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Characters belong to Hasbro/Takara

Special thanks to Quartex and BrewedSugar for being my betas! :D

klik: second, breem: minute, joor: hour, orn: day, decaorn: week, lunar cycle: month, vorn: year

Trial

The Chamber was filled with intentional whispers concerning the Decepticon's future. That is, if he was going to have one. The entity of an extinguished spark loomed over his helm. His sentence would be termination, the Seeker was certain of that. Everybody in this room, Pit, everyone on Cybertron anticipated it.

After the war, most low ranked soldiers were given amnesty; all commanding officers, however, had received termination thus far. One's actions and dedication, while involved with the Deceptions, played the leading role when determining the grant of amnesty. Decepticons like Shockwave and Soundwave were too loyal to the late Megatron. According to the Council, they would have never conformed to the Autobot's peaceful way of life. The termination of their sparks marked the end for the officers.

Commanding Officers and high ranked soldiers had to stand trial in front of the Council of Elders, while the rest received non-discriminative judges to decide their future: spark-stasis, freedom or termination.

Starscream couldn't do anything to escape the verdict that was soon to be read; couldn't run, fly, or even sit. All he could do was stand directly behind the round podium with stasis cuffs locked onto his wrists as he surveyed the interior of the extravagant chambers. All around him, guards continued their little gossip party, glancing continuously at the captive flyer, while also wary towards a possible escape attempt.

Starscream blamed his fate entirely on his fallen leader. It was his fault the Decepticons lost the war, his fault their plans always failed, and his fault his troops were being offlined. The Seeker inwardly swore that he would personally thank Megatron for everything he had caused once they were reunited in the Pit.

The whispers suddenly ceased, and silence filled the room. All optics were aimed towards the newly appointed Council of Elders as they entered the chambers from a side door. They took their seats behind the high trial table. If anything, their presence only proved that his sentence WOULD be, with no doubt, termination. He had met this group of mechs before- on the battle field. The chance of Starscream worming his way out of this situation was virtually zero.

The Leader of Cybertron began to speak, his godly voice sent shivers down the captive mech's frame. "Starscream, Second in Command and Aerospace Commander of the Decepticon Army, you have been charged with the countless assassinations and terrorist attacks you performed while an active member of the Decepticons on both Cybertron and Earth." Optimus Prime proceeded by grabbing one datapad among the large stack placed on the table, he began the extensive process of reading each.

After a joor or so, Prime concluded, "Do you consent to your crimes?"

Starscream was rather disappointed, either they didn't mention all his crimes or there were some they didn't know about. "Yes."

"Have you committed transgressions that we are unaware of?"

Funny, he was just thinking that.

Should he lie and say that was all? All of the wrongdoings Prime read of were already impressive, anymore will certainly not be helpful. "No."

The device that had been placed around Starscream's neck prior to entering the chambers sounded with a beep. The device only sounded if the wearer was not truthful and since this was Starscream, the device would surely activate plenty of times during his trial.

"You will gain nothing from holding back," announced Magnus.

Starscream glared at all the Elders and replied, "I wish to decline from saying anything else. I am aware of my fate." It was a short truthful answer. The collar remained quiet.

"Will you explain you actions then?" Asked Kup.

Starscream hesitated for a moment before answering. "Very well, I had good reason for my actions. Megatron guaranteed us equality and peace because of the way you Autobots were running Cybertron. All of his words, however, fell to deaf audio receptors by the previous Council. They all feared the Military Models, placed restrictions on us and gradually increased the gap between the wealthy and working class. The workers were starving while you all gorged on energon. Disagreements between city-states were never resolved; their rivalry only grew worse until they eventually destroyed themselves. The Council only cared about their people, the high class, the Autobots, no one else. Freedom and equality were nonexistent in your views. Fear of war clouded your processors. You all feared what might happen and in the process of trying to not make it occur, actually caused it. You caused this war; we only wanted equality. Since that could not be accomplished, Megatron did the next best thing; he tried to conquer all of Cybertron, remake this planet. The first thing that had to be done in order for the remake was to delete the existing Council and Autobots. It was easy for the Decepticons to turn towards violence to solve their problems. Of course everyone got power-hungry, especially Megatron. But I saw the error of his ways and figured it was best for all if I became leader. I didn't want to enslave or destroy, only rule Cybertron with fair laws. I knew I could succeed where Megatron failed. "

The Elders' optics were wide from this shocking statement, even Starscream's. The Council waited for a breem, waited for the collar to sound. Nothing.

They all knew the previous Council was blind to their predominant rule of Cybertron, but… Starscream wanting to rule Cybertron with fair laws? That was a surprise.

"So the termination of countless Cybertronians and humans were necessary sacrifices for your conception of peace under your rule?" Asked Kup in a low, irritated tone.

"Yes," answered Starscream. The device remained silent.

"Even so, we cannot rule out that you have committed far too many war crimes to remain online," said Rhinox.

Starscream's spark sank. He was doomed. He had come into the Chambers knowing he would be offlined. Even with new bots, the Council was still the same.

Even though he continued plotting a way to escape, all his ideas ended with the same conclusion- termination.

"Is there anything else you would like to add?" Asked Prime.

"…No." There was a moment of silence as the Elders deliberated through their comlinks. Starscream took this opportunity to review his options again. He was desperate to find an answer that would help him get out of this with his spark still intact.

The Elders all nodded at one another and turned their attention back on the Seeker. Their decision was made up, Starscream was a dead mech. Then Airazor spoke, "Are you bonded?"

The question came to him as a surprise. He certainly didn't expect that. Then it struck him, maybe he could come out of this alive. "Yes."

The Elders were surprised, staring wide opticed at his response. "To whom?"

Starscream restrained some anger when he said his bondmate's name. "...Skyfire."

They were shocked, even more so when they noticed the absence of sound coming from the device.

"The bond between you two has been blocked, correct?" Asked Prime. Sounding as if he wanted the bond to be blocked.

"…Yes, bu-"

"Since the bond is currently blocked, the deactivation of one bondmate will not have the same effect on the other," said Magnus. "Our decision is unanimous then, Starscre-"

"WAIT!" Shouted the Seeker in pure desperation. He didn't know what to say, yet. But stalling for time was a good thing. Meant you got to be online for a little longer.

"Is there something you would like to add?" Asked Prime.

Starscream had considered using the bond he once shared with Skyfire as a way of saving his spark, but had quickly disregarded that possibility, knowing that if they called Skyfire in for questioning he wouldn't want to save the desolate Seeker. The war had changed him, almost as much as it had changed Starscream. The feelings they once shared were gone.

But desperate times call for desperate measures. He had to lie. "It is true, our bond is blocked. It has remained blocked ever since Skyfire crashed in the ice. Since I was unable to sense his spark, I presumed he was offlined and closed off my end of the bond to escape the pain I felt. After the Decepticons uncovered him from the ice, I couldn't just reopen the bond and pretend everything was normal. The times have changed, but my feeling towards him remained the same, they still do."

The collar hadn't made a sound. That was good…? A little confused, but not willing to pass up this golden moment, he continued, "Skyfire has always possessed a soft spark, he was a pacifist. I knew joining the Decepticons was not for him so I made him hate me and turn to the Autobots even though it pained me to do so." This thing isn't bleeping? "…I-I knew it would be best if he forgot about our past together, but I know his end of the bond must still be active because he still loves me and I still l-love him..?" His expression didn't hide anything; he was confused. The device must surely be defective, it has yet to activate!

Prime, shocked that the Autobots' Air Guardian is apparently bonded to Starscream, was the first to speak, "We understand, but with a blocked bond and your current record-"

"No! You can't offline me! If I die, then Skyfire also dies! I know he still has feelings for me and I still…" He said what came to mind in an attempt to save his aft from being offlined and completely forgot about the collar.

But only silenced filled the courtroom.

The Elders looked at each other. "The collar might be malfunctioning."

Oh, slag! "No it's not," quickly replied Starscream even though he too believes the collar is defective.

"Answer again. Do you still carry feelings towards Skyfire?"

"Yes."

Silence.

The Elders communicated through their comlinks. "We require more time to deliberate. There will be a short recess." And with that, one of the guards approached Starscream, attached a chain to his stasis cuffs and took him outside the Chambers.

Starscream had to endure being stuck in a room with Prowl. The officer just asked him obvious questions to see if the collar was defective or not, which turned out to be functioning normally. But the process was boring and very awkward.

Two joors later, both mechs entered the Chambers. To Starscream's surprise, Skyfire was here also.

Starscream felt his spark twitch. He was hoping they wouldn't call Skyfire in! What did he tell them?

"Starscream."

Starscream was torn from his thoughts and looked up at Prime. This was it. The next words will determine his fate.

"Given the information presented here today, the Council of Elders cannot grant you termination for the possible effects that might transfer towards your bonded. Our verdict is that you, Starscream, will be placed under the custody and constant supervision of Skyfire for a time period no less than a vorn, after which this case will be brought back to the Council for review."

Starscream's face lit up. No death penalty? I get to live? All he has to do is… The actuality of his sentence hit him, hard. His face turned that of pure horror. Wait. What?

Stay tuuuuunnnned.

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