Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ Shard ❯ Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

It came on abruptly and without warning.  He usually got sensations before it hit, letting him know it was coming so he could escape, but not this time.  This time it was so abrupt, he hadn’t had time to flee.
Starscream leaned against the wall, feeling the numbing liquid quickly take effect as his systems calmed once more. As his body stilled and with his vision no longer enshrouded by his bloodthirsty crave, he glanced over at the mech whose body lie on the ground not far from him.
Shock made him freeze in place and he was forced to stare longer than he would have liked. The dull ache of sadness crept up on his spark as he stared in disbelief at the one who had supplied him last. No word could express how he was feeling at that given time.  He’d felt sorry for the other times and others he’d come across, but not this bad. “TC…” He choked on the simple word, the spikes of regret lodging into his vocal processor.
The Second in Command of the Decepticons had brutally attacked his wing mate, his voracious appetite taking over him completely in a way it hadn’t done before. Poor Thundercracker never even saw it coming.  He knew that Starscream was acting funny for a while now, but he had no idea how just how far off the Air Commander really was until his dying moments. What was he going to do? He was positive Skywarp would come for Thundercracker.  What would he tell him?
Starscream’s optics fell to the ground below him.  He was beside himself and unsure what to do now. Thundercracker was the closest friend he’d had besides Skywarp. And now… now he wore his fresh energon all over his body. He’d used his friend’s life force to sustain himself because of this stupid curse.  It was the last straw.  Looking down at himself and knowing what he had done, he curled in on himself and cried for the first time in a very, very long time. The seeker could still remember the look on Thundercracker’s face – the horror in his friend’s optics, his confusion and hurt. He glanced over meekly, hoping it was all a nightmare and that Thundercracker would move, showing he was still alive. But, he did not.  His face was still contorted in the fear and confusion Starscream had scarred on him.
He gazed for a long moment in the stupor of finality, remembering his curse and the one who’d set it on him. It was a strange black and red mech who had sharp points all over his body with a crooked like chevron.  He’d never personally seen a mech that looked like that one before – the existence of such a strange looking mech was too surreal.
‘You will devour everyone around you and you won’t have any control over it.’ At first, he didn’t know how he was supposed to take what he’d been told, choosing to ignore the words.  But then he found out.  He didn’t like it. He hated it and there was no way out. It was the last thing he heard before he was sucked into a life that he never thought could even exist. One to which there was no escape, for he had tried.
Skywarp, having finally honed in on Thundercracker’s now dying beacon, landed in a panic. It took him a moment to absorb what he was seeing.  Thundercracker was dead, lying there, his chest torn to shreds. The black and purple Seeker didn’t know what to make of what he landed upon. Starscream was cowering next to the wall looking like he’d done something real bad. Having no idea Starscream was even here, he took a moment to wonder why his leader’s beacon was not on when it should have been.  He dove for Thundercracker, hoping to find any signs of life, but there was none.
“I… I’m sorry…” Starscream’s voice was timid, almost a whisper.
Skywarp looked to him in question and Starscream quickly looked away and started to crawl pitifully further from his wing mate to what little shadows were provided, which weren’t enough to hide him from his friend or his inner turmoil.
 “What happened?” The black mech stared at Thundercracker as he spoke, as if the body would answer him. Starscream didn’t answer him.  
Skywarp adjusted his visuals to get a better view of his superior who looked absolutely horrified. Looking between Starscream and Thundercracker a couple of times, he couldn’t help but notice fresh energon coming from Starscream’s mouth as if he’d been eating it. He hadn’t ever seen anyone eating someone else’s energon from their bodies. Or why…  How was that possible?  It was a disgusting thought.  
But why at his mouth of all places? Had they gotten into a fight? The black mech was unsure what to say, feeling overwhelmed at the moment from fear and shock, “‘Who… who did this?”
“I didn’t mean it… It wasn’t my choice.  He… he was the only one close, and I… and I…” Starscream stuttered with shame as he tried feebly to wipe away what energon was still on him.  He deliberately stayed out of Skywarp’s reach.
Huh? Since when did Starscream fumble over his words like that? “What do you mean ‘it wasn’t your choice’, Starscream? What wasn’t your choice?!”
Starscream shied back from Skywarp’s questioning.  He was mortified at what he’d done and Skywarp was making him feel even worse. “S-stop yelling, Skywarp.  I can’t help myself.  I can’t…” He paused with a loss of words, “I killed Thundercracker…”
Skywarp stared blankly, perhaps hoping for some form of joke, but none came.  “What the hell are you talking about, Starscream?” Anger mixed with confusion shook over his voice.  How dare he even try to joke about something like that at a time like this? Skywarp stepped closer to his commander. From this distance he could tell Starscream was shaking badly.
Strangely, Starscream shuffled further away, “Get back! Stay away from me!” Out of his hand fell Thundercracker’s spark system.
Skywarp froze and stared when his optics fell on it, unsure of what to think. Anger welled up in him at the sight.  Just why did he have Thundercracker’s spark system in his hands and his energon all over him? Just what in the name of Primus had happened here? Had he actually killed Thundercracker after all?  Could be possible… not Starscream. Maybe he’d hit his head or maybe they’d both been attacked and he thought Thundercracker had died because of something he’d done or failed to do. “You’re really starting to worry me…”
Red optics looked right at Skywarp from the shadows as he said that.  The black Seeker watched him look away as he looked back. Starscream could see the black Seeker’s anger and knew he was vulnerable because he was so shaken up by the ordeal.  He didn’t want Skywarp taking his anger out on him for killing him.  It wouldn’t be pleasant. “It’s not safe here. It’d be better if you just go,” he told him, backing further into what shadows the buildings had to offer making him all but disappear where only his optics shown from the darkness. Things were becoming too risky. He didn’t even want to chance Skywarp being around him.  “You need to leave.” His voice became soft. “Please go. Just please, please go, ‘Warp.”
Was Starscream begging? How unusual “I…I can’t Starscream!”  Nothing made any sense! He needed to know what was going on! “Tell me what happened! I gotta know! Wh…who attacked you?” Concerned for his friend and wing mate, Skywarp took a step toward him again, this time he was standing next to Thundercracker’s leg. Instinctively he glanced down, then back toward Starscream, whose optics followed.
Starscream’s voice then became angry, hoping to chase the black mech off, “N-no one! I attacked him! Me! I killed Thundercracker!  Now get out of here!” Starscream’s fist struck the wall with such force it nearly buckled next to him. He now knew his time with Skywarp would also be limited as well. Quickly picking up the spark system that he’d dropped earlier, he threw it violently.  He would rather him hate him for the rest of his life than become his next victim.
Skywarp put his arms up, deflecting the thing that was thrown.  He hadn’t seen clearly what it was until it clanged on the ground, making him look.  He was stunned once again, this time from being hit by what appeared to be Thundercracker’s spark system. He shivered in revulsion. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing and seeing and he was so confused.  Starscream was acting like some feral creature.  He’d admitted to attacking and killing Thundercracker? “Wh… why would you do such a thing? It doesn’t make any sense!”
Starscream moved slightly, refusing to answer.  He didn’t even know why he hadn’t taken off yet.  Maybe he was still hoping he wouldn’t hurt Skywarp. But reality was reality, and it lay as a blue form on the ground at not far from where Starscream was trying to hide. “Please leave, ‘Warp, I don’t want to have to tell you again, I… I don’t want to kill you too,”
Skywarp immediately backed up. What was he saying? Something was wrong. Very wrong. “You’re sick, you need help.  Let’s get you back to medical.”
“There is nothing that can be done.” With that, Starscream flew off.  
Skywarp wasn’t sure what exactly he was supposed to do. He looked back at Thundercracker’s body and wandered to where Starscream had been hiding, seeing if there were any clues as to what Starscream was talking about. There was no answer but energon on the ground.