The Song of Darkness: Essence of Madness ● Transformers Prime {Starscream}

Chapter 17: Failure

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It was late in the afternoon when I was able to leave the Magamaze. I went straight to the motel. Most of the Autobots were outside in the warm air. Not that I felt the weather. "Screamer." An Autobot teased, but I ignored it. I found the great Optimus Prime being helped around by his younger sister. Songbird smiled brightly upon seeing me.

"Starscream--where's Darksong?" She asked, looking behind me like Darksong might appear there. She scanned over my face, and soon her kind expression turned into one of immense worry. "Where's Darksong?" Her voice was urgent now. My mind raced back to Darksong's frail body. To her too-pale skin. To the way, she had gone still. So very still. Like she had died. I fell to my knees before Songbird, wings limb behind me. "Where is she?" 

"She--She's really sick...I-I don't know--They won't let me see her." I grabbed hold of Songbird's hands, pressing my forehead to them. She would never forgive me. I had failed in the one thing she had asked of me. I had failed at keeping Darksong safe. Keeping her out of harm's way. I should have known something was wrong. I had failed in keeping the one thing that kept me going--the one thing I loved--safe. "I failed you." 

"You haven't--You could never." Her voice was shaky as she wrapped her arms tightly around me. I held on for dear life. My word was slowly falling apart yet again. "Come--bring me to her." 

"Songbird--" The Prime started but Songbird cut him off as she began helping me to my feet.

"I'm going, Optimus. She's my daughter." Songbird held onto my hand tight. 

"All I was going to say was this: be safe." Songbird gave a weak smile that was returned by the Prime. I was pulled along by Songbird, who must have seen Darksong and I walk into the woods before, because that's where we went. 

"Does Megatron know you came here?" She said, voice still shaky. 

"No." I all but whispered. I knew Megatron would be pissed. I knew that by going to the Autobots I most definitely will be punished, but it was a chance I was willing to take. Songbird needed to know. She needed to be with her daughter. 

"Then we shouldn't ground the bridge in." Her light blue wings spread a bit. "Show the way." With a beat of our wings, we were airborne.

We rushed through the Magamaze dodging Vehicons here and there. None of them stopped us. Most still remembered Songbird and her kindness. She had cared for each and every one of us like we were her children. Soon, we came to the med bay, only to find Megatron sitting there, scarred face in his hands. He gave a great sighing growl. "I told you, Starscream--" He stopped when he found who stood with me. "Songbird." 

"Let me see her, Megatronus." The great warlord didn' bat an eye at being called his former name. He merely stared up at the women. "Let me see my baby." To my surprise, Megatron gave a nod. He got to his feet and opened the med bay door. Songbird rushed in, a sob escaping her. I went to follow only for Megatron to push me back. 

"No. You've done enough."

"Please-" But before I could beg him, the door was shut in my face.

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