Disclaimer:

.... yanno what... maybe i just have really high standards... because i don't understand anymore...

aside, I basically decided "to heck with it" from here on out. (sadly i actually have started actually doing revisions on these, STILL NOT TO BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS ATTEMPT AT WRITING!)

ON TO THE STORY!

Chapter 5

As sun filtered slowly into the canyon Airbrush awoke. She stretched her one good wing and attempted to nudge Starscream awake. He had somehow found a more comfortable position for himself to lay, his head was resting on a rock and he was laying on his back, using her wing as a blanket.

She gave a little smile and nudged him again. He groaned slightly but didn't wake. The pegasus decided not to push it if he needed more sleep and went off to explore the canyon.

When starscream awoke some time later he was greeted with a handful of cactus fruit and Airbrush smiling down at him. He looked curiously down at them and then back up to the pony.

"Go on, this is yours… I already had some. You need to eat something."

"Ah… thank you… "

Starscream warily picked up one of the oddly shaped succulents and bit down. The whole action was incredibly foreign to him and taste was a new sensation altogether.

Airbrush smiled and nudged him again when he was finished. "We should get going before the sun gets too high."

Starscream moved to get up when his head started swimming. Before he could get his bearings his collapsed back under the overhang coughing violently. Airbrush breaking his fall best she could with her good wing.

"On… second thought maybe you need more rest… " She sighed and sat beside him again, trying to make him more comfortable.

"I… I will be all right, Airbrush, don't worry, My sensors were… overwhelmed for a moment."

He tried to get up again only this time Airbrush pushed him down with her hoof, forgetting the injury to his chest before he winced in pain. "Ah sorry…" She quickly pulled the hoof away "but no… you're not going anywhere. If I move you, you might get worse. Just… tell me where I need to go and I'll send help."

Starscream rubbed his temple again. "You are a creature that isn't supposed to exist in this world, if someone were to capture you I'd be as good as dead out here."

He attempted to get up again, coughing again, blood trickled down from the corners of his mouth. He placed his fingers to his chin as Airbrush looked on horrified.

"Starscream… if you try to keep going you could die. Just… stay here and rest… I won't be long. Tell me where to go, there have to be humans that know about you aren't there?"

Starscream's eyes flashed with an idea and a rather coy smile crossed his pained features. "Actually yes… there is… theres another faction of robots, the autobots, they could help you." He wiped his mouth, looking curiously at the blood on his fingertips.

"Excellent! So when I find them i'll just tell them your name?"

Starscream nearly convulsed again as he shouted at her "NO! ah… we… we weren't on the best terms last time I encountered them." He winced, coughing again. His attempt to catch his breath was met with a uncomfortable rasping.

"Then why are we going to them for help?"

"I'm running out of options here… just tell them… ah… hm… make up something I'll go with it."

"That's what your going with… fine… but you better tell them who you are eventually, I don't like lying. Now tell me where I need to go."

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Airbrush sat outside the Groud bridge where the autobots had met her. She had been casually conversing with Arcee. while the others deliberated their actions.

"I don't like this Optimus… theres something fishy going on here. It could be a deception ambush." Bulkhead muttered.

Optimus looked over at the strange pony and Arcee. "We'll simply have to be cautious. She came to us for a reason."

"I still don't like it."

Optimus approached the young Pony who looked up at him expectantly.

"She says her friend is in the canyon a mile from here." Explained Arcee. "I'd like to have Bulkhead come with us, just incase."

Optimus nodded. "He will be, fear not. I'd rather take any deceptions who are lurking in the area by surprise."

Airbrush had heard the deceptions mentioned several times during her chat with Arcee, none of which was with a favorable description. She started having a terrible sinking feeling that she and Starscream would be in deep if the autobots found out who he was. She felt absolutely torn as she led the small party of Autobots back to the canyon.

According to Arcee the Decepticons were horrible robots, every one of them and here she was helping one. She couldn't claim ignorance once the truth came out nor could she stand lying to her rescuers. Before she could continue her musings she was jolted back to reality by Arcee.

"So what are you anyway? You don't look like you're from around here."

"I'm a Pegasus, I come from a place called Equestria…"

"And how did you meet this… Mr. Steel?"

"Uh… well he found me… and uh… took me in away from humans… OTHER humans because he was afraid they ah… would think I was strange."

"Sounds like our kind of human, theres nothing normal about us either."

Airbrush breathed a sigh of relief. Soon they were at the canyon and Airbrush found where she had left Starscream. "Here he is! I brought help, Mr. Steel. Everythng's going to be fine now."

Starscream groaned opening one eye. "Thats's what you went with? Mr. Steel?" he whispered harshly.

Airbrush sighed and gently grabbed his jacket with her teeth, dragging him out. "Don't worry they won't hurt you." Airbrush indicated toward the approaching Autobots.

Starscream grabbed his chest again, pain evident on his face. Despite knowing they were coming, his heart leaped when he saw the autobots.

"Are you certain of that?" He replied darkly.

"Seems we got to your friend just in time, Airbrush, he doesn't look to good." Arcee helped get Starscream to his feet, he felt as though he might collapse again and the presence of the Autobots wasn't helping his nerves. Airbrush sensed his unease and brushed against his side, holding him steady with her good wing, giving a comforting smile.

"Doesn't seem to be any Decepticons in the area." Gruffed Bulkhead. "though I still would be cautious… this the guy we're after?" Bulkhead reached down and as gently as he was able picked Starscream up in his massive hand.

"That's him." Arcee replied. "A fairly uneventful mission if you ask me. It's a nice change. Be careful with him Bulk' he's in pretty bad shape."

Bulkhead lifted his new charge up to get a better look at him. Starscream cowered instinctively his the massive robot's hands.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

"I ah… "

"Are you one of Fowler's friends?"

Starscream searched his memory, vaugely remembering Fowler as one of the Autobots' human allies. He nodded once.

"Well that makes a few things add up at least."

He moved Starscream to his shoulder where he immediately sat down holding his head. He was starting to re-think his plans of getting the Autobots involved, if he couldn't even stand for a few minutes at a time. "What is wrong with me…" he thought. "It was just a blow to the chest… "

Airbrush soon accompanied Starscream on Bulkhead's shoulder, giving him a bright little smile. He sighed and begrudgingly leaned against her.

"C'mon Bulkhead lets get back to base. Optimus will start to wonder if we're out too long."