Warning, the following is indeed a Transformers SLASH fiction, this means Male transformers in romantic situations and other girly things. Also be warned, this is not going to be a happy story, possibly humor may be found between the lines but overall I'm aiming for complete misery once this thing gets going.

It's just too easy with a mech like Starscream.

If you are uncomfortable or unaware of the previously stated warning please abandon this page for something happier and not slash...Thank you: JoH

Undertaking

Chapter One: The Introduction

"Considering the outcome, I believe that went pretty well." JetFire was attacked by a wild assortment of vividly colored optics, all thinned in a dark glare of resentment. "Never mind," He muttered quickly and snuck closer to Optimus, who merely sighed in exhaustion.

The Autobots were weary and tired; each sporting deep scars and heavy smoke damage from laser blasts and exploding rocks. Though, of them all, one appeared to have received the most damage. Starscream, whom hesitantly limped into the medical room, at first glance seemed to be a gray painted seeker rather then brilliant red. Decepticons enraged from betrayal apparently struck harder then your typical grumpy 'Cons. The tired group had indeed rescued the minicon at the price of Sideswipe's leg armor, Blurr's mask, Optimus' shoulder and Starscream's left arm. The appendage would have to be amputated and completely rebuilt; Red Alert mentally prepared his self for that. Decepticon wiring was far beyond his expertise and even with a Decepticon in their base: it didn't mean he had any cooperation.

"I'm fine, stop touching me!" The seeker hissed, right hand clamping over the charred mangled thing that once served as his arm. Optimus approached the other, standing beside Red Alert and trying to decide the best course of action. It was easy to cause the small mech to believe he was being forced into a corner, and when that happened he lashed out rather viciously ending all possible chances of helping.

"Starscream you can't go on with one functioning arm. We'll gladly help remember? We're on the same team here." The Autobot commander ignored the disgusted shudder that shook the once red seeker's frame. "Red Alert has repaired your minor injuries before."

"I didn't agree to that!"

"Nope, but we held you down anyways kid." Hoist snickered in the corner and was presented with a Megatron-esque glare from the irate seeker.

"I'll fix it; Runway Sonar and Jet Storm are fully capable of aiding me." Swindle, perched calmly on his partner's burnt shoulder let out a dark beep and kicked Starscream's head. "As well as Swindle, he's useful, somehow."

"As your commanding officer I must express my deepest..." Starscream obviously wasn't buying into the superior concern routine, his fiery optics turned away, annoyed and bored looking. Optimus was running out of options and he knew Hot Shot and Blurr would like nothing more then to attack and bind the seeker back down to the medical berth, which was definitely his last resort. Besides, that always played out poorly for Red Alert's tools as Starscream managed to pull them from his body and crush them against the nearest wall: all while tied down.

"Starscream is there any way possible that you'd willingly, peacefully, and calmly agree to being repaired?"

The seeker paused, his gaze fixing on Optimus' in contemplation of his options. His mangled arm twitched a bit, the fumes of smoke continuing to pour from the burnt and twisted metal. For a second there Optimus thought maybe this would be simple.

"Go frag yourself." JetFire grabbed Hot Shot before he could launch his fists at the seeker's helm, the yellow bot cursed and struggled and as Starscream walked away Blurr shook his head in disbelief.

"I still don't trust him, treating us like we're plotting to dissect him. Doesn't he realize he's the traitor here?" Optimus waved his hand, shrugging off the sniper's comments.

"It's just difficult for him, a new base, far from what he's used to. I'm sure that in the Decepticons no one willingly helped each other. We can't blame him."

"I can!" Hot Shot barked, frowning heavy and still tangled in JetFire's grip. "I mean who does he think he is? He can't just walk around here, saying what he wants, doing nothing to help, and then expect us to bow down and kiss his fragging aft plate!" The shuttle gave the raging bot a gentle shake and sighed for all to hear.

"Listen, I get that he's being rancid and it isn't great for our team but you gotta put yourself in his frame like Op said, he's a seeker, it isn't his fault."

"I don't care if he can fly, drive, dig, or turn himself into a toaster that's no reason!" Hot Shot grumbled a bit and when he was finally released from the shuttle's hold, went to stand next to Red Alert and Blurr, hoping that maybe the older mechs would agree with him and nurture his bruised ego.

"What did you mean?" Sideswipe asked, settling down on the floor and trying to cover his embarrassment as sparks began shooting from his leg. Scavenger remained quiet, nestled in a corner and Blurr helped Red Alert with beginning the much needed repairs. "I mean what did you mean when you said it was because he's a seeker?"

"It's because all seekers have an eighty foot rigid pole shoved up their..."

"Hot Shot," Optimus warned.

"Sorry sir."

JetFire gave a simple shrug, leaning against one of the medic tables and examined his wrist that Cyclonus had almost bit in half, seriously.

"Well he's a seeker, he flies obviously. Flying in mechs might be started by out gears and turbines but in order to control and maintain flight emotion plays a lot into it. Notice how today, when he was flying it seemed as though he was carrying a heavy load, well he's been excessively vicious recently like something bothering him. Because he's upset beyond the norm his flying is off, he can't control it with a clear and calm mind. Most flyers and seekers go through the same thing; some can even become so despondent that they lose the ability to fly or function all together and just give up on everything."

"Well that's not good." The youngest bot added, glancing at Hot Shot who still appeared stung by the fact that not all were as outraged as he.

"So," Scavenger muttered a bit, his tone implying curiosity. "The boy's got a cog out of place in his head so his wings aren't flapping right?" JetFire gave a short nod.

"Yea, kinda like that."

"Well that does us a lot of good, he won't even let us try and help him!" Hot Shot barked, crossing arms and pouting in a manner which meant he was trying not to pout.

"It's not that simple. Seekers, since their flight is controlled by emotion, their thoughts and feelings aren't contained to just their spark or their personal mainframe like the rest of us. If you try and hook up wires with a seeker whether it's for communication or just fuel transfer you might get a head full of their deepest thoughts, and they can't restrain it." Optimus and Red Alert shared an expression of understanding, both appearing enlightened by their discovery.

"So, he won't allow me to repair him out of fear that somehow I'll discover his personal thoughts?" The white mech nodded, feeling proud that he, for once, had taught the others something.

"Hm, well it's even more difficult then. We can't improve his attitude without knowing what's wrong, and we can't patch up his body without him feeling as though we're trying to pry into his mind. The problem here is that he only trusts the minicons." Optimus spoke, deducing the situation at hand. "We need someway to get through to him, to explain that none of us are trying to hurt him."

"He probably got enough of that from Megatron," Sideswipe added casually and was surprised by the look of agreement in everyone's faces.

"Right, so we have a moping Decepticon in our base, making our lives hell. What now?" Hot Shot spoke, less irritation in his tone then before. "We're not seekers; we can't help him get out of his funk. Wait how you think he kept working before, not like Megatron would try to give him pep talks. That image is just scary!"

"The Trine," Red Alert spoke, busy welding Sideswipe's leg together. "From what I know their thoughts, minds, and sparks are connected. Almost like they're one being united in three."

"Exactly," JetFire added. "Since their emotions aren't contained having two others to support you and likewise is probably the only way they remain stable. Remember on Cybertron, the last major battle before the Minicons shipped out?" Optimus nodded in slow agreement.

"Megatron sent out his aerial attack force, the first waves were almost all equally shot down but then a single trine managed to infiltrate our base. Prowl and Jazz succeeded in defeating one but almost immediately the other two changed their crafty tactics and went berserk. It was like they abruptly snapped their motherboards. We thought it was just rage but perhaps with that connection severed they couldn't take it?"

"So it's even worse for Starscream, he doesn't even have a trine, least I don't think." Hot Shot glanced to where the seeker had disappeared, wondering why, if a trine was so important, why Starscream was alone?

"Who knows, maybe Megatron could replace it?"

"Doubt it; you'd need to actually try to help the other in order for that to happen." Hoist muttered.

"Well we care, maybe we can help?" Sideswipe suggested as he tried out his repaired leg, giving a grateful smile and nod to Red Alert whom then moved on to help Optimus.

"Much as I'd do anything to get that mech out of my wires we really can't do anything unless you want to dress up in wings and guns and become a seeker." Scavenger grinned at Hot Shot's comment, but it was not a simple grin of amusement. There was mischief behind his smirk that sent even Optimus, whom knew the mercenary the best, preparing to crawl away.

"Well, he's a seeker, he has wings right? Why doesn't the one closest to a seeker try and help."

And as before many sets of vivid optics settled on the white shuttle.

"Oh frag, are you kidding me?" He gulped and took a step back, wondering if Megatron needed a replacement flyer.

Jack: considering Starscream never seemed exceptionally close to Skywarp and Thundercracker I came up with this theory of seekers being driven by emotion, which our darling psycho seeker has plenty of. Thus the distance made him act out and perform poorly at times. The other two seekers were less brash then Screamer and almost always together so they were at least partially stable. In Armada, he was trine-less which in my mind played a major role in why he acted so different (besides the glaring fact that it was a different Transformer universe and things were subject to change) and eventually gained a semblance of a soul and justification for his treachery.

This is only a prologue the following chapters will be much, MUCH longer and more in-depth this was just a starter. Hope it's acceptable.

Next Chapter: Splinters and Silver

"JetFire? What happened to your mask?!"

"Well that's an interesting story that may be explained in one statement: StarScream still bites."