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The New Age - (Market Commodity book II)	By : Scienceteacher Category: Transformers > G1 > Round Robins Views: 6401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Do not own the Transformers, am not making anything from this story.

Chapter List
- 20
- 21
- 22
**Ghosts from the Past pt 1**

**Eve Sparks pt 4**

**An Arc within the New Era**

**Written by StSE, Universe: G1/Beast War**

His internal temperature skyrocketed. Hands now clenched so tightly that the tips of his digits dug into the insulation of his palm. Jag struggled to maintain control - To maintain his quiet composure. But what lay before him on the cold concrete floor enraged him. And the fire of that rage blew into an inferno within the stalwart clone.

“Well, let’s get these guys back to their tents. Obviously, they’ll be out for a while,” Daniel said with a wry grin. These clones were something else, which did make life interesting. The comparison between them and a bunch of bitches in heat crossed his mind as he looked at the scene before him. Shaking his head, he wondered how Rumble had activated so quickly, and waltzed by the humans bragging about his ‘conquest of the gestalt’. He’d ask the mech about that one day. Since the clones were obviously out in deep defrag. Bending down, the powerful man grabbed Scrounge and tossed him over his shoulder with a grunt.

Jester chuckled as he pushed Scream off of Spock and hefted the Constructicon clone over his shoulder armor. Scream slid limply to the concrete, landing with a hard thud. “Well, looks like ol’ Scream’s back in his game,” the Sideswipe clone snickered. He didn’t think anything of it. After all, Scream had a rather notorious reputation with the ‘ladies’ back at MIT, so it made sense that he’d end up doing the same thing with the single clones in the unit.

They all picked up the various clones and walked off. Leaving Scream for his bond mate to carry.. Not a single one even pausing to consider Jag. Not even thinking that there was an issue. After all, hadn’t Jag joined Scream in his ‘playing’ back at MIT? No big deal..

The Prowl clone was left alone with the defragging form of his bond mate. The quiet clone ground his dental plates together in absolute rage. His friends were right about one thing: Back at MIT he wouldn’t have had an issue with Scream playing with others. But Scream had asked him to marry him since then. They were mates now. And mates stayed true to each other! Scream had shared not only his ports – but his very spark with that feagin Constructicon clone! That pathetic piece of slag!

Jag picked a foot up, intending to kick Scream. But he set it down before he did. He just couldn’t justify kicking a clone while he was unconscious. That went against all his police programming. Tears filled his optics. Scream didn’t love him… Scream had never loved him… Obviously, he was just another set of tailpipes to the red Seeker… Nothing more.. With a disgusted sigh, he wiggled the gold ring off of his finger and threw it down at the defragging Seeker. It hit Scream with a slight metallic ring and then slid inside one of his intakes. But Jag didn’t notice, didn’t even care anymore.

His engine seizing up, Jag turned and walked off. Refusing to let himself cry… Refusing to show his emotional devastation to the rest of the unit… The Prowl clone went to his tent. Grabbed the few books that he called his own… Anything that Scream had ever given him – he left. With his few books now stashed within him, he stepped out of the tent. Where should he go now? He had to ‘move out’. Had to find his own place now; but where? With whom?

He glanced at each of the tents. His meta going through the list of occupants one-by-one. But at the end of his tally he realized that he couldn’t move in with any of them. They’d want him to talk about it. Tell them why he wasn’t living with his mate anymore. And Jag was just not the talking type. No, he’d just have to find his own place. He’d rather be totally alone, than discuss his feelings with anyone.

His tear-filled optics fell onto the two cargo jets parked in the hangar. With a resigned sigh, he began to make his way towards them. Walking past the first, he entered the second. He just couldn’t go inside the first. That’s where he and Scream had enjoyed themselves. He didn’t want to be reminded of that time. Didn’t want to think about that time! His pedes trod heavily on the loading ramp of the second plane.

Tears began to stream freely down his face plate as he entered the dark gloomy interior of his new place. His chassis began to tremble as he settled himself behind a stack of crates. Curling up against the fuselage, he finally allowed himself to break down. His sanctuary filled with the sounds of a clone sobbing his spark out. For his spark was broken.. Broken and ripped in two.. His love trodden into nothingness on the cold concrete of the hangar floor by those uncaring thrusters who just thought of him as another port to find release in.. His loyalty worthless..

His emotions released in a flood of released mineral oil tears. Falling heavily to the unfeeling metal floor… The darkness matching his mood.. His meta reeling as he realized that he had saved himself for nothing. Given his virginity to a clone who had not valued it.. That everything that Scream had ever said about loving him was a lie.. As he allowed the tears to flow, a coldness began to settle over him. The emotional wall being raised.. Set in place with the solidity of self protection. Jag swore to himself that he’d never allow himself to be hurt like this again… Swore to himself he’d never love again..

His meta locked into the finality of his silent decision, Jag’s optics began to darken. Soon, he was as still and as dark as the rest of the gloomy interior of the cargo hold…

-----

Rumble swaggered over to Beachcomber. His chin held up high as he tried to disguise the discomfort of sore ports. The Autobot was sitting and talking with a group of humans and clones. Glancing over at the approaching young mech, he gave him a slight nod before turning his attention back to the group.

With a cocky grin plastered on his face plate, Rumble pulled up one of the rubber mats and plopped his tail pipes next to the bigger mech, trying to hide his slight wince of pain as his sore tail pipes hit the hard rubber. He wasn’t really even listening to the discussion; his thoughts were just wildly running in his meta like the swiftest of Stunticons. HE was even more popular than the Autobot! Rumble thought with a smirk. Because HE had a whole gestalt of clones that liked to slag him. Beachcomber only had him. Yep, life was good…

Drew walked up to the group. A rather bemused look in his eyes… “Anybody seen Jag?”

Poet squealed in fright at the closeness of the man and dove into Sharon’s lap. Pressing his face plate into her chest, he tried to hide in her long hair.

“Shhhhh, Poet. I told you, no human will hurt you here,” the graying woman whispered as she curled her arms around the terrified little clone. Looking up at the man, she shook her head. “No, I thought he went with you guys. To put all those players to bed.”

“He did go with us. We assumed he was going to carry Scream back, but when I went back to take a shower – Scream was still laying there. And Jag’s no where to be seen,” he explained.

TC stood up, his optics full of thought. “Did Scream slag anyone?” he asked.

That question pulled Rumble out of his thoughts. “Yep, sucked and slagged like a bitch in heat,” he snickered.

The Thundercracker clone’s optics locked with his. “With who?”

Rumble shrugged dismissively. “Anyone close enough. He didn’t care. Fraggin’ whore just like Starscream.”

In a blur blue Seeker had grabbed Rumble’s throat and slammed him against the wall of the hangar. “Don’t you dare call my wing mate a whore, you fucking dirt eater!” he snarled.

Punching the Seeker, the Decepticon snickered as he staggered back. Triumphantly, he plopped himself right back down. “He’s cloned from one – and he is one. Deal with it, you piece of slag.”

Beachcomber grabbed TC’s wing before he could attack the swaggering little mech again. “He’s right TC. You clones seem to share most of the personality faults of those you’re cloned from. And who would know Starscream’s faults better than another Decepticon, man.”

TC snarled at him, but then Drew put his arms around him and forced him to back up. “Just sit down TC, fighting with him is not going to accomplish anything.”

Sitting down next to Sharon with a heavy thud, TC began to sulk a bit. “Scream told me his playing days were over. Told me he’d promised Jag,” he whispered to her.

But Rumble’s sharp audios caught his words. “That prick should’ve known that Scream can’t be trusted. What a dumb-aft! No one can trust Starscream! Hell, the freager couldn’t even be honest with Prime when he was slaggin’ him!” he snickered. It felt good to show all these clones that they made a mistake by choosing him for a leader. Showed them just how stupid they were!

But his compulsion to insult Starscream had made him slip out a fact that no Autobot knew. Rumble realized his error when a large hand fell heavily onto his shoulder plate. He glanced up at the peaceful Geologist, who currently had quite the glare in his blue optics - Which was a very unnatural look for that particular Autobot… “Uh, oops, just forget I said that,” Rumble muttered.

“Dude, you’d better tell me exactly when this supposedly happened. Or I might decide to act a bit like Ironhide on your tail pipes,” Beachcomber almost-growled. Well, if the laid-back guy COULD growl that is. But the threat was there. And Rumble knew the mech would have a ton of clones to back him up.

The young mech gulped. “Uh, I just kind’ve overheard it secondhand and all. No biggie.”

“From whom?” Sharon asked. Like everyone else, she was highly intrigued by this bit of personal history concerning the Autobot leader.

Rumble gulped down the rising nausea in his pump. He didn’t want to admit that he was quite the peeping tom back on the Nemesis. But the rather unpredictable Windcharger clone stood up, his hands balled into fists as he glowered at him. This caused the young mech to shift uncomfortably. Realizing just how badly he’d let his glossa slip! “Uh, Megatron,” he admitted.

Beachcomber snickered, actually SNICKERED! “Man, like we’d believe ANYTHING that came out of that dude’s lip components!” he was actually happy, since now he could shove the horrid vision of Starscream moaning with Optimus in some dark corner – out of his meta!

Charge shifted uncomfortably. The memories of those memory echoes… Those memories that he and Scream both shared.. “It’s true,” he whispered. He looked up at Beachcomber, grinding his dental plates together as he forced himself to tell the Autobot one of Prime’s biggest secrets. “I have those memory echoes. And so does Scream.”

The Autobot’s mouth fell open in shock. He was silent. Stunned by the revelation!

“I told ya so!” Rumble triumphantly snorted.

Drew glared at the cocky mech. Striding up to him, he glared down. “You are going to tell us EVERYTHING that Megatron said about it. And WHY he was even talking about it.” His tone was low, threatening…

Well, it was already out in the open. So why the hell not? It’d show them just how pathetic Starscream and his clones really were! So Rumble began his tale:

“Well, ya see, Starscream is Megatron’s little whore. He’ll get down on his knee armor and suck the big mech for all he’s worth. And Megatron likes to put a mech in his place while he’s doing it. So he was telling Starscream what a worthless little fech he was. So worthless that back at the academy, a certain Orion Pax broke up with him when he found out that he was a fech not a femme.

Starscream went out with Megatron to make Orion Pax jealous, which was really stupid. Didn’t work either… And once ‘ol Megatron gets his hands on ya – he don’t let go.” Rumble sat back and crossed his arms, shooting Drew a challenging look.

The group was silent for a few moments. But then Sharon spoke up. “So basically what you’re saying is that this Pax thought Starscream was a femme? And what does this have to do with Optimus?”

“Orion Pax was Optimus’s name before he became Prime,” Beachcomber answered. He turned his optics to Rumble. “And Starscream’s really a fech? But he rapes any Autobot he can get his hands on – rapes them as a mech!”

The smaller mech shrugged. “He rapes any con he can get the better of too. He’s a freagin’ interface addict I’m tellin’ ya. And he don’t want anyone to know he’s a slaggin’ worthless fech. Only me, Megs and Prime knows.”

“So you were spying on them when you found out?” Charge stated more than asked. He arched up an optic ridge as he spoke.

“But I thought Optimus was only into femmes? I mean, he had Elita One and all, didn’t he?” Jester asked. That’s what Sideswipe had told him during his stay with the mech at Autobot City. Sideswipe had said that the old mech was basically abstinent when she wasn’t around.

The humans had already figured out what the term ‘fech’ must mean, and of course the mechs already knew. Drew cleared his throat as he turned to the red ground clone. “I think what Rumble’s saying is that Starscream is in fact – both.”

“No wonder he’d so feminem compared to the others,” Sharon added. She’d always wondered about that in the back of her mind. Now it was confirmed. “And knowing Megatron, Starscream’s probably being raped himself most of the time. He’s probably doing it to others as a way to relieve his frustrations at his own helplessness.”

Rumble snorted in disagreement. “He ain’t freagin’ helpless! What do ya think he is? Some Autobum? Nope, the stupid idiot is still freagin’ stuck on a mech he can’t have. And ol’ Megs holds it over his cranial unit.” He gave them all a superlative smirk. “Ya won’t catch ol’ Rumble with his compressor in overdrive over some freagin’ Autobum!”

Beachcomber gave him a knowing look, arching his optic ridge up in humor.

But the young mech wasn’t the least bit phased. “Yah, ya heard me right Beachy. Ol’ Rumble will slag any mech. But fall for him? Give me a freagin’ break!” His olfactory sensor went straight up in the air as he made that bold statement.

Sharon sighed and just shook her head. Rubbing her fingers along her ‘child’s’ back armor, she considered everything she’d just learned: So the real Starscream was in fact a hermaphrodite. He’d apparently dated Optimus when they were both very young. Fallen in love with the future Autobot leader… And when Optimus had found out that his ‘femme’ wasn’t exactly a femme, he’d reacted the same way that many human men would’ve. Starscream had ended up trying to use Megatron to get Optimus back. And was now trapped.. Trapped being raped and abused by the very mech he’d actually tried to use so long ago! She actually pitied the Decepticon Air Commander now. He was trapped into his fate. His rage toward Optimus understandable now; His hatred and eagerness to undercut Megatron also understandable…

The mechs considered Starscream worthless. The Decepticons underneath him barely even willing to follow him, and that was only because they feared being raped again. No one showed him any respect. And there was no way he’d ever get that respect. He was a pitiful mech, with a pathetic life. Addicted to interfacing because that’s the only time he felt like he had power, had control – when he was raping another.

And his clones had the same issue. The same identity crisis… The same addiction to interface… And Jag wouldn’t understand that Scream couldn’t stop himself. Jag would blame the clone. He wouldn’t be tolerant. He could only see the black and white, not the gray area of an issue…

With a sad sigh, Sharon peeled Poet off of her and stood up. “You and Electro stay here with Beachcomber,” she told him with a soft pat.

A look of indecision crossed Charge’s optics. He glanced at Doc, unsure of how the clone would take it. He knew what he SHOULD do for Scream’s sake. The Seeker and he had had many frank discussions as they had explored the depth of the memory echoes they shared. There was a connection between them. Stronger than even the accidental spark bond that had occurred between them during his own spark firing. Charge had felt it. Had felt drawn to Scream, but since Scream had been taken – he’d accepted that he couldn’t be more than a co-leader with the Seeker. He’d looked elsewhere. Found the First Aid clone to be not only willing, but reasonably attractive to him. Now Scream would need him. Need him to lean on in his time of trial. Maybe even need him to fulfill the past dreams that the mechs they were cloned from had locked away in the deepest recesses of their processors. He had to go to Scream’s side. He gnawed on his hidden lower lip as he met Doc’s knowing optics. But Doc was so sweet, so peaceful. How could he do it to him?

With a sad smile, the First Aid clone pushed him. “Go find Scream, he needs you.” He did like the hybrid. But Charge had told him about those memory echoes. Told him about his strange, fleeting feelings towards the Starscream clone…. Now it all made sense. If Starscream had been a true femme, Optimus would’ve stayed with him and never met Elita One. But the past was the past. And his clone had no such inhibition. If Scream wanted him after he’d gotten over Jag – Charge would not have that aversion.

Charge stood up on shaky servos. “I still… like.. you Doc. If he gets back with Jag?”

A big smile crossed Doc’s face plate behind his mask, radiating up to his brilliant blue optics. “I’d like that – and Charge?” It felt good to know that Charge still liked him, regardless of his memory echoes.

Charge turned his head and met his optics. “Yes?”

“Well, uh, even if you end up with him… Well, he’s a player.. so..” The First Aid clone’s shade darkened and he looked down in embarrassment. But he wanted the Prime clone to know that he was even willing then. He’d share the clone with Scream, if the Seeker was willing. He did like Charge.

His optics widened in surprise, but then he cringed slightly in embarrassment as the twins snickered and elbowed each other. “We’ll see,” was all he dared to say in their company.

“Pointless to go see Scream now Charge,” Drew told him as he stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“Yah, he and the other fraggers slagged themselves silly. They can’t handle it like a real mech!” Rumble snickered, giving Beachcomber a smug look. Sure his tailpipes hurt, but it had taken five of the diodes to make ‘em sore!

“They’ll all be out for the next six hours or more,” Jester added. He shot a glance at Flame, wishing that they’d been in on the action. Next time they’d make sure that they were!

Charge sighed and drooped his shoulders a bit. But then a hand smacked down. He turned his head, meeting the brilliant optics of the golden clone. “Well, guess it’s time to strip,” Flame said with a smirk. He rubbed his hand over the dull green armor. “And you can’t strip this crappy stuff off fast enough!”

Jinx stood up, stopping the Sunstreaker clone before he could start stripping the poor clone right then and there. “You know what; I bet we could use some of his old chassis and turn him into a triple changer. What do you guys think?”

Doc smiled behind his mask as he stood up. He knew just how uncomfortable Charge was in this Combaticon chassis. Being a triple changer with his old alt mode as one of them would probably help him out. “I’ll help.”

“Count me in,” McCoy added.

The future clone leader was dragged to the medic area, the twins following along behind him discussing what paint to use…..

-----

Drew shook his head as he watched the clones walk off. They were an interesting group for sure. So like a group of high schoolers, yet so different at the same time. Turning back to the two mechs, he nodded for permission to hop up on Beachcomber’s leg. Effortlessly, the graying soldier made the jump and settled himself down.

He noticed that Electro gave him a wary look before moving over to the other side of the big Autobot. The suspicious clone cuddled his whimpering brother to his chest armor as he settled himself on the rubber mats and leaned against Beachcomber’s hip armor. The geologist laid an understanding hand against the two clones, his fingers rubbing them gently on their sides. Slowly, they calmed down. Their optics darkened as their chassis’ began a low hum. The Autobot would protect them from the men. They were safe…

“Hey Drew, care if we join you?” Daniel yelled out as he, Darren and Jane walked towards them. They made sure to come up on the side opposite that of the relaxing clones. Not wanting to make Electro and Poet anxious at their nearness. With the large mech between them and the abused clones, they knew the pair would feel protected.

“Sure, come on over.” Drew waved them over.

“So what’s going on, the clones seem to be in some type of uproar,” Darren asked. His eyes scanned the group of humans and mechs.

Rumble snickered, lifting his chin in masculine pride as he reclined against the bigger mech. “Freagers are just like the mechs. They’re gonna act like ‘em too!”

“What does THAT mean?” Jane asked. She pushed a strand of her blond hair behind an ear. Glancing around, she noticed that her two clones had taken off again. The Ratchet clone followed around the Wheeljack clone like a lost puppy, and the First Aid clone talking softly to the Prime clone as he stripped them. Neither one seemed to have that ‘human connection need’ like Sharon’s or Daniel’s clones seemed to crave. It did make her a tad sad. But she’d only taken on the responsibility of a ‘mentor human’ because she had to. She’d felt little sexual attraction towards them. Instead, they were more like cute little puppies to her. Puppies that she loved to death – but nothing she’d consider for a mate.

Drew sighed sadly, the old human proverb coming easily to his mind. “He who does not learn from the mistakes of the past—is doomed to repeat them,” he said in a soft voice.

“What do you mean Drew? They aren’t fighting amongst themselves like the mechs.” Daniel shot him a quizzical look. Every military officer knew that saying well. It was drilled into them at the OFS, forcing them to be almost fanatical in their study of military history. But the Decepticon and Autobot clones weren’t fighting with each other. They seemed to be acting more like high schoolers gossiping and getting riled up about the group having sex or something.

Darren thought about it. Drew was right. Since the clones knew the history of war between the mechs so they hadn’t blundered into that mistake. But they didn’t know the personal histories. They were making the same choices, similar mistakes. “But they don’t know the personal histories. They may be making the same mistakes in that regard.”

“Yes, it does seem that the clones are pairing up just like the mechs they are cloned from do,” Beachcomber agreed. Now that the man had pointed it out, he saw the comparison. “I expect that McCoy and Jinx will become a monogamous pair. Jester and Flame will also pair, but they will have an ‘open’ relationship. Shado has already paired with Blue – just as Mirage did with Skydive. The pattern is unmistakable.”

The little red mech leaned back and put his arms behind his helm. “Yep, sure is. An the Constructicons never really paired off. The fraggers would join in on any action. And Scream? Well, ya’ll know who I bet he ends up with. And it ain’t the slaggin’ prick either! But he’ll still slag anything.”

“But Scream’s with Jag,” Daniel stated. He knew how attached those two were. They were stuck to each other like flies on paper!

Rumble began shrieking in laughter. “Fool can’t keep his freagin’ cable coiled. The prick’s gonna kick his afterburners through the roof when he activates!” And actually, Rumble couldn’t wait to see the fireworks. They should be – spectacular!

The humans groaned as one..

“That’s not the worst part guys. Let me tell you Starscream’s history…” Drew began.

------

“Jag?” a couple taps on his door wing. “Jag?”

With a growl from his engine, the police clone activated. “Leave me alone,” he muttered.

The older woman sighed. “Turn over and look at me,” she ordered.

“No.” He kept his back to her, refusing to show her his face plate. THIS is exactly what he didn’t want. What he had tried to avoid. “Go away.”

Sharon sat down next to him, rubbing his door wing with gentle fingers. “Jag, I know you’re hurt. You have every right to be hurt. It’s ok.”

“I’m fine. Go away,” he muttered. He wasn’t going to talk about it, he’d made his decision and that was that.

For a few minutes she just sat there and rubbed his door wing. She knew how he felt. After having as many husbands leave for younger women as she’d dealt with – she was an expert in dealing with infidelity. “I’m not leaving until you roll over and talk to me.”

With a disgusted snort, Jag finally rolled over. “I said I’m fine. And now I’ve looked at you and said it. Now just go away.”

His face plate still showed the dried streaks of tears. With understanding eyes, Sharon touched his cheek, wiping the dust and dried tears from it. “You’re not fine. We both know that. Come on Jag, I’m the queen of getting cheated on. Let’s get real.”

The Prowl clone batted her hand away. “I don’t want to talk. It’s over. You know it, I know it – and when the cheating son-of-a-garbage-compactor wakes up he’ll know it!”

“But he can’t help it Jag. He really can’t.” She set her hand down on his arm, curling her fingers around his warm armor.

“The frag he can’t! How dare you think I’m stupid enough to believe THAT one!” Jag ripped his arm from her hand and rolled back over. How dare the woman think she could waltz in and try to change what happened.

“It’s true Jag. Starscream is an interface addict, and so are his clones. Scream really can’t help it. It’s just the way he is,” her voice had a pleading edge to it.

“I don’t give a frag. I gave him everything. And he gave me his oath. Which meant nothing – NOTHING!” His fingers balled up into fists again. But he refused to turn over.

“Jag, he really does love you. I know Scream; I know what’s in his head. He loves you. He tried to deny his addiction. He just can’t.” She scooted closer to him, leaning against his black hip armor.

“It’s over Sharon. I can’t trust him…. I can’t love him – period,” he muttered.

Sharon’s eyes filled with tears. Tears for both Jag and Scream… She knew how much Jag had loved Scream. But Scream not only loved Jag, he depended on him. It would tear the Seeker apart to lose his security blanket. “Can’t you just give him a second chance? Just try to help him overcome this addiction?”

Jag’s optics burned with tears that wanted to flow. But he refused. He couldn’t ever trust Scream with his love, his spark, again! Sure, he’d follow him loyally as a soldier, but that was it. Nothing more would ever be between them. “No. He knew how I felt when he gave me his oath. He knew there’d be no second chances. Now leave, you’ve had your say. I’ve listened. Now leave.”

Sharon hugged the clone, feeling him tremble just slightly. She knew the torment that he was going through. He wanted a clean break. He didn’t want to chance his spark to be broken a second time. “I know you don’t believe me, but I understand Jag. And I still love you. You’re one of my sons. I’ll always love you. If you need somewhere to stay, someone to talk to – don’t be afraid to come to me.” She kissed the side of his helm. “And I’ll never ask you to take him back again. I understand.”

She stood up and slowly walked toward the loading ramp.

“Sharon?”

She paused and turned around. “Yes?”

“Thanks for understanding. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine,” he whispered.

“I know you’re fine Jag. You’re always fine.”

“Bye,” he called softly. His optics darkening in defrag again.

Sharon shook her head and walked out of the cargo plane. Jag was the quiet workaholic type. He’d throw himself into his duties. He’d get over Scream fairly fast. Scream on the other hand, was going to be a wreck. An absolute wreck! She decided that maybe she should go get a drink of something; she was going to need it…

Wandering over to the supplies, she grabbed a can of imported beer. With a resigned sigh, she headed towards the ECE suits. She, Travis and Ashley were supposed to put theirs on and let Hook and Digger do some modifications. The rain was becoming more and more sulfur-ladened. Basically, more Sulfuric acid than water, and Alchemy had created a film to coat the ECE’s in to help protect them from the rain. If it worked, then they’d look at the possibility of coating the clones with it as well.

Taking a big gulp of beer, Sharon dreaded when Scream reactivated. Dreaded it….. But at least TC would be next to him. TC would help him not freak out too badly…

----

Scream slowly activated his optics. Feeling a weight next to him on the air mattress, he smiled dazedly. Turning on his side, he reached over to throw his arm over Jag. “What the fuck!?!” he shrieked as he jumped up.

“Geese, you didn’t have to yell in my audios like that,” TC grumbled as he activated his optics.

“What the hell are your freagin’ afterburners doing in MY tent?!?” he demanded to know. Then he felt something clang down inside his intake. With a disgusted snort, he reached in and grabbed the item. His optics widened as he pulled out a gold wedding band. Frantically, he scanned around the inside of his tent. In growing confusion, he noticed that Jag’s favorite books were gone, along with his handcuffs and other professional equipment – Scream’s spark fluttered in terror. “Where’s Jag?!?” he demanded as he fell down onto his knee armor. “Where the hell is Jag!!!” He began to shake TC, his voice getting a pleading edge to it.

The blue Seeker grabbed Scream’s arm in a firm grip. “He’s left you Scream. He saw what you’d done with the Constructicons. And, well, he left.”

“He… He… Left me? But I tried not to do it TC! I … really…. I failed… I failed!” Scream collapsed against his fellow Seeker. His first mate… Sobbing his spark out… “I’ve got to find him TC! I’ve got to explain!” Tearing himself from the blue Seeker’s arms, he tore out of the tent. Screaming for someone to tell him where Jag was.

He didn’t have to go far. Jag was scheduling the next scavenging mission and making the assignments. Scream landed and trotted up to him. Tears streaming down his handsome face plate as he reached out his hand.

And was promptly slapped away….

Sniffing, he held his stinging hand to his cockpit. More hurt emotionally, than physically. “Jag… Please.. Can we talk?” he sniffed.

The police clone didn’t even glance up at him. “We can talk about who’s going on the next mission,” he replied in an emotionless tone.

Scream tried to move around Jag, to get where he would at least look at him. “I don’t want to talk about that. I want to talk about us!”

“Then there’s nothing to talk about,” he stated flatly. Finishing with the schedule assignments, he turned away to begin his rounds.

The red Seeker grabbed his door wing. “Jag please!”

He went sliding across the hard concrete as the police clone kicked him with all his strength. Slamming into a stack of crates, Scream yelped as they fell on top of him. Jag had kicked him?!? His love had tried to hurt him?!? He staggered back to his thrusters, tears of disbelief on his face plate.

Jag was glaring at him. His blue optics burning with silent rage… “Don’t ever touch me again Scream! Don’t ever!” With that, he stormed off.

“JAAAGGGGG!! NOOOOO!! PLEEEAAASSEEE GIVE ME A CHAAAAANCE!” Scream screamed after him. He zoomed up in the air, landing in front of the clone. Falling to his knees, he pleaded with the Prowl clone, “Give me a second chance Jag! Pleeeeaaaasssseeee. I’m sooooorrrry! I was wrong! Pleeeeaaaaaseee! I can change… I promise I can change!”

The Prowl clone glared down at him. “You’re a fucking addict Scream. Just like Starscream is. And just like him – you can’t change. You’ll never change. Find someone else who can deal with it. I can’t – and I won’t!” Roughly, he pushed past the sobbing Seeker. Jag wanted a clean break, a fast break. He couldn’t handle having a mate that cheated time-after-time. And after what Sharon had told him, he knew that that was exactly what would happen. No, there would be no second chances.

Scream stared after the form of his love. His love that he had lost through his own actions… He was truly a pathetic Seeker. A bad clone… Just like Tron had always told him. All those times that he had seemed to feel a sense of rightness when the Megatron clone had tortured him – came rushing back into his meta. It was true then. Just like the real Starscream, he was nothing more than a failure. Nothing more than a clone that deserved to be tortured!

The red Seeker’s optics darted around. He noticed Alchemy and Petri taking samples of the outside air. The heavy tarp that covered the exhaust fan hole, pulled to the side. His engines revved as he transformed and headed towards them. He needed to leave. To no longer burden his fellow clones and family with a worthless untrustworthy clone like himself!

“Hey Scream, you need to come and…” Jester yelled cheerfully as he trotted towards the sobbing Seeker. In total shock, he saw Scream transform and zoom towards the open exit. What was the clone doing? Instinctively he knew whatever it was - it wasn’t a good thing! Engaging his jet pack, he gave chase. But Scream was far swifter. The red blur flashing between the two scientists.

“Hey! What the frag?! He, he, he, - you’re slaggin’ glitched!” Alchemy yelled after him. But while Scream was fast enough to have darted by him, the red ground clone wasn’t. With a solid thud, the heavier built Constructicon clone slammed his fist straight into Jester’s face plate.

The Sideswipe clone hit the metal floor of the platform. Shaking his head to get the birds to quit flying around him, he punched Alchemy back. “I’ve got to catch him you fucking idiot!”

Before he could leap out the opening, Petri kicked him right off the platform. “It’s suicide to use jet engines out there,” he explained as he watched the even more pissed off clone fly back up. “Get one of the Apache Squadron members to catch him.”

“He, he, he, Yep, give the commode about ten seconds out there before his engines lock,” Alchemy snickered. He began to climb down towards the floor with his samples. Not worried in the least about the fate of his leader. “Yep, he, he, he, .. He won’t get far.”

Frantically, Jester comlinked the rest of the Unit…

----

Note: Figured I'd better publish this. If I keep tweeking and tweeking - it'll end up being 20 pages!

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The New Age - (Market Commodity book II)