Another one! Yay! Hopefully I haven't taken on more than I can chew. I've started updating Surprise, Surprise too... haha
Starscream ran until he reached Ratchet's medical bay. He used the door jamb to stop his sliding as the door opened and he looked in. He grimaced. Fancy that. Ratchet wasn't in there. He looked down both corridors, hoping to see him, but did not, so he did the only think he could think of. A burst of air flew from his vents equal to a sigh and he headed towards the main room. A conversation was going on between Sam and the other Autobots. He stopped to listen.
"So, 'Bee, it's true?" Sam tilted his head slightly as he looked up at the small yellow 'Bot nervously, "It's true you guys are leaving?" He'd heard about a ship, even seen other bots bringing in large amounts of materials, but he hadn't been allowed to see what was going on. He wasn't an idiot.
'Bee only nodded, "Yeah, we have to."
"Why?" Sam turned his head slightly to look at Optimus.
Bumblebee hesitated. He saw the tears welling up in both Sam and Mikaela's eyes, "I'm sorry. If it was up to me, I'd have us stay. It's complicated, and to tell you the truth, I don't really know for sure," he said dejectedly.
"Whoa, whoa, wait, let me get this straight," Sam's voice suddenly held a tone of anger, "you're all leaving, and you don't even know why?" His hands went out in a term of frustration, "Have you all blown your circuits?!" he finally dropped them to his sides, defeated. Sam looked away, unable to bear looking into his best friend's blue optics and frowned. His eye caught something move and he glanced, seeing Starscream disappear down a different corridor.
"Sam," Optimus saw where Sam had looked and said, "If we had any other choice, I would have us stay," A solemn tone laced his voice, "it isn't a choice I made lightly,"
"So, you chose to leave?" Sam asked. Of course, to the 'Bots he was being irrational, yet he didn't know the entire story, "You chose to leave even if you don't know why? I don't get it,"
Optimus nodded to the man, "It's hard to understand, Sam," he let out a sound like a sigh, "it was something that Starscream told me. If we do not leave, this planet is in danger,"
"Starscream, huh? You know," Sam almost growled, "I am not around here that much anymore, granted, and I can even tell there is something up with that oddball Seeker," he scoffed, "besides, this planet was in danger before and you guys kept it fine then,"
"You are right," Sunstreaker walked out of the passageway, having parted from Starscream in his endeavor to talk to Ratchet. He looked down at the humans. A moue look crossed his features as he knew where this conversation was going. Sam turned to the new voice. After all the time he had spent around them, it was hurting even him to leave, "About Starscream," he started, kneeling to the small human, "he is different, but you can't hold that against him,"
"You sure do,"
"That…" He paused when he didn't know how to say the words he was looking for, "that's different,"
"How so?"
Sunstreaker didn't have an answer for that. He huffed, "The point is, just because he is a little strange, you can't say that he is wrong. None of us can,"
"Looks like Sunny's jumped on the bandwagon…" Cliffjumper noted with little enthusiasm.
Sunstreaker glared up at Cliffjumper but chose not to comment. Sam put out a hand and circled it in front of him. Sunstreaker jerked his head back in confusion. Even with his anger, Sam shook his head with a slight smile in disbelief. Even after all this time, they still had so much to learn, "It means to tell me more, enlighten, explain,"
"Ah," Sunstreaker nodded, "Perhaps Optimus can tell you, or maybe… Screamer can himself," He looked to his leader with beseeching optics. No matter how strange things seemed, the humans had the right to know.
"Sam, Starscream…" he looked up to Optimus with beseeching optics, trying to find a way to explain, "He's changed."
"Changed? Changed how?"
"There are many aspects of this even we do not understand, so it is very difficult to tell you," Optimus replied.
Sam started to become more irritated at them the more he thought about it. Why were they avoiding telling him? How could his friends – family even – just up and leave him like this? There had to be another way, there had to, so he tried a different approach, "Well then, why can't we just go with you?"
"Sam I -" Optimus stopped, startled by the sudden question, "I don't think that is a good idea. Just like here, Cybertron will be in as much, if not more danger; I can't willingly put you in danger like that,"
"Besides, we are not sure that there is breathable oxygen on Cybertron," Bee cut in, trying to sound helpful, "and if there was, it might kill you nonetheless from all of the toxins in what little atmosphere we have left. No one has done an assessment like that in a long time."
Optimus suddenly looked up when he heard Starscream and Ratchet approach. He watched as the two spoke and got quiet as they got closer… and especially when they cut their speech suddenly, more with the realization that they were no longer alone.
Ratchet gave Optimus a quick apprehensive glance and looked away. Busted.
Starscream's optics went to his creator's and he looked at the humans. Their expressions said it all. Instead of saying anything, Ratchet tore him away, "Let's go, you need to make sure this will actually work and that you're absolutely right," Ratchet pushed the Seeker roughly, seeming not all that pleased with whatever Starscream had said to him. The Seeker didn't object as he gave one more saddened glance to the humans.
"Ratchet, wait!" Sam suddenly called out, halting both Medic and Seeker abruptly.
"What is it, Sam?"
"Starscream," he pointed accusingly at the Seeker, "Optimus said you've changed. I've noticed the change. No one will tell me anything. What kind of change?"
Starscream groaned internally. "That is really hard to explain."
Not accepting the answer, Sam regarded Starscream derisively, "Bullshit. You know what is going on, what exactly is going on. Why don't you tell us why you're leaving? Why can't you explain what this is all about?"
Starscream gave Sam a pained look, "I can explain. I just don't know if you will understand,"
"You think my primitive little mind can't handle it?"
Starscream frowned, insulted Sam would say such a thing. "I didn't say that. It's hard for my own kind to grasp it."
"Wrong answer, Screamer!" Sam yelled, having also gotten tired of the Seeker's cryptic and vague answers, feeling much like he was being run in circles, "I want to know. I want to know why you think you need to leave us. I want to know what the fuck gives you this entire all mighty claim over the Autobots!" His voice was more of a growl as he spoke with a grimace, tears falling down his reddened cheeks.
"It isn't like that," Starscream bit back.
"Sure looks like it to me."
"Sam," Starscream let something out like a sigh as he pulled from Ratchet's shocked grasp, "if it was that simple, I would."
"It can't be that hard to grasp," Sam argued, "stop beating around the bush and spill it!"
Starscream looked at the others around. He didn't want to divulge too much information at once. "Our demons of the past have returned. With it, danger beyond comprehension. I don't know if we will even survive this time." he looked away slowly, saddened by this human's persistence and sorrow and knowing there was nothing he could say to quell the man's strong emotions flooding him.
"Sounds like a cop out to me," Sam grumbled.
"It's not a cop out. Just because I can't explain the details doesn't mean it isn't any less dangerous!"
"Come on, 'Screamer," Sam threw out his arms in desperation, "I live in a world where giant alien robots came to my planet. There was danger then!" Starscream cringed, he could see the man was caving, "I was here for your death and when you were born again. Come on, how can something get more complicated than that?"
"Sam, I'm sorry. If we remain here, your world is in grave danger of being destroyed, devoured."
"Of w-what, huh?" Sam scoffed angrily, "Decepticons?" he assumed. "Come on Starscream, you should know me better than that," He hissed, eyeing the Seeker, "I think we can deal with whatever comes at us,"
"No, not Decepticons," He thought for a few short seconds the size divergence in Unicron and Earth. Yeah, it was nothing more than a snack… a very small snack. "Something much, much worse. Your planet would not be able to defend itself."
"Defend itself? Why would it need to defend itself?" Sam asked as he tilted his head slightly. "We have those cannons. Did a fine enough job keeping other Decepticons away."
"It isn't like that. Those cannons… wouldn't even leave a burn mark, Sam."
The man folded his arms over his chest defiantly, "Then please explain this to me,"
"I – I can't." the Seeker lowered his head in shame. His fist came down near the man lighter than he had wanted it to. He seemed also frustrated by the idea of not being able to admit what was going on.
"Lets get out of here," Sam said finally, upset at all of the Cybertronians. He wanted to understand when they needed to leave. He would probably be okay if he only knew. "I don't want to be around any of them."
"But Sam," Mikaela suddenly protested, pulling back, "Sam we can't just leave. You wanted to know. You can't be this angry at – hate them –for wanting to save the planet again."
"My ass I can't," Sam glared at her and then glared at the mechs standing around, but said nothing else, he tugged her again and she went with him, giving a sorrowful glance back at the bots… Obviously this was one war they would not win.
"I'm done!" Sam finally yelled as he disappeared around the corner, his hand flying up over his head and backwards as he stuck his middle finger to the base, unseen tears still running down his cheeks.
"Well that went worse than expected," Sunstreaker almost shrugged.
"Shut your trap, Streaker," Starscream chided with a thump to his helm, "That was a very big blow to them and for me. You also have no idea what it's like to know something and want to tell but can't."
The yellow twin growled at the thump, and his growl dissipated just as quickly, "I know it was hard for them to accept." Sunstreaker sighed with defeat and moved to stand, making his way past Optimus and Bumblebee towards the rec room for some relaxation.
Ratchet had been hurt by the man's outburst, but he did not comment. It wasn't something he did. He glanced at the sorrowful Optimus and 'Bee, then back to Starscream, deciding to loosen the tension, he spoke, "Well, might as well ask Optimus now that you're here,"
Optimus looked up. At first his expression bore a sadness even Bee hadn't seen in many years. His look then turned to curious, wondering what the two were conspiring, "Ask me what?"
Starscream shot Ratchet a dark glare but looked back towards Optimus, "Do you think you and Wheeljack have a moment that we can all speak?"
Just the name of the ones requested made Optimus cringe. Why was Starscream asking for those ones in a precise way?
"I will comm. Wheeljack, where will he join us?"
"My med bay, Optimus," Ratchet answered as he reached out and tugged at Starscream who complied and followed this time.
"Oh, and can you get Sunstreaker also?" Starscream looked over his shoulder as he was pulled.
Optimus raised an optic ridge at that particular request. What would he need Sunstreaker for?
About 15 minutes later, all who were requested were now in the med bay with the doors tightly sealed and locked so no one else could enter or hear. Optimus looked at Starscream expectantly, "So why have you asked us here?"
Starscream seemed a bit uneasy, but in his mind, he knew he was doing the right thing. He had to start somewhere and Sunstreaker was his best bet. "Well, you remember being here during the extraction," Starscream asked, everyone but Sunstreaker nodded, who was looking nervously about.
"I have the distinct feeling that some of the 'others'," he nodded toward Sunstreaker, "may have been reborn sparks as well, perhaps taking different names to conceal them. They wouldn't know who they are unless an extraction is done and the firewalls are broken," Everyone but Sunstreaker gave a surprised look at the Seeker's idea; in fact, he gave a confused look.
"Hey, listen, I don't know precisely what is going on here, but what does this have to do with me?" Sunstreaker asked looking to everyone, pointedly Starscream, "Did Sideswipe mess something up?" Sunstreaker was intentionally ignored for now while he ranted.
"Starscream, are you suggesting…?" Ratchet asked, looking in Sunstreaker's direction not even finishing his words before Starscream nodded.
This time Wheeljack seemed to be the voice of logic in this situation, his voice was even as he concluded out loud what he was thinking, "You want to perform extractions to find them… don't you?"
A momentary look and another nod.
"What's an extraction?" Sunstreaker asked.
Still ignoring the curious 'Bot, "And you want to perform one on… him?" Wheeljack's voice sounded anxious as he thumbed towards Sunny, "You can't be serious!"
A grimace and a nod.
By Primus, he was!
Ratchet, Wheeljack and Optimus stared at Starscream in disbelief as to what he was saying. He only shrugged at them. He couldn't help who was who.
Ratchet turned to Sunstreaker. Might as well tell him, since the cat was already out of the bag, per se, "Sunstreaker, you know about the extractions performed on Starscream, correct?"
"Uh… no?" it sounded more like a guess than an actual answer. He knew a little, everyone did, but it was nothing more than a couple of things, barring the rest that was on a certain need-to-know.
A growl from the medic, "Alright, to make a long story short, hold out your data transfer and I will show you everything," Ratchet demanded. Not wanting to meet with The Hatchet's wrath, the mech did as asked. Ratchet hooked his own line and connected the twin, flooding him with everything at once.
Sunstreaker stepped back in shock, ripping the data ports apart, causing Ratchet to yank his arm back and hiss as he held his now pained wrist. He stumbled and caught himself, "No… no!" He cried, his voice bordering on hysteria, "you - you can't possibly… You can't tell me that what he's been saying is all… true!"
No one answered, which was all he needed, "Now, with your permission, I would like to perform one on you," Ratchet said to the twin.
After Sunstreaker regained his composure, he gave a puzzled and suspicious glance at everyone with narrowed optics, "Why?" he asked, drawing out the word for a couple of seconds in skepticism.
"Because your dream, 'Streaker-"
"Stop calling me that," the twin said on impulse, cutting the Seeker off.
Starscream's optics furrowed, not liking being interrupted, "Then stop calling me Screamer – your dream had specifics in it. More specifically, Maccadam. It was his way of getting a hold of you. The only way he knew you'd understand who he was."
"But I have no idea who this Maccadam character is!" Sunstreaker defended.
He knows. Or maybe he's wrong. I hope he's wrong. "Not you two."
"Not 'us two' what, Screamer?"
"He…" Really, he didn't want to finish that statement. "Nevermind."
Sunstreaker already knew what he was failing to say and pointed to himself, his mouth agape, "Me? You think I might be one of those Ancient guys? And who the pit is Maccadam?"
The Seeker gave a very slight nonchalant shrug, "If I'm right, you'll know."
"What about Sideswipe? He will know I am offline and if he doesn't find out why, he will go crazy!"
"If he's gotten a hold of you… Then your brother is most definitely involved," Starscream supplied hesitantly.
"Primus, you're evasive as hell, Screamer." Sunstreaker murmured.
Starscream only gave him a thoughtful glance, as if watching the twin would tell him everything he wanted to know. He remembered the mech who wasn't fond of twins. The mech believed them to be nothing but bad luck. Why he had come to this conclusion, Starscream would probably never know.
"Should I have him come in, then?" Sunstreaker asked, looking to everyone.
Optimus gave a nod, "Might as well have him here now before we start."
"-Hey bro, you need to come to the med bay, quick!-"
"-Wha? What for? Man, you made me lose my game, goober!-"
"-What?-" Sunstreaker was caught completely off guard, -Di – did you just call me… a – a goober?-" he asked, flabbergasted.
"-You ruined my game,-" Sideswipe pouted.
Sunstreaker facepalmed in the bay and shook his head with an indignant sigh making all there give him a curious look.
Why him? Why of all the mechs in the world, was he stuck with Sideswipe again? "-Never mind that now, we have more important things to talk about. You are not gonna believe the shit I am hearing in here! It blew my processor away!-"
"-Ha! Kinda hard to blow away what isn't there isn't it…?-" Sideswipe asked archly. A pregnant silence answered him, "-Ha, burn!-"
"-Just get in here-"
Sideswipe cringed at the growled command. He know that no nonsense voice, "-I was so close to winning too,-" was his last remark before he got up, intent for the medical bay.
"-Aww.-" Sunstreaker retorted coldly, "-Burn.-"
Sideswipe was at the bay doors a few moments later. As if Primus had commanded it, the doors unlocked and opened on their own accord. Ratchet's optics went to the door, curious how they had opened without him unlocking them first. He stole a glance at Starscream, suspecting him to be the culprit, but there were more important things to deal with than the instant-door-open-technique. He went to Sideswipe, gave him a little information, then looked at his wrist before giving Sunstreaker a pointedly evil glare, "Wheeljack, would you mind?" He asked, his optics never leaving the yellow twin.
Wheeljack nodded and the next to nearly fall was Sideswipe. It didn't take long for him to come to the same conclusion that his brother had made, "Me first!" he chimed with excitement.
"Hold it, Sunstreaker goes first," Optimus nodded towards the yellow twin, "he was asked first,"
"Ratchet, is there any way to speed this up? Ya'know, instead of having to go through their entire life again?" Wheeljack asked. "We know what we are looking for now."
"Perhaps… I can give it a try," Ratchet nodded, looking at Sunstreaker and jerking his head slightly toward the unoccupied berth. The yellow warrior lay down slowly on the waiting berth that accompanied the Memory Extraction Machine, "Is it gonna hurt?"
"You may experience some strange sensations, but I do not think it hurts,"
Starscream's optics went to Ratchet. It was fully apparent that he had never had these done to himself. "My aft!" he suddenly growled, "I felt everything-" he leaned into the twin, his optics flashing mischievously, "prepare to feel all the pain you've ever felt in your entire life flash before your very spark, my friend," he patted the twin with a smug smirk and stood up, backing away.
Sunstreaker was suddenly wishing he wasn't the first to undergo this procedure.
The terrible duo, Primes, perish the thought!
