Chapter Text
The Nemesis only had so much power that as much as Starscream wanted, they needed to find another way to give life to the clones, even then only five of the protoforms were actually functional.
"We need something a kin to a spark for them to come online" explained Starscream as he walked back in forth. "An energy source to last long enough before and after our assault..."
Jetfire stood there and tried to think of anything that might help. The machinery to make the clones had already used a lot of the ship's energy, giving the rest to them would be a huge risk if they didn't succeed. Sadly he doesn't know as much, only knowing how to refine energon, and that wasn't of much use here.
As Starscream continued to pace , Jetfire slowly got more distracted by his serious expression. The way his red optics narrowed, his optical ridges furrowed in concentration, a digit tapping on those juicy lips, the allspark fragment glinting in his-
That's it!
"Star! The allspark fragment in your helm! We can use zat as ze energy source!" He exclaimed.
Starscream stopped. Standing up straight he took a minute to process what Jetfire had just suggested, and as the cogs whirled in the same place their solution was in, Jetfire beamed when he got sign of understanding.
Starscream smirked. "Excellent idea" he purred, making Jetfire's spark whirl. 'With even the smallest fraction of the allspark, it should give the clones a long and stable living source. Without having to replace it!"
Turning to face him properly Starscream walked up to Jetfire and stopped only a few inches away. Gently grabbing the sides of his helm Jetfire was inclined to stare at that handsome face. "I knew you could be useful. And it only took a few cycles to enhance that processor of yours." He chuckled, "What would you be without me~?"
Jetfire felt his face burn as he tried to come up with an answer. Mouth opening and closing repeatedly. Starscream's smirk just grew reviling at his pathetic display.
His helm was suddenly dropped as Starscream started walking away ordering without turning back, "Bring the protoforms outside. We have an armada to online."
Jetfire wished he could say that the clones different paint jobs was the only way to tell them apart. But it wasn't.
The plan was a success, the allspark fragments had done their job and onlined the clones, but it had lead to some unexpected results, each one somehow had ended up with different aspects of Starscream's personality.
The blue one, Thundercracker (as it called itself) got Starscream's core trait: narcissism.
Jetfire remembered when he had first meet Starscream, one could already tell how highly he thought of himself by the way he carried himself. Helm held high, chest popped out and a confident smirk that screamed smugness. It had been scarily easy to trust him back then when he offered to help him control his powers. A mech that confident, (whether Decepticon or not) who looked and assured him that he knew what he was doing, knew just how to help...
He didn't known many mechs, other than his brother, maybe that's why he was able to tolerate Starscream so much. He was lonely (and perhaps so was he) and in his state of need he wanted, needed someone to be there for him. And as the only other mech around Starscream filled that role easily.
But at least there was more to Starscream than just praising himself, something Thundercracker seemed to have missed.
One couldn't talk with him without getting insulted about being so close to "perfection" and getting an audial-full about how much better he was compared to everyone and everything...
"You know, you should be grateful that I tolerate so much of your existence. Not many get that privilege," the blue mech rambled on.
Jetfire just gave a hum of acknowledgment. It wasn't like he had just been minding his own business only to get caught in an abrupt conversation.
If he could even call it that.
"Honestly," Thundercracker continued not even caring whether Jetfire had responded or not, "I don't know what the original Starscream sees in you. You aren't even all that!"
That grabbed his attention. Jetfire finally looked up next to him where Thundercracker continued talking as if he just hadn't said something so unexpected.
"What doez Starscream think of me?"
Thundercracker stopped for a moment, taking his optics off his claws just to look at him with an incredulous look. Jetfire raised an optical ridge and repeated the question, "What doez he think of me?"
Suddenly Thundercracker pushed himself off the wall and let out an annoyed groan, "Ughhh, seriously?! You don't even know?"
Jetfire shrugged his shoulders.
The blue mech just rolled his optics and shook his head in irritation. "Forget it. I'm gonna go bother Skywarp, at least he isn't as dense as you."
And with that Jetfire was finally freed of being with one of the worst clones on the Nemesis. But of course, now he was left with a burning curiosity for that small little tidbit Thundercracker had just dropped.
What does Starscream truly think of him?
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