Forsaken

★ Chapter 3★

Learning how to survive as a youngling was tough. The whole world was new, exciting, and so full of danger and mystery. The sparkling looked so peaceful, laying in Starscream's arms. With nowhere else to go, he escaped back to the previous cave where he had first wound Asteria. Her expressionless face was like a tree blowing gently in the wind. It was peaceful. Starscream's mind, however, was a raging fire burning through the jungle with every intent to find answers to all his questions. So many sparked in his mind buzzing like fireflies. Where would they go now? How long would they last alone and most of all, what would happen to little Asteria? The morning Sunshine tiptoed over the mountains gently kissing the Earth below as the world around him began to heat up. Since escaping Airachnid the danger to them both was very real, all that Energon he left behind now no doubt belonged to Megatron. If he was to return back, it was indeed a death trap. On his own, it would be too good of a chance to miss, but he was not alone. Little Asteria was by his side as fragile as ever and in desperate need of her daddy. With a small smile on his face, he leaned down and gave her a small peck on her small helm. Even with him touching her, her little body was so exhausted and in need of rest that her slumber was not disturbed. There was nowhere to go and nowhere he could possibly get food them both. Things seemed hopeless.

"Daddy?"

Her little voice called out to him. She was seeking him the very second she had woken up in fear he has left her, and It would seem she was still scared of being abandoned. Starscream lifted her up so she could see his face.

" Hello, my little one, did you have a nice sleep?"

Her little optics locked on his ruby red optics giggling sweetly. She reached out to him promptly, and he gently held her against his chest. He knew it would be a matter of time before she would be hungry.

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Meanwhile the Autobot base (I labelled who is speaking because I thought dialogue might be confusing)

Ratchet: " How goes the decoding of some Relics, Optimus?"

Optimus: " I fear I am a little bit Rusty, my old friend. I so far am having no luck with anything, and yet I have worked tirelessly."

Ratchet felt a little spark strings tug at his emotions. The prime had been working all night long with no rest and sadly, no results. Optimus of all Cybertronian's was the most concerned about finding any relics before Megatron did, only he truly knew how dangerous the warlord was, and he wasn't wasting any chances. The medics Optics wondered over to the entrance of the hallways of the base. He knew he was desperate to help in any way he could, but even the mighty Optimus Prime needed a rest.

Ratchet: " Optimus, please come and have a rest. You have worked all night."

Optimus: " While I would like to do so, I cannot allow Megatron to gain access to another relic."

Ratchet: "and I cannot allow you to collapse from exhaustion in the battlefield!"

He tried to get the prime to see Logic but Even as a medic, and despite his health is at risk, he was the leader. If he said they had to wear bikinis into a battle, then that's what they would do. Well. Maybe not that far. The quiet sounds of the base were suddenly disturbed as The screeching of the elevator was echoing through the bottom. A noise Ratchet hated while he was trying to concentrate. Finally, Optimus looked up from his work. A distraction for at least a minute.

Agent Fowler: " Good morning, O.P and old Ratch."

Optimus: " Good morning, Agent Fowler."

Ratchet: " OLD Ratch!?"

Ratchet grumbled unhappily at the nickname. The nickname Ratch wasn't so unfortunate but the word Old added to it was an ego flattener. Like a Semi truck running over a balloon with a mighty pop. The bulky human's feet echoed on its metal platform with even more noise. Ratchet usually loved Mornings because they were so quiet, today felt like heavy rain on one's tin roof. Slowly but surely with a puff and the wobble of his fat belly, Agent Fowler made his way down the stairs and met at Optic level with Optimus and Ratchet.

Agent Fowler: " Notice any Cons in the desert riding camels?"

Optimus: " No.

Ratchet: " .....What is frag is a camel?

Agent Fowler: "I just got satellite imagery that they just got done moving a few tonnes of blue bubblegum berry Blitz power from the desert and a relic nearby."

Ratchet:" blue bubblegum berry Blitz power?!

Optimus:" Do you mean, Energon?"

Agent Fowler: yes, that stuff. They found a whole lot of it in a spaceship in the desert and are shipping it back to their own party boat. Unfortunately, though it's not as alone as me on valentines day and there is a whole lot of people in a village near that area. The CIA is up my clacker to try to get them away from the field before they are noticed by anyone or worse. Killed.

Optimus:" Understood. I will assemble the team and deal with this issue immediately. Ratchet, get out teammates up, we are going to find ourselves a relic."

Ratchet:" Thank Primus for peace and quiet..."

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Meanwhile, back with Starscream:

" Daddy... I hungry"

" I know my little one. Daddy is getting you some Energon."

The little femme whimpered and sobbed in his arms. Asteria's little body was shaking from the intense heat and lack of Energon. Starscream's body was shaking in fear, and he knew that this was a severe risk. If he didn't get the Energon his little one would die, if he did, then there was the grave risk of being hurt or worse... Killed. He couldn't bear to think about what this poor little one would have to go through. He knew that both sides would Take the sparkling, Megatron would force it to grow and teach it to fight dirty in desperate need of troops. The Autobots, however, would be a lot kinder, even so, he didn't want to lose the only thing that ever cared about him. Gently he held her soft tender body in his arms, giving her many kisses on her helm. The little Sparkling giggles distracted by the love she received. Her tiny digits reached up to him, trying to touch his long wings. Noticing she seemed quite intrigued by his wings, he gave them a little flick. Her high voice let out a squeal of delight as she wiggled, watching them with her full attention. He did it again, and the reaction was even more significant. He couldn't help himself but giggle, and it was merely was adorable.

" do again, do again!"

She begged. Her little optics glowing. It was as if she had forgotten she was hungry. The seeker's face fell a little strange. This warm feeling overcame the mech that made him quiver with happiness. That's what it was, happiness. A pity he hadn't felt in a long time nor had any hopes of doing so ever again.

" You like that Asteria?"

She stared at his wings, hoping he would do it again when suddenly, there was a sound like someone had dropped a dinosaur on it's their feet: a loud crash and the rattling of the ground. Little Asteria screamed in terror as the sound was all but too much for her frail little body. The sound almost made Starscream's wings fall off as well. A dark cloud of smoke puffed into the air like an angry storm cloud rolling towards them. Asteria whimpered and buried her helm in his chest, gently he stroked her back to hush her. Her little body shook as Starscream's Optics locked on to the source of the explosion. At first, there was nothing but the thick heavy smoke, but then there was a shadowy figure. Glaring through the dust, he tried to make out what optic colour it was as whoever it was... was walking straight them.