There was the usual sound of fizzing wires and severed circuits as the robot fell down slowly, not being shot at to kill...oh no. His killer was a born torturer, someone who loved to watch his foes suffer before allowing them to die. Through a haze of ultimate agony, he saw wings….the shape. The outline of his killer’s face in the dark, there was little light in such a thin gap as this, between two of the towers in outer Vos.

"Autobot…this was a foolish place to come all alone like this! Fools do not deserve to live. Pass me my very large gun, now!" Sneered the dark figure, turning to a lackey Decepticon next to him.

The other Con did so, and the winged figure loaded it with an ominous click! His victim paused for a second, before gasping and trying to drag his battered body away. It was a brave but futile action, the gun end was lowered immediately, and the last thing the Autobot felt was the cold steel touch his head.

Then came the strange rushing sensation, rather like water bursting through his head, like a dam. The explosion filled the alleyway with debris, as the head and upper chassis of the Autobot flew apart in all directions!

" There we go! That was fun, wasn’t it? Matches the rest of this cursed state!" Snarled the winged one, handing back his weapon to the servant one.

" But…but Starscream…you lived in Vos for vorns, it was your home, you wanted to rule it and Cybertron once, remember?" Said the other Con, confused. He found himself two feet off the floor, being held in a stranglehold by his Master!

" I did rule Vos, you half wit! I was Lord Starscream before the war began, and now I am a Decepticon. Vos was destroyed, all apart from the very outskirts like this tower. Like much of our home world, it now lies in ruins. Now find me that fake Black Starscream so that I can kill him and lay this confusion to rest!" Snarled the Decepticon, throwing his sidekick to the floor.

" Urrr….of course, Starscream! But the other you is just like you, and everyone else says he is the original…that the black hawk symbols on you are warnings, well, before the war a black hawk symbol did mean ‘warning! This person is a deceiver’ , didn’t it? So, are you Starscream… really?"

The Decepticon lifted his arm mounted null ray and grinned at his sidekick.

" What do you think, Glu-Stic? I created you, and this is the thanks I get!" There was a humming sound, and the smaller Decepticon backed away, scared!

" I…I’m sorry, Master Starscream! Don’t shoot me, I’ll obey you always…I swear it! Of course you are the real one…I just wanted to hear you say it!" He stammered, transforming into his spider form and shrinking down to small enough to land on Starscream’s shoulder from a web.

Starscream laughed, and moved his arm around, as the spider raced around, running up and down his steel arm.

" Ok, I will let you hear it, Glu-Stic! I am Starscream, ex-ruler of Vos and future ruler of the entire galaxy! I am immortal and there is no one who can stop me! I will achieve my ambitions, you’ll see. The Autobots will soon be out of the way, and once they are, only that fool Megatron stands between me and this entire planet! Once I lead the Decepticons we shall conquer the rest of the galaxy…and from there, the universe! NO race are mightier than the Transformers, and we Decepticons are the future of the Transformers!" He cried, punching the air to emphasis his point.

Glu-Stic was taken in. All seemed right! Whichever of the two Starscreams this one was, it was enough like itself to convince him! Someone, however, was not convinced.

The many images of Cybertron flashed constantly through the mind of one of the greatest Transformers of all. Everything was put before his eye. It was as if he was examining himself and finding injury…the war tore at him both mentally and physically in ways that tempted him to intervene. Most pressingly was his greatest fear of all, the fear of the Chaos Bringer. He knew that soon he would come. He must move…he must not allow himself to be found. The time for conflict had not come yet.

And so Megatron, evil as he was, was serving this hidden Master, even though he knew it not. When the motions of war would move Cybertron, Primus knew that both himself and his race, Autobot and Decepticon alike, would be saved from the fate the Chaos Bringer intended for them. At least…until the time came for them to face him together, and for the final victory.

But all that was far away in the future, and Primus knew this. Right now, he could see the second Starscream creating havoc beyond his limitations! His destiny lay with the Autobots… Primus knew this. He had the power and the right to intervene - and so, as he watched Starscream take yet another Autobot hostage, he became angry.

Enough was enough!

Starscream grinned at the three Autobots Glu-Stic had trapped in his deadly webs. He raised his blaster, with an evil look in his eyes.

" Have you interrogated them all, Glu-Stic?" He asked his sidekick, who transformed into his robot form, from his spider form where he had been, biting the neck of one of them, called Bumblebee. He cried out, but the other two were too tangled up to escape or to help.

" Yeah - all yours Master! They don’t know much…pretty small ones!" Replied the evil creation, spitting a glob of sticky ooze onto face of the largest one, an Autobot who would learn in many millions of years time that she was classed as a ‘female’ resembling Transformer, called Phase. (After the journey to Earth). She squinted, in disgust!

The other one kicked hard and began to scream. Starscream smirked. Good!

" Glu-Stic? KILL that one…NOW!" He ordered, pointing his null ray at it.

" No!" Cried both Phase and Bumblebee, desperately trying to brake free. It was too late. Glu-Stic pressed a button on the side of a small box, before ramming it down the throat of the offending captive, just as it began a ten second count down. He choked, spluttered, and tried to cough it up. But it fell down inside him, then, there came a dull beep sound! The Autobot opened his mouth to scream, but all that came out was a column of smoke, before his chest exploded with a loud bang, leaving him hanging dead, next to the other two…a gaping hole in his back and chest, and his mouth torn open by the force of the blast.

The other two looked in horror! Were they next? Glu-Stic grinned at them, nastily, seeing bits of shrapnel had stuck into Phase’s face, as she was nearest. It was hurting her, he could tell. Oil kept dripping out.

" Can I melt this one down with my toxic gun, Master?" He asked, pulling it out and ramming it underneath Phase’s chin, with a threatening glare.

Starscream looked at the two left. They were terrified! GOOD, he thought! He nodded to his sidekick.

" Go ahead," he said, with a blunt tone. " Good bye, Phase!" He added, grinning up at her. She tore a web free, at last, and smacked him in the face with her free boot! He hit the floor, a dent in his right cheek plate.

Glu-Stic was about to pull the trigger, but his Master stopped him, as he got to his feet.

" WAIT! Now it’s personal. I am going to brake this Autobot scum myself, piece by living piece!" He said, pushing Glu-Stic out of the way and freeing Phase, then slamming her against a wall, by the throat. She was utterly choked and helpless.

" Ak! Puh-Primus….help me!" She gasped, trying to kick her way free. Starscream grinned, and tightened his deadly grasp.

" Hah! Primus can’t help you now, Autobot, and neither can Prime! Any last words from that noble mouth of yours, before I rip your vocal circuitry out?!" He sneered at her. She cried…preparing herself for the inevitable death that would follow.

Primus lost his temper…and his patience!

" Let us see what, if any, last words you choose, Starscream!" Came the echoing voice inside the head of the evil Decepticon.

" Wha…..???" Starscream hurled Phase to the floor and whirled around, but there was no body. Suddenly, the web melted away, and Glu-Stic screamed in agony and fell to the floor, unconscious! Bumblebee and Phase staggered away, not knowing how this had happened but seizing the day to escape!

Suddenly, a powerful force struck Starscream so hard he fell to his knees! Then everything went blue and white…as if he were enveloped in some form of tractor beam.

The next thing Starscream saw was the face of Primus!

He was silent with fear for a few seconds. The legendary Primus, god of the Autobots! Then, he screamed in terror and didn’t try to get up, but practically retracted into a ball on the steel floor. Then came the voice.

" Welcome, Decepticon! I am Primus, light god of the Autobots, and once, long ago…YOU."

" Pr…pr...Primus?!?" Stammered Starscream, who had never really believed that there was a god deep within the planet. " No….it can’t be! You don’t exist….you’re just a story!"

" I am as real as you are…although very soon you may cease to exist." Said the huge face, a little annoyed! " You are a callous killer, Skybrake! Stand up, at once. You do not have the pleasure of sitting in my presence."

Starscream scrambled to his feet.

" Skybrake? I know that name! Who is that?" He asked.

Primus showed him images in his head of himself before he cloned himself into Starscream.

" That is you…and deep down you know you are not the real Starscream."

" What nonsense are you talking, you…you…bodiless freak?!"

" You are so wrong! You see only a part of me, Decepticon! Now, I am not a murderer, so I do not intend to vaporise you on the spot, as I could do. You have tempted me, Skybrake, tempted me sourly to do just that! But I have a much better idea."

Starscream stood, feeling very small. He was silent as he couldn’t think of anything to say to a god! Then, he got courageous again.

" What better idea?" He said, curiously.

" It is simple. You were once an Autobot…and I tell you now, Skybrake, I will not allow you to function as a Decepticon! Now, I’ll give you one chance…and I do suggest you take it. Will you listen, or would you like to disappear forever right now?"

"No!" Starscream jumped up and waved an arm fiercely, as if trying to get Primus’ attention for sure. " I didn’t say I wouldn’t listen! Ok, tell me your plan, it’s not as if I have a choice anyway…I can’t die!"

Primus accepted this reply, and explained to Starscream / Skybrake what he had in mind. By the time he had finished, the Decepticon was aghast! He stood limply, looking completely horrified.

" No…please, I can’t do that! That’s against my honour, no!"

" I can make you if you won’t co-operate, Skybrake - "

" My name is Starscream!!! And it is staying that way!"

" OR…I can obliterate you! You are annoying me, to say the least! Now, I will give you your choice…allow me to turn you into a new being under the Autobot code or you will lose your life-force! Choose."

Starscream fell down onto his knees and put his face to the floor, throwing his hands over his head, screaming:

" I can’t!!! I just cannot become an Autobot! Please, give me another choice, this isn’t fair!"

" I have made clear my conditions for you to survive…as I believe you Decepticons say, take it or leave it, Skybrake."

The winged Decepticon was utterly at a loss. He panicked…and decided to throw away the con honour that had got him into this situation in the first place, and turn back to his creator. He had no choice, he could not allow himself to die.

Slowly, he raised his head and looked up….until his eyes met with the huge eyes of Primus.

" I….I will do as you command, Primus, I’m sorry I said the things I did before. Have mercy on me, please! I will let you turn me into an Autobot, go ahead and change me, at your will. I give up trying to fight you….I cannot any longer. I surrender."

Primus’ eyes glinted with satisfaction.

" Very well. Even though you were extremely cheeky when I spoke to you, I will overlook this and transform you into a new being. You may choose the name, an Autobot one." Came the booming reply. Starscream looked everywhere for inspiration…but saw nothing. He looked sadly down at his wings, that would soon be gone and replaced. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him!

" I have decided on a new name, Primus." He said, standing up. " If it meets with your approval, I…I…would like to be known from this day forth as BlackHawk." He stood up, but stood more smartly this time. Primus stared down…and then his eyes flashed brightly. Starscream covered his optics, as the light was too pure and brilliant for him to look upon without damaging himself! He thought Primus was angry, and cringed. But then :

" I approve of your name selection, Skybrake…or Starscream, whichever you believe you truly are." The addressed uncovered his eyes and peered upwards, still cautious. " I will now give your mind and sentient core a new body, similar to your old one so you do not have much to adapt to. Also, I will keep you old body in a cyro chamber within these walls so that in the case of an emergency I may transfer you back to avoid allowing you to die. Another point is that your new body will be able to fly as fast as the old one, plus I will give you the privilege of a voice command accelerator, which will operate by boosting your in the air speed and jumping capabilities by several times, at the word ‘Elevation’. Do you understand these changes, Starscream?"

The jet transformer smiled.

" Thankyou. Even if I was once someone else, I am now Starscream, I have his mind plus a lot of older memories too. Now, er…I suppose I must go through with this, now?"

" You are correct. Are you ready?"

Starscream laughed weakly, knowing that in a million years time he still would not be as ready as he would have liked!

" Yes…as ready as can be expected. Is there no other way?" He glanced at his wings and chest and legs and….and wished he wasn’t being forced into this. But even the evilest dictator and Decepticon in the universe could not take on Primus, head to head!

" No, Decepticon, there is no other path acceptable to me. You must change."

" Very well, if I must I will do so…although this unnerves me and I feel like a traitor," replied Starscream. " Very well, change me."

" You are a traitor…yes. But not to the Decepticons, to me. And now you are merely coming back to me, and I am accepting you. You should feel grateful - many of your kind will perish before they ever get this chance, as few ever will. This war is tearing Cybertron apart and I hate it with every fibre of my being. But one day you will see that it is for the best, the lesser of two evils, if you like. Now, please lie down so that I may begin. Be sure to shutdown your optics as the light of creation which this is similar to is not for your eyes and you will loose your sight if you look upon it."

With a last glance at his insignia, the winged transformer sat then lay down, feeling very scared. He remembered Primus’ warning and closed his optics, tightly. Then he felt something slowly force him into unconsciousness….and everything went dark. He saw blackness, then nothing.

" BlackHawk…BlackHawk…awake. You are completed." He heard the voice, as if someone were trying to call through the sounds of ebbing lights and breezes and coolness, calmness. All this was his and more - why should he awake? What was there for him back there? Then he got a grip on reality, and remembered who he was.

" I…I’m alive. I’m still functional!" He murmered, flexing his fingers. Then, he opened his eyes and saw the slightly changed in tone red chest gleaming new where his old one had been. And his multi-tone blue arms, arm mounted laser cannon, blue chest compartment, leg boosters and red legs. He got up and stood, staring at his new face in a shiney piece of steel nearby. The antenna were something new, as was the helmet shape. But his face looked pretty much the same. He looked up at the large face of Primus, which was watching him.

" I…I am…lost for words, Lord Primus. All I know is that despite being the same as I was, I am also very different. I feel so…so…Autobot, now. I can’t explain it." He tried to say what he thought Primus would want to hear, all of a sudden, the light god seemed important to him, and he wanted to please him.

"Say nothing, BlackHawk. I am now going to send you back up to your world…where you will find Optimus Prime and join his army. He has been informed of your past and will know who you are, but you will show him the utmost respect. Is that understood?" Primus waited.

BlackHawk stepped forwards and bowed, quickly.

"Yes Lord Primus, I will do as you have commanded, at once." He stood still, as the blue white light washed all over his new form…the next thing he knew, he was on the surface again, though deep in Iacon territory and as he listened, he heard the sound of a group of Autobots coming closer, back from a border clash of some sort.

He gathered his courage and stepped out into the main passageway. There they were, a troop of about ten Autobot warriors and with them Optimus Prime! He stepped forward, suddenly afraid.

"Hey! You there, stop!" Shouted one of them, a black and white Autobot by the name of Prowl. At once, all guns were trained upon BlackHawk and he knew that to run or do anything rash would result in a fugitive status and a hide full of pelt!

He froze and faced them all, straight on. "I’m not an enemy…don’t shoot!" He cried, spreading his arms to each side as if surrendering. "I’ve been sent to see Optimus Prime. I want to become an Autobot."

Prowl and Jazz came forwards, slowly. "Who are you? Never seen you around this way before."

"I…er…I am BlackHawk. I was a top flyer before the war but then the Decepticons froze me and I have only just escaped. My body has been well preserved, as you can see."

"Ooh…I’ll say, you look brand new!" Said Jazz, whistling.

In side Prime, the Matrix gleamed brightly, as Primus revealed the whole truth to him. BlackHawk saw the light and shot a glance at Prime. The Autobot Commander ordered Jazz and Prowl aside before coming over himself, face to face.

"I was wondering when you would ‘appear’. So you are BlackHawk." Prime’s words made the new Autobot feel very uncomfortable and he shuffled his feet and looked embarrassed.

"Yes Sir. I am BlackHawk. Please accept me into your ranks. I know that you know about me but ‘he’ said that would not matter. Do you hate me?" The question was genuine, and Prime nodded.

"No, although I hate the things that you did I do not hold any malice. You are a new being sent from Primus, and so therefore I will accept you." Prime raised his voice so that the others could hear him, " Yes, you shall be permitted to join the Autobots. I will see to it that you are correctly trained in our ways as soon as we return to base. Do you accept?"

BlackHawk bowed his head, in respect. "Yes Sir, Optimus Prime. I accept."

The group smiled and came over to the two of them. Before very long, the troop of Autobots, plus one very fortunate new recruit, were on their way to Iacon HQ.

"We all make foolish mistakes BlackHawk. Myself, Traachon, Xaaron, all of us. The only fools amongst us are those who do not learn from those errors and put them right next time. I trust I have little to fear from you on that score?"

"No, Sir! I will never let you down…I’ll try to be the best Autobot I can."

Optimus Prime smiled, and returned both of them to their duties. BlackHawk had a good future ahead of him…this much Primus did reveal. But there was a war on, and right now it was all stations on yellow alert full time, and BlackHawk was put under the other flyers to be given his new chance. He felt he owed Phase and Bumblebee something, so he got friendly with them, especially Phase who was nearer his size. They soon became the greatest of friends and went to battle with eachother. The guilt inside BlackHawk was soon buried deeply, and he almost forgot his terrible past.

Megatron noted the disappearance of one of the Starscreams, but certainly did not mourn the loss! He was listed as MIA, then KIA after so long. Glu-Stic was re assigned under a friend of Megatron’s - a nasty character called Gigatron, who went on to lead a reasonably good string of attacks on outer Iacon. BlackHawk fought in these tangles, and helped to save vital troops and ground each time. It was the least he could do, he felt.