OK, I have had the WORST couple of weeks at work, you know when everything goes wrong and you just want to throw your lanyard on the floor and skip out flipping the middle finger at everybody? On top of that it has literally rained ALL THE RAIN in the past few days here in the UK, I'm like FFS! Ahem... anyway I have sought solace in fanfiction so you have another chapter to read. I know it's not cool to keep pleading for reviews but this chapter was... tricky and I would really appreciate your thoughts and feedback. Plus it would lift my mood. :) Also can I just say a huge thank you to the amazing, lovely reviews and messages I have had since finishing Beyond The Brink, they have brought genuine smiles and warmth to my heart, I am endeavouring to reply. Enjoy this new chapter.


Chapter 2

Starscream stood in his private quarters. The huge windows looked out over Iacon – a sea of twinkling lights and flying alt modes. Night was falling. He cupped a cube of high grade in his hand, looking out over the landscape, his processor turning over the latest reports from the committee managing Lithonian shipments. Their debt was almost repaid, which meant soon Starscream would be handing control of the planet back to the Lithonian high command – who were humiliated and furious that they had been so swiftly subdued. They had served as a rather useful warning to other worlds looking to try and deceive the best deceivers in the galaxy. Starscream smiled to himself. The latest reports conveyed that the lowlier classes didn't want the Decepticon presence to leave – they had rather enjoyed seeing their superiors forced to address the corruption and greed that had led to their downfall. News of the impending handover had led to rebellion, with the lower bronze classes refusing to work and pledging allegiance to Starscream.

Power was the most intoxicating drug Starscream had ever encountered – barring perhaps the Dark energon that had almost consumed him not too long ago. Megatron had always favoured beating and terrifying his prey into submission – ensuring his strength and sheer force would keep his enemies down. Starscream, whilst conceding that was indeed enjoyable, favoured another tactic. Why not manipulate events to ensure that people delivered themselves into your service? So much more satisfying to have mechs surrender power to him willingly, to merely sit back and watch as prior loyalties dissolved and his enemies find themselves hopelessly undermined, or else pleadingly offering tribute. Lithone, Junkion… even Earth now harboured interest for him in the form of several companies he had set up. Energy companies, mostly. The general population assumed these companies were human. Let's just say the board of trustees would get the shock of their lives if their real CEO ever turned up to a meeting.

His left optic twitched as another report arrived in his processor - this one was about Cybertronian energon outputs, but he filed it, blocking his com link to halt any more disturbances for the rest of the cycle. As if on cue, the doors behind him hissed apart and he turned.

Speaking of intoxicating drugs...

At the sight of Alexis, a rush of hungry possessiveness claimed him... along with a fairly recent feeling he had been enjoying these last few months...

Alexis moved into his quarters, unable to stop herself from smiling at his expression. 'Someone's in a good mood.'

'What's not to be in a good mood about?' he said, grinning broadly and moving close to her, his hands on her elbows. 'Extra profit thanks to that idiot on Junkion, promising events happening on Lithone, and you got your little maggot home safely.'

Alexis looked up. 'Starscream…'

He was shushing her and guiding her backwards, steering her firmly, his grip on her arms tight, a look of primal hunger in his optics. She realised he had things on his mind other than talking, and her spark began to throb in her chest. Already she could feel her concentration slipping, dammit... even at this realisation she inwardly cursed herself for feeling pleased about it. She valiantly tried again.

'I need to ask you something…'

She trailed off and felt her back bump against the wall, looking up at him, their height difference suddenly feeling more pronounced.

'What would you like to ask me?' he murmured, leaning in closer. He pressed her to the wall, pinning her there with his weight, one hand moving down…

She shut her optics, flustered, and he grinned wider…

'Starscream why do you always do this when I want to have a serious conversation?'

He tilted his head, 'Do what? I'm not stopping you. Ask me.'

'Um…'

'Yes?'

'Do you think I h….aaaaAAH!'

Her query died on her lips and she let out a gasping squeak as his fingers teasingly stroked her crotch, her plating between her legs shifting apart seemingly at his command. She whimpered.

'Want me to stop?' he said softly, his fingers hovering…

She shook her head from side to side rapidly, her voice tiny and strained. 'No…'

He moved in closer, pausing, making her wait... then stroking her once again, feeling her body tense as her back arched. 'You had a question?'

'...can't remember,' she squeaked, and he laughed soft and low, the vibrations rumbling through her chest.

It had been a long time since Starscream had interfaced before Alexis had come into his life, but it hadn't taken long for the knack to come flooding back. Starscream was in fact only the second transformer in existence (after Frenzy) who could profess to know what sex as a human was like. It wouldn't do his reputation any good to admit there had been benefits to being organic, but sex, along with alcohol and cigarettes, had definitely been a highlight of his time as a human inside Unicron's virtual version of Earth.

It had been the greatest journey he had ever known to introduce Alexis to interfacing on his terms. Shy at first, she had allowed him to show her how to open her spark chamber to accept a union with his. The feeling was intense, an explosion of pleasure as their sparks joined and combined energies… but Alexis had pointed out, after a few enjoyable sessions, that it was strange for her that the space between her legs wasn't involved.

'I miss… this,' she'd explained bashfully, gesturing to her general crotch area. 'But I suppose I'll get used to it.'

He'd stood over her as she reclined on the berth, looking up at him. 'Well, we can always introduce the human aspect,' he'd said to her. 'I mean, I'm not against feeling something like we felt, back on Unicron.'

She'd tilted her head, confused. 'But… how?'

He'd smiled at her. 'We're transformers, Alexis. Nothing is impossible. A little… adjustment here and there. Are you game?'

That had been roughly six Earth months ago, and the two of them had had plenty of time to practise since then. Starscream's mind returned to the present, a demonic grin stretching his features as he pressed her harder to the wall, his fingers finding an opening and pushing inside her. She squirmed and fidgeted, making a high pitched humming noise as she fought desperately to control herself. 'You were saying?' he chuckled devilishly. 'Go on…'

She closed her optics and shook her head, biting down on her lip components.

'I was w... oh...'

'Perhaps you're a little distracted,' he growled, his mouth against her audios. Her wings creaked against the wall as he crushed her, working his way further inside, lifting her off the floor. A few neat little clicks made him look down- the plating around her chest had retreated, her spark glowing up at him. 'Oh… there she is,' he breathed, the light of her spark illuminating his features.

She was moaning softly, and he lifted her higher, feeling her legs wrap around his torso, his own circuitry opening up and slithering inside her. As they joined together she gasped again, and he let out a growl of pleasure, gripping the back of her helmet and nestling her head under his chin.

He began thrusting inside her, slowly, and she moaned again. 'How… how are you so good at this…'

He merely chuckled, his voice thrumming through her. It was his turn to gasp as the energy in their sparks combined, sending waves of pleasure through him. A rap at the closed doors drew their gazes together as a muffled voice rang out. 'Lord Starscream?'

'He's… oooOOH...busy!' shouted Alexis as he thrust harder, and Starscream rested his head against the wall as he shook with silent laughter. Outside there was an embarrassed silence, then retreating footsteps. They broke apart slightly, grinning at each other.

But he only paused for a moment. He had no intention of letting up, of letting her recover her wits… he slammed her back against the wall once more, his spark burning fiercely against hers, feasting on her helpless ecstasy. She mouthed a few times, the relentless onslaught of pleasure temporarily robbing her of speech.

'I can't… hold on much longer,' she whimpered, and he chuckled, one hand gathering her delicate wrists in his grip, pulling them up over her head. 'That's very much the idea,' he growled, redoubling his efforts. She bucked and writhed… before throwing her head back, half laughing, half crying as the orgasm assaulted her.


When he eventually withdrew, she collapsed against him, exhausted, and he carried her to the berth, setting her worn-out body down.

He watched her slip into power-down, wanting to join her... but reluctantly re-connecting his com-link, forcing himself to return to the terminal as the reports resumed flowing into his processor. No doubt about it, more power meant more work. He sat down, picking up a datapad. Every now and then he would glance over at her, a pleased grin on his lips.


Some time later, when the sky outside was black and sprinkled with stars, Alexis stirred, coming over to where he was. He greeted her absently, sliding an arm around her waist as she leant against him.

'Starscream?'

'Mm?'

'Do you think I'm less of a human than before?'

He broke away, looking up at her. 'What's brought this on?'

She looked anxious. 'I don't know… something Thundercracker said…'

Starscream shrugged. 'You're you,' he said carelessly. 'Regardless of shape. Of course I confess myself rather fond of this one. Why waste time dwelling on such things?'

'I don't know...'

Alexis looked out of the window. 'I want to go back to Earth for a bit,' she said quietly.

Starscream looked round. He stood up, and turned towards her. Slowly he trailed a finger down her face, cupping her chin in his hand. 'Alright.'

'I don't know how long for. I'll do some surveillance for Optimus, catch up with Dad and Sari. Is that OK?'

His mouth curled in a grin. 'As if you've ever sought my permission for anything.' His expression suddenly became serious. 'So, how and when do you propose to go?' He folded his arms.

She looked up at him. 'I'm going to fly down tomorrow, then change forms once I've landed…' she trailed off under his stern expression. 'I've really got a good system now,' she said earnestly, placing a hand on his forearm. 'I've got a number of isolated spots, find one that's truly deserted, then I've got hidden strongboxes with clothes and a phone in…'

'And what about the post-change fatigue?' he asked her. 'You always find it harder turning back into a human.'

'I've got it down to a few hours now,' she said. 'I'm getting stronger.'

'That's as may be, but you're still leaving yourself vulnerable if you change on Earth. Why don't you change here, tonight, then when you're fully recovered Thundercracker or Skywarp can take you tomorrow.'

She looked away. 'Haven't they got important things to do?'

He caught her chin and turned her face up to his.'You're an important thing,' he said. 'Don't fight me on this, Alexis.'

She nodded, and smiled. 'OK, big guy. You win.'

She left for a few minutes, before returning, dropping a tiny bundle of clothes onto the floor, and a blanket. Starscream had seen her change enough times now for the novelty to have worn off, and he carried on studying the data pads intently as she stood in the middle of the floor, her optics closed…

She dwindled down, her limbs contracting, metal fading to be replaced by skin over muscle and bone. As the change finished, she dropped to her hands and knees, her limbs shaking, soft hair tumbling over her face as she gulped in air, her mind having to readjust to being human. Her body ached and felt utterly drained - though she was getting used to this, along with feeling freezing cold for a while.

When her breathing had settled she crawled forwards, slowly pulling her soft pyjamas on and wrapping the blanket around her.

Starscream scooped her up, depositing her gently on the worktop.

'You will have your phone with you at all times,' he said sternly, aware that already she was slipping into the usual deep sleep after changing.

Mm hm…

Her sleepy voice arrived into his head. The telepathic power never lasted longer than half an hour, it was a strange, amazing quirk of this process that Starscream couldn't get to the bottom of. She snuggled onto her side and he rested his curled hand over her, the fingers forming a shelter as he resumed reading the datapad, deep into the night.


AN: Hope you enjoyed it, please let me know. :)