AN: I don't own Transformers, it belongs whoever created it. This fic is the follow up to Death by Deception, so this fic will make more sense if you read that one first. Again; set in some undetermined time period before the war, but after the Decepticons had formed. This is loosely based on a game called Mafia (or Werewolf), yada, yada; as any who have read the first one will know.
"Why are we doing this again?" Overlord grumbled; sure this time would have been better spent doing target practice.
"Our campaign is at a vital point; and we definitely need to practice our persuasion skills." Megatron informed them all; knowing that some of them would rather persuade people with their fists.
"So, we are all doing this simulator again." Thundercracker didn't seem convinced it would help. He knew it would be fun though.
"I have adjusted a few things within the simulator." Shockwave told the group.
"Such as?" Tarn queried.
"The leader is randomly chosen before the simulation begins." This comment caused a few cheers; from the mechs that everyone expected; Starscream, Overlord, Deathsaurus and Leozack.
"Also; there are two new roles, which will be explained when the simulation begins; so that we can get started quicker." Shockwave then headed towards one of the pods. The rest of the mechs made their way to the pods, each mech climbing inside a pod and closing the lid. Each mech attached the cable to the back of his neck; falling into a forced recharge. The simulation could now begin.
XxX
Your leader suspects that a coup is being planned; with all of the loyal Decepticons going to be killed. Each mech noticed the change in the introduction; but noted that the voice was still the same.
It is up to you to determine who the coup is being planned by. Help your leader determine who the members of the coup are… before it's too late. Each mech was then told what his role was.
"YES!"
"Again? Really?"
"Aw… That sucks."
"Alright then."
"An Innocent, me? Hah!"
The mech who was chosen as the leader was then told what he had to do. Use your three investigators to track other mech's movements and catch them in the act! Lock up mechs to keep them safe, or to make sure you know where they are! And determine whether or not to kill someone in the morning.
Two of the mechs were told that their role was the Wanderer. You must go and visit another mech every night you are able to. One of them shuddered; not liking the sound of this. A different mech was told that he was the Mole. Your actions will be identical to those of an innocent; unless your leader decides to kill you. You have a gun in subspace for such an occasion; and you will use it to kill a mech who is not a member of the coup. The mech grinned; knowing exactly how he was going to play this. Each mech then 'woke up' in the now familiar meeting room.
"Oh, of all the mechs it could have picked, why did it have to be…?" Tarn buried his face in his hands.
"Greetings fellow Decepticons! You will all have to help me to save you from the evil assassins and their leader!"
"Quit the dramatics Screamer!" Skywarp's comment made some of the other Decepticons stood around laugh.
"I wouldn't test my patience, or I might decide to put you to death as an example of what happens to those that annoy me, your leader!" Starscream stood proudly at the front, with his hands on his hips.
"It is now evening. Report to your room. Your name is written on the door." The voice told them. Each of the twenty two mechs gathered around turned towards the back of the room. Starscream however headed to his room; the leader's room behind him.
"He is never going to let me forget this is he?" Megatron sounded despondent.
"No, he isn't." Shockwave answered, before heading into his room. Once each mech had gone into his room, they were told by the voice to recharge. Each mech did; knowing how this thing worked now. The members of the coup were then awoken; being told to report to the meeting room to meet their fellow members. They each headed to the meeting room in turn.
"Welcome fellow coup members, which of you should I bow at the feet of?" One of them asked sarcastically.
"If you mean which of us is the leader; that would me." Each of the other three stared in shock.
"Starscream would never see you as the coup leader!" One of them grinned.
"It is ironic though; us four being chosen, isn't it?" The fourth pointed out. Each mech realised what he was getting at and grinned.
"Yes, quite." The leader sniggered, before telling them to head back to their rooms; they were going to teach Starscream a lesson; be careful what you wish for!
XxX
Each mech was roused in the morning, and told to report to the meeting room. Each mech did so, standing around and trying not to cringe at Starscream making a dramatic entrance.
"Discuss who to lock up and whether or not to kill anyone." They all expected such a proclamation. The next was a little less unexpected, however.
"What? Kill someone! But no one's done anything yet!" The other mechs couldn't help laughing; Megatron had tried to mimic Starscream's voice as well.
"Are you mocking me, Megatron? Do you want me to put you to death?" Starscream smirked; knowing he could do it just because he was the leader.
"No, Starscream."
"That is Lord Starscream. I am your leader, and expect to be given proper respect."
"In order to get respect, you have to give respect." Tarn muttered; setting off the other members of the Justice Division laughing again.
"Well then… Lord Starscream, who are you going to lock up?" Overlord asked, purposefully sounding annoyed about the 'Lord'.
"Do any of you have any suggestions, or would any of you like to volunteer?"
"I might as well sit in the jail cell; not like I'd have anything better to do." Thundercracker raised his hand.
"Very well, follow me to the jail cell." Starscream headed towards the back of the room, Thundercracker following behind him. Starscream was then told about what the cell's job was as Thundercracker headed inside. Starscream shut the door and then headed back towards the meeting room. So, mechs in here can't complete their roles; if any. Interesting… He thought. As soon as he'd reached the front of the room, the voice told every mech it was now evening and that they were to report to their room. Each mech did so, Starscream still smug about being the leader.
XxX
Now what do I do? Starscream pondered. The voice told him to go to the console. He saw three boxes on the screen; each one with Investigator written in it followed by a number. Send out your investigators, if you wish. The voice spoke in Starscream's head. Why wouldn't I send out my investigators? Starscream shrugged, already knowing exactly who his three investigators were going to keep watch on. After he'd given them their duties, he was told to go and recharge. Once he'd done so, the voice spoke to each of the investigators. You have been told to investigate… Each of them was then told a different mech. Megatron. The first was told.
"Why am I not surprised?" He smirked, secretly wishing he could get away with performing this outside of the simulation. The second was told Soundwave. The second mech smirked.
"Starscream's probably picked Megatron and Shockwave too." Shockwave was the name said to the third investigator.
"A mech I wish would keep his proverbial nose out of my business!" Each of the investigators was told to push a switch beside the mech's door. After all three had done so, they were told to go back to recharge. The coup leader was then roused. He glanced at his screen and saw each of his three assassins on it. He tapped one and then saw that there were some mechs blacked out; himself, his assassins and the mech in the cell. He chose one mech, and went back to his berth; until the voice spoke to him again. It told nineteen mechs that they had to wake up; they may go out to visit mechs or be receiving visitors. The voice however told two mechs that they had to go out and visit another mech. Each of them pondered who to visit, before heading towards the door. The assassin had also been told who he was going to kill. He grinned; excited about this, before heading out of the door. Soundwave, Tarn and Megatron decided to head out as well; Soundwave decided to visit Shockwave, Tarn decided to go visit Kaon and Megatron decided he would visit someone; he couldn't last time after all! He just went to the room next door; Scrapper's.
XxX
"I really wasn't expecting anyone to visit me; especially not you." Onslaught told the mech that had just come in.
"Is this about my opinions on the assassins and coup leader? Because in that case…"
"Funny you should mention assassins." The mech pulled out his stun gun.
"You are the last mech I would expect to be an assassin…" Onslaught then grunted, shot with the stun gun. He collapsed and the assassin pondered what to do now. He was informed to do a triple tap.
"Brain." One shot fired.
"Spark." Two shots fired.
"T-Cog." Three shots fired, and the assassin turned away and headed back to his room.
XxX
Each mech was told that it was now morning, and he had to report to the meeting room. Each mech who was capable of doing so did. Starscream was then roused and told to check his reports. He went over to his console and found there were three. The first was from the third investigator, he was informed; with the third being from the first. Investigator 3's report read 'I kept an optic on Shockwave, as ordered. He didn't leave his room, and he received one visitor.' I'd better ask who it was. He thought, moving on to the second report. 'I kept an optic on Soundwave, as ordered. He left his room once, and he didn't receive any visitors.' Oh; that's unusual! I'd better ask about that too. Starscream then looked at his third report; grinning madly when he saw what it said. 'I kept an optic on Megatron, as ordered. He left his room once, and he didn't receive any visitors.' Caught in the act, were you? I hope so! Starscream headed for the door, being told to release the jailed mech by the voice. He didn't notice any mechs missing and so continued to the cell. He let Thundercracker out and both of them headed back to the meeting room. Starscream made his way to the front, before smirking at the gathered mechs.
"Who did you visit last night, Megatron?" He grinned. Megatron didn't seem flustered however, and pointed at Scrapper. Said mech confirmed it.
"And what about you, Soundwave?" Starscream still looked surprisingly pleased with himself.
"Shockwave." Soundwave told the group. Shockwave confirmed it. Starscream pondered if any of these were suspicious.
"Does none of you think to count?" Kaon asked.
"There are only twenty two mechs in here again, aren't there…" Starscream sounded annoyed that he hadn't spotted that. He had a quick glance over the mechs in the room and noticed who was missing.
"As your leader, I shall go and check on Onslaught." Starscream headed back out of the door and went into Onslaught's room. He was pleased none of the others heard his squeak at what was inside. Onslaught had three holes in his body, one in his forehead, a second in the centre of his chest and a third above his right hip. Triple tap. Starscream shuddered; pondering if this is how Megatron had found him after Shockwave had shot him last time. He quickly banished that thought from his mind; not wanting to imagine his body in such a condition. He also found a data-pad beside Onslaught. He picked it up and read it, finding only 'Onslaught was an innocent.' Written on it. Starscream headed back to the front of the meeting room. The voice came over the speakers as soon as he got there.
"Discuss who to lock up and whether or not to kill anyone."
"I am not putting any one to death until we get a bit more evidence." Starscream told them, hearing some sighs of relief in response. He then glanced over the mechs in front of him; pondering exactly who to lock up.
"Dirge, follow me." Megatron seemed a little surprised; he thought Starscream would jump on the chance to lock him up! Dirge did as he was told; following Starscream to the cell.
"See you in the morning." Starscream told Dirge, before closing the door. Dirge pondered if Starscream was trying to be nice with that comment, as he didn't sound quite as… condescending as normal. Starscream headed back to the room, making his way to the front. The voice then told them it was evening; and they were to report to their rooms.
"I hope to see all of you in the morning." Starscream told them before heading into his room. Every other mech in the room had a shocked look on his face; what was Starscream playing at?!
"Is… he trying to act like he cares about us or something?" Motormaster pondered; happier that he actually got to play the simulation properly this time.
AN: I'll just leave that there. Yes, I did actually decide who the leader was going to be randomly; with a dice roll (I had four suggestions; Skywarp, Overlord, Starscream and Tarn, Sis chose Deathsaurus, I chose Vos) and Starscream was the one chosen! Starscream being the leader was suggested by a reviewer on A03; A-Passer-By, so thank you for the suggestion! A little side-note; if Starscream wasn't the leader, he would have been an investigator. Like last time, Kaon isn't blind and the simulation translates what Vos says for the other mechs. Feel free to guess who each of the roles are! You won't need much help to work out who the Wanderers are though; they will be the mechs who go out every night!