I do not own Transformers.

This started out as a theory.

"Are you sure he can't get loose?" Elite Guard member Sentinel Prime asked his superior, Ultra Magnus.

Magnus didn't take his optics off the unmoving Decepticon laying prostrate on the table as he said. "I can assure you, Sentinel Prime, that there is no way he'll be able to get loose." he took his optics off the Decepticon and set them on the younger mech. "If he was able to he would have tried to by now, but, he hasn't moved since we brought him in here."

Sentinel nodded. That was true. It almost seemed that the Decepticon that Optimus Prime had called Starscream was no longer functional. Sentinel opened his mouth to ask a question but Magnus, seemingly finished with the conversation, turned from the other mech and headed out of the room. "We should head back to the control room," he said. "Jazz has already contacted the Council."

"Yes sir," Sentinel said. The blue mech cast one last look at Starscream before he followed his superior out of the room.

The door hissed shut and the lights went out as the two Autobots exited the holding cell. Suddenly a tiny glowing object embeded in Starscream's forehead lit the room and pulsated, sending ripples of energy through the jet's body. The Decepticon's optics returned to their full brightness as he regained conciousness and feeling. His vision came into focus first and he found himself staring at the ceiling.

What? What is this? Where am I? Just then the feeling returned to his body and he was racked with pain from the damage he'd sustained from his earlier Autobot encounter. He groaned, instantly becoming aware of something in his mouth that was keeping him from making any type of intelligable sound. If he was going to suffer it would be in silence. He tried to spit it out but the object didn't move. It stayed in place, refusing to detach itself. He raised his hand to remove it manually and saw his wrists were cuffed together. What in the Pit is this?!

And it all came back to him at once.

The multiple times he'd tried to kill Megatron only to be slagged himself but never dying thanks to the shard of the Allspark embeded in his forehead that made him immortal. His encounter with the Autobots and the Elite Guard after Megatron once again slagged him. The memory of Optimus Prime slapping these infernal things on his wrists and knocking him offline. He growled in anger. Those cursed Autobots! Why did they have to keep ruining his plans?! Why did they have to interfere anyway?

When I get out of here they're going to regret ever crossing me! he vowed, glaring at his wrists. But first I have to get these things off me!

That was going to be a problem. He knew how these things worked. If you tried to get out of them they zapped you and knocked you out again. The last thing he needed right now was for that to happen. He pulled his hands as close to his face as he could and studied the cuffs. How was he going to get out of them without them zapping him again?

Maybe if I-

A sudden shuffling sound made him turn his head. His optics scanned the darkened room for the source and he just barely made out a figure near or was it on? the wall. What now? He couldn't call out to whoever it was because of the thing covering his mouth so all he could do was watch it. So far it hadn't moved. Whoever you are you'd better show yourself.

The answer came without the figure saying a word. Eight glowing red eyes suddenly lit up and he heard the sound of transforming. He now knew who it was now but he didn't relax or feel any better. Blackarachnia. What is she doing here?

He'd never felt comfortable around the she-spider. She always had some kind of wall around her and she was hard to talk to when he even bothered to try. He'd always figured she didn't like him and he didn't really care if she did or didn't. If she didn't like him he didn't like her either. He wondered how long she'd been there. She was probably getting a real kick out of his predicament.

He heard her footsteps and watched her shadowy figure coming toward him. When she was about three steps away she stopped and he could make out her outline completely. Sleek and deadly. Black and dark purple in color. She had one hand on her hip and she seemed to be smiling. He glared at her, not seeing what was so amusing. Go ahead. Laugh it up.

"I never thought I'd see the day when you ended up in one of these," she said, her voice echoing off the walls. He noticed her voice held no trace of amusement. "but I guess anyone could be beaten by a bunch of rock busters and a little human girl with a key."

Starscream looked away, ignoring the insult. It was bad enough he was in this situation to begin with but why did she have to rub it in?

"What's wrong?" she said, putting both hands on her hips and leaning forward. "Aren't you going to give me some kind of come back?" Then she laughed at herself, the sound as dry as her humor. "Oh, that's right. you can't talk." she folded her arms and walked a few paces away from him, stopping near his legs and sitting down on the table. "You know," she said, leaning her head back. "I might be able to help you."

Yeah sure you could, he thought, not believing her for a second. How was she going to help him? Defeat the Elite Guard by herself and get him the key? That wasn't likely to happen.

She turned her head and frowned at him, noticing his reddish orange optics glaring at her. "Don't be like that," she said, looking pouty, lifting her legs and wrapping her arms around them. "I only want to help you."

You can help me by going away. How did you get in here anyway and why are you even in here? I doubt it was because you saw me being hauled in here and felt sorry for me. He looked away from her. I don't need your help.

"You know they're not going to let you live," Blackarachnia's voice burst into his thoughts.

He looked at her, wondering what she was talking about. She met his gaze, reached out her hand, and poked the Allspark fragment in his forehead. "First they'll yank out this little jewel you've got here then extinguish your spark and throw your shell in the scrap heap."

And how would you know all of this?

She must have read the question in his optics because she said, moving her hand back to its former position. "I've seen it happen before."

Starscream didn't know how she could and didn't care anyway. Why was she bothering to tell him this? It wasn't like they could do anything to his spark anyway. He didn't have one anymore but if they took away the fragment... He didn't want to think about it.

"However, if you don't want that to happen let me suggest something," she said, unfolding her arms from around her legs and letting them drop as she turned her body so it faced him. She kept his gaze and smiled. "You help me and I'll help you." she reached out her hand again.

Starscream felt her fingers grasp the thing covering his mouth and yank it loose. It came out, showering sparks in all directions. She crushed it in her fist and dropped it. He heard it clatter on the floor.

Now that he could talk he could get some things off his chest. He lifted his head and demanded. "Why do you want to help me and where have you been hiding all this time?"

She avoided the second question by answering the first. "Because you might be able to do what I can't."

He looked at her suspiciously. "And that would be?"

She answered his question with a desperate sound to her voice. "Get a certain key from a certain human."

A key? "What key?"

"The key the Autobot's little human friend wears around her neck," Blackarachnia replied.

"What do you need this key for?" he wanted to know, not impressed yet. Why did she want a key so much? What was so special about it?

She crossed her arms again and put her one leg over the other. 'This key was charged by the Allspark and has the power to give life to machines," she told him. "I'm sure it has other powers too." she raised her hand and glared at her fingers. "I want to use it to purge myself of my organic half."

Hmm, a key powered by the AllSpark. Interesting.

She looked at him again. She saw she'd gotten his attention. She reached over and grabbed his cuffed wrists, yanking them forward and forcing him into a sitting position. He felt them spark slightly but that was it. They didn't knock him out this time. "This key could also help you overthrow Megatron," she said, her face close to his and her voice low. "What do you say?"

He said nothing for a moment. He let his mind weigh the possibilites. He could tell she was desperate to get this key and from her explanation he could see why. A key with the power to give life to otherwise "dead" machines could be useful. Maybe it could even give him back his own spark. I could agree to help her and then got find the key myself after we return to Earth. I might even be able to use it against Megatron like she said. That thought made him smile. This sounds promising. Extremely promising.

"Okay," he said after a moment. "I'll help you."

She smiled, pleased. She held up the key to the cuffs and worked on the lock. While she worked he asked her again. "What are you doing in here?"

She didn't look up as she said. "I saw the Autobots carrying you in here and I figured you might need some help." he heard the cuffs lock click and they opened, falling from his wrists and clattering onto the table. "There, you're free." she moved away from him, and started to get up. "Let's go."

"Wait." he reached out his hand and grabbed her wrist. She looked down at him. "You figured I needed some help?" he asked. "Since when did you care about whether I needed help or not?"

"I already told you," she replied. "I need your help. I wasn't about to bother going to Megatron for this. He doesn't care anyway."

"So you figured you'd take advantage of my situation and get me to be your pawn?" he demanded.

She met his optics. "Why not?" she asked. "You've done the exact same thing."

He smirked, knowing she was absolutely right. "So you did learn something from me," he said.

She also smirked, turning her body and putting her finger under his chin. She brought his face close to hers. "Only the things that I can use," she told him.

"Jazz," Ultra Magnus said, as he and Sentinel stepped into the control room. "Have you contacted the Cybertron Council?"

"Yes sir," Jazz said, looking up from the computer consol. "I've informed them that we'll be bringing in a Decepticon and they can deal with him once we've returned. "

Magnus nodded. "Good work," he said, stepping past the white Autobot and staring out the windshield. He folded his arms and said, "Before the Council decides his fate I want him questioned. He might be able to tell us what Megatron is planning."

"Why don't we just question him now and save the Council the hassle?" Sentinel demanded. "With the right prompting I'm sure he'll tell us anything we need to know."

"Sentinel Prime," Magnus said, patiently. "Questioning a Decepticon isn't that simple. You need the right equipment to undertake such a task."

"Like what?" Sentinel asked. "Tell me what and I'll do it."

Magnus didn't even turn as he said. "You don't have the patience."

Sentinel stared at him. "What?"

This time Magnus did turn, he met the younger mech's gaze. "Questioning Decepticons takes more than just the right equipment," he told him. "That is only part of the process. Decepticons are stubborn and strong willed. It takes time to break their spirits, a long time. Sometimes many years."

"So you're saying I won't be able to do it?" Sentinel asked, looking angry.

Magnus faced the younger bot, his hands behind his back. He fixed his gaze on Sentinel, his face never changing expression. "That is exactly what I am saying."

Blackarachnia's hand lingered on Starscream's face a little longer than necessary then she finally let him go, turning her back to him. He let her wrist go and stood, following her as she walked toward the door. "So," he said, folding his arms. "You didn't happen to have get the key for the cell while you were getting the one for the cuffs did you?"

She looked back at him, a nervous smile on her face. "Well," she said. "The thought didn't even cross my mind."

"What?" He glared at her. He considered yelling at her about it but chose against it. "Nevermind," he said, pushing past her. He raised his arms and aimed the null guns attached to them at the door. "I'll deal with this the old fasioned way." and fired.

Sentinel stared at Magnus, not believing what he had just heard. "How can you say that?" he demanded, sounding hurt. "I've been with you for years now and-"

"I've observed you long enough to know that you are not qualified for such a task," Magnus told him.

"But-"

Magnus waved a hand and silenced the younger mech. "Not another word," he said. "You are not going to question him and that's my final say on the matter."

Sentinel sputtered a moment then sighed. "Yes sir," he said before turning and walking out of the room.

Magnus watched him go then turned his attention back to deep space.

Sentinel stalked away from the control room, grumbling to himself. "I'm not qualified?!" he muttered. "How can he say I'm not qualified?! I'm more qualified than anyone! What's he going to do? Give Jazz the responsibility? Jazz wouldn't be able to handle it." he stopped and thought a moment. "Maybe he's testing me? Maybe he wants me to prove myself? Prove that I have the skills?" he smiled at the thought. "Hey, why not?" he started walking again, this time toward Starscream's cell. "I'll show him I am qualified."

He reached the cell but, before he was close enough to open the door, it blasted out. He stopped in his tracks and stared, not sure what he was seeing. When Starscream stepped out of the cell he exclaimed. "What? How did you get out of there?"

Starscream looked up at him and smirked. "That, Autobot," he said raising his arm. "Is privileged information." then fired his null gun at the Autobot.

Sentinel raised his shield and blocked the blast. Starscream walked toward him, using both null guns to blast a steady stream of energy at him. Sentinel ground his teeth and glared at the Decepticon. Primus! he thought. How did this guy get loose? I thought he was offline. Then he noticed movement behind the jet and turned his head to get a better look. A sleek, black and purple figure stepped out of the cell and walked forward. He saw the purple insigna on her chest.Another Decepticon!?

Blackarachnia stood behind Starscream, who was firing unmercifully at Sentinel, and stared open mouthed at the Autobot. Sentinel?! she thought. I can't believe it! She didn't think she'd ever see him again but here he was right in front of her, being pinned down by Starscream's merciless shooting. Without thinking, she grabbed Starscream's arm. "Don't!" she exclaimed.

He kept on shooting but turned his head to stare at her, his optics full of surprise. "What?!" he asked.

"Let him get away," she said.

"Why?" he asked, confused.

"So he can tell the other Autobots what happened," she replied.

"WHAT?!" the jet demanded. "Why should I let him do such a thing?"

"So we can deal with them all at once," she answered, thinking quickly. "You know one of them is probably monitering the security system and, even if you take this one out, the alarms will just let the others know you got loose. Why not take care of that problem now?"

Starscream thought about it. It seemed like a good idea. "Fine," he said, powering down his guns. "We'll do this your way."

Sentinel's shield powered down the same instant Starscream stopped firing. He stared at the two Decepticons and then turned and ran. Blackarachnia looked at Starscream. He ignored her and chased after the Autobot, deciding not to wait around for him to return with re-enforcements. He'd come to them. Blackarachnia watched him go then quickly followed, knowing he couldn't deal with all three by himself.

"MAGNUS!" Sentinel exclaimed, bursting into the control room. "The prisoner has escaped!"

Magnus instantly turned around and stared at him. "What?!" he demanded.

'The prisoner has escaped!" Sentinel explained, waving his hands as he related what had happened. "He had some kind of accomplice sneak in before we left and he got loose!"

Magnus got moving, grabbing his hammer and running toward the entrance. "Jazz," he said. "See if you can pinpoint his location!"

Before Jazz could do a thing, Starscream bursting into the room. "I'm right here!" he shouted before he raised his arm and blasted Jazz out of his seat. The white mech flew across the room and crashed into the wall.

Magnus raised his hammer and came at Starscream with it. The jet rose above his head and dodged the blow, landing behind the him. "Too slow," he said before blasting Magnus off his feet.

Sentinel watched Magnus fly across the room then came at Starscream, activating his shield and pulling out his lance. Starscream grabbed the top of the shield and yanked it down. "Surprise," he said, before shooting Sentinel in the face.

By then Jazz had gotten back up and came at Strascream from behind. Starscream turned and spotted the Autobot coming at him. He jerked back when the Autobot swung at him with his weapon then grabbed the white mech's wrist and picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. Jazz smashed into Sentinel who was just getting up. The two robots fell to the floor with a clang. Starscream stood over them, his hands on his hips and his face full of mockery. "I expected a little more from the so called Elita Guard," he taunted.

The Decepticon suddenly felt a surge of energy coursing through his feet then go up his body. He screamed as the pulse went through him and he flew across the room and into the security console, his body shooting off sparks. He groaned and raised his head.

Magnus was on his feet again, holding that hammer in both hands. He was walking toward the Decepticon who, at the moment, couldn't move. "You're one stubborn Decepticon," Magnus said. "You shouldn't have tried escaping. You're only making things worse for yourself."

Starscream glared at him. His arm twitched. Magnus saw the movement and brought down his hammer again, sending another shockwave pulsing through the jet's body. Screams escaped the Decepticon's vocalizer until the shocks once again subsided. He almost blacked out but he felt the fragment in his forehead pulsate and keep him online. He lifted his head again and glared at the Autobot, hate filling him as he stared at that expressionless face. I am going to kill you!

Magnus, seeing the killer look in the Decepticon's optics, got ready to shock the jet again but, before he could, a shock went through his own body and he screamed in agony at the assault then fell over, offline. Starscream stared up at his rescuer. Blackarachnia. She put out her hand. "Let me help you up," she said.

Starscream, too shocked to protest, put out his hand and let her take it. She pulled him to his feet. "Let's get out of here," she said.

"Not so fast," said a voice behind her.

She turned her head. Jazz and Sentinel had gotten back up. "Not again," Starscream growled. He was getting sick of this. Why couldn't the Autobots just stay down? He raised his arm. "How would you like to-"

But Blackarachnia cut him off. "Let me deal with them," she said and stepped away from him.

Jazz attacked first, coming at her like he had done with Starscream. The female mech smirked and suddenly a giant hammer appeared in her hands. Jazz paused, staring at the hammer in surprised. "What in the Allspark?" he exclaimed.

She chuckled. "How do you like my little trick?" she asked him. "Let me show you what else I can do." then she brought down the hammer and sent a pulse of electricity through the floor and toward the Autobot. Jazz didn't even have time to move. The shock hit him point blank and went through his entire body. He screamed in pain then flew across the room and smacked into the control panel. The panel shot off sparks as he crumpled to the floor, offline.

Sentinel watched this happen then ran forward, activating his shield and lance. "You'll pay for that!" he shouted.

She turned to him, her four optics lighting up with menace. "I don't think so, Sentinel," she said.

He stopped, surprised that she knew his name. "How do you? Do I know you?" he asked.

"This is how!" she said once again using that hammer.

He dodged the blast just in time and tried to get closer. He didn't get very far. Blackarachnia shot something at him and he dropped his shield as he slammed into the wall and stayed there. "What is this?" he demanded, struggling to get free from the sticky substance holding him in place.

The hammer in the female mech's hand powered down then disappeared. Blackarachnia walked over to him, smirking. "That, Sentinel," she said. "Is how I know you."

He stared at her, not sure what to say and not sure what he had just heard. He jogged his memory and a time and place came to mind. It can't be! "Elita?" he gasped.

She didn't answer him. She turned away and joined Starscream who had been watching without a word. "Let's go," she said, putting a hand on his arm. "Before Mr. Electricity here comes around."

Starscream needed no prompting. He followed her out of the control room and toward the area that housed the escape pods. The two hopped into the first pod they came across and shot out of the ship into space and began their return trip to Earth.

Blackarachnia put the ship on auto pilot and turned to Starscream who had slumped against the wall, looking drained. "Hopefully Big Blue won't come online until we're out of scanning range," she said walking over to him, her arms folded.

He nodded but didn't lift his head, it hurt too much. She noticed and knelt down beside him, noticing the damage to his body for the first time. Magnus hammer had done more damage than she thought but that wasn't where it had all come from. Most of it was from his Autobot encounter back on Earth. What if this knocks him offline for good? She couldn't have that. She needed him. She raised a hand and put it on his chest. He tried to swat it away. "I am fine," he told her. "I don't need your sympathy."

"You're not getting it," she said, putting her hand onto his chest whether he wanted her to or not. "But I can't have you going offline on me. Now let me see what I can do."

He didn't have the strength to argue with her anymore so he ignored her, letting her do what she had to. He felt he hands carefully travel to the damaged areas on his body, wincing at the slightest touch but saying nothing. When he felt her hand go to his spark chamber he finally reacted. "No!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand and turning his head to glare at her.

She stared at him, surprised at his reaction. "What?" she asked, not knowing what she had done.

"Don't open that," he snapped.

"Fine," she said, not sure why he was acting so offended. It wasn't like she hadn't seen the inside of a spark chamber before. "I won't."

He let her hand go, seemingly satisfied with her words. She moved her hand away from the spot and tested another area, trying her best to deal with the damage on his frame. So far nothing seemed too critical and maybe a trip to the CR would do the trick. She was about to suggest this when he spoke first

"Thank you."

She stared at him. "What?"

He didn't look at her as he said, seeming to have a hard time getting the words out. 'Thank you for... helping me."

She said nothing for a moment then finally responded. "Don't let it get to your head," she told him. "I was only doing it for my own selfish gain."

He smirked, amused at her words, turning his head to look at her. "That," he said. "Is what I'm supposed to say."

THE END?

A/N

This began as a theory. After watching Mission Accomplished last Saturday this came to mind. Starscream is supposed to come back but I asked myself how does he get away? This was my answer but I might be wrong. If I'm am well I don't care. I won't find out for another month anyway. This wasn't even supposed to be as long as it came out but I was having so much fun writing it that I couldn't stop and this is the result. I just hoped you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don't want to find out I did all this work for nothing. I hope everyone was at least slightly in character.

This was so fun and I'm wondering if I should make this longer, you know add more chapters? If you think I should tell me. If not well tell me anyway.