Transformers Animated: A Time For Trust

Not as Planned

High above the skyscrapers and twinkling lights of Detroit, Starscream sliced through the night skies. At least he would be slicing in all his aerodynamic splendor if he wasn't forced to fly in root mode, carrying an inconveniently flightless predacon.

"You know," Starscream said, adjusting his grip on Blackarachnia's waist "I have an alt-mode FOR A REASON."

"This was your idea!" she spat, literally and directly into his face while her claws dug into his torso seams. "I am perfectly capable of transporting myself."

Starscream wiped his face with his free hand. "Your little web swinging acrobatics are slow and primitive. I just want to get this mindless mission over with."

"We wouldn't be on this mission if you'd kept your mouth shut," she said. "I haven't seen you bend to Megatron's will so eagerly in, well, EVER."

"Blame yourself for that," Starscream defended. "I can no longer justify a personal uprising against Megatron due to this organic's logical influence on my neural processes."

"So," Blackarachnia contemplated with intrigued, "what you're saying is, you've finally learned from your past mistAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Starscream dropped her before she could finish, her screams of anger dissolving into the nocturnal sounds of the city. Then after a long and satisfying moment, he transformed and rocketed into a nosedive.

Blackarachnia frantically prepared for the ultimate web swinging stunt as the skyscrapers roofs drew closer, tirades of curses queuing in her mind. Then she heard the obnoxiously familiar roar of jet engines followed by the jingle of transformation. Starscream appeared just below her, valiantly catching her in his arms.

She was not impressed.

"That wasn't funny, you—"

"Shhhhh!" Starscream interrupted. "We mustn't alert the humans to our presence."

"What?" Blackarachnia was incredulous. "Your thrusters are rattling the entire fragging city!"

"Your opinions do not interest me," he said dismissively. "Now, where's this factory?"

She could have killed him. Even if it meant abandoning her original plan and starting all over from scratch with another, less INSANE sciencebot, she was ready to offline him. Unfortunately non-mad sciencebots didn't exist in the Decepticon ranks, so she was stuck with him.

"About two miles east," she said, relenting to quell her frustration. "But we need a plan. If Prowl's body is even there, they'll most likely have it securely guarded."

Starscream sharply banked left, forcing Blackarachnia to cling to him. "Then you'll just have to lure them out of the building while I sneak in and find the body."

"That shouldn't be too difficult," Blackarachnia said, willing herself not to look down. "My last encounter with Optimus Prime wasn't completely hostile. In fact, we even helped each other out a bit." A tiny smile tugged at her cheek.