Mission: Accomplished

Part Two

Vorns ago in Iacon at Autobot Headquarters...

Sentinel focused his most withering stare on the jet, only to have it challenged with pure fury. There were very few who could match the Prime's glower, and even fewer who dared to outright challenge him. Begrudgingly he realized that if the hateful stare-down continued any longer, he was likely to lose to the irate scientist. The thought made him smirk, though the change in expression did nothing to deter the jet, who seethed.

The mech had nerve, that was for sure, and he couldn't help but respect him for it. There were so few with conviction these days, no one knew what they really wanted or what they were fighting for. For Primus' sake, the Decepticons were more focused than anyone at this point! But the smoldering red optics that burned through to his very spark held absolute clarity, and he knew the mech before him would never back down or give up on what he knew was right. He would fight to the pit and back, Primus be damned, to get what he wanted. That unyielding determination was something he hadn't seen in so long he'd forgotten what it looked like.

Cybertron needed more mechs like the incensed one before him. Perhaps if there had been more, they wouldn't be in the situation they were now... But there was no use looking at the past, only the future could bring salvation now, bleak as it seemed. But looking at the jet, so fiery and full of life, he knew there was still hope. And maybe, just maybe, the mech before him could be the key to finding it. Or perhaps he was just going mad in his old age. He laughed.

"All right, Starscream was it? You want a rescue mission? Well, tough luck. We can't give it to you," he held up a hand, silencing the jet before he could protest.

"Don't take it the wrong way, I'd give you the go ahead you needed if I could. Why? Because I slagging like you, don't ask me why!" he ignored Prowl choking back disbelief.

"But here's the thing, Cybertron's gone to the Unmaker while you've been away, and I don't have the resources to help you out. No one does."

The jet hissed and turned on his heel ready to storm out when the Prime stood and grabbed the Starscream's wing. His captive went rigid in shock, though Sentinel was sure the his face was still locked in a murderous rage.

"I can't do anything now, but I may have a way to help you out." He hoped.

Starscream pulled out of his grasp and studied him with unshielded suspicion.

"It's not exactly instant, but it's got to be better than whatever convoluted scheme you have to run off and save your partner alone."

"Oh so you can help me, can you?" the jet chuckled humorlessly. "And what exactly do you want from me, then?"

"How dare you-" Prowl bristled only to be silenced by a piercing glance from Sentinel.

"I'd like to hear what he has to say." he gave his frustrated second an exasperated look. Prowl, still mystified by the Prime's uncharacteristic behavior, stepped back reluctantly.

After a moment sizing up the tactician, the jet decided he wasn't a threat and began his tirade, gesturing madly, pacing back and forth with urgency.

"You think I don't know what you're planning to do? The moment I stepped in the room you saw me as a pawn in your little political scam. You don't care for law or justice, you just want to get everyone to shut up and go back to playing their little underground games. You can't fix Cybertron and you know it, it's too far gone. The best you can hope for is that everyone settles down and dies quietly under the illusion that they're happy," he hissed menacingly.

Prowl looked about ready to snap, but ever the good soldier, he kept silent. Sentinel sighed and turned to the window, gazing out at the crumbling towers of Iacon. His city, his world was crumbling, and there was no denying it.

"You're right, I can't do anything. We're running out of energon, and I was too blind to realize it before the Senate did, and was unable to put a stop to their corruption. Because of their greed, Cybertron now reeks of oppression, hate, and war. We have no way to feed the starving masses, repair their crumbling homes, or appease the unrest in their sparks. The government has failed its people, and no longer has the capacity to keep order.

"Megatron and his Decepticons are right, the current system is outdated and needs to be removed. We need new leaders who the people can trust, mechs who understand and can undo the damage. But I'm afraid the current power holders would never agree to give up their positions. Due to the spread of the Senates' influence, I'm little more than a figure head and that isn't enough to stop Megatron, let alone correct the situation," he spat venomously.

His shoulders slumped and Sentinel let his weight fall to the pillar beside him. It was rare that he felt his age, but it was catching up with him faster by the astrosecond. Looking back at his long list of mistakes, he couldn't help but feel the vorns pounding down on him. Tiredly he watched as the jet mulled over his words, no doubt analyzing them to the letter.

"You want me to get rid of the government for you." Starscream's voice was devoid of emotion, it wasn't a question.

"You are smart. No wonder the Science Coalition hates you." the jet didn't move, but his optics became sharper, more dangerous somehow. He grinned in amusement.

"I took a little time and read up on you Starscream, I know what you are. You have quite the resume, of course I expected no less from a mech who could effortlessly get past the most advanced weapons defense systems on Cybertron."

"If you think I'm going to fight for you-" Starscream growled before being cut off.

"Not in a million vorns would you work for me, I know. It's a good thing I don't want you too."

"Excuse me?"

"This war can't be stopped. There's too much chaos now to even hope for a peaceful resolution, it needs to be fought to the end, no matter how grisly it may be, even if it means extinction. Unfortunately even if there is a winner, none of those in power now could possibly rebuild our society. We need someone new, someone who can understand not just one side, but all of them. What I want you to do is find that mech, whoever it may be, whatever faction, model, class, I don't care, and make sure they win.

"To do that, I need you specifically. As I've said, the only way to replace the current system is to destroy it, and at the moment the only mech capable of doing that is Megatron. He has the most influence and power of anyone right now, and we need to take advantage of it, without letting him win. That means we need someone who can infeltrate his ranks and keep him in check until the time when a true leader of our people can be found."

"And you want me to hold his leash? Are you missing your logic chips?" he screeched causing the Autobots to wince. "You don't know me! How can you trust me? How do you think I could possibly do that? I'm a scientist, not a politician, and certainly not a warrior! It would be suicide for me to try!"

"Somehow I doubt that. You're a survivor; clever, courageous, smart, skilled, and resourceful. You fought against everyone and everything to get into the Academy, and no matter what they threw at you, or how they tried to stop you, you managed to show them up at every turn. You worked past every obstacle and become the most decorated graduate in history, then you proceeded to take one one of the most dangerous and challenging missions imaginable. You were able to stay online alone in deep space, half dead, systems fragged, and make it home. Before you were even fully repaired you ran off to fight the Council. For vorns you argued with them until they were forced to kick you out, and then tried every repeal you could until you ran out of options.

"When convincing me was the only thing you could think of, you immediately flew around the most advanced weapons system on the planet like it was nothing, confused the slag out of my soldiers, hacked the system and then waltzed in here like you owned the place! I've never seen someone as ridiculously stubborn and arrogant as you, and certainly not with the talent to back themselves up! I know that if you decided to take on this challenge, Unicron himself wouldn't be able to stop you." Sentinel suddenly offlined his optics and slumped back, as if speaking had warn him out completely.

Starscream and Prowl grimiced in disbelief, not quite able to say anything to the haggard Prime. Neither knew what to do, relieved when he looked up and spoke.

"Why do I need you? Because you look like a seeker, you hate the Science Coalition, and you broke into my slagging office! No one would question you if you decided to join the Decepticon cause after being kicked out on your aft. You would have no problem advancing in the ranks with your skill, and you could easily manipulate Megatron. I don't have an agent who could pull that off, and even if I did I doubt they'd be as stubborn as you. As far as I can tell, you're the only mech for the job." He gazed at the jet sadly. "Help me out."

Starscream fumbled to find words, fidgeting madly. The slagging Prime had just told him he needed to save their entire race single handedly, based on some wild notion. What in the name of Primus was going on? He'd come to get a rescue mission authorized, not save the planet! This was so very fragged up.

"I- you- that's- NO! You want me to become a ruthless killer and slag every last mech in power, including yourself? I could never, would never do such a thing! I came here for help, not to get recruited on some fragging quest to save the universe!" Whirling around, he stormed off, almost destroying the console as he slammed his hand down on the control that opened the door.

"Like I said, you'll get to find your friend."

Starscream stopped and turned, optics flashing, wondering just how the Prime had come up with that idea.

"Oh really? And how exactly am I going to do that if I'm off parading as a psychopath?"

"We're running out of energon." he stated lamely. "We need to find a new source of power, and you've been farther into deep space than any other mech online. You tell us where your friend is and when we inevitably search for more energy, that planet will be the first one on the list."

"And why," he hissed, not turning around, "would you do that?"

"Your report indicated it was rich with fuel sources, did it not? Look, if what's-his-name is still functioning he'd have to be in stasis, and at the rate we're running out of energy we'll be searching the universe long before he gets near deactivation. If I put that planet on the top of the list, and any expedition will make it the number one priority." The door closed and Sentinel smirked.

It was a stupid, half cocked plan anyway. Why would some angry scientist ever consider it? Sometimes he wondered if perhaps he really was missing his logic chips. Primus knew how he was going to explain this to his painfully logical second in command without a visit to the med-bay, and then once the medics knew- he was jolted out of his thoughts by a high pitched voice.

"You really think your pit-spawned plan has a chance?"

"Oh," Sentinel grinned honestly for the first time in vorns, "I'm sure it has more of a chance than you do at finding your partner alone."

Starscream snorted contemptuously smirked at him, "You truely are gliched." He casually leaned against the door. "Lucky for you, I just happen to be insane. So tell me, when does my undercover world-saving training begin?"

Sentinel broke out into a deep, hearty laugh that was soon joined by Starscream's squeaky chuckle.

-----

"We aren't really sure what happened to poor Prowl. Maybe it was the shock of hearin' stuffy old Sentinel Prime laugh, or maybe it was the entire ordeal, who knows? But man, they say his logic center exploded like enrgon after a blast, and he was twitchin' on the floor for breems before they finally dragged him off to the med bay. Can't say I don't feel for him though. Heck, I probably would have done the same thing." Jazz shrugged. "I mean, I only met Sentinel once or twice, but he didn't strike me as the kinda mech who'd come up with somethin' that fragged up, but hey, can't argue with the results."

"You know what they say, it's always the quiet ones," Starscream smirked.

Jazz grinned mischievously, shaking his head. "How does that explain you, Starscreach?"

He managed to duck before the blue fist collided with his face.

"I'll have you know," he hissed irritably at the grinning saboteur, "that I was very quiet before Megatron drove me to utter madness with his constant stupidity!"

"Now now, we all know ya got the name 'Starscream' somehow, no need ta-" another fist finished his statement for him, clipping his chin. He shook it off laughing and dashed off the balcony, closely followed by an extremely irate jet who was in no way quiet about his intentions.

"Well..." Optimus trailed off, gaping at the door. "That was... enlightening," he finished blandly.

"No. No it really wasn't," Hot Rod mumbled in a slightly sickened voice.

"No, no it wasn't," Prime amended.

A/N:

I wasn't going to write anymore of this... but then... I did. Homework procrastination is the mother of all invention... or something. Yes, I made Sentinel Prime way too omniscient and flippant, but whatever. It's an occ crack!fic anyway, right?