A/N: Thank you so much everyone who is reviewing, it really encourages me. I hope to keep the flow of chapters fairly steady- short but frequent! My life is a little bit tumultuous right now, nothing I can't recover from, but this is my welcome method of escape, so thank you for reading and commenting and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10

Alexis stood in the middle of her quarters, her hair tumbled around her face, sleep-dishevelled. She wore her red pyjamas and thick woollen legwarmers, rocking on the balls of her feet slightly, her toes digging into the soft rug. She was frowning and tapping a pencil against a notepad, staring intently at the list she had written. The large room was silent.

After they had returned to the palace the night before, Starscream had taken her up to her rooms himself. He had softly entered the wide chamber and gently deposited her in her bed, pulling the covers up over her, murmuring good night, his crimson gaze illuminating her as she rolled drowsily onto her side, curling up.

The moment the doors had hissed shut however, she had jumped out of bed, wide awake, grabbing paper and pencil from the supplies brought from earth. That night had been spent pacing the apartment, scribbling notes and diagrams, sitting cross-legged on the sofa deep in thought, only to spring up as another idea occurred to her.

She'd been up all night scheming, and now her thoughts had been condensed into the list she held in front of her. She chewed the end of the pencil, a satisfied smile creeping across her lips as she read.

Betagon sample
Energon cubes
Container/cage
Possible analysis – Soundwave?
Clear space in gym
Lock for door

And at the bottom she underlined the last item firmly, frowning harder.

Test subject

That was going to be the hard part. Actually, all of it was going to be hard. It would involved subterfuge, and secrets. Alexis sighed. She was about to risk the anger of Starscream, big time. But someone had to find out about this stuff properly. Someone who could take an objective viewpoint. And that someone was her. She nodded to herself decisively. Once she had got her mind set on something, nothing would stand in her way. A trait Starscream would surely appreciate, she thought wryly.

The only other issue had been how to get time to carry out her plan without arousing suspicion. She could ask for some time off, but questions would be sure to follow. Time off for what? Feigning illness was out of the question, he would probably scan her looking for the ailment.

But that problem had solved itself this morning. As she had stirred the teabag in her ninth cup of tea, adding the milk, a familiar ache had crept into her lower belly. A quick glance at the calendar and trip to the bathroom had confirmed it.

The timing could not have been better.

Still in her pyjamas, she left her quarters and headed for the throne room. It was still early, and she knew Starscream held brief court there before setting out for the mines. As she entered the colossal hall, she saw the decepticon leader sitting on his throne at the other end, talking with Thundercracker. She had taken care to appear as pale as possible. The sleepless night had helped, before setting off she had noted the dark circles around her eyes with satisfaction. As she drew nearer to the throne, her bare feet cold on the shining black floor, she suppressed a grin. She was about to use the age-old excuse used by thousands of human women before her. It had never failed her before now.

Starscream caught site of her as she approached, holding her arms up to him. He leaned down and plucked her from the floor, setting her down on the armrest. His red optics took in her nightwear, her pale face and wan smile.

"Alexis. What's wrong? Are you ill?"

"Sort of," she replied weakly, grimacing faintly and giving a martyred smile. "Time of the month… It's when women…"

"…Shed your womb lining and discard your egg in preparation for another," Starscream finished seamlessly. "Every twenty eight earth days, give or take. Symptoms include bleeding, nausea, aching, bloating…"

"Whoa whoa whoa!" she interrupted, incredulous. "Mr. Encyclopedia! How do you know all that?"

He looked at her scornfully. "I know more about your biology than you, Alexis. Does it not cease to amaze you how poorly designed your bodies are?"

"I ache all over...I'm all emotional, my hormones are a mess Starscream! My head hurts, and my stomach hurts, and my…"

"What a useless, weak, pathetic scrap you are."

"I knew you'd understand," she replied happily. "I need a couple of days rest. I swear I'll make it up to you."

"You'd better." He regarded her amusedly. "Very well, puny, inefficient human. Rest until you are useful again. We have enough information from your current scouting expeditions to work with, anyhow."

Thundercracker had left, and a small drone hurried in with a beaker of the familiar black liquid, Alexis blinked as her eyes stung. As Starscream snatched it and held it up, she watched him raise it to his lips. The container was the size of a garden shed. He closed his optics as he drank, shuddering in pleasure. He shifted his shoulders and arched his back slightly. Alexis watched him, unease squirming in her chest.

"I thought you said you only needed a tiny bit of it to energise," she murmured.

He ignored her, draining every last drop before dropping the container dismissively. The drone scrambled to catch it, bowing and hurrying out.

"Starscream? I said I thought you said you only needed a tiny bit…"

"Drop it, Alexis," he commanded. "It's not your place."

She opened her mouth. He raised a brow warningly. She shut it again.

"Now, do you need me to take you back to your quarters?"

"No, thank you Starscream. I can walk back." She sighed resignedly.

He watched her go through narrowed optics, lounging on his throne as the Betagon got to work inside him, slithering through his circuits, building, strengthening, extending…

As soon as she was out of sight he clicked his fingers impatiently, sending the drone scurrying back. "More."

Alexis showered and dressed, pulling on her skinny jeans, black leather jacket, tying her hair up. As an afterthought she put on some silver hoop earrings and a dash of lipstick. This was her 'confidence outfit', and it made her feel ready for anything. She swallowed back the nerves as she checked her reflection in the mirror. Finally she tugged the small diamond stud out of her ear, containing the tracking device Starscream had installed, and left it on her pillow. Just in case he should check her whereabouts. Knowing him, he would.

Before she left she went into the room she used for working out. Twenty minutes of pushing and heaving, and she surveyed her handiwork, panting slightly. Now the room was half-cleared, the gym equipment pushed down one end. The empty space was large enough for her purposes. Satisfied, she strode to the doors, on to the next part of her plan.

Skywarp lay on his back on the floor in the middle of his bar, the weak morning sun illuminating his body. Alexis slipped past the guards and trotted over to him. "Hey. Skywarp!"

He moaned and flung an arm over his face. "Go 'way. Hungovr. Wanna die."

She sighed and gestured to one of the guards, slouching in the doorway. He stumped over.

"Pour us some energon from the pump, and help yourself to one too. I'll pay. Then shut the doors and leave us alone."

The guard did as he was told, drawing a generous draft for himself and setting another one down beside Skwarp. Then he withdrew, closing the doors.

Alexis nudged the energon cube into Skywarp's hand. "Come on Warp. Hair of the dog. It'll help."

He sat up blearily and took a sip, struggling to focus on the figure leaning against his leg. "Wha' d'you wan'?"

She beckoned him closer and he leaned down, suppressing a belch, his head spinning.

"I need a favour."

He listened blearily. She held up her phone and made him store the number in his processor.

"Call me when you have it. Keep it quiet."

Finally he nodded, shrugging. "Should be easy enough. Don't know why you want it. But I'm guessing I won't like the answer, so I won't ask."

She patted his huge hand. "Good man."

Next stop was the armoury, Blackout's domain. After a quick search she managed to gather an armful of materials she knew would be useful. She made four trips in all, back and forth, without being seen. Up in her quarters she began sketching again, in between bites of a cheese sandwich.

In the afternoon she was back in the gym, hammering, cutting and welding. Sparks flew as she worked, soldering pieces of metal together, hammering hinges into place. In the early evening she stepped back to survey her handiwork, taking a deep breath and rubbing her eyes, her face hot.

Today had been the easy part, she reflected to herself. A lot had been accomplished, but tomorrow would be the clincher. Tomorrow she was going to steal some Betagon. A potential nightmare, but it had to be done. She sighed and slid the doors to the gym shut, hiding all trace of her work. The rest of the flat looked serene, innocent. She lit some candles, padded into the bathroom, and began to run a bath. Then she wandered to the kitchen area, idly selecting a bottle of wine and picking up the TV control. Tonight was all about relaxing with a movie. Something girly, she decided. Or something with some sexy eye candy in it she could drool over. If tomorrow was going to be as nerve-wracking as she expected, she might as well enjoy the calm before the storm. She stepped out of her clothes and was turning off the bath water when she heard the main doors open. Instinctively she grabbed a towel.

Frenzy appeared in the doorway. Alexis rolled her eyes. "Haven't you heard of knocking? Oh, never mind. Don't know why I bother. Not one decent set of manners between the lot of you…"

But Frenzy didn't smile. Alexis wrapped the large towel around her, tucking it in. "What's up?'

Frenzy was knotting his hands together, a sure sign he was agitated. She flopped onto the sofa, motioning for him to do the same.

"You know Scavenger?" he asked.

Alexis frowned as she searched her memory. A green mech, she recalled, with a whiny, nasal voice, usually seen chasing after the larger decepticons, desperate to ingratiate himself. He wasn't likeable, even by decepticon standards. "I think I remember him..."

"He was working in the refineries today, with me and Rumble," Frenzy continued. "He was wondering what the Betagon tasted like. We told him not to but he… he took some."

"Okay," Alexis said slowly. "So he's in trouble, I'm guessing."

"He got caught." Frenzy swallowed hard, looking into her eyes. "Starscream's going to execute him," he whispered. "Publicly, in the arena, tonight."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"Don't tell him I told you," Frenzy gabbled.

"I didn't think he actually would…" she murmured, leaning back on the sofa. "Oh, Scavenger. Poor bastard."

"I've never seen him so angry," Frenzy whispered. "Never. He…"

They both froze as footsteps could be heard outside the doors. Starscream's voice growled over the intercom. "Alexis."

She stood up, clinging onto the towel. "I'm just about to have a bath, Starscream."

The doors opened and he prowled into the room, an ugly sneer on his face. Frenzy jumped up as if he'd been stung. Starscream came to a halt in front of them, his feet making the floor shake. Without looking at Frenzy he spoke.

"Get out."

Frenzy obeyed straight away, scurrying out, head down. Alexis wrapped the towel tighter around herself, shivering as she caught the rage radiating from him. A dark, frightening anger palpable in the very air itself, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She took a step back.

"Starscream. I… Let me dress myself. I'm about to…"

He bent down and grabbed her, making her gasp in discomfort. "Ow! Be careful!"

Starscream didn't seem to hear her, he merely stood, holding her, his eyes narrowed dangerously. She swallowed hard as she looked into his optics. They were a colour she had never seen before, a dark ruby red, like wine.

"Starscream. What's wrong?"

Finally he looked at her. "I can't trust anyone," he hissed. "No one. They all want it for themselves, I see them. Watching me, jealous, waiting for a chance to take it!"

"Starscream, your soldiers respect you," she answered immediately. "They look up to you in a way they never did with Megatron. They would do anything for you."

"You're wrong," he spat, his optics blazing with an intensity that sent cold dread running down her spine. "They want to overthrow me, to take the Betagon for themselves! They don't see it is only fit for those who rule! Well, I'll show them tonight. I'll show all of them what happens when Starscream is disobeyed!"

His fist closed tighter around her and she struggled, panicking. "Stop it!"

He blinked, and relinquished his grip slightly. Yesterday she would have berated him, shouted at him to throw away this cursed element and never touch it again. Today, she did not dare.

His forefinger came down, patting her curls absently. "Rest in here, Alexis. Be assured that nothing can challenge my power. Every day I grow stronger, and I will crush anyone who tries to sabotage my authority. They'll see. You'll see, too."

As he straightened up, his head brushed the ceiling. Alexis noticed. Her face drained of colour.

"I promise Starscream, everything I do is in your best interests, and I will always fight for you. I'm here for you," she whispered.

He regarded her for some time, and she held his gaze, despite her desire to look away from those frightening optics. "I know, Little Decepticon. I know. You will never betray me."

He lowered her gently to the ground, and turned to leave, flexing his fingers as he prepared for the dreadful event down in the pit, where the decepticons were gathered to watch their ruler deliver retribution to the hapless Scavenger. He ducked his head slightly as he stepped out, the doors sliding smoothly shut.

She collapsed onto the sofa, her legs giving way beneath her. With trembling hands she poured a glass of wine, almost spilling it as she drained the glass. With every hour that passed, something terrible was happening inside Starscream. She had to act, even if it meant putting her head on the block. "I'm going to help you, you idiot," she whispered to herself. "Even if you'll hate me for it. I promise not to give up."