Most of the Autobots were not happy with Starscream in the base, but Optimus had told them the reason for him being there. However, they still growled at it, but it didn’t look like they could really do much about it. Optimus seemed to trust him, and some thought that was enough. After all, he had taken off the insignia … but then, why wouldn’t he wear the Autobot one?
“This needs lots of time.” Optimus told Ironhide, when he asked. “Skyfire told me why Starscream is here, and that he has definitely left the Decepticons.”
“But Prime –“
“That’s enough.” The leader of the Autobots said sternly over Ironhide’s protesting. “I don’t want to hear it. Starscream is staying put for now.”
Ironhide didn’t think much of this at all, but just then, Skyfire entered. Starscream was not with him.
“Ironhide,” He said. He had obviously heard the argument from down the corridor. “Starscream will not cause you any harm. For one, he’s still very upset about everything that has happened in the past few days. Besides,” Skyfire smirked. “He’s in no condition to pick fights at the moment …”
His smirk faded, and he turned worrisome. “I don’t know how he managed to get the strength to get away from Megatron like he did.”

The seeker was curled up on his bed again, almost asleep. But who could sleep with memories of a nightmare?

Woke up in a dream today
To the cold of the static
Put my cold feet on the floor,
Forgot I’m about yesterday
Remembering, I’m pretending to be who I’m not anymore.

Who was he kidding? So what, he’d escaped Megatron, but now he had to deal with a ton of Autobots, mostly all of which hated him. How could he possibly redeem himself in their eyes? Sure, he’d now won the Aerial bots respect after saving Slingshot from Skywarp, but other that them and Skyfire and Optimus, he had no one.
“Even in your new army, you still are a worthless piece of slag!!”
Starscream sat bolt upright as the voice he knew all so well entered his head. It was not a memory that he had just heard …
“Oh no …” Hissed Megatron in his mind. “You little traitor … and to think, you used to think of me as a friend …”
“I would never think of you as a friend!!” Starscream yelled out loud, frightened at how Megatron had got into his mind somehow, even though his metal barriers were very strong.
“Oh really? …” Megatron’s voice seemed to smirk. “Lets search into your memory then …”
Starscream barely had time to register what Megatron had once said, before he was knocked out.

Little taste of hypocrisy
And I’m left in the wake of the mistakes
Slow to react
Even though you’re so close to me
You’re still so distant
And I can’t bring you back

+++

Megatron enjoyed being envied. Oh yes, it was a feast to his already huge ego to hear people praise him, and the little red seeker next to him, bounding up the corridors was no exception.
It had been at least ten years since he had come back from his crash journey on Earth, and left Skyfire behind. While he had not forgotten the scientist (how could he ever forget him?) he had moved on, and joined the Decepticon Empire. Just now, he was heading with his leader to the control room. He had not been promoted to Air Commander yet, but with the way he was going, it was only a matter of time.
At least, Megatron knew that.
Starscream was happy. Indeed, not as happy as he had been before Skyfire crashed, but he was happy doing as Megatron asked without a doubt. He looked up to the warlord, but there was another reason why he wanted Megatron’s attention too … and the fact that he knew he would never get it depressed him greatly. Starscream needed someone to be there for him like Skyfire had, but Megatron was not interested in such a friendship.
Then, Starscream was promoted to Second in Command, and he couldn’t have been prouder than that day. But alas, good times do not last forever.
In Starscream’s case, not even a month afterwards.
For Megatron was not pleased with the way the recent battle had gone.
And he took it out on Starscream …

It’s true the way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you’re not with me
I’m with you
(You’ll never see, keeping everything inside)
With you
(You’ll never see, even when I close my eyes)

The red seeker could not count the number of times he tried to fight back, but the warlord was much too powerful for the younger seeker. After the last punch had been dealt, Starscream managed to get a punch of his own in, and it was then that they both fell to the floor.

I hit you and you hit me back,
We fall to the floor,
The rest of the day stands still
Fine line between this and that
When things go wrong
I pretend that the past isn’t real
I’m trapped in this memory
And I’m left in the wake of the mistakes
Slow to react
Even though you’re close to me
You’re still so distant
And I can’t bring you back

Megatron got up, glaring at the seeker and rubbing his cheek, which had a decent dent imbedded in it, and then smiled evilly at the seeker.
“That’s what happens when you displease me, Starscream.”
Those words, as simple and as harmless a threat it sounded, changed Starscream so much as a person that no one could comprehend it.

It’s true the way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you’re not with me
I’m with you
(You’ll never see, keeping everything inside)
With you
(You’ll never see, even when I close my eyes)
With you
(You’ll never see, keeping everything inside)
With you
(You’ll never see, even when I close my eyes)

No longer was Starscream the happy and joyful (as much for a decepticon anyway) that he once was. He started being mean to everyone, even his few friends, and in return they secretly hated him. Primarily, Skywarp and Thundercracker were his main targets, and Skywarp abandoned him in an instant. Thundercracker tagged along, but he did not say anything to him. He was best friends with the black seeker after all.
Starscream hated Megatron, but he somehow felt that he had to say with him because he could draw strength from him, but when Megatron praised him, he immediately contradicted him later on, and telling him what a disgrace to the Decepticon cause he was, or other filthy insults.

No
No matter how far we’ve come
I can’t wait to see tomorrow
No matter how far we’ve come I
I can’t wait to see tomorrow

As for Starscream, he cried … alone …

With you
(You’ll never see, keeping everything inside)
With you
(You’ll never see, even when I close my eyes)
With you
(You’ll never see, keeping everything inside)
With you
(You’ll never see, even when I close my eyes)

+++

A sudden scream from the direction of Starscream’s Quarters sounded though the hallway and was heard by all in the command centre. Ironhide and Bumblebee, along with various other Autobots in the room, whipped around in shock at the scream. It was unlike any they had heard from the seeker before. It was painful and sad, not maniacal and evil like they had heard before.
Skyfire burst into Starscream’s room to find the seeker curled into a ball, shaking like crazy, plainly terrified of what had happened to him.
“Starscream!” Skyfire said urgently, sitting on the recharge bed next to the trembling seeker, who looked up at him, his optics wide with terror. “What-“
Starscream threw himself of Skyfire’s chest and sobbed, not caring about anyone else in the room at the moment. Skyfire looked worriedly at Optimus, who shook his head sadly.
“Starscream …” Skyfire whispered urgently. “What happened?” Of all the reactions Skyfire had seen Starscream go though, none had been this severe.
The seeker managed to gasp out, “Megatron … in my mind … broken … gone …”

The other Autobots watched in sadness to the poor seeker. Now they truly believed him; who would act out such a pained scream and then be so terrified? It wasn’t possible.
As for Ironhide, as he watched the seeker tremble, his optics shut and his body tense, and despite everything he once was, he felt deeply ashamed for his judgement.

Song - I'm With You by Linkin Park