Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 6 : Repair


It wasn't surprising that Optimus' faced a little protest in his decision.

While some agreed with his logic, others challenged it. Not out of spite or disrespect, but for their own general safety. It was dangerous to take a Decepticon prisoner. Even one as badly damaged as Starscream. If he ever managed to break free from their hold, he could injure or kill an Autobot in his attempt to escape. There were hundreds of other dangers to having an enemy inside your base that ranged from infiltration to sabotage.

He was also Megatron's second in command, and surely once the Decepticon leader cooled his circuits, he would attempt to rescue his soldier. Even if he did try to kill the seeker, he would do it for the principle of it. Nobody takes a Decepticon prisoner and gets away with it. Even if the hostage is a mutinous, deceptive little slagger. Soon they could be facing a very disgruntled group of avengers.

However for all the negatives to Prime's decision, there were a few positives. The Con's were down one, very powerful player. Being the second in command, Starscream could have untold amounts of information that could prove to be useful if they ever managed to drag it out of him. Seeing as how he and Megatron had an obvious falling out, the jet may be more then willing to give up a few base codes or future plans of attack if only to spite the mech that beat him nearly to death.

It was worth the risk to Prime to at least try and talk to Starscream. Perhaps convince him to join their side. If he proved unhelpful, then steps would be made to keep the Decepticon from ever becoming a threat again. Even if it came down to keeping the seeker in modified stasis until they could return to Cybertron.

After all, Autobots didn't believe in killing a helpless bot.

It took nearly all of Prime's negotiation skills to talk Ratchet and Wheeljack into helping Starscream in the first place. Optimus knew it would be difficult to convince them.

"Prime, I'm sorry. Even if I did agree with this, I doubt we can find the schematics for Starsceam's model." The medic shook his head stubbornly, glaring mistrustfully at the still form of the seeker sprawled out on his repair table. "After all, we don't keep an up to date record of Decepticon charts. Perhaps a few are left in Teletraan's data banks, but the chances that we can find one even close enough to match would be very slim."

"Ratchet, I know you aren't happy about this." Optimus spoke with an understanding tone. "But I believe we can gain some ground on the Decepticons. They're already a man down but I just cannot ignore the opportunity that Starscream can provide. I also cannot ignore a bot in need. We'd be no better then Megatron to just leave him to die. Which he will very soon if you don't help him."

"Even if we can help him, is it really worth the risk?" Ratchet frowned. "Starscream is smart and determined. He could very well over power us once he is repaired."

"Then disarm his weapons. His thrusters." Prime gestured in the direction of the storage rooms. "Seal him in one of the supplies compartments. He won't be up and on his feet right away even if you do manage to stabilize him."

"And just how much work do you expect me to do?" The ambulance picked up a broken shard of exostructure. "I'm not a slagging cosmetician. This is one Con in desperate need of a make over."

"Just make him functional. He doesn't have to be cosmetically repaired, but he cannot be in pain. He's not to suffer."

"Just how functional are we talk'n here Prime?" Wheeljack dragged his mistrustful optics from the twisted wreck on the table. "Just enough to talk?"

"I want him to be able to sit and stand comfortably." The semi said. "If he cannot move on his own accord, it may make him mistrustful of us even more then he already is. And try to at least preserve his wings. I know the seekers pride themselves on their wings and he may be more cooperative if he knew that they weren't lost."

"I doubt he'll need them Prime. " Ratchet tried not to sound condescending. "The chances of him making it through the night are slim. It's gonna take everything I have just to keep him from offlining permanently. His column is broken in two and the only real thing holding him together is his dermal plating. Without a proper schematic to his model, I can only attempt to keep him online."

"I have faith in your abilities Ratchet, Wheeljack. I know you two will do the best you can."

"I haven't agreed to help him yet." The medic crossed his arms.

"Then I'm sorry to do this to you then." Prime shook his head regretfully. "I'm making it a direct order."

Wheeljack sighed and looked to his friend, who only could only stare at the broken bot like he would jump to life any minute. He didn't wish to aid the Decepticon anymore than Ratchet, but orders were orders and Prime never gave an order he was unsure of. Wheeljack trusted his leader's wisdom.

"Well Pal," the science officer shrugged. "We've got some work to to."

Surprisingly enough, Teletraan 1's data banks were able to download a full schematic for the seeker's design. Ratchet and Wheeljack set to work on the jet with an alarming amount of gusto. Seemed the motivation to do so was that Starscream was the first real challenge for the pair since arriving on Earth. Sure bots had been damaged in the past. But never to this extreme. And certainly not Decepticon. Having a fascinating new body to play doctor on was something all together different. A gimmick in it's own.

Slowly but surely, Starscream was beginning to look more like himself again. Ratchet, not usually one to underestimate himself, surprised even himself with how much progress they had made. Eight days later, the final seem was welded and the once shattered mech was whole again. Optimus promised that the medic and scientist that they didn't have to cosmetically restore the seeker but after several days of fighting to keep the Con online they were going to make sure the job was done and done right, with a little coat of wax to top it all off.

Optimus had never been prouder of his Autobots when he saw the final result for the first time. The perfectly repaired seeker with his pretty red and white wings, perfectly straight and shining under the bright operating lights. His savors standing just to the side of his table, traces of energon and oil smeared across their faces and caking their servos as they wearily congratulated each other on a job well done. They barely stuck around to receive praise from Optimus before dragging themselves from the med bay to their own quarters to clean up and recharge. Ironhide and Hound stopped by to help move the mech to the modified storage unit that would be his cell. Carefully they rested him on the berth that was provided for him.

Starscream was still in stasis. His body weak and drained of energon. Wheeljack had hooked up an energon drip that would safely replenish the Con's fuel tanks, but it would take some more time and observation to see if the repairs to his internals would take.

When the other bots had left, Optimus took the time to admire the work that his medic and science officer had accomplished. The last time Prime had seen Starscream, he looked like he was knocking on death's door. The near flawless work had the arrogant Con looking as perfect as he always did. Hardly a trace of what he had just gone through was visible. Anyone who hadn't seen the end result of Megatron's brutal attack on the air commander would have never noticed otherwise.

Standing next to the berthed Decepticon, Optimus lost himself to the startling beauty of the other mech. He could appreciate the sleek, fast model that was the Decepticon seeker much more now that he lay so docile and fully restored after such a horrific mangling. The lustrous colors and handsome canopy that adorned the jet were optic catching. The trim wings and small waist. His pretty features. Starscream really was beautiful. Even the small glimpses that the Prime had managed to catch of him on the battlefield were always memorable. The way the seeker could handle himself while soaring and maneuvering through the Earth's blue skies had always been admirable to both Autobot and Decepticon.

Enough so that Optimus could almost believe the rumors about him and the Decepticon General.

Not being one for gossip, Prime hardly concerned himself with who 'faced who. It seemed trivial. But now that he was up close to the stunning mech, Prime could see why Megatron would wish him to be at his side. The tyrant wasn't egotistical enough to pick a partner based exclusively on looks. Starscream had the looks, no doubt. He also had the talent to make him dangerous. The processor to make him useful. Brains and beauty and skills. All would be desirable for a mech like Megatron. After all, those rumors had to be based on some truth.

So if it were true, why did he lash out and attempt to kill his partner? Why did the couple always fight and bicker? How come Megatron simply didn't crush the rebellion once and for all when it first started? Why did Starscream persist in his treachery?

And like everyone else, Prime wondered what Starscream had done to ruin their partnership all those years ago.

Finding that his mind was wandering just a little too uncomfortably into gossip territory, Optimus deleted his train of thought and left the seeker to his much needed recovery.

Two days later, Starscream woke up.