The Brat Prince of Vos
Continuity: Pre- and Post-TF:A, a little bit of AU here and there
Warnings: None for this chapter
Pairings: None for this chapter, eventual Megatron x Starscream. As if you couldn't have guessed ;)
This first chapter takes place before the Great War, when Megatron is still building up his army. It's been a while since I've had a proper story idea, so I hope this one works out! Please review and let me know what you think! :D
The ship was a small one - the Decepticon leader couldn't run the risk of coming across as imposing.
Shockwave sat at the helm, single optic never wavering from the control panels. As a ground-based mech, he didn't like to take risks with spacecrafts, never fully trusting the sky. With neurotic precision, he altered and adjusted the controls continuously with each change of the wind and air, intent on making sure the journey didn't take a nanosecond longer than it had to.
After what seemed like hours, a screen began to blink with a soft beep, and Shockwave allowed himself to cycle a breath of air through his vents in relief. He raised a claw to his helm to activate his comm.-link.
"My Lord," he announced, formal as ever, "we are within a kilometre of Vos."
There was a long pause, and for a minute Shockwave considered repeating his message. Suddenly, Megatron's voice broke through the line, rough and groggy as if he had been in recharge.
"Fine," Megatron grunted. "Make sure the communication channels are open. Engage defensive mode in case of hostilities, but do not allow any of our own weapons to be seen. The mechs of Vos are edgy, to say the least."
"Yes, my Lord," Shockwave replied, claws instantly flying over the control panel to carry out the instructions. Soon after, Megatron appeared in the main control room, dusting at his armour and rubbing at small spots critically.
"If they don't contact us before we get within a hundred metres, hover the ship in place," he ordered, only half paying attention to what Shockwave was doing. "If I can win over the King of Vos, our army will increase tenfold."
Shockwave frowned a little (as best he could with one optic). "My lord, data indicates that there are over one hundred thousand more mechs living in Kaon than Vos," he recited. "Logically our efforts should be concentrated on Kaon."
Megatron snorted. "There is more to winning a war than data, Shockwave," he replied, voice full of scorn. "You're a ground mech. Your alt-mode is what, a tank?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Mm. That was my original alt-mode. I paid a lot of credits for the upgrade into a jet," Megatron continued contemplatively. "But Vos…ah, every single mech and femme in Vos was protoformed a flier."
Shockwave nodded in appreciation. "Understood. Their skills would render them a tactical advantage."
"Indeed - hold the ship, now, we're near enough - but the mechs of Vos are dictated by custom and tradition. They close themselves up in their high towers, nothing like the big cities of Kaon or Iacon. Where the big cities have governments, Vos has a royal family, and whichever side the King chooses in the upcoming war, the rest of Vos will choose as well."
"Ingenious, my Lord," Shockwave commented.
Megatron looked as if he were about to continue when the main screen burst into life with the face of a Seeker, wings bearing the stripes of the Royal family.
"State your business!" the Seeker ordered haughtily, and both Decepticons quickly judged him to be a member of the Royal Guard.
"I am Megatron, leader of the Decepticons," the silver Decepticon announced himself. "I have come to negotiate with the King of Vos."
The guard eyed Megatron critically, and from the flickering of his green optics appeared to be running an identification scan. After a few seconds, he nodded briskly. "Positive identification confirmed. Groundling or flier?" the guard asked.
"Flier by modification."
"Your servants - groundlings or fliers?" continued the Seeker.
"One groundling," Megatron replied, ignoring the look of outrage on Shockwave's faceplates - 'groundling' had become a derogatory term in the scientist's home city of Polyhex.
"Only fliers may enter the city of Vos. Access is granted to you, Megatron, provided you remain unaccompanied," the guard said decisively.
"Unacceptable!" Shockwave stood indignantly. "As an important political-"
"Silence, Shockwave," Megatron interrupted coolly. "I will accept your terms. Take me to your King."
The Royal Guard nodded, speaking his words as if recited from a textbook. "Your servant may park your ship outside by the walls of Vos. We will register it on our defence systems and it will not be fired on. In five minutes the entrance will open and you will be escorted inside alone by members of the Guard. Long live the King!"
The screen went blank and quickly disappeared. Shockwave turned to face Megatron with a frown. "My Lord, I feel this is most unwise."
"What would be unwise, Shockwave, would be trying to get a ground-based mech such as yourself inside a city of fliers," the Decepticon leader replied with a chuckle. "I'll be fine, as long as I pay attention to their pit-damned customs and rules."
After brushing himself off one final time, Megatron jumped out the hatch and transformed.
