This is set in the same universe as 'The Sterminio Principle' but not a sequel. Only a few incidents are mentioned in this one, as well as a surprise that I...might put in the end. Anyway, I've always wanted to try my hand at this particular type of story.

As always, read and review.

I do not own Transformers: Prime.

For the thousandth time that day, Starscream contemplated over the absence of his t-cog, and then ripped a tree from its moorings out of sheer anger.

He was trudging through the dense forest, limbs slapping against his wings and snapping like straw. The locator in his hand felt heavy, though it probably had something to do with the fact that it was old – found in the back of the Harbinger, held in the grasp of the corpse of some unfortunate mech offlined during the crash. Starscream had painstakingly pried the rusty digits loose from the device, hoping that he didn't catch some rare, rust-laden disease.

He'd left the body there. No use in doing anything with it.

Long talons tapped languidly against the locator, red optics shifting down to stare briefly at the screen. The dim, green dots seemed small, just out of his field.

If he'd had his wings, he would have been able to fly to the exact location in seconds. But he didn't, and the idea, the hope that he would ever get them back was dwindling. Who could he go too for medical assistance if he were to ever recover such a fragment of himself? The Autobots? Megatron?

Nope. Never in a million years. He would do it himself, if he had too. Cut open his side and stick it right in there…

Starscream shook his head, gripping the locator tightly. What was he searching for, anywhere? Energon? He barely knew how the device worked, let alone what it would lead him too. This was just a test run. A leisurely walk from the confines of that wretched ship to test out a new toy.

And what a lovely walk it was.

Earth had always been disgusting and worthless to him, and the feeble plants beneath his feet and the thick trees around him proved his point. More than once he found his pedes squashing against a struggling animal or his wings dislodging creatures from their position on the overhanging branches. After a while, it seemed as if all the living wildlife had scampered away – for that, Starscream was grateful.

He sat down to rest, even though it was not needed. Holding the device upward, he studied the screen fuzzy with ancient symbols – as well as text not even Soundwave, he presumed, could have interpreted – as well as several dials.

Already, Starscream's enquiring nature had gotten the better of him and he was flipping the switches, toying with the levers like a curious sparkling.

Then, he stopped.

The thing had vibrated. Starscream felt it travel up his arm and rattle his processors.

He dropped it and watched as it clattered onto the ground, sending up a plume of dust. Waving his hands, the Seeker dropped down and raised an optic ridge.

"Odd."

Of course fate deemed it that he be the one to find the device. Slowly, he picked it up and held it out in front of him, feeling it rattle once more.

Starscream stepped forward.

It shook again.

He stepped back.

Nothing.

"So that's how it's done," Starscream tapped the tip of his finger against the screen, watching it crackle and the fuzz. He surged forward, keeping a firm grip on the device.

The vibrating did not increase, but it did not decrease either. He ran, stumbling over logs and dodging trees, branches caressing his armor. It was difficult, running with such a slender figure.

That was why he had wings.

Starscream screeched to a halt as the light of a nearby clearing shone through the densely packed trees. His foot caught under a fallen tree and sent it tumbling forward, and Starscream landing flat on his aft. He crawled forward, talons scraping the bark from trees as he used them as balance.

He could see the shining, glistening blue and pink armor of a femme he so openly loathed as well as a flash of familiar yellow.

The scout and his partner, Arcee. And of course, Starscream was in no shape to fight them both at the same time.

Curse Primus and his silly jokes. This whole situation was ridiculous and Starscream wasn't having any of it. However…

Once crucial shot would take them out. One of them, at least. But the Autobots' numbers were weak and the loss of yet another member of the group…that would cripple them.

So Starscream lay there in the shadows, watching.

He had no idea what the relic was when they pulled it out of the ground.

It looked like a metal rod red from its time buried under the thick clay. Arcee and Bumblebee both had to take turns pulling, heaving with all their strength. It finally slid out of the ground, leaving a massive – well, massive by human standards – hole in its wake. Starscream watched with disgust as the little blue femme held it up, optics narrowing in alarm as she studied it in the light. The yellow scout was off to the side speaking urgently into his comm, the clicks and beeps and whistles clearly audible from where Starscream was hiding, nestled behind a swarm of trees.

Now's your chance, Starscream. Hit them…she's distracted and the Bee…well, the Bee is bleary.

Take it or leave it?

There wasn't much time. Arcee was talking to Bumblebee now, the relic slung over her shoulder. Starscream strained to hear what they were saying, but could catch snippets of the conversation. Heavy footsteps shook the ground. Starscream ignored them and spun around, pressing his back against the base of a tree, wings itching against rough bark.

It would be simple, he told himself. Turn around, aim, and watch as Arcee's head went…

"…I know, I know, Bee. Jack's just a little…shaken from what happened. Once his mom gets home, he'll be fine," a pause. "What are you doing?"

Starscream's spark leaped into his throat. The footsteps had stopped.

He turned.

"Ah!"

He was the one shouting. Bumblebee was there, staring like some kind of tourist.

Starscream sent a missile flying to the side, all sense of direction lost. Bumblebee dove and it tore through a gap in the trees, and then exploded somewhere out of sight – though the surge of heat and the shockwave the snapped nearby branches like matchsticks could clearly be felt from Starscream's position.

Bumblebee squealed in protest.

"Starscream!"

The Seeker ran. Threw himself forward with as much vigor as he could muster, the device abandoned beside the tree. Tumbling, stumbling blind through the forest, he could hear the light footsteps behind him.

He shot a glance back and saw Arcee perusing, the relic in her hand, twirling it in a motion that reminded him of Knockout whenever he wielded that blasted energon prod of his. However, this weapon was foreign, unknown, and could probably do a lot more damage.

Starscream spun, pedes digging deep ridges in the dirt. He fired off another shot that sent Arcee rolling, tossing the relic away from the blast and into the hands of Bumblebee, who had entered the chase unseen.

The femme landed hard on her back. She growled and then rolled over, mud painting her blue armor a murky brown.

"Throw it, Bee!"

"No," Starscream cried. "Don't throw it!"

When he shot another glance back he saw the scout sliding to a halt, winding up his arms. He was less than a hundred feet away though the confidence brimming in his blue optics frightened Starscream to the core. He could, and was going to send it flying like a spear.

Three seconds to react.

Two.

One.

Game over, but he still used the last of his energy in a burst of speed.

Starscream dove forward but it was already too late. There was a blinding flash, a horrendous shriek from either Bumblebee or Arcee, and the metal rod was screaming – actually screaming – through the air, like a bullet.

It struck Starscream in the back, right between his wings. Agony exploded through his body, along with a torrent of emotions; fear, loathing, envy, pride. Memories from long ago sped across his optics and he squeezed them shut, feeling his legs fly out from under him and his arms reach out to grasp nothing but air.

The impact knocked the wind out of him. Mud splashed in front of his face and his legs were all askew. A flailing limb accidentally dislodged a small tree from the ground, sending it crashing through the foliage and out of sight.

Silence.

The agony did not cease, and neither did the pounding, horrifying realization that something was wrong.

Something different. Something…unfamiliar.

Long, bony fingers clutched at the dirt. The rod was lying off to the side, a massive, smoking…

Wait, massive?

Had he become daft?

Starscream rolled over, mud coating his legs and back. He held his hand up in front of him. It wasn't…metal. It was the color of wheat and small and fleshy.

Oh, Scrap.