Okie dokie! This is my first ever Transformers (Bay-verse) fanfiction that I've ever done, although I write a lot of random TF drabble. Anyway, I've been thinking of writing this for a while now and was inspired to follow through and actually create something out of the random stuff I already have typed up. Thanks McRiggs for beating me upside the brain with the fanfic-writing stick! Hopefully, it pays off! So enjoy.

DISCLAIMER: As terrible as it is, I DO NOT own Transformers. I know, it's sad, but it's the truth. Don't sue me, please...

Chapter One – Cowards are the Most Dangerous

"Not to call you a coward, Master, but sometimes, cowards do survive." The scratchy-voiced Seeker took the initial step back in retreat, igniting his back jet boosters in preparation for flight. Their intense heat turned the sand below into glass.

Megatron, his face still sparking from where part of it had been blown off by the leader of the Autobots, growled deeply. "This isn't over," he said, eyeing the humans and Autobots as they mingled gratefully down beyond the Egyptian ruins. His attention focused on a human female who was slowly making her way down a sand dune towards Sam Witwicky and the NEST officers ahead. She had two short Autobots flanking her—one bright green, the other fluorescent orange. "We will not leave empty-handed, Starscream."

The winged Decepticon blinked and his booster went quiet.

"Retrieve that filthy insect making its way towards the others."

Starscream gulped and pleaded, "But my Lord, it is too dangerous with Prime back on his feet. Perhaps another time would be—" A cold metal hand connected with the Seeker's grey cheek. He yelped and stumbled back, clutching it painfully.

The massive mech that was Megatron reached towards Starscream, aggressively grabbing his throat and tightening his grip. He thoroughly enjoyed his Air Commander's gargles, but his patience was thin. "Prime is still weak. If you do not grab the human, you will suffer a fate far worse than any Autobot could give you."

Red eyes wide with terror, Starscream fought under his master's hand. When he was finally released, he rubbed his throat pitifully and assumed a submissive stature. "As you wish, Lord Megatron," he said obediently before firing up his boosters for a second time and disappearing into the sky. Slag it, he hated being shoved around by Megatron. But it was either the human named Jadeance, friend of Sam Witwicky, or the Seeker's own hide. A tremor shook his Spark at the mere thought. One didn't need a colorful imagination to visualize what Megatron was capable of.

Spotting the girl below was simple enough. Her trek over the Egyptian sands was fairly ungraceful, and that was being kind, which Starscream was not. He was embarrassed enough to be on the same planet as the humans, but watching this ridiculous creature stumble and weave across the ground like a malfunctioning 'bot was torture. And Megatron wanted this one to be his prisoner?

Starscream sighed as he made his descent back down to Earth. He wasn't concerned about the two hapless Autobots around Jadeance. He'd make short work of them with a simple flick. It was Optimus that the Seeker feared. Despite the large Autobot being weakened, the mech was still able to blow the Fallen into the ether, as well as half of Megatron's face. Starscream did not wish the same fate upon himself. However, the human's pace was slow, like she had assumed the battle had been won and had very little now to fear.

How wrong you are, mused Starscream.

As expected, the Autobots became aware of his presence as he neared the ground. Before he touched down, the Seeker unleashed a powerful barrage of missiles at the NEST officers and Autobots ahead of him. The sound of yelling and screams was music to his ears, especially when the screaming was so very close his position as he landed.

Just as promised, the Autoscum twins—Mudflap and Skids—were eliminated quickly and efficiently. Starscream didn't bother wasting missiles on them; he cut them down with a mere spin of the rotating blade that transformed out of his right hand. He laughed as his bird-like foot came down upon the orange one's head after the green one's Spark had been cut out. Blue Energon pooled around the bodies while the screaming had suddenly stopped. Much to Starscream's disappointment, the human he was after had taken advantage of his distraction with the twins and was disappearing down the dune, with much more grace this time.

The Seeker snarled and sent a volley of cluster bombs down at the Autobots who attempted to scramble out of the way, giving Starscream just enough time to snatch the girl.

Jade focused on her speed and balance, taking care to not trip and recovering quickly when she did. Up headed, just a couple hundred meters away, she spotted Sideswipe. He was trying to make his way over to her, shouting her name in the process, but the cluster bombs sent off by Starscream were preventing him from doing so.

One bomb went off a little too close to the nineteen-year-old. Its shockwave caused her to loose her footing on the hot sand. She tumbled and was sent sprawling on the ground, allowing sand into every little crevasse in her clothes and face. Jade sputtered when the tiny grain entered her mouth and tickled her throat. The sudden approach of speeding footsteps scared her into getting back up on her feet, but before she could run any farther, large metallic fingers wrapped themselves around her midsection. Jade attempted to scream, but her breath was literally squeezed right out of her. The only sound she emitted was a faint wheeze.

"Jade!"

Sam's voice was faint in the battle taking place, but Jade swore she heard it. Perhaps, however, she was imagining it as consciousness began to fade from lack of oxygen. When she heard it a second time, her eyes searched the clouds of sand erupting all around her. She attempted to pick out more voices from the thunderous booms of explosions, but her brain was being overloaded with a hundred other stimuli—the tightening grip around her abdomen, the searing pain in her chest as a rib cracked beneath Starscream's fingers, the sand choking her airways, the ratatatat of gunfire, the sweat dripping down her forehead.

Jade clawed viciously and uselessly at the massive hand around her. Tried to find any sign that someone, anyone, was about to rescue her from Starscream's deadly clutches.

But there was no one coming. They'd try of course, but Starscream would be gone by the time the dust settled. He'd have already transformed with Jade now in his cockpit and flown off with Megatron to an undisclosed location, leaving Optimus Prime and the others to fear for a friend.