Forsaken

★ Chapter 17 ★

 Fire a rocket? No. Transform and flee? No, Not with these injuries. If the seeker were to fire, Megatron would fire back, and that would be it. Starscream forged to be sleek and sneaky, but Megatron, his job before the leader of the Deceptions was gladiatorial combat in the pits of Kaon. No way he could win. Try as he might there was no way he could even run for it with the humans to protect and Asteria. Now down to the question. What did he want and why was he here?

Megatron:" Greetings, Starscream"

That smirk. He had hoped to Primus to never again be at the short end of the stick, but here he was. Megatron once again had all the cards, and he knew he did. That greedy disgusting, selfish smirk made Starscream's want to spit back an insult almost unbearable. The only thing controlling him from doing so was the small amount of logic that urged him that if he made one wrong move. He would offline in seconds.

Starscream:" How did you find me?"

Starscream clenched his denta in anger when the Warlord let out an amused chuckle. He wanted to slap him so badly. The excitement was suddenly replaced by fear when his former master took a few confident strides towards him. His red optics focused solely on him. This was good. If he was so focused on him and only him, it meant that he had no idea of his companions.

Megatron: "why, my dear seeker... you are a Decepticon after all. It seems you forgot about your tracker on your decoration and who your master is!"

Starscream let out a pained yelp when Megatron slammed him helplessly to the ground. It was another thing he hated about the mech — the ability to hide his intent until it was too late. Starscream resisted the urge to scream in pain. He refused to allow him to take pleasure in his suffering. Instead, the seeker did his best to glare up at his deviled optics as he stared back. He looked, he looked for any sign of anticipation of his next moves, but there was nothing — not even a smirk. Starscream fought back lubricant to his optics as he felt the moment the fragile repairs broke. He could feel the Energon seeping from his wings staining the Earth below. Now such a beautiful spot would be ruined with a painful memory if he got out alive.

Megatron:" Airachnid told me about the little stunt you pulled with your new teammates Tell me Starscream, did you join the Autobots or are you that pathetic?

That wretch. Starscream honestly wasn't sure who he hated more. This disgusting mech or the equally disgusting femme. He should have killed her when he had the chance. He should have known she would tell Megatron. But she didn't know about Asteria did he? Starscream felt a small amount of relief go through him. He didn't know the children were here and he didn't know about Asteria. The seeker could not hold back a cried pain as the Warlord pressed him into the ground further. The Energon from his wing squeezed out of him.

Megatron:" what a shame you are alone... I enjoy a good fight. But this is long overdue!

Starscream felt his spark go cold as all of a sudden, a similar set of tiny servos grabbed his shoulder. At first, he thought maybe one of the humans bravely or perhaps stupidly came to his rescue but horror filled his spark as he watched his little girl bare her fangs at Megatron.

Asteria: "no hurt, daddy!"

In all his years of knowing him, Starscream had never seen Megatron pause for so long bewildered. No. no, no, no! This couldn't be happening! Why him!? What would Megatron do to her? Why didn't the children hold her back?? And just like that, his concern for himself was gone. Now his worry was for Asteria.

Starscream:' Asteria. Run!"

Starscream wanted to stand up. Look at himself, laying on the ground and slap himself for being so stupid. You absolute Fraghead. Why did you voice your concern?! Now he fragging knows you care about her! You should have kept your stupid silver golossa locked away! You should have never come out here! Starscream nodded intently as the last remnants of his consciousness through this fear screamed at him.

Megatron:" well, well, this is interesting."

Finally, he reacted. His expression back to its usual self as the Warlord had the biggest smirk he had ever seen. His servos gently clasped around Asteria middle as he lifted her.

Megatron:" Hello there, little one."

Something inside Starscream snapped.

Starscream:" PUT. HER DOWN!"

Starscream had never been too angry in her entire life. With all his build-up rage, the seeker launched the most painful kick he could manage right into Megatron's legs. He knew that if he fell over, Asteria would bounce. A few kisses on her boo-boo and she would be fine. Megatron however, well, he hoped he broke something. The seeker was deeply disappointed when he seemed fine. He had been knocked backwards off his body but had found himself balance quickly. Starscream took the opportunity to push himself off the ground, but he didn't get far. The Warlord didn't need even to hold him down anymore. His bleeding injury had made moving almost impossible.

Megatron:" Lord Megatron to Soundwave, open the ground bridge to my ship, won't you?... I am returning with precious cargo."

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

NO.

Don't take her, please.

Starscream felt self-hatred for himself, Megatron and Airachnid as the Warlord turned heel to walk towards the sound of his ground bridge. He felt the hatred grow as he felt lubricant drip down his faceplate. Starscream had promised to never cry in front of him. He had promised her he would protect her. He was stupid. Stupid and useless. Sparkbroken, he could do nothing but desperately reach out to his little girl as Asteria cried out for her daddy to rescue her.

Megatron:" Thank you for the gift Starscream. She will make an excellent replacement.

And just like that, she was gone. In a pile of, Energon, his lubricants and disgust. All he could do is watch as the mech he hated took away the femme he loved.