AN: Had to upload this in a rush, so apologies if there are typos. I'll come back at some point to check it. Hope you enjoy! :-)

Chapter 10

The summoning cuff buzzed and illuminated on her wrist and Alexis raised her head, blinking sleepily. Yawning, she slid out of bed, her hair dishevelled, stretching in the oversized jumper and leggings she reserved for bed. She pulled on a soft pair of knitted slippers and padded to the door in the gloom, passing Frenzy, who had transformed into storage mode for re-charge, a panel on his front pulsating softly. it was the middle of the night, or whatever passed for night in deep space. The ship was almost silent, only the faint thrum of the engines could be heard.

She stepped out into the corridor, and headed for the bridge, the cuff still glowing.

Starscream was alone, staring once again out at the star sprinkled blackness. She approached the panel, another yawn signalling her arrival. 'Hey. You sent for me?'

He leant down, offering his palm, and she climbed on as he raised her up. She stepped onto the panel, settling down cross-legged.

'Still mad at me?'

He was silent for a moment. 'Soundwave carried out an audit of all activity before boarding. It would appear Arcee managed to creep aboard unaided.'

He lowered a square parcel on his palm, and Alexis leant forward, catching the scent of cooked chicken - it was one of the ready-meals she had packed into the storage container, piping hot and ready to eat. There weren't enough for her to eat them every day, just to occassionally stop her from going insane on a diet of the unsavoury nutrition pouches. Saliva rushed into her mouth and her empty stomach gurgled - the half portion of tasteless goo had been a few hours ago. She supposed this was his way of apologising to her. After staring at it for a few moments longingly, she shook her head.

'No, it doesn't seem fair when everyone else on board is going without tonight. I don't want special treatment, it'll only cause resentment.'

He sighed. 'On reflection, between ourselves, it was... a poor command decision, to restrict rations right before we land on an unknown planet,' he murmured. 'I'll arrange for everyone to have extra tomorrow. Now please, take it.'

After a pause, she reached for it, peeling back the foil lid and picking out a juicy, glistening piece of chicken. 'Oh wow. Come to mama...'

She looked up between bites. He was tapping his chin with one finger, pensively, still staring out into space.

'Are you going to search for Arcee?' she asked, apprehensive. He let out a low, ill tempered growl.

'We have more pressing matters to think of, fortunately for her. If I happen to run into her, I'm sorely tempted to inform her of my... displeasure...'

She returned to her meal, relieved. 'Thanks for letting Frenzy come along.'

He grunted moodily. 'Little scrap-bucket can sometimes come in useful. If I could send you down there with an army of protectors, I would. Frenzy will have to do.'

'I talked to your slaves today, your real slaves, I mean,' she said, chasing the last bit of gravy round the foil box with a piece of chicken before licking her fingers. This made him look down, a look of cool curiosity on his face. 'Oh?'

'You know, they actually seem to like you,' she said. 'They said I gave them hope that one day they could rise up again in your estimations.'

He laughed. 'Stranger things have happened. Those insects have a long way to go yet. Of course you will end up conversing with them at length in the barracks, I have no doubt. But don't stray from your objectives, will you?'

'What do you mean?'

'Oh, you know what I mean.' A knowing smile crept across his mouth. 'You have a gift of drawing others to you, like a gravitational pull. I remember it from back when I first captured you. I don't want to come down there and see hundreds of Insecticons following you around like pathetic protoforms. Got it?'

'You said my ability to infiltrate was useful yesterday!'

'Hmm.'

She put the empty container to one side, stretching out contentedly and propping her head up on one hand, her legs bent. 'That tasted so good...'

Presently her head sank sleepily down onto folded arms. Starscream's gravelly voice next to her ear made her stir as her hair was lifted. 'The pods are healing nicely,' he observed.

'Mmm,' she replied, on the verge of dozing off.

He straightened up to his full height, looking down on the young woman as she slipped into sleep right there on the panel, her side rising and falling gently. He smiled grimly. 'Look at you. So vulnerable. Why do you insist on walking away from me into danger when so vulnerable?'

She made an indistinct noise, drawing her knees closer to her chest.

'Stubborn, foolish human!'

But she didn't hear him, now fast asleep.

She was being carried, tremors from slow, heavy footsteps resounding through her bones, her head resting against his chest, her body curled into strong fingers... she stirred with a tired smile...

And sat bolt upright on a cold floor. Echoing clicks, hoots and squeaks assaulted her ears. She looked about her wildly. She was sat in the middle of a vast, dark hall, dimly lit, the floor scuffed and dirty. Long chains hung from the ceiling. On one wall towered columns of rusty, rickety cages. A red monitor beam surveyed them all malevolently above a thick door, securely shutting them in. On the wall opposite to the cages there was a low window running along the bottom of the room - the brig, she now realised. They were down in the belly of the ship. The long strip of glass was crowded with hundreds of Insecticons, all pushing and jostling trying to see out at something.

A groan made her look round. Frenzy was sat beside her, grumpily trying to re-attach a piece of his panelling. 'Frenzy. How did we get here?'

'Starscream chucked us in here, about an hour ago,' Frenzy replied peevishly. 'Well, not you. He put you down on the floor nice and gently...' Frenzy did a comical mime of Starscream placing something small on the floor with exaggerated care - '...and then he threw me in after you...'

He continued to grumble, sparks flying as he transformed his hand into a soldering iron, finishing his repairs. Alexis' hand found a soft bundle in the dim light - her boots and some plain, thin clothes had been placed beside her, along with her trusty tool belt. There was a pair of close-fitting leggings, and a loose, raggedy top, the colour of dirty water. She pulled it on - the neck hole was so wide it almost slipped off one shoulder. She got to her feet, zipping up the boots and attaching the belt. With her humble attire and messy hair, she now looked every inch the lowly slave. 'What are they looking at?' She gestured to the insecticons.

'Dunno.' Frenzy began to follow her as she wandered towards them. 'It's not right, the way he treats me. I mean, yes, I did steal top-secret un-developed weapons and sold them on for a profit, but we all make mistakes! Apart from that I'm a loyal, hard working...'

Alexis drew level with the back of the gaggle, and squatted down, trying to see through the waving limbs and feelers at what the Insecticons were looking at.

'...No one remembers the good stuff I did, like the time I fixed those main energon feeds. I mean, yeah, I was the one that broke them in the first place, but I did a stellar job repairing them afterwards!'

'Frenzy, shut up a sec,' Alexis muttered absently, pulling him forwards into the throng. 'Have a look at that.'

'...He threw me in like a piece of trash. And it was an over-arm throw. Was that necessary? Was it?'

'Frenzy, shut up! Look!'

She had succeeded in hustling them both to the front, owing to their small size in relation to the slaves. Squeezed between two legs like children in the line at a funfair, they gazed out the thick glass, hands pressed to it. Frenzy's optics widened. 'Woah.'

They had arrived. Unicron lay below them, whorls and lines running over its dark red exterior, like an enlarged, tarnished version of Cybertron. It was night on the side they were on - Alexis wasn't sure it even orbited a star, so night could well be a permanent fixture. There were red glows emitting from it in several places - storms? Volcanos? It was massive, but clearly well-populated, lights showing life and activity crawling over the surface. As Frenzy stared, Alexis dug out her sheaf of hand-written notes she had made back on Earth.

'There's an atmospheric shell,' she muttered, consulting them. 'Good news for me, I won't freeze to death at least. No ruler to speak of, so I'm guessing we find somewhere to land and stake a claim?'

'That might mean a battle,' replied Frenzy. When Alexis looked anxious, he turned to look up at the Insecticons chattering above them. 'These guys are top mining stock, they won't be sent to fight. Waste of labour. And anyway, Starscream will scrap anyone that has a problem with him landing.'

They both watched as a formation of Decepticons shot past the window, heading down to the planet. 'A scout team,' Frenzy muttered.

Alexis shivered, the rough fabric of her top an unwelcome change from her normal clothes. She put the notes away carefully and zipped up the pocket. On her wrist, the heavy cuff sat, the glyphs gleaming in the dull light. Frenzy spotted it, and raised his own metal arm, showing her his cuff.

'Snap,' he said grimly.

She smiled at him, and raised her own, clashing it against his.

'Just like old times, Frenz. You ready?'

'I was protoformed ready, squishy.'

Starscream watched as the ship was piloted closer to the vast planet, a row of mechs monitoring the gravity pull. Skywarp teleported beside him, shimmering for a moment, inclining his head. Starscream spoke without looking round.

'Well? Where to land?'

Skywarp shrugged. 'Wherever you want. Seriously, this planet is stuffed with energon. Take a look at the readings.'

'Already have.' Starscream frowned. 'Very well, the sector below seems to have adequate room to accommodate us.'

A mech approached, bowing low. 'Lord Starscream. Forgive me, but I'm receiving an incoming call on the com feeds. Someone on the surface wishes to make contact.'

Starscream touched his com link as the mech transferred the feed to his own processor. 'Who is this?' he said coldly. 'State your business.'

An oily, ingratiating voice spoke on the other end. 'Lord Starscream,' it oozed. 'My name is Pillage. I'm contacting you on behalf of my master, Stormstrike, who has interests in the mines on this sector. We want to welcome you to Unicron.'

The word 'welcome' rarely meant anything good in Decepticon terms, and Starscream growled. 'Oh, you want to welcome me? My ship is more than capable of reducing you to a stain on the ground. We have your co-ordinates.' As he spoke he glanced at a datapad the mech passed him. 'I should tell you that your energy shield's firewalls are pitifully easy to break through.'

There was a shocked pause on the other end, then the oily voice seemed to recover, laughing. 'Oh, no, Lord Starscream, let me assure you, that one look at your craft tells any sane mech it would be unwise to engage you. I meant it in the sincere sense. Perhaps when you land, I would be permitted to receive you and your troops? I hope you are here to enjoy Unicron's vast wealth of resources?'

'That is my concern, not yours.'

'I will take that as a yes, if you don't mind. There is plenty here for everyone, plenty here if a hundred million more showed up. So you see, your Lordship, there will be no need for fighting. Merely an exchange of our aims is all I ask, and perhaps some information you may find helpful.'

Starscream exchanged glances with his wingbrothers, who naturally were listening in. 'Very well, Pillage. I will receive you upon landing. Any bright ideas about ambush will be dealt with, swiftly, by my men.'

'Your caution is commendable,' Pillage replied unctuously. 'I look forward to meeting you.'

He signed off. Starscream shook his head as if to get rid of an annoying fly.

'Well, he sounded like a waste of energon,' said Skywarp. 'I bagsy first shot.'

'Indeed,' replied Starscream. 'Nevertheless we may stand to gain something from meeting this Pillage. Skywarp, prepare for landing. You will be co-ordinating the disembarkation process, and supervising the adaptor feeds ready for the ship's transformation. Thundercracker, you'll be with me once the fortress is set up, see what we can learn from our... welcome committee.'

Alexis had moved away from the window, and sat against the wall, her arms resting on her knees, butterflies in her stomach. The closer they got to the huge planet, the more nervous she felt, and the restless chatter of the Insecticon slaves in the menacing setting of the brig didn't help. Frenzy flopped down beside her with a sigh. They were now cruising at a low altitude, the ground coming closer and closer through the glass... everyone in the brig braced themselves…

The Portent landed, with a rumbling tremor and a shriek of metal. Alexis grabbed a chain to stop herself from getting flung across the floor, grimacing as she held on tight, her head spinning. The Insecticons had run to the cages, whooping and spitting in anxiety, having never experienced anything like this before. Some didn't make it in time, sliding across the floor and hitting the far wall, screaming in alarm. For what seemed like an eternity the ship coasted, rising and falling in horrible nausea-inducing waves, until it ground to a halt, and all was quiet.

With collective groans, the slaves got to their feet. Alexis very slowly let go of the chain, letting out a shaky exhale of relief. But before anyone had time to collect their thoughts, the door shot open, to reveal Skywarp, his cannon hoisted into the air.

'Right, bugs,' he roared. 'Get yourselves into rank, now! Last one to fall in line gets blasted!'

The Insecticons squealed and ran, shabbily assembling themselves into order. Skywarp prowled along the lines, optics narrowed critically. Unsure of where to go, Alexis hurried to the back, Frenzy following her. The purple and black jet marched down, hurling various insults at the slaves, until he got to Alexis.

'Ah,' he said, thrown off balance. 'I forgot about you.'

He stared down at her, unsure of what to do or say next. Anyone who spoke harshly to Alexis risked a laser blast in the face from Starscream, and her position in the Decepticon ranks was by now so familiar to all that Skywarp clearly didn't know how to address her. 'Uh... you ok?'

'I'm good, Skywarp.'

He gestured with his cannon. 'If you want, you can leave by the...'

'It's best I stick with these guys, thanks, Skywarp.'

He nodded, and stalked back to the front of the line, recovering his fearsome demeanour. 'Right, you disgusting little low-lifes, here's how your vacation starts. You file off the ship and stand in rank until told otherwise. Then you start digging for delicious energon. You dig when we say, you stop when we say. You have low-grade when we consent to offer it, you re-charge when we allow it. Any questions? No, of course not, slaves don't ask questions. Isn't that right?'

The Insecticons chirped in unison as he paced. 'Yes-yes, Commander Skywarp!'

'You live to serve your master Starscream and no one else, right?'

'Yes-yes, Commander Skywarp!'

'You nobly work towards the furthering of the Decepticon cause, yes?'

'Yes-yes, Commander Skywarp!'

Alexis rolled her eyes at the back. 'Get a move on, Skywarp...' she muttered under her breath, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in anticipation.

Skywarp grinned down at them all, clearly enjoying the power trip. 'Now fall out, bugs!'

In fact, Skywarp hadn't been quite correct – their first job off the ship was to haul energon cubes for the higher decepticons, so the slaves all pushed crates of cubes painstakingly off the ship. Alexis joined Frenzy and a couple of Insecticons pushing a crate down the ramp. As they crossed the threshold, cool air hit Alexis' face and she got her first glimpse of Unicron.

A strange sky curved overhead – unfamiliar constellations spun behind misty orange clouds that moved rapidly over their heads. They had landed on a patch a bare rock, and as Alexis turned her head, she saw the Portent looming, listing to one side slightly, a huge gouge in the ground where it had landed and come to a stop. But away on the edge of a slope, she saw huge buildings: domes, arches, chimneys… lit with lights and teeming with creatures, smoke rising into the sky. Starscream had thought that there might be humans here on Unicron, and her heart leapt as she squinted into the faraway crowds, even now hoping for a glimpse of a familiar human shape, though they were much too far away…

All the Decepticons had trooped off the ship, and now some circled in the skies, guarding it from unwelcome attention. The ground beneath her felt warm and Alexis stepped to one side as a jet of steam blasted from a crack. There was a sulphuric smell in the air. She inhaled, her senses tingling warily for a smell of betagon, but there was no trace.

Starscream surveyed the landscape, optics narrowed, when Skywarp drew up alongside.

'Ready?'

Skywarp nodded. 'Everyone accounted for.'

Starscream turned back to the ship, issuing a silent command from his processor. The Portent began to move with a shrieking of internal gears… folding like a spiked black umbrella, growing taller and longer…

They all watched as it transformed, spires and towers reaching into the sky like grasping fingers. In less than a minute they stood in front of a looming fortress where the ship had been. Starscream gave a satisfied nod.

'We got visitors approaching,' said Thundercracker.

A squat armoured vehicle was coming towards them across the bumpy ground, followed by smaller vehicles. It transformed into a grey and black mech with a strangely square head that looked too big for its body. He walked with a slight stoop, giving him a look of toadying subservience. This must be Pillage. Starscream, who never gave anyone the benefit of the doubt at the best of times, found his processor flooded with dislike at the mere sight of this transformer.

Thundercracker touched his com-link, turning to Starscream. 'Universal Dialect being sent to my data bank, Starscream.'

'Scan for viruses.'

'Already have. Clean.'

Starscream nodded. 'Then send through to all Decepticon processors.'

Thundercracker nodded, and the language stream was distributed into the heads of every Decepticon. Starscream blinked his optics as the dialect flowed into his processor.

Pillage approached the waiting wingbrothers, nodding to each with a smile as oily as his voice. Behind him, the smaller mechs stood to attention, bearing standards with a grey and white lightning bolt insignia. 'Ah, Lord Starscream. The Universal Dialect is useful indeed. Consider it a gift. A pleasure to make your aquaintance in the metal. Welcome to Unicron. Stormstrike sends his personal greetings.'

'Personal greetings imply I would be honoured with your Master's presence.' said Starscream.

'Ah, I am his Lordship's personal herald and speak for him on occassions like this, when he wishes to reach out to other esteemed visitors to this world.'

Thundercracker's voice buzzed in Starscream's com-link: /'In other words, a disposable lackey sent to make sure his master doesn't dent his armour.'/

Starscream met his second's optics with the tiniest narrowing of his optics in a shrewd smile. Pillage had continued speaking, the silent exchange between the jets unnoticed.

'Our planet lies some seventy-eight light-years from here, we've been here for a fair few mega-cycles now,' he was saying. ' There are many, many different species on this planet, all mining the bountiful treaures Unicron has to offer. We have made this sector our happy home. But let me come straight to the point. Lord Stormstrike has his own workers mining beneath us as we speak. A very lucrative seam running some twelve-hundred depths. The mine is run by an independent overseer, Fallout. He takes on slaves from various sources, and each contributor receives a percentage of energon relative to the amount of workers he contributes.'

Starscream nodded. He was familiar with the model: many eons back, similar schemes had run on Cybertron, with workers from many different factions mining together, their masters sharing the proceeds. 'So. You propose that I pool my workforce in with the others.'

'Precisely.' Pillage smiled, inclining his head. 'I see you have brought a considerable number. They will be able to help us reach difficult deposits, and you will be able to take full advantage of the functioning mine already beneath you. You won't be disappointed with the rewards.'

'What about deeper than the crust? What lies in the secondary sediments, or deeper still?'

'Inaccessible,' replied Pillage. 'You would do best to focus your efforts near the surface. There's nothing of worth to be found beneath that.'

Thundercracker com-linked once more. /'He's lying.'/

Starscream's optic twitched. /'Indeed.'/

Pillage watched the jets, rubbing his hands together slowly. 'What do you say to our proposal? We can process your slaves now, if it suits you, and you may settle in and watch the wealth stack up.'

Starscream regarded him for a moment. 'Very well.' The slimy little scrapper was hiding things from him, he knew. But a mixed mine and refinery would provide ample opportunities to find out more about this mysterious planet. Pillage was nodding and expressing his pleasure at his decision, moving forward to inspect the slave ranks eagerly. 'Wonderful, wonderful... I'll have their energy signatures registered immediately, and then we can begin the processing.' His optics wandered to Alexis, stationed near the front, and widened. 'Why, what's this?'

Starscream turned, regarding the young woman, still stood next to Frenzy. 'That's a human. Note the summoning cuff - she is not to be damaged. Understood? She is useful to me.'

Pillage was staring at her with naked curiosity. 'A flesh creature? I haven't seen one of those in eons. I'm not familiar with the nuances of their species...'

'You're not required to be familiar,' said Starscream coldly. 'You are required to process her and make a note that she is authorised to come to me when I wish it.'

'Of course, of course! Forgive my impudence... I will scan her brand and register her as a resource of particular significance to your Lordship.'

Starscream frowned. 'Brand?'

'Why yes.' Pillage looked at him in mild confusion. 'Your insignia is somewhere upon her form, I take it?'

'She has a summoning cuff and an energy signature,' growled Starscream impatiently. 'Is that not enough?'

'Uh... forgive me, Lord Starscream. I should tell you that... unfortunately, despite our best efforts, slaves without a brand are vulnerable to all sorts of mishaps - going missing, being sold, being unduly damaged... illegal slave-fighting is rife here on Unicron, and the very nature of your slave's rarity makes her a particular target for the dealers...'

Starscream clenched his fists. He didn't need to be told. During his long life he had seen it all - on planets like this where several species were thrown together in a boiling mass, the time was passed with brutal pursuits, namely hunting and baiting the weak. He had done it himself. And a mech without a faction to his name was a dead mech walking - a slave even more so. How could he have been so stupid to have missed this detail? Fury boiled behind his optics and he growled through gritted teeth. 'Alexis, come here.'

He watched her detach herself from the ranks and come towards him, her eyes wandering between him and Pillage. His spark ached at the sight of her, and what he was about to do. 'Lie down, on your front.'

She hesitated.

'Now!'

Hastily she complied, lying herself down on the rock, her hands near her head, her cheek touching the ground. He slowly knelt down, jerking his head at Frenzy. 'Get over here. Hold her steady.'

Frenzy jogged over to the human, staring fearfully at Starscream as he knelt beside her, taking her shoulders. Starscream reached down, pulling the loose, wide neck of her top back, exposing her left shoulder blade. Her hair felt soft on his fingers as he swept it aside. He saw that she was trembling.

He leaned down, his voice quiet in her ear, switching to English. 'It will hurt more if you struggle. Understand?'

She gave a nod, shutting her eyes tight as she heard the clicks above her: his hand transforming. There were a few agonising seconds as he watched the small shape heat up. Frenzy moved one hand to her head, keeping it still. Starscream's other hand came down, covering her body.

He shut his optics for a second, then opened them, pressing the white-hot Decepticon insignia onto her skin. There was a horrible hiss of cooking flesh. She gasped, then cried out as the pain assaulted her, squirming instinctively. He transferred more of his weight onto her to hold her still and felt her go limp, withdrawing the brand and flexing his fingers, transforming his hand back. Beneath him, she sobbed and choked, her breath coming in ragged gasps of agony. Frenzy looked anguished as the jet straightened up to his full height. 'Up. Get her up. Now!'

Frenzy helped her to her feet, her head bowed, one hand clasping the fabric of her top to keep it away from the livid burn on her shoulder. She limped back into the ranks beside her friend, and he could tell she was trying to supress her pain, forcing her back straight. With a colossal effort he turned away, addressing Pillage, his face a mask of indifference. 'I trust that will resolve any potential issues.'

'Very nicely,' Pillage replied, watching her go. 'What a frail specimen.'

I'll show you the meaning of frail specimen, when I wrench out your spark, you low-down piece of filth.

Out loud he said: 'Is that all?'

'For now, yes!' Pillage said brisky, smiling widely and nodding at the jet. 'Though I am sure my master will want to make your acquaintance very soon. I'll arrange to have you escorted...'

'No, no, I insist on hosting him as soon as possible,' replied Starscream. 'As a thank-you for his consideration and assistance. Perhaps in two cycles he would honour me with his presence here?'

'I will pass the message on,' replied Pillage bowing.

The other mechs began to move forward, hustling the slaves away from the transformed Portent towards a sloping shaft entrance, Alexis stumbling in their midst. Starscream didn't look back, turning sharply and marching into the fortress. Thundercracker followed behind him.

'She'll be alright, Screamer, she's as tough as...'

'Don't speak to me of what just happened,' spat his brother, his fists clenched once more. 'Don't you dare speak of it, if you don't want your circuits fried.'

Thundercracker bit his lip components, swiftly changing the subject. 'So what now? We scrap this Stormstrike when he arrives?'

Starscream strode into the throne room of the newly assembled fortress, seating himself, scowling deeply. 'Tempting, but no. We play at diplomacy. We watch and wait, and receive him and any other delegates he brings along. We may yet find him useful. But in the meantime, I want you to scout out his faction. Bring me back someone unimportant, who won't be missed. Someone who can tell me everything that little dirt-pipe Pillage kept back.'

Thundercracker smiled grimly. 'Understood, leader.'