A Wingless Seeker is No Seeker

by Innocent_human

Summary:

“You thought you could hide your little affair Starscream?” The gladiator eerily cooed.
“I’ll tell your lover that you’re waiting for him in the Well,” Megatron promised, words laced with a fake sincerity and dripping with venom. The tyrant cornered the seeker.

His shadow casting darkness over the smaller con. Harshly grabbing the Seekers helm so he was looking directly into Megatron’s cursed red optics.

“I have so much in store for you.”
Screams rang through the Nemesis. Many Decepticons and Vehicons alike turned down their audial range as the screams of Starscream grew louder and louder.
There was only screaming.

Notes:

Little writing exercise i did, based of a prompt from 'just-A-few-prompts' on Tumblr and no beta read

I MIGHT continue this depending on what you guys want

NOTE: I'm REALLY prone to mistakes so feel free to correct me

(if ur here cause of my last fic, dw ill update that soon)

Chapter 1: Denial

Starscream scrambled to get away from Megatron as the tyrant approached him.
“Please- please don’t!” The seeker screamed, horrified at the feeling of his wings hitting the wall.
“No- please lord Megatron!” The seeker begged, spark trembling uncontrollably in his equally trembling chasis. He was sure Optimus could feel his terror through their spark bond.
Megatron chuckled darkly, titling their head and giving Starscream a wicked toothy grin, “You thought you could hide your little affair Starscream?” The gladiator eerily cooed. “I’ll tell your lover that you’re waiting for him in the Well,” Megatron promised, words laced with a fake sincerity and dripping with venom. The tyrant cornered the seeker, his shadow casting darkness over the smaller con.
Harshly grabbing the Seekers helm so he was looking directly into Megatron’s cursed red optics. Leaving Starscream to claw hopelessly at the other cons large chasis.
Starscream’s spark faltered as Megatron’s single servo lifted the smaller seekers body high in the air by the face, strength dissipating as the after effects of the beating from before seeped through his processor. Warnings flashing against his optics, giving him the slightest mercy of not having to see Megatron’s intense gaze.
“I have so much in store for you.”

Screams rang through the Nemesis. Many Decepticons and Vehicons alike turned down their audial range as the screams of Starscream grew louder and louder.

There was only screaming.
—————
“MEGATRONN!” Optimus hollered. Vocaliser glitching and freezing from the immense strain he put. It was mid battle for an energon mine and once the grieving Prime found out that Megatron had appeared he wasted no time charging helm first through the groundbridge despite the objections of Ratchet.
Shooting targeted shots directly at Megatron ignoring other Vehicons in his way. Fury burned through his optics, fire gnawing at his hollow spark. The exact spark that should have been whole, split from the deactivation of his Conjunx.
The exact spark that was going to tear Megatron’s helm of his body.
Optimus charged at Megatron, their fight was like a brutal dance. Bullets wizzing everywhere while the two leaders fought, main energon lines torn, engines roaring, paint scratched and dented.

The tyrant grinned toothily. Smirking at the Primes rage. His plan was all coming together.
But this was merely the beginning.
He was going to take everything the Prime cared for.
“Whats gotten you so riled up Prime?” Megatron snarled gleefully, deflecting the usually stoic, now rage blinded Prime’s hurried blows. Megatron knew he was acting unnaturally, so much even his fellow Autobots steer away from Optimus’s line of fire. Frightened and surprised at their leaders outburst while the Matrix shrieks in disapproval within his chest.
Optimus threw a particularly hard punch to Megatron’s helm causing him to stumble back for a second. But that was enough time for the Prime to rip off his armour plating off his shoulder.

Adrenaline coursed through the tyrants energon lines, blooming in his helm. Intoxicating him. They have not fought like this in centuries.
Optimus threw another hit, in which Megatron caught firmly. Leading to the blue and red truck to attack using his other servo where Megatron held easily affectively trapping the Prime in place and drawing him close so they were, face to face mere inches away from each other. Both leaders struggling for dominance.
“What have you done.” Optimus shakily croaked out, as if he didn’t yet believe that Starscream-his star was gone. Strength and rage dissipating, replaced with heavy guilt and unyielding exhaustion. Hanging onto the single stand of hope left, maybe. Just maybe his Star was still alive, spark pulsing. Just maybe, somehow the terrible pulsing burning feeling that ripped through his spark was fake.
“Oh Prime, didn’t you feel it?” Megatron taunted “You felt his spark fade, didn’t you?”

“Where is he Megatron?!”

“Waiting for you in the Well of the Allspark, dear Prime.”
As soon as Megatron uttered those words of truth Optimus brain short circuited.
He knew it, deep down. But the words being said out-loud felt like a slap to the helm. And yet he didn’t want to believe it.
Optimus’s spark gnawed his circuits and flooded his processor while the Matrix of Leadership in turn, aggressively pulsated. Thrumming against his audials and pumping energon.
His spark and processor yearned for the head of the tyrant that snuffed out his Conjux’s spark.
While the Matrix, whispering the will of Primus, yelled that revenge would only lead to more suffering and to focus on the greater good.
But both agreed to one thing,
Justice.

Recovering, Optimus kicked Megatron in the torso effectively making him let go of this servos. Haphazardly finding the coding to ensheath his axe Optimus transformed his servo into an axe and swung it at Megatron’s abdomen. The ex-gladiator wouldn’t lose that easily and redirected the other’s axe so it hit the dirt. Megatron’s cannon powered up, the tyrant could feel the familiar surge of energy coursing through him and traveling up to his cannon. Aiming his signature weapon at Optimus’s spark chamber.
“Say hello to Starscream for me.”

Energon running hot in both leaders chasis flurries of bullets running through the battle feild. Optimus knew it was getting out of hand yet all he could think about is the glowing cannon aiming at his chest. The matrix was screaming at him to get out of the way yet his spark and processor preened under the thought that maybe, he’d be able to be with his spark mate again.

“OPTIMUS!” A familiar voice screamed snapping the Prime out of his grief soaked daze “GET OUT OF THE WAY!”
A baster shot hit Megatron in the shoulder where Optimus previously tore of the outer armour causing more energon so spurt out profusely and the warlord to shout in pain and fall back.
Acree dashed between the two affectively separating them.
“Optimus we need to retreat now! Bumblebee has sustained injures!” Acree gritted through her denta as more Vehicons closed in on them while a groundbridge opened behind Megatron, “The mine is a lost cause Optimus, snap out of it!”

The autobot leader faltered back, stunned before snapping back. The matrix taking hold once more, telling him to listen to his comrade.
Even from a distance Optimus could see the glee on the face of the one he once called a brother, as he retreated into the portal behind him. Causing the vehicons to continue to shoot at the left over autobots.

“Autobots retreat!” Optimus finally ordered, putting a servo on his audial to contact base. “Ratchet-”
Before the Prime could finish a ground bridge burst open behind them. With Acree waisting no time helping Bumblebee and Bulkhead through. The two wheeler speared the Prime one last spectacle glance before nodding and heading into the ground bridge.
As all three autobots disappeared into the glowing portal, the Prime took one last moment in the flurry of chaos.

“May the Allspark welcome you, my spark, Starscream.”
———-

“I assume the spark bond seperation was a success Shockwave?” The tyrant, Megatron mused as he gazed down at the heap of different coloured metal that leaked energon and coolant. The bots spark chamber was visible-ripped outwards , wings detached and strewn to who knows where, limbs gone leaving the bot’s chasis to leak even more energon, armour stripped leaving the sensitive protoform, cables and internals visible. The bot’s chasis was basically inside out, nothing could compare to the husk of a frame that greeted the two cons.
It was a miracle that they were even alive.
That bot was none other than Starscream.
“Affirmative lord Megatron, spark bond seperation was successful.” Shockwave robotically replied. “The outcome should be equivalent to a Conjunx Endura’s deactivation.”
The warlord darkly chuckled at the familiar sight.
“Repair him back till he’s functioning,” Megatron turned to leave, but turned his helm slightly to Shockwave, “Leave any unnecessary parts, I still have much in store for him.”
“Understood Lord Megaton.”

Chapter 2: Questions and Answers

Summary:

The autobot base was tense after the recent outburst of their usually stoic leader, they never saw him laugh, smile or cry.
Yet today they saw something more.

Notes:

Thank you for the amount of support on the previous chap!!!

I legit didn't realise i was spelling Arcee's name wrong till i uploaded the 1st chap mb 😭

Hope u all enjoy!!!

(TAGS HAVE BEEN UPDATED!!!!)

“Optimus, what in the pit was that?” Ratchet complained as he welded Bumblebee’s leg armour plaiting back up while the scout’s vocaliser winced in pain.

The autobot base was tense after the recent outburst of their usually stoic leader, they never saw him laugh, smile or cry.
Yet today they saw something more.

Ratchet began mumbling obscenities under his breath as he finished up pulling dents on Bumblebee’s frame.
Arcee was leaning against the base walls, arms crossed and looking down shakily trying to process what she saw.
Bulkhead was unusually still as he quietly hung by Bumblebee, providing his presence as comfort.

“Whoa what happened out there to get you all so gloomy?” A spiky haired girl jumped up from her place on the couch to lean on the railing of the platform.

“It’s nothing Miko-” Bulkhead began trying to brush off the subject before the lively girl kept on nagging and asking about it.

“Is it about losing that mine back to the decepticons? Oh oh! Did you run into that pesky screamer?” At this point Mink began jumping up and down in excitement to hear about her Cybertronian friend’s mission. Enthusiastic enough to miss the way Optimus tensed at the mention of Starscream.

“Hey- Miko, they probably had a rough day, we should probably leave them alone.” A taller boy approached Miko to lean on the railing beside her.
“Come on Jack!” Miko groaned “Don’t be a party pooper!”
Jack stared for a moment, then a grin split on his face, “Says the girl thats trash at video games,”

“Oh your on!” The two teens raced off to where Raf was seated on the couch, when the children were far from earshot Arcee looked over to where Optimus was mindlessly staring into the fluorescent screens of the recent mission reports and Decepticon sightings . The Prime’s face plates shows his usual stotic and reserved expression, yet his optics looked more distant, his once vibrant wisdom filled optics were now vacant and lifeless. Shifting her gaze from Optimus to Bulkhead then back again. With Bulkhead simply shrugging as Ratchet cleared Bumblebee to his barrack with the help of the wrecker. Just before Bulkhead could help escort the limping scout Acree cleared her vocaliser before asking Optimus the big question.

“Optimus…what happened back there?”

The Prime’s optics brightened for a second before returning back to their dull shade as he turned his helm towards the two-wheeler in question. All the other bots quietening down to hear the answer.
Seeing that Optimus wasn’t going to say anything she continued,

“It’s just that, you seemed more on edge after…your-”
“-Outburst.” Bulkhead finished for the two wheeler as she struggled to find the right word, shifting from one pede to the other.

The Prime looked down briefly in thought, trying to form the right words to say. Pursing his lip plates Optimus finally spoke.

“I deeply apologise for startling you all,” Optimus solemnly gazed at his fellow autobots, placing a servo on his chest as a form of apologies. “Megatron had taken possession of the mine we are in desperate need of, we only have the Energon reserves left for an orn.”

Blue optics flared holes into the Primes helm, it’s as of Optimus Prime himself didn’t see his vaunted patience and dislike for violence fall away as quickly as flipping a switch.

Both Bulkhead and Arcee knew something was up but both unanimously agreed to leave it for now.

“Optimus, berth now.” Ratchet called out from his place in the medbay making the Prime obey without another word.
As Ratchet briefly checked up on the Prime he noticed that Optimus’s optics seemed to have an unnaturally dull hue. Clicking a small torch on the medic shone the light directly on to the mech’s optics. Dully making note of their relation to either a broken spark bond or just a simple malfunction. Huffing Ratchet easily rolled out the first option, deciding to look at Optimus’s optics later and see if anything else was damaged.

As the medic was finishing checking over the Prime, Acree’s own optics narrowed. She suddenly remembered something Optimus had said to Megatron during their more brutal fight this cycle.

“Optimus, who is ‘he’ ?”
Optimus, who was previously staring into oblivion was seemed slightly startled at Arcee’s question. Eyeing the warrior to elaborate.

“I’m sorry?”

“When you and Megatron were fighting you asked him, ‘where is he’.”

It seemed the ferocity from Optimus towards Megatron specifically did not go unnoticed by his teammates.

Optimus looked down in thought for a long time. The silence that fell between the bots was suffocating with only the faint beeping and cheering from the other room interrupting the quiet. Made many shift uncomfortably, Bumblebee looking from Optimus, who was wallowing away thinking about the recent events.

To Ratchet, who was silently inputing who knows what into the database.
To Bulkhead, who was trying to register the akward silence between them all.
Then to Acree whos hardened glare of suspicion bore holes into the Primes helm.
The deafening silence stretched for what seemed like hours. Until the Prime finally spoke.

“…I suppose I owe you all an explanation,”

———

WEAPON SYSTEMS : DISABLED

FIGURE ALTERATION SYSTEMS : OFFLINE
THRUSTERS : WARNING

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS : OFFLINE

SELF-REPAIR : WARNING

SPARK CHAMBER : CRITICAL CONDITION

ENERGON RESERVES : 15% -WARNING-

PROPULSION SYSTEM : WARNING

OPTICAL FEILD : DISSABLED

AUDIALS : DISSABLED

SELF DEFENSE SYSTEMS: DISABLED

SPARK CHAMBER : CRITICAL CONDITION

SPARK CHAMBER : CRITICAL CONDITION

Starscream seemed to float in oblivion, in total darkness. It was dark. like he was floating in an abyss, a void.
What had happened? He tried to remember but it only caused a helm ache to bloom. And his HUD flashing a bit too many warnings for comfort wasn’t helping.
He can't speak.

He can’t move

He can’t hear anything.

He can’t see anything.
How was his spark so dim but so blindingly bright? It hurt, why did it hurt? The searing popping pain in his spark was agonising, it was like a gaping hole pierced Starscream directly into the spark chamber.

Wait, Optimus. Where was Optimus?

Starscream tried to connect with his spark mate through their bond in the darkness but the seeker couldn’t feel anything, none of his mates comforting firm presence, no reassurance, no warmth. Instead the pain in his spark doubled ten-fold. Their bond was simply…

Bare.

Through the agony and longing, the seeker’s spark that was once whole now split for an unknown reason.
But Starscream feared the worse.

Was he hurt?

Had Optimus deactivated?
Was he deactivated?

The pain in his spark was so intense the seeker couldn’t register the dull ache of everything else on his chasis, the disturbing feeling of lightness on back struts or the increasingly loud voices and noises around him. The moment seemed to bleed into the next, Starscream’s perception of time warped into a kaleidoscope of nothingness.

“-in lines repaired,”

“Spark stabilised, commenc-“

“Inform Lord Megatron, Starscream is about to online.”

OPTICAL FEILD : ONLINE

AUDIALS : ONLINE

An ear deafening high pitched ringing sound wormed its way into Starscream’s audials accompanied by the blinding light. The explosion of light and sound after being cut off for who knows how long dazzled Starscream’s senses. Making the seeker croak out in pain slightly as he reset his optics and audits for the first time in what felt like vorns.
The blinding lights dimmed as his optics adjusted, blinking away the stinging pain Starscream finally opens his optics fully.

Although blurry the seeker could make out 2 figures in the hospital grade light room. One on the left was tall and grey, sharp spikes sat on their shoulder plating. While the other on the right was shorter, although still tall was a purple con, large and bulky with one red optic. Unmistakably Megatron and Shockwave.

Out of all things Starscream could tell that he was laying on one of the medical berths that had the ability to tilt on an angle so he laid upright.
The seeker racked through his processor in an attempt to remember the last events, had Megatron beaten the slag out of him again?

Even if he had, over something small like a failed energon mine raid there’s no way Shockwave would repair him in his lab. Where is Knockout anyway?
It was getting unbearably cold now, normally his wings would held regulate his temperatures but Starscream had something else more important to think about now.

“Ah, Starscream. Online and kicking still?”

The sickening tone in the tyrants voice made Starscream’s energon lines freeze. Megatron always talked to him with anger or disappointment seething from his words. But this time his words dripped with glee and satisfaction. Like when Soundwave showed him his almost perfect stats and whatever information he could pry from either his one fellow decepticons or autobots.

What the frag happened?

Notes:

sorry for making u wait for over a week and giving you all a short ass chap but i lowkey could't find the muse.

Promise the next should be longer chat i promise (and the jucy stuff)

Chapter 3: Beginning of the End

Summary:

“Got anything to say dear Starscream?” The tyrant quipped, helm held high as he stared down at the ragged frame of his ex-second in command.
But his words meant nothing to Starscream as he continued to flick his optics and frown. Seemingly trying to sort through all of the errors that appeared on his HUD.

“Lord Megatron, Starscream’s memory files seem to be corroded,” Shockwave informed from his position near the small monitor that was hooked but to Starscream’s helm. Occasionally glancing up to the screens as the numbers ran through.

Although Starscream’s recovery had more faults than he would like, Megatron stayed weirdly calm. Even excited, as his grin could not be diminished.

Notes:

WARNING FOR THIS CHAP [TW], not really graphic scenes but there in his memories so

SUMMARY HAS BEEN CHANGED SLIGHTLY TO IMPROVE READABILITY

Omg over 1000 hits, 96 kudos and the comments??!!?? THANKS SM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!!!!

Rabidly flicking through his memory files to mind something, anything that could explain why he couldn’t feel Optimus through the bond?
Why he was in Shockwave’s lab?
Why was Megatron speaking to him like that?

Fully reseting his optics once more so he could see his surroundings more clearly, multiple tubes stuck on his own chasis and frame in all different angles. The tubes were connected to various machines. In attempt to rise of the medical berth Starscream grunted, trying to lift his limbs yet once met with insets strain and explosions of errors bloomed on his HUD. And he haven’t even moved an inch. The immense pain was sickening, energon threatened to rise from his intake. Tightly shutting his optics and wincing slightly, armour trembling . The two taller cons simply stood before the withering seeker, seemingly basking in the pain of the ex-second in command
In an attempt to dull the pain Starscream tried to minimise how much he moved, as time slowed so did the pain. Eventually dulling as Starscream staid put.

His memory files were buffering, slightly corrupted. Hurridley trying to restart his processor in an another attempt to recover his previous memories.

“Got anything to say dear Starscream?” The tyrant quipped, helm held high as he stared down at the ragged frame of his ex-second in command.
But his words meant nothing to Starscream as he continued to flick his optics and frown. Seemingly trying to sort through all of the errors that appeared on his HUD.

“Lord Megatron, Starscream’s memory files seem to be corroded,” Shockwave informed from his position near the small monitor that was hooked but to Starscream’s helm. Occasionally glancing up to the screens as the numbers ran through.

Although Starscream’s recovery had more faults than he would like, Megatron stayed weirdly calm. Even excited, as his grin could not be diminished.

“Fix him by this cycle, I want him to remember everything.”
And without another word the war-lord turned on his pede and strode out of Shockwave’s lab, not waiting for the scientists response.

Shockwave’s single red optic watched as Megatron left his lab, the doors shutting tightly behind him.
Wasting resources on repairing Starscream was illogical, yet he couldn’t defy Megatron’s order.
He had promised him the freedom to conduct his experiments, so it was logical to repair the specimen for fair results.

Dutifully typing away on the monitor, Shockwave fiddled with his calculations preparing to look inside the seeker’s helm.

While Starscream took ragged breaths through his intake, processor flaring.

“F-frag, f-ffraagging pii-tt-“ The seeker’s vocaliser glitched, distorting Starscream’s speech. The ex-con laid immoblie on the berth the pain being to much with only his helm shifting side to side. His optics now unnaturally dim, blankly staring up at the Nemesis’s grey roof. But Shockwave simply dismissed it. He knew what Megatron made him do and both the physical psychological drawbacks.

Paying no mind to the filth Starscream was mumbling Shockwave diligently picked up an internal scanner and headed towards the seeker’s withering form. The scientist’s large frame cast a vast over-heading shadow over Starscream’s own helm and chasis. The seeker’s usually closed EM field radiated panic and terror, as he couldn’t move without the searing pain or speak without making a fool of himself more than he already has.

Starscream was completely paralysed.
So he could only tense up and watch as Shockwave continued his descent onto his processor.

 

Although he couldn’t see what Shockwave was doing he could feel it.

The big bulky son of a glitch was poking and prodding around his helm, but it was somewhat strangely relaxing at first like an armour massage.
Starscream’s first mistake was allowing himself to relax, almost leaning into the scientists touch.
That’s when the intrusions became sharper, more painful. Each poke or prod felt like a stab as Shockwave tried to find his memory files. The sensation gnawed at his sensors and down his backs struts drawing out a pained grunt from the seeker.

Then, just as quickly as it had come, the pain faded, leaving behind a strange tingling sensation, like static, crawling through his servos and chasis. He gasped for air, his breath coming in ragged bursts, before he managed to calm himself. His servos and pedes flailed outwards but were firmly stopped as they touched the cold restraints that bound him to the berth, grounding him.

But the realisation that he was bound to the table only made Starscream flare harder.
The cuffs were cool at touch, soothing the dents and wounds that were awoken by Starscream’s strains and attempts to break free from the restraints. Energon now steadily flowed out of Starscream’s wrist and ankles as they pushed up against the cuffs rattling wildly as sparks of splitting agony exploded every where in Starscream’s body.
The seeker whimpered weakly as the pain in his processor finally subsided not paying attention to his other wounds as adrenaline pumped through his lines like a life line.

The room was spinning as Shockwave finished up on his processor the scientist seemingly endless tinkering.
New alerts popped up on his HUD informing him that his memory files have been recovered.

Finally

It was time to get out of this slag heap.

Without further hesitation Starscream accessed his memory files and flicked through the most recent ones from this orn.

The streams of information now fresh in his mind,

His usual cube of enegron for the day, followed by a check up with Knockout checking his most prized wings. The snobbish doctor teased Starscream endlessly about his battered up frame after the recent beating, leaving Knockout to tiredly repair the seeker time and time again. It’s not like the seeker was as self-preserving as him.

Strangely this time the pair were interrupted by Megatron storming through the medical bay demanding that the medic leave them alone, causing the cherry red medic to scramble away. Not in the mood for a taste of the tyrant’s wrath.

What a coward.

Was he much different?

 

But the next words that Megatron uttered made the seekers processor freeze.
How did he know?
Starscream could barley focus on the tyrants accusations as his spark struggled with each laboured pulse. Each thumping against his audials and chasis.
“You thought you could hide your little affair Starscream?”

He knows.

Megatron yanked at Starscream’s wings so tightly he striped them off without a second thought. But luckily, or rather unluckily his right wing held on by a single wire. His own screams rang through the halls of the nemesis as Megatron taunted and tortured the lone wire. Until he grew bored and tore the appendage clean of his back.

Never before has the retired gladiator once touched the seeker’s wings. It’s what made them who they are.

He knows.

Megatron grabbed Starscream by the neck sending sparks flying out of his vocaliser and lifted his SIC up until his pedes barely touched the floor. The pair stayed like that for a while much to Starscream’s agony, the seeker tried to kick his legs against the tyrant, struggling against his restraints. Admist Starscream’s suffering and alerts blaring against his optics he barely noticed Megatron’s harsh stare that bore into his helm. Seemingly being able to read every thought the other flier had.

He knows.

Starscream felt the energon that wept from his back dribble down this back struts and legs. Time seemed to mix into a blur of cries of pain mixed with the pleas for forgiveness seemed to meld into one. The seeker could only muster screams of agony from his voice box, coolant dripping down his face plates as his whole frame suffered the assault of the brutal tyrant, Megatron.
The sickening splitting pain bloomed and burst everywhere the warlord could reach. Any attempt Starscream made to deflect or defeat himself went in vain as his servos were mangled, pede’s detached from his frame which was worse for wear. It wasn’t real.

He knows

The familiar feeling of his bond mate, Optimus communicating through their spark bond. Fear and confusion traveled from his end to the seeker, yearning for the safety of his mate.

Starscream wanted to be in the warmth of his Conjux’s arms after a millennia of pointless fighting, a millennia of keeping up the facade of a ‘perfect’ decepticon.
Yet his own treachery grew as Megatron himself promoted him to second in command, an illusion all together.

Starscream couldn’t reprocrate his own feelings through their bond as Megatron’s claws drove for his spark chamber. The phantom sensation of the tyrants sharp digits piercing through his spark and straight out his back pain tore through his lines and processor. The difference between the past and present was a kaleidoscope of pain and confusion.
Starscream knew he was in Shockwave’s lab yet the memory of the closing in shadow of Megatron seemed too real. Starscream sharply cycled through his intake, breaths coming out rapidly to match the his pulsating spark. It wasn’t real.

He knows

How he was even alive was a mystery, Starscream found himself trying to touch his chasis. Looking for any evidence of the tyrants cruelty. Only to be stopped by the cuffs that held him down.It wasn’t real.

But the restraints played a key role at grounding the seeker as he tried to fully register the recently recovered memories, the intense sting that travelled from the dents from his servos and up to his processor was enough to make Starscream snap out of his daze. It wasn’t real.

The memories sunk back down to the depths of his processor as the past Starscream was induced into a forced stasis. Mercifully, the dark halls of the Nemesis and the large shadow of Megatron slowly faded away to the forgiving angelic light of Shockwave’s lab.

Yet Starscream’s broken spark still pulsated against his chasis demanding answers.

What happened to Optimus?

The empty feeling in his spark yearned for his mate. His Conjux, to fill the gaps he left.

What did Megatron do?

Some time during Starscream’s episode Shockwave must have gone to tell Megatron the new that his little toy was a all fixed and ready for another beating. The though made Starscream scoff and roll his optics, he had no master. He himself is his own master.
But the thought of Megatron threatening Optimus’s life made energon threaten to rise from his intake. Every battle, mission, or patrol the spark mates went on they spent fearing for each other’s life.

Yet it was getting harder and harder to focus on any thought in particular as it was getting numbly cold. Normally his win-

His wings.

The place where his wings once were, laid barren on his back. 2 gapping holes welded shut. Starscream could remember the way Megatron plucked off his wings as if nothing but a flimsy piece of smolder. The phantoms sensation of the hot energon dripping down his back and rabidly decreasing temperature. Only the warm energon that spurted from the wounds and streamed down his back struts to comfort him.

The sickening feeling of the uneven welds that pushed against the slab beneath Starscream radiated discomfort and racked with phantom pains. The many sensors that once were connected to his prized wings were cut off and were now screaming in confusion.

A seeker that was now missing his wings.

As hard as Starscream tried to be strong, he couldn't hide the tremors. When he noticed he was missing his wings, he started to scream in a desperate hysteria. Frame racking in his tremors rattling against his restrains, arching up. Clawing and pushing at them but it was no use the cuffs held steady leaving only his servos and pedes to the extent of the damage.

The room was spinning, the once forgiving light now blinding and increasingly loud ringing advanced through his audials.

A wingless seeker was unheard of as they were master’s of the sky.
They lived and breathed off the sky, their life source.

A wingless seeker is no seeker.

Notes:

It's only gonna get worse

 

tbh i didnt know where i wanted to go with this story until recently so there might be some bumps in the uploading schedule.
I really wanted to add to this chap but i decide not to as i dont want to keep you guys waiting

I have a lot of doubts for this chap so it's prob rlly bad

hope u enjoyed!

comments are really motivating sooo

Chapter 4: Retribution

Notes:

[WARNING FOR THIS CHAP! TW, disturbing imargery, organ harvesting, needles, syringes, sharp objects, suicidal idealisation, drugs (does adrenaline counts as drugs?), skinning alive (on cybertonians?), experimentation]

probably some medical inaccuracies as well

heyy uh sorry for being late had some stuff going on, writers block, mostly trying to familiarise myself with their personalties and I FINALLY decided to implement it into the actual events and timeline of tfp

PLEASE READ:
sooo this fic is going on hiatus for roughly 2 weeks from jan 13-28th since im going overseas, ik what ur thinking, 'this bitch?? make us wait for almost a month then dipping again???'

BUT i have tried to make this chap longer as an apology

side note: the prime team are kinda like a family in this fic, there are no romantic relationships between them what so ever. whatever you see its platonic. father-son, father-daughter, brother-sister yk

sorry if Shockwave and the autobots are abit out of char my ass is not bothered watching the ep or doing multiple char studys. But i will edit it in the future ( ifeel so bad but i dont have the energy sorry chat)

hope u enjoy!

“During our fight with the decepticons, long ago at the early stages of the war the autobots were losing. Under great debate we’ve decided to let one of ours enter the Decepticon ranks. In other words, let a spy gather intel.” Optimus paused momentarily looking up to his fellow comrades who were silently waiting for Optimus to continue. His dull optics scanned the room before continuing.

“With their sucssesful interception into the decepticon ranks the valuable intel they gathered helped us get the higher advantage.” The Prime’s optics darted about before being firmly planted onto the ground beneath him, balling up his servos tightly until small sparks flared out of his seams.

As the rest of the autobots waited patiently for Optimus to continue Arcee glance from Bulk head to Ratchet. With receiving just a slight frown from the medic and a shrug from the wreaker.
With their leader seemingly lost in though the two wheeler approached the Prime. Her pedes thudding with every step.

Arcee recognised that look Optimus had. Along with his dull optics, it wasn’t hard to connect the dots.

“And..what happened to them after that?” The warrior didn’t want to force the prime to talk, placing an encouraging servo onto Optimus arm

With a solemn but somewhat thankful look over to Arcee the Prime continued, “The Autobots had a great advantage with the intel gathered and decided to continue letting the bot work as a double agent in the decepticon ranks. But Megatron has grown suspicious and eventually… he was discovered.”

The silence that wrung through the base was loud, but the bare implication spoke volumes.

Even with the heavy atmosphere that descended over the autobots, Optimus prevailed. “I apologise for not telling you all about their association with us sooner but I could not risk letting their identity be leaked in any way.”

With the way Optimus held himself and spoke with a slight edge in his voice there was obviously more to the story. Both Arcee’s and Ratchet’s optics narrowed speculating that their leader was hiding something else. The Prime was more incased in grief, a lot more than when Cliffjumper deactivated or any other of their comrades offlined. The two have never seen Optimus in this much sorrow since Elita deactivated.

Arcee knew that this mystery bot was somewhat close to the Prime, a relationship similar to the one he and Elita once had. And by the way Ratchet’s own optics stared at the ground for a good klik in thought it seemed like he knew to.
It was an old dent to pick at, thankfully Bulkhead along with Bumblebee understood enough not to ask anymore questions and children were distracted.

“Leaked? OH! Like a spy?!” Milko suddenly perked up taking interest in their guardians conversation. Seemingly not hearing Optimus’s explanation earlier.
So much for privacy.

Thankfully Raf and Jack picked up on the solem mood of the base and tried to change the subject. Yet it was Miko. They’re not going to stand a chance against her prying.

“Miko.” Both Ratchet and Acree sternly warned.

“What? Optimus, THE Optimus, has been keeping a secret! Wouldn’t you like to know who it is too?” Great now Jack and Raf’s interest was peaked.

“Actually, it would be nice to know,” Jack spoke up. “I mean if Optimus is ok with it.” The awkward teenager defended himself, raising both hand up as Arcee and Ratchet disapprovingly glared at him.

“I mean, are you alright with it Optimus?” Raf questioned the prime while leaning over the back of the beaten up couch.

All the attention turned to the autobot leader who’s optical ridge furrowed and optics dim. Before taking a deep vent and shoulder plating sagging,

“I suppose there is no use in hiding it from you all,” Optimus dragged his pedes towards the large computer screens mindlessly staring at the different messages and notes, optics dancing from sentence to sentence on the computer.

“To get the right information we needed to intercept the decepticons plans we needed someone in Megatron’s inner circle. We let our spy climb the ranks, eventually becoming Megatron second in command.” The Prime paused for a second letting few bots catch on.

“That mech being, Starscream.”
—————

Starscream couldn’t tell how long he’s been in that wretched room.
The blinding lights were slightly more bearable now as the ex-con calmed down, the previous episode still leaving the buzzing behind his optics and tired adrenaline thumping through his lines. Gradually coming to a stop as the freezing air of the room nipped at the ex-cons armour plating, shivering uncontrollably.

Starscream could tell if it was just his frame heat failing due to his…loss or Megatron purposely adjusting the lab to it’s now numbing temperate. Either way it added to the ex-flier’s demise.

The sky-huger was starting to settle in, soon he would be reduced to nothing but a husk from what he once was.
But he wouldn’t let Megatron get that pleasure.

With the tyrant knowing that he not only was a spy for the Autobots but the Conjunx of his greatest enemy.

Starscream had to contact Optimus somehow and finally order an extraction.
If he could get his comms back up.
Swatting way the nagging feeling at the back of his helm that screamed and cried as it pointed to his barren spark.

It was fine. He would survive like he has been for the past millennia. Despite the odds and pleas of his Conjunx he remained fighting for the cause. Even if it meant posing as second command to the tyrant that opposed everything Starscream stood for. No matter how much it shattered his spark.

Speak of the devil (as the humans would say) Megatron’s large frame stomped through the feating doors silently followed by Shockwave.

“What did you do?” Starscream snarled making a barren attempt to lunge at the warlord but once again stopped at the cuffs that made the gashes on his pedes and servos sting. Partially surprised at the fact on how smooth his vocaliser was, seems like Shockwave got bored at one point.

Megatron simply starred down at the ex-seeker. His red optics assessing Starscream through his cold hard stare. Dissecting every little movement the other made.
Starscream shivered under the hard stare of the other. But the cold optics of the warlord didn’t reach his smile. Megatron’s grin stretched along his helm, sharp denta gleaming under the lab’s lights.

“Whatever was necessary.” The tyrant sneered, now bending down slightly so now the warlord and the traitor were now eye to eye.

Megatron’s own helm mere inches away from the other’s own trembling form. Taking a single clawed servo Megatron stoked the side of Starscream’s helm, his sharp digit scraping against the agitated metal slowly.
The act of affection coated in threats made the ex-flier flinch back to no avail as the claw continued its journey down Starscream’s frame all the way down to his chasis, stopping right above his spark chamber.
The slight touch sent phantom pains of the memory sending Starscream pushing back onto the medical berth.*(might remove this sentence)

“You’ll be happy to know your conjunx-,” Megatron began, spiting out the word like it was acid. “-Is waiting for you in the Well of the Allspark,”

Starscream’s optics went round like saucers, processor running a million miles a minute going through the many different scenarios by the second.

Optimus can’t be deactivated. He can’t.

Optimus and Megatron have been paying this game for millennia, Starscream couldn’t believe that his conjunx would offline just like that. After all the hardships they faced, a fights they’ve won and the ones they lost for nothing.

Optimus can’t be deactivated. Can he? (Add smth more to here?)
Energon pulsated loudly against his audials matching in time with the mantra of ‘No’s’ that beated wildly against this own processor and audials and eventually mixed together with the deranged constant insistence of his processor. But even though Starscream was spiraling further into denial Megatron kept on going.

“I’d gladly reunite you with him, but you have yet to learn your lesson Starscream,” The tyrant spat out mercury at the ex-flier’s face as he flinched back slightly at both the hash words and disgusting act.

“You of all mechs should know what I do with traitors.”

The stark reminder sent Starscream travelling beaks into memory lane. The Decepticon soldiers that tried to defect to either the autobots or become a neutral that were caught and forced to endure the torture from Shockwave’s experiments or given mercy by a swift deactivation by Megatron’s cannon. The weight of guilt pressed down on the ex-flier’s shoulders as he kept on replaying the incident in his mind, wondering if he could have done something to prevent their offlinging. Starscream couldn’t meet the war lords studying optics bowing his helm down in shame.

It was fine. Now that Megatron knew what he was hiding there was no point in faking his halfway pathetic grovelling and cowardliness. But if there was one thing Starscream learned over the millennia its that sometime cowards do survive. The ex-flier opened his intake, which was dry from the lack of energon. Glossa stuck to his denta and the walls around it, he could almost tase the rust forming.
The tyrant’s thick EM field radiated glee and satisfaction, like he finally wormed out a pest.

It was fine. He would get out of this mess like all the countless times he has before. And finally be in the warm arms of his conjunx. If he was even online. The tiny voice nagging Starscream constantly, broke through his own mental barrier fearing the worst. But the worst wouldn’t help right now.

“I’m sure your familiar with Shockwave’s work,” Megatron blatantly sighed as straightened his back so he now stood at his full height. Red optics glancing from Starscream’s withering form to the threatening looking contraptions of Shockwave’s lab, seemingly reminiscing of the scientists past ‘experiments’ and the bloodcurdling screams that came with it.

“As much as I would like to end this little game there are some things Shockwave has requested before I start the interrogation,” It didn’t take a deaf mech to know that it would be way worse than any old interrogation.

“And I’ve been kind enough to let him conduct some experiments ”

And just like that the tyrant smirked and left the lab. Starscream barely had the energy to lift his helm and watch his bulky frame disappear behind the doors. Only listening to the loud thuds of Megatron’s pedes echoing through out the Nemesis.

Now that warlord left the ex-flier vulnerable on the poor excuse of a berth. At least his annoying egotistical aft is out of his face, the mech can’t even look in one direction.

But Megatron was the least of Starscream’s worries. More warnings flashed onto his HUD alerting him that his energon reserves were at an all time low, previously being 15%, now 5%. His self repair systems were also damaged in some way, but what ever was left was working over time trying to heal any other wounds that Shockwave couldn’t bother to fix.

Suddenly Starscream felt a slight prick in the side of his neck. Not really thinking much of it the ex-con’s optics darted to the side where he felt the puncture to see Shockwave’s large frame and singular red optic staring down at him. What especially caught his attention was the syringe, in which it’s needle gleamed under the lab lights. Not to mention the left over fluid that sloshed in the vial. It was strikingly vibrant pink colour, similar to pink energon.

Almost immediately dread filled Starscream’s broken spark which now meekly pulsated as the ex-flier’s optics grew heavy. A forced static crept upon the corners of mind. Trying to fight the coming stasis Starscream withered on the berth trying to edge away from another needle that approached closer and closer to his neck again, to no avail.

“You f-fragger-“ Craning his neck away before the needle plunged into his cables drawing out a surprised scream from the ex-seeker. It didn’t hurt to much but the twinge and twists of the syringe moving around, searching for his main energon lines was unsettling. Finally, the tip of the needle slightly pierced into his lines sending Starscream gasping as he could do nothing but helplessly feel the syringe inject whatever Shockwave’s sick processor pleased.

With the second injection the forced stasis came quicker. The ex-con franticly backed up multiple of his systems and trying to boot his self repair systems back up. His HUD beeped against his optics, frame rattling violently against his restraints trying to escape.

Optics dimming, all Starscream could see through the blurriness was Shockwave’s glowing red optic studying him. Still and unending gaze as the darkness took over the ex-flier.

—————

 

“WHAT?!” Miko screeched rushing over to the hand rail as if she didn’t hear him.

Optimus closed his optics shut as he ducked his helm down, cycling his vents.

The Prime couldn’t see but feel all optics and eyes on him. With disbelief and astonishment. The silence that took over the base was overwhelming, you could hear a pin drop from a mile away.

“Hold on, Starscream. THE Starscream? Are we talking about the same mech here?” Bulkhead demanded.

“Optimus, the second in command for the decepticons is an autobot spy?!” Arcee faltered back. “How can you be sure we can trust him!?”

“I assure you Starscream was dedicated to the act, he was a loyal autobot to the end.” Optimus firmly assured, his won spark stinging at his words, ‘was’.

“How can you say that when he played a key role in Cliffjumper’s deactivation!” The two-wheeler shouted, wanting answers.

“Although Starscream has tried his best to prevent our comrades offlining, he fell short. Yet we cannot pin the blame on one mech.” Desperation now cutting at the edges of the Prime’s words.

Arcee fell silent, clenching her digits while looking down in anger. Her previous want for revenge stomped on with Starscream deactivation.
A part of her didn’t want to accept that the seeker was supposedly an autobot. For the roles of war to be black and white.

But Starscream was a dead mech. Another loss among the millions in an endless war.
Although his part in Cliffjumper’s death, Arcee wasn’t the one to disrespect the deceased. Instead of setting all her rage at two mechs, it was now one.

Megatron.

“I suppose it does make some sense...” Ratchet murmured placing his digits under his chin in thought.

“Doc’s right, while me and Miko were trapped in that cave, Starscream was the one to help me hold up that boulder.” Bulkhead explained. Though looking back it was probably not a good idea.

“Oh yea! Screamer was acting bit strange… more nicer?” Miko shook herself out of her surprised daze and stood up straighter. Jack and Raf both coming to stand beside Miko.

“Didn’t we…leave Starscream in there?” The older teen questioned, awkwardness overcoming the 3 children.

“Uhh-looking back we probably shouldn’t have don’t that…” The girl huffed. Trying to lighten the mood as the bots stared at Bulkhead and Arcee questionably. Optimus in particular frowned at this and wondered why Starscream hadn’t told him about that when they met.

“Now that I think about it Starscream was strangely lax when we had him in custody…” Arcee wondered, crossing her arms arcoss her chasis. “He didn’t even beg or grovel.”

Ratchet observed Optimus the whole time the others chatted being a bit too relaxed at the news of a fellow comrades deactivation, optics calculating as he watched the Prime’s dull optics seize up at the mention of the seeker’s designation.

“Optimus, come, I need to check something.” The medic motioned the Prime to the medical bay patting the berth before marching up to his tools.

The autobot leader raised an optical ridge, before carefully setting himself down onto the slab. The hydraulics on his knees hissing as he bent down.
Shining a torch back into the Prime’s optics Ratchet hummed quietly as he checked Optimus’s vision.

Turning away briefly to look for some other tools Ratchet quietly asked the Prime,

“He was your Conjunx right?” The medic’s tone was uncharacteristically caring and gentle.

“How did you-,”

“I’m a medic Optimus, it’s obvious. Plus I'm worried, you know how low the survival ra-“

“I appreciate your concern Ratchet, but I’ve survived a broken spark once I can do it again.” The Prime stood up hastily, his tone firm and stern once more. The medic knew more than to pick at an old dent. Sighing as he stored the torch back into his subspace Ratchet watched solemnly as Optimus dragged himself to his quarters.
Primus he was not good with these sort of things.

They would have to hold a funeral soon.

 

—————

 

The next time Starscream came too, the effects of the mystery substance wore off but it still left the ex-seeker groggy and unfocused like having a hangover after some high grade. His vision blurry as he was greeted by the familiar sight of the blinding lights of the scientists lab. Squinting a little from the harshness.
The next thing he realised was that he was still bound down but this time the berth was now back to being horizontal and his limbs were splayed out like those organic starfish. Ironic.

Through his daze Starscream tried to sit up, pulling at the cuffs to no avail. Only his abdomen arching up from the table as his fore-helm pressed up against the cool steel of another restraint, not to mention the extra ones littered across his frame. Seems like Shockwave added more cuffs for some reason.
Weren’t the ones before enough? It’s not like he was going to fly on out of there.

The ex-seeker would have fought it, of course. He would have fought every step second of his detainment if his frame wasn’t such bad condition that it hurt to even move.

He would have kicked and cussed and elbowed and punched with his servos if they weren’t yanked above his helm and snared to a cuff in a burst of pain that whited him out for a few moments.

He would have even resorted to biting as a desperate attempt, until he realised his dent couldn’t pierce the sturdy titanium. (His helm couldn’t even reach that far anyway)

Through the trance Starscream could make out Shockwave’s huge purple frame hulking around the lab, tinkering with machinery and what not.
The lights only sat directly above the ex-flier, giving him the searing spotlight.

“W-hat are you doing!” Starscream snarled.

The mad scientist stood over him, he would probably have a nasty smile playing about his intake, if he had one.
Shockwave paid no mind to the ex-con, instead pushing over a small trolley over to the medical berth, the trolley had multiple scalpels, syringes and probably the most menacing, a endoscopic claw.
The thought of the intense pain that he would have to go through in Shockwave’s hands made Starscream’s tanks churn, mercury threatening to rise. His previous bravery diminishing slightly.

“I am simply conducting what’s necessary for my research.”

Despite his bravado, fear sluiced through him.
“Shockwave think about this!” Starscream begged, venting erratically as he watched the scientist pick up one of the scalpels. “Isn’t it illogical to deactivate me?! After I saved you back at Cybertron?!”

Starscream knew he had a weak excuse but it was probably one of the only ones that could change Shockwave’s objective.Knowing that the scientist is more of a servant of logic more than a solider of Megatron.

“Negative, I am not going to deactivate you.” The cyclops pauses he held the scalpel mid air.

The ex-seeker huffed shakily in relief, he needed to get back to Optimus at base. You mean in the well of the allspark?

“As much as I am grateful for your act, my debt has already been paid.” Starscream frowned at this, when had he done that? “Considering the amount of times I had saved you from Megatron’s wrath.”

Ah.

The ex-con guesses he’s referring to the countless times Shockwave had intervened while Megatron was shouting endlessly about Starscream failing to do a particular thing on the brink of raising his servos. Although he is grateful for the cyclops intervention a part of him wishes he had let the beating happen so he could get out of his slag heap.

Shockwave looked up for a moment as if thinking and walked across to a cabinet that would usually hold some medical supplies. Countless times Starscream had been brought to the med-bay to be repaired after some mission or a usual beating from a particularly pissed off Megatron.
The ex-seeker preferred to fix himself up, if the injuries weren’t to severe. Mostly to avoid a nosy medic and an insane war lord.
But this had resulted in a couple of things healed wrong.

Honestly, Starscream wasn’t really sure why he was second in command with all the beatings and ‘failures’ he got caught up in. Megatron probably didn’t care, it’s likely he found the attempt on his life ‘amusing’. Further supporting his case of Megatron being binary.

It wasn’t his fault that he wanted to let out some of his anger on the tyrant.

But one thing Megatron had said pressed him. Mind boggling and concerning that it was all he could think about as the harsh beams of light illuminated down on him.

How many other seekers that were under his command died or were experimented on this berth? How many of his seekers had drawn their last breaths within these walls? Starscream felt like imaginary ghosts were watching him, judging his ineffectual struggles now. Had they fought to the end? Had they let death take them like an old amica or had it carried them off, still struggling to get back to Megatron and kneel at his before like the good soldiers they were?

The lights seemed to get harsher and hotter by the second.
Shockwave opened the cabinet to reveal how he had refilled it with his own equipment, since he probably deemed the old ones not fit to his liking. Knives, scalpels, saws and an assortment of other implements dimly shone in the dark.

Starscream’s tanks turned over, processor and spark rapidly beating thinking on what to do.
The cyclops slid out the tray the blades had been arranged on and brought it onto the trolley next to the berth. His pedestals loudly clanging as his huge frame stomped over. Shockwave did not speak but his EM field said plenty.
He set the tray down on the trolley and then went to a supply closet in the corner. Upon opening it a would stench wafted through the lab. Starscream almost gagged at the smell, craning his neck trying to see what could be his demise but could only hear the clattering of jars and equipment.

Eventually Shockwave came back setting the mystery items on the counter letting his huge frame block his vision. But Starscream’s morbid curiosity was soon to be solved as the scientist approached him.

Starscream’s sparkbeat sped up.

In the jars were organs. Dumped in a yellow thick substance were, organs. Floating gently as they marinated in the yellow goo.

Starscream did not want to know where he got those from. Neither what he was going to do with them.
The ex-seeker’s tanks churned, this time not from Shockwave displaying his scalpel collection.

Shockwave came closer to the berth, pedesteps echoing in the halls. The scientist picked up a scalpel from his selection. Holding it up in front of his huge red optic for a second before turning back to look at the ex-con.

Starscream watched the silvery metal glint in the light, struggling afresh to get free from his restraints. He stopped when Shockwave let out a strangled noise that made him shiver like someone had poured cold solvent down his back struts. It seemed to be the cyclops’s version of laughter.

Dropping the scalpel momentarily, the scientist picked up a tube that had a long sharp needle on the end and was connected to a machine with canisters of a clear liquid sloshing around.
Without any further hesitation Shockwave plunged the needle into the side of Starscream’s neck. The same side he had injected the mystery liquid, still sore and aching.

The ex-seeker winced in pain as he felt the cold needle sink into his cables.
Thankfully it didn’t do anything but sit there for now.

“Let me go,” Starscream rasped, the needle shuffling against his cables as he talked. His energon reserves slightly higher now. Shockwave probably conducted an energon infusion while he was knocked out.

Once again the scientist paid no mind to the ex-seeker before picking up a marker.
With all of Starscream’s limbs pinned down it gave Shockwave the advantage with his whole torso in display. Vulnerable and unable to fight back.

The cyclops began drawing lines down the ex-seeker’s abdomen in the shape of a large Y.

Wordlessly Shockwave brought the scalpel to one of the top ends of the Y.

“NO! PLEASE Shockwave don’t do this!” Starscream shrieked and withered, pulling at the cuffs as the scalpel drew nearer.

But of course the scientist did not care. He brought the scalpel down in a quick stab in his right chasis. Starscream gasped at the sudden shock of pain as he dragged the blade down towards the centre of his chasis, then agin when he penetrated the cables. Spurts of energon flew up and stained both Shockwave’s and Starscream’s frame.

Not bothered to wipe the energon off himself Shockwave stabbed the right side of his chasis and dragged the scalpel down to intersect his first cuts. Pausing for a minute like he was admiring his work, then continued his assault as he dug his scalpel into the centre of her two previous cuts and ragged it down to the centre of his frame, ending at his navel.

With a sick, gasping horror, Starscream realised what he was doing.

The nearby monitors beeped and squealed in rhythm to the ex-seeker’s sparkbeat. Drowning his screams with their noise.
Shockwave pulled back the flaps of panels on the Y-incision he had made and forced his inner armour apart with a horrific series of cracks. Starscream felt every nerve snap, every cable tear, every bit droplets of energon seep out of his insides, every laboured breath as the cyclops exposed his fluttering organs to the dusty air.

His HUD was screaming more warnings than he has ever seen in his life. Through his pain soaked daze Starscream could hear Shockwave muttering to himself, like he found something extraordinary. But Starscream paid him no mind as the ex-con tried to focus on the blinding lights ahead, trying not to purge his own tanks and look down at his own insides as if it will make the pain go away.

“The expected…seekers look like every other Cybertronain on the inside…not anything special at all.”

The mention of seeker’s made Starscream pay more attention. Well at least try to.
That stupid rumour that Seekers were their own species, they were just sub-categories from cybertronians like any normal fragging mech!

Shockwave’s optic was so bright Starscream had to squint to look at him. Or maybe that was because his vision was fading and processor short circuited.

“I’ll have to take a closer look now.”

He couldn’t see well enough to identify the mass of wet energon soaked silicone he tore free from inside him. All he knew what that it hurt. A lot.
Shockwave ripped out more, tendrils of sloppy things that should have never seen the light of day glistening in the scientist’s servos before he carefully placed them over on a spare tray.

Starscream lived up to his name until the cyclops accidentally punctured his venting systems with his scalpel.

Just as the ex-seeker’s vision had faded to near a total blackness, he heard an audible click of a button.

The needle in his neck shivered to life as another mystery liquid was injected into him. A small bit of cool relief and energy washed over him. Pushing him away from emergency stasis.
He had no words to describe the feeling of the liquid traveling through his frame and energising his processor, forcing it awake.
Nor did he have the capacity to describe the sick dread that came when he realised Shockwave was replenishing his energy just so he would be awake for the whole process.

But he had an idea on what he was being administered.
Some sort of a mix of adrenaline and energon.

But Primus it was a lifeline in the pool of his own spilled insides.

Genuine curiosity in Shockwave’s voice as he recorded every one of his sick findings as he ripped and sliced with abandon. Sometimes he used his scalpel or any other weird contraptions.
The pain was agonising, his whole frame was on fire, HUD popping up with new errors every second.

Only the cool wash of relief with adrenaline and energy coursing through his cables every time his vision faded. It was concerning on how Starscream was still online even after all the energon he had lost.

Starscream was helpless, he could only stare at what he thought might be his own spark in Shockwave’s hand. Fearing the worst, he didn’t really pay attention during cybertrionain biology class back when he was a youngling.

With a squelching plop Shockwave’s dropped another mass onto the tray along with the other energon coated engines. The scientist clicked the button again and watched in curiosity as energon spurted from multiple main lines.

Lubricant leaked freely from Starscream’s optics and down his temples, staining his plating and dripping down onto the metal berth beneath him. Pain blotted out all else until each pump of cool adrenaline and energon. Which he couldn’t even appreciate because the high before Shockwave began cutting, pocking and prodding in him.

The ex-con was on the brink of deactivation with many of his vital systems gone with only the adrenaline and energon keeping him going. The trees were now more aggressive, hiccuping and bawling uncharacteristically as he imagined the warm embrace of his Conjunx.

Why would Shockwave just let him deactivate?
Wouldn’t it be easier to harvest and study his insides if his frame was cold and unresponsive?

Starscream wanted to be in the warm arms of Optimus, away from the cold halls of the Nemesis, in the protection of the allspark.

Starscream didn’t want to be alone.

Shockwave finally turned away from the ex-seekers gaping abdomen and fiddled with the jars that sat on the counter behind him.
The lids of the canisters hissed as they were opened one by one. Their foul smell contaminating the room.

The cyclops fished one of them out from the goo and trudged back towards the ex-seeker.

Starscream’s intake loped open and shut like an organic landed fish before he could form proper words. Not wanting to admit that a part deep inside of him knew what Shockwave was going to do.

“What…wh-what are you d-doing with that-t?”

“As I told you before Starscream, I have been given orders by Lord megatron to ensure you do not deactivate.” Shockwave stared at the weeping ex-con’s face plates. “Though it is illogical.”

Mentioning Megatron did not help the panic rising inside Starscream. His cables felt like they were made of water but he started struggling again anyway, trying to yank his servos and pedes from their restraints. Pain bit into his servos as he pulled so hard that the plating there parted. It was so infinitesimal compared with the fresh memory of Shockwave opening up his abdomen that it hardly registered.

When Starscream swallowed, he tasted energon and the solvent of his own tears. “You’re s … sick.”

“I prefer the term, logical.”

With that the cyclops diligently laced the foreign in organ into the ex-con’s insides. Hurriedly stitching and connecting energon lines like it was a race, and the other competitor was death.

The thin needle perching his cables and meddling him together was almost grounding, other than being complete torture, deactivation wasn’t certain.

His processor was a single flat scream and it wasn’t till Shockwave completely restored what ever system that was that it stuttered to halt. A few of the errors on his HUD cleared.

But the strange organ that was marinating for who knows how long was IN him.

Something that was keeping another mech alive was IN him.
Another mech that lived, vented, had a life, their remains were IN the ex-seeker.

The desperate feeling of wanting it to leave his insides clashed with the short lived thrill of the cool adrenaline and energon entering him once more.

The urge of wanting to claw out the mass of metal in him over took the ex-seeker as his servos shoved against the restrains over, and over, and over, and over again.

 

After what felt like vorns Shockwave somehow did the impossible. All jars of the organs were empty, except for the yellow substance that stuck to the sides and bottom of the canisters.
Starscream’s abdomen was welded back together. Phantom pains surging through him as the physical pain dully subsided.

The ex-con vented thinly as if his vents were going to explode at any klik. Optics wide and processor going wilder.
Gasping for air and shivering as the needle was still wedged in his neck. Shockwave made no move to remove it, that could only mean that there was more to come.

“The facial plating is interesting,” The cyclops spoke to no one as he stood over Starscream’s helm. His huge optic blotching the lights above so the ex-seeker’s helm was engulfed in the shadow of Shockwave’s helm.
“Different to most mechs.”

He tilted Starscream’s chin forward and started cutting along his jaw, drawing an outline up and around his hairline his head piece. Energon joined the lubricant beneath his helm as Shockwave dug pincers under the edges and started peeling and pulling of the think and delicate plating of his facial plates. Exposing the twitching cables and never beneath.

Along the dark corridors of the Nemesis, Starscream lived up to his name as his shrieks echoed and did not stop until he was made to.

Notes:

again sorry for taking so long on this,

Endoscopic claw:An endoscopic claw is an invasive, double-sided torture device offering several different forms of unrelenting agony for its victim. Its usual application is through the mouth.
Stalker had a portable version of the claw that could be deployed from his wrist, used to drill openings for "mouth flowers" in prisoners at Grindcore. Speak, Memory: Part 1 Stalker utilized the larger lance-like endoscopic claw in his torture of Twin Twist, forcing the instrument into the Wrecker's mouth. The pain was intense enough that Twin Twist was begging the Decepticon to stop. Springer later used the torture device to kill Stalker by stabbing him through the face with it.  (taken from tf wiki)

I didn't really use it in this chap but will soon.

some other stuff i did to this fic:

-added/ took away some tags
- I’m trying to edit the spacing in the first chapter since it looks like a fat pile of shit but ao3 isint letting me and im scared asf it’s gonna drive people away😭

just to clear things up in this AU starscream did NOT kill Cliffjummper but had a key role in his death ( I couldnt really find a way to incorproate it into this fic). I'll add more to that later

AND im also looking for a beta reader thats ok with reading the early versions of the chapters in this fic and are ABSOLUTELY comfortable in reading the things this fic will contain. Just let me know if ur up for it!
(my ass cannot keep posting without reassurance)

Hope u enjoyed!

Notes:

criticism and tips is encouraged!
I hope you enjoyed!

(again, i'm really prone to mistakes please correct me if i did smth wrong)