future?

My future self!

I'm going to die.

No, I'd rather be dead now than have to deal with whatever any of my enemies are planning!

FRAG.

Then something hits my head, "Must I make you unconscious again?" it was a wrench.

Does he usually hit his patients with wrenches? Who is that meant to help?..

"..i I'm not..I could just..use a flight." It's difficult to get words out. I don't love the seemingly repeating pattern of me losing full functionality vocally.

The medic doesn't like my answer. That much is obvious. He sighs "...I'm going to regret this aren't I?" asking no one in particular.

My wings perk up with even the thought of not being stuck inside, on the ground, in chains.

I'm unsure what expression I'm making but if the doctor's bewildered look is anything to go by it isn't one I've made in millennia.

"You'll let me..fly?"

Optimus takes this exact moment to walk into my makeshift room.

He's making the face my medic made before, what was it again?

Sympathy?

"Of course we will. We wouldn't force you to stay grounded unless it was due to severe circumstances." I won't deny such an offer.

I don't know if he means what he says, I'd rather not take that chance.


The medic argued with Prime primarily on wether I should be allowed to fly freely, purely with lingering distrust to fuel him.

Ratchet leads me to an elevator, I didn't know humans had this kind of machine..in this size.

what did they use this for?

A thought for another time I suppose.

The view from the top of the Autobot base isn't half bad. No where near as nice as the view from Vos, it'll do. I find myself at the edge, the wind flowing against me.

I lack the care to not indulge my need to spread my wings.

"If you fall off I'm not going to fix you" That is a terrible lie. Neither of the medics I know would leave me to rust even if I had fallen.

..I wonder how he's fairing.

Even without me they are likely to survive, previous me wasn't all too helpful to them and they survived just as well then.

I have nothing to worry about.

...I hope.

Those two are my only allies..Unless you want to count my ex-enemies the Autobots.

I glance back at the Autobot medic.

I wouldn't. They might like me for having not slashed them half to death whenever we have met, but that doesn't mean they won't shoot me if they think I'm trying to mess with them. Paranoid bastards.

..There's a grave up here.

I recognize the horn, frag.

I quickly shift my gaze away from evidence that I'm not innocent. None of us are, it's a war. Wether the soft sparked Autobots understand that though..

I wouldn't bet on it. Optimus sure, any of the others are not as likely.

..hold on..

"Medic?" Ratchet eyes me warily.

"It would be wise to remember M E C H. Unfortunately for us all the last time I was forced to interact with them I failed to eliminate their leader.." I use a less than pleased tone, damned humans.

Ratchet hums thoughtfully, or perhaps it's disbelief.

I'm fairly sure I haven't informed this medic of my timely awareness. Although, MECH is a real threat, belief or not.

"Disappointingly, I would be a fool to not heed your ominous warning. Given the circumstances." Oh.

It would be foolish.

MECH is not without danger, eager to rip us apart to find something worth research. I could almost admire their dedication.

If I weren't a target myself.

Accursed fleshy bags of curiosity, they will destroy themselves just because of a minor difference. I can't let them use or biological mechanisms to cobble together a filthy mockery of a machine.

Disgusting creatures.