The next day everyone was trying to figure out what Shockwave might try next. Since he escaped they knew he would be up to something just because his plan to get the terrorcon virus failed didn't mean the threat was over. They knew he could still make more Predicons if they didn't find him and stop him.

Just then they heard someone at the door. So Starscream and Rocketgale who was now off bed rest went to answer it.

Then suddenly they all heard Rocketgale scream and everyone ran over to see what happened. And got there in time to see Starscream ran across the room to his room and lock himself in. And Rocketgale ran to the door and started yelling his name.

"What happened?" Asked Arcee.

"A mech was at the door and he tried to spray me with something but Starscream pushed me out of the way and was hit instead then he took off and Starscream locked himself in his room." Said Rocketgale who everyone could tell was in a panic.

"Starscream what's wrong open the door and tell us what that mech did to you." Asked Smokescreen.

"I can't I think he infected me with Red Rust." Starscream explained. "It's contagious and I don't want to infect any of you." "I remember it from the war." "If anyone touches me they'll get it too."

"Hold on Starscream we'll get Red Alert and he can work on an antidote." Ultra Magnus told him.

"No I might infect him." Starscream said sounding frightened. "I have it contained as long as I stay in here it won't spread to anyone else."

"Starscream as a medic I've seen what Red Rust does to it's victims it activates after they transform and causes them to leak energon from their optics until they go offline it's like they cry themselves to death." Said Knock Out who had come from the med bay. "Don't transform unless you have to because even if the virus is in you it won't be triggered until you transform."

"But it can still be spread." Cried Starscream. "I'm staying in here where I won't in danger any of you."

"Knock Out." "You're still on bed rest back to the med bay." Red Alert ordered him.

"I heard what was going on and wanted to make sure Starscream was OK." Knock Out explained. "But that does sound good but promise you'll call me if you need me to do anything and keep me posted."

"We will now go back to bed." Said Red Alert. Then Knock Out went back to the med bay to rest.

"I guess it's true that doctors make the worst patients." Joked Wheeljack.

"Now what do we do about Starscream?" Asked Bulkhead.

"Not transforming will only buy him so much time." Said Arcee "He's dying."

"You have to get that antidote ready Starscream's spark depends on it." Ultra Magnus told Red Alert.

"I'll work on the antidote." Said Red Alert who went to the med bay to get started.
_                                                     

A few hours later Red Alert was still working on the antidote. And Rocketgale stayed right outside Starscream's door everyone could tell she was worried about him and blaming herself.

Then a second later they noticed she was gone and the ground bridge had been used but the coronets were for a part of the base.
_                                                         

Starscream was in the corner of his room with his back against the wall when a ground bridge opened and Rocketgale came out.

"Rocketgale what are you doing here." Asked Starscream. "You can't be in here if you touch me even by mistake you could be infected."

"I don't care if I get Red Rust too I won't let you die alone." Rocketgale told him. "And I'll be fine if I stay on the other side of the room."

"OK but don't touch me I'd never forgive myself if I gave this to you." Said Starscream.

"Red Alert is working on an antidote." Rocketgale said to him. "Your going to get better and it's going to be fine you have to be OK."

"If I'm not I don't want you to dwell on me." Starscream told her.

"Don't talk like that." Said Rocketgale who was almost in tears.

"If I don't make it I want you to move on." Starscream said to her.

"I don't think I can." Sobbed Rocketgale who was crying now.

"You have to if I die I want you to live your life instead of morning me." Said Starscream who was fighting back tears himself.

Just then alarms started going off and Ultra Magnus sent a message over their com-links that the base was under attack by Insecticons.

"We have to help the others." Starscream told Rocketgale then they came out of his room to help fight the Insecticons.

Everyone was fighting the Insecticons and being careful to avoid being bitten because they had the terrorcon virus. They had managed to drive all of them away through the ground bridge but three that kept avoiding the ground bridge.

And the three Insecticons went straight for Rocketgale. But Starscream fired his missiles at them and got them to come after him then without thinking changed into his jet mode and got them to chase him to keep them away from Rocketgale and the others.

Starscream was doing one stunt after another to keep from being shot down or bitten. When the others opened the ground bridge and Starscream flew over it but the Insecticons went into it and were sent somewhere else.

But Starscream had transformed so the Red Rust was going to start affecting him now. But everyone noticed something there was no energon leaking from his optics. And Starscream didn't feel like he was getting sick or any weaker.

"Why am I OK?" Asked Starscream thrilled but puzzled at the same time.

"Because you weren't infected with Red Rust." Said Red Alert. " just finished testing some of the stuff you were sprayed with and it wasn't Red Rust it was a harmless substance of some kind that just looked like it."

"Why did that mech spray it at us?" Asked Rocketgale.

"He wanted you to think it was Red Rust." Ultra Magnus told her. "But why?"

"Was he just playing a sick joke?" Asked Smokescreen.

Then they noticed a sheet of paper on the floor where Starscream had been spray earlier. And picked it up and read it.

"Dear Autobots to spite your attempt to stop me I was able to get the terrorcon virus by a sample of energon I took from Arachnid." "And though I only have the resources to make one Predicon it will be more then enough." "So enjoy your last sunset because my Terror Predicon will destroy all of you." "Shockwave."

"So it was Shockwave who put that mech up to it to send that treat to us." Ultra Magnus said to them.

"I'm just glad Starscream is OK." Said Rocketgale then the two kissed.

"Hey I haven't seen Knock Out since the Insecticons were here is he OK?" Asked Arcee.

"Hey guys check this out." Yelled Smokescreen. Then everyone went to the med bay. And saw Knock Out was hiding under the berth with his hands over his optics. "Are they gone or am I dead yet?" Asked Knock Out who was to scared to look.

"Their gone Knock Out." Ultra Magnus assured him. "But we have to get ready to fight a Terror Predicon."

Then Knock Out fell to the ground out cold. "He's fainted." Said Crumblezone who had walked in with Ransack.

"I might not be far behind him." Ransack added.

"We need to get ready to fight the Terror Predicon." Ultra Magnus told them.

"We need to fight a beast with beasts." Said Starscream. "We have to contact the Predicons."

To Be Continued.

Only one chapter left next is the climax.