Title: Glare up a Storm
Summary: A challenge to explore Megatron's and Starscream's relationship, their characters and possible interaction with each other. A hundred words, a hundred situations. Rating and Genre may vary per chapter. Chapter 4: Tetris
Genre: Angst
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers characters, robots, environments etc, etc. Any OC, robot or location not recognisable is mine.
Rating and Warning: M for gore, language, violence, abuse, naughty things. OOCness through the roof, OCs here and there, beware. Shortness. Other pairings on the side.
A/N: Wanna know a dirty secret? I love my reviewers. They are like heroine shots, and I'm the addict. To the people who reviewed anonymously, thanks for reviewing, sorry I can't respond to you personally! I love you too of course! I just can't express that through naughty spam mail.
…- Chapter 4: Tetris -…
"Motiva Refining Corporation. Location; Louisiana. Production of barrels per day; 220.000." Soundwave stoically announces while a light blue holographic map is displayed on the centre of the table. Many blazing red optics focus on the map, storing details, possible escape routes, best points to attack or defend, the likes. "Gun Turrets will be set up on following locations." The Third in Command continues. On the holo map appear ten red little squares, all strategically placed to protect the refinery. All of them filled to the brim with armour piercing bullets and ready to kill. Equipped with motion detectors, they will spray bullets with deadly accuracy.
The refinery itself is difficult to protect. It lies in open space and will be easily surrounded. Even with two Seeker Trines and the Constructicons to protect it, the battle against the Autobots will be difficult. It is a silent thought, but half of those present in the room are thinking it. On the map, several dark blue dots indicating the Autobots attack the refinery from all directions. It's obvious that attacking the refinery, even with all of the Decepticons combining their powers, is stupid.
But when the hologram ends the display of one of many ways the Decepticons could lose the battle, no one protests. None of the 'cons is stupid enough to question their lord. None but one.
Starscream however, remains quiet, his optics fixated on the hologram downloading another map. He barely pays attention at all. This whole lunar cycle, he's been so fixated on making more and more gun turrets that his processors are completely overrun by just them. Even his short break about a week ago didn't do him any good. The slug of the bullet must be precisely parallel to the Primer at the back of the bullet. The Seeker groans pathetically and rubs a servo to his face. Quit thinking about that! His dull optics fall back on the map that has finished downloading. This one displays another oil refinery, one located against the foot of a mountain. More ember optics rise in attention.
"Baton Rouge. Location; Louisiana. Eighty miles west of Motiva Refining Corporation. Production of barrels per day; 503,000. Gun Turrets will be set up on following locations." Soundwave opts with a bored tone, although he always sounds uninterested. On the map, covering the refinery where the mountain cannot appear thirty-three more red squares indicating the Gun Turrets. It also shows the Autobots can only attack from one direction, instead of surrounding the whole plant altogether. This will make holding the refinery much easier. And the longer the Decepticons can hold their ground, the more energon they can steal.
"We will keep the Autobots busy at Motiva while the others attack Baton Rouge." Starscream's optics fall onto the Conehead Trine, exchanging looks with all of them. Without a second thought Thrust nods, liking the plan more and more judging from the sick grin spreading over his features. Starscream will have to watch out for him. Thrust's Trinemates click at each other, getting exited as well. The red Seeker throws a glance at his own Trine, seated to his left. Skywarp is staring at the hologram, not really seeming to be thinking about anything. Thundercracker on the other hand is softly drumming a finger on the table, having a staring contest with Knock Out. Of course their part in the plan is obvious.
Everyone's part is obvious.
A round for questions is being held, Starscream blankly staring at Hook who is having a short conversation about… something with Soundwave. Sputter guns are a bit like the Turrets, except they have been reclassified as machine guns as they have no trigger and will fire until running out of ammunition. The Seeker shakes his head again, trying to clear his processors from the many different gun designs that keep spooking through his mind.
He really needs to get some recharging.
"…we do with the Turrets?" Dirge questions next, knowing the drones are their responsibility. "Leave them. They will keep the Autobots busy for a while more while you make your way to us." The red Seeker casts a worried glance at his leader, which Megatron stubbornly ignores. Even if the Turrets are nothing more then drones, designed to completely obliterate everything that moves, they are still Starscream's drones, designed to completely obliterate everything that moves. As a scientist, and Primus willing, a creator someday, Starscream feels empathy with the things he made. And he spend too much time and effort in making those forty-three Turrets. Sure he cannot wipe them from his CPU, like that horrible decease, Tetris-Effect where humans sometimes suffer from after over indulging themselves into something, but they are still his.
During the Second's inner dilemma Megatron had already taken care of the other Seeker Trine, having given an answer they can cope with.
But instead of starting a fit about the Turrets, about how difficult it was to make them with such care and finesse, about how he cannot just leave his creations behind to be picked off by filthy Autoscum, instead of doing anything the Decepticon SIC remains silent, willing himself to keep calm. It will be worth it. He keeps telling himself. It will be worth doing what Megatron wants, it has to be.
The Decepticons are dismissed, fully briefed of the latest raid. Hook is already creating a list of things he needs for aiding the injured. Brawl is already taking bets, from the number of Autobots they will beat to slag to the outcome of the clash between Megatron and the Prime, to if there is even coming a clash between the two leaders at all. Soundwave is checking a few things with Megatron himself. And although this is the point where, if he hadn't spoken up before hand, Starscream would wait until the others would have left, leaving him alone with the gladiator. But instead he forces himself to his pedes as well. Without another word he leaves, still angered for various reasons and already mourning the loss of his one month old creations.
Megatron sees this, and doesn't like it one bit.
-TBC
Chapter a bit dull, sorry for that. Expect another update soon. Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you think about it. Also, I have a feeling I might get characters mixed up. Oh please let me know if this happens.
For those who don't know the Tetris-Effect. When Tetris first came out it was a hit. So many people played it because it was just that awesome. But what happened was, people played it so much, too much. And when they would go to bed and closed their eyes, all they could see were the falling little blocks. It's after doing something too intensely for too long, it will engrain itself in your brain!