AN: Like it so far? Hate it? Confused as all hell? Leave a review and tell me what you think. I'll reply to any questions I can and take any suggestions into consideration. If you're a guest reviewer and you have a question, I'll just answer it in an author's note on the next posted chapter or something. Thanks for reading! -Mal

Eventually, the chaos had to die down. Starscream's body simply couldn't handle the amount of energy required to host Unicron, especially not while the Dark God was using it to ram at the door and fill the room with fire. Luckily, Soundwave's shields held long enough and things finally went silent, Unicron forced to put Starscream's body into another recharge. That gave them enough time to enter the room and remove Ironhide's body as well, placing it in the morgue. Prime and Soundwave surveyed the charred and blood-spattered room, Optimus rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Might I suggest we relocate the Seeker's body to solitary, where it will pose less of a threat," Soundwave murmured calmly. The burning stench of this room stung both of their nostrils.

The Prime nodded. "That would be wise." And so they did, first placing stasis cuffs on Starscream's wrists as a security measure, then dragging him down to the brig, where they ordered Prowl to place in him what could only be described as "the Pit," a very specific, yet rarely used cell set on the level below the rest of the brig, even apart from the other solitary cells. It was an 8x10 room with no windows and six inches of reinforced steel serving as the walls and door, and a camera running at all times. The idea was that it was meant to house a big name Decepticon, like say Megatron, if he was ever captured and prepared for trial. They didn't want to take chances on the other cell, so they used this one. But even this didn't seem enough when it came to Unicron. Soundwave would have to focus on a shield. They eventually threw Starscream's body into the room, refusing to take the cuffs off, and locked the door.

Soundwave looked to the Prime. "Sir, if I may be so bold...both Powerglide and Starscream's sparks are acting outside of regulation and aiding the enemy. At this point it would be beneficial to eradicate both parties."

Optimus looked at the telepath as though he was crazy. Prowl intervened then. "You realize you just told the Prime to kill off your girlfriend's brother, right?"

"It does not matter at this point," the telepath replied coolly. "Unless something is done soon, Unicron will kill us all." Soundwave turned to the Prime once more. "Your brother warned you, did he not?"

Optimus thinned his lips and went silent at that, frustration growing by the second. Megatron had, indeed, warned him. And he'd figured it was just another of his brothers psychological games. But then...even Starscream had warned him... Optimus turned and climbed the stairs, promptly leaving the brig with Soundwave on his tail.

"Sir, you really should consider-"

"ENOUGH! Soundwave," the Prime finally said as he got to his office door. "I will consult Primus myself to see what should be done about Starscream. In the meantime, please, just go do something that doesn't involve this." With that, he entered his office and sighed, eventually spotting the Seeker and the flyer. Ironic timing. The Prime sat at his desk. "Perhaps we should have a chat," he said, face carefully neutral.

"How can he see us?" Powerglide asked nervously.

"Link to Primus," Starscream whispered back before approaching the desk, his partner hiding behind him. "We came to make a deal," Starscream announced. "Bring Powerglide back and I will help you fight this thing."

Optimus just stared at him. Starscream had never been shy about stating his wants, but sometimes even Optimus had to question the Seekers common sense. "Starscream, we've been over this-"

Starscream waved a hand and interrupted. "Enough with the BS, Optimus! Do you want help or don't you?!"

"I...help would be nice, yes."

"Then bring him back!"

The Prime crossed his arms and glared at the other. "Why? So you can come back, only to be kicked out of your body again? Starscream, I would move mountains to help you if you gave me a reason to, but sending my men on a suicide mission with no evidence that you coming back will make a shred of difference is not something I'm going to do! At this point, Unicron is in control, not you, and he is making your body do what he wants. So I suggest you save your demands for when you have something to back them up with and find a place to hide, because I hear Primus isn't pleased with either of you right now." The Prime then picked a datapad up from his desk and began reading, signaling that the meeting was over. That was it. They had their answer.

Starscream looked sadly to his partner and took his hand, squeezing it before the two of them vanished completely.