- D-Drift?. . .
The seeker's vocal came out shaky, unsure if his processor was playing tricks on him or not.
- What the fragg are you doing out here?! - the samurai exclaimed with no anger, but genuine surprise - Aren't you supposed to be, I don't know, in the Nemesis or something?!
In front of the seeker stood Drift, a samurai-like warrior that once was a part of the Decepticons forces, but he defected, now in the Autobots side. They once were friends, comrades in battles, but now are enemies. That situation made Starscream's energon run cold, expecting the worst outcomes out of this encounter.
- I-I swear it isn't anything bad I-I-
The samurai put his servos in the air, a surrendering gesture as he stepped back.
- Hey, chill! I've heard part of your self mumbling. I'm not here to start anything. . . Unless you give me a reason to.
The seeker seemed shocked? Confused? Grateful? It was hard to tell for the ex-'con samurai, maybe it was all at once.
- You. . . Heard it?
- Of course, Screamer, it's hard not to hear someone screaming on a silent night.
Drift said with a rather sassy tone, but wasn't directly mocking Starscream. He scanned through the seeker's form, and his face twisted into a look of pain. If the SIC was a human, he would be red in shame. He sighed, sulking deeper into the rocks he was sitting on.
- By Primus, what the frag happened? You look like you just got in the path of a Destruction!
- You wish. . .
Drift circled around him a few times, the evident shock stretching across their face, and concern growing stronger on his processor as he took in more and more of the seeker's damage.
- That still doesn't answer me. What. Happened. To. You?
The demand from the samurai made Starscream flinch, but how could he avoid the question? He was utterly broken, barely patched up to Knockout's best efforts mixed with his own. Anyone could see he was struggling, and that's not counting the fact Drift heard him shouting his spark out into the lonely night. He took a vent, closing his optics for a moment to think.
- Megatron. That's what happened.
Drift's face grew confused, as he secretly moved his servo over his comms, activating it.
- Ah. . . I should've guessed it. But what was the reason this time around?
- A report I couldn't finish within one cycle. . .
A look of worry and slight shock grew into Drift's face, a servo going to cover his mouth slowly.
- You. . . Sure that was all? He really did that just because of a mission report??
- . . . No. . . But that isn't the case-
- That IS the case, Screamer.
He flinched at Drift's confrontation, wondering how he could say it without possibly triggering the samurai in front of him.
- Look at your frame for Frag's sake! You may be alive but you look like the whole Nemesis came crashing down on you!
The screamer avoided the Samurai's gaze, looking down to the ground as a vent came out of him.
- Drift. . . You're lucky to have left the Decepticons while you had the chance. Things haven't been good for a while. . .
Starscream's revelation made Drift's head cock slightly to the side, a look of surprise etched into his face.
- What do you mean?. . .
- *Sigh*. . .I mean that the Decepticons are going from bad to worse with each Deca-cycle that comes and goes. Megatron has been losing it for a while, all because of that damn forsaken energon-
The mention of a "forsaken energon" made Drift straighten up, a subtle shiver running through his chasis. Is that what I think It is? He promptly held a servo, cutting off the Screamer's ramble, but also secretly opening a comms links over to the Autobots command center. Maybe this could be worth something. . .
- Hold it. What do you mean by "forsaken energon"? Don't tell me it is-
- Dark Energon? I wish it wasn't.
Drift's gaze darkened at Starscream's confession. The only thing he didn't want to be true turned out to be the very reason why Megatron was unstable. The screamer kept going anyway, not giving time for Drift to process the information.
- All of our scientists, me and Shockwave included, have gone against the use of the substance, but he didn't hear it. He used it on himself and in others, tainting their minds, casualties being covered up. . . Scrap it, even before battles he would actively force-feed me that thing! No wonder I offlined Cliffjumper like a maniac, I couldn't even think straight!
His voice grew more annoyed and remorseful as he recollected back to the past memories of 'cons, mechs and femmes, that will never come back, all for the sake of research and experimentation. But what made Drift worry more for the seeker, was the fact that he actually confessed to have had contact with the substance, which could explain why Starscream was so unstable and dangerous sometimes. He have been tainted by that Energon as well, and maybe he still had it in his system.
- . . . Y-You gotta be joking, Screamer, he wouldn't be THAT reckless!
- Don't you remember he almost offlined me THRICE while you were still a Decepticon?! The same 'con who keeps trying to destroy the entire Cybertronian race with him?! You REALLY think he would try to play fair?!
Starscream went a little overboard. His usual raspy, forced vocalizer coming back as Drift knew it, a hint of hatred on the Screamer's voice. He wasn't lying. . .
- He's out to win. No matter the cost, even if that means killing his own team in the process. He doesn't care.
The words hung heavy in the air, as a moment of silence fell over the two bots. The atmosphere grew tense, and it stayed that way for quite a while. The Screamer sighed, seemingly calming down, looking directly to Drift, Optic to Optic.
- I am not seeking refuge, nor I am defecting from the cause. I. . . Just wanted to get this off my frame. One peaceful moment, is all I was looking for.
Now that he knew how the Seeker felt, Drift allowed his gaze to soften, a hint of compassion flashing onto his optics. He sat on the rocks by their side, not too close, but enough to be near him.
- I didn't said you should come to the Autobots, heck, I would get my helm cut off if I brought you in. They're too skeptical of you, specially. . . Her.
Starscream flinched at his words, knowing just who he mentioned. Arcee would definitely go after his helm because of what he did to Cliff.
- Don't. . . Need to remind me of that.
He sighed. His wings fluttered slightly, as he laid back to stare at the starry night sky. His optics focused on the twinkling marvel just out of reach. Good memories resided among the stars, the ones he mostly kept near to his spark. Will one day, I relive them again?
- . . . Look, I need to go now, ok? I don't want the others to think I just. . . Uhm, you know, got ambushed and come after me.
Drift spoke, getting up from the rocks they were sitting on. He gave a last look to Starscream, who sat back up after Drift's slight worry.
- It's fine. . .I will stay here for a bit more. . . Good luck on the way back, Drift.
Starscream gave Drift a small smile. A tired, rare sight, since Drift only recalled the Screamer smirking like a maniac. He chuckled slightly at the vision, waving.
- Until the next battle, Screamer, I suppose. Try to not get scrapped until then.
Starscream cracked a chuckle, waving back to them.
- I will try, don't worry.
Drift then, transformed into his Alt mode, speeding as far as where Starscream could see, leaving his line of sight. The screamer sighed, laying back on the rocks, optics back into devouring the sight of the cosmos above his helm.
". . . At least I have the stars to keep me company. . ."
★*★*★*★
ARK: AUTOBOT COMMAND CERTER
- So, correct me if I'm wrong, Drift. . .
The Prime spoke gently, hands together as he tried to make sense of what he just heard.
- According to what Starscream have said during the time you left your comms open - He paused, trying to find a way to continue - Not only he has been a victim of Megatron's wrath, but he also confessed that they're using Dark Energon on there own, with Starscream also getting caught on the cross-fire? Is that correct?
- Yes, Optimus, that's what he said.
The command center have been pretty quiet since the transmission Drift made to capture Starscream's words been broadcasted. Many didn't know what to believe. But then we have those like Arcee.
- I call that slag! - The femme voiced herself with clear anger on her vocalizer. - I doubt that seeker really is a "victim", You're glitching if you believe-
- Enough, Arcee. - Optimus raised a servo calmly, enough to make Arcee quiet down. - I agree that it is hard to believe in what has been told through the comms link, but I do see a hint of truth in what Starscream has told to Drift.
Arcee would protest, but she chose to be silent. Optimus took a vent, before he continued.
- Ratchet has been verifying the audio to see if he can find any inconsistency with their story. What I am uncertain though, is why he would come back, even after what Megatron has been doing to him.
- Didn't he said that he knew we wouldn't allow him in?
Spike, Bumblebee's human chimed in, voicing his thoughts into the discussion.
- He probably needs to come back because of Megatron. If he already suffers on their hands, I don't think it would be better if he run away.
- That is a possibility, thank you Spike. - Optimus nodded slightly to the human, before his gaze returned to his fellow Autobots - As of now, we can't jump into conclusions just yet, but it is better if we prepare. If everything verifies to be the truth, Megatron is weaponizing Dark Energon against us, which brings a whole new layer of problems into the table.
A collective sight could be heard through the room. That was going to be a long cycle. . .
★*★*★*★
NEMESIS: COMMON LOUNGE.
Another day has risen on the Nemesis, and 'cons have been doing their daily tasks. Some have just gotten out of their hab suites, others are already doing their daily jobs, and a few, like Starscream, are getting their daily portion of Energon.
- He WHAT?!
- Ya heard it, Screamer, one eighth of 'er portion. No more or less, mate.
The 'con serving Starscream protested. He cut rations again. . . He sighed, not much he could do in that regard. He left the line and sat in one of the makeshift tables on the lounge, staring at the Energon cube he just received. It wasn't enough. Does he really think that we are going to function properly with-
- Anyone here, Darling?
Starscream's thoughts were cut by a rather sassy vocalizer. As he looked up, he was met by the vision of one of the newest additions to the seekers, a beige 'con with some pink-ish details, a "fluttery ribbon" tied around his waist, and a pink visor also adorned his face. It's that new bot. . .
- No Glisten, sit down or whatever.
Glisten, the preppy seeker, sat down across from Starscream. He noticed the dull look on the Screamer's optics, his usual sassy tone giving place to a concerned vocal.
- Something seems to be in your mind. Did the higher guy do a number on you again?
The question caught the Screamer off guard. He knew Glisten had a knack for seeing through bots facades, but he didn't know he was being that obvious.
- I suppose. It's the 3rd time Megatron cuts rations in the last what, 200 cycles?? We are going to be running in fumes at this point!
His grip on the energon cube tightened slightly, which made it crack. The screamer panicked for a moment, thinking it was about to make a mess, but thankfully it just cracked, as he let a vent of relief. Glisten raised an optical ridge, curious at the Screamer's reaction.
- I thought you higher-ups needed to come into an agreement before such decisions. . .
- Usually, that's the plan! But sometimes Megs just. . . ugh. . . Does it himself. I bet that his metallic aft is hogging all the damn fragging Energon and!-
The preppy seeker held a servo up, cutting him off gently.
- Now now, don't get worked up over that. It's not your fault, is it?
- . . . I suppose it is not. - The screamer vented
- Then you don't need to worry about it that much! I'm sure he will see the issue. . . right?. . .
- I doubt that, Glisten - The Screamer vented before continuing - but I guess it doesn't hurt to hope for a little.
- That's the spirit!
Glisten chuckled slightly, servo covering his mouth.
- I will be moving on, I have some training exercises I need to complete before going on a scout mission. Ta ta darling! See you!
The preppy seeker leaned against one of the shiny, reflective pieces on the lounge's walls, going through it like it was a portal. Sometimes I forget he can do that. The Screamer vented once more, for what he felt was the 100th time this cycle. He chug down the Energon from the cube, which barely filled him, and got up to leave.
I can't afford to be late again.
There's more reports to do.
And I'm not willing to have my frame cracked once more.
★*★*★*★
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hello Hello! Sorry for the time it took for this chapter to release! I kinda got into an writer's block for this one, which is also why Glisten from Dandy's World got a cameo!
He's not gonna be a recurring character (unless y'all wanna see more of a mirror teleporting seeker), it's just because I didn't know which character to use on that scene with the screamer. I plan to make more cameos just for the funniest, though, they won't impact the story itself, think of it like filler characters!
Hope you enjoyed the reading! See you next time :)