01x20 - Partners

[bunniefuu]

I have been a fool,

made mistakes --
monumental ones.

I now realize that I was never
destined to be a leader

or even an equal partner,

And I'm at peace with that.

I have gained
a clear understanding

of my place in this universe,

of who I am,

of who I was always
meant to be --

Starscream, second in command,

humble servant to lord Megatron.

Thank you for listening,
Soundwave.

Is this true?

Starscream never mentioned it?

If he's up to his old tricks,
I shall grind him into powder.

Starscream.

Lord Megatron,

please excuse
Airachnid's impertinence.

Now, what was it that I
allegedly failed to mention?

The Harbinger.

What about it?

Eons ago,
a decepticon transport

Crash landed
on this planet.

Oh, please.
Common knowledge.

I scouted the crash site
when we first arrived on earth.

Then I presume
you recovered

The experimental w*apon
prototype

The Harbinger
had been transporting.

Where is
the crash site?

It was never logged
into your ship's database.

You failed to record

the coordinates
of a decepticon transport?!

An oversight, master.

But I noted
its exact location.

Then you can lead
airachnid there

So that she may retrieve
the prototype for me.

My personal native guide --
how delightful.

Hey, partner.
Heck of a view you got up here.

If there's even a small chance

Your spark
is out there listening,

Well, we could really
use you, Cliff.

Seems like every day another
decepticon arrives on the scene.

We're outnumbered and outgunned.

Yeah, I know what you'd say --
"sounds like a fair fight."

If that's the world
we live in, so be it.

I just want you to know...

I haven't given up.

I'm gonna find the 'con
who took you from us.

Your chosen vehicle mode
lacks thrust.

Are you going to preen,
or are you going to guide?

I will reveal the exact location
of the Harbinger

when you tell me exactly
what we're looking for.

That information
is need-to-know,

And right no
you don't.

Oh, you would do well
to respect me, airachnid.

Before I joined Megatron,

I was air commander of
a squadron of energon seekers.

On Cybertron.

And how many eons ago
was that?

Just recently,
I personally vanquished

one of Optimus Prime's
fiercest warriors --

Cliffjumper.

You snuffed an autobot?

Yes, I did --
without mercy.

Oh.

Even Megatron
showed you mercy

when he planned
to terminate you at the mine.

What?!
He told you about that?!

We talk.

The wreckage lies
just beneath where we stand.

I will need to find
a point of entry.

Show off.

Suit yourself.

I conducted a thorough search
of this husk years ago.

What are you doing?

Accessing the cargo manifest --

or didn't you think to do that
during your thorough search?

Idiot. The ship's systems
haven't been activated for eons.

The autobots could detect
its energy signature.

Ah, here it is.
Section 23.

Optimus, our scanners
have detected

A decepticon energy profile,
but it's ancient.

The past has a way

Of catching up
with the present, ratchet.

Section 23 should be
right about...

Here?

The ship just ends.

It must have broken in half
during the crash.

Or in the air.

If you performed
actual research,

You would have learned
that an autobot battalion

sh*t the Harbinger
out of the sky.

How far away
is the other half?

I'm afraid that information
is need-to-know.

What are you --

You're trying to make me look
like a fool before Megatron,

Have me return
empty-handed

While you locate
that w*apon yourself.

How dare you accuse me?!

You are nothing but a scavenger,
an opportunist!

Aren't you one to talk?

Perhaps, but I've changed,
seen the error of my ways.

I live
to serve Megatron now.

You won't live
to serve anyone

If you don't tell me where
to find the rest of this ship --

Now.

A few clicks
north of here,

through a stone arch.

Now release me.

When I have the w*apon
in hand --

That is, if I can find my way
back without my guide.

This is not funny,
Airachnid.

Come back here right now
and cut me loose!

Airachnid,
that is an order!

I am your
commanding officer!

- Airachnid!
- Surrender.

Airachnid, you traitor!

Arcee!
Wait!

Arcee.

I didn't peg you for re-signing
with the decepticons.

A temporary arrangement,
Arcee.

You know I prefer
working alone.

Speaking of, add any more
deceased partners

To your growing list?

Airachnid, release her.

Arcee, you know better
than to engage the enemy alone.

Not her.

Not after what she did
to tailgate.

No. Please.

Tailgate!

She will pay.

Revenge will not bring back
those we have lost.

Is that understood?

Move it!

No need to use force.

I'll tell you anything
you want to know.

Is that right?
And what do you want in return?

I want to be...
on your side.

On our side?
Yeah, right.

And I've been lobbing
with the fallen.

You wouldn't betray
the decepticons.

Wouldn't I?

What have they done
for me lately

Besides humiliate me,
spy on me, demote me?

Megatron tried to extinguish
my spark in cold blood

Then all
but replaced me

With that traitorous wretch
airachnid.

She abandoned me,
left me for scrap.

So, why not
rat them out?

He's telling the truth about Megatron
trying to scrap him.

I saw with my own eyes.

You're not saying you
actually trust Starscream?

Trust him? Never.

But this may be the one time
our objectives align.

You're right to be wary,
Bulkhead,

But I agree with Arcee.

Be still, my b*ating spark.

What do you know?

Could still be a trap.

Starscream's loyalty
to Megatron

Has always
been questionable.

If he has truly split
from the decepticons,

Our prisoner's knowledge
of their agendas

Could make him
a valuable ally.

You don't mean
permanently,

As in keys to the base
and everything?

However unlikely
that scenario,

Every sentient being

Deserves an opportunity
for redemption.

Even bot K*llers?
Even airachnid?

Without that hope, we may never
achieve lasting peace.

Rise and shine,
screamy.

We're here.

Where's the ship?

It's through the arch,
among the stones.

Bulkhead, Bumblebee,
you're with me.

Arcee,
remain with our prisoner.

Optimus, please.

For Tailgate.

Your desire
to avenge tailgate

Will only continue
to cloud your judgment.

Is the clamp
really necessary?

I promise
not to fly away.

It's really
giving me a crick.

I can shove you
back in the trailer.

Be alert.

Airachnid is known to att*ck
from below ground.

Right.

I got her.

The immobilizer,
true to its name.

I'm not really so bad,
you know.

Megatron --
he's the evil one.

Tell it to someone
who cares.

Like whom, airachnid?

What I wouldn't do

To get my hands
around her wretched throat.

So, we can agree
on one thing.

Oh, you have no idea.

She showed up one day,
and the next thing you know,

She's acting like
she runs the place.

She whispered lies
into Megatron's ear,

Maneuvered to rob me
of my rightful place.

Well, she terminated
my partner.

What?!

She's taking credit
for scrapping him now, too?

That was my doing!

What?

You weren't there.

Of course I wasn't.

I don't know
what I was thinking.

Who are you
talking about?

No one.
Who are you talking about?

Tailgate.

Uh, who's Tailgate?

You were the one.

You extinguished Cliffjumper.

Cliffjumper?!

No! No, no, no.
You misunderstand.

It wasn't
like you think.

The troopers
mortally wounded him.

I was trying
to help Cliffjumper --

Put him out
of his misery.

He begged me to.

Okay, okay,
it was a mistake!

I've made many,
but I've changed!

You wouldn't terminate a
defenseless prisoner, would you?

What -- what is that?

The key to your cuffs.

What for?

Cliff would have given you
a fighting chance.

No, please!
I-I don't want to!

What's past is past.
I'm one of you now.

No!
No! Please! No!

Take it!

You're pathetic.

Something wrong,
Arcee?

I thought
you wanted a fight.

Freeze.

You're tougher to scrap
than your former partner --

At least,
the one I scrapped.

Was Tailgate weak
like Cliffjumper?

Just keep talking,
Starscream.

Tell me, bug.

Do you think Megatron
will enjoy his new trophies?

He'll probably use the Bulky one
here for target practice.

Prime is the true prize.

Perhaps he'll adorn the prow
of Megatron's warship.

But you, bug --

I suspect Megatron will simply
dismantle you for spare parts.

As a rogue, a scavenger,

I should disappear into
the night with this treasure,

But using it to worm my
way into Megatron's favor

Is too good an opportunity
to pass up.

Wouldn't you say, Prime?

I mean,
with results like this,

I could end Megatron's
eternal trust.

You fool!

You should have finished me
when I was helpless to fight,

just like I finished
Cliffjumper.

Now, prepare to reunite
with your partners.

What's that?
I can't hear your last words.

This...

is for Cliffjumper!

Go on, do it.

Megatron will only
terminate me for treason

If I dare return
to the decepticons.

You may as well be the one
to put me out of my misery.

As if I needed
convincing.

What?! Wait! No!

You left Starscream with the autobots?

Do you have any notion

of the consequences
of your blunder?!

But, my lordship,
it was Starscream's incompetence

that cost us
the immobilizer.

I don't care
about some trinket.

My second in command
is a prisoner of the enemy...

which means all
decepticon intelligence

Could be at the fingertips
of the autobots!

The damage looked bad,
but it was a snap to repair,

Allowing us to reverse
its effect on you.

You should regain your full
range of motion before long.

And Arcee?

She's rather resilient
for a two-wheeler.

It is the external wounds
which heal the quickest.

I thought settling scores
would allow me to move on.

Instead,
I chased away our hope

Of winning this w*r
any time soon.

Wisdom cannot be granted,
Arcee.

It must be earned...

Sometimes at a cost.

I have been a fool,

made mistakes --
monumental ones.

But I have gained
a clear understanding

of my place in this universe,

of who I am --

Starscream...

Aligned with no side,

servant to no one.