Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 7 : Awake

It had been a long time since Starscream dreamed. When he had, it was just like every other Cybertronian dream. A mixture of memories that had passed and perhaps the odd overwhelming desires that one wished to see or live that played through their subconscious strongly enough that they could almost see it in reality.

The seeker used to dream those dreams. Before he had earned his leader's respect and affections he would slip into recharge and imagine a future with the war lord. The desires and goals he lost himself too manifested into pleasant visions while he slept. So real that he would awake with the impression of a dark servo still placed firmly on his hip and his spark a flutter with emotions that he should not be feeling.

But after that incident that happened so long ago, he no longer dreamed of the future. He could only relive the past.

He hated it. To the point where he would shut down most of his processing systems to purge his recharge of those violent and spark crushing memories. Cybertronians recharged with their higher level processing functions still active so they could awake at a moment's notice. It was like sleeping with one's optics wide open. A security measure. However it allowed them to dream. Their processors still active and consciously unaware that the images they saw while recharging was what they secretly wished to see. Their own minds calling up these memories as quickly as they imagined them. This could lead to the pleasant images of past experiences, or the future ones that they wished for. Or it could lead to the unwanted memories of unpleasant experiences. Things they couldn't erase from their data banks. Things they couldn't forget. It was a small price to pay. For most Cybertonians, Autobot and Decepticon, feared recharge with no sense of their surroundings. To shut down this ability would leave them literally in the dark. They wouldn't be aware of the world around them and it gave them all the impression of what death would be like. To not feel anything. To not sense anything. It was horrifying to think of.

For Starscream, it was better to slip away into obscurity then to relive those memories. He would rather face the dark unknown than face those dreams.

So when the seeker finally awoke, he had no idea where he was. His scrambled processor recalling the last visions he had seen and the last sensations he had felt. He on lined with the terrifying recollection of being torn to pieces by Megatron.

He heaved forward, sitting up so suddenly that his weakened body couldn't catch up to the jarring movements. His whole being alarmed and terrified, thrashing so violently that he fell from the berth to the cell floor. Utterly spooked and confused, he took a few more moments of lashing out at invisible threats to realized that he was not in immediate danger. He was alone.

Relaxing only enough to sit back up, his shaking limbs barely able to drag himself up and onto the berth, he glanced around his surroundings. It looked like a storage closet. Yet it had reinforced doors and a light fixture installed. Empty except for himself and the berth he now huddled on.

With no enemies in sight, he ran a quick diagnostic. He was surprised to find that he was completely repaired and just a slight dull ache in his frame from where his internal repairs had yet to fully take effect. Although he was in one piece again, it sometimes took the complicated networks to accept foreign repairs. A different type of solder or a new body part could be felt as an intruder in his own metal skin. It took the overly sensitive circuits a while to grow accustomed.

His weapons and thrusters had been taken offline as well. He was defenseless and weak. His fuel tanks were satisfyingly full enough, but his structure was still recovering and only filtered enough energon through to keep him comfortable. An unfortunate preservation technique to keep Starscream from over exerting himself and undoing all the repairs that his body was still getting used to.

So he was alive, repaired, well fed, not restrained and left in a comfortable enough berth with a light so that he would not awake to total darkness. His needs were taken well into consideration by his captors. It was obvious by now that he was not aboard the Nemesis.

While he was grateful to be away from Megatron and the other Decepticons, he was still surrounded by enemies. Seeing as how the Autobots had taken satisfactory care of him, he knew that he was not in immediate danger. That thought alone kept him calm enough to devise a plan. To repair a Decepticon prisoner would mean that the Autobots needed him functional. To keep him in comfortable conditions would mean that they wished to earn his trust.

Simply put, they wanted information. As soon as the gentle, understanding approach failed, they would resort to far more extreme measures of data extraction. Starscream wouldn't stick around long enough for that. He would escape long before that would happen. He had to make it back to the Nemesis. He had to go back to the Decepticons. If only so he could destroy the monster who had done this to him. Perhaps this trick to earn the seeker's 'trust' could work both ways. Starscream was a better actor than one would give him credit for. He could play the part of a mistrustful captive that slowly warmed to his captors only to betray them when their guard was down. The Autobots would fall for it. They were such fools. Even after years of war they had still not fully comprehended that you can't spell "Decepticon" without "deception".

He was only alone for a few moments. The door shifting open to reveal the red and white bot, known as Ratchet if Starscream could recall correctly. His blue optics were transfixed on a data pad, and only when he glanced up did he notice that the seeker was already awake, sitting on the berth with legs crossed in the corner furthest away from the door. Optics lowered to a mistrustful glare and a growl escaping his curled back lips, he bared his dentals in a feral display.

The Autobot could only stare for a moment before his mouth dropped open in a soundless cry, dropping the data pad and wheeling for the door. It hissed shut a split second after, leaving the Con alone once more. Judging from the Autobot's reaction, he had not expected to see the jet awake yet. Starscream chuckled as he replayed the reaction over in his mind. It wouldn't take much time for the medic to report that he was awake. Prime would no doubt come for a visit. Starscream briefly wondered if the semi had been contacted by Megatron since he was taken prisoner. Highly unlikely, considering Megatron tried to slag him. That thought alone made the seeker's jaw grind. How dare, that bastard!

Only seconds later, the door hissed open once more, only this time a considerable number of Autobots hovered around the door. Prime practically having to shove his way through the mob to enter the cell. Starscream pressed himself as far into the wall as he could, glaring at the intrusive bot. Optimus seeming to notice his hostility, shooed the others away from the door. They would remain outside to guard the cell. He would speak to the jet alone.

"And just what do you want, Autobot." He snarled, trying to swallow down the fear that suddenly crept up on him.

Optimus raised his hands in a show of meaning no harm. He cautiously advanced a few steps closer. "Only to speak with you, Starscream." He said calmly.

"Well unless you're about to tell me I'm free to go, I have no use for words with you!" He shifted only slightly on the birth, forcing the Prime to watch him closely for any sign that he might attack.

"I am sorry, but that's just not possible." Optimus lowered his hands and relaxed his posture, trying to seem benign. "You were injured severely. We still need to observe you for a few more days until Ratchet decides you are in the clear."

"I find that hard to believe." The jet sneered. "I'm no fool, Prime. I know you won't release me until I tell you what you want to hear. Well, you can forget it, because I'm not telling you anything. You might as well off line me now."

Prime did a good job off looking genuinely concerned, Starscream had to give him that. But he wasn't buying it.

"We would never do that." The semi all but promised. "Autobots will never commit such a crime unless it was necessary. Please do not fear for your life, Starscream."

"I hold no fear of you!" The Decepticon hissed, sitting up further on the berth to appear more challenging. "I could destroy you even without my weapons functioning if I must!"

"Please take it easy." Optimus stepped forward hesitantly. "You are still weak and need to rest."

The seeker made a little sound of irritation. He wasn't stupid enough to fall for the Prime's feigned concern. Although, he was exhausted and taking it easy seemed to be the smart thing to do. He settled down again, but his body still remained tense.

"Just leave Autobot. You will gain nothing for your fake sympathy."

Seeing this as a loss cause for now, Prime regarded the jet for a moment. Grasping for any comforting words that could reach the Decepticon. He could think of none. Blue optics watching red, he nodded his head and turned to leave the seeker to his rest. He hesitated at the door for a second, looking back over his shoulder at Starscream, who had yet to relax even an inch.

"I don't know what happened between you and Megatron on that day, Starscream. But from my point of view, he tried to kill you. The Decepticons have not contacted us to negotiate your release, nor have they attempted to break you free. You were abandoned and left to die in that canyon. I think it's only fair to let you know that if you choose to, you can help us defeat Megatron. If you insist upon treating us like enemies, then we'll have no choice but to put you into a modified stasis until we can return you to Cybertron for a more permanent solution. For the sake of the Earth and this war, we can not allow you go free."

The cell door slid open, and the Autobot general stepped out.

"I will give you all the time you need to make your decision, Starscream. I will not give up on you until you give up on yourself. Now get some rest. I will be back in the morning to bring you a cube of energon."

And with that, the door slid shut, once again isolating the Decepticon. Starscream regarded the door for a few more moments, taking in everything that had just passed between him and the Autobot. A sudden rage leapt up and took hold of him. He was furious. Furious at Megatron who had beaten him and left him to die. Furious at the Autobots who dared to treat him like a damaged protoform. Furious at the universe for cursing him this endless streak of misery and suffering and humiliation! Damn them. Damn them all! Autobot, Decepticon, it didn't matter anymore. He would make them all suffer!

He would escape from this. Even if he had to play pet for Optimus Prime in order to do it. Even if he had to betray his comrades secrets to earn the Autobot's trust. He would break free. He would go back to the Decepticons. Convince them to take him back. He would wait until that fool Megatron would let his guard down and then he would strike. He would have that bastard beg for death at his feet before he finally ended his wretched life.

He lashed out at the wall, driving his fist into it as hard as he could. Dermal plating buckling under the pressure. Biting back the cry that wanted to escape his lips as the agony shot up the length of his arm, making his entire being ache with it. Years of holding back his screams made it easier to bite back that primal urge. He had Megatron to thank for that.

He would remember this pain. He swore on it that he would succeed.

First things first. He had to win over Prime.