Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, never had and certainly never will do… a shame...
A/N: THIS IS A BRAND-NEW CHAPTER! 100% NEW MATERIAL! This is where the EXTENDED part of the title come in! I'll deepen the story, fill some plot holes, and I'll also, later, COMPLETELY re-work a plotline that I now deeply dislike the way I handled the character involved the first time around. STAY TUNED! Remember, folks, that this story is FIFTEEN YEARS OLD! Be kind to me and I hope my writing has improved.
Rating: T for this chapter, M overall.
Chapter 3: Ballad of a Screaming Star
*Six Months ago, Nemesis Brig, the day after the battle*
In hindsight, it had been a stupid idea.
'Yeah… as the humans say, famous last words…' Starscream thought bitterly as he sat there, nursing several injuries. 'Its all Megatron's fault anyway! Stupid old rustbucket don't even know when to lie down and fragging die like a mech!'
Starscream was glaring at the wall in front of him, red optics dim and tired, one of them cracked from a direct hit, almost completely dark. His right wing was slashed with several deep cuts, made with what could have been claws, or even an electro whip. It was logical to think that, most likely, it was the later. He leaned back against the wall, winced hard as the back of his wings met the cold wall, and leaned forwards once more with a deepening scowl, an angry grimace, really. An ugly expression, to be true.
"I'm gonna fragging KILL that stupid old slagger, someday! Oh yeah, and then I will rule the Decepticons! See if he likes being whipped like an electro-dog!"
He ranted to himself not-too-quietly for a while, making the guard at the entrance of the cell block roll his optics with resigned annoyance. Astrotrain did not like Guard Duty, even less when the sole prisoner they held was a pissed-off, once-more-caught-plotting SIC. The large Triple changer turned his audio setting to the lowest level allowed while on Duty to tune the noisy jet out.
He listened to some music from a human radio station they caught down there as he willed the hours away, counting them until his replacement came. However, far sooner then it should, a couple mechs left the elevator and walked towards him.
Astrotrain narrowed his optics and stepped in front of the two jets, blocking their path forward. They did stop and Thundercracker even looked defiantly up at him, arms crossed over his chassis. Astrotrain sighed internally but he said, his tone as level and hard as could be.
"He ain't allowed any visitors. Megatron's orders."
Skywarp stepped forward and smiled enticingly.
"Aw, c'mon 'Train! We aren't here to break him out, you know it! We're moral support… and some energon, maybe."
The shuttle was not the most devoted of mech, he eyed the two higher-ranking fliers warily for a few more moments, before squaring his shoulders.
"I'd get in trouble with Lord Megatron if I let you through. I ain't too keen on getting' my aft handed to me. He was pretty fragging ticked off this time."
"Astrotrain." Thundercracker said as he stepped closer next, standing beside his bondmate. "We are not going to tell, if you don't. Just five minutes."
There was a long moment of silence while the large shuttle mech seemed to ponder the pros and cons, then he just huffed and shrugged. He stepped to the side and slapped the release pad, letting the door slide open.
"Five minutes. Am already countin'. Move it, you two!"
Skywarp grinned and Thundercracker nodded as they stepped through the door leading to the Brig itself. It was easy enough to find their Trine Leader… just had to follow the screaming. They stopped in front of the cell and Skywarp, upon seeing their creation's state for the first time, had an aborted motion forward as if to reach for him despite the forcefield blocking his path.
He let his arm drop to his side again and schooled his features. Starcream brought this ti himself with his reckless, stupid behaviour! He should know better! He DID know better. But still, he couldn't help the wave of worry and the desperate need to comfort. A Carrier will always be a Carrier, even of their own Creation now despise them so deeply…
"Starscream." He called loudly, to be heard above the ranting. "Starscream!" He repeated when the forst time didn't work.
He growled and all but shouted the last attempt using a much-hated nickname to get his attention at last.
"SCREAMER!"
FINALLY, the helm snapped towards the and red optics locked on the two other jets standing in front of the cell. The scowl he was already wearing deepened even more and got tainted with scorn and hatred. It hurt to see that expression directed at them, really… but they got used to it over the eons, since their Creation blocked almost completely the bond between them, after… well, after he came back alone from that science expedition, before the war even started.
"What?! And DON'T CALL ME THAT you MORON!"
Thundercracker, always the more level-helmed of the two, took a cube out of subspace and slid it into the slot used for that purpose. Starscream eyed him suspiciously, but then he huffed and went to the door to take it.
"Thanks. Why are you here? Its not like either of you care or anything…"
He sneered that last bit as scornfully as he could and watched with a gleeful light in his optics as they squirmed. Old fools. He was no sparkling anymore!
"You ungrateful little brat!" Skywarp spat, for the first time looking angry, and yes, disappointed. "We were going to say we convinced Lord Megatron to let you out early! But since you don't care, we'll go! Come, TC! He's not worth our time, anymore."
He grabbed his mate's arm and tried to drag him with him, but the larger seeker did not budge. In fact, he took a step closer to the field, red optics burning fiercely.
"Does it hurt, Starscream?" he asked quietly, tilting his head. "When you act out like that, reject us like yesterday's trash, does it hurt? In here? Or have you already sold your spark to Unicron for power? You…"
He let out a frustrated growl and huffed quietly, then turned around. Over his shoulder, as he walked away with Skywarp, he added.
"I don't know where we went wrong with you. I stopped trying to figure that out a long time ago. But Starscream… we are still your creators. Someday… you'll have your comeuppance. And we'll be there to pick up the pieces."
And then they disappeared, and Starscream was left alone to seethe in anger, this time adding his Creators to his long-winded tirade of grievance towards the Universe at large. He was, after all, so much better than them all!
"See if I care, you ungrateful, decrepit old scrapheaps! You mean nothing to me anymore! Nothing! I dont need ANYONE!"
If he noticed the tears streaming down his faceplates, he refused to acknowledge them at all. After all, future Ruler of the Universe DO NOT cry over their Creators!
*Present time*
After that battle and the latest failed attempt at Megatron's life, leading to yet another beating and stay in the Brig, Starscream stayed low for a while. The crafty Seeker knew how to play the long game after all.
And so, by being quiet, doing his duty and not making himself too visible outside of the minimum required… he could discern a change in their Mighty Leader. He watched, he observed, and he analysed. After all, he was a scientist at spark, and by function.
So, he had started to see changes. Megatron was usually quite predictable, but lately, had had diverged from the usual patterns the seeker was used to see. Both on the battlefield, and outside of it.
The first clue he got that something was off, was the first battle they had after that time Megatron and prime got stuck together. During the battle, contrary to the usual, Megatron did not immediately jump at the chance to battle Optimus Prime one-on-one.
Instead, he let Bruticus try to flatten the Prime while he engaged Ironhide and those annoying Frontliner Twins. He in fact seemed to go out of his way to avoid engaging Prime in battle.
Odd, to say and least, and completely out of character.
But that was only the first time.
In the following months, instances such as this continued to occur, in such as way as to not be obvious to the average idiot soldier. But Starscream was not an idiot, despite is many faults. He smelled that something was "fishy', as the humans say.
For six months he gathered evidence, little clues, and he started analyzing them. It had something to do with Optimus Prime, and it all started right after they were freed from the cave-in some months ago.
"Old fool, what are you hiding?" he pondered aloud, as he examined yet another, more recent instance of Megatron just vanishing from the base for a few hours.
Where did he go? Why? What was he doing? He what can Starscream do to make use of this information? It had happened once every month for the last six months. Megatron would disappear for half a day, then return and resume normal operations. And every time, to cover it up, Soundwave would run interference… cover his tracks, erase records, hide… something.
His gut instinct was telling him it had something to do with Optimus prime and that Cave-In incident. SOMETHING happened then… something important.
But what?
"You really should let that go, Star."
His Carrier's voice, just behind him, made him jump and drop the datapad he was studying. He spun around and glared at the dark seeker, crossing his arms over his cockpit.
"And what do you care what I do, huh? I'm long past listening to your advice, Carrier."
Skywarp's wings sank fractionally at the dismissive, cold tone but he still added, with a shrug.
"You're going to get hurt badly, if you keep this up. Lord Megatron doesn't like anybody poking their noseplates in his private business. Not that it had ever stopped you."
"Yeah, yeah." He waved a hand dismissively, huffing in annoyance. "I'm not a sparkling anymore. And besides, I will not get in trouble this time. I have a feeling this is too big to let go."
Skywarp just rolled his optics and growled in irritation at his wayward creation. Thundercracker was on Monitor Duty right now and so it was just him and Starscream. He would deal with him if he had to.
"Let. It. Go, Starscream! This time if you get caught, we won't be able to help you! I… I don't want to see my only creation killed for a stupid power play!"
Skywarp turned around, beyond frustrated. Starscream had long stopped being the lovely, shy Sparkling he had cherished so much but to become such a cold, ruthless killer… It made him wish to turn back time and try again. Foolish wish…
A touch on his wing made him tense and look over his shoulder. Starscream was standing very close now and leaning almost against the back of his wings. Red optics, far softer than he'd seen them in a long time, stared back at him with something close to fondness. Not quite love, no, but… One could hope.
"Carrier… Please stop worrying. I'm a grown mech. I can make my own choices, you know? Besides, I have a feeling all will be well this time."
There were no cameras in here, Starscream had made sure of it, and so he felt secure in showing a little bit of feelings. Nobody knew of the true relationship between the Command Trine, and it must remain that way. Not even Megatron, though he had a feeling Soundwave might know. Since he never even hinted at it, though, it remained uncertain what he did know.
Suddenly Skywarp spun around and wrap his rms around Starscream, making the younger seeker stiffen and freeze. He pulled the stiff frame close to his chest and trapped him securely in the confines of his arms.
"My little Star…" He whispered feeling his optics sting a bit with static, but he fought the tears fiercely. Primus damnit, he would not cry! He was a Decepticon Elite! "Where did we go wrong with you? I don't know, I don't… We failed, I failed, and I can't… fix it!"
It was then that Starscream broke the embrace and stepped away from his Carrier, looking bewildered. Where did that come from?! It had been millions of years since either of his creators showed that much affection or even concern for him!
"What do you think you are doing?" He intoned in a tone harsh and neutral, barely hiding his bewilderment. "What the FRAG do you think you are doing, Skywarp?! After millions of years, SUDDENLY you care again?!"
He hissed and bared his fangs, pointing the door imperiously. He was in NO MOOD to be coddled!
"Get OUT! NOW! I don't need or want your 'affection', and tell Thundercracker I said so, as well! FRAG OFF!"
Skywarp stood there unmoving for a moment, a bit shook but unsurprised by the sudden outburst of verbal abuse. It was the norm these days, even more since Starscream had been made SIC not long before they left Cybertron and outrank them both.
His wings dropped a few inches, before he forcefully pulled them in a high, prideful position again. He would not show weakness. He'd stand his ground. He said instead, keeping his own tone neutral.
"If this is what you want. I'll pass the message to your Sire."
And with that he turned and left. Leaving a fuming, slightly confused Starscream to make sense of this all on is own. He growled and glared at the closed door for a moment, before dismissing the whole encounter from his mind. Old fool… He had bigger fish to get after all.
It was a few weeks later, that something came to his knowledge that made him grin wolfishly. At last! A slip! Megaron and Soundwave left the base together, after secluding themselves several hours in the Command Center to do… something.
But Starscream was not an idiot, and he had hacked the blocks Soundwave put in place to prevent eavesdropping.
He what he heard made his spark soar!
"Soundwave, have you finished the preparations on the moon base to receive the package?"
Megatron's voice sounded staticky and hard to make out – Soundwave's jamming was hard to get through, so he wasn't complaining – but understandable enough.
"Affirmative, Lord Megatron. Operation can be launched at your Command."
Package? What package? What were they talking about? Starscream fiddled with the control to try and make it clearer.
"…*static*-form. Must not be too-*static*. Also get the medic, soon. It can't be help-*static*. Gives the coordinat-*static*-… Astrotain for pick-up."
"…-*static*you command, Lord*static*-…"
It abruptly cut off after these last few words and Starscream cursed. He was unable to regain access after that, either Soundwave changed channel at random, either he suspected someone was listening and changed the jamming frequency on purpose to keep them out.
"Curse them! Alright then, it just means I got to find out on my own then. Still… I have an idea where to start then."
He had work to do. And not much time, any day Megatron will launch this secret plan that involved a 'package' and kidnapping the Medic. He supposed he meant Ratchet… he'll have to see.
He would be ready to jump into action as soon as Megatron and his loyal lapdog did. He cackled to himself at the thought of finally busting the big secret and getting the best of his Glorious Leader!
-TBC-